Toni Braxton for Harper's Bazaar Vietnam - December 2020!
Toni Braxton gave high fashion realness on the December cover of Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam. The singer posed in an oversized, bubble gum pink gown with shredded detailing along the hem of the dress. With her hair styled in a soft finger wave, and a light glam makeup look with a bold pop of pink around the eyes, Toni looks like a vision of perfection.
In Toni’s interview with Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, she discussed her struggles with Lupus. Despite her sickness, she’s never given up and walked away from her career. “I have one of the most serious Lupus syndromes. But from the most serious things, I have the best. I always try to think positively,” she told the magazine. Now at the age of 53, Toni has a better handle on her health, although Lupus is unpredictable and can flare up at any time.
Toni also talked about her 30 year contribution to the music industry. From memorable hits like “Un-break my Heart” and “Breathe again” to releasing her 10th studio album this year, she has established herself as a staple in the music industry.
“I feel very grateful for life. Music helps me connect with people. The best feeling is knowing that you have inspired many people. I love to perform, love to compose music. I love singing,” she said.
There’a no doubt Toni Braxton’s career has been full of highs and lows. No matter the challenges life has thrown her, she’s managed to come out on top with a positive perspective. With a recently released album, Toni isn’t throwing in the towel anytime soon. As a matter of fact, she’s just getting started!
#RHOA: Kandi Burruss and Cynthia Bailey Dub Newbie Drew Sidora the Worst Dressed!
It wouldn’t be Atlanta without a little bit of shade! During a game of “Housewives Confessions,” Kandi Burruss and Cynthia Bailey agreed that newcomer Drew Sidora needs the most fashion help of the cast.
“I would give [best dressed] to Marlo [Hampton],” Kandi, said “I guess I would give Drew the ‘needing to up her game’ a little bit.”
Cynthia, 53, for her part, said that “a lot of women have come a long way” over the years, noting that the cast has “very different styles and tastes.”
When it came time to make a choice, however, the model also went with the newbie: “As much as I love my girl Drew, I think she’s still figuring out her style and swagger over here. I’m rooting for my girl … but she is a work in progress.”
Cynthia added that Kenya Moore wins for best dressed. “We have kind of similar style. She’s more of a girly-girl than I am, but I do like her suit game,” she said. “She has a certain chicness that I definitely feel like we share in common.”
Drew, meanwhile, revealed that she goes to Marlo, 44, for fashion tips.
“She is, like, everything in that whole fashion [world]. I started asking her like, ‘Am I good?’ ‘Cause if she says, it’s good, I know I’m good,” she told Us. “I would say Marlo, hands down. She got the fashion thing on lock. … [Worst dressed] I would probably LaToya [Ali]. She might need a little help.”
Bravo added both Drew, 35, and LaToya, 33, to the season 13 cast.
“All the ladies we’re really welcoming. At the beginning I was shocked ‘cause I was nervous,” Drew told Us. “Marlo and I hit it off extremely well. She was just very genuine. We had a lot of connections, obviously, Porsha [Williams], she’s my neighbor. Our kids play, so that was good. ‘Cause I’m like, you know, we’re new in town. So, my daughter got a friend right off the bat. That was awesome.”
The Real Housewives of Atlanta returns to Bravo Sunday, December 6, at 8 p.m. ET.
#MusicNews: Frank Ocean Cancels Upcoming Vinyl Release Of “Little Demon”!
Frank Ocean will refund all purchases of the unreleased track.
Back in February, Frank Ocean announced the upcoming release of a 7-inch, previously-unreleased track on vinyl record. Months before, he announced the release of a track named “Little Demon,” featuring Skepta. Customers were told in an email that the “Little Demon” vinyl they ordered would actually be a new, unnamed song. On Friday, Frank announced he was canceling the vinyl release altogether.
“Due to the events of this year, Frank will no longer be releasing the song that you purchased on vinyl,” his team said in an email sent to fans who purchased the vinyl. “We will be refunding your purchase of this item and any additional items in your order will begin shipping next week.”
Frank Ocean’s last few merchandise releases have been overwhelming successes. In the months leading up to the 2020 Presidential election, Frank launched a voter registration drive on his official website. Back in 2018, he gave away free T-shirts to fans in Atlanta, Miami, Houston and Dallas if they showed up with proof of voting.
The shirts were emblazoned with the number “42%,” which represents the percentage of eligible voters who stayed home for the 2016 presidential election. He endorsed Stacey Abrams in the Georgia gubernatorial election, Andrew Gillum in Florida, and Beto O’Rourke in Texas. After the release, fans resold the shirts for as high as $450 on eBay, Depop, and Grailed.
#HipHopNews: Lupe Fiasco Will Require Fans To Have Covid-19 Vaccine To Come To His Concerts!
Lupe Fiasco is trying to stay COVID-19 free and he wants anyone attending his upcoming shows to do the same.
The pandemic has thoroughly shaken the music industry, as artists in states that still have bans on large gatherings are forgoing lots of show money. A remedy appears to be around the corner, as a vaccine will reportedly be ready for mass use in weeks. On Wednesday (Dec. 2), Lupe announced all fans coming to his shows would be required to have been vaccinated before attending.
Sharing a headline of a news report about the forthcoming vaccine on Instagram, he captioned the screenshot, "Let’s Get Get Get It!!!! You will be required to be vaccinated to come to my concerts."
Vaccination has been a point of contention for many who have little trust in the government when it comes to these matters. Some people sounded off in the comment section of Lu's post. "Over 99% overall survival rate with 94.6% survival rate for those ages 70 and above," one person scoffed. "7,500,000 recoveries. We have vaccines for the influenza that are 40-60% effective yet we have a ‘magical’ vaccine that just after a few months, has OVER 90% effectiveness. It’s comical honestly. We’ve yet to develop vaccines for other important illnesses and here we are with the COVID vaccine. There have been MULTIPLE meta-analysis studies performed showcasing the harm and ineffectiveness of masks. Deaths are now over saturated with COVID deaths. Deaths related to the Flu? Almost gone. Deaths due to natural causes? Almost none. Heart disease? Almost none? Obesity? Almost none. This is a time in history which separates lions from sheeps."
Lupe has been in support of getting a vaccine for the deadly virus. Last week, he went back and forth with some anti-vax Twitter followers after showing excitement for the new serum. "I waiting on y’all alternative. I really am," the Chicago rapper replied to one person. "Everytime I faithfully study this 'medical black wokeness' it ends up being a bunch of bullshit promoted by folks selling seamoss shakes and possessing the scientific depth of a bag of flamin hots. Some of us actually stayed in school."
While pros and cons of vaccines may be debatable on some level, COVID-19 has undeniably affected the hip-hop community both directly and indirectly. Several artists have contracted the virus including Scarface, YNW Melly, Slim Thug and, most recently, Jeremih.
MTV Film & TV Awards: Greatest Of All Time Full Winners List: Chadwick Boseman, Gal Gadot, Kevin Hart Among Honorees!
Like all things, the MTV Film & TV Awards pivoted to a different kind of ceremony this year because of the pandemic and opted to air a retrospective that spotlighted the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in TV and film from the 1980s until the present.
Hosted by Vanessa Hudgens, the ceremony continued the grand tradition of off-center and offbeat awards that included categories such as “Legendary Lip Lock”, “Heartbreaking Break-Up” and “Hero for the Ages”. There were no nominees announced prior. All winners were announced during the socially distanced ceremony which included appearances from Neve Campbell, Lily Collins and Derek Hough.
The late, great Chadwick Boseman was honored by his Avengers co-stars Don Cheadle and Robert Downey Jr. with the “Hero for the Ages” trophy while Wonder Woman herself Gal Gadot received the “She-Ro” award. Kevin Hart also took the GOAT award for “Comedy Giant”. In addition, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair were honored for their iconic kiss in the 1999 pic Cruel Intentions.
Here are the GOAT honorees from tonight’s ceremony.
GOAT: Dance Your A** Off
Kevin Bacon, Footloose
GOAT: Comedy Giant
Kevin Hart
GOAT: Dynamic Duo
Drew Barrymore & Adam Sandler, The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates and Blended
GOAT: Scream Queen
Jamie Lee Curtis
GOAT: Legendary Lip Lock
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair, Cruel Intentions
GOAT: Heartbreaking Break-Up
Jason Segel and Kristen Bell, Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
GOAT: Zero to Hero
William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence, Karate Kid and Cobra Kai
GOAT: She-Ro
Gal Gadot
GOAT: Hero for the Ages
Chadwick Boseman
Congrats to All!
According to Donald Trump Rudy Giuliani Tests Positive For Coronavirus!
President Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for the coronavirus, the president announced Sunday on Twitter.
"Get better soon Rudy, we will carry on!!!" Trump exclaimed while praising Giuliani's record.
The former New York City mayor was admitted to Georgetown University Medical Center, the New York Times reported.
Giuliani has been the face of Trump's legal efforts to overturn the results of the November election, and he has appeared at recent events in Arizona, Michigan and Georgia seeking to reverse the outcome in states narrowly won by President-elect Joe Biden.
Almost all of Trump's legal cases have been tossed out by judges, many of them appointed by Republicans and ruled baseless. Trump's legal team has continued to persist in sowing doubt about the results, even as key states certified Biden's victory.
Some of the events have featured Giuliani and other Trump supporters not wearing masks; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week recommended wearing a mask as a universal approach to stopping the highly infectious virus.
Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to strain health care infrastructure across the United States as experts brace for a surge driven by holiday travel and the colder weather driving people indoors.
More than 280,000 Americans have died so far of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, according to the latest estimate by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. has had just under 15 million confirmed cases.
At 76 years old, Giuliani faces increased risk of having more severe COVID-19 symptoms.
Many in Trump's inner circle, both in the White House and on the campaign, have contracted the disease in recent months. Trump himself contracted the disease and was hospitalized in October at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where the 74-year-old commander in chief was given therapeutics that suggested a severe case.
Trump has repeatedly downplayed the coronavirus, and assured supporters that they would stop hearing about it after the November election.
Taylor Swift & Dionne Warwick Chat With Each Other On Twitter!
Dionne Warwick is sending Taylor Swift some love! The 79-year-old “That’s What Friends Are For” singer sent a nice message to the 30-year-old folklore singer on social media on Thursday (December 3), which Taylor just saw a few days later.
“Hi @taylorswift13. I hope you’re in good spirits and having a wonderful day. Keep your head high,” Dionne wrote to Taylor.
“I just saw that you tweeted me!! I’m a huge fan and I respect you so much, thank you for wishing me well. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, thank you for spreading joy,” Taylor sweetly wrote back.
At the same time, Dionne‘s been making headlines for unexpectedly and roasting some popular entertainers – including The Weeknd!
Sister Souljah Is Set To Release ‘The Coldest Winter Ever’ Sequel In 2021!
There’s no denying the impact Sister Souljah’s novel series centered around the Santiaga family had on Black girls growing up.
It’s been two decades since the release of the author’s page-turning novel, and many fans were probably wondering what happened to their favorite around-the-way girl, Winter Santiaga. Well, you don’t have to wonder much longer.
Sister Souljah is scheduled to release a sequel to The Coldest Winter Ever titled, Life After Death, which will chronicle Winter’s life after her prison bid, her mother’s death, and her young sister’s growth.
“Fans fell in love with the unforgettable Winter Santiaga, daughter of a prominent Brooklyn drug-dealing family, who captivated her lovers, friends, and enemies with her sexy street smarts,” read the description for the upcoming book. “For two decades, fans have begged for answers about what happened to Winter.”
“With her jail sentence coming to a close, Winter is ready to step back into the spotlight and reclaim her throne,” the statement said of the upcoming book which is slated to be released March 2021.
Fans were hoping for the novel to be adapted into a film, but a sequel in the novel series hits different
Russell Westbrook Changing Jersey Number With The Washington Wizards!
Ateam name isn’t the only thing changing on Russell Westbrook’s jersey.
Russell Westbrook revealed that his move to the Washington Wizards will be accompanied by a notable change on the court. He now confirms that he will switch from his signature number zero for the first time in his NBA career.
The star point guard will now don number four on the Wizards’ roster, a tribute to the number he wore in high school.
It was at the top of the month that the Wizards and Houston Rockets shocked the league with a major trade that sent franchise player John Wall to Clutch City in exchange for Westbrook and a 2023 first-round draft pick.
Even with all the changes, however, the Long Beach-bred competitor assures that the cutthroat nature of his approach on the court won’t be veering much from the regularly-scheduled program.
“The way I play the game kind of misconstrues people of who I am as a person, who I am and what I believe in and what I stand for,” Westbrook said in his first press conference since arriving in Washington. “Obviously, how I play and off the floor are two different people. When I am on the floor, I don’t have any friends, I am not trying to be friendly, I’m trying to bust somebody’s a–. I ain’t got time to try to shake hands and do all that. I don’t have time for it, and I am never changing that.”
All the while, he also expressed his anticipation and excitement for playing alongside Bradley Beal, quieting doubts by confirming his eagerness to come into the fold in an auxiliary role that underscores Beal’s capability to lead the Wizards.
“I’m super excited about it,” Westbrook added. “Brad is a superstar talent […] My job is to come in and continue to uplift and push him to be better. That is all I am here for. I am happy to be his counterpart and try to make it easier for him.”
Tyrese Asks For Prayers For His Mother Who Was In A Coma For Five Days!
In a moment of despair, Tyrese took to Instagram to ask his fans for prayers for his mother’s well-being. Earlier this week, the actor shared a photo of himself with his mom, Priscilla Murray Gibson, asking his fans to pray for her without sharing many details about her condition. He later revealed that she had been in a medically induced coma for five days and was in the ICU.
“Pray for my mother.... Prayer warriors? if you are looking at this post right now.... please pray for my mother.... Please not with just emojis, please actually pray.... Sincerely,” the singer captioned the post on Friday (Dec. 4). “Thank you...... Father God we love you and trust you.... Please not now.... Please I’m my mom’s baby boy.”
His celebrity friends and fans alike joined him in the comments section and left him plenty of encouraging words of support. “I love you so much. God got you and your mom!!!!” his Baby Boy costar Taraji P. Henson commented. Viola Davis wrote: “Praying....for you,too. Love you❤️.”
On Saturday (Dec. 5), Tyrese shared a positive update about his mother’s health and shared that he could not be by her side because he was away at work and following COVID-19 guidelines for safety. “In less than 24 hours my mother is out of an induced coma, the tubes out of her throat and I was on the phone with her today,” he wrote in a text post. “She’s still in the ICU but she’s breathing on her own we laughed on the phone and she had no idea that she was in a coma for 5 days.” The Fast & Furious star also thanked fans for their prayers, saying he felt so helpless he had to go on social media to ask for support.
“Amazing update about my mother....I wouldn’t normally post about something so private and personal but what was really going on left me with no choice..... Blessed to be working at the height of a pandemic and although I am blessed let’s just say it’s [complicated ] just finished 14 days of quarantine so I literally couldn’t leave without compromising this production,” he shared along with a photo of himself and his mom.
Tyrese on colorism, “Legendary” single, police brutality against Black Americans and more
“I was also told if I were in LA they wouldn’t give me access to my mother anyway cause visitations are closed due to the spike in COVID,” he continued. “So helplessly I put this on my timeline and felt a way about doing it... But in less than 24 hours the breakthrough and turn around in and around my mother’s health? Could ONLY be the WORKS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!!!! So thank you ALL for praying....... Thank you so much!! God heard us all... Thank you!! Amen.”
Request For New Prosecutor In Breonna Taylor Case Denied!
A new special prosecutor will not be assigned to the Breonna Taylor case.
On Friday (Dec. 4), the Kentucky Prosecutors Advisory Council voted unanimously to decline the request from Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mother, for a new prosecutor to be appointed to her daughter’s case, according to the Courier-Journal.
The decision was announced during a Zoom call, which had over 200 participants. Following their decision, the public immediately unmuted their mics and spoke out against the judgement. “Opposed!” said one woman, although she was not a voting member. “You’re wrong, and you know it,” said another voice. “You have the authority,” said a third person. “You’re scared.”
Chris Cohron, a council member and the Commonwealth’s Attorney in Warren County, said they weren't authorized to make that decision. “We do not have the legal authority to fulfill the request that has been submitted,” he said.
Attorney Sam Aguiar, who represents Taylor’s family, says he believes the council misinterpreted state law and he will file to seek clarity on what powers the council actually holds. “If the court system were to come back and rule this is the mechanism to allow an aggrieved citizen to go and seek a new prosecutor, then obviously the PAC [Prosecutors Advisory Council] is going to have to really deliberate on the merits, rather than their authority,” he said.
Attorney Ben Crump says Daniel Cameron “whitewashed” what he presented to grand jury
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron was widely criticized for how he mishandled Taylor’s case. Back in September, he announced that only one of three Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers would be charged with any crimes related to the night of Taylor’s death.
Since the charges were announced, three grand jurors have come forward saying Cameron and his office did not allow them to pursue homicide charges against former LMPD Detective Brett Hankison. Cameron said the officers were justified in their use of force during the shooting because Taylor’s boyfriend fired first.
'The Voice': Dismissed Contestant Ryan Gallagher Denies Violating Show's COVID-19 Rules!
Ryan Gallagher broke his silence on his exit from NBC's The Voice. During the Nov. 30 episode, host Carson Daly said Gallagher had to leave the show but did not say why. An NBC source later told Michigan Live that the 32-year-old Michigan singer violated coronavirus safety protocols, allegations Gallagher and his representatives denied.
Gallagher's personal manager, Michael Catalano, told PEOPLE Sunday his client was "dismissed" from The Voice the day before Monday's episode aired for an "alleged violation" of the show's safety protocols. "In my opinion, nothing could be further from the truth," Catalano said. Gallagher's mother was recently hospitalized with the virus, so the singer understands the severity of the illness, Catalano said. "It was a scary time for Ryan and his family and he certainly would not knowingly put anyone at risk by not adhering to the show’s COVID-19 policy," he added.
Catalano said there is "more to the story" and Gallagher will soon speak out to share his side of the situation. Gallagher was "devastated" to leave the show and was "so touched" by the outpouring of support from his fans. "He remains very, very appreciative. Thank you for your continued support of Ryan Gallagher during this difficult time," Catalano said.
NBC and series producer MGM told PEOPLE Gallagher did violate the safety protocols though. "Ryan is a talented artist, however, The Voice has strict Covid protocols in place to secure a safe set for our crew, coaches, and contestants," the companies said. "We were made aware of a breach in those protocols, and after examining the situation, and out of an abundance of caution, we determined that Ryan could not participate in our Monday night show without potentially putting others at risk. Therefore, we made the difficult decision to remove Ryan from the competition."
Daly told viewers Gallagher, who was a member of coach Kelly Clarkson's team, would no longer be participating on the show. An NBC source later told MLive that he violated coronavirus safety measures. Gallagher is from Ada Township, near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Gallagher later told fans in an Instagram Story Monday night his family is fine, but he did not drop out of the show and promised to reveal details soon. He shared another message on Friday, writing: "It's been a weird/stressful week. I am grateful to each and every one of you for your continued support and love throughout this new development. Standby for more facts!"
The Game Encourages Teyana Taylor Not To Throw Away Her Career, “Your Gift Is So Appreciated”!
The Game is the latest artist to show love for Teyana Taylor, who has received an outpouring of support after she announced on Instagram that she would be retiring from music to protect her mental health.
Sunday morning, he posted a lengthy message to Taylor on Instagram, calling her one of the greatest talents he’s ever known, called her latest project The Album a classic, and letting the R&B songstress know she is appreciated.
“ The 1st time I heard you sing, I knew what you were & also knew it was only a matter of time before you were a SUPERSTAR. You signed to @pharrell & I remember how bad you wanted the world to hear your voice,” Game said in the post.
“I always told you, you were one amazing project away from your destiny & then it came….. “THE ALBUM”… your CLASSIC!!!” he continued. “Undeniably YOU. A body of work that was clearly the best R&B album of the year. You know it, I know it & so does your fanbase.”
“YOUR GIFT IS SO APPRECIATED & as your big bro I want you to know, you are truly one of the best artist/people inside & outside of music I’ve ever known. NEVER TIP THE CROWN QUEEN”
It’s unclear if Taylor will follow through and permanently step away from music. Still, whatever she decides to do next, we know she’ll be great.
Young MA Has Reportedly Been Arrested And Charged With Reckless Driving!
Young MA proved herself a talented MC well before she first arrived on the scene with her first mixtape Herstory back in 2017. Ever since, she’s been perfecting her flow through her 22-track debut LP, an EP, and a handful of singles. But despite her success, Young MA has also dealt with the occasional run-in with police. Per a report, Young MA was recently arrested and charged with reckless driving.
According to a report from TheShadeRoom, Young MA was arrested for reckless driving around 3 a.m. on Friday morning. Apparently, the rapper was apprehended and charged but has reportedly since been released.
The report mentions that Young MA has yet to confirm the arrest. However, TheShadeRoom seems to think she addressed the situation when she posted an Instagram photo Friday which shows her sipping on a drink and flipping the bird.
In other Young MA news, the rapper has released a handful of projects this year. This week, the rapper appeared on Pornhub’s Christmas mixtape XXXMas where she delivered a song titled “Stuff Our Stockings Santa.”
Before that, Young MA tapped Eminem to kick off her Always Me Radio show. The two discussed Young MA’s 2020 EP Red Flu, where he admitted to being on his third listen-through of the project. “I’m still catching [bars]… When you get your punchlines or however your writing process is, you can always tell somebody who has studied the game and who is a student of it… Your punchlines don’t sound like setups. They sound like punchline after punchline after punchline. That requires a lot of skill and a lot of thought.”
Texas High School Suspends Male Student Over Painted Nails!
A teenage boy said that he was punished by his high school in Clyde, Texas, for wearing nail polish.
According to the New York Daily News, 17-year-old Trevor Wilkinson, a senior at Clyde High School, claims he received an in-school suspension earlier this week, when he returned to school after the Thanksgiving holiday, for violating the school’s dress code. The teenager claims he was being punished because he had painted his nails.
“Imagine your school not allowing boys to paint their nails and giving boys [in-school suspension] for it,” he tweeted. “And the whole administration being okay with it, homophobic and sexist? Welcome to West Texas,” he wrote, adding a smiling cowboy emoji.
Wilkinson, who’s openly gay and “beyond proud,” decided to take action and started an online petition to convince his school to “allow males to wear nail polish.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘POTASSIUM PETE’
Bet this dude hasn’t got a leg cramp a single time in his life!
HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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