1/13/21

The Daily Buzz For Jan 14 ☕📰☕

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Zendaya for GQ - February 2021!
Zendaya is one of the Hollywood’s busiest and brightest young stars, which earned her the February cover of GQ Magazine, titled, “Guess Who Runs Hollywood Now?”
When the world paused in March during the peak of COVID-19, Zendaya began picking up new skills such as painting watercolor figures in a “journal-book” gifted to her by her Euphoria co-star, Hunter Schafer.

The Emmy-winning actress admitted she’s done some soul-searching to discover what’s outside of her successful career.
“It was my first time just being like, ‘Okay, who am I without this?’ Which is a very scary thing to confront and work through, because I don’t really know Zendaya outside of the Zendaya who works,” she explains to the mag. “I didn’t realize how much my job and my art were a part of my identity as a human.”
She recalls calls to Euphoria co-creator Sam Levinson to discuss creating a film to document the confines of quarantine, hence her upcoming Netflix film, Malcolm and Marie.
The black-and-white film, which was shot under strict COVID-19 safety protocols within two weeks last June, follows Zendaya as Marie and John David Washington as Malcolm: a Hollywood couple who return home after a “celebratory movie premiere” to address their relationship issues.

“[Marie] gave me an opportunity to use these words in a way,” says Zendaya about what drew her to the role. “I don’t yell. I’m not a very argumentative person, but it’s nice to just release and be able to…I don’t know… I guess emote would be the word? To just use her as this vessel to just get [stuff] out that maybe I had pent up or hadn’t said.”
Malcolm and Marie arrives February 5. But not before a special episode of HBO’s Euphoria, which airs January 24.


#RHOA: Porsha Williams Says She Experienced 'Seriously Abusive Situations' After Her Dad's Death!
Porsha Williams is opening up about the death of her father when she was a teen — and the "impact" his absence had on her as she grew up.
On the latest episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the Bravo star reflected on her parents' divorce when she was a young girl and the relationship she had with her late dad.
At the time that Sunday's show was filmed, Porsha, 40, was working on The Pursuit of Porsha — a book about "me becoming who I am," she told her mother, Diane, and half-sister, Lauren. "And a lot of the things that I've been through in my life, you all have played a pivotal role."

In a confessional, Porsha told cameras that writing the book was "very therapeutic," saying she's "had to learn a lot through hardships" and that "there is a lot that I would love for young girls to know. I've actually dealt with depression, abuse, etcetera, and I've made it in spite of all."
That day, the trio got together to reflect and talk about the past, including the sisters' differing relationships with the family patriarch.

Diane recommended the discussion begin at the time the RHOA star was a 3-year-old girl, following her parents' divorce. "We probably should start after the divorce, when you basically stayed with me," said Porsha's mom.
Recalling her early adolescence, Porsha said of her parents' divorce: "It was just kind of confusing at first, because I had my home with Mommy that felt complete, solid, and then over here with Dad, it was another home that could be complete and solid. And why am I going in between?"

Porsha explained to cameras that although she and Lauren are six years apart and shared the same dad, "saying 'half' anything would get you a spanking in the house."
Growing up, Lauren lived with their father, while Porsha "more so came over on the weekends." Despite not spending the majority of her time with her dad, Porsha said her parents seemed to had found a healthy co-parenting rhythm. "I feel like a lot of kids feel like divorce is, you know, traumatizing. But, I mean, I think y'all did a really good job with the go back and forth," Porsha told her mom.

And while Porsha didn't "really identify with daddy issues," she did admit to facing personal hardships as a result of her father's absence — specifically when she began to date.
"Unfortunately, once he died and I'm in those years of 17, when you start to date and all of that, he wasn't here. He died," Porsha recalled, going on to reveal that she faced some "abusive situations."
"That mindset of me just having a skeleton idea of what a man should be led me into like, seriously abusive situations," Porsha told her mom and sister.
In a confessional, Porsha admitted that when she was younger, she "didn't think about the impact of not having my dad in the house." But as an adult, "now doing something like [working on] my book with my mom and my sister, I am realizing I was lacking something," she said.

When Porsha asked her sister, who was 10 when their dad died, about her own relationship with him, Lauren seemed to recall only happy memories. "Because I had a totally different experience..." Porsha said.
Lauren remembered that he used to take her to his doctor's appointments and gave her a kiss every day. "I remember him waking up in the morning, kissing me on the forehead and going to work, and not coming back until it was time to go to bed."

Asked Porsha, "You got kissed on the forehead in the morning? Every morning?" Confirming that he did, Lauren went on to say that "he would go to work, and then he would come back, and then he would go to bed. So he was very consistently there, definitely."
Given that they were raised in separate households, Lauren didn't know "how to compare" her experience with Porsha's. Hearing Lauren's memories about their father, Porsha began to cry. "She experienced a whole different dad than you," Diane said as Lauren hugged Porsha, who cried, "She did."

Now a mother herself to Pilar Jhena, whom she shares with ex Dennis McKinley, Porsha is mindful about her ex's involvement in the life of her daughter, who turns 2 in May.
"When it comes to PJ, the part that I do get sad [about] is that I do wish we could've worked out, for Dennis to be in the house," she said to her sister and mom.
During filming, Dennis and Porsha weren't together, but she still praised him as a father. "When I look at it, I know that Dennis is such a powerful father figure," she said. "I honestly do feel like as much as I'm going to put into her to know about the real s--- out here in the world, he will too."

"I picked him. Like, she wasn't no mistake," she added about her daughter.
Sharing a child with her ex, Porsha said she pushes to make her relationship with Dennis work "not only because I love him to death, but because I want Pilar to be close with him," she told cameras. "I don't want her to miss a beat in his parenting."

The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays (8 p.m. ET) on Bravo.


#MusicNews: For The Third Time, Ashanti & Keyshia Cole 'Verzuz' Sets a New Date!
After two pervious Verzuz dates were forced to postpone due to COVID-19, the battle series has announced a new date for the Ashanti and Keyshia Cole face-off: Thursday, Jan. 21. And they promise that this time, it's final.
"RAIN, SLEET, HAIL, SNOW LET'S GO ... Join us Thursday, January 21st as we kick off the first #VERZUZ of 2021 with @Ashanti and @KeyshiaCole," a caption on the Verzuz Instagram post reads, next to a photo hyping the "new and final date." "Thank you everyone for being patient with us. We can't wait for this magical night with Keyshia and Ashanti!"

An in-person battle was originally set for Dec. 12 but was delayed after Ashanti tested positive for COVID-19. Then the Jan. 9 makeup date was pushed back as well, with Verzuz announcing that the battles would go back to separate locations -- just as they had when the series initially took off at the start of lockdown -- "as COVID-19 numbers continue to increase." A new date was not announced at the time.

Viewers can tune in to the rescheduled Ashanti and Keyshia Cole face-off on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on the Verzuz Instagram page or via Apple Music.


#HipHopNews: Megan Thee Stallion And Dababy Shoot ‘Cry Baby’ Video!
Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby are teaming up once again.The rappers recently went in front of the lens to shoot a video for their latest collaboration “Cry Baby.”
Meg shared a sneak peek of the green screen video on TikTok. In the behind-the-scenes clip, the Hot Girl is dressed as a crash test dummy in skintight latex while twerking on the floor for DaBaby, who looks on with his hands on his face.

Last week, DaBaby faced backlash after Tory Lanez shared a photo from a video he shot for his unreleased collaboration with the “Rockstar” rapper. But Megan took to Twitter to clarify that Tory’s collab with DaBaby was not approved. “That shit was old and not cleared,” she responded to a fan who wrote, “f*ck dababy all 2021.”
“Cry Baby,” which is currently No. 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, is the latest single off Megan’s debut album Good News. Meg and DaBaby previously collaborated on songs including “Cash Shit” and “Nasty.”


And That’s a Wrap! The Haves and the Have Nots: OWN Series Ending Confirmed; No Season Nine!
Today, OWN confirmed what we first reported back in November. Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots TV series is ending with the current eighth season.
OWN aired the eighth episode of the final season and the series will then go on hiatus until some time in May. The Haves and the Have Nots will conclude with 196 episodes so, that means that there will be eight remaining installments when the show returns.

Revolving around the wealthy and working-class residents of Savanah, the OWN series stars John Schneider, Tika Sumpter, Angela Robinson, Renee Lawless, Crystal Fox, Peter Parros, Tyler Lepley, Gavin Houston, Aaron O’Connell, Brett Davis, and Brock Yurich.

Here’s the announcement from OWN:

OWN’S LONG RUNNING TYLER PERRY DRAMA ‘THE HAVES AND THE HAVE NOTS’ WILL CONCLUDE WITH ITS EIGHTH SEASON
New Episodes to Premiere in May

Los Angeles – After eight explosive years and 196 jaw-dropping episodes, OWN’s long running Tyler Perry drama “The Haves and the Have Nots” will be concluding at the end of its current eighth season returning with new episodes this May.
The network’s first scripted drama, which had its original series debut in May 2013, follows the complicated dynamic between the rich and powerful Cryer and Harrington families and the hired help who work for them in their opulent mansions. The series stars John Schneider, Tika Sumpter, Angela Robinson, Renee Lawless, Crystal Fox, Peter Parros, Tyler Lepley, Gavin Houston, Aaron O’Connell, Brett Davis and Brock Yurich.

Over the course of the series run, “The Haves and the Have Nots” averaged nearly 3 million viewers and always ranked among the Top 2 scripted cable series among African American women and total viewers during all seven seasons.
In the dramatic final eight episodes with a finale no one will see coming, the wealthy residents of Savannah, Georgia are involved in a true-to-life Greek tragedy as Judge Jim Cryer (John Schneider) and his rich friends find out what happens when personal flaws go unchecked. Karma has not been kind to the elite one percenters.

“’The Haves and the Have Nots’ was the first scripted drama we aired on OWN, and to say it took off from the first day it hit the air is an understatement,” said Oprah Winfrey. “It’s all due to one man’s creativity and very vivid imagination, a man I refer to as my ‘big little brother,’ Tyler Perry. I thank Tyler, the incredible cast, the tireless crew and every single viewer who watched with bated breath each week and tweeted along with us these past eight years. I will be watching alongside you all during this final season.”

“We are so grateful to Tyler Perry, the amazing cast and everyone at Tyler Perry Studios for eight incredible years of making ‘The Haves and the Have Nots’ one of the biggest hits on cable television of the last decade,” said Tina Perry, president, OWN. “The series will forever hold its place in history as the network’s first ever scripted drama for which we are so proud. We can’t wait for fans to see the juicy storylines Tyler has planned for the final episodes.”
“The Haves and the Have Nots” is produced for OWN by Tyler Perry Studios and created, written and executive produced by Tyler Perry.

What do you think? Are you sorry that there won’t be a ninth season?


Uh Oh? Bruce Willis Reportedly Asked To Leave Store After Refusing To Wear Mask!
Maybe Bruce Willis is “Unbreakable,” but the rest of us? Not so much.
PageSix reports that the actor was asked to leave a Rite Aid in Los Angeles Monday after refusing to wear a mask.
A source told the outlet that people in the store noticed that Willis wasn’t wearing a mask and he left without finishing his shopping. Willis was photographed in the Rite Aid wearing a bandana around his neck (but not pulled over his nose and mouth).

“It was an error in judgment,” Willis told PEOPLE. “Be safe out there everyone and let’s continue to mask up.”
Los Angeles County is approaching one million cases of coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic. More than 12,300 people have died of COVID-19 there.

Willis, 65, was born in Germany and grew up in Carneys Point in Salem County. The alum of Penns Grove High School later worked at the Salem Nuclear Power Plant in Lower Alloways Creek and DuPont Chambers Works factory in Deepwater, Pennsville. The future action hero studied drama at Montclair State University before moving to New York.
The two-time Emmy winner got his start on “Moonlighting” in the ‘80s before starring in the “Die Hard” movies, “Pulp Fiction,” “The Fifth Element,” “Look Who’s Talking,” “12 Monkeys” — which centers around a deadly virus — “The Sixth Sense,” “Unbreakable” and “Glass.”

On social media, people criticized and roasted Willis for the maskless shopping trip, often with a “Die Hard” theme. There were also a fair few jokes.


Naomi Osaka Is Louis Vuitton's Newest Ambassador!
Naomi Osaka‘s big 2020 is leading into an already-optimistic 2021, as Louis enlists the beloved tennis star to become its new brand ambassador. Spotlighted in Spring/Summer 2021 clothing, the accompanying campaign imagery was shot by the house’s artistic director of women’s collections, Nicolas Ghesquière.

One of the first Black women to hold the mantle of brand ambassador for the luxury house, Osaka wears her curly hair in a delicate cloud for the SS21 campaign as a nod to her signature on-court look. The three-time Grand Slam champ also sports one Ghesquière’s colorful seasonal T-shirts, elevated with illustrative prints and a golden sash that encircles her arm as if in homage to her champion legacy. Finally, Osaka totes a minute shoulder bag realized in Louis Vuitton’s monogram canvas, uniting the star athlete with the house’s key iconography.
“Aside from tennis, my most treasured passion is fashion; and there is no brand more iconic than Louis Vuitton,” Osaka said in a statement. “It is such an honor to work with Nicolas – he’s a designer I admire so much and we share a mutual love of Japanese culture and style. To become global brand ambassador is truly a dream come true for me.”

“Naomi is an exceptional woman who represents her generation and is also a role model for everyone,” Ghesquière continued. “Her career and convictions are inspiring. I am in awe of Naomi, she stays true to herself and doesn’t compromise on her values.” says Nicolas Ghesquière.
Though Osaka’s work with LV is only just beginning, the young athlete already has a sizeable history with Nike, including a recent collaborative Blazer.


Al Reynolds Claims Star Jones Knew About His Sexuality Before They Got Married!
Back in 2017 Star Jones' ex-husband Al Reynolds came out as bi-sexual nearly ten years after their divorce.
Now Al claims Star knew he was into men before they got  married...

In an interview with podcaster Shawn Allen Al Reynolds insists he was NOT the first bi-sexual man Star Jones was involved with and that the man she was engaged to before him was also bi-sexual. Al also said he's not the first bisexual man to be engaged to a woman and won't be the last and that, "Some women like it."


André Leon Talley Praises Vogue’s Controversial Kamala Harris Cover!
Not everyone is hating on Vogue’s February cover featuring Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
André Leon Talley is singing its praises and backing his former Vogue boss, Anna Wintour. “It’s GREAT. JUST GREAT. GREAT,” he wrote on Instagram.
Harris appears on the cover in a blazer, jeans and Converse sneakers. The casual look sparked outrage after the image was leaked online, but Talley believes it will usher in a new era of women’s fashion
“Her work uniform with her ubiquitous Converse sneakers is aspirational. I predict its [sic] going to set a trend for all young women all over the world, [who] are going to dress like Kamala Harris,” he said.

Vogue also released a digital cover with Harris appearing in a more formal Michael Kors pantsuit. Both covers were shot by 26-year-old photographer Tyler Mitchell, whom Talley also praised.
“[Mitchell] comes from a universe that is new. He is not aligned with the titans of [Vogue ]… His work must be seen through the prism of 2021,” the former Vogue editor-at-large said, adding, “both the digital and the print covers are superb.”

And for those who disagree? “Take me down. Clapback at me on social media. All I can say is Anna Wintour is not abdicating. And I wish I was there, at Vogue, to celebrate w/the team,” he wrote.
Talley has been critical of Wintour in the past. In his memoir, “The Chiffon Trenches,” said she’s “not capable” of “human kindness” and that she dumped him for being “too old, too overweight, too uncool.”


'This Is Us': Sterling K. Brown Just Skinny Dipped, and Fans Can't Believe It!
Sterling K. Brown has been baring all during this season of This Is Us. First, viewers were graced with his on-screen character, Randall Pearson, being caught during a live webcam doing a dance while taking his clothes off, much to the enjoyment of his coworkers as he became a viral sensation. During Tuesday's episode, Brown once again showed off his physique, this time while skinny dipping.

Viewers of This Is Us were teased at the end of the prior week's episode as Randall learned from his late mother's friend that she had actually lived much longer than he thought. (His biological father, William, believed she had died shortly after he was born.) The show then went back and explained how his mother had not died despite seemingly being death's door. 
As the previous episode showed, Randall and his wife, Beth, headed down to New Orleans to learn about his birth mother. Near the end of the episode, Randall was seen walking into a body of water near her home as he stripped down and immersed himself. The quick snapshot set Twitter off as many fans reacted to the show-all scene.


ABC Says They Did Not Support Bachelor Nation's James McCoy Taylor at Capitol Riots Despite His Claims!
Former The Bachelorette contestant James McCoy Taylor has publicly thanked ABC for their apparent support after he participated in last week's riots at the U.S. Capitol.
On Monday, Jan. 11, Taylor—who appeared on JoJo Fletcher's season of The Bachelorette in 2016—tweeted, "Big thanks to #TheBachelor family for supporting me during this time... from top to bottom."
The former aspiring singer, who now works in PR, called the "conservative producers" from the ABC franchise "the best," writing, "Thank you @ABCNetwork @ABC & @BachelorABC for having my back while I legally supported our President."

Taylor was not explicit in detailing how exactly ABC or those working for the network allegedly praised him for his actions, however an insider tells E! News his remarks are not truthful.
In fact, the source close to ABC calls James' claims "unequivocally false."
On Jan. 5, Taylor confirmed his intent to attend a rally protesting the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
"DC tomorrow," he tweeted, "#MarchForTrump Take a bus. Drive. MSG me if you need a plane ticket... just don't make an excuse not to fight for a man who's been fighting for you for 4 years..."
The following day, Wednesday, Jan. 6, supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in Washington D.C. as Congress certified President Elect-Joe Biden's win.

Taylor has yet to post photos or footage of himself in D.C. on Jan. 6, so the extent of his participation in the deadly riots is not yet known.
The 34-year-old's social media presence indicates he is a self-avowed supporter of Trump and the Blue Lives Matter countermovement. Just days before the riots, Taylor stated he's "considering a run for president."

Watch: Selena Gomez Calls Out Social Media CEOs After U.S. Capitol Riot
Olympic gold medalist Klete Keller was also among those who participated in the riots. Former teammates and coaches of the decorated swimmer identified him in footage of rioters pushing back against police in the Capitol Rotunda.

According to NBC News, at least 55 individuals have been arrested and charged for their suspected role in the incident. Those charges include unlawful entry, assault, theft and weapons charges.


Idris Elba Inks New Production Deal With British Television Network!
Hollywood leading man Idris Elba is making a few power moves behind the scenes and is teaming up his Green Door Productions with Kris Thykier’s Archery Pictures to produce the British television network Sky’s new drama series “Riviera.”
Elba told The Hollywood Reporter, “I’m excited to begin a partnership with Kris on upcoming film and television projects and to start this collaboration with his team at Archery. Building Green Door has been a steep learning curve and a thrilling ride. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved. Now I believe we are ready to take the next step in our growth as a company, and our alliance with Archery will facilitate and accelerate that process.”

Besides Rivera, the two production companies will also work together on selected projects for television and film. Elba’s production company Green Door already has three seasons of its Sky comedy series “In the Long Run” to its credit and produced the feature film Concrete Cowboy.
Concrete Cowboy also stars Elba and was recently acquired by Netflix.

Thykier further commented to The Hollywood Reporter, “Idris Elba is a global superstar, one of the best actors of his generation, an acclaimed director and a genuine force of nature. I look forward to working closely with him through this next phase of his career. With Green Door Pictures, he has built a production company founded on the core values of ‘paying it backwards,’ providing support and opportunities for creative talent from diverse backgrounds, who might otherwise fall outside of established industry norms and practices. All of us at Archery look forward to working with Idris and his colleagues on developing new projects that build on his talents as well as helping underpin his company’s goals.”

Elba’s Green Door is also working on the BBC non-scripted series “Fight School” which is slated for release later this year.


Atlanta Rapper YFN Lucci Wanted By Police On Murder Charges!
Atlanta police are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to rapper YFN Lucci’s arrest. He is wanted in connection to a fatal shootout that took place in Atlanta last month.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Lucci, real name Rayshawn Bennett, is wanted for murder, aggravated assault, participating in criminal street gang activity, and for a weapons charge, police said Tuesday. 

On December 10, James Adams, 28, was found with a gunshot wound to the head just after 5 p.m. Shortly after, a second gunshot victim turned up at a nearby fire station. It was determined the shootings were related.

Anyone with information on Bennett’s whereabouts is asked to call Atlanta police.


Judge Rules Former Officer Derek Chauvin Will Be Tried Separately!
A judge ruled Monday that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin will be tried separately for his role in George Floyd’s death.
NBC News reports that Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill set jury selection for Chauvin’s trial on March 8. Opening statements will begin no later than March 29.
According to NPR, the judge cited coronavirus restrictions as the reason for separating the trials between Chauvin and the other officers accused of killing Floyd. Prosecutors disagreed with the judge’s ruling.

“We respectfully disagree with the court’s decision to sever three of the defendants from the other and its ruling on the timing of the trials,” Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement. “As we argued several months ago, and as the judge agreed in his November ruling, we believe all four defendants should be tried jointly.”

The other three officers involved, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng, and Tou Thao, will be tried together beginning on August 23.


Rick Snyder & Several Of His Former Staff Will Be Charged In Flint Water Crisis Case!
Former Michigan governor Rick Snyder and several former staff will be charged for their role in the Flint water crisis. The water crisis led to a dangerous Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in 2014-2015.
Sources close to the investigation told the Associated Press that in addition to Snyder, former health department director Nick Lyon and several others on Snyder’s administration at the time are facing charges, though the nature of those charges could not be confirmed. The attorney general’s office also declined to speak on the charges, as the investigation remains ongoing.

Snyder was the governor at the time when state leaders switched the predominately Black city’s water supply to the Flint River in 2014 to save money while a pipeline to Lake Huron was being developed. The problem was the water was untreated and did not reduce corrosion. This caused lead from old pipes to spoil the distribution system used by almost 100,000 residents. Bacteria in the water led to the Legionnaires’ outbreak, which resulted in 90 cases of the disease and 12 deaths.

It wasn’t until 2018 that Lyon stood trial for involuntary manslaughter after being accused by a special prosecutor of failing to notify residents of the dangerous outbreak in a timely fashion. By June 2019, prosecutors under the direction of the new attorney general, Dana Nessel, dismissed the case against Lyon and others charged to begin a new investigation.


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘PHOTOSHOPPED OR NAH?’
 
So I’m gonna go ahead and call photoshop….right?


HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM

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