Rosario Dawson for Health Magazine - March 2021!
Gracing the cover of Health’s March Self-Care-themed issue, Rosario Dawson admits she’s a serial workaholic, yet committed to practicing gratitude, slaying her anxiety and finding balance. Dawson opens up about her long-distance relationship with U.S. Senator Cory Booker, her surprise appearance on The Mandalorian, and her commitment to find a therapist for the first time ever.
On the special bond with her daughter she adopted when she was 11: “I’m grateful for her development, our maturation, and our connection. She moved in [with me] at 11; she’s 17 now and going to be 18 soon. To have a young person move in with you and to have to really consciously work through triggers and that kind of stuff is a really different thing than being pregnant and having your baby grow up in front of you—to be able to see how we’re getting closer and closer. We are a family, and it’s beautiful.”
On how her childhood affected her view on adoption: “So, around the age of 5, I found out my dad wasn’t my biological father. That was super shocking to me. I’m Daddy’s little girl. I don’t know my biological father. Apparently, he died in 2011, but I didn’t have a relationship with him. At 5, it was a lot to take in, and I recall thinking, ‘What if my parents hadn’t met, and I was older, and no one wanted to marry my mom because she had an older kid?’ I remember vividly back then saying that when I was older I was going to adopt an older child. With my daughter, I didn’t go to an adoption center or anything like that. My family knew her biological mom, and when we found out she was in foster care, we looked for her. It wasn’t even a question; it was clearly meant to be—she’s my kid. It’s wild to think I manifested this when I was younger.”
On The Mandalorian and its spin-off based on her character: “Talk about my dream come true. The Star Wars universe is big, and it’s whimsical, and it’s all these great magical, incredible things. But at the heart, it’s also about family, redemption, and seeking out the light. I love that about being a Jedi. It’s not like you become a Jedi and that’s it for life. You can still go to the Dark Side—you have to choose the light every single day. You have to be steadfast in your values and in your purpose so as not to be corrupted.”
On committing to therapy, self-care and finding balance: “I have had it [therapy] in my life, but it hasn’t been specific to me and my personal needs. I read my self-help books, and I’ve done weekend programs and [things] like that. I’ve tried to do these major download moments, and then I just go back to my life, but I’ve realized that it’s got to be more than just focusing on self-help for a moment. It needs to be a deeper practice. So that’s something I’m going to work on—getting a therapist.” “I’m grateful that I’ve traveled so much and worked so hard. But my priorities have shifted, and I’ve realized I need to slow down a bit and be nearer to the people I love most.”
The March issue of Health magazine will be available for sale February 12th.
#RHOA: Kenya Moore Called Out for 'Double Standards' After She Ditches Costars to Care for Daughter!
On Sunday's Real Housewives of Atlanta, the episode picked up with the ladies having dinner on night two of their girls getaway to Isles of Palms, South Carolina, which Kenya, 50, had planned.
At the conclusion of dinner, Porsha Williams asked if the women would be playing a game. Although Kenya didn't have one planned — and jokingly said they should all run to their rooms and go to sleep at 9:32 p.m. — Porsha suggested they all play "Never Have I Ever," which the group agreed to.
As the women all went to change into their pajamas before returning to the living room for the game, Kenya picked up her 2-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, from the nanny and didn't return downstairs — a move that abruptly ended the night.
To recap, Kenya coordinated and was host of the cast trip. Although she chartered a private plane for herself, Brooklyn, a nanny, and LaToya Ali to fly from Georgia to South Carolina, she organized for her castmates to ride in a sprinter van (which wasn't air-conditioned). On top of that, she didn't tell her costars that her little girl would be attending — or extend the same invitation for them to bring their own children.
On Sunday's episode, as the women waited for Kenya to join them for the game, Kandi Burruss walked upstairs and knocked on her friend's door. "Kenya Moore, like seriously, c'mon," Kandi, 44, said.
With the lights off in her room and realizing that cameramen had followed Kandi, Kenya asked: "Why do you have a camera here?"
"I didn't have the camera here. They just ran up here. I was up here first," Kandi explained as Kenya left the door half-shut and proceeded to say she wasn't joining. "Okay, well, I'm not coming down."
A surprised Kandi asked, "Are you serious?" as Kenya confirmed, "I am."
When Kandi asked if anyone else could stay with Brooklyn, Kenya said "no."
Calling out her friend, Kandi said that Kenya up and leaving was "not cool."
But Kenya stood by her decision. "Okay, that's not cool. I'm sorry. I don't know what you want."
Walking downstairs, Kandi proceeded to inform the ladies of Kenya's decision. All not happy with the news, they decided to go to bed instead of play a game.
"Kenya does have money, Kenya does afford herself nannies, and even if you couldn't afford anything else, you could afford some common damn sense," Porsha, 39, told the cameras.
Porsha, who is mom to daughter Pilar Jhena who turns 2 in March, also added: "Kenya is synonymous with selfish. Listen, I get where Kenya's coming from. But her being the host, she should've given all of us the option to bring our kids or not."
Getting emotional, Kandi, who also has a baby girl — 14-month-old Blaze — told the women that Kenya's actions "just pissed me off, because this is all a double standard thing that's happening right now and I'm not with it."
The next day, after Kandi handed out costumes to each of the ladies for Cynthia Bailey's surprise dungeon-style bachelorette party taking place that night, she had a sitdown conversation with Kenya.
During the chat, she called out Kenya for being "annoying" throughout the trip, noting that she flew private and didn't tell the group, only ordered lunch for herself and not for everyone, and went to her room "never to be heard from again" the previous evening.
"You was just straight rude," Kandi told Kenya, who questioned that she was being "rude for disappearing?"
"Yes, that's rude if you're the host," Kandi explained. "There are multiple things that have happened that annoyed me. And last night was the last straw. I'm just saying if it was anybody else doing this to you, it would be a madhouse."
Explaining her current circumstances amid her divorce from estranged husband Marc Daly, a visibly emotional Kenya said, "I don't have a village right now. You know what I mean? So for me it's just been really stressful and I told you that," she told Kandi, wiping away tears.
"It has been over a year since Marc and I have been separated. As a separated person who has a child all the time, it's just me," Kenya, who has not been away from her daughter a day in her life, explained to cameras. "The decisions I make are not because I want to, it's because I have to. I don't have a choice."
After chatting with Kandi, Kenya addressed the group before the day's activities began and attempted to explain and apologize.
"I have heard your requests and demands and complaints. Last night, I didn't explain to you guys that I have my child here. So we went back up to the room. I just want to let you guys know that I apologize. And I do apologize for not having lunch yesterday — I definitely should have asked you guys," she said.
But the conversation wasn't put to rest. That night at dinner, the women served up the drama when they confronted Kenya.
"Last night, I did go upstairs and my child was there and I made the decision to make sure that she was safe in her bed while I was there," Kenya explained to Drew Sidora, who brought up the topic at the outset of the meal. "Unfortunately for me, I made the best decision for my child at that moment. As a single mom, I have to make the decision that's best for my child. And anybody who is judging me for that, it's really shameful."
Although Kenya apologized earlier in the day, the women didn't understand that it was as an apology.
After back-and-forth amongst the women, Cynthia, 53, stepped in to share her perspective. "When you put this trip together, just from a communication standpoint, if you knew that because of your situation you had to bring your daughter, it would've been nice to let the other ladies in the group that have children have the option," said Cynthia.
Kenya fired back, "I don't need to give them an option," which was met with pushback from the table.
"That is the problem — you've been doing double standards all trip," said Kandi.
In the end, Kenya said she was sorry.
"If I was supposed to tell you guys as a host, a co-host, and I did not tell you, I apologize for that. Going upstairs to take care of my daughter, I didn't think it would feel like that," she told the women. "But if I had seen you crying, that would have been a big deal to me," Kenya said in Kandi's direction. "I'm sorry I went off on your earlier."
The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays (8 p.m. ET) on Bravo.
#MusicNews: D’Angelo to Face Off Against ‘Friends’ in Verzuz DJ Battle at Apollo Theater!
R&B superstar D’Angelo will face off against unnamed “Friends” in a Verzuz DJ battle aimed straight at the hearts of the series’ core audience. The battle will take place on Saturday, Feb. 27 at Harlem’s historic Apollo Theater, where virtually every R&B legend from Billie Holiday and Stevie Wonder to Lauryn Hill and, of course, D’Angelo has performed.
The internet lit up on Valentine’s Day night with speculation about who the “friends” might be for this episode of Verzuz, the online DJ-battle series that finds artists playing their hits against a contemporary artist in a (usually) friendly competition while fans cheer on via social media. Launched last year by veteran songwriter-producers Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, the series plays up the drama between the two artists like a sports competition — the more backstory, the better. Sometimes it’s a lovefest (like Jill Scott vs. Erykah Badu, or Alicia Keys “vs.” John Legend), while others present artists who genuinely had differences in the past (Brandy vs. Monica and especially Jeezy vs. Gucci Mane). It almost immediately became a lockdown favorite, particularly with the demographic that loves the R&B and hip-hop of the 1990s-early 2000s and is also active on social media. Like the Brandy vs. Monica matchup, D’Angelo is a bullseye for that audience.
The Virginia-born singer burst onto the scene in the mid-1990s on the wave of “new retro soul” artists ranging from Erykah Badu and Maxwell to the Roots and Fugees, with a sound that was informed by both hip-hop and the classic R&B the artists grew up on. Due in no small part to the steamy video for his song “Untitled (How Does It Feel),” D’Angelo was poised for superstardom with his 2000 album “Voodoo,” but became uncomfortable with the attention and effectively vanished for almost 15 years, touring rarely and playing pickup shows with longtime collaborator Questlove. He finally re-emerged with 2014’s powerful “Black Messiah,” but dropped from sight after a tour in support of the album — which included a special show at the Apollo, a venue he also had played early in his career.
The setting for his Verzuz is no coincidence, as the Apollo holds meaning not only for D’Angelo but also his possible “Friends,” who could include any of the above artists as well as many others. D’Angelo surfaces into public view so rarely that speculation quickly emerged about a new album, but similar rumors have arisen many times over the past two decades, and he’s released one album in 21 years.
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj’s Father Killed In New York City Hit & Run!
Nicki Minaj’s father has reportedly been killed in a hit and run car accident in New York City. According to TMZ, Nassau County Police say Robert Maraj was walking between Roslyn Road and Raff Avenue on Friday evening (February 12) around 6 p.m. local time when he was hit by a vehicle heading northbound.
Police say the driver then fled the scene and is still on the lam. The 64-year-old was taken to a local hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries over the weekend. The Homicide Squad is currently investigating the case and asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect.
Nicki has yet to speak on her father’s death on social media. Their relationship has been somewhat strained over the years, so it’s unclear what their status was at the time of his death. In 2010, she told Details, “He drank a lot and did drugs, and he would get violent when he did. When he set fire to the house, he was attempting to kill my mother.
“She got out before it burned all the way down. I’ve always had this female-empowerment thing in the back of my mind — because I wanted my mother to be stronger, and she couldn’t be. I thought, ‘If I’m successful, I can change her life.’”
Then in 2018, the Grammy Award-winning artist shared a pair of videos to her Instagram account featuring snippets of the Making Of A Queen documentary that touched on her tumultuous childhood.
“I remember when my mother would let my father be violent with her and she always brings up this story about when I was a little girl and I would stand in front of my mother [with my arms open]. That’s why maybe some people would describe me as abrasive or bitchy or whatever because I vowed from that age no man would ever abuse me, call me out my name, treat me like that. Then all of a sudden, that was my life.”
We sends our condolences to Nicki and her family.
OH BABY! Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Are Having Another Baby!
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have announced that they’re expecting their second child. The news comes just a few months after the duchess revealed in a poignant op-ed for the New York Times last November that she had miscarried that July. The couple, who stepped down as senior royals last year, are also parents to son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, who turns 2 in May.
“We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother,” a spokesperson for the couple told royal correspondents Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie, authors of the 2020 Meghan and Harry biography Finding Freedom. “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.”
A black-and-white photo accompanying the Valentine’s Day announcement shows the couple in a fittingly romantic pose shot outdoors. Meghan, wearing a pale dress and tenderly placing her hand on her prominent bump, rests her head on her doting husband’s lap in the shot taken by photographer and activist Misan Harriman.
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Prince Charles are said to be “delighted” by the announcement.
"Her Majesty, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales and the entire family are 'delighted' and wish them well," a palace spokesman told People.
The baby news, which comes days after Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie welcomed a baby boy, isn’t the only thing the California-based couple are celebrating. Last week Meghan scored a significant legal round in her ongoing lawsuit against the Mail on Sunday, a victory she marked by thanking Harry and her mother, Doria Ragland, for their support
'1,000-lb Sisters' Star Tammy Slaton Comes out as Pansexual!
Tammy Slaton took a brave step on the latest episode of 1,000-lb Sisters on TLC. In a preview shared by TMZ, Slaton and her boyfriend Jerry join sister Amy Slaton and her husband Michael Halterman for dinner at a restaurant. It turns out to be an eventful gathering for Tammy Slaton as she opens up to her significant other.
"So, like Jerry, I got some stuff that we need to talk about," Slaton says in the preview clip, with Jerry telling her she can tell him anything. "I'm pansexual," she reveals to a confused Jerry in the moment.
Pansexuality is a sexual identity that removes gender from the equation and offers love, sexual attraction and romance to people from all walks. Slaton explains her understanding of it to her boyfriend on the show, noting that she thought she was bisexual until coming to the realization.
"It means love is love. I would date anybody whether they're transgender, straight, gay," Slaton says in Monday's episode. "It's about how they make me feel, not how they look."
Slaton continues to explain her feelings in the show's confessional moment according to ET Canada. "I always thought I was bisexual, and then I started talking to one of my friends and she told me she was pansexual, and I asked her kind of what it meant," she says. "It means you love everybody, not just the same sex. And I was like, 'Well, I guess I am too,' because I wouldn't mind being with someone who's transgender, or whatever."
While he was confused, Jerry was accepting of the new information and made it clear during his own confessional. "[I'm] still trying to figure out what it means, but I'm okay with it. I love Tammy the way she is," he tells the TLC cameras.
Opening up about her sexuality is only the latest major life change Tammy Slaton has undergone on the TLC series. She has been working toward getting bariatric surgery to aid in her weight loss quest, though she was getting a lot of rough news during the first season of the TLC hit. But even then, the sisterhood is strong as Amy Slaton is recovering from her own procedure.
"My sister is my everything. She's been there for me whenever I need her, whenever I don't need her. But, Amy needs me right now. So, I'm going to help her as much as possible. Whatever she needs, I got her back," Tammy said in an exclusive clip from February 2020. 1,000-lb Sisters airs Monday at 10 p.m. ET on TLC, with a repeat of the prior week's episode right after.
Judge Rules Pharrell Williams Didn’t Commit Perjury In ‘Blurred Lines’ Lawsuit!
Pharrell Williams can now finally put the legal battle between him and the estate of the late soul crooner Marvin Gaye behind him. The copyright battle over Robin Thicke’s 2013 hit “Blurred Lines” which was produced by Williams has been decided. The hit song featured T.I. and Williams along with Thicke.
Gaye’s estate had previously claimed that The Neptunes’ producer and Thicke stole portions of the Motown legend’s classic “Got To Give It Up” for their song and a judge ruled in 2018 that the two artists were liable for copyright infringement.
However, in December 2019, Gaye’s family filed a motion in federal court accusing Williams of committing perjury during the case which left the motion at a standstill.
The lawyer’s of Gaye’s estate pulled an old GQ interview of Williams where he told the magazine that he “reverse engineered” the song. They claimed he contradicted himself during the deposition when he said he “did not go in the studio with the intention of making anything feel like, or to sound like, Marvin Gaye.”
In the interview he also told GQ, “We try to figure out if we can build a building that doesn’t look the same, but makes you feel the same way. I did that in ‘Blurred Lines’ and got myself in trouble.”
U.S. District Court Judge John Kronstadt finally closed the case on Friday in California ruling that the super-producer didn’t commit perjury.
“The statements by Williams during the November 2019 Interview were cryptic and amenable to multiple interpretations. For example, it is unclear what Williams meant by ‘reverse-engineer[ing].’ Read in context, Williams statement about ‘reverse-engineering’ could be interpreted as a process in which he remembers his feelings when listening to particular music, and then attempts to recreate those feelings in his own works,” Kronstadt wrote in his decision,
According to Entertainment Weekly, Gaye’s estate had been seeking around $3.5 million in attorney fees and costs, which Judge Kronstadt denied in the copyright suit. The family was awarded damages though, as well as half of all future royalties for “Blurred Lines.”
“This is not inconsistent with his deposition testimony, in which he claimed that he realized after creating ‘Blurred Lines’ that the feeling he tried to capture in the song, was one that he associated with Marvin Gaye,” the judge wrote in his decision. “For these reasons, the Gaye parties have not shown by clear and compelling evidence that there are sufficiently material inconsistencies between Williams’ statements in the November 2019 interview and his sworn testimony, to support a finding of perjury.”
T.I., who was just a feature on the song, escaped all the legal tie-ups associated with the production.
Dwyane Wade Bares Ripped Abs in Pre-Valentine's Day Shirtless Selfies!
Dwyane Wade wants you know he is looking HOT! The 39-year-old retired pro basketball player took to Instagram on Saturday (February 13) to share a couple of shirtless selfies while posing in front of a mirror.
“Pre-Valentine Behavior,” Dwyane wrote while showing off his super ripped abs while wearing a pair of Amiri sweatpants.
Dwyane‘s wife Gabrielle Union took to the comments to react to her hubby’s sexy post, writing, “👀😛🥰🖤”
Dwyane‘s 19-year-old son Zaire also reacted to the post, hilariously writing, “Here we go again 😒”
Claudia Conway Makes Her 'American Idol' Debut: 'Now My Voice Is Being Heard'!
When we last left American Idol, in the middle of a dystopian 2020, Season 18’s production had been derailed by the coronavirus pandemic — forcing the finalists to remotely perform in their living rooms, converted garages, and backyards, with eventual champion Just Sam celebrating her victory alone in a corporate apartment via Zoom. Nearly a year later, on Sunday’s Season 19 premiere, the show was mostly back to normal (“Dreams are not canceled!” declared judge Katy Perry), although Ryan Seacrest was sporting a lush quarantine beard and many of the auditioners were virtually accompanied by their family and friends, who loomed large on an “immersive” digital wall.
And there on that billboard-sized Big Brother wall, in a viral moment totally on-brand for a dystopian 2021, was Kellyanne Conway, former White House senior counselor to Donald Trump, telling her 16-year-old social media star daughter Claudia, “This is your time to shine, but remember: Winners are people who are willing to lose.”
The timing and wording of this (sur)reality TV scene was certainly interesting, considering that Sunday's Idol premiere, featuring Claudia Conway’s much-hyped audition, aired just one day after Trump’s acquittal in his second impeachment trial. The ex-president had been accused by House impeachment managers of inciting an insurrection by claiming that the 2020 presidential election had been stolen from him — i.e., Trump was someone who was not willing to lose. Claudia, returning to Twitter after a nearly six-month hiatus on Saturday to promote her Idol appearance, had actually tweeted, “Side note but how in the world could Trump have been acquitted.”
Claudia had been active on other social media platforms, namely TikTok, since her August 2020 Twitter break, and a video she posted from the set of her Idol audition back in November had instantly made TMZ headlines, with many skeptics decrying what appeared to be Idol’s gimmick casting for ratings. Claudia preemptively responded to those doubters and haters via Twitter on Saturday, saying, “A lot of people think that my being on American Idol is a publicity stunt but I can promise you it is not. I have been vocally trained and in music for most of my life and did this on my own merit.” (Sunday's Idol episode featured some home bedroom footage of Claudia singing at age 12, so she had the receipts.) “This was a really amazing opportunity and I took it! It’s starting the next chapter of my life: coming into my own and creating a name for MYSELF. I’m Claudia; I’m not someone’s daughter or that girl in family ‘drama.’ I’m just Claudia.”
The alarming and toxic Conway family drama, particularly between Claudia and Kellyanne, has played out in real time on Claudia’s social media over the past couple years, so when Claudia appeared on Idol Sunday, Katy immediately asked her, “Are you OK?” Claudia responded with a nervous chuckle, “No! But yes.” Katy even asked if Kellyanne still hugs Claudia, to which Claudia answered affirmatively, although she elaborated, “She loves me, I love her, but our relationship, I feel like it’s a little iffy.” Claudia went on to explain that being on Idol was a way for her to share her true voice and establish her own identity, a way to prove that she’s more than just “emancipation girl” or “that blond woman from Fox News' daughter.”
“Most of my life, my feelings had been suppressed, so then I got social media and was like, ‘Well, yeah. Now my voice is being heard,’” a surprisingly poised Claudia explained to Katy and judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. “When your mom is working for the president of the United States, who you very much disagree with, it's hard. …The internet can be a very, very dark place. But when life is all going downhill, I have my music. Now, I want to get out of the controversy, get out of the drama, and let people know that I am a singer and this is what I want to do.” Meanwhile, Claudia’s attorney father George (a known “never Trump” Republican who endorsed Joe Biden for president) accompanied her in person and stood outside the audition room in tears, saying, “I couldn’t imagine anything that would make her happier than to do this.”
So, the obvious question on the judges’ and viewers’ minds was… can Claudia Conway actually sing? The short answer is yes. She has some raw talent. But she will need to work hard to graduate from TikTok star to pop star. Her first attempt, Rihanna’s “Love on the Brain,” showed potential, but her youth, inexperience, and nervousness also showed, resulting in an unfocused and inauthentic performance. Katy was clearly rooting for Claudia, however, so Katy stopped the audition, advised Claudia to take off her teetering heels, and try another song. Claudia went with Adele’s “When We Were Young,” a seemingly even more ambitious big ballad, but Katy coached her: “When you sing this song, think about when you were young. And there’s a sadness there. It’s like you lost your youth, because you weren’t able to experience it on your own without all of this noise.”
Claudia’s second performance was more heartfelt, so Katy then voted an enthusiastic yes. Luke voted no, saying Claudia wasn’t quite ready for prime time, and I saw his point; I doubt Katy would have been so hands-on, or that Claudia would have gotten so much screentime. if her parents weren't “high-profile political figures.” But Lionel gave Claudia “giant props” for her ability to take direction. “I think what you’re doing right now is stepping forward and announcing who you are. You chose music. I’m going to give you a shot at music. It’s a yes from me,” said Lionel, thus casting the deciding vote and sending Claudia (and presumably chaperone George) not back to D.C., but through to Hollywood.
Claudia gave the most viral — and probably most polarizing — audition Sunday, but definitely not the best audition. So, it will be a challenge for her to survive during a fiercely competitive Hollywood Week. Katy warned her, “There’s a lot of noise in your life. You have to calm the storm around you — meaning, before you sing, you need to get off your phone, you need to stop reading your comments. Push it aside. Because if not, you may not ever rise above your dad or your mom.” Katy later said, “This is wild. She’s coming in here with so much heat on her. But I think if she can keep that heat off, quiet all the noise, and remember the innocence and the love in her voice, I think there’s something there.”
Chris Harrison's Girlfriend Breaks Her Silence on His Bachelor Controversy and Temporary Exit!
Chris Harrison's girlfriend is breaking her silence on The Bachelor host.
Entertainment Tonight correspondent Lauren Zima, who has been dating the ABC star since early 2019, took to Instagram Stories to discuss the backlash her boyfriend has received in recent days.
The timing of the journalist's post came only an hour after Chris issued his second apology to Bachelor Nation and to those he hurt for his "ignorance." Additionally, Chris announced that he would temporarily be "stepping aside" from the ABC franchise.
"What Chris said was wrong and disappointing," Lauren, 33, began her caption on Saturday, Feb. 13. "Defending racism can never happen. Accountability comes first, what's next is learning and growth."
This is the first time the reporter has spoken out about her boyfriend's controversial comments, in which he discussed the backlash surrounding Bachelor contestant Rachael Kirkconnell's social media behavior.
On Saturday, Chris acknowledged his actions and said he was using this as a learning experience to be better.
"Hello everyone, I have spent the last few days listening to the pain my words have caused, and I am deeply remorseful," his post began. "My ignorance did damage to my friends, colleagues and strangers alike. I have no one to blame but myself for what I said and the way I spoke."
"I set standards for myself, and have not met them," he continued. "I feel that with every fiber of my being. Now, just as I taught my children to stand up, and to own their actions, I will do the same. By excusing historical racism, I defended it. I invoked the term 'woke police,' which is unacceptable. I am ashamed over how uninformed I was. I was so wrong."
The Bachelor Nation star, who is currently hosting Matt James' historic season of The Bachelor, then directly apologized to the people his words hurt. "To the Black community, to the BIPOC community: I am so sorry," he wrote. "My words were harmful. I am listening, and I truly apologize for my ignorance and any pain it caused you."
He added, "I want to give my heartfelt thanks to the people from these communities who I've had the enlightening conversations with over the past few days, and I am so grateful to those who have reached out to help me on my path to anti-racism."
Chris noted that after much reflection, he feels it's best to temporarily depart from the ABC franchise.
"The historic season of The Bachelor should not be marred or overshadowed by my mistakes or diminished by my actions," he explained. "To that end, I have consulted with Warner Bros. and ABC and will be stepping aside for a period of time and will not join for the After the Final Rose special."
According to a source, Chris "will appear in the remaining episodes of this season, which filmed at the end of 2020."
"He will also appear at Women Tell All episode on March 1, which was pre-taped earlier this month in Los Angeles," notes the source, adding, "The After the Final Rose special has not yet filmed, and additional details will be shared at a later date."
It's unclear if Chris will be replaced for The Bachelor special and how long his exit will be for.
As the 49-year-old old put things, "I am dedicated to getting educated on a more profound and productive level than ever before. I want to ensure our cast and crew members, to my friends, colleagues and our fans: this is not just a moment, but a commitment to much greater understanding that I will actively make every day."
Chris concluded, "From here I can only try to evolve and be a better man, and I humble myself before all of you. I hope I will again live up to the expectations you all rightfully have for me and the expectations I have for myself."
Earlier this week, Chris issued an apology after he came under fire for defending Rachael in an Extra interview with Rachel Lindsay, the first Black Bachelorette lead.
"To my Bachelor Nation family--I will always own a mistake when I make one, so I am here to extend a sincere apology," he wrote on Feb. 10. "I have this incredible platform to speak about love, and yesterday I took a stance on topics about which I should have been better informed. While I do not speak for Rachael Kirkconnell, my intentions were simply to ask for grace in offering her an opportunity to speak on her own behalf."
"What I now realize I have done is cause harm by wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism, and for that I am so deeply sorry," he continued. "I also apologize to my friend Rachel Lindsay for not listening to her better on a topic she has a first-hand understanding of, and humbly thank the members of Bachelor Nation who have reached out to me to hold me accountable. I promise to do better."
Earlier this year, Rachael, who is still competing on Matt's season, received criticism after photos from her college days resurfaced on Reddit. In the images, which E! News hasn't verified, Rachael was seen attending a fraternity formal in 2018. Of the post, the Redditor described the event as an "antebellum plantation themed ball."
Following the resurfaced pictures, many discussed Rachael's participation and alleged social media behavior. Additionally, a TikTok user previously accused the reality TV star of bullying her in high school.
Rachael responded to the controversy on Feb. 11, writing in part, "At one point, I didn't recognize how offensive and racist my actions were, but that doesn't excuse them. My age or when it happened does not excuse anything. They are not acceptable or okay in any sense. I was ignorant, but my ignorance was racist."
Read her full statement here. Following the host's backlash, Bachelor Nation stars have spoken out about the situation.
Tekashi 6ix9ine, Meek Mill Almost Come To Blows Outside Atlanta Club!
The long-simmering beef between Meek Mill and Tekashi 6ix9ine reached a boiling point Sunday morning, as the two rappers nearly came to blows in the parking lot of an Atlanta nightclub.
The rappers both posted footage they filmed of their vantage points of the altercation, in which the artists, surrounded by maskless entourages, lunged at each other while yelling lewd insults.
In one clip, Mill repeatedly hurled crude curse words at the agitated Bushwick rapper, while 6ix9ine accused the Philadelphia MC of having a cop in his security detail in another.
Meek said Tekashi was waiting for him outside the club, posting on Twitter: “We did not run into eachother I was getting in my car he just popped out ….we almost was smoking on that 69 pack for the love of a viral moment ….. he tryna get something locked up no cap lol”
The “Dreams and Nightmares” rapper said he spit on his rival after the ambush.
The two have been feuding on social media for months, after 6ix9ine took offense to a freestyle video Mills posted denouncing “snitches.”
Tekashi, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, served less than two years behind bars after he testified against his fellow gang members to avoid a lengthy prison sentence in connection with federal crimes, including murder conspiracy.
The 24-year-old rapper claimed he used the violent Nine Trey Bloods crew for “street credibility” while testifying against his alleged former associates, but the tattooed tattletale has been widely panned in the rap world for cooperating with the government.
Meek, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, has thrown shade at the “GOOBA” performer, tweeting “I hope that rat going live to apologize to the people he told on or the victim” as Tekashi was released to home confinement over coronavirus concerns last spring.
The Brooklyn rapper stuck back at the haters the next day, posting: “I want to apologize to my fans because you know what? It wasn’t worth it. If there is a street code and there’s something called ‘no loyalty’ and snitching and all that I get it. But, where was the loyalty when you were sleeping with my baby mother, Where was the loyalty when you were caught on the wiretap trying to kill me? Where was the loyalty when you tried to kidnap my mother? Where was the loyalty when you stole millions of dollars?”
Keyshia Cole Shows Her Getting a Tattoo and Her Hair Done While Holding Her Toddler!
Keyshia Cole added multi-tasker to her resume on Feb. 11, after the singer posted a recording of herself getting glammed up while holding her 1-year-old son Tobias Khale — shared with ex-boyfriend Niko Khale — in one arm and getting a tattoo on the other. Cole titled the 45-minute Instagram Live video “Tatt it.”
The “Love” vocalist jammed to a stream of records, including Jagged Edge’s song “Ready & Willing” as she documented the entire tattoo process at the hands of Josh Levario. Cole ultimately shared the finished product on her Instagram story, which consisted of a massive red heart with nails — shaped like a cross — piercing through it and a black anklet on her foot. She captioned the snapshot, “As you can see she’s a lil swollen. Here’s one without the shoe.”
Many fans expressed how they couldn’t get over Cole juggling multiple things at once, even if it were for a brief moment. While some cracked jokes in the comments section, others commended the mother of two.
“True definition of MOMMY MODE💪🏽.”
“If ‘I can do all things through Christ’ was a person.”
“hat tattoo couldn’t wait? 😂.”
“If u only got ‘5 minutes is a person.’ “
“This is just visual representation of being a mom who actually has her kid most of the time . The show must go on . 😂.”
As many people solely focused on the clip, others mentioned the “Verzuz” battle the songstress participated in with Ashanti earlier this year. Cole faced backlash for not only being over an hour late to the Instagram Live event, but also appearing on stage with an attitude.
One wrote how “off” the 39-year-old has been since the January competition. “She ain’t been right since the Verzuz.”
Another suggested Cole’s multitasking is what made her late to the battle. “This probably the real reason why she was late to the Verzuz battle.”
An Instagram user defended the singer against the trolls who continue to drag her. “Y’all still dragging her over that damn battle, but right before that, y’all loved her. get tf over it.”
On Jan. 23, days following the battle, Cole went on Instagram live with singer and songwriter Elijah Blake and apologized to fans for her tardiness. She said, “I want to apologize for not sitting my ass in that seat because I was there and I should’ve sat down. I should’ve just sat in the seat, no matter if I felt like the visual wasn’t clear or they said my music wasn’t gonna be right or whatever it was.”
Ex-NFL Player Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones Arrested for Knocking a Man Unconscious!
Early Monday morning, ex-NFL player Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones was arrested AGAIN for allegedly beating someone unconscious.
The 37-year-old was booked at 1:54 AM in Hamilton County, Ohio. Jail records show that he was charged with one count of misdemeanor assault.
Though the cause of the incident is unclear, court docs obtained by WCPO say that Jones is accused of punching and kicking the person in the head until they were unresponsive.
This is not the first time Jones has been arrested. In 2019, he was arrested after being accused of cheating at a casino. Court documents said that he threatened the police and told them to “suck my d*ck.”
Don’t forget the time when he got into a fight at the airport, knocking a dude out. He wasn’t accused of any wrongdoing in that situation, but he definitely proved he is not the one to be f*cked with.
JoJo Siwa Celebrates First Valentine's Day With Girlfriend!
JoJo Siwa and her girlfriend Kylie celebrated their first Valentine’s Day together.
Days after introducing her lady love to the world, the Dance Moms alum took to social media to honor the romantic holiday with a new photo and video of the happy couple.
"It’s my first valentines dayyyy!!🥰 No one in the world makes me as happy as this girl does," the 17-year-old singer said of her sweetheart. "I’m so thankful to have fallen in love with the most perfect person ever who makes me smile 24/7. I love you more than you’ll ever know.”
Kylie shared the same excitement and love on her Instagram Stories. “Getting to spend Valentine’s Day w the BEST human on earth. I love you I love you I love you @itsjojosiwa,” Kylie captioned a sweet snapshot of the School of Rock actress.
Siwa came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in a viral social media post in January. Shortly after sharing her coming-out story with the world, Siwa went Instagram official with Kylie in a touching Instagram post.
"After being my best friend for over a year, January 8th 2021 I got to start calling this exceptional human my Girlfriend... and Since then I've been the happiest I have ever been!" she wrote at the time. "She seriously is the most loving, supportive, happiest, protective, and just the most beautiful perfect person in the world. And I get to call her mine! Happy one month to my girl! I love you more and more everyday!❤️"
LAPD Launches Investigation After Report Of George Floyd Photo Passed Around Captioned ‘You Take My Breath Away’!
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating reports that George Floyd’s photo with the caption “You take my breath away” was circulating among officers.
KTLA reports that according to Police Chief Michael Moore, that another officer made a complaint about the photo. The complaining officer will be interviewed on Monday. The department is interested in learning how the picture ended up being passed around and by who.
“Our investigation is to determine the accuracy of the allegations while also reinforcing our zero-tolerance for anything with racist views,” Moore said.
The image was said to depict Floyd with the offensive caption in a Valentine-like format.
Last May, Floyd was killed after an officer knelt on his neck for over eight minutes while saying, “I can’t breathe” repeatedly. His death sparked protests across the nation against police brutality and racism.
‘Jeopardy!' Champ Brayden Smith Died Following Complications From Surgery!
Just days after "Jeopardy!" champ Brayden Smith died unexpectedly, his loved ones are shedding light on what caused his sudden death.
The 24-year-old died from complications from surgery, according to his family, who shared the news with a local CBS station in his hometown of Las Vegas.
Smith was a five-time winner of the game show and was known to fans as "Alex's Last Great Champion," since he appeared in some of Alex Trebek's final episodes before the host died.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the 24-year-old spent several days at a Southern Nevada hospital before his death on Feb. 5. TODAY reached out to Smith's family for comment on the local reports, but had not heard back as of this posting.
Over the weekend, Smith's mother, Debbie, posted a new tweet thanking the public for their support during a difficult time for the family.
"The outpouring of love for Brayden is overwhelming," she wrote. "We can’t express how much your beautiful comments are comforting us during this painfully sad time. Thank you."
The surprising news of the young champion's death came last week when Debbie Smith posted the announcement to her Twitter page.
"We are heartbroken to share that our dear Brayden Smith recently passed away unexpectedly. We are so grateful that Brayden was able to live out his dream on @jeopardy," she wrote.
The quiz show also issued a statement mourning the loss of the young contestant, who earned more than $115,000 during his run.
"The JEOPARDY! family is heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brayden Smith. He was kind, funny and absolutely brilliant," the show said. "Our deepest condolences go out to Brayden’s family. He will be missed."
To honor Smith's memory, his family has created a memorial fund dedicated to "furthering the educational aspirations of southern Nevada students." Funds will go to support scholarship awards, seminar tuitions, research grants, conference fees and more.
The 24-year-old was slated to compete on "Jeopardy!" once again in the show's Tournament of Champions and had plans to attend law school. His obituary describes him as “a lover of knowledge and an advocate for justice.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘PROTECT YO SELF’
Not the protection I was telling you to wear but I suppose it will generate the same result.
HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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