Chris Evans Covers Esquire Magazine
“Captain America” star Chris Evans covers the April 2017 issue of Esquire magazine photographed by Mark Segal.
On making political statements and engaging in public exchanges, including a recent heated Twitter debate with former KKK leader David Duke: “Look, I’m in a business where you’ve got to sell tickets. But, my God, I would not be able to look at myself in the mirror if I felt strongly about something and I didn’t speak up. I think it’s about how you speak up. We’re allowed to disagree. If I state my case and people don’t want to go see my movies as a result, I’m okay with that.”
Comparing his Captain America hero Steve Rogers with Gifted’s Frank Adler: “With Steve Rogers, even though you’re on a giant movie with a huge budget and strange costumes, you’re still on a hunt for the truth of the character. With Adler, it’s nice to play someone relatable. I think Julianne Moore said, ‘The audience doesn’t come to see you; they come to see themselves.’ Adler is someone you can hold up as a mirror for someone in the audience. They’ll be able to far more easily identify with Frank Adler than Steve Rogers.”
On family [and his parents’ divorce] and love and the struggles therein: “In my own life, I have a deep connection with my family and the value of those bonds. I’ve always loved stories about people who put their families before themselves. It’s such a noble endeavor. You can’t choose your family, as opposed to friends. Especially in L.A. You really get to see how friendships are put to the test; it stirs everyone’s egos. But if something goes south with a friend, you have the option to say we’re not friends anymore. Your family—that’s your family. Trying to make that system work and trying to make it not just functional but actually enjoyable is a really challenging endeavor, and that’s certainly how it is with my family.”
#RHoA: Cynthia Bailey Wants Phaedra Parks to Break Her Silence on Those Kandi Burruss Lesbian Rumors at the Reunion
Hold onto your Georgia Peaches, y'all! The Real Housewives of Atlanta assembled to film the Season 9 reunion Thursday, and you know it's going to be a juicy one.
Cynthia Bailey was seen earlier this week preparing to sit down with the other RHOA ladies and Andy Cohen to look back on all of the fun and feuds of the season. "I actually like the reunion. I'm a big closure girl. That's our time," Cynthia said. "At that point, we've seen it all, the scenes that we weren't in, we get to see who was saying what. That's our time to just address it. People can own up to it or lie about it or not own up to it."
It also helps that many a "receipt" is provided in the form of flashbacks to earlier moments in the season to give the ladies a little refresher on the words that did indeed come out of their mouths. "When somebody says, 'Who said that?' Flashback. You said that," Cynthia said.
And Cynthia is prepared to take ownership of everything she said this season. "If I feel like I was wrong about something, I have no problem apologizing for it," she shared. "If you want to accept it, great. If you don't want to accept it, great, because I still get the credit because I apologized, and I'm moving on whether you choose to or not. So it's a good closure moment for me."
However, Cynthia said she doesn't anticipate having to apologize for much. "I really wasn't too involved in too much of the dirty, dirty, dirty south drama that was going on. Like, when it got down and dirty, somehow I was just over at Lake Bailey, peace and love," she explained. "I thought it was gonna be a tough season because of the divorce stuff, but after Peter [Thomas] and I managed to get through that with some grace and class, everything else just kind of fell into place. I mean, I kind of dipped and dived here and there, but for the most part, I'm not too freaked out about the reunion."
But Cynthia does know a few people who will have some explaining to do at the reunion, such as Kandi Burruss and Porsha Williams, who have been embroiled in some fierce drama surrounding rumors about Kandi's sexuality and a sex dungeon. "There's obviously going to be a lot between Porsha and Kandi, for sure, because that just went on for way longer than it needed to," Cynthia said. "So hopefully they'll get all that together."
Cynthia also said that she anticipates Phaedra Parks finally breaking her silence over insinuating that she heard Kandi and Shamea Morton once became intimate, which she suggested with a certain hand gesture earlier this season of RHOA. "That hasn't really come up yet, so it's gonna be interesting to see if that comes up in the next episodes and if it doesn't, I'm sure it's gonna come up at the reunion," Cynthia said.
Cynthia doesn't exactly blame Phaedra for staying mum on the subject, but she said that she is surprised she didn't come to Porsha's defense amid all the drama, just as a friend. "If you're not gonna get called out about it, why confess?" Cynthia said. "I just thought at this point, just for the sake of solidarity for their friendship, she would say, 'OK, I just want to say, you guys are really giving her a hard time. I was the one saying this, and if I was wrong to say it, then I take it back.' Just something. I just feel like something should have been said from her at this point, just in support of her girl."
So really, Cynthia has just one concern when it comes to the reunion. "I'm just trying to figure out my glam at this point, hair and makeup," she said. "Regardless of whatever drama's going on, people are always very excited to see what I'm gonna wear, what my hair's gonna look like. So I'm just more focused on that."
We don't think Cynthia has anything to worry about in that department.
#EMPIRE: Lee Daniels Talks About Prince, Donald Trump And The Time Oprah Called Him “A Petulant Child” – SXSW
Lee Daniels’ SXSW keynote address Sunday morning encompassed everything from Donald Trump to Purple Rain, and even included the director doing his best Oprah Winfrey impersonation as he recalled the talk show queen dressing him down when he complained about ratings.
“Oprah said, ‘You petulant child…,’” Daniels said, imitating Winfrey’s reaction when he complained that his Star wasn’t getting the ratings of his Empire. “She said, ‘You still have solid numbers.’”
Daniels (Precious, Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Empire) said he hadn’t prepared a speech for SXSW, and after hitting some publicist-provided talking points, started to improvise. The election of Trump has been anything but a plus for society, he said, though he found a silver lining.
“We’re in difficult times,” he said about the Trump era. “This man is where he is — he’s a reflection of who we are. He is our karma. I’m trying to explain this to my son. It’s hard to be a dad and hard to be a black dad.”
The ascent of Trump, however, will be a boon for the creative community, according to Daniels. “I think some of the best art, literature, writing will come out of this. [After the election] I couldn’t sleep, but I wrote some of the best work I have ever done. I was in pain.”
Daniels recalled being beaten by his father and being in danger growing up “different” — Daniels is gay — in West Philadelphia. He credited his tough no-holds-barred grandmother as a role model, and said he based Empire’s Cookie Lyon on her.
Quoting his grandmother, Daniels recalled her telling him: “‘You’re a faggot and black and life isn’t going to be easy.’” He said he had wanted to kill himself, and after moving to Los Angeles following a year of college, he ended up “on drugs” as the AIDS crisis went full throttle and killed many of his friends.
“It’s a miracle I don’t have HIV,” he said. “I can’t figure it out.”
After taking a job at a nursing service, he started his own company. “It’s no different than pimping,” he said to laughs. “You charge $25 for a nurse and give the nurse $15. I went from making a few hundred dollars a week to a million dollars. It’s crazy.”
Daniels recalled selling his company and becoming a P.A. on Purple Rain, though he said he doesn’t think he has an IMDb credit for it — he doesn’t.
“Warner Bros. would fire me, but then Prince would hire me back,” he said. “I had no filter. They were suits. I’d say, ‘No motherfucker…’ I had no idea because I hadn’t worked with anyone [in Hollywood] before.”
He recalled shopping Monster’s Ball around town even though nobody would take him seriously. He said he felt “proud” of his early producing work on that film, which earned Halle Berry an Oscar for Best Actress in 2001, and The Woodsman with Kevin Bacon, and later on his feature film directorials Precious, The Paperboy and Lee Daniels’ The Butler, which he credits with paving the way to Empire.
“It was very hard [to get Empire], but I think it came off strong after The Butler. [Fox] was interested to see [what I had].”
An emotional moment today came when Daniels spotted Precious star Gabourey Sidibe sitting in the audience. He brought her to the stage, and the two bantered back and forth (Sidibe has a book coming out). Daniels joked that she was mad he “only had her in a few episodes of Empire.”
In closing, Daniels said that his ego is more in check these days. “I’m more humble now,” he said. “I know there are ups and downs. I know there are far better directors out there. I’m a vessel and I’m here to pass it on to people far better than me.”
New Music Video: Trey Songz – Animal
Trey Songz continues to bless us with more new music from his forthcoming album Tremaine, but this time he goes straight raunch with the freaky music video.
In the visuals, the R&B lothario joins some scantily-clad woman for a card game, and playful bedroom dance sequence. Later, he invites more half-naked models into his private palace, as they strip and kiss one another.
“Girl, you know I’m on my way to you / I’ma bring my anaconda / Gonna get to your forbidden fruit / I’m Tarzan, you be my Jane up in this room,” he sings.
Trey is gearing up for the release of his anticipated, seventh studio album, Tremaine, which is set to drop March 24.
Watch Trey bring out the “Animal” HERE
New #HIPHOP Stream Rick Ross’ Album ‘Rather You Than Me’
The Bawse is back. Rick Ross rolls out Rather You Than Me, his ninth official album, and his first through Epic Records.
The 14-song set is a star-studded effort, featuring Chris Rock (“Idols Become Rivals”), Young Thug and Wale (“Trap Trap Trap”), and Future, Jeezy, and Yo Gotti (“Dead Presidents”).
Other guests include Ty Dolla $ign (“I Think She Like Me”), Meek Mill and Anthony Hamilton (“Lamborghini Doors”), Nas (“Powers That Be”), and DeJ Loaf, who appears on the fifth installment of “Maybach Music.”
The host of this year’s MTV Woodies has called his latest work among his best to date. “This is my ninth album and quite possibly my magnum opus,” he told Billboard. “And that’s not a word I throw around, but it’s just the highest level of Maybach Music. I’m excited for the streets to hear the collaborations, the records, the production.
“I feel like this is definitely, for anybody that ever, ever doubted Rick Ross, this is most definitely going to solidify that I’m one of the greatest,” he added. “And this album, Rather You Than Me, will be the album that crowns me king.”
Stream Rozay’s “magnum opus” HERE
'Beauty and the Beast' Delivers a Record-Setting $170 Million Opening
Disney's live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast has delivered a film the size of a summer blockbuster in the month of March, debuting with not only a record-setting March opening weekend, but the seventh largest domestic opening of all-time as Disney now owns six of the top seven opening weekends of all-time. Thanks in large part to Beauty and the Beast's opening, but also to the continued strong performances from Logan, Get Out and a decent hold from Kong: Skull Island, this weekend's top twelve grossed a combined $249.5 million, the largest combined top twelve since December 2015 when Star Wars: The Force Awakens hit theaters.
With an estimated $170 million, Beauty and the Beast topped the previous March opening weekend record of $166 million set by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice just last year. It's also the seventh largest opening weekend ever, ahead of the $169.1 million opening for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 and just behind Iron Man 3's $174.1 million opening from May of 2013. It's also the largest opening for a PG-rated film, topping Finding Dory's previous record of $135 million, as well as the largest Spring opening weekend, fourth largest Saturday gross of all-time, sixth largest Sunday gross and eighth largest theater average for a wide opening release.
The film also set records in IMAX, delivering the #1 global and domestic openings for a PG-rated film in the IMAX format. Beauty and the Beast's estimated $21 million on 1,026 IMAX screens in 56 markets worldwide pushed the company past the $6 billion mark in total global box office since the inception of the DMR process with Apollo 13: The IMAX Experience in 2002.
Internationally, Beauty and the Beast delivered an estimated $180 million from 44 material markets for an estimated $350 million global opening (#14 all-time). Of its international openings, Beauty and the Beast opened as the #1 film in all but three markets (Vietnam, India and Turkey), led by an estimated $22.8 million in the UK, the highest grossing three-day opening in the market for a PG movie as well as an estimated $44.8 million in China, already surpassing the entire run in China for Maleficent and Alice in Wonderland. Additional markets include an estimated $11.9 million in Korea; $11.6 million in Mexico; $10.7 million in Germany; $10.4 million in Brazil; $7.6 million in Italy; $6 million in Russia and $5.8 million in Spain.
Are Things Getting Serious Between Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez?
Jenny from the Block and former New York Yankee, Alex Rodriguez, seem to be heating up, so sources say.
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez have been dating “for about two months,” and things seem to be getting serious. So much so, that in a comparison between the MLB Baller and the singer’s ex-beau Drake, sources say she’s much happier with A-Rod.
“He’s a better fit,” an insider tells Us Weekly, listing the couples’ similarities, adding that they are both from the Big Apple, they are both Latino, parents, and they are both reportedly ready to settle down. Apparently, with each other.
“They definitely see a future together,” the source tells the publication.
Over the weekend, reports surfaced of the two dipping off for a romantic weekend getaway in the Bahamas. While their relationship is still on the low, JLo dropped a teaser on Instagram earlier this week by posting a blurry selfie with the new beau but deleted it shortly after.
What do we think of this new couple? What is their name? J-Rod? ALo? Alennifer Lodriguez?
Eddie Murphy Just Tease ‘Coming To America 2’ On Twitter?
In 2018, it will mark 30 years since Coming to America split ribs and broke funny bones in theaters. Universally praised as a romantic comedy classic, Eddie Murphy might have been feeling a bit nostalgic when he tweeted the possibility of a sequel on Twitter, which caused everyone to lose their respective minds.
As reported by Complex, the tweet was instantly deleted, yet the screen grab had everyone thinking of possibilities for how a sequel could take place. The original film’s cast of Arsenio Hall, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Eriq La Salle and James Earl Jones are still looking good and working in the business, so why not bring them back?
Adding Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Dave Chappelle and Leslie Jones to the mix could be exemplary as well.
Either way, Coming to America was legendary not only because it was the third highest grossing film in the U.S. in 1988 and was nominated for two Oscars, but it still has some of the coldest lines (“His mama named him Clay, I’ma call him Clay”) and characters (Randy Watson) in all of comedy.
Despite removing his entire account from the Twittersphere, its Twitizens have weighed in to the possible news of the 21st century
Tyra Banks Takes ANTM Back From Rita Ora Because If You Want Things Done Well, Do Them Yourself
After just one season of teaching wannabe models how to brand themselves and become Instagram- and Snapchat-famous (it was kind of shocking to see how little about this past season was actually about modeling, at least in the two episodes I watched...), Pope-endorsed legend, fashion icon, Daily Mail queen, and international pop superstar Rita Ora has been fired from VH1's reboot of America’s Next Top Model because Tyra Banks wants the show all for herself.
In a short and sweet announcement first brought to my attention by this fantastic tweet by BuzzFeed’s Kate Aurthur, VH1 announced the sudden change (which had been rumored by the tabloids for a while) without explanation. Banks is coming back, and that’s all there is to it.
Before long, this exchange occurred—presumably to shut down rumors that there was any sort of animosity between the two hosts:
White Pastor Rails Against God Played by ‘Heavy-Set Black Woman’ in ‘The Shack’
*A pastor in Simi Valley, Calif. has taken aim against the upcoming faith-based movie “The Shack,” in part because of its physical representation of God as “a heavy-set, cushy, non-judgmental, African American woman.”
As previously reported, Octavia Spencer takes on the deity in the Lionsgate film adapted from William P. Young’s bestselling book. Sam Worthington stars as Mackenzie “Mack” Phillips, who faces a crisis while on a family vacation as his youngest daughter Missy is abducted and presumably killed in an abandoned shack. Years later, the grieving father receives a note from “Papa,” who tells Phillips that it has “been a while” and to meet up at the shack the following weekend.
“Papa,” played by Spencer, is Mack’s wife’s name for God. Reluctantly, Phillips returns to the site, where he meets Papa, as well as a young Asian woman named Sarayu (the Holy Spirit, played by Sumire Matsubara), and a carpenter named Jesus. Together, they seek to help Phillips deal with his faltering faith and to learn to forgive.
Joe Schimmel, the pastor of Blessed Hope Chapel in Simi Valley and host of the documentary “Hollywood’s War on God,” told Christian News Network that casting actresses of color to play God is akin to worshipping false prophets.
In addition to pointing out the race of the characters, he also points out their body types – implying that portrayals of God should only involve white, physically fit, male actors.
Schimmel told Christian News Network: Young’s pretentious caricature of God as a heavy-set, cushy, non-judgmental, African American woman called ‘Papa’ (who resembles the New Agey Oprah Winfrey far more than the one true God revealed through the Lord Jesus Christ—Hebrews 1:1-3), and his depiction of the Holy Spirit as a frail Asian woman with the Hindu name, Sarayu, lends itself to a dangerous and false image of God and idolatry.
Schimmel preached a message at his church entitled “The Shack and the Seduction of the Church,” which he is currently making available as a warning to Christians.
Also blasting the film’s casting is Christian author James DeYoung, who states it could “far outweigh” the damage that the book has done, and “if the film is a faithful portrayal of the events and the theology of the book, then every Christian should be gravely alarmed at the further advance of beliefs that smear the evangelical understanding of the truth of the Bible.”
Directed by Stuart Hazeldine, “The Shack” is in theaters now
Oh? Angelina Jolie Talking With Ex Billy Bob Again
While Brad Pitt has been texting his ex, Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie has very privately been in contact with her ex, Billy Bob Thornton.
According to Naughty Gossip “Angie and Billy Bob never actually stopped talking. They have been in contact with each other in some form or another ever since they split,” sources tell Straight Shuter. “Recently they have been talking more but her focus at the moment, which is her charity work and her kids.
Eva Mendes Looks Stunning in First Public Appearance in Six Months
Hey girl! Eva Mendes made her first public appearance in six months at the grand opening of the New York & Company store at Miami’s Dadeland Mall Thursday, March 16.
The 43-year-old actress stunned in a turquoise one-shoulder maxi dress from her New York & Company collection. She accessorized her affordable frock (only $99.95!) with a colorful, striped belt, hoop earrings and sandals.
“It is such a thrill to open more stores, especially in the Miami area,” she said in a statement from the retailer. “I was born in Miami, so this city has always been dear to me.”
The last time Mendes stepped out was at the fashion show for her clothing collection in September. She skipped out on all of awards season, choosing not to accompany her longtime love, Ryan Gosling, to the 2017 Golden Globes, SAG Awards and Oscars. The 36-year-old actor was nominated for his musical rom-com La La Land.
Mendes recently revealed the sweet reason why she opts out of Hollywood events. “What people don’t know about me is that I love being home,” she told Shape magazine for its April cover story. “Instead of hitting the red carpet, I’d rather be with our girls.” Mendes and Gosling are parents of daughters Esmeralda, 2, and Amada, 10 months.
She also opened up about slimming down after giving birth to her second child. “In some ways, it’s been more challenging to get back in shape after my second daughter,” she continued. “Yet it’s not as hard as I thought it would be, because I’m always running around with the kids. I never sit down — I’m on the move all day.”
[NSFW] What Was She Thinking? 45-Year-Old Reality Star’s Shocking Red Carpet Look
In a world of mesh and see-through everything, we’re not too surprised when celebrities step outside wearing next to nothing. But here’s an instance when trying to be sexy (although we’re not even sure you can call this sexy) goes entirely wrong.
Reality TV star Sundy Carter hit the red carpet premiere of season six of Basketball Wives LA and… well, we’ll just let you see what the 45-year-old opted to wear.
Cast members Evelyn Lozada and Tami Roman decided to actually wear clothes to the event thankfully.
But Sundy? Well, here’s another look.
Most known for her role on season three of Basketball Wives LA, the mother of four is the ex-mistress of former NBA player Larry Hughes whom she had a daughter by. She and ex-husband Cedric Carter appeared on Marriage Bootcamp Reality Stars in 2015 with the hopes of repairing their broken relationship.
But back to this barely there ensemble. Sundy has to take the crown for the most outrageous red carpet look ever. What do you think?
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Brent Boxer
Ladies & others LOL! Meet Brent Boxer ! So you know what to do to see more. Just CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PICS and remember they’re NSFW!
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AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘The Ice Box’
I feel like this is just the adult version of kids getting stuck in the crane games when they crawl up to get the prize.
HAVE A GREAT DAY AHEAD ALL!
EFREM
