Whitney Houston’s Mother Cissy Houston is Reportedly Diagnosed with Dementia!
Mother of the late singer Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston was recently diagnosed with early stages of dementia.
According to several sources, “She’s in the early stages of dementia… She repeats herself a lot and doesn’t remember what she says. She just says she’s getting old.”
The strain of the 84-year-old’s daughter Whitney and grand-daughter Bobby Kristina passing has been a huge factor in the decline of her health. The allegations of Whitney and her brother Gary being molested by their cousin Dee Dee Warwick also took a toll on Cissy. “The family is already fractured enough but she has had enough clarity to know what’s going on with these claims and is very upset,” the source said.
It’s reported earlier this week that Cissy disowned her son after the “Whitney” documentary in which he opened up about being molested. Gary said in the film that he was molested between the ages of 7-9 years old. He also added that he was violated by a female family member and that Whitney was too.
Warwick was 18 years older than Whitney and passed away in 2008. She often sang with Cissy gospel group Drinkard Singers and also back up to big names like Aretha Franklin. We send our prayers for Cissy's Health!
Whitney Houston’s mother Cissy Houston is taking issue with claims that her superstar daughter was molested as a child by her cousin, Dee Dee Warwick.
The accusations come from a new documentary, “Whitney,” which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival back in May, focused on the life of late pop star Whitney Houston. Cissy Houston, 84, told People magazine that she only found out about the claims two days before the film’s debut.
Cissy Houston denies that claim in a joint statement with her niece Dionne Warwick to People magazine.
“We cannot, however, overstate the shock and horror we feel and the difficulty we have believing that my niece Dee Dee Warwick (Dionne’s sister) molested two of my three children,” the statement read in part. “I spent many years in recording studios (sometimes with Dionne and/or Dee Dee) where I earned my living. I also went ‘on the road’ with my group The Sweet Inspirations to try to help provide a good life for my family BUT my children always came first in my heart and in my life.”
“When I was away they did not stay with four or five different families; they stayed at home where their longtime babysitter, Phyllis, or my dear friend Bae or their father took care of them. In all the years I traveled Dee Dee, who was 21 years older than Whitney, NEVER BABYSAT for them,” Cissy Houston and Dionne Warwick said in the statement.
“Dee Dee may have had her personal challenges but the idea that she would have molested my children is overwhelming and for us unfathomable,” the statement continued. “Neither I, Dionne, nor my son Michael who was very close to his sister, and in the film is VERY candid about their drug use, has ever heard these allegations; we have never heard anything remotely connected to the crimes charged against Dee Dee in the film. How can that be fair to my daughter, to Dee Dee, or to our family?”
The joint statement concluded, “After people have seen the film they will draw their own conclusions and we are not trying to change that. We just want people to know there is another side. While the filmmakers certainly had the legal right to make this film, I wonder at the moral right.”
Bobby Brown Believes Nick Gordon Was Whitney Houston's Drug Dealer
In a newly leaked excerpt from Bobby Brown's new memoir, Every Little Step: My Story: Bobby Brown, Bobby suspects his daughter's ex boyfriend Nick Gordon may have actually been Whitney Houston's drug dealer...
Excerpt provided by iHeartRadio
"It didn't make any sense to me why my ex-wife would let some nearly grown-a** man live in the house with my thirteen- or fourteen-year-old daughter...I heard stories from some of my friends in Atlanta that he used to hang around Krissi's middle school, which was extremely suspicious to me because he was at least five years older than the middle schoolers," Bobby wrote in the memoir.
He continued, "What would a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old want with middle schoolers?"
When Bobby would explain his reservations for Nick to Whitney, she would try to ensure Bobby that Nick was harmless. But, he wasn't buying any of that.
"I didn't have enough information about him to be comfortable with the arrangement, I started to suspect that his presence was more about Whitney than Krissi--I began to believe he was providing my ex-wife with drugs."
And you did what BOBBY? Nothing! STFU!………………
IN THE MEANTIME!
This week, Bobby Brown sat down with Larry King on “Larry King Now” and responded to Whitney Houston’s mother Cissy calling his recent conversation with Robin Roberts “disturbing.” He says,
I think Ms. Houston is going through the same thing I’m going through.
Bobby Brown also tells Larry that he’d like to rekindle a relationship with the Houston family, and is willing to meet with them, admitting that he
reached out several times before, but there’s no love lost from me. I respect and love that whole family and I’d hope that they know that. But my life has to go on and I’d like to stay well.
Bobby Brown’s episode premieres Wednesday, June 29th at 11am PST/ 2pm EST on www.ora.tv/larrykingnow.
Taylor Swift Drops “Bad Blood” Posters Featuring Hayley, Lily, Gigi & Ellie!
Gearing up for the debut of her new music video for “Bad Blood,” Taylor Swift unveiled a series of character posters that look like Quentin Tarantino designed them!
In addition to the “Shake It Off” singer’s Catastrophe, the images include Gigi Hadid as “Slay-Z,” Zendaya as “Cut-Throat,” Hayley Williams as “The Crimson Curse” and Lily Aldridge as “Frostbyte.”
And that’s not all! Lena Dunham is “Lucky Fiori,” Hailee Steinfeld is “The Trinity” and Ellie Goulding is “Destructa X.” “Bad Blood” is slated to debut during the Billboard Music Awards on May 17th!
Cissy Houston On Whitney's Death, "My Baby Tried, She Had The Wrong Partner"!
On Saturday, Cissy Houston sat down with ET's Kevin Frazier to provide an update on Bobbi Kristina and to share her feelings about her daughter's legacy and the impact she had on the lives of her fans.
Bobbi Kristina, who remains hospitalized since she was discovered unresponsive in a bathtub on Jan. 31, is no longer in a medically induced coma, but Cissy says her condition has not improved.
As I already told you guys, Bobby Brown and Whitney's sister-in-law Pat Houston announced that they had been legally appointed as Krissi's co-guardians meaning,"Mr. Brown and Ms. Houston are jointly responsible for decisions related to Krissi’s care and medical needs."
Basically, this means that Bobby can't make decisions about his Bobbi Kris's health care on his own, and Pat and Cissy control the estate inherited by Bobbi Kris. So.....Bobby won't have access to any of Whitney/Bobbi Kristina's coins.
Cissy spoke about the "estate" change saying, "It came alright, It was fine," We're a family…that works together for the best. You want the best for whomever or everybody we can…We can be on the other side too if you make us be but we are not going to do that. There's no reason for that. That's why I'm concerned. So, that's the end of that."
Here are the other highlights:
On Bobbi Kristina: "She's the same, she's not progressing at all. She's not gone yet, but you know, whatever the Lord decides, I'm ready for her... I have nothing to do with that. That's His job. It's His territory, you know? And I understand it."
Cissy on Whitney's Life & Death: “She’s my baby. I had two boys before her and I never wanted boys. I love them. They know I love them. But I always wanted a daughter.”
Cissy shade towards Bobby Brown: "This business is really bad, you know what I’m saying? But she did the best she could. My baby tried. She did. She just had the wrong partner, you know? Whitney was a very soft and easy person .... She was kind. She was free-hearted. All of that, and sometimes people didn’t treat her nice.”
Cissy's message to fans: "I'd like to thank everybody who was praying," she says. "Who really knows the worth of prayer and I'm sure it'll get through. You know, praying along with me. It's all I can tell you. I'm just waiting for whatever happens. We go to the hospital every day and pray and, you know, I talk to [Krissi] because she can still hear, and I rub her hand and what not. My daughter-in-law and my son, we do what we can do. The rest is, we can't do anything about because that's all up to Him. We know nothing about his plan."
WATCH:
WOW!
There's A New Clue Concerning The New Janet Jackson CD just hit the Web!
Me and everyone else has already hinted that Janet Jackson is readying a return to the music industry
Well Another clue from Atlantic, or someone just surfaced online...Look below
An alleged coming attractions list from Atlantic Records is floating around that pegs Janet Jackson's unnamed new album for a July 10th release date.
Jan Boo Y’all stop this playing and get us that SINGLE SOON!
Tom Brady SUSPENDED 4 games, plans to appeal!
The Patriots will begin their Super Bowl title defense without the services of the franchise's greatest all-time player.
The NFL announced Monday that Tom Brady has been suspended without pay for four games for violating the NFL policy on the integrity of the game. The team will also be fined $1 million and will forfeit a 2016 first-rounder and 2017 fourth-round selection in the NFL Draft. (You can read the full NFL statement here.)
The massive punishment comes less than a week after independent investigator Ted Wells found that it was "more probable than not" that Brady was "at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities" regarding the deflation of Patriots game balls used in the AFC Championship Game against the Colts.
Commissioner Roger Goodell authorized the discipline that was imposed by NFL Executive President Troy Vincent, who made it clear that Brady's lack of cooperation with the league's investigation was a factor in the punishment.
"With respect to your particular involvement, the report established that there is substantial and credible evidence to conclude you were at least generally aware of the actions of the Patriots' employees involved in the deflation of the footballs and that it was unlikely that their actions were done without your knowledge," Vincent wrote in a letter to Brady. "Moreover, the report documents your failure to cooperate fully and candidly with the investigation, including by refusing to produce any relevant electronic evidence (emails, texts, etc.), despite being offered extraordinary safeguards by the investigators to protect unrelated personal information, and by providing testimony that the report concludes was not plausible and contradicted by other evidence."
Vincent cited the Patriots' prior record when determining the discipline, specifically their violations while videotaping other teams' signals in 2007. Brady wasn't the only one punished.
"Patriots owner Robert Kraft advised Commissioner Roger Goodell last week that Patriots employees John Jastremski and James McNally have been indefinitely suspended without pay by the club, effective on May 6th. Neither of these individuals may be reinstated without the prior approval of NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent," the league's statement reads.
Brady's agent Don Yee said "the discipline is ridiculous and has no legitimate basis" in a statement released Monday night. Yee also said Brady will appeal the suspension.
The Patriots have played without Brady before, going 11-5 after Brady tore his ACL in Week 1 of the 2008 season. Last year's second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo will be expected to get the starting nod against the Pittsburgh Steelers when the season gets underway on Sept. 10. Brady will return when the Patriots take on the Colts in Week 6 on Sunday Night Football. You can't make this stuff up.
Kraft commented on the matter last week, saying his team "had done nothing inappropriate in this process or in violation of the NFL rules." He indicated, however, the team would accept any punishment the league hands down. The league's statement went out of its way to say the coach Bill Belichick and the rest of the Patriots staff were found to know of any wrongdoing.
The story first became a national topic in the buildup to Super Bowl XLIX. Both Brady and Belichick vehemently denied doing anything wrong to the footballs before the game against the Colts.
"At no time was there any intent -- whatsoever -- to try and compromise the integrity of the game," Belichick said back in January. "I believe now, 100 percent, that I have personally and (the Patriots) have absolutely followed every rule to the letter."
Here’s some ‘EMPIRE’ News! Show Nabs Alicia Keys, Chris Rock, Lenny Kravitz as Guest Stars
*Chris Rock, Alicia Keys and Lenny Kravitz are among the guest stars lined up for season 2 of Empire.
Fox just made the announcement in New York as part of its upfront presentation, which started with a spirited musical performance by the cast along with season 1’s multi-episode guest star Jennifer Hudson.
HOT!
Awww How sweet! Jay Z, Beyonce Meet Freddie Gray’s Family at Prince’s Baltimore Show (Pics)
Tickets for the event cost between $22 and $497, according to the Baltimore Sun. The paper also reports that Tidal said they’d match the money donated through its website to the “Baltimore Justice Fund.”
“I am honored to join Prince in his mission to inspire through the uniting power of music and be able to offer a platform where this moment can be shared globally,” Jay said in a statement on Friday. “We invite all to experience the music and contribute in their own way to promote peace, tolerance and understanding. Our prayers go out to Freddie Gray’s family and every family affected by brutality and senseless violence.”
The show at Baltimore’s Royal Farm Arena, his first in Charm City in 14 years, coincided with the release two days earlier of Prince’s own song titled “Baltimore.”
“To all the families that have lost loved ones… tonight we are your servants,” Prince exclaimed, wearing a grey frock and tri-lensed sunglasses as he and backing band 3rdEyeGirl took the stage, turning “Let’s Go Crazy” into an extended jam, the first of many. Shortly into the set, playing his new tribute song, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby and her husband were brought out, to a wall of applause.
He ran through pretty much all of his hits. [Peep the set list below.] Returning from one of his three encore breaks, Prince mused that he “wants to play more songs, but I’ve run out of hits — oh, did I make a joke?”
Prince brought out Miguel, Doug E. Fresh (whose beatbox accompaniment to Prince’s bass was a late show high mark), Judith Hill and Estelle.
“The system is broken,” Prince said very near the end of the night. “The way we fix it is to build a new one.”
Watch a clip HERE!
Set list:
“Let’s Go Crazy”
“Take Me With You”
“Raspberry Beret”
“Baltimore”
“U Got the Look”
“The One”
“Controversy”
“1999”
“Little Red Corvette”
“Nothing Compares 2 U”
“When Doves Cry”
“Sign O The Times”
“Hot Thing”
“I Would Die 4 U”
“Kiss”
“How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore”
“The Beautiful Ones”
“Do Me, Baby”
“When Will We Be Paid?”
“Purple Rain”
BEAUTIFUL!
Oh? NBA Baller Brandon Jennings Announces Tae Heckard Is Pregnant (Instagram)
Looks like Pistons baller Brandon Jennings has really moved on from ex-bae Teyana Taylor. The NBA recently announced that his model girlfriend Tae Heckard was pregnant!
Brandon posted the above picture of Tae’s big belly on his IG page but quickly deleted it. Thankfully we have the screenshot…
Oh R.H.o.A Fans Ya Girl NeNe Leakes Talks Fame, Spirituality & More
Ahead of part three of the Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion last week, ESSENCE.com caught up with NeNe Leakes for a candid interview.
The reality star opened up about her feelings on fame, and whether she’s ever received tips from any famous people on how to deal with it, she also reveals if she considers herself religious or spiritual, and more.
Read a few excerpts below..
Her feelings on fame:
Sometimes I hear people saying, ‘You asked for this fame.’ I don’t remember asking for the fame. What I remember praying for was to be able to do what I loved to do, which was acting and working in television in some capacity. That’s what I prayed for. I don’t know if I prayed for fame. I might have to go back and ask God to remind me. What I wanted to do was work and take care of my family. The fame part just happened to come along with. That was a little extra bonus. That part is a little shaky. I love the check, but the fame, that’s a beast right there.
On if any famous people gave her tips on dealing with fame:
No, they haven’t. Everything that’s happened to me has gone way past what I imagined. I’ve gone way past anything I thought I would have done. Being in this industry, and being on this little show called the Real Housewives of Atlanta has taught me so much about myself. [Fame] has definitely instilled fear in me about who I have in my circle. I’m scared to trust people. I’m scared to have friends. That part has not been good. I think I’ve learned now that I can live as my authentic self …
One great thing about Nene, I can tell you this, I am very comfortable in the skin I’m in. Every time you ever see me, this is the authentic Nene. I am comfortable with me. I know exactly who I am. I don’t need anyone to tell me ‘You’re beautiful.’ Never in my life do I need to hear ‘You’re beautiful.’ I don’t validation.
On if she considers herself religious or spiritual:
I consider myself spiritual. Someone recently asked me ‘What is the one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?’ and my husband said, ‘They would be surprised to know that my wife prays all the time.’ I’m not religious but I pray all the time. When I need to get a sense of myself I pray. I was brought up in church going to Sunday school and that’s what we did, pray. Every time I take off in an airplane, I pray for my family, I pray to put angels on the wings, I pray that my kids will be okay. When I land I thank Jesus for bringing me back home safe, child. Hallelujah!
On if she finds herself beautiful:
Oh my God, I’m the sh*t. My husband says, ‘Slow down Nene.’ I’m like ‘Catch up player.’ You’ve got to have the confidence. Being fabulous is an attitude that you have to have within you. You can have your hair messed up, eyebrows needing arching, but still be fabulous inside. It’s an attitude.
NeNe is gearing up for a new reality show with Kim Zolciak — NeNe and Kim: The Road to Riches.
OH SNAP! 50 Cent's Security Team Accused Of "Allegedly" Pistol-Whipping A Jeweler And Stealing $250K Chain
So....the fella above Robert Marin, owner of LAX Jewelry claims member's of 50 Cent's crew jumped him during the Mayweather v Pacquiao fight weekend in Vegas, stealing a Rolex and neck chain worth $250,000 - and they pistol whipped him too...allegedly. Mind you....he never implicates 50 Cent....but he does blame people associated with him. We'll explain...
Robert claims was in Vegas for the fight when he met 50 Cent at Drai's nightclub in The Cromwell hotel on Friday night, after his concert. He says they partied until Saturday morning before he was invited to see Floyd Mayweather's private gym ahead of the fight that night. He claims that once inside the gym, the entourage pistol whipped him in the back of the head and stole the watch and chain.
Scott Leemon, 50's lawyer told TMZ: 'On behalf of 50, I can adamantly deny that he or his security had anything to do with these baseless and false allegations.'
We can tell you that Robert has filed a robbery report and Vegas cops are investigating. Good luck with that.
YESSSSSS! Stephanie Mills Cast In NBC's Reboot Of "The Wiz"
Here’s some new news about NBC's upcoming live adaptation of the classic The Wiz. A few weeks ago, we told you about NBC's entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt's plan to turn the classic film/Broadway show into a live event and he's cast Stephanie Mills, Broadway's "original" Dorothy in the live extravaganza!
The legendary Ms. Mills, whose hits include "Home", "Something In The Way You Make Me Feel" and "I Feel Good All Over" portrayed Dorothy when the musical launched on Broadway in 1975, and now, she's set to play Auntie Em, as announced at the NBC Upfronts presentation. Meanwhile, the network is looking for “new talent” to play Dorothy.
The live production, which is partnered with Cirque du Soleil, will follow in the footsteps of NBC’s hugely successful 2013 hit A Sound of Music Live. The Wiz Live! will air Dec. 3 on NBC.
Marlon Wayans’ New Spoof … ‘Fifty Shades Of Black’
Yeeessss, now this is what we call a good spoof. Who needs Fifty Shades of Grey when you can have Fifty Shades of Black?
It’s been confirmed that comedian and Haunted House star Marlon Wayans will be spoofing the erotic drama and will be introducing the project during this week’s Cannes Film Festival. “Sex and comedy go hand-in-hand and I’m looking forward to having fun with this project,” Waynas said in a statement. “It’s amazing when a film of this caliber comes along begging to be made fun of. I’m really happy to be doing what I love with people I love to do it with. That double entendre was intentional.”
Wayans, who many would consider the godfather of spoofs, will star in and write the film with producer-writer Rick Alvarez.
The project is set to release in 2016.
Morgan Freeman Aggressively Defends His Love For Marijuana
Morgan Freeman probably gets attributed to more fake quotes than any celebrity on the Internet. The bulk of them are usually in the vein of Aristotle meets Raphael de la Ghetto life hack anecdotes.
Those who worship the 77-year-old iconic actor or even go as far as to wishing he was actually their grandfather, might be surprised to know he gets very high in life. Think Wiz Khalifa, not a Lear jet flight
During a recent interview with the Daily Beast, the actor detailed his support for the movement to legalize pot, reasoning that pot has “many useful uses,” unlike alcohol.
“They used to say, ‘You smoke that stuff, boy, you get hooked!’ ” Freeman said with a laugh. “My first wife got me into it many years ago. How do I take it? However it comes! I’ll eat it, drink it, smoke it, snort it!”
“I have fibromyalgia pain in this arm, and the only thing that offers any relief is marijuana,” he continued. “They’re talking about kids who have grand mal seizures, and they’ve discovered that marijuana eases that down to where these children can have a life. That right there, to me, says, ‘Legalize it across the board!'”
Freeman used the example of the music festival at Woodstock to show that life is easier if marijuana use is acceptable. “Look at Woodstock 1969. They said, ‘We’re not going to bother them or say anything about smoking marijuana,’ and not one problem or fight. Then look at what happened in ’99,” he said, referring to the arrests and unrest at the anniversary concert.
Suddenly his infamous 2013 interview where he dozed off on live TV makes perfect sense. Like immaculate.
Flo Rida Reaches Confidential Child Support Settlement With Baby Mama, Despite Claiming Child Wasn’t His For Months
Rapper Flo Rida (real name Tramar Lacel Dillard ) has reached a private child support settlement with his baby mama, the same child that he claimed for months wasn’t his and the nasty legal battle with his baby mama has finally come to a end.
A video vixen named Natasha Williams served the 35-year-old rapper with a paternity lawsuit back in 2013. She claimed that the rapper fathered her – at the time – unborn child. Williams demanded the court order Flo to pay up for costs relating to her pregnancy and “good fortune” child support – which is ordered when the father’s income is well over the guidelines established by the law.
Flo Rida fired back at the lawsuit demanding a DNA test, because he didn’t believe the child was his and only wanted to pay support if the tests proved he fathered the baby. Natasha explained in court docs that she had sex with the rapper numerous times and he was the only possibly father to her child.
Natasha also claimed that while Flo didn’t want to pay support for their kid, he did offer to pay all costs for the abortion he demanded she get. The video vixen accused Flo of trying to harass her in court and claiming he didn’t father the child when he knew all along they had unprotected sex many times.
The DNA test came back months later and proved that Flo was indeed the father. A hearing was set where the judge was to determine how much support Natasha was going to receive from Flo, but right before they were set to go to court, the two reached a private settlement outside of court and the case was closed on April 27th. See the exclusive court docs. Courtesy of thejasminebrand
Video: T.I. – ‘Private Show’ (Ft. Chris Brown)
T.I. and Chris Brown get an eyeful, as they’re surrounded by a bevy of scantily clad (and flexible) women in their “Private Show” video. The fellas sit back and get comfortable, while the ladies tease them with their moves.
So, what was the thought process behind the track? Tip explained it to Rap-Up TV, saying:
We wanted to make grown women cream themselves. I think that was the pure, definite intention behind the record. I think that we were both kinda trying to one-up one another: ‘You’re not gonna make a girl cream before me. I’m gonna say something that you didn’t say and it’s gonna make her feel a way that you didn’t make her feel.’ We just kinda continued that volley back and forth and then we had a little ball of inappropriate innuendos at the end of it called ‘Private Show.’
“Private Show” is the latest release from T.I.’s Paperwork album.
On a relatively slow weekend at the box office, newcomer Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters easily claimed the top spot with a decent $19 million opening. Meanwhile, Parker and Movie 43 had terrible debuts, and as a result the Top 12 was off over 10 percent from the same weekend last year.
Hansel and Gretel's estimated $19 million start is better than Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter's $16.3 million and The Brothers Grimm's $15.1 million, though it's about even with Grimm in estimated ticket sales. While that's definitely not a great start, it's passable for a $50 million production that's been wasting away on the shelf for the last year. The movie benefited from a clearly articulated premise (it's right there in the title), action-packed commercials, and a lead actor (Jeremy Renner) who has seen his stock go up significantly in the last two years.
While Hansel and Gretel has been savaged by critics (15 percent on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences gave it a "B" CinemaScore, which suggests it might be able to come close to $50 million by the end of its run. Add in an overseas total that will be way above $100 million and it looks like Hansel and Gretel is going to avoid being labeled a flop.
The movie's audience was 55 percent male and 57 percent were 25 years of age or older. 3D showings accounted for 66 percent of the gross (55 percent regular 3D, 11 percent IMAX 3D).
In second place, last weekend's winner Mama fell 55 percent to an estimated $12.9 million. While that's a pretty steep decline, it is fairly standard for a January horror release. The movie is already at $48.6 million, and is on pace to out-gross any of 2012's horror offerings.
Silver Linings Playbook held on to third place this weekend with an estimated $10 million. That's off just seven percent from last weekend, which once again reinforces just how strong the word-of-mouth is on this Oscar-nominated romantic comedy. Silver Linings has now earned $69.5 million, and if it continues to hold well through the Academy Awards ceremony (which is four weekends from now), it will wind up with over $100 million.
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In its third weekend in nationwide release, Zero Dark Thirty dipped 38 percent to an estimated $9.8 million. While that's definitely a good hold, it is starting to seem like the buzz has evaporated on this title (what happened to all the torture controversy?). The Oscar-nominated CIA thriller has grossed $69.9 million so far, and it now looks like there's a good chance it winds up below $100 million.
Parker opened in fifth place with an estimated $7 million from 2,224 locations this weekend. That's less than Jason Statham's last solo outing, Safe, which bombed last year with just $7.9 million. It is at least slightly higher than 2009's Crank: High Voltage ($6.96 million), though it could fall below that level when actuals report on Monday afternoon.
Jason Statham clearly has a fan base, but it's starting to look like it's only good for about $7 million on opening weekend. To get higher there needs to be something else presented that connects with other audiences, and that doesn't seem to have happened with Parker.
The movie at least received a good "B+" CinemaScore, which means it could wind up near $20 million by the end of its run.
Black Nativity Movie Beings Filiming Soon
Fox Searchlight’s adaptation of Langston Hughes’ 1961 gospel musical Black Nativity — will start filming later this month with Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson, Tyrese Gibson and Jacob Latimore. Writer-director Kasi Lemmons (best known for Eve’s Bayou) is writing and directing the film. Black Nativity follows the story of Langston, a teenage boy from Baltimore, who is sent to Harlem to spend Christmas with grandparents he has never met. Through his grandfather’s Christmas Eve sermon, he learns the importance of faith and family.
Jennifer Hudson will play the mother who hasn’t spoken to her father since they had a falling out after she got pregnant. Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker will play the boy’s estranged grandparents, Rev. Clarence and Aretha Cobbs.
Black Nativity, which was first performed in 1961, is a retelling of the Bible’s nativity story with an all-black cast and features traditional Christmas carols sung in gospel style. It was one of the first plays written by an African-American to be staged on Broadway.
Bobby Valentino ROBBED at GUNPOINT in Atlanta!!
Atlanta native Bobby V. had an experience this week that left the R&B singer quite shaken up. After coming out his Bentley on 14th and Spring Street in Atlanta, Bobby V. (real name Bobby Wilson) was approached by two men and robbed at gunpoint for the car. Luckily, Atlanta police have found the car and made an arrest. Bobby V. tweeted his praises to the good Lord
Glad he’s safe!
Kaepernick Real Mom Come Lately?
Colin Kaepernick's biological mother faces the cameras and says she still hopes to meet her son and denies his new-found fame has motivated her into going
The biological mother of San Francisco 49ers star quarterback Colin Kaepernick has said she wants to meet her son face-to-face but has denied that she wants back in his life only because of his new found fame.
With less than two weeks to go until Kaepernick takes to the field against the Baltimore Ravens in New Orelans for the Super Bowl, Heidi Russo opened her heart up about the decision to give her son up for adoption as a scared 19-year-old, 25 years-ago.
And having watched Kaepernick's stellar performances in this, his break out year, Russo said, 'Don't get me wrong, I am not 'coming out' to share in any of the success Colin is having, I just want him to know I never stopped thinking about him.'
Currently living and working in Thornton, Colorado as a dental nurse with an eight-year-old son, Russo explained to Fox 11 the heart-breaking decision she went through to give him up as a teenager living in Milwaukee.
'It is the toughest decision that I have ever made. But, for him, it was the right decision,' said Heidi.
'For me personally, I was in a situation that wasn't planned, certainly wasn't in a position to give Colin the life that i Wanted him to have.'
Heidi explains that she has only ever spent six weeks with her son and is thankful to Rick and Terersa Kaepernick for taking her son out of her hands.
Speaking from her home in Thornton, Colorado, Heidi Russo also became emotional when she explained how proud she was of Colin and his achievements this year
This has been Colin Kaepernick's break-out year and he has starred as the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers on their way to the Super Bowl in New Orleans
'He was born in 1987 and I took care of him for six weeks and I was fortunate enough and blessed with Rick and Teresa who adopted him.'
Explaining that Colin never left her thoughts, Heidi says that updates from the Kaepernick's including photographs and letters about Colin's progress had to stop when he was seven as they were affecting her ability to move on with her own life.
'I couldn't move forward with my life - I would wait for her letters, I would wait for pictures. It was really hard.'
'His whole life I have thought about him, every birthday. You think about him, you don't just forget.'
In December, Heidi spoke to the Mercury News about her exposure to the media as the parent of a 'celebrity' that she doesn't really know, describing it as 'obviously a strange experience.'
'But I've been interested in getting a chance to see Colin, to be with him, since the day he was given up for adoption,' she added.
Heidi Russo received regular correspondence from Colin's adoptive parents up until she asked them to stop when he was seven years old because the pain was too great
Heidi has made numerous attempts to get back into contact with Colin over the past 18-years and each one has been rebuffed in a polite or lukewarm manner.
'I have to respect his wishes,' explained Russo.
'If and when he changes his mind - he may never change his mind - I'll watch him from home.
'When I have a chance to get out to a game, I'll watch him from there.'
During one of the brief exchanges they did have, Colin asked Heidi about his biological father.
Heidi explained to the Mercury News that she tried to contact him, but got no reply.
'I never got a response,' explained Russo. 'He has denied him for 25 years, so nothing has changed.'
Having given birth to another child Heidi wondered how things might have worked out had she been more prepared in 1987.
'I made my call on Colin a long time ago,' she says. 'I have to live with that.
'It's his life. The Kaepernicks have been great. They have given Colin everything he could want and more. They were able to raise him in the same kind of athletic environment that I grew up in. I wanted him to have a great life, and that's what he has.'
Colin Kaepernick has kept contact with his biological mother to a minimum and has not met her since she gave him up for adoption
From Kaepernick's point of view, he has reportedly made his feelings clear about resisting the public calls from his biological mother to reunite.
VIDEO
'I think he would view it as almost treasonous to them to meet with his biological mother or father,' said former University of Nevada roommate Virgil Green to Yahoo News.
'They did such a great job giving him everything he needed to be successful in life.'
Rick and Teresa Kaepernick have indicated to Colin that they will support any decision he makes regarding his biological parents.
After having failed to meet any adoptive parents she liked during her pregnancy, Heidi had come to terms with keeping Colin when a family friend who works for the Lutheran Social Services in Wisconsin introduced her to the Kaepernick's.
The couple had two children of their own and had lost another two to heart defects.
'I knew they were the right people immediately,' said Heidi, who was living in Milwaukee at the time.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick will rise to national prominence if the 49ers defeat the Baltimore Ravens to win Super Bowl XLVII
'The first thing Teresa did when she met me was give me a hug. They were such giving, wonderful people from the moment I met them.'
Under Wisconsin law there is a six-week waiting period between when a child is born and when he or she can be officially adopted. If the parent cannot cope, the child goes into foster care.
'I refused to have him in foster care, there was no way. I raised him for the first six weeks,' said Heidi.
During those six weeks, she developed a mother-son bond that complicated giving up her child.
'I think your mind and your body do things to help you forget truly painful experiences like that,' said Heidi.
'I remember going to the courthouse to sign all the papers, then we went somewhere else for the exchange. It might have been the Lutheran Social Services building, but I really can't remember.
'All I remember is that we had to be in separate rooms. The adoption officials came and got Colin from me and then took him to the Kaepernicks.
'That's the one thing I wish I had done differently. I wish I had given him directly to the Kaepernicks.'
Jennifer Hudson & Christina Aguilera Set To Tribute Donna Summer At ‘Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’ Ceremony
Fans may recall the last time powerhouse vocalists Jennifer Hudson and Christina Aguilera shared a stage was the 2011 Grammys in tribute to Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin.
Now, the divas are teaming up to honor another musical monarch – Queen of Disco Donna Summer…
Indeed, it was announced today the ‘Spotlight’ and ‘Dirrty’ singers would be lending their signature sounds to one of Summer’s greatest hits as she is finally being inducted into the prestigious ‘Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’.
Reports indicate more performers and inductees will be unveiled in the coming days. Tickets for the Los Angeles-based ceremony go on sale to the public Feb. 1, but for those unable to attend, the show will also broadcasted live on HBO May 18.
Your thoughts?
15-Year-Old Bronx Teen Robs Bank, Arrested After Hidden Dye Pack Blew Up In His Face
A teenager from the Bronx was busted for robbing a bank, yesterday. Police were able to track down 15-year-old Taheim Hart because a red dye pack hidden between the stacks of bills blew up in his face.
Hart was covered in the substance when he was arrested outside of the Amalgamated Bank branch in the Bronx. He attempted to escape the scene with $1,000 in cash before being apprehended, at around 2:40 p.m.
Upon entering the bank, Hart reportedly passed a note to the teller that said he had a bomb. The quick-thinking employee placed the exploding matter under the bills, without Hart's knowledge.
“Police officers ran over quickly and started picking up all the red bills,” said a witness. “These kids today are so stupid. How did he think he could get away with robbing a bank? The teller was very smart to do what she did.”
Teen bank robbers are uncommon, but there have been cases of youngsters who have— like Hart—inadvertently implicating themselves. Last month, a teen girl in Nebraska posted an 8-minute video on YouTube bragging about holding up the Cornerstone Bank in the city of Waco, and was subsequently arrested.
Shots Fired: Joan Rivers READS Michelle Obama for her Bangs!
The First Lady’s new haircut was the talk of the inaugural festivities, and even President Obama himself has weighed in. Michelle welcomed her husband to the stage at the NationalBuildingMuseum in DC Monday night with the declaration,
“Our President for the next four years, Barack Obama. Love you!”
In turn, the President said:
“I love Michelle Obama. And to address the most significant event of this weekend, I love her bangs!”
He added, “She looks good. She always looks good.”
With just a few snips, Michelle has already set the trend for a fashionable second term. On stage Inauguration night, she wore a stunning black sequined Michael Kors cocktail dress that she first wore in 2009 for a dinner at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in DC. And while some of us are yelling praises about the First Lady Michelle Obama’s bangs….others aren’t feeling them at all. Joan Rivers, who is arguably one of the toughest fashion critics in the biz today, had some words for FLOTUS’ new ‘do.
She tweeted:
“Today starts President Obama’s next four years in the White House, Let’s hope the same isn’t true about the First Lady’s new hairdo.”
No shade I feel the same way about your face Joan!
Rivers’ negative comments pale to the amount of approval our First Lady received for her bangs. “E! News” called them “flawless,” and the “LA Times” described the new look as a “glamorous sleek pageboy featuring bangs.”
Is there anyone out there that agrees with Joan Rivers’ comments?
Erica Mena, Angela Lee and Chaundrea Nicole are having a TWITTER WAR?
LHHNYC’s Erica Mena has been battling with our Power 105.1 Breakfast Club homie Angela Yee. Recently, Angela commented on Erica's new single "Fantasy" on Twitter asking her followers, “What y’all think of Erica Mena singing?” As you can imagine, ALL of the responses were pretty negative. Erica shot back at Angela saying,
“This cabbage patch slore bag loves talking about me so when I run into let’s see if she can still say all this to my face. You need to really be asking what people are going to think when I slap the blood out your face @angelayee.”
While many of Angela followers responded in support of Angela and commented on Erica's "lifestyle" which may or may not include bad parenting and alleged drug use, Angela tweeted, “So sad that this person has a child somewhere in the world…” We're pretty sure Erica is scared that Angela could drop that dime we ALL know about--Erica allegedly cheating with Ange's very married co-host DJ Envy.
Now here's where it REALLY gets rachet. We told you that Chaundrea Nicole REALLY took issue with Erica laying up with Rich (a man who doesn't honor his responsibility as a father) and what message that puts out to their daughter.
On the Twitter side of this, Erica never addresses Rich's alleged paternity but instead focuses on how Chaundrea drives a broken down truck and has nappy hair.
And to make it even worse, there are rumors going around that Rich has hired a "Crackhead" to follow Chaundrea around and take photos of her.
The women these men choose....
Chaundrea shot back with a few tweets of her own that seemed to threaten legal action....
The real loser in this mess is Chaundrea's teenage daughter who is watching all this play out in public (and we're sure her friends are watching it too). Really wish people would stop playing out custody issues and catfights on Twitter. But then again, how would we ever find out how truly ratchet these fools are?
SMH.
Eve Announces Album Release Date
We knew she was ‘Bad‘, but Eve confirm that she is most certainly back.
That’s right, 11 years after the release of her last album ‘Eve-olution‘, the Rap mogul has now confirmed the release date for its follow up ‘Lip Lock‘.
All the details below…
Set for launch on May 14th, ‘Lip’ will boast collaborations with Pusha T, Snoop Dogg and the ever impressive Chrisette Michelle, and will feature her club smash ‘She Bad Bad’ and the freshly squeezed ‘Make It Out This Town’.
As far as production goes, the world can look forward to jams crafted by ‘Tambourine‘ producer Swizz Beatz and Claude Kelly, the man responsible for Christina Aguilera‘s digital hit, ‘Just A Fool’
Are the Obama’s and Oprah Beefing?
During the festivities and Inaugural celebrations I noticed that Oprah was absent from everything. The media mogul does have a busy schedule but no time for President Obama seems odd for Oprah. Question where was Oprah, are the Obama’s and Oprah beefing? All weekend the world watched as President Obama, the First Lady and several other celebrities prepared for the 2013 Presidential Inauguration and Ball.
I guess I am not the only person who noticed Oprah’s absence our friends at CottenKandi had this to say
Back in 2009, Oprah was one of Obama’s biggest supporters. She even invited the then governor on her daytime talk show, and single-handedly, introduced him to millions of Americans. She was even given credit for helping him win the election when she donated millions to his 2008-2009 campaign. However, this time around Oprah has been surprisingly quiet. So we’re curious. Could something be wrong between the Obamas and the talk show queen? We certainly hope not!
Maybe they forgot to send her an invite, maybe Oprah was too busy??
Aliens Inspire Kevin Durant, LeBron James & Kobe Bryant's All-Star Kicks
After the Holiday season, the next round of exclusive kicks are Chinese New Year homages followed by NBA All-Star weekend specials. The latter is in Houston this year and thanks to the city's history of space exploration, extraterrestrials inspire special make ups of Kevin Durant, LeBron James & Kobe Bryant's signature Nike sneakers.
Nike Basketball used "extraterrestrial species, undiscovered planets, new constellations" and a general theme of discovery in these special colorways of the LeBron X, Kobe 8 System and Zoom KD V.
Per a Nike press release:
LEBRON X
An indestructible force originating from fictional Nike Space Program (NSP) planet NSP-LJ6, LeBron James' dominance was born from the volcanic surface in the planet's mantle. He is rumored to have journeyed to earth on a meteor made of the galaxy's hardest substance – black diamonds.
Technical benefits of the LEBRON X shoe include full-length visible Nike Zoom cushioning, dynamic Flywire technology and Hyperfuse construction -- a trilogy set to unleash its fury in Houston.
KOBE 8 SYSTEM
Engineered to the specifications of Kobe Bryant's Houston mission, with origins rooted on a planet marked as NSP-KB24. The Ice Mamba circles the volatile surface as guardian of the five rings. The wise veteran is known to strike with moves that leave his opponents frozen.
Built for Bryant's lightning speed and precision, the KOBE 8 SYSTEM shoe is Nike+ Basketball enabled for the first time and this shoe also features Nike Zoom in the midsole insert. Nike Engineered Mesh upper and tactile traction complete the shoe.
KD V
Identified as Dark Matter, the biological and molecular breakdown of this figure remains a puzzle for scientists. Early readings of its origin, NSP-KD35, have sent back conflicting reports of a planet that is simultaneously solid, liquid, and gas – properties that make his game adaptable to any situation.
Joining with Bryant for their quest to lead the West to victory, this KD V shoe is designed to the specifications of Kevin Durant's Houston mission. The KD V features the combination of Nike Zoom (forefoot) and Nike Air (heel) cushioning along with Hyperfuse upper and dynamic heel support.
All the shoes will be available at select retailers on February 15. This is when you may have to decided between a gift for your significant others, or a pair of these. Choose wisely.
Cissy Houston’s New Book — Remembering Whitney
Nearly one year after Whitney Houston’s shocking death, her mom Cissy Houston often asks herself: “Could I have saved her somehow?” In a revealing new memoir, Remembering Whitney: My Story of Love, Loss and the Night the Music Stopped, Cissy, writes candidly about her daughter’s severe drug problems and the downward spiral that led to her death. “She started partying and she didn’t really know how to stop,” says Cissy. “I used to wonder what she was doing at night, where she was.” But when she tried to contact her, Whitney often didn’t return her calls.
“Whitney hid from me,” says Cissy. And when she did see her, she was often afraid to confront her daughter. Shocked at her skeletal appearance at the Michael Jackson tribute concert in 2001, she never expressed concern. “What was the point?” she asks. “I didn’t want her to run completely away from me.”
Cissy doesn’t believe former husband Bobby Brown was the cause. “I blame him for the way he treated her,” she says, “but I don’t blame him for her drug problems.” Still, she adds: “He was no help to her at all.”
Cissy also writes for the first time about her daughter’s relationship with former assistant Robyn Crawford, who became her creative director. “I just didn’t want her with my daughter,” she says. “I know nothing about a romantic relationship. That’s what everybody said but, they didn’t know either.”
She admits, Robyn Crawford “cared for her” and reveals for the first time that she was the first one to come tell her Whitney had a drug problem.
Cissy is still tormented by her daughter’s sudden death. “I’m angry she died alone, in those conditions,” she says. “I’m still mad about that.” Still, she hopes her book will remind people “what a good person she was. I want people to know the truth about her, how she really was.” The book comes out January 29th, it was written with Lisa Dickey.
To commemorate the passing of Whitney, Oprah has sat down with Cissy for what’s sure to be a somber and reflective exclusive interview. Whitney’s brother, Michael Houston, will also appear during the special airing of Oprah’s Next Chapter, this coming Monday, January 28th at 10 p.m. on OWN.
D’angelo Still Hard At Work On New Album
Last year, D’Angelo teased fans with a few notable performances — but a promised new album was never delivered. Now, Questlove reveals that the long awaited, highly anticipated third album from the enigmatic R&B crooner is almost ready. The Roots drummer and producer, has been working very closely with the neo-soul singer on his latest project, helping to produce tracks. Quest revealed, “All last week, I was in the studio finishing (the album). We spent close to 18 hours, well not me personally because I have to go to the Jimmy Fallon Show, but usually right after work. He’s the only person that I’ll actually go to the studio with and stay there to six in the morning, re-doing these drum parts. I won’t even do that for my own band, but I’ll do it for him. Right now, we’re just tightening up the loose ends. But I still stand by, 99% of it is done.”
The in-house drummer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon also strongly suggested that the album should be released by February of this year. “If this record is not turned in by February, then something is extremely wrong. Because we worked to the bone in the entire month of January just to tighten up all the loose ends.”
Kelly Ripa Furious with Michael Strahan
Kelly Ripa is angry with her co-host Michael Strahan taking credit for their show's bump in ratings.
KELLY RIPA is more than livid – she’s FURIOUS at newbie co-host MICHAEL STRAHAN for boasting that he’s the reason the show’s ratings have been booming, say insiders.
The former NFL defensive end has been mighty offensive as far as the 42-year-old blonde beauty is concerned because he’s claiming viewers are flocking to the show to watch him since he replaced Regis Philbin in September.
The gridiron-star – who was just named a fi¬nalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame – is also taking credit for “Live Kelly and Michael” beating TV powerhouse “Dr. Phil” in the ratings. And he already wants a raise because of it, the insiders add.
“Kelly’s seething,” said a source close to the show. “The way she sees it, it’s basically been her show since Regis left and she was the one who championed Michael for the job!
“Now she’s left wondering what kind of monster she created.”
“Live Kelly and Michael” recently edged out “Dr. Phil” for the first time this season. Some 3.6 million people viewed “Live” during the week of Dec. 16, while 3.5 million watched “Dr. Phil,” which had been No. 1 among talk shows since the season began 13 weeks ago. What’s more, the talk fest also topped “Dr. Phil” in the critical 25- to 54-year-old female demographic, which is especially important to advertisers.
“Michael’s been puffed with pride ever since the good news came out,” said the source. “He’s full of ideas for the show. He even wants to bring his bride-to-be (Eddie Murphy’s ex-wife Nicole) onto the program.
“Now the two hosts are headed for a showdown.”
Ahmad Rashad and Sale Johnson's Divorce Gets Messy
Johnson & Johnson heir Sale Johnson has banned estranged hubby Ahamd Rashad from their swanky social club in Jupiter, Florida.
The split between NBA TV analyst and former NFL star Ahmad Rashad, and his multimillionaire socialite wife of eight years is getting downright ugly.
Rashad, 63, is no longer allowed in the fancy Jupiter community of The Bears Club after wife Sale Johnson asked security guards not to let him in unless she approves it, a Club insider tells Gossip Extra.
Sale Johnson, the ex-wife of Johnson & Johnson heir Woody Johnson, owns a $5 million-home at the Club developed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus around a world-class golf course.
According to records, the five-bedroom house is considered to be Rashad and Johnson’s marital home, even if the deed is solely under her name.
–Get it before The Palm Beach Post: Sign up for the Gossip Extra daily dirt alerts Ex-fashion model Johnson’s move came on the day last week when Gossip Extra revealed exclusivelythat the two were negotiating a settlement despite the fact that the divorce has yet to be filed.
“Sale cut Ahmad off from all the clubs they’re members of, and had the fob that gets him through the guard gate at the Bears Club deactivated,” the source said. “Actually, he got through and went to the clubhouse. But the guards asked him to leave and escorted him out.
“Ahmad and Sale are not on speaking terms right now. Things are being done through lawyers. They barely had a marriage anyway. He’s always gone with the basketball thing.”
Rashad and Johnson were married in 2007. He had just gone through a public split with actressPhylicia Rashad while Sale made a reported $100 million in her divorce from New York Jets part-owner Woody.
A second source, meanwhile, is telling me that Sale is armed with an iron-clad pre-nup that won’t pay Rashad anything once the divorce is final.
His fortune is estimated at about $8 million.
Last week, the New York Post reported that the bad blood between Rashad and Johnson started when Johnson allegedly tried to ban Rashad from seeing buds Michael Jordan, the NBA legend who’s building a home near Johnson’s pad at the Club, and golfer Tiger Woods, who lives in nearby JupiterIsland.
Neither Johnson nor Rashad returned calls for comment.
2013 BMI TRAILBLAZERS OF GOSPEL
BMI honored gospel giants Edwin Hawkins, Lady Tramaine Hawkins, and Kurt Carr at its 14th annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon in Nashville.
Held at Rocketown, the event brought legends and contemporary stars together to celebrate the careers of the three honorees. Check out the photos
Congrats to All of them. Well deserved!
Keyshia Cole: ‘No More Singles From ‘Woman To Woman’
Despite being well on its way to reaching Gold Certification, it seems the plug has been pulled on Keyshia Cole‘s latest LP ‘Woman To Woman‘.
Yes, despite selling more units at a faster rate than any other female R&B release in 2012, the ‘Trust & Believe‘ singer has revealed that there will be no more singles from the album.
Find out why below…
Lol. No more singles! Album not selling good enough.RT @amerikanskitzo: Okkkkkay @keyshiacole im waiting for some … tmi.me/HCCEI
— Keyshia Cole Gibson (@KeyshiaCole) January 21, 2013
However, perhaps in realizing her mistake, she then implemented a little damage control with the below
What’s unfortunate about Keyshia’s Tweets, even when her ‘clarification’ is taken into account, is that they undermine the support her fans have shown her week on week on the Billboard 200.
For, while it may not be obvious to all, ‘Woman To Woman’ is what some might call a slow burner. The kind of LP, that starts off modestly but sells enough units each week to guarantee it doesn’t go down as a commercial failure.
It’s for this reason that her comments will confuse many of her fans, who in their support for her will be aware that stand as one of the only fan bases to support their ‘fave’ with their mouths and money, while other support groups are guilty of doing one but not the other.
Let’s just hope these Tweets haven’t burnt her chances of going Gold, and the loyalty that has ensured she sells more than 90% of the ‘R&B girls’, even on her worst day.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘Pillow Fight!’
Finally I get invited to a girl’s slumber party and turns out it’s hers. Just my luck.
