Showing posts with label DUI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DUI. Show all posts

5/28/14

The Daily Buzz For May 29



Karrueche Says She’s Embarrassed After Landing On VH1′s ‘Notorious Side Chicks’ List
Karrueche Tran woke up today to find that she’s made a Top 10 list…and it’s not the type of list that a woman would run home and brag about.  In the article, headlined “Get Your Own Man! The 10 Side-Chickiest Side Chicks in Hip Hop,” VH1.com selected 10 women who were rumored to have played the side while their lovers had mains at home. Kae made the list for her involvement in the love triangle between her, Chris Brown and Rihanna.

They wrote:
Ahh, this tangled web. Unless you’ve been living under a boulder, you know that Breezy had an affair with aspiring model (aren’t they all) Karrueche while he was with Rihanna. Then, he and Riri broke up, and he wifed up Karrueche — but then promptly cheated on her with Rihanna, and then got back together with Tran. Rinse, repeat. The love triangle has inspired several years of bitter twitter battles between the girls (Rihanna actually referred to the half-Vietnamese stunner as a “rice cake” in her duet with Brown, “Birthday Cake,” and then tweeted a pic of a rice cake wearing shades and gold hoop earrings), as well as beef between their two entourages — but Brown can’t seem to quit either of them. In a confessional video he released in 2012, he said as much. “Is there such a thing as loving two women?” Yeah, dude, but for your own sanity, just pick one.
Kae reacted to the article in a post on Instagram. She wrote:

when no one understands you.. they misinterpret you.. judge you.. label you.. this is embarrassing to see, but I can do nothing but laugh because at the end of the day you can say whatever you want about me.. Label me however you please.. Your words do not define who I am. I’m happy with myself.. Flaws..wrong choices..mistakes and all and that’s all that matters. I usually don’t speak up on shit like this but whatever. I have family that has to see shit like this. I don’t even think we’re all on the same page as to what a “side chick” really is.. Either way [deuces emoji]
Other women that were highlighted included Lil Kim (Biggie), Joseline Hernandez (Stevie J), Karrine Steffans (Ja Rule) and Sarah Chapman (Diddy).



Angela Simmons Flaunts Hot Bikini Body In Miami
Angela Simmons has been spending the last few days living it up in sunny Miami. The 26-year-old fashion maven and fitness fanatic cruised the streets in a fly whip, hit the beach for a workout and to show off her hot bod in a multicolored bikini. “The happiest place,” she wrote as she strolled along the water. Catch more pics from Angie’s Miami getaway
Cute



Tom Cruise & Emily Blunt Premiere “Edge Of Tomorrow” In Paris
Following their appearance in London Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt attended the Paris premiere of “Edge of Tomorrow” this afternoon.
And while they both looked fabulous at the previous event, both the “Minority Report” hunk and the “Adjustment Bureau” babe had new ensembles for their French fans.

After they conclude their time in Paris, Tom and Emily will board a plane bound for New York City where they’ll do their third and final premiere of the day later tonight.
As for the flick, Cruise told press there was one moment of filming that he found especially exhilarating. "I loved landing a helicopter in Trafalgar Square. It is something I have always wanted to do ... I didn't fly it but I was in the back and it was amazing. It was a blast."
"The first takes we did, I came out of the helicopter and I was smiling. But that's not the character. So we had to do a few takes there. It was a lot of fun."



Pharrell x Collette Unveil Hand-Painted Adidas Stan
It’s all systems go for Pharrell, who always seems to be in the news for one reason or another these days. Following last weekend’s gallery opening at Galerie Perrotin, the producer unveils another Paris-based artistic venture in a special take on the adidas Originals Stan Smith.
The aesthetically pleasing sneaker has become increasingly popular since making a return to shelves during New York Fashion Week last year. Skateboard P, a fashion icon in his own right, has been spotted wearing customized versions of the kicks featuring hand-painted artwork. And now, the world rock something similar directly from the Grammy winner.
Pharrell teamed up with French boutique colette to create 10 pairs of exclusive Stan Smith shoes. No one design is the same.
But this is far from your typical fashion release, because process from sales go to Pharrell’s From One Hand to anOTHER charity. The Stan Smith collab went on sale at collette this morning. Best of luck finding pair.



Toni Braxton Hits The Town With Sister Towanda To Promote New Book
Toni Braxton and her eye makeup mishap hit the town with sister Towanda to promote Toni's new book.  
Well, that's unfortunate.  The reverse raccoon effect has taken over Toni Braxton's face.  Last night, she hit up the Barnes & Noble Bookstore at The Grove in L.A. for her 'Unbreak My Heart' memoir signing.  And it looks like she overcompensated for those dark circles.
Yet and still, she kept it fab with her black & white dress and Louboutins as she made her way around town.  Toni recently starred int he Broadway show "After Midnight" and is set to co-star with her sisters in the upcoming fourth season of WeTV's "Braxton Family Values".

We'll be watching.



Flex Alexander & Shanice Dish On Going Broke & New OWN Reality Show
True love is always tested when the checks stop coming in and the bills start backing up.

Flex Alexander and his wife Shanice were sitting on top of the world with a hit show and Grammy nominations, but after a few years, life got real for the couple and the fame and money started to fade.  You may remember that Flex created and starred in UPN’s One On One and Shanice’s 1991 hit song “Smile” was number one in over 20 countries, but when the show was canceled and there weren’t anymore chart topping hits, the money dried up and they had to move in with Shanice’s parents.

Still, the couple have stayed together and have been married for over 14 years throughout the storm, and they are now starring in a new reality show titled, Flex & Shanice: All In The Family on the OWN Network.  This week, the couple stopped by Good Day L.A. to talk about their new show, while admitting that reality TV wasn’t their first choice but they needed the check. They also revealed that they hope the show will not only entertain people, but it will be a lesson that all that glitters ain’t gold, and it can all be taken from you in a minute.
Catch the highlights:
On the show
Flex: It is basically looking into what we’ve gone through financially. Not by craziness. We didn’t do anything extravagant. Just the perils of making money in the business and then it stops [but the bills keep coming].[...]The jobs slowed down, the economy hit, and it was just an up and down time.

My wife is very frugal. I think for me it was a lesson learned because I was never raised or taught how to balance, juggle, how to really take care of it.[...]I’m learning from her.

On how they made it through being broke
Shanice: It was tough. Lots of tears.

Flex: You’re still in the industry. You’re still in the business. You’re going to events. It’s like, ‘Man, gotta make sure we’ve got this money for valet.’

On moving in with her family
Shanice: Yep. My mom, my stepdad, my uncle, his cousin Ed, my cousin…yeah. Our kids and our dog.

Flex: It’s three generations plus a dog. Everybody is their own individual character which you’ll see.[...] It all balances out because they’re super helpful with the kids. We all jump in to cook, we all jump in with bills.

On doing reality TV
Flex: I think it’s lessons to be learned. It wasn’t like, let’s do the show because we need money. We talked about it.

Shanice: Because for years he wouldn’t do a reality show. During our hardest times he said, ‘No, I don’t want to do it.’

Flex: If you’re an actor and you do that, I feel like it’s reality and it’s not going to work, but media has changed. Everything has changed.



Justin Timberlake Slammed By Palestinian Fans For Western Wall Photo
He’s an avid world traveler and tourist, so when Justin Timberlake ended up in Jerusalem on his current 20/20 Experience Tour, he paid a visit to the Western Wall.
The “Cry Me A River” singer took a photo at the holy site ahead of his gig in Tel Aviv and captioned the shot, “The Holy Land… What an experience. I will never forget this day. #Israel.”

However, the Western Wall is actually in Palestine, not Israel and some of Timberlake’s Palestinian fans weren’t too happy about the mix-up.

One person wrote, “Correction : you are in Palestine not israel #disapointed,” while another declared, “It’s palastine not f*ckin israel.”
Furthermore, one fan really got upset- “Dude stfu sh*t like this makes me wanna change the song when your music comes on,” though a Justin supporter stated, “I can’t seem to find Palestine on the globe. #Israel.”



Rappers React To Maya Angelou’s Death
Hip-Hop is nothing more than musical poetry and before the culture became a multi-billionaire empire, we only historical figures to look up to and draw inspiration from.
The world lost one of those figures today when Maya Angelou passed away at the tenured age of 86.
Naturally, given her eternal wisdom and uncanny ability to always write quotes that were life changing, the entire world had to pay their respects. Dr. Angelou interacted with countless celebrities through many decades but it was Oprah Winfrey who channeled her energy the brightest. “She was there for me always, guiding me through some of the most important years of my life,” Winfrey told the Associated Press. “The world knows her as a poet but at the heart of her, she was a teacher. ‘When you learn, teach. When you get, give’ is one of my best lessons from her.”
Although her impact was mostly secondhand, her talents as writer and forward-thinker impacted rappers of all sects of generations and plenty of them–from Common to Soulja Boy–took time out of their day to pay their respects.
Enter the gallery to see the countless MCs that did so, although it should be noted that no such announcements came from the 2014 XXL Freshmen. Is that a cause of concern for the current state of rap? Maya Angelou’s death is surely a moment to educate fans and followers alike on how words can affect society, no?


Beyonce and her Lollipop steps out in NYC
After spending Memorial Day weekend not at the West wedding, but bike riding and more in the Hamptons with husband Jay Z and baby Blue instead, Beyoncé was spotted leaving her office after getting some late night work done.  She was likely putting the finishing touches on the upcoming On The Run tour and upcoming video for her and Jay's "On The Run" track.
She rock a Topshop pink & white floral blouse and a Burberry white lace peplum pencil skirt, cinched at the waist with a wide nude belt and her topped off with her fave metallic pumps.

Not sure what's up with her lollipop obsession as of late, but she's looking cute



Khloe Kardashian and French Montana reunite in New York to buy matching gold timepieces!
They'd been apart for several days while she jetted off to Europe for sister Kim's wedding to Kanye West.
And now they're reunited things seem to be heating up for rumoured new couple Khloe Kardashian and rapper French Montana as they made a significant purchase on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old reality show star and French - also 29 - bought matching his-and-her gold watches in a New York jewelry store before posing for a photo with owner Gabriel Jacobs.
The pair were at custom jewelry specialists Rafaello & Co to buy their new time pieces and afterwards Jacobs proudly shared the snap on his Twitter and Instagram accounts, proclaiming them to be the 'newest power couple'.
Khloe looked slim in a pair of ripped skinny jeans and a black tank top. She donned black patent leather pumps and mirrored aviators.
She accessorized with gold necklaces including one with a large fairy pendant. I see they’re serious!



"Basketball Wives LA" Star Sundy Carter BUSTED For DUI, Blew TWICE The Legal Limit!
Early Monday morning, around 1AM PST, reality star Sundy Carter was pulled over for crossing a double yellow line, said Glendale Police Department spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot. During the stop, Sundy allegedly slurred her words (how could they really tell though?) and had breath that reeked of alcohol. Maybe she sipped a little too much of that Jackie Christie Cognac?

Most famously known for a fistfight with co-star(s) Draya and/or Malyasia, being the baby momma of married/retired NBA player Larry Hughes, and having a strained relationship with her teenage daughter, Sundy was booked for a DUI and for suspicion of being an unlicensed driver after her breath test yielded a result twice the legal limit.
The "BBW LA" starand former State Property star doesn't seem to be too strapped for cash because she easily posted the $10,000 bail on Tuesday and was released.  She returns to court on Thursday.



AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘WANNA CIABATTA?’
Wendy’s should revamp their marketing campaign with this woman just staring at the screen saying, “Buy our new ciabatta chicken sandwich or I’ll rip your $#@! off.” I would buy one for everyone in the office.



HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!
EFREM

8/28/13

The Daily Buzz for Aug 29



THE LEGENDARY SUPERMODELS REUNITE NAOMI, LINDA, KATE, CHRISTY GET TOGETHER FOR INTERVIEW MAGAZINE
Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista and Naomi Campbell may have made their names in the Nineties, but a new set of magazine covers proves they can still blow the current crop of models out of the water.
The trio join fellow Supers Christy Turlington, Amber Valletta, Stephanie Seymour and Daria Werbowy for a series of seven covers for Interview Magazine's fall fashion issue.
The showstopping images were shot by fashion photographer stars Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, and show each woman both clothed and nude in raw black-and-white images.
She's still got it: Stephanie Seymour, now 45 and a mother-of-four, laments the way actors now land many of the major campaigns and covers that once used to be the sole domain of models
The issue - dedicated to the business of modeling - also sees the seven beauties reflect on their careers over the past two and three decades.
Kate Moss, now 39, says that the first time she went to Paris to walk in a John Galliano show, nobody backstage even realized she was a model.
'All the girls were lined up, and I remember [make-up artist] Stéphane Marais said to me, "Are you in the show?" I said, "Yeah." . . . He's like, "Oh my god, get her done quick." [laughs] I was just sitting there all day. I'd been there since, like, 10 in the morning. They just didn't take me for a model.'
 The usually interview-shy model also spoke about how protective she is of her daughter, Lila, 11, joking that she is going to lock her up when she turns 14. She doesn't expect Lila to become a model anytime soon though.
'At the moment, she's definitely not into that,' she said. 'She's not into having her picture taken. She gets shy.'
That said, Lila does love Instagram - and while Ms Moss largely rejects social media such as Twitter, she does have an Instagram account too, albeit with only 25 followers because she refuses to make her username public.
Stephanie Seymour, now 45 and a mother-of-four, tells Interview about her first shoot - a 'Cosmo Tells All' feature, when she was 14.
'They would take a picture of a girl and then write something like "How do you have the best orgasm?" or "How do you get your hair as big as you want it?" I was the picture of a girl with big hair. . . I remember going to the grocery store before school to get it when it came out. I was so excited.'
She also laments the way actors now land many of the major campaigns and covers that once used to be the sole domain of models.
'I would like to see fewer actors modeling - or if they're going to model to the extent that they are modeling, then I think that models should be actors,' she said.
'Nowadays, if you want to be a model, then you should probably become an actor. That's the only way to get the great campaigns'

Stephanie Seymour
'Nowadays, if you want to be a model, then you should probably become an actor. That's the only way to get hired to do the great advertising campaigns that are really interesting or the magazine covers, and it's hard to build a name for yourself as a model without those things.'
Amber Valletta, too, reflects on the crossover between the two careers and admits she struggled to gain credibility as an actress because she started her career as a model.
'I definitely think that being a model makes it more difficult to be taken seriously,' she said. 'And I understand. I don't take it seriously sometimes. You can't.'
Now 39 and a self-confessed 'hockey mama', Ms Valletta admits that her time as a presenter of MTV's House of Style in 1996 'was not a good period for me, personally.'
She said: 'We'll put it this way, I wasn't always present for that, even though my body was there.'
She reveals she burst into tears on the set of her first job - an advertorial for Vogue Italia - because she didn't know what to do.
Ms Valletta says it was a haircut - a waifish pixie cut no less - that propelled her to new heights in the industry, as her previous bob made her look much older than her then 18 years.
Interview
'I was on castings for the shows, and I bumped into [hairdresser Yannick d'Is] and Ward Stegerhoek - another big-time hairdresser - and they looked at me and said, "Let's cut your hair off.". . . And then literally overnight everything changed. I worked with Steven Meisel within a month and a half and I booked every show.'
Linda Evangelista, 48, was almost put off entirely after getting caught up in a modeling course 'scam' at the age of 16.
'I was chosen by a Japanese agency to go over to Japan for the summer to work. . .,' she recalled. 'It was a catastrophe. They wanted me to take my clothes off and shoot me naked.
'It was a nightmare and I panicked and basically the Canadian Embassy helped me out. I was there about two days and went home, saying, "I don't want anything to do with this ever again.'
'I was chosen to go to Japan to work... It was a catastrophe. They wanted me to take my clothes off and shoot me naked'
Linda Evangelista
She admits that after getting signed to Ford, she and her fellow models all got bedbugs on a trip to Paris, and so her mother had to pay for her to change hotels.
Despite her efforts, she says she 'wasn't an overnight success' and was told that she would last three years if she was lucky.
'I didn't dream higher than what I was doing,' she said. 'I just felt fulfilled that I was working and doing things and being paid for it. I never imagined Vogue or doing Versace. I didn't think I qualified for that.'
Christy Turlington, whose first job was for the Miami department store, Burdines, at the age of 13, had a more gentle introduction to the industry, and recalls how her mother would take her for frozen yogurt before her bookings.
'I started modeling clothes for my age group but quickly moved into doing cosmetic and jewelry ads, which was funny to me at that age,' she said.
Now, at the age of 44, she is still modeling - posing in her underwear for Calvin Klein's latest campaign.
Driven by adventure: Daria Werbowy, 29, says she was always quite a reluctant model - so it comes as some surprise to her that she has ended up doing it so long
'I needed to think seriously about the CK underwear campaign, because I knew it would be everywhere, and I wasn't sure I wanted to be photographed in my underwear now that I'm a mother,' she admitted. 'But I knew the images would be tasteful and I liked the idea of continuing a relationship with a brand that I grew up with.'
But her relationship with the brand has not always been straightforward. When she first signed a contract prohibiting her from working with any other label, in 1988, she felt limited by it.
'I didn't feel that I was given the best advice at the time from my agency and I didn't have my own lawyer,' she said. 'I was young and wasn't ready to be locked up. I made the most of the time, but I missed the pace I was just starting to enjoy.'
Naomi Campbell, 43, who also continues to model today, says that she has been in the industry so long, the fashion world is like a family. For the young faces coming into the industry though, it is a different environment altogether.
'When I started out, there weren't casting directors and there weren't stylists, so you just dealt directly with the designer'
Naomi Campbell
'When I started out modeling, there weren't casting directors and there weren't stylists, so you just dealt directly with the designer,' she said. 'We were all much closer back then . . . we all hung out when we weren't working. . .
She believes young models today are missing that connection with designers, now that they are separated by casting directors and stylists.
She says she owes her success to the support of women including her mother and fellow model Iman and the 'amazing men in [her] life', Gianni Versace and her 'Papa' Azzedine Alaïa.
Of the late Versace, she says, 'Every 15th of July, no matter where I am in the world, I always go to church and light a candle.'
Daria Werbowy, who at 29 is the youngest of Interview's 'iconic' group, says she was always quite a reluctant model - so it comes as some surprise to her that she has ended up doing it so long.
These days, she admits, she is still bemused by her success.
'Sometimes I am still surprised that I'm a model and that people think I'm good-looking,' she says. I've gone through a lot of different phases on what I do and why I do it—morally and ethically. . . I just had to learn to look at it as a job, as opposed to identifying myself as a model and thinking of myself as a part of this industry.'
Today, adventure and travel drive her. Ms Werbowy even sailed across the Atlantic with her family in 2008 - something she says she would 'do again in a heartbeat'.
'My dad. . . found a junkyard boat and restored it, and it was his dream to sail across the Atlantic,' she said. 'So we did. It all came true. We had some funny issues along the way - like, not enough fuel at one point. It was one of the best experiences of my life.'

FAB…


Prince Jackson Rebelling Against the Family
Michael Jackson's teenage son Prince is rebelling against the Jackson family and threatening to get a place of his own.

According to The NY Post: Prince Jackson is taking a page out of his dad’s book — relatives say he’s being bad.
Some in the Jackson clan complain the King of Pop’s son is keeping late hours and ignoring the various requests of his grandma and guardian, Katherine.
Prince, 16, is now telling friends and family he wants out of the family mansion in Calabasas, Calif., and is seeking to move into his own pad.
He sounds like any teen — except he has his own money, a family insider says, an allowance of $66,000 a month.
“He’s a renegade kid. No holds barred,” a family member told The Post. “He’s up and out at all times of the night, and I’m concerned, and I think everyone around the situation has to be worried what could happen to this kid.”
Prince often exits the mansion without security and is regularly spotted by paparazzi with girlfriend and schoolmate Remi Alfalah, 17, a princess from a royal Kuwaiti family.
Prince and the princess (left) have been stopped for speeding by police, who once cited Prince for blazing around in his Ford pickup at more than 20 mph over the speed limit.
“No one can be sure what to expect next. He claims that his dad would have allowed this,” a family insider said. “The fact is, let’s be real, Michael kept them very low-profile. Hell, they wore masks, for God’s sake.”
Prince and siblings Paris and Blanket are heirs to Michael Jackson’s fortune, estimated at more than $1 billion. When the kids turn 30, they each receive one third of their share; by 40, they get it all.
Meanwhile, Prince has even hinted at marrying Remi just to get away from his relatives.



Ephren Taylor’s $11 Million Dollars Ponzi Scheme is not only linked to Eddie Long but to Joel Osteen Too?
Ephren (NOT Efrem) Taylor hopped scotched all over the country robbing dumb church people that were obeying their pastor’s that were well aware of the game. Micheal Winans, Jr. got fourteen years so there is not telling how long this sleaze bag for the same type of offense. However, every pastor that allowed Taylor to prey upon their congregations should also go to prison as well! Here is the details ABC is reporting below:
Ephren Taylor stepped up to the pulpit with the ease of preacher’s son, taking the microphone at the New Birth Baptist Church in Atlanta, where the powerful pastor Eddie Long was introducing him to the Sunday morning crowd.
“Everything he says is based on the word of God,” Long pledged to the members of his megachurch. But Taylor wasn’t a visiting minister.
He was a financial adviser, one who claimed to have made his first million in his 20s. And he promised he could do the same for his fellow Christians.

“We’re going to show you how to get wealth and use it for the building of his kingdom,” Taylor shouted to the congregation one morning in 2009. It was all part of what he called his “Building Wealth Tour,” which crisscrossed the country touting self-improvement, followed-up with private meetings with interested investors.
Some congregants from some of the most prominent mega-churches in the country, including New Birth Baptist Church and Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Texas, turned over their life savings to Taylor hoping to do good while doing well.
But the Securities and Exchange Commission said Taylor was actually peddling a Ponzi scheme that “swindled over $11 million, primarily from African-American churchgoers.” Earlier this year, the agency entered a judgment against Taylor, ordering him to pay more than $14 million, which included money owed to investors and interest and fees.
Taylor, 31, first gained national attention with a rags-to-riches story of growing up dirt poor in Blackwater, Miss., before developing a video game that he said turned him into a teenage millionaire.

In a 2007 interview with ABC News, when asked how much he was worth, Taylor ventured what he said was a guess.
“Ballpark? Maybe $20 million on a bad day,” he said.
His personal history, coupled with what he claimed was a philosophy of “socially conscious investing,” made him popular with church congregations.
“He quoted scriptures,” said Lillian Wells, who met privately with Taylor in 2009 after hearing him speak at New Birth.
Wells said Taylor convinced her to invest her entire life savings in a North Carolina-based real estate venture, which he claimed was turning around homes in inner cities. In exchange, she was promised a 20 percent return on her money.
But, Wells said, when she wanted to recoup her initial investment, Taylor disappeared.
“I couldn’t get a hold of anybody,” Wells said. “You just can’t get them. That’s it. You just couldn’t get anybody.”
Wells said she was forced to file for bankruptcy last September. She said she’s not sure if she will ever get her money back, but she wants to see Taylor held accountable.
“We’re suffering because of what he did. It needs to be stopped,” she said.
Lisa Conway became suspicious of Taylor after she went to work for him in 2010. At first, she was excited to sell another type of investment City Capital was pitching, but soon she said she began to suspect the business was not on the up and up.
“I wanted to believe the answers were legit when we had the meetings,” she said. But “I would see things that weren’t appropriate.”
Conway said she started to think that the money coming in was lining Taylor’s pockets, and according to government officials, she was right. The SEC claimed Taylor spent his investors’ money on his car payments, credit card bills and rent on a New York City apartment.
The SEC also alleged that he doled out cash to pay for studio time for the musical career of his wife, Meshelle, with the money that came pouring in. The couple even made a splashy music video starring Meshelle Taylor draped in white fur and diamonds. The name of the song? “Billionaire.”
Conway said investors soon started suspecting trouble as well, and panicked families began banging down the doors of the North Carolina office where she and Taylor worked.
“They put locks on the doors,” after one particularly angry client stormed in.
Taylor started to panic, Conway said, sensing that his house of cards was beginning to tumble.
“You could see him sweating,” she said. “You could see him coming in and trying to save the day or the moment that we’re in it, but it just looked shady.”
As the SEC complaint alleges, “simply, City Capital could not pay its bills.”
“Any investor who resisted was subjected to an endless cycle of unreturned phone calls and emails [and] empty promises of imminent action,” reads the complaint. “To the extent investors survived this gauntlet to still insist on repayment, any funds they received invariably came from new investor money.”
In April 2012, ABC News heard from an attorney representing Taylor, who said that Taylor is not in hiding, but has stayed out of the spotlight because of concerns for his safety. He continued that Taylor also unequivocally denies that he looted investor proceeds to fund an extravagant lifestyle.
In Texas, Gary and Anita Dorio first met Taylor in Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church, and gave Taylor $1.3 million, their life savings and her mother’s retirement. And for about a year, they say it seemed like a good deal. At the beginning, Taylor was sending them monthly checks for $11,000.
“He asked us, you know, ‘What do you need? Give me a figure,’ and he made it happen,” said Gary Dorio.

The Dorios said the paperwork Taylor provided was very convincing. They thought they were investing in an inner city laundromat, a juice bar and a gas station.
“We actually got pictures of the businesses that they were operating,” said Gary Dorio. “We called, and they answered the phone and they said who they were.”
But ultimately, they discovered that many of the businesses they thought they were investing in never even existed. Lawyer Cathy Lerman said hundreds of investors have told her the same story.
“I cannot tell you how many people have said to me, I thought I was the only one. And my family was so angry with me. I took our life savings and ruined it,” she said.
In the end, the Dorios did walk away with a rental property in Cleveland, but it came with a catch: A $67,000 bill for back taxes on the property. The head office of the businesses Taylor listed in their documents was nothing more than a post office box inside a UPS store in Tennessee.
“Don’t be overcome by evil — by evil. But overcome evil with good,” said Anita Dorio, quoting a Biblical passage.
While the Dorios said they are still devout Christians, they have left Lakewood Church, the house of famous televangelist Joel Osteen, who, like many other pastors who let Taylor speak at their churches, preaches what’s known as the “prosperity” gospel.
Anita Dorio acknowledged that the church was careful not to explicitly endorse Taylor.
“Before the seminar began, a staff member did make the announcement, ‘We’re not endorsing this person. We’re not telling you to invest with him. We’re just here to listen to what he has to say.’”
Lakewood Church told ABC News they opened their doors to Taylor to speak on the subject of “Biblical financial principals,” but “when he began to promote his services as a financial advisor,” he “was stopped from doing so.”
The Dorios said while they don’t really want to blame church leadership and said they did warn them about Taylor after the alleged fraud was discovered. Anita Dorio said the response she received from the church was, “‘Oh Anita, how could you?’ Like I should have known better.”

At New Birth Baptist Church in Atlanta, Lillian Wells said she didn’t get much further when she spoke to her pastor, Bishop Eddie Long. He came in and said, ‘The church ain’t got no money,” she said.
In 2011, Long released a video pleading with Taylor to return the money.
The church told ABC News, “They do continue to hope the responsible parties will restore the funds they took from congregants at New Birth and churches around the country.”
Gary and Anita Dorio say they have forgiven Taylor and place their hopes for justice in God’s hands.
“It’s not the easiest thing to do, but we live by what the word of god says,” said Gary Dorio. “And we have to forgive Ephren. We have come to a place where we’ve forgiven him. We pray for him, his family.”
So where is Ephren Taylor exactly? ABC’s “The Lookout” received a tip to head over to Lenexa, Kan., specifically a shop called, Panacea Massage, to talk with Ephren Taylor and his wife.
After what they say were a string of bizarre incidents, workers at Panacea Massage became suspicious of one of their workers, a woman who called herself “Liz Taylor.” Salon workers said they noticed her husband would arrive with her at work almost daily. And they said the couple would talk about their lost fortune.
Once the salon installed security cameras for added protection, they said the husband became suspicious. Workers said he said, “Be careful what you say, ’cause there’s audio and there’s night vision.”
After this incident, workers looked at “Liz” Taylor’s license and noticed the name on her identification was Meshelle Taylor.

After about 30 minutes of Googling her name, salon owner Pam Dinges said, “a whole can of worms opened up,” and “the whole multi-million dollar scam thing all surfaced on the Internet. That’s how it all came together. … It was like, ‘Oh my God.’”
When the salon workers made the connection that Meshelle was Ephren Taylor’s wife, they emailed one ABC’s sources, who called “The Lookout.”
“The Lookout” team traveled to Kansas and found Ephren and Meshelle Taylor at an apartment complex, but they would not answer the team’s questions. Ephren Taylor told “The Lookout,” at one point, on camera, “I have no idea.”
When “The Lookout” requested a formal interview with Ephren Taylor, his attorney told the team, “I have no comment on the SEC charges pending against Mr. Taylor. In addition, neither Mr. Taylor nor any members of his family, including his wife, wish to comment on this matter at this juncture.” Thanks to Obnoxious TV for this!


Tracy McGrady announces retirement from NBA
McGrady made the announcement on ESPN’s First Take.

McGrady, 34, started last season playing in China then upon his return was picked up by the San Antonio Spurs and was a little-used reserve on the team that made a run to the NBA Finals. My guess is he may play again in China next season, but he says he is done with the NBA.
McGrady ends his Hall of Fame worthy career with an impressive resume — two-time NBA scoring champion, two-time All-NBA First Team, seven time All-Star

McGrady was the No. 9 pick of the Toronto Raptors back in 1997 directly out of Florida’s Auburndale high school. He and Vince Carter teamed up in Canada to make one of the more entertaining teams of the past couple decades. But McGrady burned a lot of bridges north of the border when he bolted for the Magic and signed a massive free agent contract.
McGrady’s best season likely came in Orlando, when in 2002-03 he averaged 32.1 points a game while carrying the Magic, using 35.2 percent of the team’s offense when he was on the court. He had a PER of 30.3 that season (for comparison, that would have been better than everyone in the NBA but LeBron James last five seasons).

There was a time when it was a legitimate debate as to who would have the better career, Kobe Bryant or McGrady. But McGrady started to have health issues and was never on a team he could lift out of the playoffs in the first round. When McGrady and Yao Ming teamed in in Houston it was thought they could form a contender, but both stars were betrayed by their bodies (while they had good role players around them but the team could not advance).

That said, McGrady should be in the Hall of Fame some day, one of the best of his generation and one of the games best pure scorers ever.


Are Catherine Zeta-Jones & Michael Douglas set to announce their divorce?
There are rumors within rumors about Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones these days. I’m sure you’ve seen some of the many blind items attributed to them and I’m sure you’ve seen a fraction of the tabloid stories about their marriage problems and maybe even their possible divorce. I don’t really know what to say… I mean, I’ll buy that their marriage is on the rocks. I’ll buy that they’ve both been through the ringer through the past few years with Michael’s cancer and Catherine’s mental illness. What could have brought them closer together seems to have only made things worse. Still, this current round of split rumors is not the first time we’ve heard this stuff, and in previous rounds, Michael and Catherine always denied the stories. Here’s the latest:

RUMOURS are circulating that enduring Hollywood couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones 13-year marriage is over.
The couple, who have not been photographed together for four months, are said to be living apart.
According to a source, “Michael is going to announce the split soon. Catherine is fighting to save the marriage but he’s had it.”
But another report said she was set to start a multi-million divorce battle.
Last week Douglas was pictured arriving in Sardinia by private jet but his wife was nowhere to be seen.
Reports of a marriage crisis between the high octane pair were denied earlier this year but Douglas’ spokesman was more cryptic in his response when questioned, stating: “I won’t talk about that.”

Zeta-Jones supported Douglas as he battled throat cancer in 2011, while he supported her through two stints in rehab as she sought treatment for bipolar disorder.
[From The Herald Sun]
As I said, it wouldn’t surprise me. I’m not going to say it’s for sure until People Magazine announces it, though. Michael and Catherine are old-school – they’ll go to People after they’ve worked out how they want to frame the split and then we won’t hear much about it because they’ll probably keep the information on lockdown. So… this is just an FYI. Considering their reps aren’t bothering to confirm anything, my prediction is that we’ll get a firm statement on this Soon.


Drake Sued By Stylist For Over $75,000
Drake, recently seen performing at the 2013 MTV VMAs, has rich rapper problems. A stylist formerly employed by the OVO MC is suing the Toronto native for over $75,000. The exorbitant amount is what Michael Raphael claims he is owed for work in the month of December 2012.
Reports TMZ:
A stylist formerly employed by the rapper has filed a lawsuit against Drake, claiming Drake owes him $76,490 as of December 2012 ... including consulting services, hotel bills, plane tickets, and endless shopping expenses.
The stylist Michael Raphael says Drake hired him in August 2012 for consulting services at a monthly rate of $39,583 -- services that include styling, clothing and graphic design for Drake's company OVO, brand direction, photography, etc.

According to the lawsuit, the wages do NOT cover the exorbitant expenses Raphael also incurred on Drake's behalf -- dropping stacks at stores like Nike, Diesel, American Rag, and countless boutiques ... plus insane travel expenses (SLS hotel, anyone?).
Raphael even includes a bunch of receipts to show just how much he spent -- one Nike receipt was for $1,162, one for Diesel was $1,483, $714 at American Rag, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Raphael claims Drake faithfully paid his bills from August to November last year, but suddenly stopped paying in December -- a month where Raphael racked up nearly $40,000 in shopping and other expenses on top of his monthly salary ... for a total of $76,490.
Hold up. Drake, who most brands would love to have in their clothes for the free marketing and promotion, was dropping this much coin on a stylist? The "Started From The Bottom" rapper was even buying his own Nikes?
Seems like Drizzy smartened up. Just saying.



Fat Joe Checks In To Prison
Fat Joe has turned himself in to federal prison. Joe Crack was hit with a four-month sentence for tax evasion earlier this year and surrendered to authorities in Florida Monday
The Bronx rapper is now in custody at the Federal Detention Center in Miami, reports TMZ. Born Joseph Cartagena, Joe plead guilty to tax evasion in December 2012. In an extensive interview with Power 105.1, he revealed that he actually informed the IRS of the tax issues, which were caused by a suspect accountant. Despite paying in full all the money he owed the government (over $1 million), and their acknowledgement that the accountant was at fault, back in June the Terror Squad rapper was still sentenced to serve four months.
The "Lean Back" rapper was facing as much as two years in prison, but instead was hit with the four month sentence, a $15,000 fine and one-year of supervised release.
On Sunday, Joe dropped a new mixtape called The Darkside 3.



Monica & Shannon Brown Throw A Pink & Ponies Baby Shower At Jermaine Dupri's House
It's Monica & Shannon's Brown very first child together (Monica has 2 sons and Shannon has 1).  And it's the first girl for both.  So the couple went all out with a fab baby shower at Jermaine Durpri's Atlanta home.
Mo's cousin Ludacris posted a pic of the twosome.  And she's indeed glowing.  Cute!
Pink was everywhere around the grounds and horses and ponies were also front and center...decked out in pink.
Apparently the Browns were trying to do an adult only party--no kids and no cameras.

The twosome are expecting their baby girl. And reportedly, she will be named Laiyah.  The name was supposedly given by good friend Tameka "Tiny" Harris.  How sweet...



LATE SIPS: Anthony Hamilton Arrested For DWI
Anthony Hamilton was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence early Sunday morning, reports WCC. The singer was taken into custody after a North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper stopped him for speeding. He suspected of being under the influence and arrest around 2:30 a.m.

He has since been released from police custody.


The Popular Grills are linked to Oral Disesase?
Some people can walk into a room and smile and it seems like the whole room lights up, it might be because they’re wearing a platinum diamond encrusted mouthpiece better known as a grill. A grill is a piece of jewelry that is made specifically to fit your teeth. In the Hip Hop culture this piece of jewelry is as common as a pair of shoes…EVERYBODY HAS THEM. With your favorite artists wearing them, you too might want to jump in on the trend. However, with fans running out to their nearest jewelers to purchase the new jewelry you often find that instead of going with the higher quality grills that can range from $1, 028.00- $5, 500.00. Fans opt out to the lower quality grills that start around $700. (According to Johnny Dang and Paul Wall Grill website).
Dentists have come to the conclusion that grills can cause serious dental issues if not fitted correctly. Ill fitted grills can lead to various dental problems such as the wearing away of tooth enamel, tooth decay, gum disease and other infections according to Dr. Lance Knight who is a very popular dentist among the stars. Just like when you go to your dentist to get bridges and crowns and other procedures done you know that when done correctly you can expect that there will be no problems because it was done by a professional, someone who studied and trained to do their specific job. 
Badly fitted grills can even lead to teeth movement that will later cause you to have to get braces to re-align the teeth placing them in their proper position. To avoid any of these things happening dentists recommend that if you were to get a grill please go to your dentist to get a mold of your teeth, something that the jeweler will need to make sure the grill is properly fitted to your teeth.



The Celebs came out to CELEBRATE VIBE'S 20th ANNIVERSARY In NYC
In addition to celebrating their 20th Anniversary with standout cover photos of Robin Thicke and Janelle Monae, and a few swanky day-to-night events in Las Vegas with La La Anthony, Juicy J and Talib Kweli, VIBE Magazine took their party to NYC last week. Taking over the famed NYC hotspot Bungalow 8,
The party was sponsored by MONSTOR Headphones and the company CEO, Noel Lee, arrived on a motorized scooter with gold rims!  He posed with rapper Swizz Beatz.   Swizz is a co-owner of the company and on their advisory board.
Singer Luke James, who's been on tour with Beyonce, was spotted at the party.
Hitmaking producer Sean Garrett was there.
Reality tv personality Po Johnson smiled for the cameras.
DJ D-Nice helped keep the crowd moving.
Questlove also stepped behind the 1s and 2s to spin a few hits.
DJ Scratch also joined the fellas in the DJ booth.
"Single Ladies" co-star Cassandra Freeman hit the party.  And she'll be returning as "Morgan" when season 3 kicks off soon.
DJ Cassidy rocked a pair of white summer shorts.
DJ Irie also took a turn in the DJ booth.
Singer JoJo posed for the cameras too.
VIBE's Editor-In-Chief Jermaine Hall posed with rapper ASAP Ferg.
Executive editor Datwon Thomas (far left) also celebrated the mag's 20th anniversary with Jermaine.
And VIBE's Keith murphy, and friends Jayson Rodriguez & Shaheem Reid were all there to party it up.
Tyson, Noel, Swizz and ASAP Ferg all dished about MONSTOR'S latest products.



And everybody got lit on Smoke Vodka Liqueur.
Happy 20th anniversary VIBE!



AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘OBEY YOUR THIRST’
Funny how it seems that as soon as you lose self-respect you gain belly shirts. Odd how it works out like that.



HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!
EFREM

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