#TEAMEMPIRE: Taraji P. Henson Gives SLAYAGE November Cover of Essence!
*With her right hand lifted like it’s about to smack Boo-Boo Kitty, Taraji P. Henson is channeling a bit of Cookie Lyon on the November cover of Essence magazine.
The 45-year-old “Empire” star is in a form-fitting, black Fausto Puglisi dress, complete with slits starting just below her waist.
Inside the magazine, Henson addresses her longevity in the game.
“I’m just gonna keep amassing an audience,” says the Oscar- and Emmy-nominated actress. “Everything was strategically planned. This is what all my efforts are for.”
Also in the cover story, Henson talks about taking the business of acting seriously.
“These kids are thinking they can do reality TV and come and do this craft that I studied, sweated and grinded,” says Henson. “People forget it’s a craft because it’s so pop now…Can they make me believe the words coming out of their mouth?”
While many fans can’t imagine Cookie played by anyone other than Henson, the actress can’t imagine “Empire” being as successful as it is without the presence of Cookie and Lucious.
Listen HERE:
This November Essence with Henson on the cover hits newsstands on Friday, Oct. 16.
#TEAMRHoA: What She Rock’d: Porsha Williams In Cameo Wake Me Cobalt Blue Strapless Midi Dress
Last week, Real Housewives of Atlanta’s, Porsha Williams, made an appearance on FOX 5 Atlanta. During her visit, the reality star rock’d a Cameo Wake Me Cobalt Blue Strapless Midi Dress ($229) and printed pumps. The strapless dress features thick woven fabric, which creates a slit midi skirt for a unique and elegant silhouette over a mini-length lining. Get another look.
Ladies, Would you rock it?
DEVELOPING: Lamar Odom Found Unresponsive, Fighting For His Life!
Lamar Odom is currently fighting for his life after being found unresponsive at a brothel near Las Vegas.
According to TMZ, Odom had been partying at the Love Ranch in Pahrump, Neveda since Saturday and had been taking a herbal substitute for Viagra. On Tuesday afternoon, a woman went to Lamar’s VIP suite and found the 35 year-old unconscious.
The former LA Lakers star was initially taken to a nearby hospital where he was intubated. He was then rushed to a Las Vegas hospital for further treatment.
This news comes on the heels of Lamar losing two of his closest friends recently; one to a flesh eating disease (due to dirty needles) and one to a drug overdose. Odom has also admitted to having a difficult time since his recent divorce from Khloe Kardashian.
Bobby Brown Will Set Record Straight About Relationship to Whitney Houston in New Memoir titled “My Prerogative”.
Bobby Brown is writing a “raw and unvarnished” memoir, according to the Associated Press. The singer, who became well-known as a group member of New Edition, and later went solo, has a deal with Dey Street Books for “My Prerogative”.
The ex-husband of the late Whitney Houston and father to the late Bobbi Kristina Brown, confirmed the news in a statement issued through Dey Street Books, called the memoir a journey through his “crazy, exciting, fascinating world.”
Brown said, referring to the July 26 death of 22-year-old Bobbi Kristina, who was found face-down and unresponsive in a bathtub Jan. 31 at her home in Roswell, Georgia:
Right after I signed on to write my story, I went through one of the most agonizing traumas I had ever experienced with the death of my daughter.
Houston, Bobbi Kristina’s mother, was found dead in a bathtub in Beverly Hills, California, in 2012. Brown stated:
But I was surprised by how therapeutic it was to work on this project, to look at the entire arc of my life and to realize that although there has been considerable pain, I have also been incredibly blessed. I hope my fans and other readers of this book will be entertained by this trip into the crazy, exciting, fascinating world of Bobby Brown. And I hope they will feel that I have been as honest and open with them in these pages as I have tried to be my entire life.
Dey Street Books called the memoir “raw and unvarnished” and promised that Brown will tell the full story of his life and set the record straight, particularly about his relationship with Whitney Houston.
According to the publisher’s statement:
‘My Prerogative’ is the story of a man who has been on the top of the mountain and in the depths of the valley and who is now finally ready to talk about his career and family life, from the passion and the excess to his creative inspirations and massive musical success.
Brown, 46, has been a star since co-founding New Edition more than 30 years ago, but many think of him first for his tumultuous time with Houston, to whom he was married from 1992 to 2007, his run-ins with the police and his struggles with drugs and alcoholism. He has feuded with Houston’s mother, Cissy Houston, who has said Whitney would have been better off without Brown and would not have become so “deep” into drugs.
The memoir will be co-written by Nick Chiles. The book is scheduled to be released in June. [Associated Press]
BREAKING: Philadelphia Police Commissioner Ramsey to Retire by years End!
Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey will retire at year's end, he said Wednesday morning at a City Hall news conference.
The news comes three weeks before the election to decide Philadelphia's next mayor, who will have the task of finding a successor to lead the 6,500-officer department.
Ramsey, who is 65, came to Philadelphia in 2008 after being chosen for the job by Mayor Nutter. Ramsey said his 47-year career "has been a good ride." His last day will be Jan. 7.
"A leader's only as good as the people we work for," Ramsey said, and "we have an outstanding group of individuals in our department."
The commissioner had been retired from his previous job as chief of the police force in the District of Columbia from 1998 to 2006. He began his career with the Chicago Police Department, where he rose to the rank of deputy superintendent.
President Obama picked Ramsey to cochair the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing to improve police-community relations.
Mayor Nutter thanked Ramsey "for an incredible level of service." He said he had never heard of Ramsey until a friend pitched him on the him. Nutter met Ramsey at Union Station in Washington, and picked him from seven or eight other candidates to lead the police department.
Under his Ramsey's, Philadelphia has experienced a general decline in reported crimes, although homicides have ticked up recently. The 246 murders reported in 2013 were the lowest since 1967.
Police-involved shootings spiked under his watch, and he invited a Department of Justice study that recommended wholesale changes in procedures and training.
Ramsey's plan included community engagement, more responsibilities for district captains and data-informed policing. Since 2007, homicides are down 33 percent, Nutter said.
Since December, Ramsey has been dogged by demonstrators who have been protesting the December 2014 fatal police shooting of Brandon Tate-Brown at a car stop in Mayfair.
As commissioner, Ramsey makes about $260,000 annually. Nutter awarded him a $60,000 raise in 2011 to prevent Ramsey from returning to Chicago to run his hometown police department.
Ramsey's job security became the a subject of debate during the Democratic mayoral primary earlier this year. Former Councilman Jim Kenney, who won the election, said he would keep the police commissioner should he choose to stay.
However, Kenney has been - and continues to be - a frequent critic of the Stop & Frisk policy implemented under Ramsey. Kenney said he would do away with police officers' practice of patting down people suspected of carrying weapons.
Nutter pushed Stop & Frisk while campaigning for mayor in 2007, advocating for a more aggressive use of the practice in high-crime areas, to target the possession of illegal handguns
Ramsey said he thought a new mayor ought to have an opportunity to pick his or her own commissioner.
"I'm not tired. I'm not burnt out. I'm actually in my prime," he said. But he said it was time to move to another level - "a national one," perhaps.
Here’s Your First Look At “The Wiz Live!” Cast!
We’ve got the first look at the upcoming television musical "The Wiz Live!" starring newcomer Shanice Williams, Ne-Yo, David Alan Grier and Elijah Kelley as Dorothy, The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion and The Scarecrow
We for one are super excited about this upcoming remake. Of course we’re fans of The Wiz, and we love that a fresh new face will be portraying Dorothy in the live musical "The Wiz Live!" set to premiere on NBC on Thursday, December 3rd.
It's the blueprint for an exciting and entertaining show when you have the likes of Ne-Yo, David Alan Grier, Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige and more apart of the cast. Here's the first look at the cast, thanks to PEOPLE.
The main cast has been fitted for their costumes and their edgy threads have us even more excited about the project. Shanice star as Dorothy following the footsteps of iconic singer Diana Ross, who starred in the 1978 feature film, and legendary songstress Stephanie Mills, who starred in the coveted role in 1975 Broadway production. Ms. Mills will star in this upcoming production as Auntie Em.
Little Toto is adorbs!
Comedian and actor David Allen Grier is starring as the Cowardly Lion. His look was updated with his mane made out of dreads and a stylish vest.
R&B singer Ne-Yo, who’s gearing up to be a dad again, will bring his vocals and acting talents to portray The Tin Man, who’s rocking a rather dapper ensemble…made out of tin.
Elijah Kelley, who has starred in The Butler and Red Tails, will play the friendly Scarecrow.
The rest of the cast includes Queen Latifah as the Wiz; Mary J. Blige will play Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West; Uzo Aduba will play Glinda the Good Witch of the South; Amber Riley will Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North and Common will play the Bouncer, the gatekeeper of the entrance to Emerald City.
Mark your calendars. Dec. 3rd will be here before you know it!
New HIV Vaccine Ready For Human Testing
The virus, developed by Dr. Robert Gallo, is designed to bind to the virus at the moment of infection.
A new AIDS vaccine is about to be tested in the U.S., one developed by Robert Gallo, the scientist who first proved that HIV caused AIDS.
The first phase of the study will involve 60 volunteers testing the safety and immune response of the vaccine, and will last a year. Determining whether it’s actually effective is a little ways away, but extensive testing on monkeys has had positive results.
There have been more than 100 HIV vaccines tested, but the virus is tricky to combat—once it enters white blood cells (T-cells), it’s invisible to the immune system. Gallo and researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Institute of Human Virology believe they have discovered when HIV is vulnerable to detection.
“Our HIV/AIDS vaccine candidate is designed to bind to the virus at the moment of infection, when many different strains of HIV found around the world can be neutralized,” Gallo told the Baltimore Sun. “We believe this mechanism is a major prerequisite for an effective HIV preventive vaccine.”
The vaccine has been in development for some 15 years, but Gallo says that’s because his team has been very thorough in vetting the vaccine in animal testing, and because getting funding to entering into human testing has been difficult.
“Was anything a lack of courage?” he asked Science. “Sure. We wanted more and more answers before going into people.”
Beanie Sigel Spotted in Atlanta During #A3C
Beanie Sigel’s life over the past five years, dealt with prison time and other misfortunes. A year after being released from prison, he joins Cam’Ron on stage during A3C, to perform all of their classic hits. He performed “Roc The Mic”, “Feel It In The Air” And a few others.
After being shot multiple times, within the last year, we see Beans in rare form as he was also seen around Atlanta during the festival.
NeNe & Gregg Leakes Wine & Dine In Hollywood
So After getting her nails done with her man by her side, NeNe Leakes and her hubby Gregg Leakes hit up West Hollywood for a cutesy dinner date.
The former “RHOA” star and her hubby was spotted making their way inside celeb go-to hotspot Craig’s restaurant to dine on some American cuisine. Yum.
A few days ago, NeNe taped a segment for an upcoming episode of "Lip Sync Battle." We wonder if she chose to lip sync "Tardy for the Party." Ha!
T.I. Apologizes For his DUMB AZZ Hillary Clinton Remarks
Rapper T.I. has apologised after suggesting he won't be voting to elect Hillary Clinton as America's next leader - because she's a woman.
The "Whatever You Like" singer hit headlines on Tuesday (October 13) after he was asked about his political leanings for the next presidential elections in 2016. He made it clear former First Lady Clinton wouldn't be getting his vote because he fears a woman would not be able to make clear decisions during difficult situations.
The 35 year old also explained he believes other world leaders wouldn't be able to negotiate with her.
"Not to be sexist but, I can't vote for the leader of the free world to be a woman," he said. "Just because, every other position that exists, I think a woman could do well. But the president? It's kinda like, I just know that women make rash decisions emotionally - they make very permanent, cemented decisions - and then later, it's kind of like it didn't happen, or they didn't mean for it to happen.
"I sure would hate to just set off a nuke (nuclear missile). (Other leaders) will not be able to negotiate the right kinds of foreign policy; the world ain't ready yet (for a female U.S. leader). I think you might be able to get the Loch Ness Monster elected before you could (get a woman President)."
T.I. has now taken to Twitter.com to apologise for his remarks.
"My comments about women running for president were unequivocally insensitive and wrong," a message on the social media site reads. "I sincerely apologize to everyone I offended."…
YEAH IDIOT!
Why are these 3 Together SMILING? Stevie J, Joseline Hernandez & Mimi Faust Spend “Family” Time Together
All looks well in the Jordan household…a total 360 of how things use to be. Yep...you saw Joseline and Mimi kiss and make up during the reunion show.
“Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” star Stevie J and his wife/co-star Joseline Hernandez are currently taking over the L.A. area for their upcoming spin-off show with VH1. Cameras will follow the couple as they hit the west coast with their sights on the Hollywood big screen.
We’ve spotted the Jordans hitting the club scene on a few occasions and dining in Hollywood. And now, it appears Stevie J’s daughter’s mom Mimi Faust (and Joseline’s former enemy) will be joining the show…in some capacity.
Stevie J hopped on his Instagram and posted these Jordan Family photos with the caption, "There's nothing like smiling. Be a light that shines! #FOE #KnowYourWorth @vh1 #lhhatl #JoselineHernandez @mimifaust"
Looks like they all met up for lunch today...and filming. Well, if they're happy who are we to judge. Good for them.
In case you missed, peep the trailer HERE:
The Jordans' spin-off is expected to premiere this winter.
Rihanna to Perform at the 2015 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
Rihanna is set to perform at this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show! The annual highly-anticipated parade of beauties –which airs Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 10 p.m. on CBS
The show has had a long line of top performers from Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Ariana Grande, and Maroon 5.
Report: Paris Jackson On Verge of Meltdown; Hasn’t Seen Mom in Over a Year
*Paris Jackson has reportedly stopped talking to her mother Debbie Rowe, and friends fear she’s headed for a relapse in a fight with the same demons that drove her to attempt suicide two years ago, according to Radar Online.
“Everyone thought she was back on track,” a friend told the website, “but now it looks like she’s on the verge of a meltdown.”
According to multiple reports, Paris first attempted suicide in 2013, by slashing her wrists and taking pills. During her recovery period, Paris grew closer to her mother. But Radar now reports that Rowe, 56, hasn’t seen her daughter in over a year.
According to a family insider, relatives are terrified after Paris, 17, revealed her fragile state on social media. “In video clips” with her 18-year-old boyfriend, Chester Castellaw, “Paris acts crazy,” said her friend. “She grabs hold of his face and sings: ‘This is my baby, if you flirt with him, touch him, talk to him, think about him, or even look at him, I will slit your throat!’”
A psychologist tapped by Radar to comment saw the footage and concluded: “This is definitely not healthy.”
According to the website, Paris was planning to marry her boyfriend when she turns 18 next spring, a move that is terrifying her friends.
“I’m afraid if she tries to push Chester into marriage, he’ll dump her, then all hell will break loose,” warned the source.
A Last Resort? Toya & Memphitz Wright Starring On BRAVO's "Untying The Knot"
The last time we checked in on the marriage of Toya Wright and Memphitz it was during our exclusive interview with Toya a while back. We could tell from the way she spoke about Memphitz that she was still very much in love and didn't want to end her marriage. And we were (W)right.
We've just learned that Memphitz and Toya are still very much married and still working through their marital issues. But now BRAVO is involved. While we aren't sure that reality tv is the answer...a check is a check.
They've signed up for "Untying The Knot" so we will get to watch them work through their issues. Now....if you know about them, it was actually reality tv that split them up. Memphitz always felt like Toya's decision to turn down "LAHH ATL" helped destroy his relationships in the industry because he couldn't defend himself against K. Michelle.
So....what first destroyed your marriage is now going to save it? Chile....that's gonna be one 'ole Sunday morning testimony if it actually works out. Time will tell....
Bravo's "Untying The Knot" November 11th @ 8/9c. Will you be tuned in?
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!’
For those times when the jars break but those green gloves turn you on.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
