Jason Statham and Li Bingbing for Harper's Bazaar China - September 2018
Nice Covers
#RHoA: Kenya Moore Threw Shade At Luann De Lesseps Over Her ‘RHoA’ Exit!
Kenya Moore reportedly isn’t returning to season 11 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and an insider claims “messy” contract negotiations are to blame. Kenya took to Twitter to address the rumors — and seemed to throw some shade at a fellow housewife, Real Housewives of New York City star Luann De Lesseps, in the process!
After years of sharing her dreams for a husband and a baby, Kenya secretly wed husband Marc Daly last May and is now expecting her first child after going through fertility treatments, which she did not film for the last season of RHOA.
As Real Housewives fans know, RHONY star Luann was arrested over Christmas Eve for drunkenly trespassing a Palm Beach, FL, hotel room and allegedly assaulting a police officer. The story has played out on this season of RHONY.
#Empire CASTING ALERT! Toby Onwumere To Recur On Season 5
Toby Onwumere (Sense8) is set for a recurring role on the upcoming fifth season of Fox’s hit musical family drama Empire.
Onwumere will play Kai, a war correspondent and also Jamal’s (Jussie Smollett) love interest.
Empire, created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong and starring Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, hails from Imagine Television and 20th Century Fox TV. Daniels, Strong, Brian Grazer, Francie Calfo, Sanaa Hamri, Dennis Hammer, Matt Pyken and Diane Ademu-John executive produce. Brett Mahoney is executive producer and showrunner.
Onwumere played Capheus on the second season of Netflix drama series Sense8. Onwumere took over the role that was played by Aml Ameen in Season 1. He’s repped by Innovative Artists and Gartner/Green Entertainment.
Empire returns Wednesday, September 26 at 8 PM on Fox.
#NewMusic from DAWN Titled “So Good”
She never ceases to amaze us Dawn dropped a song called “So Good”…she’s cranking them out!
“So Good” is a lustful offering which finds Dawn feenin’ for some good sex…LOL
LISTEN TO THE TRACK HERE
As for her upcoming album, she recently replied to a fan on Twitter, stating “it sound[s] like new orleans.”
#HipHopNews: Nas is Working On New Album With RZA and Swizz Beatz
Nas is already on to the next one. A little over a month after dropping Nasir, the rap icon says he’s cooking up his next project.
During an iHeartRadio Q&A with Angie Martinez in New York on Thursday (July 26), Nas revealed his plans (via Complex). “It’s another album that I already had been working on before [Nasir],” he said. “Since I did this, I gotta do something that, you know, goes in another direction a little bit. So I’m finishing up the next one.”
And while it took six years between Life Is Good and Nasir, fans won’t have to wait too long for the next album. “No, it’s not gonna be that long because half of it was already there,” said Nas. “I did something with Swizz, I did stuff with RZA. I’m a big Wu-Tang fan. RZA’s real.”
Barack and Michelle Obama parties it up at Beyoncé and JAY-Z's ‘OTRII’ Concert
The Obamas brought even more entertainment to Beyoncé and JAY-Z‘s concert on Saturday night.
At the latest On the Run II tour stop in Landover, Maryland, Barack and Michelle Obama got out of their seats — and then some.
Video captured by fan Anna Bailey shows the former president, 56, and first lady, 54, throwing their hands in the air while dancing along. Due to all the noise at the venue, it’s hard to tell just which Bey or JAY tune was playing.
WATCH HERE
The viral moment marks the second time Mrs. Obama has been seen jamming to music from the Carters this summer. In mid-July, fan video showed her with Beyoncé’s mother, Tina Knowles Lawson. Mrs. Obama swayed and clapped as JAY-Z, 48, performed at the On the Run II tour stop in Paris.
The Obamas and Carters have a rich history stretching back to Mr. Obama’s first term as president. In 2008, Beyoncé performed “At Last” during then-President Obama’s first inauguration, and she went on to collaborate with Mrs. Obama on her “Let’s Move” campaign combatting childhood obesity. The then-first lady later returned the favor by appearing onstage during Beyoncé’s performance at the Global Citizen Festival in 2015.
The Weeknd & Bella Hadid Are Officially Back Together & Are Exclusive
After being seen out together multiple times over the last month or two, The Weeknd and Bella Hadid are officially full-on back together and exclusively dating. This according to a source who confirmed the rumor to E! News.
A source tells E! that following their breakup nearly two years ago, that the couple is "exclusively dating and are in a great place." The insider added, "Abel realized once he started dating around, that he actually is still in love with Bella, and they reconnected."
Back in early June, Bella and The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye), were spotted out on a date in Paris. The couple, who before this were seen making out at a Cannes Film Festival party, were out together having drinks in Paris, as noted by a fan who tweeted, "Ok. Bella hadid and The Weeknd just came to my restaurant asking for drinks... I'm fine. Totally fine."
Bella's family is reportedly happy about the model's and Abel's reconciliation. A source tells E! that it comes as no surprise, explaining, "Everyone around them always knew it was a matter of time, and knew the undeniable bond that they had when they were together. They always drifted back in the same places so it was a matter of time before they decided to commit to each other again."
Earlier this year, The Weeknd released his My Dear Melancholy EP, on which fans speculated that on one of the songs included, "Wasted Times," the recording artist reminisces about his relationship with Bella. In the chorus he sings, "And now I'm askin', who do you belong to now?/ Who you give that love to now?/ Who you pullin' up on?/ Who you gettin' sprung for now?/ And what they got that I ain't got? 'Cause I got a lot." He also calls out Bella's horse-back riding hobby in the second verse, singing, "You were equestrian, so ride it like a champion."
The QUEEN Janet Jackson Dances to Nicki Minaj During her Panorma NYC Performance!
Thee ICON Janet Jackson had a lot going on in her life the past few months but you wouldn’t know it by watching her return to the stage in New York City last night where she performed all her big hits … and mixed in a little Nicki Minaj for good measure.
Jackson headlined the Panorama Music Festival on Randall’s Island to mark the beginning of her ongoing “State of the World” tour.
WATCH HERE
The setlist for the show included all the classic Janet songs a fan could want — “Miss You Much,” “Alright,” “Got ’til It’s Gone,” “That’s the Way Love Goes,” and many more — and she even slipped in a little “Chun-Li” during a medley that included “Nasty.”
Civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis of Georgia hospitalized after in-flight emergency
Rep. John Lewis — the 78-year-old Georgia Democrat who played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement — has been hospitalized after suffering a medical emergency, according to news reports.
Lewis fell ill on a plane while flying home to Atlanta on Saturday, WSB-TV reported. He had been expected at an event that afternoon.
In a statement to the TV station, the congressman’s office described his hospital stay as “routine observation” but released no details about what sent him there.
“He’s resting comfortably and expects to be released tomorrow,” the statement read.
Lewis’s political legacy dates to the era of racial segregation, when “he was arrested, brutally beaten and continually bore witness to death in the pursuit of equality under the law for African Americans,” as Jonathan Capehart wrote for The Washington Post.
The son of black sharecroppers, he became one of the original Freedom Riders fighting for racial integration. He spoke at the March on Washington as a young man in 1963 and has served as Congress’s living link to the civil rights battles since he first won office in 1986, representing Georgia’s 5th Congressional District.
Usher Sells Georgia Mansion for $1.5 Million
Usher has closed the sale on his sprawling estate in Alpharetta for $1,500,000.
According to the Blast reports, The home is located in an exclusive gated county club and is packed with insane features including a gourmet kitchen, covered terrace bar, yoga studio, resort-style master bath with sauna, soaking spa and rain shower, ice bath, a guest house with its own private dance studio and even a climate controlled treehouse for kids.
Usher originally bought the property in 1998 for $1.2 million from music legend L.A. Reid. He tried to offload it in 2008 for $1.95 million, but took it off the market two months later.
The singer then listed the home last year for $2.488 million but slashed it down multiple times in the hopes of finding a buyer. He eventually found someone this month, when he sold off the pad for $1.5 million on July 2.
Tamar Braxton got reprimanded by a Delta Airlines Pilot for NOT adhering to safety Instructions
Towanda Braxton says her sister Tamar was ridiculed by a pilot on a recent flight.
It all went down when Tamar put a blanket over her head and went to sleep when she got on the plane. The flight attendant reported her to the pilot for not listening to the safety instructions…..
WATCH HERE
itowandabraxton@tamarbraxton got ridiculed by a pilot for flying while black on Delta. Wow! I guess being a diamond and double million miler don’t matter… @deltaShame on you… #WhyArePeopleSoMad#flyingwhileblack #smh
Bobby Brown Denies Hitting Whitney Houston During Intense Press Conference
While promoting his new BET miniseries The Bobby Brown Story, R&B singer Bobby Brown reportedly revealed to journalists that despite rumors and documented police reports, he never had any "violent incidents" with late wife Whitney Houston, according to Entertainment Weekly.
The artist held a press conference at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, coincidentally the location of Houston's untimely passing in 2012, for the upcoming project and did not take kindly to increased questioning on the volatile nature of his marriage. He vehemently denied claims of violence stating:
“What people don’t understand is the stories told about me are untrue, are false. We’re correcting everything the press has believed about me. I’m able to tell my story from what I know, my truth. That’s the basic reason we did this film. We did this film to tell my side of the story. What me and Whitney went through is what we went through.”
Reporters allegedly continued to press the New Edition member further by confronting him with transcripts of a 911 call made by Whitney, to which it's validity he denied and claimed "there wasn't" any calls ever made to the police. He called the reporters "mistaken" and "completely wrong" before stating "the public record is wrong."
While now he's claiming there was never any violence in his marriage to Whitney Houston, People pointed out that in Brown's 2016 memoir, Every Little Step, he recounted an incident where he had hit her.
One reporter asked Bobby the question that was likely on everybody's mind: if the location they were currently in for the conference creeped him out. He replied saying "nah" because the spirit of his ex-wife was most likely there and it made him feel good.
“Nah, this is the place they choose and the spirit of my ex-wife is probably still here...that feels good to be here, and promote this movie, and be able to be here now with my wife and kids.”
The Bobby Brown Story will pick up on BET’s where their New Edition miniseries left off, documenting Bobby Brown's movement from group success to solo stardom and relationship to Whitney Houston. The program debuts on September 4th.
Britney Spears Bans Alcohol Backstage at Her Concerts After Demi Lovato OD
In light of Demi Lovato's reported drug overdose on Tuesday (July 24), another sober pop star is upping the ante on making sure her tour is free from temptation.
According to Page Six, Britney Spears' team has tightened up their drinking rules on the Pieces of Me tour. “Britney’s team set strict guidelines that no alcohol at all could be served backstage, because they want to keep it away from her, and also many of her dancers are underage,” a source said about the Radio City Music Hall shows on Monday (July 23) and Tuesday (July 24). “Apparently this is the policy throughout her tour.”
Before the tour started, Straight Shuter reported other guidelines the crew must follow on the road, while assuring that the singer is happy and healthy.
“Britney is doing great, and every effort will be made to make sure that doesn’t change. Before the tour starts her advance people will make sure that alcohol is removed from every hotel where she stays and access to the singer will be limited to ensure no shady characters get anywhere near her,” a source said. “The cast and crew on her tour can expect there will be lots of rules. In addition to the confidentiality clauses, backup dancers will be banned from consuming alcohol and drugs, and will even be subjected to random testing.”
#BoxOfficeNews: 'Mission: Impossible - Fallout' Debuts With Franchise Best, $61.5M Opening
This weekend saw Paramount's Mission: Impossible - Fallout top the weekend box office with the franchise's largest three-day opening as well as star Tom Cruise's second largest opening of his career. Meanwhile, Warner Bros.'s animated feature Teen Titans Go! To the Movies struggled and fell short of expectations. Overall, the weekend was up ~6% compared to last weekend and up ~8% compared to the same weekend last year.
With an estimated $61.5 million, Paramount's Mission: Impossible - Fallout fell a bit shy of Mojo's pre-weekend expectations, but still managed to deliver the franchise's largest three-day opening, topping the $57.8 million opening for Mission: Impossible II back in 2000. The opening also represents the second largest debut for Tom Cruise after the $64.8 million debut for War of the Worlds in 2005 and for Paramount this is the studio's largest opening since 2014's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ($65.5m). Given the film's position as the last major blockbuster of summer 2018 and the positive reaction from both audiences and critics, Fallout should exhibit strong legs looking ahead.
Fallout not only carried the best reviews of the franchise (97% on RottenTomatoes and an 86 on Metacritic), but opening day audiences gave the film a franchise-best "A" CinemaScore. The film played to an audience that was 55% male, which is much more balanced when compared to the 62% for Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. Speaking of which, after opening with $55.5 million, and receiving an "A-" CinemaScore in 2015, Rogue Nation went on to deliver $195 million at the domestic box office. A similar performance for Fallout would put the film's domestic run over $215 million.
The Fresh Prince Will Smith Announces Plans To Write A Book: ‘I’m About To Tell Y’all All My Business’
Will Smith aka the Kang of Instagram took to the social media platform last week to announce he’s writing a book.
The actor and rapper is teaming up with Mark Manson, author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, to make it happen.
Will posted a video announcing his exciting news along with the caption:
@MarkMansonNet is the TRUTH! He’s gonna get a book outta me.
I’m SOOO Ready! I’m ‘bout to tell y’all ALL MY BUSINESS. 🙂
This should be a great read!
Michelle Williams Says ‘I’m Committed To ‘Doing The Work To Stay Well’
Michelle Williams took to Instagram on Saturday to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support during the time she was being treated for depression.
The Destiny’s Child singer recently entered a mental health facility to seek help for her ongoing battle with depression.
In her post, Michelle reaffirmed her commitment to “doing the work to stay well.”
She even cracked a few jokes here and there to show she’s definitely in good spirits.
Thank you ALL sooooooooooooooo much for every message of love and support sent! My family, friends and fiancé have been AWESOME! Sitting here reflecting on the past two weeks. I had no plans of what I was going through being public BUT now that it is I have a made an even BIGGER commitment to the mental health awareness area.
So many people are suffering, hurting, hopeless, lost and don’t see a way out but there is. Depression sucks, but my faith in God and my commitment to doing the work to stay well is my way out! You have to do the work even when you’re tired and feel the heaviness. Take one step at a time! Don’t overwhelm yourself. If you can just get up out the bed and brush your teeth and shower…..DO IT.
For people dealing with depression , that is a HUGE step! Now don’t be depressed AND stinky…..pick a struggle! 🤣 (y’all know I had to add some humor) Anyhoo…..I love you all very much! Talk soon! ❤ (yes I need a fill and my roots need to be flat ironed….bye…..I haven’t lost my humor) ❤
Oh……Miss Tina cooked a HUGE meal for me the other night too, I just wanted to make y’all jealous!
We certainly wish Michelle all the best with recovery!
Danuel Drayton The Man Arrested In Nurse's Murder May Have Been Using Tinder To Target Women
A man arrested in the brutal murder of a Queens, NY woman may have been using dating apps like Tinder to target women, and according to police, could be linked to as many as seven murders.
On Thursday, police arrested 27-year-old Danuel Drayton in North Hollywood for the murder of 29-year-old Samantha Stewart, who was found dead in her Springfield Gardens home on July 17, according to ABC 7.
New York police alleged Drayton strangled Stewart inside her home. She was discovered by her brother wrapped in a blanket, according to NBC New York.
When Dayton was arrested in North Hollywood, authorities found another woman tied up and held captive in his hotel room.
He has been charged with attempted murder, penetration with a foreign object, and false imprisonment. His bail was set at $1.25 million.
Stewart was a registered nurse at North Shore University Hospital in Long Island. Investigators said she and Drayton had met on Tinder.
Investigators said they also believe Drayton had been using dating apps like Tinder to meet and then target various women, including the woman he allegedly kidnapped and held against her will in California. Police said they arrested him in an unrelated rape case of a 23-year-old woman in Gowanus, Brooklyn, a few weeks earlier.
According to PIX11, New York detectives tracked Drayton across the country to the California hotel where he allegedly tied up and held a woman. "Here you have detectives flying across the country and potentially saving a life at a hotel," NYPD Chief Dermot Shea told PIX11. "This was good, old-fashioned police work and some really good detective work."
"The common denominator in these two cases — one being a murder, one being a rape — is dating websites," Shea told CBS New York. "So this individual is known to us and it is believed by us that this individual uses dating web sites to meet women and then victimize these women." Police asked any other possible victims to come forward.
Latifa Lyles, vice president of external relations at the National Network to End Domestic Violence, said that although this is a highly publicized case because he's an alleged serial assaulter and it took place on both coasts, there is unfortunately nothing unusual about dating and intimate-partner violence. However, she added, this is a key opportunity to start a discussion about the issue.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly a quarter of adult women, and one in seven adult men, experience some type of severe physical violence from an intimate partner. About one in six women has experienced some type of sexual violence from a partner, including rape. According to U.S. crime reports, about one in six murder victims are killed by an intimate partner, as are over 40% of female homicide victims in the U.S. A lot of cases go underreported because the victim is afraid of the assailant, according to Lyles.
Lyles warned against telling women to stay off Tinder or otherwise change their behavior in order to stay safe. "There's nothing to tell us there's a higher rate of intimate-partner violence because of the way you meet a person," she said.
"A lot of sorrow is in my heart," Stewart's aunt, Ruby Dixon, told CBS after learning about Drayton's arrest. "My niece was the best you ever could find in a human being." She added: "Be careful. If you meet up with someone, tell somebody. Tell a family member, tell a friend. You don’t know who these monsters are.
AND FINALLY FROM THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART FILES
‘KINKY KAREN’
It’s like mid-striptease she realized she forgot the whipped cream and strawberries. I hope she untied her husband from that chair before she left.
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Mack
Meet Mack. You can see more when GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSFW!
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Enjoy!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD
EFREM
