The Daily Buzz For Aug 11

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Misty Copeland Dances on the Cover of Essence Magazine’s September 2015 Issue

Ballerina Misty Copeland is the cover star of the September 2015 issue of Essence Magazine and she covers the mag in a gorgeous billowing Zimmermann gown as she gracefully strikes a mind-blowing pose.

The image was captured by photographer Dennis Leupold. The 32-year-old dancer made history just a few weeks ago by becoming the first black principal dancer at ABT in the company’s 75 years of existence.

Essence magazine writes:

Misty Copeland is having one amazing year, and the joy and focus of it all shows clearly on her face as she gracefully poses on the September cover of ESSENCE, her perfect arabesque accentuated by the beautiful Zimmermann dress flowing around her.

After years of training and overcoming a seemingly career-ending injury, Copeland has earned her spot in the pantheon of great dancers by becoming the first Black woman to perform the lead in Swan Lake for the American Ballet Theatre and then days later becoming the first Black woman to be promoted to principal ballerina in the ABT’s 75-year history. Add in a Broadway show run (in On the Town), a groundbreaking contract with Under Armour, and a new engagement to her longtime boyfriend and it’s a great time to be Misty Copeland.

Check out more about her cover feature here.

Serena Williams Poses For ‘New York’ Magazine

Serena Williams rocks a hot new shoot for New York Magazine’s August 10 issue. The tennis pro, who just weeks ago won her sixth Wimbledon championship (which was her fourth consecutive Grand Slam title and 21st of her career), slips into a sexy black dress and poses with her adorable teacup Yorkie, Chip, and also shows off her balance and flexibility in one shot.

The tennis champ is talking about what her life may be like after she retires … whenever that’ll be. In the mag, when asked what she’ll do after her “eventual retirement”, Williams responded, “I will finally be able to make some Miami Dolphin games,” she says, laughing, “and make some, uh, better decisions down there with the players.”

Serena also opens up about her second love, fashion.

Serena wanted not just to design clothes but to design wedding dresses. “That was my first real love,” she says, “but then I was like, Listen. I’m playing professional tennis. I’ll just do athleticwear.” In her sartorial interests, as in all things, she followed Venus, who encouraged her to take some college design classes. Together, they brought to the game black lace, flesh-colored underwear, and knee-high sneaker boots. Today, Venus has her own line, EleVen — “Ten is just another number, but EleVen is a lifestyle” — an affordable athleticwear line far tamer than much of what Serena and Venus wear on the court. “We brought fashion back to tennis,” Serena says. “It was great when Chris Evert was around. Tracy Austin had some great designs. But the ’90s was not a good time.”

She looks great!

Awwwww SHUCKS! They’re back "Real Housewives Of Atlanta" Season 8 

Well isn't this interesting? They're back and According to reports, Sheree has signed a new contract with Bravo to return with a peach.  We can see all the Chateau Sheree and She by Sheree shade now....and it will be epic.

As for why NeNe's former friend Marlo is in the pic above, we hear she will be returning on a "friend of the Housewives" basis, much like the position she was in previously.

Marlo and Kenya Moore were spotted chatting up Cynthia's husband Peter Thomas inside.  But it wasn't all rosy at the event.  ET reports that Porsha Williams and Marlo got into a fight with Peter!  And that's not all...Sheree and Kenya allegedly got into a bit of a catfight at the party as well.  And we an only imagine what type of shady talk was spewed.

Kandi and Todd were there minding their pregnant business.  Gotta love it

Well #TEAMRHoA get ready!

Did Wendy Williams kill NeNe Leakes’ talk show?

It’s no secret at all that Wendy Williams and NeNe Leakes are far from friends these days and both of them have thrown barbs at each other over the past few years during their on-again, off-again feud. But a new report claims that the feud between Leakes and Williams had an unknown casualty, which was Leakes’ defunct talk show plans.

According to Lovebscott.com, some time ago, Leakes was developing a daytime talk show that would capitalize off the steam of Williams’ talk show by airing right after it.

Leakes’ show was also being produced by Debmar-Mercury, the same production company for the “Wendy Williams Show.” At the time, Debmar-Mercury producers spoke Williams about doing production work on Leakes’ planned show and Williams allegedly gave them her blessing to work with the reality star.

However, as fans will remember, Williams and Leakes had a public falling out after Williams criticized Leakes for defacing/personalizing a Birkin bag of hers with her many catchphrases. Afterward, Leakes wrote a scathing open letter about Williams and referred to her as Wendell.

According to the report, Williams was furious with Leakes and she allegedly demanded that Debmar-Mercury make a choice to either work with her or Leakes. Debmar-Mercury reportedly decided to stick with Williams because of her talk show’s massive success.

The report also claims that Williams’ power move against Leakes may have been the source of why Williams’ husband had a public outburst backstage at a public speaking event in Atlanta that both Leakes and Williams were booked for, during which Leakes apparently shaded Williams.

We’re not sure if the allegations are true, but we wouldn’t be surprised if these two have carried on a lot of drama between each other outside of the public eye.

The Houston LGBTQ Community wants Beyonce to support HERO!

Well Houston do we have a problem? Beyoncé is being asked To support Houston’s Pro-Gay HERO Ordinance By LGBT Activists!

Via HufffingtonPost: Houston is on the verge of legalizing discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. With a single Instagram post, Beyoncé could help make sure her hometown doesn’t repeal protections for LGBT Houstonians this November.

For the past 15 months, the city of Houston has been caught in a legal battle over the city’s Equal Rights Ordinance, known as “HERO.” The ordinance, which was passed by the city council in April of 2014, bans discrimination against LGBT people in employment, housing, public accommodations like hotels and restaurants and other areas.

Opponents of LGBT equality have fought to put HERO on the ballot for a repeal vote this November, and thanks to a recent Texas Supreme Court decision, they’ll likely succeed.

That means Houston is in for a nasty, dishonest and divisive campaign to repeal HERO and legalize discrimination against LGBT Houstonians. These kinds of campaigns don’t usually end well for LGBT people: they’re dehumanizing, traumatic and usually result in LGBT people losing their basic civil rights.

But that could change if the world’s proudest and most famous Houstonian decides to stand up for her LGBT fans and speak out in favor of keeping HERO. With a single post to her over forty million Instagram followers, Beyoncé could change the debate over Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance and mobilize support for protecting LGBT Houstonians from discrimination.

Beyoncé is no stranger to wading into political battles. In April, she used her Instragram to draw attention to the death Freddie Gray and urged followers to donate to the NAACP’s effort to help “those affected by the unrest in Baltimore” – posts that racked up hundreds of thousands of likes. More recently, she and husband Jay-Z were criticized for reportedly giving money to pay bail for Black Lives Matter protesters in Ferguson and Baltimore. She’s spoken out against sex discrimination, criticizing gender inequality and unequal pay in the workplace.

If she were to lend her support to the LGBT cause, it certainly wouldn’t be the first time…

Beyoncé has also been open about her support for the LGBT community, publicly celebrating her gay fans’ “confidence and fearlessness.” In 2013, she expressed her public support for marriage equality in an Instagram post featuring a note that read “If you like it you should be able to put a ring on it.” The post got over two hundred thousand likes:

Beyoncé echoed her support for LGBT equality in a 2014 Out Magazine interview about her fifth album. Asked if her lyrics were written with the LGBT community in mind, she said:

[W]hat I’m really referring to, and hoping for, is human rights and equality, not just that between a woman and a man. So I’m very happy if my words can ever inspire or empower someone who considers themselves an oppressed minority…We are all the same and we all want the same things: the right to be happy, to be just who we want to be and to love who we want to love.

And in July, the pop star celebrated the Supreme Court’s historic marriage equality decision with a rainbow-themed Instagram video captioned “#LoveWins.” That video has since earned over a million likes.

Houston is the fourth largest city in the country, but it suffers from incredibly low voter turnout, especially during non-presidential election cycles. A few thousand votes will likely decide whether HERO lives or dies. Given the amount of attention that Beyoncé’s support for the LGBT community has gotten in the past, it’s not hard to imagine the kind of positive impact her support for HERO might have on a local election

Alright Mrs. Carter…..HOLLA!

Timbaland Teases Unreleased Aaliyah Music?

Fourteen years after her death, Aaliyah’s legacy lives on. Fans have been eager to hear unreleased music, and now Timbaland plans to grant their wish.

The super-producer and longtime Aaliyah collaborator announced that he has songs in the vault, and will soon share them with the world. “Attention!!!!! People ask me all the time do I have any babegirl music we haven’t heard !!!!!well the answer is YES!!!!!!!! TIMBO x BABEGIRL !!!!!” he said.

He intends to release a preview in the near future: “Sneak peak coming!!!!!!!”

There hasn’t been a full Aaliyah project since 2002’s posthumous album I Care 4 U. In August 2012, Drake announced that he and producer Noah “40” Shebib had been tapped by Blackground Records to produce an album from Aaliyah, but those plans were subsequently called off.

“I think the press got out of hand and they maybe had a different vision for it or something,” said Drake. “It was sounding great to me. Whatever they end up doing with it, I wish them the best of luck

New Music: R. Kelly – ‘Backyard Party’

Happy summertime. R. Kelly keeps the feel-good vibes coming on “Backyard Party.” The R&B king throws back some shots, fires up the grill, and gets the celebration started. According to FakeShore Drive, the breezy jam will serve as the first single from his upcoming album Buffet, due Sept. 25.

“You got hip-hop, you got old school music with the ‘Step in the Name of Love’ type music, ‘Happy People’ type of music, then you have traditional R. Kelly sensuous, sexual music,” he said of the follow-up to 2013’s Black Panties.

Throw your cares away and boogie down with Kellz HERE!

Thoughts?

#TEAMEMPIRE Jussie Smollet gets FAB for HOLLYROD!

Holly Robnson Peete celebrated her 17th Annual HollyRod event this weekend amd Jussie Smollet came out to help!

The 17th annual fundraising event was produced by actress Holly Robinson Peete and her husband Rodney Peete through their nonprofit organization, The HollyRod Foundation (HRF), and benefited those with Parkinson's disease and autism. 

Guests arrived at The LOT Studios in West Hollywood for cocktails and silent auction bidding, followed by a delicious buffet dinner provided by Outback Steakhouse all under the stars

Jussie looked great in his cranberry suit while Holly looked polished in her all black cocktail attire.

Nice!

BET Announces there will be a New Edition Biopic!

BET Networks and Jesse Collins Entertainment announced today the production of an original miniseries based on the iconic music group New Edition. New Edition members Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant have all signed on as co-producers for the film that is being developed into a three-night miniseries premiering on BET in 2016. New Edition stated:

It’s been a long time coming and that time is finally here! Now that we have signed the deal, New Edition’s journey will be captured in a three night miniseries to tell our life story through our very own eyes. We are happy to have New Edition Enterprises collaborate with BET Networks’ Debra Lee and Stephen Hill along with Jesse Collins Entertainment. From our beginning in the Orchard Park Projects in Boston to Hollywood and everything in between, just like The Temptations and The Jackson Five—we are ready to retrace our footsteps and show everyone how we got here. For the fans all over the world, this one’s for you.

Stephen Hill, President of Programming, BET Networks states: 

Personally, my relationship with New Edition goes back to being among the first to play ‘Candy Girl’ on my college radio station, so I’m ecstatic that BET is the place where the guys wanted to come to tell their complete, dynamic story. Everyone’s been waiting for the New Edition saga to be told in all its triumphs and heartbreaks and we can’t wait to bring it to the screen.

Jesse Collins (Real Husbands of Hollywood) is executive producer and New Edition’s longtime manager Brooke Payne will also serve as a co-producer. With a script by Abdul Williams (Lottery Ticket), the untitled film is slated to begin shooting in early 2016. A director has not yet been selected. This will be the first scripted music-focused television movie to air on BET.

OUCH! Wendy Williams Falls Off the Stage! 

In the new age of camera phones — with the ability to upload instantly to places like Instagram and Twitter — the days of celebrities having an embarrassing moment without traveling across the ‘net are long gone.

Just ask Wendy Williams. Over the weekend, the talk show host took a fall off stage, while at her Wendy Williams Sit-Down Tour in Houston. The talk show host was walking on stage when it appears that she missed a step down and took a spill.

WATCH:

Wendy Williams took a fall last night, hope she is ok. (#wendywilliams #wendy #williams)

A video posted by theJasmineBRAND (@thejasminebrand) on Aug 9, 2015 at 6:40am PDT

Well Based on the Instagram clips surfacing, the fall didn’t look too bad as she quickly was helped up and kept it movin’. Anywho, the Wendy Williams Show is on hiatus until September 14th. video courtesy of thejasminebrand

‘Straight Outta Compton': The story of N.W.A. unfolds with Rolling Out Mag!

The cast and Director of The NWA Biopic ‘Straight Outta Compton' are on a media Blitz to promote the upcoming film that is out this Friday. The cast and Diector sat down with Rolling out for an interview.

Straight Outta Compton is a film that had been in works since 2002. F. Gary Gray, at what point did you know that this film was ready to be released to the public?

F. Gary Gray: Ice Cube gave me a call, I read the script and thought that it was really good. I also felt like this was my first opportunity to become a journalist and a historian. I have a great relationship with Cube, so I was up for the challenge to be able to get an opportunity to create a snapshot of American popular culture.

What was the process of figuring out the mannerisms of each member of N.W.A.? Jason, I got an opportunity to see the film and you embodied every aspect of Eazy-E. So you go first. How did this come together?

Jason Mitchell: Well, by me not being from California, the first thing I had to do is transform to be able to understand the culture. Compton is not just a culture that you experience everywhere else, so the first thing I had to do was step into that realm and then start with Eazy’s old interviews. But at the same time, I had my guys around me. F. Gary Gray, Cube and Dre kept me on a certain path and they laid everything out for me.

O’Shea Jackson: I would say the easiest part for me is the fact that I live with my character, and I’ve been bred by my character, so I’ve been doing my research for 20 plus years on my character, but they put me through the ringer. They put me through hard work; two years of auditions, callbacks, three different acting coaches and techniques, and also they flew me out to New York to live out there for a week and I had to do boot camp with a cross-trainer just to get in shape.

FGG: I also want to add that there was nothing easy about what these guys had to do with these characters. Everybody had their own share of challenges and they did a great job, but it was extremely hard for them to put the magic on the screen that they did.

Corey Hawkins: It was a long process, but it was a process and a labor of love. I just remember being nervous about taking on the role because it’s Dr. Dre. I remember the first dinner we had with Dre and Gary. And at the end of the dinner, Dre pulled out his iPhone and started showing everybody my audition.

JM: There was a chemistry reading, but there were things that he wouldn’t tell each of us to try to make us keep pushing through that chemistry read. Once we got through the chemistry reading, we started boot camp and O’Shea had to lose weight, Corey had to gain weight, and we all did that together. Corey even had to learn how to DJ, I had to learn how to move mechanically like Eazy-E, and, of course, Shea had to bring a level of energy that’s from the ’80s. We had to do things that brought us together as brothers, and by the time production started, we were N.W.A.

N.W.A. was the first rap group to touch on police brutality. With the recent killings of unarmed Black men, how timely was this film considering what’s happening today?

CH: I always think of art as being a reflection of our reality. We are talking to the humanity in all of us through this movie, and we are pushing the envelope because I don’t think people were ready back then. I still don’t think that people are ready now. This movie opens that dialogue up that we need and it let’s people say this is what we need to be talking about and we should be angry because there’s nothing wrong with a little anger. I’ve dealt with police brutality, and it’s hard being a Black man in America, but we gotta keep that dialogue open.

JM: In the film, it shows police brutality and how you’re treated in different situations. But it also shows the oppression as a whole because they have people behind the scenes as police who aren’t treated like men or don’t feel like they’re amongst brothers. So it’s hard to rub shoulders with somebody who you can’t trust; and they have a code as well because just like we have a no-snitching policy, they have a no-snitching policy, so it’s an issue where people are judging each other off of their different social classes and statuses rather than their character.

I think some people put too much pressure on first week numbers instead of thinking about the overall impact of a film. What will be the impact of Straight Outta Compton 20 years from now?

OJ: This movie is bigger than rap. The messages that are in this movie are something that the human spirit must be reminded of constantly so I don’t think this film will ever be out of date or anything like that because the things that we are trying to embed in people’s minds are things that we need to be refreshed on every now and then, and a powerful movie like ours will inspire and fuel the fire, and I think this movie will stand the test of time.

JM: The thing about telling stories is, if you whisper something in my ear and by the time it gets to Corey, it could be a little bit different. But with this film, we have something that everybody can absorb. It might not be absorbed the same way or depicted the same way, but we gave you the same amount of information and we gave everybody a clear understanding of what’s happening. We can look at the film now and say “hey this is what’s been happening and this is what needs to be changed.”

FGG: Part of the reason why this movie is special to me is because it’s history and not only history in hip-hop, but American history. One hundred years from now, people will wonder what was going on in America in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and this is the group that changed the world. If I don’t make another film, I would feel good about this one because I know for a fact that we did more than just make a movie, we did something special as a group.

The Movie is out Friday! H/t rollingout.com

FKA Twigs was ATTACKED by RACIST Trolls On Social Media over being in a Interracial Relationship!

When it comes to Internet trolls, no one is safe.  Especially not celebrities.  These days, celebs have way more to deal with when it comes to their fans. While platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are technological advancements that can bring celebrities closer to their fans and keep them up-to-date with everything they have going on, it can also be a medium for the celebrity to receive tons of hate. And unfortunately for FKA Twigs, neither she nor her fans are spared.

During an interview with The Sunday Times, the British singer/songwriter, who’s currently dating Twilight actor Robert Pattinson (above), opened up about how Twitter trolls came for her once they found out she was in a relationship with a white man.

The eclectic 27-year-old singer, who’s of English, Spanish and Jamaican decent, revealed trolls attack her often on social media. But one interaction in particular brought her to tears…and it wasn’t even directed towards her.

She said she responded to a fan who shared a picture of himself with a friend who was battling cancer. In the tweet, he revealed she had been listening to her music as she goes through the ordeal to help cheer herself up. Once she responded to the fan, she said all hell broke loose on her timeline, with hateful tweets directed towards the young woman with cancer from Internet trolls.

She told the magazine, “They all started attacking her. Within 20 seconds it was just like n*gga, monkey, ugly, die b*tch all this stuff on his feed. It broke my heart… this lady who is really sick and is probably going to die.”

So disgusting.

Although it hurts when you’re simply hated because of the color of your skin, it’s something her parents had prepared her for being a bi-racial child. She said her father would tell her, “Sometimes you're going to have to work 10 times harder than somebody else to get the same appreciation, but never use it as an excuse. I agree with that.”

Switching gears, the singer was asked about her wedding plans to her Hollywood hunk fiancé but she had very little to say. In response to the wedding questions, she said,

"Who told you I was getting married? You might read somewhere I'm a monkey and it doesn't mean I am. I’m not prepared to talk about my private life. I don't really understand the fascination."

Now there!

Caitlyn Jenner Wears Revealing Bathing Suit in ‘I Am Cait’

65-year-old Caitlyn Jenner, overcame her fears of wearing a bathing suit in episode 3 of E! Network’s docu-series I Am Cait.

Jenner revealed her white one-piece bathing suit while swimming with transwomen during a road trip to take a break from the paparazzi 

In episode 2 (Road trip 1), Jenner hesitated to expose her body in a bathing suit and jump into a hot tub with his friends.

“It’s kinda scary because, you know, you’re really exposing yourself,” said Jenner, 

But she finally did as you see!

Whites Only? Black Lowe’s Driver Replaced At Racist Customer’s Request!

A Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse in Southern Virginia went above and beyond to provide a racist customer with excellent service last week. The manager of the location, stopped a Black employee from making a delivery, after a customer informed them of her “Whites Only” policy.

Marcus Bradley was actually on his way to make the delivery, when he got the phone call telling him to turn that truck back around. “I asked him why I couldn’t do it, and he said because you’re Black, and they don’t want you at the house,” said Bradley.

Bradley wasn’t exactly happy that Lowe’s didn’t stand behind him, and neither was his white co-worker. “To me, it just ain’t right for a business that we work at to go on with the woman’s wishes,” said Alex Brooks, who worked with Bradley for 11 years.

When the drivers made it back to Lowe’s, Bradley was replaced by a white person, and Brooks didn’t like that one bit. “That’s kind of where I just had to put my foot down and say I couldn’t do it with them.”

FOX10 News | WALA

Regardless of the situation, Bradley had to continue working because it’s his job. “I mean, I thought that Lowe’s would take up for me,” he admitted. “I’m going to keep going to work like I’ve always done. But I would think Lowe’s would take it into consideration to think about what they’re doing next time.”

The manager of the store has been fired for caving to racist demands, and the customer is perfectly fine with her decision. Lowe’s however, denounced the store saying in a statement: “A discriminatory request should never be honored because it is inconsistent with the company’s values.”

When approached, the racist customer explained why she won’t let Black people in her home to deliver stuff: “I got a right to have whatever I want and that’s it,” she said.

Also, racism has no conscience, so when asked if she felt bad about the debacle, she stuck to her guns. “No, I don’t feel bad about nothing.

AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES

Courtesy of P.O.Wm

‘DRESSING THE PART’

I’d like to put a stipulation on Furries in public. If you’re going to dress like a cartoon character, then you should have to entertain me and act like one

HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!

EFREM

The Daily Buzz for May 14

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THE SLAYAGE DOESN’T LET UP! Rihanna’s History Making "Secret Garden IV" Dior Campaign is HERE!…And It’s BEYOND OVAH!

Rihanna’s name went down in the fashion history books as the first woman of color to become the face of French fashion house Dior. And now, we’re treated to her first ad campaign where Rih is on her best model behavior, per usual.
During an interview with MTV News, the Bajan beauty spoke on the significance of her big feat and how fantasic it feels. She gushed,

"It feels fantastic. It is such a big deal for me, for my culture, for a lot of young girls of any color. I think to be acknowledged by Dior it means a lot for a women to feel beautiful, elegant and timeless. "

Shot by fashion photographer Steven Klein at the Palace of Versailles, the “BBHMM” singer slays every single shot for the Secret Garden IV FW2015 ad campaign.

In the fierce spread, the 27-year-old fashionista brings a dark fantasy to life as she runs through a hall of mirrors in a red gown and poses it up in a moonlit garden as she models the Diorama bag (the unofficial signature bag of the new Dior woman). It’s serving up a mysteriously sultry vibe and we’re digging it.

The history making Dior chick will also bring her talents to the fourth episode of Dior’s “Secret Garden” video series, which will premiere on Dior.com.

I'll keep you posted with the video drops!

Slayed!

AMTRAK TRAIN WRECK HORROR! THIS TRAIN WRECK MIGHT BE HIS FAULT! The engineer of the train name is Brandon Bostian!

The Amtrak train that crashed in Philadelphia, killing at least seven people, was hurtling at 106 mph before it ran off the rails along a sharp curve where the speed limit is just 50 mph, federal investigators said Wednesday.

The engineer applied the emergency brakes moments before the crash but managed to slow the train to only 102 mph by the time the locomotive's black box stopped recording data, said Robert Sumwalt of the National Transportation Safety Board. The speed limit just before the bend is 80 mph, he said.

The engineer, Brandon Bostian, refused to give a statement to law enforcement and left a police precinct with a lawyer. Sumwalt said federal accident investigators hope to interview him but will give him a day or two to recover from the "traumatic event."

"Our mission is to find out not only what happened but why it happened, so that we can prevent it from happening again," Sumwalt said.

Emergency personnel work at the scene of a deadly train derailment, Wednesday, May 13, 2015, in Philadelphia. The Amtrak train, headed to New York City, derailed and crashed in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, killing at least six people and injuring dozens of others. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

More than 200 people aboard the Washington-to-New York train were injured in the wreck, which took place in a decayed industrial neighborhood not far from the Delaware River just before 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. Passengers crawled out the windows of the torn and toppled rail cars in the darkness and emerged, dazed and bloody, in the nation's deadliest train accident in nearly seven years.

"We are heartbroken by what has happened here," Mayor Michael Nutter said.

Amtrak suspended all service until further notice along the Philadelphia-to-New York stretch of the nation's busiest rail corridor - snarling the morning commute and forcing thousands to find some other way to reach their destination - as investigators examined the wreckage and the tracks and gathered up other evidence.

The dead included an AP employee and a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy. Many of the injured suffered broken bones or burns. At least 10 remained hospitalized in critical condition.

Nutter said some people remained unaccounted for, though he cautioned that some passengers listed on the Amtrak manifest might not have boarded the train, while others might not have checked in with authorities.

"We will not cease our efforts until we go through every vehicle," the mayor said in the afternoon. He said rescuers expanded the search area and used dogs to look for victims in case someone was thrown from the wreckage.

The NTSB finding about the train's speed corroborated an Associated Press analysis done earlier in the day of surveillance video from a spot along the tracks. The AP concluded from the footage that the train was speeding at approximately 107 mph moments before it entered the curve.

Despite pressure from Congress and safety regulators, Amtrak had not installed along that section of track Positive Train Control, a technology that uses GPS, wireless radio and computers to prevent trains from going over the speed limit, the railroad agency said.

Most of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor is equipped with Positive Train Control.

"Based on what we know right now, we feel that had such a system been installed in this section of track, this accident would not have occurred," Sumwalt said.

The notoriously tight curve is not far from the site of the site of one of the deadliest train wrecks in U.S. history: the 1943 derailment of the Congressional Limited, bound from Washington to New York. Seventy-nine people were killed.

Amtrak inspected the stretch of track on Tuesday, just hours before the accident, and found no defects, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. In addition to the data recorder, the train had a video camera in its front end that could yield clues to what happened, Sumwalt said.

The crash took place about 10 minutes after the train pulled out of Philadelphia's 30th Street Station with 238 passengers and five crew members listed aboard. The locomotive and all seven passenger cars lurched off the track as the train made a left turn, Sumwalt said.

Jillian Jorgensen, 27, was seated in the second passenger car and said the train was going "fast enough for me to be worried" when it began to lurch to the right. Then the lights went out and Jorgensen was thrown from her seat.

She said she "flew across the train" and landed under some seats that had apparently broken loose from the floor.

Jorgensen, a reporter for The New York Observer who lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, said she wriggled free as fellow passengers screamed. She saw one man lying still, his face covered in blood, and a woman with a broken leg.

She climbed out an emergency exit window, and a firefighter helped her down a ladder to safety.

"It was terrifying and awful, and as it was happening it just did not feel like the kind of thing you could walk away from, so I feel very lucky," Jorgensen said in an email to the AP. "The scene in the car I was in was total disarray, and people were clearly in a great deal of pain."

Award-winning AP video software architect Jim Gaines, a 48-year-old father of two, was among the dead. Also killed was Justin Zemser, a 20-year-old Naval Academy midshipman from New York City.

Several people, including one man complaining of neck pain, were rolled away on stretchers. Others wobbled as they walked away or were put on buses.

"It's incredible that so many people walked away from that scene last night. I saw people on this street behind us walking off of that train. I don't know how that happened, but for the grace of God," Nutter said.

The area where the wreck happened is known as Frankford Junction, situated in a neighborhood of warehouses, industrial buildings and homes.

Amtrak carries 11.6 million passengers a year along its busy Northeast Corridor, which runs between Washington and Boston. Stay Tuned for further developments!

KINGS OF "LYON" Bryshere “Yazz” Gray, Trai Byers & Jussie Smollett ROCK "FOUR" ESSENCE Covers And Dish About Life, Art And Success

After a season one finale that left 16.7 million viewers spellbound, it's only natural that the men who play the Lyon brothers—Trai Byers (Andre), Jussie Smollett (Jamal) and Bryshere “Yazz” Gray (Hakeem) would land the cover of ESSENCE Magazine's HOTTEST month.

In addition to the group shot above, each actor landed his own cover for ESSENCE's June “Vacation Issue,” which hits newsstands on Friday, 5/15.  Inside the magazine, the "Lyon Kings" dished on a variety of topics, including how they broke into the business, their hobbies and special interests and the runaway success of the show. Also, Jussie talked openly about the doors his character has broken through for the LGBT community.

“If I can help someone else feel less alone, no matter what they’re going through, I’m happy to have that opportunity…” Jussie Smollett, ESSENCE

Here are the highlights:

Jussie Smollet, 32, on getting Lee Lee Daniels attention: "I jumped on Instagram and direct-messaged Lee and said, 'Sir, I know you get this all the time, but I'm a singer, actor, dancer, songwriter and musician. I am Jamal Lyon in more ways than one.'"

Bryshere "Yazz" Gray, 21, on youth mentoring: "I would hear things like, 'My dad was never in my life...' and my response was, 'My dad was never in my life...Don't feel like you don't matter.'"

Trai Byers, 33, on working out prepping for Mrs. Right: "I work out for two reasons: one, because I'm an actor and two, because I'm somebody's [future] husband. I want to be prepared for the woman God has for me." Swoon!

Check out the individual covers here:

Fab!

NeNe Leakes Admits Starting Fight with Wendy Williams

Last week there were rumors that NeNe Leakes caused a ruckus at the Women's Expo in Atlanta after making snide comments about Wendy Williams during her keynote address

NeNe admits she made the remarks but stands firmly by her actions...

In a heated exchange with a fan NeNe says Wendy had it coming.

WOW….Stand by for a Wendy revenge! How U Duuin?

OOOH Looky Looky its Queen Latifah and her ‘FRIEND’ Eboni Nichols!

Queen Latifah, 45, was arm in arm with her partner, choreographer Eboni Nichols, 36, during a Monday evening stroll in New York City.

The 45-year-old LA-based actress arrived in the Big Apple on Sunday when she was spotted checking into a swanky downtown hotel.

But her trip top Manhattan wasn't a vacation. The talk show host will be plugging her new HBO film Bessie Smith, which debuts on Saturday.

Latifah has been spotted several times before with the dancer. In August they shared a kiss on the beach in Sardinia. They have yet to publicly discuss their relationship.

On Monday the former rapper looked happy and relaxed in a pair of grey sweats and a black v-necked T-shirt with her grey sweater tied around her waist.

The Chicago star had on white trainers with black trim and wore a black baseball cap with Brooklyn written on it as well as sunglasses and some large hooped earrings.

Her friend Nichols looked stylish in black leggings, a grey tee and a pretty, patterned, knee-length jacket which she paired with sandals.

The actress and rapper - born Dana Elaine Owens - stars as bisexual blues legend Bessie Smith in the HBO movie.

The biopic is a personal project for the star who first considered playing the 1920s singer 22 years ago but passed because she felt she didn't have enough experience then to do the portrayal justice.

Tiger Woods, Lindsey Vonn Breakup Because of Cheating ?

Did she think he wouldn’t cheat on her? Once a cheater always a cheater ?? Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn recently  split and ended their three-year relationship. Vonn released a statement on her facebook page saying: “After nearly three years together, Tiger and I have mutually decided to end our relationship. I will always cherish the memories that we’ve created together. Unfortunately, we both lead incredibly hectic lives that force us to spend a majority of our time apart. I will always admire and respect Tiger. He and his beautiful family will always hold a special place in my heart. “However, the Daily Mail is reporting that the break-up was because Tiger cheated!!

Daily Mail Online can now exclusively reveal that during one of those ‘times apart’ Tiger cheated on Lindsey – with a ‘faceless, nameless woman’, a friend reveals.

‘He had a relapse in the sex department,’ a close friend reveals to Daily Mail Online. ‘Lindsey found out about women again. Always while he’s on the road. Just like when he was with Elin.’

It was after Tiger was eliminated from the San Diego-based Farmer’s Insurance Classic in February, somewhere near his old stomping grounds in Southern California, that Tiger had a one night stand, the friend divulged.

Is Your Brazilian Hair Really From Brazil? The Biggest Schemes & Scams In The Virgin Human Hair Industry

Disclaimer: None of these pics are considered 'FAKE BRAZILIAN HAIR BUNDLES' They're pics used for the post!

Have you ever wondered if your weave hair really comes from India? Or Brazil? Or Mongolia? Or Peru? Well, sorry to break it to you, but most likely it does not. The human hair trade is a growing – and very lucrative – industry. With sales exceeding 12 billion dollars a year, customers should look out for scams and marketing ploys of every kind.

Blogger Myeisha Essex  went on a quest to find out where this exotic hair really comes from. She sat down for an one-on-one interview with Los Angeles-based Indian hair importer and salesman Vince Selva to get the scoop on some of the biggest hair scams and how to look out for them.

Selva, who owns the Indo Asian Human Hair in Inglewood, Calif., has been in the industry for two nearly decades. Originally from South India, the 74-year-old began his career as an importer of wholesale raw hair. “I had a boat and so that’s how I started. But retail, I started about eight years back,” he shared. “It’s a boomin’ billion dollar industry but many, many scams.”

“The bigger conspirators are beauty supply stores. They bring Chinese hair. They call it Indian hair because it is an easier way to sell it,” he explained. “They have different names for it. Whenever they exhaust one name they tag on another name. So, at the moment they have Brazilian hair, they have Peruvian hair, Indonesian hair, they have Malaysian hair, Italian and French too. Customers think it’s a new product and so they are going to buy it and try it at least once.” He added that manufacturers loose 15-20 percent of each hair bundle during the wefting process, which is most commonly done in mainland China due to cheap labor. “They don’t waste anything; they find a way to use even the refused hair. They take refused hair and [hair lost from] shedding and mix it with Chinese hair,” he said.

What’s the likelihood that your Brazilian tresses actually came from the South American country? “It’s a very, very unlikely thing because I export to Brazil from India directly,” Selva said. “Why would Brazil buy hair from India? The only place in the world that has commercial quantities of hair is from one billion people in India, and they, as a ritual, donate it to the temple.” Hindu pilgrims have donated their hair in a ritual of purification for centuries. It’s a symbol of religious devotion and surrender of the ego…that has also turned into an extraordinary economic resource. “The temple realizes, ‘Oh, there is a lot of money in this,’ and they started doing contracts with people. It started way back,” Selva explained. “You bid, the companies with other bidders, and you get the contract for a year or a season. And then all the hair that comes to you in that time belongs to you.”

According to The Truth About the Human Hair Industry by Alix Moore, Brazilians do not sell their hair, nor do they cut it for profit or religion. “It would be impossible for enough hair to be cut in the Brazilian community in abundance to provide for the world. There are no large-scale Brazilian temples shaving hair,” she wrote. “There are some temples around the world that shave hair like the huge ones in India. Some of these countries are Indonesia, Bangladesh, etc. But volumes from these countries are small.” Moore is a self-proclaimed international human hair expert.

So how do you know if your luscious extensions are the real deal? Selva said initially it is very difficult to tell the difference between Chinese and Indian hair because manufacturers “put silicone and other things to make it very smooth.”

“From the wash you can tell. Chinese and the Korean manufacturers have different tricks up their sleeve. They put a coating over the hair so the hair doesn’t tangle in the first wash. As soon as you heat it that coating goes away and then it starts tangling,” he explained. “The Chinese makes sure that hair is sealed with chemicals so it’s fantastic when you pass your fingers through. But as soon as you wash or put any heat to it, it goes away. “

Real Indian hair, he says, won’t tangle. “It can’t tangle because the cuticles are all in one direction,” he noted. “Hair that is raw, when you say raw hair, you cut it from the base of the scalp and bundle it up. That’s how it comes from the temple. That’s how we get it directly. In the warehouse we do a little bit of combing, we take out the short hair and wefted the rest of the hair. If you cut it and don’t turn directions — that’s why they put so many rubber bands so it won’t get twisted up. It has to be machined in the same way. If you changed directions it will tangle.”

Another big scheme comes from online stores, who often sell Chinese hair because it’s easily available. “Indians sell Chinese hair, too. They learned that it’s cheaper to have a website in Indian and sell the cheaper hair which they bought from the Chinese and export it back the United States. So people here think, ‘Oh that’s Indian hair because it’s from India. Not real,” Selva pointed out. “When you have a website you are anonymous, no one knows you so you start shipping and after time someone says that website is bad. So they shut it down and start another name and ship it again.”

After eight years of running his shop (he sells an average of 220 pounds of hair a month), Selva said his website is still a work in progress. “We are making a website but we have some problems with the pictures and textures,” he admitted. “If you have a picture with really good curls, it might be the only one we have in the showroom. It’s not humanly possible to match all the hair that we have by pictures. So there will be disclaimers saying you might not get the exact thing.”

“That’s a very difficult thing to do,” he continued. “Once you do that, people say ‘Well, why can’t we get what’s in the picture?’ I have no time to explain to them that Chinese hair comes permed so you can’t get exactly what you want every time. Straight hair is easy. But curls, they perm the hair. They will ask what type of curls.”

He went on to explain that most “curly virgin hair” is a myth. “I know because we use their permed hair for closures. They will ask, ‘Do you want a two centimeter curl or one centimeter?’ So every bundle of hair is exactly the same.” (If you are purchasing hair with defined, identical curls, know that it is permed and not virgin as advertised.)

Vince concluded the interview by saying the hardest part his job is getting high quality hair, which he sells anywhere between $39 and $200 an ounce. “When we exhaust the temple contract then we have to buy from the market and that’s that hardest part,” he said. “It is a yearly contract. You have to bid to renew the contract. When you bid there are competitors. Everyone wants to make money so anyone wants to put a gamble in.”

Share your thoughts and Thanks to Myeisha Essex for the interview. Ladies PLEASE TAKE NOTE!

New Music: Slum Village ft. BJ The Chicago Kid & Illa J “Expressive”

The legendary Slum Village crew are ready to release their new album YES on June 16 and they’re making a comeback in the smoothest way. Joining them for a new single from the project are BJ The Chicago Kid and Illa J, who keep things funky on “Expressive.” The crew dedicates the track to all the sexy, beautiful and independent ladies of the world, giving them props for holding it down. So if you got those characteristics or know someone who does, make sure you play this one.

Listen to some New music here!

HOTNESS!

Kris Jenner Axes Jenner Sons From Bruce Jenner Special

Kris Jenner cuts Bruce Jenner's sons from special episode addressing Bruce's gender reassignment.

Kris Jenner continues to tighten her grip on Bruce Jenner’s gender transition.

Confidenti@l is told Jenner’s sons Brandon and Brody were scheduled to appear on E!’s two-part “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” special about the process, airing Sunday and Monday, but Kris canceled on them.

We’re told that not only did the Jenner guys want to have their say on the one-hour episodes, they had been given dates when they would be taping.

“Days were blocked out for them to film and she pulled the plug,” an insider tells Confidenti@l. “She didn’t want them on the show.”

We’re told that all of Kris’ daughters — Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian— will be on the show, as will Kendall and Kylie, her daughters with Bruce. Her son Rob Kardashian will not be appear.

“It was a huge deal,” adds the source. “Kris runs the show. She wants it to be about her family and not the other kids.”

At press time, no new shooting dates had been scheduled with the boys. The special, “Keeping Up With the Kardashians: About Bruce,” which the network is billing as an “honest, raw, emotional … unfiltered exclusive” will air next Sunday and Monday. Kris and all the Kardashian sisters are listed as executive producers.

Confidenti@l has previously reported that an increasingly bitter power struggle has been developing between the two sides of the family over how Bruce’s new life as a woman will be presented to the public. Kris, who is accustomed to tightly controlling the family’s media appearances, was uncomfortable because she had no input on Diane Sawyer’s “Bruce Jenner: The Interview,” the ABC “20/20” special in which the former Olympian announced that he identifies as a woman.

After that, Bruce’s four oldest kids, who took part in the Sawyer interview, told friends they are unhappy because they believe Farnaz Farjam-Chazan, the producer of yet another show about the process (an as-yet-untitled eight-part E! docuseries) is in Kris’ pocket. A source told us that even though the Kardashian matriarch isn’t a producer on the show, she would be getting “constant feedback.”

Reps for Kris and Brody Jenner and E! did not return requests for comment.

IT’S OFFICIAL; Verizon To Acquire AOL For $4.4 Billion Cash

In an announcement Tuesday, Verizon Communications said it would acquire AOL for $4.4 billion cash, the New York Times reports.

AOL, considered at one point to be a media juggernaut, bought Time Warner for $165 billion 15 years ago. Now, the largest mobile phone operator will acquire the “king of media” for a fraction of the price. According to the Times, AOL “is a shadow of its former self, managing a small collection of media and technology properties,” the site writes.

A boost from Verizon, while certainly beneficial for the company, may also change AOL’s trajectory.

From the NYT:

Verizon is billing the deal as a way for the company to expand its video offerings. Already a leader in distributing mobile video through its robust national mobile phone network, Verizon is making a push to become a leader in so-called over-the-top video, shorthand for television content distributed through the Internet.

But in acquiring AOL, Verizon is buying much more than websites that host streaming content. Along with its video and online advertising technology, AOL owns The Huffington Post, a sprawling collection of international news websites with growing traffic. It also manages a dwindling but profitable dial-up Internet business, providing online access for those who live in areas too remote to have broadband, or who never canceled their subscriptions.

“Verizon’s vision is to provide customers with a premium digital experience based on a global multiscreen network platform,” Lowell C. McAdam, Verizon’s chief executive, said in a statement. “This acquisition supports our strategy to provide a cross-screen connection for consumers, creators and advertisers to deliver that premium customer experience.”

The deal is a win-win for AOL chairman and chief executive Tim Armstrong, who told the Times that visions of both companies are shared. “The companies have existing successful partnerships, and we are excited to work with the team at Verizon to create the next generation of media through mobile and video,” he added.

Verizon is set to pay $50 a share for AOL.

Lee Daniels & “Empire” Cast Attend Family Equality Council's NYC Event

“Empire” creator Lee Daniels was the man of the hour as he was honored at Family Equality Council’s 10th annual Night at the Pier held at Pier 60 last night. The soiree was put together to recognize LGBTQ parents who are striving for family equality. And his "Empire" cast Taraji P. Henson, Jussie Smollett and Ta'Rhonda Jones came out to support.

The Academy Award nominated filmmaker brought his partner Jahil Fisher and his son Liam Daniels (his biological nephew whom he adopted) along on the carpet. Lee also adopted Liam's sister Clara, so he is the proud parent of two children.

And what's a red carpet without snapping a few selfies with dad.

Before heading inside, he also posed it up alongside film producer Bruce Cohen, his son Liam, his current partner Jahil, casting director/Lee's former partner Billy Hopkins (the man he was with when he became a father) and his mother Clara Watson.

Inside....

Taraji and Jussie paid tribute and praised Lee for his extraordinary works over the past 15 years in the industry and being a positive role model in their lives. Jussie said,

“I now know what it means to have an amazing, gay father.” He added, “He's made me more of a truthful man.”

“Cookie” also spoke a few touching words about the writer/director saying,

“I want to thank you, Lee, for using your talent for changing lives and allowing people to be who they are," adding that the show “can be a voice for people who don't have a voice.”

Lee took the stage and brought up his son Liam, ex-partner Billy Hopkins (in the blue shirt), his mother Clara and his current partner Jahil (not pictured) up on stage with him. While giving his acceptance speech, he credits his children for keeping him sober and focused on his dream. He said,

"I was not saving them, they were saving me," Daniels said of adopting his incarcerated brother’s two kids, Clara and Liam, while still addicted to drugs. "Since then I've been sober."

Nice. Congrats Lee!

Jennifer Lopez Announces Las Vegas Residency

Jennifer Lopez is headed to Las Vegas!

The singer announced that she’s taking on a residency at Planet Hollywood starting January 2016!

“I’ve been preparing for this moment my entire life,” said Jennifer. “The show is going to be a multifaceted high energy Jenny from the Block party, mixing all aspects of what my fans and I love – Dance, Hip Hop, Latin and Pop. It’s going to be the show I’ve always dreamed of creating.”

WATCH: 

Tickets go on sale this Saturday. Will you be attending?

Cassie You’re  a DUMB HOE! Diddy Willing To Enter A Long Term “Love Contract” Offering Financial Benefits

Now that Cassie has been promoted to Diddy’s official girl, can she look forward to meeting him at the altar someday? For now the answer appears to be NO.

Reports Page Six:

After six children with three different women, Sean “P Diddy” Combs still isn’t ready for a trip down the aisle.

While promoting his new fragrance, 3AM, on “Watch What Happens Live,” the mogul explained that he isn’t opposed to marriage, he just isn’t ready.

“It’s the whole thing of … I think you have to be ready for it,” explained the 46-year-old. “There’s somebody else’s heart involved and that’s a lot of responsibility. And I don’t want to be going to courts and having somebody be like interfere in my relationships so I rather just do the Goldie Hawn.”

Hawn and Kurt Russell have famously avoided marriage after 32 years of dating.

Although a trip down the aisle for Diddy is less likely to happen, he’s willing to enter an agreement that yields financial benefit should things go wrong.

“I will give a contract,” Diddy added. “I will commit to a contract — a love contract.”

It’s unclear if Diddy has a “love contract” in place with his longtime girlfriend, Cassie, who also stars in his 3AM ad.

Mega Pastor Paula White Marries!

WOW….I didn’t know this but Paula is a Bride for the third time!

Paula has been in the thick of a series of storms that have battered her since she and her husband, Randy White divorced in 2007 and even before. The only positive that she could take from all turmoil is that she emerged much stronger than before.

Evangelist Paula is frank enough to confess that she was a ‘messed up Mississippi girl’ when she was growing up. She married her first husband, Dean Knight when she was just a teenager and they had a son together, Bradley while she was still in her teens. In 1984, she became drawn to the gospel and church and turned Christian; she divorced Dean, soon thereafter.

This weekend she married again and seems to be filled with joy! She married rocker Jonathan Cain. Jonathan has been in the successful music groups Journey and Bad English.

She posted the words:

Such a beautiful wedding! God is amazing! thank you Jensen Larson Photography and Johana Glaudi for the dress!!

God Bless their union!

AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES

Courtesy of P.o.WM 

‘NAUGHTY, NAUGHTY’

Clearly that fancy leather belt is just for looks because it definitely isn’t doing its job properly…Also, did you get bit by a huge vampire?

HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!

EFREM