THE ULTIMATE BATTLE! Soul ICONS Gladys Knight & Patti LaBelle Are Set for the Next 'Verzuz' Battle!
It's the Godmother of Soul versus the Empress of Soul. Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight's pipes will take the roof off The Fillmore on Sunday, Sept. 13 for the next Verzuz battle.
VerzuzTV announced the latest superstar pairing on Instagram Tuesday (Sept. 8). "The Master Class we’ve ALL been waiting for! @MsGladysKnight vs. @MsPattiLaBelle," the caption read. "Leave ya church clothes on all Sunday and pull up to the affair of all affairs. Y’all gotta get dressed up in ya Sunday’s best for this one."
In addition to fans donning their Sunday or even Easter best, the soul sisters will show out at an official venue, The Fillmore in Philadelphia, at 8 p.m. EST for what the post described as "the ultimate Verzuz."
Maybe the two superwomen will take on their Grammy-nominated "Superwoman" collaboration (featuring Dionne Warwick) that previous Verzuz battle contender Babyface wrote in 1991. And even though the Verzuz platform doesn't really do duets, the two might take on their other famed classic from the same year "I Don't Do Duets." Either way, these two have quite the catalogs to pull from, including their careers as frontwomen of Gladys Knight & the Pips and Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles and their subsequent, highly successful solo stints.
Fans can help their aunties and grandmas understand Instagram Live and set up Apple Music accounts after church for the Sunday evening celebration. And even though CÎROC is handling the drinks, Twitter users are already debating who's cooking what.
Jake Gyllenhaal and How Tom Holland Talks 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' with Entertainment Weekly!
Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Holland are “Spider-bros” on Entertainment Weekly‘s first ever digital cover.
The two actors open up about their new film, which flies into theaters TOMORROW, July 2nd.
In the issue, Jake opens up about how Tom helped him feel welcome on the set as a brand new character.
“You walk into a Marvel film, and it’s huge,” he recalls. “They’re massive. In a way, you’re expected to just jump on the train and get going. For me, it takes me a second. I get a bit overwhelmed on any set, and it takes some time to warm up.”
Jake adds, “When he took on the responsibility of leadership, he did it in such a beautiful way, even though we share a difference of many years in our ages and experience. I really looked up to him in that sense. He did it in such a kind way.”
Check out the digital covers below and read more of their joint interview on EW.com HERE
#RHOA: Kandi Takes a ‘Flirty’ Pic With Hubby Todd and Riley chimes on the Social Media Comments
If there’s one thing Kandi Burruss is not shy about, it’s expressing her lust for her man. The star of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” channeled her inner “Dungeon Tour” motif when she shared a frisky pic of her with husband Todd Tucker to Instagram Wednesday.
“Put your back into @todd167! 🤣🤣🤣” Burruss captioned an image of her raising her leg as if to wrap it around her spouse, who grabs her heeled gam as the two burst into smiles.
But things took a bit of a turn once Burruss’ 16-year-old daughter Riley stepped in and remarked, “put your leg down ma’am.”
Riley’s retort had fans bursting with laughter.
“Tell’er Riley, put it down, lol.”
“Your to funny rileyburruss.”
“😩😂 @rileyburruss.”
The loving moment between the couple came after Tucker touched down back home in Atlanta after visiting Europe with his 23-year-old daughter Kaela Tucker. One headline-making moment occurred when the father-daughter duo visited a strip club in London. Since the method of bonding was out of the ordinary, many fans raised their eyebrows and criticized Burruss’ husband for it. Tucker, however, stepped in to defend the action in a video sent to TMZ.
“Me and my daughter’s been to the strip club before,” he said at the time. “We been to [Atlanta strip club] Magic City, ain’t no big deal. Me and my mom even went to the strip club before. It’s in our genes. My daughter just turned 23. They’re gonna go anyway so why not experience it and have fun with your kids? That’s what we need to do. We need to spend more time with our kids, even if it’s at the strip club.”
However, there’s proof that Riley’s comment may have been the teen’s way of getting back at her stepparent, in a sense.
In April, Riley shared a photo of her posing in a short black dress that resulted in a parental remark from ear ole stepdad.
“You better take that off!” Tucker remarked.
Riley shed 52 pounds last year and has been especially happy to show off her figure in the months ever since.
#Empire: Ta’Rhonda Jones along with Niecy Nash and Rayven Symone Ferrell will Star In Lifetime’s ‘Kidnapped: The Kamiyah Mobley Story’
Emmy winner Niecy Nash (When They See Us, Claws) is set to star in Kidnapped: The Kamiyah Mobley Story, the first movie greenlit by Lifetime under the Robin Roberts Presents movie and documentary banner, from Rock’n Robin and Lincoln Square Productions. Production is currently underway on the movie, executive produced by award-winning journalist Roberts, and is slated for premiere in 2020.
Also starring Rayven Symone Ferrell (The Hate U Give) and Ta’Rhonda Jones (Empire), Kidnapped: The Kamiyah Mobley Story is the true story of a young woman who discovers at age 18, she was abducted as a baby and the family she knew to be hers, wasn’t hers at all. The film will be followed by a companion documentary featuring the real-life people depicted in the movie.
“I’m thrilled to share this young woman’s story and produce something so poignant for the Lifetime audience,” said Roberts, President of Rock’n Roberts Productions. “I can’t imagine anyone else tackling the complex role of Gloria than Niecy Nash. She’s a talented and versatile actress and I can’t wait to see it all come together.”
In the summer of 1998, Gloria Williams (Nash), reeling from a recent miscarriage, drove from her home in South Carolina and walked into a Jacksonville, Florida hospital posing as a nurse and took newborn Kamiyah Mobley (Ferrell) out of her mother Shanara Mobley’s (Jones) arms. By the time police were alerted, Gloria was long gone. Renaming the baby Alexis, Gloria raised her as her own, providing her with unconditional love and nurturing.
It wasn’t until years later, when Alexis applied for her first job and couldn’t provide a social security card or a birth certificate, that she realized something was wrong. After confronting Gloria, Alexis learned the truth, that she was really Kamiyah Mobley and abducted as a baby. Despite discovering the mother she knew was really her kidnapper, Alexis kept the secret as long as she could, until an anonymous tip soon led to Gloria’s arrest and their world came tumbling down.
Kidnapped: The Kamiyah Mobley Story is executive produced by Roberts, Linda Berman, Michele Samit, Richard Kletter and Gary Randall. Jeff Byrd (Jasper, Texas, Black Lightning) directs from a script written by Samit and Kletter. Casting was done by Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd.
Nash is an Emmy-winning producer and actress whose career includes roles in HBO’s Getting On, which earned her two Emmy nominations, Fox’s Scream Queens, Showtime’s Masters of Sex, Comedy Central’s Reno 911 and TV Land’s The Soul Man. Nash currently stars in the lead role of Desna in TNT’s drama, Claws. She also costars in Netflix’s mini-series When They See Us, directed by Ava Duvernay.
Ferrell recently guest starred on Chicago PD and also has appeared on Star, Greenleaf and Complications. She played Tupac’s sister in the Lionsgate feature All Eyez on Me and had supporting roles in The Hate U Give and BET’s The Bobby Brown Story. She just wrapped the feature The Violent Heart with Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Lukas Haas, Jovan Adepo, and Mary J. Blige.
Jones is known for her role as Pasha on Fox’s Empire. She was most recently seen on the big screen in Captive State.
#MusicFlashback: Remembering Phyllis Hyman on the 24th Anniversary of Her Passing
Phyllis Hyman began her career as a silky voiced, jazz-influenced singer and gradually moved into slick, heavily produced urban contemporary ballads and light dance numbers. Hyman won a scholarship to music school and then began her professional career with the group New Direction in 1971. When they disbanded after a national tour, Hyman joined the Miami ensemble All the People. She also worked there with another local group, the Hondo Beat, and appeared in the film Lenny. That was followed by a two-year stint heading Phyllis Hyman & the PH Factor, before relocating to New York. Hyman performed background vocals for Jon Lucien and built her reputation performing in New York clubs.
Norman Connors made her his featured vocalist in the mid-'70s, and she was highlighted on a cover of the Stylistics' "Betcha by Golly Wow," which reached the Top 30 of the R&B chart. Hyman also sang with Pharaoh Sanders and the Fatback Band while cutting two singles as a lead artist. Buddah released Phyllis Hyman in 1977, but she really began making an impression when she was signed by Arista the next year. The songs "Somewhere in My Lifetime" and "You Know How to Love Me" both made the R&B Top 20. Hyman got her lone Top Ten hit in 1981 with "Can't We Fall in Love Again," but her albums did consistently well throughout the '80s.
The production teams of Mtume/Reggie Lucas and Narada Michael Walden/Thom Bell gave her material that showcased her skill with sophisticated ballads. Hyman had more success when she left Arista for Philadelphia International in 1986, with the single "Living All Alone" putting her back in the R&B Top 20. She also sang on fusion and light jazz dates by Joe Sample, Ronnie Foster, and Grover Washington, Jr., a more conventional jazz session for McCoy Tyner, and a pop date with the Four Tops. Tragically, Hyman took her own life on June 30, 1995; Forever with You was issued posthumously.
Lets go down memory lane
Born: July 6, 1949
Died: June 30, 1995
Discography:
Phyllis Hyman (1977) | Read More
Sing a Song (1978)
Somewhere in My Lifetime (1979)
You Know How to Love Me (1979)
Can't We Fall in Love Again? (1981)
Goddess of Love (1983) | Read More
Living All Alone (1986)
Prime of My Life (1991) | Read More
I Refuse to Be Lonely (1995)
Forever with You (1998)
Rest in Peace Lady!
#NewHipHop from Rick Ross Feat. Swizz Beatz – ‘Big Tyme’
Rick Ross keeps the new music coming with his latest track, a collaboration with Swizz Beatz. On the triumphant Just Blaze-produced anthem, Rozay shines with his regal rhymes, rapping about R. Kelly (“‘Surviving R. Kelly,’ registered pedophiles”), JAY-Z (“I be stacking them tickets / I’m tryna sit with Hov”), and his baller lifestyle.
LISTEN HERE
“BIG TYME” follows Rozay’s freestyle to ScHoolboy Q’s “Numb Numb Juice” and his Wale-assisted single “Act a Fool.” He is now gearing up to release his 10th album Port of Miami II: Born to Kill, the sequel to his 2006 debut Port of Miami.
Musical ICON and The Godmother of Soul Patti LaBelle gets her very own street in Philadelphia
Patti LaBelle now has her very own street in her hometown of Philadelphia, and the legendary soul singer christened it with a song.
A stretch of Broad Street was renamed "Patti LaBelle Way" during a ceremony Tuesday.
"The Godmother of Soul" thanked the throngs of fans who clogged the intersection and treated them to an impromptu rendition of her hit "Love, Need and Want You."
Brandishing one of the new streets signs, she told onlookers she felt blessed and spoke about how her parents used to walk along this stretch of road.
"Lady Marmalade" was LaBelle's first No. 1 hit when she was the lead singer of LaBelle. She also had a successful solo career with hits like "You Are My Friend" and "New Attitude."
Well done Lady LaBelle!
#RHOC: Original Vicki Gunvalson Responds to Season 14 Demotion: ‘I’m Back in a Different Role’
She’s cool with it. After months of rumors of a demotion from the cast of Real Housewives of Orange County, star Vicki Gunvalson took to social media to share her thoughts on the change … and her absence from the yearly cast photo.
“For the past 14 years I’ve opened up my life, my loves, my ups and downs on The Real Housewives of Orange County and I am proud to be the OG of the OC,'” the 57-year-old original cast member wrote on a series of a few shots of herself and pals Tamra Judge and Shannon Beador posted to her Instagram on July 2. “I am back again this season right in the middle of the action in a different role.”
There you have it! The rumors of the OC OG‘s minimized role started back in February when an insider told Radar Online she had been “demoted” to a “friend” role on the upcoming season and “took a nearly 50 percent pay cut per episode and has no guarantee for episodes.” The day before the news broke, Vicki posted to her IG about starting to film with her then-boyfriend, now-fiancé Steve Lodge — making sure fans knew she wasn’t leaving the show.
At the time, there were also rumors that Vicki might get engaged as a way of keeping herself on the Bravo TV staple … and whether or not that was true, she did, in fact, get engaged on April 26. She spoke with Life & Style exclusively about the backlash surrounding her and Steve taking the next step in their relationship. “How many people have gotten married while they’re filming a reality show? I don’t have to do anything to secure my spot,” the insurance entrepreneur said. “This is my reality.”
The longtime star was not included in the big cast photoshoot back in mid-May, though she was “on set” according to the source. Now it seems as though she shot some solo and group shots with her friends, effectively solidifying her new status.
“I hope you have as much fun watching the show as I did living it in front of the cameras,” Vicki concluded on her Instagram post, giving us an official return date for the series (!!) as well. “Stay tuned to Bravo August 6th, for more of the Tres Amigas.”
The King of Detroit Lee Iacocca, who gave us the Minivan and the Mustang, dies at 94
On Tuesday, former US auto executive Lee Iacocca died at the age of 94 from Parkinson's disease. He was an iconic figure in the business world, at separate times running the Ford Motor Company and later the Chrysler Corporation. His autobiography was required reading for men in suits in the 1980s, and he was even mooted for President. And along the way, he was responsible for some legendary cars, including the Ford Mustang and Chrysler Minivan.
Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1924, Iacocca was the son of working class immigrants from Italy. He graduated high school during World War II, earned a degree in industrial engineering at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, then found time to study politics and plastics at Princeton before joining Ford as an engineer in 1946. However, he quickly shifted into sales and marketing, where his true skills lay. In 1960, he was promoted to general manager of the Ford Division. By 1970, he was named president of the entire company.
During his time at Ford, Iacocca was instrumental in bringing a number of vehicles to market, including the Mustang. Clever use of the corporate parts bin meant this sporty looking car was actually highly affordable in 1964, costing $2,400 at the time. It was an outrageous sales success, prompting rivals General Motors and Chrysler to create "pony cars" of their own.
Not all of Iacocca's Fords were so beloved. He was also the driving force behind the Ford Pinto, which attempted to Americanize the idea of the smaller, more efficient cars that Ford Europe built. But the car had a terrible design flaw: a rear-end collision could rupture the fuel tank, resulting in a deadly fire. More than a hundred lawsuits followed, including one that brought to light an infamous internal memo, written in 1973, that conducted a cost-benefit analysis to argue for looser regulation.
Ford fired Iacocca in 1978, whereupon he moved to the top job at Chrysler. The company was struggling and had already begun selling foreign operations in an effort to keep the lights on in the North American market. Here, Iacocca engineered a turnaround. There was the K Car platform, which allowed multiple disparate models across the Dodge, Plymouth, and Chrysler brands to be built from common parts. The practice was already commonplace in Europe and Japan, and it's now standard practice in the industry.
If the Mustang is Iacocca's best-known Ford, the Minivan is probably his best-known Chrysler. Like the Mustang, the Minivan also created its own market segment. But his longer-lasting contribution to Chrysler was almost certainly the purchase of AMC in 1987. This brought Jeep under Chrysler's corporate umbrella; today Jeep is responsible for much of the corporation's profit.
Iacocca was married three times. His last marriage, to Darrien Earle, ended in 1994.
Iacocca lived in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles in his final years.
His daughter Lia Iacocca Assad said Lee Iacocca died of natural causes, but that he suffered from complications from Parkinson’s Disease. He is survived by two daughters and eight grandchildren
A$AP Rocky Arrested in Sweden & Could Face 6 Years If Charged
A$AP Rocky was arrested in Sweden for suspicion of aggravated assault.
TMZ reports that the 30-year-old rapper and his team got in a fight last weekend. The fight allegedly started over a “man [who] was hounding A$AP and his team over a pair of headphones he claimed they had broken.”
A video, posted by TMZ, shows that A$AP was actually trying to remedy the situation. He said that the man in question actually broke his own headphones on the head of his bodyguard.
He now faces up to 6 years in a Swedish prison if he’s charged.
Meghan McCain Reportedly Feels Like a 'Caged Animal' at The View
According to a report from The Daily Beast, Meghan McCain may leave The View, where she is reportedly paid about $1 million per year. Why? Because she feels like a “caged animal,” according to a friend. That’s certainly an interesting turn of phrase!
The Daily Beast spoke with several people who claim to be close to McCain, all of whom shared that she is “emotionally drained, angry, and isolated.” She feels “exhausted and defeated,” one said. Another added, “It’s getting to the point where it’s not worth the emotional toll every week.”
According to one source, it’s not only due to the blowback she receives whenever she spouts her questionable opinions on everything from anti-Semitism to the treatment of people at border detention centers. She “feels different in every way a person can feel different [at The View]—everything from politically to just socially to where she’s from,” they said, pointing to the fact that McCain, unlike her fellow co-hosts who enjoy traipsing off to the Hamptons, prefers to spend weekends “hanging out in the creek and doing Jell-O shots and shooting guns.”
But is Meghan actually feeling down? On a recent episode where she complained about being the show’s “sacrificial Republican,” she also had this to say: “Don’t feel bad for me, bitch. I’m paid to do this. Okay?” Okay!
Oh Ladies, Jason Momoa Goes Shirtless on Vacation in Venice With Wife Lisa Bonet
Jason Momoa showed off his muscles in the Italian city on Tuesday, July 2, stripping off his shirt for a swim during a vacation with wife Lisa Bonet. The Aquaman star, 39, and the Cosby Show alum 51, have been touring Europe since Bonet’s daughter Zoë Kravitz married Karl Glausman in their second wedding in Paris on Saturday, June 29. Momoa and Bonet were previously spotted snapping photos and stopping for treats at the Gelateria Paolin with daughter Lola, 11, and son Nokoa-Wolf, 10, on Monday, July 1.
The bride’s Big Little Lies costars Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley and Laura Dern were also on hand to celebrate the wedding, as were Denzel Washington, Eddie Redmayne, Cara Delevingne, and Chris Pine and girlfriend Annabelle Wallis.
During the festivities, Momoa shared champagne with the father of the bride, rocker Lenny Kravitz, whom the Game of Thrones alum counts as a longtime friend. “My dad and my stepdad get along really well, and my dad loves and is close with my brother and sister,” Zoë told Ocean Drive in 2015. “It’s really beautiful.”
Lenny and Bonet split in 1993, and she started dating Momoa in 2005. The duo exchanged vows in secret in 2017. Game of Thrones marked Momoa’s big break, but the Hawaii native had been working steadily before his 2011 debut as Khal Drogo on the HBO hit. His prior screen credits include the TV shows Baywatch Hawaii, North Shore and Stargate: Atlantis. And though he left GOT in its first season, his star continued to rise, especially with his splashy role as Aquaman in the DC Extended Universe films.
Of course, that physique is his other claim to fame
Jennifer Lopez is angry with A-Rod Over his Kylie Jenner Comments!
Word is there’s trouble in paradise for Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez. And it’s all over comments he made about Kylie Jenner. Jenner was at the same table as Lopez and Rodriguez at the Met Gala last month.
When describing his table, Rodriguez said, “We had a great table.The black guy from ‘The Wire’ — Idris Elba, yeah, and his new wife. Some famous singer next to me, I don’t know what her name is. Versace — Donatella.
We had Kylie and Kendall. And we had an Asian gentleman from ‘Rich Asians,’ the lead. Kylie was talking about Instagram and her lipstick, and how rich she is.”
Apparently, Lopez wasn’t a fan of Rodriguez’s joke, and it’s said to have caused issues in their relationship.
“J.Lo was incredibly upset at Alex because she expected him to know better. J.Lo basically told him that she doesn’t care what he says during his interviews as long as it doesn’t encroach on their family or her personal and professional relationships – and when Alex said what he said about Kylie, J.Lo felt he crossed the line.”
Kylie later shut down Rodriguez’s statement about their topic of conversation and Rodriguez responded.
Still, Rodriguez and Lopez are still reportedly at odds. One insider revealed,
“Friends have seen them argue frequently. There’s a lot of passion in their relationship, which helps and hurts the pair – especially when their personalities clash because you just know a blowup is about to ensue.”
They added that the rift could put a halt on wedding plans.
“As much as their friends love seeing Alex and J.Lo together as royalty, there is great fear that the tension between them may prevent them from ever making it down the aisle.”
Rodriguez proposed to Lopez back in March. What are your thoughts?
Chris Brown Mom Joyce Defends Him Against Hair Lyrics Backlash
Chris Brown’s mom, Joyce Hawkins, is defending her son against some backlash about his hair lyrics.
Breezy dropped off his new album, Indigo, last weekend and one of the singles off the project is causing quite a ruckus on social media. In the single “Need A Stack,” Chris Brown sings about only wanting black females with nice hair. The single line in the song has triggered a backlash from his black female fans, who expressed their anger and disappointment in the lyrics. The R&B singer has already responded to the hate he has been getting.
“Only b**ches upset is the uglies (not the black queens),” Brown said after pointing out that female fans don’t want to date men with bad teeth. Perhaps Chris Brown has a point about females not wanting to date men with one or another physical defect, or maybe he is in the wrong.
Mamma Breezy, Joyce Hawkins, has since come to his defense. “UST ANOTHER DISTRACTION!!! DONT FEED INTO THE BS!!! HAIR??!? ARE WE SERIOUS????” she wrote in all caps. “COME ON MY PPL!!! ITS ALL LOVE OVER HERE. I DONT COMMENT MUCH ON STUFF BUT THIS WAS JUST RIDICULOUS TO ME!!!! KEEP SHINING MY KING!!!!”
She also called out the headlines that have been floating around the internet yesterday. “Headlines news! Hair! Seriously! Now what has this world come to,” she wrote.
Chris Brown is not new to getting backlash on social media. He is a bit of a controversial figure, but still has one of the largest fan bases among artists thanks to his talent. We should also bear in mind that we’re living in an overly sensitive social media era where an egg can go viral, and folks can get backlash for saying the word gay in certain context.
If you take a quick look inside her comments, you will notice that Brown is also getting a lot of support from his fans. “Momma Joyce, you know when your Angel is winning the devil tries to bring him down!” One fan wrote. “Be his light and his strength and don’t feed into the negativity. He’s winning, ya’ll winning and that’s what matters! The ones with low self esteem are usually the first to get offended. He has been killing the game for years and will continue to kill it, these naysayers ain’t sh*t.”
Over 200 major companies sign Supreme Court brief in favor of #LGBTQ workers
More than 200 major U.S. and international corporations signed an amicus brief submitted to the Supreme Court on Tuesday arguing that excluding sexual orientation and gender identity from federal civil rights law “would undermine the nation’s business interests.”
“The 206 businesses that join this brief as amici collectively employ over 7 million employees, and comprise over $5 trillion in revenue,” the brief states. “These businesses — which range across a wide variety of industries (and some of which are even competitors) — share a common interest in equality because they know that ending discrimination in the workplace is good for business, employees, and the U.S. economy as a whole.”
The brief, filed by several LGBTQ-rights groups, argues that LGBTQ people deserve to share in the fruits of a free market economy, with “the opportunity to earn a living, excel in their professions, and provide for their families free from fear of unequal treatment.”
The signatories include Airbnb, Amazon, American Airlines, Apple, Bayer, Bank of America, Best Buy, Domino’s, Facebook, GM, Google, Hilton, IBM, JP Morgan Chase, Marriott, Macy’s, Morgan Stanley, Nike and Comcast-NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC News. According to the Human Rights Campaign, one of the LGBTQ advocacy groups behind the brief, said it “has more corporate signers than any previous business brief in an LGBTQ nondiscrimination case.”
The brief comes before the high court hears arguments Oct. 8 in three cases involving LGBTQ workplace discrimination. In Altitude Express v. Zarda, a skydiving instructor was fired after a customer complained that the instructor disclosed that he is gay. In R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC and Aimee Stephens, a trans woman was fired from her long-time job at a funeral home after she announced her gender transition. And in Bostock v. Clayton County, a man was fired from his job as a county child welfare services coordinator after his employer learned he is gay.
While lower courts ruled in favor of the employees in the first two cases, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the employer in the Bostock case, setting up incongruity between the lower courts, and thus, a Supreme Court review. The high court justices are expected to rule on whether workplace discrimination based on one’s sexual orientation or gender identity violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which “prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.”
The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal group known for advocating against LGBTQ rights, is arguing for the court to reverse lower courts’ expanding definition of sex discrimination.
“Substituting ‘gender identity’ for ‘sex’ in nondiscrimination laws also threatens freedom of conscience,” the ADF’s petition reads. “Statutes interpreted that way have the effect, for instance, of forcing doctors to participate in — or employers to pay for — surgical efforts to alter sex in violation of their deeply held beliefs….”
Without a federal law explicitly banning workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, a number of states across the United States have passed their own measures to outlaw such discrimination. However, it is currently legal in 26 states to fire someone solely due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, according to the Movement Advancement Project, an LGBTQ think tank.
Should the Supreme Court side with the LGBTQ employees in the three cases at hand, discriminating against an employee due to their sexual orientation or gender identity would become illegal under federal civil rights law.
Crips Organization Apologizes to Nipsey Hussle's Family, Lauren London Over Trademark War
The Crips are waving a white flag in the battle over Nipsey Hussle's famous slogan, and also apologizing to the late rapper's family while offering to hand over all the intellectual property.
An official for Crips LLC, the official company formed on behalf of the Crips street gang, says, "there will absolutely be no trademark legal battle between their organization and Blacc Sam, brother of the late Nipsy Hussle."
The statement adds that the company, "respectively vows to support the wishes of Lauren London and the Asghedom family."
The Crips say, "We realize that our actions may have been offensive and we have reached out to his family, respectively Nips sister, Samantha Smith."
William King Hollis, the corporate communications director for the Crips LLC, tells us, "We are deeply sorry for any disruptions and melee that the trademark acquisition may have caused to his family, friends and fans."
Hollis also explains that he had been in contact with Nipsey, before his untimely death, and the two had agreed to work together on a "mutual collaboration" for "The Marathon Continues."
He says there was no malice when applying for the trademark, and adds that currently there are no members in the LLC who were members of Nipsey's crew, or the Rolling 60's Crips.
The organization is now prepared to turn over the trademark to Nipsey, although because it has not been fully processed they can probably just file to abandon their own application and let Blacc Sam's go through.
They are also offering to donate all the proceeds from an upcoming Bloods & Crips-themed beverage.
Blood Kola and Crip-A-Cola will be available for purchase on July 15, and will "pay homage to the fallen Hussle with a release of limited edition beverages."
Proceeds from the drinks will be donated to Time Done, which raises "awareness around the legal barriers that people living with convictions face," and was endorsed by Nipsey.
It's currently unclear if Nipsey's family is willing to work with Crips LLC, or accept their apology, but turning over the IP is a good start.
As reported, Blacc Sam is moving to take over all of his late brother's estate and handle the business dealings that were still in the works when Nipsey was killed.
Among the lucrative ventures, Puma will be releasing a line of merchandise in honor of the "Victory Lap" rapper, and his popular TMC clothing line has seen a huge surge in orders since his death.
Nicki Minaj to Headline Music Festival in Saudi Arabia
Nicki Minaj will be the headlining performer at the Jeddah World Fest in the usually ultraconservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The concert will take place at the King Abdullah Sports Stadium in the Red Sea city on July 18. In line with Saudi laws, it will be alcohol and drug-free.
Liam Payne and Steve Aoki are also slated to perform.
Robert Quirke, president of event organizer Roqu Media International, said of Minaj, "She is an absolute global icon. She has 130 million followers on Instagram, she is considered one of the top 10 female performers of all time, she’s had multiple awards and she’ll have her new album come out this year."
He continued, “She is going to get a lot of attention for Jeddah in the most positive way you can imagine. She’s going to be actively on her social media, she’ll be posting right from the stage in Jeddah and at her hotel in Jeddah. Everyone is going to know that Nicki Minaj has landed in Saudi Arabia."
“This is the largest musical festival of its kind in the region that will be broadcast to a global audience in more than 100 countries,” said Raed Abuzinadah, the director-general Jeddah Season. “There is a stereotype of the kingdom all over the world, and today it is disappearing. In its place is a new picture of the kingdom that accepts everyone.”
Reaction to the announcement has been mixed. While her fans are understandably excited, a video posted to Twitter by a Saudi woman (which has been viewed over 60,000 times) rants against the idea.
“She’s going to go and shake her a-- and all her songs are indecent and about sex and shaking a-- and then you tell me to wear the abaya,” she says in the video (which is not all in English). “What the hell?”
AND FINALLY FROM THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART FILES
Here’s The Story Behind T’s ‘The Boys in the Band’ Cover!
The photographer Inez van Lamsweerde on the set of T’s “The Boys in the Band” shoot, with the play’s cast. Credit Patrick Li
When Mart Crowley’s “The Boys in the Band” debuted Off Broadway in April of 1968, The New York Times refused to use the word “gay,” sodomy was a crime and the Stonewall riots that would ignite the LGBT movement were still a year away. So it can hardly be ignored that the play’s 50th-anniversary revival, opening this spring on Broadway, is addressing a radically different culture, one that — on the surface, at least — seems to have sacrificed this undeniably queen-y play on its march toward equality.
As the actor Zachary Quinto told The New York Times’s co-chief theater critic Jesse Green in an interview for his essay, he originally had “a dismissive take” on “The Boys in the Band,” having never seen it. But after reading the script and speaking with the producers, he eventually agreed to the part of Harold, the sharp-tongued gay man whose birthday provides the play with its setting. “The criticism was that it offered a stereotypical quality to who these characters are,” Quinto said. “But what gets lost is that characters like these had never been seen on the American stage before.”
T’s editor in chief, Hanya Yanagihara, saw an early reading of the play last summer and “was struck by how crackling and relevant this 50-year-old play still was: its humor, but also how vividly it telegraphed the characters’ shame and despair,” she says. “But what made it poignant was seeing, before me, nine openly gay actors who had made successful careers for themselves as themselves. I knew by the end of the reading that this would be an important cultural moment, and that I wanted the cast for the cover of T.”
Magazines being what they are, Yanagihara adds, it took about six months of planning before the cast gathered for T’s Dec. 17 shoot in New York, photographed by Inez and Vinoodh. Quinto and the rest of the revival’s leads — including Jim Parsons, Andrew Rannells and Matt Bomer — were joined by co-producer Ryan Murphy and director Joe Mantello, and, in a nice departure from the usual turmoil of group photo shoots (which are usually complicated by scheduling conflicts and clashing egos), there was very little drama. “Everyone was on time and played nice with each other on set: no jockeying for specific positioning,” says T’s creative director, Patrick Li. “The fact that the shoot proceeded without incident was the only thing that was unexpected.”
These men, who represent the first generation of out-and-proud gay stars, frequently work together — often in Murphy’s television projects — and their genuine affection for one another gave the shoot — and the play — its sense of intimacy and warmth
#RHoA: So Cynthia is claiming that being on RHoA has put a strain on her relationship with Will?
It's hard enough to introduce your special someone to your loved ones, let alone having the whole world meet him or her. But that's often how it is when you're a high-profile figure like Cynthia Bailey.
There's been a lot of controversy surrounding Cynthia and her new man Will Jones this season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Not only has he been accused of being an "opportunist," but rumors have also come out about Will not being as up front about his love life with Cynthia as she thought. Tense moments with Kandi Burruss, Porsha Williams, and Eva Marcille, as well as some tears from Cynthia, have ensued.
After all of that, one would imagine that some of that on-screen drama has crept into Cynthia and Will's relationship — and, in fact, it has. "Will and I still go out. You know, we don't go out as much as we used to because it's very difficult for him. I think it's been very overwhelming for him to watch himself on the show because of all the, I mean, he's become quite the hot topic. I think we talk more about Will than we talk about any of the other men at this point, and they've been on the show," Cynthia recently told The Daily Dish. "So with that said, I think it's hard for us to hang out and then watch the show and they're saying all this stuff and then he's upset. And then we're like, 'Hey, you want to see a movie?' It's kind of like, 'No, lady, I do not want to see a movie with you. I just had my head blown off last night on your show.' Of course, that's not something that's gonna make him excited and happy to see me."
Cynthia went on to say that everything that's gone down with the RHOA crew has "put a strain on the relationship." "Even though I don't have anything to do with it, it still is no one would be talking about him if he wasn't dating Cynthia Bailey. It makes me feel bad because I don't know what to do. He's a hot topic on Wendy Williams' show all the time, and she doesn't have very nice things to say about him," she explained. "I kind of can't control that part of it. All I can do is just try to get to know him, but it becomes very difficult under so much scrutiny and press."
So for now, Cynthia said she's "giving him his space." "He's kind of pulled back a little bit, which I understand. And I've kind of pulled back because I honestly just don't know how to deal with it. I've been married the whole time I've been on the show. I got married on the show. And, you know, dealing with my husband [Peter Thomas] was a different situation than dealing with someone that I'm getting to know, then all of a sudden we're a hot topic," she explained. "So I don't know. I'm hoping that when the [season] wraps we can kind of revisit the situation."
#EMPIRE: Gabby Sidibe is Soul Sister #1
GabbySidibe continues to be a FEARLESS, PROUD, BLACK Woman! She speaks this for #BlackHistoryMonth, this is who she is.
Go ahead Queen!
#RnB Flashback: The Emotions ‘Don’t Ask My Neighbor’
The Emotions (Pam, Shelia, Wanda and Jeanette) are an American Grammy Award-winning soul/R&B vocal group from Chicago, Illinois. They were at 70’s and 80’s R&B powerhouse Their association with Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire brought them their greatest success.
With White's assistance, The Emotions released the albums Flowers, Rejoice, and Sunbeam in 1976, 1977, and 1978. One of those songs was the Fan favorite ‘Don’t Ask My Neighbor’ from the platinum album ‘Rejoice’ in 1977. A soulful ballad sung by the ladies. With the Hook that says Don't ask my neighbors, Don't ask the friends I hang around, Don't be afraid to come to me, Don't ask my neighbors, come to me, Don't be afraid of what ya see, You'll find I love you, come to me, Don't be afraid.
Lets reminisce shall we right HERE
#HIPHOPNEWS: Nicki Minaj The ‘Best Female EVER’? So Says Birdman
In a recent interview with Rap-Up Magazine the Cash Money mogul celebrated the accomplishments of his signee, who has been absent from social media as of late.
“Nicki’s been working,” he explained. “That’s all I can say. She’s been working and she’s focused. I always say she’s the best ever, best female ever in hip-hop, hands down, facts,” he added. “There’s no getting around it. I just think she’s focusing on her new project.”
He also bestowed her with G.O.A.T. status. “I don’t think no female ever, in the modern time or before time, is more talented than Nicki Minaj,” said Baby, who continued to shower the chart breaker with praise.
“There’s levels to this shit. Very much levels to this shit. She’s an elite. Sometimes, you can put Nicki in a room with males on a rap, but if you put her on females, it’s nothing. She’s a monster in her own race,” he said. “She’s just a special talent. I’m blessed to have her a part of my team. She’s a special talent I’ve never heard before.”
Nicki has ditched social media in order to focus on completing the long-awaited follow-up to 2014’s The Pinkprint, which she has called a “classic.”
Thoughts?
#WTF is going with Daniel Craig's Face?
Daniel Craig, is that you? That's the question many people were asking after the James Bond actor presented at the 71st EE British Academy Film Awards in London on Feb. 18. Daniel appeared puffy and somewhat unrecognizable. Some fans even described him as appearing "plastic." "Bond looks... different," tweeted one.
"What happened to Daniel Craig's face?" another wondered. Many assumed he overdid it with Botox and fillers. Whatever the case, 007 has successfully confused the world with his new look.
#OOOPS! Jonathan Cheban Allegedly Exploded On The Kardashian's Family Feud Taping
On Saturday the entire Kardashian clan, with exception of Kourtney and Kylie, participated in Family Feud and it seems to be as dramatic as an episode of KUWTK, let's just pray that there were E! cameras rolling on the set.
Khloe, Kendall, Aunt Cici, Kris, MJ and Jonathan were all set to participate on the Kardashian side while Kim, Kanye and three of his cousins were ready to play for the West side. Apparently Jonathan exploded backstage when he found out that he wasn't allowed to compete because Kris wanted MJ instead.
The botox and food addict was allegedly flown from Miami to appear on the show and "flipped out" on Kris when she decided that MJ (her mom) should take his place. After his freakout the staff decided to make Kris and MJ play as one person.
Is he kidding? Yeah, it's a little shady for Kris to make the change at the last minute after he's already flown across the country but it's called Family Feud for a reason, so why was he even there in the first place? That family was no shortage of members so why did they need to recruit him from Miami anyway?
MJ should have had her own position from the beginning and not have to be crammed in next to Kris. Who does Jonathan think he is, Mariah Carey? He doesn't have the status to conduct such a diva act. If anyone should have shared positions with anyone, it should have been Jonathan & Kim because he's so far up her ass, no one would see the difference!
Jonathan's reps claim there was no backstage blowout. Mmm. What do you think about this beef?
Patti Labelle Joins Season 3 Of Own’s ‘Greenleaf’
OWN & Lionsgate are reporting that music legend Patti LaBelle will have a recurring role on the upcoming third season of the popular dramatic series Greenleaf.
Ms. LaBelle will portray Maxine Patterson, a famous Christian motivational speaker and the CEO of a global Christian self-help empire. She is also an old friend of Lady Mae’s from college days and will serve as her sounding board and greatest ally as she attempts to consolidate her power at Calvary.
The show is currently in production in Atlanta, GA and will return to OWN this summer. Ms. LaBelle will also have a recurring role on the new season of Lee Daniels‘ STAR as Queen Latifah‘s mother and most recently appeared on VH1’s Daytime Divas.
Greenleaf was one of the top 5 original scripted series on ad-supported cable for African American women and total viewers and a top 10 original scripted series for women 25-54 in 2017.
Get it Mama Patti!!!!
#HELP: Dr. Timothy J. Cunningham prominent Atlanta doctor goes missing after flu warning!
Two weeks ago, Dr. Timothy J. Cunningham, a team lead with the Center for Disease Control’s Division of Population Health, told his co-workers he was feeling sick. The respected researcher stated he would finish his work from home and left work and he has not been heard from again. This has caused panic and concern, because Cunningham warned his family and others that his disappearance and possible death might occur because he knew a secret about the flu shot. Allegedly, he said it was the cause of this year’s deadly outbreak.
In January, Dr. Cunningham allegedly told his colleagues and family his fears about this year’s flu shot. Some media outlets have reported he was warned by co-workers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that if he kept talking and expressing his opinion he could lose his job or something else could happen. Despite this warning, Dr. Cunningham continued to express his medical opinion. As a member of the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), Cunningham was an expert on contagious epidemics. He had been deployed to combat Zika and Ebola and holds the rank of a US Navy Commander as a member of the EIS. He is also a graduate of Morehouse College and Harvard University, so he is well trained to spot an outbreak. Cunningham was also recognized in 2017 by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the “40 under 40” to watch in the city.
Many media outlets have reported that earlier this year he stated, “Some of the patients I’ve administered the flu shot to this year have died, I don’t care who you are, this scares the crap out of me. We have seen people dying across the country of the flu, and one thing nearly all of them have in common is they got the flu shot.”
All of this information was allegedly given to media outlet YourNewsWire by Cunningham and he asked the outlet to release the information if he went missing or mysteriously died.
His family has placed flyers in his neighborhood and across the city in an attempt to bring awareness and find him. Many people concerned about his disappearance feel it is suspicious it is not being treated with the same attention as other missing person cases.
Cunningham is described as about 5 feet 11 inches tall and 230 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on his location is asked to call 911 or Atlanta’s Adult Missing Persons Unit at 404-546-4235.
White Teen Who Lied About Being Raped By 3 Black Men Found Guilty
Texas teen faces probation for four felony charges.
One Texas teen has taken a plea deal after admitting that she lied about her sexual assault at the hands of three Black men.
Breanna Harmon walked into her church last March, claiming that she had been raped by three black men. Today, she had to admit that she made the whole attack up.
According to Star Telegram, Harman pleaded guilty to four counts of tampering with physical evidence and government documents, which are felony charges.
“We’ve had major crime before, but nothing like this,” Denison, Texas, Police Chief Jay Burch said in a press conference.
Last year, she came into her Denison church looking battered, wearing nothing but her undergarments and a shirt. She had been reported missing just hours earlier.
Harmon claimed that she’d been kidnapped by three Black men in ski masks and that two of them raped her while the third held her down. At first, She told authorities that the assault occurred in a field near the church. She was later charged with a misdemeanor for lying to authorities.
She was later hit with felony charges when Grayson County prosecutors found that the extent of her lies required more serious charges. For example, Harmon admitted that she cut herself out of depression that her engagement was going to be broken off. She hurt herself and lied about the violent episode to avoid upsetting her family.
Burch explained, “We believe the crime scenes——from the initial ‘kidnapping’ scene at the apartment complex to the point of [Harmon’s] condition when she walked into the church——were staged.”
Harmon will be sentenced on March 20, and it is expected that she will either be given probation or a deferred adjunction arrangement under the terms of her plea deal.
#GOSPEL:‘Stellar Awards’ To Feat. Mary Mary, Snoop Dogg + Kirk Franklin
The debut of Snoop Dogg‘s gospel album and a reunion of gospel duo Mary Mary just a few of the highlights for this year’s 2018 Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. The show will be hosted by Grammy winning superstar Kirk Franklin and will be held at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on March 24.
According to the press release, the iconic rapper, actor and television personality will grace the Stellar stage with music from his new inspirational album Songs of Love. The sisters—Erica and Tina Campbell—will come together for a spectacular performance of their classic hits and more.
Other scheduled performers include: Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Travis Greene, Tye Tribbett, Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Kierra Sheard, KeKe Wyatt, Jonathan McReynolds, Tasha Page-Lockhart, Todd Dulaney, Koryn Hawthorne and Ricky Dillard & New G, among others.
Grammy winning vocalist and reality star Tamela Mann is this year’s recipient of the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award and the legendary Rev. Milton Biggham will receive The Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones Legends Award. Stellar Honors Hall of Fame Inductees includes Kurt Carr, Ben Tankard, and Dr. Marabeth Gentry – President of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses.
“Each year we strive to bring new and innovative performances and collaborations to the Stellar Awards and this year is no different, with the inclusion of mainstream hip-hop rapper and mogul, Snoop Dogg.” stated Stellar Awards Founder, Don Jackson. “Snoop expressed his desire to release a gospel album in honor of his mom who is an evangelist and he’s teamed up with Gospel superstar Tye Tribbett, there’s no way we couldn’t bring this explosive performance to the Stellar Awards stage.”
2018 Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards telecast will premiere on TV One on Friday, March 30 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
Click here for a list of this year’s nominees!
Ryan Seacrest Ignores Sexual Abuse And Harassment Claims On ‘Live with Kelly and Ryan’
Ryan Seacrest IGNORES the recent sexual abuse and harrasment claims….
Less than 24 hours earlier, Variety published a story detailing sexual misconduct allegations lodged against him by his former E! News stylist. But when it came time for Live with Kelly and Ryan, the ABC talk show went on with no mention of the claims.
Seacrest and Kelly Ripa began Tuesday’s show detailing their teeth-whitening excursions before interviewing Kiefer Sutherland and Christine Baranski, playing games with the studio audience, and announcing their plans for Oscars coverage.
Ripa even mentioned that Seacrest still plans to appear on the red carpet Sunday for the Academy Awards.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Seacrest’s attorney Andrew Baum says, “It is upsetting to us that Variety is electing to run a ‘story’ about untrue allegations that we were made against my client, after they were told that the accuser threatened to make those false claims against him unless he paid her $15 million. At that time, the claimant threatened to issue a demonstrably false press statement unless she was paid. Instead, my client proactively and publicly denied the claims and agreed to fully cooperate with E!’s investigation about the matter.”
Mo'Nique has reacted to The Tiffany Haddish Netflix Deal!
Comedian Tiffany Haddish confirms she has a Netflix comedy special on the way, no thanks to Mo'Nique...
The news came out after a fan of Mo'Nique tried to say if Tiffany got a multi-million dollar deal with Netflix it was because of Mo'Nique standing up for Black female comedians with her Netflix boycott
That's when Tiffany corrected the fan insisting her Netflix deal came before Mo'Nique's boycott.
Mo'Nique responded positively to the interaction.
How Nice!
Jeffrey Dean Morgan Pays Tribute To ‘Walking Dead’ Co-Star Chandler Riggs After Heartbreaking Midseason Premiere!
(via deadline) SPOILER ALERT: This story contains details of the midseason premiere of The Walking Dead.
Fans are still reeling from events from last night’s episode of The Walking Dead — including some of the cast members. Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who plays the not-so-likable, barbed wire bat-toting Negan, proved that he is nothing like his character by paying tribute to Chandler Riggs, whose character Carl saw his demise in the midseason premiere.
Carl’s death was inevitable since the midseason finale, but when it actually happened people were all up in their feelings — Morgan especially. In a lengthy Instagram post, he had nothing but loving words to describe his experience working with Riggs.
“You, my friend, are an incredible young man,” he wrote. “Well before joining this cast I was a fan… a fan that loved watching you grow up in front of a camera. From the moment you first put on the way too large sheriffs hat as a boy… to the end, the hat so befitting of the man Carl had become. Wiser and more compassionate than all of us. You held all of our hearts.”
Read the heartfelt lovefest below.
He goes on to say how he was a fan of the Negan-Carl relationship in the comics and says that although it is sad Riggs is leaving the show, he is a “powerful actor.”
WOW!
Vanilla Ice Accused Of Hiding Millions In His Divorce
Vanilla Ice‘s estranged wife is accusing him of hiding millions in assets in property to keep her from getting it in their divorce.
Laura Van Winkle pulled the plug on her 19-year marriage to Robert Van Winkle when she filed for divorce in October 2016.
In new court docs, Laura accuses Rob of transferring money, she thought was going into a trust, to his company, Van Rap, LTD.
She learned of the shady activity while looking over financial records as part of the divorce.
Now, Laura wants Rob to submit all of his bank records and company financials to make sure she collects all of the money she’s owed.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES?
