Joan Smalls for Elle België - November 2018
HOTNESS!
BREAKING! An Explosive was Found Near the Home Of Philanthropist and Democratic Donor George Soros
Law enforcement officials responded to an incident at the home of liberal billionaire George Soros on Monday evening, an officer with the Bedford, New York, police department told HuffPost.
A Soros employee opened a package containing an explosive device and called police Monday afternoon, prompting bomb squad technicians to come detonate it, The New York Times reported.
Soros has been a frequent target of conspiracy theories and fear-mongering by hyper-nationalist conservatives in the U.S. and Europe, who often rely on anti-Semitic tropes when they characterize him as a shadowy figure encouraging mass migration and torpedoing traditional Christian culture. President Donald Trump has personally attacked him as well.
A spokesman for Soros declined to comment on the record about the role that such rhetoric might have played in inspiring an attempted attack on the billionaire. The Anti-Defamation League did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Soros ― who survived the Nazi occupation of Hungary, fled with the rise of communism and then made his money on Wall Street ― has focused on promoting democratic priorities like freedom of the press, less discrimination in the justice system and a protected role for nongovernmental institutions. He announced last year that he would give his remaining wealth, around $18 billion, to his primary vehicle for philanthropy, the Open Society Foundations.
Republican have increasingly vilified Soros since Trump suggested he was behind popular protests against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Groups that track hate speech warned that such rhetoric could boost extremism, but official GOP organs doubled down.
“When Trump and his Republican enablers scoff that today’s protesters are Soros-paid puppets, they are doing far more than scoring cheap political points against their adversaries,” historian Neil J. Young wrote for HuffPost last week. “Dangerously, they are sowing the kind of division and distrust among Americans that threatens our entire democracy.”
Bedford is about 50 miles north of Manhattan and has been home to many well-to-do city transplants, including Martha Stewart, Glenn Close and Ralph Lauren. Katonah, where Mr. Soros has a home, is known for its cultural offerings, including the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts and the Katonah Museum of Art.
The town is known for its insularity and lack of gossip, which allows for well-known residents to fly under the radar. “
The FBI is now investigating the incident, CNN reported Monday night.
#RHoA: So NeNe Leakes skipped Kenya Moore’s Baby Shower For A Lunch Date With Her BFFs Cynthia Bailey And Porsha Williams
NeNe Leakes was looking happy in her latest photo with her two best friends, Cynthia Bailey, and Porsha Williams. She posted the pic on her social media account.
‘Lunch date wit these silly rabbits @porsha4real @cynthiabailey10’ NeNe captioned her photo.
Someone gushed over the ladies and said ‘You guys look amazing, whatever you are doing to look so amazing, continue to live your best life. 🙏🏽💯♥️’
NeNe recently went to Kandi Burruss’ new location for her Old Lady Gang restaurant as well.
Unfortunately, she did not attend Kenya Moore’s baby shower, but she did gush over the ladies in a photo, saying that they looked gorgeous.
‘OMG! You guys look so amazing! Congrats @thekenyamoore wish i could have been there #babydaly🍼🍼’ NeNe captioned the photo from Kenya’s baby shower.
NeNe is full of sh_t!
#Empire: Jussie Smollett Says 'Empire' Season 5 Is About "Growth and Unity"
Smollett, who plays Jamal, told The Hollywood Reporter that the shift sort of acts as a reset, making the season reminiscent to Empire's first.
"This season is really about growth and unity. I think we needed this," the actor told THR. "I'm really excited, everybody's really excited. You see the vibe on set — everyone's just happy to be there."
Smollett is glad that this season is still resonating with audiences.
"We've been given a really special platform to be able to represent certain people that feel underrepresented," Smollet said. "To have the opportunity to play Jamal in this way, in this season, is probably the most exciting thing."
Empire is on FOX Wednesdays at 8PM.
#NewMusic: from Tamia It’s Yours
Tamia has a new single “It’s Yours”, effortlessly meshing her traditional sound with progressive production. The single is the follow up to her successful single “Leave It Smokin” which recently reached the #1 spot on the Urban A/C charts.
LISTEN HERE
The mid tempo jam “It’s Yours” was produced by Lil Ronnie and featured on Tamia’s recently released album “Passion Like Fire”.
The veteran singer is currently on her tour promoting the album
#HipHopNews: Wiz Khalifa Confirms He's 20-Tracks Deep Into Upcoming R&B Album
LOS ANGELES, CA – Wiz Khalifa stopped by The Cruz Show in Los Angeles earlier this week and confirmed his next album will be a staunch departure from Rolling Papers 2. During the conversation, the Taylor Gang head honcho said he’s working on a “singing” album.
“My next album is all singing,” he said. “Like full on. I already got like 20 songs done.”
Wiz added he’d hired a vocal coach to fine-tune his voice.
“Absolutely, 100 percent, I have a vocal coach,” he said. “She taught me some things I didn’t even know about my voice.”
Rumors of an impending R&B album started circulating earlier this month following an interview with Uproxx. When asked if he’d be into dropping an R&B-influenced project, he said he was “100 percent” down.
“It’s more open for me to do that now because of how music is being digested and especially since I put my album out now,” he explained. “You have the album, now I can have fun and experiment and do some cool shit in between. So yeah, for sure.”
Kylie Jenner Sued For Stealing ‘Born to Sparkle’ Makeup Line
Kylie Jenner hit with a lawsuit. According to TMZ reports, A company named Sheree Cosmetics is suing Kylie and her company “Kylie Cosmetics” for allegedly stealing its “Born to Sparkle” makeup line. In docs, obtained by TMZ, Sheree claims it has its own “Born to Sparkle” collection but Kylie started making her own “Born to Sparkle” line with similar colors and packaging.
Kylie’s line features lip gloss, lipstick, lip liner and glitter eyes. Thing is … her “Born to Sparkle” collection was part of her birthday collection launched in the beginning of August. Sheree Cosmetics says it filed for a trademark on August 30th, 2018 … so this might be a tough one to prove.
Sheree is suing for unspecified damages.
Former NFL and Carolina Panther Rae Carruth released from prison after 18 years,
Former NFL wide receiver Rae Carruth was released from prison Monday after serving more than 18 years for conspiring to murder the mother of his unborn child.
The Carolina Panthers' 1997 first-round draft pick was released from Sampson Correctional Institution in Clinton, North Carolina, after completing his sentence of 18 to 24 years.
Carruth did not speak to reporters on as he left the prison wearing a knit cap and an unzipped jacket on a chilly morning with temperatures in the high 30s. There was a smattering of applause as Carruth got into a white SUV and was whisked away from the prison.
Carruth, now 44, was found guilty of orchestrating a plot to kill Cherica Adams on Nov. 16, 1999, in Charlotte, North Carolina, to avoid paying child support. Adams was shot four times while driving her car, but managed to make a 911 call that helped implicate Carruth.
Adams fell into a coma and died less than a month later after the shooting.
The child she was carrying, Chancellor Lee Adams, was delivered by emergency cesarean section but suffers from permanent brain damage and cerebral palsy.
Last week, he told WSOC-TV in Charlotte in a telephone interview, "I just truly want to be forgiven."
Carruth went on to say he was "somewhat frightened" about his release, adding that, "I'm nervous just about how I'll be received by the public. I still have to work. I still have to live. I have to exist out there and it just seems like there is so much hate and negativity toward me."
Carruth has repeatedly said he wants to have a relationship with his son, who remains in the custody of his grandmother, Saundra Adams, who has raised him since birth. Adams had previously said she would be there when Carruth got out of prison, but she was not present on Monday.
Carruth's arrest on charges of conspiracy and attempted murder nine days after the shooting sent shockwaves throughout the Panthers organization.
The team released Carruth and the NFL suspended him indefinitely after he fled the Charlotte area after posting $3 million bail and was found by federal authorities hiding in the trunk of a car in Tennessee, about 500 miles from Charlotte.
Carruth will be a on a ninth-month post-release program, according to North Carolina Department of Public Safety spokesman Jerry Higgins. He would need special permission from a case officer to leave the state or the country during that span, but is free to go wherever he pleases after nine months.
Luke Cage Star Mike Colter Responds To The Show's Cancellation
Mike Colter has taken to social media to address the recent cancellation of Marvel’s Luke Cage. Fans of Netflix’s Marvel Comics-inspired superhero shows were dealt a series of (partially) unexpected blows, when not long after the cancellation of the maligned Iron Fist, it was announced that Luke Cage had also been canceled after only two seasons. That Marvel’s bulletproof hero had been brought low was something of a surprise, as the series’ first received generally positive reviews and seemingly broke Netflix the weekend it was released. And though its second season didn’t necessarily set the world on fire, it did feel as though it improved on the fist in some important ways.
Reasons behind the cancellations have been the source of much speculation. Netflix’s refusal to provide viewership data about its programming has made understanding the decision to cull its Marvel properties harder to understand, and in the absence of hard data, the internet has responded in kind, with theories pointing the finger at Disney’s upcoming streaming service or to a planned Heroes For Hire series that would fold Iron Fist and Luke Cage into a single show. For now, though, it looks as if perplexed viewers will simply have to make do with their theories, or, you know, accept the cancellation as an unfortunate but common part of the business that is making television.
As is usually the case when things like this happen, the cast and creators take to social media to express their disappointment, but also to express their gratitude to fans for having watched in the first place. That was true of both Iron Fist stars Finn Jones and Jessica Henwick, and of Luke Cage showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker. And now Colter has chimed in as well, but with a twist, as he bids farewell to Luke Cage, but also welcomes his new daughter in the same post.
Check it out below:
Colter seems to have a positive demeanor in his post (how could he not, considering who he’s pointing at), and he appears intent on moving forward. There’s no indication of what’s next for him, though that likely won’t prevent some from hypothesizing he’s talking about Luke Cage in saying, “Always forward, forward always.” Regardless, the news of Luke Cage and Iron Fist’s cancellations will no doubt cast a shadow on Netlfix’s remaining Marvel series, though Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and The Punisher appear safe for the time being.
Luke Cage seasons 1 & 2 are available to stream on Netflix.
Tamar Braxton Begs Judge to Sign Off on Divorce After Estranged Hubby Fails to Respond
Last month, Tamar Braxton filed court docs in her divorce showing “proof of service.” The singer says Vince got the papers earlier this month, meaning any hope for reconciliation is pretty much over.
Tamar Braxton is tired of waiting around for her estranged husband Vince Herbert to show up to court to end their marriage and is pleading for a judge to sign off on the divorce as soon as possible.
According to The Blast reports, Tamar is asking a judge to grant her a default judgment in the case because Vince has been blowing off responding to her petition for divorce.
The divorce had been in limbo for several months and Tamar was warned earlier this year to get it moving and to serve Vince with the legal docs, which she had failed to do for some time.
Tamar finally served him on September 6 and Vince was given 30 days to respond in court.
Vince failed to show up or file court docs within the 30-day deadline and Tamar Braxton wasted no time to file a motion seeking for the judge to wrap it up without Vince … so the divorce can become final once and for all.
The judge could determine the amount of child and spousal support without Vince appearing and split their community property down the middle.
#WeWontBeErased: Trump Administration Plans to ‘Erase’ Transgender Definition
A new report has caused a major backlash from politicians, celebrities and human rights groups after alleging that the US policy on gender recognition could be changed.
The New York Times report said a government memo proposed officially defining gender as biological and fixed. This would change the previous policy which recognized trans recognition.
This means that gender would be defined by the genitalia people are born with and that people’s sex would be legally fixed as either male or female.
“Sex means a person’s status as male or female based on immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth,” the department proposed in the memo.
“The sex listed on a person’s birth certificate, as originally issued, shall constitute definitive proof of a person’s sex unless rebutted by reliable genetic evidence.”
The administration of President Barack Obama adopted a definition of gender in federal policy which made it easier to allow individual choice and self-determination. The change fuelled a few legal challenges in conservative states, in areas like the use of toilets and changing rooms.
The Trump administration has previously tried to diminish transgender recognition in the military and schools.
Many have condemned the report and shared their personal stories using the hashtag #WeWontBeErased. If the memo is put into action, over 1.4 million people could be affected.
Amy Schumer Pregnant With First Child
Actress Amy Schumer has revealed that she is expecting her first child with her husband, chef Chris Fischer.
Amy asked her friend, Jessica Yellin, who is a former CNN chief White House correspondent announce the news in an Instagram story on her page.
“I wanted to share some news from our community, maybe it’s noise but it’s happy noise,” Yellin said. “
So I’m not in the business of making voting recommendations, but these are the recommendations of Amy Schumer, one of the most consistent and earliest supporters of News Not Noise. Now read all the way to the bottom, you’ll see there’s some news down there. Congratulations, Amy.”
The note read “Nov 6th my recs for how to flip the house.” After listing out all of the candidates, there was a final note at the bottom that read, “I’m pregnant-Amy Schumer.”
Amy then directed followers to her page where she shared a photo of Prince Harry and a pregnant Meghan Markle that had Amy and Chris’s faces on it. Well, we cannot wait to see the bundle of joy!
NBA: Brandon Ingram, Rajon Rondo & Chris Paul Suspended For 4th Quarter Fight
NBA ballers Brandon Ingram, Rajon Rondo, and Chris Paul have been suspended for their roles in a 4th quarter fight on the court over the weekend.
The NBA released the following statement:
Ingram has been suspended for aggressively returning to and escalating the altercation and throwing a punch in the direction of Paul, confronting a game official in a hostile manner, and instigating the overall incident by shoving Rockets guard James Harden.
Rondo has been suspended for instigating a physical altercation with, and spitting and throwing multiple punches at, Paul.
Paul has been suspended for poking at and making contact with the face of Rondo, and throwing multiple punches at him.
All hell broke loose on the court after Rajon Rondo spit on Chris Paul. Whether or not it was intentional is still being debated amongst fans.
Watch below
But, the on-court throw down wasn’t the end of the foolishness.
Rondo’s family members allegedly had a few unkind words for Chris’ wife, Jada Paul after the dust-up.
Lakers-Rockets, one of Rondo’s family members confronted Paul’s wife, Jada. NBA investigating tonight’s on-court altercations ahead of Rockets/Clippers on Sunday.
Welp. Everyone involved will have time to marinate and reflect on what they could have done differently during their suspensions.
50 Cent Clowns Ashanti For Selling Only 30 Tickets, Concert Cancelled
A university in Long Island, NY was forced to cancel a concert headlined by R&B star Ashanti after only 30 tickets were sold to students. The concert was planned by Stony Brook University’s Student Activities Board.
Stony Brook University’s Student Activities Board issued refunds to the 30 ticket holders.
The School’s Undergraduate Student Government released a statement, “It is with deepest regret that we announce the cancellation of the Back to the Brook Vol. 1 concert scheduled for Thursday, October 25th at the Stellar Center,” read a statement.
The school graciously blamed inadequate marketing rather than lack of interest in Ashanti’s music.
Ashanti was actually a replacement for the original headliner, Teyana Taylor, who pulled out due to “unforeseen circumstances 2 weeks prior to the concert.”
Of course Murder Inc.’s arch-nemesis 50 Cent wasted no time letting loose on Ja Rule’s favorite collabo artist.
Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta Star, Spice, Bleaches Her Skin
Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta star, Spice, isn’t waiting for the new year to make changes.
After a brief social media hiatus, the Dancehall queen announced that she was going on Instagram live at 1:00 pm Eastern time. “Missed you all so much,” she wrote on the caption. She didn’t mention what she would be talking about on live, she just called for all her fans “get ready.”
What we probably weren’t ready for was to see that Spice completely changed her skin color. Following the live, she posted up a picture of her new self. From the looks of the comments, many fans are in shock and asking if it was even real.
Although Jamaica is a predominantly Black culture, people are still bleaching their skins to appear more “beautiful.” The desire for a lighter complexion in Jamaican culture is deeply rooted by slavery and colonialism.
How are y’all feeling her new skin color?
Kim Kardashian Says Marrying Kanye West Meant Letting Go Of Some Independence
Kim Kardashian admitted that marrying someone like Kanye West meant losing some of her independence.
In an interview on “The Alec Baldwin Show” that aired Sunday, the 38-year-old reality star talked extensively about how her life has changed since marrying West in 2014.
“I think being with a man like Kanye, you kind of have to learn how to be a little bit not-so-independent,” the reality star said in an interview on “The Alec Baldwin Show” that aired Sunday. “I’ve always been so independent and working and ‘this is my schedule,’ and when you get married and have a husband that has their career and then you have kids, your independence ... you have to let it go. I had to learn that being with a man like Kanye.”
Baldwin pressed Kardashian on how she feels about her husband’s controversial political views. Though it was still weeks before West’s White House visit when the interview was filmed, Kardashian claimed her husband’s vocal support for President Donald Trump has opened some doors for her.
Most notably, she believes Alice Marie Johnson ― the 63-year-old nonviolent first-time drug offender Trump granted clemency to after Kardashian visited the White House ― would still be in prison if West wasn’t such a fierce defender of the president.
“I do believe she would still be in prison,” Kardashian told Baldwin. “Alice and I spoke about this. We spoke on the phone yesterday, and we’ve spoken about this a few times. Alice always says, ‘If it wasn’t for Kanye speaking up in support of Trump’ then she would still be in jail.”
Though the “KUWTK” star said she’ll continue to advocate for criminal justice reform, overall, she’s far less political than her husband.
“I wasn’t really into politics as much until, I think, more recently,” she said. “And even so, I’m not so into politics. I’ll find something that I believe in, and I figured out how to use my voice in that area, but as far as when it does come to my business, to me, it’s all very separate.”
Kardashian has defended her husband’s controversial political leanings before. In April, she defended West’s right to support Trump, while distancing herself from his politics.
He’s a free thinker, is that not allowed in America? Because some of his ideas differ from yours you have to throw in the mental health card? That’s just not fair. He’s actually out of the sunken place when he’s being himself which is very expressive
“Most people (including myself) have very different feelings & opinions about this. But this is HIS opinion,” she said. “I believe in people being able to have their own opinions, even if really different from mine.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘HALF & HALF’
We call this “The Indecisive”
#EGGPLANT NATION Meet Father Wood!
Meet Wood! Well to see more you can GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSWF!
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ENJOY!
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!
EFREM
