7/2/19

The Daily Buzz For July 3 ☕📰☕


Kris and Kylie Jenner for Harpers Bazaar Arabia July/August 2019
In honor of the July/August issue of Harper's Bazaar Arabia, famed mother and daughter Kris Jenner and Kylie Jenner powerfully posed together for the cover while inviting readers into—as Kris put it— their "incredibly strong" bond.

"When I became a mother, my perspective on life completely changed, and so did how I look at my own mom and appreciate all the things that she's done for me," the Kylie Cosmetics mogul said about her mom. "Now I can understand the way that she feels about me, the way that she loves me, and how strong her love is for all her kids, because of how obsessed I am with Stormi [Webster]," she said of her 1-year-old daughter, with whom she and her mom posed for the youngster's first magazine cover. 
Kris weighed in on the topic, telling the magazine, "We've always been very connected emotionally and spiritually and have this incredibly strong bond. But I think as we both get older, our relationship shifts a bit. And for me, I just want her to know that I'm always here to guide her and help her with whatever she needs, rather than it always being, you know, the way it used to be back in the day. Our relationship changes every few years."
Of course, Kris is used to a changing relationship between mother and daughter. After all, Kylie is the youngest of her five daughters and six children, all known to the public together as the Kardashian-Jenner family and also in their own individual ways through the years, whether it be modeling, makeup, a denim line or lifestyle website. 

"I think when the girls, Kourtney, Kimberly and Khloé, first started doing our show, people really responded to them because they offered an image of something that was different. It gave young women self-esteem. They started to feel better about themselves because they could embrace their bodies and didn't have to have a certain look," the momager told the magazine, "Overall, I think the girls have been very influential in changing the way that women look at themselves."
She continued, "It was life-changing for a lot of people because they finally felt accepted, which was really wonderful for us, especially Kim, to be part of that movement. I think she really embraced that role of being sort-of a spokesperson for curvy women. And after that, when Kylie grew up and came onto the scene, she was really disruptive in the beauty industry and turned that on its head, too!"

According to Kylie, who was named the "youngest self-made billionaire" by Forbes this year, it's been more about passion than profit. 

"I don't really do it to make money or think that far into the future if this is going to be super-successful," she told Harper's Bazaar Arabie. "I just knew my talents and was passionate about make-up and lips and lipsticks. It's been a real love of mine for as long as I can remember. I never even knew that you can really turn your passion into a business, you know. I just followed my heart and went with how I felt. Now I just feel so blessed every day to wake up, have fun doing what I love and make a career out of it. It's amazing!"

With a baby now in her life, it's also changed how the famous mom views her work. "Mentally, for me, I try not to focus so much on being a role model and still be myself. But I do understand how many young women look up to me and that I have to think about everything that I put on the internet, or what example I want to set for my daughter. Especially now that I've had her, I think about that a lot more," she told the magazine. And while she asserts that you're never too young to follow your dreams, Kylie also sees the value of taking a break. 
Honestly, I don't remember a time when I did have privacy because we started our show when I was 9 years old. I feel like I just grew up in it and so I figured out a way of living that is comfortable for me. Of course, there are times when you feel like your privacy is invaded. But I feel like I've learned how to pull back when I need to. I love my fans and we have such a strong relationship. I do love sharing and inspiring and bringing people into my life. I feel like I was definitely made to do what I do," she said. "But there are definitely moments when I get stressed out. I'll take the week off and spend more time with Stormi, or I like to go on trips when I'm feeling overwhelmed."

The star continued, "I just have my little message in life. I feel that we all do, even if you're not famous. As human beings we get stressed out and we all have our little way of coming back together."
As for Kris, being a mom is "always my first priority, and then the manager of all of the girls."

The famed momager explained, "One of my biggest aspirations is just to be able to spend more time with my grandchildren. That's truly where my heart is. I have 10 now and they all live right around me. We work a lot… but that's my love, just to spend more time with my family."


#RHOA: So The TEA is NeNe is Refusing to Film With Porsha Williams and Kenya Moore?
NeNe Leakes, who is reportedly being paid a whopping $2.85 million to appear on the upcoming 12th season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, is being accused of diva behavior.
As production continues on the new episodes, a report claims NeNe has been refusing to film scenes with returning cast member Porsha Williams and Kenya Moore, who was brought back to the show for season 12 after being left out of season 11.

“They are not friends,” the source told Radar Online. “They are just work colleagues.”
As fans of RHOA will recall, NeNe and Porsha had a falling out during season 11. After brawling in NeNe’s closet during one of the final episodes of the season, they sent cease and desist letters to one another in an effort to put a stop to the trash talking.
While the series’ producers are hoping to see NeNe confront Porsha and Kenya on the show, they have reportedly been forced to abide by NeNe’s schedule.

“She wants to confront them on her own terms,” the insider explained. “NeNe is going to decide when and where it will happen. She doesn’t and won’t talk to either of them unless a camera is rolling.”
“Nene knows how high her stakes are,” the source added.
Although NeNe doesn’t want to film with Porsha and Kenya quite yet, she is in production on season 12 and expected to reunite with a number of her co-stars next week.

“NeNe is going to film with a lot of the ladies in the second week of July,” an insider explained. “She’s ok filming with [Eva Marcille], [Tanya Sam], and [Kandi Burruss].”

According to the source, NeNe’s diva antics have been infuriating to her co-stars.
“They think it is unfair that the highest paid person on the show wants to do the least amount of work,” the source said.


#Empire: Taye Diggs is Team Jussie, He Says ‘Empire’ Should Bring him Back
Empire co-creator Lee Daniels already said it’s not happening, but Taye Diggs thinks Jussie Smollett should be given a chance to return to the Fox series.
Diggs recently sat down with Black Hollywood Live’s “Inside The Black Actor’s Studio” on Afterbuzz TV, and said he thinks Smollet should be allowed to return to the hip-hop drama.

“I have no idea what people are going through. And to be honest, it’s kinda none of my business,” Diggs began. He [Smollett] is a good friend of mine. I love him. He’s, he’s only done right by me. So you know people go through things. It doesn’t change who he was and who he is to me. It doesn’t change, you know, the attention that we still need to pay to, you know, homophobic. Like, the people, people trip out, just because; whatever happened doesn’t mean that, that the issue that he stands for don’t still exist.”

Diggs then said he thought the decision to write Smollett out of the series last season, following his alleged attack, was made too quickly.

“If I am being honest, the smart thing would be to bring him back and, and let it interweave it into the, into the show, you know?” Diggs said. “I feel like, people, I may get in trouble for saying this, but they’re so quick to just, uh, to leave, to leave these people. You know what I mean? So quick to, to fire them, so quick to kind of, you know, throw them away as opposed to, you know, taking their time and, maybe letting it, let it, let it work toward, you know, the program or the job, or, you’d probably get to the bottom of it if he, if he stuck around.”
Diggs had a recurring role as Angelo DuBois on Empire between 2016 to 2017. But his comments may be a moot point, since Daniels said on June 4, Smollett’s character Jamal Lyon would not appear on the sixth and final season of the series.

“Jussie will NOT be returning to Empire,” Daniels tweeted, following reports that the embattled actor’s character was being re-worked into scripts for the series.


#NewMusic from Khalid and Ed Sheeran ‘Beautiful People’
With the release of Ed Sheeran’s No. 6 Collaborations Project just around the corner, the Grammy winner drums up more noise with his Khalid-assisted track “Beautiful People.”
The cornerstone for this duet reveals a surprising upside to being socially awkward as the two crooners ask not to be placed in the self-absorbed box of “beautiful people.” Their unique voices blend well here, making their collaboration more sensational for listeners.

Khalid is one of the few R&B/soul acts on Sheerans’s upcoming album, which is slated to arrive on July 12. H.E.R., Ella Mai, and Bruno Mars are also on board for the all-star project.

LISTEN HERE

Khalid, who launched a music and fine arts foundation this spring, is currently on his first-ever headlining tour in support of his Free Spirit album. The arena tour ends on August 17 in Miami.


#HipHopNews: Nas Reveals ‘The Lost Tapes 2’ Tracklisting, Release Date
Nas fulfills a long-standing promise by officially announcing a July 19 release date for The Lost Tapes 2 via Mass Appeal/Def Jam Recordings.
The long-awaited sequel to 2002’s cult classic The Lost Tapes features unreleased tracks from Nas’ last four albums including Hip-Hop Is Dead (2006), Untitled (2008), Life Is Good (2012), and Nasir (2018).

The 16 tracks include production from Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Swizz Beatz, RZA, No I.D., Hit-Boy, Pete Rock, and more. A snippet of his “Lost Freestyle” collaboration with Statik Selektah can be heard in the trailer.

In 2014, Nas shared plans for The Lost Tapes 2 after launching his independent label Mass Appeal Records. The original Lost Tapes contained previously unreleased tracks from recording sessions for Nas’ 1999 album I Am… and 2001’s Stillmatic.


Nike Pulls Air Max Featuring Betsy Ross Flag After Complaint From Colin Kaepernick
Colin Kaepernick is keeping Nike in check! The athletic apparel giant will not release their Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July sneakers, which features an old version of the American flag created by Betsy Ross.
The $140 kicks were slated to be released on Monday (July 1) in celebration of the Fourth of July holiday.
But, after Kap reached out to Nike to remind them that version of the flag was used during the slavery era and its mad offensive, they decided to forgo the release and pulled the shoes from stores that had already received shipments.
 “Nike has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured an old version of the American flag.” In case anyone forgot this.

US Code Title 4
The Flag should never be used for advertising purposes for any manner whatsoever!

Kudos to Colin Kaepernick


Beyoncé and the cast of The Lion King Show photos of them and their characters!
Beyoncé dropped a new promotional image for The Lion King on Tuesday, July 2.
In the shot, we see her profile next to Nala's, the character she portrays in Disney's upcoming live-action remake, in theaters on July 19.
In addition, Walt Disney Studios released an exciting featurette in which you'll find Beyoncé in the recording studio for the film.
On Tuesday, Beyoncé dropped the very-first promotional image of The Lion King on her Instagram. 

In the new photo, the 37-year-old 23-time Grammy winner stares directly into the eyes of the live-action version of Nala, the beloved character she portrays in Disney’s upcoming remake, in theaters July 19. As is typical, Queen Bey didn’t provide a caption to the image, and instead let us bask in the glory of the shot. Fans in the comments understandably lost it, writing, “The Lion QUEEN!!!!!!” and “omg omg omg omg I’m so excited.”

In addition, a new Walt Disney Studios featurette finds Lion King director Jon Favreau talking about the making of the film, which also stars Seth Rogen as Pumbaa, Billy Eichner as Timon, and James Earl Jones as Mufasa, his role in the original Disney classic.

"It's nice to have actors who are both the performers and the singers. You have Beyoncé and Donald—they present something totally new and exciting. These are real musicians bringing their creative voices to this," Favreau says.
The Lion King hits theaters July 19.


US Beats England to advance to Women's World Cup final
Alex Morgan’s first-half goal and Alyssa Naeher’s late, clutch penalty save lifted the U.S. to a 2-1 victory over England on Tuesday and propelled them to Sunday's Women’s World Cup final.
Morgan provided the winning margin with her sixth goal of the tournament in the 31st minute with a header off a pass from Lindsey Horan. The goal was pretty, but Morgan's pinky-lifting, tea-sipping celebration quickly went viral.

The star American striker also became the first Women’s World Cup competitor to score on her birthday. She turned 30 years old Tuesday.

Naeher, who was considered a question mark before the tournament, put any questions about her ability to rest with two stunning saves. Minutes after Morgan's goal, Naeher lept to her left to tip away a rising strike by England's Keira Walsh that was heading for the top corner of the goal and would have tied the match at 2-2. But that was a mere setup for the second half drama.
Brazilian referee Edina Alves Batista determined following a VAR review that U.S. defender Becky Sauerbrunn had fouled England striker Ellen White in the penalty area with about 10 minutes to go. With England facing a golden chance to tie the match, Naeher dove to her right to block the strike by Stephanie Houghton.

Christen Press opened the scoring for the U.S. in the 10th with a header off a cross from Tobin Heath. Press had started the match in place of Megan Rapinoe, who was reportedly sidelined with a hamstring injury.
White equalized for England nine minutes later, scoring her fifth goal of the tournament with a fine toe-poke finish of a ball from Beth Mead.

White’s thought she had equalized a second time for England in the 67th minute, but a briefly VAR review determined that she had been narrowly offside.
The U.S. will play the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between Sweden and the Netherlands in the Lyon final. England will play the loser of that game in Saturday's third-place match in Nice.


Lil Nas X makes light of homophobic comments after coming out
Lil Nas X is seemingly unfazed by homophobic comments the 20-year-old rapper received since coming out as a member of the LGBTQ community on World Pride Day.
On Monday, Lil Nas celebrated his single “Old Town Road” becoming the longest-running Hot 100 No. 1 hip-hop single of all time in an Instagram post.

In the comments section, some followers made remarks like “Can you not be gay,” “He’s gay I’m no longer listening to this s—t,” and “How long are you going to be gay for.”
The rapper made light of the comments, writing, “I apologize for my actions. hope you find a better role model” and “i’m as gay as a joke.”

Lil Nas also laughed at a fan video that claimed because he’s gay, his music “just don’t sound the same.”
On Sunday, the rapper came out to his fans with the release of his new song, “c7osure,” and artwork for his new album, which featured rainbow-colored buildings.

He wrote on Twitter, “deadass thought i made it obvious.”


Congrats! Orange Is The New Black Actress Danielle Brooks Is 5 Months Pregnant! 
Congratulations to Danielle Brooks! The 29-year-old actress is five months pregnant. She shared the news on social media writing:
So elated to finally share this news with you all. I’m happily pregnant!
She also showed off her growing baby bump!
Congratulations to her!


Sia Has a Message for 'Swift Fans' Regarding Blackface Accusations
Sia is sending a message to Taylor Swift‘s fans after showing support for Scooter Braun.
“For the swift fans trying to make out that I would ever do blackface please see this video. I was painting myself into the backdrop, it was a pre cursor to the wig…,” Sia tweeted, along with a YouTube clip
Earlier, Sia showed her support for Scooter Braun after he bought Taylor‘s former label, Big Machine. Taylor Swift called Scooter out after the news went public, as he now owns all her master recordings.


‘I’m Humbled:’ Will Smith Thanks Fans After ‘Aladdin’ Becomes Highest-Grossing Film of His Career
Will Smith is clearly a very happy man, because his latest film “Aladdin” became the highest-grossing of his career, even surpassing his 1996 smash “Independence Day.”
The actor took to Instagram on Thursday and thanked fans for the accomplishment.
“This is a post that I’m humbled and honored to make right now,” he said. “Today, ‘Aladdin’ just passed ‘Independence Day’ as the highest-grossing film of my entire career. And to be in this game as long as I’ve been in this game and to have my biggest movie at this point in my career, I just want to say thank you.”

According to Deadline, as of Sunday, the Disney live-action film made $874.2 million worldwide, compared to “Independence Day,” which raked in $817.4 million.
In the U.S., however, the film fell slightly under the numbers for “Independence Day,” which made $306.2 million. “Aladdin,” meanwhile, pulled in $305.9 million domestically. To date, Smith’s highest-earning film in the U.S. is 2016’s “Suicide Squad” at $325.1 million.
The five countries where “Aladdin” grossed the most so far are Japan at $66.6 million, Korea at $60.2 million, China at $53.3 million, the UK at $42.8 million and Mexico at $32.1 million.
After the actor thanked his fans, they responded in large numbers.

“You more than deserve it! You’re one of the best!!! Love all your movies!!” someone wrote on Instagram.
“It was a great movie,” another person commented. “I saw it twice in theaters!! Probably my favorite live action remake of Disney so far.”
Of course, those comments were far different from what many had to say last year when Smith’s was seen as Genie on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. Some clowned him for the character’s hairdo and others for his costume.

The latest version — which is an adaptation of an animated 1992 release — premiered in the U.S. on May 24. And on the weekend ending June 30, “Aladdin” took the No. 4 position behind the films “Yesterday,” “Annabelle Comes Home” and “Toy Story 4.”


‘Straight Pride Parade’ Organizers Receive Letters Filled With Glitter And Bible Verses
Three organizers of Boston’s “straight pride parade” discovered suspicious envelopes with no return mailing address in their mailboxes on Monday. After the FBI and the Massachusetts state police investigated, they found there was no need to worry. 
The letters contained glitter and handwritten notes including Bible verses about love and compassion, CNN and NBC10 Boston report. The envelopes contained Bible verses such as Psalms 86:15, according to NBC10 Boston, which reads: “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” 

All three letters were reportedly signed “Happy Pride” in rainbow colors. 
Samson Racioppi, an organizer of the parade and a member of Super Happy Fun America, was the first to discover the envelope in his mailbox Monday afternoon and called police, fearing the letter contained something dangerous. 

“I could hear something shaking ... it was probably bigger than grains of sand and I was immediately suspicious,” Racioppi told NBC10 Boston. 
Racioppi called the cops who brought in a bomb squad to investigate the envelopes, sent to three residences in Woburn, Salisbury and Malden, Massachusetts. The police and FBI concluded that the letters were legal and not a threat to the three organizers. FBI spokeswoman Kristen Setera told CNN that although the letters do not pose a threat, an investigation into who sent them is ongoing.

Racioppi told CNN that in addition to himself and another member, Super Happy Fun America’s vice president Mark Sahady received a similar letter. 
Boston officials approved the “straight pride parade” last week, which is set to take place at the end of August. The parade, which was met with swift criticism online, is meant to counter the city’s annual LGBTQ parade which takes place every June during Pride Month. Super Happy Fun America, a group whose slogan is “It’s great to be straight,” is the driving force behind the straight pride parade. 

The group believes that straight people “are an oppressed majority” and should be “included as equals among all of the other orientations,” according to Super Happy Fun America’s website. Organizers of the parade are heavily linked to far-right extremists including former Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos, who will be the “grand marshal” of the parade. 

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said the city cannot deny the organizers permits for the parade over a difference in beliefs. The mayor attended Boston’s June 8 Pride Parade, but said he will not be attending the “Straight Pride Parade” on Aug. 31.


Blue Bell Coordinating With Police To Track Down Woman Who Licked Ice Cream In Store
When trying to go viral goes wrong. Blue Bell Creameries has immediately stepped into action after video surfaced of a young woman tampering with their ice cream at a San Antonio grocery store.
The company is now coordinating with law enforcement, retail partners, and social media to track down the woman shown in a video licking the top of a 64-ounce ice cream container at a grocery store then putting it back on the freezer shelf.

Twitter users claimed to have identified the woman by her alleged handle “xx.asiaaa.xx” but the account has since been deleted. NewsOne reports that the woman could face a felony depending on Texas’s food tampering laws. A conviction for Tampering with Consumer Product under subsection (c) is punished as a Third-Degree Felony, with a maximum possible fine of up to $10,000 and prison time of up to 10 years, according to law sources.

Blue Bell said in a statement, “We want to thank our consumers for alerting us to the recent food tampering incident. We take this issue very seriously and are currently working with law enforcement, retail partners, and social media platforms. This type of incident will not be tolerated.”

The statement continued, “Food safety is a top priority, and we work hard to provide a safe product and maintain the highest level of confidence from our consumers. During production, our half gallons are flipped upside down and sent to a hardening room where the ice cream freezes to create a natural seal. The lids are frozen tightly to the carton. Any attempt at opening the product should be noticeable. We will continue to monitor this situation.”

Some consumers took to social media to criticize Blue Bell for the lack of safety sealing on their products. The company responded to the criticism, “During production, our half gallons are flipped upside down and sent to a hardening room where the ice cream freezes to the lid creating a natural seal. The lids are frozen tightly to the carton. Any attempt at opening the product should be noticeable.”


Twitter is having a field Day DRAGGING Khloe Kardashian For Calling Jordyn Woods A 'Fat A**hole'
Part 2 of "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" season finale recently aired and it's causing a frenzy on social media.

In the episode, viewers were taken behind-the-scenes of the aftermath of the Tristan Thompson x Jordyn Woods scandal. After the news broke about Jordyn's inappropriate moment with the Cavs baller, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, and Khloe's bestie Malika Haqq took her on a girls' trips to Palm Springs to escape the drama.
In one scene, Khloe was speaking to Tristan’s friend Savas Oguz on the phone and he was trying to defend his homie. Oguz was saying that Tristan “still doesn’t remember anything” and "he didn’t kiss Jordyn."  Men will cape hard for other men no matter what, right?

After hearing Tristan was denying everything that happened, Khloe started yelling into the phone and that's when she made the comment about Jordyn's body:
“Liar! Liar! Tristan f*ck you if you can hear me!” the "Revenge Body" host screamed hoping her ex could hear her. “They both admitted it to me. Both of them. Fat f*cking a**holes. Don’t say that you didn’t do something that you f*cking did when you both f*cking told me that you kissed b*tches!”

The audacity of Khloe to call Jordyn fat when she literally cried for a whole season on "KUWTK" about her weight.  AND has a whole show called "Revenge Body" about getting back at fat shamers.  We can't.


Chris Brown, Lil Pump, Nick Young and more Balls Out For Ace Family's Charity B'Ball Game
A big charity event went down Saturday night at L.A.'s Staples Center, and a huge amount of loot was on the line in a basketball tourney.

The stadium was packed with recognizable faces ... Chris Brown, Jake and Logan Paul, Tana Mongeau, Lil Pump, Nick Young, Pauly D, Jordan Clarkson, James Charles, Austin McBroom, and on and on.
The charity -- sponsored by the ACE Family -- is wide-ranging. Each participant donates $50,000 and the team that wins chooses the charity. In addition, proceeds from the gate go to the chosen charity.
The team that won Saturday night -- Austin McBroom's. The money went to the Painted Turtle Charity, a camp for kids with serious medical conditions. BTW, Chris Brown's team lost ... final score was 100 to 95.


New York Yankees Broadcaster John Sterling Takes First Days Off In 30 Years
New York Yankees broadcaster John Sterling, who will turn 81 years old on Thursday, has taken his first days off due to illness in 30 years.
Sterling handles play-by-play for the team’s radio broadcasts, currently on WFAN, and will call Tuesday and Wednesday games featuring “Subway Series” matchups against the New York Mets. Starting on Thursday’s broadcast of the Yankees-Tampa Bay Devil Rays game, he will replaced by by Ryan Ruocco of YES and ESPN. The arrangement will cover four games between the Yankees and the Devil Rays. After that series wraps on Sunday, all Major League Baseball teams will take a break for the All-Star Game on July 9.

According to the New York Post, which broke the news, Sterling cited an unspecified illness. “For the moment, I’m a little under the weather,” Sterling told the paper. “I’ve put in the time. I want to feel better and they think this is the time for me to do it — and I agree.”

In 1989, his first year as the radio voice of the Yankees, Sterling missed two games due to a death in his family. Don Mattingly played first base for that team, and Deion Sanders was in the outfield. Initial media reports on Sterling’s streak coming to an end compared it with another Yankee streak, the immortal consecutive-games run of first baseman Lou Gehrig in the 1920s and ’30s.
Sterling is known for his deep baritone and trademark calls like “the-e-e-e-e Yankees win!” and home run proclamations tailored to individual players, which have included “It’s an A-Bomb, by A-Rod” and “This is Gleybor Day!” Each round-tripper is preceded by a climactic description, “It is high, it is far, it is gone!”

Many Twitter users posted fond wishes for Sterling. Michael Kay, who has held down the same play-by-play role on Yankee TV broadcasts on the YES Network, tweeted his support. “Sincere love and big time props go out to my friend John Sterling, who will finally take a well deserved weekend off to be ready for the second half of the season,” he wrote. “30-plus years without missing a game because of illness is amazing. Get some rest, my friend.”


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES?
‘THE SHUFFLE’
Doing the “just ran out of TP but it’s in the cabinet across the bathroom” shuffle.


#EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Brayden Bear! 
Meet Brayden! To see more of him you can GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS!  And remember they’re NSWF!

DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.

ENJOY!


HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM

7/1/19

The Daily Buzz For July 2 ☕📰☕


Idris Elba Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson for Entertainment Weekly - July 2019
The first Fast & Furious spin-off film, Hobbs & Shaw, is finally hitting theaters this summer, and promotion for the upcoming movie is officially in full swing. Entertainment Weekly just released the preview for their upcoming Hobbs & Shaw issue, which features Dwayne Johnson AKA The Rock, Jason Statham, and Idris Elba on the cover.
In the article, the actors discuss the film and their characters. Here are just a few of the best quotes:

“The other movies were great, and I loved creating the character of Hobbs,” Johnson explained. “Eventually, for me personally, I needed more juice. I needed to sink my teeth into something that allowed the character to grow and expand and showcase more layers.”
“I’ve been a fan of the Fast & Furious franchise, as is everyone,” Elba shared. “It’s sort of the ultimate escapism. And I love cars. I’m a bit of a motorhead. And then, of course, I get to play this really complex bad guy.”
“I think me and Dwayne share a very similar sense of humor,” Statham added. “The only difference in us is the amount of weight he pushes when he’s doing a bench press.”
“She’s an amazing fighter,” Vanessa Kirby said of her character. “I just feel like it’s really important nowadays for these kinds of movies to make sure the women are as capable as the men. Often the men are saving the women or doing the fights while the women watch on, or they’re at home. A film like this is a responsibility to kind of subvert that, really, and make sure that Hattie doesn’t get saved by the guys.”

You can read the full article HERE

Following Luke Hobbs (Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Statham), the new movie will be focusing on an alliance between the two characters, who have had a rocky history during their time in the franchise. Hobbs first appeared in Fast Five as a Diplomatic Security Service agent who is tasked with hunting down Toretto's crew. The character eventually learns that our main protagonists are the good guys and joins their crew for the remainder of the franchise. Shaw entered the films as a villain, initially killing a prominent member of the crew in the mid-credits scene for Fast & Furious 6. However, after spending the seventh film as the main antagonist, Shaw returned to number eight as a good guy.
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw will hit theaters on August 2nd.


#RHOA: Ya Girl NeNe has a new Look! Check her out!
NeNe Leakes showed off a glamorous new makeover on Instagram to celebrate Friday, after hinting earlier this week that she will be back for The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 12. The Bravo reality star broke the news herself Friday morning on Instagram, but later deleted the post.

One Friday post that Leakes, 51, did keep up on her Instagram page was a brief video of her striking a sassy pose after getting a new hairdo. She has her blonde hair pulled back in a pony tail in the video.
"Do you know what today is..FRIDAY! Me and you been waiting on this day. Finally," she wrote, adding a silly smiley face emoji.
Leakes posted the video a few hours after she shared a photo of a contract appearing to confirm she was back for RHOA season 12. "Season 12 SIGNED! Nay Nay will see you in NYC Sunday! Let's go #RHOA," the caption read. Although Leakes deleted the post, it was up long enough for fans to grab a screenshot.

Leakes starred on the first seven seasons of RHOA, before being demoted to guest star for Season 8. She returned as a main cast member for Seasons 10 and 11, but there have been rumors she was leaving the show after getting into a violent altercation with a cameraman. There was also speculation her husband Gregg's battle with cancer and their struggle to keep their marriage together might force her to leave the show.

After one site reported she was going to miss the first half of the season, her representative said the report was not true.
"I can say with authority that there is absolutely no truth to this," her rep said. "The only reason why she's not currently shooting is because she is still in active negotiations with her contract."
RHOA producer Andy Cohen also told E!'s Daily Pop that Leakes still has a good relationship with Bravo, despite all the controversies.
“Let me tell you this, I’m not really suppose to talk about upcoming casting on seasons, but let me put it this way, Nene is going to on the World Pride Bravo float with me on Sunday, and a bunch of other housewives, it’s going to be amazing," the Watch What Happens Live! host said. "So that should tell you what her standing is with Bravo."

Leakes also sparked concern about the future of her marriage after she tweeted out a hypothetical question to her fans on Thursday.
"U find out ur husband/boyfriend been talkin on the phone regularly to 1 of ur female employees as “just a friend” but u had no knowledge of it, did he cross any lines? Askin 4 a friend since y’all know EVERYTHING (but he said, we never talked sex! I just needed some1 to talk 2," she wrote.
Bravo has not announced when RHOA will return, but every season since the fourth has debuted in November.


#Empire: Taraji P. Henson Flashes Thigh In Sexy Red Flashback Friday Dress
Taraji P. Henson is all about nostalgia this week. Yesterday, she shared a steamy throwback Thursday photo of herself and two of her girlfriends cruising on a boat. In that photo, she was rocking a barely-there bikini that had her followers’ jaws dropping. Today, she decided to honor Friday with a little flashback Friday shot from her White Hot Holidays Variety Christmas show.

In the photo, Taraji is rocking an absolutely stunning metallic red dress that looks luxurious and festive. The dress itself isn’t too revealing, only showcasing a bit of cleavage — that is, until she poses. The floor-length gown has a sky-high slit that exposes some major thigh once she decides to flash it — and she certainly did.
Though it’s June, her mind seems to have been on the holiday special today. In the caption, she gushed all about what a dream it was to create the show. The multi-talented actress first showed off her pipes when she appeared in the movie Hustle and Flow, and many fans didn’t even know she could sing. The star is definitely a triple threat.

Her fans took to the comments to share how much they enjoyed the show, and of course to share how fantastic she looked in the selfie.


#NewMusic from Ro James & Luke James ‘Magic’
If you, like us, are fans of singers Ro James and Luke James then you might have also been wondering when the two friends and R&B peers would finally come together on the collaboration tip. Well, you can stop praying now because, much to our delight, the two sexy fellas have finally joined forces to bring us "Magic."The fellas unite over a Nez & Rio beat that bumps with the urgency of a late '90s bedroom-ready cut with 808s and kick drums made specifically to make your speakers knock. 

The rest of the music consists of smoothed-out synths that create a simple melody. Despite the romantic sound of things, though, the song mainly focuses on Ro and Luke trying to live their best, stress-free lives with a little bit of smoke. In fact, they don't want you coming around to mess up their good vibes. "Please don't stress me, mama," Ro sings on the chorus. "Don't come by to bring down my high." It's a surprising stance from singers who have built their careers on making jams for the fairer sex — but once you hear just how smoothly this joint is going, you'll understand why they want to keep the party going as is.According to Ro, this one is an idea that they once opted to keep to themselves and, admittedly, it does feel a little unfinished

LISTEN HERE



#HipHopNews: J. Cole Announces "Revenge Of The Dreamers III" Release Date
Dreamville is giving fans more reasons to celebrate during the upcoming Fourth Of July weekend. J. Cole has announced the highly anticipated Revenge Of The Dreamers III compilation will drop this Friday (July 5).
“Revenge of the Dreamers dropping this Friday,” he wrote on Twitter alongside a link to purchase some limited edition merchandise.
Dreamville is currently selling album bundles that will only be on sale for the next two days. Customers can obtain digital copies of the LP via email upon release by pre-ordering t-shirts, hoodies, hats or vinyl through the online store.

The clothing will ship within the next three to five weeks. Vinyl copies of Revenge Of The Dreamers III are due out on or around September 20.


Report: According to Melba Moore Is Stevie Wonder Having A Health Challenge?
There is some indication that Stevie Wonder may be struggling with his health. Philadelphia radio personality Patti Jackson reports that the 6x year-old-singer is on dialysis and in need of a kidney transplant. We don’t know Jackson’s source, however, singer Melba Moore seemed to confirm that something is happening with Wonder’s health, as she asked for prayers for him via her Instagram account.

Allhiphop.com reported that Moore asked for prayers for Wonder, but refused to say anything specific about his condition. When questioned in the comments, Moore said that the media had reported on his health, but actually, only a few outlets have indicated that anything might be wrong.
Moore repeated that fans should keep Wonder “in prayer” said he was a dear friend and that his family and friends have shared the information, which has not happened as far as we can tell. The only thing we’ve heard lately from the Wonder/Morris camp is that Stevie’s son Kailand Morris is going to be an intern at the fashion house Dior.

Hopefully, Wonder is OK but just in case, we’ll say a prayer for him anyway!


Janet Jackson Stops Traffic to Visit Stonehenge
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Janet Jackson isn’t too famous for tourist activities! The iconic triple threat is on a European tour, and while traveling from the Glastonbury Music Festival to the Montreux Jazz Festival – she spotted the historic stone monument, Stonehenge.
Janet had to grab a pic – even if it meant stopping traffic! She told her Instagram followers:

“So this is is Stonehenge. I’ve seen documentaries on it. I’ve never seen it in real [life] – I’m so excited! Don’t know how this got here- but, please…can you step out? Uh oh! We’re holding up traffic! These people are gonna be so mad at me, but, you know what? Just get me, somebody get me! I gotta represent!”

Stonehenge is a massive prehistoric stone monument in northern Salisbury, England that garners millions of visitors every year. According to Live Science, historians speculate that the stones were used to map out a much larger sacred space used for burials – but are not certain on the actual reason it was built.


#SportsNews: Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving Headed To Brooklyn Nets In Blockbuster Move
The Brooklyn Nets have made a bold gambit to shift the epicenter of New York City basketball—perhaps even of the entire NBA—to Kings County. Two of the league's best players, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, are joining the team.
The deals are huge: Durant would be signed to a four-year deal for $164 million, while Irving would be getting $141 million for four years.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the news about Durant, 30, ahead of when the free agency period—when teams can speaks to players whose contracts have expired—officially began at 6 p.m.
Durant, possibly the best player in the league, confirmed that he was leaving the Golden State Warriors, where he won two NBA Championships (and was twice named the MVP during the finals) with a message on the Instagram for his sports-focused company, The Boardroom—with a song from the Notorious B.I.G.:

While he was eyed as a sought-after free agent, Durant suffered injuries during the Warriors playoff run this past season: He strained his calf while playing against the Houston Rockets in Western Conference Finals, and then ruptured his Achilles tendon during the Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. Given his recovery, Durant could be out for the entire 2019-2020 season, throwing into question whether teams would want to bet on him.

Irving, 27, a free agent from the Boston Celtics, was rumored to be interested in joining the Nets for weeks. His tenure in Boston went sour, and Irving even "apologized" to LeBron James for his behavior when they were Cleveland Cavaliers teammates, signaling a possibility of a reunion by joining him at the Lakers. But Irving, a New Jersey native who was a fan of the franchise when they were in East Rutherford, decided to head to the Nets:

Even with Durant out for a season, the Nets are reshaped and can be a real contender for a championship. This news has thrilled Nets fans, who often feel outnumbered by fans from the visiting team at Barclays Center home games—and sent Knicks fans deeper into a spiral of self-pity, after various claims that K.D. would play at Madison Square Garden, Critics are enjoying this moment of schadenfreude:

Just a reminder while your very justifiably chanting to James Dolan “sell the Knicks!” He literally cannot. I spent a week looking into it, no one has enough money to buy them and unless the league forces a sale, it’s never going to happen. 
The Knicks spin machine appeared to be in full drive, telling reporters that the Knicks were wary of signing Durant because of his Achilles injury:

Other possibilities why Brooklyn may have been more attractive: When you play for the Knicks, you practice in Westchester, while the Brooklyn Nets have a new state-of-the-art practice facility in Industry City—meaning players can live in the city. Nets majority owner, Russian oligarch Mikhail Prokhorov, sold 49% of the team to Chinese billionaire Joseph Tsai, and it's believed that Tsai will eventually acquire the majority stake—offering players a way to access the Chinese market.

Anyway...


Kim Kardashian Is Changing the Name Of 'Kimono' Shapewear Line Amid Backlash
Kim Kardashian has announced that her shapewear line, Kimono Solutionwear, will go by a new name after facing backlash for cultural appropriation.

“Being an entrepreneur and my own boss has been one of the most rewarding challenges I’ve been blessed with in my life. What’s made it possible for me after all of these years has been the direct line of communication with my fans and the public. I am always listening, learning and growing – I so appreciate the passion and varied perspectives that people bring to me,” Kim began in her statement, posted to Instagram on Monday (July 1).
She continued, “When I announced the name of my shapewear line, I did so with the best intentions in mind. My brands and products are built with inclusivity and diversity at their core and after careful thought and consideration, I will be launching my Solutionwear brand under a new name. I will be in touch soon. Thank you for your understanding and support always.”

If you don’t know, some were upset that Kim Kardashian chose the brand name “Kimono,” a traditional Japanese garment, in connection to images of women in their undergarments.


#OOOPS: Dave Bautista Throws SHADE! says he’d pass on role in Fast and Furious franchise: “I’d rather do good films”
Dave Bautista says he’d pass on role in Fast and Furious franchise: “I’d rather do good films”View photos
The wrestler-turned-actor gave a hard no to a fan's pitch that he should join the Fast and Furious franchise.Dave Bautista says he'd pass on role in Fast and Furious franchise: "I'd rather do good films" Ming Lee Newcomb
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Every once in a while, someone will hit up an actor or actress on social media, pitching them on their idea for a new film. Very occasionally, the idea will take off, but more often, it’ll go ignored. However, Dave Bautista has taken a third path by shamelessly roasting a fan’s recent proposal that he should join the Fast and Furious franchise.
In mid-June, John Cena was announced for Fast and Furious 9, with longtime franchise star Dwayne Johnson likely stepping away thanks to feuding with Vin Diesel. Around that time, a Twitter user hit up Bautista, suggesting that the Guardians of the Galaxy star could potentially play the villain in a WWF-heavy spin-off with Cena and Johnson. Bautista was not having it, however, responding with a series of vomit emojis and posting “Thank you for consideration.” To ensure his passive aggression did not go unnoticed, he added as a hashtag “I’d rather do good films.”

Not that Bautista is hurting for work. Following a standout appearance in Blade Runner 2049, he has reunited with director Denis Villeneuve for the upcoming sci-fi fantasy Dune. The Avengers: Infinity War actor will also reprise his role as Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy 3 after Disney fired then rehired director James Gunn. But first, he’ll appear alongside Kumail Nanjiani in the buddy action comedy Stuber, in theaters later this month.

Dave Bautista says he’d pass on role in Fast and Furious franchise: “I’d rather do good films”


Chris Brown Facing Backlash For Controversial Song Lyrics About ‘Black B****es W/ The Nice Hair’, He Responds ‘Only B****es Upset Is The Uglies”
Chris Brown isn’t backing down from his latest controversy. He caught quite a bit of backlash thanks to the lyrics of his song “Need A Stack” on his latest album Indigo, featuring Joyner Lucas and Lil Wayne.

In the third verse, Brown sings,

I’ll leave a paper trail, then I’ma need a tip drill
Shakin’ it, turn the lights down
Bust it for the light bill
Diggin’ it, then I’m lickin’ all on that p****, put it right there
Only wanna f*** the black b****es with the nice hair
Baby, bend it over, a** up, take the mask off
Don’t ask me if I’m throwin’ cash up, I’m spendin’ that part
Black Card, play your part, now go retarded
That booty stupid, think you smart, I f*** regardless
Sprinkler f***in’ up your guard, that c****ie water
I tear it up, she call me daddy, I’m not her father
Ask her where she from? She said, “New Orleans,” it’s a mic check
Don’t try to kiss after you swallow, I don’t like that (Huh)
But you look good when you throw it back on me
You gon’ make even a broke n***a spend a bag on it
You gon’ make me come alone like I don’t even have homies
When you pull them titties out, put ’em in my mouth
Then I hit the dash on ’em

The line, “Only wanna f*** the black b****es with the nice hair” is what had some fans in a frenzy.
But Brown is unbothered by the hate. He posted a response on his IG stories writing:
“Yall trippin trippin. Yall b****es dont wanna f*** da n***a wit da f***ed up teeth do you?????!!!!! Only b****es upset is the uglies (not the black queens)”
Are Chris’s lyrics disrespectful?


Steve Harvey To Cover Tuition For 8 Students To Attend His Alma Mater Kent State University
Talk show host and comedian Steve Harvey will be sending some well-deserving students to college on his dime. The Steve & Marjorie Harvey Foundation has partnered with Steve’s Alma Mater, Kent State University, to provide scholarships for eight students at about $23,000 per student. 
According to a release from the University, the students must maintain a 2.5-grade point average for the scholarships to be renewed each semester. The university says the foundation also committed $10,000 to Kent State’s Men Empowerment Network.

Harvey said in a statement, “Whenever we can, we find a way to change the lives of young people through scholarship programs we have come up with.” 

The scholarships are in memory of Devin Moore, a Kent State student from Cleveland who died while playing basketball at a university center in 2017. Moore, like Harvey, was a member of KSU’s chapter of Omega Psi Phi. Sonya Williams, executive director at Kent State’s division of diversity, equity, and inclusion, said in a statement, “I believe that Devin’s legacy lives on in the lives of the students who are being blessed to get a sound education here at Kent State.”

Steve also flew the scholarship recipients to Los Angeles, California, in May to appear on the series finale of his talk show, “Steve.”  The episode is set to air this week.


Rihanna shocks fans with surprise appearance at the Cricket World Cup in Durham 
Rihanna made a surprise appearance in the crowd for the Sri Lanka v West Indies match at ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in Durham on Monday. The Work singer, pretty much startled the world – and Londoners – when she announced she has been secretly living in the capital for the last few months. And in case we did not believe her, the 31-year-old made a surprise appearance at the cricket match to prove to us that she is really truly soaking up the UK culture – and rare sun. 

The actress even posed for photographs inside the Riverside Stadium which the West Indies cricket team’s Twitter page then posted. The singer from Barbados, where cricket is already a popular sport, cheered on from her seats with a friend as she wore a large white jacket which she paired with a matching crop top and high-waisted white trousers. Adding on a truly large pair of rockstar shades, Rihanna completed her look with a bright red lip. The Fenty founder clearly enjoyed her day off from running a business empire as she laughed and chatted with a friend while sipping on a drink. 
Rihanna gets into the spirit Even the way she drinks is stylish She even drinks like a queen. The hitmaker recently told The New York Times that she’s been ‘keeping a little incognito’ while staying in the capital and is enjoying the relative anonymity the city brings. Seriously, how did nobody spot her? Not one single person. More proof that she has superpowers, to be honest. In a recent interview she said: ‘[I enjoy] walking around the block. When I go walking, I try to keep it a little incognito,’ adding that she finds Bank Holidays ‘insane’ (in a good way). On learning of the move, many joined the dots from a previous selfie Rihanna shared which had a shopping bag from Sainsbury’s in the background. She really got into the game (Picture:  Rex Features) She posed for the West Indies twitter page. Fans spotted her while watching on TV. And while her designer title takes on new heights, fans are still pining for new music more than three years after her last album.


Joey Chestnut Gains 24 Lbs In 10 Minutes During Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
Joey Chestnut is one of the few lucky people in America not worried about expanding his waistline over 4th of July, and is expecting his annual hot dog eating contest to put on at least 20 lbs.
The pro eating champion, and fellow female competitor Miki Sudo, were in NYC ahead of Nathan's big Independence Day eat-a-thon.
Chestnut was asked about his girlfriend, and how long he usually has to wait to get intimate after he finishes an eating comp.

He didn't want to give an exact timeframe, but assured the photographer he snaps back pretty quickly.

Chestnut, who won his 11th national championship last year for downing 74 dogs, said instead of sex, he's mostly focused on sleep and hydration after completing an eating feat.
Aside from the aftermath, Chestnut said he's focused on the preparation before taking the stage on Thursday for the main event.
He said his diet for the next few days will mainly consist of lettuce and water, in order to stay hungry as he tries to break his 2018 record.

As for how much weight he puts on during the 10 minute competition ... Chestnut revealed he logs about 24 lbs, including the water consumed while eating the buns.

Sudo also revealed her weight gain, which puts her at about 16 lbs for the event.
Chestnut has won nearly $600,000 during his eating career since 15-year eating career, according to competitive eating database EatFeats, and that doesn’t include endorsements and business deals such as his line of condiments Chestnut launched last year.

Hopefully he's able to bring home another championship, and leave enough room for some loving with his girlfriend ... who must be a very understanding woman.


Tom Joyner announces retirement from Morning Show, Rickey Smiley to take his place
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Tom Joyner of the Tom Joyner Morning Show announced he is retiring at the end of 2019.
Joyner told listeners Rickey Smiley will be his successor to the morning anchor position.

“I’m happy to see the landscape of Urban AC morning radio continue to expand with Rickey, and I’m proud of the doors the Tom Joyner Morning Show opened. Twenty-five years ago, there was no template for a syndicated Urban radio show and we worked hard to prove that we could successfully produce and market a national platform that would entertain, inform and empower African-American listeners. We broke some ground, raised the bar for what audiences expected from Black radio all while partying with a purpose. Yeah, we’ve done a lot but there’s still a lot left to be done. I’m confident that Rickey’s activism along with his love for radio, the community, and HBCUs, will pick up where we left off.”  — Tom Joyner
Joyner has been the host for 25 years. 

Smiley has proven to be a trusted-leader on-air and in the community and captivates audiences with his authentic humor, according to Joyner.
Eva Marcille and Gary With Da Tea will also be on-air cast members that will join him on the show. 

The Rickey Smiley Morning Show will air on Jan. 2, 2020, on HOT 99.5.


Mary J. Blige on Life After Divorce: ‘I Learned to Be Happy’
Mary J. Blige is on the other side of an emotional mountain she was climbing, and these days her life isn’t so uphill.

In a new interview with People, the singer opened up about what life is like after she divorced her former manager Kendu Isaacs after 13 years of marriage.
Blige said Isaacs cheated during their union, and in 2017 a judge ordered her to pay him $30,000 in spousal support.
“I think I turned that corner when I got my divorce,” she explained. “I think that I realized that no matter what comes to me, no matter how big or bad it is, I have to keep moving, I have to keep living. I said, ‘No, I’m not going to stay in this marriage. I’m out of here.’ That’s what thriving is about.”

“I’m very content, and I’m happy with myself,” added Blige. “I learned to be happy with just Mary, just enjoying my own company, me by myself most of the time. I’m grateful.”

On Sunday, the 48-year-old received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards, where she also rocked the crowd with a 20-minute medley that included guests Method Man and Lil’ Kim.

Some of the classics Blige sang included “My Life,” “You Remind Me,” and, of course, the single that started it all, “Real Love.”
She told People that singing those songs is a blessing, because although they’re about some painful times, they’re able to help others with their own challenges.

“To be able to touch people with what you’ve gone through and pull them though the sadness makes me happy almost. I can’t even describe it. It’s therapeutic,” she said. “To travel back and to relive something again and not have it drive you crazy is a true gift from God.”
Blige will be headlining the 2019 Essence Festival next month, and shortly afterward she’ll be on the road with Nas for two months on “The Royalty Tour.”

According to the social media talk, folks couldn’t be any more excited to see the two icons on stage, and Blige said she had no idea that her flaws would help her become a star.
“If I could tell my younger self something, I would tell her don’t be afraid of your imperfections, because one day people are going to love you for them,” she stated.
The New York native also touched on what she actually does to stay happy these days. 

“I try to keep my mind positive, I stay working out, I try to eat right and treat people right,” she explained. “I have fun, too, don’t get it twisted. I go out with my friends, I laugh, I joke, I have wine. I do all of that.”


AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
#CERTIFIED
Yep, that checks all of the boxes. Welcome to Your club!


EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Mr JB
Meet JB! So you know what to do to see more. Just CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PICS and remember they’re NSFW!

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HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM

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