Variety Magazine’s Latest Issue focuses on the Power of Women like Alicia Keys
Grammy Award-winning musician Alicia Keys talks to Variety on Feminism, Giving up makeup and the #MeToo.. Read excerpts from her interview below:
On giving up Makeup: Sometimes, I want some damn makeup, and I’m going to wear it! Guess what — if I want to wear red lipstick and put eyelashes on, I can do whatever I f—ing want. I am the creator of my own destiny.
On the media frenzy surrounding the “#nomakeup movement”: Suddenly it was a movement, and I don’t even know what that means. It doesn’t have anything to do with makeup or no makeup. It has to do with who are you, what makes you feel good, how do you want to express that and even just asking the questions — What do I feel? How do I feel good? However that is, you should do it.
On the messages the media transmits to young women in the entertainment industry: We’re supposed to be this big, and so tiny, and so skinny. If we have any hips or any thickness or width with us, we’re fat. We torture ourselves; we don’t eat. I’ve experienced all of that. I was subscribing to this sick identity. Stay in your place, be feminine, be a lady, don’t make too much noise. If you go to work without makeup, it’s like, Are you tired? You look tired. And it’s like, I’m not f—ing tired!
On her song ‘Girl on Fire’ – If I never do anything else — if I do nothing else — this has been something. Being a woman, being a girl, is the most awesome thing to be. I personally feel we are the more evolved species. We are the greatest creators on the planet, like, the planet literally would not exist if we weren’t in it. We’re the entire universe, in five feet five inches. One beautiful, elegant, awkward body.
Also in this edition they are featuring Tarana Burke, Emily Blunt, author Margaret Atwood, and actress/producer Tina Fey.
#RHoA: Straight from the Horse mouth! Kim Zolciak Biermann 'Is Done' on RHOA, Says Andy Cohen: 'I've Seen the Last of That Wig'
Kim Zolciak-Biermann will NOT be returning to The Real Housewives of Atlanta Executive producer Andy Cohen has said.
The 49-year-old Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen host told E! News that Zolciak-Biermann’s days on RHOA were over. “I think she’s done, yeah,” he explained, recounting the tension in filming the RHOA season 10 reunion with Zolciak-Biermann and longtime rival NeNe Leakes. “[Kim] walked out of that reunion and I said, ‘Yeah, I’ve seen the last of that wig at these reunions.’ ”
Though a rep for Bravo had no comment and said casting decisions are typically made after a season’s reunion wraps. She left RHOA halfway through season 5, storming out during a group dinner when she was 35 weeks pregnant with her son Kash Kade, now 5.
“[RHOA] can be very combative. A lot of negativity,” she told PEOPLE in July, when looking back on her time on the show. “I just was extremely frustrated — it just was really a trying season for me. I had had enough.”
The mother of six wouldn’t be gone from TV, of course. She instead was given her own spinoff, Don’t Be Tardy, which followed her and husband Kroy Biermann as they raised their ever-growing brood. The show is currently filming its seventh season, expected to premiere in the summer.
Despite being away from RHOA for years, Zolciak-Biermann returned to the show for Shereé Whitfield’s housewarming party at the season 9 finale — where she quickly butted heads with Kenya Moore.
Asked at the time if she would consider rejoining the show for its 10th season, Zolciak-Biermann has said. “I’m very motivated by money,” she said. “Everything has a price. I’m just giving it to you straight. Given the right amount of money for anything? Yeah, count me in. I like to work. I have six children to support, so for sure!”
That price didn’t appear to be worth it, though. Returning in season 10 in a “Friend of the Housewives” role, Zolciak-Biermann spent most of the season involved in a major drama with fellow OG Atlanta Housewife Leakes. The most explosive incident came when Zolciak-Biermann said Leakes was “sick and disgusting” and lived in a “roach nest,” which came to be known as #RoachGate.
Leakes responded with her own slams, calling Zolciak-Biermann “racist” and claiming she and her daughter Brielle “don’t like black people.”
#Empire: Terrence Howard Has A New Fox Project That Sounds As Evil As Lucious Lyon
Empire star Terrence Howard will star in his own FOX special. Terrence Howard is best known nowadays for his role as the manipulative Lucious Lyon on Fox's Empire, and he's soon going to hit the airwaves with a new Fox series that could be just as dastardly as Lucious himself. Thanks to a new FOX special, aptly titled Terrence Howard's Fright Club, his fans will be able to experience his merciless prankster side for themselves. The actor can be seen giving some lucky -- or perhaps unlucky -- fans the fright of their lives for the new project. Here is what you need to know.
The one-hour event special will follow Terrence Howard as he welcomes his super-fans to his remote estate in New Orleans for a weekend. His fans believe they have won an exclusive opportunity to take part in an on-camera VIP experience with the actor. Unbeknownst to them, they have been set-up for a super prank. Howard and everyone else they encounter are actors, in on the joke. Hidden cameras will capture the fans as they experience everything from "swamp monsters" to "voodoo spells." As the weekend progresses, many thrilling adventures will follow before Howard eventually reveals the deception.
If this special sounds like off-the-wall fun, that is because it probably will be. While hidden camera shows are highly entertaining, they have been off the grid for a while. Maybe Terrence Howard's event can bring them back into popular rotation. It seems as though the special is being done in good fun. How the fans will react to learning they were duped will be especially exciting to watch. While some of what happens may be humorous to viewers, they may see it as no laughing matter.
The special's set-up seems to include the fans enduring a set of challenges. At least, that's what FOX's description of their being "pushed to their limits" indicates. Perhaps that is a reference to their patience with the fantastical stuff they witness. The premise does not seem like it is part of a broader experiment, like the Netflix special The Push, which was not particularly funny.
It should be amusing to watch Terrence Howard play an alternate version of himself. While the actor is known for his chilling performance as Lucious Lyon on Empire, everyone who watches knows he is playing a character. For fans taking part in the special, they believe they are hanging out with the real Terrence Howard, who is actually playing a role after all.
New episodes of Empire air on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. Terrence Howard fans will not have to wait too much longer to see the actor in his new role as a prankster. Terrence Howard's Fright Club premieres Thursday, May 24 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. To find out what other shows are coming up on FOX, as well as other networks, check out our guide to the upcoming midseason and summer premieres.
#NEWMUSIC from Chrisette Michele Returns With New Album ‘Out Of Control’
Chrisette Michele’s life has had its share of controversy. The backlash she received around her inauguration performance sent her down a spiral, but she’s back with her brand new album Out of Control.
The Grammy Award-winning songstress bravely addresses current societal issues and personal topics including her marriage across the album. Featuring 11 tracks, including the previously released “Strong Black Woman” and “No Chorus,” the project is a display of Chrisette’s love for heartfelt soul over classic hip hop drums.
Well can she be redeemed? Well allow the fans and critics to heart her new release for yourself and decide.
Stream Out of Control HERE
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj Forgives Quavo For "MotorSport" Fallout
Nicki Minaj has been a heavy topic of conversation this week after she reemerged with not only two new singles — “Barbie Tingz” and “Chun-Li” — but also an interview with Beats 1 Radio. During the conversation, the Queens super rapper admitted she was hurt over the “MotorSport” track she did with Migos and Cardi B.
Well what a difference a day makes. On Friday night (April 13), Minaj tweeted, “He apologized. Y’all can stop torturing him now. The Generous Queen FORGIVES. When he told me what y’all were doing in them comments I fell TF out. Love you guys tho. For LIFE.”
Minaj explained to Apple Music’s Zane Lowe that she felt “ambushed” by Quavo.
“With ‘Motorsport’ I kind of felt ambushed,” she explained. “Quavo was my baby. I loved Quavo. At the time, I went on Twitter and I explained how ‘Motorsport’ came about and people were saying that I was lying. So I texted Quavo and I said, ‘Can you back me up on this? Cause I don’t want people to think I’m lying’ and he didn’t back me up. He texted me back like ‘I would go on Twitter and back you up if you were my girl lol’ and that hurt because I love him. And there are certain rappers that I call my baby — Quavo, Uzi, Swae Lee — and so Quavo told me ‘I’m not gonna go on Twitter and address that shit. If I do an interview then I’ll address it.’
“I was like ‘yikes’ because it hurt my feelings because I can be slaughtered and not one person will step in to say the truth. They will run with that lie because it’s entertaining. To make Nicki seem like a bad guy.”
But on Saturday morning (April 14), Minaj doubled down and shared a video to Twitter of her hanging out with Quavo at the Coachalla Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, California. They were joined by Kylie Jenner, The Weeknd, Travis Scott, Chance The Rapper and Kourtney Kardashian, among others.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Falchuk’s Star-Studded Engagement Party: Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and More Celebs Attended.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Falchuk hosted their engagement party on Saturday, April 14, in Los Angeles, California, and the celebration brought out the biggest names in Hollywood.
Celebrities including Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, Julia Roberts and Reese Witherspoon were in attendance at the Los Angeles Theatre for the black-tie affair. The iconic establishment’s marquee read, “BF loves GP.”
The bride-to-be stunned in a wine-colored gown while her fiancé looked dashing in a white tuxedo jacket and a black bow tie.
Look at other celebs who attended the event
The Goop founder and the producer met on the set of Glee in 2014. Us Weekly exclusively revealed that the pair were engaged in November 2017, and the couple confirmed the exciting news via a statement in Goop magazine two months later, saying, “We feel incredibly lucky to have come together at this juncture in our lives when our collective successes and failures can serve as building blocks for a healthy and happy relationship.”
#COACHELLA: Here’s Everything That Happened During Beyoncé’s Coachella Performance
Last night, Queen Beyoncé headlining the festival for the first time in a make-up performance from last year, which she had to cancel due to her pregnancy. As promised, it was a spectacle for the ages, including a surprise appearance from Jay-Z, a Solange dance-off, a Destiny’s Child reunion, and so much more. But for those who couldn’t stay up until the wee hours to stream her set — we understand your pain, but also can’t relate — Vulture was on the ground and has you covered. Here’s everything that went down while you were sleeping.
Destiny’s Child reunited
When all the world is watching, expect the holy trinity to assemble. As she did for her Super Bowl halftime headlining show five years ago, Beyoncé reunited Destiny’s Child at Coachella. Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams joined Bey for a three-song medley, including “Lose My Breath,” “Say My Name,” and Soldier.” Set your alarms for another half a decade before it likely happens again.
Beyoncé and Solange had a dance-off
It was a sister act at this year’s Coachella, and we’re not talking HAIM (who technically did open for Bey). Despite having a backing crew of 100 dancers, Beyoncé had room for one more: Solange. Her sister joined Bey for a dance-off during the extended version of “Get Me Bodied” to show them how it’s done.
Jay-Z showed up
At this point, it’s not a question of whether Beyoncé and will Jay-Z will duet at any major event, but rather which will song will they do? Ahead of their On the Run Tour sequel, the two gave fans a taste of what to expect: Jay-Z surprised the crowd to perform “Deja Vu” with his incredibly gracious wife.
She performed with an HBCU marching band
Beyoncé’s Coachella theme was recreating the historically black college experience, which cannot authentically exist without a marching band. She performed with a 200-person band (all of whom performed on a set designed to resemble bleachers at a homecoming rally), formed a drum line, including a majorette, and hit the steps like she graduated from Spelman.
Black Greek Life was a major inspiration
Beyoncé University is real and it has its own Divine Nine: Introducing Beyoncé Delta Knowles (or Beta Delta Kappa) Fraternity Incorporated, established in 2018. And it already has its founding members, a spring line of nine men (aptly named her “Bug a Boos”) who had to prove their worth before the queen herself before crossing. Beyoncé’s entire Coachella set was indeed an elaborate probate, step show, and homecoming all wrapped up in one. Class is now in session – just sign us up for enrollment, take our money, and please, please, please let us be your pledges.
It’s not a Beyoncé performance without a nod to the music that shaped her life and musical DNA. Last night, she covered Dawn Penn’s “You Don’t Love Me“; Nina Simone’s “Lilac Wine” (she also played a snippet of “Strange Fruit”); and had her band incorporate Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up,” “Swag Surfin’,” “Getting to the Money,” Fela Kuti’s “Zombie” and many more into multiple songs for various mash-ups.
She sang the Black National Anthem
Given Beyoncé at Coachella was the equivalent of the Super Bowl, it required the singing of our National Anthem at kick-off – the “our” in this particular situation being black people. Beyoncé made history as the first black woman to ever perform at Coachella (“ain’t that boutta bitch,” she scolded the festival on its own stage). To make it official, she sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” – known traditionally as the Black National Anthem – mixing it with her own song “Freedom.”
She brought back Les Twins
It’s not a Beyoncé performance without her two favorite dancers, French pair Les Twins (actual twins, Laurent and Larry Nicolas Bourgeois), whom Bey brought back to her show at Coachella (because now that she’s had twins of her own, what’s a couple more?).
Beyoncé’s performance might just be the greatest hits set to end all greatest hits sets. But beyond the hits – some stretching as far back as “Me Myself & I” – she showed love for the deeper areas of her discography, too, dusting off some beloved tracks she seldomly performs (“Kitty Kat,” “I Care,” “Check On It,” “Ego,” “Get Me Bodied”).
Beyoncé can make a stan out of even the biggest celebrities in the world, and Rihanna and Adele are no exception. Rih watched the whole show with a front row seat at the festival and bopped along accordingly. Meanwhile, Adele, noted de facto leader of the Beyhive, had her own front row seat from home, sharing videos on Instagram of herself losing her mind to Bey in front of the TV, just like you.
WATCH HERE
During an intermission, DJ Khaled, Beyoncé’s former tour opener, boomed over the festival speakers with a public decree: “Coachella gotta rename Coachella the Beychella. New name alert.” We expect all signs and merch to be adjusted accordingly by day three.
Steve Harvey Show Sued For Sexual Harassment By Former Guest
A single mom and fitness model claims she felt sexually harassed as a guest on Steve Harvey’s talk show.
According to TMZ reports, The woman, Dominique Collier, was invited to a taping of an episode of “Steve Harvey” in 2016 after responding to a casting call for “single professional women who like to show off their looks” and claims she left there feeling sexually harassed.
She claims producers told her the show would highlight her being a professional single mom, who’s also a fitness model. In her lawsuit, she says that’s not how it all went down. Dominique showed up for the taping in a conservative outfit — a long-sleeved blouse and pencil skirt — but producers put her in a halter top and form-fitting skirt … according to the suit.
In the docs, obtained by TMZ, she says the segment included an audience vote on her looks, and responses included … “whore,” “slut,” “ratchet” and “daddy issues.” Dominique says she fired off a cease and desist to the show to remove the audience poll from the segment before it aired — and even though producers obliged, she says the damage was done in front of the live audience.
#BOXOFFICE: A Quiet Place is striking on the 100 Million Dollar Mark.
With an estimated $32.6 million in its sophomore frame, Paramount's A Quiet Place finished the weekend with a domestic cume just shy of $100 million after just ten days in release. Assuming actuals push the film's Sunday cume over the century mark, A Quiet Place will have reached $100 million nine days faster than Split and six days faster than The Conjuring, which went on to gross $138.2 million and $137.4 million respectively. Even if it isn't until Monday that the film tops $100 million, the pace at which it is performing is spectacular nonetheless.
Most importantly, the film's performance is something Paramount Pictures really needed as it already looks as if it will be the studio's highest grossing release since Star Trek Beyond, which brought in $158.8 million after releasing in July of 2016. Should it top that mark, the next highest gross would be Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation's $195 million performance in July 2015. That's impressive to say the very least.
Internationally, A Quiet Place added an estimated $22.3 million from 55 markets for an overseas cume reaching $51.7 million and a global tally that now stands at $151.3 million. Based on current exchange rates, the film is pacing 76% ahead of Don't Breathe, 57% ahead of Get Out, 50% ahead of Lights Out, 7% ahead of The Conjuring and 10% behind Split.
Philadelphia police chief defends officers in Starbucks arrests
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross is defending the actions of officers seen in a viral video arresting two men at a Starbucks.
The video, which has racked up millions of views since it was posted to Twitter on Thursday, shows Philadelphia police officers arresting two African-American men inside a Starbucks location.
@Starbucks The police were called because these men hadn't ordered anything. They were waiting for a friend to show up, who did as they were taken out in handcuffs for doing nothing. All the other white ppl are wondering why it's never happened to us when we do the same thing.
Melissa DePino, who posted the video, wrote, "The police were called because these men hadn't ordered anything. They were waiting for a friend to show up, who did as they were taken out in handcuffs for doing nothing."
In the video a man is seen telling an officer that he was meeting the two men there and asking what they did to warrant police being called.
Others off screen are heard saying, "They didn't do anything."
Ross said Saturday his officers "did absolutely nothing wrong."
Ross recorded a statement on Facebook Live in which he explains that Starbucks employees called 911 to report a trespassing complaint.
The employees told officers the two men wanted to use the restroom but were told the facilities are only for paying customers. The Starbucks employees then asked the men to leave, but they refused, Ross says.
Officers responded and asked the men three times to "politely to leave the location because they were being asked to leave by employees because they were trespassing." When the men again refused to leave, they were arrested "without incident," Ross says.
The men were taken to a police station and released when it became clear Starbucks didn't want to press charges.
"They did a service that they were called to do," Ross says of the officers. "And if you think about it logically, that if a business calls and they say that someone is here that I no longer wish to be in my business, (officers) now have a legal obligation to carry out their duties. And they did just that."
Ross, who is black, references his own experiences while making his case, saying, "As an African-American male, I am very aware of implicit bias."
"We are committed to fair and unbiased policing and anything less than that will not be tolerated in this department."
In statement posted on Twitter, Starbucks apologized "to the two individuals and our customers."
We apologize to the two individuals and our customers for what took place at our Philadelphia store on Thursday"We take these matters seriously and clearly have more work to do when it comes to how we handle incidents in our stores.," the statement reads.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said Starbucks' apology "is not enough."
He said he "asked the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations to examine the firm's polices and procedures, including the extent of, or need for, implicit bias training for its employees."
Kenney said he's "heartbroken to see Philadelphia in the headlines for an incident like that," which he says "appears to exemplify what racial discrimination looks like in 2018."
"Starbucks should be a place where everyone is treated the same, no matter the color of their skin," Kenney says.
LGBT rights lawyer David Buckel sets himself on fire at Brooklyn park in protest suicide
A prominent LGBT rights lawyer died after setting himself on fire in Brooklyn's Prospect Park on Saturday.
David Buckel, 60, killed himself after sending messages to multiple news outlets, including The New York Times, explaining his intention to set himself on fire to protest the world's usage of fossil fuels at the expense of the environment.
“Pollution ravages our planet, oozing inhabitability via air, soil, water and weather,” Buckel wrote the Times in an email. “Most humans on the planet now breathe air made unhealthy by fossil fuels, and many die early deaths as a result — my early death by fossil fuel reflects what we are doing to ourselves.”
“A life of privilege requires actions to balance the harm caused, and the greater the privilege, the greater the responsibility," Buckel added.
"For if one does not leave behind a world better for having lived in it, all that remains are selfish ends, sometimes wrapped in family or nation.”
Buckel was the lead attorney in Brandon v. County of Richardson arguing on behalf of Brandon Teena, a murdered transgender man whom Buckel argued successfully that a country sheriff failed to protect.
The case was made famous in the 1999 movie "Boys Don't Cry," for which Hilary Swank won an Oscar for portraying Teena.
Buckel went on from that case to work for Lambda Legal, a national LGBT rights organization that mourned his death Saturday in a statement on its website.
"The news of David’s death is heartbreaking. This is a tremendous loss for our Lambda Legal family, but also for the entire movement for social justice," the group said in a statement.
"David was an indefatigable attorney and advocate, and also a dedicated and loving friend to so many. He will be remembered for his kindness, devotion, and vision for justice."
Barbara Bush in 'failing health,' declines additional medical care
Former first lady Barbara Bush is in "failing health" and has decided not to seek additional medical treatment following a string of hopitalizations, according to a statement shared by her spokesman.
Bush, 92, has been in and out of the hospital for the past year, and will instead focus on comfort care.
“It will not surprise those who know her that Barbara Bush has been a rock in the face of her failing health, worrying not for herself — thanks to her abiding faith — but for others,” read the statement shared by spokesman Jim McGrath.
“She is surrounded by a family she adores, and appreciates the many kind messages and especially the prayers she is receiving,” the statement noted.
The former first lady has been married to former President George H.W. Bush for 73 years. She is the mother of former President George W. Bush.
Vince Herbert BANNED From Tamar Braxton’s Condo Building After Nasty Altercation
Welp…Vince Herbert has been banned from Tamar Braxton‘s Beverly Hills condo building after the estranged couple got into a huge altercation on Tuesday night.
TMZ reports: Sources familiar with the matter tell us, Tamar and Vincent Herbert got into a heated argument Tuesday night that got so out of hand, security at her Bev Hills condo escorted him out and told him he’s no longer allowed in the building.
Security was able to handle the situation before police were called, but they will call the boys in blue if Vince violates his ban.
It was just February when Vince Herbert appeared on “The View” and claimed all the stories about him being abusive were false.
This latest incident isn’t helping his case or reputation.
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Cubly
Meet Cubly. You can see more when GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSFW!
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.
Enjoy!
AND FINALLY FROM THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART FILES
‘WATER BALLOONS’
The next star of RuPauls Drag Race!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD
EFREM
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