Quantcast
Channel: sexism – MadameNoire
Viewing all 1957 articles
Browse latest View live

‘True Blood’ Actor Nelsan Ellis Dies Of Heart Failure At 39

0
0

On Saturday (July 8), it was announced that Nelson Ellis died. The news of the actor and playwright, widely known for his role as Lafayette Reynolds in the HBO series True Blood, death was confirmed by his Emily Gerson Saines.

“Nelson has passed away after complications with heart failure,” Saines told The Hollywood Reporter. “He was a great talent, and his words and presence will be forever missed.”

HBO also shared kind words about Ellis in a statement, saying, “We were extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Nelsan Ellis. Nelson was a long-time member of the HBO family whose groundbreaking portrayal of Lafayette will be remembered fondly within the overall legacy of True Blood. Nelsan will be dearly missed by his fans and all of us at HBO.”

Rest in peace, Ellis.

The post ‘True Blood’ Actor Nelsan Ellis Dies Of Heart Failure At 39 appeared first on MadameNoire.


Can You Still Maintain A Friendship Even When You Hate Your Homegirl’s Man?

0
0

hate your friend's man

I’m not ashamed to admit that Lifetime’s Little Women reality show franchise is my guilty pleasure. Although I can’t stand Terra’s behind, Little Woman: L.A., the ones who originally proved that jealousy and drama have no height limit, always seems to suck me right in. So I found myself recently turning into a random episode of season 6, only to discover that the cast had survived a few rounds “Who Can get Pregnant First?” and “Who Can Have The Hotter Wedding?” only to end up still beefing over the same issues they’ve had since season one.

In this episode, the mini pack of mean girls can be seen ganging up on  cast member Briana after her husband Matt reveals he kissed another woman while the group was out on an Alaskan getaway. After some arguing and confrontation between the couple and a few “I told you so” side-eyes being thrown by Briana’s friends, Briana talks to Matt privately where he basically says his infidelity is a result of their constant arguing and Briana’s irrational behavior that her friends are never around to witness. The group has never been the biggest fan of Matt and have already crowned Briana as the gullible one in the group who makes poor decisions in the presence of penis, so they were all too eager to support her in shutting down their marriage when Matt came clean about the incident. But of course Briana made the predictable decision to stay in her marriage and work to overcome their issues and her friends were not having it. When Briana attends the group’s 80’s- Themed Part with Matt in tow, friend Elena pulls her to the side to tell her she’s no longer entertaining the foolishness:

“My choice is not to be around your choice.  For me I’m done with this guy and I’m just saying how it is. Maybe I’m not best kind of friend for you, maybe you need something else.”

“The friendship is built on things that you do together.”

“I am pretty much 24/7 with my family or with my husband. So the only way we would hang out is when with our families and I cannot stand your husband.”

The last line was where I had to pump my brakes. I have talked many BFF’s out of catching a case when they were ready to take a hot frying pan to their cheating boyfriend’s face. I have gotten my “Toya: Fix My Life” on for friends who found themselves being tossed like a load of sheets in the spin cycle of unhealthy relationships. I’ve refilled wine glasses in between tears and texted Mary J. lyrics in the morning after rough nights. But never once did I feel as if their decision-making or relationship drama was a good enough reason to end an entire friendship. What I will say to my friends who fail to respond to any saving I attempt, is that I’m only going to dish out advice and shoulders to cry on so many times before I no longer want to hear about that man or how hurt you for the umpteenth time. Can we still do happy hour? Yep. Can we still watch Queen Sugar every week and thirst over the tall glass of Nesquik greatness that is Kofi Siriboe? Yes. But what we won’t do is have our very Waiting to Exhale, man-bashing session on the regular just to discuss the same problems over and over that you refuse to try to approach differently.

Fortunately, I have never been close friends with my girlfriends’ partners or have really known them in any way outside of my friends themselves. So when break-ups occur it has been easy for me to cut all ties with men who I may have even thought were pretty cool up until the end. Although I always see my loyalty as lying with my friend first, I do understand that I may only be getting one side to a story that will more than likely look favorably on the one telling it. So I try to not make assumptions or base my opinions on anyone’s character based on a second hand description. But there are cases when I’ve been able to witness the jerkdom of friend’s partner firsthand to form my own conclusions, and even in those situations I don’t think I necessarily shut down all interactions with my friend because of who she chooses to love.

I think the issue occurs when a couple chooses to continuously bring their dysfunction to your good time. Even on Little Women: L.A., as contrived as some of these scenes may be, Briana continues to bring Matt to every Wild West themed party or every island vacation and inevitably they end up bickering because he was chatting with curvy Kathleen from Iowa a little too long or he’s sitting somewhere in a corner sulking about how much his wife’s friends hate him. Inevitably, it puts all of the other men in an awkward position because they want to enjoy time with their wives, and also not sell out their homeboy. So in some ways I can comprehend Elena’s concerns about Matt throwing off the group dynamic.

Every woman will date at least one guy that has her friends and family dishing out the passive aggression and asking her to come back to church. However, when you’re in that type of relationship you have to understand when your circle doesn’t love your man as much as you may or even when they don’t really like the person you are when you’re with him. And while you may love him, you have to question if it’s worth the remaining folks in your life falling back and giving you the space to suffer through the hard times alone. Because from what I’ve witnessed your friends keeping their distance isn’t always a reflection of any ill will. Those who have the best intentions don’t want to see you suffer, but the ones who are here for the drama will keep a front row seat.

Toya Sharee is a Health Resource Specialist who has a  passion for helping young women build their self-esteem and make well-informed choices about their sexual health. She also advocates for women’s reproductive rights and blogs about  everything from beauty to love and relationships. Follow her on Twitter @TheTrueTSharee or visit her blog, Bullets and Blessings.

 

 

The post Can You Still Maintain A Friendship Even When You Hate Your Homegirl’s Man? appeared first on MadameNoire.

“It’s About Being There For Each Other In A Time Of Need.” Ava Duvernay Shares Just How ‘Woke’ Queen Sugar Cast Is

0
0

woke means to ava duvernay

One of the best things about the hit OWN series Queen Sugar is that the characters portray the type of family that many African-Americans can relate to: Relatives all possessing their different strengths and weaknesses, experiencing some drama from time to time, but coming together when it matters the most. The show’s award-winning director Ava Duvernay recently shared that when it comes to the cast having each other’s backs, it isn’t much of an act at all.

Duvernay was a recipient of the Woke Women Award at this year’s Essence Festival held in New Orleans. HuffPost reports while accepting her award she explained what being “woke” means to her and it doesn’t necessarily have to do with protesting or activism:

“For me, a big thing about this whole idea about being woke is about not focusing on yourself. It’s about togetherness and family.”

She then went on to share how the Queen Sugar cast recently came together off-set to show her support at a particularly difficult time:

“A little over a year ago, my father passed away.”

“I was at the funeral and I looked up and I saw the cast of ‘Queen Sugar.’ They drove from New Orleans to Montgomery, all of them, in their own cars. They were all there.”

The Wrinkle In Time director told the audience how close she was with her father who coincidentally passed away three weeks after she directed the show’s premiere episode in which the patriarch of the family suffers from a stroke that shortly leads to his death.

She shared how closely she related to the characters at that time and how the cast helped her look at what it means to be “woke” in a different way:

“In some way, I was in the same situation as the characters.”

“That is woke to me. Woke is not necessarily activism or protesting. It’s about being there for each other in a time of need.”

“The wokeness of our community and what we have done throughout the generations to survive is to hold on to each other and to make sure that we are OK. I encourage us and celebrate that we continue to do that.”

The characters’ chemistry makes so much sense now and it’s nice to see that they are just as close off-screen as they appear in each episode.

The post “It’s About Being There For Each Other In A Time Of Need.” Ava Duvernay Shares Just How ‘Woke’ Queen Sugar Cast Is appeared first on MadameNoire.

Pepperoni Pizza, Las Vegas and Finding A Gentleman: Simone Biles Opens Up About Time Off Post Olympics

0
0

resting beach face 🐚

A post shared by Simone Biles (@simonebiles) on

Olympian Simone Biles is clearly over being eliminated from Dancing With the Stars. The 4’9” gold medalist who was once part of the American winning team dubbed “The Final Five” has been taking some time to live her best life and recently sat down with BET to talk what she’s been doing during her year off from training. She says that although she was eliminated from the ABC series despite having a perfect score, there are no hard feelings:

“The experience I had was absolutely amazing. My partner was phenomenal, and all the contestants that were on the show seemed like they would be friends that you have for a while.”

“I wouldn’t trade that experience up for anything. I think that if someone was offered the opportunity to do the show, they should do it!”

She also shared that training for the show was similar to training for the Olympics:

“The training was similar because of the hours that we had to put in. You can’t pass on practice and just be like, ‘today I don’t wanna.’ [DWTS] is full hard training, up to six hours a day, so that’s about as much as I train for the Olympics.”

Biles also shared on the rare occasion she’s able to stray from her typical diet of oatmeal, protein shakes and veggies, she opts for the good stuff:

“Pepperoni pizza and frozen yogurts!”

“Now I can kind of eat whatever I want because I am not training and I have a year to take off, so why not?”

The 20-year-old is taking a year off from training and says that time will be spent on some much needed self-care and not just eating junk food:

“I’m not training yet, which works for me because I travel so much. I haven’t really worked out either, so I am letting my body and mind rest.”

However, Biles made sure to note that in between all that rest she plans to party like a rock star for her 21st birthday which she wants to celebrate in no other than “Sin City” itself, Las Vegas. And maybe she’ll find someone special while she’s partying her way down the strip. She confirmed there isn’t anyone special at the moment, but when the time comes she hopes to find someone who is “a gentleman with a nice personality, humor, and someone who knows how to have a good time.”

You can read the exclusive interview in its entirety here.

The post Pepperoni Pizza, Las Vegas and Finding A Gentleman: Simone Biles Opens Up About Time Off Post Olympics appeared first on MadameNoire.

After Pointing Blame At Venus Williams For Fatal Car Crash, Police Say She Didn’t Break The Law

0
0

Nearly two weeks ago, CNN, the Palm Beach Post and TMZ reported that tennis champion Venus Williams was at fault for a deadly car crash.

Occurring on June 9, the collision occurred in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida – where Williams lives. According to police reports obtained by the aforementioned news outlet, the incident also involved 78-year-old Jerome Barson and his 8-year-old wife, Linda Barson.

While Linda survived, Jerome died after spending two weeks in the hospital as a result of his injuries from the crash. The reports also stated that Linda, who was driving, told police she had the green light and there was no way to avoid Williams after Williams allegedly drove across the intersection in front of them.

Williams’ attorney, however, claimed that Williams had a green light when she first drove into the intersection. Nevertheless, the police report stated that Williams claimed she was stuck in the intersection between of other traffic and she didn’t see the Barsons’ vehicle when she was trying to cross.

In a clear he-say, she-say, the police report also claimed Williams was driving about 5 mph when the crash occurred. According to the report, “[Venus] is at fault for violating the right of way of” the other driver.

Interesting enough, after initially finding Williams at fault, police made a statement on Friday that she had “lawfully entered the intersection” and told PEOPLE there’s “no final determination” of who was at fault.

“After the initial investigation was conducted, new evidence into the incident was located,” a Palm Beach Gardens Police Department press release states. “Based on the evidence obtained in the ongoing investigation, it has been determined the vehicle driven by Venus Williams lawfully entered the intersection on a circular green traffic signal.”

The post After Pointing Blame At Venus Williams For Fatal Car Crash, Police Say She Didn’t Break The Law appeared first on MadameNoire.

This Chart Will Show You How Much Of Your Skincare Products You Should Be Using

0
0

Quarter size or dime size, that’s all I know when it comes to rationing out skincare products. But the real question is: How much of our skincare products should we actually be using? How much is too much and who much is too little?

Well, thankfully the ladies over at Seventeen decided to seek out this answer for the rest of us. To make sure they got the best answers possible, they reached out to Dove Dermatologist Dr. Alicia Barba for the ultimate pro tips on how much of your products you should use and how to get the most of them all while saving money.

When it comes to cleansing the face (day and night), Dr. Barba recommends “one pump, or the size of a mini candy bar.” She also shared that you should use a “very gentle cleanser that won’t dry out your skin” in the morning and a “foaming cleanser that removes all your makeup, and also gently exfoliates dead skin cells so that other products (like lotion and serum) can penetrate better.”

Although you should use sunscreen year-round, it’s definitely needed to protect your skin from the harsh sun rays that come during the summertime. And according to Dr. Barba, most people don’t use the product enough nor do they reapply it as often as they should. “In general, you are better off if you apply more rather than less,” she explained. “If you’re going to be outside in the sun, use a Hershey kiss-size amount all over your face, up to the hair line, on your nose, lips, under the nose, top of ears and the space between the nose and upper lips. If you spend most of your time indoors, it’s fine to wear makeup with SPF built into it.”

Head over to Seventeen to read the full article.

The post This Chart Will Show You How Much Of Your Skincare Products You Should Be Using appeared first on MadameNoire.

Amber Rose Is Officially Off The Market

0
0

If you haven’t already heard the news, Amber Rose has a new boo.

Just a few weeks ago, the model and entrepreneur was spotted canoodling with Atlanta rapper 21 Savage during BET weekend. While nothing was confirmed, the pictures of the two, who are all smiles, said enough to the public.

After spending more time together and posting one another on their social media accounts, 21 Savage, who recently released his debut Issa Album, confirmed the rumors that he is in fact dating Rose.

During a press run for the project, he stopped by Real 92.3 for an interview, disclosing, “That’s my girl, for sure,” he said. “We just been kickin’ it. She’s a real cool woman, she treats me like a king, so it is what it is, but no disrespect will be tolerated at all. Keep your mouth closed, no hoes, no bitches, no nothin’, ’cause I’m pullin’ up, on God.”

21 also shared that Rose has been a positive influence on his life. “She make me do shit that I don’t normally do,” he explained, “like take vitamins and drink water.” Beyond this, Savage said that he and Rose enjoy spending time together. “We sit at the pool, we talk, we watch documentaries, we go out, we eat,” he added. “I give her massages, chocolate, flowers, new purses, diamonds.

 

The post Amber Rose Is Officially Off The Market appeared first on MadameNoire.

Watch Diddy Give JAY-Z Parenting Advice On Twins

0
0

When he’s not busy and hard at work being the ultimate multi-hyphenate, Diddy relishes in simply being a father. A father of six kids, two of which are twins with his on-and-off again relationship with Kim Porter, the 47-year-old is no stranger to the serious balancing act between professional and personal life.

So when he stopped by Late Night with Seth Meyers to promote his new documentary Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A Bad Boy Story, it only made sense that the host ask about parenting. Meyers spoke specifically about raising twins, as Beyonce and JAY-Z recently welcomed two new additions to the Carter family.

When asked if he had given JAY-Z counsel in regards to what’s coming down the pipe, Diddy revealed that he was thrilled to do so as JAY is usually the one giving him counsel.

“You really have to be prepared for double the love. You’re used to getting love from one child, but when you get this incredible love from two kids and they’re twins, it’s truly a blessing,” Diddy shared.

“To have twins, it’s double the fun,” he concluded.

Watch the video above.

 

The post Watch Diddy Give JAY-Z Parenting Advice On Twins appeared first on MadameNoire.


Lisa Price Thinks The Term “Natural Hair” Will Eventually Go Away; Do You Agree?

0
0

According to Lisa Price, we’re currently living in a post-relaxer society, which is why there’s so much emphasis on natural versus relaxed hair. But eventually, the Carol’s Daughter founder says, the term “natural hair” will die out and there won’t be a need to refer to one’s hair state, it will simply be “my hair.” Think she’s on to something? Check out her reasoning during a conversation at Essence Fest in the video above and tell us if you agree.

The post Lisa Price Thinks The Term “Natural Hair” Will Eventually Go Away; Do You Agree? appeared first on MadameNoire.

10 Things We Know About Michelle Williams’ New Boo

0
0
[caption id="attachment_831273" align="aligncenter" width="1068"] Credit: Guillermo Proano/WENN.com[/caption] Image via WENN Looks like Michelle Williams might have a new beau in her midsts. When The Shade Room, posted the picture of these two and I saw the name Chad Johnson, I immediately thought of Ocho Cinco and said to myself, "You in danger girl." Thankfully, I looked my good eye and found that it was a different Chad Johnson. And this one is already off to a good start. He shared this image.
If you need any confirmation about what's going on here, you need only look through the comments or peak at the likes to see who's cosigned the whole situation, no less than three Destiny's Child members: LeToya Luckett, Kelly Rowland and Michelle herself. So, what do we know about this man? Check it out on the following pages.

#lockerroomtalk 😳 ⁉️

A post shared by C H A D J O H N S O N (@chadjohnson77) on

Chaplain for the Pittsburgh Steelers

You already know that as a believer and a gospel singer, Michelle Williams is going to need someone who is connected to God. And from the looks of things, she can check that off the list when it comes to Johnson. He's worked as the chaplain for several sports franchises, including the Arizona Cardinals, the L.A. Dodgers and the Steelers. In a recent interview with SB Nationwe learned that as chaplain, Johnson provides one-on-one meetings with players, Bible studies, pre-game and post-game prayer, morning devotions, couples counseling and fellowship meetings with families. Johnson said: "Anything as it relates to their personal life. We are doing life together. I am walking with them." He added, "I don't want anyone to feel excluded. I meet people where they are at." He also said that he's there, particularly in the beginning when players may be struggling to adjust to the new lifestyle. "It is a shock. you see the flash and the Ferraris growing up, and then you realize you have to pay a lot of people. It's not as much money as they think, and it is a lot more work than they can ever be prepared for. Not just physically. There is no realistic way to prepare them...I'm right there to meet them when the weight hits them. I've seen a lot of guys fold under pressure, and a lot of the guys rise to the occasion. It brings out the best and the worst in the guys and those around them." https://youtu.be/TsK0KCc3ejI?t=4m50s

"Don't let the White skin fool you."

Anyone who knows me, knows that I see Blackness in almost anyone. And Pastor Chad is exceptionally tan. When I first saw his picture, I just assumed he was a light skinned Black man. We can attribute that to him working in Arizona (before he came to the Steelers). But looking at pictures of his family, it's clear that he is indeed White. Still, Johnson has some old school Black sensibilities about him, as evidenced by his intro to this sermon.

He's got a little rhythm.

A New Edition fan? That's alright.

Wedding rehearsal dinner shenanigans w the lovely bride!! @queenlechet #robandlechetwedding #backyardboogie

A post shared by C H A D J O H N S O N (@chadjohnson77) on

And he's smoove

Step then! This will come in handy if Michelle ever takes him home to Chicago.

HAPPY BDAY DAD!! I miss him everyday!!!!

A post shared by C H A D J O H N S O N (@chadjohnson77) on

He lost his father

More on his father later.

He knows a little something about weddings.

As far as we know, not from the groom side but from the officiant part.

Does philanthropic work in Haiti.

Are they talking about wedding plans already?

I don't know for sure, but this looks like Michelle's shadow, don't it?

Unexpected, Unannounced, Unbelievable. #HIM 💕 ---- 📸: @lizettetrent

A post shared by Michelle Williams (@michellewilliams) on

https://youtu.be/RSF5HjyPHF4

He didn't grow up in church

In a sit down on TBN, he shared his story. "I wasn't raised in church. I didn't grow up around the things of God. I had two amazing parents, full of love, full of great morals and great principles, taught us wonderful things. Had a wonderful family. Never touched a Bible, never prayed together. We celebrated Christmas and Easter. And there was something cool about this Jesus thing because on both of his days, I got gifts. I never saw my parents fight. My dad was involved in my life. My mom was always a wonderful mom. We had almost a "Leave it To Beaver" type family." Then when he turned 13, his parents said that they were getting a divorce. A few months later, his father was in legal trouble because of drug problems. To cope, he buried himself in sports. And he said God used athletics to preserve his life. Eventually he attended the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Basketball and Football camp. He says it was there that he heard the gospel for the first time. He said that the preacher started off by talking about sin. But what he says really drew him in was the preacher talking about the necessity of having a personal relationship with Jesus. You can learn what changed his life in the first seven minutes of this video. But his whole story is pretty compelling. We're keeping our eyes peeled but he seems like he could be a good dude.

The post 10 Things We Know About Michelle Williams’ New Boo appeared first on MadameNoire.

Video Shows Maia Campbell Has Relapsed, LL Cool J Asks Fans To Help Locate Her

0
0

 

If someone were having an epileptic seizure or was vomiting from effects of chemotherapy, most of us wouldn’t film it and place it on the internet. We understand that those are illnesses and we don’t fault people for that.

Sadly, we don’t view addiction with the same sympathy. The internet is littered with views of addicts acting erratically attempting to get their next fix. And for far too many people, instead of feeling sympathy or recognizing that a chemical imbalance is affecting their actions, we laugh and might even continue passing the video along.

That’s what one Atlanta rapper did when he found actress Maia Campbell at a gas station, dressed in a bra and some biker shorts. In the video, the rapper, in true f*ck boy fashion, has Maia pumping his gas. He records her asking for crack, recalling a rape story and showing off her real hair.

Sadly, we can see that the former “In The House” star is missing teeth and has clearly relapsed.

This is not the first time we’ve seen Campbell in a position like this. After her daughter was born, Campbell stopped taking drugs for her bipolar disorder. As a result, she lost custody, was arrested multiple times on charges of car theft, drug possession and prostitution. In 2010, she was finally sent to a mental health facility.

In 2012, she moved herself into a residential treatment center and then appeared on “Iyanla: Fix My Life.”
But in 2015, another video of her surfaced. Later, she was arrested for allegedly assaulting a family at Burger King, accusing a child of stealing her wallet.

Thankfully, after this rapper shared the video, there were those who were less than pleased with him exploiting 40-year-old Maia in this way.

He responded ignorantly, saying we wouldn’t have had a problem with him recording her if it was a White girl.

Afterward, LL Cool J came forward condemning the man’s actions.


Later, he posted an image asking people for help locating Maia.


Yesterday, he shared another message saying “Thank You.” Perhaps that means someone was able to help him out.

Hopefully, he’ll be able to help get her back on the right track.

The post Video Shows Maia Campbell Has Relapsed, LL Cool J Asks Fans To Help Locate Her appeared first on MadameNoire.

What Did You Think About Blac Chyna On Good Morning America?

0
0

Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian’s very public social media lover’s quarrel has had everyone from Snoop Dogg to T.I. talking and, more importantly, sparked a national discussion on revenge porn. So much so, that Good Morning America invited Blac Chyna on their show this morning to tell her side after Rob posted nude photos of her on Instagram and accused her of being addicted to drugs and alcohol.

Seated alongside her high-powered attorney Lisa Bloom, Chyna, whose real name is Angela White, told ABC news:

“I was devastated, of course. This is a person that I trusted… I felt comfortable, you know, with even sending these pictures and even talking to him about certain things.”

Upon seeing the images, Chyna said her reaction was, “How could somebody do this to me?” And, contrary to reports she “liked” some of Rob’s posts, Chyna said, “I actually have Robert Kardashian blocked from my Instagram.”

She has spoken to the father of her daughter Dream since the incident, however, sharing, “I’ve talked to Rob, you know, about everything. I’ve talked to him. The moral of the story is, like, he doesn’t respect me, so if you can’t respect me, you have to respect the law.”

Bloom, who represents Chyna and is seeking a restraining order against Rob on the mother of two’s behalf, is intent on making sure the sole male Kardashian does just that.

“Here in California, it’s a crime, it’s a civil wrong,” Bloom said of Rob’s posting of explicit images online without Chyna’s consent. “It’s also domestic abuse, which allows us to go in immediately and get domestic violence restraining orders to protect Chyna.”

And as for the question of why Chyna sent Rob that video of her with another man which sparked his slanderous tirade, the former stripper explained, “I’ve been broken up with Rob since December and it’s like, if somebody keeps pokin’ at you and pokin’ at you and pokin’ at you, and keep pokin’ at you, you’re eventually, you’re gonna pop. And so I was just like, ‘Maybe if I send this video to him, then he’ll just leave me alone.'”

Clearly that’s not what happened. But while her lawyer handles the matter of revenge porn, Chyna is clearing up longstanding speculation that her interest in Rob was nothing more than a revenge relationship.

“That’s not even my character, Chyna said. “I see all these things on the Internet and I don’t even address it. I was already Blac Chyna before the Kardashians.”

The post What Did You Think About Blac Chyna On Good Morning America? appeared first on MadameNoire.

Nobody Can Touch Yara Shahidi’s Fashion In This In Style Spread

0
0

When In Style proclaimed Yara Shahidi the "most stylish teenager in Hollywood," they weren't exaggerating. The 17-year-old beauty shuts down nearly every red carpet she steps foot on, and as for her spread in the August issue of the mag, well, as should come as no surprise, she killed it.

But while we may be new to this -- noticing the starlet's fashion sense that is -- Yara certainly is not. In fact, she told In Style when she was in junior high and high school at the Immaculate Heart Catholic school in L.A. she always found little ways to spruce up the school girl uniform.
"I loved making it my own by adding a bow with a fun pattern," she shared. "The dress code made me appreciate how clothing is an extension of self-expression. I love that it's something I have power over every day."
Judging from her style, Yara just might be the most powerful teenager in Hollywood as well. Check out the photos from the spread on the next few pages along with video of the actress explaining her fashion ethos and adorably milly rocking during the photoshoot. Which looks would you rock? https://www.instagram.com/p/BWWLRQLl9MK/?taken-by=instylemagazine https://www.instagram.com/p/BWOvAtzgfgV/?taken-by=yarashahidi

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWRb2JlAa7j/?taken-by=yarashahidi

The post Nobody Can Touch Yara Shahidi’s Fashion In This In Style Spread appeared first on MadameNoire.

Nelsan Ellis’ Family Reveals Alcohol And Drug Abuse Contributed To His Death

0
0

Image via WENN

Many of us were shocked and saddened to learn of actor Nelsan Ellis’ passing. At just 38-years-old it certainly seemed immature. When the story was reported over the weekend, the cause of death was heart failure. But according to Ellis’ family, there is more to the story.

In a statement released to The Hollywood Reporter, Ellis’ father shared that Nelsan’s heart failture was triggered by alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

In an attempt to help others who might be fighting the same fight Nelsan was, his family thought it was appropriate to share this with the world through Nelsan’s publicist Emily Gerson Saines.

Nelsan’s father has bravely agreed for me to share the circumstances of Nelsan’s heart failure. Nelsan has suffered with drug and alcohol abuse for years. After many stints in rehab, Nelsan attempted to withdraw from alcohol on his own. According to his father, during his withdrawal from alcohol he had a blood infection, his kidneys shut down, his liver was swollen, his blood pressure plummeted, and his dear sweet heart raced out of control.

On the morning of Saturday July 8th, after four days in Woodhull Hospital, Nelsan was pronounced dead. Nelsan was a gentle, generous and kind soul. He was a father, a son, a grandson, a brother, a nephew, and a great friend to those that were lucky enough to know him. Nelsan was ashamed of his addiction and thus was reluctant to talk about it during his life. His family, however, believes that in death he would want his life to serve as a cautionary tale in an attempt to help others.

According to THR, Ellis is survived by his grandmother, Alex Brown; his father, Tommie Lee Thompson; and his son, Breon Ellis. He is also survived by his siblings Lakeeia Thomson, Tommie Lee Thompson, Babon Ellis, Maurice Turne, Tianna Thompson, Shaentika Beard and Yvonne Ellis and aunt Tartheaia Thompson.

 

The post Nelsan Ellis’ Family Reveals Alcohol And Drug Abuse Contributed To His Death appeared first on MadameNoire.

“He’s Not Going Anywhere”: Amber Rose Wants You To Know She’s In Love With New Man 21 Savage

0
0
While Blac Chyna is out here sharing her story of "betrayal" when it comes to Rob Kardashian, her good friend Amber Rose is singing a completely different tune. In case you missed it, she's in a relationship with 24-year-old rapper 21 Savage. As we told you over the weekend, the Atlanta-based rapper, born Shayaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, told REAL 92.3 that Rose is "my girl, for sure." "We just been kickin’ it," he said. "She’s a real cool woman, she treats me like a king, so it is what it is, but no disrespect will be tolerated at all. Keep your mouth closed, no hoes, no b---hes, no nothin’, ’cause I’m pullin’ up, on God." As for the 33-year-old beauty, she says she's in love. At least that's what she wrote in an impassioned post on Instagram saying, "It's pretty amazing waking up every morning feeling love like this. I've cried endlessly and been hurt a lot in my life, I've been abused, talked to like I wasn't sh-t, been gaslighted and Slut shamed by men that I once loved and cared about. So I'm so thankful that God brought this amazing person in my life who genuinely has my back and is ready to 'pull up' to defend my honor by any means. Maybe he's just as broken as me and that's why we're perfect for each other but either way he's not going anywhere and neither am I."   https://www.instagram.com/p/BWWtUZ4hUly/?taken-by=amberrose&hl=en Although the relationship is relatively new (they reportedly starting dating in June), she seems quite sure that both parties are in it to win it. https://www.instagram.com/p/BWWqGc4h684/?taken-by=amberrose&hl=en But this isn't the first time Rose has made a relationship public and seemed pretty serious about it. Let's take a walk back memory lane and check out her history when it comes to trying to find love like the rest of us (but not like the rest of us). [caption id="attachment_835785" align="aligncenter" width="1068"]Amber Rose dating WENN[/caption]

Kanye West

Rose initially came onto the scene as the significant other of Kanye West. The pair dated from 2008 to 2010, and when they split, he recorded the less than flattering song "Blame Game" about her. Even though she had quite the Twitter spat with the Kardashians a few years back, which West jumped in and attacked her, saying he needed to "take 30 showers" after they split, West, Rose and even Kim Kardashian seem to have buried the hatchet and get along. [caption id="attachment_835786" align="aligncenter" width="1068"]Amber Rose dating WENN[/caption]

Wiz Khalifa

Her second high-profile relationship, Rose started dating rapper Wiz Khalifa in 2011, had son Sebastian with him, and married the man in 2013. After catching him cheating, they ended up divorcing in 2016. After some judgmental, contentious moments played out publicly between two, they were able to get over the past in order to successfully and happily co-parent their son. [caption id="attachment_835792" align="aligncenter" width="1068"]Amber Rose dating WENN[/caption]

James Harden

You didn't see them together, but Rose and Houston Rockets star James Harden dated for a short time in 2015. When asked about it by The Breakfast Club hosts that year, Rose admitted they had a "special friendship" and said, "I haven't got the 'D' yet." [caption id="attachment_835787" align="aligncenter" width="1068"]Amber Rose dating Getty[/caption]

Val Chmerkovskiy

He wasn't her partner on Dancing With the Stars (his brother Maksim was), but that didn't stop Rose and Val Chmerkovskiy from hitting it off. He even went as far as to defend her from some judgmental fans of his who called out her past. The pair dated for a brief time from late 2016 to early this year.

Machine Gun Kelly

After dating James Harden in 2015, Rose had something of a more serious relationship, albeit brief, with rapper Machine Gun Kelly. When they broke up closer to the end of the year, he admitted that his life on the road and aversion to having everyone in his business is what got in the way. "It was just... 'I live a gnarly life," he told the folks at Hot 97. "I'm really hard to be around. I'm a head case,' " he said. "I embarked on a six-month tour. And, that spotlight is not what I'm about. She felt that off-top."  

Reggie Bush

The exes of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian did indeed have a moment in 2010, even if Rose cleared the air later and said they dated as a way to get back at their former loves. "I broke up with Kanye and he broke up with Kim," Rose told Wendy Williams. "We met right after. We were both going through a hard time. We were each other's rebounds. It was brief, it was nice, he was a great guy." [caption id="attachment_835790" align="aligncenter" width="1068"]Amber Rose dating Getty[/caption]

Terrence Ross

In case you're asking yourself, "Who is Terrence Ross?" He is a 26-year-old NBA player who currently plays for the Orlando Magic. Ross dated Rose in 2016 and they seemed pretty into each other -- at least on social media.

Eric Andre

I know right? Interesting. Comedian Eric Andre revealed in an interview on The Jenny McCarthy Show that he dated Rose but sabotaged things before they could really even get going. "I kind of blew her off like an idiot," he said. "I’m just like a pathological breaker-upper. I’m like, 'A girl actually likes me, I gotta get out of this thing.' And then weeks later I was like, 'What am I thinking? I’m a moron.' So weeks later I begged her back, on hands and knees and she was like, 'F--k you.'" But to be clear, Andre said he wasn't really on his hands and knees. "I begged her like hands and knees — I mean, via text." https://www.instagram.com/p/BHiaRJ0js7C/

Rosa Acosta

Rose and model Rosa Acosta reportedly dated in 2011. They were snapped hanging out together, even leaving places locking lips (see photo above), but things didn't go far and Rose eventually fell in love with Wiz Khalifa. Acosta divulged this much about her relationship and current friendship with Rose while on Love and Hip Hop Hollywood last year, saying they're still very close. And she spoke further about their time together, saying it came about while Rose was prepping to film for a reality show that didn't happen, in a previous interview. "We dated," Acosta told VladTV. "She's great. I love her and I'm really happy for her, but yeah, it was just we shot some stuff for her [reality] show, and that's it."

The post “He’s Not Going Anywhere”: Amber Rose Wants You To Know She’s In Love With New Man 21 Savage appeared first on MadameNoire.


“I Will Continue To Wear Wigs”: Hurdler Jasmin Stowers Loses Hair Piece, Ends Up With Concussion After Fall

0
0

When Blessing Okagbare lost her wig while doing the long jump last month, as I wrote, my first thought was that as a storied athlete, it was sad that so much conversation surrounding her then, and likely in the future, would be about her hair. But after hurdler Jasmin Stowers fell while running the 110 meters this past weekend, I had a totally different thought this time: “Ok, what is really going on with these wigs?”

Jasmine Stowers, female athlete wig

American runner Jasmin Stowers competed in London at the 2017 Müller Anniversary Games – IAAF London Diamond League meet over the weekend. While taking part in the women’s 100-meter hurdles race, which fellow American Kendra Harrison won, Stowers stumbled over two hurdles before taking a very scary fall. As she came down, Stowers’ wig fell off and she hit her head on the ground. She would end up with a slight concussion:

While most of us would probably want to run away (no pun intended) and hide after such a moment, Stowers handled the situation pretty well. She wrote a note on Instagram and let everyone know that she was going to keep training, keep running and wasn’t going to let the fall hold her back:

My trip to London was not a good one. I first left my book bag at the airport and lost my competition spikes, laptop, and ipad. I shook that off and started to focus on my competition. During the final round at London DL, I hit a hurdle and landed on my head. The impact was so forceful that my head bounced off the track, my hair piece came off lol and I ended up with a minor concussion. I blacked out for a few seconds and couldn’t remember what happened. People may laugh about what happened, talk about me, and doubt my success in the sport, but none of that stuff bothers me. Honestly. I am just thankful to be alive considering that I could have been paralyzed or broke something. Great things never come from comfort zones. I want to be the best so I will continue to push past my limits even if I fall 10 more times. I am a strong woman and my strength and courage comes from within myself and God. I know who I am and what I am capable of.

She also made it clear that she’s not going to let the fall keep her from wearing wigs in the future, either, saying, “No, I am not embarrassed that my wig came off. I hit my head hard and I would have expected that to happen. It is what it is. I will continue to wear wigs. I dont care. It protects my hair as I transition from relaxed to natural 😌! People are always gonna hate. They just need a little love in their life. I am truly unbothered!!!”

Instagram Photo

We’re glad to know that Stowers is doing ok and feeling much better after this weekend’s events. However, we would be lying if we pretended like we didn’t think she might be better off wearing braids as a protective style during her transition when she runs.

Instagram Photo

Still, people like what they like and they are free to. And even if she hadn’t been wearing a wig, her style of choice still wouldn’t have been able to protect her head during that fall. We just hope she knows that she would look just as good and be just as protected (and not have to think about her hair piece coming off) if she sought out an alternative.

The post “I Will Continue To Wear Wigs”: Hurdler Jasmin Stowers Loses Hair Piece, Ends Up With Concussion After Fall appeared first on MadameNoire.

La La Anthony Says Hollywood Has Failed Afro- Latinas

0
0

LaLa Anthony

I will never forget The Breakfast Club interview with Dascha Polanco. Not so much for anything she said, but for the response to something she said. She told the room that she identifies as a Black woman, and Afro Latina and based on the way Charlemagne said to her, you would have sworn she said she was a purple people eater.

And while it was a shame that he was so old and so ignorant, we can also argue that lack of representation of Afro Latinas on screen that has contributed to his lack of awareness.

La La Anthony spoke to this fact in a recent interview with Latina, saying that Hollwood has dropped the ball in this regard.

“I definitely don’t feel like I’m what Hollywood thinks of when they think of a Latina actress at all,” Anthony told the magazine. “They are imagining a different look, a different vibe. People still tell me, ‘You speak Spanish? You’re Spanish? You’re Puerto Rican?’ They can’t wrap their minds around it.”

She continues, “The industry just hasn’t been thinking outside the box when it comes to Latina women,” Anthony told the magazine. “We come in all colors. My grandfather was extremely dark and from Puerto Rico, but his brother had blond hair and blue eyes. There are so many different shades, and I think Hollywood has yet to realize that.”

We’re waiting for the day they do.

The post La La Anthony Says Hollywood Has Failed Afro- Latinas appeared first on MadameNoire.

Fitness Star Massy Arias Explains Why Working Out Again After Giving Birth Was “Mentally Painful”

0
0

Afro-Latina fitness juggernaut Massy Arias gave birth to her first child, a gorgeous daughter named Indira, in February. Nine days after having a natural water birth, Arias shared what her body looked like post-baby. Just a few weeks later, she showed off her changed but still fit form in a photo shoot for Target, as she was recently made an ambassador for the retail chain’s C9 Champion line, which is celebrating “a new kind of strong.”

Massy Arias body

But despite the amount of confidence she seemed to have in all of those photos, in a new interview with People, Arias admitted that she struggled to feel like herself again after giving birth. Despite having a relatively smooth and less painful delivery than many (“no complications or major tearing”), she still found herself feeling out of wack. The new mom had worked for years to train her body, and the results helped her reach a wider audience. So seeing the changes to it after giving birth was initially tough for the 28-year-old.

“It took me a while to get comfortable looking at the different changes happening in my body,” she said. “Just like any woman would tell you, changes can be emotional as much as they are physical, and I had a hard time in the beginning.”

Arias said that after being given the green light to get back to working out four weeks after giving birth, she just didn’t feel connected to certain parts of her body in the way that she was used to. It was such a challenge to the point where trying to get back to being active was “painful” for Arias, but not in the way you would think.

“Even though my body healed, my mind took a while longer,” she said. “That first workout was mentally painful for me. I didn’t feel as in tune with my body as I did before,” she said. “I wasn’t feeling any connection with my pelvic floor, my core, and most parts of my body. Everything felt out of place and that was hard to cope with.”

It took for the fitness enthusiast to put things into perspective and remember the important reason her body changed for her to get a grip on things and start embracing where she physically is now.

Instagram Photo

“After giving birth and seeing how all the changes I was experiencing were for a great reason, I started becoming more loving of my new body and what it was doing — feeding and protecting my baby girl,” she said. “I knew I had the tools to get my mind and body right later on, but my focus needed to be enjoying this new person.”

“My body just went through a marathon and I needed to appreciate the miracle of life,” Arias added. “The stretch marks, the cellulite, the discoloration of the skin, and even the hair loss were all worth it once I had her in my arms.”

The post Fitness Star Massy Arias Explains Why Working Out Again After Giving Birth Was “Mentally Painful” appeared first on MadameNoire.

Maia Campbell Responds To LL Cool J’s Attempt To Help Her

0
0

LL Cool J

Image via WENN

Yesterday, we reported about the very unflattering video of Maia Campbell that hit the internet. In it, it was clear that the actress had relapsed and was likely using drugs again. After the footage made its way to the internet, LL Cool J, her former “In The House” co-star, was looking to find her to possibly offer some type of assistance for Maia.

It didn’t take long before he was able to locate her and shortly after that, he tweeted this.


After that, a video of Maia responding to LL, who she calls Todd, hit the web as well.

In it, Campbell, who frequently attempts to cover her mouth as she speaks, says that she’s fine and doesn’t need any help. But if LL Cool J wanted to throw a benefit concert in honor of mental health that would be good.

See what she had to say in the video below.

#MaiaCampbell sends a message to #LLCoolJ. Says she does not need help (swipe for more)

A post shared by Baller Alert (@balleralert) on


There are lot of things going on here and it would be great if Maia would reconsider her stance on accepting help from people who know and care about her.

The post Maia Campbell Responds To LL Cool J’s Attempt To Help Her appeared first on MadameNoire.

Realities Of Dating Someone With Social Anxiety

0
0
[caption id="attachment_835814" align="alignleft" width="1068"] Bigstockphoto.com/Close up portrait of young unhappy african american couple sitting at kitchen table in front of open laptop computer while paying bills online using banking application having concentrated looks[/caption] My partner has severe social anxiety. When we first started dating, I had a hard time identifying what was happening. He’d become silent after certain social interactions, stating he needed a walk or even wanted to leave. Sometimes I’d think that I had done something wrong, or that somebody had said something terribly offensive to him. But most times, it was my partner who believed he’d done something wrong. He’d talk for 45 minutes about all the ways someone may have misinterpreted something he said and all of the social implications that come with that (who will they tell? What does that mean for their friendship now?) I’d try to talk him down and show him the error in his thinking, but there was some sort of haze over his eyes—like he was a million miles away. Eventually, I realized I couldn’t help him because I’m not a psychologist, and he has social anxiety. Here are the realities of dating someone with social anxiety. [caption id="attachment_707518" align="alignleft" width="426"] Shutterstock[/caption]

He needs breakdowns on new people

If you’re going to introduce your partner to a lot of new people, he’ll want breakdowns on each one. What are they like? What might offend them? What topics put them in a bad mood? Is there anything they’re sensitive about? Your partner will ask for all the information you can give him to help him avoid all of the minefields he’s made up in his head.         [caption id="attachment_717151" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

He will obsess over things for days (or weeks)

If your partner feels that a social interaction went wrong, he’ll talk about it for long after. Don’t be surprised if, one night, you’re drifting off to sleep and your partner brings up something someone said to him a week ago. Yes—he’s been thinking about it all week.           [caption id="attachment_625713" align="alignleft" width="500"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

One tiny mishap can turn the night upside down

If you want to take your partner to large parties filled with people he doesn’t know, just know you’re taking a risk. Big groups of new people provide a lot of opportunities for your partner to believe he did something wrong. And once he believes that, he won’t be able to enjoy himself for the rest of the night. Aka you could be going home early.     [caption id="attachment_698706" align="alignleft" width="468"] Shutterstock[/caption]

You can only travel with his very close friends

Relaxing is important for everybody, but it’s especially important for people with social anxiety. As such, people with social anxiety won’t run the risk of going on vacation with people they don’t know very well. They need to surround themselves with people who they know understand them, and who they know they cannot possibly offend. So don’t think you can just invite a couple your partner has met three times on vacation.           [caption id="attachment_713452" align="alignleft" width="414"] Shutterstock[/caption]

You’ll worry about him a lot

You’ll spend a lot of time in social settings worrying about your partner. You cannot control who will be at a party. You cannot predict what some stranger may possibly say to your partner to send him into a panic spiral the rest of the night. You always have one ear on your partner’s conversations at parties, so you can try to prevent a disaster.           [caption id="attachment_717702" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

You have to be careful with teasing

You have to be very careful when it comes to teasing your partner. Do not make any jokes implying he is being rude, insensitive or egotistical. People with social anxiety spend most of their days praying they are not those things, so you really can’t tease them about being those things.             [caption id="attachment_710075" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

You’ll stop him from sending apologies

You’ll have to stop your partner from sending out unnecessary apologies a lot. You’ll often find him at his computer, about to send a long, meandering explanation to somebody who he believes he insulted at a party three weeks ago. You know that person A) Wasn’t insulted and B) Won’t even remember what he’s talking about.           [caption id="attachment_706179" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

He’ll over-explain a lot

You’ll need to be very careful about criticizing your partner, or even giving just small notes within the relationship. Should you even mildly hint he did something that bothered you, you are welcoming a thirty-minute explanation. And daily recaps of the incident for the next three days.             [caption id="attachment_698672" align="alignleft" width="421"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Sarcastic people are hard for him

It’s very difficult for your partner to be around sarcastic people. It’s too easy to misunderstand a sarcastic person, and think they’re being serious when they aren’t. A person with social anxiety can’t be around that.               [caption id="attachment_718780" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

He’ll prefer eating at home

At restaurants, your partner worries that he isn’t making enough eye contact with the server, or being kind enough to the bus boy. He’ll worry that other people overhear and misinterpret your conversations. He’ll worry he is too loud or in some way his presence is insulting someone and he doesn’t even know it.             [caption id="attachment_703168" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

He may not see your friends enough

When it comes to whose friends you hang out with more, get ready for things to be off-balance. Your partner is most comfortable around his friends who he knows very well. Meanwhile, around your friends, he worries he’ll do something wrong, your friends won’t like him, and your friends will turn you against him.           [caption id="attachment_712175" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

He can’t have a go-go-go schedule

As you can imagine, socializing is particularly taxing on the man with social anxiety. So don’t plan a go-go-go weekend full of back-to-back events with your partner. He’ll need some downtime between social activities to regroup.               [caption id="attachment_607152" align="alignleft" width="420"] Corbis[/caption]

He notices every social dynamic

Your partner notices everything he does and everything everyone else does and says. He’ll often point out to you some argument people were having, or some tension between a couple, that you didn’t even notice.               [caption id="attachment_709851" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Holidays and his birthday are precious

Like vacations, your partner won’t want to spend holidays or his birthday with anyone he doesn’t know very well. These days are sacred to him, and he doesn’t want them ruined by what he perceives as a bad social interaction.             [caption id="attachment_698962" align="alignleft" width="421"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

He won’t like when you boast about him

One thing people with social anxiety worry about a lot is coming off as cocky. Your partner will become embarrassed and even a little upset if you boast too much about him.

The post Realities Of Dating Someone With Social Anxiety appeared first on MadameNoire.

Viewing all 1957 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images