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

Grammy Award-Winning Gospel Artist Le’Andria Drops New Music Video “All I Got”

0
0

Grammy and Stellar Award winner Le’Andria is back with a new album and we’re exclusively debuting the music video for her new single “All I Got” right here on MadameNoire.

Directed by Derek Blanks, “All I Got” is the hit single from the gospel artist’s upcoming album “Bigger Than Me,” which will be released on July 21st.

“All I Got” is currently one of the most added songs among Urban AC radio and we bet the music video will be one of the most played when it premiers on Vevo this Friday. Check it out below and tell us what you think.

The post Grammy Award-Winning Gospel Artist Le’Andria Drops New Music Video “All I Got” appeared first on MadameNoire.


“I Love Me”: Tia Mowry Shows Off 20-Pound Weight Loss In Bikini

0
0

Tia Mowry weight loss

Not long ago, Tia Mowry talked about how she’d put on a few pounds and out of nowhere, found herself being body shamed by people on social media. Those body shamers included other women. In March of 2016, the actress caught a follower saying, “getting fat” and confronted the young woman in epic fashion:

Instagram Photo

More than a year later, Mowry, who changed her diet drastically after finding out that she had endometriosis, has lost 20 pounds. On a current family vacation to Hawaii, the 39-year-old showed off that weight loss, her glowing skin and some fresh new braids while posing in a very cute bikini:

Instagram Photo

The mind behind the cookbook Whole New You, Mowry told PEOPLE that she no longer consumes processed foods and dairy, and instead, opts for whole, healthy foods. Her favorites include gluten-free pancakes, smoothies, fish, vegetables, and fermented foods that aid in relieving the pains that come with endometriosis, particularly miso, sauerkraut and kimchi. Mowry also loves all things kale. The actress’ staple is a kale and almond fried rice dish she makes. As she told the publication, “What I eat and what I put into my body is extremely important to me.”

Not to mention that Mowry has also been working out more. She sometimes trains with her younger brother, Tavior, and she’s still a big yoga fan:

Instagram Photo

Instagram Photo

But if you ask Mowry how you too can lose 20 pounds, she’ll likely tell you to do what she did — putting together clean meals out her cookbook:

Instagram Photo

Oh, and occasionally making space and time for an ice cream cone, of course:

Instagram Photo

The post “I Love Me”: Tia Mowry Shows Off 20-Pound Weight Loss In Bikini appeared first on MadameNoire.

The Beautiful Images From Ava DuVernay’s Upcoming Wrinkle In Time

0
0
Next year is going to be an incredible one as far as cinema is concerned. Yesterday, we reported on the impeccable images from Entertainment Weekly's Black Panther shoot. But we would be remiss if we didn't mention Ava DuVernay's collaboration with Disney A Wrinkle In Time. Not only is she directing, she casted a Black girl as the lead in the part. Recently images of the cast in their makeup and costumes were released, check them out on the following pages, plus a few quotes from Ava about the casting and decision making process. First, for the three Mrs., DuVernay shared her thoughts with Entertainment Weekly: “My whole process with this film was, what if? With these women, I wondered, could we make them women of different ages, body types, races? Could we bring in culture, bring in history in their costumes? And in the women themselves, could we just reflect a fuller breadth of femininity?"

Oprah

“I mean, when you’re trying to cast the wisest woman in the world, what’s the question? You go and you call her and you’re glad that you have her number on speed dial...[The character] is so much of what she teaches and shared through her shows over the years, through her magazine and OWN, about owning your light and conquering darkness and how we have to power ourselves through this life in a certain way and look out for each other. She dropped into the character so well, but it’s also Oprah. When we see her in Henrietta Lacks, she’s not Oprah to me. When I saw her in The Butler, she became Gloria to me. But in this, because of the things that Mrs. Which says, her Oprah-ness is really helpful.”

Mindy Kaling

“I wanted a black Mrs., a white Mrs., and a Mrs. that was not either, and Mindy was the first one that came to mind. I feel like we don’t talk about a lot of the other colors and cultures enough, and Mindy is so beautiful to me. Her character is one that, in her costumes and in working with Mindy, we wanted to bring in a remix of styles and cultures and customs from around the world. She was a real partner in that. She was working with two legends, but I think she’s a legend in the making in terms of what she does and being a fresh voice as a comedic actress.”

Reese Witherspoon

From Entertainment Weekly, " “I was looking for that innocence, that thing Reese plays so well, but also that great power and precision, and funny. The character has so much funny going on, you really need someone who’s proven and who’s done a bit of it all, and that’s Reese. It was so lucky that she was a fan of the book and wanted to come play with me.”

Ava and Storm

In her interview with Entertainment Weekly“The first image [I had in my head] was to place a brown girl in that role of Meg, a girl traveling to different planets and encountering beings and situations that I’d never seen a girl of color in,” she explains. “All of those scenes struck my fancy, and then it was also something that [Disney VP of production] Tendo Nagenda said to me, which I’ll never forget. One of the things that really made me want to read it was when he said, ‘Ava, imagine what you would do with the worlds.’ Worlds! ‘Planets no one’s ever seen or heard of,’ he said. There aren’t any other black women who have been invited to imagine what other planets in the universe might look and feel like. I was interested in that and in a heroine that looked like the girls I grew up with.”  

Chris Pine

“Chris is the first full-on heart-throb type of actor that I’ve ever worked with. That’s how the world sees him. But I always just saw a damn good actor. I saw Z for Zachariah and Hell or High Water, and I just knew I wanted him because I saw, that dude’s got chops.”

Full cast

Storm Reid

Ava on why she chose Storm. "She’s got the sweetest, warmest heart, and all that I saw every day was just a further blossoming of the good that is Storm Reid. She’s appropriately named. She’s a force.”
A Wrinkle In Time hits theaters March 9, 2018.

The post The Beautiful Images From Ava DuVernay’s Upcoming Wrinkle In Time appeared first on MadameNoire.

(Almost) All Of Your Faves Were Just Nominated For Emmy Awards

0
0
While you were busy at work (or not being busy at work), the 2017 Emmy nominations were announced this morning. The shows with the most nominations for the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards include HBO hit Westworld and NBC's Saturday Night Live. If you don't watch these shows and you're wondering what is going on with your actual favorites, you'll be happy to know that quite a few Black actors and actresses and comedians picked up nominations for their work. Check out the long list of names and catch up on episodes of these hits shows before the Emmy Awards airs on Sunday, September 17. [caption id="attachment_836112" align="aligncenter" width="1068"]2017 Emmy nominations Getty[/caption]

Viola Davis

Viola Davis picked up an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nomination for How to Get Away With Murder. Just a reminder, she won the award in 2015 for the series. [caption id="attachment_836111" align="aligncenter" width="1068"]2017 Emmy nominations Getty[/caption]

Samira Wiley

The former Orange Is the New Black star picked up an Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series nomination for hew new hit show, Hulu's The Handmaid’s Tale. [caption id="attachment_825584" align="aligncenter" width="1069"]Uzo Aduba Derrick Salters/WENN.com[/caption]

Uzo Aduba

It's another nomination for Aduba, who won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2014 and 2015 for her work as Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren on Orange Is the New Black. [caption id="attachment_830186" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Credit : Charlie Steffens/WENN.com[/caption]

Thandie Newton

Thandie Newton picked up her first nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Westworld. [caption id="attachment_836110" align="aligncenter" width="1068"]2017 Emmy nominations Getty[/caption]

Sterling K. Brown

Sterling K. Brown, who earned his first Emmy for his work as Christopher Darden for The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, earned an Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for This Is Us. [caption id="attachment_725440" align="aligncenter" width="1068"] WENN[/caption]

Jeffrey Wright

The actor won his first Emmy in 2004 for his work in the HBO miniseries/movie Angels in America. This year, he's nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Westworld. [caption id="attachment_836113" align="aligncenter" width="1068"]2017 Emmy nominations Getty[/caption]

Ron Cephas Jones

Ron Cephas Jones, who played William Hill on This Is Us, was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. [caption id="attachment_834672" align="aligncenter" width="1068"]tracee ellis ross shares tools for dealing with pain WENN[/caption]

Tracee Ellis Ross

Tracee Ellis Ross picked up her second nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Black-ish.  [caption id="attachment_834545" align="aligncenter" width="1068"] WENN[/caption]

Leslie Jones

Leslie Jones is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Saturday Night Live, her first nomination. [caption id="attachment_825264" align="aligncenter" width="1069"]Anthony Anderson Judy Eddy/WENN.com[/caption]

Anthony Anderson

Anthony Anderson has picked up yet another Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series nomination for Black-ish. [caption id="attachment_786283" align="aligncenter" width="1068"] Photo Credit: Supplied by WENN.com[/caption]

Donald Glover

Glover picked up multiple nominations for his hit FX series, Atlanta, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, as well as Outstanding Writing (along with his brother Stephen) and Directing for a Comedy Series. [caption id="attachment_836114" align="aligncenter" width="1068"] Getty[/caption]

Tituss Burgess

The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star received his third Emmy Award nomination in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series category. [caption id="attachment_833501" align="aligncenter" width="1068"]Ava Duvernay locs WENN.com[/caption]

Ava DuVernay

The director picked up both a Writing and Directing for a Nonfiction Program Emmy nomination for her Netflix documentary, 13th.  [caption id="attachment_836115" align="aligncenter" width="1068"] Getty[/caption]

Lena Waithe

Waithe picked up a nomination alongside Master of None co-star Aziz Ansari for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. [caption id="attachment_825691" align="aligncenter" width="1069"]Snoop Lion FayesVision/WENN.com[/caption]

Snoop Dogg

Yes, Snoop Dogg received a nomination for Outstanding Host for a Reality/Reality-Competition Program alongside Martha Stewart for their VH1 show, Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party. [caption id="attachment_745183" align="aligncenter" width="1068"] Photo Credit: WENN.com[/caption]

Chance the Rapper

The Grammy winner is now nominated for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics alongside Kenan Thompson for his work on the song "Last Christmas" for a skit on Saturday Night Live.  [caption id="attachment_825681" align="aligncenter" width="1069"]Common WENN[/caption]

Common

The Oscar winner is nominated alongside Robert Glasper and Karriem Riggins for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for their song "Letter to the Free" in 13th.  [caption id="attachment_825531" align="aligncenter" width="1069"]LL Cool J Nicky Nelson/WENN.com[/caption]

LL Cool J

LL Cool J picked up a nomination for Outstanding Structured Reality Program as producer on the hit show, Lip Sync Battle on Spike TV. [caption id="attachment_834551" align="aligncenter" width="1068"] WENN[/caption]

RuPaul

RuPaul was nominated for Outstanding Host for a Reality/Reality-Competition Program for RuPaul's Drag Race. The show was also nominated for Outstanding Reality Competition. [caption id="attachment_836109" align="aligncenter" width="1068"]2017 Emmy nominations FayesVision/WENN.com[/caption] As for the rest, comedian W. Kamau Bell was nominated in the Outstanding Host for a Reality/Reality-Competition Program for his show United Shades of America With W. Kamau BellKey & Peele was nominated for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks was nominated for Outstanding TV Movie. And both Black-ish and Atlanta were nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series.  

The post (Almost) All Of Your Faves Were Just Nominated For Emmy Awards appeared first on MadameNoire.

Is There A Problem With Black Women Being Excluded From This Detroit Photoshoot?

0
0

Next month an oft-forgotten story is coming to the big screen. Kathryn Bigelow, the only woman to have won an Academy Award for Best Director of Hurt Locker, lent her talent to produce a film called Detroit. The story she seeks to tell is based on true events.

In Detroit, in the summer of 1967, the community was rioting after police raided an unlicensed after hours bar called the blind pig. Inside the bar, 82 African Americans were celebrating the return of two soldiers from the Vietnam War. Police decided to arrest every one there. While they attempted to arrange for transportation for 82 people , a doorman, who later and identified himself as Walter Scott III, threw a bottle at a police officer.

Even after the police left, the community was still angry. They began rioting and looting. Because it was Sunday, much of the action went unchecked. Buildings were burnt down, stores were looted, firefighters attempting to extinguish fires were shot by rioters who had stolen guns from stores that had been raided.

By Tuesday, President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered federal troops be sent in to the city.

As you can imagine, during all of this chaos and confusion, police who may have already held racist ideologies about Black folk, were tired and overwhelmed. They made no distinctions in the arrests they made of suspects vs local citizens. Women who were arrested were reportedly stripped and fondled, while officers took pictures.

Despite everything that was happening on the street, the most egregious example of police brutality came from the Algiers Motel. It’s the motel incident that informs the plot of Detroit.

Police responded to a call that shots had been fired. There they found two White female cosmetology students, who had traveled with a group of several local Black men to the hotel. After everything was said and done, the police had killed three Black men and tortured the rest by throwing knives at their feet and threatening to kill them in some type of sick game. None of the officers were held accountable for their actions.

The story is certainly one that needs to be shared. Until I did my own research, in preparation for this very article, it wasn’t one I’d ever heard before.

Today, people are talking about Detroit on Twitter but not because of the story.

Instead, they’re discussing this picture of the cast.

The reaction to this image, for some people, has not been favorable.

It wasn’t long before people started swearing off seeing the film.

Interestingly enough, there are Black women in the film. If you look at the trailer above, you’ll see that Samira Wiley has a role as a front desk attendant in the hotel. Victoria, our senior editor, had the chance to attend an advanced screening and mentioned that there are Black women in the movie. They just play background roles. There are mothers, sisters and girlfriends. And, according to her, they have speaking parts.

So this image wasn’t necessarily a picture of the entire cast, it’s the principle cast, for which Black women are not included.

Once people explained that the story wasn’t about the Detroit riots at large but mostly what happened at the hotel, someone argued that the film has been improperly named.

I get the emotion behind the tweets. Black women have been so forgotten in almost every facet in life, it would seem that in a story that directly affects our lives, we would be able to occupy some space. When Black men are beaten, tortured, abused and killed, it is often Black women who are left to deal with the aftermath of that. And unfortunately, in the media and in the historical accounts of some of the biggest movements of this nation, Black women are either pushed to the margins or forgotten about entirely.

I can see how Black women looked at the image and felt this was another way in which we were being excluded.

But that is not the case for this film. Black women were included, they just weren’t represented in this picture.  And there were those who argued that perhaps Black women weren’t featured in the picture because they’re not seen as marketable or as important. But this is a picture from a press event. I’m sure, in retrospect, the studio should have sent a Black women out there to promote the movie as well. But when there are 14 principle characters, I can see how a background role wasn’t priority.

As I mentioned, Victoria saw the film. And when I told her about the backlash it was receiving on Twitter, she, a Black woman, didn’t agree.

“I just think it’s sad and putting out the wrong message about the film, going after it and possibly putting a bug in other people’s ears/minds about the film before anybody knows the full story or know whether or not they would support it in the first place. We all spend too much attacking something without real knowledge about it or experiencing it, yet we say we want more Black stories…”
Also true.
Working in Black media and writing for Black people, I can tell you that we are a tough audience. There is a lot of baggage, especially for Black women, we’re bringing to everything we see and consume.
What do you make of this discussion? Should Black women have been invited to the press tour? Should the role of Black women in the film be more prominent? Was the entire movie misnamed? Let us know.

The post Is There A Problem With Black Women Being Excluded From This Detroit Photoshoot? appeared first on MadameNoire.

People Have An Issue With Zoe Kravitz Saying She Doesn’t Want To Be Seen As A “Black Artist”

0
0

It started out simple enough.

Zoe Kravitz Black

While traveling abroad in Rome with her boyfriend Karl Glusman, actress and singer Zoe Kravitz posted a picture of herself posing next to graffiti that featured a quote by Jean-Michel Basquiat. It was the well-known statement of “I am not a black artist, I am an artist.” To drive the point home that she agreed with the quote and didn’t want to be seen as just the Black actress as opposed to an actress, she shared examples of other times she felt it wouldn’t be necessary to speak about things in the context of race:

Instagram Photo

While her comments seemed harmless, they garnered a mixed reaction from her followers and people who believed that by saying not everything should be about race, she was in some way rejecting or denying her Blackness.

“But she’s going to play a black actress and get these black dollars from these black people,” one critic wrote.

“Zoe Kravitz likes being black when it’s convenient for her,” said another.

“Can somebody tell me what art Zoe Kravitz even makes that apparently transcends blackness?” another remarked.

The backlash in comment form was enough to motivate the Big Little Lies actress to take down the post from her Instagram page. In replacement, she put up a photo of a picture of Basquiat, originally using the caption, “Ya’ll are a trip.” But she edited her caption and left us with a period and the hashtag #artisart.

Instagram Photo

But were her comments really that wild?

I think we would all agree that when it comes to our professional lives, we don’t want to be known as just a Black writer, or accountant or musician or athlete or whatever else there is under the sun. When it comes to talents, we want to be known for that. I think what Kravitz attempted to say (hopefully) was that she wants to be seen as an actress who is Black. That doesn’t mean she’s not proud of it, it just means that she believes and is correct in saying there is more to her than that.

Still, she is just bubbling up in the mainstream and not necessarily Meryl Streep in terms of experience or “art.” And not to mention that sometimes it is important to be proudly note yourself as a Black artist, because there are people who like to act as though they “don’t see color.” All in all, it’s an important part of who we as Black folks, but it’s not the only part.

But hey, it’s not the first time comments made by Kravitz about race have left people with a weird taste in their mouths. Earlier this year she told Allure about the journey it was to feel comfortable identifying as a Black woman when she grew up around so many White people, including those who made her feel like she was an “other.”

“I am definitely mixed,” she said. “Both my parents are mixed. I have white family on both sides. The older I get, the more I experience life, I am identifying more and more with being black, and what that means — being more and more proud of that and feeling connected to my roots and my history.”

“It’s been a really interesting journey because I was always one of the only black kids in any of my schools,” Kravitz continued. “I went to private schools full of white kids. I think a lot of that made me want to blend in or not be looked at as black. The white kids are always talking about your hair and making you feel weird. I had this struggle of accepting myself as black and loving that part of myself. And now I’m so in love with my culture and so proud to be black. It’s still ongoing, but a big shift has occurred. My dad especially has always been very connected to his history, and it’s important to him that I understand where I come from.”

The post People Have An Issue With Zoe Kravitz Saying She Doesn’t Want To Be Seen As A “Black Artist” appeared first on MadameNoire.

Is It Weird To Breastfeed And Have Sex…At The Same Time?

0
0

I promise I’m not trolling you. And after you read the details of the story, you might find that it’s not as bad as you thought…or you might be even further disgusted. I can’t be sure.

So, in actuality, this story is ancient in terms of our modern day news cycle. It’s two-years-old. But for whatever reason, the video has reemerged into the conversation, probably because it’s too outlandish to pass up.

Tasha Maile is a mom and vlogger who stirred up a lot of ire and confusion when she told her followers that she has breastfed her child while having sex.

In the video, which has been viewed over 4 million times, Maile says:

“I’ve had a lot people ask me if it’s okay to breastfeed and have sex. From what I remember, I remember sleeping with my ex-husband and my son was on me breastfeeding and we would have sex from behind or something.”

Later, she clarified: “My 3-month-old would not allow me to put him down at all. So he was attached to me 24/7. And he was always using me as a binky at night. So we did it while he was sleeping next to me or on me. It had nothing to do with my child. My child was not in the act of what we were doing.”

The only thing I can say in Maile’s defense is that her son was sleeping and suckling at the same time, which is why she was able to…multitask in such a way.

But in an interview with the U.K’s “This Morning,” Maile said even if the child is awake, it’s not a problem.

“Even if the baby is awake and off to the side . . . If the baby is OK, they’re not judging you.”

People called it creepy and incestuous.

But on Fit Pregnancy, they raised the question, what really are the boundaries when it comes to newborns witnessing their parents sexual acts? A lot of parenting experts recommend that mothers co-sleep or that a child can sleep in their parents’ room for the first full year of their life. Are we to assume that the parents are never having sex while their children are nearby?

I’m not a mother and can’t speak for anyone else but I don’t want my child watching me or literally touching my body while I’m having sex. The thought of being aroused in one area and nursing your child in another just feels off.

I mean, there were people who argued that she involved her child in a sex act.

Those are some strong implications. And while I don’t know if I would go that far. I don’t know if she needs to be in jail. Still, I don’t understand the reasoning behind it. Why?

While most people are pointing the finger solely at her, I’m wondering what the hell is going on with her ex-husband. I mean, which came first. Was the baby suckling and he just couldn’t wait? Or were she and the husband already doing something when her child needed to nurse?

She says that her child could not be separated from her. Again, I’m not a mother so I don’t know what that feels like but is 3 months too early to start teaching your children about boundaries? Does being a mother to a newborn mean that you are never physically separated from your child, even if you’re in the same room? Maybe.

I can’t speak for anyone else but I don’t know how one grown person could be using my body for pleasure, another child for comfort and then I still find a way to get off in the midst of all of it.

Let me know your take on all of this. Is it a bit odd to breastfeed during sex? How far away from you does your child have to be for you and your partner to get it in without it being weird? Or is this just a to each her own type of situation?

The post Is It Weird To Breastfeed And Have Sex…At The Same Time? appeared first on MadameNoire.

Ava DuVernay On What She Thought When Kofi Siriboe Auditioned For Queen Sugar: “Oh, He’s A Handsome Young Brother”

0
0

Ever since the day the people laid their eyes on actor Kofi Siriboe on the OWN series Queen Sugar in 2016, he’s risen to Idris Elba heartthrob levels. It’s been a meteoric rise for the actor, who also appears in the new comedy Girls Trip, and one that wouldn’t have happened without Ava DuVernay.

Kofi Siriboe Queen Sugar

“I will take responsibility for the current phenomenon that is Kofi Siriboe,” DuVernay jokingly shared with PEOPLE. She acknowledges that the commitment he has to his character, Ralph Angel, is what draws many of us in.

“The sweetness, the humility, the effort that he puts in to try and live a better life, really that is part of the sex appeal.”

The 44-year-old director is the co-creator of the series (alongside Oprah Winfrey), as well as a producer and writer for the drama. She said that she knew when Siriboe read his lines at his audition that he was going to be the perfect Ralph Angel. His good looks didn’t hurt either.

“He walked in that audition room and it was really his talent,” she said. “I was looking for an actor that had the full dexterity, flexibility to do the part of Ralph Angel, a complicated part. And I was like, ‘Oh, he’s a handsome young brother!'”

The 23-year-old’s portrayal of the very complicated character, which is a top-notch performance every week, is in DuVernay’s mind, what has helped him become a sex symbol for fans.

“He’s kind and he’s also flawed and he’s trying his best. I think that adds to his appeal and Kofi really is that guy in so many ways,” DuVernay added. “He’s a great actor, so he plays a different guy in Ralph Angel but the core of him — the kindness at the core — is what Ralph Angel and Kofi have in common.”

We can all agree that he’s great on the show. We can also agree that whether he played a vulnerable character or a fool, it wouldn’t matter in terms of his appeal. That man is gorgeous!

The post Ava DuVernay On What She Thought When Kofi Siriboe Auditioned For Queen Sugar: “Oh, He’s A Handsome Young Brother” appeared first on MadameNoire.


The Lesson We Can Learn From Madonna’s Scathing Letter About Whitney Houston’s Mediocrity

0
0

I stumbled across this story about Madonna and Whitney Houston yesterday– or maybe even two days ago. But I didn’t do much investigating so I couldn’t support the claim. Madonna has never been one of my favorites, so I was quick to dismiss it.  Plus, after she called her son the N-word on Instagram, with nary an apology, she’s been cancelled in my book.

But over the course of two days, I kept thinking about the story, occasionally scoffing at her words from back in the day.

Let me back up a minute and tell you what the actual letter said.

In the early nineties, Madonna wrote to actor John Enos stating that she was feeling a little low. She described it as a “foul mood” and being “so uncomfortable in my own skin right now.”

She said,

“I have made so many people angry that I’m being punished and basically made to be quiet and sit in a corner, whole other less interesting and exciting people are reaping the benefits of the roads I’ve paved. It’s so unequivocally frustrating to read that Whitney Houston has the music career I wish I had and Sharon Stone has the film career I’ll never have. Not because I want to be these women because I’d rather die, but they’re so horribly mediocre and they’re always being held up as paragons of virtue and some sort of measuring stick to humiliate me.”

She continues:

“Everything I do is so original and unique and I put so much of myself into it like my book and record and it’s only brought me heartache and pain.”

There is speculation that she’s speaking about her 1992 album Erotica and accompanying photo book Sex. Both were met with quite a bit of backlash.

Interestingly enough, Madonna also won her first Grammy in 1992. While we aren’t sure when the letter was composed, she said that “I don’t think I can play the game to be accepted. I’m too intelligent, I have too much pride.”

And then that she felt she was born in the wrong place and time and probably the wrong sex.

In addition to career woes, she explained that she didn’t have anything else going for her either.

“I feel like I have no career, no family, nothing permanent or tangible.”

But at the end of all of that, she, like Tupac later would, noted that because of her “black black black” outlook on life, she would be no good for John. (Tupac’s outlook was Black with a capital b though.)

Like I said, I didn’t think the letter was real until I saw images of it from the site which is set to auction it off and later, elsewhere on the internet.

I get that these were her private letters, they were written nearly thirty years ago and her friends clearly weren’t checking for her if they released them to the public, to make money. I get that when you’re feeling low and unsure of yourself, it’s easier to look outward and attack rather than address the work you need to do for yourself.

Sharon Stone spoke to all of that with a Facebook post when she learned of the letter.


Sharon is right. It’s a violation and we all have our moments of tweaking. God forbid anyone publish any of my diary entries. And to her credit, Madonna has been on a spiritual journey for some time, getting her life together.

But perhaps I’m still in my own petty season of maturity because while I know the letter should not have been leaked, the audacity of it still makes me roll my eyes.

What I think Madonna may still fail to grasp is the fact that she has always occupied a different lane and space than any other artist. While I’ll never take away what she has done for pop culture and pushing the boundaries of women’s expressed sexuality, I think it’s fair to say that for much of her career, until today, Madonna has relied heavily on gimmick and shock factor. Not to say that executing and getting people’s attention is not a talent. Marketing is an art in and of itself; but Whitney Houston was able to achieve what she did in her career based heavily on her vocal talent. She was thee voice. And even in her current state of being, she could still out sing Madonna.

I can’t help but think of White privilege reading this letter. I doubt that Madonna believed she could sing like Whitney, yet she wanted her career. My question is why did she feel entitled to it?

It’s true, Whitney Houston was marketed as an angelic, ethereal figure. It would be decades before we discovered she was more of an around-the-way girl. But I doubt it was done so she could appear as the antithesis to Madonna’s bad girl image. They were just different artists, each successful in her own right. And honestly, in the eighties and nineties when Black women were rarely even included in the conversation, the presentation of a brown-skinned Whitney Houston as refined, dignified, celestial even, was what Black girls around the world needed to see. It was bigger than both Whitney and Madonna.

I know there was no way that Madonna, in her late twenties, early thirties could have grasped such a concept. And I guess, in this exposed letter from Madonna, all of us can learn a valuable life lesson. “Comparison is the thief of joy.” “Stay in your lane, stop swerving.” Shine on your own terms. Never wish for anyone else’s life because you never know what they’re enduring behind closed doors, what purpose they’re here to fulfill or what the future will hold for them vs what it may hold for you. I’m sure, or at least I hope, today, Madonna is happy to be who she is, to have had the career and success she’s had, to have grown with the family she’s built and to still be around to enjoy it.

The post The Lesson We Can Learn From Madonna’s Scathing Letter About Whitney Houston’s Mediocrity appeared first on MadameNoire.

Is This Petty? When Your Significant Other Won’t Check Their Disrespectful Friends

0
0

If you haven’t been watching 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? then you are missing out. Not only is it an incredibly entertaining show, but there are also all sorts of lessons about love and marriage to be learned from the follies of the couples.

mean friends

On Sunday’s episode, Season 1 alum Paola and Russ deal with quite a bit of drama due to her friendships. Quick background for you: Paola, who is referred to as Pao, is from Colombia. She met Oklahoman Russ Mayfield when he traveled there for a work assignment. They fell in love, and when she came to Oklahoma on a 90-day K-1 visa, they married within that time. She now gets to stay in the U.S. for good and has started living out her dreams of having a modeling career. Feeling that Oklahoma is too small for her big dreams and also not feeling very welcomed by Mayfield’s circle of people, Pao decides to visit Miami to see if it would be a better place to kick off her modeling career.  Soon after, she decides that’s where she needs to be — permanently. So she tells Russ she is moving and she would like him to come with her, eventually leaving without him. In this current season, we’ve watched them deal with this decision.

Pao hasn’t found work as a model, but she has found Spanish-speaking friends. When her husband comes to Miami to visit, he becomes an outsider in comparison to those friends. They speak Spanish in conversation, despite the fact that they all know Russ doesn’t speak much of it. At one point, she even turns to him and says she “almost forgot you were there,” laughing hysterically with her new clique.

But nothing is more disrespectful than her antics when her old friend from Colombia, Juan, visits. He has never been too fond of Russ, and he clearly still isn’t as Pao makes them all meet up for drinks. Juan only speaks Spanish, and during the meeting, Pao translates everything. That includes when Juan insults Russ, says that he doesn’t respect their relationship and that she only married him for a green card. While she claims these things aren’t true, she seems to take her friend’s side over Russ’s to the point where she even agrees with comments Juan makes about Russ’s friends and life back in Oklahoma. When Russ is so bothered by the fact that she’s left him out to dry and be attacked by her friend, he storms out of the bar. Pao doesn’t go after him. She stays behind with messy Juan.

That situation left me thinking about not only the importance of having friends who support you, even when they don’t necessarily agree with your romantic choices, but also what happens when your significant other seems to put their friendships over your relationship.

There are plenty of online threads about women, in particular, who have had to deal with their partner’s discourteous friends. I’ve read about women who’ve been screamed at by their man’s friend when he was drunk. Who’ve had a female friend go out of their way to be mean. Who’ve been called an “idiot” for trying to share an opinion during political discourse. All of this while each woman’s boyfriend either sat back and did nothing or even tried to defend the behavior of their so-called “good” friends.

And I’ve been there too. My husband had a female friend who interrogated me when she met me about whether or not I could cook Nigerian food, speak Yoruba and feel comfortable around people who wholly embrace the culture. While his other friends were always very kind, she made me feel like I wasn’t good enough. When I talked to my husband about it, he said that it’s just how she is and that she doesn’t mean any harm. “When you really get to know her, she’s a nice girl.”

I came to the decision that his analysis of her was bull when we ran into her post-engagement at a restaurant and she acted like she’d never seen me before. “Oh yeah, you’re the girlfriend!” I let her know quickly, “Nah, girl. I’m his fiancée actually. Good seeing you again, though” before going about my business. I didn’t wait for him to check her. I spoke for myself. On that day I told him I didn’t want to be around her. I didn’t want her in my presence, I didn’t want her at my wedding, I didn’t want to feel her negative energy in my space. While it was fine that he accepted her trash very interesting personality, that didn’t mean I needed to.

When it comes to handling friends of your partner who can’t seem to show you much respect, I say nip it in the bud. Russ could have turned to Pao and addressed her about the fact that she put him in a position to be disrespected by her friend. Because in all of the cases mentioned, seriously, what type of friend is that?! But when all else fails, we have to stick up for ourselves. While we’d love for our significant others to swoop in and rescue us from crappy people they’ve befriended, we have to be ready to draw a line on our own. (But if they don’t back you up, then that’s a red flag for sure.) Don’t give people more than one chance to talk to you like you stole something from them. Let them know that if they have a problem with you, they’re going to have to get over it because you will be around. At the end of the day, that’s your partner’s friend — they don’t need to be yours. They don’t have to like you, but it’s going to be uncomfortable for everyone if they don’t learn to respect you…

But as always, that’s just my opinion. What say say you? Is it petty to be upset if your partner lets their friends talk crazy to you?

The post Is This Petty? When Your Significant Other Won’t Check Their Disrespectful Friends appeared first on MadameNoire.

What This Brooklyn Dance Instructor Learned About Ownership After Gentrification Robbed Her Of Her Studio

0
0

With the release of Jay-Z’s 4:44, the internet is buzzing with talk about Black wealth, establishing credit, and building ownership for future generations to come. Some critics feel Hov isn’t saying anything new and that we should already be striving for financial freedom, but it doesn’t hurt to hear these messages, which should serve as cautionary tales, a few more times. Particularly when gentrification is rapidly presenting itself as a threat to Black women entrepreneurs, the fastest rising group of small business owners.

Right now, Karisma Jay’s AbunDance Academy of the Arts is in the midst of a sudden uprooting from its established home in Lefferts Garden, Brooklyn, as another casualty of hyper-gentrification and sudden rising rents. As a result, Karisma is teaching her students in temporary locations as she searches for a new studio, refusing to give up on her mission to inspire and train students of all ages and from various socio-economic backgrounds.

AbunDance Academy makes the arts accessible through its hands-on instruction and partnerships with community organizations that provide after school programs centered on youth mentorship. A dance instructor since the age of 10, the now 29-year-old businesswoman shares her experience on what these sociopolitical threats to her livelihood have taught her.

Madame Noire (MN:) How were you notified that your dance studio was “up for grabs” and you were being pushed out?

Karisma Jay (KJ): Oddly enough, we were notified via email and given little time to either sign our “lives” away, i.e. pay double the rent, or move.

MN: How did this make you feel as a Black woman in business?

KJ: Well not only am I a Black woman in business; I am also a Black woman in non-profit business—which means that I am committed daily to serving my community. So when I received the email of doom, it felt like the rug was pulled up from underneath our community and more specifically our students.

MN: What has this ordeal taught you about business?

KJ: OWNERSHIP IS KEY! In this day and age, the only way we as a community can really survive and continue to thrive is through ownership and I don’t mean crabs in a barrel, every man for himself. I mean ownership that serves the community and enhances legacy. As the saying goes “Playing small doesn’t serve the world” and it truly is about global empowerment, enrichment, and security.

MN: What advice do you have for other Black business owners who are fighting gentrification?

KJ: United we stand. We must return to the very principles that our culture once depended on—concepts of the African and Caribbean “susu” where everyone comes together and invests. Then one by one the susu invests back into the investors. We also need community organizing and forming united fronts and supporting (rather than tearing down) our community leaders who really are for our community. This is how we can really conquer obstacles.

AbunDance Academy of the Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to provide stellar arts programming to students who seek enrichment within the “AbunDance” that all of the arts provides. For more information go to abundancearts.org.

The post What This Brooklyn Dance Instructor Learned About Ownership After Gentrification Robbed Her Of Her Studio appeared first on MadameNoire.

Fitness Fridays: How Stepping Out On Faith Helped Quianna Burgess Become A Trainer For La La

0
0

For a good chunk of her adult life, Quianna Burgess spent her time catering to and caring for other people. After having a child in college and getting married soon after, she focused on raising her daughter and trying to please her husband. But when her marriage ended, Burgess realized she needed to find herself again and what makes her happy. She ended up embarking on a fitness journey that has changed everything, and I’m not just talking about her body and mind. The 33-year-old is now a sought-after trainer with a following of more than 150,000 Instagram followers and a clientele (or “friends”/”girls” as she calls them) that includes Bernice Burgos and La La Anthony. We talked to Qui (pronounced “key”) about almost giving up, her friendship with La La, finding balance as a mother and how she deals with men in the gym who can’t believe she can deadlift more than 300 pounds right next to them.

Instagram Photo

MadameNoire: Do you have an athletic background where you played sports or anything like that?

Quianna Burgess: I have a dance background. I started dancing when I was three years old. I danced ballet, tap, jazz and Horton. I stopped my sophomore year in college when I got pregnant with my daughter.

When did you start your fitness journey and what sparked it?

I started in 2014. In 2012 I separated from my ex-husband. I was working in a hospital at the time and I was doing cardio. It was basically, “Let’s get on the treadmill.” I needed to start getting myself together for more reasons than one, but that’s what sparked me trying to “better myself.”

I separated from my daughter’s father. Going through with that divorce, it was hard for me. For a solid year in 2012 I was trying to figure out who is Quianna? What did you love before you let someone consume a lot of your life? And when I say consume your life, it’s because I kind of put myself to the back just to please him. So I kind of lost who I was. I knew that I liked the idea of looking and feeling good, I just didn’t know how and what to do. So I’m at the hospital, working out 30 minutes a day on my break basically. One of my co-workers started to join me in 2013. That whole year we gave ourselves a short-term goal to transform our bodies. Within that year, she called me one day and said, “Q, I need you to read your email.” I looked at the email and she raved about how I basically helped her lose 100 pounds. And I’m like, no I didn’t. I just came with you to the gym. We were in this together. I didn’t think I had anything to do with that and I was just her partner. That happened and I called her and said, “Monica, you didn’t have to do that. We worked together.” She said, “Q, you don’t know how much of an impact you’ve had over my life. Every day you would text me to remind me of my gym stuff. You even text me on the weekends to make sure I went to class. That’s a trainer. You don’t know, but that’s someone who loves what they do and you don’t even know you’re doing it.” She said, “This is your passion. This is your niche.” I talked to her at the gym, and you know, you’re like in therapy at that time. I told her I was going through this separation and I was trying to find who I am. She said, “That’s who you are. Right there, Q. That’s who you are. A trainer. So many times I wanted to give up and I didn’t because you would say, ‘No! Let’s go!'”

So I said, ok, I’ll study and take the test. If I fail I fail. If I don’t, it will be a hobby and I will continue to search for who I am. I passed and maybe two months later I said, “I’m leaving my job.” I stepped out on faith. I left my job. I didn’t have any money saved. I was in a relationship at the time and he said he would do the best he could to support, but I was like, either way, I’m out. “I’m leaving this job. I know I’m making good money but it’s more than about money to me at this point.” So I left my job and here I am! But going through my separation and then growing through that with me stepping out on faith is what sparked my fitness journey.

Instagram Photo

I saw in a before and after picture that you said you took a lot of missteps while trying to change your body but you never gave up. Can you speak further on the importance of that? 

For me, personally, I had to figure out how to pay attention to the things on my body that I don’t like and see if it was going to change. So, of course, I had to figure out what foods worked for me. Do trial and error: “I’m going to be on this meal plan for the next two weeks and monitor my workouts and see what progress I make.” Through that I learned that bananas, broccoli, oatmeal, they don’t work for me. Those three things bloat me. So it’s just learning what works for you and what doesn’t. Like, I know that too much cardio does not work for me at all. When I first started, I was like, “I’m moving but there’s no tone. There’s no definition.” So what works for me is weightlifting. It’s just learning what works for your body. I tell my clients or my friends all the time, you have to pay attention to your body. I can give you advice all day long, but it may not work for you. I failed a lot and I wanted to give up sometimes, but I don’t have that feeling anymore. I pray against that because I never want to give up. In the beginning though, it’s so frustrating trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t work. But once I threw out the words “fear” and “failure,” it doesn’t matter what happens, I’m going to keep going.

As a busy trainer, how often do you get a workout in on your own? And what is your diet like?

I pretty much workout five to six days a week. I am very busy, but it’s so important for me to make the time for myself. And because I want to be my own billboard, to walk around and say “it works,” I had to make time for myself. I’m strict with my eating. I eat the same things: greens, veggies, proteins and good complex carbs. But I do treat myself because I do work hard. So I don’t guilt eat. When I eat, I eat. If I work really hard, I’m not thinking about “Why am I eating this?” It feels very rewarding when you know you’ve been on track. If I was really bad, not going hard on my workouts and not eating clean, I would feel like crap. But if I’ve been on track and eating really clean, I’m like, “Oh, I’m tearing this up [laughs].” I like rice. I like pasta. I like food [laughs].

Instagram Photo

As you stated, you’re a mom. How are you able to balance everything?

It’s always good to make time for yourself. Making time for myself includes her. Although she’s busy, just as busy as I am because she dances for Alvin Ailey. She’s in dance three times a weeks for three hours out of the day. When she’s in dance and that’s her time, I can relax and recover during that time. I might get some emails in, a nap in the car, or I’ll sit and watch her dance. I take advantage of the things she has to do because I block out that time and find time for myself. That’s my breathing time. And then there’s times where we’re both not doing anything and it’s like, let’s go chill. We’ll do movies. We’ll do dinner or we’ll go home and do absolutely nothing. And she’s okay with that. At 13, she wants to be in her room on her laptop with her phone chilling anyway. So I guess I find time when she has time. When she has time, I’m on her time. When I’m on her time, I say that’s my relaxing time.

Instagram Photo

I saw on your page a photo of you working out with La La Anthony. Are you training her?

Yeah, I train her. She’s amazing. She’s not just my client, she’s a friend. Her spirit is just dope. As a trainer and a prayer warrior I’m like “God, please put me around people I can benefit from too.” Because all day I’m constantly trying to encourage and motivate women but I want somebody who can pour into me too. Lo and behold, she was one. She’s an amazing person. We took a break now, but she’s dope. She kind of hates me during workouts though because I kill her [laughs].

Instagram Photo

As someone who does extensive weightlifting, which is something people often attribute to men, do they make you feel like you don’t belong or seem intimidated by how much weight you’re lifting?

In the beginning it was really annoying because, of course, when you’re a girl you get stereotyped. I would get mixed reviews of like staring that said, “Please, you don’t even know what you’re doing. Stop.” Then I would get, “You’re going to look like a man when you’re done.” Now my attitude is I dare you to say anything. I dare you. You have to own it. I tell my clients all the time, put your headphones on. Zone them out. What I say to my girls now is don’t let that defeat you. That’s fear. “Oh, I’m not going to do that because they’re looking.” Let them look! We’re all in here trying to do the same thing. Am I going to let you stop me? I wish I would. I tune them out now. I want this so bad that I don’t want anything to block me. So I give them the same looks they give me. I meet them where they’re at. Sometime you have to let them know, we’re in here doing the same exact thing. You’re a man and I’m a woman but there’s no rules on who can and who can not.

Follow Qui on Instagram and check out the rest of the inspiring Fitness Friday profiles.

The post Fitness Fridays: How Stepping Out On Faith Helped Quianna Burgess Become A Trainer For La La appeared first on MadameNoire.

Jada Pinkett Smith Says Her 64-Year-Old Mom’s Body Puts Hers To Shame

0
0

Jada Pinkett Smith has a pretty rockin’ body. The 45-year-old mother of two often shows it off on the beach and we can all see it when she hits the red carpet like she did at the Girls Trip premiere in Los Angeles earlier this week.

In the past, she said that eating healthy and exercising helped her, in her opinion, look better in her 40s than she’s looked at any other time in her life.

“When I look at myself in the mirror, and I see the well-written up woman that I am, I am damn proud,” she told PEOPLE in 2015. “I think I’m more beautiful now than I’ve ever been.”

Jada Pinkett mom

And someone who can relate to aging gracefully and having their best body as they get older is Adrienne Banfield-Jones, Pinkett Smith’s 64-year-old mother. In 2014, everyone’s jaw dropped when the actress shared this picture of her mom at the beach when she was 61:


At the Girls Trip premiere, ET asked Pinkett Smith about inheriting her mom’s great bikini body.

“I have good genes, don’t I?” she said to correspondent Kevin Frazier. “Yeah, she rocks one better than me. And you know when your own mother can put you to shame, I’m like, I don’t know if I gotta get back in the gym. I don’t know what I gotta do. I just told her, I said, ‘All that right there, just make sure you passing all those good genes down here.'”

And speaking of good genes, she also joked about that picture she shared of son Jaden with an image of herself during her Different World days. The resemblance was uncanny.

“Isn’t that crazy?” Pinkett Smith said. “When I saw that picture — Will took that picture — He was like, ‘Yeah, look at this.'”

Her response to seeing the photo made her light up.

“Awwww, my child does look like me!”

The post Jada Pinkett Smith Says Her 64-Year-Old Mom’s Body Puts Hers To Shame appeared first on MadameNoire.

Buy Black Friday: Grass Fields

0
0
I had been seeing clothing from Grass Fields all over the internet for years, literally years. At one point, my cousin even sent me a link to a top from them that she thought would look good on me. The clothes were always fly. But I must have been going through a struggle season in my life because every time I saw the clothes, I wasn’t in the position to purchase. And eventually, they slowly faded away from my radar.

Instagram is cutting my long ass cover short but you get the picture! My book, This Is Just My Face( try not to stare) is officially available for preorder! I worked on this book for 3 whole years and it's finally done! The link to more info is in my bio! I hope you guys enjoy my journey from actor to writer, as much as I'm enjoying it! <img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />📚 Ps, dress by @grass_fields

A post shared by Gabby Sidibe 👸🏿 (@gabby3shabby) on

Then I read Gabby Sidibe’s autobiography, which I highly, highly recommend. That girl has some stories. After I finished it, I really didn’t want it to be over so I read the acknowledgments, read the jacket cover information, I went to her Instagram etc. And that's where I found that her dress was from Grass Fields. I immediately clicked the tag and discovered that I knew and had been admiring the company for years. I like to think that I'm not influenced by celebrities but Gabby rocking that dress made me look that company again. Right around the time I finished Gabby's book, my sister, her friends and I were preparing for our trip to Cuba. I promised myself that I wouldn't be buying any new outfits for the trip but after looking at the site, I knew I had lied to myself. They just had a little bit of everything. I'm particularly into the off-the-shoulder look and their site had plenty of clothes that met that trend. My trip was basically sponsored by the company. I went on the site and went "ham" and despite doing more than I usually do, I still spent $200. I'll show you what I bought, and some other extremely admirable qualities about the company on the following pages.

Numa Top

I wore this top after coming back from the beach and showering. We were suppoosed to go the club but they were to capacity that night so we went to a more chilled out salsa music spot. Since I only wore it for a hot second and didn't break a sweat, I wore it the week I got back to New York. I asked a Black woman for directions somewhere. After she told me where to go, she asked about the top. I told her where to get and that it wasn't too expensive either. It's no longer available on the site but it was less than $40.00. And, I should not that the fabric is strong but really soft against my skin.

Dawit Top

My sister planned a very busy trip to Cuba and a lot of the days didn't require me doing the most attire wise, like riding horses through sporadic rain and constant mud. So I let her wear one of the tops. Plus, yellow is her favorite color and it looks amazing on darker skin. This one is also sold out but I just want to give you a sample of what they have going on over there. This one was $32.72

Sunny days ☀️🌈

A post shared by Zelue (@zelue) on

African Print Tchoudi Playsuit, $46.00

Haven't gotten a chance to wear this one but I can't wait. As you can see, it's pretty fun.

Neema Set 70.69

I just bought this set today.

@officialterrel looking stunning in the Reta Top <img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> www.grass-fields.com

A post shared by Grass_Fields (@grass_fields) on

Reta Top

Ima stop torturing y'all with things that are sold out. But let this be a warning that if you see something you want, move quick.

I always feel like a princess in their dresses @grass_fields 💫✨ MUA- @jaysprestige

A post shared by Shannon-leigh Samuda (@misssleigh) on

Zola Maxi Dress, $85.00

Gotta love a figure flattering maxi dress.

NeGo African Print Set, $111

This print though!

@wioximeliz looking stunning in her Tutsi Dress <img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> www.grass-fields.com

A post shared by Grass_Fields (@grass_fields) on

Tutsi African Print Dress, $72.00

Today would like to share not so good news. We closed our workshop in Cameroon<img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />. After four years working with this man here Ahmed , it has been a very very hard decision. The reason being that the cost of getting stuffs from Cameroon keep increasing and our margins are taken away as the transportation cost have increased so much ( the pound £ keep dropping as well doesn't help ). Last 3 months we made huge losses on the Cameroonian items. We haven't completely given up though. We are currently working on giving them more training, getting more machines so that we can export greater quantities from Cameroon and hopefully lower our cost. We didn't want to leave them unemployed so we have been able to secure them a contract to produce uniforms for the Cameroonian army. They wouldn't earn as much as they earn making Grass-fields clothes but it is better than being unemployed😔. We promise to re open our workshop again and with time get all our production made in Cameroon and other African countries. It is a very huge challenge but we are confident we can make it <img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />.

A post shared by Grass_Fields (@grass_fields) on

Now that we've spoken about the clothes, I want to draw your attention to the ethics of this company. Not only are their clothes top quality, they employ the people of Cameroon where their family is from. And even though some things changed recently, they did the best they could to do right by the people there.

Let me tell you guys a little story. When we started, we were shipping from Cameroon. I can't express well enough how Michele and I were frustrated over the 2-3 weeks shipping time. We were literally crying and praying one day we can offer next day delivery to the US. Fast forward to 2015 when we reopened Grass-fields and started shipping with UK Mail which will deliver the packages to the US via USPS. Shipping rate was about 20£/ about 28$ . Not only was it expensive but it wasn't reliable. Some packages were getting missing and we couldn't even get our money back. During that time we lost many customers. Lets not even talk about the insults<img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> One faithful day in March of 2015 after reading an email from a lady saying we were scammers because her package wasn't delivered, We decided to find a solution asap and researched for the biggest transportation company in the US and we discovered Fedex. When we called them , they said their current rate with the number of parcels we send is 50£(about 60$) for next day delivery .Impossible, we couldn't afford that! So we had no choice but to use UPS. Being the stubborn girls we are, every morning before starting work, either Michele or me will call FedEx asking them to review their rates as we really wanted to work with them. Every single morning we will send them a report of the number of orders we send to the US. We did that till April 2017!!!!<img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> nearly 2 years non stop. I know you might think we are crazy 😜 The customer service representative working for FedEx already knew our names lol.. every morning he will be like 'what can I do for you Miss Christelle or it is Michele today ? ' If you are calling for a review of your rate, we are sorry but your orders need to increase again. April of this year, we got a call saying they are willing to reduce their rate to 12£ for next day delivery to the US and we have the same rate they offer much bigger companies . We couldn't believe it until our account manager showed us the rate they were offering companies with hundred of thousands of orders per month! Now we call to discuss how we can offer weekend delivery <img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> guess we are never satisfied <img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><img src=" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" />

A post shared by Grass_Fields (@grass_fields) on

While it may seem unlikely that they would make it back to Cameroon to do business, their determination is no joke.

The post Buy Black Friday: Grass Fields appeared first on MadameNoire.

Emmy Award- Winning Makeup Artist Stephanie Cozart Burton On How To Make Makeup A Business

0
0

Stephanie Cozart Burton

Credit: Brian To/WENN.com

Many of us remember what it was like to be a child, playing in our mother’s makeup and skin care products. Emmy Award-winning makeup artist Stephanie Cozart Burton was no different. She spent so much time in front of the mirror that her mother thought she was a narcissist. Little did either of them know, Burton would take that early love of products and turn it into a career as a professional makeup artist that would span 30-plus years.

Everyone from Jennifer Lopez, to the late Whitney Houston, George Clooney and even her hubby LeVar Burton, whom she met on set while doing his makeup for a “Roots” prequel, have sat in her chair. For the past six years, Burton has been working on daytime TV’s “The Talk” for which the team won an Emmy for Outstanding Makeup in 2015. In addition, Burton has been nominated for five Daytime Emmys and one Primetime.

Whether it’s TV, film or editorial, a wedding or workshop, Burton has done it all, and she knows exactly what it takes to make it to the top of the profession. If you love makeup and are considering making it more than just a hobby, listen up as she gives us a glimpse into her world and explains how you can get there too.

MadameNoire (MN): How did you get started in makeup?

Stephanie Cozart Burton (SCB): I started as a second assistant on the “Facts Of Life,” my first show. A friend hired me as an additional hand and when he left, they kept me. I eventually got into the union (for makeup artists) and not long after, the Department Head left for personal reasons and I got promoted to Department Head. Producer Norman Lear had a lot of network shows under his umbrella at the time that I worked on and everything snowballed from there.

 MN: What do you love about makeup?

SCB: I love that it’s transformative. I love the look on a person’s face when they see what they could be. I love when a woman sees a part of themselves that they’ve never seen before. Performers see the character come alive in front of them. With actors, my responsibility is to send them to the director full of confidence and ready to go. We are the first person they see in the morning and the last one at night. Makeup artists are like bartenders; we hear and see a lot. It is very intimate and very close. We are very sensitive to how we approach and interact.

MN: Who are your memorable clients?

SCB: Aisha Tyler! I hit the jackpot with this woman. I can’t believe that I get to wake up and work with her every day on “The Talk.” The level of appreciation and respect I get from her is pretty phenomenal. Another favorite is Jennifer Lopez from our time on “In Living Color.” It was a real artist collaboration. She was still pretty new to the business and had a level of confidence that showed because when I finished her makeup she never looked in the mirror. That level of trust is so very appreciated.

MN: What does it take to do makeup as your business?

SCB: Talent and professionalism. I dress better than expected in my position. I make people feel special. I create a pleasant atmosphere. You have to know when to speak and when to shut up. You must stay in tune with how people are feeling. It raises the level of professionalism in my eyes. People can have better skills, but can have a difficult time because they can’t navigate the politics of the set or be nice to work with.

MN: What type of makeup artists do you hire when you’re working as a Department Head?

SCB: I look for the same qualities that I look for in myself, talent and professionalism. For a film, I look for people who can work long hours, those who can think outside of the box and get you out of a jam in an emergency situation…people who can figure out things for themselves and don’t need to be babysat. I hire artists that I respect.

MN: What do you think about trends?

SCB: I believe in staying current. I keep up with Instagram and magazines to see what’s happening. I never want to get dated. I test everything on myself. I’m always looking for new products. Lots of companies give me products and I try everything. Only the winners make it to my clients’ faces.

MN: What advice do you have for up-and-coming makeup artists?

SCB: You must pick a career doing what you would do for free. That way you never hate or or dread coming to work. The bonus is you love it and you get a check at the end of the day. Also, go to workshops, read, and study to find out which genre fits your lifestyle and skills.

MN: What kind of income can a makeup artist make starting out?

SCB: Sometimes you have to do a lot of free work to get your name out there and earn recognition. Some makeup artists make thousands of dollars a day. It can be quite lucrative. Some partner with cosmetic companies. The wedding business is one good way to get in. It all depends on what area you want to specialize in. It can be a well-paying business if you know what you want and how to get there. The most important thing is to know what you are worth and ask for it.

MN: What is the best makeup advice you’ve ever received?

SCB: Makeup was intended to enhance the natural. Whenever I go against the natural I try to give it a second and third thought. Most television and film goes for what’s real and natural unless they’re looking for something character driven that’s different. If there’s a question then lean toward nature.

For more on Burton visit http://www.stephaniecozartburton.com/

Follow Erickka Sy Savané on Twitter and Instagram or ErickkaSySavane.com

The post Emmy Award- Winning Makeup Artist Stephanie Cozart Burton On How To Make Makeup A Business appeared first on MadameNoire.


Done With Dyeing: Mara Brock Akil Is Letting Herself Go Gray And Loving It

0
0

Do you remember when you saw your first gray hair? Did you embrace it or decide to hide it? How did you react when they kept coming in?

For screenwriter and producer Mara Brock Akil, the mind behind shows like Being Mary Jane and Girlfriends, for years she decided that as a public figure always at events and on red carpets, she wanted to hide them.

Mara Brock Akil hair gray

But in a very insightful post on Instagram, the 47-year-old shared her up and down relationship with her gray hair and the decision she made recently to stop dyeing them. Being busy crafting stories and pitching them, including her upcoming CW superhero drama, Black Lightning, Brock Akil got busy and felt less of a pressure to cover her grays. So on her 47th birthday in May she made the decision to stop making appointments and embrace them:

Instagram Photo

I mean, can we address the fact that her hair, which is all hers, is beautiful with and without grays? I don’t know about you but I’m ready to see it all gray and Brock Akil in full Storm from X-Men mode. Rock it to the fullest, sis!

The post Done With Dyeing: Mara Brock Akil Is Letting Herself Go Gray And Loving It appeared first on MadameNoire.

White Man Goes On Racist Rant Once Black Woman Says She’s Not Interested

0
0

Go Cold Turkey

What can we say ladies, everyone who claims to be for you really isn’t. And the minute you do something they don’t like, assert your independence and autonomy as an individual, that’s when they lose their minds. Thankfully, it’s also the time when true colors are exposed.

That’s what happened to a Black woman on a dating app recently. A Black woman matched—or was in communication with a White man who went by the alias “Coastalgui99”

The conversation started off with Coastalgui complimenting the physical attributes of this Black woman, her legs particularly.

But something, either in that comment or in the ones before it, let her know that she didn’t want to speak to him anymore.

And she told him so.

The White man went from complimentary to contemptuous, calling the woman everything but a child of God, including more racial slurs than he should have been able to fit into such a short text conversation.

While I would have been enraged by such an occurrence and lost all cool and class, this woman did the smart thing by taking screen shots and sharing them with the internet.

They were posted by The ShadeRoom.

How do you think you would have responded in this situation?

The post White Man Goes On Racist Rant Once Black Woman Says She’s Not Interested appeared first on MadameNoire.

Ladies’ Night: Every Woman Looked Like New Money At The Girls Trip Premiere

0
0
Word on the street is, Girls Trip is hilarious. But there was nothing funny about the looks the stars of the upcoming comedy (which hits theaters on July 21) wore at last night's premiere in Los Angeles. They stepped out with their best updos in a variety of chic fabrics, prints and materials looking like hot fire. I, for one, was pretty impressed. Check out the looks from the ladies at the premiere and let us know if you thought they were all sartorially stuntin' on the red carpet. [caption id="attachment_836230" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Girls Trip Nicky Nelson/WENN.com[/caption]

Regina Hall

I mean, everything about this look is gorgeous, especially the detail on the gown and the hair. [caption id="attachment_836231" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Girls Trip Nicky Nelson/WENN.com[/caption]

Sanaa Lathan

Those earrings! The style and fit of the dress! Sanaa looks amazing. [caption id="attachment_836232" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Girls Trip Nicky Nelson/WENN.com[/caption]

Tiffany Haddish

No one deserves to look more like new money than funny lady Tiffany Haddish, and she made sure that was the case in this Alexander McQueen gown. [caption id="attachment_836234" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Girls Trip Nicky Nelson/WENN.com[/caption]

Jada Pinkett Smith

A one-sleeved dress with pockets? In this color? C'mon! Hot. Fire. [caption id="attachment_836229" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Girls Trip Nicky Nelson/WENN.com[/caption]

Queen Latifah

Could the pants be tailored to fit a little better? Uh, yeah. But does Queen La not look beautiful? [caption id="attachment_836235" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Girls Trip Nicky Nelson/WENN.com[/caption]

Kelly Rowland

Seriously, when does Kelly Rowland not slay in terms of fashion these days? Love, love, love the skirt and hair. [caption id="attachment_836238" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Girls Trip Nicky Nelson/WENN.com[/caption]

Garcelle Beauvais

Garcelle matched the pink carpet in a fly shirt dress that gave us Victoria's Secret, pajama party vibes. [caption id="attachment_836233" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Girls Trip Nicky Nelson/WENN.com[/caption]

Yara Shahidi

Hey, glasses! Hey, hair! The Black-ish star looked age appropriate meets bookworm chic and very cute in this two-piece ensemble. [caption id="attachment_836236" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Girls Trip Nicky Nelson/WENN.com[/caption]

Essence Atkins

Atkins played with prints, textures and sheer materials and we think she looks cute. [caption id="attachment_836237" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Girls Trip Nicky Nelson/WENN.com[/caption]

Estelle

Loving the hair on Estelle! We would have loved a fun lip color to make this whole look pop, but the singer looks great nonetheless. [caption id="attachment_836228" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Girls Trip Nicky Nelson/WENN.com[/caption]

Laura Govan

Even though Girls Trip is a comedy, Laura Govan brought the drama in this ruffled mustard gown. [caption id="attachment_836239" align="aligncenter" width="650"]Girls Trip Nicky Nelson/WENN.com[/caption]

Golden Brooks

The shoes must go (and be burned), but we think Golden's dress is fun and the right fit for a femme-focused night on the town.

The post Ladies’ Night: Every Woman Looked Like New Money At The Girls Trip Premiere appeared first on MadameNoire.

Do Only Lazy Parents Take Advantage Of Hotel Kids’ Clubs?

0
0

hotel kids' clubs

When I discovered I was pregnant with my first child at 30 years old, one of my first thoughts was, “OMG, what about OVOFest?” Just a few weeks before in that February of 2014, I had snagged tickets to Drake’s annual performance in his hometown of Toronto during which he shows love for his hometown by performing a collection of both his past and present hits as well as surprising the audience with performances by other artists such as TLC, Mase, Big Sean and J. Cole to name a few. So after I did the math, it was official: I would be rocking an early third trimester belly under my Drake t-shirt as I sat in the Molson Amphitheater belting out “0 to 100”. It was also the first time my daughter would be traveling outside the country even if she was only a fetus. From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to explore the world with my mini-me in tow because I wanted to inspire those same feelings of wanderlust in her that I had every time I booked a flight to a new city. Almost three years later I still feel the same way, but admittedly I sometimes find myself looking at my deodorant-eating, tantrum throwing, potty-refusing toddler and wondering do I really want to deal with this crap on what’s supposed to be “vacation”?

Apparently “kids’ clubs” are the answer to dealing with the parenting conflict that comes with wanting your child to see the world in a way where you can also relax and see it too without someone shouting, “Mommy!” in your ear the entire time. Hotel kids’ clubs as they are commonly called are basically programs offered through hotels and/or cruises that are meant to keep children supervised and occupied while their parents go their separate way to have fun. According to Travel + Leisure, most programs are offered to kids ages 3-10 and cost on average $60-$90 a day. Having been of a few cruises in the past years, I’ve been doing some light research on planning a trip for my daughter when she’s old enough to travel without a supply of Pull-Up’s.  When I first heard of this “kids’ club” concept, my initial thought was, “OK, so parents travel a million miles away from home to leave their kids in the care of complete strangers so they don’t have to be bothered with parenting on a family vacation?” Besides my irrational fears of my child being smuggled across international borders by housekeeping staff and sold into child slavery, I also wondered if sending my daughter to a tropical babysitting service defeated that whole “making memories as a family” thing.  To be frank, I just didn’t get it and author Laine White doesn’t either.

White shares her thoughts in hotel kids’ clubs in a Your Tango Post entitled, “Yes, I Judge Parents Who Dump Kids At Hotel ‘Kids Clubs’ During Family Vacations”. White recalls going on multiple vacations with her son and making memories of floating in the ocean on their backs creating stories about the clouds or spending a day at the water park. On one particular trip when she spots camps counselors leading a group of kids they have apparently spent the entire day with, she instantly begins to throw shade on their parents who are probably off somewhere getting a tan, child-free:

“There were so many kids in the hotel kid club; I couldn’t count them all. I wondered what their parents were doing: A quiet lunch? Massage? Parasailing? Afternoon delight? Getting drunk??”

“Whatever they were doing, I decided they sucked immediately.”

Of course a few parenting bloggers took offense to White’s judgment, pointing out that all parents who take advantage of kids’ clubs aren’t doing so because they’re lazy. Randi Mazella, an expert for SheKnows, writes that kids’ clubs allow her the break she needs to be a better parent:

“The idea isn’t to “dump” kids and not spend any time with them whatsoever. Instead, isn’t it possible that parents may be looking for a way to achieve balance on vacation and meet the needs of all family members?”

“The few hours my husband and I spent away from our kids on vacation benefited all of us. I felt recharged, and that feeling continued beyond the vacation when we got back home.”

But like White, I just can’t seem to fathom the point of taking your kids on vacation to NOT spend time with them. Don’t get me wrong, I love me a good girls’ trip or a weekend getaway with my husband now and then. Whether hubby and I want to eat chicken wings and take shots butt naked in a suite at The Venetian in Vegas or my bestie wants to beach comb for cute lifeguards in the Bahamas, my time is just that: mine. And I do it with the comfort of knowing my kid is somewhere with family members I know and trust. But when it comes to some of the bigger adventures in life, my child will be packing her passport along with mine because I want her to explore the wonders of the world with me, not with a Carnival Cruise staff member. It’s amazing seeing the same row of bushes on our block through her childhood innocence and imagination, so I can only imagine what watching Beluga whales from the Cook Inlet would be like for us as a family.

White also notes that her family, like many, operate on a whirlwind schedule of work, daycare, after-school activities at home and a vacation is meant for the family as a whole to unplug and enjoy each other’s company:

“Weekdays are a blur of unknotting, unforgiving baseball cleat shoestrings, finding lost library books due now, frozen (but organic) pizza for dinner and homework, and sometimes back to work for me. There’s never any time to play a board game, watch a show or just relax together. Vacation is about unplugging and relaxing, so that’s what we did.”

A recent trip to the shore was a time for our little family to ALL have a break: A break from alarm clocks, a break from having to get dressed and washed to go to Grandma’s house, a break from customers, a break from bosses, etc.. Because what parents fail to realize is sometimes even kids need a break from the routine and structure of daily life just like us. It’s like my BFF’s ten-year-old son says when he finds himself in summer camp a few days after the last day of school, “I always have to do something!” As my child grow’s older I have to remind myself that sometimes my kid will want to spend the day in pajamas, snacking on Oreos, watching Spongebob with her hair all over the place. I don’t want to go on vacation for her to have to wake up and spend time with strangers and an agenda of activities. Because there’s beauty in doing absolutely nothing sometimes.

White also points out something that I remind myself of every day: There will come a day where my child won’t be utterly obsessed with me and I’ll be replaced by a 2020-something Beyonce’ who becomes grown woman goals for not just Blue Ivy, but my daughter as well.  White reminds parents:

“Parents: Before you know it, your child is going to be a teenager who no longer thinks you’re the coolest person they ever met.”

Sometimes parents just need a break and I get that. You may want to see the Mayan Ruins while your kid wants to swim with turtles, and a kids’ club in a resort may be the chance to do that for a day. And let’s be honest: Sometimes the kids need a break from you too. But I know one day I will miss building sand castles and feeding my toddler fried oreos. Now that I’m a parent, I don’t feel as weird geeking out because I secretly enjoy feeding the giraffes at the zoo more than my kid or running to see Finding Dory on opening night. Being a parent in many ways allows me to be a kid again and some of the most fun I’ve had on vacays would’ve never happened if my kid wasn’t right beside me.

Have you ever used a kid’s club to get a break from parenting while on vacation with your family?

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 Do Only Lazy Parents Take Advantage Of Hotel Kids’ Clubs? appeared first on MadameNoire.

Kevin Hart Launching Laugh Out Loud Comedy Network

0
0

kevin hart launching laugh out loud

Kevin Hart is no stranger to breaking down barriers in a way that few comedians have before him. He recently added “author” to his list of professions with the release of his book, I Can’t Make This Up, a memoir composed of life lessons based on his successes and failures. He’s made a mark on the fitness industry recently releasing the “Free Train Instinct Hart” cross trainer sneaker, a collaboration with athletics titan Nike. In addition, the Philadelphia born and bred comedian has hosted a series of spontaneous 5K runs across the country. In 2015 he became first comedian to ever headline a stadium show, performing at his hometown’s Lincoln Financial Field. In addition to being in just about every other movie that has been released in the past two years, Hart will also star in the Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the long-awaited second installment to the animal action movie made popular by the late Robin Williams. You also may have caught his “What Now?” mixtape in which he released a few singles under his rap alter-ego, “Chocolate Droppa”. Oh and let’s not forget he’s preparing to become a father for the third time as he and wife Eniko Parrish are expecting a boy later this year.

The comedian is once again proving that the hustle never stops. Ebony magazine reports that on August 3rd, Hart will launch his very own streaming video platform, Laugh Out Loud. Hart hand-picked contemporary and creative voices of today to create original content for the network. In addition, Laugh Out Loud (LOL) will feature original scripted and unscripted comedy series, stand-up specials, licensed programming including Def Comedy Jam reruns and live broadcasts.

With the network, Hart says he aims to continue bringing the world together through comedy:

“Funny has no color or gender.”

“With our friends at Lionsgate, we are creating a global network that gives a platform to the next generation of diverse comedians from all over the world, of all ethnicities, to tell their stories. Our culture of comedy is unfiltered and inclusive. Most importantly, we exist to make the world laugh.”

Original content will include, “Kevin Hart: Lyft Legend” a series in which the comedian transforms into Donald Mac, an elderly Lyft driver with a tendency to overshare to his passengers on some pretty awkward adventures. There’s also “Dead House” from Andrew Bachelor (better known to his Vine fans as King Bach),  a scripted comedy where four zombies live and work together until their world is turned upside down by a human cast member.

If one thing is for sure, Kevin Hart is pretty prepared to not just bring the world together, but possibly take it over one punchline at a time. The Laugh Out Loud app launches on i0S and Android for free on Aug 3. Users will also have the option to upgrade for $2.99 per month for ads free viewing.

The post Kevin Hart Launching Laugh Out Loud Comedy Network appeared first on MadameNoire.

Viewing all 1957 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images