Hasn’t been a good two weeks for Jada Pinkett Smith HUH?.
Last week, the actress/metal singer had to fend off a report that she and husband Will Smith were separating, with one report claiming that she had an affair with Marc Anthony.
Now, she’s announced on Whosay that the TNT medical drama has been canceled after three seasons.
Hey everyone…if you don’t know Hawthorne will not be returning for another season. I want to say thank you to all the fans for being Hawthorne soldiers. All our facebook fans…twitter soldiers and viewers…you held us down. Of course you know there is more to come…believe it!
The lawyer for rapper T.I. said Friday that he’s working to have the Grammy winner returned to a halfway house after a transportation flap left him locked up again in a federal penitentiary.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons website Friday shows that the rapper is at the Atlanta penitentiary with a release date of Sept. 29. He had checked into a halfway house in Atlanta this week after serving months in an Arkansas prison.
The 30-year-old rapper, whose real name is Clifford Harris, made the 375-mile (600-kilometer) trip to Atlanta in a gleaming motor coach on Wednesday. The transportation arrangements appear to be the reason he’s back behind bars, his lawyer said.
“The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) appears to have an issue with the circumstances surrounding TI’s transportation from Arkansas to Atlanta,” T.I.’s attorney, Steve Sadow, said Friday.
Sadow said they haven’t received formal notice from prison officials explaining what he’s accused of doing wrong.
Sadow said Friday there was never any intent to mislead or misstate T.I.’s method of transportation, and he hopes the issue can be cleared up quickly so T.I. can return to the halfway house.
“T.I. got on a private bus in the prison’s parking area in full view of BOP employees. Indeed, he was actually escorted to the bus by a prison guard,” Sadow said.
Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman Chris Burke said Friday he couldn’t discuss why the rapper was transferred back to a prison.
T.I. had initially served about seven months at the prison in 2009 after he was arrested for trying to buy unregistered guns and silencers from undercover federal agents. He was on probation after he was released and ordered not to commit another crime or to illegally possess any controlled substances.
He was arrested again in September 2010 in Los Angeles on drug charges after authorities said he was found with four ecstasy pills. He was sentenced in October to 11 months in prison for that violation, and had been set for release at the end of September but was let go early.
T.I. was released Wednesday one month early from a federal prison in Arkansas where he was serving time for a probation violation, and he already has a new book deal and TV reality show waiting for him.
The artist, whose real name is Clifford Harris, was released Wednesday morning from the Forrest City low-security prison, said Bureau of Prisons spokesman Chris Burke. Attorney Jonathan Leonard confirmed T.I. was released but did not immediately say where his client was going.
“The storm is over & da sun back out. IT’S OUR TIME TO SHINE SHAWTY!!!!!” the rapper posted on Twitter shortly after his release. “Welcome to the beginning of our Happy Ending!!!!”
T.I. had initially served about seven months at the prison in 2009 after he was arrested for trying to buy unregistered guns and silencers from undercover federal agents. He was on probation after he was released and ordered not to commit another crime or to illegally possess any controlled substances.
He was arrested again in September 2010 in Los Angeles on drug charges after authorities said he was found with four ecstasy pills. He was sentenced in October to 11 months in prison for that violation. He had been set for release at the end of September.
It’s unclear where T.I. is going next, but it appears a flock of cameras will follow. VH1 said Wednesday that the network will film T.I.’s journey home from jail and debut the show in December. MTV aired a similar reality show on the rapper in 2009 called “T.I.’s Road to Redemption: 45 Days to Go,” which chronicled his attempts to help others avoid his mistakes.
T.I. has also finalized a book deal. A representative from HarperCollins told The Associated Press T.I. has written a book called “Power & Beauty” that’s set to be released in October. The novel, which was co-written with David Ritz, is a fictional tale about two childhood friends torn apart by dangerous dealings on the streets of Atlanta.
The arrest on weapons charges came after Harris’ best friend was killed following a post-performance party in Cincinnati in 2006. The rapper has said the bullets that killed his friend were meant for him.
When he was released from that sentence, he was required to perform 1,000 hours of community service, which he spent mostly talking with schoolchildren about the dangers of drugs, gangs and violence.
Following her performance of “Love on Top,” Beyonce told the crowd, “I want you to feel the love that’s growing inside me.” She then unbuttoned her coat and rubbed her belly.
Earlier:Walking the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards, Beyonce announced that she was pregnant, according to a tweet from TV.
“OMG Beyonce just made a huge announcement on the #vma carpet! #baby!!!!!”
This will be the singer’s first child; she’s married to hip hop icon Jay-Z.
Will and Jada Smith have issued a statement confirming they are still together after a report surfaced on Tuesday suggesting their 13-year marriage had come to an end.
“Although we are reluctant to respond to these types of press reports, the rumors circulating about our relationship are completely false. We are still together, and our marriage is intact,” Will and Jada said in a joint statement, issued to Access Hollywood.
Original:
“Men in Black” star Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith, often viewed as one of Hollywood’s few stable couples, have reportedly ended their 13-year marriage.
In Touch Weekly reported Tuesday that the pair has called it quits, but details are few and far between. TMZ reached out to Pinkett Smith’s rep, who expressed confusion by the In Touch Weekly news.
“What? In Touch said that? I know nothing about this … Lord. I’m going back to bed,” the rep told the celeb news site.
Smith and Pinkett Smith were first acquainted on the set of “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” They tied the knot in December 1997 and have two children together. Pinkett Smith is also the stepmother of Smith’s older son from the actor’s first marriage.
In 2008, Smith appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and said divorce would not be an option for him.
“What I found is divorce just can’t be an option,” Smith told the television show host. “It’s really that simple. And I think that’s the problem with L.A.: there are so many options. So a huge part of the success for [Pinkett Smith] and I is that we just removed the other options.”
Smith went on to say that the trick to his marriage was pursuing happiness.
“We’re like listen, we’re going to be together one way or the other so we might as well try to be happy,” Smith said.
Now let’s check out what is really going on….A tabloid reported Tuesday that the A-List Hollywood couple, who’ve been married for 13 years, are separating. But Trey Smith, Will’s son from a previous marriage, says not so fast on Twitter
“Did #WillandJada split? No they did NOT split! False information … its not true RETWEET!!!” Trey posted to Twitter Tuesday. “Everyone can think what they want … even if its not true.”
Keep it locked right here for further updates as we get them:
Al Sharpton has been officially named the host of the 6 PM hour on MSNBC. The network announced Tuesday that Sharpton will host “PoliticsNation” on weeknights starting August 29.
Sharpton has been the de facto host of the hour for many weeks, but no official announcement had been made until Tuesday. He replaced Cenk Uygur as the all-but-official 6 PM host after Uygur’s acrimonious exit from MSNBC in July.
The choice of Sharpton to host the hour has been marked by some controversy. MSNBC was criticized for not hiring a black journalist as a host, and there were charges that Sharpton’s close ties to Comcast and the Obama White House helped him get the role. For his part, Sharpton dimissed these concerns, saying he was becoming the host because of his career in activism.
“I am very happy and honored to join the MSNBC team as we collectively try to get America to ’Lean Forward,’” Sharpton said in a statement. “It is a natural extension of my life work and growth. We all learn from our pain and stand up from our stumbling and one must either learn to lean forward or fall backwards. I’m glad they have given me the opportunity to continue my forward lean.”
MSNBC’s full statement:
Reverend Al Sharpton, the civil rights activist and minister, has been named host of “PoliticsNation,” a nightly program airing weeknights live at 6 p.m. ET on MSNBC. The announcement was made by Phil Griffin, President of MSNBC. “PoliticsNation” will debut on August 29. In his new role, Sharpton will lead a lively and informed discussion of the top headlines, bringing viewers his take on events in his signature style.
“I’ve known Rev. Sharpton for over a decade and have tremendous respect for him. He has always been one of our most thoughtful and entertaining guests,” said Griffin. “I’m thrilled that he’s now reached a point in his career where he’s able to devote himself to hosting a nightly show. ‘PoliticsNation’ is going to be an incredibly strong kick-off to our evening schedule.”
In addition to being a frequent guest on MSNBC throughout the network’s history, Rev. Sharpton has also served as an occasional guest host on several programs, most recently on “MSNBC Live at 6PM” and “The Ed Show.” He joins the network at a time where MSNBC has experienced tremendous ratings growth, consistently topping CNN in primetime programming.
“I am very happy and honored to join the MSNBC team as we collectively try to get America to ’Lean Forward,’” Sharpton said. “It is a natural extension of my life work and growth. We all learn from our pain and stand up from our stumbling and one must either learn to lean forward or fall backwards. I’m glad they have given me the opportunity to continue my forward lean.”
With over 40 years of experience as a community leader, politician, minister and advocate, the Rev. Al Sharpton is one of America’s most-renowned civil rights leaders. Sharpton’s highly visible career began at the tender age of four when he preached his first sermon. A successful civil rights career soon followed, helping Sharpton hold such notable positions as the Youth Director of New York’s Operation Breadbasket, Director of Ministers for National Rainbow Push coalition, and founder of his own broad-based progressive civil rights organization, the National Action Network (NAN), one of the leading civil rights organizations in the world. Since its inception in 1991, NAN has expanded to encompass chapters throughout the United States and maintain important regional offices in Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, GA; Detroit, MI; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Las Vegas, NV; and Los Angeles, CA. Sharpton was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President in 2004. Rev. Sharpton also hosts a nationally syndicated radio show that broadcasts in 40 markets, five days a week. He resides in New York and has two daughters, Dominique and Ashley.
“PoliticsNation” will air weeknights from 6:00-7:00PM ET on MSNBC. Matthew Saal is Executive Producer.
Congrats to the good Rev Sharpton. We need some diversity on TV! This is a GREAT thing, he’ll prefect his skills over time of course. it’s nice that MSNBC thought to bring a little more diversity to their network. Rev Al is funny as hell, he has no problem with checking a Republican as soon as they get to lying, which is as soon as they open their mouths.
Nick Ashford, one-half of the legendary Motown songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson that penned elegant, soulful classics for the likes of Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye and funk hits for Chaka Khan and others, died Monday at age 70, his former publicist said.
Ashford, who along with wife Valerie Simpson wrote some of Motown’s biggest hits, died in a New York City hospital, said publicist Liz Rosenberg, who was Ashford’s longtime friend. He had been suffering from throat cancer and had undergone radiation treatment, she told The Associated Press.
Though they had some of their greatest success at Motown with classics like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Reach Out And Touch Somebody’s Hand” by Ross and “You’re All I Need To Get By” by Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Ashford & Simpson also created anthems for others, like “I’m Every Woman” by Khan (and later remade by Whitney Houston). Ashford & Simpson also had success writing for themselves: Perhaps the best-known song they sang was the 1980s hit “Solid As A Rock.”
“His music is unmatched in terms of great songwriting,” Verdine White of Earth, Wind and Fire said after learning of his friend’s death.
“They had magic and that’s what creates those wonderful hits, that magic,” White added. “Without those songs, those artists wouldn’t have been able to go to the next level.”
Others in the music industry also mourned the loss. On Twitter, Alicia Keys wrote, “I’m so sad that he’s gone. … So many of the greatests are going to a greater place … what a legacy of infectious music … man!”
Ashford and Simpson’s relationship stretched more than four decades. They met in 1964 in a New York City church. Ashford, a South Carolina native, had come to the city to pursue a dance career. Simpson was a music student, and after connecting with her, they decided to start to write songs together.
“They were always comfortable with each other and they made all of us comfortable, because they were comfortable,” White said.
Their first major success occurred when they came up with “Let’s Go Get Stoned” for Ray Charles. The bluesy, gospel-tinged song became a huge hit for Charles, and soon, they came to the attention of Motown Records and began penning hits for their artists.
They started out writing soulful, romantic works for the duo of Gaye and Terrell that would become instant classics, like “Your Precious Love,” and “Ain’t Nothin’ Like The Real Thing.” In fact, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” was originally their hit, until Ross later rerecorded it with a new arrangement that had sweeping pop grandeur and made it her signature song.
Ross may have been their greatest muse: With her, they had some of their biggest songs and helped give her career-defining hits that would distinguish her solo career apart from The Supremes. Among the songs Ross made hits were “Reach Out and Touch,” ”The Boss,” ”My House,” and “Missing You,” a tribute to the late Gaye and others. They also composed some of the music for “The Wiz,” the movie musical that starred Ross and Michael Jackson.
In an industry where marriages and partnerships are fleeting, Ashford and Simpson stood the test of time.
“The thing is they were married and working together, that was what was special about them. Everybody admired that,” White said.
The duo, married for 38 years, helped sell millions of records for several artists. They also had success as their own entity, but despite “Solid As a Rock,” their songs were dwarfed by those they penned for others. They continued to craft hits even into the new millennium: They are credited as co-writers on Amy Winehouse’s “Tears Dry On Their Own.”
In recent years, the pair continued to perform. They also were owners of the New York City restaurant Sugar Bar, where many top names and emerging talents would put on showcases.
In 2002, Ashford & Simpson were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Ashford is survived by his wife and two daughters. Rosenberg said there is no information yet on funeral arrangements.
Maxine Waters said on Wednesday that the Congressional Black Caucus has a dilemma. Their dilemma, according to her, is having to walk a thin line when it comes to confronting President Obama about many issues that involve the black community. What is odd about the statement is that the CBC never asked for permission from black people to “unleash” anything in Congress before this President came to office.
What’s so special about this President that the CBC needs black people’s permission to do something in D.C.? Maybe the fact that the black unemployment rates have never been this high in the history of America (nine-percent under Bush and 10-percent under Clinton), the same rates during both eras that white America now believes is “too high.” If white American unemployment was down to three- to four-percent during these administrations, and black unemployment was at 9-10 percent, it signifies double the rate of whites. Nine percent for them, as history shows, is 18-20 percent for blacks, by proportionate rates.
“We don’t put pressure on the president,” said Congressperson Waters. “Let me tell you why. We don’t put pressure on the president because ya’ll love the president…You’re very proud…to have a black man [in the White House] … If we go after the president too hard, you’re going after us.” The CBC recently took to the streets of America on a “Jobs Tour” that includes a series of job fairs and town hall meetings not historically known to improve economic conditions in the past. Maybe this is the one tour that will get the available unemployed actually married to the available jobs.
Maxine Waters Responds Strongly To Allen West’s “Plantation Bosses” Comment
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
I’m proud of Obama. Most blacks who complain about Obama’s performance are the same blacks who didn’t vote in the last election. Which allowed the House to become a Republican majority. It’s clear that they are holding things up to disgrace & discredit Obama every chance they get; corporations lay blacks off first when they “CUT BACK” blacks know that and Maxine Waters knows that too so why are they blaming Obama for something she knows has been going on long before we had a black president??
A special ed girl in a Missouri middle school reported that she was raped a couple of years ago. But school officials insisted that her story was made up and badgered her into recanting:
Following instructions from the school, the girl wrote an apology to the boy she accused of raping her and had to personally give it to him, according to the lawsuit. She was then expelled for the remainder of the 2008-09 school year….The girl returned to the middle school for the 2009-10 school year and tried to avoid the boy, according to the lawsuit. It didn’t work. She was sexually assaulted again [in the school library] but didn’t tell anyone because she was afraid of being expelled again.
….School officials were notified of the incident and allegedly doubted the girl’s claim, saying they’d “already been through this,” according to the lawsuit. The girl was also examined and found to have been sexually assaulted. However, she was suspended from school for “disrespectful conduct” and “public display of affection,” her lawyers wrote in the lawsuit.
I’ll grant that it’s impossible to know for sure what happened based on just one side of the story. Still, a forensic exam after the second rape showed that the girl had indeed been sexually assaulted, a DNA match was made to the boy she had accused of raping her, and the boy then pleaded guilty to charges in juvenile court. But the school district continues to say that it bears no responsibility for any of this. SMDH
The New York Daily News reported that Brooklyn-born Flatbush-raised rapper, Kampane, better known asRhian Stoute, was killed by gunshot wound. His body was found around 8 a.m. on Tuesday. He was shot and then torched inside of a black Chevy Tahoe with New York plates. His body and the torched SUV was found in Paramus (Bergen County), New Jersey.
The up-and-coming rap star was so badly burned, reports stated, that it took a day for police to identify the body. Police believe he was killed elsewhere and then taken to Paramus, where the body was torched. Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said “We do not believe it [the murder] occurred at the location where the vehicle and body were discovered.”
“Everybody loved him,” said Russell Jackson, Kampane’s 33-year-old cousin. “We’re shocked. It’s very confusing…This is out of nowhere.” Kampane was 33 years old at the time of his death. He was not married and reportedly did not have children. He was promoting his new single “What You Drinking On.”
Submit to Social Websites