Casper Smart Spends Jennifer Lopez’ Money On Reconciliation Gifts Casper Smart isn’t facing facts with this breakup from long-time girlfriend and rich mature banger Jennifer Lopez . His solution? Shower her with gifts to win her back. Only issue — he’s spending HER cash on the make-up presents… Via Life & Style Mag: Life & Style has exclusively learned that Casper Smart recently tried to score points by sending Jennifer Lopez two dozen pink roses — but didn’t pay for them himself! “So he called up Jennifer’s favorite florist and placed a custom order for $525,” the insider says. “Several hours later, J. Lo’s manager called Casper and yelled at him because he had charged the flowers to J. Lo’s personal account,” the source explains. Yikes! Here’s a question: If Jenny’s really done with her private dancer Casper…WHY is she still allowing him access to her accounts? She may want to shut that down ASAP. WENN/Splash/AKM-GSI
Kim Zolciak Denies Returning To RHOA After NeNe Leakes’ Tweets Reality star NeNe Leakes recently revealed some secrets from the upcoming season of “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” NeNe is maintaining that she will NOT be on the 9th season of the Bravo show… The star says Kim Z and Sheree were coming back to the show full-time… Kim Zolciak confirmed whether or not she’s really returning to RHOA reports TMZ : Sources close to Kim tell us she has not shot anything for the show, and hasn’t signed on to shoot either … contrary to NeNe’s statement. Kim has her own show on Bravo, and we’re told she doesn’t see any point in returning to ‘RHOA.’ Funny enough, our Kim sources say her daughters, Brielle and Ariana, will actually make an appearance next season … because they went to Sheree Whitfield’s son’s birthday. As for NeNe claiming she’s not coming back … we’re told producers ain’t buying it, and expect to see her there front and center — just like last season. #BLOOP
Shaunie O’Neal Says Critics Go Harder On BBWLA Because Of Race Do people criticize shows like BBW because the casts are predominately Black? Basketball Wives creator Shaunie O’Neal recently sat down with The Undefeated about the reality show’s scrutiny. Shaunie points out that the only difference between her show and shows like Real Housewives of New York is skin color… “They’re a little harder on us, for whatever reason … but there’s nothing going on in Basketball Wives that isn’t going on with Real Housewives of New York. Hell, most of the time I think we’re a lot tamer,” she said, laughing. “And sometimes, honestly I agree [with the critics]. It’s not a proud moment for me [when we’re fighting]. Did it happen? Yes. Do you expect VH1 to leave that on the cutting room floor? Absolutely not.” She said though, that she’s not a puppeteer. “Our show, it’s a 110 percent real.” What’s the real difference? Discuss. VH1
President Barack Obama And First Lady Michele Cover Essence We will miss these two ! President Obama and First Lady Michelle cover Essence mag this month, and talk about the legacy they leave behind as the first African American couple to occupy the White House. POTUS says that contrary to what a lot of folks try to say , they’re satisfied to have left the country better than the way they found it… Via Essence : President and Michelle Obama cover the October issue of ESSENCE magazine, in which they talk about their life in the White House, the state of the nation and the legacy they hope to leave behind. “…I can unequivocally say that America is better off now than we were when we came into office. By almost every economic measure, we’re better off,” President Obama said. “But having said that, we still have a lot of work to do.” And FLOTUS says their impact on Black youth and the positive image they’ve portrayed over the years will be their legacy… While the Obamas have undoubtedly brought a refreshing change to the White House—and politics in general—Mrs. Obama says that she hopes their visibility will continue to inspire Black boys and girls. “I think when it comes to Black kids, it means something for them to have spent most of their life seeing the family in the White House look like them,” Mrs. Obama said. “It matters. All the future work that Barack talked about, I think over these last few years, we’ve kind of knocked the ceiling of limitation off the roofs of many young kids; imaginations of what’s possible for them. And as a mother, I wouldn’t underestimate how important that is, having that vision that you can really do anything—not because somebody told you, but because you’ve seen and experienced it. I think that will be a lasting impact on our kids.” What a gorgeous couple and a legendary time. Don’t you feel fortunate to have been alive for such an impactful point in American history? Essence/Getty
Someone we actually like… Taraji P. Henson Covers ‘Entertainment Weekly’ Taraji P. Henson is currently taking on the cover of Entertainment Weekly and dishing on her role on “Empire.” According to Taraji as Empire’s third season approaches fans can relate to Cookie because she can be their alter ego. “Cookie has all kinds of fans, all,” says Henson, who nabbed a Golden Globe for the role in January. “I get it. She’s my alter ego — we all need a Sasha Fierce [Beyoncé’s alter-ego].” Furthermore she’s balancing playing Katherine Johnson in “Hidden Figures” and preparing to release a line with MAC cosmetics. Henson, 45, is now poised for the biggest moment of her career with her third Emmy nomination, the third season of Empire (which bows Sept. 21 at 9 p.m.), the release of her memoir, Around the Way Girl (on sale Oct. 11), a new cosmetics line with MAC, and a starring role in the awards-hopeful film Hidden Figures (due this winter), in which she plays real-life NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson. “This is my first time carrying a show and then going to carry a movie,” says Henson. “That’s a lot. It’s so stressful, and I had to really check myself because it’s so easy to take for granted when you get to a certain level. Like check yourself because people pray to be here.” In addition to the interview Taraji posed for picture perfect photos with photographer James White. What do YOU think about Taraji’s Entertainment weekly photos??? More on the flip. James White For EW
Swizz Beatz, DMX Feds Say Swizz Beatz Owes Back Taxes Uncle Sam has accused Swizz Beatz of not paying nearly $280,000 in back taxes, and now the federal government has headed to court demanding he pay up in full, BOSSIP has learned. According to official records in New York, the IRS has filed a lien against the music producer turned art aficionado, accusing him of screwing them out of taxes for 2015. The document states that Swizz is refusing to pay up on $275,727.12 for unpaid taxes. The IRS isn’t playing around with their money and demanding he pay up the full amount or they will begin coming after his property and assets to pay off the debt. Earlier this year, the IRS slapped Swizz, real name Kasseem Dean, with another federal tax lien, accusing him of owing a total of $88,662.94 for the year 2014. The lien is still active and has yet to be paid off. A few months earlier, Swizz dropped $732,000 to Uncle Sam for unpaid taxes for the year 2006, and the IRS released the lien against him for that year. Swizz dropped an additional $556,000 last year to pay off his 2007 tax debt. The music producer has a long history of tax problems and at one point he owed more than $2.6 million dollars to the IRS. Beatz blasted the reports about his tax issues explaining he was all caught up – despite evidence showing otherwise.
Dear Bossip , My closest and longest standing girlfriend of 16 years and I have recently come to an awful fallout. Our relationship was already strained considering I had bumped heads with another one of our mutual friends who did me wrong, and for five years they were cut out of my life. All that changed earlier this year when my mother died suddenly of a brain stroke. Both of my friends attended the funeral and all our beef was immediately squashed given the circumstances. I should have been more cautious, but to be honest I was really happy to have my two besties back in my life. And, at the time, I thought that any petty drama in the future would be avoided as we are mature adults. I was wrong. My initial friend and I have never fallen out before. We may have had some heated moments, but it’s never been a slanging match. Until now. It all started when my girlfriend invited me to her son’s religious confirmation. My other mutual friend is his godmother. But, she was getting married and then having her honeymoon so his event had to be postponed to assure her attendance. The date of the affair was up in the air until further notice. In the meantime, I had managed to locate my biological father. As you can imagine, at 35 years old this was a big thing for me. To celebrate I arranged a night out followed by a party at my house in which my closest friends and existing family could meet my father and new stepmother. On at least 5 separate occasions, I reminded my best friend of the date. I sent her a link to the event that we would be attending and I kept on reminding her that I wanted her and her man to be there. As my other friend was getting married and couldn’t be there, due to being on her honeymoon, to me that was acceptable. When the day arrived my best friend sent a message with my brother saying she couldn’t be there because she had to work. I did not hear from her asking how we got on. This left a bad taste in my mouth, but I did not say anything about it as I was unsure how to approach the situation given our long history of friendship. I was hurt at the fact that she didn’t have the decency to even pick up the phone to call me and let me know herself or even ask me about the DNA results that she knew I was awaiting. The following week our mutual friend returned from her honeymoon. We met up for drinks, as we both live in the same neighborhood, to catch up. Two days later, I’m on Facebook and there is all these photos on my feed of my two friends and her son- celebrating at the son’s event, which I was not told was going to be happening that day. I seriously felt a way as I had just seen the mutual friend for drinks and she did not mention anything about the fact that the event was going to be taking place a matter of days later. Still, I said nothing. The following week was my birthday. While celebrating in Barcelona, both of them messaged me to wish me a happy birthday?! I paid them dust. Fast forward to the present day. After being out of the country for a month and meeting my new family on my father’s side, my brother tells me that my mother’s ashes are to be scattered. Given the situation of how I feel about my best friend – I messaged her and told her that I did not want to see her at the grave site as I was questioning our friendship. I explained to her why I felt the way I did and that whatever condolences she would have potentially wanted to pass along would not be greeted with the best enthusiasm. Instead of righting her wrongs and apologizing- she says that she didn’t know that she was supposed to be meeting my dad and that no friends were invited to her son’s event as it was just ‘Family only.’ I told her that I was disgusted by her behavior and that real friends do not categorize real friends in such a manner. Now, I’m left wondering if I have made the right decision or if I have acted in haste? Thoughts? – A Confused Friend Dear Ms. A Confused Friend , I think you need to clarify with your friend why you have cut her off because I was confused by reading your letter. I wasn’t sure who was who – who was getting married, who was having the religious ceremony for their son. And, when you brought them up again I had to go back to the top of the letter and find out which one was the best friend, and who was the mutual friend, and why you fell out with the mutual friend, but now you all are cool again. I also didn’t follow, and wasn’t clear if you confronted your best friend and told her why you cut her off, or are you expecting her to guess why you are mad at her? Does she, or did she know that she was cut off? And, you want her to right her wrongs and apologize, but for what? Look, you are mad because you were not invited to your best friend’s son’s religious confirmation. However, your mutual friend was invited, and you’re mad because your friend told you that it was “family only.” But, isn’t the mutual friend the “godmother” of the child? So, if the mutual friend is the godmother, then, technically she is “family,” or considered “family.” And, it appears that she is much closer to your best friend than you, considering your best friend asked your mutual friend to be the godmother of her child. So, my question to you is why are you calling her your best friend when it seems that the other woman may be her best friend? (Sips tea) I think you may have given too much credit, and too much credence to your relationship with your so-called best friend. You are not on the same page, and though you may think she is your best friend, she is best friends with your mutual friend. And, before you start dismissing and chopping folks off, I think you need to have a conversation with her as a grown woman and express how you feel, and ask her about your friendship. I’m sure you may realize that you two have different interpretations of your friendship, or what your friendship is about. Now, yes, you have every right to be upset considering she bailed on your reunion and meeting of your father. You did express that you emailed, called, texted, and confirmed with her that you wanted her and her man to be there for the festivities. And, you can confront her about it and ask her what happened. Ask her why she didn’t show up and why failed to show support for an important moment in your life. Again, have a grown woman conversation with her, and find out the reason. I noticed that whenever you have a beef or issue with your friends that you tend to shut down. You don’t say anything, and you don’t confront them about it. You let it fester and then you create this whole scenario of what you think happened, why it happened, and how they did you wrong. You pretend everything is fine and things are all good, yet, you are stewing with being upset, angry, and disappointed. They have no clue that they did something to you, and that you are upset over it. And, then, you just stop speaking, and start pouting and then go to your corner and then when they ask what’s wrong you blow up and make them out to be wrong and bad for something they had no clue over what they did. I am very certain you do this a lot with all of your relationships and with other people in your life. Also, didn’t you say you fell out with both of them at one point, or at least your mutual friend for five years, and it wasn’t until the death of your mother that you and she reconciled, and came back together as friends? So, if this is the case, then if you haven’t spoken to the mutual friend for five years, it may be possible that during that time she and your best friend developed their own friendship and became close. And, your best friend probably didn’t tell you because if there was bad blood, then, I’m sure she was like why mention her if you’re going to bad mouth her when she and her are growing close, and your best friend has a friendship with her independent of you. Ma’am, it’s time to grow up and be an adult, and when someone or something bothers you, then you confront the person gently and lovingly and explain that you are upset by what they did. You talk with them to get clarification over the matter, and see how the miscommunication may have been prevented, and, or, you discuss if something wasn’t clear, or misconstrued. You can avoid a wealth of headaches, anger, upsets, and being mad if you just calm yourself and talk with the other person. I’m sure all disagreements, misunderstandings, and any other concerns can be worked out if you just ask take the time to get very clear and make sure everyone is on the same page. Because, again, you were not at her son’s religious confirmation because you are not family, and if she didn’t express that to you, then, you need to ask her why it wasn’t clear, and if your friendship as her best friend doesn’t constitute you as “family.” You need to be on the same page regarding your friendship and how you interpret best friend, and she interprets best friend, or if you are her best friend. – Terrance Dean ***(Attention all media/news outlets, if you use this story and letter, or any parts of this content for your outlets you must give credit to this site, the columnist, and his advice)** Hey Bossip Fam, what do you think? S hare your opinions and thoughts below! Also, e-mail all your questions Terrance Dean: loveandrelationships@bossip.com Follow Terrance Dean on Twitter: @ terrancedean and “LIKE” Terrance Dean on Facebook, click HERE ! Make sure to order my books Mogul: A Novel (Atria Books – June 2011; $15); Hiding In Hip Hop (Atria Books – June 2008); and Straight From Your Gay Best Friend – The Straight Up Truth About Relationships, Love, And Having A Fabulous Life (Agate/Bolden Books – November 2010; $15). They are available in bookstores everywhere, and on Amazon, click HERE !
Nate Parker Apologizes For Lack Of Gender Perspective, Addresses Male Privilege Nate Parker has been getting dragged relentlessly over the past few weeks , ever since details of past sexual assault allegations hit the news . Faced with cancelled screenings and potential backlash against his latest film project, Parker is admitting his initial response to his past being brought up was not the best: According to Ebony reports : After answering a question about why he chose to make “yet another slave film,” Parker addressed the controversy head-on. “I think it’s very difficult to talk about injustice and not deal with what’s happening right now,” the 36-year-old actor and director told the audience. “When I was first met with the news that this part of my past had come up, my knee-jerk reaction was selfish. I wasn’t thinking about even the potential hurt of others; I was thinking about myself.” For the next 12 minutes, Parker discussed learning about things like toxic masculinity and male privilege, while explaining that he isn’t upset the rape allegation has been resurrected. “This is happening for a very specific reason,” Parker explained, referencing God throughout the conversation. “To be honest, my privilege as a male, I never thought about it. I’m walking around daring someone to say something or do something that I define is racist or holding us back, but never really thinking about male culture and the destructive effect it’s having on our community.” Definitely a good start right? There’s more though. Parker spoke at length with the Ebony reporter, discussing how little his 19-year-old self understood about consent and honestly a lot of what he has to say is STILL problematic. EBONY.com: You started out tonight addressing the controversy, and you talked a lot about male culture and toxic masculinity. So I want to kind of compare. What, at 19, did you know about consent? Nate Parker: To be honest, not very much. It wasn’t a conversation people were having. When I think about 1999, I think about being a 19-year-old kid, and I think about my attitude and behavior just toward women with respect objectifying them. I never thought about consent as a definition, especially as I do now. I think the definitions of so many things have changed. EBONY.com: So how does it differ for you? Nate Parker: You mean like where I am right now? EBONY.com: Yeah, as 36-year-old Nate. Nate Parker: Put it this way, when you’re 19, a threesome is normal. It’s fun. When you’re 19, getting a girl to say yes, or being a dog, or being a player, cheating. Consent is all about–for me, back then–if you can get a girl to say yes, you win. Wayment. Did he actually say “a threesome is normal”? As in a threesome with two guys and a girl? That’s normal? Is that something that most people would agree with? Cuz we’re not seeing it. The good news is Parker does OWN up to the selfishness of his initial response: EBONY.com: You mentioned that your initial comments about the resurrection of this incident were self-centered, and from an emotional place on your behalf. So do you understand why people are struggling with… Nate Parker: Absolutely! I understand now, but I was speaking from a standpoint of ignorance. EBONY.com: Two weeks ago, you mean? Nate Parker: Yeah. Well, when you don’t know, you don’t know. It’s like, if I don’t know how to swim and two weeks later I know how to swim, I know how to swim. Honestly, when I started reading them comments I had to call some people and say, What did I do wrong? What did I say wrong? I called a couple of sisters that know that are in the space that talk about the feminist movement and toxic masculinity, and just asked questions. What did I do wrong? Because I was thinking about myself. And what I realized is that I never took a moment to think about the woman. I didn’t think about her then, and I didn’t think about her when I was saying those statements, which was wrong and insensitive. I just really wanted to know more about what I was talking about. People were saying, why isn’t he speaking soon? Cuz I still didn’t know nothing. I don’t want…this ain’t the hype for me. Much better. Now we’re getting somewhere. More on Parker’s awakening when you continue. WENN
LA Cop Who Beat Girlfriend And Set Her Hair On Fire Sentenced To Six Months In Jail An ex Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was sentenced to one year in jail this week for brutally beating his girlfriend and setting her hair on fire according to ABC 7 News : The Orange County District Attorney wanted Alejandro Flores to serve his time in state prison, but the judge overruled the request, sparking outrage from the victim. While the formal sentence was for one year, Flores is expected to spend only six months in jail under state sentencing guidelines. The 34-year-old stood emotionless as he listened to his son’s mother speak about the violence. “He pushed me against the stove yelling, ‘Is this what you want?’ At that point, he turned on the gas burner, setting the my hair on fire,” said the victim, who did not want to be identified. As she read her victim-impact statement, she urged the judge to issue a stiffer sentence. “Alejandro chose a career in law enforcement to protect and serve. Apparently, that doesn’t cross to his personal life and the sentence confirms it,” she told the courtroom. The victim said there had been violence before, all of which occurred in front of their young son. Flores pleaded guilty to nine felony counts, including using a gun to threaten his then girlfriend not to leave after the violence. The victim said her close encounter with death that day gave her strength to leave and report abuse. WTF?!?!
Cheryl Boone Isaacs Defends The Birth Of A Nation Cheyrl Boone Isaacs , the newest President of the Motion Picture Academy isn’t on board with the American Film Institute’s decision to scrap the screening of The Birth Of A Nation after news of Nate Parker’s old rape case have come to light. Cheryl, who’s been championing more diversity in the Oscars, says that in this situation, it’s most appropriate to judge the art, separate from the artist himself… Via TMZ : “The Birth of a Nation” is a movie every American absolutely needs to see — regardless of star and director Nate Parker’s old rape trial … at least that’s how the Oscars honcho sees it. Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Prez of the Motion Picture Academy, talked to us Thursday about the potential backlash. The American Film Institute canceled a screening of the movie this week, and Parker’s come under fire since details of the 2001 trial were released. Parker was acquitted, but Isaacs doesn’t think moviegoers should be concerned with that anyway. It’s a strong point of view, considering Isaacs’ gender, and her position in the Academy … which has been skewered for a lack of diversity in nominated films. Welp, with the dirt on other lauded actors directors and screenwriters in Hollywood that routinely gets swept under the rug…can you say you disagree? TMZ/YouTube
