Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty Meek Mill Named Man Of The Year, According To BET Meek Mill has undoubtedly had one of the biggest years of both his life and his career, so it’s only right somebody acknowledges that. The rapper is sending 2018 out the right way with a special honor from BET that’ll most definitely give him some confidence as we stroll into 2019. The artist, who just dropped his highly-anticipated album CHAMPIONSHIPS last month, has been deemed the 2018 Man of the Year by BET. This honor was bestowed upon Meek for many reasons, but it was of course in part due to his vocal criticisms of the country’s ongoing issues with criminal justice and the need for reform. “Who Meek Mill is today is the best version of himself with more sky to climb,” the network said in their statement announcing the honor. “His interviews are now meaty. He’s never sounded more articulate, more personable, more informative . . . Meek widened America’s eyes toward its own illnesses. For example, he spoke from a personal perspective on how a low self-worth and desensitization to the judicial system prevented him and so many others from fighting inaccurate charges.” The year-end celebrations are going to continue for Mill into next week in Miami, where the rapper will be performing at the Story nightclub for a New Year’s Eve throwdown. It’s been a big year for Mr. Meek Mill, it’s only right he end it all with a bang.
Source: Prince Williams / Getty Zonnique Buys A House It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And even more special for the Harris family, now that their oldest daughter Zonnique has secured her own roof. Tiny and Tip’s 22-year-old seed Zonnique has purchased her first home. Tiny shared the news with friends on Instagram after Zonnique officially secured the property. Tiny wrote, “super proud of My 1st [Zonnique] she bought her first house today!! Congratulations my beauty Queen… Your mama loves u lady! Thank you Vic for everything.” Super sweet! Zonnique is a regular cast member of two reality series right now, “Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta” on WEtv and “Family Hustle” on VH1. On her personal IG page, Zonnique hinted to followers that she was taking her last photo by her family’s decorated Christmas tree. They grow so fast, don’t they??? Congratulations Zonnique!
Source: Michael Tran / Getty Jemele Hill Announces Engagement To “Ol’ Boy” “ Meet me at the altar in your white dress , we ain’t gettin’ no younger, girl, we might as well do it ” were the words of the great American vocalists Jagged Edge, and while we’re pretty sure that isn’t exactly what Ol’ Boy said to Jemele Hill when he asked for her hand in marriage, it’s a very on-brand thing to imagine happening to the pop culture enthusiast that we’ve all come to love over the years. Yesterday, Jemele broke the news that Ol’ Boy liked it so he put a ring on it. Ever since Jemele left ESPN and broke out with that $6 million we exclusively reported , her life has been glowed the f**k up. God shole is good. We offer our sincerest congratulations to Jemele and Ol’ Boy! We wish you all the happiness in the world.
Source: Kwaku Alston / Kwaku Alston Former First Lady Michelle Obama and Barack Obama are not only our forever President and First Lady. According to Gallup’s annual poll of the most admired people in America, Michelle topped Hillary Clinton as the country’s most admired woman, the first time in 17 years the former presidential candidate and secretary of state did not top the list. 15 percent of Americans surveyed selected Obama as their most admired woman. Oprah finished second with five percent where Clinton and current First Lady Melania Trump received four percent of the vote. Former President Obama took 19 percent of the vote on the men’s side with 13 percent shockingly picking Donald Trump . Join Our Text Club To Get The Latest Music, Entertainment, Contests And Breaking News On Your Phone. Text VIP to 71007 to join! Other women on the most admired women list included Queen Elizabeth II, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Ellen DeGeneres and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. Among the men, former President George W. Bush, Bill Gates, Bernie Sanders, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden and Mike Pence made the list. This year’s rankings mark only the 13th time in the 72 polls conducted that the sitting president was not voted most admired man in America. The poll’s results were divided along party lines. Majority of the Dems voted for the Obamas and majority of the Republicans polled for the Trumps. Gallup, which first conducted this poll in 1946 and has done so every year since, except 1976, surveyed 1,025 adults from Dec. 3-12. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. RELATED: Barack Obama In Houston: “Nobody In My Administration Got Indicted” RELATED: Michelle Obama Sells 1.4 Million Copies Of Her Book In A Week RELATED: Michelle Obama Adds Houston Date To Her Becoming Tour
6lack may be unfazed by Grammy nominations but the Atlanta singer/rapper can tell you he was shook by Jay-Z and Beyonce catching his set at Coachella. He sits in with Young Jas to discuss what fatherhood has meant to him, why he’s taking time away after his tour to travel with his daughter, why he decided to release the full version of “Unfair” for Christmas and much more! On Fatherhood: “Amazing. It’s one of the best things in the world, if not the best thing in the world. It teaches you a lot about yourself, a lot about people and … just making sure all I’m doing is maturing and doing what I need to do. [It’s taught me to] focusing on clarity and saying what I mean, doing exactly what I say versus beating around the bush or skipping around things or not saying things because they make you uncomfortable. Just say what you need to say, get it done because she’s going to have questions and you need to have answers.” On Being Shook By Jay-Z And Beyonce At Coachella: “They told me they were fans and the show was great. They were just like, chillin’ right after I got off stage. So, get off stage and you see them and obviously I’m like floored, ‘They don’t come to everybody sets, I should feel really good right now.’ We talked for a quick second. Other than that, just knowing people I love listen to my music is a cool thing. Like Erykah, even Cole listening to my music is a good thing.” Join Our Text Club To Get The Latest Music, Entertainment, Contests And Breaking News On Your Phone. Text BOX to 24042 to join! You can hear the full version of “Unfair” here and watch the entire interview with Young Jas up top! RELATED: Normani Shares New Single “Waves” With 6LACK [NEW MUSIC] RELATED: Remember When 6LACK Covered And Killed This Erykah Badu Classic?
Source: Mario Tama / Getty The family of Lanekia Michelle Brown , 37, wants to know why their pregnant loved one recently passed away in a Mississippi jail over the weekend. According to WJTV News , Lanekia was awaiting trial for marijuana trafficking in the Madison County Detention Center when she complained of having stomach pains. By the time the nurse arrived to check on her, Lanekia was dead. She was roughly 3-4 months pregnant. Lanekia Michelle Brown, 37, died at the Madison County, Mississippi Detention Center; she was 3-4 weeks pregnant and complained of stomach pains. “I need to know what happened to her…they won’t tell me or give me no information. That’s my child.” https://t.co/wLEnq7CmP6 — Ethan Brown (@ethanbrown72) December 25, 2018 Lanekia’s family told the news station that on Dec. 23, Mississippi Highway Patrol Officer came to her mother, Margaret Johnson’s, home to inform her that her daughter had died in police custody. “They did CPR on her over and over… still didn’t get no response… So he just said she was gone,” Johnson recalled. After learning of her daughter’s death, Johnson and other family members drove down to the jail to get more information about Lankekia’s death and to collect her belongings. But when they arrived, they were told to come back on Dec. 26 instead. However, when the came back as instructed, the family claims they weren’t able to identify her body. While Lanekia was in the early stages of her pregnancy, her family stressed that the 37-year-old mother of two, didn’t suffer from any other health conditions. The family is clear: They do not trust the authorities’ explanation of what happened to Lanekia and they suspect foul play. “It’s very suspicious because like I said we talked to her and she was okay. If she had any kind of problems, she would have let us know,” a family member told WJTV reporters. In the meantime, Madison County authorities have yet to release a statement on the young mother’s death, but the Mississippi Bureau announced they will be in charge of investigating Lanekia’s case. That, and the results of an autopsy are still pending. Many of us already know that Black women dying police custody isn’t new or rare. Just last week, we reported that Janice Dotson-Stephens’ life, a 61-year-old grandmother of 10, died in a Texas jail after being held on $300 bail since July 17. She was reportedly charged with criminal trespassing and a history of mental illness. While authorities claim that Dotson-Stephen’s death was natural, the coroner’s report has yet to be released to the public. We’re praying for both Lanekia Michelle Brown and Janice Dotson-Stephens’ families. This is a developing story. We will provide updates as they become available. RELATED NEWS: Grandmother Of 10 Dies In Jail While Being Held On $300 Bail HBO’s Sandra Bland Documentary Proves Her Spirit Is Still Advocating For Justice Meet The Pregnant Black Woman Jailed For Defending Herself With An Unloaded Gun [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”2805741″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images for Netflix / Getty Last week, HelloBeautiful was invited to the Private VIP Screening of Netflix’s Bird Box starring Academy Award Winning Actress, Sandra Bullock. Boasting an all-star cast which includes Trevante Rhodes , Lil Rel Howery , Jacki Weaver , Sarah Paulson, Machine Gun Kelly, and John Malkovich, the Bird Box screening at Atlanta’s CineBistro at Town Brookhaven truly complimented the films growing buzz. Hosted by Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss and cast member Lil Rel Howery , Bird Box was all the talk among writers and bloggers. With tasty appetizers on deck; crispy coconut shrimp, wagyu beef sliders, chicken satay skewers, and mac-and-cheese bites, as well as delicious Bird Box, themed alcoholic beverages – The Blindfold and The Douglas, the VIP screening was a great way to kick off the holiday season. Source: Netflix / Netflix So what’s the hype about? Bullock, who plays Malorie in Bird Box is trying to escape an unknown force that destroyed most of the world’s population. With only a few people left (those who kept their eyes closed), Malorie seeks safety for her two children, Girl and Boy. After her sisters’ death, Malorie links up with a small group of strangers and takes refuge in their home. When the house is no longer safe, Malorie packs up her kids and departs with her new boo, heroic co-star Tom (Trevante Rhodes), with hopes of finding a sanctuary. Determined to survive and to reach safety, Malorie ventures down a treacherous river for two-days with her family. Blindfolded, but not broken by the events, Malorie relies on her maternal instincts and survival skills to beat the odds. What we loved about the film… Bird Box clearly brings the thrills plus suspense and some really chilling moments to the table, along with a soft touch of romance with Tom under trying circumstances. We loved the dark, edgy and cold feel of the picture. Another plus – the casting and acting are stellar. Where the movie falls short – viewers may feel a bit slighted because the mysterious force isn’t fully explained and the romance between Malorie and Tom doesn’t reach its height. Honestly, by the time it starts, it’s over. Such is life. Stream Bird Box today on Netflix! Check out images from Netflix’s Bird Box Private VIP Atlanta Screening on December 19th. Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images for Netflix Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images for Netflix Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images for Netflix Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images for Netflix Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images for Netflix Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Images for Netflix
S ad news to report for Forest Whitaker and his wife Keisha Nash Whitaker after 22 years of marriage. Forest reportedly filed the docs in a Los Angeles court on Dec. 26. SEE ALSO: Some No Name, Pitchy R&B Singer Disrespected Keith Sweat And Gets Demolished On Twitter According to TMZ , “It’s currently unknown what led to the split. Whitaker cites irreconcilable differences in his divorce petition.” They have 2 daughters together but they are all adults so there will be no custody issues. The two met in 1994 on the set of “Blown Away” and were married in 1996. Just last year, Keisha talked about the secret to a long-lasting marriage to the web site She Knows , “Anything that I’m doing that Forest’s able to be there and come and support me, he absolutely does. What makes a good partnership or marriage is when you support one another.I certainly love and respect what Forest does. It’s hard.” She continued, “He works really hard to take care of our family. I think it’s important to show my appreciation by being there for him and supporting him. More than that, I get to hang out with my friend. That’s pretty cool and vice versa.” The day before Forest filed for divorce he tweeted about family, “Christmas is a celebration of solidarity – a time of the year when we are reminded that the bonds our families, friends, fellow citizens and beyond are based on sharing and bringing joy. # MerryChirstmas to you all.” See below: Christmas is a celebration of solidarity – a time of the year when we are reminded that the bonds our families, friends, fellow citizens and beyond are based on sharing and bringing joy. #MerryChirstmas to you all! — Forest Whitaker (@ForestWhitaker) December 25, 2018 Forest Whitaker, 57, nor his wife, 46, have spoken out about the divorce. SEE ALSO: All The Ways Cops Are Still Trying To Cover Up LaQuan McDonald’s Execution Outrageous! Figurines Of White Cherub Crushing Head Of Black Angel Removed From Dollar Store Meet Jogger Joe, The Man Who Took Racist Cue From BBQ Becky In Tossing Homeless Man’s Clothes [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3838917″ overlay=”true”]
W e are all still missing the Queen of Soul who passed away on August 16, 2018. However, her life is going to be celebrated by the one and only — Tyler Perry. SEE ALSO: Some No Name, Pitchy R&B Singer Disrespected Keith Sweat And Gets Demolished On Twitter The special will be called “Aretha! A GRAMMY Celebration For The Queen Of Soul” and will be taped on Jan. 13 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. No on when the show will air but it will be televised on CBS. Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow said in a statement to Grammy.com , “For more than six decades, her extraordinary artistic achievements coupled with her passionate dedication to her philanthropic work — which ranged from children’s and artists’ issues to civil rights activism — served as a testament to her power, majesty, and genius. These gifts positioned her as a true cultural icon, and the Recording Academy is honored to celebrate her inspirational legacy.” The legendary Clive Davis also said, “I am thrilled to have the Recording Academy and CBS as partners in this global tribute to my very dear friend Aretha Franklin. Aretha was more than the Queen of Soul; she was a national treasure. This unique concert — featuring many of today’s greatest artists — will celebrate Aretha in a spectacular manner befitting her once-in-a-lifetime talent.” Grammy.com reports the performers will be Yolanda Adams, Shirley Caesar, Alessia Cara, Kelly Clarkson, Common, Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Patti LaBelle, and BeBe Winans . This clearly will be an epic performance. In other news, TMZ reports, “The IRS claims Franklin owes more than $6.3 million in back taxes from 2012 to 2018, and an additional $1.5 mil in penalties.” The site also reports, “Her lawyer also filed docs in October demanding the estate pony up nearly $54k to cover bills dating back 6 years. SEE ALSO: All The Ways Cops Are Still Trying To Cover Up LaQuan McDonald’s Execution Outrageous! Figurines Of White Cherub Crushing Head Of Black Angel Removed From Dollar Store Meet Jogger Joe, The Man Who Took Racist Cue From BBQ Becky In Tossing Homeless Man’s Clothes [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3838917″ overlay=”true”]
Source: NurPhoto / Getty There are no more excuses for not seeing your family next holiday season, all because of one dedicated dad from Ohio. One father went the extra mile(s) this Christmas , booking six different flights to spend the holiday with his daughter, who works as a flight attendant. Delta Airlines attendant Pierce Vaughan wasn’t able to take the day off for Christmas Eve or Christmas day, so her father Hal decided to join her. He used his accrued miles and points to spend the holidays with her in the sky as she completed her job for the rest of the Christmas travelers on board. Their absolutely adorable story went viral after one passenger shared it on Facebook , after sitting next to Hal on the plane and realizing exactly what was going on. “I had the pleasure of sitting next to Hal on my flight back home. His daughter Pierce was our flight attendant who had to work over Christmas,” Mike Levy wrote on his Facebook with a selfie of himself next to Hal. “Hal decided he would spend the holiday with her. So, he is flying on each of her flights today and tomorrow around the country to spend time with his daughter for Christmas. What a fantastic father! Wish you both a very Merry Christmas!” What a fantastic father, indeed. And as you could probably imagine, people on Twitter ran with this story and everyone agrees: this is the most wholesome thing ever. One Twitter user got emotional, mentioning the fact that her father–who passed away almost a decade ago–would have done something exactly like this. She tweeted, “My dad passed away 7 years ago but this is something he would have done..I love reading sweet stories like this. It sounds like her dad is a wonderful man. I hope they enjoyed their Christmas.” My dad passed away 7 years ago but this is something he would have done..I love reading sweet stories like this. It sounds like her dad is a wonderful man. I hope they enjoyed their Christmas. pic.twitter.com/nvDL2cnkcu — libbygirl (@libbygirl9) December 27, 2018 Other people online were quickly attached to this story and also shared their praise for this awesome dad. The compliments were a’plenty within the comments of all the outlets posting this story, bringing some Christmas joy to the internet even a few days after the holiday ended. This is the best story! What an amazing father! This daughter is so lucky to have a father this loving! — Kimberly (@KimberlyGrnMtn) December 27, 2018 How amazing and wonderfully sweet — lisa (@lisa39784897) December 27, 2018 Your a very lucky girl and he is s lucky man, many blessings — Mona Lee Robinson (@Numberonemom11) December 27, 2018 Though many people are pointing out the fact that this father purchasing the flights isn’t exactly the same as any normal person–since he used points and benefits from his daughter’s job–it’s not just the money that makes this gesture so sweet. Most of us don’t want to spend a few hours on a flight just to get to our destination–so staying on a plane for 2 days straight to hang out with a loved one takes things to a whole new level. Shoutout to Hal, you’re the real MVP!
