Amber Heard, billionaire fucker, better known as the Black Widow who somehow knows how to move in on unsuspecting dudes, and seduces the fuck out of them so hard they are HOOKED the fuck in, and basically willing to throw everything away, to just be swept up in her manipulative, evil tactics…. You know from Johnny Depp to Elon Musk to whoever else helped her get into the industry, which she really barely was in before marrying Depp through her tactics, that have since made her set for life…smart girl.. And here she is in a see in a sheer enough shirt showing some nip. The post Amber Heard Nipples of the Day appeared first on DrunkenStepFather.com .
Source: Jason LaVeris / Getty The premiere of TV One’s Bobbi Kristina movie left many fans questioning the final months of Bobbi Kristina’s life, namely if her then-boyfriend Nick Gordon killed her following a domestic violence incident in the hours before she was found unconscious in a bathtub. We did the research and spoke to one of the producers on the film. Keep scrolling for the answers: 1. Were Bobbi Kristina & Nick Gordon Siblings? Source: Imeh Akpanudosen / Getty Bobbi Kristina and Nick Gordon were not actually related. Whitney never legally adopted Gordon. According to reports , she took Nick in because his mother couldn’t take care of him anymore and allegedly “put him out.” According to Michael Houston, Gordon was “like a son to her.” However, Gordon was not in Whitney’s will and she left her full estate to Bobbi Kristina, who would have inherited it at 30-years-old. 2. What Is The Significance Of Britt’s Character In The Movie? Bobbi Kristina’s real life friend Alex Reid played a significant role in her life and in her budding music careee. The pop singer played herself in the film, under the character name Britt, and provided insight into Bobbi K’s tumultuous relationship with Nick Gordon. 3. How Did TV One Come Up With The Script? Source: Lee Celano / Getty “For this movie, we had the producers from Being Bobby Brown and The Houstons [Tracey Baker Simmons and Wanda Shelley], who were the executive producers,” said Robyn Greene Arrington , Vice President of Original Programming & Production at TV One. “Part of the development of this script was talking with Bobbi Kristina’s real friends including Alexandria Reid [who plays “Britt”]. Another childhood friend who was on the production side of it was Jacob Brumfield, Tracey Baker Simmons’ son, they grew up together.” 4. Did Nick Gordon Propose To Bobbi Kristina With Whitney’s Ring? Yes. Nick Gordon repurposed the ring Whitney Houston gave Bobbi K as her engagement ring and we watched it all play out on reality TV on The Houstons: On Our Own . Similar to the TV movie, Pat Houston was visibly upset when she heard about their alleged nuptials. 5. Could Bobbi Kristina Sing? Bobbi Kristina was reportedly pursuing her own music career before her untimely death. According to Bobbi K’s cousin Jerod Brown, she was “excited” about it. “She was real focused,” Jerod told E! Online . “She was ecstatic about her new journey that was embarking on…you could see it on Instagram when she commented on it with the fans as well. She was ready to do this and let the world see what she was working on.” 6. Did Nick Gordon & Bobbi Kristina’s Cousin Gary Michael Houston Get Into A Fight? Source: Shareif Ziyadat / Getty According to TMZ , Nick Gordon and Gary Michael got into a physical altercation at a family member’s sweet 16 birthday party. Michael reportedly slammed Nick on the floor and pummeled his face. Nick allegedly showed up to the formal function in a hoodie and hat “looking like a thug.” Nick tweeted, “F*** all of em they’ve tried to fight me (Gary H) jealous ass n***a.” Michael responded, “”He still kind a sore from that last trip I sent him on smh …. I tried to tell him to buckle up lol.” 7. Was Nick Gordon Cheating On Bobbi Kristina? Several reports claim Nick Gordon was unfaithful to Bobbi Kristina. It is rumored Gordon cheated with Bobbi K’s friend Danyela Bradley, who he was reportedly seen wheeling out the hospital, in a wheelchair, the day after Bobbi K was found in the bath tub. 8. Did Nick Gordon Physically Beat Bobbi Kristina Before Her Death? In an exclusive interview with E! News, Alex Reid revealed Nick Gordon was physically abusive to Bobbi Kristina. “He was known to choke her, definitely,” Reid explained. “Throw her into walls. Punch her in the jaw. Just, like, unbelievable stuff.” She added, “She would FaceTime me whenever she was distraught. When something had just happened or show me a bruise.” 9. How Did Bobbi Kristina Die? Source: Jason LaVeris / Getty On January 31, 2015 Bobbi Kristina was found unresponsive in her Georgia home by her boyfriend, Nick Gordon , face down in their bathtub. It is believed she was without oxygen for quite some time. Sources say Bobbi was revived and rushed to North Fulton Hospital where she was stabilized, but was able to breathe only with the help of a ventilator with very little brain activity. But things took a turn for the worse when Bobbi was placed in a medically-induced coma. Her condition was described as “significantly diminished,” and tragically, only worsened from there. In April, Cissy Houston told the press that her granddaughter had “ global and irreversible brain damage .” On June 24, 2015 Pat Houston said the family would be moving her to hospice care. “Despite the great medical care at numerous facilities, Bobbi Kristina Brown’s condition has continued to deteriorate,” Houston said in a statement to the press. “As of today, she has been moved into hospice care. We thank everyone for their support and prayers. She is in God’s hands now.” A source close to the family later said that she had also been taken off her meds and the family was told she would pass at any moment. Bobbi Kristina’s eerie and untimely death came months after the third anniversary of Whitney’s death on Feb. 11, 2012 (which was ruled an accidental drowning). MORE ON THE TRAGIC DEATH OF BOBBI KRISTINA: The Emotional Trailer For TV One’s ‘Bobbi Kristina’ Movie Is Here Nick Gordon Ordered To Pay $36 Million In Bobbi Kristina Brown Wrongful Death Suit Nick Gordon Arrested For Domestic Battery And False Imprisonment Judge Rules Nick Gordon ‘Legally Responsible’ In Bobbi Kristina Brown’s Death [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”2912633″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Jason LaVeris / Getty The premiere of TV One’s Bobbi Kristina movie left many fans questioning the final months of Bobbi Kristina’s life, namely if her then-boyfriend Nick Gordon killed her following a domestic violence incident in the hours before she was found unconscious in a bathtub. We did the research and spoke to one of the producers on the film. Keep scrolling for the answers: 1. Were Bobbi Kristina & Nick Gordon Siblings? Source: Imeh Akpanudosen / Getty Bobbi Kristina and Nick Gordon were not actually related. Whitney never legally adopted Gordon. According to reports , she took Nick in because his mother couldn’t take care of him anymore and allegedly “put him out.” According to Michael Houston, Gordon was “like a son to her.” However, Gordon was not in Whitney’s will and she left her full estate to Bobbi Kristina, who would have inherited it at 30-years-old. 2. What Is The Significance Of Britt’s Character In The Movie? Bobbi Kristina’s real life friend Alex Reid played a significant role in her life and in her budding music careee. The pop singer played herself in the film, under the character name Britt, and provided insight into Bobbi K’s tumultuous relationship with Nick Gordon. 3. How Did TV One Come Up With The Script? Source: Lee Celano / Getty “For this movie, we had the producers from Being Bobby Brown and The Houstons [Tracey Baker Simmons and Wanda Shelley], who were the executive producers,” said Robyn Greene Arrington , Vice President of Original Programming & Production at TV One. “Part of the development of this script was talking with Bobbi Kristina’s real friends including Alexandria Reid [who plays “Britt”]. Another childhood friend who was on the production side of it was Jacob Brumfield, Tracey Baker Simmons’ son, they grew up together.” 4. Did Nick Gordon Propose To Bobbi Kristina With Whitney’s Ring? Yes. Nick Gordon repurposed the ring Whitney Houston gave Bobbi K as her engagement ring and we watched it all play out on reality TV on The Houstons: On Our Own . Similar to the TV movie, Pat Houston was visibly upset when she heard about their alleged nuptials. 5. Could Bobbi Kristina Sing? Bobbi Kristina was reportedly pursuing her own music career before her untimely death. According to Bobbi K’s cousin Jerod Brown, she was “excited” about it. “She was real focused,” Jerod told E! Online . “She was ecstatic about her new journey that was embarking on…you could see it on Instagram when she commented on it with the fans as well. She was ready to do this and let the world see what she was working on.” 6. Did Nick Gordon & Bobbi Kristina’s Cousin Gary Michael Houston Get Into A Fight? Source: Shareif Ziyadat / Getty According to TMZ , Nick Gordon and Gary Michael got into a physical altercation at a family member’s sweet 16 birthday party. Michael reportedly slammed Nick on the floor and pummeled his face. Nick allegedly showed up to the formal function in a hoodie and hat “looking like a thug.” Nick tweeted, “F*** all of em they’ve tried to fight me (Gary H) jealous ass n***a.” Michael responded, “”He still kind a sore from that last trip I sent him on smh …. I tried to tell him to buckle up lol.” 7. Was Nick Gordon Cheating On Bobbi Kristina? Several reports claim Nick Gordon was unfaithful to Bobbi Kristina. It is rumored Gordon cheated with Bobbi K’s friend Danyela Bradley, who he was reportedly seen wheeling out the hospital, in a wheelchair, the day after Bobbi K was found in the bath tub. 8. Did Nick Gordon Physically Beat Bobbi Kristina Before Her Death? In an exclusive interview with E! News, Alex Reid revealed Nick Gordon was physically abusive to Bobbi Kristina. “He was known to choke her, definitely,” Reid explained. “Throw her into walls. Punch her in the jaw. Just, like, unbelievable stuff.” She added, “She would FaceTime me whenever she was distraught. When something had just happened or show me a bruise.” 9. How Did Bobbi Kristina Die? Source: Jason LaVeris / Getty On January 31, 2015 Bobbi Kristina was found unresponsive in her Georgia home by her boyfriend, Nick Gordon , face down in their bathtub. It is believed she was without oxygen for quite some time. Sources say Bobbi was revived and rushed to North Fulton Hospital where she was stabilized, but was able to breathe only with the help of a ventilator with very little brain activity. But things took a turn for the worse when Bobbi was placed in a medically-induced coma. Her condition was described as “significantly diminished,” and tragically, only worsened from there. In April, Cissy Houston told the press that her granddaughter had “ global and irreversible brain damage .” On June 24, 2015 Pat Houston said the family would be moving her to hospice care. “Despite the great medical care at numerous facilities, Bobbi Kristina Brown’s condition has continued to deteriorate,” Houston said in a statement to the press. “As of today, she has been moved into hospice care. We thank everyone for their support and prayers. She is in God’s hands now.” A source close to the family later said that she had also been taken off her meds and the family was told she would pass at any moment. Bobbi Kristina’s eerie and untimely death came months after the third anniversary of Whitney’s death on Feb. 11, 2012 (which was ruled an accidental drowning). MORE ON THE TRAGIC DEATH OF BOBBI KRISTINA: The Emotional Trailer For TV One’s ‘Bobbi Kristina’ Movie Is Here Nick Gordon Ordered To Pay $36 Million In Bobbi Kristina Brown Wrongful Death Suit Nick Gordon Arrested For Domestic Battery And False Imprisonment Judge Rules Nick Gordon ‘Legally Responsible’ In Bobbi Kristina Brown’s Death [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”2912633″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Peopleimages / Getty A Banana Republic manager has been accused of threatening to cut a Black employee’s hours for wearing box braids to work, calling her popular hairstyle “urban and unkempt.” According to a recent Facebook post, Destiny Tompkins laid out the whole incident, explaining that her manager at the Westchester, New York branch pulled her aside to warn her about her hair after the company’s District Manager complained about it. Both mangers are white. READ ALSO: Appeals Court: Employees Don’t Have A Right To Wear Dreadlocks “I came in and he questioned me about the dress code and immediately, I thought there was something wrong with my outfit but he sat me down and questioned my hair instead,” the college sophomore wrote on social media. “He told me that my braids were not Banana Republic appropriate and that they were too “urban” and “unkempt” for their image. He said that if I didn’t take them out then he couldn’t schedule me for shifts until I did.” Tompkins, who has only been working at the clothing store for a month, added: “I have never been so humiliated and degraded in my life by a white person.” She also tried to explain to her boss about protective styling, but it seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. “Box braids are not a matter of unprofessionalism, they are protective styles black women have used for their hair and to be discriminated against because of it is truly disgusting and unacceptable,” she wrote. “There’s no reason why a white person should feel allowed to tell me that I can’t wear my hair the way that I want bc it’s too black for their store image. #boycottbanana Banana Republic.” READ ALSO: Meet The Woman Suing Her Job For Firing Her Over Menstrual Leaks A spokesperson from Banana Republic stated that “as a company, we have zero tolerance for discrimination. We take this matter very seriously and we are actively conducting an investigation. We are committed to upholding an inclusive environment where our customers and our employees feel respected.” As the New York Daily News points out, despite the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission considering treating someone differently based on hair texture race discrimination, many judges have not ruled in favor of plaintiffs suing employers for that kind of discrimination. Just last year we reported that an appeals court ruled that banning employees from wearing their hair in dreadlocks is not a form of racial discrimination. The lawsuit was brought to the court of appeals by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which charged that an Alabama insurance claims processing company had discriminated against Chastity Jones in 2010. They offered her employment [but stated] that she needed to get rid of her dreadlocks because of their grooming standards. When Jones refused, the company withdrew its offer of employment. Why can’t the world just let Black women and our hair be great? RELATED NEWS: Dove Under Fire For Ad That Turns A Black Woman Into A White Woman After Using Soap You Gotta Pay Up: Victoria’s Secret To Shelve Out $12 Million To Employees For Unfair Treatment Wait, What?! Ohio School Bans Afro Puff & Braids! [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”2738320″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Peopleimages / Getty A Banana Republic manager has been accused of threatening to cut a Black employee’s hours for wearing box braids to work, calling her popular hairstyle “urban and unkempt.” According to a recent Facebook post, Destiny Tompkins laid out the whole incident, explaining that her manager at the Westchester, New York branch pulled her aside to warn her about her hair after the company’s District Manager complained about it. Both mangers are white. READ ALSO: Appeals Court: Employees Don’t Have A Right To Wear Dreadlocks “I came in and he questioned me about the dress code and immediately, I thought there was something wrong with my outfit but he sat me down and questioned my hair instead,” the college sophomore wrote on social media. “He told me that my braids were not Banana Republic appropriate and that they were too “urban” and “unkempt” for their image. He said that if I didn’t take them out then he couldn’t schedule me for shifts until I did.” Tompkins, who has only been working at the clothing store for a month, added: “I have never been so humiliated and degraded in my life by a white person.” She also tried to explain to her boss about protective styling, but it seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. “Box braids are not a matter of unprofessionalism, they are protective styles black women have used for their hair and to be discriminated against because of it is truly disgusting and unacceptable,” she wrote. “There’s no reason why a white person should feel allowed to tell me that I can’t wear my hair the way that I want bc it’s too black for their store image. #boycottbanana Banana Republic.” READ ALSO: Meet The Woman Suing Her Job For Firing Her Over Menstrual Leaks A spokesperson from Banana Republic stated that “as a company, we have zero tolerance for discrimination. We take this matter very seriously and we are actively conducting an investigation. We are committed to upholding an inclusive environment where our customers and our employees feel respected.” As the New York Daily News points out, despite the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission considering treating someone differently based on hair texture race discrimination, many judges have not ruled in favor of plaintiffs suing employers for that kind of discrimination. Just last year we reported that an appeals court ruled that banning employees from wearing their hair in dreadlocks is not a form of racial discrimination. The lawsuit was brought to the court of appeals by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which charged that an Alabama insurance claims processing company had discriminated against Chastity Jones in 2010. They offered her employment [but stated] that she needed to get rid of her dreadlocks because of their grooming standards. When Jones refused, the company withdrew its offer of employment. Why can’t the world just let Black women and our hair be great? RELATED NEWS: Dove Under Fire For Ad That Turns A Black Woman Into A White Woman After Using Soap You Gotta Pay Up: Victoria’s Secret To Shelve Out $12 Million To Employees For Unfair Treatment Wait, What?! Ohio School Bans Afro Puff & Braids! [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”2738320″ overlay=”true”]
Image via Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images Colin Kaepnick At Secret Photo Shoot In Harlem Something’s going down in Harlem and whatever it is, those responsible don’t want us to see it quite yet. TMZ caught footage of a photo shoot that featured a dashiki-rockin’ Colin Kaepernick surrounded by what appears to be a group of Black and Latinx kids in the famed NYC borough. You can clearly see that there is a frantic white woman who is trying desperately to block the camera’s view of this public photo shoot. It is reported that people on set were seen with GQ promotional materials. Is the style mag plotting a Kaepernick issue? Guess we’ll have to wait and see. While kickin’ it in Harlem, Kaep put his money where his mouth is (like he’s BEEN doing) and did some more good in the hood. We hope “they” are mad and stay mad.
Getty Image Bella Hadid’s Sneaker Interview Gets Dragged Okay, girl! Bella Hadid is living the American White Woman dream. She’s a successful model with friends of influence, her nose job healed flawlessly, and she has a handful of cool Black homies. This is good for her caucasian cool meter and tragic for her when she’s trying to appropriate. “Home girl” visited a sneaker story with Complex and the entire conversation was cringeworthy! Take a look: Lmao I've never actually heard Bella Hadid talk before and I'm screaming does she actually talk like this??? pic.twitter.com/ew30ugP6cJ — The Gay Burn Book (@SouthernHomo) October 4, 2017 Twitter got a hold of this and dragged her back to sergeant that sent her on assignment. Hit the flip.
White Woman Tells Off BW Hating Black Men In Viral Post Welp! Ms. Jolene is a special brand of caucasian woman. Not the Rachel Dolezal kind of white, but the self-aware and healthy type when it comes to relationships with men of color. Tiffany Jolene uses her Facebook page to blog about dating, relationships, and self care. The young woman posted a warning to Black men who reach out her on a regular, to halt their self-hating pitches before it reaches her DMs. She didn’t expect the rant to go rivil but it has, take a look. PSA for the black males in my friends list and most importantly popping up in my inbox: I’m not the Caucasian for you, baby. If your primary reason for dating white women is because you’re under the self centered delusion that they are more “submissive” and understanding of your inherent refusal to get your shit together without the help of a romantic partner, I am not the Caucasian for you. If you fix your illiterate unmanicured fingers to type anything in the ballpark of devaluing black women in order to make excuses for your trash character, I am not the Caucasian for you. If you say things along the lines of “I just don’t like black women” “I can’t get along with black women” “white women are better partners” I’ll drag you from untappered hairline to worn out shoe laces and proceed to embarrass the shit out of you before blocking you. If your timeline is run amuck with white women emulating black culture I won’t accept your request. Although seizing the opportunity for a drag is tempting, there are just too many of you and my time is limited. You are the bottom feeders of the dating pool, know this. Your taste in women being based on the avoidance of black women, tells me so much more than you even realize. More than I could probably explain without making your tiny little brains explode. But if you’ve read this far: —you’re likely to be intentionally targeting a certain brand of white women because they’re as not privy to your bullshit as black women; having been raised around or by you —�meaning you have zero intention of ever taking responsibility for yourself as you’re actively avoiding women who will sniff out your bullshit and shortcomings much quicker —�most likely to be a narcissist as you highlight your disapproval of black women because of their independence, strength, and take no shit “attitudes” & as such they are much more “difficult” for you to manipulate —you’re fucking lazy —�misogynistic —�disrespecting the shit out of the very woman who birthed your ungrateful ass In closing, don’t come at me. I’m not your brand of Caucasian. “I’m not the caucasian for you.” That had a lot of hurt booty folks in her comments, but Tiffany says she doesn’t care. My Facebook page is set up the way it is intentionally. I have a blog & the ongoing theme is dating, relationships, and self care & self healing. The intent with my blog is to support women in their struggle to get back to loving themselves. All of my posts are tailored to said theme. I post about things I’ve experienced that others may relate to, and it doesn’t have to be something I am currently experiencing. This particular rant was spawn from a side conversation with friends, as most of my rants are. It was about black men, because 90% of my friends list are POC, because the men I was talking about are black men, because the men who I’ve dated and have experiences with are black men, and because the majority of the men my friends date are black men. It wasn’t intended to be taken as me looking for cookies, pats on the head, or cookout invites. It was to repel or discourage a particular group of men from thinking that it would be wise to disrespect, devalue, or degrade black women in my presence. I didn’t address white men or white women because they’re not in my inbox or in my timeline doing any of those things, I have already successfully weeded those people out of my life and out of my spaces. Tiffany definitely stirred the facebook pot with her talking point.
M ost people can agree that 2017 has not been an easy year. For journalists of color, the stories we are called to write and report on have been heart wrenching, tear-jerking, and downright triggering to produce. But we continue to wake up every day, fulfill our callings, and get this money because we were taught to power through anything that threatens our livelihood. Here are some of the things Ione Digital journalists do to calm themselves in the face of crisis: “ I realize that when the news cycle is brutal, it’s more important than ever to allow yourself to unplug. For me that means I sign off Twitter, leave my phone on silent, and zone out with a good book or a face mask. It also means helping others, whether it means reaching out to see how other colleagues are doing or finding a way to help with charity work.” – Jada Gomez, CASSIUS Deputy Editor “I find laughter, whether it’s via a movie or my friends or a funny joke on Twitter. Being able to laugh about something often allows me to decompress and relax. I also listen to music, which might be my biggest refuge in this crazy world. Looking for new material, new artists, or just feeling nostalgic and playing something old allows me to go to another place. Sometimes, I write it out. Writing about my thoughts and feelings helps me identify and acknowledge a lot of things about myself. Even if it’s for me to see and no one else, seeing how I feel on a page or on a screen can sometimes show me a different perspective.” – Cory Townes, CASSIUS Associate Entertainment Editor “ I give myself permission to tap out. I turn on my favorite ‘reality’ TV shows and zone out to decompress my mind. Red wine helps, too. Lots of wine.” – Keyaira Kelly, Hello Beautiful Staff Writer & Producer “ I cry sometimes. No apologies. I remind myself that if reporting/witnessing death and destruction doesn’t occasionally move me to tears, particularly as a parent whose babes have to thrive in this world, something’s wrong with me . I preach to the choir: I only check for my most woke crew when I need to vent about the crazy and feel affirmed that my point of view is actually what’s sane. Whether on social or in real life, when it gets thick, I only seek the bona fide, unwavering wise ones. I puff, puff, pass. I mean, if it was legal. When in serious need of less stress, I might throw on a robe, relax, indulge, eat Munchos and talk shit while not watching the Kardashians or Antique Road Show . Might , you judgmental freaks.” – Kierna Mayo, Senior Vice President of Content and Brands “ I choose what I consume. I haven’t watched [footage of] the LV shooting and I probably won’t. I have the power of what I watch and I don’t have to watch violent acts towards people. I also do this so these things aren’t normalized in my mind. I call someone I love. Sometimes these acts can make you feel helpless. However, there are people that I love and who love me and no time is a better time to let someone know how you feel about them than now. Also: d eep breathing. It really is powerful and calming and a stress reliever. Try it!” – Danielle James, Hello Beautiful Style & Beauty Editor “ I’ve gotten back into therapy, which has been very helpful. I also take time away from social media and prioritize spending time with my loved ones in ways that I haven’t in recent years. In the past, I’ve been more inclined to ‘drink it away,’ but I’ve actually been indulging in alcohol less and turning to the ‘mighty herb’ instead (legally, of course). It does wonders for my anxiety and helps me sleep, which doesn’t come easy these days.” – Jamilah Lemieux, Vice President of News and Men’s Programming “ I pray. It sounds cliche, but it’s gotten me through during some of the most difficult times of my life. There’s a sense of calm and serenity it brings, which definitely helps me get through. I also talk to Nana. My 93-year-old grandmother has seen it all; it’s an added blessing that at her age she’s still sharp as a tack, lives on her own, is pretty self-sufficient and is in great health. Whenever I feel like all is hopeless, she always knows how to put things in perspective as she’s powered through the toughest of times from war, segregation, and political turmoil to extreme poverty and death. I also watch ratchet TV. Sometimes a bit of escapism is all you need to get through. When I’m feeling overwhelmed with day to day stress and the current the state of affairs a little Love and Hip Hop or WAGS messiness always gives me a much needed laugh.” – Marielle Bobo, Executive Director of Style & Special Projects “ I try as hard as possible to zone out. I’ll say a prayer, listen to Solange or Lauryn Hill, and just vibe out. Watching pointless reality TV also helps. I refuse to watch the news after six, I like to wind down as calm as possible.” – James Love, Associate Editor of Style & Culture “Some work weeks are crazier than others, but I try to carve out time for exercise no matter what. Meditation and stretches in the mornings. Yoga after work. Sometimes it’s a jog. Whatever the activity, getting lost in my body allows me to tune out the noise and tune into myself. I journal whenever I find my thoughts making a mess of themselves. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed or anxious and can’t place my finger on why. Since I’m visual, seeing my thoughts on paper helps me sort them out and find solutions. A typical morning commute is me scrolling through my timeline for headlines while packed on the 1 train, but if I need extra ‘me’ time before I shift into work mode, I’ll read a book. Books have been my number one escape since I was a child. They’re a place of solace in turbulent times, and sometimes getting lost in someone else’s story is just what I need to take the edge off. I’m very introverted by nature and don’t like bombarding others with my issues, but when all else fails, I’ll confide in someone I love, like a trusted friend or my partner.” – Stephanie Long, News & Culture Editor SEE ALSO: 4 Steps To Healthy Eating With Black Plant Foods Five Tips To Jump-Start Your Workout In 2017 [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3053899″ overlay=”true”]
M ost people can agree that 2017 has not been an easy year. For journalists of color, the stories we are called to write and report on have been heart wrenching, tear-jerking, and downright triggering to produce. But we continue to wake up every day, fulfill our callings, and get this money because we were taught to power through anything that threatens our livelihood. Here are some of the things Ione Digital journalists do to calm themselves in the face of crisis: “ I realize that when the news cycle is brutal, it’s more important than ever to allow yourself to unplug. For me that means I sign off Twitter, leave my phone on silent, and zone out with a good book or a face mask. It also means helping others, whether it means reaching out to see how other colleagues are doing or finding a way to help with charity work.” – Jada Gomez, CASSIUS Deputy Editor “I find laughter, whether it’s via a movie or my friends or a funny joke on Twitter. Being able to laugh about something often allows me to decompress and relax. I also listen to music, which might be my biggest refuge in this crazy world. Looking for new material, new artists, or just feeling nostalgic and playing something old allows me to go to another place. Sometimes, I write it out. Writing about my thoughts and feelings helps me identify and acknowledge a lot of things about myself. Even if it’s for me to see and no one else, seeing how I feel on a page or on a screen can sometimes show me a different perspective.” – Cory Townes, CASSIUS Associate Entertainment Editor “ I give myself permission to tap out. I turn on my favorite ‘reality’ TV shows and zone out to decompress my mind. Red wine helps, too. Lots of wine.” – Keyaira Kelly, Hello Beautiful Staff Writer & Producer “ I cry sometimes. No apologies. I remind myself that if reporting/witnessing death and destruction doesn’t occasionally move me to tears, particularly as a parent whose babes have to thrive in this world, something’s wrong with me . I preach to the choir: I only check for my most woke crew when I need to vent about the crazy and feel affirmed that my point of view is actually what’s sane. Whether on social or in real life, when it gets thick, I only seek the bona fide, unwavering wise ones. I puff, puff, pass. I mean, if it was legal. When in serious need of less stress, I might throw on a robe, relax, indulge, eat Munchos and talk shit while not watching the Kardashians or Antique Road Show . Might , you judgmental freaks.” – Kierna Mayo, Senior Vice President of Content and Brands “ I choose what I consume. I haven’t watched [footage of] the LV shooting and I probably won’t. I have the power of what I watch and I don’t have to watch violent acts towards people. I also do this so these things aren’t normalized in my mind. I call someone I love. Sometimes these acts can make you feel helpless. However, there are people that I love and who love me and no time is a better time to let someone know how you feel about them than now. Also: d eep breathing. It really is powerful and calming and a stress reliever. Try it!” – Danielle James, Hello Beautiful Style & Beauty Editor “ I’ve gotten back into therapy, which has been very helpful. I also take time away from social media and prioritize spending time with my loved ones in ways that I haven’t in recent years. In the past, I’ve been more inclined to ‘drink it away,’ but I’ve actually been indulging in alcohol less and turning to the ‘mighty herb’ instead (legally, of course). It does wonders for my anxiety and helps me sleep, which doesn’t come easy these days.” – Jamilah Lemieux, Vice President of News and Men’s Programming “ I pray. It sounds cliche, but it’s gotten me through during some of the most difficult times of my life. There’s a sense of calm and serenity it brings, which definitely helps me get through. I also talk to Nana. My 93-year-old grandmother has seen it all; it’s an added blessing that at her age she’s still sharp as a tack, lives on her own, is pretty self-sufficient and is in great health. Whenever I feel like all is hopeless, she always knows how to put things in perspective as she’s powered through the toughest of times from war, segregation, and political turmoil to extreme poverty and death. I also watch ratchet TV. Sometimes a bit of escapism is all you need to get through. When I’m feeling overwhelmed with day to day stress and the current the state of affairs a little Love and Hip Hop or WAGS messiness always gives me a much needed laugh.” – Marielle Bobo, Executive Director of Style & Special Projects “ I try as hard as possible to zone out. I’ll say a prayer, listen to Solange or Lauryn Hill, and just vibe out. Watching pointless reality TV also helps. I refuse to watch the news after six, I like to wind down as calm as possible.” – James Love, Associate Editor of Style & Culture “Some work weeks are crazier than others, but I try to carve out time for exercise no matter what. Meditation and stretches in the mornings. Yoga after work. Sometimes it’s a jog. Whatever the activity, getting lost in my body allows me to tune out the noise and tune into myself. I journal whenever I find my thoughts making a mess of themselves. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed or anxious and can’t place my finger on why. Since I’m visual, seeing my thoughts on paper helps me sort them out and find solutions. A typical morning commute is me scrolling through my timeline for headlines while packed on the 1 train, but if I need extra ‘me’ time before I shift into work mode, I’ll read a book. Books have been my number one escape since I was a child. They’re a place of solace in turbulent times, and sometimes getting lost in someone else’s story is just what I need to take the edge off. I’m very introverted by nature and don’t like bombarding others with my issues, but when all else fails, I’ll confide in someone I love, like a trusted friend or my partner.” – Stephanie Long, News & Culture Editor SEE ALSO: 4 Steps To Healthy Eating With Black Plant Foods Five Tips To Jump-Start Your Workout In 2017 [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3053899″ overlay=”true”]
