Transgender Adult Companion Shauna Brooks Set To Reveal Names Of Celebrity Clientele A few months ago we told you about a high-priced transgender escort named Shauna Brooks , who started a huge hoopla after posting a few photos from Chris Brown’s Virginia home . Brooks later cleared up the confusion by revealing that the evening she spent with Brown was purely platonic, but apparently she stirred up enough interest over who some of her high profile conquests are that she is no longer working as an adult companion. BOSSIP can exclusively confirm that Shauna’s story will soon be broadcast to the public and we’re working very hard to get her to share the identities of some of her high profile clientele. In an hour long conversation with BOSSIP Brooks revealed that she is finally ready to go public with her story: “I think it’s definitely time to share my story with the world,” Brooks told BOSSIP, adding that she gained inspiration from the successes of Laverne Cox and other public trans figures like Janet Mock. “I have so much more to offer and I realized after the last situation [the public scrutiny after her evening with Brown] nobody was really there for me when I needed them. I have to do what I have to do.” And just what does she have to do? BOSSIP spoke with Shauna Brooks at length last Monday and she told us that after working for ten years as an “adult companion” she is no longer escorting, instead she’s working as a model and filming a special project. We did get a few more details out of her about her evening with Breezy. Hit the flip for that.
LeToya Luckett Dishes On “Single Ladies” LeToya Luckett is prepping for the reemergence of the black, the beautiful and the bossy that will strut back onto the small screen when “Single Ladies” premieres March 18. With that in mind, the actress recently chatted with BOSSIP at Centric’s “Sip & Share” brunch to dish on the only network for Black women bringing the show back for a fourth season as well as her friend Taraji P. Henson’s stellar success on “Empire.” Check out our chat with LeToya below.BOSSIP: What does “Single Ladies”‘ move to Centric mean for the show? LeToya Luckett: I’m one for new starts and I’m not afraid of change at all. I think that its found a home at a great network because it’s designed for women. “Single Ladies” is all about sisterhood and the real things that women go through; the relationships, the makeups, the break ups—all these different things that women go through everyday. I think its found a great home at Centric. BOSSIP: Your character is known for being a boss. What is she up to this season? LeToya Luckett: She’s still a boss honey, she’s still ice cold. I think Felicia is a little bit more open this season and you’ll get to see inside her life and see why she’s as ice cold as she is. She’s fun, she’s fun too. Not to say that she lightens up a bit because I think the reason I loved her so much is because she was so hardcore. I think that definitely is still who Felicia is, but she’s going through some changes. BOSSIP: Why do you think a scripted series like “Single Ladies” is continuing to standout in this age of reality television? LeToya Luckett: The thing people love about reality TV so much I feel is that they feel they can relate to this person. I feel like “Single Ladies” still has that element because women are able to relate to each character and what each one is going through on the show. I also feel like it’s because of the fashion. Anthony [Williams] who’s over our costume design, does a wonderful job of creating the wardrobe around each character’s personality. You know Felicia wears a strong black and a red lip. Then there’s LisaRaye who has this gorgeous body and is shapely, and he [Anthony] creates clothes that women in the world can identify with. I think you can look at the show and say, ‘oh she did that? I can do that too!’ BOSSIP: Talk to me about the state of Black television right now, we have “Blackish”, “Single Ladies”, “Empire”; how does it feel to be a part of that? LeToya Luckett: It’s great. I’m a huge fan of Taraji [P. Henson]. That’s my girl. I love her not only because she’s a phenomenal actress but because she’s a phenomenal woman. That woman has given me so many opportunities and kept her word on so many things, and it’s so great to see her on primetime television running ‘thangs as she should. So I’m so proud of Taraji and the show. It makes me really happy to see our folk on network TV running ‘thangs. LeToya Luckett and designer Anthony Williams ThePhotoManLife/Paras Griffin
Vince Vaughn Tells Playboy Magazine That Affirmative Action Is Racist LET THE OUTRAGE COMMENCE! Via TheRoot Vince Vaughn normally plays a dick or a doofus in his movies. But who knew that Vaughn was a dick in real life? According to Vaughn, in his new Playboy interview, affirmative action is racist. So says the rich, white man. In the interview, Vaughn discusses his newest movie, which I don’t care about, but the Q&A session veered into politics when Playboy asked him about his allegiance to Ron Paul, and then whether he believed in affirmative action: So you’re not a fan of affirmative action? I’ll answer that with a question. Do you believe that using race as a factor in evaluating a person is a good way to operate? The idea is that those who have been at a disadvantage because of race deserve a leg up when it comes to landing opportunities. But then you’re evaluating someone based on race, which is racism. Rights don’t come to you because you’re a man or a woman or African American or European or Jewish. And I certainly don’t think the federal government should be in the business of deciding things or handing out money based on factors like these. It’s the same with same-sex marriage. Who cares what people feel about each other? Let people decide for themselves who they can marry. It’s not the government’s job. It’s between you and your partner and your church or synagogue or whatever you believe in. I think history has proven without a doubt that the proper role of government is to protect individuals’ rights and liberties. That has always been the most prosperous, freest society for people to live in. And when government gets too involved, society turns into a place that gets very, very ugly. But I think we’ve walked more into Crossfire here than Playboy. Vince done really done it now. You gonna boycott his movies now, or nah? Image via WENN
Bobbi Kristina Drove Into Oncoming Traffic Days Before Tub Incident Bobbi Kristina Brown was involved in a car crash just three days before she was found face down in a bathtub, Bossip has learned. The 21-year-old, who is now fighting for her life after a friend found her unconscious in her tub, hit another car Jan. 27, when she drifted into oncoming traffic, according to a Roswell Police accident report obtained by Bossip. “At the scene it was found that the driver of a silver Jeep Liberty travelling Westbound had lost control of her vehicle, crossed in to the eastbound lanes and collided with a gray Ford Taurus,” the accident report stated. Bobbi Kristina lists herself as a self-employed “entertainer,” according to the report. Bobbi Kristina was driving her 18-year-old friend’s Jeep Liberty, with the friend, Danyela Da Silva, when she swerved into oncoming traffic and crashed into a Ford Taurus. The other driver, Russell John Eckerman, was taken to the hospital, along with one of Bobbi Kristina’s passengers. Police cited her for “Failure to Maintain Lane.”
Prosecutor Claims Former Black CIA Officer Convicted Of Espionage Was Disgruntled Over Racial Discrimination Is this guy a black Edward Snowden , or is that too much of a stretch? One big difference in this case is that Sterling claims he did nothing wrong. According to NY Times reports : Jeffrey A. Sterling, a former Central Intelligence Agency officer, was convicted of espionage Monday on charges that he told a reporter for The New York Times about a secret operation to disrupt Iran’s nuclear program. The conviction is a significant victory for the Obama administration, which has conducted an unprecedented crackdown on officials who speak to journalists about security matters without the administration’s approval. Prosecutors prevailed after a yearslong fight in which the reporter, James Risen, refused to identify his sources. The case revolved around a C.I.A. operation in which a former Russian scientist provided Iran with intentionally flawed nuclear component schematics. Mr. Risen revealed the operation in his 2006 book, “State of War,” describing it as a mismanaged, potentially reckless mission that may have inadvertently aided the Iranian nuclear program. On the third day of deliberations, the jury in federal court in Alexandria, Va., convicted Mr. Sterling on nine felony counts. Mr. Sterling, who worked for the C.I.A. from 1993 to 2002 and now lives in O’Fallon, Mo., faces a maximum possible sentence of decades in prison, though the actual sentence is likely to be far shorter. Judge Leonie M. Brinkema of Federal District Court, who presided over the weeklong trial, allowed Mr. Sterling to remain free on bond and set sentencing for April 24. “This is a just and appropriate outcome,” Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. said. “The defendant’s unauthorized disclosures of classified information compromised operations undertaken in defense of America’s national security. The disclosures placed lives at risk. And they constituted an egregious breach of the public trust by someone who had sworn to uphold it. As this verdict proves, it is possible to fully prosecute unauthorized disclosures that inflict harm upon our national security without interfering with journalists’ ability to do their jobs. While it might seem like this is a case where race wasn’t a factor, it turns out that it did play a role. The prosecution argued that Sterling was disgruntled over workplace discrimination. Liberal advocacy groups have hailed Mr. Sterling as a whistle-blower for taking his concerns about the program to the Senate Intelligence Committee in early 2003, a time when dissenting voices in the C.I.A. were hushed as the country prepared for war in Iraq. The Justice Department and C.I.A., however, deny that characterization. They said that the Iran operation had not been mismanaged and that Mr. Sterling had gone to Congress and then the news media as a way to settle personal grievances. The Justice Department had no direct proof that Mr. Sterling, who managed the Iranian operation, provided the information to Mr. Risen, but prosecutors stitched together a strong circumstantial case. They described Mr. Sterling, who is black, as bitter and frustrated about what he believed was workplace discrimination. Telephone records and emails showed that Mr. Sterling and Mr. Risen had talked frequently, and prosecutors argued that only Mr. Sterling had the information, the motive and the opportunity to leak it. We’re a little torn over this one because we’d hate to be tied up in court for not divulging the identities of our government sources — if we had any. But at the same time, if dude snitched, isn’t he risking public safety and national security? What do you think? Also, it’s worth noting that Sterling is the one of eight people the Obama administration has charged with discussing national security matters with reporters. Under all previous presidents combined, only three people had faced such prosecutions! APImages
Being Mary Jane Actor Stephen Bishop Says Going Through His Phone Is A Dealbreaker Wouldn’t most men run from a real-life Mary Jane? Or would some people be willing to suffer the drama to be with a high profile woman? Tune in to “The Real” tomorrow to watch the full interview!
Guy Code Visits The BOSSIP Office Earlier this week, the cast of MTV2’s Guy Code stopped by our BOSSIP offices to give our staff a preview of what’s to come for season 5, which begins airing tonight, and to put it lightly, you won’t want to miss it. We got the “ Guy Code” OGs Charlamagne Tha God, Andrew Schulz and Chris Destefano along with equally-hilarious new comers Desus & Mero, Akaash Singh, Mateo Lane and Monroe Martin to give their filter-free, not-so-humble 2 cents on a variety of topics ranging from women sending freaky flicks, to sex tips, to man-selfies and more. Check out this clip below of what Charlamagne and Andrew had to say about whether or not women should continue sending nudes in 2015…..you might be surprised. Fellas, do you agree? Be sure to tune in to the season premiere of “ Guy Code” tonight on MTV2 at 11:30/10:310c, but while you wait, you can check out the trailer below. MTV2
Last month we chatted up the very socially aware singer Elle Varner following the soundcheck for her Atlanta tour date. We talked at length about her new project ( Four Letter Word ), her love life and her troubles last year with K. Michelle, who went ballistic during a “Breakfast Club” interview over the two putting out similarly sounding songs. BOSSIP: We heard you doing a cover of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On? during sound check. When did you decide to do that and how much of what’s going on has inspired you as of late? Elle Varner: Well…I would call it my awakening, cultural awakening, and I think it’s amazing, despite all of the negativity that’s happening, it’s amazing to see young people so involved. It’s almost like now we have something to fight for. My grandparents had something to fight for, even our parents and you know, without that we’re just a bunch of friggin’ people with our cell phones, you know? And when Ferguson happened and they were rioting, I was listening to Kanye’s “All Falls Down” and I was reading those lyrics and it’s almost like, I felt like that’s when I saw a little bit of the connection to where we’re at and where music is at. And I think it’s something that people are starting to see. Like it’s hard to listen now to some of these songs that talk about murdering each other and all the misogyny and all these things and I’m like ‘wait a minute? Really? Oh so that’s [Ferguson] not okay, but that’s okay?’ And so I started thinking about that and with the cover it was like we were in rehearsal, and we were going to do a cover. So…we were going through songs and it just [snapped], I was like, “What’s Goin’ On,” it’s perfect for right now. And then when we did it I found some of the lyrics like ‘brutality’, so I changed them a little bit in my set. I just try my best. I’m not a saint, I’m not perfect, I just try my best to use my platform as much as I can, you know, and I want to encourage people, it’s so important to vote and to be apart of the laws because we can talk about it on Twitter, we can talk about it on Instagram, but this is happening (right now), they just passed a law… BOSSIP: Yeah in Chicago EV: Can you believe…can you believe? BOSSIP: that you can be arrested for filming the cops? It’s crazy EV: I mean… I just… I don’t even know what to say. It’s tough, I understand, it’s tough for a lot of celebrities. They have things, contracts, and they have relationships, and it’s touchy, and it’s tough, you know, but… BOSSIP: So you don’t feel any of that pressure? Of like ‘oh if I’m too outspoken about social issues, I can’t… EV: Yeah I be [I’m] worried about the government coming to get me (both laugh). BOSSIP: Is that more like how you’re raised, that makes you worried about the government coming to get you? EV: No, no. I was raised in a very, what’s the word, not afrocentric, but like… aware; like my mom made me do book reports on everyone…I was aware of like culture, and so it’s always been important to me as an artist like, I see a bigger picture, I see what I represent for black women beyond what just I want out of it. How refreshing is it to have an artist out here worried about the current state of world affairs unlike some of her peers who are more concerned with hooking up with other famous folks and walking around with fake hair and fake cakes? We found it pretty nice, but Elle also told us that she feels a certain pressure from her audience not to do certain things she’d like to do, like change her hair or make a twerk video for example. Hit the flip for more on that.
Bossip And RnB Spotlight Host “Paying It Forward: A Holiday Social” In NYC Earlier this month, BOSSIP teamed up with RnB Spotlight to greet the holiday season by paying it forward to an NYC-area family during a night of music, networking and cheer! The BOSSIP & RnB Spotlight Paying It Forward Holiday Social was held at SOBs Restaurant & Music Lounge in NYC and featured complimentary refreshments courtesy of Hennessy with delicious teriyaki chicken skewers, stuffed mushrooms, smoked salmon bruschetta… …. and mini cupcakes for dessert provided by phenomenal Hell’s Kitchen: Season 13 chef J.R. Robinson along with his staff from the increasingly-popular Kitchen Cray catering company. Several multi-talented R&B new comers hit the stage to perform during the event including powerhouse songstress/all-female band Alisa Joe & Gyrl Problems, rapper BK Bra$co , and special guest group Intro. Towards the end of the evening, we also had the privilege of surprising hard-working single mother of 5, Ms. Charisse Harris of Queens, NY, with our “Pay It Forward” prize…. …before closing out the soiree with Miss Jessie’s grab bag giveaways, which included their widely-popular Curly Pudding & Baby Buttercreme products , along with goodies from Savory NYC , and Urban Ears . A huge thank you to all who came out for the event as well as each of our sponsors! BOSSIP
So presh ! Alicia Keys’ Baby Shower Alicia Keys recently had her baby shower for her upcoming bundle of joy. The event was held by her hubby Swizz Beatz who invited friends and family to their New York abode for the affair. Guests included Swizz’ father… and of course the couple’s son Egypt. You like??? Instagram
