Source: Hill Street Studios / Getty Nothing touches the soul quicker than sounds of inspiration coming through the voice of innocent children. Baltimore’s Cardinal Shehan middle school choir rehearsal has gone viral after choir director Kenyatta Hardison posted a live Facebook video showcasing her students’ impeccable vocals and passionate performance. Hardison captioned the touching video, “Not perfect but Imperfectly perfect.” She told ABC News , “And so I told my kids, ‘This is a different type of move here. This is a mighty move and we have a big responsibility to share hope.” And share hope is what they did. everyone from victims of natural disasters to cancer survivors have reached out to Hardison saying that the kids’ video has touched them deeply. Check out Cardinal Shehan’s choir singing Andra Day ’s “Rise Up” in the video above. Grab your tissues.
Source: Hill Street Studios / Getty Nothing touches the soul quicker than sounds of inspiration coming through the voice of innocent children. Baltimore’s Cardinal Shehan middle school choir rehearsal has gone viral after choir director Kenyatta Hardison posted a live Facebook video showcasing her students’ impeccable vocals and passionate performance. Hardison captioned the touching video, “Not perfect but Imperfectly perfect.” She told ABC News , “And so I told my kids, ‘This is a different type of move here. This is a mighty move and we have a big responsibility to share hope.” And share hope is what they did. everyone from victims of natural disasters to cancer survivors have reached out to Hardison saying that the kids’ video has touched them deeply. Check out Cardinal Shehan’s choir singing Andra Day ’s “Rise Up” in the video above. Grab your tissues.
Mayim Bialik, star of The Big Bang Theory, finds herself in big trouble this week. That’s what happens after you pen an op-ed for The New York Times in which you essentially blame the victims of sexual assault for getting assaulted. Over the weekend, Bialik really did write a guest article for the aforementioned publication in response to the heinous allegations surrounding Harvey Weinstein . With dozens of women having come out and accused the film producer of sexual misconduct, Bialik took the pompous stance that women need to think about how they look and act if they wish to avoid… rape. “As a proud feminist with little desire to diet, get plastic surgery or hire a personal trainer, I have almost no personal experience with men asking me to meetings in their hotel rooms,” Bialik wrote early in her piece, earning immediate scorn. Just… WHAT?!? Who says any of these abused women got plastic surgery? Or were obsessed with dieting? And, even if they did or they were, how does one then claim – in any tiny way, shape or form – that these interests mean a woman deserves to get assaulted or harassed?!? “If you are beautiful and sexy, terrific,” the actress continued, adding: “But having others celebrate your physical beauty is not the way to lead a meaningful life. “And if – like me – you’re not a perfect 10, know that there are people out there who will find you stunning, irresistible and worthy of attention, respect and love. “The best part is you don’t have to go to a hotel room or a casting couch to find them.” There’s no way to interpret this stance in any way aside from Bialik saying women are somewhat to blame for getting raped. Just act uglier and you’ll be ignored , she’s saying. After getting dragged over the Internet coals for her opinion, Bialik lashed out at the “vicious” critics and said she would address the topic further in a Facebook Live chat on Monday. In this chat, Bialik made an important distinction. “There is no way to avoid being a victim of assault by what you wear or the way you behave,” she said, explaining that her comments were only in reference to the “culture of Hollywood” that she’s experienced over the years. “I was not speaking about assault and rape in general,” she added. She went on to blame Hollywood instead of the actresses who were assaulted themselves, saying the industry encourages women to “present” themselves in a certain way. “I feel protected in my industry more when I keep parts of myself private,” she said. “It gives a feeling of comfort and a layer of protection, but it does not make you immune to assault.” Bialik also apologized and said she was “deeply, deeply hurt” if any person that is actually has been a victim of assault thought she was blaming them in any way. Many did. Stars such as Patricia Arquette and Gabrielle Union Tweeted in protest of Bialik, sharing their deeply personal stories of rape and assault in order to prove clothing played no role in what happened to them. So at least the actress has tried here to clarify her comments. And, look, perhaps there is some kind of column to write about Hollywood’s standards of beauty and how they place stressful burdens on young female stars. But that issue wasn’t at play in the case of Harvey Weinstein being a grotesque monster. And it’s certainly not what Mayim Bialik wrote about in her op-ed. View Slideshow: #MeToo: Stars Share Stories of Sexual Harassment, Assault
Beloved radio host Delilah is speaking out about the loss of her son, Zachariah, who tragically took his own life earlier this month. Delilah says her “heart is struggling to continue to beat” after the death of her child, who succumbed to a battle with depression. The 57-year-old posted a number of childhood photos of her late son, along with a poem by Mary Jean Irion, in his memory. She writes, “Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart.” “Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so.” “One day I shall dig my nails into the earth,” she adds. “Or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.” “There will not be another ‘normal day’ with my Zack-Attack, at least not in this life time,” Delilah wrote in her emotional post. “No more cooking his favorite foods or bringing home gallons of his favorite juice, no more laughter around the bonfire or Christmas mornings.” “My heart is struggling to continue to beat.” “Thank you for your prayers, love and support. Please pray for his grandparents, his siblings, his dad and his friends,” she added. “We are all doing our best to focus on his joyful heart, his wild free spirit and his smile,” she concluded, still reeling from the pain. Fans first learned of Delilah’s son’s suicide after she shared the sad news with her friends and fans on Facebook on October 7. She wrote that he was “being treated, counseled, and embraced fiercely by family and friends while battling depression for some time now.” My heart is broken beyond repair and I can not fathom how to go on… but I have to believe he is at peace with the Lord.” She hopes “that God will get us through.” Delilah revealed that Zachariah left a suicide note behind, though she did not reveal its specific contents for obvious reasons. The “Queen of Sappy Love Songs” also announced that she would be taking some time away from work in light of all this. “I will be absent from the radio and on social media for a time as I grieve and try to process this loss with my family,” she said. “Please pray for my beloved Zacky, and I will pray for all suffering from this debilitating disease called depression.” Delilah’s radio show, simply known as Delilah , based in the Pacific Northwest, regularly reaches more than eight million listeners. It’s unclear when that will resume. Sadly, Zachariah isn’t the first child the mother of 13 – yes, she has 13 children, 10 of whom are adopted – has lost already. One of her adopted sons, Sammy, tragically passed away back in 2012 from complications from sickle-cell anemia. On her Facebook page, Delilah also shared the number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255. We urge anyone who may be considering such action – or who knows someone who may be – to call it immediately. View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2017: In Memoriam
Move over, Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas . You aren’t the only famous couple that got engaged over the weekend. Okay, maybe you are. But this doesn’t change the fact that Alaskan Bush People star Noah Brown has confirmed he’s set to marry Rhain Alisha. He alerted fans to this news via a touching Facebook post that reads as follows: Rhain Alisha has been so patient and supporting through everything that has been happening, my mothers cancer, having to leave Alaska, my car keeps breaking down, and all in all I have been thinking of how thankful I am that she moved in with we instead of going back to Oregon and now we are engaged and planing our life together. Rhain Alisha is everything I could have ever wanted. She is my Soulmate my Angel my DreamGirl. She makes me the best Version of myself, I know that as long as she loves me that some day I can be the man that Rhain deserves. Thank you God for giving me Rhain Alisha Merrill. Brown included with these kinds words the picture of Rhain (birth name: Ruth) below: Brown is a cast member on Alaskan Bush People, but he’s been criticized of late by his fans for essentially abandoning his family during their greatest time of need . Some supporters have taken issue with Brown because he’s been sharing social media images of himself and Rhain taking trips to the zoo and other places… … all while his mother, Ami, is dying of lung cancer. Is this a fair critique? We’re really not in a position to say. It’s true that Noah has not said much publicly about his mother’s illness, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he isn’t heartbroken over it. (It’s also true, incredibly, that Noah has a sister named Rain and is now engaged to someone named Rhain. What are the odds?!?) As far as we know, Ami Brown is now out of the hospital. This is positive news, of course. But most outlets still say the family matriarch is pretty much on her death bed . She has stage four lung cancer and it isn’t operable. There isn’t much doctors can do at this point. We continue to send our thoughts and prayers to the Browns, while also wishing Noah the best on his engagement. View Slideshow: Alaskan Bush People: 13 Secrets They Don’t Want You to Know
Maskot Jason Nichols Gets Racist Phone Call University of Maryland Professor Jason Nichols is making headlines for a disgusting voicemail he received. Jason Nichols took to Facebook to share a gut-wrenching voicemail from an irate woman BIG mad about a recent Fox News appearance he made. Nichols appeared on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” last week to discuss Columbus Day with the host. And his words on the show apparently pissed off a cowardly woman who blasted him for being a “f**** n***r” who wants to change every holiday to “N***r Day.” “This message is for Jason,” said the woman. “I’ve been listening to him on Fox. You know, this f**** n****, you n****rs are not going to be satisfied until you change every fucking piece of s*** holiday to N****r Day.” According to Nichols that’s not the only phone call he got, and he might release another woman from a (clearly confused) West Indian woman. “They left it on the front office phone,” wrote Nichols in the comments section. “I didn’t even post the one from the lady with the West Indian accent which was just as bad if not worse. It’s par for the course I suppose but I usually never check the phone messages so they caught me off guard. SMH, that racist suuuuure was bold from the comfort of her own home. More on the flip.
Following a few days of silence, Ben Affleck spoke out on Tuesday about Harvey Weinstein. The actor, who has worked many times in the past with the disgraced film producer, took to Facebook and wrote the following: I am saddened and angry that a man who I worked with used his position of power to intimidate, sexually harass and manipulate many women over decades. The additional allegations of assault that I read this morning made me sick. This is completely unacceptable, and I find myself asking what I can do to make sure this doesn’t happen to others. We need to do better at protecting our sisters, friends, co-workers and daughters. We must support those who come forward, condemn this type of behavior when we see it and help ensure there are more women in positions of power. Many had been waiting to hear from Affleck (and Matt Damon) after Weinstein played a major role in their careers by producing Good Will Hunting. Late last week, however, a bombshell report revealed that Weinstein has paid off eight women over the years in exchange for their silence regarding his alleged sexual misconduct. Then, a follow-up report claimed Weinstein has actually raped multiple young actresses and associates. He’s been fired from his company and his wife just announced she’s leaving him. The reverberations extend far beyond just Weinstein, however, as his behavior with women has been an open secret in Hollywood for decades. Who’s been helping him keep his horrible actions quiet? How deep does the cover-up go? We may find out more each day, but Rose McGowan has been one of the few people leading the charge against Weinstein from the beginning. She’s been outspoken on social media about his reputation and his inexcusable treatment of women… and now she’s here to call out Affleck. Shortly after Affleck issued the statement above, McGowan responded on Twitter. She flat out called Affleck a liar because she said she had a conversation with him many years ago in which she explained how Weinstein had sexually harassed her. Affleck’s supposed response? “Goddamnit! I told him to stop doing that.” The actress says this interaction took place while she and Affleck were at a press conference in promotion of a movie they did together, one she was “made” to attend even after an “assault” at the hands of Weinstein. McGowan concluded her Tweet in simple, straightforward fashion, by addressing Affleck with two damning words: You lie. Previously, McGowan called for all members of The Weinstein Company board to resign due to their silence over Weinstein’s treatment of women over the years. She’s doing all she can to lead this fight and to expose the rampant sexism in Hollywood. This is also known as doing the opposite of what Donna Karan is doing , as the fashion designer stepped into scalding hot water this week for suggesting Weinstein’s victims were to blame due to how they acted and dressed. Will Affleck response to McGowan’s harsh assertion? Will he have anything else to say on this controversial topic? And what disturbing piece of information will we learn next about Harvey Weinstein and/or those who know him well?
Source: David Livingston / Getty It looks like Tamar Braxton may be signaling that something is wrong in the Herbert household. There’s a lot going on with Tamar right now. The Blue Bird of Happiness siren sparked speculation that she’s upset with her husband Vincent Herbert after posting an unapologetic message on Instagram. She followed it up with this post stating, “If you don’t someone else will.” The casual observer may assume that these messages are her venting about the current state of her relationship with Vince. Tamar did hint that she’s stepping back from music for the sake of their marriage . However, she has yet to address any questions these posts may lead her Tamaratians to ponder. In the mean time, it looks like Tamar is setting her sights on the culinary industry as she promoted her new Facebook page for Tamar’s Kitchen. Tamar also posted a clip of Toni Braxton talking to Steve Harvey that seemed to support her theory her big sister married Birdman . RELATED STORIES: Tamar Braxton Reveals Why She Ain’t Messing With Toya Wright GET THE LOOK: Tamar Braxton Looks Cute In A Camo Jumpsuit You Better Sing Down! Tamar Braxton Brings Wendy Williams To Tears With ‘Blind’ [VIDEO]
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”]
