Seen on the scene… Oscars Nominees Luncheon Photos A number of celebs were spotted in Beverly Hills Monday for the 89th annual Oscars Nominees Luncheon. “Moonlight” stars Naomie Harris… and Mahershala Ali were spotted at the Beverly Hilton held affair. And our girl Viola Davis brought her hubby Julius Tennon along for the ride. Denzel Washington… and Pharrell were also seen on the scene.
This Patriots Tight End Is Worthy Of Our Admiration Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett says he’ll skip out on a visit to the White House if the team is extended an invitation in honor of their Super Bowl win. “It is what it is People know how I feel about it,” Bennett told the Dallas Morning News , when asked if he’d attend a White House celebration. “Just follow me on Twitter.” Earlier in the week, Bennett told another Dallas MN reporter he wouldn’t attend a White House event: “Because I don’t support the guy in the house,” he said. It’s been well documented that both Patriots owner Bob Kraft and quarterback Tom Brady are friends and supporters of Donald Trump but Bennett says he isn’t concerned about Kraft’s disapproval. “I’m not really worried about that,” Bennett said. “I’m not worried about it at all.” Bennett says he doesn’t bring political talk to the locker room. “You just don’t bring that to work,” he said. “We all have our beliefs. We accept people for who they are.” We can see why that is. Brady does have to throw him the ball after all. It's an emotional week & #Patriots fans will appreciate this message from @MartysaurusRex . @rachelbonnetta reporting for @GarbageTime #SB51 pic.twitter.com/D4yqxEbbQy — Garbage Time (@GarbageTime) February 2, 2017 It’s worth noting that Tom Brady declined President Obama’s invite to the White House when he honored the Patriots last win. He said he had a “family commitment” and went on vacay with Giselle and their kids. But anyways, back to Super Bowl Marty… One of our favorite moments from Bennett came when he brought his 3-year-old daughter Jet to the press conference with him. She completely took over! . @MartysaurusRex 's adorable daughter stole the show with this funny moment in the postgame press conference. pic.twitter.com/Od0KMzLqme — AtTheBuzzer (@TheBuzzerOnFOX) February 6, 2017 #WendyPeedOnTheRug — Martellus Bennett (@MartysaurusRex) February 6, 2017 Super Bowl Marty!! — Martellus Bennett (@MartysaurusRex) February 6, 2017 TE Martellus Bennett ( @MartysaurusRex ) would like to share a message with you. pic.twitter.com/yOJiTMEfKw — Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) February 6, 2017 More great moments with Marty and his family when you continue…
Nazi Salute Formally Banned From Trump Celebration Some of Trump’s biggest backers are coming together to celebrate their new president the eve before his inauguration…but needed to set a few ground rules on just how blatantly racist they’re allowed to be before getting the party started. The “ultra-conservative” group made sure to note that “extreme” gestures such as the Nazi salute won’t be tolerated at the event. The fact that this has to be said… Via TMZ : Mike Cernovich — a member of ultra conservative group MAGA3X — tells TMZ he and his fellow “deplorables” are banning Nazi salutes and any other racist innuendo at Thursday night’s event inside the National Press Club. By the way, they’ve dubbed it the DeploraBall themselves. Mike tells us his group is making a point to separate from the extreme alt-right groups, some of which have invoked Nazi sentiments to salute Trump. He says security’s going to be tight with 12 guards, because they’re expecting some party crashers, but they have plans to deter them. Of course, with no cameras around and members of the press denied access to the event…we’ll just have to take their word for it.
For fairly obvious reasons, Toby Keith is rarely compared to Nirvana. But there’s finally a reason to write about the country music artist and the iconic rock band in the same sentence. And that’s because Keith has a simple response to anyone giving him grief for performing this weekend at Donald Trump’s Presidential Inauguration: NO APOLOGIES! The country music star is maybe the biggest name to have signed on for this controversial event, which will take place on January 20 in Washington, D.C. Very few major acts want to be associated with the 45th President of the United States, with Keith having received a great deal of flak for agreeing to take the stage. Not that he seems bothered by the criticism. “I don’t apologize for performing for our country or military,” the artist told Entertainment Weekly late last week, explaining further: “I performed at events for previous presidents [George W.] Bush and [Barack] Obama and over 200 shows in Iraq and Afghanistan for the USO.” That is certainly one point of view. We can see how some singers out there view performing at the inauguration as a patriotic act that represents the country and the democracy more than one single man. But we can also see how many stars simply see this as an exception. We can understand their hesitance to support Donald Trump in any way, shape or form. Keith will be joined at the celebratory concert by 3 Doors Down, Lee Greenwood, Jackie Evancho , The Piano Guys and the Frontmen of Country, according to an announcement posted on the Presidential Inaugural Committee site. Broadway actress Jennifer Holliday was also scheduled to perform, but published a letter on Saturday that said she felt a need to pull put. In her statement, Holliday apologized to the LGBTQ community for agreeing to perform in the first place, calling the initial decision a “lapse of judgement.” Trump, meanwhile, is well aware that artists are refusing to take his stage. But he’s claimed on Twitter that not only isn’t he bothered by their absence… he doesn’t want them anywhere near him anyway! “The so-called ‘A’ list celebrities are all wanting tickets to the inauguration, but look what they did for Hillary — NOTHING,” Trump tweeted in December , adding: “I want the PEOPLE!” We guess Toby Keith isn’t a person, based on this line of reasoning? Trump, of course, has other things to worry about these days than who will or will not perform in D.C. later this week. Such as accusations that he really is a puppet for Russia and/or talk that he will violate the Constitution on his first day in office due to his many business conflicts. But, like Keith, Trump doesn’t seem too upset by the insults and threats being hurled his way. Nor by the lack of well-known stars who went to perform on his behalf. “Inauguration Day is turning out to be even bigger than expected. January 20th, Washington D.C. Have fun!” he recently Tweeted. Will you be attending the event? Will you be watching it on TV? Will you be boycotting Keith and/or anyone who performs at it? Or will you be lining up to purchase their records in a show of support?
Sofia Vergara has very big boobs and talks in an accent. No, really! It's true! The actress has put both of these assets to impressive use of the past several years, rising all the way to the top of the television world on Modern Family. But it may be time for Vergara to find a new act. Because she stooped to a rather pathetic low at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards . On stage to introduce Sylvester Stallone’s three daughters as this year’s Miss Golden Globes, Vergara opened her remarks as follows: “Good evening. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has an anal tradition…” Get it?!? Because annual sounds a lot like anal . And because anal is a type of naughty sex some people enjoy and because Vergara is considered a major sex symbol. “I didn’t mean anal,” she then said, by way of correction. “I meant they have an anus tradition.” Get it?!? Because anus is another word for buttocks and it kind of, sort of also sounds like annual . Hilarious, right? How did Vergara manage to finish her introduction duties without stepping into any more verbal land mines? (And the heck is Miss Golden Globe still a thing in 2017?!?) Find out the answer to one of these two questions now:
For the past few weeks, Janelle Monae has been on a heavy media tour promoting Hidden Figures, the untold story of NASA’s Black female leaders. And the singer is also telling a story via her hairstyles during the press run. Fans sent a number of theories, most of which assumed the singer was echoing Solange’s message from A Seat at the Table, “Don’t touch my hair.” Others suggested the eyes speak to her wokeness; the safety pins, solidarity; and the gold wire Black pride. [ madamenoire ] “People Have No Idea” Azealia Banks Talks Mental Health In Old Facebook Post You may have noticed that we didn’t report the news that Facebook had deactivated rapper Azealia Banks’ Facebook page. I saw the story and wasn’t surprised. I’m sure that was the case with many people. After her racially insensitive rants on social media and her erratic behavior in public, it’s not the least bit surprising. But I’m writing about it today because AfroPunk.com, found an old post from the page and shared it. In it, Banks speaks about her mental health issues and the struggles of finding the proper medication to treat them. [ madamenoire ] Trump Says US, Not Mexico, Will Pay For “The Great Wall,” Twitter Reacts With “FOH” Donald Trump hasn’t even taken oath yet and he’s already flip-flopped on his biggest promise of all, building a wall on the U.S. border that Mexico will pay for. Idiots calling themselves “Patriots” and “real Americans” voted for Donald Trump, mostly because of his early promise of building a wall along the U.S. border that would keep Mexicans from coming in and taking those jobs he promised to save and committing all of those crimes he’s blamed them for. [ hiphopwired ] Charles Manson Too Weak For Potentially Life Saving Surgery [ tmz ] Viral Video Captures White JCPenney Employee Putting Black Girl In Headlock [ newsone ] Kim Kardashian Breaks Silence On Paris Robbery [ iheartradio ] Marvel Confirms Those Thor vs. Hulk Rumors Are True [ huffingtonpost ] Dylann Roof Thinks It’s Unfair To Hear Testimonies From Victims’ Families [ balleralert ]
Natalie Hawkins Off The Hook For Massive Debts After Four-Year Battle Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas’s mom can breathe a little easier after a federal court judge discharged her debts in her bankruptcy. Natalie Hawkins – Gabby’s mom – filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy back in 2012, just a few months before her daughter won two gold medals in the Summer Olympics. According to the bankruptcy petition, Hawkins claimed she had assets totaling $163,706.10 and liabilities in the amount of $79,754.14. She owed $4,350.23 on a student loan, $1,534 to Capital One, $158.78 and more than $72,000 on the mortgage to her Virginia Beach, VA home. Hawkins filed for bankruptcy to have the federal court judge sign off on a re-payment plan to help make her debt manageable. The court eventually approved a payment schedule where Hawkins would make eight monthly payments starting in February of $400, then make one lump payment of $5,817 in October 2012 then 49 monthly payments of $400 for a grand total of $28,617 paid by Hawkins back to her creditors. Then shortly after the plan was approved, PNC Bank – the owner of Hawkins mortgage loan – accused her of defaulting on the post-petition payments she was to make. They demanded the court allow them to foreclose on her property because she missed three monthly payments of $734.02 for a total arrears amount of $2,202.06. But the judge went easy on Hawkins, and ordered her to continue making her monthly payments to the bank and also pay back her arrears. The order did not allow the bank to foreclose on her home as long as Hawkins made her payments. The bankruptcy has been pending for over a year with Hawkins continuing to make her scheduled monthly payments to her creditors. Hawkins spoke to the press following the story of her bankruptcy hitting the media and stated, “It’s my story, it’s part of me. I’m not even embarrassed about it… (and), “It shows that even though I didn’t like to have to do it, I’m glad there was something there for me to be able to protect my home.” Hawkins case dragged on for over 4 years with the trustee attempting to pay off her creditors and with Gabby’s mom making payments to those owed money per a court approved payment plan. Then on December 25th, the federal court judge came back and discharged Gabby’s mom’s debt. The discharge will give Hawkins a fresh start with her finances, with the majority of her debt being wiped clean by the judge.
On December 23, the entertainment world was stunned by the news that iconic actress and writer Carrie Fisher had suffered a heart attack while aboard a flight. Four days later, Fisher passed away , marking an end to both a remarkable career and a frequently turbulent life. In an almost unbelievably heartbreaking coda to a year defined by loss, Fisher’s mother, the entertainment legend Debbie Reynolds, died just one day after her daughter’s passing. Now, in a fitting tribute to a mother and daughter who were so often inseparable in life, Fisher and Reynolds will reportedly be laid to rest in a joint memorial service. “I think this is what they would have wanted” a source close to the family tells TMZ. The idea for a joint service was reportedly inspired by Reynolds’ last words, “I want to be with Carrie.” Insiders say mother and daughter will be honored at both a small, private ceremony for family and friends, and a larger, more public memorial service at which fans can pay their respects. The relationship between Reynolds and Fisher was often turbulent, but those who knew the screen icons best say their many ups and downs only brought them closer. Fisher’s relationship with her mother inspired many of her autobiographical writings, including the fictionalized account of her family life, Postcards From the Edge . The novel was later adapted into a film, with Meryl Streep playing the character based on Fisher, and Reynolds’ surrogate being portrayed by Shirley MacLaine. Both Fisher and Reynolds spoke openly about their relationship, often providing a hopeful example to other families who had been affected by divorce, mental illness, and addiction: “There have been a few times when I thought I was going to lose Carrie,” Reynolds memorably told Oprah Winfrey in 2011. “I’ve had to walk through a lot of my tears. But she’s worth it.” For better or worse, the relationship between Reynolds and Fisher was a frequent source of public interest, and a dual funeral seems the perfect way to remind the world that while both women experienced countless roadblocks in life, their paths always led them back to each other. Insiders say further details regarding Reynolds’ and Fisher’s memorials will be released this week, View Slideshow: Carrie Fisher: Mourned, Honored by Hollywood
Tonight, Ronda Rousey will return to the UFC octagon for the first time since her crushing defeat at the hands of Holly Holm back in November of 2015. Not only was it her first loss, the stunning upset marked only the second time one of Rousey’s fights lasted longer than one round. Rousey has spoken openly about spiraling into depression in the wake of her defeat by Holm, and many have questioned her emotional fitness to return to the ring. Needless to say, a lot is on the line for the 28-year-old fan favorite, but based on her latest Instagram upload it seems Rousey is more than ready to square off against Amanda Nunes tonight in Las Vegas. According to Rousey’s caption, the photo on the left was taken five days prior to her February 2015 fight against Cat Zingano, which Rousey won by submission in an astonishing 14 seconds. The pic on the right was taken five days before tonight’s matchup against Nunes. Rousey captioned her post “#FearTheReturn,” and it looks like Nunes should be doing exactly that. Prior to her fight against Holm, Rousey was criticized for focusing too much on the public relations aspect of her career. She made cameos in films like Furious 7 and Entourage . She appeared in commercials, worked red carpets, and happily gave on-the-street interviews to tabloid-y outlets like TMZ. These days Rousey is all business. She’s made few public appearances in the 13 months since her loss to Holm, and she left yesterday’s weigh-in without offering a word to the press. Adding to the pressure is the fact that Rousey has already announced her retirement plans , describing the Nunes bout as “one of my last fights” in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres last month. Clearly, the pressure is on for Rousey’s long-awaited return, and many believe that if she’s able to recapture her title, As though she needed added motivation, Rousey – an outspoken Bernie Sanders supporter – engaged in a public feud with Donald Trump last year, with the president-elect stating he’s “glad” she lost to Holm . We’re sure Rowdy would like to take advantage of this opportunity to show the Donald that some of his critics are made of the toughest stuff there is.
Over the past two weeks, 12 women have come forward to accuse Donald Trump of sexual assault . UPDATE: The accuser canceled her press conference due to death threats. Each of the women stated they felt compelled to go public with allegations after the Washington Post released footage of Trump boasting about forcing himself on female colleagues in a recorded conversation with Access Hollywood host Billy Bush. Trump has called the women liars and accused them of conspiring with the Clinton campaign, but as the nation is soon to be reminded, they were not the first to accuse Trump of sexual impropriety. Back in June of 2016, a woman identified in court documents as Jane Doe filed a civil suit against Trump, alleging that the real estate mogul molested her when she was just 13 years old. Moments ago, attorney Lisa Bloom of the Los Angeles-based Bloom Firm issued a press release announcing that the plaintiff will come forward to “break her silence today and speak out about her allegations.” A press conference is scheduled to take place at Bloom’s office today at 3 pm Pacific Time. The shocking civil suit against Trump alleges that along with American financier and convicted child molester Jeffrey Epstein, the GOP presidential nominee “sexually and physically abused” the plaintiff “by making her their sex slave.” Bloom and her associates re-filed in a New York court after the case was dismissed in California when a judge determined that the statute of limitations for bringing charges had expired. Attorneys for the plaintiff maintain that the suit is still valid, as the plaintiff had been denied “freedom of will to institute suit earlier in time,” due to being intimidated by threats from Trump. Epstein – Trump’s accomplice in allegedly making the plaintiff a “child sex slave” for four months in 1994 – was convicted of soliciting an underage prostitute in 2008. Epstein hired famed attorneys Allen Dershowitz and Ken Starr and wound up serving just 13 months behind bars. Trump spoke about Epstein in glowing terms in a 2002 New York magazine profile: “He’s a lot of fun to be with,” Trump told the magazine. “It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it — Jeffrey enjoys his social life.” View Slideshow: 19 Things Donald Trump Has Actually Said While Running for President Epstein was also an associate of Bill Clinton’s prior to his 2006 arrest and subsequent conviction. Public court documents that appear to be associated with the case identify the plaintiff as Katie Johnson, but the name may be a pseudonym and has not been verified by either the alleged victim or her attorneys. We will have further updates on this story as more details become available.
