The girls are still trying to hook Mama Ev up on blind dates! On this week’s episode of “Braxton Family Values,” Towanda decided to try and hook her mother up with one of her friends. The only problem is that this guy is super young, 27 years old to be exact. “Where is his Daddy for God’s sake?!” Mama Ev jokes during the date. I’m wondering the same thing! Looks like Ev is trying to get her groove back! Go head then! Then it was time for Towanda to celebrate her birthday. The family decided to dress up as their favorite celebrities for the birthday bash and really got into full character during dinner. Tamar (of course) dressed up as Beyonce, Toni as Eartha Kit, Trina as Paris Hilton, Papa Braxton as Flavor Flav and Mama Ev as Tina Turner. Everything was all fun and games, that is until one of their close friends showed up dressed as Tamar! Hilarious!! Check out the clip from Towanda’s birthday bash here! After Towanda’s party, the family seemed to be getting along great until they had another get together at Tamar’s house. Tamar and Trina had a few choice words with each other which lead to Tamar storming out, upset with her sister and saying that she felt physically threatened. The two decide to go to counseling to try and patch up their differences, but it seems like there are some deeper rooter issues here that is causing them to have such bad arguments. What did you think about this week’s episode? Tweet me! @xoxoSHAR Tamar: “I Saw Yo Baby Daddy, Leaving In The Caddy!”, “Braxton Family Values” [RECAP] Trina Braxton: “This Season You’ll Get To See Why I Started Drinking” [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW] The Braxton’s Get Bikini Ready For VIBE [PHOTOS] “Braxton Family Values” Reunion: Which Braxton Holds The Plastic Surgery Crown? Tamar’s “Hood Rat Pop,” Toni’s Surgery & Towanda’s Big Secret on “Braxton Family Values” [RECAP]
90s sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air has been in the headlines ever since Janet Hubert , the first Aunt Viv , blasted Will Smith calling him an “a**hole.” Hubert was adamant about not ever reuniting with the cast because of the way Smith treated her. Alfonso Ribeiro , who played Carlton , came to the defense of Will Smith in a recent stand up comedy routine. Ribeiro claimed Hubert wasn’t a good fit for the cast and she went nuts on them while pregnant. With so many different sides of the story hitting the web, it’s hard to decipher fact from fiction. Whose side are you on? Sidenote: is Alfonso Ribeiro’s routine funny? RELATED POSTS: Will Smith Reunites With The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air Cast [PHOTO] Is “Aunt Viv” The Crazy One?
A few months ago, while on the coattails of summer’s craziness, I lived through a strange experience of friendship that left me to the tendency of some friends to take, take, take… and take. Call them what you may, I like to think of these types of relationships as “convenience friendships.” This particular story involves a man – a player – that came between a sister and me. It all began when a series of events led me to introduce two single friends, each from a separate corner of the lonely-hearts club. She, a dynamic sister with a bright future glazing in her horizon, sociable, a people-pleaser, ever-so insecure, met him, an attractive, slightly pretentious man, whose confidence, self-righteousness and charm could blow anyone’s pants off. I went along with the venture, trying my best to facilitate what was an unlikely combination. She had returned from abroad at the beginning of the year and was detached from the life she left behind. But I, like others in our friendship group, was excited to hear about her stories, supposing that her brilliant mind was ticking over with exciting plans and was full of stories about new people and far-away lands. On the other side of the equation, he and I had begun seeing each other quite often on the weekends, having a crazy time between us and with other frivolous friends. He spoke about his desire to calm down a little, to find someone with the prospect of longevity. So, when circumstances led them to meet, there was clear and open interest on both sides. As the weeks went by I stood on the sidelines answering the questions of one about the other and tried my best to bridge some of the obvious differences between them. But it appeared that nothing was going to work between them. He had told me that he had been sleeping around, and even took another sister home on an evening in which she had called me to chase information about where he was. This came in his relationship disclaimer, that so as long as there was no future between them, and the attempts to make something work had reached an expiry date, he was free to do as he wished and with whomever he pleased. She on the other hand was reappearing in my life quite sporadically to gain information about what he was doing, where he was and what I knew about him. It was strange because, aside from staying at my place when she first returned from abroad, I would only hear from her when she wanted something. It reached the point where I gathered that even she was aware of this, telling me one day “Let’s catch up soon, girl. I feel like I haven’t seen you at all.” I was not too concerned at this point; I was busy. But, it was all to boil over after one wild evening when he and I shared a kiss at a club. Having been told that nothing was going on between them, I fell to his charms and was one of two women to be swooned that evening with his kiss. I realized that what I had done was foul when I turned to see him with that another sister. Indignant, I left the club. The next day I spoke with him to clear the air, only to discover that he and my friend, she, were seeing each other that evening for round two. At this point my anger about having been used as a go-between-girl between two unmatched people had reached its climax. After months of being there for both of them, I was eventually pushed to redundancy, the friendships began to end and my interactions with both faded. I also can’t overlook the notion that I was slightly jealous. Two friends, who I had known for 2 years on separate grounds, had run off together and were leaving me behind. So one evening, I directed a comment to him, amongst friends, that questioned the worth of his friendship. Given how proactive he was in broadcasting to the world a sense of moral superiority and excellence in friendship, he took my criticism poorly and defensively. I considered him a dirty rat, so I didn’t care about how he reacted. But then, the following day, I received a phone call from her questioning me about the evening in which he and I had kissed. He had obviously told her to spite me and I imagined this was accompanied with the usual dialogue of “she must love me,” which he regularly uses to justify burnt bridges with women (those he burns with men are because they are jealous of his style and charm.) Cornered, I asked to meet with her the next day during my lunch break. She accepted but brought along a mutual friend so to avoid any conversation about what had happened. This was a clear indication she was not interested in hearing what I knew. I told her anyway. A week later, having boiled over in self-reflection, I sent her an SMS with a stern warning her to watch her mouth with other people. She had fragrantly spread the word amongst mutual friends that I was the saboteur between them as they went about sewing the seeds of their rock-sold connection. I doubted, at this point, that she believed me when I told her about him sleeping around. This sickened me in my self-righteousness because I knew they were having unprotected sex, for which he would take no responsibility. A typical player – selfish and irresponsible. The entire scenario left me feeling foolish and ashamed. Aside from considering him a friend of mine – an arrogant man with little no consideration of other people’s dignity – I had also fallen victim to subtle ways of a sister’s convenience friendship. In all of this, I did things I was not at all proud of. I was very wrong to have kissed him without appreciating fully that she still may have had feelings for him by virtue of not knowing he was sleeping around and meeting new women. Her interaction with me was so sporadic, and always so focused on her needs with him, that I was never given the opportunity to know that she was still pursuing him at that point. But, as they began seeing each other again, with talk of them moving in together, a common enemy for them both has been the best method to cover up their obvious differences. Ultimately, my former sister got what she wanted – to fill a void in her life with a charming man. My services to her have dried up and so too has the friendship. I scratch my head occasionally and wonder whether or not I should still care about her. But then I realize that it was a lesson learned for me and that so too will it be a lesson for her when she finally gets burned. And that is how one friendship of convenience reached its inevitable end. “I Love My Husband, But I Want His Friend & I’m Thinking Of Leaving With This Guy” Is It Possible To Re-Do Romance?
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama offered a special tribute to those who serve our nation and the families who support them unconditionally, while encouraging all Americans to give in their own way in his weekly address. “Giving of ourselves; service to others – that’s what this season is all about. For my family and millions of Americans, that’s what Christmas is all about,” he said. “It reminds us that part of what it means to love God is to love one another … to be our brother’s keeper and our sister’s keeper. But that belief is not just at the center of our Christian faith, it’s shared by Americans of all faiths and backgrounds.” “So whatever you believe, wherever you’re from, let’s remember the spirit of service that connects us all this season – as Americans. Each of us can do our part to serve our communities and our country, not just today, but every day.” Here’s Barack and Michelle’s address to the nation: Obama Christmas Address
Star Magazine has pulled off the impossible: coverage of the Kardashians than actually turns off this attention-crazed family. The latest issue of the tabloid quotes Charles Kernaghan – the head of the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights – as saying the Kris Jenner-led clan employs youths in China to manufacture Kardashian merchandize in unsanitary warehouses . An investigation has been launched into these “slave labor” like conditions – that reportedly include long work hours, meager wages and uncomfortable temperatures – but there’s a
Pippa Middleton will be joining the British Royal Family for the holidays. You know what that means … let the rumors of her hooking up with Prince Harry begin! For the first time in their lives, Pippa and Kate Middleton will be spending Christmas away from their parents. For newly-married Kate, that was almost a given. Pippa was invited to spend the holidays with the royals not because she’s a major cutie (even though she is) but so her sister could also have family around. Prince Harry will also be present, of course, so … On the day after Christmas, Boxing Day, Pippa and Kate will join William, Harry and the rest of the royals for the family’s annual pheasant shoot in the country. This is a pretty big deal as, traditionally, this is reserved only for members of the royal family and their significant others. But this is one gorgeous exception. Pippa’s presence is via the urging of William, who wants to make Kate’s first holiday with her in-laws more comfortable. Not that Prince Harry ‘s complaining. Yes, we know nothing’s going on with the two, but they’re both single now, and she’s going to be seeing the younger prince in hunting attire. Game over. Those two are definitely going to hook up. Or at least they should. Right?
Victoria’s Secret and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Kate Upton and New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez are an item, according to the New York Post. Sanchez has been paying frequent late-night visits to her NYC apartment, having been spotted several times at the voluptuous blonde’s pad since November. Mark is 25 years old. Kate Upton is 19. Nineteen! Just barely passing the “half your age plus seven” test, that’s a step up from his old GF Eliza Kruger , 17. Sanchez was seen in the lobby of the building where Kate Upton (who’s also been linked to Kanye) lives, carrying gifts for her after a charity event early last month. On another occasion, Sanchez was spotted coming into the building with bags a minute or two after Upton arrived. They’ve also been seen at his place of work. Upton has also attended some Jets games as her sister, Christie Upton, is a manager of client relations for the team and works closely with Mark Sanchez. Another source insists that Upton and Sanchez are “just friends.” The Jets QB has also been linked to actresses Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Hayden Panettiere, who’s now dating his teammate Scotty McKnight, in recent years.
Ashanti is slated to release a new album soon; that makes it the former Murder, Inc. princess’ fifth EP since she debuted in 2002. She teased a sneak peek at her new material with her latest single, “The Woman You Love” featuring Busta Rhymes (hear it below) and the track reminds us of everything we ever loved about Ashanti’s sound. It’s also introducing us to the new woman she has become. We’re loving this major comeback, so here are three reasons why Ashanti’s determined to be the woman you love. 1. She’s a Boss Ashanti dealt with label woes when she was released from Murder, Inc. in 2009 when label owner Irv Gotti decided that their relationship had run its course. It only took a few months for Ashanti to announce she got her own label – Written Entertainment – which is where she will release her latest album. Ashanti understands the importance of ownership in being a businesswoman and through her new label, she’s working with eOne Music as a worldwide distributor. 2. She Knows Hits Ashanti broke records with her eponymous debut album. Selling over 500,000 copies within the first week back in 2002 was a feat that even Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys couldn’t accomplish. As of last year, Ashanti has sold over 30 million records worldwide. 3. She Gives Back Not limited to making hits, Ashanti uses her power and influence for good. She’s been named the National Youth Of The Year Ambassador for the Boys & Girls Club of America. As an alumna of the Glen Cove (N.Y.) Boys & Girls Club, where her mother Tina Douglas taught dance, Ashanti performed for the very first time on the Club’s stage–so being an ambassador brings her life and career full circle. There’s a richness in being able to wholeheartedly do for others. Check out Ashanti’s latest single, “The Woman You Love” and decide if she’s the woman you love with her comeback. Related Links: Ashanti Covers Whitney Houston & Does A Good Job! [VIDEO] Is Omarion Dating Ashanti’s Sister?
Chaz Bono and his Jennifer Elia, his fiancee, have broken up. The couple have called off their engagement and “are no longer a couple,” a rep for Bono confirms . Howard Bragman, Chaz’s publicist, said the following: “Chaz Bono and Jennifer Ella leave this relationship mutually and with great love, respect and affection toward one another. No further amplification will be forthcoming and they ask that you respect their privacy at this time.” Jennifer Ella and Chaz Bono got engaged earlier this year, but were a couple since 1999, long before he underwent gender reassignment surgery to become a man. Chaz, who enjoyed a nice run on Dancing With the Stars this fall despite a firestorm of controversy, popped the question on his reality show Being Chaz . We wish both of them the best in this difficult, emotional time. [Photo: WENN.com]
Looks like Amber Portwood is back jail. It’s not entirely clear why at this time, but a judge issued a warrant for her arrest today, and it was executed. The Teen Mom star was apprehended and booked. The arrest may be related to Amber’s most recent alleged probation violations, including a fight she got into at a restaurant last month or a new one entirely. Amber Portwood is currently being booked at Madison County Jail in her home state of Indiana, where she’s now expected to spend the night … and the holidays. She’s due to face a judge on January 13 for violating probation. We’re talking every single one of her probation terms. Think Lindsay Lohan style, but worse. Amazingly, if she does spend Christmas behind bars, it will be the second consecutive year that’s happened to Amber. Signs you may have some issues … UPDATE : Amber’s brother Shawn tells E! News that his sister missed her most recent probation hearing and, as a result, authorities went to her house. While there, they went through her purse and found some “old pills” that Amber said were from an earlier prescription … which she couldn’t produce proof of. Therefore, she was jailed, release date TBA. Sheriff’s deputies say it “will be up to the courts to decide” how long she stays there. Not looking good.
