You may think you’re too old to have children, but a study published Wednesday found that women who are able to have children after age 33 without the aid of drugs or other fertility treatments could potentially live longer than women who had children before hitting 30.

The results of the study, which was conducted by Boston University School of Medicine, are similar to other findings which found a link between maternal age at birth of last child and what researchers consider exceptional longevity, or living to age 95 or older.

Halle Berry, who looks exceptionally beautiful at age 46, recently had her second child.  She appears to exude more light than ever.  Gwen Stefani, 44, recently gave birth to her third son.  She’s still rocking out with band No Doubt and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

The university study was  based on analysis of data from the Long Life Family Study, which studied the genetics of 551 families with many members living to exceptionally old age. Researchers examined the age at which 462 of the women had their last child and found that women who had their last child after the age of 33 had twice the odds of living to 95 years or older compared with women who had their last child by age 29.

Columbus Short hasn’t had the best 2014. First, he had a series of public brawls, then graphic details emerged about his tumultuous — often violent — relationship with estranged wife Tanee McCall. It is widely believed that this caused his exit from the hit ABC show “Scandal.” And then he got himself into more hot water by not showing up to family court Wednesday.

As a result, a judge ordered him to fork over $17,005 monthly in spousal support to McCall.  He also has to pay $4,542 a month in child support. Short must also pay $25,000 to cover McCall’s legal bills.

Not even Short’s lawyer was present to represent him at the trial. But that’s just the half of it. TMZ reports that Short hasn’t even responded to McCall’s divorce petition.

It appears this is only the beginning of the downward spiral of Short’s personal affairs, which are already messy.

Black women often get the short end of the stick when it comes to ideal family representation. Many are positioned outside of what is considered a “traditional” family structure, which consists of a married mother and father and children in a single household. Black women do not always have this idealized household –- and plenty are very comfortable without it. In a positive light, Black women can be perceived as as single, independent, and hard-working. On the flip side, Black women are assumed to be single, unemployed baby-mamas.

But when exposed to images of single black women, does the general public assume the best – or the worst? This question was indirectly addressed earlier this week after a social media frenzy erupted over the design of a baby carrier package surfaced.

Popular baby-carrier brand, Baby K’Tan received a lot of negative attention after featuring a partnerless Black mother on its packaging. A shopper posted a photo to Twitter this Tuesday of two Baby K’Tan packages side-by-side.. On one package, there is an African American mother holding her child in a sling-like baby carrier. On the other package, there is a photo of what seems to be a white mother and father. Based on the response from Black Twitter, the packages insinuate that Black families are broken, Black women are single, and white parents are more likely to be together. The company was called out for being outright racist.

In an article published by NBC News in 2010, a study found that 72 percent of Black children are born to unwed mothers. That is an extremely high percentage, and shows that this ‘alternative’ family structure is the norm for a majority of Black mothers. These findings correlated to a September 2012 National Survey of Family Growth by the CDC. In this study, it was determined that only 26 percent of Black women were currently married, the lowest of the groups studied. This number was especially alarming when compared to the 51 percent of white women who were married.

In the NBC article, the author states that 70 percent of professional Black women are unmarried. The trend throughout is that most Black women, whether mothers or not, are unmarried.

With this known, what are the reasons that there should not be a single Black mother on this package? Her socioeconomic status is unknown, yet, negative assumptions were made from people of many different backgrounds.

One twitter user wrote: How dare you market & display something so racist @BabyKtan — This is shameful and disgusting!!!! – @_ProfessorX

Another said: Black people when we support marketing from companies like @BabyKtan we disempower ourselves and give our money to people who don’t honor us - @rebeccajackart 

Really?

The brand has since responded to the Twitter outcry, calling the claims “baseless” and arguing that they embrace diversity and that the white family is actually a biracial family with a white mother and white Hispanic father. That, in my opinion, is beyond the point.

The question I am interested in answering is whether this portrayal of a single Black mother must be taken negatively, or if there are positives that can come out of this reality? After all, we know that many people would argue that the representation on the package with the lone Black mother and child is accurate and something they can relate to -– just take a look at the statistics.

For Black women, particularly those that have well-paying jobs and can afford to successfully, if not comfortably, take care of their children, the “Ms Independent” persona is a positive. Historically, Black women have always taken on the responsibility as the primary caregiver for their children. In a day and age where more opportunities are available for Black women, a steady job and ability to take care of the household without the need of a man, can bring about a sense of pride. This sense of pride and accomplishment may be found in any woman, regardless of race.

Perhaps the company said it best in their responding statement. Baby T’Kan published this to their website (which by the way shows a white father and son):

“Frankly, it’s insulting that some choose to infer that an African American woman alone with a baby is automatically a single mother -– that itself is a form of racism that has no place in our company whatsoever.”

Two parent households are placed on a pedestal in American society, but according to its statement, it seems that Baby T’Kan is trying to do away with this.

In a recent NY Times article, titled “Two-Parent Households Can Be Lethal,” it was said that even in domestic violence situations, mothers who are not with the father of their children are not respected.  The author, Sara Shoener, argues that mental health professionals, law enforcement officials, judges and clergy members are more interested in keeping a two-parent family structure in place than the safety and security of a mother and child. Her fieldwork shows that dangerous, two-person household are perceived to be better than a household with a single mom. She cites a Pew report from 2010, which reveals almost 70 percent of Americans say single mothers without male partners to help raise their children are bad for society, reinforcing the notion that women outside of the the traditional narrative as happily married wives as failures to society.

So why is it so embedded in our minds that any instance of a lone Black mother is negative? The “Ms Independent” mother may embrace this as a sense of accomplishment, attempting to disregard the stigma that being partnerless means they are poor, or controlling, or downright miserable and lonely women. Companies will always have advertisements that someone is bound to disagree with – our society is just too diverse to please everyone. Instead of focusing on what black people feel bring shame to the community, we can focus on how these same images tell a different narrative – one that might actually accurately document someone’s black experience.

The Carter’s shut down Miami last night during the opening night of their highly-anticipated #OnTheRun tour. Jay Z and Beyoncé were scheduled to perform at 8 p.m., but began the concert nearly two hours late because traffic on the highways and side streets were backed up for miles with eager concert-goers trying to make it the Sun Life Stadium in Miramar.

As expected, Queen Bey had numerous costume changes with a lot of sequins, lace, and leather. Jay Z played it cool with his typical Brooklyn-chic streetwear and a mic. Fans wore nearly nothing as they sat in the outdoor arena in a sweltering 95 degrees.

I won’t give away too much, but the concert really was a testament to their love and family. Mhmm. The couple kept the Bonnie and Clyde theme running throughout the show, with more home videos than dancers to accompany the music. You could tell who was there for Bey and who was their for Jay -– with fans taking turns standing up to scream and sing along.

The concert was lively, with the Carters performing songs from back in the day and from their most recent albums, Magna Carter…Holy Grail and Beyoncé. The most adorable moments were at the very end when the big screen showed home videos of Princess Blue Ivy, which made the Beyhive go wild, filling the stadium with oohs and ahhs.

Next week, an estimated 41 million Americans will take to the road and friendly skies for Independence Day, according to auto club AAA. Fourth of July travel is up 1.9 percent compared to last year.

AAA defines holiday travel as traveling more than 50 miles from home from July 2 through July 6. Eight in 10 travelers, or 34.8 million, will travel by car, the highest since 2007. Air travel is up 1 percent, with airfare costing 5 percent lower on average than last year. Rental car rates are about the same, but hotel prices are up 15 percent compared to last year’s July 4th rates.

Rental car giant Enterprise Holdings, owner of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and Alamo Rent A Car, has seen an 11 percent spike in advance airport reservations ahead of the holiday weekend. Enterprise Rent-A-Car neighborhood locations are reporting double-digit growth in reservations.

[Image: Shutterstock]

Most travelers will pay more for gas than for any Independence Day since 2008. The national average price for a gallon of regular today is about 20 cents a gallon more than the average on July 4, 2013. In years past, gas prices have dropped in the weeks leading up to the holiday. That hasn’t happened this year, however, because of higher crude oil costs related to the intensifying situation in Iraq, AAA reports.

Despite rising gas and hotel costs, AAA says many travelers are depending on credit cards to foot their holiday bill. As a result of improving employment projections and rising home values, Americans are more willing to incur more debt.

In the middle of a heated game, passions rise and tempers are tested. Athletes are given free reign to talk smack and get in each other’s faces, but some take the competitive nature of the game all the way to the deep end – as was the case with Uruguayan soccer player Luis Suarez.

Frustrated by the iron-tight defense of the Italian team, Suarez and Italian player Giorgio Chiellini got tangled up in front of Italy’s goal when Suarez furiously bit Chiellini’s shoulder. The chomp was caught on camera with Chiellini lifting his shirt down to reveal the big red mark on his shoulder to the referees (who claimed they didn’t actually see the bite take place). Suarez, who has been repremanded twice before for the same offense, has been suspended for nine games and for the next four months, is barred from all soccer-related activities.

Suarez joins the ranks of these 7 other athletes that took bad sportsmanship to a whole different…with their teeth.

Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson

Of course, the first mention of biting in sports brings everyone’s mind back to the 1997 boxing match between heavyweight fighters Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. After losing the first two rounds, Tyson claimed to be headbutt by Holyfield somewhere in teh 2nd round. As retaliation, Tyson bit off a chunk of Holyfield’s ear and was subsequently disqualified. The act Tyson’s boxing license was revoked by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and he was fined USD $3 million plus legal costs.

Image: Daily Mail

Ioulietta Boukouvala vs. Yurileidys Cobas

In the 2012 Judo Olympics, Grecian fighter Ioulietta Boukouvala lost her opening-round  to Cuba’s Yurileidys Cobas. Boukouvala alleged that as the  battle got more and more heated, Cobas bit her on the hand. Greek sports websites quoted Boukouvala, 28, as urging that officials should have taken action.

Image: Yahoo Sports

Marc Savard vs. Daniel Castillo

Hockey continues to fly under the radar as being one of the most brutal sports in existence. Many offences, including fighting and racial slurs, continue to be swept under the rug. So its no wonder that anything (including biting) goes. In 2010, Philadelphia enforcer Daniel Carcillo accused Boston Bruins player Marc Savard of biting his finger during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. “Last time I have been bit was in grade school. It’s not a good feeling. … Guys don’t bite. Men don’t bite,” Carcillo said.

Image: Sporting News

Patrice Bergeron vs. Alex Burrows

What do you know…another biting melee in hockey. At the end of the first period of the Boston Bruins‘ 1-0 loss in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals, Patrice Bergeron had to be restrained in going after Vancouver Canucks forward Alex Burrows.  Bergeron later revealed to Hockey Night In  the reason he lost his head was that Burrows had bitten his finger. “I don’t mind rough play and scrums at the end, as long as it’s just pushing and shoving and all that. But biting? I mean come on.”

Image: Sporting News

Tree Rollins vs. Danny Ainge

The NBA has had its own archive of finger-biting incidents, too. In 1983, Atlanta Hawks’ Tree Rollin bit Boston’s Danny Ainge on the finger in a heated showing match. Ainge gave his account of the story, recalling, “We got into a little scuffle out on the court by the foul line and he almost bit my finger off,” Ainge said. “He bit it all the way through. I had to get two stitches.”

Image: Bleacher Report

Conrad Dobler vs. Doug Sutherland 

St. Louis Cardinals lineman Conrad Dobbler racked up a reputation for taking bites at players during his career. In a 1977 Sports Illustrated article, an opponent recounted, “What you need when you play against Dobler is a string of garlic buds around your neck and a wooden stake.” Shade! The only player Conrad admitted to biting was Doug Sutherland of Minnesota. “He put his fingers through my mask, and I don’t think they were there to stroke my mustache. So I bite one finger in my life. The legend grew from there. “

Aaron Asham vs. Matt Cooke

Philadelphia’s Aaron Asham alleged that Pittsburgh Penguins’ forward Matt Cooke bit him during a fight. “My glove got tangled in his mouth and he bit me, so I lost it,” said Asham. Cooke denied the charges.

Image: Post Gazette

Usually when pop superstar Rihanna is photographed, she’s scantily clad or partially nude, with sheer outfits and revealing clothing. But her new Harper’s Bazaar Arabia July/August cover is quite the opposite, showing the “We Found Love” singer modestly dressed in traditional Middle Eastern clothing. With the cover story tag line, “The new modesty: how to cover up in style,” the island beauty’s couture, yet sexy looks are culturally chic.

The magazine posted a sneak peek of the cover and its high glamour spread yesterday on their Facebook page. The stunning images show the 26 year old dressed in couture head scarfs and veils, gold metallic face covering with henna printed hands.

For the cover, the pop star conceals her face according to Muslim tradition with a mesh veil, starting at the top of her head and tying at her neck in a giant bow.

In one shot, the “S&M” singer wears a full-length–though sheer on the bottom–emerald green dress with a bright cranberry-red hat. The final look features Rih-Rih in a sequined dress with matching shoes, gloves, and mask, Cat-woman style.

The magazine release date has not been revealed.

Gladiators unite! If you love Olivia Pope’s professional, chic looks on ABC’s “Scandal”, you can now dress like the political problem solver. Debuting in late September, women’s store The Limited will launch the Scandal Collection, featuring the outfits of Kerry Washington‘s alter ego. Reconfiguring the traditional on-screen celebrity tie-in, the deal is said to be the first linking up a national retailer, a leading network show, its costume designer and lead actress.

The collection will boasts of wide legged trousers, girly blouses and Pope’s signature outerwear. The Limited’s head designer Elliot Staples and Lyn Paolo, the lead costume designer for the television drama has collaborated to bring Pope’s on air looks to a rack near you. Each piece in the collection retails from $42 to $248. The line will consist of 42 pieces and will be available in The Limited’s 250 mall based stores and website.

Washington, who was nominated for an Emmy for her role as Pope, born her first child, Isabelle, in April. The actress secretly wed retired NFL cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, 32, in 2013.

A former officer is suspected of killing two women that he met online and stuffing their bodies in suitcases. Steven M. Zelich will appear in court to face two charges of hiding a corpse. Authorities believe Zelich, a 52-year-old security guard, met the women online, bound and killed them before hiding their corpses either in his home or car. Highway workers recovered suitcases with the bodies stuffed inside along roadways 50 miles southwest of Milwaukee.

Detective Sgt. Lee Hollatz said Zelich is the primary suspect in the murders of two women in the Minneapolis area that have been reported missing. Zelich told investigators that he killed Laura Simonson at a hotel in Rochester, Minnesota, in November. Officials have not released details about the second woman except she was killed late 2012 or early 2013. Yet, he hasn’t been formally charged with their murders. A fact that may change with the discovery of corpses believed to be those of the missing women.

Simonson, 37, was reported missing by her family November 22. She was last seen staying in Microtel Inn and Suites in Rochester. Hollatz spoke with employees that confirmed she was there the night of her disappearance. Hotel security video shows a man, suspected to be Zelich, leaving the hotel alone. Footage never showed that Simonson exited the hotel. Hollatz suspects evidence from the body will link Zelich to the murder of the second woman.

A previous search of Zelich’s apartment did not turn up either woman’s body or indicate the apartment was used in the murders of the women. However, requests for questioning were evaded by Zelich. Hollatz confirmed that FBI and Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation agents spoke with him. He said after the interview that Zelich was still number one on his radar.

Photo credits:CollarSpace/Shutterstock

When you hear a charming, rustic voice over a velvety track with gorgeous melodies and arrangements, it’s most likely emerging R&B crooner Russell Taylor. Named one of the esteemed VH1′s “You Ought Know” artists, Taylor bested 400 talented competitors, and it’s not hard to see why.

Unapologetically bursting from New York’s independent music scene, Taylor is a soul, pop hybrid, as he creates his own lane and paves his own path, making himself a household name. The more Taylor gives, the more we want. The well rounded old soul is fueled by passion, revealing intimate toned lyrics and arresting soul satisfying tracks. With a background in theater, rooted in acting with Broadway experience, Taylor is undeniably a versatile arts mastermind.

Check out his interview about his new album, War of Hearts, his new management with Tamar Braxton‘s hubby Vince Herbert and what makes him stand out.

Up-and-coming pop singer Adokiye Kyrian has expressed her outrage at the disappearance of the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls in a shocking way. The 23-year-old singer told reporters with the Vanguard newspaper that she would offer her virginity to the extremist Islamic group Boko Haram in exchange for the return of the Chibok students.

“Those little girls, where they are and what could be happening to them. It is just unfair,” Kyrian said. “They are too young. I wish I could offer myself in exchange.” Boko Haram’s membership is believed to be numbered in the thousands. A fact that doesn’t deter Kyrian from being convinced that this could possibly help return the young girls to their families. “Even if 10 to 12 men have to take me every night, I don’t care. Just release these girls and let them go back to their parents,” she added.

The young pop star’s offer may fall on deaf ears. The militant group previously demanded the return of some of their captive soldiers in exchange for the release of a handful of the Chibok girls. The group has hinted that some of the girls, ranging in age from 12 to 15, have been sold to their kidnappers as brides and to neighboring countries as sex slaves.

Many of the girls may have been forced to convert from Christianity to Islam. The #BringBackOurGirls social media campaign brought the issue forefront in the news. At the World Cup signs with “Bring Back Our Girls” were flashed briefly to fuel the conversation until the girls have been set free.

Boko Haram attacks and kidnappings have continued in Nigeria, despite  President Goodluck Jonathan‘s efforts to have peaceful negotiations with the organization. A bombing of a shopping mall this week in the capital Abuja during rush hour traffic killed 21 people and Boko Haram is suspected as the culprits.

Ain’t nothing new about celebrities throwing shade, but they sure keep us entertained and shaking our heads! This week in celebrity quotes, Iyanla Vanzant says she’d go after Donald Sterling‘s money if she were his mistress, Rick Ross spills his 100-pound weight loss secrets, Gabrielle Union calls out Christian internet trolls, and R. Kelly is not discussing his transgendered son! Plus, Kat Stacks is not here for illiterate Black people. AND I QUOTE …

“You know, the most I used to do for exercise was stand up to count the money…But now, they give me fruit to eat. I forgot what fruit, you know, tasted like. I eat pears now and s**t like that.”

Rick Ross discussing how eating fruit contributed to his 100-pound weight loss, in an on-camera interview with DJ Tim Westwood.

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But if I were his mistress I would be finagling money out of every pocket, every bank account! Listen, fixers need money to fix things!”

Iyanla Vanzant explaining why she would have no problem being Donald Sterling’s mistress, in a radio interview with “The D.L. Hughley Show.”

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“I wonder what the campaign slogan was in Mississippi the past couple days, Uncle Toms For Thad?” 

Rush Limbaugh calls African-Americans, who voted for Mississippi Republican senatorial candidate Thad Cochran, Uncle Toms, in an interview posted on Media Matters.

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“Can the black community please learn how to Spell before making Memes? What the f**k is ‘empress her’? IT’S spelled ‘Impress’ Thanks!”

Kat Stacks, one of the world’s most famous THOTS, sending out a message for the “Black community” to step up their spelling game, via Instagram.

“I think ima need a diaper I lightweight peed on myself tryna run to the restroom this the 2nd time it’s happened a lil shot out.”

Slim Thug opening up about his incontinence issues at the age of 33, via Twitter.

“And then you click on their posts and it’s like, “team Jesus.’ And you’re like, ‘You’re not team Jesus! You are NOT team Jesus!’”

Gabrielle Union responding to the legion of hypocritical internet trolls who hate yet claim Jesus, in a promo tour interview with BET.com.

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“You don’t really wanna open it up by saying my daughter is becoming my son.”

R. Kelly on his refusal to acknowledge his 14-year-old transgendered son, in an interview with WGCI FM radio

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After seven years of hosting the daytime all-women panel, Sherri Shepherd is leaving ABC’s “The View.” Jenny McCarthy, another View co-host who joined the cast in 2013, will also leave the show.

A source tells the New York Post that producers wanted to keep Shepherd on the show. Despite serious contract negotiations, the two sides could not come to an agreement, which led to her exit.

Shepherd released a statement saying, “It’s been seven wonderful years on ‘The View’ and after careful consideration it is time for me to move on. I am extremely grateful to Barbara Walters and Bill Geddie for giving me the opportunity … and I am incredibly grateful to my View family and my fans for supporting me on this journey.”

An ABC rep told the New York Post, “The View” will be moving in an exciting new direction next season and ABC has made decisions to evolve the show creatively.”

The departure of the two co-hosts comes a little over a month after The View co-creator Barbara Walters retired from her hosting duties. She still serves as executive producer.

Shepherd, 47, joined the talk show as a guest co-host in 2006, becoming a full-time host the following year. Prior to that, she had a successful career as an actress and comedian.

The reality show that made network history in its first season, averaging over one million viewers, returns to the pulpit for a second season. The series delivered digital success with more full episode streams per week in a season than any other Oxygen original series, and was a top 10 most social cable reality program in October and November 2013 for the network.

“Preachers of L.A.“, despite controversy and harsh criticism from high-profile Christian leaders, Bishop Noel Jones, Minister Deitrick Haddon, Bishop Clarence McClendon, Pastor Jay Haizlip, Pastor Wayne Chaney, and Bishop Ron Gibson will return to a screen near you on Oxygen on Wednesday, August 20 at 10:00 p.m. EST.

The first season left audiences wondering about the status of Haddon and new wife Domonique’s second pregnancy, Jones and Loretta’s relationship, and a life-altering decision in the Chaney household after Myesha shed 40 pounds and was appointed to work with her husband in clergy.

Take a look:

After gaining nationwide media attention, a 12-year-old Detroit boy was found on Wednesday under a makeshift barricade in his family’s basement. He was reported missing on June 14.

Charles Bothuell V was found when police executed a search warrant for the home. There also appeared to be food nearby. After several searches of the home, even with cadaver dogs, police suspected homicide and began questioning the boy’s family.

Detroit Police Chief James Craig said it’s unclear whether Bothuell was in the basement the entire time, and is looking for evidence of child abuse. Although the boy did not call out, he was reportedly happy to see police.

An interview of the boy’s father, Charles Bothuell IV, on “Nancy Grace” quickly went viral after he responded unusually when Grace told him that police had found the boy safely, on-air. Bothuell quickly said he did not have his phone on him at the time, suggesting he didn’t know the boy was in his basement.

“For anybody to imply that I somehow knew that my son was in the basement, it’s absurd and it’s wrong,” the father later told local news. “I love my son. I’m glad that he’s home and he’s going to have the great future that he deserves to have.”

According to police, the boy is staying with his birth mother and has not had contact with his father yet.

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A former Georgia Tech football player, who briefly signed with the NFL allegedly kept the oldest of his ten children locked in a tiny basement with blacked out windows for nearly two years. After receiving an anonymous tip, the teen was discovered on June 16.

Recardo Wimbush, 33, and his 37-year-old wife, Therian kept the 13 year old in deplorable conditions, including a window that was painted over, no light bulbs, a mattress and box spring and a bucket to use the bathroom. The couple faces criminal charges for false imprisonment and cruelty to children.

The couple justified their actions, accusing the teen of molesting three of his younger siblings. According to court papers, no evidence has been found supporting their claims and none of the other nine children mentioned any abuse by the unidentified teenager.

The boy told police he was first locked in the tiny basement in January 2013, after stealing a DVD player and lying about it. He was fed at normal times, but was denied access to his siblings, books, toys or entertainment. Investigators found no signs of abuse or malnourishment of the couple’s other children.

Wimbush, who was a star defensive player with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets from 1999-2002, signed with the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent in 2003. The team released him before the season started.

The Georgia Division of Family and Child Services took the 10 children — the youngest, 18 months — into custody.

It’s been years since former model Padma Lakshmi strutted down a catwalk, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t turn heads when walking the street. Take her jumpsuit look for instance. This ensemble would be appropriate across the country from San Francisco to New York, which is where Padma turned the sidewalk into her runway.

If you’re in need of an easy-breezy ensemble that still looks chic, then click on for our recreation of Padma Lakshmi’s chambray jumpsuit look.

Anthropologie Embroidered Tie Belt, $38
Mix No. 6 Texture Wedge Sandal, $49.95
Zara Jumpsuit with Spaghetti Straps, $79.90
Kelsi Dagger Downtown Brooklyn Hobo, $82.99
Cara Metal Wire Cuff, $45

News of soul man Bobby Womack‘s passing at age 70 Friday, June 27, hit so hard that “RIP Bobby Womack” immediately began trending on Twitter. “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die #RIPBobbyWomack,” CeeLo Green tweeted. As a diverse roll call of celebrities, including Chuck D, Rick Ross, Omar Epps, Vivica A. Fox, Pam Grier, Jeffrey Wright, Angie Stone, Just Blaze, Vernon Reid and many more responded to his passing on Twitter, Womack’s legendary status was indeed confirmed.

Born Robert Dwayne Womack March 4, 1944 in Cleveland, Womack began recording when he was just 10 years old with his four brothers — Curtis, Harry, Cecil and Friendly Jr. — who all worked the gospel circuit in the mid- to late 1950s. Attracting the attention of the legendary Sam Cooke, the brothers were signed to his SAR Records label in 1960, eventually moving from gospel to secular music and becoming The Valentinos to mark the change. When Cooke was shot and killed in 1964, Womack fell out of music fans’ good favor when three months later he married Cooke’s widow, Barbara Cooke.

Although it was difficult for him to perform shows, his guitar prowess landed him alongside the greatest of the greats, including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix and James Brown. His first solo album, Fly Me to the Moon, in 1968 was followed by many others, including Communication (1971), Understanding and Across 110th Street (both in 1972), Facts of Life (1973) and Lookin for a Love Again (1974), which helped establish him as a go-to chart-topper in the 1970s. “Across 110th Street,” “Woman’s Gotta Have It,” “That’s the Way I Feel About Cha” and “California Dreamin’” are among his many early hits.

In 1981, Womack hit big again with his acclaimed albums, The Poet and The Poet II.  The first album yielded the classic, “If You Think You’re Lonely Now,” which Jodeci’s K-Ci Hailey revived in 1994 for the Jason’s Lyric soundtrack and Mariah Carey referenced in her 2005 hit “We Belong Together.” Womack’s influence extended beyond soul and R&B. The Rolling Stones’s version of The Valentinos’ 1964 hit, “It’s All Over Now,” which he co-composed, was their first number one on the UK charts. He also lent his songwriting genius to artists like Janis Joplin and George Benson.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 and just performed recently at Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee June 14. His last album, The Bravest Man in the Universe, was released in 2012 but another album had been scheduled for release this year. Throughout his career, he battled drug addiction as well as suffered from various illnesses, including a colon cancer scare and early signs of Alzheimer’s, that probably would have killed most before now.  TV One’s popular Unsung series captured Womack’s many ups and downs in January 2012.

With the BET Awards airing live on June 28, Bobby Womack is sure to be name-checked throughout the night.

In another eyebrow-raising incident out of Arizona, English professor Dr. Ersula Ore was confronted by Arizona State University police for walking down the middle of an obstructed street, resulting in an arrest for assault and other charges.

Video of the May incident has just been released to Phoenix’s 3TV. The footage shows Ore and officer Stewart Ferrin (both pictured in the image above) in a heated exchange in which Ferrin demands to Ore: “Let me see your ID or you will be arrested for failing to provide ID.” When Ore continues to question Officer Ferrin about singling her out for crossing a street she claimed almost everyone did regularly due to construction, he tells her “Put your hand behind your back. I’m going to slam you on this car.” Shortly thereafter, he proceeds to do so and, because Ore is wearing a black dress, parts of her body are publicly exposed.

Backing the officer, ASU issued the following statement to 3TV:

“ASU authorities have reviewed the circumstances surrounding the arrest and have found no evidence of inappropriate actions by the ASUPD officers involved. Should such evidence be discovered, an additional, thorough inquiry will be conducted and appropriate actions taken.

“Because the underlying criminal charges are pending, there is not much more we can say at this time. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has reviewed all available evidence, including the police report, witness statements, and audio and video recordings of the incident, and decided to press criminal charges of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, refusing to provide identification when requested to do so by an officer, and obstructing a highway or public thoroughfare.”

Ore, whose research interests include cultural studies, is claiming self-defense. According to her attorney, Alane Roby, the self-defense claim is based on the fact that “her dress was up” and “the officer was reaching toward her anatomy,” which made her “uncomfortable with hands going there.”

Conflicting posts on the Facebook page of Meshach Taylor, best known for his role as Anthony Bouvier on the hit sitcom Designing Women (1986-1993), has led to confusion about whether the actor, age 68, is alive or dead. The confusion began after his family posted the following on his Facebook page Friday, June 27:

It is with love and gratitude that we sorrowfully announce that our darling, amazingly brilliant and dynamic, Meshach, the incredible father, husband, son and friend has begun his grand transition. Our friends who know and love us, please offer your prayers for his peace and blazing light as he ascends to the heavens. Those who need to call the family please do. Those who desire to post memories, we are open and graciously accepting all gestures of peace. Love,
the Taylor Family Tariq Taylor Yasmine Taylor Tamar Lashae Taylor Esme Taylor

Almost immediately, his Facebook page ignited with RIP posts and remembrances, with some objecting to the “premature” pronouncement of death.

“I am usually better than this in checking all facts before posting here on FB. Our friend, Meshach Taylor is still in this great thing called life. He is terminally ill, but still with us,” wrote Candace Hunter.

At this posting, no news outlet had reported the death of the Boston-born Taylor, who turned 67 on April 11. The Florida A&M graduate got his first big break with the national tour of Hair. After spending many years in Chicago, where he enjoyed acclaimed theater roles and even hosted a television show, Taylor made his way to L.A. in 1987 and later landed his career-changing role for which he received an Emmy nomination. After Designing Women, Taylor made several appearances on stage, including his Broadway debut  with Toni Braxton in Beauty and the Beast in 1998, television and film.

In 1983, Taylor married Bianca Ferguson and subsequently fathered four children (daughters Tamar Taylor, Esme Taylor, Yasmine Taylor and son Tariq Taylor), in addition to later becoming a grandfather of four.