They’re the athletes you know and love, and they’re taking it all off for the annual ESPN Body Issue! The magazines, which will soon hit newsstands, features snowboarder Jamie Anderson, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, swimmer Michael Phelps, Texas Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka, and tennis star Venus Williams, among others.

ESPN revealed its six covers featuring the named athletes via Instagram early Tuesday. For at least one of the athletes, the ESPN Body Issue allows her to show off her fit physique even though she’s unable to workout as hard as she used to. Venus Williams, 34, battles an autoimmune disorder called Sjogren’s syndrome and as a result she can’t train as hard as she once did, but the Body Issue affords her the opportunity to prove she’s still got it! She tells ESPN, “It’s a balance between pushing myself as much as I can and being reasonable about what I can achieve and what my body will tolerate.”

Keep clicking to check out the six delectable ESPN Body Issue covers!

Venus Williams

Jamie Anderson

Serge Ibaka

Marshawn Lynch

Michael Phelps

Prince Fielder

Be sure to pick up your copy when it reaches newsstands July 11.

TV host and comedian Rosie O’Donnell may be returning to “The View.” After the terminations of Jenny McCarthy and Sherri Shepherd, Whoopi Goldberg is the only host to remain. The show needs a jolt of energy, and the often controversial O’Donnell may be just that.

Next season will mark the 18th season of “The View.” The talk show has experienced many shake-ups since its debut in 1997, including the very public firing of Star Jones, which bears a strong similarity to the abrupt departure of Shepherd.

So far, rumors are spreading that conservative extremist Sarah Palin may be in talks to join the women of “The View,” along with possibly a Latina host, which the talk show has never had.

O’Donnell has already made her deal with the show and will make an announcement shortly, sources tell TMZ.

Check out Rosie in action during a past season below when she took on overly opinionated figure, Donald Trump.

Columbus Short has attempted to redeem himself — sort of. In an interview with Billy Bush of “Access Hollywood,” the former “Scandal” actor attempted to explain away his problems after making headlines for a 4th of July weekend arrest.

Short told Bush, “I think there’s a time when your personal life gets magnified by who we are as celebrities.”  When Bush asked about his recent arrest, Short said, “There’s something visceral that happened inside of me, and yeah, I’ll say it, even as a Black man in handcuffs on the ground, for no justifiable reason at all. I wasn’t acting intoxicated. I had had a couple of drinks, but whatever, I was angry and I used my vocabulary to kind of fight that … I didn’t get into a fight.” Seems like someone is playing the “race card” a little too late after all his run-ins with the law.

Short even went as far as to claim he never abused estranged wife, Tanee McCall, saying, “Me and my wife, we’re going through problems. Serious, serious problems. However, the domestic [violence] part of it … I’m not a physically violent, man … I’ve never put my hands on a woman, physically, ever, and would not. I was raised by women.”

Well … It’s time to show and prove, Columbus Short.

Laverne Cox has earned herself a new gig! The “Orange is the New Black” actress has been winning this year, with recognition from Time and the GLAAD Awards. She has a strong fan base, and it seems like her fame will last much longer than 15 minutes.

Cox is now expanding her brand and is moving to Bravo as a guest star. The network known for its successful “Real Housewives” reality franchise is bringing a new kind of show to television. “Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce” and will be the first scripted show for the network. The show will be based on novels written by Vicki Lovine.

Cox has been cast as an LGBTQ activist and war journalist by the name of Adele Northrop. She will star alongside Lisa Edelstein and James Le Gros. “Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce” chronicles the life of a best-selling self-help author who is hiding her separation from her husband. As she navigates Los Angeles as a single woman in her 40s, the author begins to take more advice from her divorced friends, as opposed to her married ones, which leads her into some unexpected and life-altering experiences.

“Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce” is set to air later this year.

Tyra Banks has some pretty unconventional thoughts regarding beauty. The model, reality show star, and TV show host recently wrote for the Wall Street Journal about what she thinks beauty will be in the future. And her answers may surprise you.

The Wall Street Journal asked celebrities from various industries to share their thoughts on the future. Taylor Swift was asked about music, and Mark Zuckerberg gave his two cents about the internet. Banks was the representative for beauty, and her response revealed that she believes scientifically-enhanced beauty will be easily achievable in the future.

Banks writes there will be pills to enhance bone-structure, women will be able to have children at the age of 120, and fatness will be an indication of wealth. “Plastic surgery will be as easy and quick as going to the drugstore for Tylenol,” she writes. It sounds kind of ridiculous, but who’s to say that the top model can’t stretch her imagination?

According to Banks, in the future women will control human procreation and beauty standards more closely, and as a result they will run the world. “Men will be responsible for 70 percent of cosmetics sales and plastic-surgery procedures world-wide,” she writes. “Why? Men will be vying for women’s attention, obsessed with being attractive to females and snagging well-off ladies who can take care of them.” Sounds to me like someone has been listening to a lot of Beyoncé.

But the real issue regarding Banks’ beauty forecast is she has men and women simply switching places, instead of beauty becoming more inclusive, which most hope is the future of beauty. And the idea of swallowing a pill to “enhance” facial features is scary. As someone who has championed building self-esteem, it’s shameful that Banks would promote physical beauty ideals over self-love and happiness.

Yesterday, we brought you the news that über-popular bakery Crumbs Bake Shop suddenly folded and closed all its stores, leaving many cupcake fans to wonder how they’d satiate their sweet tooth this summer. But they needn’t fret as Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. just launched a delicious line of soft serve.

Godiva Soft Serve is available in three flavors, White Chocolate Vanilla Bean, Dark Chocolate, and Swirl. The frozen treat incorporates the authentic, premium Belgian ingredients Godiva is known for. Each flavor is crave-worthy, whether you are a staunch chocoholic, prefer vanilla, or like to swirl both flavors. While Godiva Soft Serve can be enjoyed in a typical five-ounce cone, a premium Belgian waffle cone is the way to go. The cones are dipped in dark or milk chocolate and can also be enjoyed topped with almond pralines. And so you don’t worry about packing on extra pounds, soft serve has less fat calories than traditional ice cream.

But if you prefer to sip your sweets instead of licking, the Godiva Trufflelata is for you. Simply choose a select truffle and the store clerk will create a delectable and cooling latte beverage just for you. The Trufflelata is available in six flavors: Chocolate Lava Cake, Milk Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Hazelnut Crunch, Strawberry Crème, and OREO. You’ll get a truffle in every sip!

Both the Godiva Soft Serve ($6) and the Trufflelata are available nationwide in Godiva stores.

[Images: Godiva Chocolatier, Inc.]

We’ve heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but for women an apple a day may bring something oh so much better. According to a new study published in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, women who eat apples on a regular basis may experience a better quality sex life, including higher levels of arousal and satisfaction.

Researchers analyzed 731 sexually-active Italian women aged 18 to 43 with no history of sexual problems over the course of seven months. To achieve an accurate study, the women were separated into two groups: those who ate one to two apples a day and those who ate none. They were then asked to fill out a Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), comprised of 19 questions about sexual function, sexual frequency, orgasm, lubrication, pain and overall sexual satisfaction. The 343 women in Group A who reported daily apple consumption, scored higher on their FSFI than the 388 non apple eaters in Group B. The women of Group A also reported higher lubrication rates and overall sexual function in their sex lives.

Researchers found that apples may improve sexual function due to antioxidants that can stimulate blood flow to the genitalia and vagina. The fruit may also be structurally similar to the female sex hormone estradiol, which plays a role in lubrication and arousal. Apples also have similar benefits to red wine and chocolate, except they are better for you.

Of course, researchers noted the sample size is limited and other factors may have played a factor in the women’s sexual lives besides the apples. Still the study is promising for many women who experience lowered libido and would prefer holistic treatment.

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was sentenced to 10 years in prison for bribery, money laundering, and corruption that occurred over his two-year term, including the years after Hurricane Katrina ravished the city.

Nagin, 58, was convicted on February 12 of accepting over half a million dollars from businessmen who wanted work to rebuild the city after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Nagin accepted bribes from the men, including cash, vacations, and supplies for his family business. In return he awarded city contracts to these businesses to work on various projects and Katrina rebuilding efforts.

He has denied any wrongdoing in the bribery schemes since his 2013 indictment and February trial. Before U.S. District Judge Helen Berrigan read the sentence, Nagin said, “I trust that God’s going to work all this out.” He did not issue an apology to those affected by his actions. His two grown sons, who were part of the family business that received construction goods from a contractor, did not face charges.

Prosecutors previously asked for a 20-year or more sentence in federal prison, to which Nagin’s legal defense rebutted that he would be taken away from his family. His defense argued that he is not in danger of committing any more crimes due to his term in office having expired.

Berrigan, in speaking with the court, said, “Mr. Nagin claimed a much, much smaller share of the profits in this conspiracy.” The judge noted character references showing Nagin displayed “a genuine if all too infrequent desire to help New Orleans and its residents.” Nagin is expected to report voluntarily to federal prison in Oakdale, La.

The former mayor was painted in the media as the savior of New Orleans. He was known for standing up to politicians in the wake of the slow aid response in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. His comments that “New Orleans would be chocolate again” angered some citizens.

A New York woman is accused of murdering her child and then posting pictures of the corpse on her Facebook page.

Nicole Kelly, 22, from Queens, New York told police, “I reached my breaking point, I didn’t want him anymore” when questioned about the child’s death. Police have charged her with second degree murder for the death of her 11 – month-old son, Kiam Felix, Jr. The father of the child has not been charged with any crime.

Officials say Kelly, a former home health aide, suffocated her son by wrapping him in a bed sheet until he was unable to breathe. Kelly then left Felix unattended for half an hour to die. The father of the baby, who doesn’t live with Kelly, arrived at the home later and got into a shouting match with Kelly.

“I’m not waiting for the f****** ambulance, he’s not breathing!”, he shouted according to one of Kelly’s neighbors. Both parents took the baby to Elmhurst Hospital, where baby Felix was pronounced dead.

Afterward, police believe that Kelly may have posted a picture of the child’s lifeless body on her Facebook page with the caption “R.I.P Tinkabutt.” The photo appears to have be taken in the same clothes he was wearing when he was taken to the hospital.

Underneath the photo She wrote, Kelly left a message that read: Missing my baby boy so much wish there was some way I could bring him back to life. I feel horrible knowing he passed away Am his Mother I was supposed to protect him I know his spirit will always be around me.

Photo credit: Facebook

Pam El has been appointed the new Chief Marketing Officer of the National Basketball Association according to a statement released by the NBA yesterday. El is the first African American and the first woman to hold the position.

Her responsibilities will include ‘directing brand development, overall marketing and advertising for the NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League,” the statement notes. She reports to NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum.

In a statement, Tatum recalled working with El during her days at State Farm as part of their NBA sponsorship. “She will be a huge addition as we work to build our brand on a global scale,” he stated.

Prior to the NBA, El worked at State Farm for about 11 years before leaving as its marketing VP in mid 2013.  Over her 30 year marketing career she’s also worked at he Martin Agency, US WEST, and Terabeam. El graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Virginia Commonwealth.

Rick Welts was the NBA’s last CMO and since he left in 1999, the position has been empty. Jamie Gallo held the organization’s most high ranking marketing position as Vice President, Marketing from 2012-2014.

By Colby Carrington

Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush will tie the knot to longtime girlfriend and dancer Lilit Avagyan this weekend. The ceremony will take place at the Grand Del Mar in San Diego, the same place NBA star LeBron James wed his wife Savannah Brinson last year.

Aside from his successful college football career, Bush was known for his infamous, on-again, off-again relationship with Kim Kardashian between July 2007 and March 2010. His nuptials come a couple months after his ex-girlfriend married rapper Kanye West in Italy on May 24.

The similarities between the two ex lovers and their new relationships has been a hot topic of interest. Both Avagyan and Kardashian are of Armenian heritage and have long dark hair with voluptuous figures. On May 6, 2013, Avagyan gave birth to the couple’s first child, daughter Briseis, just weeks before Kim gave birth to North West in June of 2013.

Bush and Avagyan got engaged last year. The wedding guest list has not been revealed, and its unclear whether Kim will be invited to the wedding.

As many freshmen are gearing up to attend college, it seems parents will have to give their children an education in campus rape rates and how to protect themselves before they crack open their textbooks. A recent survey has found that America’s higher education institutions are doing a piss-poor job of preventing and investigating sexual assaults on campus.

A recent survey, conducted by Sen. Claire McCaskill’s office, has found about 40 percent of colleges and universities reported not conducting investigations into sexual assaults in the past five years, including 6 percent of the nation’s largest public institutions. Many universities have gone years without investigating, displaying a clear lack of communication between campuses and law enforcement.

Under some estimates, one in five female college students are sexually assaulted. Federal law mandates every institution that is aware of sexual violence to investigate, even if the victim isn’t participating.

The survey also discovered more than 20 percent of respondents provide no sexual assault training for all faculty, staff, or students. About half of the participating colleges and universities do not have a hotline for sexual assault victims. Only about a quarter of the schools reported having written protocols between campus and local authorities for handling such cases.

Among other findings, about 40 percent of schools said they have sworn law enforcement officers on campus, while others hire private security, and about half rely on local authorities. Thirty percent said campus police and security guards aren’t required by law to be trained to respond to reports of sexual violence.

The schools that participated in the survey weren’t named.

In today’s “WTH” news, a Brooklyn woman was found living with her mother’s corpse, propping her up at the dinner table and sleeping next to her skeleton every night. Chava Stirn, 28, even dressed like her mother, wearing the same black outfit and shoes that 61-year-old Susie Rosenthal had on when she died.

A law enforcement source said Stirn would lay her mother’s bones on trash bags in the kitchen of her cramped Borough Park apartment for a sleep over. Police believe she lived with her mom’s remains for two to three years. The gruesome discovery came only after the building’s superintendent investigated a leak coming from the apartment.

Stirn refused to open the door, prompting emergency workers to knock it down. The woman, who lived with her mother before her death, never left the house. She was unwilling to let anyone inside the apartment, so a relative would sometimes leave food outside her door, the police sources said.  Upon discovery, Stirn was found sitting in a chair, disheveled, surrounded by waist level trash. Neighbors never suspected any foul play or smelt any human remains, although they reported weird noises and screams of “I kill myself!” coming from the apartment.

Stirn was taken to Maimonides Medical Center for a psych evaluation. The cause of Rosenthal’s death has not been determined and relatives declined comment.

I’m not a heart healer, a relationship expert, or Hitch, but there are some aspects of dating that I’m pretty confident discussing. As a result of this confidence, my homegirls constantly call me to vent and/or get advice on situations they are going through, which is hard for me to give when I know 95.6 percent of everything I tell them will go in one ear and out the other. But they’re my friends and I’ll always be here for them in times of need. I’m starting to see that many of my homegirls need the same thing this summer: How to find a man who is interested in a serious relationship, and how to avoid the men who are NOT. As a man who has found myself on the extreme ends of both scenarios, here are a few (hopefully) helpful tips that more women need to know.

1. Talk to Him about His Dating Past WITHOUT Making Assumptions

One of the worst mistakes a woman can make is talking to a man about his dating history, hearing him go on about some serious long-term relationship he had, and then assuming that his past ability to be in a long-term relationship automatically means he’s currently capable of doing that with her. STOP THAT SHIT. Just because he dated “what’s-her-face” for three and a half years, that does not mean that he’s looking for that type of relationship right now.

Also, if he’s NEVER been in a serious relationship in his life (and we’re talking about a relatively attractive ’80s baby), you gotta give dude the side-eye. I’m NOT saying that means he has commitment phobia and he should be treated like the Ebola virus, but that fact should be part of your early evaluation of his potential. Oh, and ladies, please DO NOT make the dumb-ass assumption that you will be the one to change him — he’s a grown ass man, not your son.

[Image: Shutterstock]

2. Ask Him What He’s Looking for and NEVER Accept “Taking it One Day at a Time”

I will never understand how so many women have such a big problem with simply asking a man, “What are you looking for?” Yes, I understand that some men lie, some men misrepresent their intentions, and some men will sing a pretty tune just to smash, but you MUST ask him this question because you need to know whether he WANTS to get serious with a woman. Ladies, here’s the truth: Single, actively-dating men are either exhausted or excited by the prospect of being unattached and on the market. Some men view the dating scene like an endless supply of vaginas waiting to be introduced to his Richard, and those men are the ones who want to “take it one day at a time.” They don’t know if they can cure themselves of their multiple partner addiction in time to start a serious relationship. I’m not saying every man who says that is bad for you, but know that he isn’t serious right NOW. He may become serious in the future, but if you’re looking for a dude who wants something real in the near future, avoid Mr. Let’s See How This Goes.

[Image: Shutterstock]

3. NEVER Accept Gaps in Communication

This is probably the biggest one. Ladies, much like you, when a man initially meets a woman he clicks with, talking and spending time with her becomes as necessary as breathing. That might sound corny to some of you, but it’s real talk. When a dude really sees that long-term potential in a woman, he becomes enamored with hearing her voice, being with her as much as he can, and having her in his arms. So if you meet a dude who treats you right for a week or two, and then inexplicably disappears for days or weeks on end, only to show back up with some weak ass excuse, he doesn’t really give a shit about you. You are expendable and he doesn’t really care if he loses you. Look, we are all grown-ass adults with busy lives and careers, but if you think that means a dude can’t find 4.5 seconds in the span of 72 hours to just text, “Hey, just on a break. How are you luv?” then you are out of your damn mind. Even Barack has said he doesn’t go more than a day without texting or calling Michelle, yet some of y’all are letting Duane Reed employees tell you he’s “been busy”!

Now, I understand that whenever someone reads articles like these, their first intent is to find the exception to every point I’ve made in some effort to tear down these tips as unhelpful - that’s just the price of being a devil’s advocate. But please understand two very important things: One, I’m NOT making hard and fast rules which MUST be adhered to 100 percent because every situation is different, and two, the DUDES who will tell you what I said above is BULLSHIT, are very likely the same men you probably might want to avoid. Shit, back when I was loving the single-life, I would’ve wanted women to avoid reading an article like this too.

LAB

Lincoln Anthony Blades blogs daily on his site ThisIsYourConscience.com, he’s an author of the book “You’re Not A Victim, You’re A Volunteer” and a weekly contributor for UPTOWN Magazine. He can be reached via Twitter @lincolnablades and on Facebook at This Is Your Conscience.

[Image: Shutterstock]

In the wee hours of Thursday morning, the 2014 Emmy nominations were revealed. “Orange is the New Black” scored huge this round, with a whopping 12 nominations, leading the comedy category.

The show’s lead actress Laverne Cox, reality star, actress and LGBTQ advocate was nominated for her supporting role along with scene-stealer “Crazy Eyes” Uzo Aduba. Cox makes history today as the first transgender actress to be nominated for an Emmy Award and shared her excitement via Twitter.

Congrats to everyone at @oitnb on our #EmmyNoms today. So proud to be working with all of you on such a groundbreaking show. #oitnb — Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 10, 2014

New mom and newlywed Kerry Washington will have her second chance at Best Actress in a Drama Series this year, after being snubbed last year for her role as Olivia Pope on the wildly successful “Scandal.” Washington’s co-stars, Joe Morton, who plays Pope’s father, and Kate Burton, were also recognized in the supporting actor categories. Kerry Washington tweeted:

  Wow. Woke up to @TheEmmys nom & more #SCANDAL noms 4 @JOEtheMORTON & #KateBurton. AND so much luv from u guys. Truly gr8ful & crazy humbled. — kerry washington (@kerrywashington) July 10, 2014

  Co-star Scott Foley also jumped on the bandwagon

Congrats to@kerrywashington @JOEtheMORTON and the non tweeting Kate Burton for their amazing Emmy nominations! Way to represent!#Scandal — scott foley (@scottkfoley) July 10, 2014

  Other nominees included:

Cicely Tyson was nominated for the Best Lead Actress in a Mini-Series or Television Movie for The Trip to Bountiful.

Andre Braugher is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”

Reg E. Cathey was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Freddy in “House of Cards.”

Angela Bassett scored a Best Supporting Actress nod for her role in the mini-series “American Horror Story: Coven.”

Veteran actor Don Cheadle received an Emmy nod for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in “House of Lies.”

Bassett, who has been somewhat absent from social media following the recent passing of her mother, jumped on for a moment to share this:

Hey everybody, you good? So so happy & proud to celebrate w/my @AHSFX team right now! 17 Emmy Nominations for us!! God Blessed us REAL good!

— Angela Bassett (@ImAngelaBassett) July 10, 2014

However not everyone was ecstatic about the nominee news,  Orlando Jones in particular. The actor and comedian shared mixed sentiments.
Congrats to all Emmy nominees & MAJOR side-eye to the academy for snubbing folks like @NikkiBeharie & @tatianamaslany pic.twitter.com/knu2INigYp

— Orlando Jones (@TheOrlandoJones) July 10, 2014

The Emmy Awards will be broadcast live on August 25 at 8et

The Republican Party’s pick of Cleveland for its next nomination convention in 2016 made its splash as the least likely selection, yet there was no surprise there.  If you took a Cleveland bet to Vegas or had some fun with a political office pool, you’d win a few dollars because in many ways it was the obvious pick.  Dallas (deep in the heart of Texas) might have been the friendlier, safer route – but, it was also as White as you could bake it, right?  Dallas itself might be highly diverse, about a quarter Black and over 40 percent Latino, but you can’t shake the Texas off it.  This is the state that not only racked up more than 125,000 signatures to secede from the Union, but it has become one of several thriving hubs of Tea Partyism with its junior Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) among the list of whiny political Lone Starters, along with last term Governor and epic presidential fail Rick Perry (R-TX), who just won’t disappear.  Mix that with expected all-White crowds wearing obligatory cowboy hats and silver-tipped boots and the GOP finds itself cementing the narrative that it won’t reach the White House due to demographics.

Of course, it still seems impossible – given population trends and hard-headed extremists – that a Republican will find his (no her seen) path to Pennsylvania Avenue in 2016.  But, they hope Cleveland gets them a few inches closer.  Ohio is less Texas, very much less southern and oozing much less with the scent of secessionism.  And, it’s as Black as you can get, perhaps fitting – while clumsily – into the Republican National Committee’s longshot bid on Black outreach its pursued these days.  Not that it will garner any Black votes, but it fits a new play, a new and rather clever messaging strategy that can yield some strange dividends if they persist with it.

It’s not about getting Black votes – it’s about getting just enough to eat into the edges of a margin.  In 2004, President Bush managed to miraculously snatch up a record 16 percent of Ohio’s Black vote – 5 points more than his 11 percent share nationwide.  That’s when then Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) lost.

Republicans are looking for a remake of that, as slim as it was.  Democrats should worry.  The cautionary tale, although now 10-years ago, is that all the GOP has to do is slice more than 10 percent into a usually Democratic-leaning Black voter pot to capture the White House.  What about the Latino vote, though?  That’s a different story – while Latinos tilt Democratic, a solid half are staying Independent and nearly a quarter of those Independents lean Republican, according to Gallup.  And, suddenly, Republicans have managed to turn the immigration fracas on its head, creatively taking heat off their anti-migrant platform and successfully painting a distortion of President Obama as a deporting, anti-Latino tyrant who can’t control the border.

Plus (and we’ll talk about this later), the Latino electorate is maybe more of a shove than it is a punch at the moment.

Not making the GOP’s case for them, but there are some early indicators which should worry Democrats, among them the short memories of voters who forget about recent calamities like government shutdowns and games of debt ceiling chicken.

But, Cleveland is a sign that whatever nominee establishment Republicans have in mind for 2016, that candidate has to garner double the slice of Black vote than in the past two presidential cycles.  Who that nominee will be is anyone’s best early guess.  At the moment, obvious wannabe Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is a strong bet as he somehow trips around into black colleges and churches while playing legislative tag team with Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).  A recent Zogby Poll shows Paul 7 points ahead of the current Republican hopeful pack, with Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) and former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) in a second place tie at 13% (oddly enough, Christie is still hanging in there).

The recent Mississippi Senate race, which the inside-the-box chattering class is dismissing as an anomaly that can’t be repeated, is also a model worthy eyeing.  In this particular instance, we see Black voters cutting to a Republican candidate – if they think it’s in their interests.  All a GOP 2016 candidate has to do is convince more than 10% of Black voters that he (let’s not fake it: it’ll be a he) can deliver on some key items.  What we can’t see now is what that key issue will be: will it still be the economy?  Probably – but, who knows, given the tense geopolitical climate and the “imminent threat” of folks like the Islamic State, something (God forbid) dramatic enough could happen to put national security back on the front burner … in a way that had enough Black folks feeling like Bush could keep them “safer” than Kerry in 2004. Steele didn’t win the Senate race in MD in 2006, but he still got 25% of the Black vote which was respectable even during that time of anti-Bush sentiment.

Plus: there will be no Obama around or on the ticket. When UPTOWN spoke with Rev. Al Sharpton last year, he was quick to point out that Democrats should be extra worried about that.  There’s no guarantee a presumed Hillary Clinton nomination will garner a solid Black voter block just because it’s conventional wisdom African Americans love her husband.  But, is that love as strong as it is for Obama?

And: what will make younger Black voters tick?

They will have been unborn or too young to remember a Clinton presidency, so they may feel differently about the old White lady running for president than their parents or grandparents do. We also shouldn’t discount the fact that given Obama’s tendency to not stump as hard for others as he does for himself, the Clintons should be a bit more wary about potential primary and general election competition down the line.

Do I think there’s a realignment of African American votes in the future? Of course not.  But, I think folks should start thinking outside the box about 2016. There’s too much conventional wisdom floating around.

CHARLES D. ELLISON is a veteran strategist and Chief Political Correspondent for UPTOWN Magazine.  He’s also host of the live tweetcast #Uptownhall, Washington Correspondent for the Philadelphia Tribune and a frequent contributor to The Root.  He can be reached via Twitter @charlesdellison.

Photo credit: Flickr/Rob Sinclair

Ain’t nothing new about celebrities throwing shade, but they sure keep us entertained and shaking our heads. This week in celebrity quotes, Barack Obama shrugs off those calling for his impeachment, Prince delivers a dosage of purple shade to Lil’ Mo, Joan Rivers calls Michelle Obama transgender, and Jennifer Hudson is not down with the Illuminati. Plus, Stacey Dash wants Kanye West to experience rape. AND I QUOTE…

“You hear some of them: ‘Sue him! Impeach him!’

Really? For what, doing my job?”
President Barack Obama sniping back at Republicans calling for his impeachment over how he’s handling the recent influx of immigrant children crossing the US-Mexico border during a speech in Austin, TX on July 10.
“I hope she know, none of her clothes match.”

Prince delivering a nasty sub-tweet to Lil’ Mo, who earlier went on a disrespectful rant about The Purple One before his Essence Festival performance, via Instagram.

Continue reading at UPTOWN.

“You know Michelle is a tranny. A transgender. We all know. It’s okay!”

Joan Rivers hurling a transphobic slur towards First Lady Michelle Obama, after officiating a gay wedding this past weekend, via Huffington Post.

Source

“I’m not going to mention any names but…Nike, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Don’t discriminate against me ’cause I’m a black man making music. ‘F–k saving face and what it’s supposed to mean, it’s about living my dream.”

Kanye West going on another rant about discrimination in the fashion industry, while donning a jewel crusted face mask, at a recent concert stop in London.

Source

“Every time I hear stuff like that, I’m like ‘You will not take the credit for God’s work and give it to Satan! Not on my watch.’”

Jennifer Hudson speaking on the death of family members and why she is not affiliated with the Illuminati, on Majic 102.3′s “Good Afternoon Show.”

Source

“For Kanye to say ‘rape,’ maybe he needs to spend some time on Rikers Island…Go to Rikers for a little while and then he’ll know what rape is.”

Stacey Dash slamming Kanye West for comparing his family’s harassment by the paparazzi to a rape victim, on Fox News “Outnumbered.”

Source

 “If I got aids everybody gone got it!”

Joseline Hernandez responding to rumors that she sleeps around with strippers and contracted AIDS, during a fight with husband Stevie J, via Twitter.

“Yeah, the ‘Badu Box’ is real. Man, it could take you to another universe!” [laughs]

Common speaking on relationship with Erykah Badu and how her sex had him wearing crochet pants and kufis, in an interview with “The Combat Jack Show.”

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Model Yaya DaCosta will play Whitney Houston in the upcoming biopic. DaCosta transforms into Houston in this first image from the film.

Don’t you just get “So Emotional” seeing the first image of Yaya DaCosta as Whitney Houston? DaCosta recreated the iconic cover of Houston’s 1987 album, Whitney, for the Lifetime biopic, directed by Angela Bassett.

Entertainment Weekly released the first images Thursday. The former contestant on “America’s Next Top Model” says morphing into Houston for the album cover was effortless, “I just looked at the picture and did the pose!” she explained in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. You can be sure that somewhere Tyra Banks is smizing with pride that DaCosta is using everything she learned from ANTM.

The shoot comes ahead of the release of Lifetime’s Whitney Houston biopic directed by Houston’s Waiting to Exhale costar Bassett. DaCosta will play the pop star despite protests from Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown. Brown has made no secret that she feels she should have the leading role in her mother’s life story, but Bassett wasn’t having it. The director/actor responded that Brown isn’t an actress and they did not even consider her during casting.

According to Lifetime Network, the biopic will revolve around the headline-making relationship between the legendary singer and New Edition bad boy Bobby Brown. The film will chronicle the time they first met through their courtship and tumultuous marriage.

The film is set to air on Lifetime sometime in 2015.

Let the swooning begin! What do you get when you mix god-given talent, an irresistible smile, and alluring charm perfectly wrapped in a 6’2 frame? South Carolina native Jay Ellis. Just when you thought the summer couldn’t get any hotter, Ellis brings a dose of sexy as the newest star to the second season of Showtime’s “Masters of Sex.”

A fan favorite on the revived and highly-successful “The Game,” the former model shows his acting chops as Dr. Cyril Franklin in “Masters of Sex,” a sultry period piece with Hollywood veterans Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan. The show chronicles the pioneers of the science of human sexuality that touched off a sexual revolution. From playing Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver Blue to Dr. Franklin, Ellis’ mysterious, yet intriguing mastery to transform into any role makes him even that more appealing.

In speaking with UPTOWN, Jay Ellis gets candid as he reveals details on his new role, what he finds most attractive about women, and what he says is the biggest misconception about him — an answer that may surprise you!

UPTOWN: How did your new role as Dr. Cyril Franklin on Showtime’s “Masters of Sex” drama come about?

Jay Ellis: It’s cool getting to tell a piece of history and “Masters of Sex” is based off Phil Masters and Virginia Johnson’s real life and [their] study of sex in the ’50s. It was the first period piece I’ve ever done and I was super excited to do that. Then to work with Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan who are giants in the acting world and such phenomenal actors. And the writing on the show is insane!

Phil Masters is forced to move his practice and move his controversial study where he now has to work in an African American hospital in the 1950s in St. Louis. There’s a lot of racial tension that arises from that. He’s getting special treatment based on who he is and that doesn’t sit well with Cyril Franklin and he wants to make sure Dr. Masters knows that.

U: What made you pursue acting? You had a basketball scholarship to Concordia University with a successful modeling career.

JE: Acting was something I always wanted to do but I didn’t know how or how to pursue it. Fortunately, I was blessed enough in high school to play basketball, but when you’re playing college basketball, that’s your world. Everything you do revolves around basketball and working out and being the best athlete you could be. There wasn’t time to take a theater class and get in a play.

As I finished college and started modeling, I thought modeling would lead me into acting which wasn’t the case at all. It’s a completely different world where you don’t get to use your artistic expression, voice, body, thought processes, and mind — you use them in different ways actually. I got to do that for a bit but I realized it wasn’t my passion. It wasn’t going to get me to my goal of being an actor. Once I got to Los Angeles, I got on the road, got on the streets and figured it out, although it took me some time. It has always been a passion of mine and it took me working in different areas and fields, being successful and failing, to see where my dreams and passions really were. It took me full circle to my love for telling stories.

U: Raised as an army brat, how has your upbringing impacted your career and the roles you chose to take?

JE: First of all, I have the utmost respect for anyone in the armed forces, as well as their families. I don’t think people realize the sacrifice they make as well. My parents were really young — neither one of them graduated college until my mother was in her early 30s and my father in his early 40s. Seeing them stay together, work, and become this amazing unit and this amazing team made me want to continue to tell stories like that.

We have so many positive and uplifting stories, whether we’re from families in the armed forces or families who stuck together, young families who turned out to be successful and their children who turned out to be successful that we don’t get to tell. So for me, one of the things I try to do when I am fortunate enough to work is to be a part of something that tells positive stories. And not just throwing junk out in the atmosphere. There’s already enough junk out there and I don’t want to be a part of putting anymore out there.

U: You play Blue on BET’s “The Game.” How similar are you to your character?

JE: We go back and forth. I find myself reading a script and I cannot relate to this dude at all! Then all of a sudden something will click like, “Oh yeah, I remember that when my dad was in the Air Force!” So there’s these weird moments, this flip side where I do relate to him. For instance, I do know what it’s like to be a kid in the military who traveled around quite a bit. I do know what it’s like to be young and want to be successful and want to focus on your career and be the best you can possibly be. I know what it’s like to be vulnerable with a woman you love. I like it, but I don’t think Blue likes it. But I know what it means and that feeling. I don’t know what it’s like to make $20 million dollars a year as a star athlete in the world! I don’t know what it’s like to date a famous actress! So those things are harder for me to relate to but we’re both good guys. I like to tell people I have all of Blue’s good qualities.

U: Let’s play a game of “Finish this Sentence!” My ideal woman is …

JE: Confident

U: My relationship deal breaker is …

JE: Lack of communication.

U: My favorite date was …

JE: Dinner in Harlem.

U: The last three songs I downloaded were …

JE: “Believe Me” by Drake and Lil Wayne, “Backseat Freestyle” by Kendrick Lamar, and “Brand New” by Pharrell.

U: The oddest job I worked was …

JE: I was the meat and cheese slicer in my college cafeteria! 6 a.m.!

U: My wildest day as a professional that no one would believe happened …

JE: One day at last year’s Essence Music Festival, I presented a 17-year-old kid a McDonald’s 365 Black Award for his work in the community in Atlanta where he lives. I got my sleeve ripped off my jacket by a fan who got out of her car and ran me down in the street. I also met a cold-blooded, street famous killer in a matter of like three hours.

U: The three things I cannot live without …

JE: My cell phone, good friends and family in my life, and Burt’s Bees chap stick.

U: The biggest misconception about me is …

JE: I’m as wholesome as everyone thinks I am.

The second season of “Masters of Sex” premieres on Showtime, July 13 at 10:00pm EST.

The photo of a T-shirt of a monkey’s body, holding a banana, with the head of a smiling African American boy quickly went viral, sparking controversy for children’s clothing line, Just Add A Kid. The brand quickly came to their defense, citing the T-shirt as “a total misunderstanding.”

“We are looking into all the situations that occurred around this little incident,” company co-creator Lowell Cohen told the Daily News over the phone. “We’re looking at the vendor, we’re speaking to our employees.”

The Just Add A Kid T-shirts feature the bodies of cartoon characters, ranging from cowboys, angels, princesses, and various occupations and animals. In a later statement, the company said the pairing was “not authorized, condoned or tolerated” by the company.

It appears to be the decision of each vendor in how they pair the cardboard faces that comes separately — featuring various ethnicities — to the designs. But many aren’t buying the company’s explanation. Also available on the company’s website are Confederate Army uniform T-shirts, onesies, and baby bibs complete with a Confederate flag.

In a statement, Just Add a Kid declared: “In this particular case, one of our retailers paired a particular hanger with a shirt without consideration for how it may appear to many consumers. We are taking steps to prevent this from happening again.”

Are you buying it?