ABC, NBC, and CBS will not broadcast President Barack Obama‘s immigration speech tonight because it may affect the networks’ ratings, according to White House officials.

Obama is scheduled to speak at 8 p.m. That time slot may bring in many viewers on the Spanish-language station Univision, who will be tuned in for the Latin Grammy Awards. Although prime time is sure to reach a large amount of its targeted audience, White House executives say the three major networks are likely to take issue with the scheduling.

White House administrators have not released an official statement on the matter, but have expressed that ABC, NBC, and CBS were not formally asked to air the President’s message because of assumptions that the networks would be unwilling, according to CNN.

The 8 p.m. time slot on these major stations are generally reserved for grabbing large audiences, as well as important advertisers, with new or popular shows.

One senior administration official pointed out that former President Georgia W. Bush‘s televised addressed on immigration eight years ago was picked up by all major networks, and his message was not as political and crucial as Obama’s is expected to be.

“In 2006, Bush gave a 17 minute speech that was televised by all three networks that was about deploying 6,000 National Auard troops to the border,” the official told POLITICO. “Obama is making a 10 minute speech that will have a vastly greater impact on the issue. And none of the networks are doing it.”

There are still many important outlets that have agreed to air the immigration speech. CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, PBS, and Telemundo will all air the address tonight.

Pope Francis continues his pledge to assist the poor by holding a raffle for gifts he has received and using the money to help the less-fortunate.

Last year, the pope spent the holidays handing out 2,000 envelopes carrying free public transportation passes and telephone cards.  This year, he is exercising generosity once again by gathering various gifts he has been sent and holding a raffle to give them away.  Some of these objects include a Fiat city car, watches, Homero Ortega hat, and a coffee machine, according to Reuters.  The money earned from the raffle will go toward helping the poor.

Posters found at the Vatican detailed the give-away and stated there will be 13 items raffled and 30 “consolation prizes”  The tickets will be sold at 10 euros, the equivalent of $12.50.

Pope Francis, whose papacy began last March, has dedicated much of his time to serving poverty-stricken people.  Last year, the pope was reportedly caught sneaking out of the Vatican at nightfall dressed as a priest to minister to homeless citizens.  He also invited 200 of the area’s homeless to dinner in his Vatican residence. Not long after becoming pope, he spoke out on his frustration with the public’s lack of concern for the impoverished.

“How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?”

Information specialists are urging webcam owners to change their default password after a Russian website has posted thousands of live-streaming video footage from webcameras all around the world.

CNN showed live-stream video from the questionable website that displayed very intimate settings.  One camera is focused on a child’s play-set, another is fixed on a baby’s crib, a living room is shown, and even a gym.  The Russian site features openly-accessible footage from approximately 4,600 cameras in the U.S., about 200 in France, and several more in over 100 other countries.

The website denies claims that it is hacking cameras unbeknownst to owners.  “These cameras are not hacked. Owners of these cameras use default password by unknown reason,” the webpage says.

The site says its purpose is to allow those away from their cameras access to surveillance via the Internet.  The site owners also claim they want to bring attention to the issue of gaining easy access to webcams.

To invade a webcam, hackers use default passwords created by the manufactures, according to the U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office.  British experts are encouraging camera users to change the default password, and if the device doesn’t have one, to create a new password.  The specialists suggest a list of helpful tips, such as how to create a strong password and how to adjust security settings to make webcam usage safer.

So just maybe your paranoid friend who keeps tape over his webcam lens – and the cousin who makes sure her camera is turned towards a wall when she’s not using it – aren’t so crazy after all.

Strollers are designed to make parents’ lives easier. However, Graco Children’s Products strollers may have endangered the lives of kids placed in the stroller, according to a recall report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The popular children’s company recalled about 4.7 million strollers in the U.S., after receiving 11 reports of finger injuries, including fingertip amputation and cuts. The recall also extends to about 202,000 Graco strollers in Canada, and about 10,300 in Mexico.

The CPSC recall notes the 11 models are single-occupant strollers with an external sliding fold-lock hinge on each side and a one-hand fold release mechanism on the handle. The folding hinge on the sides of the stroller can pinch a child’s finger, posing a laceration or amputation hazard. Graco received six reports of finger amputation, four reports of partial-fingertip amputation, and one finger laceration.

The recall includes Graco and Century-branded models: Aspen, Breeze, Capri, Cirrus, Glider, Kite, LiteRider, Sierra, Solara, Sterling, and TravelMate. These models were made between August 1, 2000 to September 25, 2014. They were sold at Target, Toys R Us, Walmart, and Amazon at about $40 – $70.

Consumers affected should contact Graco immediately for a free repair kit, available at the beginning of December 2014. Until then, parents are advised to exercise extreme care when unfolding the stroller to be sure the hinges are firmly locked. If the stroller begins to fold, then remove the child immediately. Consumers can contact Graco Children’s Products at (800) 345-4109 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.gracobaby.com and click on the “Help Center” at the top and Recall and Safety Notifications for more information.

This week in celeb quotes, Dave Chappelle thinks Idris Elba may have been his weed dealer once, Anna Wintour shades Kimye over controversial Vogue cover, and Wendy Williams addresses Aaliyah biopic backlash! Plus, Sherri Shepherd tells Kenya Moore to twirl on with the foolishness. And Jaden Smith said what?! AND I QUOTE …

“Oh, okay. So he used to work at Carolines. During that era of my life, there’s a high possibility that I bought reefer from Idris.”

Dave Chappelle confessing that he may have purchased marijuana from an unknown Idris Elba during his stand-up comedy days, in GQ’s December 2014 issue.

Source

“I don’t need twitter beef to be relevant, my talent alone handles that for me! Now let me go polish my Emmy Award #TwirlOnTHAT #WWHL”

Sherri Shepherd shading Kenya Moore after the two got into a headed debate during an airing of Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live,” via Twitter.

“Now she’s part of the establishment. I think if we just remain deeply tasteful and just put deeply tasteful people on the cover, it would be a rather boring magazine! Nobody would talk about us. It’s very important that people do talk about us.”

Anna Wintour delivering a backhanded compliment to Kanye West and Kim Kardashian regarding their April 2014 Vogue cover, in an exclusive with Fashionista.

Source 

“I was NOT taking (sic) advantage of by Mr. Cosby when I was on the Cosby Show! I was practically a baby on that show and this is truly a disgusting rumor that I want no part of! Everyone on that show treated me with nothing but kindness. Now keep me out of this!”

Raven-Symone clearing up rumors that she was one of Bill Cosby’s alleged rape victims, via Instagram.

‘Shut your stupid a– up. Bye, dad.’ I laughed at it. But I also didn’t even know that that was happening.”

Nicki Minaj responding to an open letter, submitted by a dad, over her “Anaconda” single artwork, via Complex Magazine.

Source

“Here’s the deal: School is not authentic because it ends. It’s not true, it’s not real. Our learning will never end. The school that we go to every single morning, we will continue to go to.”

Jaden Smith on why the educational system is overrated, in a joint interview with sister Willow, via The New York Time’s T Magazine.

Continue reading on UPTOWN

“I see my Aaliyah movie broke the Internet this weekend. E’rybody got an opinion. Well I must tell you, whether you loved or hated, you watched. It was the second highest rated movie on all of cable this year so far.”

Wendy Williams addressing the social media dragging she received as a result of the poorly produced Aaliyah biopic, via her nationally syndicated talk show.

Source

Negotiations of Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson’s resignation from the police force are in its final stages. Wilson, who shot and killed Michael Brown on August 9, maintains he hasn’t done anything wrong, but would resign as a way to help ease pressure and protect his fellow officers.

Due to the uncertainty of the grand jury’s indictment decision, he could change his mind about turning in his police badge. The 28 year old cop has expressed concerned about resigning, for fear it would appear he was admitting fault.

Wilson could announce as soon as Friday his plans to resign, the same day a St. Louis County grand jury meets to deliberate and possibly decide on an indictment. The public would know as early as Sunday.

The delay is due to the prosecutor’s plan to give law enforcement a 48-hours heads-up of the decision, to prepare for possible violent protests.

Currently, Wilson, a six year police veteran, is on a paid administrative leave.

President Barack Obama announced executive plans to spare illegal immigrants on Thursday, assuring they will not be deported, but instead can receive three year work permits. This executive action will spare nearly 5 million U.S. immigrants from deportation. The President said his orders would refocus immigration enforcement on the undocumented who are threats to our security. “Felons, not families. Criminals, not children,” he said.

In the 14 minute speech, Obama detailed plans to free from deportation over 4 million parents who are in the country illegally, but have a child with a U.S. citizen. Those parents who have resided in the country for over five years, have no criminal background, and can pass a background check will receive work permits. In his address, Obama stated how he believes his actions are legal, rooted in American ideals of compassion.

The defiant move appears strategic, which will likely help Democrats win the Hispanic vote in 2016 and beyond, leaving the Republicans, who has captured control of the Senate, divided.

Read the full transcript of the President’s remarks on his immigration reform plan on the next page.

Cross Hall

8:01 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: My fellow Americans, tonight, I’d like to talk with you about immigration.

For more than 200 years, our tradition of welcoming immigrants from around the world has given us a tremendous advantage over other nations. It’s kept us youthful, dynamic, and entrepreneurial. It has shaped our character as a people with limitless possibilities –- people not trapped by our past, but able to remake ourselves as we choose.

But today, our immigration system is broken — and everybody knows it.

Families who enter our country the right way and play by the rules watch others flout the rules. Business owners who offer their workers good wages and benefits see the competition exploit undocumented immigrants by paying them far less. All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America. And undocumented immigrants who desperately want to embrace those responsibilities see little option but to remain in the shadows, or risk their families being torn apart.

It’s been this way for decades. And for decades, we haven’t done much about it.

When I took office, I committed to fixing this broken immigration system. And I began by doing what I could to secure our borders. Today, we have more agents and technology deployed to secure our southern border than at any time in our history. And over the past six years, illegal border crossings have been cut by more than half. Although this summer, there was a brief spike in unaccompanied children being apprehended at our border, the number of such children is now actually lower than it’s been in nearly two years. Overall, the number of people trying to cross our border illegally is at its lowest level since the 1970s. Those are the facts.

Meanwhile, I worked with Congress on a comprehensive fix, and last year, 68 Democrats, Republicans, and independents came together to pass a bipartisan bill in the Senate. It wasn’t perfect. It was a compromise. But it reflected common sense. It would have doubled the number of border patrol agents while giving undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship if they paid a fine, started paying their taxes, and went to the back of the line. And independent experts said that it would help grow our economy and shrink our deficits.

Had the House of Representatives allowed that kind of bill a simple yes-or-no vote, it would have passed with support from both parties, and today it would be the law. But for a year and a half now, Republican leaders in the House have refused to allow that simple vote.

Now, I continue to believe that the best way to solve this problem is by working together to pass that kind of common sense law. But until that happens, there are actions I have the legal authority to take as President –- the same kinds of actions taken by Democratic and Republican presidents before me -– that will help make our immigration system more fair and more just.

Tonight, I am announcing those actions.

First, we’ll build on our progress at the border with additional resources for our law enforcement personnel so that they can stem the flow of illegal crossings, and speed the return of those who do cross over.

Second, I’ll make it easier and faster for high-skilled immigrants, graduates, and entrepreneurs to stay and contribute to our economy, as so many business leaders have proposed.

Third, we’ll take steps to deal responsibly with the millions of undocumented immigrants who already live in our country.

I want to say more about this third issue, because it generates the most passion and controversy. Even as we are a nation of immigrants, we’re also a nation of laws. Undocumented workers broke our immigration laws, and I believe that they must be held accountable -– especially those who may be dangerous. That’s why, over the past six years, deportations of criminals are up 80 percent. And that’s why we’re going to keep focusing enforcement resources on actual threats to our security. Felons, not families. Criminals, not children. Gang members, not a mom who’s working hard to provide for her kids. We’ll prioritize, just like law enforcement does every day.

But even as we focus on deporting criminals, the fact is, millions of immigrants in every state, of every race and nationality still live here illegally. And let’s be honest -– tracking down, rounding up, and deporting millions of people isn’t realistic. Anyone who suggests otherwise isn’t being straight with you. It’s also not who we are as Americans. After all, most of these immigrants have been here a long time. They work hard, often in tough, low-paying jobs. They support their families. They worship at our churches. Many of their kids are American-born or spent most of their lives here, and their hopes, dreams, and patriotism are just like ours. As my predecessor, President Bush, once put it: “They are a part of American life.”

Now here’s the thing: We expect people who live in this country to play by the rules. We expect that those who cut the line will not be unfairly rewarded. So we’re going to offer the following deal: If you’ve been in America for more than five years; if you have children who are American citizens or legal residents; if you register, pass a criminal background check, and you’re willing to pay your fair share of taxes — you’ll be able to apply to stay in this country temporarily without fear of deportation. You can come out of the shadows and get right with the law. That’s what this deal is.

Now, let’s be clear about what it isn’t. This deal does not apply to anyone who has come to this country recently. It does not apply to anyone who might come to America illegally in the future. It does not grant citizenship, or the right to stay here permanently, or offer the same benefits that citizens receive -– only Congress can do that. All we’re saying is we’re not going to deport you.

I know some of the critics of this action call it amnesty. Well, it’s not. Amnesty is the immigration system we have today -– millions of people who live here without paying their taxes or playing by the rules while politicians use the issue to scare people and whip up votes at election time.

That’s the real amnesty –- leaving this broken system the way it is. Mass amnesty would be unfair. Mass deportation would be both impossible and contrary to our character. What I’m describing is accountability –- a common-sense, middle-ground approach: If you meet the criteria, you can come out of the shadows and get right with the law. If you’re a criminal, you’ll be deported. If you plan to enter the U.S. illegally, your chances of getting caught and sent back just went up.

The actions I’m taking are not only lawful, they’re the kinds of actions taken by every single Republican President and every single Democratic President for the past half century. And to those members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer: Pass a bill.

I want to work with both parties to pass a more permanent legislative solution. And the day I sign that bill into law, the actions I take will no longer be necessary. Meanwhile, don’t let a disagreement over a single issue be a dealbreaker on every issue. That’s not how our democracy works, and Congress certainly shouldn’t shut down our government again just because we disagree on this. Americans are tired of gridlock. What our country needs from us right now is a common purpose –- a higher purpose.

Most Americans support the types of reforms I’ve talked about tonight. But I understand the disagreements held by many of you at home. Millions of us, myself included, go back generations in this country, with ancestors who put in the painstaking work to become citizens. So we don’t like the notion that anyone might get a free pass to American citizenship.

I know some worry immigration will change the very fabric of who we are, or take our jobs, or stick it to middle-class families at a time when they already feel like they’ve gotten the raw deal for over a decade. I hear these concerns. But that’s not what these steps would do. Our history and the facts show that immigrants are a net plus for our economy and our society. And I believe it’s important that all of us have this debate without impugning each other’s character.

Because for all the back and forth of Washington, we have to remember that this debate is about something bigger. It’s about who we are as a country, and who we want to be for future generations.

Are we a nation that tolerates the hypocrisy of a system where workers who pick our fruit and make our beds never have a chance to get right with the law? Or are we a nation that gives them a chance to make amends, take responsibility, and give their kids a better future?

Are we a nation that accepts the cruelty of ripping children from their parents’ arms? Or are we a nation that values families, and works together to keep them together?

Are we a nation that educates the world’s best and brightest in our universities, only to send them home to create businesses in countries that compete against us? Or are we a nation that encourages them to stay and create jobs here, create businesses here, create industries right here in America?

That’s what this debate is all about. We need more than politics as usual when it comes to immigration. We need reasoned, thoughtful, compassionate debate that focuses on our hopes, not our fears. I know the politics of this issue are tough. But let me tell you why I have come to feel so strongly about it.

Over the past few years, I have seen the determination of immigrant fathers who worked two or three jobs without taking a dime from the government, and at risk any moment of losing it all, just to build a better life for their kids. I’ve seen the heartbreak and anxiety of children whose mothers might be taken away from them just because they didn’t have the right papers. I’ve seen the courage of students who, except for the circumstances of their birth, are as American as Malia or Sasha; students who bravely come out as undocumented in hopes they could make a difference in the country they love.

These people –- our neighbors, our classmates, our friends –- they did not come here in search of a free ride or an easy life. They came to work, and study, and serve in our military, and above all, contribute to America’s success.

Tomorrow, I’ll travel to Las Vegas and meet with some of these students, including a young woman named Astrid Silva. Astrid was brought to America when she was four years old. Her only possessions were a cross, her doll, and the frilly dress she had on. When she started school, she didn’t speak any English. She caught up to other kids by reading newspapers and watching PBS, and she became a good student. Her father worked in landscaping. Her mom cleaned other people’s homes. They wouldn’t let Astrid apply to a technology magnet school, not because they didn’t love her, but because they were afraid the paperwork would out her as an undocumented immigrant –- so she applied behind their back and got in. Still, she mostly lived in the shadows –- until her grandmother, who visited every year from Mexico, passed away, and she couldn’t travel to the funeral without risk of being found out and deported. It was around that time she decided to begin advocating for herself and others like her, and today, Astrid Silva is a college student working on her third degree.

Are we a nation that kicks out a striving, hopeful immigrant like Astrid, or are we a nation that finds a way to welcome her in? Scripture tells us that we shall not oppress a stranger, for we know the heart of a stranger –- we were strangers once, too.

My fellow Americans, we are and always will be a nation of immigrants. We were strangers once, too. And whether our forebears were strangers who crossed the Atlantic, or the Pacific, or the Rio Grande, we are here only because this country welcomed them in, and taught them that to be an American is about something more than what we look like, or what our last names are, or how we worship. What makes us Americans is our shared commitment to an ideal -– that all of us are created equal, and all of us have the chance to make of our lives what we will.

That’s the country our parents and grandparents and generations before them built for us. That’s the tradition we must uphold. That’s the legacy we must leave for those who are yet to come.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless this country we love.

Thursday, embattled comedy legend Bill Cosby returned to the stage, where he received a standing ovation after his benefit performance for women’s service organization, The Links. The non-profit raises funds for African Americans in arts, youth projects, and health services.

During the Bahamian show, his first public appearance since multiple rape allegations were brought against him, Cosby placed his face in his hands, pretending to sob, as he joked about “being an evil man,” and that parents would not let their children near him. Fans applauded and laughed, as he continued his 90-minute comedy routine.

His wife, Camille, attended the show, but left after an hour.

A total of nine women have recently accused Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting them. The latest victim to come forward is actress Louisa Moritz. Moritz, 68, says he once forced her into oral sex, backstage at “The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson” in 1971. She claims Cosby stuck his penis in her mouth, and implied he would further her career if she went through with it. Moritz says she plans on filing a civil suit.

On Friday, model-actress Angela Leslie came forward accusing Cosby of assaulted her in a Las Vegas hotel room in 1992. She says Cosby tried to tempt her with alcohol, telling her to act like she was drunk as part of an “audition.” He instructed her to wet her hair in the bathroom, and upon returning, found Cosby naked in the bed, forcing her into a sex act. She claims “he masturbated with my hand. I wasn’t pulling back. I was in shock.”

Cosby’s lawyers have called the accusations unfounded. But Cosby’s downward spiral continues, as he pulled out of scheduled interviews with Queen Latifah and David Letterman.

Former EnVogue singer Dawn Robinson is unhappy about the upcoming Lifetime Christmas special that won’t include her character. An En Vogue Christmas tells the story of a fictional movie about a family that convinces the group to reunite to save a local concert house. The movie is billed as an En Vogue reunion but only includes two original members – Cindy Herron and Terry Ellis.

Replacement Rhona Bennett makes an appearance in the film and has filled in for the group when things got rough. Robinson is fed up with her former members continuing to use the group’s name for personal gain without asking for her input.

@PartymanTyler Your guess is as good as mine partyman smh. Wouldnt an EV reunion require original members Terry Maxine Cindy and myself?

— Dawn Robinson (@dawnrobinson_) November 17, 2014

Dawn Robinson left the group and gave up her rights in 1997 to pursue her own solo career. When that didn’t work she found success with the group Lucy Pearl (Dance Tonight) before leaving that group after just one album.

For the past decade, Robinson has stopped and started with remaining members of the group. The fourth member Maxine Jones left the group unceremoniously after a failed reunion tour. The duo attempted to form their own version of the group but soon parted ways.

Dawn’s fans threw shade at the cable network for not including the former songbird in the movie.

Just saw a commercial for "An En Vogue" Christmas special MINUS @dawnrobinson_ AND Maxine????? #YouGottaBeFrigginKiddinMe #NoThanks

— John W. (@John_Shaft_1971) November 18, 2014

@dawnrobinson_ @MaxineJonesEV this upcoming Lifetime EV Christmas Movie? Really… this may be worse than the #AaliyahMovie

— Me. I Am Dimitri (@D_Alefaio) November 18, 2014

When TMZ asked for her opinion on the movie Dawn is clear that she wants no parts of the special. “I have no interest in watching it. It looks horrible. I’m sad for them,” Dawn said before adding, “After seeing the Aaliyah biopic, I’m extremely worried that this is going to be a trainwreck.” Ouch.

Hopefully Lifetime gets the Whitney Houston biopic right or else I’m sure there will be much more hate where that came from.

Beyoncé continues to break the internet, whether she’s releasing surprise albums, slaying the world with an unforgettable performance or just being the Queen that she is. Friday night, the internet pretty much imploded when Queen Bey blessed the hive with visuals for her latest track “7/11″. The surprise video release comes right after two songs from her deluxe album BEYONCÉ: Platinum Edition leaked on the net Friday morning– thank you internet!

In the clip for the banger you can watch Bey and her girls dancing around a Beverly Hills hotel in nothing but underwear and a t-shirt.  Beyoncé twerks her way through the clip, proving that she doesn’t take herself too seriously. It’s fun; it’s ratchet; it’s sexy, and most importantly it’s Beyoncé.

The video for “7/11″ can be found on the 2 CD/2 DVD BEYONCÉ: Platinum Edition, which will be available on Monday. The deluxe package features new tracks like “Ring Off,” four new remixes, 10 live performances, and 17 music videos.

Can’t wait till Monday? Watch Beyoncé “smack it in the air” below.

Four time District of Columbia Mayor and current councilman, Marion Barry was announced dead early Sunday morning according to a Washington hospital spokesperson. After submitting himself in the hospital Thursday and being released from Howard University Hospital on Saturday, Barry died a day after his release at United Medical Center in Southeast Washington. He was 78.

Known for his incredible political comeback, prowess and countless work in the civil rights movement, Marion was highly respected in the black community and community at large as a man who impacted change and the lives of others. While his darkest hours came in 1990 after a highly publicized drug conviction where he served six months in prison, he didn’t stop aiming towards his goal. Many claimed that the conviction would end Barry’s political career, but Marion proved naysayers wrong, making what many consider the biggest political comeback in history. In 1995, Marion reclaimed his seat in the mayor’s office.

All in all, Marion worked tirelessly to improve the lives of impoverished blacks in the Washington DC area. He stressed the importance of job training and employment programs. He advocated black owned businesses and made it very clear that he wanted to do everything he could to ensure that his people were improving.

President Barack Obama said in a statement, “Through a storied, at times tumultuous life and career, he earned the love and respect of countless Washingtonians, and Michelle and I extend our deepest sympathies to Marion’s family, friends and constituents today.”

R.I.P Marion Barry. You will be remembered.

Lisa Bonet, actress who played the lovable Denise Huxtable on the television series The Cosby Show, may have had a cryptic message regarding her former boss and co-star Bill Cosby.

By now, most of the world is aware of the many rape allegations facing Bill Cosby that have been erupting over the past month. Women are claiming that they were drugged and raped by the television star and comedienne. As more stories erupt, public opinion on the once lovable Bill Cosby has hit an all time low.  In the midst of all the horrible accusations a tweet from Lisa Bonet’s alleged social media account has surfaced.

“According to karma of past actions, one’s destiny unfolds, even though everyone wants to be so lucky… Nothing stays in the dark 4ever”, reads the tweet.

There has been some publicized bad blood between Bill and Lisa in the past. Allegedly, Bill Cosby disapproved of a sex scene Lisa filmed back in 1987 for the film Angel Heart. He also found an issue with her posing nude for a magazine cover later that year. In 2002 outlets reported that Lisa would not be attending the taping for the 10th-anniversary special. An unidentified castmate said, “Year after year, we watched Bill throw Lisa one bone after another, and all she did was bite his hand. The rest of us were happy to be on a hit show, but Lisa didn’t seem to appreciate her good fortune.”

There has not been official confirmation that the tweet scene above is indeed from Lisa Bonet. Since news of the tweet has circulated, the twitter account has been deactivated.

What do you think? Is Lisa Bonet sending subliminal messages? You be the judge.

UPDATE: Bonet’s manager Jillian Neal confirmed that the account was fake and that the tweet did not come from her. “I can assure you that is not her Twitter account and I have had the account suspended,” Neal told TheWrap.

The American Music Awards may celebrate the best and baddest in the music industry, but it also highlights some of the most glamourous and sexiest red carpet looks of the year. This year is no different and thanks to fabulous starlets like Jennifer Lopez and Nicki Minaj, the red carpet has already proven to be one of the best parts of the night.

Flip through our 2014 AMA red carpet gallery to check out all the fab and not so fab looks of the night. Who’s your fave?

Nicki Minaj
Credit: Getty Images

Jennifer Lopez
Credit: Getty Images

Ne-yo
Credit: Getty Images

Kendall Jenner, Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner
Credit: Getty Images

Jordin Sparks
Credit: Getty Images

Mary J. Blige
Credit: Getty Images

Rita Ora
Credit: Getty Images

Jaden Smith
Credit: Getty Images

Jhene Aiko
Credit: Getty Images

Zendaya Coleman
Credit: Getty Images

Jessie J and Luke James
Credit: Getty Images

Garcelle Beauvais
Credit: Getty Images

Rocsi Diaz
Credit: Getty Images

Wyclef Jean
Credit: Getty Images

On Sunday ABC hosted the 2014 annual American Music Awards. For the first time ever the Dick Clark Award for Excellence was awarded during the live broadcast. Although Taylor Swift was the award’s recipient, no one could take their eyes off of Diana Ross, the award’s presenter.

When it was time to present the award, Ross glided on stage to an uproar of applause. It was clear a true diva had entered the building. She stood poised and fearless as the room took her all in.

Prior to walking on stage, Diana Ross shut down the red carpet in an off the shoulder, long black velvet gown coupled with dramatic feathered long sleeves. Per usual she wowed with her signature freshly curled fro and natural beauty. While on the carpet she even took the time to pose with newcomer and pop princess Selena Gomez. Hmmm, we wonder if she gave her any “how to be a music legend” tips.

Click the arrow below to check out more pictures of the ageless beauty Diana Ross and her night at the 2014 American Music Awards.

Diana Ross on the 2014 AMA red carpet.
Credit: Getty Images

Diana Ross presenting Taylor Swift with the Dick Clark Award For Excellence.
Credit: ABC

This year has certainly been the the year of the booty. From Kim Kardashian’s internet breaking bare back shot for Paper Magazine to Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda”, big rears continue to have one heck of year. Sunday night proved yet another epic moment for big butts everywhere, when Jennifer Lopez and Iggy Azalea took the stage to perform their pop single “Booty” at the 2014 American Music Awards.

Weeks leading up to the 2014 AMAs, the interwebs were all abuzz and counting down the days till JLo and Iggy’s astronomical debut. According to TMZ there were rumors that head honchos at ABC were fearful of the kind of content they would be forced to censor. If Jennifer’s performance was anything like her music video which you can watch below, television execs had something to worry about.

On Sunday night, JLo and Iggy Azalea closed the AMAs and delivered the night’s highest anticipated performance. Jennifer opened up her performance in a white sequined body suit which she later removed revealing an all red sparkly unitard. She twerked, whined and thrusted on stage. Once Iggy appeared, the two performers delivered what the audience had been waiting. The girls took scenes from their tantalizing music video and reenacted them on stage. Let’s just say there was a lot of grabbing and grinding going on.

Want to see the full performance, check it out on the next page.

Cleveland police shot and killed Tamir Rice, 12, Saturday. The preteen was sitting on a swing, wearing a camouflage hat, outside the Cudell Recreation Center and holding a BB gun.

On the playground, the boy began to play with the gun and aimed it at other park-goers. People began to fear for their lives, and a man called 911. When speaking with 911, he said Rice was “scaring the s— out of everyone.” He added that Rice was “probably a juvenile” and the gun was “probably fake,” but that somehow the police didn’t receive that message. The toy’s orange safety tip had been removed, so it resembled a real semiautomatic weapon.

The police found Rice under a gazebo, tucking the gun into his waistband, when they arrived at the scene. Officers asked Rice to raise his hands, but he reportedly raised his shirt and reached for the gun instead. An officer then fired two shots. One hit the boy in the stomach.

Rice was rushed to MetroHealth Medical Center, but succumbed to his injuries Sunday morning, according to the medical examiner.

According to Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association President Jeff Follmer, “The officer had no clue he was a 12-year-old.” He also said to WKYC-TV, “He had no clue it was a toy gun, he was kind of shocked. He was concentrating more on the hands than on the age. It’s not, ‘Go shoot a 12-year-old with a good fake gun.’ It’s not that scenario at all. This is a compassionate officer.”

However, the family’s attorney Timothy Kucharski told the Plain Dealer, “You have to look at this in the context that this is a 12-year-old boy, not a 35-year-old man with a criminal history. You can’t expect adult reactions out of children.”

“That’s my superhero. Who would’ve thought he would go so soon? He had his whole life ahead,” said Gregory Henderson, a Rice family friend, to a news station. “To be 12 years old, he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Police they know what they’re doing.”

Following Saturday’s shooting, the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave as the investigation begins. Surveillance videos have been collected from the recreation center and will be presented to the grand jury to determine if the officer used excessive force.

Kucharsk told the Plain Dealer that Rice’s family is devastated; his mother “inconsolable.”

The U.S. Justice Department doesn’t keep historical data on cases such as this, although similar incidents have been reported. The Bureau of Justice Statistics stated that in 1990 United States Police used force 200 times per year “in a confrontation where an imitation gun had been mistaken for a real firearm.” Whether or not the person wielding the weapon is a child or not has become an issue over the years.

Source

If you missed last night’s game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys, then you missed “the greatest catch of all time.”

Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham, 22, defied gravity as he launched himself in the air to catch the football with only his thumb and two fingers, scoring a 43-yard touchdown.

Although the all-star was being dragged to ground in the first quarter, his jaw-dropping catch floored the stadium, during the second quarter at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.

Beckham’s catch of year has had social media raving and broke the internet.

Watch the amazing feat below.

Source

By Frank Leon Roberts

The age of Obama will be remembered as one of the most ironic periods in African American history. On the one hand, the Obama epoch has been a breakthrough era in terms of the heightened political visibility of black figures on the national stage. From Cory Booker’s journey from Mayor of Newark to Senator of New Jersey; to Eric Holder’s history-breaking tenure as the nation’s first African American Attorney General; to Al Sharpton and Melissa Harris Perry’s left-leaning talk shows on television giant MSNBC—the visible presence of “black faces in high places” (to borrow philosopher Cornel West’s phrase) has reached an apex. On the other hand, however, the Obama years have been characterized by a new reign of racial terror in America.

From the state-sanctioned assassination of Trayvon Martin to the daylight execution of teenager Michael Brown, the age of Obama will be remembered as a revival of the lynching tradition in America. If we understand lynching as more than simply a reference to black bodies swinging from trees, but rather as a longstanding system of racial terror that allows white violence against black people to go unchecked by the law—then the story of American race relations in 2014 is not much different than what it was in 1934. In spite of the friendly brown face that sits at the head of the American empire, things on the ground for everyday black people are arguably worse than ever. In light of this crisis—what historian Jelani Cobb has called the “paradox of progress”—the question that Black America finds itself wrestling with is the same one that Dr. King wrestled with fifty years ago: where do we go from here?

Recently, the riotous atmosphere of Ferguson, Missouri (in light of the killings of teenagers Michael Brown and Vonderrick Myers) has given birth to a rising sentiment that the time has come for Black America to finally lead itself out of the wilderness.

#BlackLivesMatter: Loving Blackness as Political Resistance

In a culture where antiblack racism and systematic white supremacy runs rampant, black people simply loving one another is a revolutionary act. I do not speak of “love” here in an abstract or individualistic sense, nor am I advocating for racial segregation. Instead, I am referring to what the critic bell hooks once referred to as “loving blackness as political resistance.” By “blackness” I am referring to all those scattered and variegated aspects of our history that have come to define our communal identity (be it the colors of our skin, the textures of our hair, the historical patterns of our speech, or the brown bodies that we inhabit). It means refusing to believe the lies we’ve been told by others or the lies we’ve been telling ourselves. Novelist Arundhati Roy once wrote that our primary goal must be not only to refute racism but “to lay siege to it. To deprive it of oxygen. To shame it. To mock it. With our art, our music, our literature, our stubbornness, our joy, our brilliance, our sheer relentlessness—and our ability to tell our own stories.”

We must publicly affirm (and demand that our nation recognizes) that black lives matter. This is precisely the impulse that has been at the heart of the #BlackLivesMatter social media campaign that has played a key role in the Ferguson movement. We must insist that black life enjoys the same value in the eyes of the law as other forms of life. This is a move that is often met with public resistance. In the wake of the murder of Michael Brown, many commentators have implied that black civil disobedience is irresponsible. The argument implies that since black people do not typically protest black-on-black crime, singling out white-on-black crime is a form of reverse racism. There are several deep logical flaws in this reasoning. First, it is important to note that all crime in America tends to take place in a segregated fashion: black people are no more likely to commit crimes against members of their own race than other racial groups are. In fact, when put in context, “white-on-white” crime is just as prevalent (if not more prevalent) as “black on black crime.”

But here is the difference. When black people commit crimes against other black people they are swiftly “dealt with” by the law (i.e. they tend to be swiftly arrested, prosecuted, and sent to prison with tough sentences). Historically, the exact opposite has been true in instances where black people have been assaulted by nonblack people—particularly by white people. Recent examples abound: it took months for George Zimmerman to be arrested for killing Trayvon Martin (this came only after widespread public pressure through social media) and at the time of this writing the Ferguson Police Department has yet to arrest officer Darren Wilson for the killing of Michael Brown. Affirming that black lives matter means demanding fairness under the law. Loving blackness as political resistance means loving the pursuit of justice for black freedom, liberty, and equality. More importantly, it means building conversations in our community about how to affirm the value of all black life—not simply the lives of black men. For every Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin in our community, there is also an Islan Nettles (the transgender woman murdered in Harlem, New York in 2013) or a Kathryn Parker (the 92-year old woman killed by police in a botched Atlanta drug raid in 2006). Affirming that black lives matter means being willing to fight for the lives of our entire community not just the lives of a select few.

Moving from Neoliberalism to Blues Democracy

We must also move from neoliberal multiculturalism to a blues-centered vision for American democracy. Neoliberal multiculturalism refers to a form of political tokenism that has taken hold in various sectors of American public life over the course of the past 30 years. The hallmark characteristic of neoliberal multiculturalism is an emphasis on symbolic inclusion at the expense of actual widespread social transformation. To put it metaphorically: neoliberal multiculturalism celebrates black people who are breaking glass ceilings, but shows little concern for the black masses who are still stuck in the basement of the American empire. This top-down approach to measuring “progress” has had a devastating effect on the organization of black politics in the post-civil rights era. Too often we have been seduced into believing that breakthroughs at the top of the social ladder will lead to breakthroughs at the bottom of it. Whether it be the presence of Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court; the appointment of Michael Steele as Chair of the Republican National Party; or an Ivy-League educated black family in the White House—the presence of minority “figure heads” has rarely led to any radical change or transformation to the status quo. In fact, under the Obama presidency African American material conditions have worsened in every conceivable measure of social “progress.” Black poverty, unemployment, and incarceration rates are all higher in 2014 than what they were in 2008 when Obama took office. Moreover, the age of Obama has unleashed a new open-season for state-sanctioned white violence against black people. We had hoped that Obama might be Moses—instead, he is beginning to look like Pharaoh.

In order to move beyond this era of neoliberal multiculturalism, we must embrace what I call a blues-centered vision for American democracy. The blues—that unique musical tradition born in the juke joints and the dusty back roads of the American south—is a tradition that aims to give voice to the suffering and hardships of everyday people. A blues-democracy then, is a democracy that operates from the bottom-up as opposed to from the top-down. To speak of a blues democracy is to speak of a democracy organized around improving the lives of the “least among us” (to borrow a biblical phrase). In America, the “least among us” are black, poor, uneducated, queer and often incarcerated. Our political efforts must be centered around improving their lives as opposed to simply celebrating those who have already “made it” in America. A blues-centered vision of democracy means shifting our focus from the one black man in the White House to the one million black people in the jailhouse.

Turning Up for Democracy

As the age of Obama draws to a close, Black America is at a crossroads. Not only has the infrastructure of our communities worsened, our traditional political institutions have proven to be ineffective at best and outright corrupt at worst. Many of us have grown weary. Many others have given up altogether. And yet, we are not—and have never been—a victim people. As the legacies of freedom fighters such as Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, Ella Baker, Shirley Chisolm, Fannie Lou Hammer and James Baldwin attest, being black in America has been characterized by a bold and richly democratic “keep on, keeping on” spirit.

Time and again, black people have had the tragicomic audacity to believe that change in America is not only possible, it is on its way. But the caveat has always been this: “change” will not come by waiting on America to “wake up.” Instead, we must wake it up. In many ways, this means embracing the hip-hop spirit of “turn up.” As Lil Jon’s wildly popular 2013 anthem “Turn Down for What” implies, to “turn up” is to get wild, get unruly, and get disobedient. Turning up means abandoning respectability. Turning up means getting indignant—and abandoning any concern for what others might say or think.

This has been the spirit of the movement in Ferguson and it must be the spirit of a new vision for our community. It is time for our churches and our civic institutions to turn up. It is time for our inner city prophets and our bourgeoisie black middle class to turn up. It is time for our artists, activists, and intellectuals to turn up. Justice is our birthright and social transformation is our mission. As Assata Shakur once reminded us, we have “nothing to lose but our chains.”

Simply put, the time has come for us to “turn up” for black freedom and democracy.

The stakes are high: freedom in America has always been a fight—and yet it remains our responsibility to turn up on the battlefield. Our lives literally depend on it.

Frank Leon Roberts teaches at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Educated at NYU and Yale, he has been a contributor to The Huffington Post, Vibe Magazine, The Village Voice, The San Francisco Chronicle, and The Daily Voice. A New York City native, he is at work on his first book Weeping May Endure: Notes Towards a Blues Democracy.

On Monday’s episode of “Meet the Press,” former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani engaged in a tense back-and-forth with Georgetown professor Michael Eric Dyson. The subject of discussion focused on how cities with a small amount of Black police officers and a large population of Black citizens are at risk of experiencing a Ferguson situation.

Giuliani, a true right-winger, mentioned that he and other NYC mayors have gone out of their way to include more minorities in the city’s police force, NYPD. But he, then, adds that Black-on-Black crime is really the more important factor in the matter.

“I find it very disappointing that you are not discussing the fact that 93 percent of Blacks in America are killed by other Blacks,” Guiliani said regarding white police officers killing blacks. “We’re talking about the exception here,” Giuliani continued.

Dyson then dives into the conversation with strong rebuttals.

“First of all, most Black people who commit crimes against other Black people go to jail,” he began. “Number two, they are not sworn by the police department as an agent of the state to uphold the law. So in both cases, that’s a false equivalency that the mayor has drawn, which has exacerbated tensions that are deeply imbedded in American culture. Black people who kill Black people go to jail. White people who are policemen who kill Black people do not go to jail.”

Giuliani goes on to tell Dyson that Black-on-Black crime is the reason police have to be in Black communities in the first place. He asks Dyson “How about you reduce crime?”

Dyson replies “When I become mayor, I’ll do that.”

When Giuliani adds that officers wouldn’t be in minority neighborhoods if its residents weren’t “killing each other 70 to 75 percent of the time,” Dyson closes the segment with a blunt conclusion on the former mayor’s mindset.

“Look at this— this is the defense mechanism of white supremacy at work in your mind, sir,” Dyson tells the conservative.

Later, the former mayor went on FOX News to defend himself.  He told “Fox & Friends” hosts that he has saved plenty of Black lives during the eight years he served as mayor.

“I’d like to see if Dr. Dyson has ever saved as many lives in his community as I’ve saved,” he boasted.

Check out Michael Eric Dyson’s exchange with Rudy Giuliani below.

Halle Berry isn’t happy with her former flame and daughter’s father, Gabriel Aubry. She took the Canadian model to court Monday because she was livid that Aubry was straightening and lightening daughter Nahla‘s long, naturally curly and golden brown hair, according to TMZ. Berry suspects Aubry is trying to make Nahla look more white.

Berry was apparently absent from the court hearing, but her lawyer showed, and so did Aubry. A judge determined that neither Aubry nor Berry are allowed to alter the 6-year-old’s natural hair.

This news may not come as much of a shock to those who remember Berry and Aubry’s 2011 custody battle.  During the ugly fight for Nahla, TMZ reported that whenever Aubrey read an article where his daughter was labeled as Black, he would throw a tantrum and insist the child was white.

Berry once spoke with Ebony and said she disagrees with Aubry about the child’s race and considers Nahla to be a Black girl.

“I feel like she’s Black. I’m Black and I’m her mother and I believe in the one-drop theory, ” said Berry. “I had to decide for myself and that’s what she’s going to have to decide— how she identifies herself in the world … But I feel like she’s black.”