On Tuesday, a grand jury in Harris County decided not to indict officer Juventino Castro in the death of unarmed man Jordan Baker.

“I want to express my deepest sympathies to Janet Baker [the victim’s mother] and the entire Baker family,” said Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson in a statement. “I know they are disappointed, but the grand jury’s decision means they found that there was no probable cause to believe a crime was committed. It does not constitute an endorsement of the officer’s actions.”

The panel had convened for months before clearing Castro in the January death of the 26 year old. Baker’s death has gained national attention in the wake of the protests for the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, both cases in which there was no indictment for a police officer killing an unarmed Black man.

Janet Baker maintains that her son — who was wearing a black hoodie the night he was killed — was profiled as a criminal. “I intend to seek justice for Jordan,” she said to reporters outside of the courthouse after the decision was read. “We just have a lot of work to do.”

When asked if she had anything to say to Castro, she said she’d rather talk to the system that absolved him.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston) issued a statement about the case that read in part:

Houston has an African-American population of 23.7 percent. However, as recently as 2012, African-Americans accounted for 48 percent of victims killed by the police. This cannot and must not continue. This case may be an incident involving racial profiling and the use of excessive force.

“I am therefore calling upon the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the killing of Jordan Baker and to take appropriate action, including convening a federal grand jury, to ensure that his civil and constitutional rights are vindicated.”

Police were prepared for a demonstration at the courthouse, but only about a dozen protestors showed up. Activist Deric Muhammad, who said the ruling confirmed the city as Ferguson, Texas, said that a protest is planned for Monday at 3:30 p.m. outside of the courthouse.

“Regardless of the grand jury’s decision, Jordan Baker’s death will not be in vain. We have decided that the push for justice will not stop in the secret halls of the Harris County grand jury. We’re taking it further,” Muhammad said. “We obviously have a system that don’t give a damn about us.”

On the night of Baker’s death, Castro had been working his second job as security for a strip mall while in his uniform. According to the Houston Police Department, Castro attempted to stop Baker in the parking lot which led to a brief scuffle and foot chase. Police contend that when Baker stopped running, he reached for his waistband and charged the officer. Castro, who was unharmed, fired his gun once and struck Baker.

Castro was placed on a standard three-day administrative leave directly following the shooting. According to HPD Chief Charles McClelland, an internal investigation to determine whether or not Castro violated any agency policies or procedures will commence now that the grand jury decision has been handed down.

RELATED: 20+ Unarmed Black People Killed By Police In 2014

Black NYPD officers report they feel threatened by their brothers in blue, while off-duty.

Reuters conducted interviews with 25 African American, male, officers of the New York Police Department, 15 of whom are retired and the rest are still serving. All but one of the men reported being racially profiled when off-duty and out of uniform. The experiences included unnecessary traffic stops, getting their head slammed against their cars, having guns put in their faces, being stopped and frisked while shopping, and being thrown into prison vans. The majority of officers said they’d been pulled over multiple times while driving. Five have had guns pulled on them. They all said that the officers who instigated these situations were exclusively white.

John Jay professor Dolores Jones-Brown cited a 2010 report from the New York State Task Force concerning police-on-police shootings which discovered that in the last 15 years, officers of color have suffered the highest fatalities in encounters with police officers who mistook them for criminals.

The NYPD Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association declined to comment. However, former LAPD police chief Bernard Parks, who is African American, said of the findings, “It makes good headlines to say this is occurring, but I don’t think you can validate it until you look into the circumstances they were stopped in.” He continued, “Now if you want to get into the essence of why certain groups are stopped more than others, then you only need to go to the crime reports and see which ethnic groups are listed more as suspects. That’s the crime data the officers are living with.”

Despite being 23 percent of the population, Black people made up 73 percent of gun perpetrators in New York in 2011. But some academics believe those figures could be skewed because police over-focus on predominantly Black areas.

About one third of the officers interviewed said they made complaints to supervisors about their treatment. All but one of them reported that their supervisors dismissed the complaint or retaliated by denying overtime, withholding choice assignments, or passing them over for promotions. The officers who didn’t report the incidents said they feared retribution or saw racial profiling as part of the system.

The NYPD is getting increasingly aggressive in general, according to the New York State comptroller. Police misconduct claims have risen 214 percent since 2000 and the amount that the city has paid out for these claims has gone up 75 percent in the same period to $64.4 million in 2012, the last fiscal year for which information is available.

“There’s no real outlet to report the abuse,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain who said he was stigmatized and retaliated against throughout his 22-year career for speaking out against racial profiling and police brutality.

Adams noted that officers who take complaints to the Internal Affairs Bureau often have their names leaked, resulting in retaliation.

This information is particularly striking given the tensions in New York City from the protests for Eric Garner and the recent shooting of two NYPD officers by a man who claimed to be avenging the deaths of Garner and Michael Brown.

The Daily Mail reported that at a bar in Brooklyn last week, Black officers had been discussing the Garner case and saying that his death could have been prevented. One officer from the 106th precinct in Queens said, “That could have been any one of us.”

A police officer fatally shot Black teen Antonio Martin last night in Berkeley, Missouri, just two miles from Ferguson.

Police say Martin, 18, pointed a gun at the unidentified officer at a Mobil gas station, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The alleged victim’s mother, Toni Martin, confirmed that her son had been shot by police to the newspaper.

A spokesperson for the county police, Sgt. Brian Schellman, said the Berkeley police officer was performing a routine business check of the gas station around 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. The officer saw two men and approached them, the AP reports. One of the men pulled a handgun and pointed it at the officer, Schellman said. The officer fired several shots, fatally wounding one of them. The second person fled and the deceased person’s firearm was recovered.

[Image: Shutterstock]

The Berkeley Police Department has requested the St. Louis County Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Unit conduct the investigation. According to the St. Louis County Police Department’s Facebook page, the department hasn’t confirmed the identity of the shooting victim and the investigation is ongoing. The hashtag #AntonioMartin has been trending on social media. Livestreams from the gas station show residents clashing with police after the incident at the gas station.

Line vs line. Black and white vs police. This is #Berkeley currently #AntonioMartin pic.twitter.com/yUvYJDeeRq — Josh Benson (@jbensonian) December 24, 2014

The police officer had been assigned a body camera, but wasn’t wearing it at the time of the incident.

The St. Louis County Police Department released some of the footage from the gas station’s surveillance cameras, which shows the police officer arriving on the scene and the moments leading up to the shooting:

By Jannie Pilgrim

As a former HR executive, diversity was a recurring theme in my career. From inclusion initiatives to sensitivity trainings, I have been at the helm of countless conversations, both large and small, around the idea that we all matter.

But it wasn’t until summer of last year that I realized this was not just a conversation for the boardroom, but one for the classroom as well. Sixty years after the Brown decision, the question remains: What are children of color being taught now that they are seated at the educational table of equality?

Last summer, I was preparing my 6-year-old son Garrett’s annual summer reading list. I typically include recommendations from friends, Facebook and the classics. By mid-July, Garrett had already finished 13 books! But even more fascinating was the stark lack of characters that looked like him in them. As a parent, I was devastated. Surely in 2013 there were more stories based on children of color?

According to a 2013 study by the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, only 124 of the 1,183 children’s books published during the first half of the year featured people of color (10.5 percent). And so, I decided to write Garrett’s story for him. Most studies show that the first three years of a child’s life are the most impressionable. It’s where they gain a foundation about who they are, a context that carries them from childhood into adolescence and adulthood.

Because of our now ultra-connected world, it’s even more necessary for parents to be intentional in the certainty that their child sees themselves in what they are reading.

HERE ARE A FEW SIMPLE WAYS FOR PARENTS TO INCORPORATE DIVERSITY INTO THEIR CHILDREN’S LIVES:

1. Seek out children’s books that tell our stories: It’s more effort, but your child reaps bigger benefits.

2. Find other activities that tell our stories: Take your child to see Alvin Ailey or to your local African American museum. Exposure to our culture will spark dialogue.

3. Let your voice be heard: Visit your child’s school and express your desire for your child to be exposed to more diverse literature during school hours.

4. Write your story: Encourage your child to let their imagination run and write his or her own short story. You can make it fun and bind the pages or even visit an art store to create a front and back cover.

5. Create open dialogue: Talk with your child about the kinds of books they are reading in school. Find out if they are connecting with them and can see themselves in the characters. Jannie Pilgrim and Garrett

By Isoul Harris

Northern Africa’s Marrakesh is a city with no scarcity of legends, mystique, or, as was quickly apparent, rich color. The seemingly unreal hues of the sky make the sunset a daily extravaganza; sidewalks turn to runways as Moroccans flit by in their vibrant fabrics; and bounteous crimson structures convert simple strolls into journeys through the annals of ancient architecture.

She’s A Grand One

I arrive to Marrakesh—at the invitation of Porsche for the unveiling of the 2015 Porsche Macan compact SUV—and check into the fabled La Mamounia Hotel, a palace with a grand history of otherworldly hospitality. Since its inception in 1923, the hotel has hosted a diverse celebrity clientele including Winston Churchill, Mick Jagger and Nelson Mandela (Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted his daughter’s 2013 wedding here as well). Despite the fury of comers now surrounding this original symbol of the city’s international status (The Royal Mansour Hotel, built by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and El Fenn owned by Vanessa Branson—sibling of Sir Richard—are nearby), Mamounia’s leisurely sophistication still reigns supreme, thanks in large part to designer Jacques Garcia’s 21stcentury touch ups in 2013. At the Mamounia, I lose myself in the romantic blushes and textures beloved by Matisse and in the bespoke craftsmanship of the hand carved ceilings. I smile in the sun enjoying breakfast by the pool and pinch myself during drinks and dinner at one of the property’s four restaurants. My stay is a welcome lesson in the days when proper suppers were common and not extraordinary.

Practical, Not Pedestrian

I am racing down a clear stretch of road on a gorgeous spring day miles outside of the city. The snow-covered hills of the Atlas Mountains look perfectly photoshopped in the horizon as the Macan Turbo ($72,300 MSRP) commands the road reaching 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and then the speedometer needle teeters at 140 mph. The Macan Turbo is a perfect mix of comfort and sport (“We think of it as the big brother to the Porsche 911,” says Porsche chairman Matthias Müller). It’s practical for a Porsche, but certainly not pedestrian. The Atlas Mountains stretch through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia and separate the Mediterranean and the Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert. The area we are exploring is inhabited by the Berbers, the indigenous people of North Africa, and the Macan, comparable to the Audi Q5, BMW X5 or Range Rover Evoque, invites finger pointing and stares from the villagers on the roads. The quaint farm homes, herds of goats and flocks of sheep become indistinguishable blurs as the jagged, ash-colored, snow-capped mountains draw closer. Driving in manual, I approach a bend, slowing speed as the sight of non-railed cliffs unnerves and thrills all at once, and I shift gears with the two-gearshift paddles on the three-spoke steering wheel inspired by the 918 Spyder. The process is seamless thanks to the Macan’s PDK Transmission that changes gear in practically a millisecond (once the driver selects a gear, the system then pre-selects the next). Its exterior is sleek: the front is forceful and expansive (like a 917); the roof is lean, yet broad (similar to a 911), and slopes toward the rear (all models have the automatic powerlift hatch). The wheels on the Turbo range from 19 to 21 inches with standard signature red brake calipers. The S comes with 18 inchers and silver calipers. The Macan’s heightened seats provide a welcome assurance while navigating the narrow, winding roads.

High and Dry

The next day, as I try the Macan S ($49,900 MSRP), we head back outside of the city to the Agafay Desert to test the Porsche’s off-road abilities. The desert’s empty and endless plateaus are perfect for the CSUV. The S is a bit slower than its Turbo sibling (0-60 mph in 5.2 secs) and I don’t reach the same speeds from the previous day. I see a few hills ahead, so I press the Off Road button and without pause, the S (literally) rises to the challenge. Arriving later to a traditional Moroccan feast under a tent in the middle of the Agafay, I observe the dust, dirt and mud covering the Macan’s typically gorgeous facade. I size up the mess as a job well done.

State of Shock

After parking the Macan back at La Mamounia, I walk to Jemaa el Fna, the busiest square in Africa. Here there’s infinite people watching, snake charmers, dancers, illusionists, music, food and an all-around fascinating vibe. From there, I venture into the fantastic maze of the world famous Souk Market, where you can buy authentic, handmade Moroccan wares and a variety of other goods from herbs to head wraps. Marrakesh’s intoxicating nature convinced famed fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge to buy a compound in the city, where I head next. Named La Zahia (Arabic for “serenity”), it consists of the Majorelle Gardens, one of the most visited sites in the city, and the main residence, Villa Oasis. The property is gorgeous and opulent. The small one-room museum displaying the New Year’s cards and posters that Saint Laurent made by hand for his friends hint at his optimism and lively spirit. Walking back to the hotel (and silently wishing I were riding back in the comfort of the Macan), I begin thinking of my time discovering both the Macan and Marrakesh, and a quote from Saint Laurent comes to mind. “A visit to Marrakesh was a great shock to me. This city taught me color.” Indeed, Yves. Indeed.

After a fury of controversy over the release of Sony Entertainment’s comedy spoof The Interview, the movie made Hollywood history as the first film to simultaneously premiere on three platforms. The film, starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, also banked $1 million at the box office on Christmas Day, with the potential to make a couple more millions over the long holiday weekend.

In addition to theater sales, the film, centered around a plot to kill North Korea’s dictator Kim Jung Un, could make even more from online streaming through $5.99 movie rentals and future sales to streaming services like Netflix.

Sony Pictures received a lot of backlash for initially calling off the release of the controversial film, but the turnaround made the movie available in more than 300 theaters on Christmas, making it a special event for families around the nation.

While movie enthusiasts packed theaters at midnight for the first screening, the film was also made available on Google Play, YouTube, Microsoft’s Xbox video stores, and a special Sony website created just for the film.

To show their appreciation, Rogen and co-director Evan Goldberg introduced the political satire at a sold out screening early Christmas morning at a theater in Los Angeles.

“You are the best, without you we thought this might not happen at all,” Rogen told the crowd, according to NBC News.

“If it wasn’t for theaters like this and people like you, this wouldn’t be f—ing happening.”

The real-life Scrooge was boarding an American Airlines flight when he became so irate at the staff’s “Merry Christmas” greetings, he was booted from the plane Tuesday.

The grumpy passenger, who appeared to be traveling alone, screamed at the peppy gate agent, “You shouldn’t say that because not everyone celebrates Christmas,” after she greeted him with a “Merry Christmas.” Once on the plane, a flight attendant also wished him a “Merry Christmas,” and he just lost his marbles.

The crew tried to calm the flyer, but he refused to back down and continued hectoring them. The man then began “lecturing” the pilot and flight attendants. After becoming unruly, he was escorted off the plane, as other fliers burst into cheers and applause.

The unidentified unhappy camper was leaving New York’s LaGuardia Airport on a flight to Dallas.

[Image: Shuttershock]

A disturbing release of Chicago’s 2013 traffic stop data by the Illinois Chapter of the ACLU finds that blacks are stopped at a disproportionately higher rate than Hispanics or whites, especially in white dominated neighborhoods. Overall, the ACLU found that African-Americans make up 45.9% of traffic stops by Chicago police, even though they make up only 32.4% of the city’s population. Hispanics have the lowest rate of traffic stops, closely followed by whites.

The gap was especially evident in areas where there are a larger percentage of white residents. For example, in the Town Hall section of Chicago, black residents make up just 6.6% of the population, but were stopped 17% of the time the ACLU found.

The information is deemed relevant as an analysis of traffic stops is considered important because the violation of traffic laws is a low-level offense which typically involves a good deal of police officer discretion.

Your holiday festivities were well documented on Instagram. So we thought it only fair to keep you up to date on what may have been overlooked – namely what some celebrity Insta-addicts shared from their holiday. Here, a worldwide round up of what your favorite celebs where up to this Christmas.

The Obama family surrounded by elves.

via @michelleobama

Beyonce and Jay Z celebrate Christmas in Iceland.

via @beyonce

Tamar Braxton and Vince Herbert get into the holiday spirit.

Kevin Hart did a lot better than a bed-in-a-bag.

via @kevinhart4real

Sanaa Lathan celebrates with her baby sister Colette.

via @sanaalathan

Jamie Foxx blames it on the egg nog.

via @iamjamiefoxx

From Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade to you…

via @gabunion

Russell Simmons and the girls spend a sunny Christmas in St. Barth’s.

On social media and elsewhere, conflicting details about the fatal shooting of Antonio Martin have surfaced after video footage of the killing has been revealed. Martin, an 18-year-old black teen, was killed by a police officer at a Mobil gas station in Berkeley, Missouri, only two miles from Ferguson.

Police reported Martin was armed at the time of his death, and the unidentified officer who shot had been in “imminent danger” and had used “what he felt was appropriate force at that time” by firing at him. But on Twitter, some witnesses claim that Martin was unarmed. A loaded 9-millimeter handgun was reportedly found at the scene.

According to the gas station video footage, whose quality is sub-par, Martin was shown lifting his arm at the officer. The incident takes place in a far-off corner, making it difficult to discern exactly what happened. It also cuts off before Martin is shot.

The St. Louis County police department has since released two new video clips from that night. The new clips, one which is a continuation from the first clip they released, and the other a clip from a different surveillance camera, still do not show the alleged gun that the teen had pulled out on the officer before he was shot. That part was cropped out.

St. Louis County police, who is investigating the incident, said they cut out the portion where Martin’s body falls to the ground out of respect for his family, but in doing so, they also cut out the portion where we might be able to see the gun falling from his hands as police said they found it near his body.

The officer who shot Martin had been given a body camera during his shift, but he was not wearing it at the time of the shooting. His car was also equipped with a dashboard camera which was likely inactivated.

Witnesses at the scene said that Martin’s body was left in the street for two hours before being transported. The officer who shot Martin called EMS responders to the scene, though some witnesses at the scene claim it took them 90 minutes to show up.

Two more men have been arrested for threatening the lives of New York police, including one who called the precinct headquarters of the two slain officers and asked to speak to one of them, a police spokesman said on Thursday.

The total number of arrests is up to six for those detained for threats against the New York Police Department since officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were murdered last Saturday. The gunman, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, who had a documented history of mental illness and according to reports, sought revenge for multiple police killings of unarmed men, fled the scene and later committed suicide.

Tyrone Melville, 41, of Manhattan, was arrested on Wednesday after he allegedly called the switchboard of Brooklyn’s 84th Precinct, where the slain officers were based.

Melville was charged with making terroristic threats, a felony, and aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor.

Jose Maldonado, 26, was charged with making terroristic threats after allegedly posting on his Facebook page he would kill police officers. He also posted pictures of weapons. Maldonado also was arrested on Wednesday.

After giving birth on a subway train this Christmas, one Philadelphia mother now has an exciting story to tell her son when he gets a little older.

The unconventional birth was already in progress before Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) police intervened. One of the officers, Sgt. Daniel Caban, said that someone on the streets informed him that a mother, Yanjin Li, was in labor on the Market-Frankford El. After hearing the news, he and Officer Dorrell James hurried down the stairs and into the subway car.

“As soon as we got there, I could see the baby’s head coming through her sweatpants, and we just went right to work,” Caban told KYW Newsradio.

After the officers assisted with the birth and the boy was finally born, he and his mother were taken to the hospital to be evaluated, according to CBS Philly. The officers later visited the hospital to check on Li and her newborn.  She told them she named her baby “Chris,” in honor of him being born on Christmas.

Sgt. Caban admitted that he was looking forward to an uneventful Christmas, but he’s glad that didn’t happen. “I was hoping for a quiet day, but this is worth it,” Caban said. “This is what our job about.”

SEPTA Chief Thomas J. Nestel III later sent a congratulatory tweet regarding the two officers:

Transit Police SGT and PO deliver baby on Market Frankford El train!!!! WOOHOO!!! Now that’s a Christmas gift!!!

— Thomas J. Nestel III (@TNestel3) December 25, 2014

Erica Garner‘s daughter sent a tweet in the early morning on Christmas that had the NYPD in an uproar. Erica Garner, the daughter of the Eric Garner who was choked by then-officer Daniel Pantaleo on the streets of Staten Island, blasted the address of another officer involved in her father’s death.

“NYPD’s Justin D’Amico,” Erica tweeted at 1:45 a.m. on Thursday, “another officer that helped kill my dad.”  She added the hashtag #Doxx, which means that someone’s personal information is about to be revealed, according to the New York Post. After posting the link to the address of D’Amico, Pantaleo’s partner, she wrote “just something light.”  The names and addresses of five people believed to be related to D’Amico were also found within the link.

New York Post reported that Erica deleted the tweet after the publication made comments about it, but the NYPD still received news about the act and lashed out against Erica, accusing her of  trying to get D’Amico killed.

Ed Mullins, the head of the NYPD sergeants union, told the Post that tweeting the information was “terrible behavior that continues to cause divisive actions throughout the city.”

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Mullins added.

Another source told NY Post that Erica’s action was “disgusting.”

The link Erica included was to the website PasteBin.com, where anyone can post plain-text documents for public display.

The Garner family’s attorney, Jonathan Moore, said Erica did not intentionally air the officer’s information.

“Nobody in the Garner family, including Erica, would consciously send information out about the personal address or phone number or any identifying information about the police officers, particularly after what happened to those two officers,” Moore said, referring to the two NYPD policemen who were killed recently by a man who is said to have been seeking revenge for the death of Garner and others.

Moore is currently in the process of filing a $75 million wrongful death lawsuit against New York City on behalf of the Garner family.

After Panteleo killed Garner, he was stripped of his badge and gun, while D’Amico was put on desk duty.

A 4-year-old autistic boy who went missing on Christmas Eve was found dead in a South Carolina lake Friday morning. Police, K-9 units, dive teams, and 150 volunteers searched for nearly two days to find him.

Jayden Morrison and his family traveled from New York to visit Carolyn Sumpter, his grandmother, for the holidays.  After arriving at Sumpter’s home, Jayden’s mom went out to go shopping.  The grandmother says that shortly after the mother left at around 5:30 p.m., she noticed the front door was ajar and that Jayden was missing.

The search was on for Jayden.  His mother said that since the boy was autistic, he would not respond to his own name if called, so finding the little boy was expected to be a challenge.  But it wasn’t long before a search dog directed authorities to Little River, northeast of Myrtle Beach, and found Jayden’s lifeless body, coroner Robert Edge told reporters.  The pond was about 100 yards from the family home.

“There were no signs of foul play,” said Horry County’s Lt. Raul Denis.

“I’m hurt,” Sumpter told The Journal News Friday afternoon. “My body hurts. My heart hurts.”

“We’ve always been in a gated situation,” Jayden’s father, Andre Morrison, told reporters Thursday. “We knew he was a wanderer when he was younger, but he was always in an enclosement. We never put him in a position to go out and freely wander.”

Remember the very public and nasty break up between Chris Brown and on-and-off again girlfriend Karrueche where he put her on blast for dating Drake and having threesomes? Well it looks like all is forgiven, because the troubled couple are back at it. Sigh.

The two were spotted together in LA over the holidays walking their new puppy, a pup that many are speculating was a Christmas gift from Chris to Kae. Karrueche instagrammed the same dog with the caption “Christmas pup”.

Not only were the two spotted taking a stroll together, but Karrueche Tran also snapped a photo for IG showing off some very expensive new bling. Perhaps the new jewelry was another Christmas present aka apology gift from the “Loyal” hitmaker.

Despite the above evidence, fans were able to put two and two together that the publicly broken up couple were indeed spending a lot of quality time together. On Christmas day, Chris Brown had the internet going crazy with his hilarious #ChristmasChallenge where he dance battled fans to the chorus of Chingy’s infamous “Right Thurr” single. You can watch the challenge video here. Of course people noticed that the backdrop to Chris’ dance video was the same living room Karrueche instagrammed a few days earlier.

Yup, the cat’s out of the bag. It’s safe to say the two are back together  and as predicted the much needed break-up was only short-lived.

It takes a very special woman to make a hitmaker rapper settle down and put a ring on it. Ludacris’ long-term girlfriend, Eudoxie must be the one, because this holiday weekend Luda popped the question in the most romantic way possible.

On their way to a couples’ getaway weekend in Costa Rica, Ludacris pulled off an incredibly romantic, sky high engagement. While the couple flew inside of their super swanky private jet, Ludacris had his proposal spelled out on the grassy land below them. The tear jerking message read, “Eudoxie, Will You Marry Me”

In a photo Ludacris posted on Instagram, it looks like Eudoxie was more than excited to make the rapper her hubby. The caption read, “She didn’t say Yes, she said Hell yes!” Awww, now isn’t that romantic?

Before boarding the plane, Ludacris and Eudoxie were joined by their friends and other well known celebrity couples like singer Monica and her husband Shannon Brown. Former Destiny Child member LeToya Luckett and her new boo were also aboard the flight. From the looks of things, it seems like everyone was ready to just have a fabulous holiday weekend.

Congratulations to Ludacris and his fiance Eudoxie!

There has been a lot of speculation and hoopla that movie execs are looking to cast a black man like Idris Elba as the next James Bond.

The rumors began to swirl only this month during the very scandalous Sony hack that has shaken up Hollywood. According to emails from Sony co-chairman Amy Pascal, an email was sent stating, “Idris Elba should be the next Bond.”

While we obviously have no problem with this alleged casting decision, it seems like many fans of the cult movie franchise have opposing thoughts on the matter.

Popular radio host Rush Limbaugh recently had this to say, “Now Sony is suggesting that the next James Bond should be Idris Elba, a black Briton rather than a white from Scotland. But that’s not who James Bond is, and I know it’s racist to probably even point this out… We had 50 years of white Bonds because Bond is white. Bond was never black.”

Hmmm… interesting. Bond is a fictional character whose skin color is not allowed to be open to interpretation. Meanwhile,  Hollywood releases the “Exodus” movie where all the Ancient Egyptians are white. *sips tea*

In response to all of the hate he has been getting over the Bond rumors, Idris tweeted the perfect response.

Isn’t 007 supposed to handsome? Glad you think I’ve got a shot! Happy New year people. pic.twitter.com/3g9lAl2Uo3

— Idris Elba (@idriselba) December 27, 2014

 

“Isn’t 007 supposed to handsome? Glad you think I’ve got a shot! Happy New year people.”

Now come on Idris, you know that you are the definition of handsome. There’s no doubt he isn’t fit to play the sexy British agent. Just look at him.

This isn’t the first time Idris has responded to Bond movie related questions. During a Reddit interview he was asked if he would play the next Bond. His response, “Yes, if it was offered to me, absolutely.”

Yes absolutely, Idris should be the next Bond.

What do you think? Could he pull it off?

While lots of celebs are reconciling their love this holiday season like Chris Brown and Karrueche and others are putting a ring on it like Ludacris to longterm girlfriend Eudoxie, some celebs are realizing they just can’t make it work. Unfortunately, after nineteen years of marriage, funny man Chris Rock has filed for divorce from his wife Malaak Compton-Rock. The couple met in 1994 and got married two years later. They have two beautiful daughters together — Lola Simone, 12 and Zahra Savannah, 10.

Earlier Sunday, Malaak made a statement to People Magazine saying the following,

“After much contemplation and 19 years of marriage, Chris and I have decided to go our separate ways. Being fortunate enough to lead a life of service by working with those most vulnerable makes me well aware of life’s blessings, even when faced with difficulties. While recognizing that this is a significant change, my children remain at the center of my life and their well-being is my top priority. It is in this spirit that I sincerely ask that their privacy and the privacy of our family be respected during this transition in our lives.”

Chris Rock’s lawyer confirmed Malaak’s statement by releasing a message of his own,

“Chris Rock has filed for divorce from his wife, Malaak. This is a personal matter and Chris requests privacy as he and Malaak work through this process and focus on their family.”

While we hate to see such a longterm relationship come to an end, we hope this decision is for the best for both Chris Rock and Malaak.

Congratulations to singer Alicia Keys and music producer Swizz Beatz on welcoming their second child together into the world! The baby boy named Genesis Ali Dean was born at 1:52 am early Saturday morning, weighing 6 pounds and 5 ounces. If Genesis Ali is anything like his older brother Egypt we already know that he is adorable and as perfect as can be.

Alicia Keys announced the birth of her newborn son Genesis Ali with a post on Instagram.

The joy of joy is joy!! It’s a boy!! We are so grateful!! #blessings!!

Swizz Beats took to Instagram with the same photo and similar caption. We couldn’t be happier for the couple.

Back in July, Alicia Keys took to Instagram to announce her second pregnancy saying,

“Happy anniversary to the love of my life… And to make it even sweeter we’ve been blessed with another angel on the way!! You make me happier than I have ever known! Here’s to many many more years of the best parts of life!”

How adorable!

Baby Genesis is the couple’s second son together, following Egypt, 4. Their sons join Swizz Beatz three children from previous relationships, sons Prince Nasir, 13, Kasseem Jr, 7, and daughter Nicole, 5.

Some celebrities are used to being in the spotlight. Others are used to blinding police lights. Repeat offenders Justin Bieber and actor Columbus Short have rap sheets as long as their resumes. Almost every male cast member of the popular Mona Scott franchise Love & Hip Hop Hollywood spent time in handcuffs this year. Here’s a 2014 roundup of the celebrities who got pinched.

Suge Knight and Katt Williams
Date of Arrest: October 29
Former Death Row CEO Suge Knight and Katt Williams were arrested for one count of robbery for stealing a paparazzi’s camera.

Daniele Watts and Brian Lucas
Date of Arrest: October 21
Django Unchained actress Daniele Watts and her boyfriend Brian Lucas are suspected of having sex in a parked car during the daytime. Watts and Lucas say it was all a misunderstanding.

Soulja Boy
Date of Arrest: October 18
Love & Hip Hop Hollywood’s  Soulja Boy was arrested and with possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Cornel West
Date of Arrest: October 13
Author, activist and academic Cornel West was arrested in connection with Ferguson October during protests against the death of 18-year-old unarmed Michael Brown.

Waka Flocka Flame
Date of Arrest: October 10
Love & Hip Hop Atlanta cast mate and rapper Waka Flocka Flame was arrested at Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport after he was found toting a firearm in his carry-on luggage.


Too Short
Date of Arrest: October 1
The Oakland rapper was arrested after a handgun was found in his carry-on luggage at Bob Hope airport and he attempted to flee the scene.

Michael Phelps
Date of Arrest: September 30
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps was arrested in the wee hours of the morning and charged with a DUI.

Amanda Bynes
Date of Arrest: September 28
Former Nickelodeon star Amanda Bynes is a regular in New York jail. Bynes was arrested this time for driving while under the influence of a drug

Jeffrey Taylor
Date of Arrest: September 25
Charlotte Hornets forward Jeffrey Taylor was arrested on domestic assault charges

Keyshia Cole
Date of Arrest: September 19
Singer Keyshia Cole apparently assaulted a woman she believed to be having an affair with her rumored boyfriend Baby of Cash Money Records. A judge reviewed her background and found she had an outstanding warrant for a DUI in 2002 that may cause her to spend 30 days in jail.

Adrian Peterson
Date of Arrest: September 13
NFL star Adrian Peterson was arrested for charges of child abuse for using a switch to discipline his child. The Minnesota Vikings running back was re-arrested after telling a drug tester that he smoked a little weed.

Apollo Nida
Date of Arrest: September 10
This RHOA cast member faced being arrested again after forcing his way into Phaedra Park’s home after he failed to turn himself in to start serving his eight year sentence.

Justin Bieber
Date of Arrest: January 23, August 29
Entertainer and Usher protégé Justin Bieber has drastically transformed from a squeaky pop star into pop’s resident bad boy with a growing rap sheet. Bieber was arrested in his hometown of Ontario, Canada for dangerous driving and assault after he crashed his ATV into a van. In Miami he was arrested for drag racing, resisting arrest without violence and DUI.

Columbus Short
Date of Arrest: February, March and August 21
Former Scandal star Columbus Short who was booted from ShondaLand had a number of arrests in 2014 which he later attributed to a nasty cocaine habit. Short was arrested for domestic abuse twice in February, assaulting a man at an engagement party in March and failing to appear in court for the domestic abuse charge in August.

Rick Ross
Date of Arrest: June 27
The biggest boss in rap music government – nee William L. Roberts – was arrested for failing to appear in court on a marijuana charge. He was later released after posting $1,000 bond.

#FelonBae – Jeremy Meeks
Date of Arrest: June 18
Jeremy Meeks, better known as Felon Bae, was arrested on 11 felony counts for weapons and street terrorism. Meeks’ mugshot went viral after being posted on Facebook sparking a series of memes and spoofs that made him a high fashion model.

Stevie J
Date of Arrest: June 10
Love & Hip Hop Atlanta star Stevie J was arrested for not paying child support to one of his baby mama’s. The former hit maker is on the hook for over $1 million in unpaid support.

Ray J
Date of Arrest: May 30
Love & Hip Hop Hollywood cast member Ray J had an eventful year after being arrested outside a Beverley Hills hotel for battery, trespassing and vandalism. Ray J apparently kicked out a police car window and spit in the face of an officer.

Yung Berg
Date of Arrest: November 5
Love & Hip Hop Hollywood cast member Young Berg was arrested for beating up his girlfriend and fellow cast mate Masika Tucker during a hotel room fight.

Wiz Khalifa
Date of Arrest: May 25
Rapper Wiz Khalifa had one of the strangest yeas. Wiz was popped for carrying under two ounces of marijuana when he tried to board at El Paso Texas. In addition Amber Rose announced she was divorcing the rapper, his drug fueled behavior grew increasingly worse.


Michael Jace
Date of Arrest: May 22
The Shield actor Michael Jace was arrested and charged with murder for shooting his wife April Jace during an argument in the couple’s home.


The Dream
Date of Arrest: May 7
Songwriter The Dream was arrested for domestic assault and strangulation on his ex-girlfriend Lydia Nam in April 2013.


Trick Daddy
Date of Arrest: April 6
Miami rapper was arrested and charged for possession of cocaine and firearms in Miramar, Florida


Porsha Williams
Date of Arrest: April 16
Real Housewives cast mate Porsha Williams had one of the year’s best mug shots after turning herself over to Atlanta police for assault charges stemming from the dramatic fight against Kenya Moore.

Joe Brown
Date of Arrest: March 24
TV judge Joe Brown found himself behind bars after being arrested for contempt of court in Memphis, Tennessee.

Chris Brown
Date of Arrest: March 18
Chris Brown spent most of 2014 in jail, in rehab or on probation. After Brown was kicked out of a court ordered rehab, he was taken into custody for violation of his probation. Brown served time in jail and released his latest album X.


Ray Rice
Date of Arrest: February 15
Ravens running back Ray Rice was arrested for assaulting his now-wife Janay Rice at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City during an argument. Video surfaced of Rice dragging Rice from the elevator which led to his NFL suspension and stricter NFL regulations.


Young Jeezy
Date of Arrest: January 7, August 24
Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy was arrested in January on charges of battery, false imprisonment, and terroristic threats made against his son. Jeezy found himself in trouble again in October after a search of his tour bus turned up a loaded AK-47 that allegedly belonged to his security chief.


Tito Ortiz
Date of Arrest: Janaury 6
Former UFC champion Tito Ortiz was arrested on suspicion of DUI after he crashed his Porsche.