By Caprece Cotton-Sturdivant

If you ask any mother what it’s like to be a mom I’m sure you would get an assortment of answers. But the similarity would be that being a mom is an ever changing journey of love. Motherhood is late nights and early mornings, and indeed the toughest job in the world. It’s made me a better person, kinder, and more patient. It’s also made me appreciate every moment because when you have children, time — which usually moves so slow — seems to speed up like crazy.

The same is true for celebrity moms who have to juggle both a public career and a private life. How do they do it? Is an often asked question and I’m like, “Shoot, how does any mother handle the work/life balance?” It helps to know that though we may lead different lives, the bond of motherhood makes us similar. Here are 10 celebrity moms on what motherhood means to them:

“It’s not about what you tell your children, but how you show them how to live life.” – Jada Pinkett Smith

“The thing that has changed the most about me since I became a mom is that my heart keeps getting bigger and bigger.” – Kerry Washington

“I have so much admiration for women who are mothers, who balance family and work. I see them and I have this word in my head — respect. I also look to learn. I see these women and I think, ‘Yes, it can be balanced, it can all work out.” – Beyoncé

“Being a parent has made me more open, more connected to myself, more happy, and more creative.” – Alicia Keys

“Being a mom has come really naturally. It’s all about finding a way to juggle what I love and what comes naturally to me.” – Halle Berry

“It’s difficult but such is life. It comes with challenges but at the same time I love being a mother. It’s the best part of my life. It enriches my life so much. It gives me other things to think about besides this crazy industry that I decided to partake in. It keeps me grounded and focused on what life is really about.” – Taraji P. Henson

“Becoming a mother has opened up my whole life and given me a whole new purpose.” – Viola Davis

“The most fulfilling thing in my life is to be a parent and a mother…That’s what I was made to do. There’s times when I’ve been the mom and the dad. I’m very good at it; that’s what I do. It’s my thing.” – Kimora Lee Simmons

“My children have allowed me to discover a side of myself I never knew existed.” — June Ambrose

“The number one key is to basically prioritize. I’m a mother and wife first because family is important to me, and a part of having a balanced life is not feeling guilty about taking care of yourself.” – Tia Mowry-Hardrict

Caprece Cotton-Sturdivant is a writer and mommy, who loves to share comedic tales of what she’s learned so far about being a mom. Her writing has appeared on HelloBeautiful.com and Uptown Magazine’s website where she is a digital contributor.  In 2015 she plans to self publish her first book based on her popular Instagram posts “Things I’ve learned Since Becoming a Mom”. She resides in New York City with her husband and daughter who are her inspirations.

RELATED: Tina Knowles Writes A Precious Mother’s Day Letter to Beyonce, Solange

By Caprece Cotton-Sturdivant

The one thing that I’ve learned about being a mom is that motherhood is about community. It’s sharing funny stories, giving advice, and offering words of encouragement. You build sort of a pseudo family with other moms who are either going through similar experiences or have been there before. That feeling is one of the reasons I started blogging in the first place, because those WTH moments of parenting are universal.

One of my favorite outlets to share what’s going on in my #momlife is Instagram and I’ve found other awesome moms on there too. Whether it’s fashion, mommy tips, or just sharing snaps of their kiddies these moms rock! Here are my seven favorite mommy bloggers to follow on Instagram:

Christina Brown: @babybrownsugarblog

With her beautiful daughter Cadence at her side Christina of BabyBrownSugar.com shares helpful tips and advice for moms and their little bundles of joy. She’s my No. 1 mom for natural hair baby styling. (Little known fact: Christina cut her teeth as an editorial assistant at UPTOWN!)

Akia Ng: @akiarene

From courtship to her brand new baby, Akia Ng has shared her beautiful journey with her husband Mike on their blog MyBeachIsBetter.com

Charlotte: @milknhonee

Mommy blogger Charlotte of MilkNHonee.com coordinates her looks with her adorable daughter Neriah’s, and I can’t get enough.

Trina: @babyshopa

Trina may be the mother of mommy fashion blogging. On her site, BabyShopaholic.com she showcases her adorably fashionable daughter Peyton in some of the cutest looks.

Andrea Arterbery: @theartofbery

Whether she’s showcasing her too cute for words son Aiden or giving major laugh out loud moments with her funny #momlife posts, Andrea of TheArtOfBery.com always keeps me entertained.

Annmarie: @thecrazymomcook

I’m often left salivating at this mom’s food posts! AnnMarie of TheCrazyMomCook.wordpress.com creates works of art with her food posts. I’m hungry just thinking about it!

Kim S.: @beautyandthebump

Beauty and mommy blogger Kim of BeautyAndTheBumpNYC.com shares fierce makeup tips, recipes, and personal stories of her journey through motherhood.

Shaquille O’Neal has always had quite the sense of humor when it comes to poking fun at himself, but the internet is having a field day making jokes after he took a mean fall on Inside the NBA. Falling straight out of his chair and sliding onto the ground so hard that his microphone and shoe fell off, Shaq has become this week’s most prized-possession in the meme world.

The photoshopped versions of the former NBA player falling have become such a hilarious sensation, that he even offered fans a cash prize of $500 for whoever created the funniest one.

Whoever makes me the best meme of me bustin my ass (like this one) wins $500 cash. Go. #shaqtinafall pic.twitter.com/3skU2UUUWj

— SHAQ (@SHAQ) May 7, 2015

No one has been awarded the prize, but Shaq said this one is winning so far.

This guy is winning so far keepem comin pic.twitter.com/wZQM8DdMdg

— SHAQ (@SHAQ) May 7, 2015

It’s definitely going to be a close contest, as social media hasn’t stopped laughing at him being part of Michael Jackson‘s “Smooth Criminal” video, getting granted a wish by Shaq as Kazaam, and even being blown over by Lance Stephenson. See all of the hilarious Shaq falling memes on the next few pages.

A California woman surprisingly discovered that she is 32 weeks pregnant, after her boyfriend felt a kick in her stomach while they were at a concert.

Abby Wake had initially believed that she was just bloated and filled with gas due to her lactose intolerance. The North Hollywood couple had no idea she was pregnant until she went to the doctor, where she found out that her baby is due to arrive in just a few weeks.

Her boyfriend, Jarryd Gorman told CBS Los Angeles, “I felt the baby kick and I looked at her and said, ‘I think you’re definitely pregnant.’ [I said] we need to go see someone straight away.'”

Wake says she felt absolutely no symptoms of pregnancy for eight months, and just assumed that she was gaining a little bit of weight. “There weren’t, like, kicks and huge movements,” she explained to the site. “It was just like gurgles.”

The couple has set up a GoFundMe page, as they have only a few weeks to prepare for the arrival of their new son Isaac. While the news comes as a surprise, Wake did say having a family was “really important” to her.

Despite having a tough exterior, The Game is a pretty big softy at heart. The Jesus Piece rapper might have made headlines this week for his Instagram war with Young Thug, but he turned the attention around when he gave $1,000 to a stranger at an Atlanta gas station. The man, who was later identified as Donald, in the video was just released from prison for an undisclosed amount of time and was on his way home to New Orleans to surprise his mom for Mother’s Day. The Game was so inspired by the Donald’s story and determination to make his mom happy, that he even gave the former inmate a phone number to call so he could get a job from The Game.

Stopped at a gas station soon as I got to the ATL & a nigga hopped off the Greyhound & said he was fresh outta jail headed back to New Orleans to surprise his mama before #MothersDay so I offered him a job & told him after he get home…. If things don’t go as planned, call me & I’ll give him a job…… Left him wit $1,000 to look out for moms for #MothersDay too !!!!!! #TypeOfShitGameDo #TheRobinHoodProject

A video posted by The Game (@losangelesconfidential) on May 6, 2015 at 9:54pm PDT

Game continued his thoughts in part two of the video, “A regular young black man like a lot of us.. just excited to have another chance at life outside them walls & ran into someone who could help his situation a little… Hope by now, you made it home & surprised moms… Know she was happy.. I asked him what you gone do with that rack, he said spend $500 on flowers for my momma & use the rest to get a phone to call yo ass bout that job after Mother’s Day… Hope to see you soon Donald. Stay up !!!”

Part 2: Stopped at a Gas Station in the ATL to use the restroom & met Donald fresh outta jail headed home to see his momma in time for Mother’s Day & I gave him $1,000, my # & offered him a job…. & the look on his face been on my mind all night. A regular young black man like a lot of us.. just excited to have another chance at life outside them walls & ran into someone who could help his situation a little… Hope by now, you made it home & surprised moms… Know she was happy.. I asked him what you gone do with that rack, he said spend $500 on flowers for my momma & use the rest to get a phone to call yo ass bout that job after Mother’s Day… Hope to see you soon Donald. Stay up !!!

A video posted by The Game (@losangelesconfidential) on May 7, 2015 at 10:20am PDT

Tia Mowry-Hardrict has got lots of irons in the fire these days. For one, she’s starring in Nickelodeon’s Instant Mom and recently landed her own show on The Cooking Channel, Tia Mowry at Home. In a recent interview with Renada Romain, the 36-year-old actress spoke about finding her sexuality after giving birth, why she ditched her role on the hit show The Game, and the constant comparisons to her twin sister Tamera Mowry-Housley.

The former child star disclosed that finding her sexy after giving birth to her son Cree was more effortless than before becoming a mom. “[After giving birth] you just feel so powerful,” said Mowry. “I guess, but I think also for so long I was kind of like the ‘girl next door’ and I was kind of like afraid to embrace another side of me and I have always been a little edgy and it’s like why not change it up just a little bit?”

She also reveals why she passed up her role as Melody on BET’s The Game after fighting so hard to snag the part. “I guess Pooch [who plays Derwin] booked another show, So they said if he wasn’t going to be on the show, ‘what are we going to do with Tia?’  We just got to bring her down to a recurring and I was like umm… I believe in myself a little too much and I ended up booking Instant Mom on Nick at Night and TV Land now and I am having a blast.”

While it may be different to tell Tia apart from her twin sister Tamera (hint: Tia is the one without the mole on her cheek), the actress says she does mind the healthy competition. “It’s like if I see that my sister can do it than I can do it too. Society defiantly puts it on us and we can not stand it.  It’s not cool, but as long as everything is ok at home, then that stuff doesn’t really affect us.”

RELATED: Beyoncé, Taraji, Tia & More Celeb Moms On What Motherhood Means To Them

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During a night out at Supperclub Los Angeles, Amber Rose decided to put her ex-boyfriend Kanye West on blast by telling the crowd that he doesn’t write his own music.

The 31 year old was making a paid appearance at the popular nightclub when the deejay suddenly played a Kanye track. That’s when Amber snatched the microphone, cut the music, and demanded, “Stop playing n-ggas I used to f–k. Why don’t we play the n-gga that writes the songs for the other n-gga —Travis Scott. Let’s go…He writes the songs for the other nigga. Let’s go.”

Kanye is considered a musical genius in his own right, having gotten his start as a producer before branching off as a solo artist. However, it’s quite common for artists to have co-writers in the studio at any stage of the songwriting process.

Earlier this year, Def Jam sent MTV News a list of 21 musicians whose work went into writing and producing Kanye’s latest single “All Day.” Sixty-seven writers are credited on his last studio album Yeezus. Kanye also revealed during an interview with Jimmy Kimmel that he doesn’t necessarily consider himself a rapper in the traditional definition, but as more of a creative. “My creativity is in no way limited to the genre of Hip Hop,” Kanye said. “I feel like I’m like busting at the seams to do something more.”

So all things considered, is Rose really telling us anything we don’t already know?

Jidenna’s high-powered single, “Classic Man,” with its sartorial message, is inspiring people to change clothes and go like Jigga Man 2.0. But, don’t let the smooth suits fool you, the Nigerian-American singer— the newest find from Janelle Monáe and the Wondaland Arts Society—is more than a well-dressed dandy. Being sharp in mind, body and style is his mantra and he believes that fashion is just an extension of his musical ministry. Wondaland’s compilation album, Eephus, presents an eclectic sonic blend curated by and featuring Monáe, demonstrates his vision and, more importantly, that he plays by his own rules.

FAMILY SHREWD

Wisconsin-born, but raised in Nigeria, Massachusetts, California and New York, Jidenna received his It Factor from his father, a Nigerian chief, and his mother, an American anthropologist. “She taught me to use words to paint pictures and my father was a leader and an engineer. He’d host meetings in our living room and I’d provide the soundtrack. I’d press play on some Fela Kuti or James Brown and watch my biggest influence while listening to my musical ones.”

PRESSURE IS PRIVILEGE

As Jidenna’s star rises, he feels the squeeze of his newfound positioning. And he embraces every minute. “I know that everything I say or do will have an effect on the coming generation, so I don’t shy away. It’s a privilege to be able to speak to millions of people. There’s pressure, but I welcome it with open arms.”

DIRTY GLOVES, CLEAN HANDS

“Wondaland is classic and funky,” says the striking gent of his musical family. “We dress up, but we ain’t afraid to get down. My record spearheads that idea and acts as a flag to let everyone know who’s coming to town. We’re not so in love with our selfie that we’re afraid to sweat. We want you to come dry and leave wet.”

Words: Satchel B. Jester | Photo: Marc Baptiste

As the world focuses attention on social ills, a group of Brooklyn, NY-­‐based activists and philanthropists have launched a new “socially-­‐ relevant” television series called GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT PROJECT. Each episode will combine international travel adventure with philanthropic service – a mixture rarely experienced in mainstream media. The show’s engaging content promotes volunteerism, philanthropy and community empowerment through health and wellness activities. Led by an emergency room doctor, a youth leadership executive and a renowned international photographer, the unique team pulled together their own resources to create the pilot, which was shot on location throughout parts of Haiti, a country still riddled with socio-­‐economic challenges following the earthquake that hit the region five years ago.

The partners, Dr. Robert Gore, Brian “Deka” Paupaw and Marc Baptiste actually teamed up years ago because of their shared interest in grassroots community work, but now their new focus is not only giving back, but putting a spotlight on these impoverished communities for the general public to view. Two of the men had already been working in Haiti since well before the devastating earthquake, so with those close ties to the community and vested interest in seeing that community thrive, Haiti was a no-­‐brainer: it had to be their first stop. That theme of giving back and enjoying the environment, according to the producers, will run throughout the series, which they hope to shoot in disparate communities in the United States and abroad over the next several months.

“We are excited about this project, not only because we are adventurers but because we care about the plight of youth and families in impoverished communities throughout the world,’ said Dr. Robert Gore, who co-­‐produces the series with Brian Paupaw and Marc Baptiste. “Things can get depressing in our modern world,” Gore says.

“Through this project, we want to highlight how change is happening, ways that people can support, and the physical beauty and national resources that many of these countries have to offer. We capture that imagery on tape with incredible photography and interviews, with hopes that people will see the rewards of giving back to those in need and literally take action. It’s where culture meets cause, and that makes it interesting and unique for us.”

The show producers have set $25,000 as their current fundraising goal to help with production and post-­‐production costs of the series pilot. They’re working to complete the project this summer and continue their philanthropic efforts using the show to raise awareness and stimulate others into action.

According to Paupaw, “We have to do something. Hopefully this series will demonstrate that what you have there is a strong connection between socially-­‐ relevant media content and actual change within global communities. We can make a difference while still enjoying some recreational and wellness outlets too. At the end of the day, we believe that this project sells the ideas that all lives, in fact, do matter and that we can make things better by enjoying the beauty of life in the process.”

Things got heated at a Stone Mountain, GA graduation ceremony this weekend, leaving an unfond memory of high school for 48 seniors.  The founder and director of TNT Academy, Nancy Gordeuk, made racially charged comments during the Friday evening ceremony, angering the church full of students and family members.

Gordeuk, thinking that they’d mistakenly reached the end of the program, made closing remarks suggesting it was time to leave the building.  Once she realized the class valedictorian’s speech had been skipped over, she tried to call back the departing guests – with grave results.

In the video, Gordeuk is heard saying, “You people are being so rude to not listen to this speech. It was my fault that we missed it in the program. Look who’s leaving — all the black people.”

An apologetic Gordeuk blamed nerves and frustration for her outburst in an email to parents, saying in part:

“A terrible mistake on my part was part of the graduation ceremony on Friday night. The devil was in the house and came out from my mouth. I deeply apologize for my racist comment and hope that forgiveness in in your hearts. We all make mistakes and anyone who knows me realizes that I try my hardest to work with the students for them to obtain their goal of a high school diploma.”

However, on Saturday, Travis Gordeuk took to Facebook in defense of his mother, with a series of even more offensive taunts and language.

“If anyone has something to say about my mom and how she ran her graduation — come say it to my face,” he wrote.

Travis continued, “Yall n—-s aren’t talkin about s–t so if u got somthing (sic) to say come see me face to face.”

So far, the devil hasn’t been blamed for this particular rant.

Nancy Gordeuk goes into detail about the events leading up to her outburst, in the full apology below:

“A terrible mistake on my part was part of the graduation ceremony on Friday night. The devil was in the house and came out from my mouth. I deeply apologize for my racist comment and hope that forgiveness in in your hearts. We all make mistakes and anyone who knows me realizes that I try my hardest to work with the students for them to obtain their goal of a high school diploma.”

“I do not think I have discriminated against any family in the school. I just pray you will realize I am a human and make mistakes just like everyone else does and be willing to forgive and move forward instead of concentrating on the bad of the situation.

“To address the incident at the graduation ceremony of May 8. Please keep the facts in perspective. An unknown man at the beginning of a speech decided to walk up to the front of the audience with his tablet, videotaping the audience and the students causing disruption to the audience and disrespect to the ceremony and its participants. When disregarding the request (to) please sit down, the security was asked to remove the man. At that point, booing of the request commenced.

“Frustrated with the prospect of ruining the once-in-a-lifetime ceremony the graduates have worked so hard for, my emotions got the best of me and that is when I blurted out “you people are being so rude to not listen to this speech (valedictorian). It was my fault that we missed the speech in the program.” I look to the left where the man was and all I saw was a mass of people leaving and I said, ‘Look who’s leaving, all the black people.’ At that point, members of the audience began to leave.

“The facts are the rude booing from my perspective facing the audience condoning the actions of this man, are coming from the younger people in the audience. What if ten or twenty persons came and started videotaping the audience in the middle of a speech. Is that disrespect to the person trying to make his speech? Or does that mean everyone can just do as they please?

“I sincerely apologize to all the persons in attendance at the ceremony for the actions of the few causing the disturbance and for my emotional, un-called (for) generalization of the black persons in attendance. I deeply apologize for my actions made in the emotional state of trying to let this last student finish his speech.”

“I take a personal interest in the success of every student that comes through our doors without regard to their race, religion or ethnicity. My main concern for each is to provide them with an education and high school diploma to be able to continue on the pathway toward adulthood to become a successful member of society.

“You will find many, many parents of all races, religions and ethnic groups that have been serviced by our school and are very appreciative of our efforts on the behalf of their students. This same group of students had the same support we have given to every other graduating class. It is very easy to judge someone, however, we all make mistakes, as we are only human.

“Again, I deeply apologize for my offensive comment in the heat of my emotional state in trying to achieve respect for a student to be able to speak.”

- Colby Carrington

On last night’s Watch What Happens Live, Andy Cohen got the scoop on Diddy’s relationship goals.  In a nutshell, marriage for Sean Combs looks about as likely as Season 16 of American Idol.  However, Diddy, is fully into a
love contract and since he’s a businessman, he means one where money is involved.

“I will commit to a contract. A love contract. I’m talking about where there’s some money involved too. If there’s any problems…”

“It’s an agreement,” Cohen interjects, before Diddy continues.

“You have to have an agreement,” he says. “You can’t just love somebody, take ‘em and you know, y’all just part…”

From just this admission alone, it seems if Diddy and Cassie go their separate ways, there is a palimony package in place – perhaps because he wants to avoid the post-relationship drama he’s experienced in the past.  (He reportedly paid Kim Porter $4.5M in child support for their son Christian.  His high school girlfriend Misa Hylton-Brim sued him for back child support payments in the amount of $250,000.)

Watch more of Diddy’s interview below. What do you think are the terms of Diddy and Cassie’s “love contract”?

- Colby Carrington

George Zimmerman was involved in a gun incident Monday afternoon with a man whom he knew from a road rage altercation last year. Matthew Apperson, allegedly shot at Zimmerman following a verbal exchange along a busy boulevard in Lake Mary, Florida.  Zimmerman suffered only minor cuts from flying glass and was released from the hospital a short time ago.

An investigation into what sparked the shooting has begun as officials try to determine what led Zimmerman and Apperson’s paths to cross again. Last fall at a traffic light in Lake Mary Florida, Apperson called 911 to report a road rage incident. “George Zimmerman was the driver, and they were threatening to kick my [expletive] and to shoot me,” he reported to the dispatcher.

Zimmerman is the notorious neighborhood watch volunteer who claimed self-defense in the killing of unarmed Black teen Trayvon Martin in 2013.  He was acquitted of all charges and the justice department never pursued a civil rights case against him on the grounds of insufficient evidence, fueling an ongoing national debate about race relations and the tense relationship between law enforcement and Black citizens.

Zimmerman has had multiple run-ins with the law since being acquitted.

— Brittany Brunelle accused him of throwing a wine bottle at her this past January but the aggravated assault charges were dropped after she recanted her story and refused to cooperate.

— Samantha Scheibe accused Zimmerman of domestic abuse in late 2013 after he pointed a gun at her face during an argument, smashed her coffee table and pushed her out of the house they shared.  He was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, battery and criminal mischief. The woman decided not to cooperate with detectives, so prosecutors left the case alone.

— Zimmerman was accused by his estranged wife of smashing an iPad during an argument at the home they had shared. Shellie Zimmerman initially told a dispatcher her husband had a gun, though she later said he was unarmed. No charges were filed because of a lack of evidence. The dispute occurred days after Shellie Zimmerman filed divorce papers

Story developing.

-Colby Carrington

Sometimes a character in a TV show isn’t an actual person. Sometimes it’s a city, as was the case with New York in Sex and the City. And sometimes a character is music, as is the case with FOX’s Empire. With Timbaland at the helm, the inaugural season of Empire produced many hit songs, like “Drip Drop.” But the musical genius is going bigger for season two and linking with another music heavy hitter — Ne-Yo. The two will write all the music together.

But that’s not the only announcement to come from FOX during the upfronts this week …

If you thought learning that Lucious Lyon was actually the father of son Jamal’s secret daughter was a shocker, then hold onto your hat because another secret relative will make his debut in season two. The unfurling of this tale will surely be juicy as Zac Efron will play Lucious’ fourth son.

Staying true to form, Empire‘s list of guest stars will read like a who’s who of Hollywood for season two. Chris Rock, Lenny Kravitz, and Alicia Keys will have roles on the family-based soap opera.

Season two begins in the fall with a mid-season cliff-hanger that carries over to part two of the season in spring 2016. There will be 18 episodes.

The number of Americans who identify as Christian has declined in seven years, according to a study by the Pew Research Center, titled “America’s Changing Religious Landscape.”

Although 70 percent of the country still identifies as Christian, the number of people who don’t identify with a specific denomination has increased dramatically, according to the Pew study. Indifference to religion, as well as atheism and agnosticism are on the rise. However, the historically Black Protestant churches have held onto their congregants steadily through the years.

The number of Christian Americans fell from 78.4 percent to 70.6 percent.

It’s not just young people whose attitudes are changing, as one might assume. All demographic groups — from retirement age to early adulthood, from married to single, from living on the West Coast to dwelling in the Bible Belt — saw a decline in those identifying as Christian.

[Image: Shutterstock]

The number of Catholics in Massachusetts has declined by 10 percentage points. That’s the same for the number of Evangelicals in South Carolina. Mainline Protestants, which have been declining steadily for 40 years according to USA Today, fell 3 to 4 percentage points in the Midwest. Southern Baptist and United Methodist Church had about an equal drop, 1.4 to 1.5 percentage points.

Generational change may be at the heart of this trend. Each successive group is less connected to their religion than their parents.

Source

We all thought Kenya Moore found love on Millionaire Matchmaker after being paired with James Freeman, a single Princeton grad and businessman.

“She’s dating the guy that I fixed her up with,” matchmaker Patti Stanger told Wendy Williams, who joked that Kenya’s crazy “tick” has kept her from the altar all these years.

After the March 22 episode aired, Moore posted this lovey-dovey message to Instagram.

Sometimes you can spend your whole life looking for Prince Charming when a King arrives. Thank you @pattistanger and @cynthiabailey10 and my fans for your love and support and desire for my happiness. #matchmaker #KingJames #FriendsFirst #MillionaireMatchmaker

A photo posted by Kenya Moore (@thekenyamoore) on Mar 22, 2015 at 7:32pm PDT

Everyone assumed the couple was still together.  After all, earlier this month Moore posted a picture (that has since been deleted) of a new rock on her ring finger with a cryptic message about how anything can happen in Vegas.

But happily ever after was not to be.  Moore, and the rest of the world, are finding out that Freeman married another woman a week later. 

  Statement from Kenya Moore   A photo posted by Kenya Moore (@thekenyamoore) on May 12, 2015 at 7:11am PDT

It almost sounds as if there was an undisclosed breakup between Moore and James but news of a marriage was a complete surprise. What is even more astonishing is that two families and an entire wedding party who clearly were aware of the nuptials but were able to keep it under wraps this whole time.

- Colby Carrington

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is examining the death of a Black man who was found hanging in a tree in rural Georgia Monday.

There’s “nothing overt” that points to foul play or lynching, but authorities haven’t ruled out those possibilities, said Special Agent Joe Wooten, who is leading the investigation.

Authorities have identified Roosevelt Champion, 43, as the man hanging. He was recently interviewed in connection with the death of a woman named Carol Lewis. However, it’s unclear if they had a connection and whether their deaths are connected, and Wooten declined to speculate.

[Image: Shutterstock]

A passerby found Champion hanging in Greensboro, which is about 80 miles east of Atlanta. Wooten said his feet were touching the ground and his knees were slightly buckled. It seems Champion would’ve been able to stand if he wanted. There also wasn’t any sign of struggle.

However, there is concern when a Black man is found hanging in the South, given the United States’ not-so-distant lynching past.

“We’re going to be as transparent as we can,” Wooten said. “There’s no other way to be.”

Source

Kim Kardashian‘s parenting came into question in February when her daughter North West was a rowdy distraction at two runway shows during New York Fashion Week. She’s also been accused of airbrushing photos of North before posting them to social media. But just like her lifestyle isn’t for everyone, neither is her parenting style.

However, her husband Kanye West wants the mother of one to know he thinks she’s doing a good job — and he paid some waiters to tell her just that.

The couple couldn’t be together on Mother’s Day because Kim is promoting her book Selfish in Brazil. So Kanye sent “a couple thousand” white roses to her suite in Sao Paulo and a string quartet to serenade his wife with Sam Smith throughout dinner. The oddest part of Kim K’s Mother’s Day celebration, however, was the waiters reciting, “This is from Mr. West for the best mother in the world,” each time they delivered a dish to the table.

So I get to a restaurant in São Paulo & my husband had a string quartet waiting playing Sam Smith!!!!! Every single waiter who brought food said “This is from Mr. West for the best mother in the world”! Seriously I have the best husband ever!!!!

A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on May 10, 2015 at 4:58pm PDT

Grand gesture or same old Kanye?

Missouri authorities claim a champion wrestler intentionally infected his sexual partners with HIV, after receiving his diagnosis.

In a trial that began yesterday, prosecutors argued that Michael Johnson, 23, continued to engage in unprotected sex with men in his Lindenwood University dorm room. He also allegedly lied to his partners when they asked if he had the virus.

“When he was specifically asked if he was clean … he lied,” said assistant St. Charles County prosecutor Philip Groenweghe told jurors.

According to the felony arrest charges, Johnson infected two men and exposed four others to the virus before his October 2013 arrest.

Johnson went by the moniker “Tiger Mandingo” on social media and was apparently a well sought after sexual partner. Police found 32 videos of him having unprotected sex on his laptop.

He was diagnosed in January 2013 and routinely lied to health officials about being abstinent, even after he contracted gonorrhea and other STDs, according to testimony from a nurse and a state disease prevention specialist Tuesday.

However, Johnson’s family says he’s getting a bad rap because of his medical condition. They say he is barely literate and naive about the consequences of his actions.

Source

A Bronx, NY man says cops kept him handcuffed for seven hours and refused him medical attention, after he was beaten with a baseball bat.

James Rodriguez filed a $10 million notice of claim against the NYPD and New York City, presumably. He says he was going home from his overnight stock job on Feb. 26 when he stopped at a local store to purchase two bottles of soda. The 23 year old says the sodas usually cost $1.75, but the clerk rang up $8. “As I was doing my own calculations, the guy got upset, took out a bat and starting swinging, hitting my arm and head several times,” said Rodriguez. His right elbow was broken and required screws and metal plates to put it back together.

The worker called the police and said Rodriguez had a gun, according to the criminal complaint. At least four patrol cars from the 44th Precinct arrived at the deli.

[Image: New York Daily News]

Rodriguez, who was reportedly in excruciating pain, asked the police for medical attention. They, instead, handcuffed him for seven straight hours.

No weapon was recovered. And Rodriguez, who has no criminal record, was ultimately issued a desk appearance ticket for criminal mischief and harassment. The case is still pending.

Rodriguez went to hospital after being released and says a nurse realized his elbow was broken just by looking at it. “The surgeon said if they took me to the hospital from the beginning I wouldn’t have needed surgery,” Rodriguez told the New York Daily News.

[Image: New York Daily News]

If America has its way, the nickname for a 20 dollar bill might switch from Jackson to Tubman.  That’s because 19th century abolitionist Harriet Tubman has been voted to replace Andrew Jackson on the bill.

Women on 20s, an advocacy group pushing to have lady representation on US currency, ran a 10-week poll asking Americans who they’d like to see on their $20 bills.  The Underground Railroad conductor edged out former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, civil rights icon Rosa Parks and Cherokee nation chief Wilma Mankiller in the poll.

Now that the votes are in, what next? Well, the Treasury Department is the entity with the power to make the change.  New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen has introduced legislation,  S.925 the Women on the Twenty Act, to push the Treasury to enact the change.  S.925 requests “the Secretary of the Treasury to convene a panel of citizens to recommend a woman whose likeness would be featured on a new twenty dollar bill.”

(The images on existing paper currency have gone unchanged over the last century.  They were put in place in 1928, by a Treasury-appointed panel of citizens who selected the seven portraits currently used.)

However, it may be some time before we can get our hands on a $20 Tubman. According to Treasury spokespersons, the $10 banknote is next up for a facelift, which will make its debut into circulation around 2020.

Images via Women on 20s

- Colby Carrington