Whoopi Goldberg has entered the medical cannabis industry with a series of products that have been described as a “menstrual survival kit.”

Goldberg and business partner Maya Elisabeth formed the company Whoopi & Maya and launched four products to help relieve period cramps and discomfort. The cannabis-infused products include edibles, liquid extracts, rubs, and a bath soak, reports CNN Money. Elisabeth has run the medical cannabis company Om Edibles since 2008.

“This was all inspired by my own experience from a lifetime of difficult periods and the fact that cannabis was literally the only thing that gave me relief,” Goldberg said in a press release.

The products are meant to be discreet. For example, the tincture can be placed under the tongue or dispensed into any beverage. And Elisabeth says the cannabis flavor can’t be tasted in the cacao edible product. However, both of these products may induce a cannabis high, while the bath soak doesn’t, even though it does cause relaxation.

Select dispensaries in California will begin carrying the Whoopi & Maya products next month, but retail prices aren’t set yet.

[Image: Instagram]

Beyoncé‘s quest for world domination continues with the teasing of her activewear line Ivy Park.

The brand released a promotional video that features Ivy Park garments, as well as home video footage of Beyoncé, sister Solange, and daughter Blue Ivy, whose name no doubt inspired the name of Ivy Park.

In addition to the video, Queen Bey also teased Ivy Park on the cover of Elle.

The collection includes leggings, tanks, bodysuits, hoodies, and more. Here’s more teasing until the April 14th release of Ivy Park.

Tatyana Ali is engaged to Dr. Vaughn Rasberry, and the couple is expecting their first child together.

The pregnancy was a surprise for the 37-year-old actress and Stanford University assistant professor.

“Planning our wedding has been so exciting, but when we found out we were expecting, our perspective shifted completely,” Ali told Yahoo. ““We want our ceremony to really celebrate our newest blessing!”

Ali and Rasberry met a year and a half ago when she decided to try online dating.

“Vaughn and I met on eHarmony!” she revealed. “It was my first time dating online. We wrote letters for months before we decided to Skype. And then, of course, met.”

So how did the proposal go down?

“He took me on a 45-minute hike in the Redwoods [in Yosemite, California], which he knows I absolutely love,” Ali shared. “And proposed in the most picturesque clearing. Just the two of us. It was so thoughtful and perfect. We’re best friends.”

Tatyana Ali and Dr. Vaughn Rasberry are expected to marry in late summer.

RELATED: Marriages & Carriages: 2016 Celebrity Weddings & Babies

Jesse Williams told comedians W. Kamau Bell and Kevin Avery during their Denzealots podcast that he is not only producing a biopic on Harry Belafonte, but also plans to star as the singer, songwriter, and actor.

Besides acting and having similar facial features, Williams and Belafonte also share a commitment to activism.

“I care more about activism and social justice and law than I do about acting. I have an awesome job that I love, but there’s this magnetic force that is constantly pulling me toward activism. I just have to do it,” Williams said during the podcast.

Williams is also working on two documentaries, one focuses on the school to prison pipeline, and the other explores the Black Lives Matter movement and will air on BET.

[Image: Twitter]

“Unfortunately in Philadelphia, Jackie Robinson experienced some of the most virulent racism and hate of his career,” said Philadelphia Councilwoman Helen Gym, who introduced a resolution to officially apologize to the late Jackie Robinson.

Robinson, who made history as Major League Baseball’s first Black player, was refused a hotel in the City of Brotherly Love. In addition, Philadelphia Phillies manager Ben Chapman taunted him, and opposing players hurled racial slurs and insults at Robinson whenever he went up to bat.

The city will honor Robinson’s achievements on April 15, 2016, 69 years to the day when he broke the MLB’s color barrier.

Robinson’s 93-year-old widow, Rachel, is expected to accept Philadelphia’s apology.

On April 11th and 12th, PBS will air Jackie Robinson, a two-part documentary about the baseball legend.

RELATED: Rebel With A Cause: PBS Presents ‘Jackie Robinson’

Source

In memory of the ultimate sacrifice Martin Luther King Jr. gave on April 4, 1968, the New York Daily News has republished the article about King’s assassination from the following day.

The investigators released many details regarding where the shooter positioned himself for the best vantage point, the description of the assassin, and the state of emergency instituted in Memphis as a result of the assassination.

The Daily News also reported on the unrest that followed: “Nevertheless, disorders flared. Two policemen were reported injured. Three hours after King’s death, police reported looting as guardsmen rushed in to help restore order.”

Here is the Daily News’s article, “Martin Luther King Jr., Nobel Prize winner and a leader of the Civil Rights Movement, is assassinated at 39 in 1968,” in part:

(Originally published by the Daily News on April 5, 1968.)

MEMPHIS, April 4 — The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., America’s foremost exponent of nonviolence in the struggle for civil rights, was struck down by an assassin’s bullet tonight as he stood on the balcony of his motel here.

King, a 39-year-old Nobel Prize winner, died an hour after he was hit in the neck shortly after 6 p.m. by a single bullet from a Browning automatic rifle fitted with a telescopic sight.

Police Director Frank Holloman and Sheriff William Morris said the single bullet that killed King was fired from a second-story window of a flophouse 50 to 100 yards from King’s motel.

They said the window faced the balcony where King was standing when the slayer fired. “He got a straight shot,” Morris said.

“We feel the assassin crouched in a second floor window, sighted through some trees and fired the shot that killed Mr. King,” he added.

Reports tentatively described the slayer as a young white man dressed in dark clothing. Two white youths arrested immediately following the shooting were later released by police.

A state of emergency was declared throughout the city. Most public places and all liquor stores were ordered closed and Mayor Henry Loeb clamped on a dusk-to-dawn curfew.

Tennessee Gov. Buford Ellington ordered 4,000 National Guard troops into the city amid rising tension.

Nevertheless, disorders flared. Two policemen were reported injured. Three hours after King’s death, police reported looting as guardsmen rushed in to help restore order.

King had returned to Memphis yesterday to try and prove he could lead a massive march peacefully. He was at the head of the march here last Thursday that left one dead, 62 injured and 276 under arrest. The avowed aim of the demonstrations was to back Memphis’ 1,800 striking sanitation workers, most of whom are [African-Americans], in their work stoppage for pay raises and the right to union representation.

Continue reading here.

RELATED: Ten Iconic Quotes From Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Studies have shown that buying an experience has a more positive effect than purchasing a product. However, the planning process can be stressful, even for jet-setters. (Fun fact: The trip planning process can produce a bigger happiness boost than the actual vacation, according to Happify, a site that uses “cutting-edge science and innovative technology to empower individuals to lead happier, more fulfilling lives.”) With this in mind, here are four tools and tips on how an experienced or novice traveler can tap into happiness, because the goal is always to get moving!

• Share it with your travel companions. Sharing your ideas, travel inspiration, and plans with family and friends who are tagging along can make vacation research fun and interesting. The best way to do this is by collaborating on your must-see destination hot spots, hotel and flight logistics, and planned experiences via Microsoft OneNote. Use it to capture and organize logistics, identifications/passports, itineraries, important links, and more across all devices. The documents even travel with you, so no printing needed!
• Save it with Office Lens, which is like a having a scanner in your pocket only better. Office Lens trims, enhances, and makes photos of documents, receipts, etc., and saves them to OneNote, Word, PowerPoint or a PDF. Use it to make copies of all your important docs in case you lose your wallet while traveling.
• Enjoy it. Take the stress out of the planning process by leaving the details to someone else. Cortana, the Windows 10 virtual assistant, can track hotel and car reservations, remind you if your flights change, and recommend fun things to do at your destination. Cortana can also make sure you get to the airport on time with proactive traffic reminders to tell you when to leave and help booking an Uber. You’ll never have to answer the “how are we getting to the airport” question again!
• Watch it. With the Hulu app on Windows10, you can use Cortana to help voice search and play your favorite TV programs while traveling. You can launch the app and begin playing your favorite episodes just by asking Cortana. And with live-tiles, you can open the app with just one-tap, so the plane rides go by even faster.

RELATED: 4 Ways Technology Can Make Your Travel Less Hectic

[Image: Shutterstock]

“It’s so important that we get to our kids early. I feel like the reason I was able to be so successful was because I was blessed with my mother busting her butt to really give me a great education. So, she sent me to private schools. She felt like she wanted to give me the best opportunity. We don’t have a lot of those opportunities in our different cities, and in our different communities, and I wanted to do something bigger than opening up a community center or just giving a donation. I wanted to do something that was long term.”

— Sean “Diddy” Combs is planning to open a charter school in Harlem this fall. The school, Capital Preparatory Harlem Charter School, will be led by Steve Perry, who founded Capital Prep Magnet School in Hartford, Connecticut in 2005.

[Image: Instagram]

Michael Jordan was in the stadium when his alma mater University of North Carolina lost to Villanova in the 2015-2016 NCAA Division I finals. In true fashion, the Internet lost its mind and unleashed some very creative #CryingJordan memes and videos. Of course there’s nothing wrong with a man showing emotion (or apparently charging upwards of $200 for sneakers that cost about $3.50 to manufacture), so this is all in fun.

The game-winning, Jordan-crying shot. pic.twitter.com/2ZboAZwkm6

— Eric Orvieto (@eorvieto) April 5, 2016

Someone updated the #UNC logo on Wikipedia pic.twitter.com/COkHLoJYKr

— Funny Sports GIFs (@FunnySportsGIFs) April 5, 2016

the creativity of people is amazing pic.twitter.com/mGhtFUklAA

— Roxanne Chalifoux (@roxiechalifoxie) April 5, 2016

okay this deserves an award. pic.twitter.com/v1HLe40wV9

— trey (@treyzingis) April 5, 2016

Had to do it #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/57zM2JCriQ

— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) April 5, 2016

pic.twitter.com/XUZnTEUW0w

— Zach (@ZMart33) April 5, 2016

MMMMMMMMMMMOHMYGOD #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/ZQvgYsF2RY

— Cliff Skighwalker (@Skighwalker) April 5, 2016

UNC fans right now pic.twitter.com/yT3Hyjs8uh

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 5, 2016

BREH HAD TO BE THIS QUICK pic.twitter.com/b8T8T12mbD

— ONLY THE NBA (@OnlyTheNBA) April 5, 2016

@TRIPPINGOLNEY pic.twitter.com/S7wCvulkPV

— NOT BUSTER OLNEY (@TRIPPINGOLNEY) April 5, 2016

At least Michael Jordan wore a shirt to the #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/oIiTlesbcY

— Dennis O’Mara (@dennisromara) April 5, 2016

When you wish you could be out there: pic.twitter.com/B1nGxMYBd2

— SB Nation (@SBNation) April 5, 2016

pic.twitter.com/RBviF0oUmt

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) April 5, 2016

Best crying Jordan meme of the night. pic.twitter.com/Aa6m5DYCnB

— Neeta Sreekanth (@NeetaSreekanth) April 5, 2016

Patti Pie Guy, James Wright Chanel, can do more than just sing and eat a Patti LaBelle sweet potato pie. He can also do hair, which has landed him on the cast of WEtv’s L.A. Hair.

Sources claim Chanel will join the cast as a hairstylist when the Kim Kimble-focused reality show returns for its fifth season. It seems adding reality TV personality and stylist Jonathan Antin to the mix last season didn’t produce the ratings boost the show hoped for. So Chanel is expected to liven up the reality show, while styling hair. Plus, no hair salon is complete without a little drama so he’ll likely engage in that too.

There’s no word on when the series will return to WEtv, because some cast members haven’t confirmed whether they’re returning as a result of contractual disagreements. However, season five is currently being filmed, so the story is developing.

Check out Kimble and Chanel and their hair antics in this Instagram video:

Will you watch Patti Pie Guy James Wright Chanel on L.A. Hair?

[Image: Instagram]

“[Israel Houghton] had actually put out a statement. He is single, number one. And I think the other thing that people were saying was that I was the cause of his divorce. Which I think any divorce is obviously a sad thing people have to go through. It takes time to get through that sort of thing. And I think no one put that time together. I think you see an announcement made you know, at the top of this year and then you see these photos and you say to yourself, ‘Well let’s put this together.’ But this is why I’m grateful for moments like this because it allows you to set the facts straight. And God forbid the facts get in the way of a really good juicy story.

“I’m going to say the truth and the truth of the matter is that isn’t the case. He obviously is divorced. He had put out a statement saying that he had failed in his marriage and it was about five years back. I didn’t know him at that time, so to put that blame on me was obviously hurtful.”

— Adrienne Bailon addresses rumors that she started dating her new beau, gospel singer Israel Houghton, while he was still married, which allegedly led to his divorce. The Real co-host cleared things up on yesterday’s episode of the talk show. Bailon revealed that her ex-fiance Lenny Santiago checked on her during the height of the rumors.

[Image: Instagram]

Money wasn’t a concern when Rob Kardashian decided to propose to Blac Chyna.

He sought the assistance of celebrity jeweler, Ben Baller, who is also a favorite of Kardashian’s brother-in-law Kanye West. And the boy did well …

Blac Chyna’s ring, which cost $325,000, features a 7-carat, round brilliant cut diamond with VS1 clarity set in VVS diamond eternity band.

Kardashian and Blac Chyna have been dating for three months. They both shared the news of their engagement on Instagram overnight.

Source

Janet Jackson took to Facebook today to speak directly to her fans, announcing that she is postponing her “Unbreakable” world tour indefinitely as a result of a “sudden change.”

Jackson, 49, didn’t reveal that she is pregnant, but alluded to the possibility.

“We’re on the second leg of the tour, and there actually has been a sudden change. I thought it was important that you’d be the first to know,” she said. “My husband and I are planning our family. So I’m going to have to delay the tour. Please try and understand that it’s important that I do this now. I have to rest up, doctors orders.”

The “Unbreakable” tour has had many hiccups since it kicked off in Vermont on Aug. 31st. In December Jackson announced that the tour would be postponed until spring so she could undergo an unspecified surgery. Two weeks later she announced rescheduled tour dates in order to recover from the surgery. The “All for You” singer didn’t reveal her medical condition at the time, but denied rumors she had throat cancer. The news that she and husband Wissam Al Mana are starting a family gives some context to the tour postponement and rescheduled tour dates.

Jackson and Al Mana married in 2012. This will be the first child for both. For years, Jackson has been plagued by rumors that she and ex-husband James Debarge had a secret daughter in the 1980s.

“I mean, I’m an artist and I think the most powerful art is usually misunderstood. But anyone who perceives my message as anti-police is completely mistaken. I have so much admiration and respect for officers and the families of officers who sacrifice themselves to keep us safe. But let’s be clear: I am against police brutality and injustice. Those are two separate things. If celebrating my roots and culture during Black History Month made anyone uncomfortable, those feelings were there long before a video and long before me. I’m proud of what we created and I’m proud to be a part of a conversation that is pushing things forward in a positive way.”

— Beyoncé reveals what people most misunderstand about her and the message she was trying to put forth with “Formation,” in an interview with Elle.

[Image: Instagram]

Gap has apologized for and announced it would replace a Gap Kids ad that many people deemed racist.

The ad for Ellen DeGeneres‘s kids clothing line with the mall staple, #GapKidsxED, features two white girls in acrobatic poses and another white girl resting her arm on the head of a Black girl, who stands passively.

The advertisement was shared with the caption: “Meet the kids who are proving that girls can do anything.”

The backlash was swift on Twitter:

@GapKids proving girls can do anything… unless she's Black. Then all she can do is bear the weight of White girls. #EpicFail

— Fatima La'Juan Muse (@TheTherapyDiva) April 2, 2016

.@GapKids “empowers” little girls by employing racist microgressions at black girls #notanarmrest @TheEllenShow https://t.co/g8KRDPJgjt

— Carrie Cutforth (@CeeCut4th) April 3, 2016

@GapKids Thanks for perfectly illustrating what ‘passive racism’ looks like in mainstream media. #DiversiryFail She is NOT your arm rest.

— Jasmine Wow (@Jmo120) April 3, 2016

And Gap took notice. On Monday, representative Debbie Felix issued an apology to Daily Mail Online:

“As a brand with a proud 46-year history of championing diversity and inclusivity, we appreciate the conversation that has taken place and are sorry to anyone we’ve offended. We are replacing the image with a different shot from the campaign, which encourages girls (and boys) everywhere to be themselves and feel pride in what makes them unique.”

However, the Gap Kids ad hadn’t been deleted from the brand’s Twitter account as of Tuesday, reports Business Insider.

The controversy over the Gap ad calls to mind a Trop50 commercial in which actress Jane Krakowski sits on the back of celebrity personal trainer Dolvett Quince while he does pushups. If resting an arm on the head of a Black child is racist, surely riding a Black man’s back as his “punishment” is equally offensive.

[Image: Twitter]

“So… You know me. I’m not one to be quiet about a magazine cover. I always celebrate it when a respected publication invites me to grace their pages. It’s an honor. And a privilege. And ADWEEK is no exception.

I love ADWEEK. It’s a publication I appreciate. And learn from. I’ve long followed them on Twitter. And when they invited me to do a cover, I was excited and thrilled. And the truth is, I’m still excited. I’m proud of the article. And I like some of the inside images a great deal. But, I have to be honest… I was taken aback by the cover.

Look, I’m no stranger to Photoshopping. It happens a lot. In a way, we have become a society of picture adjusters – who doesn’t love a filter?!? And I don’t always take these adjustments to task but I have had the opportunity to address the impact of my altered image in the past and I think it’s a valuable conversation.

Yesterday, however, I just felt weary. It felt strange to look at a picture of myself that is so different from what I look like when I look in the mirror. It’s an unfortunate feeling.

That being said. You all have been very kind and supportive. Also, as I’ve said, I’m very proud of the article.

There are a few things we discussed in the interview that were left out. Things that are important to me (like: the importance of strong professional support and my awesome professional team) and I’ve been thinking about how to discuss those things with anyone who is interested, in an alternate forum. But until then… Grab this week’s ADWEEK. Read it. I hope you enjoy it. And thank you for being patient with me while I figured out how to post this in a way that felt both celebratory and honest.
XOXOXOX”

— Kerry Washington addressed her heavily Photoshopped cover for AdWeek in a Facebook post.

It should come as no surprise that Serena Williams knows how to twerk (or wind or work up if you’re Caribbean), but what comes as a surprise is that the tennis star took to social media to educate her fans on how to shake that booty. “[You need to] squeeze those quads … squeeze the glutes … engage your thighs … take a wide stance … and slowly slide down,” she says in the funny video.

It’s that time of year again! Spa Week‘s national event will return April 11th through 17th.

During the biannual event, hundreds of spas, wellness centers, and fitness facilities will offer premium treatments that usually cost $100 to $500 for a drastic discount. Spa Week is focusing on treating technology-related injuries for only $50 this year. And don’t worry, all treatments are full-service. You will emerge from your massage, facial, or acupuncture session completely relaxed and rejuvenated. Just be sure to unplug and set your devices aside.

Spa Week worked with spas across the country to develop treatments that alleviate the pains often associated with using technology, like neck and shoulder pain caused by hunching over a computer or laptop. Plus, many of the healing remedies are accompanied by a meditation lesson, so you can continue de-stressing at home and work. Below are some of the treatments spas are offering in your city, according to a press release:

• Haven Spa in New York City offers a unique Geek Massage (Reg. $100, Spa Week $50) that was created to address and relieve the ailments that are created from hours of computer usage.
• Having your phone connected to your face all day and texting leads to clogged pores and wrinkles from squinting your eyes. Holistic Touch in Alexandria, Va. offers Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture (Reg. $130, Spa Week $50). With this natural facelift you will notice a great improvement in skin tightness, clarity, and evenness of tone. Lines will show improvement and meditation exercises are taught during the session to help break the habits of expression that contribute to these.
• Anxiety brought on by our fast-paced lifestyle can be healed through the power of water. The Elizabeth Adams Salon in Illinois touts their Spa Oceana Stress Relief Treatment (Reg. $100, Spa Week $50) — a water-based stress-relief body treatment.
• Long day at the office? KUR Skin Lab in New York City has created an Office Relief Massage (Reg. $125, Spa Week $50). This massage treatment with guided meditation will help heal you mentally by alleviating subconscious tension along with physical and mental strain.
• As we sit for hours a day, tight muscles and tense necks often occur. Red Door Spas nationwide are offering a De-Stress Body Treatment (Reg. $255, Spa Week $50) including exfoliation, an aroma-therapeutic body wrap, and a relaxing scalp massage to melt stress away and rebalance your spirit.

Spa Week is right around the corner so head to SpaWeek.com STAT to book your $50 treatment.

[Image: Shutterstock]

“The reason they won’t get rid of Chief Wahoo, which is completely indefensible, is they could still sell stuff with it. They can say they’re gonna de-emphasize it, but they’re not just gonna set money on fire. I thought [the shirt] was the exact same thing, and I could see the value in the design, so I was like, hey, we might as well give this a run.

“The statement is obvious … What we have here, this is the same thing that goes on with the logo for the Cleveland Indians, right? So, to have a problem with the logo of this [shirt], would be to have a problem with the Indians, but if you’re quiet about the Indians, and you got something to say about my shirt, I think it’s time for introspection. I think that’s a fair thing to ask.”

— Bomani Jones explains why he chose to wear a shirt that says “Caucasians” while appearing on ESPN’s Mike & Mike. The T-shirt is a parody of the Cleveland Indians’ Chief Wahoo logo, and points out the hypocrisy of anyone who finds fault with the T-shirt, yet champions Chief Wahoo. Jones further explained the controversy of naming a baseball team after a race or ethnicity: “It would be weird to have the Caucasians as a sports mascot, so why is a baseball team still called the Indians?”