Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter

This story first appeared in the March 29 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

Steve Harvey commands a room with the natural grace of a Southern Baptist preacher — though he’s a product of a Midwestern Rust Belt upbringing. It is mid-September, early in the run of his daytime talk show, and the comedian, best-selling author and dispenser of advice to the relationship-impaired is holding forth before an audience in his second-floor studio in Chicago’s NBC Tower.

“My mother was a Sunday school teacher,” he tells the rapt audience of about 160 people, there to bask in the firm-but-loving aura of Steve Harvey. “So I am a byproduct of prayer. My mom just kept on praying for her son. My mom passed, so she didn’t get to see this. This show is about empowering people. But it’s also entertainment. Because look, you’ve got enough problems. CNN, Headline News, Fox News — they give you the bad news. I don’t have none of that fer ya. We gonna laugh at some stuff, we gonna tackle some issues. But listen, everything ain’t life or death.”

The TV studio is on the same floor where he now tapes his nationally syndicated Clear Channel radio show that pulls in more than 6 million listeners. For Harvey, the sight before him — an audience, cheering for him, on his own show — is one that the 56-year-old methodically has worked toward for nearly 30 years since giving up a dead-end job at the Ford plant in Cleveland and setting off on a quixotic quest to become a professional funnyman.

“So far, so good. Ratings are really good,” continues Harvey as the audience begins to cheer. “The network is happy, so that means, you know, we keep working. Keeps the checks coming.”

Read the entire story here…

The post Steve Harvey: ‘Hollywood Is More Racist Than America’ appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of Black Enterprise

There are mixed feelings about making love connections at work. Like romantic relationships, friendships with co-workers have both risks and rewards. It’s all good to have an after-work drink after a stressful day, but where should you draw the line? If you’re the type of person is keen on creating bonds with your co-workers outside of the office, here are a few things you should think about. Brazen Careerist offers four good reasons it’s best to be approach with caution:

1. Coworkers might air your dirty laundry.

Look no further than The 40 Year Old Virgin to see the pitfalls of letting your colleagues into your personal affairs. After the main character Andy (Steve Carell) reveals his lack of experience in a certain…department, his coworkers immediately invade his personal space about very private matters.

Continue at Black Enterprise…

The post Co-worker Bonds: 4 Reasons To Keep It Strictly Professional appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of The Frisky

You need a quick background on the beef between Justin Timberlake and Kanye West. Because, actually, I knew nothing about it until five minutes ago. Rachel filled me in. At one of Kanye’s shows, he announced that he didn’t like Jay-Z’s new song with Justin Timberlake. Then on JT’s recent “SNL” appearance, he scratched back, using the lyrics, Hits so sick, got rappers acting dramatic.

Claws out!

When Jimmy Fallon asked JT if he changed the lyrics on purpose to burn Kanye, JT denied like a mofo.

RELATED: AIQ…Tamar Braxton, Justin Timberlake, Melyssa Ford & More

Continue reading at The Frisky

Courtesy of Sister 2 Sister

Tamar Braxton blasted Nicki Minaj for running late and opened up about her top pregnancy craving on “Anderson Live”!

Tamar, like many could not believe that Nicki showed up later to the first live taping of “American Idol” earlier this week. Showing up 13 minutes into the show and missing the first performance, Nicki tweeted that she was stuck in traffic.

Continue reading at Sister 2 Sister

You didn’t think Terrence Howard could make mention of Oprah Winfrey‘s “tig ol’ bitties” without the respected media queen responding, did you? Fortunately for the Dead Man Down actor, the controversial statement won’t be career ending.

While doing press for his latest film, Howard ruffled a few feathers when speaking about his love scene with Lady O during Lee Daniel‘s upcoming project The Butler. Yes, we know her as a voluptuous woman. Yes, she’s beautiful. But his description of of her boobies (coupled with a lip bite) left us feeling a little uneasy.

In a recent interview with Steve Harvey, Winfrey addressed his comments, calling Howard a “misbehavin’ kinda boy.” But hey, if she likes it, we love it.

“Some people called me and said they were all offended by it, and I go, ‘well I do have big breastesses’,” she joked.

Check out the full clip below!

The post Oprah Responds To Terrence Howard’s ‘Tig Ol’ Bitties’ Comment [VIDEO] appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

It’s only the movie that millions of diehard fans have been waiting for…you know, nothing big.

With a simple tweet in the wee hours of Thursday morning, writer/producer Mara Brock Akil posed a monumental (yes, monumental) question to her 1,200-plus followers: would they be interested in funding a Girlfriends feature film?

Dozens of “retweets” and “favorites” later, the whisperings of a potential movie made its way to Shadow & Act, where they broke down the possibility of ever seeing Joan, Maya, Toni and Lynn on the big screen. Writer Tambay A. Obenson mentioned a similar Kickstarter campaign for UPN’s Veronica Mars, which has been off the air for more that five years, that raised more than $2 million in 24 hours.

The site states:

“Girlfriends averaged around 4 million viewers in its early seasons, and ended with around 2 million viewers before it went off the [air]. So its fan-base is really just about the same size as the Veronica Mars fan-base. The question of course [is] whether fans of Girlfriends want to see a feature film based on the TV series, and its characters…”

Yes! A thousand times yes!

But, as previously mentioned, it would take the effort of the show’s fans to get the project lifted off the ground. The reunion of Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Jill Marie Jones and Persia White at ESSENCE‘s Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon was a wonderful start, so…

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

The post ‘Girlfriends,’ The Movie? Mara Brock Akil Teases Fans With Potential Kickstarter Campaign appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of Huffington Post

TMZ initially reported that Wayne was in critical condition.

The 30-year-old rapper was rushed to Cedars Sinai Tuesday. He was released the next day but was taken to the hospital again after being found unconscious in his room, TMZ reported. According to TMZ, Wayne had been placed in an induced coma.

The rapper Mack Maine tweeted, however, that Wayne is home “alive and well.” Another rapper, Birdman, tweeted, “My son is in good spirit..feelin much betta…be home soon.”

Read full story here.

The post Lil Wayne Hospitalized, In Critical Condition: Report (UPDATE: Rapper Is ‘Recovering’) appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy Huffington Post Black Voices

Could Dave Chappelle be preparing for a return to the spotlight?

Since his infamous departure from the mega-hit Comedy Central sketch series, “Chappelle’s Show,” the stand-up comedian and actor has only made a handful of TV appearances. Occasionally he has performed stand-up comedy on the road, to varying results.

But signs seem to point to Chappelle’s interest in reclaiming his throne as one of comedy’s most innovative minds. In late February he performed a string of drop-in performances at New York’s The Comedy Cellar, most notably with Chris Rock, where he seemed open to the idea of returning to comedy and perhaps even going on tour with Rock.

Read full story here.

Courtesy of Forbes.com

It looks like giving up her syndicated talk show wasn’t such a big deal after all. Almost two years after she ended the program, Oprah Winfrey is still the most influential celebrity in America.

According to E-Poll Research, 48% of people surveyed rate Winfrey as influential. That’s down only one point from last year when she also topped the list of Most Influential Celebrities. Ratings at Oprah’s OWN network are starting to creep up thanks to big “get” interviews like her recent special in which she grilled Lance Armstrong about his drug use. The two-part show drew 28 million viewers around the world. Prime-time ratings at the network are up 17% already this year, according to Nielsen.

Read more on Oprah and see who else made the list here.

Michael Jordan‘s alleged ex, Pamela Smith, is sticking to her claims that the NBA icon fathered her son Grant Taj Reynolds back in 1996. Now, she is demanding Jordan take a DNA test.

According to TMZ, Smith filed a new set of legal documents asking Jordan to provide DNA samples for testing. This is just the latest development in the somewhat erratic and bizarre paternity suit that most recently crept into the viral video space with 17-year-old Reynolds sounding off.

In the documents filed by Smith, she says she is certain Jordan is the father because she gave birth to Reynolds approximately 9-months after a sexual encounter with Jordan. This, she also says, is something Jordan has never denied and DNA testing will prove true.

Despite Smith’s claims of Jordan’s admission, early this month, Jordan filed documents denying that he is Reynold’s father. Furthermore, he states, paternity for Reynolds was already decided in another legal case that took place years ago.

The post DNA Testing Demanded In Michael Jordan Paternity Suit appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

In today’s link round-up: Monica sets off the rumor mill, flicks from the Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor Atlanta premiere and much more!

Vibe Vixen
New Music: Beyoncé “Bow Down / I Been On”
The Queen is in rare form. You’ve been warned.

EURweb
T.I. and Toya Wright Pissed at TMZ for ‘Last Rites’ Lil Wayne Rumors
Tsk tsk, TMZ.

Hello Beautiful
Is Monica Pregnant… Again?
Baby, maybe?

The YBF
“Temptation” Atlanta Premiere: Lance Gross, Jurnee Smollett, NeNe Leakes, Tika Sumpter & MORE (Plus Exclusive Interviews!)
Check out all the action!

The Root
When Did Sex Enter Black Literature?
100 Amazing Facts About the Negro…

The Frisky
20 Things We’re Only Good At When We’re Drunk
No. 20: Crying in public

The post LOTD: Beyonce Drops New Material + Celebs Blast TMZ For Lil Wayne Rumors appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of The Associated Press

Two police officers who killed a 16-year-old boy on a New York City street have been sued for alleged civil rights violations related to other encounters with the public, the Daily News reported Saturday.

The city has paid $215,000 to settle three lawsuits against Sgt. Mourad Mourad and two against officer Jovaniel Cordova, the newspaper reported ( http://nydn.us/XHjdZx ).

The officers were in Brooklyn’s East Flatbush section March 9 when they tried to stop and question 16-year-old Kimani Gray on the street. Police say the officers, who were not wearing uniforms, shot the teen after he pulled a gun.

Gray’s killing prompted a week of protest marches in Brooklyn, including some incidents that turned violent, with people ransacking a market and throwing items at police officers and police vehicles.

The civil rights lawsuits against Mourad and Cordova were filed by people who claimed they were illegally stopped and roughed up under the police department’s stop-and-frisk program, where officers confront people they suspect might be carrying weapons.

A lawyer for the city’s law department said the settlements did not indicate the officers were out of line. The two officers generally police dangerous high crime areas.

“None of these civil claims were tried, and the officers were not found to have engaged in any wrongdoing,” said city lawyer Muriel Goode-Trufant. “The decision to settle should not be held against them.”

The post NYPD Officers Who Shot 16-Year-Old Kimani Gray Had Faced Lawsuits appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of The Root

With his appearance on “Saturday Night Live” last weekend, Justin Timberlake joined an elite club. Only a handful of others have hosted the legendary sketch-comedy program five times, among them such Hollywood icons such as Tom Hanks and Steve Martin. Of course, unlike most of them, Timberlake served as that evening’s musical guest as well, performing his new single “Suit and Tie” with special guest Jay-Z. Unfortunately for Timberlake, his musical comeback has not been as well received in some corners as his comedic skills.

While mainstream critics have been generally kind about his new album, The 20/20 Experience, black audiences have been somewhat cooler. A look in the comments sections of various entertainment and gossip websites with predominantly black audiences highlights the hurdle Timberlake faces in his quest to reclaim his mantle as one of the modern-day faces of “blue-eyed soul.”

Some had issues with the music itself, such as a commenter who said, “This song is god awful!!!!” But others had issues with the musician’s relationship with the black community, with one writing, “Justin you are not getting my money you wanna be, seems you only want to have anything to do with the black community when you want my money. Now he is trying to copy Robin thickes style … hope other conscious black people stop supporting your ‘music.’ ”

There were plenty, however, who had a much more specific reason for not supporting Timberlake’s musical comeback: Janet Jackson.

Continue reading at The Root

Courtesy of EURweb

The History Channel’s 10-part miniseries “The Bible” is stirring up extra attention for its casting of Satan.

Related: ‘The Bible’ Is Hot

Folks are saying it’s no coincidence that the actor who plays the devil, Mohamen Mehdi Ouazanni, bears a startling resemblance to President Barack Obama.

The resemblance was pointed out on Twitter during the show’s broadcast on Sunday. Glenn Beck, the Christian conservative broadcaster who has called the series “one of the most important shows in decades,” sent out a tweet with a screenshot. Beck, who refuses to use Obama’s name, referred to the president as “That Guy.”

Continue at EURweb…

The post History Channel’s ‘Bible’ Casts Obama Look-Alike as Satan appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

LOS ANGELES — Celebrities arrive at BET’s Celebration of Gospel 2013 at the Orpheum Theatre on Saturday (March 16) to pay tribute to the rich history of gospel music. Check out the red carpet arrivals!

TAMAR BRAXTON & VINCE HERBERT

Photos courtesy of Getty Images

DR. BOBBY JONES

OMAROSA MANIGAULT

SHEREE FLETCHER

ISRAEL HOUGHTON

YOLANDA ADAMS

BRENT JONES

KYM WHITLEY

KELLY PRICE & LIL MO

TYE TRIBBETT

TAMELA MANN

NIKITA B

GOO GOO ATKINS

JAMES FORTUNE

SHERYL UNDERWOOD

RAY CHEW

KIERRA SHEARD

REBECCA CREWS

MALI MUSIC

LEANDRIA JOHNSON

JESSICA REEDY

Y’ANNA CRAWLEY

VASHAWN MITCHELL

JOSHUA ROGERS

DA T.R.U.T.H.

The post Tamar Braxton, Yolanda Adams & More Attend BET’s Celebration of Gospel 2013 [PHOTOS] appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Those of us lucky enough to avoid the chaos of Rihanna‘s headline-grabbing “777″ concert tour will get the chance to witness the entire fiasco in the comfort of our own homes this spring.

Fox has obtained the worldwide premiere rights to the singer’s upcoming concert documentary Rihanna 777, which will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at her ambitious international show. Yup, the tour that traveled seven countries in seven days for seven shows with 200-plus journalists and dedicated fans to promote her seventh studio album, Unapologetic.

Related: 7 Reasons You’re Lucky You Didn’t Go On Rihanna’s “777 Tour”

Rihanna seemingly pulled back the curtains of a “glamorous” tour life to show the grueling reality of performing for hundreds of thousands of fans over the span of a week. Starved and frustrated, reporters aboard the Boeing 777 aircraft were left with little face time from the 25-year-old star and even fewer leads to bring back to their respective publications (besides spilling about their lack of sleep).

Rihanna 777 will air Monday, May 6 on Fox.

The post Fox To Air Rihanna’s Infamous ’777′ Concert Tour appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of Hello Beautiful

Do married men or married women drink more?

A new study finds that where drinking is concerned, marriage seems to be more beneficial to men than women: it reveals that compared to their single or divorced counterparts, married men tend to consume fewer alcoholic drinks, whereas married women tend to consume more.

Continue reading at Hello Beautiful

[Photo: Shutterstock]

The post Husbands & Wives: Who Drinks More, Who Drinks Less? appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

Courtesy of BlackEnterprise.com

Unemployment may be down to 7.7 percent, but many Americans are still dealing with their own financial stresses. Here are some moves you can make to stay financially on track in 2013.

1.) Be sure to create and stick to a budget based on realistic numbers and information.

Use previous receipts to create a budget that reflects your actual spending over the last several months. Using this approach will factor in unexpected expenses such as home repairs, health expenses and car repairs as well as the normal, predictable expenses such as utilities and groceries.

Continue reading at BlackEnterprise.com

[Photo: Shutterstock]

Courtesy of Vibe Vixen

Keyshia Cole is tweeting again. This time, she took to the social media platform to respond to Beyoncé’s latest PSA, “Bow Down/I Been On.”

Apparently the Woman to Woman singer didn’t take too kindly to the trill operatic track on which King B tells “bitches”–or to whomever else it may concern–to bow down. She tweeted, “First “Women need to Stick together” now bitches better Bow. Smh. But it’s all G! Chicks stay shooting the shit. But when I speak my mind its a prob. #Well #StayMad”

Continue at Vibe Vixen…

The post Keyshia The Critic: Singer Responds To Beyoncé’s ‘Bow Down’ appeared first on UPTOWN Magazine.

It’s not official until it’s Facebook official.

To end the media speculation surrounding his current love affair, Tiger Woods confirmed his relationship with Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn on the popular networking site Monday for all the world to see.

Accompanied by four press-ready photos, the golf pro stated:

“This season has been great so far and I’m happy with my wins at Torrey and Doral. Something nice that’s happened off the course was meeting Lindsey Vonn. Lindsey and I have been friends for some time, but over the last few months we have become very close and are now dating. We thank you for your support and for respecting our privacy. We want to continue our relationship, privately, as an ordinary couple and continue to compete as athletes.”

Over on Vonn’s official page, she added:

“I guess it wasn’t a well-kept secret but yes, I am dating Tiger Woods. Our relationship evolved from a friendship into something more over these past few months and it has made me very happy. I don’t plan on addressing this further as I would like to keep that part of my life between us, my family and close friends. Thank you for understanding and your continued support! xo LV”

The announcement came more than a month after Vonn’s skiing accident in Salzburg, Austria that left the sports star with two torn ligaments in her right knee and a broken bone in her lower leg. Woods immediately flew out his private jet to pick up the injured athlete. In the past, the pair remained hush-hush on their involvement, but the record has officially been set straight.

Check out more photos of the couple after the jump!

Photos courtesy of Tiger Woods/Lindsey Vonn