A video showing a black woman violently beating a racist man on a train has gone viral on the internet. The attack allegedly took place after the man hurled racial slurs at the woman.
In the video, recorded on a train in Long Beach, California, the woman can be seen kicking the man in the face and in the back before using her whole body to stomp him out. The man takes several blows from the woman and lies there motionless when she finally lets up.
Witnesses can be heard in the background yelling at the woman, “Don’t kill him!” However, no one intervenes.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Transit Bureau say no police report was filed, but they are investigating the incident.
There’s also no word on the condition of the man following the beating.
Do you think the woman took it way too far or was this brutal beating rightly deserved?
Dylann Roof and George Zimmerman both got what they deserved last week as the two of them were served healthy doses of some good ole vigilante justice. And it honestly couldn’t have come at a better time.
On the morning of Thursday, August 4th 2016, Dylann Roof — the racist white man who shot and killed nine black people at a church in Charleston last year — was attacked by a black inmate at the Charleston County jail in South Carolina where he’s being held as he awaits trial.
Dwayne Stafford’s mugshot
According to police, after Roof went into the shower around 7:45 a.m. Thursday morning, fellow inmate Dwayne Stafford was somehow able to dart out of his cell, rush down the stairs and hit Roof, bruising his face and back.
Roof, 22, was reportedly examined by jail medical personnel before being returned to his cell.
Authorities initially planned to charge Stafford with assault, however, Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon said that Roof and his attorneys were against pressing charges.
Stafford, who is 26 years old, is awaiting trial to face charges for first-degree assault and strong armed robbery.
As social media rejoiced over the news of Dylann Roof’s surprise attack, in came some more news to be happy about: George Zimmerman had been punched in the face earlier that very same week for reportedly “bragging” about murdering Trayvon Martin.
George Zimmerman, who was acquitted of murder after shooting and killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012, was at the restaurant with family celebrating a 12-year-old’s birthday, he told the Orlando Sentinel. He also told the Florida newspaper how everything went down. Or at the very least, HIS side of the story:
Zimmerman said he was ordering food at Gators Riverside Grille Sunday evening when he walked by a table with several people and complimented a man’s Confederate flag tattoos, according to the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
The man, Joseph Whitmer, thanked him and asked, “aren’t you that guy?” Zimmerman said yes and pulled out his ID to prove who he was, a report shows. Whitmer asked about the Trayvon Martin case and as Zimmerman started to explain that he fatally shot the unarmed teen in self-defense, another man walked up and asked, “You’re bragging about that?”
Zimmerman told the man he wasn’t but the man said “you better get the [expletive] out of here,” a report shows. Zimmerman told deputies he went back to his table where several of his friends were eating. Several minutes later, the man, who was only identified as Eddie, walked over to his table and said, “Didn’t I tell you to get the [expletive] out of here…” a report states.
Zimmerman told the man he wasn’t looking for any trouble and that’s when the man punched him in the face, breaking his glasses, records show. Restaurant staffers broke up the scuffle. Zimmerman then called 911.
“This man just punched me in the face,” he told a dispatcher. “…He said he was going to kill me. You need to send three or four cops.”
He said the man and about five of his friends were holding him back. The man then fled in a blue Harley-Davidson motorcycle. A Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman said they are still attempting to locate the man, who could face a battery charge. Zimmerman told the dispatcher he was injured and needed paramedics.
“I don’t know where I’m bleeding from. My face is bloody,” he said. “He told me he was going to kill me,” Zimmerman told a dispatcher. “He told me he would [expletive] shoot me.”
And you would think the story ends there right? Nope. It doesn’t. In fact, there are several different versions of events going around, the Sentinel reported.
Whitmer’s wife said Zimmerman approached them while they were eating and said “Hey, I like your racist tattoos,” records show. He then told them about killing Trayvon “to brag,” a report states.
Another witness who was at Whitmer’s table said he also asked Zimmerman to leave their table. He said he had an issue after “Zimmerman came to his table and proceeded to brag about how he was the one who killed Trayvon Martin,” an incident report states.
Zimmerman says the incident occurred due to a “miscommunication” and he believes the man who punched him in the face was drunk.
He said he thinks the man thought he was Matthew Apperson, who was accused of shooting at Zimmerman during a road-rage confrontation in May 2015 in Lake Mary.
Zimmerman said the man told him to go away and accused him of “shooting George Zimmerman,” prompting the fight.
Ed Winters, the owner of the restaurant where the incident happened, has a completely different story.
He said the incident started when Zimmerman approached a shirtless patron who had just come in from the St. Johns River and told him he didn’t like one of his tattoos. After a few words, Zimmerman walked back to his table.
A friend of the first man to approach Zimmerman — who was at the restaurant with family celebrating a 12-year-old’s birthday — walked over to Zimmerman to confront him, Winters said. The two argued, but no punches were thrown, Winters said.
The two shoved each other, but Winters said claims of anything further are “blown out of proportion.” Winters said Zimmerman called 911, prompting a full-fledged response from the police and fire department.
It sounds like George Zimmerman is making a big deal out of nothing.
The fact that he even refers to himself as “that guy who killed Trayvon Martin” is not only disgusting, but I believe that it warrants for him to be able to face whatever vigilante justice he has coming to him in the future. Because “Eddie” sure isn’t the only person in the world who would like to punch George Zimmerman in the face. Or worse.
Meanwhile, Dwayne Stafford — the hero who beat up Dylann Roof — was released from the Charleston County Detention Center on Friday (Aug. 5) after posting $100,000 bond over the weekend, the New York Daily Newsreported Saturday.
Stafford had been in jail since being arrested in January 2015, and after attacking Roof, he gained a number of fans on social media who organized a fundraiser to donate money to Stafford and explained how to write him in jail.
Roof will remain in jail as he awaits both state and federal trials, and he faces the death penalty in both cases.
While violence of any form shouldn’t be “celebrated” (even if the recipient of said violence deserves it), when it comes to blatantly racists like George Zimmerman and Dylann Roof, you can’t help but to rejoice in their misery, especially when you consider the fact that one of them got away with their crime.
Apparently, you’re too old to once you hit the big 3-0, at least according to Bow Wow. At 29, the entertainer has decided to retire from the rap game. His final album, NYLTH, is expected to be released later this year (if you care).
Bow Wow, who just last month said that he was “mixed” and therefore could not relate to the black struggle, announced his retirement on Twitter with a series of tweets that highlighted his musical achievements.
Over 10 mil sold 6 arena tours 10 top 10's a few number 4 platinum albums 2 gold albums. IM DONE. https://t.co/yK7kpbpgfc
The greatest Bow Wow moment in rap history is when 50 said he had guns as big as him. I'm not even joking.
— Beyonce has an uncle named Larry Beyince. Bruh…. (@DragonflyJonez) August 8, 2016
Bow Wow thinks we'll be broken up like if…Ice Cube, or somebody like if Eminem retired ? sit down I thought ya been retired BowWow
— Auto3City6Madwoman9??? (@BowhuntressInMI) August 8, 2016
Honestly, I also didn’t know Lil Bow Wow Shad Moss still considered himself a rapper. Sure he’s released a few albums here and there over the past few years, but he’s been far from relevant in the rap game. His last charted album, New Jack City II, was released in 2009 and only sold a little over 30,000 copies in the US.
Moss has opted to focus acting and hosting opportunities in recent years. He was quick to point this out when Twitter collectively thought he had already retired.
He also confirmed that Snoop Dogg, his former rap mentor, will executive produce his final album, NYLTH.
Last week, we told you about the R. Kelly’s rumored 20-year-old girlfriend Halle Calhoun. And over the weekend, the pair fueled rumors when they were spotted holding hands as they hit the Atlanta club scene together Friday night (Aug. 5).
ATL photographer Prince Williams caught the 49-year-old R&B singer and his barely legal love interest as they made their way into Atlanta’s Gold Room nightclub. Once inside, the alleged couple stayed with each other the whole night and posed for a few pics with fans.
Kellz and his much younger bae (who is from South Carolina) first met back in February at a concert in Columbia, S.C. and they’ve been hanging out whenever he’s close to her home state.
Halle and her mom attended one of his shows in Charlotte, North Carolina back in June, and the 20-year-old was reportedly spotted in the R&B singer’s VIP after his show in Atlanta. According to one report, Kellz is “head over heels” in love with her and they’re reportedly thinking about marriage.
The good news is, despite the nearly 30-year age gap, Ms. Halle Calhoun is technically legal. (We all know about Kellz and his “history” with underage women.) The bad news, though, is that her mom may be unknowingly pimping her out.
According to an email tip received by Fameolous, Halle is not R. Kelly’s “girlfriend or fiance.” Apparently, she’s being groomed to be a part of his “harem” of women. (Bish, WHET?!)
The anonymous tipster also says that despite previous reports from other sources, Halle is “21, NOT 19” (FYI: She’s actually 20, her 21st birthday is next month) and she’s just “one of his girlfriends who he uses for sex … his new f**k.” As for Halle’s mom, the source says that she’s a “dumb, oldhead groupie who really thinks that R. Kelly is just introducing her daughter to producers, writers, etc. despite the fact that she doesn’t even do music.”
You can read the entire e-mail (via Fameolous) below:
So I’ve been pondering whether to blow R.’s spot but I figured since this whole Halle debacle is gaining friction that I’d drop some tea. So here it goes…
#1 Halle is 21, NOT 19. #2 She’s not his girlfriend or fiance but R. is def. trying to warm her up to be a part of his harem. Halle met R. twice at his shows. He invited Halle to spend time at his home in Atlanta once the first leg of his tour wrapped up. Halle’s mom is a dumb, oldhead groupie who really thinks that R. Kelly is just introducing her daughter to producers, writers, etc. despite the fact that she doesn’t even do music, lol. Let me tell you this, one of R.’s girlfriend’s family thinks she’s creating music with R. but she’s really just one of his girlfriends who he uses for sex but I digress. Anyway, Halle is just his new fuck. A lot of people warned her about how R. gets down and how he has many girlfriends but she deleted all the comments. So it’s safe to say she’s being ‘trained’ to be a part of his harem and she accepted so I can’t feel too bad.
Anyway, R. Kelly has about 5 live-in girlfriends. [I don’t want to provide names cause these women may move on with lives in the future. They will most likely want to do more with their life instead of being R. Kelly’s sex toy.] They’re a harem. Some of them have been around for almost a decade and others 3+ years. They travel on the road with him, they do whatever he says, when he says it. They all have sex with each other and with R. Their ages are between early 30’s to 19, so they’re all legal. They can be seen at his shows. Front row and they never make eye contact. All of them walk with their heads down and wearing baggy clothes. They can also be seen in a group wherever he’s playing basketball.
Sara is just his girlfriend that he flies out to Chicago or whatever city he’s in. She’s not really mingling with his harem or sitting up at his studio like his other women do. Many didn’t know about her until she decided to post a picture of them and tell Halle that R. is her man.
Truth is, R. is community d*ck. He has many women (outside of his harem) that he rotates. I feel bad for Sara cause she most likely was fooled into thinking she was his only girl… But the gag is Sara has fucked with his harem, as well. So I don’t know why she’s acting shocked about the new edition to the harem. I do know that he treated Sara different than the rest of them so perhaps there is love there. He didn’t dictate how she dresses or what she does with her life while with him. In comparison to his harem, he treats her like royalty. He lets her be so I do think he may see her as more than pussy.
So yea, all of his women have to be down with lesbian sex and to get “turned out” by his bottom b!tch, Juicy. This is the first thing he tells them. Juicy will eat any pussy right on the spot. [Oh and be sure to mention Juicy aka Andrea Payton and from Chicago] So he can eventually drop this toxic bitch.
Other women have since come forward confirming the allegations that R. Kelly has a group of girlfriends and is basically a budding polygamist.
In last week’s episode of “Power,” we finally learned of Kanan’s whereabouts and were introduced to his dirty cop cousin Jukebox. Tariq brings a gun to school and comes close to getting expelled until Tasha goes into “mama bear” mode and shuts down the principal. Holly finds out she is pregnant and Tommy has no clue of what’s going on.
This week’s episode shows Ghost having to come to the rescue and save Tommy, Greg getting closer to nailing Lobos and revealing his network (including Ghost and Tommy), and Kanan is back in full effect. Also, Holly continues to be insufferably intolerable.
Here are some things to know about the episode:
1Tasha is staying true to her word about the kids not being allowed at Angela’s.
In the opening scene in the episode, Ghost and Tasha talk over the phone about Tariq having to attend therapy for bringing a gun to school. During their conversation, Tasha complains to Ghost about not making the kids a priority, especially Tariq, who is becoming extra rebellious these days.
Ghost tells Tasha that he could make the kids a priority if she would allow them over Angela’s, but she isn’t going for it. Tasha snaps back at Ghost and reminds him that there are plenty of other ways he can see his kids without his girlfriend involved. She even jokes that she doesn’t need their daughter Raina coming home with a “fucking switchblade.” Good one, Tasha!
2Tommy and Holly have weird, filthy, nasty sex.
Tommy and Holly have raunchy, aggressive, ugly sex in their apartment, and it’s almost painful to watch. From both of their facial expressions, the uncomfortable looking sexual positions, and Tommy drooling all on Holly when he finally gets one off, this is arguably one of the weirdest sex scenes ever. Just yuck!
3Jukebox makes Kanan the fifth man.
Jukebox meets with her crew and lays out the plans for an upcoming jewelry store heist. She gives each of the men (Dirk, Critical, Doc, and Frog) their role in the robbery and when Kanan interrupts the meeting and demands he be the fifth man, the guys question who he is and his authenticity. Jukebox introduces Kanan to the men as family and reminds them that she will be making all the decisions. Once everyone is gone, Jukebox tells Kanan that he has to prove to her that he can squeeze a trigger and whispers in his ear, “I bet you can’t even jerk off yet.”
When Jukebox leaves the room, Kanan asks Candie to give him a gun, so he can shoot off a couple rounds in the backyard. Candie tells Kanan that’s not what Jukebox wants him to do and from there, shuts the door and takes off her shirt, showing Kanan her pretty breasts and really huge areolas. She then instructs Kanan to jerk off and when he complies, she allows him to put his fingers in between her legs. For some odd reason, she really gets off to this, even though Kanan’s hands are all burnt and crusty.
After the fingerbang session, Candie gives Jukebox the news that Kanan’s hands work perfectly fine, “both of them.” Jukebox seems pleased.
4Ghost puts Angela in her place for visiting Tasha.
Angela pays Tasha an unexpected visit at her apartment and tries to apologize about Tariq finding her gun and taking it to school. She tells Tasha that she got Tariq’s record expunged after the school reported the incident to the NYPD. Tasha, however, is unfazed by Angela’s efforts to help Tariq, and tells her that she only did it to get brownie points with Ghost. She also tells Angela that as long as she is with Ghost, she will be cleaning up his mess.
When Ghost finds out about Angela talking to Tasha, he is furious and the two have a huge fight over the matter. Ghost even throws it in Angela’s face that Tasha is still his wife and that she has to ask for permission to talk to her. But before they could finish their heated conversation, Angela’s sister rings the door bell. She has arrived to have dinner with her and Ghost.
5Angela’s sister isn’t a fan of her relationship with Ghost.
When Angela’s sister Paz comes over to her apartment to have dinner with her and Ghost, it doesn’t take long to see she isn’t team Ghost. Paz knows Ghost from the past and has her doubts about their relationship.
As soon as she enters the room, she nosily goes through a stack of Angela’s papers and notices Ghost paid her rent. She questions Angela about having a man take care of her, which causes Angela to get a total attitude with Ghost over him paying her rent (Really, girl?! You need to be glad you have an extra $3.5K to play around with!)
During dinner, Paz makes a big deal out of Ghost still being married and when he offers a job to her son at the club, she declines “in case things don’t work out” between him and Angela. What a kill joy!
6Kanan leads the jewelry heist and shoots Dirk like it’s nothing.
With Kanan the newly appointed fifth man of Jukebox’s crew, he forcefully leads the men into the jewelry store, where they wreck shop and steal as much as they can get their hands on. Dirk, who’s working inside the store, triggers the silent alarm and shows Kanan to the back where there’s a hidden safe with really expensive jewelry inside.
After Dirk unlocks the safe, Kanan collects the jewels before giving Dirk a final look and shooting him point blank in the head. He then runs back into the main room in the store and the men make a clear getaway. Jukebox waits a block away and when she gets a call about a robbery nearby, she reports a black explorer with four white men inside. Well played, Jukebox. WELL PLAYED.
7Greg finds Ruiz.
Greg finally pinpoints Ruiz’s location in San Diego and pops up at his new job, where he is mopping floors. Ruiz pretends to have no idea what Greg is talking about or who he’s looking for. Greg lies to Ruiz and tells him that Lobos knows where he is and his family is in danger.
Greg also promises Ruiz that he can take his business back with the FBI’s blessing if he testifies against Lobos. When that isn’t enough to get Ruiz to squeak, Greg informs Ruiz that he heard that his father was sick. Later on in the episode, Greg reveals that Ruiz has decided to testify against Lobos and can help identify his whole network, including Tommy and Ghost.
8Ghost becomes social media friendly.
Ghost and Andre sit down with Karen Bassett and she informs Ghost that in order to take his club to the next level he needs to develop and manage his brand on social media. Karen also tells Ghost that that she can’t set up a meeting with her board of directors until he does this. (“Your brand needs a face, I can’t sell a ghost,” she says.) Ghost takes Karen’s advice to heart and by the end of the episode, he is taking pictures with the club patrons and his face is all over social media.
9Tasha finds out Holly is pregnant.
Tommy and Holly stop by Tasha’s house and it doesn’t take long for Tasha to notice something weird about Holly. She pours out a whole glass of wine and is crying to herself, two huge sides of someone being knocked up.
Once Tasha realizes this, she takes Holly into the next room and drills her about being pregnant with Tommy’s baby. Tasha keeps it real with Holly about having a baby with a drug dealer and the possibility of raising a kid on her own. She also advises Holly to tell Tommy about the baby ASAP.
10Kanan finally smashes Candie.
After successfully robbing the jewelry store, Kanan returns to Jukebox’s home to find her nowhere in sight and Candie in the kitchen all by herself. He gives her one of the items he stole and tells her she can sell it and won’t have to depend on Jukebox for cash anymore. Candie informs Kanan that Jukebox gives her everything she needs. Kanan asks Candie if Jukebox gives her “everything” (obviously referring to the “D”), and the two stare each other in the eyes before engaging in banging kitchen counter sex.
11Ghost stops the Korean cartel’s hit out on Tommy.
While in the club, Ghost gets a call from Andre who informs him that the Koreans are out to kill Tommy. Turns out, the hitter is Dylan, the Korean cartel leader’s son who had to cut his own finger off for stealing product and selling it on the side. He absolutely hates Tommy’s guts since he snitched on him , and when they meet in this episode, Tommy compares Dylan’s newly shaved head to being smooth as his ball sack (damn that’s disrespectful) and even when Dylan apologizes to Tommy about the mishap, Tommy squeezes his injured hand so tight that you hear his knuckles crack.
It’s clear Tommy doesn’t let up on this guy, and his non-giving a flying fuck attitude almost comes close to biting him in the ass when Dylan and his shooters pull up on Tommy after his meeting with the dirty priest and fire out several rounds, hitting him in the shoulder.
But before they could finish the job, Ghost comes out of the shadows and shoots Dylan and another man in the passenger seat. He spares the driver and allows him to get away. From a distance, Ghost’s new security guy is watching the whole thing go down, which could be a major problem later for Ghost.
12Jukebox makes Kanan change his plans to get back at Ghost.
While hanging out at the strip club together after the jewelry store heist, Jukebox admits to Kanan that she knows he fucked Candie and tried to swoon her behind her back. She tells him that he could have just asked in the first place, to which Kanan responds next time he will, but she quickly informs him that there won’t be a next time and that the job is over. She tells him that he should rethink his plan to kill Ghost and that Ghost is more valuable to him alive than dead. She also tells him to ask himself, “What did Ghost really take from me?”
13Holly puts a hit out on Ghost.
Tommy returns home and Holly finds out he has been shot. He grabs a beer and tells her that is was Lobos who came after him. Holly plays it cool, and tells Tommy she is going to get bandages and peroxide for his injury. Instead, she goes to a Jamaican restaurant, and after making it known she’s not there for food, she is instructed to a private area where she meets with a man who demands cash before they talk. After she forks over the bread, the man asks who is the target. Holly answers James St. Patrick and hands over a picture.
Extras:
LaKeisha finds out Tasha carries a gun on her at the shop and is starting to give Tasha the side-eye.
Angela is back questioning if she and Ghost are going to make it. Like she’s really going to go somewhere.
Tasha doesn’t know who she is without Ghost telling her what to do. Sounds like that poor child can’t even read and write without her man. Damn.
Did Kanan have to really get Dirk back like that for calling him a burnt pork rind? Geez, just ruthless.
I know I wasn’t the only one to notice how Andre almost bagged Karen Bassett. I see you, Dre!
That opening scene has me convinced Tasha’s body is wayyyyy better than Angela’s.
Ghost’s security guy tells Ghost he has to tell him something about Karen Bassett, but before he can, Ghost gets a phone call from Andre. Wonder what that was all about?
You might not have heard this yet, but Michael Phelps crushed it on Sunday night (Aug. 7) at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and secured ANOTHER gold medal for himself. If you haven’t been counting, that brings his gold-medal total to a jaw-dropping 19.
If you missed the moment when Phelps and Team USA knocked out the rest of the competition in the 4×100 freestyle relay, here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXLeexchPR0
So, yes, Michael Phelps is a living legend. He is the human heir to Poseidon’s throne if you will. Actually, he might be part-merman at this point.
But there are a few more things that make Michael Phelps cool besides his unstoppable swimming talent. Get to know a little more about the man behind the gold medal and understand why he’s really the man.
1Michael Phelps Gets His Hair Cut in a Black Barber Shop
Black men know that when it comes to getting your hair cut, if you want to stay on trend and avoid follicle disaster, it’s a must that you find a trustworthy black barber. White folks might not know this, but quiet as its kept, black barbers are some of the sickest in the game when it comes to haircutting. Someone must’ve hipped Michael Phelps to the game though because he snapped this pic of the barbershop crew that got him fresh for his appearance in Rio. Did you get the fade or box in the back, Mike?
While training for the Olympics is no joke, having fun with fans and teammates on social media sure is. The nice thing about Michael is that he’s down for a silly selfie with the crew. Which is a relief because there’s nothing worse than a bratty, self-centered celebrity who can’t be bothered to be generous with their time and spirit with others. Yes, I’m talking about you, Justin Bieber.
OK, yes. EVERY celebrity has their own emoji these days thanks to Kim Kardashian West hipping everyone to the game. But still, getting his Phelpsmoji out just in time for the Olympic Games was brilliant marketing on his part. Especially since he’s already racking up more gold medals.
Just like we like our pop stars to be BFFs with one another, so too do we like our sports stars to bro out. Michael Phelps is a longtime friend of Kobe Bryant’s and when the basketball star announced his retirement, Phelps shared this photo of the two of them in honor of Kobe’s legacy and their longstanding friendship.
OK, not only does Michael Phelps get his hair cut by black barbers, but he also enjoys Kevin Hart’s standup comedy? The swimming superhero snapped this pic of him and his baby mama hanging with Kevin Hart backstage after one of his shows. We see you, playa.
Recently, Michael Phelps become the proud father of a baby boy named Boomer. His Instagram feed has since become populated with photos of him playing the part of a doting father. It’s nice to see a professional athlete love on his offspring rather than war with his baby mama or dodge child support payments like OTHER professional athletes, who shall go unnamed.
8Michael Phelps Is Teaching Black Kids How to Swim
Like tennis, it’s no secret that swimming is viewed largely as a “white” sport. It’s also not a secret that a lot of black folks can’t swim. But as a native Baltimorean, Michael Phelps is giving back to the community by encouraging kids in the city to get over their fear of water and learn an important life-saving skill and sport.
Eminem might have fooled you and made you think that all white boys hate their mothers, but that’s not true and Michael Phelps is a shining example of what a good son looks like. Raised by his devoted and supportive mother, Deborah Phelps, Michael openly and frequently thanks her for everything and credits her with his success.
Olympic gymnast John Orozco has been dealt one of the absolute worst hands as of late. You might think you’re having a bad day, but John Orozco has been having the worst year ever.
The New York gymnast, who was adopted as a small boy and raised by two Puerto Rican parents, lost his biggest cheerleader unexpectedly when his mother, Damaris Orozco, died in February of last year. His mother has long battled various health issues but she finally succumbed to them last year. It crushed Orozco emotionally.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BBxtVz8nYiZ/
As if the loss of his mother wasn’t enough, John suffered a serious physical setback when he tore his Achilles’ Heel in June last year.
Doctors told him he wouldn’t be able to compete in time for the Olympic trials, but Orozco pushed himself and made it through the trials, clinching his spot on the U.S. Mens’ Gymnastics team destined for Rio. He completely broke down as he accepted his spot on the team.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPTYtHIRgMc
This would’ve been a Cinderella story if it ended there and continued with news about John’s triumphant performance in Rio, which would erase the sting of his failures in 2012 at the games in London. But despite his incredible performance in the qualifying rounds, just before he was set to head out to Rio, Orozco suffered ANOTHER injury that would prevent him from competing in the Olympic Games in Rio.
While training with the team in July, John suffered another knee injury that would take him out for the count, according to NBC Olympics.
Orozco got less than three weeks to enjoy the victory before heartbreak hit him again. Another knee injury: a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in his left knee after dismounting from the horizontal bar at a training camp with the rest of the Olympic team. This was the same injury that he suffered in October 2012.
His redemption was snatched away just when it seemed like it was within reach.
This is also devastating from a diversity perspective. John Orozco was the only visibly black man on the mens’ gymnastics squad. He was replaced by alternate Danell Leyva, a Cuban-born immigrant who is also certainly a man of color. Leyva isn’t an unknown as he won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Like Orozco, he too is hoping to prove he can do more than what he showed back then. But still, while the U.S. Womens’ Gymnastics Team has two black women on its squad with Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles, the mens’ team just got a bit more light-skinned.
The good news is that John Orozco remains an eternal optimist. He is cheering Team USA on from the sidelines and sharing the progress of his recuperation as well.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIfTiDhjmsa/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIV5NooDE7i/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIp5uxMDOZR/
At 23, missing out on the Olympic Games in Rio is devastating, as gymnastics is a sport that athletes age out of quickly, which makes the likelihood of competing in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo that much smaller. But if John’s proven anything yet, it’s that he’s never one to back down from a challenge.
In 2012, when Gabby Douglas was a mere 16 years old, the cute, brown-skinned girl stunned the country and the world with her gold-medal winning performances.
But she also stunned black America in particular for not having her hair “laid,” as the kids like to say. After much chatter was had on Twitter in particular about the state of Gabby’s hair, which resulted in MANY think pieces, you might be inclined to think Gabby would return to the Olympic stage in Rio with a flawless hair game.
You, unfortunately would be wrong.
As Gabby Douglas and her teammates from Team USA hit the mat on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, discussion, once again, turned to the state of Gabby’s hair. There were two camps: Those who were baffled that Gabby once again went on international television with her “kitchen” looking like that and those who chastised and shamed people for even commenting on the state of her hair in the first place.
Here’s a sampling of tweets from the “Why the Hell Did Gabby Douglas Leave the House with Her Hair Looking Like That?” Camp:
So, yeah. People have some feelings about this situation.
Here’s the deal: I’m torn. Do I think Gabby’s edges and roots clash uncomfortably with her relaxed head of hair? Sure. But do I also recognize that she’s a professional athlete who is competing and working up a sweat, which therefore means her edges are never going to lay completely flat anyway? Yes.
I don’t know how strict the rules are about hair in gymnastics and who determines those rules, but I think a great solution would be for Gabby to rock cornrows in an updo fashion. She can push herself and not worry about her hair getting sweated out but also look completely polished and snatched, without the awkward two-texture look or the annoying flyaways as her hair breaks away from the 50 clips she has attached to her head.
See? This could be you, Gabby, but someone (Team USA? The IOC?) is trippin’.
Tennis sister superstars Venus and Serena Williams were dealt a loss on Sunday by the Czech Republic duo Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova, their first ever defeat in three Olympics. In what is so far the most shocking result of this year’s games, the defending champs were knocked out in two straight sets by a hodge podge pair from Europe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKgtrPOyb_w
“It was a really tough match for us and a really tough draw, but we’re used to tough draws,” Serena told reporters. “We honestly didn’t play our best whatsoever tonight. We played terrible and that basically showed in the results.”
Before today, the sisters had only ever dropped three sets in their Olympic doubles career. They won gold in 2000, 2008, and 2012, only missing 2004 because Serena suffered an injury prior to the games.
The unranked Czech team consisted of Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova, both ranked in the top 30 for singles play. Strycova was a late replacement for the doubles team, however, after the first choice withdrew because of concerns over the Zika virus.
Despite the late changes, the duo managed to do something no team had ever done prior: beat the Williams sisters on an Olympic stage. Neither of them had ever won an Olympics double match before today.
The loss is likely harder to bear for Venus who was knocked out of the singles tournament earlier, thus ending her hope of a fifth gold down in Rio. Serena, the number one player in the world, is still in the running to win a medal.
“I wouldn’t say it was devastating,” Serena said. “It was a lot of fun and we always remember these matches. At the end of the day, I think that’s what matters most.”
In the summer of 1992, Oksana Chusovitina was a 17-year-old gymnast competing for the Soviet Union. That year, she placed seventh in the floor final and shared in the team performance gold medal. Flash forward twenty four years, and the now 41-year-old representing Uzbekistan is still going strong in her record 7th Olympic Games.
In a sport that favors the young, Chusovitina is truly a remarkable story. Most gymnasts are lucky to get two Olympics, with very few competing in three. This is a sport where 22-year-old American gymnast Aly Raisman is nicknamed Grandma. So for there to be a 41-year-old competing in her 7th games — one who has a child the same age as some of her competitors — is truly unheard of.
Oksana Chusovitina is 41, and she's competing in Rio against gymnasts that are as young as her kid!https://t.co/AyPRlbAa1x
And the story behind her journey is as fascinating as her ability to still compete. She has represented three countries in her seven trips to the Olympics, starting with the now defunct Soviet Union. Following her stint with the Union, Chusovitina returned to her home country of Uzbekistan where she partook in the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympics.
Her success over the years (70 medals in international competitions) earned her the title of Honored Athlete of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
But in 2002, Chusovitina was forced to move to Germany when her son, Alisher, was diagnosed with leukemia. Knowing that the medical system in her home country was ill-equipped to treat her son, she moved to Germany where her son would receive better medical attention. She used a combination of fund raising and winnings from competing to pay for his treatment.
As her son underwent treatment at the University of Cologne, Chusovitina began training with the German team, and after gaining citizenship in 2006, she represented Germany in the 2008 and 2012 games. Her son was cleared of the disease after six years of fighting and Chusovitina returned to her home country who she is currently representing.
“I am feeling good,” she said in an interview with the AP. “On the podium, everyone is the same whether you are 40 or 16. You have to go out and do your routine and your jumps. But it’s a pity there are no points for age.”
At this point, it’s purely her love for the sport and her passion for competing that keeps her going. But her age is actually an advantage in certain regards. She says she doesn’t train much anymore because, well, she doesn’t need to.
“I do a lot of mental training,” she told ESPN. “I typically put in two hours in the gym. Then I visualize exactly how the skill needs to be done, and I know exactly what my body needs to be doing.” More than a quarter century of competing has its advantages, apparently.
And it seems that lack of training is hindering her, at all. In her signature event, the vault, Chusovitina placed 5th Sunday (Aug. 7), earning her the chance to compete in the finals and go for another Olympic medal.
It just goes to show that age truly is just a number.
French gymnast Samir Ait Said’s Olympic run ended in gruesome fashion Saturday. During the men’s team qualifications, the 26-year-old attempted a double back flip on the vault but ended up breaking his leg like a twig on the landing.
Apparently, the bones made a loud cracking noise that could be heard throughout the venue. As he lay on the ground, Said grabbed his knee and saw his leg flop around, clearly broken. Spectators averted their eyes and teammates buried their heads upon seeing the break.
Stay strong @samiraitsaid1. We have you in our thoughts and wish you a speedy recovery. Lots of love from the Rio 2016 team ?
Warning, the video below is graphic and should not be watched by the squeamish.
The French team’s leader, Corrine Moustard-Callon told reporters “it is very difficult for the team.” She added, “He was one of the friendliest on the team which is very difficult – he came to win a medal and gave everything, 200 percent.”
To make matters even worse, Olympic officials apparently dropped his stretcher while loading him into the ambulance, adding a little more insult to an already bad injury.
Said has had bad luck with the vault. He missed the 2012 Olympics after previously suffering a fractured right leg during the European Championships.
Approximately 42 fans were injured during a Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa concert after a railing collapsed.
Snoop and Wiz were performing at BB&T Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey Friday evening. Halfway through their set, at around 10:30 pm, a 3-foot railing near the stage gave way, sending dozens of people falling to the concrete below.
It’s being reported that upwards of 42 people were seen limping and suffered minor injuries. However, that number has been unconfirmed. A Camden Police spokesperson revealed five people were transported to the hospital for treatment; the seriousness of their injuries is unknown as of the writing of this post.
The railing separated fans from a sloping area that leads to a concrete walkway. It seems the collapse was due to support poles separating from a support wall. The outdoor venue was built in 1995 and has been relatively unchanged.
Security escorted Snoop and Wiz off the stage immdiately after incident, and the concert was stopped. Although an announcer said the show would go on, it was ultimately cancelled. The venue’s management, Live Nation, has not commented on the matter.
It’s been three months since the shocking announcement that Tamar Braxton will not return as co-host of The Real for its third season, but that doesn’t mean the waters have calmed between Braxton and her former talk show buddies.
Loni Love is currently on a comedy tour. While doing press for her comedy shows, she’s also promoting The Real’s upcoming season. She recently appeared on the Tom Joyner Morning Show and took the opportunity to thank the fans for supporting the co-hosts and for making a third season possible.
“Let me say this about season three of ‘The Real’… we wanna thank the fans for supporting us. Season three is going to be phenomenal. I know there are a lot of changes that are happening. Warner Brothers is making the decision of what they want to do as far as a co-host. I think it’ll be guest co-hosts.”
However, she also encouraged fans to show the other current hosts “some love” because of the criticism they have all received since Braxton’s departure was announced. Love maintains that none of the hosts were involved in Braxton’s firing nor were they informed beforehand.
“It’s been a hard summer on them. Send some love because it’s been hard. It’s totally different for all of us because we were such a good unit. Nobody knew about [Tamar getting fired]. It was nobody’s fault. I want the fans to understand that. I think a lot of people are confused about what happened. I wanna make that known — we need to stop. Stop calling me names on the Internet… Since my ex-boyfriend I’ve never been called that many… I didn’t have anything to do with this… They’re calling me all kinds of names.”
Braxton must have heard Love’s comments and responded on Twitter. However, she deleted most of her tweet because she “[gives] life to the living,” as she stated. Of course The Shade Room has the screenshots though.
I can’t say for certain that Tamar Braxton isn’t bitter, but it’s definitely clear that all is not well between the hosts as Loni Love would like to suggest.
Actor/director Nate Parker is currently privately celebrating the birth of his first child. Meanwhile, online, Black Twitter is publicly calling out one of Black Hollywood’s “it” men for having a white wife.
With the announcement of them recently welcoming a daughter into the world, also came photos of the couple. Many were surprised to learn that Parker’s wife, Sarah, was an average looking white lady.
Twitter did not hold back from sharing its opinions and even exposed Parker’s past rape allegations and perceived homophobia after he turned down a gay role.
While Parker’s past actions are questionable and disturbing, it’s strange to insinuate he can’t be an advocate for the black community simply because he has a white wife. Jesse Williams endured similar criticism due to having a white mother.
Nate has received much praise in recent months for his upcoming critically acclaimed film The Birth of a Nation. The film, which he wrote, directed, produced, and stars in, recounts the greatest slave rebellion led by Nat Turner. The film won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by Fox Searchlight for a record $17.5 million.
Given the film’s subject matter and Parker’s foundation, which aims to “confront systemic crises and disparities within the African and African American communities in the areas of education, cultural enrichment, and social and economic justice,” many felt Parker having a white wife was hypocritical.
Meanwhile, Parker doesn’t seem too pressed about being a trending topic. Here’s what he posted on social media amidst the Twitter drama.
I guess he’s just a product of his raising. Blac Chyna and Tyga’s son King Cairo seems to be picking up bad habits from his parents and taking them to preschool.
“He had an incident at school. They called me and it was like, ‘Your son, he’s walking around saying the b-word,’” the rapper began to explain during a visit to Hollywood Today. “And I was like, ‘Where did he hear that?’ And the school was like, well, he told them, ‘My dad says it in the studio.’”
Little King Cairo is not playing around. He’s making sure everybody knows who he is while on the playground.
“I try to keep him out of the studio and I try not to play songs while he’s around, because he does stuff like that but, you know, it happens,” Tyga said.
The three-year-old is clearly learning it from somewhere, though. Could he have overheard mommy talking about daddy’s girlfriend? I kid, I kid!
Maybe the rapper will have better luck shielding his next offspring from such words. Although he and Kylie Jenner are not expecting kids anytime soon, rumors are swirling he’s preparing to propose on the reality star’s upcoming 19th birthday.
“She might be watching, so I can’t [say],” he said when Hollywood Today brought up the rumor. “It’s just really about what you feel. How do you get someone that has everything, you know?
Radio personality Ebro unleashed s sh*tstorm with his offhanded Eminem Drake diss track comment. Now the host is responding to all the controversy.
Here’s the backstory:
Ebro recently went on his Hot 97 show Ebro in the Morning and recalled a conversation with Drake, where he alleged Eminem was preparing a diss track aimed at the Canadian rapper. “I got something for him, too,” Drake said in response to the claim.
The story was picked up by basically every major entertainment news outlet, adding fuel to the beef that seemingly came out of nowhere. Drake then reportedly said “F**k Hot 97” during his concert at Madison Square Garden Thursday night (Aug 4). He also suggested Hot 97 host Funkmaster Flex should be fired from the station.
Now that you’re all caught up, the gag is (as Keke Palmer would say), Ebro claims Eminem’s diss track was all a joke!
It was such a joke and people ran with it… Slow news day. Drake got too much respect for all that… https://t.co/fzq1WnwRbb
Ebro says he and Drake both knew it was said in jest and he doesn’t understand why the rapper is targeting Hot 97. However, no audio or video footage has surfaced of Drake specifically saying “F**k Hot 97,” but it can be confirmed that he called out Funkmaster Flex.
“I’m gonna watch this thing unfold cause for him to say Flex’s name on stage –there’s a lot of people’s names he could say that have come at him–for him to set that up like that,” Ebro said. “He’s very smart. He knew his opening night at MSG needed to mean something.”
It’s well-known that Flex and Drake don’t have the most cordial relationship, so the rapper’s rant may be directed toward the individual host and not the station as a whole. Ebro is very wise to step back from the situation.
Hahahaha!!! 7pm Sat I got a story to tell! @Drake u gonna learn! #NYC@HOT97
However, Ebro in the Morning co-host Peter Rosenberg may have inadvertently created more controversy while trying to defend Flex and Hot 97. Here’s what he had to say:
“Listen: This is an actual business that’s been around–and as much as you guys talk trash–has been, as you can tell, still quite influential for 25 years. Just because ya’ll do are b***h boys who would do whatever Drake says because your girl’s favorite artist is Drake and you’re such a b***h that you have to go do what Drake says. I may not agree with how Flex went at Drake, but we’re not gonna fire Funkmaster Flex because Drake says so. He makes good dance records and he’s the most popular rapper in the game, we don’t do whatever Drake says. That’s what you do. Because you’re a b***h and you listen to Drake. And all you do is listen to pop style and dance all day. That’s what you do. I’m sitting around listening to Jadakiss. Relax. I’m not focused on you.”
So, yeah – Drake may not have had a problem with Hot 97 before, but he might see things differently after hearing Rosenberg’s comments. At the very least, Rosenberg’s name has been added right below Funkmaster Flex on Drake’s beef list.
A model featured on NBC’s Today recent makeover segment unfortunately had to live every black girl’s nightmare on national television. Seeing what a so-called “beauty expert” did to this woman’s beautiful natural hair will surly make you mad, but if you’re like me, you’re also gonna get a helluva laugh!
Along with an Asian and a white model, Malyia McNaughton was cast on the Wednesday (Aug. 3) edition of the Today Show to participate in a hair makeover segment conducted by style expert Deepica Mutyala. The purpose of the segment was to show the audience “great summer hairstyles” that you can do in less than 60 seconds.
Mutyala started off on the right foot with Asian model by giving her a quick rope braid. Cute and nicely done with 10 seconds to spare – no problems there.
But everything went downhill as soon as she laid hands on McNaughton’s beautiful, short curly hair. Mutyala yanked and tugged trying to force McNaughton’s hair into a high side-ponytail à la the 90s.
Thank you, Today Show, for this tutorial on everything you SHOULD NOT do to a Black woman's hair. https://t.co/7mMlV1rSF4
Mutyala clearly had no clue what she was doing and McNaughton’s “Oh no she didn’t, but I’m on TV” expression is priceless. You also have to check Today host Samantha Gunthrie’s subtle shade. “It helps to be gorgeous,” she said sympathizing with McNaughton’s misfortune as Mutyala moved to the white model.
Facing criticism from the segment, Mutyala posted a message on her Twitter account.
A clip of the makeover posted on Facebook has gone viral with over 5.6 million views. Though it’s unfortunate that so many stylists seem lost when it comes to black hair, this clip still has me cackling!!
You can watch the full segment as it aired on TV here.
The debate over which bathrooms transgender people should use has been a hot topic for many months. However, one bar is using Caitlyn Jenner’s image(s) to bring a little humor to the controversy.
Instead of the typical men’s and women’s restroom signs, a new bar in Los Angeles has opted to use large pre and post transition photos of Jenner. The Nickel Bar uses the iconic pic of “Bruce Jenner” on the Wheaties box for the men’s bathroom, while Caitlyn’s now-iconic Vanity Fair cover designates the women’s bathroom.
As a strong advocate for the LGBT community, I take issues like the “bathroom controversy” very seriously. However, the Nickel Bar has found a way to make light of the situation and put a slight smile on my face.
“The reaction has mostly been lighthearted, but it’s definitely going to start conversations. It wasn’t intended to become derogatory as much as to recognize something that’s become culturally mimetic,” a management marketing consultant for the bar said.
The consultant added their bathrooms are a “witty touch on a culturally relevant topic.” Locally, there hasn’t been any backlash, but Nickel Bar is still waiting to see the response on a larger scale.
Jenner’s images used for the LA bar’s bathrooms comes amid reports E! will cancel I Am Cait after two season due to low ratings. However, E! says “no official decision has been made.”
Ciara and Russell Wilson seem to be pretty happy since tying the knot. Many are now wondering if the two plan on having kids anytime soon.
Though they have discussed having children in the past, a source says it’s just not the right time to add to the family of three. “They are focused on their respective careers right now,” the source said.
Wilson also revealed that he’s very content being a stepfather to Ciara’s two-year-old, Future.
“You think about how important life is…me and Ciara just got married. She has a little man, he’s awesome and cute as can be, he’s a special kid” he told Maria Shriver during a recent episode of his web series Architect for Change.
“I’m a stepdad now. When I see this kid, he’s 2 years old, he’s so sweet and loving, always has a smile on his face. Being a stepfather, it’s about loving the child because the child can do something amazing in his life.”
Wow, if you believe all the gossip, it seems Wilson is more invested in Baby Future’s well-being than his biological father, Future. I wonder how the rapper feels about Wilson’s prominent role in his child’s life. Hopefully, seeing Wilson’s positive example will encourage Future to step up to the plate.
Ciara and Future have been going through a heavily publicized custody battle. The rapper says he hates lawyers and the court deciding when he can see his son. Meanwhile, Ciara says she has never refused visitations whenever Future wanted to see Baby Future. Though Ciara requested full custody, the two current have joint custody.
Despite being the First Daughter and practically growing up in the White House, Malia and Sasha Obama have to be the most unaffected teens in the world. Just days after Malia was seen having the time of her life at Lollapalooza, you have to check out the absolutely normal summer job Sasha has.
The 15-year-old is reportedly working the takeout window at Nancy’s, a popular seafood restaurant in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. For the past week, she has been training to run the cash register, bus tables, and prepare for the lunchtime rush.
“She’s been working downstairs at takeout. We were wondering why there were six people helping this girl, but then we found out who it was,” a server at the restaurant told the Boston Herald.
Reportedly, six secret service agents wait outside in SUVs or on a bench while she works for four hours.
Twiter also chimed in on Sasha’s summer job, causing her to become a trending topic. While most praised the First Daughter, there have also been some haters.
Sasha Obama is the presidents daughter and had to get a summer job. That just lets you know how black parents get down lol
Don’t expect Sasha to be waiting tables for long though. Her training is said to end once her family arrives later this week for vacation. The family vacations in Martha’s Vineyard annually and Barack and Michelle are friends with the restaurant’s owners.
Malia has also had to work during her summers over the years, but she wasn’t waiting tables. Malia interned as a production assistant for Halle Berry’s TV show in 2014, the HBO show Girls in 2015, and recently landed an internship at the U.S. Embassy in Spain.
