If you ever find yourself embarrassed by your relatives, you only need to stop and thank God that you’re not related to any of the people in this video. Two grandmothers are in the hospital shortly after witnessing the birth of their grandson, and it gets real ugly from there. They are too old to be fighting like this – it’s ridiculous.
Via TMZ
Vanessa Bryant filed legal docs Friday afternoon, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
Sources connected with the couple tell TMZ … Vanessa — who stuck by Kobe after he was charged with sexually assaulting a Colorado woman in 2003 — decided to end the marriage because she believes Kobe has been unfaithful … again.
As one source puts it, “She’s been dealing with these incidents for a long time and has been a faithful wife, but she’s finally had enough,” adding, “This one is the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
And our sources say … Kobe “desperately” wants to win Vanessa back and will do “whatever it takes” to save their 10 1/2 year marriage.
According to the legal docs, Vanessa is asking for joint custody of their 2 daughters — 8-year-old Natalia and 5-year-old Giana — but Vanessa is asking that Kobe get visitation rights, which means she wants the kids in her care most of the time.
We’ve learned the couple has NO PRENUP, so 29-year-old Vanessa is entitled to half of the empire Kobe built over the last decade.
She’s also requesting spousal support … which is typical in divorce cases. Kobe, who filed his response to the divorce minutes after Vanessa filed her petition, says he will pay her spousal support.
According to the docs, Vanessa is being repped by disso-queen Laura Wasser and attorney Samantha Klein. Wasser reps oodles of celebs, including Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie, Maria Shriver and Kim Kardashian.
Kobe went to the Jay-Z concert Tuesday night in L.A. without Vanessa, and people who saw him there say he looked miserable.
Vanessa signed the divorce petition on December 1. Kobe signed his response on December 7.
Via Your Black World
Singer Etta James, the 73-year old musical legend, is terminally ill and about to die. All of this is according to her manager, who is asking fans to pray for her. The singer is best known for her 1961 hit, “At Last.” Her family says that she is in “the final stages of leukemia.”
Lupe De Leon, James’ friend, says that James is at home and simply isn’t expected to recover.
“Etta has a terminal illness. She’s in the final stages of leukemia. She has also been diagnosed with dementia and Hepatitis C. She’s in a home right now and mostly sleeps,” De Leon says. “She is under the care of a live-in doctor from Riverside Community Hospital (in Riverside, Calif.) and two others who have placed her on oxygen. Her husband is with her 24 hours a day, and her sons visit regularly. We’re all very sad. We’re just waiting.”
James’ doctor told the Press-Enterprise that her condition was untreatable about two weeks ago.
“I am Southern and Christian and would just ask for the prayers of her fans and friends,” Dr. Elaine James said.
James was portrayed by the singer Beyonce Knowles in the film, “Cadillac Records” in 2008. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle asked Beyonce to sing “At Last” during their inauguration dance.
Sean “Diddy” Combs toasts to the good life in the Frank Sinatra-inspired commercial for CÎROC Ultra Premium Vodka. In the Anthony Mandler-directed clip, the mogul rounds up his very own Rat Pack made up of Hollywood stars Jesse Williams, Chad Michael Murray, and Aaron Paul, as they hit the town for a night out. The fellas celebrate with some sexy ladies including actress Dania Ramirez and models Eva Pigford and Christine Teigen.
“Frank Sinatra made some of the most iconic records of our time; it is truly an honor to use his music again for this campaign,” said Diddy. “The Rat Pack defined the art of celebrating in style. I cannot imagine a Spirit more suitable for commemorating life with family and friends than CÎROC; a brand that has become synonymous with celebratory occasions.”
Rookie of the year singer/songwriter Frank Ocean makes an in the upcoming pages of Italian fashion magazine L’Uomo. The spread was shot by Nabil Elderkin, who directed his video for “Swim Good.” “Frank Ocean is the best R&B lyricist since Prince,” declares the magazine. In the interview, the Odd Future singer-songwriter, 24, speaks out about being labeled, buying a new car with all cash, and becoming the next president.
On being called an R&B artist: “I’ll usually cringe at the R&B label. Because it’s like calling it urban…and what the fuck is urban music?”
On his banner year with his debut Nostalgia, Ultra and writing credits for Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Kanye West: “Career-wise, this year feels like a montage scene in a movie.”
On politics: “My generation just doesn’t have the best taste in leadership. And weak leadership means little to no cohesion. If there’s no cohesion, there’s no real chance for effective protest or politics. Obviously, looking at Occupy Wall Street, there are a few in our bunch who still give a damn enough to rally and shout. This will change once I’m elected President.”
Fresh off the heels of her club banger, “Marilyn Monroe, Brianna collaborates with Trina and Future on her bluntly titled single “Hey Ho” aka “Oh La.” The Diamond Princess flaunts her flashy lifestyle, while Future provides the catchy hook on the bouncy number. The rap trio’s collaboration is set to appear on Brianna’s mixtape Face Off, dropping Christmas Day.
Timbaland is making some shocking revelations to E! in his “True Hollywood” special. The super-producer, born Timothy Mosley, opens about building the careers of superstars Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliott, suicidal thoughts, and secret love for Aaliyah.
On Aaliyah: “When I first met Aaliyah—it’s time for the world to hear this, I’m gonna give up a little secret—I was in love with her. I said, But I’m not… She just a baby, I’m old. I said to myself, ‘I’m just gonna be her brother.’ Oh man, I was fightin’, I was fightin’ a lot—a big war. But I loved Aaliyah.”
On Justin Timberlake: “Me and Justin, it’s the weirdest thing. We just say we’re gonna kill them and then we kill them…We get together, we break bread and we spill out music. That’s what we do.”
On Missy Elliott: “She was just super dope…she was God-sent; that was my sister.”
On his weight gain: “I was almost 400 pounds. Who wants to be a 400-pound black man? I’m looking in the mirror, my breast is bigger than a girl breast. And I was saying, ‘That ain’t cool.’ So I got very depressed, like suicidal depressed.”
On his marriage to wife Monique: “It’s probably hard to be married to me. It’s not easy. I’m a musical genius. I’m weird, I do crazy things, it’s not like the average norm. But I’m a loving guy.”
The Obamas released their latest family portrait just in time for the holidays. This is a really good picture displaying a solid black family that exudes love and happiness. With all of the political drama and backlash for President Obama, it’s great to know that they always have on their game face and keep it moving!!
Jay Z will head to trial over allegations his hit single “Big Pimpin’” infringes the copyright of an Egyptian song released in 1957.
Osama Ahmed Fahmy co-owns the rights to his uncle Baligh Hamdy’s composition “Khosara, Khosara,” and he initially sued the rap mogul in 2007, claiming Jay Z and producer Timbaland used the track’s melody for the 2000 hit.
Jay Z’s record label EMI argued that the then-50-year-old song was governed by the 1909 Copyright Act, which only allows works to be protected by law for 28 years from the date of release, and a Los Angeles court judge ruled in their favor earlier this year.
However, U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder subsequently decided Fahmy could still claim damages for any infringements which occurred up to three years before he filed suit, and the two parties will return to court to determine whether Jay Z directly profited from using “Big Pimpin’” in his live performances.
In court documents filed earlier this month, Judge Snyder writes, “There is no record evidence that Jay Z used ‘Big Pimpin’’ in his advertisements for a particular concert or concert series, or that ‘Big Pimpin’’ was performed at every concert.
“It is a question of fact whether Jay Z’s concert revenues should be considered direct or indirect… it is up to a jury to decide. Accordingly, the court finds that there is a triable issue whether Jay Z’s concert revenues constitute direct profits from his infringing live performances of Big Pimpin’ for purposes of the Copyright Act.”
Judge Snyder’s decision to proceed with the case means Jay Z and EMI must provide more information on “both the manner of advertising concerts as well as the revenues derived” at a forthcoming pre-trial hearing.
Concerts Cruise in Association with Bling1 Entertainment has announced a five-night romantic cruise throughout the Caribbean, according to the Boom Box featuring no other than R. Kelly.
The R. Kelly cruise will leave Miami on Oct. 1 next year and will make stops in Grand Turk and several spots in the Bahamas. His last CD “Love Letter”, was crtically acclaimed and was received pretty well by his fans. I’m sure his old groupies will come out the wood work totry and be on that cruise ship.
Dre Black So Fresh 