News

*It was incorrectly reported by several media outlets that Gladys Knight has the same kind of cancer that Aretha Franklin succumbed to, pancreatic cancer. However, the singer’s spokesperson set the record straight with a statement to the Detroit Free Press.

“She’s healthy. Someone must have misinterpreted,” said Javier Delgado, a publicist with JDS PR, which represents the onetime Motown star.

The issue regarding Knight’s health started trending online after the 74-year-old singer spoke to reporters about Franklin before entering Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple for Friday’s funeral.

Knight talked about the last time she had spoken to her “sister” Franklin while staying at the same hotel:

“So we got to talking and everything, and at that time we shared the fact that we had the same disease,” said Knight. She did not elaborate and that’s what started the speculation. This is another instance that shows how words matter.

RELATED: ARETHA FRANKLIN’S HOME GOING SERVICES ON EURWEB – WATCH AGAIN NOW

Later, Knight’s publicist, Jay Schwartz, put out a statement from Knight explaining the earlier comment.

“I’d like to clarify that Aretha and I discussed both of us having cancer, mine was stage 1 breast cancer and hers was pancreatic. Due to early detection, I am cancer free and grateful for that. It is unfortunate that on a day we should be celebrating Aretha’s life and massive contribution to our world, a reporter who did not relay accurate information has missed the message. I send my love to the entire Franklin family and my gratitude to them for sharing such an extraordinary person with us.”

USA Today notes that Knight was an unannounced addition to the funeral proceedings, and performed two songs near the end of the services: “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/09/gladys-knight-clarifies-she-doesnt-have-cancer-aretha-franklin-had/

*Whoa! We thought we had seen it all until we came across a pic of a younger Whoopi Goldberg and her now late mother. Let’s just say this is the ultimate mother and daughter look-a-like photo. The photo was posted earlier this week by co-host of “The View.”

As you can see, Whoopi and her mother are both wearing matching white shirts. Whoopi dons a blue hat, while her mother wears a Reebok hat.

Whoopi captioned the photo:  “Thinking about you Ma… every day. Miss you.”

Whoopi’s mother, Emma Johnson, passed in 2010 from a stroke

Who knew Whoopi was a mini-me?!

Check out these reactions:

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/09/whoopi-goldberg-and-her-late-mother-are-identical-look/

*“I’ve been knowing Jamie for some time,” says the R&B star Tank. “It was around 2003, I think we were at a club somewhere when we met, and he just started screaming my name over the music. I was like ‘You’re Jamie Foxx!’ And he’s like ‘You’re Tank, I’m looking for you.’”

It turned out Jamie Foxx was one of his biggest fans, PEOPLE reports. “He had been listening to my first album Force of Nature. He had taken it to Africa with him when they filmed Ali and he was letting all of the people there listen to my album on his Walkman.”

The pair hit it off and started hanging out, just as Foxx was gearing up to play Ray Charles.

“It was crazy because we went to his house and it was before anybody really knew about the Ray Charles movie,” says Tank. “He was telling us about it, transformed into Ray Charles real quick and then went back to being Jamie Foxx. It was like the scariest thing I’d ever seen, I was like ‘Bro, you’re sick!’”

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: French Montana’s Home Invasion – Tristan Thompson and Draymond Green Fight at Club

The surprising new friendship began at a difficult time for Tank.

“I was considering not even doing music anymore,” explains the “Maybe I Deserve” singer. “I didn’t like the way the [music] game was going. Once you get into the business you start seeing how ugly and dirty it is.”

After getting into a huge legal battle with his record label “that lasted years,” the singer says he was ready to throw in the towel. “I was like ‘I’m going to be done with this’ after my One Man album didn’t do well. I told Jamie, ‘I’ma just go home, man, and go back to playing at church.’”

“We were sitting in Jamie’s kitchen and he said, ‘You can’t go back, you can’t stop.’ He said, ‘If you stop what am I going to do? Who’s going to inspire me?’”

Foxx opened up his home and his recording studio to Tank, who was in need of both. “He said, ‘I know it’s tough times for you right now but you can stay at my house and use my studio every day until you figure it out and find your way back,” recalls Tank. “And that’s just what I did.”

Now with eight albums under his belt and a new hit single “When We” on the radio, the newlywed and father of five says he can’t thank Foxx enough.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/09/tank-on-how-jamie-foxx-helped-save-his-singing-career/

*Flushing, NY – Serena Williams emphatically booked a spot in the 4th Round of the US Open on Friday night. She did it by mercilessly steamrolling over her sister, Venus Williams, 6-1, 6-2, in just over an hour.

The meeting between the two was a momentous occasion in terms of all the history-making facts that have already laid out, but Serena’s ruthless display of all the gifts she’s working with as one of the most decorated tennis players to ever live sucked the frills out of the night. It was all about her devastating game.

Serena Williams reduced her second most decorated sister’s hope to winning games as opposed to the match with her nearly flawless play. When Venus would hit a rare winner or when Serena would make a rare error, the crowd would roar for the eldest of the two in an effort to jump start her, but Serena would quickly shut her out with an ace, a thunderous ground stroke or a line-painting winner. Venus simply never had a chance.

The sisters have played 30 times total, including this last match, but according to Venus “it was the best she’s ever played against her.”  The “she’s my sister and I know her game” intel neither any sympathy from the “we’re family” factor made any difference … Serena came to win.

The commentators, Chris Evert and Cliff Drysdale wondered aloud if a return error Serena made toward the final few points of the match were part of an effort to help her beloved sister save face (they’ve even been accused of predetermining outcomes in the past), but the next couple of points that allowed her to close out the match caused them to dial that suggestion all the way back. It was clear they were on opposite teams and Serena didn’t hold back any parts of her “A-game.”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/09/soul-of-the-us-open-serena-williams-steam-rolls-sister-venus-in-30th-meeting/

*Add legendary singer/songwriter/producer Smokey Robinson to the growing list of folks who condemning singer Ariana Grande for wearing that teeney weeny mini dress to Aretha Franklin‘s funeral.

TMZ hooked up with Robinson at LAX Friday night as he returned from Detroit, and Smokey didn’t hold back … he thinks Ariana’s skirt — which was the subject of criticism on social media — was just plain inappropriate.

He says he loves Ariana and her music, but thinks she was not protected by her people who greenlit the fashion choice.

As for the funeral having political overtones — where Al Sharpton and others took a shot at Trump for sa

ying Aretha used to work for him — Smokey brushed it off, saying Trump says stupid things every day.

READ THIS: GLADYS KNIGHT CLARIFIES SHE DOESN’T HAVE CANCER ARETHA FRANKLIN HAD!

Following her performance, Bishop Charles Ellis III, who was presiding over the service, brought the singer over to the podium for some remarks.

Watch below:

“I’ve got to apologize because I have to brush up,” Ellis said at the podium, while Grande laughed. “My 28-year-old daughter told me, ‘You are old at 60.’”

“When I saw Ariana Grande on the program, I thought that was a new something at Taco Bell,” he added. “Girl, lemme give you all your respect.”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/09/smokey-robinson-agrees-ariana-grandes-dress-was-inappropriate-watch/

*Damn, talk about madness! We’re specifically referring to Gloria Govan (“Basketball Wives”) getting arrested for felony child endangerment after a dangerous fight with her ex-husband (Matt Barnes) which put their kids at risk, according to authorities.

Here’s more via TMZ:
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … Gloria’s kids were at their school Friday, about to get out for the day, and ex-husband Matt Barnes was scheduled to pick them up. We’re told according to their child custody agreement, Matt had custody for the long, Labor Day weekend.

Our sources say at 2:55 PM — 5 minutes before school let out — Gloria arrived to get the twin boys. She got the children in her car and that’s when Matt showed up and told her it was his weekend for the kids.

We’re told Matt told the kids to get out of Gloria’s car and into his. It appears the kids followed Matt’s instructions, because we’re told Gloria then flew into a rage, tried to follow Matt’s car, screaming and cussing. Our sources say she then blocked Matt’s car with the kids inside, and that’s when someone called 911.

Gloria was arrested for child endangerment and also violating a court order. After police took Gloria to jail, they let Matt take the kids after he showed them paperwork he had custody this weekend.

Background:
Gloria was involved in a bitter divorce with ex-Laker Matt Barnes. She’s currently engaged to Derek Fisher. There was extreme bad blood between Barnes and Fisher, once teammates on the Lakers … Barnes believes Fisher had hooked up with Gloria during their marriage. It seemed the feud was over, since Barnes congratulated Fisher on his engagement.

*It’s time for some more apologizing that includes Ariana Grande … again. But this time, it’s from the bishop who officiated Aretha franklin’s funeral. Bishop Charles H. Ellis III has apologized Friday to the singer for how he touched her onstage and a joke he made about her name.

If you was watching, you saw the bishop awkwardly greet Grande on stage after she performed “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” Images of the moment showed Ellis’ hand holding Grande well above her waist, with his fingers pressing against one side of her chest.

He apologized in an interview with The Associated Press at the cemetery where Franklin was interred late Friday.

“It would never be my intention to touch any woman’s breast. … I don’t know I guess I put my arm around her,” Ellis said. “Maybe I crossed the border, maybe I was too friendly or familiar but again, I apologize.”

He said he hugged all the performers during Friday’s eight-hour service.

“I hug all the female artists and the male artists,” Ellis said. “Everybody that was up, I shook their hands and hugged them. That’s what we are all about in the church. We are all about love.”

“The last thing I want to do is to be a distraction to this day. This is all about Aretha Franklin,” the preacher added

READ THIS: GLADYS KNIGHT CLARIFIES SHE DOESN’T HAVE CANCER ARETHA FRANKLIN HAD!

Many people posted close-up images of the moment on Twitter, tagging it #RespectAriana.

Ellis also apologized to Grande, her fans and Hispanic community for making a joke about seeing her name on the program and thinking it was a new item on the Taco Bell menu.

“I personally and sincerely apologize to Ariana and to her fans and to the whole Hispanic community,” Ellis said. “When you’re doing a program for nine hours you try to keep it lively, you try to insert some jokes here and there.”

Ellis’ touching of Grande overshadowed some criticism earlier in the ceremony concerning the short dress Grande wore for her performance. Numerous people posted criticisms online that the dress was too short for church.

“#ArianaGrande don’t know the below the knee rule for the pulpit in the black church. Somebody hand her a lap hanky and a choir robe. Bless her heart,” tweeted one, Tenisha Taylor Bell.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/09/bishop-who-touched-ariana-grande-at-aretha-franklin-funeral-apologizes/

*When Nicki Minaj and her ex Safaree Samuels engaged in a war or words last week on social media, she decided to expose Tyga’s personal hair struggle by revealing that her ex went to the same hair restoration surgeon as the rapper.

Samuels quickly fact-checked her allegation, noting that he and Tyga didn’t go to the same doctor but they had their procedures done the next day.

“1st off Me and tyga didn’t go to the same dr. We did it the same day. Diff doctors,” Samuels wrote on Twitter, adding: “Listen I don’t know if this has to do with 1st week sales but you need to finish your zen. And don’t talk about vh1 checks cuz the way you’re acting it’s like your auditioning to be on LHH.”

Peep his tweet below.

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For the most part, Tyga has remained quiet about the allegation but he eventually confirmed that he also had a hair restoration procedure when he posted the contact information of surgeon Craig Ziering on his Twitter page.

“The [plug]. Tellem Tyga sent you,” he tweeted. Photos of his before and after hair quickly made the rounds on social media, according to Yahoo.

The outlet then spoke to the doctor Tyga endorsed about the most popular hairline among his male patients.

“I’m  known for doing a lot of celebrities’ hair restoration procedures,” he tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “I’ve probably done more African-American patients than anyone in the world.”

When asked about Tyga’s social media plug, Dr. Ziering noted, “I’m apparently ‘his guy.’”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/09/tyga-plugs-hair-transplant-surgeon-that-hooked-up-his-hairline/

*Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul’s home going service can best be described as a combination of a revival, political rally, motivational talk, musical tributes, roast and of course worship. Presenters from the world of entertainment, sports, politics, business, and just friends came together on one stage to celebrate not only Franklin’s musical talents but her activism and the many lives she touched.

Franklin died Aug. 16 of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76.

The service held at Greater Grace Temple was presided over by Bishop Charles H. Ellis, 111 who is also a long time family friend. Lining the street to the Church on Seven Mile road was a sea of over 100 Pink Cadillacs. Ellis and his wife Crisette Ellis thought up the idea. The cars arrived post arrival of Franklin, but as the funeral procession left for the cemetery they were four deep. Cristine Ellis is national sales for Mary Kay Cosmetic. So she didn’t have to go far to find owners of Pink Cadillacs. The company uses pink colored Cadillacs as a sales incentive for reaching what it calls “Grand Achiever” level of sales.

They came from across the nation suited in their signature outfits. They even had a special section in the Church. But there was some vintage Cadillacs on display. Bringing your car meant you would get entrance into the funeral.

The day kicked-off with the fourth and final viewing of the week which was held between 8:30-9:30AM – Two days of public at The Charles H. Wright Museum on Tuesday and Wednesday followed by another public viewing on Thursday at New Bethel Church. The Queen had clothing change for each of these viewing. For this final viewing she wore a gold lame dress and her gold Christian Louboutine Shoes – the red soles. Ever a signature of a Diva. Everything from the arrangement of the flowers that surround the 24 karat gold plated casket, which was similar to the one of Michael Jackson and James Brown, to the arrangements of the pastel colored roses that surround the casket was flawless.

In the foyer of the church attendees had the chance to see to floral arrangements sent by stars from around the World. The Miracles and The Four Tops arrangement was very dramatic, Mariah Carey’s White Roses formed into a cross was much photographed. Rod Steward, Elton John, Barbara Streisand, and Jimmy Fallon are just a few of the major stars from around the world who sent flowers. Oddly enough the arrangement sent on behalf of Diana Ross was more suitable as a tabletop. Franklin’s casket was surrounded by pastel roses and a Bleeding Heart from her grandchildren.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/09/arethas-funeral-minute-by-minute-performance-by-performance-breakdown/

*Former Spice Girl Mel B. appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” this week to clarify recent reports that she is planning to enter rehab to treat her demons.

“My therapy changed a little bit because I was in a very intense relationship, which you can all read about in my book,” Mel (born Melanie Brown) told guest host Lea Michele in reference to her upcoming memoir, “Brutally Honest,” due out in November.

As noted by Billboard, the ”America’s Got Talent” judge explained that she’s been in therapy since her father was diagnosed with cancer nine years ago, but the treatment changed a bit because of the “very intense relationship” she was in with ex-husband Stephen Belafonte.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Mel B to Seek Treatment at UK-based Rehab Facility for Sex & Alcohol Addictions

“But no, I’m not an alcoholic. No, I’m not a sex addict. I was with the same person [Belafonte] for 10 years, and that was quite a turmoil, very intense,” she told Michele.

“I address a lot of those issues [in the book] and did kind of have to ease my pain. And I do suffer a lot from PTSD.”

Brown reportedly said in a recent British tabloid interview that she decided to seek treatment at “proper” therapy program in the U.K. because she found it to be quite traumatic writing the book and re-living some of the painful chapters of her life.

Watch Mel B on Ellen below:

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/09/mel-b-clarifies-planned-rehab-stint-im-not-an-alcoholic-im-not-a-sex-addict-watch/

*The Braxton sisters may be hitting up Iyanla Vanzant to mediate their family drama amid reports that they walked off the set of their reality series.

Sources tell thejasminebrand.com, that the famous sisters (Tamar, Toni, Trina, Towanda and Traci Braxton), and their parents, will allegedly film with the popular life coach this month in Atlanta.

This news follows reports that all of the sisters, with the exception of Traci Braxton, quit We TV’s “Braxton Family Values” and added Phaedra Parks to join the show. [Click here for the
 backstory]. It is also reported that Kym Whitley and Flavor Flav will also appear on the series.

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*Singer/rapper(?) T-Pain and his bodyguard found themselves being detained for a while by Atlanta police when they tried to go through a security checkpoint with a gun at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Friday (08-31-18).

According to police, the gun was found in a backpack belonging to T-Pain, (real name: Faheem Rashad Najm). Investigators say the bag was being carried by his bodyguard, Carlos Aleili Flores.

T-Pain and Flores were taken to the airport police precinct while officers investigated.

In a statement, police said the entertainer confirmed owning the firearm, provided a valid permit to carry and the weapon was returned to him. The statement said no charges were filed against either man.

However, according to police, an investigation continues to determine if Flores will face charges for possession of a weapon at a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint.

Watch T-Pain’s video ab ovee for his explanation as to what happened.

READ THIS: ARETHA’S FUNERAL: MINUTE BY MINUTE, PERFORMANCE BY PERFORMANCE BREAKDOWN & MORE

In other entertainment news, she may have been killed off on Starz’s “Power,” but Donshea Hopkins‘ career is alive and well. In fact, reports Page Six, she has already bagged and filmed her next as Bobbi Kristina Brown in BET’s upcoming “The Bobby Brown Story.”

“It’s kind of a tear-jerker,” she said of the tragic tale while at Black Girls Rock!

“I feel like everyone looked at her as just the daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown instead of an actual person.”

Miss Donesha also added: “Playing her was such a great experience — it was an honor to be her and to learn more about her as a person.”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/09/t-pain-detained-at-airport-ex-power-star-playing-bobbi-kristina-was-an-honor/

*Attorney Antonio Moore tackles the Lebron James produced show on race in America on HBO “The Shop.” Moore delves into a discussion of James history on race from Tamir Rice, President Donald Trump, and beyond, to the range in which a modern athlete is willing to go on the topic of race in America.

The HBO show’s guest range from Odell Beckahm jr, Snoop Dogg, Draymond Green, Lebron James and many more. Antonio Moore uses his tonetalks radio show to ask the deeper questions around race, Lebron James and America. See a few below:

• Can Lebron James deal with race in a real way and still sell jerseys to whites?
• Is there a double standard as Lebron James frames it, one for Tom Brady and one for black athletes when it comes to privacy?
• Is Lebron James comparable to Muhammad Ali or Michael Jordan?

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/09/lebron-james-hbos-the-shop-and-race-in-america-video/

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/soul-of-the-us-open-williams-sisters-continue-making-history-venus-vs-serena/

*Flushing, NY – The Wakanda squad … just kidding … the Americans (including our honorary Asian-American) of color have shed several hopefuls during the first two rounds of play in Flushing. But those who remain are those whom most would expect to: the Williams sisters, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys and Naomi Osaka.

To be fair to the fallen, its been rough out in these New York streets. Temperatures have soared to 100+ degrees on court causing unexpected upsets of top seeds (Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, Andy Murray, Garbine Muguruza, etc), several early retirements, and spawning controversies that have reverberated around all of tennisdom and beyond.

As for the controversies, the USTA had to apologize for giving a female player a code violation warning for changing her shirt on court when she discovered it was on backwards, when the men can practically change their underwear out there without so much as a peep. In fact, the men have been known to elicit applause from the same actions. All feminist hell broke loose in the locker room and across social media.

Also, since the heat rule was in effect for both men and women (players get a 10-minute break between sets if the temperature reaches a certain point) a match between Andy Murray and Fernando Verdasco was suspended for the players to cool down, but during that period Verdasco was accused of strategizing with his coach. That’s a no no according to the rules. Andy Murray lost the match and made the incident “a thing” during his post match press conference, “I had to teach someone the f*cking rules,” he fumed.

Further, a player notorious for bobbing and weaving in and out of sanity during his matches, Nick Kyrgios, was allegedly given an unfair advantage by a chair umpire.  Mohamed Lahyani, an umpiring veteran, came down from his post and gave Nick an impromptu pep talk in between games when he thought he “wasn’t himself.” After the chat, Nick – who was first losing – turned things around and won the match. Many of the players have cried foul and are calling for Lahyani’s head on a platter.

So, the heat has folks going stone crazy … but there are some great things going down at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, too.

When the draw first came out, fans were up in arms about Venus and Serena being drawn on the same side of tournament. That meant one would have to eliminate the other before reaching the finals. The kicker, though, was how early that would occur – in the 3rd round. But, they had to get there first.

Venus was seeded 16th and Serena 17th, which made it possible that they could meet early. And tennis players player tennis players, irrespective of their relationship … sister, brother, mother, whatever. They’re the oldest in the draw, with Serena still trying to find her game after returning from giving birth and Venus still managing her Sjogren’s disease. Who knew if they’d even get out of the starting blocks? We’re dealing with the Williams Sisters, though, and obstacles are their motivation.

Long story short, they both did what they needed to do to set up another historic “sister 2 sister” duel. Tournament brass loves it, TV partners love it and the fans are over the moon about it.

Here’s how they did it:

Venus Williams was up first on Armstrong, taking on Camila Giorgi, a feisty Italian who’s as nimble as a field mouse and can hit blazing winners from anywhere on the court. But Venus is no chopped liver with power and movement … she’s just 38 and it was 900 degrees out there. So, it was anybody’s match.

But Venus didn’t win seven Grand Slams on just looks. She knows how to play the game and use her strengths to expose her opponents’ weaknesses, which she did with Giorgi. She shuffled around the court most of the match as if she were gonna fall over dead … until just that right time to pounce. She was expert at conserving her energy and only came alive when she felt like she could win the games needed to win each set and it worked brilliantly. She closed the match in 2 sets, 6-4, 7-5.

She did her part; it was time for Serena to do hers.

Serena Williams hasn’t won the US Open since 2014, but she’s won it six times, making her the reigning queen of New York. So, any match she plays is gonna be on center court, inside Arthur Ashe stadium, and likely at night. That was the case on Wednesday and her opponent was Carina Withtoft (GER). According to the commentators, her opponent was “just as big and strong” as she was, BUT she didn’t have the tennis pedigree of the 23-time Grand Slam champion. Sure, Serena is still a little rusty, but she didn’t make it look that way, smothering the German out, 6-2, 6-2 in a lavender tutu. Her serves were firing, her ground game was sound and her roar was mighty during the victory.

Serena’s triumph set up yet another historic meeting between the legendary siblings.

It will be Venus and Serena’s 29th match against one another, 17 years after playing the first professional match to ever be broadcast live during prime time, men or women. And this forthcoming meeting is being featured during the 50th anniversary of the US Open. It’s milestone after milestone, after milestone for the two, which is not lost on the USTA or the fans.

“It’s early in the tournament, so both of us are going to be looking forward to continuing to play better,” Venus said of the upcoming match. “The last time we played there was an unfair advantage, it was two against one [laughs].”

Sloane Stephens, the girl with the target on her back this year (defending champion), also won her round two match on Ashe during Wednesday’s day session. She faced Ukranian, Anhelina Kalinina.

Sloane’s quest to defend her title made her a little weak in the knees to start the match and Kalinina initially took advantage. The Ukranian won the first set, then the two engaged in a dog fight. The American came to life and was determine not to go down in flames in the second. Sloane is a great defensive player and when her back is against the wall she knows how to defend her way out of it. She defended her way to the US Open title last year, so it’s never over with her until the big-boned lady sings.

After the defend champion took the second set just by a nose, she took advantage of the 10-minute heat rule to get her mind – and her stomach right. She ate a few Sushi rolls during play suspension then came out firing on all cylinders. Kalinini wilted and Sloane closed out the third set and the match, 6-4, 5-7, 2-6.

Her next opponent is Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

Madison Keys got it done in straight sets over over fellow American Bernarda Pera, on Armstrong while Taylor Townsend and Frances Tiafoe were fighting for their tennis lives. She struggled a bit in the first set, trading lengthy service holds, but she finally squeaked by her tenacious opponent, 6-4. Once she got that first set under her belt, the nerves subsided and the free swinging commenced. Madison sailed to a final scoreline of 6-4, 6-1 and moved on to face diminutive Serbian, Aleksandra Krunic, in the third round.

Naomi Osaka also came out with her guns ablazing and easily blasted Julia Glushko of Israel off the court. The final score was 6-2,-6-0, a beatdown born in Japan, but made in New York.

Taylor Townsend bowed out of singles play on Thursday night. She was taken out by Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, a former French Open champion, on a packed outside court. Her credentials don’t hold a candle to the feisty 10th seed, but she earned some valuable stripes during the defeat. She took the first set in a dazzling display of steadiness and defense turned to offense, lost the second, but found the nerve to come back from a break down and almost take the decider. It wasn’t until the critical ninth game in the third that she dropped her serve and allowed Ostapenko to go up 5-4 and serve it out 6-4, 3-6, 4-6. She fought a great fight, but just couldn’t make it over the hump.

Frances Tiafoe was also overcome by his opponent, Alex De Minaur of Australia. Tiafoe was never really in the match to begin with, dropping the first two sets 4-6, 0-6, but found the temporary will to earn him the third, 7-5. The surge wouldn’t last, however, as he was broken straight out of the gate in the fourth and never recovered. De Minaur proved too much to handle – he was like a human backboard – and took the match 6-4, 6-0, 5-7, 6-2. It was Tiafoe’s first 2nd round appearance.

So, the usual suspects remain, the Williams Sisters, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys and newcomer Naomi Osaka (with an asterisks) to “colorfully” represent the USA. All are fully capable of being left standing with the trophy in the end, so if you’re into betting …

The Williams sisters showdown will air on ESPN tonight (8/31) at 7pm EST.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/sales-for-omarosas-unhinged-drop-40-percent-since-its-debut/

*Omarosa Manigault Newman topped The New York Times bestseller list with her memoir “Unhinged,” but the tell-all about her time in the Trump White House is tanking, The Root reports.

According to the Washington Post, the sales of “Unhinged” have fallen some 40 percent since the book debuted.

The book was released on Aug. 14 and had a nice opening week partly due to the controversy surrounding the release of secretly recorded conversations she had with members of Trump’s staff.

“She has come out with a series of tapes,” “Fox and Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade said, “and in many ways, seems to have outsmarted the president, who has taken the bait and gone out and tweeted directly after her.”

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Wendell Pierce Told Meghan Markle To Call Him If The ‘Fishbowl’ Got Too Much

“While I know it’s “not presidential” to take on a lowlife like Omarosa, and while I would rather not be doing so, this is a modern day form of communication and I know the Fake News Media will be working overtime to make even Wacky Omarosa look legitimate as possible. Sorry,” Trump on Twitter during her media blitz promoting the book.

Washington Post’s book critic Ron Charles believes that despite the plummeting sales “Unhinged” will still find its way onto the upcoming bestsellers lists because there’s no competition.

“’Unhinged’ will still place high on the bestseller list this week, but only because of a lack of fresh competitors. When the fall publishing season begins after Labor Day, a number of new titles should begin to dominate the list, and ‘Unhinged’ will probably join that large body of flash-in-the-pan political memoirs.”

As noted by CNN, ”Unhinged” went from No. 17 on Amazon’s constantly updated list on Sunday night to No. 2 by Tuesday night.

A spokeswoman for her publisher, Simon & Schuster, said Wednesday that “we’re delighted that readers have responded enthusiastically and it is selling well in all formats, print, ebook and audio. Omarosa continues to promote the book and is committed to telling her story.”

September will bring even more Trump-related books, including Bob Woodward’s “Fear,” which has already enjoyed strong pre-order sales, according to the report.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/aretha-franklin-dressed-in-gold-for-fourth-and-final-outfit-change-watch-funeral-livestream-here/

*The color gold was chosen for Aretha Franklin’s final viewing outfit.

Mourners got one final chance to see the Queen of Soul before her star-studded funeral today at Greater Grace Temple, and the legend sported a sparkling full-length gold dress with sequined heels, her fourth outfit change in four days.

Franklin wore red for her first public viewing on Tuesday, a nod to her membership in the sorority Delta Sigma Theta. She wore a baby blue dress on Wednesday and a rose gold gown for a viewing Thursday at the Detroit church where her father was the longtime pastor.

Franklin’s gold dress will match her solid bronze casket (photo above), which is plated in 24K gold and lined with champagne velvet. James Brown and Michael Jackson were laid to rest in similar caskets.

Numerous floral arrangements from celebrities including Sam Moore, Mariah Carey, Barbra Streisand and the family of Otis Redding were set up in a hallway outside the sanctuary according to the Associated Press.

Among those honoring Franklin Friday are about two dozen owners of Pink Cadillacs who arrived at the church early this morning, the AP reports. The tribute is a nod to Franklin’s ’80s tune, “Freeway of Love,” which prominently featured the car in the lyrics and video.

Aretha Franklin’s white hearse arrived at the church at 8 a.m. this morning, two hours before the service is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. EST. Digital cable channels Bounce TV and The Word Network will carry the service live in its entirety, while cable news outlets MSNBC, CNN and Fox News will dip in and out throughout the scheduled five-hour ceremony. The Detroit Free Press is livestreaming the funeral as well.

Fans have been lined up for hours outside the Greater Grace Temple this morning. Despite the star-power scheduled to perform funeral organizers insist it will be a spirit-filled service, not a show.

View the program schedule below:

8:30 – 9:50 a.m.— Viewing — Recorded Songs by Aretha
9:30-9:50 a.m. — Musical Prelude — Aretha Franklin Orchestra
9:50-10:00 a.m. — Lighting of Candles — Swanson Funeral Home, Inc. (The
seven candles at the head represent the seven stars, which are the angels.
The seven candle sticks at the front to represent the seven churches. We feel that we are living in the days of Revelation. Rev. 1:20)
10:00-10:20 a.m. — Processional — Clergy, Ministers and Family
10:20-10:25 a.m. — Prayer of Comfort — Dr. E.L. Branch, Pastor, Third New Hope Church
10:25-10:40 a.m. — Scripture of Comfort:
10:25 a.m. — Old Testament — Bishop T.D. Jakes, Potter’s House, Dallas, TX
10:30 a.m. — New Testament — Pastor Solomon Kinloch, Triumph Church
10:35 a.m. — The 23rd Psalm — Bishop P.A. Brooks, Pastor, New St. Paul Tabernacle Church
10:40-10:45 a.m. — Musical Tribute — Faith Hill
10:45-11 a.m. — Remarks:
10:45 a.m. — Mike Duggan — Mayor, City of Detroit
10:50 a.m. — Brenda Jones — City Council President
10:55 a.m. — Governor Rick Snyder, State of Michigan
11-11:05 a.m. — Musical Tribute — Ariana Grande
11:05-11:10 a.m. — Musical Tribute — The Clark Sisters
11:10-11:15 a.m. — Acknowledgements and Condolences — Barbara Sampson
11:15-11:20 a.m. — Musical Tribute — The Williams Brothers & Vanessa Bell Armstrong
11:20-11:40 a.m. — Family Reflections — Vaughn, Cristal, Victorie & Jordan Franklin
11:40-11:45 a.m. — Family Musical Tribute — Edward Franklin
11:45-11:50 a.m. — Obituary— Sabrina Owens
11:50-11:55 a.m. — Musical Tribute — Alice McAllister Tillman
11:55-12 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Audrey DuBois Harris
12-12:15 p.m. — Personal Remarks:
12 p.m. — Eric Holder, Former U.S. Attorney General
12:05 p.m. — Former President, William (Bill) Jefferson Clinton
12:15-12:19 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Pastor Shirley Caesar and Tasha Cobbs-Leonard
12:19-12:36 p.m. — Personal Reflections:
12:19 p.m. — Greg Mathis, Retired Judge, 36th District Court, Detroit, MI
12:23 p.m. — Brenda Lawrence, State Representative, 14th Congressional District
12:27 p.m. — Rev. Donald L. Parsons, Logos Assembly Church, Chicago, IL
12:31 p.m. — Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder, National Action Network
12:36-12:41 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Chaka Khan
12:41-12:51 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Ron Isley
12:51 p.m. — Rev. Jesse Jackson, Founder/President Rainbow P.U.S.H. Coalition
1 p.m. — Dr. William J. Barber, II, Pastor, Greenleaf Christian Church, Goldsborough N.C.
1:05 p.m. — Rev. James Holley, Retired Pastor, New Light Missionary Baptist Church
1:10- 1:15 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Fantasia Barrino-Taylor
1:15-1:30 p.m. — Personal Reflections:
1:15 p.m. — Tyler Perry
1:17 p.m. — Cicely Tyson, Actress
1:20 p.m. — Clive Davis, Chief Creative Officer, Sony Music
1:25 p.m. — Smokey Robinson, Recording Artist
1:30-1:34 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Bishop Paul Morton and Yolanda Adams
1:34-1:53 p.m. — Personal Reflections:
1:34 p.m. — Mildred Gaddis, Radio Personality
1:38 p.m. — Isaiah Thomas, Former NBA Player, Detroit Pistons
1:42 p.m. — Ron Moten, Personal Friend, Franchise Owner, McDonald’s Restaurants
1:48 p.m. — Michael Eric Dyson, Professor of Sociology, Georgetown University
1:53- 2 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Bishop Marvin Sapp and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir
2-2:05 p.m. — Sermonic Selection — Jennifer Hudson
2:05-2:35 p.m. — Eulogy — Rev. Jasper Williams, Jr., Pastor, Salem Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA
2:35-2:45 p.m. — Musical Tribute — Stevie Wonder joined by National Artists
2:45-3 p.m. — Committal and Recessional — Jennifer Holliday and the Aretha Franklin Celebration Choir

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/cardi-b-orders-beat-down-of-2-strippers-accuses-them-of-sleeping-with-offset/

*It’s no secret that Cardi B is a stone cold Gangsta B when she wants to be and has absolutely no problem showing that side of herself when she feels it necessary.

If you haven’t heard, Cardi – a former stripper, herself – has been accused of unleashing her goons on 2 strippers and badly injuring both, and it looks like they’re pressing charges for formal criminal investigation.

Here’s more from TMZ:

One of the strippers — Jade — claims Cardi’s been threatening her for months, claiming she slept with her husband and baby daddy Offset.

Jade claims Cardi repeatedly threatened her with violence on Instagram, and in June Jade and her sister Baddie Gi, claim they were face-to-face with Cardi at an Atlanta hotel. Jade says Cardi again accused her of sleeping with Offset — something she denies — and then Cardi threatened them with physical harm.

Jade says on August 15, she got a warning early in the day that Cardi had targeted her for a beatdown. Later that night in Queens at Angel’s Strip Club, Jade says 5 people associated with Cardi viciously attacked her, grabbing her hair, punching her and hitting her with an ashtray, causing serious damage.

OK, now that you have that background, fast forward to the early hours of Wednesday, August 29 … Jade and Baddie Gi say they came face-to-face with Cardi B at Angel’s Strip Club, and after they performed, a group from Cardi’s posse attacked both of them … throwing bottles and chairs at them causing serious injuries that required medical attention.

The women have lawyered up in a big way, hiring the uber prominent Joe Tacopina, who says he’s mulling over filing a lawsuit against Cardi and others. Tacopina also says both of his clients are going to file a police report and Cardi will be named.

Just to make sure you understand, neither woman says Cardi personally laid a hand on either, but they say she did yell, “I’m blood I’ll f*ck you bi*ches up!”

But the bottom line, according to sources, Cardi B never laid hands on the women.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/mlks-niece-says-he-wouldve-laughed-at-cardi-bs-housewives-of-the-civil-rights-movement-spoof/

*Cardi B has apologized for appearing in a controversial comedy sketch in which she played Martin Luther King Jr.’s widow, Coretta Scott King — but the niece of the late civil rights activist says her uncle might’ve actually gotten a kick out of the skit.

TMZ caught up Alveda King — whose father was Dr. King’s brother — and she says it’s important people know that the “Housewives of the Civil Rights Movement” skit was all in good fun.

She says Mrs. King and the other Civil Rights ‘housewives’ didn’t talk like that, and never would.

Watch the clip above.

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Black Women Are Lining Up Outside Beauty Supply Where Korean Owner Punched Black Mother – WATCH

In the piece, which TMZ posted Tuesday – on the 55th anniversary of Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech – the spouses of King, Malcolm X, Jesse Jackson sit around a mansion and talk.

“I think I should be the leader of this group,” Cardi B asserts before another housewife calls Dr. King a “ho.”

King’s son, Martin Luther King III, called the sketch “beyond offensive” in a TMZ interview.

“Young people look up to these artists,” he said, urging viewers to engage in the electoral process.

However, he thanked Cardi in a subsequent tweet for “reaching out to [him] and apologizing” for the skit. “I am looking forward to talking with you soon,” he added. 

King’s daughter Bernice King called the clip “repulsive.”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/08/don-lemon-kanye-west-is-not-very-bright-not-clued-in-watch/

*CNN’s Don Lemon has slammed Kanye West for being “not very bright” after the rapper went on a Chicago morning radio show to dish about his Donald Trump support and how 45 can connect with the community.

West said Trump “cares” about how black people feel about him and “he would like for black people to like him like they did when he was cool in rap songs.” He also believes Trump can’t be the “greatest president” without the support of Black folks.

“He cares about the way black people feel about him and he would like for black people for him like they did when he was cool in the rap songs and all this, and he will do the things that are necessary to make that happen because he’s got an ego like all the rest of us… he knows that he can’t be the greatest president without the acceptance of the black community,” West said Thursday.

On the Thursday broadcast of his CNN show, Lemon likened West to a character on the sketch comedy show “In Living Color.”

“Do you remember on In Living Color, Oswald Bates?” Lemon asked guest Angela Rye. He then did a presentation of the unintelligible Bates.

“If you listen to the entire interview that’s what it sounds like,” Lemon said of Kanye West. “It’s like a word salad where you realize that Kanye West, entitled to his own opinion, but is not very bright and not very — he — when — I’m talking about this issue, not overall, but when it comes to these issues, he’s not clued in.”

“Ohhh,” Rye reacted after the ‘not very bright’ comment.

“He needs to read about it before he speaks about it. I’m not saying he’s not a bright person. I take that back. It’s not what I meant,” Lemon said in an attempt to clean up his original statement.

“Okay, I hear you,” Rye said calmly.

“When it comes to this particular issue he needs to, like, look at a book, read some history and understand what he’s talking about,” Lemon finished.

While Kanye believes Trump cares about black people, Rye isn’t so convinced.

“I believe that Kanye West believes that Donald Trump cares about what black people think about him,” she said. “That does not mean that Donald Trump cares about black people, right.”

“What we know is what Donald Trump actually does,” Rye added. “So what I would encourage Kanye to do — Kanye, if you’re listening, please go back and read all the things that exist. It doesn’t even have to be a book. It can be the articles, it can be the tweets, it can be the timelines that we’ve all put out since the campaign showing that Donald Trump does not care about black people. If he cares about what black people think about him then he should start doing right by black people.”

“We can respect his opinion, but we don’t have to respect his ignorance,” Lemon later said.