Passings

I'm a day late with this but I want to extend condolences to the families of playwright, novelist, journalist and doyenne of dialect Jeannette Layne-Clark who passed away after a battle with cancer.

She'll always be remembered for her Pampalam plays and Lickmout Lou columns, and for keeping young journalists on their toes. The one time that that Mrs. Layne-Clark had to call me was when I went against my better judgment and used a word I wasn't clear about in a broadcast. I felt as though I was in the Principal's office but she was quite cool in the end.

May she rest in peace.

I also wish to acknowledge the passing of supermarket magnet Lionel C. Hill, who passed away recently. Hill was quite a character...how many octogenarian supermarket directors do you know who would go on an all night stakeout to recover stolen pigtails?

Rest well, Lionel C. Hill.

Image: www.nationnews.com

Sir Allen Stanford arrested

Well the poo done hit the fan now. Breaking news just in is that Antigua-based business mogul Sir Alan Stanford has been arrested for a 16 billion dollar investment fraud by US authorities.

According to Cricinfo News, the Securities and Exchange Commission said that they were "alleging a fraud of shocking magnitude". You can check the story here.

Wuhloss. I always knew there was something shady about Stanford and how he threw his cash around the Caribbean. I hope Suleiman Benn and the other cricketers who became instant millionaires in the recent Twenty-Twenty cricket tournament don't have to give the money back. And you know the Queen's taking back his knighthood....


Image: http://content-usa.cricinfo.com

Chris Brown's "sorry and saddened"

Let the damage control begin. Chris Brown has finally broken his silence one week after his alleged beating of girlfriend Rihanna.

In a brief statement released through publicist Michael Sitrick on Sunday.

“Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God’s help, to emerging a better person. Much of what has been speculated or reported on blogs and/or reported in the media is wrong. While I would like to be able to talk about this more, until the legal issues are resolved, this is all I can say except that I have not written any messages or made any posts to Facebook, on blogs or any place else. Those posts or writings under my name are frauds.”

Whateva, lil boy. You betta hope Jay-Z doesn't catch up to you...

Meanwhile, I understand that Rihanna is back home and recuperating. You do your thing, girl.

Rihanna's father has also gotten caught up in the debacle. You can check the story here.

Chris Brown's doin' a lotta talking

I don't even feel like using too much energy to write about Chris Brown; just keeping you all up to date on what's going on. You can check here and here.

MediaTakeout usually knows what it's talking about so we'll see. According to sources Rihanna's on her way back to Barbados. Poor girl. Today Valentine's Day she should be enjoying herself, not hiding out from the paps.

Valentine's special - Fave tv/movie hook-ups

Well, as you all know tomorrow's Valentine's Day and I was scratching my head as to how to mark this event. I haven't done one of my Friday Fave lists in a while so here's a list of my fave Top Five tv and movie co-star hookups. I usually do a list of 10, but I couldn't think of 10 Hollywood couples who hooked up on set and were still together....

Anyhoo, here we go:


5. Jennifer Morrison and Jesse Spencer - House. House's Chase and Cameron don't have much use for each other on the show - Cameron's kinda hung up on grumpy Dr. House - but in real life the couple fell in love and were married in 2007.


4. Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere - Heroes. You never know when or where love will find you. On Heroes indestructible teen Claire Bennett is the niece of the moody Peter Petrelli; in reality 18-year old Hayden is dating her 30-year old co-star Milo. Talk about keeping it all in the family....


3. James Tupper and Anne Heche - Men in Trees. Anne Heche loves some drama. Remember when she was dating Ellen Degeneres and left Ellen and got married to a man? Well, since then she's left her husband for her co-star on the recently cancelled series Men in Trees, James Tupper. I hope she gets her happy ending....


2.Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie - Mr. & Mrs. Smith. If you watched the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the spark between co-stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie was undeniable. It therefore came as no surprise when news broke that the philanthropic Ms. Jolie and Hollywood golden boy Pitt were an item.


1. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith - Fresh Prince of Belair. Will and Jada met on the set of his popular sitcom when she was auditioning for the role of his girlfriend (ironic, oui?) She didn't get the part but somewhere along the line she stole his heart.


And the couple that millions out there in tvland wish was a couple:

Wentworth Miller and Sarah Wayne Callies - Prison Break. I don't know if any other tv couple has spawned as much fanfiction as Prison Break's Michael and Sara (pictured with costar Amaury Nolasco). Fans would love if these two would hookup, but alas, Ms. Callies is married and recently had a baby. Boo hoo.

If you want to see more of my fave tv couples, check out this post I did way back.

Have a great Valentine's Day!

Images: www.meijumi.com/www.ivillage.com

Meet Jon Favreau

If like me you were made emotional by many of the speeches made by President Barack Obama in his run for the White House, (especially his acceptance speech on election night) then the 28 year-old man pictured above is responsible.

Meet Jon Favreau, Obama's Director of Speechwriting, who is a former speech writer for Senator John Kerry. You can read more about him here and here.

No doubt he's part of the reason why Obama was able to tap the pulse of the young people of America the way he did....

Image: www.daylife.com

Chris Brown has 99 problems....and Jay-Z is one

I was waiting to see how Rihanna's mentor and producer was going to react to her debacle with Chris Brown. I had read that he was blue vex on the red carpet at the Grammy's on Sunday, but now apparently he has broken his silence.

According to Us Weekly, Jay Z is enraged. "He hit the roof," says a source close to the rapper. "Chris is a walking dead man. He messed with the wrong crew."

Meanwhile, despite his tarnished image, Chris Brown is in the running for outstanding male artist at the 40th annual NAACP Image Awards. The awards are being presented Thursday night at the Shrine Auditorium and airing on Fox. Coincidentally, Rihanna, is up for outstanding female artist.

Interesting indeed.

I'm still waiting for confirmation that Rihanna is indeed on the island. You know I'll keep you posted.


Photo: http://ybf.com

Rihanna back home

The latest word is that Rihanna is back home to recover from the trauma of the past few days. Will keep you posted.

Michelle O. does Vogue + congrats to Tiger!

I've been so caught up in blogging about Rihanna and that li'l Brown boy that I'm now getting around to mentioning a few other happenings.

First Lady Michelle Obama will grace the cover of an upcoming edition of Vogue Magazine; Hillary Clinton is the only other First Lady to make the cover of that mag.


So fabulous. It's good to see that Vogue is finally spreading its wings when it comes to their covers....



Congratulations are extended to golfing master Tiger Woods, whose wife Elin gave birth to their second child, Charlie Axel Rose (it's a boy), on Sunday, February 8. Can't wait to see the photos. You all know I'm on that.


Photos: http://ybf.com

Text message started fight between Rihanna and Chris Brown

Hey, peoples. Well as expected more info is pouring in about what really happened between Rihanna and Chris Brown in the wee hours of Sunday morning. According to police reports (these guys have some seriously loose lips), Chris Brown received a text message from a from a woman who wrote about hooking up with him later. I really hope a certain hotel heiress isn't the woman, 'cause I tell yuh...

Apparently an enraged Rihanna threw away the car keys once the car came to a halt and the fight was on from there. You can see more details here, though I caution you to take it with a wee bit of salt.

Reports are also out on Rihanna's injuries. According to TMZ.com:

Cops took multiple pictures at the scene. Chris Brown allegedly hit Rihanna so hard with his fists, she could barely open her eyes for the photos -- they were almost completely swollen shut. She had a fat lip, her mouth was swollen, her nose was badly bloodied, and she had contusions on her forehead and both sides of her face.

Of course Brown's camp is still saying it was an accident and other people are weighing in the situation, including T.I., Kanye West and Brown's step-father. You can be sure that this he said/she said situation is gonna spiral out of control just now.

Our prayers are with you, Rih-Rih.


Photo: kiddunot.blogspot.com

Update: Rihanna cooperating with police; things brown for Chris

Okay now it seems as if Rihanna is cooperating with police.

Chris Brown's 'Got Milk' ad campaign has been pulled as well.

Oh well. That's what happens when you act like Ike Turner or Mike Tyson.

Rihanna 'okay'; Chris Brown 'a little concerned'

Well, it's day two into the Rihanna/Chris Brown debacle and speculation is still rife about what really went down in that car in Hancock Park.

In today's issue of the Nation Newspaper, Rihanna's grandmother is reported as saying that the pop star was "okay" and didn't have a broken nose as reported. Of course, she didn't refute that her grandchild was injured, and in this case okay could just mean she's not laid up in a hospital bed.

Meanwhile, rap star T.I is saying that he spoke to Chris Brown and that the R&B star was "a little concerned". What an understatement, lil boy. You should be, since not only will your career be over if you're found guilty of domestic violence charges, but you're not gonna see the outside for a while either.

Rihanna has apparently postponed her concert in Malaysia this week and if that doesn't scream recovering out of the spotlight I don't know what does. You all know it's just a matter of time before photos with her facial injuries turn up on the Net.

I won't bother to type all the rumours going around out there; I'll just say that I have it on good authority that these two are not strangers to volatile behaviour. I have a feeling that after the injuries have healed and the hurt feelings have died down, and especially if pressure is brought to bear on her, Rihanna isn't going to press charges.

I don't intend to judge her harshly if she does; as a woman she would have to know how much she's willing to take from any man and what message she'll be sending if she drop the case.

Recover soon, Rihanna and to Chris Brown - boy you mek me shame. I did like you real bad, but now I can' even listen to your music. No Air, for real.

UPDATE:
According to MediaTakeOut.com, Defamer and other sites, Rihanna isn't planning on pressing charges against Chris Brown for assault and battery. (No surprise there).

They're also reporting that Police state that she sustained "horrific" facial injuries as a result of the beating, including contusions to the side of her face and bite marks on her arms and hands. Also, apparently it was someone who heard her screams and not Rihanna herself who called the police.

Not surprisingly, her big 21st birthday bash on February 20 in NYC has been cancelled.

Wrigley Doublemint Gum has halted their endorsement deal with Chris Brown for now until more facts become clea about this case.

I'll try and keep you all updated on this sad case.

Photo: www.iamjammed.com

Rihanna "assaulted with deadly weapon"

As expected, the whole of Barbados is talking about the alleged beating Rihanna took at the hands of her boyfriend Chris Brown. Over at TMZ, they're reporting that Rihanna in fact filed a report in her real name Robyn Fenty and that she was seen with bruises on her face. And YBF is going with the confirmation as well.

Lawmen are saying that Chris Brown was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, a charge that could net him up to nine years in jail. He's apparently out on $50,000 bail.

Wuhloss. Boy, Chris Brown's hands wrote a cheque that his narrow butt can't cash 'cause the whole of Bimshire real cruel right now...

Photo: www.ybf.com

Rihanna assaulted by Chris Brown?

All hell is breaking loose in Grammy land. So I was watching the Grammy's a few minutes ago, which are still on as I type, wondering where the heck Rihanna and Chris Brown are. Got tired of the show which is now running over 3 hours long and decided to shut my computer down and head to bed.

Imagine my shock when I saw on MSN that Chris Brown turned himself into the police in an assault case, and that Rihanna was in a car accident.... double wuh?????

Well, peoples, now word is on the street that the woman he assaulted is none other than Rihanna and she has injuries to her face and will not be appearing at the Grammy's. Check the story here.

Wuhloss! I really hope this is just speculation, 'cause look how Chris Brown goin' get a serious ass whupping from Rihanna's brother, who already said he don't like him too pretty pretty. At any rate, Brown is in big trouble, which ever way you look at it.

The Grammy's are on Sunday

How time flies! It seems like only yesterday that Rihanna won her first Grammy and the annual music awards show is coming up again on Sunday, February 8 already.

This time around, Ms. Rih-Rih has been nominated in three categories: Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (with Maroon 5 for If I Never See Your Face Again); Best Dance Recording for Disturbia; and Best Long Form Music Video for Good Girl Gone Bad Live.

Ironically, she's competing against her maybe-bf Chris Brown in the Best Pop Collab category; he's nominated along with Jordin Sparks for No Air.

Anyhoo, Rihanna was snapped recently getting her retail therapy on, probably shopping for some hot outfit for Sunday night. She'll also be performing, by the way.




Good luck, Rihanna. Bring home another one!

Celeb babies growing up

Some time last year I blogged about the various celebrities who were pregnant or whose wives/girlfriends were expecting. I though I would do an update to show you how the little ones have grown so far.


Halle Berry and daughter Nahla. With a mother like Halle and a father like model Gabriel Aubry, how can Nahla be anything but gorgeous?


Tiger Woods and daughter Sam. Tiger and his wife Elin are already expecting another sibling for 19 month old Sam.


Gwen Stefani and son Zuma. There's 'no doubt' that rocker Gwen's son has an odd name, but he sure is a cutie.


Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon and twin sons Jax and Jaid. It's been twice the fun for Garcelle and her husband.


Jessica Alba and daughter Honor. Honor has a beautiful name to match her beautiful face and she's rocking a mohawk to boot.


Angelina Jolie and daughter Vivienne Marcheline.

Brad Pitt and son Knox Leon. Angie and Brad already have mini-me's in twins Knox and Vivienne, who joined sisters Zahara and Shiloh and brothers Pax and Maddox nearly 7 months ago.

Photos: www.theybf.com/www.people.com/people

Eric Holder sworn in

The winds of change continue to sweep through the USA. Congratulations are extended to former prosecutor and federal judge Eric Holder, who was sworn in this morning as Attorney General. He is the first African American to hold that post.



Holder, who is of Barbadian parentage, was accompanied to the swearing in ceremony by his mother Miriam (left), wife Sharon and their three children.

Change has come, oh yes indeed. I look forward to the day when there're no more 'first black' or 'first African American' anything out there....


Photo: www.theybf.com

Whateva...

So I hear that the Republican National Committee in the USA has appointed Michael Steele, former Lt. Governor of Maryland, as their first black Chairman.

Well, well, well. Coincidence? I think not. I suspect this is their response to the presence of one President Barack Obama in the White House. If they're trying to tout this Steele gentleman as an alternative to Obama, they're not only obvious but so insincere it hurts. If they were really interested in having an African American represent their party, they would have nominated one back in the primary or as John McCain's running mate.

As it is, this move looks reactive and just plain silly. So I say, whatevaaaaa.


Photo: www.ybf.com

CLICO bailed out by T&T Government

Wuhloss. News out of Trinidad is that powerhouse CL Financial is near collapse, and the Government has to come to its aid. Check out the story here.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Clico Holdings here in Barbados, Leroy Parris, is assuring everyone that all is well locally. All I want to know is Duprey boy, wuh happen?


Photo: www.caribimpact.net

Rihanna does Super Bowl + Congrats to Oscar nominees

Rihanna performed last night at the pre-Super Bowl Pepsi Smash concert in Tampa, Florida and based on the pics, her S&M bondage theme is still going strong in 2009.

During her set, she performed Rehab, Disturbia, Shut Up and Drive and Breaking Dishes.





Well, at least she didn't have a wardrobe malfunction like a certain person did a few years back....

Congratulations to Oscar nominees Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson, who were nominated in the category of Best Supporting Actress for their roles in Doubt and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button respectively.


Taraji P. Henson


Viola Davis

Viola Davis is new to me, but I remember Taraji P. from her role in the Oscar-nominated Hustle and Flow in 2007, when her co-star Terrence Howard was nominated for an Oscar.

Hmmm. First Denzel and Halle broke the long Oscar drought in 2002, then along came Jamie Foxx in 2005 and Jennifer Hudson in 2007. Could this be another year of African American glory at the Oscars? We'll find out on February 29.

Photos: www.theybf.com