Star Trek Into Darkness actress Zoe Saldana’s life has become quite the open book lately. Instead of taking the typical Hollywood route, offering only politically correct answers during interviews, the 34-year-old bombshell has been unapologetically speaking her mind and we’ve got to admit that we love it! The Avatar actress appears on the cover of InStyle UK for the month of June rocking a chic little number, but don’t allow the dress to fool you. Homegirl pulls no punches in her interview. Check out some of what she had to say.

On Hollywood’s double standard regarding women and aging: 

“I’ve been told by producers, ’Well, you know we need to get on this because you’re not getting any younger…’ Women are reminded of their age all the time and it’s usually by a fricking fat, big-bellied old man with a comb-over and you look at him and you’re like, ‘Really? Give me a break. You just have more money and more power in this situation than I do, but not in my life.’”

On the male species: 

“I worship men. Men are Adonises.”

On her dream guy: 

“A badass renegade! A pirate! A pirate who can cry. Oh my god!”

On being broken-hearted after her split with Keith Britton and never giving up on love:

“When it didn’t work [with Britton] it was heartbreaking for the both of us, but it’s life.”

“I believe in love because I had it for so long, so I know it’s possible. I’m not one of these people who’s going, “Oh, because I was with someone for so long I need to take a break.” What if love is just around the corner?’”

On the realities of dating younger:

“I’m tired of watching these 50-year-old actors with these 23-year-old actresses and they’re soulmates in the movie. What? [In real life] a 23-year-old would look at a 50-year-old and go, ‘Are you kidding me?!’ We love plump muscles as much as they do. A 23-year-old boy?’”

Two snaps up!

Hit the switch for more flicks from Zoe’s fly photo shoot. What do you think of the comments made during her interview?

Adriana M. Barraza/WENN.com

Magic Johnson is one we all admire for his business prowess but he can never seem to get too far away from trouble with the ladies.

Lanita Tomas, Johnson’s personal flight attendant since 2004, is suing Magic Johnson Entertainment and Clay Lacy Aviation after being terminated in September after for being seven minutes late for a flight.  Thomas says she was late because she was at a deli attempting to get two types of turkey that Johnson requires for his turkey sandwiches.  She says that she was actually terminated because at age 45, she believes she’d gotten too old and her release was more about ageism.  She’s suing for age discrimination, wrongful termination and other labor laws.

While neither Johnson nor anyone else from his camp had any comment, Ms. Thomas is fully explaining her side of the story. She stated that two years ago, she went out on medical leave because of a wrist injury and while she was out, Johnson hired a considerably younger flight attendant to fill in. Upon her return to work, Thomas says Johnson’s attitude had changed towards her and he’d become less cordial.  They used, according to her, her late arrival to the flight in September as a reason to let her go and hire the younger flight attendant.

In her lawsuit, Thomas mentions that she wasn’t able to take enough rest or meal breaks because she was too busy doing things like making sure his Red Vine licorice was soft enough and ready to eat.

Thomas left her job with United Airlines to work for Johnson as the only flight attendant on duty where she made $75,000 per year as well as a $25,000 bonus.  Her lawyer says that because of this termination, it will be hard for her to continue her career in a profession she loves. Further, her lawyer stated that this entire ordeal has left Thomas emotionally and financially devastated.

So do you think there’s more to this story? While Ms. Thomas’ story is totally plausible, the argument could be made that she knew his food requirements and should have placed the order earlier so she wouldn’t have been late. On the other hand, even if she didn’t do that, she was on the clock doing something for her employer and maybe they could have cut her some slack.

What’s your opinion? And do you think one should expect that a high profile person will have high expectations for their employees?

Source

MadameNoire

Over 2 once-filled glasses of much needed margaritas, an old friend and I started weighing the pros and cons of having older friends. Being mellow and chameleon-like creatures, she and I are able to comfortably fit the mold of whatever group, scenario and environment we find ourselves in. Having found ourselves constantly in the company of those who are older than us, it’s quite the feat to deal with the ongoing ageism that runs rampant in such relationships.

Exceptions: Such weird mechanisms we use to discriminate, and yet we barely realize it. When someone labels us as an objection to a general groups’ stereotype, it’s usually meant to be tinged with good intent but ends up taking root as a back-handed compliment. “You’re the only person in their 20′s I can stand.” Oh. How does one even respond to such a comment? This is not a rhetorical question, please leave an answer in the comments section for my friend and I, for this is a comment we hear at least once every time we’re in the presence of older friends.

Every generation watches the next one come up with disappointment, hesitation, dread coupled in hope and good-intentions. The negatives stem from the initial reaction that those who are older respond to what they deem as the failures of their successors. Plainly, Millennials are known to be a spoiled, rotten bunch. Before our accomplishments and capabilities are acknowledged, all of our mistakes and missteps are presented. From the “exceptional” statement, it’s quite facile to assume that many believe we are to be the generation who is burning everything that has been gained just because we can.

Knowing what I know, and who I know, it’s hard not to become offended by these thoughts. On the contrary of the ruling preconceived notions of my generation, we accept and welcome the tutelage and friendship of those who have come before us. We know we have much to learn and to experience. What we do not welcome is the belittling and condescending nature in which advice is packaged to us. And what we will not accept is being painted with the same brush stroke that our class has been colored with due to the inflation of media and miscommunication between groups. After analyzing all the times I’ve heard this comment and those similar to it, I’m not even sure I can call those who use it friends.

What about you dear readers? Has there been a time you’ve been offended at someone trying to label as you as an exception?

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Are you someone who moves from one unhappy relationship to another? Most likely that’s because you got into the relationship for the wrong reasons. Relationships and marriage are admirable goals for anyone to strive towards but there are many reasons why people may decide to engage in relationships for all the wrong reasons. Relationships should bloom from a mutual love and respect between two people and should not be influenced by outside parties, peer pressure or to fill a void in your life.  Before you jump into another relationship, look at these 9 red flags that might help you avoid unhealthy relationships in the future.

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"Rachel Zoe, 40 and Kimberley Elise, 44"

By Ramona X

In the past couple of years, the ego of Black women in this country has taken a very defined hit. Every other week, a story about the low marriage rates amongst black women emerges, painting us in a very negative light as women who are lonely, doomed and undesired by all men, including our own.

And let me tell you something, the abundance of articles and books pointing out our dubious plight is not only based on marriage statistics, it’s rooted in something more deeply psychological that many refuse to acknowledge.

I’m not going to go on a whole long Isis-Papers –inspired soliloquy on why black people are so hated and so loved at the same time, but let me just share with you what the primary, subconscious reason is for all this hate: Black don’t crack. That’s right, the fact that black women do not age as rapidly or get attacked by wrinkles at a relatively young age is a source of jealousy of our melanin-challenged counterparts. And as we all know, jealousy breeds contempt.

Laugh if you’d like. It’s the truth. This subconscious envy of a people, who have a relationship with the source of energy that doesn’t wrinkle them to death, who can spawn and influence world culture by their very natural existence, is real. But let’s take this discussion down a notch and allow me to explain how Black women are being attacked because of this subconscious contempt of our melanin.

I’ve been around Black women all my life so it came as a surprise to me when I discovered that many of my non-White college classmates and, later, my twenty-something co-workers were investing in expensive Estee Lauder anti-aging creams. This panic of aging and the idea that beauty had a fast-coming expiration date was an overshadowing theme in many of their lives. In contrast, any discussions about beauty at my Sunday brunch outings involved sharing hair care tips and recommending moisturizing conditioners.

Another epiphany struck when I was discussing this idea of how it seemed more acceptable for white women to “get around” as opposed to Black women, who were judged for being sexually free, with a Black guy friend of mine. He joked that it was okay for white women since they had a shorter shelf life. In other words, they were aware of their dwindling beauty and had to capitalize on their youthfulness fast.

Although he was joking, there seemed some truth to it. By the time many white women hit age 30, they look their age. A 30+ Black woman, on the other hand, will most likely look like she’s still in her 20s. Age is just a number but for many ladies, how you look at your age feeds into how you feel about yourself, your level of confidence, and not feeling insecure if you’re still at the club past your ideal marrying age.

Black women certainly don’t remember to be grateful for the fact they’ll look good for many years past their 21st birthday and their 40th for that matter, but many on the outside are resentful of it. I don’t blame ‘em. When I gaze at white celebrities like Rachel Zoe sometimes, who at 38, looks ten years older than 45-year-old Halle Berry and 44-year-old Kimberly Elise, it makes me grateful. When I’m 45, I’ll probably look as youthful in the face as Berry, who although looks good for her age, is not an anomaly in the Black community.