Source: WENN

The saga known as Fantasia and Antwaun Cook has been a long-lived one. Although their hot and heavy romance appears to be a thing of the past, it still appears to live on in the public’s memory and in her music. During a recent interview with iFelicious, the mom of two expressed how hurt she was by the way that the industry reacted to the scandal involving her married ex-boyfriend, Antwaun Cook, her new music and being singled out by the media. Check out some of what she had to say below.

On co-directing the “Without Me” video with Missy Elliot:

“I’m actually in artist mode; let me be honest because [Missy Elliott and I] have been up all night creating this amazing video for ‘Without Me’ which is with me, Kelly Rowland, and Missy…jotting down all these ideas I have for the video. I’ve never really directed my own video so Missy Elliott allowed me to come in with her and co-direct it and work on the concept. We’re both Cancer women so we both think out the box. We go a little crazy sometimes, but I’m very excited for what we’ve come up with”

On the role ex-boyfriend Antwaun Cook plays her in music:

“All of my music is not just based on Antwaun. You know, he plays a big part. I think with the songs like, you know, where I speak about ‘I’m a lady, I’m a woman,’ and I came in at the beginning of the song and I say ‘Look, the world says this love is no good to me, but my heart says that it is.’ So I think it’s my way of speaking to everybody…You only heard what you heard, you only got what you got. But you never got to see that real love and that relationship, that friendship that we had. They kept running with this whole knowledge thing, and she stole somebody from some woman…Well, if everybody really looks at it and goes and does their research, I won that case. So obviously, if I won that case, it never was what they said it was. But once something gets out there, people believe everything they hear, or they just put their own twist, their own spin to it…Regardless of what you say, he’s still my son’s father. I still do love him. No, we’re not together, but he’s still a great father, a great friend, and nobody’s gonna change that. So I would have to say that this album is my way of letting go of a lot of things, letting go of a lot of things holding me back, the world mainly.”

On being burned by the industry:

“But the main thing that hurt me, the industry was the main thing that hurt me. It wasn’t really the relationship. It was the world. It was me having to turn on my TV and seeing my name all over CNN, TMZ, all over the blogs, all over radio station. That hurt me the most. Some of the main people that sat and voted for me and said that they loved me, they were fickle. And stuff started happening, and people believed what they wanted to believe. And as far as putting all types of stuff out, that hurt me the most. But the industry hurt me the most…I never understood how someone could love you so much at one point, and then months down the line, everybody is against you, everybody’s trying to make a mockery of you.”

On other celebs who were caught up in infidelity scandals:

“And let me just say this, there’s been so many other artists, and I’m not gone say any names, who have been in the same situation that I have, but you never hear it. So Fantasia was that person that they said ‘Hey, let’s make her the crash dummy.Let’s make her the person who we’ll talk about. We’ll never praise her good but we will always expose her bad.’ So I would have to say “Side Effects of You,” my main hurt, all of those songs came from the industry…And I’m not just talking about Antwaun. I’ve been in a lot of relationships where they’ve just been, not good.”

Listen to audio from part one of her interview below, flip the switch for part two. Would you say that people were more forgiving of other celebs like Alicia Keys, for example? 

It’s been a long road for Fantasia and her on-again-off-again boyfriend Antwaun Cook. There was the drama with Antwaun’s estranged wife who tried to sue the “Lose to Win” singer in relation to the extra marital relationship that she had with Antwaun. Then, there were those circulating rumors that Cook turned around and cheated on Tasia with Kendra James of Bad Girls Club. Not to mention the public disputes that she’s gotten into with his family since the birth of their son, Dallas. These days Fanny seems to be steering clear of the drama that appears to come along with being emotionally involved with Antwaun. In an interview that appears in the April issue of Sister 2 Sister, the mother of two opened up about the current status of her relationship with Cook and what they’ve both learned from their mistakes.

On her split from Antwaun:

“Me and Antwaun, as of now, we are not together. I think it’s the best thing for us all. We had to learn how to become friends again. There was so much stuff that came out. We were all hurt along the way. There’s trust issues. There’s just a lot of stuff that kinda got put in the mix. And I, at one point, I wanted to make everybody else happy. To love him, to make sure Zion was okay, to make sure everything—but I had to get to a place where I had to learn how to love Fantasia. I never did that, Jamie. And if I don’t love myself, then I can’t be in a relationship.”

“He’ll say, ‘I learned that you can’t play with people’s hearts.’ I think every man gets to a place of knowing that they wanna be faithful and they wanna be good fathers and good husbands and good boyfriends… Things play out for you to say, okay, it’s time for me to man up or it’s time for me to woman up. I think we both have a lot of regrets of how things just happened; it all happened so fast. I just went full-speed ahead and that’s why I was tellin’ you now. I think out everything before I do it. Everything.”

Fanny appears to be making strides in a positive direction. We’re definitely rooting for her and hope that she continues down this path.

Thoughts?

Source: WENN

The Thanksgiving holiday seems to have sparked more celebrity drama than we thought when notables took to their social networking accounts to share photos of who they spent their holiday with. First there was the drama surrounding the highly criticized photo that Rihanna posted to her Instagram account of boo-thing Chris Brown sleeping after the two spent Thanksgiving together in Europe and now, this. According to The YBF, it seems that Antwaun Cook’s family still are not too happy about he and Fantasia being together because a woman believed to be the aunt of Cook, Vickie Henry, had been sending Tasia some pretty aggressive and distasteful messages. In retaliation, Tasia posted this photo, which is of her and Antwaun spending Thanksgiving together to her Instagram account with a caption that read: RUN and TELL THAT.

It is being reported that this same woman caused Antwaun to delete all of his social media accounts to avoid any forms of communication with her; however, Tasia wasn’t budging. Seemingly fed up, she proceeded to go at the woman.

“We grown you’re more than welcome to come to my Home. Face to Face. Woman to Woman. Come on now, you older than me doing this again? I DON’T EVEN KNOW YOU.”

The comments also revealed that family dispute seems to have started over Antwaun’s family having some sort of issue with how many photos he has of Dallas, the son that she shares with Cook. She also continued to call his family out as fake, stating that they come to pick up Dallas and “pretend” as if they don’t have issues with her and threatened that “they’ll never see him again”.

I guess Tasia and Antwaun are back together despite her suicide attempt, being sued by his wife and allegedly being cheated on by him with Kendra of “Bad Girls Club” *sigh*. It seems really silly for this family to be beefing over how many photos the man has of his kid, but whatever the situation is, I’m sure it is one that mature adults should be able to handle privately, not on social networks.

Do you think Fanny should’ve responded to Vickie?

Jazmine Denise is a writer living in New York. Follow her on Twitter @jazminedenise

Source: kimoracochran.com

I should probably be more positive about Antwaun Cook’s tweets about spending time with his kids but this guy just rubs me the wrong way. Sister 2 Sister picked up on some messages the father of Fantasia’s son sent out last week and from looking at his timeline, since then it appears he’s on a bit of a mission to clear his name—at least as it relates to his parenting. Here’s where his “I’m a good dad” crusade began:

Since that day, the rumored T-mobile salesman has been uploading pics on Instagram showing him with his family and at least one older son of his. He also posted this cute pic of Fannie—or Tasia as some of you prefer—and their son too, writing “mother and child pure happiness.”

It’s hard to tell whether these photo opps are just a Fourth of July cookout situation he’s exploiting to clear his name or a regular occasion, and yes I know it’s none of my business, but my question is does this prove anything? Antwaun had a bad rep out the gate since he was married when he got with Fantasia and throughout their entire relationship there seemed to be evidence or at least speculaton that he was dogging her and their son after she had him late last year. Add to that the latest talk about him dating Kendra James from “Bad Girls Club”, which he still hasn’t addressed at all, and dude never had a chance in the public eye. From these pics it looks like he may at least be doing something for his children, though it’s hard to say if it’s enough.

I’m pretty sure no matter how many e-campaigns this man goes on he’ll still be stuck with the title of cheat so he might just need to go on ahead and accept his lot in life. But from the adoring responses he’s received online, it looks like some people aren’t mad at him. Are you?

What do you think about Antwaun’s tweets and pics? Could he be a better father than people think?

Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

More on Madame Noire!

• Just a Thought, Maybe More People Would Try Online Dating If The Ads Weren’t So Corny
• Ask A Very Smart Brotha Live: He Cheated When I Was 3 Wks Pregnant, Should I Forgive Him?
• Good Sex, Are You Having It? The Importance of Communication In The Bedroom
• MN Exclusive: Tempestt Bledsoe Talks New Show, Men who Make Less & Natural Hair
• So What If I Don’t Cook? This Is For Women Who Aren’t Obsessed With What Men Want In A Wife
• Relaxed & Real, Episode 1: From Daytime To Evening
• 8 Things We Want To Tell Our Potential Suitors: The First Date No No’s For Men

Source: buzz.eewmagazine.com

Looks like Fannie heard everyone’s been talking about her and the rumors surrounding her son’s father, Antwaun Cook. At the end of last week, stories were swirling about Antwaun hooking up with a member of the “Bad Girls Club,” and on top of that sites were reporting the singer had a bit of a breakdown on stage as she talked about Jesus being the only one who will never leave you, not to mention a horrific picture of said breakdown.

That’s neither here nor there now, because the singer appeared to be in a much better place during the Essence Music Festival this weekend, so much so that in between customary barefoot performances of songs like “Bittersweet,” “Even Angels,” and “Nobody Greater,” she imparted these words to the audience:

“I’m doing me now, and I don’t care what the folk have to say. So put that on your Twitter. Sweep around your own front door before you try and clean around mine…”

OK then. Looks like someone hit her with that “I told you so” about her borrowed man like I predicted.

Regardless, the important thing is she’s doing what she should be doing which is singing so she can provide for her children, and I must say I’d much rather hear her say she’s doing her than to be depressed about the rumored love she’s lost. My only hope is that doing her extends to not doing Antwaun anymore because it’s time to retire that triflin’ man.

Do you believe Fantasia’s done with him?

Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

More on Madame Noire!

• Never Thought They’d Make It: Couples We Didn’t Think Would Still Be Together!
• Back In The Day When I Was Young: Child Actors Who Aren’t So Little Anymore!
• Oral Transactions and Getting “Ghetto”: Moments in Reality TV That Had Everybody Talking
• They’re Not Just for Kids Anymore: How to Be Chic in Your Jellies This Summer
• Noire Naturals, Episode 3: Creating a Sophisticated Elegance
• Open Door Policy: The Truth About “Breaks” and Open Relationships
• DY-NO-MITE!!! 8 Celebrities and the Roles That Typecast Them and Stunted Their Careers

Source: Thatgrapejuice.net

I’m sure someone somewhere is telling Fantasia “I told so,” but hopefully they also have some comfort for the mother of two whose boyfriend/second child’s father Antwaun Cook has supposedly left her for another woman. Oh, and the woman isn’t the wife we’re pretty sure he’s still married too either.

The story stems from a photo “Bad Girls Club” member Kendra James uploaded on Instagram of her getting cozy with a man who looks dead on Antwaun. Making things even more suspect, when fans questioned her about who he was, she deleted the pic and any links to it.

Yeah that’s him.

I’d like to say I’d think this woman would be smart enough not to get involved with this man but she did appear on “Bad Girls Club” after all, and from the looks of things they’re already very much involved. The YBF also has a source who confirmed the men in Kendra’s other pics are Antwaun’s fraternity brothers and they say she’s definitely dating ol’ boy. Many are speculating this situation is at least part of, if not the full reason, Fantasia had a break down during her performance in Trinidad last weekend, she reportedly told the audience:

“The only person who will never leave you is Jesus.”

All I can say is she better hold on to God’s unchanging hand right now because it looks like things with Antwaun are o.v.a. Considering they probably should have never started in the first place, this really isn’t a bad thing in the long run. What do you say?

Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

More on Madame Noire!

• Party of One Please: Things I’ve Learned To Enjoy By Myself
• MN Exclusive: Warryn & Erica Campbell On How They Met, Their Family and Managing To Work Together
• You Are Not The Father! The Most Memorably Ratchet Moments From The Maury Povich Show
• Drop The Flat Iron Like It’s Hot: Summer Hairstyles To Help You Beat the Heat
• And They Say Only Black Women are Bitter? Why Bitter Black Men Need To Have a Seat…Several
• Stop Arguing About Dumb Stuff! How I Learned To Keep The Peace In My Relationship
• Old Habits Die Hard: Learning Not To Dim My Light So Others Can Feel Like They’re Shining

Source: Global Grind

With all the dramatic rumors flying around about Fantasia and her money, her man and her career in general, it’s nice to see the new mommy (who gave birth in December) all smiles and showing off her post-baby curve-a-licious body. Homegirl gave her own short locks a break and was seen at a recent event in North Carolina with long, flowing extensions with some really cute bangs. She also showed up in this multi-colored dress with slits in the arms and pink, strappy stilettos. She, like Bey, is embracing her added curves since giving birth, and it’s nice to see her looking in good spirits. For a minute there, we were getting worried about the direction of things in Fanny’s life (and we still are a little), what with Antwaun Cook allegedly wanting to go back to his ex and the singer having to sell her home for a lot less than she paid, but we’ll continue to hope for the best. Make that money, honey and hurry up and put out a new album! “I’m Doin’ Me” was the jam…

What do you think of her new look?

More on Madame Noire!

• What’s Love Got To Do With It? Things You Really Need To Make A Relationship Work
• Where Are They Now? The Cast of “Family Matters”
• Pompadours and Ponytails: Which Celeb Wears It Best?
• Ratch on Ratch on Ratch: 6 Questions I Need Answered About Basketball Wives’
• Bad Never Looked So Good: Fine Fictional Characters That Scared Us For Real
• Friend to Foe: 7 Things That Can Turn Your Bestie Into Your Worst Enemy
• GIRLS GONE WILD! Ladies Who Can’t Keep Their Hands To Themselves

It’s been almost three months since Fantasia gave birth to her son, Dallas Xavier, December 13, and Baller Alert has snagged the first photo of her little bundle in this sweet pic with his father, Antwaun Cook.

Unfortunately, the story behind this photo isn’t as precious as it looks. Baller Alert supposedly received this image from one of Antwaun’s side pieces—on top of the fact that he’s said to be trying to get back with his wife, Paula. Messy much? Antwaun supposedly showed her the image and she sent it along to the gossip site, along with a little background info on this doomed couple.

The source says Fantasia lost her home and had to move back to her first house, and Antwaun did not tag along—although he’s slept in her home several times, claiming to be there for his son. Mmmhmmm. Antwaun supposedly doesn’t like the way Fantasia treats people and says he will never go back to her—unless it’s to sleep with her apparently. The source also claims Fantasia has shown up at Antwaun’s home several times crying and banging on the door and he wouldn’t let her in. And although you always have to take the story of the “other woman” with a grain of salt, this chick seems to be the only one who’s not in denial about who Antwaun really is. She told Baller Alert that he’s very charming and she could see why Fantasia would fall for him, but at the end of the day, “he ain’t s***.” We could’ve told you that.

Despite the relationship quarrels, hopefully this pic is at least proof that Antwaun is handling his responsibilities as a father—although previous reports of Fantasia needing child support suggest otherwise. Poor Fanny. It’s time for an intervention.

How much truth do you think there is to this woman’s story? Is this proof that you lose ‘em the same way you get ‘em?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

More on Madame Noire!

• How Tweet It Is: Folks Who Need A Twitter Take Down!
• No Ordinary Love: Weird Things That Are Good For Your Relationship
• Double Take! Celebs’ Who Look Just Like Their Parents
• Golden Girls! Gorgeous Gold Accessories – EDITOR PICKS
• Jojoba Oil: A Nourishing and Natural Friend For Your Hair
• Black Celebrity Twins Besides Tia & Tamera
• Puurrfectly Poised: Style Icon Eartha Kitt
• Sisters In Hiding: Not So Famous Sisters of Famous Celebs Part II

It’ hasn’t even been a month since Fantasia gave birth to her son Dallas Xavier Dec. 13 and already there are issues. According to the St. Louis American, Fantasia doesn’t want to be separated from her newborn baby but she needs to work to support him and her 10-year-old daughter.

“Fantasia has a lot of people to support. She’s still financing an expensive lifestyle and touring constantly to pay for it,” according to an anonymous source. “She needs to work – but her baby needs her too!”

If you read between the lines, it sounds as though her boyfriend/baby daddy/cheating husband Antwaun Cook isn’t helping to support their child. He’s reportedly still married to his wife, Paula, and according to sources is not living with Fanny. You’d think those facts would be enough for Fantasia to get the hint but she’s supposedly still “hoping for the best.”

“What Fantasia really hopes is that he will step up now, marry her and help with the care of their family,” the source said. “She’s tired of carrying the whole load by herself.”

Good luck with that Fantasia, but I think it may be time to let the fantasy go. Wendy Williams mercilessly went in on Fantasia yesterday (as she does most people) and even rung up T-mobile where Antwaun supposedly works to see how much he brings home ($60K). But no matter how much he is or isn’t making he still needs to take responsibility for the child he created.

What do you think about Fantasia’s situation? Is she crazy to think Antwaun would step up and marry her now? Should she even want the cheater as her husband?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

More on Madame Noire!

• It’s Bad Boy For Life? Artists Whose Talents Are/Were Wasted Under Bad Boy Records
• Should I Confess My Affair?
• Can D’Angelo Make A Comeback Without Bringing Swexy Back?
• Ask a Very Smart Brotha: Freshmen Woes & Possessive Types
• S*** Black Girls Say vs. S*** White Girls Say to Black Girls
• Six Fashion Trends Sistas Need to Change. Now.

Photo credit: Splash News Online

Here are some of the best celebrity shots we’ve seen this week!

For the first time since the news broke of her alleged affair, Fantasia Barrino and Antwaun Cook, the man whose marriage she has been accused of breaking up, were seen together Friday near her Charlotte, N.C., home.  Word is that video camera’s were also rolling, presumably for her VH1 reality show, Fantasia for Real.

Read the rest of this entry »