Despite all the candles she might throw at folks on Love and Hip Hop Atlanta, we can’t deny that K. Michelle has come a long way, especially in terms of her career. The singer and reality personality spoke about her journey at a sold-out show at the Highline Ballroom in NYC yesterday. A big part of the testimonial she shared with fans was her struggle to get up and move forward after suffering violence at the hands of her ex (we won’t say any names…but you know the alleged deal), and how she felt her career was over before it had even really begun:

“I had people send me hate, send me Tweets and do things to me, like I was the one who did it to myself. I think a lot of women don’t tell their story, and men, just because you don’t know what people are going to say to you. And more and more, women are coming forward. And I think, if you go through that, you have to use it to help other people. You have to be strong. I thought my career was over. [cries] I thought it was over. I didn’t have anything. I still get angry and I think that’s the reason for a lot of the things that I do that I shouldn’t. But you can’t take the excuse. You just have to get better and say why, and move forward.”

After saying all that and adding that she has indeed moved forward, a fan yelled out “and get money!” The singer responded by saying, “So, I love my fans. You’re just as crazy as me.”

Afterwards, K belted out her own version of Beyoncé’s “Best Thing I Never Had,” which she calls “The Worst Man I Ever Had,” flipping the lyrics to fit her own experience in her abusive relationship. She definitely sounded good, and the lyrics were pretty moving:

Heard you got married, damn shame for her/Cause I’m glad you showed me who you really were/The picture you paint, you know you ain’t no saint/Keep it real about everything, I know just who you are/When I think of the times I had a fist to my eye, face all swolled and it hurt me to cry/Thank God I didn’t die, Thank you God for saving my life/I’m so over you, my momma prayed my way out…

Check out her short speech and her performance on the next page and let us know what you think.

Source: NBC

Last week, folks were damn near having a conniption over news that Law & Order: SVU was airing an episode eerily similar/”ripped [straight] from the headlines” of the 2009 Chris Brown-Rihanna domestic dispute. This week, it appears all that attention NBC stirred up did nothing for them in the long run.

Last night was the big airing of the “Funny Valentine” episode, which told the tale of Caleb Bryant (please note identical initials) and Micha, a hot mess of a couple whose drama consistently plays out in the media, including a violent altercation that does not end well (I won’t spoil it for people who haven’t watched yet.) As enticing as SVU writers thought reliving all of that pre-Grammy Chrianna drama would be to viewers, the episode actually did absolutely nothing for the show’s ratings.

According to TV by the Numbers:

Law & Order: SVU was flat with last week’s 1.6 adults 18-49

For the 1.6 million viewers, who we can assume are regulars considering the ratings are exactly the same as last week, the reaction to the episode was mixed. No one seemed to be outraged by it, just simply over the whole situation, especially considering the real Caleb Braynt and Micha are still in the headlines every day in real life. For the rest of the viewers though, this actually seemed to be one of the best episodes of the season in their opinion. If you didn’t get a chance to watch last night, you can check out the whole episode below. What do you think?

Everyone should have seen this coming, and truthfully, we’re a little surprised it took this long to happen. But word around the Internet is that “Law & Order: SVU” will be airing an episode next week recreating the Chris Brown-Rihanna domestic debacle of 2009.

I imagine since Breezy and Ri Ri are over it, the media figures everyone else is too so talking about the situation out in the open — even as a reenactment — is fair game. And that appears to be exactly what NBC is doing. Even though the network hasn’t released an official statement on next week’s “Funny Valentine” episode, the details on The Clicker pretty much spell out all we need to know.

“A promising singer is brutally attacked by her boyfriend, a popular hip-hop star. ADA Barba (guest star Raul Esparza) works to build a case, but the victim refuses to aid the prosecution, and despite Det. Benson’s best efforts, continues to put herself in danger.”

Even more telling is the voice over on the preview which states the episode is:

“A familiar story of two celebrities intertwined by abuse.”

And then there’s the fact that they’re both black — and back together — and voilá Chris Brown and Rihanna relived.

As if there wasn’t enough going on in that episode, both Wendy Williams and Perez Hilton will be making guest appearances on the episode. Sounds like one to watch — or not. What do you think?

From TMZ

“Terminator 2” actor Edward Furlong was arrested this weekend on suspicion of attacking his GF… TMZ has learned … the THIRD time he’s been accused of domestic violence in three months.

Law enforcement sources tell us, Furlong was popped in L.A. Sunday morning around 5:45 AM. We’re told he also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, stemming from one of his prior domestic violence incidents.

Furlong is still in custody.

Read more at  TMZ

Source: Getty Images

Unfortunately domestic abuse among celebrity couples has become a far to common news story these days, but there’s a special type of emotion that comes along with learning that violence was carried out in front of children– especially while someone was in the midst of caring for a child.

That appears to be the case with Javaris Crittenton, a former NBA player who has been accused of slapping the mother of his child in the face while she was breastfeeding their 1-day-old son. According to TMZ:

Crittenton has temporarily been ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from Tyress Daniels and their newborn son … after she filed court docs outlining a pattern of domestic violence.

In the docs, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, Daniels claims JC attacked her on three separate occasions. The first incident allegedly took place when she was pregnant and he roughed her up in a hotel room.

According to Daniels, the 2nd incident occurred at a hospital on Nov. 1 — less than 24 hours after she gave birth to their son.

Daniels claims, “I was breastfeeding the baby and we got into an argument over what the baby would wear for pictures. Javaris hit me in the face while I was breastfeeding because he said I had a smart mouth.”

Daniels claims Javaris tried to grab the baby and leave … but hospital security rushed in and stopped him. He was eventually kicked out of the room.

According to the docs, Daniels claims JC got rough with her a 3rd time on Nov. 26 … scratching her face and busting her lip. She also claims Javaris later sent her a text message saying she would end up like her “dead mother” and he will have the child.

After Daniels filed the docs, a judge awarded temporary custody of the kid to Daniels — and set a hearing for next month … when the judge will decide if the restraining order will become more permanent.

What’s even more disturbing than having a child with an abusive man is that Javaris may have actually committed an even more serious crime. TMZ also notes that the 24-year-old former Washington Wizards player is also facing a murder charge for the shooting death of a 22-year-old woman in 2011. Though he has denied any wrongdoing, that type of background certainly makes Tyress’s claims that he threatened to kill her sound much more malleable. Let’s hope that restraining order sticks — for good.

Source: Thinkstock.com

When I first moved to New York, in addition to finding a job and an apartment where mice didn’t run rampant, I knew that I had to find a church, or a “church home” as churched people call them. Coming from churches I absolutely adored both at home and in my college town, I just assumed that the search was going to be long and arduous. Good churches, or a church that fits anyone’s personal needs are not always easy to find. But that couldn’t have been further from the truth in my case. The church that I joined not too long ago, ended up being within walking distance of my apartment. When my cousin, sister and I first walked in, I had my reservations. The congregation was mostly older and the music was more “traditional” than I would have liked; but all that aside, I could tell that the people were warm and welcoming and that first sermon and subsequent ones have been just what I need.

Now, the church is not perfect, there are some things they do that I don’t particularly agree with but it’s a good fit. And something that happened last Sunday, reaffirmed that I made the right decision when I joined.

I noticed that there was a new face in the pulpit, a woman with a full afro and a girlish face. I remember noting the lavender colored scarf she had draped over her knees. The pastor introduced her by name but didn’t really provide much background information. He just said that she was going to speak about an issue that was quite prevalent in our community. Even if he had given an introduction, there was no way anyone could have prepared me for what she was about to say.

First she told the congregation that this month, October, in addition to being Hispanic Heritage month, Anti-Bullying month and Breast Cancer Awareness month was also National Domestic Violence Awareness month. She said that even if people hadn’t experienced domestic violence themselves, 75 percent of Americans know someone who has. Then this same woman with the little girl face and puffy afro told us that she was a victim of domestic violence. That she’d been punched, kicked and beaten by an ex boyfriend. In their last physical altercation, this same ex boyfriend threatened to set her on fire. The congregation gasped. She said at that point she knew if she wanted to live, she needed to leave right then. She asked God to send her an angel to help her get away from her boyfriend. And He did. That night she packed a bag and went to stay with her mother. Naturally, she told her mother what had been going on. Her mother went over to the apartment to confront the boyfriend.

But this ex boyfriend of hers was ruthless and since he couldn’t get to his girlfriend, he set her mother on fire instead.

The mother suffered third degree burns and slipped into a coma. The woman with the afro continued her story, telling the congregation how the doctors continuously tried to prepare she and her family for her mother’s death. The woman said that it was her aunt who refused to accept the negative prognosis, telling the doctor that she knew somebody. The congregation, and most black church folk, recognize that phrasing as code for Jesus. Hallelujahs rang out in anticipation of a happy ending. The woman went on to say that her mother made a full recovery thanks to God’s grace. The church erupted with shouts of joy and gratitude. I was happy too but a lot of times, my most overwhelming emotions are reflected in tears. After the woman with the afro had returned to her seat, and the congregation had settled back down, I was still crying, sobbing actually.

I was weeping not just for the woman with the afro and her mother but for all the other women who’ve endured relationships like this, women who’ve escaped and women who haven’t.

I was weeping for my own grandmother who was punched and kicked by my grandfather when she was pregnant with my mother. I don’t know if my grandmother asked God for an angel that day, like the woman with the afro did; but one just so happened to stop by my grandparents’ house, in the form of a neighbor who took her to the hospital. My grandmother would have three more children after my mother, her third child, and all six of them would be grown before she and my grandfather divorced. I’m sure there were a lot of reasons why she stayed throughout the abuse but I know, without a doubt, that one of them was about keeping up appearances, making sure that no one else, besides the angel-neighbor, knew what type of marriage she really had.

If the fact about the 75 percent is really true, then most of you reading this now know someone who’s in this same predicament. Most of us aren’t in a place where we can make domestic violence victims leave their abusers, that’s something they have to come to accept and decide to do on their own. What you can do though, is talk about it. To the victims, to friends, little cousins, associates, anybody. You never know what people are going through and what messages or stories might inspire them to ask for an angel and get out.

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theafrowomansezine.com

They say the American public is quick to demonize and even quicker to forgive. I don’t know about all of that considering that with certain celebrity stories, we stay on critique mode, and never come around to forgiving and forgetting. Whether it be a certain singer’s supposed fake baby bump, or an old domestic abuse case that gets a new headline weekly, there are certain situations that we just need to get over, especially since we weren’t involved in any way. The expression of beating a dead horse cannot even be applied to these next examples, as I’m sure their corpses have already denigrated.

Source: WENN

Chad Johnson and Evelyn Lozada are one step closer to being Chad Johnson and Evelyn Lozada, as in separate, unmarried, single entities. Though Chad initially resisted the reality that his marriage was in a junk yard somewhere, walking around in t-shirts with subtle love messages, tatting Evelyn’s face on his leg, and mentioning her in his Twitter Bio, according to TMZ, he’s finally woken up and smelled the coffee. Or the stench of a jail, considering he was officially charged with domestic battery yesterday. Either way, the site says Chad has filed his own divorce papers, recognizing that his 30-something-day marriage to Evelyn is “irrevocably broken.”

Johnson filed the papers yesterday in a Florida court … in response to the docs Evelyn filed back on August 14. In his papers, Chad admits the two have a prenup that he believes should be enforced — especially the part about who pays for the lawyers.

According to the docs, Johnson wants a judge to BLOCK Evelyn’s request that Chad foot the bill for her legal fees … citing a provision in the prenup in which the two sides agreed to pay their own way if they were to split up.

The divorce has not been finalized yet … but at this point, it’s only a matter of time … and sources close to Evelyn tell us she’s “ecstatic” and ready to move on.

Anyone else see “Ev: Life After Ohco” headed to a VH1 channel near you?

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Source: avahtaylor.com

We should all honor Chad’s request to not feel sorry for his black a** because although it seemed like the former NFL player was going to use his altercation with Evelyn as a teachable moment, it seems Ochocinco still hasn’t learned his lesson.

“Basketball Wives” star Evelyn Lozada wasted no time drafting divorce papers after Chad head-butted her one month ago, but it appears Chad is going to waste plenty of time avoiding the documents he’s been served. According to TMZ, he refuses to sign the divorce papers because, to put it simply, he doesn’t want to get a divorce. This isn’t a huge shock considering this is the same man who just plastered Evelyn’s face on his calf last weekend, what may be surprising to him though is that it doesn’t necessarily matter if he signs the papers or not.

As TMZ tells it, under Florida law a divorce can be finalized with a judge’s approval. Given the domestic incident and the cheating on Chad’s behalf that it resulted from, I’d say Evelyn has a pretty good case for the dissolution. In the month that has passed since the incident, Evelyn hasn’t wavered in her response regarding whether she thinks her relationship with Chad can be repaired. As recent as her latest interview with PEOPLE which hit newsstands Friday, she told the magazine she was leaving her broken marriage. She also told Nightline she didnt think there was anything Chad could say to her that would change her mind. On the other hand, Chad is convinced that losing his career and his wife are temporary and he’s going to get both back, as stated in the video below. Good luck with that.

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Source: The Jasmine Brand

In another of the many exclusives Evelyn is giving on her divorce from Chad Johnson, the reality TV star had a sit-down with PEOPLE for two pages worth of a chat on the drama that’s come to characterize her existence. Getting a little deeper than the Nightline interview, Evelyn talked about why she’s leaving Chad and what she plans to do now. Here are some snippets from the feature we caught on The Jasmine Brand.

Why she was mad at the condom receipt

“I’m not naïve. I didn’t think he was going to be perfect, but three weeks after we got married? I feel like he wasn’t even trying.”

Sorry, I just have to interject here. This clearly suggests Chad hadn’t tackled his cheating desires before walking down the aisle (probably because he wasn’t asked to) so why would you even marry someone who you knew had likely been creeping right up until the night before the wedding? Would it have been better if the receipt came three months later?

Alright back to our regularly scheduled program.

Source: The Jasmine Brand

What happened the night of the altercation

He flew into a rage, grabbed her face, and head-butted her in the face…Then she went to the hospital for five or six stiches.

“I had blood in my eyes. I was tasting it. I remember realizing, oh my God, the news is going to get out. I was so humiliated.”

Chad’s dark side

“I always knew [to back down] when he got that look in his eye. It was scary.”

Lozada also alludes to past “situations” but won’t elaborate out of respect for Johnson’s four young children.

Whether she was violent with him

“I never once lifted a finger to Chad; not that day, not prior. I never attempted to do anything to him.”

How she feels about Chad now

“I’ll always have love for him…Chad is not a bad person, but he made a bad choice.”

Evelyn’s feature is in the current issue of PEOPLE which hit newsstands today. What do you think about her interview?

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