Credit: Shutterstock

Dear Carolyn Moos:

Hey, girl. How are you? I hope you’re keeping yourself together in the wake of your ex-fiancé Jason Collins’ coming out of the closet. That had to have been a tough thing for you to endure, especially since you reportedly only found out that Collins is gay days before he went public. I’m sure this hasn’t been tougher on anyone than it has been on you.  …Except maybe for Jason.

That being said, I feel some kind of way about the media blitz you’ve been engaging in. Talk shows, magazine articles, modeling the dress you would have worn down the aisle with Collins, and now plans for a book. Let’s be clear, I don’t want to belittle your experience at all; I’ve never been in your shoes, but I’m certain it has to suck. But… you kind of look a wee bit like an opportunist.

Since you did essentially find out about all this with the rest of us, it would seem that you’d need some time to let it all sink in before seeking out the camera and writing on an experience that you’re kind of still experiencing. Maybe you feel like you’re owed something for the time you spent heading down a dead end path with Collins. Maybe you’re translating the emotional currency you doled out into American dollars now. I’m not judging; maybe I’d do the same thing! But if I did, I’d hope that there would be someone near and dear enough to me who cares for me enough to tell me to have a seat and not behave so thirstily. Take all the time you need to heal, but stop chasing the spotlight to do it.

At the very least, honey, keep the wedding dress in the closet and quietly freeze those eggs. When the book drops, enough people will remember you and your experience to read it if they have an interest. Then you’ll heal, get your palms greased a little, and still keep a modicum of your dignity.

It’s a very pretty dress though. May you get to rock it one day!

Sincerely,

Tracy

Source: Twitter

If there’s one person who knows all about motherhood, it’s R&B Divas Atlanta star KeKe Wyatt. With six children, the 31-year-old, soul-singing Indianapolis native was the perfect candidate to gush about the joys of motherhood on Mother’s Day. In an open letter released to The YBF, Wyatt expressed how thankful she is to have been blessed with her kiddies. Her letter reads:

“I thank God every day for blessing me with the greatest gift of all, my children. Anyone who really knows Keke Wyatt will tell you the one thing that I do not play about are my children honey. Most of you only know me as an artist or from R&B Divas ATL, but before any of that; I am “mommy” first. I come from a history of large families. Mymother has 8 brothers and sisters and my father had 4 sisters; who in the world would ever think that I would have 6 of my own, Lord Jesus. Bean 13, Poopy 11, Makayla 9, Mimmi 4, Ke’mar 2, and Wyatt who will be 1 this month all have brought unspeakable joy to my life. Please don’t get it twisted I only have 2 baby daddies of whom I was and am married to now…BOOM! I know y’all thinking, “Dang Brady Bunch; no ma’am more like Wyatt-Ford Bunch.”…. lol

Sometimes I find it hard to put into words just how I feel about my children. No Shade but sometimes my kids do get on my nerves but they are my hun buns and they are the center of my life. As a mother, every holiday is a proud moment because I get to see the smiles on their faces. There are times I do feel a little guilt because my profession requires me to be on the road so much and miss quality time with my family. Thankfully my children know that mommy is always available to them even when I am not near them. Thank God for technology, because it allows me to stay in constant communication whether by skype, tango, or by phone. Once I return home I devote all of my time and energy to them. I truly thank God for my gift and the blessings that it has afforded me. Knowing and working in an industry that can be cruel and judgmental, my children provide just the amount of peace I need when times get really rough. Honey, I don’t know what I would do without my babies, every last one of them. I am honored to be able to wake up every day and hear my teeny weenys say, “Mommy”… OkaaaaaY!!!!

-KeKe Wyatt”

What do you think of KeKe’s letter?

Source: AP

Earlier this week, NBA player Jason Collins came out as the first openly gay professional athlete playing in a major team sport. A couple of weeks prior, No. 1 WNBA draft pick Brittney Griner made an announcement regarding her homosexuality as well, following in the footsteps of former WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes. Beyond sports, there was Frank Ocean last year and now rumors are swirling about singer Janelle Monae (who denies being gay, but opposes traditional gender norms). Not to mention, there is the ongoing debate about gay marriage, gay rights, and tolerance. Last year, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis even released a song called “Same Love,” which was a personal call for equality for gay couples in light of the rapper’s childhood wonderings.

In case you hadn’t noticed, the gay community has cemented their place in culture. But of course they haven’t done so without a fair share of controversy. Yet, from where I stand, all I see are two caricatures presented by the media— a voice of tolerance and a voice of hate. A group simply wanting people to be happy, and the opposition wanting to deny them of that inalienable right, and doing so with absolutely no compassion. If you’re gay, be gay! Or God hates gays, so go to hell! Those are the only options society gives us.

Yet, what I don’t think is being given a voice is the side of those who love gay people (and any other group of people), believe in human rights, but also ascribe to a faith that has transformed their own thinking and being—all the way down to challenging their own sexuality. This became apparent when Chris Broussard made his comments regarding Collins’ announcement. Although I understand why ESPN viewers could be bothered by Broussard’s religious commentary, considering they watch ESPN for sports and not sermons, I think it’s unfortunate that he’s now experiencing media martyrdom. I began asking myself what I would have done if (for some reason) ESPN asked me for my opinion. I’m not sure what would have come out of my mouth that particular day, but I know I would have tried to communicate a message of truth and love. And if I could write a response, instead, here’s what I would say in my open letter to Jason Collins, Brittney Griner, and every person that wants to be who they were meant to be:

I’m a 25-year-old follower of Jesus. I’m black. And I grew up wondering if I was gay.

Growing up as a tomboy, I never played with Barbie dolls (except for that MC Hammer figure I was geeked about); I played outside with boys instead; wore boys’ clothes; played basketball most of my life, and didn’t really like doing any girlie things including liking boys. I can recall being in middle school trying to figure out what was wrong with me.  I even remember how awkward it was for me to have a boyfriend (for like 2 months). Was I supposed to feel something when he hugged me? Or that time he gave me a peck on the lips? Well, I didn’t. And if not for my ponytail, I’m sure we looked like two dudes walking down the street. I began wondering was I gay. My teammates were tomboys too, so I figured maybe we just represented a different type of female—a hybrid of genders perhaps. But as time went on, some of those teammates and other girls I’d played basketball with were now openly pursuing girls. They were gay. What did that mean for me? Confusion. But I didn’t decide that I too was gay. Why not? If it was something I could have decided, does that mean I never was? Is it because I grew up in church and heard being gay was a sin, so I never fully considered it an option? Or did I decide that I would fight to be whom I believe God created me to be despite any of my own thoughts or dispositions? What about one of my best friends  or other individuals who once embraced a homosexual lifestyle, but don’t anymore? Does that make it a choice?

Source: Shutterstock

A couple of weeks ago Jay-Z and his wife Beyoncé were spotted in Cuba on their fifth wedding anniversary. Whether the couple expected it or not is debatable, but their Cuban excursion stirred up much controversy, which included members of congress launching an investigation into the nature of their trip and political activists urging Washington to punish the hip-hop power couple accordingly if it was found that their trip was in violation the country’s Embargo Act, which prohibits Americans from journeying to Cuba for tourism purposes. Adding fuel to fire, not long after his return to the States, Jay-Z dropped controversial track “Open Letter,” where he addresses critics over their responses to his trip and rapped about having White House clearance due to his relationship with President Obama. Things got so out of hand that even the White House addressed the song during a press conference last week, expressing that President Obama had not spoken to Jay-Z or Beyoncé regarding their trip and that the White House has nothing to do with approving travel.

It turns out that Jay and Bey’s trip was in fact authorized by the proper government agency, which is the U.S. Department of Treasury, yet somehow, the public refuses to let the issue die. During a recent appearance on Today, the President was questioned about the song and his involvement in the Carters’ trip to Cuba.

“I wasn’t familiar that they were taking the trip. My understanding is that they went through a group that organizes these educational trips down to Cuba. This is not something the White House was involved with. We’ve got better things to do,” President Obama stated, seemingly through with the frivolous topic.

We have to agree Mr. President, there are plenty of other things to be concerned with.

Turn the page to watch Pres. Obama’s interview. Should Jay-Z apologize for dragging our President into the middle of his controversy or is the media to blame for blowing his lyrics out of proportion? 

Yesterday we talked about the explosive episode of “Iyanla Fix My Life” which aired Saturday night on OWN. Most people walked away from the opening episode of season 2 perplexed by DMX’s struggle and the fact that no real resolution came away an hour-and-a-half later. And that frustration was magnified by a statement the rapper’s publicist released, insinuating that Iyanla Vanzant exploited DMX and somehow made his image worse — eliminating any type of accountability on his end.

Well, if you know anything about Iyanla, she’s not standing for it. In fact, she’s responded to the negativity from DMX’s camp with another outpouring of love and an opportunity for him to get the help he so desperately needs. On the OWN website, the  life coach and Yoruba priestess posted this videotaped open letter to the hurting rapper, saying:

Beloved,

I know we haven’t spoken since our time together in Yonkers, but you have been in my thoughts and on my heart. And what concerns me is what I’m hearing from your friends and family and those who love you. And what I’m hearing is that they are just waiting for the call. They’re waiting for the day they get the call. And you know what I mean.

But I’m not waiting for that call. I’m calling on you, and I’m not going to give up on you. I will not stand by and watch my brother die. Over the years, I’ve worked with many, many people who’ve struggled with addiction. With help, healing is possible.

I want you to remember the person you became in the final months of your grandmother’s life. That’s a clean life. You can be that man today and every day. Just remember what your son said to you, “I want a relationship with you that is not toxic.”

My brother, Earl, DMX, I support you. I love you and I’m calling on all of my beloveds, my tweeple, my Facebok, my masterpiece families, to send you their love and support.

I know that there is no valley deep enough, no gap wide enough, no mountain high enough that love can’t conquer.

My door is always open.

Let’s hope DMX decides to walk through that door. What do you think about Iyanla’s letter?

Andres Otero/WENN.com

I had the opportunity to listen to Jay-Z’s “Open Letter” yesterday, and I definitely enjoyed many aspects of it. The beat was dope, the lyrics were witty, and as a hip-hop fan, I found it to be a pretty entertaining response to his critics, which are increasing. They, of course, spent the week on the rapper and Beyoncé’s case for celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary in Cuba with family.

But when he dropped lines like,

Boy from the hood, but got White House clearance

Obama said chill, you gon’ get me impeached/You don’t need this s**t anyway, go chill with me on the beach,”

I thought to myself, “This isn’t going to end well.” A day later, the White House felt the need to make it clear that they had nothing, especially President Obama, to do with the Carters getting clearance from the Treasury Department to vacay in Cuba. There was no conversation about possible impeachment, not even a joke about it–so basically, don’t look at President Obama, because his name is Bennett, and he ain’t in it.

While I could only imagine how amazing it would be to be able to say you are good friends with the President of the United States, it’s becoming clear that it’s not easy. Ever since Jay-Z and Beyoncé started pushing hard for the re-election of President Obama, and the First Family made clear that they were supporters of the couple, they’ve become closer and closer. The Carters hosted an event to raise millions for the Obama re-election campaign late last year, and they definitely did that. Jay-Z performed at a campaign event for the president the day before the election. Beyoncé could be seen all over her Instagram stanning for the president, wearing Obama earrings, Obama shirts and even showing us her early vote through her profile (bad idea). And when you show that kind of support, make it clear in your lyrics that you have “Obama on the text,” and that you take exclusive trips to the White House, a new type of critic is bound to come out that is much worse than folks on “urban” blogs and people who just aren’t fans. They’re like the boogie man, and they’re the Right-Wing nut-jobs searching for a conspiracy in every single thing to make you a target. And that’s what they’ve made Jay and Bey, when five or so years ago, they were just simple entertainers. From the backlash over her lip-synching performance of the “Star Spangled Banner” at the inauguration, to Donald Trump criticizing her performance at the Super Bowl, conservative haters going in about her outfit, Rush Limbaugh trying to mock “support” her song “Bow Down” by tying misogny to it, and now, this Cuba mess, the Carters have a new troll on their backs. We all know a rap song as a response might not be enough to hold them back.

On the other side of the fence, Jigga’s response and the couple’s trip as a whole has already become something of a small annoyance for the president and the White House, with people investigating two grown a** people’s decision to go to Cuba for the purpose of trying to see if the President had something to do with it. His song only made things worse, to the point that a statement had to be made about it all to prove that, look, Barack Obama has more important things to focus on and worry about. Gun control? North Korea anyone?

Who the president associates himself with has always been a target, dating back to Obama needing to separate himself from Rev. Jeremiah Wright when he was vying for a first term, and they were even closer at one time. And Jay doesn’t have a spotless background, what with a past in selling drugs, some episodes of violence, and some very provocative lyrics over the years. Hell, when Bey told “b***hes” to “Bow Down,” even people at my job were wondering if that would reflect well upon the president, because all of a sudden, everything the couple says and does can now affect the Obamas. What’s up with that?? It makes no sense to us, but for the critics, it does.

So while I enjoyed “Open Letter,” for what it was worth, I think it’s best that Jay-Z and Beyoncé go back to doing what they do best–ignoring the criticism like they had done for years, because I can’t say that responding and calling folks in high places out makes things better at this point. And in reality, this is just the beginning. For uber-conservative folks still pissy about Mitt Romney losing last November and making that eight years that Republicans will not have the highest position, the President and anybody that is close to him have become fair game for their bull. So as a man who said, “I Got 99 Problems But Mitt Ain’t One,” and his lady who exclaimed “Take that Mitches” after President Obama’s win on loose-leaf paper, things will probably get worse. But I just hope Jay will do the President a favor and relax on all the name dropping he does of him in his lyrics and in everyday life to prove that he’s come further than anybody ever expected. We get it. You’re cool. No need to gloat about your connections, nor to drag his name in on diss tracks and leave the president and his people trying to fend off all the press that comes with that. Let’s leave him far, far away from that.

Continue doing you, and be ready for whatever lies and drama uber-conseratives, the folks who don’t listen to your music, try to throw your way–ready to “brush your shoulders off” that is. Because that’s just what comes with having a friend who’s the leader of the free world.

Source(s): WENN, YouTube

Yesterday we reported on newly released track “Open Letter,” by Brooklyn rapper and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z. In the song, Jigga claps back at the politicians who criticized him for the trip that he took to Cuba with his wife Beyoncé. Since its release, the controversial track has spread like wildfire, even making it to a White House press conference. Why does the White House care about a Jay-Z song, you ask? Well, at one point in the song, Jay speaks about having a conversation with President Obama.

“Boy from the hood, but got White House clearance,” Jay says within the first 41 seconds of the song.

“Obama said chill, you gon’ get me impeached/You don’t need this s**t anyway, go chill with me on the beach,” he says in another bar.

Many perceived the name-drop as an admission that President Obama had something to do with getting the Carters’ Cuban trip approved, especially considering their relationship with the first couple. But, White House officials are saying this is not true. During a press conference yesterday, White House press secretary, Jay Carney was asked by a journalist about the lyrics and whether or not Jay and the POTUS held a conversation about visiting Cuba.

“I guess nothing rhymes with Treasury,” Carney humorously stated.

“Because Treasury offers and gives licenses for travel. The White House has nothing to do with it. I am absolutely saying that the White House, from the President on down, had nothing to do with anybody’s travel to Cuba,” he continued.

Carney went on to imply that song lyrics probably shouldn’t be taken so seriously.

“OFAC, Treasury, these are tough words to rhyme,” he joked. “It’s a song, Jay-Z did not communicate with the President about this trip.”

With all of that being said, it was pretty funny hearing rap lyrics referenced at a White House press conference.

Turn the page to watch a brief clip from the press conference. What are your thoughts on this? Has this been blown out of proportion or was Jay-Z out of line for pulling the President into the middle of his controversy? 

Source: AP Images

If you ever wondered whether or not Beyoncé and Jay-Z were aware of the criticism they receive, they definitely do. And while they might try and ignore a majority of it, frankly, it seems Jay has had quite enough.

For a majority of the week I’m sure you’ve heard about everybody from Stacey Dash to Senator Marco Rubio publicly denouncing the couple’s decision to vacay and celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary with family in Cuba. Even some Republican representatives sent a letter to the U.S. Treasury Department asking for more info on their trip, wondering if they had received the proper paperwork and permission to travel. Well, according to Reuters, they definitely received proper approval from the U.S. Treasury Department for their trip, so it might be time for folks looking for conspiracies and such to move on to a new target.

…But first! Jay-Z took a moment (not clear whether it was during the Cuban trip or if they’re already back in the U.S.) to write his own letter, in song form, for the critics coming his way for said trip, and even the reports that he’s selling his stake in the Brooklyn Nets. In “Open Letter,” produced by both Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, he let’s his feelings known: “When you gettin’ too much bread, they try and jam you…” And of course, shots were fired at the same politicians who were blasting the Cuba trip: “Politicians never did Isht for me / Except lie to me, distort history/Want to give me jail time and a fine / Fine, let me commit a real crime”

And as for the Brooklyn Nets, sounds like he is selling his stake, but he had a few words about that as well:

“Would have brought the Nets to Brooklyn for free, except I made millions off of you f**kin’ dweeb/I still own the building/I’m still keeping my seats/You buy that bulls**t, better keep your receipt/Obama said chill, you gon’ get me impeached/You don’t need this s**t anyway, go chill with me on the beach”

Somebody up and got Jay-Z’s panties in a knot. But it makes for a banger! Check out the track below and let us know what you think of the song.

Source: WENN

February of last year, actress Janet Hubert, commonly known for her role as the original Aunt Viv on 90′s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, wrote an open letter addressed to Wendy Williams. In the letter she called the media personality out for the way that she publicly bullied the late Whitney Houston over the years. While Wendy may have deserved for someone to call her out on doing Whitney wrong during the time that she was alive, I can’t help but to think that Aunt Viv is doing the most with these open letters (Let’s not forget the one she wrote to Will Smith). It appears that Hubert wasn’t too pleased that Wendy asked Tatyana Ali why The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast a different actress as Aunt Viv after three years of taping, during an interview a few days ago. In her most recent letter Hubert blasts Wendy, calling her a “demon” and a man. The letter in its entirety reads:

“Dear Wiggy, I’m sorry, Wendy,

Recently, you found the need to put an end to the mystery surrounding my departure from a show that I did so damn long ago that I don’t even remember why I departed.

Wendy Williams, or whatever you are supposed to be, I’m not quite sure. I’m writing you yet again, to appeal to your sense of womanhood or manhood as some suggest. Please close your mouth about things that you know nothing of.

Now, I watched your show to see dear Tatyana Ali sadly to say, fall into your trap. She even brought pictures of our days on the show from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. You know most people watch you just to see what heinous things your mouth will say compared to what an overflowing volcano will spew forth on that day.

Now perhaps other Black women have allowed you to berate them and continued to support you in this manner of madness and rewarding hatefulness. It seems to become the norm and has taken over our society completely. But I, Janet Hubert, sat there and watched you tell the world that I was not a nice mother. I’m thinking to myself, the only person who has the right to say that is my child. So I sat there and watched you like some devilish sinkhole swallow up Tatyana Ali. You reduced her to a child sitting their tempting to keep some symbolism of dignity about her as you pried and invaded her life until you got what you wanted.

You are such a demon Wendy. You are wicked, awful, conniving, sinister, spiteful, jealous of every other woman. Simply put, Wendy you are a virus. You are not nor have you ever been a true woman. It seems as though your audience thirsts for the blood of others, as they are prompted to clap and hoop and holler at your shows and wigs and clothes.

Girl you will have some stars on your show and demean them before they even make it back home. I just would like to know who died and told you that you were reborn as Oprah. You want to be Oprah so bad that you would kill for it and you will kill anyone to achieve success. Sister, you will never be another Oprah. Oprah lifted her audience up and exuded an air of class.

But you know what Wendy, you are not even in my league. It is so beneath me to even bother with someone like you, but you asked for it. Didn’t nobody tell you to say my name on your show? You will not destroy all of the hard work that I went through for the last decade to clear my good name. I simply will not allow you to do so. I’m a lady and a real one. Wendy girlfriend you just messed with the wrong sista.

Now it’s funny for all that you and the world claim that I’ve done, I should have my own show like you. Darling there is nothing that I could have ever done in this lifetime in my career that would equal the vulgarity and ugliness and hatred that you spew on your show in one single day.

So, here is my advice to you Wendy. I want to help you. Learn to sit in a chair and stop fidgeting with yourself on camera. Wipe your giant teeth off camera, and don’t smear the spit on the chair. Please put some sweat pits under your arms, and darling if your sweater is pulling until there are lines across your chest, its too tight. You might want to deflate those tremendous breast. Take off the fake blonde hair. You have to stop playing the race card because you are coming off like a want to be white girl who will never be White.

Now, I have never seen anything besides hogs slobber at the mere mention of food, so I question your humanism at times. I have never seen a display of such self-hatred.

Just a couple more suggestions for you, please would you stop dissing all of us who’ve embraced our natural hair as many others and I have? And yes Wendy natural hair does belong on the red carpet whether you like it or not.

I kind of feel sorry for you. You sit there on your big-footed tacky throne everyday while millions of people are laughing at you not with you. There is a big difference. Nobody cares about what you think about his or her lives. But we do care about what you put out there about us. My heart saddens that women, especially Black women, have embraced her evil after all of our struggles in society. You and your kind have set us back a hundred years or so. How dare you chastise anyone when you are such a travesty?

Now take that, chew it my dear and stick it on your lord have mercy you are disgusting fly ridden gum wall. And that’s the advice I have for you my sister.

Peace.”

Dang Aunt Viv!

What do you think of Janet’s letter? Was it too harsh or did Wendy deserve everything Janet dished out?

Listen to Aunt Viv read her letter below.

Source: ABC

Dear Harrison,

Week in and week out I tune in and see you, looking like the personification of Justin Timberlake’s Suit & Tie, pensive, mouth turned down. Every week you are caught up in some new circle of hell that Olivia Pope drags you into and it is seems that *you* are always the fall man when ish gets real. The buck stops here.

I see you go to the ends of the Earth for her, all because she looked out when you almost went down for insider trading. So? Olivia Pope’s a dirty dealer and still gets to run around DC without even sweating out her sew-in. What’s more messed up is that even when you reverse engineered her shenanigans, she still didn’t trust you enough to tell you what’s really going on. You had to ask her what she needed. Twice. You would never have to do that with me. I’m just sayin’.

I have questions, Harrison. How come, as fine as you are, with a razor sharp shape up that would put even Steve Harvey’s old lacefront to shame, you are never the center of someone’s love story? A man like you in a city like DC should never have a hard time finding someone to keep you warm in the cold winter months. I’m sure you’ve been to every exclusive lounge or club in the city, and I’m also sure that you could have your pick of any of the lawyers/marketing directors/government employees at the bar. Everyone else in Olivia’s crew has someone keeping the home fires burning – Cyrus has James, boring Quinn had a boo before he got killed, and hell, even creepy-A$$ Huck had an assassin-lover for a hot second. So then why isn’t your heart allowed to flourish? It just doesn’t make sense.

Why don’t you ever go against her, Harrison? She has you out here in the line of fire doing her petty work while she scampers off in her perfectly little wardrobe to sleaze it up with the President. Meanwhile, you sacrifice having a life.  What root has Olivia put on you that you can’t leave? What favor do you owe her? Did she help you convict the crew that got your brother killed in Stomp the Yard? Seriously it has to be something – is she a relative? Your baby’s mother? From what I can tell all she does is hog up the screen, trembling that lip and wiggling her eyebrows like a damn maniac.

If only you’d open your eyes then you’d see, Harrison, that I’m not the only girl out here that’s riding hard for you. There are probably hundreds, maybe thousands, of women like me, yearning to be Mrs. Wright pun intended. We want to see your chiseled face on screen more, speaking, getting the love you rightfully deserve. And you don’t have to worry about calling and figuring out where we are, or what we’re doing, because we’ll be with you every Thursday, 10 PM EST.