Elise claps back at her critics

Elise Neal Responds To Criticism Of Her Relevance

Wednesday night’s premiere of the new TV One reality series “Hollywood Divas” featured the likes of 5 African-American actresses trying to navigate their way back to the top of the game.

As each of the women gave brief recaps of their experiences with everything from motherhood to homelessness to liposuction throughout the hour-long premiere, the cameras also caught several moments of heavy criticism of cast member Lisa Wu from the likes of her fellow co-stars.

Actress Elise Neal seemed to catch the most slander for her line of questioning directed at Lisa and her “resume” on the episode and she recently spoke out to respond to those criticizing what she’s done to be able to question someone else about what THEY’VE done.

via S2S Magazine

Since Wednesday’s premiere of “Hollywood Divas,” actress Elise Neal said she’s seen quite a few comments from viewers who question her and her co-stars’ relevance.

She didn’t attempt to speak for everyone on the cast, but Elise told Sister 2 Sister that she’s been in the business for 25 years, and has been steadily working that entire time.

“I’m very proud of the work I’ve been able to accomplish in my 25-odd-year career,” Elise said. “I’ve been in No. 1 movies at the box office; I’ve been on seven television shows.”

Elise explained that the “Hollywood Divas” audience might have just missed her in series, like NBC’s “The Cape” or films like Love Ranch.  She’s also starred in classic sitcoms and movies, such as Hustle & Flow, “The Hughleys” and “All of Us.” More recently, Elise guest-starred on “The Real Husbands of Hollywood,” “The Soul Man” and “Scandal.”

“There has not been one year that I have not been on a television show in the last 10 years,” she said.
Addressing why “Divas” fans might have assumed she’s been MIA from Hollywood, she suggested that if they missed her, it’s because of where they were looking.

“That doesn’t mean I’m not working. That just means you’re not watching,” said Elise.

From what we observed, people were most brutal towards the other ladies when one tried to verbally attack the other’s credentials as if they’re not all in the same boat and all on the show primarily to revive their careers.

What do you think about Elise’s response, Bossip fam?

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Would you be driven from your cushy suburban crib with golf course views by a few –thousand — spiders?

Missouri Family Flees Their Home After Discovering Thousands Of Spiders Living There

According to St. Louis Dispatch reports:

The spider problem started in October 2007, shortly after Brian and Susan Trost bought the home at 84 Gillette Field Close, according to testimony at a civil trial. The Trosts had purchased the home, built in 1988, for $450,000.

Susan Trost testified she was walking through her new home, exploring it on her first day there, when she noticed a large, stringy web wrapped around one of the light fixtures.

In the following days, she saw spiders and their webs every day. They were in the mini blinds, the air registers, the pantry ceiling, the fireplace. Their exoskeletons were falling from the can lights. Once when she was showering, she dodged a spider as it fell from the ceiling and washed down the drain.

Trost testified she contacted a pest control company that came in on a weekly basis, spraying the interior and exterior and setting down sticky traps. Since brown recluse spiders often live behind walls, she hired someone to come in and remove drywall so the exterminator could spray behind it. She hired another company to remove the insulation from the attic and put down a pesticide powder.

“After the attic treatment, it seemed to help for quite a while, although we were still capturing them,” she testifiedd. “It just was a decline; they weren’t gone.”

Can you imagine? At what point would you give up and move out?

The couple eventually decided to sue:

In 2008, the Trosts filed a claim with their insurance company, State Farm, and a civil lawsuit against the home’s previous owners, Tina and David Gault, for allegedly not disclosing the brown recluse and other problems with the home.

At a jury trial in St. Charles County in October 2011, Jamel Sandidge, a biology professor at the University of Kansas, described the brown recluse problem at the Trost home as “immense,” between 4,500 and 6,000 spiders.

Jurors found in the Trosts’ favor and awarded them $472,110, but they have never collected.

The Gaults had their defense provided by their insurers, also State Farm. But when the verdict was entered, State Farm claimed the Gaults’ policy had no coverage and refused to pay, according to the Trosts’ attorney, Thomas J. Magee.

State Farm filed an appeal of the judgment, but it was withdrawn in April 2013. The Gaults filed for bankruptcy about the same time. They could not be reached for comment.

The Trosts have since filed another lawsuit, this one against State Farm for failing to pay the claims they initially filed regarding the spider damage.

The couple’s lawyer says State Farm claims the policy doesn’t cover spiders, but he’s arguing that the exclusion is for insects and courts in other states have held that spiders are not insects. What is unfortunate is that when the insurance company refused to pay the judgment the Trosts felt they had no choice but to move out and the home has remained abandoned since going into foreclosure.

What would you have done if you were faced with this situation?

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Happy Birthday Mya!

A Playlist Of Mya’s Most Memorable Videos

R&B songstress Mya is celebrating her 35th birthday today and in honor of the occasion, we decided to take it back with a playlist of some of her best work.

In addition to the fact that Mya is somehow still managing to maintain her PYT status after over a decade in the business, she also had more than a few memorable tunes that won’t soon be forgotten. Clap for her!

And while you’re clapping, join us on a trip down memory lane with this video playlist of all-Mya-everything. You’re welcome, fellas.

A Look Into Phaedra & Apollo’s Doomed Reality TV Marriage

At some point, we all expected lovably quirky entertainment attorney Phaedra Parks to dump her chronically unemployed bad boy hubby Apollo Nida after he was sentenced to 8 years in prison for bank fraud. Known for their hilariously kooky relationship, Phaedra and Apollo were the most interesting couple on “The Real Housewives on Atlanta” who provided several unforgettable moments before their inevitable split.

Hit the jump for Apollo & Phaedra’s most memorable moments.

Do you agree?

Piers Morgan Says America Has Become More Racist Since President Obama’s Election

It’s kinda sad that a British guy can see what most white Americans are unwilling to admit.

Piers Morgan is tackling the subject of racism and racial profiling in America in his latest Mail Online ponderings. We excerpted a small part of his essay below because we were eager to see whether or not you agree with him that America has become more racist since Obama’s election. Peep part of what he said below:

A fascinating poll published on Wednesday detailed the huge disparity between the way whites and blacks view race issues.

Just 16 per cent of whites believe there is a ‘lot’ of discrimination in America today – compared to 56 per cent of blacks.

Incredibly, white perceptions of anti-black bias have plummeted to the point where many think anti-white bias is a bigger problem.

A plainly ludicrous sentiment. Blacks in America remain the most impoverished, poorly-educated, imprisoned and discriminated-against section of society. To pretend otherwise is to be seriously deluded.

However, it’s also an incontrovertible truth that the place where most young black Americans are shot dead is Chicago – and the vast majority are killed by other young black Americans, in the ongoing gang wars that shame that city.

My belief is that America remains a racial tinderbox. Many people assumed Barack Obama’s ascent to the highest office in the land meant the end of racism in the United States.

‘How could we elect a black president if we’re still racist?’ was the logic.

But if anything, I’d argue that America is now more racist than it was before Obama was elected.

Or at the very least, the angry racist minority (but still many millions of people) is more vocal – enraged by the whole notion of a black man living at the White House.

Having said that, America is clearly massively less racist than it was 40 years ago. It has come a long way, very fast.

What is desperately needed now is a sustained period of calm, rational reaction on all sides to the myriad incidents that occur on a daily basis in the United States where race might be seen as an issue, even where it isn’t.

Do you agree or do you feel like Piers Morgan doesm’t really know isht anyway?

WENN

Better toughen up if you want that Hollywood life, Iggy…

The gardener is snitch-made…

Shelly Sterling’s 911 Call Against V. Stiviano Leaks

Donald Sterling was caught with his mistress V. Stiviano once again a few weeks back, prompting his fed-up wife to call the cops and claim her husband’s former flame was a dangerous intruder. Take a listen:

Well she got creative with her explanation of everything. Via TMZ:

Shelly Sterling dialed 911 the second she found out Donald Sterling was home alone with V. Stiviano — and told the operator a woman she described as “African black” had broken into her house.

On the October 1 call — obtained by TMZ — Shelly says her gardener saw V. going in a side door of the Sterling mansion … and she was in a bedroom with Donald.

By the way, Shelly was in France while this was all going down, but repeatedly tells the operator … V. is “tormenting” Donald.

In the bedroom? We doubt it, but you gotta hear Shelly explain why police have to race to the house … WITHOUT calling Donald. It’s tricky.

Damn man, she can’t even enjoy Europe properly without trying to figure out how to keep this heaux out of her house!

This is such a tragedy…

Richmond Man Murders Ex-Girlfriend, Son, And Mediator During Custody Dispute

A Richmond domestic dispute turned into a 4-way muder-suicide, with the father killing his ex-girlfriend, their 2-year-old son, and a criminal justice major acting as a mediator on the scene. There are really no words for this. Via NYDN:

A Richmond man went on a murderous rampage over a custody dispute late Wednesday, gunning down his ex-girlfriend, their child and another woman acting as a mediator before taking his own life in an apparent murder-suicide, police said.

Traymont B. Burton, 21, shot and killed 19-year-old Adreena D. Gary outside his ex’s South Richmond, Va., home and then went inside and gunned down former girlfriend Michelle S. Kelly, 22, and Keytrell Kelly, 2, before turning the gun on himself, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Family said Gary, a community college student who was working toward a criminal justice degree and hoped to become a lawyer, was trying to mediate a domestic dispute between Burton and Kelly when she was killed.

Police responded to a 911 call of “shots fired” at 8:21 p.m. and arrived minutes later to a gruesome scene. Fire crews were brought in to hose down blood on the sidewalk outside, the Times-Dispatch said. It was a chilling scene, neighbors said.

“It’s just shocking, and the lady used to keep my kids,” neighbor Chantell Woolridge told NBC 12. “And the thought in my mind is, what if my kids were there?”

Kelly was described as a mom who doted on her son, according to cousin Shaheem Simmons.

“She was more like my sister. We lived together my whole life as a child. I watched her grow as a woman,” Simmons wrote on Facebook. “If you knew her you knew she was sweet, respectful, caring, drama free and a mother — a real mom.”

Why would he bring a gun to this discussion in the first place? This is too sad.

Facebook / GoFundMe

Sexual Battery Complaint Against Gators Quarterback Withdrawn

Via ESPN:

Quarterback Treon Harris has been cleared to return to the Florida Gators after the sexual battery complaint against the freshman quarterback was withdrawn by his accuser, the university said Friday.

“This means she is not pursuing criminal charges against him at this time but maintains the right to do so in the future,” school spokeswoman Janine Sikes said in a statement.

The university also said that it is not proceeding with any action against Harris.

Gators coach Will Muschamp issued a statement saying that Harris has been reinstated, but would not play Saturday against LSU.

“We have been notified that the University and legal process is complete,” Muschamp said. “… This has been a learning experience for everyone involved. Treon has been honest with me throughout the process and is looking forward to rejoining his teammates.”

Huntley Johnson, who represents Harris, said earlier that his client has been informed that he “is no longer banned from campus” and is permitted to “resume UF activities.”

The university would not confirm that Harris is allowed to return to campus, citing student privacy laws.

Harris, 19, was suspended by Florida and the University Athletic Association on Monday when university police began an investigation into an accusation that Harris sexually assaulted a female student at an on-campus residence hall early Sunday morning.

Multiple sources close to the football program told ESPN.com that the accuser is also an athlete at the university.

Harris’ attorneys said Thursday that the accuser was “the sexual aggressor with not one, but two, young men last Sunday morning” and that the woman showed “no indication of any physical or mental trauma” after the alleged incident.

Under Florida law, the woman could be charged with a misdemeanor if police believe she filed a false police report.

Wow. It is terrible if the woman indeed lied about being assaulted…and just as bad if she felt pressure to drop charges for a real incident. Thankfully, it seems the player involved has received fair treatment under the circumstances.

ESPN / YouTube

Hah!

Thank God for that

Doctors Reportedly Clear Brooklyn Teen Of Ebola Virus

Via NYDailyNews

A Brooklyn teen who recently returned from a trip to Sudan was rushed to the hospital Friday night with Ebola-like symptoms, but was ultimately cleared of the deadly disease, officials told the Daily News.

The stricken 14-year-old boy spiked a fever and was complaining of feeling fluish, law enforcement sources said.

The teenager was brought to Brookdale University Hospital, where staff isolated him from other patients. He was in a room with the shades drawn and the door tightly closed, but no quarantine sign or warning was posted.

Staff ran tests to determine if the boy had contracted the potentially deadly sickness, officials told The News, which was the first to report the story on nydailynews.com.

Doctors had ruled out Ebola early Saturday, according to an NYPD spokesman, but neither the FDNY nor the city’s Office of Emergency Management could confirm these findings. Hospital officials did not return calls.

The teen fell ill during his two-week trip to Sudan in northern Africa and was hospitalized there, a source said.

“They go back for a month or more during the summer months every year,” said Henriquez Hyppolite, 22, who lives next-door to the boy.

The teen apparently lied to officials in order to fly home, sources said. EMS was called to the teen’s Bergen Beach home at 6:06 p.m., FDNY officials said.

Gonna be a long fall and winter with all these damn Ebola scares.

Image via Wiki

Dance, b***h.

“Hot Ni**a” left rap fans in a stupor throughout the summer, creating a potential star in Bobby Shmurda in the process. As the record runs its course, the young rapper, “Bobby B*tch,” the first solo track he’s released since inking a deal with Epic Record.

See more at: http://hiphopwired.com/2014/10/11/bobby-shmurda-debuts-bobby-btch-performs-fallon-listen/#sthash.PgokOiDR.dpuf

You smart, you loyal…

When it comes to celebrities, we can always count on one thing: over-the-top spending. When it’s time to get married, the bar is set pretty high when it comes to expensive bling. But only some are spending millions. Take a look at some of the most expensive celebrity engagement rings.

See more at: Lossip

Is there really a lil Breezy baking in Karrueche’s oven?

Chris Brown And Karrueche Have Date Night And Spark Pregnancy Rumors

There seems to be a new pregnancy or engagement rumor surrounding Chris Brown and Karrueche just about every week, but could there be some truth to the latest speculation?

Earlier this week, Kae and Breezy hit the town in his electric blue Lamborghini….

…with Karrueche also hit the hair salon with her mother before heading out for the night with her boo-thang.

One photo & caption in particular from their night out lead to fans re-igniting their suspicions that Karrueche is hiding a lil Breezy baby bump. Hit the flip to check that out and judge for yourself, along with a few more pics from their date night.

Men: you may think you have the easiest equipment to navigate, but women disagree! Even though we might make going down on you look effortless and natural to us, it’s not. In fact, there are a million things buzzing through our heads.  More…

treat yo’ self

“Pose for the camera now flick, flick..”

Beyonce Shares Candid Photos From Paris Visit With Blue Ivy And Jay Z

Earlier this week, the Carters were spotted visiting the world-famous Lourve museum in Paris, France and while the paps were busy getting their photo fix, you know Bey Bey was snapping a few flicks of her own to give the world a behind-the-scenes look at their trip.

Needless to say, it looks like they had a blast…..and even have their own personal pint-sized paparazzi on hand.

Too cute, riiiigght? Hit the flip for a gang of candid camera pics from their visit courtesy of Mrs. Carter herself.