Oklamhoma Law Would Require Couples To Take STD Tests Before Getting Married

Oklahoma couples looking to get married may soon be faced with an invasive requirement before they can legally say their “I Dos.”

via Think Progress

Under a proposed bill introduced in Oklahoma, couples in the state who want to get married would be required to prove they don’t have any sexually transmitted infections before they’re allowed to say “I do.”

Senate Bill 733, introduced by Oklahoma Sen. Anthony Sykes (R), stipulates that “the State Board of Health shall require a blood test for the discovery of syphilis and other communicable or infectious diseases prior to the issuance of a marriage license.” In order to obtain the license, the couple would need to submit a certificate or affidavit from a licensed physician that confirms neither of them are infected with a disease that “may be communicable to the marriage partner.”

As the bill is currently written, if either partner tests positive, they may not be permitted to get married.

Some of Sykes’ colleagues support the legislation because they believe it will help ensure that people know their STD status. “We have to look at that as a society whether we want people who have communicable diseases, they need to know if they have it, and I think this is a mechanism to provide them to do that,” Sen. Kyle Loveless (R), who acknowledged the legislation likely needs some tweaks, told NEWS 9.

Legal experts in the state are concerned that the legislation would go too far to infringe on Americans’ private medical information, which is supposed to be protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). If people are required to file these documents with the court clerk before getting married, the results of their STD test would become public information.

Hmmmmm. What are your thoughts on this law? Is legally requiring couples to test negative for STDs before marriage fair? Or should it be left up to the two people getting married to decide whether or not they’d like to ensure that their partner is STD-free? Let’s discuss.

The Absolute Funniest Vines Of The Week

Back again with another must-see collection of hilarious Vines for your weekend funny.

Hit the jump for the funniest Vines of the week.

Hilarious Rih-Rih Pics, Memes & Instagram Comments

In honor of bad gyal Pop princess Rihanna’s 27th birthday, we compiled the funniest (and shadiest) moments of her already iconic social media career.

Hit the flip for the absolute funniest Rih pics, memes and IG comments.

Mayweather & Pacquiao To Fight In May

The fight many thought would never happen is finally going down. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have both signed on the dotted line and their long-anticipated showdown is set in stone.

The big match is happening on May 2, and we can conservatively predict that Vegas will be ON FIRE that weekend. Floyd Mayweather confirmed the news via his Shots account earlier today:

The fight is projected to be the richest match in boxing history — Manny and Floyd are taking home well over $100 million EACH.

So Bossip fam — will you be attending (or buying on Pay-Per-View)??

Ray J Responds To Amber Rose Twitter Rant

Amber Rose went on yet another epic rant against the “Kartrashians” and Kim’s claim to reality fame after Kanye’s Breakfast Club interview where he claimed to need 30 showers to get Amber’s grime off of him before he could get with someone like Kim. Naturally, Amber mentioned that Kim was covered in some of Ray J’s…um…essence when she linked up with ‘Ye, so really that statement didn’t need to be made.

Upon seeing his name thrown into the fray, Ray posted the below video to his Instagram:

Welp Ray…you hit it first. Your name will ALWAYS come up when one of the Kardashians try to pull someone’s ho card…

Instagram

Kobe Bryant Will Be Quitting the NBA In 2016

According to a new article from The Hollywood Reporter, Kobe Bryant has confirmed that he’s exiting the NBA next year. At 36 years old, currently not playing due to injury, Kobe he says he’ll play one more season to fulfill his current two-year, $25 million contract — but after that, he’s out.

Kobe says dedication to sports has hindered his personal life over the years:

Hollywood Reporter: You said in the film that you regretted working so hard because it took you away from your family and other relationships. When did you start feeling that way?

Kobe: Probably during my second year [in the NBA]. It takes more time to keep those relationships going. I was just really obsessive about becoming one of the all-time greats. I just loved playing the game so much that everything took a back seat. But I had to make a choice. Once I made that decision, the game became everything to me.

Hollywood Reporter: Do you regret that?

Kobe: It depends on what day you ask me. Certain days, when things are going really well, I feel like I have everything. But on days where things are not as good, I question that.

What do you think? Is it time for him to go?

Chris Brown & Tyga Talk With Hot 97’s Nessa

These two didn’t hold much back while talking to Hot 97’s Nessa on Friday Evening. Tyga talks posting his underage girlfriend good friend Kylie to his Intagram and getting free from Cash Money. Chris talks trying his damnedest not to cheat on Karrueche and grinding up on Amber Rose. Both go in on their relationship with Drake — please get into Chris’ Drake impression around the 9:20 mark.

Samuel L. Jackson Says Bill Cosby Should Speak On Rape Allegations

During his “Plead the Fifth” segment on the Watch What Happens Live, Sam Jackson chose to comment when faced with the Cosby question. While he didn’t directly accuse the comedian of any wrong doing, he admitted sympathy to the female perspective due to the number of women in his own life, and urged Cosby to speak up for himself on the matter:

“I wish he would say something…Popular opinion would say, ‘Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.’

But, I mean, I can’t make a judgment about it. I mean, I make my judgments because I have a daughter, I have a wife that I love. I have a lot of women in my life, and I know, you know, women are vulnerable to society. And people with power take advantage of people.”

Bear in mind, over 30 women have now Bill Cosby of sexual assault, and he has yet to directly address the accusations. Do you think Sam is right? Should Bill just FINALLY give his version of events?

Bravo TV

Lance Gross Shares Photo With Baby Daughter Berkeley

Lance Gross is really loving fatherhood. The actor-turned-photographer can’t seem to get enough of posting pics of his baby girl with fiancee Rebecca Jefferson. His latest snap of little Berkeley showed daddy and daughter making cute faces for the camera:

Too cute!

Instagram

Memphis Police Department Threatens To Demote Black Cops Over Discrimination Lawsuit

A handful of black Memphis police officers may now face consequences after filing a discrimination lawsuit over claims that the police department promotion criteria was racially biased.

via Huffington Post

Dozens of African-American police officers in Memphis, Tennessee, are facing demotions to the positions they held over a decade ago in response to a ruling in a discrimination lawsuit the officers brought against the city.

African-American officers sued the Memphis Police Department in the early 2000s, alleging that the tests the city used to determine promotions discriminated against minorities. A lower court sided with the plaintiffs, and some of them were promoted afterwards. But last fall, a federal appeals court overturned the decision.

The officers may still appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. But in the meantime, the city is considering demoting 28 of the 62 plaintiffs back to the positions they held when the lawsuit was first brought.

“The city wants to give an ultimatum: If you all continue on [with the lawsuit], we’re going to demote you back to patrolman,” said Lt. Tyrone Currie, the treasurer of the Afro American Police Association Memphis branch, which supports the plaintiffs. He noted that most of the officers have over 20 years on the job and have earned equivalent benefits, while patrolmen tend to be officers in their early 20s.

“You should not retaliate against people just because they’re exercising their constitutional right to an appeal,” he added.

George Little, chief administrative officer for the City of Memphis, said that since some of the plaintiffs have made more money since their promotions in the wake of the initial ruling, it’s also now within the city’s right to get its money back. “We can say fine, not only are we going to bump you back to whatever your former position was, we want our money back that you weren’t entitled to,” he said.

Hmmm. Do you think these officers should be demoted, Bossip fam?

Texas Father Accused Of Strangling 2 Baby Sons To Death And Sending Photos Of Bodies To Ex

Via DailyMail

The chilling text messages a young father sent to his ex before allegedly murdering their two young children were revealed in court on Friday.

Gabriel Armandariz, 32, of Graham, Texas, is accused of strangling his two sons, Gatlin, 2, and Luke, who was just 8-months-old in April 2011.

This shortly after he sent a string of chilling and odd text messages to their mother telling her he planned to kill the boys because of her partying ways while possibly pretending to be his new girlfriend.

‘I commend the spirits of these two boys to the Lord. I would much rather be with them than to be out partying with friends,’ wrote Armandariz to his ex, Lauren Smith, just hours before the boys are believed to have died.

This was quickly followed by another in which he wrote; ‘Look, I’m trying to offer you another opportunity to see our children. But as usual you would much rather be with your friends.’

What makes this story even crazier is that Lauren thought the sick messages were being sent to her by Gabriel’s new bae.

This seems to be backed up by the woman’s responses to these texts, as she wrote in one; ‘If I were you I’d get the hell away from him. Looks can be deceiving.’

On the day the boys died, Armandariz also sent a photo to Smith that appeared to show Luke dead and dangling from the closet with rope around his neck.

This was followed by the final text, which also showed both boys alive and lying next to him, and read; ‘We love u, goodbye.’

Is this not one of the sickest, most disturbed things you’ve ever read? Text messages of dead children??? Jesus, Mary, and Joseph…SMFH.

R.I.P. to those poor little boys.

Images via DailyMail

Newspaper Allows Family Of Dead Man To List Cause Of Death As Uppercut From Batman

The family of a Florida man was allowed to pay homage to his love of comics in his published obituary, which listed his cause of death as “an uppercut from Batman”

Via NY Daily News reports:

Stephen Merrill, from Winter Haven, passed away on February 12.

The 31-year-old died suddenly and the family at the time did not have an official cause of death when they went to write his obituary for the local newspaper, The Ledger.

The Ledger does not allow obituaries to be published unless there is a cause of death.

“Everyone was starting to get a little tense. We didn’t have a cause of death but we were told we had to have one,” said Merrill’s friend Brandon Moxam.

“I made a joke. Say the cause of death was an ‘uppercut from Batman.'”

Moxam said everyone started laughing and Merrill’s dad, Larry, responded: “Yeah, the cause of death was an uppercut from Batman.”

“He would have been honored to have died by an uppercut from Batman,” said fiancée Stephanie Vella.

The paper then printed it after being persuaded it would help the family grieve.

“It was worth it for the family. It was the only time the family was able to laugh in days,” said friend, Andrew Albreacht.

Merrill was diagnosed with cancer in June 2013. Despite going into remission in December of the same year, the cancer returned last October.

He had a huge love of comics and people wore superhero t-shirts to his celebration and there was also a Captain America shield made from flowers.

This is bittersweet, but we love the idea of the way they chose to pay homage to the loved one they lost. What do you think your family would say about you if you died under similar circumstances?

stockelements / Shutterstock.com360b / Shutterstock.com

Bobbi Kristina Found To Have Been Abusing Cocaine, Herion, And Pills

Our worst fears, confirmed…

Via NYDailyNews

Bobbi Kristina Brown, like her doomed mom Whitney Houston, was using drugs before she was found unconscious in a bathtub, according to People magazine.

The 21-year-old daughter of Houston and R&B singer Bobby Brown was regularly taking heroin, cocaine and Xanax in the months before she was rushed to a Georgia hospital on Jan. 31, the magazine reported.

Xanax was one of the drugs found in Houston’s system after she drowned in a bathtub at a Beverly Hills hotel on Feb. 11, 2012.

A source told People that Bobbi Kristina, in the weeks before the tragedy at her home in Roswell, Ga., was “distraught” about the coming third anniversary of her mother’s death.

The aspiring singer/actress was also in and out of rehab for her demons — including heavy drinking — since her mother’s death, the source indicated.

Bobbi Kristina was hospitalized for depression almost immediately after Houston passed away.

“This girl was trying hard, but she didn’t have any support system,” the source told People. “She was still dealing with a lot of grief over her mother.”

God bless Bobbi Kris, the Browns, and the Houstons. This whole thing is incredibly sad, but why was no one in the family around to stop and help this girl???

Image via WENN

Janelle Monae Launches Wondaland Records As Joint Venture With Epic

Kudos to Janelle Monae on the launch of her new label Wondaland Records.

The first step is the release of Jidenna’s single “Classic Man” which features Roman GianArthur. The video is directed by Alan Ferguson aka Solange’s hubs…

Here’s more info on Wondaland Records and their roster via their press release:

Wondaland Records, a new movement and recording label created by award-winning global superstar and visionary Janelle Monáe, has teamed with Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, to announce the launch of a landmark joint venture partnership. Featuring an electrifying roster of artists — Jidenna, Roman GianArthur, Deep Cotton, and St. Beauty — the news of this partnership signals a seismic shift in music and culture that will be felt for years to come.

Wondaland Records is launching with the release of its dynamic first single, “Classic Man” by Jidenna featuring Roman GianArthur, the song will be impacting radio and the world at large February 16th. “Classic Man,” will serve as the lead track on the Wondaland Records compilation arriving in May. The compilation will also contain the new single “Yoga” by Janelle Monáe featuring Jidenna.

“The collective talent of the Wondaland artists is awe-inspiring,” said LA Reid, Chairman and CEO, Epic Records. “I haven’t personally witnessed a collective that sounds and looks this special in quite a while. I’ve been a longtime supporter and friend of Janelle and it is an honor to now work with her as a visionary businesswoman who brings an all-star group of talented performers to the table.”

The multi-faceted collective of Wondaland Records artists— all of whom write and produce, a rarity in music today—features a breadth of voices, styles, and figures coming together with a shared mission for revolutionizing the future of music, arts, and culture that is creatively unmatched.

“I’m so thrilled to share Wondaland Records with the world. Each artist under Wondaland Records has unparalleled talent, incredible vision, and brings something unique to the music industry,” said Janelle Monáe. “Together, we’re creating a new movement and space for the future of music and pop culture. I’m honored to be partnering with Epic Records and my friend LA Reid to present such extraordinary talent.”

The son of a Nigerian chief and an American anthropologist, Jidenna is an East Flatbush, Brooklyn-based lyrical wizard, a thought leader with charisma to spare. His worldly origins inform the groundbreaking genre Swank, an elegant and funky take on hip-hop that transforms ordinary parties into sweaty soirées.

Musical iconoclasts Nate ‘Rocket’ Wonder and Chuck Lightning are the mad geniuses behind Deep Cotton. They are thinkers and tinkerers whose approach to sound creates a rollercoaster ride, taking the listener through a world of falsetto-filled funk, rule-breaking ideas baked in rock ‘n’ roll, and served up in hip-hop, all in the span of a single song. Their sole mission: give you the license to freak out.

A curious and brilliant composer, arranger, and producer, Roman GianArthur’s music is courageous, feisty, and consistently touches the soul. His live show is a revelation—wild, heroic guitar playing, outstanding vocals, intoxicatingly original movement, and a rare charisma possessed only by the greats.

Featuring Alex Belle and Isis Valentino, the enchanting sound of St. Beauty feels timeless. Thoughtful musicians and songwriters, they weave together melodies that are impossible to forget and evocative lyrics that paint richly textured emotional stories, casting a spell over the listener that cannot be broken.

The inter-disciplinary approach to creativity that the brilliant members of the Wondaland Records roster possess has far-reaching implications for pop culture beyond music— a range of paradigm-shifting art of all kinds is slated for release throughout the remainder of 2015 and beyond.

Congrats to Janelle on being a mogul!!!!!

Guess Which Breakout Star Shared This Throwback Thursday Photo?

This handsome lil bow-tied tot has exploded onto the small screen in 2015 via a very popular new television show.

In addition to being a rising Hollyweird star, he’s also an aspiring artist and has made quite the splash with his original music thus far on both YouTube and iTunes.

Any guesses as to who this pint-sized prince grew up to become? Hit the flip to see if you’re right.

¡Dale un vistazo a esta galería y entérate quiénes lucieron los mejores atuendos durante la entrega de Premios Lo Nuestro 2015!

See more at: Lossip

The first Latina princess was announced by Disney Junior in January. She will debut in 2016 in a special episode of their hit series for pre -schoolers, Sophia the First. It’s an exciting announcement, now little Latina’s can look up to someone in their likeness. Here are some details about the first Latina Disney princess. More…

BOSSIP Joins ZCC For 40z And Waffles All-Star Weekend Brunch

This past weekend, BOSSIP served as the official media sponsor for the NYC edition of the 40z x Waffles All-Star Brunch and a few familiar faces were on hand to enjoy the festivities.

Hosted by San Antonio Spurs baller Danny Green and well-known Miami tastemaker Julz Goodard, the brunch was held at the chic 404 NYC event space, where the latest in Spring fashion from ATL rapper T.I.’s AKOO clothing line, as well as the re-release of the limited edition Walt “Clyde” Frazier PUMAs were on display. Throughout the event, guests enjoyed a combination of delicious D’USSE cocktails that paired well with mouth-watering red velvet waffles drizzled in D’USSE-infused syrup and fried chicken compliments of chef extraordinaire Jerome Browne, followed by servings of alcohol-infused donuts from Sweet Dreams Mini Donuts bakery.

Justin Bieber’s tour DJ Tay James and DJ Brenden Hill kept the crowd turned up for the duration of the event, while a host of familiar famous faces stop through to mingle with guests and enjoy the party. Celebrity guests included rapper T.I. & wife Tiny, actor/E! News host Terrence J, legendary NBAer Walt “Clyde” Frazier, reality star Mimi Faust,  rapper Ace Hood, actor Mark John Jeffries and professional boxer Danny Garcia

BOSSIP was also on the red carpet to catch up with POWER star Mark John Jefferies to get a little scoop on season 2 and chat with DJ Tay James, who weighed in on Drake’s new album before dishing on Justin Bieber’s “turn up” music. Check out those interviews, along with some footage of the event, above.

Kim, Khloe, Kylie, North West Involved In Montana Car Accident

Khloe Kardashian was apparently behind the wheel earlier today with sisters Kim and Kylie, as well as niece North West, in tow when their vehicle spun out of control after hitting an ice patch according to TMZ reports.

A semi-truck reportedly drove by and sprayed the vehicle’s windshield with a massive amount of snow, blinding Khloe, who then swerved on to a black patch of ice before the car then spun into incoming traffic and landed in a ditch.

Kim sent a brief message to the world following the accident. Hit the flip to see what she had to say.