CNN Suspends Roland Martin
CNN has apparently caved in to pressure from gay groups by suspending political analyst Roland Martin for making a joke about British soccer star David Beckham.
A CNN spokeswoman confirmed the suspension with this statement issued today:
“Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive. Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being.”
Martin came under attack from gay groups after tweeting a wisecrack about Beckham’s underwear commercial which aired during Sunday’s Super Bowl telecast on NBC.
Martin seemed to suggest in his tweet that his followers “smack the ish out of” any male Super Bowl fan who is “hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad.”
Martin added that “real bruhs” would not purchase underwear advertised by Beckham.
A network suspension is usually the first step towards a contract termination. Martin was a CNN political analyst for 4 years.
Source: Washington Post blog
Tameka Harris Announces the Expansion of Tiny’s Nail Bar
Yesterday, Tameka “Tiny” Harris’ publicist reached out to Sandrarose.com with the great news that Tiny is expanding her successful Tiny’s Nail Bar to a new location.
“We are so excited about the success of Family Hustle and especially proud of Tameka as a business woman, mother, wife, producer and executive producer,” wrote Tenisha Ramos of Somar Entertainment in an email.
“As an entreprenuer giving back to the community Tameka is looking for 10 nail technicians and a Spa Manager,” she announced.
Tameka is also announcing the winner of her Family Hustle giveaway February 6, 2012 on her Twitter page for the best Family Hustle story. People can register by going to www.tinysnails.com or www.hypehair.com.
Above is an exclusive photo of Tiny by celebrity photographer Nicky Woo from Tiny’s feature in EBONY magazine this month.
Also, congrats to Crystal (loyal SR member Twilight), who was named Tameka’s new media manager!
Mitt Romney Wins Big in Florida; What This Means for Obama
GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney won a decisive victory over the struggling Newt Gingrich in the Florida primary last night.
A victorious Romney urged his Republican supporters to focus on defeating President Obama, declaring, “I stand ready to lead this party and to lead our nation.”
Romney’s ecstatic supporters included Blacks and Hispanics — the same demographic that helped President Obama seal his historic victory in 2008. Many of Obama’s former supporters have switched parties due to their lack of confidence in the Democrats.
So what does this mean for Mr. and Mrs. Obama? Well, let’s be realistic here: it means they should start packing the small things first.
The president and the first lady have accumulated a lot more possessions than they had when they originally moved into the White House 4 years ago, i.e. gifts from world leaders and such.
According to Goodhousekeeping.com, they should see moving “as an opportunity to organize and purge.” They should consider donating or selling items that they don’t want or need — rather than dragging all that stuff back to their home in Chicago.
BLOODBATH: Simon Cowell Fires Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and Steve Jones from X-Factor
Quick: who won the 2011 US X-Factor?
I watched bits and pieces of the woefully boring US X-Factor reality show, and the worst part of the show were the judges. A judge is supposed to remain neutral and unbiased. How can a judge make an unbiased decision when he or she is emotionally involved to the point of breaking down in tears?
The glaring flaws of the judge’s panel drew widespread criticism from the media – especially after Nicole Scherzinger’s fake sobbing during the Top 5 performances show in December. In fact, Nicole’s “performance” was so bad that enraged viewers slammed her on Twitter.com, and even threatened her life.
Judge Paula Abdul was universally hated for telling Scherzinger to let the public make the decision whether to send 13-year-old Rachel Crow home.
It was clear that something had to be done about the celebrity judges.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Simon Cowell has fired judges Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and the horrible suck-up Steve Jones.
Recording exec LA Reid’s job might also be on the chopping block. THR reports that “a source close to LA Reid says the fourth member of the X Factor panel has not been informed of any change to his status as judge.”
Ne-Yo Named VP of A&R at Motown Records
R&B singer/songwriter Ne-Yo, 32, has been appointed Vice President of A&R at Motown Records, according to published reports. Ne-Yo, born Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr., left Def Jam Records after 6 years and 4 albums.
Ne-Yo will work closely with former LaFace Records intern Ethiopia Habtemariam, who was appointed senior VP of Motown last September. She also holds the title of executive VP/head of urban music for Universal Music Publishing Group.
Ne-Yo said: “I’m honored that I¹ve been given such a prestigious title and trusted with such responsibility; terrified because I know that playing this role in the fashion of one of my career role models, Mr. Smokey Robinson — these are big shoes to fill. But trust, I can handle it.”
Ne-Yo’s album Year of the Gentleman and Young Jeezy’s album, The Recession, were both cited by insiders as part of the reason for the fall out between then Def Jam label head LA Reid and his Executive VP Shakir Stewart.
Both albums, which were A&R’d by Stewart, dropped in September 2008 and failed to go gold by the time Stewart shot himself to death in the bathroom of his Marietta, Ga. home on Nov. 1, 2008.
Photo: Splash News Online
Halle’s Nanny Loses Restraining Order Request Against Aubry
Apparently Halle Berry’s nanny doesn’t have good karma because a judge today tossed out her restraining order petition against Gabriel Aubry.
As you know, Alliance Kamdem, 29, took out a police report last week accusing Aubry, 35, of “ongoing” verbal and physical abuse towards her. Kamdem claims Aubry hurled racial epithets at her and shoved her into a door while she was holding Nahla last Wednesday.
In her petition, Kamdem cited another alleged incident in June in which she claims Gabriel violently pushed her out a door.
According to celebrity gossip website, TMZ.com, Kamdem “also said Gabriel didn’t like her from the moment she began her duties as a nanny last June. She claims Gabriel said, “You are a spy,” and “Nahla doesn’t like you, she doesn’t want you here.”
She said that while she was performing her nanny duties on the set of Halle’s movie in Spain, Aubry “would walk over and violently grab/take Nahla away from me.”
But the judge wasn’t convinced. He called Kamdem’s accusations “insufficient and speculative” — and he advised her to take the matter up in family court. The judge rejected her claims probably because what Kamdem was saying didn’t make sense without Aubry’s side of the story.
Kamdem has since quit her position as Halle’s nanny.
FAIL: Jay Z laid off over half of Rocawear staff the day before Blue Ivy was born
Remember when rumors about Jay Z and Beyonce paying $1.3 million to rent an entire floor at NY’s Lenox Hill hospital turned out be a lie? Well, they didn’t clear up that rumor like they did with the other rumors about the birth because they want you to believe that they spent that cash. Why? Because the money isn’t rolling in like it used to.
Both Beyonce and Jay Z haven’t had million selling hits in some time. And you know what happens to celebrities when their endless cash supply stops rolling in but they are still living beyond their means.
According to documents filed at the New York Department of Labor, 28 of the 56 workers at the fashion label were let go on January 6. That’s the day before the couple’s daughter, Blue Ivy, was born.
