Singer Sade Adu has always been a very reclusive artist. She hasn’t reveled in the spotlight, she doesn’t stay in the gossip papers, and for so long, she’s been able to keep her private life private. She doesn’t even get snapped by paparazzi, that’s how low she keeps it when it comes to her public profile. Honestly, the last time we consistently had the chance to see her out of the house was when she was touring with her band to promote the Soldier of Love album in 2011. It’s 2017.

So imagine our shock when Sade popped up on Instagram, at a Drake concert, and hugged up with the rapper (and his mother) backstage.

She was snapped at the rapper’s “Boy Meets World” tour stop in London, and the Internet didn’t know what to think of a moment that many would given hellas to have with the music legend. Our favorite tweet?

@yusufyuie drake in a photo with Sade? Sade??? pic.twitter.com/bigqachXQ5

— 8th Sage (@Iceyhands) March 21, 2017

But despite what the entire Internet community had to say about it, Drake was more than appreciative of Sade’s presence at his show, and she has love for the rapper. For his birthday, he was gifted a signed Sade poster:

And Drake just proved he’s a superfan by getting a tattoo of the singer’s face and her signature, seen on the above framed poster, on his body earlier this week:

He’s got Aaliyah on his back, Sade on his side, and a tattoo of a camo toy shark he gave Rihanna on his arm. Now we can’t help but wonder if he actually showed Sade his new ink, but in order to actually get her to be that close to him for a picture, we doubt it…

The post Drake Gets Sade Out Of Seclusion And Thanks Her By Tattooing The Singer’s Face On His Body appeared first on MadameNoire.

Did you catch the epic season premiere of Braxton Family Values? We sure did and can’t wait to see what the rest of the season has in store for us.

Towanda is in the process of getting a divorce and last week, her siblings offered their support. But we all know Momma knows best, so Towanda heads to Ms. E for advice. Her husband wants full-custody and some property, but she isn’t giving up so easily. She is up for the battle. It’s on!

As with any siblings, the arguments continue. Trina invites her sisters to a taste test in preparation of her pop up Bar Chix. Somehow this happy entrepreneurial moment with sisters ends with yelling, hurt feelings, and tears.

Yikes! Looks like things are getting heated this season.

Check out a new episode of Braxton Family Values TONIGHT at 9|8C, only on WE tv.

The post Old Wounds Are Opened Between Trina & Tamar On WE tv’s Braxton Family Values appeared first on MadameNoire.

1. Know Your Worth So That No One Can Define You

2. Insults Are Less About You, And More About The Aggressor's Past Pain

3. Perfect Your Poker Face

4.  Create an Arsenal of Comebacks

5. Shake Off the Sensitivity

The post 0 Effs Given: 5 Ways To Be Impervious To Insults appeared first on MadameNoire.

Mike Epps’ wife is a character. I had never heard of her until today, but I don’t have to know her to know that someone who would make the claims that she has, is a character indeed.

According to TMZ, Mechelle Epps is requesting $109,036 per month in support from her estranged husband.

Mechelle claims Mike makes $3.5 million every year but has recently cut her off from bank accounts and credit cards, leaving her with zero income. Document state that her husband never wanted her to work during their marriage; and now, as a result, she can’t get a job because she’s too old.

Mechelle is 36.

In documents, Mechelle said she spends several thousand dollars a month on shoes and clothes for their 10 and 12 year-old girls. In addition to attire, the girls have to get their hair braided at an “expensive salon.” They need food, vacations and $72,000 per year for private school.

Mechelle is asking for $3,5000 a month to compensate her mother for nannying the girls and another $600 for the mother’s Mercedes.

The $109,036 should cover everything. Mechelle also wants sole posession of the house.

Mike Epps was the one to file for the divorce in January 2016 but the couple have yet to reach a final agreement.

There’s no doubt in my mind that just being married to someone like Mike Epps would entitle you to some money. But mostly child support. Plus the fact that she positioned herself as too old to work might not bode too well for her in front of a family court judge.

Image via WENN

Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @VDubShrug.

The post Mike Epps’ Wife Wants Spousal Support Because At 36, She’s Too Old To Get A Job appeared first on MadameNoire.

If you felt like too much time had passed without at least an accusation of alleged cultural appropriation, Tory Burch is here to fill that gap for you. The brand just released a new campaign ad for its Summer 2017 collection and the visuals, as expected, are as white as can be, contrasted with the very Black soundtrack of Zay Hilfigerrr and Zayion McCall’s “Juju on That Beat.” See for yourself.

According to Teen Vogue:

“The issue for many of Burch’s fans comes with the fact that the brand decided to use a song by two black artists and not feature any models of color in the clip. The other issue? The video also features a monkey in the passenger seat of the car, and the word has been used as a derogatory insult toward black people throughout history. After the video was released, many people took to Twitter to express their concern with the content.”

As these things usually go, Burch herself and Giovanna Battaglia, who directed the ad, are playing dumb, with the designer saying, “I personally feel badly if this hurt anyone, and I’m truly sorry.” And the director explaining her musical choice to Elle Malaysia, saying:

“I wanted the video to be playful and as chic as possible and to put you in a very good mood. Juju on That Beat is a happy song; I like the fact that it is a very easy song, too. The girls learned the moves very quickly and they had fun. The best part was watching them rehearsing and doing the song because they enjoyed themselves for real, which made this whole process very fun.”

The video has reportedly been removed from all Tory Burch channels since the controversy arose yesterday, but I’d argue they should’ve never put it out in the first place, not necessarily because it’s cultural appropriation but simply because it’s wack. I went into watching the ad expecting to be upset, which I was. More so at the fact that someone is out here getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to create this display of stiff, non-rhythmic whiteness when there’s a teenage Youtuber at home somewhere who could’ve come up with something 10 times better on one-tenth of the budget. But then on closer listen I caught the “Skinny jeans on and you know my hair nappy” line and thought to myself, yeah, y’all tried it — “Delete all that sh-t!” I’m almost certain Black women aren’t Burch’s target demo, hence the three white models– and I’m not mad at that because I’m personally not checking for the brand– but if you’re going to use that n-word and music by Black boys, you, at least, have to have someone with mildly coarse (non-Jewish) hair in the ad. Otherwise what are we doing? Oh, I guess that’s where the appropriation comes in.

What’s your take on this Tory Burch ad? Is it cultural appropriation or just par for the course mainstream wackness?

The post I Don’t Know That This Ad Is Cultural Appropriation As Much As It’s Just Wack appeared first on MadameNoire.

Being too generous with invitations

Getting too fancy with the food

Finding vendors online

Doing anything before finding a venue

Failing to get a personal assistant the day of

Letting people in your dressing area

Not getting a videographer

Making the rounds

Having the bachelorette party too close to the wedding

Having the honeymoon the next day

Paying for party favor assembly

Paying for centerpiece assembly

Better shoes!

Giving a to-do list to the photographer

Not speaking up more

The post What Most Brides Wish They Could Change About The Big Day appeared first on MadameNoire.

Ebony Banks, who goes by the nickname Ebob, has spent much of her senior year in the hospital battling a rare form of stage four cancer. Her biggest wish was to meet Beyoncé.
She told Houston’s KHOU, “She’s like my everything and my idol. And if I ever met her, I would probably pass out.”

So Banks’ friends launched a campaign via social media, using the hashtag #EBobMeetsBeyonce. The teen girls reached out to the news, tagged Beyoncé’s mother, sister, The Ellen Show and of course the singer herself. The campaign ended up receiving thousands of retweets.

And yesterday, Banks’ wish came true when the star reached out to her via Facetime. The two had a private conversation. But Ebony’s family took a short video of a bit of the conversation where you can hear Beyoncé and Ebony sharing their love for each other.

Her friend said, “It was just like ‘Wow, it really happened.’ I thought it was going to take longer but we actually got her attention.”

Another friend said she received the images when she was driving and immediately starting screaming and crying.

We should all be so blessed to have friends like Ebony.

Earlier this month, Ebony’s high school district held a special, early graduation ceremony for Banks at the MD Anderson Hospital where she is being treated. Ebony, who had already been accepted to college, says she wants to become a pediatric nurse in order to help other young people battling cancer.

Congratulations to our first graduate of 2017! pic.twitter.com/vFe1yk6Svd

— #GoBears 🐾 (@AliefHastingsHS) March 16, 2017

Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @VDubShrug.

The post Beyoncé FaceTimes With Teen Battling Stage Four Cancer appeared first on MadameNoire.

Teach me the unhealthy way; I won’t tell!

I’m mostly here because you’re hot

You’re not perfect!

How do I keep eating all the donuts?

I know you’re lying about your diet

Can you be a little nicer to me?

I’m here for the conversation

I look stupid; are you doing this on purpose?

I’m in this for the sex positions

You and your trainer friends better not talk about me

How do I keep my boobs?

Tell me I need more workout clothes

Are you trying to make me fart?

How many cocktails can I still drink?

Hey, I’m still paying you!

Make me look like this celebrity

If I vomit, it’s coming to you

You talk too much

I’ve gained weight; you aren’t helping me!

I’m in this to be hot

The post Things You Wish You Could Say To Your Personal Trainer appeared first on MadameNoire.

I’ve known one of my best friends since freshman year in high school. It was our shared love for running track and the arts that instantly created a bond between us. Although we are alike in many ways, we’re not necessarily like-minded. There have been a few debates that left us questioning how we could be friends, but purely in jest.

Throughout our many in-depth conversations, marriage has often been the common thread. We’ve disagreed on a few topics pertaining to this special union, and we most recently agreed to disagree while discussing divorce. We didn’t have a full-blown discussion about it, but my friend quickly shared a thought as we were closing a casual chat. She is of the opinion that a person should only get divorced if their spouse habitually cheats or if the person has been abused.

I completely disagreed.

Of course, I think that a person should get the hell out of dodge if they are being abused (emotionally or physically) or being regularly cheated on. However, I believe those aren’t the only sensible reasons for a marriage to come to an end.

At the time, I didn’t feel the need to share my thoughts with my friend as I assumed that our opinions would continue to diverge. But I wholeheartedly believe that a marriage is between God and the two people involved, and the same goes for a divorce. With that being said, who are we to debate why a person should make a life-altering decision for themselves regarding their marriage? If we’re not going through something like that, how can we truly say when divorce is right and when it’s wrong?

I have always put in a lot of work in all of my relationships, so I definitely keep my marriage a priority; therefore, I think that people should put forth the effort in keeping their marriage afloat if they can. But I can’t jump on board with a person staying in a marriage if they are unhappy or feeling disrespected.

A close friend of mine was going through a tough time in her marriage and decided to call it quits with her husband recently. When a few of our married friends caught wind of her situation, they instantly talked about how they hope things work out and proceeded to pray for her, praying that the pair would stay together. This was done despite a decision already being made.

I definitely won’t tell anyone how to pray or what to pray for, but I wasn’t down for praying that she would have a change of heart. How would staying with her husband affect her or their child?

Married and not having to go through a divorce makes me no expert, but I offered my insight when she eventually came to me with her explanation of things. I told her that although I would love to see her family stay together and that counseling could help if they chose to work it out, I supported whatever decision she made. Either way, she was going to receive no judgment from me because only she knew what she was feeling when she would go to bed (or stay awake) at night.

Whether you originally married for reasons that you regret, a trust has been violated, or you and your spouse have done all that you both can but things just aren’t working, you should be true to yourself regarding whatever your reason to divorce. You’re not making it work for the people watching from the outside.

At the end of the day, you have to do what’s best for yourself and your family.

Image via Bigstock 

The post Serious Question: When Is Divorce Acceptable? appeared first on MadameNoire.

USA is tapping some big names for their anthology series “Unsolved: The Murders of Biggie and Tupac.”

Two-time Grammy nominee Luke James, fresh off the success of playing Johnny Gill in “The New Edition Story,” will star as Sean “Puffy” Combs.

Aisha Hinds, who is currently portraying Harriet Tubman on “Underground” and will also star in Fox’s “Shots Fired,” will take on the role of Biggie’s mother Voletta Wallace. Wallace reportedly talked to her son every day before his death and has yet to stop seeking justice in his murder.

And LeToya Luckett will play Sharitha Golden, the estranged wife of Death Row records CEO Suge Knight. Golden is said to be one of the few people not intimidated by Knight in 1997.

Marcc Rose will play the role of Tupac and Wavyy Jonez will play Biggie Smalls.

The series will be based on the experiences of former LAPD Detective Greg Kading, who led several law-enforcement task forces that investigated the murders. Kading consulted on the script and will work as the co-executive producer for the pilot.

Tupac was just 25-years-old when he was shot and killed in Las Vegas in 1996. Biggie was 24-years-old when he was killed in Los Angeles, just six months later. Their murders are still, as the title of the series suggests, unsolved today.

Image via WENN

Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @VDubShrug.

The post Aisha Hinds, LeToya Luckett & Luke James To Star In Series About The Murders Of Tupac & Biggie appeared first on MadameNoire.

I love a colorful pair of sneakers. I dig ’em for everyday wear, but I’m especially a fan of rainbows of color when it comes to my athletic footwear. Shoes in orange, bright green and purple hues have made their way into my closet, and honestly, they’re like a party on my feet. And sometimes you need that party to even feel like getting moving in the first place. But for some people, it doesn’t take all of that. I’m talking about those who have an affinity for neutral colors. Individuals who wear black like it’s going out of style. Those who live for a beige ensemble and have alerts on their computer for a reasonably priced brown shoe. Folks who love white almost as much as LisaRaye. So what do they wear on their feet for a good sweat session? Anything laid back in color and comfortable in feel. With those people in mind, we did some shopping for just a few neutral-colored workout sneakers with a casual look that those people could train in while still managing to turn heads.

1. Puma Rebel Slip-On Training Shoe $65

2. Nike Free TR Focus Flyknit Running Shoe $98

3. Reebok Sublite Authentic 2 Lightweight Running Shoe $50

4. Adidas Energy Cloud V Lightweight Running Shoe $60

5. Asics Gel-Lite V Running Sneaker $130

The post 5 Laid-Back Athletic Shoes For People Who Swear By Neutral Colors appeared first on MadameNoire.

With Ciara ending her $15 million defamation lawsuit against Future, her former fiancé and father of her son, Future Zahir Wilburn, it seems that things between the former lovers may have finally become more peaceful. Anything is better than the past tumult.

But then you can’t help but get confused when you hear lyrics like these from the song “My Collection” off of Future’s latest album, HNDRXX, lyrics that people say were aimed at Ciara:

“She told me she was an angel/She f–ked two rappers and three singers/She got a few athletes on speed dial/I’m tryna get the case dismissed before I see trial/And these codeine habits ain’t got nothin’ to do with my lil’ child/No this codeine ain’t got nothin’ to do with my lil’ child.”

But then you also have lyrics like this, from the song “Sorry,” from the same album, that could also be in reference to the singer:

“Ain’t really mean to hurt you/Sorry it has to be this way/Ain’t mean to desert you/Sorry that it looks that way.”

So how does Future really feel about the woman he’s had so much to say about since their split in 2014? We know that in the past, Ciara didn’t even want to speak that man’s name in public. Not to mention that at this point, she’s married and expecting her second child, her first with Russell Wilson. She’s started a whole new private life.

However, “Nayvadius “Future” Wilburn seems a little more conflicted and has always been the one open about their ups and downs. But according to his chat with Billboard, which he is on the cover of for the April 1 issue, overall, he’s happy — even if he feels like his ex gave up “on something real”:

Future insists he’s in a good place. “I feel like everything happened for a reason,” he says. “I’m happy with life now. I’m happy with life, period, even with the end of a ­relationship being…” He trails off, and when he starts up again the tone is more defiant. “I’m just not going to settle for anything, you know? Even in my life now, I know I can be a better person. I ain’t giving up on myself, so if you give up on me, I ain’t got nothing else to say for you. Because if you give up on ­something that’s real, it wasn’t real to you.”

That said, he doesn’t seem to have the ­fondest memories of the attempts he made to adapt himself to the relationship with Ciara, including cutting back on weed and codeine and the rest of his lengthy pharmacopoeia. “They had me going the cornball route!” he says with a bitter little laugh. And anyway, Future notes that not even the women he’s writing about — clearly not all Ciara — will know who the tracks are really about. “What the people don’t ­understand is, I been kicking it with superstars when it comes to females for a minute — on the low-low with nobody don’t know-know.” At which point Future cracks a big grin and laughs.

Interesting response, right?

Image via WENN 

The post Future Says Ciara Gave Up “On Something That’s Real” appeared first on MadameNoire.

Empty the trash cans

Put away the good glasses

Keep the dog

Put on a little makeup

Label food

Listen in

Pop in "just for a second"

Have revenge girls night

Sneak their food

Try to get him to come to bed

Volume check them

Invite your hot friend over

Offer them lots of snacks

Check the laundry

Be on your best behavior

The post Funny Things You Do When He Hosts Guys Night appeared first on MadameNoire.

Not only in-shape people go

Your va-jay-jay will feel incredible

You read a lot into clothes

Your body is here to help you have fun!

Nobody is going to laugh at you

You and your partner will, of course, get it on more

Status is an illusion

Age is a real thing

You eventually forget that you’re nude

Getting ready is really easy

You’ll be more selective about your clothes

It’ll be the most secluded trip you ever take

You might make a friend you normally wouldn’t

You’ll let loose in a lot of ways

You’ll be really proud of yourself

The post Why You Should Try A Nudist Resort At Least Once In Your Life appeared first on MadameNoire.

During the mid-season premiere of “Empire” Wednesday night, Pantene aired a commercial dedicated to its Gold Series, the new line of cleansing, conditioning, and styling products created specifically for African American hair.

The commercial was a celebration of the many ways Black women wear their hair — textured fros, natural updos, locked, braided, long and wavy, straight — with an emphasis on priding onse’s self on having strong, healthy hair, not following a certain aesthetic we’ve been taught is “good” or better.

Pantene Celebrity Stylist Chuck Amos created all of the intricate styles in the commercial which features Singer, songwriter and model Demi Grace, and he told us how to recreate two looks from the video that we love in particular: The Tribal Style updo and the Golden Nefertiti, inspired by the shape of the crown of the Egyptian Queen. Here are the quick step-by-step guides.

The Tribal Style

• Using the Pantene Gold Series Hydrating Butter Crème, cornrow the hair from the crown to the front-center.
• Then, split the cornrow in two and continue to cornrow both strands down the sides of the temples to the top of the ears and then back around to the middle-back of the head.
• Smooth out the rest of the front of the hair with Pantene Gold Series Hydrating Butter Crème and flat iron.
• Then, use Pantene Gold Series Intense Hydrating Oil allover hair and heat style the hair in the back to loosen it so that it flows freely and to give it movement.
• Finish the look by teasing the roots to it more fullness in the back.

The Golden Nefertiti

• Begin by using the Pantene Gold Series Leave-On Detangling Milk to loosen up the curls on top of the head as you pile them up; tease the hair to make a base for volume and drama.
• Then, use the Pantene Gold Series Butter Crème to help heat style some of the curls and give them definition.
• Crisscross a gold elastic cord, back-and-forth to hone in on the “Nefertiti” shape.
• Complete the look by smoothing out the edges with more Pantene Gold Series Hydrating Butter Crème.

Check my review of the new Gold Series collection with styling by Chuck Amos here.

The post How To Recreate These Gorgeous Hairstyles From The New Pantene Gold Series Commercial appeared first on MadameNoire.

It’s stressful living with debt, but imagine dying with a debt of $62,000? According to a new survey, that’s exactly how much Americans are leaving behind, on average, when they pass.

“In fact, 73 percent of consumers had outstanding debt when they were reported as dead, according to December 2016 data provided to Credit.com by credit bureau Experian. Those consumers carried an average total balance of $61,554, including mortgage debt. Without home loans, the average balance was $12,875,” reported USA Today. Experian’s FileOne database, which includes 220 million consumers, was used to determine the debt.

When breaking down the numbers, among the 73 percent of consumers who died having debt, about 68 percent still had credit card balances; 37 percent had mortgage debt; 25 percent had auto loans; 12 percent still owed personal loans; and 6 percent had outstanding student loans. “These were the average unpaid balances: credit cards, $4,531; auto loans, $17,111; personal loans, $14,793; and student loans, $25,391,” reported USA Today.

This debt most often is passed on to loved ones if your estate cannot pay off the debts. “Debt belongs to the deceased person or that person’s estate,” said estate planning attorney Darra L. Rayndon, in the USA piece. This is just one major reason wills are important to have.

“If you don’t write a will, your state of residence will write one for you should you pass away,” added James M. Matthews, a certified financial planner and managing director of financial planning firm Blueprint. “Odds are the state laws and your wishes are different.”

And while you’re alive, it’s important to have a solid handle on your debt. “One way to make sure debt doesn’t make a mess of your estate is to stay out of it. You can keep tabs on your debt by reviewing a free snapshot of your credit report on Credit.com, in addition to sticking to a budget that helps you live below your means. You may also want to consider getting life insurance and meeting with an estate planning attorney to make sure everything’s covered in the event of your death. If you’re worried about leaving behind debt after death, here’s more on how protect your loved ones,” reported USA Today.

The post Americans Die With An Average Debt Of $62,000 appeared first on MadameNoire.

While it’s unclear what exactly is next for the talented Tamron Hall in terms of sitting front and center at a news desk, she’s not second-guessing her decision to walk away from her post at the Today show.

Hall exited the morning show as co-anchor in February. Aside from thanking fans for their support on social media, she hasn’t really spoken about her decision to go and how those in her circle have reacted to her decision to step out into the unknown. But she did just that for the first time while speaking to a crowd of people at the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council’s Summit Salute event on Thursday in New Orleans. While there, she made some very inspiring comments about not letting the job you have, or don’t have, define you.

Some would call and say, ‘Oh my God, are you OK?’ And I was like, ‘What happened? Who died?’ and then there were other people who said, ‘What’s next?'” Hall said about the two type of people who contacted her after she left Today, according to The New York Post‘s Page Six. If you’ll recall, she was reportedly offered millions to stay with the series, but opted against doing so because of the network’s decision to bring in Megyn Kelly to take over the 9 a.m. hour Hall had been covering with Al Roker.

“I don’t want a friend who calls me saying, ‘Oh my God.’ It’s a job. It doesn’t define me,” Hall said. “It doesn’t determine what I do … how I treat people. I’m going to always look you in your face and say, ‘Thank you’ and ‘Please’ — and if you make me mad, a good cuss word — but in the end, a title can’t define you. When your card no longer says anything beneath it, but your name, are you still you? Can you still savor the victory — the moment that you were able to take that dream? I never imagined that I would be on the ‘Today’ show.”

Since she’s still the host of Deadline: Crime on ID, Hall has a special that will premiere in April according to Page Six. As for what she had to say about her old gig, I don’t know who needed to hear that message, but I’m sure it was right on time for many of us. Make your mark at your place of employment, but with or without it, know that you’re still important and have a purpose.

Image via WENN

The post “It’s A Job. It Doesn’t Define Me”: Tamron Hall Speaks On “Today” Departure, Inspires Everyone appeared first on MadameNoire.

I was in the middle of a squat set early on in a fitness class at Athleta in the Flatiron District Wednesday evening when the instructor told us, “That’s enough; I don’t want you doing more than eight.” It was at that moment that I knew the workout was for me.

The class was PlyoJam and the instructor celebrity trainer Jason Layden who created the dance fitness course based in Los Angeles with co-founder Stacey Beaman (who dropped 70 pounds by the way). There, they help everyday fitness enthusiasts stay in shape and work one on one with the likes of Reese Witherspoon and Kate Hudson. But what separates this dance workout from, say, Zumba or other popular dance classes is that it’s powered by Plyometrics.

Plyometrics is a type of training that involves a lot of jumping and stabilizing in short, rapid intervals of time which causes the muscles to exert maximum force. That means doing squat jumps instead of the stationary butt-building exercise; star jacks, a more intense type of jumping jack; and lots of other sculpting moves while bouncing on your feet to the tune of popular songs by Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Lil Jon so you almost forget what a killer workout you’re doing.

I’ll be honest, I went into the workout with one major concern: my knees. Lunges and I are not quite on good terms again yet and I’m known to catch an attitude after one too many jumping jacks, but, surprisingly, I was good during this workout. Front-row, kept up with no problem until the last 10 minutes of class when I started getting a little tired good. The next day there was only mild irritation in my left knee, not unlike what I experience after other workout classes, from cycling to samba. And I burned 402 calories, even though I missed the first 10 minutes of class.

What I appreciated most about the workout, which absolutely tests your stamina to the limit, was how often Jason told us “I don’t want to make you suffer.” Though at times he was being funny, his words were also born out of an understanding that you have to create balance in a workout — not just so people can keep up, but also to prevent injury, especially in a routine like this that can put a lot of pressure on the joints if you don’t use correct form. That’s why more intense moves like jump turns were followed by grapevines or a little body rolling and booty shaking which could be viewed, as they say in the fitness world, as active rest. The body is still in motion and the heart rate up, but the intensity is minimal.

While, like us, you may not be in LA and able to take a class with Jason in person, there are instructors who teach PlyoJam in a few other cities in Cali as well as in Nevada and New Jersey. Check here to see if a class is offered in your area. Jason also offers 60-minute online courses so you can get your plyo on right from your living room. At $19.99 per month, you have no excuse not to try. Obviously, I think you should.

The post She Tried It! PlyoJam, The High-Intensity Workout That Won’t Make You Suffer appeared first on MadameNoire.

It’s hard for me to keep up with Mr. Kendu Isaacs and his demands of his estranged wife Mary J. Blige. One minute, he won’t return the car, or the Grammys. He wants this much money and that much money, the last number was six figures, $130,000 to be specific.

Now, according to The Daily Mail, Isaacs has reduced the number to $110,000 a month in spousal support. But now, the 49-year-old is adding separate expenses. Isaacs is now requesting that Mary finance his expensive meals, pay for his housekeeper, a personal trainer and a $1,000 allowance for clothes.

The paperwork states that once Blige fired him as her manager he was left with no income.

The filing states that Isaacs made $46,205 a month when he was employed by Blige, most of which were payed in $415,000 in commissions.

In addition to the lifestyle he wants to maintain, Isaacs wants an additional $5,000 a month to help support his parents and $4,971 a month to support two children from a past relationship.

As exorbitant as some of these numbers seem, they have been reduced since Kendu first submitted his demands in October.

Interestingly enough, Mary has already been quite generous to Isaacs. In August, she gave him $35,000. $50,000 in September, $25,000 in October. In 2017 alone, she’s given him $60,000 in spousal support and another $55,000 for legal counsel.

Documents filed in October, said that Isaacs had already spent the money from August and September securing new living accommodations. Isaacs said the rest of the money has been spent on legal fees. Isaacs is also arguing that the prenuptial agreement he signed two days before marrying Blige is not valid. The agreement he signed waives all spousal support but Kendu says it isn’t valid because he didn’t have legal counsel on hand when he signed it and Blige did, saying he didn’t “understand the consequences of what I was about to sign.”

A hearing to discuss the prenuptial agreement is scheduled for July 11, 2017.

Isaacs says he has had problems getting another job in the cut throat entertainment industry but he also blames Blige for vilifying him in the media with all of the “divorce songs” and her portrayal of him in interviews. Meanwhile, Isaacs says he has not bashed Mary in the media out of respect for their personal privacy.

Such a character, this dude.

Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @VDubShrug.

The post Kendu Isaacs Wants Mary To Pay For The Care Of His Parents & Two Children appeared first on MadameNoire.

Not only is Twitter a place where you can share the mundanities of everyday life, get things, big and small, trending, and for many, a space where individuals gather their news, but it’s also a social media platform where possible love connections can be made.

While you were at work yesterday, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, 47, tried to shoot his shot with writer and comedian Mindy Kaling, 37. It all started when Booker caught wind of a joke made on her Hulu series, The Mindy Project, about the city of Newark, where Booker previously served as mayor.

Ouch! @MindyKaling, heard Dr. Lahiri dissed Newark last night … @VogueMagazine & I disagree ✌: https://t.co/2wP7ZqJKQd (I still ❤️U!) pic.twitter.com/FSwfkxenQJ

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) March 23, 2017

He probably wasn’t expecting a response, but Kaling gave him one. She made sure to differentiate between herself and her popular TV character.

Senator, if Mindy Lahiri shades it, it means we know it’s cool. Thanks for the ❤. It’s mutual! https://t.co/KW2ibviREc

— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) March 23, 2017

Giddy at the fact that she responded and said that the love he has for her and her work is mutual, Booker decided to ask her out for dinner, which no one saw coming.

You are making my day! Thanks for the clarification. And If the ❤️is really mutual… Come have dinner with me in Newark? #PleaseSayYes https://t.co/fI9IYJYZEX

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) March 23, 2017

Twitter is definitely not the place to play coy when asked out on a date, especially not with all eyes on you. Kaling responded by accepting his invitation.

@CoryBooker yes. Now let me get the PATH train schedule.

— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) March 23, 2017

Thank you! PATH train is awesome when you are Jersey bound. But you are @Lyft worthy! I will send one to you for the door to door. https://t.co/hTHqqyXLZn

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) March 23, 2017

Even the New Jersey Path tried to get in on this back and forth:

@mindykaling @CoryBooker Here’s the schedule: https://t.co/X0CTn8lD54

— PATH Train (@PATHTrain) March 23, 2017

https://t.co/tIYB7JWIh6

— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) March 23, 2017

Now, we’re not 100 percent sure if and when this date will actually take place, but fans of Kaling seem absolutely here for a love connection between her and Booker.

@mindykaling I’ve already imagined 11 different scenarios in which you and @CoryBooker fall in love please don’t let us down

— Nisha Patel (@nisha6845) March 23, 2017

@mindykaling ummm is this really happening because it really needs to

— Jenilyn (@lambsLion) March 23, 2017

@mindykaling mindy i need to know if you are serious, don’t play with our hearts

— HANNAH HURT ALERT (@hannahhurt) March 23, 2017

In the past, Kaling has dated her former The Office co-star B.J. Novak, as well as writer Benjamin Nugent. As for Booker, he’s reportedly dated Gayle King and poet/stylist Cleo Wade.

They’re both single, and he seems ready to mingle, so why not?

Images via WENN

The post Cory Booker Asking Mindy Kaling Out On Twitter Is The Most Interesting Thing You’ll See Today appeared first on MadameNoire.