Remember little Cindy on The Brady Brunch? Susan Olsen, now 55, who played "the youngest one in curls," has found herself under fire and out of a job after allegedly going on a homophobic rant on Facebook against one of her critics.
It all started when activist and producer Leon Acord-Whiting publicly criticized Olsen after appearing as a guest on Two Chicks Talkin’ Politics, a show that Olsen co-hosted with Sheena Metal.
After his experience on the program, Acord-Whiting wrote on Facebook, "It is wildly irresponsible for LA Talk Radio to allow a Trump fanatic to co-host one of their programs, where she can spew her idiotic lies unchecked. (Being a liberal and a patriot are mutually exclusive? Hillary is causing the protests & hate crimes? The Koran is a political tract?) As much as I love Sheena Metal, I think LA Talk Radio needs to give 'Cindy Brady' her walking papers. I will not listen to or appear on any shows there from this point forward until she's gone. This isn't just disagreeing on, say, tax plans or foreign policy. Susan Olsen spreads outrageous misinformation & it is dangerous and unprofessional."
Olsen responded with a Facebook status of her own, writing, "This is the little piece of human waste. He blocked himself from me before I could even get one hit in. If you can find him, please send him my love."
Then, according to Acord-Whiting, Olsen proceeded to send him a private Facebook message filled with homophobic slurs, writing, "Hey there little pussy, let me get my big boy pants on and Reallly take you on!!! What a snake in the grass you are you lying piece of shit too cowardly to confront me in real life so you do it on Facebook. You are the biggest f***** ass in the world the biggest pussy! My Dick is bigger than yours Which ain't sayin much! What a true piece of shit you are! Lying f*****! I hope you meet your karma SLOWLY AND PAINFULLY."
Shortly after, LA Talk Radio announced in a statement released on Friday that they had let go of an unnamed host who was spreading hateful speech that didn't align with their message.
"LA Talk Radio takes pride in its close and collaborative relationship with the LGBT community, and will continue to provide a home for those who have hopeful and positive messages of togetherness and tolerance to share with our listeners. We will not tolerate hateful speech by anyone associated with our radio station and have severed our ties with a host that veered off the direction in which we are going. Thank you for your loyalty and continued support," LA Talk Radio wrote on Facebook. "LA Talk Radio stands for love and community, and we will always support all of our friends around the world."
Shopping for the perfect gift is hard - but so is putting on a gracious show when you've received the same bad gift year after year. We asked what gifts our community would be happy to never receive again. Here's what they said.
1. Coffee (when I don't drink it)
"I hate coffee. I hate the taste, I hate the smell, and I hate that it makes me sick to my stomach. I am a renowned tea drinker, everyone knows it, and yet every year someone close to me always ends up giving me coffee. I’m not sure if it’s just a lack of thought or pure laziness, but I am so over it." — Kaitlin Racine
"Starbucks gift cards... I hate coffee and it is unfortunately the gift card of choice for most people!" — Colleen Delawder
"Body care of any kind. I'm particular with scents so it never gets used and I'm lucky if it's from Bath and Body works because I can return it easily... if I remember to return it." — Eryn Gilson
"I actually love candles and am super into my hygge household, but I'm also migraine-triggered by certain scents and chemicals, so it's best if we just skip the (literal) headache — especially since SNL hilariously nailed the scented candles as a regifting cliche." —Julie Ross Godar
"Artisan jewelry and scarves that are the exact opposite of my taste... from my mother-in-law!" — Christine Suter
"I told my husband I'd break up with him if he gave me one more winter coat for Christmas, does that count?" — Lynn LaPlante Allaway
4. Kitchen gifts
"Cooking utensils/appliances. Cooking is YOUR hobby, not mine." —Crystal Hill
5. Lip balm
"I realized recently I am not going to live long enough to use up all the lip balm I have. This is a sobering thought. No more lip balm, please." —Melissa Kirsch
"Items that have my initial(s) on them. Sorry, mom and grandmother, but I will likely never actually put a picture of myself in that picture frame with a huge, wooden letter 'K' on it. And yes, that's still in my closet." —Kristine
7. Immediately outdated gifts
"Holiday-related items. I'm talking Santa-shaped decorative soaps, a gingerbread house nightlight or reindeer earmuffs. You get them and then they are out-of-season the very next day. Then they sit in your closet until the following year but you've already forgotten about them." —Elizabeth Yuko
8. Framed photos
"Framed photos of people. I'm sorry, family and friends; I may love you, but it's up to me to decide who I'm displaying in my home." —Alice Bradley
There's a new bride-to-be in the Real Housewives of New York City circle: Dorinda Medley says she's getting married to controversial boyfriend John Mahdessian. Yes, seriously!
Medley spilled the news to Radar Online while hosting the Celebrity Page Holiday Party in New York City, revealing, "I'm getting married!"
During the interview at the event, Medley opened up about the pair's relationship. "Our lives are just so busy and hectic in New York that any downtime is great time," she said.
dorinda medley and john mahdessian instagram photo one
dorinda medley and john mahdessian instagram photo one
"The thing about New York is that it is so intense and there are just so many people. One of the biggest luxuries for John and I is that we just get to be together," Medley also told the news outlet. "We like to do normal things and just hang out together: watch TV, go for walks and, of course, cook."
"She says that she is the peanut butter and I am the jelly, but together we are amazing," Mahdessian said.
dorinda medley and john mahdessian instagram photo two
dorinda medley and john mahdessian instagram photo two
As Real Housewives viewers know, Dorinda's first husband, Richard Medley, died of kidney failure in 2011.
"After Richard passed, I just try to move forward. Life is life and you have to go with it. It is not about the bumps," Medley said. "It is how you deal with the bumps."
Back during Season 7 of RHONY, Mahdessian proposed to Medley on-camera, but she turned him down. It sounds like she has finally changed her mind! We'll have to just wait and see if wedding bells do end up ringing in the pair's future.
They say that the truth lies somewhere in between, but it's hard to distinguish where exactly the middle ground is when the goal posts are being moved around on an almost hourly basis. Since it will be hard to know who to believe (are higher-ups sincere in their pledges to do better by you or are they just telling you what you want to hear to shut you up?), it might be a good idea to take what everyone has to say with a grain of salt. Things won't turn out to be as promising as you'd like, nor will they be as nefarious as you fear. Indeed, after all of the rough and tumble, the bluster and the fluster, the end result will probably wind up being somewhere in the middle on Jan. 27.
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Image: SheKnows
There's nothing wrong with sketching out plans for a future that hasn't arrived yet. It's your psyche's way of coping with a situation that feels like a dead end or at least a foregone conclusion. Yes, you know that you have to see matters through to the end, and you will. You're committed to being there for the long haul because you were born under one of the most stalwart signs of the zodiac, but that shouldn't keep you from visualizing where you see yourself when you are finally free of the obligations and burdens that block your path. Nothing lasts forever. Not even limbo.
Saturn in that part of your solar chart that deals with a partner's finances, a buyer's credit or a customer's mental state hasn't been easy. The planet of obstacles and delays, Saturn has been wreaking havoc on this part of your life all year long. And it doesn't matter how reliable this person's been in the past; he's clearly a disaster now. Naturally, you'll want to reapply pressure and make him honor his commitments, but it may be time to cut your losses and get out of Dodge. The longer you're involved with him, the greater the cost and the more diminished the returns.
You may feel a bit like the emperor parading around in the buff on Dec. 13 when you realize that your new clothes were a figment of your imagination. This is what happens when you allow yourself to live in a bubble peopled by admirers, flatterers and rivals posing as the aforementioned. There will be no denying that chilly breeze, and the temperature drop could send you running for cover, but this is the time to stand your ground. Your authority doesn't come from your outer trappings. It comes from who you are. Stand tall in that, and the naked truth will speak for itself.
You might be surprised to see what comes to light on Dec. 13. Full moons are famous for exposing underlying secrets. They're tricky because we often think it's one thing, but wind up discovering that it's something else. You know that a boss or supervisor can't be pleased except when he's criticizing you. What you don't know, however, is how dependent he is on you and that it's by picking apart your job performance that he hopes to camouflage his. Now this isn't something to confront him with; it's information better kept tucked in your holster for when (or if) you need to use it.
You believe in accenting the positive. You have faith that everything will work out in the end no matter the difficulties, plus you also know from past experience that if you go negative, you'll get negative. This has always been the secret to your success, and it's one that you're more than happy to share. Unfortunately, it looks like a friend or loved one won't be following your lead this week. If anything, he'll probably reject everything you have to say. All you can do is offer advice and leave it on the table. Whether he follows it or not is up to him.
Once again, you'll come through in the nick of time, and once again a supervisor will take all the credit. Why does this keep happening? You may have a bit of an evil twin syndrome thing going on with that full moon in Gemini at the top of your solar horoscope (Dec. 13). You may feel like you have to prop up somebody you know doesn't deserve it because you identify with him in some way. Well, even twins have to sever the bond at some point, and that time is now. You can't afford to bankroll someone professionally at your own expense.
You've held back with the questions in hopes that things would explain themselves as developments unfolded. Well, it's starting to look like that won't be happening any time soon, which means you will have to raise the points that nobody else wants to on Dec. 15 and 18. The simple truth is that you don't believe matters are being handled well, and worse, you suspect that there's a lot of wishful thinking taking place instead of some serious fact-checking. Be ready for people to call you a spoiler, but condemnation will turn to praise when your reservations are validated next week.
There's something about surviving a close call that makes you come to life. Maybe it's the adrenaline rush, but it could also be the fact that you only take things seriously when they're teetering on the edge. It's to be expected when you're born under Mars and Pluto. You really relate to those times when you stare into the abyss and can see the abyss staring back. Nevertheless, it's starting to take a toll, so maybe you can find a way to ease up on those life-or-death gambles? It's something to think about as you begin drawing up that list of New Year's resolutions.
This is the time to firm up plans, finalize commitments and sign on the line that is dotted. It doesn't matter if start dates are nebulous and deadlines are free-floating. What's important is that you get everything in writing before Mercury turns retrograde on Dec. 19. Indeed, your best days for shaking on a deal are Dec. 13 and 17. This won't save you from the craziness of the next three weeks, but it ensures you'll have everything in place for when Mercury resumes direction on Jan. 8. This will put you out ahead of the game instead of running to play catch-up.
Developments at work are pushing you into an entirely different arena. Most people would be happy about what's going on. No more galumphing down that treadmill heading nowhere; you're going places now! But like a caged animal being re-released into the wild, you won't be bounding out the back of the truck. You need to sniff around a bit in order to get your bearings and to make sure things are OK. Once assured that you're in your element (mid-January), you'll be taking off like a bird on the wing, and nothing will bring you down. 2017 promises to be a banner year!
It's not always easy being born under two ruling planets. Saturn holds fast to the rules, while Uranus kicks over the game board. Thankfully, this isn't simultaneous, but rather one followed by the other. It could be said you swing like a pendulum between these two extremes. Favorable aspects involving Uranus this week show you offloading those pledges and obligations that you've toiled under for months. It sounds impossible, but it's true. You no longer have to please people who can't be pleased or pat the hands of whiners and complainers. They will all soon be somebody else's problem. And you couldn't be happier!
The full moon on Dec. 13 brings to an end a long-running dispute, nasty disagreement or thankless obligation. Auspicious planetary trines and sextiles show both sides walking away from the table with something to smile about. You'll have your freedom and the other party will have whatever it is they needed to feel satisfaction. The only thing to watch out for is that you don't inadvertently replace one dreadful situation with another. Don't be so quick to bite on offers that are dangled in front of you over the next three weeks. They could land you back in the hell you just escaped.
Be wary of emotional gaslighting and psychological sleight of hand when the full moon appears in Gemini on Dec. 13. It appears as if a loved one or trusted friend is trying to divert your attention away from something he doesn't want you to find out about, which makes you wonder whether he's doing this to cover up an embarrassing mistake or is playing you? In any case, you will need to have some solid evidence in place before you confront. It's kind of creepy having to collect all the inconsistencies, but the stronger your case the more likely he'll fess up. Hopefully, it will turn out to be something that he regarded as a white lie to protect your feelings. If not, then it's better to face the truth now rather than later.
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Image: SheKnows
Can you really fault a guy for wanting to be around you? All he said was that he liked you. This shouldn't be a cue for leading him on or blowing him off. It's OK if you don't see a future in it, but that doesn't mean that you can treat him worse than your worst enemy. Tell him you don't want to see him if that's what you feel, but if you do like having him around, you can do him the favor of being courteous. He's not a stand-in for all the guys who broke your heart. If anything, he's the remedy.
Your boyfriend or spouse is having some difficulty with the career path he's on. Outwardly, he looks great, but a peek under the hood reveals he's not a happy camper. Maybe he feels like he's in over his head, that what used to work doesn't anymore, or perhaps he took a left turn when he should have gone right. In any case, don't try to boost his spirits. You'll only exacerbate the insecurities. Let him talk when he wants to and try to listen to him without filtering everything through your expectations. This is a time when he really needs you in his corner.
You can't keep someone in your life if he doesn't want to be there. And frankly, you're tired of doing all the relating for both sides. You understand his doubts, frustrations and insecurities. Heaven knows you've had more than enough of those. The thing you can't understand is why he just sits there in his melancholy and soaks in it. It's not your style and that kind of mental paralysis defies all comprehension. Show him the door on Dec. 13. In all likelihood, he'll stay put, which means that the person who may have to pack up her things and move on will be you.
Stop passing the reins of the relationship back to him. He doesn't know what he wants, he doesn't know where he's going, and he clearly enjoys being a backseat driver. The only person who can answer whether she wants to be in this relationship or not is you. Cancers have this unfortunate habit of matching passivity with passivity in hopes that the other person will just go back to sleep, but that only results in bad dreams. Live the relationship you want to have. Chances are he's not going anywhere and will probably settle down once you stop insisting that he take the wheel.
Every once in a while, it's a good idea to pare down the friends list. This will become glaringly obvious on Dec. 13 when you hear a bitchy quip or malicious snipe. Maybe it's aimed at you or perhaps it's someone else. It doesn't really matter. It will prove to be the final straw. Life is too short to look the other way, to put up with the negative attitude or to tolerate naysayers in your social orbit. Thankfully, we live in a society where everyone has way too many friends to manage. All you have to do is click on "unfriend" and quietly slip away.
The holidays seem to bring out all the family ghosts of Christmas past, and this year won't be any different. Once again, you'll be revisiting all the slights, fights and rivalries, and once again, you'll feel like you're expected to "get over it." Maybe it's time you did. Thomas Wolfe once wrote, "you can't go home again," and he was right. It doesn't matter who hurt who — that was then and this is now and all the angry scenes and teary admissions won't make up for it. Give the greatest present you can and tear up the emotional scorecard. You'll be happier without it.
This week, you're going to have to take a backseat to what's going on in your lover's life. It looks like a family crisis will once again be pulling focus and absorbing all of his attention. It's really aggravating, and part of you may get resentful until you realize that you don't have to sit around waiting for him. If anything, this is the perfect time to catch up with friends you haven't seen in a long time. It will be great to reconnect. Just try to act like you haven't been having so much fun when your stressed-out boyfriend comes looking for you.
The way someone treats money says a lot about how he'll act in a relationship. Is he tight? Profligate? Generous? This is something you'll want to observe with that guy you're dating on Dec. 13 when the full moon in Gemini shows him facing an unexpected shortfall. If he takes responsibility for what's happening and tries to figure out a way to escape a tight corner, you know he's the man for you. If he turns around and hits you up for a loan, it's clear you need to give him his walking papers. He'll only cost you more in the future.
You're standing on the brink of a whole new love life in which you really don't have to repeat the mistakes of the past. But new worlds aren't empty canvases. This fresh start also requires you to be honest with yourself. How reliable are you? Can you make room for another person in your life? Are you a giver or a taker? Think long and hard because the answers to these questions aren't easy. You need to have an accurate idea of who you are now if you want to make the most of the romantic possibilities that will soon be coursing through your life.
It's hard being there for the people in your life. Demands at work are all-consuming and even though loved ones will shrug their shoulders and say that everything's all right, you can tell it's not. It's unlikely that you're going to walk out on your job, but you can start treating your home like it's a sanctuary city. In other words, stop genuflecting to the powers that be at work on every issue. Set up solid borders regarding time, communication and reasonable requests. Part of your fear is getting the sack, but you'll win respect instead. You'll also prove to loved ones that you're there for them.
You thought that you would have to pick up your toys and leave the sandbox, but it looks like the other parties will be amending their behavior. The holidays are always a trying time for family and friends. Every year we pledge to be less stressed, and every year tensions seem to only increase. In any case, the fault is not with your stars, but with other people's, and the nice thing is that you will see them take responsibility for their actions on Dec. 13 and 17. You won't get a cease-fire, but you'll get a truce, and that's better than last year.
Life hasn't been easy. You faced steep trials in 2016, and that series of setbacks you experienced was certainly discouraging. Yet somewhere along the way you assumed you didn't have to return favors, pay back loans or deliver on promises. And it's not because you were being rude, you were just focused on survival. Well, it's time to turn that around because Saturn opposite the full moon on Dec. 13 shows you're overdrawn at the bank of goodwill and you're at risk of being left out in the cold. It doesn't have to be — not when a simple "thank you" would warm hearts.
Without a doubt, one of the cutest couples in Hollywood right now is Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor. These women have been each other's biggest cheerleaders since they first started dating. They've often used social media to vocalize their support, and honestly, it is a truly beautiful thing to witness. Can you say #relationshipgoals?
During the Critics' Choice Awards tonight, Taylor was once again cheering on her other half from New York City. Taylor tweeted out a photo showing herself in the middle of setting up her Apple TV so that she could watch the awards ceremony. She tweeted along with the photo, "Takin' care of bidness so I'll be able to watch @CriticsChoice awards and see my DARLING @MsSarahPaulson be beautiful all the way from NY!"
Naturally, Paulson did not miss a beat in voicing her simultaneous affection and longing for her girlfriend. Amanda Peet may have been on her arm at the awards show, but Paulson was able to tweet out, "#CriticsChoiceAwards with my one only #amandapeet and this what our car looks like right now. Missing @HollandTaylor." Sure, Peet was a game award show date; it's undeniable, though, that Taylor would have been a great date for Paulson's big night.
This relationship is just too perfect. I don't think I've come across a couple as supportive and happy for one another's successes as Taylor and Paulson. Have you? These women are not only ridiculously talented, but it's very clear that they are one another's biggest fans.
Just because T.J. Miller didn't want to discuss his Friday arrest at the Critics' Choice Awards doesn't mean the rest of us aren't going to discuss it.
According to Deadline, Miller, who is best known for his role in HBO's Silicon Valley, was in an altercation with a hired driver that led to Miller's arrest after the driver accused him of battery. He was released and is scheduled to appear in court to address the situation on Jan. 9.
Staying silent doesn't seem to be doing Miller any good. Tweeters are unimpressed with how Miller handled himself, if the rumors about the run-in are true.
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t.j. miller arrest tweet 2
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t.j. miller arrest tweet 3
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t.j. miller arrest tweet 5
As for the Broadcast Film Critics Association, which sponsors the Critics' Choice Awards, the organization is standing behind Miller as its host for the show tonight.
"We can't wait to see what T.J. does tomorrow on the show," BFCA president Joey Berlin told Deadline.
This wouldn't be the first time a Silicon Valley star has gotten into a fight over Trump. Just last month, Miller's co-stars Kumail Nanjiani and Thomas Middleditch were harassed at a bar by Trump supporters, who were angry over Nanjiani and Middleditch's anti-Trump tweets.
Do you think T.J. Miller should have been allowed to host the Critics' Choice Awards despite his arrest?
"I had an amazing time with Erin Andrews, who I think maybe just got engaged and maybe I’m breaking the news, I’m not sure," Chmerkovskiy said, when asked by FOX 5 TV to comment on his favorite DWTS partners over the years. "She also kinda, maybe, broke the news of us being pregnant, so maybe that’s returning the favor over here."
Chmerkovskiy is expecting his first child with fellow DWTS pro Peta Murgatroyd. And yes, Andrews did spill their baby news. But it was totally by accident!
She reportedly congratulated the couple on their first child on the set of DWTS, not realizing that her mic was still on.
Chmerkovskiy clearly isn't over the incident, but hopefully the engagement news spill was all in good fun. Otherwise, there's no telling where this DWTS feud could go — but it wouldn't be good.
As for Andrews, she's playing coy about the news on social media.
erin andrews engagement tweet 1
erin andrews engagement tweet 1
erin andrews engagement tweet 2
erin andrews engagement tweet 2
But is anyone really buying these emoji responses? She might as well be tweeting winky faces.
Andrews and her rumored fiancé, pro hockey player Jarret Stoll, have been dating now for two years. Congrats to the happy couple if Chmerkovskiy has spilled correctly!
Do you think it was fair of Chmerkovskiy to blow Andrews' engagement news, or was he way out of line?
In an exciting twist at the 2016 Critics' Choice Awards, Thandie Newton netted the award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Newton had some fierce competition in her category. Other nominees included Constance Zimmer for UnREAL, Christine Baranski for The Good Wife and Emilia Clarke and Lena Headey for Game of Thrones. But it was the Westworld actress who blew the competition right out of the water, and it's no surprise that she did. Newton is one of the most talented — and regularly undervalued — performers working in film and television today.
Newton's performance inWestworldhas been nothing short of riveting. As Maeve, Newton bewitched audiences every week, consistently a powerhouse performer as a robot who is slowly gaining sentience and channeling that awareness into her potential escape. Newton's prominent return to the screen comes after a few recent quiet years where she starred in smaller films likeFor Colored GirlsandRetreatas well as the short-lived television seriesThe Slap. With Westworld's success and her subsequent Critics' Choice win, I think it's safe to say we might be witnessing a major career comeback for Newton.
Thandie Newton Critics' Choice Award
Thandie Newton Critics' Choice Award
For those who know Newton's work, her officially award-caliber performance on the hit HBO show should come as no surprise. For those who are just now discovering Newton, it would behoove you to visit her previous work, because Newton has always delivered on her end of the acting bargain. She's been working in film and television since she was 19 years old, making her film debut in 1991's Flirting. From there, Newton has gone on to star in films like Beloved, Mission Impossible II, W. and The Chronicles of Riddick.
Newton has consistently been cast in supporting roles, but her work is anything but supporting. She is, in truth, a star. In reviewing her body of work, however light-hearted or serious a project, Newton has always found the humanity and reality of her characters (yes, that even includes Norbit). The fact that Newton has often been shuffled into to a supporting role — be it love interest, ingenue or angry woman — is a bit criminal. Why has it taken so long to for Hollywood to get its act together and give Newton the kind of visibility that her work warrants?
Whatever the reason, I think the crucial fact to focus on is that Newton is continuing to bring her A game to each role she tackles; Westworld simply proves that she is on track for a major career renaissance. Newton is poised for another exciting role in Candian wunderkind director Xavier Dolan's The Life and Death of John F. Donovan and will ostensibly be returning to Westworld when it returns in 2018. You deserve this praise, Thandie Newton. Here's to an award season full of repeat moments of glory like the one at the 2016 Critics' Choice Awards.
What do you think of Thandie Newton's performance in Westworld? Let us know in the comments below.
Over the past year, the two have battled it out with dual lawsuits. Grammer accused Charalambopoulos of domestic violence for a Texas hotel incident in 2013. Charalambopoulos said the claims were fabricated and fought back with his own lawsuit against Grammer for damaging his reputation.
Unfortunately for Charalambopoulos, most of his claims have been thrown out of court, entitling Grammer to recoup her legal fees. Charalambopoulos claims he has no money, however. In fact, despite the fact that RadarOnline reports he makes $5,000 to $7,000 a week at his construction job, Charalambopoulos claims that for October 2016, he only had $11.10 in his bank account. Ouch.
As much as I think Grammer is entitled to this money, especially if Charalambopoulos did, in fact, abuse her, it's also a reflection on our troubled legal system. It is absolutely outrageous that a former couple's squabbles can lead to such financial turmoil.
Plus, in cases where the loser is actually the victim, it is entirely unjust.
"This is not a case in which Grammer is anticipating a recovery against Charalambopoulos and seeking discovery prematurely; she is entitled to such a recovery by statute, and she is seeking discovery only because Charalambopoulos asserts that he cannot comply with the court’s award," the judge said during his ruling.
An exciting new award was given out at the 2016 Critics' Choice Awards and it was solely dedicated to women in media.
Awarded to Viola Davis, the #SeeHer award rewards women working to eliminate gender bias in media through their work in film and television. Davis received the #SeeHer award because she "embodies the values set forth by the #SeeHer mission, including pushing boundaries on changing stereotypes and her recognition of the importance of accurately portraying women across the entertainment landscape."
The occasion is doubly special: Davis has consistently received rave reviews for her work in films like Doubt, The Help, and this year's Fences; the #SeeHer award is laser-focused on rewarding women's efforts in an industry which has regularly made it difficult to women to thrive (but thrive they do). Often, Davis' roles are directly tied to race and womanhood, so Davis' ability to not only thrive but receive critical praise over and over for her work is a true testament to changing attitudes toward actresses of color as well as her own power.
Presented by Doubt co-star Amy Adams, Davis not only accepted the award with grace, but she gave one of the best speeches at the awards ceremony. Adams noted in her introduction of the award that "we look for heroes, we look for role models. Media and entertainment play such a key role in how women and girls see themselves," and went on to add that Davis "believes that you don’t live someone else’s life, someone else’s idea of what womanhood is. Womanhood is everything that’s inside of you.”
Davis' speech drove home that very important fact, whether or not she blatantly said it. Her speech was, as is typical of her, throughly empowering and incredibly feminist. At first she joked that "it’s hard to accept being a role model for women when you’re trying to lose weight,” but went on to make a more serious and beautiful statement about her work.
"I truly believe the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are, and I just recently embraced that at 51. I think my strongest power is that, at 10 every Thursday night, I want you to come into my world. I am not going to come into yours. You come into my world and you sit with me — my size, my hue, my age — and you sit, and you experience. I think that’s the only power I have as an artist, so I thank you for this award and I do see her, just like I see me.”
Despite her self-deprecation, Davis' speech was yet again an empowering one. Choosing to highlight the importance of self-love and self-confidence, Davis' own self-empowerment came through in her speech. She wasn't quick to let herself off the hook and take a moment to rest on her laurels, it was hard not to notice that this award really meant something to her. It's deserved, to be sure; how can you deny the power of a performance from Davis?
SeeHer Award Fan Tweet
SeeHer Award Fan Tweet
While it's necessary to focus on why Davis is so worthy, it must also be said that the #SeeHer award is a truly revolutionary and watershed moment for awards of any kind. To focus solely on the affects women can have in film and television — in the stories they tell, the characters they portray, and the experiences they impress upon viewers — and further focus on how those women reverse harmful gender bias is a truly special award.
What was your favorite part of Davis' speech? Let us know in the comments below!
Welp, it happened. It was relatively smooth sailing at the 2016 Critics' Choice Awards until Lakeith Stanfield crashed the stage.
Image: Natalie Cosgrove/SheKnows
The Atlanta actor pulled a move right out of the "Kanye West Awards-Approved Behavior" handbook when he crashed the stage during the announcement for Best Comedy Series. Atlanta was among the handful of nominees in the category which included eventual winner Silicon Valley.
In a truly fascinating turn of events, something seemed a little off when Silicon Valley was announced as the winner of Best Comedy Series and the camera took a wide shot of the crowd. While Silicon Valley's executive producer Tom Lassally made his way towards the stage from the far right side of the room, another person was bobbing and weaving towards the stage, clad in a ship captain's hat and black blazer. It wasn't until Lassally made in onstage before the other person was revealed to be Stanfield.
Lakeith Stanfield Silicon Valley
Lakeith Stanfield Silicon Valley
To those who could see the moment unfolding in slow motion, it became evident Stanfield was going to make some kind of statement about Atlanta's loss to Silicon Valley. While it wasn't foul-mouthed or even blatantly rude, Stanfield's speech definitely threw shade. Pretending to be a part of Silicon Valley, Stanfield simply stated, "I wanna thank everybody for honoring us in this way. We worked very hard on Silicon Valley, and here we are. Thank you.”
Stanfield exited the stage as quickly as he entered it; Lassally, for his part, tried to valiantly brush off the moment. "No idea who that was. Wow," Lassally noted before diving right into his acceptance speech for the show. It was a quick and bright spot in Sunday night's proceedings.
No doubt the Kanye West references and memes will come pouring in during the awards show's aftermath. Stanfield certainly made a bold statement in favor of the show he works on. But was it too bold? Only time will tell.
After sputtering along for the last few weeks, The Walking Dead finally delivered an adrenaline-filled episode with this week's mid-season finale. Lives were lost, hope was gained and, most notably, Rick got his groove back. The gang's (almost) all together again and ready to wage war — huzzah!
Let's start with the obligatory spoiler alert by saying we are about to delve into pertinent plot points from this week's episode titled "Hearts Still Beating." If you haven't yet watched, cue up your DVR and hit this review up later.
For those of you who did tune in, well, hopefully you're feeling a bit better about the future trajectory of The Walking Dead after this week. 'Cause truth be told, it's been a long, hard season so far.
Although, admittedly, Chris Hardwick made an excellent point on The Talking Dead this week. When Norman Reedus (aka Daryl Dixon) expressed how difficult this season has been for the actors because they have been split up so much, Hardwick echoed that sentiment on behalf of fans. Part of the reason we've all had trouble connecting to this season is because we've been missing the connection between our core group of survivors.
Of course, they can't always be one, big, happy family... this is the zombpocalypse, after all. There must be moments of separation and tension so that we can celebrate the victories when the group comes back together.
Having said all that, yes, it has still kind of sucked not seeing the whole crew together this season. Hell, we've barely seen Carol and Morgan at all! This week's episode certainly seemed to set us down a far more unifying path, though.
After returning (barely) from a supply run across a lake full of swimming walkers, er, swimmers, Rick and Aaron arrive back at Alexandria to find Negan and his Savior cronies waiting on them. Little do they know, but much has transpired since they last saw Negan.
First, there was young Carl's assassination attempt on Negan. Then Negan brought Carl back and started getting a little too cozy in Alexandria. After that, Spencer tried to proposition Negan into killing Rick and making him, Spencer, the new acting leader of Alexandria.
We all know Negan isn't a fan of spineless behavior, so we suspected this would not end well for poor, pretentious Spencer. And, well, Negan spilling his guts all over the pavement proved that suspicion to be on point.
Then, Rosita tried to shoot Negan but hit Lucille by accident — which, by the way, was Carl's attempted assassination arc in the comics — and was nearly carved up by one of Negan's saviors in retaliation. Negan ultimately lets her off the hook, but he instead allows one of his lackeys to fire a bullet into an unsuspecting Olivia's brain.
Yikes, that's two more Alexandrians down for the count. And, oh! Negan also decided to abscond Eugene after discovering his ability to make bullets.
So in comes Rick and a now nearly beaten to death Aaron, and they survey the chaos. Rick is visibly angry, but he manages to reel it in. After Negan and his Saviors leave, Michonne returns and tells Rick she understands his point of view now — they are far outnumbered by the Saviors.
However, like some weird zombpocalyptic Gift of the Magi, Rick tells Michonne he understands her perspective and agrees they can't continue to live this way. Aw! Hooray for Rick-swagger.
The next day, Maggie excitedly opens the gates at Hilltop to let Rick, Michonne, Rosita, and Carl in. Rick and Maggie embrace (*tears*), after which Jesus and the recently escaped Daryl round the corner. Rick rushes toward Daryl, who is still broken-spirited and now sobbing. Grateful to see his friend once again, Rick immediately embraces him (*more tears*).
'Twas the bro-hug that brought The Walking Dead back from the brink.
Now our favorite survivors — with the exception of Morgan and Carol, who'll hopefully soon join the OG crew — are ready for war. And gosh damn it, so are we.
What did you think about the mid-season finale? Are you ready for a war?
Troian Bellisario's love life is a lot less complicated than that of her character, Spencer Hastings on Pretty Little Liars, because she's already found the man of her dreams in Suits actor, Patrick J. Adams — in fact, they're now married.
Bellisario and Adams got married on Saturday, Dec. 10, in a romantic rustic ceremony close to California's central coast. Donning Bohemian-inspired garments, Bellisario wore a beautiful sleeveless white wedding gown and a golden crown, while the groom kept it simple and classic with a navy suit.
The couple made their weekend a three-day camping-themed event, and according to Us Weekly they referred to their celebration as Fort Day.
Troian Bellisario Instagram
Troian Bellisario Instagram
Patrick J. Adams Instagram
Patrick J. Adams Instagram
Troian Bellisario Instagram
Troian Bellisario Instagram
Celebrating their big day with them were 200 guests, among which were several famous faces. Guests included Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Katie Lowes, as well as several of Bellisario's co-stars: Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson, Tyler Blackburn, Keegan Allen and Lulu Brud.
Guests took to Instagram to share photos from the celebration, and judging from the pictures, this was one wedding you wouldn't want to miss out on.
However, there was one person who was surprisingly absent from the celebrations: Shay Mitchell.
Mitchell took to Instagram to share her heartfelt apology for missing out on Bellisario's big day, but adding that she knew that the couple would have the "the most special day" and that she looked forward to celebrating with them in the future as a married couple.
As the show continues to be somewhat of a revolving door for co-hosts, sources say Walters is fed up with its reputation for backstage drama and that she thinks ABC execs are to blame for ruining her legacy.
"She feels they’ve ruined the franchise that she and Bill Geddie built," a source explained to Fox News. "Instead of focusing on smart, educated women with strong talent, they cast uninformed child actors on the show. The legacy has been compromised because of poor casting and bad leadership under ABC News."
The source said that's the reason Walters didn't make the post-election show where she was scheduled for a guest appearance alongside original hosts Debbie Matenopoulos, Meredith Vieira, Joy Behar and Star Jones. Walters' rep, however, denies that, saying that she was never going to be able to make the show because she was on a prescheduled vacation in Florida with her daughter.
"It was a prearranged vacation for the two of them," the rep said, adding that Walters doesn't actually have any issues with The View. "She calls the control room multiple times a week to offer her suggestions. She has a wonderful relationship with the show."
An ABC rep also denied the story that Walters is distancing herself from The View.
"There’s no better producer than Barbara Walters, and we’re always grateful for her notes about the show," the rep said. "The ratings are up, and we’re very proud of the team."
If you’ve ever given birth vaginally — you know, in your spare time when you were bored and had nothing better to do — you’ll have no trouble believing that human childbirth is a hot traffic-jam of a mess compared to the slip-and-slide births of other primates. Chimp and gorilla mamas sneeze and bam! Cute primate baby. Meanwhile, we poor human mothers are mooing, clawing the sheets and praying our baby’s head won’t get stuck in the metaphorical elevator doors. What gives?
For some sadistic, unknown reason, a human infant’s head is designed to just barely squeak through its mother’s pelvis. Because of this, we poor human mothers are far more likely to be at risk for fetopelvic disproportion, a life-or-death condition in which either the baby’s head is too large or Mama’s hips are too narrow for safe vaginal delivery.
It’s no secret that C-sections have risen in popularity for decades. They now make up fully 30 percent or more of all deliveries in the U.S. Scientists are now paying close attention to this trend because it turns out all those C-sections may just be changing the way we humans evolve.
In layperson’s terms: Because Caesarean sections have reduced mortality rates in mothers, our trusty, if brutal, “survival of the fittest” gene selection has been watered down. Some scientists are now predicting that there will be an “evolutionary response” — or a likely rise in fetopelvic disproportion rates — because teeny mothers and big-headed babies are surviving births far more often.
Which, of course, is great for the teeny mothers and the big-headed babies of the world. Survival is good stuff. But some scientists believe that fetopelvic disproportion, now hovering at around 3 percent of all births, will be on the rise.
So far, of course, this is just theory. “To my knowledge, this has not been shown empirically yet,” fetopelvic disproportion researcher Philipp Mitteröcker, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Vienna, explained in an interview with Vox.
Still, you heard it here: All those large-noggined infants and their small-boned moms may be shaping the course of human evolution. In time, we humans may become a species heavily populated by brainiacs and the slim-hipped… who require C-sections even more often if we dare keep reproducing. And so on. And so on.
We smell a sci-fi movie in the making — get Jennifer Lawrence on the phone.
Brush the potatoes with a baste of fat (butter, oil, etc.) and bake.
Once the slices have opened more, you'll want to brush again with more fat and maybe some yummy ingredients between the slats or on top.
Bake it again just long enough to achieve maximum meltiness, garnish it, then stuff it down your potato-hole, being careful to maintain some semblance of decorum if you have company over.
Now film yourself singing the Swedish national anthem and post it to YouTube because we totally owe them that. As accurately as we pronounce "Skarsgård," what could possibly go wrong?
Whether you go the traditional Scandinavian route or Americanize the Helheimr out of it, Hasselback potatoes are a really stunning presentation for a dinner party or a date night in. The best part? There are no rules. Add as much or as little of any ingredient you like. Live a little. This is your potato, dammit!
You should baste your potato twice — before you put it into the oven and either halfway through or just before you add breadcrumbs (if you're using them).
If you're using breadcrumbs, they should always go on about half to three-quarters of the way through cooking so they can get crispy.
Anything sliced is meant to go between the slices, so it should be very, very thin. You don't have to put them between every slice in the potato. Just use as much as you want and stuff it where it fits. If it won't go between, on top is fine too.
For dessert potatoes, skip the black pepper, but remember that salt actually enhances the sweetness. Try fleur de sel instead of kosher.
Then again, maybe that's because her youngest sister was miscarried at 18 weeks, and Dillard's post included controversial photos the Duggar family took after her death.
Jubilee Shalom Duggar was miscarried five years ago. Michelle Duggar learned the baby had no heartbeat in early December and delivered her stillborn on Dec. 11, which is apparently what the family considers to be her birthday, because it's the day Dillard posted her message.
Jill Dillard Instagram post about miscarried sister
Jill Dillard Instagram post about miscarried sister
"5 years ago today my mom gave birth to my youngest little sister, Jubilee Shalom Duggar and Jesus welcomed her home to Heaven!" Dillard wrote alongside pictures of her sister's corpse. "She is a testimony to every life being beautiful; at 18 weeks gestation, she was a beautiful baby with little blue eyes, 10 fingers & 10 toes! She weighed 4 oz. and was 6 inches long. We miss you Jubilee and look forward to meeting you one day in Heaven!"
The photos were first released years ago, soon after Jubilee's death. They caused a ton of controversy at the time, as people wondered why the family would take photos of their deceased child and then release them online. The Duggars were accused of using the miscarriage for publicity.
"From what I know of parents who have lost children, it’s horrific. It’s not something you want pictures of. There are people who will argue with me and say it’s a way of coming to terms with the death," social psychologist Susan Newman said at the time. "But given the Duggars’ history, their television show and the way they exploit their children, I just find this a cog in the same wheel. I find it rather distasteful."
This time, though, Dillard is finding some allies on Instagram. In the photos' comments, some of her followers came to her defense, writing that the pictures are beautiful.
"So beautiful and sad. Thankful for your family who celebrates her life," one commenter wrote.
Jaden Smith and Sarah Snyder hit our radar as an item after they got some major attention for cuddling up during 2015's New York Fashion Week, and — up until summer 2016 — they still seemed to be going strong.
Just like his sister, Willow, Smith seems to prefer the company of those older than him. There are conflicting reports on her age, but according to her Explore Talent modeling profile, Snyder is 21 years old, which basically means that she can drink (legally), while the 18-year-old Smith cannot.
Sarah Snyder instagram 1
Sarah Snyder instagram 1
2. She's a model
Sarah Snyder instagram 3
Sarah Snyder instagram 3
And a talented one. Her Instagram is littered with the usual social media modeling shots, but we dug up some professional photos of Snyder posted by a makeup artist that prove she is the real deal.
Sarah Snyder modeling shots 1
Sarah Snyder modeling shots 1
Sarah Snyder modeling shots 2
Sarah Snyder modeling shots 2
Sarah Snyder modeling shots 3
Sarah Snyder modeling shots 3
3. She's a petite model, at that
Image: Jerod Harris/Stringer/Getty Images
Snyder might not be a 6-foot-tall supermodel, but her smaller frame matches her beau perfectly — she is 5'5" to Smith's 5'7".
Instagram fame these days is nothing to laugh at, and Snyder is one of the youthful leaders of the pack. At sarahfuckingsnyder, the model has gained a following of one million Instagrammers.
We're guessing not being PDA shy is a prerequisite for dating one of the Smith kids — and Snyder has proven that she is more than game. As we mentioned earlier, the couple was graphically smoochie at NYFW 2015, and there's also this footage of them all over each other at the Pitch Perfect 2 premiere back in May 2015.
Originally published September 2015. Updated December 2016.
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6. She's got a record
Sarah Snyder mugshot
Sarah Snyder mugshot
According to the Bedford County Police Department via Page Six, Snyder was arrested in June 2015 and charged with one count of larceny in the third degree after allegedly stealing a $15,995 Hermès bag from a New York shopping center in February of that year. Whoops.
7. She's got champagne taste
Sarah Snyder instagram 5
Sarah Snyder instagram 5
Sarah Snyder instagram 6
Sarah Snyder instagram 6
Judging by some of her Instagram posts, Snyder not only loves Hermès, but she's a Gucci fan, too.
As evidenced by her penchant for Hermès and Gucci, Snyder definitely has a love for the finer things in life, but we can't help but admire how she's able to also pull off a seriously pared-down look. She and Smith do seem to mesh well together with their eclectic fashion choices. Their looks say "I don't give a f***," but they somehow look totally gorgeous anyway.
Everything seemed to be great with Smith and Snyder until August of this year, when gossip started popping up saying Snyder had cheated on her BF with a photographer named Gunner Stahl. Neither Smith nor Snyder directly addressed the rumors, but they did make a silent statement shortly after the talk started by packing on the PDA at the New York City premiere of Suicide Squad, where they could not keep their hands (or lips) off each other. So, like we said, we're going to choose to believe they're still together in December 2016, until they lead us believe otherwise.
Image: Graphics by Terese Condella & Becci Burkhart/SheKnows; photo provided by WENN
The mom of two, who gave birth to daughter Daisy on Oct. 11, has been sharing her motherhood journey on social media, and her pictures perfectly sum up both the joy and the challenges of breastfeeding.
Last week, Wilde revealed her "rookie move" — she ran out of storage bags for her breast milk. Luckily, the Airbnb she was staying in had the perfect alternative: Mason jars.
"[Breastfeeding] is not easy — it’s messy," Wilde, who also has a 2-year-old son Otis with husband Jason Sudeikis, said in a recent interview. "Like 90 percent of the time you are soaked in milk. It is a difficult thing. But it is, personally for me, a great experience. It should be a choice for everyone. I don’t like the idea of breastfeeding being forced on anyone or anyone feeling guilty."
These are words all mothers need to hear. All too often, formula feeders are shamed for their choice, when it's absolutely none of anyone else's business. As Wilde says, breastfeeding isn't easy, and for some moms the decision is taken out of their hands.
Of course, breastfeeding isn't the only challenging aspect of life with a newborn. Even when they're asleep, babies have the ability to get right in the middle of things. A few weeks ago, Wilde posted an image of her at her computer with her daughter sleeping in a baby sling. Yep, if one word sums up motherhood, it's multitasking.
Image: AMC
