When Iggy Azalea and French Montana started hooking up in November of 2016 things between them looked as though they were getting serious — Montana was pulling out all the stops, and showering her with diamonds — but Azalea recently made it clear that she's forgotten all about her brief fling.
And she did this by locking lips with music producer LJay Currie.
The pair were spotted hanging out in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, on Saturday, Jan. 21, and according to an onlooker they weren't holding back on their affection for each other. A source told Us Weekly, "They flew in together on a private jet for a friend's birthday. They have been all over each other with major PDA. They rented a yacht and were making out on the deck."
While no photos of the pair have emerged, and neither chose to share photos of the other on social media — although Currie did show off his tattoos as he posed on a yacht in the middle of the ocean — apparently they weren't shy about who saw them getting cozy.
LJay Currie Instagram
LJay Currie Instagram
The source continued, "He was spraying her down with a hose and wasn't shy about putting his hands all over her body. They went jet-skiing and he gave her piggyback rides on the beach."
Azalea did, however, post a photo of herself and Chuckie Bones, along with a tribute to him for his birthday. She wrote, "Happy Birthday @ChuckieBones I can't believe you're almost a real grown up now.... aghhhhh!"
Iggy Azalea Instagram
Iggy Azalea Instagram
French Montana who? Looks as though Azalea may have found herself a new man.
The list of things that may cause cancer is so long, it would be far easier and quicker to have a quick-reference list of what's actually ok for us to eat, drink and do.
The latest scaremongering important scientific reasearch comes courtesy of the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA), which has issued a warning about our potato and toast preferences. If you like your roast tatties well done and your toast on the dark side, you may be increasing your risk of cancer.
This is due to the presence of acrylamide, a chemical that is produced naturally when starchy foods (such as bread and potatoes) is cooked at high temperatures. Although the FSA says it is "not a high level of risk," we should stop cooking our potatoes and bread as soon as it reaches a "golden yellow colour" to reduce this risk (and the same goes for other high starch foods, such as root vegetables, crackers, cereals, biscuits and coffee.)
While acrylamide has been shown to cause cancer in animals (once in the body, acrylamide turns into another compound, glycidamide, which can bind to DNA and cause mutations,) there is still no conclusive proof that it has the same effect in humans. However, the scientific consensus is that it is safe to assume that it the case.
If you're not happy making your dietary decisions based on assumptions, you might take reassurance from FSA director of policy Steve Wearne, who said, "We’re not saying avoid particular foods or groups of foods but vary your diet so you smooth out your risk. We are not saying to people to worry about the occasional piece of food or meal that’s overcooked. This is about managing risk across your lifetime."
Does this mean we can indulge our burnt toast cravings now and again? We assume so.
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's divorce has been one of the most shocking and talked about celebrity divorces of the last decade, so it's not surprising it's made for such excellent tabloid fodder.
In the weeks after the couple announced their split, each of them has been linked to various other celebs, but among the most bizarre was Pitt's alleged relationship with Kate Hudson — and the rumor mills are still churning. In the January issue of Star magazine, the front page is of Hudson and Pitt along with the headline "It's getting serious, Brad moves in."
And the report is so ridiculous that Hudson's brother, Oliver, decided to take to Instagram to poke fun at it.
He shared a snap of the magazine's cover along with a very sarcastic, expletive-filled caption.
Oliver Hudson Instagram
Oliver Hudson Instagram
"Yeah and it's been hell!! He's messy as shit! He drinks out of the fucking carton and leaves the door open when he's taking a dump!! And this is when he's at MY house!!!" Oliver wrote, jokingly adding, "[Brad's] already calling me brother and has driven a wedge between myself and my real brother Wyatt who now won't speak to me..."
He continued to ridicule the report by claiming that Pitt "insists my kids call him uncle B and lost my youngest at the Santa Monica pier for 2 days.. thank god for amber alert.." and that even his mother, Goldie Hawn, was apparently getting in on the action and "overtly flirting with him!"
And in conclusion, Oliver revealed that it was time for Pitt to move out of his sister's house because he needs his life back.
So, if anyone fell for the Pitt and Kate Hudson romance rumors, we think Oliver Hudson's snarky Instagram post is all the proof you'll ever need to confirm that the claims are indeed false.
The first half of Suits Season 6 came to a shocking close in September 2016 when Jessica Pearson (Gina Torres) announced she was not only leaving New York City, but also the firm she helped build. How can there be a Pearson Specter Litt without Pearson?
That's something viewers are going to see play out when Suits returns with the rest of Season 6 come Wednesday, Jan. 25. They will also watch Mike figure out what he wants to do career-wise now that he is out of prison, see Rachel struggle with whether or not she wants to remain at Specter Litt, and of course, Harvey and Louis attempting to keep the firm afloat without Jessica in tow.
Fans are going to have to wait until the winter premiere to see just how different Suits will now be without the extremely talented Torres and her kick-ass character, so until then here are some photos from the premiere to tide us over.
It's unclear what exactly is happening in each photo, but why don't we take the time to speculate? Who doesn't love a good session of theorizing over TV?
1. Katrina is back
Image: Shane Mahood/USA Network
Louis once again comes face to face with Katrina, played by Amanda Schull. Seeing as Katrina no longer works with her former mentor, there's a good chance this particular interaction is an uncomfortable one. Executive producer Aaron Korsh told TV Line in December 2016 that Katrina's return is "pretty directly connected to the loss of Jessica."
For those who can't recall, she now works for Rachel's father, Robert Zane. Maybe, just maybe, Katrina is approaching Louis because they are going to take Robert's deal he presented to Jessica in the Season 6A finale. Remember, Robert offered to merge his firm with the former Pearson Specter Litt. Be sure to notice that Katrina is holding papers in her hand, which could be for Louis and Harvey to sign. Or they could always reject Robert's offer and try to save the firm on their own. Would that really surprise anyone?
2. Harvey yells at Louis — again
Image: Shane Mahood/USA Network
When aren't Harvey and Louis getting into some type of argument? Now that Jessica won't be around to be their referee, who knows if these two will be able to find common ground. Clearly, Louis did something that upset Harvey. It seems that Harvey is even scolding Louis. This definitely isn't new news because they are rarely ever on the same page. It will surely be interesting to see how they get along as a duo and if they can come together to save their firm.
Also, in the background, it looks like Harvey's executive assistant Gretchen is watching them fight. Like the badass she is, maybe Gretchen will tell Harvey and Louis what's up. She just might be able to fill Jessica's mediator shoes. You know, when Donna isn't taking on the job.
It's hard to tell if Rachel and Louis are having a tense moment or if Louis is listening intently to whatever Rachel may or may not be telling him. Rachel is holding a piece of paper in her hand, so maybe they're chatting about that?
Speaking of the paper, it could be an official offer to come work with her father. If so, maybe Louis is telling her not to go. The job offer is definitely happening in the winter premiere too. As TV Line reported in December 2016, Korsh dished that Robert will present Rachel "a job offer in the beginning of [Episode] 611." He added, "Her father is going to say, ‘Listen, it was one thing when Jessica was there. She’s not there, and I’m not sure that firm is going to survive without her. Come work for me.' She’s got to decide: Is she going to stay at Pearson Specter, or is she going to go work for her dad?”
There are pros and cons to the job offer. It would truly be unfortunate if Specter Litt loses Rachel, especially at this exact moment, but like she always does, Rachel will most likely do what is best for her in the long run.
4. Rachel looks a little teary eyed
Image: Shane Mahood/USA Network
This seems like an emotional conversation between Rachel and Gretchen, doesn't it? Whatever is being discussed, Rachel is welling up. Maybe she goes to Gretchen for an unbiased opinion about the job offer from her father. As great as Donna is at offering advice and as much as Mike probably wants to help Rachel make up her mind, sometimes it helps to go to someone who will tell you the honest truth without their feelings involved.
The second half of Season 6 is already shaping up to be an intriguing one. To see how it all plays out, be sure to tune into Suits' winter premiere Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 10/9c on USA.
Beginning in 2006, I slept 12 hours most nights and often took a two-hour nap in the afternoon. I wasn’t lazy — I was exhausted. I talked slowly, moved slowly and had difficulty driving because my brain couldn’t keep up.
Loud and fast talking was unbearable, and I couldn’t string words together fast enough to understand the books I tried to read. In the rare moments where the fog lifted, I blissfully read, cleaned and lived my life. But always within a matter of hours, the heaviness always came back.
My doctors had chalked my symptoms up to just about everything: fibromyalgia, depression and even somatoform disorder, which is basically physical pain because of psychological problems. The disorder is predicated on the assumption that the patient is so concerned with her symptoms that she’s actually causing them to happen.
“I can’t believe this!” my aunt yelled, when the highly regarded neurologist handed me information on somatoform disorder. But when her own guess — lupus — didn’t pan out either, even she began to question the validity of my symptoms. Not that I blamed her. I often questioned their validity myself.
When an earlier test for multiple sclerosis came back negative, that doctor said my symptoms might have to get worse before any test would show what I had, which turned out to be the most accurate feedback I’d ever get until my diagnosis. I just didn’t know I’d have to wait five years — through grad school (where I missed half the classes I took and taught) and two years on disability, during which I made $300 a month writing $10-a-day mini-articles.
While on disability, I was assigned to the low-income state clinic. The doctors there worked mandatory hours during their residencies, and none seemed very happy about it.
One doctor told me I was too highly educated to be sick. My assigned social worker said I must have OCD because I kept talking about things I couldn’t do.
Since I was brown-skinned (and worse than that, black), most doctors assumed I was just being lazy — apparently “too educated” to let myself fall into such aberrant thinking. Other health concerns complicated things further, as I would soon be diagnosed with very real depersonalization disorder and already had a premenstrual dysphoric disorder diagnosis, both of which also played into my brain fog. Additionally, since both conditions have anxiety at their center, doctors brushed off my concerns as an inability to handle daily life.
When I began having waking hallucinations, I didn’t see a doctor right away. After all, it’s scary to admit to hearing voices, and somatoform disorder places patients in a double bind: Seeking help for symptoms is believed to be a symptom in and of itself. I didn’t want to appear obsessively focused on my concerns, but at the same time, I desperately wanted my life back.
My hallucinations always happened between sleep and waking. First, I often hallucinated my best friend and roommate murmuring on the phone or music playing in a neighboring condo only to fully wake up and realize everything was quiet.
Then the hallucinations became more ominous. I started seeing people who weren’t in the room when I slept on a couch (and thus wasn’t sleeping as deeply). I began to develop “tricks” to test whether I was asleep or awake, but they all fed me false information. During one hallucination, a friend touched my arm and said, “See, I’m really here.” During another, I was sure I passed my hand under the overhead light, and when it dimmed, I knew I “must” be awake.
Hallucinations weren’t my only new problem. I also started experiencing sleep paralysis, which occurs when your body doesn’t move through the normal stages of sleep. I would often open my eyes and try to move but be unable to do so. I would think I had gotten out of bed, only to fully wake up and find myself still prostrate. This would happen over and over again in a single day.
I was with a pharmacist friend when it finally dawned on me that I might have a sleep disorder. No doctor had ever suggested this, even though I realized I had all the classic symptoms.
My doctor at the clinic somewhat reluctantly agreed to give me a referral to the sleep medicine unit at the University of Washington Medical Center. When I finally got there, the doctor wasn’t surprised at all that it took me so long to get proper help.
“Doctors never think about sleep issues, but your symptoms fit the bill,” he explained.
Unlike my other doctors, he looked me straight in the eyes and treated me as an equal instead of a problem patient. It was such a different experience that I even wondered if the entire unit was a scam.
Soon I participated in a sleep study, and the results showed that I wake up gasping for breath 10 times an hour throughout the night. I had been so sleep-deprived that I had no knowledge of these disruptions, which is true for most people with the condition.
I received a CPAP machine, which continuously blows air into my nose as I sleep. After a few months, I was able to get a job. After a couple of years, I got an apartment, finished my thesis and graduated cum laude.
I still need more sleep than most, but I’m glad I’m no longer sleeping through life. My experience continually reminds me that it’s important to stand up for myself, even when I have to fight to be heard.
Most of my tattoos are hidden, medium-size and small, sitting behind the curve of my ear or covering my stomach, resting above my belly button and scaling my sternum.
The most obvious ones are on my fingers, which are sprinkled with three dots on each finger, even the thumb. These are the most likely targeted by someone’s field of vision.
“Are those tattoos or henna?” a question that introduces my immediate sigh and exhaustive response of, “…they don’t mean anything.” Even if they were dedicated to each family member, or every morning star, my reasons are not for strangers. Furthermore, they are certainly not something I feel the need to disclose.
Many people may think, “If you get something so public, so permanent, so interesting, why not want to discuss it?” In short, it’s assumed I should be flattered that someone is asking about my tattoos, something that I chose to embellish my skin with for my personal enjoyment.
Yet, the reality is that my body is not your specimen. My tattoos are meant to empower me and my body positivity; they are memories and stories and most important, they are mine.
My reasons for my permanent branding are not necessary to building a friendship or small talk. And as someone who is as open and public as me — I write about my vagina for a living for God’s sake — I still feel vulnerable and exposed when someone asks about the meaning of my tattoos.
This is not to say that these insecurities stem from my regrets about the pieces that I have, but rather, the reactions from others. Their crude comments and misunderstanding of how something can be symbolic enough for permanence are definitely something that I have had to accept as a response.
Over time I’ve learned that I'd rather keep the meaning of my tattoos to myself.
Silent admiration is always welcomed, but chattering for the sake of your curiosity should be vetoed. Thanks for being interested, but my body, and the choices that accompany it, should be of no interest to you.
One thing was clear about the Women’s March on Washington (and about the marches in the rest of the world): This was not a protest that belonged to one generation. From great-grandmothers in wheelchairs to toddlers holding up their own handmade signs, all ages and genders were out in force, celebrating the opportunity to have their voices heard.
We’ve heard from protesters everywhere that the mood was overwhelmingly positive and peaceful. We can’t help but wonder if part of that atmosphere might have come from the energy of the tweens and teens in attendance. Call us biased, but we were especially impressed with what we witnessed firsthand of kids at the march — there, not because their parents dragged them along, but because they considered it a privilege to be seen and heard.
An assortment of Hatch kids between the ages of 9 and 11 attended the Washington march, and we asked them to share their thoughts. Here’s a sampling of our favorite responses.
Why did you attend the Women's March on Washington?
“I think it's important to support basic human and civil rights and to protest Donald Trump trying to take them away. “
“I marched to keep human rights safe for everyone in America.”
“Because I believe that when you really strongly dislike something and there are many people who believe in that too, you should do something against that.”
“To stand up to Trump, and tell him he can't do anything he wants.”
“I wanted my voice to be heard and I wanted to see and meet amazing people who felt the same way.”
Image: SheKnows
What issues or causes are you most passionate about?
“Equal rights for all, animal rights, climate change, racism, sexism, education and of course, women's rights.”
“Immigrant rights.”
“Black Lives Matter.”
“Racial equality and a woman's right to do what she wants with her body.”
“I think lots of issues are important but women's rights, racial equality and abortion rights are pretty high on the list.”
What do you hope this march will change?
“To help people realize that we must continue to fight and oppose Donald Trump so we can get him impeached or not re-elected again!”
“Our new president.”
“The way the world thinks about Donald Trump.”
“I hope it will show Donald Trump that he needs to be better.”
“I hope this will show that even with this terrible thing that's happened, it doesn't mean the end for women. “
“I hope it teaches people about the issues and I hope that people see this and know there are millions of us and that we won't go away. “
Image: SheKnows
What do you think you personally gained from this experience?
“Participating in a movement and feeling like I may be helping change the world.”
“I do not think I will ever forget the March in Washington for the rest of my life.”
“I learned to raise my voice.”
“It showed me how one person can make a difference and how important it is to march for your beliefs.”
Do you consider yourself an activist?
“Yes! I will keep protesting and fighting for issues and rights that are important to me.“
“Yes. I stand up for what I believe in.”
“Yes. Because I feel like it's important to stand up for myself and others when we have a president who doesn’t.”
“Sort of. I feel this march will make me feel like doing a lot more for people's rights.”
“I consider myself to be an activist because I learn about what's happening in the world and I take charge whether it be by marching and chanting or just by telling people how I feel.”
Image: SheKnows
What element of the march surprised you the most?
“The sheer number of marchers and the number of men who marched with us.”
“Before I got to D.C. I did not think there would be anywhere near as many people that were there.”
“That we marched right outside the White House. I couldn't believe we were right there.”
“It was so much bigger and louder and greater than I could have imagined.”
Do you think this march will make an impact?
“Yes, it will show the world, Donald Trump and his supporters that we won't let him get away with rolling back our basic rights.”
"I just found out today that it was worldwide... they were in so many different cities across the globe, so I definitely think this will make an impact.”
“I want it to; I don't actually think it will because I don't think Donald Trump will listen to us. But I hope it does.“
“I think it made a huge impact. Everyone was together and peaceful.”
“I think this march will make an impact on people who doubted women's strength because we were all out there for hours marching until our feet hurt and shouting until our throats were sore — if that's not strong, show me what is.”
Image: SheKnows
Do you think more people should include their kids in events like this? Why?
“Yes, because we are the future, and it's important for us to know all the issues facing us and start effecting change that will affect our future.”
“I think it's good for kids to do more marches and protests and stuff like that. It's really good for them to get out there and learn about what's really happening in the world.”
“Yes. I think it's really cool to march for your rights from a young age. And this event was a better one for kids because it was completely nonviolent.”
“People should definitely take their kids to more matches and protests because we have voices too and learning to protest at a young age makes those voices even stronger.”
What was your favorite chant?
"I started my own chant: 'When I say WOMEN, you say FIGHT BACK!' And people answered! I was really proud that I did that. I felt like I found my voice."
"We had been chanting for an hour when we got to the Trump hotel and everyone started to stomp and hit the back of their sign and we all chanted, 'shame, shame, shame,' and then someone yelled from somewhere in the crowd, 'SHOW ME WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE?' And we had been chanting this the whole way up so everyone yelled top volume, 'THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE,' and it was really beautiful because we were all there and we were all using all our strength."
Did the march change how you feel about being a girl?
"It made me feel a lot more comfortable. I wasn't uncomfortable before, but seeing how many women flew and drove out to D.C. to do this... it just made me feel very happy."
"If we all stick together and work together, we can definitely make a difference. Like Hillary said, we're 'Stronger Together.' No matter what gender you are."
"I've always felt pretty strong, but the women's march in Washington made me feel empowered."
"I don’t think it changed a lot. I've always felt great being a girl."
To say Stacey Dash is controversial would be an understatement. In recent months, she has ruffled a lot of feathers, which is probably why people are rejoicing over the news that her contract with Fox News won't be renewed.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dash, who joined the network in 2014, has been off air since September of 2016 and the network has declined to renew her contract — a decision that was reportedly made last fall.
Twitter has been abuzz with reactions to the report that Fox News will be declining to renew Dash's contract — and it's clear that a lot of people feel this is the right decision.
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX 8
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX 8
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX 7
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX 7
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX 6
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX 6
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX 5
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX 5
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX 4
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX 4
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX 3
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX 3
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX 2
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX 2
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX
Reaction to Stacey Dash leaving FOX
And we have to say, we're with Twitter on this one.
Dash could have used her job to educate and spread awareness. Instead, she used her platform to cause controversy with her bigoted opinions that only further the divide within society and generate fear and hate; and someone in a position of power should not be using their voice for this reason.
Some of her more controversial moments include her stance on transgender issues, her opinion that there shouldn't be a Black History Month because there isn't a white history month and her decision to use the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, to endorse Donald Trump for president (she claimed that the shooting "would not go unanswered" if Trump, who was then the Republican candidate, were President).
In addition, Dash was also temporarily suspended from the network in 2015 after her expletive-filled on-air rant about then-President Barack Obama.
For Dash's part, she does not appear to have publicly commented on losing her job with Fox News, and as of Jan. 21, her Twitter bio still states that she's a "@Foxnews Contributor." Also, there's no word yet on the direction she intends to take her career in the future.
A disturbing new study released today has found that black women are dying from cervical cancer at a rate of 77 percent higher than previously thought.
The study, which was published in the journal Cancer, gives women one more thing to worry about in the fight against cervical cancer. Study co-author Anne Rositch, Ph.D., of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, and colleagues found that black women are dying from cervical cancer at a rate 77 percent higher than previously thought and white women are dying at a rate 47 percent higher.
Why the sudden change in the numbers? The study found that previous estimates of cervical cancer death rates didn't account for women who had their cervixes removed in hysterectomy procedures, which eliminates the risk of developing the cancer. It’s important to note that the new rates do not reflect a rise in the number of deaths, rather, the figures come from a re-examination of existing numbers, in an adjusted context.
Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina. Cervical cancer can often be successfully treated when it's found early.
According to the American Cancer Society, deaths from cervical cancer have reduced by more than 50 percent over the past 40 years, which is largely due to an increase in screenings such as the Pap test, so it’s no wonder these new numbers coming out are concerning to both the medical community and women alike.
Among black women, the team estimated the cervical cancer mortality rate to be 10.1 per 100,000 — 77 percent higher than the previous estimate of 5.7 per 100,000. The researchers also found that the previous estimates of differences in cervical cancer mortality between black and white women were underestimated by 44 percent.
According to Rositch, the new data suggests that racial differences in cervical cancer mortality are narrowing, but that it should remain a key area of focus. She also points out that many of those who are dying are over the age of 65, a cutoff point where guidelines generally no longer recommend women with cervices be regularly screened for cervical cancer.
Although the study did not explore reasons for the racial disparity, some doctors said it could reflect unequal access to screening, ability to pursue early-warning test results and insurance coverage.
And to add to the already increased concern about these new numbers, women also have to contend with the possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which could create a health care crisis for millions of American women.
Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, stressed the fact that the organization provides up to 2 million women nationwide with affordable preventive health services like cancer screenings, sexually transmitted infection testing and prevention and family planning assistance. Women will be harmed, Richards said, if legislative bodies succeed in restricting access to those services.
Update: Jan. 23, 2017, 8 a.m. PT: Kody Brown's fight to legalize polygamy is over for now.
The U.S. Supreme Court has decided that it won't hear the Brown family's case challenging Utah's ban on polygamy, saying that because the family has never been charged under the ban, they can't sue over it. The Court's decision not to hear the case means that a lower court's decision not to overturn Utah's ban on polygamy will stay in place, and the Brown family can't file any more appeals.
Update: Jan. 10, 2017, 12:30 p.m. PT: The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to discussSister Wives' Kody Brown's case for legalized polygamy in conference later this month. It's expected to be decided during the discussion, on Jan. 19, whether the case will go before the Supreme Court for the justices to make a decision.
Update: Dec. 28, 2016, 9 a.m. PT: The state of Utah is asking the U.S. Supreme Court not to consider the Brown family's case.
The state filed a brief this week responding to the Brown family's lawsuit seeking an end to Utah's ban on polygamy citing the ban as a condition of Utah's statehood — Utah was required to ban polygamy when it became a state in 1894 — and asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold it.
"The Enabling Act’s polygamy ban, which Petitioners have not challenged in this case, was to be ‘irrevocable without the consent of the United States and the people of’ Utah," Utah Solicitor General Tyler Green wrote. "Utah’s founders complied and adopted the ban, which remains part of Utah’s constitution."
Green also argued that Utah's ban on polygamy has gone largely unenforced, and that law enforcement officials have only sought out polygamists when other crimes like abuse, fraud and child-bride marriages are involved.
Update: Nov. 2, 2016, 7:14 a.m. PT: The U.S. Supreme Court seems to be interested in the case. According to The Salt Lake Tribune, a spokesman for the attorney general's office, Dan Burton, confirms the court asked the Utah Attorney General's Office to respond to the appeal from the Sister Wives family.
Original article:
As you may already know, polygamy is not a method of marriage that is used only in the household of Kody Brown and his wives on TLC's popular reality series Sister Wives. In fact, the idea of a man marrying more than one woman at a time is a common practice for a select number of families — oftentimes because they practice religions that encourage polygamy — and is practiced both within and outside of the United States. And now Kody Brown and his four wives (Christine, Meri, Robyn and Janelle) are taking what originally began as a 2012 lawsuit against the state of Utah to a more national level: Their petition against the criminalization of polygamy is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Yep, a reality television show could be changing the ways marriage is viewed in the United States as we know it.
In fact, Brown and his four wives officially filed the request on Monday, Sept. 12 for the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case for legalizing polygamy.
Now, before you begin passing judgment, it should be noted that nationwide legalization of polygamy isn't exactly what they're asking for. If anything, the Sister Wives stars are looking for justice in terms of their own religious freedom and the freedom of speech and to privacy in regard to the ways they are choosing to live their lives instead of constantly facing threats of prosecution or any other possible legal charges that may hang over what they refer to as their "spiritual union," making this the first time in over 100 years that the U.S. Supreme Court is looking at a case related to polygamy. Things just got really real.
But what brought them to this point? Well, after their 2012 case against Utah, Brown and his wives actually did take a step in the right direction for the polygamist cause. The federal court overturned Utah's bigamy law in 2013, therefore legalizing the idea of polygamy to a point where one could not be arrested because of it. However, when the cause they sued Utah for in the first place contained no backing, their case was thrown out in April 2016. And they will now be taking what began as a statewide ban onto the national stage as soon as a Sept. 10 hearing.
Meanwhile, the possible passing of the petition could also directly affect the already bonded family, as Brown has a legal contract with only one of his wives, Robyn, therefore resulting in what could be three more televised wedding ceremonies to legally bond the polygamist family as one if their petition goes as planned. And who knows? Maybe this could even be means for Brown to introduce another wife into their family. We'll just have to wait and see.
Good news for those of us who rely on grandparents to help us out with child care: We're actually doing them a favor.
It's true. According to a recent study published in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour, looking after your beloved grandkids can add five years to your life. We might feel as if we've aged decades since our kids invaded our lives, but seemingly, it has the opposite effect on the older generation.
Researchers analyzed data collected between 1990 and 2009 on the lifespans of over 500 people from Germany and Switzerland between the ages of 70 and 103 years old. They noted that the study only shows an association between caring and a longer life without proving a cause and effect relationship, but hey — that's good enough for us.
However, before we start filling up our parents' calendars with playdates and sleepovers, the author of the study has a word of caution.
"Helping shouldn’t be misunderstood as a panacea for a longer life," Ralph Hertwig wrote in a statement. "A moderate level of caregiving involvement does seem to have positive effects on health. But previous studies have shown that more intense involvement causes stress, which has negative effects on physical and mental health."
But wait; there's more. A 2014 study carried out by the Women’s Health Aging Project in Australia suggested that babysitting grandchildren could lower a woman's risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders. Research carried out in 2013 said a strong adult grandchild-grandparent relationship lowered the risk of depression for both parties, which supports the case for nurturing that relationship during the child's early years.
It's good to know that grandparents can benefit from spending time with their grandkids as much as the children do. And it does make it slightly easier to ask them to step into the parenting role for the occasional night. (Weekend? Week or two?)
The Sister Wives are some of the last people you'd expect to see at the Women's March on Washington, D.C. After all, the poster family for legalized polygamy isn't exactly known for working to advance women's rights.
But even though they didn't exactly advertise that they were there, both Meri and Janelle Brown marched, and it looks like it was because of Meri's daughter, Mariah. It was just a few weeks ago that an episode aired showing Mariah coming out as gay to her family. It was her public coming-out too, and while her announcement seemed to shock her family at the time, they've clearly come around to the idea at least a little bit since then. Good to see they're living in 2017 with the rest of us.
Image: TLC
In a video posted to TLC's website, Mariah talked about the experience of marching with a few of her friends.
"I really wanted to come to the march with some of my family and friends because it’s something that is really important to me, something that is really important to all of them — so it’s really awesome to be here and experience it," she says. "Today was kind of interesting because it’s the first time I’ve really been out in public after coming out to the world, and there were some kids there that seemed encouraged by that, and so that was really awesome."
One of her friends added, "People just kept coming up to Mariah and saying how inspirational her story was, and how it touched other people."
Sister Wives & Mariah at the Women's March on Wash D.C.
Sister Wives & Mariah at the Women's March on Wash D.C.
Meri and Janelle both stayed pretty quiet about having attended the march, maybe because they didn't exactly have their husband's approval. Kody Brown tweeted a link to an article called "Why I will not be joining the protests against President Donald Trump," all about how Trump is the "legitimate president" and apparently that means we should now always accept everything he does without question. Good thing the ladies of Sister Wives have a better grasp of how free speech works than their husband.
The '90s are the undisputed best years in history. That legendary decade gave us boy bands, Britney Spears, Furbies and Giga Pets, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and "the Rachel" haircut. Boomers and Gen X will try to argue that the '60s or the '70s or the '80s were where it was at, but we all know the truth: Nothing compares to the '90s.
Even the worst thing about the '90s was awesome. Everyone can agree that the fashion during that great decade was objectively terrible, but it was '90s terrible, which was totally fine compared to today's terrible, which is things like bees being endangered and Donald Trump.
Case in point: Kate and Pippa Middleton. The Daily Mail has somehow managed to find some previously unseen footage of the royal sisters as bridesmaids in the most '90s wedding of all time. Like, so '90s, they look like they're going to be engulfed by the pure volume of their puffy sleeves. It's magic.
Kate and Pippa Middleton at the most 90s wedding ever
Kate and Pippa Middleton at the most 90s wedding ever
The wedding was for their aunt and uncle, Miranda Foote and Gary Goldsmith, in 1991. Kate and Pippa were 9 and 7 years old at the time, respectively, and they rocked those dresses right along with their giant flower crowns decades before Snapchat would make them cool again.
The '90s were such a happier, simpler time, even though sleeves may have used as much fabric as entire garments do today. Still, we'd wear the Middleton sisters' hideous bridesmaid dresses any day if it meant we got to relive that perfect decade.
We seriously cannot get enough of all the photos and tweets from celebs who turned out in spades for Women’s Marches all over the world — especially the A-listers who marched with (and for!) their kids. Melt our cold, cynical hearts, why doncha?
Since it’s award season, we're declaring some winners of the best celebrity family moments from the Marches.
The winner of our coveted #PregnancyGoals award? Amber Tamblyn, hands down. Tamblyn, who’s mighty pregnant, hit two Women’s Marches — Washington, D.C., and New York City. (Girlfriend, when we were that pregnant, we were lucky if we got to the mailbox every other day.)
Amber Tamblyn on bus
Amber Tamblyn on bus
Tamblyn was spotted with various pals at the protests, such as Amy Schumer and America Ferrera in D.C., and Blake Lively in NYC. Tamblyn was passionate about why she was marching, telling Cosmopolitan on Inauguration Day that “the most dangerous thing” is to “be complacent.”
Mad props, Amber Tamblyn. Please tell us you put your feet up for the rest of the weekend.
Cutest Celebrity Kid at the March? We’re not throwing away our shot (heh, see what we did there) to give a shoutout to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s redonkulously adorable son, Sebastian. Miranda — of Hamilton and In the Heights fame — took to Twitter during and after the Women’s March in London, which he attended with his wife, Vanessa, and Sebastian. Miranda caught Sebastian on video saying, “Good morning, Womens” and posted it to Twitter. And whoops, our ovaries exploded.
Lin Manuel's son
Lin Manuel's son
Our Don’t Mess with Mama Bear Award goes to Scarlett Johansson, who wasn’t shy about addressing the president from the podium at the D.C. march: “I did not vote for you... I want to be able to support you. But first I ask that you support me, support my sister, support my mother."
Johansson also spoke candidly about visiting Planned Parenthood for the first time when she was 15 years old, saying the organization "provided a safe place where I could be treated with gentle guidance.”
Johansson didn’t mince words when addressing Trump about her little girl: “Support my daughter, who may actually — as a result of the appointments you have made — grow up in a country that is moving backwards, not forwards, and who potentially may not have the right to make choices for her body and her future that your daughter has been privileged to have.”
Slay, Scarlett.
Most Badass Feminist Celebrity Family goes to Pink and Carey Hart, who touched down at the Los Angeles Women’s March with 5-year-old daughter Willow and brand-new son Jameson (snuggled close to Pink in a sling).
Pink at march
Pink at march
"We march together," Pink captioned an Instagram pic of Willow and herself holding homemade signs. YEAH YOU DO. And we're definitely not getting in your way.
Hart also posted on Instagram — a photo of Pink cradling Jameson at the protest, as well as another of Willow perched on his shoulders. Hart said: “Very proud of my wife, and it was really special to march in the streets with my family today…I think it's embarrassing that government has a say in what my wife or my adult daughter does with their body. I'm a big believer in staying in your lane. Don't like what I'd do or say? Don't pay attention. It isn't your business. So how about government stay out of women's business?”
Carey Hart, we had no idea you were a rock star too. Serious props.
It’s a tie for Coolest Exes Marching Together: Both Padma Lakshmi and Drew Barrymore marched with their exes (and baby daddies) and their kids.
Top Chef’s Lakshmi marched in Washington, D.C., with ex Adam Dell and their daughter, Krishna, almost 7.
Padma husband daughter
Padma husband daughter
There’s definite talk that Lakshmi and Dell have reunited, and their joint March appearance likely won’t slow the roll of the rumor mill. Lakshmi posted a pic of Dell (with whom she shares custody) and Krishna to her Instagram feed. Krishna sits on her father’s shoulders with a sign that reads, “My girl’s rights are human rights.” The caption from Lakshmi: “Alone we can do so little: together we can do so much.” YOU GUYS. Let’s all hug it out.
And in New York City, Drew Barrymore and her ex Will Kopelman marched with daughters Olive, 4, and Frankie, 2.
Drew's husband with baby
Drew's husband with baby
“Proud of my daughter and her dad,” Barrymore captioned a shot of Kopelman with Olive on his shoulders. (What is with all the evolved celebrity splits? Color us impressed.)
Barrymore also captioned a pic from the NYC March: “I love women. I live for my two daughters. And I am full of pride and unity with all women today.”
One last award: Barrymore’s daughter Olive wins Best Sign. Covered in Disney stickers, it read “I like unicorns and reproductive health care for all.” You go, Olive. We like you... and we get the feeling you're definitely taking after your mom.
We like Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett. She’s kind of like our hot college roommate who was super-sweet, had no idea how hot she was and would devour a large pepperoni pizza at 2 a.m. with us during midterms.
Only, you know, not exactly, because she’s Kendra Wilkinson-Baskett — model, reality TV star author and wife of an NFL wide receiver. So there’s that.
Still, Wilkinson is relatable, especially on the topic of postpartum depression. The Kendra on Top star has never shied away from discussing her battle with postpartum depression, which wreaked havoc in her life after the births of both children (Hank Jr., born in 2009, and daughter Alijah, now 2).
"I had postpartum after little Hank and then I was dealing with chaos after Alijah with postpartum, so I had pretty bad experiences right after having each kid,” Wilkinson told E! News recently.
She encouraged other moms struggling with postpartum depression to seek out professional help and (this part gave us some pause) stop bothering bewildered onlookers.
"You shouldn't vent and open up to your husband, your boyfriend, your friend because they're not professionals, they don't know the right thing to say to you and putting them in that position is tricky," she said. "It's so much pressure.”
Well, huh. That’s maybe easier said than done when you’re bawling on the bathroom floor with an infant bawling in your lap and the only other human around is THE MALE PERSON WHO IS TO BLAME FOR THIS SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS. But OK. Professional help is good. You’re right about that, at least. But, you know, you also get to open up to your friends and loved ones, Kendra. Don't keep it in!
"If we were to agree to [have more kids], we would agree to adopt because I'm happier when I feel like I can wear hot clothes and feel good in my own skin and not have to fix a lot," said Wilkinson.
Bless her lamb-y heart. Getting to wear hot clothes and feel good and not "fix a lot" sounds pretty good to us too. No argument from us, Kendra. Want to split a pizza?
There was a time in the not so distant past that I wouldn’t touch an audio-book. My thought was that listening to a book being read isn’t really reading it. You don’t read. You listen. That was back when I had lots of time to read, so much so that I had the time to finish books that I didn’t even like. Ugh. What a waste.
That was before Kid #1, who I went into labor with, in the middle of the sixth Harry Potter book and never finished reading. And before Kid #2. And then Kids #3 and #4. I decided that if I was ever going to catch up at all on all the reading that I wanted to do in life, I’d have to suck it up and listen to some of it during my commute to work.
Many years later, I don’t need to rationalize my audio-reading anymore. I am enjoying books again. Instead of slugging through books or not even starting them for fear that I might not be able to finish, I am reading longer books, and doing more “regular” reading aside from audio-titles. I have now been audio-reading for a few years and have since met some very smart people who also listen to books, some of whom are librarians, like me, which in my mind qualifies as knowing books.
While I am proudly not a book snob, I am picky about what audio-titles that I will read.
Here are my rules:
The narrator’s voice. If I don’t like the voice, we are done. I happen to think all British narrators are acceptable. That’s just me. If I don’t like the voice, I move on to another. Bonus points for books read by the author.
Unabridged. Always.
Audio titles must be ones that I will never want to pick up and read in book form. This means that either I have tried to start them, and they were too hard to get into, or else, they are so lightweight that I would never waste my precious reading time on them. Or even more so, long books that I would never read in paper form are great as audio.
No romance. Never. Ever. I don’t want to hear about it. Reading these by audio is like saying you “read” Penthouse. No. I will only read romance in paper form and even then I am picky about it!
I used to have a rule that I would only listen to non-fiction audiobooks, and that worked for a bit, until I tried a fiction book and loved it (The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver, read by the author.) Now I am open to lots of books to try as long as they fit within my reading rules. I would have missed out on some great books, if I hadn’t changed my mind about whether or not to enjoy a book that is being read to me.
Put your pinky fingers to the moon! It's time for Pippa Middleton's bachelorette party, and we have some ideas to make sure the bride-to-be has a royally rollicking time.
When her big sister, the former Kate Middleton, married Prince William, Pippa threw her a quiet, dignified hen night at the home of a friend. But while Pippa will probably keep it a little classier than the typical bachelorette out of respect for her sister's royal position, there's no doubt things could get a little rowdier!
First and foremost, there's the timing. Pippa's wedding to financier James Matthews is rumored to be taking place on May 20 with a reception at the family home in Berkshire. If accurate, we're probably looking at sometime between now and April for the bash.
Secondly, there is the location to consider. Assuming an apocalypse brought on by our current global political climate doesn't break out between now and then, it's safe to assume that Kate herself will throw a hen weekend, and it will most likely involve travel. A source told Life & Style that a luxury girls' trip has been planned in Switzerland.
"Kate is hiring private chefs to cook a lavish 10-course tasting dinner featuring some of Pippa's own dishes. She's arranging surprise performances by the likes of Ellie Goulding and possibly some even bigger stars."
Hmmm. While we can definitely see food being a major part of the plans — Pippa did release a cookbook, after all — and Ellie Goulding is a friend of Prince Harry, hiring major pop stars with hefty price tags seems a bit over the top, even for the royally-related. But we have a better idea.
No bachelorette party is complete without a cheesy stripper, right?
Prince Harry. Dressed like a bobby from Scotland Yard. Popping out of a cake. Out come the handcuffs! "You're under arrest, Pippa. You'll have to stay cuffed to this chair while I change out of my uniform!"
Hmmm… How does one think one can finagle an invitation to this shindig?
Something I've had many people ask me is, "Why surgery?"
Well, the short answer is: I feel that I need it.
The long answer is a little more complicated. I'm not afraid of the surgery, which seems to be a main concern of many. It makes me a little nervous, but not much. I've been following the surgeon's protocols for getting my body ready for surgery and I'm confident in his abilities. I have a lot of trust in modern medicine and the thought of being cut and stapled doesn't scare me (though if I saw it I'd get queasy.) This is way less traumatic than the two C-sections I had. With those I was split open and gutted like a trout. The weight loss surgery is done laparoscopically which means there are just 4 tiny incisions that they put the tools and camera through to do the job without having to open you up. From what I hear, it's a pretty quick recovery.
"OK, but it's still surgery, right? So why not just eat right and exercise?"
One reason is simply that I have so dang much to lose. There was a time in my life when losing 20 pounds would have put me down 2 dress sizes and had me thrilled beyond compare. But now it's a drop in the bucket. I've lost 20 pounds and I don't look or feel any different at all. And that is the most frustrating thing EVER! Because it's still really hard to lose that 20 pounds and it feels like I'll never be able to lose a whole 159.
Yes, it CAN be done. I've lost 40 pounds at a time here and there. But I always gained it back. Over and over and over again. It's incredibly demoralizing to have a ton of success, slip up, downward spiral and be heavier than when you started. After years and years of doing that, while swimming against the current with health problems I've had, weight gain causing medications I've had to take, and six pregnancies (five babies and a miscarriage), at some point I realized I had given up. I had stopped caring and stopped trying because it was just too dang hard.
And that scared the crap out of me.
I don't want to give up. I don't want my health to continue to deteriorate. I have sleep apnea. I'm pre-diabetic. I have a high risk of hypertension. I struggle to carry my toddler up the stairs for nap. I am miserable in my body. And I berate myself incessantly for those reasons not being enough to get me off my butt and exercising and eating right.
I've tried making small changes, but they aren't enough when you have 159 pounds to lose. I've tried making dramatic changes, but I can't maintain them long enough to get results.
After about 3 years of research and classes and being evaluated for surgery, you'd think I'd have buckled down and lost some weight, but I hadn't. In fact, I had gained 60 more pounds. I think there's something wrong with me because I don't feel like I overeat that much.
I think the bottom line is that I am always hungry.
Seriously, like ALWAYS. I'm never full. I often get the munchies, but more than that, I usually feel like I'm starving. Whether it's genetics, upbringing, trauma or my own weak character, that hunger is always there. And I know that if I could just NOT be hungry I could be successful at eating right. If I was able to get started on losing weight, it would hurt less to exercise and I would do it more. Maybe these sound like more excuses or wishful thinking. But I know myself. I can make a goal and stick to it. I can overcome some pretty daunting obstacles. But this I have not been able to do on my own but I'm not ready to give up completely. This surgery, when followed up by exercise and eating right, is very successful.
I've talked to my doctor and talked to a specialist and they believe I am a good candidate for surgery and will be successful with it. So that's one way I know I'm on the right track here. Another way is that I have friends who have had this surgery and been extremely successful and would do it again in a heartbeat. I went to a support group and about 20 of the people there had undergone the surgery with my surgeon. They were all healthy, felt amazing, looked incredible and said they only wish they'd done it earlier.
Maybe it's admitting defeat. I can't do this on my own. I've failed. But you know what? When you're drowning and someone throws you a rope, you don't deny it and say you can get to shore by yourself.
I prayed every day and fasted every month for 6 years for the Lord to help me with this. He never took away my hunger and he never made losing weight easier. But he put people and programs in my life that would lead me to the option of surgery.
It's a safe procedure. It's effective. And I'm willing to stick to the protocols necessary to make it successful. The benefits outweigh the risks. I've considered the options, and for me, surgery just makes sense.
If you're going to go on TV and act like like a girl gone wild, it's probably good to have family members who won't judge you for it. Enter The Bachelor's resident villain this season, Corinne Olympios.
Corinne has had a lot of cringe-worthy moments in the three whole episodes we've seen so far, but one stands out: the time she took her top off during a photo shoot and forced Bachelor Nick Viall to full-on cup her tatas in front of all the other girls.
The abject horror of that moment was only topped when Corinne looked into the camera during a confessional with a shit-eating grin on her face and told all of America that "daddy would be proud" of her for blatantly using her boobs to land a man in front of 20 other women who were booblessly trying to land the same man.
All of America had the same thought: "No, Corinne, daddy probably isn't all that proud." But we were wrong. Corinne's family is as cray-cray as she is.
Corinne's mom, Peri Olympios, told TMZ that Corinne's antics are all an effort to grab as much of the spotlight as possible, and that some of them are even faked by the show.
"She decided either you are two people that get remembered — the winner or the villain. Just like Chad [Johnson] and a few others in the last [shows]," Peri said. "Yes, she took it to the limits, most of it is fake."
According to Peri, when Corinne ditched her top in the pool, she was still wearing "cover-ups" whatever that means.
"Even when she decided to lose the top she had cover-ups on," Peri said. "It was all for TV. Reality TV and TV is very fake and you have no idea what they have cut out."
OK, Bachelor Nation. We all saw that footage, so let's discuss this. Even if Corinne was wearing "cover-ups" as her mom claimed, was it really enough to make her not naked? Maybe she was wearing pasties or bandaids or something. Who knows. But that doesn't negate the fact that those boobs were out, and the biggest things covering them up were Nick's hands.
On Jan. 21, one day after the inauguration of Donald Trump, over a million Americans gathered at Women’s Marches in major cities nationwide. A healthy percentage of that group belonged to Generation Z. Activists by nature, this group of children, tweens and teens were some of the most vocal and motivated attendees of the Women’s March.
Generation Z currently makes up over one-quarter of the American population and is the first generation to be born into a world of 24/7 digital information. Gen Z grew up processing, creating and sharing content on the go, at all times of the day, and it’s only natural for their activism to reflect that mindset.
Hoping to capture their spirit and energy while speaking to their natural strengths, we sent our Hatch teen, Declan, 14, out with his phone’s camera to capture the voices of Gen Z as they made history and paved the path for their future. These kids woke up at the crack of dawn to catch a bus down to Washington, D.C., from New York that Saturday morning — not an easy feat for most middle and high schoolers. We wanted to know what was driving this unique group of kids to go out and make a change — and their responses were profound.
“We are here, we are fighting for what we believe, and we will not be quiet if Donald Trump tries to take away our rights,” said one teen, echoing the thoughts of so many. These kids want to be heard, and they want to be heard now. They are taking their future into their own hands because they can and they care. We may be veering into unknown territory, but one thing is sure: When it’s their time, Gen Z is ready to take the wheel.
