Mereja

Author: Amanda Crum

  • Lil Wayne Dropped From Soda Deal Over Lyrics

    Lil Wayne has never been one to mince words, but this time it’s getting him into trouble and jeopardizing a lucrative endorsement deal.

    The rapper was featured on the Future song “Karate Chop”–which was released a few months ago–with the controversial lyrics “Beat that p***y up like Emmett Till”. Emmett Till was a 14-year old African American boy who was beaten and murdered in 1955 after he allegedly flirted with a white woman; the brutality he endured before his death caused public outcry during the peak of tensions during the civil rights movement. Needless to say, when the Mamie Till Mobley Foundation–named after his late mother–heard about the song a backlash ensued. The outcry has led to Mountain Dew dropping Wayne from a sponsorship deal.

    “We do not plan any additional work with Lil Wayne moving forward,” the company said in the statement. “His offensive reference to a revered civil rights icon does not reflect the values of our brand.”

    “Back in February, when I first heard the lyrics, I was in utter shock, disappointment and sadness,” said Airickca Gordon-Taylor, director of the foundation. “Just as Mamie Till Mobley didn’t endure the pain of losing Emmett Till alone, many people have stood in solidarity with our family, even if it wasn’t the most popular stand to take. The road less traveled is surely not the easiest but standing for your principles provides the endurance needed to fight for human and civil rights. This decision was monumental, we commend Mountain Dew for taking action towards better social responsibility, and now I finally feel that we can exhale and focus on our beloved Mamie Till Mobley’s charge… Let’s get on with the business of positive thinking and living.”

    Wayne responded to the family’s statement with one of his own, apologizing for causing offense.

    “As a recording artist, I have always been interested in word play,” he said. “My lyrics often reference people, places, and events in my music, as well as the music that I create for or alongside other artists. …It has come to my attention that lyrics from my contribution to a fellow artist’s song has deeply offended your family. As a father myself, I cannot imagine the pain that your family has had to endure.”

  • In Case You Forgot: The Full McBain Film Is Buried In “Simpsons” Episodes

    This isn’t new news, but it is awesome.

    In case you forgot, the entire Mcbain movie is hidden in little clips over several episodes of “The Simpsons”. The writers of the show love putting in Easter eggs wherever they can, so it wasn’t really a surprise to find out they’d actually written and animated the whole story for their version of a Schwarzenegger-like action hero and carefully chopped it up, placing the excerpts in order throughout the years.

    If you missed it the first time, check it out.

  • 17-Year Cicadas: Expect “Shovel-Loads” To Swarm

    Cicadas don’t bother some, but for many, the deafening buzzing that comes with their arrival can be a headache. Those people should prepare themselves, because scientists say that after 17 years of hibernation in the soil, a huge swarm of them is about to emerge.

    The bugs don’t pose a threat to humans–or much of anything, really–and actually promote substantial growth in trees once they die. Their carcasses have been found to stimulate the production of seeds and nitrogen in certain trees and plants, acting as a sort of biological Miracle-Gro. However, a large amount of cicadas appearing all at once may prove to be more than an annoyance to some on the East Coast. In fact, this year could be one of the worst we’ve seen in a long time as far as outbreaks go.

    “There are some pretty convincing reports coming out,” John Cooley, an expert on cicadas at the University of Connecticut, said. “It’s fair to say it’s starting, but it’s still in the very early stages. It certainly isn’t going all crazy. … When it really happens, it’s not going to be like this. It’s going to be shovel loads of cicadas.”

    Entomologists have been tracking the critters as they emerge this spring, and it’s been rather slow going. But Cooley says this is just the calm before the storm. The East Coast is expected to receive the buzzing guests by the billions.

    The bugs get their name because of a sort of hibernation cycle they undergo; for 17 years, they burrow underground and feed on plant roots. When it’s time to come out, the males spread out to find mates and the females eventually lay their eggs. The adult cicadas die off within a few weeks, leaving their legacy in the babies soon to hatch.

    Though many states have experienced a rather cold spring so far, scientists say it won’t be long before the soil is warm enough for the bugs to begin their life above-ground.

    “Within a week or so, it ought to really be going,” Cooley said. “Spring can’t hold off forever.”

    Image: Magicicada.org

  • Carmen Electra Celebrates 41st In Vegas

    I hope I look this good when I’m 41.

    Singer and actress Carmen Electra hit up Crazy Horse III in Vegas over the weekend to celebrate her 41st birthday and was looking amazing in a skin-tight black dress. The sexy lady had something else to celebrate, as well: the release of her new single, “Bigger Dick”. Carmen danced to the track with friends at one point and was given a special birthday cake, as well as strawberries and whipped cream.

    Electra has made it a tradition to celebrate at the gentlemen’s club and gave a shout-out to the venue, saying, “I love coming here to Crazy Horse III every year to celebrate with my friends here in Las Vegas! This is the best birthday ever!”

    Electra is more well-known for her modeling and singing than for her sense of humor, but she showed off some seriously funny acting chops in 2005′s “Dirty Love”, which was written by fellow funnylady Jenny McCarthy.

    Image: FameFlyNet

  • Anna Nicole Smith: Daughter Goes All Out For KY Derby

    Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter, Dannielynn, has made appearances on the Kentucky Derby red carpet before, but this year she outdid herself in the outfit department, and her dad played along.

    6-year old Dannielynn must have a fondness for flying nannies, because she wanted to dress as Mary Poppins for the event. But she didn’t go it alone; her dad, Larry Birkhead, dressed as Dick Van Dyke’s character from the film, Bert. The duo had their costumes custom made for the night and Dannielynn was glowing as she posed for photographers. She’s had some experience; last year, Dannielynn was chosen to be the face of Guess Kids, following in her famous mom’s footsteps.

    Image: Twitter

  • Bride Killed: Limo Fire Leaves Five Dead

    A new bride and four of her friends were killed in a tragic limousine fire in San Francisco on Saturday.

    Neriza Fojas had been celebrating her recent marriage with a girls’ night out; all nine women were looking forward to an evening of fun after throwing a bridal shower for Fojas. But after just a short drive in their limo, the women noticed smoke coming from the rear of the Town Car. When they alerted the driver, he pulled over on the San Francisco Bay bridge to take a look. As soon as he got out, the car erupted into flames.

    Four of the women escaped; three were rescued by witnesses who pulled them to safety, and one woman managed to crawl through the partition separating the back seat from the driver. The other five, including the bride, died while scrambling to fit through the partition. Firefighters found them lying on top of one another.

    “This is one of the most horrific things I’ve seen in 21 years with this office,” San Mateo County’s medical examiner, Robert Foucrault, said Sunday. “Looking at it, they were on top of each other and doing what they could to get out.”

    At least two of the women are in critical condition today. The driver, 46-year old Orville Brown, was highly distraught and is assisting investigators as they try to figure out what caused the fire.

    “We got out by the grace of God. I just wish that I could have done more,” Brown said. “It’s something you never imagine will happen.”

  • Honey Boo Boo Wedding: Camouflage And BBQ

    Honey Boo Boo (Alanna Thompson) and her sisters celebrated Cinco de Mayo with BBQ, brightly-colored dresses, and wedding cake.

    Mama June, mom to the “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” star and her three sisters, made her love for longtime beau official on Sunday when they tied the knot in their backyard. June stayed true to her redneck ways by offering up some good old fashioned Southern barbecue rather than standard wedding fare, and walked down the aisle (well, lawn) in a custom-made camouflage wedding gown with hunter’s orange accents.

    “My sister baked the cake, and we spent most of the money on barbecue,” says June. “We stayed true to our roots and made the focus on the family and my commitment to Sugar Bear. You can definitely plan an event on a budget!”

    But June planned ahead to make sure her big day wasn’t spoiled by technology; just because it was being filmed for their reality show didn’t mean she wanted any drama. The invitations asked guests to refrain from videotaping the event, including on cell phones.

    Mama June and her new hubs, Sugar Bear, have lived together for several years; he is Alanna’s biological father and is stepdad to June’s other three daughters.

    “The day was very special mostly because my girls were able to take part in it,” June said. “I felt like it was important for them to see this moment and celebrate my love for Sugar Bear.”

  • Kris Jenner: New Wig Makes Her Look Like Daughters

    Kris Jenner slipped on a wig during a water excursion in Greece recently, which gave her a spooky resemblance to her daughters.

    The 57-year old looked laid-back while on vacation with her family and took a few spins on a jet-ski while she was there. They also spent time on a huge yacht in Mykonos before heading back to L.A. to finish filming their reality show.

    Of course, since photos of the Kardashian’s mom-ager hit the web, they’ve gone viral as no one can quite figure out why she’s wearing a disguise.

    Interestingly, pregnant Kim–who had joined her family initially–was summoned for by beau Kanye West and left the party early.

    “Kanye sent a private jet to Greece to pick Kim up. The plane flew to Paris and now they’re spending more alone time there together,” said a source.

    Images: Splash

    kris jenner new wig

  • Kelly Ripa: 1996 Photo Of Wedding Goes Viral

    Kelly Ripa, who has long been the darling of daytime TV, shared a photo of herself and husband Mark Consuelos at their 1996 Vegas wedding recently, and the pic has gone viral.

    The image shows a much younger Ripa in a pink spaghetti-strap dress, hugging her new hubby in front of a sparkly backdrop. The “Live With Kelly And Michael” co-host tweeted the pic to celebrate her 17th wedding anniversary.

    Ripa and Consuelos met during their days as soap opera actors and have been together ever since, making them one of the cutest and most endearing couples in Hollywood.

    “He is the person I was meant to be with forever, and I think he feels the same way,” she said.

  • May Snow: 18 Inches Dropped On Upper Midwest

    May isn’t generally known for snow storms, even up north, so when 18 inches of the cold white stuff drops on several states, it’s headline-worthy.

    People in Wisconsin and Minnesota may be rethinking their choice of state this week while battling over a foot of heavy snow. The temperatures dropped below freezing, causing downed power lines and trees and making travel difficult, if not impossible. At least one death has been reported; Wisconsin State Patrol said one man was killed and another injured when a semi truck rolled over on Interstate 94 and was struck by another truck. More than 29,000 people across both states were without power for hours, though many of those homes have had power restored.

    Because it’s such a heavy, wet snow, several homeowners and businesses have had to deal with a caved-in roof. Luckily, temperatures are expected to return to normal by Monday.

    Though the areas have likely seen snow in May before, this week is sure to set records as far as the amount goes. Minnesota’s record for daily snowfall in May is 12 inches.

  • FHM: Sexiest Woman In The World Is….

    It shouldn’t be a shock to anyone with two working eyes and a brain that Mila Kunis has been voted “Sexiest Woman In The World” by FHM Magazine.

    The 29-year old has been a favorite of guys (and girls) everywhere since her early days of acting on “That 70′s show”, earning funny-girl cred with her turn as the voice of Meg on “Family Guy” and nerd-cred with her performances on “Robot Chicken”. She eventually landed full-on H.O.T. status in “Black Swan”, after showing off her dancer’s body in a steamy scene with co-star Natalie Portman, and last year she was named Esquire Magazine’s “Sexiest Woman Alive“. She went on to star in this year’s acclaimed Disney film, “Oz The Great And Powerful”.

  • Leonardo DiCaprio: Marriage Is A “Wait And See” Type-Deal

    Leonardo DiCaprio is one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors, so naturally everyone wants to know what his plan is where a love life is concerned.

    The 39-year old actor has been linked in recent years to Blake Lively and supermodel Gisele Bundchen, but hasn’t come close to walking down the aisle yet. He says it’s not out of the question, but he just doesn’t know what the future holds for him.

    “I take it as it comes,” the actor said. “We’ll see what happens in the future. We’ll see what happens. … I don’t try to determine what the future will be. I take it day by day.”

    He also said that, for an actor who is so dedicated to his job, it’s not easy to work and have a relationship.

    “Six months of being on location or being off in Morocco or someplace like that is not the best thing for a relationship,” he said. “There’s a certain price to everything, but every time I listen to myself talk about those prices I get sick to my stomach because I’m so fortunate to do what I do, really I’m a lucky person.”

    DiCaprio, whose turn as a controlling, wealthy Southern aristocrat in “Django Unchained” was quite a departure from his past roles, also talked a bit about his latest film, “The Great Gatsby”. The movie is based on the popular book and was helmed by Baz Luhrmann, who also directed DiCaprio in “Romeo + Juliet”.

    “When you make a movie, you have to be much more specific about everything you do. You have to make choices as an actor and as a storyteller that dramatize these brilliant chapters. I think it’s a risk, just in the sense that it’s so beloved, and you’re almost setting yourself up for criticism in a lot of ways,” he said.

  • Disney Pulls Out Of “High Risk” Countries

    Disney has given the order to cease production of their licensed items in what they call “high risk” countries; namely, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Venezuela, Belarus and Pakistan. Bangladesh is the first to go, with the latter four losing factories by next spring.

    The company’s decision comes at a time when horrific factory accidents are on the rise; last November a fire at Tazreen Fashions Factory in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, left 112 people dead, and another fire in Pakistan killed 262 garment workers just two months before. With the news of last week’s factory collapse that killed more than 400, Disney made the decision in order to back health and safety conditions.

    “After much thought and discussion we felt this was the most responsible way to manage the challenges associated with our supply chain,” said Bob Chapek, president of Disney Consumer Products.

    Although the news won’t be taken lightly by those who are in favor of big companies sourcing from countries where the jobs are desperately needed, Disney reps say they aren’t averse to working with Bangladesh in the future; however, they will only be working with factories which are in a partnership with the Better Work program. Run by the International Labor Organization, it ensures health and safety conditions for factory workers.

    Image: Disney.com

  • Teen Mom Banned From Yearbook For “Promoting Teen Pregnancy”

    A young mom in North Carolina is battling her high school after administrators pulled her senior picture from the yearbook, saying that the photo–which was taken with her son–promotes teen pregnancy.

    17-year old Caitlin Tiller says when she was told she could include a “prop” in her senior photo that best represented her, she immediately knew she wanted her son to pose with her.

    “He helped me get to where I am today,” said Tiller. “I wouldn’t be the person I am today without him. He has helped me achieve my goal to graduate high school and go forward with my dreams.”

    Unlike many teen mothers, Caitlin has had the full support of her parents and her son’s father and, with some hard work and determination, was able to graduate early. She now attends college classes and works 30 hours a week, and is disappointed that the school chose not to include the photo she wanted to be in the yearbook.

    “She took responsibility,” said Tiller’s mother, Karen Morgan. “They should be proud that the students are willing to stay in school, graduate and make something of themselves and not try and hide it.”

    The school hasn’t commented on the matter except to say that a student’s school picture should be all about them, rather than including family members.

  • Rat-Meat Ring Busted, Almost 1,000 People Arrested

    Rat meat is passing for mutton in China these days.

    Police have discovered a ring of criminals who were using spices to flavor rat, mink, and fox meat at marketplaces. So far, 904 people have been arrested, and nearly 20,000 tons of tainted or fake meat has been confiscated.

    The arrests came after a sharp crackdown in food safety measures in Shanghai and Jiangsu after sudden outbreaks of bird flu, which is a major problem in China right now. Health officials there recently updated the death toll from H7N9–a new and particularly virulent strain of the disease–to 27, the latest victim a 55-year old man. 26 people have recovered from the virus. Scientists have confirmed that the flu is being passed to humans from chickens.

    Food safety is a growing concern in China, as is the safety of the drinking water. More than 16,000 rotting pigs were reportedly found in a main water source in Shanghi in March; officials believe overcrowding of a nearby pig farm was to blame.

    “Food safety crimes are still prominent, and new situations are emerging with new characteristics,” the Ministry said in a statement.

  • Howard Kurtz Fired After Jason Collins Story

    Howard Kurtz, the writer whose piece on Jason Collins drew backlash earlier this week, has been fired from The Daily Beast.

    Kurtz alleged in his story that Collins, who has just come out as a gay man, didn’t come clean about his engagement to a woman. He also made several errors regarding Collins’ essay in Sports Illustrated, then updated his article to amend his original stance and ended up just making readers angry.

    Collins’ piece read, “When I was younger I dated women. I even got engaged. I thought I had to live a certain way. I thought I needed to marry a woman and raise kids with her. I kept telling myself the sky was red, but I always knew it was blue.”

    The Daily Beast retracted the article and released a statement about Kurtz’s errors, saying, “The Daily Beast sincerely regrets Kurtz’s error — and any implication that Collins attempted to hide or obscure the engagement.”

    Since coming out in the most recent edition of Sports Illustrated, Collins is being recognized as the first openly gay professional athlete in the U.S. The story went viral this week, but Kurtz’s blog post picked up major media attention and may have had a hand in his termination. Kurtz had this to say on Twitter:

    “I’ve enjoyed my time at the Daily Beast but as we began to move in different directions, both sides agreed it was best to part company,” he wrote. “This was in the works for some time, but want to wish all my colleagues continued success with a terrific website. Newsweek and the Beast are great brands, but the time had come for me to move on to other opportunities.”

  • Billy The Exterminator: Drug Charge Gets Him Probation

    Billy the Exterminator recently pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of synthetic marijuana and will be put on probation for one year.

    Billy, real name William Bretherton, and his wife Mary were arrested last year in Louisiana after police responded to a 911 call which ended up being a hang-up. When they arrived at the hotel it originated from, they found the couple in possession of the drug as well as paraphernalia. Bretherton eventually received a suspended sentence of 60 days of jail time and was ordered to pay a $500 fine; he’ll also undergo substance abuse treatment.

    Bretherton’s show, which follows him as he helps people get rid of unwanted wildlife, airs on A&E, but the network has had no comment on his arrest.

  • Kanye West: Twitter Post Mysterious, Popular

    Kanye West sure knows how to stand out in a sea of tweets.

    The hip-hop mogul recently deleted every post on his page save for one, which has gotten almost 27,000 re-tweets: “June Eighteen”. No one knows for sure what will happen on that date, but there’s been a lot of speculation. Is it the day his new album drops? The day his kid drops? Either one would be equally exciting for his fans, and for fans of Kim K.

  • Secret NFL Child Abuse Arrest Came 3 Days After Team Cut

    Former Giants linebacker Michael Boley reportedly turned himself in to Alabama police back in February after a child abuse investigation stemming from a 2011 incident.

    Boley’s 5-year old son was at the center of the investigation, which was allegedly due to physical abuse and not of a sexual nature. Boley pleaded guilty to the abuse as part of a plea deal, and has said that the allegations came from the child’s mother, who filed a lawsuit against him for child support payments. In 2008, he was arrested on charges of domestic violence after his ex-wife claimed he beat her, and though the case was never pursued by prosecutors, Boley was suspended for the first game of the 2009 season with the Giants due to a violation of the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.

    Part of the plea deal terms state that Boley must complete a diversion program in order for the charges to be dropped, which is rep says he will comply with. However, there’s been no comment on whether or not the Giants cut him from the team because of his legal issues or for another reason. He is currently a free agent.

  • TV Host: Sex Addiction To Blame For Divorce

    TV host David Tutera recently filed for divorce from partner Ryan Jurica, and Jurica claims that Tutera’s addiction to sex and prostitutes is to blame for their split.

    The “My Fair Wedding” host says that Jurica’s claims are untrue, and Jurica has just checked himself into rehab. In the middle of all this, the couple are dealing with being expectant parents, with twins due via surrogate in just a few months. Both men are asking for full custody of the babies.

    In the court documents, Jurica says, “After repeated attempts at marriage counseling and therapy, we have been unable to save our relationship due to [David’s] addiction to sex. [David] has engaged in a pattern of hiring sex escorts and prostitutes to support his addiction.”

    Tutera fired back by releasing a statement:

    “The allegations against me are baseless and untrue and I will fight vigorously to defend my reputation in the court of law as well as the court of public opinion. I believe them to be fabrications of a desperate individual in order to gain a legal advantage in our separation…I am saddened by these developments; I am angered by the lies; and I am committed to moving beyond this painful moment to focus on my professional commitments and the upcoming birth of my children.”

    Image: Wireimage