Photo credit: Anthony Mandler

March 4, 2010 (WENN) — SNOOP DOGG has won a legal battle to gain entry to the U.K. – three years after government officials banned him from Britain. The hip-hop star, real name Calvin Broadus, incurred the wrath of immigration officials in 2006 when he was arrested following a fracas at London’s Heathrow Airport. The following year (07), he was denied entry into the country, with authorities arguing his previous convictions for drugs and firearms offenses made him a threat.

Broadus battled against the ruling, launching a legal challenge and urging stars including David Beckham and Sir Paul McCartney to help get the ban overturned. It was lifted in 2008, but government officials took the case to the Court of Appeal, where it was decided the judge who reversed the ruling may have “misinterpreted the test of exclusion.”

Broadus refused to give up and the case went to a U.K. Asylum and Immigration Tribunal on Friday (26-Feb-10), with the star’s lawyers urging officials to take into consideration his work as a high-school football coach and appearances on family-friendly TV shows including “The View” and his “Father Hood” reality series.

And “The Drop It Like It’s Hot” hitmaker was finally successful – two senior immigration judges decided border authorities were wrong to deny the star entry.

The ruling was released to both parties on Monday (01-Mar-10) and has paved the way for Broadus to return to Britain. Home Office officials issued a statement insisting they are “disappointed” by decision.

On my soapbox

I get there’s a PR play that Tiger Woods needs to ace, but I feel like the media is saturated with holier than thou commentary, rumors, speculation, and a few morsels of fact.  I’m posting a few clips below, but I want to know what YOU think Tiger does or does not need to do to reclaim his status.

Case and point

I just lifted 4 VIDEOS from ESPN that were all produced in the last 24 hours, and that’s not even all of them.

ESPN- Jeremy Schaap looks back at the past three months in the life of Tiger Woods

ESPN- Athletes and Celebrities on Tiger

ESPN- Golfers comment on Tiger Woods

ESPN- Tiger and the tabloids

What do I think?

Tiger is an accomplished athlete, and that’s all I want him to be.  Go play golf already!!!

What do YOU think?

UPDATE: Here’s the CNN recorded video of Tiger’s formal apology

I’m completely stunned.  Heart attack? Cardiac arrest? Age 32?  5 days before Christmas?  It’s impossible to read this and not be affected, at least just a little.  At 10:04 am this morning, after being rushed to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles,  Brittany Murphy, born on Nov 10, 1977, was pronounced dead from a reported heart attack after suffering cardiac arrest.  Born on November 10, 1977, she just recently celebrated 32 years of life.

I feel like I grew up with Brittany from the time that her career took off in the 1990s.  For me, her most memorable moments that come to mind for me were her roles as Rabbit’s (played by Eminem) love interest named Alex in “8 Mile,” the beautiful disaster gal pal to Cher (played by Alicia Silverstone) named Tai “Clueless” or the anorexic girl who is fatefully troubled (now feels super eerie to type this) named Daisy in “Girl, Interrupted.” Beyond these few roles, Brittany had an extensive resume that included more films, tv shows (loved her guest appearances on “Blossom“), and even her own music (something I just learned).

I just went to her Myspace page (www.myspace.com/brittanyofficial) and like so many gone too soon, it’s filled with messages of condolences.

This year, Brittany was continuing her work as the voice of Luanne on “King of the Hill” as well as wrapping up several film projects including “Shrinking Charlotte,” “The Expendables,” and “Something Wicked.”  Immediate family she leaves behind is her husband of 2 too short years, Simon Monjack.

As I type this post, I can’t get the song that plays as the end of “Girl, Interrupted” by her own character Daisy called “The End of the World” by Skeeter Davis out of my head.  I dedicate the below live performance of the song in Brittany Murphy’s honor.

RIP…

Related Links

• IMDB- Brittany Murphy
• Mahalo (bio)- Brittany Murphy
• BLOG! For Your Life- Brittany Murphy died of natural causes
• Gossip Center- Brittany Murphy’s husband arrives, police investigate
• Celebzweb.com- Producer of Brittany’s latest movie: “She was a great girl with a big heart.”
• MTV Movie News- Brittany Murphy dead at 32
• AllHipHop.com Daily News- “8 Mile” actress Brittany Murphy dead at 32
• NY Times- Brittany Murphy, actress, dies at 32
• LA Times- Actress Brittany Murphy dead at 32
• The Huffington Post- Brittany Murphy DEAD: Dies of cardiac arrest
• NY Daily News- Actress Brittany Murphy dies at 32 of heart attack
• Splash News- Brittany Murphy dies

Hyp-Inc., short for Hypothesis Inc clothing known for their distinctive and authentic innovative designs offers consumers their art and musically infused fashion line from t-shirts to hoodies at affordable prices online.

New York, NY, December 7, 2009 – Hyp-Inc., short for Hypothesis Inc., Theory of Self Co., encourages unity and diversity all the while tearing down fashion barriers from creating a culmination of brightly colored and bold one-of-a-kind creations that represents its own special art form in each piece of clothing can be purchased at their online store at www.hyp-inc.com.

Life is good but wearing Hyp-Inc clothing is better. Wearing Hyp-Inc t-shirts makes one feel unique, a cut above the rest breaking away the usual monotony. Hyp-Inc has the stylish designs that are reasonably priced with an understated vibe “I just threw this on” attitude but you know you look cleverly cool while wearing the clothing.

Consumers who are a rock star, a superstar or just have great fashion sense won’t want to give the shirt off their back to anyone especially if it is a Hyp-Inc t-shirt or hoodie because of all the admirers. Wearing a Hyp-Inc piece of clothing, one is easily noticed by his or her audience. Hyp-Inc is fun, one-of-a-kind wearable clothing that includes a long list of celebrity devotees amass Hollywood to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Hyp-Inc has been a leader in the industry, a permanent fixture in music design with hundreds of original screen printed posters, CD packaging as well as t-shirts that have been designed for many brands and companies boasting a client list that includes numerous leaders in the music arena from Kanye West, Matisyahu, Allman Brothers, Kid Rock, Further (aka the new Grateful Dead), Matchbox 20, Phish and others.

Hyp-Inc., short for Hypothesis Inc., Theory of Self Co., provides customers the highest guaranteed quality clothing by using the most durable and comfortable material made in the USA. Hyp-Inc. is a collaboration of music, art and culture spreading peace and goodwill and self-empowerment through its women’s and menswear clothing with bold and edgy creations including t-shirts and hoodies. Each design is artfully crafted and produced in 100% sweatshop-free production print shops. For more information on Hyp-Inc., short for Hypothesis Inc., Theory of Self Co., visit www.hyp-inc.com.

For additional information or to arrange for an interview with a Hyp-Inc Inc. representative, please contact Tamara York at Tamara York PR, email tamara@tamarayorkpr.com.

Related Links

Buy-Tees.net- Do believe the hypothesis

UPDATED Jan 28, 2010: Excerpts from TylerPerry.com “Email Messages from Tyler”…

12/26/2009- A few months ago, I said I was taking off the rest of 2009. The reason for that, although I didn’t say it at the time, was so I could spend my mother’s final days at her side. I am so glad I did. It made all the difference in the world to me. Thank you for all of your condolences. As you know, my mother was the apple of my eye, so this has been difficult to say the least. I’ll say more about her as I am able. It’s just too soon to talk publicly about it. It is still very raw. All I’ll say is this, take care of your mothers…you only get one. I’ve got to stop talking about this, sorry…

1/12/2010- …I am really enjoying this show. I’m so glad to be on the road in front of the people again. I didn’t know how much I missed this and I really didn’t know how much I needed it. This is so great! I don’t know of a better way to grieve than to write a show and dedicate it to my mother…

Related Links

• Ifelicious Thoughts- Keshia Knight Pulliam is the saving grace for Tyler Perry’s ‘House of Payne’
• Access Atlanta- Tyler Perry’s mother dies
• Tyler Perry official website- In Loving Memory
• Dime Wars- RIP Maxine Perry, Tyler Perry’s Mother passes away at age 64
• AJ-Supreme.com- Sad news. Tyler Perry mother dies at the age of 64
• Mia Mendez- Tyler Perry’s mother passed away today
• Facebook fan page- Tyler Perry
• Twitter- TylerPerry
• Myspace- www.myspace.com/thetylerperry

Does Wanda Sykes have a show?  Who’s been hiding that info from me?  I soooo need to get caught up on that! 

From YouTube…

Wanda’s version of what really happened… Catch The Wanda Sykes Show Saturdays, 11/10c, only on FOX!

Wanda, thanks for reading between the lines and tellin’ it like it is!

shit! i gotta get my story straight now... LOL

Related Links

• The Hollywood Gossip- Foul Fourplay: Rachel Uchitel Claims Affair with Tiger Woods; Golfer hurt in crash
• NY Daily News- Tiger Woods said Elin Nordregren, not car crash, scratched face & chased him with golf club
• Huffington Post- Tiger Woods Injured In Car Accident (PHOTOS)
• ESPN- Tiger Woods injured in early-morning crash, but released from hospital
• FOX Sports- 20 questions about Tiger Woods’ accident

Yeah you read that right! And trust me…we’re more shocked than you are. TheYBF.com has learned that Al Sharpton has been getting it in for the last few months with none other than LisaRaye.

Here’s what we know…

A few weeks ago our source (a MAJOR publicist in the industry who shall remain nameless) told us that Al and LisaRaye–both barely divorced–are indeed together now. When we asked the obligatory “WTF?! Why?” The answer is because Lisa knows she’s not getting into any of these “society and political” events without a man who could bring her along. She’s also starved for media attention–surprise surprise–so Al is her “In” into that world. And Al–well he’s just happy to say he can have a chick that looks like LisaRaye on his arm and whose perm looks better than his. The two have been confusingly spotted at a few events together like the NAACP Image Awards (www.naacpimageawards.net) and Michael Jackson’s memorial services…

I didn’t believe it at first, but at the Congressional Black Caucus (www.cbcfinc.org) events this weekend in DC–Mr. Sharpton was indeed coupled up with LisaRaye as he brought her as his date to every event. In the above pic, they were boo’d up at a Gala afterparty at Toscana West (www.tuscanawest.net). And below, we spotted them at the Gala together with friends. We mean holding hands, boo’d up, everything. Shocker…we know. But you heard here FIRST….

posted with permission from Young, Black, and Fabulous (YBF.com)

LATISSE® solution is a prescription treatment for hypotrichosis used to grow eyelashes, making them longer, thicker and darker. Eyelash hypotrichosis is another name for having inadequate or not enough eyelashes. (source: Latisse.com)

I don’t pay attention to a lot of commercials including the one for Latisse^® (latisse.com). For some reason, however, it caught my attention the other day, and I was like WTF??  A prescription to help you grow longer eyelashes?  Why?  Also, it wasn’t until I copied the quote posted above that I even realized it’s actually for a medical condition.  Somehow, I’m thinking that diagnosis is HIGHLY subjective.

Ever since then, I am stare perplexed whenever the commercial airs.  You know Brooke Shields is one of my girl crushes, and her eyes are fabulous, but why would she even endorse this prescription oddity?

If you haven’t paid attention, watch it and tell me what you think.

Here’s also a report talking about the dangers of taking prescription Latisse, including unwanted hair growth.

I would put this on my other blog, but the Twitter convo started on the id related to this blog.  Let’s talk folks.

It started with this tweet that caught my attention…

aplusk- I believe that in many ways Bill Cosby paved the way 4 Barrack Obama. He made white america realize wht was the same not what was different

aplusk- @r... MayB but the Huxtables where the 1st black family invited into my home on a weekly basis. Don’t underestimate the familarity of TV.

aplusk- Clearly it wasn’t him alone but I think he made a profound impact. My pupils R black RT @springwhispers: What Bill Cosby? You are so white

aplusk- If you don’t believe my Cosby theory look at all the @replys from people that do.

aplusk- @S… please explain to me what I said that is racist?

aplusk- people can look down on him all they want @M… but for many white people Cosby was the 1st black person they let in there home.

aplusk- they sat with Him in there living room with their family and laughed WITH him.

—-

OK, here’s my parallel convo…

ifelicious- someone please tell ashton kutcher that bill cosby should not be the 1st black man you cite who paved way for obama. for real?

ifelicious- @J… that was as lame as britney spears “i trust my president” when the iraq war started

ifelicious- @J… that was as lame as britney spears “i trust my president” when the iraq war started

ifelicious- @G… like i get it but i just wouldn’t make that statement personally. cosby’s the only one they let have a show like that

ifelicious- @aplusk i invite you to my twitter convo about your cosby-obama statement. i don’t agree

ifelicious- @G… why do we need tv to help realize there are educated black people out there? i come from a fam of educated black people from burbs

ifelicious- @J… we all tweet without thinking at times so no love loss there, it was disappointing to hear as an educated black woman

ifelicious- @J… and you’re right, people gave there life for simple rights that i have today

ifelicious- @aplusk guess what? popular opinion does not equal the truth. bring it! i want more than a tweet on this one

ifelicious- @G… with all due respect you need a new mirror because it’s not that different and does not reflect our society in the least

I’m done from my side but I’m sure Ashton will be fielding comments much later into the night.  I didn’t post people’s original tweet just my replies and Ashton’s replies, but you can follow what was being said.

So what do you think?  Did the Bill Cosby and the “Cosby Show” pave the way for Barack Obama?

I couldn’t believe this story when I just heard it on the news.

Below reposted from NZ Herald News…

LONDON – A British pup had a narrow flush with disaster after his 4-year-old master decided to give him a bath in the toilet.

Daniel Blair was quoted as telling Britain’s Daily Mirror tabloid that he tried to clean the muddy one-week-old cocker spaniel because he was muddy, and he flushed him down the drain.

His mother Alison was quoted as saying she thought the dog was dead, but a drainage firm was able to locate the beleaguered animal in a pipe 18 metres away from the house using specialist camera gear.

Pictures of the wet, frightened-looking puppy trapped in a pipe were posted to the firm Dyno-Rod’s website and broadcast on British television yesterday.

The company says the dog is now fine.

- AP