VIDEO DISCUSSION: Tristan Thompson evades scrutiny; in separate cases, R. Kelly, Robert Kraft, and Jussie Smollett facing criminal charges

In this episode of What's The 411, award-winning journalist, Kizzy Cox, and comedian, Onika McLean are talking about R. Kelly; Tristan Thompson, Khloe Kardashian, Jordyn Woods; Jussie Smollett, Lee Daniels, Queen Latifah; the television show, Empire; Robert Kraft and his prostitution charge, and; the New York City Commission on Human Rights passage of new guidelines making Black hair legal.

Janet Hubert claps back at Jada Pinkett Smith's call for Oscar boycott; Tichina Arnold kicks husband to curb after viewing his sex tape with another woman

411 QUICK TAKES

FOX TELEVISION has announced that "EMPIRE" has been renewed for a third season.

An Ohio fugitive was apprehended in Florida after he sent cops a better picture because he hated his mugshot. Forty-five-year-old Donald "Chip" Pugh posted his new picture on Facebook. "Here is a better photo, that one is terrible," Pugh wrote. Now he is doing a selfie behind bars.

In other news, actor and rapper Kendrick Lamar will receive the key to the city in his hometown of Compton, California. Congrats Kendrick.

Singer Patti LaBelle is reportedly dating again....her 41 year-old drummer! The singer, who is 71, has been seeing drummer Eric Seats over the past year.

IN MEMORIAM

And, we bid a fond farewell to:

• actor Alan Rickman, who played Professor Severus Snape in the "Harry Potter" movies. He has passed away at age 69
• legendary blues singer Otis Clay, who passed away recently at age 73.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to singer Celine Dion, who lost both her husband producer Rene Angelil, and her brother, Daniel Dion, both died from cancer.

Lastly, we wish WCBS anchor Maurice Dubois a speedy recovery. Dubois has been diagnosed with Bell's Palsy.

What's The 411 - WHAT'S POPPIN'

Tichina Arnold Kicks Husband to the Curb

My family and I and I would assume most technologically inclined families do this as well, we send group chat text messages about something funny that happened or something we all should celebrate. Well, honey lamb, Tichina Arnold, who played Pam on Martin sent a group text for the ages! She found a sex tape with her husband, Rico Hines, a former assistant for player development with the Golden State Warriors, and another woman and sent it to her family as a group text!

Yes, it's reported that Tichina Arnold sent a copy of the video to his family and friends in a text message stating that "it's over between Rico and I" explaining that this was where she was drawing the line in the sand.

"This is where I part ways and all bets are off." She also stated that Rico wasn't using protection when having the alleged sex with this woman. I'm sorry "Pam" you waited so long.

Jada Pinkett-Smith Calls for Oscar Boycott and Janet Hubert Claps Back

It is the video that has gone viral. Actress Jada Pinkett-Smith said that she will boycott this year's Academy Awards due to the lack of diversity in actor category nominations.

The video has gotten over 5 million views. Pinkett made the call after the academy failed to nominate any actor of color for an award for the second year in a row.

Actress Janet Hubert, who worked with Will Smith, Pinkett-Smith's husband, on the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air jumped into the fray. Referring to Pinkett Smith as "Miss Thing," Hubert opens her video by asking, "Does your man not have a mouth of his own with which to speak?" before launching into her thoughts on the controversy that has drawn so much attention.

"I find it ironic that somebody who has made their living and has made millions and millions of dollars from the very people that you're talking about boycotting just because you didn't get a nomination, just because you didn't win?" said Hubert. "That's not the way life works, baby."

Black Twitter, using the hashtag #oscarssowhite, also called for a boycott after Pinkett's husband, actor Will Smith was snubbed for Concussion and actor Idris Elba for Beast of No Nation. The movie Creed only received recognition for best supporting actor, Sylvester Stallone, and none for best director or actor.

The critically acclaimed picture, Straight Out of Compton, did not receive a nod for best picture. But actor and rapper Ice Cube said: "It's the Oscars. They do what they do, but I can't be mad. The movie grossed over $200 million."

UNDER THE RADAR:

Bernie Sanders Takes his Campaign to HBCUs

Okay Hillary (Clinton), feel the Bern. Fellow Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders, is taking his message of income inequality and criminal justice reform directly to a critical voting bloc he hopes will embrace his presidential candidacy: Black college students.

To win the South Carolina primary on February 27 and win over black voters in upcoming presidential contests, Sanders, the self-described socialist candidate, is forging ahead with a brand new strategy: touring Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and talking face-to-face with black college students.

Sanders' HBCU tour kicked off at South Carolina State University on January 14, which is six weeks before South Carolina's crucial Democratic primary in February, and the year's first contest in the South.

January Bargains: Electronics and Linens

Most of us like to shop, and many of us like a good bargain. So as we end January, if you need linens, now is the time to buy them. Department stores generally have "white sales" in January. Also on sale are Christmas holiday items and toys, and electronic items, such as TVs, computers, and phones as stores are making way for new products.

FAB411

5 Essential Oils Recommended for Hair and Skin

Beauty expert Essence Semaj gives her recommendations for essential oils for beautiful skin and strong and healthy hair:

Jojoba Oil: Jojoba Oil is the liquid produced in the seed of the Simmondsia chinensis plant, a shrub, which is native to southern Arizona, southern California, and northwestern Mexico. Jojoba oil is not very oily and is ideal for healthily hydrating skin and hair because it mimics the natural oils our bodies produce.

Castor Oil: A thick pale yellow oil obtained from castor beans, has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties and is high in Vitamin E, minerals, proteins, and Omega 6 and 9 beneficial fatty acids. Its unusually high ricinoleic acid ratio appears to make castor oil beneficial to skin and hair.

Additionally, castor oil has traditionally been used topically for acne and other skin conditions, as well as hair loss, rashes and more.

You can thin out castor oil by mixing it with another oil, such as mint, rosemary, or jojoba oil.

Hemp Seed Oil: Hemp seed oil is cold pressed from the seeds of the hemp plant and has a history of use dating back thousands of years to the Chinese Ming Dynasty.

In addition to its uses for heart and brain health, emp seed oil is often used as a moisturizer for the skin. Studies have indicated that hemp seed oil can dramatically decrease skin dryness to alleviate itching and irritation. Moreover, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may protect against the aging process while soothing the skin.

When choosing a source of Hemp Seed Oil, you want to be sure it is derived from organically grown hemp that is GMO-free (not genetically altered). It should be first cold-pressed, and produced in low-light and a low-oxygen environment, as heat, light, and oxygen destroy many of its natural attributes. It should also be stored in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and prevent rancidity. Hemp Seed Oil, a quality oil appropriate for nutritional, cosmetic, and medical uses, should have a dark green color and a rich, nutty flavor, and should always be packaged in a glass container, never plastic.

Grape Seed Oil: Grape seed oil is a preferred cosmetic ingredient for controlling moisture of the skin. Light and thin, grape seed oil leaves a glossy film over skin, when used as a carrier, oil for essential oils in aromatherapy. It contains more linoleic acid than many other carrier oils.

Grape seed oil is also used as a lubricant for shaving and as a growth and strengthening treatment for hair.

Tamanu Oil: Tamanu oil is derived from the large, blonde nuts of the Ati tree found in South East Asia and the Pacific Islands. Tamanu is considered to be one of the most effective agents in promoting the formation of new tissue, thereby accelerating wound healing and the growth of healthy skin.

What about coconut oil? Coconut oil is making a huge comeback and many people find coconut oil to be very useful for hair and skin. However, Essence recommends coconut oil for hair and body, but not for the face because of coconut oil's tendency to clog pores. She also recommends creating your own personal oils by mixing and matching essential oils to match your personal needs.

REALITY TV RECAP

Nicki Minaj Goes After Farrah Abraham and Abraham Returns the Favor

Stars get bored too, and some of them watch marathon episodes of Teen Moms!

Nicki Minaj blasted Farrah Abraham, on Twitter about the way she treats her mom, "your mother didn't open her legs and have that child. Be happy she's helping! Stop talking to her like that on TV u lil c***," Nicki Minaj tweeted at Farrah Abraham, a star of Teen Moms.

At first, Farrah Abraham didn't respond to Nicki Minaj's harsh words, but later decided to reply to Nicki's diss.

"Cause you're a parent right? You're videos look like porn. Horrible. Good luck being negative #godbless busy making TV."

Later, Farrah Abraham decided to use her daughter, Sophia, to deliver another slam to Nicki Minaj. The Teen Mom posted a Snapchat video of little Sophia saying,

"Hi everybody. Nicki Minaj is a total loser," along with the caption "Nicki Minaj please stop saying bad words."

Why is this 24-year-old woman on Teen Moms and why is she involving a minor in a conversation between grown people?

On Love and Hip Hop New York: Pregnancy is the Word

Peter Gunz impregnated two women, his wife Amina Buddafly and girlfriend, Tara Wallace. Ms. Buddafly made a decision to terminate her pregnancy, while Mistress Wallace decided to go through with her pregnancy.

IN THE PIPELINE:

Upcoming Events

The NAACP will hand out its 47th Annual Image Awards on February 5th

Comedian Mike Epps will appear at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on February 5th.

The legendary rap group Run DMC will receive a lifetime achievement award on the upcoming 58th Annual Grammy Awards on February 15th. The awards will be televised on CBS.

Chaka Khan! Chaka Khan, with special guest, Vivian Green, will be at The Kings Theater, on February 19th.

The grio.com is reporting that BET it will honor singer Patti LaBelle and movie producer Lee Daniels. The BET Awards will air on June 26th.

John Boyega Makes Forbes Top 30 List, Monique Pressley serves up the media something proper, Fay Ann Lyons sets the record straight

411 QUICK TAKES

Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Washington received the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award at the Golden Globes Awards Show; and actress Taraji P. Henson won a Golden Globe award for best actress in a drama for Empire.

Singer Natalie Cole was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA. Her parents, sister, and brother are also buried there. Natalie Cole died from idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension, which led to heart failure. She was diagnosed with the ailment after receiving a kidney transplant in 2009.

IN MEMORIAM

We bid a fond farewell to:

• Singer Nicholas Caldwell, a co-founding member of the legendary group, The Whispers. Caldwell passed away from congestive heart failure. He was 71.

• Rocker David Bowie, who pioneered Glam Rock, died at age 69. He leaves behind his wife, former supermodel and entrepreneur Iman, and daughter, Alexandria "Lexi" Zahra Jones.

What's The 411 - WHAT'S POPPIN"

Forbes Top 30 Under 30: John Boyega, Jewel Burks, Nailah Ellis-Brown

"Forbes recently released its Top 30 Under 30 List and to my happiness there are a number of black people on the list!," said Kizzy Cox. The list includes 23-year-old heartthrob John Boyega! Boyega is blazing trails in the new Star Wars film "The Force Awakens", as the first black storm-trooper we've ever seen in a Star Wars film. Boyega, who is British of Nigerian descent has proudly embraced his African origins, in an interview with the NY times he said:

"I'm grounded in who I am, and I am a confident black man. A confident, Nigerian, black, chocolate man. I'm proud of my heritage, and no man can take that away from me."

Also on the list are several black women--can we say #blackgirlmagic??--including 26-year-old Jewel Burks an entrepreneur within a family of entrepreneurs, she co-founded and is CEO of PartPic which helps people find parts they're looking for their electronics or other machinery. Additionally, 28-year-old Nailah Ellis-Brown is founder of Ellis Island Tropical Tea. Incredibly, Brown started by selling her old Jamaican family tea recipe out of the trunk of her car! A silent partner eventually invested $150,000 for a bottling plant in Detroit and now she's selling her tea to Whole Foods and other stores throughout the US! Can we say #Caribbeangirlmagic??

UNDER THE RADAR

JANET JACKSON

Pop star Janet Jackson canceled some of her tour dates due to illness. A rumor spread that Janet had throat cancer, which prompted the singer to issue a statement on twitter to debunk the rumors:

"Remember...believe it when you hear it from my lips, the rumors are untrue. I do not have cancer. I'm recovering. My doctors have approved my concerts as scheduled in Europe, and as I promised, the postponed shows will be rescheduled. Thank you for your prayers and love."

Monique Pressley: Bill Cosby's Attorney

People magazine is reporting that after failing to find sufficient evidence to back a model's claim that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Bill Cosby at a Playboy Mansion party in 2008, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday that it would not file charges. No matter where you are on the Bill Cosby issue, you must admit Monique Pressley is serving the media up something proper! Just watching the eloquent way she executes her argument, you just want to snap your fingers in a circle. Ms. Pressley, a Howard University Law School graduate, is more than a lawyer; she is a minister and a member of the cut life. I love watching her.

FAB411

Tips for Teeth Whitening

Beauty expert Courtney Rashon gives her recommendations for keeping your teeth bright and white!

A great smile is important. And it's also important to make sure you have white teeth. Here a few ways to keep your teeth white and bright.

Baking soda. Baking soda does not contain fluoride but you can use this along with your regular toothpaste once a day. The baking soda keeps your teeth white

Whitening strips. Whitening strips are amazing for keeping your teeth gleaming. Whitening strips are easy to apply and come with instructions and can brighten up your smile in one week. The strips can be found in local drugstores and supermarkets.

Limit the use of drinking things like coffee and tea. Both can be good for you, but not always so good on your teeth. Heavy smoking and tobacco use can also stain your teeth. Brush regularly after having more than one cup.

Visit the dentist. Regular cleanings will also help to keep your teeth clean, healthy and white. This should be done at least once a year.

And as for cosmetics, teeth whitening using a machine with ultraviolet light and a special gel can brighten you smile in one hour. The results are instant and this can be done every 1 to 2 months.

Amandla Stenberg Comes Out as Bisexual

Outspoken teen actress Amandla Stenberg, famous for her breakout role in the Hunger Games as 'Rue' came out as bisexual on a Teen Vogue snapchat. The 17-year-old said in a series of snaps:

It's a really, really hard thing to be silenced. And it's deeply bruising to fight against your identity and to mold yourself into shapes that you just shouldn't be in," Stenberg said "as someone who identifies as a black, bisexual woman, I've been through it, and its hurts. It's awkward and it's uncomfortable. But then I realized because of Solange [Knowles], and Ava DuVernay, and Willow [smith], and all the black girls watching this right now, that there's absolutely nothing to change." "We cannot be suppressed," the actress continued. "We are meant to express our joy, and our love, and our tears, and be big and bold and definitely not easy to swallow."

El Chapo Captured

El Chapo, a gangster's gangster, has been captured. The notorious Mexican drug kingpin, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, is in the pen!

El Chapo met with actor Sean Penn via a hook-up by actress Kate del Castillo. Can you believe El Chapo was trying to shoot a film- got to give it to El Chapo, this was a real gangster move. Guzman thought his story was worthy of Hollywood. Unfortunately for Guzman aka El Chapo, this was how the Mexican authorities were able to track him down to a house in an upscale neighborhood in a coastal city according to Mexico Attorney General Arely Gomez.

In closing this segment, Onika McLean said, "Sean Penn, I know you came after Lee Daniels, but you better probably watch your back now, because now El Chapo, you gonna be on the chopping block!"

CARIBBEAN COOK-UP:

Trinidadian Soca Artist Fay Ann Lyons Fights for Power Soca

Carnival season is quickly coming upon us! Trinidad's carnival is only 2 weeks and 5 days (but who's counting??) And masqueraders everywhere can't wait to jump and wave their way down the road and across the stage...but some are wondering where is the power Soca they're supposed to be wining to? Because this year's power Soca songs haven't been strong. Fay Ann Lyons, famous Trinidadian Soca artist and 3-time winner of the carnival road march title (the only woman to have ever done so) called out those people who said that basically power Soca was on its way out. Elaborating on her comments in an interview with looptt, Lyons said:

"my next point was that Iwer and Superblue are known for singing power Soca and you telling them that dead and don't bring no power and you telling younger artistes don't do power cause we are not playing it so you already blocking people cause you are telling them there is no market for it. I turned to the crowd and said fight for your artistes, fight for your music and your culture. After I said what I said, I said anybody who disagree(s) that you should not support the art form could kiss my black ass."

FAY ANN is making a great point because at the end of the day, groovy Soca is great it's nice music to groove to: slow wine and chip, but if you're about to cross that stage and get wassy (Trini slang for turn up and get wild) you want a power Soca song to get you there! And if you want to promote cultural unity, you need all the types of Soca music--you can't put down one and uplift the other.

REALITY TV RECAP

RHOA Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker Name Son Ace Wells Tucker

There is lots of baby news going around. Real Housewives of Atlanta stars Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker recently welcomed a baby boy named Ace Wells Tucker. She made the announcement on January 7, after she gave birth the day before. Kandi and Todd were going back and forth about the name but the finally decided on a name that was unique that they both liked.

Interestingly enough, fellow RHOA cast mate, Phaedra Parks showed up at the hospital.

IN THE PIPELINE:

Upcoming Events

The Schomburg Center for research in Black Culture will Premiere the documentary, Black and Cuba on January 26. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.com.

PEPSI has confirmed to the Associated Press, that Beyoncé will perform on the Super Bowl half-time show at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Last month, Coldplay announced it would perform at the halftime show. Beyoncé and Coldplay collaborated on the band's new album, A Head Full of Dreams.

R&B LEGEND, Mavis Staples, will release a new album on February 19th entitled, LIVIN ON A HIGH NOTE.

The upcoming Stellar Awards, featuring the best in Gospel Music will take place on February 19th In Las Vegas.

You heard of Patti Pies...now get ready for Patti Cakes. Patti LaBelle will again partner with Walmart for three new additions to her dessert line. In addition to the sweet potato pie, Walmart will add a premium vanilla pound cake and a premium caramel cake.

Rapper Rick Ross and Lira Mercer engagement is on again; Spike Lee puts Hollywood on blast; Patti Pies flying off the shelves

In this episode of What's The 411, the panel of Kizzy Cox, Onika McLean, and Courtney Rashon are talking about Rick Ross; Spike Lee; Lee Daniels; French President Francois Hollande's response to the attack on Paris; and Real Housewives of Atlanta's cast member, Cynthia Bailey.

What's Poppin'

Entertainment and Lifestyle mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, while promoting his upcoming album at Hot 97 in New York, told the audience that President Obama should unapologetically spend billions on black people. We helped him get elected and like other constituencies we should be rewarded and so far the president hasn't done enough. Puff Daddy made sure it was known that he wasn't "going after Obama" but that he believed the President should give "nice parting gifts" to Black people before he leaves the White House.

A follow-on story regarding President Obama is, "It's raining Men!!!" Obama, Obama, Obama! President Obama is giving a huge Christmas gift to over 6,000 families. He has signed an executive order that will free nonviolent inmates that have been sentenced under harsh drugs laws imposed after America lost its war on drugs in the late 80s and 90s. In a letter written to one inmate, President Obama said "you have shown that you deserve a second chance, what you do with this chance is up to you.

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Film and TV producer, Lee Daniels, may be close to a legal settlement. The "Empire" TV series co-creator and filmmaker may have come to terms with actor Sean Penn's lawyers regarding his statement about actor Terrence Howard's alleged spousal abuse by bringing up Sean Penn's name in a manner that implied that Penn abused women.

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R&B legend Patti LaBelle's sweet potato pies have been sold exclusively at Walmart for weeks but this past weekend they were flying off the shelves after a video from Patti LaBelle fan James Wright Chanel went mega-viral!

The video snagged nearly 7 million online views because of its funny and raucous review of the pie.

After just one bite Chanel, who is also a singer, began singing a Patti song and said, "I turned into Patti after eating this" and he continued eating and singing Patti songs in-between bites of pie.

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Rapper Rick Ross and exotic dancer Lira "Galore" Mercer are back together. The engagement is on again and the happy couple posted a pic on Instagram where Lira stated that they were going through a rough patch in their relationship, but it's now all good! Lira is sporting her engagement ring again. If you recall Rick Ross called it quits because pictures surfaced on social media showing Lira sitting naked on a well-known rapper's lap during her days as an exotic dancer. Will they get to the altar?

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Filmmaker Spike Lee has once again put Hollywood on blast.

"Everybody in here probably voted for Obama but when I go to offices, I see no black folks except for the brother man at the security who checks my name off the list as I go into the studio," the director said while receiving an honorary Oscar at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' seventh annual Governors Awards. "So we can talk 'yabba yabba yabba' but we need to have some serious discussion about diversity and get some flavor up in this. This industry is so behind sports it's ridiculous.

"It's easier to be the president of the United States as a black person than be the head of a studio," he continued. "Honestly, it's easier to be president of the United States than the head of a studio or head of network".

Lee urged Hollywood executives to take a closer look at the people around them.

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Rapper Benzino and his wife, Althea Heart, are having trouble in paradise. According to Hello Beautiful, Althea insisted that Benzino stay away from her and the baby while at the hospital. She even made Benzino sign the birth certificate in the room next door. And, she also ordered her mother out of the room! Whoa!

Could Althea's behavior be a symptom of post-partum depression?

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FAB411: Caring for Curly & Coily Hair - by Courtney Rashon

Curly and coily hair can get wild, tangled, dry, and unruly at times. Here are 7 products that will help you maintain and manage your curls and keep them looking good and poppin' all day:

1. Miss Jessie's curly meringue
2. Kinky-Curly Original Curling Custard
3. WonderCurl Get Set Jelly
4. Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie for thick curly hair
5. Curl Junkie Curls in a bottle hair styling solution
6. Matrix Biolage Curl Defining Elixer
7. Spiral Solutions Curl Enhancing Jelly

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ON THE CARPET: MAINSTREAM MEDIA - by Kizzy Cox

I, like many people around the world was appalled and saddened by the senseless terrorist attacks that injured hundreds and killed 129 people in Paris. ISIS like Al Qaeda before is a terrible scourge and threatens freedom in many parts of the world. In light of that, I thought the wall-to-wall coverage the attacks received was appropriate and warranted. BUT, it bothers me that the same attention is not brought to terrorist acts that happen when the victims are black and brown and are in locations outside of the Western world. When terrorists killed a few dozen people in Paris who worked at Charlie Ebdo earlier this year, it also received extensive coverage, as it should have. However, what about the Kenyan massacre where Al Shabob killed 147 students at a Kenyan University back in April. Where was the extensive coverage? Kenyans are also our allies against terrorism. There is no ongoing Civil War in Kenya, which would make these types of attacks commonplace. The casualties in Kenya were also innocent victims--young college students. And yet, little coverage was given.

Racism works very subtly; so subtly sometimes we don't see it happening, but racism isn't just about what we see it's also about what we don't see. Thousands upon thousands have also been killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Syria is being torn apart by war but those victims are brown and a world away. True we can't always control what images get shown to us or what the media chooses to cover but in the age of social media WE ALL HAVE THE POWER to drive narratives, when we do the media will have no choice but to follow.

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Reality TV Recap

The Real Housewives of Potomac, Maryland

The Real Housewives franchise has added two more cities. The Real Housewives of Dallas and The Real Housewives of Potomac, Maryland; is airing on Bravo in January 2016. The Housewives of Potomac will feature wealthy African American women who reside in a sophisticated community. It will also include Courtney Rashon's friend, Charisse-Jackson Jordan, who is the socialite wife of former NBA coach Eddie Jordan, who is now the basketball coach at Rutgers University.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta

The What's The 411 panel is sick of Peter's treatment of his wife Cynthia Bailey. They believe that it is time for Cynthia Bailey to kick Peter to the curb. Do you agree?

Untying The Knot

What in the hell is a "Hall Pass"?!, asks Onika McLean.

I know you guys remember Tiny and Toya - well just in case you don't, Toya Wright is the mother of Lil' Wayne's oldest daughter. Toya and her estranged husband, Mickey "Memphitz" Wright are joining the reality TV show, Untying The Knot. When the couple sat down to discuss the particulars of their relationship, the mediation lawyer asked Mickey, "do you cheat on your wife?" Mickey responded, "No - not without "a Hall Pass".

Can you imagine, Toya gives her husband a hall pass 8 times a year where he can be with other women no questions asked?

Would you give your husband or wife a hall pass?

Plus, Shonda Rhimes gets a larger slice of Hollywood; Apollo Theater breaks new ground; Sean Penn is feuding with Lee Daniels; Diddy still reigns supreme and more

The panel of What's The 411 host Kizzy Cox and correspondents Courtney Rashon and Onika McLean are talking about:

 Prayers for rapper Fetty Wap, who was severely injured in a motor vehicle accident

The White House state dinner for the President of China

The Apollo Theater for the first time inducts non-musicians into its Walk of Fame; they are Richard Pryor; Jackie "Moms" Mabley; and Redd Foxx

Actor Sean Penn's feud with filmmaker Lee Daniels

Showrunner Shonda Rhimes is getting a larger slice of Hollywood

According to Forbes, Diddy still reigns supreme as hip-hop's cash king

Singer/actress Zendaya Coleman gets her own Barbie Doll that encourages girls to raise their voice

Actress Halle Berry has great comeback for critics

Businesswoman and former model, Tyra Banks, surprised teen fashion designer Kyemah McEntyre, who is a student at Parson's School of Design, when she wore one of Kyemah's designs on her FabLife television show.

First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama,  gets animated for Disney's Doc McStuffins

and more.

In Caribbean Cook-up, Kizzy Cox, reports that the U.S. track team would not drink Gatorade with track star Usain Bolt's picture on it.

Rapper Rich Homie Quan gets called On The Carpet for smoking what appears to be marijuana in the presence of his young son.

Rihanna Stuns the Met Gala Crowd; Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, and Jennifer Lopez Set off the Battle of the Booties on 2015 Met Gala Red Carpet

The MET GALA 2015 was a night filled with everyone's favorite celebrities wearing couture. Celeb such as Jay Z and Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, Rihanna, Justin Beiber and Jennifer Lopez all attended and were looking fabulous.

The look of the evening for women seemed to be, jeweled garments, sheer, cut out gowns showing lots of skin, while the guys kept it sleek and traditional by wearing tuxedos.

The showstopper of the evening was Rihanna wearing a canary yellow elaborate gown with major detailing created by Chinese designer Guo Pe. The dress took two years to make.

It was the "battle of the booties" for Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and Beyonce. All celebrities looked amazing in sheer, see-through and cut out gowns. Beyonce wore a sheer flesh tone colored jeweled Givenchy gown, Kim was wearing a white sheer and lace Roberto Cavalli and Jennifer Lopez aka J-Lo wore a wine colored sheer cut-out Versace gown.

Beyonce; Kim Kardashian West; and Jennifer Lopez on the red carpet showing off lots of skin at the 2015 Met Gala

Actress Taraji P. Henson was also in attendance wearing a gorgeous gown by designer Alexander Wang.

Actress Taraji P. Henson

Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union were also spotted looking fabulous. It was reported that Wade's two Versace ensembles' for the night costs a whopping 900,000 dollars. His beautiful wife was dressed in a wine colored draped Zac Posen gown.

Miami Heat guard, Dwayne Wade and his wife actress Gabriel Union

The men who were flying solo that evening were also looking sharp.

Justin Beiber sported a flashy Balmain jacket adorned with gold, film and television director Lee Daniels was dressed in a Burberry tux, while rapper/actor Common wore a tux by Prada. All of these guys looked handsome.

Not to mention Jay Z and Kanye West who wore tuxes by Tom Ford and Roberto Cavalli respectively.

Derek Jeter and girlfriend, Sports Illustrated cover model Hannah Davis were also spotted at the gala. Hannah was wearing a red sheer one shoulder fitted J. Mendel gown and Jeter wore a Rag and Bone tux.

Former New York Yankees short stop, Derek Jeter and girlfriend, Sports Illustrated model, Hannah Davis

More News: Chicago Reparations; P. Diddy's New Fragrance; The Booties Rock the 2015 Met Gala Red Carpet and more!

Watch the video of What's The 411 Episode 51:
Featuring What's The 411 host Glenn Gilliam and special guest host, Courtney Rashon, President, Courtney Rashon Industries

Quick Takes:

THE UNITED NATIONS recently unveiled a memorial dedicated in memory to those who were killed and sacrificed in the transatlantic slave trade and its atrocities. The memorial is entitled The Ark Of Return.

At the recent unveiling ceremonies, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called slavery "a stain on human history." The U.N. has declared 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent. The memorial, designed by Haitian-American architect Rodney Leon, is at U.N. Headquarters in Manhattan.

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Singer Bobby Brown has been awarded a small victory. A judge has appointed Brown, along with his former sister-in-law Pat Houston, co-guardians of Bobbi Kristina Brown.

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Shonda Rhimes' shows: Grey's Anatomy; Scandal; and How to Get Away With Murder have been renewed by ABC.

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Everyone's still talking about the May-Pac fight that wasn't. But an equal number of people, on social media, are talking about how Jamie Foxx 'fizzled' doing the National Anthem, Foxx later told Ellen Degeneres, that his earpiece came out.

"My inner ears were out and I'm singing with an organ, so I can't hear what the organ is doing with the big crowd. So some of it was a little off."
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Walking Dead star, Seth Gilliam was arrested in Atlanta and charged with DUI, reckless driving, drug possession and speeding. He has since been released.
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A touching tribute took place at the recent Sports Emmys. TNT host Ernie Johnson won the Sports Emmy for Best Studio Host. But Johnson turned to the audience and said "there is only one place it belongs and that is on the mantle of Stuart Scott's house." Johnson then asked that Scott's daughters come up, where he presented them with the Emmy.
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The Gap Band has won songwriting credit and a share of the royalties for the Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars hit Uptown Funk. The group consists of Charlie, Robert, and Ronnie Wilson.

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BET.com is reporting that The Carters may be purchasing a new home....in New Orleans! And, to top things off, it used to be a Presbyterian church.

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Vibe and essence.com are reporting Beyoncé has offered 3 teenage girls a chance of a lifetime. Sisters Chloe and Halle Bailey, 17 and 19 years-old respectively, and Sophie Beem have been scouted by Queen Bey's Parkwood Entertainment and been offered multi-year contracts.

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In memoriam, we remember:
• Errol Brown, the lead singer of the band Hot Chocolate, has died at age 71 from liver cancer. The singer was best known for the hits You Sexy Thing and It Started with a Kiss.

• Guy Carawan, a white folk singer who stood up before a group of black students in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1960, and sang a little known folk song. That song was We Shall Overcome. The song became the anthem of the civil rights movement. Carawan, whom the New York Times called the Marseillaise of the integration movement, has died at age 87.
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What's Poppin'!!!

Sean "Diddy" Combs and his singer/model girlfriend, Cassie, are heating up the internet due to the release of Diddy's new fragrance called 3. a.m.; the commercial features the couple engaging in simulated sexual acts and nudity. Diddy defended the ad by saying:

"The concept, for the video, represents one of the things that 3 a.m. is for me. It's a very one-on-one time. It's a time to have fun and push the envelope a little bit. It's definitely an hour where you would find yourself with a young lady. Anything can happen at 3 a.m., and in the video, you see a fantasy that's in my head of what happened that night."

According to hollywoodlife.com, Macy's has rejected the fragrance ad.
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The 2015 Met Gala brought out a who's who of A-Listers to the red carpet. Raven Symone led the pack on throwing shade when she said on The View that, Beyonce, J. Lo; and Kim Kardashian should "put some pants on." Additionally, a meme has been circulating on social media asking people to pick out the porn stars by comparing the celebs at the Met Gala to porn stars attending an Adult Video Awards.

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THE 2015 MET GALA was a night filled with everyone's favorite celebrities wearing couture. Celebrities such as JAY-Z, BEYONCÉ, KIM KARDASHIAN, KANYE WEST, RIHANNA, JUSTIN BIEBER, and JENNIFER LOPEZ all attended and were looking fabulous or not!.

• The showstopper of the evening was Rihanna wearing a canary yellow elaborate gown with major detailing created by Chinese designer Guo Pe. The dress took two years to make.

• It was the "Battle of the Booties" For Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, and Beyoncé. All celebrities looked amazing in sheer, see-through and cut out gowns. Beyoncé wore a sheer flesh tone colored jeweled Givenchy gown, Kim was wearing a white sheer and lace ROBERTO CAVALLI gown with an elongated train and J-Lo wore a wine colored sheer cut out VERSACE gown.

• TARAJI P. HENSON was also in attendance wearing a gorgeous black and white strapless gown by ALEXANDER WANG.

• DWYANE WADE and GABRIELLE UNION looked fabulous. It was reported that WADE'S two VERSACE ensembles' for the night costs a whopping 900,000 dollars. His beautiful wife wore a wine colored draped ZAC POSEN gown.

The men who were flying solo that evening were also looking sharp.

• JUSTIN BIEBER was wearing flashy Balmain jacket adorned with gold, LEE DANIELS was dressed in a BURBERRY tux and COMMON wore a tux by PRADA. All of these guys looked handsome.

• Not to mention Jay Z who wore a black Tom Ford tux

• Kayne West wore Roberto Cavalli

• Derek Jeter and girlfriend, Sports Illustrated cover model, Hannah Davis, were spotted at the gala. Hannah was dressed in a red sheer one shoulder fitted J. Mendel gown and Jeter wore a Rag and Bone tux.

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Under The Radar:

MARLENE PINNOCK, A 51 year-old great grandmother, recently spoke out about the horrors of her beating by a California Highway patrol officer. Pinnock received a one million dollar settlement.

QUESTION: Is a monetary settlement enough?

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History has been made in Chicago. The CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL has passed reparations legislation for the victims abused by former police commander Jon Burge. Burge gained notoriety for torturing over 100 prisoners (majority being black men) from 1971 to 1992, in order to gain confessions. The council approved a settlement of over $5.5 million dollars which will be divided up between them. The deal also requires that Chicago teens learn about police brutality in school.

QUESTION: What about the officers involved, what punishment do they receive?

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WOMEN'S WEAR DAILY (WWD) called out JAY Z on his appearance at 2015 MET GALA. WWD essentially said that JAY Z needs to lose weight, that his suit did not fit well and perhaps JAY Z needs to see his wife's dermatologist to get cosmetic surgery or some fillers because the lines on his face are getting too deep.

QUESTION: Why is WWD going in hard on Jay Z? What's behind this shade?

On The Carpet

The Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, Frank Johnson, because he did not know that Samaria Rice, the mother of Tamir Rice, the 12 year-old boy who was shot by a Cleveland police officer was living in a homeless shelter. Ms. Rice gave up her apartment and moved into a homeless shelter because she could not bear to look at the park where her son was murdered.

Question: Should the Mayor of Cleveland have assigned someone in his office to oversee Ms. Rice's well-being?

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BROADCAST AND CABLE NETWORKS are being called on the carpet because of the monopoly of white men on SUNDAY NEWS SHOWS and EVENING NEWSCASTS.

Question: Should the broadcast and cable networks have more diversity on their Sunday public affairs shows and evening newscasts?

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In the Pipeline

Director Ava Duvernay's African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM) recently launched its second annual membership drive. The drive, designed to financially assist Black women and Latinas filmmakers with distribution of their films, will run from May 4 through June 5.

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Parker Sawyer and Tika Sumpter are set to play Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson in an upcoming romantic drama SOUTHSIDE WITH YOU. The film centers on the then future first couple's first date and is currently in production.