Samuel Sarpong Jr., Former MTV Co-host, Dies at 40

Another star lost to suicide. 

Samuel Sarpong Jr. who co-hosted MTV's hit show Yo Momma, died on Monday, October 26 after jumping off a bridge in Pasadena, California. His family and police officers spent seven hours trying to talk him down with no such luck.

Sarpong's rep gave a statement to The Hollywood Reporter on the tragedy.

"It is with great sadness that the family of Samuel Sarpong, Jr. must share the news that Sam has passed away. The circumstances surrounding his death are currently under investigation and no additional details are known at this time. Information about final arrangements will be forthcoming. The family appreciates the thoughts, prayers and other expressions of sympathy, and request their privacy be respected at this extremely difficult time."

Police officers arrived to the scene after a witness reported seeing a man standing on the outside of the railing of the Colorado Street Bridge. He was declared dead at 3:52 p.m. by Pasadena Fire Paramedics.

Born in London, he moved to the U.S. as a child with his father. Sarpong was talented. Not only did he entertain viewers on Yo Momma, he was also the face for Tommy Hilfiger for several years. Other top designers he modeled for were Versace and Dolce & Gabana.

He also did some acting, featuring on films such as Love Don't Cost A Thing and Carmen: A Hip Hop Opera and shows like 24. We will get to see him act again next year in a small role on FX's upcoming series American Crime Story, 

Sarpong leaves behind his father, Samuel Sarpong Sr., and his sister, June Sarpong.

CNN

Daily Mail

The Hollywood Reporter

Serena Williams Loses Grand Slam Bid After Losing to Roberta Vinci in US Open

It's a sad day in tennis.

Serena Williams lost to Roberta Vinci at the US Open semifinals on Friday, September 11. This was Vinci's first Grand Slam semifinal and she won against Williams 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Williams came close to Steffi Graf who was the last person to win all four major single titles in the same year in 1988 at the age of 19.

Williams won the first three major titles this year and will not be competing in the calendar slam. Outstanding as it is, she is only the second player to do this. The first player was Martina Navratilova when she lost to Helena Sukova at the Australia Open in 1984.

However, fans don't blame the tennis champion for the loss. They took to Twitter to point fingers at her rumored love interest rapper Drake. Some said that the "Charged Up" rapper had jinxed her and was her bad luck charm. One Twitter user took it a step further by calling him "the Jessica Simpson to Serena's Tony Romo."

Since Flavia Pennetta defeated Simona Halep earlier in the day, the Grand Slam will have it's first all-Italian women final in history.

Although she won't be in the calendar Grand Slam this year, the 33 year-old tennis player should still be proud. Williams won 33 matches straight in the Grand Slam. According to ESPN, that was the third-longest streak by any woman in the Open era.


ESPN

New York Times

Us Weekly

Jessica Alba's Honest Company Hit with $5 Million Lawsuit for Alleged False Labeling

Well someone wants to put the prefix "dis" in front of Jessica Alba's company Honest.

A customer is suing the company for $5 million for marketing its items as all "natural." The plaintiff, Jonathan D. Rubin,  has alleged that products, such as diapers, hand soaps. dish soaps and the multi-surface cleaner, are being labeled as having only natural ingredients, but really contain synthetic materials.

The sixth bulletin in the court document says, "Honest's conduct harms consumers by inducing them to purchase and consume the products on false premise that they are natural and effective, when in fact four of the five products contain ingredients that are not natural, and one of the five products is ineffective."

 The ineffective product that the document is referring to is Honest's Sunscreen Lotion. This summer, customers shared photos on social media of sunburns they received, claiming the sunscreen lotion didn't work. The company defended itself in a statement to Us Weekly, giving test results that said the product "is effective and safe for use as an 80 minute water-resistant SPF 30 sunscreen lotion."

In response to the lawsuit, Alba said that, "The allegations against us are baseless and without merit. We strongly stand behind our products and the responsibility we have to our consumers."

Alba, 34, started the company because she had trouble finding products with natural ingredients to use for her first daughter, Honor. "I started The Honest Company to develop safe and effective products not just for my children, but for families everywhere."

According to CNN Money, the lawsuit was filed in court this week in California. Rubin's attorney, Nicholas Carlsin, said that he would ask a judge to certify the suit as a class action, meaning another other customers can participate in the suit as well.


CNN Money

Us Weekly

E!

Janet Jackson is Back With New Song "No Sleeep"

No sleeep, with an extra ''e' required.

Janet Jackson has returned with a new single called "No Sleeep." The singer shared the sultry song via Twitter on Monday, June 22, which she dedicated to her "love," husband Wissam Al Mana.  She tweeted a few hours later saying, "Hey guys, I hope u enjoy this as much as we enjoyed creating it for u." This is the first full-length song released from her new album, which has yet to be titled.

This is her first song in seven years since her last studio album Discipline released in 2008. The laid-back single was produced by collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Jam and Lewis produced all, but one track on Jackson's 1989 Rhythm Nation album.

Click on the video below to listen to the song.

The legendary singer will be going on tour this fall starting on Monday, August 31 in Vancouver, BC. There have been 36 dates announced so far, but more to come at a later date.


Rollingstone

Entertainment Weekly

Us Weekly

Raven-Symone Becomes New Co-host on The View

Temporary positions can become permanent jobs if you 'view' it that way.

Actress Raven-Symone is officially a co-host on ABC's The View. After being a guest co-host a total of 37 times, it seems that she has earned a permanent spot on the show.

The good news was announced on the show Wednesday, June 10 by moderator Whoopi Goldberg. She joins Goldberg, Nicole Wallace and Rosie Perez on the show.

Symone, 29, is very happy and feels that her new position will be a 'wonderful growing experience' for her. "The cast and crew are warm and welcoming and have made the transition into daytime talk easier. I have a lot to learn within this new arena, but being the apprentice of these spectacular women will only make me a better person and talk show host."

She is best known for her roles as Olivia on the The Cosby Show, The Cheetah Girls, and Raven Baxter on That's So Raven. In her long career as an actress, she has appeared and acted in over twenty movies and television shows and has also voiced over a few animated films and shows.

"The Disney Company has made another one of my dreams come true!"


ABC

Us Weekly

People

Ariana Grande: "Having Something To Say Is Not the Same as Having a Bad Attitude"

Ariana Grande doesn't belong to anyone, but Ariana Grande.

The 21 year-old songstress posted an essay via Twitter yesterday talking about her career, double standards, and her ex beau Big Sean. The essay starts off with "being 'empowered'... is not the same as being a 'bitch'..."

The singer doesn't want to be referred to as 'Big Sean's ex.' "I am tired of living in a world where women are mostly referred to as a man's past, present or future PROPERTY/POSSESSION. I... do not. belong. to anyone. but myself. and neither do you."

Since her break up with Big Sean in April, she has been having a good time on tour, working her "ass off every single day", and getting the chance to meet and hug her fans.

She's also content with being single. "I have never felt more present, grounded, and satisfied."

When it comes to double standards and misogyny, she said that she "can't wait to live in a world where people are not valued by who they're dating/ married to/ attached to/ having sex with (or not)/ seen with... but by they're value as an individual."

She ended the essay with a quote by Gloria Steinem.

"Any woman who chooses to behave like a full human being should be warned that armies of the status quo will treat her as something of a dirty joke... She will need her sisterhood."


Us Weekly

TMZ

Iggy Azalea and Nick Young are Engaged

First thing's first, she got a ring!

Rapper Iggy Azalea is engaged to beau Nick Young. The NBA star proposed to Iggy at his 30th birthday party last night. The beautiful moment was captured on video by Karen Civil who shared on Twitter and Instagram.

The couple started dating in late 2013 and have a home together in Tarzana in Los Angeles, California.

Some stars have popped the question on their significant other's birthday (Kim and Kanye, Ciara and Future), but this is the first I've seen where a guy proposes to his girl on his own birthday.


Us Weekly

TMZ

Los Angeles Times