President Obama Signs Violence Against Women Act

AtlantaBlackStar – The Violence Against Women Act that President Obama proudly signed today contains significant new protections for women, and expands to include gays and lesbians and immigrants. The expanded protections caused Republicans to fight against the act over the last year and a half.
But in the current political climate, with a popular president winning the last election partly due to greater support among women, Republicans dropped their opposition.
“This is your day. This is the day of the advocates, the day of the survivors. This is your victory,” Obama said. “This victory shows that when the American people make their voices heard, Washington listens.”
The new law authorizes the expenditure of $659 million a year over five years for programs that strengthen the criminal justice system’s response to crimes against women and some men, transitional housing, legal assistance, law enforcement training and hotlines.
The law also focuses on ways to reduce sexual assault on college campuses and reauthorizes the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. In addition, it adds stalking to the list of crimes that make immigrants eligible for protection, and authorizes programs to reduce the backlog in rape investigations.
Data released today by the Justice Department showed that the rate of sexual violence against women and girls age 12 or older fell 64 percent in a decade and has remained stable for five years, indicating that added focus on violence against women is having an effect. In 2010, women and girls nationwide experienced about 270,000 rapes or sexual assaults, compared with 556,000 in 1995.
But as violent crimes overall have declined, rapes and sexual assault rates involving women have plateaued.
The president pointed out that 1 in 5 women will be raped during their lifetime, showing the continued need for action nearly two decades after the bill’s original passage in 1994.
“It didn’t just change the rules, it changed our culture. It empowered people to start speaking out,” Obama said.
Because the act had twice been renewed with little resistance, many were surprised in 2011 when lawmakers let it expire. But during an election year, there were partisan disagreements about expanded protections for gays and lesbians, Native Americans and illegal immigrants.
But in February, House Republicans finally allowed a vote, with the bill passing 286-138. It was the third time in two months that House Speaker John Boehner let a Democratic-supported bill reach the floor despite opposition from the majority of his own party.
“When I see how quickly it got done, I’m feeling – it makes me feel optimistic,” Obama said sarcastically, as he signed the bill.

Kim Kardashian Ordered to Slow Down After Miscarriage Scare

Kim Kardashian is reportedly on doctor-ordered rest in L.A. after a miscarriage scare while traveling this week.
The trouble began when the pregnant reality star flew back to L.A. from Paris, where she was attending the Givenchy runway show with boyfriend Kanye West during Paris Fashion Week.  According to the New York Post, the star experienced stomach pains and rushed to a doctor fearing the worse when she landed.
Kardashian, 32, is four to five months along, making a miscarriage not likely, but also not impossible. However, it turned out Kim was fine, just in need of some rest–and a few less international flights.
Sister Khloe, 28, (who also traveled to Paris with Kim) took to her blog to reassure everyone Kim and baby were OK. Khloe writes: “A lot of you have expressed concern in the recent hours about Kim, and I just wanted to let you all know that mommy and baby are doing fine and just taking it easy right now. “Thank you so much to all of our wonderful fans and loved ones for your concern and support. We love you!”
The doctor’s call for rest signals what many have believed for months, that the reality star is living a life far too hectic for a pregnant woman. Kim has been photographed in multiple European countries, as well as her typical back and forth between New York and L.A.  Source close to the star claim she has not slowed down her appearance schedule at all, working up to 7 days a week.
Kim is also reportedly upset over her weight gain, to the point of working with two different trainers, including powerhouse Tracy Anderson. “Kim hates the fact that she’s so big already and that her figure has bloomed so early on in pregnancy,” a source spilled to Heat Magazine. “She’s still squeezing herself into outfits that are two sizes too small. She wasn’t expecting to have put on weight at this stage, especially as other stars have kept their tiny figures right up to when they give birth.”
There is also the matter of her divorce from ex Kris Humphries, who won’t settle easily and is insisting they go to trial. Meaning, there is a possibility Kim will give birth to Kanye’s baby while still married to Humphries.  Clearly Kardashian has a high enough stress level at home.
Looks like it’s time for momager Kris Jenner to clear Kim’s schedule. Luckily she has five more children to keep the Kardashian brand afloat until Kim has the baby.

Vivienne Westwood Disgusted with Michelle Obama’s Fashion Sense

Michelle Obama has been regarded as one of the most fashionable first ladies by many magazines, blogs, and tabloids today; but Vivienne Westwood is certainly no fan of Michelle Obama’s wardrobe.
It seems like Westwood is out to get any lady who is being regarded as a breakout fashionista because she just bashed Kate Middleton for her wardrobe last month.
Well now the 71-year-old fashion designer is making it known that she is so disgusting with the First Lady’s style that she can barely even get herself to talk about it.
“Don’t talk about her,” she sniped during an interview with the New York Times. “It’s dreadful what she wears.”
Even when Eric Wilson tried to urge some more details out of Westwood, she still claimed to be so appalled by the First Lady’s fashion that it was hard to even discuss it.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said. “Really, I can’t. She’s a very nice looking lady, but it’s a nonstarter regarding clothes that suit her.”
What she did bring up, however, was that Mrs. Obama certainly hasn’t been able to live up to the fashionable Mrs. Kennedy.
“Jackie Kennedy was a different matter altogether,” she continued. “It just has to suit her and be something that makes a human being more glamorous. That’s what fashion is there for. It’s there to help, not just to make you look more conservative.”
Of course, it seems like Michelle Obama just can’t win when it comes to fashion because no matter what move she makes critics have something to say about it.
The same way she has been slammed for not being fashionable enough, she was also criticized for caring too much about her fashion.
The FLOTUS wanted to make sure she looked perfect for the Inaugural Ball so she had several fashion designers submit proposals for what she should wear.
“Mrs. Obama isn’t an indulged starlet primping for the Oscars, nor should she behave like one,” the executive editor of Women’s Wear Daily, Bridget Foley, wrote. “Women everywhere have big events for which they select a single dress in advance for the moment.”
We must argue that if every woman had the ability to consult dozens of fashion designers about what they should wear ahead of the event, most of them would certainly follow in the First Lady’s footsteps. Not to mention the fact that every media outlet would have torn into Mrs. Obama’s style if she would have made a single fashion mistake so why not make sure that doesn’t happen?
Either way, it’s not just her clothes that are receiving negative feedback – but this time we aren’t so surprised to hear about who else doesn’t like the First Lady’s bangs.
Donald Trump sat down with Wendy Williams and admitted that he was no fan of the Firs Lady’s new look.
When Williams asked Trump how he felt about Obama’s bangs he answered, “I like her hair better the other way… you want be to be honest?”
Wendy immediately answered by saying, “Yes! I want you to be honest.”
The Trump furthered his explanation by saying he finds the First Lady to be a beautiful woman, but he just simply prefers the other hair style.
After Wendy admitted that she is a fan of the bangs because they make Michelle “look softer” the Trump actually had a kind rebuttal.
“Well, she’d look great both ways,” he said.
Even if you’re not a fan of Donald you have to admit, he is never one to bite his tongue and we do respect him admitting that he isn’t a fan of the new hairstyle while most celebs would have probably lied just to make sure they didn’t get on anyone’s bad side.
I mean hey, we always respect Wendy Williams for saying it like it is so you have to give Trump the same respect – until he gets into those crazy irrational Twitter rants.
All in all, it seems like the only thing that has the country more divided than what we should do about the economy is whether or not Michelle Obama is a fashion icon or a fashion flop.

Justin Bieber Makes Late Return to London Stage After Fainting

Bieber in concert. (Getty Images)There was no TGIF for Justin Bieber.

Friday began with a screaming match with a paparazzo outside his London hotel – during which his security guard had to physically restrain him as he yelled, “I’ll f**king beat the f**k out of you!” – and ended with his final concert at the O2 Arena … for which he was once again, late.
But luckily for his young fans, this time Bieber was only fashionably so.
Although the “Beauty and a Beat” singer was scheduled to hit the stage at 9 p.m., by six minutes after the hour, BBC 1 Radio disc jockey Scott Mills, who attended the concert, tweeted, “He's late. Again.” A few minutes later, he sent another update. “Come on bieber. We are on a countdown. 8 mins now. Snore.”
[Related: Justin Bieber's All Better, Attacks Paparazzi]
Eventually, the pop star made it to the stage, and according to Mills, it was worth the (brief) wait. “Did an awesome show,” he tweeted nearly two hours later. “Whatever you think of him, he is a very good Popstar.”

Come on bieber. We are on a countdown. 8 mins now. Snore
— Scott Mills (@scott_mills) March 8, 2013

Just 24 hours earlier, some had thought he might not be able to perform at all on Friday. During Thursday’s concert, he had to halt the show for 20 minutes after he suffered shortness of breath and fainted during his performance. After being administered oxygen backstage, Bieber continued the show, but did check into a hospital afterwards for observation. Still, he was well enough to tweet a shirtless photo of himself as he convalesced.
Bieber threatened a photographer after the singer purposely bumped him Friday. (FameFlynetUK)
On Monday night, the first of his four-concert gig at the O2 Arena, Bieber reportedly had fans waiting for nearly two hours. And when he finally did hit the stage, the 19-year-old was met with boos from the fans who were still there. According to reports, many youngsters had already fallen asleep, while others were in tears because they had to go home since it was a school night.
While Bieber may be happy to leave the U.K., things aren’t going much better for him in the States. On Tuesday, his friend Lil Twist reportedly crashed the singer’s $100,000 Fisker Karma sports car into a cement pole at a liquor store in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley … and then fled the scene.
Maybe a break is in order for the Biebs?

The Biggest Threat Against Justin Bieber’s Cars: Lil Twist

Bieber and Lil Twist. (WireImage)None of Justin Bieber’s cars are safe with Lil Twist behind the wheel.

In the first nine weeks of this year alone, the wannabe rapper has received at least two tickets for reckless driving, caused $10,000 worth of damage to a Ferrari, was the one behind the wheel of Bieber’s car during a traffic stop that led to a paparazzo’s death, and has now been involved in a hit-and-run.
On Thursday, it was reported that Lil Twist – who has also been a player in Bieber’s pot and sizzurp controversies – struck a cement pole at a liquor store in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley Tuesday evening while driving the singer’s 18^th birthday present, his $100,000 chromed-out Fisker Karma … and then just sped off.
[Related: Justin Bieber's All Better, Attacks Paparazzi]
But not before getting rid of all the evidence. According to TMZ, the 19-year-old called a friend after the wreck, who showed up in a BMW and instructed him to “Get all the pieces from the car [that fell] and put it in [the BMW],” which he did before hopping into his pal’s car and leaving the Fisker Karma behind.
Not long before the alleged hit-and-run, Lil Twist posted a photo on Instagram from behind the wheel of the luxury sports car as he drove around the San Fernando Valley, based on the signs for the 101 Freeway … so it certainly puts him near the scene of the crime that day.
[Related: Justin Bieber Faints, Taken to Hospital After London Concert]
Lil Twist, Tommy Davidson, and the Fisker Karma prior to the hit-and-run. (Instagram)
Strangely, the following day, he then posted a photo of him and comedian Tommy Davidson sitting on the hood of Bieber’s Fisker Karma … as if it was his own! Was the rapper trying to throw everyone off by showing the front end of the car still intact? There’s also a good chance that the photo is actually older, but was just posted on Wednesday, because while Davidson was in Hollywood that day for the premiere of “The Call” … he was not wearing the same clothes he was in the photo with Lil Twist.
This, of course, is not the first time this year Lil Twist or Bieber’s other hanger-on, Lil Za, have gotten into some pretty big trouble with one of the pricey cars in the 19-year-old millionaire’s fleet.
March 1
Just days before Lil Twist wrecked the Fisker Karma, he was pulled over in the same area, this time for making an unsafe lane change while speeding along the 101. Although the cop let him off the hook for the violation, he did get a ticket for having tinted windows … which we suppose is technically really Bieber’s fault.
Bieber hasn't had any better luck with his Fisker Karma ... he's been pulled over at least twice, too.
February 1-3
For three days running, Lil Za, also 19, was behind the wheel of Bieber’s white Ferrari. On February 1, the wannabe rapper was pulled over for having tinted windows, but it turned out he did not have a license, so he was handcuffed by police on Sunset Boulevard. In a video of the incident taken by TMZ, Lil Za is visibly angry as he’s being questioned by LAPD. As one officer leads the rapper to the back a squad car (he was later given a citation and released), a photographer asks, “Lil Twist, what happened?” to which Lil Za snaps, “I’m not f**king Lil Twist!”
The very next afternoon, Lil Za was back at it … despite not having a license. After dropping off a female passenger at a Downtown Los Angeles Chipotle restaurant, he made an illegal U-turn and – you guessed it – the cops pulled him over and issued a ticket. (Do you think Bieber pays for those too?)
During the early hours of February 3, Lil Za was out on the town in Beverly Hills driving Bieber’s Ferrari … this time, without incident.
Bieber's Ferrari on the night Lil Za was pulled over. (PacificCoastNews.com)
January 30
Bieber’s $200,000 Ferrari, a favorite plaything of Lil Za’s too, was sitting in a repair shop after Lil Twist did some major damage to its underside after peeling out of the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. The bill? A whopping $10,000 … which was conveniently paid for by the Four Seasons in order to maintain their “lucrative relationship” with Bieber (and his no-name friends, it seems).
January 1
Just hours into the new year, Lil Twist was pulled over along the 405 Freeway for speeding, but the simple infraction turned deadly when a photographer who thought he was trailing Bieber, was struck and killed by another motorist as he snapped photos.
When will the pop star learn to stop loaning out his pricey cars to his driving-challenged friends?

Nude Photo:Chrissy Teigen Posts Nude Photo on Instagram After Too Much Wine

Chrissy Teigen Posts Nude Photo on Instagram After Too Much Wine

Teigen in the buff. (Instagram)Well, that's one way to celebrating having 200,000 followers on Twitter.

Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Chrissy Teigen was so excited to hit the milestone number, she decided to give all of her adoring fans an eyeful as a thank-you: a nude photo of herself, which she posted on Instagram and then tweeted at 2:27 a.m. with the caption, "If this doesn't get me suspended I dunno what will."
Although Teigen, who is engaged to musician John Legend, sure looks fantastic, the photo isn't exactly sexy … she's getting a spray tan! And she's hunched over, which obscures all of the necessary places so that the 27-year-old isn't letting it all hang out.
Almost immediately, her followers made her aware of Instagram's pesky Terms of Service rule banning "nude, partially nude ... pornographic or sexually suggestive photos."
"S**t. I didn't think it was that bad but I'm on the wine," she replied 17 minutes after posting the pic. After more followers pointed out that they thought they could see her nipple, she replied, "it's a shadow … oh god I just blew it up on my computer I get what you're saying oh no."
Still, the risqué photo stayed up on her Instagram for a good 11 hours before she finally took it down.
Teigen must have been suffering from a wine-induced hangover in the morning because she was especially cranky on Twitter a few hours later. "Patty at gate 43 of the Houston airport who works for @united," she wrote, "you can go ahead and eat s**t please, thank you."
so what is wrong with??????

Chris Brown ON DRAKE

YBF

Chris Brown is not having a good week in the PR department as he's allegedly fought with his bodyguard, cursed out a valet parking attendant and hopped on stage to deliver an anti-Drake rant.  Get the deets inside...
Chris Brown just can't seem to catch a break.  To see just how nuts Chris' week has been, let's trace back his steps.  Last night, Chris hopped on stage at Emerson Theatre in Hollywood.  E! Online reports when the DJ started spinning Drake's song, "Started from the Bottom," Chris hopped on the mic and immediately told the DJ to stop playing the music. He told the crowd, "The DJ can play this s--t, but I want you all to know, F--k Drake!" and gave everyone the middle finger.  The rant "naturally" lead into a impromptu performance of "As You Were," "Turn Up the Music" and "Beautiful People."
The DJ from that night tweeted this:



But before the anti-Drake rant, TMZ reports Chris went to a charity event at PINZ bowling alley in Studio City, CA. After the event ended, Chris attempted to get his car keys from the valet but was told he needed to pay $10. Sounds reasonable right? But once Chris found out that everyone else only paid $5--according to someone in his crew-- he felt like he was taken advantage of.  So this may explain why he cursed out the valet saying,  "Gimme my f*cking keys ... f*ck ten dollars. Gimme my keys ... we gonna turn this whole spot up ... I promise you."  After the threat to "turn the spot up," someone from Chris' entourage paid the ten bucks.
And before the valet incident, there was a plane trip from Bermuda! Sources at E! say Chris had a fight with his bodyguard Big Pat on a prvate plane during a stoppver on the island for fuel.  The "fight" was so problematic that Pat reportedly flew home by himself...on JetBlue.
It sounds like Chris needs a vacation from the spotlight.  Do we feel like CERTAIN media is targeting Chris for some foolish things?  Yes.  Should he go out of his way to not give them any reason to?  Probably.
Watch a video from the parking lot rant here:
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ON THE SET: Ciara POSTS Pic From "The Game" + New "AFTER EARTH" Trailer REVEALED

YBF

Ciara taped an appearance on BET's "The Game" and recently shared a photo from the set.  See the pic inside and check out After Earth's new movie poster and second trailer....

While her latest single "Body Party" is helping generate much-needed buzz for her upcoming One Woman Army album, Ciara is honing her acting skills with an appearance on BET's hit show "The Game."  She tweeted a photo from the set with actor Hosea Chanchez saying, "Me and Malik on Set Choppin It Up, That Boy Crazy!
The premiere episode of The Game" airs on March 26 10pm ET!

And at the movies...

Last year, we showed you the first trailer for the futuristic thriller After Earth starring Will Smith and his son Jaden. Now a second trailer has been released along with the new movie poster.
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, After Earth takes place on "Earth," but more than 1000 years into the future.  Will and Jaden play Cypher and Kitai Raige, soldiers who have crash landed on the abandoned planet and must figure out a way to survive in a world that has evolved to kill humans.  Also, Zoe Kravitz is slated to appear in the film.
Watch the new trailer here:

BONUS:
The new trailer is here for Warner Bros. Pictures' The Hangover: Part III. The flick stars starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis and Justin Bartha.  And the boys are back in Vegas.  Hilarity will ensue.

Hospitalized Kelly Osbourne Speaks Out: ‘Yes, I Did Have a Seizure’

 omg!

Kelly Osbourne at the Oscars (Twitter)Kelly Osbourne is speaking out from her hospital bed, where she's recovering from the seizure she suffered on Thursday.

[Related: Kelly Osbourne Hospitalized After Collapsing on ‘Fashion Police’ Set]
Hours after collapsing on the set of E!’s “Fashion Police,” the 28-year-old took to Twitter to update her nearly 3 million followers on her medical condition.

“Thank U all 4 UR beautiful well wishes,” she wrote on Thursday night. “Yes I did have a seizure they are just trying to figure out why?”
A photo she posted showed her tattooed arm with an IV drip in it.
Kelly was filming her weekly style show in front of a studio audience in Los Angeles when she became ill and was brought by ambulance to the hospital.
A network rep released a statement to omg! on Thursday afternoon explaining that Kelly had fainted and was hospitalized, noting, "She will be staying overnight for observation as a precautionary measure.” However, there was no mention of her having a seizure – though rumors were swirling on the Internet.
Kelly posted this photo from the hospital. (Twitter)
Kelly’s mother, Sharon, hasn’t mentioned the incident on Twitter – nor has brother, Jack. However, the family has had a stressful year with regards to illness – Jack, 27, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last spring. He has since been very vocal about living with the disease, adopting the motto “adapt and overcome,” which he often tweets.

Lamar Odom Falls Asleep in Court; Taylow Swift Slams Tina Fey

Lamar Odom Falls Asleep in Court
Lamar Odom had trouble staying awake this morning in a New York courtroom. The LA Clippers player was in town to appear in court during a child custody hearing with his ex-girlfriend Liza Morales.
“Excuse me, are you OK?” a court officer asked Odom, according to The New York Post. Odom replied that he was fine, but just jetlagged.
The night before, Odom was spotted at New York restaurant with wife Khloe Kardashian, where they narrowly missed an awkward encounter with sister Kim’s ex husband Kris Humphries.
Odom and Morales are fighting over over child support, visitation rights and reality show appearances. Morales apparently is not a big fan of Keeping Up With the Kardashians and does not want her children to appear with Odom’s wife  on the show.

Taylor Swift Slams Tina Fey
In a new Vanity Fair interview, Taylor Swift is slamming Tina Fey for jokes she made at the Golden Globes.
During the awards broadcast, co-hosts Fey and BFF Amy Poehler took a harmless jab at Swift and her many men, telling her to “stay away” from actor Michael J. Fox’s 23-year-old son.
In the Vanity Fair interview, Swift, 23, responded to Fey’s Golden Globes comments by reiterating a line told to her by Katie Couric that “there’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”
Swift continued: “For a female to write about her feelings, and then be portrayed as some clingy, insane, desperate girlfriend in need of making you marry her and have kids with her, I think that’s taking something that potentially should be celebrated – a woman writing about her feelings in a confessional way – that’s taking it and turning it and twisting it into something that is frankly a little sexist.”
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Respond to Swift Slam
Amy Poehler was quick to respond to Taylor Swift’s Vanity Fair slam with a slightly cheeky response. “Aw, I feel bad if she was upset. I am a feminist and she is a young and talented girl. That being said, I do agree I am going to hell. But for other reasons. Mostly boring tax stuff, ” said Poehler to The Hollywood Reporter.
Fey thinks Swift overreacted: “If anyone was going to get mad at us, I thought it would be James Cameron,” she said to Entertainment Tonight. “I did not see that one coming. It was a joke, it was a lighthearted joke.”

Justin Bieber Faints, Taken to Hospital After London Concert

Justin Bieber gave fans a good scare on Thursday night.
The "Boyfriend" singer was taken to the hospital following his concert at London's O2 Arena. Bieber, 19, was reportedly experiencing breathing issues on stage.
A rep for the pop star told omg! that the singer "fainted and took a twenty minute reprieve and was given oxygen," and headed to the doctor after the show.
The Biebs himself later addressed his Beliebers via Twitter.
"getting better," he wrote. "thanks for everyone pulling me thru tonight. best fans in the world. figuring out what happened. thanks for the love."
About an hour after that tweet, Bieber's condition had obviously improved even more. He posted a shirtless photo of himself recovering on Instagram. "Gettin better listening to Janice Joplin," he captioned it.
According to our sister site omg! U.K., Bieber told the crowd, "I'm not usually this out of breath" before rushing off stage.
His manager, Scooter Braun, and friend Jaden Smith then came on stage to tell the audience that Bieber would be back shortly. Although the singer was urged by doctors not to continue performing, he finished the entire concert. What a trouper!
Bieber posts a shirtless pic. (Instagram)
Apparently Bieber didn't seem like his usual self before the incident. One fan tweeted: "Broken mic, very breathless walking up the stairs on stage and now this. Something's weird tonight..."
Braun later took to Twitter to praise his star client for the way he handled the situation.
Get better soon Justin!