Chris Brown says he identifies with Trayvon Martin, calls out Jay Z in new interview
September 20th, 2013
09:46 PM ET

Chris Brown says he identifies with Trayvon Martin, calls out Jay Z in new interview

Every time Chris Brown opens his mouth, he seems to stir up controversy. In a cover story for the October 14th issue of "JET" magazine, the 24-year-old R&B superstar raises eyebrows yet again. He gamely tackles questions about his messy love life and how he’s attempted to move forward after the 2009 Rihanna “incident” – then says he identifies with Trayvon Martin because of his own struggles with racism, calls out Jay Z for his thug past and seems to liken his bad rep to the relationship between a slave and his master.

Here are some of the more interesting quotes from Brown’s interview:

On whether he relates to the everyday struggles of other young African-American males like Trayvon Martin:
“I identify with Trayvon 100 percent as far as living in 2013 and still dealing with blatant racism. This generation is so used to racism that it’s normal; we don’t care. We aren’t on drugs or catching AIDS, but they still look at us as ni**as.”

On whether it’s possible to mend his rocky relationship with the press:
“This is something I’ve been dealing with for the past maybe five years. Anybody with a voice – Tupac, Michael Jackson, the Notorious B.I.G. – gets formatted…except maybe for Jay Z, who is accepted by White America because he shakes hands and kisses babies. No disrespect, because I’m a fan, but nobody brings up the fact that he stabbed somebody and sold drugs. He gets a pass.”

On when he decided to change his attitude:
“I got to the point where it’s only so much you can take from the master, you feel me? I’ve taken my fair share of lashings. I’ve dealt with the media. Instead of being an artist, I’ve been called a woman beater; I’ve been insulted in public and judged. And being able to not want to kill yourself at the end of the day is what made me say, ‘F**k it.’”

The spotlight on Brown will be intense for the next few months. The singer-turned-actor’s new movie, “Battle of the Year,” just hit theaters this weekend, and his sixth studio album, “X,” is due later this year. In the meantime, the Grammy winner is tired of folks expecting him to apologize for his bad boy behavior.

“I’m not perfect, and I don’t have to be,” he tells JET. “We are supposed to make mistakes. I’m not an android or a robot.”

Eiza González, Liam Hemsworth and more news to note
September 20th, 2013
06:30 PM ET

Eiza González, Liam Hemsworth and more news to note

  • By now, you should've all seen those grainy pictures of Liam Hemsworth kissing a young woman who is not Miley Cyrus. (If you haven't, see here.) But while some say that Hemsworth's ex-fianceé Cyrus is "shocked" that her former beau has already moved on to Mexican actress-singer Eiza González - a.k.a., the lady in those kissing photos - Gonzalez herself has had "nothing to say" about the reports. [E!]
  • And, you know, just for the record, "Thor" and "Rush" actor Chris Hemsworth totally supports his little brother. [Page Six]
  • Bryan Cranston is thinking ahead: The 57-year-old actor has lined up his first post-"Breaking Bad" gig. According to reports, he'll star in a Jay Roach film about screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. [Deadline]
  • Ouch! Mr. Kris Kardashian - Bruce Jenner to some of you - had tissue surgically removed from his nose earlier this week to treat skin cancer. [TMZ]
  • What do you want to bet Matthew Weiner just broke hearts over at AMC? While the network has been trying to extend the life of every.last.one. of its hit shows, the "Mad Men" creator has said "no thanks" to a spinoff. [THR]

Filed under: While you were working
JT vs. Drake: An awkward interview face-off
September 20th, 2013
05:15 PM ET

JT vs. Drake: An awkward interview face-off

Both Justin Timberlake and Drake are busy promoting new material, and press tours have led both artists to face some uncomfortable questions.

On "Ellen" Friday, "Started From the Bottom" rapper Drake was surprised with one of host Ellen DeGeneres' favorite games: "Who have you dated?"

Poor Drake. No one warned him! "This is where my career goes into a downward spiral," he said, nervously laughing. And then Ellen showed him a photo of Rihanna.

FULL POST


Filed under: Celebrities • Drake • Music
Jay Z and Beyonce: Forbes' highest-paid couple
September 20th, 2013
04:30 PM ET

Jay Z and Beyonce: Forbes' highest-paid couple

Blue Ivy must be proud.

The famous toddler's parents, Jay Z and Beyoncé, are 2013's highest-earning celebrity couple, according to Forbes magazine.

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Filed under: Beyonce • Celebrities • Jay-Z • Music
Selena Gomez won't perform in Russia after all
September 20th, 2013
04:00 PM ET

Selena Gomez won't perform in Russia after all

Selena Gomez's plans to perform in Russia next week are now off the calendar.

According to reports, the 21-year-old singer has been denied a Russian visa and as a result has had to cancel two of her upcoming concerts there. E! News reports that Gomez was expected to hold a show in St. Petersburg on September 23 and in Moscow on September 24, but those stops are no longer present on her itinerary.

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Filed under: Celebrities • Music
Justin Timberlake drops new song, 'TKO'
September 20th, 2013
12:05 PM ET

Justin Timberlake drops new song, 'TKO'

The second half of Justin Timberlake's "20/20 Experience" won't arrive until September 30, but here's a sample of what's to come.

The 32-year-old singer has released a new track called "TKO," a bouncy single that heavily features one of Timberlake's favorite collaborators, Timbaland.

FULL POST


Filed under: Celebrities • Justin Timberlake • Music
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