The highly anticipated reunion tour with Brandy and Monica just hit a star-studded major stop, marking an “extra special” night in Newark, New Jersey. The Boys Is Mine Tour NJ stop was attended by an A-list group, including Beyoncé, Solange, and Patti LaBelle, turning the Prudential Center into a celebrity summit.
Source: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/ Emma McIntyre/ Kevin Mazur
Brandy and Monica may have been the main event, but the stop in Newark cemented the tour’s legacy. The energy and success of the entire run are a culmination of a history that spans more than 27 years. The performance at the Prudential Center marked one of the final stops before the tour’s conclusion, and it drew a who’s who of music royalty.
The Boys Is Mine Tour NJ: Sisterhood, Surprises, and A History of Hits
Source: Kevin Mazur / Black Promoters Collective
After the Boys Is Mine Tour NJ stop, Monica quickly shared photos and videos on Instagram, giving a public shout-out to the women who were present to support the tour. Monica thanked Kelly Rowland, who has opened for the tour on several dates, for being a “class act” and for the “admirable” bond she shares with Beyoncé.
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Monica continued: “You ladies and your family have always shown me genuine love. And [Solange], how I adore you. I love all three of you.”
After the concert, clips show Bey and her daughter Rumi greeting Monica. Rumi is seemingly a huge Monica fan as she shyly said, “Hi Monica.” The mother-daughter duo also spoke with legend Patti LaBelle, who joined Kelly on stage earlier in the evening.
The Newark stop of the tour marks the second show that Beyoncé attended in support of her former Destiny’s Child sister, Monica, and Brandy.
The rest of the Carter family also attended, as clips report Jay-Z and Blue Ivy (who seems to be almost as tall as her dad!) backstage with Beyoncé and Auntie Solange.
According to Rap-Up, the stage at the Prudential Center was also packed with performances. Surprise appearances added extra star power to the already impressive lineup. Ne-Yo delivered the “smoothest vibes and countless hits,” including a performance of his classic hit, “So Sick.” He was joined by Lola Brooke, who performed “Don’t Play With It.”
The tour’s massive success has been noted by the entire industry. Previous stops have featured stars like Rihanna and Queen Latifah. Kehlani even paid tribute to Brandy during an earlier stop, calling her “Our vocal bible, our Black Cinderella,” cementing the importance of this reunion in R&B history. She also performed her current hit “Folded” for fans.
The Thursday night stop in Houston, TX also saw a celebrity fest as stars like Law Roach, Nas, JT, and Lala Anthony sat in the front row. Ciara, Fat Joe, and Max B also provided performances.
Source: Kevin Mazur / Black Promoters CollectiveSource: Kevin Mazur / Black Promoters CollectiveSource: Kevin Mazur / Black Promoters Collective
During the Boy Is Mine Tour NJ stop, Monica took a moment to thank her co-headliner, Brandy, for their renewed partnership. She wrote, “Creating history together 27 years and counting! I’ve enjoyed watching the world celebrate your gift as you step further into your purpose!”
This public acknowledgment underscores just how far the two have come after years of on-again-off-again friendship. This final stretch of The Boys Is Mine Tour cements the tour’s status as a cultural homecoming, celebrating the growth and sisterhood of the two R&B legends.
There are eight days remaining in the 2024 Presidential Election for Vice President Kamala D. Harris and former President Donald J. Trump. In the last week, Vice President Harris visited Clarkston, an enclave bordered by Decatur to the west and Stone Mountain to the east. Friday, Harris visited Houston, Texas to campaign alongside U.S. Represntative Colin Allred, Kelly Rowland, and Beyoncé. Saturday, Michelle Obama joined Harris to rally voters in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Meanwhile, Trump headlined a rally at Madison Square Garden and is set to return to Atlanta tonight at Georgia Tech.
What do we know about the race with one week to go?
First, the early voting turnout in Georgia has surpassed the levels from 2020. As of 6am Monday morning, 38.9% of Georgia’s registered voters have made their choice in this year’s presidential election. More than 2.81 million voters have cast their ballot. Black voters make up nearly 34% of that turnout. The general rule of thumb is if more than 30% of Black voters vote for the Democratic Party, it bodes well for their chances. In the cases for Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton and Henry Counties, total turnout has been north of 40% during the early voting period.
Additionally, 71,000 Georgians who were registered to vote in 2020, but did not cast a ballot in that election, have already cast a ballot this year during the first week of early voting. Among newly-activated voters, Democrats currently hold an edge.
Every single survey has Harris and Trump locked in a dead heat in Georgia.
Maya Harris speaks during a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday, October 18, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
A Woman’s Right to Choose is central to Democrats closing message
During each campaign stop, one message was clear: reproductive freedom for women is true freedom for all Americans. The stories of the pain and suffering were told in an effervescent manner. Thursday, the family of Amber Nicole Thurman attended the Harris rally in Clarkston. Friday, Harris rallied voters in Houston on her pledge to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law. Texas, like Georgia, abortion procedures are prohibited at six weeks – before many women know they are pregnant – with exceptions only if the mother’s life is in danger.
“So do you think Donald Trump is thinking about the consequences for the millions of women who will be living in medical deserts,” asked Michelle Obama during her speech in Houston. “Does anyone think he has the emotional maturity and foresight to come up with a plan to protect us?”
During an event hosted by Maya Harris, the women backing the Vice President Harris urged attendees to vote early and in person, emphasizing the significance of youth and diverse voter engagement. Maya Harris also underscored the Vice President’s commitment to reproductive freedom. The message was clear: individual efforts can make a significant impact, and the collective goal is to ensure Kamala Harris becomes the next President.
Objectives for enshrining Roe
Vote for Kamala Harris in the upcoming election, as she has pledged to protect reproductive rights and expand access to healthcare.
Women must have open and honest conversations important men in their lives to make it clear that protecting women’s health and rights is a priority. Urge the gentlemen to vote accordingly.
Encourage women, especially first-time voters, to exercise their right to vote and make their voices heard on these critical issues.
Support efforts to pass legislation that would restore nationwide protections for reproductive rights.
Advocate against policies and politicians that seek to restrict or undermine access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion, contraception, and maternal care.
Maya Harris takes a selfie with a crowd during a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday, October 18, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
“It is why she has spent her entire life fighting for each of us to be able to have that freedom,” explained Maya Harris. “To put a fine point on it, like the freedom to make our own decisions about our health, our families and our futures. Which includes our reproductive freedom, which is a defining issue, not just in this election, but for our entire country. And certainly for this room in so many ways. It’s an issue that Kamala has been the strongest, most vocal champion of this issue since the overturning of Roe v Wade.”
Puerto Rico, an American territory, MAGA’s latest target
While Kamala Harris was in Philadelphia on Sunday, Donald Trump staged a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was apropos for Trump to hold such an event on an NFL Sunday. Trump notoriously failed in his attempt to buy the Buffalo Bills and the NFL put the former United States Football League out of business in the 1980s.
As for modern times, Trump and his surrogates put on a rally that was red meat for conservatives living on Long Island and Staten Island. Comedian Tony Hinchcliff warmed up the crowd by dehumanizing Puerto Ricans when he said, “I don’t know if you know this but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.” That joke did not go over well for U.S. Senator Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida currently fighting to keep his seat.
The problem for Scott is that every speaker was vetted by Team Trump. Scott is locked in a battle with Debbie Mucarsel-Powell for his seat in November’s elections. Florida is home to the largest number of Puerto Ricans in the United States outside of the island itself.
Conversely, Marc Anthony, Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Luis Fonsi and others have shared a post by Kamala Harris which outlines her plans for Puerto Rico. Each person is supporting Harris in the election.
Notably, about 100,000 Puerto Ricans live in Georgia. Also notable, it took the Trump team six hours to clean up the disastrous fallout from the joke. “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” says Trump campaign Senior Advisor Danielle Alvarez. I mean, this too is a lie because Trump spent the week calling America a ‘garbage can.’ Trump also wanted to swap Puerto Rico for Greenland in 2020.
Trump does nothing to distance himself from the fascist labels
David Rem, a Trump surrogate, called Vice President Harris ‘the antichrist’. Tucker Carlson referred to Harris as, ‘a Samoan, Malaysian, low IQ former California prosecutor.’ Stephen Miller said, ‘America is for Americans and Americans only.’ That quote was directly lifted from Adolf Hitler’s speech in 1934 when he said, ‘Germany is for Germans and Germans only.’ No coincidence here. The Nazi Party held a rally at the World’s Most Famous Arena in 1939, espousing similar views.
This story will not directly discuss Trump’s former Chief of Staff John Kelly proclaiming that his former boss is a fascist and wishes he had generals that are loyal to him like Hitler’s. However, Miller’s quote is directly reminiscent of Joseph Goebbels, the philosopher of the Nazi Party. Goebbels drafted its literature which was cloaked in antisemitism.
For Trump, he realized his dream of seeing his name in lights on Sunday. Like his rally in Traverse City on Friday, Trump showed up hours late for his event. Trump labeled the Democrats as ‘the enemy from within’ because he believes they’ve done terrible things to America. Trump rattled through his greatest hits Sunday. He attacked the media and referred to America’s generals as ‘weak, stupid people’. Trump also said FEMA’s response to Hurricane Helene in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina was worse than Hurricane Katrina because FEMA paid out money to undocumented immigrants. That is an outright lie.
Subsequently, his followers left MSG after they could not sit around any longer.
Black Men and the Vote
Former U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign event for Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, at the James R Hallford Stadium on October 24, 2024 in Clarkston, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
During Sunday night’s WinWithBlackMen call, it emphasized the importance of increasing Black voter turnout in key battleground states. Key metrics included Black women voting 34-56 points above Black men in some states, and over 65% of Black voters aged 65+ having already voted. In Georgia, 38% of Black men have voted in the 2024 Elections.
Many leaders on the call were emphasizing to young voters that their vote can make a critical difference. For example, The Collective PAC is hiring up to 15,000 voting ambassadors in key swing states, including Georgia, to organize their friends and family. They are encouraging young people to sign up as ambassadors and leverage their personal networks to drive voter turnout.
The idea that Black men are not turning out for Harris is a myth. 72% of Black men are supporting Harris according to a Pew Research Center survey. However, misogyny is what is driving conversation. It is not a myth that misogyny by some Black men are being platformed by the Republican Party. Those pleas got hollowed out when “Dixie” was played before the U.S. Representative, Byron Donalds, was introduced in New York City Sunday afternoon.
The finish line is approaching
With eight days remaining, the Harris campaign has momentum. They are packing out stadiums. If polling data is not to be trusted, follow the money. The Harris campaign raised more than $1 billion in the period before September 30th, according to official filings.
Conversely, the Trump campaign is resigned to using racism and threats of violence. Trump even winked at the U.S. House Speaker, Mike Johnson, saying: “I think with our little secret we are gonna do really well with the house. Our little secret is having a big impact. He and I have a little secret. We will tell you what it is when the race is over.” Trump hopes the Election has enough chaos that it shall be thrown into the House of Representatives.
Donald Trump pledges to use the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. It was created to deport individuals during war with France, to deport undocumented immigrants from the United States. While Trump’s surrogates are making jingoistic and xenophobic remarks, Vice President Kamala Harris is shoring up support within Latino communities in Philadelphia.
The case for both candidates is now in the collective hands of Georgia voters.
Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland lit up Vice President Kamala Harris’ rally in Houston, Texas, on Friday, October 25. The two singers showed love for the Democratic candidate’s event, which centered on reproductive rights, according to USA Today.
Beyoncé Endorses VP Kamala Harris At Houston Rally
At the campaign event, Tina Knowles introduced Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland. Bey and Kelly stood on business in front of a huge crowd of 30,000 at a down Houston soccer stadium, Fox News reports. Queen Bey’s support at the campaign rally made sense — as fans know she proudly reps her hometown of Houston.
Bey kicked off her speech with a shoutout to H-Town, sharing how proud she and Kelly felt to support VP Kamala Harris. She added that she wasn’t there as a celebrity or politician but as a mother.
“I’m here as a mother. A mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in. A world where we have the freedom to control our bodies. A word where we’re not divided. Our past, our present, our future merge to meet us here,” the ‘Break My Soul’ songstress said.
The cultural icon then discussed the stakes for women’s rights and shared her vision of a hopeful future in which unity replaces division.
“We’re all part of something much bigger. We must vote! And we need you. It’s time to sing a new [song]. A song that began 248 years ago. Our moment right now, it’s time for America to sing a new song. Our voices sing a song of unity. They sing a song of dignity and opportunity. Are y’all ready to add your voice to the new America song? Because I am!” Bey continued.
Kelly Rowland Delivers Powerful Speech In Support VP Harris
Bey wasn’t the only one dropping knowledge at the Houston rally. Kelly Rowland followed up with a powerful speech backing VP Harris. The ‘Motivation’ singer made it clear she’s standing ten toes down for the Democratic candidate against Donald Trump.
“A moment where we grab back the pen from those trying to write an American story of misogyny and racism. We are grabbing back the pen from those trying to write an American story that women were denied the right to make our own decisions about our bodies! Houston we are grabbing back the pen! That pen to forge a new path with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz,” Kelly Rowland said.
Kelly doubled down on her support for VP Harris, telling the crowd she took action and casted her vote for Harris two days ago.
Social Media Reacts
Fans didn’t hold back in The Shade Room’s comment section with reactions to Bey and Kelly’s speech. Plenty loved seeing the two proudly back VP Kamala Harris.
Instagram user @yo.quue wrote, “Kamala done summoned the Avengers.”
While Instagram user @xotanye wrote, “I know trump somewhere sweating his lace front off.”
Then Instagram user @richie8990_ wrote, “I’m pretty sure Kamala Harris just won the election with this endorsement.”
Another Instagram user @jayin88 wrote, “Trump gon need Michael Jackson ghost to win now lmao.”
Instagram user @keishachenelle wrote, “Kelly came with a plan! She got that suit on and she standing on.”
Instagram user @seth_heyboo wrote, “Kelly was going in honey! Like she was running for office 👏”
Lastly, Instagram user @jeanatai_ wrote, “I was there in person and it was so exhilarating 💙💙💙💙”
Donald Trump & Amber Rose React To VP Kamala Harris’ Houston Rally
Donald Trump threw some shade at VP Harris after her Houston, but he also took a jab at President Joe Biden. At his Michigan rally, he called out VP Harris for supposedly partying with Queen Bey.
“Joe Biden is asleep and Kamala is at a dance party with Beyoncé,” Donnie told the audience.
His statement was met with a few “boos” from the audience.
If you’re looking to spice up your next Netflix and Chill session this is a great time to remind you that Mea Culpa is streaming now!
Source: Perry Well Films 2 / Netflix
BOSSIP spoke with Kelly Rowland and Trevante Rhodes about the new Tyler Perry erotic thriller, nude scenes, and meeting just a day before shooting together.
“We did it,” Kelly Rowland told BOSSIP when asked how she and her co-star feel about nude scenes.
But the steamy sex scene at the center of the film that has everyone talking could easily have fallen flat had the chemistry been off between the pair.
“Actually we met the day before we started shooting and immediately when Trevante and I embraced, I felt respected, I felt safe, I felt comfortable,” Rowland told BOSSIP. “I texted Tyler right afterwards and I said, ‘This is going to work!’ Because the truth is you never know what’s going to happen. I could have been like, ‘Oh my God, felt nothing’ But… it was amazing.”
In addition to acting, Trevante Rhodes is also a painter so we had to ask him about embodying a role that could bring both worlds together.
“It was amazing, like I said earlier, that scene you were speaking on, Tyler sent us, if you pay attention to the last frame there’s a still shot. So Tyler sent us that still shot. He said, he wanted to get there but he didn’t know how he was going to get there. And you know, we knew how to get there, so you know, I love painting.”
Mea Culpa also marks a new era for Kelly Rowland as a leading lady and producer.
“I wanna continue, it’s so much fun to be able to just have a space and knowing everything that goes on screen,” Rowland told BOSSIP. “It’s just so exciting, from lighting to wardrobe to hair, and the storytelling and the makeup and like certain inflections, in certain places… The characters, the cast, all of that, just shows up on screen and it’s just a another way to continue to tell these colorful stories about us.”
Rhodes also had great things to say about having Rowland both as a producer and scene partner.
“She’s the best,” Rhodes told BOSSIP. “I tell her all the time, she was a great number one for it to be her first time. She was a great #1, so it was a good job.”
She definitely knocked it out of the park — along with the rest of the stellar cast. Make sure to tune in to Mea Culpa and let us know your thoughts!
ComingSoon Editor-in-Chief Tyler Treese spoke with Mea Culpa stars Kelly Rowland and Trevante Rhodes about Tyler Perry’s new thriller. The duo spoke about their characters and the paint scene. Mea Culpa is now streaming on Netflix.
“When criminal defense attorney Mea Harper (Kelly Rowland) takes on the murder case of artist Zyair Malloy (Trevante Rhodes), the truth isn’t as obvious as it seems,” reads the movie‘s synopsis. “While she tries to determine the innocence or guilt of her cagy-yet-seductive client, it is uncovered that everyone is guilty of something. Tyler Perry’s Mea Culpa explores what happens when burning desire takes hold and things get hot … and dangerous.”
Tyler Treese: Kelly, you’re in just about every single scene of this movie. What did it mean to really get this opportunity to show yourself as a leading lady?
Kelly Rowland: I was honored that Tyler [Perry] trusted me with that space. It was a journey. It was really a journey. I remember being very nervous at first, and the more I was there, the more I found my footing … I was grateful for Tyler as well. I can’t wait to do it again, for sure.
Trevante, your character is so interesting because he is accused of murder. You have this charisma to your performance so viewers are left pondering, “Do we like this guy? Is he guilty?” Did that ambiguity impact how you played the character? How did you approach that?
Trevante Rhodes: You know, I think I approached it in just an honest way. That’s the best way I can answer that in an honest and truthful way and what was honest to him without giving too much. I think that is, at least for my liking, what kept me as a viewer in tune and paying attention because I wasn’t sure what I was looking at.
Kelly, there’s such an interesting dynamic between Mea and Zyair, because there are professional conflicts and personal conflicts, but they’re still drawn to each other. Why do you think that is?
Kelly Rowland: I mean, you’ve got to think about the fact that, without giving away too much, Mea’s existing environment doesn’t really lean in her favor. You know what I mean? Without speaking as a defense attorney, it doesn’t really lean in her favor. She is doing her job, but she can’t help but feel something. There’s an energy that Zyair possesses that she’s lacking, you know? I think that she’s so open to that, even by accident … I think that it kind of took her by surprise too. It was very, very dope to be able to walk a mile in her footsteps and understand that psyche of hers for sure.
Trevante, Tyler Perry worked with you early on in your career with If Loving You is Wrong. How was it getting to reunite and work with him again with all this extra experience under your belt?
Trevante Rhodes: Well, for me, that’s always been the operative — the idea after that was to develop some cachet, to develop some credibility within the space, to then be able to tap back with Tyler and hopefully bring more viewership and bring a level of elevation and help make it something that is better than what he’s ever done.
Kelly, I’ve never seen paint used quite the way that it’s used in this movie. It’s a very wild scene. What was your reaction when that was brought to you? It’s real memorable and it’s a great scene.
Kelly Rowland: It was our idea, yeah. It was a collaborative idea with us and Tyler and I’m happy that it was memorable. That’s what we wanted. We wanted people to be able to take so many different things away from this movie, but definitely to be able to tap into that side and to be able to be creative, essentially.
Kelly Rowland brought her leading lady energy to Chicago for a special screening of upcoming erotic thriller Mea Culpa ahead of the buzzy film’s premiere this Friday, Feb. 23 on Netflix.
Source: Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images
The classy stunner extended her slay streak in an elegant blue jumpsuit that popped in photos from the latest major city screening event of her nationwide promo tour.
Source: Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images
Source: Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images
In Mea Culpa, Kelly Rowland stars as a criminal defense attorney named Mea who takes on the case of a seductive artist (Trevante Rhodes) accused of murdering his girlfriend.
“But when burning desire takes hold things get hot… and dangerous,” per the official synopsis.
“This idea came to me because I love all of those older thrillers from the ’80s and ’90s,” said Perry in an interview with Tudum. “It was fun to explore the best and worst of humanity through the genre of an exotic thriller.”
Check out the sexy trailer below:
Written and directed by Perry, Mea Culpa is another star vehicle for Rowland who continues to make power moves in Hollywood.
“I never had an experience where I was working with someone who had so many great ideas to bring to the table,” said Perry about Rowland. “As a producer, she was fantastic.”
And, at this point, it’s very clear that she’s not the one to play with based on her reportedly walking out of the Today show and checking Big Tigger and co-host Jazzy McBee over Beyoncé questions during a recent interview.
If you’re interviewing a celebrity, the LEAST you can do is research & watch their MOST RECENT interviews!
There’s no way, in the same week on various platforms Kelly Rowland should be asked about Beyonce/Destiny’s Child when she already shot down & redirected those questions.. pic.twitter.com/NmC9NUYQfW
Will you be seated for Mea Culpa? Do you think Beyoncé/Destiny’s Child questions should be off limits in Kelly’s interviews? Tell us down below and enjoy more of her promo tour slays on the flip.
Well we didn’t see this coming. Kelly Rowland is apparently fed ALL the way up with subpar treatment on sets, and she’s willing to walk out of major gigs over it.
Page Six reports that the Mea Culpa star was set to join “The Today Show” hosts as a co-host of the fourth hour of “The Today Show” on Friday alongside Hoda Kotb, and after appearing in the first hour of the morning show as a guest. But Kelly allegedly stormed off the set right before the fourth hour and left Hoda scrambling!
Apparently, Kelly was livid about the subpar dressing rooms, and her team was in a flurry going from location to location inside 30 Rock trying to find something better for her. Word has it that none of the rooms are all that great, and the one room that likely would have worked – Jennifer Lopez was occupying. Hmph. J.Lo was on “Today” promoting her newly released This Is Me…Now album and accompanying Prime documentary.
Kelly, who celebrated her new movie the previous night with her Destiny’s Child besties, was def carrying the spirit of Taraji P. Henson and not putting up with what she viewed as mistreatment any longer. And she left the NBC crew to figure ish out in minutes without her!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 15: Kelly Rowland attends Tyler Perry’s Mea Culpa Premiere at The Paris Theatre on February 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Netflix)
Kelly Rowland dramatically walked out of NBC’s “Today” show on Thursday morning after the star thought her dressing room was not up to snuff, sources exclusively tell Page Six.
The R&B singer and actress was a guest on the 8a.m. hour of “Today,” and was then expected to fill in for Jenna Bush Hager in the fourth hour as guest host of “Today with Hoda & Jenna.”
Rowland, however, dropped out at the 11th hour because her dressing room wasn’t up to par, and she left Hoda Kotb scurrying to find a replacement, sources told us.
Kelly appearing at the top of “The Today Show” on Friday, before allegedly storming off the set
Apparently, it was a dramatic scene that followed:
Rowland and her team played a dramatic game of “musical dressing rooms,” we hear. They inquired about a green room upstairs because “they didn’t like the one she was in.”
Unfortunately, the upstairs room was occupied by Jennifer Lopez, who arrived to the studio prior to Rowland to promote her new album, “This Is Me… Now,” and her accompanying film project, “The Greatest Love Story Never Told.”
The dressing room situation seems to be a known issue at 30 Rock:
Dressing rooms at “Today” are known to be some of the smallest in the TV industry — practically “glorified closets,” as one source put it.
“They’re not nice. It’s the oldest building. There are major space limitations, [it’s] not glamorous. It’s not fresh flowers, and candles and gourmet food. It’s basically [a] white box,” shared the TV source.
Still, we’re told “Today” producers offered Rowland several other options, including multiple talent dressing rooms and some much larger utility makeup and hair areas.
But the NBC staffers are still confused as to why Kelly didn’t seem to want to make things work:
Rowland’s abrupt exit left “Today” insiders perplexed because, “She’s beloved at ‘Today.’ She was getting the full hour, and Hoda’s the biggest hype woman on the planet! It made no sense,” a source said.
Hoda wasn’t left stranded for too long, though. Some type of way Rita Ora was able to step in last minute.
Thankfully for Kotb, singer Rita Ora volunteered and filled in for Rowland.
We hear she happily took a dressing room similar to the one briefly occupied by the former Destiny’s Child star.
We’re sure she did….
Kelly’s new movieMea Culpa, created by Tyler Perry, is out Friday, February 23rd on Netflix.
Would it be worse for Beyoncé to be mad at you, or just disappointed? While Beyoncé’s wrath is likely no fun, for Kelly Rowland, feeling the weight of Beyoncé’s disappointment was just as bad. During a July episode of Billy Mann’s “Yeah, I F*cked That Up” podcast, Rowland revealed the biggest mistake she ever made during an interview was accidentally revealing the sex of her former Destiny’s Child bandmate‘s first child, Blue Ivy Carter.
Rowland didn’t name the outlet she spilled the beans to, but she did share how awful she felt afterwards. “That was the worst moment ever!” she said. “The worst moment ever. It was such a mistake.”
The “Dilemma” singer didn’t reveal the news on purpose. In fact, it wasn’t until the interviewer was talking to her afterwards that she realized she had let Beyoncé and JAY-Z’s news slip. At that point, it was too late to backtrack.
“I was like, ‘What are they talking about? I didn’t say . . . Oh my god!’” she said of the moment she realized her mistake. “It was bad because it was no one’s business.” Mann went on to ask if Beyoncé was angry when she found out. “I mean, disappointed. Yesss,” Rowland responded.
Thankfully, Beyoncé forgave her pal, and they still remain close to this day. Still, the memory of her slip up haunts Rowland even now that Blue Ivy is old enough to join her mom on stage during her Renaissance World Tour. She continued, “I felt terrible because it’s not my news. It was honestly the worst. It wasn’t my news to share, and I didn’t mean it like that. The ‘she’ just kind of slipped out. I was like, ‘Uh-oh.’”
Ah, the ’90s. An era defined by MTV, Lisa Frank notebooks, and more boy bands than we care to count. (For the record, we think 98 Degrees was super underrated.) Some of our absolute favorite pop culture moments were born out of this decade, and when we think back on it, we can’t help but relish in the wonderfully wild ’90s hairstyles.
From messy buns to a broad selection of bangs, and, of course, butterfly clips galore, there was something special about the hair trends from this time. The It girls of the era, such as Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, and Gwen Stefani, were serving up enough inspiration to carry us right into the following decade.
If you’re as nostalgic as we are, then you’ll love this roundup of the 20 most quintessentially ’90s hairstyles we would low-key wear today. We might get some strange looks, but hey, we’ll never shy away from an adventurous beauty look. Keep reading for our favorites.
In 2000, Destiny’s Child heralded the dawning of the new century by unveiling “Independent Women Part I.” On the heels of TLC’s “No Scrubs,” released the year before in 1999, “Independent Women Part I” built on an increasingly beloved notion: women being financially independent of men (who were effectively useless anyway without finances of their own to offer). Although the 1980s and 1990s had seen a glimmer of this in the “working mom” trope or the shoulder pad-packed skirt suit that Melanie Griffith immortalized in Working Girl, the “novelty” of “sisters doing it for themselves” had worn off by 2000, and it seemed time to make more robust strides than merely being a woman “allowed” to contribute to the capitalist machine. Now, women wanted to be truly “independent”—no man, no shared bank account, just her and her bag.
The tie-in of the song to a movie reboot of Charlie’s Angels starring Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu was key to not only highlighting the independent women gains made by said gender since the 1970s, when Charlie’s Angels initially aired on TV, but also the fact that women are everyday superheroes. Their ever-changing “costumes” (read: drag) all being part of the many disguises and personas they wear to appeal and cater to a cadre of different people (usually fragile men). And, speaking of “catering,” it seems antithetical that another Destiny’s Child song, “Cater 2 U,” was released as a single five years after “Independent Women Part I”—and expressed a much different message that fundamentally negates Beyoncé’s brand as a “feminist.” But anyway, in 2000, “Independent Women Part I” was a beacon of light. A surge of hope, a boost of confidence. Especially to women who were afraid that the twentieth century might never let them go (and yet, lo and behold, here we are in the twenty-first and things seem much less progressive than they were in the twentieth thanks to, oh, the repeal of Roe v. Wade for a start). Here to help remind women of that pivotal instant (while simultaneously bolstering an unsustainable system called capitalism) is Ciara. Wont to emulate Janet Jackson in the past (see: “Jump”), this time, she’s going for straight-up 2000-era Destiny’s Child as she gets Lola Brooke and Lady London to join her on the “Girls Mix” of “Da Girls,” likely to appear on her eighth studio album along with “Jump” and “Better Thangs” featuring Summer Walker.
In case there was any question about whether or not this was Ciara’s update to “Independent Women Part I,” she commences the song with the chorus, “This is for the girls gettin’ money/This is for the girls that don’t need no man/This is for the girls that’s in love with theyself/This for all the girls that done did it by theyself/This for all the girls that’s I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T.” Really driving the point home by literally spelling out the connection. And, considering that 2023 already started out with a sologamy bang via Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers,” it’s no surprise that other women in music should keep emphasizing the “trend.” As though independence is a “monetizable moment.” But then, of course it is—just as monogamy has been for centuries (and still is despite “falling out of fashion”). To bring it all back to the current “I can buy myself flowers” perk/emblem of being an independent woman, Ciara even sings at one point, “I wanted some flowers/Mr. Wilson pulled up in a Rolls (skrrt).” “Mr. Wilson” alluding to her husband presumably pulling up with the flowers she wanted—which makes it slightly less independent-sounding. One would have preferred to think of “Mr. Wilson” as a flower delivery service (or even a reference to Mr. Wilson’s flower in Dennis the Menace). That would have at least entailed she can not only buy herself flowers, but have them show up to her house without lifting a finger, too.
As for the accompanying video, the original favors a certain Billie Eilish in “Lost Cause” vibe (itself a riff on “34+35 Remix” visuals) as her girls come over to hang out, dance around, eat, drink and generally frolic. This is what it is meant when Cyndi Lauper says, “Girls just wanna have fun.” In the “Girls Mix” version, the concept isn’t much changed, swapping out the “rando” women at Ciara’s house in favor of just Lola Brooke and Lady London—helping Ciara (the “Beyoncé” of the outfit) to complete a trio à la Destiny’s Child (or Charlie’s Angels). And for their version of “Independent Women Part I,” Brooke is sure to give a direct nod to Beyoncé by saying, “Gonna rock these pants like a freakum dress,” after which Lady London declares, “This is for the girls on the grind/This is for the girls that done worked full-time/This is for the self-made girls, yeah, the self-paid girls.” It’s all certainly enough to make someone like Betty Draper blush with embarrassment, as though her “reliance” on a man (read: a monogamous situation that reinforces capitalism) is shameful, her invisible labor within the domestic sphere meaningless. But anyway, such women are supposed to be “relics,” right? Nonexistent in the climate of the present.
Meanwhile, on “Independent Women Part I,” Kelly Rowland (in conjunction with ex-DC member Farrah Franklin, not Fawcett) sings, “The shoes on my feet, I bought ’em/The clothes I’m wearing, I bought ’em/The rock I’m rocking, I bought it/‘Cause I depend on me if I want it/The watch I’m wearing, I bought it/The house I live in, I bought it/The car I’m driving, I bought it.” One can tell how this would also presage Ariana Grande declaring, “I see it, I like it/I want it, I got it” on “7 Rings,” yet another anthem championing female-centric materialism (diamonds, hair extensions, clothes, etc.) as a form of independence. And while, sure, she might be financially independent, she still leans on/plays into the oppressive system that men/patriarchy wield to keep most people in check. Women included. The idea that becoming “independent” means fully embracing capitalism (as any male industrialist would), however, is both naïve and reductive. And it’s hardly tantamount to “equality.” All it serves to do is bolster neoliberal practices by making women think they’re “free” because they have purchasing power. And by fortifying that illusion to other women in a song format, what it really amounts to is more propaganda for capitalism under the guise of “progress.”
From Grande saying, “My receipts be lookin’ like phone numbers/If it ain’t money, then wrong number” to Ciara repurposing the same flex with, “Bank account look like phone numbers/All of our checks got four commas,” the message is clear: be like a man. Make money. Rely on “yourself.” All while simultaneously relying on the very system that allows oppression to flourish. It’s not exactly “feministic” in the spirit that many women would like to believe. But since the end of capitalism feels unimaginable, perhaps women are just doing their best to work within it while there’s still money to be made before all resources are plundered and life veers into Mad Max territory.
Ironically, Beyoncé herself had no agency in getting “Independent Women Part I” onto the Charlie’s Angels Soundtrack. It was actually her “dadager,” Matthew Knowles, who submitted the track without her permission/knowledge. So much for, “Try to control me, boy/You get dismissed.” But apparently, being “independent” is overrated when it works to your bank account’s advantage. What’s more, “donating” the single (which was originally supposed to be “Independent Women Part II” released on their ’01 album, Survivor) to Charlie’s Angels isn’t quite indicative of promoting “independent” women, per se. After all, the three women in question aren’t just Angels, are they? They’re Charlie’s Angels. They “belong” to Charlie. And the trio seems to have no problem with that, nor any desire to truly break out on their own, independent of their invisible Daddy figure.
At one point in the song, Beyoncé sings, “Do what I want, live how I wanna live/I worked hard and sacrificed to get what I get/Ladies, it ain’t easy being independent.” No, it’s certainly not. Especially since “independence” still comes at the cost of fucking Mother Earth up the asshole and acting little better than a man with a burgeoning bank account.
Kelly Rowland doesn’t have time for anyone trying to compare her to her Destiny’s Child bandmate and best friend Beyoncé.
Rowland recently appeared on Hot 97’s “Ebro in the Morning”, when co-host Peter Rosenberg started talking about ego in the showbiz industry.
“Everyone who gets in the entertainment business gets into it to be ‘the man,’” he said, admitting you have to have “an ego check” at times, “and you happen to be standing next to the brightest light on planet Earth,” referencing Bey.
Rosenberg insisted it seemed like she loved the position she was in, to which Rowland politely shut him down.
The musician shared, “Here’s the thing, light attracts light. I am light. I am a beautiful, brown, shining light. So I don’t think anybody’s light dims anyone else’s.”
“I think that when other people start to compare you, I think that’s when it shows how dim they are of themselves,” she continued. “So I don’t take somebody else trying to dim my light anymore for anybody else.”
I want hosts to find another angle when interviewing Kelly Rowland. We’ve witnessed the “second fiddle to Beyoncé” storyline for decades and it’s honestly redundant and highlights a lack of creativity when approaching interviews with someone over 20 years deep into their career https://t.co/qD6g7fpbNF
She went on, “It’s always been, like, patriarchy to me, or even now, like, everybody’s actually [starting] to believe this thing where, well, only one woman can do this and they shine the biggest.”
Rowland explained how it’s a big cycle of events, sharing: “Another group has done that for us, and I do it for other brown girls, so it’s just a cycle and a space for all of us to open up doors for each other instead of compare.”
She shot back regarding such a narrative, “Don’t be so limited. I feel like people who compare are limited in their minds. And they limit themselves, so don’t do that to other people.”
Rosenberg has since apologized for not reading the room, sharing on Twitter:
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