LaLa Anthony spoke out against split rumors to Access Hollywood, saying that she and hubby Carmelo Anthony are as strong as ever and that their marriage, like any other, has its ups and downs. Mrs. Anthony says that juggling busy careers, parenting, and a relationship is not easy, but that the pair is committed to making it work. “We’re in a real relationship – we have our ups, we have our downs, but we definitely work through them and we’re doing great right now,” says LaLa. “…he’s my best friend. We get through the hard times because we know that we want this marriage to work.”
Actress Angela Bassett talked balancing motherhood and turning down a role in the Broadway play A Trip to Bountiful in order to be there for her husband, actor Courtney B. Vance, and their twins. Angela was offered the role in the play opposite legend Cicely Tyson, a move that Angela says “I will probably regret one day because she’s one of my sheroes (sic). I consider her a mentor and mother figure in terms of actress to actress.” Now that she is done shooting the film The Black Nativity with Forest Whittaker in New York and Courtney is starring in a Broadway play of his own, she says its time for her to spend time with the twins and be there for her husband.
Mike Epps will reprise his role as “Black Doug” in the next installment of the Hangover movies, The Hangover Part III, scheduled to hit theaters May 24. Mike has played the character in all three Hangover movies and most recently starred in Sparkle and as Richard Pryor in the movie Nina, a biopic about singer/activist Nina Simone.
Actress Essence Atkins, who currently stars in the television sitcoms Are We There Yet and Mr. Box and most recently starred on the big screen in the comedy A Haunted House spoke on the challenges of being an actress in a television world dominated by reality TV. The star, who is married and has a two-year-old son, Varro, has a television history dating back to when she was only 14 years old. At age 41, she admits she has struggled in a TV climate focused on sensationalism. “I think we are challenged. We are challenged to try and get different kinds of images out there besides the stereotypes and besides the ones that we are seeing portrayed on reality TV. You know reality TV is really just based for sensationalism. So, it’s extreme versions and extreme caricatures of personalities. That is not the totality of who we are. Our struggle is really to find ways and find mediums that will host other images besides those.”
Singer Syleena Johnson held a private listening party for family and friends this week for her latest album 9INE. 9INE, a collaboration between Syleena and Musiq Soulchild. Syleena’s husband Kiwane Garris and son Kingston were at the event.