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These Powerful Photos Of Women 'Flip The Bird' At Society's Standards

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Photographer Julia Busato’s “Mannequin Series” is meant to break the mold.


Inspired by Instagram and (briefly) banned by Facebook, the 46-year-old’s body-positive series shines a light on women of all shapes and sizes. It all happens with the help of a unique prop ― a mannequin she had in her closet. 


“A friend of mine said she would love to flip the bird at society’s standards so we grabbed the mannequin and started shooting,” Busato told The Huffington Post via email. “From there it just evolved as more people came forward asking to be part of it and answering my requests for volunteers.” 





The subjects used in the photos are not all professional models, and are mostly locals from Busato’s town in Guelph, which is near Ontario, Canada. The mannequin used in the photos is nicknamed “Lucy” after Lucille Ball. According to Busato, posing with Lucy helps the women loosen up and laugh during the shoot.


The mannequin also helps people share their stories, which Busato says range from body issues to mental and physical health.  


“Each person has their own personal story about how they don’t fit the standards expected from society. It’s not just about weight anymore, its about being happy in your own skin,” the photographer told The Huffington Post.










If there’s one thing people ― and women in particular ― take away from the shoot, Busato hopes that it’ll encourage women to come together in support of each other around the globe. 


“I really want to show the world that no matter what size, color, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, physical/mental limitations or social status; we are all women and all strong enough to get through this together,” Busato said. “I just want women to love themselves unconditionally because we are all beautiful in our own way.” 


To see more of her photos, scroll through the slideshow below: 



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Seven Years Ago, A Mexican Artist Turned The U.S.-Mexico Border Into A Bridge

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“The term ‘political activist’ is problematic,” Mexican artist Minerva Cuevas proclaims in a video for Art 21, premiering on The Huffington Post on Friday. “I think the challenge is to stop using the references to activism, because everyone has this agency to react to daily life and therefore generate political action.”


In 2010, Cuevas created “Crossing of the Rio Bravo,” a project that took place near the U.S.-Mexico border. For the work, she operated on a simple premise: “If there is a border, there could be a bridge.” She used rocks found in the riverbed to create a passageway that allowed her to cross from the U.S. to Mexico and back. She marked the rocks with a kind of limestone paint, creating a visibly dotted line across the Rio Bravo.


Walking from south to north, she described, is “the most political act you could do.”


Near this portion of the Rio Bravo, there were no signs or fences delineating one country from another. Cuevas could spot border patrols in the area, but never once saw an act of violence or conflict like the ones you might see on the evening news.


Several years after the imagination of “Crossing,” President Donald Trump announced his plans to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a project that has been estimated to cost around $22 billion. The executive order tied to the initiative describes the wall as a measure “to prevent illegal immigration, drug and human trafficking, and acts of terrorism.”


“You learn about the border through media,” Cuevas explains in the Art 21 video, a part of the organization’s “Exclusive” series, available on YouTube. “Violence is a very strong element in this perception of what’s the border.”


“The wall wouldn’t stop immigration,” she adds. “The wall only reinforces this original [idea] that’s connecting the border with violence. In fact, it would empower human trafficking.”


Cuevas is one of many artists who’ve engaged in artworks along the U.S.-Mexico border, offering a different kind of lens through which citizens of both countries can view this vital region. Watch “Bridging Borders” above to hear more about the artist’s vision for political action of the future.

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Slick Rick's 'Children's Story' Is Getting Turned Into A Real Kid's Book

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Once upon a time not long ago, children’s books were bereft of real-life scenarios faced by black children. But now, Slick Rick’s classic song and cautionary tale “Children’s Story” is being turned into an actual children’s book.


The British-American rapper’s 1988 hit about a 17-year-old boy who gets caught up in a life of crime will become an 18-page book by Get On Down record label that uses the song’s lyrics as narration.






Buyers of the book will also receive the re-release of “The Great Adventures of Slick Rick” album that originally debuted 29 years ago, as well as a piece of art based on the “Children’s Story” video


The book will be available for purchase on April 22, which is also National Record Store Day.


Good night.

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Despite Death Threats, Artist Behind Nazi-Themed Trump Billboard Plans To Make More

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After designing a controversial billboard that appeared in Phoenix, Arizona, last week, artist Karen Fiorito has received a lot of death threats.


Her billboard, on view since March 17, features President Donald Trump’s visage surrounded by swastika money signs and twin nuclear mushroom clouds. On the backside, it showcases an image of five hands signing “unity,” but that’s not the part of the billboard that’s provoked critics, who have suggested over phone, email and social media that Fiorito sleep with a gun under her pillow.


“You are a sick, disgusting person to compare President Trump to anything like this,” one Facebook user commented on Fiorito’s page, referencing her Nazi imagery.


“Regarding your SWASTIKA billboard in my town [...] I’m going to tell you that no, they symbolize hate and anti-semitism. Shame on you,” another wrote.







The billboard space was provided by owner Beatrice Moore, who, according to local outlet 12 News, will keep Fiorito’s divisive image up for the remainder of Trump’s presidency. Despite the torrent of harassment she’s experienced, Fiorito is on board. In fact, she has plans to make more billboards ― trolls be damned.


“I think a lot of people are feeling this way and I’m just trying to express what I think is on a lot of people’s minds these days,” explained the artist, who’s also responsible for a series of 12 billboards addressing California’s drought. “Something that really concerned us was this idea of a dictatorship where things were going in a certain direction.”


“There are people who say, ‘Well, it’s offensive,’” she added, “but the current administration ― its policies, the people that are put in power ― are offensive to me.” 


We checked in with Fiorito not long after her billboard went viral to discuss the wave of backlash she’s encountered and her persistent desire to make more billboards. It’s safe to say Americans will probably be seeing other Nazi-themed Trump billboards in the future.





Can you elaborate on the kinds of death threats you’ve received from critics of the billboard?


There are some people telling me I should die, or they are “coming to get me.” Others say that I’m “disgusting,” “not an artist,” a “traitor,” a “Nazi,” a “Communist,” a “Feminist,” and my favorite, “Fake News.” Most are just the uneducated insults, and there is a lot of crass and vulgar language so I can’t really say much more than that. 


When someone says, “You should sleep with a gun under your pillow” or, “Me and my boys are coming to get you,” it’s a little scary. What’s scarier is when they have your home address, email and phone number. I know most of this is hot air, but it only takes one crazy person. I am not too afraid, but my family members are afraid for me.



Have the threats been lodged anonymously, or are individuals or groups using their names or other information to identify themselves? Are they happening online, or via other forms of communication?


I’ve gotten hundreds of phone calls and emails. I’ve gotten hundreds of threats on every page I have on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. They tried to hack my accounts (Facebook, Gmail) and my social security number. They never identify themselves unless it is on social media. Many have called from blocked or “anonymous” numbers and emails. I have kept a call log of every number along with its corresponding message and am reporting them to the police, just in case. 


KPNX claimed that you did expect “blowback” from Trump supporters before installing the billboard. Was the reaction in line with what you expected?


This is not my first political artwork. I have a history of political posters and billboards. I did an anti-Bush billboard in 2004 and an anti-Fox News billboard in 2005. Each of these caused me to receive many death threats and hate. [People] also hacked my email and posted my personal information online. These are their tactics. They will do anything to scare and intimidate you because they know you are right. They want me to be silent. They want me to live in fear and take the billboard down. That is not going to happen.


What has been the general local response to the billboard in Phoenix? 


I heard ― I am in California ― from the owner that there has been a line to take selfies with it every day and a line of traffic around the block all day. People have been traveling from all over Arizona and California to visit it. People are hanging signs around it and leaving candles. It’s been very popular.


Are you planning on installing anymore billboards?


Yes. We are compiling a list of cities right now and doing research on costs, etcetera. We will be announcing something soon!


Have you received commissions for more?


I have had many people ask me to put it up in their home town or city, even some who have offered me money, but nothing confirmed yet.


What is your advice to artists who wish to resist Trump, but might be afraid of potential retribution from Trump supporters?


Join a group or local organization against Trump and his policies. Lots of artists are forming groups, and there is power in numbers. If you are still afraid, do what I wish I would have done: remain anonymous (like Banksy).





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This Student Was Raped Twice In Her Dorm. Now She's Suing Her School.

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Warning: Some readers may find details in this article triggering.


Amelia Roskin-Frazee was only a few months into her first year at Columbia University when she says she was raped in her own bed. Two months later, Roskin-Frazee says she was raped again in her dorm room by the same man she believes attacked her the first time. Now a sophomore, Roskin-Frazee is taking legal action against Columbia for allegedly mishandling her case. 


“I have nightmares every night, if I can sleep at all,” Roskin-Frazee told The Huffington Post. “Every moment of every day, I feel flashbacks and pain in my body.”


On Tuesday, Roskin-Frazee sued the university for negligence, gross negligence and violating Title IX.


According to the lawsuit, Roskin-Frazee woke up on Oct. 5, 2015 to a man raping her while covering her face with a pillow. She was in so much pain she passed out. The second rape allegedly occurred on Dec. 14, 2015. According to the complaint, she walked into her dorm room and was pushed to the ground from behind. Roskin-Frazee’s attacker then removed her clothes, tied her hands above her head using a phone charger cord and allegedly began penetrating her with multiple foreign objects including a hairbrush, scissors and a razor. As the man was assaulting her, he whispered into her ear: “Still a dyke?”


Roskin-Frazee, an out lesbian, told HuffPost her attacker made it “very clear” he was targeting her because of her sexuality. “It made me feel like I brought this on myself by being an LGBTQ rights activist and openly lesbian, which made me more ashamed of my assaults happening,” she said. “I’m scared to go to meetings for LGBTQ students on campus because I’m worried it will make me a target.”






According to the complaint, directly after the second assault, Roskin-Frazee began receiving notes that read: “Isn’t it fun to wake up to someone fucking you?” and “I’ll buy you a new phone charger.” 


The lawsuit alleges that the university mishandled the case in multiple ways. After the first assault, Roskin-Frazee did not file a report to the school but she did seek medical treatment and counseling.


According to a BuzzFeed report, this is what happened after the first attack:



Roskin-Frazee sought to move out of her dormitory. But according to the complaint, she was told she would have to be ready to move upon 24 hours’ notice, pay $500, and that her parents would have to be notified as to the reason why. According to the lawsuit, the Sexual Violence Response nurse and a therapist from the university’s Counseling and Psychological Services never told Roskin-Frazee about her rights or options under Title IX — as required by federal law. 



(To read BuzzFeed’s full outline of the case head here). 


After the second assault, Roskin-Frazee decided to make a formal complaint to the university, but she says Columbia told her they would not investigate the report because she couldn’t identify her rapist. According to the complaint, the university didn’t open an investigation into the attacks until almost a year later (September 2016) and only after Roskin-Frazee applied pressure to the school to look into her case. 


On Oct. 7, 2016 ― 26 days into the school’s investigation ― Columbia stopped their search. According to the complaint, Roskin-Frazee was told that “investigators had not interviewed anybody, did not review the swipe logs for her dormitory building for the nights of her respective sexual assaults, and could not review any security camera footage because the footage had been erased due to the length of time that had passed since [the] Plaintiff’s assaults.”


Roskin-Frazee told HuffPost she believes there are multiple things Columbia could have done to prevent her second assault and the subsequent harassment she experienced.


“They should have investigated in October 2015 and early December 2015. They should have made housing accommodations accessible so I could move out of the dorm room where I was assaulted,” she said. “They should have provided prompt safety and academic accommodations, rather than make me relive my assaults repeatedly by explaining myself to my professors and fearing accommodations not being granted.”



I'm fearful every day that he'll find me and assault me again.
Amelia Roskin-Frazee


During a press conference on Tuesday, Roskin-Frazee told reporters: “To be blunt, I’m suing Columbia because I’m angry.”


According to Roskin-Frazee’s complaint, during this period of time her grades dropped dramatically, she missed classes and assignments and became reclusive.


Columbia University spokesperson Robert Hornsby told HuffPost the school could not comment on pending litigation. “None of this diminishes the deep concern we feel about any allegation of assault on our campuses,” he added.


For her part, Roskin-Frazee says she still lives with the trauma of her assaults on a daily basis.


“I’m fearful every day that he’ll find me and assault me again,” she said. 


Need help? Visit RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.

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Where Does The Term 'Fake News' Come From? The 1890s, Apparently

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“Fake news” is so ubiquitous now, it’s hard to believe that just a few months ago, we barely ever used the term.


According to Google Trends, it blew up in November, the month of the 2016 election. Initially, it described the sort of hoax articles published by shady content farms that cynically exploited readers’ existing biases to get clicks from bald-faced lies about Hillary Clinton storing fraudulent ballots in warehouses.






Tall tales presented as factual news stories existed prior to the 2016 election. In fact, though many have referred to “fake news” as a term coined in recent months, the compound noun isn’t exactly new either. According to Merriam-Webster, the term “fake news” stretches back over 100 years. On Friday, the dictionary’s blog published a history of “fake news,” and the truth may surprise you.


Though the common usage of “fake news” is new, Merriam-Webster points out, “Fake news appears to have begun seeing general use at the end of the 19th century.” The post cites several news articles from the 1890s, including an 1891 piece in The Buffalo Commercial (Buffalo, NY) that optimistically declared, “The public taste [...] certainly has no genuine appetite for ‘fake news’ and ‘special fiend’ decoctions such as were served up by a local syndicate a year or two ago.” 


My, how things can change!


“Fake news” is such a simple construction ― information reported in a news outlet that is bogus ― that Merriam-Webster sees no need to even consider it for entry in the dictionary as a separate term. It’s utterly self-explanatory and straightforward.


So why didn’t it exist before? Well, Merriam-Webster has the answer to that, too: “the word fake is also fairly young. Fake was little used as an adjective prior to the late 18th century.” Prior to the late 19th century, English speakers used an obvious alternative to refer to what we now call fake news: “false news.”


When you get down to it, the history of “fake news” is actually pretty intuitive; as long as there’s been fake news, there’s been a simple way to describe it. And while it wasn’t always a favorite subject of American presidents and news media, bogus news has been around for centuries. The only thing that seems to have changed is our “genuine appetite” for it.






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This Gorgeous Blog Fights Hate With Everyday Immigrant Stories

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One group is hoping to counter intolerance with a simple approach: sharing true stories of immigrant life.  


Launched earlier this month, nonprofit community art blog Riding Up Front tells stories of immigrant cab drivers living in the U.S. and elsewhere, paired with eye-catching illustrations.


The stories, contributed from people around the world ― almost all of whom are immigrants ― relay real-life conversations they’ve had with drivers, who are also immigrants.


The idea is to push back against anti-immigrant hate and discriminatory policies in the U.S. and elsewhere by sharing immigrants’ everyday struggles and lived experiences.


“By creating art and telling stories, we can show people that we are not ‘the other,’ we are humans,” founder Wei-En Tan, who is an immigrant from Singapore living in the U.S., told The Huffington Post. “If I can change one person’s mind about all immigrants being here to take jobs away from Americans, I would view that as a win.”



By creating art and telling stories, we can show people that we are not ‘the other,’ we are humans.”
founder Wei-En Tan


The blog focuses specifically on interactions between passengers and drivers because of the “intimacy” long drives can spark between otherwise complete strangers, said Tan.  


One story relays a conversation with a Moroccan cab driver in Paris, who happens to be a Zen Buddhist.



“So how do you deal with anger? With what’s happening?” [the passenger] asked.


“Anger? No anger. I’m zen, completely zen.”


“You meditate it away?”


“No, no.” He gave me a pitying look. “You embrace it.”




At a time when hate crimes against minorities are occurring at an alarming rate in the U.S. ― and anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies are coming from the White House ― the blog is a small effort to “humanize” immigrants, said Tan.


“It’s not easy being an immigrant in this country,” Tan told HuffPost. “I’ve endured many acts of xenophobia. I was walking down the street one day in D.C., and someone yelled at me to ‘Go back to China.’ I’m not from China, so it doesn’t even make sense. For all they know I could have been American.”



Someone yelled at me to ‘Go back to China.’ I’m not from China, so it doesn’t even make sense."
Wei-En Tan


“[After Trump’s travel ban], I started thinking: how can I do something to bring people together?” Tan added. “Talk to people who might not know immigrants.”


The website is run as a “community blog,” meaning the volunteer team at Riding Up Front ― almost all immigrants themselves ― collects submitted stories, edits them and pairs them with illustrations from artists around the world, who submit their work voluntarily but occasionally receive a nominal fee.


“It’s a labor of love,” Tan said of the writers and artists all volunteering work. “Almost all of the founding team is made up of people with experience with immigration or as refugees: Anais is Iranian-French in the U.S. Mark is American in Australia. Martha was a refugee from Cuba, who came over on a boat.”



While the blog originated in reaction to President Donald Trump’s policies, it intentionally features stories of drivers beyond the U.S.


“We know who is the current propagator of non-inclusive policies ― but these are things that existed before Trump’s presidency,” Tan said. “And look at France, at Brexit ― these xenophobic, nationalistic ideas seem to be catching fire, so it’s important to think about this internationally as well.” 


Because most of the stories so far have been written from the passenger’s perspective, centering their own experience rather than the driver’s, some of the tales stray into romanticizing the driver’s story as a lesson learned for the passenger.



“We’re going to live well, my family and me,” [the driver says.]


“How?”


“Saving. People don’t understand how to save money in this country. It’s so simple. We work hard, and I save all our money.”


“Wow. You’re an inspiration,” [the writer says.]



Notably, not all of the passengers had asked drivers for permission to share their story before they submitted it to the blog, according to Tan. But the drivers’ names are changed to protect their privacy and security.


“We look at stories, and it’s hard to check for bias or privilege, but we try our best,” Tan told HuffPost. “The only two non-immigrants [who contributed stories so far] were minorities. We want to make sure it’s not some white privilege site trying to do good with immigrants.”



The site features donation buttons for readers to support the artists, as well as the American Civil Liberties Union, the International Rescue Committee and the American Immigration Council ― groups that fight for immigrant and refugee rights.


In the week and a half since its launch, Riding Up Front has received story submissions from more than 30 people, as well as four artists.


It hasn’t yet received enough donations to funnel funds beyond the artists and to the nonprofits, but Tan is planning to do a larger donation push soon.


“The most important message is: We all have the same values, no matter how different,” Tan said. “Family, hard work ― just being human.” 




For HuffPost’s #LoveTakesAction series, we’re telling stories of how people are standing up to hate and supporting those most threatened. Know a story from your community? Send news tips to lovetips@huffingtonpost.com.




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Mayim Bialik Is Sick Of People Calling Women 'Girls'

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Actress Mayim Bialik has had enough of a people calling grown women “girls.”


On March 23, “The Big Bang Theory” star posted a powerful video — which has garnered 1.5 million views — to her Facebook page in which she urges people to think about the language they use when describing women.


“When we use words to describe adult women that are typically used to describe children, it changes the way we view women — even unconsciously, so that we don’t equate them with adult men,” she says. “In fact, it implies that they’re inferior to men.” 


Bialik goes on to explain:



Maybe if we start using language that elevates women and doesn’t equate them with sweet, small, cuddly, tender things, we’ll start treating them as more than that as well.



Preach, woman, preach!

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Dazzling Photos Capture The Beauty Of Afro-Latinas In Puerto Rico

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When Valerie Moreno moved to Puerto Rico four years ago to be with her husband, the Canadian photographer was surprised to find an incredible amount of racial diversity on the Caribbean island.


“I didn’t know there were as many black Latinos and as much diversity as there is,” Moreno, who is of Salvadorian descent, told The Huffington Post. “Why? Partly because of my ignorance but also because every Puerto Rican I saw in movies and pop culture looked very much like J. Lo ― culturally homogeneous.”


Moreno hopes to change those types of misconceptions about Puerto Rico and the people who live there with her own set of images she shares on her Instagram account Afros in San Juan.


“In a very small way, I wanted to show people outside of Puerto Rico what I see when I walk the streets of San Juan,” she said. 


She says the goal of Afros in San Juan is to also show the world “there’s diversity, beauty, and talent in Puerto Rico that goes well beyond the narrative of a broken economy and political limitations that we’ve all been fed. While [the] limitations are real, that story is incomplete.”




The photographer began the project in August 2016 and has since filled her account with vibrant portraits of mainly Afro-Latinas on the island that showcase the subjects natural hair and the picturesque streets of San Juan. Moreno also interviews each person she meets and often includes their quotes in captions.


“This has been a creative way for me to explore and learn about Puerto Rican culture beyond popular history; lessons that one day my husband and I will have to teach our children,” she told HuffPost. “It has been a way for me to learn through personal stories about women, their hair, and for most, the stigma attached to it.” 


Every picture on the account is a result of a personalized session and interview with the subject because, not being Afro-Latina herself, Moreno doesn’t “want to assume to speak on behalf of people who’s life experience is beyond my scope and experience.” The photographer says she’s also just one of the many voices working to bring more visibility to Afro-Latinas.


“I choose to lend whatever privilege I might have, whatever voice I have, to the benefit of the beautiful people I photograph,” she said. “I simply want to document the people I’ve seen around me and their words, so that when people look back at this generation and our contributions, they remember some of the beautiful, real faces that were here at this point in time. Because, why should a black person be a hidden figure in their own country?”











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'Hamilton' Provided The Congressional Meme America Deserved

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For some readers, today is just another Friday. For those paying intensely close attention to the American Health Care Act, the GOP’s proposed bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, today is ... well, just another Friday in President Donald Trump’s America.


The AHCA has been butt of many jokes this week, particularly after the House of Representatives failed to meet their hoped-for Thursday night deadline. As reps have seemingly failed to muster enough votes to pass the bill ― hence the delay ― Trump claimed he was “done negotiating over repealing and replacing Obamacare,” demanding a hasty Friday vote anyway. (That didn’t turn out so well.)







In response, Twitter was quick to reach into the pop culture well for a reference so perfect for this moment it’s almost scary. We’ll let George Takei take it from here:






Hamilton: An American Musical,” that Lin-Manuel Miranda production that we really shouldn’t have to describe anymore, has been eerily relevant to contemporary politics. As Pamela Paul from The New York Times wrote:






But it was especially relevant today, and the internet had the memes to prove it.






Long live “Hamilton” fans.














And we can't wait to see how handy GIFs from "The Handmaid's Tale" will be.






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J. Cole Is Dropping '4 Your Eyez Only, A Dreamville Film' On HBO

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J. Cole released the trailer for his HBO documentary “4 Your Eyez Only” on Friday. 


The hourlong doc, which was co-directed by Cole, will give viewers insight into his artistic process and include clips from live performances. Documentary co-director Scott Lazer told Entertainment Weekly that the film will provide more context for the album of the same name, which came out in December


Days before the album was released, Cole debuted a short documentary titled “Eyez.” 


The new documentary also explores some of Cole’s roots as he visits multiple towns in the South and Midwest, such as Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he was raised, and Ferguson, Missouri. 


In the trailer, Cole’s “Change” plays in the background as residents of these towns ― some of which are experiencing significant levels of poverty ― discuss the economic burdens their neighborhoods are facing.


One resident says: “So many of us are hurting and we’re confused and we’re angry.”


“4 Your Eyez Only” is Cole’s second documentary to air on HBO. His debut doc, “J. Cole Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming,” premiered in January 2016. 


The new documentary airs on April 15 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO. Check out the trailer below: 




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Bill Nighy Previews The 'Satisfying' 'Love Actually' Mini-Sequel

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Bill Nighy is as excited for the “Love Actually” mini-sequel as we are. 


During a Build Series interview with The Huffington Post on Thursday, the actor, who stars in the new movie “Their Finest,” shared a little bit of information about the much talked-about “Love Actually” revival, which will debut on Red Nose Day in the U.S. May 25. 


“I’m in it,” Nighy, who of course played pop star and “Christmas Is All Around” singer Billy Mack in the beloved film, confirmed. “And Hugh Grant and Liam Neeson and Keira Knightley and Colin Firth and Lúcia [Moniz] and Andrew Lincoln and Chiwetel Ejiofor, you can probably guess that I’ve been saying this quite often over the last few days,” the actor joked. “It was very, very cool.”



The cast reunited with a goal to end child poverty and ensure that kids are safe, healthy and educated by supporting Red Nose Day and Comic Relief, which was founded by “Love Actually” writer and director Richard Curtis. 


“You’ll get to see what’s happened to everybody in the 14 years since the movie was made,” Nighy said, adding that it’s definitely “satisfying.”


“I’ve seen Liam Neeson’s one and don’t miss it, and don’t miss Hugh Grant’s [bit] because it’s hilarious,” the actor concluded. 


Nighy brings another comedic character to life as actor Ambrose Hilliard in “Their Finest,” a rom-com war drama that centers around a British film crew as they attempt to boost morale during World War II by making a propaganda film after the Blitzkrieg. The lovely movie is out April 7 in select theaters. 






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James Blunt Says 'You're Beautiful' Doesn't Mean What You Think It Does

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James Blunt’s life is brilliant. 


From recording songs in the bathroom at Carrie Fisher’s house and knowing the truth behind the mysterious cut on Ed Sheeran’s face to possibly preventing World War III (for real), nothing about Blunt is exactly what you’d assume. Even the singer’s world-renowned single, “You’re Beautiful,” is largely misinterpreted, as he explained to The Huffington Post. 


“Everyone goes, ‘Ah, he’s so romantic. I want ‘You’re Beautiful’ as my wedding song.’ These people are fucked up,” said Blunt, bluntly. 







The success of Blunt’s mid-2000s hit put the singer on the map and reportedly led to him having the U.K.’s best selling album of that decade, but it’s also caused him a bit of frustration over the years. Some, like those people playing it at weddings, still don’t seem to know what the song is actually about.


The singer said, “You get labeled with these things like, ‘Oh, James Blunt. Isn’t he just a soft romantic?’ Well, fuck that. No, I’m not. ‘You’re Beautiful’ is not this soft romantic fucking song. It’s about a guy who’s high as a fucking kite on drugs in the subway stalking someone else’s girlfriend when that guy is there in front of him, and he should be locked up or put in prison for being some kind of perv.”


The singer has now released his new album, “The Afterlove,” which is as surprising as the true meaning of that song — mostly because it doesn’t sound like a James Blunt album, according to Blunt.


The singer said his previous albums were all related to each other and more “lyrically filtered,” but for this, collaborators such as Sheeran and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder inspired him to really “say something.” 





Blunt credits Sheeran and Tedder with helping him open up on the album about when “You’re Beautiful” became a phenomenon and the backlash he received. He even pokes fun at it in his first single, “Love Me Better,” saying, “Would’ve said you’re beautiful, but I used that line before.”


“We start off saying, ‘OK, people say the meanest things. I’ve been called a dick. I’ve been called worse than that,’ and I wanted to beep out the words, so you can put in your own word ... because then you’d probably do what rhymes with blunt,” the singer said with a laugh.


He continued, “[As] we progressed, we [said] we should say things that are associated with being in the position I’m in. Legally, I’m barely allowed to say the word ‘beautiful,’ contractually obliged not to. So that’s why we thought we’d mess around with it.” 



Is it an annoying song? No, it’s not, unless it’s shoved down your fucking throat a shitload.
James Blunt


In past interviews, Blunt supposedly “confesses” that “You’re Beautiful” became annoying. Now, more than a decade after its release, we asked about his real feelings toward the song.


Blunt explains he was “really lucky” to sing something people actually love. 


“But too much of a good thing turns into a bad thing eventually, and it got a lot of airplay, and it doesn’t take much to work out that kind of thing. I love hamburgers, but if you give me a hamburger for every meal I’m gonna tire of it,” he said. “Is it an annoying song? No, it’s not, unless it’s shoved down your fucking throat a shitload.”


He continued, saying that dismissing the song would be disrespectful to fans, “The fact that you and I are talking really is only because of that song. It’s one of the highlights of the concerts. Not the highlight, but one of them, and for me it’s a highlight because it’s almost the end of the concert and nearly time for a beer.” 



The singer hasn’t revealed which of his ex-girlfriends his worldwide hit is about, and he tells us he never will because “that person never asked for that.”


But if you are in the camp that finds the song “annoying,” rest assured that Blunt won’t catch eyes with another ex on the subway in order to write a follow-up anytime soon. 


“The weird thing about the subway is no one looks at each other. So I play the O2 in London. It’s a 20,000 capacity venue, and then I’ll take the subway to my gig, and everyone’s going to my gig, and no one looks at you. If anyone does, they say, ‘Hey you look exactly like James Blunt, only smaller.’”





The Afterlove” is available now.

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Shakira's Bachata Moves Are Fire In 'Deja Vu' Music Video

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It seems that practice really did make perfect as Shakira hit the dance floor for her new bachata single. 


The Colombian superstar and Prince Royce released the music video to their new song “Deja Vu” on Friday afternoon. In the video, Shakira shows off some seductive bachata dance moves alongside the Bronx-born artist. 


For weeks, the Colombian singer has been sharing videos of herself practicing her bachata steps on Instagram. In one clip, Shakira danced with one of her sons.




”Deja Vu” is featured on Royce’s new album “Five.” The single’s music video has accrued nearly half a million views since its release. 


Watch the video above. 

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Lin-Manuel Miranda Says So Much More Than 'Thank You' During His Acceptance Speeches

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History has its eyes on Lin-Manuel Miranda, and he constantly delivers. 


The “Hamilton” creator is known to win things ― he nearly MacPEGOT’d at the Oscars this year (but lost Best Original Song to “City of Stars” from “La La Land”) ― and his victory speeches are nothing but net. 


Never one to shy away from making a statement, Miranda has addressed everything from love and immigration to “senseless acts of tragedy” as he rapped or sonneted his way through a moment


Now, the lyricist, composer and playwright is taking part in the Facebook telethon Stand for Rights: A Benefit for the ACLU to raise money for the American Civil Liberties Union on Friday, March 31. The event will stream live on The Huffington Post and Funny or Die Facebook pages, beginning at 7 p.m. ET. 


To get hyped for Miranda’s sure-to-be memorable appearance on the telethon, check out some of his most inspiring acceptance speeches below.


 


2016 Tony Win for Best Score - “Hamilton” 





2016 Tony for Best Book of a Musical - “Hamilton” 





2016 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album - “Hamilton”





2008 Tony for Best Score - “In the Heights”




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Laura Dern On Her 'Big Little Lies' Confrontation With Reese Witherspoon And Nicole Kidman

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One of the best scenes ― as in, rewind-immediately-and-watch-it-again-it’s-so-good ― in “Big Little Lies” is Episode 4’s board-room confrontation. Three of our finest actresses stake out territory across a table: Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon on one side, and Laura Dern on the other.


Battling over a controversial local production of “Avenue Q,” Madeline Martha Mackenzie (Witherspoon) and lawyer Celeste Wright (Kidman) argue the town of Monterey wouldn’t want a censorship scandal by giving in to Renata Kline’s (Dern) insistence that the mayor shut down a production of the profane musical.


For Dern, who has remained close friends with Witherspoon since they made 2014’s “Wild” together, it was a delicious scene to perform. 


“As beautiful as the experience is working with fellow women and doing that whole scene,” Dern said, “Reese and I have become like family ... so to look across from each other, all I can say is we’re filled with such contempt with every look, and after every take we would be grateful for them to cut so that we could howl out loud. You just can’t believe how fun it is to hate someone you love so much. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m hating you this much!’”


Dern cracked up while recalling the experience during a recent Huffington Post interview for Build Series, so do yourself a favor and watch her describe it in the above video.


Below, Dern talks about the costumes in “Big Little Lies” and her new movie “Wilson,” which opens this weekend. 






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Stephen Hawking Spoof Auditions Celebrities For His New Voice

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Stephen Hawking is on the hunt for a new voice.


Well, not really. But that’s the premise of a hilarious spoof clip that aired Friday in the United Kingdom as part of charity Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day.


Having used the same computerized tone for three decades, the famous British physicist decides he’s ready to switch it up — and auditions celebrities for the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”






Actors including Stephen Fry, Liam Neeson, Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson and Lin-Manuel Miranda do battle over the role. Foul-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay puts in a curse-filled appearance. Even Eddie Redmayne, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of Hawking in the 2014 movie “The Theory Of Everything,” has a go.


But ultimately, there’s only one winner — as Hawking opts for one of Hollywood’s most recognizable voices.





Check out the full clip above.


type=type=RelatedArticlesblockTitle=Related Coverage + articlesList=55d377f9e4b0ab468d9ea08f,58cfc7afe4b0ec9d29dd537b,5616c20ce4b0dbb8000d9f15,58d016cee4b00705db51828d

Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Tracy Morgan, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Moore, Padma Lakshmi and a whole host of other stars are teaming up for Stand for Rights: A Benefit for the ACLU. Donate now and join us at 7 p.m. Eastern on Friday, March 31 on Facebook Live. #standforrights2017

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This Missy Elliott Lyric From 2002 Has The Internet In Shambles

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It’s been 15 years since Missy Elliott dropped “Work It,” her hit song that had teens across the country speaking gibberish in an attempt to imitate her catchy-as-hell hook.


But, for reasons the internet gods only understand, people are just now realizing what Missy was actually saying in her song.


You know the part we’re talking about:



Is it worth it? Let me work it.


I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it


Itsyerdinnaflipnwod......... ?!?!?!



On Friday, Missy tweeted a shout out to her fans who finally noticed her tongue-twisting hook. 


“Yup, I FLIPPED IT & REVERSED IT,” she wrote, along with a clip of the famous line. “Go to snap. Try it.” 






It’s not as mysterious as everyone’s making it out to be.


If you record the hook to “Work It” on Snapchat, then put the rewind filter on, you’ll see that Missy did exactly what she said she’d do. That line of gibberish is actually the line “I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it” played in reverse.


You can also see it by looking up the lyrics to the song:



I put my thing down flip it and reverse it


Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gniht ym tup I



A lot of people did not know how to handle this new information.














After the lyric went viral, resurrecting a classic hip-hop jam from 2002, the internet was split between those whose minds were blown and those who let out a collective, “DUH.”














No matter where you stand on this “revelation,” let’s all agree on one thing. Missy Elliott is the real MVP for having us sound like this for two and a half decades:








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A Farm Boy Meets His Prince In A Beautiful New Children’s Book

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A powerful new children’s book is telling the story of a farm boy and prince who meet, build a friendship and eventually fall in love in the face of adversity. 


Promised Land, by authors Adam Reynolds and Chaz Harris, borrows elements from classic fairy tales and utilizes them in a queer and empowering framework. Not only is the book presenting a same-sex love story in an accessible and understandable way, but it also bucks the “damsel in distress” narrative by having the central female character, a queen, be the one to save herself. 


“The [kinds of media] we consume as kids and young adults form our attitudes towards those around us,” Harris told The Huffington Post. “Most importantly, they influence our attitudes towards ourselves. If you don’t see yourself in stories, you don’t see yourself in the world and I believe that lack of visibility creates the kind of ‘otherness’ we often experience as LGBTQ+ people. If we can be heroes in stories, we’re seen more positively in the real world.”



The book, which is set in a kingdom where all people are equal no matter what they look like or who they love, is also dedicated to those affected by the Pulse nightclub massacre that killed 49 queer people, most of color, and their allies in June 2016.


“I remember when Ellen spoke at the vigil of Matthew Shepard and said ‘This is what I was trying to stop!’ Harris continued. “That was how it felt to us. After it was reported the man responsible for the Pulse massacre had said the image of two men kissing disgusted him so much that it had motivated the attack, our book ends with that image. We felt it was important that the lives that we lost could be forever remembered with a message of love and hope.”



As for the future, Harris and Reynolds both hope to continue producing work that tells diverse and queer stories.


“We do hope to be able to bring more stories to life that feature protagonists beyond gay characters, that just seemed the most obvious starting point for us,” Reynolds told HuffPost. “We’d likely do this in collaboration with writers who represent those authentic voices though. Why not? There’s a whole Kingdom to explore!”


A pre-order of the paperback edition of Promised Land is now available.

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Debbie Reynolds And Carrie Fisher Remembered At Public Memorial Service

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In a beautiful public memorial service on Saturday, over 1,200 family members, friends and fans of Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher paid tribute to the iconic mother-daughter duo nearly three months after their deaths


Hosted by Reynolds’ son and Fisher’s brother, Todd Fisher, the event ― or show, according to Todd, since “my mother didn’t like memorials and funerals” ― was held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Attendees included actors Griffin Dunne, Ruta Lee and Dan Aykroyd, who told a sweet story about his former fiancée Carrie, calling her a “beloved showboat.”



According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 90-minute ceremony also featured montages, set to music by “Star Wars” composer John Williams, highlighting Reynolds’ and Fisher’s careers, intimate family photos, interviews and humanitarian work. 


There was even a memorable “beepy” appearance by R2-D2 and performances by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles and tap dancers from Debbie Reynolds Dance Studios. And, although he wasn’t present, “I’m Here to Let You Go,” an original song by Fisher’s close friend James Blunt, made its debut during a photo montage. 



Fisher died on Dec. 27 at the age of 60 following a heart attack. The next day, her beloved mother Reynolds died at 84.  


“When Carrie died, my mother decided to change her plans a bit,” Todd told the audience at the memorial. “My mother always said to me, ‘I never want to go to my daughter’s funeral service. I would like to be buried with Carrie.’ I didn’t know she was going to leave us that very next day and when she looked at me to ask permission to leave, she said she wanted to be with Carrie, and she closed her eyes and went to sleep. It was a beautiful exit.”



Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tom Hanks, Tracy Morgan, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Michael Moore, Padma Lakshmi and a whole host of other stars are teaming up for Stand for Rights: A Benefit for the ACLU. Donate now and join us at 7 p.m. Eastern on Friday, March 31 on Facebook Live. #standforrights2017 

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

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