BEYONCE RAISES BROWS OVER BLACK FACE

Hmmmm....now this is interesting.



So Beyoncé's latest photo shoot came under fire Wednesday when images of the singer's famous face appeared in the pages of a French fashion magazine - covered in dark paint.

L'Officiel Paris chose the diva to don different colorful garbs and headpieces in a nod to Nigerian musician and human rights activist Fela Kuti in an "African Queen"-themed 90th anniversary issue.

The singer reportedly went to see the Broadway show "Fela!" - for which Jay-Z is a co-producer - and was so inspired by the music that she's even incorporated the legendary musician's sounds in her upcoming album.

Critics, however, quickly raised their eyebrows - and voices - in protest over what they deemed another instance of offensive blackface for the sake of fashion, while fans of the shoot argued that the look had artistic value.

The publication issued a statement, asserting that Beyoncé was "voluntarily darkened" and that the entire shoot was a tribute to the star's "African roots."

"The designs are all reflective of the African influence on fashion this season," the magazine said in a statement. "As for the artistic make-up, the inspiration came from several African rituals during which paint is used on the face.

"We find the images beautiful and inspiring," the editors said, defending their decision.

No one from Beyoncé's camp has yet spoken out in response to the Internet buzz.

ATL HOUSEWIFE KIM ZOLCIAK BARES HER TUMMY

Look at Kim in all her glory.



Kim Zolciak is so comfortable with her pregnancy, she's showing off her huge baby bump for all to see.

The "Real Housewives of Atlanta" cast member graces the cover of this week's Life & Style in a purple bikini, and also appears inside the magazine in a sexy pink two-piece.

Zolciak, who is due in June, said, "I'm more in touch with my body now."

The 32-year-old (side-eye) also revealed she gained 20 pounds in her first two trimesters.

"I'm definitely eating a lot more now than I did with my girls," said the reality star, mom to Brielle, 13, and Ariana, 9.

And her boyfriend, Atlanta Falcons player Kroy Biermann, definitely approves.

"Kroy loves me pregnant," Zolciak said. "I don't remember my ex-husband being that into it, but Kroy loves it. He tells me I'm so beautiful."

The two are planning to move in together before welcoming their new arrival.

"Kroy's perfect for me, but we're not engaged," Zolciak added. "If we get married, Kroy would like to have one more child, and I want one, too!"

KANYE IN MORE HOT WATER

Kanye, Kanye, Kanye....SMH. Why? why do you continue to talk?



He's attempting to address his thoughts on abortion via Twitter.

"An abortion can cost a ballin' n--ga up to 50gs maybe a 100. Gold diggin' b-----s be getting pregnant on purpose. #STRAPUP my n--gas!" West tweeted on Wednesday.

But he made sure to announce this hadn't happened to him, "It ain't happen to me but I know people."

His comments sent the blogosphere into a tizzy and infuriated British pop singer Lily Allen, who recently miscarried her second baby.

After retweeting West's remarks, Allen wrote, "Never has a tweet put me in such a bad mood. This is wrong on so many levels."

And Ye's tweets aren't his only personal expression that's causing controversy.

The video for his song "All of the Lights" has been pulled from YouTube over concerns that it may cause people with photosensitive epilepsy to have seizures.

"We are really pleased it has been taken down," Epilepsy Action wrote in a statement on its website. "We're not quite sure yet whether it is YouTube or Kanye West's representatives who have made this decision, or if it is a permanent move. For now we are delighted that our fears have been listened to and people with photosensitive epilepsy are no longer at risk."

JUDGE LIFTS RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST CHRIS BROWN

Two years after Chris Brown assaulted his then-girlfriend Rihanna, an L.A. judge decided to give the R&B superstar a second chance.

During a court hearing in L.A. Tuesday, a judge replaced Rihanna's previous restraining order with a level one order, meaning that the exes can have contact provided Brown, 21, does not harass, annoy or molest the "S&M" singer.

According to TMZ, Rihanna, 23, did not appear in court, though her attorney Donald Etra did. He informed the judge that Rihanna has no objections to the new order.

In August 2009, L.A. Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg put a five-year restraining order in effect, which required Brown to stay at least 50 yards away from Rihanna. If the two planned to attend the same industry event, the proximity was reduced to 10 yards.

FINALLY.... CARMELO TRADED TO THE KNICKS

Finally, the foolishness is over....


Carmelo Anthony is headed to the Knicks and that could mean that Donnie Walsh is leaving.

James Dolan pulled the trigger on a blockbuster deal for Anthony, the Brooklyn-born All-Star forward, who for months was angling for an opportunity to join forces with Amar'e Stoudemire in New York.

The price was steep as the Knicks traded Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler and rookie center Timofey Mozgov to the Denver Nuggets. They also gave Denver $3 million in cash plus a 2014 first round pick and two second round picks the Knicks acquired from Golden State in last summer's sign-and-trade with David Lee.

The Knicks get Anthony - who as part of the deal will get a 3-year, $65M extension - Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Renaldo Balkman and Anthony Carter.

The deal was completed late Monday night when Dolan, the Chairman of Madison Square Garden, included Mozgov in the trade. The Nuggets had insisted on Mozgov while Walsh and head coach Mike D'Antoni felt the Knicks were giving up too much even without Mozgov in the trade.

While New York will be buzzing Wednesday when Anthony makes his Garden debut in a Knicks uniform, the trade will likely create massive upheaval in the front office.

Walsh, the Knicks president, was over-ruled on the trade by Dolan, who was being advised by Isiah Thomas. Walsh's contract expires in June and according to sources close to the 69-year-old basketball lifer, Walsh will walk away.

Incredibly, there were deals all throughout the NBA that were being held up essentially because of Mozgov. When informed Monday that he might be the most important player in the NBA as of this moment, Mozgov replied, "Thank you.

"You told me this," he added. "I didn't know that. I will know this. It's great. But I don't feel nothing about it."

There are reports that the Nuggets, after making any deal with the Knicks, could send Mozgov, along with another player, to the Nets for first-round picks. That would unite Mozgov with fellow Russian Mikhail Prokhorov, who owns the Nets.

While Prokhorov could end up with the two Knicks, Dolan won the border war, not only landing Anthony but keeping him out of New Jersey.

"This is Jim and the Russian and Jim does not want to lose to Prokhorov, which is why I think the Knicks will overpay for Carmelo," one league official said before the trade was completed. "It looks like they are both willing to overpay for him."

KATY PERRY WHIPS HER HAIR

Katy Perry wasn't able to make Rihanna's Bday party so she sent a message from Lisbon complete w/ a version of "Whip my Hair."

RIHANNA HITS LONDON

Rihanna looked colorful in Christian Dior on the red carpet at London's Brit Awards Tuesday. Love, love, love this look on her. So much better than some of her more risque looks. She actually picked up an award for Best International Female Artist.

RIHANNA SUED

It looks like Rihanna's "S&M" has gotten her into more trouble. In addition to being banned in over 11 countries due to its racy content, Rihanna is now being sued by photographer and filmmaker David LaChapelle for the use of his some of his images.



According to published reports, LaChapelle said that "the music video is directly derived from and substantially similar to the LaChapelle works." He also claims that the video's director Melina Matsoukas copied the “composition, total concept, feel, tone, mood, theme, colors, props, settings, decors, wardrobe and lighting” of [LaChappelle's] work."

La Chappelle says that Rihanna and Matsoukas appropriated eight of his images in the video, including one in which the singer is set against a blue background with a piece of candy in her mouth.

LaChapelle, who directed the 2005 krumping documentary Rize and has photographed covers for magazines like Rolling Stone and GQ, is suing for unspecified damages.

CELEBS PERFORM AT THE GRAMMYS

Yolanda Adams, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Florence Welch, and Martina McBride kicked off the Grammys with a tribute to Aretha Franklin. I actually didn’t love it. It seemed like everyone was oversinging and I hate to say this….looked a mess with the exception of Jennifer Hudson who not only sung effortlessly but looked great.



And Christina….what’s really going on. She’s a mess now. She used to be on point. Looks like she took a spill during the performance.



Bruno Mars, B.o.B and Janelle Monae teamed up for a performance of their tracks 'Nothin' on You,' 'Grenade' and 'Cold War.' Very retro....loved it!


Although Gaga is extra to me. I liked the song. I’m sure her little monsters ate it up.


Justin Bieber, Usher, Jaden Smith took to the stage togethe.

Usher intro'd Bieber as an earnest acoustic troubadour; we then Jayden Smith give a quick rap cameo. Usher upstaged them both (faint praise) with the electro-pop OMG workout, complete with dancers and light show.



Shocked to hear Gwynth Paltrow sing. She actually sings alright. I was scared for girlfriend in those heels though. Thank God she stayed on her feet.


Glad to see Rihanna got over her illness in time to perform with Eminem and Dr. Dre.

CELEBS HIT GRAMMY RED-CARPET

It's Grammy night and celebs are trying to stand out.

Nicki Minaj wore a kooky leopard-print ensemble topped by Bride-of-Frankenstein hair. She explained: "What they made for me is just a miraculous piece of lioness meets her cub meets fierce-ocity meets fabulosity meets fashionista meets everything."




Rihanna wore a sheer number that Ryan Seacrest drooling.


J.Lo had legs for days. I didn't like her hair though. Wonder was it humid there.


Kim Kardashian...always looks nice.


Lady Gaga knows how to make an entrance without even being seen. The 24-year-old pop star arrived early at Sunday's Grammy Awards in L.A. -- encased in a giant egg and hoisted in the air by several scantily-clad men!"Gaga is in incubation," the singer's stylist Nicola Formichetti explained on Twitter. "Tonight's performance is in collaboration with Hussein Chalayan and House of Mugler."


J. Hud looked gorgeous.


I love Kelly Osbourne's dress


Mya...long time no see.


Monica


Ciara

JAMIE GETS IN A RUMBLE

According to TMZ.com, Foxx was involved in a fight at the celeb-studded bash, which featured a performance by Usher.

As the R&B singer was performing, a man speaking with Foxx "suddenly pulled Jamie down and put him in a headlock," TMZ said.

Security reportedly pulled the unidentified partygoer away from the actor-musician and escorted him out.

The gossip site reported there were no injuries and the police were not involved.

RIHANNA STILL BATTLING THE FLU

Fans will be holding their breath to see if their girl gets well enough to perform.



On Saturday night, celebrity friend-to-all Ryan Seacrest tweeted: "Hoping @rihanna will pull thru and can perform tomorrow at @thegrammys. I know she's been battling a bad case of flu. Get well riri!"

The singer is slated to perform with Eminem and is nominated for "Record of the Year" and "Best Dance Recording."

"Rihanna doesn't want to let Eminem down, but he would totally understand if she couldn't perform," a source told Radar. "The duo are scheduled to rehearse again on Saturday at Staples, but she probably won't be using her voice a lot at that time, she is saving it for Sunday night."

Rihanna pulled out of a charity concert on Thursday night, saying she had the flu.

CLIVE DAVIS HOSTS CELEB GRAMMY PRE-PARTY

Clive Davis hosted the 2011 Pre-Grammy Gala

Usher and Clive

Keri Hilson

Jennifer Hudson was there w/ her slim new body.

Ciara was there...she's way too much lately for me. Not sure what's going with her career.

Tyrese and Dionne Warwick

Whitney Houston and her auntie Dionne

Brandy and Monica...brings back memories.

Mary J

R. Kelly....I hate, hate to admit it, but his latest album is pretty good.

JAY-Z THROWS GRAMMY BRUNCH

Yesterday, Jay-Z invited a few of his friends to the Gucci and Roc Nation Pre-Grammy Brunch at Soho House in West Hollywood.

Rihanna and Beyonce....I almost didn't recognize B. Rihanna's hair is out of control, but it works.

Will Smith and Hov

Ne-yo

LA Reid

VIVICA TAKING IT SLOW

After becoming engaged to Atlanta club promotor Omar "Slim" White on December 26, Vivica says she's taking things slow.



"Can we be engaged for just a moment? Geez!" she laughed at Saturday's Cash Money Records Annual Pre-Grammy Awards party in West Hollywood. "Everyone's just like, 'Holy moly, when's the wedding?' We're just basking in the moment."

Still, the actress told reporters she'll likely walk down the aisle "in the fall."

And according to the 46-year-old actress, being engaged has its perks: "I got a man! I'm not alone this time for Valentine's Day!"

BASKETBALL WIVES' JENNIFER READY FOR THOSE PAPERS

J has been getting real brand new lately.



She recently told Life & Style that she's out!

"I plan on filing for divorce in the next couple of weeks," Jennifer revealed to the mag. "It's a new year, and I just want to put this behind me."

It was reported the pair, who wed in 2007, split in December, due to Eric's admitted infidelity.

"I really wanted it to work and believed he would change," Jennifer explained. "This whole lifestyle is dysfunctional; it's not a typical marriage. The bad just started to outweigh the good."

TABOO FROM THE BEPS TALKS NEW BOOK

Taboo from The Black Eyed Peas has released an inspirational autobiography - FALLIN’ UP: My Story. In the book he reveals his journey from the drug crime-ridden neighborhoods of L.A. to the packed performance sites around the world.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?

Okay can we believe this was an article today? Whether it's okay for President Obama to eat junkfood...



GV Says: Give this man a break!!!!!!!!!!!

STEVE HARVEY LIFTS GAG

Apparently Steve has had enough.



He is fighting back after his ex wife, Mary Harvey, attacked him on YouTube last month, claiming he was a chronic cheater who took their son and left her with nothing after they split.

In order to set the record straight, Steve Harvey asked to lift the gag order placed on their 2005 divorce proceedings. He also released a statement on Monday disputing his ex's allegations.

According to their divorce settlement, Mary Harvey was paid $40,000 a month until March 2009 and then given a lump sum of $1.5 million. In addition, she was awarded three homes.

Regarding their son Wynton, Steve Harvey was awarded primary custody and the 13-year-old was willingly sent to his father, according to the statement.

As to accusations of infidelity, their divorce was granted due to "irreconcilable differences." The document also states that his current wife, Marjorie Bridges, "was not named in the original divorce proceeding nor was she the cause of the marital break-up."

GV Says: This is a mess and I don't care what anyone says something went down for her to strike out after what two-three years.

HALLE BERRY GRACES EBONY

So Halle Berry is gracing the latest issue of Ebony. No issue there....



But some of our white friends are in an uproar because she believes her child is black.

On Nahla

“I feel like she’s black. I’m black and I’m her mother and I believe in the one-drop theory. I’m not going to put a label on it. I had to decide for myself and that’s what she’s going to have to decide – how she identifies herself in the world. And I think, largely, that will be based on how the world identifies her. That’s how I identified myself. But I feel like she’s black.”

GV Says: Geez...our white friends don't want to be black nor do they want us to call ourselves black????? I'm sorry I do not believe in the whole I'm this percentage black or this percentage white. I say embrace all of who you are no matter the race, HOWEVER, keep it real with yourself. If you appear black, white, Asian or whatever you need to understand that's how the world will treat you and I believe that is what Ms. Berry is trying to articulate.

NEW TYLER PERRY PROMOS

Looks like Tyler Perry has a new movie coming out on April 22 - Madea's Big Happy Family.



GV Says: (Chuckles....) On a different note, the real Black Swan was really good if you haven't had a chance to catch it yet.

50 BACK TO HIS OLD TRICKS

Here's a sign that 50 is washed up....taking stabs at random people.



“Old 2003 Ferrari” name checks Kanye West, Wiz Khalifa, Nas and drops a subliminal diss towards Rick Ross all in the first verse alone.

50 Cent spits: “It’s ‘O11 why that Maybach an ’06/This n--ga boo booed up with my old b---h/I put paper before hoes, that’s why I’m so rich/I paved the way, long di--, now we all fit/Doc check my temperature, why I’m so cold?/The hood left the left side of my chest froze/I’m more about pimpin’ gettin’ bank rolls/Sitting watch em trickin’ on them stank hoes/We can share love like Kanye and Khalifa/From runways in Milan to big bags of reefer/She alright for a night but don’t keep her/Ask Nas, Kelis was the illest ether.”

RIHANNA RENAMES S&M SONG TITLE

I was wondering how "S&M" was going to make it on the charts.



But apparently, the title changed to "Come On."

It's not clear who made the change, but that hardly mattered to RiRi, who took to her Twitter account to express her outrage.

"Are you f---ing kidding me??? I'm on it!" she wrote in one tweet after being asked by a fan about the new title. When asked by another fan if she was OK with the change, she replied, "Absolutely Not!"

A spokesperson for the OCC (the British-based Official Charts Company) wasn't aware of the "S&M" flap when contacted by MTV News, but did point out that, on the version of the Top 40 that appears on the organization's Web site, the song retained its original title.

In the latest edition of the U.S. singles chart — the Billboard Hot 100 — the song sits at #66 ... under its original title.

SAY THIS GUCCI REPLICA IS NOT REAL

WTH???? Lets hop this is not real. We knew Gucci Mane was on some Tom Foolery, but we're praying this has not spread.

BLACK EYED PEAS ROCK SUPERBOWL

For anyone who didn't catch the half time show, I think the BEPs did a pretty good job. They had some technical difficulties but honestly they can't sing and control the mics.

They were a great pick. Usher and Slash showed up and offered some help. For Usher who's had a fairly bumpy comeback, it was a good luck.

SO WHAT.... CHRISTINA BOTCHED THE WORDS

So Christina Aguilera botched up the words to the National Anthem at the SuperBowl.

"What so proudly we watched at the twilight's last reaming," she belted about one minute into the song, to the bewilderment of somber Super Bowl fans.

What should have come next: "O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming."

Instead she held the final note - "brave" - for just over six seconds which apparently was enough for people to get over it.

In a statement to the Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog, Aguilera said the flub happened because "I lost my place."

"I got so caught up in the moment of the song that I lost my place," she explained. "I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through."

Luckily Fergie from The Black Eyed Peas rushed to her defense on Monday, after Christina was criticized for flubbing the words to the National Anthem.

"You know what? It's such a huge venue, your nerves take a hold of you," Fergie told listeners during Dan Patrick's radio show. "I completely understand. She's one of the best singers of our time. Nobody can take that away from you... But you get nervous at these things. We're human."

"Some of my notes were pitchy to me," she admitted. "It was so exhiliarating. The whole thing. it was so big. That's a once-in-a-lifetime thing."

GV Says: This is so petty. Most of us don't even know the words. If someone held a gun to heads and told us to sing it we'd all be dead. Sometimes we give people a hard time.

GILBERT ARENAS SERVED WITH PAPERS BY EX-BABY MAMA

Dang...talk about when you your personal life meets up with your professional.



Magic guard Gilbert Arenas got a surprise as he left the court at halftime on Thursday night in a game against the Miami Heat at Amway Center in Orlando: He was served with court papers in a child-support and custody case.

The AP obtained the documents; Govan, who has three children by Arenas and is expecting their fourth (rumored to be Shaq's) is seeking $1.3 million a year. Govan's rep told reporters in December that the former Wizards star had cut off financial support since the two split up around Thanksgiving, a claim reiterated in the filings.

Arenas denied it to the AP after his new team, the Orlando Magic, played the Wizards in Washington Friday night. "She tells the world that she's not getting money. She gets $20,000 a month."

GV Says: A mess!