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On this week's episode: Whoopi Goldberg stops by to dish on her new relationship book, we meet 'Pretty.Strong.' stars Chrisdell Harris and Yashi Rice, 'African Health Now' founder Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo discusses global health and more! #ESSENCELive
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00:00Today on Essence Live, we chat everything health and wellness.
00:06The two people who are the reason I'm running the New York City Marathon,
00:09Amber Sabafia and Ursula Steven, join me right here in studio.
00:12Plus, the brilliant and talented Whoopi Goldberg chats with our editor-in-chief,
00:16Vanessa DeLuca, about her new book.
00:18And, uh, have you had a chance to see our November issue?
00:21Taraji P. Henson is on the cover, slaying it.
00:24And, of course, we're gonna take you behind the scenes
00:26and my favorite part of each and every episode, Slade or Shade, WeChat, Beyonce Bootcamp.
00:32Don't go anywhere because Essence Live starts now.
00:44Welcome, welcome, welcome to another fabulous episode of Essence Live.
00:47As I mentioned today, we're talking everything health and wellness and, of course, awareness.
00:52So, before we hop into today's show, I want to remind each and every one of you,
00:55please use hashtag Essence Live.
00:57Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, the whole shebang.
01:00Let us know what you're talking about and let us know your thoughts.
01:02You never know, you might see your comments right here on the show.
01:05All right, so first, I have no stranger to Essence Live.
01:09Our Essence Entertainment director, Corey Murray, how are you?
01:11Very well, thank you.
01:12Thank you for joining us.
01:13And a very, very special Essence family member.
01:16She's new to Essence Live, but not new to our family.
01:19President and founder of African Health Now, Nana Aisin Akiwowo.
01:23Oh, you did good.
01:24I did good.
01:25You did good with that one.
01:26How are you?
01:27I'm good.
01:28How are you?
01:29I'm great.
01:30Thank you so much for coming because we have lots and lots to cover.
01:32So, as I mentioned, Nana, you're not new to the Essence family, if you will.
01:35No, not at all.
01:36You were our bookings editor, which is when I first met you.
01:39We were running the halls.
01:40I was on the marketing team.
01:41Yes.
01:42You were making sure everything was running on Sejuel, if you will.
01:44Oh, my goodness.
01:45Those were good times.
01:46If you could share with our Essence audience, what exactly is a bookings editor?
01:49And then transition us into your and how you got started in Africa Health Now.
01:54So, a bookings editor for magazines is someone who books all of your hair and makeup models
02:00and essentially is like your, almost like, not a photo editor, but sets up the logistics
02:05of your shoot.
02:06Your location, all of those entities.
02:08And so, at Essence, for those amazing years, that was my job.
02:12And so, you had models stalking you.
02:13You had everybody.
02:14Everyone.
02:15I knew every makeup artist, every hairstylist, every stylist, every model.
02:20Food caterer.
02:21Every food caterer.
02:22Cory's like, I know that part.
02:23Food caterer.
02:24Yes, because that was an important part of every photo shoot.
02:27People would come and be like, what food we having?
02:29Who's our food?
02:30So, that was a...
02:31Craft service is always your support.
02:32Craft service is very important.
02:33It keeps it going.
02:34It keeps everything going.
02:35And it's a very fierce role.
02:36It's a very fast pace, fast moving.
02:38It's fashion and beauty.
02:39And now you're involved in the nonprofit world.
02:41Yes.
02:42Tell us a little bit about what happened in your life to inspire you to launch African
02:46Health Now.
02:47Yeah.
02:48So, in 2006, I was at work putting together a photo shoot.
02:53And I got a call that my father had had a heart attack in Ghana.
02:56And at that very moment, it was like, what?
02:59What did you say?
03:00And...
03:01Right.
03:02And kept listening.
03:03And I was like, well, who's the doctor?
03:04Where is he?
03:05What hospital?
03:06And no one had any answers.
03:07And I was like, oh, wait, he's not here in America.
03:10He is.
03:11Okay.
03:12Let's regroup and think it through.
03:13And so, as I started to regroup and try to figure out, you know, who the doctor was,
03:16and I was getting no answers.
03:18A friend of mine just happened to IM me and was like, hey, I'm in Accra.
03:22And I was like, my father just had a heart attack.
03:24Go find him.
03:25And he found him in the hallway.
03:27Hadn't seen a doctor yet.
03:29And he sorted him out.
03:30Like, he got him in a hospital room.
03:32Wow.
03:33He talked to the doctor.
03:34He talked to the nurse.
03:35He made sure that he had care.
03:37And at that very moment is when I realized I was lucky.
03:40I had been given a gift.
03:41Right.
03:42And if I didn't have that friend, I don't know how the story would have ended for me.
03:46And so, afterwards, I just started thinking about it and was like, what happens to those
03:50people?
03:51And the people that, you know, in our community where my dad lived were really instrumental
03:55in his recovery.
03:57And so, the first health fair was literally just that, a gift.
04:01Thank you for helping me get my dad back together.
04:04So, I just went in the hallways.
04:06At Essence, I remember just being like, hey, I'm doing a health fair.
04:10And they were like, what do you need?
04:11And I remember sending out an email and people would walk over to my desk.
04:15Oh, I went to the dollar store this weekend.
04:17Toothbrushes.
04:18Toothpaste.
04:19So, the health fair was you reaching out to friends in your network.
04:21In my network.
04:22Just getting materials.
04:23Just getting materials.
04:24And then I reached out to friends who were going to Ghana, who were doctors, lawyers,
04:27the whole gamut.
04:28And was like, if you're going to be there, give me one day and let's see what we can
04:31do.
04:32How we can affect change.
04:33And first day, 25 volunteers.
04:35Wow.
04:36350 participants showed up.
04:39No advertising.
04:40In Ghana.
04:41In Ghana.
04:42No advertising.
04:43It was in Pokwaset, the town where my dad lives.
04:44There was no flyer, no radio, no advertising.
04:48Literally told one person.
04:49And I was like, oh, she'll tell somebody.
04:51Right.
04:52Somebody will show up.
04:53They'll know.
04:54They'll be there.
04:55And when we got there at 350, they were just already waiting.
04:568 o'clock in the morning.
04:57Ready to move, ready to take action, let's go.
04:58They were just, let's go.
04:59And that's when we realized, and that's when I realized specifically, how important a day
05:04with a doctor, an opportunity to see a doctor get my teeth checked for the first
05:08time.
05:09Wow.
05:10It was so important.
05:11It was something I had taken for granted my whole life because I lived here.
05:14And it's accessible.
05:15And knowing how to give a breast, a self breast examination.
05:18Talking to women who had no idea what I was talking about.
05:21That they themselves could check their own breasts.
05:23They were like, why would I do it?
05:25So when did you make the trend?
05:26When did you say, okay, I'm going to leave my world of fashion.
05:29Oh, that took a while.
05:30And beauty.
05:31And I'm leaving this life.
05:33You know, it's, I don't want to say comfortable, but it's one that you're familiar with.
05:36What I was familiar with.
05:37And then you have a support system around you.
05:39Right, right, right, right.
05:40And to say, okay, I'm jumping into the world of nonprofit.
05:42That took a while.
05:43That didn't, I continued to do African health now all the while working at Essence.
05:48Every year, they knew when Nana was going to Ghana for Christmas.
05:51They just knew.
05:52Don't book a photo shoot.
05:53It's your problem.
05:54You're going to be by yourself.
05:55You're going to be by yourself.
05:56I don't know nothing.
05:57No food, no this.
05:58And so, it wasn't until about 2008, 2009, when I started to realize, okay, this is
06:04really what you want to do.
06:05And let's find a way to do it.
06:07And so then I just made the transition that, you know, opportunity came.
06:10And I was like, well, this is a great opportunity for me to do something different.
06:14And I'm going to just take it.
06:15And it was scary.
06:16And I had no idea how to do it.
06:18But, you know.
06:19You took that leap.
06:20I just took the leap and been figuring it out ever since.
06:22I heard that.
06:23Now, Corey, how are you involved with African health now?
06:25Because of Nana.
06:26Because of Nana.
06:27Because of Nana.
06:28She went to your office and made you do it.
06:29I know.
06:30I don't know what I contributed.
06:31Swipe bully.
06:32Swipe bully.
06:33That December, she, of her many annual trips to Ghana.
06:36But, you know, but quite seriously, you know, I have, my daughter's father's Haitian,
06:41so I've been to Haiti and seen, you know, the devastation of the earthquake and people
06:45living in poverty.
06:46I had been to Ghana.
06:47Yep.
06:48Um, that's another story.
06:49I've been to Ghana, you know, Nana, and I saw, and you know, I've been to some very
06:58poverty stricken areas.
06:59I don't like to use the word third world, right?
07:01Right.
07:02I've seen some things as a black American, I realize what little, just a little contribution
07:09could make a big impact.
07:10And I'll never forget Nana coming back and saying, like, she basically was giving breast
07:14exams just based on her own, like, annual checkup.
07:17She was like, well, let me show you.
07:19And she said, you know, this woman was like, oh, I didn't even know I could do it.
07:22I could do it on my own.
07:23So just that little thing, you know, I knew that any little bit can make a difference.
07:28And I have seen where just a $200 donation can have a big impact.
07:34And go a lot further than they anticipate.
07:36Yes, totally.
07:37And how does Essence support or work with African Health Now?
07:40Well, you know, we're going to be partnering with Nana on her cocktail benefit that's happening
07:44next Tuesday, October 20th.
07:46Tickets are available at?
07:48www.africanhealthnow.org forward slash events.
07:53And I want to point out, it's not Africa Health Now.
07:56It's African Health Now for those of you out there who are going to search and want to
08:00get involved.
08:01And so we're partnering with the, you know, helping supply volunteers, you know, contributing to
08:06the gift bag.
08:07I'm one of the host committee members.
08:10Oh, host committee.
08:11Uh-huh.
08:12But also, you know, we, there is love for Nana.
08:15Of course.
08:16You know what I mean?
08:17She's a great spirit.
08:18In this business, you know, it's all about our relationships.
08:19And this is a relationship that Nana has nurtured even after not being here.
08:23I mean, when she comes in the office, we're like, where's the baby?
08:25I know.
08:26You know what?
08:27What's your baby girl doing?
08:28Where's she at?
08:29My name is Nana and I am more than my daughter.
08:31Yes.
08:32Hi, Nana.
08:33Yes.
08:34So, Nana, tell us about the importance of next week's fundraiser.
08:36Oh, my goodness.
08:37So, next week's fundraiser is Gift of Life Cocktail Benefit.
08:40Okay.
08:41And we are honoring three dynamic individuals.
08:44Wan-Geshi Mutu, Kenyan artist and activist with the Humanitarian Award.
08:48Okay.
08:49Bozema St. John, who's the Senior Vice President of Global Marketing for Beats Music.
08:53Uh-huh.
08:54And a fellow Guinean is receiving.
08:56And side note, you know that wonderful Beats commercial?
08:58Oh, right.
08:59Yes.
09:00That Ava DuVernay shot.
09:01That was all about Bozema.
09:02That was awesome.
09:03Behind the scenes.
09:04Behind the scenes.
09:05So, and then Dr. Samuel Korte is a podiatrist and Guinean who does a lot of great work in
09:11and he's receiving the Health Advocate Award.
09:13Uh-huh.
09:14But outside of honoring those people, the event is based for raising funds for our upcoming
09:18programs.
09:19Uh-huh.
09:20So, December 22nd, we will be in Ghana in Mamprobe, which is an area that was hit really
09:25hard by the recent floods.
09:26Uh-huh.
09:27And we're looking to do a multi-day health fair.
09:30So, whereas we've always done one-day fairs, we're looking to do it over the course of two
09:34to three days to provide the same services and just maximize our impact.
09:37Uh-huh.
09:38As well as raising seed funding for our first mobile health clinic.
09:42Wow.
09:43Which we want to deploy in 2018, which would be like a mobile health van that allows us
09:47to go into more rural areas and provide the same services that we do in the city.
09:51I love that.
09:52So, that's the big importance of the event.
09:54And the event is shaping up to be really, really, really, really dope.
09:58We have D-Nice on, D-Nice is DJing.
10:01And I heard you have Kehinde Wiley.
10:03And we have Kehinde Wiley has donated one of his pieces.
10:06I won't have to say which piece, but he has donated a piece to a silent auction.
10:10Wow.
10:11We have a piece from Kajil Benz.
10:13We have Delta Airlines tickets.
10:16We have a weekend at the W South Beach.
10:18So, there's a lot of reasons to attend or get involved in the participation.
10:20There's a lot, a lot of reasons to attend.
10:22Look at this one.
10:23Yeah, can you put your bid in?
10:24Yeah, I'm gonna put your bid in.
10:25Just put your bid in.
10:26Now, Neva, I have a question.
10:27Do you only work in Ghana?
10:28Are you open up to other countries?
10:29Are you open up to other partnerships to serve different areas of Africa?
10:32So, we're definitely always open to other partnerships, but right now we have only been working in Ghana.
10:37Okay.
10:38Because it was kind of a new initiative to begin with, I felt it was always important for us to figure out, work in a place where, A, I knew the landscape.
10:45Right.
10:46And figure out that model first.
10:47But the key thing to African health now is that we can take this model and replicate it in any other country.
10:53For the most part, most African, Sub-Saharan African countries have the same infrastructure, lack the same accessibility.
10:59And so that's why, you know, we can take any location within 24 hours and turn it into a health clinic.
11:06I absolutely love everything you're doing.
11:08You're so commendable.
11:09Anyone who wants to get involved, whether it's to donate, volunteer their time, or get in touch with you, where can they find you?
11:14They can find me.
11:15Just go to our website, and my email is there.
11:17It's anneisen at africanhealthnow.org.
11:20And just send me an email.
11:21We are always looking for volunteers, especially skilled-based.
11:25Right.
11:26You'd be surprised.
11:27You're like, oh, I'm a marketing guru.
11:28I need that.
11:29You need everybody.
11:30You can get involved.
11:31Everyone can get involved as an opportunity.
11:32Everyone can get involved.
11:33And there's something that anyone can do to help move the ball forward.
11:35Yes.
11:36Thank you very much, Nana, for joining us.
11:38Thank you so much, Corey.
11:39Corey, you're sticking around for a little Slade of Shades.
11:40Yes, yes.
11:41Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
11:42So don't forget, please check out africanhealthnow.org.
11:44Get involved.
11:45Find out how you can help make an impact globally.
11:48Don't go anywhere.
11:49Coming up, we have Vanessa DeLuca with her one-on-one with, like, my best friend in my head,
11:53Whoopi Goldberg, plus Slade or Shade.
11:56But first, Chrissy and Yashi from Oxygen's new series, Pretty Strong.
11:59Stop by to let us know that you can be fierce and fabulous on and off the field.
12:03Check it out.
12:04Yes, as a black woman, yes, we have to worry about getting our hair wet.
12:09We stay away from blacks.
12:10Black women, we avoid the pool.
12:12But you know what?
12:13When we play football, all that goes out the window.
12:16Well, it's also easier because we have a helmet.
12:18Are we strong?
12:19Hell yeah!
12:26I'm Yashi.
12:27And I'm Chris Dale Harris.
12:28And we're from Oxygen's.
12:29Pretty Strong.
12:30I play defensive end for the Chicago Bliss.
12:32I've been playing since 2010.
12:34I'm Chris Dale Harris, known as the Ferrari, the fastest running back in the LFL.
12:39You know, women aren't supposed to touch.
12:41We're supposed to play in, you know, ballet and run track.
12:44You know, cheerleading and things like that.
12:46We're not supposed to be the ones that's actually out there being aggressive and being passionate.
12:50This is 2015.
12:52Women can play football.
12:53We are strong.
12:54We are pretty.
12:55We are beautiful.
12:56We can do it all.
12:57That's why we gravitate to it so much because we are aggressive.
13:00We are the full definition of what it is to be pretty and strong.
13:03All those barriers, all those, you know, the assumptions of, oh, we can't get our hair wet.
13:09We can't, you know, we can't, you know, be cute on the football.
13:12We don't care about those things.
13:13We just play and let everybody else do the talking for us.
13:16Welcome back to Essence Live.
13:31Our editor-in-chief, Vanessa DeLuca, sat down with the always outspoken, my girl, Whoopi Goldberg.
13:37She discussed her new relationship book, If Someone Says You Complete Me, Run.
13:42Check it out.
13:43Hi, Whoopi.
13:44Hey, V.
13:45Welcome.
13:46Thank you so much for being with us on Essence Live.
13:49Thank you so much for inviting me.
13:51It's a pleasure to have you and we are thrilled to hear that you are debuting your new book.
13:57Tell us about it.
13:58You know, what prompted you to write a relationships book and why now?
14:01Well, it just, you know, I just thought one more person said to me, you know, I don't
14:07know why he's like this and blah, blah, blah.
14:10It's like, you knew what he was like.
14:12You said all the red flags were there.
14:15You could see it and you didn't want to see it.
14:18And now you're mad because all the you saw, pardon my French, is coming true.
14:24It's coming true.
14:25I just thought, why, why are people having these issues?
14:29And this is for men and women.
14:31This book is really for men and women.
14:33It looks like it's geared towards women, but it's, it's not.
14:36It's really about people.
14:37The Bible does say, you know, if someone says you complete me, run.
14:42Run.
14:43Because you don't want to be in a relationship with somebody that you've completed.
14:49Because if you drop dead, does that mean they're half a person or not a full person left?
14:53You want a complete person.
14:54That's right.
14:55In a relationship, you should be listening to the person who cares about you, you know?
15:01And so you hear a lot of women say, a lot of men say, no lie to me.
15:05Don't lie to me.
15:06Not you.
15:07Everybody else can lie.
15:08You can't lie to me.
15:10So I think, you know, it's like if you're with a player, if you go out with a player, they're a player.
15:17Right.
15:18And maybe they're not playing for a little while, but they may start playing again.
15:21You can't be surprised.
15:23And if you are a player, I think you're obligated to say to whoever that person is that you're getting ready to go out with,
15:30listen, this is my nature.
15:32This is who I am.
15:34And if you can handle this, I'll be happy to, to hook up with you.
15:39But if you think for one second that you can't, we need to have a discussion.
15:44What's your favorite piece of advice from the book, if you had to choose one?
15:48Is the cover.
15:49If someone says that you complete me, run.
15:54Don't.
15:55You mean that.
15:56I do.
15:57I do.
15:58Because that's a scary thing.
15:59Because that puts all the responsibility of them on you.
16:02The best advice I think I ever got from someone was, you don't have to do this right now.
16:09Get out.
16:10And I didn't.
16:11It was the smartest thing.
16:12I should have not gotten married.
16:14I should have left.
16:15But I said, but all these people are here.
16:18And they're like, mm, okay.
16:20You can go right now.
16:22Nobody's looking.
16:23Get in the car.
16:24You're not the only person who that's happened to.
16:26It does happen.
16:27Yeah.
16:28Now the worst advice that you've ever gotten.
16:30Might be the worst advice I ever got was somebody, somebody was asking me about some man,
16:36I might have been married to him, I can't remember.
16:39And they said, oh no, it's just a phase you're going through.
16:43Just wait it out.
16:44It's like, no.
16:45No.
16:46Yes.
16:47You can't wait it out.
16:48You were 165 years old, you wait it out.
16:51Mm-hmm.
16:52I shouldn't have gotten into it.
16:53Do you share a lot of this advice with your daughter?
16:55You're doing a docu-series with your daughter, right?
16:57Yes, I am.
16:58Listen, my daughter married the same guy three times, okay?
17:02Mm-hmm.
17:03They are funny and wonderful, and they've kind of grown together, you know?
17:10So, no, you know, you can never give your kids advice about who they're running with,
17:16because they have to learn, because you can't pick and choose for them.
17:19And, you know, when you have a batting average like mine, you really can't do it, you know?
17:24There's a movie coming out.
17:25Tell us about it.
17:26Yes.
17:27It's called Big Stone Gap, and it's been 12 years in the making.
17:30And it's a very sweet movie, you know?
17:33It's a love story, and it's beautifully done.
17:38It's simple, you know?
17:39It's just a really simple love story.
17:41If you, you know, want to go see some people, well, I kind of have on a cape, but it's not quite a cape.
17:46But I'm really wearing a house dress, because I look like I ate the entire cast.
17:51Thank you so much for being with us.
17:52Nice to see you.
17:53And good luck with the book.
17:57Welcome back to this edition of Essence Live.
17:59Joining me now, two women I've spoken about quite a bit over the last couple of months.
18:04One is the co-founder of Pitch In Foundation, and also the reason why I am running the New York City Marathon, Ms. Amber Sabathia.
18:10How are you?
18:11Hello.
18:12Welcome.
18:13Thank you for having me.
18:14I don't know how I feel about you right now.
18:15You're lucky you're pretty.
18:16That's what I'm saying though.
18:17And of course, joining us again, no strangers to the Essence Live stage, Ursula Steven.
18:21Hi.
18:22Who also doesn't like me.
18:23Who also doesn't like you, Amber, but is also another reason why I'm running the New York City Marathon.
18:27She volunteered me.
18:28I'm questioning everything about our friendship, just so you know.
18:31But Amber, welcome.
18:32Thank you so much for taking the time to have me as a part of your team as well as take the time to come here and speak with Essence Live about the Pitch In Foundation.
18:39Thanks.
18:40Can you please tell us a little bit about the Pitch In Foundation and what inspired you to create it?
18:44So, so many years ago my husband and I co-founded the Pitch In Foundation, and it's about promoting self-esteem amongst inner city youth.
18:51There's so many kids out there from the inner city that single mother raised households, you know, most of their parents didn't go to college.
18:58They have the drugs, alcohol, abuse, they see it all, and sometimes that hinders them in their self-esteem and they feel they can't get out of that.
19:06And Cece and I are both from single parent households, we both dealt with alcohol and drug abuse when we were younger, and here we are today.
19:12So we want kids to know you follow your dreams, you can become whatever you want.
19:15But change costs in Pitch In Foundation, we are out there fundraising, hence why I have you two lovely ladies out there running that marathon.
19:23Running.
19:24And we're making change.
19:25And so can you tell us a little bit about some of the programs that you do?
19:27I know recently you did the Backpack Drive, but what are some of the programs that the Foundation does throughout the year?
19:32So very proud, we have three major ones.
19:34We do a lot of different events, but three major ones, the Backpack Program, we've given out 25,000 backpacks to date.
19:40That means we've touched 25,000 children's lives.
19:43Cece's mother was a single mother, and the one thing she said, she always worried about back to school.
19:47It was one of those things that she could never afford.
19:49Right, supplies and things.
19:50She couldn't afford the new clothes, back to school supplies.
19:52So we started the Backpack Program.
19:54Every child gets a backpack full of school supplies, everything that's on that parent's list, to start them off right for the school year.
20:00We also renovate Little League fields.
20:02So Cece says he wouldn't be where he is today if it wasn't for that Little League field.
20:06And somewhere to get him out of the streets and on the field.
20:09Right.
20:10So we're out there renovating fields in California and New York.
20:13And also we have clinics where we take the kids and we teach them the fundamentals of baseball, so they're interested in baseball.
20:18You know right now in baseball, African Americans are lacking in the sport.
20:21That is true.
20:22And so we're out there and we're pushing them to get back out there and have the interest of baseball and learn the game and love the game.
20:28And I think it's also so important too just to get kids out of the house and off of their cell phones and social media and actually out and playing and interacting.
20:35And Pinchin is the official charity of the New York City Marathon, I want to call that out.
20:39Why did you think this marathon was such a great fit?
20:43So last year I did it.
20:45And this is our third year being one of the official charities.
20:48And the first year I had a team and I was out there rooting for them and I was on Twitter and I was tweeting and I was like,
20:53Oh, are they done yet? God, how long does it take to run a marathon?
20:56Right? Girl.
20:57I had no idea.
20:58As we're discovering.
20:59No idea.
21:00And the next year I said, you know what, if I can push them to do it, I'm going to do it.
21:03My husband laughed at me and he said, you're not an athlete.
21:07Oh, shade Cece.
21:08It was so much shade from Cece.
21:10Oh, shade.
21:11He said, there's only one athlete in the house.
21:13I said, no, there's two.
21:14And I'm going to get out there and I'm going to run this marathon and I did it.
21:17And I knew that it was more to it.
21:19We're out there.
21:20We're raising money.
21:21We're fundraising.
21:22We're giving back to the youth and we're out there running for the kids.
21:24But we're also giving ourselves something.
21:26Right.
21:27Something that, you know, you can't get.
21:28It's so fulfilling to cross that finish line.
21:31And I am so excited for you guys because you guys have no idea what you're about to encounter.
21:35Really?
21:36I'm about to crawl across that line.
21:37Okay.
21:38I'm about to crawl across that line.
21:39You know, Angie was on the team.
21:40She called me.
21:41She was like, I'm going to have to get on your back to cross this finish line.
21:44But Angie Martinez, she did it last year.
21:45She was on my team and she did it and she finished it.
21:48And she raised a lot of money.
21:49And I know you guys can do the same.
21:51We will.
21:52Now, how did you get Ursula, convince Ursula to do this?
21:56Because Ursula's like me and she has her thing going on.
21:59She's all into hair and beauty and whatnot.
22:03But she's got that inner athlete in her too and I saw it.
22:05She's competitive.
22:06Yeah, she's very.
22:07She's right.
22:08She's competitive.
22:09She's a strong woman.
22:10I knew she could do it.
22:11She's a beast.
22:12I'm glad she made me do it though.
22:13I was like talking, you know, excited about her when she did it last year.
22:16Like, oh, I want to do it.
22:17I want to do it.
22:18I would love to do it.
22:19It's a bucket list thing for me.
22:20And lo and behold, that email came through.
22:22And I was like, oh my God, I can't say no.
22:25So Ursula, how did you start to motivate yourself to take on this journey?
22:29Because we have to start, we start low.
22:30Yeah.
22:31Those of you out there don't realize that myself and Ursula, we were not runners.
22:34At all.
22:35Before she signed me up.
22:36Yeah.
22:37You know, so how did you start to motivate yourself?
22:38I just felt like even before we started the official training, I just started to do my own
22:42thing because I knew that no matter what I, anybody said or what training I was given,
22:46I had to really find my own pace and my own rhythm.
22:48So I just started really, started slow and just went out and just ran and didn't worry
22:52about the time or whatever the case may be.
22:54Didn't look at the watch or, you know, I just ran and it helped me to prepare for the
22:59actual training.
23:00So I think there's small things like that.
23:02Definitely.
23:03Definitely.
23:04And if you wouldn't mind looking into this camera here and sharing with our Essence audience
23:07where they can find more information on the Pitch In Foundation as well as donate
23:11or volunteer and get involved.
23:13Everything to donate for you and for Ursula because you guys, we need to get some fundraising
23:18going for the ladies.
23:19We need the coins.
23:20Go to pitch.org and it's with two C's.
23:23So P-I-T-C-C-H dot org and all the information is on the website.
23:28So get involved, volunteer, please show some love and support.
23:31November 2nd if you see myself and Ursula on the street.
23:341st.
23:35November 1st.
23:36I know November 1st is the marathon but November 2nd, the day after,
23:39we have our medals.
23:40Oh, right, right.
23:41Yeah.
23:42And we're crawling which is also Ursula's birthday.
23:44Yes, yes.
23:45Please be sure to give us a big applause.
23:46Yeah.
23:47It's a good gift.
23:48It really is though.
23:49It's a good gift.
23:50It's a very good gift.
23:51You're giving back.
23:52You're running.
23:53It's a good gift.
23:54Amber, thank you so very much for joining us.
23:55Don't be a stranger here.
23:56Ursula, we'll see you again next time.
23:57All right, don't go anywhere.
23:58We have more Essence Live coming up next.
24:00Essence has always supported you and what you stand for.
24:04Now imagine Essence could be even more.
24:07Offering a selection of new beauty products specially curated every month.
24:11So you can see what's fresh, try samples before you buy, so you know what works for you.
24:16You're getting the essentials from name brands and up and coming black owned businesses.
24:21Go ahead.
24:22Be bold.
24:23Be confident.
24:24Be you.
24:25Become a member.
24:30Lip gloss.
24:36Lover.
24:39Staying home.
24:42French fries.
24:45Sweet.
24:47Wine.
24:50Dinner.
24:51Ice cream.
24:53Coffee.
24:54Both.
24:55Both.
24:56Basketball.
24:57Neither one.
24:58Car.
24:59Flats.
25:00Bowling.
25:01Skating.
25:02Bowls.
25:03Bowls.
25:04Christmas.
25:05Dog.
25:06Tats.
25:07Both.
25:08Cape.
25:09Snow.
25:10Snow.
25:11Haw.
25:12What the fuck?
25:13Oh.
25:14What?
25:15What?
25:16What?
25:17What?
25:18What?
25:19What?
25:20What?
25:21What?
25:22What?
25:26What?
25:27Both.
25:29Cake.
25:35Snow.
25:39Hamburgers.
25:43Dresses.
25:45Call.
25:51Cookie.
25:58Welcome back to Essence Live. Make sure to grab your copy of the November issue.
26:02The lovely Taraji P. Henson is gracing the cover, looking fierce as usual, as you just saw.
26:06So right now, we are going to jump into some decision-making of our own.
26:10It's time for my favorite part of the show. Let's get into it, some Slade or Shade.
26:15First up, back again, comedian Khalees Hawkins. How are you?
26:18Good. How are you?
26:19I'm fabulous. Welcome.
26:20Now you're a little bit closer to me. I feel the energy.
26:22Next up, you've seen this troublemaker here before.
26:25What?
26:26Throwing shade.
26:27What?
26:28All day, every day. Welcome back, celebrity stylist Worry Vice.
26:30Well, thank you for having me back.
26:31Thank you for coming.
26:32We just figured out that our birthdays are only three days apart.
26:34Boop, boop.
26:35December babies.
26:36Just throwing it in there. Capricorn.
26:37Don't worry.
26:38I'll be sure to remind you each.
26:39I am the 28th.
26:40Oh, my God.
26:41Are you kidding?
26:42Oh, my God.
26:43We're at this moment in a second. Moment in a second.
26:45Also joining us for Slay the Shade is the Essence's own entertainment director, Corey Murray,
26:48who is back.
26:49Thank you for stepping back in. How are you?
26:50No problem.
26:51Coolies, when's your birthday?
26:52I'm going to just jump to my daughter's birthday.
26:54It's January 16th.
26:55She's a Capricorn.
26:56She's a Capricorn.
26:57Okay, so we're all family.
26:59There's all love here.
27:00And at home, panelists, each and every one of you, if you're watching at work, I'm
27:04not going to talk about you.
27:05Please use the hashtag EssenceLive and join in on the conversation.
27:08And if you're a Capricorn, get into it.
27:11So let's get started.
27:12During the summer, it was reported that Will Smith's production company was shopping around
27:16a Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reboot.
27:19Recently, Alfonso Ribeiro, who played Carlton, expressed his opinion on the possible reboot.
27:23And I quote,
27:24It's not exciting to me because I know it ain't going to happen.
27:28He continued,
27:29And if it happened, it wouldn't be Fresh Prince.
27:31It would be something that's taking the story of the show and having all new people do something.
27:35To me, that's not Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
27:37Is Will Smith starring in it?
27:38No.
27:39Then it ain't no Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
27:41So what do we think?
27:42Is this Slade or Shade?
27:44One, two, three.
27:45Slade or...
27:46Oh, this one's Slade, Shade.
27:47Shade, Slade, Shade.
27:48Okay, Khalees, start us off.
27:49Why a Shade?
27:50Okay, so at first I was thinking I admire his loyalty.
27:53But then I was thinking about when I was a kid, Fresh Prince was a very good influence on my generation.
27:57And I think right now we need that for young black men to have somebody who has to make good decisions.
28:02He's having fun, but it's an uplifting show.
28:05And it also gives all these jobs to minorities that are in the entertainment industry.
28:09So he's being very short-sighted by saying, let's not do another Fresh Prince.
28:13Okay, if you don't want another Fresh Prince, do a Fresh Princess.
28:16Okay.
28:17Boy Meets World figured it out.
28:18A little flip on it.
28:19They did Girl Meets World.
28:20That's true.
28:21First of all, as soon as you leave this set, you're going to have to go trademark that, coin that, because somebody's going to use that.
28:25Did we send her the video for Intellectual Properties?
28:28See that?
28:29All right, we're going to work on that, Rory.
28:30Troublemaker.
28:31Rory, what did you have?
28:32You had a Slade?
28:33Why do you think it's a Slade?
28:34Probably because my hand just went straight up like that.
28:36No, I'm joking.
28:37You know, I kind of get what he's saying.
28:39But then she just kind of made a point that made me revamp my brain a little bit.
28:43Hold my hand through this.
28:44You showed me being indecisive.
28:47I know, that showed me being indecisive, hold me.
28:50Okay.
28:51It's that thing where I just figured out what you were saying and it's absolutely true.
28:56Because we were just talking about uplifting like two seconds ago.
28:58Yes, we were.
28:59And that is necessary.
29:01Maybe it's a thing of taking the idea of what that was and maybe not trying to redo that, but use it as a blueprint.
29:09I really like Fresh Princess.
29:10So I'm still with the Slade.
29:11I really like Fresh Princess.
29:12So now I'm a Slashade like she was.
29:13Yeah.
29:14I like the idea of the Fresh Princess.
29:15I do.
29:16I really, really do.
29:17And good job for calling out, you know, Boy Meets Brolin.
29:19That is true.
29:20Just saying.
29:21I don't worry both, Khalees, and worry about that.
29:23But, you know, of course the shade is he didn't have to go on and on about what it wasn't going to be because the best had already been done.
29:30And I think I even read too.
29:31And I appreciate him saying like the backbone of the show was James Avery who passed away.
29:36So how can he do this show without him?
29:38But also it's like, dude, calm down.
29:40You can do a reboot.
29:42You can recast it.
29:43You could come on as the neighbor.
29:45Like, there's a part for you, which is the tone.
29:48I didn't like that.
29:49I mean, Grant, I know there's a little something like, well, I can't be in it anymore.
29:53And, you know, go back to doing America's Funniest Home Videos.
29:56Look at this one.
29:57See?
29:58I'm just saying.
29:59Be happy.
30:00You won Dancing with the Star.
30:01Did he win?
30:02He did win.
30:03And he's guest hosting right now.
30:04Yeah.
30:05So be happy in that lane.
30:07But yes, a new generation of actors can come along.
30:10I'm here for that.
30:11I love all of this that y'all are giving me.
30:12Let's see what our Facebook fam had to say out there.
30:15Chantelle Monique Hosea, yes, all three names, said,
30:18No shade at all.
30:19Why mess with something too perfect?
30:21It's like trying to repaint the Mona Lisa.
30:23It's classic that can't be remade.
30:24Okay.
30:25Well, thank you very much, Chantelle, for chiming in.
30:27Next up, after announcing that he would conduct a day-long seminar dubbed Beyonce Boot Camp,
30:32which promises to give key advice to any individual wanting to get into the entertainment industry,
30:36Matthew Knowles is setting the record straight and letting critics know he's not trying to cash in on his daughter.
30:42He explains, I'm not just Beyonce's father.
30:45People want to brand me as that.
30:47I'm the brains behind the success.
30:49Okay, Mr. Knowles.
30:50Mr. Knowles.
30:51Now, Mr. Knowles is apparently taking his The Entertainment Industry How Do I Get In seminar to Barbados and Paris,
30:57and he also plans on taking it to select cities across the United States.
31:00So, I know y'all have a lot to say.
31:02I'm so nervous to look.
31:03But on the count of three of this slate or shade.
31:05One, two, three.
31:06Slate.
31:07Slashade.
31:08Shade.
31:09Okay, Cory, why is this a shade?
31:11Okay.
31:12There was something I read in the article where he was like,
31:15oh, I spent a day with Blue Ivy a couple of months ago,
31:19and I'll probably be spending another day with her in a few more months.
31:21Which let me know, you don't spend no time with your family.
31:24Mm-hmm.
31:25Okay, which means y'all must have some really bad blood between you.
31:28And yes, I get it.
31:29You were the brains behind Destiny's Child in the beginning of Beyonce's career.
31:33But let Beyonce be Beyonce and stop trying to pimp your daughter's name,
31:37because that is what you're doing.
31:38Basically.
31:39Because clearly, you're not close with them anymore.
31:41Mm-hmm.
31:42And we all knew about his other financial troubles.
31:44Mm-hmm.
31:45It just screams desperation.
31:46Mm-hmm.
31:47He was selling memorabilia, wasn't he, at one point?
31:49Yeah, and he went on the breakfast club this morning and said,
31:52oh, because he had so much space, he had to clean.
31:54He had to clean out his, the, the, he had like 6,000 square feet,
31:57so he had to clean out all this stuff he had, so.
32:00Why 600 square feet in Brooklyn?
32:01You know, I'm just saying.
32:02Okay, I'm just saying.
32:03Khalees, ladies' first worry.
32:05I didn't say anything.
32:06I, I, I agree with his body language.
32:09He's like shifting it, worry shifting his chair.
32:11Like, hold on, I just, I gotta say something in a minute.
32:14I, here's, here's what I said, because I, I'm, as a parent,
32:17I hate that people put the dad first.
32:20Mm-hmm.
32:21Because if he was doing this the traditional way,
32:23nobody would say you can't be a legitimate manager or an agent
32:27if you manage somebody who blew up.
32:29Then you get to move on to new clients.
32:31Mm-hmm.
32:32So, this world is hard to have a job in, and if he's, if he figured out how to support Beyonce,
32:37I'm sure he could find some other talent.
32:38Mm-hmm.
32:39So he should be able to, he should be able to get money off of it.
32:41Now, allegedly he has tried, did, I think he has his own label, and he's tried to grow other talent.
32:45Yes.
32:46He has a few labels.
32:47The gospel, the gospel.
32:48He has gospel artists and things of that nature.
32:50So, but, you know, that was me being Shade.
32:52Let me throw it up.
32:53Shade.
32:54Now, Worry, thank you.
32:56Shade.
32:57Worry, you had a slashe?
32:59I did.
33:00You had a two for one combo?
33:01I mean, always right with a biscuit.
33:03Yeah.
33:04So, here's the thing.
33:06That's her dad.
33:07He participated in her creation.
33:09Mm-hmm.
33:10So, it's like you're kind of not pimping that aspect, but we really know that you're pimping that aspect,
33:14because it's the thing that made you big.
33:16Mm-hmm.
33:17I, you know, I don't know.
33:20It's kind of a difficult one, but it's one of those things where if people won't let you move on from that.
33:25Mm-hmm.
33:26Anyway, because I know for a long time, I had a client for a long time, and people kept me in that box with that client.
33:32That name.
33:33Like, every time I was seen, I was referred to as so-and-so stylist.
33:36Mm-hmm.
33:37And it's like, no, actually, I have a plethora of clients.
33:40Right.
33:41But you're focusing on that one.
33:42I guess he's in a place where it could be like, if you're going to keep focusing on that,
33:45Mm-hmm.
33:46Let me go ahead and sell everything that's in my garage, because I can use his face,
33:49because I need to put the baby's crib in here now, because he just got here.
33:52Okay.
33:53That.
33:54See what I'm saying?
33:55That was a cliche.
33:56A cliche.
33:57Mm-hmm.
33:58On top of that, you know, it's one of those things where it's like, I have information.
34:02Mm-hmm.
34:03Why not sell it?
34:04All of you are very successful in your careers.
34:06Would you all pay $1.99, or would you have paid $1.99 to take a seven-hour workshop for
34:11Matthew Knowles on how to get into the industry?
34:13And anybody can answer.
34:14I will say, at the beginning of my career, there was a book on how to be a stylist written
34:19by a woman who was an agent for stylists and stuff.
34:22I forget her name, Crystal something or other.
34:24Mm-hmm.
34:25And that book had, like, eight editions.
34:28Oh.
34:29I remember buying the book.
34:30Okay.
34:31So, clearly, there is somebody in Kansas.
34:33There's a market for it.
34:34Yeah.
34:35Okay.
34:36There's somebody in Kansas that can't get to New York to get the information that we
34:38have.
34:39Look, in this business, anytime you want to be something, somebody's going to try to make
34:42money off of you, headshot, classes, how to pose.
34:46Even when you're a celebrity.
34:47I'm about to sell a class on how to sit in a chair next to you.
34:50Do it.
34:51In Slater's shape.
34:52But can we be honest?
34:53$1.99.
34:54$1.99.
34:55$1.99.
34:56When you sign on, like, even if you sign a record deal, there's people waiting at the
35:00door to be your publicist.
35:01Right.
35:02People want to teach you how to be, you know, your manners.
35:04Yeah.
35:05You know, everybody has something to sell.
35:08Mm-hmm.
35:09He just happened to capitalize off of his daughter's name, which, by the time this materializes,
35:13it probably won't be...
35:15The same thing.
35:16Beyonce boot camp.
35:17Right.
35:18So it won't...
35:19So let's check back in with you all on Facebook.
35:20Shalice Lee said,
35:21No shade.
35:22She is what she is because of his direction and management.
35:25There are many talented people who don't have a Matthew Knowles to propel them forward.
35:28Okay.
35:29Interesting.
35:30Thank you so much, Shalice.
35:31Now they can buy it for $1.99.
35:32They can buy it for $1.99.
35:33And even get your picture taken for, like, an additional small fee and, like, a sandwich.
35:35No, you're joking.
35:36No, no, no.
35:37Very serious.
35:38I'm done.
35:39This last story is very interesting.
35:42It took less than a half hour for a jury to rule against Jennifer Connelly, suing her now
35:4612-year-old nephew, Sean, for $127,000 over a forceful hug she received at his eighth birthday
35:52party, which caused her to fall and break his wrist.
35:55Excuse me, her wrist.
35:56So, apparently, the young boy was just really, really excited to see his aunt.
35:59Ran jumped on her.
36:00Boom, she fell.
36:01Okay.
36:02Media outlets painted Jennifer as a villain and social media dubbed her as the worst aunt
36:06ever and the aunt from hell.
36:07Mmm.
36:08Jennifer appeared on the Today Show this morning, actually, alongside her nephew, Sean, to clear
36:12the air as to why she sued her nephew.
36:14She said she never wanted to sue her nephew, but because of a technicality with the insurance
36:19claim in order to get her medical bill paid, she had to name an individual on the lawsuit.
36:23Now, just a quick interjection here.
36:25We dug a little bit deeper into this.
36:27This was a claim made with the homeowners association where she fell, not her healthcare provider.
36:32So, because Sean caused a fall, she named him.
36:34All right, panelists, what are you thinking?
36:36Thoughts?
36:37Slay or shade?
36:38Shade, shade, shade.
36:39Okay, I have to go to the moms first.
36:41Khalees, talk to me.
36:42Okay, this shade is not directed at the auntie, okay?
36:45Okay.
36:46Okay.
36:47This shade is directed at social media.
36:49Wow.
36:50Because, seriously, I believe this woman when she says it was a technicality.
36:53She had no idea they were going to find out.
36:55There was somebody in that courtroom who was like, ooh, this makes a good headline.
36:58Girl.
36:59This is going to sound real bad for this girl.
37:00And they, you know, they kind of used her.
37:02Because, obviously, she wasn't trying to get her eight-year-old to pay her $100,000.
37:06If the homeowners insurance told her to do it, I think that's why she did it.
37:10But social media these days, they're trying to hang everybody.
37:13They went for Columbus.
37:14They went for Columbus.
37:15They're like, you dead now, but we still going to get you.
37:18We don't like you anymore.
37:19They went for Columbus.
37:21You are not safe.
37:22You can't do anything.
37:23No one's safe on social media anymore.
37:24None.
37:25No one's safe.
37:26Corey?
37:27Shade to the aunt, because I like that point.
37:29But, come on, it was your nephew.
37:31It was an organic, authentic moment.
37:34He was happy to see, yes, unfortunately you hurt your hand.
37:37I think I read someone, she was like, it was hard for her to hold hors d'oeuvres.
37:40Right.
37:41And it happened four years ago.
37:42Yeah, and I'm like, you know what?
37:43You should have just let it go, pay for it, and do it.
37:47And real talk, so my aunt, I mean, my big mama years ago jokingly said she was going to sue my uncle
37:54because his dog jumped on her and hurt her.
37:56And we were all like, why would you even have that thought, big mama?
37:59Because she was just like, you never know.
38:01Oh.
38:02You know what I mean?
38:03So I just still, so the shade is like the thought of it.
38:05Right.
38:06She even had, she do be knowing.
38:07She do be knowing.
38:08Mama be knowing.
38:09Stay here.
38:10Uh oh, Worry, I'm really nervous that you get the last word on this one.
38:12I'm so nervous.
38:13We in danger.
38:14You know, I'm just going to pray.
38:16So you don't have a slushé?
38:17What were you, were you slayed?
38:19Do you have a parade?
38:20I don't know.
38:21I want a parade.
38:22I want a parade.
38:23Because I do agree with the social media aspect of it.
38:26I think that things tend to get blown out of proportion.
38:29I think this was probably something where she probably sat down with his mom or her, her brother
38:34or her sister, whoever is his parent and set.
38:37Yeah, I love her.
38:38She ain't trying to sue that little boy.
38:40See what I mean?
38:41I didn't even know that.
38:42She ain't trying to sue that little boy.
38:43See what I mean?
38:44You just turned the whole thing upside down.
38:45Dang, Khalees.
38:47It just went to a high number.
38:48I'm sorry.
38:49I'm done.
38:50I ain't got no shade.
38:51I ain't got no shade.
38:52I'm done too.
38:53I'm, it's a wrap.
38:54It's done.
38:55It's it.
38:56Slate of shame.
38:57Done.
38:58Done.
38:59Thank y'all very much for joining me this week.
39:00I don't even have nothing to say to that.
39:02It's okay, Worry.
39:03Corey, Worry, Khalees.
39:05Thank you so very much for joining us.
39:07And thank you to all of you who tuned in and you're streaming us live.
39:10Make sure to tune in next week for an all new Essence Live.
39:12We have Black-ish star Yara Shahidi stopping by.
39:14We're going to drop some beats, do a little bit of flowing.
39:17See you next week.
39:18Same place, same time.
39:19Same fabulous host.
39:20I'm Dana Blair.
39:21See you next time.
39:22Bye bye.
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