- 12 hours ago
On this week's Essence Now, we discuss the backlash to Lil Duval's comments about transgender women on The Breakfast Club, and Ledisi discusses her new music and her dream acting role.
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00:00I'm Akon Javu, and today on Essence Now, Letacy is here to talk all about her new music.
00:12Plus, are you curious about Kegels and how pregnancy affects your body?
00:15Our team of GYNs is here to answer your questions.
00:19But right now, it's time for the hot list, the biggest stories you're buzzing about today.
00:27Chalk it up to the power of our voice.
00:29The hashtag campaign, No Confederate, was the number two trending topic Twitter on Sunday,
00:34thanks to four black women.
00:36The movement is a protest to HBO's plans to air the series, Confederate,
00:40which imagines a world where slavery was never abolished.
00:43For now, HBO is standing by the series, saying the backlash is premature
00:47since the production of the show is still in its infancy.
00:50But for the hashtag's co-creator, April Rain, that's simply not enough.
00:54She told CBS this morning,
00:56There are times when things are so egregious that you don't need to wait for them to come to fruition before you object to them.
01:02Our goal is to have the show Confederate not see the light of day.
01:06That's the bottom line.
01:08Okay, all right.
01:15We see you, internet, with the jokes.
01:17Now, although Anthony Scaramucci is gone as the White House communications director,
01:21he's not the only one who can make it in the Trump administration.
01:24There was also Attorney General, Sally Yates,
01:27who was let go in January for not supporting the travel ban.
01:31National security Michael Flynn,
01:34who resigned in February after admitting to misleading officials
01:38about his interactions with Russian leaders.
01:41FBI director James Comey, who was fired in May.
01:45Press secretary Sean Spicer, who quit less than two weeks ago.
01:49And Reince Priebus, who made it all of six months as chief of staff.
01:54And hey, black women, apparently we can get it too.
01:57He also can chief usher Angela Reid, who was the first woman to hold the job.
02:03Mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm.
02:07Comedian Lo Duvall is standing by his Breakfast Club interview,
02:11where he said that if he found out a woman he was dating was trans, he would kill her.
02:15Watch what he told TMZ.
02:16I said that because they were saying taking away someone's power of choice,
02:21and that's what you did.
02:23When you take away somebody's power of choice, it should be criminal.
02:27And you don't know what it'll do to somebody psychologically.
02:30I don't got no problem with transgender.
02:32I ain't got no problem with gay people.
02:34I got a problem with somebody trying to take something from me.
02:37Okay, now although the Breakfast Club did tell him during the interview
02:41that his comments about murder were wrong,
02:44a lot of people think the radio hosts didn't do enough.
02:47Fat Femme tweeted,
02:48Comedy has material consequences, and Breakfast Club is very complicit.
02:52Y'all had a moment to intervene in a very critical way, and you failed.
02:56But Pusha J disagrees.
02:58What do they cosign?
02:59I must have missed that.
03:00This is Duvall making a joke, not the Breakfast Club.
03:03Please don't reply to this with rage.
03:05Hmm, Essence Now fam.
03:07Weigh in for today's viewer poll.
03:09Who's at fault for the transphobic comments made at the Breakfast Club?
03:13Send us your votes now using the hashtag Essence Now
03:16because we're talking about it next.
03:17It's Tuesday, August 1st, and it's time for Essence Now.
03:30Welcome to Essence Now.
03:32I'm your host, Makon Jovu.
03:33Hey, girl, hey.
03:35Now remember, you can talk to us at any time.
03:37We can talk to you using the hashtag Essence Now or by emailing us at Essence Now at Essence.com
03:41if you ever want to come on the show to sound off on hot topics.
03:45Now, as mentioned in the hot list, there's a firestorm brewing around comedian Lil Duvall and the Breakfast Club
03:51where they asked Lil Duvall what he would do if he found out a woman he'd been dating was transgender.
03:57Lil Duvall's response was, quote,
03:59And not only are people coming for Duvall, and rightfully so, I mean, he did say he would murder someone,
04:15but they're also dragging the Breakfast Club, too, so much so that the radio show answered the backlash.
04:21Take a listen.
04:22Well, here's the thing.
04:23I mean, if you actually listen to the interview instead of listening to the manipulated clip that people have been circulating,
04:31you specifically heard us tell him that you can't do that.
04:35It's a hate crime.
04:36I specifically said you can't go around killing transgenders.
04:42Hmm.
04:42So that's today's viewer poll.
04:44Who's at fault for the transphobic comments made at the Breakfast Club?
04:48Is it A, Lil Duvall, B, the Breakfast Club, or C, all of the above?
04:53Send us your comments right now using the hashtag EssenceNow, and we'll read the results later in the show.
04:58Now, let's do a little quick check-in with our girl Kayla, who's combing through social media for your comments.
05:03Hey, Kayla, what are folks saying?
05:05All right, people are definitely vocal on this one.
05:07And so in support of Duvall, Yakesha Thomas says, I was listening to myself, and they're blowing it out of proportion.
05:14Charlamagne did ask him to change his rhetoric on the show and go to Lil Duvall directly.
05:20But I guess that's just the way it goes.
05:22Duvall is at fault, according to Gwendolyn King.
05:24Comedians should have learned something from Kathy Griffin.
05:27Killing anyone is not funny or jokable material.
05:30And as always, some people are over it and over the conversation.
05:33Carol Jones says, why attack the Breakfast Club?
05:35They told him he couldn't say that.
05:36Lil Duvall is the ignorant one, so it's pretty mixed.
05:39And so important for us to have these conversations.
05:41Those are really good comments.
05:42Keep them coming.
05:44All righty, switching gears.
05:45We have a true songbird in the studio with us now.
05:49She just wrapped up a tour with Maxwell, and her new album, Let Love Rule, dropped September 22nd.
05:54Please welcome Lettucey to Essence Now.
05:56Hey, Lettucey, how are you?
05:58I'm great.
05:58Thank you for having me today.
05:59You look amazing.
06:01All right, first of all, let's talk about your new video.
06:03The video shows you, for your first single, it's called High.
06:06Yes.
06:07Step down, look to it.
06:08Why did you decide to go in that?
06:09Well, it's actually just a lyric video.
06:11I have a video that's coming out for High, but this one, I wanted, I was inspired by the
06:16Andy Warhol Museum.
06:17I visited an exhibit there that they had where he did screen tests.
06:21So you sit there for three minutes just making faces and doing whatever you want to do.
06:27And I thought, wow, this is a weird exhibit, but I love the way it looks and it felt good,
06:33but people were walking around as you're doing it.
06:35So it was weird.
06:37But I was thinking, wow, I want this for my lyric video instead of doing the same old thing
06:41and let people see my response to the words.
06:45Yeah.
06:46So when is the next, the official video coming out?
06:48I don't have a clue.
06:49I haven't seen it.
06:49I know they're working on making it gorgeous, but the shoot was wonderful.
06:54I'm very excited about it.
06:56Well, we can't wait.
06:57So let's go back a few albums back.
06:59We saw Let Us See Dancing and in that body suit, showing off this body.
07:04Can we see more of that on a new album?
07:05Well, no, not really.
07:07This one is more like a singer-songwriter kind of album, but there are up-tempos.
07:13It's beautiful, beautiful writing, and I'm singing my face off.
07:16Did you collaborate with anyone?
07:18Yes, I have.
07:19There's John Legend on it, BJ the Chicago Kid.
07:23Wow, who else is everyone?
07:24Yeah.
07:25It's so great.
07:25There's a couple of good people on there.
07:27Yeah, great.
07:27I'm excited about the duets that I did.
07:29All right.
07:30And Kirk Franklin.
07:30And Kirk, we love good Kirk Franklin.
07:33Oh, that's going to be a great combination.
07:34You know, the music industry is changing so much, and a lot of real vocalists like Let Us See
07:39are being relegated to, like, older radio stations and the contemporary market.
07:43What are your thoughts on that?
07:44Do you even care about, quote, the youth market?
07:46Wow, I do.
07:47If you hear my music, if you hear hi, it's very modern, very mixed of old and new, and
07:53I've always been a person that sits right in the middle of all my music.
07:58So if I'm on the radio, it's better than not being on the radio.
08:01Yeah.
08:01So anywhere I can reach is where I reach.
08:03So I don't have any comment about it.
08:06Who do you listen to when you're working on a new album?
08:09Do you have any sources of inspiration that you pull from?
08:11Wow.
08:12I don't listen to music when I'm about to make music.
08:15I look for inspiration in art, museums.
08:18Lately, it's been a lot of museums.
08:19I've been acting more.
08:21And so that's inspiring me a great deal to make sure.
08:24You're acting?
08:24Yes.
08:24Talk to us about that.
08:25Well, you were in the Selma movie, right?
08:27Yes.
08:28Yeah.
08:28And recently I was a part of the Tale of Four, Gabby Sibode's debut, the directorial debut.
08:36It's amazing.
08:37Yes!
08:37Gabby's director?
08:38And I don't want to say much about it because I want her to come and talk about it and give
08:42her that shine.
08:43But I was able to be a part of it.
08:45And my character was Aunt Sarah.
08:48And it's based off of the Nina Simone Four Women.
08:52That's amazing.
08:53I think the next show, we need you and Gabby on the show.
08:57We'll ask her.
08:58And if she needs me, I'm there.
08:59Yes!
08:59It was amazing, though.
09:00What would your dream role be?
09:02I would love to play Diana Washington or Sarah Vaughn.
09:05That's two of my favorite vocalists that I love if I did a biopic.
09:09I love that.
09:10Oh, I think with the recent success of these biopies, the two of them.
09:12Yeah, right?
09:13Let's put that out into the universe.
09:15I'm going to tell everybody.
09:15Yes.
09:17All right.
09:18So we already know that you can sing.
09:20But we also want to know what else we can find out about you, Lettucey, with some rapid
09:23fire questions.
09:24Uh-oh.
09:25Are you gay?
09:25I'm here.
09:26No need to be scared.
09:27I'm ready.
09:27This is Essence now.
09:28You're good.
09:29All right.
09:29So the first question is, what is on your ratchet song playlist?
09:33Do you have a ratchet song?
09:34I like Cardi B.
09:35You like Cardi B?
09:35Yes, I do.
09:37My girl.
09:38Do you like the bodak yellow song?
09:39Yes.
09:39Hello.
09:40Do you have...
09:41Okay.
09:42First of all, I love that little toy.
09:44It's so great.
09:45It is such a good song.
09:46It's a great song.
09:47Sorry.
09:47I blasted.
09:48There's nothing to be sorry about.
09:50It's a great treadmill workout.
09:51It's awesome.
09:52Awesome.
09:53What's the most fun that you've had on a date?
09:55On a date, most fun taking pictures and walking around talking.
09:59Oh, that's sweet.
09:59Yeah.
10:00That was a great date.
10:02Oh, that's so sweet.
10:03Now, what's a slang term that you use all the time?
10:06Okay.
10:07Okay?
10:07I just do okay.
10:08I don't have no slang.
10:10Just girl, please.
10:12Let's see that.
10:12That's it.
10:13Girl, please.
10:14Girl, please.
10:15Now, what's the one thing that's on your bucket list?
10:17Could be a destination.
10:18Could be anything.
10:19I want to go to Italy.
10:21Italy?
10:21Why Italy?
10:22I want to eat pasta and just wear a big oversized shirt and just eat, right?
10:29Yes.
10:30I think that's valid.
10:31And have fun.
10:31Gelato.
10:32And see all the things that I've never saw there.
10:34I want to go there.
10:35Okay.
10:35Yeah.
10:36And what was the last time that you had to curse somebody out, read them for filth?
10:39Ooh, for filth?
10:40Yeah.
10:41Hmm.
10:42Hmm.
10:44I'm sure.
10:45I know Lettucee is nice.
10:47She can sing.
10:48She has it together, but...
10:49Well, I'm trying to remember.
10:51It's been a while.
10:52But I have done it.
10:53Yes.
10:55Is it work-related or personal?
10:57I think it was more work-related.
10:59Okay.
10:59Because I take my job seriously.
11:01As you should.
11:01And people are looking for perfection from me.
11:04So if you don't do it, then, you know, you get a good wailing.
11:08Yes.
11:08A good wailing.
11:09I like that.
11:09For filth.
11:10Oh, yes.
11:11For filth.
11:12What is one word?
11:12This is the last one.
11:14Okay.
11:14They're really easy.
11:16What is the one word that your friends would use to describe you?
11:19Wow.
11:20Loyal.
11:21Loyal.
11:22Oh, I love it.
11:23Yes.
11:23I'm very loyal.
11:24Aw.
11:25Do you have any friends in Hollywood?
11:26Do you have a circle of friends in Hollywood that you reach out?
11:28No.
11:29Well, I have two really good friends that I rely on there, and they're great.
11:34They've been my friends since I visited L.A.
11:37Okay.
11:37And you don't want to name them?
11:38You don't want to name them?
11:38No.
11:38Rex Rideout is one of them.
11:40He's my executive producer on my new album.
11:44Oh, yeah.
11:44And he's been a part of my whole musical journey.
11:46He's on all my records.
11:48And then my honey, Ron, he's amazing.
11:51Oh, you're a honey.
11:51I love that.
11:52All right, guys.
11:53Remember to get Lettucey's new album, Let Love Rule, September 22nd, wherever music is sold.
11:59Thank you so much, Lettucey.
11:59Thanks for having me.
12:00Now, coming up, they're back.
12:03Our all-star panel of OBGYNs is here to answer your most intimate reproductive questions.
12:09But first, Essence Fashion and Beauty director Julie Wilson reveals the latest dope things on her desk.
12:15Check it out.
12:16So all you thick-thighed ladies out there, like myself, know what it's like to deal with chafing during the summertime.
12:33This genius product was created by a really awesome blogger.
12:37And clearly, I've been using the heck out of it because the label is even coming off.
12:42I really like how smooth and soft it is, and I don't have to reapply a million times.
12:48Love, love, love this.
12:49You guys need it in your life.
12:51So it's also really important to stay hydrated during the summertime.
12:55And why not do it with this really chic water bottle?
12:58I love this company, BKR.
13:01They make really beautiful glass bottles.
13:03I love this spiked version.
13:05It's cool and edgy.
13:06Also, check out the little handle at the top so you can, like, hook it on your finger, put it on your carabiner,
13:11throw it in your bag, take it with you anywhere.
13:13Drink up.
13:14So this next product is kind of cool because it works its magic when you're sleeping.
13:19It is a balm that turns into this really luxurious oil.
13:24It just hydrates your skin all night, and you wake up looking refreshed and beautiful.
13:28This little tool that comes with it helps you scoop out the balm,
13:32and then the metal tip helps really penetrate the product into your skin so that it can work its magic.
13:41So that's a look at all the dope stuff that's come across my desk lately.
13:44Check back next week for more.
13:46What do you read?
13:56Like, how do you keep yourself so on point and witty and sharp?
14:00You know, reading is fundamental.
14:03You're reading things to not just know what's going on,
14:06but see it from different varying viewpoints.
14:09It's so critical.
14:10It's critical.
14:10It's critical.
14:16You're watching Essence Now.
14:23I'm your host, Makon Lovu, and today we're talking health myths, the GYN edition.
14:28We've got some all-star doctors here to help us separate the facts from the alternative facts.
14:33Please welcome OBGYN and recurring host on the doctors, Dr. Nita Landry.
14:39OBGYN and the author of 20 Things You May Not Know About the Penis, Dr. Dre.
14:43And lastly, OBGYN and the founder of Her Viewpoint, Dr. Jessica Shepard.
14:48Welcome, everyone.
14:51Awesome sauce.
14:52All right, let's get started.
14:53Now, we know your relationship with your vagina is a special one.
14:56So for this segment, we've compiled some common questions we've received from our Essence readers
15:00over the years.
15:01Okay, here's the first one.
15:03It says,
15:04This is actually more common of a question than you might think because, again, we have
15:21a special relationship with our vaginas.
15:23So what I typically like to say is that the vagina is very forgiving.
15:26So the vagina has a lot of collagen elasticity, and so it's very accommodating and also very forgiving.
15:32So you will not damage, per se, your pelvis or your vagina from rough sex.
15:36However, you can have cuts.
15:38You can have abrasions or lacerations if it's too rough or if you don't have proper lubrication
15:43prior to having intercourse.
15:46So what I would say is, one, have a good relationship with your partner so that if it is too rough,
15:50you can always make accommodations and change that.
15:53But yes, the vagina is very accommodating.
15:56But if you have issues, go to your gynecologist.
15:58Just make sure that you get a thorough vaginal exam so you can see if anything has happened.
16:03Okay, very good.
16:04Foreplay is a must, though.
16:05Yes.
16:05You can't just dive in.
16:06You got to warm it up down there.
16:08So women, it's all up here, like orgasms and sex.
16:10So guys or ladies out there, make sure you warm it up before you dive in.
16:14Oh, I like that.
16:15Warm it up before you dive in.
16:16All right.
16:16The next question is for you, Dr. Landry.
16:18And it says, quote, I am so over getting a bikini wax and having to shave my hair downstairs.
16:25What are the side effects to having laser hair removal on my vagina?
16:28Signed, Bald Eagle and Sliddle, Louisiana.
16:32Well, all right, Louisiana.
16:34So I will start by saying, you know, it is safe to remove unwanted hair from the bikini region.
16:41But you just want to make sure that you're finding a qualified physician or a qualified provider.
16:46So you want to make sure that they are well-educated.
16:49You want to make sure it's sanitary.
16:51And you also want to make sure they're using the right laser for your skin tone.
16:55So ask the right questions.
16:56If you're African-American, ask them, what type of laser are you going to use?
17:01And then research that type of laser to make sure it's appropriate for your skin tone.
17:05And also ask them if they work with a lot of African-American people.
17:09And with the question and in general, you always want to know the side effects.
17:13So potentially you can have changes in the color of the skin so it can get lighter or darker.
17:19And then there's always a risk of infection, swelling, redness, bruising, things like that.
17:25So also pregnant women, I want you to remember this.
17:29We don't really have a lot of evidence that it's safe for the fetus.
17:32So I would help pregnant women to stay away from that procedure because it's cosmetic and it's just not worth the risk.
17:38Is there anything that you should do to prep for that procedure before you get it done?
17:41Outside of research, is there anything that you could physically do?
17:44I would say mainly just the research and prepping.
17:48So know what you're going to get.
17:50Yes, know who you're going to.
17:52And then don't have an active infection when you show up to get the procedure.
17:56Yes, that's actually a really good point.
17:58I would hope that's common sense.
17:59Okay, all right, Dr. Dre, you're up next.
18:02This question reads, I'm pregnant with my first child, but I've heard that label will leave my vagina too loose and will make sex unenjoyable.
18:10What can I do to tighten up post-baby?
18:12Are Kegels the only option?
18:13Signed, Confused and St. Louis.
18:15Please help Confused and St. Louis out.
18:18What's that?
18:19So the vagina is a muscle just like my muscles right here, right?
18:22So you have to exercise it.
18:23So the way you could do it is by doing simply Kegels.
18:26It's the same thing you do when you fake orgasms, right?
18:28You squeeze in and you let go, right?
18:30So you can do it three times in 10 minutes to exercise the vagina.
18:34Or you can use something called a Benway ball, which are resistance balls that you can put inside the vagina.
18:39The trick is, ladies, make sure you wear undies when you're doing this.
18:42Oh, will they fall out?
18:43They will fall out if you don't have enough strength.
18:45So make sure you use undies while you're using the Benway balls.
18:48Is there a difference between if you've had multiple children or not in terms of doing these exercises and the importance of them?
18:54Or does it matter really after you've had children?
18:56So the more babies you have, the looser the vagina is going to be.
18:58So you definitely want to, you want to do more and more exercises.
19:01It's super important.
19:02The one thing I would also say for that is, and I've sent a lot of my patients to a pelvic physical therapist.
19:08I really use pelvic physical therapists so much.
19:10What do they do?
19:11So they, just like you go to a physical therapist, if you hurt your back, if you hurt your knee, they will actually evaluate your pelvis.
19:16The pelvis is full of so many different muscles.
19:18And they will actually help you identify which are the muscles that need help, give you the exercises.
19:24And also we can do things like trigger point injections.
19:27And also there are really good, in addition to the balls that you meant, not those balls, you know, other balls.
19:32The other balls, yes.
19:33There is a new, it's like a gadget, and I love gadgets as a surgeon, but it actually is something you can really look at the biofeedback of the muscles.
19:42And so again, you insert it into the vagina, but it regulates and tells you if you should hold it stronger, longer, and it gives you all that feedback onto an app on your phone.
19:52Wow.
19:52Yes.
19:53Look at all this technology.
19:55Learning so much.
19:56All right, let's look at our next one.
19:58And the question is, quote, I've been abstinent for almost two years now, but I've heard that if you don't use it, you will lose it.
20:04Are there any negative physical effects to not having sex?
20:07Signed, hashtag, asking for a friend.
20:09Dr. Landry would say you about this.
20:12So, you know, the good thing about the vagina is it's not like your ear piercing.
20:17If you don't use it, it's not going to close up.
20:19Like, you can always swing back to your vagina, and it'll still be there.
20:23Okay.
20:24So, while, you know, abstinence is okay, but there are benefits to having regular sexual intercourse.
20:31For example, better mood, better sleep.
20:34People who have regular intercourse also get sick less because their immune system is better.
20:39The pelvic muscles are stronger, so it helps to prevent incontinence.
20:43And, you know, it's a good form of exercise, even though no matter how acrobatic you are, it's not going to take the place of a treadmill.
20:50You still have to go to the gym, but you can burn a few calories.
20:53So, lower blood pressure.
20:54Like, so the list goes on and on and on.
20:56So, abstinence is okay, but there are benefits.
20:59But what if you're not, like, if you don't have a partner or there's just no one around, masturbation, do you get the same benefits through masturbation?
21:05If you get some of those, you get the increased blood flow and things like that, so you still can get some benefits.
21:10Okay.
21:10And last, the follow-up question is, in terms of normal sex, right, or regular sex, what is that per week?
21:16Is that once a week, twice a week, three times a week?
21:18So, here's the thing.
21:19Oh, the medical term.
21:20Here's the thing.
21:21So, there is no right answer.
21:24They did a study, and they, you know, talking about what's the magic number.
21:27And actually, when people had intercourse once a week, then they were a happy couple.
21:33If they had sex more than once a week, it didn't really add anything to the relationship.
21:38If they had sex less than once a week, then they weren't as happy.
21:41So, it was kind of the whole one-and-done deal.
21:45You know, it's okay.
21:46But the thing is, there is no right answer.
21:48Whatever works for you in your relationship, in your life.
21:50If you're single and you only want to have sex once a month, and your partner only wants to have sex once a month, there you go.
21:57That's your number.
21:57If you want to have sex twice a day, and that's what works for your relationship, there you go.
22:02That's the number.
22:03Things that will help, though, in having sex, not like I'm saying, like, I just have, like, a surmountable amount of sex.
22:09I mean, that's okay.
22:10That's okay, too, based on what Dr. K.
22:12What I'm saying is, if you are not having a lot of sex, and then you re-enter that kind of phase in your life, or you're menopausal, so you don't have estrogen, and then you're re-entering that phase, is to be, like, confident with lubricant.
22:23I don't know why people think that lubricant is bad, but it's actually great.
22:27It enhances, you know, your sexual life and makes it more comfortable for both the male partner, female partner, or if it's a same-sex relationship as well, or if you're using dildos.
22:36So, you know, lubrication really helps, knowing your different types of lubrication, whether it's water-based, silicone-based, so all of that goes into it.
22:44For your research, yeah.
22:44For your research, yes.
22:45And that's very true, because not all types of lubricants work with latex condoms, so you want to be careful, because some lubricants will actually make latex condoms weaker.
22:53Weaker, right.
22:54And so you think you're protecting yourself against pregnancy and stuff, and really, you may not be protecting yourself as much as you want to.
23:00So, just be mindful of that, but that's absolutely right.
23:03Mind blown.
23:04So, no oil and latex, basically.
23:05Right.
23:06No.
23:06It'll break the condom.
23:08And no whipped cream.
23:08That's just a side note.
23:09And that's a side note.
23:10And no whipped cream.
23:11That's like entry for yeast infections and BV, don't you?
23:14Let's move on to the next one.
23:15The doctors are a blast.
23:17All right.
23:17The question is, my boyfriend and I love oral sex, but I've heard that eating certain foods can make you taste and smell a little off down there.
23:24Are there foods that you should avoid, or so we can continue our fun, signed, Hungry in Hartford, Connecticut?
23:30Dr. Dre.
23:31Oh, my God.
23:32Of course.
23:33Did you take this?
23:33Yes, yes.
23:34Right up here, Riley.
23:35Yes.
23:35There's really no studies that say, like, if you eat certain foods, the vagina will taste a certain way.
23:41It's antidotal.
23:42So some people think if you eat, like, pineapples or something sweet with acidic acid in them, like oranges or lemons, then the vagina will taste sweeter.
23:49So you mean Beyonce lied about I've been eating watermelon?
23:52Because we all were singing along to the lyrics.
23:54So did you just, like, start a whole watermelon diet and, like, that was it or pineapples?
23:58I didn't even know if that was truth or not.
24:00Watermelon is actually aphrodisiac.
24:02Okay.
24:02So that's probably what she was talking about.
24:04Ah.
24:05So you can still eat your watermelon?
24:06Yeah.
24:06I can still eat.
24:07Okay.
24:07What about for the fellas, though?
24:08Is there anything that they can eat that affects the taste of the payment?
24:11Fellas out there, no smoking, tobacco, terrible.
24:15No smoking meat, like heavy meat, terrible, terrible, terrible.
24:18It can make your semen taste a certain way.
24:21Oh, really?
24:21But what food should they go?
24:22There is no...
24:23No, basically food that makes it taste, like, a certain way, like, great or anything like that.
24:27Oh.
24:27Very, very interesting.
24:29All right.
24:29So now with the recent allegations about Usher and the herpes virus, there's been a lot of misinformation going around.
24:35So doctors, what are some of the biggest misconceptions about this sexually transmitted disease?
24:41So any one of you can answer this question.
24:42I think this, you know, when I heard that occur, what I really wanted to let people know is that the shame and guilt that comes with the social misperception about herpes is so...
24:52It can be very emotionally traumatic for people.
24:54So one is to take that kind of away.
24:57Take that out of the equation because it's one in six.
24:59One in six are affected by HSV, so there are a lot more people walking around with it than you would know.
25:05But it really goes down to symptoms or no symptoms.
25:07So if you were having symptoms such as, you know, in this case, then, yes, that needs to be addressed and treated, but it can be managed.
25:13And that's the most important thing is that it can be managed.
25:16But the social stigma is probably the biggest part of it for me that is very hard to relate to patients to take that away.
25:22Dr. Dre?
25:23And then you want to be open with your partner.
25:25So if you have, like, herpes, you definitely want to talk to your partner to tell them, hey, you know what, had an outbreak of herpes before, I still have this, you know, so we can be on the same page.
25:33Before you even engage.
25:34Before you even do naked dry humping, right?
25:38Right.
25:38Right, because herpes you can get from just dry humping and be naked dry humping, right, skin to skin.
25:43So you really, and oral sex, so you have to be very, very careful with that.
25:46Just have a conversation with your partner, and then they can weigh the risk.
25:49Dr. Nita, if your partner comes to you and says in a hypothetical situation that they have herpes,
25:54what should you do in that scenario?
25:56And so in that particular scenario, I think you would want to be open and honest with, you know, your partner about how you're feeling about the particular situation.
26:04And I think you just have to educate yourself and know that condoms are great.
26:08They're very important, especially if someone has herpes or another sexually transmitted infections.
26:13But, infection, but know that with herpes specifically, condoms don't protect you 100% because, like Dr. Dre said, it is skin to skin contact.
26:22And so the condom won't protect you against everything.
26:25And also realize that most people with herpes don't have any symptoms or they have very mild symptoms.
26:32And so when I say mild symptoms, that may mean that they saw a bump and they thought it was just a pimple or an ingrown hair when it was really genital herpes.
26:42So there are suppressive medications that someone can take to help suppress an outbreak.
26:47But unfortunately, even if someone is not having an active outbreak, they can still transmit the virus to you.
26:54And while I have the OBGYN panel here, in terms of having children, women that are afflicted with herpes, they can still have normal birth and have children.
27:03So we do manage them with medications during the pregnancy to ensure that they don't have an outbreak or minimize their risk of having an outbreak during the delivery and also during the pregnancy.
27:12But the main thing is for women to, in this particular instance, know their bodies so well that you can sense possibly when you're having an outbreak to let your doctor know so that you can possibly be increased on medication, be put on the correct dosage.
27:25But yes, I, you know, I've had a couple of patients since this incident happened who have come to me and said, well, I do have the virus.
27:32Do I have to have a C-section?
27:33I'm like, absolutely not.
27:34You know, you can still have a vaginal delivery.
27:36And that comes, again, with misinformation that's out there that we would love to correct.
27:41This is why the doctors are so necessary.
27:44I'll let you wrap with the, you can end with that.
27:46So to the pregnancy, at 36 weeks, anybody who has genital herpes, we typically put you on suppressive therapy if you're not already on medication.
27:55So like Dr. Shepard was saying, it is very important to share that information with your provider because if you are having a herpetic outbreak or if you're having symptoms of an impending outbreak,
28:05meaning you're having burning or tingling when it is time to deliver, then you will need to have a cesarean section.
28:11So that's why it's so important to suppress the virus, just because when you are pregnant, your immune system is kind of lower.
28:17It's weaker.
28:18So it's more prone to, you're more prone to have an outbreak.
28:21So just make sure you're telling your provider.
28:23And like Dr. Shepard said, they're not judging you.
28:25We just really want to help you.
28:27No judgment.
28:28Healthy, happy baby.
28:29Yes.
28:29Look at these beautiful doctors.
28:31No judgment.
28:31They just want to help.
28:32A huge thank you to our G.O.I.N.s for answering all our pressing questions today.
28:37Coming up, we have the results of today's viewer poll and our Black Girl Magic Salute.
28:41But first, here's a clip of Iyama Van Zet's visits to Essence's Yes Girl podcast.
28:46Spiritual Code of Conduct says, ask for what you want because you know who you are and believe you can get it just because.
29:08Stop thinking that you got to work so hard for your blessing.
29:11Stop thinking that you got to work hard to prove you worthy of your blessing.
29:16What's up, y'all?
29:33This is Jocelyn Hernandez and you're watching Essence Now.
29:36You're watching Essence Now and I'm your host, Makon Lovu.
29:43It's time to check in with you on social media.
29:46Hey, Kayla, what are folks talking about?
29:48Okay, so we asked who's at fault for the transphobic comments made at The Breakfast Club.
29:52A, Lil Duval.
29:53B, The Breakfast Club.
29:54C, all of the above.
29:55Frank Jones says Breakfast Club is at fault.
29:57The entire cast is immature and allowed him to continue with his foolishness.
30:00And Manuel Noseki says they are all responsible, especially after they just had Janet Mock on the show.
30:07There need to be some repercussions.
30:08But the scale is tipping towards Duval.
30:11And Stephanie Ann says this dude is included on the important issues of today.
30:14In today's intolerant climate, making jokes about people just aren't cool.
30:18Adalias Gutierrez says when you have a platform that reaches hundreds and thousands of people,
30:22you have to be responsible with what you say, comedian or not.
30:25That's exactly right, Kayla.
30:27They had a platform.
30:28I think they should have used it responsibly.
30:30Do you agree?
30:30Yes, no?
30:31I agree.
30:32And when it's really happening in the transgender community, don't make a joke about it.
30:35Exactly.
30:35It was insensitive and ignorant.
30:36No, I don't find it funny at all.
30:38All right, let's reveal the results of today's Viewer poll.
30:42We asked you, who's at fault for the transphobic comments made at The Breakfast Club?
30:46Is it A, Lil Duval, B, The Breakfast Club, or C, all of the above?
30:50And here's how you voted.
30:53Ah, 88%, Lil Duval.
30:55I think that's about right.
30:56Lil Duval, watch your mouth, watch your mouth.
30:58All right, and now it's time for this week's Black Girl Magic Salute, which goes to Kayla Robinson.
31:04She's the 18-year-old designer who has some bulk celebrities rocking her T-shirts.
31:09Recently, Frank Ocean performed at the Panorama Music Festival wearing one of her shirts that read,
31:15why be racist, sexist, homophobic, or transphobic when you could just be quiet?
31:20And just last month, Zendaya tweeted at Kayla, currently buying all your shirts.
31:24Fist emoji.
31:25Go ahead, Kayla.
31:26Now, if you were looking for even more stories like this, we got you.
31:29Essence.com's original Black Girl Magic docu-series has powerful short films on everything from black teens in the foster care system
31:37to what it's like being a black Muslim teen in the South.
31:41And you can watch them for free at Essence.com slash Black Girl Magic.
31:45That's Essence.com slash Black Girl Magic.
31:49Thanks to Lettucey and all of today's guests for coming through.
31:53Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our videos and tune in next Tuesday at 3 p.m. Eastern for an all-new Essence now.
32:02I'm Makon Lovu, and we'll see you then.
32:04Thank you so much for watching.
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