The Snob Is Scared to Watch "Temptation," Y'All

Source: LionsgateI was (and I'm still) going to go see Tyler Perry's new film "Temptation" but it happened to come out the same weekend as a planned vacation. So I though, no big. I'll see it on Thursday, I thought. But then it started on Facebook with enraged friends giving away the ending, screaming to anyone who would listen how infuriating the film was.

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Listen to The Snob Talk About "Where Did Our Love Go" on Atlanta's KISS FM

The Snob is back talking about love, black love in particular on this March 17 interview. It aired on Atlanta's 104.1 KISS FM and featured myself, Edward Garnes, and book editor Gil Robertson about his new book Where Did Our Love Go?, released in February. I contributed to the book, which is about the state of black love and marriage, featuring several essays on singlehood, marriage and divorce. (Mine was in the divorce chapter, called "The Problem with Marriage.") You can check out the full interview on Atlanta's 104.1 KISS FM here.

Roland Martin: Out at CNN

Ascot-hustling wordsmith and my occasional frienemy Roland Martin is out at CNN. The political and cultural yakker cited changes in CNN's management (*cough* Jeff Zucker *cough*) and how the "new boss wants his own peeps." In his CNN last days manifesto, my dearest Roland invoked God, the Tuskegee Airmen and name-dropped it like it's hot.

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Have You Seen This Woman?: Terrilynn Monette

New Orleans teacher Terrilynn Monette has been missing since March 2nd.From CNN.com: Terrilynn Monette is described as an African-American female, approximately 5'8" tall, weighing 180 pounds and having a light complexion with long brown hair. She was last seen driving a 2012 black two-door Honda Accord with Louisiana license plate WUN494. If you have any information, please contact the New Orleans Police Department at (504) 821-2222 or Texas EquuSearch at (281) 309-9500.

CNN and other cable news outlets have received their fair share of criticism in the past for an over-emphasis on missing young, typically blonde, upper middle class white women over everyone else. If you're a man, African American or not conventionally attractive, the cable news tends to not care. But CNN is covering the missing person's case of celebrated New Orleans teacher, Terrilynn Monette, last seen March 2 at 4 a.m. after leaving a bar in the Lakeview area. She'd had too much to drink and told friends she was going to sleep in her car, then drive home. She hasn't been seen since.

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Essence Founder Stands By Time Inc., Believes Selling Essence Was A Success

Edward Lewis (Photo capture from Richard Prince's Journal-isms)Another scoop from Richard Prince. In light of former Essence Magazine editor Constance C.R. White's criticisms that she was stymied in her efforts to creatively lead the magazine, conflicting with Time Inc. over black women's images and how they're portrayed, Essence founder Edward Lewis has stepped into the fray to dissmiss White's claims and defend Essence's current direction.

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Fmr. Essence Editor Constance C.R. White Says She Clashed With Time Inc. Over Black Women

Danielle Belton and Constance C.R. White at an Essence event in Washington, D.C. in 2011.In an amazing piece by my friend Richard Prince, Constance C.R. White opens up about her recent firing from Essence Magazine, claiming she was forced out due to multiple clashes with management over the portrayal of black women in Essence. Apparently Time Inc. wanted it one way and Constance was repping for the readers.

White told Prince: "How is it that from 2000, when Susan [L. Taylor, longtime editor] left — she was pushed out — we have had about five editors, including two acting editors, yet Essence continues to decline? So where's the problem? And the editors are the black women. 'They are disposable. Let's keep changing them.'"

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Clutch Magazine: What Really Goes On

Image via ClutchFriday for Clutch, The Snob breaks down media myths surrounding news, blogs and BET. Here's a taste:

BLOGS and BEYONCE and GETTING PRESS

What you think happens: Beyoncé and her team have Beyoncé everywhere. Obviously, everyone knows that Beyonce is a style thief who copies and can’t be bothered to sing her own songs live. Plus 4, despite selling millions, was a floppity-flop-flop. The only way she could still be getting so much press is she’s paying blogs and other folks to write about her. Obviously. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY.

What really happens: Blogs wish Beyoncé was handing out cash since most blogs are cash-strapped, grindhouses where writers churn out tons of copy for what – back in the day – used to be a salary newspaper job with benefits. That gig is now a freelance “content provider” position where you get paid between $25 and $200 per story depending on what blog you write for. And health benefits? Ha. What are those?

Read the full story at Clutch Magazine Online.

RHOA's Porsha Stewart Is Perfect and I Love Her (But Let Me Explain)

Porsha Stewart reacts to gifts at her fairy tale wedding.Normally, I don't have much in ways of interest for Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta. It's a silly, fun show full of cringe-inducing people and a few glamour-pusses flouncing around and twirling. But this season has piqued my interest, but for one reason and one reason alone -- granddaughter of a civil rights activist and wife of former pro-football star Kordell Stewart -- loveable ditz Porsha Stewart.

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The New Republic Breaks Down How the GOP Doubled-Down on Whiteness

The best retort critics could come up with was "you do it too."

That was the slam after The New Republic published its piece "Original Sin: Why the GOP is and will continue to be the party of white people." Conservatives quickly googled Wikipedia, and pointed out how lacking in a tan The New Republic's staff is, failing to grasp that The New Republic (while could benefit from diversity) is not one of two national political parties that takes turns in writing, executing and judging our laws.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the GOP might be a bit more important and powerful than a magazine. I can't think of the last time TNR did something that determined what military contracts we might purchase and how much interest the government will have in my womb year-to-year.

As Dylan Byers writes at Politico: "Should TNR diversify its offices? That's up to them. But for the GOP, it isn't a case of should or shouldn't. It's a case of must."

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