Viola Davis is riding high this award season on the acclaim of her Golden Globe, Screen Actor’s Guild and Academy Award nominated performance in “The Help” and looking lovlier than ever.  Frankly, she has been an under  appreciated major talent and beauty, for years.

Hollywood is finally getting hip to what the-a-ter goers have known:  Viola Davis is a force to be reckoned with.  The  South Carolina born/Rhode Island raised,  Julliard graduate  has received accolades for a while now. But those who may be unfamiliar, let’s roll that beautiful bean footage of accomplishments:

• 2001,Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Tonya in King Hedley II
• 2 Drama Desk Awards, for her work in King Hedley II and, in 2004, for her work in an off-Broadway production of Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage.
• 2008, Nominations for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for “Doubt”.
• 2010, Davis won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her role as Rose Maxson in a revival of August Wilson’s Fences.

Though primarily lauded for her stage work, Davis has appeared in numerous films: Out of Sight, Solaris,  Traffic, Syriana, Kate & Leopold, Antwone Fisher and Disturbia. Her television work includes a recurring role in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and a starring role in the short-lived Traveler.

 For those who are arguably justified feeling “some way” about another black woman being nominated for an Academy Award for portraying anything less than what African American women currently professionally bring to the table, along with  all of the ”Mammy” historical connotations that comes along with the a role as a housekeeper,  (** Personally, I don’t these most of these angry mobs read the book OR saw the movie- so I’m going to just say that the maids were not one dimensional or stereotypical –YET I absolutely get your point.) 

Viola says of her role in “The Help”:  The thing about the African-American community compared with the white community is, we are more concerned with image and message than execution. I don’t play roles that are necessarily attractive or portray a positive image. They are well-rounded characters. When you squelch excellence to put out a message it’s like passing the baton and seeing it drop.

Married to fellow actor Julian Tennon since 2003, in addition to his two children from a previous relationship, the couple adopted a baby girl,  Genesis, last October.  And on the shallower note… THOSE GUNS, THAT SKIN, GAWJUS!

Head to our Facebook page for our Brew Beauty gallery to see more pictures of Viola and our other Brew Beauties. If you have a suggestion for a future Beauty, drop us a line.

First, “slave jewelry” was hot in Italian Vogue. Then, Rihanna was dubbed de n*ggab*tch by a Dutch fashion magazine. Now, French Elle has attempted to deliver a compliment to the Obamas, while throwing shade at the sartorial selections of the entire black community. Yes, you. And you too. In an article called “Black Fashion Power,” Nathalie Dolivo suggests black people are dressing well and paying attention to fashion, thanks to the well-dressed Obamas.
Taste The Brew for more

*Sigh* I have come to realize that really really really bad things happen with some men when they come into a lil wealth. I have known a certain man for many years, he’s always been fun, respectful and just overall a really swell dude. We didn’t end up a couple but that’s ok, you don’t always have to be in the love zone to enjoy having someone in your life. We have shared a ‘grown up’ activity here and there, some fun, some food (cause Pipes don’t play that) and some major laughs. So the other night I’m driving home from work and I get a texas message:

Dude X: Hey girl, what chu doing? meet me at so n so bar, let’s do some drinks

Pipes: cool! see you in a little while 

So I gets there, all cute n sessified and smelling yummy like spanish whore like I do and he hugs me and greets me like a normal human being, orders me my fav drink (a french martini) and then things take a turn towards horror. He leans in and whispers “yeah finish that drink so I can fug the chit outta you” SIR EXCUSE ME???” oK now I guess I should note that I’m not a shy, clutch my pearls kinda chick, not even close, but even a loosey goosey chick like me has lines. 

So ok, I usually allow everyone one infraction, he coulda been confused by my beauty or some shit right? Hey I can understand that….. well big mistake, he then leans in again and says “open your legs” (I had on a skirt) *another blank stare*. He had me straight trippin boo! and not in a Steve Martin/King Latifah kinda way, but more in a “is this ninja finna fingerpop me at the bar??….. while I’m acutally sitting at the bar?????” …… yeeeeaaaaa, I think that was def the plan.

But here’s the really disheartening thing, years ago when I first met him he was just the sweetest, most considerate, most kind man ever. Over the years he’s acquired some things, moved up in his career, makes goobs and gobs of money and loves to tell anyone who will listen that he’s rich. Money has ruined this once awesome guy, he is now 100% USDA Asshole, I doubt the old him will ever return. When he was making average money he was the best but now his climb up the tax bracket ladder has completely turned him into the most unsavory character.

So needless to say after I rejected his demand to be fingerpopped at the bar he proceeded to go on a tirade about how all the bishes in the bar wanna get at him and I’m crazy to not have my ass bent over giving him the public bitness blah blah blah. So I knew I had to leave…… but not before I fiinished my drink and ordered me some food to go, Piper’s mama is a fool but she ain’t raise one, sheeeiiitttt

Then I get a another texas message while I’m driving home:

Dude X: I’m sorry, I think I might have gone too far, I miss you….

HA!!! Son?! you think???? 

Paula Deen admitted last week that she has suffered from Type 2 Diabetes (or ‘Suga’ as my granny used to call it) for several years. So while that’s all very unfortunate (I had a flash back to the Soul Food big mama arm burn scene), I can’t help but thinking to myself that this hefty host is shady as slim. While she was peddling butter, fatback and hog maw, her glucose levels were doing her dirty and SHE KEPT QUIET! WHO DOES THAT?  I know it’s up to us to be responsible for our bodies. No one can sue McDowell’s when they spent years shoving that chit down their pie holes but still this woman has a huge fan base so maybe she could have said something? Maybe tone down the donut and bacon sandwich rants? You know like actually look out for the fans who support her? Well apparently she did finally say something; ‘where them dollars at’? Paula is the new spokesperson for..what else..a diabetes drug! I’m calling brewshyt. Apparently her publicist is too because she just quit after six years. So Paula you are sitting in the Brew’s Cornball Corner. Marinate on that and get well!

Why do critics rip Michelle Obama because she preaches healthy eating and hail this lard lover?

And why is this sister acting all Annie The Chicken Lady? Stop it!

Terrell Owens is not having the best week life time ever. The former NFL star laments his career and tells GQ about being depressed and low on cash in a new interview. You can click over there for all the football talk (yaada yaada yaada). But, on a personal note, Owens talks about his impregnation woes. You see, Terrell has four children, ages 5 to 12, by four women. And all of said women want their share of child support. LIKE. NOW. ANDALÈ. PRONTO. Terrell admits he’s “not a very good judge of character,” is too trusting and loyal to a fault. And, well, he’s paying for it… to the tune of $44,600 a month in child support, about which he says:

If there’s anything I’m sorry about, it’s getting involved with all that.

Ya think?

Terrell was never in full-fledged relationships with ANY of these women. One, he calls a one night stand. The rest were friends with benefits, or “repeat offenders” as he calls them. His relationship with the mother of the youngest child is so broken that he has never even met his son. Owens says he sees his other children as much as possible.

T.O. is now in court with all four women. Ya know, I can’t really find it within myself to have the sads for this guy. And I’m usually the nice, Emo Witch.

I’m no rocket scientist or anything Turrrrrrell, but it seems to me that you need a lifetime supply of these from here on out…

Image via GQ/Gif via Tumblr
Source
Want more Witches’ Brew?
Like us | Follow us | Get fed | Shop | Circle Us

Word on these here innawebs streets is the producers of VH1′s Basketball Wives are trying hard to snag the newest member of the NBA’s ex-wives club, Vanessa Bryant. Producers would never have approached ‘Nessa while she was married but now they are trying to woo Kobe’s ex with a lucrative deal that would make her a recurring “character” on the LA version of the show and would instantly make her a leading storyline. Jackie Christie would lose her shizz over that.

Dear Vanessa,

While it would probably make my soul happy to watch you square up with those Govan sisters and Jackie Christie’s crazy arse, please just take your money, your three houses and your daughters and keep your mouth shut. Basketball Wives is for the women we have to Google to know who their “husbands” are and what teams they played for. You, my dear, were married to Kobe effin’ Bryant. I like not really knowing what your voice sounds like and what your world views are. Please don’t join the troupe of the annoyingly big-earring’d women on this show. You don’t need the money or the exposure. Find a couch in one of theaters in one of your houses and just chill, let the other lames make fools of themselves.

(But if you did want to pop your head in a couple of episodes, I would totally watch).

Love,
A Witch

Want more Witches’ Brew?
Like us | Follow us | Get fed | Shop | Circle Us

So, I watch ‘The Game’, it’s definitely one of my Tuesday night guilty pleasures. The new season is well under way and they wasted no time with the drama. Not sure why it finally hit me, but while watching last week’s episode I realized that Melanie (Derwin’s boo/manager/wife), who went to med school and is supposedly a real, ‘not pretend’ doctor is now Derwin’s wife-ager/stay-at-homeager. ¿Por qué? Perhaps I missed the part in the storyline that explained the direction they’re going here but I’m quite disappointed. So many youngins watch this show, in paticular young, black women and very few of us are doctors. I would love to know why this black, female tv doctor has now been relegated to being her husband’s ball boy…….. A DOCTOR!!! 

Melanie being in med school despite having a NFL boo was my most fav thing about her character, I guess because it went against the stereotype we are all familiar with, ya know the video hooch meets lotto ticket, I mean baller. I thought “wow, cool! they have this pretty, smart woman carving out her own path in spite of her man being able to take care of her, good chit!” But now Dr. Wifeager instead of yelling STAT! and CODE BLUE!! in the OR is busy dooking it out with Tasha Mack in meetings on behalf of Derwim Enterprises???? Word?

*Sigh* I know it’s only tv, but the message it sends is the message it sends. It says “hey, get an education, study hard, become a doctor, then give it all up and be the gal that rings the sweat outta your hubby’s jock strap”. Yikes! As if there aren’t enough super bad examples for our gals out there…

Well, why be surprised right? after all we are talking about BET . Would make too much sense if they were concerned about such trivial matters as it pertains to our girls wanting to be something other than a girlfriend or wife. Or perhaps they got it right and I have it wrong, maybe you do go to school for years and then give it all up to stand by your man…. *shrug*

Vanessa Bryant is #winning! Kobe Bryant’s ex reportedly snagged all three of the couple’s mansions in their divorce settlement. She gets their house, the house Kobe bought for her mother AND the recently built house in which the Bryant’s were due to move. That house had been under construction for two years.

There was no prenup, so Vanessa is getting about $75 million: half of their assets which had been estimated at about $150 million.

Seems cheaper to just stay faithful, huh?

Source
Want more Witches’ Brew?
Like us | Follow us | Get fed | Shop | Circle Us

… the young lad you’ve been dating *clears throat* humping, says to you “so you gonna be there for me when I go on line right?” It takes you some good, long minutes to realize he’s not talking about a line at Walmart, this bamma means fraternity “big bruva Almighty” on line, like at a college n stuff…..

EXCUSE ME SIR??!!! I AM A SEASONSED WOMAN! WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE YOU’RE ASKING ME???

But then I realized it’s not his fault, it’s me, I’m a trifling mess and I need my ass beat…

 When the Witches aren’t busy uploading crazy pics, or scouring the net for interesting talking points for our Facebook page… (Go on and Like us. Ya know ya wanna) or ranting about stuff on this here blog, we’re side-barring each other about any and everything. We thought we’d start to  share some of our deep and not so deep thoughts, from time to time.

Elphaba:  Ha! I  just told my co-worker that her ashy elbows looked like she was wearing a brown blazer with silver elbow patches.  Why have I not been slapped yet??
 

Piper:  Oh, it’s coming Muffin Pie, it’s coming.

 Elphaba:  I  dunno.  I say it with such a big smile then walk away.  Hopefully I won’t get snuck.
 
Piper:  Oh no, you WILL. Just hope its in the gut area, not your face.

 Elphaba:  If it’s in the gut area- that’s my squishy bits and that would be best. Their hand would get stuck for like 5 minutes and I can absorb the blow… like memory foam.

For about a week, a story has been making waves across these innawebs that Jay-Z would give up using the b-word in his lyrics, thanks to his newfound affection for his daughter, Blue Ivy. The story went so far as to even quote from a poem Jay allegedly wrote.

“Before I got in the game, made a change and got rich / I didn’t think hard about using the word bitch / I rapped, I flipped it, I sold it, I lived it / Now with my daughter in this world I curse those that give it“

I read it, laughed and clicked NEXT. I doubted the validity of the “poem” and the story. The man has a grandma, mother, sisters and a wife, why would he just now suddenly find some new value in women because he has a kid? And, he’s gone on record about words just being, well, words… that people give them power so there’s no point in “banning” them because folks will just find a new word in which to channel their disrespect. But, I digress. That’s another argument in itself. Anyway, the New York Daily News went straight to the source and asked if there’s any truth to the story. He told them, directly, “That poem and story are fake.” So, bishes can rest easy now. You’ll still have a place in Hov’s lexicon.

By the way, there’s another story trolling around the web that claims to be Beyonce’s first post-childbirth interview. That one is fake too. C’mon people.

I was listening to the radio on my drive home last night and it hit me, I’ve become my Mother. I find myself shutting off the loud, beat-thumping, arse-dropping instructing music that now passes as “hip hop,” in favor of the melodic tunes of my youth. Give me Shalamar over a Waka FlockaDeeDoodle any day. Apparently, I’m not alone in my disdain for today’s mainstream musical offerings. LL Cool J is no lover of the tunes that traditional radio is force-feeding us.

He tells Forbes:

“The biggest problem that we’re having right now… is radio. I think that radio has gotten to the point where you hear the same thing over and over again, so much, because you have a group of people controlling the airplay -no disrespect- they’re doing their jobs, but you have a certain group of people that are controlling the airplay to the point where it makes you wanna throw up. It’s crazy.”

Taste The Brew for LL’s full interview