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•Russell Simmons is under fire for the “Harriet Tubman Sex Tape” that recently appeared on his newly launched All Def Digital YouTube channel. The video shows an actress playing Tubman having sex with her slave master as a way to gain leverage to run the Underground Railroad. Simmons has since taken down the video after being asked to do so by the NAACP. He has also issued an apology on Globalgrind.com. “My first impression of the Harriet Tubman piece was that it was about what one of the actors said in the video, that 162 years later, there’s still tremendous injustice,” wrote Simmons. “And with Harriet Tubman outwitting the slave master? I thought it was politically correct. Silly me. I can now understand why so many people are upset. I have taken down the video. Lastly, I would never condone violence against women in any form, and for all of those I offended, I am sincerely sorry.” [USA Today]
•Music veteran Brandy is gearing up to headline her first British show in over five years. Musicalize UK has confirmed that Brandy will kick off her London comeback show on September 24 at IndigO2. The singer also recently announced that she has teamed up with Chris Brown for a new track entitled “Do Better,” which will appear on Brown’s upcoming album, X. The pair took to twitter to announce the news Wednesday. “@4everBrandy we got an amazing record for this X album! “Do Better…” This is crazy,” tweeted Brown. Brandy responded, “@chrisbrown thank you so much for the opportunity! You are an amazing artist Chris Brown.” [That Grape Juice]
•Three years ago, Music Icon Prince said that the internet was over, now the star has put that behind him and has officially joined twitter. The 55-year-old singer is posting under the account for his band, 3rdEyeGirl. His first tweet read “Prince’s 1st Tweet…Testing 1,2…” Minutes later, he posted a picture of a salad with a caption that read, “Did Eye Add 2 Much Pepper?” The “Purple Rain” singer added another post of a purple and white image which he said was his first “selfie.” [PEOPLE]
•Lance Gross is set to star in the new short film, “SAY YES.” Gross will play himself in the movie and will also be joined by “Awkward Black Girl” star and creator, Issa Rae. The lighthearted film, directed by Ava DuVernay, is about making the best of life and is inspired by the Fashion Fair lip color, Say Yes. “I was thrilled to be asked to create a film for Fashion Fair, a brand that has always embraced women of color, and that women of color have so often embraced,” said DuVernay. “The film is a meditation on the power of ‘yes,’ illustrating what can happen when we affirm our family, our friends, ourselves.” [The YBF]