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Laci Mosley Wants Us to Cheat and Move Towards a Softer Life – Essence

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Photo credit: Jonny Marlow

Laci Mosley arrived in Hollywood with few liquid assets beyond her flammable club dresses, questionable bartending experience, and a ton of confidence. That didn’t stop the trilingual podcast villain from chasing the whole lot the City of Angels had to offer in English, Spanish, and the language of fraud.

She went from being an awards-season party no-show to a sitcom regular. Along the way in which, she was scammed by shady employers, shady photographers, shady acting coaches, and weird potential roommates. Instead of feeling ashamed, she thrived. “I decided I was going to continue living the life I wanted, no matter what,” Mosley tells ESSENCE.

She began a podcast about “scams, frauds, thefts and swindles.” It was soon adapted into TV series and a combination memoir and handbook titled .

Mosley, who starred in , advises readers to accept the world because it is, not as they would love it to be, and to make their way through it by deceiving. “We have institutionalized deception, so much of our government is a deception; everyone has made things up, nothing is real,” she says.

Her stance is that when the sport is rigged, there isn’t a shame in shortcuts. Tears, lies, deception – all are permitted in an unjust world where school children starve and homelessness is criminalized. When systematically biased means-testing threatened her California dreams, she removed them with great enthusiasm and a little Photoshop.

“The first apartment I got was in Los Angeles. I had pay stubs, but I faked the dates on the pay stubs,” she explains. Anyone who’s been turned down for an $1,800 mortgage while paying $2,700 in rent can understand her motivation. “It’s like, I know I can pay rent to live here, so if you’re going to discriminate against me, let me open Photoshop and Microsoft Paint.”

Deception serves Mosley. In her book, she strategically flaunts her weaknesses to keep off against stereotypes, and she suggests others who’re systemically disadvantaged play along. “I think one of the biggest deceptions that has happened to black women is the cultural deception of power,” Mosley says. “Everybody wants a black woman to save them—shout out to Kamala.”

Laci Mosley Wants Us to Cheat and Live a Softer Life

“It’s something that’s been forced upon us and it’s a fraud, but we can abdicate the responsibility that some of us have felt to show up as the strongest and clean up everyone’s mess while being one of the most discriminated against groups and not getting the care and treatment that we deserve,” she continued. “You see it everywhere. You see it in the medical community.”

She notes that “certain types of deception” are “necessary when you’re born into a body that’s more marginalized.” Mosley invented the lawyer when she was denied pain medication after surgery to remove fibroids. Innate prejudices within the medical field often leaves black patients in severe pain. The threat of legal motion got her the care she needed. “Black women, find yourself a fake lawyer. Google a few law firms in your area,” she recommends.

Scarcity myths disproportionately impact single Black women, leaving them vulnerable to one in all the largest scams: affairs.

Mosley advises people to take it slow and put their very own needs first, describing how she worked to free her heart from her abuser. “Often when you’re short on time, your whole focus is on the other person, what they need, how they’re going to repay you, how they’re going to feel if you don’t. It’s all about them. So I think it’s about stopping and asking yourself what you need. And assessing how desperate you are to get it, because we often make rash decisions out of fear,” she says.

According to the actress, it is not about being mean or dishonest, it’s about self-preservation. In one chapter, she’s forced to meet the emotional needs of somebody who’s trying to deceive her so she will stay in an uncomfortable situation. Unable to take it out on the liar, she manages to deceive herself to get to safety.

“Unfortunately, this is another big scam that black women face; people love to throw rocks and then hide their hands and make us out to be the aggressors. So, to protect myself, sometimes I have to give in to this scam,” she says. “I don’t like it and I hope there’s a change.”

Her goal is to gain power and use it to help herself and others with minimal suffering.

“I want to be one of God’s weakest soldiers when the Lord’s army comes. I want to be in the back, keeping up with the drums, like I’m not trying to be on the front lines,” Mosley says.

Is now available where books are sold.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Celebrity Coverage

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Arrested in New York After Grand Jury Indictment – Essence

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Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrested in New York after grand jury indictment

Photo credit: Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images

Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested Monday night on the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan after being indicted by a grand jury, authorities said. Combs, who has faced multiple sexual assault lawsuits and a federal human trafficking investigation over the past 12 months, was detained by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, CNN reports.

The specific charges against the music mogul remain unclear, but U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams confirmed the arrest in a press release. “Earlier this evening, federal agents arrested Sean Combs on a sealed indictment filed by the SDNY,” he said. “We expect to file a motion to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time.”

Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, criticized the choice to file charges, calling the indictment “unfair.” According to the report, Agnifilo said, “We are disappointed with the decision to bring what we believe is an unfair indictment against Mr. Combs by the United States Attorney’s Office. Sean “Diddy” Combs is a music icon, a self-made entrepreneur, a loving family man, and a proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years constructing an empire, adoring his children, and dealing to uplift the black community.”

Agnifilo continued by emphasizing his client’s cooperation with investigators, adding, “To his credit, Mr. Combs has cooperated with this investigation and voluntarily moved to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve judgment until you know all the facts. These are the actions of an innocent man who has nothing to hide and is eager to clear his name in court.”

Combs, 54, has been under intense scrutiny in recent months, and the arrest is the most recent in a series of legal challenges he has faced. The federal investigation features a human trafficking probe and a series of sexual assault lawsuits. In one in all the most recent cases, former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard filed a lawsuit on Sept. 10 accusing Combs of verbal abuse, sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Earlier this 12 months, Homeland Security agents raided Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami as a part of a human trafficking investigation. HSI confirmed the searches in a press release, saying, “Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York conducted the law enforcement action as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners.”

Combs also got here under fire in May when CNN released a video of him physically attacking his then-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, in 2016. The video was consistent with allegations made in lawsuit filed by Ventura in November 2023. Although the lawsuit was settled the day after it was filed, it added to a growing list of legal issues the entrepreneur has faced.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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ICYMI: Megan Thee Stallion’s Bob and More – Essence

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@lizzo @theestallion / Instagram

Between fashion month, awards shows, and fancy dinners, celebrity beauty moments are at their peak. And over the past week, we’ve spotted quite a lot of pre-fall hair and makeup looks. From black bobs with bangs to doll makeup and oval nails, A-list stars are leaning toward soft power.

For example, Naomi Campbell and 2024 VMA host Megan Thee Stallion swapped their trendy blonde bobs for black ones and added thick, blunt bangs as a “power” beauty moment. Sabrina Elba, however, opted for a medium brown color (which matched her earthy-toned makeup and oval nails), curtain bangs, and sides tucked behind her ear.

Meanwhile, artists Tems and Lizzo had an almost equivalent makeup moment, transforming into life-size dolls: Diana Ross lashes, round blush, under-eye powder, and dark, glossy lips. While the previous preferred to say innocence, Halle Bailey’s red lips and Flo Milli’s bronze finish showed that sex appeal can be on this season.

In case you missed it, take a look at 18 celebrity moments from this week.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Primetime Emmys 2024: Full Winners List – Essence

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Photo by VALERIE MACON

The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards was an evening of celebration, triumph and recognition of excellence in the tv industry. The ceremony took place on the LA Live Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, just eight months after last 12 months’s postponed event, sending shockwaves through viewers all over the world.

One of the night’s standout moments was when Liza Colón-Zayas accepted the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role within the FX series. Colón-Zayas delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech, recognizing the importance of diverse representation in television. Her performance as Tina, a fiercely loyal member of the kitchen staff on the critically acclaimed series, resonated with viewers, and her win contributed to the show’s growing success, which has already earned seven Creative Arts Emmy Awards this 12 months.

Lamorne Morris also had an excellent night, winning for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Anthology for his outstanding performance in a series on FX. Known for his comedic brilliance as Winston in The FX Series, Morris has shown his range in popular dramas, delivering nuanced performances in a task that has charmed audiences. His win was met with huge applause, as he became considered one of the few black actors to receive recognition within the category.

The 2024 Emmy Awards also featured plenty of notable Black performers. They received several nominations, and Damon Wayans, Giancarlo Esposito, Niecy Nash, Viola Davis and Susan Kelechi Watson took the stage as presenters, highlighting the growing visibility and influence of Black actors in Hollywood.

The In Memoriam segment, all the time a moving moment within the ceremony, paid tribute to a few of the most cherished names in entertainment. The emotional ballad “I Am Not Okay” provided the backdrop for the moving tribute because the audience remembered the abilities lost this 12 months, including legendary black actors Louis Gossett Jr., Carl Weathers, James Earl Jones. Their contributions to the industry were honored with deep respect, and their legacy continues to encourage future generations of performers.

FX had an excellent showing at this 12 months’s Emmys, leading the drama categories with a powerful 14 Creative Arts Emmys. It continued its winning streak within the comedy race, coming inside a whisker of breaking its own record for probably the most wins by a comedy series. Meanwhile, Netflix dominated the limited series categories.

Overall, the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards showcased not only the perfect of television, but in addition a big shift toward more inclusive representation and storytelling. With people of color like Colón-Zayas and Morris taking home top honors, the evening was a testament to the industry’s progress in recognizing diverse voices on screen.

To see the total list of winners, click HERE.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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