“But my question is this: who decides what truths should be told on the big screen and just how many times that particular truth should be visited and revisited?”

No doubt many Parlouristas around the globe tuned in to see who would take home the golden statue at this year’s Academy Awards. With the number of movies nominated, the competition was pretty thick, but no other film held the entertainment industry’s attention more than Lee Daniel’s Precious.

After making an impressive tour on the award show circuit, winning in various categories at The Golden Globes and the Independent Spirit Awards among others, the excitement came to a head on the big night—and Mo’Nique took the prize for best supporting actress to thunderous applause sans George Clooney who remained seated. I admit that I would have been more interested if the movie that Mo’Nique was nominated for actually did anything for me personally, but Precious was sad, stereotypical and at times, mind-numbing, much like Halle Berry’s award winning portrayal in Monster’s Ball. I was happy Mo’Nique was celebrated at the Oscar’s, but a little pissed as to why.

And I know I’m not alone. (more…)

After her breakthough album “Shine,” U.K. songstress-rapper Estelle has returned with her new single “Freak” from her forthcoming album, “All of Me.” Unfortunately, the release of her single’s video did not impress some of her online fans. The singer adapted numerous funky, fashion-forward looks in the clip, including one where she’s covered in black paint. To many online viewers, this depiction leaned more toward questionable and possibly offensive rather than creative and the blowback got me thinking — are Americans too sensitive about blackface?
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“Those comments were the first thing I saw after we released the video trailer,” Estelle told Parlour earlier this week. “It’s like ‘are you joking?’”
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The “Freak” clip was directed by Kanye West-collaborator Nabil Elderkin and the song itself is a bouncy dance-track produced by David Guetta, featuring Canadian MC, Kardinal Offishall. The lyrics encourage listeners to release their individuality and the clip features Estelle in a multitude of looks including a shot with the controversial black paint. However, the director says it’s meant to be fun.

“We are making a video about Estelle acting freaky and we’re gonna do lots of things, turns, fingers, beauty looks freaky looks, speed fast dancers, it’s gonna be hot,” said Elderkin, during the clip’s promotional trailer. The director was unavailable for comment at press time.

Estelle says she and the director are longtime friends and he understands that her creative vision is “coming from a place of art versus just trying to be different.” Not to mention, she refuses to justify the online chatter by defending herself.

“I think they need to wait to see the clip, I could defend myself, but its just silly,” says Estelle of the claims. “I’m black so how do I do black face? Missy did the same thing [with her video] “She’s a Bitch.” I refuse to defend it, I didn’t put any white ring around my mouth, never that.”

Estelle was very clear that her appearance in “Freak” was about creativity, akin to Grace Jones’ famous pose which Amber Rose recently duplicated on KanyeWest.com. So why are people upset? (more…)

Not long ago, we wrote a post on why we still like John Mayer despite his ‘racist penis’ comments, however after Tiger Woods’ canned apology last Friday, we can’t say the same of the transgressing golfer. For one, Mayer’s comments were ignorant, yes, but at the core, the guitarist was expressing his sincere opinion, albeit in a questionable manner. Our readers even shared their comments and here are a couple that stood out:

“I actually didn’t catch the “n*gger” part (and he’s right about that), I just was caught up in his racist penis. I didn’t think it was a big deal – I just think some things need to stay in your head. I just don’t think he’s regarded as irreverent or funny enough to pull off a statement like that without a modicum of internetia up in arms…” (dnyree)

“I don’t believe that what Mayer said was in any way meant to insult black women. It’s a preference. And it appears to be one that he himself doesn’t understand when he says that he is going to start dating separately from his penis. I feel that because of the type of music John Mayer writes and performs, people expect him to be some kind of perfect, romantic, wholesome guy. He isn’t. Most people aren’t. And if you’ve ever seen the photos of him in his Borat-bathing suit, you wouldn’t think he takes himself so seriously.” (Valaura)

Then Mayer gave us some lame apology for using the “n” word and offending people. Go with it John, if you’re going to be a dick and end up too clever for your own good, then own it. You don’t see Bill Maher apologizing for only dating questionable black women or saying Jesus is a figment of our imaginations…This brings us to Tiger Woods’ apology for sleeping with innumerable women that were not his wife Elin, for which she may have — or not, according to Tiger — beat him with a golf club.

His showing on last Friday further proves that apologies are essentially shame grandstanding in American society. Who enjoys these orchestrations? (more…)

For those of you not famliar, JET Magazine has been around for about 4,000 years and for a good chunk of that time, carried the same design and pre-KING Mag “beauties of the week” (check the archives, your homegirl in accounting just may be Ms. January 1999), so when I saw that they have decided to bring themselves into 2010 my breathing almost stopped. Since their readership has been in decline and they probably have been surviving of your grandma’s lifetime subscription, they haven’t been doing that well—hopefully this will give this iconic brand the boost they need.

Trey Songz doesn’t hurt either.

More info on the rebrand over here.

Ah yes! If you live in NYC, you know the the Calvin Klein ad space in SoHo is basically a really large canvas for soft-porn, unattainable standards of beauty and sweaty models, and has been that way for….actually forever. Whether it’s models engaging in an orgy, or Eva Mendes making us hate her and her bikini wax, New Yorkers just look at it, yawn, and then go to H&M down the street. But now that Parisian by-way-of Nigeria David Agbodji is the new face of CK…we can believe in New York street advertising again—just look at him! Stephen Klein outdid himself with the photography, but then again—David would look good with just a Kodak disposable camera. SoHo shopping trip anyone? Here is hoping that he is coming to a city near you. Want more David X CK – click on through, we’ve got the campaign after the jump. (Kinda sorta NSFW) (more…)

Because I am rarely home to watch TV anymore, Hulu.com has become my friend, my confidant and my go-to guy. However since someone has to get paid out of the deal, I have found myself sitting through this same ad by Jeep in support for the 2010 Wrangler. At first it was just an ad…now, it’s more like—a nemesis, with friends and multiple versions!

Other than a hot deep-house track by Vick Lavender, I wonder -what’s the sell? Obviously Jeep is going after women with money to burn and a car to buy…but clearly they underestimated the value that women, especially women with unruly hair, put on that time spent in the stylist chair. (more…)