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Buzz about the upcoming season is high as media stories surrounding an alleged on-camera feud between the former co-host of 'The View' and NeNe Leakes of the 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' recently made headlines.
BlackVoices.com spoke exclusively with Jones, and the 48-year-old legal eagle not only addressed the rumors surrounding Leakes, but also discussed her new position as editor-at-large for Uptown magazine and Barbara Walters' recent ABC heart surgery special, 'A Matter of Life and Death.'
You recently became editor-at-large at Uptown magazine. Tell me about this endeavor.
What an exciting opportunity to add my voice and point of view to Uptown. As a luxury and lifestyle magazine that caters to affluent African Americans, this is a unique opportunity to expose a different side
of our culture to the masses. What we think, where we live, how we celebrate, what motivates and what exasperates...nothing is off limits; but from the perspective of someone who has both experienced the world and been exposed to what it offers.The current co-hosts of 'The View' were on 'The Oprah Show' last Friday, and Barbara Walters was surprisingly kind to you when your name came up during the discussion. Have you two made peace?
I was glad to hear that from my sources. It's been so long since I did 'The View.' There certainly is no animosity on my part. It's been time to move on!
Speaking of Barbara, she had a heart surgery special on ABC recently called 'A Matter of Life and Death' that featured President Bill Clinton, David Letterman, Regis Philbin, Charlie Rose and Robin Williams. You also had heart surgery a year ago, why don't you think she asked you to participate?
Normally I would say: "Now, Jawn, don't try to start anything." However, this time it really isn't about me, but about the new face of heart disease. This disease is no longer your old white man's disease. It is the number one killer of women and the number one killer of African Americans. Heart disease kills more women and blacks than the next four causes of death combined. I had open heart surgery a little less than a year ago, and regardless if it was my "heart story"
or someone else's, by not being more inclusive, BW missed a tremendous opportunity to educate, inform and influence the actual people that cardiovascular disease is affecting.You are featured on the new season of 'Celebrity Apprentice' and the charity that you compete for is the American Heart Association. The show is getting a ton of pre-press mainly because Nene Leakes has been doing interviews about you. What went wrong with you and NeNe?
This actually saddens me. Black women trashing other black women all for the sake of personal aggrandizement. When the cast was first announced, I was both excited and concerned. Excited that this was going to be the most diverse cast in prime-time reality programming and concerned because the media immediately started the drumroll of "can this many black women get along?" The four of us actually chatted about the unique opportunity we had to influence the perception of black women and the way we interact. We each brought something different to the show, so I had hoped we could avoid falling into the typical "snake charmer in your face loud bombastic black woman" stereotypical box that was expected. Some of us were more successful at our quest than others. I knew I wanted to approach the game intelligently, professionally and strategically, while keeping in mind my true purpose for being there – winning money for my charity.
Who are you telling! You know my girlfriend gatherings are legendary! But you'll see this season on the show, at some point Nene attacked all the black women on the show and scared the other women to death with her aggressive approach. But to be fair, it is an approach that works for her kind of television interaction, as evidenced by the great ratings they generate. But it isn't an approach that works in the professional environment and it isn't an approach that most sisters use in interacting with each other. I would hope, as she becomes more exposed to a variety of professional situations, she will tone down the vitriolic emotional reactions and learn to express herself in manner that is more reflective of the majority of black women in America.
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Reality Bites
Sharisse "Shar" Jackson
Affiliation: 'Celebrity Fit Club: Boot Camp' on VH1
Side note: Though some may remember her as the sidekick Niecy Jackson on the groundbreaking UPN sitcom 'Moesha,' Jackson gained international tabloid attention as the mother of two children with Kevin Federline (who was married to pop superstar Britney Spears for three years). All together, she has four children.
Fantasia Barrino
Affiliation: 'Fantasia For Real' on VH1
Side note: The 'American Idol' champion (2005) is a best-selling author ('Life is Not a Fairytale') and garnered critical acclaim as Miss Celie in the Broadway musical 'The Color Purple.'
Nene Leakes
Affiliation: 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' on Bravo
Side note: The brazen Queens, NY native is a domestic abuse survivor and a former stripper – all revelations she detailed in her 2009 memoir 'Never Make the Same Mistake Twice.'
Terrell Owens
Affiliation: 'The T.O. Show' on VH1
Side note: Alabama's very own football star simply known as "T.O." -- literally let it all hang out for the photo shoot promoting his new reality series, in July 2009. The show revolves around his life off the field as he searches for love, repair family relationships and make the move from Dallas to Buffalo.
Ray Cunningham
Affiliation: 'College Hill: Virginia State University' on BET
Side note: One of the more memorable characters from the Black Entertainment Television network reality ranks, Cunningham has become an openly gay LGBT advocate, budding actor and busy blogger, who was featured in Adam Bouska's groundbreaking NoH8 Campaign, which assembled California notables responding to the state's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage. Cunningham was also cast in acclaimed filmmaker Maurice Jamal's new forthcoming TV project 'Friends and Lovers.'
Miss New York
Affiliation:'Flavor of Love' and 'I Love New York' on VH1
Side note: The upstate New York drama queen competed for hip-hop hype-man Flavor Flav's love twice and was rejected both times.
MC Hammer
Affiliation: 'Hammertime' on A&E
Side note: Stanley Kirk Burrell seems to have done it all: Joined the navy; won Grammy Awards; danced for KFC popcorn chicken; fathered six children; wiggled his manhood in a Speedo bikini on a music video; went bankrupt; became a preacher; and now doing reality TV. 'Hammertime' is a look inside the family life of the man formerly known as one of the riches entertainers of his era.
Keyshia Cole
Affiliation: 'The Way It Is' on BET
Side note: In an interview, thuggish ruggish rap icon Young Jeezy claimed that the hip-hop soul songstress asked him to marry her but he turned her down.
Mo'Nique
Affiliation: 'Charm School' on VH1
Side note: While promoting the movie 'Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins,' Mo'Nique told Oprah Winfrey that co-star Martin Lawrence once gave her invaluable advice about show business.
Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth
Affiliation: 'The Apprentice' on NBC and 'The Surreal Life' on VH1
Side note:The former White House staffer proudly became the superbitch of reality TV.
Comments: (338)
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By: dawn on 2/16/2011 4:14PM
PLEASE DON'T USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO DATE WHO YOU DATE. PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE, AND SUCH SHALLOW STATEMENTS ARE NOT LIFTING YOU UP,BY TEARING OTHERS DOWN. NOT ALL BLACK WOMEN ARE LIKE THE NENE'S OF THE WORLD AS WELL AS ALL WHITE WOMEN TIMID AND QUIET!!!
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By: JenG on 2/27/2011 4:02PM
Don't use NeNe behavior as an excuse to date WW. If you prefer WW it's ok and we don't have a problem with it, do you. I'm sure the WW that you date would rather hear you say that you date them because you care for them and love them instead of I date WW because BW are this or that!
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By: JAM on 2/15/2011 6:38PM
Black women must not let others, white or black people, exploit us in the public to make us look like fools for their diabolical gains. Many people are afraid of our strength and beauty and would do anything to destroy this true image. We must stop letting it happen as well for financial profits or just in the name of having a good time.
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By: Cathy on 2/15/2011 7:03PM
This time I am on Star's side. Nene will soon
be over her fifteen minutes in the spotlight.
She has no talent, no class, and seems to be
just a jealous spiteful woman. She has problems
in her marriage, oldest son. I really feel sorry
for her. She seems to have deep deep psychological
issues that may have started from childhood. She was not raised by her mother and does not know who
her father is. Hopefully women such as Star and Dionne were able to help her be a woman that other black women can be proud of and young women can aspire to be like her.
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By: Angela on 2/15/2011 7:05PM
NeNe is out of control. An opportunity was represented to her as Housewifes of Atlanta began, like most of the reality shows the people "so called starring in them" missed the opportunity to let it be a jump off point for something that would further enhance their lives. Instead NeNe has become a loud mouth bully and people will soon trier of her.
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By: Truuuuuly on 2/15/2011 7:26PM
Everyone has made valid points about the surface behavior Mrs. Leeks displays. I don't know why any of you can't see it for what it truly is, insecurity. Look, she has been that bigger than normal, not cute as, louder than needed and angrier than most girl girl her whole life. When she goes into a situation, she instantly thinks she is about to be judged. If you look a little deeper before you leap, you just might see she is not that bad. More than anything, she is hurt and sick and tired. Simple defenses we all have used or displayed at one time or another. And if it works for her, oh well. No one is complaining about the stereotype Mr. Perry puts out there; he isgetting his money, let her get hers. Those of you trashing the woman are feeding into the stereotype wheel. Like they say, a hit dog will bark, and most of you are barking pretty loud. Might be that she reminds you of your own dirty little behavior.
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By: BETTY on 2/15/2011 7:35PM
True that cece!
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By: jane key on 2/15/2011 7:22PM
"Black women trashing other black women all for the sake of personal aggrandizement". Although I am not a fan of Star Jones, I respect her. I don't think NeNe really knew who she was dealing with. This is NOT Bravo and these are NOT your castmates. I am proud to be on TEAM STAR, she embodies class, intellect and education.
I liked the above comment that "NeNe needs personality rehab"... LOL
Ms Leakes, please sit down and listen for once; you could learn some things from Ms Jones.
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By: betty on 2/15/2011 7:35PM
Has anyone ever thought that these show's are stunt's really?remember hollywood is just that HOLLYWOOD!just think about it people?, if producer's really thought that 'NENE' OR Monique,WERE indeed ghetto!,do you actually feel like they would cast them?These black women are on t.v.for an reason,and the reason is that they are marketable!please believe me!IT'S ALL HOLLYWOOD!
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By: Kimberly on 2/15/2011 8:03PM
Star Jones can't talk about anyone, with that coon hanging from her neck...
NeNe is who she is, she just tells it like it is. And we all can get ghetto when need be. NeNe is a smart lady, she knows what will keep us watching her every week, it's called "DRAMA"!
And most Love Drama, if not their rating's would've tanked by now. And The Apprentice is no different, if the show is boring, we will not watch it....
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