| | |  | Gabrielle Union News & Gossip
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| | Gabrielle Union: 'it's none of my business how anyone responds or reacts' to me | | Added 531 days ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Gabrielle Union is definitely a celeb that shares a lot. She has two memoirs and shes frequently talking about tougher or less discussed topics in interviews. Sometimes its a lot, but mostly its refreshing to see a celeb thats not putting a shiny gloss on things at all times. Most recently, Gabrielle spoke about struggling with her self-worth, seeking validation from others, how her childhood contributed to those feelings, and how she moved past that.
At 50 years old, it seems like Gabrielle Union has got it all figured out (see: her adorable family, her enviable fashion sense, and her thriving career). But in a super-relatable plot twist, Union spent years feeling like she wasnt enough. During an episode of Netflix?s Skip Intro podcast, Union opened up about a time when she struggled with her self-worth, especially at the beginning of her career.
?I just wanted it so badly,? she said of making it in the industry. ?And it?s beyond being chosen for a role, it?s feeling like I was chosen because I was attractive ? I didn?t care if you thought I was a good actor, I just wanted to know that someone outside of my parents thinks I am cute, attractive, lovely, whatever.?
According to Self, the star got her start through modeling, small roles, and beauty contests. At one point, Union was rejected from a role because of her appearance. ?It just robbed me of my confidence, my joy,? she recalled. ?I just felt like I was exposed as hideous, and what do you do with that??
Even after being cast in Bring It On, Union said she still felt the need to be viewed as ?amazing, beautiful. Someone recommended therapy to the actress to work through her need for validation and daddy issues.? She eventually confronted the childhood trauma by speaking with her father.
?I was like, ?Why did you never tell me I was pretty??? she explained. ?And he was like, ?Pretty doesn?t pay the bills. You?re Black. I?m Black. Your mom?s Black. Your grandparents are Black. We didn?t come from shit. I came from the projects. Being pretty never helped any one of us. So I thought I was encouraging you to be a great athlete, to be a great student, to be a great person ?? And I was like, Damn.?
After years of therapy and self-discovery, Union had the epiphany that other peoples opinions of her shouldnt matter. ?I can?t be invested in your opinion of me, or anyone?s opinion of me. My truth just is. And it?s none of my business how anyone else responds or reacts.?
This realization eventually freed her ?from the constant need to be validated by a man, a job, an opportunity, a cover, whatever.?
I?m good, in every hood, being exactly who the hell I am,? she added. ?And at some point, that?s enough. I?m finally, at 50, like, Oh, yeah.?
[From InStyle]
Despite her industry, in many ways Gabrielles experiences are universal for women, particularly for Black women. Wanting validation and to just be told youre pretty in a world that so frequently tells you that you are not is completely understandable. Gabrielle spoke in her memoirs of growing up in a predominantly white area where her peers used the N-word freely, so its likely any acknowledgment of her good looks included the for a Black girl caveat. When youre a young woman and you want to be seen thats sh-tty, so it makes sense that those early experiences sent her to seek validation through her work or at least at home from her family. But, its good that Gabrielle eventually learned to separate her opinion of herself from other peoples opinions about her. As she says, you cant control anyone elses response or reaction to you. All you can do is be yourself.
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A post shared by Gabrielle Union-Wade (@gabunion)
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| | Gabrielle Union and Keke Palmer do a PSA about Black hair discrimination | | Added 4 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Gabrielle Union was joined by Keke Palmer, Uzo Aduba and Marsai Martin in a Glamour PSA to promote the Crown Act. The Crown Act, which stands for Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, has been instated in 7 states so far and protects against race-based hair style discrimination in the work place and at school. Glamours September cover story delves into the history of hair discrimination and the necessity for this law. It includes personal stories from women who experienced hair discrimination and retaliation on the job.
This is not the first time Gabrielle has spoken out about hair discrimination. She has been advocating for diversity in hair and makeup on sets. She has also stated that one of the reasons she left AGT was due to comments about her hairstyles being too black.
In the video Union, Palmer, Aduba and Martin give hair stories from 13 black women who sent in their experiences anonymously. Here are some quotes:
I?ve been told it?s too big.
When I first started pageants I was told to never let my hair be natural for competition.
The first time I walked into the office with my natural hair my supervisor asked it if was ?forever.?
I?ve been asked ?is it real??
I?ve had someone tell me, surprised, ?your dreadlocks are so nice and clean.?
I wear my hair boldly and proudly as it is the crown which makes me unique.
I?ve been told it?s too much.
I?ve been mocked and ridiculed for the frizzy coils that escape my tightly wound bun
I?ve had strangers walk up and pet me.
My coils are beautiful and so are yours.
I?ve been told it blocks people?s view.
HR told me my hair looked more professional pulled back and in a bun than it did out and curly.
My hair has a purpose greater than myself and I will not put it away to comply with white cultural standards of beauty.
Black women are 83% more likely to report being judged more harshly on their looks than other women at work. Black women are 1.5 times more likely to be sent home from work simply because of their hair.
[From YouTube via People]
Natural hair discrimination is a real thing and I have had two experiences on the job. One of my managers told me that wearing my hair in an afro makes white people feel uncomfortable and maybe I should relax my hair. Another boss would not allow me to wear my head-wraps in an office job where no one would see me. I was temping for the latter position and that manager wanted to hire me permanently. Instead I called my temp agency and asked them to remove me from the assignment because I dont have time for that nonsense.
I have seen black men and women being told their hairstyles are not professional. Last year there was a video of high school wrestler, Andrew Johnson, having his locs cut off at a competition. Texas high schooler, DeAndre Arnold, was banned from participating in his high school graduation because he wouldnt cut his locs.
I am glad to see the movement gain steam and I have already signed the petition to have the Crown Act implemented in all 50 states. No one should have to deny their heritage to fit in or be seen as less professional because they do not adopt Eurocentric ideas of beauty and hair styles. I hope that the Crown Act will open doors for other POC who wear ethnic hairstyles as a part of their culture like those from the South Pacific. Our old ways of doing business must change and become more inclusive.
Here is the full
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| | Gabrielle Union talks being 'a guinea pig' for hair & makeup artists untrained for BIPOC | | Added 4 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Gabrielle Union is no stranger to standing up and speaking strength to power. Last year she was the fresh face of diversity on AGT, but was subsequently fired after speaking out about the racism and sexism on set.
After seeing this tweet from Hair Love creator, Matthew Cherry, she is now using her platform to elevate another conversation, the lack of diversity in the hair and makeup team on sets.
One of these days we?re gonna have a conversation about how a lot of these progressive TV casting choices aren?t also being reflected behind the scenes in the Hair, Make up and Styling departments as well. One day tho.
? Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) July 8, 2020
This is not a new conversation. There have been actresses complaining about how the all-white makeup and hair teams at fashion shows and on TV and movie sets are ill-equipped to assist BIPOC actresses and how they are made to feel like guinea pigs for unqualified staff.
When you are forced to allow unqualified ppl to just let them TRYYYY like why do I have to be the guinea pig? I love when productions say, we want you to look like you did in this pic and I say Well then you will need to hire a Black stylist ????? https://t.co/nUl4KLHSx4
? Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) July 9, 2020
When her tweet went viral, other black or dark-skinned actresses chimed in with their thoughts and experiences. South African actress Lesley-Ann Brandt who is of South Indian descent, from the series Lucifer had this to say:
This!! The amount of times I?ve had to do my own makeup or bring my own makeup to set. So to producers and creators, ensure you?re following ALL the way through, hair and makeup depts should be diverse. And let?s face it. Black hair stylists can do anyone?s hair. https://t.co/RoHNoR5miS
? ?Lesley-Ann Brandt (@LesleyAnnBrandt) July 9, 2020
Aside from the defensiveness, some stylists flat out refuse to do the makeup or hair of BIPOC. Actress Candice Patton from CWs The Flash states that when BIPOC actresses ask for more qualified people, they are labeled difficult or a diva.
let?s talk about that!! #hearcandicepatton pic.twitter.com/tKrETdQwMO
? ? (@ungodlyiris) July 9, 2020
Many of these actresses are forced to hire their own hair and makeup team on their own dime and this is outrageous. The fact that this issue is not just confined to actresses, but remains an issue at fashion shows and shoots is also problematic. Its not ok to hire black models or actresses to be used as props for diversity, but that diversity must be reflected in the rest of the crew, starting with hair and makeup.
Most hair and makeup schools do not train students how to do black hair and makeup which is ludicrous. This is why many white stylists are not equipped to handle these situations. It is not an excuse for their incompetence though because most black hairstylists and makeup artists I know make it a point to learn and know how to do all hair types and skin tones. Matthew Cherry echoed this when he quoted my tweet about how production companies refuse to hire BIPOC to be the heads of hair and makeup on sets. Im now Twitter famous, yall.
Black hair and make up artists usually have to know how to work with ALL DIFFERENT SKIN AND HAIR TYPES unlike the people that typically end up as department heads. https://t.co/PF2ZybTvqg
? Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) July 9, 2020
As a former makeup artist for Mac Cosmetics, I always made it a point to make the white MUAs I worked with learn how to do makeup for black and brown skin. Whenever I was called to do make up for a black woman by a terrified white co-worker, I would make them do the work while gently guiding them. Id tell them, I had to learn, so do you. I always carried at least 20 different foundation colors in my kit in small containers and I taught myself how to mix colors in order to create whatever I needed.
To be unqualified or refusing to learn in this day and age is unacceptable.I hope these actresses continue to speak up while the movie industry not only listens but remedy the issue. These actresses deserve it.
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A post shared by Gabrielle Union-Wade (@gabunion) on Jul 4, 2020 at 9:57am PDT
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| | Gabrielle Union and her daughter sport matching curls during lockdown | | Added 4 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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I?m willing to bet most of us have at least one service we will book immediately upon the end of quarantine. For me, it?s my nails. My acrylics are still painted neon green from St. Patrick?s Day, and they have about half an inch of natural nail at the bottom. Most of my friends are missing their hair folks, though. As CB reported, many are debating whether to cut their own hair. Some are binging YouTube tutorials on how to color their roots. But many are just saying, forget it, let?s see how I look au natural (trust me, in LA, those are practically curse words). One such celebrity is Gabrielle Union, who took out her braids and is wearing her beautiful natural curls during lockdown. But the person who?s happiest with Gabrielle?s new look is her daughter Kaavia, because now mom?s hair looks just like hers:
View this post on Instagram
See @kaaviajames mama's got hair like yours!! When I took my braids out she was like ?? now mom & baby both rocking their natural curls ??? #QuarantineNaturalHairChronicles
A post shared by Gabrielle Union-Wade (@gabunion) on Apr 5, 2020 at 11:17am PDT
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| | Gabrielle Union: 'Don't be the happy negro that does the bidding of the status quo' | | Added 5 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Just before Thanksgiving, the situation with Gabrielle Union and America?s Got Talent blew up. A few days before the holiday, we learned that Union?s AGT contract had not been renewed she was being phased out after one season, a season where she brought a lot of social media interest and engagement to the show. We soon learned that Union had been vocal throughout her role as judge on AGT. She was vocal about racist sh-t, about inappropriate behavior and about how Simon Cowell shouldn?t smoke indoors at work. Producers also gave copious ?notes? to Union, like her hair being ?too black? and sh-t like that.
In the weeks that followed, Gabrielle said little publicly, but she did go back to NBC for some kind of meeting with executives and lawyers, and she reportedly unloaded on them about the hostile work environment she faced for months. NBC has hired an outside firm to look into Union?s treatment and her claims, with an emphasis on investigating sexism and racism. Then, Union appeared this week on a panel discussion for her latest collection with New York & Company. Gabrielle had a lot to say, mostly in the form of advice to women in the workforce on facing daily hostilities, bigotry, misogyny and racism:
Giving advice on being a leader in the workplace, Union said, ?Don?t be the happy negro that does the bidding of the status quo because you?re afraid. Don?t allow them to call you angry when someone else is called passionate. It?s terrifying. There?s a solid chance you?ll lose your job ? I speak from experience,? she quipped, though never mentioning ?America?s Got Talent.? ?Do your best because corporations want global dollars. Do your best to try to hold the door open and hold people responsible. Yeah, I?m asking you to do the impossible ? I?m fully aware that job loss is on the table ? but if you?re not doing it, nobody is.?
?How many checks do I need? This financial freedom, they?re shackles, masquerading as zeros in my bank account. There are a lot of people who are only interested in filling their own plate. I can?t enjoy my food if everyone else is starving.?
Union discussed speaking her truth, explaining that she always found power though authenticity, even when it?s tough ? especially in an industry where women of color have a history of being sidelined. Union spoke about the difficulties of navigating the grand question ?what will I lose?? throughout her entire life. Using the analogy of ?being the chip in the cookie? ? the only black person in the room ? Union explained that ever since she was a little girl, she has wrestled the challenges that come along with speaking up, even when you know you?re speaking up for what?s right.
?Being the chip in the cookie, you are always in this situation where you are seeing things, hearing things ? and you?re presented with a choice: what kind of chip am I going to be?? she explained. ?Are you going to assimilate and allow all of this to go on? Or are you going to say something and immediately be other-ed? Are you going to say something? You know it?s wrong. Everyone knows it?s wrong.?
[From Variety]
She went on at length, and Variety has transcribed more of her comments go here to read. It would have been a good Ted Talk! How To Exist In the World As a Black Woman. What strikes me about Gabrielle is that she is so often cast in real life as the black woman who HAS to educate these hapless white people about how they?re racist and sexist idiots. She?s been doing that for years. And she?s not getting paid for it. Which is another form of oppression, racism and sexism too, in my view. It?s not Gabrielle?s fking job to tell the NBC bros that she has ample reason to sue their d-cks off and here?s what they need to change. It?s not her job to tell white women to check their privilege constantly. But she does all of it for the good of society. And that?s exhausting too, that she?s out there, mostly alone, doing this work and talking about these things.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
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| | Gabrielle Union: Dwyane Wade refused to tell his kids about Santa Claus | | Added 5 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Tamron Hall has a new talk show on CBS this season. I hope it?s good, because she got massively screwed over at NBC Hall was set to basically have her own hour of the Today Show and then NBC decided to hire white supremacist Barbie Megyn Kelly. Tamron got pushed aside and she walked away from the mess (and NBC looked terrible in the long run anyway). So, if you see a lot of Tamron Hall interviews this month, it?s because she?s shilling for her new show. Which is what this O Magazine piece is Tamron chatted with her good friend Gabrielle Union about becoming a mom later in life (both women welcomed babies in their 40s) and a lot of other stuff. Stuff like? whether black parents should let their kids believe in Santa Claus?
Union: You grew up in Luling, Texas?you?re a Black woman from the South. Do you ever feel like your experiences inform your parenting differently than it might other parents? Like, I?ll say to my husband, ?Let?s tell the kids their Christmas gifts are from Santa.? And my husband is like, ?Theres no way in hell Im letting these kids think that old white man is sneaking into our house and doing anything for them.? Because he didn?t grow up believing in Santa Claus. And we have these conversations when it comes to raising our children about where to draw the line between fantasy and ?Hey, that?s not how life works.?
Hall: 100 percent. Modern parenting is especially difficult for parents of color?we have to talk about not only ?Are we gonna say Santa exists,? but also ?Is Santa Black?? Again, this is exactly the conversation that we want to have on the show, because some families might not even realize this is a thing. So we want all perspectives. Something as simple as Santa Claus could cause a big debate, so why not have a conversation with real parents of all backgrounds talking about how they approach Santa Claus, and what race he is? It might sound small, but these are the everyday things we?re thinking about.
[From Oprah]
?Theres no way in hell Im letting these kids think that old white man is sneaking into our house and doing anything for them? made me LMAO. It?s? true though!! Are black parents really supposed to tell their children that there?s an old white dude with a big white beard, coming into their homes once a year and leaving them stuff? Why do white parents do that? It?s actually sort terrifying. Anyway, I had a white mom and an Indian father and they told me there was a Santa a white Santa. I wasn?t mad when I learned that he was fake, because I was a suspicious child anyway and the Santa myth didn?t make any sense to me. Perhaps I can even look back on it now and see that I was already wise to patriarchal fairytales.
As for ?is Santa black?? every year, there?s at least one ?Black Santa? story going viral, some of them heartwarming (Mall of America?s Black Santa and NOLA?s Chocolate Santa) and some of them not so much.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
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| | Gabrielle Union & Dwyane Wade's baby Kaavia says her first words & it's adorable | | Added 5 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade welcomed daughter Kaavia last November. They?d waited for her for a long time and since her arrival, they?ve relished in every wonderful moment, as they should. Now that Kaavia is almost ten months old, she?s saying goodbye. Not ?goodbye? exactly, but ?buh-bye.? Gabrielle posted Kaavia?s first words to her Instagram and it is every bit as precious as you think it?s going to be:
View this post on Instagram
@kaaviajames speaks!!!! Get ready world. Next stop, #agt judges table! Bye bye.
A post shared by Gabrielle Union-Wade (@gabunion) on Aug 20, 2019 at 3:12pm PDT
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| | Gabrielle Union: 'sometimes we use makeup as a mask from reality' | | Added 5 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Gabrielle Union for PEOPLE Magazine, The Beautiful Issue. pic.twitter.com/MRLKP4ggWZ
?????? (@JosphineMamdouh) April 25, 2019
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| | Gabrielle Union supported her stepson at Miami Pride | | Added 5 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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??? (Dwyane Wade supports son, 11 year-old Zion, at Miami's pride parade, stepmom Gabrielle Union joins in the fun https://t.co/Nrky0gHudL) #GayPride #BlackPride #LGBTQ #PFLAG #parenting pic.twitter.com/HWcDYeRkEt
To know is science; to think you know is ignorance (@angelialevy) April 9, 2019
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| | Gabrielle Union supported Dwayne Wade's son at Miami Pride | | Added 5 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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??? (Dwyane Wade supports son, 11 year-old Zion, at Miami's pride parade, stepmom Gabrielle Union joins in the fun https://t.co/Nrky0gHudL) #GayPride #BlackPride #LGBTQ #PFLAG #parenting pic.twitter.com/HWcDYeRkEt
To know is science; to think you know is ignorance (@angelialevy) April 9, 2019
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