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{blackbabes} Venus Williams Opens Up About Shocking Olympic Upset with Sister Serena: 'We Couldn't Do It That Day'

 
As she prepares for her 18th US Open tournament, Venus Williams is opening up about one of the Rio Olympics' most shocking upsets.

Williams, 36, walked away from the 2016 Olympic Games with a silver medal, but the win was bittersweet after she and her 34-year-old sister, Serena, were defeated during the first round of the women's doubles tournament.

"We played one match," Williams tells PEOPLE. "It was one of those days where nothing went right for us and our opponents were on fire."

She added: "Sometimes that happens and you hope it doesn't happen at the Olympics and it's not like you get another chance next week or, 'Hey, in three months we're playing again.' It's like, 'Okay, wait four years.' "

The three-time gold medalists – the sisters won gold in 2000, 2008 and 2012 – were expected to win a fourth time, but the Czech team of Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova came out the victors, beating the Williams' 6-3,6-4.

"When you play there you have to figure out how to win if it's not your best day," Williams tells PEOPLE. "We couldn't do it that day, but we're still grateful for all the other experiences."

The Olympics didn't end in total disappointment for Williams, though. The tennis great took home a silver medal in the mixed doubles gold medal match – a win she calls "amazing."

"We were very close to gold, but I know that the match that I played was really a gold-medal level," she says of the match played with Rajeev Ram. "I felt amazing about my performance out there on the court and that was the best part."

She adds: "So, I could walk away feeling like, 'Oh my gosh, I gave my all, gave it more than my all.' It feels good to leave an Olympics on that level."

Her little sister did not fare as well. Serena was knocked out of the Rio Olympics entirely after losing in a third round singles match to Ukraine's Elina Svitolina."

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Wednesday, August 31, 2016

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{blackbabes} Venus Williams on Her 'Plants First' Lifestyle and the One Food Splurge She Can't Live Without

 
 
 
As Venus Williams settles into her 18th US Open tournament, there's one thing that will definitely keep her fueled: plants!

Williams, 36, has teamed up with Silk for its Do Plants campaign to promote healthy, plant-based eating. And it's a partnership the tennis great calls "a wonderful synergy."

'We are really believe in the same things, of a plant-based lifestyle and having a lot of natural foods in your diet," she tells PEOPLE. "I've had a lot of fun working with them and [I've] been able to spread the message of plant-based living."

The athlete spoke about her path to healthy-eating in an advertisement for the campaign, crediting her family for the lifestyle change.

"They saw me having health difficulties and they suggested, 'Why don't you try a plant-based lifestyle,' " she said in the video.

However, Williams tells PEOPLE she's "not completely" vegan.

"I think plant-based is how you define it. Plants first, so that's what it's about. Mostly plants and there are some things I haven't been able to get completely out of my diet," she says.

"It becomes more challenging because I travel so much. You know, if you find yourself in the middle of somewhere – in China – it's harder. So always, usually plants are my first go-to."

She may be all about healthy eating, but there's one savory treat she just can't resist.

"I don't ever skimp on my butter. I love butter," Williams says. "Some things I've struggled to let go. But it's all about leading a healthy lifestyle that works for you."

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{blackbabes} G.O.O.D. Music Star Teyana Taylor Joins ‘The Breaks’ On VH1

Teyana

Teyana Taylor, actor, G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Recordings artist, and breakout star of Kanye West's "Fade" video, has joined VH1's hip hop drama series The Breaks in a recurring role.

Inspired by The Big Payback, a narrative history of the hip-hop business written by journalist Dan Charnas, The Breaks is executive produced by Seith Mann (The Wire) and John J. Strauss (Mozart in the Jungle). The series, a follow to VH1's original film which aired earlier this year, will continue to follow three young friends as they fulfill their hip hop dreams in New York City in 1990.

Taylor joins a cast that includes Afton Willamson, Wood Harris, Mack Wilds, Antoine Harris, David Call, Evan Handler, Melonie Diaz, Sinqua Walls and Ali Ahn.

Taylor also will be doing a stint on VH1's upcoming Hip Hop Squares. Her credits include Brotherly Love, Madea's Big Happy Family and MTV's America's Best Dance Crew: All Stars.

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{blackbabes} Chastity Dotson To Recur On Amazon’s ‘Patriot’ & Fox’s ‘Pitch’

Chastity Dotson

Chastity Dotson, who is going into her third season recurring as Keisha Russell on Amazon's Bosch, is adding two more recurring roles to her resume, on Amazon's political thriller Patriot, as well as Fox's baseball drama Pitch.

Written and directed by Steven Conrad, Patriot follows the complicated life of intelligence officer John Tavner, whose latest assignment is to prevent Iran from going nuclear. Dotson will play Carol, a veterinarian, who's smart, charismatic, and attractive in a real way. She has a son with Edward, a politician and John's brother. Due to her on and off relationship with Edward, she predominantly raises her son as a single mom.

Pitch, written by Dan Fogelman and Rick Singer and directed by Paris Barclay, follows Ginny (Kylie Bunbury), a young pitcher who defies the odds when she becomes the first woman to play in the major leagues. Dotson will play Janet Baker, first seen at 29, Ginny's (Bunbury) loving and protective mother.

Dotson recently recurred on BET's Single Ladies, Bounce's In The Cut, Murder In The First on TNT, and she has guest-starred on Major Crimes, The Mentalist and Bones. She's repped by Pantheon and LINK Entertainment.

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{blackbabes} Gabby Douglas ‘doing OK’ after hospitalization

 

Gabby Douglas is on the road to recovery.

Following her hospitalization over the weekend, the Olympic gymnast updated fans on her health Tuesday.

"Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that I'm doing ok! I had a complication from a prior injury that caused a cyst to grow on a bone in my mouth. Got it removed and feeling much better now! Thanks for all your concerns and prayers and HUGE thank you to the doctors that have taken care of me these last four days! #ontheroadtorecovery #butIstillgottagetthesewisdomteethout," she wrote on Instagram.

Douglas, 20, skipped Sunday's Video Music Awards, where her Final Five teammates Aly Raisman, Simon Biles, Laurie Hernandez and Madison Kocian presented Beyoncé with the award for best female video.

Early Sunday, Douglas offered her teammates well wishes on social media as she rested comfortably at home. As reps for the Olympian later confirmed, she was then readmitted to the hospital.

"Gabby is back in the hospital tonight being treated for a seriously infected past mouth injury," her rep told Page Six on Sunday evening. "She continues to have deep swelling and adverse reactions to medications."

Douglas is a part of the Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastic Champions, which kicks off Sept. 15 in Spokane, Washington.

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{blackbabes} Christina Milian goes shopping in a skin-tight bodysuit.

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{blackbabes} Mary J. Blige Visits HTGAWM

 

Mary J. Blige will learn How to Get Away With Murder this fall.

The Grammy-winning singer — who played the Wicked Witch of the West in NBC's The Wiz Live! — will guest-star during Season 3 of the Shondaland series, our sister site Deadline reports.

As is often the case with HTGAWM, details about Blige's character are being kept under wraps.

How to Get Away With Murder returns Thursday, Sept. 22, at 10/9c on ABC.

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{blackbabes} Serena Williams has used the cupping therapy

 

Serena Williams has used the cupping therapy that drew so much attention during the Olympics when Michael Phelps won gold with purple circles dotting his shoulder and back.

But the 22-time major champion says it's been for relaxation, not recovery.

After her first-round win at the U.S. Open on Tuesday, Williams said: "If I go to my lady in Palm Beach, it's part of acupuncture. I love getting it; it makes me relax."

She adds: "I was like, 'Wow, you can do that for recovery?'"

She says she has never done it away from home before but maybe she'll start. Williams says: "I'm always learning new things. I definitely would love to try it on the road because I love the way it feels."

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Tuesday, August 30, 2016

at 10:42 PM 0 comments

{blackbabes} Kerry Washington Developing Female LAPD Cops Drama for ABC

Kerry Washington ABC Pilot

Scandal star Kerry Washington is now also on Patrol for ABC, developing a new drama about LAPD cops.

Per our sister site Variety, the series will follow four female LAPD officers who, five years after attending the police academy together, go to work for a man named Charlie are forced to reconnect by a secret from their past.

Patrol marks the second project (following HBO's Confirmation) to come from Washington's Simpson Street production company.

Chitra Sampath (Secrets and Lies) will pen the pilot and serve as a co-EP, while Washington will executive-produce alongside her producing partner Sharla Sumpter Bridgett, plus Michael London and Janice Williams.

Washington's Scandal is due to premiere Season 6 in January 2017.

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{blackbabes} Williams sisters advance at US Open

 

NEW YORK — If this is how Serena Williams serves when she can't practice properly because her right shoulder is sore, watch out when she's 100 per cent healthy.

A year after falling two wins short of a calendar-year Grand Slam by bowing out in the U.S. Open semifinals, Williams showed zero signs of shoulder trouble Tuesday night as she began her bid for a record-breaking 23rd major title.

She hit 12 aces and reached 121 mph on her powerful serve during a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Ekaterina Makarova, a potentially tricky first-round opponent at Flushing Meadows.

"I was pleased with my serve, because I haven't been hitting a lot of serves at all," the 34-year-old Williams said. "In practice, none of them were going in, so I was definitely excited about that."

Since equaling Steffi Graf's mark for most Grand Slam singles trophies in the Open era, which dates to 1968, by earning No. 22 at Wimbledon in July, the No. 1-ranked Williams had only entered one event — the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, where she was upset in the third round. She cited a sore shoulder in withdrawing from a hard-court tournament a week later.

Looked perfectly fine against Makarova, a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist who is ranked 29th and beat Williams in straight sets at the 2012 Australian Open.

"I knew today I needed to be focused because I've played her. She's gotten to the semifinals. She goes deep in majors. She knows how to play big matches on big courts. She's not intimidated," Williams said. "I knew I had to really come out today. It was my only option, really."

Well, consider that done.

Wearing black sleeves on each arm — she called the accessories "definitely functional" because they "keep my muscles warm" — Williams averaged 108 mph on first serves and won 17 of the first 20 points she served, 36 of 46 overall, never appearing to be the least bit bothered by anything.

And she even figured maybe the time she couldn't spend serving during training sessions paid off, in a way, because she was forced to work on other aspects of her game, including footwork.

"I couldn't hit any balls. I wanted to stay fit, so ... I guess that kind of helped me out a little bit," she said.

In 2015, Williams arrived at the U.S. Open having won four consecutive major titles for a self-styled "Serena Slam." But had she won the championship in New York, too, she would have made it 4 for 4 within a single season, something no one had done since Graf in 1988.

But that pursuit ended with a surprising semifinal loss to Roberta Vinci of Italy.

Later, Williams acknowledged what was at stake had been a burden.

Williams was asked Tuesday whether this edition of the U.S. Open might be a more pleasant experience than a year ago, without the same sort of history on the line.

"I had a great experience last year. I was going for something that no one has done in a really long time," she replied. "Yeah, it didn't end out wonderful for me, or the way I wanted it to end, but it was all I could do. That's all I could do. If I could make the semis this year, I'd be excited about that."

"It was great to be challenged and to be pushed," said the 36-year-old Venus, a two-time U.S. Open champion, "because I had to get in those situations that you know you're going to face in the tournament."

There were various upsets around the grounds during the afternoon, including 19-year-old American Jared Donaldson's 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-0 elimination of 12th-seeded David Goffin, and a loss by No. 29 Sam Querrey, who stunned Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon. Three seeded women departed, including former No. 1 and 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic.

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{blackbabes} Halle Berry Looks Flawless in a Bikini at 50

Posted by Chibetinha at 6:38 PM 0 comments

{blackbabes} Jack Reynor, James Franco, Zoe Kravitz, Dennis Quaid Topline Sci-Fi ‘Kin’

 

Jack Reynor, James Franco, Zoe Kravitz, and Dennis Quaid will star in Kin, a sci-fi action thriller  that Jonathan and Josh Baker will direct based on their short film Bag Man. Daniel Casey wrote the script and 21 Laps' Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen will produce with Jeff Arkuss, David Gross and Jesse Shapira, whose No Trace Camping produced the Best Picture nominated Room. While the focus at the upcoming Toronto Film Festival is finished films, Kin will be shopped there by WME Global and Good Universe. WME Global put the financing together for an October 24 start date.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Erik Pendzich/REX/Shutterstock (5658303bc) Dennis Quaid 'Crackle Upfront' Presentation, New York, America - 20 Apr 2016Mandatory Credit: Photo by Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock (5585717ix) Zoe Kravitz Saint Laurent at the Palladium, Arrivals, Fall 2016, Los Angeles, America - 10 Feb 2016

The short premiered at 2015 SXSW. The feature expands the concept and revolves around a recently released ex-con (Reynor) and his adopted younger brother who are forced to go on the run. Chased by a vengeful criminal (Franco), the feds and a cadre of otherworldly soldiers, their only protection is a found weapon of mysterious ancestry. Quaid will play the father of the siblings, and Kravitz a young woman who joins them on the run. Casey did un-credited rewrite work for Bad Robot on 10 Cloverfield Lane, and the STX Entertainment crime-thriller Godforsaken which Jim Mickle will direct with Sylvester Stallone starring. The scribe also wrote an untitled film with Bad Robot. Levy's 21 Laps produced the Netflix series Stranger Things and the Denise Villenueve-directed Arrivel which debuts at Venice before Paramount releases it November 11.

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Posted by Chibetinha at 9:36 AM 0 comments

{blackbabes} Simone Biles Parts Ways with Trainer Who Coached Her Since She Was 8 Years Old

 
Simone Biles Splits From Longtime Coach Aimee Boorman
 
Simone Biles has parted ways with her gymnastics coach of 11 years, Aimee Boorman.

After picking up an impressive four gold medals and one bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the 4-foot-8 dynamo will no longer train under Boorman – her mentor and trainer since she was 8.

"We were both sad, but [Simone] understands that life moves on and she knows that if she plans to continue in gymnastics… I will always be willing to coach her," Boorman tells PEOPLE. "I will be there as a mentor."

For years, Boorman coached Simone at the World Champions Centre in Spring, Texas, working for gym owners Ron and Nellie Biles (Simone's parents) and general manager Adam Biles (Simone's brother). Boorman led the gymnast to three world all-around championship titles and four U.S. all-around first place medals.
"We're texting each other every couple of days," says Boorman. "We are both happy for each other."

"We are both close and we always will be."

In a statement released to PEOPLE, Adam Biles confirmed that Boorman is no longer an employee at the gym.

"Aimee no longer works with us at this time. Her family has moved to Florida so that her husband could pursue a job opportunity that he was offered," Adam tells PEOPLE.

Boorman says it's not only an opportunity for her husband, but also for herself – she will be joining Evo Athletics in Sarasota, Florida, as a staff member.

Evo President and CEO Kyle Lawton confirmed the hire to PEOPLE and says there will be an official announcement released to the public on Monday evening.

It is unclear who will replace Boorman as Simone's coach.

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Monday, August 29, 2016

at 7:26 PM 0 comments

{blackbabes} Beyoncé at Pasquale Jones

Posted by Chibetinha at 6:52 PM 0 comments

{blackbabes} Beyonce proves she's in a lane of her own at MTV VMAs

 

NEW YORK (AP) -- Beyonce proved once again she is the contemporary rock star, and she used the MTV Video Music Awards stage to showcase her skills and outshine her peers, from Rihanna to Britney Spears.

Beyonce won eight awards, including video of the year, and performed five songs from her visual album "Lemonade" in an epic 16-minute concert Sunday that had the audience at Madison Square Garden in awe.

She sang live, danced heavily and worked the crowd as she ran through "Pray You Catch Me," ''Hold Up," ''Sorry," ''Don't Hurt Yourself" and "Formation," which won the top prize over Adele, Drake, Justin Bieber and Kanye West.

"First of all, I'd like to thank my beautiful daughter and my incredible husband for all of their support," said Beyonce, who walked the carpet with daughter Blue Ivy and the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and Eric Garner — who all appeared in "Lemonade" movie.

It was reminiscent of the 2014 VMAs, when Beyonce also performed for 16 minutes and accepted the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award. This year it was awarded to Rihanna, who split up her performances throughout the night, singing hits such as "Work," ''We Found Love" and "Love on the Brain."

But the biggest moment for Rihanna came when Drake — in a tuxedo — presented the award to his former girlfriend. He said he met Rihanna in 2005 on the set of her first music video for "Pon de Replay."

"She's someone I've been in love with her since I was 22 years old," Drake said as Rihanna blushed and the audience cheered loudly. "She's one of my best friends in the world. All of my adult life I've looked up to her even though she's younger than me."

Rihanna, 28, thanked her family, friends and hometown of Saint Michael, Barbados, for helping her succeed in her 11-year-career.

"My success started as my dream, but now my success is not my own. It's my family, my fans, my country ...it's women, it's black women," she said.

Beyonce's top-notch performance starkly contrasted with that of Spears, who returned to the VMA stage after 10 years. Not only did she lip sync, in typical fashion, but she did so badly. Spears performed her hit "Make Me..." and danced slickly, but she didn't actually sing a word of the song live. She was joined by rapper G-Eazy — and she lip synched the hook to his hit song, "Me, Myself and I."

In true Kanye fashion, the rapper ranted onstage, touching on subjects from music to his beef with Taylor Swift to violence in his hometown Chicago before he debuted his music video for "Fade," which starred Teyana Taylor. He talked about his "Famous" video, which features what appear to be naked images of himself, his wife Kim Kardashian, Swift, Donald Trump and others. He even pointed to former girlfriend Amber Rose, who was in the audience and is also in the video.

Drake won best hip hop video for "Hotline Bling" and Calvin Harris won best male video for "This is What You Came For." David Bowie — who died from cancer earlier this year — received four nominations for "Lazarus" and won best art direction. The music video, which shows him looking frail in bed with bandaged eyes, was released just days before the icon's Jan. 10 death.

Performers included Nick Jonas, The Chainsmokers, Ty Dollar $ign and Ariana Grande, who brought spin class to the VMA stage when she sang the reggae-tinged "Side to Side" with Nicki Minaj.

In one of several odes to the recent Olympic Games, Michael Phelps said he's been inspired by hip-hop music before introducing Future, who Phelps said he listened to before swimming and making the grimace that went viral. The rapper-singer-producer performed his hit "(Expletive) Up Some Commas."

Jimmy Fallon, who presented video of the year, dressed as Ryan Lochte and even sported the platinum blonde hair. As Lochte — who is dealing with trouble after filing a false robbery report over an incident during the Rio Olympics — Fallon lied onstage about writing Justin Bieber's "Sorry" and directing the clips nominated for video of the year.

Other presenters include Alicia Keys, Puff Daddy and four of the Final Five gymnasts (Gabby Douglas was hospitalized for a mouth infection).

Adele was behind Beyonce with eight nominations, but the British singer did not attend the show and did not win any Moon Men. Beyonce's wins included best female video, pop video, breakthrough long-form video, choreography, direction, cinematography and editing.

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Posted by Chibetinha

Sunday, August 28, 2016

at 10:48 PM 0 comments

{blackbabes} Beyoncé and Blue Ivy

Posted by Chibetinha at 10:45 PM 0 comments

{blackbabes} Serena shoulders burden of history at US Open

New York (AFP) - Serena Williams once again arrives at Flushing Meadows poised to rewrite the tennis record books -- if her own troublesome right shoulder and increasingly emboldened rivals allow.

The 34-year-old US superstar matched Steffi Graf's Open Era record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles with her triumph at Wimbledon in July.

With a seventh US Open triumph she can break Graf's record, and continue her march toward Australian Margaret Court's all-time mark of 24 Grand Slam titles.

She could also break Graf's record of 186 consecutive weeks atop the world rankings, and surpass Chris Evert for most US Open singles titles won in the Open Era.

But after seeing a frustrating year go by between her 21st Grand Slam win and No. 22, Williams said she'd learned to let history take care of itself.

"At this point, I'm taking it a day at a time," Williams said. "I just am more relaxed, for sure."

A straight-sets win over Angelique Kerber in the Wimbledon final may have eased some of the pressure Williams was feeling, but it's been far from smooth sailing since.

Her bid to retain her Olympic singles title ended in Rio de Janeiro when she was sent crashing out of the third round by Elina Svitolina.

Williams was clearly hindered by the shoulder injury that had forced her out of the Montreal WTA tournament as she served up eight double faults and 37 unforced errors in the straight-sets defeat.

She then withdrew from her WTA title defence in Cincinnati, still struggling with painful shoulder inflammation.

"I think usually I prefer to play more coming into the final Grand Slam of the year," Williams acknowledged. "But there is nothing we can do about it. You just have to make the best of every single opportunity. That's all I can do now."

Williams faces a tricky opening encounter against experienced Russian Ekaterina Makarova.

She could find fifth-seeded Romanian Simona Halep waiting in the quarters and elder sister Venus, the sixth seed, in the semis.

- Kerber closing in -

Germany's Kerber, who defeated Williams in the Australian Open final in January, is just one of the players with a chance to seize the number one ranking if Williams falters.

Kerber, 28, also boasts a title at Stuttgart, an Olympic silver medal and finals appearances at Brisbane in January and this month in Cincinnati -- where she missed her first chance to supplant Williams atop the rankings.

Being viewed as a legitimate threat to Williams, Kerber said, "is really special".

"Because Serena is one of the best players and athletes in the world," she said.

Far from feeling stressed by the chance to topple Williams, Kerber said she is thriving on the race for number one.

"I love this question, I love it," Kerber said. "The pressure for sure is maybe a little bit higher, but if I'm not doing the pressure on myself, everything is fine."

Third-seeded Spaniard Garbine Muguruza also has a shot at the top, although the 22-year-old who stunned Williams in the French Open final will need her best US Open ever to do so.

In three main-draw appearances she has won just one match. Turning around her Flushing Meadows fortunes would further her aim of establishing herself as more than "the girl that beat Serena" at Roland Garros.

Fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland also has an outside chance at the world number one ranking if she can claim her first Grand Slam title.

Notable absentees include 2015 champion Flavia Pennetta, who retired at the end of last year, Victoria Azarenka who is pregnant and former champion Maria Sharapova who is serving a doping suspension.

Venus Williams, whose seven Grand Slam titles include two US Opens, is among a handful of former champions among the seeds including 2004 winner Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia and 2011 champ Samantha Stosur of Australia.

"There are a lot of good players right now," Kerber said. "Let's see how Serena will play here. Let's see how the others will play. It's a new day, new tournament, new matches -- so let's see."

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Posted by Chibetinha at 10:10 PM 0 comments

{blackbabes} Gabby Douglas hospitalized and must skip VMAs

https://nyppagesix.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/gettyimages-587124580.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=915

Olympian Gabby Douglas says she is "resting comfortably" after being hospitalized for undisclosed reasons.

Reaching out to her fans via Instagram on Sunday night, Douglas said she is being forced to skip the evening's Video Music Awards, where she and the rest of the Final Five gymnasts were slated to present together.

Posting a bed-ridden selfie Douglas wrote, "Out of the hospital & resting comfortably! #FinalFive so sad I can't be with u all to present tonite😩 @MTV thank u❣ xoxo 💋 #VMAs #myview."

The 20-year-old didn't offer an explanation for her hospitalization.

Her gymnast pals Aly Raisman, Madison Kocian, Laurie Hernandez and Simone Biles all walked the carpet. Olympian Michael Phelps is also scheduled to be a presenter.

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{blackbabes} MTV VMAs to feature Kanye West, Rihanna, Britney Spears

 

NEW YORK (AP) — What will be the spectacle at the MTV Video Music Awards this year? A long rant from Kanye West? A surprise appearance from Beyoncé? It's all possible, and likely.

The show is returning to New York City on Sunday, where Beyoncé is the leading nominee with 11, though it's not confirmed if she will or won't attend the show. She outshined her peers at the 2014 VMAs, closing the show with a 16-minute medley of songs from her self-titled surprise album that dominated that night.

West has had even more history with the awards show: He famously jumped onstage and stole Taylor Swift's microphone at the 2009 show and last year gave an 11-minute speech onstage — after being introduced by Swift — and announced he was going to run for president in 2020.

He'll have another chance to own the night since his controversial "Famous" music video — featuring what appears to be naked images of West, Swift, Kim Kardashian and Donald Trump — is nominated for best male video and video of the year.

Beyoncé's "Formation," Justin Bieber's "Sorry," Drake's "Hotline Bling" and Adele's "Hello" are also up for the top prize. Adele, though, won't attend the show at Madison Square Garden, her representative said. Reps for Drake and Bieber didn't return emails asking if they would or would not attend the show.

Rihanna will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award and kick off the show with a performance. The VMAs will air live on MTV at 9 p.m.

Other performers include Britney Spears, Ariana Grande with Nicki Minaj, Future, Nick Jonas and The Chainsmokers.

Presenters include Jimmy Fallon, Alicia Keys, Puff Daddy and the recent Olympian gold medalists Michael Phelps and the Final Five gymnasts — Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian and Aly Raisman.

Nominees for best female video include Beyoncé, Adele, Rihanna, Sia and Grande. The best male video nominees are West, Drake, the Weeknd, Bryson Tiller and Calvin Harris, whose nomination is for "This is What You Came For," which he co-wrote with former girlfriend Swift.

Coldplay, Desiigner, Fergie and Alessia Cara earned multiple nominations, while David Bowie — who died from cancer earlier this year — is nominated for best direction, cinematography, art direction and editing for "Lazarus." The music video, which shows him looking frail in bed with bandaged eyes, was released just days before the icon's Jan. 10 death.

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{blackbabes} Year after Slam bid at US Open, Williams eyes No. 23, No. 1

Despite everything that Serena Williams has won and done, her sense of self can still fluctuate based on the outcome of a particular match.

Doesn't always seem to matter that she owns a record-tying 22 major singles titles heading into the U.S. Open, which begins Monday with a retractable roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time.

Not necessarily a big deal to her that she's spent the past 3+ years entrenched at No. 1 and is the oldest woman ever to top the WTA rankings.

And there are times when the 34-year-old American basically forgets that she transcends her sport and has become a cultural icon away from the tennis court.

Williams is devastated when she is dealt a setback, such as last year's ''Did that really happen?!'' loss to Roberta Vinci in the U.S. Open semifinals, ending an attention-grabbing, pressure-piling bid for the first calendar-year Grand Slam by anyone in more than a quarter-century. Williams acknowledges she measures herself constantly.

''Unfortunately, I definitely do, which I don't think is normal. I definitely feel like when I lose, I don't feel as good about myself,'' she said.

''But then I have to, like, remind myself that: 'You are Serena Williams!' You know? Like, 'Are you kidding me?''' Williams continued, laughing and leaning forward. ''And it's those moments that I have to just, like, come off and be like, 'Serena, do you know what you've done? Who you are? What you continue to do, not only in tennis, (but also) off the court? Like, you're awesome.' That really just shows the human side of me. I'm not a robot.''

She is at the stage of her career where history is in the offing nearly every time a racket is in her right hand. So while the stakes are different from what they were at Flushing Meadows in 2015, Williams does have something significant to play for yet again.

After equaling Steffi Graf for the most Grand Slam titles in the professional era (which dates to 1968) by winning Wimbledon last month, Williams now can break that tie by earning No. 23 in New York. Only Margaret Court owns more major singles trophies, with 24, but more than half of that total came against amateur competition.

Not that Williams was immediately ready to think about topping Graf after pulling even with her at the All England Club.

''One thing I learned about last year is to enjoy the moment,'' Williams said. ''I'm definitely going to enjoy this.''

Good thing, too, because not everything has gone smoothly since that most recent triumph. Slowed by a bothersome right shoulder, Williams lost in the third round of singles and first round of doubles at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics - she was a 2012 gold medalist in both events - and then pulled out of a hard-court tuneup event in Ohio.

Williams is assured of remaining at No. 1 until the end of the U.S. Open, which will bring her current streak to 186 weeks in a row, tying another mark held by Graf. Depending on what happens in the tournament, Williams could be overtaken in the rankings by No. 2 Angelique Kerber (who beat Williams in the Australian Open final in January), No. 3 Garbine Muguruza (who beat Williams in the French Open final in June) or No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska.

''It's definitely intriguing,'' Roger Federer said about tracking the women vying for No. 1. ''It's nice to see this race.''

Federer, who won five of his men's record 17 Grand Slam titles in New York, will be sitting out the U.S. Open for the first time since 1999 as he takes the rest of the season off to let his left knee heal. A year ago, Federer lost in the final at Flushing Meadows to Novak Djokovic. In Federer's mind, the top-ranked Djokovic is the favorite this time, even though No. 2 Andy Murray's summer has been ''phenomenal.''

One reason: Federer thinks the installation of the new $150 million roof at the main arena will limit the wind even when it's open, which will help Djokovic.

Not too long ago, Djokovic appeared to be close to unbeatable no matter the surface or conditions, and a buzz was building about whether he could chase a true Grand Slam. But he exited Wimbledon in the third round, then the Olympics in the first round, while Murray won both of those titles.

''Novak, obviously, the last two years, really, has played amazing tennis. His consistency - what I've done for, like, the last four months, he's been doing for, like, the whole year,'' Murray said. ''So I need to try and keep that going, and the U.S. Open is always the next big goal.''

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