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Trump Tells Congresswomen of Color to 'Go Back' to the Countries They Came From


Though Trump’s tweets did not call out any of the congresswomen by name, several outlets reported that they were likely aimed at congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Ayanna S. Pressley of Massachusetts. It should be noted that in no capacity does it matter where any of the women were born: They are all United States citizens. Omar is also the only one of the group born outside of the U.S.—she was born in Somalia.

The women, the Times noted, are currently at odds with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In a July 10 interview with The Washington Post, Ocasio-Cortez said she believes Pelosi singles out women of color in an attempt to isolate them and their beliefs.

“When these comments first started, I kind of thought that she was keeping the progressive flank at more of an arm’s distance in order to protect more moderate members, which I understood,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “But the persistent singling out . . . it got to a point where it was just outright disrespectful . . . the explicit singling out of newly elected women of color.”

Pelosi herself was quick to jump to the congresswomen’s defense on Sunday, writing in a tweet, “When @realDonaldTrump tells four American Congresswomen to go back to their countries, he reaffirms his plan to ‘Make America Great Again’ has always been about making America white again. Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power.”

In a follow-up tweet, Pelosi added, “I reject @realDonaldTrump’s xenophobic comments meant to divide our nation. Rather than attack Members of Congress, he should work with us for humane immigration policy that reflects American values. Stop the raids.”

Ocasio-Cortez also powerfully replied to the President’s remarks, tweeting, “Mr. President, the country I ‘come from,’ & the country we all swear to, is the United States. But given how you’ve destroyed our border with inhumane camps, all at a benefit to you & the corps who profit off them, you are absolutely right about the corruption laid at your feet.”

She added in a series of follow-ups, “You are angry because you don’t believe in an America where I represent New York 14, where the good people of Minnesota elected @IlhanMN, where @RashidaTlaib fights for Michigan families, where @AyannaPressley champions little girls in Boston. You are angry because you can’t conceive of an America that includes us. You rely on a frightened America for your plunder. You won’t accept a nation that sees healthcare as a right or education as a #1 priority, especially where we’re the ones fighting for it.” She added, “Yet here we are.”

“But you know what’s the rub of it all, Mr. President? On top of not accepting an America that elected us, you cannot accept that we don’t fear you,either,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote. “You can’t accept that we will call your bluff & offer a positive vision for this country. And that’s what makes you seethe.”



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10 Things No One Tells You About Tattoo Removal


Are you the not-so-proud owner of some regrettable ink? Well, welcome to the club. I have four (five, if you count the one on my back as two) tattoos from my late teens and early twenties that I could probably definitely do without. So, this year I set out to do just that: get them removed.

If you’ve heard anything about laser tattoo removal, it’s probably that it’s insanely painful. I mean, if I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard, “Doesn’t that hurt even more than actually getting the tattoos?” I’d be rich. (OK, I would have enough money to buy a medium iced coffee at Pret.) But while there’s plenty of info on what to consider before getting a tattoo (and pages on pages of enticing inspo), there still isn’t a whole lot of discussion surrounding the dark side of ink jobs: What happens if you grow to no longer love that little shooting star or random Latin phrase (ahem, see below)? I’m only about halfway through the process, but I’ve picked up plenty of tips along the way. So to do you all a solid, I put together a list of everything I’ve learned.

Here’s what you need to know about tattoo removal.

Hi, that’s me. Just getting my tatts lasered off.

1. Consider a doctor.
I’d previously had one tattoo zapped at a spa (I was living in small-town Canada where there weren’t plastic surgery offices or dermatologists), where an aesthetician used an outdated heat laser that ended up burning and scarring my skin. This time around, I’m having treatments done by Dr. John F. Adams at the New York Dermatology Group, where everything is done under medical supervision. I suggest you find your own doctor by asking friends, editors (shameless plug), and even by stopping people that you see with removal in process—which, yes, I have done.

2. It will take months—if not a year or more.
Tattoos don’t just disappear after a once-over with the laser. (I wish!) I’ve had six sessions, and I’d wager that I need about five more, despite the fact that my initial estimate was six to eight sessions. It takes a long time to complete because each time the tattoo is lasered, particles are broken down and digested by the body’s immune system. The regeneration period is up to eight weeks, and the next time you go, the laser breaks down new particles of pigment. And so on and so forth.

3. It’s expensive.
If you have your procedures done by a doctor, the bill for each visit can run you hundreds of dollars. Brace yourself: The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) estimates the average cost per session at $463. But see point number one for why it’s worth it.

4. All ink can be taken out.
Contrary to the old belief that light, colored ink was hard to remove, Dr. Adams assured me that all hues will now disappear. (FYI: The previous explanation was that, similar to laser hair removal, the laser would solely be attracted toward dark colors, like black.) With PicoSure technology, he says you can even get out yellows and greens, which were previously the most stubborn.

5. Get ready for needles.
Mentally prepare for visits to consist of more than just a quick and easy laser moment. Mine have been taking about 45 minutes because we take before photos, clean the areas, inject them with lidocaine for freezing, laser them, ice them, and then bandage them. Oh, and sometimes a weird thing happens where I taste metal when the laser hits my skin. Dr. Adams says it’s a sensation that some people experience when the lidocaine is hit by the laser and that it’s totally normal…but also, I might be superhuman.

6. There’s pain afterward.
And it doesn’t stop when you leave the office. I would advise that you budget for discomfort for about a week. For me, the sites blister and need to be covered in a salve and bandaged for a few days; then, they start to de-puff, scab, peel, and regenerate. There is good news though: The more treatments you have, the less aftercare there is. (Since there’s less ink reacting to the laser.)

7. You’ll need things like Aquaphor, bandages, and even clothes that don’t rest on the tattoo.
Yes, I actually bought shirts that didn’t have material where my neck/back tattoo is. At first, I was cutting tags out, but when tagless cotton tees still made the spot hurt and itch, I figured keyhole backs were a good investment. If you have tattoos on your ribs or feet (and like to wear bras and shoes) it might be best to plan your sessions accordingly.

It also helps to apply a thin coating of antibiotic ointment or healing moisturizer three times a day, like from Aquaphor, Lubriderm, or Kiehl’s, for the first three days while the area is healing.

8. You could just lighten ink enough to go over it.
If you don’t want to take your tattoos all the way off, you can simply lighten them enough to get some good cover-ups done. I have a friend who had a bird piece lightened enough to have a tattoo artist ink a light bulb over the top. I thought it was smart because it meant her new tattoo didn’t have to be heavy-handed (which I’m sure you think is very 2000).

9. Or take it all off, but there might be white patches or scars.
If, like me, you want your ink completely removed, you should know that the skin that is left might not be flawless. I’m hoping that reading this post will prevent you from having a tattoo removal turn into scarring à la numero uno. And while the risks are nowhere near as big when you are treated by a medical professional, your skin pigment can be lightened.

10. But there’s another laser that can fix that.
We are living in the future.

Related Stories:
–What I Wish I Knew Before I Spent $500 Trying to Fix My Brassy Highlights
–40 Tiny Tattoo Ideas Even the Most Needle-Shy Can’t Resist
–38 Celebrity Tiny Tattoos So Cute, You’ll Have No Shame About Copying Them

This story was originally published on July 26, 2017



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Bohemian Rhapsody Tells the True Story of Mary Austin, Freddie Mercury's Soulmate


Bohemian Rhapsody follows Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury and his rise to worldwide stardom through the songs that made the “band of misfits” a household name. But there’s a lesser-known story in the film too, one about Mercury’s one-time fiancé and “soulmate” Mary Austin. Mercury was queer, yes, but Austin was unquestionably the love of his life. To this day, she’s reportedly the only person who knows where Mercury’s cremated remains are buried; she also still owns the London mansion he gifted her.

While many will watch Bohemian Rhapsody for its mesmerizing music and performances—and there’s plenty of that—I was fascinated by the deep dive into Mercury and Austin’s decades-long friendship and love. Rami Malek, who plays Mercury, even calls Austin the heart of the movie. “There’s a part of me that feels we would not have the Freddie Mercury we have today without Mary, and vice versa,” he tells Glamour.com. “That relationship was so vital to him—and to her. They were soulmates.”

PHOTO: Alex Bailey

Mercury met Austin early in his career, and—as the film shows—she urged the rocker to embrace his sexuality and larger-than-life persona. “It was just such a relief to read [their dialogue in the script],” Lucy Boynton, who plays Austin, says. She’s referring to a scene that shows Austin encouraging Mercury to embrace his desire to wear feminine clothing. “We’re in a place now where we’re trying to be more forward thinking about the fluidity of existence, so to read this and know it was just how Freddie and Mary were [is so wonderful].”

While producer Graham King considers Austin to be Mercury’s muse, Malek doesn’t see her that way. “She’s so much more than that,” he explains. “To inspire someone, to give them someone they can depend on, relate to, and share the most intimate secrets with is something they did for one another. Between the two of them, they could be their most authentic selves. That’s a bond you rarely have in life.”

Case in point: Even after Mercury finally came out to Austin, ending their romantic relationship, she remained a huge part of his life. “Her strength was the biggest lesson for me,” Boynton says. “When you love someone absolutely and want them to be their truest self—even though that means losing them in some capacity—that is the most important thing. The fact that she was able to be so cognizant of that and put her feelings of loss over the love of her life, but then manage it so they were able to stay in each other’s lives in such close capacity…that strength is very admirable.”

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PHOTO: Alex Bailey

King echoes this, saying, “Freddie and Mary were so above their time. Part of the reason why I wanted to make this film was I wanted to show a young audience how Freddie lived his life. I remember showing my youngest daughter, who was 21 at the time, an early cut of the film. She said, ‘Dad, any kid 12 and up who is confused on their sexuality, confused at their life, will look at this movie as a guidance.’ That to me was the best compliment I could get about the Freddie/Mary and Freddie story. That’s what we looked to create.”

Boynton agrees. “I think [their relationship] shows us that love is a color spectrum,” she says. “As soon as we stop trying to put boxes and labels to every relationship and dynamic, we’ll be so much more liberated and at peace. That’s one of the biggest takeaways. If you stop trying to restrict yourself by defining yourself and love in other people’s terms, it’s the most liberating thing.”

The real Mary Austin, now in her late 60s, has remained out of the public eye, but King says she did read the script for Bohemian Rhapsody. “She is very private, and we want to respect her as much as possible,” he says. “[The biggest thing for me was] having that sympathetic view with Freddie and Mary.”

That privacy is why Boynton has never met Austin, but she hopes she eventually sees the film. “It’s such an incredibly powerful story to tell that reminds people to be your absolute self, as Freddie so seemingly effortlessly did,” she explains. “I think now more than ever that’s something we can afford to have drilled back into us.”

It’s also why King was intent on Bohemian Rhapsody receiving a PG-13 rating instead of R. “I want a young audience to discover who Freddie Mercury was,” he says. “I want people to walk out with the feeling that one can go through so much adversity in their life, but go out on top. The end becomes a real celebration of his life and what he went through, beginning with an immigrant kid who was bullied and then makes it against all odds.”

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PHOTO: Alex Bailey

“He’s a revolutionary,” Malek adds. “He’s this extremely complicated human being. Our deficits are not necessarily deficits at all. What this story will hopefully do is allow people to be more of their authentic self. Perhaps I got a drop or two of that from this [experience] as well.”



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Man Arrested for Groping Woman on Flight Tells Police That Donald Trump 'Says It's OK'


In a country where some of our leaders (and those sitting on the highest court in the land) are accused of sexual assault, we can only hope that their ability to maintain their positions doesn’t embolden would-be-assailants.

Not the case for 49-year-old Bruce Michael Alexander of Tampa, Fl., who was arrested Sunday after a woman sitting in front of him on a Southwest Airlines flight accused him of fondling her breasts while she was sleeping. While he was in custody, Alexander reportedly cited Donald Trump’s comments about women and told authorities that “the President of the United States says it’s ok to grab women by their private parts,” as justification for his actions.

According to a criminal complaint cited by the Washington Post, the woman felt a hand reach from behind her on the flight and touch the right side of her breast near her “bra line.” After she felt a second touch, she stood up and told Alexander, who was sitting behind her, that she didn’t know why he thought his behavior was okay and that he needed to stop. She changed seats, and Alexander was arrested once the aircraft landed in New Mexico.

Alexander reportedly asked authorities why he was being arrested and then made the comment about the president saying it’s okay “to grab women by their private parts.” He was likely referring to an Access Hollywood tape that captures audio of a 2005 interview in which Trump brags to television host Billy Bush about what he feels he’s entitled to do to women.

“You know, I’m automatically attracted to beautiful — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything,” Trump says in the audio.

Bush repeats, “Whatever you want,” and Trump follows with what’s now become his infamous pussy line: “Grab ’em by the pussy. You can do anything.”

Alexander’s remarks have started a discussion about the very real consequences of the president’s rhetoric toward women. Some have worried that Trump’s vulgar comments might embolden men to also disrespect women and repeat patterns of misogyny and harassment. That someone arrested for sexual assault can now point to the president and claim that he “says it’s ok” to grab women in an inappropriate way seems to confirm the fears of many.

The Southwest incident unfolds at a time when stories of sexual assault have pervaded political news. Judge Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court, even after being accused of assaulting Christine Blasey Ford in 1982. A highly divisive and publicized hearing put Ford’s story of alleged assault at the center of the national conversation.

The president himself has also been accused of harassing multiple women. He also has a long history of calling women disparaging names, referring to them as “dogs” and “pigs,” and most recently called adult female star Stormy Daniels “horse face.” He has also questioned women who have come forward with claims of sexual assault, mocking Ford at a rally and suggesting that sexual assault protesters are paid professionals.

Related Stories:

Brett Kavanaugh Has Been Confirmed to the Supreme Court

Donald Trump Calls Stormy Daniels ‘Horseface’ on Twitter



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The Big Bang Theory Season 12, Episode 3 Recap: Penny Tells Leonard She Doesn't Want Kids


We’re only three episodes in The Big Bang Theory‘s final season, but already major bombshells are dropping. (Consider that your warning: Huge spoilers ahead!)

In tonight’s episode, “The Procreation Calculation,” the first big news happens when Raj gets engaged to Anu after knowing her all of five minutes. Yes, this was an arranged meeting by Raj’s father in hopes of it leading to marriage—but I didn’t expect Anu to propose so soon. Then again, Raj did sweetly tell her he’s a hopeless romantic who wants a great story to tell his future kids one day. And they’re both over-the-moon happy. Plus, now we have 21 episodes left to see how this will play out and whether or not this will lead to marriage.

PHOTO: Michael Yarish

The other big—and perhaps even more moving—reveal of the episode? Penny doesn’t want to have kids.

Now, if you’ve been following The Big Bang Theory closely (or paying attention to executive producer Steve Holland’s interviews), then it shouldn’t have come as a total surprise that kids weren’t in the cards for Penny and Leonard. After two seasons of pregnancy stories for Bernadette and Howard (and two never-seen babies), Holland has made it clear that he doesn’t want to repeat what’s already been done. Last season he told Glamour that “while it’s always a discussion…we’ve now done two seasons of pregnancy stories. I can’t say exactly what season 12 holds, but I’m not super excited to tell another pregnancy story right now.”

Of course, when you have four characters—Sheldon, Amy, Leonard, Penny—in their 30s, married, and successful…the topic of starting a family is going to come up. “At some point, these characters have to be real people and have things going on in their lives,” Holland said at the time. The question is, how and when do you decide to give the fans want, while also staying true to the characters?

In tonight’s episode, Penny stayed true to herself. While she’s proven to be a great “Aunt Penny” to Bernadette and Howard’s kids, she’s never talked openly about a strong desire to have kids of her own. And even Kaley Cuoco wasn’t on board with Penny becoming a mother. At Paleyfest this year, she told the audience that she didn’t want the Hofstadters to start a family.

The Procreation Calculation

PHOTO: Michael Yarish

While the decision may have been right for Penny—and the show as a whole—it was still heartbreaking for Leonard, who thought he’d be a dad one day. He’s disappointed, but by the episode’s end he reckons that he has other amazing things in his life he never thought he’d get, including his hilarious, smart, and beautiful wife.

One could make the case that Leonard and Penny should have talked openly about having kids before they got married. (And maybe they did—after 250-plus episodes, I can’t keep track.) But guess what? Life happens, and viewpoints change. Penny may have thought there’d come a time when she would want to be a mother. She’s still entitled to change her mind. And even if Leonard wanted to be a dad, it’s not up to Penny to give him that if she doesn’t feel it’s right for her.

The show tackled the discussion beautifully and honestly—and with its signature humor. Case in point: When Penny’s friends Bernadette and Amy lashed out for their own selfish reasons rather than thinking about whether or not this was the right decision for their friend. “My kids were going to be friends with your kids!” Amy screamed. “We were going to be barf buddies [during pregnancy]!” Bernadette didn’t back off, either. “It’s not crazy [not to want to have kids],” she said. “It’s just wrong.”

“I know I’d be great,” Penny countered. “I just don’t want to be one. Not everyone needs to have kids to be fulfilled.” Penny didn’t go into details about why she didn’t want kids, but she doesn’t have to. If it’s none of Amy’s business, as Penny told her, then it’s certainly not ours. The decision to raise a child is an extremely personal one, and women shouldn’t be made to feel less than if they decide it’s not what they want.

Later in the episode, Penny and Leonard have a heart-to-heart and admit that as long as they have each other, they’ll be OK. However, the writers left the door open for a much larger discussion by bringing in Keith Carradine (Penny’s dad) for a brief cameo to express his disappointment that he won’t be a grandfather. What will be interesting to watch, should the show go that direction, is how Penny responds to outside pressure not just from her friends but her family. To that I say, continue to do what’s right for you, Penny. You’ve more than proven that.



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Jennifer Aniston Tells Ellen DeGeneres That a ‘Friends’ Reunion is a Possibility


During her appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday, Jennifer Aniston informed the audience that a Friends reunion is not out of the question—despite what her former cast members have said recently. It’s not a confirmation that the cast of the ’90s smash hit will come together in that giant Manhattan apartment again anytime soon, but it’s the glimmer of hope we’ve been waiting on for 14 years.

DeGeneres and Aniston were discussing her upcoming return to television in a new series with Reese Witherspoon, which is still untitled but will explore behind the scenes of the New York media, specifically morning talk shows. Aniston revealed that the series was already bought for two seasons and will premiere on Apple’s new network.

Once they finished discussing the project and the audience started to applaud, Aniston and DeGeneres clapped along in the rhythm of the Friends theme song, “I’ll Be There for You,” by The Rembrandts.

“That’s the clap from the song,” Aniston told DeGeneres.

“What song?” the host asked.

“The Friends theme song,” Aniston said. After a pause she asked a crew member, “You’ll edit this, right?”

DeGeneres took the opportunity to tell the actress that she and her former cast mates should get together and film a reunion: “Is it a possibility? It is even in the realm of possibilities?”

“Anything is a possibility, Ellen,” Aniston said. “Anything! Right?” She went on to say, “I mean, George Clooney got married! That’s like anything can happen. I think it’s wonderful.”

This is contrary to what some of her former co-stars have said recently after being asked about the trailer for a fake film called Friends: The Movie that went viral. David Schwimmer appeared on Meghan Kelly Today and when Kelly asked about the possibility of a reunion he said he doubts it will ever happen. “Look, the thing is, I just don’t know if I want to see all of us with crutches [and] walkers,” he explained.

Lisa Kudrow was recently a guest on Conan and said that she doesn’t know if a reboot of the show would work. “I mean, that was about people in their 20s, 30s. Well, the show isn’t about people in their 40s, 50s. And if we have the same problems, then that’s just sad,” she said.

Break our hearts, why don’t you? We like Aniston’s answer much better.

Related Stories:
–Jennifer Aniston Doesn’t Support That Joey-Rachel Endgame Fan Theory
–Why Jennifer Aniston Says ‘Friends’ Would Never Work in 2017
–Jennifer Aniston on Her Go-To ‘Friends’ Lipstick, Hollywood After 50, and the One Thing She’d Ban From Tabloids





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