By far one of the most talked about moments of 2011 was when Beyonce announced her pregnancy on the red carpet of the MTV Video Music Awards on August 28th, 2011. So huge was the frenzy that her baby bump broke a Twitter record for most tweets per second: 8,868 to be exact, surpassing Osama Bin Laden’s capture and Michael Jackson’s death.
The First Lady and her daughters spent 10 days in South Africa this summer. On their agenda, speaking to youth about leadership, volunteering for HIV/AIDS awareness programs and a historic meeting with none other than former South African president Nelson Mandela.
Rumors of Will and Jada’s alleged split nearly shut down the Internet on August 23, 2011, as everyone tweeted about it. “Tell me Abraham and Sarah didn’t make it!” said one anguished ESSENCE staffer. “But Will and Jada?! No!“ Will and Jada later released a statement denying the split.
Thousands gathered at Zuccotti Park in New York City on September 17, 2011 for the first official Occupy Wall Street gathering. By the end of the summer the movement had garnered the support of celebrities like Russell Simmons and Kanye West. Even President Obama voiced his support.
The weather was undoubtedly unpredictable in 2011. A rare earthquake shook the East coast on August 23, sending residents into a panic. A few days later Hurricane Irene was touted as the first major hurricane of 2011. “The impact of this storm will be felt for some time,” said the President.
Sade’s long-awaited comeback tour was such a hit, it took took the number 10 spot on Billboard’s “25 Top Tours of 2011,” selling over 588,000 tickets, grossing a little over $53 million for 59 shows.
The tennis star was hospitalized in March and underwent emergency treatment for a pulmonary embolism. Luckily Williams was in good health by the summer, even making her into the semifinals at the U.S. Open.
Proud papa Jay-Z was clearly excited watching his wife Beyonce show off her baby bump at the MTV Video Music Awards on August 28. Kanye West was among the thousands who were just excited as Jay.
What a surprise! Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kris Humphries, her husband of 72 days on October 31, citing “irreconcilable differences.” Though many accuse of her of getting married for publicity, Kardashian insists she “married for love.”
Why Tracy, why? The comedian started a firestorm when reports of his homophobic rant flooded the Internet on June 10. Tracy later apologized for saying he would murder his son if he told him he was gay. “I want to apologize to my fans and the gay & lesbian community for my choice of words,” he said in a statement. “I’m not a hateful person.”
April 30, 2011 will be a doubly special day for Mariah and Nick as it’s the date they welcomed twins Monroe and Moroccan Scott. It’s also the day they tied the knot back in 2008. “My wife just gave me the most incredible anniversary gift ever in life! I won’t ever be able to top this!” proud dad Nick Cannon tweeted.
It was a sad day in hip hop when the rap veteran passed away on November 8. His last tweet: “Be inspired.” Celebrities like Jay-Z, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Simth paid their last respects to the rap icon in a private service in New York.
Like all things Kanye West, the rapper’s debut fashion show (shown at Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 1) was an exclusive star-studded affair. But unlike his music, the fashion line was not a hit.
Will and Jada had everyone cooing when they opened up the doors to their palatial home, making for one of the most envy-inducing moments of the year.
Despite its success at the box office this summer, “The Help” just couldn’t shake off criticism. The Association of Black Women Historians released a statement saying the movie — which chronicles the story of African-American maids in Jackson, Mississippi during the 1950′s and 1960s — trivializes the experiences of black domestic workers.” Actress Viola Davis thought the movie would “satisfy the need we have to be seen and heard as Black women.”
Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee became the third and fourth Black women to win a Nobel Peace Prize for their work in the “non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.”
In one of the most publicized cases of the year, Guinea native Nafissatou Diallo accused former International Monetary Fund director Dominique Strauss-Khan of sexual assault on May 14. The case was later dropped, though Diallo has filed a civil case.
The King of Pop may be gone but his influence was felt more than ever in 2011. In October nearly 50,000 fans gathered in Wales for the ’Michael Jackson Forever" tribute concert while November saw the release of “Michael Jackson: Immortal,” a remix album of his greatest hits.
Dr. Conrad Murray is convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to four years in prison, the maximum penalty, on November 29 in the death of Michael Jackson. Katherine Jackson, MJ’s mother, later reveals that she thinks the sentence is too short. “Four years won’t bring my son back,” she told a Los Angeles TV station.
Keyshia Cole and Daniel Gibson tied the knot on May 22, 2011, prompting us to ask if marriage is the new Black.
The British blue-eyed soul singer was found dead in her London home on July 24. She was 27. An autopsy would later reveal that she died of accidental alcohol poisoning. Celebrities remembered Amy on Twitter.
The notoriously private rapper/singer welcomed her 6th child, a son, this summer, amid speculation about the child’s paternity. Hill responded by posting a note on Twitter declaring that her long-time partner Rohan Marley couldn’t have left her while she was pregnant because they were no longer together.
All eyes were on Chris Brown in March 2011 after smashing a chair through a window and storming out. ""I’m so over people bringing this past s**t up!" he later tweeted referring to questions about Rihanna. Luckily Brown’s year ended on a positive note, with a successful summer tour to support his album, and three Grammy nominations.
T.I. was released from a 10-month prison stint on August 31, only to be sent back a few hours later for arriving at a halfway house in Atlanta in a luxury bus with an entourage. He spent two weeks in prison before being release again on Sept. 29.
Newcomer Esperanza Spalding had everyone buzzing when she won the Best New Artist Grammy in February. For most, it was their first introduction to Spalding and her unique flavor and style of music.
J-Hud admits she “lost her celebrity religion” when she went tit-for-tat with a fan on Twitter who suggested the singer’s was because of plastic surgery. J-Hud’s explanation for the heated exchange? “I don’t know, somewhere along the lines, people think they can talk to celebrities any kind of way…we are people, too.” Do not mess with Jen.
The British singer is one of the most talked-about artists of the year. Her accomplishments? Her album “21” sold over 3 million copies, going quadruple-platinum, she was nominated for six Grammys, and Billboard named her the Top Artist of the Year.
Ouch! In what many called a low point in reality TV, ‘Basketball Wives’ star Tami Roman took drama to epic proportions when she lunged at Meeka Claxton at an Italian nightclub on “Basketball Wives.” Months later, and Meeka said she was suing Tami Roman.
And the drama continues. Eric and Jennifer Williams sure did bring the heat on “Basketball Wives” when they decided to throw drinks in each others faces. Jennifer says he’s not the man she married 10 years ago. He says she has a demon inside her. Oh boy!
Newcomer Esperanza Spalding had everyone buzzing when she won the Best New Artist Grammy in February. For most, it was their first introduction to Spalding and her unique flavor and style of music.