Tameka Foster On Divorce – Tameka Foster Raymond sat down with LaShonda Matlock who works with Chicago Radio show Hollywood 360 on WIND 560AM to talk about Usher,her divorce and blogs.Here is her interview.
Please tell me about your non-profit organizations.
My personal non-profit is called ‘The Lost Ones’. It’s geared toward young women between the ages of 12-18 years old that are at risk of low scholastic achievement, pregnancy, drug use, delinquency, truancy, violence and other unproductive behaviors. It works in partnership with my other charity Oakland Natives Gives Back (ONGB).
Explain what ONGB is about?
It’s an organization that was founded by me, Delicia Abdur-Rahim and Nyeisha Dewitt. Our goal is for people to give back to their native communities wherever their from. We supply children in under served communities with backpacks, school supplies and fun events. This is our 2nd year doing this and we have a rally on Aug. 23rd, at City Hall in Oakland Ca.
Impressive, tell me more about the rally at City Hall.
The rally is an all day event for the kids where we’ll have day programs, motivational speeches, celebrity guests and at the end a backpack giveaway filled with school supplies and snacks. Last year we gave away around 800 backpacks and this year we’ll be handing out about 2,000.
You seem to do a lot of work with underprivileged kids in Atlanta and Oakland, why is this such an important mission for you?
The idea of giving back to others excites me, I have been utterly blessed in every aspect, no matter where you are in life, you should never forget from where you came. It’s the least I could to give thanks for my many blessings.
Sorry to change the topic, but there is a strong rumor that you threatened violence against a specific Atlanta based blogger due to she was stating multiple unconfirmed details regarding your divorce. Would you like to address this?
The rumor is actually quite boring, juvenile, yet hilarious. Ironically, I never knew of her or her blog until an associate alerted me about her and her erroneous remarks. I think the case with SO many bloggers is that there are good ones and there are those that are negative. When did they become a credible source on my life? I believe some of their blogs are actually erected to fulfill a certain void or insecurity within the writer. Deplorably, most don’t bother to “fact” check, they just sensationalize, repeat rumors or make them up in hopes of more hits and the possibilities from potential advertisers, I’ve learned. Those with malicious agendas don’t want the truth anyway. However, for the record- Be clear, I don’t do very much anonymously nor do I make threats, I’m a grown woman and there’s no need for me to make silly threats. Especially to the likes of disgruntled “Mean Girl” types hiding behind keyboards. Goodness, where do they find the time? In other words I did NOT threaten this Atlanta based blogger.
Being in the spotlight is never easy. And the paparazzi have definitely gone after you regarding your high profile relationship. In one incident, I recall an unflattering picture from a photo shoot that circulated the blogs for quite some time. This one picture lead many people to believe that you developed a complex about your personal appearance and sought cosmetic surgery in Brazil because of that. Is this true?
Yes, there is an unauthorized altered photo that was taken with the intent of being a head shot (ie; to be cropped at the chest), it was not styled at all and shot at the end of a shoot. Unfortunately, it got into the wrong hands and a little Photoshop work is done and ‘voila’ you have a bad and funny shot of someone’s wife. A real knee-slapper. As far as my experience in Brazil, I NEVER had any cosmetic surgery done at all. I was to undergo a standard 30-40 min procedure and I had an adverse reaction to the anesthesia, nothing was ever started or happened. Never was there a planned ‘tummy tuck’ as reported. I have had nothing done aside from being birthed from parents blessed with awesome health and good genetics. I love me/ my body yet for a brief moment I got a little caught up in the Worldly perception of beauty and made an impromptu, unwise decision that I learned a valuable lesson from, I was only two months post delivery. I thank God for all that he has blessed me with. There are no complexes, no shortcuts and to stay focused is the answer
Q: So, you never went into cardiac arrest as stated by the media outlets?
A: Yes I did, but it was due to an adverse reaction to the anesthesia.
Q: There are also reports that Usher requested a DNA test to see if he is the biological father of your 7-month old son Naviyd. Is this true?
A: It’s insane. I think the pseudo-DNA Request first ran in the National Enquirer, somewhere between them purporting lewd things about Michelle Obama and underneath the headline that we had captured Osama Bin Laden lol. Many bloggers like the afore mentioned Atlanta woman continue to circulate these fraudulent news pieces, so it’s like I don’t even need to discredit them because they discredit themselves. My husband even found it appalling. He was present for the births of both children and would never deny them. We both find it rude and absurd.
Q: Do you still love your husband?
A: There is a quote I have always loved from author Franklin P. Jones! ”Love doesn’t make the world go ’round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.”
Q: With stories and rumors emerging every other day, how are you coping being under the public eye?
A: The media, as well as public scrutiny can be a beast but I have learned it is best to ignore it and I have ignored it for over two years now. Some of the love, hate, pure ignorance, attention and multiple keystrokes that are devoted to me is actually flattering as opposed to hurtful. To garner such a devotion of energy be it positive or even the not so positive tells me I’m obviously well received and rarely go unnoticed. Its all love no matter how you slice it.
What are your thoughts on Tameka Foster’s interview?
I enjoyed her interview, I agree about the mean websites, I was thinking the same exact thing. These people talk as if they are authorities on another persons private lives and why do they care so much? IDK. Its great that she takes the time out to do charity work. Not everyone actually does things to help others.
I think that the interview that she did was very good. She is a woman and we often get caught up in what the “world” thinks is beautiful… I can imagine the extra effort that has to go into what you look like when you are married to someone that is classified as a “sex symbol”. Now that the marriage is ending hopefully that will take her out of the spotlight as much and she can concentrate on being what she needs for her children.
I like Tameka and think she was as candid in this interview as she dared to be. In other words to say more would probably have worked against her. I think people should just leave her alone. Let her answers stand.
I believe that celeberties should not be involved in relationships while there career goals are in progress. Because it seems though theres a lot of snakes in the grass just creeping for money with a motive. Not to mention some celeberties dont think twice, erection without protection then they end up buying there own babies or children. If pepole would stop going for the old ookie doke stop paying hundreds of thousands for sex and babies. And for the moochers unfortunately there strippers poles are probably tarnishing or there intestinal organs are getting them nauseated.
She seems to be trying really hard to sound intelligent. To me it seems like her way of placing her wall around her feelings. They are divorcing yet she still refers to him as her husband. I think she just needs to let that go and move toward. She is a beautiful sucessful woman so it shouldn’t be hard.