Twist.
I'm a homegirl that knows a little bit about everything and everybody.
You don't know if you don't lie about that, right, Lauren can't.
Hey, y'all, it's Laura l. Rosa and this is the Latest with Laura L.
Roza.
Y'all know, this is a daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment, news, exclusive and breaking news. But more importantly, the conversations that shake the room. Baby, were gonna get on into them all the time. I'm Laura la Rosa. I'm your host. Thank you guys for joining me for another episode. If this is your first episode, don't go anywhere. Please make sure you become a Lowrider, which is our podcast community, and stick right here with me for everything breaking,
everything trending now on the podcast. You guys know, when we open it up, we do the behind the scenes of the grind.
Which is a check in.
Because I said all the time, when you move in and when you shake in, a lot of times you don't take the time to just make sure you're good. People don't ask you are you okay? Because you always appeared to be okay. And I am one of those people when people say check on your strong friend. I am the strong friends, so friends, low riders. Thank y'all for being here with me and checking in on me during this behind the scenes of the grind checking.
And today I am feeling unsure a bit.
If I'm being honest, and I'm not unsure about you know, life and career and like all the things I think right now, my my unsureeness or like my uncertainty unsureness, I don't even if that's a word, y'all know, I'll be making up words. My uncertainty comes from, you know, being at a point in life, career and all these things where I'm experiencing things for the first time. In first generation college student HBC, you graduate, So walking into a dark room and having to find a light switch
I am very familiar with. But I think when you're doing it in career, when you're doing it in love, when you're doing it in relationship, whether that's you know, a platonic friendship or like you're you know, a person you're trying to be with, all the things. Right now in my life, I'm experiencing things and people at heights
and in volumes that I've never done it before. So right now I'm blessed that I have people around me who've already been here, done this, and are operating at such a high level that can guide me, that can give me, you know, education, that can pull me up, that can call me out, that can remind me of responsibility, that can remind me to say sharp, that can remind me that you know, all of.
The things because it's needed.
And the feeling of uncertainty that I'm referencing, I'm not upset about.
It ain't making me nervous. I'm not, you know what I mean.
It's it's more of like, if I'm being honest, this is a this is a new space for me. You know, these are new levels, these are new things that are happening, and I'm always one to say I want to make sure I'm doing it right because I might not get a second chance at it. I don't have the shot. You know that a lot of women who don't look
like me as a black woman. When I get on a platform, when I'm whether I'm having a good time or I'm being that like serious you know person bringing you the story and the facts in the details, I take everything really serious and really personal because I might not get to do it again.
I gotta work three times.
It's hard, honestly, I say six, and I also have to do it all while showing up effortlessly. And now I'm beginning to learn to deal with the critiques and the criticisms, and I take it all in stride because for me, I look at those things as metrics of like, okay, you know, if I'm more in talking with her marketing degree, these are ways to kind of look at your performance, look at how people are perceiving you, look at how your audience, you know, digest you and breaks you down
to better and be sharper. So I'm grateful to even have that understanding and that way of thinking about it. But it's here, that is the feeling, that is where I'm at right now. I don't know how you guys are feeling today and in this time, but you know, always feel free to share with me. I'm at Lauren la Rosa everywhere including Twitter and Instagram. But let's get on end to the latest right now, because one thing I'm sure about is there is always a lot going on. Now.
When I saw this story that we're about.
To get into, it really touched me because I talk about it a lot on all of my platforms having to take a leave of word to help my mother get through a stage for a cancer battle, and you know what the pressure and the anxiety and the uncertainty of that actually felt like, you know, and being on a platform and you know, feeling like, hey, I might not get another shot at this again at the time.
But Holda from The Today Show actually back in January, decided to leave The Today Show now the Today Show. And you know, Holda's career a very coveted spot. She it built her way into a very coveted position and all of the things right, very successful and very accomplished. But for a lot of people, you don't get to that place in your life and be like, you know what, I'm going to just exit and remove myself from this show, from this platform, from this daily grind, from this daily hustle.
Normally it's like networks will say, hey, we're going in a different direction, or your show is cancelled or things of that nature. But to voluntarily do it and not announce something else, bigger, another show, another job, another something
makes people wonder. So Holda actually sat down with People magazine and they published this article on her where she actually went into more detail about why she decided to step away from the Today's Show, and Holda revealed that her daughter, Hope, who was six years old, was actually diagnosed with type one diabetes back in twenty twenty three, and because of that, Holda says, I really wanted to
and needed to be here to watch over her. So she stepped away from The Today Show and decided to do other things with her life and her career so that she could do that. Now, I think anybody who hears that line alone of what I just said, instantly, you don't need any other further explanation. You understand as a parent, You understand as a person. You just understand. Whether you're not a parent. I'm not a parent, but
I get it. Anyone who has ever dealt with a loved one who was experiencing something as traumatic as you know, an illness that can grow to be terminal if not managed well and all those things, one hundred percent get it. But even if not, you understand. Now, when Holda decided that she was going to take a step away, they had this huge episode for her and everybody that she had worked with, she had known, she had loved, decided to come on the show and just give her her
flowers and make her feel good. Upon her departure, there was like a parade of people, Maria Shiver, Simone Bios, Andy Cohen, Kathylee Gifford, Jimmy Fallon, all of these people showed up to say goodbye, to hold m and it was it was a very emotional episode. Her co host Jenna Bush Hagger burst into tears as they did this huge glass of champagne toast to hold upon her exit.
Her daughter's Haley who was eight years old, and Hope who was six, which is her daughter who was actually diagnosed with the type one diabetes, also joined them on set as well.
It was a beautiful moment.
It was very emotional because she's been a part of this show and a part of this brand for so long. But watching that back now, understanding and knowing everything that we know now, it definitely makes you think a lot about, you know, as a woman, or as a parent, or as a person learning how to or figuring out when
it's time to balance life more over career. And I think I'm always struggling with that because of you know, just being a caregiver for my mother and my grandmother, and the things that I talk about a lot here on the podcast and on my YouTube channel, Laura on the Roads of TV.
But hearing her.
Story, I'm like, man, all of these months and all of this time, and it's no one's job to have to tell us why, especially when it comes to something like this, you know, illness or you know, anything medically that you have to you know, now watch and keep up with. But you just never know what people are going through. You just never know people are going through. You never know what they're experiencing. It doesn't matter at what point in their career, how high they're operating, or anything.
Since then, it's been five months since Holda walked away from The Today Show, and in that time, she's been doing a bunch of new stuff. She created like a whole life for herself, a new life for herself, and she's actually had, of course more time to spend with her daughters and be able to you know, plan for their future and like figure out, you know, best health
care for her daughter. But she's also launched a wellness company is called Joy one on one and that wellness company comes with an app, and within that app, you know, of course they're giving you information and education and resources. But she also is going to couple that with live events. There's a subscription newsletter that will cent her like all around joy and mindfulness, meditation and wealthness and things that really can impact your self care and your health care
as well. But I think the biggest thing that I took from this article there was a quote from Holda where she talked about the small things now that feel her day. And I think when you're a person who lives such a big life in front of the world, a lot of times you don't get a chance to enjoy the small things. And if you're enjoying the small things, you don't feel the impact of that joy at all. It's so different when you don't have the noise and the hustle and bustle of having to be here and
do this and prepare for this and do that. And she's getting to feel that now at age sixty. And I'm really happy for her. Number one, because of course she gets to prioritize her daughter's health. But number two, I think being able to enjoy those small things after not being able to it gives you just this refreshing and replenishing look on life and on career and on. You know your priorities and where you put them that
I think every person honestly deserves to experience. Hopefully it doesn't come from, you know, finding out that you know a loved one is ill or is battling, you know, something with that can potentially impact their life if not managed well. But it is a good thing to be able to have something just remind you to kind of like sit in, smell the roses. Right, So Holda says, it's really cool to just realize that there's so much
more to life. I wasn't able to bear witness to my kids daily lives because of what I was doing. I got to see Helly sing with a wonderful world at nine to fifty a m. I would have missed that I used to have to. I used to think life was the big things, but it's really all about the stuff that happens in between. I can't tell you guys enough how I feel like my life, my decision making, my prioritization was altered by being able to take the
time off of work. I took almost I would say, like four to six months off of my job when I was at TMZ to just solely figure out what was about to happen with my mom, and it was really scary.
It was really dark.
People don't understand what you're dealing with, and it's something sometimes that you can't really talk to people about because.
They don't really get it.
So send them some love and some prayers and some comfort and hugs and all of the things. Shoda and her family, you can't do that enough being a person in that position, regardless of you know how she's been able to turn things around for herself and find new spaces in career and life and experience the beauty of experiencing these new moments, it's still a very different place for.
Her and her family and her baby girls. So sending them some love. Now.
In other news, here on the latest Motown legend, Smokey Robinson.
So, there was.
This lawsuit that it dropped accusing the singer of sexual assault. Now moving forward, Smokey Robinson has decided to fight back. He's filed a five hundred million dollar defamation lawsuit against the four former housekeepers.
Who accused him.
Accused the singer of the sexual assault. Now, this case was actually filed by Smokey Robinson and his wife Francis this week in California, and it accused these housekeepers of fabricating the sexual assault allegations as in a part of an extortion Lawsuitkie Robinson says that the alleged victims who filed their case anonymously went on family holidays with a couple, went on family holidays with Smokey Robinson and their family celebrated holidays together and all of the things.
Now.
Smokey Robinson, who was also under criminal investigation now in Los Angeles over the accusations of sexual assault of sexual assault, has denied all these allegations from the jump. Even when I reported this on the Breakfast Club, they made it very clear that he had denied these allegations and that they felt and believed and alleged that this was just a shakedown for money. Now, Smokey Robinson's attorney says that, like I said, the allegations were a money thing.
Now.
Smokey Robinson's attorneys also filed a motion to dismiss the woman's lawsuit or the original lawsuit against him, arguing that they should have not been granted the ability to remain anonymous. And that's been a conversation around a lot of these recent sexual assault, sexual harassment, and these various lawsuits.
When it comes to these big.
Names, is knowing that you know these big names are involved and knowing that it will pick up in headlines, and whether this person is found guilty or not, whether the charges are dismissed or not. These people who are names face very serious consequences in the midst of all of that because of public perception, because of brands wanting
to back away even before these things are settled. And when I say settled, I don't mean like a settlement paid out, but I mean like whether a judge rules guilty or not, and sometimes even if there are settlements behind the scenes or not, because brands don't like mess So there's been a big conversation around like should that be allowed, because you know, on one end, you have these names who they're facing the consequences in real time.
But then you have the accusers who are granted this level of protection because they're able to remain anonymous and file as Jane Doe's or John Doe's and things of that nature. Now, the lawsuit that Smokey Robinson file says that the Robinson's did not abuse, harm or take advantage of the plaintiffs. They treated the plaintiffs with the utmost kindness and generosity. Now to give you guys some background
information on the original laws who that was filed. The women filed this lawsuit in La Superior Court earlier in May of this year under the pseudonyms of Jane Doe, Jane Doe one, Jane DO two, Jane O three, and Jane Do four. It was a twenty seven page legal action and they alleged several different incidents that they say dated back all the way to two thousand and six, which accused Smokey Robinson of pressuring them into sex.
All four women, who are Hispanic.
Say that they had not come forward until now because they feared losing their livelihoods. You know, they didn't want any retaliation against their family, and they were afraid that they would be embarrassed. Now some were embarrassed, there was not embarrassed. Some of these women also said that they were afraid that if they came up with the allegations, their immigration said this could be affected because this is their place of employment. Now, the women themselves are seeking
fifty million dollars in damages and they want a jury child. Now, the La County Sheriff's Department opened an investigation, a criminal investigation into this after this lawsuit was filed, which Smokey Robinson said at the time that he welcomed because he's like, YO, the more exposure to this, the more exposure to the truth that's powerful.
So bring it. Let's do it.
And if you guys remember when this happened with jay Z, when there was that woman who accused jay Z and Diddy of sexually abusing her after the bna's some years ago, back in the early two thousands, jay Z said the same thing. He said, let's not even talk civil bring a criminal case. Let's really look on the inside of this because the more exposure the better.
Because jay Z.
Then was standing on, hey, I didn't do this, and y'all not about to play with me like I did. Smokey Robinson has taking the same stance now, mister Robinson, Smokey Robinson, I don't even have to I shouldn't have to remind you guys, but you know he was Motown's first hit maker. He wrote, you know, number one records like Mary Well's My Guy and the Temptations, My Girl and Powerhouse in all of this, So of course he's fighting back to preserve his legacy, to preserve his career.
You know, he has family and his wife that was also named in the woman's original lawsuit that.
He's also trying to protect.
And you know, accusers have the right to say what they believe happened to them and you know, try and bring you know, what they believe should be proper action or consequence if you know they did go through these things. But he's Smokey Robinson is fighting back, and I think that it's fair that both sides are able to speak
on their own, behalfs defend themselves. Question for you guys, though, do you think it's fair in these circumstances or not even you know, just with big names like a Smokey Robinson or a Jay Z who also said that same conversation of like, Yo, this whole Jane Doe thing is unfair because I'm facing consequences of real time. So should this person not consequences, but the same public scrutiny I'm having to endure. It should be a fair even ground of like, if we're gonna do this, we're gonna do it.
Do you guys think it's fair that Jane Doe John Doe can be a thing in these type of lawsuits. And I do understand, and I've said this on air even when we cover these things on a breakfast club that a lot of times, you know, if you are a victim of sexual abuse or harassment and these different things, the retaliation from you know, fans of these big, major names and you know, things that the celebrities themselves might not send your way, but just because of the fandom
around them, it might be triggering for victims. It might be too much for victims who are not these names, they are regular people to handle. So I know that the ability to do the pseudonyms leans into that.
But we've seen a lot of these cases be dropped.
A lot of these cases kind of tumble and come out to be faulty and not thoroughly investigated before the claims are brought. So it's creating a new conversation. I would love to have it with you guys, So please pase tag me on social and let me know what you think. Jane Doe, John Doe? Is that still a thing? Should that still be a thing, especially in these very high volume, highly platformed cases when you're talking about it man, like a smokey Robinson. So tweet me let's have the conversation.
I'm Laura l Rosa. This is the latest with Laura la Rosa. And at the end of the day, man, there's always so much to talk about. I tell you guys this every episode on Low Riders. Every single time you guys are here and talking about it with me, I appreciate you.
I'll see you guys in my next episode.