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Saturday, November 16, 2013

The Billy Charles Journey Continues...


It's been a while since I sat in front of my computer and shared my thoughts with you all. I have been in kind of a rut for the last few months. What has changed for me you may ask? Leading up to my fortieth birthday I was going  through a lot personally ( too young for a mid life crisis? ) including my mother having a stroke ( happy to report she is on the road to recovery thankfully ) . I was also recording a song that I wrote and getting prepared to release it on my birthday ....prior to that,  and during this time ,  I was already feeling a change or a shift in my interests anyway in my  life regarding career overall.
I began to contemplate what is it that will fulfill me and bring me joy? Am I satisfied with what I am doing?
Is talking about  The Real Housewives  weekly and interviewing  Reality Stars really helping anyone?
 Everyone goes through ups and downs ....when you are a creative person you always feel a void if you are not creating and you have to stay busy.
I think I fell more off track after releasing and promoting my song which took up most of my free time and with holding a full time job my website and other things I was doing got pushed to the way side ( interviews etc)  Although in retrospect that may have been intentional.
 It has been a little over a year and I have accomplished a lot in a short period of time that I am proud of and have met many amazing  ( and not so amazing ) people that I otherwise wouldn't have. I am not sure where I am headed in the future and I am still struggling with what it is that I want to do. Using my voice for positive change is one area that really interests me and where my heart lies. How this will manifest remains to be seen as it still is not clear to me. I feel the need to be introspective and do some  soul searching... I will only be active on the blog when I am really moved to share content and will not be posting content just to satisfy a quota or to  " stay relevant " . I hope you will stay with me on my journey as I have enjoyed getting to know many of you and I always love connecting with people and exchanging ideas and opinions. This is all I have been inspired to write at this point and I will reveal my thoughts as they reveal themselves to me. Wishing you all the best Xx Billy Charles @BillyCharlesNY

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Understated IS Overrated...Meet Mercedes Javid from Bravo TV's Shahs of Sunset!

Mercedes Javid on the prowl to a television near you soon...

Mercedes Javid taking center stage in The Shahs of Sunset Season 3 promo Video

Recently I had the opportunity to speak with the beautiful Mercedes Javid from Bravo TV's The Shahs of Sunset. This opportunity couldn't have came at a more  perfect time because season three of Shahs will be airing soon ( This week on  Tuesday November fifth )  and I will be recapping each episode live weekly on The Gina Show  with host Gina Cutillo Wednesdays 11 am EST on Reality Reel. I have been following Shahs Of Sunset and the cast since the first season and have been talking with Mercedes ( or as her friends call her MJ ) on and off for awhile now. She participated in my fundraiser to raise money and awareness  for Hurricane Sandy victims last year. It just so happened that we both had the time to finally sit and talk and get to know each other.  I was honored for her to share insights into her life with me and she even gave me some much needed advice regarding mine. Mercedes has always been known as the party girl of the group however I learned there is so much more to her than that. She shared with me the things that she has been through which have shaped her, how she feels about being on a reality television show and what motivates her to do what she does as far as being an astute business woman in the real estate world.


 She also put many rumors to rest regarding The Shahs of Sunset and gave me a glimpse behind the scenes. For instance I brought up the introduction of new cast member Lily Galichi last season and the way viewers perceived her behavior towards Lily  to be what they thought of as " jealous". Mercedes didn't waste any time setting the record straight and letting me know that wasn't the case. Mercedes and cast member Reza Farahan had been friends for many years and really know one and other having a " sister/brotherly" relationship as she put it to me. When Lily stepped on to the scene none of the cast knew her and the fast friendship between Reza and Lily put Mercedes on alert...a natural instinct when one feels protective of a friend and doesn't quite know a strangers actual intentions. A wall went up so to speak because due to the arena that they are in you never know who you can trust or not and Mercedes tells me she would rather have a couple of really good friends than a ton of acquaintances. She did say that next time around she would give it a better go in the same situation but also let me know that we as viewers only see a small part of what is filmed and that scene at the dinner didn't show most of things that caused her to react the way that she did.
 Mercedes is a Leo and like her sign she told me she is fiercely loyal when it comes to friendships that she holds in high regards.She also put to rest that she has any feelings towards Reza other than  friend and that she views him as a brother assuring me she  knows he is gay and as fabulous as he is she doesn't want to marry him. She did say she is a supporter of marriage equality and hopes to see her friend have the wedding of his dreams someday if that would make him happy. This was all done in a light hearted spirit and what you see on the show is what I received in our conversation. She spoke of Reza in the highest regards acknowledging their recent ( last season ) shaky past.

Mercedes and Reza how we like to see them together...smiling

Mercedes has closed the George Khouri chapter for good.

I also asked her about George Khouri   " The Persian Drake" who she was notoriously dating last season  and their status. She was happy to say that they are no longer together ( you do the math ) and although she wishes him the best they have not remained in contact.

Mercedes and her mother Vida last season
The Fab Dr Michelle Golland

 I also brought up Dr Michelle Golland and wondered where her relationship with her mother Vida was at now. From what I gathered we may not be seeing Dr Michelle return this season but we both agreed that we thought she should have her own show and Mercedes told me she still talks with her when she needs to ...almost like a life coach. She also told me that her relationship with her Mom is a work in progress and that are on the road to a better understanding of each other. Like every relationship these things do not happen overnight and Mercedes is well aware what issues she comes with and what part her feelings towards  her Mom affect their dynamic. I also asked her where she stood with particular cast members and if we will be seeing Sammy Younai return for season three and although she can't tell me for sure with editing being what it is she hopes so. She was happy to say that at this point in time Reza and her relationship is coming full circle after both being in places of change and self discovery.

Who is friends this season and who isn't ? Tune in! 


Mercedes Javid and " Persian Pop Priestess" Asa Soltan

Mercedes Javid and Golnessa Gharachedaghi

 I was surprised to learn of new friendships that were formed and some that have dissolved but I will not go into details the season has to play out and there are contractual obligations. I brought up the new trailor for the show and the trip and she was a part of that but I can not  go into detail here either other than to say that for her and many of the cast of Shahs of Sunset it was  " life changing". We  talked about her business and being a top realtor and  what motivates her to be successful. She is a hard worker and is driven to be self reliable and independent which allows a freedom you can not get when you depend on another. I admire her work smarter not harder approach to life and job.We also discussed her fur babies Pablo and Julio and the similarities we share in certain aspects. She was also kind enough to give me some encouraging words regarding issues that I had been having. Overall I left the conversation feeling that I had a friend and that's what is endearing about MJ she draws you in and doesn't tell you what you want to hear rather the way it is ...in my opinion  that's a class act! Be sure to tune in to the new season of The Shahs of Sunset on Bravo TV weekly starting November 5th and follow Mercedes (  and the cast ) on Twitter !


FOLLOW MERCEDES JAVID @MercedesJavid


Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Check Out My Latest Interview In The Wave Entertainment Magazine!



You can check out my latest interview that I did for The Wave Entertainment Magazine here! I want to sincerely thank Editor Sean LeBreeze for giving me the opportunity to be heard Xx Billy Charles

Follow The Wave Entertainment Magazine on Twitter @TheWaveX


         The Wave Entertainment Magazine





Monday, September 30, 2013

Billy Charles Fame Whore on CDBABY!


Please download my new dance song Fame Whore produced by Waails www.cdbaby.com/BillyCharles

Follow me on Twitter for all the latest @BillyCharlesNY

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Courtesy of : http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com

Barilla Pasta Chairman: ‘I Would Not Do A Commercial With A Homosexual Family’

by DAVID BADASH on SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
Post image for Barilla Pasta Chairman: ‘I Would Not Do A Commercial With A Homosexual Family’
Guido Barilla has some explaining to do. The chairman of the $5.25 billion worldwide Italian food monolith says he would never show a gay family in his advertising — and if gay people don’t like it the can go eat someone else’s pasta. In an interview yesterday with an alian radio talk show, Barilla made clear he considers the “traditional family” and women “sacral.” “I would never do a commercial with a homosexual family,” Barilla said, according to a Google translation. “We will not be advertising with homosexuals, because we like the traditional family. If the gays do not agree, they can always eat pasta from another manufacturer. Everyone is free to do whatever they want provided it does not annoy others.”

“We have a slightly different culture,” Barilla said, via a Huffington Post translation of the interview. “For us, the ‘sacral family’ remains one of the company’s core values. Our family is a traditional family. If gays like our pasta and our advertisings, they will eat our pasta; if they don’t like that, they will eat someone else’s pasta. You can’t always please everyone not to displease anyone.“The women are crucial in this,” Barilla added.“I respect same-sex marriage because that concerns people who want to contract marriage, but I absolutely don’t respect adoptions in gay families, because that concerns a person who is not the people who decide,” Barilla also said.Of course, after a great deal of criticism and calls for a boycott , Barilla tried to apologize.“With reference to statements made yesterday,” a Buzzfeed translation notes, “I apologize if my words have generated controversy or misunderstanding, or if they have hurt the sensibilities of some people. In the interview I simply wanted to highlight the central role of the woman in the family.”
Apparently, in Italy, gay people don’t have families and women are never lesbian.

Disclaimer:
Above text  was written by David Badash    http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com and in no way am I using his story as an endorsement to boycott Barilla Products . The view expressed below is strictly my own . I am using David's article only  to inform my readers of the situation that prompted my reaction to Barilla.

In my opinion it  is ridiculous that in this day and age companies like BARILLA  are taking us backwards as a culture and as a human race. I am 100% Italian , gay and I am ashamed that I have wasted my hard earned money on a company's products that does not see everyone as equals. If you agree that all families are equal regardless of race, sexuality etc please voice your opinion and BOYCOTT BARILLA! Xx Billy Charles 

Barilla can be found on Twitter @BarillaUS  Tweet them and please use hastag #BoycottBarilla