On Braxton Family Values, the WE reality show starring R&B singer Toni and her four opinionated sisters, it can be hard to get a word in edgewise, what with all the discussion of concerts, legal issues, and husband drama — unless you are Tamar Braxton. Tamar, the baby of the bunch, sings backup for Toni and hopes to launch a solo singing career of her own, but it’s her signature web-inflected slang — “stop playing dot com” and “hot mess dot org,” for example — plus her unusual taste in baby names that have made her the show’s breakout star. Vulture caught up with Tamar to discuss the show, which has just been picked up for a second season, her URL maxims, and Monroe and Moroccan Scott Cannon.
Toni said it was your idea to do the show. Is that true?
Yeah, we were sitting at the table at Thanksgiving one year, and I said, “Oh my God, this definitely has to be on TV. There has to be a million other families just like ours.” Everybody was looking at me like “you’re ca-razy right now,” and I explained to them, “You guys, we’re five women, with five different personalities, and I just think people can learn something from our experiences.”
And no one took any convincing?
At first, I got the side-eye.
So obviously, we have to ask you about the dot com stuff, because everyone here is obsessed with it. Where did you pick it up originally?
It’s something I just started saying a long time ago. Way before the show. And I was like, “You’re working on my nerves dot com!” And it was just because I couldn’t express how much. It’s like over and beyond.
Do you have any specific dot coms that you use a lot?
Yeah, like “stop playing dot org.” When I say “dot org,” that means it’s like the epitome of “I can’t even go there.”
So is .org more serious than .com?
Yes. Dot org is a step above dot com.
Are there any other levels?
You know what, I started saying dot now! Like “stop playing with me for real dot now.” Like, for real for real.
Have you seen that WE actually owns I’mSoOverThis.org?” and if you go to it, it’s a picture of you?
No, I didn’t know that.
Well, that’s true, because we were looking through all your different dot orgs and dot coms to see what’s available. That one’s taken, but GetItTogether.com and HotMess.org are both still available.
Really.
Yeah, would you ever consider buying those?
[Kelly, Tamar’s PR cuts in.] You’re cutting into our business! [Laughs.]
No, we’re just suggesting, if you set up hotmess.org, we will come visit.
Now that you said that, I probably would. Probably right now Kelly’s on the computer buying it, as we speak.
We also enjoyed your Disney baby idea. Do you have any other awesome baby names?
No, I don’t. You know, the baby thing and me, that’s a work in progress right now.
Did you happen to see what Mariah Carey named her babies?
No! What did she name them?
They’re twins, and it’s Monroe and Moroccan, which is after a room in her house.
[Silence.]
You went quiet, any reaction to that?
I mean, my mouth is dropped. Like, whaaat?
What would you have suggested?
I don’t know. Monroe and Moroccan, eh. Not at this point. Maybe she named her daughter Monroe after Marilyn, because I know she loves her. And, oh my God, really, that’s what she named them?
So that’s a no, for you.
I’m not feeling that. But those are her kids, and maybe it’s the initial shock, because I felt like I could potentially be her baby’s godmother, ‘cause I love her so much.
But you don’t want to be godmother to a Monroe or a Moroccan?
Ehhh … no. [Laughs.] I’m just in shock.
So let us ask about your solo career — are you releasing an album? Are you recording?
I’m actually always recording, to be honest, but nothing that my husband [music producer Vince Herbert] likes yet.
And is he working with you? Has that been resolved at all?
Well, you know, it’s touch and go. One day we’re here, the next day we’re not.
Have you thought about writing a song about dot com or dot org? Or naming an album?
[Laughs.] No.
It seems like a real opportunity here.
I mean, I don’t know if I would write a song about it. But who knows. It’s just so funny, because I never really thought about the dot com or dot org thing. Can you just imagine, this is something that you just said, all the time. It’s just so new to me, and I can’t believe people are really loving it.
