Dr. Boyce Watkins is on CNN with Don Lemon wondering if Tiger Woods will be "OJ Simpsonized" by the recent events in his personal life.
Monday, December 14, 2009
TILA TEQUILA SAID RIHANNA HAS HERPES
Rihanna HERPES Diss Tila Tequila – We are not certain that Rihanna will be spending Christmas with Tila Tequila.Tila Tequila took to her blog to blast Rihanna and to claim she has herpes after the singer called the reality star out on a radio interview for making nasty comments about her.Tila Tequila said:
My sources are very legit, and they work in Rihanna’s legal camp, and that is how I know! SO RIHANNA HAS HERPES, STD’S & WAS SCARED TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT IT CUZ SHE DIDN’T WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW THAT SHE HAS HERPES AND INFECTED SOMEONE ELSE WITH IT! BAD RIHANNA!
In real life you are a major bitch who could give 2 shits about your fans and all the people who have been supporting you! Including myself!
Rihanna has STD’s and Herpes everyone! & that is the truth from my legit source that has told me. YIKES! So boys, be careful when u wanna tap that ass, cuz that ass will give your dick Herpes if you dont put 3 condoms over it!
OJ DID NOT GET BEAT UP IN JAIL
Officials at Nevada's Lovelock Correctional Center are denying reports that its star inmate, O.J. Simpson, was the victim of an old-fashioned jailhouse beatdown.
PLEASURE P SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT
Pleasure P Child Molestation News Statement – Pleasure P has just put out statement to deny the allegations that surfaced recently claiming that he molested two toddlers.The former Pretty Ricky singer said:
“All of the recent rumors and accusations that are being circulated about me are 100% false. They are disgusting and vile; and they are being spread by individuals with their own sick agendas. The purported documents that are also being circulated are forgeries. I have never met or known anyone by the name of “AGoldstein” or Laura Goldstein or Ashley Goldstein, which I believe are fictitious names. I have never been represented by an attorney named Goldstein.
For someone to go to such depths to assassinate my character and slander my good name is truly criminal. My attorneys are investigating this matter and will take all necessary and appropriate action to protect my name and reputation.”
DENZEL WILL BE TO OLD TO PLAY OBAMA
Denzel Washington Too Old To Play Obama – Denzel Washington has revealed that he will be too old to play Barack Obama in a movie,when they the do make the biopic in the future.The Oscar-winner said:
“When Obama’s story is ready to be told, I’ll be too old to do it.”
The 54-year-old explained that he doubts that Obama will have time to help the young actor that will land the role.Washington added:
“He has too much to do to have me asking for tips on how to play him.”
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Black News off TheGrio – 12/13/09
Blind children find the perfect Christmas tree
By theGrio
8:39 AM on 12/13/2009
VIDEO - In Zachary, Louisiana, the students from the Louisiana School for the Blind searched for just the right tree...
Free bodyguards provided for abused women
By theGrio
7:16 AM on 12/12/2009
VIDEO - Imagine having your own personal bodyguard outside your home all day and all night at no cost. That's what an Albuquerque non-profit group is providing, specifically for abused women...
Pregnant woman ignored in waiting room; baby dies at home
By theGrio
7:05 AM on 12/12/2009
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Clark County says University Medical Center has suspended six employees while it investigates claims that a woman was ignored for so long in an emergency room that she went home and gave birth to a premature baby who later died...
Black skateboarding surges in the sport's next generation
By theGrio
7:00 AM on 12/12/2009
VIDEO - African Americans are participating in skateboarding on both a recreational and a professional level.
Restraining order filed against Ravens' linebacker
By theGrio
7:00 PM on 12/11/2009
BALTIMORE (AP) - A woman has filed a $70 million lawsuit against Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, claiming he is father of her two children and assaulted her multiple times.
Investigation of murdered stripper continues after six years
By theGrio
5:34 PM on 12/11/2009
DETROIT (AP) - Detroit The attractive, 27-year-old mother of three was shot several times in the pre-dawn hours of April 30, 2003, while sitting in a parked car.
Caught on tape: Double car crash
By theGrio
4:24 PM on 12/11/2009
VIDEO - A news camera was rolling when a speeding car plowed into a wreck already blocking part of a busy Los Angeles freeway early this morning...
3-year-old girl fatally shoots herself
By theGrio
11:27 AM on 12/11/2009
VIDEO - One day after a 3-year-old Alexia Bostick accidentally shot herself with a gun police said is registered to her grandmother, the Detroit police chief is calling the case tragic.
NBA star's wife uses baby to exercise
By theGrio
11:19 AM on 12/11/2009
VIDEO - Jamison knows a little something about shedding baby weight. The wife of the Washington Wizards superstar gave birth to her third child, Rucker King...
Promotion day arrives for white Conn. firefighters
By theGrio
10:03 AM on 12/11/2009
10 firefighters, including four minorities, who took the 2003 tests but were not plaintiffs in the court case were promoted along with an inspector.
KEYSHIA IS HAVING A BABY
*Singer-turned-reality TV star Keyshia Cole and her boyfriend, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Daniel "Boobie" Gibson are reportedly expecting.
DAVE CHAPPELLE GETTING THOSE LAUGHS
An audience at the famous New York venue Carolines on Broadway got a surprise recently when comedian Dave Chappelle popped in to see his former "Chappelle's Show" castmate Charlie Murphy perform.
After a five-minute standing ovation, Chappelle ended up doing a 30-minute stand-up set, according to the New York Post.
LITTLE RICHARD IS DOING BETTER AFTER HIP SURGERY
Regis Philbin wasn't the only celebrity in his 70s to have hip surgery this week.
Little Richard, 77, has also come through a successful hip replacement and is currently back at his home near Nashville hoping to recover quickly, reports the Associated Press.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
RIHANNA & 50 CENT WORKING TOGETHER
Vevo, the ad-supported music video streaming service that the major music labels hope will rival MTV's cultural influence, launched on Tuesday night in New York City with stars like 50 Cent, Rihanna and Ciara on hand.
NO GATORADE FOR TIGER
Gatorade has announced its decision to end its Tiger Woods drink but says the decision was made before the golfer's car accident led to a media firestorm surrounding his personal life.
MORGAN FREEMAN INVICTUS INTERVIEW
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Kam Williams: Mr. Freeman, thanks so much for the time. I’m honored to be speaking with you.
Morgan Freeman: Well, thank you.
KW: First, let me say congratulations on winning the National Board of Review’s Best Actor Award for Invictus.
MF: Thank you very much.
KW: Was making this movie a labor of love? I heard that it was something that you’d wanted to do for a long time.
MF: Well, it wasn’t necessarily this project, but I felt destined to do something about Mandela. I don’t know whether you know that in 1992, when he published his autobiography, he was asked who he would want to play him, if the book ever became a movie. And he named me. So, I was sort of the chosen one, as it were. Therefore, I expected that eventually I would play him, but we always thought it would be in a movie version of “Long Walk to Freedom.” It didn’t turn out that way, however.
KW: But you obviously also liked Invictus.
MF: My partner and I thought that this story was ideal. This one, we felt was perfect to go with.
KW: Are you referring to your partner in Madidi restaurants and Ground Zero blues club?
MF: No, to my producing partner, Lori McCreary.
SLY STONE SIGNED A RECORD DEAL
R&B/funk legend Sly Stone has signed with Los Angeles-based Cleopatra Records, reports Billboard.com.
The former Sly & the Family Stone frontman is said to be working on an album for release in early summer 2010, featuring new original material and re-recorded versions of his greatest hits.
BRYANT GUMBEL LYING ABOUT LUNG CANCER?
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*News of Bryant Gumbel’s battle with lung cancer may have been premature, according to a friend of the television personality who says Gumbel donesn't have the condition.
TIGER GOES NUDE
Playgirl claims to have obtained nude photos of Tiger Woods from a source eager to sell, and will publish them once it's confirmed that the pictures are real.
"We were approached by a third party who wanted to know our interest level," Playgirl spokesman Daniel Nardicio claims in several published reports. "Our lawyers are currently going over them, the source, the entire package."
read more click here
Friday, December 11, 2009
Dr. Deborah Stroman: Does Tiger’s Behavior Represent all Black Male Athletes?
Tiger Woods has a problem and now so do I. I was naïve to think that I could survive this holiday season of Tigervision with its seemingly minute-by-minute reports of his self-described transgressions. Every media outlet needs a story to remain viable in this world of at-your-touch news and Tiger’s naughtiness provides the perfect scoop. This tale probably has no beginning and quite possibly no end. However, my nerves became frayed and I saw the immediate end of my sideline observer role when I changed the channel and popped in on the Joy Behar Show. As they discussed the latest Tiger escapade, Ms. Behar cleverly asked for insight on how the African-American community might possibly feel about his sins. Her query was directed to a female African-American guest, Karith Foster, who calmly stated that Tiger was finally acting like a black athlete. Pump your brakes!
Although Ms. Foster’s listed occupation is comedian, she made her bold statement sans smile or giggle. She was very serious and obviously hurt by his choice of women in this scandal. She went on to describe how the black athlete needs a white woman – a trophy wife – to be successful. Ms. Foster’s understanding of the black male athlete is a stereotype and confusion-filled. Shame on her and the media for supporting the racist mindset that promulgates a representation of the black male athlete as a superhuman man that seeks sexual pleasure from every white female that worships his athletic prowess. Surely we in 2009 know better, right? Yes, the ESPNification of our sports world has created larger than life entertainment figures. Money, power and women. That’s the ticket out of a poor situation – mentally and physically. It is no longer satisfactory to score a touchdown and hand the ball to the referee or dunk the basketball and hustle back to play defense. Instead we see many of our athletes (and more likely a black man) showboating, drawing attention to themselves, and discounting the teamwork necessary to achieve such success. We as fans are drawn to the television waiting to see the clownish antics instead of running to the restroom or going back for more chips.
Congressional Black Caucus Boycott Yields Results
Call it the $6 billion boycott.
By boycotting a key House committee vote last week and threatening to abandon support for banking regulations, members of the Congressional Black Caucus got $4 billion added to a Wall Street regulation bill and $2 billion to a proposed House jobs bill in spending they sought for African American communities.
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., this week inserted $3 billion to the legislation to provide low-interest loans to unemployed homeowners in danger of foreclosure. He added $1 billion for neighborhood revitalization programs.
The money would come out of the $700 billion financial rescue fund.
"For those of us who walked out, it was absolutely essential that we have parts of that legislation directed toward helping people who have been left out of all of these bailouts," Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., one of 10 black caucus members in the Financial Services Committee, said.
RIHANNA IS MAD AT HER DAD
Rihanna says she is disappointment in her estranged father for granting interviews with various media outlets regarding her February fight with then-boyfriend Chris Brown and suggesting he was close with the R&B star.
DIDDY SOLD OUT COLOGNE IN 15 MINUTES
Sean “Diddy” Combs made a killing with his Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 appearances on the Home Shopping Network to hawk several items from his Sean John fragrance line.
The channel has announced that Puff's entire scent collection sold out in the 15 minutes following his appearance, setting a new sales record.
MARIAH RECIEVES ANOTHER AWARD FOR PRECIOUS
For her role in the critically-acclaimed film "Precious," Mariah Carey will receive a Best Supporting Actress award at the 14th annual Capri-Hollywood Film Festival" in Italy, reports Variety.
The movie, directed by Lee Daniels, will also have its Italian premiere at the fest, which runs Dec. 27- Jan. 2 with its awards presented on Dec. 28.
ALI IS STILL THE GREATEST
*Boxing legend Muhammad Ali showed up in person for the opening of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, a newly expanded complex in Phoenix, Arizona that provides treatment for Parkinson's disease.
According to AFP, officials said the facility is now the most comprehensive in the nation for the treatment of the illness that causes tremors, slowed movement and disrupted speech.
MORGAN FREEMAN STARS IN INVICTUS
Morgan Freeman will visit South Africa to attend the local premiere of his latest film "Invictus," which stars the Oscar winner as former South African president Nelson Mandela.
As part of the trip, Freeman will also support various charity initiatives around the film’s Dec. 11 release.
HAMMER IS BACK
*Rapper-turned-reality TV star MC Hammer is now an equity partner in Cash4Gold, the company that first hired him to pitch the product in TV commercials that poked fun at his headline-making financial freefall.
The Cash4Gold Web site, launched in 2007 by company CEO Jeff Aronson, specializes in purchasing precious metals – mostly gold. Since its inception, the site has grown to serve over 800,000 customers, in addition to employing over 300 workers, who sift through thousands of ounces of gold per day.
DISNEY’s FIRST BLACK PRINCESS
Ironically, the inspiration for "The Princess and the Frog," Disney's first feature starring an African American princess, came from two Caucasian men: current Pixar-Disney chief John Lasseter and the late Walt Disney himself.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
TERRELL OWENS SIGNS A MODELING CONTRACT
Buffalo Bills receiver Terrell Owens is looking to get his GQ on after signing a deal this week with top modeling agency Wilhelmina.
"Well, I'm always putting my hands in and feeding into something," Owens said after practice Wednesday, noting Wilhelmina approached him with the offer. "When you've got some good looks like myself, you've got to take full advantage of it."
NAS SAY NO DUI FOR HIM
A lawyer for rapper Nas is denying recent reports that he was charged with DUI near his Atlanta home after cops accused him of being high on marijuana during a Sept. 10 traffic stop.
“Nas has not been charged with any offense whatsoever, including DUI,” said John C. Mayoue, who represents the New York native. “The state’s own lab results were negative for any drugs, including marijuana.”
KATT WILLIAMS EXPLINS HIS WAL-MART DRAMA
*Katt Williams now has his suspicions about law enforcement in Georgia following his latest run-in with authorities in a Walmart parking lot.
Initial reports suggested Williams and members of his entourage were involved in an incident with another crew outside the discount store in Newnan, Georgia, during which a shotgun was pulled.
KEKE PALMER KNOWS HOW TO MARKET HERSELF
*Keke Palmer, the 16-year-old star of Nickelodeon's No. 2 show "True Jackson, VP," says a lot of thought has been put into the direction of her exploding career.
When the network offered her the series, which is second only to "iCarly," Palmer was already a respected film actress, having starred in the critically-acclaimed "Akeelah and the Bee" and Tyler Perry's "Madea's Family Reunion."
SHAQ AND SHAUNIE’S NEW REALITY SHOW
VH1 has announced it will tip off its upcoming reality series "Basketball Wives" on March 15.
Shaquille O'Neal's estranged wife Shaunie is an executive producer and will also be featured, along with Eric Williams' wife, Jennifer, and Mesha O'Neal, married to Jermaine O'Neal.
TAVIS WILL WORK ON PBS IN 2010
Tavis Smiley and PBS will expand their relationship next year with the January premiere of "The Tavis Smiley Report," a series of four hour-long primetime specials that will air throughout 2010.
JUSTIN WISHES HE HAD SUPPORTED JANET MORE
Justin Timberlake apparently has regrets over his treatment of Janet Jackson in the wake of their 2004 Super Bowl debacle.
At the end of the duo's half time performance, JT ripped open her jacket to reveal Jackson's naked breast. Jackson called it a "wardrobe malfunction" at the time. Nevertheless, the brief nipple flash was seen by an estimated 140 million viewers of the CBS event.
J.HUD HAS SOME SOUTH AFRICAN HATERS
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A union group in South Africa is protesting the casting of Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson as Winnie Mandela in an upcoming biography about the ex-wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela.
The Creative Workers Union of South Africa said using foreign actors to tell the country's stories undermined efforts to develop the national film industry, according to the AFP.
Rihanna New Tattoo Has a special Meaning
Miley Cyrus made waves by revealing some new ink last week, and now Rihanna is making sure she doesn't forget her personal motto. From now on, each time Rihanna looks in the mirror she'll be reminded that there's a lesson to be learned in every mistake.
Monday night, the singer showed up at her favorite NYC tattoo parlor, East Side Ink, and got "Never a failure, always a lesson" tattooed just below her right clavicle.
Rihanna told the tattoo artist to write the motto backward so she could read it in a mirror, and to do it in gray ink instead of black so it wouldn't draw too much attention.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
TYLER PERRY MOTHER DIES AT 64
ATLANTA - Movie producer Tyler Perry says his mother, Willie Maxine Perry, has died.
His mother was 64. Tyler Perry announced the news of the Tuesday death on his Web site, where he thanked fans for their prayers. He did not say where his mother died or anything about the cause.
Perry's publicist did not immediately respond to a phone call.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted a 2006 interview with Perry in which he said his mother was the basis for his most popular character, Madea.
BEYONCE THROWS HER HUBBY A PARTY
Beyonce went all out for her husband's birthday this year. The singer celebrated Jay-Z's 40th with a 20s-themed fete at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, reports the New York Daily News.
Among the 60-odd guests were Kanye West and girlfriend Amber Rose; Sean "Diddy" Combs and on/off again girlfriend Kim Porter; Alex Rodriguez and girlfriend Kate Hudson; Swizz Beatz and rumored girlfriend Alicia Keys; Warner Music chief Lyor Cohen and designer Tory Burch, plus DJ Cassidy, who spun for the party.
"Diddy gave a toast," says a source. "Jay-Z's friends also put together a video saying how much they love him."
RUSSELL SIMMONS HAS A NEW SHOW
Rev. Run won't be the only Simmons brother with his own reality series.
Oxygen has announced the development of "The Russell Simmons Project," which will follow the female assistants who "manage his business deals... family life, party planning and love life," the network stated.
BRYANT GUMBEL HAD CANCER
Bryant Gumbel revealed Tuesday that he has undergone surgery and treatment for lung cancer.
The 61-year-old host of HBO's "Real Sports" revealed his condition to a surprised Kelly Ripa while subbing for Regis Philbin Tuesday on "Live with Regis and Kelly." [Scroll down to watch clip.]
WHO IS DEBBIE ALLEN???
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Actress, choreographer and director Debbie Allen launched to fame in part due to her role as dance professor Lydia Grant in the film and the 1980s TV adaptation of “Fame.
BEBE IS INNOCENT
Reps for BeBe Winans said in a statement Tuesday that the gospel star "has been exonerated of all charges of allegations that he assaulted his ex-wife Debra Winans."
His publicists at W&W Public Relations, Inc. stated: "Judge Gloria Dumas of the General Sessions Court for Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County signed an order on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, dismissing all charges with prejudice. With this order, this domestic matter is over and cannot be reopened."
TIGER MOM IN-LAW IS OUT THE HOSPITAL
Tiger Woods' mother-in-law was released from the hospital Tuesday afternoon after being rushed to the emergency room in the middle of the night with stomach pains.
Barbro Holmberg, mother of Woods' wife Elin Nordegren, was taken by ambulance to Health Central Hospital after someone called 911 about 2:35 a.m., hospital spokesman Dan Yates told the AP. She was released at about 1:30 p.m. and returned to Woods' home, Yates said. He said he could not be more specific about her ailment because of privacy laws.
Black News: Tiger Woods Ads Disappear from TV
Tiger Woods is all over the TV, but his ads haven't been.
According to media tracker Nielsen, the last time a commercial featuring Tiger Woods appeared on television was Nov. 29. The 30-second Gillette ad aired during NBC's "Football Night in America," the pre-game show that broadcast prior to the Sunday night football game between the New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots.
The ad featured Woods, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, Spanish basketball phenom Ricky Rubio and an announcer who says, "Here's to confidence," and aired eight times during November, according to Aaron Lewis, a spokesman for Nielsen.
R.KELLY’S NEW BOOK
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It looks like R. (Robert Sylvester) Kelly is going to tell his story and he's doing it via SmileyBooks publishing.
According to a press release, in the memoir, Kelly, 42, writing with celebrity author David Ritz, will detail the agony of losing his mother, whom he adored.
Get Caught Cheating, Your Spouse Can Sue You
Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- The next time a married man or woman glances your way, you might think twice before acting on impulse and frolicking between satin sheets. The scorned spouse could sue you.
Yes, you read that right. You, the paramour, can get hit with a lawsuit that could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars.
They're known as "alienation of affection" suits, when an "outsider" interferes in amarriage. The suits are allowed in seven states: Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota and Utah.
The law allowing such legal action dates back to antiquated times when a wife was considered the property of a husband. A broken-hearted hubby could go after his wife's lover -- not with a gun, but with the law.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Dr. Julianne Malveaux Speaks on the CBC vs. Obama
Last week members of the Congressional Black Caucus took President Obama to task for his inattention to the high rate of black unemployment - a rate much higher than the overall rate. By Friday, some progress on the unemployment front had been reported - the rate was down to 10 percent in November, from the October high of 10.2 percent. African American unemployment, though, was at the astounding level of 15.6 percent. Why don't the high levels of African American unemployment deserve special attention?
President Obama says he is working for our entire nation, and that when unemployment rates drop, they will drop for everyone. Perhaps that is what he has to say. But even Ray Charles can see the disproportionate unemployment burden that the African American community is carrying. Targeted public policy is the only way to close the unemployment rate gap.
Our nation has a history of targeting public policy. When it appeared that banks were especially imperiled, we bailed banks, but not other industries out. Indeed, there was much debate about why bankers should get $700 billion when others also faced challenges. The faulty logic that applied was that banks had special challenges at the beginning of the recession, and that the money spent bailing out banks would have ripple effects throughout our economy. Next, there were special provisions made for the housing industry, with bailouts and concessions made to those who had mortgages they could not pay. Again, the logic was that these citizens have special roles in our society and economy. Renters were left out of these special financial provisions. We targeted homeowners.
Why, then, is it such an anathema to target African Americans? Believe me, if it were Wall Street brokers with an unemployment rate of 15.6 percent, one and a half times the overall rate, there would be some special program developed for those brokers! Someone would take to the floor of Congress to speak of the special plight of those brokers and to wax eloquent about why they deserve a break. The logic that when the overall rate drops, the broker rate will also drop, would be scoffed at! Can't you envision the special pleading that would go to save the brokers?
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
RUNNER MARION JONES GOING TO THE WNBA
Booted from track-and-field for lying about performance enhancing drugs, former Olympic sprint champion Marion Jones is seeking to earn a living in another sport – professional women's basketball.
COMMON, RIHANNA, SNOOP ETC
Rapper Common and singer Sheryl Crow are scheduled to perform at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on Thursday near the National Mall. Singers Jordin Sparks, Ray LaMontagne and Celtic Woman, and jazz musicians Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman are also on the bill.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will help light the tree between the White House and the Washington Monument.
BARACK SAYS THE WAR IS NOT LOST
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President Barack Obama's national security team heads to Congress today to address concerns from skeptical lawmakers on expanding the war in Afghanistan by sending another 30,000 troops.
Rising combat deaths and military costs have sapped public support for the eight-year-old war and Obama's troop increase has prompted protests from left-leaning leaders of his Democratic Party ahead of next year's congressional elections.
Technorati Tags: Barack obama. black celebrity gossip,black gossip
TIGER SPONSORS SUPPORT HIM
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A new woman entered the Tiger Woods tabloid maelstrom Tuesday with claims that she had a 31-month fling with the golfer and has a voicemail and more than 300 text messages to prove it.
Jaimee Grubbs, according to Us Weekly, claims she met Tiger in Las Vegas in April, 2007, when she was a 21-year-old cocktail waitress. Grubbs said she began a long-running affair with the athlete -- who married Elin Nordegren in 2004.
AL SHARPTON DAUGHTER LOST HER COOL
Prosecutors have accused the daughter of Rev. Al Sharpton of cursing out a police officer and cutting him off in traffic because she was in a rush to get to a theater, reports the Associated Press.
50 WANTS VIVICA IN HIS NEW VIDEO
Rapper 50 Cent recently discussed his disastrous relationship with Vivica A. Fox six years ago, and the motivation behind their recent reconciliation, which apparently took place when it was time for the artist to film a video.
LIL WAYNE WELCOMES A BOY
Two months after Lil Wayne's son with actress Lauren London was born, another baby boy fathered by the rapper and another starlet has come into the world.
According to a tweet from Young Money president Mack Maine, R&B singer Nivea gave birth on Nov. 30 to a baby boy named Neal.
FANTASIA HAS A NEW REALITY SHOW
*Fantasia's anticipated VH1 reality show, "Fantasia for Real," will premiere on Jan. 11, 2010 at 10 p.m. and follow the "American Idol" champ as she juggles single motherhood with the recording of her third album.
The sole breadwinner for her large family, Fantasia struggles to balance career, family, and the demanding life of a performing artist. Her VH1 series delves into how she has dealt with the seismic aftershocks of fame, all while managing the daily demands of life on the road and writing and recording new music that will connect with her fans.
PRECIOUS NOMINATED FOR SPIRIT AWARDS
The urban drama "Precious" and the Leo Tolstoy period piece "The Last Station" have each collected a leading five nominations for the Spirit Awards that honor independent film.
The two acclaimed movies will compete in the best feature category with the romance "500 Days of Summer" and the immigrant dramas "Amreeka" and "Sin Nombre."
Monday, November 30, 2009
OBAMA PARTY CRASHERS LOOKING TO GET SOME CASH
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Why are we so not surprised. The couple who crashed President Barack Obama's first state dinner are peddling their story to broadcast networks for hundreds of thousands of dollars, a television executive says.
The executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the network does not publicly discuss bookings, told The Associated Press that representatives for Michaele and Tareq Salahi contacted networks to urge them to "get their bids in" for an interview.
IVERSON GOING TO PHILLY???
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*Former ESPN commentator Stephen A Smith, now with Fox Sports Radio is reporting that Allen Iverson may come out of his very recent retirement and play for the Philadelphia 76ers again.
He says numerous team sources confirmed on Friday that the 76ers' brass has already talked — and talks will only escalate this weekend — about bringing Iverson back to Philadelphia. Possibly as early as next week.
OBAMA PARTY CRASHERS LOOKING TO GET SOME MONEY
Why are we so not surprised. The couple who crashed President Barack Obama's first state dinner are peddling their story to broadcast networks for hundreds of thousands of dollars, a television executive says.
The executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the network does not publicly discuss bookings, told The Associated Press that representatives for Michaele and Tareq Salahi contacted networks to urge them to "get their bids in" for an interview.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Why are Black Couples Not Staying Married?
Are black men or black women the ones to blame in the decline in African American marriage?
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Black News: Police Still Can’t get to Tiger Woods
Florida troopers who sought to interview golf great Tiger Woods and his wife on Saturday about how his SUV struck a fire hydrant and a neighbor's tree were told by his agent to come back the following day.
Two Florida Highway Patrol vehicles had arrived at Woods' $2.4 million mansion outside Orlando, but the patrol later issued a statement that the interview was postponed to Sunday.
"The Florida Highway Patrol has received information that Tiger Woods and his wife were not available to be interviewed ... as we had previously scheduled," Kim Montes, a sergeant with the FHP's Orlando division, said in a statement.
"This announcement came from his (Woods') agent. Troopers were asked to return tomorrow (Sunday). This is still an ongoing crash investigation."
Woods, 33, the greatest golfer of his generation and one of the world's most recognizable figures, hit a fire hydrant and tree as he pulled his Cadillac Escalade out of the driveway of his house at around 2:25 a.m. EST on Friday, the FHP said. He was taken to the hospital with some injuries, and released.
Click to read.Friday, November 27, 2009
Tiger Woods in Serious Car Accident
Tiger Woods was seriously injured in a single-car accident early Thanksgiving morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Woods pulled out of his driveway at 2:25 am when the crash occured. His 2009 Cadillac SUV struck a fire hydrant and then a tree.
Woods was taken to the hospital, where he is in serious condition. Alcohol was not a factor, according to police.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Shaq Pays for Shaniya Davis’ Funeral
O'Neal plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers. A spokesperson for the team told the Fayetteville Observer Shaq paid for Sunday's service, which was held in Fayetteville and attended by thousands.
The funeral reportedly averaged about $4,500.
The service was held at the Manna Church. At one point, more than a hundred looked through the windows of the church door because they couldn't get in.
Bradley Lockhart, Shaniya's father, was not scheduled to speak but got up and encouraged the community to not get angry about the situation.
Shaniya disappeared from her home on November 10, and her body was found days later in a wooded area just south of Sanford.
Related Content
STORY: Antoinette Davis moved to state prison
STORY: Thousands gather at Shaniya Davis funeral
According to court documents, 29-year-old Mario McNeill killed the 5-year-old the same day she was reported missing.
Shaniya's mother, 25-year-old Antoinette Davis, is charged with human trafficking and child abuse involving prostitution.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
MORGAN FREEMAN HAS A NEW GIG
Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary's Revelations Entertainment has thrown its financial resources and technical expertise behind Digiboo, a new venture that allows consumers to rent films by plugging a small USB 3.0 flash drive into kiosks that will be set up at retail outlets.
The L.A.-based Digiboo launches a pilot program in January with Oregon-based Movie Gallery that will see 100 digital movie kiosks operate in Hollywood Video and Movie Gallery retail stores, according to Variety.
THE BLIND SIDE AND PRECIOUS ARE CONNECTED
The Hollywood Reporter's Steven Zeitchik posted a piece Thursday comparing the new Sandra Bullock movie "The Blind Side" with "Precious," calling the former a "red state" version of the latter.
Zeitchik begins: "It’s almost impossible to watch “The Blind Side,” a story of race and the power of education to overcome life’s brutalities, and not think of “Precious,” a story of race and the power of education to overcome life’s brutalities.
TYLER PERRY GIVES BACK
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Entertainment mogul Tyler Perry continues to give back to the community. The latest recipient of his largesse is the NAACP.
The country’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, announced Monday that Perry has donated one million dollars, marking the largest gift ever given by an individual entertainer.
CONRAD WANTS PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR HIM
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The doctor at the center of Michael Jackson's death investigation asked his church congregation to pray for him Sunday, the day before he returned to work at his Houston clinic.
At Houston's Antioch Baptist Church, Dr. Conrad Murray asked for "prayers for the journey he has ahead," according to RadarOnline.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
SEMENYA CAN KEEP HER MEDAL
South African track star Caster Semenya gets to keep her 800-meter gold medal from the world championships, and the results of her gender tests will be kept confidential, the South African sports ministry announced Thursday.
Monday, November 23, 2009
WINDING DOWN By Julianne Malveaux
The last five weeks of the year, the days beginning with Thanksgiving and moving through the New Year, are days when we all wind down. Some of us don't want to admit it, citing business as usual. But the fact is that from the first thanksgiving party to the last holiday gift exchange, we have collectively decided that the year is over and we can't do much about it.
This year is different from many others. One in six Americans does not have a job. One in four African Americans is unemployed. This means that our holiday parties must be muted by the challenge of acknowledging and supporting those who are impaired in our midst. It also means lifting up those who deserve the lift up, those who have done such phenomenal things this year that they need a shout out.
I will lift up my sister friend Susan Taylor for her National Mentoring Cares Movement ad for the phenomenal love she sows into African American people as we grow, develop, and learn to heal from our hurt. As she crosses the country, she infuses her gentle spirit into the many ways we can embrace our futures. She is a force that must be loved, respected and appreciated.
I will lift up Dr. Boyce Watkins for his embrace of Heather Ellis, the young sister from Missouri who faced 15 years in jail for cutting a line. Heather Ellis did what so many of us do - went to the store with a friend (cousin), took separate lines, and decided that whoever got up first would hook the other up. How did this turn into a racial farce of utter insanity? It would take the people in Kennett, Missouri to tell us. Here is what I know - Boyce Watkins spent time, effort, energy and money in rallying people around heather Ellis. I am grateful for his activism and lift him up for his work.
I will lift up Donna Richardson Joyner, who has both embraced Bennett College for women and black women around the globe in her positive and joyful commitment to healthy living. Thanks to Donna, we are doing work on growing a healthy garden and embracing healthy habits at Bennett, but more importantly, thanks to Donna, we all have a model of how to live and how to be.
I will lift up Blanche Williams and the National Black Women's Town Hall and the many ways that Blanche is into hooking sisters up. Blanche's mantra is "Embracing Greatness" and she is unselfish about that embrace. She is a blessing and a lesson, a joy and a leader. I am so very excited about their work.
There are so very many more that deserve the lift up. And, there are so many that must be acknowledged as they struggle through these times. I am especially concerned by those who are marginalized by the notion of these holiday celebrations, marginalized by the reality that they have not much to celebrate. What do we celebrate through the storm? Mostly we celebrate that we are still here. Still here? Still navigating, functioning, managing, holding it up. And we celebrate the fact that in the middle of the wind-down, we are indeed winding down.
I always find the end of the year poignant. We always have much to reflect on, much to celebrate. We lift up those who have assisted, accomplished, and moved us more aggressively to a better world. And, at the same time, we acknowledge those who have been tousled by our economy. We ask that all of us do the work we must do to provide analysis as we move forward. We wonder if we suffer from the paralysis of analysis.
At the end of the day, we know that the end-year act of winding down offer us an amazing possibility to lift up and respect our past and yet be challenged by our present. We know that there are those whose contribution has been stellar; we know we all want to do more. We inhale this moment called the end of the year, appreciating the opportunity to wind down, looking forward to the challenge of winding back up.
As long as there are racial economic gaps, there is cause to work, challenge, and focus. When the black unemployment rate is nearly twice the white rate, when black wealth is a tenth of white wealth, there is work to do. For many the end of the year should be nothing more than a momentary respite. There is, still, much work to do.
Go Home Sarah Palin
Dr. Wilmer J. Leon, Howard University
With the release of her new book Going Rogue: An American Life, former Alaskan Governor and Republican party VP nominee Sarah Palin is once again being given a spotlight she does not deserve. Under normal circumstances Palin would have drifted into obscurity by now; a political has-been who never was. Instead, a sub-par politician with no substantial constituency; no command of relevant issues, and no solutions to substantive problems, is being given air and face time as though she really matters. The simple reality that few are willing to articulate is, if she were not relatively attractive, of European ancestry and a woman, Sarah Palin would be day old bread.
Former Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) did not select Palin as his running mate because she was a “rogue”, innovator, or had demonstrated intellectual heft. McCain simply pandered to the Conservative Right, tried to siphon off some of the disgruntled Senator Clinton supporters, and gave America more of the same ole’ politics. From that point until now, Sarah Palin has continually tried to reinvent herself, but continues to give Americans more of the same; “all sizzle and no steak”.
Dr. Wilmer Leon: A Social Agenda for All Americans
Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III
Early on the campaign trail, presidential candidate Barack Obama said, "This country is ready for a transformative politics of the sort that John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Franklin Roosevelt represented." Socially, President Obama is beginning to move in such a positive transformative direction.
After 12 years of languishing in Congress, on Wednesday, October 28, President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard / James Byrd Hate Crimes Bill. By signing this bill, the president expands the federal definition of hate crimes to include those motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. It also allows federal authorities to pursue hate-crimes cases when local authorities are either unable or unwilling to do so. This law was named after Matthew Shepard, a gay man murdered in Wyoming in 1998, and James Byrd, the African-American man dragged to his death behind a pickup truck in Texas that same year.
PLIES MIGHT BE GOING TO PRSION
Five Gainesville residents are suing a Florida rapper, his record label and a local club after they were shot during a 2006 concert.
Billy Dee Williams, Michael Lamar Daymon, Edwin Devasco Faircloth, Steve Ruben Jean-Jacques and Dorian Shannel Johnson are suing rapper Plies, whose real name is Algernod Lanier Washington. They are also suing night club 238 West and Washington's record label, Slip-N-Slide Records Inc., for compensatory damages.
Washington is best known for his 2007 single "Shawty" featuring T-Pain.
MICHAEL’S GLOVE IS BEING AUCTIONED
The white glove worn by Michael Jackson as he moonwalked his way into pop culture history at the 1983 Motown 25 television special will go on the auction block Saturday in New York.
"There is no question it is the Holy Grail of Michael Jackson," said Darren Julien, president and CEO of Julien's Auctions, the company behind the sale at New York's Hard Rock Cafe.
JASON WILLIAMS TAKES THREE YEAR PLEA
TRENTON, N.J. — Retired NBA star Jayson Williams has agreed to a plea deal that would send him to prison for up to three years for accidentally shooting a driver at his New Jersey estate in 2002, a person with knowledge of the case told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Williams, who retired in 2000 after playing nine seasons in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, was to face a retrial in January on a reckless manslaughter count.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Dr. Boyce: KKK Rally at Ole Miss University
I was intrigued by recent reports that the Ku Klux Klan had a rally on the Ole Miss Campus recently. It might surprise you to know that I am essentially unconcerned by their presence on campus. Don't get me wrong, Klansmen are incredibly ignorant. Also, we cannot deny their historical reign of terror over people of color in America. But I can also give you a list of reasons that we should stop paying attention to the KKK.
1) They thrive off of attention: The KKK has very little power. They don't do very much anymore, and even in this rally, it appears that there were only a few members present. The truth is that the klan only has power because we give it attention. They are like a grease fire: The more water you put on it, the more it grows. But if you starve the fire of oxygen, it eventually dies out. The klan must be starved of attention, and then they will go away. They only remain relevant because we want them to be.
Another Hurdle Jumped for Healthcare Reform
WASHINGTON – A bruising debate on health care awaits the Senate after Thanksgiving now that the historic legislation has cleared a key hurdle over the opposition of Republicans eager to inflict a punishing defeat on President Barack Obama.
The bill would extend coverage to roughly 31 million who lack it, crack down on insurance company practices that deny or dilute benefits and curtail the growth of spending on medical care nationally.
In the final minutes of a daylong session, Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., accused Republicans of trying to stifle a historic debate the nation needed.
The Republican leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said the vote was anything but procedural — casting it as a referendum on the bill itself, which he said would raise taxes, cut Medicare and create a “massive and unsustainable debt.”
Click to read.AL SHARPTON LEADING A MARCH NOV 23. 2009
*Hip-Hop activist Erica Ford, CEO and founder of Life Camp Inc., has partnered with the Rev. Al Sharpton to lead "National Day of Outrage," a nationwide protest against violence on Nov. 23.
Sharpton will lead a rally in Atlanta while other gatherings are scheduled to take place in Houston; Cleveland; Philadelphia; Boston; Syracuse; Savannah; Eunice Louisiana; Greensboro, North Carolina and Los Angeles.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Heather Ellis Finally Speaks: Listen to her Side of the Story
Here is an interview that Heather Ellis did for AOL Black Voices - it appears that her side of the story is very different from the prosecution and she may have reason to sue the police department.
Friday, November 20, 2009
OPRAH GETS EMOTIONAL
CHICAGO – For more than two decades, Oprah Winfrey has been the inspirational, change-your-life champion who reigned over daytime television much like Johnny Carson once ruled late night.
Now she's ready to say goodbye, leaving a huge void for broadcast TV even as she raises the possibility of more Oprah than ever when she starts her own cable network.
Winfrey told viewers Friday that she will dim the lights on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" at the close of its 25th season in late 2011.
read more click hereThursday, November 19, 2009
Heather's Attorney is Ripping Witnesses Apart
It appears that Heather's attorney, Scott Rosenblum, actually knows what he's doing - the trial is getting interesting.
OPRAH’S SAYS GOODBYE TO ABC SEP.2011
Oprah Winfrey will announce on Friday that her popular daytime talk show, "The Oprah Winfrey Show," will end its run in 2011, Tim Bennett, the President of Harpo, announced in a letter released to ABC affiliates on Thursday.
"Tomorrow, Oprah will announce live on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' that she has decided to end what is arguably one of the most popular, influential and enduring programs in television history," he wrote in the letter, obtained by Access Hollywood. " The sun will set on the 'Oprah' show as its 25th season draws to a close on September 9, 2011."
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Dr. Boyce - The Heather Ellis Case: All About Racism
My mother raised me to believe that black men are supposed to stand up for black women. Heather Ellis is the woman who now faces 15-years in prison for an incident deriving from her being accused of cutting line at a Walmart. Based on my knowledge of the Heather Ellis case (and seeing the Walmart surveillance video that has not yet been released to the public), it seems difficult to argue in favor of a conviction.
I accompanied Dr. Christopher Metzler (Georgetown University), Dr. Wilmer Leon(Howard University), King Downing (Attorney with the Sean Bell Justice Project) and Elliot Millner (Legal Advisor for the Your Black World Coalition) to Kennett, MO. The trip was long, but rewarding. You can visit TheHeatherEllisCase.com to read more about the rally and how it all happened. The town shut down and took notice because they'd never seen black people come together to fight for their rights, at least not in that way.
There are some who seem to believe that if Heather cut the line, cursed at the cashier or kicked one of the officers, she should go to prison (The officer's allegations can't be proven beyond a reasonable doubt and don't appear on any video that I've seen. Police reports here have questionable credibility, since King Downing has data which shows that the Kennett police are systematically biased when arresting and convicting black defendants). But after witnessing egregious and illegal behavior on the part of many non-black college students for the past 16 years (ever been to a campus frat party?), it's interesting that most of them are let go with a slap on the wrist, but some think it's ok to send a black woman to prison over a minor incident. If I came to most universities (including my own), had a raid on a fraternity house and chose to send students to prison over whatever contraband I found, there would be outrage.
Didn't See the Rally? This Might Not be the last one
Heather Ellis' case makes the top story on the Memphis news - the country awaits the verdict of her trial.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
DIDDY TURNED 40 NOV.4, BUT THE BASH IS NOV. 19. 2009
Sean "Diddy" Combs turned the big 4-0 on Nov. 4, but he is waiting until this Thursday (Nov. 19) to celebrate the birthday milestone in grand style.
According to the New York Post's Page Six, Diddy has booked the Grand Ballroom inside of New York's Plaza Hotel for the extravaganza.
ROBIN GETS AN APOLOGY FROM OPRAH WINFREY
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Oprah Winfrey gave Robin Givens a lengthy apology on her live show last Friday over the manner in which she dealt (or didn't deal) with a comment made last month by the actress' ex-husband Mike Tyson.
On a previous episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Tyson was asked about their 1998 Barbara Walters interview, in which Givens revealed that he physically abused her.
OPRAH MADE A MISTAKE
Last month, as part of her "Women Around the World" episode, talk show host Oprah Winfrey conducted an interview via Skype with Dr. Lamees Hamdan, a Dubai mother of four who owns Shiffa, a line of high-end skin-care products.
In the online introduction to the segment, Oprah's team writes of the United Arab Emirates: "Thanks to this country's rich oil supplies, the government provides its citizens with free water, electricity and health care. The best part? No income tax!"
Technorati Tags: oprah winfrey. black celebrity gossip,black gossip
THE BROWNS WILL AIR NEXT FALL
Tyler Perry's TBS sitcom "Meet the Browns" will be syndicated in more than 70 percent of the U.S. next fall.
Syndicator Debmar-Mercury has cleared the comedy for a September debut on several major station groups, including Fox, Tribune, Weigel, CBS, Capital, Cox, Meredith, Granite and Belo.
JAY-Z, WILL AND JADA ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER ON A MUSICAL
*It's now official. Producers of the upcoming Broadway musical "Fela!" have confirmed that rap mogul Jay-Z and Hollywood couple Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have joined the show's producing team.
Rumors about Jay-Z's backend participation had been circulating ever since he told the Associated Press last month that he might get involved in the musical, which celebrates the life of Nigerian musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Shaniya Davis Case: Man Arrested for Kidnapping
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Clarence Coe, 30, was arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping, after a witness claims to have seen him taking 5-year-old Shaniya Davisout of a Fayetteville, NC trailer park. He claims he is not guilty of the charges against him.
Fayetteville Police Department spokesperson, Theresa Chance, told the Sun Herald this was “not a random occurrence.”
Coe has a criminal record, including a conviction in April for misdemeanor breaking and entering. In addition, he has prior convictions for assault on a female, larceny, robbery, felony breaking and entering, and several other charges dating back to 2001, according to the Herald.
Dr. Elaina George Says that Obama’s Health Care Plan is Going to Hurt
By
The health care reform bill (HR 3962) that just passed the House of Representatives is bad on so many levels it is difficult explain. As it stands, it will destroy both the doctor patient relationship and change the practice of medicine as we know it.
We have one of the finest health care systems in the world. It has been built on a foundation of choice. Doctors were free to choose the care that they deemed necessary to treat their patients, and patients were free to seek the medical care of their choice. Initially, the foundation was shaken by the rise of the managed care system with capitation. However, over the past 10 years, capitated plans which limit access to specialists have given way to the rise in power of insurance companies. They have used their anti-trust exemption to craft a system that has used monopoly to increase profits on the backs of both doctors and patients.
Listen to Dr. Boyce, Roland Martin and Tom Joyner Discuss Heather Ellis
Given that Tom Joyner's Show is sponsored by Walmart, this leads to a relatively awkward conversation!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Dr. Boyce Watkins analyzes the Columbia Professor Who Punched His White Colleague
by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University
When I heard that black Columbia University professor Lionel McIntyre punched out a white university employee, I was obviously taken aback. I was even more intrigued by the fact that the two were having a heated conversation about white privilege when the alleged punch took place. Given that the fight was in a bar, I immediately thought about the Jamie Foxx excuse: "blame it on the alcohol." My goddaughter is an athlete at Columbia, but I had no idea that Columbia University professors could be so athletic in their free time. Although professor McIntyre's actions are obviously inexcusable, the truth is that our actions "under the influence" tell a deeper story about our psyches, so there is more to this incident than meets the eye.
1) Call me crazy, but I understand how Lionel McIntyre felt. I would never punch out anyone from the frustration I've felt when dealing with white privilege, but then again, that is probably why I chose not to drink alcohol, since I am genuinely concerned about how I might react to the stinging pain of consistent racism. What is also true is that although some black scholars are afraid to admit it, many of us have felt incredibly angry and irritated by the arrogant nature of white privilege within academia. It's not that black scholars dislike their white colleagues, it's that many of us are tired of being thought of as second-class citizens. If any black Ph.D. student or professor says they haven't thought about jumping over someone's desk and "whooping ass" at least once, they're telling a lie. Some of us hold in the frustration until we die of heart disease. Some of us submit ourselves to the system and become groveling Sambos, while many black scholars simply leave academia altogether. Either way, there is as much frustration for black scholars in America as there is within nearly every other profession dominated by whites. So as the comedian Chris Rock once said in a skit about O.J. Simpson, "I'm not saying he should have done it, but I understand."
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Rapper Vigalantee Weighs in on Jay Z's Beef with Beanie Sigal
The Kansas City Rapper Vigalantee weighs in on the beef between Jay Z and Beanie Sigal - Did Jay Z get him fired?
Sirius/XM Satellite Host Dr. Wilmer Leon Talks about Heather's Case
Listen as Dr. Wilmer Leon speaks with Elliot Millner and Pastor Nathaniel Ellis about Heather's trial.
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