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The dress
stays on! Tyler Perry wants to let go of his on-screen alter ego. But after
raking in over $43 million at the box office, the dress and wig will stay
on. Filming starts next month on a new “Madea” movie, I Can Do Bad All By
Myself. It’s based on his 1999 hit play. Tyler has a lot of projects coming
up: a role in the new Star Trek movie; a 1940’s period piece, Jazz Man’s
Blues; and a movie project designed for Jennifer Hudson. Despite all of
this, there is too much money in "Madea" to stop dressing in drag.
Chris Brown is
gearing up for his March 5th court date. He has started taking anger
management classes. It was almost three weeks ago that Brown was arrested
for assaulting Pop Singer Rihanna. During the past week, photos were leaked
showing a bruised and battered Rihanna. Rihanna recently turned 21, and
friends say she received flowers, a diamond bracelet, necklace and an IPod
Touch from Brown. The big question being asked this week is: is the pop
princess pregnant? So far, Rihanna has been refusing to answer any questions
about Brown and their relationship, but she thanks her fans for their love
and support.
Tameka Foster
Raymond is out of the hospital, back in Atlanta and begging for forgiveness.
Tameka almost died three weeks ago during a plastic surgery procedure in
Brazil. She snuck off to Brazil, leaving her babies behind and never said a
word to her husband Usher. Tameka recently gave birth to their second child
two months ago. She went to Brazil to undergo a lipo and tummy tuck
procedure. Tameka suffered a heart attack and had to be placed in a
medically induced coma. Usher mother, Johnetta Patton, was livid. Why would
this woman do this to her son? Why would she leave her babies? Is she that
vain? Since retaking the management reigns of her son’s career, Johnetta has
tried to stay away from the goings on in the marriage. But this time,
Johnetta realized she couldn’t stay quiet any longer. She made it clear to
Tameka these antics have to stop: Straighten Up And Be A Wife And Mother To
Your Kids. Let Usher do his job. There is no room for you in his career. You
are his wife, so act like a wife. Usher is clearly in the middle of this on
going saga, but he was livid with his wife. How could she embarrass him like
that? He has a new album that he is working on, and he doesn’t need
distractions.
Oscar Winner
Morgan Freeman is finding out the hard about a woman scorned. At 71-years
old, Easy Reader is finding out that jumpoffs talk. Back in August, Freeman
almost lost his life in a car crash. He was in a car with a woman who was
not his wife. After he was released from the hospital, he decided to divorce
his wife and take up with yet another woman. Well, the woman in the car said
WTH! Oh No Morgan, I have been quiet too long. In a recent press conference,
Demaris Meyer stated that she was seeing Freeman while he was married. Now,
Meyer is suing him for damages.
Singer Keith
Sweat is being sued by his ex-wife. Sweat used to be married to Lisa
Hartwell, a.k.a Lisa Wu of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta. Wu is not only
suing her ex-husband, but she wants custody of their two sons, ages 11 and
14. Wu has since remarried, and she has a young child with her husband,
former NFL Star Ed Hartwell.
Is Oprah ready
to step aside? Well not so fast. The Mighty O has stated she is tired of
being on the cover of her O magazine, and she is in talks with First Lady
Michelle Obama to appear on the cover. Well, it appears Oprah will now be
doing a joint cover with the First Lady, if it happens.
Steve Harvey
is coming back to Philly. On Wednesday, April 1st Harvey will be at the
Borders Bookstore at Broad and Chestnut Streets promoting his number one
bestselling book Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man. He will also be hosting
his Radio Star Talent Show at the Kimmel Center on Thursday, April 2nd.
Gary Coleman
is in trouble with the law again. Last week, the former child star was
arrested for drunk driving. Coleman is best known for the 1980’s classic TV
comedy Diff’rent Strokes and his character “Arnold.”
Halle Berry’s
new Fragrance “Halle” debuts in stores in March. Check her out on the new
issue of Essence magazine.
Tracy Morgan’s
Manhattan apartment was left in ruins last week. A fire that started with a
broken light bulb in his fish tank destroyed his luxury apartment. The 30
Rock star says he is glad no one was injured during the blaze.
Chris Rock’s
brother Tony Rock was arrested last week on suspicion of drunk driving. Rock
says it was all a big misunderstanding. Rock says he doesn’t have a problem
with holding his liquor.
Get ready for
the reunion of Bell Biv DeVoe. A reunion album is in the works for Ricky
Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe of New Edition fame.
Basketball
Star Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat wants to clear his name. Wade is going
through a nasty divorce with his wife Siovaughn. During the proceedings,
Siovaughn released a statement claiming Wade gave her a nasty STD. Siovaughn
later retracted her statements when she got her divorce settlement, but the
damage was done. Wade has filed a defamation suit against his ex. Wade is
claiming he is the victim of a reckless campaign spearheaded by his ex-wife.
He says she deliberately wanted to publicly humiliate him and damage his
reputation.
Is Singer
Lauryn Hill pregnant again? Word has it she is pregnant with baby number
six. This would be the sixth child for Lauryn and Rohan Marley. Hill is
currently living with her parents.
Stevie
Wonder’s wife, Fashion Designer Kai Milla is in talks with the Lifetime
Channel to do a reality show. Milla is one of the favorites of First Lady
Michelle Obama.
Paula Abdul
revealed her true feelings during a recent interview. Abdul was asked how
she felt about a fourth judge (a female) being added to the American Idol
mix. In the beginning, Abdul said she didn’t have a problem, but now she is
stating that a fourth judge just doesn’t work. She says having a fourth
judge disrupts the flow of the show. This is the last season of Paula’s
contract, which makes you wonder will she be staying on as a judge for
American Idol?
In more Idol
news, Ruben Studdard is branching out on his own. The former American Idol
winner is having money problems. He owes the I.R.S. a lot of money, and he
was recently dropped from his record label. Studdard is launching his next
project on an independent label. The album, Love Is, is due out May 19th.
Speaking of
American Idol alum, Jennifer Hudson is gearing up for her first tour. She is
hitting the road on a mini-tour with Singer/Songwriter Robin Thicke. Once
Hudson finishes up the tour, she wants to head back into the studio to work
on a gospel music CD.
Luther
Campbell, a.k.a…Uncle Luke, had to spend a little time in jail. Campbell
owed $11,000 in attorney fees in a child support custody case. He had been
refusing to pay the attorneys for his baby momma. In the 1980’s, Campbell
spearheaded the free speech movement with his raunchy rap act 2 Live Crew.
Former
Basketball Great Charles Barkley is going to jail. Barkley recently pleaded
guilty to drunk driving and running a red light after getting arrested late
last year. Barkley starts his 5 day prison sentence on March 21st. He will
also have to attend alcohol rehabilitation classes.
Eddie Murphy
is looking to redeem himself in Hollywood. Realizing his crass behavior cost
him an Oscar, Murphy is looking to turn things around. He has agreed to
support his baby with Spice Girl Mel B. She is getting $52,000 a month in
child support, and he also agreed to visitation rights. Murphy surprised a
lot of people when he showed up to present a humanitarian award to Comedy
Legend Jerry Lewis at this month’s Academy Awards. Murphy was on his best
behavior, backstage he said he was humbled to be able to honor Lewis.
Speaking of
Murphy, remember his comedy hit Coming To America? Well, Martin Lawrence is
putting a different spin on it. 21 years ago, Coming to America joined the
ranks of one of the great comedy classics, and now, Lawrence is putting
together Back To America. Martin will produce and star in the movie about a
working class guy from Queens who discovers he’s an heir to an African
country.
Congratulations to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. They will be receiving the
BMI Icons Award on May 19th at the 57th Annual Pop Awards.
Lionel Richie
is going to be a grandpop again. Richie daughter Nicole is pregnant with her
second child. Nicole and her rocker boyfriend, Joel Madden, are going to
have company for their one-year old daughter Harlow. Nicole is due in the
fall.
Congrats also
go to Singer Deborah Cox. She and her husband recently welcomed their third
child, a baby girl.
Kelly Rowland
is proving there is life after Destiny’s Child. Rowland has just signed on
for the reality show, The Fashion Show. The show will air on the Bravo
Network and will co-star designer Isaac Mizrahi.
Producer Lee
Daniels has changed the name of his upcoming release. The long awaited
project Push will be renamed Precious. The movie is scheduled to be released
later this year and stars Mo’Nique, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey and new
comer Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe as “Precious.” Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey
have joined forces to help Lee with the promotion of this movie. The film
Precious is based on the book Push by Sapphire, and focuses on the plight of
a 16-year old who has suffered years of abuse but overcomes her odds with
the help of others.
The new season
of Dancing With The Stars kicks off March 9th. Rapper Lil’ Kim, David Alan
Grier from In Living Color fame and Football Great Lawrence Taylor are part
of the cast. Lil Kim will be introducing her new look blue eyes during the
season.
The Bynum
Brothers are back with a new venture. They own Warmdaddy’s on Columbus
Boulevard and had the old Zanzibar Blue in Center City. Starting this
Sunday, March 1st, their latest project called RELISH will open its doors at
7152 Ogontz Avenue. It replaces Sadiki’s. RELISH will feature live jazz
music Thursday through Sunday.
Cadillac
Records starring Beyonce comes out on DVD March 10th.
Stevie Wonder
is coming out with a live DVD. Stevie Wonder: Live From London arrives in
stores March 10th.
The T.D. Jakes
film Not Easily Broken starring Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson hits
DVD shelves April 7th.
Seven Pounds
starring Will Smith and Rosario Dawson will be released on DVD March 31st.
Donald Trump’s
Celebrity Apprentice returns this Sunday, March 1st. This year’s
participants include Singer Brian McKnight, T-Boz from TLC, Model/Actress
Claudia Jordan and Former Football Great Herschel Walker.
The TNT
network has given the green light to the new Jada Pinkett Smith drama Time
Heals. Smith not only stars, but she is also the show’s executive producer.
Smith plays a nurse in the new show, which debuts this fall.
The Wendy
Williams talk show is set to debut this July. The show is going nationwide,
and will be seen locally on FOX 29.
The 15th
Annual Essence Music Festival is set for July 3rd, 4th and 5th in New
Orleans. Beyonce, John Legend, Eric Benet, Robin Thicke, Anita Baker and
Maxwell are all on the bill. There will also be seminars featuring
Prophetess Juanita Bynum and Roland Martin. Plus, there’ll be an all-star
tribute to Bishop T.D. Jakes. |
