[Afrochic]

4-1-1 ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 2, 2003

Is Singer Beyonce lying about her age? Beyonce has a new L.P. coming out called ‘Dangerously in Love’ on June 24th and a TV crew was filming a special on her. Well during their research they found out her real age, she’s 25 not 22 as she claims. No wonder she’s dating Rapper Jay Z and her parents aren’t complaining, she’s a grown woman.

Did Ruben win by default? A telecommunications company claims there were 240 thousand misdialed calls. OH PLEEEZZZEEE! IT’S OVER RUBEN WON…GET OVER IT! I am so sick of these stories. HE WON..HE WON…RUBEN WON! Last week I mentioned how Simon would be leaving the show. Trust me Simon will be back for a third season of American Idol. There is too much money involved and Simon is part owner of the show. Last week Star Jones from the ABC Show ‘The View’ revealed how she got a lots of hate emails because she supported Ruben as the choice for American Idol. Star said she got hundreds of emails telling her to go back to Africa and take Ruben with her. Sometimes we think everything is okay and that we have made great strides but there will always be someone or something that will remind us that racism is alive and well in America.

Ashanti will be writing songs for upcoming Disney Movies. The Singer has a new L.P. coming out this summer and her advisors want to move her away from her association with Rapper Ja Rule and the Murder Inc crew. Have you noticed her new look? She looks a lot like Beyonce since she colored her hair. (Afrochic's sidenote: Um no they don't look alike)

Rapper/Producer Dr. Dre had to get his mom out of jail. 54 year old Verna Griffin was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon after she fired a gun at a man in her home. Verna says the man had her on an emotional rollarcoaster and she had to use her gun.

Playwright/Actor Tyler Perry is taking a break from the stage to make his move into TV. Tyler is best known as Madea in the stage productions ‘Madea’s Class Reunion’, ‘Madea’s Family Reunion’ and ‘I Can Do Bad All By Myself’. Tyler has a TV deal with CBS for his own show. Will prime time be ready for Tyler? He is a very talented man and his stage productions are the best.

The wild crazy world of Mike Tyson continues to amaze us. He has been giving away his money. He gave a cab driver three thousand dollars for giving him ride, he took a young lady he just met on a 35 thousand dollar shopping spree. He has been sporting T-Shirts that say ‘Breaking the Law’, ‘Wife Beater’, and ‘I have Issues’. When Mike is not wearing T-Shirts he wears designer clothing. He recently spent 95 thousand dollars at a Giorgio Armani store. Mike has had more tattoos added to his face and in a shocking interview last week he told Fox News he is so mad about his 1991 rape conviction involving beauty queen Desiree Washington that he would like to rape her and her mother. Mike is no longer surrounded by his spiritual advisors. Mike feels he doesn’t need them around. When Mike became a Muslim a lot of people thought that would calm him down and help him. Mike is getting worse and these bizarre incidents are just a cry for help. I hope he gets it.

Janet Jackson is working on a new LP. Janet will team up with Producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and they say we should expect the unexpected.

The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin says it’s time to lose weight. Aretha has enlisted the help of Tom Joyner’s wife Fitness Expert Donna Richardson to lose the pounds. Aretha has a new LP coming out soon and this summer she will be doing her farewell tour. Aretha will be in Atlantic City at the Boardwalk Hall July 4th and 5th.

Singer Vivian Green has been added to the cast of the movie ‘Just One of Those Days’. The movie stars Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd and is based on the life of Songwriter Cole Porter. Vivian is going to play the Legendary Ella Fitzgerald singing the song ‘Love for Sale’. On June 28th Vivian will be in concert at Trump Marina in Atlantic City.

Halle Berry is back to work after breaking her arm on the set of her movie ‘Gothika’. Halle broke her right arm during a fight scene with Actor Robert Downey Jr. The movie is due out on Halloween and has been rewritten to include her broken arm.

Whitney Houston has fired her longtime Publicist Nancy Seltzer. Friends of Whitney felt that Nancy was not doing enough to stop the negative publicity that surrounds Whitney and her husband Bobby Brown. Whitney’s new publicist is her sister in law Patricia Houston. Two weeks ago during their stay in Las Vegas for the VH1 Divas special Whitney had to deal with stories about mysterious nose bleeds and outlandish behavior on behalf of her husband. Sources say Bobby took a man’s money and disappeared. Whitney recently went on a spiritual retreat to Israel. Whitney, Bobby and the family took part in the retreat. Whitney is looking for inspiration for an upcoming Christmas LP. Whitney is staying with the Black Hebrews and they advocate clean drug free living and they are strict Vegetarians. I hear they are helping Whitney overcome her addictions. A lot of people feel the Black Hebrews are a cult and that Whitney is under their influence. Are they helping Whitney? If you saw her appearance on the VH1 Divas special her voice is not the same. I hope she can overcome her problems she is one of the greatest singers of our generation. Whitney also looked pregnant one the show. Whitney’s record company says she isn’t pregnant but other sources say she is. I hear she is six months pregnant and is due in September. Whitney has had problems with past pregnancies. Check her out on the July cover of Essence Magazine. She looks fabulous the issue is due out on newstands soon.

Jennifer Lopez opens up about her relationship with Puff Daddy in the new issue of Vibe Magazine. Jennifer says Puffy used to cheat on her and it drove her crazy. Jennifer says Puffy’s emotional abuse led her to dancer Cris Judd. Jennifer says she loved Cris but he didn’t have what it takes. Jennifer is currently engaged to marry Actor Ben Affleck and she says she has never been happier. Jennifer is on the cover of the July Vibe Magazine. Here’s something to chew on when Jennifer met Puffy he was living with his baby momma Model Kim Porter. He cheated on Kim with Jennifer what made her think he was going to change or that she was going to be treated any different. Hmmm…….just asking.

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence team up on the big screen for the movie ‘Bad Boys 2’. The movie opens July 18th and whatever Will got Martin had to have it bigger and better. Sources on the set of the movie say Will was a pleasure to work with, but Martin was another story. When Martin found out Will had a two-story trailer he demanded a three-story trailer with a separate area for playing basketball. The two did get along during filming of the movie.

Wedding bells will be ringing this month for Eagles Quarterback Donovan McNabb. Donovan will be marrying his college sweetheart Raquel Nurse.

Singer Ronald Isley is in Love. Ronald is 62 and he is dating a 24-year-old Singer named Kandi Johnson. Ron is working on her LP and he is also her manager. Two years ago Ronald divorced Singer Angela Winbush. The Isley Brothers are currently topping the charts with their LP ‘Body Kiss’. (Afrochic's sidenote: Ron Isley is just a big old short pimp with a cane.)

Prince is being sued by a former girlfriend. Charlene Friend has filed a suit against Prince claiming she has been mentally scarred because of his kinky sexual behavior. Friend says Prince thought he was the Messiah and he would throw sex parties and force her to watch tapes of him having sex with other women. This isn’t the first time Prince has had trouble with this woman, last year he sued her for selling gifts he gave her.