4-1-1 ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 28, 2003
Is Janet Jackson engaged to Jermaine Dupri? The couple has been dating for some time and word has it that they are engaged. Jermaine says they aren’t and you can never get a straight answer out of Janet. This is the same woman who lied about her first two marriages. Maybe Janet is ready for that next step with Jermaine. Time will tell.
Hairstylist Gerard Dure’ is known as one of the top hairstylists in the country. Gerard’s work is featured in many top hairstyling magazines. Gerard has styled Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige and Chaka Khan and he gets five thousand dollars for a day’s work. A few months ago Gerard styled Tyra Banks’ hair. Gerard flew to Ireland to work on the supermodel’s hair and her modeling agency has yet to pay him for his work. Gerard says if he was white they would not treat him this way and he is tired of being treated like a “porch monkey.” Gerard says he is not mad at Tyra, but her modeling agency owes him for his work. (Afrochic's sidenote: I hope he isn't the one that does Tyra's hair the majority of the time because her hair is always a hot mess 98% of the time. Hide the fo head Tyra, hide yo fo head.
Chaka has entirely too much weave and Mary's hair looks too weavy.)
Is Eve’s past catching up to her? The popular rapper/actress is set to hit the small screen in September with her new show on UPN called Eve. Early in her career, Eve used to work as a stripper and now there are pornographic photos being circulated on the internet showing a woman who looks like Eve getting a sex act performed on her. Eve says she used to be a stripper and that the woman in the photo could be her. She says someone has been trying to blackmail her and ruin her reputation by threatening to expose the pictures.
Vivian Green, Heather Headley, Floetry and Erykah Badu are leading the nominations for the 9th annual Lady of Soul Awards. Erykah Badu is getting the “Entertainer Of The Year Award.” Vivica A. Fox is getting the “Lena Horne Award” for outstanding career achievement. The show will air on August 23rd, and will be hosted by Arsenio Hall, Aisha Tyler, Heather Headley and Tyrese. Now speaking of Vivica, everybody is talking about her new love. Vivica is pulling a Demi Moore. Vivica, who recently divorced her husband, singer Six-Nine, is now dating a man 15 years younger than her. He’s a football player, Danerien McCants. He plays with the Washington Redskins. He wears number 85 and he was a fifth round draft pick in 2001. McCants is a graduate of Delaware State and he was recently involved with a woman in Virginia. They had an on again/off again relationship, but now he’s with Vivica.
Calvin Richardson is a new singer on the music scene. Calvin is currently climbing the charts with the song “Keep On Pushin’.” Calvin says the song is about a girlfriend who won’t forgive him for cheating on her. Calvin is coming to Unity Day, Sunday August 17th, on the Ben Franklin Parkway. In a recent interview Calvin spoke of his past relationship with singer Angie Stone. Calvin says they were never an item, he was just working for her and it was just business. A couple of years ago I had a chance to interview Angie and she told me they were an item and she was in love. Calvin says he stopped working with her because he needed more creative control over his work. Calvin and Angie are no longer on speaking terms and the breakup of their relationship whatever it was, was very bitter.
Former Eagle, Reggie White is blasting the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Reggie says Jesse let people down in his dealings with NASCAR. Reggie says the Rainbow Push Coalition got $250,000 from NASCAR to help get African Americans interested in stock car racing. Reggie says nothing happened after the organization got their money. Reggie feels Jesse uses his status and his organization to take money from companies without helping people. Reggie has a new book out he’s promoting called Broken Promises, Blinded Dreams, Taking Charge Of Your Destiny.
Gladys Knight described him as the “Velvet Bear” and now American Idol winner Ruben Studdard is getting his own teddy bear. The Ruben Teddy Bear is going to be sold in stores starting in September.
Tampa Bay defensive back, Warren Sapp, is getting a divorce. Sapp’s wife of five years, Jamiko Sapp, says she has had enough and she wants out. The couple has two children ages 7 and 2. Earlier this year Sapp had to take a paternity test to determine if he is the father of a child born to a woman in Voorhees, New Jersey. Sounds like the test came back positive and now the wife wants out. Hmmmmmmmmm?
The hottest rapper on the music scene is 50 Cent and he’s coming out with his own clothing line. 50 Cent is teaming up with Marc Ecko for the G-Unit clothing line. The line should be ready by the holidays and the clothes will be reasonably priced with jeans starting at $40.
As Luther Vandross continues to recover from his stroke, some of his friends in the entertainment industry have gathered to film his music video for “Dance With My Father.” Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Monica, Brian McKnight, Patti LaBelle, Johnny Gill, Babyface and Whitney Houston participated in the video.
Actor Dominic Chianese who plays “Uncle Junior” on the hit HBO show The Sopranos is being written off the show.
The “Godfather of Soul” James Brown is divorcing his wife of two years Tomi Raye. The have a two-year-old son. James says the demands of touring are the reason for the breakup. Tomi tours with James and they are coming to Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall on Saturday night with Patti Labelle. James’ first two marriages ended in divorce and his 3rd wife died in 1996, from complications following plastic surgery.