[Afrochic]

4-1-1 ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 24TH, 2003

Singer Chico Debarge won't have to worry about the guy who stabbed him when he was in Philly. Alleged mob associate John Casasanto A.K.A. "Johnny Gongs" was fatally shot at his South Philadelphia home. Casasanto, 35, was out on bail awaiting a hearing on the assault charges against Chico. In October, Chico was in town performing in the play "Why Did I Get Married?" and he was allegedly stabbed by Casasanto outside a club on Delaware Avenue. Chico survived the stabbing and continued with the play. Chico is due back at the first of the year when the play returns.

I had a chance to talk with actress/comedian Kym Whitley. Last week I talked about published reports that linked Kym with Gerald Levert and not Monique. Well Kym was hesitant to talk about it, but she admitted they are close friends. Kym also revealed how her life has been threatened ever since she was fingered as the woman in Gerald's life. Kym says Gerald has had to hire security for her. Kym is best known for the BET show, Oh Drama and the Friday movies. Kym recently finished work on a Beauty Shop movie with Vivica A. Fox, and in January she will team up with Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston in the movie Something About Polly. So where's Monique? I hope to talk to her sometime around the holidays. What does she have to say?

Bow Wow is getting his own TV show. The popular rapper will be starring in a show on the WB network called Saving Jason. In Saving Jason, Bow Wow will play a gifted music student who is a fish out of water at an elite private school.

A memorial service is being planned to honor actor/dancer Gene Anthony Ray.
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R&B star Mary J. Blige will marry fiancé Kendu Isaacs on Friday.
The "Love @ 1st Sight" singer, 32 - who credits 35-year-old Isaacs with helping her win her battles with alcohol and drugs - has announced the pair will wed at a secret location the day after Thanksgiving.

Although she hasn't released details of where the ceremony will take place, Blige recently said she'd like it to take place in a coastal setting, explaining, "I see it on a beach, nothing fancy, about 40 people. I'll dress in white chiffon or something, but I don't see myself wearing a tiara - that's just too much!

"All I want is to be surrounded by people who want the best for me because I'm in love. I'm in love with this person's mind and faith in me. He's with me everywhere, like my guardian angel."

British singer and composer Sir Elton John is among those expected to attend the ceremony.

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R&B sensation Ashanti has upset animal rights group People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) by wearing a mink coat in her new Christmas medley video.

The singer will be seen in a wintry snowscape in the video to promote her new album of festive songs - but PETA chiefs feel she went too far wearing the $15,000 Nija Furs coat on a day when the weather outside was far from frightful.

Even Ashanti admitted the look was a bit much on the set of the shoot in Los Angeles. She said, "It's a thousand degrees out, but in here it's a winter wonderland."

PETA spokesman Michael McGraw feels the singer should have turned down the chance to don a mink coat for the video.

He says, "It's so easy these days to have a look that kills without killing anything. Ashanti should know better.

"What's cheery about gassing, poisoning and anal electrocution? All are common methods of killing animals for their fur. From animals' backs to Ashanti's, there's a tremendous amount of suffering involved in the fur trade."

PETA bosses are now planning to send Ashanti a very special early Christmas gift - an undercover video, narrated by Pamela Anderson, that details the cruelty behind fur.

McGraw adds, "We hope it will warm her heart and she'll choose to give fur the cold shoulder."