[Afrochic]

411 for the week of December 28, 2003

Is it wife number three for Michael Jackson? Published reports say the King of Pop took a bride over the summer and she’s African American. Wife number three is a 23-year-old Muslim woman. Her name is Alisha and she’s an accomplished musician who plays classical piano. Reports say the 45-year-old troubled superstar married the woman in a ceremony over the summer. Alisha still lives with her parents. She had a very sheltered upbringing and she has never owned an album or attended a concert. Michael and Alisha do not live together, their marriage has never been consummated, but they do drink tea and talk a lot. Michael faces 24 years in jail on charges of child molestation. The nation of Islam has been close to Michael in recent weeks and a lot of people thought he joined the organization. Michael has not. If these reports are true Alisha will be Michael’s third wife. His previous wives include Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley, and Debbie Rowe, who is the mother of his two oldest children.

A recent accident on the set of the movie Catwoman almost sidelined Oscar Winner Halle Berry. A motorcycle fell on the actress and she thought she re-injured her arm that she broke on the set of her last movie Gothika.

Star Jones from the ABC show The View is not only losing weight, but she is in love. Star has songstress Alicia Keys to thank for her new found love. Star is dating a banker named Al Reynolds and she met him at a party for Alicia. Star and Al had their first dance to Alicia’s smash hit “You Don’t Know My Name.” Star says she feels like a teenager with this man. She says when their eyes met she heard bells and chimes, and now they’re off to Jamaica to ring in the New Year.

American Idol winner Ruben Studdard wants to get into the restaurant business. Ruben says he would like to open a restaurant in his home state of Alabama. Ruben says down home cooking will be on the menu.