Celebrity Dish, Part II

[CrimsonTide4]

Disappointed In Donnie

LAST week, a rumor spread like a wildfire throughout radio land that claimed Tracey Edmonds, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds' wife, had engaged in a liaison with L.A. Laker Derrick Fisher. The story was reported on the morning broadcast of the "Donnie Simpson Show" on 95.5 WPGC-FM in Washington, D.C. I had
been working with Babyface and Tracey for the last month as my cover story for the January/February issue of Black Elegance Magazine. I knew it was totally false, so I didn't go near it with a 10 foot pole. Says Babyface and Tracey: "On Tuesday morning, November 28, 2001, on "The Donnie Simpson Show," celebrity gossip commentator, 'Huggy Lowdown,' reported an alleged rumor regarding us and Derrick Fisher of the Los Angeles Lakers. This rumor was not only false and outrageous, but also hurtful to us. We have never met, nor have we ever been in the presence of Derrick Fisher. Donnie Simpson and Huggy apologized to us on the air the following morning. Subsequently, Donnie released a statement of apology wherein he referred to the allegation as 'erroneous and totally baseless,' and also admitted that 'Huggy' had used his show to spread 'false and hurtful rumors.' Even though Donnie has apologized, the Edmonds have still retained a law firm to address the matter. This is all so sad because rumor has it that Donnie and Babyface are supposed to be good friends.



FORMER "Moesha" costar Lamont Bentley, who portrayed Hakeem, steps into the role of my dearly missed friend, Tupac Shakur, in "The MC Hammer Story," which will air on VH1 on December 14. Lamont, who also stars in "The Wash," with Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, told a source: "I was nervous playing such a high-profile character, knowing people loved that guy, I was like, 'I hope I don't mess this up." Lamont is also working hard to get a music career off the ground.


What's New With Farrah?

FARRAH Franklin, who was a member of Destiny's Child for the blink of an eye, is rumored to be working on a tell-all book about the short time she spent with the group. Aside from the tome, Farrah is starting her own website, putting out a calendar and releasing a solo album on Nelly's Fo'Real Records. Folks tell me the girl can sing!

[Steeltrap]

From "Page Six," the New York Post's gossip column:

THE Rev. Al Sharpton has stolen the Rev. Jesse Jackson's woman - well, one of his women.
In the latest salvo between the battling activists, Sharpton invited Karin Stanford - Jackson's former mistress and the mother of his 2-year-old love child, Ashley - to the private party for the opening of Sharpton's National Action Network's West Coast office. Not only did Stanford attend, but she took the opportunity to backhand her ex, telling guests that Sharpton is "the only civil rights leader I respect and support."

"She made her presence known," an attendee of the Los Angeles event tells newsmax.com.

A source close to both Jackson and Stanford was stunned to hear the news, telling PAGE SIX's Ian Spiegelman, "I've never seen her attack Jesse. She's been straight-up with him through the whole thing and I haven't seen a lot of animosity."

A rep for the National Action Network confirmed Stanford's attendance, but downplayed Sharpton's coup, telling us, "There was no meeting between [Sharpton] and Karin that I know of," although they spoke briefly.

The incident was the most recent flashpoint in the War Between the Revs, with Sharpton and Jackson each vying to be crowned the nation's most influential liberal black leader.

"I do feel it's time that I share the stage with [Jackson] as an equal," Sharpton told New York magazine. "But his ego is bigger than mine, so he is having a hard time giving me my space."

Sharpton, who recently announced his bid for the 2004 presidential election, also complained, "Jesse has also lost some of his instincts for issues."

Stanford's sting must be extra painful for Jackson, since his own presidential aspirations were blown out of the water by their affair.

As The Post reported, Jackson gave up his run for the 2000 election because he feared scrutiny of his candidacy would expose his 41/2-year affair with Stanford, who had run the Washington office of his Rainbow-PUSH coalition.

"I didn't want to do anything to hurt him or the movement," Stanford said last summer, when asked why she'd kept mum for so long. She also described their relationship as "warm and loving." In fact, reports surfaced that Jackson intended to divorce his wife and marry Stanford after their romance was revealed last January by the National Enquirer.

Recent events might explain Stanford's sudden change of heart. After almost a year of tough negotiations, she and Jackson finally settled their child support arrangements in late November.

[MeezDiscreet]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
FARRAH Franklin, who was a member of Destiny's Child for the blink of an eye, is rumored to be working on a tell-all book about the short time she spent with the group.

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Folks tell me the girl can sing!

GOOD!

[2DISCRETE4U]

I briefly heard about Michael Jordan and his wife getting a divorce. What's up with that?? I didn't hear the whole story so could somone fill me in.....

[CrimsonTide4]

Wendy's founder Dave Thomas dies
Known for role in TV commercials, he was 69
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Associated Press
Originally published January 8, 2002, 8:59 AM EST



COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Dave Thomas, the portly pitchman whose homespun ads built Wendy's Old-Fashioned Hamburgers into one of the world's most successful fast-food franchises, has died. He was 69.

Thomas died around midnight at his home in Florida, the company said today.

The cause of death was not given. Thomas had been undergoing dialysis for a kidney problem since early 2001, and had quadruple heart bypass surgery in December 1996.

Company officials were meeting at Wendy's headquarters in the Columbus suburb of Dublin and planned an announcement later this morning.

The founder and senior chairman of Wendy's International became a household name when he began pitching his burgers and fries in television commercials in 1989. The smiling Thomas, always wearing a white, short-sleeved shirt and red tie, touted the virtues of fast-food in humorous ads, sometimes featuring stars such as bluesman B.B. King and soap opera queen Susan Lucci.

"As long as it works, I'll continue to do the commercials," Thomas said in a 1991 interview. "When it's not working any longer, then I'm history."

But burgers were not his first love. Thomas, who was adopted as an infant, became a national advocate for adoption.

He created the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a not-for-profit organization focused on raising public awareness of adoption. The profits from his books, "Dave's Way" and "Well Done!" go to the foundation.

He once testified before a Congressional committee about the importance of creating incentives for adoption.

"I know firsthand how important it is for every child to have a home and loving family," he testified. "Without a family, I would not be where I am today."

Thomas, born July 2, 1932, was 12 when he got his first job -- delivering groceries in Knoxville, Tenn. He joined the restaurant business in the 1950s.

While working at a barbecue restaurant in Fort Wayne, Ind., he met KFC founder Col. Harland Sanders, who became a major influence in his life.

Thomas came to Columbus in 1962 to take over four failing KFC restaurants for his boss, who promised Thomas a 45 percent stake in them if he turned them around. Sanders sold the restaurants back to KFC for $1.5 million in 1968, making Thomas a millionaire at 35.

He opened his first Wendy's Old-Fashioned Hamburgers in Columbus a year later. He named the restaurant after his 8-year-old daughter Melinda Lou, nicknamed Wendy by her siblings.

The chain grew to 4,800 restaurants in the United States and 34 countries by 1996. That year, Wendy's acquired the 1,200-store, Canadian-based Tim Hortons chain of coffee and fresh-baked goods.

Thomas was a forgiving businessman.

The city of Philadelphia in 1994 wanted to fine Wendy's $98,400, claiming the restaurant was selling quarter-pounders that were up to a quarter of an ounce short. The city later announced it made an error and withdrew the fine.

"I understand what happened," said Thomas, who visited the city shortly after the controversy. "Things happen. Mistakes happen. As far as we're concerned, we just want to go to the future. A bright future."

He tried to retire in 1982, but came back in 1989.

"They took the focus off the consumer," he said of the executives who took over the company.

It was the TV commercials that made Thomas famous. Industry analysts and company officials said the ads helped the company rebound from a difficult period in the mid-1980s when earnings sank.

"He's given Wendy's a corporate identity ... a down-homey-type image. The lack of sophistication is a real benefit for the company," one financial analyst said.

In 1996, Thomas filmed his 500th commercial. The company staged a lookalike contest that attracted 1,600 entrants vying for the grand prize: a chance to appear in a commercial with Thomas.

Thomas, who told the story of his life in "Dave's Way," told 2,500 Columbus public school seniors in 1993 -- the year he earned a high school equivalency certificate -- that his biggest mistake was not finishing high school.

"We have 4,000 restaurants today, but if I had gotten my high school diploma, we might have 8,000," he said.

[Ideal08]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Wendy's founder Dave Thomas dies
Known for role in TV commercials, he was 69
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Dave Thomas, the portly pitchman whose homespun ads built Wendy's Old-Fashioned Hamburgers into one of the world's most successful fast-food franchises, has died. He was 69.

[Ideal08]

I couldn't think of anywhere else to post this, and it just wasn't worthy of a new thread. Anyway, I would have forgotten, but the posts about MJ's philandering reminded me. Anywho...

I watched the E! True Hollywood Story on the Kennedys yesterday. And there was SO much I did not know. I'm becoming fascinated with this family. The whole show (of which was only the FIRST part, and WHO KNOWS when the 2nd part will air, they kill me with that isht ) reminded me of the Bushes. Anyway, did you know...

-that JFK has a sister who his father had LOBOTOMIZED and ended up paralyzed, so she (to this day) is in a convent being cared for by nurses? The mother (Rose Kennedy) had no idea her daughter was being lobotomized. That's just jacked up.

-that all of the JFK men (father and 3 sons) were womanizers? I knew JFK got his adultery on, but I had NO IDEA it was all like that. All I could think was, everyone KNEW this man was cheating on Jackie, with NUMEROUS women, but Bill got a little oral and almost got impeached. WTF?

-JFK was a war hero? I had no idea.

-JFK was supposedly assassinated by the Mafia?

-the Mafia supposedly helped JFK win the election (Bushes...)?

-JFK messed around with one of the mafia bosses mistress (Judy Campbell)?

-Joe Kennedy, Sr. framed this man for rape, the man got convicted, all so Joe could buy his movie production company? This buster was just foul.

-Joe Kennedy, Sr. supported Hitler?

-JFK's roommate in Hollywood was Robert Stack, the host of Unsolved Mysteries? Now, really, can yall see him hangin out with JFK?? I can't, lol.

Man, it was just so much interesting stuff on there that I just didn't know about. How could we NOT have learned that JFK was a war hero??? I think that's important to know. Not just served in WW2, but a hero? Dang, they coulda told a sista.

BTW, I didn't take notes on any of this! And I haven't started the Ginkgo Biloba, either!!! Go Ideal08!!!!!

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by 2DISCRETE4U
I briefly heard about Michael Jordan and his wife getting a divorce. What's up with that?? I didn't hear the whole story so could somone fill me in.....

Michael Jeffrey Jordan vs. Juanita Vannoy Jordan:

Michael Jordan's wife files for divorce, cites 'irreconcilable differences'

January 8, 2002


CHICAGO (AP) -- Michael Jordan's wife has filed for divorce, citing ``irreconcilable differences'' with the basketball superstar after 12 years of marriage.

Juanita Jordan is seeking permanent custody of their three children, a 25,000-square-foot house in suburban Highland Park and half of the rest of the couple's property. Michael Jordan, who now plays for the Washington Wizards, was paid more than $30 million in his final season with the Chicago Bulls and is one of the world's richest athletes.

Juanita Jordan filed the petition Friday in suburban Waukegan.

The Jordans issued a statement Tuesday asking for privacy ``during this difficult period in our lives.'' Donald Schiller, a lawyer for Juanita Jordan, said the couple hopes ``people try to respect'' that their problems are a personal matter.

Jordan was to play in Washington Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The six-page petition said attempts at reconciliation ``would be impractical and not in the best interests of the family.''

The couple met at a Chicago restaurant during his second season with the Bulls, and they were married Sept. 2, 1989, in Las Vegas. Their children are Jeffrey, 13, Marcus, 11, and Jasmine, 9.

Michael Jordan cited a desire to spend more time with his family when he retired from the Bulls the first time in October 1994 and again in January 1999.

He maintained his home in the Chicago area when he returned to basketball as a front-office executive with the Wizards last season, but his decision to resume his playing career has kept him in Washington full time.

[c&c1913]

I heard on the radio today that Juanita had a private investigator follow him for four years. She has all kinds of evidence that he had been with six women in that time. Also, that he want to give her $100 million dollars and be done with it.

[Eastcoast Sunshine]

.............that is the "buzz"according to Wendy Williams.

[2DISCRETE4U]

That's what I heard on the radio this morning too! Something about them getting married and that she's pregnant with her second child!
Can anyone else confirm this??

Eastcoast Sunshine I PM'd you.

[kiml122]

Yes I heard it this morning on the radio, and yesterday on the Tom Joyner morning show.

[CrimsonTide4]

'the Fridge' To Fight Butterbean
Jan. 8, 2002
AP


GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) William "The Refrigerator" Perry will make his pro boxing debut Feb. 2 against Eric 'Butterbean' Esch.

The fight will take place at the Grand Casino in Gulfport, the casino announced Monday.

Perry, the popular former NFL defensive tackle, became a household name during his rookie year with the Chicago Bears in 1985. The 300-pounder started on the defensive line, but gained fame by occasionally playing running back. He scored a touchdown in Chicago's Super Bowl victory.

[Steeltrap]

Why, why, why? William Perry was a second-tier celebrity even when he was playing.

One of the sports radio stations in SoCal had an interview with Butterbean, who the Fridge is fighting. Butterbean is a joke.

[Ideal08]

Originally posted by Eastcoast Sunshine
.............that is the "buzz"according to Wendy Williams.

Funny you should mention this, because just the other day, I was trying to remember if they got back together. I could have SWORN that right after her and Kadeem's pending divorce got out, that they decided to stay together. Did I make that up? I guess I did if she is supposedly pregnant by and marrying Kenny. Dang. Don't you need a transitional period?