The American Idol scandal is the talk of the town. ABC's Primetime Live is planning to air an expose on the popular show. A lot of the controversy centers on Judge Paula Abdul. Last week, she went to the press to explain her odd behavior. She says she is not on drugs. Paula says when she was 17, she was involved in a cheerleading accident that left her with an injured disc in her neck. She says taking too many painkillers to ease the pain was the cause of her problems. Paula has also been accused of sleeping with the male contestants on the show. Corey Clark, an Idol contestant from season number two, says he and Paula had an affair. Clark was booted from the show when it was revealed he had a criminal record for beating up his sister. Clark says not only did he have an affair with Abdul, but she was also involved with Justin Guarini from season number one. He says Abdul promised him $2 million to help start his music career, and paid for his cell phone bill so they could keep in touch. He says she helped derail Justin Guarini's career after Justin bragged about sleeping with her. Was Paula sleeping with the male contestants from American Idol? Idol Judge Simon Cowell says this is just pure "rubbish." He says Clark has a book to sell and he is making up outrageous lies. What do you think? She's sweet and innocent on the show, but is she a she-devil when the cameras stop rolling? Will this scandal hurt the show? Simon says controversy is good. Do you think she will return next season? Paula is always gushing over the male contestants. What do you think? Send me your emails at
pattyj1053@aol.com
Was Michael Jackson molested as a child? According to a 51 year-old Harlem woman, Yes! Antoinette Holmes says she was the first president of the Jackson Five Fan Club. Holmes says back in 1969, when Michael was ten years old, he confessed to her that he was molested by an older woman. She says this has bothered her for 35 years. Is she telling the truth? Well, she recently took two lie detector tests, and she passed them. Holmes says she is coming forward because the public needs to get another side of Michael and understand his childhood. He has always said he never had a childhood. Could this explain his strange behavior?
In other Michael news, his ex-wife Debbie Rowe is expected to testify during his child molestation trial. She wants her children back, and since Michael cut off her money she plans to make him pay. Rowe is the mother of his two older kids, Prince and Paris. She has not seen her kids in two years. She basically sold them for money! Then she gave a TV interview that made Michael mad, and he cut off her money. Debbie is broke and now she is willing to talk. She is expected to say she was strong-armed into saying nice things about her ex. Will she talk about their parental arrangement? Will she talk about their sex life or their secret agreement?
Shar Jackson is stretching her fifteen minutes of fame. The former Moesha star has two children by Kevin Federline, who is married to Pop Star Britney Spears. Jackson recently signed a new recording deal, and her first album is due this summer. The first single is a song called, 'You Make Me Feel Good.' She is also coming out with a cosmetics line called, "Relation-lips." The first product will be a lip-gloss called, 'He Cheated.' Jackson knows first hand about cheating because Britney's hubby Kevin dumped Shar when she was seven months pregnant. Federline and Spears are now expecting their first child, and Jackson says she is not surprised. She says Federline is overwhelmed by everything. He feels it's just too much with a breakup, a marriage and two babies all in one year. Jackson says Britney is in over her head because a baby is not a dog! OUCH! WOW SHAR! Tell us how you really feel! I'm sure she will in her brand new reality TV Show about exes with the former Mrs. Donald Trump, Marla Maples.
Will the real Wesley Snipes please stand up? Wesley is about to lose his Florida home because of unpaid back taxes, fines and penalties. Wesley has an explanation for the tax enforcers. He claims the house belongs to his brother, Wesley Trent Snipes. He says his brother, his uncle and his father all have some form of Wesley Snipes in their names. Court documents show that the home's owner is Wesley Trent Snipes, who was born July 31st 1962. This is also the day that Wesley Snipes was born. I know this sounds confusing. Wesley is such a liar! Wesley says he will not pressure his brother to clear up his debt because he is family. WHAT! Oh Pleeeaaassseee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The cable network VH1 is back with their popular music series, Behind The Music, and New Edition is going to be profiled. The debut episode will premiere on April 28th, but it will be repeated many times on VH1. Michael Bivins, Ricky Bell, Johnny Gill, Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant and Ronnie DeVoe made up one of the most popular singings groups of all time. The Behind The Music special will show never before seen concert clips and videos. It will also show how the group was torn apart when Bobby left to launch a successful solo career and married Music Diva Whitney Houston. Johnny Gill was bought in to replace Bobby, but no one liked him despite the fact that he had a great voice. He could sing, but he couldn't dance. What were they going to do? The group was known for their dancing. Ralph felt threatened by Johnny's presence, and it was a critical time for the group. The group also survived a near breakup when Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe launched Bell-Biv-DeVoe. The group topped the charts with the songs, "Poison" and "Do Me." Johnny Gill also released a solo album with the chart topping, 'Rub You The Right Way' and "My, My, My." How did the group survive and get back together? Check it out on VH1's Behind The Music.
Now speaking of Bobby Brown, the 19 year-old waitress he was running around with on the island of Antigua is talking. Bobby was down in the Caribbean with his wife Whitney Houston while she was in rehab. Bobby was spotted running around with the 19 year-old, and it made headlines. Needless to say when Whitney found out what was going on, she hightailed it off the island with Bobby. She is now finishing up her rehab in Atlanta. The 19 year-old waitress admits that Bobby seduced her, but he was always too drunk to perform. Last week, I asked you about Whitney and Bobby. The majority of you blame Bobby for her problems, but many believe Whitney has to help herself and then get rid of Bobby. To all who answered our email question, thanks. It was good having a chance to chat with so many people.
R Kelly is due in court this week for a pretrial hearing in his child pornography case.
Kobe Bryant and his wife Vanessa recently renewed their vows. The occasion was their 4th wedding anniversary, and they had a recommitment ceremony that featured only the two of them. It's been a rough four years for the Bryants. Vanessa stood by her man when he was accused of raping a Colorado woman. Kobe says the sex was consensual, but he had to pay the price for cheating. He had to give his wife a $4 million diamond ring. The recommitment ceremony cost Kobe $50 thousand, but he didn't care. He wanted to make his wife happy and prove his love for her. A few weeks ago, Vanessa was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, and she lost the baby she was carrying. The Bryants are already the parents of toddler girl.
The woman who accused Bill Cosby of drugging and groping her claims she has lined up 10 other women to say he did the same thing to them.
Halle Berry misses her stepdaughter but her ex, Singer Eric Benet, wants the Oscar winner to stay away from his daughter. Halle and his daughter were very close when they were married, but Eric feels as though his daughter has been hurt enough by their actions. He is about to release a new album this year, and he just wants to move on with his life without the shadow of Halle Berry.
Congratulations to Boxer Lennox Lewis he's getting married to former Miss Jamaica, Violet Change.
Usher will be gracing the cover of the June issue of Essence magazine as they celebrate Black Music Month. I had a chance to catch up with Susan Taylor, who is back in charge as Editor-in-Chief of the magazine. She says they received quite a backlash when it was revealed they were being sold and they would no longer be black-owned. They also received a lot of response to putting Mariah Carey on the cover with the title, "America's Most Misunderstood Black Woman." Taylor says she wants to hear from people because they want Essence magazine to be the best magazine and serve their audience. She says she takes all comments back to her editorial board, and they are listening to the readers.
Now speaking of Mariah Carey, she's got a hit album with her latest, 'The Emancipation of Mimi,' and a new love. According to published reports, she has been spotted with Director Brett Ratner from Rush Hour fame. I thought he was dating Tennis Sensation Serena Williams. Mariah is also planning to write a children's book. The 35 year-old singer says the book will be based on her childhood experiences growing up as a bi-racial child.
Did you know that the man inside the Elmo suit was a brother? As the mother of a toddler, I know all about Elmo and Elmo's World. The man in the furry red suit is Kevin Clash, and he's writing an inspirational book called, 'What Elmo Taught Me.' The book will also trace his road to success.
Donnie McClurkin, Movie Star? Yes! The gospel sensation will be featured in the movie, The Gospel along with Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, Boris Kodjoe, Nona Gaye and Idris Elba of The Wire.
Holly Robinson Peete is returning to TV in the UPN show, Wing Woman.
Taye Diggs' wife, Broadway Star Idina Menzel, will be joining her husband on his UPN show, Kevin Hill. She's appearing on the May 11th season finale playing a lawyer who is trying to take away the baby he is raising. The Kevin Hill character was left to raise his cousin's six month-old daughter after his cousin dies. Well in the season finale, Actress Megan Goode comes back with her boyfriend, played by Wayne Brady, to reclaim the baby. Toni Braxton will also appear in the episode. There has been no word yet on whether the show will be renewed for next season.
At the movies this week, it's Ice Cube in Triple XXX: State of the Union.
The long-awaited John Singleton movie, Hustle and Flow with Terrance Howard opens in theatres on July 15th.
Floetry's new album, Flo Ology, is coming out in July.
Patti Labelle has a new album coming out just in time for Fathers' Day. It's an album of duets. The CD, Labelle of the Ball: The Classics, features Patti teaming up with Mary J. Blige, Elton John, Rocker Courtney Love and Michael McDonald. I had a chance to hang out with Patti recently, and she says she and Mary J. Blige recorded the Aretha Franklin classic, 'Ain't No Way,' in one take. She says you won't be able to tell their voices apart. This is going to be the first single. I had to ask her about Elton John. They redid his classic, "Your Song." Patti has known and worked with Elton for years, and on the Fourth of July, they will be performing on the steps of the Art Museum as part of the Welcome America! festivities. Patti says he recently gave her one of his famous diamond rings after she complimented him on it. Later this year, Elton will be getting married to his longtime partner David Furnish.
The third season of Dave Chappelle's "Chappelle's Show" kicks off on May 31st on Comedy Central at 10pm. Chappelle signed a new contract with Comedy Central last year for $50 million.
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