Stop the rumors! Usher and his girlfriend, model Eishia Brightwell, are not having a child. Yes, the photo is misleading, but that Atlanta Gossip report circulating online is some bootleg Internet creation. When will people stop believing those type of e-mails? Note to all radio jocks: Any report with misspelled words and improper grammar is not a legitimate story. And for the record, we checked with his rep.
"It's a completely false and senseless rumor. Usher and Eishia Brightwell are not expecting a baby. It was a story fabricated by a total idiot," said Simone Smalls of Susan Blond, Inc.
Also, our inbox was fluttered with e-mails from readers inquiring about Free not being on '106 & Park.' There were tons of rumors about her absence -- everything from her quitting to her being fired -- but no matter what the buzz is in the streets, the network says she's coming back.
"Free has definitely not been axed from '106 & Park.' We look forward to her return shortly as she is on vacation," says Stephen Hill, BET's executive vice president for Music and Entertainment Programming.
Back In Stride
On the verge of Destiny's Child announcing their breakup following their current national tour, two veteran R&B groups have reconciled their differences and are ready to hit the stage again. New York-bred trio SWV -- Coko (Cheryl Clemons), Lelee (Leanne Lyons) and Taj (Tamara Johnson) -- are back together and will perform their first concert together in almost nine years on Aug. 20 at Los Angeles radio station 100.3 The Beat's Hummer Summer Jam.
"We're really excited because we miss performing," said group member Taj, who's married to NFL player Eddie George. "I've been dreaming about it, and I'm really happy that now all of our kids will be able to see us on stage."
SWV was originally slated for the lineup on this year's Tom Joyner Fantastic Voyage, but the show didn't happen. "Tom apparently had Teddy Riley coordinating a 'New Jack Swing' concert for the cruise," explained Coko, who's married to drummer-producer Mike Clemons. "I didn't know until I heard the promo for it on the radio and joked to my husband, 'When was Teddy going to tell us we were doing the cruise?' We still don't know what happened really because I spoke to Teddy one time after that, and we never heard back from him."
Group member Lelee says she'd love to be a part of next year's lineup. "Yeah, I'd love for us to do the cruise next year, and we would love to do one of Tom's live sky shows too," she added.
SWV is also scheduled to perform in Washington, D.C. at the DC Armory on Sept. 3, along with K-Ci & JoJo, Guy and Keith Sweat.
BV Buzz previously reported that the R&B group Next has ended their near three-year squabble. The Minnesota-bred trio -- RL (Robert Huggar), Tweet (Raphael Brown) and T-Low (Terry Brown) -- have called a truce and plan to return to the recording studio. We'll have details on the Next reunion in the weeks to come.
Foxy Endeavor
Look out Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart, another celebrity is getting into the magazine business. Actress Vivica A. Fox is the editor-at-large of Jolie magazine, a new beauty and fashion publication geared toward African-American women.
"Chile, I got my own magazine," laughed Fox when I caught up with her at The Ritz Carlton Pentagon City hotel in Arlington, Va.
Fox will write a column and do special celebrity interviews in the bimonthly magazine. "I'm so proud to be a part of something fresh and innovative for this vast market of fashion-forward women," said the star of Lifetime's 'Missing.'
Jolie hits newsstands in September but, in the meantime, Fox will be on a whirlwind publicity tour promoting the publication. For more details, visit
www.VivicaFox.com.
Comics Clash
Comedienne Sheryl Underwood is the new host for the upcoming season of 'Comic View' and one of her colleagues isn't happy with her antics. BV Buzz previously reported that Underwood took unfunny comics to task during the recent 'Comic View' tapings in New Orleans and one comic in particular, Hope Flood, wasn't amused. (To recap some of what Underwood did, read the July 11 BV Buzz.)
Flood, a morning drive host on Dallas's 105.7 KRNB and publisher of Comedy the Magazine, feels Underwood's actions were inappropriate. "I think that Sheryl Underwood is wrong. It's absolutely ludicrous! Why is that her job? Who made her the comedy critic? Everybody don't think Sheryl Underwood is funny, and I don't care how great she thinks she is. That doesn't mean they come behind her on her shows and ridicule her or belittle her or stop her from going out on the road making that money," she began.
"It's crazy and I don't care what BET told her to do," Flood's rant continued. "She ain't ever done what they told her to do before or what anyone else ever told her to do for that matter. But now all of a sudden you're going to conform to whatever somebody asked you to do? And you know that it's wrong!"
Underwood is confused by Flood's stance, however, and actually feels her comrade's position is a bit hypocritical. "She was running [a comedy club called] the Town House. When she got up and hosted she did the exact same thing! She may say its different because she wasn't on TV, but if the audience felt that you didn't come with it, then Hope said something about you," remembered the purse-toting comedienne.
The Zeta Phi Beta member, who recently appeared in Queen Latifah's 'Beauty Shop,' makes no apologies for her style of hosting 'Comic View' and believes it's quite in line with the atmosphere of comedy clubs across the country. "In the direction that BET wanted the show to go, they wanted to strip everything from it and make it about standup comedy. They wanted to make it so close to a comedy club," explained Underwood. "Let's make this statement clear though, Hope was not there. So she can't say anything of what I did because she wasn't there! She's entitled to her opinion, but it would have been more guaranteed if she would have been at the taping."
Underwood feels Flood's attack on her is personal. "I think all of this is personal. She's doing exactly what you do in show business. You want to keep your name out there, you want to make yourself relevant to the issues so then you step up to the plate. This seems to be an issue about how Hope Flood feels about her 'friend' Sheryl Underwood, and I'm still Hope Flood's 'friend' whether I agree with this whole tirade or not," concluded the comedienne.
Does Flood's anger stem from a personal beef between the two comediennes? Flood answered: "What is personal is that a fellow comedienne was once down for comedians, but now she wants to down them because they're not having the set of their life. I don't think that it's right that a fellow comic that is hosting a show has the right to get back on stage and ridicule and belittle a comic on national television. Now is that going to air? Well I don't know. But BET, as trifling as they are and the things that they do, yeah it'll air!"
Despite it all, Underwood is excited about the October premiere of 'Comic View' and warns Flood, "Don't criticize in public because those are the same people you're going to work for when this is over."
And to any other comics who may have issues with her actions at 'Comic View,' Underwood closed: "The bottom line is, when you agree to tape a TV show, you better bring your A-game. Because you're being paid for a service and you represent all comics coming behind you."
Can't Say Names
Can't Say Names ...
... What R&B diva's hair dilemma cost her a recent magazine cover? The essence of this story is that the certain singing someone wouldn't allow a magazine's glam squad to "replace her weave because she'd just had one done and her scalp was apparently raw." When the female monthly's cover editor suggested a wig instead, said singer balked at the idea and the magazine canned the cover.
Buzzworthy
... 'The Apprentice' star Stacie J. gets back to reality in a new E! Entertainment series 'Kill Reality.' The Subway sandwich shop owner will be the sole African American on the new reality series that has a bevy of reality stars honing their acting skills and preparing to star in the horror film 'The Scorned.' Tensions rise as stars from 'Survivor,' 'The Bachelor,' 'The Real World' and several other reality shows all get a second chance at what they all really want -- the opportunity to be a Hollywood star. 'Kill Reality' premieres on July 25. 'The Scorned' will air in September and be available in time for Halloween.
... Actor Keith Robinson ('Fat Albert') stars alongside actor-rapper Sticky Fingaz in the new FX series 'Over There,' which premieres on July 27. Robinson, a former cast member on the NBC show 'American Dreams,' will also appear in the upcoming Hallmark Hall of Fame film 'Reading Room.' That film also stars James Earl Jones.
... Prince's ex-wife, and rocker Tommy Lee's ex-girlfriend Mayte Garcia is hosting a new show on the E! Entertainment network called 'Daily Blend.' The show premiered on July 18 and airs at 8 a.m. 'Daily Blend' is an hour-long music video series that features 10 popular music videos covering a daily theme.
... Seagram's Gin & Juice will announce the winner of its 'Hot or Not Calendar Girl Contest' this week. To promote its new Red Fury brand, Seagram's partnered with syndicated radio host Wendy Williams for the exclusive promotion. Seagram's consumers and Williams' listeners were encouraged to submit a photo to compete for a slot in the annual Seagram's Gin calendar. The winner will receive a professional makeover, an all-expense paid trip to the photo shoot, and her very own page in the calendar. To see who wins, visit
www.seagramsgin.com.
BV Buzz 7/25--Usher is not expecting!
**wiping forehead**
Linear Mode
