According to TMZ, Tyler Perry has been named in a lawsuit by the estate of the late gospel singer/songwriter Bertha James for allegedly lifting an entire verse of James' song for his film "Madea Goes to Jail.
According to the federal lawsuit obtained by TMZ, a personal representative of the deceased singer claims Perry used an entire verse of "When I Think of the Goodness of Jesus," a song James wrote in 1950.
*The financial dispute between Oprah Winfrey's mother and a high-end fashion store in Wisconsin has been settled after both parties reached an agreement, details of which were not disclosed.
As previously reported, Vernita Lee of Milwaukee was accused of stiffing the Brookfield store, Valentina, in 2008. Lee's attorneys argued the store should not have extended credit to her because of her earlier troubles paying a bill.
Beyonce made news during the final U.K. stop of her "I Am..." tour at the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham, England, by announcing plans to release a new album in 2010.
Updating the Tiger Woods story, Florida troopers who went to interview golfer and his wife on Saturday for more details on how his SUV struck a fire hydrant and a neighbor's tree were told by his agent to come back tomorrow, Sunday (11-29-09), reports Reuters.
Meanwhile, the woman accused by the National Enquirer of having an affair with Tiger Woods says the accusations are false.
Why are we so not surprised. The couple who crashed President Barack Obama's first state dinner are peddling their story to broadcast networks for hundreds of thousands of dollars, a television executive says.
The executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the network does not publicly discuss bookings, told The Associated Press that representatives for Michaele and Tareq Salahi contacted networks to urge them to "get their bids in" for an interview.
*Former ESPN commentator Stephen A Smith, now with Fox Sports Radio is reporting that Allen Iverson may come out of his very recent retirement and play for the Philadelphia 76ers again.
He says numerous team sources confirmed on Friday that the 76ers' brass has already talked — and talks will only escalate this weekend — about bringing Iverson back to Philadelphia. Possibly as early as next week.
Why are we so not surprised. The couple who crashed President Barack Obama's first state dinner are peddling their story to broadcast networks for hundreds of thousands of dollars, a television executive says.
The executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the network does not publicly discuss bookings, told The Associated Press that representatives for Michaele and Tareq Salahi contacted networks to urge them to "get their bids in" for an interview.
The woman the National Enquirer says is Tiger Woods' "other woman" is speaking out.
The woman, Rachel Uchitel, denied having an affair with Woods when contacted by The Associated Press.
“I resent my reputation is getting completely blasted in the media,” she said during a telephone interview late Friday. “Everyone is assuming I came out and said this. This is not a story I have anything to do with.”
Florida troopers who sought to interview golf great Tiger Woods and his wife on Saturday about how his SUV struck a fire hydrant and a neighbor's tree were told by his agent to come back the following day.
Two Florida Highway Patrol vehicles had arrived at Woods' $2.4 million mansion outside Orlando, but the patrol later issued a statement that the interview was postponed to Sunday.
"The Florida Highway Patrol has received information that Tiger Woods and his wife were not available to be interviewed ... as we had previously scheduled," Kim Montes, a sergeant with the FHP's Orlando division, said in a statement.
"This announcement came from his (Woods') agent. Troopers were asked to return tomorrow (Sunday). This is still an ongoing crash investigation."
Woods, 33, the greatest golfer of his generation and one of the world's most recognizable figures, hit a fire hydrant and tree as he pulled his Cadillac Escalade out of the driveway of his house at around 2:25 a.m. EST on Friday, the FHP said. He was taken to the hospital with some injuries, and released.
Click to read.Rickell Howard as told to S. Tia Brown
I'm embarrassed to say this, but it's the truth: I almost lost it when I broke up with my fiancé. It started five years ago. I was in my second year of law school when I became pregnant with my son, Justin, now 5. His father wasn't exactly "daddy material", so I knew I was destined to be a single mother. It was a harsh and daunting fact, but my reality. Eventually, I transferred to a law in my hometown, so I could be near my family. Then something amazing happened: I reconnected with my high school sweetheart. Obviously, he was salty that I was knocked up, but he wanted to build a relationship. We did.
Seemingly overnight my nightmare morphed into what seemed to be sweet dream. My new man stood by my side as I completed law school, prepared for my state's bar exam and raised my son. After a while we moved in together and things were great. Three years later I got pregnant. I assumed the man who helped me take care of my baby with another guy would be ecstatic about raising his first biological child, but that wasn't the case. He panicked. Things were okay until my maternity leave was up and I had to return to my job; between working, breastfeeding, taking care of the kids, and the house, I was completely exhausted. Instead of being supportive he grew distant and began cheating - to top it off he was sloppy. I confronted my fiancé about his fidelity and he did the unthinkable: He chose her.
There are still some questions that the media are waiting to see answered:
1) Where was Tiger going? For some reason, Tiger's team is still not answering. This does not, however, mean that Tiger was on his way to do something irregular.
2) Will charges be filed? If so, what kind? That has not yet been determined by police, but it does remain an open investigation. But again, that doesn't mean that Tiger was doing anything wrong.
3) How serious are the injuries? Reports are conflicting about the severity of the injuries Tiger suffered. The hospital at which he was treated says he is no longer a patient.
4) Why in the world did his wife smash out the back window if Tiger was in the driver's seat? Also, did she just HAPPEN to have a golf club in her hand when she allegedly heard the accident and ran outside? Hmmm, sounds like there may be more to this story than meets the eye.
5) I hate to be the one to say this, but it is quite interesting that Tiger's back window was being smashed by his wife just a day or so after there were reports about him allegedly having an affair. I am not one to go to that place with both feet, but thousands of websites are buzzing about some of Tiger's alleged extracurricular activities.
6) The accident was allegedly not severe enough to deploy Tiger's airbags. This fact leads one to wonder even more why it was necessary to break the back windshield in order to get him out of the car.
I have some very sad and shocking news. A reporter from ABC News called me today to tell me that Tiger Woods was in a serious car crash. Woods was pulling his 2009 Cadillac SUV out of his driveway and struck a fire hydrant and then a tree. According to police, alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the accident, but Woods is in serious condition. Tiger Woods is currently the number one ranked golfer in the world, earning over $110 million dollars on the golf course alone.
Click to read.O'Neal plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers. A spokesperson for the team told the Fayetteville Observer Shaq paid for Sunday's service, which was held in Fayetteville and attended by thousands.
The funeral reportedly averaged about $4,500.
The service was held at the Manna Church. At one point, more than a hundred looked through the windows of the church door because they couldn't get in.
Bradley Lockhart, Shaniya's father, was not scheduled to speak but got up and encouraged the community to not get angry about the situation.
Shaniya disappeared from her home on November 10, and her body was found days later in a wooded area just south of Sanford.
STORY: Antoinette Davis moved to state prison
STORY: Thousands gather at Shaniya Davis funeral
According to court documents, 29-year-old Mario McNeill killed the 5-year-old the same day she was reported missing.
Shaniya's mother, 25-year-old Antoinette Davis, is charged with human trafficking and child abuse involving prostitution.
Father-to-be Robin Thicke says he and his actress wife Paula Patton have already picked out names for their first child, which is due in May.
"We like Julian if it's a boy and Isabella if it's a girl," he told People.com Saturday while hosting at The Bank nightclub in Las Vegas.
Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary's Revelations Entertainment has thrown its financial resources and technical expertise behind Digiboo, a new venture that allows consumers to rent films by plugging a small USB 3.0 flash drive into kiosks that will be set up at retail outlets.
The L.A.-based Digiboo launches a pilot program in January with Oregon-based Movie Gallery that will see 100 digital movie kiosks operate in Hollywood Video and Movie Gallery retail stores, according to Variety.
Mya is doing her thing and is poised to take the "Dancing With the Stars" title after finishing three points away from perfect during the final night of competition Monday.
She made it clear that she intends to claim the show's mirrorball trophy.
"I haven't worked this hard for this long not to win this thing," she said Monday. "That trophy is mine."
The Hollywood Reporter's Steven Zeitchik posted a piece Thursday comparing the new Sandra Bullock movie "The Blind Side" with "Precious," calling the former a "red state" version of the latter.
Zeitchik begins: "It’s almost impossible to watch “The Blind Side,” a story of race and the power of education to overcome life’s brutalities, and not think of “Precious,” a story of race and the power of education to overcome life’s brutalities.
Entertainment mogul Tyler Perry continues to give back to the community. The latest recipient of his largesse is the NAACP.
The country’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, announced Monday that Perry has donated one million dollars, marking the largest gift ever given by an individual entertainer.
The doctor at the center of Michael Jackson's death investigation asked his church congregation to pray for him Sunday, the day before he returned to work at his Houston clinic.
At Houston's Antioch Baptist Church, Dr. Conrad Murray asked for "prayers for the journey he has ahead," according to RadarOnline.
South African track star Caster Semenya gets to keep her 800-meter gold medal from the world championships, and the results of her gender tests will be kept confidential, the South African sports ministry announced Thursday.
We knew Aaron had a special way with the ladies, but he's parlayed that talent into another industry. He has tapped into his inner dog and has become a Dog Whisperer.
This side of him is totally foreign to all of his adoring fans who are probably completely confused by his choice of profession. Groups like Guy are a classic and have earned their place in R&B history.
Chris Brown was praised for being on his best behavior since being sentenced to probation in his assault case.
Judge Patricia M. Schnegg acknowledged that Brown has completed more than 100 hours of community labor so far, and seven domestic violence counseling sessions, according to the Associated Press.
"We have a progress report and it's extremely favorable," Judge Schnegg said from the bench. "That's excellent."
When Mariah Carey reportedly requested that she be surrounded by 20 white kittens and 100 white doves while lighting a Christmas tree at a British shopping center, local health and safety officials had to put their foot down.
The Producers Guild of America will present the producers of “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push' by Sapphire” with its Stanley Kramer Award at the 21st Annual PGA Awards ceremony on Jan. 24 at the Hollywood Palladium.
The trophy was established in 2002 to salute works illuminating “provocative social issues in an accessible and elevating fashion” in honor of Kramer, whose films include “The Caine Mutiny,” “High Noon,” “The Defiant Ones,” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”
Alicia Keys is getting into the bling business with a new line of necklaces in partnership with The Barber’s Daughters designer Gisele Theriault.
Due out in fall 2010, the collection will range in price from $85 to $2,500 and feature precious metals and gems inscribed with inspirational messages, reports People.com.
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I received a call the today from CNN for an appearance on Headline News with the amazing Richelle Carey. The story happened a couple of weeks ago, but it took me aback and I thought I would quickly share it with the AOL BV family. During a field trip to a former plantation in Charlotte, NC, the tour guide wanted to show the kids what slavery was like. So, he asked the black children to pick cotton while their white classmates stood around and watched. When the CNN producer (a nice woman named Ebony) told me about the story, I had to do a Gary Coleman imitation: "What choo talking bout Ebony?"
Beyond the obvious, this case is disturbing on a multitude of levels. But CNN has asked me to help make this case into a teachable moment. I love finding life lessons in everything, so here are some quick thoughts:
1) The tour guide who did this clearly wasn't thinking: If you want the children to empathize with slavery, why not have them ALL pretend to be slaves? If you have the black children pretending to be slaves and the white kids pretending to be their masters, you are only teaching the white kids to be slave masters and the black kids to be their property.
2) Look at this through the mind of a child: I remember a child in elementary school saying to me, "I wish slavery was still around, because I could then tell you what to do." Those were the same words that Walter Currie's classmate said to him beforespraying him with gasoline and setting him on fire. Those were also the words that one child said to another on the bus ride home from the plantation that day in North Carolina. Do you see a trend here? While we as adults might see the educational value in our remarks, children might see it in an entirely different way.
The Princess and the Frog" merchandise is apparently flying off the shelves despite the film being weeks away from its debut in theaters.
Disney announced that items linked to the studio's first black princess have already begun out-selling other Disney Princess merchandise by double digit percentages.
The white glove worn by Michael Jackson as he moonwalked his way into pop culture history at the 1983 Motown 25 television special will go on the auction block Saturday in New York.
"There is no question it is the Holy Grail of Michael Jackson," said Darren Julien, president and CEO of Julien's Auctions, the company behind the sale at New York's Hard Rock Cafe.
TRENTON, N.J. — Retired NBA star Jayson Williams has agreed to a plea deal that would send him to prison for up to three years for accidentally shooting a driver at his New Jersey estate in 2002, a person with knowledge of the case told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Williams, who retired in 2000 after playing nine seasons in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, was to face a retrial in January on a reckless manslaughter count.
BET.com launches its first Web series "Buppies," starring Tatyana Ali, on Tuesday Nov. 24.
Set in the glitzy and glamorous world of black Hollywood, "Buppies" follows the relationship dramas of a group of slightly dysfunctional but inseparable friends as they navigate the tricky terrain of L.A.'s young black power elite.
John Mayer says it's time for the media and public to pipe down on the Kanye West hatred and move on.
The rocker has teamed up on a new track with Taylor Swift, the victim of West's onstage protest at the "MTV Video Music Awards," but he's not about to join those publicly hating the rap star.
There are reports that Danny Glover will exchange wedding vows next month with his Brazilian girlfriend of six years, Eliane Cavalleiro.
According to the O Globo newspaper, Glover told a spokesperson for the Rio de Janeiro film festival this week that he and his fiancée have yet to decide if they will live in Glover's native U.S. after the wedding.
Five Gainesville residents are suing a Florida rapper, his record label and a local club after they were shot during a 2006 concert.
Billy Dee Williams, Michael Lamar Daymon, Edwin Devasco Faircloth, Steve Ruben Jean-Jacques and Dorian Shannel Johnson are suing rapper Plies, whose real name is Algernod Lanier Washington. They are also suing night club 238 West and Washington's record label, Slip-N-Slide Records Inc., for compensatory damages.
Washington is best known for his 2007 single "Shawty" featuring T-Pain.
According to the suit, after Washington's microphone was cut off during his show at the West University Avenue establishment, he "became enraged and a fistfight ensued."
Tory Denard Carnegie and Ronnell Lawrence Lavatte, Washington's security guards, then pulled out guns and began firing, the suit stated. The victims were each shot in different places, including the foot, neck, arm, abdomen and cheek.
According to court records, both Lavatte and Carnegie pleaded no contest to criminal charges and received prison sentences.
New York (CNN) -- More than 80 Michael Jackson collectibles -- including the late pop star's famous rhinestone-studded glove from a 1983 performance -- were auctioned off Saturday, reaping a total $2 million.
Profits from the auction at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York's Times Square crushed pre-sale expectations of only $120,000 in sales.
The highly prized memorabilia, which included items spanning the many stages of Jackson's career, came from more than 30 fans, associates and family members, who contacted Julien's Auctions to sell their gifts and mementos of the singer.
Jackson's flashy glove was the big-ticket item of the night, fetching $420,000 from a buyer in Hong Kong, China. Jackson wore the glove at a 1983 performance during "Motown 25," an NBC special where he debuted his revolutionary moonwalk.
Click to read.
In a recent radio interview with Atlanta's The Bert Show, Janet Jackson refered to Jermaine Dupri as her "ex," despite recent reports that the two were back together (and had never been apart) after previous rumors suggested they had broken up.
While chatting with the radio show, Jackson, 43, included Dupri, 37, on her very short list of ex-boyfriends with whom she still keeps in touch.
The reality show filmed by Shaquille and Shaunie O'Neal before their marriage took a decisive turn last week may find its way to at least one network still willing to give it a chance.
Earlier this year, the couple had shopped a show called "Love Shaq," based on several couples-style reality shows like "Meet the Barkers," "Newlyweds" and "Til Death Do Us Part."
50 Cent will play Santa for single mothers this holiday season as part of "50's Money For Moms" contest, in conjunction with BET.
Entrants must explain in 200 words or less why she -- or a single mother the writer knows -- deserves to win one of three grand prizes of $10,000 each from 50 Cent. Details and entries are available at www.bet.com/Site/contests_50cent.
On Nov. 23, Steve Harvey and his wife Marjorie will give away more than 6,000 turkeys to needy families across the country, as well as host “Steve Harvey’s Big Turkey Give Day” in Chicago with two daytime events in the cities of Markham and Chicago.
As part of the nationwide giveaway, the Harveys will team up with Steve Harvey Morning Show affiliate stations in 53 markets to distribute thousands of turkeys, with live on-air gives taking place in 10 of those markets.
*Hip-Hop activist Erica Ford, CEO and founder of Life Camp Inc., has partnered with the Rev. Al Sharpton to lead "National Day of Outrage," a nationwide protest against violence on Nov. 23.
Sharpton will lead a rally in Atlanta while other gatherings are scheduled to take place in Houston; Cleveland; Philadelphia; Boston; Syracuse; Savannah; Eunice Louisiana; Greensboro, North Carolina and Los Angeles.
So much for Shemar Moore ever reprising his role of Malcolm Winters on "The Young and the Restless." Beginning next month, the character will be played by former "Family Matters" star Darius McCrary, according to EW.com.
McCrary signed a multi-year deal to assume the role beginning with a taping on Nov. 18, the Web site reported. His debut will air on Dec. 29.
ACTOR Wesley Snipes is to ask an appeals panel to overturn his three federal tax convictions — because he believes the term is “unreasonable”.
The Hollywood star — best known as the vampire-slaying hero in the Blade trilogy and for other tough-guy roles — was handed the sentence in April 2008 after officials found him guilty of failing to file his taxes for five years.
*"The Wendy Williams Show" has been renewed on Fox TV stations through the 2011-12 season, even though ratings in most markets have been modest, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
"We are extremely gratified by Fox's faith in Wendy," said Mort Marcus, co-president of Debmar-Mercury. "Her substantial growth in the key ratings demos, which stations care about the most, has quickly put her program within striking distance of many of today's most established and successful talk shows."
Lawyers tell the Associated Press that assault charges have been dropped against Black Eyed Peas manager Liborio Molina, accused of punching celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.
Molina allegedly struck Hilton outside a Toronto nightclub last summer after a video awards show. As part of an agreement read in court Wednesday, Molina has written a letter of apology to Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira.
Precious" director Lee Daniels is now in advanced negotiations to helm "Selma," which will trace the historic 1965 march in the Alabama town that marked the political and emotional peak of the civil rights movement.
Daniels, whose "Precious" is drenched in Oscar buzz, will be teaming on the project with U.K. producer Christian Colson, reports Variety.
It was business as usual for Chris Brown as well as his adoring fans during a recent appearance at a Los Angeles high school.
Brown "rolled into L.A.'s Cleveland High for a celebrity basketball game sponsored by local radio station Power 106," reported TMZ.com, also notinh that his assault of Rihanna was all but forgotten by the students.
