What’s good, young world? And Happy Halloween. After being
out of commission last week, I’m feeling much better. With less than five days
to go before a new president is crowned, the week comes with Obama taking over
prime time with a 30-minute infomercial, rumored infighting among those in the
McCain and Palin camps, and the Philadelphia Phillies capturing their second
World Series title on Wednesday (Oct. 29).
Thoughts and prayers go out to Jennifer Hudson regarding the
death of her mother, brother, and nephew. Many thanks to Nora, who was kind
enough to sub for me last week. It was much appreciated. Shout out to Faith,
Bill and Michael, who are personally responsible for my addiction to Townhouse
Toppers, those who checked in with lectures and well wishes to make sure I’m
alive and kicking, and the sounding boards for staying relevant in an
irrelevant world.
So this is what we have…the Last Word for the week ending
Oct. 31, 2008.
1. Alicia Keys Maintains Financial Control By Any Means
Necessary
Alicia Keys is not the one to play with. Especially when it
comes to her finances.
In an interview with Parade magazine, the hitmaker made it known that she will not be the subject
of any riches to rags story when speaking on her rep as a workaholic who wants
control over all aspects of her career.
“I just want to know what’s going on with my money,
where it’s going, how it is being spent,” Keys said. “I don’t give a
damn if people hate me. I’m never gonna be one of those stories you read about
where someone had all this and ended up with zero because so many people took
advantage of them.”
I guess this is another glimpse into the secret life of B’s.
I’m not mad at you, Miss Keys. Be about your money man, or in this case
Superwoman.
2. Jessica Alba, Nick Cannon and Eva Mendes Trading Cards
Up For Grabs For Charity
Have you ever wanted to trade Jessica Alba for Eva Mendes?
The idea may not be so far- fetched as a new line of celebrity trading cards
featuring the actors is coming to stores.
The line, which is called PopCardz, is being released by an
entertainment product company called A-List Global Media. Some 40 celebrities
will be featured on the PopCardz line, including Scarlett Johansson, Jared
Leto, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Raven-Symone, Nick Cannon, Ashley
Tisdale, Megan Fox, Jessica Biel, Hayden Panettiere and Christina Ricci.
The back of the cards will list various facts about the
stars such as birth dates, hometowns and mottos as well their favorite charity,
movie, song, book, place, sport, food – and a secret.
Look for PopCardz to arrive in stores starting in November.
The line will be sold in five-card packs where each card will have a 10-digit
access code printed on it that will provide additional online content at
PopCardz.com.
Proceeds from the sale of PopCardz will go to the
celebrities’ charities.
3. Gabrielle Union Unites Women for Breast Cancer
Reduction
It seems like every celebrity has a cause they hold near and
dear to their heart. And Gabrielle Union is no different as she takes breast
cancer reduction seriously.
Essence.com reports the actor took a trip to Ghana as part
of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s mission delegation trip to help reduce the
rate of breast cancer among women in the country. During her visit, Union got
an up-close look at the effects of the disease as she spent time with at least
50-60 breast cancer survivors and joined Ghana President John Kufuor for a
dedication ceremony at the HopeXchange Medical Center, a new state-of-the-art
breast cancer diagnostic and treatment facility in Kumasi.
So why would someone like Gabrielle Union lend her fame and
name to the cause of breast cancer? According to the actor, the motivation came
two years ago when a close girlfriend was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic
breast cancer.
“She was underinsured and needed money for treatment and
medications,” Union told Essence. “I
instantly became active in fund-raising to help her and then became passionate
about making sure other people didn’t have to go through what she did. I wanted
to make sure that people have the access to health care, support groups,
counseling and whatever is needed as they battle this disease.”
The disease hit Gabrielle even harder when she found out her
aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer while she was in Africa. As a result, the
entertainer is on a mission to raise awareness of breast cancer as well as
funds for research and treatment.
“By going to Ghana and seeing firsthand that African women
are suffering and dying at an alarming rate from the disease is terrible
because I know if caught early, breast cancer is treatable and survivable,”
Union said. “It just makes me want to help that much more.”
4. The
Jackson 5 and Janet Reunite for 2009 Reunion
After much drama and up and down record sales, the Jackson 5
is coming together for an official reunion.
Jermaine Jackson confirmed the news Wednesday (Oct. 29) to
the Australian Associated Press during a
trip to Australia to help launch a “greatest hits” TV channel for
Paynet Foxtel.
“This has been a long time coming for the Jackson
family to get back together,” said Jermaine, who labeled the reunion as a
“family affair.” It is just the timing, so what we’ve been doing is
working on the music and all the logistics. It is going to be more like a
family affair – Janet’s going to open and, of course, the original
Jackson 5…Michael, Randy and the whole family. We’re in the studio, we’re
planning on being out there next year.”
As much as I would love to see the Jacksons on stage, I’ll
believe it when it happens. Don’t be surprised if the whole thing is called off
at the first of the year because of Michael’s pending legal drama, Janet’s
health issues and Tito’s impossible demands for his small but vocal entourage.
Hopefully, Joe will break out the whip or the strap to bring things back to the
way they were.
5. 112 Member Reveals Reason for Breakup
R&B groups are rare these days. While solo aspirations
and ego may cause some collectives to break up, Bad Boy Records quartet 112
fell victim to the root of all evil, money. According to former 112 singer
Michael Keith, the split came last year after he and Marvin “Slim”
Scandrick had issues with another member of the group.
“I had to leave because I found out that a certain
member of the group took my publishing check. It was made clear that it was
intended for myself and another member, Slim,” Keith told EUR’s Lee
Bailey, adding that he expects former bandmates Quinnes Parker or Daron Jones
to come clean about the check. “I’m all about trust. And once you lose that
trust with me man, it’s just time for me to make a move and focus on my solo
career. Everybody else was focused on their solo careers, the outside
endeavors, and I just decided it was time for me to make that change and go
into solo mode, Michael Keith mode.”
Although 112 had its share of arguments and infighting over
the years, Keith admits that keeping the group together was more
important. But to devote so much
time to an effort to only have it wrecked over money was “something I
can’t forgive.”
As a result, Keith and his business manager are thinking of
filing charges regarding the situation, which comes as a difficult revelation
for the singer. Maybe they should’ve heeded the advice of their legendary label
mate, the Notorious B.I.G., when he said “Mo money, mo problems.”
6. Tracy
Morgan Has Gay Flashback With Prince
Alcohol is a helluva drug. A few drinks can get you ready
for a good night out on the town. Too many drinks can make you like Tracy
Morgan, who recently quit wearing an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet.
The comedian reminisced over his wild past during an
interview with Complex magazine as he
revealed a brief gay moment he had when he went to a pre-Grammy party at
Prince’s house.
“When I was wilding? I got kicked out of Prince’s house.
The last time he won a Grammy, we went to the pre-Grammy party. Free booze all
night,” Morgan shared. “Prince had his band in the living room. Everybody
left the house except for me and my boy. It was 6 o’clock, 7 o’clock in the
morning, the sun was coming up, and we were still drinking. And Prince and his
wife were at the door in their pajamas and said, ‘Come on, Tracy, you’ve got to
go.’ And I was gay for about five seconds because he’s a pretty muthaf**ker. If
Prince was a woman, I would go down on him. All the way down. Swell his v#####
lips up.”
Damn. He’s talking about five seconds? That sounds like
something pre-meditated. I think Tracy may need a role model, a hug or some
type of male reinforcement and divine intervention in his life. Tracy Morgan,
you are now suspect. Case closed.
In Other Words…
* The film version of the ’80s hit TV show The A-Team has hit an obstacle. Daily Variety reports the feature, which currently has no cast
attached to it, is now without a director. John Singleton, who had signed on to
helm the film, dropped out of the picture after Twentieth Century Fox said it
wanted more time to develop the script.
As a result, The A-Team
is now set to hit theatres on June 11, 2010. The film, which had gone through
various rewrites, was originally slated to come out June 12, 2009.
* Days after rumors surfaced about Donnie Klang making
racist comments about being on his label Bad Boy, the singer has issued a
statement addressing the situation and the source that reported the story.
“A
popular website posted a completely fabricated story about me yesterday, and
now it’s circulating around the internet. It is important for me to speak to my
fans and let them know that the story is 100% fiction,” Klang said. “It’s
completely made up! I love all my fans and all people of various racial,
ethnic, and religious backgrounds. I would never, in any way, say anything
racially derogatory. In addition, I love my Bad Boy family and have nothing but
love for the entire label and staff. Don’t believe the lies! The story is
absolutely false.”
* We all know that Samuel L. Jackson is a bad m###, but the
actor is doing his part to live up to that description as he gets set to play
Sho’nuff, the Shogun of Harlem in a remake of Berry Gordy’s 1985 cult classic The
Last Dragon. No other casting news has been
announced so far for the film, which will follow the plot of the original film
as it centers on Sho’nuff’s rival Leroy Green and his quest to achieve the
highest level of martial arts accomplishment, known as the Last Dragon.
* Leonardo DiCaprio is back again to encourage people to
vote. The actor, who lined up stars like Usher and Justin Timberlake in his
first PSA, 5 Friends, has gathered Will Smith, Harrison Ford, Scarlett
Johansson, Tom Cruise and Shia LaBeouf for a new PSA, titled 5 More Friends.
The new group of celebs go against the first PSA’s sarcastic do not vote
message as Cruise asks, “‘Don’t vote?’ Now, what do you mean ‘Don’t vote?’”
After Steven Spielberg explains the reason behind 5 Friends
to Cruise, the other stars reveal why they are voting in this year’s election.
After which, a web address appears at the end of 5 More Friends where you can
find your local voting polls.
