The Last Word: Janet’s Nipple Returns, Bobby Brown Becomes Rick James, Beyonce Sued

What’s shaking Last Wordians? With Serena Williams spazzing out during the U.S. Open, Kanye West stealing Taylor Swift’s moment at the VMA’s and Rep. Joe Wilson (the idiot) refusing to be “muzzled” after heckling the President during his recent health care speech, the question of the moment seems to be ‘Who didn’t take time out to act […]

What’s shaking Last Wordians? With Serena Williams spazzing out during the U.S. Open, Kanye West stealing Taylor Swift’s moment at the VMA’s and Rep. Joe Wilson (the idiot) refusing to be “muzzled” after heckling the President during his recent health care speech, the question of the moment seems to be ‘Who didn’t take time out to act a damn fool  this week?”  Even President Obama looked less than stellar after audio and video turned up of him calling Kanye a “jackas

   

Thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends of actor Patrick Swayze who died Tuesday after a long battle with pancreatic cancer and Annie Le, the Yale student who’s dead body was found on the day of her wedding. Happy birthday to Reanea, who is celebrating with a well-deserved long weekend at the Grand Canyon with her fiancé. Shout out to Beyonce for inviting Taylor back on stage to have her moment  from winning her first ever VMA and the sounding boards who always find a way to make the impossible possible.

 

And now the main course. Here is….the Last Word for the week ending Sept. 18, 2009.

 

 

1.       Bobby Brown Channels Rick James; Reportedly Brings His Perogative to Celebrity Fit Club

 

It seems like Bobby Brown has seen better days. After his ex-wife Whitney Houston aired him out during her sit-down with Oprah, the crooner countered all the talk about him being such a negative influence on her by placing the demise of their relationship on both their hands.

 

“I think we corrupted each other,” the entertainer told The Insider. “I don’t think she hurt me or I hurt her in any way. I just think we had a 14-year marriage that had its ups and down and not many people understood it.”

 

And while Whitney admitted to marijuana and crack cocaine being her drugs of choice, Bobby also subscribed to the white stuff as he indirectly brought back memories of the late Rick James by mentioning his favorite substance.

 

“Cocaine. It’s a powerful drug,” Brown said as he tried to pinpoint his reason for seeking drugs to deal with his personal problems. I just think I was bored, you know. I had just gotten married and …things wasn’t right. Unfortunately, I turned to alcohol and drugs.”

 

 Looks like drugs and alcohol isn’t the only thing Bobby turned to. Apparently the Brown bomber got his eat on a little too much and is now trying to slim down. According to reports, Brown is set to appear on the next season of VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club.

 

Sources revealed to TMZ.com that Brown will be joined by several other “stars” that include actors from High School Musical, Baywatch and The Practice. No telling who these people are, but all will be revealed in time.

 

Nevertheless, just having Bobby on the show may be worth checking in. I can already see the drama unfold with all the stuff he’ll have to go through to lose weight. And with no drugs to lean on to get him through… well, let’s just say that ‘every little step’ he takes to get his tenderoni status back will be very interesting.

 

 

2.       Abercrombie & Fitch Wage “Fierce” War Against New Beyonce Fragrance

 

Who knew that being Sasha Fierce would be so complicated? Apparently, Beyonce Knowles is learning just that, thanks to a new lawsuit filed Tuesday (Sept. 15) against her by Abercrombie & Fitch.

 

WWD reports the clothing company’s beef with the hitmaking diva stems from a new fragrance line she created and plans on releasing this spring. The new scent, which will be released under the Sasha Fierce name, is part of deal Beyonce signed with Coty Inc. to produce her own perfume.

 

“For me, fragrance reflects a woman’s attitude and unique sense of style,” said Beyonce, who didn’t reveal a name for her perfume. “While I love various perfumes, I haven’t found a scent that truly personifies me as a woman. Working with Coty, I was able to turn my ideal fragrance into a reality by creating an alluring and sophisticated fragrance; one that’s reflective of my inner power.”

 

In its federal complaint, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Columbus, Ohio, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. allege that a scent with the name Sasha Fierce would infringe on its own Fierce cologne trademark and pose a “likelihood of confusion” for consumers. The company, which started selling its Fierce scent in 2002 and trademarked its men’s cologne brand in 2003, says it spent more than $3 million in the last two years on scent machines that generate the fragrance throughout its 352 locations.

 

In the suit, Beyonce’s people countered A&F’s claims, as they believed that the general public would have no problem telling the difference between the two scents.

 

Upon discovering that Beyonce filed an application for “Sasha Fierce” trademarks in 2008, Abercrombie sent a sent cease and desist letter to the singer. But Bey didn’t back off and continued to get the trademark for the scent. According to federal records, A&F filed a still-pending opposition to Knowles’ trademark application in May.

 

Bottom line: A&F wants an injunction to stop Knowles’ use of the Fierce name for fragrance as well as attorneys’ fees, among other things.  

 

All of this over one word. Is it that serious for people to actually try to distinguish between the two scents? Sounds like more trouble than it’s worth. After all, Abercrombie’s fragrance will be sold in their stores while Beyonce will have her scent in department stores. If you’re like me and on a budget, a name won’t make the difference. It’s the price. How much are you willing pay to be Abercrombie or Sasha Fierce?  That’s the question.

 

 

3.       Robbery Victim Sues O.J. Simpson for Multiple Heart Trouble

 

Even in jail, it seems that O.J. Simpson cannot escape the long arm of those who want a piece of him.

According to TMZ, Simpson’s failed robbery attempt from years ago to get his personal possessions back has come back to bite him as guy named Bruce Fromong has filed a personal injury lawsuit against the former football great.

 

As one of the people Simpson held at gunpoint during the robbery attempt, Fromong claims that OJ is responsible for the multiple heart attacks he suffered as a result of the robbery. In addition the memorabilia dealer claims that he also suffered “great bodily injury” from the incident. As for what the bodily injury was, Fromong’s lawyer told TMZ that it was several heart attacks. Fromong caught O.J.’s attention by having some of his stuff in a Las Vegas hotel room.

 

And the rest, they say, was history. Fromong is suing Simpson for infliction of emotional distress, negligence, in addition to assault and battery and unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

So how will O.J. pay this guy if he wins in court? From what TMZ says, it looks like Fromong is putting his hopes on Simpson’s homeowner’s policy to give him what he feels he is owed.

 

With all the legal issues O.J. has it may be a while before he sees a cent. And that’s if he wins. I’ve heard of people saying you almost gave me a heart attack or you scarred the sh*t out of me. But never anyone saying, “You gave me multiple heart attacks.” Who is this guy kidding? If he’s that concerned about his health, maybe he can run around the yard with O.J. to get in shape.

 

That’s O.J. for ya. Always one to keep his name out there. Even if he is too incarcerated to give a damn.  Good luck Mr. Fromong.

 

 

4.       FCC Revisits Janet Jackson Wardrobe Malfunction

 

Call it Nipplegate II.

 

Media sources report that Janet Jackson’s infamous Super Bowl “wardrobe malfunction” is being re-examined by the Federal Communications Commission.

 

The FCC is looking at the case again in light of a Supreme Court decision made last year that upheld a indecency citation against Fox Television Stations Inc. that was made during the Bush administration for airing utterances of the “F-word” during a live music awards show. The blink and you missed it showing of Jackson’s breast during her 2004 Super Bowl halftime performance with Justin Timberlake ended with a $550,000 fine the FCC gave to CBS Television for violating what he said was indecency standards.

 

In May, the Supreme Court sent the case back to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit for further review. The lower court previously had overturned the FCC fine.

 

In its filing on Tuesday, the FCC asked the court for permission to examine whether CBS was reckless by not using video delay technology. The technology is not unfamiliar to the network since used a video delay for the 2004 Grammy Awards, which seven days after the Super Bowl.

 

“The evidence in this case strongly suggests that CBS had access to video delay technology at the time of the 2004 Super Bowl,” the FCC stated in its court document.

 

I’m sure this is what Janet needs after all the stuff going since her brother Michael’s death in June. From the looks of it, its seems like the FCC is searching for a reason to check out the “malfunction” again.  Makes you wonder. How many times they actually have to look at that footage of Janet’s nipple. Enquiring minds want to know.

 

 

 

In Other Words…

 

Jennifer Hudson will travel down the yellow brick road (sort of) at the end of the month as she makes an appearance at Central Park in New York for a free screening of the classic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz. The actress/singer, along with The Root’s ?uestlove and country star Julianne Hough, will perform songs from the movie’s score. The event, which will be presented  Sept. 29 by Netflix and Warner Brothers Home Entertainment, will celebrated a remastered, high definition 70th anniversary edition of The Wizard of Oz.

 

Those wanting to attend the  screening should enter the park at 69th Street and 5th Avenue on the East Side or at 72nd Street and Central Park West on the West Side. On Oct. 3, the new edition of The Wizard of Oz will be streamed for free for 24 hours  at http://www.netflix.com/wizardofoz/, starting at 9 a.m.

 

Jill Scott is making herself known on the Lifetime Movie Network with the upcoming made for TV film Sins of the Mother. The songstress will play a mother who starts a new a life after raising a daughter.

 

 The movie is based on the novel Orange Mint and Honey. According to Variety, the book centers on a grad student who returns home to face her abusive, alcoholic mother (Scott) only to discover that her mom is sober and has a 3-year-old daughter and new life.

 

Sins of the Mother is slated to premiere on the Lifetime Movie Network in 2010.

 

Life after A Different Word is a bit different for Jasmine Guy, who has become the latest celebrity to encounter financial problems. Newly filed documents from L.A. Superior Court reveal that Guy, who played Whitely Gilbert on the ‘80s sitcom, was granted a divorce from her husband Terrence Mitchell Duckett. Simple enough, but the catch is that the actress had to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy because of their mounting debt.

 

Court papers show that Guy owes $123,503.64 plus interest in back taxes and penalties, while Duckett’s debt amounts to $94,354.71 plus, you guessed it, interest. The good news for Jasmine is that relief is on the way, courtesy of a new role she snagged on the new CW show, The Vampire Diaries.