What’s good, everybody? This week proved to have a lot going
on as A-Rod admits to using steroids, the man over the company that put out the
salmonella infected peanut butter issues a no comment while appearing before
the Senate, banking CEOs catching it during another Senate hearing and Chris
Brown experiencing the fallout from allegations that he beat up his girlfriend
Rihanna.
Get well wishes for Usher’s wife, Tameka Raymond, who is
recuperating after suffering complications from cosmetic surgery in Brazil.
Congratulations to Tiger Woods and his wife on the birth of their new baby boy.
Shout out to the sounding boards for seizing the day in order to rule the
night.
Happy Valentine’s Day in advance for all those in like, love
or lust with whomever they plan to spend quality time with on Saturday (Feb.
14).
Check it out now…the Last Word for the week ending Feb. 13,
2009.
1. Rihanna Steps Up for 5-Year-old Fan
With all the talk about her alleged beating at the hands of
Chris Brown, there seems to be nothing else Rihanna has done this week to
generate headlines. But the songbird is putting her fame to good use as People reports that Ri-Ri is making an effort to help a
5-year-old fan find a bone marrow donor.
Jas Jasmina Anema is suffering from acute leukemia, a rare
and aggressive form of the disease. Despite undergoing chemotherapy, DKMS rep
Katharina Harf says a bone marrow transplant is “the only chance for her
survival. This is a very serious situation.”
Upon hearing about Jasmina, Rihanna immediately felt the
need to help the young girl, who is a huge fan of the singer. However, it may
be a challenge to find a bone marrow match in light of Jasmina being
African-American.
“It is so unfair that for a Black patient it’s so much
harder to find a bone marrow match,” Rihanna told People. “Leukemia is the most common disease children
in the U.S. die of and we need to change that,” the vocalist continued.
“I urge everyone to sign up as a bone marrow donor with DKMS. If we have
more donors, we can save more children like Jasmina.”
“For African-Americans, it’s so much harder to find a
bone marrow match because they are underrepresented in the registry
worldwide,” Harf added as she urged people to sign up as bone marrow
donors.
Those interested in seeing if they’re a match for Jasmina
can ask for a donor kit from DKMS. Once you obtain the kit, just do a cheek
swab and mail the kit back to DKMS. For details on how to help Jasmina, visit
DKMSAmericas.org.
2. Steve
Harvey Asks Kat Williams for a Grown-Ass Conversation
Throughout his career, Steve Harvey has made many friends
and stepped on few toes. But it seems that the comedian’s troubles with fellow
comic Katt Williams are remaining front and center as Williams went in on
Harvey during a New Year’s Eve performance in Detroit.
Both entertainers were on hand to do their respective stand
up at the event. Williams’ dislike of Harvey was voiced loud and clear a week prior
to the show as he insulted Harvey while promoting the performance. The conflict
came to a head as Katt used his set to get on Steve’s physical appearance and
talent as a comic, among other things.
And while Katt continues his beef, Harvey is wondering why
the comic has him in his sights.
“He went up there for 40 minutes and not only talked
about me, but Jamie Foxx and a couple of other people,” Harvey told EUR’s
Lee Bailey. “It was just a really, really disrespectful show. If you say
you’re funnier than me, prove it. …But don’t disrespect me man, and go up there
in real negative overtones and slam me on stage.”
Harvey added that he left five minutes into Williams’ set,
but heard what was said about him after he left. To hear him tell it, Williams
has never approached Harvey personally about why he has a problem with him.
“And now he’s doing more interviews saying that all of this was my idea.
Well that’s amazing.”
“I just wish the brother well,” Harvey continued.
“But stop being a coward and talk to me. See I’m available. I’m available
and willing to talk. So stop being a coward going to all these interviews and
Web sites saying stuff about me. I’m a grown-a** man.”
Stay tuned to see whether Katt puts his pimpin’ on hold to
give Steve the time of day.
3. Jermaine Jackson Pleads for Less
Child Support, More Sympathy
I’m finding this hard to believe, but it seems like Jermaine
Jackson is strapped for cash. So much so that he can’t pay the $3,000 a month
in child support for his two kids, Jaafar and Jermajesty.
TMZ reports that Jackson, who barely made $10,000 in 2008, has
filed legal papers with the L.A. County courts on Wednesday (Feb. 11). The
singer claims he hasn’t made any serious cash since 2007, when he got $450,000
to appear on the U.K. version of Big Brother. As it turned out, that payday was a factor in Jackson
agreeing to paying the $3,000 per month in May 2008 for clothes, laundry,
groceries and a tutor for his kids.
Fast forward to now and Jermaine is making $892.75 per month
because what he calls a “significant change of circumstance.” As a
result, he says it’s unfair for him to shell out $3,000 to ex wife Alejandra
Jackson for the kids. Couple that with the fact that Jermaine is so broke that
he wants Alejandra to pay his legal fees and we got yet another one of Joe’s
kids making a name for himself on Lifestyles of the Broke and Shameless.
I think Jermaine said it best himself back in the day:
“Let’s Get Serious.”
4. R. Kelly Switches Titles for New
Album
It’s been a minute since R. Kelly graced the Last Word, but
the acquitted hitmaker has returned. MTV reports Kells is hard at work on his
forthcoming album. So much so that he has decided to go abandon the project’s
original title, 12 Play Fourth Quarter,
for something more creative.
“I’m out here working on the muthaf**kin’ album,” Kelly
told partygoers at Atlanta’s Velvet Room on Sunday (Feb. 8). “I’m working on a
new album and I’m calling that muthaf**ka Untitled. Y’all call it what y’all want.”
Not only did he reveal the new album title, but Kelly was
also kind enough to put on a mini-concert for the crowd. Despite all those
child p### charges and the scandal surrounding that, the crooner still managed
to make an impression on the females, who “went crazy” for him.
“All you heard was ladies screamin’ in the club and
cameras going off,” said DJ Infamous.
Crazy. I didn’t know Fisher Price was making cameras for
adults now. It’s good to see how much love the R still gets when he’s in the
place.
5. Denzel Washington Gets Waxed While Preparing for Tom Cruise Showdown
Last week he was named America’s favorite movie star. This
week, Denzel Washington was immortalized with a new wax figure from Madame
Tussaud’s Las Vegas.
The figure is the newest creation to reside at the museum’s
Black History Month exhibit as it joins wax replicas of other historic
African-Americans such as including Michael Jordan, Jamie Foxx, Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr., Oprah Winfrey and Barack Obama. The Black History Month
exhibit, located in the “Spirit of America” room, will be on display until the
end of the month.
In other Denzel news, the Oscar winner is gearing up to
share the big screen with Tom Cruise. Variety reports that Cruise is in talks to join Washington in the film
adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s The Matarese Circle.
The David Cronenberg-directed MGM feature will have Denzel
and Cruise playing two bitter enemy spies who, after spending two decades
trying to kill each other, grudgingly team up against the Matarese, a powerful
group at the root of a conspiracy.
Plans call for the film to go into production later this
year to set it up for a 2010 release.
6. Stevie
Wonder Considers Dancing With the Stars Takeover
“Even Stevie Wonder got from around that piano,” Andre
Benjamin told John Legend on the hit song “Green Light.” Now it seems that
Stevie is considering taking a stab at Dancing With the Stars.
Although his blindness could raise an eyebrow, Wonder says
that it’s not that but his weight that stands in the way of going out for the
competition.
“Someone asked me the question, ‘Can you dance?’ and I said,
‘You know, after having had seven children, I guess I can do something,’ the
Grammy winner told WENN.” It’s possible… My challenge is, first of all to
lose a little stomach… and then once I feel that I look good enough, then
I’ll go on and win.”
Stevie’s desire to cut a rug comes as the new cast for DWTS
was announced on Sunday (Feb. 8). Among those competing on the show’s upcoming
season are rapper Lil Kim, comedian David Alan Grier, former NFL star Lawrence
Taylor and actress Denise Richards. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Olympic
gold-medal gymnast Shawn Johnson and Access Hollywood host Nancy O’Dell will
also be featured as well as singer Jewel and her husband, rodeo champion Ty
Murray, country singer Chuck Wicks and his girlfriend, two-time DWTS champion
Julianne Hough, Go-Go’s frontwoman Belinda Carlisle; Steve-O from MTV’s Wildboyz and actor Gilles Marini.
The new season of Dancing With the Stars premieres March 9 on ABC. Too bad Stevie couldn’t do
this upcoming season. The thought of a dance-off between him and Lil’ Kim…well,
I’ll just leave that alone and let you think on it.
In Other Words…
* With a string of hit movies, a successful stint as a
rapper and loving family, life is good for Will Smith. Especially, when you’ve
been voted the most bankable star in Hollywood by Forbes.com. Smith took the
top spot with a score of 10 out of 10. Forbes.com’s first “star currency” list,
which was put together from a survey of more than 150 industry professionals.
The list, which was released Tuesday (Feb. 10), factored in a star’s ability to
attract financing for a project as well as their ability to generate global box
office revenue.
Others making the list include Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt,
Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio, who all tied for second with a score of
9.89, Tom Hanks, George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon and Jack Nicholson.
* Bob Marley’s likeness is set to be displayed on a variety
of items. Billboard reports the late
reggae legend’s family has joined forces with Hilco Consumer Capital to license
Marley’s likeness, trademarks and themes on apparel, video games, shoes, food,
collectibles, musical instruments, luggage and stationary with the Bob Marley
family of brands.
* Ne-Yo has found himself at the center of a new lawsuit
that claims he was a no-show for a New Year’s Eve performance in Bellevue, Wa.
In the recently filed suit, Wet Entertainment had Ne-Yo booked for the show and
even paid him $95,000 up front to ensure his presence. Although people with
Ne-Yo got to Washington, the singer was nowhere to be found. As a result, the
show was canceled. TMZ reports that Wet Entertainment is suing Ne-Yo and the
booking company that made the deal for $95,000 they paid the singer in addition
to more than $1 million in damages.