01-31-07 EUR: Brandy Sued For $50 Million / Toni Braxton Drops Lawsuit

EUR Headlines

BRANDY SUED FOR $50 MILLION OVER CAR CRASH: Family of woman killed files wrongful death lawsuit.
*As the district attorney in Los Angeles decides whether or not to charge Brandy with causing a fatal four-car crash in Los Angeles, the family of a woman who was killed in the accident has filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the singer. Read Full Story

TONI BRAXTON DROPS LAWSUIT AGAINST HANKERSON: Plus, singer gets emotional during Monday’s “View” dedicated to autism.
*Toni Braxton has dropped her lawsuit against her former label Blackground Records LLC and former manager Barry Hankerson. As previously reported, Braxton accused Hankerson of persuading her to leave Arista Records and sign with his Blackground label, to the detriment of her career Read Full Story

TYRESE FINALLY COMMENTS ON ALLEGED FIGHT: Singer-actor releases statement denying assault against girlfriend.
*After weeks of silence on the issue, Tyrese has released a statement to TMZ regarding the alleged violent incident involving his live-in girlfriend at his Los Angeles home earlier this month. Read Full Story

SMOKEY HAS ISSUES WITH ‘DREAMGIRLS’: Motown legend says he’s offended by the payola storyline.
*Motown veteran Smokey Robinson is not happy with the film adaptation of “Dreamgirls,” which is based loosely on the rise of the Supremes under the stewardship of label founder Berry Gordy Jr. Read Full Story

JOHN LEGEND: It's On 'Again'
By Kenya M Yarbrough
*Grammy-award winning artist John Legend is gradually becoming his namesake – a legend – in the world of soul music. His 2004 debut album, “Get Lifted” moved from tour to radio to disc players with a loyal, but modest following. Soon, the industry took notice and the newcomer snagged three Grammy Awards in 2005, including Best New Artist, while the disc steadily garnered platinum status. Read Full Story

BEYON-JAY SUBJECT OF BAD PRESS: Beyonce accused of paying dancers chump change; Jay-Z’s Nets accused of taking money from slave owners.
*When it rains, it pours for lovebirds Beyonce and Jay-Z, as their latest round of bad press swings from slave wages, to slave money. Read Full Story

KIMORA LEE SIMMONS DISRUPTS ALICIA KEYS’ B’DAY: Russell’s wife goes off on woman who allegedly threw drink on her.
*Alicia Keys thought she would have a peaceful celebration of her 27th birthday in New York last Wednesday with such guests as Missy Elliott, Clive Davis, Common and Kimora Lee Simmons. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: China Blue
By Kam Williams
*How would you feel if you knew that the jeans you're wearing were made by young Asian girls who got paid the equivalent of about six cents an hour? This might very well be the case, since the factory which is the focus of this expose' is fairly typical of what you'll find behind the Bamboo Curtain nowadays. Read Full Story

DIDDY DENIES FLING WITH JUDE LAW’S EX: Mogul says footage of him escorting her to hotel doesn’t mean they’re dating.
*After pictures surfaced recently of Sean “Diddy” Combs and actress Sienna Miller all hugged up at Sundance and partying together last Saturday night at New York’s Bungalow 8, both parties are denying reports that they are seeing each other. Read Full Story

J.LO’S EX ORDERED INTO ARBITRATION OVER TELL-ALL: Ojani Noa promises book won’t put sex life on blast.
*A judge on Monday ordered the ex-husband of Jennifer Lopez to enter arbitration with the singer-actress over his plans to release a tell-all book about their brief marriage. Read Full Story

STARS SHOW SUPPORT FOR ISAIAH WASHINGTON: Sharon Stone says she always calls her gay friends ‘big fags.’
*In the latest news on the Isaiah Washington front, two actresses have gone public to express their support for the “Grey’s Anatomy” star, who is currently in anger management rehab for allegedly calling co-star T.R. Knight a “faggot,” and then using the offensive term again at the Golden Globes to deny that he ever said it. Read Full Story

CHAMILLIONAIRE PREPS SOPHOMORE ALBUM: Plus, rapper says he’s not responsible for recent e-mails blaming BCD for Drama/Cannon raids.
*As Chamillionaire continues to work on his sophomore album, "Ultimate Victory," the Houston rapper has had to put the mic down and deal with rumors about his supposed role in a mass e-mailing accusing music distributor BCD Music Group of sparking the raid on DJ Drama and DJ Don Cannon. Read Full Story

EUR DVD REVIEW: The Motel
By Kam Williams
*Ernest (Jeffrey Chyau) is a typical 13 year-old with raging hormones. But despite the onset of puberty, it doesn't look like he's about to find a girlfriend anytime soon. First of all, he's overweight and Asian-American and living in a small town in upstate New York where most of the girls are white and won't give him the time of day. Worse, he's being bothered by bullies who refer to him by ethnic and sexual-preference slurs, even though he isn't gay. Read Full Story

PAULA SAYS ‘GLITCH’ AND FATIGUE MADE HER LOOK DRUNK: ‘Idol’ judge still defending her infamous Seattle interview.
*Reporters continue to hound Paula Abdul about that Seattle interview several weeks ago promoting the new season of Fox’s “American Idol.” Read Full Story

PAN AFRICAN ARTS FEST ANNOUNCES ANNUAL MARKET: World renowned African artists and craftspeople join major exhibit.
*The 15th Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF), to take place February 8-19 in Los Angeles, will host its annual Artist Market, a major exhibit of black fine art and quality crafts featuring the work of over 100 different artists and artisans. Read Full Story

MUSIC BITS: Carey in Playboy; Chuck Brown LP; R. Kelly LP; Najee Ali defends Brandy; Clive’s pre-Grammy invite.
*Pictures from Mariah Carey’s Playboy cover photo shoot have leaked onto the Internet. The March issue features a clothed Mimi in a flesh-colored bathing suit and accompanied by the feature, “Sexiest Comeback.” Read Full Story

FILM/TV BITS: ToyJac’s show cancelled; Mendes joins ‘Cleaner’; Holmes joins Latifah’s ‘Money’; skinny Star in court; Tyra vents on ‘Tyra.’
*While Jermaine Jackson’s reality show stint ended Sunday with the season finale of Britain’s “Celebrity Big Brother,” his sister LaToya’s brush with the reality genre ended abruptly Monday with a cancellation. Read Full Story

SPORTS BITS: Venus to join Fed Cup; Barry Bonds official in Frisco.
*U.S. Fed Cup captain Zina Garrison said Monday that Venus Williams, who missed the Australian Open with a left wrist injury, has committed to play in the first round on April 21-22 at the Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center. Read Full Story

THEATER BITS: Dutchman off-Broadway; Sophisticated Ladies in Redondo Beach; Between Yesterday and Tomorrow in L.A.
*"Dutchman," the last play Amiri Baraka wrote as LeRoi Jones, is being staged at New York’s Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St.) through Feb. 10 starring former “West Wing” actor Dulé Hill. Read Full Story

SUPER BOWL CALENDAR: Kanye, Dupri, Storch at Nikki Beach.
*A number of parties are set to take place at Nikki Beach in Miami this weekend in conjunction with the Super Bowl. Among the celebrities scheduled to attend are Kanye West, Jermaine Dupri, Nelly and Scott Storch. Here is the schedule: Read Full Story

BLACK HISTORY MONTH CALENDAR: *“Testimonies of Faith”: Humble Journeys” DVD; C. Morrison Presents… “After The Party, What’s The Plan?”
*“Testimonies of Faith”: Humble Journeys,” a DVD from nationally syndicated celebrity correspondent and host Wendy Wheaton about celebrities and their individual roads to Christianity, will be available beginning Feb. 6th exclusively at Wal-Mart. Read Full Story

THE EURweb FREE-4-ALL PAGE/BOARD: Talk about the stories we didn't cover in this issue.
Just like the headline says, this page/board is where you can discuss the stuff that we didn't cover in today's issue. (It's sort of like feedback with a twist) Remember, NO name calling, racial taunting, graphic sex talk and vulgarity in general, PLEASE. Read Full Story

01-31-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EUR all on ONE page Read Full Story

01-30-07 EURxtra: Brandy May be Charged With Manslaughter, But Najee Ali Set to Protest

EUR Headlines

BRANDY MAY BE CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER: CHP wants misdemeanor for singer’s role in fatal four-car crash.
*After finding Brandy responsible for a fatal four-car crash in Los Angeles last month, police are urging the district attorney’s office to charge the singer with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. Read Full Story

JERMAINE WANTS MIJAC TO BECOME MUSLIM: Big bro says King of Pop has given conversion serious thought.
*In his first full day outside of Britain’s “Celebrity Big Brother” house, Jermaine Jackson told reporters that he hopes his brother Michael will convert to Islam – for his own protection. Read Full Story

TYLER PERRY NOT TRYING TO BE EDDIE MURPHY: Director/playwright tired of comparisons between their female characters.
*In his latest newsletter to fans, Tyler Perry says he’s not trying to get sucked into the media’s obsession with pitting him against Eddie Murphy in a battle over who does a better job acting in drag. Read Full Story

HEAR THE EURCAST FROM THE WINTER TCAs: Queen Latifah, Jamie Foxx, Paul Wall and More; Plus author Kimberla Lawson Roby
*This EURcast brings you highlights from the 2007 Winter Television Critics Association press tour, a bi-annual conference where all of the broadcast and cable TV networks spend two to three weeks introducing their new programming to the press. Read Full Story

CHANDRA’S SAG SHOUT OUT TO ISAIAH: Plus, is T.R. Knight ready to bounce?; Washington former co-star says he’s ‘hotheaded’ not homophobic.
*While “Grey’s Anatomy” star Isaiah Washington sits in rehab to address his double use of a gay slur, his co-star Chandra Wilson was busy winning an award for best female actor in a drama series at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards Sunday night. Read Full Story

WILL SMITH CROWNED ‘MASTER’ IN SANTA BARBARA: Film Fest honors actor for his craft.
*The Santa Barbara International Film Festival bowed down to Will Smith Saturday night, honoring the actor with its prestigious Modern Master Award for becoming the master of his craft. Read Full Story

ROYALS UP IN HARLEM: Prince Charles and his wife spend a day tooling around uptown.
*Yes, that was the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall you saw on the news Sunday shooting hoops in Harlem, NY. Read Full Story

THE CHOCOLATE/SLAVERY CONNECTION: Is this issue Black History in the making?
*Just weeks before one of the most profitable days in the candy industry, some people are calling for a boycott of all things chocolate. Steffanie Rivers, an EUR contributing columnist and the catalyst of the boycott, also is organizing a protest in front of M&M/Mars Company headquarters near Washington, DC. M&M/Mars is the largest chocolate company in the world with annual sales of $16 billion. Read Full Story

OFFICER SHAQ STRIKES AGAIN: Miami Heat center-slash-reserve cop helps police nab hit-and-run driver.
*He may not be healthy enough yet to resume his day job as center for the defending NBA champion Miami Heat, but Shaquille O’Neal put in some work for his side gig early Sunday by helping police capture a hit-and-run driver. Read Full Story

JAY-Z GETS HIS CHERRY COKE ON: Rapper and his Rocawear brand sign on to help flavor’s third relaunch.
*The people behind Cherry Coke are hoping that the presence and influence of rap mogul Jay-Z will help the brand’s third relaunch finally stick with consumers. Read Full Story

THE MO'KELLY REPORT PREVIEW: Al Sharpton, Please Don't Run
*The Rev. Al Sharpton is “threatening” to run again. Yes, “threatening” to run for President of the United States...again. According to Sharpton, if the Democratic candidates collectively have an agenda he feels he can endorse, then he’ll remain on the bench and not report to the scorer’s table so he can come in the game and post up Barack Obama. Yes, if and only if the Democratic agenda meets Al Sharpton’s approval, there will be no sequel to the disaster of 2004. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: Epic Movie
By Kam Williams
*January is a time when Hollywood studios are known to foist junk on the unsuspecting public. A clue that this might be the case with Epic Movie is that the film was not made available to critics for screening prior to its release, usually a sure sign of a plan to "pump and dump" a turkey. Read Full Story

NEW HIP-HOP SUMMIT ACTION NETWORK TOUR: ‘Get Your Money Right’ coming to a town near you.
*Following the tremendous success and positive feedback of both the 2005 and 2006 "Get Your Money Right" financial empowerment national tours, The Hip- Hop Summit Action Network is gearing up to launch the 2007 "Get Your Money Right" tour. Read Full Story

INDIA.ARIE PADS 2007 TOUR: Signer adds a few one-off gigs among round of new dates backing ‘Testimony.’
*India.Arie continues spreading her “Testimony” in 2007 with the announcement of a new round of dates for her tour promoting her third studio set, last year's "Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship." Read Full Story

FILM/TV BITS: 2nd place ‘Aces’; Hudson on Giant cover; ‘New York’ No. 1; BrainPOP’s black history shorts.
*Universal’s action thriller “Smokin’ Aces,” starring rapper Common and singer/musician Alicia Keys among its ensemble cast, opened at No. 2 at the box office this weekend, drawing an estimated $14.3 million. Read Full Story

MUSIC BITS: Mario serenades Miss Universe; mad Martha Reeves; Timbaland’s new LP; Norah rules Amazon.com; kids love Mary J.
*The New York Post’s Page Six is reporting that R&B singer Mario made his intentions clear to Miss Universe Zuleyka Jerris Rivera Mendoza at a New York club last week by singing his hit “Let Me Love You” directly to her during a concert. Read Full Story

SPORTS BITS: Serena’s self-described ‘large ass’; Latrell’s palimony suit; Bush fined for taunting.
*During interviews following her near criminal assault on Maria Sharapova Saturday to win the Australian Open, Serena Williams was asked about critics who said she was too fat and out of shape to compete in the tournament. Read Full Story

THE EURweb FREE-4-ALL PAGE/BOARD: Talk about the stories we didn't cover in this issue.
Just like the headline says, this page/board is where you can discuss the stuff that we didn't cover in today's issue. (It's sort of like feedback with a twist) Remember, NO name calling, racial taunting, graphic sex talk and vulgarity in general, PLEASE. Read Full Story

01-30-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EUR all on ONE page Read Full Story

01-29-07 EUR: Serena Spanks Sharapova Down Under / Big SAG Awards Wins

EUR Headlines

SERENA DISMANTLES SHARAPOVA DOWN UNDER: Tennis star proves she’s not only back, but playing her best tennis ... ever.
*In the words of ESPN2 tennis commentator Dick Enberg, “Maria Sharapova has never seen such a spanking.” It was sweet vindication for Serena Williams, who had been hearing all tournament long that she was too unfit to offer any legitimate competition in the Australian Open – the first Grand Slam event of the 2007 WTA tour. Read Full Story

ANOTHER BIG NIGHT FOR 'US': Hudson, Murphy & Whitaker win SAG Awards.
*It's starting to be a really fun awards season in Hollywood. First it was Jennifer Hudson and the Brothers (Eddie Murphy & Forest Whitaker) winning Golden Globes. Then came the Oscar nods for Hudson, Murphy, Whitaker, Will Smith and Djimon Honsou. And now this. Read Full Story

YOUNG BUCK ARRESTED IN NASHVILLE: Rapper had a warrant for failure to appear in court.
*Police arrested rapper Young Buck Friday in his native Nashville after discovering he had a warrant for failure to appear in court on a previous driving violation, police said. Read Full Story

RUMORS FLY ABOUT MURPHY’S LONDON NO-SHOW: Tabloids say he missed UK’s ‘Dreamgirls’ premiere because of ex-girl, Scary Spice.
*Did Eddie Murphy really skip the London premiere of “Dreamgirls” last week because he feared running into fans of his British ex-girlfriend, Melanie Brown? Read Full Story

KIMBERLA LAWSON ROBY: Reverend Curtis Black is back in ‘Love & Lies’
By Kenya M. Yarbrough
*Author Kimberla Lawson Roby’s latest book hits the shelves this week, continuing the tale of the Reverend Curtis Black and the lives around him. Previously, the best-selling scribe dished on the good Rev. in the books “Too Much of a Good Thing,” “Casting the First Stone,” and “The Best Kept Secret.” Read Full Story

J.LO SETS A DATE FOR SPANISH ALBUM: Plus, singer reveals her daddy’s a Scientologist.
*Jennifer Lopez’s friendship with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes may continue to fuel rumors that she is close to becoming a Scientologist, but the singer-actress has finally confirmed details regarding another aspect of her life. Read Full Story

MYSTIKAL MOVED TO A DIFFERENT PRISON – NOT RELEASED: Rapper’s label issues statement to set the record straight.
*Recent reports of Mystikal being released from a Louisiana prison were not true, according to a statement released from his label, Jive Records. Read Full Story

PILOT SEASON NABS SPIKE LEE, GABRIELLE UNION: Director agrees to helm NBC drama; actress to play wife of NFL star on ABC.
*Filmmaker Spike Lee and actress Gabrielle Union have both picked up television work for the upcoming fall season. Read Full Story

B.B. KING RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL: Blues legend ‘feeling fabulous’ after lingering flu symptoms.
*It turned out to be a quick pit stop for B.B. King when he was admitted to the hospital Thursday with a fever. Read Full Story

MIJAC REPORTEDLY BACK IN THE STATES: Plus, brother Jermaine is a runner up on Britain’s “Celebrity Big Brother.’
*Michael Jackson’s publicist Raymone K. Bain has reportedly confirmed that the singer is back in the United States for good. Read Full Story

POITIER MEMOIR FIRST POST-FREY PICK FOR OPRAH: Following year-long hiatus, ‘Winfrey’ resumes book club with selection from her idol.
*Oprah Winfrey is taking personal hero Sidney Poitier along as she fires up her book club for the first time since January 2006, when her selected author, James Frey, was discovered to have stretched the truth in his memoir, “A Million Little Pieces.” Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: Smokin' Aces
By Kam Williams
Buddy "Aces" Israel (Jeremy Piven) was a two-bit magician with a mediocre lounge act until the Mafia turned him into a Las Vegas headliner. But instead of feeling indebted to mob boss Primo Sparazza (Joseph Ruskin) for the helping hand, the ambitious ingrate chose to start his own competing crime organization. Read Full Story

ALICIA KEYS: The Smokin’ Aces Interview with Kam Williams
*Alicia Augello-Cook was born in New York City on January 25, 1980 to a Jamaican father (who bounced while she was still a toddler) and a mother who’s a mix of Puerto Rican, Italian and Irish. An only child, little “Lellow” was raised in Hell’s Kitchen by her doting mom who recognized she had a prodigy on her hands soon after her young daughter started taking piano lessons. Read Full Story

BET HAS A BUSY FEBRUARY: Network to air special programming surrounding National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and Black History Month.
*In the lead up to National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (February 7), BET Networks announced a roll out of fresh HIV-themed programming that features two new films and a youth-focused news special, as part of its public education partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Rap-It-Up Campaign. Read Full Story

MUSIC BITS: Ross’ ‘Love’; Quincy’s ‘Prize’; Legend’s fake ID; Jay-Z’s new apt.; new Mavis LP;
*A flurry of recent promo stops paid off for Diana Ross, as her new Manhattan/EMI Music Marketing album, “I Love You,” debuted at No. 32, the highest new entry on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart this week. Read Full Story

SPORTS BITS: Tiger wins again; Davis settles lawsuit; Ali moves to Michigan; Tyson’s daughter blames dad’s fat genes.
*Tiger Woods moved one step closer to Byron Nelson Sunday with a come-from-behind win at the Buick Invitational in San Diego. The 6-under 66 finish marked his third consecutive win at the tournament, and his seventh consecutive PGA Tour victory. Read Full Story

EVENTS HIGHLIGHT SUPER BOWL, NBA ALL-STAR WKND: Snoop Bowl in Miami; Vegas hosts Zo & Magic’s 8 Ball and Touching A Life Gala.
*Snoop Dogg’s Snoop Bowl III will take place on Feb. 3 at the Orange Bowl Stadium in Miami, FL. Read Full Story

THE EURweb FREE-4-ALL PAGE/BOARD: Talk about the stories we didn't cover in this issue.
Just like the headline says, this page/board is where you can discuss the stuff that we didn't cover in today's issue. (It's sort of like feedback with a twist) Remember, NO name calling, racial taunting, graphic sex talk and vulgarity in general, PLEASE. Read Full Story

01-29-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EUR all on ONE page Read Full Story