05-07-07 EUR: Verizon Drops Akon After Simulated Stage Sex With Minor

EUR Headlines

VERIZON DROPS AKON AFTER SIMULATED STAGE SEX: Company also pulls sponsorship of Stefani/Akon tour.
*So much for those TV spots featuring Akon watching his own Verizon Wireless V Cast. The communications company severed ties with the Senegalese singer Friday after video surfaced that showed him simulating sex onstage with a 15-year-old girl. "This week the partnership ended," Verizon said in a statement. Read Full Story

R. KELLY’S WIFE SPEAKS OUT IN ESSENCE: Andrea Lee Kelly talks about the sex tape; the child porn charges and lots more in new issue.
*After years of remaining silent amidst one controversy after another involving her husband R. Kelly, wifey Andrea Lee Kelly is putting ALL the business on the street in the new issue of Essence magazine, on newsstands May 11. In an article titled “Notes on a Scandal,” Andrea Kelly opens up about her relationship with the superstar, the raising of their three children — two girls, ages 9 and 7, and a 5-year-old boy – and her husband’s alleged sex tape with a girl said to be 14. Read Full Story

JAY-Z WAS NOT IN A PLANE CRASH: Mogul makes it safely to Mayweather-De La Hoya fight.
*Def Jam was busy Friday trying to squash rumors that Jay-Z was involved in a plane crash while en route to Saturday’s Mayweather-De La Hoya fight in Las Vegas. Apparently, someone contacted gossip Web site TMZ.com and reported that the rap mogul was on a four-seat propeller plane when it crashed in the Smoky Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina. Def Jam has called this report “false.” Read Full Story

STERLING DEBUT 'WORTH' THE WAIT: New Def Jam artist preps disc.
By Kenya M Yarbrough
*Def Jam's relative newcomer Sterling Simms is preparing his debut disc with some heavy-hitting singles reminiscent of '80s popular music. The CD titled "Worth Your While" is set to be released soon and has R&B fans already taking notice. Read Full Story

EVE CHARGED WITH DRUNK DRIVING: LA City Attorney makes it official.
*Things just got serious for rapper Eve in Los Angeles. The former Ruff Ryder had a rough ride of her own on April 26 when she crashed her gold Maserati into a center divider on Hollywood Blvd. and was arrested at the scene. Read Full Story

SPIKE LEE DEFENDS ‘MALCOLM X’: Convicted terrorist John Walker Lindh says the movie inspired him to adopt Islam.
*In receiving an award at the San Francisco Film Festival on Thursday night, Spike Lee acknowledged that his film "Malcolm X" may have inspired former San Francisco Bay resident John Walker Lindh to convert to Islam, but not to become “American Taliban.” Read Full Story

DE NIRO STILL LOVES THE SISTAS: British singer Jamelia says actor tried to holla at a private party.
*British soul sensation Jamelia said she was aware of the rumors surrounding actor Robert De Niro and his preference for black women, but she never thought she’d encounter the phenomenon face to face. Read Full Story

EUR FILM REVIEW: Spider-Man 3
By Kam Williams
*Sometimes more is less, and this, unfortunately, is the case with Spider-Man 3. Director Sam Raimi has upped the ante in terms of just about every aspect of his latest installment of the storied Marvel Comics franchise. Read Full Story

SHARPTON MARCH TARGETS RECORD LABELS: About 400 protesters convene Thursday to say ‘enough is enough.’
*Civil Rights activist Al Sharpton followed through with plans to march against record labels Thursday to protest racist and sexist language in the music industry. Read Full Story

TYLER PERRY IN NEED OF GREAT SINGERS: Filmmaker launches contest; deadline to send in video is May 18.
If you are a SINGER (SINGERS ONLY--no poetry, no rap--SINGERS ONLY) and you think that you have what it takes to be in one of my shows here is what you need to do... Read Full Story

BONE THUGS CONTINUE TO BURY HATCHET WITH TWISTA: Single ‘C-Town’ is their third post-feud callabo.
*Bone Thugs-N-Harmony members are living up to the group name with their new track “C-Town,” which features a guest turn from their former rival, Twista. Read Full Story

SPIKE LEE SALUTED BY FILM SOCIETY: Brooklynite receives Directing Award at ceremony in his honor.
*Spike Lee was the man of honor at the San Francisco International Film Festival, where he was given the event’s Film Society Directing Award -- originally dubbed the Kurosawa Award. Read Full Story

OPRAH BLESSES CHICAGO PREMIERE OF ‘PURPLE’: Broadway baby opened Thursday in Harpo’s own backyard.
*Again, Oprah Winfrey was decked in her best purple to support a new chapter in “The Color Purple’s” journey from Pulitzer prize-winning Alice Walker novel to Steven Spielberg film, to successful Broadway musical production. Read Full Story

MORRIS CHESTNUT IS A ‘BROKEN’ MAN: Bill Duke to direct actor in film based on book by T.D. Jakes.
*Morris Chestnut will executive produce and star in the upcoming Screen Gems film “Not Easily Broken,” a faith-based drama based on a book by Bishop T.D. Jakes. Read Full Story

EARTH WIND & FIRE LAUNCH TOUR: Elements continue to back 2005 album “Illumination.”
*Earth, Wind & Fire recently kicked off a fresh set of dates to promote its latest album, “Illumination,” released in 2005 with production from such talents as Raphael Saadiq, will.i.am, Organized Noise, Brian McKnight and the team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Read Full Story

JAMES BROWN B’DAY CELEBRATED AT APOLLO: Family and friends use occasion to address music industry woes.
*Friends and family of James Brown gathered Thursday at Harlem’s historic Apollo Theater to celebrate what would have been the entertainer’s 74th birthday. Read Full Story

DIDDY SETS A TELEVISION RECORD: Mogul is first African American to have four shows on TV simultaneously.
*P. Diddy is doing big things on the small screen. The rap mogul, born Sean Combs, says he’ll enter the record books this spring and summer as the first African American producer to have four shows airing on television in the same year. Read Full Story

D’OH! PRINCE DROPPED CHANCE TO VISIT ‘SIMPSONS’: Singer pulled out at the last minute over script.
*Matt Groening, the creator of “The Simpsons,” says he was all set to produce an episode of his long running animated series with guest star Prince, who would’ve followed in the footsteps of such high-powered voice visitors as Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones. Read Full Story

AMERICAN IDOL - THE TOUR: Melinda, Lakisha and company to begin road work on July 6 in Sunrise, Fl.
*It’s that time again. Beginning March 19, diehard fans of “American Idol” will be able to purchase tickets to see the top 10 contestants perform on a North American tour. Read Full Story

MUSIC BITS: Kanye called on the carpet; Luda’s Pepsi woes; ‘Kid’s Rap Radio 3’; Legend all washed up.
*The New York Post’s Page Six notes the strategic mind of Kanye West when it comes to promoting his fiancee’s new dress line. Read Full Story

FILM/TV/THEATER BITS: ‘Anatomy’ spinoff; Cheadle’s cab; Morrison’s ‘Bluest’ in Conn.; Tamyra Gray collects ‘Rent.’
*“Grey’s Anatomy’s” two hour episode on Thursday, which doubled as the potential pilot for a Dr, Addison spinoff (tentatively titled “Private Practice”), drew an estimated 21 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. 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

05-07-07 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
EUR all on ONE page Read Full Story