July 11, 1905: The Niagara Movement (the forerunner of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), was established. Among its leaders were W.E.
B. DuBois and William Monroe Trotter. BET'S 'HOT GHETTO MESS' BACKFIRES: Two advertisers pull out of premiere episode after backlash.
*At least two companies have pulled their advertising from the premiere episode of BET's upcoming series "Hot Ghetto Mess" in response to critics who say the show perpetuates racial stereotypes. and the Home Depot have released statements confirming their request that ads be removed from the television show and from a Web site promoting the series. "We have reviewed the content of this program, which we just heard about, and we will not be airing any State Farm advertising during this program on BET," a State Farm spokesman wrote.
BET would not specify which advertisers dropped out, but released the following statement: "A few of our clients have asked to move to other programming dayparts, and we simply accommodated their request." "Hot Ghetto Mess" is adapted from the popular Web site HotGhettoMess.com, which features photos and video footage of random African Americans engaged in behavior or dressed in attire considered embarrassing and socially unacceptable.
A DVD documentary was also released based on the 3-year-old Web site, which comes with the tag line "we got to do better." BET's version - due to premiere July 25 at 10:30 p.m.
with host Charlie Murphy - will feature a mix of viewer-submitted home videos and BET-produced street interviews that show blacks in unflattering situations that typically illustrate the excesses of so-called hip-hop culture. The Viacom-owned network and Jam Donaldson, creator of the Web site and an executive producer of the series, say the featured photos and footage are intended to encourage black Americans to question its standards. BET president of entertainment Reginald Hudlin asks: "Is my goal to discuss these issues in a format and context that makes people who don't watch the channel comfortable or do it in a way that engages the 18- to 34-year-old viewer and makes them really think about these things?
" Critics like 25-year-old Chicago college student Latrice Janine believe BET's intentions will be lost on its core audience. She launched an online petition against the show that has collected more than 2,000 signatures. "Maybe after Don Imus no one seems to have a problem with this kind of thing anymore," Janine tells AP.
"I still do. I may not stop Viacom from doing this on television, but it's an effort to let them know the days of sitting quietly are gone." Another pool of criticism has come from What About Our Daughters?
, a blog and audio podcast addressing depictions of black women in popular culture. The site has targeted advertisers that appeared on a BET.com Web page advertising "Mess," including AT T Corp.
, DaimlerChrysler and Target. Asked whether the series has been screened for BET's parent company, Viacom, Hudlin said: "BET is very autonomous. We don't run ideas past Viacom.
It's me having a conversation with my boss, (BET chairman and CEO) Debra Lee." BUSTA RHYMES HEADED FOR 4 SEPARATE TRIALS: Rapper accused of beating two men, DUI and driving with suspended license. *Busta Rhymes may be spending the rest of the year in a courtroom splitting time between trials in New York for four separate charges: the assault of two men, a DUI and driving with a suspended license.
Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Larry Stephen denied a motion by the prosecution to have one trial that would handle both assault charges: one in which Busta is accused of beating a fan who allegedly spat on his truck; the other a charge of beating and kicking a former employee in 2006. The two assault cases cannot be consolidated," said Rhymes' lawyer, Scott Leemon, according to AP. "The decision today validated Busta's defenses to the assault cases.
We detailed to the court that we have defense to these cases and the court agreed." Also, Busta's lawyer turned down yet another plea deal Tuesday that would've allowed the rapper to serve a year in prison for all four of the charges. "It's the same offer" the prosecutor made at Rhymes' last court appearance, Leemon said, "and it's one which Busta adamantly rejects.
" Last May, Rhymes was awaiting trail on his two assault charges when he was arrested for drunk driving. He was also jailed briefly in February after police stopped him for allegedly running a red light and discovered he was driving with a suspended license. Born Trevor Smith, Busta's next court date will be Sept.
DIDDY MAKES SPLIT WITH GIRLFRIEND OFFICIAL: Mogul confirms they are a done deal. *After weeks of headlines proclaiming the split of Sean "Diddy" Combs and his longtime girlfriend Kim Porter, the Bad Boy founder made the news official Tuesday with a statement confirming they are no longer a couple. Diddy and Kim have three children together, including twin girls who were born in December.
Last week, New York newspapers reported that Kim moved out of Diddy's Manhattan digs and purchased a home in Beverly Hills where she will live with her kids. The relationship between Diddy and Porter hit a few bumps in the road, courtesy of the rapper's high-profile fling with Jennifer Lopez, and Porter's lawsuit against Diddy for an increase in child support. In a December cover story for Essence magazine, the couple spoke about their love for each other throughout all the ups and downs, but Combs admitted that he wasn't ready to put a ring on Porter's finger.
wondered: "Do you really think that God meant for a man to have just one wife?" In addition to twin daughters D'Lila Star and Jessie James; Diddy and Porter also have a son named Christian. NICOLE RICHIE TRIAL DELAYED ANOTHER DAY: Socialite's lawyer to argue for a postponement until Aug.
*Nicole Richie's lawyer tried to get a continuance from the court yesterday to delay her trial on DUI charges, but it didn't work.at least not a first. Los Angeles County Commissioner Steven Lubell rejected Richie's attorney's request to postpone the start date until Aug.
5, and ordered the trial to begin at 8:30 this morning as scheduled. But, he also ordered both sides to court this morning to hear the prosecution's arguments for postponing the trial yet again. Regardless of the outcome, the hearing delays the trial for at least one more day.
This morning, Richie's lawyers will argue that their key witness, a drug expert, will not be available to testify until August. Therefore, the trial must be delayed. Richie does not have to attend the trial.
She has reportedly traveled to Canada to watch boyfriend Joel Madden's band Good Charlotte perform Tuesday night in Calgary. Madden and Richie are reportedly expecting their first child. If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, the "Simple Life" star - who has pleaded not guilty - faces a minimum sentence of four days in jail with three years of probation because it would be her second DUI offense.
NEW ALICIA KEYS ALBUM DUE IN OCTOBER: Producers include Pink's Linda Perry; guests include John Mayer and Floetry's Ambrosius. *Alicia Keys fans can circle Oct. 23rd on the calendar to mark the scheduled arrival of her third J Records album, "As I Am.
" According to Billboard.com, the project sports more of a rock and funk-edged feel than her previous releases. John Mayer and Floetry singer Marsha Ambrosius are among the guests on the album, while producers include Mark Batson, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers and Harold Lilly Jr.
The singer-songwriter gave folks a taste of the new set at Saturday's Live Earth concert in East Rutherford with a performance of "The Thing About Love," one of three new songs written by longtime Pink collaborator Linda Perry. Keys described her sessions with Perry as "not quite the same old thing. My roots are soul, hip-hop and jazz.
She's rock but soulful as well." Billboard was able to preview six new songs from "As I Am," all of which show off the creative freedom that Keys says drives her entire collection. "Being able to be so free with no expectations .
.. the results surpass whatever I could imagine," she tells Billboard.
"I am thankful and blessed at how this music is coming out." In other Alicia Keys news, the artist has been added to the lineup of the fourth annual Turks Caicos Music and Cultural Festival, to be held July 30 through Aug. 6 at Turtle Cove Marina on Providenciales.
The bill already includes such talent as John Legend, India.Arie and Freddie Jackson. "We are thrilled that Alicia will be able to join us at this year's festival," said Ralph Higgs, director of tourism at the Turks Caicos.
"Alicia's incredible talent and inspiring spirit fit right into the collection of extraordinary artists already performing at the event. She is a world-renowned artist and traveler and we are very proud to welcome her to the Turks Caicos Islands." Other artists tapped to perform include Michael Bolton and Kenny Rogers.
For a complete schedule of events and vacation packages, visit www.musicfestival.tc or call the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board at (649) 946-4970.
SPIKE LEE DANCING TO HIS OWN BEAT: Filmmaker embraces independence during award ceremony in Italy. *In Italy Monday to receive the 41st Fiesole Masters of Cinema Award, filmmaker Spike Lee used the occasion to put Hollywood on blast for its portrayals of African Americans. He also took the Bush administration to task for its foreign policy, and threw darts at the film industry for leaving him on the outside looking in.
"My last feature film, 'Inside Man,' was my most successful so far, and I was naive enough to think that that meant I could go from there and make any film I wanted to make," Lee told the crowd. "But I was very, very wrong about that. Anybody who thinks that I've become part of the mainstream doesn't understand the way it works.
" Speaking before a packed press conference at the Hotel Villa San Michelle in Fiesole (just outside Florence), the two-time Oscar nominee said he would win an Oscar only when he's so old he would have to be pushed onstage in a wheelchair, reports AP. On Tuesday, town Mayor Fabio Incatasciato will be among the dignitaries on hand to present Lee with the Masters of Cinema Award, which salutes a director's entire body of work. Lee becomes only the third American in 41 years to receive the honor, joining Orson Wells (1974) and Stanley Kubrick (1983).
Lee also used his time in Fiesole to scout locations for his next film Miracle at St. Anna," a $45 million World War II drama based on the James McBride novel about a Negro soldier in the 92nd all-black, segregated Buffalo Division. "I'm a big fan of World War II movies, but up until now I've only seen two that featured any black soldiers," Lee said.
"There was Jim Brown in 'Dirty Dozen' and (James Edwards), who was Gen. Patton's valet in 'Patton.' I know we can do better than that.
" McBride is also penning the screenplay and so far has written three "strong" drafts, Lee said. Filming will take place in Tuscany, Rome's Cinecitta Studios and New York. FANTASIA IN TALKS FOR ANOTHER BROADWAY SHOW: Singer eyes musical about African-American expatriate in Paris.
*"The Color Purple" star Fantasia Barrino is looking to build upon her breakout success on Broadway with a lead role in another African American-themed musical currently in the works, reports New York Daily News columnists Rush Malloy. The "American Idol" champ is reportedly in talks to play Ada (Bricktop) Smith, an African-American expatriate in 1920s Paris who became a nightlife superstar. "Bricktop's is a great story.
She rose from humble beginnings in Alderson, W. Va., to become the toast of Paris in the Roaring '20s, where she was first employed overseas by Cole Porter to teach dances such as the Charleston at his parties," notes Rush Malloy.
"By 1929, she owned her own nightclubs such as The Music Box, Le Grand Duc and her famous Chez Bricktop, where she entertained Porter, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and F. Bricktop was reportedly the inspiration behind Porter's tune "Miss Otis Regrets." She even worked with Josephine Baker and Mabel Mercer.
JENNIFER HOLLIDAY STEPS BACK INTO EFFIE ROLE: Original 'Dreamgirl' to star opposite En Vogue's Cindy during run in the ATL. *Jennifer Holliday returns this month to the role that made her famous. Atlanta's Theater of the Stars has recruited the Broadway powerhouse to reprise the character of Effie White in a 25th anniversary production of "Dreamgirls.
" Joining Holliday is former En Vogue singer Cindy Herron-Braggs as Deena; Brandi Chavonne Massey as Lorrell and Nicole Alesi as Michelle. Shows will take place at the Fox Theater from July 18 through 29. Holliday, a two-time Grammy winner, originated the role of Effie on Broadway during the early eighties.
She was discovered singing in a Houston choir and made her Broadway debut in the musical revival of Your Arms Too Short To Box With God. From there she was cast as Effie in Dreamgirls by Michael Bennett. Her other Broadway and stage credits include Chicago, Grease, Down-Hearted Blues: The Story of Bessie Smith, Sing, Mahalia, Sing: The Story of Mahalia Jackson and Harlem Suite.
Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster outlets and at www.tickemaster.com.
July 11, 1905: The Niagara Movement (the forerunner of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), was established.
News RSS