August 8, 2005

Destiny's Child is approaching the last 20 cities on their "Destiny Fulfilled ... And Lovin' It" tour, which will mark the "breakup" of the successful R&B group. But now the trio, as I expected, isn't calling this "breakup" a permanent one. During a recent interview with Matt Lauer on NBC's 'Today,' Kelly Rowland, Beyonce Knowles and Michelle Williams were pretty optimistic that they would record together again.

"You could have it both ways. Because you've all had this success with solo careers, and you have this great group success," asked Lauer.

Rowland was the first to chime in. "We might wake up one day and say, 'You know what, we want to do another record," she replied.

"Yeah," Williams laughed.

"Why couldn't you go on and keep having it both ways," Laurer asked again.

"Well we might," smirked Rowland.

"You never know," the group responded unanimously, before Knowles backed it up. "You never know," she repeated.

"Never say never," concluded Williams.

In the meantime, Destiny's Child is readying the release of their live concert DVD, which was recorded on July 15 in Atlanta. The DVD, along with their 'Greatest Hits' set, will bow this fall.

Brotherly Love

Outkast's Andre Benjamin -- he's dropped 3000 for Hollywood credibility -- says that the camaraderie between he and his costars Mark Walhberg, Tyrese and Garrett Hedlund was certainly that of siblings while shooting the forthcoming 'Four Brothers.' "I'm an only child, so going into a movie like 'Four Brothers' was different," expressed Benjamin, when we chatted with him at the Essex House hotel in Manhattan.

But the four actors connected immediately in the short time prior to shooting in Toronto. "We only had a week, we didn't have a lot time to rehearse, so we pretty much just did hockey practice and a lot of bonding came from that. Also, going out at night. It was just natural. Everyone's personality was just cool. No egos! We laughed and joked," said the rapper-actor.

Benjamin says that race nor culture was an issue between any of the principal cast members. "Because we knew about it going in, the whole black, white, black, white brother type thing," he explained. "But we got so comfortable we would talk about each other. Even racial jokes!"

What was the running joke about Benjamin? "They'd always get on my clothes and say they were too tight. My teeth! There's a line in the movie that Tyrese actually made up. He called them tombstones. After that day, I said, Tyrese you know for the rest of my life people are going to talk about my teeth."

'Four Brothers' hits theaters Aug. 12.

Perfect Match

Actress Kate Hudson says her son Ryder developed a crush on her co-star Joy Bryant when the two shot their upcoming film 'The Skeleton Key' in New Orleans last year.

"Ryder was so attracted to her, and boy did he flirt with her," laughed Hudson, while talking to BV Buzz at the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans.

In 'The Skeleton Key,' which opens on Aug. 12, Hudson's character Caroline and Bryant's character Jill are best friends. Art began to depict life as Hudson says seeing her son's adoration for Bryant changed their working relationship into a genuine friendship.

"There are certain women you work with where you are just professional," explained the "Almost Famous" actress. "Girls are difficult as we all girls know. I grew up with a bunch a boys so girlfriends are very few and far between. Joy was the kind of woman, almost like Naomi Watts when I worked with [her], where we just totally got on immediately -- laughing, joking around and going out together. There are certain women when you see them with babies, Joy is a very maternal woman, and she's immediately attracted to children. I think it says a lot about a woman when they're like that with children."

Since the film has wrapped, Hudson and Bryant have remained pals. "My girlfriend!" Hudson lovingly says of Bryant. "And she's remained my friend, and I just had a great time with her."

Cover Story

'Access Hollywood' shook up the entertainment industry last week with a riveting look at how mainstream magazines -- translation: publications geared toward predominantly white audiences -- are not diverse in the selection of their cover images. The news magazine show did a random pan of newsstands, and sadly the majority of the magazines offer a misleading hierarchy of beauty by having the same "white, blond and under 40" faces on them.

"When people of color don't see themselves on mainstream magazine covers, it's almost saying that they don't exist. And when it comes to beauty and fashion magazines, it sends the signal that there is only one standard of beauty and that affects the self-esteem of young girls of color," said 'Access Hollywood' personality Shaun Robinson.

Even Mischa Barton ('The O.C.'), a staple on every Cosmopolitan, People and Marie Claire, told 'Access Hollywood' that magazines should work to reflect all cultures on their covers. "People should make a conscious effort to diversify in terms of who they portray in their magazines," she said.

Sadly, the show pointed out that many magazines only had a single digit of minorities on their covers. Of Us Weekly's 52 issues, only one or two people of color were featured and People magazine had 15 minorities that were tucked away in insets -- except for Oprah Winfrey's Legend's Ball cover.

Let's not even get started on Vanity Fair. Fox News columnist Roger Friedman calls it "the bible of the rich, idle and rude." The pretentious glossy acts as if its allergic to African-Americans -- sans for the occasionally music issue where blacks are lumped in with a dozen or more white entertainers and usually confined to the inset. But no single African-American has graced its cover in years -- not even Halle Berry and Denzel Washington after winning Oscars in 2002. Most recently, Vanity Fair totally snubbed Regina King by omitting her from its Feb. 2005 cover by Annie Liebovitz that was supposed to feature Hollywood's hottest actresses. While newcomer Kerry Washington was placed on the inset, ignoring King's body of work, and her uber-impressive role in 'Ray' alone, was simply disgraceful.

Glamour took a risk and put Queen Latifah on one of its covers. The magazine's editor-in-chief Cindi Leive says she thinks at the core of it all, Hollywood is a bit racist and so, since she only has 12 covers a year and Hollywood isn't employing enough black actresses, there are few choices for her when it comes to picking a cover subject. Nonetheless, the Latifah issue was one of the magazine's best sellers.

Robinson, who also anchors 'TV One Access' for cable's TV One Network, hopes the 'Access Hollywood' special sends a clear message to the publishing business. "African-Americans make up about 13 percent of the population, Hispanics, even higher. Not to mention Asian-Americans and other minorities. So, the numbers speak for themselves. America is a melting pot, and it would be wonderful to see mainstream magazines make a greater effort in reflecting that," she concluded.

BV Buzz encourages you not to support publications that don't champion your race. If they're not checking for minorities -- and we don't mean meeting your minority quota by recycling Berry, Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Lopez and "racially ambiguous" stars such as Rosario Dawson and Jessica Alba -- then stop buying and subscribing. Support those publications that either reflect the diversity of our culture or are geared specifically toward African-Americans.

Can't Say Names ...

... What Hollywood actor thinks three heads are better than one, well, until they find out? Said actor-TV personality hired three independent publicists -- he actually paid two and one worked for free -- to work their P.R. magic on him. Two of the flacks found out about the shenanigans, certainly weren't charmed and both decided to quit. After cussing the actor out, the pair teamed up to have said talent barred from a Hollywood party and had security leave him stranded behind the velvet rope.

Buzzworthy

... Congratulations are apparently in order for 'All Of Us' star LisaRaye McCoy. The actress is engaged to Turks and Caicos Chief Minister Michael E. Misick. The two apparently met at the Trumpet Awards in Atlanta this past May, the same time in which Misick met reality television queen Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth. It was reported in this very column that the newly single Manigault-Stallworth and Misick were rumored to be dating -- something that a few exotic vacations and some cozy photos would indicate -- but it looks like McCoy walked away with the ring. The couple supposedly had an elaborate photo shoot for their engagement pictures this past weekend in the Caribbean and the wedding is set for December.

... Expunge Usher's name from the list of talent attached to the upcoming 'Dreamgirls' movie project. Sources close to the production say negotiations between the chart-topping entertainer's camp and the film's producers went array, and they've opted to go with another one name singer, Omarion. Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy -- his wife Nicole filed for divorce last week -- are already attached to the project. Names such as Fantasia, Kelly Price and Jennifer Hudson ('American Idol') are still being tossed around to play the role of the Jennifer Holliday character Effie White.

... Actress Tammy Townsend is impressive in her starring role in David E. Talbert's 'The Fabric of a Man.' The former 'Rock Me Baby' star plays up-and-coming fashion designer Dominique Majors opposite 'Soul Food' hunk Darrin Henson and the ubiquitous Clifton Powell ('Ray'). 'The Fabric of a Man' is the first installment in Talbert's straight-to-DVD Soul Theater Series released by UrbanWorks Entertainment. His second title, 'He Say, She Say, But What Does God Say?' is also available on DVD and stars Powell, Tommy Ford ('Martin'), N'Bushe Wright ('Blade') and singer D.J. Rogers Jr. For more information on Talbert and the series, visit www.DavidETalbert.com.

... Ear-bighting boxer Mike Tyson is not only taking off his boxing gloves, but he may be dropping his pants as well. According to the New York Daily News, Tyson has been approached by reps for porn star Jenna Jameson to co-star in an X-rated adult film. Jameson apparently sought-out Tyson because of court documents from his rape trial which indicated that his manhood is at least 14 inches long. Boxing writer Pedro Fernandez says, "If Tyson brings out some of the ferocity that made him a champion, he could definitely become a successful porn star."

... Actress Terri J. Vaughn will have her third annual Take Wings Foundation Awards Dinner at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco on Aug. 20. PBS host Tavis Smiley will be the keynote speaker and Nia Long, Faizon Love and Malinda Williams will present the Angel Awards. Vaughn's 'All of Us' costar Tony Rock will emcee the ceremony. Kenny Lattimore and Chante Moore are slated to perform. For details, visit www.TakeWings.org.

... Season one 'American Idol' finalist Tamyra Gray has landed a new gig. The singer-actress is the new face of H&M, appearing in an international campaign shot by sought-after fashion photographer David LaChapelle, according to The Ru Report's Karu F. Daniels. In addition to the print and electronic advertising campaign, H&M will also showcase Gray in a six-minute promo film that will air in movie theaters across the globe. On the acting front, in addition to recent guest spots on series including 'What I Like About You' and 'Half & Half,' Gray will make her feature film debut in the upcoming Screen Gems release 'The Gospel,' opposite Boris Kodjoe, Idris Elba, Nona Gaye, Omar Gooding and Yolanda Adams.