Mar. 19, 2007

Setting the Record Straight

Jennifer Hudson may have sung 'I Am Changing,' in the film 'Dreamgirls,' but the Oscar winning actress told me in an exclusive interview that she hasn't changed one bit! "I'm still the same girl! People know who I am. What you see is what you get and the stuff they are putting out there about me is not true and it hurts," Hudson said when she phoned from Chicago last week.

The 26-year-old star has won nearly every theatrical award possible for film. Her role as Effie White in 'Dreamgirls' earned her a Best Supporting Actress statue from the 'Golden Globe Awards,' 'NAACP Image Awards,' 'Screen Actors Guild Actors,' 'British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards' and countless regional film organizations. Yet, on the heels of becoming "America's Hollywood Sweetheart" with her underdog, rags-to-riches story, Hudson has faced backlash over the last two weeks for a newspaper report surrounding the 'Soul Train Awards,' a questionable 'Extra' expose concerning 'American Idol,' and a tabloid report about her turning down a movie role.

The infamous 'Page Six' of the New York Post ran a scathing story about Hudson last Tuesday that called the singer/actress an "ungrateful diva" and claimed she almost "derailed" the 'Soul Train Music Awards' after trying "to back out of performing." In addition, 'Page Six' implied that Jamie Foxx, Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Gnarls Barkley, Beyoncé and Jay-Z showed up to pick up their honors. Maybe the reporters at 'Page Six' should have read the Reuters story on March 11, which detailed how of the 10 awards given out during the 'Soul Train Awards,' only two winners bothered to show -- The Isley Brothers(Best Album - Group) and Webstar and Young B. (Best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut). In fact, Hudson, who received the Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year, was the biggest name in the house!

"I appreciated being honored there just as much as I appreciated being honored at all the award shows I attended. Why would they dog me out after I was the one of the only people to show up to the show," the disappointed Hudson griped, before abruptly putting me on hold. "I just saw a cop and you can't drive and talk on the phone in Chicago anymore. I need to put you on speaker phone before someone has me in the paper talking about that!"

Though he initially apologized to Hudson in a pre-taped message during the 'Dreamgirls' special on 'Oprah' last fall, 'American Idol' judge Simon Cowell and the news magazine show 'Extra!,' have decided to get selective amnesia about him dissing her during the 'A.I.' competition. 'Extra!,' where Cowell's girlfriend Terri Seymour works as a correspondent, ran a two-day series on Hudson calling her a "liar" and demanding that she apologize to Cowell after they "discovered" that he had "only praised her" during her run on the series. They only ran positive clips with Cowell's occasional positive feedback of Hudson, but opted to leave out those insults about her weight and negative critiques of her performances that most recall vividly. More so, Cowell took offense to Hudson saying 'A.I.' was a "stepping stone" for her career.

"Yes, I did say 'American Idol' was a stepping stone, which it is! I didn't mean it in a bad way and as I said in my previous interviews 'American Idol' is a stepping stone because had it not been for them, no one would have known of a Jennifer Hudson to call to audition for 'Dreamgirls!' It's like everything I say referring to the show gets twisted around and makes me look like I'm being arrogant and a 'diva,' " Hudson clarified. "It's disappointing! But they haven't mentioned or aired on television that I called them up myself recently and asked to meet with this year's contestants. I went by and surprised the contestants and the 'American Idol' cameras recorded it all. They just are focusing on the negative stuff."

The most bizarre of all the rumors, says Hudson, was the one that originated in the National Enquirer that claimed she "nixed a $3 million role in a Warner Bros. flick because of a nude scene." The story also claimed that Hudson's character wasn't even the one required to be naked, however "she'll never condone nudity by appearing in any flick that features it ... because she's a role model for aspiring young black women."

"Nothing about that is true! I want to do my album and my fans have waited so patiently for me to put out an album and I appreciate every one of them, that's why I'm focused on putting out my first project," she explained, before adding: "Yes, I will continue to still do movies!"

Though it seems as though select media has pulled a "Jekyll and Hyde" on her now that award show season is over, Hudson finds comfort in the well wishes of her friends and fans who e-mail her and call with concern about what seems to be a character assassination campaign.

"My friends and fans keep asking me to fight back. I feel like why should I have to fight something that I did not do or did not say. I shouldn't have to defend this stuff that's so made up. This is who I am. You've seen me. You know me. People should know that the stories being told about me are just not true," Hudson added.

Sadly, Hudson said she rarely listens to the radio anymore and barely watches TV because she's afraid to see what's been said about her next. "I just use the Internet to stay in the mix and I haven't been able to do that lately because I just moved into my place and the Internet hasn't been set up yet," she said.

Hudson, who is the new spokesmodel for Avon's new scent Imari Seduction, hopes that once she gets her new publicist in place -- "I fired my last one more than two months ago" -- that the negative media backlash will cease. "I realize how important it is for me to get a good publicist first. In the meantime people should contact Eric Cops at Paramount or Scott Seviour at the label and no one else for media inquiries about me," she offered. She's also in the process of interviewing managers as well.

Hudson closed: "I'm grateful for all my blessings and I thank God for it everyday! No amount of fame will ever go to my head and make me think that I'm better than anyone because we are all equal! As quickly as God gave everything He has given me, He can take it away!"

Buzzworthy

Comic Sinbad is not dead! There was a rumor circulating around Los Angeles late last week that the veteran clean comedian had died of a heart attack. According to Hollywood based publicist Lynn Allen Jeter, Sinbad sent a text message to his publicist Linda Jones that said: "Did you get this text?" When Jones replied, "Yes," Sinbad offered: "Well I guess I am alive and well!"

Former Tony, Toni, Tone frontman/producer Raphael Saadiq is dating blue-eyed soul siren Joss Stone. The 41-year-old Saadiq and the 19-year-old Stone apparently hooked up while he produced her forthcoming album, 'Introducing Joss Stone.' There's apparently a trend here because Stone previously dated Beau Dozier, the son Motown great Lamont Dozier, and they too began dating while the then 25-year-old produced her last album, 'Mind, Body and Soul.' Neither of their reps responded to requests for comment.

Congratulations are in order for singer Tamia and husband, basketball star Grant Hill! I broke news on the 'Tom Joyner Morning Show' last Friday that the couple is expecting their second child. Tamia, who is currently four months pregnant, gave birth to their 5-year-old daughter Myla Grace on Jan. 23, 2002. "See what my song 'Can't Get Enough' can result in," the singer said jokingly when she phoned me with the news early Friday morning. She will continue to tour throughout the spring to support her new album, 'Between Friends,' throughout her pregnancy.

Can't Say Names ...

You smell that? If not, I sure did! An R&B singer showed up to a concert to support his friend and as he begin greeting people he knew, it became obvious that his Right Guard had gone left! Better yet, the way his arms smelled and that tang on his breath, clearly it was more than deodorant that was needed! Let's try a full-on bath and a whole bottle of mouthwash!