Nov. 13, 2006

Back to Page 1 of The BV Buzz

The National Enquirer has run a version of the story as well. Did I sell the story to the tabloid like Brandy's cantankerous public relations pretender has been telling my colleagues? Absolutely not! The National Enquirer, like any celebrity news magazine and media outlet that has a story exclusively, would not pay you if you broke a story you sold to them somewhere else. In a nutshell, I wouldn't have been able to report the Brandy story on the radio if I had struck a deal to sell that story to the National Enquirer. It's just that simple! But I know that the publicist knows this because he has a great working relationship with the National Enquirer-and I don't mean the standard publicist/media outlet setup-so he clearly knows how the process works. (Ask him if he and the choreographer he brought along enjoyed breakfast with my friend at the National Enquirer.) Furthermore, the peasant called my pal at the National Enquirer-and I can assure you every black journalist in the business working entertainment news knows her well-and she point blank told him this was not my story. But I'm sure he never shared any of that with his client.

In closing, here are the facts. A call was made from a member of the church and their account of the Bible study exchange was reported. Brandy has not been the beacon of truth-Google "Brandy marriage" to refresh you memory about her fake marriage fallout. Believe a churchgoing Bible study attendee or Brandy? Well, the math was pretty simple on that. Lastly, though the church played down the severity of the Bible study incident, they did not corroborate the entire claim made by Brandy's rep. With all of that said, there remains three sides to this story and only time will tell if some cell phone video or camera phone images finally clears all of this up. Until then, I'm done talking about it!

Buzzworthy

Fresh off of her appearance on VH1's 'Celebrity Fit Club,' soul singer Angie Stone has joined the lineup for ALW Entertainment's 'Sisters in the Spirit' tour. The inspirational tour kicks off Jan. 29, 2007 in Memphis and runs until March 4, in Atlanta. Also onboard for 'Sisters in the Spirit' are Shirley Caesar, Kelly Price, Dorinda Clark Cole and evangelist Dr. Yvonne Capehart. R&B veteran Patrice Rushen will serve as musical director for the tour. Al Wash, CEO of ALW Entertainment, told me that he plans to announce the last artist for 'Sisters in the Spirit' in the coming weeks. For additional details on the tour, visit www.alwe.com.

Speaking of Stone, the singer will also be a part of a cabaret show being produced by Brownstone singer Nicci Gilbert called 'Soul Kittens.' (Think 'Dreamgirls' meets The Pussycat Dolls.) The musical is kicking off Nov. 18, in Detroit and has a bevy of vocal powerhouses lined up for the production. The other singers and actresses in 'Soul Kittens' include Syleena Johnson, Trenyce ('American Idol'), Tatyana Ali, Monifah, Tammy Townsend ('Rock Me Baby'), Gilbert and several fresh faces.

Rapper and Def Jam president Jay-Z shot the campaign for his new Roc-A-Wear clothing line while on his recent international tour. Shot in Africa, Dubai, Thailand and Hong Kong, the campaign will feature Zoe Saldana, Datari Turner, Jamie King and Lucas Black.

Yes, that's gospel singer Javen in the movie 'One Night with the King.' The singer/actor has a new album 'Believer' available in stores. The music video for his single, "Another Day," a song featured on the soundtrack for 'One Night with the King,' is being played on music video channels nationally.

Can't Say Names…

Uh oh! Sources say that a chapter that was removed from Karrine Steffans' bestselling tell-all tome, 'Confessions of a Video Vixen,' may finally surface now that a certain Hollywood celebrity has split from his wife. Could said entertainer end up in Steffans' next book, 'The Vixen Diaries,' which is set to bow June 2007 on Warner Books? That's the word in the publishing world.

BV Scene

Actor Omar Epps getting lunch at Panera Bread in Studio City, Calif… Former 'CBS Evening News' anchor Dan Rather boarding the terminal transport shuttle at Washington Dulles International Airport, sporting a navy blue suit and a red necktie… Shar Jackson, comedian Ant, Karrine Steffans, Joe Francis ('Girls Gone Wild'), Omarosa, Lyriq Bent ('Saw II'), Chudney and Evan Ross, Nick Verreos ('Project Runway') and Shanna Moakler ('Dancing With the Stars') were among those who attended AOL BlackVoices sister company TMZ.com's one-year anniversary party at the nightclub Republic in West Hollywood… Sanaa Lathan having lunch at Gibsons Steakhouse on North Rush Street in Chicago... R&B crooner Keith Sweat and rapper Jackie O performing at Miami L.I.V.E. at club Santo in Miami Beach, Fla… Mario Lopez ('Dancing with the Stars') having lunch at Toast on 3rd Street in Los Angeles.