Nov. 27, 2006

Nothing is apparently worse than an ex-lover scorned. Such is the case with actor Darius McCrary, best known as “Eddie Winslow” on the long-running ABC sitcom ‘Family Matters.’ McCrary was the subject of a malicious e-mail circulated by someone who is suspected to be a bitter ex-girlfriend, though McCrary doesn’t even want to make any accusations about the culprit.

The bogus e-mail said the popular actor of had AIDS and created a fictitious scene of how the female making the accusation discovered his illness moments before an unprotected sexual encounter, by going through his medicine cabinet after getting a headache. Unlike recent internet hoaxes that have killed off Kelly Rowland of Destiny’s Child and actor Kel Mitchell (‘One on One’), accused Jaleel White (‘Family Matters’) of dressing in drag, having Ne-Yo come out the closet, and reporting that pop star Ciara was previously a man; McCrary, unlike the others, has a good idea of who started the false chain mail about him.

“I don’t want to give the person too much energy who did it, but it’s definitely a bunch of bull. It’s totally not true,” McCrary told me via cell phone from Los Angeles late last week. The actor couldn’t imagine how someone could be cruel enough to fabricate such an e-mail and doesn’t believe he’s ever done anything to warrant such backlash. “Only thing I am guilty of is loving ladies! And maybe loving them too good,” offered the Walnut, Calif. native.

McCrary did tell me that the exasperated ex wasn’t his ex-wife, a Las Vegas showgirl named Juliette whom he wed last December and was married to for five weeks. The ‘Something to Sing About’ star said he and Juliette have a great relationship despite being divorced. “Sometimes it just doesn’t work out,” explained the actor. “We’re still good friends and we talk on the regular. That’s my homegirl. Sometimes you’re better suited to be friends with someone than to marry somebody. We’re better friends…we hang out…we kick it.”

The 30-year-old actor, who most recently starred in the NBC series ‘Committed’ and had a recurring role on ‘Girlfriends,’ also broke news that he’s about to be a dad. “I just found out that I have an 18-year contract that will finish being negotiated in the next nine months,” he laughed.

McCrary, who is launching a “top-secret children’s educational program that will help fix illiteracy,” has vowed to remain positive despite the negative attention. “I’m glad to know folks talking bout me ‘cause I thought folks thought I was gone,” he laughed, before adding: “Anybody else got anything they want to start?”

Love Jones

If anyone has followed my columns over the years, you know that I’ve always had a thing for Fox television talent Jillian Barberie. I’ve professed my undying love for her time after time, but sadly for me—though I’m happy for her—Barberie recently jumped the broom.

That’s right; Barberie got married last July to actor Grant Reynolds (‘The Invisible Man’) in a private ceremony at her home. “It was the greatest thing I ever did! I didn’t elope…but I’ve known him for five years and we’ve kind of been friends and true associates. One of my best friends introduced us five years ago, but he always had a girlfriend and I was dating here and there. We just hooked up again last January, dated three months and was like we know and we did it. Just in my back yard,” Barberie told this brokenhearted columnist over lunch at Barney Greengrass inside of Barneys New York in Beverly Hills.

Most surprising to me was that Reynolds is white, since Barberie has professed her love for Black men on television over the years and has previously dated folks like NBA star Derek Fisher and singer Johnny Gill. Why did she abandon us brothers? “I didn’t abandon the brothers, I just like men. I like all kinds of men. I just fell in love and I guess love has no color,” laughed the ‘Good Day L.A.’ co-host.

Barberie showed me her tattooed wedding ring—he has one too—and said it was more meaningful than getting the traditional diamond ring. “I got a lot of diamonds. You know, I’ve worked hard and I bought myself a lot of diamonds and I don’t need a man to buy me diamonds. It’s a little more symbolic than that. I like it,” explained the 39-year-old Canadian-bred talent.

Working hard is an understatement for Barberie, who at one point balanced nearly five different jobs. From 2003 to 2004 Barberie hosted the local version of ‘Good Day L.A.,’ in addition to the nationally syndicated version of the show, ‘Good Day Live.’ She was also the weathergirl on Fox Sports ‘FOX NFL Sunday,’ hosted ‘EX-treme Dating,’ and co-starred on the NBC sitcom ‘Good Morning, Miami.’ She was like the female answer to Ryan Seacrest. “Only Ryan makes a lot more money,” she pointed out, before adding: “And he’s way more high-maintenance!”

I guess Barberie would know since she apparently dated Seacrest at one point. “I never dated him. I just made out with him once! A big difference,” she clarified.

Nonetheless, Barberie is now a newlywed and my infatuation official ends. Now I just have to stop playing Luther Vandross’ “Since I Lost My Baby!”

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