By Jawn Murray, BlackVoices.com
Unless you've been under a rock, you've heard by now that TV personality Star Jones filed for divorce from her husband, Al Scales Reynolds on March 26.
The couple married on Nov. 13, 2004 and their high profile marriage had been the object of media scrutiny from the time Reynolds proposed to the former co-host of 'The View' during the NBA All-Star Game in
When 'Entertainment Tonight' broke news that Jones filed for divorce on April 23, the recent Court TV host released a statement vowing to take a low-key approach to the matter.
"Several years ago I made an error in judgment by inviting the media into the most intimate area of my life. A month ago I filed for divorce. The dissolution of a marriage is a difficult time in anyone's life that requires privacy with one's thoughts. I have committed myself to handling this situation with dignity and grace and look forward to emerging from this period as a stronger and wiser woman," said Jones, 46.
Since then, there have been numerous speculative and erroneous reports about why the couple split, particularly since neither of them has commented on the end of their union.
Reynolds, 37, who is a professor at
With his permission, BV Buzz is posting in its entirety this 'Open Letter' that Reynolds posted on his MySpace page.
He writes: "Dear Friends: If you think you are having a tough day, may I propose you walk in my shoes for a few hours. 
In my mind, it feels like "Dump on Al Month." And I'm not having fun yet.
I have been called a gigolo, a freeloader, unemployed, a sham and many other things that don't bear repeating.
People on television, radio and the internet have spoken disparagingly of my life, my sexuality, my career and my integrity. The media has barraged me (at my home), my friends, my family(including my 79 year old mother), my college classmates, my students and my professional colleagues.
Yet, despite this intense level of provocation, I have said nothing.
My publicist has put out a one sentence statement: "We're taking the high road." And we have and will continue on that path.
As much as I want to defend myself, it seems like a silly and futile exercise. It's clear that the media doesn't want to let the truth get in the way of a good story. I'd hate to ruin their fun.
I take great comfort in the fact that my loved ones and those people who really know me continue to love and respect me. Thank you "all" for the endless emails, phone calls and words of encouragement.
I know in my heart that I entered my marriage with love and the best of intentions and leave it with great sadness that it didn't work.
What the world doesn't know about me would fill a book, but I know who I am and what I have achieved in my life. Before I met Star Jones I was a successful Wall Street banker and since then I have become an entrepreneur, an educator and soon, an author.
I grew up in a working class home, a mobile home in fact. I understand the struggles of the working class. My mother was a teacher and my father was in the military.
I was given values, integrity and a strong moral upbringing (thanks mom and dad). In these hard economic times, I am working to take my knowledge and experience of the business world and use it to empower and enlighten working class Americans who are often 'left behind' by traditional financial advice.
I educate inspiring young men and women at
I continue to follow my entrepreneurial spirit in the world of business and investment while completing my doctorate in Organizational Leadership. So I indeed work very hard as a professor, business owner, doctoral student and author.
I play hard too. I make no apologies for that. A guy is entitled to a little fun, after all.
What I want people to know is that I am not the caricature portrayed by the media. I am complex, contradictory and capable of great intelligence but also remarkable stupidity. In other words, I am a human being.
To me, labels are for clothes, not people.
So...Please don't try to define me; don't try to categorize me; and most of all, don't label me.
Instead, JUST GET TO KNOW ME. And if you see me, just call me Al."
1. I hear you Al. People always take the woman's side. Having a break-up through the media has got to be hell. All I can tell you is "keep your head up" PEACE
vernon at 8:42PM on May 13th 2008