SINBAD, STILL NOT DEAD
An e-mail proclaiming that comedian Sinbad had died of a heart attack Wednesday morning spread like wildfire across the Internet Thursday and had folks as famous as Lionel Richie calling the comedian/actor to find out if it was true.
Well, it most certainly was not.
As reported yesterday, Sinbad, born David Atkins, is very much alive and had nothing but jokes about his untimely demise while speaking via phone with EUR’s Lee Bailey Thursday afternoon.
“So what did you tell Lionel Richie?” asked Bailey.
“I told him you’re talking to a ghost,” Sinbad joked. “I’m trying to get a track from him, so I said I’m real sick. I need some music for my daughter.”
Sinbad’s brother and manager, Mark Adkins, told us yesterday afternoon that he began receiving calls about the death rumor on Saturday.
“I started getting a lot of comedians calling me saying that they heard Sinbad had passed away,” said Adkins. “Then it had died down for a couple of days, and we thought it was just a little local rumor, but then it went across the country. I got calls from Detroit and New York; radio stations calling. I guess there’s some sort of obituary or something on the e-mail blast that people had that made it seem real.”
Moved by the widespread concern, Sinbad told us: “I wish that people would’ve called me back like this when I was alive. I gotta die more often.”
He also joked that people were taking his death so hard because he owes those people money.
“Seriously, folks are worried that they ain’t gonna get their cash back,” he said.
“I’m writing a movie about this now,” he continued, noting that he hasn’t made a film in 10 years. “Seriously, my death is gonna be my comeback.”
The rumor seemed to have come from a hacked-into page on Wikipedia, a widely used Internet encyclopedia that allows anyone to contribute information. The page, seen here, said Sinbad “succumbed to a fatal heart attack on the morning of March 14, 2007.” The page also lists a biography and filmography for Sinbad, which seemed to offend him even more than the fake death.
“They had some jacked up stuff there, man,” he said. “Like come on, man. Give me a good sendoff. …They had me in Maxim magazine interviewed, they said [I was] the worst comedian of all time. I was like, don’t put that on the obituary. You supposed to like a man in death.”
Considering even more benefits of his fake passing, he said: “I’m hoping the IRS don’t know. Hopefully, I can keep this death thing going a little while longer.”
Getting serious for a brief moment, Sinbad admitted that this was actually the second time he has been the subject of a death rumor, and the news is always hardest on family members, close friends and the people who aren’t aware of the truth.
Sinbad said of the person who started the rumor: “If somebody has nothing better to do today, then I’m happy that it gave you something to do. Because if that’s all you have to do in your life, you have a sad life. If the best you could do is create a page that said somebody is dead, then your life is already dead.”
“Think about the energy it takes to do something like that,” he continued. “You have to have so much negative energy in your system, that you’re the walking dead.”
Tyrese Comes To The Defense Of Oprah
Tyrese has come to the defense of Oprah Winfrey over criticisms leveled against her in respect to her school in South Africa. The media has been critical of the various rules and regulations placed upon the students and have questioned Oprah's motives for opening the school.
Tyrese released the following statement through his publicist:
"There is a staggering amount of millionaires and billionaires out in the world that do nothing to effect positive change within society. The fact that Oprah Winfrey took a monumental step to create a school in South Africa for the betterment of African children rather then just speak of change is commendable. The bible says- ‘No good deed shall go unpunished,' and there are many critics out in the world turning up negative stones to find a flaw in this wonderful gift donated to South Africa by Oprah Winfrey. I stand with Oprah in the fight for change and positive world reform and I hope that people realize there will always be struggle and without struggle there is no progression. Please leave her alone and let the blessings she is offering outshine the public scrutiny she is facing."
Ludacris, Russell Simmons Honored For National Poetry Month
The two will be honored for their philanthropy and encouragement of spoken word.
America SCORES, a group that uses art to empower students in urban communities, is honoring Russell Simmons and Ludacris for their encouragement of spoken word and the performing arts. They will be honored in a ceremony on April 30 at the HBO Theater in New York City, an occasion will also signify the end of national poetry month.
For the past three years, a joint grant initiative between Simmons' Rush Philanthropic Arts and the Ludacris Foundation (along with the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and Pepsi), have donated to America SCORES; most recently, they enabled 30 young poets to participate in a National Poetry Slam.
The ceremony will include the America SCORES National Poetry Slam!, and a meet-up with the participating young poets and their coaches. Benefit tickets are available for $1000 by calling 646-660-0407.
Busta Rhymes Shoots Film In NJ, Despite NYPD Beef
Undeterred by the New York Police Department's gripes that prevented him from participating in the production of a movie in NY earlier this week, Busta Rhymes wrapped up three days of filming in New Jersey yesterday (March 14).
As previously reported, Busta (born Trevor Smith), who is a cast member of the crime drama Order of Redemption, was not allowed to partake in the film's production in Manhattan after the police department raised public safety concerns.
Busta and the NYPD have been at odds due to his lack of cooperation in the investigation of the shooting death of his bodyguard Israel Ramirez early last year.
According to The Newark Star-Ledger, Busta shot scenes at the Riviera Hotel and on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Newark on Wednesday. The rapper plays a murderous villain who crosses paths with a once-prominent defense attorney, played by Tom Berenger, who is attempting to resume his career after struggling with drug addiction and a family tragedy.
Jason Webb, a producer of Order of Redemption, revealed Busta throws a baby out of a windo in one scene. "Busta Rhymes is an extremely talented actor, "explained Webb. "He is appreciative of us sticking with him."
Lupe Todd, a spokeswoman for Mayor Cory Booker, said the city of Newark had no problem with Busta shooting in their city.
"As far as we know, Busta Rhymes was acting accordingly and we thank him for his business," said Todd.
Slip-N-Slide Records Awarded $9.1 Million Judgment Against TVT Records
Pitbull was discovered by Jullian Andres Boothe, who recorded songs featured on Welcome to the 305 in 2001 and 2002, pursuant to a contract with the rapper. Pitbull later released two albums through TVT, M.I.A.M.I.
Wyclef Steps Up For Haiti
Grammy Award winner and Fugees member, Wyclef Jean, testified on Capitol Hill yesterday (March 14) about development efforts in Haiti.
During his testimony before the Subcommittee of the Western Hemisphere Committee on Foreign Affairs at the U.S. House of Representatives, Wyclef addressed Haiti's need for economic and social development. "After some 200 years of neglect, almost everything is a priority in Haiti: health, education, infrastructure, jobs, security, justice — all that's needed to achieve a healthy economy and a stable, vibrant society," he said.
After the hearing, Wyclef also announced that his foundation — Yele Haiti — was forming a new partnership with KATA, a U.S. development program. The partnership will advance economic stability in Haiti through job creation and education. Haiti, which is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, has been a big focus for Wyclef. His foundation, Yele Haiti, was formed in 2005 and funds projects in education, healthcare and community development.
Kid Rock Accused Of Assault
A 28-yearold Milford woman claims Kid Rock assaulted her last week at his home, according to a report filed with the Oakland County Sheriff's Department.
The alleged assault is still under investigation, and a person has yet to be interviewed by deputies as a possible witness, Oakland County Undersheriff Michael McCabe said.
McCabe said that Kid Rock, whose real name is Bob Ritchie, invited the woman and a man to his home to listen to music after meeting them the night of March 8 at the Clarkston Union Bar & Kitchen on Main Street in Clarkston. Members of the group have admitted to drinking alcohol the night of the alleged assault, McCabe said.
According to the woman's allegations, they were listening to music when she decided to go home to be with her children, McCabe said.
That is when Ritchie allegedly became angry because he wanted her to spend the night, McCabe said.
According to the woman's report, the rock star allegedly became loud and verbally abusive when she refused to stay, McCabe said.
The woman also claims Ritchie grabbed her by the back of the neck twice when she was outside his home and pushed her toward her car, he said. That push, the woman alleges, caused her to fall into a snow bank, McCabe said.
She has also claimed her nose was hit, but no information as to how that happened was given, he said.
Ritchie has admitted to deputies the woman and man were invited to his home to listen to music, McCabe said.
According to his statements, the group was listening to songs from his upcoming album when she began acting rudely, critiquing his music and acting obnoxious, McCabe said.
Ritchie claims he asked her to leave because of her behavior and she allegedly made claims she was going to accuse him of assaulting her, he said.
The man who was with the woman has corroborated her story after being interviewed by deputies, McCabe said.
But a third man, claiming to be witness, has sided with Ritchie and deputies are expected to interview a woman who was there, as well, McCabe said.
"At this point, we have two people who say one thing and two other people that say something else," he said. "Once the investigation is completed, a report will be given to the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office."
TERRENCE HOWARD TURNED DOWN BY BERRY AND UNION
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In the new April issue of Essence magazine, on stands now, actor Terrence Howard admits that he tried to talk to two Hollywood beauties, and was ultimately shot down both times.
"I tried to talk to Halle [Berry] for a bit. Didn’t call me back," the married man says in the cover story. "Tried to talk to Gabrielle Union. Didn't call me back, either."
Regarding his estranged wife Lori, the star of new film “Pride” said: "The only woman I really love is my wife. The hardest thing to do is to let go of somebody you really care about."
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