Every now and then, The View panelists actually engage in an interesting discussion. Such was the case when the topic of Tracy Morgan, his recent anti-gay rant on stage and subsequent apology came up this week on the talk show. Whoopi Goldberg didn’t defend Morgan’s specific outburst, but did speak from experience as a comedian when she said this stuff just happens occasionally on stage: “Sometimes we step in it and it’s bad, and this is one of those times… when a comic has gone over the line and realized it. Not just because people told him, but because he realized it.” Whoopi Goldberg Defends Tracy Morgan Sherri Shepherd, who recurs opposite Morgan on 30 Rock as his character’s wife, said a working actor must also represent his show at all times. And Elisabeth Hasselbeck actually chimed in with a good question: Do the standards for a comedian change in this Internet age, when he/she must be aware that his/her audience expands beyond those in the audience? Should it?
Shaquille O’Neal retired from the NBA this month. Considering the superstar’s charisma and love of attention, anyone who has followed his career can’t help but wonder: What will he do next? Now, however, we find ourselves asking: What the heck did he do before? Specifically, on the night of February 11, 2008? TMZ has broken what could be a mammoth story, detailing the arrest of seven gang members who are accused of kidnapping a man named Robert Ross on that date. Law enforcement officials report that Ladell Rowles – a member of the Main Street Mafia Crip and a friend of O’Neal’s – led the group, drawing guns on Ross outside a convenience store, ordering him to drive them to Rowles’ house and then pistol whipping him until he turned over a sex tape of Shaquille and a mistress, allegedly filmed when O’Neal was married. The seven individuals have been arrested and charged with robbery (they supposedly stole $15,000 from Ross, along with other items) and kidnapping; they are currently sitting in jail, awaiting a hearing. A sex tape was never recovered, but this is where it comes into play: Ross and Shaq were business partners a few years ago. Sources say the former had a deal in place with the latter’s record label in which he’d receive 50% of the cut from any artist he brought in. HOWEVER, Ross claims he delivered Ray J to the company and was screwed out of the deal. (Did you doubt that Ray J would play a role in any sex tape-related tale?) Following their falling out, Ross told police that he threatened to release a video of Shaq and a mistress unless he received payment. Ross alleged the video was shot in his home, with a “security camera,” after O’Neal used the residence to have a fling. But the camera recycles occasionally and the tape was erased. There’s actually one final twist to this story: After Shaunie O’Neal separated from Shaq, Ross says he began seeing her! Shaq reportedly used a private investigator to catch the pair together. The LAPD actually did interview Shaq when the aforementioned gang members were arrested, but the district attorney did not list him as a suspect at the time. [Photo: WENN.com]
