Source: Scott Legato / Getty With the loss of support from past collaborators in the wake of the Lifetime docu-series, Surviving R. Kelly , the R&B singer is now potentially without a record label to push new music. According to sources, RCA/Sony is putting new music from R. Kelly on hold while pending criminal investigations are looming. TMZ reports : Sources familiar with R. Kelly’s contract and dealings with RCA/Sony tell us … the label will not produce any of the singer’s new music, it will not put money behind any of his projects, and it will not release any additional music until the criminal investigations in Georgia and Atlanta and other fallout resolve one way or the other. We’re told R. Kelly is pissed because he’s been in the studio recording new music to fulfill the obligations under his RCA contract … which requires 2 new albums. Our sources say he’s especially annoyed RCA/Sony won’t provide money for music videos. RCA/Sony is in a tough spot — they can read the tea leaves and know they will have hell to pay in terms of PR if they release R. Kelly’s songs in the wake of the growing #muteRkelly movement. On the other hand, the label has a deal with R. Kelly, and if they formally walk away from him now without any criminal charges to justify ending the contract … they could be sued. We don’t know if there’s a “morals clause” in R. Kelly’s contract … which would allow the label to give him the boot for crossing the line. The outlet adds that Kelly has been continually dropping new music via the streaming service Soundcloud, a far distance from the big budget marketing rollouts he would enjoy under his recording contract. — Photo: Getty
Ever since Farrah Abraham ranted about being fired from Teen Mom OG , the world has been wondering why it happened, how it happened, and if it happened. This is Farrah we’re talking about, folks. Only we’re now learning that Farrah isn’t just having issues with MTV. She’s apparently having issues with the porn company that employed her. So much so that Farrah is suing them for thousands of dollars that she says that they owe her. This is gonna be fun. You know in sitcoms or romantic comedies or whatever when there’s a male character who’s hooking up with two women and he knows that he has to choose … but waits too long and ends up losing them both? Well, that appears to be what happened with Farrah Abraham. But instead of losing two lovers , she maybe lost two different sources of income. Two jobs. Whatever happened with MTV — because there’s still a lot that’s unclear, especially after Farrah Abraham said that she wasn’t fired — Farrah appears to be in hot water. Allegedly, this is over her sex work. On the one hand, obviously, sex work is a valid form of employment and sex workers don’t deserve the kind of stigma that they receive. (Though it’s possible that sex workers don’t really want Farrah Abraham working as their champion, because of her … personality issues) On the other hand, if Farrah’s sex work is a clear violation of her contract with MTV, then that’s another matter. Plenty of jobs have exclusivity clauses — though reality stars tend to get money from multiple sources, capitalizing on their fame. Plenty of jobs have “morality” clauses, which tend to have less to do with actual right and wrong and more to do with things that they worry will make them look bad. Something like that could be at play, here. But questioning the grounds on which Farrah Abraham — the how of it all — might be less important than the why . Does MTV really get its garters in a twist over sex work? Farrah’s brand of sex work is completely legal. When Farrah Abraham strips down and masturbates on camera , the only “bad” thing about the livestream is that Farrah’s involved. Oh, and that the livestream might crash due to high demand. (Yes, really) The thing is that it sounds like the sex work, if it was even a real factor, might just be an excuse. A lot of people don’t like Farrah Abraham , and Farrah’s various Teen Mom costars may have banded together to get her booted off of the show. That sounds awfully believable, though we wish that the impetus were one of Farrah’s racist rants , which are actual bad things. If Farrah really is losing her Teen Mom job because of sex work, that’s extra bad, because things between her and CamSoda right now are … not good. RadarOnline reports that Farrah Abraham is suing CamSoda , the company for which she previously livestreamed. She is suing the company for $5,000, which Farrah says that they have wrongly withheld. Farrah’s legal team’s letter to the porn company contains details. “Ms. Abraham was to be paid a total of ten thousand dollars; half due within two business days of signing the Agreement, and the remainder due following the completion of the Session.” First of all, 10 grand is a lot more than most camgirls make, but most camgirls aren’t celebrities. “Ms. Abraham fulfilled her obligations under the contract, but despite this, CamSoda is willfully withholding the remaining $5,000 due under the Agreement, thereby constituting a material breach of contract.” According to the letter, CamSoda’s issue is that Farrah wasn’t wearing CamSoda merch … and said less than nice things about the company on social media. “[Abraham] did not disrobe during the session; and allegedly disparaged CamSoda on social media.” We can see how both of those wouldn’t sit right with CamSoda. “With respect to not disrobing, there is no requirement under the Agreement for Ms. Abraham to disrobe or be fully nude.” That’s a surprise. You might want to include that in writing next time, CamSoda. “To the contrary, the Agreement specifically states that ‘Performer shall interact with and respond to various users during the Session as Company and Performer may agree.’ Ms. Abraham complied with this obligation and it was CamSoda who unilaterally decided to cut the Session short.” So … Farrah started a livestream but didn’t get a chance to get into it, then the bosses cut things short, and then Farrah said some unkind things about the company — allegedly. That’s the issue, right? The letter goes on to say that CamSoda needs to cough up that 5 grand, or Farrah will seek damages and compensation for legal fees to the tune of $75,000. It sounds like two things are going on here. One, Farrah — like with MTV — voiced her criticism of a company employing her and didn’t except any consequences. Don’t do that, folks. Two, it sounds like CamSoda is having buyer’s remorse when it comes to Farrah. Our thoughts? Unless Farrah really did violate their agreement, it sounds like CamSoda might owe her a little cash. Maybe they should just pay her … and then not hire her again, now that they know what she’s like to work with. In the mean time, we’ll keep trying to figure out if she’s actually been fired from Teen Mom OG or if she’s just … being Farrah. View Slideshow: Farrah Abraham: Was She Really Fired From Teen Mom OG? An Investigation
K. Michelle’s Music Reportedly Banned From Radio One Stations Remember when Lil’ Mo went all the way IN on K. Michelle for skipping out on a DMV area fan brunch a few weeks back? It turns out she wasn’t the only one pissed off by K. Michelle’s dismissiveness. Apparently, her refusal to show up for her supporters and fulfill her obligations to the station cost her all her spins across the nation. Via AlwaysAList : Several Radio One executives spoke to AlwaysAList.com and confirmed that you will no longer hear any songs by K.Michelle—past, present or any artist that features her on a collaboration—due to her bailing on several Radio One promotional events while she was in the Washington, DC earlier this month. Apparently, Radio One’s WKYS 93.9 FM’s new morning show, “The FAM with Lil’ Mo and DJ QuickSilva” was hosting a fan breakfast for 50 fans of K.Michelle that was going to be broadcast on the air. Because the event was scheduled to take place on April 1, the co-hosts—Lil’ Mo, DJ QuickSilva and Britt Waters—and the 50 fans that gathered at the studio thought it was an April Fools prank when they were told that the “Love & Hip Hop” star decided to no-show. Reps for the 32-year-old singer told Radio One that she wanted to stay a Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington, DC the night before the appearance, but because the property was sold out she had to stay in the nearby city of Baltimore, Maryland. Supposedly, K.Michelle did not want to wake up early and make the hour-long commute to Silver Spring, Maryland where the WKYS studios are based “because she wanted to sleep,” her rep also told the Radio One team. There was one K.Michelle fan in attendance that revealed that she had decided to skip her chemotherapy treatment that morning for a chance to meet the singer. She was devastated the booty-enhanced belter was so dismissive of her supporters. As a result of the decision, Radio One’s top brass made the call to pull all of K.Michelle’s music on all of their 55 broadcast stations in 16 markets across the country. Damn! If this one is true, K. Michelle must have really pissed off the wrong Radio execs that day. Prince Williams / ATLpics / Instagram
Guess The Kardashian-Jenner Who Showed Off Her Butt On Instagram You already know that there is almost nothing that is taboo to the Kardashian/Jenner clan, least of which is nudity. That said, not ALL of the Kardashian/Jenner ladies have been as quick to unleash their azz Krakens as others. Today, we got a sighting of a pair of cakes that we haven’t really seen much of. You think you can guess who it was? Flip the page to find out for sure. Image via Instagram/WENN/AKM-GSI/Splash
N.Y. Judge Put Warrant Out For Rapper After He Missed Court DMX said his warrant for a no-show at a child support hearing was down to a mix up between his lawyers and the court. BOSSIP broke the story earlier this week that a Westchester County Supreme Court judge put a warrant out for the rapper’s arrest after he didn’t turn up to a court date with ex-wife, Tashera Simmons. But DMX believed his lawyers successfully postponed the Dec. 14 hearing because of his longstanding “DMXmas” performance in Las Vegas the same day. “I did everything I was supposed to do, it wasn’t my fault,” DMX said, according to his Uncle Nell, who is travelling with the rapper as he performs. Uncle Nell said DMX – who has been in and out of jail over the last few years – had turned his professional life around, getting new management, paying off another child support judgment in upstate New York and making sure his court-ordered $5,000 a month in child support was paid to Tashera on time. “He was doing so good for the last three months, building his rep back up,” Uncle Nell told BOSSIP. “He did the show, we went to bed and when we woke up there was a warrant.” DMX – whose real name is Earl Simmons – is set to perform another show in Vegas on Thursday, and then will celebrate his birthday on Friday before heading to Utah for more shows. Then he’ll head back to New York, Uncle Nell said. He said DMX isn’t worried about cops nabbing him on the warrant as he travels from state to state. “We’re sure that the attorney is going to handle it,” Uncle Nell said. “They fumbled the ball, not us. We fulfilled our obligations.” In a statement to BOSSIP, the rapper’s rep said the rapper was continuing to move forward in his career. “We appreciate support from fans, promoters and our staff alike for knowing and trusting that business will go on as usual,” the statement read. “We look forward to great success, and plan to stay focused on accomplishing goals to achieve such greatness!” DMX is due back in court on the warrant next month.
Judge tells troubled actress, ‘stop nightclubbing and focus on your work.’ By Gil Kaufman Lindsay Lohan Photo: FilmMagic Lindsay Lohan got some good news on Thursday when she appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court and a judge formally ended her lengthy supervised probation from two 2007 DUI arrests. Wearing a powder blue pants suit, the troubled actress earned praise for completing her court-mandated counseling sessions and 480 hours of community service. According to the Los Angeles Times , at the final probation status check in for Lohan in connection with a shoplifting conviction and probation violations from the 2007 arrests, Judge Stephanie Sautner said Lohan had finished her obligations for counseling and community service in “short of a year and she has done everything this court asked her to do.” The actress completed the final counseling sessions and community service work at the Los Angeles County morgue earlier this week. Sautner then announced that the five years of probation for the DUI case were officially over and that she was putting Lohan on unsupervised probation for the shoplifting incident until May 2014. “The only terms for you are for you to obey all laws,” Sautner said. “You don’t need to come to court anymore.” In addition to countless court appearances, Lohan has been jailed several times for violations stemming from drug use to failing to do her required community service. Clearly pleased, Lohan, 25, told the judge, “I just wanted to thank you for being fair. What you’ve done has really opened a lot of doors for me.” Lohan has been working on getting her career back on track, recently appearing in an episode of “Saturday Night Live” , booking a “Glee” gig and signing up to play Elizabeth Taylor in a TV movie. But, before the hearing ended, Sautner had one more piece of advice for Lohan. “Stop nightclubbing and focus on your work,” she counseled. Related Artists Lindsay Lohan
A national poll shows that while Americans are still holding on to some traditional moral values, it has validated immoral behaviors that are self-satisfying. The poll, conducted by Gallup, revealed 91 percent of respondents considered extramarital affairs immoral. In addition to cheating spouses, polygamy, cloning humans, suicide and pornography all ranked as the top five immoral “sins” among Americans. A majority of respondents also ranked abortion as an immoral behavior. However, more respondents found cloning animals immoral (62 percent) than doctor assisted suicide (48 percent). A narrow 45 percent of Americans believe assisted suicide is morally acceptable. Cloning of animals also outweighed the moral importance of embryonic stem cell research (only 30 percent found it immoral), fornication (36 percent), gambling (31 percent) and divorce (23 percent). The poll shows what Richard Land, president of Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, says is a deep-rooted problem with Americans’ sense of priorities. Land says Americans’ moral values are skewed to focus less on their obligations and responsibilities and more on their “supposed rights and privileges.” You may read the rest here
Child support is, and probably always will be, a hot topic in the black community. In these times of economic hardship people are having a hard enough time supporting themselves much less a child or children, but is the economy an excuse for being light on the payments? Total funds collected for U.S. child-support programs failed to increase during fiscal year 2009 for the first time since Congress created an enforcement arm for such collections in 1975, according to a study released this week by the Government Accountability Office. Overall collections declined by 2.1 percent from the previous fiscal year, including the first-ever drop in collections automatically withheld from wages, long the primary source of child-support payments. The enforcement program, administered at the state level and overseen by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, collected about $26 billion in child support payments during fiscal 2009 on behalf of some 17 million children, almost one-quarter of the nation’s kids. The average amount of child support collected per case dropped 3 percent to $1,670, the first decline since 1994. The amount of child-support funding collected from unemployment checks, however, nearly tripled during fiscal 2009. It’s a measure of the depths of the recession, but also of how much deeper it could have been, analysts say, without government efforts to mitigate the economic crisis. “I think it’s clear that the decline in collections isn’t due to a failing on the part of child-support enforcement administrators, but due to the economy,” said Elizabeth Lower-Basch, a senior policy analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy, an advocacy group for lower-income Americans. “It would have been a bigger drop without the extended unemployment insurance benefits, which helped many noncustodial parents meet their obligations.” Has the economy affected you or your child’s parents’ ability to make sufficient payments? Source
Erin Andrews, an ESPN sportscaster, has been receiving death threats though emails, said an attorney of Ern Andrews. Atty. Marshall Grossman said that an alleged man has been sending at least a dozen e-mails since September last year, threatening the sportscaster. DirecTV provided them to Andrews’ representatives Thursday, but it was not immediately clear to whom the e-mails were addressed. The e-mails at first were sexualbut it has been getting explicitly violent recently and “threatened Erin with murder,” Grossman said. They also had details about location and method. The messages discuss the case of Michael David Barrett, who was sentenced last month to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for secretly shooting nude videos of the ESPN reporter. “He refers to Barrett in his e-mail in a way to make clear to us that situation had some influence,” Grossman said, but added that the man appeared to have no ties to Barrett. The FBI has been notified, Grossman said. He said the man’s identity is known to law enforcement and is believed to live on the East Coast. An e-mail message left for an FBI spokeswoman was not immediately returned. Andrews is not yet seeking a restraining order but has asked ABC to beef up its security on “Dancing with the Stars,” Grossman said. Private security also has been hired to protect Andrews and her family. Andrews has no plans of quitting the show. “She’s not the type to be easily threatened,” Grossman said. “She has every intention to meet her obligations.” Erin Andrews, an ESPN sportscaster, has been receiving death threats though emails, said an attorney of Ern Andrews. Atty. Marshall Grossman said that an alleged man has been sending at least a dozen e-mails since September last year, threatening the sportscaster. DirecTV provided them to Andrews’ representatives Thursday, but it was not immediately clear to whom the e-mails were addressed. The e-mails at first were sexualbut it has been getting explicitly violent recently and “threatened Erin with murder,” Grossman said. They also had details about location and method. The messages discuss the case of Michael David Barrett, who was sentenced last month to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for secretly shooting nude videos of the ESPN reporter. “He refers to Barrett in his e-mail in a way to make clear to us that situation had some influence,” Grossman said, but added that the man appeared to have no ties to Barrett. The FBI has been notified, Grossman said. He said the man’s identity is known to law enforcement and is believed to live on the East Coast. An e-mail message left for an FBI spokeswoman was not immediately returned. Andrews is not yet seeking a restraining order but has asked ABC to beef up its security on “Dancing with the Stars,” Grossman said. Private security also has been hired to protect Andrews and her family. Andrews has no plans of quitting the show.”She’s not the type to be easily threatened,” Grossman said. “She has every intention to meet her obligations.” ESPN’s Erin Andrews Death Threats is a post from: Daily World Buzz Continue reading →
U.S. regulators should consider breaking up large financial institutions considered “too big to fail,” former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said
