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Everyone knows that I love Oprah, the accomplished “Queen of Talk” finally fired back about the continued negative comments about her good deed in South Africa.  As if being criticized for opening a school in Africa and not one in the states would demean Lady O.    The recent comments that her academy for girls in South Africa has too many rules and restrictions; South Africa-based outlet News 24 quoted parents who are upset that cell phones and e-mails are not allowed during the week, parental visits need to be approved by the school at least two weeks in advance, and the maximum number of visitors per student is four, which prevent some larger families from visiting a student all at once.  “Our goal is to protect the health, welfare, and well-being of the students at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy,” read the statement from Harpo.  “As with the other boarding schools, we provide a structured, safe, and nurturing environment in which the girls can learn and develop.”  The news also stated that the school banned all junk food from the premises.  But that was later found not to be true.  “Visitors are asked to bring books for students rather than unhealthy snacks, but there is no ban on junk food.” The statement read.  I am not sure the rest of the world was watching the same special on the school that I watched, but from what I saw none of the girls attending Oprah’s school came from a family that could afford a cell phone.  All schools have rules and if the parents do not like them they are welcome to take their child out.  A person would give over a $40 million gift and they have the nerve to say something negative.  

Seems that Serena Williams was close to being called a “Nappy Headed Hoe,” during a recent tennis match, first she had to deal with her sister Venus’ losing to Maria Sharapova at the Sony Ericsson Open.  And not but a few days later she was forced to endure a persistent heckler that seemed to be racist.  “The guy said, ‘Hit the net like any Negro would.’  I was shocked,” said Serena following her win against Lucie Sfarova, 6-3, 6-4.  “I couldn’t believe it.  I had to do a double take.  I think I hit a double fault at that point.”  Late in the match held in her Kev Biscayne, Florida neighborhood, Serena complained about the heckler to the chair umpire.  “Every time I missed a shot of a serve, the heckler would say, ‘That’s the way to do it.’” Williams added.  “He was calling, ‘Foot fault.’  He was saying, ‘Hit in the net,’…I mean, who does this?  That’s so elementary.  You don’t do this on a professional level.”  Tournament director Adam Barrett said the irritant was disposed of after the matter was brought to their attention.  “The man was identified and escorted off the site,” Barrett said.  “As security determines the severity of these actions, he may not be welcome to return.  We take these matters very, very seriously,”  Serena said that she has endured much worst growing up in Compton, however to have someone display such blatant form of racism in the year 2007 is shocking or is it a reality that America is no longer able to hide.  With situations like this becoming more and more of the reality it makes you wonder have we progressed or did we hide and lie our true feelings for years?  Perhaps the world has become to comfortable and need events like this as a reality check that we really have not come as far as we would like to pretend we have.  

Last week I reported that Suge Knight had allegedly given his life to the Lord and now he may really need to call on him to answer prayer.  Seems the former mogul is broke and now might be homeless.  Los Angeles police officers were on hand to make sure things went smoothly as former Death Row Records CEO Marion “Suge” Knight was reportedly evicted from his posh condo on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles.  According to reports: two black and white police cars plus a car with detectives stood by as Suge’s possessions were removed and loaded into a truck in front of the building, Farrah Fawcett, Carol Burnett, and Patti LaBelle all live in the building and might have witnessed his dramatic departure from the exclusive address.  Knight is currently embroiled in financial drama and court battles surrounding his ties to Death Row.  Last week, the label was sued for $300,000 by Rap-A-Lot Record in an attempt to collect money invested into the Death Row/Rap-A-Lot Records “2Face” album according blogs.  Well, it is obvious that Suge’s mogul days were over when he filed for bankruptcy in April of 2006 in an effort to avoid a $107 million judgment to Michael and Lydia Harris, the former married couple who claim they helped the 1991 launch of Death Row by investing $1.5 million in seed money.  It remains to be seen if the big guy can pull a rabbit out of his hat and land on his feet once again, but for now it looks like Suge might be knocked out for the count. 

It all was a great PR stunt…It was said that all Eddie Griffin wanted to do was practice driving the rare Farrari Enzo featured in his upcoming film “Redline” around the race track at Irwindale Speedway, but the fun was short lived for Eddie Griffin when he drove the $1.5 million vehicle too fast around a curve and crashed into a barrier wall.  After the video of the crash was carefully examined it was concluded the whole thing might have been a publicity stunt to promote the film.  After all, Eddie was at the track practicing for a charity race in support of the movie.  The theory is that a man near the crash does not flinch as the Enzo comes flying toward him, which suggest that the collision may have been rehearsed.  Crashing such and expensive automobile purposefully is a very expensive PR stunt to get people out to see the new movie and it could have cost the man standing behind the retaining wall his life.  Now he could have been aware that it was just a stunt or he could have been in shock.  However, if the car had jumped the wall he would not have lived to tell about it.  Eddie, 38-years-old made it through in one piece, but the Enzo did not have the same luck.  The vehicle-one of only 400 Ferrari Enzos produced, all between 2002 and 2004-was totaled with heavy damage to the front end.  “Undercover Brother’s good at karate and all the rest of that, but the Brother can’t drive,” said Griffin after the accident, referring to his 2002 movie.  The Enzo was owned by “Redline” executive producer Daniel Sadek, whose exotic car collection is featured in the film.  “I’m glad Eddie came out of the crash OK, but my dream car got destroyed,” Sadek said.  “I went to my trailer for about 15 minutes and I thought, ‘There’s people dying every day.  A lot of worse things are happening in the world.’”  Spoken like a man that made and investment.  The car was most likely included in the marketing budget for the film and a very insensitive way to get media coverage. 

Hell no Snoop can’t go.  Snoop Dogg and Sean “Diddy” Combs have cancelled the British dates of their European tour after officials there refused to give Snoop a visa.  “With late notice of Snoop being denied a visa, time has run out and it is too late to reconfigure the show,” the rapper’s label Polydor said in a statement.  “They really did not want to let fans down this way as the UK was planned highlight of the tour.  However, this ultimately was a situation out of their control.”  One of the gigs at London’s Wembley Arena went on without Snoop, according to tour organizers, but concerts in Cardiff, Manchester, Nottingham, and Glasgow were called off.  Snoop cannot get a visa due to the drama from a fight he had last year at London’s Heathrow Airport involving the police, the rapper, and several members of his entourage.  Snoop and five other men in his camp were arrested and detained over night on charges of violent disorder and starting a brawl.  Snoop was previously barred from entering Britain in May 2006.  Britain’s Home Office would not comment the specific reason for denying a visa to the gangster rapper, but said the government had the power to refuse entrance to anyone whose presence would “not be conducive to the public good.”  Well, that says it all.  You know you are a fool when a country will not even allow you entrance.  Most people get locked out of places for acting up, but Snoop’s bad boy behavior has got him barred from an entire country.  How embarrassing to know that you are conducive to the public good. 

Drug Dealers and Killers…It never fails that each week I have to report on someone that has acted a fool and gotten arrested and thrown in jail or I  find myself giving the update on someone that has been detained.  This week I must start with Busta Rhymes, who is headed to trial on two assault charges after a New York judge decided Monday to take a plea offer off the table.  The agreement would have allowed the rapper to remain free, but Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Tanya Kennedy withdrew the offer because of this recent arrest for driving with a suspended license.  The plea offer, which has been abandoned, included community service and a series of lectures to troubled youth.  Rhymes’ attorney, Robert Kalina, said Busta was prepared to accept the deal.  After the judge snatched the rug out from under the rapper, born Trevor Smith, he was slapped with an option that he is not willing to take by the prosecution to do one year in jail for each of the two counts of assault—to run concurrently—and a $500 fine for the suspended license charge.  Rhymes has taken his last and final option to go to trail, which is set to start in May.  In case you forgot let me remind you what Busta’s charges are, one stems from a December 26, 2006 incident in which he is accused of beating his former driver, Edward Hatchett, 39, with a closed fist upside the head and down the neck and kicking him in the ribs and torso during a dispute over back pay.  The attack left Hatchett with cuts, bruises, and substantial pain according to the complaint.  In another case Trevor Smith is charged with assaulting a fan, allegedly for spitting on the rapper’s car, after an August 12, 2006 performance at the AmsterJam Music Festival on Randall Island.  Well, jail might be what Busta needs since he has worked to change his image.  The word was that Busta was a little too soft and flamboyant with his outfits when he performed, as a result the rapper worked to change his image.  The cutting of his long locks, gangster behavior, and buffing up was all in effort to give him more clout on the streets, but his new thug like behavior has only gotten him very close to doing some time in jail.  Hopefully this will serve as a wake up call to the brother that is lost and trying to find his identity. 

Vivica A. Fox has always come off as a pretty girl with a real tough edge and now we finally see her bad girl side come to light.  The life of Fox has become very serious in a matter of days.  The actress is now facing a maximum of six months in jail after the Los Angeles city attorney charged her with misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit.  The 42-year-old actress was arrested late one night after flying by a patrol car on the Hollywood Freeway at 80 mph and subsequently failing a field sobriety test, according to authorities.  Breathalyzer tests indicated her blood-alcohol level was greater than the .08 percent, which is the legal limit for a driver.  Fox spent a night in jail and was released early the following day.  In addition to a six-month jail term, Vivica is facing a $1,000 fine, according to the city attorney spokesman Frank Mateljan.  I will catch up with Vivica when I go to review the Je’Caryous Johnson’s new stage play “Whatever She Wants,” which begins its spring run this month. 

Well, 50-Cent’s ex-girlfriend, Vivica A. Fox recent arrest for drunk driving cost her a lot more than a night in jail and a possible six month stay in the big house.  This will cost her big time in the pocket.  The multi-million dollar endorsement deal with Cadillac; the actress was arrested while driving a Cadillac Escalade.  The company has pulled the deal that was allegedly worth more than $1 million a year to Vivica.  She might be able to get her girl Star Jones-Reynolds to represent her in court.  Her arraignment is set fro May 17, 2007.  In more bad girl news, Foxy Brown has another warrant out for her arrest.  Brown failed to show up for a court date in Broward County, Florida.  Judge Joel T. Lazurus issued a bench warrant after it became obvious that Brown was not going to appear for the court date.  The once deaf rapper was supposed to attend a hearing regarding her incident at a beauty supply store.  She received battery charges for allegedly tossing hair glue at the store owner and spitting on him after he asked her to leave the bathroom so he could close up shop.  Foxy must have really needed to give her weave some maintenance to have gone off on the store owner in the manner that she did.

Brown failed to show up for a court date in Broward County, Florida.  Judge Joel T. Lazurus issued a bench warrant after it became obvious that Brown was not going to appear for the court date.  The once deaf rapper was supposed to attend a hearing regarding her incident at a beauty supply store.  She received battery charges for allegedly tossing hair glue at the store owner and spitting on him after he asked her to leave the bathroom so he could close up shop.  Foxy must have really needed to give her weave some maintenance to have gone off on the store owner in the manner that she did. 

Now this one is very serious and if in fact it is true Tony Yayo should go to prison for a good long time.  The rapper, who recently celebrated his 29th birthday was arrested and detained in New York for the alleged assault of a 14-year-old boy.  According to the reports, the child is the son of Jimmy “Henchmen” Rosemond, the head of record label/management firm Czar Entertainment.  The company that handles the career of 50’s rival The Game.  I guess they did not get over their differences and must still have a serious beef.  Problems surfaced again and 50 and Rosemond bumped heads again over the release of “The Infamous Times –Volume 1:  The Original 50 Cent,” a Czar-produced DVD about a deceased drug kingpin known in Brooklyn as the “Original 50 Cent.”  The alleged assault took place Tuesday March 20, 2007 after Rosemond’s son left school and was headed to his internship at the father’s offices on West 25th street.  The building is located near Violator Management, the company that handles 50 Cent’s career.  Sources close to Czar told reports that 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, and several associates were leaving Violator Management when they saw the boy walking down the street dressed in a Czar T-shirt.  They reportedly had no idea that the teen was Rosemond’s son, which is very hard to believe if they once all worked together.  According to sources, Yayo backhanded the boy then screamed profane words about Czar Entertainment.  Yayo, born Marvin Bernard, was reportedly taken to a precinct in downtown Manhattan along with his associates to be identified by the teen.  The boy’s mother, Cynthia Reed, accompanied her son to the station.  She released the following statement in response to the alleged assault: 

“As a mother I am concerned that my son (who is a fan of Hip Hop) would be attacked by the same artist whose music he listens to.  It’s a shame that 50 Cent and Tony Yayo would feel comfortable slapping and physically attacking an innocent 14 year old minor that they market and promote their records to.  This is a cowardly act on my son who has done nothing to warrant the verbal and physical abuse he received.  This issue should not be taken lightly and these men should be looked upon as a serious threat to society, having taken their relentless public rants towards their rivalries to a level of extreme.  This should be looked at as a step away from child molestation.  I seek justice in the form of restoring my son’s dignity and making sure any child can wear whatever they want without fear of bodily injury.” 

Yayo’s rap sheet includes two consecutive sentences on weapons-possession charges and more thug criminal-like behavior.  However this latest allegation has gone to a level that is irreprehensible.  If the allegations are true Yayo and the group of men that was with him should be locked up for a good long while.  It is not by coincidence that their rival’s son was attacked, but might have been some type of warning or threat to Jimmy “Henchmen” Rosemond about the release of the DVD, which has them displeased.  The attack of his son exposes the reality of some of the monsters that have made millions rapping about gangster behavior and are now millionaire goons.  50 Cent and the other members for the G-Unit label are denying having any part in this alleged incident.  50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson, called into “Miss Jones in the Morning” on Hot 97 to say that his Jewish lawyers will handle the situation.  During the time on the air he told Miss Jones that the situation would not affect his crew in a negative manner.  “Worry about the Je-Je-Je-Jew Unit.  They’re the real good squad.  When the lawyers come out, you’ll see what it is.  I don’t pay nobody.  I only pay the lawyers,” 50 bragged.  It remains to be seen what actually happens to the former drug dealer now rapper if anything happens to him and his squad.  Such a reckless remark leads you to believe that the incident is true.  Any decent self-respecting individual would have stated what a horrible attack it was and that the perpetrator should be brought to justice. 

According to my “Street Committee”...Well, I saw a video that I have been trying to find out if it is real or not, but it is of a man slapping Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles, in the face.  But it is said that the person that slapped her shared it with the press.  The man must have been mentally disturbed to tell the media that he assaulted the 52 year old mother of “Dreamgirls” star.  According to reports he was trying to get an autograph from Beyonce, she was going to give it to him until her mother interjected and stopped her from giving him a copy of her John Hancock.  Beyonce is said to have tried to grab his hand, but it had already gone across the face of her mother then he ran off.   

It is has been said that the relationship between a female singer and a producer is a very intimate one.  This might just be the case with Chile and Akon.  More than just work on her new album is going on that might lead to a relationship.  The singer might need this to take her mind off her ex-boyfriend, Usher marrying his stylist, Tameeka Foster-Glover.  The divorce is final.  Ryan Glover is a free man with custody of his two sons by the fashion diva.