ASHANTI CAUGHT OUT & ABOUT

Ashanti was spotted leaving her Manhattan hotel room yesterday after her NYC performance.

MICHELLE WILLIAMS STEAMS IT UP A BIT

Looks like Destiny Child's Michelle Williams is steaming things up a bit. Several stills have surfaced of the singer's new video “We Break the Dawn” that was shot in LA yesterday.

Should be interesting.

ALICIA KEYS CANCELS TOUR DATES

Alicia Keys hit up 106 & Park yesterday looking 80s ish.

Speaking of Alicia, the songstress has announced several tour cancelations because of health reasons:

“Alicia Keys announced on Wednesday that swollen vocal cords are causing her to cancel two shows on her recently launch concert tour.
[She] was forced to pull the plug on next Tuesday night’s show in Pittsburgh and her concert in Cleveland next Thursday. According to her record company, tickets for the canceled Cleveland show will be honored at next Saturday’s performance in Columbus, Ohio, where Alicia is expected to make her return to the stage.”

CELEBS COME OUT FOR BAPE

Pharell's star power was enough to bring celebs to the Bape store Los Angeles Opening in Hollywood last night.

Of course NERDS/ Neptunes partner Chad Hugo came out

Serena showed up looking rather 'round the way.

Kanye came looking rather disheveled


Robin Thicke and wife Paula Patton came through

JD came looking rather busy

Rick Ross showed up

Omarion was there

Nicole Richie and boyfriend Joel Madden made an appearance

WESLEY SNIPES SENTENCED TO JAIL

Actor Wesley Snipes, 45, was sentenced Thursday to three years behind bars as his punishment for failing to file his tax returns....Whoa....the Feds don't play!!!!!!

"I'm very sorry for my mistakes and errors. I apologize to my family, the court and the community," Snipes said as his wife looked on. "I've asked the court to show me mercy and the opportunity to make things right."

In February, a federal jury convicted Snipes of three counts of failing to file a tax return (from 1999 through 2001). Thursday he received 12 months for each count. Prosecutors say the actor owes a total of $41 million in taxes, of which he paid $5 at the sentencing.Several famous names sent in letters of support for Snipes, including Denzel Washington, Woody Harrelson and TV judge Joe Brown. Washington called Snipes a "great oak." Harrelson, who starred with Snipes in Wildcats, wrote, "Wes continues to encourage and challenge me to be the best man I can be by being a constant friend."

In February, Snipes was acquitted on the more serious charges of conspiracy to defraud the government and filing a false claim for a $7 million refund – both felonies – as well as three similar counts of failure to file returns for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004. The prosecution, seeking to make an example of Snipes, had requested the maximum: three years in prison and a fine of at least $5 million. "The fact that Snipes was acquitted on two felony charges and convicted 'only' on three misdemeanor counts has been portrayed in the mainstream media as a 'victory' for Snipes," the government said in its sentencing recommendation.

You may get away with murder but you d*mn sure won't cheat the IRS!!!

GARY COLEMAN HEADED TO DIVORCE COURT

First Juanita, now Gary.

Today on a special two-part session of Divorce Court, 80’s child star Gary Coleman and his new wife Shannon appeared on Divorce Court seeking Judge Toler’s advice on their troubled marriage before it’s too late. Gary says he met Shannon on a movie set and was glad to know Shannon did not know who he was when they first met. Shannon proposed a year later after an argument. Gary is in love with Shannon and calls her his star protector. Shannon says she is tired of Gary’s anger issues and blames her for anything that goes wrong and is sick of playing the blame game.

The show will air May 1st.

Who didn't see this train wreck coming.....Shannon get out while you can girl!!! Gary is a certified nut.

JADA & MARY J BLIGE HIT UP CAROL'S DAUGHTER

MJB and Jada Pinkett Smith were spotted at Carol’s Daughter store in the Westfield Fox Hills Mall in Culver City, California yesterday for a meet and greet.

TELL ALL BOOK ON WHO'S GAY IN RAP TO HIT SHELVES

Industry executive Terrance Dean has written his tell all book giving a Who’s Who in Gay Hip Hop Hollywood. Here’s the synopsis:



Everyone wants to know the truth about their favorite celebrities’ heart’s desire. Within the masculine culture of Hip Hop and Hollywood, there is a well-known gay subculture that industry insiders are keenly aware of but choose to hide. Terrance Dean worked his way up for more than ten years in the entertainment industry from intern to executive, and has lived the life of glitz and bling along with Hollywood and Hip Hop’s most glamorous. With a family full of secrets and working in an industry founded on maleness — where one’s job, friendships, and reputation all depend on remaining on the down low and in hiding — Dean writes a revealing account of the journey of coming out from hiding.

Full of startling anecdotes and incredible true stories, Hiding in Hip Hop is not a traditional tell-all. A personal and poignant memoir, it is also one of the most provocative and honest looks at stardom and sexuality.

Can't wait for this to hit shelves. Should be interesting. Book hits shelf May 13.

ASHANTI PERFORMS

Ashanti performed at R&B Live last night in NY with Lloyd and Ryan Leslie.

She looked pretty.

Music exec Sylvia Rhone showed up

Look who came out......my favorite BET host....FREE. I miss Free. I literally stopped watching 106 when her & AJ left.

Anthony Anderson came out and Lloyd performed

Irv was there. Word is Ashanti and Irv barely said two words to each other. Irv stop being a B*****. You're married any way.

ORLANDO BROWN FOUND

Orlando Brown of TV's That's So Raven has turned up, saying he simply "needed to be alone."



The actor was reported as missing today after he left his manager's house around 10:20 a.m. Tuesday to make a quick trip to 7-Eleven and had not been seen until Wednesday night. According to Brown's publicist, Elayne Rivers, he had a full day of meetings and appointments in preparation for a photo shoot Wednesday.

His publicist has denied that the disappearance was a publicity stunt. "It was not a hoax," the rep says.

In a statement, Brown, 20, thanked fans for their support and apologized for not informing anyone of his whereabouts for over 24 hours.

Brown said he dropped out of sight after a problem last week involving a scheduled performance at Club Tattoo in Los Angeles. After he incident, the statement said, he "felt a little lost and needed to get away." "It got a bit overwhelming and I needed to be alone," he said.

JENNIFER LOPEZ TO STAR IN REALITY SERIES

Jennifer Lopez is about to open her personal life for a new television series on TLC, the cable channel announced Wednesday.

The singer and new mom to twins will co-executive produce, co-create and star in the “docu-series,” which focuses on how Lopez juggles her career — including launching a new fragrance — with motherhood.

“I’m looking forward to sharing this exciting journey together,” said Lopez.
“Jennifer is unbelievably passionate about life and will be an incredible role model for our audience,” TLC President, Angela Shapiro-Mathes said in a statement.

The series is currently in production. No air date has been revealed.

Hopefully this is not a CLM...career limiting move.

MARIAH DEBUTS AT #1

Mariah Carey's new album came in at No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts – marking her sixth time at the top spot. She also sold more albums in her first week than ever before – 462,971 copies.

This means that Carey is now tied with Janet Jackson and Madonna – right behind Barbra Streisand, who has eight – for the female artist with the most No. 1 albums. Earlier this month, Carey beat Elvis Presley by scoring her eighteenth No. 1 single with "Touch My Body," besting The King who last had a No. 1 single with 1969's "Suspicious Minds." Now only the Beatles, who have 20, stand in her way.

Go Mimi....even if you hate her this girl is doing her thing!

STAR JONES FILES FOR DIVORCE

Looks like the rumor mill last month was right.....Star Jones has filed for divorce from husband Al Reynolds.

In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, Jones, 46, says: "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."

The statement concludes as follows: "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."

Jones and Reynolds, a banker who is seven years' Jones's junior, married in 2004 in an elaborate ceremony – complete with controversial corporate sponsors – that included 500 guests and the bride's arrival at the church in a horse-drawn carriage. "Every single wedding fantasy I ever had was fulfilled, down to the most handsome groom in the history of the world," Star told reporters.

Recently, it's been a bumpy two years for the former View cohost, who parted ways with the ABC daytime program – and with its chief host and executive producer, Barbara Walters – in 2006. In early February of this year, when her TruTV (formerly Court TV) show left the air, Jones expressed pride in her efforts and in herself. In a statement at the time, she said, "Whenever there is a change in life, you re-assess, re-evaluate and decide if what you are doing ... is what you should be doing. My answer is yes."

I actually like Star so regardless of how obvious his sexual preferance was I hate that she's going through this. I hope she gets it together.

JUANITA BYNUM TO APPEAR ON DIVORCE COURT

Can this couple get any lower.....According to published reports, Juanita Bynum will go on “Divorce Court” this week to end her marriage with Bishop Thomas Weeks III after her domestic abuse became public.

Televangelist Juanita Bynum says in a two-part episode of “Divorce Court” that she’s through with her marriage to minister Thomas W. Weeks III, who is on probation for assaulting her.

In episodes scheduled to air Thursday and Friday, Bynum also says she had thoughts of suicide and weighs in on a case involving domestic violence. When asked what advice she had for women in situations similar to hers, she said, “I have to make a decision … to take the love that I had for him with me. I was just trying to make it work because I don’t like losing relationships,” Bynum told Judge Lynn Toler, who hears cases on the syndicated show distributed by Twentieth Television. “All of this just kept getting swept under the rug … So you begin to adapt to a very wrong and very unhealthy marriage.”

When asked on “Divorce Court” whether she and Weeks were planning a reconciliation, Bynum said she is “done.” Bynum also was asked about rumors that she tried to commit suicide.

“Suicide crossed my mind … You know, I felt hopeless. I didn’t because the name Bynum represents a legacy of people that have gone before me and had I done that I would have given too much power to an individual to not just wipe me out but to wipe out the integrity of the legacy I was born in.”

I heard she was having money problems so I guess that's what this is all about. I'm not well known but even I wouldn't air my laundry out on divorce court.

ORLANDO BROWN MISSING

Orlando Brown of TV's That's So Raven is missing.

The 20-year-old reportedly left his manager's house around 10:20 a.m. to make a quick trip to 7-Eleven and has not been seen since. According to Brown's publicist, Elayne Rivers, he had a full day of meetings and appointments in preparation for a photo shoot Wednesday. Rivers adds that friends and family are very concerned, as the young actor is not one to be out of touch for long, and the convenience store was within a short walking distance from his manager's home in Studio City.

Ricky Romance, Brown's close friend and manager, has been calling all local hospitals and posting MySpace bulletins repeatedly, hoping someone somewhere might have seen or heard something about his whereabouts.

Brown has several projects in the works, including a Raven spin-off show, tentatively titled The Orlando Brown Show and a second album featuring tracks with top artists Akon and Sean Kingston. Anyone who might have any information should contact Elayne Rivers at TLToonz@aol.com.

SWIZZ BEATZ & MASHONDA SPLIT

Rapper/producer Swizz Beatz and wife/ singer Mashonda have called it quits after four years of marriage.

Swizz and Mashonda were married in 2004 and have a son, Kassem Jr., who was born in January 2007. A representative for Swizz Beatz didn’t specify the reason for the separation, but stated the split was “on amicable terms.”

“Their union was one shared in love and deep admiration for one another. For the last seven months, the two have been working on establishing a formidable friendship, being great parents to their son, and remaining great supporters of each other's careers. ”

Wow.....I hate this for them. I liked them as a couple. I thought they would be the couple to last.....sad.

MEL B. GETS A NEW GIG

Mel B has a new gig....she's the new spokesmodel for Ultimo Lingerie


It's hard to believe that she just had a baby.

STACEY DASH PHOTOS

Check out Stacey Dash’s KING spread from her cover issue.


Can you believe this is what 42 looks like?

FOXY BROWN VISITS A CHURCH

Foxy Brown was spotted at St Paul’s The Apostle Church in New York on Sunday.


But help my understand why she turned this into a photo opp.

WHITNEY BACK TO HER OLD WAYS?

We hear Whitney Houston was back to her bizarre ways at the Hopkins-Calzaghe fight in Vegas Saturday.

"She was practically carried in by her staff, and her people snapped their fingers, saying, 'Whitney needs a waitress!' " reports the NY Post. "She couldn't focus while Ray J sang the national anthem. But when he got back to her they were lovey-dovey all night."

Let's hope she's not back on that stuff.