Credit: R Kelly youtube/CBS video
Will the real Joycelyn Savage please step forward?!! That’s the thought being echoed quite loudly after social media and the rest of the internet went wild after someone did a tell all on R Kelly. Joycelyn Savage and Azriel Clary were the last two girlfriends standing by R Kelly’s side as he was arrested, denied bail and awaits sex abuse charges from courts in Chicago and New York. Savage and Clary, who were living in Kelly’s Trump high end apartment, publicly spoke on Kelly’s behalf and denied they were abuse victims and being forced to defend Kelly. But this week, Savage appeared to turn on Kelly. Savage reportedly went to a social media service which charges patrons to hear its contents. Reportedly Savage, whose parents were in the Lifetime R Kelly documentary trying to free their daughter from the singer, confirmed abuse, an abortion, and ingesting human waste on Kelly’s command. More and more details came with each entry and, of course, each entry has a fee. Now people are saying they don’t believe what’s coming from that site. Some of Kelly’s past accusers say they don’t even believe its Joycelyn Savage. One tip-off was describing the use of condoms because a past accuser says R Kelly doesn’t use condoms. Some are even hinting at Joycelyn’s family members being behind this so called confession. R Kelly’s lawyer has said its unfortunate that Savage is trying to profit from describing her and Kelly’s loving relationship this way. Well, Kells is locked up and people don’t see him getting out as he faces a slew of charges in two states, including from the feds. So the money has dried up. Could this really be Savage doing this for the money or someone else? Savage hasn’t confirmed any of these accusations through any other sources and why change up now? Now the subscription service wants proof that its really Joycelyn Savage. Hmmmmmmmm! By the way, what does girlfriend number two, Azriel Clary, say to all this? She just went on social media and said Say Less.
Speaking of jail and not getting out anytime soon, there’s Bill Cosby. The legendary Philadelphia born comedian has granted his first jailhouse interview and pulls no punches. Cosby says he expects to do all ten years of his three to ten year sentence. Why? Because he says he will never admit remorse for a crime he didn’t commit, and he’s innocent. Cosby was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand. Cosby could possibly be paroled in three years. But for that to even be considered, most law experts say he’d have to admit guilt and remorse. Cosby says he has no intention of doing so no matter how many groups of people come forward because he was there they weren’t. Cosby‘s appeal to throw out his conviction and grant him a new trial is still being considered by a Pennsylvania three judge appellate panel.Cosby gave his first prison interview to Black Press USA, and says he’s using his prison time to counsel and mentor the other inmates. He says he feels he’s making progress by working with the group Mann Up.
There’s life after Power for 50 Cent because he’s going from Starz! To ABC in a new legal drama called For Life. 50 plays a man wrongly imprisoned, he wins his freedom by becoming a lawyer. He then not only uses his legal knowledge to work on getting his family back, but he helps others get an actual fair shot in the criminal justice system. Co-starring Joy Bryant (Parenthood), Nicholas Pinnock (Captain America: The First Avenger) and Mary Stuart Masterson (Fried Green Tomatoes),. For Life is slated to debut February 11, 2020 on ABC.
Black Mitzvah is Tiffany Haddish’s new stand up special that’s coming to Netflix. How did the comedienne/actress come up with this title? Haddish recently reconnected with her dad and learned he’s an Eritrean Jew. Haddish decided to mix all of her learning about her multicultural heritage and her full-grown womanhood by throwing herself a bat mitzvah and putting all into this special. Tiffany Haddish’s Black Mitzvah will begin streaming on Netflix Tuesday, December 3rd.
Did Gabrielle Union get kicked off America’s Got Talent for speaking truth to power?!!!! People are beginning to wonder whether or not fellow judge and Producer Simon Cowell has a problem with women because Union and Julianne Hough are both leaving this season after they replaced Heidi Klum and Mel B. Of course, after a brief run as host replacing Nick Cannon, Tyra Banks herself got replaced by Terry Crews. So what’s with all the changes? At press time no official word, but stories are starting to leak out, including one involving Jay Leno. Apparently, the former Tonight Show host taped an appearance and allegedly joked Simon Cowell’s many dogs looked like a Korean restaurant menu. Reportedly, staffers were offended and were encouraged by Union to file a complaint with human resources. Next, reports are both Hough and Union were heavily critiqued about their looks and style, particularly Union whose variety of hairstyles were considered too black. Hough still has a deal for holiday specials with NBC, and Union’s Bad Boys TV spinoff LA’s Finest has been renewed for a new season on the Spectrum cable network. Did Union’s real life activism make it to the set of America’s Got Talent and get rebuffed? Look for more information soon on this one.
Van Lathan is back! The TV personality/journalist who made headlines as a TMZ regular by challenging Kanye West’s beliefs about slavery has a new gig. Remember Lathan was fired after a workplace confrontation with fellow TMZ’er Michael Babcock that allegedly turned into a threat and alleged assault. Lathan is back and is teaming up with Uber Film and TV Producer Will Packer (Girls Trip; Think Like A Man; Ambitions) for Central Ave. TV. Central Ave. TV is a multicultural entertainment magazine show with BET veteran Julissa Bermudez and Gold Medal Olympic Track star Sanya Richards-Ross, which makes it the first and only time such a show has been co-hosted by two women of color. Lathan joins the team with his first assignment of gaging public opinion of Colin Kaepernick’s continued quest to return to the NFL and John Legend’s Sexiest Man Alive title. Central Ave. TV has begun airing on some FOX stations and we’re awaiting word on a Philly launch.
Fresh off her stint hosting The American Music Awards, Ciara will join Ryan Seacrest, Actress Lucy Hale and Emmy Winner Billy Porter (Pose) for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. The show will begin as it has the past few years in primetime at 8pm and resume after the local news to countdown live on the east coast to 12 midnight 2020 on ABC.
The NAACP Image Awards moves to the BET Networks Saturday, February 22nd.
The Grammy nominations saw Lizzo lead all nominees. Song and Record Of The Year cover Lizzo’s debut album, Cuz I Love You, and its number one single, Truth Hurts. Michelle Obamascored her first Grammy nomination for the spoken word edition of her bestselling book Becoming. Alicia Keys hosts The Grammys on Sunday, January 26th at 8pm on CBS.
There a lot of buzz over the new film Queen & Slim from Producer/Writer Lena Waithe. Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out) and Jodie Turner-Smith (True Blood; Nightflyers) play a couple on a first date. At the end of the date, they’re stopped by a rouge traffic cop and kill him in self-defense. The couple then go on the run. The dramatic thriller then follows the affects the video of the incident has after it goes viral all while Queen and Slim evade police. Queen & Slim is in theaters today.
Michael B. Jordan, Brie Larson and Jamie Foxx lead the legal drama Just Mercy. Jordan is Lawyer Bryan Stevenson and his client is convicted murder Walter McMillian (Foxx). The film follows the true story of their attempt to appeal McMillian’s Alabama death sentence and all of the questionable actions from the police investigation to the judge’s initial sentence that preceded it. Just Mercy opens Christmas Day.
Singer/Dancer Normani, formerly of Fifth Harmony, graces the cover of Cosmopolitan.
Oscar Winner Regina King is on the cover of the latest issue of Essence Magazine. The actress/director is on the Black Masterpiece-Art themed issue.
RuPaul is on the holiday 2019/2020 themed cover of Vanity Fair magazine.
Check out who’s coming to town:
Now – December 8th - The UniverSoul Circus returns to Fairmount Park on the grounds ofThe Mann Center for The Performing Arts, 52nd and Parkside Avenue. Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com.
This Saturday, November 30th – Run DMC at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Friday, December 6th– Anita Baker: The Farewell Concert Series at The Liacouras Center. For tickets and information log onto liacourascenter.com.
Saturday, December 7th – The All I Want For Christmas show starring Mariah Carey at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Thursday, December 12th – Sinbad in concert at The Parx Casino Xcite Centerin Bensalem, PA.Log onto tickets.parxcasino.com for tickets and information.
Friday, December 20th– The WDAS Holiday COMEDY Jam starring Nephew Tommy, Earthquake, Kier Spates a.k.a. Junior and J. Anthony Brown at the Met Philly, Broad & Poplar Streets. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Saturday, December 21st – The WDAS Holiday Jam starring Kem, Kirk Franklin and Brownstone at the Met Philly, Broad & Poplar Streets. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Saturday, December 28th – Earth, Wind & Fire at the Mark Etess Arena in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Friday, January 3rd – The Femme It Forward Tour starring Monica, Ashanti, Amerie, Lil Mo & Keri Hilson at the Met Philly, Broad & Poplar Streets. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
Friday, February 14th – Boyz II Men’s Valentine’s Day Concert at the Met Philly, Broad & Poplar Streets. For tickets and information log onto ticketmaster.com
If you would like more info please email me at PattyJackson@iHeartMedia.com or check me out with my midday reports at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm during the day.