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What is going on with Pro Football Player Terrell Owens? The former Philadelphia Eagle, Dallas Cowboy and current Cincinnati Bengal had to be hospitalized last week because of a possible prescription drug overdose. The free agent NFL receiver is 37, and his NFL career looks like it’s over. Owens’ career is not doing well and he has made bad choices with his money. Did he try to commit suicide? Back in 2006, he was hospitalized and claimed it was a bad reaction to painkillers. Close friends said he tried to commit suicide by taking 35 vicodin pills.
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Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Kim Zolciak is engaged to be married to NFL Player Kroy Biermann. They had a baby last month, and now they are getting married and getting their own reality show. The new season of Real Housewives Of Atlanta debuts November 6th on the Bravo network.
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Royce Reed is out as part of The Basketball Wives. Reed was one of the stars of the Miami version, and is also the babymomma to Basketball Star Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic. She was the pot stirrer. Reed was always getting into it with the other ladies, who only saw her as a dancer. Reed felt like it was time to go, and she has already started a career as an author.
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We recently reported that the Rev. Bernice King stepped down as an elder at the Newbirth Missionary Baptist church. Many believed that her departure was related to the recent settlement between Bishop Eddie Long and the young men who accused him of sexual misconduct. Rev. King’s actions certainly caused a stir.
RELATED: Eddie Long’s Church Is Collapsing, Says Source
As the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, her actions are watched closely and were interpreted as a verdict of judgment on Newbirth. It turns out that Bernice King’s decision to step down was not related to the legal problems of the pastor. Speaking to the radio station Praise 102.5 based in Atlanta, King told the outlet that “her decision to leave her post is unrelated to Bishop Eddie Long’s recent settlement of four sexual misconduct lawsuits.” In fact, the reverend intends to start her own ministry, according to the interview she gave host Rhodell Lewis. Now that’s a shocker, and seems like “perfect timing.”
Maybe NeNe Leakes is out to get back at Star Jones. According to recent reports, the “Housewives of Atlanta” star has been hanging with the Star’s ex-hubby, Al Reynolds.
Coincidence? Maybe not.
NeNe and her “Celebrity Apprentice” co-star Jones have been feuding on the show since the beginning, but this takes their fight to a “whole ‘notha level.”
Star is apparently having a hard time dealing with the thought of them even being in the same room with one another.
“Star thinks it’s pathetic that these two has-beens have teamed up together,” one of Star’s friends told PopEater. “NeNe knows how much pain and hurt that man caused Star. For NeNe to suddenly befriend him tells you exactly what sort of woman she really is.”
But what’s really eating Star is that if the two are as close as they appear, Al could be divulging some very personal information about the pair’s marriage.
“Al will do anything to get back into the press, including hanging out with reality stars,” a source from Star’s camp said. “But to be getting close and personal with a woman who has publicly stated she wouldn’t spit on your ex-wife if she was on fire, is just desperate.”
To add insult to injury, NeNe gabbed on Ellen about how Star is so “manipulative” and “conniving.” She also shares her thought on “The Talk.”
So much for NeNe not wanting to be the “villain” anymore as she professed to us a few weeks ago.
Internet reports claimed 2010 Supporting Actress Oscar winner Mo’Nique “refused” to be a presenter at this year’s Oscars, even though previous Oscar winners always present the next year (she won Best Supporting Actress in 2010 for Precious).
Word had it that she was upset with Oprah Winfrey for doing a show with her brother Gerald Imes, who had sexually abused the actress when she was a child.
Nonsense, says her manager and husband Sidney Hicks: She had to shoot two episodes of her BET talk show Monday in Atlanta, so she made a point to announce the nominees last month.
Bishop Eddie Long says he will fight the charges leveled against him. In a statement to his congregation and the world, Long admitted he is not perfect, but he is not the man the media has portrayed him to be. He says he’s under attack. A fourth young man has come forward saying he was coerced into having sex with Long in exchange for cars, jewelry, cash, trips. Spencer LeGrande says he was 17 when it all started years ago. A lot of people thought Long would step down, but he says he will not leave his church.
Embattled mega church preacher Bishop Eddie Long came as close to confessing his sexual debauchery as any debaucher could come without actually confessing.
He cryptically told his singing, shouting, handclapping flock that he wasn’t a perfect man, and that he would face some painful situations. This was a good step forward for Long.
He didn’t do the usual soft shoe, duck and dodge around the issue. Or worse, defiantly claim that he was being persecuted for being a pure and righteous man of God. Or even worse still, break out in a teary eyed plea to family and flock for forgiveness.
These are the stock ploys that a bevy of celeb preachers, politicians and a Pope snatch at when caught with their sexual hypocrisy exposed. Long didn’t go there. He simply spun his hypocrisy as that of a man engaged in a thoughtful and reflective soul search.
Long now should take one more step in his soul search and apologize for his greatest sin. That’s his near decade long, relentless, gay bash. Long didn’t just do what many conservative fundamentalist black preachers do and quietly twist scripture and verse to make the case that God condemns gays to eternal hell and damnation.
He actively led crusades against gay marriage, and by extension gays, railed against them on his websites, in fiery sermons, loudly backed George W. Bush’s federal amendment banning gay marriage, and led a slanderous march to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s gravesite to denounce gay marriage. Each new accusation that Long used his youth training academy as a cover to procure kid sex, may ultimately prove him to be not just a hypocrite, but a full blown sexual predator.
Long then should issue a statement, better still do what he does best, and deliver a sermon on tolerance. That’s tolerance toward all those who have a different sexual preference. He should invite the leaders of the nation’s top gay rights organizations to take a front row seat at his church and look them square in the eye, as he preaches his sermon on tolerance. He should then make it plain to his mostly black congregation that he does not want them to mindlessly and blindly shout “Jesus Jesus” and “it’s time to praise him,” and sang hymns such as “white as snow” as they did when he made his kind of sort of admission of guilt from the pulpit. This reinforces the despicable notion that blacks are narrow, bigoted, and brain dead zombies who will give a pass to even the most blatant and outrageous criminal and sexual behavior and exploitation as long as it’s done in the name of Jesus and the offender is black.
The black church is being rocked to its core regarding the various lawsuits filed by young men against esteemed Pastor Bishop Eddie Long of Atlanta. Long is the pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. He is one of the country’s leading pastors. His congregation has over 25,000 members. At press time, three lawsuits have been filed against Long. Did he use his position as a spiritual leader to coerce men into sex in exchange for trips, cars, college tuition and cash? Did he marry these young men in commitment ceremonies? 20-year old Maurice Murray Robinson talked about trips to New Zealand. He was arrested in June for breaking into the church and stealing an iPhone, an iPad and cash. 21-year old Anthony Flagg talked about trips and a commitment ceremony in his lawsuit. A third suit was filed by Jamal Parris, who claims he became involved with Long as a teenager. He says he would call Long “Daddy,” and served as Long’s personal assistant. He was told that by becoming intimate with Long, it was a healthy component of spiritual life. In 2006, Long was rumored to be dating Singer Whitney Houston. There has been no word from Long’s wife Vanessa, or confirmation on whether they’re still married. He has four children with Vanessa. Long is expected to speak at a press conference towards week’s end. His church family has rallied behind him. Long’s spokespeople call the suits retaliation and a shakedown by men with serious credibility issues. Long has a lot to lose because of his longtime anti-gay/anti-same sex marriage stances.
Side comment: This is why I do not believe in religion, or religious leaders. Know who you are and
believe in right and wrong, and know what true love is for the human spirit. Nobody should judge
anyone, unless you be judge as well…………
Allegations that Long coerced two young male church members and employees into sex are “a case of retaliation and a shakedown for money by men with some serious credibility issues,” the pastor’s spokesman told CNN on Wednesday.
Pastor Eddie Long “categorically and adamantly denies these allegations,” spokesman Art Franklin said. “There’s been a lot of chatter since yesterday, but these complaints that have been filed are definitely without merit.”
The lawsuits filed Tuesday in DeKalb County allege that Long used his position as a spiritual authority and bishop to coerce young male members and employees of his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church into sex. CNN was the first to report on the lawsuits.
“Defendant Long has a pattern and practice of singling out a select group of young male church members and using his authority as Bishop over them to ultimately bring them to a point of engaging in a sexual relationship,” the suits allege.
Long is considered one of the nation’s top African-American preachers. His church has more 25,000 members, according to the suit, and was the site of Coretta Scott King’s 2006 funeral, attended by then-President George W. Bush and three
former presidents. King was the widow of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
One of the men, Anthony Flagg, 21, alleges in his suit that Long took him on overnight trips to a half-dozen American cities in recent years.
“Long shared a bedroom and engaged in intimate sexual contact with plaintiff Flagg including kissing, massaging, masturbating of plaintiff Flagg by defendant Long and oral sexual contact,” the suit says.
The other man, Maurice Murray Robinson, 20, claims Long took him to Auckland, New Zealand, in October 2008 for his 19th birthday and engaged in oral sex with him, Robinson’s suit alleges.
“Following the New Zealand trip, defendant Long regularly engaged in sexual touching, and other sexual acts with plaintiff Robinson,” Robinson’s suit alleges.
This is actually a case of retaliation and a shakedown for money by men with some serious credibility issues.
–Art Franklin, pastor’s spokesman
Attorney B.J. Bernstein, who represents both Flagg and Robinson, said Wednesday that the youths’ accounts are “really strong.”
She said she has worked with sexual abuse victims and finds the two believable because of “the emotion. The intensity. The very strong description of what sexual acts occurred. … This is not just someone giving a vague thing, ‘Oh, yeah, one time he did this,’ or a couple of times.”
But Franklin told CNN’s “American Morning” on Wednesday that the two men “are not innocent victims” and that they have known “the wrong side of the law” before, including being charged with breaking into Long’s office in June to steal items, such as jewelry, that could be sold for cash.
“Let your viewers be the judge of their actions,” Franklin said.
In June, Robinson was arrested and charged with burglary in connection with a break-in at Long’s office. An iPhone, iPad and other items — more than $1,300 worth — were taken from the office, according to the police report. Bernstein said Wednesday that about $100,000 worth of items were taken, including black diamonds.
On Tuesday, Bernstein said the theft was Robinson’s attempt to retaliate against the pastor. She said that once Robinson began telling others about his experience with Long, “he realized he wasn’t the only one.”
“It made [Robinson] angry,” she said.
She said Wednesday that Robinson’s anger also stemmed from a May incident in which he sought comfort and solace from Long and instead was the target of a sexual advance. That “created a frenzy inside him,” she said.
Franklin told CNN’s John Roberts, “This is actually, John, a case of retaliation and a shakedown for money by men with some serious credibility issues trying to mount their own defense. This is something that went from 48 hours of contact with the attorney flinging outrageous demands to this dog-and-pony show we are seeing.”
Asked about the relationship between Long and the young men, Franklin said that both were part of the LongFellows program at the church.
The suit describes Long’s LongFellows Youth Academy as an offshoot of New Birth. According to its website, the group’s vision is to “love, live and lead. We successfully meet the demanding needs of young men through a vigorous Rites of Passage Curriculum that helps young men realize their hidden potential and discover their masculine heart.”
Franklin said that both Robinson and Flagg were among many young people employed by the church. Asked whether they ever traveled with Long, he said a number of people travel with him.
On whether the two youths ever shared a room with Long, Franklin said, “That is one of the allegations that we learned through the media that’s being made by the attorneys and something our defense team will have to respond to.
“We have not even seen the lawsuit ourselves,” he said. “That’s something our attorneys will have to go through.”
On the reaction from Long’s congregation, Franklin said, “Last night, it was a very spirit-filled worship service from a church family that loves its spiritual leader very much.” He said Long is drawing strength from his family, the New Birth family and other supporters.
“Before rushing to any judgment on Bishop Long and this court of public opinion taking place right now, I really do hope you will look at these guys that are throwing the mud and consider the source,” he said.
Asked how she can prove that sexual contact took place, Bernstein said, “I am ready to put them under oath. Bishop Long can spend money on the best attorneys in this world, and they can question those young men, and then I’ll get to question the bishop, and then we’ll really see what’s going on.”
She said she will subpoena records of an “excessive number of phone calls” between Long and the young men, along with e-mails, credit card receipts and other items. Bernstein said she had alerted federal authorities about the situation.
Long frequently denounces homosexual behavior. A 2007 article in the Southern Poverty Law Center’s magazine called him “one of the most virulently homophobic black leaders in the religiously based anti-gay movement.”
Both plaintiffs said the pastor, his church and church employees gave them cash and lavish gifts that ranged from cars to college tuition.
The suits also said that Long framed the sexual relationships as religious in nature.
“They were groomed for it, from 14 to 17 years old,” Bernstein said Wednesday. “He gets to know them and gets the trust, and then bit by bit — first it’s a hug. It’s just like any sexual predator. Or we’re sitting watching the football game, and you put your legs up on their lap … One of the boys described going to the gym, ‘Can you massage my neck?’ and then there’s another massage, and it just slowly breaks down. Ask any victim of sexual abuse. It is a progression.”
The suits allege that Long chose the plaintiffs to be his “Spiritual Sons,” a program that allegedly includes other young men from the church.
“Spiritual Sons are taken on public and private jets to U.S. and international destinations, housed in luxury hotels and given access to numerous celebrities including entertainment stars and politicians,” the suit alleges.
Flagg moved into a home owned by another New Birth pastor when he was a high school junior, according to the suit, where Long would sometimes share a bed with him. Flagg was eventually put on the church’s payroll, his suit alleges, with Long personally delivering his checks.
Flagg’s suit says that Long presided over a spiritual “covenant” ceremony between the two of them.
“It was essentially a marriage ceremony, with candles, exchange of jewelry and biblical quotes,” Bernstein said Tuesday. “The bishop [told] him ‘I will always have your back, and you will always have mine.’ ”
The families of both young men moved to Georgia in order to join Long’s church, she said Wednesday.
Robinson’s suit alleges that “Defendant Long would use Holy Scripture to discuss and justify the intimate relationship between himself and Plaintiff Robinson.”
The lawsuits are seeking unspecified amounts of punitive damages from Long on various counts, ranging from negligence to breach of fiduciary duty.
The suits allege that various staff members working for Long, his church and the LongFellows Academy “knew of Defendant Long’s sexually inappropriate conduct and did nothing to warn or protect [the plaintiffs].”
Bernstein said her office is looking into allegations made by others who are afraid to come forward publicly.
She said she warned the young men they would be “crucified” for making the allegations, “and they just said, ‘We have to do it, and we know there are others.’ ”
The 33-year-old “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star and the Atlanta Falcons defensive end have a 9 month-old son, KJ. Zolciak tells Life & Style that she is now four months pregnant with his little sister or brother.
In the magazine, Zolciak admits KJ was an “oops,” but that this pregnancy was “totally planned.”
Zolciak and Biermann were married in Georgia on Nov. 11, 2011.
Zolciak has two daughters, Brielle, 15, and Ariana, 9, from a previous marriage.
SIDEBAR: Kim is definitely using her vagina skills, money maker, secure your future!
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