Beyonce did a tribute to Michael Jackson

I don't mean to bring negativity, but you all should know Beyonce has said several negative things about the Jackson family in the past. One of them is:
"I grew up upper-class. Private school. My dad had a Jaguar. We’re African-American, and we work together as a family, so people assume we’re like the Jacksons... I didn’t have parents using me to get out of a bad situation"
Beyonce said this during an interview with Elle magazine. I think the statement was incredibly disrespectful and caused a lot of fallout for her. Rightfully so. The statement was directly aimed at Janet. Janet is said to have responded with, 'Beyonce has a lot of growing up to do.'
Because of the fallout, Beyonce has been careful to smile and pretend like she is a huge Jackson fan and even wanted to do a tribute a the BET awards this year. (Supposedly the Jackson family nixed that idea because of her previous statements.)
If you have a hard time believing Bey would say something mean one minute then nice the next or vice versa, remember the Taylor Swift incident? People were hailing her as a saint for giving Taylor her time to speak at the VMA's. Beyonce later came out several weeks later and admitted she knew Kanye was going to do it ahead of time and that 'he was just standing up for true art' or something to that effect. When this started to generate a tiny buzz on the blogs, the story was buried. Just like the Taylor incident, I'm sure she did this to generate good press for herself more than to honor Michael.
My point in all this is to say, I think it is perfectly fine to appreciate her performance of the tribute, but please consider the source. It may or may not be sincere, so be careful who you praise and venerate. I am not a Beyonce hater. I enjoy a lot of her songs and loved her last tour before Sasha Fierce. I just don't like a lot of the things she says and does. She was one of the people responsible for putting down Michael so she gets the side eye.

Kanye posted an apology on his website

Kanye posted an apology for his heckling during the VMA's:

"I'M SOOOOO SORRY TO TAYLOR SWIFT AND HER FANS AND HER MOM," Kanye wrote on his site, AP reported. "I SPOKE TO HER MOTHER RIGHT AFTER AND SHE SAID THE SAME THING MY MOTHER WOULD'VE SAID. SHE IS VERY TALENTED!"

Others aren't really buying his apology:

Pink tweeted about her annoyance with Kanye. "Kanye West is the biggest piece of sh-t on earth. Quote me," she wrote. "My heart goes out to Taylor Swift. She is a sweet and talented girl, and deserved her moment. She should know we all love her." She later said on the Today Show that the incident never would have happened if she had won because she had a cute Alexander McQueen purse with brass knuckles on it.

Now, I'm going to be honest here. I had heard Taylor Swift's name before but couldn't pick her out of a lineup before last night (and maybe still this morning). When I saw Kanye run up next to her on stage I thought it was part of the night's skits. After listening to what he had to say, I felt sorry for the girl. That was her first VMA and she is only 19. To her credit, Beyonce looked shocked and embarassed (though some are saying she and Kanye orchestrated the event). Maybe this was another Eminem-Sascha Baron Cohen type scam. If so, it was in poor taste just like so much of the awards show (Russell Brand's jokes, Lady Ga Ga's 'performance', etc.).

As far as Bey goes, it was just good PR for her to 'graciously' give up her award acceptance time to Taylor. If she hadn't, the backlash would have extended to her. Her PR team was just earning their keep. The same applies to her pre-show statement that Janet Jackson was one of her inspirations. This after her quote earlier this year: “I grew up upper class. Private school..My dad had a Jaguar. We’re African-American and we work together as a family, so people assume we’re like the Jacksons, but I didn’t have parents using me to get out of a bad situation.” Um, yeah. It doesn't sound much like she idolized her. More like just swaggerjacked her style and kept it moving.

You know you're jealous....

I received my very own advanced copy of Beyonce's (and Idris Elba's) blockbuster comedy movie Obsessed on Saturday. I need your help in deciding what to do with it. I saw the movie when it was in the theaters, and well...I want you all to decide the fate of the DVD.

(I had to remove the poll because it was messing up the page layout and loading time. Anyway, so far, most of you who voted think I should burn it in effigy. LOL!)

Nia Long backs up off that

In a recent interview with actress Nia Long, an interviewer asked Long what she thought about Beyonce's recent comic blockbuster, Obsessed. The magazine quoted Nia as saying, “I didn’t see Obsessed, so I can’t comment, but it’s just not about how talented you are anymore. It’s about, ‘How much box-office revenue will this person generate...When you see certain people… they just don’t have the skill, and no one in their team has said, ‘You need acting classes.’”

The Papa Shady machine has started turning its gears, and now Pride editors are scrambling to clean up the blood on the dancefloor. They have released a statement saying, “Pride would like to apologise for the fact that editing of the final article may have left Nia’s comments open to tabloid manipulation...As Europe’s premier publication for the woman of colour, Pride seeks only to celebrate the achievements of celebrities such as Nia Long and Beyonce Knowles, and hope no offence has been caused through the media speculation.”

Queen Swagga Jack is at it again!

American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson's new single "Already Gone" has received some flak on the net as being a knockoff of Beyonce's hit single "Halo" because the two have the same melody. Kelly wants to set the record straight about why they sound so similar. She says she wrote the lyrics to her song before Beyonce even thought about making "Halo." Kelly's producer, Ryan Tedder gave Beyonce the same track to record over after "Already Gone" was already completed.
Here's how Kelly put it:
“Ryan and I met each other at the record label, before he was working with anyone else...I’d never heard of a song called Halo..Her album came out when my album was already being printed. No one’s gonna be sittin’ at home, thinkin’ ‘Man, Ryan Tedder gave Beyonce and Kelly the same track to write to.’ No, they’re just gonna be sayin I ripped someone off. I called Ryan and said ‘I don’t understand. Why would you do that?’”
Kelly didn't want a standoff between their fans so she pleaded with her record company not to release "Already Gone" as a single since Beyonce's version had already hit the airwaves:
“in the end, they’re releasing it without my consent. It sucks, but it’s one of those things I have no control over. I already made my album. At this point, the record company can do whatever they want with it. It’s kind of a shitty situation, but…You know, you learn.”

Snitches say Beyonce heard Kelly's song and demanded the track for "Halo" then insisted her song be rushed out before Kelly's hit the airwaves. Sounds a lot like a real live "Dreamgirls" doesn't it?

Is Beyonce Ready to Conquer Vegas?

[Joe Jackson on 80th birthday at Beyonce's Concert Sat.in NJ's-Izod Center]

Beyonce is reportedly distributing her Dereon line at upscale boutiques in the Las Vegas Wynn and Encore Esplanade in the near future. The hotel is happy with the attention and publicity thanks to Mrs. Knowles’ “I Am” tour 4 day concert finale and DVD taping. A member of the Wynn hotel staff reveals that Wynn’s owner Steve Wynn is in talks to have Beyonce perform promos/ads for the resort, as well as club appearances throughout the year–all part of a multimillion dollar deal.

Like Mr. Wynn did with Celine Dion and Toni Braxton, he would also like Sasha Fierce to headline the intimate 1,500 seat encore theater with a huge production for 3 years. Nothing’s final yet, but it is interesting since the 4 day show coming up hasn’t sold out yet and the final show is invitation only.

I think this story is so fake!

Last Thursday, Diddy told David Letterman that Michael Jackson once showed up at one of his parties unannounced about 6 years ago and asked for Beyonce. Diddy says when they found Beyonce, Michael danced with her.

"This is before Jay-Z," Diddy clarified. "He came to the party to holler at Beyonce, finds her and dances with Beyonce in the party! Mike was smooth, Jack."

Does anyone else smell bullshit?

Forget Ashy Larry, now there's Ashy Bey

Rule #7: never be so thirsty for Pap attention you forget to finish your grooming. I know they had some Vaseline, cocoa butter, or Crisco oil in Paris. Wait! What am I talking about? Thirsty people often have dry skin. Umm hmm

Beyonce in Chicago

Mrs. Jigga makes sure the Chi doesn't run out of Hamburger Helper before her concert on Friday. If you advertise it -don't you have to use it yourself?

Obsessed....

...Available on Blu-ray and DVD - August 4th - reserve now-i got mines a week 'fo it came ott.

Don't Sweat the Technique

All the sweaty ladies

The New York Daily News is quoting an "insider" who says Beyonce has told photographers not to shoot her from behind during her "I Am …Sasha Fierce" tour because of a perspiration problem. “Beyoncé’s costumes are so tiny and her choreography is so complicated that inevitably she sweats," said the unnamed source. "It looks pretty gross, so no one is allowed to shoot her from that particular angle anymore.”

Nia Long Disses Beyonce

Nia Long, star of Love Jones and Disappearing Acts, sounded off on fake actresses in the U.K. magazine Pride.

"If you’re a singer not an actress, you should sing. If you’re a rapper, you should rap,” Nia told the magazine.
In the July issue cover story writer Jessica Huie asked Nia what she thought about Beyonce's performance in ‘Obsessed.’

“I didn’t see ‘Obsessed,’ so I can’t comment, but it’s just not about how talented you are anymore. It’s about, ‘How much box-office revenue will this person generate?’ When you see certain people – we won’t name names – they just don’t have the skill, and no one in their team has said, ‘You need acting classes,’” she replied.

Beyonce stops the "Ice Cream Truck"

Does this chick ever rest? If not, can we get a break then? Whew! I'm tired. This is supposedly an unreleased track from an earlier recording session. No word on how it got "leaked."

Essence Festival Kicks Off With Tribute to King of Pop

Brass band musicians on trumpet, trombone and tuba belted out "A Closer Walk With Thee" as the Essence Music Festival gave a salute to Michael Jackson befitting a New Orleans jazz funeral procession. The festival runs through Sunday.

At a concert featuring performances by Beyonce, John Legend, Ne-Yo (who has performed at every concert so far this summer) and Salt-n-Pepa in the Louisiana Superdome, the festival paid homage to Jackson with a picture and video montage and the New Orleans-styled tribute. There is also a rumor that Lionel Richie and the Commodores will reunite on Sunday.

Friday marked the festival's highest attendance in its 15-year history, said Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications Inc. She wouldn't provide figures (so you know she lyin'), but reported a first-night sellout at the Superdome, which can seat about 85,000 people for football games and 350,000 for hurricanes.

Ego Never Takes A Break

BEYONCE's SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING ON IT) hit has become a happy curse for the R&B diva - she can't stop dancing when the tune comes on the radio.The hitmaker admits she usually changes channels when someone else's song one of her tracks is played, but there's something about the catchy tune that makes her want to dance. She says, "I can't stop seeing dollar signs the choreography (in the video) when I hear it. My foot just starts doing the steps. "It's so embarrassing. I don't want people to think I'm dancing to my own song, but I can't help it. My songs are the only ones worth dancing to."

Modified from a post on Contact Music

She's so sick and filthy with Benjis

Beyonce continues to feel your pain in this recession. In her interview in the June issue of UK Glamour Beyonce reveals her storage issues:

"Put it this way, I've turned my old apartment into a closet," Bey lamented.
"I probably get about 15 bags sent to me a month. Armani gave me this croc bag, which was huge - I could only imagine how much that thing cost. It would be so expensive that even I wouldn't buy it.”

By the way, the bag in the pic is the $42,000 Louis Vuitton Tribute Bag a.k.a. the Frankenstein. Supposedly there are only 24 in existence. Some feel that is 24 too many.