Bring That Week Back: Week of July 19, 2009

Author E. Lynn Harris dies. Tyler Perry lets his inner Madea loose; Jay-Z denies Chris Brown BET rumors and more.

Dead at 54 - Best-selling author E. Lynn Harris died today at age 54. According to Essence, the writer's personal assistant declined to give details, but did confirm that Harris' health had declined. He was in the middle of a West Coast tour to promote his 11th novel, "Basketball Jones," when he passed away.

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Dead at 54 - Best-selling author E. Lynn Harris died today at age 54. According to Essence, the writer's personal assistant declined to give details, but did confirm that Harris' health had declined. He was in the middle of a West Coast tour to promote his 11th novel, "Basketball Jones," when he passed away.

Abuse Denied - Michael Jackson's father told CNN's Larry King Monday night that he never beat his son or made any mistakes in raising him. He also said the rumor that he wanted to take the singer's children on tour as the Jackson 3 was "a bunch of jive." Joe said in the days before Michael's death, he was blocked from seeing or talking to him.

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Abuse Denied - Michael Jackson's father told CNN's Larry King Monday night that he never beat his son or made any mistakes in raising him. He also said the rumor that he wanted to take the singer's children on tour as the Jackson 3 was "a bunch of jive." Joe said in the days before Michael's death, he was blocked from seeing or talking to him.

'Truly Sorry' - Five months after being accused of assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna, 20-year-old Chris Brown has turned to the Interwebs to say "sorry" for his actions. Brown said he wanted to speak out earlier, but it wasn't until recently that his attorney cleared him to speak. He says: “What I did was inexcusable.”

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'Truly Sorry' - Five months after being accused of assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna, 20-year-old Chris Brown has turned to the Interwebs to say "sorry" for his actions. Brown said he wanted to speak out earlier, but it wasn't until recently that his attorney cleared him to speak. He says: “What I did was inexcusable.”

Jay-Z Benefit - Jay-Z plans to honor the families of those killed on 9/11 by holding a benefit concert in New York City, on the eighth anniversary of the attacks. Proceeds from ticket and merchandise sales will go to families of police and firefighters killed on 9/11.

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Clearing the Air - Jay-Z cleared the air this week about being blamed for Chris Brown's allegedly canceled BET Awards '09 performance. According to singersroom.com, he called the whole thing "silly," "ridiculous" and "stupid." The rapper said, "That's not even my style."

Cooling Off - Janet Jackson’s relationship with Jermaine Dupri isn’t completely finished — they’re just cooling off, according to reports. "Janet wanted to start a family, but that's not what Jermaine wanted," a source tells FOX News. Claims that Dupri doesn't want a family come amid reports that Janet has agreed to raise her brother Michael's children.

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Cooling Off - Janet Jackson’s relationship with Jermaine Dupri isn’t completely finished — they’re just cooling off, according to reports. "Janet wanted to start a family, but that's not what Jermaine wanted," a source tells FOX News. Claims that Dupri doesn't want a family come amid reports that Janet has agreed to raise her brother Michael's children.

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Perry Outraged - Tyler Perry let his inner Madea loose on a Philly swim club this week and let it be known that you don't mess with the kids. He announced that he'll be sending the kids from the Creative Steps Day Camp, who were kicked out of the Valley Swim Club – presumably because of their race – to Disney World at the end of the month.

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Perry Outraged - Tyler Perry let his inner Madea loose on a Philly swim club this week and let it be known that you don't mess with the kids. He announced that he'll be sending the kids from the Creative Steps Day Camp, who were kicked out of the Valley Swim Club – presumably because of their race – to Disney World at the end of the month.

Gates Arrested - Harvard Professor Henry Louis “Skip” Gates Jr., was arrested last week at his home after police said he started “exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior.” The facts are still unclear, but one scenario is that Gates was having trouble opening his front door, and police thought he was a burglar. Gates accuses police of racial profiling.

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Gates Arrested - Harvard Professor Henry Louis “Skip” Gates Jr., was arrested last week at his home after police said he started “exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior.” The facts are still unclear, but one scenario is that Gates was having trouble opening his front door, and police thought he was a burglar. Gates accuses police of racial profiling.

Obama Eases Stance - A day after saying that police "acted stupidly" in arresting Black Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., President Obama on Thursday called it an unfortunate clash of tempers. "My suspicion is that words were exchanged between the police officer and Mr. Gates, and that everybody should have just settled down and cooler heads should have prevailed." Obama also called the arresting officer, pictured here, an "outstanding police officer."

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Obama Eases Stance - A day after saying that police "acted stupidly" in arresting Black Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., President Obama on Thursday called it an unfortunate clash of tempers. "My suspicion is that words were exchanged between the police officer and Mr. Gates, and that everybody should have just settled down and cooler heads should have prevailed." Obama also called the arresting officer, pictured here, an "outstanding police officer."

"60 Minutes" - Could cable news cycles be to blame for the angry outbursts at last month’s town hall meetings? In a “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday, the president said, “The truth of the matter is that there has been, I think, a coarsening of our political dialogue … I will also say that in the era of 24-hour cable news cycles, that the loudest, shrillest voices get the most attention. And so one of the things that I’m trying to figure out is: How can we make sure that civility is interesting?”

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Plan Delayed - The president's health care reform suffered another blow on Thursday as the Senate gave up voting on the bill before the August recess. Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters that "the decision was made to give them more time for the finance committee part of what we're trying to do." Obama said he was OK with the decision, but wants a vote by fall.

Case Closed - After extensive investigations over the past few days Nashville Police confirmed that Steve McNair was killed by his girlfriend Sahel Kazemi. Authorities say Kazemi "was spinning out of control" when she shot McNair four times then ending her own life, The Associated Press reports.

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Drunk Before Murdered - Authorities say former NFL star Steve McNair had a blood-alcohol level twice Tennessee's legal limit for driving when his girlfriend shot him to death. A state medical examiner also said that a toxicology report showed a trace amount of marijuana in the body of Sahel Kazemi. Police say McNair was likely asleep when he was shot.

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Runaway Groom - NBA groom Richard Jefferson of the Spurs got cold feet this past weekend and backed out of his wedding without informing many of the guests. According to the New York Post, Richardson was scheduled to marry former New Jersey Nets dancer Kesha Ni'Cole Nichols. A few days before the big day, Jefferson called off the ceremony and broke up with his fiancée. Unfortunately, nobody told a significant number of the guests.

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Setting the Record Straight - Spurs forward Richard Jefferson may have gotten cold feet and left his bride-to-be at the altar, but he told the New York Post that he's given Kesha Ni'Cole Nichols a six-figure settlement to "help her move on." There were also circulating rumors about Jefferson's sexuality, prompting him to tell the paper, "I'm not gay. That couldn’t be any further from the truth."

Free Vick Eyes NFL Comeback - After serving an 18-month jail term on a dogfighting conviction – the last 60 days in home confinement –29-year-old Michael Vick is a free man and is shifting his attention to a possible NFL comeback. As it stands, Vick remains suspended from the league and would have to convince NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to reverse the sanction.

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Free Vick Eyes NFL Comeback - After serving an 18-month jail term on a dogfighting conviction – the last 60 days in home confinement –29-year-old Michael Vick is a free man and is shifting his attention to a possible NFL comeback. As it stands, Vick remains suspended from the league and would have to convince NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to reverse the sanction.

Price Slashed – Again - The price of the Connecticut mega-mansion owned by 50 Cent has dropped again — to $10.9 million. The 50,000-square-foot, Hartford-area mansion, once owned by boxer Mike Tyson, has 19 bedrooms and 37 bathrooms. Fiddy says he's tired of the two-hour commute from Connecticut to New York and wants to downsize.

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Price Slashed – Again - The price of the Connecticut mega-mansion owned by 50 Cent has dropped again — to $10.9 million. The 50,000-square-foot, Hartford-area mansion, once owned by boxer Mike Tyson, has 19 bedrooms and 37 bathrooms. Fiddy says he's tired of the two-hour commute from Connecticut to New York and wants to downsize.

No More Paula? - Paula Abdul may not return for the upcoming season of “American Idol.” Abdul’s new manager told the Los Angeles Times that he does not have a new contract proposal for Abdul yet, despite the fact that the president of Fox Entertainment, Kevin Reilly, has said that Abdul is “an integral part of the show.”

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No More Paula? - Paula Abdul may not return for the upcoming season of “American Idol.” Abdul’s new manager told the Los Angeles Times that he does not have a new contract proposal for Abdul yet, despite the fact that the president of Fox Entertainment, Kevin Reilly, has said that Abdul is “an integral part of the show.”

LaToya’s Tribute - The official release is July 28, but LaToya Jackson's "Home" has already made its way to the Internet. The track is a tribute to her late brother, Michael, and recalls her childhood in the lyrics. She sings, "Life's not fair/ But I know our love will always last/ Missing all the memories we all once had." The tune also shouts out her other siblings and is meant to be a tribute to them as well.

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LaToya’s Tribute - The official release is July 28, but LaToya Jackson's "Home" has already made its way to the Internet. The track is a tribute to her late brother, Michael, and recalls her childhood in the lyrics. She sings, "Life's not fair/ But I know our love will always last/ Missing all the memories we all once had." The tune also shouts out her other siblings and is meant to be a tribute to them as well.

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Tito’s Convinced - Tito Jackson is convinced that his late brother, Michael, was the biological father of all three of his kids, despite reports that Jackson's dermatologist Arnold Klein might have been the sperm donor for the eldest two. Tito told British tabloid The Daily Mirror that just because his brother’s children have light complexions doesn’t mean Michael is not their father. "Just because they look White doesn't mean they are not his."

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Tito’s Convinced - Tito Jackson is convinced that his late brother, Michael, was the biological father of all three of his kids, despite reports that Jackson's dermatologist Arnold Klein might have been the sperm donor for the eldest two. Tito told British tabloid The Daily Mirror that just because his brother’s children have light complexions doesn’t mean Michael is not their father. "Just because they look White doesn't mean they are not his."

Not Fighting - Diana Ross has hit back at rumors she's embroiled in a feud with Jackson family matriarch Katherine, branding reports the pair are at odds over custody over the King of Pop's children "ridiculous." A spokesman for the star says, "Ms. Ross has deep love for the Jackson family," insisting there is no bitterness between her and the family.

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Not Fighting - Diana Ross has hit back at rumors she's embroiled in a feud with Jackson family matriarch Katherine, branding reports the pair are at odds over custody over the King of Pop's children "ridiculous." A spokesman for the star says, "Ms. Ross has deep love for the Jackson family," insisting there is no bitterness between her and the family.

Rousing Reception - Whitney Houston experienced "good love" during a much-anticipated album listening party at New York City's Lincoln Center Tuesday night. The party, attended by everyone from Clive Davis and Alicia Keys to Diane Sawyer and Vivica Fox, featured an upbeat and radiant Houston, according to observers. Houston's "I Look To You" is due in stores Sept. 1.

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Rousing Reception - Whitney Houston experienced "good love" during a much-anticipated album listening party at New York City's Lincoln Center Tuesday night. The party, attended by everyone from Clive Davis and Alicia Keys to Diane Sawyer and Vivica Fox, featured an upbeat and radiant Houston, according to observers. Houston's "I Look To You" is due in stores Sept. 1.

Carey's Concert - Wanna go see Mariah Carey in concert Saturday night in Vegas? You can see the show without leaving home — or even if you aren't at home. The concert is being billed as the first to be simulcast to mobile and other digital devices worldwide. The cost of the show is $9.99, and tickets are available on Carey's Web site.

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September Release - Mariah Carey's "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel" has been moved to September, just weeks before its initial release. While Carey hasn't confirmed the push back, retailers have moved the albums release date to Sept. 15. It was originally scheduled to drop on Aug. 25.

No Apologies for Look - President Barack Obama acknowledges "I'm a little frumpy," and says he's not worried about it. Asked in an NBC "Today" show interview about the well-worn blue jeans he wore to the pitcher's mound to throw out the first pitch in last week's major league baseball All-Star game, Obama said, "I hate to shop."

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No Apologies for Look - President Barack Obama acknowledges "I'm a little frumpy," and says he's not worried about it. Asked in an NBC "Today" show interview about the well-worn blue jeans he wore to the pitcher's mound to throw out the first pitch in last week's major league baseball All-Star game, Obama said, "I hate to shop."

First Black Winner - Despite a car crash that left her with bruised legs and whiplash days before the contest, 20-year-old Rachel Christie persevered to make history as the first Black Miss England. Her ambition is to follow in the steps of her uncle, Linford Christie, who is the most decorated British athlete.

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First Black Winner - Despite a car crash that left her with bruised legs and whiplash days before the contest, 20-year-old Rachel Christie persevered to make history as the first Black Miss England. Her ambition is to follow in the steps of her uncle, Linford Christie, who is the most decorated British athlete.