Bring That Week Back: Week of Nov. 17
1 / 17
Death Threats - His election has made history in a way that's a little less than inspiring to the nation. Law enforcement officials say there have been more threats on Obama's life than any past president-elect. The Secret Service won't say how many cases they're investigating.
2 / 17
‘House Negro?!’ - In an audio message posted on the Web Wednesday, Al-Qaeda's second in command criticized Barack Obama by calling him a "house Negro" – a degrading term meaning he serves White people. Ayman al-Zawahiri said Obama had turned his back on his Islamic roots by siding with the enemies of Muslims and supporting Israel.
3 / 17
T.I. To Testify - T.I. is set to take the witness stand Friday in the murder of his long-time friend and personal assistant Philant Johnson. Johnson, pictured here, was killed in May 2006 after a fight broke out at a club in Cincinnati where T.I. had performed. Johnson was killed, and four others were hurt. T.I. was not hit.
4 / 17
He Hates Gays - Rapper Trick Trick has a new album out, and he has a message for the gay community: "I don’t want your fagg*t money." The comments prompted a host of gays in the hip-hop community to fire back. Trick's album references Ellen Degeneres and Rosie O'Donnell as "dyke b*tches" and advocates the murder of gay men.
5 / 17
Gay And Proud - Over the weekend, Wanda Sykes came out of the closet as a gay, married woman. Sykes surprised a crowd of more than 1,000 anti-Prop 8 protesters in Las Vegas Saturday, saying she felt personally attacked by California's decision to ban same-sex marriage. Sykes told the crowd she was "proud to be gay."
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6 / 17
Sex Change - Remember Isis King? The transgender contestant on this season’s “America's Next Top Model?” Well, Trya Banks surprised King with sex reassignment surgery in an episode of her talk show this week. Dr. Marci Bowers, a leading gender reassignment surgeon who appeared on the show and has experienced the surgery herself, is paying for King’s surgery.
7 / 17
Hudson Keeps Smiling - GAP considered removing smiling portraits of Jennifer Hudson from its new holiday ads after her recent tragedy but decided to keep the images after the grieving star said she wanted to go ahead with the campaign. The ads were taped months before Hudson's mother, brother and nephew were murdered.
8 / 17
Kanye ‘Hates’ Jay-Z? - A representative for Kanye West says Damon Dash is a big, fat liar, and there's no feud going on between Kanye and Jay-Z. Dash reportedly said that Kanye "hated" Jay-Z ever since they fell out over a diamond chain in 2003. Dash claims that Jigga refused to "knight" West with his own necklace while on stage at a concert in Chicago and ever since, Kanye has held a grudge.
9 / 17
Nipping at iPod's Heels - Would you ditch your iPod for a Zune because of Common? Microsoft hopes so. The company is paying the rapper an undisclosed amount to do TV ads for the device, which, after being on the market for a few years, still lags far behind the iPod. Common shows off his Zune in a video for his new album.
10 / 17
That’s His Joint! - You know how when you check out someone else's iPod, there's always a song or artist that makes you think: "That's my jam!" Well, you may not say that about LeBron James' iPod. The Cleveland Cavaliers star has songs by Barry Manilow on his. You know, the guy who had hits in the 70s like "Mandy" and "Copacabana." James says he also listens to Jay-Z before NBA games.
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11 / 17
First Black AG? - The first Black president is poised to name Washington lawyer Eric Holder as the nation's first Black attorney general. The Obama team has not publicly confirmed the pick, but a source close to the process said that Holder has "informally" accepted the offer, pending completion of the vetting process.
12 / 17
Magic Tax Man - Magic is adding taxes to his long line of business ventures. The ex-NBA baller is getting into the tax business with Jackson Hewitt. He will be doing print ads for now, and in January, he will do national TV spots. Johnson will also help Jackson Hewitt scout would-be franchise owners.
13 / 17
Charged - The man responsible for putting “Soul Train” on the track was charged with spousal battery, assault with a deadly weapon and dissuading a witness from making a police report. The charges, all misdemeanors, were filed against 72-year-old Don Cornelius after two domestic incidents involving his wife last month.
14 / 17
Protect Me - Kanye West launched an angry attack on the world's paparazzi this week. Kanye, who allegedly punched a photographer in the face, said showbiz photographers think they are "above the law," and compared his position to that of Princess Diana, who died following a car chase by paparazzi.
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Prince Smells Lawsuit - A perfume company that went into business with Prince to make a "3121" fragrance – named after his 2006 album – is suing. The company says the musician didn't do his part to promote the fragrance, so, it filed a breach-of-contract suit. A spokesman for his music publisher, Universal, calls the suit "completely without merit."
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