Bring That Week Back: Week of Nov. 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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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."

ADVERTISEMENT
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jay-Z, Jeter Won’t Pursue LeBron James - As the push to bring free agent MVP forward LeBron James to the Knicks heats up, at least two New York notables won’t join the fray. “I don’t play basketball. I have nothing to do with that,” said Yankee shortstop Jeter. Said Jay-Z, “I don’t want to convince somebody to do something, then have to see him and say, ‘Uh, yeah, we’re 4-30 … sorry.” The mayor recently launched the “C’Mon LeBron” campaign and a group with that name has 3,000 fans on Facebook.

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.

ADVERTISEMENT
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.

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.

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.

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.

Probation - Soul Train creator, executive producer and long-time host, Don Cornelius, recently got a slap on the wrist for beating his wife. The 72-year-old got three years probation after entering a 'no contest' plea Wednesday. Cornelius will reportedly serve 300 hours of community service and pay a $1,000 fine in connection with misdemeanor spousal battery charges.

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.

Kanye’s Porsche Stolen, Crashed - Kanye West’s Porsche Panamera was stolen and crashed into a multi-million-dollar house in Hawaii early Saturday morning. The star, who has been in the state working on his latest project, was actually traveling and had left the car with his cousin, the New York Daily News reports. Thieves stole and crashed the car shortly afterward, wrecking the vehicle. Three men were seen running from the car after the accident, neighbors said.

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.

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."

15 / 17

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."

ADVERTISEMENT
M.J. Betray Prince? - The son of the King of Bahrain is suing Michael Jackson, saying the aging pop star took $7 million as an advance on an album and autobiography – and that the singer failed to produce either. Lawyers for Al Khalifa say the money was intended as an advance on a joint recording project. Jackson, however, claims the cash was a gift.

16 / 17

M.J. Betray Prince? - The son of the King of Bahrain is suing Michael Jackson, saying the aging pop star took $7 million as an advance on an album and autobiography – and that the singer failed to produce either. Lawyers for Al Khalifa say the money was intended as an advance on a joint recording project. Jackson, however, claims the cash was a gift.

Under Investigation - Usher's mama is under police investigation for allegedly scamming a limo driver. The unnamed driver says Jonetta Patton used his services for her Atlanta-based transportation company during this year's BET Awards and never paid the more than $1,600 she owes. So what's Patton's camp saying about this?  Absolutely nothing.

17 / 17

Under Investigation - Usher's mama is under police investigation for allegedly scamming a limo driver. The unnamed driver says Jonetta Patton used his services for her Atlanta-based transportation company during this year's BET Awards and never paid the more than $1,600 she owes. So what's Patton's camp saying about this? Absolutely nothing.