2012 Olympic GOLD Rush

Beyonce’s Camp Responds to Belafonte’s Criticism She Doesn’t Do Enough Charity Work

Beyonce’s spokesperson is responding to the allegation reportedly leveled by legendary singer Harry Belafonte that she doesn’t do enough to help the world with her star power. Beyonce recently paid a visit to the United Nations in New York City to help mark World Humanitarian Day on August 19 and pay homage to the work done by humanitarian workers. The singer also shot a music video for her song “I Was Here”; the clip will be released on August 19.  Earlier this month, Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z were criticized by Belafonte for not doing enough social good with their celebrity status. Belafonte reportedly told the Hollywood Reporter “It is sad. And I think one of the great abuses of this modern time is that we should have had such high-profile artists, powerful celebrities. But they have turned their back on social responsibility. That goes for Jay-Z and Beyonce, for example. Give me Bruce Springsteen, and now you’re talking. I really think he is black.” Belafonte didn’t immediately return the Journal’s request for a comment. In response to Belafonte’s words, Beyonce’s representative emailed what she called “An abbreviated list of the unselfish work Beyoncé has done and continues to do.” The list included co-founding The Survivor Foundation “a multi-purpose community outreach facility in downtown Houston”; donating “100K in 2008 to the Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund to aid Texas victims of Hurricane Ike”; performing in “MTV’s Hope For Haiti Now! Benefit in addition to making a generous monetary donation,” among many other charitable activities.

Also Mr. Belefonte has some NERVE criticizing someone like Beyonce who has done so much for the uplifting and empowerment of women and children.  Especially since he feels this way:

HARRY BELAFONTE & EARTHA KITT:

Actress Ellen Holly reveals in her book, "One Life, The Autobiography Of An African American Actress," that Eartha Kitt was interviewed on the show, “Real Personal,” in April of 1994. Kitt described a sexual encounter with Harry Belafonte. Immediately afterward, he allegedly warned Kitt ‘not to take their lovemaking too seriously’ on the grounds that his sexual interest was exclusively in white women. He added, “No black woman can do anything for me.”

The interviewer pressed for further details as follows.

Interviewer: Belafonte said that to you?

Kitt: Yes. It was a slap in my face and therefore, you feel kind of dirty afterwards, you know.

Interviewer: Why do you think Belafonte said that?

Kitt: Because that’s Harry Belafonte.

 Interviewer: Really?

Kitt: That’s the way he is.

check and mate Mr. Belefonte.....

 

 

Beyonce Asks.. Why U Mad Heaux?

Rihanna Sues Former Accountants, Alleging Millions In Losses

juli 05, 2012   |    By Associated Press With Billboard Staff

Rihanna has sued her former accountants in New York, blaming them for tens of millions of dollars in losses, according to several online reports.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court in Manhattan on behalf of the singer and her touring company Tourihanna. It seeks unspecified damages against New York-based Berdon LLP and two accountants, Michael Mitnick and Peter Gounis, neither of whom still work for the company, according to Reuters. A Berdon spokeswoman says the company has no immediate comment.

Rihanna sued under her real name, Robyn Fenty.

Rihanna says she hired the accountants in 2005 when she was a 16-year-old from Barbados launching her career.

"Between 2005 and 2010, Tourihanna suffered significant losses due to defendants' financial mismanagement and other acts and omissions," the lawsuit claims, citing "exorbitant" commissions, mishandling of taxes, failing to oversee and collect unpaid royalties and concealment of key details from the singer.

The lawsuit said the company was supposed to provide accounting and financial management services. She alleges the company engaged in misconduct and malfeasance, culminating in overall losses in her 2009 "Last Girl on Earth" tour despite large revenues, and pointing out that Rihanna's 2010 "Loud" tour made money after she had left the accounting firm.

The lawsuit revealed that Rihanna was paid just six percent of her tours' gross receipts, whereas Berdon received 23 percent in commission between 2007 and 2010, and did not keep tabs on tour expenses and tax returns. The claims in the lawsuit cover negligence, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and unjust enrichment.

Reps for Rihanna and Universal Music Group had not responded to Billboard.biz's request for comment as of press time.

http://www.billboard...007504152.story


remember when her former manager told her WHY she was broke?


Remember kids... it's everybody else's fault:

Rihanna also blames the firm for her disastrous purchase of a $6.9 million Beverly Hills mansion in 2009, saying since-retired Berdon accountant Michael Mitnick told her it "would be a good investment," while failing "to explain the true nature of her financial situation at that time."
In February, she took a nearly $2 million hit by unloading the eight-bedroom contemporary, which reportedly sustained "extensive damage from moisture and water intrusion," for little more than $5 million.

Estate agents listing the property have described it as 'major fixer' with 'extensive damage from moisture and water intrusion' at the roof, windows, doors and balconies.
Rihanna, 23, is suing the former owner of the 8,500sq ft home as well as her estate agent and the property inspector who looked over the home before she bought it.
In a lawsuit filed in August she claimed the home was 'laden with construction defects'.

“By the “Last Girl on Earth” tour in 2009, Rihanna learned that the tour had managed “significant net losses” despite robust revenues, though the defendants had managed to pocket 22 percent of the tour’s total revenues while paying Rihanna just 6 percent of revenues, the lawsuit said. It said Berdon’s unusual accounting practice of paying itself a percentage of gross tour income as commissions left it no incentive to “counsel” Rihanna to reduce expenses or put in place appropriate financial controls.

They... um... they didn't tell her putting on big productions for a tour that left many seats unfilled AND that had to be downsized to amphitheaters and cafegymatoriums was not financially wise??? Poor poor dummy.

And death at her STILL paying Def Jam for that Last Goat in the Barn tour.  How does that work exactly?  So tell me folks... what's 6% of NOTHING?

Rihanna vs. Goat live vocal battle

Drake & Meek Millz Calls Rihelpyaself a Heaux... And She Likes It

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Battleship Sinks in the U.S.

How big a flop is BATTLESHIP (Universal)? Even bigger than the catastrophic John Carter, that's how big. According to early Friday numbers at Deadline, Battleship is headed for a $9.5M opening day, and if that number holds, it'll be less than John Carter's $9.8M. Carter made it to $30M in its opening weekend, thanks to a 25% Saturday bump because it played as a family movie, and Battleship may not get that high. It could be looking at a $70M US total, disastrous for a movie that cost over $200M to produce (probably over $350M including marketing). 

FRIDAY 11 PM, 4TH UPDATE: My sources have these Friday and weekend numbers for North America. As I’ve been posting all day, everything is tanking except Marvel’s The Avengers which sucked all the air out of the box office for the 3rd straight weekend. Tomorrow it will become the highest grossing domestic release in Disney’s history. Joss Whedon’s superhero assembly is already the studio’s highest grossing film of all time globally, and will pass the $450M mark this weekend. Demonstrating just how lackluster the new movies are, audiences gave Universal’s Battleship only a ‘B’ CinemaScore, Lionsgate’s What To Expect When You’re Expecting a ‘B-’, and Paramount’s The Dictator a ‘C’. So don’t expect word of mouth to improve these numbers much, if at all. Overall moviegoing this weekend is looking like $130M, which is -18% from last year. Refined numbers and full analysis in the AM. Here’s the Top Ten (by Friday estimates):
1. Marvel’s The Avengers (Disney) Week 3 [4,349 Runs] PG13
Friday $15.5M, Weekend $52.5M, Cume $454.5M
2. Battleship (Universal) NEW [3,690 Runs] PG13
Friday $9.5M, Weekend $26M
3. The Dictator (Paramount) NEW-Wed [3,008 Runs] R
Friday $5.5M, Weekend $16.0M, Cume $23.0M
4. What To Expect When You’re Expecting (Lionsgate) NEW [3,021 Runs] PG13
Friday $4.4M, Weekend $12.0M
5. Dark Shadows (Warner Bros) Week 2 [3,755 Runs] PG13
Friday $3.7M (-61%), Weekend $11.5M, Cume $49.6M
6. The Hunger Games (Lionsgate) Week 9 [2,064 Runs]
Friday $850K, Weekend $2.4M, Cume $391.0M
7. Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (Fox Searchlight) Week 3 [354 Runs] PG13
Friday $800K, Weekend $3M, Cume $8.7M
8. Think Like A Man (Screen Gems/Sony) Week 5 [1,722 Runs] PG13
Friday $800K, Weekend $2.4M, Cume $85.6M
9. The Lucky One (Warner Bros) Week 5 [2,055 Runs] PG13
Friday $650K, Weekend $1.8M, Cume $57.0M
10. Pirates! Band Of Misfits (Aardman/Sony) Week 4 [1,840 Runs] PG
Friday $450K, Weekend $1.4M, Cume $25.7M

The overseas haul for "Battleship" goes part way to justifying its reported $209 million price tag. But after subtracting splits with theater owners and marketing costs, it is estimated to need about half a billion dollars at box offices to turn a profit.

Hah! It's Saturday, so why not... and after you read this, if you haven't already, read my post on director Peter Berg's lengthy explanation on his decision to cast her in the film (despite reservations) HERE.
Courtesy of New York magazine's Vulture... every line of dialogue Rihanna says in Battleship:

Rihanna's film debut is a memorable one. The Barbadian singer is wet for much of Battleship, her Navy uniform is uncommonly flattering, and the majority of her dialogue is composed of exclamations. It's a veritable masterclass in one-line utterances. Most of her lines fall into one of several categories: sassy ("Get up, princess!"), confused ("What the hell is that?") or surprisingly competent  ("Contact 2 miles out.") But enough of this. Let Rihanna speak for herself.

- "What's wrong with you drama queen?

- "Get up princess! Come on!"

- "Typical"

- "Shut up. Shut up."

- "Oh, this gon' be sweet. He hates the man."

- "You go mess with him and see what happens!"

- "Chicken!"

- "Kentucky Fried Chicken!"

And that's only about a third of it; Click HERE for the rest of the story.
Anyone seen the movie AND loved it? Reviews have been mostly terrible.