Bishop Long, Lyfe Jennings, & Chris Brown in the Week in Review

Week in Review: 9/19/10 – 9/25/10

Black church sex scandals, shocking prison sentences, new album releases, and a new place to get your hair done, nails done, everything did. But with so much going on, it’s easy to miss what’s really going down. Lucky for you, we’ve been keeping tabs on the stories, scandals, and all-around newsmakers of the week. Get ready, because this week’s Week in Review was definitely a hot one.

THE BISHOP WEARS SPANX?

The evangelical world was rocked in this Week in Review when not one, not two, BUT FOUR men filed lawsuits against mega-preacher Bishop Eddie Long, in Fulton County, Georgia, alleging sexual coercion amongst other counts. The men claim that Long used his position as Bishop to lure them into sexual relationships beginning at age 16 – the legal age of consent in Georgia, after grooming them using the church’s mentoring program and/or Long’s personal relationships with the men’s families.

The suits also claim that Long showered the men with gifts, money, trips, and even college tuition, raising additional questions about where the alleged funds came from. On Sunday, Long vowed to fight his current tribulations, without directly referencing the lawsuits – or those florescent muscle shirts he was wearing in those camera phone pictures.

3 ½ YEARS TO LYFE

This Week in Review, is a bit shocking considering inspirational R & B singer Lyfe Jennings was sentenced to 3 ½ years in prison for a 2008 incident in which he kicked down his baby’s mother’s apartment door, shot into the air as he walked the streets looking for her, and then led Smyrna police on a high-speed chase – a far cry from lyrics promoting social responsibility and making good choices. He posted the following tweet after he was apparently sentenced:

This will be my last post. To everyone who gave me a chance I am forever in your debt. I have had a fabulous career because of you. All I can say in parting is that I have been honest with yaw. I didn’t sugarcoat a word didn’t hold back a single sylible of my life from yaw. I’ve lived a hundred lives in these 6 yrs so I not only won’t, i don’t have the right to complain. I would like to think that I’ve changed lives by changing my own, tho I can’t be sure. But one thing I am sure of is God gives and takes away in measure. He is fair, just and forever. Amen from aman… Smile, its contageous:)

There may be hope for Jennings (well, maybe not for his spelling), in that he may actually only serve up to 75% of his 3 ½ year sentence. Lets just hope he listens to his own lyrics, and chooses to make better choices the next go-round.

CHRIS BROWN GOES EVEN MORE ELECTRO

Chris Brown released new music in the form of “Yeah 3X”, an up-tempo, electro pop number that just may be his ticket back to mainstream success. The track, lifted off of Brown’s forthcoming “F.A.M.E.” album, is garnering much-needed buzz for the embattled singer. But with his emotional Michael Jackson tribute at this year’s BET Awards, followed by the surprise success of “Deuces” from his Fan of a Fan mixtape and his role in the #1 film “Takers,” Brown will be annoying us with mind-numbing Double Mint Gum commercials again in no time. I’d bet he’d probably show up again in the next couple Week in Review’s with the path he’s rolling on.

WANNA LOOK LIKE THE QUEEN BEE?

Lil’ Kim looked stunning as she celebrated the opening of Salon Se Swa by Queen Bee in Charlotte, NC this weekend. Guests of the salon’s opening included Megan Goode and Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon. The venture is a joint project with the Queen Bee and her cousin, stylist Katrise Jones. The two plan to open the next Salon Se Swa in Atlanta in the near future. For her part, Katrise opened the flagship salon in Raleigh, NC back in 2004.

Patrons can expect to bask in luxury at the salon at reasonable rates. Word on the street is that haircuts, as well as wash and sets, will only cost $10. However, those prices were quoted before the salon’s opening and may have changed. Don’t worry though. You can probably still get a perm like Kim’s for just a few bucks. Sorry, nose jobs not included.

Tune in next week for the next Week in Review

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