Black news site EURWeb.com is reporting that basketball superstar Shaquille O’Neal is taking full responsibility for the failure of his marriage to Shaunie. In his new book, “Shaq Uncut: My Story,” the well-loved player brought new insights to the public about the playing around he did on his former wife of several years, Shaunie O’Neal. It is rare for a man in the limelight to go into details about the end of an important relationship. It is even more interesting for Shaq to admit that he is to blame for losing his former lady love over having affairs. He must really miss her! According to EUR Web:

Shaq wrote, “At one time my ex-wife Shaunie and I were happy, but I admit it—I was a guy. I was a guy with too many options.  Choosing to be with some of those women, well, that’s me. In my mind, I never did it disrespectfully, but obviously I shouldn’t have done it at all.”

Shaunie, the creator of the popular show “Basketball Wives,” hired a private investigator to get all the details of Shaq’s moves.

They discovered Shaq’s sexting and uncovered his mistress, Vanessa Lopez, who eventually sued him for harassing her after their affair.

Shaunie filed for divorce and was granted custody of the children.

Of course, Shaunie was not exactly the shy and retiring wife playing the victim while Shaq was messing around. Rumor has it that after it became clear that her husband was not being faithful, Shaunie engaged in some affairs of her own. It is also alleged that she very intelligently began to hide assets — “stacking chips” if you will — in order to protect herself financially in case the marriage did not work out in her favor. While not totally above board, it is understandable that Shaunie would engage in such practices if her husband had violated the trust implicit in a marriage.

Despite these suspicious acts, now that Shaunie has moved on and become a successful reality TV producer she is respected as an independent woman in her own right. Having moved on to a reality TV star best known as “Hoopz,” why is Shaq still talking about his beautiful and very savvy ex-wife? Is he just trying to sell books with juicy quotes? I don’t know.

Sure, Hoopz is cute and all, but Shaunie is the total package. I wonder how Shaq’s current love feels knowing that her man very likely regrets ever having lost his ex. It’s funny, but Hoopz kind of even looks like Shaunie…

Alexis Garrett Stodghill is the senior editor of MadameNoire.com. Follow her on Twitter: @lexisb

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After dragging the “Bishop” Eddie Long’s name through the mud by accusing him of sexual manipulation, the accusers of the still wildly-popular Atlanta spiritual leader are being dumped by the lawyer who led them in their fight. Hip Hop Wired reports that:

This time three of the Bishop Eddie Long’s accusers have been dropped by their lawyer for violating the confidentiality clause of their settlement.

According to reports, Attorney Brenda Bernstein dumped Jamal Parris, Spencer LaGrande and Centino Kemp as her clients after the three accusers did not remain quiet and were recently challenged by Long’s attorneys, who say that they plan to collect roughly “$900,000″ for violations in the settlement.

The accusers broke the clause by participating in interviews with the Atlanta Journal Constitution, WSB-TV and CNN, as well as releasing statements on Twitter.

Long’s attorneys are looking to collect $300,000 per violation.

In May, Bishop Eddie Long reached an agreement in the case against the four men that accused him of sexual abuse.

The settlement between the four accusers was believed to be in the amount of $15 million.

The Christian Post adds:

Long’s attorneys claim that Kemp wrote tweets such as “I was literally your hooker,” and then in one directed @BishopEddieLong wrote “why that’s all I want to no.”

Clearly these young men went through a seriously emotionally damaging time, and no amount of money is enough to heal those wounds. Their attorney might be peeved at them for not honoring the terms of the settlement, but I am bereft that these men are still trying to figure out how to overcome the feeling of being sexually used. This is one of the worst things to go through in the world, because being made to feel like an object haunts you with a sense of worthlessness until you are able to overcome it.

In our American society we have a tendency to believe that everything can be made better by money. Even if we profess to think otherwise, deep down inside many of us cannot help but believe that money is all that counts, because that is what we have been conditioned to believe. But Eddie Long’s accusers are realizing that money cannot salve a deep devastation to one’s inner sensitive nature. This is hard to realize, and goes against what most assume. So I applaud their courage in believing their self-worth is worth more than $900,000. If speaking out might actually heal them, it’s worth far more than that for their revelations to continue.

I hope that the “Bishop’s” accusers give every penny back and keep talking until they are able to reach an inner resolution. In case their former lawyer has not realized it, they are the victims. Her job was to help them seek justice. Her abandonment of them shows she saw them as more of a meal ticket.

Alexis Garrett Stodghill is a senior editor at MadameNoire.com. Send tips and story ideas to: astodghill@madamenoire.com. Follow Alexis on Twitter.

Today in the involuntary manslaughter trial against Dr. Conrad Murray, the prosecution played a recording from Dr. Murray’s iPhone featuring the haunting, slurred speech of the late King of Pop. In the conversation, Dr. Murray listens to Jackson ramble about his plans to help others, and reiterate again that he feels for children because his own child hood was stolen. The Los Angeles Times reports:

In the recording discovered on Dr. Conrad Murray’s iPhone, Jackson rambled to his doctor about his upcoming comeback concerts and plans to build a hospital for children.

“God wants me to do it. I’m gonna do it, Conrad,” the singer said in slurred words.

“I know you would,” Murray replied.

Mumbling and at times incomprehensible, the singer went on to tell Murray what he had often said publicly -– that he related to children because his music career had interrupted his own youth.

“I love them because I didn’t have a childhood. I had no childhood. I feel their pain,” Jackson said.

Murray replied “Mmm-mmm” repeatedly as Jackson spoke, and after the singer suddenly grew silent asked, “You OK?”

“I am asleep,” Jackson replied.

The prosecution maintains that Murray must have realized that Jackson was suffering from an acute addiction, and failed in his duty as a physician by continuing to supply his patient with drugs. Prosecution lawyers also played a message from Murray’s phone in which Jackson’s former manager Frank DiLeo (who died earlier this year) asked Murray to run a check up on Michael. DiLeo himself clearly recognized the deteriorating state Jackson was in, as he was missing rehearsals or coming to them too incapacitated to work. Jackson’s former manager requested that he administer a blood test to the star to see what drugs he was taking.

Dr. Murray and his defense team counter these accusations with the assertion that Michael Jackson died because he administered sedatives and the anesthetic propofol to himself. Murray forgets that Jackson would not have had the drugs to administer to himself if the doctor had not provided them. Even Jackson’s manager could tell something was wrong, a man with zero medical training. Why Murray continued to give Michael drugs when he appeared to be killing himself with them remains a mystery. If Dr. Murray is found guilty of involuntary manslaughter he will receive a maximum sentence of four years. If that enough time for this level of negligence? I don’t think so.

Word is that the staff at TMZ has personally reviewed a sex video starring the late great Tupac Shakur. In the 1991 video, Tupac receives oral sex, drinks a drank, smokes a blunt, dances with a friend, keeps receiving oral sex, and sings along to an unreleased track of him rapping all at the same time. The big joke making the rounds online is — “Boy that Tupac sure was a great mult-tasker!” And of course, inevitable speculation about what is going to happen with the room full of groupies also present has stirred great curiosity for viewing what was clearly a pre-orgiastic rite. TMZ elaborates:

The tape, shot in 1991, begins with a bunch of groupies in a living room during a house party. Tupac walks into the room with his pants down to his ankles, his shirt off … sporting several chains.

Tupac — whose head is shaved — pulls one of the women toward him, and she begins performing oral sex. As she does her thing, an unreleased song of Tupac’s is playing in the background, as Tupac is singing along and dancing, wiggling his hips.

And it gets even better. As the woman services Tupac, who is holding a cocktail in one hand and a blunt in another, Money B from Digital Underground walks over to him. Tupac puts his cocktail arm around Money B, continues singing and dancing … and the woman never stops.

As the tape ends it appears he’s ready to begin sexual intercourse. It’s unclear if there’s another tape.

We’ve learned the person in possession of the tape is making plans to release it.

I suppose all that is interesting. It is hard to imagine being so enraptured in the 20-year-old sex life of a tragically murdered rap legend, unless your own personal love life is in the toilet. I for one have never seen the R. Kelly sex video, the Kim Kardashian/Ray-J sex video, the Paris Hilton sex video, or even the original that started all this madness — the Pamela Anderson/Tommy Lee grandparent of them all.

I for one have no interest in seeing random people who are not professionals making love, unless they are absolutely ordinary and complete strangers. Maybe I am odd, but I would rather watch some highly amusing amateur Adult Videos than peer even more deeply into the lives of people who have been warped by celebrity. Especially when they are dead. That seems particularly twisted of us.

My personal thoughts aside, the folks at Uproxx.com state: “More than anything, this tape will lend credence to the long-standing rumor that Tupac would often cross-stitch while performing cunnilingus on a lady.” Perhaps if this is true, the Tupac sex video could act as an instructional video for all the many men in this world who need an education in this area. Otherwise, I’m not interested.

What are your thoughts Madames? Interested in watching Tupac act silly before falling into a pile of groupie “hos”? Or would you prefer to maintain the dark, but complex image of him as a troubled but brilliant artist? I for one prefer the latter.

The involuntary manslaughter trial against Dr. Conrad Murray is continuing to underscore the state of panic that ensued after Michael Jackson was found to be unresponsive on the day of his death. Here are the sad details, which seem to implicate Dr. Murray as lacking in moral responsibility in the face of Jackson’s obviously grave condition:

• It has been revealed during the trial that Michael Jackson called the intravenous anesthetic that took his life, “his milk.” It was also revealed that, “condom catheters were attached to Jackson’s penis to collect urine” as a normal process of his daily functioning. {The Washington Post}
• On day four of the trial, Extra.com has reported that Jackson’s person chef, Kai Chase, was called on by Dr. Murray to alert Michael Jackson’s security and summons his son Prince to his aid. Chase also huddled with the children who prayed and cryed over concern for their father. {Extra}
• Canadian publication The Toronto Star reports that a former client of Dr. Murray faced numerous disappointments in dealing with the doctor close to the time of Michael Jackson’s death. Dr. Murray apparently canceled many appointments related to heart disease ailments suffered by the client, which understandably alarmed the patient. This client felt abandoned in his time of need. {TheStar.com}
• A gag order was issued by the judge on the Michael Jackson involuntary manslaughter trial after Murray’s defense attorney Matthew Alford appeared on the “Today” show. It seems that the lawyer working on Dr. Murray’s defense was trying to promote the idea to the public that some of the prosecution witnesses could not be trusted. From this point onward, anyone involved in the case is no longer permitted to comment on the trial in public. {Reuters}
• Prosecution witnesses assert that there was no sign of life in Michael Jackson’s body when the EMTs arrived. Sadly, it was also revealed that the device being used to monitor Jackson’s vital signs was not equipped to beep as a sign of trouble. A more advanced device would have alerted Dr. Murray that his patient’s heart had stopped beating. This inferior model may have been enough to prevent proper intervention in a timely manner, which could have saved Michael Jackson’s life. {MTV News}
• Paramedics who were called to the scene have stated that Dr. Murray lied about the medications the King of Pop was taking. They also claim to have witnessed him placing important medical evidence into a bag and removing it from the scene, even as his dead patient was being wheeled away. {The Daily News}
• Medical emergency workers called to the scene also said there was a “good chance” Michael Jackson could have been saved if Dr. Murray had been monitoring him properly. Apparently he told them Jackson had been unresponsive for only one minute, when 20 minutes was far more likely given the state he was in when the EMTs arrived. {The Telegraph}

In our country a man is innocent until proven guilty. In this case, I can only hope that justice is done. After the death of Troy Davis, it is difficult not to weigh circumstantial evidence heavily (which would have saved Troy’s life) — but that is not how our criminal justice system works. It is hard to refrain from trying a man in the court room of the press, rather than in a trial by jury which is his right. But we must try. Withholding judgment of Dr. Murray will be hard given the testimony provided so far. But if we believe in justice, it is only fair to the concept of justice to wait and see what his defense attorneys present in the proper context before we pass judgment. In the meantime, this is going to be an emotionally trying case.

Follow Alexis Garrett Stodghill on Twitter.

By Jay Anderson

The hip-hop industry has spawned its fair share of executives to whom the label “mogul” might be ascribed. Some of these moguls come from the world of business, others are artists who have paid their dues and risen up the ranks in a more unusual manner. Despite the amount of hard work involved in making it to the top, these hip-hop moguls often possess the same sense of entitlement and self-importance of your typical Fortune 500 CEO, which sometimes manifests itself in some questionable behavior. (Just in case anyone gets it twisted, yes, we know, successful white guys act equally crazy too. That’s true, but their stories just aren’t as entertaining.) And with that, we present to you, 7 Hip-Hop Moguls who have behaved very badly. Despite their fame and success, these millionaire black men still sometimes go off the deep end.

1. Kevin Liles Ditches Pregnant Wife in Labor For Obama Fundraiser

The birth of a child is typically one of the most memorable days in most people’s lives. It’s also one of the most nerve wracking, so what better a way to get your mind off the impending labor than to skip it altogether and go hobnob with President Obama for a few hours. The NY Post reports (via Mogulite) that Ex-Def Jam honcho Kevin Liles apparently did just that earlier this week, dashing back and forth between his in-labor wife and a $71K/per couple fundraiser for the president’s re-election campaign. Thankfully, common sense prevailed when the President himself told Liles, “You have served your country” — and to please leave and go back to your wife, already. Amen. Thankfully wife and child are okay. Liles’ reputation? Not so much.

(Washington Post) — D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr. agreed Friday to repay the District $300,000 to settle a city lawsuit that alleged he diverted public funds from youth programs and used some of the money to pay for luxury cars and expensive trips.  In a settlement that will avert a civil trial but does not shield the Ward 5 Democrat from possible criminal prosecution, he also agreed not to head up any charitable organizations for at least five years.  Although Thomas did not admit wrongdoing, the settlement underscores the growing legal and political pressures facing several high-profile District leaders accused of ethical misconduct. The case also stands as a significant early accomplishment for the city’s new attorney general, Irvin B. Nathan, who has stressed that he will aggressively pursue allegations of mismanagement or corruption at city hall.

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(Washington Examiner) — “There is a crisis of leadership in America,” Ohio’s Republican Gov. John Kasich said Sunday during an appearance on “Meet the Press,” adding that the problem isn’t just in the political arena. Anyone paying attention to District affairs during the past six months would second that sentiment.  There has been a palpable absence of vision and a dearth of courage. Regrettably, there also has been an overabundance of unethical and other questionable behavior by many city leaders, particularly politicians.

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(The Root) — In a who-woulda-thunk-it scenario, about half of Washington, D.C.’s elected city officials are under one kind of cloud or another, a situation that has left residents angry, embarrassed, racially divided and fearful for the political future of their shaky and shaken local government.  The controversies include the two top leaders of the district government — the mayor and City Council chairs, both Democrats voted into office last November — and a number of councilmen. Mayor Vincent Gray is under federal and local investigations on charges that during the election, his campaign paid off a rival candidate to verbally attack the incumbent mayor and then gave the man a job in his administration.  In addition, several of the mayor’s top staffers were forced to resign after a series of breaches of public trust, including being paid higher salaries than their predecessors, hiring the children of staff members and inadequate vetting of some hires.

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(Washington Informer) — The ethical cloud that envelopes D.C. City Council members has left the public disappointed and disgusted.  At the moment, several members are either under investigation or enmeshed in ethical problems. And Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) has been fending off accusations of his own for months.   “I’m mad as hell,” said a Ward 5 resident whose gestures punctuated her agitation. “I worked real hard for Vincent Gray and I just threw out all of his T-shirts. It’s embarrassing for the whole city. Thomas, Brown, Gray…”  The retired telecommunications employee, who declined to give her name, said the political shenanigans have been going on all along “but they just got caught.”  John Walker, a Northern Virginia resident, said the Council members’ woes are nothing new.   “I’ve been here a long time and this is consistent with [the District’s] history,” he said. “There is a lack of good governance but I have a feeling they’ll get it right.”   Walker, who works for a non-profit which offers services to veterans, said there are larger implications to the Council’s actions.

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