Posts Tagged ‘Shaunie O’Neal’

Evelyn Lozada

UPDATE:

In the wake of the 34-year-old athlete-turned-reality TV star’s arrest in Florida this weekend on charges he headbutted his wife Evelyn Lozada during a fight — reportedly over a receipt for condoms she found in the trunk of their car – VH1 is yanking his series off the air.

“Due to the unfortunate events over the weekend and the seriousness of the allegations, VH1 is pulling the series ‘Ev and Ocho’ from its schedule and has no current plans of airing it,” the network confirmed in a statement to the Daily News.

Story HERE.

Evelyn Lozada has also made her intentions known to police that she plans to file charges against husband Chad Johnson for allegedly head-butting her during the altercation which led to his arrest.

Johnson was released from the Miami Dolphins yesterday in response to his arrest and other team-related behavior.

According to the police report, Lozada found a receipt for a box of condoms from a local Walgreens in the trunk of Johnson’s car which precipitated the confrontation.

There is no arguing whether domestic violence is either funny or fodder for Reality TV.  There is no question as to its serious nature.  There is a question as to whether Lozada will somehow attempt to profit off of these circumstances.

RELATED:

Mo’Kelly Interviews Imani Showalter of Basketball Wives: LA

The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly. Tune into The Mo’Kelly Show Saturdays from 6-8pm PDT on KFI AM640 and SiriusXM 166 Saturdays and Sundays from 8-9pm PDT. Contact Mo’Kelly at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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We all remember the original purported “outrage” of Star Jones regarding the controversial behavior and imagery on VH-1′s

Dr. Boyce Watkins

Basketball Wives program(s).  We all remember her vowing to put a stop to it, tweeting up a storm.

Remember #EnoughIsEnough?

Since then Star hasn’t uttered a peep on the issue, including ignoring all interview requests from Yours Truly.  To that end, Dr. Watkins takes Jones to task publicly for seemingly changing course on the issue.

Interesting…

_________________

From NewsOne.com

Star Jones is interesting.  She’s smart, crafty and typically quite classy.  But I admittedly cocked my head to the side like Scooby-Doo when I read that Jones said that she never intended to boycott the show “Basketball Wives.”  Speaking to another woman that I appreciate dearly, Wendy Williams, Star said, “I was never encouraging anybody to boycott somebody’s job. That’s not what I’m about.”

Star Jones

Star’s words are a far cry from her previous tweets on the matter, where she took a far more militant point of view:

“It may be ‘comfortable’ to be quiet when women of color slap the crap out of each other & run across tables barefoot, but #ENOUGHisENOUGH,” she tweeted. “About to put together a group of sisters to finally ‘tell the truth’ about the image of women of color in the media.”

“And the thought that the woman from #BBW who was smacked doesn’t have the RIGHT to file assault charges is LUDICROUS,” she said. “You NEVER give up your right not to have your ‘person’ intentionally assaulted unless you are participating in an agreed physical activity.  I’m asking all my high profile, platform having conscientious sisters who STAND FOR SOMETHING to just say #ENOUGHisENOUGH & call folk out! Be mad. But think about what I said. WE ARE BETTER than that. You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution.

Perhaps the Star Jones from last month should be introduced to the Star Jones from this month, because they appear to be different people.

Full story HERE.

The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly. Tune into The Mo’Kelly Show Saturdays from 6-8pm PDT on KFI AM640 and Sirius XM 166 Saturdays and Sundays from 8-9pm PDT. Contact Mo’Kelly at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Star Jones

Recently on Twitter Star Jones went off on the “popular” reality television Basketball Wives.

“It may be ‘comfortable’ to be quiet when women of color slap the crap out of each other & run across tables barefoot, but #ENOUGHisENOUGH, About to put together a group of sisters to finally ‘tell the truth’ about the image of women of color in the media.”

But do remember, Mo’Kelly was all over this WAY before Star, (much respect to her nonetheless.)

Before she decided to put a coalition together, do remember this is what Mo’Kelly was/is/has been doing.

Mo’Kelly has repeatedly reached out to Star Jones to do an interview…waiting for an official response.

RELATED:


Mo’Kelly Interviews Imani Showalter of ‘Basketball Wives’ (AUDIO)

Mo’Kelly Blasts Shaunie O’Neal and Her ‘CNN Editorial’

Mo’Kelly Blasts ‘Basketball Wives’ Premise

The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly. Contact him at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Imani Showalter

Listen to the extended conversation HERE.

End Credit Music: Always Sisters, Always Friends by CeCe Winans

I guess you could say Mo’Kelly has known Imani Showalter to a certain degree since 2005. It was after a piece on EURWEB.com regarding NBA forward Stephen Jackson, Mo’Kelly was DELUGED with mail.

Some notes were nice, some sho’ nuff weren’t.

In fact, some were from Stephen Jackson’s own mother and to this day her note resides in Mo’Kelly’s Hall of Fame. It is still true. If you can get somebody’s MAMA to email you, you KNOW you touched a nerve.  Mo’Kelly waited a whole year to share it with the world in a followup piece, needing Jackson to again do something worthy of ridicule. But it was well worth the wait.

Stephen Jackson STILL isn’t Very Bright (2006)

Someone else connected to Jackson also reached out after the first editorial…Imani Showalter.

Yes, that would be the very same Imani Showalter featured on the immensely popular VH-1 program, Basketball Wives: LA.

Mind you, this was 2005, long before anyone thought the idea of Reality TV and the NBA would ever intersect. Imani and I continued to quietly dialogue and exchange stories about the entertainment industry, the NBA and the unsettling nature of both.

To this day, there are stories Imani shared over the years that are truly unbelievable and not appropriate for print, or Reality TV.

And that’s the thing…we’ve all long known that the reality quotient of “Reality TV” is questionable at best. How much is “real,” how much prodding goes on from producers and what tricks take place in the edit bay which inform or maybe misinform our perception of Reality TV, Basketball Wives or otherwise?

Over the past couple of months, Imani and I have been trying to schedule a time to sit down and have a real, meaningful and honest conversation about influence, impact and even arguably the inappropriate nature of Reality TV generally and Basketball Wives: LA more specifically.

Showalter is a mother. It will be interesting to see what regrets (if any) she may have over the many years and the path which has led to this moment.

I say all that to say…this is a real conversation, not a program paid promotion. Imani reads Mo’Kelly as often as any of you, she KNOWS what Mo’Kelly is about, how Mo’Kelly feels about Reality TV and she is all about entering into a meaningful dialogue.

Today Mo’Kelly presents an extended audio conversation between Mo’Kelly and Basketball Wives: L.A. cast member, Imani Showalter.

Brian White

Another EXCLUSIVE from The Mo’Kelly Report.

OTHER INTERVIEWS:

Lamar and Sherri

Television and Film Actor Brian J. White – HERE. 

TV Producer, Writer and Sherri Shepherd’s New Husband Lamar Sally – HERE.

The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal.  Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly.  Contact him at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Seriously, Mo’Kelly thought this was a joke.  First, the executive producer of

Shaunie O'Neal

Basketball Wives writes a letter to CNN to object to the negative portrayals of Black women on Reality TV?

Really dude?

Golddigger please!

Secondly, she sent it to CNN?  Since when do CNN and Reality TV intersect?  Why not VH1/Viacom/Bravo, the home of virtually negative portrayal in which she references, including her own program?

The only thing more “weird” would be the President of BET protesting the negative imagery showcase at the BET Awards.  How does one protest what one promotes?

STORY HERE.

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Shaunie O’Neal is the former wife of NBA star Shaquille O’Neal and the executive producer and star of the VH1 reality show “Basketball Wives.” She will be a featured speaker on a reality television panel at the 2011 Essence Music Festival.

(CNN) — I’ll be honest, I love reality TV.

Actually it’s one of my guilty pleasure past times. Even before “Basketball Wives” I had my favorites, and I watched them faithfully. There is something appealing about seeing people deal with real life drama as you’re watching. Now, as executive producer of “Basketball Wives,” I know that’s not exactly how it happens, but it’s still fun to watch.

What isn’t so fun to watch, however, is this new generation of reality TV. It seems to be more about the drama and less about the storyline. That concerns me, especially now that I’m producing a reality show.

I have gotten both good and bad responses from viewers about “Basketball Wives,” and I certainly understand the opinion that the shows portrayal of black women is beginning to look somewhat negative.

As you see on the show, I’m not a big supporter of the bickering, drink throwing and fighting, but when you put a group of strong, independent and vocal women who are going through or just came out of a bad relationship together, there’s bound to be a little drama.

Let’s face it, we all know women like the ones on “Basketball Wives” and countless other reality shows: Women who are vocal if you cross them.

The problem for me is when black women are portrayed as only being that way and labeled different than their non-black counterparts for the same type of behavior. That’s when it becomes negative and damaging to our image.

I’m not saying we have to create shows that only paint a pretty picture about who we are, but there should be a balance and most of all some integrity to the shows we create.

I do believe some of the shows featuring African-American women have positive story lines and are not meant to tear black women down. Shows like [BET's] “Tiny & Toya” and “Monica: Still Standing,” [TVOne's] “LisaRaye: The Real McCoy,” [VH1's] “What Chili Wants” and [WE tv's] “The Braxtons.”

They all have the same core storyline — single, exes of high profile men, trying to raise their children and get their lives back on track. I believe that is positive and when handled properly can be very uplifting and empowering for women going through the same issues, no matter their race.

That’s why I wanted to do “Basketball Wives.” I wanted to show what life is really like when you are with a professional athlete — and that sometimes all that glitters isn’t gold.

When I signed on to executive produce the show I had big plans and a long list of ideas. But boy did all that change as we started filming and I learned what all goes into executive producing a show. It’s a lot of work, and there are a lot of politics involved, but at the end of the day I do believe that the overall message is being told.

Look at Tami Roman (ex-wife of former NBA player Kenny Anderson and a member of the “Basketball Wives” cast). She was such an appealing addition to the cast because of her rags to riches to rags story of being married to a pro basketball player and after their divorce almost being homeless.

That’s the heart of “Basketball Wives,” and I believe that if you look closely and beyond the arguing and the fighting, you’ll see a group of women trying to get their lives back on track and figure out who they really are.

My role as executive producer of the show does not negate my concern for how black women are portrayed on reality TV, but I do believe that there are some shows attempting to strike a balance and have a positive message despite the drama. I’m personally working with Shed Media and VH1 to make sure that “Basketball Wives” stands among them.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and EURWEB.com. For the most recent posts of Mr. Mo’Kelly, visit http://mrmokelly.com.  Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Basketball Wives?

You mean there is a VH-1 “reality” TV show regarding the day-to-day lives of those women whose “claim to fame” or “primary contribution” is the successful seduction of a professional basketball athlete?

Did Mo’Kelly miss something?

(Well in fact, Mo’Kelly did)

Upon further and closer inspection, the “reality” television program Basketball Wives really doesn’t showcase many “basketball wives” at all in “reality.”  Let’s meet  the cast members.

Shaunie O’Neal (“Executive Producer”) – As the ink dries on her divorce papers with Shaquille

Shaunie O'Neal

O’Neal, it’s safe to say she is no longer a “basketball wife.”  She is by definition a basketball “ex-wife” and a recovering groupie.  Also, in Essence magazine, Shaunie had this to say on the so-called “unsavory” and “unscrupulous” nature of groupies and their negative influences on happy marriages.

According to Shaunie, Shaq’s trade to Miami is what broke up their marriage.

“Miami is a great city. It just wasn’t a great city for our marriage. I know they say L.A. has its groupies, but Miami has a different mentality.

Even going to the games, the whole environment is so different. Girls are practically sitting in their bra and panties in the arena. When you’re trying to keep your husband, that’s a lot to take. It was a whole new lifestyle I wasn’t ready for. Apparently we didn’t have a strong enough foundation for Shaq to withstand that type of temptation.”

_

Interestingly enough, Shaunie made no mention of the “scandal” surrounding her first marriage to one of Shaq’s business partners and the “controversy” over whether her first child was fathered by her then-husband the deacon or Shaquille O’Neal the “Diesel.”

Groupies she says?  Marital foundation?  Moving right along…

Suzie (is Gonna) Ketcham

Suzie Ketcham (fitting name) DATED and birthed two children of Michael Olowokandi, arguably the biggest non-injury-related bust in the history of the NBA.  According to her show bio, they DATED for ten years…whatever that means.  Nowhere was there any mention of a marriage license or associated ceremony.  So her resumé, (and Mo’Kelly uses that word VERY loosely) now reads “met NBA player, gave him two kids, garners child support and lands TV show.”

You have to love America.  No, really.  You HAVE to love America.

Next thing you know, you can be a prostitute, sleep with the governor and end up with your own “advice” column and on the cover of Playboy.  Or give birth to 14 kids you can’t afford and land your own TV show.  If or when those things happen, hell would have officially dropped below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

In other news Beelzebub was recently seen purchasing an overcoat, earmuffs and mittens.

Royce Reed, former GIRLFRIEND of Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard.  They

"Rolls" Royce Reed

have one child together.  And oh yeah, she’s a former Orlando Magic dancer.  Resumé reads – danced at basketball games for $50.00 per game, seduced Dwight Howard and landed TV show about “Basketball Wives” though she’s never been married.  According to the show’s website, “Royce’s hardest task with the other wives will be debunking the negative stereotype that the wives have against team dancers.”

First, “wives” is plural.  There is only one “wife” on this program.  Secondly, groupies have a caste system?  Groupies are concerned about stereotypes?  Groupies who never even made it to the promised land of “wifey” frown upon being lumped together with groupie team dancers? Groupies have superiority complexes and set-trip on each other?

This is all so hard to understand.  You mean that there is an ethos, employee handbook or code of conduct regarding groupie activities?  Does that mean it’s somehow MORE “honorable” to (allegedly) leave your deacon husband for his business partner Shaquille O’Neal, than working as a team dancer solely for the purpose of wrangling an NBA player?

Really?  There are guidelines, rules and regulations for pandering to the lowest common female denominator?  I guess you learn something new every single day.

And anytime this show wants to offer up a real SPOUSE, for this television program regarding WIVES (plural) of basketball players…Mo’Kelly is ready.  I’m here all day…

Evelyn Lozada (left) and daughter

Evelyn Lozada– ex fiancée (read: EX-GIRLFRIEND) of Antoine Walker.  Yes, that would be the same Antoine Walker who recently filed for bankruptcy after pissing away more than $110 million in NBA earnings.  In her free time, Evelyn likes to knit, meditate and experiment with finger paints.  She likes pretty colors.  Notice in the video below she acknowledges breaking up with Walker about six months ago…right around the same time he filed for bankruptcy.

Purely a coincidence.

Gloria Govan

Gloria Govan – present fiancée (read:Baby-Mama twice over) of Matt Barnes.  Allegedly they will soon marry.  Her sister Laura is the fiancée of Gilbert Arenas and rumored to have had an affair with Shaquille O’Neal while married to Shaunie.  In other words, there’s more than one Govan groupie gallivanting around.

Lord Hammercy!

On the show titled Basketball Wives, only TWO of the six cast members have ever been anywhere near an altar as a bride.  And as of the first episode, only ONE is actually a “Basketball Wife.”  This show should be renamed, Some Groupie Chicks Who Slept With and at Times Birthed Children to NBA Players + 1 Wife.

Jennifer Williams

Jennifer Williams – Current wife of former NBA journeyman Eric Williams.  If you already knew who Eric was, you truly are an NBA fan and a sports trivia phenom.  Yes, Mo’Kelly had to google to find out.  So neither of them has amassed any stardom or celebrity per se…but Jennifer is legit nonetheless.  She is the lone wife on the whole TV show.  I guess one in 6 isn’t bad.

(And just FYI…I do have a number of female friends who are married to or have had children with athletes or entertainers.  Doing so doesn’t a priori make you a groupie…but these heifers above [save Williams] don’t pass that litmus test.  But when your ONLY meaningful achievement in life is connected to the athlete…

Exactly.)