It’s a bad day for Good Hair. Chris Rock’s groundbreaking documentary on the history of the African-American hair care industry and the lengths some people of color go to change the texture of their hair is at the center of a $5 million lawsuit from a woman who alleges the funnyman ripped the idea off from her.
According to the lawsuit filed by Regina Kimbell in United States District Court, Central District of California, Kimbell claims Rock’s new film is very similar to her own film, My Nappy Roots: A Journey Through Black Hair-itage. Kimbell has filed a suit at Los Angeles’ District Court claiming the inspiration behind Rock’s Good Hair film came from a documentary she made in 2005, which she showed the comic on the set of his now-defunct TV series Everybody Hates Chris in 2007.
Kimbell is suing Rock for copyright infringement, unfair competition and fraud, and deceit.
Check out this studio-released five minute clip from the upcoming Disney feature The Princess And The Frog. The fantasy fairytale features the voiceover work of actress Anika Noni Rose and introduces Disney’s first ever African-American princess.
The Princess And The Frog opens in theaters Christmas Day.
If Mo doesn’t see any moolah, you won’t see any Mo’Nique….Mo’Nique has effectively refused to promote the film that will likely earn her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the 2010 Academy Awards.
According to Showbiz 411’s Roger Friedman, Mo’Nique — who will premiere her late-night series on BET on Monday night — will not attend the world premiere of the critically-acclaimed drama, Precious, over a cash dispute with producers. It seems the self-professed “Phat Girl” isn’t keen on not getting paid for promo appearances.
“Mo’Nique has gotten herself a reputation for demanding money for showing up to promote Precious. It’s a first in Oscar history,” Roger writes.
“Mo’Nique said she signed on to do this film for a small amount of money. She said she didn’t care about ‘no Oscar’ – all that mattered was ‘those Benjamins!’ Because Oprah and Tyler Perry are backing the film, she feels as though there should be a budget to pay for her promotional duties…” Precious, which opens in November, will be the subject of a huge premiere in New York City this weekend.
The money troubles are so bad, Mo’s publicist of two weeks, Tresa Sanders, quit Thursday, after growing tired of having to come up with excuses about why Mo’Nique is not promoting the film and won’t attend this weekend’s premiere
Tyler Perry’s latest comedy I Can Do Bad All By Myself topped the box office, taking in over $24 million in ticket sales in its opening weekend.
The Lionsgate comedy stars Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson as a hard-drinking lounge singer forced to care for her delinquent niece and nephews.
Coach Carter star Antwon Tanner has pleaded guilty to selling more than a dozen Social Security numbers for $10,000.
Bauer-Griffin
In April, authorities charged the 34 year old — who plays Skills on The CW series One Tree Hill– after he sold sixteen Social Security numbers and three fake Social Security cards to undercover Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in a sting operation.
Tanner faces up to a year in prison. He will be sentenced on November 20.
Tyler Perry’s acid-tongued alter ego will soon be back in theaters.
When Madea, America’s favorite pistol-packing grandma, catches sixteen-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides to take matters into her own hands and delivers the young delinquents to the only relative they have: their aunt April. A heavy-drinking nightclub singer who lives off of Raymond, her married boyfriend, April wants nothing to do with the kids. But her attitude begins to change when Sandino, a handsome Mexican immigrant looking for work, moves into Apri’’s basement room. Making amends for his own troubled past, Sandino challenges April to open her heart. And April soon realizes she must make the biggest choice of her life: between her old ways with Raymond and the new possibilities of family, faith… and even true love.
A concert film of Michael Jackson’s final rehearsals will open in theaters this fall, according to reports.
Sony Pictures paid concert promoters AEG Live $60 million for the rights to footage shot during the late King of Pop’s rehearsals for the This Is It Concert Series, The Hollywood Reporter’s Showbiz 411 Column learned late Tuesday.
The tour would have opened at London’s O2 Arena last week — only two weeks after Michael’s death of a suspected heart attack. The film will hit theaters Friday, October 30.
