Lisa Marie - Open and Honest

The Oprah Winfrey interview with Lisa Marie Presley on her relationship with Michael Jackson just ended.  I had planned to take notes to give a detailed account of what transpired but as a fan who still gets emotional when his untimely passing is the subject, I decided to just listen.

Of course, you will be able to view the episode on the NBC website and video clips on Oprah's website. I'll hit the highlights here. 

Lisa Marie confirmed that their marriage was real  and legitimate in every sense.  She had divorced her husband and married Michael twenty days later because they were in love.  She described being with him as "the highest high" she had ever felt.  Being around her father was the only other time she had felt such a sensation.

Although she knew that Michael would be on lots of pain medicine after leaving a certain dermatologist's office, she was told that it was necessary due to certain painful procedures regarding the vitiligo and perhaps other issues. Towards the end of the marriage she realized that he had a drug addiction. His decision to choose the people who were taking advantage of him over Lisa Marie because she was trying to get him away from them so that he could get the help he needed with the addiction led to the breakup of their marriage.  She admitted that the parallels between her father's demise and her then husband's decent were too much to handle.  It was incredulous when Oprah pointed out that the home where Michael collapsed was "just a stone's throw away" across the street from Elvis' home where he died. It is not believed that Michael even knew that about the house.

The two continued to see each other off and on for an additional four years after the divorce until she finally had to end it for good for her own sake.  Oprah asked her how she felt that within months of the divorce, Debbie Rowe was pregnant.  Surprisingly, Lisa Marie said that Michael often told her that Debbie was standing by to have the baby if Lisa Marie did not change her mind about not wanting to bring a child into their union because it had become rocky.  As one could imagine, she said that the situation was very hurtful to her.

She had a lot of regret for not reaching out to Michael prior to his death, especially since he had "thrown a line out" to her that she rejected. He had asked if she still loved him.  "I'm indifferent," was her reply.  It made him cry.  After his death, she wished that she had tried to save him though she has no idea if that would have been possible.  Michael had no problems shutting out those who dared to say no to him or who tried to make him see that the drugs and the people who supplied them were detrimental to him, including  his family who also tried to intervene. "He would just ice you out," Presley said.

Oprah asked Presley if she had ever witnessed Michael behaving inappropriately toward children and if she believed the allegations lodged against him.  The answer to both questions was a resounding "no." She added that no one really knew what happened except for Michael and his accusers so it would be unfair of her to declare that the allegations were untrue. However, she readily denied any belief of their validity.  During the "last coherent" conversation that she had with Michael, he told her that certain people were trying to kill him to gain control of his music catalog.  She declined to repeat those names.

The interview ended with Presley stating that she appreciated her husband for being so understanding and supportive over the years as she worked through the pain (and anger that she has since let go) she carried because of her love for Michael.  She also said that she will never grant another interview regarding Michael Jackson.

It seems that she is finally in a decent place where her relationship with Michael is concerned. Her depiction of him made him seem less larger than life and more closely the magnanimous, electrifying soul that drew people in like a magnet. Now that the anger is gone and the pain is manageable, she can allow her love for him to just be what it is... genuine and timeless. Trust me, Lisa Marie, his fans will always love him, too. 

Lisa Marie Presley opens up about Michael Jackson today on Oprah

People love to talk to Oprah. Perhaps they feel comfortable with her as if they're simply talking to a friend. In many cases, the grand dame of daytime TV is just having a conversation with one of her celebrity friends. Today, the celeb and friend is Lisa Marie Presley, the ex-wife of entertainment phenomenon Michael Jackson.

The interview will be the first time Lisa Marie has spoken publicly about his death. Fans will want to tune in for this one.

Also noteworthy, various media outlets have reported that Oprah interviewed Michael Jackson's parents. There has not been any mention of an air date for that one. Randy Jackson is said to be upset that the interview even took place.

It still seems unbelievable that he is gone. Visit The Official Michael Jackson website if, like me, you want a copy of Michael Jackson's Vision, the new DVD set that features all of his short films (which we refer to as videos) and 10 never released short films. He is still loved around the world!

Tyler Perry shares painful past on Oprah

Tyler Perry appeared on the Oprah show today to talk in-depth about a childhood riddled with verbal, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Being a sickly child triggered an abnormal hatred and rage in his father who expressed it by berating and beating his son. Although his mother knew that he was being abused, she was incapable of shielding him since she was beaten and threatened constantly as well, Perry acknowledged.

His story is a powerful one and a testament to many who have suffered abuse that it is possible to overcome such tragic circumstances. Guided through his childhood torment by the exquisitely skillful interviewer and his good friend, Oprah, he told of being unnerved by the mind games his father played. In order to protect himself during brutal beatings, in his mind, he would travel to a park where he once had so much fun. After a particularly vicious beating with a vacuum cleaner hose that left large open welts, Tyler fled to his aunt Jerry's house. She grabbed a gun an confronted his father. She is the inspiration behind his Madea character. One of the saddest parts of his story has Tyler being beaten so mercilessly after his father caught him smirking at him that he could see the little boy (himself) not retreating to the park but instead running away. He said that he died that day. The beating caused him to pass out for three days.

One huge reason Tyler Perry the movie mogul agreed to lay bare his private pain is so that other men who have suffered sexual abuse as children will be able to talk about it and free themselves. At a tender age (5 or 6) his neighbor with whom he was building a bird house or cage put his hand in his pants and without fulling knowing what was happening to him, he experienced an erection. "My body betrayed me," he said. Eventually, a male nurse at the hospital where Perry had been rushed from school did the same thing to him. His third encounter with sexual abuse involved a man from his church who performed oral sex on him and used scriptures from the bible that he had undoubtedly twisted to justify his actions. There was a woman who was the mother of one of his friends who locked him in her house when he attempted to leave, put the key in her vagina and told him that he had to reach in to get it if he wanted to go home. Once he did, he had an erection and the woman pulled him into her to complete her devious plan.

When Oprah asked if he ever told anyone about the sexual abuse, he shared a disgusting story of his father teaching him at an early age that telling would only make things worse for him. A little girl whom Perry liked told him that his father had tried to touch her. One night when she was staying over, he witnessed his father come into the room and try to touch her as she lay in the bed across the room. His father retreated when Tyler turned over in his bed. Tyler told his mother. She packed up the kids and left only to return hours later. His father's physical and verbal abuse got much worse. That was the first and last time that he told.

"You expect as a child that your mother is going to protect you," Oprah said. However, he conceded that his mother was a passive person and that, coupled with the abuse that she was experiencing at the hands of his father, rendered her unable to protect him. As a result, he would spend hours in a crawl space under the house, hiding from the wrath of his own father. "Predators know when a child is an easy mark," he responded when Oprah asked how the other people knew that they could molest him and get away with it.

Perry's years of unbridled abuse caused him to struggle with his sexual identity, intimacy and relationships for a long time. He also had difficulty with issues of anger and rage. When asked how he "acted out" he revealed that he used to make everyone around him miserable, burned down a house, burned his car, and stole things.

"Your father will hear about this show. How do you feel about that?" Oprah inquired.

"I don't care," Perry declared nonchalantly but as a matter of fact. He went on to say that after exposing the abuse in an email to his legions of fans, he received this message from his father sent through his brother.

"If I had beat your ass one more time, you would have been Barack Obama."

In spite of all of the pain he has caused, Perry said that he forgave his father and actually takes care of him. He has provided him with a home and sends monthly checks to him. However, he revealed that he still harbors fear that his father might harm him and therefore refuses to have him in his life.

Oprah said more than once that Tyler Perry was taking a risk by telling such a detailed story of the abuse and degradation he has suffered. I think that he showed a tremendous amount of strength, courage, humility and high character. He has nothing to fear from his fans except an outpouring of love and support that will only be surpassed by their appreciation for giving them the inspiration that they need to tell their own stories.

Predators hide in the dark. That dark, secret place is also their stronghold. It sustains their power and allows them to operate unchecked. It's time for victims to put them in the spotlight so that they will not have the power to hurt anyone else.

Perry's tenth movie, For Colored Girls, will be premiering in November. Join Oprah and Tyler on November 5, 2010 for a special show in which her studio will be filled with 200 men who want to share their stories, how it has changed their lives, and hopefully to heal.

Shemar Moore on Mo'Nique Show

Thank you, Mo'Nique! I know droves of women are sharing that sentiment because we appreciate you having Shemar Moore in the penthouse.

Mo' gave her list of sexy brothers...

Michael Jackson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Franco Harris and Shemar Moore

Here's my list...

Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel, Shemar Moore, Morris Chestnut and Terrence Howard

Who's on yours?

Real Housewives of Atlanta... NeNe is back and so is the drama!!

It must be sizzlin' in Hotlanta right now because NeNe Leakes is back to her old self and she is bringing the drama. When she rolled up on Dwight in the first episode of the new season and gave it to him full blast, I knew that we as fans are in for a treat that we will savor like a sinful piece of chocolate. I am glad that they resolved their issues, though. Dwight looked pretty broken up about it. Hey, is it just me or has anyone else noticed that each time NeNe has had a falling out with one of her friends, it's because of something Kim said? Think back to last season when NeNe and Sheree were at odds. Um hum. Wendy Williams announced on her show last week that NeNe and her hubby are divorcing. Way to spoil it, Wendy since that episode hasn't aired, yet. It's cool. That's why we watch your show... for the hot, gooey gossip. Just don't do it again.

Speaking of Sheree, she seems happier this season. Good for her. She and NeNe gave good advice to their children. Her argument that she is not Dwight's friend so it makes no sense that he would spend $30,000 on her fashion show seems on point to me. Come on, Sheree, give us a little more to talk about.

Dwight's friend did not help matters when they spoke with Sheree. Paying a seamstress and making copies of fliers and whatever surely did not amount to that much paper. They looked like fools. Dwight... is it true that you can't breathe through your nose?

It's apparent that Kim likes pretty boys. But... you're wasting your time when they're all gay. They don't want you. By the way, you shouldn't want them, either. Nothing against people of the gay persuasion, but it was ridiculous that she was falling all over them and even asked a few if they were gay. Maybe she was just playing.

Kandi is a really good friend to Kim. She is supporting her fully. And Kandi's so right, she needs to be paid if she helps Kim with another song. Hey, Kandi, call me when you're ready to check out my lyrics. Seriously. I'm good!

The supermodel seems very down to earth. She should figure out why she's so afraid to commit before making it official with her man. It's a lot easier to get married than it is to get divorced if it doesn't work out. Counseling is not a dirty word.

What happened to Lisa Wu-Hartwell? Bravo could have kept her around a bit longer. We liked her husband, I mean her. LOL. I guess the nice girls who don't contribute to the drama get cut. I'm sure she and DeShawn Snow will be fine. All the best, ladies!

Can't wait til next Monday for the next episode!

Denzel Washington --- Unstoppable

BET is showing Mo' Better Blues right now. That was the young Denzel... cocky, cool and sexy as hell. He's a bit older in Unstoppable but he's still good eye candy! I loved him in Devil in a Blue Dress. Aw heck, I love him in pretty much anything. Ladies, join me in a salute to this fine brother
.

Denzel, Denzel
Still sexy as hell
A little older now but that's okay
If you want to come out, I'm willing to play!

Hey, you've got your fantasy and I've got mine.