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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The question: Is it jealous Jay-Z, or is Kelly crazy?


R. Kelly
 (The Spokesman-Review)
The Spokesman-Review

SINGER R. KELLY has sued rapper Jay-Z for $75 million, alleging Jay-Z’s “spite and jealousy” led him to force Kelly off their national tour. The breach of contract suit filed Monday suggests Jay-Z was perturbed because Kelly was getting 60 percent of tour proceeds to Jay-Z’s 40 percent.

Kelly had accused one of Jay-Z’s associates of blasting him with pepper spray after he walked offstage at Madison Square Garden early Saturday, claiming he saw men with guns in the audience. He was treated at a hospital and released.

The tour was supposed to be “the perfect marriage of hip-hop and R&B,” said Kelly’s lawyer, Edward Hayes. “Instead, it’s going to be a terrible divorce.”

Jay-Z’s publicist said he was unsure whether the rapper would try to fill the remaining dates as a solo act.

A statement from Island Def Jam Records, which Jay-Z is slated to take over, blamed Kelly’s “lack of professionalism and unpredictable behavior” for cancellation of the tour.

We hear there are some red strings attached

Madonna is close to signing “a mega-bucks deal” to star in ads for Versace’s 2005 Spring line, reports MSNBC.com.

The plan reportedly calls for the ad campaign to be photographed by Mario Testino, who also took the pictures when the Material Girl – better known lately as a devotee of Kabbalah religious mysticism, string bracelet and all – starred in ads for Versace in 1995.

Said Madonna’s spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg: “Donatella Versace is talking to Madonna about it, but Madonna hasn’t made a decision yet.”

Guess even Brandy has a shelf life

Brandy has split from her longtime label, Atlantic Records, after relatively disappointing sales of her last album, “Afrodisiac.”

Her publicist says the 25-year-old singer/actress is looking at other labels and also plans to be co-executive producer of a comedy series for Fox television next year.

Class credit for those ‘Idol’ hours

Clay Aiken sang his way to a runner-up finish on the second season of “American Idol.” Fellow North Carolinian Fantasia Barrino was the winner in the most recent, third season.

Now the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is offering an academic course about the TV show. Beginning in January, UNCC students will earn three credit hours for “Examining ‘American Idol’ Through Musical Critique.”

Students will learn the history of different musical styles used as “Idol” themes, such as Motown and Broadway. The final project will be a paper on who should win and why.

Actually, we’ve never seen anyone less gay

Caustic “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell is laughing off Sharon Osbourne‘s claim that he’s a closet homosexual.

“He’s one of the most repressed men I’ve ever met,” said Osbourne, co-host of the British show “X-Factor” with Cowell. “He would enjoy his life a lot more if he would just come out. I reckon he’s dying to.”

Replied Cowell, who’s in a long-term relationship with model Terri Seymour: “If I give it out, then I’m man enough to take it, especially from Sharon. It’s nonsense.”

The birthday bunch

Actor-dancer Ken Berry (“Mayberry R.F.D.”) is 71. Actor-radio personality Shadoe Stevens is 58. Singer Lulu is 56. Actor Mike Evans (“The Jeffersons”) is 55. Actress-comedian Roseanne Barr is 52. Actress Kathy Kinney (“The Drew Carey Show”) is 51. Actress Kate Capshaw is 51. Comedian Dennis Miller is 51. Singer Adam Ant is 50.