Monthly Archives: September 2010

Bishop Eddie Long Charged with Sexual Coercion: Bishop Long Denies Charges

A huge blow to the public perception of Mega churches unfolded today. Two DeKalb County men filed lawsuits Tuesday alleging Bishop Eddie Long coerced them to having sex with him in exchange for lavish trips, cars and cash from New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

The men’s attorney called Long a “sexual predator” and said she is now talking to other potential victims.

“It’s not just these two. There are young men around him at all times,” the men’s attorney B.J. Bernstein said. “There are kids at risk now.”  

Court documents filed earlier today allege that Bishop Long engaged in sexual massages, oral sodomy, and other inappropriate contact with boys from the church.  The investigations were reportedly investigated for a year, when attorneys felt that the evidence was irrefutable.  One of the boys said that Bishop Long even tried to block his relationships with girls by increased calling and presence in the young man’s life. 

Court documents also state that the young men were told by Long that, “Engaging in a sexual relationship is a healthy component of a spiritual life.”  Reportedly telling the boys, “I will be your spiritual father.”

The men, Anthony Flagg, 21, and Maurice Robinson, 20, began having inappropriate relations with Long at the age of 16, which is the legal age of consent in Georgia, Bernstein said. Bernstein said she has not contacted DeKalb law enforcement because of Long’s ties to so many DeKalb officials.

Both men filed lawsuits Tuesday against Long and the church, alleging the bishop breached his pastoral duty.

Atlanta attorney Craig Gillen, who represents Long, said his client “adamantly denies the allegations in these two lawsuits and it is unfortunate that these two young men have chosen to take this course of action.”

While Long likely cannot be charged with a crime in Georgia because the men consented, he could face charges in other states, Bernstein said. The sex acts occurred while the men were between the ages of 16 and 20, the suit alleges.

The attorney said she has asked the FBI to investigate allegations that Long had sex with the men in hotels in New York, Dallas, Tennessee, New Zealand and other areas.

Long took Flagg to New Zealand for his 18th birthday, Bernstein said.

In separate trips, Bernstein said, the men flew on Long’s personal jet and shared a bed with him at the hotels. Long used the alias “Dick Tracy” when he checked into the hotel, the suit alleges.

However, the bulk of the relations occurred on the mega church’s property, including inside Long’s “guest house” on Snapfinger Road in south DeKalb, Bernstein said.

Flagg and Robinson’s parents both moved to DeKalb specifically to attend Newbirth. The two men met while enrolled in the church’s Longfellow Academy, which is for teenage boys age 14-17.

While at the academy, Flagg and Robinson developed relationships with Long, Bernstein said. They began spending more time with him and were placed on the church’s payroll, the suit alleges.

By the time they turned 16, Long began taking them on separate trips and inviting them to his home, Bernstein said. At one point, Flagg and Long held a private “marriage-like” ceremony where they exchanged vows, Bernstein said.

In exchange for Flagg’s love, Long bought the teenager a Ford Mustang, the suit alleges.

Robinson received other gifts, including introductions to T.I. Chris Tucker, Tyler Perry and other celebrities who met with Long, Bernstein said. The bishop also let Robinson drive his Bentley.

Bernstein said she has emails, text messages and photographs between the men and Long.

“The bishop used biblical verses to coerce them. He out front being homophobic and making all these remarks when at the same time, he is leading a double life,” Bernstein said. “They [the plaintiffs] aren’t gay. They just wanted to be loved and cared for by a powerful man.”

In June, Robinson was charged with breaking into Long’s home, stealing jewelry, an iPad and other items.

Robinson committed the burglary in retaliation after learning that Long was involved with other men, including Flagg, Bernstein said.

“He lashed out,” Bernstein said. “But if it weren’t for that act, we wouldn’t know about this. He talked to his friends and learned Long had other ‘spiritual sons.’”

Bernstein said the church is named in the suit because several other members were aware of the allegations and “protected” Long.

In June, DeKalb County police arrested two men, Anthony Boyd, 19, of Decatur, and Maurice Robinson, 20, and charged them with burglary, according to the police report obtained by the AJC.

A security camera at the church on Woodrow Road in Lithonia caught most of it on videotape.

Two men wearing dark hooded shirts, dark pants and white gloves were recorded using a key to enter the church during the night between June 13 and 14.

The men’s attorney B.J. Bernstein, said Robinson committed the burglary in retaliation after learning that Long was involved with other men, including Flagg, Bernstein said.

“He lashed out,” Bernstein said. “But if it weren’t for that act, we wouldn’t know about this. He talked to his friends and learned Long had other ‘spiritual sons.’”

Long was named 21 years ago as pastor of the  then 300-member church that would become New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

It has expanded beyond its Lithonia home and has satellite churches in other cities. The 240-acre Lithonia campus is like a small town; the church claims 25,000 members and promotes a myriad of ministries, such as the annual Hosea Feed the Hungry and help for the homeless and addicted.

This post was written by admin | September 22, 2010

Rev. Al Sharpton Announces New Nationally Syndicated T.V. Show on Education

The Rev. Al Sharpton has been quietly forming his own media company to launch a nationally syndicated Sunday-morning TV show that will focus on education, he told The Hollywood Reporter on Monday.  “Education Superhighway,” scheduled to premiere Sept. 26, consists of news and roundtable discussions primarily about education. Guests already lined up include Bill Gates, Newt Gingrich, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and president of the American Federation of Teachers Randi Weingarten.

The 30-minute show is already cleared in 150 markets, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The civil rights advocate will premiere it Thursday at the Congressional Black CaucusFoundation’s 40th Annual Legislative Conference.

Sharpton’s media company, ESH Holdings (named after the series’ initials) will produce the TV show as well as a planned print magazine.

Sharpton said that if there is anything controversial about his new show it will come from those who “want education to remain mediocre.”

“If Newt Gingrich and I could tour the country together … at the request of President Obama, and they are like oil and water … then that shows that this is one issue that all Americans should unite over,” Sharpton said. “Newt and I don’t agree on anything at all — not even that today is Monday — but we do agree that we have an education problem.”

This post was written by admin | September 20, 2010

REVIEW: Blaire Underwood Stars in THE EVENT – New T.V. Show Added to the NBC Fall Line-Up

The Event premieres on NBC today.  The Event is part of the barrage of new shows on the NBC fall line-up that stars Blair Underwood.  The first episode was premiered to a test audience in Houston, Texas, where we caught a sneak peek of the ‘The Event’ along with NBC’s other new drama ‘Undercovers.’   Blair Underwood was brilliant in The Event, fitting into a role as a U.S. President of Cuban decent named Eli Martinez.   Jason Ritter was also great playing the role of Sean Walker.  The all-star cast made it hard for The Event to do anything wrong.

From beginning to end, ‘The Event’ was non-stop action.  Literally bringing you into the middle of a plot that has you glued to the television trying to figure out why the characters environment is out of balance.  The inciting incident is revealed when a plane crashes towards the ground, setting the tone for the show that never lets up.  With a brisk pace similar to Fox drama “24,” The Event leaves the viewer wondering what the “THE EVENT” is that caused all of the mayhem that un-folds scene by scene.   The drama uses frequent flashbacks over a 13 month span to bring you up to speed on what happened before we get to a certain point.  I won’t spoil it for you, but the shows big event wasn’t completely revealed in episode 1, so I’m really curious to find out what exactly the characters of this drama are in conflict with.  To find out the scope and size of the big event, you will have to tune in to Episode 2.  Whatever it is, it’s something that C.I.A knows about and the president doesn’t.  The Event is a Cliff-hanger that could have you addicted to Monday nights in no time.

On the downside, you may not want to change your remote because missing just a few minutes of this show could have you searching for answers.  Creator of the drama Nick Wauters, never lets you catch your breath.  It will be interesting to see if the show can keep up with the pace it set in episode 1.  If it can’t, the viewer maybe in for a let-down, and NBC could find fans jumping off the thrill-ride if the storyline doesn’t have enough depth to sustain itself.  The Event premieres Mondays at 9/8c.

This post was written by admin | September 20, 2010

WATCH: Tyler Perry Releases Movie Trailer for Upcoming Film ‘For Colored Girls’

 

Critics have gone back and forth about Tyler Perry bringing his version of Ntokage Shange’s seminal work For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf to the big screen.  Perry’s loyal fan base continues to support the Producer who was made popular by his Gospel stage plays.  Now impacting Hollywood, Perry’s films have broad appeal but are often critiqued for having flat characters and story lines and low production values, is taking a stab at a play that is considered high art. Executive produced by Perry and Nzingha Stewart, For Colored Girls will be out in theaters in November.  It features heavy hitters like Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Washington, Loretta Devine, Anika Noni Rose, Thandie Newton, Kimberly Elise and Phylicia Rashad.  Janet Jackson and Macy Gray round out the cast.  Check out the official trailer below.

This post was written by admin | September 16, 2010

JAMES FORTUNE & KERRY DOUGLAS TAKE “I BELIEVE” to #1

Gospel music’s dynamic duo has done it again. Black Smoke Music Worldwide CEO, Kerry Douglas, and his superstar protégé, James Fortune, have racked another smash with “I Believe.” The inspirational ballad features James Fortune & FIYA, Shawn McLemore (who has made a full recovery from a recent stroke) and Zacardi Cortez. Douglas orchestrated Fortune’s 2009 breakthrough smash, “I Trust You,” that spent 29 weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Gospel Songs chart and Earnest Pugh’s recent #1, “Rain On Us.” Now, Douglas and his ace radio promoter, Tawanda Shamley, have pushed “I Believe” to #1 while also taking it to #41 on the Urban AC airplay chart.

“This is America’s song,” Douglas says of its success. “It’s #1 because America is going through hard times. People are out of work, people are sick, the economy is bad but we all want to believe that things will get better and this song reminds us that with God’s help, things will get better sooner than later. That’s why I keep saying this isn’t just a gospel song. This is a song for all of America.”

The song is available exclusively on the CD/DVD, Kerry Douglas Presents Gospel Mix Volume IV, Douglas’ hit up-and-coming artists compilation that introduced artists such as Earnest Pugh and James Fortune to the public. The package has just debuted at #4 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums sales chart. Six of the CD’s 17 songs are in rotation on the BDS Top 100 Gospel Playlist. The package also includes a 14-track DVD of live performances or concept videos of the various artists on the audio CD such as James Fortune, Keith “Wonderboy” Johnson, and The Brown Boyz. “We’re doing something no one else is doing,” says Douglas. “We’re not taking old hits and repackaging them. We’re taking new songs by new artists and making them today’s hits.”

 

 

This post was written by admin | September 10, 2010

MaLinda Sapp (Wife of singer Pastor Marvin Sapp) Looses Battle with Cancer: Funeral Services Announced

MaLinda Sapp, the wife of award winning Gospel music artist and Pastor Marvin Sapp, passed away last Thursday, September 9th, in their home in Detroit losing her battle with colon cancer at the age of 43.  Marvin had just landed in Houston to be part of Verizon’s “How Sweet the Gospel Celebration” when he received the news and immediately returned home. MaLinda Sapp was surrounded by family members when she passed.

Malinda battled stage 4 colon cancer in the past and appeared to be in the clear, until recently. She has been in hospice care for the last few weeks. Marvin opted to cancel most of his travel dates and committed to only being at his church on Sunday, so he could spend all his time with Malinda. 

MaLinda Sapp’s funeral services are set for Thursday, September 16th at noon at Resurrection Life Church, 5100 Ivanrest SW, in Grandville. Family hour will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Thursday, followed by “homegoing services” at 12 noon at the Resurrection Life Church in Grandville, Michigan.

A mother of three, MaLinda Sapp was an accomplished woman.  She was a licensed counselor, psychologist, psychology professor at Grand Rapids Community College, and manager of her husband’s gospel career. She was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. And in 2008, MaLinda was named principal of the future Ellington Academy of Arts and Technology, yet the school’s opening was delayed earlier this year.

Marvin Sapp, 43, is best known for his 2007 gospel-crossover hit, “Never Would Have Made It.” In fact, it was MaLinda who encouraged him to record the song and include it on the ‘Thirsty’ album following the death of his father.  His current CD “Here I Am,” was released in March. The song “The Best In Me” was No. 1 on Billboard’s gospel charts. Prior to Marvin’s successful solo career, he sang with the 1990s gospel group, Commissioned.  MaLinda was the booking manager for her husband and played part in the production process of his timeless music.

Marvin Sapp and his wife were childhood friends that met in elementary school and married 13 years ago.  Mrs. Sapp is survived by three children Marvin II, 16; Mikaila, 13; and Madisson, 11; as well as her mother, two sisters, two brothers, and several nieces and nephews.

CLICK to visit Marvin Sapps’ Facebook Page
CLICK to visit Marvin Sapps Twitter Page

This post was written by admin | September 9, 2010

Dorinda Clark-Cole Signs With Light Records

Dorinda Clark-Cole, (an intricate part of the legendary group The Clark Sisters), has signed with Light Records. Dorinda joins the growing imprint that features J.J. Hairston & Youthful Praise, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Pastor Shirley Caesar and the recently signed Ricky Dillard & New G.  Dorinda is also a dynamite preacher, and we’re excited to hear the first project that Dorinda releases under her new label.  No word yet on a release date of her forth-coming album.  

This post was written by admin | September 8, 2010

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