BeBe Axed from Oprah

According to the Associated Press, BeBe Winans has been uprooted from the Oprah Winfrey Show until the legal charges against him based on allegations of him attacking his ex-wife are resolved in court.

Winans did appear on her show last week to promote Still, his new album with sister CeCe, and was seen in promos for upcoming shows. A show focusing on a "karaoke challenge," bolstered by the debut of the video game Band Hero, was supposed to feature (BeBe) Winans, but will be cut from the show according to show spokesman Don Halcombe.

Amid growing concerns from bloggers about Oprah's harsh stance against domestic abuse, Oprah responded in a statement: "Domestic violence is something that I wouldn't tolerate. Period."

More growing concerns for Winans has sparked surrounding the rumors of his departure as a judge and co-host on BET's Sunday Best. At press time, BET has not confirmed such a report, but the rumors seem to be true, as reported earlier by Gospel Pundit. BeBe & CeCe Winans are still expected to go on tour to promote their new album.

[AXE TO THE ROOT]
BeBe Winans Leaving Sunday Best? [Gospel Pundit]

Oprah bans BeBe Winans from her show and I have a challenge for gospel music fans [Beliefnet]
Oprah Responds to Domestic Violence Double Standards, Bans BeBe Winans [The Boombox]

Tyler Perry Recounts Child Abuse

The famed producer behind the popular Madea movies, #1 box-office dramedies and stage plays opens up about the painful abuse he experienced as a child to his father. Tyler Perry, born Emmitt Perry, Jr., changed his name to distance himself from his father.

Perry recounted a few of those disturbing revelations on his web site's blog after realizing an upcoming movie he's working on conjured up some of the raw emotions from his past. "I'm tired of holding this in," Perry wrote on his site,"so I've decided to give some away."

One night when his mother was gone, Perry stated, his drunken father "got the vacuum cleaner extension cord and trapped me in a room and beat me until the skin was coming off my back."

Perry also wrote that his father, a construction worker, constantly used profane insults at him and belittled him until he turned 19.

Perry has since forgiving his father from his abuse. Attempts to reach his father for comment, according to CNN, were unsuccessful.

Not as publicized as the physical and verbal abuse, Perry also spoke about child molestation horrors he received from a neighborhood woman at the age of 10. He also spoke of a church-goer who molested him as a kid. The man died broke, according to Perry's statements, and Perry was asked by the family to help pay for the funeral. "I quickly said no, but I wish I would have said yes. There is something so powerful to me in burying the man that molested me," Perry wrote. "I would have dug the grave myself."

Precious, a movie about an illiterate, obese Harlem girl who is abused, hits theaters this fall. The movie, also starring Mariah Carey, will be produced by Perry along with talk show mogul and internationally-known philanthropist Oprah Winfrey.

[TALKIN' ABOUT IT]

Tyler Perry recounts childhood abuse on Web site [CNN]

'Madea' actor-director Tyler Perry reveals history of childhood abuse, molestation on Web site [NY Daily News.com]

Tyler Perry's Messages [Official Web site]

Obama Wins U.S. Election

It didn't take long after 8 o'clock on Tuesday evening for the majority of electoral votes to slide in Sen. Barack Obama's favor. The Democratic hopeful received the news that big states including Florida, Ohio, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and even battleground states like Colorado, North Carolina and California were awarded to him. As thousands including Rev. Jesse Jackson and Oprah Winfrey united in Chicago's Grant Park for a big victory celebration, the rest of the country - a projected 71.5 million people - watched and waited to see Obama claim the prize. CBS News announced a big lead of electoral votes (206-135) by 10 p.m. ET and the Associated Press went on to make the big announcement. The long brutal and historical campaign was finally over. Republican challenger Sen. John McCain went on to concede the race to a very gloomy and saddened crowd in Arizona and Sen. Barack Obama was announced to be the 44th president of the United States of America; making history globally for becoming the first black commander in chief of the U.S.

Popular blogger Rod McCullom of Rod 2.0 stated, "Barack Obama's victory crystallizes the American experience. The election of a man of color to the nation's highest office, only 44 years after Selma, is a transformational moment and demonstrates our nation is finally healing its deep racial wounds." To many African-Americans and minorities across the country, Obama's win was expressed with shouts of joy and loud chants of "Yes We Can" at viewing parties and prayer vigils.

On a different note, ChristianityToday.com, one of the leading publications for evangelicals, remain openly nervous about an Obama candidacy. There's no sign of victory or celebration on the conservative online publication. While a moving commentary from Deann Alford recites the emotional wounds of dramatic racism and legalized segregation, most of the posts have been careful and hesitant to celebrate a moment that many media journalists are bold enough to call a defining "historic" moment. Sarah Pulliam cited, "Evangelicals will have to learn to work with Barack Obama's administration, no matter how ecstatic or how disappointed they may be."

For popular black websites, superstar MySpace pages and gospel e-zines including GospelCity.com, Black Voices and our good friend Black Gospel Blog, the party remained vigorous and apparent. R&B crooner John Legend sings about the need for hope and change, provoked by Obama's successful campaign, on "If You're Out There;" found on his newly-released project Evolver. In gospel news surrounding President-Elect Obama, gospel legend Dorothy Norwood has recorded a studio reworking of her classic 1992 hit "Victory Is Mine" in tribute to Obama's inspirational path to the White House. The remake features background vocals from Ricky Dillard's New G. "Victory Is Mine (Obama Mix)" has been released and sent to radio and is expected to show up on her upcoming album Fifty Years - It's Been Worth It All; hitting shelves in the beginning of 2009.

[OBAMA: THE BIG WIN]
World is watching President Obama [BlackVoices.com]
President Elect: Barack Obama's Speech [GospelCity.com]
Barack Obama Elected President [Rod 2.0]

Dejected McCain supporters wary of Obama [CNN.com]

Obama adds symbolic victory to White House win [AP]