Hollywood Shuffle: Wesley’s Tax Troubles, Viv Denies Sex Vid

Welcome to another edition of The Hollywood Shuffle, discussing all things movies, television, celebrity and just plain Hollywood. Sometimes reporting celebrity news is like beating a dead horse, but for some reason the dead horse keeps coming back for more! This week we’ve got more on Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds, more on Wesley Snipes and his ongoing tax woes, and more on Vivica Fox on the sex tape she says doesn’t exist. Tyler Perry accused of taking steroids Seems like everyone is taking part in the Barry Bonds workout plan these days. As all the Hip-Hop headlines have said in the past week, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Wyclef and Timbaland have all been accused of using steroids. But now Albany, New York’s The Times Union newspaper alleges that super movie director/producer/writer Tyler Perry has also been pumping the juice as well. This seems like a stretch to me. Next we gonna be reading that Gary Coleman and Jermaine Dupri are on roids as well.   Wesley Snipes accused of swindling $11 million in false tax refundsWesley Snipes can’t get a break. Not only has his movie career hit rock bottom, but now he’s back in court facing charges of $11 million in false tax refunds. You think you cheated a bit on your taxes? Wesley can teach you a thing or two. How does one even file $11 million in refunds to begin with? We will find out when Blade goes to court.       DEA Agents sue filmmakers of American Gangster A group of retired federal drug enforcement agents have sued NBC Universal, the studio that created American Gangster, saying the movie falsely portrayed them as villains in the storyline. The suit is for $55 million and claims that the movie defamed hundreds of DEA agents by claiming that Frank Lucas’ collaboration with prosecutors “led to the convictions of three-quarters of New York City’s Drug Enforcement Agency.” According to the lawsuit, no DEA agents were ever convicted as a result of tips provided by Lucas. Universal’s response is that American Gangster has always been “fictionalized work.” That makes sense…because I never would have believed that Common was T.I.’s dad in that movie. Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds’ marriage lasts two weeks Just last week we mentioned how the marriage of Donkey and Tracey Edmonds was not legit, and now this week they go and break up already. In a joint statement they say, “After much consideration and discussion, we have jointly decided that we will forego having a legal ceremony as it is not necessary to define our relationship further. While the recent symbolic union in Bora Bora was representative of our deep love, friendship and respect that we have for one another on a spiritual level, we have decided to remain friends.” Hmmm seems a little shady to me. Anyone with any ideas as to why they split? Rumors has it, trouble started brewing after Edmonds refused to take Murphy’s last name. Vivica A. Fox denies sex tape…sort of In response to her alleged sex tape circulating around the net, Vivica released the following statement: “As a 43-year-old woman, I would never allow a man to put me in that position. If you see me having a love scene, it’s going to be choreographed in a movie, and be fabulous.” So what “position” is Vivica talking about exactly? So if she was in a different “position” than she would do a sex tape? I won’t go there…so tempted…but won’t go there. Will Smith talks I Am Legend alternate ending In a recent interview, Will Smith talked about the alternate ending to I Am Legend which will be available on the DVD and is “less commercial” than the ending we all saw in theaters. Early indications are the alternate ending is more consistent with the original screenplay and book ending in which Robert Neville and the two survivors are lured out by “the infected” and killed…and thus the end of humanity. That ending sounds much better than the “Happy Hollywood” one in theaters. Mos Def’s next film Next Day Air from the creators of Friday Mos Def is racking up quite the movie studio resume these days. The Italian Job, 16 Blocks, The Hitchhiker’s Guide….and Hollywood is already talking about his hilarious performance in the upcoming New Line film Be Kind Rewind. But Mos’ next project will take him back to his Hip-Hop roots in the urban comedy Next Day Air, which is produced by the same guys who did Friday and directed by famed Hip-Hop video director Benny Boom. This will be Benny’s feature film directorial debut. Next Day Air also co-stars Donald Faison, Mike Epps and my wife Lauren London. Scott Yeti is Content Editor of WoooHah.com, the latest in Hollywood’s Hip-Hop trends, style and more