Who was Notorious B.I.G?

Born Christopher Wallace on May 21, 1972, Notorious B.I.G was an American Rapper who was known for his quick-witted lyrics, real-life lyrics and ability to tell even the most elaborate of stories through his rhymes. Notorious B.I.G who worked with now Rap mogul Puff Daddy, elevated hip hop with his natural ability to illustrate the struggles of a young African American male in an impoverished community. Although he was beloved by millions, Notorious B.I.G ultimately fell victim to the East Coast/West Coast rap feud that waged during the late 1990’s.

Notorious B.I.G was raised in Brooklyn, New York and released his debut album Ready to Die in 1994. The album, which reached multi-platinum status, is regarded as one of the best rap CD’s of all time. Notorious B.I.G, due to his popularity and aggressive rhymes, became a central figure in the East Coast hip-hop scene.

During the late 1990’s a feud developed between Biggie’s rap label, Bad Boy and the West Coast rap label, Death Row Records. The West Coast rap scene, which was led by Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg was similar to the harsh East Coast’s gangster credo that dominated rap music in this era. Notorious B.I.G and Tupac Shakur, who were once close friends, were at the forefront of this coastal feud. The two sides made their conflict public as Biggie and Tupac d routinely threatened one another in their respective songs. These threats were not taken lightly, when rap legend, Tupac Shakur was murdered in 1996. Although Biggie was never formally tried nor realistically linked to the death of Tupac, the murder gave way to an unfortunate string of events, which ultimately led to the slaying of Notorious B.I.G.

The Death of Notorious B.I.G:

Notorious B.I.G traveled to California in February of 1997 to promote his upcoming album Life After Death. On March 5, 1997 Smalls gave a radio interview with a local station and stated that he had feared for his safety because he was wrongly accused of being involved with the murder of West Coast legend, Tupac Shakur. The death of Tupac sent shockwaves to the rap community; the coastal feud became real.

On March 9, 1997, at roughly 12:30 a.m., Biggie Smells left with his entourage in two SUVs to return to his hotel after a party he attended had shut down due to overcrowding. Wallace, who was travelling in the front passenger seat of the truck, was joined by fellow rappers Lil’ cease and driver, Gregory Young. By 12:45 a.m, the streets were mobbed with people leaving the party. When Wallace’s SUV stopped at a red light, a black Chevy Impala pulled up alongside. The driver of the impala, an African American male, rolled down his window and fired at the SUV with a 9 mm blue-steel pistol. The SUV was riddled with bullets, four of which struck Notorious B.I.G in the chest. Wallace’s entourage rushed him to the Cedars Sinai Medical Center, but it was too late—Notorious B.I.G was pronounced dead at 1:15 a.m.

The Investigation Surrounding Notorious B.I.G’ Murder:

Notorious B.I.G’ murder remains unsolved, although there are many theories regarding the motives and identities of the murderers. Reports surfaced, immediately following the shooting, which linked the murders of Shakur and Wallace together—these ascertainments were primarily based off the similarities in the drive-by shootings and the feuds which surrounded the rappers.

Just recently, in January of 2011, the case was reinvigorated as a result of new information reported by various media outlets. 

A Summary of the Tom Cruise divorce

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman met in 1989, on the set of their 1990 movie Days of Thunder. For the actors it was love at first site; the two were married on Christmas Eve 1990 in Telluride, Colorado. Together the couple adopted a daughter and a son.

The Tom Cruise divorce was filed in February 2001, which ended the 10 year marriage between Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Speculation surrounding the Tom Cruise divorce suggests that the events leading up to the Tom Cruise divorce included various irreconcilable differences that ultimately stemmed from the couple’s frantic schedules as movie stars. Kidman, who was pregnant at the time of the divorce, unfortunately suffered a miscarriage of the couple’s only biological child. Kidman, in a 2006 interview, said the divorce was a shock to her and that she still loves Cruise, who during their marriage, was exceptionally loving and genuine.

The Terms and Conditions of the Tom Cruise divorce

Although the filing of an uncontested divorce was ideal with regard to the privacy of the celebrity couple, both Cruise and Nicole Kidman were required to adhere to both preexisting terms and conditions of California divorce law, as well as adhere to any subsequent petitions filed, which included the award of spousal support through alimony. The couple; however, filed for divorce shortly after their 10th anniversary, meaning the state of California did not regard, under California law, their marriage as “long term.” This classification would have been subject to the court’s rulings on such issues as financial support.

As a result of the success experienced by both actors throughout their careers, the couple did not engage in the signing of a prenuptial agreement. In addition, because of the financial success experienced by both Cruise and Kidman, neither party decided to deliver payments or assets as a result of the dissolution. The divorce, although shocking and emotional to Kidman, was fairly amicable in regards to the delivery of assets. Furthermore, because the couple did not have any biological children together, there was no need to classify or finalize any child support payments. That being said, custody of the adopted children was given to Kidman, although Cruise still maintains a strong position in the youth’s lives.

The Determination of Contest within the Tom Cruise divorce

In many cases, the celebrity status enjoyed by both Cruise and Nicole Kidman would be viewed as a gift and a privilege; however, in the case of the Tom Cruise divorce, the media coverage latent within the Tom Cruise divorce proceedings thrust the dissolution into the media spotlight.

In an attempt to maintain privacy with regard to not only the conditions of the Tom Cruise divorce settlement, but also with regard to the alleged reasons for the Tom Cruise divorce taking place, the respective legal teams belonging to Cruise and Nicole Kidman determined that the Tom Cruise divorce would be filed as uncontested in nature.

Details Regarding Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel:

Mega-stars Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel began dating in the early part of 2007. Timberlake, who is a pop-star and actor, met Jessica Biel at an event in California. The two stars were coming off highly-publicized break-ups; Timberlake split with actress Cameron Diaz and Biel ended a 5-year relationship with actor Chris Evans.

The relationship between Biel and Timberlake was of course publicized; when two megastars become romantically involved they attract paparazzi and various media outlets. Although the couple’s personal lives were throw into the public arena, they transcended the rumors of infidelity that so often sprout in gossip magazines. Seemingly every week, the couple was on the verge of breaking up. U.S. weekly perpetually reported sources close to Justin saying he’s been unhappy for the majority of time in the relationship; other publications claimed that the pop star was habitually cheating on Jessica with random girls. Other sources, such as People, claimed that Jessica was upset that the relationship never progressed and the couple never talked about tying the knot. Whatever the story was, it seemed like the media was out to dissolve the relationship between Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel.

The Break-up:

Although the couple dated for more than 4 years, the two stars admitted that they simply were not right for each other. As a result of the general unhappiness and the fact that both Biel and Timberlake had demanding careers, the couple decided to split-up in early March of 2011. Sources have claimed that the two decided to end their relationship with “no hard feelings.” Sources went on to claim that the couple proceeded with their breakup in a “completely mutual manner” and that it was “simply time to move on.” These same sources add that Jessica Biel is keeping her house in Los Angeles (the home that her and Timberlake shared together in an on and off again fashion) and that she and Justin will “remain close friends.”

Formal representatives for the couple released a statement on March 9th, confirming the breakup between Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel: “Addressing the media speculation regarding Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake’s relationship, we are confirming that they mutually have decided to part ways. The two remain friends and continue to hold the highest level of love and respect for each other.”

Overview of the John Stamos Divorce

In the spring of 1994, John Stamos met model Rebecca Romijn at a Victoria’s Secret fashion show. Two months following this encounter, the pair began dating. On September 19, 1998, the couple got married.

In the summer of 2004, former sitcom star and actor, John Stamos filed for divorce in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. The couple announced, in April of 2004, that they were separating after five years of marriage, at which point, the couple’s publicist said the parting was amicable and no third party was involved in the dissolution. The couple’s divorce was relatively smooth as a result of no children and successful careers for both individuals.

The Plea of ‘No Contest’ within the John Stamos Divorce:

An uncontested divorce is one in which both parties have reached a mutual agreement with regard to the reasons behind filing for divorce, as well as the placement of fault in conjunction to the breakdown of the marriage. In the case of the John Stamos Divorce, both John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn opted to file for a divorce uncontested – or unchallenged – in nature, which retained the classification of the reason for the John Stamos Divorce as a result, a bulk of celebrity couples undertaking divorce proceedings opt to either settle outside of court or file for divorce in an uncontested fashion in order to avoid potential media coverage and publicity.

The Terms of the John Stamos Divorce Settlement:

As previously stated, the divorce settlement in the John Stamos divorce was relatively simplistic; no finances were exchanged between the two parties and there were no children to divvy up custody rights. Additionally, whatever assets the couple shared together was mutually agreed upon in a private fashion.

A divorce settlement will typically include 3 primary facets with regard to the terms and conditions set forth by the presiding court official who was responsible for determining spousal support – in the form of alimony, child custody – and subsequent child support payments, and the division of assets. In the case of the John Stamos Divorce, John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn undertook a settlement with a ^. In the State of !, there exists a statute that recognizes joint assets accrued by a couple subsequent to marriage as ‘community property’; community property was split upon the finalization of the John Stamos Divorce – supplemental agreements with regard to the additional furnishing of assets or monies are typically kept private . However, subsequent to the ruling of the presiding judge, the following judicial review was set forth with regard to the terms of the John Stamos Divorce settlement/

A brief Summary of the Tiger Woods’ Divorce:

The Tiger Woods Divorce resulted in the dissolution of the marriage between Professional Golfer Tiger Woods and his wife Elin Nordegren, a Swedish model. The couple was wed on October 5th, 2004 – the Tiger Woods Divorce was finalized on August 23rd, 2010. The events that were reported to have not only comprised the Tiger Woods Divorce, but also served as a catalyst for the Tiger Woods Divorce included a multitude of extramarital affairs undertaken by Tiger Woods; the latest on Tiger Woods – with regard to what the media dubbed ‘The Tiger Woods Scandal’ – reveals that Woods has admitted to engaged in sexual activities with upwards of 20 women.

What led to the Tiger Woods Divorce Scandal?

Although reports of his alleged infidelity began to surface in 2009 (and even before that), Woods had never formally confessed to any extramarital affairs. The first report of infidelity came from the National Enquirer, and American tabloid, who mentioned of an alleged affair taking place in November of 2009 – the story ran on November 25th, 2009. The release of this story is credited as contributing to the eventual events of the Tiger Woods Divorce.

At the close of November of 2009, at approximately 2:30 am outside of their home in an Orlando suburb, Nordegren contacted emergency medical services, explaining that Woods had been involved in a car accident outside of their home; Nordegren had stated that Woods was injured and requested immediate medical attention

Upon the arrival of emergency medical technicians, the reports issued stated a bruised Woods who had been removed from his vehicle presumably by Nordegren; the rear windshield of the vehicle had been smashed with a golf club – upon his admittance to the hospital, Tiger Woods had refused to provide the police with an explanation for the accident. While rumors began to swirl, the accident report had stated that Woods’ vehicle had stuck a fire hydrant and had barreled onto his neighbor’s property.

The latest on Tiger Woods theories with regard to the car accident prior to the Tiger Woods Divorce range from a domestic incident in which Nordegren discovered Woods’ infidelity, by checking his telephone—the phone contained numerous messages from Woods’ mistresses. Following the realization that her husband had been committing infidelity, Nordegren may have assaulted Woods while he was driving under the alleged influence of prescription medication; none of these theories with regard to the Tiger Woods Divorce have even been substantiated however.

Following the car accident, Woods’ was cited with a traffic violation and removed him from entry in the remainder of golf tournaments for the year of 2009 in which he was expected to participate. Woods later admitted, in a public apology, that he had committed in numerous extramarital acts. Woods apologized for his egregious actions, asked for forgiveness and claimed he was focused on becoming a better person. Woods’ resumed his golf career in the middle of 2010; he has yet to win a tournament since news of the Tiger Woods divorce scandal broke.

The Settlement:

The terms and conditions of the divorce settlement were kept confidential. That being said, various reports have stated that Nordegren would stand to earn upwards of $100 million from alimony for the Tiger Woods Divorce Scandal; in addition, both Nordegren and Woods would undertake the joint custody of the couple’s 2 young children.

Who is Toni Braxton?

Born October 7, 1967 Toni Braxton is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Braxton has been extremely successful throughout her entertainment career; the Maryland native has won six Grammy Awards and has sold over 40 million records worldwide. This success; however, did not prevent Braxton from amassing exorbitant debts and filing for bankruptcy on multiple occasions.

Toni Braxton Files for Bankruptcy…Again:

Braxton’s second filing of bankruptcy came in October of 2010; the entertainment super star filed for bankruptcy citing millions of dollars in debt and other financial problems that were exacerbated by a heart condition. Toni Braxton formally filed for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which enables the star to auction or liquidate some or all of her assets. The proceeds obtained from selling or auctioning the assets are then used to pay-off her creditors. The mass-selling of the entertainer’s assets will likely result in proceeds ranging from $25-$50 million dollars. In addition to the debts accrued as a result of her lavish spending and her heart condition (the ailment forced her to cancel many shows, which in turn decreased her disposable income), Debra Grassgreen, Braxton’s lawyer, claimed in a statement, that the Chapter 7 filing will enable Braxton to pay-off all of her debts. The majority of Braxton’s debts was accumulated from back taxes and failed business ventures, which mostly revolved around defunct propert
y in the Atlanta area.

What kind of Bankruptcy did Toni Braxton file for?

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is a financial program that individuals or businesses enter when they face mounting debts or economic hardships. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is a fundamental aspect of the Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy code. The specific program, according to the Bankruptcy laws of the United States, governs the process of liquidation.

When an individual or business files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy they will go through a liquidation process (selling their assets for cash) to help pay off their accrued debts. The process, although undesirable, is an effective way to clear off debts and in essence, obtain a “fresh start.” Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is a unique and popular form of bankruptcy in which a debtor individual or business who faces insurmountable debts) liquidates their assets. The creditors aligned with their financial standing then collect the proceeds of the liquidation process. Following the liquidation process, the majority of the debts are discharged, offering a fresh start to the individual or entity filing for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.

Who was Vic Morrow?

Vic Morrow, born February 14, 1929, was an American actor, who was best known for his starring role in the 1960 television series Combat! In addition to this role, Morrow also held prominent roles in numerous other cinema and television dramas.

Morrow was born in the Bronx to a middle class family; at the age of 17 he dropped out of high school and joined the United States Navy. Morrow eventually married actress Barbara Turner; the couple had two daughters, one of which is actress Jennifer Jason Leigh. Morrow’s marriage to Turner lasted seven years, but ultimately ended divorce in 1964. Morrow did not remarry until a decade later, in 1975.

Morrow landed his first movie role in 1955, when he co-starred in Blackboard Jungle. Following his film debut, Morrow starred in a handful of television series, all of which garnered some form of success.

Vic Morrow Death:

In the early morning, on July 23, 1982, Morrow and two child-actresses (My-Ca Dinh Le (age 7) and Renee Shin-Yi Chen (age 6), were killed in an accident while filming on location for the Twilight Zone: The Movie in Ventura County, California—an area between Santa Clarita and Piru. Morrow was playing the role of Bill Connor, a racist man who is taken back in time to be persecuted based on various religious beliefs or racial differences, such as a Jewish Holocaust victim, an African American man who is about to be lynched by the Kl Klux Klan and a Vietnamese man who is cornered by American Soldiers. The two young girls were filming the Vietnam sequence in which their characters attempt to flee from a pursuing United States Army helicopter.

The helicopter used for the scene was hovering roughly 25 feet above the actors when various pyrotechnic explosions damaged the vehicle and caused it to crash on top of them, killing all three actors instantly. The tragedy was caused by a faulty explosion; the helicopter’s blades decapitated Morrow and one of the young girls.

Aftermath of the Vic Morrow Death:

As a result of the faulty explosion and the subsequent disaster that ensued, director John Landis and several other workers on the scene, including producer Steven Spielberg and pilot Dorsey Wingo, were investigated and tried for their role in the Vic Morrow death. After a brief investigation for involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment, the defendants were ultimately acquitted and the Vic Morrow death was ruled an accidental tragedy. The parents of both Le and Chen; however, sued the production company for an undisclosed amount—the suit was settled out of court. Later on, Morrow’s children also sued and settled for an undisclosed amount.

Overview of the Mike Tyson Divorce:

Born on June 30 of 1966, Mike Tyson is an American boxer and former Heavyweight Champion of the World. Tyson, who holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBA, WBC and IBF World heavyweight titles, is regarded for his intimidating and ferocious boxing style as well as his controversial behavior both in and outside of the ring. Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, when Tyson was at the peak of his boxing glory, the champion was in and out of legal trouble and addicted to various drugs, most notably cocaine. The fame and fortune, which Tyson earned at a young age, ultimately fueled a downward spiral that the champion would never recover from—in terms of boxing.

Mike Tyson has been legally married three times and has fathered eight children with several different women. Tyson’s first marriage occurred in February of 1988, when he wed actress Robin Givens. This marriage was exceptionally tumultuous and publicly criticized, due to allegations of spousal abuse, mental instability and violence. During the marriage, the couple lived in a mansion in Bernardsville, New Jersey; although the couple enjoyed money, Givens described the marriage as a “living hell.” As a result of the criminal allegations attached to Tyson and his manic depressive state, Givens filed for divorce just months after the two tied the knot.

The Mike Tyson Divorce marked the dissolution of the marriage between Tyson and Givens; the Mike Tyson Divorce was finalized in October of 1988, which ended the 8 month marriage between the boxer and actress.

The Plea of ‘No Contest’ within the Mike Tyson Divorce:

An uncontested divorce filing occurs when both parties reach a mutual agreement concerning the reasons for initiating a divorce. Put simply, a no contest divorce views the marriage as irrecoverably broken. In the case of the Mike Tyson Divorce, both Mike Tyson and Robin Givens opted for this filing as to avoid significant media coverage.

The Terms of the Mike Tyson Divorce Settlement:

Traditional divorce filings typically include 3 facets concerning the terms and conditions set forth by the presiding court: spousal support (alimony and/or child custody) child support payments and the division of assets. Because Tyson and Givens did not birth any children, there were no child support or custody issues to deal with. That being said, the divorce was exceptionally difficult for Tyson. As a result of the allegations and stories of physical abuse, Tyson was required to pay givens over $8 million dollars in spousal support. In addition to the financial blow, Tyson was emotionally crippled following the dissolution; many boxing experts have claimed that Tyson’s style and career was never the same following the divorce to Robin Givens.

Elizabeth Berkley

Elizabeth Berkley is an actress best known for her role on the sitcom "Saved By The Bell." In 2002, she was the subject of a lawsuit filed against the actor Leonardo DiCaprio by her then boyfriend, actor and singer Roger Wilson.

The lawsuit dated to an incident which took place in 1998 at a post-premiere party for the DiCaprio film "The Man In The Iron Mask." Roger Wilson attended this party with his then-girlfriend Elizabeth Berkley. Also in attendance were DiCaprio and a group of friends. At this party, DiCaprio's publicist Karen Tenzer allegedly spoke to Elizabeth Berkley on behalf of DiCaprio and asked her to leave Wilson and join DiCaprio and his friends. Elizabeth Berkley declined, saying she was committed to her boyfriend.

According to Wilson, the following day Elizabeth Berkley received multiple voicemails from Karen Tenzer asking her to join DiCaprio and his friends for dinner that evening. Elizabeth Berkley again declined, leading to a voicemail from Karen Tenzer left on the evening of March 3, 1998. Roger Wilson then called Tenzer and asked her to stop contacting Elizabeth Berkley. However, during the course of the phone call, DiCaprio's friend Jay Ferguson allegedly yelled at Wilson over the phone that he was interfering with DiCaprio and his friends, who were entitled to do as they wanted. He furthermore allegedly told Wilson that if he wanted to settle the matter, he should meet DiCaprio and his friends at the Manhattan establishment Asia De Cuba.

According to Wilson, when he arrived at Asia De Cuba, Jay Ferguson was intoxicated and profanely informed him that he was the person who he had spoken to. The basis for Wilson's lawsuit was based on the claim that DiCaprio then said the words "We'll go kick his ass," an incitement to violence. After Wilson went outside, he was followed by DiCaprio and his friends and allegedly assaulted by DiCaprio's friend Todd Healy, who proceeded to choke him.

In his lawsuit, Roger Wilson sought damages of $45 million related to damage to his larynx and claimed that DiCaprio bore responsibility for the incident, since he had incited it with his words. As part of his lawsuit, he included photographs of the damage done to his larynx. He sought $15 million in compensatory damages related to his inability to continue acting or musical work because of the damage to his vocal cords and $30 million in punitive damages. In November of 2002, his lawsuit was allowed to proceed by New York State Supreme Court Justice Paula Omansky.

In September of 2004, Omansky dismissed the case against DiCaprio. In her ruling, Omansky said that according to the evidence presented by DiCaprio's lawyers, it could not be proven that Todd Healy had heard DiCaprio's words. Therefore, any action Healy took against Wilson was not the actor's responsibility. Her ruling allowed Wilson to proceed with a separate lawsuit against Healy if he wished. 

Who is John Edwards?

Born on June 10, 1953 John Edwards is an American politician who served as a United States Senator from the state of North Carolina. Edwards was the Democratic nominee for Vice President in the 2004 Presidential election; additionally, Edwards was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008. When John Edwards and John Kerry lost the Presidential election to elected President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, Edwards began working as a full-time employee at the One American Committee—a political action organization he started in 2001.

While attending the University of North Carolina, Edwards met Elizabeth Anania. The couple married in 1977 and had four children together. On November 3, 2004 Elizabeth revealed that she had been diagnosed with a malignant form of breast cancer; she was treated via radiotherapy and chemotherapy and maintained her position within the Democratic Party.

John Edwards: A Cheater:

The couple announced, during Edwards’ campaign for Democratic nomination, that Elizabeth’s breast cancer had reached incurable levels. While battling with this tragedy, allegations began to swirl that Edwards had a child out of wedlock, with his supposed mistress, Riselle Hunter. Although Edwards vehemently denied these allegations, the former Senator admitted to infidelity and the birth of the child on January 21, 2010. Shocked by this admission, Elizabeth immediately separated from Edwards and intended to file for divorce following a mandatory one-year waiting period. During this waiting period, Elizabeth unfortunately fell victim to her tenacious disease. Elizabeth Edwards passed away from metastatic breast cancer on December 7, 2010.

The rumors concerning Edwards’ extramarital affairs were first reported by The National Enquirer—a popular tabloid in the United States. The tabloid reported that Edwards had been seeing former campaign worker, Rielle Hunter around the beginning of 2007. By the summer of 2008, several media outlets speculated Edwards’ chances for office were damaged by these allegations, which now included that he fathered a child with Hunter and had visited them at a Beverly Hills Hotel.

Edwards first admitted to having an affair during an interview with Bob Woodruff of ABC news on August 8, 2008. During this interview, Edwards admitted that the affair took place in 2006, but denied being the father of her child. Over time, evidence, such as voice mails and even sex tapes, surfaced that offered inconclusive evidence that Edwards is indeed the father of the child. Additionally, this evidence revealed that Edwards had attempted to cover-up the entire situation to make sure the affair did not impede with his political career.