UPDATE: B2K MOLESTATION SCANDAL

My vision for The New Urban was to create an "infotainment" outlet that doesn't simply recycle the same stale daily news regurgitated by hundreds of other urban blogs, but rather present our audience with thoughtful, editorial exclusives -- exclusives that might spark a larger community dialogue. That's what we at TNU intend, and that's what we'll do.

Following TNU's exclusive coverage of last week's B2K Scandal, I've received emails from journalists, B2K fans and individuals close to the matter, some supporting our effort and others wondering how we got so close to the action -- how TNU got the info first. Much of what Ricky told us, he later reiterated in a WPGC 95.5FM interview, and Demario "Raz B" Thornton even sent us a thank you note for our piece.

One regret I have is that I passed along my tip and contact to a trusted colleague at another popular urban blog, because TNU had yet to launch, and I wanted Ricky and DeMario's riveting story to get out as soon as possible. But considering that blog's offensive and unprofessional interview practices and coverage of the matter, that's a mistake I'll never make again.

Yes, kids, there will be many more lessons learned for TNU, I'm sure. I'm not a gossip columnist by trade, nor are my sources. We're professionals in the entertainment industry who come in contact with the celebs we plan to report on as colleagues, friends and, in some instances, fans. We're sharing with you not what we've heard, but what we know.

* B2K SCANDAL UPDATE *


TNU has learned that there have been several personal, highly emotional conversations between the main parties involved in the B2K scandal, and Chris Stokes will not be filing any "lawsuits" as threatened. A publicist friend of mine says that Chris Stokes's TUG camp had planned to "wag the dog" with what we in the industry call a "vanity lawsuit" -- a suit measured for the sole purpose of swaying public perception. She says that at this point, however, such tactics are no longer in Stokes's best interest. The Raz B recant video backfired and might have ruined Stokes's shot at even perfunctory legal recourse. I'm also told that the scandalous eruptions of last week empowered more people than they've hurt. According to another source, more young men -and- women have threatened to come forward, and whether their stories are founded or simply attempts to take advantage of a volatile situation, they could spell a public relations catastrophe for TUG.

Remember, this volcanic blow up is nearly fifteen years in the making, and it's largely a family affair. Cousins, aunts, brothers, sisters, all entangled in the treacherous business we call show. And there's not much difference between the families living in Hollywood's Hills and those of us peeking through their pristine gates. From the comments and emails many of you sent, sharing stories of abuse much like Raz and Ricky's, it's clear that when it comes to celeb life, all that glitters is simply all we're sold.

Stay tuned... Stay urban...