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Showbiz Tonight
Rihanna`s Big Mistake?; Whitney Houston`s Fortune; And the Oscar Goes to the Dogs; Mariah Carey on Her Supposed Feud with Whitney
Aired February 21, 2012 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, SHOWBIZ HOST: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - - Rihanna`s big mistake? The epic outrage today after the release of Rihanna`s bold new song with Chris Brown three years after he assaulted her.
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Tonight, the fired-up debate over Rihanna and Chris Brown`s shocking musical reunion. Is she sending a terrible message?
Tonight, Whitney`s fortune. Brand-new revelations today about Whitney Houston`s multimillion dollar fortune. Could it mean big trouble for her daughter Bobbi Kristina? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT uncovers the stunning details inside the tens of millions of dollars Whitney may have left behind.
And the Oscar goes to the dogs. It`s the Oscar showdown that has got Hollywood tongues wagging. Uggie, from "The Artist" versus Cosmo from "Beginners." Who will be named best in show at the biggest show in Hollywood?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello and thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with big news breaking tonight -- Rihanna`s big mistake?
The best way to describe the reaction today to the release of songs that Rihanna collaborated on with Chris Brown is absolute shock, shock that Rihanna would team up once again with the guy who brutally beat her up.
Shock that Rihanna apparently thinks there`s nothing wrong with that. What could she possibly be thinking?
Well, "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star, Taylor Armstrong can help us understand that. Taylor who is with us from Hollywood tonight, has just released her bestselling book about her long-term abusive relationship with her late husband, Russell, is called "Hiding From Reality: My Story of Love, Loss and Finding the Courage Within."
Our SHOWBIZ exclusive newsmaker with Taylor Armstrong in just a moment. But first, the late-breaking developments tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
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(voice-over) Actually, despite what Rihanna says in her song, "Birthday Cake," it is her birthday. She turned 24 this week. And today, the singing superstar is giving herself a unique present, a red-hot controversy.
Rihanna is getting criticized and defended today for doing the unthinkable -- collaborating with her abusive ex-boyfriend, Chris Brown, on not one, but two song remixes that were released on her birthday.
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HAMMER: In the first remix, Brown sings a steamy verse to Rihanna`s song, "Birthday cake."
ERIN CARLSON, "THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER": One of the lyrics is -- I don`t even think I can say it.
HAMMER: That`s OK. We will. Let`s just say it doesn`t seem Chris Brown is singing about dessert.
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And Rihanna returns the favor singing a verse on a Chris Brown song, "Turn Up the Music."
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Rihanna, working with the man who did this to her just three years ago, an attack she described in vivid detail to ABC`s Diane Sawyer.
RIHANNA, SINGER: I was battered. I was bleeding. I was swollen in my face.
HAMMER: Now, Rihanna has gone from Chris Brown`s victim to his collaborator. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, that has many fans asking, is Rihanna making a big mistake?
CARLSON: The number one reaction across Twitter and Facebook was "ugh" and "why?"
HAMMER: You have to admit, Rihanna`s working with Chris Brown isn`t too much of a surprise. Ever since that 2009 beating for which Brown pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years probation, there have been signs these two are friendly.
CARLSON: They`ve been tweeting, sending words of encouragement to each other. He tweeted her happy birthday, and then she tweeted back, thanks.
HAMMER: Plus, "Us Magazine" recently ran a story saying the two have been secretly hooking up for the past year. Chris Brown, who has a girlfriend, denied that. But listen to the steamy lyrics that we hear in their new remixes.
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HAMMER: It`s kind of hard to believe these two exes are really exes.
CARLSON: It also makes you wonder what is going on behind the scenes.
HAMMER: And now, some are blasting Rihanna for working with the man who abused her. One tweeted, quote, "Rihanna has proven with this "Birthday Cake" remix her lack of self-respect. Remember when she said not to go back to your abuser? Hypocrite."
Another tweeted, quote, "I think it sends a bad message to girls everywhere." And Chris Brown`s not likely to escape criticism either.
MIRANDA LAMBERT, COUNTRY SUPERSTAR: I`ve been in a world of hurt with the Chris Brown thing.
HAMMER: He`s already in the crosshairs of country superstar singer, Miranda Lambert, who is livid that Chris Brown performed twice at the Grammys this month.
At a concert last week, Lambert held up a sign saying, "Take notes, Chris Brown." Then she sang "Gunpowder and Lead," a song about a woman preparing to shoot her abusive husband.
LAMBERT: Where I come from, beating up on a woman is never OK.
HAMMER: But there are plenty of fans supporting the new Chris Brown- Rihanna collaboration. One tweeted, quote, "Come on, guys. I love you guys together. Get back together if you really love each other. (EXPLETIVE DELETED) these haters."
CARLSON: The fans continue to stand behind him.
HAMMER: So whether they`re dating or just friendly, professional collaborators, it`s clear Rihanna and Chris Brown are making controversial music together.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: As we`ve said, Rihanna and Chris Brown`s collaboration really has provoked such an explosive reaction today, so many people worried about what kind of message this sends to people, who like Rihanna, have suffered from domestic violence.
Joining me from Hollywood for a SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview, someone who knows all too well about this topic, "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star, Taylor Armstrong.
Taylor has written this new book, "Hiding From Reality," where she tells all about what she has described as her abusive marriage to her husband, Russell Armstrong, who killed himself last year. Taylor, it`s nice to see you. I appreciate you being here tonight.
TAYLOR ARMSTRONG, REALITY TV STAR, "THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS": Thanks for having me.
HAMMER: Well, let`s talk about this. Rihanna is working with her abuser now, and this is just three years after he put her in the hospital.
You have spoken extensively about your own history with domestic violence. Were you surprised to learn what Rihanna was doing?
TAYLOR: Sure, absolutely, I was surprised. I would say though we don`t know what kind of treatment these two have undergone since then.
I do believe that you can have a healthy relationship with someone years after. I mean, Russell and I were working hard to co-parent in a healthy way and to develop a friendship.
We weren`t safe being married to each other. We weren`t safe living in the same household. But could we have gone on to have a co-parenting relationship and a friendly relationship? Absolutely.
So I don`t know what their relationship is now, but as long as they`re keeping one another safe and at a good distance, if they`ve had the appropriate treatment, then I think that they could collaborate on a project without it being dangerous.
But I would like to also see them go out there and speak out to young people.
HAMMER: Yes.
ARMSTRONG: They have an enormous number of fans and they could make such a huge impact if they went out and just really start talking about this. We have to make domestic violence a conversation out in the public, take the shroud off it. Get it out into the light.
I get letters from women all over the world every day that are hiding their abuse, that feel like they can`t come out about it. And so to see these two superstars come out and just talk about it openly would be really powerful.
HAMMER: Sure, and look, Rihanna has spoken about it before. But I would love to see even Chris Brown coming out or the two of them together. But I would like to see Chris coming out saying, "This is what I did. This is why I`ve learned that it happens, and this is what I`m doing to assure that it will never happen again."
But I want to talk a little bit more about how your experience could possibly relate to what Rihanna may be dealing with right now because you wrote in your book how hard it was for you to move on from what you called your abusive marriage.
Let me read one thing you wrote in this book. You said, "In some ways, I miss the abuse. I miss the pain, I miss being scared, not because I liked feeling any of that, but because it was the life I had become accustomed to and without anyone to be afraid of, to apologize to, and to cover for, I felt completely lost."
Now, despite the new songs and the recent reports, we don`t actually know that Rihanna is going back to Chris in any kind of an emotional way or physical way, but it sounds like you certainly would understand why she might let him back into her life.
ARMSTRONG: Absolutely. I mean, the cycle of violence and abuse, and I`m not saying they`re in it, but for me and for all the other women out there that I know are in it, and men, it is so hard to leave.
And it`s unfathomable to healthy people. But let me just explain it a little bit like this. When you`re in a relationship with someone that`s volatile and then have these calm moments as well, it`s like this lightning bolt love.
It`s this extreme passion, extreme highs, extreme lows. And if you`re someone who can get into that because you have low self-esteem, you have, you know, pieces missing and you`re broken yourself.
And the whole thing -- it blends together in this really fireworks love addiction kind of way, and it becomes an addiction. And it is really hard to get out. And once you`re out, you look back and think, how did I ever get in this?
HAMMER: Yes. And what`s heartbreaking here, though, is Rihanna had even talked about the fact that she said she tried to reconcile with Chris Brown at a point but then she thought about the message that it would send to her young fans.
And now, here she is working with him all these years later, are you worried about the message that that sends to her young fans?
ARMSTRONG: Of course. I`m always concerned about any type of role modeling that we could do with young people that`s in an unhealthy way.
But I think that they have a real opportunity here to make a huge impact in a domestic violence world. And I think they`re going to do the right thing.
HAMMER: Yes. You don`t always ask to be role models, but sometimes, it is a responsibility you should try to embrace, and we`ll see. We`ll see if anything comes of it here. Taylor, I appreciate you being here and sharing your insight. Taylor Armstrong, thanks.
Well, Rihanna may have forgiven Chris Brown, but are his fans ready to do the same? Tonight, Chris Brown is slamming his critics just after Rihanna releases their song together.
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Yes. The SHOWBIZ TONIGHT great debate, Rihanna can forgive Chris, should the rest of the world forgive him, too? Think about that.
Inside Whitney Houston`s fortune. Brand-new revelations about the millions that Whitney may have left behind. I`ve got to wonder could it actually spell big trouble for Bobbi Kristina?
And the Oscars go to the dogs. "The Artist`s" Uggie can outshine his canine competitors at the Oscars.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN DUJARDIN, ACTOR: When I have sausages in my pocket, it`s better.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He wouldn`t get out of his trailer unless you brought him lots of sausages. And then, even then, he wanted crystal champagne.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oh, what a diva. Who will be the best in show at the Oscars? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And this is the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -- here come more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Beyonce and Jay-Z make first post-baby outing at New York Knicks game! Mariah Carey debuts new PSA she co-directed for the American Heart Association
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIAH CAREY, SINGER: If you do nothing, do something. If you do something, do more. Find healthy living solutions from the American Heart Association. My heart, my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And tonight, the Oscar goes to the dogs. Yes, forget George Clooney versus Brad Pitt for just a moment, if you will.
Hollywood`s biggest pups will be going paw to paw at the Oscars this Sunday. It`s a showdown of Great Dane proportions. So who will be Hollywood`s best in show at Hollywood`s biggest show of the year?
Well, I will be right there at the Oscars on Sunday along with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter. And tonight, Kareen unleashes this Oscar canine face-off.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT: Like many stars in Oscar- nominated films, this one arrives via limo, travels with an entourage and attracts a crowd. Hollywood`s top dog these days, Uggie.
The 10-year-old Jack Russell Terrier is a scene-stealer of 10-time Oscar- nominated film, "The Artist." The cast of "The Artist" revealed there`s a crucial secret to working with Uggie.
JEAN DUJARDIN, ACTOR: When I have sausages in my pocket, it`s better.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He wouldn`t come out of his trailer unless you brought him lots of sausages. And then, even then, he wanted crystal champagne. It had to be chilled to a certain temperature.
WYNTER: As the success of "The Artist" transformed Uggie into a demanding super-celebrity, his co-stars think so.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He wanted a trailer and he wanted a trailer with a fire hydrant, which is really hard to find.
WYNTER: Even his owner acknowledges all the attention may be causing Uggie to misbehave at home.
(on camera) Has fame really changed him? It seems like it. It got into his head.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This morning he was eating the cat food and he knows that he`s not supposed to do it. And I said, "Uggie" and he looked at me like, "Hey, I can eat whatever I want."
WYNTER: How long did it take you to get ready?
(voice-over) There`s no mistaking Uggie`s star quality, but he`s not the only dog getting praise for a performance in an Oscar-nominated film this season. Oscar-nominee Christopher Plummer is passionate about his co-star, Cosmo, in "Beginners."
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER, ACTOR: I loved him. He was a very human dog as opposed to Uggie, who is a trick dog.
WYNTER: And the Oscar-nominated director of "Hugo," the dog in his film, Blackie, has been unfairly upstaged by Uggie.
MARTIN SCORSESE, FILM DIRECTOR: It`s just that I feel that, you know, because of maybe the character that`s lacking --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, because he was aggressive.
SCORSESE: Yes, he was aggressive.
WYNTER: Dogs don`t qualify for actual Oscars, but at the recent Golden Collar Awards, which honors Hollywood`s trick dogs, reality TV dogs, sitcom dogs and film dogs, there were six category winners, but no question who won the overall dog fight.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the Golden Collar goes to --
WYNTER: Uggie, of course.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Yes, it`s my buddy right there. Now, Uggie and Cosmo, of course, are not the only ones facing some heavy duty competition on Sunday. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Kareen Wynter joins me now. And Kareen, you spoke with "The Help" star, the great Viola Davis.
WYNTER: Yes, I sure did. Viola -- boy, is she on a winning streak, A.J., and she`s facing off in the best actress category against none other than Meryl Streep. But Viola tells me she can take Meryl any day.
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VIOLA DAVIS, ACTRESS: Although I can whoop Meryl Streep`s behind in a good old fashioned street fight.
WYNTER: Oh, my.
DAVID: Now, as far as the Oscars, I don`t know about that.
WYNTER: Meryl`s a pretty tough cookie.
DAVIS: She is.
WYNTER: I saw her in "The Iron Lady."
DAVIS: She is. She`s tough. Well, you saw her in "Doubt," too. You know what? I`m honored to be in her company, just truly honored.
I feel like I`ve been thrown in a den of wolves with all of them, Glenn Close and Michelle Williams and Rooney Mara.
WYNTER: You`re all so great.
DAVIS: How can I say? What can I say? I mean, we were hyped in Mississippi, the only thing I thought was, "Oh, my god, everyone wants Oprah to play Abilene." They already have an idea of who Abilene is. You know, how can I just -- how can I live up to those expectations?
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WYNTER: Viola is just terrific, A.J. I think she did more than just live up to those expectations.
HAMMER: Yes, she was amazing in "The Help." It`s going to be quite the showdown between Viola and, of course, all the best actress nominees on Sunday.
And, of course, Kareen, you`re going to be right there with me on the red carpet at the Oscars along with Nischelle Turner covering the Oscars like no one else. It`s SHOWBIZ road to gold.
Our live red carpet coverage gets underway 6:30 p.m. Eastern Sunday on CNN. You do not want to miss it. Tyler Perry takes on the ladies of "The View" after casting Kim Kardashian in a movie about marriage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROSS TALK)
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": The new movie called "The Marriage Counselor." And Kim Kardashian -- I hope she`s not playing the title role.
TYLER PERRY, PRODUCER: No, she`s not. No, she`s not playing the lead role.
BEHAR: You got some backlash for that?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And more Chris Brown controversy tonight. Rihanna`s forgiven Chris, so should his critics forgive him, too? We`ve got that great debate coming up. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Time now for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Duchess Catherine Middleton reveals her new puppy`s name: Lupo! Zac Efron and Taylor Swift deny they are dating.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAYLOR SWIFT, SINGER: We are not a couple. He`s awesome. We`re not a couple, though. You hear couple -- like, you know, people get together when they`re shooting movies as co-stars, but not like animated movie co- stars.
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": No, I know.
SWIFT: You know what I`m saying? Oh, my god. As we were recording our voiceovers on separate coasts, we really connected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Charlie Sheen`s big apology to Ashton Kutcher. Charlie just made a dramatic apology after slamming Ashton on "Two and a Half Men."
Also, Roberta Flack`s emotional revelations to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT about Whitney Houston`s mom and her sorrow.
Plus, Lindsay Lohan`s new role -- Elizabeth Taylor? It`s all making big news in "The Buzz Today."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) Lilo as Liz? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has just learned that Lindsay Lohan is in talks to play Elizabeth Taylor. The "Mean Girls" star is negotiating with Lifetime for the lead in the TV movie that will showcase Hollywood`s golden age.
One catch -- the contract could include a clause that says Lindsay has to stay out of trouble with the law. The casting comes on the homestretch of Lindsay`s community service and probation.
Roberta`s sorrow for Cissy. Legendary R & B singer Roberta Flack just stopped by SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and revealed to us just how painful it was to be a guest at Whitney Houston`s funeral.
Roberta, who is a longtime friend of Whitney`s mother, Cissy, opened up about the emotional moment when Whitney`s casket was taken out of the church.
ROBERTA FLACK, SINGER: When Cissy came out of the church behind Whitney`s casket, I was standing right at the door. And she looked at me and I grabbed her face and kissed her.
And she just broke down, and of course, so did I. When she came out of the church behind the casket, she was screaming for Whitney, "My baby, my baby, my baby," which Whitney will always be, you know, no matter what the circumstances.
Sorry Charlie. Charlie Sheen has just apologized to Ashton Kutcher for saying he sucks on "Two and a Half Men." Sheen lashed out at Ashton on TMZ live last week tearing into him and his former "Two and a Half Men" writers.
Well, Charlie must feel terrible, because he just wrote an open apology to Ashton. And in the letter, Charlie says, "Dear Ashton, my bad. I was disrespectful to a man doing his best. I got excited and I threw you into the crossfire."
"But the rest of my statement I stand behind. You, however, deserve better. Safety in your travels, good sir."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
Time now for the SHOWBIZ lineup -- here is what is coming up at the bottom of the hour right here on SHOWBIZ tonight.
Whitney Houston`s shocking fortune bombshell. Tonight, Whitney might have left behind millions of dollars. But think about it -- could it actually spell big trouble for Bobbi Kristina?
And do you remember the so-called feud between Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston? Everybody talked about it for years.
They don`t like each other. They hate each other. Well, tonight, Mariah finally sets the record straight about that in a touching tribute to Whitney. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Now time for the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Nick Jonas splits with Australian pop star girlfriend, Delta Goodrem. Halle Berry`s fiance, Olivier Martinez, to open restaurant in Miami next month.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT -- Rihanna`s big mistake? Chris Brown and his former girlfriend, Rihanna, reuniting for a brand-new remix.
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The explosive debate over their shocking reunion three years after he beat her.
Plus, Whitney`s fortune. Whitney Houston`s teenage daughter set to inherit her fortune. Tonight, why that huge windfall could actually be a very bad thing for Whitney`s daughter, Bobbi Kristina.
And the brand-new Kardashian controversy --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: You have a movie called "The Marriage Counselor."
PERRY: Yes. Yes.
BEHAR: And Kim Kardashian is -- I hope she`s not playing the title role.
PERRY: No, she`s not playing -- she`s not playing the lead role.
BEHAR: You got some backlash for that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, that`s right. Tyler Perry put Kim K in his new movie about marriage. And the ladies of "The View" are giving him an epic grilling for that bizarre decision.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
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HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you for watching. It is 30 minutes past the hour, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with big news breaking tonight -- the battle over Chris Brown.
And the bombshells just kept on coming today. Chris stunning fans and the music world with an all-new remix featuring Rihanna, yes, Rihanna, who, of course, he beat up three years ago and wound up being convicted for assaulting.
And Chris returns the favor singing on Rihanna`s new remix of "Birthday Cake." That was also released today. And I have to tell you, his lyrics are nasty.
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Oh, yes. Did you hear that? Is it any clearer that Chris is not over Rihanna? And it seems she`s not over him despite what happened. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has got to ask, if Rihanna has forgiven him, should everyone else?
Wendy Walsh is with us tonight from Hollywood, Wendy a doctor of psychology and co-host of the daily syndicated show, "The Doctors."
John Murray is in Washington tonight. John is an entertainment journalist and pop culture expert.
It seems to me, guys, this was to have been Chris Brown`s big comeback year. Maybe it will be. But right now, it looks like things are going downhill fast.
Just over a week ago, of course, Chris performed twice at the Grammy Awards. He even got his first Grammy award that night. Good thing for him.
His fans raved about his performance, but for those who didn`t rave, Chris took to Twitter telling them essentially to kiss off.
And before his first round of Twitter rage could even die down, today, we find out he`s taking on a new Twitter battle with a pro wrestler who made a negative comment about his comeback.
Now, a lot of people coming down hard on Chris. But when you look at the timeline of events, he is not initiating any of this new trouble. He`s basically taking the time to respond to everyone else, including Miranda Lambert who`s slamming him.
Wendy, let me start with you. I think he needs to accept, hey, look, not everybody is going to forget what he did. He`s entitled to respond to anybody he wants. But I do have to wonder what he has to gain by constantly responding to random criticism.
DR. WENDY WALSH, DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY AND CO-HOST OF "THE DOCTORS": You know what, A.J.? I`ve been thinking about, and I think it is kind of a form of catharsis for him, if you will. Part of his healing is to constantly defend himself and defend himself.
But it`s gone on three years already and he does want it to go away. I would suggest getting the backbone to be silent about it all.
HAMMER: And when he does it, he can tone down the language a little bit so as not to contribute to the reputation that precedes him.
But look, aside from his Twitter rants, we really haven`t seen Chris in a whole lot of trouble lately, so that`s a good thing.
Here now is our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint -- could it be that Chris Brown is actually getting a bad rap? John, what do you think?
JOHN MURRAY, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Well, listen, I`m all for a comeback story and a second chance. And I have been rooting Chris on.
But a few things, A.J., have to happen. He has to get off of Twitter. I don`t know why he hasn`t been taken off Twitter before now. Twitter has been one of the biggest troubles in his life.
The other thing is I think Rihanna recorded these songs saying, "Look, we`ve moved past it. We want you guys to move past it."
But while they want people to move past it and to judge them on the art and not the past, you know, you kind of throw the past back in people`s face when you collaborate. So it was a bad idea. Well intended, but a bad idea.
HAMMER: That`s certainly getting them publicity. But what do you think, Wendy, on the idea that maybe Chris is just getting a bad rap? Do you buy that?
WALSH: Well, I think he`s a young man who`s done everything you`re supposed to do afterwards. He did his six months of community service, his one year of anger management.
He`s still on probation for a total of five years. He`s probably still in therapy. He`s apologized to her. He`s apologized to his fans.
What else do we want him to do? I do think that America needs to make room for forgiveness here. But it`s hard for people, because have you to remember, A.J., there are a lot of hurt and injured people out there, who have had their own life events come to pass, where they can easily lash out at a celebrity instead of dealing with their own issues, so that`s really part of it.
HAMMER: And it has been three years. As you mentioned, he`s paid his dues to society at least. I think there is a lot more that can be done or has to be done for him to show the world that he has changed his ways. That doesn`t happen like that.
And Wendy, you`re the doctor. You can tell me better than I can tell you, but Rihanna has apparently forgiven him. John, I get the impression that you have essentially forgiven him.
This is a picture of the two of you along with Sherry Shepherd at his fan appreciation tour. Why do you think that it is time for everybody to just move on as Chris and Rihanna seem to want everybody to do?
MURRAY: We`ve got to show Chris the same level of compassion we would show ourselves, our son, our nephew, anybody else who got into some trouble and had to go through the process.
Chris was 19 years old at the time when it happened. And so he faced his crimes like a man. He went through the process. And now, he needs to let the success be the redemption story.
Let the success speak for itself. Don`t respond to these people. Don`t fight with these people. Move on and carry on.
HAMMER: Yes. I think he`s just taken too many steps back every time he opens his mouth. And today, you have Chris and Rihanna releasing songs featuring each other, as we`ve been talking about.
And a lot of outrage has followed that, which is really understandable, at least coming from the public. Rihanna seems to have forgiven him. So Wendy, is it time for the rest of us to forgive him?
WALSH: I certainly think it is. Now, of course, the concern is whether they`ll actually get back together as a romantic couple.
And as a doctor of psychology, I certainly do not recommend that because it could be so volatile. The same triggers could crop up again. So that`s a dangerous thing for him.
Now, remember, the recidivism rates of domestic violence are very, very high. It`s hard to overcome. But he`s a young man. He`s putting his mind to it.
I feel like it`s time to forgive and let him have a future. Are people just envious, do you think, A.J., that he`s making so much money? Maybe that`s the key.
HAMMER: Well, yes. That always comes into play here. But it`s interesting we`ve been tossing around the term "forgiveness" for a long time now as long as we`ve been talking about Chris Brown trying to make a comeback.
And I don`t know. I almost feel like, you know what, he didn`t beat me. I don`t really have any personal need or reason to forgive him.
But what it seems he wants everybody to do -- and this is the part where I think there`s a real disconnect -- he just wants everyone to forget what happened.
You know what? That`s not going to happen for everybody and that`s something he`s going to need to accept. He made his bed. He`s got to sleep in it.
This is going to follow him for the rest of his life. He doesn`t have to like that. That`s simply going to be the case.
Now, I want to get back to your point in terms of the influence that he has on the young women, an impact that he could be having, Wendy.
Let me show you something that Michael Jackson`s daughter, Paris, tweeted just today about Chris` new song. She said, "Check out Chris` new song, `Turn Up the Music.` It`s beast," meaning good, which really does speak volumes on the influence that Chris has on such a young audience.
I think we should genuinely be worried by the example that he is setting here.
WALSH: So therefore, you think, A.J., we should just keep him in jail, never let him have a partner. Never let him --
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: No, no, no. Hold on. Let me be clear. Let me be clear about what I`m saying, because -- you are just talking about recidivism.
WALSH: Recidivism, yes.
HAMMER: In other words, basically, people who get back with their abusers often wind up having trouble again.
WALSH: Right.
HAMMER: And basically, him getting back with her, if that is what`s happening here, says to their followers, "Hey, it`s OK."
WALSH: I don`t think they`ll get back together romantically, and I really encourage them not to. But you know, we can talk about -- there are great lessons for his young followers in forgiveness here.
They can have a working relationship. They can have a Twitter friendship or whatever they`re going to have. And we can forgive and move forward.
HAMMER: Well, we will continue to follow it, Wendy Walsh, John Murray, I thank you both.
Now, I want to move on to another alleged celebrity rivalry between two of the biggest pop divas of our time. Now, for years, there are lots of reports claiming Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston were huge rivals. Well, tonight, Mariah sets the record straight on whether that rivalry was real or not.
Plus, Whitney`s fortune. Whitney`s 18-year-old daughter set to inherit millions after her mom`s tragic death. Tonight, why some people are saying that could be the worst thing that ever happened to her. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
This is the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Justin Bieber will publish second book of exclusive photos. Donald Trump talks to Wendy Williams about the "Celebrity Apprentice."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY WILLIAMS, HOST, "THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW": Who`s the one to beat this season?
DONALD TRUMP, BUSINESS MOGUL: Well, I think you have a lot of them. And we`re with shooting it now, as you know. Cheryl was really -- she is a fine woman, a fine person. But she was over her head in the sense that these are -- we have some real killers on the show.
WILLIAMS: Yes. She is --
TRUMP: Some brutal killers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And tonight, Whitney`s fortune.
There were brand-new revelations today about what Whitney Houston was actually worth when she died, that her estate could be worth between $10 million to $20 million. And that number could go higher if her name and image are marketed correctly.
And everyone expects Whitney`s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, to get her mom`s fortune. But tonight, SHOWBIZ tonight has got to ask, is she really ready for it?
With me now in New York, BET host, April Woodard. From Hollywood tonight, Atty. Darren Kavinoky. Darren is also the co creator and the host of Investigation Discovery`s new series, "Deadly Sins." It premieres on March 3rd. Make sure that you check that out.
So since Whitney didn`t write her own songs, she only gets royalties for singing those songs when they get played. Her estate isn`t expected to make the kind of money, of course, that Michael Jackson`s estate made after he died.
But it is still expected to be in the millions dollars. So Darren, let me ask you, from a legal perspective, does that money automatically go to Bobbi Kristina?
ATTY. DARREN KAVINOKY, CO-CREATOR, "DEADLY SINS": Well, not necessarily. It all depends on how Whitney structured her estate planning.
And right now, that`s the big question mark that remains out there. There`s a few different vehicles that allow wealth to get transferred from one generation to the next.
There`s a will, which I assume everybody`s familiar with, where a person just basically dictates what they want done with their stuff.
But then, there`s also something called a trust, which allows for greater measures of control. If there`s a will in place, it would all go to Bobbi Kristina, assuming she`s the heir and it would go to her in one lump sum.
Of course, if there`s a trust, that money can be distributed over time as a person hits certain benchmarks. And there could be certain requirements such as demonstrating their sobriety that are due anywhere along the way.
HAMMER: Yes. And I think, obviously, a trust is what a lot of people are hoping for, who have concerns for Bobbi Kristina, because there have been a lot of reports about Bobbi Kristina and how she`s been coping after her mother`s death.
And we all know that she`s been to the hospital twice, two visits after Whitney`s passing. Understandably, of course, she`s having a tough time. Nobody disputes how difficult this is.
But here`s our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint -- could having too much money too soon be too overwhelming for Bobbi Kristina? And April, I think unless she has the right people around her or perhaps a trust in place, it really could be trouble.
APRIL WOODARD, HOST, "BET": I`m really hoping for a trust. If she has a trust, I`m feeling a little bit more comfortable about the situation.
But the other thing is, you have to remember Cissy Houston. She`s the matriarch of this family. And I don`t believe that she`s going to allow something to happen to Bobbi Kristina.
HAMMER: Right.
WOODARD: In addition to that, you know, cousin Dionne -- we saw her on "Celebrity Apprentice" -- she`s no joke either. So I think that, you know, they have a support group surrounding this young lady.
But I do think that if there is no trust, they`re going to have to look for some type of legal way to get in there and allow the money to be given to her slowly.
HAMMER: And this doesn`t even bring into the fold the Bobby Brown factor here.
WOODARD: Oh, gosh.
HAMMER: Because there are reports that Whitney`s family is concerned he could actually get a chunk of the money. But Darren, I`m thinking unless it`s specified in Whitney`s will, could there be any chance of him getting a penny? I can`t imagine how.
KAVINOKY: Well, there is. And again, it depends what kind of legal vehicle we`re talking about. But for Bobby Brown to get his hands on that money would really require a couple things.
Number one, the money would go directly to Bobbi Kristina in the form of a will as opposed to a trust. And then, of course, it would require an extra step, which is to try and go into court to argue that there should be a conservatorship appointed that because of whatever addiction issues or other kinds of mental health issues there are.
And it has been reported from some outlets that there are some concerns with respect to addiction. And there`s certainly some good genetic linkage there to add fuel to that fire. But it would require him to go into court to try and be able to get to it that way.
HAMMER: Well, hopefully, he won`t put up a fight.
KAVINOKY: But lawyers can fight about anything, A.J. You know that.
HAMMER: Yes, absolutely. Darren, April, got to leave it there. Thanks so much.
Tonight, Mariah Carey is setting the record straight once and for all about her supposed rivalry with Whitney Houston.
She gave a remarkable brand-new interview today. Mariah really opening up about her and Whitney. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner in Hollywood tonight.
Now, Nischelle, over the years, there was always all this talk about this rivalry between Mariah and Whitney.
NISCHELLE TURNER, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT CORRESPONDENT: Yes, A.J. But now, Mariah wants the world to know that that`s nonsense. On "Good Morning America" this morning, she really gave us an idea of what their friendship was like over the years. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIAH CAREY, SINGER: It was great, and I don`t think people could ever understand our relationship or really, you know, there was always this supposed rivalry in the beginning and then we did the duet and we became friends.
And I saw her towards the end and, you know, I loved her. We all loved her. We were all inspired by her and we all loved her. May she rest in peace, and her legend`s going to go on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I`m happy to hear that. You know, people always wanted to pit them against each other because they were divas who were making hits at the same time. So good to hear Mariah Carey putting all that to rest.
Also, Nischelle, Mariah making news today on "GMA." She was talking about her husband Nick Cannon`s illness.
TURNER: Oh, yes, A.J. And that was also really revealing. Nick`s been in and out of the hospital since the beginning of the year. And he was diagnosed with an enlarged heart and blood clots in his lungs. Mariah said today that it`s been tough.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAREY: It was just something that hit us really hard at the top of the year. And he -- yes, we wound up in the hospital. That`s us in Aspen at the hospital.
ROBIN ROBERTS, CO-HOST, "GOOD MORNING AMERICA": Exactly. When you tweeted this, Mariah, what did --
CAREY: We didn`t know how big a deal it was at that moment.
ROBERTS: Yes. When did you know it was like, oh, boy, this is something -- this is something big.
CAREY: It was a gradual thing. I mean, we ended up in a couple hospitals this year already. But now, he`s doing better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And that is obviously really good news. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner, thanks.
Moving on to grilling Tyler.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: Your new movie is called "The Marriage Counselor." And Kim Kardashian -- I hope she`s not playing the title role?
PERRY: No, she`s not playing -- she`s not playing the lead role.
BEHAR: You got some backlash for that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tyler Perry getting grilled by the ladies of "The View" on his controversial decision to put Kim Kardashian in his new movie about marriage. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, just what was Tyler thinking? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" -- more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Sean Diddy Combs and Magic Johnson to launch new music network. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT first look: The new season of "16 and Pregnant."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did your mom say?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you going to raise a black baby?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my goodness.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: His dad wanted me to get an abortion like right that day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, the SHOWBIZ buzz list -- here`s what the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT staff is buzzing about.
Let the good times roll. Laissez les bons temps rouler. Fat Tuesday is on. The last day of Mardi Gras down in New Orleans. We are wild over America`s biggest party.
Buon appetito. We`re devouring Mo Rocca`s hilarious new cooking show. It`s called "My Grandmother`s Ravioli." It fired up this week.
You`ve got to have fun. The brand-new album from Pop Darlings of the indy world, "Fun," in stores now. And I dare you not to have a good time listening to this.
Be like Archer. How to Archer sliding into bookstores. It teaches you how to be just like Sterling Archer, the hugely popular animated spy in the FX series, "Archer."
And pull up your bootstraps. Yes, get ready. "Puss in Boots" is getting its Blu-Ray DVD release on Friday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Very well. If it is to be a dance fight, then I will Tuesday night dance fight you to the death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Well, the ladies of "The View" grilled Tyler Perry today. They wanted to know why he hired Kim Kardashian for his new movie "The Marriage Counselor." I`m guessing you can see the irony here.
Her own marriage, of course, lasted only 72 days. Now, she`s in a movie called "The Marriage Counselor"?
All right. Let me bring in SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner from Hollywood. And Nischelle, we saw it. As usual, the ladies of "The View" just fired up today.
TURNER: Oh, yes, A.J. They didn`t want to let Tyler Perry off the hook for casting Kim. But Tyler was not backing down from his controversial decision. You`ve got to watch the way he defends himself.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEHAR: You have a new movie called "The Marriage Counselor," and Kim Kardashian -- I hope she`s not playing the title role?
PERRY: No, she`s not playing -- she`s not playing the lead role.
BEHAR: You got some backlash for that --
PERRY: Yes.
BEHAR: For putting her in it. Why?
PERRY: Listen, here`s the thing. This is what I know about my life and everything -- all the casting that I`ve done over the years.
The perfect person always shows up. I wrote a small role for her. I had no idea she was going to get a divorce. I had no idea she was married. I had no idea. Didn`t know any better.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It all happened so fast.
(CROSS TALK)
PERRY: I put her in the film. I just think she was supposed to be there, because when you see the film, there are great messages about marriage and love and faith and family, that I think everybody could use.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: So maybe Kim picked up a few tips about marriage while she was on set there, A.J. What do you think?
HAMMER: I don`t know. I don`t think she picked up any tips about marriage. It didn`t end up working out. Maybe tips about getting out of your marriage. Maybe that.
But here`s the thing and here`s my take. The deal is, Tyler Perry always has terrific instincts, right? So I`m actually looking forward to seeing this, aren`t you?
TURNER: Me, too. Yes, indeed. I`m with you.
HAMMER: All right. See Kim Kardashian in a Tyler Perry movie. Who would have thought? "The Marriage Counselor," no less. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s Nischelle Turner, thank you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m so sorry.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, come on. Come on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Joan and Melissa Rivers obviously known for being tough as nails. So what brought this reality TV pair to tears?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Tonight, Melissa Rivers` heartbreak. Melissa split with her longtime boyfriend, Jason Zimmerman, last year after she discovered that he had allegedly appeared on an online porn site.
Well, now, Melissa is revealing the emotional toll that that shocking breakup took on her life. You`ve got to watch this dramatic exchange between Melissa and her mom, Joan Rivers on their reality show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOAN RIVERS, REALITY SHOW STAR: I cannot tell you what it is like to see your child`s dreams smashed. I mean, she was -- they were family. They were trying to have a baby together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow. A side of Joan and Melissa we rarely ever see.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer. You can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively weeknights, 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific here on HLN.
Stay right here for "DR. DREW," next. Tonight, boxing`s golden boy, Oscar de la Hoya and the monster that almost destroyed him. That starts right now.
END
