Chaka Khan (Video): Clive Davis Party Shouldn’t Have Happened

*Chaka Khan understands the term “the show must go on,” but cannot fathom how Clive Davis could go ahead with his annual pre-Grammy party just hours after Whitney Houston’s death, particularly considering that her dead body was just four floors above in the same hotel when the gathering got underway.

“I thought that was complete insanity,” Khan told CNN’s Piers Morgan. “Knowing Whitney, I don’t believe that she would’ve said, ‘The show must go on.’ She’s the type of woman who would’ve said, ‘Stop everything! Un-unh. I’m not gonna be there.”

Chaka said of Davis, “I don’t know what could motivate a person to have a party in the same building where the person whose life he had influenced so enormously, and whose life had been affected… I don’t understand how that party went on.”

Music legend Whitney Houston’s autopsy was completed Sunday, but officials say they won’t be able to determine the cause of death until drug tests are completed in several weeks.

Houston appeared to have drowned in a hotel bathtub after slipping under the water’s surface as a result of **** medication, according to unconfirmed reports.

Whitney Houston was in her fourth floor suite at the Beverly Hilton getting ready for a pre-Grammys party downstairs - a gala that continued without her as the body cooled upstairs for nine hours.

According to RadarOnline gossip site, cops found a ****’s worth of sedatives in the room, including Valium, Xanax and Lorazepam.

There are no reports that Houston, who was addicted to cocaine for years and went back to rehab last May, had used illegal drugs.

Houston’s 18-year-old daughter with ex-husband Bobby Brown was rushed to the hospital twice - once late Saturday and again just before noon Sunday - suffering from stress and anxiety.

"She was transported to the hospital for a medical issue" around 11 a.m. Los Angeles time, Police Sgt. Donald Chase said.

In his first public comments about the death of his ex-wife, Brown released a statement saying he was "deeply saddened."

"At this time, we ask for privacy, especially for my daughter, Bobbi Kristina," the R&B singer said. "I appreciate all of the condolences that have been directed towards my family and I at this most difficult time."

Houston’s mom, described by neighbors as frail and quiet, was in seclusion in her new apartment on the 20th floor of an Edgewater, N.J. tower.

A woman who answered the door asked for privacy, saying Cissy Houston was hurting. "How would a mother who has lost her child be doing?" she said.

Another woman, who was dropping off **** medicine from CVS, said the mom was coping as best she could.

"As you can imagine, she's managing," the woman said. "She loves her daughter."

George Lucas recently stopped by The Daily Show to talk about his new film "Red Tails", which is about the trials and triumphs of the first all-black aerial combat unit, the Tuskegee Airmen.

Lucas, who is one of Hollywood’s biggest names, says that even he (despite his influence) had a difficult time trying to get this film made. Lucas has been working on the project for over 23 years trying to convince studios to give it a chance; however, many have been hesitant to back an action film because of its black cast.

Instead, Lucas poured $93 million of his own money into the film and forced the the studios to reconsider.

During the interview, Lucas explains why it’s so difficult for black films to find their way to box offices. As most of us already know, it boils down to one thing: money.

Studios do not want to invest the resources into high-quality films with black casts because they don’t think their investments will be returned in the form of large box office numbers, here or abroad. With "Red Tails", Lucas hopes to prove them wrong.

So why did George Lucas use nearly $100 million of his own money on this film? He said that he made "Red Tails" to show teenage boys that there are real, inspirational American heroes.

Although many black filmmakers don’t have $93 million to get a film made, perhaps the success of Red Tails will finally open the door (and the box office), to more well-crafted black films.

"Red Tails" will hit theaters Jan. 20.


www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-january-9...

"It is so important to support this film. We always say we want better films, well now we have one and it is VITAL that we show Hollywood we want more than the shuck and jive movies. If we fail to support this movie in big numbers, we will live to regret it! Opening weekend must be a WINNER! Families take your young sons to see this inspiring movie!"

STAR STUDDED BET HONORS

Last night I attended the BET Honors 2012 ceremony. The biggest highlight was when *First Lady Michelle Obama took the stage to introduce poet Maya Angelou. Also in attendance were performers and fellow honorees Stevie Wonder, Spike Lee, The Tuskegee Airmen, Beverly Kearney, Mariah Carey, and other African American celebrities who called the black community to civic action, starting with voting in the 2012 presidential election.

The politics-meets-glamour event fits in with the recently ramped up efforts by Obama to help her husband, President Barack Obama, win a challenging re-election bid in November.

Obama, in a crimson, one-shouldered gown, presented the Literary Arts award to Angelou and appealed to the crowd to follow Angelou’s example as an activist.

“It is not enough merely to seek greatness for ourselves, we must help others discover greatness within themselves. We need to reach down and reach out, and give back and lift others,” she said.

Others attending included singers Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin, as well as former Secretary of State Colin Powell and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Gabrielle Union did an awesome job as host. Other celebs included Jill Scott, Queen Latifah, Cicely Tyson, Kelly Rowland, Anthony Hamilton, Common, Jennifer Hudson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrance Howard and many more.

The taping of the award show, hosted by Black Entertainment Television was held at the historic Warner Theatre in downtown Washington, DC. The Show premieres Monday Feb. 13, at 9pm