Essay 1216

Money matters in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Friday was officially proclaimed as “Diddy Day” in Chicago, with Mayor Richard J. Daley honoring Sean Combs (pictured above). The artist was recognized for his many humanitarian efforts. “I truly appreciate it. I don’t take it for granted. It’s not every day that somebody young and African-American gets to have their own day in the great city of Chicago. This is definitely an honor — especially coming from New York — for y’all to … show me such hospitality and recognize that, what I do, I … do to inspire and to motivate,” said Combs. “I’m not motivated by money.” He then probably drove off in a fancy car, sipping Dom Pérignon from a bling-encrusted goblet.

• O.J. Simpson requested that a California court dismiss the lawsuit seeking the publicity rights to his name, image and likeness. Fred Goldman had filed the lawsuit last month in an effort to get Simpson to pay the estimated $38 million he owes from the 1996 wrongful-death suit. Simpson’s court papers argued that the action would give Goldman the power to “disparage [Simpson’s] image on billboards across the country… This is absurd.” At this point, is anything involving O.J. Simpson NOT absurd?

• The New York Post reported that Michael Jackson will pay his ex-wife $750,000 annually to keep his kids, which translates to installments of $62,500 per month. Seems like a low amount of money to carry the stigma of having had sex with Jacko.

• Wal-Mart must pay at least $78.5 million for violating labor laws in Pennsylvania. Michael Jackson must be thankful his ex-wife didn’t have the same lawyers that beat the mega-retailer.