Essay 1470

Only one more MultiCultClassics Monologue until Christmas…

• Fired publisher Judith Regan hired a lawyer, who announced there’s a witness to dispute the assertion that Regan made an anti-Semitic remark (see Essay 1451). The witness, a temporary assistant, had listened in on the conversation and supports Regan’s insistence that she never said “Jewish cabal,” just “cabal.” The lawyer proclaimed, “We now have a witness saying that she never said it. … So it is defamatory and false to say she said it.” It looks like Regan is organizing a shrewish cabal.

• Now the woman who won the title of Miss Nevada USA has lost her crown, dethroned after risqué photos of her appeared online. “I am so sorry this happened,” said the woman. “So many of us don’t realize how our actions, even one night of poor judgment, can affect the rest of our lives.” She and her lawyer are begging Donald Trump for a second chance like the one he granted Miss USA Tara Conner (see Essay 1459). Although in this case, maybe they should be speaking to Hugh Hefner.

• A labor rights group released a report charging Bratz dolls are produced in a China factory where workers clock up to 94 hours per week. No comment yet from Rosie O’Donnell.

• Isaac Hayes is trying to sell a Grammy, but the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences is suing to stop him. Leland Collectibles sought to auction off the statuette for Hayes, and the Academy is demanding its return instead — even though a firm official insisted they’ve sold Grammy awards in the past. The Academy won’t say why Hayes is not allowed to sell his award. Guess they’re just some bad mother…