SPIKE LEE: Family Feud

By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

Acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee is going through the motions with shocking allegations made by his sibling over money woes. Black America's most esteemed filmmaker Spike Lee is experiencing his very own share of real-life drama.

The 'Jungle Fever' director is embroiled in a legal brouhaha with his brother over family real estate.

"Spike's a hypocrite, a liar and a phony," Christopher Lee said in an interview with 'The National Enquirer' in the Jan. 8 edition. "I'm about to get evicted because of this clown."

What ever happened to brotherly love?

Christopher, 48, charges that Spike, 49, has abandoned him and is squeezing him out of his inheritance; a valuable parcel of Atlanta land that their 100-year-old grandmother Zimmie bequeathed to be divided amongst the five siblings.

Throw in the fact that Christopher is allegedly on welfare and this "story" sounds a bit sensational.

But since Spike is known not to pull any punches --or mince words -- he was quoted in the piece, stating to reporter Don Gentile: "I'm not the first nor will I be the last public figure who will be accused by a sibling for not doing enough. My question is, 'When is enough enough?'

Good question.

Spike Lee's latest film, 'When The Levees Broke,' chronicling the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was recently released on DVD. Christopher also revealed that his millionaire brother gave their 78-year old father Bill Lee "just a pair of sneakers for Christmas," and said when he encountered him at their grandmother's birthday celebration about the land, Spike told him, "I'm not giving you a dime."

The acclaimed auteur, who scored Oscar nominations for films such as 'Malcolm X' and '4 Little Girls,' mandates that his brother's claims are "falsehoods."

"Nonetheless, my siblings and I still love him," he added.

This is a dog's mess. But at least Spike is remaining classy about it.