NOT FEELING ARIE
Multiple Grammy Award-winning neo-sul singer India.Arie caught some flak for criticizing Lady Gaga and Beyonce's 'Telephone' video on Twitter.

Last week, the former Motown Records artist wrote: "I get that a lot of work [was] put into it. I'm talking social responsibility. I respect the creative mind but disagree with the "choices" as a dish meant to be served for mass consumption." But now, she wants the world to know (in a post that's way longer than 140 characters) that she's fans of both artists and not hating. In addition to clarifying that she struck up the conversation to discuss "the state of society" and "human kind," she added that "this is a conversation about music industry politics."

"I'm a grown a** woman, multifaceted and strong and I'm not afraid to speak my mind," she stated. Arie, whose grandmother died this week, added, "I dig Gaga, she actually came to my rescue on a video shoot when I ran off in tears." Arie referred to the 'Poker Face' singer as a "genius and driven beyond belief." As for Beyonce, Arie said, "we have a cool relationship" and "I admire and respect her artistry." But, she charged, "Do I have to agree with everything she does to love her?" "I will keep speaking and singing my truth." [Twitter]

*****

THE COMPLEXION FOR THE CONNECTION
Zoe Saldana might be riding on her 'It' girl status these days, but don't get it twisted; the 'Avatar' star believes that Hollywood is still as racist as ever. In a new cover story, the Dominican born beauty told Nylon magazine that there are new, more subtler ways that casting agents and movie studio executives telling her she doesn't have the complexion for the connection. "When they say, 'We want to go white,' they have a very smooth way of saying it, and the recent one is the word 'traditional'," she explained. "[I've heard], 'Oh, you know, you're just not what we were looking for, your skin is a little darker'. Compared to what? My skin is just my skin. It's dark if you compare it to someone who's lighter." She is grateful that 'Avatar' director James Cameron thought her look was perfect for the lead role of Neytiri. "I had no idea she was blue and nine feet tall, but for some reason, he was like, 'You look so much like her." [Eurweb]

*****

'HOLE' IN ONE
Howard Stern most recently made headlines for his outspoken comments about Academy Award nominee Gabourey Sidibe's obesity. Now, he's talking about the staff of Jamie Foxx's radio show 'The Foxxhole.' For 25 minutes, the shock jock ranted about Foxx's radio hosts (minus the Oscar winner) for being critical of his comments about the 'Precious' star. After playing the audio of Foxx's crew, Stern called them "f**king losers" but said he wasn't mad with the Academy Award winning star of the show, who called Sidibe "the Notorious Precious," because he wasn't in the room when the group went off. He reiterated that Sidibe was " enormous, fat and black." He also called Foxx their 'master' and charged, "no one is listening to their show." But he seems to be. [The Urban Daily]

LOOSE LIPS
Apparently lots of big names are saying crazy comments this week. Miss "I Run L.A." Natalie Nunn (of 'Bad Girls Club' fame) already let her co-stars know that she was chummy with pop singer Chris Brown on the Oxygen reality series' first episode. Now, Nunn, who is rumored to be getting her own series soon, has more to say about Rihanna. On the reunion of 'Bad Girls Club,' celebrity blogger Perez Hilton asked Nunn if the 'Umbrella' singer confronted her in a New York nightclub for the comments made on the show. To which Nunn replied, "She's a punk b**ch. She got her ass beat for a reason Rihanna's crazy." She added that she doesn't condone violence, but that she "heard from Chris Brown's mouth that it was ugly from both sides."

And, singer Lil' Mo pissed off a great deal of people when she wrote on Twitter, "It's some f**** ass [n-words] on here." When confronted by several Twitter followers about using the derogatory gay slur, the former Elektra Records chart-topper refused to apologize, urging upset people to "get off my twitter." Soon thereafter, her Wikipedia profile was hacked. It has since been fixed.

Finally, Usher needs to learn the meaning of too much information. The 'Little Freak' singer appeared on popular Atlanta radio station Hot 107.9 to promote his upcoming 'Raymond Vs. Raymond' album. The Grammy Award winning single father of two said that he doesn't mind getting deficated or urinated on by his two sons (with his older ex-wife). "They're the only ones who can pee and boo boo on me and I'm cool. It's all good," he said. "Aint nobody gonna take care of my boys like I am." He added, "At the end of the day I do this for them." We guess "Daddy's Home." [Crunk and Disorderly]

*****

MARY, MARY QUITE CONTRARY
And we thought she grew out of her old ways. Things were supposed to be smooth sailing at the Jazz in the Gardens music festival last weekend in Miami. But, festival organizers are reportedly still fuming with the antics of Mary J. Blige. It wasn't enough that her security detail cleared the press area to make sure that no journalists wouldn't ask the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul any questions, the 'No More Drama' singer is said to have demanded that the remaining media members back up 10 feet farther from where she would be standing. Blige didn't talk to any press and posed for pictures wearing her dark shades for only two minutes. Then, she made the 40 thousand person audience wait 90 minutes before she took the stage at close to midnight. This, a snitch blabbed, resulted in the festival running into overtime. Looks like Mary J -- who notoriously threatened to punch supermodel Veronica Webb during an interview for Interview magazine 15 years ago -- may not be back for Jazz in the Gardens again. [NY Daily News]

*****

ALL IN A NAME
Taye Diggs can't stop talking about his newborn son. The 'Private Practice' star who met his actress wife Idina Menzel while starring in the original cast of Broadway's 'Rent,' are so please with their adorable baby. Though his name is Walker Nathaniel Diggs, the couple have created several nicknames for their first child. Diggs told Ellen DeGeneres, while appearing on her talk show. They refer to the 6 month old as Skywalker, Walkman, Walkathon, Little Papa, and Swirl "because he's a chocolate and vanilla swirl." He joked to the new 'American Idol' judgethat his wife asks for so much help these days, his name has become "Honey could you just." [People]

*****

DOWN WITH BROWN
Kanye West hasn't been in the spotlight much since making headlines at the MTV Video Music Awards after interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech last September. Now, the 12-time Grammy Award winner is gearing up to guest star on the Fox cartoon series 'The Cleveland Show.' The Chicago MC shot two episodes for the 'Family Guy' spin-off, where he will play a character named Kenny West. His character will have a rap battle with Cleveland Brown Jr. and Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson will voice West's girlfriend. The first of the two episodes is set to air on May 2, but the second episode, where West moves in with the Brown family because he's broke and the music business is struggling, won't air this fall for the second season. [Vibe]