I want my fans to know that I haven't deceived them in any way, shape or form.
Pop superstar Paula Abdul sees red and says her backup singer is green with envy over a platinum record.
Entertainment Tonight has the controversy for Thursday, April 11th, 1991.
Hello again everybody, I'm Mary Hart.
And I'm John Tesch. And Paula Abdul came out swinging today in the latest Who Really Sang It controversy to hit the pop music world.
Earlier this week a backup singer claimed three songs on Abdul's multi-platinum album, Forever Your Girl, were more like duets.
Is the lead vocal on Paula Abdul's hit, Opposites Attract, really a combination of two singers?
Abdul herself and background singer on the album, Yvette Marine.
This morning Paula held a press conference to address the question.
I sing the lead vocals on every single song of the Forever Your Girl album.
I put a lot of work into that album and I'm very proud of it.
Abdul also said she agreed with her label, Virgin Records, that Marine's allegations filed in a lawsuit last Monday were an attempt to obtain Marine a recording contract.
For someone to come out of nowhere this week, three years after the album was recorded, to diminish my work and cast doubts on my integrity and my reputation, I could not sit still and remain silent.
Here's Marine's reaction to today's press conference.
I think that she's absolutely right. She did sing all of the lead vocals. No one ever said that she didn't.
I'm just saying that I know that my guide vocal was definitely used as well.
The lawsuit claims Marine was paid union scale as one of three backup singers on Paula's 1988 album, Forever Your Girl,
and that Marine recorded what is known as a guide track or temporary recording of the lead vocal to guide Paula in her final performance.
It is this guide track that Marine alleges was added to and used to enhance Abdul's own lead vocal.
I went into the studio and recorded my lead vocals on opposite a track. It is my lead vocal.
Financially, the difference between a backup singer and a lead singer can be substantial.
Backups are paid once, lead vocalists may share in the royalties, which for the three disputed songs on Forever Your Girl, by some estimates, could bring Marine more than a million bucks.
Meanwhile, the controversy continues.
If they still want me to deny this, I'm just not going to back down. I have to stand up.
So I'm here today because I have to speak out and I have to fight back, especially for my fans.
I want my fans to know that I haven't deceived them in any way, shape or form.
By the way, some record buyers filed a class action suit yesterday in Chicago accusing Paula Abdul and Virgin Records of not acknowledging that a backup singer helped with the lead vocals.
The suit asks the record company to reimburse people who bought the record believing Abdul did the lead vocals solo.
His name is Lane Davis and his dream was to be a movie star. That dream was on the way to coming true when tragedy struck.
Today's Inside Story is a profile in teenage courage fighting against the odds.
Fifteen-year-old Lane Davis is an actor. This young man is the star of a real life drama about a courageous comeback.
This was Lane's big break when he played a featured role in Born on the Fourth of July.
You're sad and you know it!
Oh, buddy, daddy!
Lane became buddies with the movie star Tom Cruise and quickly the offers for bigger and better parts came rolling in.
He had just been chosen to play Roseanne Barr's son in the film She Devil when tragedy struck.
Lane was riding his bike in his hometown of Miami when he was hit by a car. He was in a coma for nine days and suffered serious injuries.
But through the love and support of his parents and friends, Lane is back on his feet and in front of the cameras.
My parents helped me and some of my friends helped me, helped me and I came out fine.
Lane's parents were told by doctors that he would be paralyzed on his right side and would have difficulty with his speech.
I look like James Dean.
James Dean, huh? Yeah.
But through speech therapy, Lane has made dramatic improvements and his right side has also been strengthened through intensive physical therapy.
Back from!
But Lane wanted to get his acting career back on track and auditioned for the part of a handicapped boy in the TV movie Triumph of the Heart, The Ricky Bell Story.
I didn't think I was going to act ever and the triumph of the heart called me and said, guess what? You got it.
So, hey!
You don't understand.
You're right, I don't understand.
The film was the story of the relationship between a boy and his idol, a pro football player.
Mario Van Peebles says that working with Lane inspired him.
In a way I felt he was more mature than a lot of adults because early on in his life he had been stopped.
And when you're stopped you have to find out who you are if you're going to get over that wall.
So for kids who have to overcome that and say, yeah, I'm going to live, I'm going to get back up and it's worth it, that's, you know yourself in an entirely different way.
The movie brought Lane rave reviews. He's back at school in Miami but plans to make frequent trips to Hollywood and New York to further his acting career.
He's hoping for the opportunity to work in a weekly television series.
Like any teenaged boy, Lane enjoys playing with video games.
He knows that show business is tough and competitive and wants to go to college and become involved in working to save the environment.
He hopes that his story will inspire other handicapped youngsters to never give up their dreams.
As I said in the movie, give your all no matter what race you run and they will.
I hope they will. I did it.
There's a big day coming up for Lane Davis. On May 9th he'll be in Washington D.C. to receive a national award for rising above his disability.
On our Inside Story tomorrow, the kid who drummed his way into the movies beating on a bucket in Times Square.
It's coming from my effort, my heart and God. That's it.
Larry Wright has some real drums now in the sky's the limit. Our Inside Story tomorrow on Entertainment Tonight.
Coming up next, new kid Donnie Wahlberg beats the arson rap that has a price to pay.
And later, Macaulay Culkin, the million dollar kid, has a new movie and a girlfriend.
Donnie Wahlberg, a member of the group New Kids on the Block, was almost dancing to the Jailhouse Rock.
Wahlberg was accused of arson, but late last night he beat the rap.
Donnie, Donnie, Donnie.
I do appreciate their concern though.
Donnie Wahlberg was facing 20 years in jail after being accused of setting fire a few weeks ago to this hotel carpet in Louisville, Kentucky.
With intent to damage or destroy the building, knowing it to be occupied at the time.
While fans stood by in his defense, Wahlberg denied the charges.
The report is that I ran down the hallway pouring vodka all over the place and trying to burn a hotel down. That's totally untrue.
Today, his fans can rest easy. Last night, Wahlberg made a no plea agreement with the court in Louisville.
They agreed to drop the arson charge and he agreed to make public service announcements on fire safety and the evils of drugs.
If he doesn't hold to the deal in 90 days, the case will be put back on the dockets and he'll be charged with criminal mischief.
Wahlberg still denies the charges, but he did publicly apologize to the people of Louisville.
I would like to apologize to the people of Louisville. I think, as everyone agrees, this is the most unfortunate incident. It's been a very ugly incident.
And yesterday, while accompanied by his wife Gretchen, former child TV star Danny Bonaduce also made an appearance in court.
This, however, was not a plea but a preliminary hearing.
On March 31st, Bonaduce was booked on suspicion of aggravated assault, strong armed robbery and felony flight.
After, according to authorities, he allegedly beat up on a male transvestite he picked up for sex.
Meanwhile, Bonaduce is free on $8,400 bail and maintains he's innocent of all charges.
The Phoenix radio station where Bonaduce worked as a disc jockey suspended him when he was arrested.
And now they're considering whether or not to fire him. They'll announce their decision within a week.
The cast and crew of Amen broke out in a cold sweat when James Brown made a guest appearance.
He's a big fan of the Godfather of Soul and Brown says he loves their show.
Station, station, baby, give a man a hug.
James Brown!
On Amen, Deacon Fry, played by Sherman Hemsley, hosts a telethon and James Brown shows up to help out.
It's Brown's first public appearance since his release from prison in February. He says he is a fan of his show.
I was looking at it a lot in 88, but then when I got incarcerated in 88, then it became very religious for me to watch it.
And I just love it. I love the good clean entertainment.
Brown was a little evasive when asked if his 26 months in prison had changed him.
He had to make me rest. I needed to rest bad.
I feel nice, that sugar is fine. I feel nice, that sugar is fine.
Now he's back in action, starting with Amen, and the rest of the cast was thrilled by it all.
Everybody was starstruck. Everybody was saying, uh, uh, uh. And he brought just so much love with him.
He came in and warmed the whole place up.
Brown and the cast and crew of the show got along well, and Brown said he is ready for more.
Papa's got a brand new band.
The Amen episode featuring my favorite performer will air May 11th on NBC.
Two years ago, a man faced the toughest decision he was ever asked to make.
He had to choose whether to save his wife's life or their unborn child.
Their story made national headlines, and now it's being told in a controversial new television movie.
Your wife has been in a very serious car accident. She's in a deep coma.
In his first major role since hanging up his leather jacket in 1984, Henry Winkler is back in the most dramatic part of his TV career.
He plays Martin Klein, a man who tries to terminate his comatose wife's pregnancy to improve the chances of her survival.
It was a controversial case when pro-life activists got involved trying to take custody of the fetus.
Do you know these people? I don't know these people. Who are these people?
I don't think of this as an abortion film, actually.
Uh, I think of it as someone trying to tell you, uh, what is best for the way you live your life.
Martin Klein's real-life fight for the life of his wife Nancy made national news.
It was a battle he was happy to see made public.
I feel very strongly about many of the issues that our story tells.
And most of all, um, I didn't want what happened to us to ever happen, happen to happen to another family.
How can they be able to come in here and be allowed to ruin my life?
What do you want from me? What do you want from us?
They don't know my wife. They don't know me. They don't know my baby.
The film also stars Patty Duke, Karl Malden, and Audra Lindley, who feels the docudrama makes an important statement.
This family went through so much, and I tell them, I think you're going to really make a difference in this world, and very few of us can do that.
And I think we'd all like to, to leave this world a changed place for the better.
Despite the significance of his role, Winkler says he didn't feel at all strange about acting in front of his real-life inspiration.
He is non-judgmental and very supportive, and he thinks I dress well, you know.
Henry, Absolute Strangers will air Sunday night on CBS.
Anti-abortion activists are protesting the show and may be trying to organize an advertiser boycott.
CBS, however, says that no advertisers have dropped out.
In his new movie, Steven Seagal is out for justice.
Last night in Hollywood, stars were out to see a good action adventure film and to see the steely star up close and personal.
Action fans Arsenio Hall, Andrew Dice Clay, and Danny Aiello joined Steven Seagal and wife Kelly LeBrock for a special screening of his new movie.
Seagal plays a cop out for justice, and those who came explained the appeal of a Steven Seagal film.
It's a ponytail. He's that guy that we all want to be.
In New York, the stars turned out to see John Malkovich and Andy McDowell in their new film, The Object of Beauty,
about a spoiled couple who lose it all and realize money's not everything.
I love you.
Likewise.
So is this a story for the 90s?
You know, that's a very deep question, so I don't know if I can really feel that deep right now.
In Los Angeles, The Simpsons snared a special guest star, Ringo Starr, who plays himself in the cartoon.
Thanks for the snapshot. You're a real cute bird.
Ringo says originally his part was only two lines.
So I said, oh, I'm going to California, two lines, it'll take me five minutes.
So I arrive here and they send out the new script and there's 20 pages.
In Athens, Georgia, Kim Basinger showed school spirit by donating nearly a quarter of a million dollars to the University of Georgia
to install lights in their tennis complex.
Kim was raised near the school and says she was happy to help out.
It's a beautiful little place to come home and I'm very proud to say that I grew up here.
Next, Jamie Lee Curtis pulls the hat trick on Macaulay Culkin.
Home Alone made Macaulay Culkin the hottest child star today.
Now, The Million Dollar Kid is starring in a new movie. It's called My Girl.
But this time, he's nothing like the can-do kid who kept two burglars at bay.
In Home Alone, Macaulay Culkin was a whirling dervish demolishing two burglars who dared to intrude on his solitude.
But in his next film, My Girl, the 10-year-old superstar plays the good friend of newcomer Anna Klumsky.
And Macaulay is no wild man in this one.
He was kind of a shy kid, you know, he always needs someone else to stand up for him and everything.
I really like to play big guy.
Macaulay and Anna worked well together on this film and sometimes they even studied together at the studio school.
Sometimes, but not really, you know, sometimes our teacher puts us in several places, you know, so we won't go crazy.
The movie My Girl co-stars Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis.
It is a gentle comedy about life and love and innocence.
I have a wonderful disposition. I put people right at ease.
Off camera, Jamie Lee seemed to really hit it off with our guy Macaulay.
Oh, I got you so well.
Curtis says she admires her young co-star who really is a legitimate superstar.
That's amazing. He's tan, he's little, he's sweet. He hasn't had puberty, he's just a little boy.
Macaulay also seemed at home with his young leading lady Anna Klumsky.
And cut. Okay, grab it.
Is that your number, boys?
No!
I didn't look to him as he was, as being a movie star. I looked to him as being a new person that I'm meeting, a new friend.
As for Macaulay, he is handling superstardom well. There's just one thing that bugs him.
Well, you know, more people recognize me than, you know, ever. So it gets, you know, sometimes it's crowding around, you know what I'm saying?
One, two, three, we'll jump for the door. One, two, three, jump!
Is it me or are they working on him too much? My girl wrapped up filming last week. The movie will be in theaters this December.
Gloria Stefan has an exciting new stage show and she's taking it around the world.
It's a celebration of her miraculous recovery from a debilitating accident last year.
And Gloria and her fans were on their feet dancing to her hot Latin beat.
Feel our name, the joyous remain.
They're bouncing to Gloria's Latin beat as far away as Japan, where she took her troupe for just one show. Their response overwhelmed her.
It's a very sensual experience to be loved by so many people all at once. You know, everybody in the audience is there.
And that's a very great give and take and it's a kind of love that you can never compare to anything else.
After a 10-day break, she resumed her tour in London. Excited to be performing again, she says the break was 10 days too long.
We were all raring to go. I mean, we were dying to get back on stage and it's, we're just ready.
And her loyal London fans were ready too. They flocked to her hotel to get an autograph and see her up close. She didn't disappoint them.
They will camp out overnight to see you, you know, so that's why I stop and do the autographs because I know it would be horrible if I had waited all night to see somebody
and then they just, you know, took a side entrance or snuck away on me.
Really, that's the one moment I get to see the people that are really important to me.
You're gonna get sick of me. No, no.
Almost fully recovered from her back injury, Estefan says that even a world tour isn't enough to unnerve her.
I think going through a very difficult thing, it just kind of gives you, you know, priorities and you see how everything is relative
and relative to what I've been through this year, nothing can faze me.
Shake your body. Thank you, good night. We love you, London!
Estefan will be performing in Europe until June. Then she'll return to the United States and continue her tour here.
As sales soar and controversy appears mercifully to be fading into the sunset, the ET insider will add his worthy two cents worth to Kitty Kelly's unauthorized biography of Nancy Reagan.
Like all Hollywood worthies, the insider first went right to that index, checking under eye to make sure the insider wasn't mentioned.
Good, no insider. No Mary Hart, no Lisa Gibbons, no John Tesh. Entertainment tonight came off clean as a whistle.
Next, the insider is somewhat ashamed to admit he violated Hollywood's cardinal rule.
He actually read about eight pages of the book and found there were actually some warm and touching moments about the former first lady and the ex-president.
Like the last evening in the White House when they stood on a balcony staring at the Jefferson Memorial and Mr. Reagan became teary-eyed, saying,
I looked at Tom and old Tom looked back at me. Such moments, of course, do not qualify for tabloid headlines, nor do they, more importantly, sell books.
The insider, for one, feels we all would be better served if the country came up with another cheap topic of conversation.
The insider also thinks Kitty Kelly may be getting a little antsy thinking anyone planning to buy this book may feel they have already heard it all and decide to spend their 25 bucks on something else.
Production assistance furnished by MasterCard, the card that's accepted at over eight million places. No wonder no card helps you master more moments than MasterCard.
Celebrating a birthday today, actress Louise Lasser is 52 and actor Joel Grey turns 59.
Tomorrow on our show, the journey from street musician to stardom. He played drums on a plastic bucket in Times Square.
Now he's in the movies and he's our inside story tomorrow. It's back to Wembley Arena in London now for our closing credits for this Thursday.
Here's Gloria Stepan and get on your feet. Enjoy. You can't help it. Bye.
You got to get on your feet.