Cadet in LaBelle guard tussle back at West Point (AP)

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Department of the Army has reinstated a West Point cadet who was involved in an airport scuffle with bodyguards for R&B diva Patti LaBelle.

Richard King, a member of the Class of 2011, was already on suspended separation for previous conduct when the March 11 scrape happened at an airport in his hometown of Houston.

In a lawsuit against the Grammy Award-winning LaBelle, he said three of her bodyguards attacked him for no reason. The singer has countersued, saying King was drunk and hurling racial slurs.

Norma Harris, the 63-year-old hairdresser for LaBelle, and 43-year-old bodyguard Efrem Holmes, have been charged with assault in connection with the tussle.

West Point says the 23-year-old King will start classes Monday. If he meets academic standards, he will graduate in December.

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R&B diva LaBelle files countersuit in beating case (AP)

By JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press Juan A. Lozano, Associated Press – Wed Jun 29, 6:31 am ET

HOUSTON – Veteran R&B diva Patti LaBelle says in a countersuit filed against a West Point cadet who claims she ordered her bodyguards to beat him up outside a Houston airport terminal that the altercation began after the cadet hurled racial insults at her.

But an attorney for the cadet, Richard King, denied his client ever said any racial slurs to LaBelle.

King's attorneys say he was waiting to be picked up by family outside one of the terminals at Bush Intercontinental Airport on March 11 when three of LaBelle's bodyguards attacked him without provocation.

King, who was in his hometown of Houston while on spring break from West Point, filed his lawsuit earlier this month, naming LaBelle, the three bodyguards, one of whom is the singer's son, and two others as defendants.

King's lawyers say the alleged attacked resulted in a concussion and lingering dizziness and headaches for the cadet. A surveillance video from the airport that was previously released by King's attorneys shows the 23-year-old cadet being pushed and punched by two men and a woman, all alleged to be LaBelle's bodyguards.

LaBelle filed a countersuit last week, accusing the cadet of attacking her bodyguards after he directed profane and racial slurs toward the singer.

In the countersuit, LaBelle's lawyers accuse King of being intoxicated, staggering around outside the terminal, screaming obscenities and trying to enter the singer's limousine. King was politely asked to walk away from the vehicle, according to the countersuit. King's attorneys have said the cadet had a few drinks on the flight to Houston but denied he was intoxicated.

"King directed profane and racial slurs towards LaBelle. When LaBelle's son (Zuri Edwards) heard the profanity and racial epithets, he informed King that the woman in the limousine was his mother," the suit said. "Without warning or provocation, King violently and deliberately punched Edwards in the face."

The surveillance video, which has no audio, shows King talking on a cell phone when one of LaBelle's bodyguards appeared to push up against him. It appeared that King then pushed him back. King's attorneys have said King did not push back but was protecting himself from a punch.

The bodyguards told Houston police King attacked them.

King's attorney, John Raley, said LaBelle's claim that the cadet hurled racial slurs at her is part of her "attack" on "an innocent man by telling the same false story they told the police."

"Several eyewitnesses saw and clearly heard the incident. The counter-claim is completely without merit," Raley said in a statement.

The case, which was originally filed in Houston state civil court, has been moved to federal court by LaBelle's attorneys, Raley said.

The initial police investigation named King as the suspect in the case. But since the lawsuit was filed, the Houston police department reopened its investigation and it is also looking into the actions of two officers who were seen on the surveillance video taking photos with LaBelle after the alleged beating.

Raley said the incident was reported to West Point, which suspended the cadet for at least one year and ordered him to go on active duty.

King's lawsuit and LaBelle's countersuit are asking for unspecified damages.

LaBelle's singing career has spanned more than four decades and includes several hit records and two Grammy Awards.

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Steve Harvey, Patti LaBelle honored at BET Awards (AP)

LOS ANGELES – Amid awards for the top artists, actors and athletes, Steve Harvey was recognized for his humanitarian work at the BET Awards.

BET Chairman and Chief Executive Debra Lee called the 54-year-old entertainer "a true gentleman who acts like a comedian but thinks like a citizen of the world" as she presented him with the Humanitarian Award.

Harvey thanked God and his fellow philanthropists as he accepted the honor.

Patti LaBelle also accepted a special honor at Sunday's ceremony: Gladys Knight presented her with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

"I plan to hold myself up higher because I've gotten this wonderful award," the 67-year-old singer said, and then she grabbed a microphone and sang a pair of hits, including the breakthrough "Lady Marmalade."

Harvey and LaBelle were among dozens of artists recognized at the BET Awards, which were presented at the Shrine Auditorium.

The night's leading nominee, Chris Brown won a pair of prizes early in the show. The 21-year-old singer was named best male R&B artist and won best collaboration for his song "Look At Me Now" with Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes.

Brown accepted the collaboration award after performing a medley that including the winning track.

"Public-speaking is not my strong suit," he said, thanking BET and his fans before passing the microphone to Wayne, who expressed gratitude to Brown for including him on the track. Busta Rhymes rapped his acceptance.

Earlier in the ceremony, Brown also thanked his fans and the network: "I appreciate all the support. I know it's been a long road, so I appreciate every blessing in front of me."

Lil Wayne also came on stage when Nicki Minaj accepted her award for best female hip-hop artist.

"I can't believe for the first time I get to share a moment like this with the person who saw me rapping on a staircase," she said of the rapper and producer, who was incarcerated when she won the same prize last year. "Lil Wayne, I love you."

Minaj was joined by Justin Bieber to present the male hip-hop artist award later in the show. Kanye West won but wasn't on hand to accept the trophy.

Instead of traditional awards-show winners' envelopes, winners were revealed on a tablet device provided by Sprint.

Diddy Dirty Money was named best group. Jaden Smith and Willow Smith were also early winners. The son and daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith tied as winners of the Young Stars award.

But the show was really about the performances, which were plentiful. Mary J. Blige opened the ceremony, performing her hits "All Night Long" and "Real Love" before being joined by Anita Baker. The divas performed a duet of "Caught Up in the Rapture."

Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled and Ace Hood shared the stage for "Hustle Hard." Alicia Keys unveiled a new song, before lapsing into "A Woman's Worth," for which she was joined by Bruno Mars, and her hit, "Fallin'."

Jill Scott sang in a speakeasy setting. Trey Songz took off his shirt during his performance, even after host Kevin Hart said the young singer looks "like a beige greyhound" shirtless.

Donnie McClurkin kicked off a gospel celebration, with Mary Mary and Deitrick Haddon joining in to sing "Thank You."

Beyonce performed from across the pond: Her headlining set at the Glastonbury Music Festival was beamed into the Shrine from England.

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Sandy Cohen can be reached at www.twitter.com/APSandy.

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Online:

http://www.bet.com/betawards

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West Pointer who sued diva LaBelle leaves academy (AP)

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The U.S. Military Academy says a cadet who is suing R&B diva Patti LaBelle over a scrape at a Houston airport has left the academy at West Point.

A West Point spokeswoman says Richard King left the academy Monday. Lt. Col. Sherri Reed cited privacy laws that prevent her from saying if his exit was related to the lawsuit or the altercation.

The academy acknowledges it investigated the March 11 incident. King says he was in his hometown airport standing near LaBelle's luggage when three of her bodyguards attacked him. In court papers, he says LaBelle thought he was standing too close to her bags.

Video shows King on the phone and a shoving match ensuing, with three people pushing and punching King. His lawyer says he suffered a concussion.

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