Kobe Bryant Has A New Baby Mama + Ciara Gets Dropped & El DeBarge Back To Rehab

freddyo12

February 16, 2011

It’s time for another FreddyO celebrity gossip roundup, and this week the rumor mill is working overtime. From an NBA superstar caught up in baby mama whispers, to an Atlanta songbird reportedly parting ways with her label, to an R&B legend making the brave decision to go back to rehab — FreddyO is breaking down the stories everybody is talking about, in that order. Get your tea ready, because this roundup is a lot.

First up, Kobe Bryant. Word on the street — and we stress, this is gossip, not gospel — is that a young lady is claiming the Lakers star has a baby on the way outside of his marriage to Vanessa. The blogs have been buzzing about the Black Mamba for days, and as FreddyO points out in the video, superstar athletes at Kobe’s level are magnets for exactly this kind of story, true or not. Kobe and Vanessa have been through public storms before and come out the other side together, so the real story here is how fast a rumor can catch fire when it has a famous name attached to it. Until somebody produces receipts, file this one under talk — loud talk, but talk.

Then there’s Atlanta’s own Ciara. Reports say the Goodies singer has been dropped by Jive Records following the disappointing rollout of her Basic Instinct album — and other reports say Ciara herself was ready to move on from a label that wasn’t pushing her the way she deserved. Either way, nobody in this city is writing CiCi off: the talent, the stage show, and the fan base are all still there, and a fresh start might be exactly what she needs. And finally, sending love to El DeBarge, who has reportedly checked himself back into rehab and stepped away from tour plans to deal with his addiction. After his big comeback with Second Chance, fans everywhere are praying the Faithful singer takes all the time he needs and comes back stronger.

Press play above for the full roundup — FreddyO’s take on the Kobe rumors, the Ciara label drama, and El DeBarge’s road to recovery — then keep scrolling for more FreddyO exclusives. Which story shocked you the most? Drop a comment and let us know.