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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 08 > Entry
Ex-CNN broadcaster reportedly bares all
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So, this is why we don’t snap naked photos of ourselves and post them on the Internet (well, OK — one of the reasons …). Former Atlantan and ex-CNN Headline News reader Thomas Roberts could be having some uncomfortable meetings this weekend in Los Angeles with his new bosses at “The Insider.”
This week, gossip bloggers got a hold of a Manhunt.net profile purported to be Roberts’ and graciously splashed the naked full frontal and rear color photographs online. On the off chance you’re unfamiliar with Manhunt.net, it’s a gay male cruising Web site that enables its users to order up rendezvous with strangers the way other folks order pizzas.
On Friday, New York Post’s equally tasteful and reserved “Page Six” column reported: “Not even a week into his new gig at ‘The Insider,’ Roberts has brought yet another embarrassment to the syndicated Paramount TV show.” Online media gossip site Gawker.com also ran with the story Friday.
But hold the phone a second: The last time we checked, Roberts, who notably came out last year at the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association convention in Miami, was in a serious long-term relationship. He and his partner recently sold their house here to relocate to Los Angeles where Roberts is busy shooting video packages for fall “Insider” entertainment stories.
A friend close to Roberts confirmed his relationship status when we rang Friday.
On Friday, “Insider” rep. Lisa Summers Haas e-mailed us the following statement: “We have hired Thomas Roberts from CNN for his journalistic strengths and integrity. It is unfortunate that after four days on the job at ‘The Insider’ he has become a victim of this malicious personal attack.”
As you probably noted, the statement stops short of saying the Manhunt profile does not belong to their corespondent.
Still, given the usual editorial mix on “The Insider” (i.e. if this didn’t concern a employee, they’d be all over this story) we can’t imagine that this could do any long-term harm to the celebrity-driven TV news magazine’s brand.
Vodka adds life
There was plenty of fizz at the debut for Atlanta magazine’s redesign party at the new World of Coke downtown Thursday night. The cover-to-cover refurbishing (editor Rebecca Burns calls it a “remodel”) launched in the mag’s September Style Issue was overseen by the mag’s new design director Hector Sanchez and includes a hot new logo created by Jim Parkinson. Atlanta publisher Sean McGinnis told Buzz the endeavor took a year to complete.
Upon encountering the new look, some attendees whispered that the mag’s visuals have finally caught up to the editorial strides Burns has made to make Atlanta more reflective of the city’s current growth and multicultural look.
While Burns is happy with the current issue, she was beaming about the glossy’s first-ever “International Atlanta” issue coming in October.
Upstairs, the World of Coke’s popular global soft drink tasting stations were particularly popular. Smirnoff vodka was being added as a garnish, you see.
Speaking of surprises, we were introduced to the magazine’s top-secret, new film authority on Thursday night as well. While we were sworn to secrecy, we can tell you that the native Atlantan’s work begins in Atlanta’s December issue.
On the charts
The good news — and tunes — just keep on coming from the metro area, music wise. As reported Friday, Christian rock band Casting Crowns made history this week, with its latest CD “The Altar and the Door” debuting in the No. 2 position on the Billboard 200 album chart. That’s the highest-ever entry for an act marketed solely through Christian channels and with no general market radio support. Meanwhile Atlanta-based rapper Soulja Boy climbed to the No. 1 position of Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart with “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”. (Plus, it tops the Hot Digital Songs listing). Atlanta’s Keyshia Cole — who just helped launch the NFL regular season Thursday night — holds the No. 1 position on the publication’s R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart, with “Let It Go.” Atlanta rapper Yung Joc sits across from her on the throne of the R&B/Hip-Hop albums, with his second CD “Hustlenomics.” Still with us? Atlanta singer/producer T-Pain is featured on the No. 1 Rap Track, “Shawty,” by Plies. And how’s this for reach — the No. 1 single on Billboard’s Eurochart Top 100 is “The Way I Are,” by Timbaland, and featuring Atlantan Keri Hilson.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Today: Comedian Sid Caesar is 85. Actor Henry Thomas (“E.T.”) is 36. Singer Pink is 28. Actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas (“Home Improvement”) is 26.
Sunday: Actor Tom Wopat is 56. Actor Hugh Grant is 47. Actor-comedian Adam Sandler is 41. Actor Goran Visnjic (“ER”) is 35. Singer Michael Buble is 32. Actress Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain,” “Dawson’s Creek”) is 27.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Since I am in the image business, it is very important that I look as current as my clients and the products and services they sell and I promote. If I stopped … I would feel at a disadvantage competitively. In the South, if [a woman] is not well maintained and current, one will hear whispers of ‘Bless her heart.’ ” — Atlanta public relations executive Meg Reggie on how the success of feminism is driving women to dye their tresses, in this week’s Time magazine.
Contributing: Sonia Murray and news services.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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