Wyclef Jean Presidential Bid Squashed By Haiti Officials

‘Though I disagree with the ruling, I respectfully accept the committee’s final decision,’ Jean says.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

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Wyclef Jean


Photo: Steve Mack/ Getty Images

Wyclef Jean is officially out of the running to be Haiti’s next president.

Haitian election officials put the kibosh on the musician’s bid to lead the troubled island nation, according to The Associated Press.

“Though I disagree with the ruling, I respectfully accept the committee’s final decision, and I urge my supporters to do the same,” Jean said in a statement. “I want to assure my countrymen that I will continue to work for Haiti’s renewal; though the board has determined that I am not a resident of Haiti, home is where the heart is — and my heart has and will always be in Haiti.”

The Haitian electoral council reportedly did not reveal why Jean was found ineligible to become an official candidate, but the singer has been dogged by questions about his status as a resident of Haiti. The news comes after recent reports indicated that Jean was not on the approved list of candidates for the November 28 election.

Jean’s attempt to become president of Haiti has been a brief but memorable endeavor. After speculation that the Grammy-winning artist would seek political office reached a fever pitch, Jean announced his intention to run for president on August 5 on CNN’s “Larry King Live.” The MC said that he was inspired to enter the political arena after witnessing the devastating effects of the January earthquake that has ravaged the nation.

“After January 12 … being out here with my wife and picking up dead bodies from the ground, I felt that because of the youth of Haiti and the population, that this is not even Wyclef saying that ‘I want to be the president of Haiti.’ I feel like I’m being drafted by the population right now to give them a different face, a different voice,” Jean said.

However, Jean’s political aspirations were quickly questioned by high-profile critics such as actor Sean Penn and Jean’s former Fugees bandmate Pras. Pras told MTV News that he didn’t believe the chart-topping artist had the experience to guide the country through its range of complex issues.

“He talks about health care, he talks about education, he talks about infrastructure,” Pras said. “But that’s in any society. That’s right here in America, we need that. But how are you gonna get to that point? There’s a short-term goal that needs to be addressed and there’s a long-term goal. To be honest with you, the short term is probably more important than the long term. And he didn’t even mention the short term.”

How do you feel now that Wyclef won’t be Haiti’s next president? Let us know in the comments below!

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‘ROUND THE WAY: WYCLEF ANNOUNCES BID FOR HAITIAN PRESIDENCY

On Thursday night, three-time Grammy winner Wyclef Jean announced his intent to run for president of his native Haiti on Larry King Live. Earlier in the day, he filed papers at the electoral council to run as a candidate for the Viv Ansanm (Live Together) political party. Check out his first campaign video below, highlighting the Fas a Fas (Face to Face) emerging Haitian youth movement.

He must be cleared to run by the nation’s electoral council which will determine whether he meets certain requirements such as proving he never renounced his Haitian citizenship by holding another passport and that he has been a Haitian resident for the past five years.

The campaign will argue that while he hasn’t done so, his role as ambassador should exempt him from the requirement since he’s been working to help build the nation’s image since Jan. 2007. “Even if I lose, I win. It gives us an opportunity to be a voice to speak to government about what happens,” Jean said at a rally in the capital of Port-au-Prince. Authorities have until Aug. 17 to approve or reject his candidacy for the Nov. 28 ballot.

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Mariah Carey Was Emotionally Abused, She Reveals

And she implies it was by ex-husband Tommy Mottola!

Mariah Carey revealed on Larry King Live that she has also been affected by abuse in relationships:

“Abuse has several categories. Emotionally, mentally, in other ways. I just think you get into a situation and you feel locked in — if your situation is similar to one of the situations I’ve been in, which I won’t harp on. For me, to really get out, it was difficult because there was a connection that was not only a marriage but a business thing where the person was in control of my life.”

Mariah also feels for Rihanna‘s terrible situation with Chris Brown:

“I was very sequestered, as you know, when I first started out and if I were just allowed to be young and with a young boyfriend who’s also a star and you know, you’re working and you’re both — I don’t know what goes on. You know what I mean? So it’s like, I wasn’t really allowed out of the house, so I can’t imagine what she went through.”

As for any baby news with hubby Nick Cannon, Mariah responded:

“Right now? I’m going to take a swig of my scotch and let you know. [Being pregnant] would be the happiest thing in my life, but what I’m saying is right now with this movie [Precious] coming out, with the next few singles from the album and those things that I’m doing, I need to focus on that because I cannot do the having-a-child thing halfway. I wouldn’t be just like, ‘Oh, I’m having a child, yay! Let me get a nanny so I can give her the baby. Take the kid.’ That doesn’t work me. I don’t believe in that.”

Well that clears up those rumors…for now!

Sounds like she had a difficult marriage with Tommy Mottola, but we all know she’s pretty pleased with current husband Nick. They’re kind of a nauseating couple, but they do seem really happy.

Good for you, Mimoo!

[Image via Apega / WENN.]

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Did Jon Gosselin Subtract Big Bucks From His and Kate’s Bank Account?

So, this is the “man” you’re striving to be, Jon Gosselin?

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Kate’s Lawyer To Jon: Suck It!

There’s no turning back now! The gloves are off and now everyone has a lawyer to speak their minds.

While Jon Gosselin dragged his on to Larry King Live last night to make sure that Jon’s arguments sounded valid and sincere (they didn’t, but we digress), Kate Gosselin’s representation has come forward and was on the Today show to put the slam down on Jon. He appeared on the show alone, since Kate had to care for the children.

You remember doing that, don’t you Jon?

Kate’s lawyer, Mark Momjian, first and foremost, would like jon to know that the chances of him halting the production of their reality show all together is unlikely:

“These parties entered into an agreement once the divorce action was filed that allowed each parent – who had physical custody of the children – to make the filming decisions when the children were with them. When the children are with Kate, Jon agreed that Kate would make the filming decisions involving the kids.”

And since the show has been renamed Kate Plus Eight, we think it is better that way! Mark was also asked about Kate and her relationship with her estranged husband and he admits that she “really does want to engage Jon, it’s just that he’s not engaging her back. And that’s really regrettable in any custody case.”

That we don’t much believe. She puts on a good front for the cameras, which we commend her for, but behind the scenes, we are sure she is a bitter bitch in terms of Jon.

Mark reveals that Kate has every intention to continue on with the show as long as TLC wants and as for Jon and his “epiphany” about unhealthy this lifestyle is for his kids:

“This is less about a change of heart and more about a change of strategy on Jon’s part.”

We couldn’t agree more.

[Image via WENN.]

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