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Sideshow: Apology sought from Lil Wayne

Then-newlyweds Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries in 2011. EVAN AGOSTINI / AP, File

GALLERY: Then-newlyweds Kim Kardashian and…

By Tirdad Derakhshani, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: February 17, 2013

Does Lil Wayne realize how damaging he was to the late Emmett Till's memory and to the civil rights legacy when he made sexual references in his depiction of Till's beating death in a remix of Future's "Karate Chop"?

So asks a Till cousin, Airickca Gordon-Taylor, who wants Wayne to issue an apology. Till, 14, was murdered for allegedly flirting with a white woman. "It was a heinous murder," his cousin says. "He was brutally beaten and tortured, and he was shot, wrapped in barbed wire, and tossed in the Tallahatchie River."

Wayne remains silent.

Newton on abuse

British thesp Thandie Newton, 40, tells CNN a casting director sexually abused her when she was 16. She was appalled but was too inexperienced to object. She shared the story to support One Billion Rising, a campaign that protests violence against women.

Hewitt does yoga

Masterpiece of anatomy Jennifer Love Hewitt says she's found a type of yoga that helps shed the pounds. "Buti has given my arms and shoulders definition, and helped to lift my butt, too," she tells Shape mag.

Kim K., Kris divorce

L.A. Superior Court Judge Stephen Moloney on Friday set a May 6 court date for the trial of the century: the Kim Kardashian- Kris Humphries 72-day marriage divorce follies. Kris' side wants more time to gather evidence to prove Kim wed him only as a publicity stunt. Kim wants to move on so she can be a good mom to her bairn (due in July) with Kanye West.

Tidbits 'n' pieces

Charlie Sheen has donated $10,000 so teen Teagan Marti, 15, who was injured in a 2010 Wisconsin amusement park ride accident, can buy a therapy dog. . . . Sesame Street's Telly Monster promises to reveal a supersecret treat of a video once the show's official YouTube channel hits the one billion mark. It's very close. . . . Kirstie Alley and fellow Cheers alum Rhea Perlman will costar in a new TV Land sitcom, Kirstie's New Show, set to launch in the fall. . . . Police in Maryland on Thursday night arrested rapper 2 Chainz for marijuana possession. The artist was en route to play a show at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. . . . Less Than Perfect's Sara Rue, 34, on Friday said she and hub Kevin Price have welcomed their first child, daughter Talulah.

'Idol' dumps locals

American Idol announced its Top 40 Thursday night, and, alas, none is from the immediate Philadelphia area. The most local performer left is Chris Watson, a head-scarf-sporting dude who grew up in Dover, Del., and lives in Central Jersey.

Gone are Taylor Ivy Rand, the Chickie's & Pete's hostess who graduated from Girls High; Courtney Calle, a student at Council Rock North; and Zach Birnbaum, a student at Cherry Hill High School West.

- Peter Mucha

This article includes information from Inquirer wire services. Contact "SideShow" at sideshow@phillynews.com.