Usher and wife Tameka file for divorce in Atlanta

In further sad proof that celebrity status is no friend of a marriage, news is emerging that Usher and his wife, Tameka Foster, are calling it quits. Papers were filed in Atlanta today.
Married in August of 2007, the Grammy-winning artist and Tameka have been living apart for almost a year, but a friend says their two children, 18-month old Usher Raymond V, and baby, Naviyd, 6-months, will be their father�s first thought in the upcoming storm; �Usher�s big concern is his children. He is a great father and just wants to do what is right for them,� People�s scribes were assured.
These are not the first troubled waters with which their now-sinking union has met; Last November, Usher, 31, was seen openly flirting with other women at a social gig in Miami - even asking one out on a date. And in February, Tameka suffered cardiac arrest while being prepped for liposuction in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Usher flew to her bedside and helped pull her through, but admitted to reporters he had no idea she was even there for an op.

It sounds like this sad train-wreck has been some time in coming.Source: hotmommagossip.com

Usher celebrates wife's recovery - with strippers

Like any good husband whose wife almost died trying to make herself look beautiful for you, Usher celebrated Tameka's recovery in Paris by surrounding himself with strippers and spraying them with champagne. Which is pretty much the core to a successful marriage. Just ask my third wife once she's done packing her things and throwing my shit on the lawn. Love ya, babe!

Source: thesuperficial.com

Tameka Raymond - From a liposuction to a medically-induced coma

A Brazilian plastic surgeon has revealed details of the procedure that temporarily left Usher's wife, Tameka Raymond, in a medically-induced coma.

Two months after giving birth to the couple's second son, Raymond, 38, traveled to Brazil to have liposuction on her stomach, says Ellen Dasptry, a rep for Sao Paulo plastic surgeon Dr. Silvio Sterman, who was to have performed the surgery. "Tameka Raymond came here on Friday to do a liposuction. Shortly after she went under [general] anesthesia, she suffered a cardiac arrest," Dasptry tells PEOPLE.
Induced ComaRaymond never had the liposuction. According to Dasptry, after her cardiac arrest, Raymond was immediately revived and placed in an induced coma. "When an attack like this happens, the doctors put the patient to sleep... and make sure that everything is okay and that there has not been any damage," explains Dasptry. "This is the protocol every time and this is what was done." After a day in the ICU, Raymond was transferred to a larger facility, Sao Paulo's Hospital S�rio-Liban�s, considered one of the finest in Brazil, says Dasptry. After nearly a week of recovery, she "is doing very well," says the surgeon's spokeswoman.
Usher Flies to Her SideOn Saturday, Usher canceled a performance at Clive Davis' pre-Grammy gala to fly to Brazil to be at his wife's side. Davis told partygoers the singer had to leave due to "serious injury in the family." Usher and Raymond have two sons: Usher Raymond V, 1, and Naveid Ely Raymond, who is two months old. Raymond also has three sons from a previous relationship. On Feb. 8, Usher's rep Simone Smalls issued a statement on the star's behalf: "Tameka Raymond is in stable condition after suffering complications from routine surgery in Brazil. Her husband Usher is with her at the hospital. No further details will be released, and the family requests privacy at this difficult time." Raymond's case has stirred debate within the medical world over whether a wait of two months between giving birth and undergoing liposuction is sufficiently long.

Source:people.com

"Converting" to Scientology

I've recently seen several articles about Usher "converting" to Scientology. (Example: Usher Scientologist; Usher Converts To Scientology). Not being a close intimate of the singer I can't confirm or deny the reports about his interest in Scientology, but I can tell you that he has not "converted" to Scientology because there is no such thing as "converting" to Scientology.

The problem with the word "convert" is that it carries the connotation of rejecting one religious belief and adopting another. That is not how Scientology works. Most Western and some Eastern religions are exclusive, meaning if you are in the religion then you can't be in another one. So, for example, if you are a Christian you can't also be a Muslim. Scientology is not an exclusive religion, instead it is inclusive, meaning that you can be a Scientologist and member of another religion.

That's a difficult concept to get your head around if the only religions you are familiar with are those originating from the Middle East, such as Christianity, Judaism or Islam. Scientology is a religion of wisdom rather than belief and it contains no dogma about God (or Jehovah or Allah or Godhead or whatever other term you want to use for that concept). Instead it contains knowledge, principles and workable practices for living life and improving yourself spiritually. Because it deals with fundamentals that most religions barely touch upon and it does not make pronouncements about the things that most religions do, then it is possible to be a Scientologist and a member of another religion.

A good description of this is given in the Scientology FAQs: "Scientology seeks to bring one to a new level of spiritual awareness where he can reach his own conclusions concerning the nature of God and what lies in store for him after his present lifetime. Thus, like many Eastern religions, salvation in Scientology is attained through personal spiritual growth and enlightenment." (from: Does Scientology have a concept of God?)

So, next time you read that some celebrity has "converted" to Scientology you will know how much hard research the journalist reporting the event has actually done and you'll be able to evaluate how accurate his reporting is.