Illegitimate blogs and news sources were trying to kick up dust when they falsely stated that Lisa Wu Hartwell (“Real Housewives of Atlanta” fame) and Malcolm Jamal Warner have dumped their significant others to begin an affair, so says Hartwell’s publicist.
This reporter was actually present when Warner, the director and star of BET’s “Reed Between the Lines” and Hartwell appeared in the media lounge at the Bronner Bros. International Hair Show in Atlanta on Saturday, Aug. 20. After Warner completed a round of individual photos and interviews, Hartwell appeared and took a few pedestrian photos with Warner at the request of photographers before he disappeared into the hair show exhibition hall. No sexual tension between the two could be detected and the brief photo op seemed innocuous.
But as Hartwell representative Jonell Whitt of Jonell PR said, since blogs do not have to operate within any journalistic parameters, some feel free to publish fabrications with aplomb and with little concern for consequences.
“This is another case of the blogs taking pictures and making vicious attacks on celebrity figures to gain hits on their sites,” Whitt said. “A key factor of this ridiculous rumor may be the fact that [Warner] is engaged to actress Regina King and the two have been happily dating for three years. Regina King was scheduled to be in Atlanta this weekend but had to go out of the country.”
Also contributing to the false rumors of a Lisa Wu-Malcolm affair is the fact that stories have been floating through cyberspace claiming that Lisa Wu and husband, former NFL star Ed Hartwell, are currently separated. It is true that Lisa Wu Hartwell has changed her Twitter name from @1LisaWuHartwell to @1LisaWu., while Ed Hartwell changed his Facebook status from “married” to “separated” recently. Lisa Wu confirmed the rumors of marital tumult via her Twitter page on Monday, Aug. 22.
“Sadly. We r separated but wld NEVER b over money,” Lisa tweeted. “That is so far frm the truth. Wish ppl cld respect ppl’s privacy during times like these.”
