Taye Digs, wife Idina Menzel welcome new son

Behind the Scenes

By Antracia Merrill-Moorings

Bouncing Baby Boy: Congrats to actor Taye Diggs and his wife Idina Menzel. The couple welcomed a son, Walker Diggs, on Sept. 2, the couple’s reps confirmed. “Mother, father and son are all doing well,” the reps said in a statement. The couple announced the pregnancy in March, later sharing that the baby was a boy. Although they had a few names in mind, Diggs said they were waiting to make a final decision. “We have a couple [names] in the running,” the Private Practice star explained. “But, part of us wants to see what he hits us with when we see him. We’ll see what he looks like.” Walker is the first child for Menzel and Diggs, who are both 38 and met on the 1996 Broadway production of Rent. They wed in January 2003.

Getting Generous: Grammywinning rapper Ludacris has given away 20 cars to people who wrote about their struggles to keep their jobs for a lack of wheels of their own. Ludacris said he was taken aback after reading thousands of essays by people struggling or unable to buy cars needed to get to and from work or find jobs. The 31- year-old rapper felt he could step in and move them ahead, partnering with a suburban Atlanta dealership for the giveaway. “People are getting laid off, and now are looking for jobs,” Ludacris said. “To be efficient, you need some transportation of your own to get there. That’s why I wanted to give back to those who need it.” Each of the used vehicles included free gas for 30 days. Winning contestants were responsible for tags, registration, tax and insurance. About 4,000 contestants submitted a 300-word essay to the rapper’s foundation, explaining why they deserved a car. One of the most touching stories Ludacris read was by Mading Duor. Duor described how he moved to the U.S. six years ago after his mother, father, and five brothers and sisters were killed in Sudan. The man also wrote that a son was killed by a drunken driver in Atlanta a few years back. “His story touched my heart,” Ludacris said. “He’s endured so much in his life and he’s still here standing. I’m very proud to have helped him.” Duor, 33, has been able to keep a steady job at a school, but each day he felt stressed about how he was going to get to work. No longer. “I’m so happy, that I’m nervous,” said Duor, who won a Nissan Maxima. “When I look at my new car, I say to myself, ‘Is this really happening?’“

Briefly, A court in Nevada has denied O.J. Simpson’s request to be let out on bail as he appeals his kidnap and robbery conviction. The former NFL star-turned-actor is serving a minimum of nine years in prison after he was found guilty of masterminding a heist on two sports memorabilia dealers’ hotel room in September 2007. He was convicted in December. Simpson filed an appeal in May, claiming judicial misconduct, a lack of racial diversity on the jury and errors in sentencing and jury instructions….Fox has hired a writer to pen a second sequel in the “Big Momma’s House” franchise, which features Martin Lawrence as an undercover agent disguised primarily as a grandmother. Attached to “Big Momma’s House 3” so far are screenwriter Randi Mayem Singer, and producers New Regency and David Friendly repeating their duties from the first two pics, reports Variety. The original film grossed $174 million worldwide in 2000 while “Big Momma’s House 2” pulled in another $138 million in 2006.… Compton, Calif., native Tyrese Gibson serves as the executive producer and narrator of BET’s upcoming reality show “First In,” which follows the lives of firefighters and paramedics in his hometown. It premieres at 10 p.m., Sept. 30.

This is part of the September 16, 2009 online edition of Frost Illustrated.

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