KANYE UPSET WITH MEDIA REPORTS OF HOUSTON SNAFU: 'They always try 2 make it seem like everything is about my ego!'

Kanye West used his Web site to strike back at media reports that characterized his reaction to technical glitches at a Houston gig as him having yet another tantrum.

As previously reported, the rapper was performing Friday at the city's Woodlands Pavilion when side monitors failed to work. He reportedly cursed out the tech folks and left the stage after his repeated requests to shut off the screens were ignored. He returned eventually to finish the show.

West says he lost his cool only out of concern for audience members, who were not getting the full "Glow in the Dark" tour experience due to the broken monitors.

He writes on his Internet page: "We were having a lot of technical issues due 2 the heat. The 2 huge screens on both sides of the stage were glaring bright blue like when your DVD player acts up at home. I asked for them 2 turn the screens off 3 times because it was distracting 2 the show. The fans were not getting what they paid for. I admit, in my frustration, I did use profanity on the 4th time I asked. I stopped the show 2 go over and check it out myself.

"Unfortunately for certain media outlets, you will never be able 2 'Michael Jackson' me. That means 2 make it seem like everything I do is so weird or out of place… they always try 2 make it seem like everything is about my ego! That joke is getting old.

"At a certain point you have 2 respect that I'm one of the last artists that still cares about the fans having the best time of there lives!"

BARBARA WALTERS HAD AN INTERRACIAL AFFAIR: 'View' boss to tell the whole story on Tuesday's 'Oprah.'

Barbara Walters just taped an episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in which she revealed a past affair with an African American senator that lasted several years during the 1970s.

A moderate Republican from Massachusetts who took office in 1967, Senator Edward Brooke was the first African-American to be popularly elected to the Senate.

At the time of their secret relationship, the twice-divorced Walters was building a career in TV news as co-host of NBC's "Today" show before moving to ABC News.

Her affair with Brooke, which never came to light, had ended before he lost his bid for a third term in 1978.

Walters told Winfrey about a phone call from a friend who urged her to stop seeing the lawmaker.

"He said, 'This is going to come out. This is going to ruin your career,'" then reminded her that Brooke was up for re-election a year later. "'This is going to ruin him. You've got to break this off.'"

Winfrey asks Walters if she was in love.

"I was certainly — I don't know — I was certainly infatuated."

"Infatuated."

"I was certainly involved," Walters says. "He was exciting. He was brilliant. It was exciting times in Washington."

Walters was on the "Oprah" show to plug her new memoir, "Audition," which covers her long career in television, as well as her off-camera life – including the affair.

NEVILLE BROS TAKE STAGE AT N.O. JAZZ FEST: Siblings together for first time since Katrina destroyed their homes.

The Neville Brothers, who traditionally help close out the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, returned to the stage Sunday for the first time since their homes were wiped out by Hurricane Katrina.

The brothers — Aaron, Art, Cyril and Charles — performed on the festival's biggest stage in front of an immense crowd that appeared delighted to have them back, reports the Associated Press.

"This is a family reunion," festival producer Quint Davis said in introducing them. "This is the family of New Orleans coming together with the first family of our music."

The siblings opened with songs about Mardi Gras and The Wild Tchoupitoulas, a Mardi Gras group that danced onstage with them. Aaron Neville sang his hit "Tell It Like It Is," and later "Amazing Grace." The set wrapped with "Big Chief" to extended cheers.

For the first time since Katrina, the festival returned to a seven-day format stretched over two weekends. Santana, The Radiators, The Pfister Sisters and Snooks Eaglin were also on the bill. Irma Thomas, Marva Wright and Raychell Richard performed a tribute to Mahalia Jackson.

ARE NICK AND MARIAH MARRIED?: And did Nick give Mimi the same engagement ring that he gave Selita?

In just the past three days, rumors surrounding the relationship between Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon have gone from dating speculation, to engagement questions, to reports that the two are now husband and wife.

Latina magazine reported yesterday that the couple exchanged vows Wednesday in a small ceremony on an undisclosed island. An unnamed source called it a "very impulsive" ceremony. Guests reportedly included Carey's homegirl, Da Brat.

Meanwhile, there are also rumors that the ring Cannon reportedly bought for Carey is actually the exact same engagement ring that he gave to his ex-fiancé Selita Ebanks one year ago during a spectacle-of-a-proposal in Times Square.

Ebanks, a Victoria's Secret model, told Us Magazine that she had nothing to say about Cannon's alleged marriage. "I have no comment but wish them well," she told the magazine.

Nick and Mariah reportedly met in March when he directed the video for her new single, "Bye Bye," and Us reported that an unnamed "inside" source said the romance was "hot and heavy."

TABLOIDS SAY BOBBY KRISTINA ATTEMPTED SUICIDE: Whitney and Bobby's daughter reportedly taken to a psych ward in Atlanta.

The National Enquirer reported Thursday that Bobbi Kristina, the 15-year-old daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, tried to stab her mother during an argument - and then attempted to slash her own wrists.

The tabloid claims to have gotten the news from a family member named Ann Davis, who said the episode took place a few days before the teen's 15th birthday party. According to Davis, Bobbi Kristina "tried to stab Whitney" with a razor before turning it on herself.

Davis said the girl has been troubled lately because she doesn't want to live with her mother, who just performed in Tobago last weekend and has been living in Los Angeles while recording a new album.

The Enquirer reported that Bobbi Kristina has been "running around and drinking and partying" in Atlanta while living with Whitney's brother Gary and his wife. When Whitney came to Atlanta to confront her daughter, they had a heated argument that resulted in BK's reported attempt to slice her mother before committing suicide.

She was immediately taken to a psychiatric ward for a three day stay, the Enquirer reported

DAMON WAYANS COMING BACK TO ABC: Actor cast in comedy pilot 'Never Better.'

Damon Wayans will return to ABC as the executive producer and star of "Never Better," a comedy pilot from the network's production company, ABC Studios.

The show revolves around a recovering alcoholic who's determined to be a good husband and father despite his many missteps.

The single-camera project is based on a British series that recently made its debut on BBC2. The property had been given a cast-contingency order from ABC, but Wayans' commitment makes it a go pilot for the network, reports Variety.

Wayans previously starred on ABC in the comedy "My Wife and Kids," which was also produced through ABC Studios and lasted from 2001 through 2005.

LIL WAYNE ADDED TO TIM STORY'S 'PATRIOTS': New Orleans rapper to play high school basketball player post Katrina.

"Lollipop" rapper Lil' Wayne has been added to the cast of director Tim Story's upcoming film "The Patriots."

Forest Whitaker stars as a high school basketball coach whose team consisted of players hailing from five different schools that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Lil' Wayne plays the character Lamont, a student at Al Collins High School who is a skeptic of the newly-assembled team.

The movie from the Weinstein Co. began filming in New Orleans this week.

ZAHARA AND HER DADDY GO SHOPPING: Brad Pitt takes daughter out for a day at The Grove in Los Angeles.

Before the Jolie-Pitts took off to the South of France for an extended stay, Brad Pitt and their daughter Zahara went on a little shopping spree all by themselves.

The two were spotted at The Grove in Los Angeles visiting the American Girl store.

According to gossip maven Janet Charlton, "Brad took Zahara upstairs and had her pick out her first American Girl doll - a Bitty Baby doll that looked just like her with the same skin and hair color. It comes with a little book. Afterward he took Zahara out for her favorite ice cream."

The entire family arrived in Nice late Monday with her family, two nannies and three bodyguards. Jolie will stay with Pitt during the May 14-25 Cannes Film Festival to promote "Kung Fu Panda," and Clint Eastwood's "The Changeling."

Gossip columns say Jolie is pregnant with twins and plans to give birth in France.

FORMER NBA STAR DRAWN INTO LOWE NANNY DRAMA: Dale Davis dated ex-employee who is now countersuing Lowes for sexual harassment.

Former Indiana Pacers player Dale Davis has ended up in the current Rob Lowe legal drama involving the actor's former nanny.

Laura Boyce is one of three ex-employees sued last month by Rob Lowe and his wife Sheryl. The Lowes' lawsuit claims the former workers spread lies about the couple and broke confidentiality agreements.

Yesterday, Boyce countersued the Lowes for sexual harassment, claiming Sheryl made inappropriate sexual remarks around her, including racist comments about Sheryl's boyfriend and his genitals.

According to TMZ.com, the boyfriend in question is Dale Davis. According to the Web site, Boyce claims Sheryl once said Boyce "got strep throat from sucking ni***r d**k. I mean black d**k."

Larry Stein, Sheryl's lawyer, tells TMZ the allegations are false and notes that the former nanny didn't make a single sexual harassment claim against Rob Lowe. Meanwhile, another of the three targets sued by the Lowes, Jessica Gibson, also has countersued, claiming Rob Lowe sexually harassed her.

TYRA, 'VIEW' LADIES NOMINATED FOR EMMYS: 'The Young and the Restless,' 'General Hospital' and 'Guiding Light' also up for awards.

"The Tyra Banks Show" and co-hosts of ABC's "The View" were among the nominees for Daytime Emmys announced Wednesday morning on the latter program's New York set.

Banks appears in the newly-created category of best informative talk show against fellow nominees "Dr. Phil" and "A Place of Our Own."

"The View," meanwhile, will compete in the best talk show field alongside "Rachael Ray" and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." "The View" hosts Barbara Walters, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd are among the nominees for best talk show host — and get another a chance to break their 10-time losing streak in the category.

Nominations for best daytime serial went to "General Hospital," "Guiding Light," "One Life to Live" and "The Young and the Restless."

Winners will be announced June 20 in Los Angeles.