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*A game of tit for tat has reportedly jumped off between a major record label and Rev. Al Sharpton at the convention of his National Action Network, which is nearing the end of its four-day run at the Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan.
Sharpton was one of the most vocal critics of Don Imus for his use of the word "ho" to describe the Rutgers women's basketball team. But the reverend was quickly labeled a hypocrite for failing to show the same relentless ire toward record companies that house rappers who use the same offensive term to describe women.
On Wednesday, Sharpton decided to cancel plans for his conference to honor Def Jam's Antonio "L.A." Reid, whose label distributes a number of rappers who use "ho" in their lyrics - including Ludacris (who boasts in one song that he has them in different area codes).
Once word of Sharpton's decision got to Def Jam's parent company Universal Music Group, the conglomerate reportedly demanded that its $15,000 donation to Sharpton's event be returned - immediately, sources tell the New York Post.
"It's absolutely not true," said a spokesman for Universal Music Group. The rep told the Post that there are no hard feelings over Sharpton's decision to withdraw the award for Reid. "We didn't ask for [our money] back."
Def Jam founder Russell Simmons didn't purchase his anticipated two tables at the National Action Network dinner Wednesday night, sources tell the Post. Tables are priced at $10,000 each. Sharpton believes that Simmons held out this year to retaliate against the reverend's post-Imus criticism of rap lyrics.
"Oh, you only bought tickets if he would agree with us on lyrics?" Sharpton said. "You weren't supporting the civil-rights cause, you weren't supporting the fight against police brutality? I've been against the lyrics all along."
Simmons denied that he didn't buy the tables and said he still planned to pay for them. "My credit with the rev is good," he said.
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