Odds & Ends: Rick Ross, Bill Wyman & Joe Jonas

Reebok (and Rocko’s “U.O.E.N.O.” song) drop Rick Ross in response to the furor over his reputed pro-rape lyrics, Joe Jonas films a silly video message to invite a fan to the first stop of the Jonas Brothers’ tour, and Bill Wyman explains why he’s not on The Rolling Stones’ 2013 tour.

Promoter Urban Jamz Ent. announced last week that Rick Ross’ April 9 gig in Ottawa was canceled because of security concerns “due to the protest surrounding [his] latest song “U.O.E.N.O.” This week isn’t going any better for the rapper or his reputation.

The controversy stems from Ross’ cameo in Rocko’s tune in which Ross raps about slipping a form of ecstasy into a girl’s drink – “Put molly all in her champagne, she ain’t even know it / I took her home and I enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it.”

Photo: AP Photo / Keystone
Openair Frauenfeld, Festival Grounds, Frauenfeld, Switzerland

Women’s rights group UltraViolet called on Reebok to end its relationship with the rapper by starting a petition and protesting outside the company’s Manhattan store April 4.

Reebok, which has stayed silent about the issue, issued a statement today saying it has cut its ties with the rapper.

“Reebok holds our partners to a high standard and we expect them to live up to the values of our brand. Unfortunately, Rick Ross has failed to do so.” The company added, “We are very disappointed (Ross) has yet to display an understanding of the seriousness of this issue.”

The news came hours after Rocko told New York radio station Hot 97 that he planned to switch Ross’ lyrics with a cameo from another artist.

Ross halfheartedly apologized on Twitter last week, saying, “I don’t condone rape. Apologies for the #lyric interpreted as rape.”

Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman took the stage at the band’s 50th anniversary shows at The O2 in London in November, but don’t count on seeing him on the U.S. tour this year.

Wyman told U.K. tabloid newspaper the Daily Express that he was disappointed in only getting to play a few songs with his old bandmates in London.

“It was great for five minutes because that’s about as long as they let me play. I thought I was going to get quite heavily involved because I was led to believe that throughout the year by them.”

Photo: AP Photo/File
Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards rehearsing at an unknown location.

He added, “I came off just as I was warming up and getting into it. When they asked me to go to America for two weeks to do three shows there, I said ‘For two songs? No thank you.’”

The Daily Express asked what Wyman would say if Mick Jagger wanted him to play with the band on a permanent basis.

“I’d say ‘no.’ Thirty years was great but I’ve got better things to be doing now. That time has gone.”

Fans can catch both The Rolling Stones and Bill Wyman & The Rhythm Kings at Glastonbury Festival in late June.

This isn’t another story about a singer saying yes to a fan’s request to go to a dance. This is a story about Joe Jonas saying no.    

To convince the Jonas Brother to accompany her to her sorority formal dance, Pepperdine University senior Shaina Kohli put together a three-and-a-half minute YouTube video with help from her friends and classmates vouching for reasons why he should say yes. Posted April 2, the vid has since racked up over 89,000 hits.

One viewer was Joe, who responded by posting his own video featuring the musician cozying up to a fake fire on the TV while wearing a racing suit and listening to George Michael’s “Careless Whisper.”

“Shaina, hello you little thing you. You sassy little thing you. It’s your friend Joe,” he says in the opening of the video. Although he said he can’t make it to the April 13 dance, he had another idea, inviting Kohli to fly out to the first stop of the Jonas Brothers’ upcoming U.S. tour July 10 in Chicago. He offered her the choice of a seat in the front row or up on stage.

Joe’s video was unveiled during an appearance with Kohli on NBC’s “Today” show this morning. The Jonas Brother himself was there in the audience, disguised with a wig and prosthetic nose.