This has gone around the Internet. Some think it's fake, but I can indeed say that Fox is indeed investigating Roger Friedman from Fox News over this. Here is part of the series of emails between him and Benny Medina, Mariah's Manager:

From: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, January 1, 2006 9:02 AM
To: rogerfriedman@att.net
Cc:
Subject: Happy New Year!

Roger:
Can you believe I’m up this early working. I’m going to be using this email address for our correspondence not my other address. also excuse my spelling and other grammar errors but it’s hard to type on this thing. anyway I hope you are planning to attend the O’Malley event tonight. there will be tons of surprises!


From: rogerfriedman@att.net
Sent: Monday, January 2, 2006 10:40 AM
To: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Cc:
Subject: RE: Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Benny—

As you can tell by my absence, I wasn’t able to make the O’Malley thing because I’m just getting over that virus—you know, the one everybody in NYC has. Mariah was superb on Dick Clark’s special. I just hope she didn’t freeze to death. Anyhow, I’m getting ready to write that hit piece on Tommy Mottola. What should I put in the article, besides the Casablanca thing? I have to submit this tomorrow evening, so please get back to me as soon as possible.


From: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, January 2, 2006 11:38 AM
To: rogerfriedman@att.net
Cc:
Subject: RE: RE: Happy New Year!

Roger:
A couple of things you may want to mention-stress mariah’s recent success as well as usher giving him up as well. You may want to mention Thalia (as if anybody knows who she is). Other than that just rip him to shreds!


From: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 8, 2006 7:32 AM
To: rogerfriedman@att.net
Cc:
Subject: Grammy Awards

Roger:

looking forward to seeing you tonight at the show.

I hear she is going to win at least five awards tonight and one is in a major category. you know she wanted to open the show but the aneroxic whore will instead.

Mariah was upset at first but i told her not to worry since nobody (in the industry at least) cares about the madonna peformance in the first place. Are you going to our celebration party afterwards at Burkles?


From: rogerfriedman@att.net
Sent: Wednesday, February 8, 2006 8:09 AM
To: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Cc:
Subject: RE: Grammy Awards

Hey there Benny-

You know ahead of time what awards she’s winning — that’s a shocker! By the way, of course I’m going to the party afterwards! I have to do a couple interviews after the show but will certainly go there afterwards. By the way, Madonna is singing “Strung Up” with the Gorillas. They are—get this—dancing with her on stage. I wonder if she is giving them Kaballah water?


From: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 8, 2006 9:30 AM
To: rogerfriedman@att.net
Cc:
Subject: RE: RE: Grammy Awards

Thanks for everything Roger, see you later tonight. I hope we’ll be celebrating a complete victory!


From: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 9, 2006 4:59 PM
To: roger.friedman@att.net
Cc:
Subject: RE: RE: RE: Grammy Awards

Rog:

nice seeing you at burkle’s.

we are upset but not too upset. I mean, who thought a year ago she would even be nominated.

I hope you received my message about an item page 6 of the NYP is running tomorrow – it’s about Mariah sulking herself in a deep depression in her dressing room after the show. Can you please run a retraction in your column tomorrow.

things are already depressing enough for her today-but this item will make her really angry.


From: rogerfriedman@att.net
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 7:54 AM
To: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Cc:
Subject: Corrected Story in This Morning’s Column

Hey there Benny-

You looked sharp in Armani! I hope you read my column this morning where I made the correction. Tell Mariah I said she was absolutely fabulous and stole the show. Did you notice how Vadge—that’s the name they call her now on the Velvet Rope—left the show early. I don’t know one person who cared about her performance except the f****g ancient Kurt Loder. I saw him backstage but nobody seemed to be talking to him. Perhaps he and Martha Quinn—you remember, the slut dj of the eighties who slept with every man in the world to get her job—should just fall of the face of this earth!




From: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2006 1:19 PM
To: rogerfriedman@att.net
Cc:
Subject: RE: Corrected Story in This Morning’s Column

Rog:

thanks for clearing that up in your column.
speaking of the Velvet Rope, it seems like you have become quite a star there. people keep posting items pretending they are you and they keep getting deleted.
it’s quite hilarious really. that site has gone downhill so fast but I read it just for the laughs


From: rogerfriedman@att.net
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 1:45 PM
To: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Cc:
Subject RE: RE: Corrected Story in This Morning’s Column

Benny-

The lady who runs that site—Julie—is a total c***. You know—I used to post there but the site became a waste of time. They constantly harp on me and other professional journalists because they are just so perfect. One of my friends posts there so he keeps me up to date with what is being said about me. I am going to contact a Fox lawyer sooner or later because the stuff they write about me is full of slander.


From: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 2, 2006 1:19 PM
To: rogerfriedman@att.net
Cc:
Subject: Mariah’s Upcoming Tour

Rog:

we are getting ready to announce Mariah’s tour dates. they will probably be announced on may 15 (but mariah wants to do it the day after vadge’s tour kicks off).

anyhow, i’m hoping you can go the opening night in miami – August 5 at the American Arlines Arena and possibly review it in your monday morning’s column. if not, she will be playing aug 23 at the garden – but we expect ticket sales to sell really well and have booked aug 24 as well. Tell me which date or dates you want to attend.




From: rogerfriedman@att.net
Sent: Tuesday, May 2, 2006 2:04 PM
To: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Cc:
Subject: RE: Mariah’s Upcoming Tour


Benny—

I’ll let you know in a couple of weeks. I’ll attend one of the dates for sure. Speaking of concerts, did you check out my review of Madonna at Coachella this morning? I wasn’t there—and wouldn’t go there if you paid me to—but had a lot to say about it, including the fact—well maybe not—that she was booed off stage. Someone from Warner Bros. called me about it this morning and was really pissed. I was laughing my ass off!




From: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 7:45 AM
To: rogerfriedman@att.net
Cc:
Subject: RE: RE: Mariah’s Upcoming Tour

Rog:

We are going to announce the dates in a couple hours. is it possible that you can be there for the press conference? Here are the dats-some may not be in the initial announcement
8/5 - Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
8/7 - Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum
8/9 - Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
8/11 - Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center
8/13 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
8/15 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
8/17 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Trump Taj Mahal
8/21 - Boston, MA @ TD Banknorth Garden
8/23 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
8/25 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
8/27 - East Rutherford, NJ @ Continental Airlines Arena
8/29 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
9/1 - Albany, NY @ Pepsi Arena
9/3 - Hershey, PA @ Giant Center
9/5 - Verona, NY @ Turning Stone Event Center
9/7 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
9/9 - Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills
9/11 - Chicago, IL @ United Center
9/14 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
9/16 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
9/18 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
9/21 - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
9/23 - Vancouver, BC @ General Motors Place
9/25 - Seattle, WA @ KeyArena at Seattle Center
9/27 - Sacramento, CA @ ARCO Arena
9/30 - Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
10/2 - Oakland, CA @ Oakland Arena
10/4 - San Diego, CA @ ipayOne Center at the Sports Arena
10/6 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
10/8 - Anaheim, CA @ Arrowhead Pond
10/10 - Phoenix, AZ @ US Airways Center

we are going to add more dates when these sell out. by the way, I hear Vadge is getting some pretty nasty reviews for her opening in LA last night.




From: rogerfriedman@att.net
Sent: Monday, May 22, 2006 11:41 AM
To: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Cc:
Subject: RE: RE: RE: Mariah’s Upcoming Tour

Benny-

I am going to try to make Mariah’s opening in Miami. Even if I can’t, just tell me what’s in the show and I’ll write a review of it the next day. But I’m going to try my best. I will definitely be there for all her MSG dates.




From: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 8:45 AM
To: rogerfriedman@att.net
Cc:
Subject: Vadge Strikes Again

Rog:

I’m sure you heard by now that vadge has been laughing at mariahs ticket sales. I can’t be 100 percent sure but this is what the daily news is reporting. it sounds like something madonna would do. Can u do something about this?




From: rogerfriedman@att.net
Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 11:15 AM
To: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Cc:
Subject: RE: Vadge Strikes Again


Benny-

I’m going to do a “review” of Madonna’s concert this week at MSG. Madonna’s sheeple refused to give me free tickets last time she toured, so I paid for the tickets myself just so I could trash the show. I think I can get in this time for free though. Be sure to read the details in my column this week.



From: rogerfriedman@att.net
Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 1:13 PM
To: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Cc:
Subject: Very Serious Matter Here!

Benny-

I didn’t attend the show but did a little negative vibe type thingy in my column this morning. However, I have to be honest with you regarding something I’m very upset about: Somehow, our conversation about my upcoming review got into the media. There was a Chicago radio station—B96 I think—that gossiped how Mariah was upset about her poor ticket sales and hired a gossip columnist to plant in a negative piece about Madonna’s tour. This was last week—before my column even appeared. Dan called me about it this morning and I cooled things down. I’ve received several emails about this as well.

Benny, it is very important that our conversations stay between us. I’m not accusing you of telling anybody or doing anything, but stuff like this can get me in a lot of trouble. You know that I love working with both you and Mariah, but I love my job more than anything.

Because of the suspicion, I cannot do a review of Mariah’s concert dates. I will be more than happy to attend and party with you two, but my discussion of her tour will be very minimal. I hope you understand.

From: B.M.[tvmaverick2005@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 1:41 PM
To: rogerfriedman@att.net
Cc:
Subject: RE: Very Serious Matter Here!:

We definitely need to talk. I’m going to give you a call in about 15 minuts.
I understand your positon on this but have to stress that I did NOT say anything to anybody. I agree that it would look bad if you do a review but don’t worry. I talked to Helen at MSNBC -she is going to do an article around the time the tour kicks off.

Cliff notes please

PurpleCharm said:

How is this even a scandal?

Cinnie said:

Well, I don't know if it is illegal, but isn't it unethical to hire a journalist to hype you up and tear others apart? Whatever the case, I think it's just wrong.

I expect every journalist has their "spin" on things.

Also, I have a low opinion of Roger Friedman to begin with.

And obviously I saw both Madonna and Mariah in concert last year regardless.

Too much to read, I got bored



Smooches;)

and I stopped reading my Harry Potter book because of THIS! Now that Ron had destroyed the medallion Horcrux!!!

When Mariah released "Emancipation of MiMi" there was speculation that they hired a gossip columnist (and even paid him) to hype her up and tear her competition down. This only confirms it. Roger isn't new to this though. He was paid by Miramax films to do positive reviews and try to promote Oscar hype for their movies. How does someone like Roger Friedman have a job? Oh wait, it's Fox News.

this is the kind of s*** that is so not supposed to get out. i smell snitch

"Madonna’s sheeple "

That's a good one.

Ottensen said:

Snitch...

Harry Potter interlude!



I love Quidditch!

minneapolisgenius said:

I was so confused because Mariah has her "lambs" I didn't even know what they were getting at.

Its not really a scandal this stuff goes on all the time. First of all Benny Medina is a snake, big time, he was one of the people that helped Mottola steal early tapes of Mariahs Glitter and rip her off with samples and ideas and used them for JLO, though Medina claims he didnt do it, its strange that now here he is working against Mottola. But as usual this is not a Mariah scandal for than a Medina scandal, but of course it will be spun that way. Dont be surprised all these label cats are SNAKES, this goes on all the time.

lastdecember said:

wasn't benny Prince's manager during the D&P era?

MikeMatronik said:

I know he was doing something with him because he was interviewed for a documentary for Prince around that time. Medina is a snake though, he jumps to who ever is gonna pay him at the moment. When he took over with Mariah one of his first things was to start getting radio/video to avoid JLO who was his pride and joy for years, till he got axed. Straight up snake in the grass.

Rick James put Benny on blast in his book.

lastdecember said:

This isn't a scandal this is a Madonna fan planting fake stories. This e-mail thing comes from the same Madonna fan that started Team Lamb. He's been virtually banned from every Madonna forum. And, he plants these lovely conspiracy theory stories about Mariah, Roger, and Fox News on messageboards hoping someone will spread them around. And, hoping that some media source will be stupid enough to pick the items up. It's happened before. This person used to post at Velvetrope until he was banned. Love how he used Julie's name to make it sound more realistic.

Yeah, Madonna has some crazy fans, but this email thread sounds to real for someone to make it up. As I mentioned, Roger Friedman has been highly suspect to doing things like this...and we all know Benny Medina! I hear that Fox News is investigating this. By the way, those addresses that are used are real email addresses, unless the person made up his/her own Roger Friedman and Benny Medina aliases.

fathercharming said:

^^^Sorry, it's not. This same person has told this same story various times. It's not hard to get Medina's e-mail address. Hell, there are tons of lambs that've found their way to it. And, you must know that if Medina's is accessible so is Friendmans. Fox news isn't investigating anything. Where's proof of that outside this dumb email. I'm sorry it's a hoax. This dude goes overboard and he always suckers people into buying this nonsense. Like I said, people that are familiar with have seen this same story tons of time. If you posted on the Velvetrope you'd know how fake this is. He uses Julie's name and to the naive like you it's one more thing that adds credibility. To those that visit that board it's one more thing that shows how fake this really is. You don't find it odd that Friedmans e-mail was hacked, and this is the only thing featured. Where's the other stuff?

All I know is that Roger Friedman is the most idiotic journalist out there. There was a book written about Miramax films by a former partner who said that they pretty much paid Friedman to write good things about the films. It just totally sounds like something he would do. If you read his articles about Madonna, they are nasty and slanderous. If you read his articles about Mariah, they are always very complimentary. Not that that proves anything, but it just sounds likes something Friedman would do. How do I know he's being investigated? I talk to one other entertainment reporter there who told me. I won't give her name, but lets just say that people who work at Fox HATE Friedman and are pissed about the fact that he gets away with writing complete bs. Then again, it's Fox so they should expect it.

I could be naive, but the dates and everything else in this series of emails match. Could be that someone has way too much time on their hands.