KCOOLMUZIQ said:

DON CORNELIUS Ex-Wife Scores Huge Life Insurance Payout

Don Cornelius died with 2 life insurance policies worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and the ex-wife he hated will get all the money ... TMZ has learned.

Don's breakup with Viktoria Chapman Cornelius was brutal. He was convicted of domestic abuse and, according to him, she pepper sprayed him multiple times.

During the divorce in 2009, Don said in legal docs obtained by TMZ, 'I am 72 years old. I have significant health issues. I want to finalize this divorce before I die."

The divorce was indeed finalized later that year, but there's a provision in the settlement agreement that says Don must make Viktoria the beneficiary of both of hislife insurance policies -- totaling around $300,000 in benefits.

Under California law, if a policyholder commits suicide within 2 years of the time the policy is issued, the company can deny payment. But Don had the policy for more than 2 years, so Viktoria -- the woman he despised -- will get the loot.

I bet he wouldn't have commited suicide if he knew this was going to happen!

Life insurance policies were never intended to benefit jerks but sadly, as in this case, they sometimes do.

Friends say ‘Soul Train’ legend was long depressed, possibly bipolar

By Bill Zwecker February 2, 2012 10:56AM

[img:$uid]http://www.suntimes.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=CruYgLGs3p9q34Sb6WxFsM$daE2N3K4ZzOUsqbU5sYt34FxIOhi6z1MhzuFmAimtWCsjLu883Ygn4B49Lvm9bPe2QeMKQdVeZmXF$9l$4uCZ8QDXhaHEp3rvzXRJFdy0KqPHLoMevcTLo3h8xh70Y6N_U_CryOsw6FTOdKL_jpQ-&CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg[/img:$uid]

The shock of “Soul Train” legend Don Cornelius’ apparent suicide deeply saddened friends and associates of the groundbreaking entertainment visionary.

Yet several sources close to Cornelius admit they now realize his recent comments — about being deeply depressed due to constant pain and financial worries stemming from his bitter 2009 divorce — were signs Cornelius was quickly going downhill.

“Thinking back, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but Don was always a kind of taciturn guy, so him being so dour lately didn’t set off any alarms for me,” said a veteran “Soul Train” executive.

Another source claimed that Cornelius long had battled psychological and emotional issues. “I truly believe he was bipolar,” added the friend. A third source mentioned Cornelius felt badly snubbed by a number of music executives at a recent Hollywood party.

“It really hurt him badly.”

† A clearly distraught Gladys Knight said Wednesday, “Don was such a fearless man. He opened up the doors for so many people.” The singer was an early performer, along with the Pips, on “Soul Train.”“Think of what it took to have the ability and the guts to make that huge leap and create a show that was able to compete with [Dick Clark’s already well-established] ‘American Bandstand.’ … He was a true hero for providing that stage for so many artists — especially those of us in the African-American community.”

† Johnson Publishing chair Linda Johnson Rice also focused on Cornelius’ role in “providing a platform for African-American talent — a platform that they simply never had before. And he did it right here, establishing something national from this local market. His contributions were simply phenomenal.”

† TMZ reported that Cornelius, who left no suicide note, will be providing his despised ex-wife, Viktoria Chapman Cornelius, with even more money. As part of their divorce agreement in ’09, Cornelius made Viktoria the beneficiary of $300,000 in life insurance. Suicide voids policies in California only if they were in force for less than two years.

If he was truly bipolar, I've heard that it is not uncommon for a person that is bipolar to commit suicide. Especially if they haven't been taking their medication and getting the therapy they need.

daPrettyman said:

If he was truly bipolar, I've heard that it is not uncommon for a person that is bipolar to commit suicide. Especially if they haven't been taking their medication and getting the therapy they need.

From reports, it seems he had a whole lot of health issues.

Timmy84 said:

1sotrue said:

I remember the VH1 documentary on Soul Train James Brown didnt believe Don produce and own his show. James seemed to imply a white man was behind it.

Yeah, James was dumbfounded when he realized that Don really did own the show. James was always skeptic of folks who claimed they owned this. He always was trying to get "to the bottom of it" because he owned his radio show.

Yep. I saw that on the re-aired Soul Train documentary last night. It was funny how Don told the story.

2elijah said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah, James was dumbfounded when he realized that Don really did own the show. James was always skeptic of folks who claimed they owned this. He always was trying to get "to the bottom of it" because he owned his radio show.

Yep. I saw that on the re-aired Soul Train documentary last night. It was funny how Don told the story.

I chuckled too, like "yeah, bet you couldn't do that James". Wasn't lost that James was upset that Don was able to do it successfully. He tried to compete later on but his show ("Future Shock") failed lol

Audio: Bowlegged Lou Breaks Down over Death of Don Cornelius

by Cherie Saunders

Don Cornelius with Full Force on an episode of Soul Train

*Bowlegged Lou says he and his group Full Force have always enjoyed a special relationship with Don Cornelius – so much so that the creator and host of “Soul Train” agreed to participate in the band’s “Unsung” special that premiered Monday, despite having turned down every single request from TV One to participate in other “Unsung” episodes, including shows on The Spinners, The O’Jays and Bootsy Collins.

Cornelius had even RSVP’d for TV One’s screening of its Full Force “Unsung” that took place Saturday in Los Angeles, and Lou was prepared to present him at the event with an engraved plaque that expressed the group’s appreciation of his support throughout the years.

But for some reason, Cornelius never showed up.

Plaque that was to be presented to Don Cornelius by Full Force at Saturday's "Unsung" screening in Los Angeles

While fans continue to express shock and disbelief over the death of Don Cornelius, Bowlegged Lou is struggling with a broken heart.

Bow Legged Lou

In the below phone conversation with EURweb’s Lee Bailey, Lou shares his personal memories of Cornelius, and expresses deep frustration that the TV icon was never properly celebrated while he was alive.

RIP Don

While on my way home tonight, listening to the radio, Dj start playin Soul Train's A Comin'

Talkin over the tune, he mentions that O'Bryan was Don's nephew

First time ever hearing that

HuMpThAnG said:

While on my way home tonight, listening to the radio, Dj start playin Soul Train's A Comin'

Talkin over the tune, he mentions that O'Bryan was Don's nephew

First time ever hearing that

Hmm...

I think they should get to work on a life story movie about Don. After all, he was a mighty force in entertainment history. Bernie casey can play him in his later years. They're about the same age. Put some glasses on him and

Now who could play him as a young man???

Dule' Hill with a fro? What do you think?

noimageatall said:

I think they should get to work on a life story movie about Don. After all, he was a mighty force in entertainment history. Bernie casey can play him in his later years. They're about the same age. Put some glasses on him and

Now who could play him as a young man???

how about kadeem hardison?

clean shaven of course. plus he's 5'11". imo he's the closest to portray Don Cornelius. Plus Kadeem is a veteran actor of many years.

Don's son Tony can play the younger version....

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Don's son Tony can play the younger version....

Can he act?

noimageatall said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Don's son Tony can play the younger version....

Can he act?

He don't have to know how to act. He knows his father's mannerisms more than anyone.....

This thread died quicker than Don.

No dis-repect to Don!!

May he rest in eternal peace, knowing he's not in pain anymore.

G3000 said:

This thread died quicker than Don.

No dis-repect to Don!!

May he rest in eternal peace, knowing he's not in pain anymore.

No this thread is still alive. I'm just awaiting to see the coroner results of Don's autopsy...

Got to see him at the Soul Train - The Hippest Trip In America screening here in L.A.:
http://prince.org/msg/8/3...?&pg=1




Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

noimageatall said:

I think they should get to work on a life story movie about Don. After all, he was a mighty force in entertainment history. Bernie casey can play him in his later years. They're about the same age. Put some glasses on him and

Now who could play him as a young man???

Dule' Hill with a fro? What do you think?

Nick Cannon

theAudience said:

Got to see him at the Soul Train - The Hippest Trip In America screening here in L.A.:
http://prince.org/msg/8/3...?&pg=1




Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

I remember this thread. Glad to see that you met him before his passing. I know a few who said they had a chance to meet him but never did.

Timmy84 said:

theAudience said:

Got to see him at the Soul Train - The Hippest Trip In America screening here in L.A.:
http://prince.org/msg/8/3...?&pg=1




Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

I remember this thread. Glad to see that you met him before his passing. I know a few who said they had a chance to meet him but never did.

I had a chance to meet him, but he looked so pissed off that no one showed up for the Soul Train Awards. That I decided to leave him alone....

[Edited 2/3/12 17:30pm]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Timmy84 said:

I remember this thread. Glad to see that you met him before his passing. I know a few who said they had a chance to meet him but never did.

I had a chance to meet, him but he looked so pissed off that no one showed up for the Soul Train Awards. That I decided to leave him alone....

Maybe I caught him on a good day.

He was very funny and jovial during the panel discussion.

He did however get out of there in quite a hurry.

Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

RIP ....another great gone .... as a Brit I am sad that the USA seems to lose so many greats before they have had a chance of being honered (in life ) for their services to hardwork, music , life and the US culture as a whole....

Very sad...indeed

speechless...

RIP

I was just as shocked about this when I heard it.

RIP Don.

RIP BIG DON!!! I always wondered why Prince was the only Black superstar singer to never do SoulTrain? but he did American Bandstand??????????????????

355mr2 said:

RIP BIG DON!!! I always wondered why Prince was the only Black superstar singer to never do SoulTrain? but he did American Bandstand??????????????????

R U from the planet neptune????Prince did Soul Train on May 7 1994 episode 759

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

355mr2 said:

RIP BIG DON!!! I always wondered why Prince was the only Black superstar singer to never do SoulTrain? but he did American Bandstand??????????????????

R U from the planet neptune????Prince did Soul Train on May 7 1994 episode 759

I'm thinking 355 was only saying that because at the time he was breaking out in the late 1970s that he didn't do Soul Train but did American Bandstand. It's said Don himself didn't want Prince on the show for the same reasons he didn't invite P-Funk.

Timmy84 said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

R U from the planet neptune????Prince did Soul Train on May 7 1994 episode 759

I'm thinking 355 was only saying that because at the time he was breaking out in the late 1970s that he didn't do Soul Train but did American Bandstand. It's said Don himself didn't want Prince on the show for the same reasons he didn't invite P-Funk.

What were the reasons?

PDogz said:

Timmy84 said:

I'm thinking 355 was only saying that because at the time he was breaking out in the late 1970s that he didn't do Soul Train but did American Bandstand. It's said Don himself didn't want Prince on the show for the same reasons he didn't invite P-Funk.

What were the reasons?

I kept reading Prince was too wild for Soul Train. I don't know. I don't even know if I believed it. I could've sworn someone on here said it. I know sometimes I'll be saying things that are inaccurate as fuck... I know he didn't want P-Funk on there just on the basis of Garry Shider's mostly-nude appearance (with the diaper and boots only apparel).