Beyonce, Eminem the Latest Item?

Beyonce Knowles, the lead singer of Destiny's Child, is said to have been dating controversial Detroit rapper Eminem, gossip columnist Liz Smith says. Has this child of destiny been infected with the Jennifer Lopez "Bad Boy" syndrome? (You'll recall Lopez was with Puff Daddy when he got into heaps of trouble in a New York nightclub.) Concerned for her zooming career, Beyonce's managers, family and others are hoping she'll reconsider.

She just signed a big spokeswoman deal with L'Oreal and has other corporate product endorsements. These might be put off by her friendship with the rapper, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III.

Others are wondering how Kimberly Mathers feels these days. Eminem's former wife has bought the lot next to her ex-husband's Clinton Township home and is building a modest $150,000 house there to raise his child near him.