Nashville News Blog

 OK, can we all agree at this juncture that Sen. Paul Stanley is a douche? Fine. But this guy Joel Watts is starting to get a little annoying too, isn't he? Every night, the pimply faced boyfriend is there on NewsChannel5, pouring out his broken heart to Phil Williams. How long before he pops up on Oprah? Watts says he wanted only an apology from the powerful senator, not cash (actually, fistfuls of twenty dollar bills that added up to precisely $10,000, but who was counting?) Yes, Watts was only performing a public service here, completely altruistic.

"If you had found out or seen video or tape of your wife in the act, you could probably generalize and feel how I felt," Watts says in tonight's version of the story. "This gentleman had an obligation to not take advantage of situations. At the time, yes I was mad at McKensie. I was mad at him. During this time. I was thinking this man needs to be exposed. I need to bring this house of cards down.

"I wanted someone to say, 'Hey I messed up. I regret this. I was wrong.' I wanted someone to acknowledge my feelings. I wanted someone to acknowledge my emotions at that time because I felt betrayed."

Watts denies he ever asked Stanley for money. "He wanted to incorporate money into this situation," Watts says of Stanley. "He brought up money. I never ever asked for money from this gentleman. I asked for an apology."

But what about this text message from Watts to Stanley?

"10,000 small bills, 20's ... Be smart because I will take all of us down you have until 10 am to reply with cash in fist."

Well, heh, that one's a little hard to explain. Suffice it to say Stanley was demanding to give Watts money, according to Watts. The senator started making those demands after hearing Watts was trying to sell the photos to an unidentified reporter (not Phil Williams, according to Phil Williams). But who told him about the mystery reporter? Um, Williams doesn't say, but Stanley apparently heard it from Watts himself. "News 5 independent reporter currently at 7500 do the math now report at," Watts wrote in another text message to Stanley.

Stanley, of course, could help clear up this confusion if he'd only talk to the public. He claims investigators have told him not to do that. But Williams reports tonight that's not true. Both the DA's office and the TBI tell Williams they don't care what Stanley does.

Update: Memphis TV report on Morrison's marriage.

Update II: "The only movement at Stanley's Memphis home Thursday was his wife going in and out, and she did not stop to talk to media."