MX2004PRO[AS2.0] text disappears in html textfield when <b></b> tags are added

This definatly seems strange to me(because I have not yet figured it out) but when I add the tags <b></b> or <i></i> to a string that I’m putting into an html textfield, the text inbetween the tags disappear.

my_txt.html = true;
my_txt.multiline = true;
my_txt.htmlText = " <b>Bold Text</b><br>regular text<br>

the previous code would display a blank line, then regular text in the my_txt textfield.
Does anyone know what my problem is?