Morning Links: Lindsay Lohan tweets a tirade against girlfriend Ronson over 'gross' remark
Usually when on-again, off-again lovers Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan fight, it's in person. But LiLo took to Twitter -- the most public forum of all -- with a multi-Tweet rant directed at SamRo but of course, visible to anyone following her. "I have FINALLY deserved just to cry myself to sleep with your cheats, errors, and thank you...for being a friend before a sell-out.." LiLo tweeted. Later, in response to a private message from Ronson, she replied publicly, "BUT YOU DID perform to her..you JUST told me that your friends are worth more than i am 2 your family & that i'm gross*thx."
Other reaction to the unexpected pick of DeGeneres has been mixed. Sharon Osborne, of "America's Got Talent," said Ellen will be "a complete breath of fresh air," rather than a predictable singer such as J.Lo or Janet Jackson. "With Ellen, you've got someone who knows about entertaining, and everything that goes into it, which also speaks for the people," she said. Nick Cannon, host of "America's Got Talent," agreed, saying DeGeneres "knows how to have fun." But MJ Santilli, founder of the 'Idol" blog, MJsBigBlog.com, pointed out that DeGeneres was "awkward and unfunny when she guest-judged on ["So You Think You Can Dance"] ... so I hope that she brushes up on her skills between now and November." On Twitter, Samantha Ronson posted, "Ellen seems confident about replacing Paula but, I don't know, she's got some pretty big prescriptions to fill."
Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards, already pretty glittery, have added some star power. Jay-Z and Alicia Keys will perform their new duet, "Empire State of Mind," and Eminem will make an appearance. Also expected to present awards are Jennifer Lopez, Megan Fox, Shakira, Jack Black, 50 Cent, Andy Samberg, Jimmy Fallon, Kristin Cavallari, Pete Wentz, Gerard Butler, Tracy Morgan, Adam Brody, Alexa Chung and Jamie-Lynn Sigler. They join already announced Ne-Yo, Nelly Furtado, Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester and Miranda Cosgrove. Brisih comedian Russell Brand will hosting the 26th annual show, which will include Janet Jackson's tribute to her brother Michael and performances by Beyoncé, Pink, Lady Gaga, Green Day, Taylor Swift and Muse. Also shown will be the trailer for the much-anticipated Michael Jackson documentary, "This is It," and an extended trailer for "New Moon," the second film in the "Twilight" series.
Katherine Heigl and her husband Josh Kelley are adopting a 10-month-old special-needs baby from Korea. "She was actually born the day before me in November, which I thought was really serendipitous and just kind of like a sign, Heigl said during an interview to air today on the Ellen DeGeneres show. "I realized just recently that I basically forfeited my birthday for the rest of my life." They plan to call the girl Naleigh,"after my mother and sister Nancy [and] Leigh." Heigl's sister Meg also was adopted from Korea.
Katherine Jackson says that unlike Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole and Chris Brown, she will attend the gala tribute concert to her son Michael in Vienna. She got the wrong date when she said she'd attend Jermaine's extravaganza, but presumably somebody will set her straight. She and other relatives were originally said to be upset that Jermaine planned a star-studded concert in a city where Michael had no ties. Meanwhile, movers have started to clear out the rented Holmby Hills mansion where Michael Jackson died, with one truck arriving for property inside the house and another to pick up the cars.
Officials of Colony Capital, which owns Jackson's longtime home, Neverland Ranch, have filed trademark paperwork protecting the name of the ranch and securing the rights to operate a museum or theme park there, print books and post cards, make toys and clothing. But Joe Jackson told TMZ.com, "Colony Capital cannot do this without our permission.
-- Anne Neville
