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Morning Links: Adam Lambert AMA performance racks up complaints, sales

Adam Lambert Adam Lambert's performance Sunday at the American Music Awards -- where he simulated oral sex and kissed his male keyboard player -- has stirred controversy and caused his album sales to soar. Lambert was the final performance of the AMA's broadcast, yet it still generated more than 1,500 complaints to ABC, even though parts were edited out for the west coast feed. The controversy also prompted the network's "Good Morning America" to cancel his appearance scheduled for today.

But Lambert was quickly snapped up by the CBS "Early Show," where he will perform today and talk about his AMA appearance. Lambert also is expected to perform on "The Late Show with David Letterman."

Lambert is unapologetic about his performance, saying he "was not a babysitter" (presumably meaning he is not a role model?) "I don't feel I owe anyone an apology for anything. I performed, it was late night TV, I did something that female performers have been doing for years, no different. It's just the fact that I'm me and it's a little different for people. It's really not that big of a deal."

Lambert's album, after this appearance, has jumped to the top of the charts on Amazon and iTunes. Lambert is #5 in Amazon's overall sales, but #1 in Rock and #5 in Pop. On iTunes, his digital album download jumped to #4.

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Nicole Richie is still recovering from pneumonia, and says that she needs to take it easy. "Right now it's important for me to stay in bed and recover," Richie wrote on her blog. She thanked her fans for their get well wishes and apologized for missing public appearances. "Reading all of your messages on Twitter and my website has really brightened my spirits and I am so grateful for the support. I look forward to seeing you all very soon and wish you a happy Thanksgiving."

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Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora was honored in his hometown of Woodbridge, NJ, where they named a street after him. Sambora has stayed connected to his hometown, helping to raise money for a teen-aged  cancer patient; and paying to build a new weight room for his old high school. The street leading into the high school will now be known as Richie Sambora Way.

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Filmmaker Tyler Perry has pledged $1 million to the NAACP. Perry, best known for his films featuring the character Medea, will make his donation over four years, with his money being designated to "advocacy programs on economic equality education, health care and criminal justice." Perry said, "I feel so honored and blessed to be in a position where I can give. Had it not been for the perseverance and vision of the thousands who came before me in the 100 years of this legendary organization, I would not be in the position I am in today."

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Michael Lohan has battled daughter Lindsay,  and ex-wife Dina, now he's moving on to crossing his friends. Lohan apparently recorded conversations with Jon Gosselin, who is embroiled in a heated divorce with wife Kate. On the tape, obtained by RadarOnline, Gosselin is heard griping about TLC, talking about his post-Kate relationships, and remorse about the show attracting pedophiles. Well, more that they were never compensated fairly for being showcased that way. "I put my kids out there to every pedophile on the planet and they never got paid for it? It's disgusting," Gosselin tells Lohan on the tape.

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Justin Bieber Teen pop sensation Justin Bieber stumbled during a performance at Wembley Arena in London, where he was opening for Taylor Swift. Bieber filled his fans in from his Twitter account, "I tripped over something on stage coming down the ramp and felt my ankle roll in a very bad way. Turns out I fractured my foot and had to finish the song on a broken foot. After I was done I was in such pain I skipped the encore and got off stage and back to see the medics."

Bieber was in the middle of a mob scene last week in Long Island when 1,000 young fans got unruly at a shopping mall where he was to appear.

The Canadian teen was discovered on YouTube where he posted videos of himself singing R&B songs for out-of-town relatives who were unable to attend his shows. He quickly became a hot commodity, with both Usher and Justin Timberlake doing battle to sign him.(He chose Usher, right)

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Just because you sometimes star in movies doesn't mean you know movie house etiquette, it seems. Katie Holmes, actress and wife of Tom Cruise, was spotted at a Manhattan movie theater Saturday night with friends taking in "Twilight: New Moon." Eyewitnesses say that the group spoke through the whole movie, ruining the experience for others in attendance. "Katie talked through all of ‘New Moon.’ It was unbelievable – they talked nonstop about the movie and everything else. Some people wanted to tell them to be quiet, but when they realized who it was, they stayed silent. No one wanted to shush Katie."

-- Dave Valenzuela

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American Idol | Celebrities
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