Pop Stand

After days of coy non-denials that Carrie Prejean dropped her lawsuit against the Miss California USA pageant after pageant officials got their hands on a solo sex tape she made at age 17 for a boyfriend, the controversial pageant contestant has hit the talk shows to plug her book, "Still Standing: The Untold Story of My Fight Against Gossip, Hate, and Political Attacks" --  and to explain the tape. On "Today," the dethroned beauty queen said the tape surfaced because people are working to "embarrass" and "humiliate" her because she said she does not believe in same-sex marriage in response to a question from celebrity blogger Perez Hilton during the Miss USA pageant. On "Hannity," Prejean called making the tape for a boyfriend she "loved and cared about," "the biggest mistake of my life." In a tense interview on "The View," Prejean again said she was attacked -- and the sex tape was produced -- because she did not support gay marriage. Joy Behar replied, "Miss Prejean, you made the tape.. and yet you say that you're a victim. I don't totally buy it."

Michael Lohan continues his campaign to embarrass his daughter Lindsay and her mother Dina by releasing taped phone conversations, including one in which Dina says LiLo was involved with Heath Ledger when he died. Dina told Michael about the relationship because she was afraid for Lindsay, saying, "Because when she's drunk or takes an Adderral with it she will do something like Heath Ledger did in a second without thinking." Dina says Lindsay's volatile relationship with Samantha Ronson would have ended long ago if Lindsay were rational. Now Dina tells E! News, "The tapes were from a long time ago, and for a father to stoop this low is unforgivable. My ex-husband has been in and out of jail for 10 years. My children and I gave him a chance to get to know them again, and he clearly blew that chance!"

Britney Spears has finally made a statement about the lip-synching controversy that accompanied her first-ever concerts in Australia. "I hear there is a lot of controversy in the media about my show," the singer said in a statement. "Some reporters have said they love it and some don't. I came to Australia for my fans!" An Australian government official said last week that fans, some of whom paid up to $1,200 for tickets to the "Circus" tour show, should be aware that large parts of the performances were taped in advance. The Musicians Union of Australia agreed. "It's not right that people are going to the concert when they are being misled," said Terry Noone, the union's federal secretary. "That's the issue. It's not about music, it's about false advertising.” Reports that some fans walked out of her first concert were called "the biggest lie I've ever heard" by the tour promoter. Paul Dainty also said he lip-synching is no secret: "It's been all over the internet for nine months," Dainty said. 'The inference is that we tried to hide this. It's been the opposite. This show is about an incredible spectacle, which it is," he said.

The split between Michael Jackson's parents was exposed in court Tuesday, when Katherine Jackson's attorney, Adam Streisand, said in court that she had no objection to the two executors that her ex, Joe Jackson, wants booted. Streisand argued that because Michael left Joe nothing in the will, he has no standing to object. Joe's attorney, Brian Oxman, says that if Joe doesn't get an allowance from the estate, he'll file a creditor's claim. Katherine's attorney says she has no problem with Joe getting an allowance, but he has no standing in court. At the end of the day, the judge agreed with Katherine that Joe has no right to object.

The man accused of trying to extort $2 million from David Letterman says Letterman continued his affair with his former personal assistant months after he married his longtime girlfriend in March. Gerald Shargel, Robert Halderman's attorney, says Stephanie Birkitt promised to end the affair when Halderman confronted her in December 2008. But Halderman's lawyer claims the relationship continued "unabated" into the summer. Letterman's lawyer refused to say when the talk show host broke off his affair with Birkitt. In court, Shargel asked that the charges be dismissed and said the demand for $2 million was "a pure commercial transaction" over a screenplay.

Shaquille O'Neal's seven-year marriage is on the rocks again. Wife Va'shaundya has filed for a legal separation from the basketball star, citing irreconcilable differences. Shaunie is seeking child support and full custody of their four children, ages 3 to 9. Last time the two split, in 2007, Shaq filed for divorce, sparking a bitter court battle over whether he was concealing family money from her. The two later reconciled. Shaq's people say this move by Shaunie is all about money, and note that she pulled the kids out of school and let their Florida home to file in Los Angeles, where spousal support is reportedly more generous.

-- Anne Neville