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
In his continuing campaign to become even more unpopular than his estranged wife Kate, Jon Gosselin has nearly drained a joint account by withdrawing some $200,000, and he could be found in contempt of court, Kate's attorney tells People. Celebrity lawyer Marty Singer says he emailed a stern letter to Jon's attorney on Friday, charging him with professional misconduct, but so far has had no reply. "They have not responded. I'm sure he will respond by going on another TV show," says Singer, who noted that Jon recently told Larry King that he'd like to put the brakes on his divorce. RadarOnline says the hard-partying Jon actually withdrew "hundreds of thousands of dollars," leaving Kate with just $1,000, and quoted Singer as ready to pursue both Jon and his attorney, Mark Heller: “If the money is not immediately returned, we will be looking into potential claims against Mr. Heller if he had any involvement with the violation of the court order. It is very disappointing that Jon Gosselin has escalated this to such an ugly place that her lawyers have to do everything they can to protect her and her children from his outrageous actions."
Chris Noth and longtime girlfriend Tara Lynn Wilson, shown at left, are engaged, he told Entertainment Tonight Canada during an interview at the London, Ont., teahouse called Once Upon A Tea Cup, co-owned by Noth and the Canadian-born Wilson. The couple broke news of their engagement at a fashion show over the weekend, where Tara was sporting a large diamond engagement ring. The couple have been together since 2004 and have a 2-year-old son, Orion Christopher Noth. Daddy Noth is currently filming the "Sex and the City" sequal, in which he plays Big, in Manhattan.
Brandi Glanville, estranged wife of Eddie Ciprian, has new neighbors -- Eddie and his new love, country singer LeAnn Rimes. Glanville, 36, acknowledged that she has had a neighborhood run-in with Rimes that was "not pleasant.” Rimes, 27, and Cibrian, 36, took their romance public in August and have recently been staying at a house near the home where Glanville once lived with Cibrian. Glanville says she is trying to keep things normal for the pair's sons, Mason, 6, and Jake, 2, whom she called "the most important things in both our lives." The estranged couple were cordial enough as they viewed son Mason's recent soccer game together. Glanville said Rimes, who filed for divorce Sept. 1 from Dean Sheremet, "she can have most of everything," said Glanville, "just not my children and my family."
Atlanta police have charged a manin the death of the ex-fiance of Kandi Burress, one of the stars of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." Fredrick Richardson is charged with manslaughter in the beating death of Ashley "A.J." Jewell, who had made several appearances on the show. Jewell died Friday night after suffering head injuries during a brawl outside a strip club. Burress, a singer and songwriter who has worked with Mariah Carey, issued a statement saying, "my heart is heavy with grief." She added, "I had spoken to A.J. two hours before I got the call that he was in the hospital. Never in a thousand years did I think it was going to be the last time I heard his voice. He was taken way too soon. There are so many things that I should have said to him, wanted to say to him ... But now it's too late."
Deryck Whibley, newly single after his marriage to Avril Lavigne imploded a month ago, seems to be recovering well. The Sum 41 frontman attended a party celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Mirage on the strip in Las Vegas with model/designer Hanna Beth Merjos, People is reporting. Merjos, left, once dated musician Trace Cyrus, Miley's older brother.
-- Anne Neville
David Letterman wasn't laughing when he told his audience Thursday that he had just testified before a grand jury against a person who tried to blackmail him after learning that Letterman, who married longtime girlfriend in March, had had sexual relationships with several members of his staff. The "Late Show" host said he went to the district attorney after receiving a package three weeks ago from an individual who threatened to reveal his affairs with female employees unless he came up with $2 million. Investigators instructed Letterman to mail a phony $2 million check to the person, which led to the extortionist's arrest on Thursday. Letterman admitted during the taping of his show Thursday night that he had had the affairs with employees. Letterman, 62, said that during his grand-jury testimony he admitted to the sexual relationships."My response to that is, yes I have," he told his studio audience. "Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps." However, he added: "I need to certainly protect my family." CBS issued a terse statement that said in its entirety: "Mr. Letterman's comments on the broadcast tonight speak for themselves." Letterman and wife Regina Lasko have a 6-year-old son, Harry.
UPDATE 10:30 AM: CBS has announced that an employee of the network's news magazine "48 Hours" has been arrested and charged with attempted grand larceny. The employee -- who has been identified as a Robert J. Halderman by an Associated Press source -- has been placed on suspension while the extortion plot is investigated.
The Manhattan district attorney is planning a press conference later this morning to discuss the case.
You can find Letterman's confession from last night's broadcast here on YouTube. Audience members nervously laughed as Letterman made his admissions, not quite sure whether it was a bit or not.
UPDATE 11:30 AM: The New York Daily News says Halderman (pictured in a Facebook photo) is a 51-year-old, Emmy-award winning producer who "has directed dozens of '48 Hours' documentaries, from the Winter Olympics to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001" The Daily News also says that a 31-year-old female "Late Show" staffer previously lived with Halderman, which may have been the source of the incriminating information.
Halderman's motive, according to The Daily News, may have been the "crushing bills" he had, from paying alimony and child support to his ex-wife ($6,000 a month), as well as shared marital credit card debt which was reported to be more than $13,000.
You can read News TV Critic Alan Pergament's take on Letterman's on-air confession at the Talkin' TV blog.
UPDATE 1:30 PM: The Manhattan district attorney said at the press conference this morning that "New York will not tolerate the coercion or extortion of anyone, be the victim rich or poor, famous or anonymous." D.A. Robert M. Morgenthau told the press that Letterman's lawyer met with Halderman on three occasions, wearing a recording device on the final two meetings. Morgenthau also described how Letterman wrote a bogus check for the $2 million, which Halderman attempted to cash at a Connecticut bank yesterday morning.
UPDATE 3:40 PM: The New York Post reports that Halderman has pleaded Not Guilty to the charge of Attempted Grand Larceny this afternoon in Manhattan Supreme Court. If convicted, the charge carries a 15 year prison sentence. TMZ says that the D.A. called Halderman's actions "alarming and dangerous" and asked for $500,000 bail. The defense asked for $100,000 bail, and the judge settledon $200,000.
Also, reports the Post, Halderman's former father-in-law says that Halderman initially was a "nice guy," but that "he was fooling around with a lot of women." Halderman divorced his wife in 2004, claiming that the marriage was "broken down irretrievably."
A search warrant obtained by a NYC Fox affiliate reportedly shows that Halderman had copies of diary entries by former girlfriend Stephanie Birkitt, who allegedly had an affair with Letterman in 2003. He also had personal correspondence belonging to Birkitt.
-- David Valenzuela and Anne Neville
Mackenzie Phillips calls her shocking new memoir "High on Arrival," and EOnline has posted some info about the little-known song titled "She's Just 14," one of several written by her dad (and, she says, lover) John Phillips, about her. With such lyrics as, "There isn't much she hasn't seen" and "She did it in a limousine," the song appears on a newly released album of solo tracks by members of the Mamas and the Papas.
They didn't exactly meet cute, but it was memorable. Lamar Odom, who plans to marry Khloe Kardashian Sunday, apparently made a big impression when he picked up the tabfor a "Welcome to L.A." party Khloe threw for Ron Artest at Halo nightclub a month ago. Odom shelled out the $3,000 Khloe owed the bar, according to TMZ. A source told TMZ, "At first, she wasn't going to do the event ... but she literally met her husband there. And yes, he paid for everything." And speaking of parties, there was big one planned last night in Hollywood -- Odom's bachelor party. Hosted by his soon-to-be brother-in-law Rob Kardashan and "Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis, the invite to the private bash promises "drinks, dj, stripper poles, midgets and tons of candy!" Classy! And why the rush to the altar? A source tells People that the ceremony, like that of Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett, will be taped for airing on Khloe's show. And getting everything done quickly increases the buzz (and the ratings), the source says.
But it isn't all just fun and games for Joe Francis. Jayde Nicole is suing him for pulling her hair during a melee in a Hollywood club last month that left Francis scratched and bruised. Nicole says Francis grabbed her by the hair and then pushed her to the floor "like a rag-doll"; Francis told EOnline that Nicole threw a drink on him and then her boyfriend, Brody Jenner, started punching him.
Kelly Rutherford, the mom on "Gossip Girl," has been granted a temporary restraining orderthat requires her ex-husband, German businessman Daniel Giersch, to stop harassing her. In the suit, Kelly claims Giersch's harassment of her. her mother and a nanny forced the nanny to quit. "He shows up unexpectedly to threaten and scare us," says her application for the restraining order. Giersche's attorney says the charges are fabricated to damage Giersch's reputation. Rutherford was married to Giersch from 2006 to 2008; they split when she was pregnant with their second child, Helena Grace Rutherfod Giersch, in June. They also have a 2-year-old son, Hermes Gustaf Giersch.
Jessica Biel, rapper Lupe Fiasco and actress Isabel Lucas have signed on to climbthe continent's highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, to raise awareness about the need for clean water worldwide. And Biel's companion may be boyfriend Justin Timberlake, who has recently talked about a similar summit-scaling plan The Summit on the Summit expedition, set for January, is the brainchild of singer and producer Kenna, whose father suffered from waterborne diseases as a child in Ethiopia. Kenna said more celebrity climbers will be announced in the coming months, and urged fans to follow the climb online at www.summitonthesummit.
-- Anne Neville
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