Kanye West addresses anti-Semitic accusations

(Photo by Alo Ceballos/FilmMagic)

Kanye West has defended himself against allegations of anti-Semitism following a recent radio rant, insisting his controversial comments were
meant as a compliment.
While discussing President Barack Obama during an interview on radio station Power 105 last month, the outspoken rapper compared the financial advantages of the Jewish and Arab nations against black people, stating, “Black people don’t have the same level of connections as Jewish people. Black people don’t have the same connections as oil people.”
However, the comment sparked fury among several Jewish leaders with Abraham H. Foxman, Anti-Defamation League Director, stating, “This is
classic anti-Semitism. There it goes again, the age-old canard that Jews are all-powerful and control the levers of power in government. As a celebrity
with a wide following, Kanye West should know better.”
West has since revisited his comments to address the accusation, and he insists his words have been misunderstood.
He tells the Chicago B96 radio station, “I thought that I was giving a compliment, but if anything, it came off more ignorant. When I said this
comment about Jews having money and blacks not having money, I think that it was kind of like an ignorant compliment. I think it was an ignorant
compliment.”
He adds, “I don’t know how being told you have money is like an insult, that would be like if (somebody) complimented black guys and said, ‘All
black guys got big penises.’ You don’t want to be the black guy that raises your hand, like, ‘No! That’s not true. I got proof.’ I thought by saying
everybody had money that would be a compliment. It was an ignorant compliment. Maybe I would like to take that statement away.”

Residents, Fans Fight Over Paul Walker Street Name

Group is lobbying to change name of street where Walker died.

Fans of Paul Walker are lobbying to change the name of the street where he died in a fiery car crash as a tribute to the late actor, but residents are fighting against it.

TMZ reports that thousands have signed an online petition asking the City of Santa Clarita to rename the street "Walker Rodas Memorial Parkway" (Rodas is the last name of Walker's friend, Roger Rodas, who also died in the crash). But residents of the town refuse, claiming that Walker did nothing for the community.

But despite the growing fan support for the tribute, city councilman TimBen Boydston says that no such move can be made without the approval of the community. So doesn't look like we'll be cruising on the Walker Rodas Memorial Parkway anytime soon.

Sex, scandals and Jennifer Aniston… or just another spam email

December 24 - 11am James Henderson Jennifer Aniston outshone Rihanna and Miley Cyrus in the eye of spammers during October and November this year, with hackers even declaring celebrities dead in a bid to extract data.
According to a Bitdefender study, Hollywood star Aniston is mentioned in 19 percent of spam messages that include celebrity names, followed by Rihanna with 16 percent and Selena Gomez at 13 percent.

Loredana Botezatu, E-Threat Analyst, Bitdefender, believes it is common practice for scammers to use trending celebrity names as bait to push fake surveys and deals in junk e-mails.
“In some spam messages, scammers associate Aniston’s name with sexual content and a simple click on the link will grab users’ bank account credentials via a banker Trojan downloaded on their systems,” Botezatu says.
“Rihanna, on the other hand, is mentioned in e-mails that lead to webpages with pornographic content and online shops selling accessories.
“The problem with these e-shops is that they are so low-profile that chances are, no purchased item will ever reach the users’ doorstep.”
Other celebrities such as Selena Gomez are used in spam e-mails to advertise plastic surgery and free online concerts that lead to phishing websites that grab the identification data of gullible users. Justin Bieber’s name is associated with indecent messages hinting at sex, nudity and scandals.
Miley Cyrus, Scarlet Johansson, and Marilyn Monroe, Katy Perry, Beyonce Knowles, Sandra Bullock and Eminem are other glam names are used in scam campaigns.
“Attention-grabbing headlines are often a successful strategy to draw users into surveys to seek private data and maintain the profitable business of scam and spam,” Botezatu adds.
“The scams go so far that sometimes, celebrities are declared dead and allegedly photographed beaten or involved in hideous sex scandals.
“The messages promise scandalous pictures or videos only to make users open attachments and click links to infect their devices with malware, expose them to inappropriate content or steal sensitive into right under people’s noses.”
Apart from celebrities, the Bitdefender analysis revealed movies also make a good spam lure for curious users. Gravity is the top choice, followed by 12 Years a Slave, Insidious and The Avengers.
“The proper thing to do when an e-mail promising scandal reaches your inbox, is to delete it,” Botezatu adds.
“Don’t act on your curiosity with unsolicited e-mails. They never bring good news.”

Will Arnett dating Hollywood producer

Comedian Will Arnett has reportedly embarked on a new romance after quietly splitting from celebrity chef Katie Lee earlier this year.
The star confirmed his romance with Billy Joel’s former wife in August, but he reportedly called it quits with her soon afterwards.
However, it seems Arnett will not be spending the festive season alone after sparking speculation of a new romance with Hollywood producer Erin
David, who he accompanied to Jennifer Aniston’s holiday bash earlier this month.
A source tells Usmagazine.com, “Will and Katie Lee fizzled. He lives in L.A., she lives in NYC.
“(David) produced one of the shows or a film he was in… Will brought her to Jen and Justin (Theroux)’s holiday party.”
The comedian was previously married to actress Amy Poehler, but the couple split last year.

Kelly Rowland Confirms Engagement And It Happened Over Skype

The singer reveals boyfriend/manager Tim Witherspoon proposed while she was in Bulgaria.

 
Kelly Rowland has finally confirmed the rumors that she's engaged to her manager Tim Witherspoon! In an interview for The Queen Latifah Show set to air Wednesday, the singer revealed that the couple got engaged over Skype while she was in Bulgaria.

"It was so late, I remember we were both just kinda like, honestly, just staring at each other," Rowland said. "And he asked me, and it was just that simple to say yes. I was like, 'I got my best friend to ride through life with.' He really is my best friend."

Fans first got a hint that Rowland might be heading down the aisle when she was spotted wearing a rock on her ring finger last month. Since then she's dodged the big question, but we're happy to finally hear her 'fess up! It's no secret that the X Factor judge has been wanting to get married (though she says she's still too selfish to be a mom just yet) and we're looking forward to seeing her prepare for her impending nuptials to Witherspoon.

Why celebrities are important to brand success

Celebrity endorsements are a billion dollar industry, but with so much at stake, how do you know you're making the right choice? Sarah Ewing looks at all the factors and how the emerging trend of celebrity equity partnerships is the future.
Why has there been such a huge growth in celebrity partnerships in the past 10 years? You can't escape the power of the celebrity, from advertising, social media, reality TV and magazines and newspapers. In fact, American researchers have found that at least 25% of all television advertisements now feature celebrities. We're devouring information about the lives of celebrities at a runaway pace, whether it's to admire them or revile them. Yet, while celebrities have been endorsing products since the 1940s, headline-hitting deals and photo opportunities are now a daily occurrence in our media.
"The UK, along with North America, is one of the world's most enigmatic celebrity cultures," says Ciaran Coyle, president, Europe & Asia Pacific, at global brand agency Beanstalk. "With publications such as Grazia, *Hello* and Heat feeding the appetite for celebrity gossip and news, consumers are becoming more eager to buy into the lifestyles of the celebrities they admire, and endorsements and partnerships offer ways for brands to leverage this."
Reality TV has been a byproduct of our celebrity obsession and has helped fuel it: "With the increase in reality TV, celebrities were created from everyday people," says Sophie Morris, director of Millharbour Marketing. "This creates an increased level of engagement for fans, because they were once like them."
"The growth has been fuelled by the development of new mediums such as social media platforms Twitter and Instagram, which allow celebrities to talk and share with an engaged audience," says Emily Keogh, MD of food and drink agency Palm. "Not only can they do this in their own voice directly, but the instant nature of these platforms allow food and drink brands to generate immediate results, impacting sales or consumer engagement."
Many consumers, whether it's conscious or not, strive to emulate the celebrity's lifestyle, so they purchase products associated with them. So if you consume the same products the A-list hunk or actress does, then you're led to believe that you will also emulate their other desirable traits. Even if you don't want to copy them per se, you're still more likely to buy the products in a subconscious attempt to attract desirable people into your life. This claim is backed up by a 2012 Taiwanese study that found consumers were quicker to recall a product a celebrity is involved with, whether they're a fan or not. And if you were a fan, you're more likely to place value on the product the celebrity is endorsing.
So, what are the key points of a successful celebrity branding campaign? Here are the building blocks ...

• Foundation: A clear vision of your key target markets. While you may have a dream target market, you have to be realistic about who the actual purchasers are and how best to attract them.
• Building Block No 1: Build on existing celebrity fans who are already engaged with your product and are genuinely passionate about it, such as Alexandra Burke with immune-boosting flavoured spring water Mune and her I'm in tune with Mune campaign.
• Building Block No 2: The fit between the brand and therefore the credibility of the match. "Consumers are getting more savvy about how celebrities are used to promote products," says Emily Keogh. "Brands need to get more clever about how they use celebrities so that it's as natural and believable as possible."
• Building Block No 3: Timing. This hinges on the continuing popularity of the celebrity, said Tony Nunan, MD of Visuality, an integrated research and design agency.
• Building Block No 4: Make the celebrity part of your brand. "Drink endorsements can be tricky," says Morris. "Don't just deliver crates of your product to them. Ensure they understand the company history and ethos and make sure your contract states they must be seen drinking your brand."

Campaigns that have hit the jackpot

• Professor Green and Relentless. "Professor Green fits well with Relentless' brand positioning as an energy drink targeted at young, predominantly urban drinkers," says Rebecca Grant, consumer MD at Cohn & Wolfe. "The association with live music and nightlife also enables Relentless to expand the brand's appeal, enabling it to compete as a non-alcoholic alternative."
• P Diddy and Ciroc. When Ciroc Vodka signed rapper P Diddy in 2007, they not only made him head of marketing, it also gave him a 50% stake," says Morris. "He is now invested in the success of the brand, so he has more motivation to not only endorse, but to protect and promote the brand."
• Johnny Vegas and PG Tips. This is an enduring partnership that has lasted more than 10 years. "He's the perfect match," says Tony Nunan. "Vegas is daft as a character and this allows the character to become a hero; someone that everyone knows and loves."

The leap from celebrity endorsements to equity partnerships

While there seems to be no sign of the growth of celebrity endorsements and campaigns slowing, in the past five years there's been an emerging trend of celebrity equity partnerships, in which a celebrity takes a stake in the brand.
"Equity partnerships are intelligent models for brands that don't just want a short-term fix, but want to invest in people who will really support and grow their company," says Emily Keogh. "It gives them the time to really dedicate themselves to the brand and to create an extra revenue stream for themselves."
"With the growing number of celebrity endorsement deals, brands are increasingly feeling the need to go one step further," says Tony Nunan. "What better way could there be of proving a genuine partnership than working with a celebrity who believes in the brand so much that they are willing to obtain a share in the company?"
One of the biggest celebrity windfalls in equity partnerships was 50 Cent's stroke of genius to invest in Glaceau Vitaminwater back in 2004. The health-conscious star was a genuine fan of the brand before being approached. In return for 10% of the company, he would become one of their brand messiahs. When Coca-Cola bought the brand less than three years later, 50 Cent walked away with $100m.
James Rubin, 50 Cent's agent, reveals: "When an artist collaborates with a high-profile brand, it only pushes them further into the mainstream and creates more awareness about the artist. These days there are so many different avenues besides music to help artists expand their personal brand, especially if the timing is perfect, and the synergy created is priceless. It's definitely become a lot more important in the past few years for artists to acknowledge these alternative revenue streams. It's important that the artist and the brand have the same creative vision if the partnership is to be successful."

How it worked for Mune's Derek Sanders and Alexandra Burke

The owner, Derek Sanders: "My partner Lucie and I were initially inspired by a home remedy to develop a product range to naturally support immune defence when our first child started pre-school in 2008. Mune is centred on healthy, nourishing choices and a natural preventative approach to health. From the outset, we realised the importance of celebrity branding and have always been interested to work with someone who was health-aware and whose approach to natural health was aligned with Mune.
"From the first time we met Alexandra earlier this summer and explained our vision to create the Im-mune-ity Community, we instinctively knew that we'd found a great partner. Both parties are committed to an integrated strategy to achieve mutually beneficial success.
"I think equity partnerships are a better method than simply using a celebrity to front a media campaign. That approach is quite shallow and the majority of people see through it. The biggest lesson I learnt in the negotiation process was patience. The key is finding a partner truly aligned with your brand, and that both the artist and their management are fully onboard."
The celebrity manager Jojo Brim says: "In today's music industry, brands have become important because they extend the opportunities for someone like Alexandra to have an additional media push and additional income streams, as well as give fans an insight into the celebrity's lifestyle. Also, cause-driven and aspirational marketing has skyrocketed in recent years. The success all boils down to having the same vision – without that, it simply won't work.
"Mune approached us earlier this year because they knew Alexandra likes to work out and staying healthy is very important to her. The more I learned about them, the more I was totally convinced we were a good match. It was the perfect timing for Alexandra with her new album, New Rules, coming out, so there'd be a synergistic effect between the promotional activity for that and Mune. It's all about creating a win-win."

How Your Favorite Celebrities Celebrate Christmas

WENN / Food Network / Everett Collection
Every family has its holiday traditions, and celebrities are no different. But since they're richer, more famous, and more prone to ridiculous and over-the-top behavior than the rest of us are, their traditions are probably a lot more exciting. After all, who wouldn't want to spend the afternoon gossiping over eggnog with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler or see what elaborate Christmas presents Jay Z and Beyonce have bought for Blue Ivy? It's got to be better than watching your own relatives hit the carton too hard after they've opened whatever last minute gifts your aunt picked up at the airport on her way in.
But what would it really be like to spend the holidays with your favorite celebrity? Would there be tons of glamorous parties? Probably. How about expensive gifts? You bet. And what about the hot cocoa? Even the rich and famous aren't immune to its warm, chocolatey goodness. In order to help you get through the holidays this year, we've come up with what we think some of the biggest celebrities are doing for Christmas this year, along with the perfect gift to earn yourself a spot on their Christmas card list.
Justin Bieber
Holiday traditions: Bieber probably throws a massive party every year, although his "Christmas" party doesn't tend to differ too much from any of the numerous other parties he throws throughout the year. However, in an attempt to be festive, he would wear an all-white ensemble that he would accent with red sunglasses and sneakers, and he would recruit someone to make a dubstep remix of his Christmas album, which he would play as the party's soundtrack. At some point in the night, he would probably have a bit too much to drink, and then he would drunk-dial Selena Gomez and leave her a voicemail of him singing "All I Want For Christmas Is You". Then, he would return home to his family for the actual holiday, where he would drink cocoa and watch Elf with his baby brother and sister in his pajamas, while his mother wraps the presents he brought home for everyone. At the end of the night, Bieber would make sure that there was plenty of milk and cookies left out for Santa; he would claim it was to preserve the illusion for his siblings, but let's be real. Bieber totally still believes in Santa.
What he would give you: Sunglasses and sneakers.
What he would get: Bieber probably wants some fancy chains or designer clothes, but we see the Biebs getting some footie pajamas this Christmas. Cool, grown-up footie pajamas, but footie pajamas nonetheless.
George Clooney
Holiday traditions: Clooney, being the sophisticated gentleman that he is, likely hosts a black tie affair at his home every year. Everything would be tastefully accented in gold, waiters would mill about with champagne and finger food, and all of the Academy voters who have been invited would have their every need catered to. After all of Clooney's A-List guests have finished their awards-season campaigning, Anne Hathaway — who has spent most of the evening hovering around the piano, waiting for someone to ask her to perform — would lead the guests in a sing along that would last about five songs too long. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon would get drunk, and spend much of the evening loudly declaring how much they love everyone at the party, before deciding to wrestle each other and knock over one of Clooney's impeccably decorated trees in the process. Meanwhile, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie would spend the whole party cornering innocent bystanders and forcing them to look through photos of their kids, and Leonardo DiCaprio would spend much of the night trying (and failing) to steal one of Clooney's Oscars.
What he would give you: Clooney would make a donation to a charity in your name, but he would make a really big deal out of it.
What he would get: He would say that, really, he doesn't want anything, because he already has so much, and he's running out of space for all of his exotic cars.
Lebron James
Holiday traditions: As a professional basketball player, James spends a lot of time on the road, so for Christmas, he would just want to spend some time with his family and friends. He would spend a lot of time making his guests admire his Championship rings and the exact replicas he had made into tree ornaments so that he can decorate his Christmas tree with victory. Then, James and his teammates Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh would settle in with their kids to bond and play some board games. Unfortunately, with three NBA players, everything would get too competitive, and the kids would wander off to play video games while James, Wade, and Bosh get into a screaming match over Candyland, until one of them flips the game board in a rage. Then, after they calmed down, they would prank call Carmelo Anthony in order to tease him about the Knicks' current season. Finally, they would all settle down for a massive Christmas feast, after which James would wear the paper crown from his Christmas cracker for far too long, and insist that everyone call him "King James."
What he would give you: Miami Heat jerseys for the whole family.
What he would get: A festive sweatband to help hide his receding hairline all through the holidays.
Taylor Swift
Holiday traditions: Nobody does Christmas better than Taylor Swift; after all, she grew up on a Christmas tree farm. She would invite over a few friends for a Christmas tree decorating party, where the dress code would be either "ugly holiday sweater" or "blinding amounts of sparkle." From there, she would lead her guests in Christmas-themed arts and crafts, building elaborate gingerbread houses that replicated the most iconic scenes in Love, Actually, and serve up cookies so intricately decorated they would make Martha Stewart weep. Then, after a quick wardrobe change, she would lead everyone in some Christmas carols before everyone indulged in some homemade hot cocoa and then participated in a Secret Santa gift exchange. Finally, Swift would cap off the most idyllic Christmas get-together ever with a double feature of It's a Wonderful Life and White Christmas. Just be careful who you get caught under the mistletoe with, or you might end up as the inspiration for a song on her next album.
What she would give you: Homemade jam or a scarf she knitted herself.
What she would get: Cat ballet flats, red lipstick and lots and lots of glitter.
Kanye West
Holiday traditions: Though West might prefer not to take part in the annual Kardashian Family Khristmas Kard, he would send out one of his own that featured himself, Kim and baby North recreating the Nativity scene, and as one would expect, it would play Christmas songs that he re-wrote and recorded especially for this purpose. Then, outfitted in coordinating custom Givenchy outfits, the Kardashian-Wests would pay a quick visit to the rest of the Kardashians, where they would drop off unbelievably expensive presents tastefully wrapped in a color scheme of black and silver. Then, before they opened their own gifts at home, they would make sure to celebrate Yeezus, who, as we all know, is the real reason for the season. Finally, they would have over their good friends and the First Family of hip hop, Jay Z, Beyonce and Blue Ivy, and they would all enjoy a Christmas dinner catered by the finest vegan restaurants in the country before the men retired to the den to smoke cigars, drink some congac and congratulate each other on how beautiful their significant others are.
What he would give you: A box set of all of his albums.
What he would get: Kanye West would settle for nothing less than his own country.

Dwyane Wade Proposes to Gabrielle Union With $1 Million Diamond Ring

The NBA player pulled out all the stops to pop the question.

Dwyane Wade might have taken four years to pop the question to Gabrielle Union, but he sure did it in style. The NBA player proposed with an 8.5 carat cushion cut diamond ring worth a whopping $1 million, TMZ reports.

According to the site, Wade spent months searching for the perfect diamond for the Being Mary Jane star before settling on the stunning solitaire sparkler. Wade shared the engagement news, and a photo of the blinding ring, via Twitter on Saturday. "She said YES!!!" he tweeted.

Wade enlisted the help of his own dream team — his sons Zion and Ziare and nephew Dahveon — to help create the perfect proposal. Reports the Associated Press, the three boys held up signs that read "Will you marry us?"

This will be the second marriage for both Wade and Union: the Miami Heat player was previously married to Siohvaughn Funches, with whom he is currently embroiled in a bitter custody battle, while Union was married to athlete Chris Howard.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

LGBT military families celebrate historic event

Staff Sgt. Brandon BoydMembers of the Oregon Air National Guard, friends and family met on base for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) potluck June 8, 2013. This event, a first for the Air National Guard, was designed to create a bridge in the military community. (from left to right in photo) Master Sgt. David Brunstad, Darin Brunstad, Maj. Lisa Scott and Staff Sgt. Ijigale Beltran. (Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Boyd, 142nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs)

PORTLAND AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ore. - -- He said his goodbyes in secret, behind the FedEx warehouses near the Portland Air National Guard Base. He dropped his spouse off down the main road leading into the base, far away from the large group of friends and family gathered to say goodbye to their loved ones headed on deployment to Iraq in January 2009.

Darin Brunstad had heard details about the military families in attendance that day, but feared he would never have a chance to meet them. Darin Brunstad's spouse is Master Sgt. David Brunstad, a member of the 142nd Security Forces Squadron, Oregon Air National Guard.

"He would tell me all about their family lives; I knew their names, their kids' names and they knew nothing about me," said Darin Brunstad.

As the group left for Iraq, Darin Brunstad said as a same-sex spouse, he lacked the support system enjoyed by other military families. He was unable to qualify for the benefits spouses usually receive, even after a 13-year committed relationship and a marriage. Darin Brunstad said he felt like he didn't exist.

"He was over there fighting for his country; I would go four and five days without hearing anything from him and just wonder if something happened. I had all of these feelings and there was nothing I could do, so I just started writing about it," Darin Brunstad said.

Fearing the potential ramifications of revealing his identity, Darin Brunstad wrote articles online using a pseudonym. His writing garnered attention. In the fall of 2010, he was one of 13 partners and spouses from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community invited to participate in a working group at the Pentagon focused on the issue of repealing the don't ask, don't tell policy (DADT).

"I was really scared - I thought, 'this is the only chance to get input from LGBT partners' and I didn't want to let people down who weren't able to speak on this issue," Darin Brunstad said.

As DADT went through the congressional process, Darin Brunstad said it was unclear if the repeal would pass and he felt like he was on an emotional roller coaster. In September 2011, the repeal of DADT became a reality.

Now, nearly two years after the repeal, Darin Brunstad finally got his chance to meet his husband's military family that he'd heard so much about as service members, friends and family gathered together for a LGBT potluck here on base June 8.

"This event is a great opportunity to get to know our peers in the wing," said Staff Sgt. Ijigale R. Beltran, Equal Opportunity Adviser for the 142nd Fighter Wing.

The LGBT potluck filled an armory classroom on base, decorated with colorful tablecloths and refreshments amidst joyful conversation.

"This was certainly a historic event for the Fighter Wing, but that is not what stood out to me.

The event was a success in large part for what it was not; There was no fanfare, no political agendas, and no uproar at all surrounded this event. It was simply a chance for us to acknowledge our service members and their families," said Col. Paul Fitzgerald, 142nd Fighter Wing mission support commander.

"None of this would have happened without the support of the leadership of the 142nd," Darin Brunstad said.

Each month the 142nd Fighter Wing works hard on diversity issues. Col. Fitzgerald summarized the unit's approach to equal opportunity events held each month on base. "Every member of our organization plays a vital role in our success and I'm glad we had the chance to connect with families to show them our support. It is what we do as Redhawks."

Recently, the Department of Defense announced a list of benefits scheduled to become available to same-sex military families in the fourth quarter of this year, including dependent ID cards, child care, commissary and exchange privileges, joint duty assignments, and access to morale, welfare and recreation programs.

"Society has changed; everyone here has LGBT friends and family in their civilian lives and now in their military lives as well," said Darin Brunstad.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month is celebrated each June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan, and to recognize the impact that LGBT individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.

"In the Guard, all members are recognized as our most valuable asset," said Beltran.

The Biggest Gossip Stories Of 2013

It’s been a big year for gossip. Tabloids killed thanks to all the headlines generated by the likes of Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and the Kardashians. Whether good or bad all these celebrities kept us buzzing around the water cooler (or at least the digital cooler known as Twitter). On the last episode of 2013, The Gossip Table rounds up the biggest, most gossipy stories of the year. And trust us, there was a lot to choose from.

Miley Cyrus Wrecks Videos for Everyone
In 2013, Miley Cyrus came in like a “wrecking ball.” She smashed records, topped charts, twerked on Robin Thicke and made every parent squirm. But it was her working relationship with photographer Terry Richardson. Not only did he take a number of scandalous photos of the singer but also directed her now-infamous music video, which featured her riding a cannonball licking hammers and chains. If there was one artist who owned 2013 it was Miley, at least until…
Beyonce’s Big Surprise 
With just weeks left in 2013, Beyonce managed to pull the rug out from underneath everyone with her surprise visual album. Lady Gaga’s stunts, Katy Perry’s ringside hype and Miley Cyrus’ twerk-dom had nothing on Mrs. Carter. Suddenly everyone was scrapping their year-end lists in favor of Bey’s near-masterpiece. And then there’s all the rumors, stories, interviews and news bits about how she kept what felt like the world’s biggest secret.
Justin Bieber’s Sexploits
Another singer that grabbed headlines this year was Justin Bieber. However, the news never had anything to do with his singing or music. It was all about his exploits overseas as he embarked on his world tour. There was his ride up the Great Wall of China, spray painting of buildings in Australia and the brothels in Brazil. One of the most shocking photos snapped was that of Biebz covered in a sheet exiting one of Brazil’s most popular brothels. Did he really think no one would notice him checking in for a night of fun?
The World’s New Prince
If there’s one person who grabbed more headlines before he was even born it was Prince George of Cambridge. As soon as it was announced that Kate Middleton was pregnant with the royals’ next generation, the world was hooked on knowing every detail as it happened. Then the day of the birth was a feeding frenzy of live news coverage, social media updates and internet memes. When the world’s most powerful baby was born, the world rejoiced much like it did in The Lion King.
Lindsay Lohan’s Big Sit Down with Oprah
Not everyone had a good 2013. Lindsay Lohan spent the better part of hers in court-mandated rehab in order to stay out of jail and to get her life back in order. Prior to the release from rehab, the OWN Network secured Lilo’s first interview. The sit down with Oprah was pegged as a media event that would (hopefully) reveal the secret life of Lindsay’s chaotic life and represent her return to mainstream stardom. What ultimately came out of it was a lot of hype, Oprah seemingly taking full control over Lilo’s life and yet-be-seen docu-reality series about her recovery. Let’s just hope 2014 doesn’t involve another comeback.
All Things Kardashian & The Year of the Splits 
It seems that every year there’s another Kardashian scandal. This year, it had nothing to do with Kim. (Yes, we all tracked every moment of her pregnancy and the birth of Baby North.) It was the patriarch that led the charge in the news. Not only was her show a disaster but so was her marriage to Bruce Jenner. The two announced their split and the news was followed by rumors of Bruce getting a sex change. Then just before the end of the year, Khloe filed for divorce from her troubled husband, Lamar Odom. Mover over Kimye, the other Kardashians are back for all the ratings.

Jason Segel & Paul Rudd Stoned Interview Video Goes Viral

 

kreezyFTW/YouTube

We all know Paul Rudd and Jason Segel smoke marijuana. Not only have they portrayed characters who smoke weed, we all know they’ve tried it — how else would Segel have decided to include a puppet musical about Dracula in his film Forgetting Sarah Marshall? But while we never know for sure unless a celeb enters rehab, recently a video made the rounds online that left no doubt whether Rudd and Segel smoke weed. The short video shows a particularly stoned Rudd and Segel attempting to get through an interview promoting their movie, I Love You, Man.

The video is seven minutes of giggling, funny faces, and an incredibly awkward interviewer who you can’t help but feel bad for. The interviewer starts off by trying to wrangle Segel and Rudd into answering his questions, but when he realizes that’s not going to happen, he attempts to play along with the actors’ inside jokes.

Some highlights include when they list off movies that contain the word ‘stone’ (as if you had any doubt at that point). Rudd’s creepy face that looks kind of like Tom Cruise, and Segel laughing so hard at himself that he cries.

If you’re having a rough day (and you’re not that poor interviewer) check out the video for seven minutes of pure ridiculousness — you won’t regret it.

Dear Oscars: Don't Even Think About Picking Demi Lovato Over Idina Menzel to Sing 'Let It Go'

Vera Anderson/Getty
Dear Oscar Producers, Disney, and Anyone Else Who Has a Say in This:
We know that "Let It Go" is a shoo-in for a Best Song nomination. And that it will probably win. Co-Composer Robert Lopez will complete his EGOT, and Disney animation will again rule that category, just like it did in the '90s.
Please, please have Idina Menzel sing it on the telecast.
We know the kids love Demi Lovato, who sings the single version over Frozen's end credits. And as a (now former) X-Factor judge, she's more recognizable to a wide audience than Tony Award winner Idina. But we don't care, because Menzel is Queen Elsa. It's her interpretation of the song that took our breath away in theaters. And she will wear a fabulous dress and sing the crap out of it on the Oscar stage.

Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Everyone

Colin Farrell Dated Liz Taylor, Simon Cowell's Dogs Get Therapy

Weird and unusual things sometimes happen in the lives of celebrities. Here's a roundup of this week's strangest stories...
Irish actor Colin Farrell told Ellen DeGeneres he hasn’t had a romantic relationship since the death of Elizabeth Taylor.
The pair met while Farrell was waiting for the birth of his son and she was getting a heart stint. They wound becoming friends.
He explained, "It was kind of like the last -- it feels like in my head, not hers, I'm projecting -- but the last kind of romantic relationship I had. Which was never consummated."
The duo often called each other in the middle of the night just to chat. Farrell said he may have been the screen icon's eighth husband, had she not died in 2011. "She was a spectacular, spectacular woman. I wanted to be number eight, but we ran out of road," he explained.
Check out more weird celebrity news...

"The X Factor" judge Simon Cowell and his pregnant girlfriend Lauren Silverman recently adopted puppies Squiddly and Diddly, who are spoiled rotton.

A source told Grazia magazine: "Simon takes the pups to a pet spa once a fortnight for doggy pedicures and massages and they even have a therapist who promises 'zen dog happiness.'"

Reality star Snooki quit drinking after her breast milk became contaminated with alcohol.

She went to a club after she gave birth to her son, Lorenzo, now 16 months, and made a gruesome discovery.
She wrote in her new memoir "Baby Bumps: From Party Girl to Proud Mama, and All the Messy Milestones Along the Way:" "My boobs ran like a river and the entire front of my dress was soaked. I could smell the sake bombs in the bottle. My milk was so full of alcohol, I could have used it to start a bonfire in the yard. I could have cleaned the toilet with it."

PETA is angry at Leonardo DiCaprio for agreeing to act alongside a chimpanzee in Martin Scorsese's new film The Wolf Of Wall Street.

The scene in question features DiCaprio walking hand-in-hand with the chimpanzee through a raucous office, while he later picks up the animal as he talks to a co-star.

AP News in Brief at 5:58 a.m. EST

Obama, first family and their 2 dogs arrive in Honolulu for annual Hawaii vacation
HONOLULU (AP) — President Barack Obama has arrived in Hawaii to kick off his annual winter vacation.
The president, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia landed in Honolulu shortly before midnight. Their two dogs, Sunny and Bo, joined them aboard Air Force One.
Obama has no public events scheduled while he's in Hawaii, where he was born. On previous trips, he's enjoyed regular rounds of golf, local restaurants and family trips to get shave ice, a Hawaiian version of a snow cone.
Last year, gridlock in Congress forced Obama to return to Washington the day after Christmas. This year the Obamas are hoping their vacation will go uninterrupted.
The president is scheduled to be in Honolulu through Jan. 5.
---
After months of frustrations, Obama points to an upbeat economy and the promise of a new year
WASHINGTON (AP) — Has the fifth year of his presidency been its worst? President Barack Obama laughs off such questions even as he acknowledges many months of frustrating ups and down.
"That's not how I think about it," Obama told reporters during his annual end-of-the year news conference.
Instead of brooding about tumbling approval ratings, the disastrous rollout of his signature health care law or the pile of unfinished domestic priorities, Obama looked ahead to the promise of 2014 and predicted "a breakthrough year for America."
Before he joined his family on Air Force One for a Christmas vacation in his home state of Hawaii, Obama suggested that, given widespread criticism, he may alter the power of the National Security Agency to collect information on Americans.
And when it came to the start of his health care law, Obama conceded that "we screwed it up," and said, "I'm going to be making appropriate adjustments once we get through this year." It was unclear if he meant to signal high-level personnel changes.
---
Gay couples rejoice with weddings and a declaration: 'I can't believe this is Utah'
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Elisa Noel rushed to the county clerk's office with her partner immediately after learning that a federal judge overturned Utah's ban on gay marriage. They waited in line for a wedding license and were married in an impromptu ceremony punctuated with Noel giving the officiant a high-five.
"I can't believe this is Utah," Noel said moments after a ceremony that took place about 3 miles from the headquarters of the Mormon church.
Others had a similar reaction after a ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby that declared Utah's voter-approved ban on gay marriage unconstitutional. The recent appointee by President Barack Obama said the ban violates the constitutional rights of gay couples and ruled Utah failed to show that allowing same-sex marriages would affect opposite-sex marriages in any way.
The ruling prompted a frenzy of activity by lawyers and gay couples. The Republican governor blasted the ruling as going against the will of the people. Gay couples rushed to the Salt Lake County Clerk's office en masse to secure marriage licenses, waiting in line by the dozens and getting married on the spot by the mayor and ministers.
It was a jubilant affair as cheers broke out after ceremonies were completed. A gay bar in Salt Lake quickly made plans for a Friday night party to mark the event. Some made plans to march on the capitol Monday.
---
California hospital is ordered by judge to keep 13-year-old girl on life support
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A 13-year-old California girl declared brain dead after complications from a tonsillectomy should be kept on life support for the time being, a judge has ruled.
The family of Jahi McMath says doctors at Children's Hospital Oakland wanted to disconnect life support after Jahi was declared brain dead on Dec. 12.
Friday's ruling by Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo came as both sides in the case agreed to get together and chose a neurologist to further examine Jahi and determine her condition. The judge scheduled a hearing Monday to appoint a physician.
The girl's family sought the court order to keep Jahi on a ventilator. They left the courtroom without commenting.
After her daughter underwent a supposedly routine tonsillectomy and was moved to a recovery room, Nailah Winkfield began to fear something was going horribly wrong.
---
Ahead of enrollment deadline, a surge in health care signups, but problems persist
WASHINGTON (AP) — His health care plan facing a dicey transition, President Barack Obama said Friday that insurance sign-ups are surging now that the government's website is working better for consumers. But it was too soon to say the rollout has turned the corner.
More than 1 million people have enrolled since Oct. 1, Obama said at his end-of-the-year press conference. That's more than two-and-a-half times the number on Nov. 30, when major fixes to the website were completed. At that point, only 365,000 had signed up through new federal and state markets offering subsidized private insurance.
"That is a big deal," Obama said of getting coverage for uninsured people. "That's why I ran for this office."
Separately, officials said 3.9 million people have qualified for government health care through the law's Medicaid expansion. Even so, things aren't exactly humming along.
HealthCare.gov was down for part of the day Friday, as technicians attempted to fix an error that occurred Thursday night when the site was undergoing routine maintenance, officials explained.
---
US bracing for sleet, snow and even tornadoes that threaten to snarl start of holiday travel
CHICAGO (AP) — Freezing rain. Snow. Thunderstorms. Even tornadoes. Much of the nation braced for foul weather on one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, as a wet winter storm created travel worries from Chicago and Detroit to Boston and New York.
Forecasters were predicting everything from freezing rain and snow in the north to torrential rain in the Ohio Valley and Appalachia and possibly even tornadoes in the South.
The worst of the storm was expected to hit Midwest population centers on Saturday, though the weather took a toll on air travel Friday with significant delays from Albuquerque to Denver to Chicago, according to FlightStats.com.
The foul weather could cause headaches for the estimated 94.5 million Americans planning to travel by road or air during this holiday season, which runs from Saturday through New Year's Day.
Most of the precipitation on Friday night was in the Texas panhandle, Oklahoma and southern Missouri. The system was expected to move north into the Chicago area late Saturday into Sunday as it crawls toward the northeast U.S. and Canada, National Weather Service meteorologist Mark Ratzer said.
---
Obama names veteran US senator as ambassador to China with economic ties in mind
WASHINGTON (AP) — The nomination of veteran Sen. Max Baucus as U.S. ambassador to China reflects the importance to Washington of advancing the economic relationship with the Asian power despite recent strains on security issues.
The Montana Democrat lacks foreign policy credentials but has a track record in pressing Beijing over trade barriers and its currency exchange rate. If his appointment is confirmed by the Senate, he will be looking to see that U.S. companies can benefit from market reforms the ruling communist party promised in November.
While the economic relationship between the countries is loaded with its own problems, including accusations of rampant Chinese cybertheft of U.S. trade secrets, it is one where their national interests are more aligned than on security, as China challenges decades of U.S. military pre-eminence in the Asia-Pacific.
China's declaration of an air defense zone over disputed territory in the East China Sea and a near-collision of U.S. and Chinese naval vessels this month brought those concerns to the fore. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Thursday described China's conduct in the Dec. 5 incident in the South China Sea as "irresponsible."
But when President Barack Obama announced Friday his intent to nominate Baucus as ambassador, he was stressing the senator's work over two decades on economic agreements with China that he said have created millions of American jobs. "He's perfectly suited to build on that progress in his new role," Obama said in a statement and called for a swift confirmation.
---
California widow receives remains of husband, decades after soldier was lost in Korean War
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Army Sgt. 1st Class Joseph E. Gantt went off to war 63 years ago, leaving behind a wife who never gave up on his return.
On Friday, 94-year-old Clara Gantt stood up from her wheelchair and wept in the cold before the flag-draped casket.
Sgt. Gantt was finally home.
"He told me if anything happened to him he wanted me to remarry. I told him no, no. Here I am, still his wife," she told reporters at Los Angeles International Airport, where his remains were carried from a jetliner by military honor guard.
Gant was a field medic who went missing in action on Nov. 30, 1950 during the Korean War while serving with Battery C, 503rd Field Artillery, 2nd Infantry Division, according to the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office in Washington, D.C.
---
Pope warns against mediocrity, gossip, bureaucratic squabbling at Vatican in speech to Curia
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has warned Vatican administrators that their work can take a downward spiral into mediocrity, gossip and bureaucratic squabbling if they forget that theirs is a professional vocation of service to the church.
Francis made the comments Saturday in his Christmas address to the Vatican Curia, the bureaucracy that forms the central government of the 1.2-billion strong Roman Catholic Church. The speech was eagerly anticipated given that Francis was elected on a mandate to overhaul the antiquated and oftentimes dysfunctional administration.
Just last week Francis reshuffled the powerful Congregation for Bishops, removing the arch-conservative American Cardinal Raymond Burke as well as the head of Italy's bishops' conference and another hardline Italian, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, earlier axed from the Congregation for Clergy.
---
Neighbors say Nevada hospital killer was angry about pain from botched 2010 vasectomy
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Authorities on Friday were trying to determine whether a Northern California man's anger over complications he suffered from a 2010 surgery prompted him to go on a shooting rampage at a Nevada urologist's office, killing one doctor and critically wounding another before committing suicide.
Reno Police Lt. William Rulla said detectives were working to obtain Alan Oliver Frazier's medical records to learn more about his physical and mental health.
Frazier, 51, made it clear in a suicide note that he had planned the attack and that his "focus was on the physicians at the specific office," Rulla said. Police recovered the note at Frazier's home.
Investigators have declined to specify the kind of surgery he had or say whether the doctors he targeted had anything to do with it.
But a couple who lived across the street from Frazier at Lake Almanor, about 130 miles north of Reno, said the operation he had was a vasectomy. They also said Frazier frequently posted complaints in an online chat group about the pain he suffered from what he claimed was a botched surgery.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2013/12/20/5210483/ap-news-in-brief-at-558-pm-est.html#storylink=cpy

Ozzy Osbourne: ‘Musicians and politicians should not mix’

Rocker Ozzy Osbourne has taken aim at his fellow musicians in the wake of Nelson Mandela’s death for using the civil rights leader’s death to boost their image.
When the former South African president passed away earlier this month, celebrities and global leaders alike took to Twitter to mourn the icon.
And while the Black Sabbath front man has nothing but respect for Mandela, he is adamant that there should be a line drawn between the worlds of entertainment and politics.
He tells NME, “I don’t touch politics. I leave that to (U2′s) Bono. He won’t be happy, now that his best mate Mandela has gone. But I’m not politically motivated. I sang songs about political situations, wars and that, but they’re all [bleep] liars if you ask me.
“It’s sad that he’s gone because he was such a good hope guy for so many people. But it became the clique thing to be photographed with Mandela, you know? He seemed like a good guy but he was [bleep] 95, at the end of the day. I bet he was tired!
“I think entertainers should stay entertainers and politicians should stay liars. If you say you’ll do something and you can’t do it, you should get fired, because you got your job under false pretenses, I think so anyway.”

The Best Christmas Albums Of 2013

By: Jon O'Brien

12:00pm EST

RCA

With everyone from the cast of A&E reality TV series Duck Dynasty to '80s pop icon Kim Wilde recently venturing into the festive market, here's a look at five of the best new Christmas albums to have been released this year.



Leona Lewis – Christmas, With Love


Inspired by Phil Spector's classic Wall of Sound, Lewis looks like getting her career back on track with a warm and nostalgic record featuring several new compositions ("One More Sleep," "Mr Right") which fit in comfortably with the more familiar numbers ("Winter Wonderland," "White Christmas") and an astonishing operatic take on "Ave Maria" which proves she’s still the best vocalist ever to emerge from The X-Factor.



Kelly Clarkson – Wrapped In Red

Stamping her mark on the festive season just as effortlessly as her fellow talent show winner, the original American Idol ropes in the likes of Ronnie Dunn, Reba McEntire and Trisha Yearwood for an affectionate collection of yuletide tunes old and new, including arguably the most uplifting seasonal song since Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" ("Underneath The Tree").



Mary J. Blige – A Mary Christmas

Given her previously fiery reputation, Mary J. Blige doesn't seem like the most obvious candidate to celebrate the season of goodwill. But she acquits herself well on the brilliantly-titled A Mary Christmas, recruiting everyone from Barbra Streisand to Jessie J on a surprisingly traditional but typically soulful affair.



Erasure – Snow Globe

Considering their 'camp as Christmas' reputation, it's a surprise that it’s taken the synth-pop veterans nearly thirty years to commit to a holiday record. Featuring an eerie take on traditional hymn "Gaudete," a bizarre chiptune rendition of Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" and a macabre waltz inspired by a Hans Christian Anderson fairytale, Snow Globe won't be for everyone. But it's easily the most intriguing Christmas release this year.



Tamar Braxton – Winter Loversland

After waiting 13 years to follow-up her 2000 debut, Tamar, the youngest Braxton sister has now released her second album in three months with a brief but heartwarming festive effort which showcases her powerhouse vocals in all their glory.

Who Is Nazanin Mandi?

 

There are a few people who you don't want to be caught standing next to on the red carpet. Kerry Washington, Natalie Portman, Marion Cotillard -- these women tend to be kinda flawless and should be avoided at all costs. But there's another name with which you may not be as familiar: Nazanin Mandi. And she, too, should be avoided on the red carpet or in any public forum ... and we wouldn't recommend Instagram-stalking her either. She, too, is kinda, sorta flawless but she's also kinda sweet, which makes her even more annoyingly awesome. Oh, and she's Miguel's girlfriend which means that when you're looking at Miguel you're most likely looking at one of the luckiest guys around.
Nazanin has an insanely pretty face, but the woman does not get by on beauty alone. Yes, she's a model, but she's also an accomplished singer. And since she's made appearances in her boyfriend's videos, we'd been wondering when these two might collaborate in the studio. And sure enough, Miguel has confirmed that he's actually producing her debut album. We're guessing this means another super hot video from the two of them in the future? Here's hoping!

Sarah Jessica Parker slams plastic surgery rumors

(Photo by Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker has slammed tabloid reports suggesting she has undergone surgery on her “veiny” hands, insisting the allegations made her feel physically sick.
Earlier this year, Star magazine reported that the former “Sex and the City” star was devastated with her “zombie hands,” and claimed she was “looking into procedures to make them look younger and less veiny.”
Parker recalled the shocking moment she read the ludicrous report during an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of “Watch What Happens Live,” and said, “It was a really particularly vicious issue and it was all about how all these particular people are hated and they’re the worst and they’re awful and everybody hates them. It was really brutal and I was literally thinking to myself, ‘Good God, I escaped that.’
“And I flipped the page and there was an article about my hands and how ugly they are and how I should go have cosmetic surgery to fix them and I have been contemplating the surgery or I had the surgery. And then there was a really crude drawing of my hands as a witch’s hands.”
The outlandish report was so shocking to the 48-year-old that it even made her physically ill.
She admitted, “Literally, I was in the car like dizzy. I felt like I needed to be hospitalized. But it really got me to thinking. And here’s what I thunk (sic): I thought, ‘Really? This is how low?’ …It was so ridiculous, so outrageous to me because, here’s the thing, we’ll wrap this up, I love my hands.”

A spicy serving of celebrity news

• 

Ellen angles for a role

Ellen DeGeneres wants to be in “Bridesmaids 2.”
The returning Oscar host says she’s working with “Bridesmaids” director Paul Feig to promote the Academy Awards because she’s angling for a part in the “Bridesmaids” sequel, even though no such film has been announced.
In a video released late Thursday by the film academy, the 55-year-old funny woman says: “Two plus two: great Oscar promo, ‘Bridesmaids 2,’ cha-ching!”
Feig has demurred about a “Bridemaids” sequel since the movie’s groundbreaking success in 2011. The director’s most recent film, summer’s “The Heat” with Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy, also blasted box office expectations and inspired rumors of a sequel.

Kasem family settlement

Casey Kasem’s wife and one of his daughters have reached a settlement that ends a bid to place the ailing radio personality in a conservatorship.
Details of the agreement between Kasem’s wife, Jean, and his daughter Julie Kasem were not divulged in a Los Angeles court where the settlement was announced Friday.
Julie Kasem had been seeking a conservatorship and has said she and her siblings have been blocked from seeing their father, who is suffering from advanced Parkinson’s disease.
Her attorney Andrew Katzenstein says the terms of the settlement are confidential.
Another of Kasem’s daughters, Kerri, has not reached an agreement. Her attorney Troy Martin says she may have to file a petition to see her 81-year-old father without certain restrictions.
Martin says Casey Kasem is currently hospitalized but wouldn’t provide more details.

She has maturity appeal

We’re so used to celebrities behaving like spoiled, look-at-me brats that it’s easy to overlook Hollywood’s grown-ups. But 2013 was Kerry Washington’s year – for all the right reasons. She’s the first African-American actress to star in a prime-time hit (ABC’s addictive “Scandal”) in decades.
She wowed grads of her alma mater, George Washington University, with a smart, funny commencement address in May. She somehow managed to keep her private life private by marrying NFL star Nnamdi Asomugha in a stealth wedding this summer – before anyone knew they were dating. (And we hear she’s pregnant, but she’s keeping her baby bump private, too.)
And her charming, self-aware turn on “Saturday Night Live” last month seems to have finally prompted the show to add an African-American woman to the cast. Did we mention the 36-year-old is gorgeous and dresses like a queen? Well played, Kerry. Well played.
Runners-up for being the anti-Kerry Washingtons for 2013: Chris Brown, Miley Cyrus, Kanye West, Justin Bieber. They are examples of everything wrong with pop culture thanks to too much money, no maturity and no impulse control. We’re sick of probation hearings, twerking and pet monkeys – but millions of people can’t get enough of them.

Selena Gomez cancels Australian tour

Selena Gomez has decided to cancel her upcoming 2014 tour in Australia in order to “spend time on herself.”
The “Come and Get It” hit maker was scheduled to begin her first trek of the country in February, but announced on Thursday that she had scrapped her dates so she can rest.
A statement from the star reads, “My fans are so important to me and I would never want to disappoint them. But it has become clear to me and those close to me that after many years of putting my work first, I need to spend some time on myself in order to be the best person I can be.
“To my fans, I sincerely apologize and I hope you guys know how much each and every one of you mean to me.”
Ticket holders are due to receive full refunds for the canceled shows.

Katy Perry spins a good yarn before bedtime

Pop star Katy Perry eases herself into a good night’s sleep with a bizarre bedtime hobby – knitting.
The “I Kissed a Girl” hit maker is a huge fan of the quaint hobby, and regularly searches out wool in top department stores.
Now she reveals she has taken to indulging in her love of needlework before going to sleep rather than checking her smartphone for the latest celebrity news.
She tells U.K. talk show host Alan Carr, “I do a bit of crocheting now – I know, I’m the biggest nana on the block. So I time myself at night now, because it puts me in a relaxed state, instead of, you know, when we go to bed, most times the last thing we do is look at our phone right? And we fill our minds with like Miley Cyrus and Lindsay Lohan twerking, and all of a sudden you go to bed and have all these dreams … so I thought maybe it’d be better for my subconscious and my dreaming just to like, do a bit of crocheting before I go to bed.”
The star already has the perfect person to accept one of her handmade gifts – her sister’s baby. She adds, “I also have a little niece on her way, so I’m going to knit, like, a little baby blanket.”

Nigella Lawson slams court system following fraud verdict

(Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson has issued a damning indictment of Britain’s court system, branding her recent involvement in a fraud trial “deeply disturbing,” “malicious,” and “a ridiculous sideshow.”
The TV cook was forced to admit previously using cocaine and marijuana when she was questioned under oath as a witness in the trial of two of her former aides, sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, earlier this month.
The siblings were cleared on Friday of spending $1.02 million on credit cards owned by Lawson and her former husband Charles Saatchi without permission, and following the verdict, Lawson has launched a furious broadside against the justice system.
She slammed defense teams for concentrating on unproven claims she is an habitual drug user, blasted officials for not being given the right to respond to the allegations, and called for major reforms of the British court system.
In a statement, Lawson writes, “I am disappointed but unsurprised by this verdict. Over the three-week trial the jury was faced with a ridiculous sideshow of false allegations about drug use which made focus on the actual criminal trial impossible.
“My experience as a witness was deeply disturbing. When false claims about habitual drug use were introduced I did everything possible to ensure the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) was aware of the sustained background campaign deliberately designed to destroy my reputation. …
“I did my civic duty, only to be maliciously vilified without the right to respond. I can only hope that my experience will highlight the need for a reform that will give witnesses some rights to rebut false claims made against them.
“Even more harrowing was seeing my children subjected to extreme allegations in court without any real protection or representation. For this I cannot forgive the court process…
“While this has been a difficult and upsetting time for both me and my family I would like to thank my friends, family and all those who have expressed support throughout this ordeal.”
Following the trial, London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed they will not be investigating Lawson’s admission she has previously taken drugs.

Madonna Calls Beyoncé A QUEEN After She Kisses Her Daughter Mercy James!

We love it when two queens can share the throne!
Madonna was all about complimenting her fellow pop diva Beyoncé at her The Mrs Carter Show World Tour at the Barclays Center in New York on Thursday!
The Material Girl even went as far as calling the Crazy In Love singer a queen after posing and kissing with her eight-year-old adopted daughter Mercy James mid-concert!
Madge captured the proud momma moment via Instagram, captioning the priceless pic:

"Mercy James gets a big fat one from the Queen. B!"

And then snapped another shot of Bey, writing:

"Mrs. Carter crushes the BK with her bad ass show! Girls run the world! #srtforfreedom"

Miley Cyrus Fans Were Lied To?! Petitions Start For Jingle Ball Boston No-Show Refund!

How disheartening!






Not only were Smilers not able to see Miley Cyrus perform at Jingle Ball in Boston, but they were apparently deceived to believe the songstress was actually going to be there?!

That's NOT cool!

Apparently, last Saturday, Mileybird's team reached out to KISS 108 to let them know Miles would not be able to make her performance, and what did the radio station do?

Their DJs claimed on air that the Wrecking Ball singer was actually there when she wasn't!

One of the on-air personalities said:

    "It's kind of surreal when you're just walking backstage and you literally, bump into Selena Gomez or Miley Cyrus or Fallout Boy. They're all here."

But when the moment of truth came, Miles did NOT show up, and now her Smilers want their refund!

Rich Nowak, a fan who attended the concert for Miley started a petition to get the radio station to refund money to disappointed fans, Rich's petition says:

    "First of all on Miley's part. Every other act who performed at the New York Jingle Ball the night before made it to Boston. Why did Miley not plan for the snow and leave earlier? It seems the other acts did just that. She claims she did everything she could to get to Boston but I talked to attendees who drove to Boston from New York to see the show, they made it on time why couldn't Miley? She could have taken a car or a train if the airport was shut down.

    Kiss 108 didn't handle the situation any better. Prior to the show they posted on social media that Miley was in the building and they lied on-air saying that Miley was in the arena, even commenting on what she was wearing and how she was about to go out and do a sound check. These were obviously lies because Miley was tweeting that she was still stuck and trying to get to Boston. At the open of the show they once again lied and claimed Miley was there. All of this added to the shock and disappointment when we were told that she wasn't coming."

Wow, those concertgoers who were waiting patiently for the Twerking Queen should definitely get their refund back!

It's common courtesy to let fans know if their favorite artist is coming or not!

We can't imagine how some of those Smilers felt when they heard Miley wouldn't be there.

Disappointing!

How disheartening!
Not only were Smilers not able to see Miley Cyrus perform at Jingle Ball in Boston, but they were apparently deceived to believe the songstress was actually going to be there?!
That's NOT cool!
Apparently, last Saturday, Mileybird's team reached out to KISS 108 to let them know Miles would not be able to make her performance, and what did the radio station do?
Their DJs claimed on air that the Wrecking Ball singer was actually there when she wasn't!
One of the on-air personalities said:

"It's kind of surreal when you're just walking backstage and you literally, bump into Selena Gomez or Miley Cyrus or Fallout Boy. They're all here."

But when the moment of truth came, Miles did NOT show up, and now her Smilers want their refund!
Rich Nowak, a fan who attended the concert for Miley started a petition to get the radio station to refund money to disappointed fans, Rich's petition says:

"First of all on Miley's part. Every other act who performed at the New York Jingle Ball the night before made it to Boston. Why did Miley not plan for the snow and leave earlier? It seems the other acts did just that. She claims she did everything she could to get to Boston but I talked to attendees who drove to Boston from New York to see the show, they made it on time why couldn't Miley? She could have taken a car or a train if the airport was shut down.
Kiss 108 didn't handle the situation any better. Prior to the show they posted on social media that Miley was in the building and they lied on-air saying that Miley was in the arena, even commenting on what she was wearing and how she was about to go out and do a sound check. These were obviously lies because Miley was tweeting that she was still stuck and trying to get to Boston. At the open of the show they once again lied and claimed Miley was there. All of this added to the shock and disappointment when we were told that she wasn't coming."

Wow, those concertgoers who were waiting patiently for the Twerking Queen should definitely get their refund back!
It's common courtesy to let fans know if their favorite artist is coming or not!
We can't imagine how some of those Smilers felt when they heard Miley wouldn't be there.
Disappointing!
- See more at: http://perezhilton.com/2013-12-21-miley-cyrus-jingle-ball-boston-disappointed-appearance-refund/?from=newsletter#sthash.hAXOKfhT.dpuf

Celebrity Foot-in-Mouth

"Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson joins a growing list of famous names who've seen their public profiles tarnished thanks to a moment of outspoken frankness.

Getty Images

The news that "Duck Dynasty" patriarch Phil Robertson had been put on hiatus from A&E's ratings-busting reality TV show sent the Internet into overdrive Wednesday regarding the subject of outspoken celebrities and First Amendment rights.

A&E announced late Tuesday that Robertson, 67, would be off "Duck Dynasty" indefinitely after he disparaged gays in the January edition of GQ magazine. Robertson also said that, growing up in Louisiana before the Civil Rights movement, he never saw mistreatment of blacks.

In a statement, A&E said it was extremely disappointed to see Robertson's anti-gay remarks, which it said were based on his personal beliefs and do not reflect those of A&E Networks or the show. In response, Robertson referred to himself in a statement as "a product of the '60s" who indulged in sex and drugs until hitting bottom and accepting Jesus as his savior," and added he "would never treat anyone with disrespect" because they are different.

Whether audiences support or condemn the reality star is a mute point. Robertson is off the series for the forseeable future and joins a growing list of celebrities whose open mouth antics and often unchecked opinions resulted in a very public ousting. 

Robertson's exit from "Duck Dynasty" comes in the wake of Alec Baldwin's removal from MSNBC following his use of an anti-gay slur during a New York City street encounter with a paparazzo. His show, "Up Late with Alec Baldwin," had aired only five episodes before the network pulled the plug on the Friday night chat fest. MSNBC said it was a "mutual parting and we wish Alec all the best."

The Emmy-winning former star of "30 Rock" had tweeted that he did not realize the profane phrase he used was offensive to gays and apologized. Baldwin's daughter Ireland even entered the fray, taking to Twitter in support of her dad. tweeting support for her dad.

"Sometimes we let our tempers get the best of us," Ireland wrote. "Tempers are like wildfires. Something or someone can easily fuel the fire...It takes a lot of strength for someone to release their anger."It takes a lot of strength and SUPPORT for someone to grow and become a better person. We all say things we don't mean. We all say things we can't take back."

Baldwin's mea culpa occurred at the same time fellow MSNBC anchor Martin Bashir found himself publicly in hot water over comments he made in response to Sarah Palin's remarks concerning slavery. Among other things, Bashir said that someone should defecate and urinate in Palin's mouth, a punishment delivered to some slaves.

Bashir apologized, but the comments continued to haunt him and he resigned from the network in early December, issuing the following statement: "It is my sincere hope that all of my colleagues, at this special network, will be allowed to focus on the issues that matter without the distraction of myself or my ill-judged comments."

"Big Brother" dominated headlines earlier in 2013 when contestants on the CBS reality competition were shown making racial and homophobic remarks on air. Aaryn Gries and Gina Zimmerman, two of the house guests caught on camera making the remarks, were fired from their jobs. The brouhaha resulted in "Big Brother" being one of the year's most searched TV show titles on Google and Yahoo.

Paula Deen had perhaps the most spectacular public ousting of recent times after she came under fire when a former manager of a Savannah, Ga., restaurant owned by Deen and her brother Bubba Hiers filed a $1.2 million lawsuit against the pair. The employee, Lisa Jackson, claimed she was sexually harassed by Hiers and that Deen used the N-word around her.

"Yes, of course," Deen said in the May 17 deposition of having used the slur, adding, "It's been a very long time."

Outrage and retribution were swift. The Food Network yanked her show off the air, Smithfield Foods dropped her as a celebrity endorser, and retailers such as Wal-Mart removed her products from shelves. The lawsuit was eventually dropped with lawyers signing a deal of which details were not released. But it was too little too late for Deen's public persona. The folksy chef's yet-to-be-released cookbook was scrapped by the publisher even though pre-sales were strong, and her cooking empire had crumbled.

In the aftermath, Deen has made only tentative steps back into the limelight. “I'm really looking forward to the future," Deen told the audience at a live cooking demonstration in Dallas in September. "It's good to be back at work... just thinking about the future, I’m going to get back out there and continue to do what I love to do… and that's cooking.”

In 2011, Charlie Sheen's epic meltdown dominated entertainment headlines for months and saw him fired from "Two and a Half Men," one of network television's top rating sitcoms. Sheen got the boot after publicly insulting "Men" creator Chuck Lorre and his other bosses on the CBS/Warner Bros. series. He also confessed to drug use, raucous partying and a polyamorous relationship.

Proof that the actor can indeed be bigger than the vehicle in which they star, Sheen went on to headline the FX sitcom "Anger Management," which will return for a third season in 2014.

Lest we think such occurrences are only a recent phenomenon, it was in 2006 that an anti-gay slur sent actor Isaiah Washington back to the ranks of the unemployed.

Washington played Dr. Burke for three seasons on "Grey's Anatomy" before he was dropped from the TV drama after it came to light that he used a gay slur directed towards his co-star T.R. Knight during an on-set argument with series lead Patrick Dempsey.  

"I sincerely regret my actions and the unfortunate use of words during the recent incident on-set," Washington said in a statement following his removal from the show. "Both are beneath my own personal standards. … I have nothing but respect for my coworkers … and have apologized personally to everyone involved."

At the time Washington stated that he would love to come back to "Grey's," even in a cameo. That never eventuated. And though the actor has attained roles in smaller productions in the intervening years, his star has yet to overcome the very public tarnishing.