A former Bahamas senator accused of attempting to extort $25 million fromJohn Travolta has protested her innocence, telling a Nassau court she is"no devil".
Politician and lawyer Pleasant Bridgewater and paramedic Tarino Lightbourne are on trial in the Bahamas on charges of conspiracy to extort moneyfrom the grieving actor after his teenage son Jett suffered a fatal seizure in January (09).
The pair reportedly threatened to release a Refusal of TreatmentTransportation form, which the actor signed after requesting paramedics drive his son to the airport.
Travolta initially believed it would be faster to fly Jett to a hospital in Florida for treatment, but subsequently changedhis mind.
Bridgewater and Lightbourne supposedly planned to leak the document to the press, suggesting Travolta's actions had delayed treatment for his son.
The pair reportedly threatened to release a Refusal of TreatmentTransportation form, which the actor signed after requesting paramedics drive his son to the airport
The defendants appeared in court on Wednesday (14Oct09) but refused to take the witness stand, choosing instead to read prepared unsworn statements directly to the jury.
Bridgewater claimed she had been set up by Travolta's legal team and subjected to ridicule since the allegations arose earlier this year (09).
She stated, "I maintain my innocence. I will be the first to say I am no saint. But I am no devil".
Lightbourne also declared his innocence, insisting he had no idea what extortion was and is still unclear as to its meaning.
Jessica Simpson believes her dead dog would want her to have another pooch.
The singer-and-actress - who was left devastated when her Maltipoo Daisy was taken by a coyote last month - is struggling to come to terms with the loss of her pet, but draws comfort in knowing Daisy would want her to move on.
She said: "I haven't really thought about another dog yet, but maybe sometime. Daisy would want that."
Jessica, 29, still finds it hard to discuss Daisy, who was a gift from her ex-husband Nick Lachey.
She admitted: "Daisy meant the world to me. I hold her memory very, very close. It was an unfortunate thing what happened. That I don't have her every day... It's a very hard thing to talk about."
People have been contacting my family and friends saying that Daisy has been found. Untrue. People are so cruel... please respect her memory (sic).
Daisy was snatched as Jessica looked on.
She immediately began a campaign to get the dog back, posting messages on her Twitter account and placing posters around her neighbourhood calling for information.
Earlier this week, Jessica - who joked Daisy was a lesbian after she struck up a close friendship with another female dog - revealed people had been falsely claiming Daisy was alive.
She wrote on her Twitter webpage: "People have been contacting my family and friends saying that Daisy has been found. Untrue. People are so cruel... please respect her memory (sic)."
Tara Reid has overcome her physical insecurities and stripped off for an upcoming issue of Playboy magazine, according to U.S. reports.
The American Pie star underwent a botched liposuction procedure in 2004 and vowed never to take off her clothes for the men's magazine - because she was too insecure about her figure.
Reid told reporters, “I know there are problems with my stomach. There are bumps on it, it's uneven.”
However, the 33-year-old is now flaunting her figure, according to In Touch magazine.
She reportedly posed entirely nude for a Playboy shoot at a private residence in Santa Monica, California earlier this month (Oct 7).
A source says, “She was a bit insecure about her body when they first started. She looked great and finally got into the groove.”
Matt Willis wants to reform Busted.
The singer-and-presenter - whose music career has floundered since the group split up in 2005 - says he has "unfinished business" with his former bandmates.
While he will happily work with James Bourne again, he is unsure about a reunion with singer Charlie Simpson.
Matt posted on his Twitter page: "Right! Busted! In answer to when are we getting back together... I honestly don't know! But I like to think we have serious unfinished business.
"Charlie was not fun to be in a band with towards the end. I'm not sure I'd want to be in a band again with him! I still think Charlie is a cool guy but he made things a bit miserable."
However, one reason why Matt may claim he doesn't want to reunite with Charlie is that the Fightstar frontman is content with his career in the rock band he left Busted to concentrate on.
unfinished business with his former bandmates.While he will happily work with James Bourne again, he is unsure about a reunion with singer Charlie Simpson.Matt posted on his Twitter page:
A source said: "The guys have been offered loads of money to get back together several times in the past. Matt and James are up for it - their projects since the band haven't quite worked out as well as they'd hoped - but Charlie's doing fine with Fightstar and doesn't see any reason to go back to the past."
If Matt's reunion plans don't work, the singer - who has four-month-old daughter Isabelle with wife Emma Willis - already has an alternative career path in mind.
He wrote on Twitter: "Cornwall is the most amazing place in the UK man! One day I will move down here and open up a motorbike custom shop! I have a dream!"
Busted released their first single in 2002 and went on to have eight UK top three singles, including four numbers ones.
They released two albums - both of which charted at number two in the UK - before going their separate ways four years ago.
Angelina Jolie is to star in 'The Tourist'.
The 'Changeling' actress is reportedly in talks to take over the lead role in the thriller after Charlize Theron pulled out.
This will not be the first casting change to affect the movie.
Tom Cruise was originally slated to appear but has now been replaced by 'Terminator Salvation' actor Sam Worthington.
The movie - a remake of 2005 French thriller 'Anthony Zimmer' - follows a female Interpol agent who manipulates an American tourist into helping her catch an international criminal who is also her ex-lover.
The project is also looking for a new director after filmmaker Bharat Nalluri dropped out last week.
Julian Fellows, Bill Wheeler and Chris McQuarrie are penning the script for the remake.
Signed to the notorious West Coast powerhouse label Death Row in the nineties has taught Tha Realest some serious lessons when it comes to the music business, ones that some are seldom fortunate in receiving.
Now after almost a decade he has released his debut project which features a star studded supporting cast, all of whom were more than happy to jump on board and join him for the ride.
Speaking to FemaleFirst.co.uk, this Texas born but Oakland raised master of ceremonies gives us his insight to the changes within the music industry since he came onto the scene, how valuable the lessons were over at Death Row and how folks are dead wrong when it comes to the comparison of 2Pac.
You recently released your debut album, why did it take you so long to put it out?
It took so long due to trying to secure the right distribution deal and I wanted to make sure that I owned everything at the end of the day!
How hard was it for you to decide what made the cut?
It wasn't too hard to decide what made the cut. There was a lot of material recorded for this project with a lot of great features but I do believe that we put together a pretty solid project though
You have some great collaborations on there, did these happen organically or were there some you had to work at getting?
Every collabo went smooth as a knife through butter. I know everyone personally that I did a feature with so that helped a lot.
What did being signed to Death Row teach you?
Being signed on Tha Row taught me to treat this business for what it is, BUSINESS. Friendships were not an option, never work with feelings and don't be afraid to let you voice be heard. It was a great place to be on certain days and it was hell for a hustler on others, but that's the same with any label though.
You are often compared to 2Pac, does this get somewhat monotonous for you?
I think that being compared 2Pac is a honour, but you have people out there that get the perception that I'm trying to be him and that's far from the case. I've spoken on this topic plenty of times and my answer remains the same, ‘compare me to one of the best that has ever done this. I write my own music,’ (Laughs).
Being around the music industry for over a decade what would you say have been the biggest changes in your estimation?
I think that the biggest changes in tha industry over the past decade are the way the radio has pushed to play songs that you know shouldn’t even see the light of day. Then you have artists that really have a meaningful projects and they get pushed to the side. So in essence you have artist that usually wouldn’t do all these songs that are not even in their lane such as a song like "Stanky Leg" just to try and get them something in rotation, but they loose in the long run doing this because this is what the fans are going want from you from here on out.
Did appearing on tracks such as F**k Dre affect your relationships with other west coast acts at that time?
I don't believe that the F**k Dre track affected my relationships with any west coast artist at that time because I was moving and shaking with anyone that I wanted too. At that time there was a whole lotta beefing going on with a lot mofos, not just artists and labels; it was just ride or get rode on. Everyone was a target in my opinion when I walked into tha studio.
You are gearing up to shooting a video with Ray J for your track Peep N Game, how important do you think the visual aspect of Hip-Hop is today?
it is very important to have a visual in this business. Everything goes through the net. It's not an option, it's a must, to maintain your following because everyone watches what you do. Hip-Hop has always been about being seen and now the success of such sites like Allhiphop, Thisis50, and Worldstarhiphop you gotta take advantage of the moment..
What else are you working on right now?
Right now I’m working on promoting my current project "WITNESS THA REALEST" and working with my REGIME fam putting that project together. So be on the lookout for me to be in a city near you very soon... JAPAN here I come!!!
Melanie Cornish
Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles have earned mixed reviews from Broadway theater critics with their revival of David Mamet's play Oleanna.
The show, about the power struggle between a university professor and his female student, opened in New York on Sunday night (11Oct09) to a lukewarm response, with Stiles being criticized for her lack of emotion.
The New York Post writes, "Stiles - raw and intense, her mouth compressed into a grim line - barely reins in what you suspect are pools of anger," while Daily Variety says of her performance: "Stiles has a tendency toward sulkiness that doesn't do much to soften her impossible character."
Pullman fairs better with theater experts, who have hailed his portrayal of lecturer John.
Bloomberg.com says, "The revival does profit here from good performances and apt direction. Pullman is an expert at good-natured masculinity turning ugly when sorely beleaguered..."
Daily Variety adds, "Pullman is a far more emotionally available actor... (His) body language is transfixing."
However, the Associated Press notes the complexity of Mamet's work and credits the actors for their efforts: "Oleanna is a fiendishly difficult play to pull off, but Pullman and Stiles, under the precise, careful direction of Doug Hughes, make the most of Mamet's seemingly imprecise language."
Oleanna is not the only big-name Broadway production to face criticism this autumn (09) - Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig's turn in A Steady Rain has been largely panned by theater reviewers, while Jude Law's Hamlet split critics in their opinion.