Kevin Bacon

Star Actor Kevin Bacon has been named as one of the several celebrity victims who got trapped in the $50 billion (£35 billion) fraud scandal rocking America’s Wall Street.

Bernard Madoff, the culprit was arrested on 8 December (08) on charges of securities fraud. Bernard is the former Nasdaq chairman who had allegedly frauded billions of dollars from his high society clients.

The scam allegedly started to fall apart once the clients started asking their money back. The clients were asking for a refund of their money because of the massive effect of the global crisis.

Kevin Bacon’s spokesperson, Allen Eichorn, tells New York Magazine, “I can confirm that they had investments with Mr. Madoff; no further specifics or comment beyond that (is available).”

Kevin Bacon now joins the list of victims of Madoff : Steven Spielberg, his DreamWorks Animation Skg partner Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Uma Thurman’s fiance, hedge-fund tycoon Arpad Busson and several other high profile investors. All of them have repirtedly lost millions to the fraud scam.

Bacon’s spokesperson Allen Eichorn however did not ellaborate on the losses or the extent of it bore by Bacon and his wife,actress Kyra Sedgwick : “Let’s not speculate or rely on hearsay.”

Tags: Kevin Bacon
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Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman has sparked off rumours in her native city of Sydney, Australia. The actress angered locals because she moored her million dollar yacht outside an exclusive apartment block which she no longer owns. The locals lodged complaints against Kidman.

Nicole Kidman had already moved out of her exclusive harbourside home nearly a year ago. But her £2.1 million yacht has remained in the nearby marina. There are laws that say that the residents only can moor their boats in the marina vicinity. The locals have accused the government of turning partial and blind eye to the breach of law by Kidman.

A spokesperson for Kidman told the Sydney Morning Herald that the yacht had been left in the marina because the star had planned on buying another property on site, which did not happen. The spokesperson said that Kidman was not being spared by the law. The Kidman representative also said that the yacht would be removed from the spot next week.

Wally Paterson, an advisor to the owners’ corporation said he was “…absolutely adamant that everyone gets treated equally no matter who or what they are”. Residents of the Pier 6/7 block in Walsh Bay, Sydney, are reportedly angry that Kidman, who recently sold her apartment there, has been allowed to keep her luxury boat, the Hokulani, tied up outside. Locals started campaigning against government’s inaction. They insisted that the vessel be removed immediately. They also alleged that the estate’s committee has been overly linient on Kidman because of her star status.

Nicole’s spokesperson denied all such preferential treatment allegations : the governing committee “would never do anything just because it’s her”.

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T.I.

Rapper T.I. can put his soul to rest. His childhood friend was killed by Hosea Thomas, 35. T.I. always felt that the bullets that hit his friend was meant for him. A Cincinnati judge sentenced Hosea Thomas, 35 for murdering Philant Johnson in 2006, to 66 years to life in prison.

T.I. has made his friend’s killer spend the rest of his life behind bars. Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Ralph Winkler said in his statement that “[Thomas] gave Philant Johnson a death sentence—and his family, he gave them a death sentence as well.” The judge was profound in his judgement when he said that he would like to show the same level of mercy for Thomas as the latter showed for his victim.

Johnson was hit on his head by the bullets fired by Thomas. Johnson and T.I. were in their SUV returning after a postgig party turned violent.

“All of those rounds were fired for me, in my opinion,” T.I. told in his testimony recorded on Nov. 21 during Thomas’ trial. “Before I know it, shots rang out. At that time, we’re calling everybody’s name out to see if everybody was all right.”

Tags: Rapper T.I., T.I.
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Madonna

Madonna has paid her ex-husband British director Guy Ritchie up to 60 million pounds ($92 million). The payment is as per their divorce settlement payout. The divorce after eight years of marriage was a pricey one confirmed by Madonna’s spokeswoman on Monday.

The couple’s estimated wealth is $525 million of which most accounts to Madonna. The couple’s final divorce settlement was granted by a British court on November 21. Liz Rosenberg has confirmed that Madonna, 50 had paid Ritchie, 40, between 50 and 60 million pounds ($76 million and $92 million) as part of their divorce. The English country estate, Ashcombe, alone costs about 20 million pounds ($30 million). Madonna’s total payout sum includes the cost of their estate. The tedious fight for custody is yet to be settled. Rosenberg has said that the arrangements for Guy and Madonna’s children has not been done.

Madonna has an estimated album sales of more than 200 million. She has been the reigning success as a singer. Her divorce with Guy Ritchie was announced in October, nearly eight years after their fairytale wedding at Skibo Castle in Scotland.

The multimillion pound (dollar) settlement is calculated to be much more than the high profile payout by former Beatle Paul McCartney to his ex-wife Heather Mills. Guy’s representative has not made any comments and when asked to do so simply declined to expand.

The biggest contested divorce settlement in English history was the 48 million pounds (about $90 million at the time) insurance tycoon John Charman was ordered to pay his ex-wife in 2006. Liz Rosenberg, the spokeswoman for Madonna also said that the couple’s west London pub, the Punchbowl would also remain with Ritchie. Britishers have stated that Madonna has come out with such a massive divorce payout simply because she has no intention to stay in England. U.K.-based entertainment lawyer Ambi Sitham said : “She’s relocating and moving back to New York. It’s money she’s already paid out — what is she going to do, try to sell the houses in a flagging market?”

Liz Rosenberg finally said, “I’d assume it’s one of the largest payouts ever in a divorce settlement…”

Tags: Guy Ritchie, Madonna
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Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder Civil in happier times

Blake Fielder Civil, Amy’s junkie husband wants to see Amy happy. He has decided to leave Amy and their 18-month marriage. Blake’s decision has come after he went through a lot of suffering seeing Amy destroying her life because of him.

The 26 year old admitted: “I dragged Amy into it and without me there is no doubt that she would never have gone down that road. I ruined something beautiful…” Blake was speaking in context to Amy’s addiction and suffering due to it.

Blake said that she is so much in love with Amy that he has to leave her. He does not want to be the cause for Amy’s damaged life anymore. Winehouse’s husband finally has decided to stop her from “killing herself”. Blake says that he made “the biggest mistake” of his life allowing Amy to take the irreversible path of heroin and crack cocaine. She had seen him with the drugs and had taken to it.

Blake denied all reports that suggest his affair with model Sophie Schandorff. Blake said that since he is responsible for Amy’s present days he will make it sure that he does not reconcile with her when he leaves the Life Works centre in Surrey next month.

He will do this in order to give Amy the chance to turn her life around. “Now I have to let her go to save her life. I am not abandoning her. I am doing this out of love…” Blake said. He continued: “When I see pictures of Amy and the state she’s in it tears my heart out. It scares me to death that I can’t fix Amy.

But for her recovery I have to leave her alone. I will do anything for her and that includes walking away…”

About Sophie Schandorff, Blake told Britain’s News of the World newspaper: “That girl used to go out with a friend of mine. Now she appears to be making out that she is my girlfriend.”That’s total b******s. She just seems to want to get her face in the papers. Sophie Schandorff means nothing to me and never has.”

Blake was jailed for 27 months for grievous bodily harm and perverting the course of justice in July and will be out early on an early release from prison. He broke the news of his early release to the German-born beauty before breaking it to Amy.

Tags: Amy Winehouse, Blake Fielder Civil
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Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse met her lawyers to discuss a separation from Blake Fielder-Civil. Amy,25,has just recovered from her collapse after she had a phone bust-up with her husband. Winehouse was in London Clinic when the meeting with lawyers took place. Amy had taken to drug and alcohol abuse just after the call ended. The telephone bust up was a disastrous one.

Amy’s husband continuously made calls even when Amy was in the hospital for tests. Amy’s close friends say that Amy wants a proper end to her marriage. Amy went too far to first abusing her father for being an obstruction in her relationship with Blake.

Afterwards Amy decided to bring the divorce lawyers to hospital for an urgent meeting. Her lawyers will be looking into her separation and see to it that the separation is a fast one.

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Travis Barker

Travis Barker, the punk musician has filed lawsuit and is litigating companies linked to a plane that crashed in South Carolina, resulting in killing two of his friends and injuring him. Barker, who is the former drummer of Blink-182 has claimed more than US$25,000 in damages and have also taken legal actions against the plane’s owners, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., and an airplane maintenance company.

The lawsuit produced by the Barker’s lawyers claims the aircraft companies improperly operated and maintained the Learjet that blasted a runway and burst into flames on September 19 in South Carolina. Besides,  Chris Baker,  Barker’s assistant and Charles Monroe Still Jr., Barker’s bodyguard, the crush also killed the two pilots of the aircraft.

The suit filed by Barker claims damages for disfigurement, pain and suffering, loss of earnings, and medical and legal expenses. Thelma Martin Still, the mother of late Charles Monroe Still Jr. also joined  Barker and claimed for grief and sorrow, funeral expenses and loss of earnings.

Barker and celebrity disc jockey DJ AM were returning to Los Angeles after performing at a show that night. Both of them were badly injured in the crash.

It has been reported by the aviation authorities that the cockpit recordings indicated the jet’s crew thought a tyre had blown during takeoff. NTSB officials have said pieces of tyre were retrieved about 2,800 feet from where the plane took off down the 8,600-foot runway.

Tags: Travis Barker
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Elizabeth Hurley

British model/actress Elizabeth Hurley’s promotion of American fur house - Blackglama has been severely censured by animal rights campaigners.

Hurley has long been targeted by animal lovers for her penchant for fashionable furs, but her new advertisements for Blackglama have caused an uproar prompting a spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to publicly castigate and criticise the English beauty. Several Hollywood stars have long abhorred the use of furs and animal products. Hurley’s fashion fiesta on animals is sure to bring fire to her stardom. There are stars who have even taken up the PETA cause in their hands and spread awareness themselves but Hurley is surely turning out to be one adamant lady going against the tide.

Representative for PETA Europe, Robbie LeBlanc, says, “It’s shocking that she’s taking money to wear baby minks, who are skinned at six months old for Liz’s luxuries.

“Her wardrobe is now as dead as her film career. Millions of animals are electrocuted and skinned alive, suffering terribly for the production of fur. With so many fantastic faux furs available there is no excuse for the wearing of real fur.”

Blackglama’s What becomes a legend most? campaign, features a topless Hurley, with her modesty preserved only by the luxury furs.

Tags: Elizabeth Hurley, Liz Hurley
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MJ

Reportedly Michael Jackson reached a settlement with a sheik suing him for £4.7million last night hours before the star was due to appear at London’s High Court.

Jackson, 50, was accused by Bahrain’s Prince Abdulla AL-KHALIF of failing to repay a huge loan. Mj allegedly took the hefty sum to perform for the Prince and also record albums which he refused. But Mj did not return the amount even after declining to perform for Abdullah.

The troubled pop legend was about to board a plane to Heathrow when his lawyers settled out of court. Jackson is going through huge financial losses and is under several tie-ups to regain his footing.

His spokesman said: “He was advised by his legal team to postpone his travels since the parties had concluded a settlement in principle.”

Michael Jackson’s legal team have made a settlement in principle with an Arab Sheikh who sued the King of Pop for breach of contract.

Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain filed a suit alleging he’s owed a $7 million advance on an album and autobiography deal that Jackson never honoured.

Jackson was expected to attend London’s High Court on Monday to testify in the case, but he has been advised not to fly to the British capital after his lawyers made a last minute agreement with the Sheikh’s legal advisors who have been London to fight out their case and settle Sheikh’s dues.

It was thought Jackson wouldn’t be able to make it to court due to bad health, but doctors in the U.S. gave him the all clear to make the journey to London following the mystery illness.

In the suit, Sheikh Abdulla claimed he paid for a recording studio for the star and sent his own compositions for Jackson to record, as well as alleging he wasted $2.2 million on studio time for Jackson to produce a song in aid of the victims of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina - but the singer never attended.  Out of court settlements are a common pattern for celebrity financial issues.

Tags: Michael Jackson, MJ
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Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand

Jonathan Ross was suspended by BBC for making obscene phone calls to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs. Ross and comic Russell Brand had violated BBC code of conduct and right to privacy of individuals. Both had outraged licence-fee payers. They had called Sachs to tell him that Brand had slept with his granddaughter Georgina Baillie.

Brand quit his BBC radio show after the sick prank last month. BBC’s governing body claimed today that the action taken against the duo was right and truly appropriate. Regarding Jonathan Ross’s suspension Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons said that BBC’s director general had taken the right action with regard to Ross, who was suspended without pay for three months.

Ross will be able to resume his services at BBC from January when his suspension ends. Sir Michael Lyons said : “We have underlined very clearly that it is not the job of the Trust to make decisions about the terms and conditions of performers or the sanctions that are applied to them when they are found to be wanting.

“We are very clear that the director general has taken the right action with respect to Jonathan Ross.” The Trust said the material broadcast on Brand’s Radio 2 show was a “deplorable intrusion” into the private lives of Mr Sachs and Miss Baillie. The Trust further elaborated that there was no need for the content to be broadcast as it had no “editorial justification” and neither any “informed consent obtained” for which the messages were aired. Andrew Sach’s wife Melody said Ross and Brand “picked on the wrong man” for their prank. The Trust said that there was no need or any valid point to justify the airing of the messages that were left on the answerphone of the 78-year-old actor.

The Trust’s report into the scandal and the hearing today made things look clear. Mrs Sachs said the family was “tired” of the so-called “Sachsgate” affair, but said they had “no bitterness at all” towards the BBC presenters. “Andrew has got nothing to say,” she said.

For now scores are settled and Ross can look forward to his return to work and his second innings with the BBC when his current three-month suspension without pay is up in January. A prank went too far to cost his job and Jonathan Ross would sure be a more presentable presenter in the future. That is what we can hope !

Tags: BBC, Jonathan Ross, Russell Brand
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Madonna and Ritchie

Finally the end has arrived for pop star Madonna and her film director husband Guy Ritchie. The star couple are all set to begin their divorce at the High Court in London on Friday, according to court lists. The  Registry of the Family Division will soon receive a notice of the  couple’s rule inconclusively.

Reliable sources mentioned that the celebrity couple have already reached a concord over finances and sharing custody of their children. If there are no further dispute from either side the marriage may legally come to an end within the next couple of weeks.

Madonna and Ritchie tied the wedding knots in December 2000 at Skibo Castle in Scotland and they announced their break-up in October,  the next year. The divorce will have its first hearing before the High Court’s Family Division at 1000 GMT, for which the couple is registered by Ciccione M and Ritchie GS names. The couples are not requested to attend the hearing, which is likely to last few minutes.

Reports have also said that Rocco and David, the two adopted sons of the couple will share their time between their UK and US homes. The 12 year old daughter of Madonna,  Lourdes will stay with her.

Tags: Guy Ritchie, Madonna
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Prince was sued by a  perfume company on Monday for $100,000 (66,883 pounds) for failing to help them promote a perfume named “3121”. The  fragrance was named after the musician’s  2006 album, which the company produced as a part of the business with musician Prince.

Prince

The the lawsuit that has been filed in New York State Supreme Court that states that Prince and Universal Music Publishing Group, his music publisher, have reached a licensing agreement with Revelations, the  perfume company in December 2006. The agreement allowed  the company to use Prince’s name and likeness as well as the name of his album “3121” to market two fragrances. The first of the two fragrances have already been released in 2007 and a second is due out in 2009, the lawsuit also mentions.

The agreement between the musician and the perfume company stated that 50% of the of the net profits from the sale of the fragrances would go directly to the Universal. In return the label would arrange the cooperation of Prince to market the products.

“Since July 2007, despite repeated attempts by Revelations there have been virtually no communications from anyone who could commit to or coordinate any promotional efforts by Prince”,  the breach of contract lawsuit mentions.

The Universal Music Publishing Group said in a statement, “Although we have not seen the complaint, we are familiar with the claims being asserted by Revelations, and they are completely without merit”.

The music company is owned by French media and telecoms conglomerate Vivendi.

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Michael Jackson

The King of Pop is dragged to the court by the son of an Arab monarch. Jackson has been charged of taking US$7 million as an advance on an autobiography and an album that he never produced. Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain’s lawyers claimed that Jackson accepted the money as an advance on the book and joint recording project with the Sheikh. Jackson claims the money was a gift from the Sheikh, who is an aspiring songwriter.

As the trial opened on Monday in London’s Royal Courts of Justice both Jackson and Al Khalifa were not present. Lawyers of Michael Jackson said that they would seek permission from the court to prove by video link from the United States. A lawyer of Al Khalifa, Bankim Thanki, on the other hand said that the royal first had a word with Jackson over the telephone about the contract while the singer was on trial in California on charges of child molestation.

Thanki also added that the Shiekh wanted to  work with Jackson on rebuilding his career. Al Khalifa  has spent millions paying Jackson’s legal fees and moving him to Bahrain. These expenses also included a sum of US$350,000 for a European vacation for Jackson and his associates. “The cost even included the expenses of bringing out Mr. Jackson’s hairdresser. It’s not a conventional commercial dispute”, he added.

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Heather Locklear

Heather Locklear has been changed by the California prosecutors with DUI while driving under the influence of prescription drugs. The California Highway Patrol have admitted that the actress expressed “obvious impairment” when her car was noticed by an officer that was parked and blocking a lane on a highway in September this year. But  the alcohol was winnowed out. She was taken for a test for drugs at a nearby police station and was soon released after the test was done.

Locklear said that she was under medication and was seeking treatment for anxiety and depression since June. She went into depression after she had a divorce with Richie Sambora, Bon Jovi’s guitarist, last year. The court had scheduled Locklear to submit legal document on January 26, 2009.

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Marcia Valentine

A woman who tried to stalk actress Sandra Bullock has been put to a three year of probation following her guilty plea to an infringement charge.  Marcia Valentine, now  47, was charged with assaulting the star with a deadly weapon. According to the Orange County Superior Court Web site she entered her guilty plea to stalking on November 5.

Earlier in May 2007, Bullock had obtained a restricting order that banished Valentine for 3 years from contacting her or coming near her home, family or work. Bullock also evidenced in court that on five different occasions, Valentine left in her yard palm foliages clothed with “weird signs” and “pieces of animal fur.” The star all added that Valentine had yelled dirty words and twice tried to run over James, host of TV’s Monster Garage, with her silver Mercedes-Benz. James is although not hurt.

Tags: Marcia Valentine, Sandra Bullock
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