LETHAL WEAPON WRITER: 'HATE MONGER GIBSON WILL NEVER STAR IN A BIG MOVIE AGAIN'

MEL GIBSON will never be allowed to work on a big budget movie again because of his 'hateful statements' against Jews last year (06) - according to the Jewish writer of LETHAL WEAPON 4.

MEL GIBSON

Gibson famously made anti-Semitic remarks during his arrest for driving under the influence in July 2006. He was sentenced to three years probation, fined $1,300 (GBP650) and ordered to attend Alcoholic Anonymous meetings for a year.

And Jonathan Lemkin, who wrote the story for 1998's Lethal Weapon 4, believes Gibson's drunken rant has left studio bosses nervous about casting him in future blockbusters.

Speaking at the U.K. DVD launch for action film Shooter, he tells WENN, "I don't know if there will be a Lethal Weapon 5 because I don't think studio bosses will have him in those kind of big summer films. He did make hateful statements. I don't know how his rehabilitation went - and he is a wonderful actor and filmmaker - but he is a hate monger."

However, Lemkin refused to be drawn on whether he would be involved with a screenplay for Lethal Weapon 5 if the opportunity arose, saying, "I couldn't answer that."

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Source: WENN

SWIZZ BEATZ TO PERFORM LIVE AT SOHO'S APPLE STORE!

Tuesday August 21, 2007, @ 6:00pm, Apple Store in SoHo, 103 Prince Street, at Green St.

About Swizz Beatz: Bronx born, 28 year-old, hit making production. It is why the title of his upcoming sophomore album, The One Man Band Man, rings so true. Swizz to this day has had a hand in over 95 million records sold. Swizz was the man behind hits for the entire Ruff Ryders label's roster of stars including DMX ("Ruff Ryders Anthem"), Eve ("Who's That Girl") and The Lox ("Wild Out"). So popular were his frenetic beat concoctions that soon he was farming out his talents to the likes of Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes ("Touch It") Remy Martin ("Whuteva") and Beyonce ("Ring The Alarm", "Upgrade You", "Get 'Em Bodied"), just to name a few.

While Swizz' production resume is enough for a dozen musical careers, it doesn't stop there. Besides being a rabid art collector, Swizz' owns a restaurant, two car dealerships and a record label whose roster and projects includes rappers Cassidy and Bone, Thugs & Harmony, co-executive producing Eve's new album, R&B songstress, Mashonda, and, of course, himself. Finally, Swizz just accepted a position as an Ambassador of Music for World Peace to the United Nations.

Check out some of the hot singles below:
Money In The Bank
It's Me Snitches "Remix"

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Source: ICED Media

MADNESS STAR'S CAR ENDS UP IN POOL

MADNESS frontman SUGGS is devastated because his beloved Rolls-Royce car was dumped in a swimming pool after losing a bet.

SUGGS

The 46-year-old, real name Graham McPherson, lost a drinking competition with British radio DJ Christian O'Connell on Thursday (16Aug07) after the latter drank more pints of Guinness than the singer.

Following O'Connell's win, the car was pushed into a swimming pool at the Essex, England site of this weekend's (18-19Aug07) V Festival.

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Source: WENN

CHESNEY TO TRAIN WITH AMERICAN FOOTBALL STARS

Country star KENNY CHESNEY is shaping up to work out with American football team the New Orleans Saints on Friday (17Aug07).

KENNY CHESNEY at The Academy of Country Music Awards , ACM awards, at MGM Grand Garden Arena - Pressroom, Las Vegas, Nevada - 15.05.07

The Rocky Mountain Way singer, who is friends with Saints coach Sean Payton, played a concert at the Riverside Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday (16Aug07).

And, as the New Orleans Saints prepare for their pre-season game against the Cincinnati Bengals, American football fan Chesney agreed to train with the buff sportsmen to boost morale.

He explains, "They wanna see if I can make some kind of contribution. They realised they were gonna be up there when I was playing Cincinnati, and they wanted to make it work.

"Turns out a lot of the guys on the team were fans, and Sean said they really wanted to do it."

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Source: WENN

KANYE: 'MY ALBUM ISN'T FINISHED'

Perfectionist KANYE WEST's forthcoming album GRADUATION still isn't finished, despite hitting stores in just over three weeks.

KANYE WEST

West's third disc is going head-to-head with rival rapper 50 Cent's Curtis and country singer Kenny Chesney's Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates on 11 September (07).

But the Stronger rapper says, "The thing is, I just never know when to stop.

"The tracklisting isn't finalised as I've changed my mind again today. I just heard some parts out there that I'm wasn't happy with.

"I'm always tweaking things here and there but I am being told I have to finish it today.

"It was originally meant to be out in two weeks. I would never have finished it by then. The mastering company told me, 'If it's not finished by today then your s**t won't be in the stores'."

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Source: WENN

WINEHOUSE'S HUSBAND DEFENDS HIMSELF

AMY WINEHOUSE's husband BLAKE FIELDER-CIVIL has angrily defended himself against claims he is responsible for the singer's recent problems.

Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil leave after performing live at the ICA, The Mall, London, England - 25.07.07

The Rehab star, 23, has cancelled all of her August (07) engagements to focus on "health issues" following her hospitalisation after three days of partying last week (08Aug07).

Fielder-Civil's mother Georgette Civil told British newspaper the Daily Mirror earlier this week (ends17Aug07) that the couple are addicted to heroin and cocaine.

But Fielder-Civil has now decided to speak out after some reports blamed him for Winehouse's downfall.

He says, "Everyone thinks that everything's that happened to Amy is my fault and I'm portrayed as the bad guy. But I just want everyone to know that I love her so much.

"She's so precious to me, she's my wife and I want to take care of her, that's why I'm taking her back to rehab.

"I love her so much, she's my world and the main thing is I just want to help her get better. It's been a difficult time for me and Amy but the fact that we're still together shows it's OK.

"The reports about Amy and drugs aren't true to that magnitude."

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Source: WENN

COWELL TO QUIT IDOL AFTER THREE MORE SEASONS

Music mogul SIMON COWELL will quit TV talent show AMERICAN IDOL after three more seasons.

SIMON COWELL

The British pop svengali has found stars Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, and Jordin Sparks on the first six seasons of the show and is currently in the middle of auditioning wannabe singers in season seven.

Despite the show's phenomenal success, Cowell admits he can't see past season 10.

He says, "There has to come a point when I will step down from being on camera and remain behind the scenes because you can't keep doing this for ever.

"I have three more seasons under contract with American Idol and that will be it. And it will probably come at the same time (for British talent show The X Factor) in the U.K.

"I am contracted for another two or three seasons in Britain and I think by that point the public will be sick to death of me anyway and it will be time to go."

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Source: WENN

ALLEN 'DROPPED FROM MTV AWARDS'

British pop star LILY ALLEN has reportedly been dropped from the MTV Music Video Awards following her recent U.S. visa problems.

LILY ALLEN

The Smile singer, 22, was detained by customs and immigration officials in Los Angeles earlier this month after flying in from Australia for the MTV Video Music Awards nominations party.

Officials were reportedly interested in Allen's March (07) arrest in London following an alleged altercation with a photographer. She was cautioned for the incident after voluntarily attending a police station in June.

British newspaper the Daily Mirror reports Allen's recent problems entering the U.S. have lead them to cancel her planned performance with Kanye West and Common at the Las Vegas ceremony on 9 September (07).

A source says, "MTV were desperate to get Lily and they're furious with her visa situation. They've decided to pull the plug because they didn't want to leave it to the last minute to find out if she could or couldn't make it."

Allen is reportedly consulting lawyers to find out why her U.S. visa was revoked.

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Source: WENN

SPEARS IN TEARS AFTER LAWYER MEETING

Troubled pop star BRITNEY SPEARS fled her lawyer's office in tears on Wednesday (15Aug07) after a meeting to discuss her custody battle with ex-husband KEVIN FEDERLINE.

BRITNEY SPEARS

The 25-year-old singer and Federline's divorce was finalised last month (30Jul07), with the couple agreeing to joint custody of their sons Sean Preston, 23 months; and Jayden James, 11 months.

However, following Spears' erratic behaviour in recent weeks, Federline is now seeking full custody of the two boys and has subpoenaed her assistant Alli Sims, her former sidekick Shannon Funk, and her bodyguard Daimon Shippen to testify in the case.

Spears met with her lawyer Laura Wasser in Los Angeles on Wednesday and was photographed crying as she left.

Later that evening, Spears met up with Las Vegas magician Criss Angel to discuss a possible collaboration at the forthcoming MTV Music Video Awards.

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Source: WENN

THE ROCK STOPS SAMBERG URINATING OUT HOTEL WINDOW

Comedian ANDY SAMBERG was reprimanded by wrestler-turned-actor THE ROCK at an MTV Movie Awards after-party in June (07) - when he tried to urinate out of a hotel window.

ANDY SAMBERG and THE ROCK

Hot Rod star Samberg was enjoying the refreshments at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Los Angeles when The Rock advised him against going to the toilet in public.

Samberg tells American magazine Blender, "I was about to pee out this window of a second-floor bungalow.

"Suddenly, I felt this hand on my shoulder. It was The Rock, and he was talking me out of it: 'You don't wanna do it, man. It's not worth it.'

"So finally, I climbed back in, and I said, 'You know what, Rock? You were right. You were right.'"

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Source: WENN

BYNES' FASHION DREAMS STARTED AT EIGHT

HAIRSPRAY star AMANDA BYNES insists her fashion line isn't a new career - she's been designing dresses since the tender age of eight.

The 21-year-old actress launched her bargain fashion line Dear at New York City store Steve + Barry's on Thursday (16Aug07).

She tells the New York Post, "I've been drawing dresses since I was eight years old. I used to watch the Oscars and sketch dresses. If I wasn't an actress, I would have definitely gone to Parsons. I love fashion."

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Source: WENN

HOWARD ABSTAINS FROM SEX

Actor TERRENCE HOWARD has vowed to abstain from sex until he marries again.

TERRENCE HOWARD

The Hustle + Flow star is separated from his wife Lori McCommas, who he married for a second time in 2005, and is determined to live a sex-free existence because he no longer believes in pre-marital intercourse.

The 36-year-old says, "If a relationship is built on sexuality, it won't last long.

"Now, I'm completely chaste through a relationship unless I get married. I don't believe in pre-marital sex."

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Source: WENN

VAN PATTEN TO MAKE TV RETURN

American actor DICK VAN PATTEN will make his TV return on a reality show in September (07), 19 months after he suffered a stroke.

Dick Van Patten at 'Salh-ute' - Comedy night celebrating Mort Sahl's 80th Birthday - Arrivals, held at Wadsworth Theatre on the grounds of the Veterans Administration, Los Angeles, California - 28.06.07

The 78-year-old Eight Is Enough star was taken to a Los Angeles hospital in January 2006 after suffering a diabetic stroke.

But Van Patten, who suffers from Type 2 diabetes, has now announced he will appear in new U.S. celebrity courtroom show Jury Duty.

He says, "I really am feeling much, much better now."

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Source: WENN

CHRISTIE SET FOR ASPEN HONOUR

Veteran actress JULIE CHRISTIE will be honoured with the Independent by Nature Award at the forthcoming Aspen Filmfest in Colorado.

Julie Christie at the IFC Center for the Cinema Society's special screening of the movie 'Away from Her', New York City, USA - 02.05.07

The Doctor Zhivago beauty, 67, will receive the award next month (26-30Sep07) because of her individualism and creative risk-taking.

Laura Thielen, executive director of Aspen Film, says, "We are honoured to celebrate this exceptionally gifted actor."

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Source: WENN

MCENTIRE: 'I WAS A MAN IN A PREVIOUS LIFE'

Country star REBA McENTIRE believes she was a man in a previous life.

REBA McENTIRE at Muhammad Ali's Celebrity Fight Night XIII at the Marriot Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, Phoenix, Arizona - 24.03.07

The 52-year-old singer is convinced she's walked the earth before.

She says, "I believe in reincarnation. I believe I've been here before as a man. I will get flak for this but it's what I believe.

"I believe I've spent time with my son Shelby before. I believe I've spent time with other people in my life before.

"Who knows? Maybe I'm part Buddhist."

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Source: WENN

LOHAN: 'HEADLINES MAKE ME FEEL LIKE AN IDIOT'

Troubled actress LINDSAY LOHAN feels like an 'asshole' because her exploits grab all the headlines while issues like global warming are sidelined.

LINDSAY LOHAN

The Mean Girls star admits she's embarrassed by the importance afforded her celebrity.

Speaking to American magazine Elle before her recent arrest for drink-driving and subsequent stay in rehab, Lohan said, "I feel like the asshole, the idiot, because I feel like I'm distracting from the other things that are important, like global warming and that kind of stuff.

"I genuinely mean that. And I don't know what to do."

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Source: WENN

JAY-Z TOPS HIP-HOP EARNERS LIST

Music mogul JAY-Z has topped a list naming the highest earning hip-hop star.

JAY-Z at '2007 MTV Movie Awards' at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal Studios, Los Angeles, California - 03.06.07

The Def Jam boss earned $34 million (GBP17 million) in 2006, beating out competition from rapper 50 Cent to claim the title of Hip-Hop Cash King in American magazine Forbes.

50 Cent made $32 million (GBP16 million), while Sean 'Diddy' Combs is in third place with earnings of $28 million (GBP14 million).

Rounding out the top five are producer Timbaland and Dr. Dre, who raked in $21 million (GBP10.5 million) and $20 million (GBP10 million) respectively.

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Source: WENN

WIDOWER ANGRY AT 'PARTYING' BRANDY

The grief-stricken widower of the woman who was killed in a multi-car pile-up involving BRANDY has blasted the R+B singer for partying while he's still in mourning.

Brandy Norwood

The singer/actress, real name Brandy Norwood, is facing possible charges of misdemeanour vehicular manslaughter after her car ploughed into 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj's Toyota Corolla on the San Diego Freeway in California on 30 December (06). Aboudihaj later died in hospital.

After Aboudihaj's widower Marquane Hdidou saw photos of Brandy partying with actor Brad Garrett in the Jet nightclub in Las Vegas last weekend (11-12Aug07), his lawyer said his client is "extremely angry", TMZ.com reports.

Brandy is facing four civil lawsuits from Aboudihaj's parents, husband, children and another driver involved in the crash, Mallory Ham.

In a California court on Thursday (16Aug07), the judge asked the four parties to combine their cases.

No charges have yet been filed against Brandy in the criminal investigation.

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Source: WENN

MAX ROACH DIES

Jazz musician MAX ROACH has died in a New York City hospital following a long illness. He was 83.

The drummer, who is credited as one of the jazz stars who created the bebop style, passed away in his sleep in a Manhattan hospital on Wednesday night (15Aug07), according to Blue Notes Records spokesman Cem Kurosman.

During his long career, Roach played with Duke Elllington, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Coleman Hawkins, Miles Davis and Clifford Brown.

Roach is survived by his five children Daryl, Raoul, Maxine, Ayl and Dara.

Source: WENN

SINGER ALBERT WELCOMES DAUGHTER

HEARTLAND frontman JASON ALBERT is celebrating after his wife KELLY gave birth to a daughter on Tuesday (14Aug07).

The country singer has named his girl Kelson Noel.

She was born in Huntsville, Alabama and weighed 3.35 kilograms (seven pounds and six ounces).

Source: WENN

COMPOSER KHRENNIKOV DIES

Russian composer and musician TIKHON KHRENNIKOV has died at the age of 95.

Khrennikov passed away at his home in Moscow and will be buried in his native Elets region of Russia following a memorial service on Thursday (16Aug07).

He is best known for composing film scores including Svinarka I Pastukh (Swineherd And Shepherd) and V Shest Chasov Vechera Posle Voyny (Six O'Clock In The Evening After The War).

Source: WENN