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Rapper Juvenile's Daughter Murdered

2008-03-07T04:43:00.001-08:00

ATLANTA -- The rap star Juvenile is "shocked and devastated" by the shooting death of his young daughter, the girl's mother and another child, his manager said Saturday.

The 32-year-old rapper is still trying to cope with the death of 4-year-old Jelani; her mother, 39-year-old Joy Deleston; and the woman's daughter Micaiah, 11, whose bodies were found Thursday night in their home, said manager Aubrey Francis.

"It really shocked him and devastated him to the point where I've never seen him before," Francis said. "Right now he is relaxing and trying to grasp everything of what has happened."

Meanwhile, 17-year-old Anthony Tyrone Terrell Jr. is being held in the DeKalb County jail, charged in the deaths of his mother -- a Gwinnett County sheriff's deputy -- and siblings at the home near Lawrenceville, outside Atlanta. He was arrested Friday.

Deleston brought a paternity lawsuit in 2004, claiming that Juvenile, whose real name is Terius Gray, was Jelani's father, Gwinnett County court records show. Both parties later agreed Juvenile was the father.

Juvenile, who is in New Orleans, had been making regular child support payments, Francis said.

In 1998, Juvenile released his third album, "400 Degreez," which sold 4 million copies. At one time he was part of the four-man group The Hotboyz, along with Lil Wayne, Young Turk and B.G.

Attorney Randy Kessler, who represented Juvenile in the paternity suit, said Saturday he had not talked with the rapper about the killings.

"Any time you have a situation like that, it's shocking," Kessler said.

Terrell was taken to jail in neighboring DeKalb County to avoid any potential conflict because Deleston worked for Gwinnett County, said Lawrenceville police spokeswoman Illana Spellman. She could not confirm Friday whether Deleston's service weapon was used.

Because of his age, prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty against Terrell. A preliminary hearing will be set next week in Gwinnett County Superior Court, prosecutor Danny Porter said.

Defense attorney Lyle Porter did not return calls Friday and Saturday.

Police investigate Amy Winehouse 'crack' video

2008-01-24T04:03:00.000-08:00

Footage of Amy Winehouse, the troubled singer, apparently smoking from a crack pipe was passed on to Scotland Yard, it emerged last night.
The Metropolitan Police yesterday confirmed its officers were investigating the 19-minute film of Winehouse, in which she appears to smoke from a crack pipe, allegedly snorts ecstasy and cocaine and admits to taking “around six valium” at a party in her east London home.

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: “We are in receipt of the videotape from a media outlet and it is currently being investigated.”

Winehouse visited a drugs clinic in north-west London with her father for a two-hour appointment, reports said yesterday.

The 24-year-old’s father Mitch told The Sun: “Your video of Amy taking drugs may well be the best thing that has ever happened to her.
“For all the hurt and pain, it may finally be the thing to focus her mind and convince her to get the help she needs to quit for good.”
Winehouse’s spokesman told reporters the appointment at the clinic was a regular weekly session which formed part of her continuing treatment for drug addiction.
On the video she appears gaunt and confused. She is heard mumbling to friends who are planning to go out that she would be "useless" because she has just taken six Valium to "bring myself down".
The footage was filmed last Friday, before her husband Blake Fielder-Civil was due to appear in court. He is awaiting trial on charges of assault and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
The singer is best known for her song Rehab and has won critical acclaim and chart success with her album Back to Black.

Heath Ledger found Dead

2008-01-23T03:55:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK - Six different types of prescription drugs were found in Heath Ledger's apartment -- including anti-anxiety medications and sleeping pills -- though the cause of his death won't be known for several days after a preliminary autopsy Wednesday was inconclusive, authorities said.

A rolled-up $20 bill was also found on the floor near the Australian actor's bed, but lab tests detected no traces of drug residue. Police also said no illegal drugs were found in the apartment.

Among the prescription medications found were pills to treat insomnia and anxiety, and an antihistamine, according to two law enforcement officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing. Three of the drugs were prescribed in Europe, the sources said.

The $20 bill was found on the floor near Ledger's bed, and New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said lab tests found nothing to indicate it had been used to snort drugs.

The Australian-born actor was found dead Tuesday by his housekeeper and a massage therapist -- lying naked and face-down on his bed, police said. The pills were found in bottles in Ledger's bedroom and bathroom, and police said the death was caused by a possible drug overdose and appeared to be accidental.

Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office, said the autopsy on the 28-year-old actor was inconclusive and that more would be known in about 10 days, when more tests were completed.

Police said Ledger probably died Tuesday between 1 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. At 1 p.m., the housekeeper went into his bedroom to change a light bulb, saw him sleeping and heard him snoring.

At 2:45 p.m., the massage therapist showed up for Ledger's appointment, knocked on his door and got no answer. She later noticed Ledger was unconscious and called Mary-Kate Olsen, whose number was programmed into Ledger's cell phone, to seek advice.

Olsen said she would send over her private security. In the ensuing moments, the massage therapist realized that Ledger might be dead, and called 911. Paramedics -- and Olsen's security people -- arrived minutes later.

News of the death stunned family, fans and colleagues.

"Working with Heath was one of the purest joys of my life," said Ang Lee, who directed Ledger in "Brokeback Mountain." ''He brought to the role of Ennis more than any of us could have imagined -- a thirst for life, for love and for truth, and a vulnerability that made everyone who knew him love him. His death is heartbreaking."

Lee Daniels, who produced the critically acclaimed "Monster's Ball" in which Ledger starred, strongly disputed any notion that Ledger had a drug problem.

"The definition of substance abuse is really up to one's perspective," Daniels said. "I didn't see him as a drug addict. I saw him as someone who enjoyed life. I know drug addicts, he was not a drug addict."

He said he saw Ledger a couple months ago and that he was in great spirits. "He was in a good mood, he was in a great place ... he was excited about living in New York."

Before moving to Manhattan, Ledger lived in Brooklyn with then-girlfriend Michelle Williams in a four-story, sage-green brownstone with a black wrought-iron fence. Yellow tulips with red stripes were among the bouquets left by well-wishers Wednesday.

At the Brawta Caribbean Cafe two blocks from the residence, owner Jennifer Ewers said Ledger was a frequent guest who always ordered jerk chicken, rice and beans, and sorrel.

"He was a perfect gentleman. He comes in here with his hoodie on, reads a book, and gives you a peace sign," she said. "He was always with his daughter, playing hide-and-seek among the plants, or on his skateboard, peeking his head in."

Speaking in Australia, Ledger's father called the death "tragic, untimely and accidental."

"Heath has touched so many people on so many different levels during his short life," Kim Ledger said. "Please now respect our family's need to grieve and come to terms with our loss privately."

Fans left flowers and candles Wednesday outside Ledger's apartment in the tony SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan on Wednesday. Khaled Ali, 41, a stage manager for a Broadway show, dropped off a candle on his way to work, saying he and fellow cast members were devastated.

"I felt a connection with him as an actor, as a fellow in the theater community," he said. "With 'Brokeback Mountain' he touched me personally in telling the story of my community. It was very touching."

Ledger was known for grueling, intense roles that became his trademark after he got his start in teen movies like "10 Things I Hate About You." Thereafter, he avoided the easy path in favor of roles that forced him to bury his Australian accent and downplay his leading-man looks: the tormented gay cowboy Ennis Del Mar in "Brokeback Mountain"; a drug addict in "Candy"; an incarnation of Bob Dylan in "I'm Not There."

Playing the Joker in the upcoming Batman movie "The Dark Knight," may be his final finished performance.

Ledger split last year with Williams, who played his wife in "Brokeback." The two had a daughter, the now 2-year-old Matilda. Early Wednesday, Williams and Matilda left Trollhattan, Sweden, where the 27-year-old actress had been shooting scenes for the upcoming film "Mammoth," said Martin Stromberg, a spokesman for film production company Memfis Film.

"She received the news at her hotel late last night," Stromberg said, adding he had not spoken to the actress after she learned of Ledger's death.

The actor's personal strife was accompanied by professional anxiety. He said in a November interview that "Dark Knight" and "I'm Not There" took a toll.

"Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night," Ledger told The New York Times. "I couldn't stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going." He said he took two Ambien pills, which only worked for an hour.

A day after Ledger's death, at least six TV satellite trucks were parked on the block or around the corner from his Manhattan apartment, with a stream of TV reporters doing their standups. There were bouquets, letters and candles piled in front of the building.

A handwritten letter on plain white paper anchored by votive candles read:

"Heath, how could anyone hate 10 things about you. We couldn't find one bad thing about you. God bless your soul, you're in our prayers."

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: BRITNEY SPEARS ON A STRETCHER

2008-01-05T05:36:00.000-08:00

Pop star Britney Spears remained hospitalized Friday, hours after police were called to her home Thursday night to mediate a custody dispute.

Police initially said Spears was taken to a hospital for tests to see if she was under the influence of alcohol or drugs and for a psychological evaluation after the situation at her home, but Officer April Harding said Friday she could not confirm that or other reports that Spears was hospitalized for mental evaluation.

"For her own welfare, she was transferred to a local hospital for medical treatment," Harding said, according to The Associated Press.

On Friday morning, lawyers representing Spears and her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, spent about 30 minutes in chambers Friday with Los Angeles County Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon, who has been handling the couple's custody dispute, the AP reported. The attorneys did not comment to reporters.

Spears appeared to be conscious as she was rolled out of her Studio City home on a gurney about three hours after police and ambulances arrived there Thursday night.

According to the AP, officers were called to Spears' house around 8 p.m. to respond to a custodial dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline over their sons, 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James, Officer Jason Lee of the Los Angeles Police Department said.

By about 10:30 p.m., six police cars, two ambulances and a fire truck had entered the gated community that includes Spears' house. Several police cars were seen in the area earlier in the night.

Spears turned over the children around 10:50 p.m., Lee said.

The children were returned to Federline, who has primary legal custody of the two sons, a police spokesman said.

Aerial video provided by local television station helicopters showed Spears on a stretcher and surrounded by police and paramedics as it was rolled to an ambulance near her home. Paparazzi came out in force, following the ambulance as it left.

Another group of paparazzi met the vehicle at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, some banging on the ambulance doors, according to the AP.

Spears has been in a heated battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline over custody of their two sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

Federline, Spears' former backup dancer, holds primary custody of the children. Spears has been in trouble with the court earlier concerning her compliance with court orders in the custody case.

Spears appeared for a deposition in the case earlier Thursday, Federline attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan told reporters during the day, according to the AP. She was deposed for 14 minutes, Kaplan said.

Spears' attorneys, Trope and Trope, had filed a motion Wednesday asking to be relieved as her counsel due to a "breakdown" in communication with Spears

"Rape Remix" Raz-B's Apology/Allegations

2007-12-28T06:11:00.000-08:00

Raz-B posing for a photo at a popular Gay Night Club in Washington D.C.

Raz-B attempts to apologize for the "Leaked" Videos!
"Rape Remix"

A day after former B2K manager Chris Stokes vehemently denied allegations that he sexually molested former members of the boy band while serving as its manager, his accuser, former B2K member DeMario "Raz-B" Thornton, has apologized. In a 30-second video posted on YouTube on Wednesday, Thornton stands outside on a city street and recants the sordid accusations he and older brother Ricardo "Ricky Romantic" Thornton had made in a pair of videos that circulated over the weekend.

"This is DeMario Thornton, publicly known as Raz-B of B2K," a solemn-looking Thornton tells the camera in the video, called "The Truth About Chris Stokes B2K Part 3." "I would like to send a public apology for some tapes that were leaked without my authority. I just want to say that those allegations are not true ... with Chris Stokes and Marques Houston, [I] apologize for any hurt this may have caused publicly [or] financially."

Stokes reacted to the new video in a statement released Thursday (December 27) morning. "I'm happy that DeMario 'Raz-B' Thornton and Ricardo Thornton realized their mistakes and admitted to lying," he said, although Ricardo Thornton is standing by his claims. "I have always supported my family and have always been a stand-up person. I knew that the truth would eventually come to light."

Thornton's abrupt turnaround came just hours after Stokes told MTV News that the allegations were false. His denials were seconded by another former B2K member, Omarion.

"I'm not gay. And I'm married. And I have four kids. I been with my wife for 16 years," Stokes told MTV in an exclusive interview. "And I'm not a child molester. So those are all false allegations. I'm gonna sue them. And I owe that to my wife and kids, period. It's ridiculous."

The truce between Raz and Stokes doesn't appear to have been extended to Ricardo. After MTV reported on the apology, Ricardo told MTV News that he stands by all the original allegations and is not recanting his story. He said he hasn't spoken to his younger brother in more than a day — which he said was unusual for the siblings — and predicted that Raz will "come back around," suggesting that the apology might not have been his brother's idea.

Former B2K Manager Accused Of Molestation, Raz-B Releases Tape

2007-12-26T07:21:00.000-08:00

The tape surfaced in the midst of talks surrounding a B2K reality show that would feature Raz-B, Lil' Fizz, and J-Boog. On one clip, Raz (born DeMario Thornton) is on the phone breaking the news to the family of Marques Houston, who is also a protege of Chris Stokes. "It started one day when Chris said, 'Let me touch you,'" Raz-B explains. He says he was only 11 or 12 years-old at the time.

On another clip, Raz's brother Ricky "Romance" Thornton tells his side. "Chris made me take showers with the other boys," he said. "All that little sh-t that my brother was introduced to was brought to me first and I blocked that sh-t."

He went on to say, "I kinda knew what was going on over there and yet I took my brother over to Chris. I didn't protect him."

In another moment, a voice, identified as Stokes', can be heard on speaker phone arguing with Raz. "I don't do that no more," the voice says. "That ain't me. That was us years ago. I don't feel like getting on the phone and fussin' with my cousin."

As founder of TUG entertainment, Chris Stokes was known as the mind behind the boy groups IMX and B2K. He's also directed many of his clients' videos and has since moved into film, writing and directing flicks for Omarion and Marques Houston, including You Got Served and, more recently, Somebody Help Me.

When asked if he thought Stokes molested others, Raz responded, "I can't speak on everybody but I think he did."

Musician Ike Turner dies at 76‏

2007-12-12T15:11:00.000-08:00

SAN DIEGO - Ike Turner, whose role as one of rock's critical architects was overshadowed by his ogrelike image as the man who brutally abused former wife and icon Tina Turner, died Wednesday at his home in suburban San Diego. He was 76.

"He did pass away this morning" at his home in San Marcos, in northern San Diego County, said Scott M. Hanover of Thrill Entertainment Group, which managed Turner's musical career.

There was no immediate word on the cause of death, which was first reported by celebrity Insiders. Turner managed to rehabilitate his image somewhat in his later years, touring around the globe with his band the Kings of Rhythm and drawing critical acclaim for his work. He won a Grammy in 2007 in the traditional blues album category for "Risin' With the Blues." But his image is forever identified as the drug-addicted, wife-abusing husband of Tina Turner. He was hauntingly portrayed by Laurence Fishburne in the movie "What's Love Got To Do With It," based on Tina Turner's autobiography.

Queen Latifah and Girlfriend OFFICIALLY ENGAGED!!!

2007-12-08T09:51:00.000-08:00

It's happened. CelebrityNooz has learned that Queen Latifah and her longtime girlfriend Jeanette are OFFICIALLY ENGAGED!!! The two women have been in a relationship for more than 4 years - and they've finally decided to make it official.

And there's more. According to insiders the two are planning on PUBLICLY coming out to the world about their engagement. Word is that once Queen Latifah's finished promoting her current movie, The Perfect Holiday an announcement will be made.

Rapper Pimp C Found Dead in Hollywood Hotel Room

2007-12-04T13:13:00.000-08:00

Pimp C, real name Chad Butler -- and one half of the rap duo UGK, was found dead in a hotel room this morning. He was 33.

L.A. County Fire responded to a 911 call at the Mondrian Hotel, located on trendy Sunset Strip in Hollywood. They arrived to his sixth floor hotel room to find him dead in bed.

UGK is best known for appearing on the Jay-Z track "Big Pimpin'" in 2000, and more recently with Outkast on the song "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)." Pimp C had just performed with fellow rapper Too Short at the "House of Blues" in L.A. on Saturday night.

Story developing ...

Kanye at Kid Sister's first video shoot

2007-12-04T03:26:00.000-08:00

Look Who's Finger Dancing Now

Kid Sister performs "Pro Nails" at Fool's Gold CMJ showcase
All the plate glass on the front of Nails R Us was covered with black plastic, but when I opened the door it was like I’d been gang tackled by color and light. The salon had been repurposed for the day as the set for the first video by local rapper Kid Sister, and it was a lot to take in: the walls were stunningly orange and covered with racks of nail polish in every possible shade, and the place was stuffed with lighting rigs and cameras and technicians and stylists and dancers dressed like In Living Color Fly Girls in multicolored DayGlo flight jackets.

When I walked in, Kid Sister—aka Melisa Young, 27—was in a spa chair, rapping along to her new single, “Pro Nails.” Two white-coated Asian women, actual employees of the salon, mimed giving her a pedicure. “Pro Nails” came out last week on the Brooklyn-based start-up Fool’s Gold, run by Nick Catchdubs and A-Trak, and this was the label’s first video production. Catchdubs, a former Fader writer, is tastemaking royalty, a DJ and blogger who can break an act single-handedly. A-Trak, one of the most technically skilled DJs in the world, spins for Kanye West. (He’s also Kid Sister’s boyfriend, though they had a musical relationship first.)

Everyone else in Nails R Us had already been through “Pro Nails” at least a dozen times by the time I showed up. At first I only knew the chorus—“Got her toes done up and her fingernails matchin’,” delivered in a slowed-down, Houston-style slur—but like most people on the set, I could soon rap through the verses, which are about not only having good-looking nails but encountering the kind of jealous hating you get when you have nice things like good-looking nails. Even after hearing it all day long, most of us singing along still smiled while we did it.

Fool’s Gold is a reasonably professional operation, but the budget for the “Pro Nails” video was still minuscule compared to a major-label project—Catchdubs guesses it won’t end up costing more than $2,500. Though there’s a salon actually called Pro Nails just south on Western, across Addison, Nails R Us won out for its wide-open layout and orange walls—and because the owners would rent it out cheap. Director Ruben Fleischer, one of the creators of the MTV series Rob & Big, knows Catchdubs and agreed to work for free—he even brought in a camera operator on his own dime.

Considering he had one day to shoot, Fleischer had a lot planned. As soon as he got a couple good shots of Kid Sister getting her nails done, he rounded up the Fly Girls and had them wreath her face with their own elaborate acrylics. From off to the side where I was standing, it looked corny, but on the playback monitor it was super slick. “It looks like a Maybelline commercial,” A-Trak said, beaming.

Then Fleischer was on to the video’s big hook: the finger dancing. Before I saw the MySpace bulletin calling for finger dancers that went out a week or so before the shoot, I had no idea what finger dancing was. It turns out to be one of those odd useless talents that become trends on YouTube—the basic deal is that you pretend your index and middle fingers are the legs of a little person, then make that little person do dance moves.

The scruffy dude I’d seen hanging around the set—his name’s AJ and he likes to do magic tricks—had answered that casting call. Like me he’d never heard of finger dancing before he saw the MySpace bulletin. “I looked it up on YouTube and thought, ‘I could do that,’” he said. With the camera rolling, two of the actual dancers made impressive attempts, and then AJ stepped up and totally killed it. He made his finger guy do the Matrix, the moonwalk, and a truly lifelike windmill on a piece of cardboard the size of a CD case. On the playback monitor it looked freakishly like a real person dancing—especially after someone got the idea to outfit his fingers with a pair of little plastic Nikes from a High School Musical doll. When AJ finished he got what must’ve been the biggest round of applause in the history of finger dancing.

Eight hours into the shoot, the Fly Girls finally got to be the center of attention, and their garish jackets made their choreographed spins seizure-inducingly dazzling. A-Trak set his turntables up on the receptionist’s podium in front of a large potted palm, and the dancers improvised a party sequence. “Keep it ghetto, people,” Fleischer directed. After a costume change they headed outside to the alley—where it was unfortunately chilly for their outfits—to shoot a teaser for “Switchboard,” a juke-heavy track that’s slated to be Kid Sister’s next single. But though the lights weren’t that bright, the music wasn’t very loud, and it was only about 10 PM, the cops showed up and threatened to ticket the production. Fleischer told them he’d stop, then ran the dancers through the song three more times.

All day long, through all the setups and retakes and makeup sessions, Kid Sister projected a charisma I’d have to call star power if she were already a star. She’s only been performing since early 2006—her brother Josh is half of Flosstradamus, and she started out joining them at their Town Hall Pub gigs—and her rap skills are still developing. But onstage or on camera, she radiates an infectious energy that makes you really believe she’s having the best time of anyone on earth at that moment. The Fool’s Gold guys can definitely feel it. “We knew that she was going to be the marquee artist,” Catchdubs says. “When MTV did My Block: Chicago they had Melisa on, a totally unsigned artist, no records out, just a MySpace page and these crazy performances at these awesome parties. This is the moment where that nebulous buzz gets solidified into something different.”

That process ought to get a big bump from Kanye West, who rapped on “Pro Nails” when he put it on his Can’t Tell Me Nothing mix tape this summer, then made sure his verse stayed in when the song came out on Fool’s Gold. Kanye happened to be in town to accept an award at a Recording Academy event honoring Chicago artists—he’d invited Flosstradamus along to spin a tribute set—and afterward he rolled over to Nails R Us to jump into the video. He came with an entourage, but he wasn’t too stuck-up to jam his expensive-looking blond leather gloves into the little plastic Air Force Ones for some finger dancing. Curt Cameruci, Floss’s other half, sighed and said, “Man, from shitty-ass Town Hall Pub to here.”

After Kanye ran a few verses and choruses with Kid Sister—and frankly got outshined on camera—he and his crew took off. By then it was pushing 1:15 in the morning, 13 hours into the shoot, and as Kid Sister and her dancers assembled under a black light for one last routine she was visibly exhausted. But as soon as the system started pumping “Pro Nails”—God knows how many times she’d heard it that day—she broke into a smile that looked as fresh as it had on her first take

Four arrested in Taylor shooting

2007-12-03T19:05:00.001-08:00

Venjah K. Hunte, 20; Eric Rivera Jr., 17; Jason Scott Mitchell, 19; and Charles Kendrick Lee Wardlow, 18 have been arrested in the Sean Taylor shooting case. (Miami-Dade Police Dept., HO / Associated Press)

MIAMI (AP) - Police said the four people arrested Friday in the shooting death of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor went to his home intent on stealing, not killing.
The suspects didn't expect Taylor to be there, said Miami-Dade County police Director Robert Parker, but Taylor was recuperating from a knee injury and had returned home from Washington. When Taylor surprised them, he was shot.
"They were certainly not looking to go there and kill anyone," Parker said. "They were expecting a residence that was not occupied. So murder or shooting someone was not their initial motive."
Police spokeswoman Linda O'Brien identified the four suspects as: Venjah K. Hunte, 20; Eric Rivera Jr., 17; Jason Scott Mitchell, 19; and Charles Kendrick Lee Wardlow, 18. O'Brien said the charges for each had not yet been determined, but "we are talking murder and burglary."
Authorities said they had more than one confession, but Parker would not elaborate.
The four were arrested Friday in southwest Florida, about 100 miles from Miami. They will be booked into the Lee County Jail and eventually will be returned to Miami, O'Brien said. She did not have any information on when they would appear in court, their hometowns or if they had attorneys.
Janelle Hall, a spokeswoman for Miami-Dade County jail, said security reasons prevented her from releasing information regarding when the suspects would be transferred to Miami.
The 24-year-old Pro Bowl safety died Tuesday, one day after being shot at his home in an affluent Miami suburb during what officials said appeared to be an attempted burglary.
Police have been investigating a possible link to a Nov. 17 break-in at Taylor's home, during which they said someone pried open a front window, rifled through drawers and left a kitchen knife on a bed.
"We're looking into whether or not one or more of the individuals had been at the residence before," Parker said.
Family friend Richard Sharpstein said at least one of the suspects was at Taylor's house when his sister recently had a party, but that Taylor did not know the men.
"It's a burglary, and they targeted him for his wealth," said Sharpstein, who's Taylor's former attorney. "It makes his death even more pathetic, unnecessary and just actually disgusting."
Sharpstein had not spoken with Taylor's family regarding the arrests, but said he doubted it provided any comfort.
"I know they are just saddened and appalled. The fact that they arrested his killer is no comfort to them," he said. "It probably inflames them more, because it tells them people were trying to steal from him.
"They are murderers. They should be treated like murderers and put in the Miami River and floated away."
The Miami Herald reported on its Web site that Mitchell and Wardlow had connections to Taylor. Mitchell cut Taylor's lawn and did other chores at the house, Mitchell's twin brother, Scottie, told the paper. Taylor's sister, Sasha Johnson, dates Wardlow's older cousin Christopher, and Scottie Mitchell told the paper the couple invited Jason Mitchell to Johnson's birthday party within the past two months.
A woman who identified herself as Jason Mitchell's mother told the Naples Daily News her son was at a birthday party at Sean Taylor's home a couple months ago. She also said her son was at home all week and last weekend.
"I don't know where he's at, I don't know why he's being held," she told the Naples paper. "No parent should see this happen to their child."
O'Brien would not confirm the reports when contacted by The Associated Press.
Taylor and longtime girlfriend, Jackie Garcia, were awakened early Monday by loud noises at Taylor's home in an affluent Miami suburb. Taylor grabbed a machete he keeps in the bedroom for protection, Sharpstein said. Someone broke through the bedroom door and fired two shots, one missing and one hitting Taylor in the upper leg. Neither the couple's 18-month-old daughter, also named Jackie, nor Garcia were injured.
The bullet damaged the femoral artery in Taylor's leg, causing significant blood loss. Taylor never regained consciousness and died a little more than 24 hours later.
A public viewing for Taylor is scheduled Sunday in Miami, and the entire Redskins organization plans to fly to Florida to attend Monday's funeral at Pharmed Arena at Florida International University.
The Redskins also announced that fans attending Sunday's game will receive a towel with Taylor's No.21 jersey on it, and his name will be displayed prominently in one end zone.
Redskins owner Dan Snyder said the team will contribute a minimum of $500,000 to a fund to benefit Taylor's daughter, and he released a statement late Friday acknowledging the arrests.
"This is another step, but not a conclusion, in a very personal and painful tragedy," he said. "I also want to thank everyone who has joined us in mourning the loss of Sean. People from all over the world contacted the Redskins to share our grief and offer their prayers for Sean and his family. We will never forget the courage his family, especially Jackie, Pete and Donna, have shown. Their composure has been a source of strength for us all."

Spice Girls announce tour for December, January

2007-12-02T06:23:00.000-08:00

Spice Girls announce tour for December, January

LONDON -- The Spice Girls wannabe stars again.

Following a calculated publicity buildup, the original Girl Power group of the 1990s announced Thursday that they have agreed to reunite for 11 concerts around the world in December and January.

The shows will be their first concerts since breaking up in 2001, and the first with all five of the original group since Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell quit to pursue a solo career in 1998.

The group said shows would be in:
Los Angeles on Dec. 7;
Las Vegas on Dec. 8;
New York on Dec. 11;
London on Dec. 15;
Cologne, Germany, on Dec. 20;
Madrid, Spain, on Dec. 23;
Beijing on Jan. 10;
Hong Kong on Jan. 12;
Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 17;
Cape Town, South Africa, on Jan. 20;
and Buenos Aires, Argentina on Jan. 24.

Halliwell appeared with Victoria "Posh Spice" Beckham, Melanie "Sporty Spice" Chisholm, Emma "Baby Spice" Bunton and Melanie "Scary Spice" Brown to pose for photos and announce tour plans.

"We wanted to say thank you to our fans. It just feels very right for us," Chisholm said.

"Obviously it's nostalgic. But equally, if new fans want to come along, that's fantastic," Halliwell said. "I like to think our songs are universal and they are timeless."

The group's first single, "Wannabe," was released in 1996 and was followed by a string of No. 1 hits.

But their last album, "Forever," released in 2000 and without Halliwell, fared poorly.

You could now call them the Spice Mums. Beckham said the tour will be designed to accommodate the band members' seven children. Bunton is now pregnant with her first child.

"Our priority is going to be our families. We want to have fun," said Beckham, who has three sons with her husband, soccer star David Beckham. "That's one of the many reasons for this, for our children to see what we used to do."

Donda West's Last Words

2007-12-01T00:09:00.000-08:00

They are the haunting final words from Donda West who died shortly after cosmetic surgery. As INSIDE EDITION reports, the voicemail message seems to indicate that Kanye's mom was excited about the surgery that came just hours before her death.

NFL's Sean Taylor dies of gunshot wound

2007-11-27T12:47:00.000-08:00

MIAMI, Florida (CNN) -- Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor died Tuesday, a day after he was shot by "an intruder who forcibly entered his residence," Miami police said.
Sean Taylor never regained consciousness after being taken to a hospital, says his ex-attorney.

Police said in a statement that Taylor, 24, died at 3:30 a.m. at a Miami hospital and they were treating the case as a homicide.
"The blood loss was too much. He didn't make it," said Taylor's former attorney, Richard Sharpstein, on CNN's "American Morning."
Many of Taylor's fans "loved him because [of] the way he played football," said his father, Florida City Police Chief Pedro Taylor, in a statement to the news media. Watch fans mourn Taylor's death »
"Many of his opponents feared him, the way he approached the game. Others misunderstood him, many appreciated him and his family loved him. I can only hope and pray that Sean's life was not in vain that it might touch others in a special way," Chief Taylor said.
His father said funeral arrangements would be announced soon, while a makeshift memorial was already sprouting up outside the Redskins Park, where fans have been leaving flowers and other mementoes.
Don't Miss
· November 18 police burglary report (pdf)
· WPLG: Ex-Hurricane Taylor dies
· SI.com: Taylor shot in his home
Team owner Daniel Snyder called Taylor's killing "the worst imaginable tragedy."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Sean's family," Snyder said in a statement.
The Redskins will paint Taylor's jersey number, "21," in a grassy area on the road leading into Redskins Park, and his number will be painted outside the Redskins Hall of Fame store at FedExField.
Sharpstein said that from the time of the attack, Taylor never regained consciousness.
"There was a brief moment where a nurse felt him squeeze her hand but that was false hope," the attorney said.
He called Taylor's death "completely tragic and unnecessary violence" and said he would be sorely missed.
"People loved him and he will be long missed by many, many people -- not just his fans, but the family and friends that knew him well," Sharpstein said.
At 1:45 a.m. Monday, a woman identified as Taylor's girlfriend called 911 and said someone had been shot. Taylor was airlifted to Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Sharpstein said Taylor's girlfriend told police what happened as she was hiding under bedcovers during the attack. Watch Sharpstein describe Taylor's death »
Sean Taylor
· Born: April 1, 1983
· High School: Gulliver Prep, Miami
· Father: Pedro Taylor, Florida City, Florida, police chief
· Daughter: Jackie, 1 year
· 2003 All-American, University of Miami
· First round, fifth pick 2004 NFL draft
· Fined at least seven times for NFL infractions
· Played in 2006 Pro Bowl
· Reputation as one of hardest NFL hitters

Source: AP, NFL
"Sean was awakened with his girlfriend and 18-month old baby," Sharpstein said. There were "noises, thumps in the living room." Taylor "got up and locked the bedroom door. Before he could do anything, the door was kicked in and two shots were fired -- one hit him in the leg, one went into the wall."
Taylor "was on the floor, non-responsive, bleeding out and chest heaving, eyes rolled back and he was pretty much gone from that point on," Sharpstein said.
Taylor's girlfriend "tried to call 911 and it's unclear whether the phone lines were cut or the phone was broken or off or unplugged or turned off," said Sharpstein. "She had to use her cell phone to eventually call 911."
"Whether this was a purposeful action in taking Sean's life or in shooting him or whether it was a burglary gone awry, the police are still investigating those circumstances," Sharpstein said.
The attorney said Taylor was home unexpectedly due to an injury, and "no one expected him there."
"I think he was surprised or they were surprised to find him there," Sharpstein said.
Lt. Nancy Perez with the Miami-Dade Police Department said investigators were looking for an "unknown suspect."
Taylor's home also was reported broken into eight days earlier on November 18, according to Miami-Dade police.
During that incident, someone forced open a window and left a kitchen knife on a bed, according to the police report. Several drawers and a bedroom safe had been searched during the break-in, the report said.
No one knows whether the first invasion is related to Monday's attack, Sharpstein said. "It is a high probability that it was the same people or some related people that returned."
According to the police report, Taylor's mother reported the break-in, saying it occurred while the house was empty. Police found a window pried open, but could not confirm if anything was missing.
Observers searching for a motive for his killing put Taylor's police record under renewed scrutiny. In 2005, he was arrested after he was accused of waving a gun at people he believed were stealing his all-terrain vehicles, according to Sharpstein.
"He got into fisticuffs, but no gun," Sharpstein said.
After originally being charged with aggravated assault, Taylor pleaded to a misdemeanor battery in the case, Sharpstein said. A civil suit stemming from the case remains open. "There's still a lot of open ends to that," he said.
Redskins coach Joe Gibbs called the incident a "tragedy" and said neither he nor the team had "experienced anything like this."
Taylor spent four years with the Redskins and was recovering from a sprained right knee at the time of the attack. He didn't play in Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which the Redskins lost 19-13.
Taylor was a first-round pick in the 2004 draft, according to his team's Web site. He played at the University of Miami, where he was an All-American in 2003. He had been a high school standout in the city.
Dubbing him as "the prototype NFL free safety" the Redskins credited Taylor's team-leading tackling prowess for sending him to his first Pro Bowl after 2006.
He was regarded as one of the hardest hitting players in the league. Taylor recorded 257 tackles (206 solo) during his brief career, two sacks and seven interceptions, according to the team Web site

Dr. Adams Won't Talk, Neither Will Oprah

2007-11-24T05:56:00.000-08:00

SEE VIDEO CLIPThe doctor who operated on Kanye West's mom the day before she died bailed on Larry King last night, but his reasons for walking off the set don't add up.

TMZ has broken story after story, showing Dr. Adams has had multiple malpractice lawsuit filed against him, sexual battery allegations, three DUIs and a domestic violence restraining order.
The director of the Medical Board of California is currently going after his license.

So when Dr. Adams told Larry King the West family didn't want him talking, in reality he had plenty to talk about that did not involve Dr. Donda West.

And speaking of not talking, TMZ has been hounding Oprah, NBC and Discovery Health for more than a week, asking if they did background checks before putting Dr. Adams on the air. If they did, they would have discovered -- for starters -- that he's not a board certified plastic surgeon.

Oprah's company and NBC, which featured Dr. Adams on "The Other Half," have been completely unresponsive -- not a word. Discovery Health, which put Dr. Adams in a starring role in a plastic surgery series, finally responded yesterday claiming they did a background check but refused to say what it turned up.

Tyson in Jail And in Pink!

2007-11-24T04:57:00.000-08:00

Mike Tyson checked himself into Arizona's infamous Tent City Jail to serve his one-day sentence on drug charges. The jail is an open-fair facility located near a dog pound and junkyard where inmates wear jail-issue pink underwear and striped jumpsuits. Pink should really bring out the color in his crazy eyes!
The former boxing champ plead guilty in September to one count of felony cocaine possession and one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence. He'll be on probation for three years.

Here's a compilation of funny/outrageous iron mike tyson interviews & spots on tv.

CHECK OUT THIS COMPILATION OF TYSON KO'S

R. Kelly Boots Ne-Yo from Tour

2007-11-24T04:42:00.001-08:00

More drama unfolds with R. Kelly as R&B singer Ne-Yo was suddenly removed from Kelly's latest tour. Kelly's camp cited the lack of a signed contract as the reason for Ne-Yo getting dumped.

Ne-Yo's camp issued a press release about the incident earlier this week, saying Ne-Yo "expressed genuine concern regarding not having the opportunity to complete the tour."

Kelly has been known to have tour trouble. In 2004, he and Jay-Z's conjoined tour came to a halt after Kelly was blasted with pepper spray by a member of Jay-Z's entourage. Jay later said that R. Kelly was a weepy, emotional wreck, prone to crying fits during the duration of their tour. Just recently, Kelly's longtime publicist resigned, citing serious "lines being crossed" as the cause of the split. Somebody is a straight-up diva -- and it ain't Ne-Yo!

KANYE SPEAKS OUT during Concert

2007-11-22T05:47:00.000-08:00

Kanye West LIVE onstage at Brussels, Belgium on 18/11/2007 talking about the passing of his mother, his emotion and the media.
Dedicates the song Don't Stop believing by Journey

Vick surrenders, jailed before sentencing on dogfighting charge

2007-11-19T14:55:00.000-08:00

Michael Vick surrendered to U.S. marshals Monday and will remain in jail until his sentencing on a dogfighting charge in three weeks.

The Atlanta Falcons quarterback is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 10 on the federal dogfighting conspiracy charge, but turned himself in because he was anticipating a prison term, according to a court document. Vick could be sentenced to up to five years in prison.

"From the beginning, Mr. Vick has accepted responsibility for his actions, and his self-surrender further demonstrates that acceptance," Billy Martin, one of Vick's lawyers, said in a statement. "Michael wants to again apologize to everyone who has been hurt in this matter, and he thanks all of the people who have offered him and his family prayers and support during this time."

Vick is being held at Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw until his sentencing, U.S. marshals told The Associated Press. The mixed-gender facility houses about 450 inmates.

The order filed in U.S. District Court said "Vick has indicated his desire to voluntarily enter custody prior to his sentencing hearing. It appearing appropriate to do so, the U.S. Marshal is ordered to take custody of the Defendant immediately upon his surrender."

The order added that Vick was taken into custody "based solely on his desire to begin his period of incarceration prior to his sentencing hearing and not because of violation of any condition of his bond."

In an e-mail sent to the AP, the U.S. attorney's office confirmed Vick's surrender but declined further comment.

Vick's decision to begin serving time before sentencing was approved by the judge and Vick's lawyers.

The federal dogfighting case began in late April when authorities conducting a drug investigation of Vick's cousin raided the property Vick owns in Surry County and seized dozens of dogs, most of them pit bulls, and equipment associated with dogfighting.

It's there that the dogfighting enterprise known as Bad Newz Kennels operated since 2001 on 15 acres of land Vick owned.

Vick initially denied any knowledge of the enterprise, then pledged after he was charged that he would fight to clear his name. After his three co-defendants pleaded guilty, Vick followed suit.

The gruesome details outlined in the federal indictment - dogs were hanged, drowned and electrocuted - fueled a public backlash against the Falcons star and cost him several lucrative endorsement deals, even before he agreed to plead guilty to the dogfighting conspiracy charge.

In his written plea, Vick admitted helping kill six to eight pit bulls and supplying money for gambling on the fights. He said he did not personally place any bets or share in any winnings, but merely associating with gambling can result in a lifetime ban under the NFL's personal conduct policy.

Vick and his co-defendants also face state felony dogfighting charges. Vick has been charged with two state felony counts - beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting. Each felony is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Suspended indefinitely by the NFL without pay, Vick was unable to stay out of trouble. He tested positive in September for marijuana, a violation of U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson's order that he stay clean in exchange for being allowed to be free.

After that positive test, Hudson ordered Vick confined to his home address between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., with electronic monitoring and random drug testing

Kanye Breaks Down On Stage

2007-11-19T00:59:00.000-08:00

Kanye West broke into tears last night while attempting to perform the song "Hey Mama" at a concert in Paris.

In a video posted on YouTube today, Kanye can be seen holding his hands over his face and just standing in the middle of the stage as the band began to play the song. Eventually a few band members came to console him. The crowd can be heard chanting his name over and over again.

West left the stage, but eventually returned to perform the song "Stronger" with the audience yelling out their support. He is expected to return to the U.S. for his mother's funeral, taking place on Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

"Kramer's" Racist Tirade -- Has It Been a Year Already?

2007-11-18T05:10:00.000-08:00

Where has the time gone?
It's been 365 days since Michael Richards, previously best known playing Cosmo Kramer on the hit TV show "Seinfeld," unleashed a verbal assault on a heckler at the Laugh Factory that featured the repeated use of the "N" word. (WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE)
Yesterday, the Laugh Factory "celebrated" the anniversary with a press conference at the club. Though it was promoted that Michael Richards would be there, he was not.

Perhaps he wanted to acknowledge this day in his own special way.

Donda West's Doctor found to be FRAUD!!

2007-11-15T02:53:00.000-08:00

The doctor who performed surgery on Kanye West's mother was booked on some big TV shows, but it appears none of the producers knew about his malpractice suits, allegations of sexual battery and physical assault, DUI convictions and pending disciplinary action before the Medical Board of California.

It took three hours for us to turn up the goods on Dr. Adams. So why were Oprah, Discovery Health, NBC and others in the dark? We asked for comment. Watch the piece that aired tonight nd judge for yourself.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO

O.J. Will Go to Trial!

2007-11-14T22:42:00.000-08:00

After four hours of deliberating, Justice of the Peace Joseph Bonaventure has decided that O.J. Simpson, along with two other co-defendants, will stand trial for twelve criminal counts associated with armed robbery. The counts include robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, kidnapping and burglary.

The other three co-defendants in the case have all testified against O.J. and have accepted plea deals. Simpson has plead not guilty.
READ FULL STORY HERE

Donda's Surgeon -- I'm the Victim of "Sleaze"

2007-11-13T00:25:00.001-08:00

Plastic surgeon Dr. Jan Adams has told TMZ that he was the doctor who performed cosmetic surgery on Kanye West's mother Donda before she died.

Dr. Adams told reporters her death, which followed a tummy tuck and breast reduction, was unforeseen and could have been caused by a heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or massive vomiting.

Dr. Adams tells us West consulted with him over a period of four months. He says she changed her mind numerous times, sometimes greenlighting the surgery and sometimes halting it.

As for the report that Beverly Hills doctor Andre Aboolian refused to conduct the surgery because of a medical condition that West had, Dr. Adams said of Dr. Aboolian, "He is sleazy and manipulating the truth to elevate his own importance."

Dr. Adams says he did nothing wrong.

Donda West Warned About Surgery

2007-11-13T00:18:00.000-08:00

Report indicate that just weeks before Donda West died, a plastic surgeon refused to perform procedures on her because of a health condition that could have led to a heart attack.

We've learned Beverly Hills physician, Dr. Andre Aboolian, was set to perform a tummy tuck and breast reduction on Ms. West, but told her she needed to get clearance from an internist whom Dr. Aboolian recommended. We're told West never went to that doctor, and subsequently had the procedures performed -- but not by Dr.

Rapper Kanye West's Mother Dies

2007-11-11T17:47:00.000-08:00

Donda West, mother of Kanye West and former chairwoman of Chicago State University's English department, has died, a spokesman for the rapper said. She was 58.
Donda West died Saturday night in Los Angeles, said the spokesman, who asked for anonymity because not all family members had been notified.
"The family respectfully asks for privacy during this time of grief," the spokesman said.
A cause of death has not been released.
Donda West was known for the strong bond she shared with her son, by whose side she was often seen at parties and award shows.
Kanye West, 30, often spoke of his close relationship with his mother, who raised him alone after her husband left when Kanye was 3.
She was the inspiration for the song, "Hey Mama," on Kanye West's 2005 album "Late Registration," in which he sings: "Hey Mama, I wanna scream so loud for you, cuz I'm so proud of you ... I appreciate what you allowed for me. I just want you to be proud of me."
Donda West frequently defended her son against critics who accused him of penning misogynistic lyrics and other purported transgressions.
"I support my baby," she said in a Chicago Sun-Times interview. "He is telling how he feels and he is speaking the truth as he sees it."
In May, she published the book "Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Star," in which she paid homage to her famous son.
Donda West served as chief executive of West Brands LLC, the parent company of her son's business enterprises, and as chairwoman of the Kanye West Foundation, an educational nonprofit that works to decrease dropout rates and improve literacy.
Kanye West told the Associated Press in August that he and his mother worked together to devise the foundation's first program, "Loop Dreams," which helps public school students get involved in music.
"Me and my mother were discussing ways to give back and came up with the concept," he said.
Donda West worked in higher education for 31 years, before leaving academia in 2004 to help manage her son's career, according to a biography on the Kanye West Foundation's Web site.
She began working at Chicago State University in 1980 and eventually chaired the school's English department, according to the site.
She started her teaching career in the early 1970s as an instructor at Brown College in Atlanta.
Kanye West's writing partner Rhymefest lamented Donda West's death Sunday in an appearance on Chicago radio station WCGI.
"She was everyone's mom," Rhymefest said. "A spirit never dies, a spirit lasts forever."
———
Associated Press Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody in New York and AP writer Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed to this report.