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Celebrity Scandal: Newspaper hacks star celebs phones to get dirt?

Celebrity Scandal!

Newspaper hacks star celebs phones to get dirt?

[Apr. 21]

We are not talking about Beyonce Knowles and Lada Gaga telephone video celebrity scandal. A scandal that has been brewing for years with Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World tabloid is coming to a head. A judge has ruled that four test cases, among them pet friendly actress Sienna Miller, star of Factory Girl (2006) and The Edge of Love (2008), may move ahead with a lawsuit against News of the World for a phone-hacking scheme that violated the rights of a number of celebrities, sports stars, and royal family.

The word broke out in 2005 and 2006 that the tabloid had been involved in various means of intercepting voicemail communication and other private communications through phone-hacking. The News of the World had previously claimed no knowledge of the phone-hacking scheme, saying it was the work of just a couple of rogue employees, but investigation lately has demonstrated that the practice was far more widespread than initially thought.

The attorney for News Group, which owns News of the World, has argued that the case should not be allowed to continue because the paper has offered to settle for more than what complainants are likely to get awarded in court should they win. Regarding Sienna Miller, the attorney, Michael Silverleaf told the judge, “She cannot realistically recover more than we are offering.”

Sienna Miller has 21 days to decide if she will take the settlement, but it could mean allowing the newspaper to escape investigation into what could be many more cases. The paper has identified only eight complainants with whom it is offering to settle.

KIVI-TV reports:

Miller’s lawyer, Hugh Tomlinson, said money was not the primary motivation for many of the claimants.

“Damages are an aspect, but when private information is involved, the kind of relief people are looking for goes beyond simply monetary compensation,” he said.

Already Andy Coulson has had to step down as head of communications for Prime Minister David Cameron as a result of the scandal. Coulson was editor for News of the World while the phone-hacking scheme was ongoing, according to Yahoo! News. And two senior men with News of the World have been held on charges, according to Reuters.

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Did dancer Mark Ballas get American Idol singer Pia Toscano on DWTS?

Hollywood Gossip!

Did Mark Ballas secretly help ex American Idol contestant Pia Toscano get a gig singing on DWTS?

[Apr. 20]

Dancer Mark Ballas and Disney princess Chelsea Kane are keeping up with the rankings on Dancing with the Stars. Sources close to the production crew on DWTS staff are wondering if Ballas pulled some strings to to get the American Idol favorite onto Dancing with the Stars. After Pia introduced herself to the dance pro by way of a mutual acquaintance of wrestling star Chris Jericho, who also is a competitor on DWTS. Ballas says, no, though. Even thought judge favorite Pia Toscano was voted off of American Idol, she is still a hot commodity in Hollywood social circles as a new voice and pretty face, and the hot male celebrity dance pro took note. Apparently, that Pia Toscano will be performing next week on Dancing with the Stars while Ballas dances with Karina Smirnoff on the April 26 results episode thanks to a romantic spark between Pia and Mark. But he denies being anything more than just friends and claims he has zero influence with the producers decisions who to bring on the show as musical guests.

Ummm… yeah. Sure he doesn’t have any pull… and of course they are just friends… and no WAY the DWTS producers would ever think of capitalizing on some free press if one of their dance pros just happens to hook up on his down time with the hottest female contestant ever voted off American Idol.

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Lindsay Lohan lost Victoria Gotti role bid, but will play Gotti Jr wife?

Lindsay Lohan News!

Lindsay Lohan lost Victoria Gotti role bid, but will play Gotti Jr wife?

[Apr. 20]

Troubled Disney princess and actress Lindsay Lohan is out of the running to play Victoria Gotti alongside John Travolta in his new film Gotti: Three Generations, according to a representative for Fiore Films, reports Access Hollywood. This would have been the first film role for Lohan since she was in rehab early this year. The star supposedly was hand-picked by Victoria Gotti herself, with whom the Lohan family is friends.

Just last week, Lohan was discussing her proposed role in the film. Access Hollywood reports:

“I’ve been speaking to some of the producers… and we’re discussing me possibly having a role in the film, which is very exciting,” Lindsay told a crew at the press conference for the project last week.

“I think it’s an amazing story in the things that the Gottis have gone through over the years and just everything that comes with that family. I think is an incredible story to tell,” she added.

But the representative for Fiore Films confirmed that the green celebrity actress was turned down: “Discussions have been broken between Fiore Films and Lindsay Lohan playing Victoria Gotti,” the rep said.

Instead, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Lohan has been tapped to play the wife of Junior Gotti in the film. She said it would be a “great honor” to work with superstars John Travolta, who plays John Gotti, Sr., and Joe Pesci, who plays Angelo Ruggiero, one of Gotti’s deputies.

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Celebrity Death: Final tweet of Tim Hetherington about Libya haunting?

Celebrity Death!

Qaddafi craze killed Oscar nominee Tim Hetherington in Libya?

[Apr. 20]

Tim Hetherington, who along with Sebastian Junger helped direct the Academy Award nominated documentary Restrepo (2009), a film covering one Platoon in one of the most dangerous areas in Afghanistan, was killed April 20 in Libya, according to TMZ. Hetherington is a trained photojournalist from Liverpool and also is known for his camera work on Liberia: an Uncivil War (2004) and The Devil Came on Horseback (2007).

The green celebrity director and photojournalist was covering the conflict in Libya for the Panos photo agency when he came under attack from rocket propelled grenades, according to The last communication over Twitter from Tim Hetherington was on April 19. It read: “In besieged Libyan city of Misrata. Indiscriminate shelling by Qaddafi forces. No sign of NATO.”

Tim Hetherington had worked for Vanity Fair magazine, doing much of his work in Afghanistan for the magazine. Vanity Fair reports that Hetherington seemed interested in working with friend and co-director Sebastian Junger on another project highlighting the fighting in Misrata, Libya.

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Bieber Fever: Should Biebs next step be Dancing With The Stars?

Bieber Fever hits DWTS!

Should Biebs next step be on Dancing With The Stars?

[Apr. 20]

Bieber Fever victims, be cool. While Justin Bieber himself may have caught the acting fever, after his stint on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation earlier this year, when he was finally killed off as a troubled teen bomber, he has no intention of giving up music anytime soon. He has said his first passion always will be music — singing and dancing, though he really has enjoyed being in front of the camera and would like to do some more work in television or film. But what about him doing another reality TV type gig — like Dancing With The Stars — that would give him the chance to show off a bit more of his personal and professional nature to the Bieber Fever gang like he did in his 3D movie about his life history?

Reports HollyScoop:

“I definitely want to do more acting, and further my career in that area, that’s something I would love to do.”

Singing, dancing, acting. What’s next other than joining up with adult and other teen celebrities that could be more sensational than DWTS, Bieber fever basket-weaving? Soap Opera special guest appearances on a show like All My Children with actress Susan Lucci (maybe getting involved in a cougar romance)? Oh wait… scratch that. All My Children just got canceled.

We’ve already heard teasers from Romeo about doing something special with the Biebs on Dancing with the Stars, should Romeo make it to the finals. Seriously, though, what else could the Biebs get into later in his career. He has a long way to go, certainly.

Justin Bieber was a hit on the New York late night comedy series Saturday Night Live with actress Tina Fey. And, again, for those who don’t know about the Biebs life story he’s had his own movie, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never.

With the hint that he could be appearing on Dancing with the Stars coming from Romeo (a hip hop performer who is the youngest on DWTS this 2011 season), we have to wonder … could Justin Bieber make it as a reality television star who competes with other star celebs for the general public and Mirror Ball trophy hyped media attention?

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Celebrity Teens: Everything fine at home for Miley Cyrus but not in USA?

Celebrity Teens!

Miley Cyrus says everything is fine at home but not in the USA?

[Apr. 19]

Green celebrity and Disney princess Miley Cyrus has been the source of a good deal of drama lately, and we don’t mean in terms of her Hannah Montana character. Last October, her parents, Billy Ray Cyrus and Trish Cyrus, were talking divorce, in December there were some issues between Billy Ray and Miley about her partying (SNL bong sketch, anyone?), and earlier this year father Billy Ray Cyrus was talking to GQ about the effect of celebrity on poor Miley. But Miley Cyrus says everything is fine now.

Fine.

[Which, of course the general public knows means freaked out, insecure, neurotic, and emotional — but who are we to judge? Miley says everything at home is good in her family life and that is all there is to it.]

On Monday April 19, 2011 — Disney princess Chelsea Kane donned some Britney Spears type ultra low cut fringe pants, dressed like an American flag, and danced one of the best Samba dances with dance partner Mark Ballas the Dancing With The Stars television series has ever seen. The song — played as a cover tune by the DWTS band on American theme night? Party In the USA by none other than fellow celebrity teen star Miley Cyrus.