Archive for March, 2009
Former octo-nanny fires back
One of the fired nannies is firing back at Nadya Suleman. On Wednesday’s “The Dr. Phil Show,” one of the Angels in Waiting volunteers alleged the octuplets’ mom cared more about her own celebrity than the welfare of her children. Shocker.
“This woman does not care for these kids,” Linda West-Conforti said. “She is in (it) for the paparazzi, the media. That is my opinion. I’ve been there for a week. I’m the eyes, the ears and the mouth of these little children.”
According to West-Conforti, Suleman was often unreachable or out shopping. Octomom also showed no interest in learning how to care for her new batch of kids.
“Nadya only fed her babies … when a film crew was in her house,” West-Conforti said. “That’s the only time that woman ever volunteered to feed a child. And I tell you what happened: During one episode she was done feeding … she picked up the child (and) gave it to me on my chest. She didn’t burp it; she didn’t change the diaper; (she) walked out of that room and (we didn’t see) her for another 12 hours.”
But wait, there’s more.
West-Conforti also claims that the nannies Suleman hired pose potential health risks to her children.
“I was supposed to be there to train nannies, to train Nadya,” West-Conforti said on the show. “What I get is Hispanic-speaking ladies that are showing up, showing positive for TB.”
The Angels nanny said she saw what appeared to be a “a huge, raised induration” on the arm of one of Suleman’s private nannies, an sign that, according to West-Conforti, the woman had taken a skin test for tuberculosis and received a positive result. (A reaction to the skin test does not necessarily indicate the presence of active tuberculosis; further testing is usually required.)
Her attorney Jeff Czech denied all the allegations.
“Nadya is a very good mother and a very caring mother. The bottom line is the shoe just never fit,” he said of the short-lived arrangement with Angels in Waiting.
Isaiah Washington getting evicted
It’s tough times for everyone’s favorite bigot. Isaiah Washington and his wife are facing eviction proceedings.
According to Sandalwood Properties, the former “Grey’s Anatomy” star owes $100,000 in rent.
Documents filed in Santa Monica, Calif., on Tuesday claim that Washington and his wife have fallen behind on their $20,000 a month payments on a home in the Venice area of Los Angeles.
The complaint states the Washingtons have not paid rent since November.
For those who don’t recall, Washington lost his role on “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2007 after using an anti-gay slur at the Golden Globe Awards. He has since appeared in a handful of episodes in other TV series.
Sorry, girls, Robert Pattinson stinks
Suddenly the bloom is off the rose with Robert Pattinson. The “New Moon” star is stinking up the place.
Members of the “Twilight” sequel’s crew broke the bad news about every tween’s dream guy to E! News.
“He stinks. I mean, it’s awful,” an onset source said. “He never showers, and it drives people on the set crazy.”
Dose.ca managing editor Jen McDonnell didn’t notice the smell, too busy being dazzled by his sparkliness.
“Up close and personal, I thought he smelled of unicorns and promises,” she said, “which was surprising since his hair looked like it had enough grease in it to power a McDonald’s restaurant for a week. But it was ‘sexy’ grease.”
Hopefully he’ll have less drama in his next role. Pattinson is considering playing another star-crossed lover in the film “Memoirs.”
He’s in early talks to star in the new project from Summit Entertainment, the studio behind the Twilight films.
“Memoirs” is the story of two lovers whose newfound relationship is threatened as they struggle to deal with family tragedies.
Former housekeeper sues Kobe Bryant and wife
Kobe Bryant is in legal trouble again. But this time maybe he should give the housekeeper the bling. Actually, it’s his wife who should surrender her ring.
Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, are being sued for poor work conditions by their former housekeeper Maria Jimenez. In a suit filed in Orange County Superior Court in Calif., Jimenez alleges that she was forced to quit because of “intolerable” conditions.
She worked for the couple from September 2007 to March 2008 and, in the suit, claims that almost immediately upon starting work, “Vanessa began a continuing pattern of verbally abusing and demeaning her.”
Jimenez said she was called lazy, slow, dumb, a liar and was cursed and screamed at in front of Kobe, the couple’s children and others.
One of the most outrageous and disgusting claims states that Vanessa screamed at the former housekeeper following an incident in which Jimenez accidentally washed an expensive blouse: “Vanessa demanded that Maria put her hand in a bag of dog feces to retrieve the price tag for the blouse.”
Jiminez quit after that, but says Vanessa demanded that she work until her next pay day to cover the $690 cost of the blouse.
The couple also failed to provide promised health insurance, a fact that Jiminez didn’t discover until she got sick and went to a doctor.
The action seeks unspecified damages, as well as back pay and overtime Jimenez says she is owed.
Shawn Johnson stalker arrested
Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson would like the man who tried to break onto the set of “Dancing with the Stars” to meet her to dance away from her.
Court records show a restraining order was issued against Robert O’Ryan, who was arrested by Los Angeles police on Tuesday. O’Ryan was stopped by security at CBS Studios, where the ABC reality show is produced, after he jumped on a fence Monday afternoon.
When they searched his car, police found two guns and duct tape, according to the documents.
O’Ryan, 34, is being held on $35,000 bail on suspicion of carrying a loaded firearm in public.
The records state that he told security guards and police that he packed up all his belongings and traveled to California from Florida in the hopes of being with Johnson. ‘Cause that’s not creepy at all.
Johnson is “in fear of her life,” her parents’ attorney wrote in a restraining order application.
Her parents requested and were granted the restraining order on Wednesday. A hearing regarding whether to issue a lengthy restraining order is set for April 14.
Model Seear set for ‘New Moon’
Since AnnaLynne McCord is busy, “New Moon” found another hot blond for the cameo-esque role of Heidi, according to E! News.
Canadian supermodel Noot Seear will appear as the character described ever-so-briefly as the person who brings humans to the Volturi vampires to eat. She has “exceptional, unforgettable” beauty, which includes stunning legs, long hair and violet eyes.”
Seear, 25, began modeling at age 13 and moved from her home in Vancouver (where the sequel is filming) to New York City. The model has appeared in Elle, Cosmo and Vanity Fair.
Blake Lively is awkward
Here’s my advice to you, Blake Lively: Don’t try to be funny. You’re not. And that’s fine. I know plenty of un-funny people. The world is full of them: John McCain, Dane Cook, Meredith Gray, Dane Cook. So, please, stop. For the love of God, stop.
The “Gossip Girl” star took a swing and a miss at comedy on “The Late Show with David Letterman” last night. Many, many, swings and misses. The whole interview, from the awkwardly bad threesome “joke” with which she opened to endless dog “do” jokes. And, oh, did I enjoy the first class anecdote, Blake, you and your jet-setting is just so fucking fun in this economy.
Rejoice in the awkward:
Rihanna househunting?
Rihanna is looking for new digs. The singer was spotted house-hunting in the Hollywood Hills with friends Monday.
Among the homes the “Disturbia” singer viewed was a $6.25 million property once owned by Jerry Seinfeld. The 5,913-square-foot mansion has three bedrooms, five bathrooms, a pool and hot tub and a view of the city.
“She wants a home with a great view,” real estate agent Russell Filice, who showed Rihanna the former Seinfeld abode, told E! News.
“She hasn’t made any decisions on anything yet. I think it’s early on in the process.”
Octomom’s stripper days
See, the porn push has promise! The National Enquirer claims that Octomom Nadya Suleman has been on the stripper stage.
According to the magazine, when she was 19, she shook her octopussy for cash and Suleman is afraid pics from those days might surface.
They quote an unnamed friend who says Suleman once told her: “I had not even kissed a boy. But I entered a dance/lingerie contest in a club near my home. I danced and paraded in lingerie. Then, when I was 19, I went to a gentleman’s club and performed as a topless dancer. But I only did it one night. I quit when I found out I was expected to perform lap dances on the customers.”
In other Octomom news, Suleman offered up this defense for her firing of the free Angels in Waiting staff to Dr. Phil: “The primary issue was that myself and my nannies felt extremely uncomfortable. I personally felt like a stranger in my own home. The goal was to empower me as a mother, help me, train me. I’m open to that, I want that, I want to do the very best for these…premature babies. I wanted (Angels) to use their training and knowledge to help guide me. I felt that was never accomplished. I felt as though every time I tried to hold the babies, feed the babies, they would be observing and they were waiting for me to make a mistake.”
Sigh. Someone needs to be watching her for mistakes. She made one pretty big one by have eight frickin babies at the same time, so it’s pretty possible she could use the watching.
‘Laguna Beach’ star caught up in drug bust
Laguna Beach is getting a little stormy. Last week, police raided an Orange County home rented by Alex Murrel, who appeared on MTV’s “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County.” They arrested her Peruvian boyfriend for felony possession of cocaine with intent to sell.
According to Sgt. Jason Kravetz of the Laguna Beach Police Department, Immigration and Customs enforcement requested the raid. The agency believed her boyfriend, Renzo Gamboa, was in the U.S. illegally. And there was plenty of illegal, as in cocaine, which Gamboa admitted to owning.
“The immigration people came down and asked us for assistance. They found him at the girlfriend’s house and we assisted them, but we had a new charge to add on because of the cocaine in the house which was his,” Kravetz told E! News.
Murrel, the lead on the second season of Laguna Beach, was questioned as a witness but is not expected to face charges. Her boyfriend, however was arrested and booked on a felony charge of possession for sales. He’s currently in county lockup on an immigration hold.
Report: Richardson’s organs donated
Natasha Richardson’s family has decided to give the gift of life, according to People.com. According to an unnamed “family friend,” the actress’s family has donated the Richardson’s organs to save other patients’ lives.
The source said Richardson’s family had requested her organs be donated after she was taken off life support last week. No word on who may have received them.
Alan Nierob, publicist for Richardson’s husband Liam Neeson, said he had no information on the matter.
Richardson died March 18 of a head injury that caused bleeding on the brain after a fall during a beginners’ ski lesson in Montreal two days before.
Danica McKellar becomes a Mrs.
Winnie got married! “The Wonder Years” actress Danica McKellar wed composer Mike Verta recently and dished about the ceremony to PEOPLE.
The couple, who have dated for more than seven years, wed in La Jolla, Calif. in an ocean side church in front of 150 family members and friends. Her sister, Crystal McKellar (who played Becky Slater on the show), served as her maid of honor. The guest list reportedly included Dan Lauria and Allie Mills, McKellar’s former co-stars on “The Wonder Years
A black tie reception followed, with the new Mr. and Mrs. Verta dancing their first dance to a love song composed by the groom, then cutting the weding cake: a triple-tiered cake with layers of devil’s food and hot milk sponge cake with fresh fruit.
As for what makes their relationship click, McKellar told PEOPLE it starts with “mutual respect for each other.”
“It’s a true partnership. All my other relationships, there always came a point where there were no interesting conversations left,” said the actress. “We have them all the time! It’s a great connection.”
So what’s in their future? “We’d love to have a family together,” she said. “That’s the plan.”
T.R. Knight not quite the knight in shining armor…
Oops. T.R. Knight apparently caused the accident in which he was the Good Samaritan back on March 19.
Los Angeles police have determined that the “Grey’s Anatomy” actor caused a three-vehicle accident in Hollywood that sent one woman to the hospital for minor injuries.
“He is at fault, but it was just a minor incident,” LAPD spokesman Richard French said. “He was late getting through the intersection.”
Since no LAPD officer saw the crash, Knight probably won’t get cited and the matter will be a case for the insurance companies.
Authorities said Knight was headed eastbound on Hollywood Boulevard last week and that the car he hit was going in the opposite direction.
Britney Spears’ massive legal bills
Divorce doesn’t come cheap. The Los Angeles Times reports that Britney Spears has racked up $2.7 million in legal fees, $417,000 of which went to the divorce from and custody battle with Kevin Federline.
Attorneys for her father and conservator of her estate, Jamie Spears, filed a document Monday to show how much his court-ordered control of her business and personal affairs has cost so far.
She’s employed 17 lawyers and firms and that total includes $1 million for her personal attorneys. That amount, said the attorneys, covered the “complex and challenging” issues involved with getting her life back on track.
“Since the initiation of the conservatorship, as a result of the concerted efforts of Mr. Spears as well as the professionals involved, all aspects of Ms. Spears’s life have been stabilized and continue to improve,” lawyer Geraldine Wyle wrote. Progress has been made with Britney’s mental health, too. Wyle said she’s continued “to mend” and has gotten “substantial visitation” with her children and that her career “has been revitalized.”
Jaime Pressly talks single motherhood
Jaime Pressly talks about ending her relationship with her baby daddy four months ago and what life is like as a single mom.
The “My Name is Earl” star called off her engagement to deejay Eric Cubiche after their son, Dezi, was born, but said things started to unravel soon after she learned she was pregnant.
“When I was pregnant, Eric’s job changed,” Pressly told Redbook. “He became a traveling deejay. So he was gone a lot. That’s how part of the … separation started. We’d been best friends for so long, and now it was kind of like we were leading two separate lives.
“It’s hard because when you’re with somebody for a long time or have a child with someone, you start to expect them to be this person you had in mind. Then if they don’t fill the expectation, resentment starts to come up. Sometimes it just doesn’t work.”
Pressly claims the two have a better relationships as parents than as spouses.
“I have full custody, but when he’s in town, Eric comes and sees Dezi every day,” she said. “Eric’s very much a part of his life; he’s a great father.”
Just because this relationship didn’t work doesn’t mean Pressly is giving up on love.
“I’d like to be with somebody who isn’t afraid to take care of me – whether they have the same financial means as me or not,” she said. “What’s important is that they realize there are other ways of taking care of me that have (nothing) to do with money. Like cooking me dinner or going to the grocery store or picking up after yourself.”
AnnaLynne McCord out of ‘New Moon’
Despite assertions to the contrary before filming, AnnaLynne McCord won’t be part of the Twilight sequel, “New Moon” nor is she a part of Twilight star Kellan Lutz’s romantic life.
“I really would love to be doing it, but I’m not,” the actress told Star at the Naturally Victoria’s Secret launch event on March 21. She blames scheduling conflicts.
As for Lutz, she says he’s just a friend.
“Kellan’s not my boyfriend. We hang out a lot,” McCord said. “He’s a sweetheart, he’s a really good friend of mine. We’ve known each other for five years actually. He’s the biggest dork, he’s like my big brother and we have a really good time together.”
Michael Jackson looking to adopt
Welcome to worst-idea-ever land. The Sunday Express reports that Michael Jackson is looking to adopt.
A source told the paper, “His life is his children. Wherever he goes, they go, and he has said it would be good to have another child. Contact has been made with an adoption agency in Britain which has a very good reputation.”
He’s already a father of three – Prince Michael I and Paris, from his marriage to Deborah Rowe, and Prince Michael II, aka Blanket, you know the one he dangled over a balcony a few years ago.
The source claims that Madonna may have inspired the effort.
“It could be that he was inspired by Madonna who adopted a little African boy but nobody really knows what kicked this all off.”
Being in the UK may help his case.
“He senses he is viewed differently here than he is in the States. Before his concerts he has said he wants to spend at least three weeks in Britain, getting used to the time zone and exploring the country,” said the source. “It is during this period that he wants to have meetings about adoption. He has not said if he wants a boy or a girl, just that it would be good for the family to have another brother or sister.”
Good God, will they give anyone rich and/or famous a kid who asks for one? Is there even a line or do they just automatically hand them out to the glitterati like Oscar night gift bags?
Kate Perry and Josh Groban not an item
Katy Perry isn’t kissing Josh Groban. Despite rumors of the two making sweet music together, Groban’s rep denies a relationship.
“Josh and Katy are very close friends and hang out, but they are not a couple,” Groban’s rep, Luke Burland, told PEOPLE.
Perry split with Travis McCoy in January and is now on tour while Groban attended her Los Angeles show in February.
Chris Brown gets a little legal wiggle room
Chris Brown is still set to appear in court April 6 in relation to his alleged attack on then-girlfriend Rihanna, but his legal team got him out of an in-chambers hearing Monday.
It was originally postponed to Friday, but now, according to Eonline.com, that meeting won’t be rescheduled.
“The next date is April 6 for the arraignment,” E! quotes a court clerk as saying. “The hearing is not being rescheduled.”
Brown faces two felony counts: assault likely to produce great bodily injury and making criminal threats.
Anna Nicole Smith case may be reopened
On the heels of the arrests of Anna Nicole Smith’s lawyer, Howard K. Stern, and two of her doctors, officials in Florida are reexamining the circumstances surrounding the model/actress’s death.
“Our prosecutors have met with representatives of the Los Angeles district attorney’s office and the California Department of Justice and discussed the evidence they have turned up in their investigation,” said Ron Ishoy, the spokesman for Fort Lauderdale State Attorney Mike Satz.
“We are now investigating that evidence to see where it might lead in relation to Ms. Smith’s death here in Broward County in 2007.”
Stern and Drs. Sandeep Kapoor and Khristine Eroshevich were arrested earlier this month for allegedly supplying Smith with illicit drugs.
If officials find evidence that the defendants illegally administered drugs to Smith, which ultimately caused her death, that means prosecutors may reopen the case. The idea is that their alleged behavior caused her death, a criminal felony that can mean involuntary manslaughter or secondary murder charges. And, unfortunately for Stern and co., there is no statute of limitations on murder.
There was no comment from either the Los Angeles district attorney or California attorney general’s office on the Florida probe.
Stern, Kapoor and Eroshevich are free on bail and have proclaimed their innocence.
