Turns out Cameron Diaz's new guy, magician Criss Angel, is married. Angel's "secret" Long Island wife, Joanne Sarantakos, claims their marriage broke down as soon as he got famous and hooked up with the Shrek star. A lawyer for Sarantakos says he intends to subpoena Diaz to testify in state Supreme Court about her romance with the Vegas magician in support of his client's divorce petition on the grounds of mental cruelty and abandonment. Angel - whose real name is Chris Sarantakos - reportedly kept his five-year marriage (and 15-year relationship) a secret to raise his sex appeal to female fans. "We're naming Cameron Diaz as his lover," Sarantakos's lawyer told the court yesterday, adding that he'd had Angel followed by a private investigator for six months. "We will subpoena her as soon as she comes back to New York." He also revealed that Angel hasn't given his wife a penny of the $7 million he made last year. "He's not paying her support, which is tragic - considering his worth." Angel himself was in court, and his lawyer did not deny the allegations of adultery. The magician flashed a peace sign, but did not make any comments. According to the Mindfreak star's in-laws, "When his career took a jump forward, he became a different person. He's in love with himself. He's a narcissist. My daughter was never acknowledged as his wife. He told her it was a better single image, than a married image." Sarantakos's brother agreed, saying, "It's almost as if he played the Mindfreak game on her. He was controlling her. He's basically living in a TV persona. Chris Sarantakos is dead - Criss Angel has taken over. He killed off his old self and morphed into his new self - it's scary, really." This guy seemed like a loser from the start. What is Diaz thinking?
Natalie Portman is a genius, according to her Goya's Ghosts co-star Javier Bardem. "I guess she was very young when she became famous, but her mind is perfectly structured," Bardem said at a press event this week. "She's so intelligent it's scary. When I was talking to her, I didn't know what to talk about because she knows a lot of things. I felt like a donkey."
Lynne Spears is said to be "brokenhearted" over the recent rift in her relationship with her daughter. Photos surfaced on the web yesterday of Britney Spears handing her mom papers on the set of a photoshoot in Valencia, California. Rumored to be a restraining order, the papers were later identified as a letter from an out-of-state lawyer. When asked by paparazzi agency x17 what the papers were, Lynne joked, "It's a love letter," before clarifying, "She did not serve me." Lynne "has cried her heart out over the trouble between her and Britney," says a family friend. "She is brokenhearted. She wants her baby to be okay and to bring her grandkids home to Kentwood and raise them in a normal environment." As for what caused the rift, the source says, "I think Britney is angry that her family got involved in getting her into rehab." source
Paula Abdul finally has a boyfriend. Just in time for the debut of her reality series, Hey Paula, Abdul has been dating restauranteur JT Torregiani for the past few months. Torregiani hosted a 45th anniversary bash for the Idol judge at Ketchup, the West Hollywood restaurant he co-owns with Tara Reid. "You could tell she was so happy to be with him," said a partygoer. "They were cuddling all night." The pair reportedly met through friends, and are taking things seriously. "She introduces him to everyone as her boyfriend," says a source. "It's really cute how she's so smitten."
Michael Jackson was on the defensive yesterday, calling a series of stories about himself "untrue, defamatory and malicious." The King of Pop asked his spokesperson to let people know that he:
is not bedridden
is not on any type of medication, including painkillers
has not "left" Las Vegas nor is he being "evicted" from his residence there. He decided not to exercise the option to purchase the house.
does not believe that his brother Randy Jackson has stolen money from him
does not think any family members would ever steal from him
has never used nor instructed his security to use force toward any reporter
is neither losing nor selling his share of the ATV/Sony partnership (including the Beatles catalogue)
is concerned that his assistant Grace Rwaramba, said to live a very private life, is constantly being attacked by Fox News' Roger Friedman
And for what is true? Jackson is currently working in the studio, "putting finishing touches on his music."
British singer Lily Allen was arrested in London yesterday on charges of punching a paparazzo. The incident allegedly happened in March, when Allen is accused of punching the photographer as she left a London nightclub with her boyfriend. "At approximately 1:30 a.m. on the 13th March a woman allegedly punched a male photographer in his 40s, near the Wardour Club, W1," a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said. "He suffered a cut to the nose, but didn't require any hospital treatment. Officers attended but the woman had left." Allen turned herself into the police yesterday, where she was photographed and had her fingerprints and a DNA sample taken. "At approximately 9:30 a.m. on the 28th June, a 21-year-old woman attended at London police station by appointment and was arrested in connection with the allegation of assault," said the police rep. "She has been bailed to return in late July."
Britney Spears sure knows how to keep herself in the news. The popstar served her mom with a letter from an out-of-state lawyer this afternoon barring her from visiting Sean Preston and Jayden James while taking any medications that would impair her ability to be around them. Spears had her bodyguard ask paparazzi for the location of her sister Jamie Lynn's photoshoot, then loaded her kids into a car and drove 40 minutes to Valencia to hand-deliver the letter (photo credit: Splash News). Spears reportedly blames her mom for sending her to rehab and has been upset that Lynne visits her kids while they are in the custody of her soon-to-be ex Kevin Federline. She also believes her mom is not stable enough to be around the kids due to her own "issues." Meanwhile, Federline is said to be stalling in signing final divorce papers out of concern over Spears's recent behavior. "Britney's attorneys are anxious to see Kevin sign off on a divorce," says a source. "But Kevin and his lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan are dragging their heels out of concern over reports of Britney's post-rehab partying." Federline "wants to make sure that the divorce document makes it simple enough for Kevin to downsize Britney's access to her kids the next time her behavior troubles him," added the source. Spears has been spotted out and about in LA, drinking the odd cocktail and shopping up a storm. The popstar's lawyer says, "I do not feel it's appropriate to comment on the personal life or legal positions of my client."
Lindsay Lohan had alcohol and cocaine in her system the night of her car accident and DUI arrest on Memorial Day weekend. According to multiple law enforcement sources, TMZ says toxicology reports conclude that Lohan had "nearly twice the legal limit" of alcohol and traces of cocaine in her bloodstream when she crashed into a curb on Sunset Boulevard on May 26. The Beverly Hills Police Department will likely present the case to the D.A. in the next few days. Lohan's lawyer said, "It's highly inappropriate for me to discuss a pending case. It is extremely unprofessional for law enforcement to do it." As to the accuracy of the reports, when reached by People mag for comment, a Beverly Hills police lieutenant would say only that TMZ "won't be sued for inaccuracy."
Britney Spears will not perform with Cyndi Lauper's True Colors tour this weekend in LA, as previously reported. The rehabbed singer failed to accept the offer to appear at LA's Greek Theater this Saturday. "She was invited to appear on the first date in Las Vegas but we never heard from her," a rep for the tour said. Spears reportedly did not want to appear because she is said to be terrified of singing live. "Britney said she would only dance or lip-sync - and to be on stage with Cyndi, you have to actually perform. It's not happening now," said a source. Spears's choreographer revealed earlier this week that Spears had plans to join Lauper, Debbie Harry, Erasure and others on stage this weekend.
Ryan Gosling has signed on to co-star with Rachel Weisz in the movie adaptation of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones. Directed by Lord of the Rings pro Peter Jackson, the film will begin production in Pennsylvania and New Zealand in October. The story revolves around a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family - and killer - from heaven. Gosling will play the girl's father.
Jessica Simpson is launching a bikini line to go along with her rapidly expanding business ventures, which include a skincare empire, hair extension project, shoe and clothing lines and plans for lingerie designs. Simpson will reportedly debut the swimwear during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Miami next month. Featuring skimpy bikinis and more modest one-piece suits, the designs will be shown on models personally selected by the singer.
Brittany Murphy believes she is being stalked. A source who used to work for the actress claims she is being stalked by "a high-powered Hollywood player." When her new husband, Simon Monjack, disappeared for ten days in April, the Girl, Interrupted star believed he had been kidnapped by agents of the alleged stalker. "When he came back, he had head injuries," said the source. "He was pale and sometimes had trouble standing." The former employee also says Murphy was unable to pay him because she had used her money to pay ransom. The alleged kidnapping coincides exactly with the dates that Monjack was jailed by U.S. immigration authorities for visa infractions. Several anonymous and unflattering stories about Monjack have appeared on the internet since his marriage to Murphy this spring.
Oprah Winfrey is expanding her empire into the retail world with plans for a storefront close to her Chicago studio that will exclusively sell Oprah merch. A spokesperson for Winfrey's Harpo Inc. announced earlier this week that construction on the shop has begun kitty corner to Harpo Studios. The rep declined to give an expected opening date or discuss further details, saying many aspects of the store are still being planned.
The Spice Girls have finally made their reunion plans official after months of speculation. Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Melanie Brown and Melanie Chisholm appeared at a press conference in London today to announce an 11-show world tour. Beginning Decembewr 7, the two-month tour will stop in LA, Las Vegas, NYC, London, Cologne, Madrid, Beijing, Hong Kong, Sydney, Capetown and Buenos Aires. "We're celebrating the past!" Halliwell aka Ginger Spice said at the press conference. "I want to be a Spice Girl again," added Bunton or Baby Spice. "We are like sisters and we have our arguments, but by the end of the day we get back together."
Usher and his fiancee, Tameka Foster, announced today that they are expecting their first child together this fall. "We are extremely excited at this point in our lives planning our wedding and the joy that comes with expecting our first child together," the couple said in a statement. "We hope people will be happy for us and respect our privacy during this happy period in our lives." This will be Usher's first child and Foster's fourth.
Turns out Cameron Diaz's new guy, magician Criss Angel, is married. Angel's "secret" Long Island wife, Joanne Sarantakos, claims their marriage broke down as soon as he got famous and hooked up with the Shrek star. A lawyer for Sarantakos says he intends to subpoena Diaz to testify in state Supreme Court about her romance with the Vegas magician in support of his client's divorce petition on the grounds of mental cruelty and abandonment. Angel - whose real name is Chris Sarantakos - reportedly kept his five-year marriage (and 15-year relationship) a secret to raise his sex appeal to female fans. "We're naming Cameron Diaz as his lover," Sarantakos's lawyer told the court yesterday, adding that he'd had Angel followed by a private investigator for six months. "We will subpoena her as soon as she comes back to New York." He also revealed that Angel hasn't given his wife a penny of the $7 million he made last year. "He's not paying her support, which is tragic - considering his worth." Angel himself was in court, and his lawyer did not deny the allegations of adultery. The magician flashed a peace sign, but did not make any comments. According to the Mindfreak star's in-laws, "When his career took a jump forward, he became a different person. He's in love with himself. He's a narcissist. My daughter was never acknowledged as his wife. He told her it was a better single image, than a married image." Sarantakos's brother agreed, saying, "It's almost as if he played the Mindfreak game on her. He was controlling her. He's basically living in a TV persona. Chris Sarantakos is dead - Criss Angel has taken over. He killed off his old self and morphed into his new self - it's scary, really." This guy seemed like a loser from the start. What is Diaz thinking?
