Michael Jackson Estate — MJ Belts Are Bogus!

An extremely fancy belt commemorating Michael Jackson — and allegedly “sanctioned” by Joe Jackson and Katherine Jackson — can be yours for the bargain basement price of $1,500 — problem is … the whole thing may be illegal.

Here’s the problem.  The belts feature several images trademarked by Michael Jackson – including dancing feet, MJ’s silhouette and the MJ crest – and MJ’s estate must authorize any commercial use of those trademarks, as well as MJ’s name or image.

So of course we called MJ estate lawyer Howard Weitzman, who said the belts were news to him and that the executors never authorized the sale.  Weitzman says, “The Trustees of the Estate of Michael Jackson did not authorize the making or the sale of the Michael Jackson Tribute Belts.“  Weitzman continues, “We would never condone the use of Michael’s children’s signatures to promote the sale of merchandise.”

We haven’t found out who’s behind the website …  but Jerry Olivarez, a PR guy and friend of the Jackson family, has been touting the sale of the belts.  We’re told the site goes live today and 7,000 belts will go up for sale.  And, there will be an auction for the belt signed by Joe, Katherine, and the kids — opening bid is $5 grand.

Attempts to speak with Olivarez were unsuccessful.

Read more at TMZ

Gene Simmons — KISS the Criminal Charges G’bye

Gene Simmons is no terrorist — at least according to the L.A. County District Attorney, who just decided not to prosecute the rocker over an alleged violent altercation with two people.

The D.A. issued a report — obtained by TMZ — which explains there was not enough evidence to prove Gene choked and then threatened both Nathan Marlowe and his significant other Cynthia Manzo at The Grove shopping center last year.

However, Gene isn’t out of the woods yet — according to the docs, Marlowe has also filed a civil lawsuit against Simmons claiming “the stress of the incident has impaired his ability to work in a tattoo parlor and to have sex with Cynthia Manzo.”

Read more at TMZ

Jesse James’ Sister — The Abuse Was Real

Jesse James’ sister is backing Jesse’s claims that he was abused as a child — and she also blames their father for the incident in which Jesse suffered a broken arm.

Julie James England tells TMZ her father Larry — who denied the abuse allegations Jesse made on “Nightline” — was “very abusive to my mom and us when we were growing up.”

As for Jesse’s broken arm — Julie says Larry forced 7-year-old Jesse to jump over a fence to retrieve a lost ball from a neighbor’s yard one night.

She claims her father was screaming at Jesse the whole time and that, as a result, Jesse ended up falling off the fence and breaking his arm.

Despite all that’s happened, Julie says she’s proud of her brother because she feels Jesse’s finally “on the mend.”

Read more at TMZ

Lindsay Lohan Had a Ticket to Ride

TMZ has learned Lindsay Lohan was telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth when she said she had purchased a plane ticket from the South of France to L.A. to return home in time for last Thursday’s court hearing.

TMZ has obtained the invoice from the travel agency Lindsay used to book the flight.  According to the Executive Travel and Parking agency in Nashville, Lindsay purchased a $6,860.50 ticket on Swiss International Air Lines, leaving Nice on Wednesday, May 19 at 10:40 AM, stopping in Zurich and ending up in L.A. at 4:40 PM the same day.

The D.A. apparently didn’t buy Lindsay’s story that she really did buy the ticket before her passport was allegedly stolen.  There was talk in the courtroom about producing proof of the ticket.

Well here it is.

Read more at TMZ

Bret Michaels — ‘American Idol’s’ Big Secret

Bret Michaels could have died a few weeks ago … yet now we’ve learned he will take center stage tonight during the finale of “American Idol.”

Our “Idol’ spies tell us Michaels is at the Nokia Theatre in Hollywood and will make a cameo tonight.  We don’t know what he’ll do on stage, but hey … anything’s possible.

Read more at TMZ

Kendra Wilkinson’s sex tape “broke her heart”.

The former Playboy model – who has five-month-old son Hank Baskett IV with husband Hank Baskett – admits she is devastated that explicit footage of herself and ex-boyfriend Justin Frye is now available for sale, six years after the former couple made the film.

The 24-year-old star said: “It broke my heart because how can you do that when I have a baby? I have a kid. I have a husband. It just sucks. It’s the hardest thing to deal with right now, and it’s hard on Hank. It’s hard on him because it involves another guy and it’s hard on him because of our son.”

Kendra – who will receive 50 per cent of the profits from ‘Kendra Exposed’, despite initially opposing its release – is urging people not to watch the video and hopes she won’t be regarded as “like a porn star”.

She added: “It bothers me because people are going to judge me and stuff.

“I just hope to God nobody looks at me like a porn star or something. I just hope they don’t press play because that’s not me. I mean, that was me, but that’s not me now.”

The tape was released for sale yesterday (26.05.10) and the blonde beauty is expecting the coming weeks to be the hardest of her life, but has vowed to face her critics.

She said: “Hank is doing a good job because he’s understanding. He’s like, ‘Kendra, we just have to hold our heads high because, yeah, we’re going to get attacked, but we can’t run. We have to hold hands and walk through this and face this fact.’ It’s going to be really hard. It’s going to probably be the hardest time of our lives.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Kristen Stewart has never dated anyone she “found attractive”.

The actress – who is in a relationship with her ‘Twilight’ co-star Robert Pattinson – admits it takes her a while to get to know someone before she would find them appealing enough to go out with.

She said: “People want me to say that I really like it when guys are funny and dorky but I’ve never really gone out with someone I’ve found attractive initially.”

The ‘Runaways’ star also admitted she has no career plans after completing work on ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ and rather than being concerned at the prospect, insists she is delighted to have some free time.

She added in a behind-the-scenes interview for Flaunt magazine: “Oddly enough I have a really clean horizon, I’m excited about the last few films I did coming out but other than that – I always have my next three things planned out so to have a clean horizon is pretty nice.”

Meanwhile, Kristen has admitted the interest in her personal life makes her want to “throw up” and stops her enjoying her happiness.

She told Britain’s Elle magazine: “It’s so weird, that you have to be worried about people seeing things.

“You want to be excited about something, normal people can be excited about their lives, and I am, too, but it’s such a different thing. It comes out as entertainment for other people and that makes me want to throw up.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Heather Locklear Cleared in Alleged Hit-and-Run!

TMZ has learned … Heather Locklear has been cleared in the crime of the century!  She won’t be prosecuted for allegedly mowing down a “no parking” sign.

TMZbroke the story of the crime of the century — that someone hit a “no parking” sign near Heather’s home in Westlake Village, CA — then fled.

The cops investigated but could not place Heather behind the wheel of the BMW in question.

Cops then sent the case to the D.A. for further investigation.  Cops investigated again and sent it back.

Now, the Ventura County D.A. has officially rejected the case.

We want to know — how many tax dollars were spent investigating this?  Ridiculous

Read more at TMZ

Lindsay Lohan Has Class

She may not graduate with honors, but Lindsay Lohan just took another step to complete her alcohol education requirement.

We were there when Lindsay left the Right On class in Glendale, CA just a few minutes ago.

Lindsay has now completed 11 of the 13 classes that were supposed to be completed by last Thursday — when Lindsay was a no-show in court.

The question for Judge Marsha Revel when Lindsay returns to court on July 6 — Is late really better than never?

Read more at TMZ

Vince Vaughn Survived ‘Jersey Shore’ House

It’s gonna take more than a little sex, gel and vomit to scare Vince Vaughn — TMZ has learned the actor recently stayed a night in the “Jersey Shore” house … and made it out alive!

Multiple sources tell us Vaughn spent one night in the infamous Seaside Heights pad last month, along with a small group of personal friends.  We’re told the night ran the group a cool $2,500.

No word if Vince dared to use the same hot tub where Snooki and The Situation got busy.

Read more at TMZ

Mindy McCready To Judge: Shut My Mom Up!

Mindy McCready is asking a judge to muzzle her mom, who has been yakking to the media that she tried committing suicide yesterday.

McCready was taken to the hospital yesterday after her mom called 911.  Mindy says her mom gave her four Darvocet pills for pain.  But later her mom claimed Mindy had tried committing suicide and had tried taking her life before.

In Mindy’s legal docs … obtained by TMZ … the singer claims her mom is disseminating “erroneous information to the media … to sabotage her reunification efforts with her son.”

Mindy and her mom are fighting over custody of the boy.

Mindy wants a gag order, stat, so her mom will stop talking.

And, according to the docs, Mindy wants to strip her mom of custody because she fears for the kid’s safety.  Mindy wants her dad to get custody while she gets back on her feet.

Read more at TMZ

Lindsay Lohan — Sobriety Down to a Tea

Lindsay Lohan was drinking heavily during her 10-hour blondification treatment yesterday in a Beverly Hills salon — and we’re told her beverage of choice was some weird, fizzy Chinese tea.

Sources tell TMZ, Lindsay was pounding Kombucha — a fermented tea that claims several health benefits — while she got her hair did yesterday at Andy LeCompte Salon in Bev Hills.

And this is interesting … due to the fermentation, the tea contains a trace amount of alcohol — less than 0.5%.

We’re told she emerged ten hours later — and all she could talk about while she was there was some mystery actor she met at Cannes … with whom she’s allegedly obsessed.

So far, the SCRAM alarm remains silent.

Read more at TMZ

‘Survivor’ Producer Kids Told Car Crash Killed Mom

Former “Survivor” producer Bruce Beresford-Redman’s wife was hit by a car and killed — that was the false story that Bruce’s mother allegedly told his kids.

TMZ has obtained legal docs filed by Monica Burgos Beresford-Redman’s sister — Carla Burgos.  Carla is furious that Bruce’s mother lied to the two kids about Monica’s murder.

According to Carla’s declaration, Bruce’s mom, Juanita, told the kids, “Their mother had been hit by a car, fell, and hit her head. “  Carla goes on:  “She further told the children that no one in Mexico knew their mother, so no one could find her until their father finally found her in the hospital, and at the time she was already dead.”

Carla then complains, “I do not understand why Juanita provided so many horrible, not to mention untrue, details about their mother’s death.”

Carla claims Bruce’s parents “main priority is the money they will receive as guardians” and they are “trying to get the children to forget about their mother.”

Read more at TMZ

Jesse James’ Stepmom — Abuse Claim is ‘Crap’

Jesse James‘ former stepmom claims Jesse’s allegation that his dad broke his arm when he was 7 years old “is a bunch of crap.”

Janina James Coan, who was involved with Jesse’s dad since Jesse was 6, tells TMZ she was “appalled” by what Jesse said about Larry James during the “Nightline” interview.

Coan — who married Larry when Jesse was in high school but eventually divorced — tells us Jesse had a variety of injuries — including broken bones — as a kid, because he was into motocross.   But she scoffs at the notion that Jesse was abused.

Coan says, “Larry was the most caring father, the kindest father who would do anything for anybody.  He loved Jesse to death and would brag about him all the time.”

Coan does say, however, that Jesse and his dad don’t get along.  The tension started, she claims, when Jesse was 16.  She claims Jesse’s dad found out his son and a friend allegedly robbed a Fotomat and called the cops on him.  Coan says Jesse ended up in juvenile hall and was very upset that his dad turned him in.

Read more at TMZ

Rupert Grint felt really “uncomfortable” being naked in front of Bill Nighy.

The actor – who had to strip off for a scene in the bath in the new comedy ‘Wild Target‘ – admitted he wasn’t very body confident about wearing just underwear in front of his co-star.

He told BANG Showbiz: “It’s quite embarrassing where I had to stand in the bath, I had a jock strap kind of thing, it was weird because it wasn’t water, it was milk… to make the water look cloudy so you couldn’t see anything – we were in a bath of milk.

“Thankfully there weren’t many people on set just me and Bill. He didn’t really say very much, but yes it did feel just a bit uncomfortable for the both of us.”

While the 21-year-old star – who is best known for portraying wizard Ron Weasley in the ‘Harry Potter‘ films – felt awkward about being near-naked in front of his co-star, he isn’t worried about audiences seeing him naked – even though he admits his body isn’t in the best shape.

He added: “It’s embarrassing, I’ve never been to a gym or really done any sports… but I’m not lazy as I’m always working or busy doing something.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Kendra Wilkinson’s sex tape won’t affect her marriage.

The former Playboy model – who has a five-month-old son Hank Baskett IV with husband Hank Baskett – appears in a raunchy movie alongside ex-boyfriend Justin Frye, but friends of the couple insist the American footballer was aware the footage existed before they got married.

One pal told RadarOnline.com: “This happened when she was young. He already knew about this. She told him about this before they got married.

“She was young and was in love with her boyfriend and thought she was going to marry him and it just didn’t turn out that way.

“Kendra and Hank are going to be just fine.”

The 24-year-old beauty was just 18 when she and then-boyfriend Justin made the video, which goes on sale today (26.05.10) through Vivid Entertainment.

Justin was paid $100,000 for the footage, while Kendra is to receive up to 50 per cent of the profits made from sales of the tape.

The blonde beauty initially tried to block the release of the recording when news of it first emerged, but after realising the earning potential of the DVD, which will be titled ‘Kendra Exposed’, she decided to enter negotiations with Vivid Entertainment.

Source: BANG Showbiz

Jodie Foster thinks that Dakota Fanning is massively talented and she “is going to end up being a real actress”.

Foster praised Dakota for her role of Lewellen in ‘Hounddog’. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she said, “And she is spectacular in [Hounddog]. The movie, ehh, but that’s a brave, brave performance that she should be very, very proud of, and I passed that message along to her. That’s why Dakota Fanning is going to end up being a real actress.”

The film generated controversy, due to the use of such a young actress in the lead role. The controversy was sparked by crirtics who were concerned for Fanning because the screenplay called for her to appear in a rape scene.

Fanning began transitioning to more adult roles with Hounddog and ‘The Secret Life of Bees‘, adapted from the novel of the same name by Sue Monk Kidd. She has won numerous awards and is the youngest person ever to have been nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Food Network Star — Plea Bargain Rumblings

Sources tell TMZ the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office is open to plea bargaining the attempted murder case against former Food Network host Juan-Carlos Cruz.

Law enforcement sources tell us the D.A. and the cops are well aware of the Shakespearean drama between Juan-Carlos and his wife, Jennifer Campbell. TMZ broke the story that Campbell has been despondent for years over the couple’s inability to have kids — and she told members of her church and others she wanted to end her life, but her religion views suicide as a mortal sin.

Sources say Juan-Carlos was making a feeble attempt to end his wife’s life and then kill himself, by trying to hire 3 homeless men to murder his wife. We’re told the cops and prosecutors believe this was Cruz’s MO.

We’re told because of the circumstances … in a plea bargain the D.A. would be inclined to dismiss the attempted murder charge.  In return, we’re told, the D.A. would be open to a guilty or no contest plea to solicitation to commit murder, which carries a 3 to 9-year sentence.

If Cruz got the low end of the sentence, with good behavior he would have to serve around a year and a half … not a bad resolution.

Read more at TMZ

Rihanna has filed a countersuit against former personal trainer Cindy Percival.

The ‘Rude Boy’ singer – who is being sued by Cindy for $26,144.14 worth of unpaid wages from 2009 – has now hit back in another court case, claiming the exercise expert took $26,244.63 from her.

In her claims, Rihanna suggests she gave more than $24,000 upfront to Cindy for services in the future, but never had the money returned when she fired the trainer.

Cindy previously claimed she was hired by the 22-year-old star to perform “exclusive personal training services” for $1,500 a day, but wasn’t paid for a number of weeks in September and October.

Rihanna has previously discussed her exercise regime, confessing the need for a trainer to keep her motivated.

She said: “I stay in shape with a lot of hard work and a lot of running on the treadmill. Cardio is the key. I have a personal trainer who travels with me if we have a big event coming up. I work out every day but I need a trainer to motivate me – I don’t find it much fun working out on my own.”

Source: BANG Showbiz

Cheryl Cole has filed for divorce from husband Ashley Cole.

The ‘Fight for This Love’ singer’s legal team lodged her request for a “quickie” divorce at London’s High Court yesterday (25.05.10), where she cited his “unreasonable behaviour” as the reason behind the end of their three-and-a-half-year marriage.

This comes just months after it was alleged the soccer player had cheated on her with numerous women.

In a bid to end their union as quickly as possible, the 26-year-old beauty has told the England star she doesn’t want any of his money and he can keep their £6 million home if she can have a “clean break” from him.

A source told The Sun newspaper: “She wants a completely clean break with no malice or wrangling over property or money. Cheryl will not take one penny of Ashley’s money.

“Crucially, people expected her to request their mansion as part of the divorce terms. But the house means nothing to her.

“Cheryl is giving the house to him.”

Cheryl’s publicity firm Supersonic PR said in a statement: “We can confirm the divorce. We have no further comment.”

In February, the Girls Aloud star announced she was separating from her husband, after several women claimed they had received explicit picture and text messages from Ashley’s secret mobile phone and had sex with him.

In the legal documents, it states Cheryl had “put it to him that he had been unfaithful” and he “admitted” it was true.

The source added: “She has fully accepted there is no going back after Ashley’s cheating and their marriage breakdown.

“So this divorce will be clean, swift, amicable and smooth. Cheryl has no spite towards Ashley and has been incredibly mature and considered in how she has handled the split.”

It is believed Cheryl had planned to file for divorce in July – the month in which they would have celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary – but decided to bring it forward so their union will have ended before the World Cup soccer tournament starts in South Africa next month.

Source: BANG Showbiz

Maksim Chmerkovskiy — How I Beat the Rap …

Maksim Chmerkovskiy admits he was driving like a speed demon when cops pulled him over in Hollywood last night — but according to the “Dancing” star, that’s not why he got in trouble.

We just spotted Maksim out in L.A. — just a few hours before the big “Dancing with the Stars” finale … and dude told us the cop merely warned him about his lack of license plates on his brand new Mercedes.

Problem is — the cop was driving in the other direction, and probably wouldn’t have even noticed Maksim if he wouldn’t have gunned it out of STK.

As for why the cop let Maksim off the hook, dude told us, “Apparently, he’s a fan.”

Read more at TMZ

McCready 911: She’s ‘Taken an Overdose’

TMZ has obtained the 911 call made this morning by Mindy McCready’s mother — in which she tells the operator, “My daughter has just taken an overdose.”

During the call, the country singer’s mother tells the dispatcher Mindy admitted to taking Darvocet and another muscle relaxer.

At one point Mindy’s mom tells the singer, “You’ve taken too many pills for me to handle this.”

Mindy was eventually taken to the Cape Coral Hospital in Florida — but as we first reported, she claims she simply had a bad reaction to painkillers and her mother “overreacted.”

Read more at TMZ

Drug Testing May Not Solve Lindsay’s Problem

TMZ has learned … Lindsay Lohan can still take two drugs, in spite of Judge Marsha Revel’s drug testing requirement — and one of the drugs could be at the root of Lindsay’s problem.

Sources tell us Lindsay has prescriptions for Adderall (a stimulant that treats ADHD) and Ambien.  Under the rules of the drug testing program, Lindsay can still take meds, provided they were prescribed by a doctor.

Lindsay will check in with the L.A. County Probation Department on Thursday and provide the case worker and the court with proof of prescriptions.  At that point, any prescription that shows up in Lindsay’s system during random drug testing will not get her in trouble with the judge.

But here’s the issue.  Friends of Lindsay … and her father Michael … tell TMZ the scripts are a big source of Lindsay’s problem.

So Lindsay could still pass her drug tests and still have some of the problems she just can’t seem to beat.

Read more at TMZ

‘American Idol’ — Nerves Frayed During Rehearsal

Our spies at the “American Idol” rehearsal today say Crystal Bowersox was so nervous she forgot the words to the song she’ll release if she wins tomorrow night.  And Lee DeWyze got ticked off after he got hit with a violin bow.

Both Crystal and Lee will each sing 3 songs.  The first song is their choice, the second was chosen by Simon Fuller and the third song is the one that will be released by the winner.

Crystal chose “Me and Bobby McGee” for her first song.  Fuller had her sing “Black Velvet.”  As for the song she’ll release … it’s called “Up to the Mountain.” Crystal stopped dead in her tracks in the middle of the song and started over.

As for Lee, he chose, “The Boxer,” and Fuller selected “Everybody Hurts.” As for the song he’ll release if he wins … it’s called, “Beautiful Day.”

As Lee finished “Beautiful Day,” a violinist accidentally hit him in the body with his bow.  Lee was upset and walked off the stage …. even before the pretend judges could weigh in.

Should be interesting.

Read more at TMZ

Suge Knight Accused of Ordering a Hit

One day after Suge Knight was released from jail last week, the rap mogul allegedly masterminded a murder plot … this according to legal documents.

An L.A. County Superior Court judge has ordered Suge to stay at least 100 yards away from a Los Angeles area man after an allegedly frightening encounter this past Friday.

According to legal docs filed Monday, the man claims Suge “had 8 guys come to my house and told them to get me or kill me.”

As TMZ previously reported, Suge was arrested Thursday morning for assault with a deadly weapon.  It’s unclear if the man who got the restraining order was involved in the prior incident — though he claims Suge later told him that “he was out now and going to take my life.”

Suge is ordered to appear in court to respond to the allegations on June 8.

Read more at TMZ