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Rapper REMY MA is set to appeal the guilty verdict she received last week (27Mar08) in her trial for weapons and assault charges.
The hip-hop star - real name Remy Smith - faces up to 25 years in jail after she was convicted of shooting a woman outside a New York nightclub last year (07).
She was found guilty on two counts of first degree assault, attempted coercion and criminal possession of a weapon.
But her attorney Ivan Fischer is currently preparing to file an appeal against the Manhattan Supreme Court grand jury’s decision, in a bid to have the verdict overturned, according to AllHipHop.com.
And Remy is calling on her fans to help her win over the judge when she is sentenced later this year (08) - by sending in messages of support.
In a new posting on her MySpace.com page, she asks her devotees to write to the court, describing how her music has "positively affected you, influenced you, inspired you, etc…. in hopes (sic) that the judge will be lenient." She will hear her fate on 23 April (08), when she is due to be sentenced.

Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com)

Legendary soul/funk singer EDDIE LEVERT is mourning the loss of his son SEAN, who died after collapsing in a Cleveland, Ohio jail on Sunday (30Mar08).
Sean, who was a member of 1980s group LeVert, was being held at the Cuyahoga County Jail after reportedly failing to pay $80,000 (£40,000) in child support.
It is believed he collapsed in his cell late on Sunday night and was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to TMZ.com.
The Cuyahoga County Coroner is currently looking into the cause of death. The warden of the jail claims prison officials were unaware of any health condition he may have had.
The tragedy is the latest to hit the Levert family - Sean’s older brother, the R&B star Gerald Levert, died in November 2006, aged 40, following an accidental drug overdose.

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Rapper WYCLEF JEAN has taken to the airwaves in his native Haiti to encourage his fellow countrymen to stop committing "evil" crimes.
The former Fugees star - who was appointed as an ambassador for Haiti last year (07) - has recorded a radio message in Creole, calling for an end to the increasing number of rape and kidnapping cases.
In the advertisement, he says, "If you love Wyclef that means you love Haiti.
So you should not be raping women, kidnapping people and children. There can be no excuse for doing so.
"I reject these evil practices." Kidnapping is a major problem in the Caribbean country - 36 people have been abducted from the capital Port-au-Prince in March alone (08).
The message will be played by local radio stations across the country.

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SARAH JESSICA PARKER’s son is proving an unlikely source of support for U.S.
presidential hopeful BARACK OBAMA.
Five-year-old James Wilkie Broderick is a big fan of the Democratic candidate - purely because he is a fellow male.
Mum Parker says, "He’s very into Barack Obama. On his own! "He’s really, truly into this election. He’s come to this conclusion on his own based specifically on Barack’s gender. It’s that deep. He’s a fan and a true supporter of Barack Obama."

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LILY ALLEN’s actor father KEITH is to follow in the footsteps of his pop star daughter by launching his own singing career.
Keith Allen has ventured into the music industry before, collaborating on football songs including 2007’s World In Motion with New Order and 1998’s Vindaloo by Fat Les.
And Allen penned a collection of songs for his famous daughter before she landed a record deal, but after the Smile singer refused to use any of his songs, he has decided to record them himself.
He says, "I worked very hard on these 11 songs for Lily, and she decided not to use them. A 15-year-old girl sounded ridiculous singing the lyrics of a 40-year-old man.
"But it inspired me to write the album we’re working on." Allen has already recorded several tracks with renowned musician Pablo Cook, who has previously worked with Madonna, Joe Strummer and Robbie Williams.
(LR/WNBIN/JC) WENN - THIRD - HOLLYWOOD, SHOWBIZ & PEOPLE NEWS - 31 MARCH 2008

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THE ROLLING STONES star KEITH RICHARDS only speaks to his bandmates when they are on the road together - insisting they are rarely in touch when they are not working.
Richards has been playing with fellow rockers Sir Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts for over 30 years and is convinced that as they have spent so much time together they don’t need to talk unless it is really necessary.
He says, "(I talk to my bandmates) not a lot really, probably once a year. A few faxes, notes here and there. If you’re stuck on the road for two and a half years together you’ve said just about everything you’ve got to say to each other. I never need to be in touch with people that immediately. I really despise gossip." And Richards admits he has never really got to grips with modern technology.
He adds, "I hate phones. I have nothing to do with them. I don’t even have a mobile phone."

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ROD STEWART’s son SEAN has been accused of stealing the car of producer JON PETERS - and has been warned to "stay away" from the moviemaker’s teenage daughter.
The 27-year-old is reported to have been dating Caleigh Peters, 19, for some time before she ended their relationship in early March (08).
But Stewart took the news badly and is alleged to have stolen her dad’s Cadillac Escalade on or around 7 March (08) in an effort to get Caleigh to meet with him, according to Jon’s representative Brian Quintana.
However, Stewart’s bizarre antics have enraged Jon and his ex-wife Christine, who want the bad boy to "stay out of their daughter’s life".
In an email to the New York Post Page Six, Quintana writes, "Caleigh dumped him (Stewart) and wouldn’t take his calls. He went looking for her at Jon’s Los Angeles house and took the car, which had keys in it. Sean called Caleigh and said, ‘Come meet me if you want your dad’s car back.’ "When Jon noticed his car missing he asked Caleigh if she had it (she is an authorized driver), and at first she said she knew nothing about it. Only two days later did she tell us Sean had it. When her dad told her it was reported stolen, she informed Sean, and he abandoned it at (club) Le Deux. Jon is pressing charges." But Dana Cole, Stewart’s lawyer, insists the incident is simply a big misunderstanding.
She says, "Once Mr. Stewart learned of this accusation, he immediately met with the LAPD detective on the case and explained he had been loaned the car by Mr. Peters’ daughter. There’s another agenda going on and we’re not sure what it is."

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R&B superstar MARIAH CAREY has left a British radio DJ red-faced - after hanging up during a telephone interview because he grossly underestimated her sales figures.
Radio One DJ Reggie Yates was quizzing the star for Sunday’s (30Mar08) Chart Show, when he inadvertently claimed she had sold 80 million albums - and the singer was far from impressed.
After almost four minutes of Carey happily chatting and joking with the presenter, Yates launched into another question, saying: "You’ve sold over 80 million albums worldwide…" But before he could finish, the We Belong Together hitmaker interrupted him and asked, "Is that the right quote?" - then hung up the phone.
Carey’s worldwide sales are closer to the 160 million mark.

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SPICE GIRL VICTORIA BECKHAM has thrown a lavish 60th birthday party for her mother JACKIE - hiring a private room at luxurious London hotel Claridges.
The 33-year-old made sure her mum saw in her landmark age in style by inviting more than a dozen close family and friends to the event on Sunday (30Mar08) and supplying a constant stream of pink champagne as well as ordering a luxurious hand-made cake.
A source tells British newspaper the Daily Mirror, "Victoria arrived first just after midday to make sure everything was perfect and she was still partying away hours later.
"It was clear that the amount of bubbly (champagne) going into that room that money was no object and Victoria really wanted to spoil her mum and her friends. Everyone was smiling - it was a really cool party."

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Irish rockers U2 have followed in MADONNA’s footsteps by signing a 12-year deal with music promoters Live Nation.
The agreement will see the band continue to release records through their longtime record label Universal Music, but Live Nation, which has been handling U2’s tours since 1980, will take over the group’s merchandising as well as digital and branding rights.
The deal follows the ground-breaking recording and touring contract Madonna signed with the firm last year (07), which was rumoured to be worth in excess of $120 million (£60 million) over 10 years.
And although financial details of the contract have not been disclosed, frontman Bono insists the deal has been on the cards for a long time.
He says, "We’ve been dating for over 20 years now. It’s about time we tied the knot." And the band’s manager, Paul McGuinness, is convinced the Live Nation collaboration is perfect timing.
He adds, "U2 are doing their best work right now, on record and in concert.
The opportunity to integrate U2 and Live Nation’s vision of the future is a great extension of our established business."

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Hollywood actress JENNIFER ANISTON is planning to rediscover her Greek heritage with a trip to the country this summer (08).
The former Friends star was born in California but her father hails from the Greek island of Crete and the family’s real last name is Anastassakis.
Aniston, 39, is reported to be learning the language ahead of her planned holiday to the country, which is on her list of "Things To Do Before I’m 40".
She insists she is proud of her Greek roots, as her heritage has helped keep her grounded despite her fame.
She says, "There’s a warmth to my family and to Greeks in general. I have friends from childhood who are still in my life today. All this keeps it real."

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Hollywood actress RENEE ZELLWEGER is obsessed with house renovations - after she was taught home improvement skills as a child.
Zellweger, 39, owes her handiwork talents to her engineer father Emil who made sure she was never too scared to get involved with his various projects as she was growing up.
And the Bridget Jones’ Diary star insists she is proficient in car maintenance as well as home improvements, and always finds an opportunity to make use of her talents.
She says, "He (my father) always made sure my brother and I knew how to change tyres, the oil and the brake shoes. We built a house together, all of us, when I was about nine or 10.
"We wired it, laid the foundation and tiled the floors. It’s easier than you think. Believe me, when I’m not working, I’m not afraid to pick up a paintbrush. I’m always redoing my places.
"During (the filming of 1996 film) Jerry Maguire, I lived in this little apartment I referred to as the ‘crack apartment’. I got in there with a shovel and redid the whole place while we were making the movie.
"When I told Tom Cruise about it, he went out and bought me a stereo."

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Director MARTIN SCORSESE jumped at the chance to direct ROLLING STONES documentary SHINE A LIGHT, because the band’s music acted as a soundtrack to his life.
The 65-year-old moviemaker admits the rockers’ songs helped him through difficult periods in his lifetime, and the group influenced his own work so much he immediately signed up to work on the concert documentary.
He tells the New York Daily News, "At different times in my life, the Rolling Stones’ music dealt with different aspects of my life that I was trying to make sense of.
"Their music has stayed with me and been a very important part of my life over the years." Shine A Light, which had its New York premiere on Sunday (30Mar08), originally debuted at the Berlin Film Festival in Germany in February (08).

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Hollywood actor KEVIN SPACEY has blasted the BBC for airing reality TV show talent contests - insisting they put people off going to the theatre.
The American Beauty star - who now runs London’s Old Vic Theatre - has criticised British shows such as Any Dream Will Do and I’d Do Anything, which use a public vote to find new West End talent to star in musicals such as Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Oliver.
And Spacey admits that although the shows have renewed the public’s interest in musical theatre, he is convinced the BBC needs to do more to build the next generation of theatre-goers or else "we’ll lose them all to TV".
The 48-year-old is convinced the only reason the revamped musicals do well in the West End is because the TV shows act as nothing more than an expensive marketing campaign, which should be applied to more theatre productions.
He says, "I felt that was essentially a 13-week promotion for a musical where’s our 13-week programme?" Spacey has suggested the BBC create a reality show about the theatre to "help kids find their own sense of self-esteem, confidence and ability to collaborate", but insists the network will never take up his idea.
He adds, "These are interesting ideas, now they’re not sexy so maybe they don’t want to put them on air."

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HEROES star HAYDEN PANETTIERE was reduced to tears when she was honoured by the Humane Society Of The United States for her protests against the slaughter of whales in Japan.
The actress cried when she was given a standing ovation at the Humane Society’s Genesis Awards on Saturday (29Mar08), and was forced to visit the bathroom following her speech to regain her composure.
Panettiere was given the Gretchen Wyler Award, which recognises celebrities who bring attention to animal causes, for her work with the sea-faring mammals last year (07).
She told the audience, "As an actress, you always dream of getting awards like the Golden Globe award, but I never expected to get an award that is this special and important to me as this.
"There are people who dedicate their entire lives to preserving the environment and defending animals, they are so much more deserving of something like this." Beverly Kaskey, of the Humane Society, adds, "She’s an inspiring example to her generation, using her compassion, courage and celebrity to help animals in a very effective way." Panettiere’s family and boyfriend Milo Ventimiglia - who kindly escorted her back from the bathroom - were in attendance at the event at the Beverly Hilton hotel in California.

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ASHLEE SIMPSON has denied reports she has been banned from appearing on hit U.S. TV show SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.
The star was left red-faced after she was caught lip-syncing during a performance on the show in 2004, but reports claim the singer was keen to make a return to the series to promote her new album Bittersweet World.
Sources tell the New York Post’s Page Six column Simpson was "a pain" during her time on Saturday Night Live - and that the show’s producers were reluctant to have her back.
However, Simpson’s publicist insists she won’t be appearing on the show due to conflicting schedules.
A representative for the star says, "We’re not doing SNL because they’re dark (not filming) the week we are here in April (08) and there were no other opportunities later in the year."

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Hollywood heartthrob ORLANDO BLOOM relished being gunged at the 21st Annual Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards - because it reinforced why he became an actor.
The actor admitted to feeling "honoured" to be covered in slime at the ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday (29Mar08).
He told audience members, "This is the whole reason I became an actor.
"To be part of the greatest celebrity sliming in the history of sliming is an honour." The 31-year-old joined a host of A-listers to be slimed including Harrison Ford, Brendan Fraser and Jack Black.

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Troubled singer AMY WINEHOUSE has been offered a lucrative deal with top fashion designer ROBERTO CAVALLI, according to reports.
The Back To Black hitmaker is alleged to be on the verge of signing a contract with the Italian fashion mogul - meaning she would receive a constant supply of his garments in return for her agreeing to wear them to public functions and gigs.
According to British newspaper the Daily Mirror, the offer came after Cavalli’s close friend Victoria Beckham told him she was a fan of Winehouse’s style.
A source tells the paper, "Cavalli was suitably taken in by what Victoria had to say that he’s now determined to get Amy on board." Recently the Spice Girl hailed Winehouse a "fashion icon" in an interview, saying, "She has a real sense of style that I love. She is a fashion icon because she is unique." A spokesman for Winehouse says, "Amy is considering many offers at the moment."

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