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SEAN PENN has defended his connection to South American leaders Hugo Chávez and Raul Castro - after a journalist accused him of discrediting his good work in the gay community by supporting the controversial politicians.
Penn has been praised by gay rights leaders for his portrayal of assassinated homosexual politician Harvey Milk, in new movie Milk.
But the star - a longtime supporter of Venezuelan dictator Chávez and Cuban leader Castro - was the centre of a scathing article in U.S. magazine The Advocate, in which a writer claimed Penn’s political leanings counteract his good deeds - because the duo has been linked to alleged human rights violations.
But Penn’s publicist, Mara Buxbaum, has hit out at the journalist who wrote the article, insisting James Kirchick’s report is not accurate. She tells New York gossip column PageSix, "Kirchick’s commentary about Sean Penn’s cover story neglects to include that Penn in fact addressed the issue of oppression toward homosexuals in Cuba in his full essay which was printed on the Huffington Post (news website) on Dec. 1.
"(U.S. weekly magazine) The Nation printed an adapted excerpt only, but made it clear that the full article was on Huffington. James Kirchick didn’t do his homework."

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Rapper 50 CENT proved his tough guy credentials - after he brawled with former champion boxer FLOYD MAYWEATHER, JR.
The In Da Club hitmaker’s feud with Mayweather, Jr spiralled out of control after the fighter promised him payment to appear at his much-hyped Wrestlemania XXIV fight with WWE star the Big Show in April (08).
Mayweather Jr. adopted the hip-hop star’s I Get Money track as his official entrance song and offered 50 Cent cash to watch the fight from the ringside.
But the rapper admits things became heated between the pair when the boxer failed to hand over the money - despite having a million dollars in cash on his person.
The hip-hop stars says, "He was going to do the match in WWE at Wrestlemania and he started telling everyone that I was going to be there. So everyone got all excited and started asking me if I was going to come, and I was like, ‘If you’re really getting $20 million for this, then give me some money’.
"He was sitting there with a million dollars cash in a bag, and he kept telling me he was going to get me money for appearing, but I was like ‘No, give me some of that money right there’. He had one million dollars in the bag, it was physically right in front of me, so why should I have to wait to get paid? Just give me that money right there. He wasn’t with it, and that’s how it all started." And despite punches flying between the pair, the star is adamant he is still pals with the boxer.
He adds, "Yeah, we got into a little scrap, a little boxing match. Well, it wasn’t really much of a boxing match because he hit me in the back of my ear.
He’s so fast, he’s just so fast.
"We were mad for a second, but then everything went back to normal."

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COLDPLAY frontman CHRIS MARTIN has denied he is set to divorce his wife GWYNETH PALTROW.
The couple has been plagued by rumours of an impending split, speculation that increased after Paltrow was recently spotted partying in the U.S. with pal Madonna, while Martin tours the U.K. with his band.
But the singer - who has two children with the actress - is adamant their relationship is not on the rocks, insisting that life is good right now.
He says, "I’m trying to think of when the last bit of bad news was. Well there hasn’t been anything for a while. I’m supposed to be getting divorced but those things aren’t happening so don’t really count as bad news."

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KATE HUDSON’s four-year-old son RYDER is already developing a taste for classic rock - shunning contemporary artists to listen to tracks by CHUCK BERRY and THE BEATLES.
The youngster - whose father is Hudson’s ex-husband Chris Robinson - is not a fan of modern music, much to his mother’s delight.
She says, "Ryder is such a smart boy. He is really into music right now. He really loves Chuck Berry and The Beatles. He likes to dance to Chuck Berry.
Earlier on I said as a joke, ‘Who’s your favourite Backstreet Boy, Ryder?’ And he goes, ‘Well I like The Beach Boys’."

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More than 130 stars including GEORGE CLOONEY, CAMERON DIAZ and CHARLIZE THERON have signed an open letter pleading with a union not to stage an actors strike next year (09).
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) is due to ballot its members next month (Jan09) to authorise industrial action in an ongoing row with leading Hollywood studios and TV networks over royalty payments.
Cardholders of the 120,000-strong SAG rejected a three-year deal offered by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) earlier this year (Jul08), and union bosses will now ballot members over a walkout which could cripple the upcoming awards season.
Now more than 130 leading actors have signed a letter - written by Danny DeVito’s wife Rhea Perlman - to officials at the SAG to call off the vote.
Stars including Glenn Close, Eva Longoria Parker, Tom Hanks, Tobey Maguire and Morgan Freeman have all put their name to the document, which was sent on Monday (15Dec08).
The letter reads: "We support our union and we support the issues we are fighting for, but we do not believe now is the time to be putting people out of work." SAG is pushing for more money for actors when their work is released on DVD, plus a greater say in the endorsement of products on-air.
Union bosses have persuaded 31 high profile actors, including Mel Gibson and Martin Sheen, to put their names to a rival letter endorsing the strike bid.

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Pop superstar MADONNA has denied she paid her ex-husband GUY RITCHIE up to $60 million (£39 million) as a divorce settlement - insisting a statement issued on the couple’s behalf was wrong.
The Material Girl split from moviemaker Ritchie earlier this year (08), sparking speculation about how much of her fortune she would hand over to him.
On Monday (15Dec08), Madonna’s spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg issued a statement to the Associated Press news agency confirming that the singer had reached a settlement with the Snatch director for between $50 million (£32 million) and $60 million (£39 million).
But the former couple has now put out a joint statement to set the record straight - insisting the earlier press release was "misleading and inaccurate".
Madonna and Ritchie said: "We have tried to maintain a dignified silence regarding the details of our divorce for the last few months whilst accepting the obvious media interest.
"A misleading and inaccurate statement, specifically in relation to the sums of money involved, was wrongly issued to AP this week.
"The financial details of the settlement will remain private, save to say that both of us are happy with our agreement. Our primary concern, like any co-parents, is the care and well being of our children."

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Beloved U.S. film critic ROGER EBERT is set to be made an honorary member of the Director’s Guild of America (DGA) for his contribution to the movie industry.
The 66-year-old will be inducted at the group’s annual awards ceremony in Los Angeles in January (09).
Ebert is widely considered America’s most famous film reviewer, mainly due to his turn as co-host on U.S. TV show Ebert & Roeper.
He returned to writing reviews earlier this year (08) following a lengthy battle with cancer. He lost his voice after surgery in 2006.
DGA president Michael Apted says, "From the blockbuster to the tiny independent film, Roger Ebert has devoted his career to sharing his love of film with generations of moviegoers.
"In doing so, he’s kept directors on their toes for more than 40 years."

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TWILIGHT star TAYLOR LAUTNER is reportedly battling to play JACOB BLACK in the hit film’s sequel NEW MOON - after rival actors MICHAEL COPON and BEN BARNES showed an interest in taking over the role.
Lautner played the Native American character in the box office smash, and was expected to continue his portrayal of the part in the movie’s highly anticipated follow-up - in which Black becomes a pivotal character.
But moviemaker Chris Weitz, who has taken over the director’s chair from Twilight’s Catherine Hardwicke, is planning to offer the part to a more established actor, according to industry reports.
Prince Caspian star Barnes and Scorpion King 2 actor Copon are reportedly both in the running to take over from Lautner.
And a representative for the franchise admits the film’s castings are not yet set in stone.
A spokesperson tells MTV, "The casting decision in regards to the character Jacob Black has yet to be made."

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American authorities have closed the case on the murder of U.S. TV host JOHN WALSH’s son - 27 years after the child went missing.
The America’s Most Wanted host’s six-year-old son Adam Walsh was abducted in a Hollywood, Florida shopping mall in 1981. His head was discovered two weeks later, but his remains were never discovered.
The case has become one of America’s most notorious unsolved murders.
But now police have closed the case - naming serial killer Ottis Toole as Walsh’s suspected killer. He confessed to the crime in 1983 but was never tried for the murder as he later retracted his admission. Toole died in prison in 1996.
Hollywood Police Chief Chad Wagner says, "It is our determination and conclusion that Ottis Toole was the abductor and murderer of Adam Walsh. If (he) were alive today, he would be arrested." Walsh, who has hosted the Fox network crime show since 1988, has been a long-time campaigner for children’s rights, setting up the Adam Walsh Child Resource Center to help track missing and exploited children.

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STEVEN SPIELBERG’s charitable foundation has reportedly fallen victim to the massive $50 billion (£34 billion) fraud scandal which is currently rocking America’s Wall Street.
U.S. financial heavyweight Bernard Madoff was arrested last week (beg08Dec08) for allegedly confessing to ciphering billions of dollars from his clients. The scam which collapsed after people began asking for their money back due to the global financial crisis.
And now it has been revealed that Spielberg’s Wunderkinder Foundation has been affected by the alleged fraud, because the organisation had a large portion of its assets invested with Madoff, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Other stars to be affected by the crisis include Spielberg’s partner at DreamWorks Animation SKG, chief executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, who sustained "millions in Madoff-connected losses" and Uma Thurman’s fiance, hedge-fund tycoon, Arpad Busson, who has an estimated $230 million (£153million) tied up with Madoff.
Busson admits he is overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the losses.
He says, "For the amount of money and number of accounts, it’s practically impossible that he was doing this alone. What’s mind-boggling is the amount of time he was doing it.
"There’s only so much due diligence you can do. In hindsight, you always wish you could have done it differently."

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Pop star LILY ALLEN missed out on the chance to duet with boyband TAKE THAT because the group’s management advised them against it.
The Smile singer used a melody from one of the band’s songs to create a track for her forthcoming album, It’s Not Me, It’s You, and invited the Never Forget hitmakers to collaborate on it.
And although the band agreed, the duet was not meant to be and was eventually dropped from Allen’s LP.
And the star admits that not even her pal Sir Elton John could use his influence to make her dream come true.
She says, "I love Take That so much I ripped off one of their songs for my new album. I went to dinner and they were at the same restaurant. I went up and said, ‘Hi, I’ve ripped off a song of yours’. I asked them to sing on it and they were like, ‘Yes’.
"Elton (John) called (lead singer) Gary Barlow and asked him to do it but the manager said no." (LR/WNTST/ZN) WENN - THIRD - HOLLYWOOD, SHOWBIZ & PEOPLE NEWS - 17 DECEMBER 2008

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FALL OUT BOY rockers PETE WENTZ and PATRICK STUMP landed in hot water with the law, after they performed an impromptu gig in a New York park without a permit.
The stars hit the Big Apple’s Washington Square Park and thrilled passers-by with an unplugged set of their band’s hits.
But their busking didn’t go down well with certain authorities - they were told to stop by police, who threatened to arrest the duo if they continued to play without obtaining a street performance permit.
According to New York gossip column PageSix, Wentz considered ignoring the threat - but was advised to back down by members of his entourage.
A source tells the publication, "They improvised and did one song with Patrick singing a cappella and Pete Wentz doing air guitar. The crowd was into it.
"After they sang the a cappella song, Pete went over to his guitar case like he was going to say ‘Screw it’ and just get out his guitar and start playing, but his manager, or his security, or some man on his team told him, ‘No, Pete, don’t do it - you can’t’."

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British rockers COLDPLAY have split up at least six times - but the group usually reconcile within 20 minutes.
Frontman Chris Martin admits the band members often have a turbulent relationship while they are on tour, and an argument usually leads to a decision to quit the group.
But the singer insists that the bust-ups usually occur following a piece of bad news - and they never last long.
He says, "We have split up on this tour. Every time we do, we get back together about 20 minutes later - we don’t even have time to announce it. How many times has this happened this tour? Probably six or seven. Each time we say, ‘This is the last show’. But then you have a fun show and everyone shuts up. The last time it happened, well even our publicist wouldn’t have found out." And Martin reveals it’s usually him walking out.
He adds, "Whenever we have any bad news, I always quit for about ten minutes.
I get depressed about something - a gig didn’t go well, or someone said something terrible. But then the rest of them say, ‘It’s OK, we’ll carry on.’"

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BRAD PITT and partner ANGELINA JOLIE want to have as many children as possible - because the six children they have already bring them so much joy.
The Hollywood couple are parents to adopted Maddox, seven, Pax, four and Zahara, three, as well as biological offspring Shiloh, two, and baby twins Knox and Vivienne.
The house the pair share is crazy, according to Pitt - but he wouldn’t change the make-up of his family for anything.
He tells Hello! magazine, "It’s chaos at times but there’s also such joy in our house right now. I look down at the family and I see our boy from Vietnam (Pax) and our daughter from Ethiopia (Zahara) and our girl’s from Namibia (Shiloh was born there) and our son who’s from Cambodia (Maddox), and… they are all brothers and sisters, man. They are all the same blood." Pitt and Jolie love watching their large brood play with each other, and are ecstatic they’ve been able to give them a good quality of life.
The actor adds, "It is such elation to see them all living together, and getting along together, and to know that we were able to give them a home - in some cases, to give them a life.
"It’s a wonderful thing that we are able to do this because of the jobs we have - and it’s a selfish thing, too, because the rewards are extraordinary." And Pitt reveals that he and Jolie plan on extending their family even further: "We’ve always said that we’ll carry on until we find a reason to stop doing this - and, no, we haven’t found that reason yet."

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JESSICA ALBA is set to make a cameo on hit TV show THE OFFICE - in the same episode JACK BLACK will make an appearance.
The Fantastic Four beauty will appear in an episode slated to air in February (09) - straight after the SuperBowl.
The episode, titled Stress Relief, will follow the workers as they try to secretly watch a bootlegged Hollywood movie at work.

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British singer LILY ALLEN has branded her own talkshow a flop - but is ecstatic she earned so much money from it.
The Smile hitmaker’s show Lily Allen and Friends, shown on a BBC digital channel, was panned by critics and the singer herself rated it "probably five out of 10".
She says, "It was a period when I decided not to be a singer or go on tour. I made a lot of money out of it.
"Thank you, licence payers - that was very nice of you. You think Russell Brand is your problem. Actually, it’s me." But despite slamming the show, Allen insists the series is slated for a second run.
She adds, "I’m thrilled that we’re going to make a second series. It’s been such a laugh. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who tuned into the first one and I can’ wait to film series two."

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Neighbours of GEORGE MICHAEL have called on the star to lend his time to a school song project aimed at combating U.K. knife crime The singer has received pleas from residents and school officials in Highgate, North London, where he lives, asking him to support a scheme encouraging children to express themselves through music rather than fighting.
Knife crime is a growing epidemic in London - but locals believe with the help of the famous face, they can keep it off the streets in their area.
A local tells Britain’s Daily Star, "In the interests of discouraging knife crime, a safer neighbourhood group in Highgate have written to George to ask for help.
"They’re trying to get local children to focus on the challenges they face living in the area and express it in creative songwriting instead of violence.
"They’ve asked George to use his contacts ideally in organising a songwriting competition in schools."

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COLDPLAY rocker CHRIS MARTIN loves British female pop stars - he can’t stop gushing about LEONA LEWIS and U.K. girlband GIRLS ALOUD.
The rocker, who is married to Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow, adores the singers - and is especially blown away by Lewis’ powerful voice.
He tells British newspaper the Daily Mirror, "Leona is phenomenal. She is world class, that girl. We saw her singing in L.A. - she’s as good as anybody and I’ve got nothing but respect for her." And Martin’s admiration doesn’t stop at Lewis - he has nothing but praise for Girls Aloud, who are supporting the band on their forthcoming U.K. stadium dates next year (09).
He adds, "Girls Aloud are my favourite girls in the world, aside from my wife and daughter, of course! But they definitely come third to eighth.
"I chose them for the tour because I was pretty sure if people knew they were doing a gig with us they’d think that was great. I’m definitely thinking about doing a cover of a Girls Aloud song."

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