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Rap superstar KANYE WEST is reinventing himself - he wants to be known as MARTIN LOUIS THE KING, JR.
The Gold Digger star has long been a fan of designer Louis Vuitton, and now wants to incorporate his love of the French fashion house with a tribute to iconic U.S. civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
West debuted his red Louis Vuitton sneaker design earlier this month at Paris Fashion Week (22-28Jan09), and he admits the pride and emotion he felt when the models stepped out onto the catwalk in his sports shoes has prompted him to initiate a name change.
In a video posted on his blog after his runway debut, he says, "Oh, hey world. As you can see, I’m in Paris, chilling - due to the transactions (events) early this week, I have some very grim news.
"I know I’ve been called the Louis Vuitton Don… I’ve been called a lot of names… Due to what happened, when the red shoes hit the runway, I was forced to change my name to Martin Louis The King, Jr. Address me as such."

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PENELOPE CRUZ was forced to watch the Oscar nominations last week (22Jan09), after a sleepover at pal SALMA HAYEK’s house - despite fearing it would jinx her chances of landing a nod.
almost missed the news she had been nominated for an Best Supporting Actress Academy Award; after Cruz slept over at Hayek’s Los Angeles pad on 21 January (09) after jetting into the city late the night before.
Before she’d had the chance to get a good night’s sleep, the Frida star had hauled her pal out of bed and propped her up in front of a TV screen for the nail-biting live news conference.
The Spanish star tells Usmagazine.com, "I had just arrived to Los Angeles very, very late at night, and I had went to sleep (sic).
"Four hours later, I was at the house of some of my girlfriends, and they woke me up. Actually, it was Salma Hayek. She woke me up and said, ‘We have to watch it live!’ I said, ‘That’s such a big risk!’" But the news was good, and Cruz was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress prize for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
She adds, "We watched and then I heard the news - everything goes so fast! An hour later, you have to start doing all these interviews and then you spend all day working. I haven’t had the time yet to digest or understand it."

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British singer LILY ALLEN is undergoing therapy, in a bid to become a more positive person.
Despite her self-assured public persona, the Smile hitmaker admits she struggles with self-confidence, and has booked to see a motivational expert.
Allen reveals, "I’ve got a session next week with a guy that’s going to give me positive mental attitude… We’re doing an hour’s session." The singer recently confessed she sought counselling last year (08) after suffering a miscarriage, and admitted she struggles with periods of self-doubt about her talents.
She said, "I’m convinced I’m not talented at all, and I’m sure people are just about to figure it out… I don’t think what I do is any good. I think I’m awful. I’m not a musician. I don’t play an instrument. I write nursery rhymes."

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British actor JAMIE BELL has landed the lead role in STEVEN SPIELBERG’s movie adaptation of schoolboy cartoon hero TINTIN.
The Billy Elliot actor will appear alongside James Bond star Daniel Craig, Toby Jones, Mackenzie Crook and Shaun of the Dead co-stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn.
Studio giants Paramount and Sony announced the casting on Monday (26Jan09), when principle photography on the project began.
The story is based on Belgian Georges ‘Herge’ Remi’s tales of an intrepid young reporter, which were first released in 1929 and have been a huge worldwide success ever since.
007 star Craig will play villain Red Rackham.
The movie, expected to be the first in a Tintin series, is slated for release in 2011.
Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson is producing the first movie, and he’s expected to step into the director’s chair for the sequel

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HUGH JACKMAN has enlisted the help of his AUSTRALIA director BAZ LUHRMANN as he prepares to host the Oscars.
The first non-American to present the Academy Awards has asked Luhrmann and his wife Catherine Martin to help him create a knock-out opening performance.
The couple is choreographing a big opening musical number, according to sources close to the Oscars.

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NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM director SHAWN LEVY is to turn a nine-year-old’s dating handbook into a new movie.
The moviemaker has signed on to adapt Alec Greven’s How To Talk To Girls into a new comedy.
Greven became an overnight sensation last year (08) after penning his astute guide book and selling it at a school fair.
The book was an instant hit among impressed parents, and came to the attention of publishing house HarperCollins, who offered the youngster a deal.

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The ashes of STAR TREK creator GENE RODDENBERRY and his late widow MAJEL are to be blasted into space.
Majel lost her battle with cancer in December (08), at the age of 78; 17 years after Roddenberry died.
His ashes were sent into space at the time, but a portion were left behind; and Majel’s final wish was to be reunited in the heavens with her husband of 21 years.
According to TMZ.com, the ashes will be launched on a mission named Voyager.
Before the ceremony takes place, fans of the sci-fi series have been invited to visit the website of Celestis, the company organising the launch, to post tributes, which will be sent into space with the late couple.

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The estate of late hip-hop producer J DILLA is in a shambles and his family is still fighting for a share of the star’s fortune, according to rap veteran Q-TIP.
The former Slum Village pioneer, real name James Dewitt Yancey, died from complications related to autoimmune disease lupus in February 2006, aged 32.
But, almost three years since his passing, his mother Maureen ‘Ma Dukes’ Yancey and Dilla’s eldest daughter Paige have yet to receive a penny from the producer’s will.
Lawyers for the executor of the star’s estate, accountant Arty Erk, claim Dilla owed millions in tax debts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - and that has delayed the payouts to the Yancey family.
But close pal Q-Tip is disgusted by the way the matter has been handled.
He tells Vibe magazine, "His estate is f**ked up. I know the lawyers are saying that he had certain tax issues and all that stuff. But you were getting paid to represent him when he was alive, so it shouldn’t be any of that. Ma Dukes ain’t getting nothing, and the kids ain’t getting nothing. It’s a horrible thing." Dilla’s other child, Ja’Mya, has only recently begun collecting money from the estate, after taking legal action against Erk.
And now Dilla’s mother has cast doubt over whether her son was aware of the terms of his will when he approved it, just six months before his death.
She says, "I don’t even know if he really knew what he was signing. I don’t think he would have signed anything if he’d known it would be like this now."

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Rapper-turned-actress QUEEN LATIFAH will share her tips for happiness in a new life-coaching book, aimed at inspiring her fans.
The Chicago star, born Dana Owens, has signed a deal with Grand Central Publishing, which will see her release a tome next year (10).
Jamie Raab, Grand Central’s Executive Vice President and Publisher, tells AOL’s BlackVoices.com, "We are delighted to be publishing Queen Latifah’s new book.
"Throughout her career, she has consistently taken on new challenges, and, through her vision, hard work and great talent, has achieved success in so many arenas. What she has accomplished in every facet of her life is extraordinary, and makes for a book of life lessons that I know readers will find deeply inspirational." Editor Karen Thomas adds, "We are delighted that Queen Latifah will share her powerful presence with readers from all walks of life. She is an incredible role model for young women and I look forward to working with her." The book is Latifah’s second; she released her memoir Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman in 1999.

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RADIOHEAD are to make their Grammy Awards bow after confirming they’ll perform at the music Oscars next month (Feb09).
The British group has never performed at the Grammys, despite the fact they’ve won awards twice.
Radiohead, who are nominated for five awards at the glitzy prizegiving on 8 February (09), will join Paul McCartney, Justin Timberlake, T.I., Kanye West and Jay-Z among the performers at the show.
McCartney will be joined onstage by Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl, who will sit in as the former Beatle’s drummer for the evening.
Rappers Jay-Z, Kanye West and T.I. will perform their single Swagga Like Us, which is among the nominees for Best Rap Song.
T.I. will also perform with Timberlake.

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Heavy rockers SLIPKNOT’s concert in their home state of Iowa on Sunday (25Jan09) was marred by tragedy when a fan died after suffering a heart attack.
Cory Nickels, 29, suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after alerting emergency service officials to the fact he was feeling unwell.
The fan was transported by ambulance to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, where he was later pronounced dead.
Police have launched an investigation into the matter. Autopsy results have yet to be released.

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KANYE WEST has lambasted the paparazzo he clashed with at Los Angeles International Airport last year (08), accusing the snapper of making the incident a "bigger deal" than it really was.
The Stronger rapper was arrested along with his manager following the run-in in September (08). They were charged with felony vandalism after reportedly smashing a photographer’s camera, but the charges were later dropped by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
But West, who was arrested on a second, similar occasion in England in November (08), insists he isn’t a confrontational person.
He tells Vibe magazine, "I haven’t done anything violent. They make it seem like I actually went and hit paparazzi. I haven’t. I was restrained. I’m good at restraining myself from committing violent acts. I know how to control my temper. That one paparazzo made it a bigger deal. I just put my hand up, and he felt like he had more right to my personal space than I did. I put my hand up to stop him from shooting me." And the hip-hop star is calling on lawmakers to bring the paparazzi into line by imposing restrictions on what and where they can shoot.
He adds, "Even when I first dropped, paparazzi wasn’t as crazy. The law hasn’t caught up with the internet. People are just taking advantage. People don’t realise we’re completely intruding on these people’s spaces and nobody’s saying anything, so let’s keep doing it.
"(Cigarettes) have a Surgeon General’s warning on it. We need a Surgeon General’s warning on some of those lens caps. ‘Warning: Might completely intrude on your space, sabotage your image.’"

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Socialite NICOLE RICHIE has laughed off reports she’s to launch a new reality show revolving around her life as a young mother.
Richie and rocker boyfriend Joel Madden are parents to one year old Harlow, and the 27-year-old was rumoured to be readying a new family-focused project for the airwaves.
But a representative for the former The Simple Life star, daughter of soul legend Lionel Richie, insists the claims are "unsubstantiated" telling OK! magazine, "This is false reporting."

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Talk show queen OPRAH WINFREY was touted as a possible replacement for BARACK OBAMA in the U.S. senate.
Disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has revealed Winfrey was one of a number of candidates considered for the position, made vacant when Obama became president.
Speaking on U.S. breakfast TV show Good Morning America on Monday (26Jan09), Blagojevich told host Diane Sawyer, "There were a lot of different candidates I supported.
"That is true. The idea came to me from a friend. She seemed to be someone who would help Barack Obama become president.
"She was someone with a lot of voting pull." He later conceded the Chicago, Illinois-based mogul "probably wouldn’t take it".
Blagojevich was arrested in December (08) on federal corruption charges. Among the allegations levelled against him is the claim he attempted to sell Obama’s senate seat to the highest bidder.
He began his impeachment trial on Monday.

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The ambulance driver who took JOHN TRAVOLTA’s late son to hospital following his fatal seizure has been formally charged for his part in an alleged plot to extort money from the movie star.
The Bahamas’ Minister of National Security, Tommy Turnquest, has confirmed Tarino Lightbourne was charged with conspiracy to extort on Monday (26Jan09).
Jett Travolta, 16, succumbed to a seizure disorder while the Travolta family were vacationing in the Bahamas on 2 January (09).
Lightbourne was arrested on Friday (23Jan09), one day after former Senator Pleasant Bridgewater was detained for her alleged involvement in the plot.
Bridgewater resigned from her post following the arrest and has been released on $40,000 (£28,985) bail.
Their arrests follow reports the pair worked together to take a photograph of the Pulp Fiction star’s son as he lay dying in an alleged $25 million (£18.1 million) extortion scheme.
Details of the reported extortion plot have not been made public, although reports on TMZ.com suggest the alleged plot does not involve photographs.
The Bahamas former Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe, a close friend of the Travoltas, was also questioned by police on Friday.
But Turnquest tells the website Wilchcombe "has not been charged", adding, "He was not arrested; he was questioned on Friday."

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A new movie set to star SETH ROGEN as comic book hero THE GREEN HORNET is heading for the scrap heap, according to Hollywood gossip.
After years of development and numerous names touted to direct and star in the project, the new incarnation of the Green Hornet was unveiled last year (08), with Rogen attached as lead actor and Stephen Chow signed to direct and star as sidekick Kato.
Rogen embarked on a rigorous diet to prepare for his role as the superhero, and shooting was due to begin in 2009. But the movie ran into turmoil in December (08) when Chow resigned from his role as director.
Plans are on hold as producers search for a new director - and now Tinseltown insiders claim the film could be cancelled altogether, according to various sources, including MTV and Hitfix.com.

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British actress SAMANTHA MORTON has vowed to boycott the BBC if network bosses refuse to broadcast an emergency appeal calling for help in the Gaza Strip.
The Golden Globe winner is among a number of U.K. celebrities to voice their disdain at the BBC’s decision not to air the advertisement for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
Over a million residents of the region have been caught up in the recent Israeli attacks on the Palestinian-held Gaza strip.
And Morton, who starred in BBC drama Longford, admits she is "embarrassed" to be associated with a corporation that would make such a "disgusting" decision.
She says, "I’m shocked and appalled. I’ve worked for the BBC since I was a small child. As a public service they’ve got it very wrong. I’m not as articulate about this as I would like to be because I’m so appalled.
"I will never work for the BBC again unless they change their mind. It’s very, very wrong. It’s not a political message. It’s about raising money for children who are dying.
"I’m proud to have worked for the BBC; I’m proud to be British; I’m proud we even have the BBC.
"But I need them to explain this decision. I reserve the right never to work for that company again if I feel that I’m too embarrassed to support them or earn money from them."

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Director ANTOINE FUQUA was determined to cast troubled actor WESLEY SNIPES in his forthcoming movie BROOKLYN’S FINEST - because he insists the NEW JACK CITY star deserves as many chances as former drug addict ROBERT DOWNEY JR. had.
The black Training Day filmmaker cast Snipes alongside Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke and Richard Gere in the gritty new cop film.
Fuqua was adamant he kept Snipes on board the project, even when he went on trial for tax evasion last year (08) - maintaining that all stars, regardless of their race, should get the same treatment as Iron Man star Downey Jr., who resurrected his Hollywood career after battling numerous legal and drug issues between 1996 and 2001.
The director tells Vibe magazine, "Robert Downey Jr. got how many chances? (Snipes) is a really talented cat that has gotten s**tted (sic) on. I just feel like when it comes to us, there’s a different standard." Snipes was subsequently found guilty of failing to file taxes for five years and was sentenced to three years behind bars - a ruling he is currently appealing.

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