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Rapper LL COOL J has penned an open letter to new U.S. President BARACK OBAMA, offering him words of advice about how best to serve his country.
The hip-hop icon was an outspoken supporter of the Democrat on the campaign trail, and he is delighted to have played a part in such an important election.
And LL, real name James Todd Smith, has urged Obama to stick to his principles as he embarks upon an historic journey.
He writes, "The next chapter of your life has begun. The toughest decisions you will ever have to make lie in front of you. Decisions that will require you to choose between integrity and necessity to enact the promises made to millions of people, and recognise a change in perspective that will sometimes make those promises impossible to keep. Only you will be able to make those choices.
"You have shifted the cultural paradigm of America, but now you have to live up to the ideal that fostered the shift and ensure that the paradigm doesn’t shift back. You must deliver."

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

VANESSA HUDGENS is keen to clear up reports she and boyfriend ZAC EFRON were attacked in London last year (08), insisting it was all a fuss over nothing.
The pretty High School Musical star was enjoying a night out with Efron in London last October (08) when she was reportedly assaulted by a middle-aged man.
The British media initially announced it was Efron who was attacked, but Hudgens has since revealed she was the one left with scratches on her face.
But now she wishes she hadn’t made a statement about the incident - because it was much ado about nothing.
She tells WENN, "We did not get attacked. We were walking out of a theatre and into a car when some guy stumbled along and got caught in the middle of it all. He got carried along with us, but someone was there taking photos and it looked like he was having a go.
"It was a crazy night. The guy was trapped in the car doorway and he was screaming, ‘Iâ��m normal! Iâ��m normal!’ Our bodyguard had to help him get to the side of the road, but I got hit in the face in all the commotion. It was an accident, though."

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

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL hunk ZAC EFRON is threatening to shave his head and embark on a year-long global adventure - just to avoid the paparazzi.
The pin-up admits life has become miserable because snappers follow him and girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens everywhere - and he can’t get away from them.
He says, "To be honest, I canâ��t handle the paparazzi. Theyâ��re everywhere. One of them was in a dumpster trying to take my photo the other day. It was crazy! "Another time, one was hanging off the back of a pick-up truck driving down a road. They think theyâ��re being clever, but theyâ��re not." And the pressure could drive the Hairspray star out of Tinseltown - he’s planning to go trekking, unnoticed, around the world.
He explains, "I�d love to take a year off and travel the world under the radar. I would love to do it really low-key.
"I wouldnâ��t need to stay in fancy hotels or anything; I just want to explore - but I donâ��t know how Iâ��d do it. Maybe I’d shave my head to try and go incognito? Yeah, that’s what I’d do."

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

LINDSAY LOHAN has urged her fans not to panic about her skinny new look - she’s just stressed out.
The actress’ superslim image has been raising eyebrows of late in gossip columns and on blogs, but the Mean Girls star insists there’s nothing to worry about.
The 22 year old tells Us Weekly magazine, "I eat as much as I always have," and puts her weightloss down to "working a lot, stress… and lack of sleep when I travel".
She adds, "I think it’s all that stuff that adds up." But Lohan insists she isn’t bothered about what is written about her in the press; she just doesn’t want fans to think she has a problem.
She says, "They’ve already said everything about me that they can say. And I’ve never really cared then. I’m my own person, and people can say whatever they want. I’m still going to be the person that I am.
"Everyone goes through something, and everyone can relate to something. I think that I don’t ever want to pretend to be something that I’m not. I’m not perfect; nobody is perfect. If you try to be perfect, you’ll probably go crazy. But you should always accept yourself for who you are. And that’s what I’ve done, and I’m happy."

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

Supermodel KATE MOSS has laughed off reports she is pregnant with her second child, insisting she has simply put on "a couple of pounds".
The British runway star sparked fresh claims she is expecting a baby with rocker boyfriend Jamie Hince last week (11Feb09), after the usually slim star was pictured out in London sporting a bulging tummy.
One weekend (15Feb09) tabloid in the U.K. even went so far as to allege the model has confirmed to close pals she is three months pregnant.
But, in an interview with the March (09) issue of New York Magazine, she shrugs off the reports and admits she is baffled by her own weight gain.
She tells the publication, "It’s so awful, even my friends are phoning me up and saying, ‘Are you pregnant?’ And I’m like, ‘No! I just put on a couple of pounds, and they went in the right place.’ Isn’t that weird?" Moss is already mother to six year old Lila Grace, from her relationship with magazine publisher Jefferson Hack.
She has dated Hince since splitting from rocker Pete Doherty in 2007.

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

Indian actress FREIDA PINTO is keen for a cross-continental move to New York - because the city "just feels like home".
The 24-year-old star, from Mumbai, admits she’s beginning to feel homesick after a worldwide promotional tour, following the huge success of her breakthrough movie Slumdog Millionaire.
But, after spending time flying between the Big Apple and Los Angeles, Pinto admits Manhattan has become a second home, where she can relax and gather her thoughts.
She says, "There’s something about New York. It’s quite a lot like Mumbai in many ways, but it’s (Mumbai) not as organised as this city and obviously not as cool as New York. Everyone keeps asking me why not L.A., but the thing is, I don’t want to feel really homesick. New York just feels like home."

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

Actor WILLIAM SHATNER has turned down the chance to become Governor General of Canada - because he wants to be Prime Minister.
One fan alerted the Star Trek icon to the fact he planned to nominate the star as his homeland’s Governor General, but Shatner insists he won’t be supporting the idea - because, if he was to land a title, it would be higher.
He says, "It’s a ceremonial role and I didn’t wanna be ceremonial; I wanted it to be active, but I didn’t have time to be that either.
"Sorry Canada, you’ve lost your favourite son."

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

AMERICAN IDOL star DAVID COOK has been "floored" by the fan response to an upcoming hometown concert in Kansas City, Missouri after seats sold out in just six minutes.
The singer, who won last year’s (08) Idol, has kicked off his first solo tour since his victory, but it’s a return home in April (09), which has left him amazed.
He’ll play at the Ameristar Casino on 22 April (09) and the show is already a sell out.
He says, "I don�t even know what to say. The support I�ve just got from everybody, especially back home has just been amazing and I can�t wait to go home again."

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

Pop superstar BEYONCE rarely drinks alcohol because it just knocks her out cold.
The R&B star insists she can’t handle her booze and, as a result rarely gets drunk.
She tells the China Daily, "I don’t drink often. But when I’m drunk, I’m very quiet and I observe and I go to sleep. I don’t think I’m much fun." And, as for drugs, Beyonce has no intention of ever getting high - because she’s far from impressed by the behaviour of drug users and abusers she meets in the music business.
She adds, "I always said I would never do it (drugs). I’ve never seen a person who was high and thought, ‘Wow, I want to do that!’ "Iâ��m like, ‘Thatâ��’s cool for them, but no thank you. I’ll just have my wine.’"

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

Former THE SMITHS star MORRISSEY has plans to retire in five years - because he can’t imagine hitting the stage or the recording studio at 55.
The Suedehead singer, who turns 50 in May (09), insists he has no plans of rocking on into his 60s.
He tells Britain’s XFM radio station, "I think itâ��s incredibly slim… It’s very hard to think of anybody who ages and still manages to mean anything."

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

COLDPLAY’s VIVA LA VIDA OR DEATH & ALL HIS FRIENDS was the world’s best-selling album in 2008, according to newly-released statistics.
The hit release beat AC/DC’s Black Ice and the soundtrack to movie musical Mamma Mia!, according to International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) figures.
The top 10 best-selling albums of 2008 globally are:

1. Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends - Coldplay
2. Black Ice - AC/DC
3. Mamma Mia! The Movie Soundtrack featuring The Songs Of ABBA - Various
4. Rockferry - Duffy
5. Death Magnetic - Metallica
6. Spirit - Leona Lewis
7. Back To Black - Amy Winehouse
8. High School Musical 3: Senior Year - Various
9. Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne
10. Good Girl Gone Bad - Rihanna

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

Veteran actress JANE FONDA has slammed critics who criticise her as too old to act - branding their remarks "ageist".
The 71-year-old returned to Broadway this month (Feb09) to star in new play 33 Variations after a 45-year hiatus from the stage.
And Fonda insists she has no plans to call it quits.
She says, "Nobody I know that’s older wants to retire. They’re all looking for new adventures. I don’t think my friends are all that unusual. I think it’s a mistake of ageism to think that because you’re older you’re going to want to pack it in. Now’s the time to really do things."

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

Veteran actress JANE FONDA is beginning a new career at the age of 71 - as a celebrity blogger.
The Academy Award winner began writing online in January (09) to help cope with her father’s death and share the ups and downs of her life in the spotlight as she prepared for a stint in Broadway play 33 Variations.
And though she admits she’s late to pick up the trend, Fonda is convinced her brutally honest approach to writing could lead to another major success.
She says, "I’ve never been on anyone’s blog and I’m not a techie (technologically-minded) kind of person. But it was the beginning of the year and I met a tech person in Atlanta who persuaded me to do this, and I thought, ‘Well, I’m about to start this play, and it would be interesting to take people day-by-day through the process after all this time.’ And it turns out I’m really enjoying it a lot.
"I wrote my memoirs and it was a very successful book and I think one of the reasons it was successful is because I was honest. I mean, what’s the point if you’re not being honest? I want people to understand what this process is like - what it feels like to have this instant feedback from an audience who’s just boiled over by the play. And then of course the comments you get - I’m getting all these incredible comments, which are so fantastic I wish I could publish them."

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

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, HEATH LEDGER and PENELOPE CRUZ are surefire bets for Oscars glory on Sunday (22Feb09) - a panel of Academy Awards experts has unanimously decided they’re the favourites to win gold.
The Los Angeles Times GoldDerby.com website predicts Slumdog Millionaire will pick up Best Film, Ledger the Best Supporting Actor and Cruz the Best Supporting Actress.
The six Oscar watchers are split on the Best Actor and Actress categories, with four picking Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler and two choosing Sean Penn for Milk, and five picking Kate Winslet for The Reader and one giving Meryl Streep the lead for Doubt.

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

In a story contained in WENN’s 2nd feed on 16 February 09, headlined "HARTNETT WINS BEST NEWCOMER FOR WEST END DEBUT", we referred to FRANKIE VALLI as "the late singer". We wish to make it clear that Frankie Valli has not passed away, and should not therefore have been referred to by WENN as "the late singer". We would also like to apologise to Frankie Valli for any embarrassment or offence this article may have caused. Please amend this information in your database and on your websites. We apologise for any inconvenience caused………. WENN Editor.

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

RIHANNA’s father has hit out at the international media for portraying him as a homeless man forced to live in his car - accusing the press of attempting to "discredit" the UMBRELLA singer by suggesting she does not support her family.
The pop star returned to her native Barbados last week (begs09Feb09) after she was allegedly assaulted by her then-boyfriend Chris Brown in the early hours of 8 February (09).
Brown is facing possible jail time after being charged by Los Angeles police with making criminal threats following a heated argument.
Rihanna’s dad, Ronald Fenty, has been speaking to the press to assure fans his daughter is doing well - but TV clips allegedly showing Fenty selling items from the trunk of his car on the Caribbean island have prompted him to defend his own livelihood, following allegations he is homeless.
And while he admits to turning his car into a moving market stall, Fenty insists it’s just "a job I do on the side… to keep me happy".
He says, "It’s an attempt by them (the media) to shift the focus from Chris Brown. I am really upset about the whole incident. They had me all over the TV saying that I was living in a car and was homeless. I have a home in (Barbadian town) Warrens. I don’t live in this car.
"Rihanna has done really well as a person from a small island and I know that she is up against the heavyweights, so they will do anything to discredit her."

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

WEEDS writer/producer MATTHEW SALSBERG has landed a seven-figure deal with Lionsgate studios, tying him to the company for the next two years.
Salsberg signed a production and development contract with the studio’s TV division, which will see him promoted to executive producer for season six of the hit drama, starring Mary-Louise Parker.
He will also pen a number of other comedy projects for Lionsgate, reports Variety.com.
And Salsberg - who has also written scripts for Entourage and Curb Your Enthusiasm - is delighted to be given the opportunity to take Weeds to another level, describing the programme as "the most enjoyable and rewarding experience of my career".
The exact figure of the deal has not been disclosed.

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

Bollywood star SHAH RUKH KHAN is undergoing surgery to treat a shoulder injury he sustained while filming in December (08).
The 43-year-old Indian actor was admitted to a Mumbai hospital on Monday (16Feb09) after picking up the injury on the set of Dulha Mil Gaya (I Found My Groom).
Khan is expected to be discharged by Sunday (22Feb09) - but he has been warned by doctors to rest his shoulder for several weeks to allow it to fully recover.
A spokeswoman for the Breach Candy hospital confirms, "Shah Rukh is set to undergo surgery later today."

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