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Rapper LIL WAYNE is fighting back at concert promoters in the Bahamas who are suing him over a missed concert - insisting bad security at the venue was to blame for his no-show.
The Lollipop hitmaker, real name Dwayne Carter, Jr., is facing legal action from Red City Entertainment bosses amid allegations he was too drunk to perform at a gig in Nassau on 27 September 2008.
Executives at the promotions company claim police were called to search for the star when he failed to turn up and found him passed out in his hotel room. They are suing for $432,000 (£288,000) in compensation to cover his advance payment and the cost of setting up the show.
But Wayne’s manager has fired back at the accusations, claiming the concert was originally scheduled for 26 September (08) and had to be pushed back when promoters failed to come up with the rapper’s full payment.
Cortez Bryant says, "Our show was set for September 26th last year. We arrived on time, ready to perform and learned that due to lack of payment from the promoters, the sound company they had hired packed up and left the venue before Wayne was scheduled to hit the stage. So they were forced to cancel the show. On those grounds, at that moment, they were in breach of contract and forfeited their deposit." The two parties agreed to stage the show one day later - on Wayne’s birthday - and he only agreed to perform if all of his demands were met.
But Bryant reveals there were further issues with the set-up of the venue and it was then that Wayne cancelled the gig, blaming Red City Entertainment for breach of contract.
He adds, "Wayne… said he would do it if the promoters had everything right, based on our contract. I then told the promoters… (that) if, and only if, there were no problems at the venue, then he would take the stage.
"When I arrived at the venue, the security was horrible, causing it to be an unsafe environment and the sound system wasn’t up to our contracted standard. "I then told the promoters Wayne wasn’t coming because they didn’t have their setup to a contracted standard for the second night in a row."

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Actor JON HAMM will fulfil a childhood dream on Tuesday night (14Jul09) when he takes part in a celebrity softball game in his native Missouri - because he’ll get to play on the same soil as his beloved baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Mad Men star will join fellow fan Billy Bob Thornton, The Office actress Jenna Fischer and rappers Nelly and Chingy for the All-Star Legends and Celebrities Softball Game at Busch Stadium.
Hamm admits he cannot wait - because the huge honour will be a dream come true.
He says, "Oh my God. I’ve always been a huge Cardinals fan. I remember going to the World Series in ‘82, ‘85 and ‘87, and this is amazing. The fact that the All-Star Game is in St. Louis and that I’m playing here this week, it’s all pretty cool. I would have come for the game anyway."

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CHRISTIAN BALE has stunned fans with his emaciated appearance as he prepares to play drug addicted boxer DICKIE EKLUND in a new drama.
The Batman actor was hardly recognisable on Monday (13Jul09) as he was photographed looking gaunt walking through Los Angeles, where he is filming The Fighter.
Method actor Bale, who lost 63 pounds (29 kilograms) for his role in 2004’s The Machinist, has apparently embarked on a severe diet to play Eklund, whose welterweight boxing career ended in 1985 because of his addiction to cocaine.

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Director ELI ROTH has ruled out making another installment of horror franchise HOSTEL - instead he’s inviting other filmmakers to pick up where he left off.
The filmmaker scored a box office hit in 2005 when he released the first installment of the terrifying backpacker thriller, followed by a sequel in 2007.
Roth was said to be working on Hostel III - but he has distanced himself from the project and is adamant he has no plans to revive the series.
He tells movie website ShockTillYouDrop.com, "If I started something and other people want to continue it, go for it. I’m just not involved in any way.
"There’s no negativity about it. I’m all for sequels, as long as it’s a well-made movie."

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BONNIE AND CLYDE director ARTHUR PENN has cancelled his appearance at the Maine International Film Festival after falling ill with pneumonia.
Penn, 86, was to set receive an award at the event in Waterville on Wednesday (15Jul09).
The director’s son, Matthew, says Penn - whose other films include The Miracle Worker, Alice’s Restaurant, The Left Handed Gun and Little Big Man - remained in doctors’ care on Tuesday (14Jul09) in a New York hospital but is expected to recover.
A special guest will now receive the honour for the filmmaker, according to festival officials.

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DAVID ARQUETTE is already sweating, just hours into his charity stunt in a plastic box atop New York’s Madison Square Garden - as temperatures soar in the city.
The actor is spending two days above the world famous venue to raise awareness and funds for charity Feeding America.
He was chosen by the charity and sponsor Snickers because of his work feeding the homeless and hungry in California, and admits he jumped at the chance to help the cause.
Arquette invited WENN to join him as he kicked off his challenge and insisted - despite the 85 degree Fahrenheit (29.4 degree Celcius) heat - he was happy to be on show: "It is starting to get a little hot up here - but I had no hesitation saying yes." He’s confident he won’t be getting bored in a box for two days: "I’m going on Facebook and blogging from here. Just passing the time hanging out. It’s fun." And he’s even expecting visits from some celebrity pals, including Jennifer Aniston, who’s shooting her new movie The Bounty nearby: "I think some friends are going to call by. (Jennifer) is in New York. I’m not sure if she’s going to come along - she might just drive by." Arquette is due to end his stunt on Wednesday (15Jul09).

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DANIEL RADCLIFFE is determined to get his hands on a special memento from the set of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - a police poster featuring his face.
The 19 year old is currently filming the final wizard movie, which will be split into two parts and released in 2010 and 2011.
And despite strict security surrounding the props onset, Radcliffe has his eye on landing a keepsake.
He says, â��On the seventh film there are wanted posters with Harry Potter on them… with my face. Iâ��d love one of them. I think it would be great. Iâ��d love to have it up somewhere. Iâ��ll steal one. They arenâ��t going to fine me.â�� But Radcliffe isn’t bothered about taking home a wand that he’s used as the boy wizard - because the teen is sure he would break it.
He adds, "You know what? I�ve broken so many of them that I�d probably end up breaking the one I take. I think it is safer not to.�

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Thousands of MICHAEL JACKSON fans crashed the KING OF POP’s website on Monday (13Jul09) as they fought to get their hands on merchandise from his ill-fated comeback tour.
The Thriller hitmaker was due to take to the stage at London’s O2 arena for a run of 50 gigs on his This Is It residency, which was set to kick off on Monday.
Devotees were left devastated by his sudden death last month (25Jun09) - and were eager to get their hands on commemorative gifts planned for the shows.
Items including hats, wallets, mugs and face masks designed by Jackson were offered up for sale by concert promoters AEG Live in a bid to recoup some of the money they lost on the doomed gigs.
A source says, "Interest from fans has been enthusiastic to say the least. We’re struggling to cope with the demand." The items will also sell in stores across the U.S., as well as online.

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SANDRA BULLOCK has vowed to strip off in all her future movie roles - so she can pocket a bigger salary.
The actress disrobes in new film The Proposal - and the nude scene gave her a taste for getting naked in films.
Bullock is sure she’ll enjoy a bumper pay day if she keeps taking her clothes off in movies, like fellow comedy actor Will Ferrell.
She says, "If you’re naked and you’re trying to be sexy, you don’t really make as much money as if you’re naked and you’re funny.
"Will Ferrell has been on to that for quite some time. Have you noticed how he drops his trousers in every single film? I’m going to do that from now on."

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An official ruling to determine MICHAEL JACKSON’s cause of death is expected to be released as early as this week (ends17Jul09).
Police seized vials of prescription drugs from the entertainer’s rented Holmby Hills estate in Los Angeles as part of their ongoing investigation into the cause of the King of Pop’s fatal cardiac arrest on 25 June (09), leading to speculation Jackson suffered a drug overdose.
A preliminary report from the coroner’s office - indicating no evidence of foul play had been found - stated medical examiners would need four to six weeks to complete toxicology, neuropathology and pulmonary tests before determining Jackson’s exact cause of death.
According to Los Angeles’ Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter, some results from toxicology tests are in and the rest should be ready later this week or early next week (begs20Jul09).
However, the coroners are holding back on fuelling speculation over exactly what killed Jackson until they have the complete picture of results.
Winter claims the office is "still on track" and will announce when all test results have been returned, before releasing them into the public domain the following day.
Earlier this month (Jul09) a senior Los Angeles police chief confirmed cops are refusing to rule out the possibility Jackson was murdered.
The head of L.A. police, William Bratton, told U.S. broadcaster CNN, "Are we dealing with a homicide or are we dealing with accidental overdose? I don’t have that information… We are still awaiting corroboration from the coroner’s office as to cause of death." Members of Jackson’s family have also raised suspicion over how the star died, with father Joe and sister La Toya insisting foul play was involved.
La Toya told British newspaper the News of the World on Sunday (12Jul09), "I believe Michael was murdered, I felt that from the start. Not just one person was involved, rather it was a conspiracy of people. He was surrounded by a bad circle… Less than a month ago, I said I thought Michael was going to die before the London shows because he was surrounded by people who didn’t have his best interests at heart… I said to my family a month ago, ‘He’s never going to make it to London’. He was worth more dead than alive."

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The executors of MICHAEL JACKSON’s estate have been granted permission by a Los Angeles judge to begin sifting through the King of Pop’s belongings and start business negotiations relating to his planned comeback tour.
In what is believed to be Jackson’s final will, signed in 2002, the singer placed attorney John Branca and recording executive John McClain in charge of his assets, with instructions for his estate to go into a family trust and selected charities.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff finalised the paperwork making Branca and McClain executors on Monday (13Jul09), and laid out the extent of their powers as administrators.
According to the rules, the pair can take control of all of Jackson’s physical assets and place them into storage, handle any tax-related matters, and seek the expertise of professionals for help with various issues that may arise from the handling of the late star’s estate.
Beckloff also granted the duo permission to deal with concert promoters AEG Live, the company behind Jackson’s This Is It London dates.
The ruling came after Branca and McClain’s attorney Paul Gordon Hoffman insisted clarification of their powers was needed in an effort to "begin to take the actions necessary to preserve the assets of the estate and address the needs" of the singer’s three children.
The powers remain in place until the next court hearing, which is scheduled for 3 August (09).

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MICHAEL JACKSON’s $20 million (£13.3 million) life insurance policy is in jeopardy - officials are reportedly investigating whether his death was "self-inflicted".
The King of Pop’s three children - Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, aka Blanket - are listed as sole beneficiaries and were due the multi-million dollar payout following their father’s death last month (Jun09).
But a new report suggests insurers are examining the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, amid suspicions it was not a natural death.
The New York Post claims it could even be classed as suicide because of the star’s longrunning abuse of prescription medications - or that his failure to declare his addictions nullifies the policy.
Gossip columnist Cindy Adams writes, "The insurers are investigating the possibility this was, in fact, not natural death. Also investigating whether he was totally truthful or evasive or did he actually lie when applying for this policy… Their tactic is gearing up to say his not-so-natural death was self-inflicted by his lifestyle.
"I’m hearing they may go further with the tack that his history of drugs amounts to suicide. The policy does not pay out on suicide."

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LEONARDO DiCAPRIO has fuelled rumours he has split from girlfriend BAR REFAELI after he was overheard telling pals he was "definitely single".
Reports the couple had broken up surfaced last month (Jun09) after the Israeli supermodel allegedly grew tired of DiCaprio’s reluctance to commit.
The pair shot down the rumours by putting on a united front during a Los Angeles shopping spree just a few days later.
But the Titanic actor has again hinted he has split from Refaeli, by reportedly hitting the the town in London claiming he was a single guy.
A source tells The London Paper, "There was a queue of ladies trying to get near Leonardo - he even had a special security guard with him, just to keep them at bay.
"Leonardo was telling people he was definitely single, but he wasn’t interested in any of the women trying to get his attention."

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LEONARDO DiCAPRIO was involved in a high speed car chase over the weekend (11-12Jul09) - when a group of female fans tailed him across London.
The star is in the British capital to film new movie Inception, and enjoyed a night out at the city’s Jalouse nightclub with pals on Sunday (12Jul09).
He was surrounded by a gaggle of fans eager to catch a glimpse of him in the club - but the attention didn’t stop when he left the hotspot.
A group of overeager women followed DiCaprio by car - and it took the skill of his driver to lose them.
A source tells The London Paper, "It was crazy. There was a car full of of women chasing Leonardo’s car. His driver was desperately trying to shake them off. In the end he managed to lose them."

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SIMON COWELL showed off his generous side at the auditions for U.K. talent show THE X FACTOR on Sunday (12Jul09) - by giving money to a woman who had lost her purse.
The music mogul was in Glasgow, Scotland with fellow show judges Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue, and Louis Walsh to hear singing wannabes try out for a place.
One lady in the auditorium was distraught after discovering her wallet was missing - so multi-millionaire Cowell presented her with a wad of cash to compensate.
A source says, "A call was put out on the loudspeakers asking the crowd to look for it but no-one came forward. The compere then told the lady he had something to give her from Simon. He handed the woman a wad of notes and she looked very happy."

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Rapper COMMON has been hit with a copyright infringement lawsuit from two songwriters over his song TAKE IT EZ - after failing to gain permission to sample their work despite crediting them in the track’s footnotes.
Andrew Marks and London McDaniels claim the Go hitmaker illegally used their song When Will The Day Come for his 2007 recording.
According to TMZ.com, Common openly admits to using the tune as his inspiration - in the online download of Take It EZ, the song details state, "Contains samples from When Will The Day Come." But, in legal papers filed in a court on Monday (13Jul09), Marks and McDaniels allege the hip-hop star didn’t seek the appropriate authorisation from them and they are demanding unspecified damages for the infringement.

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British rocker MORRISSEY’s ill-fated world tour has been derailed yet again - he has axed two gigs in Italy due to "unresolvable" issues.
The former Smiths frontman’s current round-the-globe trek has been blighted with a string of cancelled dates in the U.S. and U.K. as the singer repeatedly falls victim to a mystery illness.
Last month (Jun09) he was forced into issuing an apology after a barrage of criticism from fans over the announcements - some of which were made just hours before he was due onstage.
Now he has risked yet more fury by pulling two shows in Rimini on Monday (13Jul09) and Tuesday (14Jul09) without specifying the reason.
A posting on the star’s MySpace.com page reads, "The Morrissey concerts at Velvet, Rimini on July 13 and 14 are unfortunately postponed due to currently unresolvable reasons. Ticket holders are asked to hold on to their tickets for further announcements. Refunds will be available at point of purchase. Apologies for any inconvenience this has caused." Morrissey is due to play four dates in London later this month after cancelling them earlier in the tour.

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Funnyman JONAH HILL is on the hunt for a computer hacker who’s forcing him to apologise to his Hollywood colleagues - after the impersonator started an online feud with IRON MAN director JON FAVREAU.
The Superbad star is warning fans he’s not logged on to social networking site Twitter.com after discovering someone created an account under his name.
He explains, "I have never been on the website Twitter. Nor will I ever be on the website Twitter. But there is someone who impersonates me on the Twitter and has like 100,000 followers and it’s not me. People come up to me like, ‘I follow you on Twitter.’ And I’m like, ‘No, that’s not me, that’s some kid in Alaska pretending to be me.’" And Hill has launched a crusade to find the person who’s assumed his identity and attacked Favreau online, because he fears the hacker is ruining his chances at becoming a bigger star.
He adds, "One day someone came up to me and said, ‘Hey man things are getting pretty heated between you and Jon Favreau, who directed Iron Man, on Twitter.’ Apparently this kid is talking trash to Jon Favreau, who I have had two lovely encounters with, who’s a lovely guy, who I want to work with by the way… I had to email him like, ‘Man, it’s not me.’ I want to start a fake Twitter for this kid and ruin his life."

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