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The executors of MICHAEL JACKSON’s estate have accused lawyers representing his mother KATHERINE of attempting to "rewrite" the pop superstar’s will - against the Thriller hitmaker’s dying wishes.
Attorney John Branco and business associate John McClain were appointed by Jackson to take charge of his affairs in a will signed in 2002.
However, Katherine Jackson is reportedly determined to be involved in all decisions regarding her son’s estate and has mounted a legal battle to ensure she is consulted on all issues.
Her lawyer Londell McMillan has insisted the 79 year old is not looking to contest the singer’s will - she only wants access to certain business documents to ensure Jackson’s family are not cheated out of any income the star was owed.
In a statement released on 21 July (09), McMillan said, "Despite false reports, neither Mrs. Jackson nor any of her lawyers has or will be contesting the will. Nor has she decided whether or not to raise any challenge to the appointment of the executors named in the will or whether to seek the appointment of an additional co-executor. Her top priority remains the care of her son’s three children." On Wednesday (29Jul09), McMillan claimed Branco and McClain were making unreasonable confidentiality demands from Katherine in exchange for access to Jackson’s contract with concert promoters AEG, who were in charge of his ill-fated London comeback shows.
The co-executors have hit back at the allegations, claiming they simply asked the Jackson family matriarch to agree to keep the details of the AEG deal secret from the media - a request her lawyers denied.
And Branco and McClain are convinced it’s just another attempt by McMillan to have Katherine put in charge of the estate.
A representative for the co-executors states, "(Katherine’s lawyers want to) rewrite Michael’s will to make Mrs. Jackson ‘Guardian of the Estate’ and have her appointed as an executor." Katherine Jackson lost the latest round in the ongoing court fight - on Wednesday, she was denied access to a number of financial documents and contracts the singer entered into with his lawyers, record label and concert officials.

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MERYL STREEP has blasted late director SYDNEY POLLACK for unleashing a lion on her while shooting Oscar-winning film OUT OF AFRICA - following years of denials from the filmmaker.
Streep was assured the beast would be tethered while she fought it off with a whip, during one of the 1985 movie’s most infamous scenes.
Decades later the actress admits she’s still stunned her life was put in jeopardy, after Pollack devised a dangerous way to get the shot he wanted.
She says, "It was the last day of shooting. They imported all the lions from California; they were kind of (lazy). They weren’t charging me in the right way… this lion was sitting there (yawning) and she had a leash on. She was supossed to charge me with the camera covering her side with her leash. And she just wouldn’t do it. So the last take, Sydney told them to take the leash off because it was a wrap the next day - so if they got the shot, they got the shot. No (they didn’t tell me). So I whipped and she kept coming at me. Sydney says that didn’t happen, but it did happen."

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KATIE HOLMES’ dancing has been defended by TV producer NIGEL LYTHGOE after her recent performance on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE was dubbed "amateurish".
The actress appeared on the U.S. show’s 23 July (09) season finale, to perform a singing and dancing tribute to Judy Garland.
While many experts praised her rendition, others were more critical and members of the public, critics and fellow dancers posted scathing reviews online.
One wrote, "She tried to mimic Judy Garland but didn’t come close." The snipes prompted show producer and judge Nigel Lythgoe to take to the internet himself, in Holmes’ defence.
He wrote on his Twitter.com page, "I’m trying to figure out why Katie is being judged as a dancer. When a (baseball) star throws out the opening pitch no one says, ‘Ooh, crap pitcher.’"

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The MATERIAL GIRL has turned reporter - MADONNA has penned an article for Israel’s biggest-selling newspaper.
The superstar, an avid follower of the Kabbalah faith, has joined the editorial team of Israeli publication Yediot Ahronot for a one-off special piece on her religious beliefs.
On Wednesday (29Jul09), Madonna’s byline appeared on the front page of the newspaper, along with an excerpt from her article, How My Life Changed, which is due to be published in full on Friday (31Jul09).
The piece was translated from English to Hebrew, and will explain the star’s religious experience and how she became more spiritually aware 14 years ago.

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Rockers LIMP BIZKIT are "happier" than ever since reuniting earlier this year (09).
The group’s guitarist Wes Borland quit the band twice in 2001 and again in 2006 over his turbulent relationship with frontman Fred Durst.
His departure marked the start of a long hiatus for the group, but they reformed in February (09) when Borland and Durst healed their rift.
Since the rockers have been back performing alongside each other they’ve bonded and put their differences behind them.
Borland says, "It’s been amazing. People have been saying that we’re stronger now than we ever were, and it’s the most flattering stuff you could ever imagine. I don’t read too much about our band on the internet because I try not to let it affect me too much, but what I have read has been really good, so I’m really happy right now.
"I think as a band, we’re happier than we’ve ever been with each other, we didn’t have one single argument the entire tour, so that’s a huge deal for us."

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BLUR guitarist GRAHAM COXON has given fans fresh hope the band will stay together - he is planning to write a new album with frontman DAMON ALBARN.
The Britpop pioneers reformed in December (08) after a six-year break, and performed a string of gigs ending at Scotland’s T in the Park festival earlier this month (Jul09).
After the run of shows, Albarn apparently called time on the reunion by insisting a new album or more gigs would cause the internal wranglings that split the band up to "rear their head".
But Coxon is refusing to rule out recording a new Blur disc - if it takes the group’s music in a new direction.
He tells rock magazine NME, "I’m up for it, up for doing another one - it’d be a really interesting thing to do. I don’t want it to be (Blur’s 1993 album) Modern Life Is Rubbish or nostalgic b****cks. I want it to be a development… There’s nothing saying there’s a great big ‘No’. My gut feeling is, ‘Why not?’"

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Former GUNS N’ ROSES bandmates STEVEN ADLER and SLASH have been granted a restraining order against a woman who alleges she is the drummer’s fiancee.
A judge at Los Angeles County Court approved a ban against Lisa Jill Martin-Cahn on Tuesday (28Jul09), ordering her to stay at least 500 yards (457 metres) away from the rockers.
Adler’s legal team claim Martin-Cahn hired a number of private investigators last year (08) to track down the percussionist, pretending she met him during a stint in rehab in the early 1990s and became his lover, reports TMZ.com.
In her attempt to get close to Adler, the overzealous fan is accused of harassing his old pal Slash and the legendary guitarist’s family with phone calls and letters.
But that’s not all - according to Adler’s legal documents, police visited Martin-Cahn’s home in Oregon in June (09) and discovered "unopened boxes of houseware items which Cahn stated (were) wedding presents for (her and Adler’s) upcoming marriage".
Adler, who is married to wife Carolina, insists he has no idea who the woman is.

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TAYLOR MOMSEN celebrated her 16th birthday by performing a concert for a crowd of fans and her GOSSIP GIRL co-stars.
The actress, who plays Jenny Humphrey on the hit TV series, took to the stage to sing with her rock band The Pretty Reckless at the Maritime Hotel in New York City on Tuesday (28Jul09) - two days after her actual birthday on the 26 July (09).
Several members of the show’s cast were in the audience to help celebrate the milestone - including Momsen’s on-screen father Matthew Settle, Jessica Szohr, and hunks Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick.
Momsen’s jaw dropped as a two-tier cake was brought on stage, and the whole venue began singing Happy Birthday before she blew out the pink candles.

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Actor SHAWN PYFROM is stepping down from hit TV show DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES as a regular castmember to pursue other projects.
The 22 year old has been portraying Andrew Van De Kamp, the gay son of actress Marcia Cross’ character, on the programme since its inception in 2004.
But Pyfrom will not feature as heavily in the upcoming sixth series as he attempts to branch out into other acting jobs, according to People.com.
A source tells the website, "Shawn�s not returning for a full season next fall. But he�ll come back and make a few guest star appearances.
"His decision didn�t come easy, but he wants to pursue new television and film opportunities."

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JOSH BROLIN struggled to film sex scenes with MEGAN FOX in upcoming movie JONAH HEX - he had to kiss the brunette beauty while wearing a bulky mouthpiece.
The actor spent three hours in the make-up chair having his mouth stretched open with tape and facial prosthetics fitted to transform into anti-hero Hex - a badly-scarred American Civil War veteran - for the big-screen adaptation of the comic book.
And the cumbersome make-up meant he couldn’t perform at his best during steamy scenes with the stunning actress.
Brolin explains, "It was tough to figure out how to kiss with that thing on. To be honest, it was uncomfortable; those scenes are uncomfortable. It was especially uncomfortable because I had this thing on my face."

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TWILIGHT star JACKSON RATHBONE is making a dying fan’s dream come true - by treating her to a behind-the-scenes tour of his band’s upcoming concert.
The actor, who played Jasper Hale in the vampire love story, spends his spare time performing with two friends in the rock group 100 Monkeys.
And when Rathbone heard that a Twilight fan is suffering from terminal cancer, he vowed to make her dreams come true.
He’s offered to let 14-year-old Dorothy hang out backstage with the band at Saturday’s (01Aug09) show in Dallas, Texas - and the star is convinced the selfless act is the least he could do.
The 24 year old says, �We�re all very lucky people and helping others makes us who we are.�

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Police officers investigating the death of MICHAEL JACKSON seized technological equipment during a raid on DR. CONRAD MURRAY’s house - taking the medic’s private cell phone and computer.
Last week (beg20Jul09) Los Angeles District Attorney officials confirmed they’re considering a manslaughter charge against Murray and on Tuesday morning (28Jul09) officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) swooped on his Las Vegas residence.
Armed cops surrounded the property, while DEA investigators searched the house for medical records relating to Jackson - and his various aliases - and other evidence that could help them build a case against the medic.
On Monday (27Jul09), sources close to the investigation into the King of Pop’s death suggested Dr. Murray administered the drug which killed the singer last month (25Jun09).
Murray’s lawyer, Ed Chernoff, released a statement confirming the purpose of the police visit to TMZ.com: "We can verify that at approximately 8am, Officers from DEA, LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) and various local agencies began executing a search warrant at Dr. Conrad Murray’s Las Vegas home and office. The search warrant authorised investigators to look for medical records relating to Michael Jackson and all of his reported aliases. Dr Murray was present during the search of his home and assisted the officers. Investigators left Dr. Murray’s home around 12 noon, seizing cell phones and a computer hard drive." Toxicology reports carried out on Jackson’s body during an autopsy on 26 June (09) are expected to be released this week (ends31Jul09).

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The future of SIENNA MILLER’s upcoming movie HIPPIE HIPPIE SHAKE has been thrown into jeopardy after the director quit the project in its post-production stage.
The British actress shot her role in the film in 2007 and the movie is slated for release later this year (09).
But the picture has hit trouble in the editing suite, with director Beeban Kidron walking away from the project over alleged "creative differences".
The shock departure follows the recent exit of Kidron’s screenwriter husband Lee Hall.
A source tells British newspaper The Sun, "Producers had wanted to shoot certain scenes but it proved difficult to fit them around Sienna’s schedule. Now it won’t make it to the big screen until 2010." The film, based on the memoirs of Australian magazine editor Richard Neville, also stars Irish actor Cillian Murphy.

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Attorneys for MICHAEL JACKSON’s mother have been denied access to information about the pop star’s estate - despite arguing it is "potentially crucial" to an upcoming hearing.
Katherine Jackson filed court papers on Tuesday (28Jul09) demanding the production of financial documents and contracts her son entered into with his lawyers, record label and concert officials.
Her legal team also demanded the authority to interview attorney John Branco and business associate John McClain, the temporary administrators of Jackson’s estate, alleging the questioning was "potentially crucial" to a key hearing scheduled for Monday (03Aug09).
But Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff delayed dealing with the request until Monday, the same day the administration case will play out in court, effectively refusing the lawyers’ petition to obtain the information in advance.
The Jackson family matriarch was initially granted temporary control of her son’s estate shortly after Jackson’s death in June (09), but a 2002 will made it clear that the King of Pop wanted Branca and McClain to oversee his affairs if he died. The two men were named temporary administrators of the estate at the beginning of July (09).
Beckloff may decide at Monday’s hearing whether they will become permanent representatives of the King of Pop’s estate, estimated to be worth more than $500 million (£334 million).

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PARIS HILTON is still tormented by the leaking of her infamous sex tape, insisting she thinks about the scandal every day.
A video of The Simple Life star and then-boyfriend Rick Salomon getting intimate in the bedroom hit the internet in 2003 and was later released on DVD, entitled One Night In Paris.
And six years later, the 28 year old is still recovering from the ordeal.
She says, "Obviously I was humiliated, embarrassed and in shock that it happened… It was definitely very painful. When you trust someone and love someone - for them to do that to you, it’s really hard… It’s something that bothers me everyday." Hilton has rarely opened up about the scandal, but she discusses her feelings about it in new MTV documentary Paris, Not France.
She adds, "By putting it in the film, it was really hard for me to have it in there, because it’s something I never discussed. But I also think it’s a big learning lesson, because I think a lot of girls, when they’re in a relationship, they will love someone and trust them and maybe let them do that. I know that’s happened to a lot of people… And you never know what they could do with it…
"It wasn’t my fault, it was something that someone did to me, so I’ve just learned to be a strong woman and nothing can hurt me at this point."

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Singer LIONEL RICHIE has sparked speculation he’s embarked on a new romance after he was spotted enjoying a date with actress BAI LING.
The Endless Love hitmaker was seen laughing and flirting with the Chinese star while they dined together at Whist Restaurant in Santa Monica, California last Thursday (23Jul09), reports Fox News.
The Crow actress was most recently linked to Mickey Rourke and a California businessman known only as Chris, while Richie’s eight-year marriage to Diane Alexander ended in divorce in 2004.

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THE KINKS came close to striking a deal with notorious London gangsters REGGIE and RONNIE KRAY - the twins wanted to manage the hit 60s band.
The Waterloo Sunset hitmakers were approached by the British criminals asking if they could look after the group’s affairs during its heyday.
The Krays even tried to set up a meeting to discuss the possibility but it never came to fruition, according to the group’s frontman Ray Davies.
The singer says, "Our managers at the time were stockbroker types. They had a visit from someone in the Kray organisation saying they were interested in managing us. They also asked if Mick Avory (the band’s drummer) would be available for a date. It wouldn’t have been beneath our managers to strike a deal. The mind boggles." Reggie Kray also contacted Davies from jail after he mentioned the siblings in his solo track London Song in 1998.
Davies adds, "I received a phone call from Her Majesty’s Prison saying how much he liked it." The Kray twins ruled the London underworld in the 1960s before they were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1969 for the murders of two fellow gangsters.

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Squeaky-clean SIR CLIFF RICHARD insists he is the biggest rebel in rock - because he refuses to indulge in a wild lifestyle.
The Devil Woman hitmaker is a strong Christian who is celibate, avoids excessive drinking, and has never taken drugs.
But the legendary British singer insists he is the most rebellious man in music - precisely because he is so clean-living compared to other rock stars.
Richard says, "I’ve always maintained I’m the most radical rock ‘n’ roll singer Britain has ever seen. I was the only one who didn’t spit or swear or sleep around. I didn’t do drugs. I didn’t get drunk. I didn’t indulge in soulless sex. And I’ve always felt comfortable with the decisions I’ve taken. I like being Cliff Richard."

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