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JAY-Z fans have been left outraged after tickets for the rapper’s upcoming 9/11 benefit concert in New York were snapped up by scalpers.
The rap superstar recently announced he would be playing a charity show at Madison Square Garden on the eighth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks to celebrate the release of his new album The Blueprint 3 and raise money for a good cause.
Pre-sale tickets were made available to CitiBank customers at 9am (EST) on Tuesday morning (08Sep09) on the Ticketmaster.com website - three hours before going on general sale.
But when fans logged online at 12pm (EST) to purchase their tickets for the special gig, many were notified there were no seats left - only to find the $54.50 (£36.30) tickets on sale at highly inflated prices on Ticketmaster’s resale website TicketsNow.com and similar agencies.
Some stubs for the benefit concert, dubbed Answer The Call, were even being touted by ticket scalpers for as much as $3,332 (£2,221) on StubStack.com - more than 61 times their face value.
It’s the latest controversy to involve Ticketmaster - company bosses came under fire from Bruce Springsteen in June (09) when fans of the rock legend were forced to pay higher prices for a show on his U.S. tour.
Jay-Z’s Madison Square Garden date is his only scheduled show in the Big Apple for 2009.
All profits from the concert were due to go to the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund, a charity created to support the families of police officers and firefighters who have died in the line of duty.

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British actor BEN BARNES has a back-up career in mind if the movie offers stop coming in - singing.
The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian star has been interested in music since he was a youngster, and was part of U.K. boyband Hyrise back in 2004.
Barnes also recorded a track with Colin Firth and Jessica Biel for the Easy Virtue soundtrack earlier this year (09) - and his background in music has set him up for a fall-back career if he ever decides to step away from Hollywood.
He tells Britain’s OK! magazine, "When I was younger I was a quiet boy and I was always into music. My dad took me to see the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney and I was a big Queen fan.
"I was always singing and then this company came to my school called the National Youth Music Theatre which is the company that Jude Law, Jonny Lee Miller and Jamie Bell went through. I did about six years of plays with them, so that was kind of my training ground."

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Hollywood legend CLARK GABLE’s grandson is at the centre of a police investigation after he was stabbed in the rib cage during a night out in California.
Clark Gable III was partying at a private home in Calabasas last month (Aug09) when he was involved in a fight with other guests.
He was stabbed in the fracas and reportedly suffered lung damage. He spent a week in hospital following the incident.
One person has been arrested and authorities are looking for another suspect, reports TMZ.com.

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Australian author KATHY LETTE once turned down GEORGE CLOONEY after the Hollywood heart-throb propositioned her for sex.
The funnywoman was writing sitcoms in the U.S. in the 1980s and gave Clooney his first major acting role in 1987.
Lette admits the star asked her out on a date - but she refused.
She says, "I turned down George Clooney for sex. He was cute-as, and he asked me out! But there was always hostility between the writers and the actors, because the actors earned more. So I said, ‘I donâ��t go out with actors.’" But Lette later regretted the move as soon as the hunk turned up on TV medical drama ER.
She adds, "Years later, living in London, now with two babies and covered in vomit, I had a visit from one of my writer friends. We were watching ER and I was like, â��Wow, look at that Dr Ross. Isnâ��t he gorgeous?â�� And she was like, â��Thatâ��s the guy you cast, who asked you out.â�� I screamed, I cried, I lay in the foetal position on the floor. I should probably call George up now and say, ‘About that date…’"

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KELLY CLARKSON was stunned by her own appearance on the recent cover of a fitness magazine because the photograph was so heavily airbrushed, she barely recognised herself.
Clarkson has battled weight issues ever since she won talent show American Idol in 2002, and sparked a furore after appearing on the front of Self magazine’s September (09) issue looking suspiciously svelte.
The editor of the publication defended the decision to airbrush Clarkson, insisting they just wanted to show the singer looking her "best".
Now Clarkson has opened up about the controversy, admitting she was shocked by the pictures - but accepts all photoshoots inevitably involve the airbrush.
She tells Britain’s Heat magazine, "The whole airbrushing thing has gone crazy. I was like, ‘Who is that on the cover of the magazine?’ They were obviously not happy with what I look like. I’m not being mean about myself, but I just found it funny. I think it’s just one of those things that people have got so used to doing that they don’t even think twice about it."

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Actor/singer DAVID HASSELHOFF is set to celebrate the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with another performance - 20 years after singing at the historic event.
The Baywatch star has enjoyed a devoted fan base in Germany since belting out Looking for Freedom at a star-studded concert after the Berlin Wall was brought down in 1989.
Bryan Adams, Sinead O’Connor, Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison were among the performers joining Hasselhoff at the Potsdamer Platz concert - and now the 57-year-old star is set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the historic moment with an encore performance.
He tells People, "I sang to a million people there in 1989. I sang Looking for Freedom the night the Wall came down. I’m going back this year (09)." Hasselhoff has hinted at plans to give a performance inspired by Hollywood icons Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Peter Lawford - who formed the Rat Pack in the 1960s.
He adds, "When I was over in Germany, I played to the German markets and it was all pop. I have done Broadway, the West End, Vegas, (musicals) Chicago, and The Producers. I decided to do something I wanted to do and that’s Rat Pack. I love the Rat Pack."

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Former Hollywood couple DEMI MOORE and BRUCE WILLIS are celebrating after their daughter SCOUT landed a place at university.
The 18 year old graduated from high school in June (09), but she’s not planning on following her famous family into showbiz - she is continuing with her studies.
But the teenager is still unsure which career path she wants to follow, and is torn between two different subjects to study.
Her elder sister Rumer says, "I have to brag for a moment. My sister is going to university! Scout’s going to study literature or archaeology."

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Former SPICE GIRLS star EMMA BUNTON was considered for the role of LOIS LANE in 2006 blockbuster SUPERMAN RETURNS - but lost out on the part to KATE BOSWORTH.
The singer flew to Los Angeles to audition in front of director Bryan Singer when the moviemaker was assembling the cast for the superhero’s comeback.
Singer also reportedly auditioned actresses Claire Danes and Keri Russell for the role, but eventually opted to hire Bosworth following a recommendation from Kevin Spacey, who took the role of villain Lex Luther in the picture.
Bunton tells British magazine Now, "I was asked to go to a casting for Superman Returns. I met the director Bryan Singer and went to his house." But the star wasn’t too disappointed when she didn’t get the role - because she met Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt during the trip.
She adds, "Yes, Brad’s better in the flesh!"

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British singer LEONA LEWIS credits her family with keeping her grounded since her whirlwind rise to fame.
Lewis won British TV talent show The X Factor in 2006 and has gone on to enjoy global stardom.
The Bleeding Love hitmaker insists her roots are still in London where she grew up - because her loved ones don’t let her new lavish lifestyle go to her head.
She says, "I come from a very normal place with a normal family and I definitely stay true to that. There are moments when I’m like, ‘Wow’, but at the end of the day you need a reality check and mine is friends and family." And Lewis admits she is wary of making new pals now she’s famous - in case they are using her.
She adds, "It’s definitely a journey for me, and I’m still adjusting - I’ve just learned how to decipher the true, genuine people from the ones that want to know you for their own benefit along the way."

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Singer and reality TV star AUBREY O’DAY has brushed off accusations she puts her dog’s health at risk by regularly dyeing the animal’s coat.
The former Danity Kane singer, 25, has coloured her one-year-old teacup Maltese, Ginger, shades of pink, green and orange "for different occasions".
The painted pooch has joined O’Day on the red carpet and at numerous A-list events, attracting criticism from animal rights activists.
However, O’Day insists she is doing no harm, telling Usmagazine.com, "It actually seems like such a taboo weird thing nowadays, but if you research online, you will see a whole underworld of dogs who are dyed…
"I do it like anyone would color hair. She sits on my lap, and I have a brush, and I paint it on and use foils. (She) loves attention and because she’s colored and has different outfits, she gets so much of it. She prefers it… she doesnâ��t even know (it’s happening)."

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FRIENDLY FIRES star JACK SAVIDGE may have to miss the U.K.’s prestigious Mercury Prize ceremony on Tuesday night (08Sep09) - he was admitted to hospital on the eve of the event.
The drummer is scheduled to perform at the gala with the band but their set has been thrown into doubt after he entered a medical facility on Monday (07Sep09) to be treated for a fever and suspicious rash on his leg.
The percussionist broke the news in a post on his Twitter.com blog, telling fans, "Admitted to hospital with a fever and darkside purple rash on my leg. No idea whether I’m gonna be able to play at the Mercurys tomorrow." The star was subsequently diagnosed with cellulitis - a painful skin infection - and kept in overnight for observation.
He was discharged from hospital on Tuesday morning.
At the time WENN went to press it was not known whether the drummer will be well enough to perform at the London ceremony.
The Friendly Fires are nominated for the prestigious prize alongside acts including Kasabian, Florence and the Machine, La Roux, The Horrors and Glasvegas.

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Former ABBA couple BJORN ULVAEUS and AGNETHA FALTSKOG reunite every festive season - for their two young grandchildren.
The stars wed in 1971 and had two kids, Linda and Peter, before their divorce in 1980.
Both went on to remarry - but they remain close for the sake of Linda’s children, eight-year-old Tilda and Esther, two.
Ulvaeus tells Hello! magazine, "I see Agnetha quite often because we have two grandchildren together and they want both Grandma and Grandpa there at Christmas and things like that."

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LITTLE BRITAIN star DAVID WALLIAMS is in the running to take home a prestigious literary prize for his groundbreaking children’s book about a cross-dressing schoolboy.
The British comic penned his debut novel, The Boy In The Dress, last year (08) and the book received a slew of positive reviews.
Now the tale, aimed at readers aged between eight and 12, has been nominated for the coveted Roald Dahl prize, which honours the funniest books for children.
Walliams’ offering will go up against established authors including Allan Ahlberg and Anne Fine.
The winner will receive a cash prize of $4,000 (£2,500), which will be presented at an awards ceremony in London on 10 November (09).

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Australian actor ALEX O’LOUGHLIN is planning to become an American citizen - because he’s tired of securing work visas to stay in the U.S.
The TV and film star made a successful crossover after he was cast in U.S. crime drama The Shield in 2007.
He now resides in West Hollywood, California, and is determined to make the States his permanent home.
But O’Loughlin’s plans have been put on hold until he gets some time off to make his status official.
He says, "I will do it. I just keep forgetting to do the process because I get a visa every time I work and they last for three years… But I want the (American) passport."

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TYRA BANKS is going back to her roots as she kicks off a new season of her hit U.S. talkshow - she is snubbing her beloved hair weaves and extensions to appear au natural.
The former-supermodel-turned-TV titan is rarely seen without a perfectly coiffed weave - which sees synthetic hair attached or woven into a person’s tresses, a trend particularly popular with women of African origin.
And Banks hopes to show others they don’t need fake locks to feel confident.
She will get her natural hair styled in front of a studio audience as she interviews fellow weave wearers about their own insecurities on The Tyra Banks Show.
She says, "It’s just me coming straight out of the shower with wet hair. My hairdresser’s going to do my hair live on stage."

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American TV actress MICHELLE STAFFORD is expecting her first child with the help of a surrogate.
The single Young and the Restless star, 43, will welcome a baby girl this December (09) after various failed attempts at artificial insemination and in vitro fertilisation.
In a statement to People.com, she says, "After a three-year journey through hell, I’m elated, ecstatic and feel ultimately lucky to be able to announce I’m expecting my own child via surrogate in December." But Stafford admits her status as an expectant mother will make dating difficult: "Dating men and telling them I’m expecting in December is a little different. I know I just need to find someone who wants the same things as I do."

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Australian actor RAY BARRETT has died at the age of 82.
The star, who voiced several characters in British TV puppet show Thunderbirds, passed away at a hospital on Australia’s Gold Coast on Monday (07Sep09) after suffering a brain haemorrhage.
Barrett began his acting career when he quit his homeland and moved to England in 1957, landing his first major role in British TV series Emergency - Ward 10 and then longrunning BBC show The Troubleshooters.
He went on to voice characters in two of Gerry Anderson’s marionette shows - Thunderbirds and Stingray.
Barrett subsequently found fame in his native Australia starring in a string of TV shows including Burn the Butterflies, Golden Soak and Something in the Air. He was awarded the Australian Film Institute Longford Life Achievement Award in 2005.

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Actor JEFF DANIELS hopes his GOD OF CARNAGE co-star JAMES GANDOLFINI will not cancel another performance of the Broadway show - insisting he has "no patience" for actors who don’t show up for work.
The pair will again share the stage alongside Hope Davis and Marcia Gay Harden when the Yasmina Reza play resumes on Tuesday (08Sep09) after a brief summer hiatus.
Gandolfini was forced to scrap a preview of the show on doctors’ orders to rest his voice in March (09) - and Daniels is anxious his celebrity co-stars will fall ill before the cast takes its final bow.
He tells the New York Daily News, â��Iâ��m old school. I donâ��t have any patience… Thereâ��s a responsibility to show up, even more with us (four) to do the show no matter what.â��

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