PR-Inside.com Entertainment News

Opera star KATHERINE JENKINS refused to let a brush with death in Iraq prevent her from re-visiting war zones - because it is "insulting" to troops.
The Welsh singer was due to perform for British soldiers fighting in the country in 2005 when an enemy missile struck the helicopter she was travelling in, causing the chopper to plunge to the ground.
The pilot managed to safely land the craft - but Jenkins insists the harrowing experience wasn’t enough to scare her away from entertaining battle-hardened troops.
She says, "It would be totally insulting to those thousands of troops to even think like that. Whatever risk I take is nothing compared to the risks they take on a daily basis. Just getting out to Afghanistan is a marathon journey by troop carrier and helicopter. You never know what will happen at any step but nothing would ever stop me going. Of all the things I do, it’s probably the thing that means the most to me." And the 29 year old insists the crash wasn’t the only time she feared for her life while visiting overseas.
She adds, "In Afghanistan I was put in a second helicopter, which took off just a few minutes after a first one was launched. Absolutely nothing happened but when I got out of the plane I was told by one of the troops that I’d just been used as a decoy for the head of the Ministry of Defence who was in the helicopter in front. No one mentioned it until we landed. I guess that’s the way it goes.
"Another time, in Iraq, the plane that was supposed to get me out couldn’t take off. The whole place was completely fogbound and there was huge panic because the next day they were expecting a mortar attack. I felt as unsafe as everyone else.
"Out there you are totally aware life is made up of moments and you have no idea what is going to happen - you just have to get on with what is going on right then. Luckily the attack never took place and we got out. You have to put yourself in those situations to have any idea of what those soldiers go through on a minute-by-minute basis."

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

ADAM ‘DJ AM’ GOLDSTEIN was killed by an accidental drug overdose, New York’s medical examiner has ruled.
The star was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on 28 August (09) at the age of 36.
An autopsy and toxicology reports found a cocktail of drugs in Goldstein’s system, including cocaine, oxycodone, hydrocodone (Vicodin), Ativan, Klonopin, Xanax, and Benadryl, according to documents obtained by TMZ.com.
The website reports the manner of his death has been listed as "accidental (substance abuse)".

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

WALT DISNEY bosses have finally won an 18-year, $2 billion legal battle over the rights to the beloved cartoon WINNIE THE POOH.
Late New York television and film producer Stephen Slesinger obtained exclusive merchandising rights to Winnie the Pooh works from author A.A. Milne in 1930. He transferred his rights to Disney in 1961 exchange for a regular royalty.
Slesinger’s heirs filed a federal copyright infringement case in 1991 against Disney, accusing executives of failing to pay Stephen Slesinger Inc billions in royalties over rights to the honey-loving bear.
Court documents show U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper ruled on 25 September (09) Stephen Slesinger Inc. no longer retained any rights that Disney could infringe.

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

Movie legend DAME ELIZABETH TAYLOR is glued to the current season of TV talent show DANCING WITH THE STARS - so she can root for her model friend KATHY IRELAND.
Taylor has been tuning in regularly to watch her 46-year-old pal compete on the hit show.
The 77 year old has even logged onto Twitter.com to root for Ireland, writing on Monday (28Sep09), â��Saw Dancing With The Stars tonight. Didnâ��t think the judges were fair to Kathy Ireland." She’s even tipping the ex-catwalk star for a movie career, touting her as the next Deborah Kerr.
Taylor adds, â��Kathy was delightful, gorgeous and fit the music they chose perfectly. If they ever do a remake of The King and I she should star in it.â�� Ireland plans to return Taylor’s favour by donating any proceeds from her appearance on the show to The Elizabeth Taylor HIV/AIDS Foundation.

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

ROMAN POLANSKI has "agreed to participate" in BRETT RATNER’s forthcoming sequel to a controversial documentary about the ROSEMARY’S BABY director.
Ratner announced on Sunday (27Sep09) he will be producing a sequel to Marina Zenovich’s 2008 documentary, Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired - about the moviemaker’s refusal to return to the U.S. since he fled in 1977 after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl.
Polanski was taken into custody on Saturday (26Sep09) on a 1978 U.S. warrant, issued after his plea. The acclaimed director fled the U.S. before he was sentenced, and later settled in France.
Ratner, who cast Polanski as a French detective in Rush Hour 3, told BlogTalkRadio, "The family has forgiven (Polanski). The victim has forgiven him. The rest of the world has forgiven him. The L.A. judicial system is corrupt. It’s horrible." Polanski fled the U.S. claiming the judge reneged on a plea bargain.
His lawyer Herve Temime says the filmmaker plans to fight possible extradition back to the United States, telling reporters: "He is in a fighting mood and determined to defend himself."

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

DAVID and VICTORIA BECKHAM are both taking elocution lessons in a bid to boost their showbiz careers in the U.S., according to reports.
The former Spice Girl is said to have enrolled in classes before filming her judging stint on American Idol earlier this year (09) over fears Stateside audiences would struggle to understand her accent.
And her soccer star husband has also been seeing a speech tutor in preparation to launch a TV career once he retires from the sport, according to Britain’s the Daily Star.
A source tells the publication, "David is quite keen to to move into TV work when he finally retires, probably after the next World Cup. He’s got the looks and the knowledge, but knows his voice needs work.
"Victoria has also been keen to live up to her name and speak more properly. She knows she has a very thick British accent and is sometimes misunderstood in America. She knows being British can be an asset in the States, but not if the Yanks cannot understand what you’re talking about."

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

MADONNA didn’t mind the age gap between her and boyfriend JESUS LUZ when they first dated - because she thought the pair would just have a casual fling.
The pop star met the Brazilian in December (08) at a photoshoot for W magazine, in which they posed for a series of provocative shots weeks before her divorce from filmmaker Guy Ritchie was finalised.
According to her biographer Randy Taraborrelli, her relationship with the 22 year old is so serious, she plans to marry him in a Kabbalah commitment ceremony within the next few months.
The Material Girl wasn’t convinced their union would last when they began dating - but when she started to fall in love with the model she feared the public’s reaction to their 29-year age gap.
A friend of the singer’s tells Britain’s Hello! magazine, "When Madonna and Jesus were just dating - back when she thought it was a fling - she was okay with it (the age gap). But when she realised she was starting to have feelings for him, she started to become self-conscious about the relationship. ‘I don’t want my family to think I’m having a midlife crisis,’ she told me. ‘And my friends, too. I don’t want people to think I have lost my mind.’ "As her feelings for Jesus intensified, she began to accept that, yes, maybe he was a consequence of a midlife crisis - and so what? Or, as she put it to me, ‘I think I deserve a midlife crisis after all I’ve been through with the divorce from Guy. I deserve to have a good time, too. And I deserve someone hot, like Jesus."

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

British funnyman SACHA BARON COHEN’s movie BRUNO has been banned by authorities in Malaysia because it depicts "gay life".
The outrageous film, starring Cohen as gay Austrian fashionista Bruno, was a success in the U.S. and U.K., hitting the top of the box office charts on both sides of the Atlantic after it debuted earlier this year (09).
But officials in Asia have been less than receptive - members of Malaysia’s Film Censorship Board are refusing to allow the comedy to be screened in theatres because it could offend Muslims, who make up the majority of the population.
A spokeswoman for the board says, "It’s banned because the story is based on gay life… There are a lot of sex scenes. It’s contrary to our culture." The representative adds censors also had concerns over the movie’s jokes about sex toys and religion.
Bruno was banned by Ukrainian officials in July (09).

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

TAKE THAT have boosted fans’ hopes of a reunion with ROBBIE WILLIAMS after reportedly booking more time in the studio with their former bandmate.
The Angels singer quit the band in 1995 to pursue a solo career and the four other members - Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald - disbanded the group a year later.
The foursome reunited in 2006, releasing a number of hits in the U.K., and have been repeatedly subjected to rumours Williams would rejoin them after Barlow admitted he’d love the original line-up to reform.
Williams accompanied Take That to the Electric Lady Studios in New York on Saturday (26Sep09), sparking speculation the band will soon release new music together.
And it appears the boys have hit it off - they have reportedly agreed to meet up again for an extended writing session, according to Britain’s the Daily Mirror.
A source tells the publication, "It’s been 14 years since all five have been together for an extended time and they were having a blast. It went so well they all agreed to meet for a second session. It’s a bit of a boys’ adventure."

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

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE is turning his charity endeavours into a family affair - teaming up with girlfriend JESSICA BIEL’s father to support underprivileged children.
Philanthropist Jon Biel showed the pop star a newspaper article about New York City’s Ten O’Clock Classics, a group of classical musicians who offer instruments and lessons to schoolkids, and convinced him to get involved and help out.
Timberlake has since agreed to autograph a baby grand piano to be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to the non-profit organisation.
Founder Ronen Segev says, "He cares about music education and wants to make sure these kids can continue to have music lessons. They listen to his music and they connect with him. He is the inspiration for their love of music." Singer Billy Joel has also donated a signed piano to Ten O’Clock Classics.

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

Movie bosses have blasted reports JOHNNY DEPP is set to abandon ship - he isn’t quitting the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN film franchise.
The actor sparked speculation he’ll be replaced in his role as Captain Jack Sparrow in future instalments after telling the Los Angeles Times his enthusiasm for the movies had declined following the departure of Disney chairman Dick Cook, who recruited the star for the films.
He said, "There’s a fissure, a crack in my enthusiasm (for the project) at the moment. It was all born in that office.â�� But a spokesperson for Disney insists Depp has not backed out of the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, branding the rumours "completely unfounded".
The new movie is slated for a summer 2011 release.

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

DIZZEE RASCAL has accepted partial responsibility for his near-fatal stabbing - because he stood up to his attackers and refused to be harassed.
The British rapper was terrified after four thugs began chasing him in Ayia Napa, Cyprus in 2003 - but he decided to defend himself from the gang and was knifed six times.
Now he’s opened up about the frightening experience, insisting it was his experiences battling violence and petty crime during his youth in East London that prompted him to stand up for himself He says, "It was all in slow motion. It was partly my fault. I got off my bike doing the bravery thing when I should have just sped off. But I don’t like to walk away. I don’t like to be picked on. Growing up where I did you learn to fight." Rascal, real name Dylan Kwabena Mills, has only just begun to move on from the stabbing and has started to make lighter music: "Getting stabbed, it’s not glamorous. It was a bad time. I had internal bleeding in my chest so I was coughing up blood all the time, I was on a drip that was getting on my nerves.
"It changes you into a really dark person. But really, I’m a joker. I’m a clown. It’s only just starting to come out in my music. All I really want to do is make people jump around and smile.
"I didn’t want to make a meal of getting stabbed. And 50 Cent had already done it. I didn’t want to compete with getting shot nine times."

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

The former lead singer and last surviving member of doo-wop group THE SILHOUETTES has died.
Rev. John ‘Bootsie’ Wilson passed away on 21 September (09) at his home in Spartanburg, South Carolina following a battle with cancer and kidney problems. He was 69.
The star joined the R&B band in 1961 and toured with them, re-recording their best-known hit Get A Job in 1968 when the group was rebranded as The New Silhouettes.
Wilson went on to become a minister in South Carolina in the 1970s and served as an African Methodist Episcopal pastor for 30 years - but remained fiercely proud of his time in the limelight, according to Elaine Lewis, the widow of former Silhouette Richard Lewis.
She recalls, "He was so proud of that part of his life, his life as a Silhouette. He was so nostalgic about that period of his life, and he missed his fallen comrades." The star was remembered at a funeral on Saturday (26Sep09).

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

WYCLEF JEAN is heading back to school to learn more about music.
The former Fugees star has announced plans to study at Boston, Massachusetts’ Berklee College, taking music courses in a bid to inspire young students to do the same.
He explains, "I am enrolling in Berklee College in Boston to get my bachelor’s degree in music! That’s how important education is to me. I plan to work with Rev. Al Sharpton because that’s how important stressing the importance of education to children is to me." Jean previously attended Eastern Nazarene College in Massachusetts.

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

RADIOHEAD star THOM YORKE has announced plans to hit the road with a new band including RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist FLEA.
The rocker has recruited four other musicians to form the as-yet-unnamed group to back him up as he plays live music from his 2006 solo album The Eraser.
He writes on Radiohead’s official website, "Hi. In the past couple of weeks Iâ��ve been getting a band together for fun to play the Eraser stuff live and the new songs etc… to see if it could work! Hereâ��s a photo… It’s me, Joey Waronker, Mauro Refosco, Flea and Nigel Godrich.
"We donâ��t really have a name and the set will not be very long cuz (sic) well, we havenâ��t got that much material yet! But come and check it out if you are in the area. All the best." Yorke’s new band is scheduled to play at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles in October (09).

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

GINNIFER GOODWIN is finally putting her break-up with CHRIS KLEIN behind her - she’s reportedly found love with actor JOEY KERN.
The He’s Just Not That Into You star split up with the actor in December 2008 following an intense two-year relationship, and was briefly linked to Justin Long.
But now it seems she’s found love with funnyman Kern - the couple was spotted stepping out together several times during the summer, according to the New York Daily News.
A source tells the publication the pair wants to keep the romance quiet.

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

THE HILLS stars have no worries about paying the bills - several of the most popular characters earn $100,000 (£66,000) an episode.
For the latest series of the hit U.S. reality show - which follows a group of young, rich kids in Los Angeles - lead stars Audrina Patridge, Lauren Bosworth and Heidi Montag all receive the staggering sum for every show they appear in.
The amount is just $25,000 (£16,000) less than Lauren Conrad - the show’s main pull - was earning before she quit to embark on a fashion design career.
But the show’s males stars aren’t laughing quite so hard on the way to the bank - Spencer Pratt and Brody Jenner reportedly take home $65,000 and $45,000 an episode respectively.

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

SIMON COWELL is refusing gifts for his upcoming 50th birthday - because he’s determined to ignore the milestone.
The music mogul reaches half a century next week (07Sep09) and he’ll celebrate when billionaire Sir Philip Green hosts a lavish bash in the U.K. at the weekend (03Oct09).
The event is sure to be a star-studded affair, with Sir Elton John, Kylie Minogue and Kevin Spacey topping the glittering guest list.
But Cowell is desperate to downplay the landmark birthday, insisting he doesn’t see what the big deal is.
He says, "What is there to be excited about turning 50? Can’t we just pretend it’s not going to happen? Seriously, I feel exactly the same now turning 50 as I did when I was 40 or 30. I am enjoying myself.
"There are a couple of charities I am involved with that would appreciate a donation. But please, no presents from anyone."

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