PR-Inside.com Entertainment News

FANTASIA BARRINO fought back tears during a U.S. TV interview on Tuesday (24Aug10) as she recalled her recent suicide attempt, and blamed intense public scrutiny for driving her into a deep depression.
The former American Idol star survived a drug overdose earlier this mon th (Aug10) and later shocked fans by declaring the scare wasn’t an accide nt, insisting, "I knew exactly what I was doing." Barrino’s suicide attempt is rumoured to have been fuelled by her troub led love life, which saw her caught up in divorce proceedings between Nor th Carolina couple Antwaun Cook and his estranged wife Paula.
On Tuesday, the singer appeared on U.S. breakfast programme Good Mornin g America for her first live TV interview since the incident, assuring fa ns she is doing "better" despite her personal woes.
But Barrino is adamant it was the mounting pressures of fame - not Paul a Cook’s accusations the singer had an affair with her husband - that dro ve her over the edge.
She explains: "There’s just so many things that I had to deal with - me almost losing my whole career, not having management, and lawyers and ev erybody who said they had my back, nobody taking care of me, me taking ca re of my whole family. (There is) so much that people don’t understand, t hey just see the glitz and the glamour and they feel like life is so perf ect (for me). But we (celebrities) are human and we go through things…
"I think everybody feels like I tried to harm myself over a man. But I’ ve been through a lot of bad relationships. That had something to do with it because it was so heavy, it was brand new information. I was already going through so much but I think it was just six years of everything, of me holding everything on the inside and not letting it out. I just got v ery, very tired." Barrino has admitted dating Cook "off and on for 11 months" but is adam ant she thought he was single.
The singer insists she is now putting the past behind her - she’s seein g a life coach and is eager to go back to work.
She adds: "There are people who love and support me and just want to se e me keep going and who’ve been through the same thing… and I said, ‘Yo u know what, there’s no perfect person’. I’m just thankful for all the do ctors who were there for me because they didn’t treat me like Fantasia, t hey treated me like ‘Tasia, and I needed that."

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

Pop superstar BEYONCE has been accused of copying the design for a pair o f leggings which feature in her fashion brand’s latest collection.
The Crazy In Love singer caused a stir when she was recently pictured t opless in a shoot for her House of Dereon range, wearing nothing but fake tattoos and a pair of tight black trousers covered in silver studs.
But the design of the leggings has been called into question by bosses at an Icelandic clothing company, who allege the House of Dereon trousers look similar to a pair of E-label leggings which Beyonce was allegedly s potted buying in London last year (09).
E-label co-owner Helba Hallgrimsdottir says, "This is naturally huge an d I am still half in shock. I didn’t twig (realise) straight away that th is was her own label: I just thought she was wearing our leggings. It is practically just copy/paste."

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

GUNS N’ ROSES have been warned not to turn up late for their gigs at Brit ain’s Reading and Leeds music festivals at the weekend (28-29Aug10) - eve nt organisers, police and local government officials are adamant the rock ers must adhere to their curfew.
The group, led by frontman Axl Rose, has become notorious for taking to the stage behind schedule in recent years and the last time the band per formed at the double U.K. event in 2002, they didn’t begin playing until an hour after their slated finish time.
But organiser Melvin Benn is determined to make sure Guns N’ Roses stic k to the rules this year, because he is under mounting pressure from loca l authorities to finish the event on time.
He tells NME.com, "It’s just not an option. I mean, it is certainly an option for them to go on late, but that for me is just about disrespectin g their fans. There isn’t an option for them to carry on late, though.
"You may remember they played Leeds festival in 2002, and they actually went onstage after their curfew should have started. They went on after they should have finished. We sort of were allowed to do that on that one occasion.
"Unfortunately, (this year) the police and the local authorities in par ticular have reaffirmed their position to me that the curfew has to be ad hered to. It’s 11pm at Leeds and it’s 11.30pm at Reading. The truth is th at I can’t allow the performance to go on beyond that - it’s just that si mple." Arcade Fire and Blink-182 are among the other acts due to headline the Reading and Leeds Festivals which run from 27-29 August (10). (LR/WNWCNM/

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

A judge in London has warned GEORGE MICHAEL he is facing a possible priso n term when he is sentenced on DUI and drug possession charges next month (Sep10).
The pop superstar was arrested in July (10) after crashing his car into a shop near his home in Hampstead, north London.
He appeared in court in the British capital on Tuesday (24Aug10) and th e judge heard how the singer was found slumped over the wheel of his Rang e Rover and didn’t even realise he had been in an accident. The police of ficer who roused Michael claimed the star appeared confused and "spaced o ut".
The Careless Whisper hitmaker pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis and driving under the influence of drugs, and will return to court in Septem ber (10) to hear his sentence.
District Judge Robin McPhee handed Michael an interim six month driving ban and warned the star he is facing prison over the incident. McPhee in sisted he will take into consideration Michael’s previous 2007 conviction for driving while unfit which landed him a two-year road ban, as well as claims Michael was prescribed sleeping pills in the weeks before the cra sh.
He told Michael, "I make it clear the options in respect of sentence re main open, including the power to imprison.
"It is a serious matter. Your driving was extremely poor and there was an accident. There is also a conviction from three years ago." Michael was released on bail and will return to court to face sentencin g on 14 September (10).

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

British funnyman RICKY GERVAIS struggles with downtime while filming movi es - because he is so "easily bored".
The actor likes to keep busy to distract himself and admits his restles s energy often annoys his long-time friend and writing partner, Stephen M erchant.
Gervais tells BBC’s Newsbeat, "Our first job together (with Merchant) w e wrote and directed The Office. After a few hours it was clear that all I was trying to do was put off the other actors, that was my job. I was a cting but I was gearing everything to make (co-stars) Martin Freeman laug h or Mackenzie Crook.
"And Steve came over and said: ‘It’s as if having your own TV show isn’ t enough for you.’ And he’s right. I get bored very quickly.
"I mean those were early days when I was a nobody - think what I’m like now."

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

HALLE BERRY took a break from filming her new movie in South Africa recen tly for an emotional visit to meet underprivileged kids at a charity proj ect.
The Oscar-winner has been in the country filming shark thriller Dark Ti de with French actor Olivier Martinez, and she took time out from her bus y schedule to spend a day in the tough Cape Town township of Khayelitsha to see the work of local charity group, the Indlovu Project.
The actress toured the facilities and spent time with the children, whi le Martinez enjoyed a game of soccer with the local kids.
Berry says, "I’m so impressed with all the work that’s being done here.
It makes my heart feel good. There’s sadness too that I feel, but I’m al so inspired because I see that people care, and I think that’s what makes a difference in the world - that people really care and show up." At the end of her visit, the actress received a blessing from a local h ealer, who bestowed on her the South African name Thandeka, which means ‘ the one who everyone loves’.

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

HAYDEN PANETTIERE celebrated her 21st birthday with a kooky party filled with burlesque dancers, fire-breathers and performers dressed as CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY-style Oompa-Loompas.
The Heroes actress reached the landmark age on Saturday (21Aug10) and w as treated to a quirky bash, organised by her Scream 4 co-star David Arqu ette who hired out the four-storey Cavern Club venue in Ann Arbor, Michig an.
The actor filled the party with performers from Vaudeville-inspired com edy show Beacher’s Madhouse and presented the star with a specially desig ned 3D dolphin cake, to celebrate Panettiere’s love of the sea creatures, according to TMZ.com.

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

DREW BARRYMORE became enraged during a recent interview after a journalis t asked about her notoriously troubled past, with the actress insisting s he wanted to "rip this woman’s face off".
The Charlie’s Angels star has been in London promoting her new movie Go ing The Distance and she became irritated with one reporter during the ro unds of press interviews.
Barrymore branded the female journalist a "b**ch" and admitted she want ed to "punch" the woman when she repeatedly inquired about the actress’ t eenage drug addiction.
Barrymore tells London’s Evening Standard newspaper, "You should have h eard this b**ch I had to do an interview with before you. God, I wanted t o punch her, she would just not drop the youth thing. I have no problem t alking about it. I am not someone who is ashamed of my past. I’m actually really proud. I know I made a lot of mistakes, but they in turn were my life lessons.
"It’s actually good to get it done young and have a great life later. B ut yeah, man, I wanted to rip this woman’s face off. She just would not s hut up about it."

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

CROCODILE DUNDEE star PAUL HOGAN is in mourning following the death of hi s beloved mother.
The Australian actor’s mum Flo, who had been living in a Sydney retirem ent home, died last Wednesday (18Aug10) just days after celebrating her 1 01st birthday.
Hogan, who currently lives in Los Angeles, flew Down Under to attend hi s mum’s funeral at the Sacred Heart Chapel in Rookwood on Saturday (21Aug 10).
Hogan was reunited with his siblings, brother Patrick and sister Wendy, at the Catholic memorial. Flo is survived by her three children, 10 gran dchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

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

ENTOURAGE star ADRIAN GRENIER is facing legal action from a builder who a lleges he was injured while working at the star’s New York home.
Albeiro Nunez claims he was hurt last October (09) while renovating a h ouse in Brooklyn owned by the actor and his mother Karesse, and he is sui ng the pair for unspecified damages.
The legal complaint, filed at a court in Queens, New York, last week (e nds22Aug10) alleges the builder "sustained severe injuries to various par ts of his body" and blames "an unsafe, improper, defective and otherwise dangerous ladder", according to the New York Post.

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

PARIS HILTON has told of her terror after she was confronted by a knife-w ielding burglar at her Los Angeles mansion on Tuesday morning (24Aug10).
The mega-rich socialite was sleeping at her home when a thief carrying two blades tried to break into the property at around 7am local time.
Petrified Hilton was woken up by a noise as the man tried to gain entry to the house, and cops raced to the scene after she dialled 911.
Hilton later took to her Twitter.com blog to tell fans of the drama and post a photo of police arresting a man in her garden.
She writes, "So scary, just got woken up to a guy trying to break into my house holding 2 big knifes (sic). Cops are here arresting him." (ZN&JM

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

British Prime Minister DAVID CAMERON is celebrating after becoming a fath er for the fourth time on Tuesday (24Aug10).
The Conservative Party leader, who swept to power following the U.K.’s general election in May (10), and his wife Samantha welcomed a baby daugh ter at an undisclosed hospital on Tuesday morning.
The baby, whose name had not been revealed as WENN went to press, was b orn weighing six pounds, one ounce (2.8 kilograms).
A statement from Downing Street reads: "The Prime Minister and Mrs Came ron are delighted to announce the birth of their fourth child, a baby gir l. Both the baby, who was born weighing 6lb 1oz, and Mrs Cameron are doin g very well.
"The Prime Minister and Mrs Cameron would like to like to thank the doc tors and nurses at the hospital for their help and kindness." (ZN/WNVSK/L

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

Weedy rocker LUKE PRITCHARD is bulking up before releasing a new album - he’s recruited a mixed martial artist to teach him to fight.
The Kooks frontman has been training in the ring with an unnamed Ultima te Fighting Championship star in a bid to prepare himself for the band’s next tour.
And the 25 year old admits it was time for him to get into shape - beca use he’d spent "too long" abusing his body.
He says, "I’d been getting smashed for too long. It’s funny because I’m quite a puny bloke, he looks massive next to me." But the rocker has now had to postpone recent lessons - after his train er went missing. He adds, "He went over to America for a fight and hasn’t come back. I haven’t heard from him since he left. I hope he’s OK." (PAW

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

Representatives for CIARA and KERI HILSON have refuted reports the two si ngers were involved in a backstage fight at a New York concert at the wee kend (22Aug10).
Hilson was said to have refused to perform at the Power Live gig on Sun day (22Aug10) because she was so upset after trading insults with the R&B singer.
But the stars’ reps have downplayed the rumours, insisting Hilson was n ot even in attendance at the show.
Hilson’s publicist Sherlen Archibald tells the New York Daily News his client wasn’t in the Big Apple because she "had an emergency in L.A." And Ciara’s spokesperson is adamant the story is "not true", claiming H ilson failed to turn up because she had "missed her plane". (PAW/WNWCDN/L

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

Former BAY CITY ROLLERS singer LES MCKEOWN is reaching out to his ex-band mates - he wants them to reunite for a one-off concert.
The Shang-a-Lang hitmakers crumbled after McKeown quit the group for a solo career in 1978.
Now he is eyeing a lucrative reunion in 2011 or 2012, and has launched a campaign on his website urging his former bandmates - brothers Alan and Derek Longmuir, Eric Faulkner, and Stuart ‘Woody’ Wood - to join him for a spectacular gig.
He says, "I am trying to put (the band) together, for one time only. Le t’s see Bay City Rollers, for one time only, back on stage in 2011 or 201 2."

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

PAUL WELLER once turned down a notable award from Britain’s QUEEN ELIZABE TH II, branding the honour from the royal "silly".
The former The Jam frontman has revealed he was to be saluted by Her Ma jesty for his illustrious music career but he declined the offer.
And Weller admits he has no regrets over his decision - because he has no interest in the Queen’s honours.
He says, "I have turned it down, yeah. About two or three years ago the y offered me some silly title but I managed to turn that one down. I don’ t understand all that."

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

JUSTIN BIEBER is lining up a special treat for fans at his New York City show next week (31Aug10) - he’s reportedly planning an onstage collaborat ion with his pal JADEN SMITH.
The Baby hitmaker teamed up with The Karate Kid star to record Never Sa y Never for the film’s soundtrack and the young friends are said to be ke en to make their live debut together.
Will Smith’s son has now agreed to join Bieber when he plays at Madison Square Garden on 31 August (10), along with other celebrity guests inclu ding Sean Kingston and Jessica Jarrell, according to New York Post gossip column PageSix.
A source tells the publication, "Special security arrangements are bein g made for Jaden, who will appear onstage, and (for) his family, includin g Will, to be in the audience for the concert."

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

BOB DYLAN is refusing to sell advanced tickets to an upcoming concert - i n a bid to tackle internet resellers and give fans an equal chance to cat ch him live.
Tickets for the folk singer’s concert at The Warfield in San Francisco, California on Wednesday (25Aug10) will be sold on the door. Fans will be permitted to line up at midday but will only be allowed to buy one ticke t each, in cash.
The scheme was established to prevent touts from purchasing large batch es of tickets and selling them for an inflated cost online. It will also eliminate handling and processing fees.
David Lefkowitz, the vice president of booking for promoters Goldenvoic e, says, "Given the state of touring and how fees have escalated, it was a real breath of fresh air to do something very consumer oriented by elim inating all ticketing charges; it’s almost a throwback to another time.
"It’s been almost 20 years since Bob Dylan played The Warfield and in m y opinion, he is an artist that needs no big promotions or hoopla. He com es, he plays, and it’s an incredible experience."

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