Mel Gibson Attacks Fan

Mel Gibson has made it into the news again with some more of his infamous, not-so-tasteful behaviour, this time allegedly attacking a photographer posing as a fan at the grand opening of new Los Angeles hotspot, Playhouse.

According to onlookers at the scene, a Life & Style reporter who had spent the evening pretending to be a fan of the Gibson’s tried to snap a picture of the actor and his pregnant girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva.

When Gibson’s security team took the camera and deleted the photos, the paparrazzo sent in her pal Karlis Gajevskis to take more photos. A fed up Gibson then attacked Gajevskis, ripping his shirt.

“Mel approached the guy who tried to take his picture and ripped his shirt,” an onlooker said.

The source added that Gajevskis left the club immediately and indicated that he was on his way to report a battery charge to the police against Gibson. The Mad Max actor and his girlfriend left shortly after, too upset over the incident to continue in their celebrations.

Earlier in the evening, Gibson was said to have been “really respectful” to the media who’d turned up for the event, politely refusing when he was asked for a photograph. Gajevskis and his reporter friend, onlookers said, were overly “pushy” and had even tried pretending to be a part of Gibson’s VIP table in order to get a shot of the actor.

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Summit Entertainment Fires Back at Lefevre’s Claims

Summit Entertainment, the studio responsible for the Twilight movie franchise, has hit back at Rachelle Lefevre’s claims that she was unfairly treated when she was dumped from the series, saying that it was “disappointed” she had decided to discuss her recasting publicly.

Lefevre released a statement on Wednesday, and said she was “stunned” and “saddened” that the studio had replaced her with actress Bryce Dallas Howard in the third Twilight film, Eclipse, due to a conflicting work schedule.

The actress, who was set to reprise her role as the evil vampire Victoria in the saga’s third installment later this year, had signed on to shoot the Dustin Hoffman independent film, Barney’s Version, but had no idea she would be sacked by Summit “over a 10-day overlap.”

However, Summit Entertainment has a different take on exactly how the recasting went down, and said in a statement yesterday:

“We at Summit Entertainment are disappointed by Rachelle Lefevre’s recent comments, which attempt to make her career choices the fault of the studio. Her decision to discuss her version of the scheduling challenges publicly has forced the studio to set the record straight and correct the facts.

“Ms. Lefevre’s representatives were advised as early as April that The Twilight Saga: Eclipse was expected to start shooting in early August.

“If Ms. Lefevre was, as she describes, ‘passionate’ about being part of the Twilight saga, we feel that she and her representatives would have included us in her decision to work on another film that would conflict with the shooting schedule of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

“It was not until July 20th that Summit was first informed of Ms. Lefevre’s commitment to Barney’s Version, a commitment we have since been advised she accepted in early June. Summit had acted in good faith that she would be available to fulfill her obligations both in terms of rehearsals and shooting availability for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. We feel that her choice to withhold her scheduling conflict information from us can be viewed as a lack of cooperative spirit which affected the entire production.

“Furthermore, Ms. Lefevre took a role in the other film that places her in Europe during the required rehearsal time, and at least 10 days of [Eclipse]’s principal photography. This period is essential for both rehearsal time with the cast and for filming at key locations that are only available during the initial part of production.

The statement concluded: “Contrary to Ms. Lefevre’s statement, it is simply untrue that the studio dismissed her over a 10-day overlap. It is not about a 10-day overlap, but instead about the fact that The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is an ensemble production that has to accommodate the schedules of numerous actors while respecting the established creative vision of the filmmaker and most importantly the story.”

The second installment in the series, New Moon, is slated for release in November.

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Delta Goodrem Twitter-Stalked by ‘Messiah’

Australian singer Delta Goodrem has been forced to consult security experts after her fiance Brian McFadden was repeatedly threatened by an online stalker who calls himself ‘The Messiah’ over popular networking site, Twitter.

The man, believed to be Australian, goes under the Twitter alias Saviour Mankind, and has professed his “love and ownership” of Goodrem through countless messages on the site, some of which have been responded to by McFadden.

There are some who have suggested that by responding to the threatening remarks, McFadden has “egged on” the stalker rather than placating him, with Saviour Mankind’s Twitter posts quickly turning to darker topics like murder and rape.

On another website, Saviour Mankind has described himself as a “schizophrenic” who hears voices and is a “messiah” figure.

Jennifer Fontaine, a spokeswoman for Goodrem and McFadden, told News Limited: “We’re very much aware of this matter but we’ve been advised to not make any comment at this time. We have security looking at it.”

The longtime couple has threatened to obtain a restraining order against Saviour Mankind, after McFadden received the following letter from the stalker:

Jackson’s Mother Wins Custody of His Kids

Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine, will be awarded custody of his three children, according to the terms of a new deal that has just been reached between the Jackson matriarch and her ex-daughter-in-law, Debbie Rowe.

The deal states that Katherine, 79, will get full custody and Rowe will have visitation rights; however, the former nurse won’t receive any money in exchange for relinquishing her custodial rights to Jackson’s mother.

Previous reports had suggested Rowe was set to give up her rights to care for the children for a large lump sum payment from the Jacksons, rumours which Rowe has vehemently denied.

“It’s an agreement,” said L. Londell McMillan, Katherine Jackson’s attorney in the case, “an agreement for the best interests of the children.”

McMillian was quick to point out that money had absolutely nothing to do with the deal that was struck between Rowe and the Jacksons, contrary to what the media has stipulated.

“This is not a money deal,” he said. “This is not about money.”

“There is no situation better for these children than for them to be raised and reared in the loving care of Mrs. Katherine Jackson,” McMillian added.

While the custody of Michael Jackson’s children may have been sorted, the battle for his estate is still on-going, with McMillian hinting that the King of Pop could have been worth more than $2 billion.

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Courtney Love’s Twitter War With ‘The Veronicas’

I love Twitter. It’s such an easy medium to converse with people across the globe – and, say, start a verbal war with someone, like Courtney Love has done, in her oh-so eloquent way.

The former rock chick, who is now more ’stick’ than ‘chick,’ lashed out at Jess Origliasso from Australian band The Veronicas and Gossip Girl-turned rocker Taylor Momsen, accusing the pair of being image thieves.

Here’s what Love had to say (please note that all typos are Love’s and hers alone… the girl can’t spell for shit!):

	Why does Taylor Whatsit deeply disturb me and why is the Blonde one from the verons or whatever they are clled wearing my actual clothes?
	i mean she is wearing MY clothes I bought and dyed and did shit to
	I will do MY job you kids runalong and find your own little jobs whne you can even THINK that you can play aROCK show for 3.5 hrs call me
	the chick from Goissip Girl and the verons girls arent actually playing ROCKMUSIC anyone takes seriousl.Itscrappy POP
	i mean call a Spade a Spade! i am Slow but @BrodyDalle is the only other female who plays guitar for shit.PAthetic.Learn yr Craft.Or Leave.

Apparently the Twitter war began after Courtney Love allegedly sent a message to Origliasso on the social networking site, asking her to give the former Hole star a call. When Jess still hadn’t called two days later, Love started on her Twitter tirade, attacking the singer and her actress look-a-like, Taylor Momsen.

Here’s what Origliasso had to say in response (again, all spelling errors are that of the celebrity and not mine):

C-love doesn’t like me today ..2 days ago she was Begging me to call her & hang out.. I guess she’s upset that Unlike her, Ive been too busy promoting a NEW record, & touring to bother. Sorry Courts!

	Oh and babe, Nancy Spungen had the bleach blonde far before you. Don’t give yourself THAT much credit.
	that being said.. I still think Hole were an amazing band <3
	I don’t hate @courtneylover79 .. Im a huge fan of her music! …. Its ok that she isn’t into POP music, or our band… But the stealing her clothes thing, and the hair? Give me a break

If you couldn’t make heads nor tails of Courtney’s Twitter speech, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Sometimes I don’t even know if Courtney knows what she’s talking about.

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Kanye West: “I’m The New King of Pop”

Michael Jackson may be the world’s King of Pop for all eternity, but according to Kanye West, once a pop icon is dead and gone, his seat on the top of the pops throne is well and truly vacated – and he knows just to appoint Jackson’s replacement: himself.

Yes, the ever affable West has declared himself as the next King of Pop, and even went as far as asking the Jackson family for their blessing in taking over the title.

Right. Because they’ve just lost their son, the first thing the Jacksons will think about it passing over the King of Pop crown.

Kanye told Scrape TV recently:

“You know everyone loves and respects Michael but times change. It’s so sad to see Michael gone but it makes a path for a new King of Pop and I’m willing to take that on.”

The ego-inflated West continued: “There’s nobody who can match me in sales and in respect so it only makes sense for me to take over Michael’s crown and become the new King.”

As if that wasn’t enough, Kanye managed to not only take a chop at Jackson, but at Elvis Presley as well – two of the world’s most beloved performers, all in the one sentence. Well, West is ‘King’ of something, that’s for sure, but I’m pretty certain the word I’m searching for isn’t ‘Pop.’

“First there was Elvis [Presley], then there was Michael, now in the 21st century it’s Kanye’s time to rule,” West added. “I have nothing but respect for Michael but someone needs to pick up where he left off and there’s nobody better than me to do that. I am the new King of Pop.”

Is Kanye West even classified as a ‘pop’ artist? I thought he was more rap/r’n'b. Obviously he’s delusional and ridiculous, whatever his musical genre happens to be. He should hook up with Megan Fox. She’s ridiculous, too.

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Rachelle Lefevre “Stunned, Saddened” by Twilight Recasting

Rachelle Lefevre has told of how she was “stunned” and “saddened” when she learned that she was to be replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard in the third Twilight movie, Eclipse.

Summit Entertainment said yesterday that they were forced to recast Lefevre’s role as the evil vampire Victoria due to a conflict in work schedules – Lefevre had signed on to star in the Dustin Hoffman film, Barney’s Version, which was due to begin production on the same day as Eclipse.

However, Summit Entertainment’s reasoning behind the recasting has shocked Lefevre, who said in a statement released Wednesday that she had every intention of honouring her Eclipse contract, despite signing on for the Hoffman film.

Lefevre said: “I was stunned [at the recasting]. I was fully committed to the Twilight saga, and to the portrayal of Victoria. I turned down several other film opportunities and, in accordance with my contractual rights, accepted only roles that would involve very short shooting schedules.

“My commitment to [indie flick] Barney’s Version is only 10 days. Summit picked up my option for Eclipse. Although the production schedule for Eclipse is over three months long, Summit said they had a conflict during those ten days and would not accommodate me. Given the length of filming for Eclipse, never did I fathom I would lose the role over a 10-day overlap.

“I was happy with my contract with Summit and was fully prepared to continue to honor it. Summit chose simply to recast the part,” she continued. “I am greatly saddened that I will not get to complete my portrayal of Victoria for the Twilight audience. This is a story, a theatrical journey and a character that I truly love and about which I am very passionate.

“I will be forever grateful to the fan support and loyalty I’ve received since being cast for this role, and I am hurt deeply by Summit’s surprising decision to move on without me. I wish the cast and crew of Eclipse only the very best.”

Summit Entertainment have since responded to Lefevre’s comments on her recasting. To read what they had to say on the matter, click here.

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Bryce Dallas Howard Signs on For ‘Twilight’ Sequel

Terminator: Salvation star Bryce Dallas Howard has just been confirmed as playing troublesome vampire Victoria in Eclipse, the third film in the Twilight series.

The former muse of movie maker M. Night Shyamalan will replace series favourite Rachelle Lefevre, 30, who has portrayed Victoria in the two previous Twilight films.

Summit Entertainment’s president, Erik Feig, said that he was thrilled to have an actress of Howard’s calibre on board for Eclipse, and is excited to see what the daughter of veteran director Ron Howard will add to the role of the series villian.

“Rachelle brought Victoria to great screen life,” Feig said, “and Bryce will bring a new dimension to the character.

“The franchise is lucky to have such a talented actress as Bryce coming in to fill the role.”

But don’t get your teeth out just yet, Twilight fans – Bryce isn’t simply replacing Lefevre to add a big name Hollywood star to the cast list, but stepping in to replace Rachelle, who has had to pull out of the third film due to a clashing work schedule.

Instead of Eclipse, Lefevre will appear in the independent film Barney’s Version, alongside movie great Dustin Hoffman, which begins production on the same day as the third Twilight installment.

New Moon, the second film in the series, is slated for release later this year.

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Ryan Tedder Responds to Clarkson/Beyonce Controversy

Kelly Clarkson’s earlier accusation that music producer Ryan Tedder supplied her with a “ripped off” melody of Beyonce Knowles’ Halo to record with has prompted Tedder to respond to the claims today – and he’s not happy.

Tedder said in a statement that the idea he’d given Clarkson stolen material was “hurtful and absurd,” but applauded the Idol winner on her “haunting and heart-breaking performance” on a track he believes sounds nothing like Beyonce’s Halo.

Tedder’s statement (including all spelling and punctuation errors as he’d written it) reads:

‘”Already Gone’ is one of the best songs I’ve written or produced since ‘Bleeding Love’ and stands tall on it’s own merits apart from ‘Halo.’ They are two entirely different songs conceptually, melodically, & lyrically and I would never try to dupe an artist such as Kelly Clarkson or Beyonce into recording over the same musical track, the idea is both hurtful & absurd. I think when people hear ‘Already Gone’ they will hear what I hear — one of the greatest female vocalists on earth giving her most haunting and heart-breaking performance on a song she helped write. I challenge people to listen and form their own opinions.”

If you haven’t listened to the songs already, click here and here to hear the differences between the two (if you can pick ‘em).

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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Review

I was one of those devastated Harry Potter fans who vowed revenge on Warner Bros. back in November of 2007 for delaying the release of Half-Blood Prince some nine months.

Did I follow through on any of my threats to: a) boycott the movie; b) send some rather disturbing hate mail to the movie execs; or c) upload a crazed and teary YouTube video, ala Chris Crocker? No, I did not.

What I did do was haunt the various Harry Potter fansites for the smallest glimpse of anything that could be deemed as Half-Blood Prince news. I downloaded all of the trailers (and there was a bunch of them), I stared at all the press shots and movie stills for longer than was probably healthy – I basically stalked the movie, ok.

So what was my mood like on July 15 when I finally walked into that movie theatre, box of popcorn and jumbo Pepsi in hand, knowing that Half-Blood Prince, the film I’d dreamed about since its postponement was announced, was going to be rolling in just a few minutes?

Well, if I squealed like a fangirl every time I saw the Half-Blood Prince trailer, you can imagine my delight – scratch that, euphoria overload.

I was practically floating on cinematic-induced cloud 9.

Having read the book (more than once) I was more than a little familiar with the plot, so I was gasping and giggling and – yes – squealing well before the moments that garnered such responses had even appeared on screen.

Some of the funniest moments came, not from the film’s leading man, Daniel Radcliffe, but from lesser-known characters and actors, some of which were making their debut appearance in the sixth installment. Freddie Stroma’s Cormac McLaggen provided some stellar comedic moments, not in the least of which was his slightly stalkerish finger-suck-and-wink over a bowl of ice cream at Slughorn’s party.

I have to admit, I was a tad concerned at David Heyman’s decision to pair high doses of humour and teenage romance with the level of darkness and angst the sixth novel held. I was even more fearful of what the movie would entail when producer Heyman described the film as “fun” and all about “romance and relationships.”

Where’s the darkness, I wanted to scream; where’s the dramatic depth of the Sectumsempra scene?

Thankfully, and surprisingly, I guess I should say, the balance between darkness and the lightness of humour and romance really worked, and I wasn’t left under-whelmed in any way. In particular, the aforementioned Sectumsempra scene was another highlight, albeit an ominous one.

The movie’s only real downfall was the portrayal of Harry’s budding relationship with Ginny Weasley. Throughout their scenes together, Radcliffe seemed stiff and awkward, while on-screen partner Bonnie Wright appeared monotonic and downright bland.

The big kissing scene was actually uncomfortable to watch, and despite the fact that I wasn’t thrilled about Harry and Ginny as a pairing to start with, I was left feeling pretty disappointed by the end of the two-second smooch. All I can say is, thank God it was only two seconds long, and not a full on pash, or I might have gagged into my box of popcorn.

The stand-out of the entire film was definitely Draco Malfoy.

The actor behind Harry Potter’s arch nemesis, Tom Felton, did a brilliant job in capturing the right level of emotion required to really makes fans of the series feel sorry for a character they have previously never sympathized with.

His journey from schoolboy to a soldier of Lord Voldemort’s was a key theme in the movie, and Felton’s acting was spot-on where it should be, over-the-top where it should be, and other times utterly heartbreaking in its authenticity.

Truly, Felton really stepped it up a notch or two in this film, leaving me feeling that he – and not Radcliffe or Grint or Watson – is the shining light at the end of this very long Potter tunnel. I think I can safely predict that the 21-year-old has a bright and lucrative career ahead of him.

That being said, I can’t leave off without admitting how adorable I found Rupert Grint (who plays Ron Weasley) in his Quidditch uniform. If it was up to me, Grint would appear in every single scene, and he would be decked out in tight, yet totally adorkable, Quidditch garb the entire time.

Hot.

And with that emission of fangirlish hormones, I think I’ve come full circle.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is in cinemas worldwide from July 15.

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