Sunday, April 19, 2009

Jamie Foxx Slams Miley Cyrus: "Make a Sex Tape...Do Some Heroin"

Jamie Foxx lashed out at tween star Miley Cyrus on his Sirius satellite radio show “The Foxxhole Sunday”. He referred to the 16-year-old as a “little white bitch” and advised her to “do some heroin” and “make a sex tape and grow up” comparing her to other celebrities that are known for this type of behavior. Jamie Foxx’s foul outburst was prompted by a caller to the show who brought up an old story of how Cyrus pledged to ruin Radiohead’s career after they refused to meet with the teenage star backstage at the Grammys. Jamie Foxx continued to poke fun at her, and said she should become like Britney Spears and do drugs or date a lesbian like Lindsay Lohan. Neither Cyrus nor Foxx have directly addressed the issue, though a rep for Foxx said a statement would be forthcoming and to keep in mind that Jamie Foxx’s show is meant to be a comedy.

It is clear that Jamie Foxx’s show is intended for an older and mature audience, but do you think he should be allowed to say such awful things about young stars on the radio? This question can relate back to the extent of government regulation that we discussed in class.

Click here to read the article.

Father tries to cash in on daughter's fame

The poverty-stricken father of Rubina Ali, the child star of the Oscar winning film “Slumdog Millionaire”, wants to cash in on his daughter’s success by putting her up for sale. The father wants to escape India’s real life slums by putting his special daughter, who he claims is an Oscar child, up for adoption. He is demanding millions of rupees worth 200,000. The father says that he has to consider what is best for himself, his family, and Rubina’s future. The father, whose name is Rafiq, is desperate to cash in on his daughter’s success by selling her to the highest bidder. He claims that they received almost no money from the film’s success, and continue to live in poverty and he just cannot support his family.

Rubina won the hearts of millions around the world by playing young Latika in Dan Boyle’s movie, “Slumdog Millionaire”, which won eight Oscars. The movie was filmed in the ghetto of Mumbai, which depicts true scenes of poverty and child cruelty, where young orphans are crippled and blinded by thugs and forced to beg on the streets to bring them money, just like depicted in the movie.

The sort of transaction that Rubina’s father is attempting to do is far from unusual in an impoverished nation, where human life comes cheap and children are treated as a commodity. What are your thoughts on the father putting his famous daughter up for sale?

Read the entire article here.

Madonna Hospitalized Following Horseplay, Blames Paparazzi

Over the weekend Madonna was taken to a Long Island hospital after falling off of her horse in the Hamptons. Her publicist blames this incident on the paparazzi. The accident occurred after Madonna’s horse was startled by paparazzi who jumped out of the bushes to photograph the famous singer. Yet there was no photographer near Madonna at the time of the spill, according to the New York Post, who has exclusive photos of Madonna’s outing. Thus the cause is quite unclear. The pop icon was released after being treated for minor injuries and bruises at the Southampton Hospital. Madonna will continue to be under observation by doctors and have further tests.

What are your views on how the paparazzi follow celebrities? Is there a way to limit their intrusion into celebrities' private lives?

Click here to read full story.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Doctor Who Operated on Kanye's Mom Loses License

Dr. Jan Adams, the plastic surgeon who operated on Kanye West’s mother the day before she died in 2007, is no longer allowed to operate. He has given up his license to practice medicine in California after the state’s Medical Board brought charges against him. The charges stemmed from two criminal convictions for driving under the influence. Adams has admitted the truth of each allegation. The Medical Board’s executive director says the board’s mission is public protection, and this action reflects the board’s commitment to their mission. Adams may petition for reinstatement in three years, but since he surrendered his license now means that he acknowledges the reasons for disciplinary action is correct in the case that the board looks at his case in the future. This is not the first time he has run into trouble with the Medical Board. He has lost his license before due to failure to pay child support to his ex. He has also gotten in trouble for DUIs in 2003 and 2006, which led to probation sentences.

Adams used to be a doctor in high demand, but that all changed after he operated on Donde West on November 9, 2008. He performed multiple elective procedures, including a tummy tuck and breast reduction. She died the next day possibly due to coronary disease and “multiple postoperative factors”, damaging his reputation as a doctor.

Do you think Dr. Jan Adams should ever be given the chance to practice again?

Read the article here.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Demi Moore, Twitter Save Lives

Demi Moore has recently saved a woman’s life by twittering. The movie star received a frightening message from a woman named “sandieguy”, who was thinking about committing suicide. She wrote, “I'm just wondering if anyone cares that I'm gonna kill myself now," followed by another message saying, "Getting a knife, a big one that is sharp…” Moore immediately replied and said, "Hope you are joking," sharing the scenario with her nearly 400,000 followers. The brief exchange inspired several people to contact the authorities. Last morning, the San Jose Police Department received a call from a citizen requesting that they check on the welfare of a 41-year-old female. The caller indicated that she had been sending out messages on Twitter. When the officers arrived at this woman’s home, they determined that the woman fit the criteria to be brought in for psychiatric evaluation, which she is currently undergoing.

Moore thanked her followers for reaching out to the San Jose Police and that the police is aware and taking care of the situation and she also said that she does not know the woman. In the end, Demi Moore saved a woman’s life by reporting a suicide attempt on an at reply tweet, and the woman was taken to the hospital. Both Moore and her husband, Kutcher, have been among the celebs that are frequently live blogging via Twitter, sharing news about their lives with fans and the media.

Click here to read the article.

Bristol Palin's Ex Talks Sex Under Sarah's Roof

Levi Johnston, Bristol Palin’s ex and father of her baby, was recently on the Tyra Banks Show. The 19-year-old told Tyra that Sarah Palin, the vice presidential candidate, was aware that he and her daughter were engaging in premarital sex. He and Bristol, who is just 18 years old, confirmed their break-up in March, just two months after the birth of their son, Tripp Easton Mictchell Johnston. Levi Johnston also said that the couple had practiced safe sex all of time and that the unplanned pregnancy was due to some sort of malfunction. Yet, Tyra probed him into admitting that they had practiced safe sex “most of the time” , not “all of the time”. Johnston also says that Bristol lets him visit Tripp, but will not let him take the baby anywhere and acts as though she does not want him around. They argue a lot and most of the time he does not understand what is wrong with her.

A spokesperson for the Palin family said that they had no idea that Johnston was going to be on the Tyra Banks Show, along with his mom and sister. They were also disappointed that Levi and his family engaged in lies, exaggeration, and distortion of their relationship, in a quest for fame. Do you agree with the Palin family that it was wrong for Johnston to go on the Tyra Banks Show and exploit his previous relationship with Bristol?

Click here for entire article.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

T.I. Sentenced to a Year and a Day

T.I. , who’s real name is Clifford Harris Jr., was recently sentenced to 366 days in a Georgia prison as part of his plea deal with prosecutors over a 2007 felony weapons charge. The 28-year-old rapper is required to voluntarily turn himself into prison within the next 30 to 60 days, but not before May 19, due to his other commitments. It is not clear yet where T.I. will serve his time, but he will be receiving credit for the 305 days he already spent in home detention. As for his sentence, since it is more than one year long, he will be eligible for early release, should his good behavior warrant it.

T.I. pleaded guilty to a federal weapons charge and agreed to complete 1,000 hours of community service, pay a $100,000 fine, and complete an additional 500 hours of community. His release from prison will be followed by an additional three years of supervised release. As part of his community service agreement, T.I. has made 262 public appearances in addition to taking part in a pro-voting campaign, working with children, and appearing in the MTV reality show called “Road to Redemption”. Attorney David E. Nahmias said that they are very pleased with the results of the case and that T.I. has used his public image and his real world experience to deliver the correct message to thousands of kids.

Do you think that it is a good idea that T.I. is using his public image and real life troubles to set an example for young kids?

Click here to read the article.

Madonna Urged by Charity to Rethink Adoption

Madonna wishes to adopt a second child from Malawi. She has already filed papers to hopefully bring home a 3-year-old girl by the name of Mercy James, who has recently become an orphan. Madonna has already adopted a little boy from Malawi in 2006, by the name of David Banda, with her ex-husband Guy Ritchie. They have also helped to build an orphanage there.

Many people are against Madonna adopting another child because they believe she cannot just take every poor child who does not have parents and transport them across the world to London. Save the Children UK’s Dominic Nutt said in an interview that the proper thing to do is to support the community that the children are in, rather than adopt the children. It is better to support the local agencies and charities that can look after the child so that the child is cared for in the community.

In your opinion, should Madonna be allowed to adopt another child from Malawi? Take into consideration that she just recently divorced her husband as well. Furthermore, do you believe the child should be raised in her community or can Madonna provide the little girl a better life?

Click here to read the article.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Funeral Services Held for Natasha Richardson

There weren’t too many news stories or articles to choose from this weekend on E! besides the accidental death of beloved actress, Natasha Richardson. With this said, a private funeral was held for the late Natasha Richardson Sunday afternoon near her Millbrook home in upstate New York, where family and friends gathered to say their farewells. Approximately 40 people attended the services, including her husband, actor Liam Neeson; their two sons, Michael and Daniel; mother Vanessa Redgrave; sister Joely Richardson; and other co-stars and friends. More than two dozen reporters and onlookers also gathered quietly outside of the church. Natasha will be buried nearby St. Peter’s cemetery, where her paternal grandmother, Rachel Kempson, was also buried in 2003.

Read the article here.

Medical Examiner: Natasha Richardson Died of "Blunt Impact to Head"

We were all shocked to hear of Tony Award-winning actress, Natasha Richardson’s, death this past Wednesday. The 45-year-old stage and screen star was taken off life support just two days after what was described as a minor fall during ski lessons on a beginner slope with her two sons. Following an autopsy, it was determined that the actress suffered from an "epidural hematoma due to blunt impact to the head." The death was ruled an accident, said medical examiner spokeswoman Ellen Borakove. Resulting from head trauma, an epidural hematoma is a buildup of blood in the skull that exerts pressure on the brain and can trigger coma or death. After Richardson's minor and ordinary fall at the Mont Tremblant resort near Montreal, she got back up and did not show any visible signs of injury. Later, after returning to her room her condition worsened and an ambulance rushed her to the hospital, where she was later declared brain dead. This was just a horrible accident and my heart goes out to her family and children.

A head trauma can be very serious, no matter how minor it is, because it can cause bleeding in the head, which the ski instructor should have known. Do you think the ski resort is partly to blame since they did not insist on a doctor examining her immediately after her fall?

Click here to read entire article.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Lindsay Lohan Launches Self-tanner Called Sevin Nyne

This particular article sparked my interest especially after reading Lisa's post about an article from msnbc.com entitled "Excessive tanning salons throughout America's big cities". According to her article, young American females continue to use tanning salons despite all the known health risks. So I found it interesting that Lindsay Lohan chose to invest in launching her own line of self-tanners despite all other possible business ventures. The new line of self-tanning mist is called Sevin Nyne and will be launched on April 15th. A "tanning expert" by the name of Lorit Simon, helped Lindsay devise the product. The spray contains the active ingredient DHA and has no harmful chemicals. The color only lasts for about four to five days, so it may be costly for young females to keep up their color during the summer. Yet, I give props to Lindsay for coming up with this idea, especially during a time when girls are obsessed with being tan and going to tanning salons, not thinking of the repercussions of their actions in the future. Many girls look up to Lindsay Lohan and want to look like her, so if they think that she does not go tanning and uses self-tanners instead, then perhaps these girls will start doing the same which would thus be much better for their health. I believe that celebrities in the media should try their best to set good and healthy examples, especially if they have a young fan base. So perhaps if more celebrities would at least endorse self-tanners, then this tanning craze among young females would subside.

Click here to read the article.

Despite Outcry, Chris Brown Still Nickelodeon's Choice

We are all aware of the confrontation that had occurred between Chris Brown and Rihanna on February 8th. If you have been living under a rock and are not aware, R&B singer Chris Brown was charged for allegedly beating up singer and girlfriend Rihanna. Last Thursday he finally had his day in court and was charged with two felony counts, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and making criminal threats. After this news broke out is when a group of angry moms, called Twittermoms, immediately launched an online petition demanding Nickelodeon to remove Brown from the ballot for the 2009 Kids' Choice Awards. Yet, Nickelodeon is letting kids decide for themselves who should win and said that they have no plans of removing the embattled R&B singer as a contender. Chris Brown is currently still up for Favorite Male Singer and Favorite Song for "Kiss Kiss" in the 22nd Annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards ceremony which is set to take place in Los Angeles on March 28th.

I can definitely understand why these parents are upset. They do not want their children looking up to someone who is not a good role model and do not want their children to think his behavior is acceptable. I am actually very surprised at Nickelodeon's decision, especially since numerous radio stations have stopped playing his songs and he has lost many of his endorsement deals as well. I would assume that a kid's television station would be the first to refrain from supporting him, at least in this year's Kids' Choice Awards.

What example is the media setting for young children today?

Click here to read the article.