CelebrityWorld

OK, so they may not share the same problems at the pump as you and I, but some celebrities are feeling the pinch of rising fuel prices. Hip Hop record producer sometime actor Diddy, says gas prices are cramping his lifestyle by causing him to ground his private jet.

Diddy complained in a video on his YouTube blog about having to travel commercially on American Airlines. “Even your boy is being affected by gas prices,” he ranted. “As you know, I do own my own jet and I have been having flying back and forth to L.A. pursuing my acting career. Now, if I’m flying back and forth like twice in a month, that’s like $200,000 or $250,000 round trip. I’m back on American Airlines right now. OK? Your boy Diddy right now is on American Airlines.”

Diddy filmed the video blog while at an airlines gate, just before boarding the plane. 

Things don’t seem to be getting any better in the world of hip hop. There has been more news in recent weeks of jail time and gun play, than there has been of hit records and mega tours. That trend continues, as the son of one of hip hops biggest entreprenuers has been found dead.

Andre Romelle Young Jr., son of rapper/producer “Dr. Dre”, was found dead Saturday in his Woodland Hills, California, home. Young’s mother says she found the 20 year old unresponsive in bed around 10:30am, and that he spent the previous evening with friends.

The cause of death has not yet been determined. An autopsy was performed on Monday, but the actual cause of death will not be announced until toxicology reports have been completed, which could take up to eight weeks.

                Susan Lucci                                     Toni Braxton

The all new “Dancing With The Stars” celebrity line-up was announced today, and as expected, it’s filled with beauty, grace, and brawn. Daytime Emmy Award winner Susan Lucci will compete with the likes of r & b singer Toni Braxton and the former boy band member from ‘N Sync, Lance Bass for the coveted title of best celebrity dancer.

A total of 13 celebrities have been recruited for the new season, which begins Sept. 22. But producers have also continued their pattern of casting for sentiment and the unexpected. Misty May-Treanor, who won an emotional second gold medal for beach volleyball in the recent summer Olympic Games in Beijing, and former NFL defensive lineman Warren Sapp, who last played football weighing over 300 pounds, are also in the line-up.

The rest of the contestants include Cloris Leachman, reality TV star Kim Kardashian, Ted McGinley, Brooke Burke,  former Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene, chef Rocco DiSpirito, “Hanna Montanna’s” Cody Linley and comedian Jeffrey Ross.

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She celebrated her 50th birthday last week, but the material girl show no signs of either slowing down or aging as she kicked off her ”Sticky & Sweet” tour in Cardiff, Wales. She opened her set sitting on a throne befitting the queen of pop while singing her latest hit, “Candy Shop”. She sang and danced her way through more than 25 years of hits, displaying the energy of an artist 25 years younger. A young fan from Cardiff named Morgan said, “I think she’s amazing, I want to be that way when I turn 50.”

Madonna surely did not disappoint. She covered hits which included “Like A Prayer,” “Into The Groove” and “Hung Up.” She drove around the stage in a white car and top hat, and appeared fit, performing in a black leotard.

Live Nation, who is promoting the tour, has scheduled more than 50 dates around the world. The tour runs until December 18, when it wraps up in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The promoters are expecting the tour to gross more than $250 million worldwide, and so confident in Madonna’s staying power that thy’ve signed her to a 10 year deal, reportedly worth more than $120 million.

Watch Madonna’s opening night clip here: http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=89514 

Rappers and jail time is beginning to sound like a never ending saga in the world of Hip Hop. Female rapper and Jermaine Dupri protege’ Da Brat, who’s real name is  Shawntae Harris, has been sentenced to serve three years behind bars for clubbing an Atlanta area woman in the head with a nearly-full rum bottle.

Atlanta Falcons cheerleader Shayla Stevens was working as a hostess for a private party at Atlanta area hotspot, Studio 72, when she got into an altercation with Da Brat. Words were exchanged between the two after they bumped into each other during the crowded affair. Moments after Stevens walked away, she was struck on the side of the face with the bottle, which opened a deep cut on her cheek and swelling on her her forehead. The cut has also left a permanent scar on her face.

The 34 year old rapper pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, and DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Gail Flake sentenced her to three years behind bars and seven on probation. She must also serve 200 hours of community service, complete substance abuse treatment and anger management classes, and undergo a mental evaluation. She previously served 12 months on probation for for an incident in 2000, when she struck another woman in a bar. 

            Janet Jackson now wants you buy her underwear             

Her Super Bowl folly helped make the phrase wardrobe malfunction a household term, but now Janet Jackson wants you to see more of her underwear. The Grammy winning superstar has announced the launched of her new lingerie line, Plearsure Principle, named after her 1987 number one hit.

The singer has teamed up with Austrailian designer,  Bruno Schiavi, who has also designed a line of underwear for Priscilla Presley. Jackson insists that she has been intimately hands on with the project from conception to design ideas to marketing. She say the line will be lacy and sexy, and promises “You will see a lot of satin and lace combined and rich colors such as burgundy and beige, silver and peach as well as your classic black and white. It makes you feel incredible and offers variety as diverse as the women who will wear it.”

The Pleasure Principle line is set to hit U.S. department store in November, in time for the holiday buying season. It will later be launched in Austrailia, Japan, and Europe.

                              Matt Damon and wife, Luciana

It’s been a huge year for celebrity babies, and today’s announcements added three more celebrity newborns to the still growing list. The stork dropped a daughter into the lives of actor Matt Damon and his wife, Luciana, and singer Ricky Martin may no longer be “Livin’ la Vida Loca”, as he announced the birth of twin boys.

Gia Zavala Damon was born Wednesday. A spokeswoman for the Damons said that all are doing great, and that “She is a healthy, beautiful baby girl.” No further details were released about the delivery.

Martin’s sons were delivered were delivered “via gestational surrogacy,” and were actually born several weeks ago, according to the singers spokesman. The name of the surrogate mother has not been released, but the twins are doing fine and are already under Martin’s full time care. Martin will take time away from his career to raise his sons, the spokesman said.

And not to be outdone, actress Jennifer Garner and her husband, actor Ben Afleck announced today that they were also expecting. The couple, who already have a 2 year old daughter, Violet, recently plucked down $16 million for a new home in LA’s upscale Brentwood neighborhood.

            Britney and K-Fed when life was a party

Going to court can be costly for celebrities, and Britney Spears recent legal problems is the latest in what seems to be excessive gouging by Hollywood attorneys. Documents filed at Los Angeles Superior Court indicate that the singer owes more than $466,000 to law firms which represented her in her custody battles with ex-husband Kevin Federline, as well as the $250,000 she agreed to pay to K-Fed’s attorneys.

Court papers show that the bulk of Briney’s debt is owed to attorney Stacy D. Phillips. Phillips claims that she worked for the pop star for about four months and that she has written off another $125,000 of the amount owed. Court document also say that the law firm of  Luce, Forward, Hamilton and Scripps is owed $220,600, and attorney Laura Wasser is owed $60,075.

It was Wasser who negotiated Spears’ June custody settlement after taking over the case. She is also credited with securing overnight visitation for Britney. In addition to the attorneys, Spears must also pay Federline $20,000 per month in child support.

Grammy Award winner and former lead singer for the rock group “Genesis”, has settled his divorce from ex-wife Orianne Cevey for a record $46.76 million, according to the United Kingdom newspaper, the Daily Mail. The settlement is the higest payout In UK history, and is $2million more that Paul McCartney was ordered to pay his ex-wife, Heather Mills.

Collins 57, and Cevey, 35, have been married for six years. The couple have two children; Nicholas, 8, and  Mathew, 4. Collins net worth is estimated to be $280 million. Cevey is his third wife. 

The marriage to Cevey was the third for Collins. The split from second wife, Jill Taverman reportedly cost the singer $34 million in 1994. London’s Daily Telegraph estimates that Collins has paid out more than $84 million in divorce settlements between the three wives.

In the most highly anticipated union since the California Supreme Court legalized same sex marriages in May, comedian and Emmy award winning talk show host Ellen Degeneres married her long time fiance’, actress Portia Di Rossi. The intimate ceremony was attended by 19 guests, including Degeneres’ mother Betty, and Di Rossi’s mom, Margaret Rogers, who flew from Australia for the ceremony.

Degeneres has promised nuptials between the two since the California court ruling, but would not reveal a date. She has hinted that a portion of the wedding festivities will be aired on her show.

Degeneres and Di Rossi have been dating since 2004 and have become the most high profile same sex couple in the entertainment industry. Degeneres has long lendeded her vocal support for the right of same sex couples to marry, and has also voiced her desire to wed Di Rossi.

The World As I See It 

Why People are Interested In Celebrity News

Do Destructive Lifestyles Come With Fame?

The Media’s Love/Hate Relationship With Britney Spears