THURSDAY, JUNE 27
NATIONAL HEADLINES:
SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN DOMA, PAVES WAY FOR GAY MARRIAGE IN CALI
In a major victory for gay rights supporters, the Supreme Court yesterday struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, which had blocked federal recognition of gay marriage since 1996. In a 5-4 majority, the law was invalidated on grounds that it was unconstitutional. DOMA had denied federal benefits to gay couples who are legally married in their states, including Social Security survivor benefits, immigration rights and family leave.Edith Windsor, the 84-year-old woman who brought the case against DOMA, said the court’s ruling ensured that the government could no longer discriminate against same-sex couples. In a separate case, the court said it could not rule on a challenge of Proposition 8, a ban of gay marriage in California passed by voters in 2008, because supporters of the ban had no legal standing in court. The decision will allow same-sex marriage to resume in California.
EX-PATRIOTS FOOTBALL PLAYER ARRESTED ON MURDER CHARGES
Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was arrested yesterday morning and charged with murder. Hernandez, 23, was taken into custody more than a week after a man’s body was found near his home in Massachusetts. Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old member of the semi-pro football team the Boston Bandits, was found slain June 17 and officials ruled the death a homicide. Shortly after Hernandez’s arrest, the Patriots dropped him from the team. The investigation also cost Hernandez his endorsement contract with CytoSport last week. Separately, Hernandez is also caught up in a civil lawsuit by a Connecticut man,Alexander Bradley, who alleges Hernandez shot him in the eye after the two left a Miami strip club in February.
WITNESS IN ZIMMERMAN TRIAL SAYS SHE HEARD A BOY’S VOICE YELLING FOR HELP
A witness in the trial of George Zimmerman testified yesterday that she heard a “boy’s voice” yelling for help the night Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin. Sanford, Florida resident Jane Surdyka was in her home the night Martin, 17, was shot and killed. She said she heard a “loud, dominant” voice 20 to 30 feet from where she was, and when she opened her window she could see two people on top of each other on the ground. She said she heard a boy pleading for someone to save him. A second witness, Jeannee Manalo, said yesterday she also heard screams but did not know who was crying for help. Zimmerman claims he was screaming that night and shot and killed the unarmed teenager after Martin repeatedly banged his head against the concrete sidewalk. But prosecutors say the screams were coming from Martin. Zimmerman is facing second-degree murder charges.
TOURISTS BACK ON LAND AFTER GETTING STRANDED ON ARCTIC ICE FLOE
A group of 20 tourists were back on land yesterday after becoming trapped on a drifting ice floe in theCanadian Arctic. The tourists, including two Americans, were camping out on the ice floe as part of a tour with the guide company Arctic Kingdom. The company said it believes irregular weather patterns – including a large tide and strong winds – pushed the ice floe away from land and stranded the group. The tour group was planning to camp out there for the entire week so they had plenty of equipment, and were never in any immediate danger. On Tuesday night, the wind switched direction and the ice moved close enough to shore so that everyone could get off. The group was expected to be picked up by a helicopter yesterday.
ANOTHER LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST MONSTER ENERGY DRINK AFTER TEEN DIES
Another lawsuit was brought against Monster Energy Drink this week, after a 19-year-old allegedly died after consuming the beverages daily. The suit, filed by the mother of Alex Morris, blames Monster Beverage Corp. for the teen’s death from cardiac arrhythmia last year. The lawsuit claims Morris would not have died if he did not drink two cans of Monster’s energy drink every day for the three years before his death, including the day he died. The lawsuit comes after the family of a 14-year-old girl in Maryland sued the company last year, after she consumed two 24-ounce cans of the energy drink and died.
ROCK NEWS:
SOUNDGARDEN BASSIST PREPS DEBUT SOLO ALBUM
Longtime Soundgarden bassist Ben Shepherd will release his debut solo album, In Deep Owl, on August 27, under the moniker HBS. According to early reports, the record was to feature Shepherd and an acoustic guitar, but Soundgarden and Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron and ex-PJ drummer Matt Chamberlain agreed to play drums, the volume got turned up. The first taste of In Deep Owl is the song “Baron Robber.”
EX-LIFE OF AGONY SINGER CAPUTO SHARES TRUE ‘IDENTITY’ IN NEW CLIP
Former Life of Agony singer Mina Caputo quite literally reveals her true identity in the thought-provoking (NOTE CONTENT) video for “Identity,” the first single off her fourth solo album, As Much Truth as One Can Bear. The singer, once known as Keith Caputo before coming out as transgender in 2011, describes her new album as “romantic rock ‘n’ roll with rusty edges,” adding, “I was really trying to channel a lot of Paul Simon, a lot of Led Zeppelin, a lot of Pink Floyd and a lot of David Bowie and yeah, they are my roots. I’m very old school with the music I listen to and you can’t help but hear that come through.” Finally, as a financially-challenged independent solo artist, in order to make physical copies of the album, Caputo has launched an Indiegogo campaign in the hopes of raising $35,000 to cover production costs.
MOTORHEAD SCRAPS TWO GIGS DUE TO LEMMY’S HEALTH SCARE
Hard rockers Motorhead were forced to cancel two concerts this past week after frontman/bassistLemmy Kilmister suffered what is being described as a severe hematoma. The band axed a planned June 22 performance at the See-Rock festival in Austria, and nixed Tuesday night’s planned gig in Milan, Italy. According to WebMD, “By definition, a hematoma is a collection of blood outside of a blood vessel. The hematoma may be tiny, with just a dot of blood or it can be large and cause significant swelling.” Lemme was recently fitted with an implantable defibrillator to correct an irregular heartbeat.
KISS PARTNERS WITH VEVO TO DEBUT EXPLOSIVE NEW VIDEO
The platform boots and makeup of Kiss and VEVO, the world’s leading all-premium music video and entertainment platform, partnered to present the world premiere of the over-the-top lyric videofor “Right Here Right Now,” the latest anthemic track off the band’s current album, Monster. Teeming with all the bombast Kiss fans yearn to see at every show, the clip features the band in their favorite environment – onstage.
PANDORA RESPONDS TO PINK FLOYD’S OP-ED
Digital music service Pandora has responded to the op-ed penned by the members of Pink Floydaccusing the company of misleading artists regarding royalty rates while scheming to reduce its royalty payments even further. In a statement released yesterday, Pandora says while it has “enormous respect” for Pink Floyd, the band has been given “badly misleading information,” while flatly denying it supports “an 85% artist pay cut.” The statement goes on to read: “This much is true: Pandora is by far the highest paying form of radio in the world,” arguing that it “pays over 4.5 times more in total royalties than broadcast radio for the same song.”
RED ROCKER REELS IN FEAST OF FRIENDS FOR STAR-PACKED NEW ALBUM
Appropriately, Sammy Hagar’s forthcoming studio album, Sammy Hagar and Friends (due September 24), will feature a host of the Red Rocker’s best buddies. A partial tracklist and list of collaborators was announced yesterday, which includes Journey guitarist Neal Schon, Heartprincipal Nancy Wilson, Chickenfoot bandmates Chad Smith, Michael Anthony, and Joe Satriani, Kid Rock, members of Montrose, and country star Ronnie Dunn. A sample of the song titles on the record includes “Knockdown Dragout,” “All We Need is an Island,” “Bad on Fords and Chevrolets,” “Father Sun,” “Goin’ Down,” and covers of the Bob Seger’s “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” and Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesus.”
DEVO DRUMMER ALAN MYERS DEAD AT 58
Alan Myers, drummer for Devo during the peak of the band’s success, died Monday of stomach cancer. He was 58. Myers’ passing was first made public on Facebook by his friend Ralph Carney, a jazz musician who is the uncle of Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney. Myers joined Devo in 1976 and played on Devo’s first seven studio albums, including 1980’s Freedom of Choice, which featured the group’s signature song, “Whip It.”
SHOWBIZ NEWS:
PAULA DEEN GROVELS ON TODAY
Paula Deen finally made it to Today yesterday, where she broke down and insisted she is not a racist. Matt Lauer grilled the former Food Network star on whether she was on the show purely to save her financial empire. “The main reason I am here today, Matt, is it's important to me that I tell you, and everyone out there, what I believe and how I live my life,” she said. “I believe that every creature on this earth — every one of God's creatures — was created equal, no matter who you choose to go to bed at night with, no matter what church you go to pray. I believe that everyone should be treated equal and that's the way I was raised, and that's the way I live my life." Regarding being dropped from the Food Network, Matt asked, “Would you have fired you?,” which seemed to leave her stunned. She answered, “Knowing me? No.” She then pleaded, "If there's anyone out there that has never said something that they wish they could take back — if you're out there, please pick up that stone and throw it so hard at my head that it kills me. Please. I want to meet you. I want to meet you. I is what I is and I'm not changing. There's someone evil out there that saw what I had worked for, and they wanted it."
IN OTHER PAULA DEEN NEWS
The recent scandal hasn’t affected Paula Deen’s book sales. Advance orders of Deen’s new cookbook, Paula Deen’s New Testament: 250 Favorite Recipes All Lightened Up, have skyrocketed in the past few days, up nearly 1,300% on Amazon. The book comes out in October.
Another Deen product that isn’t suffering is her annual cruise. A representative for Royal Caribbean, which runs the Paula Deen Cruise, said it remains in high demand, with an additional journey planned for 2014 because they’ve had “so many requests from Paula’s fans in the past.”
A report claims the Food Network was contemplating ending their contract with Deen even before the N-word controversy began. Insiders say Deen’s agents had been in negotiations for several weeks about extending her contract, but the network was hesitating because her ratings had decreased substantially in the last year.
Deen lost another two more endorsement deals yesterday. Caesars Entertainment Group, which runs Paula Deen-themed restaurants in four of their properties, announced they are cutting ties with the Southern chef. The company plans to rebrand the restaurants in the coming months. And in another huge blow, Deen was dropped by Walmart yesterday. The company said in a statement, “We are ending our relationship with Paula Deen Enterprises and we will not place new orders beyond those already committed."
Finally, Deen recently hired a crisis PR agent, and it’s none other than Judy Smith, the woman who was the inspiration for Scandal’s fictional DC fixer Olivia Pope, played by Kerry Washington. Smith has previously worked with the likes of Monica Lewinsky and Michael Vick.
OPRAH TOPS FORBES’ CELEBRITY 100
Oprah Winfrey has returned to the top of Forbes’ annual Celebrity 100 ranking of the most powerful famous faces. For the past two years Oprah has landed at number two, with Jennifer Lopez topping the list last year. Forbes’ Celebrity 100 is not only based on earnings and net worth, but also on fame and marketability. Coming in at number two this year is Lady Gaga, followed bySteven Spielberg, Beyonce and Madonna.
Celebrity 100 Top Ten
1. Oprah Winfrey
2. Lady Gaga
3. Steven Spielberg
4. Beyonce
5. Madonna
6. Taylor Swift
7. Jon Bon Jovi
8. Roger Federer
9. Justin Bieber
10. Ellen DeGeneres
BELL & SHEPARD TO MARRY AFTER DOMA DECISION
The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act yesterday has prompted a celebrity couple to finally make their relationship legal. Veronica Mars’ Kristen Bell and fiancéDax Shepard, who welcomed a daughter Lincoln earlier this year, always said they wouldn’t tie the knot until same sex marriage was legal, and they weren’t lying. Moments after the Supreme Court’s decision was announced she tweeted, "@daxshepard will you marry me? Xo #marriageequality #loveislove." Shepard responded, “F**k Yes!,” adding “DOMA is dead. Prop 8 is dead. Now let’s bring my big, gay marriage to @IMKristenBell to Life!!!!”
MORE ON BROWN’S HIT AND RUN CHARGES
The woman who has accused Chris Brown of hit and run told cops he threw a fit after the accident, and almost attacked her. Olga Gure-Kovalenko told officers after Chris rear-ended her Mercedes, he refused to give her his drivers’ license, and instead the passenger in the vehicle, Chris’ on-again/off-again girlfriend Karrueche Tran, handed Olga her license because she was the owner of the car. Olga says she insisted on getting Chris’ info since he was driving, but he refused to cooperate. Olga then tried to take a picture of Chris and Karrueche for evidence, and he went nuts. “The guy [Chris] tried to grab the camera or me. I jumped back, the girl [Karrueche] screamed, 'Don't touch her, don't touch her!,’” Olga told cops, adding Chris then started to scream, “You are a bitch! Who do you think you are, b*tch? Do you think if you driving Mercedes you got money, b*tch?" After some more expletives, Chris slammed his car door and drove away. Olga insists she didn’t realize the driver was anyone famous. But Chris’ lawyer claims the entire hit-and-run case is “B.S.” He says Chris gave Olga his Virginia driver’s license, and also gave her an insurance card.
BIEBER’S NEW GAL MARRIED
Justin Bieber’s alleged new girlfriend isn’t a free woman. Earlier this month, Justin was linked to a waitress named Jordan Ozuna, after they were spotted kissing in the waiting room of an indoor skydiving facility in Las Vegas. But now Celebuzz.com reports Jordan is still a married woman. Jordan’s estranged mother-in-law Kim Ozuna says the 22-year-old married her son Daniel “right out of high school” and while the marriage only lasted a couple of years, they have yet to get divorced. “They’ve been separated a good year,” she said, adding that her son is currently serving in the Coast Guard and probably doesn’t even know his ex has been linked to Bieber.
JACKSON’S SON TAKES THE STAND
Michael Jackson’s son Prince Michael took the stand yesterday in Katherine Jackson’swrongful death suit against concert promoters AEG Live. The 16-year-old told jurors his dad had many tense conversations with the promoter of his London This Is It shows, and after one call he heard his dad remark, “they’re going to kill me.” Katherine claims AEG is responsible for Michael’s death because they hired Dr. Conrad Murray, who was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter. Prince testified he saw AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips have a heated conversation with Murray days before his father’s death, stating that Phillips “looked aggressive to me.” AEG’s attorney denies that ever happened, and said Prince would be re-called during their portion of the trial. "I think as the testimony will show when he is called in our defense that's not what happened," the lawyer said. "He was a 12-year-old boy who has had to endure this great tragedy." As for the day his father died, Prince said Murray simply told them, “Sorry kids. Dad’s dead.” He said his sister Paris, who recently attempted suicide, was hit the hardest by their father’s death. "She was my dad's princess,” he said. “She definitely is dealing with [his death] in her own way."
PARIS’ FAMILY WANTS HER FACEBOOK PAGE SHUT DOWN
TMZ reports that Paris Jackson’s depression was caused by cyber bullying on Facebook. Sources say the 15-year-old can’t handle the negative things people write on her page about her father Michael Jackson and his lifestyle, including allegations he molested young boys. “They destroyed her,” said a source. Now that Paris is at UCLA Medical Center she doesn’t have access to the social networking site, but sources say her family is very concerned she’ll have a relapse once she gets out. They are trying to get the page shut down, but Facebook’s policy is that only a user can shut down his or her Facebook page.
GLANVILLE HITS BACK AT TALK SHOW HOST
Brandi Glanville is fighting back after a talk show host blasted her for not revealing she had an STD before they went on a date. John Kerwin went out with the Real Housewives of Beverly Hillsstar after she appeared on his show last April, and recently recounted details of the date to Radaronline. He was reportedly upset to find out from her book that she had HPV, and joked that her next release should be called “My Life As An Open Sore.” Brandi responded to his comments by saying, “It's unfortunate John Kerwin’s parents never taught him how to act like a gentleman. Perhaps when he learns how to show respect toward other people he will be more successful, both personally and professionally.” But Kerwin wasn’t about to let Brandi get the last word. He responded, telling E!, “Brandi has HPV and didn’t tell me, Luckily, I stopped after she performed oral sex. If you study Brandi’s history, it becomes clear that she’s far from a lady.”
BETHENNY’S EX WON’T LET HER FILM IN APARTMENT
Doesn’t sound like the animosity between Bethenny Frankel and her ex Jason Hoppy will end anytime soon. According to Radaronline, the pair is now at odds over filming at their Manhattan pad, which they are both still living in despite their split. According to Radaronline, Bethenny wanted to film scenes for her upcoming talk show in the $5 million condo, but Jason shut her down. Jason is also refusing to let their daughter Bryn appear on the show.
CHAZ KEEPING OFF THE POUNDS
Chaz Bono stepped out in L.A. Tuesday with a decidedly slimmer look. The former Dancing with the Stars contestant has clearly been getting into shape, and looked trim in a pair of white chinos and a blue T-shirt. Last month, Chaz announced he had lost 65 pounds with the help of a trainer and a nutritionist.
TV TIDBITS
● Private Practice’s Amy Brenneman will join Justin Theroux and Liv Tyler in Damon Lindelof’s HBO pilot The Leftovers, about people who survive a Rapture-like event. Brenneman will play Laurie, a woman who has left her entire life behind to join a mysterious cult.
● CBS announced yesterday that The Amazing Spider-Man’s Rhys Ifans has landed the recurring role of Sherlock Holmes’ brother on Elementary. He will make his debut during the show’s season two premiere, which will be shot in London.
