FONSECA GOSSIP 02/25/10
|PATTI LABELLE THINKS “IDOL” JUDGES CAUSE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS
Legendary singer Patti LaBelle has publicly spoken out against “American Idol,” taking the side of the many hopefuls who cross paths with the judges on their way to try to be a star. The “Lady Marmalade” singer has revealed in an interview that thinks “some of the judges…[aren't] qualified to even judge.”
LaBelle didn’t specify who she was talking about, though the comment does seem to be a rather overt dig at Ellen DeGeneres, the newest judge on the panel, as well as the only judge who has no roots in the music side of the entertainment business, aside from the fact that she likes to listen to music in her free time.
LaBelle went on to say that the judges were flat-out cruel in many cases. “The comments that were made, they could make you, like, wanna kill yourself. If you believe in yourself, just go for it. What do you have to lose?”
Um. The “American Idol” competition, actually. (Those who didn’t make the top 24 this year will likely agree with me.)
SUSAN BOYLE’S BROTHERS THINK SHE’S A NUTJOB
Susan Boyle has been followed with rumors of insanity after her initial breakdown following her “Britain’s Got Talent” loss last year, and then a series of episodes that have seemed to be mini breakdowns over the past half year or so. She recently told an audience that she would like this dream of hers to “go on and on,” but her brothers, Gerry and John, have told “People” magazine that Boyle may not be mentally fit to handle the pressures that come with being an international celebrity.
Says Gerry, “The traveling…thing is exhausting. She still has her anxities and her loneliness.”
Her older brother, John, was a bit more blunt, saying that sis Boyle needs “24 hour care.”
The 48-year-old Scottish singer was thrust into the spotlight overnight after her audition for “Britain’s Got Talent” became one of the largest viral videos, and her friends and family say that she is prone to call them late at night just to have someone to talk to. Her friend Lorraine Campbell has revealed, “If she’s upset, she’ll stay the night…nighttime is a lonely time for her.”
“LOST” STAR MATTHEW FOX ACCUSED OF CHEATING WITH A STRIPPER
“Lost” actor Matthew Fox is the latest celebrity to battle rumors of infidelity to his wife at the hands of some skanky stripper. He and Margherita Ronchi have been married for 18 years, they have two children together, and now, stripper Stefani Talbott is saying that Fox has bedded her on several occasions.
Talbott tells “InTouch” that she first met Fox last July when she began working at Stars Cabaret in Oregon. She said that when she was onstage, she spotted him immediately, having been a huge fan of “Party of Five,” and that she was excited to have him in her club.
Stefani says that the real-life Fox is nothing like the clean-cut on-screen Fox, though, and that he was hammered and dealing out $20 bills for multiple private dances from her. When he asked her why she was working there, she explained that she was a single mom who needed the money.
Talbott goes on to say that she met him later that night. “He complimented me and was saying how down-to-earth I am…he didn’t tell me to keep it a secret or anything. He didn’t even use protection. He didn’t seem concerned at all.”
Talbott claims that she has incriminating voicemails and texts to back her story up. Matthew Fox’s reps have denied that he has ever had anything to do with Stefani Talbott.
CHARLIE SHEEN BATTLING AN ADDICTION TO SNOW
It was reported earlier in the week that Charlie Sheen had now checked himself into rehab for “undisclosed reasons” while his wife, Brooke Mueller, kept their children after two recent rehab stints of her own.
Radar Online is now reporting that Sheen is in rehab for cocaine and alcohol abuse. This doesn’t quite go hand-in-hand with the statement from Sheen’s rep insiting that his rehab stay was simply a “preventative measure.”
Brooke Mueller revealed that she and Charlie had been using cocaine prior to their altercation that led to his Christmas Day arrest for domestic violence and a court order that kept them apart until recently. The idea that Sheen might be in rehab for cocaine certainly isn’t a very far-fetched idea, though his management has yet to confirm this.
CHRIS BROWN THINKS TIGER DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE
During a radio interview this week, singer Chris Brown was asked about the Tiger Woods scandal, and not surprisingly, Brown backed the golfer: “My hat goes off to him…I think people always deserve a second chance. I know my fans gave me a second chance and people gave me a second chance.”
Brown is, of course, referring to the domestic abuse charges he was hit with after beating up girlfriend Rihanna last year. He was recently praised by the judge for his community labor and domestic violence classes attendance during a progress hearing.
According to Chris, “nobody has the right to place judgment or make any judgment on somebody else’s personal life when they’re not directly involved with them…people make mistakes.”
Brown, of course, did overlook the one exception of no judgment UNLESS you have more than 10 mistresses involved. Judgment is totally allowed in those cases.
ELLEN FUELS COWELL DRAMA RUMORS BY SWITCHING SEATS
Ellen DeGeneres and Simon Cowell are said to be anything but friendly behind the scenes of “American Idol,” and Ellen has only added fuel to the fire by switching seats and taking a chair next to Randy Jackson for Tuesday night’s show.
DeGeneres, of course, turned the big thing into a joke, saying, “The problem is that Simon wants me. He’s got, like, a thing for me, and I get it – but it’s not gonna happen.”
Simon played things up, too, by filming a bogus “real” clip of him trying to grab at Ellen’s hand under the judge’s table.
Is this a clever way of trying to separate the two and keep the peace onstage, if not backstage?
NICOLE RICHIE IS FLYING PLANES. BE AFRAID.
Nicole Richie, who just recently got engaged to longtime boyfriend Joel Madden, is now taking to the friendly skies. As a co-pilot.
Am I the only one totally scared by this?
Richie flew to Montreal this week to promote her fashion lines, and during the trip, she was allowed to co-pilot the plane. She wrote about the experience of handling a plane in her blog, saying that it was “so much fun,” joking, “Now if only everyone else on the flight felt the same way.”
Oddly enough, this seems to be a growing trend among famous females. Model Gisele Bundchen is actually in the process of earning her pilot’s license, and Hilary Swank and Angelina Jolie have both taken multiple aviation lessons.
BOOK FANS ANGRY ABOUT ANGELINA JOLIE BEING CAST IN MOVIE
Not everyone is on Team Jolie, it seems! Particularly not when it comes to her playing their favorite book character. The actress has been lined up to portray Kay Scarpetta, the medical examiner from the Patricia Cornwell novels, and fans are absolutely livid about the choice.
Sources say that Jolie is thinking in terms of franchise money, similar to her role in the “Tomb Raider” films. One source says that she’s “been looking for another blockbuster character to play…which would extend her career and make her a huge amount of money.”
Cornwell herself says that she met Angie and was quite impressed with her, but the author’s fans seems to think that Brad Pitt’s arm candy is the farthest from the correct choice to play Scarpetta. Some of their comments suggest that Angelina’s beauty would actually distract from the intentions of the character, that she’s too thin to portray the “healthy” Scarpetta, and that she’s also too young for the part.
Readers have suggested Laura Linney, Diane Lane, and Jodie Fosters as actresses that might be better fit for the role. And given what they picture Scarpetta to be, I’m not entirely sure that’s a compliment for those actresses.
TIDBITS
Octomom Nadya Suleman is thinking ahead, and hasn’t ruled more children out of her future. She admitted to the ladies of “The View” this week that if she ever got married, she would consider it, though she would limit it to only one more child. Suleman’s current brood of 14 was conceived via in vitro, and she says her kiddos take priority over any future plans to have any more children. I’m sorry. What? Did Octomom just make a sensible statement? Goodness, it really is the end of days!
Conan O’Brien has joined the wide world of twitter. His bio on the micro-blogging site says, “I had a show. Then I had a different show. Now I have a Twitter account.” I’d say that about sums it up!
Clay Aiken is planning on speaking at the upcoming Human Rights Campaign Carolinas gala in his hometown of Raleigh, NC this weekend, as will Meredith Baxter. Both stars have abandoned their closets in the last year. Aiken says that his goal is “to be hopeful” and that “it’s time for everyone to have equal rights.”
Johnny Depp may be a hot piece of ass, but he’s apparently a smelly one, too. A source close to Depp and his wife, Vanessa Paradis say that neither of them is that big on personal hygiene, and they don’t shower as much as regular social interaction with other people should obligate them to. The source says that if Johnny is “showing up for work on set, he’ll be a total professional, but that doesn’t mean hell be shiny and clean.” Ew.
Sightings of missing “Growing Pains” actor Andrew Koenig continue to be reported in Vancouver, where he was last seen. Authorities say that the latest sighting that was reported match when his ATM card and cell phone were last used, and the good news is that they consider themselves to be seeking “a living person.” Koenig’s family initially feared the worst, revealing that he suffered from depression. A friend also said that Andrew had given away his belongings, turned off his phone and cleared out his apartment just prior to being seen by those close to him for the final time. Authorities seem to believe that Koenig might simply be laying low in Vancouver.
