Friday, 17 April 2015

At 92, Liz Smith Reveals How Rupert Murdoch Fired Her, What It Felt ... | Gossip Hollywood Blog

At 92, Liz Smith Reveals How Rupert Murdoch Fired Her, What It Felt <b>...</b> | Gossip Hollywood Blog

At 92, Liz Smith Reveals How Rupert Murdoch Fired Her, What It Felt <b>...</b>

Posted: 07 Apr 2015 01:24 PM PDT

This story first appeared in the April 24 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

"I'm too old for gossip," insists 92-year-old Liz Smith, delicately settling into a banquette at her favorite Tex Mex watering hole in Murray Hill. But a few hours with the legendary columnist proves that's far from the truth. Despite a few aches and pains, Smith remains a wickedly funny and energetic observer of America's celebrity circus, overflowing with impertinent anecdotes and insider information she's gleaned as the Boswell of the rich and famous. From the time she began her first job at a New York City studio rag called Modern Screen, the renowned journalist has had a ringside seat for every celebrity story and scandal since World War II. Not since the glory days of Walter Winchell has a gossip columnist been as powerful — or as widely read — as she was.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1923, Smith fled to New York in her 20s and began her steady conquest of the city, cultivating friendships with the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando and parlaying those intimacies into a lucrative lifelong career. At its height, her column was syndicated in more than 75 newspapers worldwide, including the New York Post, which lured Smith away for a princely sum from arch-rival Daily News. At one point, she was earning more than $1 million a year. And while the Post let her go in 2009, she's still churning out her column from the same Murray Hill building she's lived in since 1979. (Syndicated by the Chicago Tribune, it's carried in dozens of papers nationwide and on New York Social Diary.) In March, THR met with the grande dame of dish to discuss Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters, Madonna, Barry Diller and life in the gossip trenches.

I believe the last time I interviewed you was exactly 23 years ago.

Our interview made headlines, as I recall. Outweek was viciously outing me as a lesbian for two years. And you called to ask if you could interview me for them. It was so outrageous, I couldn't say no.

I believe the money quote was, "Who am I, the great lesbian of the Western world? They want me to go out, and I want them to go in!"

Yeah, well, I don't really like blackmail and being told what to do. I didn't care about being outed. But I wasn't going to paint myself purple and walk down Fifth Avenue waving a sign. I was old enough that people could describe me any way they wanted. I feel the same way now.

How would you describe yourself?

As a very, very old person. (Laughs.) I've changed a lot, but everybody does. When I was 80, I was doing fine. I was still part of life. But something happens when you have to say you're 90.

Smith was photographed by Wesley Mann.

You were 86 years old when Rupert Murdoch let you go from the New York Post. Were you surprised by that?

I was more shocked than anyone. I thought I was indispensable. Looking back, I just wasn't what the powers that be wanted. And I don't think it had anything to do with Murdoch himself. He liked me well enough and I had been nice to his family when they were virtually unknown here. I went to see him after they fired me and I asked for my job back. He was very sweet and complimentary and finally he said, "Well, you know, it's an editorial thing, Liz. I can't interfere with the Post's editors." I burst out laughing. I said, "Of course you can!" And then he started laughing, too. But then he said he was sorry and kissed me on the cheek, and that was that. But the whole thing hurt my feelings and my stature as a columnist. I've had to struggle to make an adequate living since then.

You expected more loyalty from him.

No. He didn't owe me loyalty. You've got to remember I had worked for the Daily News for 15 years. I was the enemy at the Post, so I was never completely accepted. But if I've learned anything, it's that you can't depend on anything. The world can change in a minute.

How did a tomboy from Texas end up chasing movie stars in New York?

Just lucky, I guess. I grew up in a hard-shell Baptist town. I was this goofy starstruck kid, so in love with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers that I couldn't see straight. So I'd go down to the Tivoli Theater for a dime on Saturdays and watch them singing and dancing all day. But I didn't have the talent to pursue performing myself, so I decided to be a writer instead. I pretty much separated myself from my parents, who were lovely people but thought I was crazy. At some point, I read a book by Christopher Morley called Kitty Foyle, about a girl who falls in love with a mainline guy. She's just an Irish nobody, and his family won't let them marry. So she goes to New York instead and becomes a big deal running businesses. She was my role model when I was 16.

With Ivana Trump in 1990.

Read More New York Times Columnist Offers Insight Into Jill Abramson's Firing

You married for the first time when you were 21. Why did you marry so young?

Well, everybody was doing it. All these brave, fabulous, decent guys were all going off to war. So the least you could do was marry them. And I lucked out. I married a guy I really cared about — a strong, silent type, 6 [foot] 4. But he wanted to be a rancher in Texas and I wanted to get out of there. Later, when I made some money, I bought him a truck and delivered it to him in Texas. He didn't want to accept it. I said, "Yes you have to because my conscience hurts." It was sad, but I was desperate to get to New York. By the time I got here, I was 25, ancient compared to my contemporaries.

What was the city like when you finally arrived?

Well, I didn't have any money, so it wasn't terribly glamorous. I only had $50 when my train rolled into Penn Station. But I found some friends of mine who had graduated earlier, and they showed me the ropes. Like how to subsist at the automat on crackers and ketchup, or get dinner for a quarter at a restaurant with knives and forks!

Where did you live when you got here?

I shared apartments with all kinds of people that I never got to know. Usually three girls in a one-bedroom apartment, drawing straws to see who got the bed and who got the sofa. But it was fine. When I first arrived, I was so excited, I couldn't stay at home anyway. I'd find myself out on the street, standing on a corner, listening to the subway and saying to myself, "OK, Liz, where will we go tonight?"

What kind of life did you imagine for yourself here?

I wanted to cover celebrities and know them. I wanted to hang out at El Morocco and the Stork Club. But I was stuck in the typing pool with all the other girls instead.

How did you finally break out?

Well, back when I was at the University of Texas, I had interviewed Zachary Scott, the actor. He had just made Mildred Pierce with Joan Crawford. He said to me, "If you ever come to New York, call me." So I did. He sent me to his friend Chuck Saxon, who was the editor of Modern Screen. At the time, celebrity magazines were promotional rags controlled by the studios. But I didn't know that. I thought I was a real journalist!

Did you ever aspire to be, say, a news reporter?

No, no. I was glad I had a job where I could announce in the editorial meeting what celebrity I thought we should put on the cover. (Laughs.) I was really good at that. I remember going to my boss and taking him pictures of two up-and-coming actors named Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift.

Smith (left) shared a light moment with then-Sen. Clinton at a 2006 memorial for Texas Gov. Ann Richards.

You and Brando were friendly before he was famous.

I was living in the Village in a tiny apartment with all sorts of people coming in and out. Marlon was dating my friend Elaine Stritch at the time. One night, he called me at home and he said, "Liz, Elaine just keeps letting me kiss her but she won't go any further." I said, "Put her on the phone." I said, "Elaine, you don't understand about men. They aren't satisfied with just kissing. So you have to stop being a prude or just end it."

Wise advice. What did she decide?

They were both pupils of Stella Adler, so they wisely decided to break up. Another one I met early on was a girl named Shelley Winters. Modern Screen assigned me to go around with her in New York while she bought Christmas presents. Every store we stepped into, Shelley would take these expensive things and head for the door. The shops were horrified, but they were afraid to ask her to pay. So I really disliked her after that.

You became a sought-after writer early in your career.

Mostly because I could get to people that nobody else could get to. I met lots of interesting people coming up, and they stayed friends with me when they made it big. And my friendship with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton really helped make my career. It didn't do them any harm, either.

How did that friendship come about?

I met Elizabeth just as her career as a beautiful movie star was tapering off and she had escaped to Europe with Richard Burton because she didn't dare leave him alone. In the '60s, she became completely distant from what was happening in Hollywood; she made all these crazy European movies and avoided the American press. But they trusted me and eventually I became the only journalist who could get to them.

Did you like Elizabeth Taylor?

I loved her. She was just snarky and funny and crazy. Selfish and tremendously generous at the same time. But Burton liked me better than she did. She was threatened by any woman, but he knew better. He liked that I could talk to him about Dylan Thomas and not sound like a total idiot. It got boring for them, hiding in Europe. When I was working at Cosmo, I did five or six stories on the Burtons. I practically lived with them in Rome and Paris. My ticket would always be paid for by Liz, or by 20th Century Fox. That was in the studio era, when sticky ethics still prevailed.

I can't imagine two women more different than you and Cosmopolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown. Did you two get along?

She thought I was Jesus jumping off the cross because I brought her all these interviews. I found Helen fascinating, but I thought she was an idiot sometimes. She would constantly talk to me about getting married and how I should look for a rich man. This is a woman who dedicated her life to telling women how to feather their nest by throwing a scarf over a lamp.

From left: Smith, Beverly Sills, Carol Burnett and Barbara Walters at a Lincoln Center tribute to Sills in 2003.

Your column was sometimes derided as a friendly refuge for celebrities. Was that what you meant it to be?

Oh, yeah. It was just a gossip column! It wasn't about attacking people. I never aspired to be the Journalism Review. But it's wrong to say that it was all positive. I reserved my punches for people who really deserved it.

Did anyone ever offer you a bribe or threaten you?

No. But it's not too late! (Laughs.) Bette Midler was pretty tough on me early on. I ran something about her dating some actor. And she called me up, furious, saying, "I don't want to be in your f—ing column!" Which was an odd thing to hear from someone just starting a career in show business. The funny thing is, I love Bette now. She's amazing, but she's a volatile person. Remember the guy she was with? The funny guy with the grand piano?

Barry Manilow?

That's him. I used to go see them at the Continental Baths! But that partnership didn't end so well.

You had a legendary aversion to Jackie O.'s sister, Princess Lee Radziwill. What was it that set you off?

Well, she did something terrible. She was always a close friend of Truman Capote's. But then Capote got embroiled in that ridiculous libel suit with Gore Vidal over his claim that Vidal had been drunkenly kicked out of the White House. Lee is the one who told Capote the story, but when it ended up in court, she threw him to the wolves. All she had to do was tell the truth. But she refused, and Truman lost the lawsuit, which devastated him. During the trial, as a last-ditch effort, he asked me to call her and beg her to testify. And you know, Truman had done everything for her. He even tried to help her start an acting career. But when I called her and said, "Lee, you really must testify for Truman," she said, "Oh, Liz, what do we care; they're just a couple of fags! They're disgusting." I was so stunned, I just hung up. I've never spoken to her since.

Publicist Bobby Zarem once sent a fake invitation to all of New York society announcing your wedding to your then partner, Iris Love. Were you embarrassed by that?

It was more of an annoyance than anything. People sent me gifts that I had to return. (Laughs.) It only disturbed me because my mother was alive, and I was worried he would send an invitation to her. Thankfully, he never did. The whole thing embarrassed him more than me. People were appalled by what he did. At the time, he denied sending them, but one of his assistants, a friend of mine, found a huge mound of invitations in his drawer. He hated me for some reason, but he couldn't take me down. I was too popular by then.

Read More Bobby Zarem, Famous/Infamous NYC Publicist, on Creating "I Love New York," Feuding With Liz Smith

Donald Trump was another famous antagonist of yours.

I was just appalled by his treatment of Ivana! She came to me shortly after he dumped her, and she was beside herself. I said, "Look, everybody's had a love affair where they're rejected. It takes about two years to get over it — less if you see a psychiatrist." I was touched by Ivana, so I spoke up for her. But, in the end, their fight wasn't about betrayal. It was about money. She was as greedy as he was. It was a great story about nothing. But it made me world famous.

You used to work with Mike Wallace at CBS. Was that a happy experience?

I got the job because a friend, a booker on his [radio] show [Mike Wallace at Large], told me she was quitting to go on tour with Porgy and Bess, where she intended to bed every black man in the cast. (Laughs.) She recommended me for the job and I got it. Mike Wallace became a real mentor to me. We stayed close until his death.

I'm dying to hear how you got your job on NBC's Live at Five.

There was a newspaper strike, and the Daily News forced me to go on television. I had so much fun doing the show that I kept doing it for 15 years. Then Barry Diller came to the idea to do this big national show. He had just become the head of 20th Century Fox and we were old friends. He was practically killed by people who were offended that he had such a great job and he was gay and he wouldn't admit it.

Sexuality can be hard to pin down.

I saw him after David Geffen came out and he said, "Liz, do you think I should come out, too?" And I said, "No, Barry, David Geffen needs to come out. He needs a big story or a scandal or a fight to push him in business and make people afraid of him." But I said, "People are already afraid of you. So what will you gain? And also, you like women."

He seems to like Diane von Furstenberg.

Oh yes. He not only worships Diane von Furstenberg, he has romanced her twice. And they've become New York's most popular philanthropists. But I got off the point. The point was, Barry decided I would be a television star. He wanted to re-create Person to Person, which made Edward R. Murrow a star. I was skeptical, but Barry was set on it, and he hired Roger Ailes to oversee the show.

What do you think of Ailes?

Oh, I love him! He's one of those villains you just gotta love, and he has always been great to me. When we met, he was still a power broker for the Bushes. I'd always say to him, "Roger, you're OK, but as a liberal, I disagree with every word out of your mouth. And by the way, those Bushes are awful!" And he'd say, "Oh, no, no. You'll meet them and they'll love you!"

Smith (left) with Richard Nixon and U.N. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick at Kirkpatrick's birthday party in 1988.

Read More Sony's Michael Lynton Moving to New York (Exclusive)

And did they love you?

(Laughs.) We got along OK.

You also were very close to Ann Richards, whom George W. Bush defeated to become governor of Texas. Was she your best friend?

Well, Ann elected herself to be my best friend. (Laughs.) I had met her through the years when she was governor. When she moved to New York after losing that election, I introduced her to the city. She was a lobbyist by then, representing awful stuff like Mexican beer! She was terrified about money. So Joe Armstrong and I gave a huge party for her at the Russian Tea Room to push her into New York society. Not that she needed much pushing. She would have been a big success anyway. Her death was tragic.

Just as she was starting a new life.

The funny thing is, Ann was the young, healthy one. She always complained about me! She said, "Liz, you only eat from the brown and white food groups. You're going to die young." (Laughs.) And I'd say, "Christ, I'm 86. Leave me alone!" But one day, she began to complain about painful heartburn, which turned out to be esophageal cancer. She left for Texas and refused to let me see her again. At her memorial, which was televised by CNN, I spoke along with Mrs. Clinton, the mayor of Dallas and the mayor of San Antonio. One black, one Mexican, one first lady and me. (Laughs.)

You grew close to many other well-known people over the years. Do you keep in touch with Barbara Walters?

Well, it turns out Barbara Walters can do without me, though I still consider her a friend. She has done so much for me through the years. But when I lost my column and my power, she kind of lost interest in me. When we run into each other now, she loves me; she's always saying, "Let's get together," blah, blah, blah. But I rarely hear from her now. That's OK.

Were there others who dropped you?

In this job, you don't have illusions about people you cover. I don't mix with a lot of celebrities these days. I know Oprah, to say hello and kiss her and genuflect. Helen Mirren, Renee Zellweger, people like that. But I don't see them often. The truth is, everyone around me is dropping like flies, so I don't have many friends left. My best friends are Mary Jo McDonough and Denis Ferrara, who put out the column with me every day.

In 1997 you caused a furor when you wrote that a certain star was about to come out of the closet.

Oh, yes, and it wasn't just Oprah who was furious with me about that. [Media had gossiped at the time that the mystery star was Winfrey.] Rosie [O'Donnell] was as well.

I thought Rosie was going to come out.

She was! But she's crazy, that girl. She loses her temper at everything. The item didn't mention Rosie's name, and she was about to make this grand announcement, but instead she started yelling and screaming. That item was so careful, it didn't even say talk show host. It was such a blind item, it was groping around in the dark. (Laughs.)

But Oprah still felt compelled to put out a statement denying she was gay.

I was amazed by the blowback from that story! It was harmless. The gist of it was, "Better pay attention, readers, because gay people are popping up everywhere!" Despite all that hoopla, Oprah went right on being friends with Gayle King, and I always admired her for that, because she easily could have just rejected Gayle when rumors about them started spiraling.

You were among the first to write about Madonna. Are you still a fan?

She's an extremely talented, deeply complicated woman. We were close for a while, or as close as anyone can get to her. The first time we met, she glowered at me and said, "Aren't you scared of me?" I just laughed. We got along real well after that.

What do you think of the current crop of celebrities?

Oh, I don't even know who they are! Suddenly you have to remember a dozen Kardashians, and really, who has the time? The only reason I can do that is because I've written out their names on a piece of paper stuck on the wall. And still, I'm always having to check, is that Khloe or Kourtney or Kendall or Kim?

Celebrities seem more interchangeable than they used to be.

They arrive full-blown from the head of Zeus with not a shred of talent. There are some I admire, like Taylor Swift. When you see her perform, it's kind of old-fashioned, like if Lana Turner could dance and sing for one number. But I have no interest in hearing her whole catalog.

I know you're obsessed with politics. Have you spent time with Hillary?

Yes! I've met her in such engaging circumstances that I can't believe it when she does stupid things.

Why does she? What's her fatal flaw?

I don't know. Maybe it's like the Republicans say — she lives in her own bubble. But Bill Clinton is one of the most delightful people I ever met. My brothers and my cousins were good old boys, so nothing he's done has surprised me in the least.

What is the thing you're proudest of in your career?

Well, people seem to like me, and I like to be liked. I'm kind of vain about that.

Have you ever been in love?

Oh, yes! Many times. Always with the wrong women or men. The truth is, I had no luck with either sex except Mr. Beeman, who I truly loved as a person.

Your first husband?

He was so good. And he kept on through the years, saying, "Babe, why don't you come back?" He finally remarried and had nice children, who all took up with me. I wonder what their mother thought.

Do you have any huge regrets?

I wish I had been smarter about money. I didn't know I was going to live so long. My advice to every young person is, "Be smart about preparing to live a long time." It's not fun to be old and poor.

You were making a million dollars a year at one point, right?

Yeah, but a million goes quicker than you think. (Laughs.)

What's your biggest disappointment about your career?

Probably that I was never asked to be a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For 50 years, I've done as much for Hollywood as anybody. I'm disappointed Hollywood didn't love me enough to recognize that.

But there's a park named after you in New York, right?

Well, part of a park. Yeah, it's up at 114th Street next to a big school. Bette Midler had it named for me.

You know, a park in New York is just as cool as a star in Hollywood, in my book.

Thanks for saying so, darling. I'll try to look on the bright side.

Read More The Hollywood Reporter's 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media 2015

Drake Explains Grossed-Out Reaction to <b>...</b> - Celebrity <b>Gossip</b>

Posted: 13 Apr 2015 11:01 AM PDT

While performing at Coachella last night, Madonna kissed Drake, and video of the rapper's grossed-out reaction has been making the rounds online today.

Madonna makes out with everyone. What did he think was gonna happen when he invited her on stage?

As a result of his response, Drake has taken some flak in the 24 hours since the now-famous Coachella kiss.

Many felt that he went out of his way to embarrass Madge, but considering she was wearing a shirt that said "Big as Madonna" and shouted, "I'm Madonna!" after her ambush smooch was complete, we don't think her ego is susceptible to damage.

TMZ is reporting that Drake "loved" the kiss. Sources close to him say Drake wiped his mouth and shouted in disgust ("Oh, sh-t! What the f-ck was that?") only because he ended up with some of Madonna's lipstick on his mouth.

The rapper reportedly admitted that it was not rehearsed and he was caught off guard, but he insists it was the lipstick, not the lip-lock that grossed him out.

Some have pointed out that it doesn't look like Madonna is wearing lipstick in the clip, but we'll give Drizzy the benefit of the doubt.

Drake & Rihanna Back Together & Cozy At Coachella - <b>Hollywood</b> Life

Posted: 13 Apr 2015 11:19 AM PDT

The exes were spotted acting like two love birds according to eyewitness at the Coachella Valley Music Festival on April 12 — could they be back together?

Are Drake and Rihanna a couple again? Rihanna was spotted dancing and singing along to Drake at his Coachella concert April 12 but VH1's The Gossip Table has learned that they actually hung out over the weekend and looked "couple-ly!"

Drake &amp; Rihanna Back Together &amp; Cozy At Coachella

An eyewitness tells VH1: "Rihanna and Drake were spotted together this weekend at Coachella and our witnesses say they looked very 'couple-ey'. Drake was headlining the festival and Rihanna loved his performance."

The report goes on to claim that there's a good chance they are back together! This would be really exciting since they've been on-and-off since 2010.

Drake: Madonna's Crush — Their Kiss Was A Dream Come True For Her

Madonna made out with Drake during the concert as RiRi looked on and it turns out Madge has always wanted to lock lips with the hottie.

"The lifelong ambition I still want to fulfill is to go on a dream date with Drake — and only kiss him," Madonna revealed in March 2015 to Us Weekly.

Wow, there's a lot of Drake love this year and we are totally digging it!

HollywoodLifers, do you think they are back together?

— Chloe Melas

More Drake & Rihanna News:

Drake: Madonna Fulfilled Lifelong Dream When She Made Out With Him
Rihanna Releases Patriotic New Video For 'American Oxygen' - Watch
Madonna Kisses Drake Onstage: Grossed Out Fans React

Loading comments...

Drake: Madonna Fulfilled Lifelong Dream When She Made Out With Him Apr13 Read Article►→ 2 What Kind Of Kisser Are You? -- Quiz Apr13 Read Article►→ NEW! Sponsored Content by Taboola Madonna Kisses Drake Onstage: Grossed Out Fans React Apr13 Read Article►→ 3 Madonna Blasts Critics Of Her Sloppy Drake Kiss: 'You're A Fan' Apr13 Read Article►→ 2 Drake & Madonna Make Out On Stage -- Watch His Horrified Reaction Apr13 Read Article►→ 3 Drake Photobombs Newscaster In Hilarious Vine -- Watch Apr02 Read Article►→ 1 Zayn Malik's Solo Music: 'Inspired' By Drake's Rap Career Mar28 Read Article►→ 2 Lil Wayne Claims Drake Hooked Up With His Girl In New Book Proposal Mar20 Read Article►→ 2 Justin Bieber Parties With Drake's Former Stripper Ex, Lira Galore In Miami Mar07 Read Article►→ 33 Chris Brown Baby: Drake Plans To Sing About It In Upcoming Song Mar06 Read Article►→ 13 Karrueche Tran: Dump Chris Brown For Good After Baby Drama Mar04 Read Article►→ 12 Big Sean Drops Dark 'Blessings' Video With Kanye West & Drake Mar03 Read Article►→ NEW! Drake Changes Lyrics On Stage To Diss Chris Brown -- Feud Back On Feb25 Read Article►→ 6 Chris Brown Mocks Drake's Voice & Reveals: I Made Him Famous - Watch Feb22 Read Article►→ 22 Tyga Disses Drake Again: He's Just A 'Weirdo' -- Watch Interview Feb22 Read Article►→ 9 HollywoodLife Podcast: RHOA's Cynthia Bailey & Hot Singer Quincy Reveal All Feb20 Read Article►→ NEW! Drake's Song 'You & The 6': Revealing He Wants To Get Back With Rihanna? Feb13 Read Article►→ 16 Drake Calls Out Tyga For Relationship With Underage Kylie Jenner, 17 Feb13 Read Article►→ 10 Drake vs. Tyga -- Fans Pick Sides After Massive Kylie Jenner Diss Feb13 Read Article►→ 5 Tyga Fires Back At Drake After Mixtape Diss: 'U Still A Bitch' Feb13 Read Article►→ 4

Justin Bieber: Accused of Throwing Water at <b>...</b> - Celebrity <b>Gossip</b>

Posted: 14 Apr 2015 05:29 AM PDT

Yesterday, we learned that Justin Bieber was put in a chokehold and thrown out of Coachella following a bizarre encounter with the festival's security team.

Early reports indicated that Bieber was attempting to get backstage during Drake's set when security overreacted to the pop star making a scene.

Grainy cell phone footage of the incident seemed to support that claim:

Justin Bieber at Coachella Pic

A man named Ruairi O'Keefe tweeted the photo above and captioned it, "Watched Drake with Justin Bieber until he threw water on female security."

Moments earlier, another fan tweeted a photo of Justin along with a caption reading, "Arrogant rude sh-t Justin Bieber throwing water on female security for not letting him backstage."

Many felt that Bieber's version of events (security violently tossed him just for asking to be let backstage) didn't make much sense, and it looks like they may have been right.

The incident could be especially damaging as it comes in the midst of the Bieber apology tour. 

Justin has been attempting to clean up his act and his image, but in the past week authorities issued a warrant for Bieber's arrest in Argentina, and Coachella security thought him to be such a threat that he had to be placed in a chokehold.

Not exactly the best way to get back on the public's good side.

Justin Bieber: Put in Chokehold and Kicked Out of <b>...</b> - Celebrity <b>Gossip</b>

Posted: 13 Apr 2015 05:07 PM PDT

Justin Bieber may be trying to clean up his act these days, but it seems the embattled singer is having some difficulty staying out of trouble.

The pop star attended the Coachella music festival over the weekend, and it initially looked as though he enjoyed an uneventful good time.

Bieber hung with Kendall Jenner throughout much of the festival; witnesses spotted him rocking out in the crowd, and everything appeared to be drama-free.

Moments ago, however, TMZ posted a crazy video of Bieber being put in a chokehold and forcibly removed from the performance area by security!

warrant was issued for Bieber's arrest in Argentina.

As for the Coachella situation, sources close to the singer say that he plans to take legal action against the security guards involved in the incident.

No reason was given by the festival for why Bieber needed to be put in such a hold ... perhaps they just felt he had it coming after the past few years:

Nelly Arrested: Meth, Guns and Pot Seized on <b>...</b> - Celebrity <b>Gossip</b>

Posted: 11 Apr 2015 08:49 PM PDT

Early 2000s hip hop icon Nelly may have shed the blinged-out under-eye band-aid long ago, but it looks he and his St. Lunatics are still taking their lumps. Must be the moneeeey!

Nelly was arrested for heroin, weed and guns back in 2012, and a similar scene played out today when the 40-year-old rapper's tour bus was pulled over in Tennessee.

Nelly Mug Shot

TMZ is reporting that cops found crystal meth, guns and a small amount of pot on the bus, and Nelly was taken into custody.

The bus was stopped when officers noticed the absence a required Department of Transportation sticker.

They detected a faint odor of marijuana, and because that's apparently enough for Tennessee cops to conduct a full raid, the St. Loonies soon found themselves in deep shimmy-shimmy cocoa puff.

The meth rocks and weed are nothing to sneeze at, but the biggest threat to Nelly's freedom is the small arsenal cops discovered in the bus' sleeper area.

A .50 caliber pistol, a .45 caliber pistol and a .500 magnum Smith and Wesson were confiscated. 

Sources say Nelly was only booked for pot and paraphernalia possession, but he could be facing further charges.

The police report states that 100 small Ziploc bags commonly used for drug sales were also found on the bus.

We hope Nelly's one phone call was to Kelly Rowland, because this dude's got a serious dilemma!

0 comments:

Post a Comment