Chris Brown breaks his silence

Chris Brown says he is seeking counseling from loved ones and family members, one week after an alleged attack against his girlfriend, singer Rihanna.

"Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God's help, to emerging a better person."

The 19-year-old R&B singer issued a brief statement today through publicist Michael Sitrick. In it, Brown also says many of the reports about the incident are incorrect, although he doesn't provide further details.

"Much of what has been speculated or reported on blogs and/or reported in the media is wrong. While I would like to be able to talk about this more, until the legal issues are resolved, this is all I can say except that I have not written any messages or made any posts to Facebook, on blogs or any place else. Those posts or writings under my name are frauds."

Screengrabs of a fake Facebook page circulated online late last week, but was quickly determined to be a hoax.

Brown turned himself in on Feb. 8 and was booked on suspicion of making a criminal treath, but no charges have been filed yet. He is free on $50,000 bail while the case is being investigated.

On Friday, Brown's father said his son is at home and "very remorseful" over what happened. Rihanna is now at home in Barbados recuperating.

Jay-Z has a beef with Chris Brown?

We've all been wondering how Jay-Z - Rihanna's producer and big brother-like mentor - is coping with his protege's alleged altercation with Chris Brown.

According to Us Weekly, Jay Z is enraged. "He hit the roof," says a source close to the rapper. "Chris is a walking dead man. He messed with the wrong crew."

Yikes.

The general public may not remember Jay-Z's rough-and-tumble earlier days as a young New York City

rapper, but Chris Brown probably does - and we're guessing he might be worried.

Meanwhile, another source close to Rihanna claims that bruises were visible on the singer's neck as recently as early December. "I asked if everything was OK with her and Chris," says the confidant. "She told me, 'We broke up again.' I didn't pursue the issue further."

In related news, Brown's sister, Lytrell "Tootie" Bundy, says Chris, is "doing good" despite the gravity of his situation.

"He's coping," she told Extra on Wednesday. "He's

doing ... [as well] as to be expected."

Click here for our constantly updated timeline of news stories surrounding the alleged attack.

Sandra Bullock Tells All

For the down-to-earth actress with friend-you'd-love-to-have appeal, honesty is the only policy. Bullock eagerly answered questions from InStyle readers about family, career, style, and what's next. [ Check Out Pics From Sandra's InStyle Photo Shoot ] Which role did you really want and not get?Mary M., Brooklyn"There haven't been any roles that I wanted that I didn't get, but there was a movie I wish I had done: 'The Matrix.' At the time [I was approached about it], it wasn't cast with Keanu [Reeves], and I didn't see myself with the person they wanted [in it]. Later I saw the movie and loved it. It was sexy and great because of Carrie-Anne [Moss] and Keanu." What made you want to do your new movie "All About Steve"?Annisa J., Chula Vista, CA"I read the script and laughed so much. It encapsulated everything that has gone awry in our society for girls and women, who are pushed to be homogenized. What happened to all the Carol Burnetts in the world? All these great women were allowed to be this unique blend of things. I'm not the blond bombshell; I'll never be that. There's a piece of Mary in everybody -- to be accepted for who you are and not have to change to be seen as normal. To be true to yourself is something I admire. I wish I was like that all the time." [ See Sandra's Look Change Over The Years ] What do you tell a girl who feels ugly because she's not blond or doesn't have a thin nose?Elizabeth D., N.Y.C."Welcome to my broken nose! [Her sister accidentally broke it while lifting a garage door when they were younger.] ...I was rejected in school because I didn't look like the big-breasted, beautiful girls. I was awkward and sad. My mother always said, 'Be original!' but I didn't understand until I changed to be like everyone else. Once I fit in, I was like, 'What have I done?' I realized that my friends before were much cooler, with a great sense of humor and a way of looking at the world that was more fun. But if I hadn't gone through that, I wouldn't have been driven to make my oddities cool. It's what made me have a sense of humor and thick skin. It's like in 'All About Steve' -- I'm making fun of everything people have judged me for and put it into one character." Which actresses do you admire most?John S., Greenburgh, NY"There are amazing women in our business, and they continue to break ground. I make a joke about Meryl Streep: They just need to give her her own category at the Academy Awards, and when she makes a film that year, give her a statue. I just saw Penelope Cruz in 'Elegy.' No one who looks like that should also be an extraordinary actress. I was so blown away by her in that film, I wanted to write a note to applaud her. We have to support each other. I admire actresses who are good to women. I don't like the ones who just don't like women. You can feel it, and I'm like, 'You're degrading yourself.'" How do you stay in shape?Aus J., Brooklyn"People ask, 'How do actresses do it?' Um, they pay us to do this in order to look good on film. I do Pilates, kickboxing, weight training. When I'm in Austin, I run or ride a bike. If I can work out every day, I will. But there are times when I won't do anything for two weeks, and I'm like, 'You know what? I talk enough to burn calories.'" [ Find Out How To Get Sandra's Flawless Skin ] What's your most memorable fashion moment? David M., Los Angeles"My wedding dress. It was beautifully handcrafted, with elegant French lace. Angel Sanchez designed it, and every time I'd try it on, he'd say, 'Sandra, please [lose] five pounds!' I apologize, Angel. I didn't give him those five pounds, but guess what? That round, shiny, happy person was me." What is your shopping indulgence?Christina S., Hicksville, NY"At the end of every film I buy myself something. I'm frugal and I have to have saved for it. I once bought a big orange Hermes bag, but the guilt that followed from buying it lasted a year. I used it in another movie I just shot, 'The Proposal,' so I feel better about it." Is there a child in your future?Megeen C., South Orange, NJ"I have family in spades. I walk into our house, and it is chaos. Everything we do is about the kids. I haven't had children biologically. I had shut that off; then I met Jesse, and it turned on again. I was like, 'Oh, that's that feeling.' But we realized we had to take care of some other things on this planet first. I hope to God when we get to a place where all is safe, calm, happy and healthy, it's not too late. Not until recently was it that time to say OK. It's now OK. If I waited too long, it's because we were supposed to do other things. If it is just too late? There are millions of children on this planet that I would be honored to call my own."

Katherine Heigl, T.R. Knight Leaving Grey's Anatomy, Says Costar

Katherine Heigl and T.R. Knight will soon take off their scrubs for good, their Grey's Anatomy costar confirms.When Us Weekly asked James Pickens Jr. (a.k.a. Grey's Dr. Richard Webber) on February 7 if Heigl is leaving the medical drama, he said, "Yes, she is." And he continued, "Wherever Katherine goes, I wish her nothing but the best."See the love lives of Grey's Anatomy stars.Following Heigl, 30, out the door? Her outspoken BFF, Knight, 35. "He's going too," Pickens told Us at the NAACP Awards luncheon in Beverly Hills. "He just wanted to pursue other career paths." See stars who made dramatic transformations for roles."He complains to Katherine all the time," a set source has said of Knight (with Heigl). "The energy on set will be much better when he's gone."Sources close to the actors concur. "Katherine is ready to move on to the next chapter," says a set source. And Knight is "not shy about telling people" he wants out of his contract, another insider told Us in December. See Katherine Heigl and other stars pigging out!But now it seems they're finally getting their wishes. A source tells Us Knight has had numerous talks with executive producer Shonda Rhimes, and that the "writers are scrambling to find a believable exit for George, one that would leave the door open for him to come back someday." Learn Katherine Heigl's -- and other stars' -- best beauty tips.Both Heigl's and Knight's reps had no comment, and ABC and ABC Studios could not confirm the departures.

Chris Brown’s Alleged Assault Charges Could Cost Him His Endorsement Deals

He's been the squeaky clean pop R&B poster boy since he hit the scene in 2005 with his #1 debut single "Run It."

He is not Michael Jackson, but he surely lit a fire under Usher's behind.

He has not publicly feuded with another artist.

He's been dating his female counterpart Rihanna.

He even had a Doublemint commercial.

He is 19-years-old.

There are a half a dozen upcoming teen male pop R&B singers signed to major labels who wish they could achieve his success.

But if the allegations are true that Brown assaulted a woman, his career will be in jeopardy.

According to the reports from the most reputable news sources, Brown turned himself in to authorities Sunday evening in connection with a charge of making a criminal threat. After being interviewed by police, he was released on a $50,000 bond.

Brown is being accused of assaulting a woman Sunday early morning and fleeing the scene, leaving her in a car in the Hancock Park section of Los Angeles. As a result of the issue, Brown canceled his performance at Sunday's 51^st Grammy Awards where he was nominated for two trophies, best pop collaboration for his song "No Air" with Jordin Sparks and best male R&B performance for his ballad "Take You Down."

It is unclear whether or not his girlfriend pop star Rihanna was the victim, however, insiders are speculating that it was the "Umbrella" singer who made the 911 call to police, complaining of being attacked.

Rihanna also withdrew from her scheduled performance from the Grammys.

The couple was last seen together Saturday night when they attended the annual pre-Grammy party hosted by music veteran Clive Davis. Reports indicate that they were happy.

On Sunday a spokesperson for Rihanna told People magazine that the singer was well, but did not confirm whether she was involved in the altercation.

I hate to speculate on matters like this until all of the facts have been revealed. But I do want to consider what the ramifications might be for Chris Brown if he is found guilty of hitting a woman.

Aside from potentially serving jail time, Chris could face a backlash from his fans and the companies that endorse him.

Wrigley said Monday that it will be suspending its Chris Brown ad campaign for Doublement gum. In a statement the company said it would delay any advertising or related marketing until the situation is resolved, AP reported. Wrigley added that Brown should be "afforded the same due process as any citizen."

Advertisers and sponsors are quick to disassociate themselves from artists with controversial histories. Ludacris lost an endorsement deal with Pepsi in 2002 when The O'Reilly Factor host Bill O'Reilly attacked the soft drink giant for supporting an artist whom O'Reilly described to have socially irresponsible lyrics. And last year, Verizon pulled the plug on its sponsorship of Gwen Stefani's tour after opening act Akon was seen on a web clip dirty dancing with an underage girl at one of his club dates.

Just last week, we saw the consequences Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps faced when photos surfaced of the 23-year-old swimmer smoking marijuana via a bong pipe.

This could potentially affect Chris' invitation to other award shows and might even prompt fans to not support his upcoming concerts.

Respected hip-hop historian and journalist Dave "Davey D" Cook said that Brown losing endorsement deals is hardly the key issue. He wants to know how the community will be affected by having role models in Brown and Rihanna entangled in a widely publicized domestic matter. "The music industry, they'll circle the wagons and protect him," Cook said via email. "They'll spin the story and even go out after the victim which is happening now with Rihanna, who is catching heat from people accusing her of snitching."

Cook adds that he would like to see both Brown and Rihanna get help, but he believes that the music business will first put emphasis on keeping Brown's career afloat. "Chris Brown is a hot commodity making money in a crumbling industry that celebrates abusive culture, i.e. pimping," Cook said. "He'll be protected and held up to high esteem just like Ike Turner, Dr. Dre and Big Pun and numerous other artists and entertainers accused of domestic violence."

Many of Chris and Rihanna's fans are already forming opinions about the allegations.

After the news reports were released, fans expressed their opinions on social networking sites.

I've read many status updates on Facebook that conveyed anger towards Chris Brown.

On Rihanna's MySpace page, some users left her encouraging words, telling her that they are praying for her, that she will be okay, and to do what's best.

Ironically, few harshly condemn Brown. Some even take his side, citing rumors that Rihanna may have provoked a fight between the couple.

The comments on Brown's MySpace page clearly support the artist. One reminded him that he is innocent until proven guilty, while another told him not to worry because everyone makes mistakes.

We will see how the reaction develops as more of the story comes to light.

Brown is scheduled to go to court on March 5.

Mullen: No more than 30K new troops in Afghanista

FORT DRUM, N.Y. – No more than an estimated 30,000 additional troops will be sent to Afghanistan as the U.S. ramps up forces there, the nation's top military officer told soldiers Monday. Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen also called U.S. efforts in Iraq a success, even though "we're not done."

Mullen, speaking to fresh-faced soldiers and war-weary military wives, sought to boost morale and soothe concerns at the Army base that has seen a constant revolving door of troops sent to Iraq and Afghanistan over the last eight years.

"I don't see us growing a force well beyond the 20,000 to 30,000 for Afghanistan — American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines — beyond that 30,000 or so," Mullen told about 800 soldiers and specialists gathered for a town hall meeting.

He added: "It's got to be met with a commensurate surge from the other agencies, particularly the State Department, in order for us to start generating success in 2009."

Mullen's comments mark the first time he has capped the number of soldiers to be sent to Afghanistan amid some predictions that the U.S. will be there for at least a decade.

An estimated 33,000 U.S. troops currently are in Afghanistan, and the Pentagon is set to announce at least three more brigades — about 16,000 soldiers — to be deployed in coming months. In all, the Pentagon said it expects to send about 60,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

By comparison, about 146,000 U.S. troops have been sent to Iraq.

Mullen also praised the soldiers for helping stabilize Iraq, where the U.S. is grappling with withdrawing all forces by the end of 2011 under an agreement signed late last year with the Iraqi government.

"You have turned it around in Iraq, and a year or two ago we were not in a situation that looked like we could succeed. And now we are," Mullen said.

Even so, "we're not done in Iraq," he said, noting al-Qaida's diminished but continuing threat there.

The White House is considering at least three options to withdraw troops from Iraq — either within 16 months, 23 months or a 19-month compromise. Even so, U.S. officials want to leave behind some noncombat brigades to help train and advise Iraqi security forces. The Iraqi government would have to agree in advance to let those troops stay behind.

Mullen said he sympathized with the strain the dual wars is putting on soldiers and their families, citing one Fort Drum woman who told him her husband has so far been sent on yearlong deployments to war zones five times since 2002.

Soldiers in the town hall meeting said they worried the Obama administration would cut military funding. Several also questioned why civilian contractors were in some cases being paid more to do the very jobs that soldiers are trained to do.

"The government spends so much money on training us in our jobs, and we get to our units and we see other people doing our jobs and getting paid," said Pfc. Lawrence Williams, 24, of Sacramento, Calif. His unit is heading to Iraq in May. "So it's like the government is actually paying twice, as opposed to just paying once and then getting us equipment. There's a million of other things they could do with that money."

Mullen said he would look into it.

Australia declares bushfire disaster a crime scene

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian police treated the country's entire bushfire disaster zone as a crime scene on Tuesday as investigators combed through a blackened wasteland to find clues to the culprits behind the country's deadliest fires.

Arson investigators began their work even as about 25 fires still raged across southern Victoria, including some of the hardest-hit areas north of Melbourne where so far 173 people have been confirmed dead, many burned in cars and their own homes.

"All of the fires have been treated as a crime scene," a police spokesman said, adding that arson investigators from up and down the country were descending on the disaster zone. "We do believe they may have been lit deliberately, but we can't confirm it," the spokeswoman said.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has already branded the unknown culprits as "mass murderers" and Victoria state has ordered an official inquiry into the causes of the wild fires, which sent four-storeys-high sheets of flame racing through towns and farms.

Arson is often involved in Australian bushfires which break out every summer but rarely kill anywhere near half as many as the number of people killed in Victoria state's weekend infernos.

Australia's previously worst bushfire was the Ash Wednesday fires of 1983 which killed 75 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes. The toll from the weekend's fires, which are still burning in some parts of Victoria, is expected to climb further.

Police said convicted arsonists could face a murder charge and appealed to survivors of the bushfires to come forward with any evidence of suspicious activity.

"We have got arson investigators on the scene but the problem at the moment is that the fires are still burning and the sites are still so hot, so it's difficult for the investigators," the police spokesman said.

Prime Minister Rudd was momentarily speechless on Monday when asked on national TV for his thoughts on the suspicions of arson.

"What do you say about anyone like that? I don't know, just, there's no words to describe it, other than it's mass murder."

Wildfires are a natural annual event in Australia, but this year a combination of scorching weather, drought and tinder-dry bush has created prime conditions.

So far, about 3,500 square km (1,350 sq miles) have been burned in the Victoria fires, with about 3,400 firefighters still battling the blazes, the state's Country Fire Authority said.

The fires, and major floods in the Queensland in the north, will put pressure on Rudd who is due to deliver a new climate policy in May. Green politicians are citing the extreme weather to back a tougher climate policy.

Scientists say Australia, with its harsh environment, is set to be one of the nations most affected nations by climate change.

Victoria state has ordered a Royal commission of inquiry, which has sweeping powers, to probe all aspects of the bushfires, including causes and also a review of bushfire safety guidelines.

Officials say the golden rule of surviving forest fires is to evacuate early or fight to the bitter end, but experts say that it appears many victims panicked and fled at the worst time. Some were incinerated in cars as they tried to outrun the flames.

(Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)

Early Grammy winners

LOS ANGELES – A tearful Jennifer Hudson won her first Grammy, thanking her family "in heaven and those who are with me today" to kick off an evening already stoked with drama when police said they were investigating double nominee Chris Brown for an alleged assault on an unidentified woman.
Brown and longtime girlfriend Rihanna, each nominated and slated to perform, separately dropped out of the Grammys at the last minute and their whereabouts were not immediately known Sunday night. The victim of Brown's alleged assault wasn't identified, and it wasn't immediately clear whether Rihanna's absence was related to Brown's.
Hudson, 27, made no direct reference to the killings of her mother, brother and nephew that kept her in seclusion until just this month. But while fighting back tears, she made it clear that her family was foremost on her mind.
"I first would like to thank God who has brought me through," said Hudson, also an Oscar winner, as she accepted her award from Whitney Houston.
Hudson later performed "You Pulled Me Through," a dramatic song about overcoming deep despair, with the lyrics: "When I was drowning, when I was so confused, you, you pulled me through." As she sang the last note, she looked directly into the camera and dissolved into tears once again.
While Hudson's emotion was front and center, drama unfolded behind the scenes when police said just 90 minutes before the show began that they were investigating the 19-year old Brown. His performance was subsequently removed from the show, though it was unclear if he bowed out or was dropped.
Then, minutes before U2 opened the telecast by zipping through its new single, the Recording Academy said Rihanna had scratched her performance as well. The couple could be seen sitting together at a Grammy pre-party the night before in Los Angeles.
According to the police report, Brown and a woman were in a vehicle in the ritzy neighborhood of Hancock Park when they began to argue around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. Brown stopped the car and both got out, whereupon the argument escalated, the report said.
The woman, who had visible injuries when police arrived, identified Brown as her attacker, but he had left the scene, the report said.
The absences of both performers put a huge hole in the Grammy telecast, but the Recording Academy found able replacements in Justin Timberlake, Al Green, Boyz II Men and Keith Urban as they all sang Green's classic hit, "Let's Stay Together." No mention was made on the broadcast about the switch.
With all the drama going on onstage and behind the scenes, the awards seemed almost like an afterthought — but the awards went on all the same. Coldplay, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, and Lil Wayne each won three apiece — Coldplay's win included song of the year for "Viva La Vida."
"We've never had so many Grammys in our life," said lead singer Chris Martin, perhaps so excited he got confused (they had already won four over the years). "We feel so grateful to be here. I'm going to tear up."
British singer Adele was also teary, as she beat the Jonas Brothers, Lady Antebellum, Jazmine Sullivan and fellow Brit singer Duffy to nab best new artist. It was her second award of the evening.
"Thank you so much. I'm going to cry. I want to thank my manager, my mom, she's in London. And Duffy I love you. I think you're amazing. Jonas Brothers, I love you as well," she said, saying the last part with a devilish look, eliciting laughter.
It was Adele's second award; she earlier won for best female pop vocal.
Lil Wayne was the nominations leader with eight, and won best rap solo performance for "A Milli," rap song for "Lollipop" and rap/sung collaboration for "Swagga Like Us," an all-star song featuring Jay-Z, T.I. and Kanye West.
But the prolific rapper won't be going home with eight trophies; he was competing against himself in two categories that he won and lost another. He still has a chance to win the evening's top prize, album of the year, for his best-selling disc "Tha Carter III."
Plant and Krauss, also nominated for album of the year for their collaboration "Raising Sand," took home an award for country collaborations with vocals and contemporary folk/Americana album. They later won a third for pop collaboration with vocals.

Jessica Alba 'horrible ' weight loss

Sometimes, I truly, deeply feel sorry for Hollywood actresses. Take, for example, Jessica Alba, who, in the March issue of ELLE magazine, talks about trying to get back into shape unhumanly fast after giving birth to her daughter, Honor. In the story, Alba describes workouts so horrible and strenuous, they made her cry.

Another trial she endured for beauty's sake? “I wore a girdle," she says. "Eight weeks after my girlfriend had her baby, you could see her six-pack. She told me to put an elastic band around my waist—any kind of band or girdle works. She was like, 'I slept in it.' I didn’t recover as fast as she did. I [still] don’t have a six-pack.”

All of this torture wasn't even for a film role—it was so the 27-year-old could star in Campari's new ad campaign (and so, if you remember, the company could airbrush her perfectly gorgeous body anyway).

Further in the ELLE story, Alba talks about what it feels like to give birth ("Contractions aren’t that bad. If you’ve ever had bad cramps? That’s what they’re like. But that moment when they put the baby on your chest—that’s deep. It’s a deep experience.”), her new separation anxiety ("I never cried before. Just being a mother is making me a big, weepy mess.”), and, of course, fashion (“I’ve always loved beautiful clothes, but I’m not very hip to the coolest, newest, most fashionable thing."). She seems considerably vulnerable and, honestly, lovable. Check out the whole story here, become a Jessica Alba fan. It's Okay, you should. The girl's been through enough.

Etta James recants Beyoncé comment

Etta James 'only joking' about Beyonce diss

Tough gal Etta James was just cracking jokes when she told a Seattle audience that she "can't stand Beyonce," who covered James' most famous song at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball that followed President Obama's inauguration, according to the New York Daily News.
"I didn't really mean anything," the 71 year-old diva told the paper. "Even as a little child, I've always had that comedian kind of attitude. Nobody was getting mad at me in Seattle. They were all laughing, and it was funny."
Still, Beyonce's invitation to sing "At Last" for the President and Mrs. Obama's first dance did sting the woman who made the song a classic. James complained she felt "left out of something that was basically mine, that I had done every time you look around."
Whether she really meant what she'd said--that Beyonce was "gonna get her ass whupped" for singing the song--James wasn't the first artist to perform the tune that she made famous on her 1961 Chess Records debut album. Glenn Miller performed "At Last" with his orchestra in the '40s, followed by Nat King Cole in the '50s. And it's natural for great musical ideas to be passed between generations, as music mogul Clive Davis told MTV.com.
"I know that last year when I introduced Leona Lewis to Whitney Houston there was a sense of visible awe," Davis told the website. "It was not, 'I'm gonna show a past generation [up].' I'm not saying it was a lovefest, but back in the day ... they could all be great, but they competed with each other. But I don't think it's indigenous to artists. I don't view it as a problem."

Jessica Simpson Struggles Through Concert

Just when we thought we were in the clear, having managed to make it through this week almost entirely Jessica Simpson-free, she had to go have a mini breakdown during her opening set for Rascal Flatts in Grand Rapids, Mich.
According to the Grand Rapids Press, she kicked off the whole mess by lamenting how much she missed Tony Romo right after the opening song. "I'm so excited, I get to see my boyfriend tomorrow," she informed the crowd. Tony came up again later when she dedicated "You're My Sunday" to him, telling everyone, "I love him so, so much!"
Then it got bad...
Apparently, Jess lost her place in several songs including "Pray Out Loud," which the band had to start over after several measures. And then "Come On Over," where she mouthed "sorry" to the monitors.
She explained tearfully, "My voice is weak tonight and I feel so vulnerable onstage." And just before she closed the 38-minute set, she mentioned how sometimes, like this particular disastrous night, she wished she could just walk off the stage. She then thanked her band for not going all Christian Bale on her and appeared to wipe tears away as she exited the stage.
One of the local paper's writers blames the episode on Tony not showing up, but that seems like a pretty weak explanation.
The fans who attended the show and cheered her on with words of support have a slightly more astute take on the whole thing. "I felt bad for her tonight," one told the paper. "Magazines are ripping her, being so harsh, and she's gorgeous." Now that we can understand.

Miley Cyrus Photo Criticized by Asian-American Group

Miley Cyrus, who caught flak last year for baring her shoulders in Vanity Fair and flashing a bit of skin in some candid snaps, has landed in the middle of another photo flap.

This week, a picture surfaced showing the "Hannah Montana" star, 16, and some pals, including her 20-year-old maybe-boyfriend Justin Gaston, pulling their eyes to the side as they posed with an Asian friend.

That gesture didn't sit very well with the OCA, a group that says it's "dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States."

"The photograph of Miley Cyrus and other individuals slanting their eyes currently circulating the Internet is offensive to the Asian Pacific American community and sets a terrible example for her many young fans," the organization said in a statement (via Reuters and TMZ.com). "This image falls within a long and unfortunate history of people mocking and denigrating individuals of Asian descent."

According to the OCA, "Not only has Miley Cyrus and the other individuals in the photograph encouraged and legitimized the taunting and mocking of people of Asian descent, she has also insulted her many Asian Pacific American fans. The inclusion of an Asian Pacific American individual in the photo does not make it acceptable."

The group is asking for an apology from the Disney teen queen, who has yet to comment.

Britney's Tour Hiccup Over Tots and More

here could be trouble brewing for Britney Spears' endlessly touted "Circus" tour, which kicks off March 3 in New Orleans. TMZ.com reports the popster intends to ditch the so-called comeback tour if ex-husband Kevin Federline's attorneys refuse to allow her to take along sons Sean Preston, 3, and Jayden James, 2. It seems Brit and her decision-making dad, Jamie, who last week obtained a restraining order against shady former hangers-on Sam Lutfi and Adnan Ghalib, have been negotiating the logistics with custody-retaining K-Fed, with the agreement involving setting up three "home bases" in New Jersey, New Orleans and Los Angeles. The tots would stay put at one of those locales while Spears commutes back and forth from her concert dates in each region, which seems like a pretty big commitment for someone who once had trouble even making it to custody hearings. Federline, who reportedly got into a screaming match with a "hysterical" Spears last week over the time the boys have been spending with his new gal pal Victoria Prince, would get his own temporary digs in each city, along with $4,000 a week for his trouble. The problem -- OK, one of the problems with this seemingly misguided plan -- is that it was hammered out sans Federline's pit bull attorney Mark Vincent Kaplan, who is said to be dissatisfied with the terms of the arrangement. He tells TMZ that while he and Kevin have no wish to "interfere" with Britney's career, the plan might have been better received if Jamie and the rest of Spears' handlers had "manned up" and K-Fed had consulted with his lawyers from the start. Kaplan says he's reworking the wording of deal but expects it'll be resolved. So, it seems, does Spears, judging by an item posted Monday on her blog: "Britney is so excited to kick off her tour. ... Both Sean Preston and Jayden James will, in fact, be joining Britney throughout the duration of her tour."

Amy hangs out during a workout session in the Caribbean on Jan. 13. (©www.splashnews.com) More Amy Winehouse photos

In other dysfunctional pop star news, Amy Winehouse may have reached a whole new level of self-actualization on her extended Caribbean vacation by realizing that she's completely incapable of taking care of her nest egg. The London Daily Mirror reports the substance-susceptible singer has given control of her $20 million-plus estate to her parents, which means she can no longer fork over any cash without their consent. "Everyone is pleased because it means Amy is listening to good advice," a mole tells the paper. "It's still her money and nobody else can touch it. But this stops her doing anything stupid. And it is evidence that Amy is really turning her life around."

Pam points out the obvious at an art gallery in Miami in December. (©WireImage.com) More photos of Pam

Pamela Anderson may realize just how rough she's been looking lately. The Tampa Tribune reports the veteran bombshell channeled her inner diva as hostess of the "Athletes and Angels" pre-Super Bowl party Saturday night, demanding that all the white camera lights be removed from the red carpet. As Pam camped out in her limo, her minions allegedly explained that she must be lit with only "reddish, warm" tones. Once the bulbs were swapped out with the more flattering shade, Anderson made her entrance but left camera crews grumbling over how little time she spent on the red carpet. Perhaps she just needed to take care of business. According to the paper, she caused a commotion when she made a trip to the ladies room and bypassed the dozen or so women waiting in line in her haste to use the facilities.

Chace and Ed charm Joy Behar on "The View." (©Retna Ltd.)

The CW isn't known for paying the big bucks to its stars, but did cast members from one of the network's more successful shows do an accidental drink and dash? So claims the New York Post, which says "Gossip Girl" co-stars Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester and rumored off-screen squeezes Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr forgot to settle their bill after an "impromptu party" in a private room of a Manhattan bar last Thursday following the Kings of Leon concert at Madison Square Garden. Seems that when the evening ended in the wee hours of the morning, "Nobody ever paid the $500 bar tab the group racked up."

Etta James Says, 'I Can't Stand Beyoncé'

If you were wondering why Beyoncé and not Etta James was asked to serenade the president and first lady with "At Last" during their first dance at an inauguration ball on Jan. 20, you're not alone.

Etta, 71, whom Beyoncé went blonde to portray in last year's "Cadillac Records," is wondering the same thing, and she candidly expressed her displeasure during a concert stop in Seattle last week.

"You guys know your president, right?" she asked the crowd amid cheers (listen to it here. "You know the one with the big ears? Wait a minute, he ain't my president, he might be yours, he ain't my president. You know that woman he had singing for him, singing my song -- she's gonna get her a-- whipped. The great Beyoncé ... But I can't stand Beyoncé. She has no business up there, singing up there on a big ol' president day ... singing my song that I've been singing forever."

Granted, Etta's version of "At Last" has long been a standard, but Beyoncé has performed it many times over the last several months, and the chanteuses happily posed together at the "Cadillac Records" premiere in November.

In a post-inauguration chat with the New York Daily News, Etta's son insisted she was delighted by Beyoncé's performance.

"She thought it was great," said Donto James, who explained that his mother wasn't feeling well enough to travel to Washington, D.C. "She's gotten emotional, just like everybody else. ... She was honored."

Beyoncé's rep has yet to comment on the kerfuffle.

In Bruce We Trust: Uncle Sam Says No Gouging The Boss's Fans!

ven without his new CD dropping, Bruce Springsteen has had a few of the most high profile weeks any pop performer could hope for--playing for Barack Obama at the pre-Presidential Inaugural We Are One concert at the Lincoln Memorial, and then taking center stage as the halftime entertainment at last Sunday's Super Bowl.

Well, today Bruce Springsteen, or at least his name, was invoked in no less a prime American locale than the floor of the United States Congress--all due to a ticket fiasco in the Boss's home Garden State.

Seems that when tickets for Springsteen's upcoming shows at the New Jersey Meadowlands went on sale at the Ticketmaster website Monday, some fans received an error message on their computer screens that kept them from ordering. They then got an ad for a Ticketmaster subsidiary TicketsNow offering the desired ducats--but at hundreds of dollars more than their face value. After finding out, the Boss blasted Ticketmaster and TicketsNow in a web message, but the outrage has prompted one of Bruce's home state's legislators to move things to a grander scale.

(It should be noted that Ticketmaster CEO Irving Azoff has offered an apology, stating that "If any fans inadvertently purchased tickets in the resale marketplace believing in error they were purchasing from the initial on-sale, we [Ticketmaster] will refund the difference between the actual purchase price and the face price of the ticket.")

Still, Paterson NJ U.S. Rep Bill Pascrell today called on the Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department to investigate possible conflicts of interest involving Ticketmaster and TicketsNow. The New Jersey attorney general's office is also investigating whether Ticketmaster has violated any consumer fraud or ticket resale laws.

We don't know where any of this will lead, but this does seem a pretty historic occasion. It's the first time we can remember the U.S. government doing anything in the name of rock and roll.

Over the years, our nation's lawmakers have launched all kind of investigations into the world of rock--usually to try and bury it. Back in the 1950s, amidst all the Communist conspiracy witch hunts of the McCarthy era, Congress started looking into how radio stations put together their playlists--specifically the playlists of rock and roll radio stations. This result was the "Payola" scandal, which brought to light the age-old practice of record company promo men "gifting" program directors and disc jockeys so their records would get placed into heavy rotation. Working under the theory that kids of their own volition wouldn't listen to records by the likes of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard if they weren't being pushed down their throats by unscrupulous disc jockeys, Congress didn't quite stop the music, though they did bring down the career of Alan Freed, the DJ credited for coining and popularizing the term rock and roll.

And who can forget the mid-1980s governmental "look" into the effect of rock and rap lyrics on the minds of impressionable American youth brought on by the PMRC--the Parents Music Resource Center, founded by future Vice President Al Gore's wife Tipper after she discovered her five-year-old daughter listening to Prince's sexually-charged "Darling Nikki." Among those who wound up testifying before Congress were such "youth endangering" musicians as Twisted Sister's Dee Snider and Frank Zappa, as well as "non-endangering" musician John Denver (guess no one on the committee ever heard "Rocky Mountain High.") The PMRC hearings, of course, led to the establishment of the PARENTAL ADVISORY: EXPLICIT LYRICS warnings. That didn't stop rock or rap, either, of course. If anything, it just made CDs by just about anybody look more attractive to the average listener. Even a John Denver CD.

So, Ticketmaster, to the tune of "Born In The USA," we salute you. Thanks to your greed, being a rock fan is now okay with Uncle Sam.

Pop Stars vs,.Carbs: The Battle Continues

This week, photos of Jessica Simpson at a Florida concert surfaced, and guess what? Well, you already know what: She's not as tiny and uber-fit as she was in her Dukes Of Hazzard days. Tracking a celebrity's weight ups and downs used to be the provenance of the supermarket tabloids, as Delta Burke and Kristie Alley know, but through the twin miracles of the Internet and the celebrity weekly magazines, now everyone is in on the act, and the whole nation is debating burning questions like: Is Jessica too big? Is Lindsay too thin? And do those kind of high-waisted jeans look good on anyone? (That one's simple: No!)
Like Denise Richards says, it's complicated. Janet Jackson and Jennifer Love Hewitt have both been the targets of ridiculously inappropriate attention surrounding their weight. They've also then both gone on diet and fitness programs that would seem demanding to your average professional athlete and then shared the secrets of their workout plans with the same celebrity weeklies that focused all that inappropriate attention on them in the first place.
Needless to say, this is not the kind of attention that has followed Alec Baldwin through his career as he progressed from hunky leading man to burly funniest guy on television. And while physical fitness has become more of an acting requirement for men as time goes on (Zac Efron, call your trainer!), let's all admit that this just isn't fair. The demands of celebrity culture preclude any female celebrity from ever eating a cookie. And cookies are our right as human beings. Cookies are what separate us from the animals!
So, let's all have a cookie. This one's for you, Lindsay!

Christian Bale's rant sparks a Web frenzy

Celebrities, take note. When you speak on, say, an answering machine, or you're on a movie set where tape is rolling, the sounds you make don't disappear into vapor. They are actually saved so they can be replayed, with very good sound quality, over and over again. But much to the delight of the Internet audience, stars just don't learn this. They get mad and we get the MP3 version. Thank you, technology. Here, a rant roundup, if you will, of our favorite meltdowns caught on tape.
Rant. Record. Repeat. The brouhaha that's broken out over very unflattering audio of Christian Bale dressing down his director of photography on set is a reminder that nothing these days goes unnoticed or unreported. The tape of a potty-mouthed Bale, which hit the Internet and pretty much sent our Buzz-o-meter off the charts, has already become a cult classic.
The blog Hecklerspray noted that the yelling star veers into "about 13 different accents" but gives him props for finding an ingenious way to promote his upcoming film "Terminator: Salvation" (truth in advertising: We are not likely to get a rendition of the rant in the actual movie). New York Magazine reports that the rant has already earned rave reviews as a remix -- with a highly danceable beat.
While Bale may have hoped that the meltdown from last summer would quietly disappear, we're sure that hope vanished when a shocked Matt Lauer discussed the tape on the "Today" Show. Yup, he's toast. The assistant director on the "Terminator" set has assured fans that this was "just a moment" and has sworn (not literally) that Bale is not usually like this. Ever.
Say It Isn't SoOne person who can actually sympathize is Alec Baldwin. The comedic "30 Rock" star caught hell when a tape of his ugly remarks to his daughter went public. (Yes, that would be when he called the 11-year-old a "pig.") He has since penned a book on fatherhood and divorce, and has apparently made up with his daughter -- although we don't have a recording of it.
Caught Off GuardStars aren't the only ones to make a mistake that will live on in their careers. There's what Huffington Post calls a "vintage meltdown" of Bill O'Reilly having a fit during the show "Inside Edition," which recently resurfaced. And, shocking news: He's not a teddy bear, even off camera. And who can forget the consternation that came after Barack Obama made a supposed off-the-record remark at a fundraising dinner about working-class Democrats clinging to their "guns and religion," which temporarily derailed his campaign.
One thing's for sure: Celebs keep talking, and we keep listening.

Lady GaGa's London Launch

Celebreties including Lady GaGA and Paris Hilton attend the Nokia 5800 launch party at Punk Shoho in London.Here som photos

Lady Antebellum Is One Fine Country Trio

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- I had never heard of Lady Antebellum before the Grammy Awards nominations in early December.
'Lady Antebellum?' I thought to myself. Lady GaGa's long lost country cousin, perhaps? At first, I pictured some slightly backwards country-singing drag queen whose shtick persisted on anachronistic political un-correctness.
When I learned that, in fact, they were a country trio of

two men and one woman, with Dixie Chicks-like harmony, I was even more intrigued.

BEYONCE : Single Ladies On a big Hit on Top

Beyonce has finally infiltrated my house. My kids and my wife are all singing "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." Nonstop. Every day. It's the answer to every question and the response to every statement. It's worse than waterboarding. I'd leave, but I know they'd follow me.

There are songs you wish you could forget but can't. They're like a virus that won't leave your system no matter how hard you try. You're in the shower, and before you can stop yourself "Y.M.C.A." pops out of your mouth. You catch yourself chanting, "Who let the dogs out?" in the car. You respond to a friend's recent troubles with "I get knocked down but get up again."

You try to erase these unwelcome melodies by thinking about something else. Nothing. You sing them ten times really loud and fast, hoping to push them out of your head. No luck. They won't leave you. You're afraid to go out at night. You used to be so much cooler than this.

Go easy on yourself. You're not to blame. There's a name for the affliction, and it's called "brain itch." And the type of song that causes the brain itch? That's an "earworm." Dr James Kellaris of the University of Cincinnati has studied the phenomenon (for real). It seems the combination of repetitive words and unchanging melody makes for the perfect earworm. We're helpless against its power.

Here are the all-time itchiest of the brain-itch tunes. You can rest easy knowing that it's not really you singing that song. It's that earworm dug into your mind, like in the movie "Scanners." At least now no one can blame you when your friends ask what you want for lunch and you say, "I want my baby back, baby back."

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE TRAILER

Slumdog Millionaire opens with a police inspector (Irrfan Khan) in Bombay, now called Mumbai, India, interrogating and torturing Jamal Malik (Dev Patel, also played by Tanay Chheda and Ayush Mahesh Khedekar), a former street child from the Dharavi slums. Jamal is a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Kaun Banega Crorepati), hosted by Prem Kumar (noted Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor). Jamal has made it to the final question, but the police are now accusing him of cheating.

Jamal then begins to offer an explanation of how he knew the answers which is conveyed as a series of flashbacks documenting the particulars of his childhood. This includes scenes of him obtaining the autograph of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan; the death of his mother during Hindu-Muslim riots in the slums; and how he and his brother Salim (Madhur Mittal, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, and Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala) befriended the orphan girl, Latika (Freida Pinto, Rubiana Ali, and Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar). As Jamal's favorite book from his short period in school was The Three Musketeers, he refers to Salim and himself as Athos and Porthos, and Latika as the third Musketeer.

The children are eventually discovered by Maman (Ankur Vikal) while they live in the trash heaps. Maman is a gangster (a fact they do not actually know at the time they meet him) who "collects" street children so that he can ultimately train them to beg for money. Salim is groomed to become a part of Maman’s operation and is asked to bring Jamal to Maman in order to be blinded (which would improve his income potential as a singing beggar). Salim rebels against Maman to protect his brother, and the three children try to escape, but only Salim and Jamal are successful. Latika is re-captured by Maman's organization and raised as a culturally talented prostitute whose virginity will fetch a high price.

The brothers eke out a living, traveling on top of trains, selling goods, pretending to be tour guides at the Taj Mahal, and pickpocketing. Jamal eventually insists that they return to Mumbai since he wishes to locate Latika. When he finds her working as a dancer in a brothel, the brothers attempt to rescue her, but Maman intrudes, and in the resulting conflict Salim draws a gun and kills Maman. Salim then uses the fact that he killed Maman to obtain a job with Javed (Mahesh Manjrekar), a rival crime lord. Salim claims Latika as his own and when Jamal protests, Salim threatens to kill him and Latika intervenes, accepting her fate with Salim and breaking Jamal's heart.

Years later, Jamal has a position as a "chai-wallah", (a boy or young man who serves tea) at a call centre. When he is asked to cover for a co-worker for a couple of minutes, he searches the database for Salim and Latika. He gets in touch with Salim, who has become a high-ranking lieutenant in Javed’s organization. Salim invites Jamal to live with him and, after following Salim to Javed's house, he sees Latika living there. He talks his way in as the new dishwasher and tries to convince Latika to leave. She rebuffs his advances, but he promises to be at the VT (Victoria Terminal, or Chhatrapati Shivaji) railway station every day at 5pm. One day Latika attempts to rendezvous with him, but is recaptured by Salim and Javed's men, one of whom slashes her cheek with a knife, scarring her.

Jamal again loses contact with Latika when Javed moves to another home. In another attempt to find Latika, Jamal tries out for the game show because he knows that she will be watching. He makes it to the final question, despite the hostile attitude of the host who feeds Jamal an incorrect answer during a break. At the end of the episode's taping, Jamal has one question left to win 20 million, or two crore, rupees and is taken into police custody, where he is tortured as the police attempt to learn how Jamal, a simple slumdog, could know the answers to so many questions. After Jamal tells his whole story, explaining how his life experiences coincidentally enabled him to know the answer to each question, the police inspector calls his explanation "bizarrely plausible" and allows Jamal to return to the show for the final question. At Javed's safehouse, Latika watches the news coverage of Jamal's miraculous run on the show. Salim gives Latika the keys to his car and his phone and urges her to run away. When Jamal uses his Phone-A-Friend lifeline to call Salim, Latika answers his phone and they reconnect. She does not know the answer to the final question either, but believing that "it is written", Jamal guesses the correct answer (Aramis) to the question of the one Musketeer whose name they never learned, and wins the grand prize. Simultaneously, Salim is discovered to have helped Latika escape and allows himself to be killed in a bathtub full of money after shooting and killing Javed. Salim's last words are "God is great", which is a Muslim prayer. Later that night, Jamal and Latika meet at the train station, and finally share a kiss. The closing credits then imitate a Bollywood-style musical number.

Winners of 10th Annual Golden Tomato Awards

Rotten Tomatoes once again honors the best reviewed films of 2008 from various genres.

Here is the list of winners for the 10th Golden Tomato Awards:

Wide Release Top 10

1. Wall-E - 96%
2. The Dark Knight - 94%
3. Iron Man - 93%
4. U2 3D - 92%
5. Hellboy II: The Golden Army - 88%
6. Kung Fu Panda - 88%
7. Forgetting Sarah Marshall - 88%
8. Bolt - 85%
9. Tropic Thunder - 83%
10. Ghost Town - 83%

Limited Release Top 10

1. Man on Wire - 100%
2. Taxi to the Dark Side - 100%
3. The Wrestler - 98%
4. The Band’s Visit - 98%
5. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days - 97%
6. Let the Right One In - 97%
7. Bigger, Stronger, Faster - 97%
8. Trouble the Water - 97%
9. Slumdog Millionaire - 94%
10. My Winnipeg - 95%

Top UK:
Man on Wire

Top AU:
The Black Balloon

Moldy (Worst Film):
One Missed Call

Action Adventure:
The Dark Knight

Animation:
Wall-E

Comedy:
Happy Go Lucky

Documentary:
Man on Wire

Drama:
The Wrestler

Foreign:
The Band’s Visit

Horror:
Teeth

Kids/Family:
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

Musical:
High School Musical 3 - Senior Year

Romance:
Ghost Town

Sci-fi/Fantasy:
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Thriller:
Transsiberian