Print

Mail

wiki links

PLANET POP

Professional wrestling and reality TV star Hulk Hogan has a message for his estranged wife: Hands off my money. PHOTO: AP

Former Smiths frontman Morrissey is suing music magazine NME for defamation after it printed an article in which he discussed his views on immigration in the UK.

The magazine criticized the 48-year-old singer for allegedly saying the UK had lost its identity as a result of higher levels of immigration than other European countries.

"We can confirm we have received two writs from Morrissey's legal representatives pertaining to NME and its editor Conor McNicholas," a spokesman for NME said on Friday.

"NME takes this matter - and the issues it highlights - extremely seriously and we are currently in discussion with our own legal representatives."

On Thursday, Morrissey's representatives issued a statement on Web site www.true-to-you.net. "The NME had until 1pm today to agree to print a suitable apology to Morrissey. Their only response to this deadline was to say that they 'do not have time to respond to the allegations.'"

In the interview, Morrissey was asked whether he would consider moving back to the UK from Italy. He is quoted as replying that high immigration levels meant England's identity was disappearing, unlike other countries like Germany or Sweden.

Reese Witherspoon topped a recent list of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses. PHOTO: AFP

In a follow-up interview to discuss the original comments, Morrissey is quoted as saying that high immigration was not the reason he would not want to live in England, and that expense and pressure were important factors.

Even though her latest film, Rendition, was a flop, Reese Witherspoon is a moneymaker.

The 31-year-old Academy Award winner commands US$15 million to US$20 million a movie, placing her at the top of The Hollywood Reporter's annual list of the highest-paid actresses.

Angelina Jolie came in second with similar salary demands, though the animated Beowulf' earned the 32-year-old actress far less - just US$8 million.

Cameron Diaz was third, with a US$15 million-per-movie price tag. Nicole Kidman dropped to fourth place, two spots lower than last year, with an asking price of US$10 million.

"Traditionally, the top male actors - like Mel Gibson and Tom Cruise - make around US$30 million per film, with a piece of the film's profits," said Michelle Grabicki, associate features editor at the trade publication.

According to an Associated Press-calculated look at executive pay, published in June, typical A-list stars such as Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio earn US$20 million plus 20 percent of the gross box office take per movie.

"Men traditionally command a higher salary than the women," Grabicki said. "It's a newer trend, women getting a percentage of the back end. Cameron Diaz is catching up with the men." Grabicki said Diaz made around US$30 million for Shrek 3 because of a generous share of the film's profits.

Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan said in a court filing that his wife, who has filed for divorce, can support herself and can help support their 17-year-old son Nick.

Hogan's petition, filed Wednesday under his real name, Terry Bollea, also said Nick is old enough to decide which parent he wants to live with.

Linda Bollea, who filed for divorce earlier this month after 24 years of marriage, is seeking an unspecified amount of alimony and child support.

She also wants her home to be Nick Bollea's primary residence, with Hogan allowed liberal visitation, her petition states.

Hogan, 54, wants the couple's assets and liabilities equitably distributed. The celebrity wrestler intends to continue covering the family with health insurance, his petition states. The couple also have a 19-year-old daughter, Brooke.

Nick Bollea is facing charges of reckless driving involving serious bodily injury in connection with an Aug. 26 crash that left a friend critically injured.

Sharon Osbourne and her Black Sabbath frontman husband, Ozzy, raised more than US$800,000 for charity after heavy metal enthusiasts turned out en masse for their Beverly Hills-style garage sale, auction manager Darren Julien said on Saturday.

Bidders at the auction, which benefited the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Foundation, ran the gamut from metal heads to the high-brow.

The lots included knickknacks and furniture from the Osbournes' former Beverly Hills mansion, which served as the backdrop for their family's MTV reality television series The Osbournes.

Fans snapped up Ozzy's coat for US$3,300, his skull-adorned sneakers for US$2,625 and a pair of his wire-rimmed sunglasses for US$5,250.
This story has been viewed 857 times.