Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Prince Harry refusesto apologize to paparazzi
LONDON -- Prince Harry will not apologize to a paparazzi photographer he scuffled with outside a London nightclub, reports USA Today.
The photographer, Chris Uncle, suffered a cut lip and had claimed that Harry struck him without provocation after the 20-year-old prince emerged from a trendy club early Thursday. Royal officials said Harry was hit in the face with a camera and pushed back.
Paddy Harverson, communications secretary to Harry's father, Prince Charles, said the paparazzi were "pretty aggressive" and there was no need for an apology.
"He is not unused to it -- he knows they are going to be waiting for him sometimes when he is out and about," Harverson told BBC radio. "In this case they did seem to be much pushier. It was unfortunate, it was regretful, but let's move on."
Usher spokeswoman:no comment on sex tape
NEW YORK -- R & amp;B heartthrob Usher might want to call Paris Hilton for some advice now that a videotape is being shopped that purportedly shows the "Confessions" singer having sex with two women, reports the New York Daily News.
The tape is said to have been made when he was 19. According to a source who has seen the tape, the then-up-and-coming singer was introduced to the two women by the owner of a club where he performed.
"The club owner wanted to show his gratitude," says the source. "So he hooked him up with these ladies."
A portion of the tape shows a naked woman moaning, "Ush," while TLC's "Waterfalls" plays in the background. (Usher used to date TLC's Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas.)
The source, who has seen the complete tape, says, "There's no doubt it's Usher. You can see him hamming for the camera."
A spokeswoman for Usher, who just turned 26, had no immediate comment.
'Sex' star Parker getskey to city of her birth
NELSONVILLE, Ohio -- "Sex and the City" actress Sarah Jessica Parker has been presented a key to this small southeastern Ohio city, where she was born. Parker received the key during a visit to the Athens County Democratic Party's Nelsonville headquarters Thursday while stumping for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. She then headed to nearby Athens, home of Ohio University.
Wearing a large gold "vote" medallion, Parker appealed to the mostly female crowd of 300 at an Athens bar by saying Kerry's platform of abortion rights, jobs, health care and education are hot topics with women.
"It's no secret who I'm going to vote for," she said, pointing to her glitter-adorned Kerry T-shirt.
Parker called the Nov. 2 presidential election the "most important of my lifetime." She then signed autographs on everything from fliers to designer shoes in the Blue Gator bar, owned by former Mideast hostage Terry Anderson. Anderson, who was chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press when he was held for 61/2 years in Lebanon by Iranian-sponsored terrorists, is running as a Democrat for state senator.
D'oh! British TV fansvote Homer for president
LONDON -- Homer Simpson has topped a poll of the fictional characters British TV fans would like to see become U.S. president, reports BBC Online.
As the real presidential race between President Bush and John Kerry heats up, "The Simpsons"' lovable oaf beat out other U.S. TV characters, such as Josiah Bartlet -- the president in "The West Wing," played by Martin Sheen -- who came in second in the Radio Times survey of 2,000 readers. Frasier, Sergeant Bilko and "CSI" agent Gil Grissom completed the top five.
Today's birthdays
Actress Teresa Wright is 86. Actress Nanette Fabray is 84. Baseball Hall-of-Famer and sportscaster Ralph Kiner is 82. Actress Ruby Dee is 80. Former Secretary of State Warren M. Christopher is 79. Actor-comedian John Cleese is 65. Country singer Lee Greenwood is 62. Author Fran Lebowitz is 54. Actor-director Roberto Benigni is 52. Actor Peter Firth is 51. Singer Simon Le Bon is 46. Musician J.D. McFadden is 40 Rock singer Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots) is 37. Actor Sean Holland is 36. Actress Sheeri Rappaport is 27. Actress-singer Kelly Osbourne is 20.