Eminem's troubles grow as relatives file lawsuit

Eminem's troubles growas relatives file lawsuit
MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. -- Two of Eminem's relatives have filed a lawsuit against the best-selling rapper, claiming he's trying to evict them from the home he had built for them. Jack and Betty Schmitt, Eminem's uncle and aunt, are seeking more than $350,000 and possession of the home, the Detroit News reported. The Schmitts claim they lived in St. Joseph, Mo., until mid-2002, when they moved to Clinton Township in Michigan at the request of their nephew, whose real name is Marshall Mathers III. Eminem was born in St. Joseph and grew up in the Detroit area. He now lives in a mansion in Rochester Hills. His lawyer, Howard Hertz, refused to comment, saying he hadn't read the lawsuit, which was filed recently. The Schmitts claim Eminem had agreed to pay them $100,000 a year for five years and provide them with a house worth up to $350,000. But they say he has given them only $165,000 since 2002. Eminem bought a lot in 2002 to accommodate a home, which was finished in March 2003, the Schmitts say, but kept the property in his name. On July 13, they received a notice telling them to leave the property, the lawsuit says. The 32-year-old rap star recently canceled his European tour, citing exhaustion. He is undergoing treatment for dependency to sleep medication, his publicist said last week.
Will Ivana's Vegas ventureappeal to celebs, execs?
NEW YORK -- A $35 million, 20,000-square-foot penthouse isn't everyone's idea of a starter home, but Ivana Trump hopes celebrities will snap it up. After all, she says, real estate is a good bet for anyone. Sales materials for her luxury residential project show prices for apartments in Ivana Las Vegas will range from $550,000 to $35 million for the penthouse. The building will have 945 units that Trump hopes will attract business executives, entertainers and others who "love Nevada because of its weather. I always felt very secure and very safe with real estate. Real estate always appreciates," Trump, a former wife of real estate mogul Donald Trump, said in an interview at her Manhattan town house. At 82 stories tall, the building will be a dominant fixture of the Las Vegas skyline. Work will start next year and the project likely will be completed by 2008, Trump said. "I made a tremendous amount of money on real estate," she said. "I'll take real estate rather than go to Wall Street and get 2.8 percent. Forget about it."
British station will air'racy romp' about royal
LONDON -- A British television channel plans to screen what it calls a "factually accurate" television drama that depicts Queen Elizabeth II's younger sister, Princess Margaret, having sex and taking drugs. Channel 4 described "The Queen's Sister" as "a witty and irreverent royal romp." One scene features the princess in a lesbian kiss, while another shows her smoking a "strange cigarette" at a party, the channel said. "I think some people will find it quite arresting and challenging," said Kevin Lygo, Channel 4's director of television. "It's factually accurate and it's a racy romp." Francis Hopkinson, Channel 4's senior commissioning editor for drama, said the program "shows the excesses of hedonism" but "wasn't intended as an expos & eacute;." Hopkinson said it was based on interviews and research from sources. Channel 4 said it planned to broadcast the program in late November. Margaret died in February 2002 at age 71.
Bosworth, Bloom are back
Though they broke up earlier this year, Kate Bosworth and Orlando Bloom got cozy early this month in Australia, where she's filming "Superman Returns." "They're back together," says their rep, Robin Baum. Even so, Bloom remains pals with Salma Hayek, who reportedly secretly dated him after his split with Bosworth. "They went out a couple times, but it was very hush-hush," a Bloom pal told People magazine. Says Hayek's rep: "She's been friends with Orlando for a while, and she's single."
Today's birthdays
Israeli political leader Shimon Peres is 82. Actor-director Melvin Van Peebles is 73. Singer Kenny Rogers is 67. Actor Clarence Williams III is 66. Rock 'n' roll musician James Burton is 66. Singer Harold Reid (The Statler Brothers) is 66. Singer Jackie DeShannon is 61. Actress Patty McCormack is 60. Actress Loretta Devine is 56. TV host Harry Smith is 54. Singer Glenn Hughes is 53. Country musician Nick Kane is 51. Actress Kim Cattrall is 49. Rock singer Serj Tankian (System of a Down) is 38. Actress Carrie-Anne Moss is 35. Rock musician Liam Howlett (Prodigy) is 34. Actress Alicia Witt is 30. Singer Kelis is 26. Singer Melissa Schuman (Dream) is 21. Actor Cody Kasch ("Desperate Housewives") is 18. Actress Hayden Panettiere is 16.