Friday, August 26, 2005
Timberlake OKs damagesafter tabloid's false story
LONDON -- Justin Timberlake has accepted an apology and damages from a tabloid newspaper that falsely accused him of cheating on girlfriend Cameron Diaz with a British model. Timberlake had filed a libel lawsuit at London's High Court over a July 2004 claim in the News of the World that he had a fling with model Lucy Clarkson. Benjamin Beabey, lawyer for the tabloid's publisher, News Group Newspapers Ltd., said Wednesday that the News of the World apologized "for the distress and embarrassment caused by this article. It entirely accepts that the allegations are without foundation." Clarkson's lawyer, David Griffiths, said the model acknowledged that the story was "an entire fabrication on her part." Timberlake's lawyer, Simon Smith, said the allegations had caused damage to the singer's "personal and professional reputations." He said the publisher had agreed to pay "a substantial undisclosed sum as damages." Clarkson had agreed to pay "a sum equal to that which she agreed to receive from the News of the World for her story. The defendants also had agreed to pay Timberlake's legal costs, Smith said. Ken Sunshine, Timberlake's publicist, said the singer planned to donate the damages money to charity.
Publicist: Teen actressfrom 'Sleepover' missing
APPLE VALLEY, Calif. -- Scout Taylor-Compton, star of the recent teen comedy "Sleepover," has been missing from her California home for nearly two weeks, officials and her publicist said Wednesday. A spokeswoman for the San Bernardino Sheriff said the young actress was likely a runaway. The 16-year-old was last seen at home on Aug. 12, according to a statement released by her family. "We sincerely appreciate everyone's attention and concern regarding Scout and are praying for her safe return," the statement read. "We have faith in the agencies working on the case and are optimistic that the outcome will be positive." One deputy sheriff has been assigned to the case, and the family has hired a private investigator, said sheriff's spokeswoman Robin Haynal. Haynal said Taylor-Compton also goes by the name Desiree Compton. Besides 2004's "Sleepover," Taylor-Compton played a bit part in "13 Going on 30," with Jennifer Garner, and recently landed a leading role in the Bravo series "Hidden Howie." She's also appeared on WB's "Gilmore Girls" and worked in independent films and music videos. In June she finished filming an independent film called "Tomorrow Is Today" in New Jersey.
Backstage at pageant,Omarosa will get the dish
NEW YORK -- John O'Hurley, a popular contestant on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," will host the 29th annual Mrs. America competition Sept. 7 in Palm Springs, Calif. Helping O'Hurley get the backstage dish on the 51 contestants will be Youngstown native Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, a former candidate on "The Apprentice" and a former Mrs. District of Columbia. WE will broadcast the competition Sept. 14, the network announced Wednesday.
Moore makes a return
NEW YORK -- Mary Tyler Moore will return to the soundstage where "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was filmed in the 1970s when she guest-stars in three episodes of "That '70s Show." Moore will play a local newscaster who hires Jackie (Mila Kunis) as her personal assistant. Beloved by her audience, Moore's character isn't so charming when the cameras are off, as Jackie discovers. The episodes will air next year, the Fox network said. Moore starred as TV reporter Mary Richards on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and as Laura Petrie on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" in the 1960s.
Notable deaths
Harold Ensley, who brought the outdoors to life for millions of television viewers through his "The Sportsman's Friend" television show, died Wednesday after a long battle with heart problems. He was 92.
Popular Colombian singer Kaleth Morales died Wednesday, hours after a car he was riding in crashed, hospital officials said. He was 21.
Today's birthdays
Former Washington Post Executive Editor Benjamin C. Bradlee is 84. Author Ben J. Wattenberg is 72. Former Democratic vice-presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro is 70. Singer Vic Dana is 63. Rhythm-and-blues singer Valerie Simpson is 59. Pop singer Bob Cowsill is 56. Actor Brett Cullen is 49. Jazz musician Branford Marsalis is 45. Country musician Jimmy Olander (Diamond Rio) is 44. Actor Chris Burke is 40. Rock musician Dan Vickery (Counting Crowes) is 39. Rock musician Adrian Young (No Doubt) is 36. Actress Melissa McCarthy is 35. Actor Macaulay Culkin is 25. Actress Keke Palmer is 12.