Clay Aiken: Sorry for my ’colorful’ critique
Clay Aiken: Sorry for my ’colorful’ critique
NEW YORK — Clay Aiken says blood didn’t truly pour forth from his ears when he heard runner-up Adam Lambert sing “Ring of Fire” — and hey, he’s sorry for his “colorful choice of words.”
The former Idol contestant writes in a blog on his Web site dated Friday that “I obviously meant it as a colorful statement to imply that I did not enjoy what I heard.” He also says he didn’t mean it as “a ’slam’ on Adam as a person.”
He had blasted Lambert’s take on the classic Johnny Cash tune as “contrived,” “awful” and “slightly frightening.” Aiken says he hopes Lambert can forgive him — but adds Lambert probably doesn’t care about what he said.
Elizabeth Taylor tweets from her hospital bed
LOS ANGELES — Elizabeth Taylor is in the hospital, but she’s well enough to communicate on Twitter.
A publicist for the 77-year-old actress says she “entered the hospital for a routine visit and is doing fine.”
Spokesman Dick Guttman added that Taylor has “fallen in love” with the popular micro-blogging site and that she is trying to smuggle her new puppy into her hospital room.
She tweeted Friday, asking a friend to get the dog past hospital security.
Guttman said Taylor “will be home soon” but he did not specify when she would be released.
Sutherland, designer resolve issues
NEW YORK — Kiefer Sutherland and the designer he is accused of head-butting say they’ve resolved their differences, clearing the way for the charges to be dropped.
Sutherland’s representatives told The Associated Press on Friday that the actor is sorry about what happened and regrets McCollough was injured. And the designer, Jack McCollough, wished the “24” actor well.
Sutherland was charged May 7 with third-degree assault in the incident two weeks ago at a nightclub at the trendy Mercer Hotel in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. McCollough claimed Sutherland broke his nose after an argument following a star-studded gala.
Sutherland is due in court June 22 on the charge.
Today’s birthdays
Songwriter Hal David is 88. Country singer Tom T. Hall is 73. Actor Ian McKellen (“Lord of the Rings”) is 70. Actress Dixie Carter is 70. Country singer Jessi Colter is 66. Actress-singer Leslie Uggams is 66. Director-Muppetteer Frank Oz is 65. Actress Karen Valentine is 62. Actress Connie Sellecca is 54. Singer-guitarist Paul Weller of The Jam is 51. Actor-comedian Mike Myers is 46. Actress Anne Heche is 40. Actresses Sidney and Lindsay Greenbush (“Little House on the Prairie”) are 39. Actor Jamie Kennedy (“Scream”) is 39. Actor Justin Henry (“Kramer Vs. Kramer”) is 38. Singer Lauryn Hill is 34. Actor Ethan Suplee (“My Name Is Earl”) is 33.