Jon Gosselin says he despises estranged wife

Jon Gosselin says he despises estranged wife

NEW YORK — Jon Gosselin says he despises his estranged wife, Kate, and believes she took his wedding ring.

The reality TV star told ABC News’ Chris Cuomo on “Good Morning America” that he set down his ring one day, and it vanished. He says no one else could have taken it.

He also accuses Kate of verbally abusing him and beating him down during their marriage.

Jon’s remarks came from his first TV interview since divorce papers were filed in June. Kate has made a number of her own interview appearances in recent weeks.

The Gosselins continue to co-star on TLC’s hit reality show “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” which documents the challenges of raising their twins and sextuplets.

‘Lord of the Rings’ lawsuit settled

LOS ANGELES — The heirs of J.R.R. Tolkien and a movie studio that produced the blockbuster “Lord of the Rings” trilogy have settled a lawsuit over the film’s profits.

The agreement was announced in a joint press release Tuesday.

Tolkien’s heirs sued New Line Cinema in February 2008, claiming the studio owed it millions in profits from the movies, which were released between 2001 and 2003.

The lawsuit sought to block the release of two upcoming prequels based on Tolkien’s novel, “The Hobbit.”

No settlement paperwork has yet been filed with a Los Angeles court, and the agreement’s terms are confidential.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Topol (“Fiddler on the Roof”) is 74. Country singer Freddy Weller (also of Paul Revere and the Raiders) is 62. Actor Tom Wopat is 58. Musician-producer Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) is 57. Actress Angela Cartwright (“The Danny Thomas Show,” “Lost in Space”) is 57. Actor Hugh Grant is 49. Actress Constance Marie (“George Lopez”) is 44. Actor-comedian Adam Sandler is 43. Model Rachel Hunter is 40. Actress Michelle Williams (“Brokeback Mountain,” “Dawson’s Creek”) is 29.