newsmakers

newsmakers

Heigl says stories are exaggerated

NEW YORK

Former “Grey’s Anatomy” star Katherine Heigl says she’s happy to make headlines, but stories about her in the media often are exaggerated.

Heigl’s comments in the past have been known to make waves in the entertainment world. She called the 2007 comedy “Knocked Up,” in which she starred, “a little sexist.” Later, she refused to seek an Emmy nomination after saying “Grey’s” writers didn’t give her enough award-worthy material.

Heigl says she doesn’t have “any major problem” with what’s written about her. But she adds that she tries to keep her perspective so she doesn’t believe her own press.

The actress was speaking in New York at the world premiere of her latest dramedy, “Life as We Know It,” which opens nationwide this week.

Stamos wants to be heard at hearing

MARQUETTE, Mich.

Actor John Stamos can’t make it to federal court in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this week, but he still wants to be heard.

Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to allow them to read a statement from Stamos when two people are sentenced Friday for trying to extort $680,000 from him.

In July, Allison Coss and Scott Sippola were found guilty of conspiracy and using e-mail to threaten a person’s reputation.

They were accused of demanding money from Stamos in exchange for turning over embarrassing photos of him.

The FBI says there were no photos.

Stamos has known Coss for years after meeting her in Orlando, Fla., in 2004 when she was 17.

Stamos plays a dentist on Fox’s hit musical “Glee.”

Mario charged with assaulting mother

BALTIMORE

R&B singer and former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant Mario has been charged with assaulting his mother at their Baltimore home.

Officers were called to an apartment building in the Fells Point neighborhood early Friday, where police say Shawntia Hardaway told officers her 24-year-old son, Mario Barrett, had pushed her.

According to charging documents, Hardaway said her head still hurt after Barrett pushed her into in a wall in a separate instance Monday and she feared for her life. Officers found broken glass and a hole in a door in their apartment.

Barrett’s attorney, William “Hassan” Murphy III, called it “an unfortunate incident” between a loving son and a mother who has had drug problems. Barrett, who appeared in an MTV special in which he staged an intervention for his mother, was charged with second-degree assault and released on $50,000 bond.