newsmakers

newsmakers

Madonna: Not happy about M.I.A.’s gesture

NEW YORK

Madonna says she’s not happy that M.I.A. made an obscene gesture during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Madonna said on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show Friday that the gesture was pointless and “seemed out of place.” The British hip-hop artist, invited by Madonna to participate in Sunday’s halftime show in front of 114 million people, extended her middle finger to the camera.

Madonna said that “I understand it’s kind of punk rock and everything, but to me, there was such a feeling of love and good energy and positivity, it seemed negative.” She said it was something a teenager would do.

The singer said she didn’t learn what M.I.A. had done until someone told her after the show.

‘Gone With the Wind’ items possibly ruined

STOCKBRIDGE, Ga.

Museum officials are waiting to see whether memorabilia from the classic film “Gone with the Wind” was ruined when a fire heavily damaged the facility near Atlanta where it was stored.

Rebekah Cline with the Clayton County Convention and Visitors Bureau says the Road to Tara Museum in Henry County has a storage unit on the lower level of the facility, though the fire broke out on the upper level. But she says firefighters said all the units had sustained some degree of fire, smoke or water damage.

Cline says the unit housed collectible posters from the 1939 premier and promotional paintings. But she says the museum’s most valuable treasures are at the museum. They include costumes, a signed first-edition copy of the book and an original movie script.

City by the bay to honor Tony Bennett

SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco is honoring legendary crooner Tony Bennett, whose famous song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” was recorded 50 years ago.

Mayor Ed Lee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Nancy Pelosi are among those expected to attend a ceremony for Bennett in the city hall rotunda at noon Tuesday, Valentine’s Day.

The event will include renditions of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” by the San Francisco Boys and Girls Choruses and the San Francisco Symphony, among others.

The song also will be broadcast at noon over the public-address system in Union Square and Hallidie Plaza.

The event will end with a sing-along of the song.

Musician cancels concert in Israel

JERUSALEM

American musician Cat Power has canceled her show in Israel, joining a list of artists shunning the country over its conflict with the Palestinians.

Charlyn Marie Marshall, better known by her stage name Cat Power, was to perform in Tel Aviv on Sunday.

But she tweeted Friday that due to “much confusion” she felt she could not play for her Israeli fans and that she felt “sick in her spirit.”

She had faced calls to boycott the Jewish state.

Elvis Costello and The Pixies have canceled their appearances, as did the British dance band Klaxon and the Gorillaz Sound System. Santana and Bjork also called off concerts, without explaining why.

Other musicians, such as Elton John, Paul McCartney and Madonna, have resisted the pressure.

Will.i.am raises $5M for his school charity

LOS ANGELES

Will.i.am had hoped to raise $1 million for his charity that benefits needy students at a concert. Instead, he raised $5 million.

The musician hosted an event Thursday night for his i.am angel foundation at the Hollywood Palladium, which featured performances from Stevie Wonder and Ne-Yo.

The Black Eyed Peas leader said he was inspired by the 2010 documentary “Waiting for Superman,” about U.S. public education. He said that “Superman is not coming to save no neighborhood or no education system.” Instead, he said they should call the movie “Waiting for William.”

He added that he wants to continue to help youth in poor neighborhoods get an education.

Will.i.am also said President Barack Obama is not a “magic man.” And that people shouldn’t expect him to solve the country’s problems with “some freakin’ plan.”