Newsmakers

Newsmakers

Police: After jail, Taylor Swift’s stalker breaks in again

NEW YORK

A man recently jailed for breaking into Taylor Swift’s New York City townhouse was arrested early Thursday after, police say, he did it again.

Roger Alvarado, 23, of Homestead, Fla., climbed a ladder and smashed a glass door to get inside the pop star’s pad around 2:30 a.m., police said.

No one was home, according to police, who did not provide information on how he was caught. A message requesting comment was emailed to Swift’s publicist.

Alvarado, on probation after getting out of jail Feb. 5, faces stalking and burglary charges. Court records didn’t list a lawyer who could comment on his behalf.

This is at least the third time Alvarado has been arrested at Swift’s home. The “Shake It Off” singer owns an $18 million, three-story building in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood.

A break-in in April, in which police say Alvarado used Swift’s shower and slept in her bed, put him behind bars for more than nine months. As part of the sentence, a judge also ordered Alvarado to complete a mental-health program.

Two months before that, he was arrested for allegedly breaking the front door with a shovel.

Swift wasn’t home on either occasion.

In an article published Wednesday, Swift told Elle Magazine that she fears violence and takes precautions, such as carrying military-grade quick-clotting agents to stop bleeding from potential gunshot or stab wounds.

“Websites and tabloids have taken it upon themselves to post every home address I’ve ever had online,” Swift told the magazine. “You get enough stalkers trying to break into your house and you kind of start prepping for bad things.”

Human Rights Campaign to honor Christina Aguilera

WASHINGTON

The nation’s largest LGBTQ civil-rights organization is honoring Christina Aguilera with its Ally for Equality award.

The Human Rights Campaign announced Thursday the six-time Grammy-winning singer is a true “LGBTQ icon” who uses her platform to “share a message of hope and inspiration” to those who have been marginalized.

The group said the 38-year-old has raised money to fight HIV/AIDS, advocated marriage equality and spoken out against LGBTQ bullying. The group said Aguilera’s 2002 single “Beautiful” is an empowering LGBTQ anthem.

Aguilera will be honored at the group’s dinner in Los Angeles on March 30.

Annie Lennox pushes for global feminism

NEW YORK

Annie Lennox has a sweet dream – that the world will embrace the term global feminism and continue to push for the advancement of women’s rights around the globe.

The iconic singer and activist teamed with Apple Music to launch a video Thursday in support of global feminism to coincide with International Women’s Day, which is today.

The nearly two-minute clip features Lennox, Oscar-nominated actor Richard E. Grant and Grammy-winning singers Ed Sheeran, Mary J. Blige and Dua Lipa telling the story of women’s rights in the past 100 years.

“My interest is this term ‘global feminism,’” Lennox said. “It means that everybody can be a part of it. It isn’t saying, ‘I’m a feminist – it’s different than your feminism.’ No. It’s all part of a very mixed, diverse dialogue that will bring many people [together].”

“Feminism – we must use this word because it means empowerment. People can be, [and] must be, empowered,” she said.

Associated Press