X17 News

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Yves Saint Laurent, the iconic French fashion designer who had retired for haute couture in 2002, died today (June 1). He had been ill for some time.

Saint Laurent is considered to be one of the most influential in French fashion during the 20th century, along side Christian Dior, Coco Chanel and Paul Poiret.

Yves Henri Donat Mathieu Saint Laurent was born in Algeria August 1, 1936, and already had a portfolio of clothing designs by the time he arrived in Paris in 1953 at age 17. Vogue editor Michel de Brunoff publish the sketches and encouraged Christian Dior to hire the young protege. Saint Laurent took over the design house three years later when Dior passed away.

In 1960, Saint Laurent was called to fight in his native Algeria and, though he got a health exemption and returned three weeks later, Dior had already replace the designer. Saint Laurent struck out on his own with his partner Pierre Berge handling the business side.

The YSL logo became famous during the economic boom of the 1960s when Saint Laurent made the Rive Gauche ready-to-wear label and very successful perfumes. He was among the first designers to expand into Asia to the extent that he did, opening up such markets as South Korea and Taiwan.

Saint Laurent was most famous for "Le Smoking," the tuxedo for women, which he introduced in 1966. It was worn by Laurent Bacall, Betty Catroux, and Lou Lou el a Faliase, among others.

Saint Laurent "was the first to elevate haute couture to the rank of art and that gave him global influence,'' French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in a statement today, AFP reported. He "infused his label with his creative genius, elegant and refined personality'' and was "convinced that beauty was a necessary luxury for all men and women.''

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Actor Johnny Depp took home two MTV Movie Awards last night, for Best Comedic Performance (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End) and Best Villain (Sweeney Todd). Depp and the other winners gave brief speeches, which was consistent with the noticeably shorter two hour broadcast of the ceremony.

Mike Myers hosted the show while Coldplay, The Pussycat Dolls and Adam Sandler performed, and Tom Cruise presented the MTV generation award to Sandler before he took the stage.

Best Female Performance - Ellen Page (Juno)
Best Fight - Sean Faris vs. Cam Gigandet (Never Back Down)
Best Summer Movie So Far - Iron Man
Best Male Performance - Will Smith (I Am Legend)
Best Comedic Performance - Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End)
MTV Generation Award - Adam Sandler
Breakthrough Performance - Zac Efron (Hairspray)
Best Villian - Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd)
Best Kiss - Briana Evigan and Robert Hoffman (Step Up 2 The Streets)
Best Movie - Transformers

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Though some film critics predicted that Sex And The City might have a rough battle at the box office this weekend with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Carrie and the ladies easily took the number one spot and brought in $55.7 million for the film's opening weekend.

The film, which is based on the hit HBO television series created by Darren Star, also marks the biggest R-rated comedy opening of all time.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Actress Tatum O'Neal, 44, was arrested last night (June 2) on the streets of New York City's Lower East Side, when detectives caught her buying cocaine and crack from a drug dealer.

O'Neal was arrested around 7:30 pm ET Sunday on Clinton Street between East Broadway and Grant Street, according to the Manhattan South Narcotics unit whose detectives nabbed the actress.

The actress replied by saying she was researching a role, according to a New York Post source: "You know who I am, right?" Then she said, "I'm researching a part - I'm doing this for a part as a junkie. Can't we just forget about this?"

O'Neal was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and the alleged dealer, Alan Garcia, 33, for criminal sale of a controlled substance.

The daughter of actor Ryan O'Neal, Tatum was the youngest actor ever to receive an Oscar -- she won best supporting actress for her role in Paper Moon in 1974.

She struggled with drug and alcohol addiction but entered rehab an claimed to have beaten it by 1996. She claimed, in her 2004 memoir, A Paper Life, that drinking and drugging were in her blood since her mother, the late actress Joanna Moore, was an alcoholic and addicted to amphetamines as she raised Tatum and her younger brother Griffin in Los Angeles.

O'Neal was married to tennis star John McEnroe from 1986 to 1992 and the couple has three children together - Sean, Emily, and Kevin.

O'Neal recently said in an interview that she had sympathy for Britney Spears and that it wasn't until she herself moved out of LA that she started to gain control of her life and escape the pressures of Hollywood.

The actress had recently attempted to revive her career, with various television appearances including a guest appearance on Denis Leary's Rescue Me.

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LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes held a housewarming party at their new Beverly Hills estate on Saturday night, and guests included Oprah Winfrey, Victoria Beckham, Eva Longoria, Jennifer Lopez, Brooke Shields, Kyra Sedgwick, Tobey Mcguire, Jeremy Piven and Kirstie Alley.

The couple purchased the $35 million mansion last summer and have spent the past year renovating the gated, 1.3 acre property, which was originally built in 1937.

Guests began to arrive around 9pm and left around 1am, and over 50 staff members from Wolfgang Puck catered the event.

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LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley, 79, died of heart failure today at his home in Archer, Florida.

In May of 2007, Diddley suffered a stroke while on tour in Iowa, and then in August of 2007, the musician suffered a heart attack.

Diddley was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and also the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Actor Kelsey Grammer, 53, suffered a heart attack over the weekend in Hawaii, X17online can confirm. Grammer's publicist, Stan Rosenfield told X17online:

"Kelsey Grammer has suffered a mild heart attack Saturday, and is resting comfortably
in a Hawaiian hospital. He will be released from the hospital early this week.

Grammer experienced symptoms Saturday morning after paddling boarding with his wife Camille at their Hawaiian home. Grammer was immediately taken to an area hospital where it was determined that he had a mild heart attack."

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Actor and architecture enthusiast Brad Pitt will team up with Zabeel Properties and the Los Angeles-based architecture firm GRAFT to help design a new five star hotel in Dubai.

In a statement on Zabeel Properties’ web site, Pitt said:

“Whilst acting is my career, architecture is my passion. Selecting this development as my first major construction project has been a simple decision. It will underpin not only my values for environmentally-friendly architecture, but also embrace my career in entertainment.

“We will be unveiling precise plans in the next few months, but you can expect something that is not only stunning to look at, but will also be an incredible attraction to visit or stay it."

Robert Norton, CEO of Zabeel Properties also said on the web site:

"Our master plan and design concept will be world-leading and we're delighted to be collaborating with Brad Pitt and the team at GRAFT, which is recognized for its innovative building design."

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LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Actor Jack Black and his wife Tanya have welcomed their second son, Jack, into the world and Black's publicist confirmed to X17online that the baby boy was born on May 23, 2008.

The couple has been married since 2006, and have another boy, Samuel, age 1.

Black is currently promoting his new animated feature, Kung Fu Panda, which hits theaters June 6.

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LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Actress Michelle Monaghan and her husband Peter White are expecting their first child together, due later this fall. Monaghan's publicist, Jennifer Allen, confirmed the wonderful news to X17online and added, "They are thrilled."

The couple began dating after they met in a New York bar, and have been married since August of 2005.

Monaghan's latest movie, Made of Honor is currently in theaters, and her next project is the DreamWorks film Eagle Eye, co-starring Shia LaBoeuf, which hits theaters on September 26th.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Actress Tatum O'Neal spoke to X17online today about her arrest on Sunday night as she made her way to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in New York City.

O'Neal, 44, told X17online: "I think it's a tragic thing, but I brought it upon my self. I'm glad it happened the way it happened. Any kind of addiction is always a tragedy. Right now I'm on my way to take care of myself by going to an AA meeting."

O'Neal was arrested on June 1 around 7:30 pm ET on Clinton Street between East Broadway and Grant Street, according to the Manhattan South Narcotics as she was in the process of buying crack and cocaine from a street dealer.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - The fire that destroyed thousands of videotapes and numerous sets at Universal Studios on Sunday was caused by a roofing crew and determined to be an accident.

Los Angeles County fire officials said that the fire was started by "a roofing crew in the process of roof repair using new composite materials and open flame torch" who were working on the studio's New York Alley. The crew finished their work at approximately 3am, "maintained a fire watch for one hour" and then took a break. While the crew was on break, a security guard noticed the fire and alerted Universal who then called the Fire Department. Due to the "highly combustible materials, this fire quickly spread throughout the building and other adjacent buildings on the lot." Wind was not a factor in the blaze, and fortunately, no one was hurt.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - X-Files actress Gillian Anderson is expecting her second child with boyfriend Mark Griffiths, according to People.

The couple have a son, Oscar, who was born on November 1, 2006.

Gillian's latest film, The X-Files: I Want to Believe will hit theaters on July 25.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - There was an accident on the Tennessee set of Hannah Montana: The Movie that caused minor injuries to a few extras and crew members yesterday. According to WKRN in Nashville, a projection screen was blown into a Ferris wheel, which children were riding during filming of a scene for the movie.

Brenda Blackford, a set extra, told the station: “When the wind caught it, all the cables were loose. It started flying. I was watching to see which corner of it was gonna hit the Ferris wheel because it was unavoidable.”

A Disney spokesperson gave the following statement to X17online:

"During a break in the filming of Hannah Montana: The Movie, a minor accident occurred involving a piece of production equipment. Fortunately, there were only a few minor injuries. Medical personnel have treated the extras and crew involved. None of the cast was on the set. Filming has resumed."

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Actor Ethan Hawke and his pregnant fiancee, Ryan Shawhughes, are preparing to get married, according to the New York Post.

Sources for the newspaper spotted the couple at the Municipal Building on Centre Street yesterday morning applying for their marriage license and one eyewitness said, "They looked really sweet."

Shawhughes was Hawke's former nanny while the actor was married to Uma Thurman, with whom he has two children, Maya Ray, 9, and Levon Roan, 6.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Mary-Kate Olsen graces the cover of the July issue of Elle, and in the article, she discusses her family and fame, as well as darker topics such as therapy and her stint in rehab for an eating disorder.

On her twin sister Ashley:

“We don’t agree all the time. The way we go about business or designing or making a decision is that we come at it from two completely different angles that, at the end of the day - even when we don’t think we’re agreeing with each other - we are agreeing. We’re just getting there in different ways. Unless you’re a twin, you honestly can’t know how close twins can be. When there’s that much love there’s...well, there’s the opposite of everything, but it stems from love, and it stems from passion. We’re driven people. I do know I can’t work in an office. Ashley, on the other hand, loves going to an office.”

On her unique style:

"You're either on the worst dressed list or you've started a fashion trend. I think there's a real disconnect between the media's perception of fashion and the fashion world's idea of fashion. I don't know why I wear some of the things I wear. I like wearing crazy things sometimes. I like being playful. Sometimes I feel like I'm playing dress-up and becoming character. It's sort of like an art. It can change your mood or the way that people are attracted to you."

On going to rehab in 2004:

"I have never talked about that, or been quoted about that. Look, I think it's important that what anybody goes through - and I'm not saying that it's true or not true - you realize it's part of growing up. Everybody is going to go through hard times. It's a part of life. I think the hardest part to get to is that point of asking for help or reaching out to other people and being honest with yourself. I do not want to go through my life with my eyes shut. And I don't want to go through it with a closed mind. I want to be aware of things. And I'd rather know than not know."

On seeing a therapist:

"Yeah, I talk with people. I think it's important. I wouldn't call 'em a shrink, but it's good to have communication with whomever, whether it's a mentor or a therapist or a psychiatrist, whether it's your mom or your dad or your best friend."

On Heath Ledger's death:

"I'm not going to comment on that - I won't give you a word about that in the nicest way possible. Let's move on."

On being famous:

"It's weird to be called a celebrity...I mean, if I see a paparazzi shot of me walking that's in a magazine or something at some event, it's as if I see it from an outsider's point of view. There's like a character, almost, and then there's me. I think it's kind of entertaining."

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Guy Ritchie has signed on to direct Warner Bros.' upcoming film, Sherlock Holmes, which is tentatively scheduled for a 2010 release, according to Variety. Lionel Wigram and Dan Lin, who are both former Warner creative executives will be producing the film.

Not much information about the film has been released, but it is being reported that producers at Warner Bros.' are hoping to reinvent Holmes and sidekick Dr. John H. Watson.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Actress Sharon Stone has apologized again for her tactless remark at the Cannes Film Festival regarding the earthquake in China.

Two weeks ago, when asked about the recent earthquake in China which killed over 68,000 people, Stone said in an interview with Hong Kong's Cable Entertainment News, "This earthquake happened, and then I thought, 'Is that karma? When you're not nice that the bad things happen to you?'"

Stone released the following statement through her publicist today:

"There has been numerous reports about what I said in Cannes. I would like to set the record straight about what I feel in my heart and end all of the misunderstandings. Yes, I misspoke. I could not be more regretful of that mistake. It was unintentional. I apologize, those words were never meant to be hurtful to anyone, they were an accident of my distraction and a product of news sensationalism. I am deeply saddened by the pain that this whole situation has caused the victims of the devastating earthquake in China."

Though this is the second time Stone, 50, has publicly apologized for her comment, Christian Dior China announced last week that the actress' advertisements for the brand will be pulled.

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LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Brad Pitt was spotted spending nearly $350,000 at an art fair in Switzerland yesterday, the day before Angelina Jolie's 33rd birthday.

Us Weekly reports that Pitt was chauffeured in a BMW to Switzerland's Art Basel fair, where he spent over two hours shopping. He purchased two bronze chairs designed by Max Lamb, which cost $25,000 a piece, according to a fair attendee. Pitt also also bought a foam and fiberglass Family Lamp as well as a $293,000 table.

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LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Britney Spears will be making a cameo in the Pussycat Dolls' latest video, "When I Grow Up," according to Us Weekly.

Spears shot her scenes for the Pussycat Dolls' new single on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California yesterday afternoon, while the pop group filmed their scenes in Hollywood.

An on set insider told the magazine, "It was carefully planned out. In the scene shot [Wednesday], Britney is driving in a car. They all wave at each other as they are passing in traffic - that is it. It is a very short sequence, but she had a lot of fun with it. Britney really likes the Dolls' music and when she saw them on the MTV Movie Awards, she was totally down to do the video." The insider added, "Of course, Britney looks hot and blonde."

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LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Lindsay Lohan will begin shooting the new film Labor Pains on June 9 in Burbank, California, according to Variety. The film is a romantic comedy in which the starlet will play a publishing house assistant who pretends to be pregnant to avoid getting fired by an overbearing and wicked boss.

Producer Rick Schwartz said, "I didn't know Lindsay before this, but we looked each other in the eye three months ago, and she has done everything I could have asked." Schwartz also helped produce The Departed and The Aviator.

Lohan apparently loves the script, as she recently said, "It is a very different role for me and I look forward to the challenges it will present, and I love working on comedies."

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LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Canadian singer Avril Lavigne has just signed a deal with Procter & Gamble to launch her own perfume, according to Women's Wear Daily.

Lavigne said she is very pleased "to be working with Procter & Gamble on releasing my first fragrance. Creating this fragrance is a fun process and I am looking forward to sharing it with everyone."

Heike Hindenlang, the global marketing director for Procter & Gamble Prestige Products, said, "Young teenage girls really aspire to Avril and love everything about her...We think we can reach out to new consumers with her scents."

Lavigne's perfume should be available by mid-2009.

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LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Britney Spears is traveling to England next week to shoot the music video for her next single, "Radar," according to the New York Post.

Spears' manager, Larry Rudolph says, "The theme is her and her girlfriends are going to be looking all around London trying to find a boy who she met in a club. Every time they think they have him, it's someone else."

Larry also added that Spears "will be behind the camera as much as possible; she wants to make sure it's exactly right."

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LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Vin Diesel, star of The Fast and the Furious, and his model girlfriend Paloma Jimenez welcomed their first child, a baby girl, on April 2, People Magazine reports.

Diesel, 40, is currently shooting and producing Fast and Furious, set to hit theaters next summer.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - The Los Angeles-based organization, Australians in Film, has announced that they will launch the Heath Ledger Scholarship Fund, which will be given annually to a young Australian actor to help them pursue a career in Hollywood.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Ledger's family fully supports the fund, and Gregor Jordan, a longtime friend of the late actor, read statements of support from Ledger's family at Australians in Film's 4th annual Breakthrough Awards on June 5.

Susie Dobson, the president of the organization said, “We're so pleased to recognize the efforts and talents of Australia’s newest faces who are already proving they are on their way to join the ranks of the high-profile Australian talent working in Hollywood. We are also thrilled that, through Heath's scholarship, we will be able to assist burgeoning Australian talent launch their careers in the U.S. to become potential future recipients of a Breakthrough Award.”

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LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Justin Timberlake will participate in Golf Digest's U.S. Open Challenge at Torrey Pines today, according to The Guardian. Timberlake will play 18 holes at the Torrey Pines course, which is the venue for next week's US Open. He will play his round with Tony Romo, Matt Lauer and John Atkinson, a cancer sufferer who entered the magazine's competition.

When asked about the challenges of the course, Tiger Woods commented, "People don't realize how thick the rough is and how difficult it is controlling the shots. I know Matt and Tony are good players but until they experience it they have no idea."

However, Timberlake "practices every day, has a swing coach and takes his clubs everywhere he goes," according to a spokesperson. Additionally, according to the United States Golf Association, which records the handicap of every amateur in the country, Timberlake plays off three, with his last 20 scores ranging between 76 and 86, which is respectable.

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LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - X17online can confirm that Jessica Alba gave birth to her first child over the weekend. Alba's publicist told X17online, "Jessica Alba, 27, and her husband, Cash Warren, 29, welcomed a healthy baby girl, Honor Marie Warren, on June 7 in Los Angeles."

The couple got engaged last December and were married in a small ceremony on Monday, May 19.

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LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - DreamWorks animated feature, Kung Fu Panda took home $60 million and the number one spot at the box office this weekend. The comedy features the voices of Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu and Seth Rogen among others, and ranked number nine on the all-time list of animated premieres.

Adam Sandler's latest comedy, You Don't Mess With the Zohan raked in $40 million and the number two spot, while Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull earned $22.8 million and snagged the number three spot. Sex and the City held the number four spot and earned $21.3 million.

LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Lindsay Lohan is the campaign ambassador for Visa Swap 2008, which is a high end swap meet for designer apparel, which will be held at the Covent Garden Piazza in London on the weekend of July 19th.

In a press release obtained by X17online, more details of the event were revealed:

"Visa Swap 2008 invites all fashion lovers to gather their unwanted designer and high-street clothes, shoes and bags and bring them to the Visa Swap Loft in London’s Covent Garden over a three week period. In return they will receive redeemable points in exchange for their fashion items. The more exclusive and unique the garment, the higher the points you’ll receive. At the final weekend, swappers are expected to arrive armed with the official Visa Swap card they received when they dropped off, loaded with points to ‘buy’ items donated by other swappers."

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LOS ANGELES, California (X17online) - Singer, actress, mother and entrepreneur Lopez, 38, is designing a line of workout clothing, according to OK! Magazine.

Sources tell the magazine that Lopez has been planning a moderately priced collection to add to her fashion lines, which already include the J.Lo, Sweetface and JustSweet labels. An insider tells the magazine, “She has some street gear already in her lines, but she wants something exclusively for sneakers, yoga pants and dance gear. She wants it to look great in the gym and in the street, and to be affordable and functional.”

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