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All Rights Reserved,
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Wednesday
January 1, 2003
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Happy
New Year |
Pink 'More Inspiring Than Britney'
Pink has been named the top inspiration for teenagers in a national poll.
The tattooed singer was judged to be a greater role model than Britney
Spears in the poll for Sugar magazine.
Pink, whose real name is Alecia Moore, said she saw the accolade as a great
compliment.
"Wow, this is the best compliment anyone could ever give me," she
said.
"When I was young, I searched for inspiration, so I'm glad I can do
the same for you."
The magazine said she was admired for her "funky, punk image and
kick-ass attitude".
Readers explained why they voted for her. One said: "She's such a
strong person and she's done her own thing rather than copy anyone else".
Britney was second and Ms Dynamite - winner of this year's Mercury Music
Prize - was the highest placed Brit at number three.
The top 10 inspirations, contained in the 100th issue of Sugar which is
published tomorrow, are:
1. Pink;
2. Britney Spears;
3. Ms Dynamite;
4. Kelly Osbourne;
5. Kylie Minogue;
6. Victoria Beckham;
7. Avril Lavigne;
8. Jennifer Lopez;
9. Sarah Michelle Gellar;
10. Holly Valance.
ananova.com |
Photographer/ Video Director Herb Ritts
Dies At Age 50
Celebrity
photographer Herb Ritts, who directed videos for Madonna, 'NSYNC, Britney
Spears and others, died Thursday morning of complications from pneumonia. He
was 50.
In March, Ritts worked with Shakira on the video for "Underneath Your
Clothes," and last year he was responsible for the desolate apartment
visuals in 'NSYNC's heartbroken "Gone," the saucy bounce of Jennifer
Lopez's "Ain't It Funny" and the sandy, sexy beach scenery in
Britney's "Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know."
Two of Ritts' other well-known videos similarly boasted a skillful blend of
sand and sex appeal — Madonna's "Cherish" and Chris Isaak's
breakthrough "Wicked Game," one of two clips Ritts tackled for the
crooner. "Wicked Game" and another Ritts clip, Janet Jackson's
"Love Will Never Do (Without You)," won Best Male Video and Best
Female Video at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards.
Herb Ritts was born in Los Angeles in 1952 and majored in economics at New
York's Bard College. Shortly after college, in the mid-1970s, Ritts taught
himself photography, snapping pictures of friends.
One of his subjects was a friend's boyfriend, then-unknown actor Richard Gere.
His shots of the future star led Ritts into the world of celebrity photography
with full force. He photographed everyone from Jack Nicholson to Michelle
Pfeiffer to Mick Jagger, gaining unprecedented access with many of his
subjects, including a paralyzed Christopher Reeve and a post-brain surgery
Elizabeth Taylor.
Ritts' work often appeared in magazines like Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar,
Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone. He sat actress Brittany Murphy atop a child's
rocking horse for a recent Interview magazine cover.
His photos graced album covers, including Madonna's True Blue (1986), and
appeared in advertisements for companies like Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, the
Gap and Giorgio Armani. He published books of his work and has been displayed
in galleries and museums.
Ritts passed away at the UCLA Medical Center, according to his publicist. As
of Thursday evening, a family gathering was being planned, with a larger
public service to follow in January. Ritts is survived by his mother, Shirley
Ritts; brother, Rory; sister, Christy Thrasher; and his partner, Erik Hyman.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers donations be sent to the Herb
Ritts Jr. Foundation, c/o Grant & Tani, 9100 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1000,
Beverly Hills, CA 90212.
mtv.com
|
Britney
Spears Sues Skechers Over Skating Line
Britney Spears has sued Skechers USA, Inc. for more than $1.5 million,
claiming the Los Angeles footwear company used her to plug its own roller
skates instead of a skating line she designed.
Skechers USA. Inc. hired the 21-year-old pop princess on Sept. 1, 2001 to
endorse its products, according to the lawsuit filed on Monday in U.S.
District Court in Los Angeles.
The contract included a bonus royalty payment to the pop princess in the
event that sales increased dramatically as a result of her endorsement -- a
feat she accomplished in 2002 but was only partly compensated for, the suit
claimed.
A subsequent deal between Britney Brands and Skechers to sell roller
skate-shoes and skating accessories fell apart over Skechers' slowness in
finding a company to make the products and its failure to market them, the
suit said.
And, Spears alleges, the footwear company backed out of a written agreement
to sponsor her 2001/2002 concert tour and sell the Britney Brands skates and
products.
"Skechers USA used the lure of association with Ms. Spears to benefit
sales of their own branded products and failed to honor basic agreements with
Britney Brands," Jonathan Solish, an attorney for Britney Brands, wrote
in the lawsuit.
Skechers officials could not be reached for comment.
The suit asks a judge to order Skechers to pay $1 million due to Spears
under the merchandising agreement, $500,000 under the tour sponsorship
agreement plus unspecified damages and attorneys fees.
reuters.com |
Pop Star Timberlake Misses Old Flame,
Britney
Pop star Justin Timberlake may have slammed ex-girlfriend Britney Spears in
his new video, but he says he still has strong feelings for the pop princess.
"I may not ever get over her," Timberlake, 21, said in a Rolling
Stone magazine cover story. "I really do still love that girl."
Timberlake, the most prominent member of boy-band 'N Sync, ended their
3-1/2-year relationship earlier this year. Timberlake says he pulled the plug
after she cheated on him. (Spears, also 21, has denied any cheating was
involved.)
While Timberlake has since been linked with actress Alyssa Milano, the
Rolling Stone story indicated that the most important woman in his life is his
mother, Lynn Harless. To her occasional discomfort, Timberlake attempts to
discuss his sex life with her, Harless told the magazine.
Timberlake recently released his debut solo album, "Justified."
The video for the new single, "Cry Me A River," depicts a guy
getting even with his wayward girlfriend -- a Spears look-alike .
Even though the teen pop phenomenon is fading fast, Timberlake said 'N Sync
plans to start recording a new album in the fall. His relatively low-profile
bandmate, JC Chasez, is tentatively slated to finish his solo debut early next
year.
entertainment.sympatico.ca |
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© 2001, All Rights Reserved, PG web design
