George Clooney in ‘sad’ split with girlfriend
LOS ANGELES—Hollywood heartthrob actor George Clooney has split from Elisabetta Canalis, his Italian girlfriend of two years, the ex-couple said on Wednesday.
“We are not together anymore. It’s very difficult and very personal, and we hope everyone can respect our privacy,” they said in a joint statement cited by People magazine.
A spokesperson for 32-year-old Canalis added: “Elisabetta will be taking some time… and then will face the press.”
The celebrity couple were first seen in public at the Venice Film Festival in 2009, and had been spotted together in Italy as recently as last week, People reported.
The 50-year-old actor, voted Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine in 1997, was married to actress Talia Balsam from 1989 to 1993, but has downplayed the chances of getting hitched again.—AFP
No more parties
LOS ANGELES—The house party is over for Lindsay Lohan, at least while she’s on house arrest.
Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner chided Lohan for having rooftop parties at her home while serving house arrest on a probation violation, but said the actress hadn’t violated any other rules.
“Do you want to get on with your life, tell me,” Sautner asked.
“Yes, I do,” Lohan replied. It was the only time she spoke during the hearing.—AP
Victory booty shake
PARIS—At the AIDS charity gala on the margins of Paris’ men’s wear week, Fergie tried to take to the stage to receive her award for contributions to the fight against AIDS but was waylaid by her skirt, a black Louis Vuitton number so narrow she couldn’t lift her leg high enough to climb up the steps. Vuitton designer Jacobs, the man behind the hobbling garment, had to help her hop up the stairs.
Finally onstage, Fergie did a victory booty shake and waxed nostalgic about the start of her blockbuster career, saying she “never wanted to be a role model.”—AP
Jerry Lewis hospitalized
SYDNEY—Jerry Lewis was hospitalized on Friday after he was unable to perform at a show in suburban Sydney, but his publicist said he was simply overtired and was released after a few hours.
The 85-year-old actor/comedian is on a fundraising tour for the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation Australia. He arrived at the Rooty Hill Returned Servicemen’s League club to perform, but he couldn’t get out of the car, said Ian Lowe, the club’s general manager.—AP
Graves’ disease not so grave
LOS ANGELES—Rap star Missy Elliott on Friday insisted her battle with the thyroid malady Graves’ disease has not sidelined her career.
“I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease about three years ago, but it really hasn’t slowed me down at all,” Elliott said in a written statement. “Under my doctor’s supervision, I’ve been off medication for about a year and I’m completely managing the condition through diet and exercise.”
Elliott, 39, known for her hit songs “Get Ur Freak On” and “Work It,” has won four Grammys but has not released an album since 2005’s “The Cookbook.”—Reuters
