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Heather Mills tries to impress New Yorkers with gifts of vegan meat

Posted: September 20th, 2008, 9:28pm CDT by JayBird

Tags: Good Causes

No one knows how to ingratiate herself to those around her quite like Heather Mills. The famous hostess – known worldwide for both her warmth and Martha Stewart-esque hospitality – has gone out of her way to be just as considerate a guest. Only half those statements are sarcastic.

While Mills isn’t exactly known for her warmth, she actually has attempted to do something both kind and charitable, while sticking to her own values. Mills is a very vocal vegan. Upon arriving in New York City, she learned that the Hunts Point area of the Bronx had the highest rate of childhood obesity (and asthma) in the city. So instead of saying, “that’s too bad” and letting that be the end of it, Heather donated $1 million worth of vegan meat products to food programs. Which is actually pretty admirable. Though no one there has a clue who she is.

Heather Mills, who Saturday will donate $1 million worth of vegan food to programs in Hunts Point, drew blank faces from Bronx residents who were shown a picture of the diva.

In an informal survey, the Daily News showed Mills’ picture to 20 people in Hunts Point. While many had a hazy idea of who she was, nobody identified her by name. “Yeah, that’s the one with one leg or something,” said Lashawnda Floyd, 24, who recognized Mills from her turn on “Dancing with the Stars” but couldn’t recall her name.

Mills, a crusader against animal cruelty, chose to donate the vegan hamburgers and hot dogs to kids across Hunts Point because the area has the highest obesity and asthma rates in the city, according to the Hunts Point Alliance for Children.

Most Bronx residents were happy to accept her gift, even if they didn’t know who she was. Mills, who will be on hand Saturday in the Bronx to receive a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for her charity work, also is donating 1,000 meatless Bar-B-Que meals during an event to promote healthy living for kids.

[From the Daily News]

It seems like Heather’s probably trying to get some press, and I’ve got to give her props for going about it in a more positive, giving way than she ever did in the U.K. It may not make her as instantly well-known as some of her nasty drama did back home, but if she sticks to getting attention through kindness instead of bitterness, she could very well turn things around to an extent.

Here’s Heather Mills in Hunts Point earlier today. Photographer: Gary James. Images thanks to WENN.
Miley Cyrus is trying to get fired from Hannah Montana

Posted: September 20th, 2008, 8:05pm CDT by JayBird

Tags: Billy Ray Cyrus

Miley Cyrus has big plans for her career – and they don’t involve wasting any more time on the set of Hannah Montana. According to TMZ, Miley and her dad Billy Ray Cyrus have been acting like total divas on the set of the Disney show, all with the hopes of getting fired. Why? Miley wants to focus on singing, and Billy Ray seems to agree with her.

TMZ has learned Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus want off “Hannah Montana,” and their conduct has triggered a war on the set.

Our spies on the set tell us Miley has bragged that she will get fired, making it clear she wants to focus on singing and not the show. For his part Billy Ray has also made it clear that there is more money in singing than a Disney cable show. As a result, the father-daughter team has been showing up to the set ridiculously late, stalling production and infuriating cast and crew.

Emily Osment, who plays Lilly Truscott, used to be extremely tight with Miley. Now we’re told Emily is so bitter she literally turns away from Miley after each scene. We’re told Emily’s dad got in a screaming match with Billy Ray, complaining he and Miley were unprofessional.

Sources tell us Billy Ray has told people on the set that he and Miley will do twelve more episodes and then they are out. Disney was so pissed they called his agent, railing that Billy Ray and Miley were ingrates. Disney insisted that Billy Ray and Miley not only finish the twenty-four episode season — but Disney was adding six more episodes.

[From TMZ]

While I appreciate any young person who has career plans and goals, there’s a line. Purposely being the biggest bitch you can be in order to get your way pretty much crosses it. Especially when it causes major inconveniences to other people and generally ruins their day. And Billy Ray teaching Miley that this is an appropriate way to act is surely going to regret it. Give her a few more years and he’ll be writing a Lynne Spears-esque memoir title “Whoops – How Should I Have Known Teaching My Kid to be a Spoiled Brat Would Mess Them Up?”

Not only is this poor parenting but it’s also poor business practice. Miley Cyrus is a big star, but she became one because of Hannah Montana. The vast majority of her singing is related to the show in some way. There’s a decent chance she could have a music career apart from all that, but not if she alienates her fans. Put it this way: I don’t know anyone under the age of 18, but even I had head of Hannah Montana a few years ago. Long before I’d ever heard of Miley Cyrus.

Here’s Miley at Disney’s “Concert for Hope in Universal City, CA on September 14th. Images thanks to PR Photos.
DJ AM is in a doctor-induced coma

Posted: September 20th, 2008, 4:18pm CDT by JayBird

Tags: Accidents

DJ AM has been put into a medically-induced coma so that he can have skin grafts to try to replace some of the “extensive” damage from burns to his face. According to US Weekly, the doctors at the hospital said he’s lucky to be alive. From the phrasing it’s hard to tell if the mean he’s lucky to be alive because four of the six people on the plane died, or because the extent of his injuries are so severe.

They also noted that AM was able to call his mom from the ambulance.

DJ AM “was completely terrified and traumatized” after his jet crash early Friday, but he was conscious long enough inside the ambulance to call his mother, a source tells Usmagazine.com.

During the emotional phone call, DJ AM, whose real name is Adam Goldstein, let her know he was injured and going to the hospital, the source says.

He is currently in a doctor-induced coma so he can undergo skin grafts in an attempt to repair some of the extensive burn damage.

The medical staff considers him lucky to be alive, as the crash killed four people and also severely injured Travis Barker. (TMZ.com reports Barker was burned from the waist down.)

Meanwhile, a pal tells Us Goldstein’s ex fiancee Nicole Richie “wishes only the best for Adam and hopes he recovers from this.”

[From US Magazine]

DJ AM’s brother-in-law Benjamin Long told People that he is a survivor and has pulled through a lot of intense battles in the past. The family is doing their best to stay hopeful and positive.

DJ AM’s sister, Lara, and her husband, Benjamin Long, learned the news of the plane crash – in which Barker and DJ AM were badly burned and four others were killed – from a phone call from AM’s mother on Saturday morning.

“We’re in shock,” Benjamin Long told PEOPLE. “Nobody expects something like this. We’re waiting to hear more.”

“The whole thing is crazy,” said Benjamin Long. “We’re thankful that he made it. And we feel horrible about those who didn’t. It’s just awful.”

He added that his bother-in-law is a survivor. “He flies all the time,” says Long. “A lot of people know his story. He’s pulled through a lot of things in the past.”

[From People]

Long has a good point about all the challenges A.M. has overcome before. After surviving years of abuse from his father, A.M. conquered a cocaine addiction and beat suicidal depression. He also lost a tremendous amount of weight after having gastric bypass surgery and has managed to keep his weight stable for two years since then, which is no small feat. That kind of mentality will really serve him well. Our thoughts are with all the plane crash victims and their families.

Here’s DJ AM and fellow plane crash survivor Travis Barker arriving to perform a set together at club LAX in Vegas on June 18th. Header of AM at the MTV Movie Awards on September 7th. Images thanks to WENN.
Shanna Moakler is with Travis Barker at the hospital

Posted: September 20th, 2008, 3:52pm CDT by JayBird

Tags: Hospitalizations

Shanna Moakler has rushed to be with ex-husband Travis Barker after he was in a serious plane crash. Moakler’s mother spoke to People and said that Travis was doing okay – everything considered – but that he was incredibly upset over the deaths of four other passengers, one of whom was his assistant Chris Baker.

Both Barker and DJ A.M. made it out of the plane alive, but they were very badly burned and are still listed as in critical condition. Moakler flew out to Georgia early this morning according to her mother Gail.

Travis Barker’s former mother-in-law, Gail Moakler, tells PEOPLE, “We’re totally crushed,” but that Shanna Moakler has rushed to be with her ex… Moakler, whose daughter Shanna was married to Barker, tells PEOPLE, “Our heart pours out. We’re hoping he recovers. The family is rallying around him and saying our prayers.”

Both Barker, 32, and DJ AM (real name: Adam Michael Goldstein), 35, were taken to a burn center in Augusta, Georgia, about 75 miles southwest of the Columbia, S.C., crash site. Both are listed in critical condition. Four others on the plane were killed: pilot Sarah Lemmon, 31, of Anaheim Hills, Calif.; co-pilot James Bland, 52, of Carlsbad, Calif.; security guard Charles Still, 25, of Los Angeles; and Barker’s assistant Chris Baker, 26, also of Los Angeles.

Upon hearing the news of the crash, “Shanna flew out this morning, and I am going to L.A. to be with the children so that she can devote time to Travis,” Gail Moakler tells PEOPLE. “There’s still love between them,” says Gail Moakler. “They may be divorced, but they’re still very close. She spends a lot of time with him. Their priorities are their kids.”

The youngsters have yet to be told about the incident. “We’re waiting a bit to see what God brings,” says their grandmother, who adds, “Shanna spoke to Travis last night. He was defiant after the accident and didn’t want to be lifted in a helicopter, but rather an ambulance, so they had to knock him out.”

[From People]

Shanna and Travis were married in 2004 and divorced earlier this year. They had a pretty dramatic relationship which was documented on their MTV show Meet the Barkers. They were constantly breaking up and getting back together, and it was hard to guess at any given moment if their divorce proceedings were still going on or if they’d reconciled. Travis and Shanna have two young children: daughter Alabama is 2 and their son Landon is 4.

It sounds like things are still very much up in the air regarding Barker’s condition, but as I mentioned it’s still listed as critical. He and DJ A.M. are beyond lucky to have escaped the plane; but it sounds like the situation is still tenuous at best. Hopefully things will stabilize soon and they’ll both be okay.

Here’s Travis Barker and DJ Am at the MTV Movie Awards on September 7th. Images thanks to WENN. Header is an older picture of Shanna Moakler and Travis Barker when they were still together.
Travis Barker and DJ AM in critical condition in burn unit after fatal plane crash

Posted: September 20th, 2008, 9:11am CDT by Celebitchy

Tags: Accidents

Musician Travis Barker and celebrity DJ Adam Goldstein, better known as DJ AM, were among the surviving passengers in a private learjet which crashed taking off from a South Carolina airport Friday night. Both Barker and Goldstein are in critical condition in the burn unit of an area hospital. Four other passengers were killed, but their names have not yet been released. Barker and Goldstein were performing along with Perry Farrell, best known as the former lead singer of the band Janes Addiction, and Gavin DeGraw. ~~It is not yet known whether Farrell and DeGraw were on the plane~~. (Update: according to various accounts, both Farrell and DeGraw are fine and were not on the plane.)

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and a popular disc jockey were critically injured in a Learjet crash in South Carolina that killed four people, authorities said Saturday.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the plane carrying six people was departing shortly before midnight Friday when air traffic controllers reporting seeing sparks. The plane went off a runway and crashed on a nearby road, she said.

Hospital spokeswoman Beth Frits said Barker and DJ AM, whose real name is Adam Goldstein, were in critical condition at a burn center in Augusta, Ga., about 75 miles southwest of Columbia.

NBC News reported that Barker, who also starred in MTV reality show “Meet the Barkers”, had performed Friday night at an event alongside Perry Farrell, the former Jane’s Addiction singer, as well as Gavin DeGraw and Goldstein.

‘Terrible and tragic’
It was not clear whether Farrell and DeGraw were also traveling with Barker and Goldstein.

Federal officials confirmed that two crew members and two passengers were killed in the crash.

“It’s absolutely terrible and tragic,” Columbia Mayor Bob Coble said.

Bergen said the Lear 60 was headed to Van Nuys, California. She was unable to confirm the names of those on board.

Barker and Goldstein perform together under the name TRVSDJ-AM.

[From MSNBC]

This is awful news and our hearts go out to their families and to those who lost their lives. Part of me hopes that Farrell and DeGraw were not on the plane, but it’s a tragedy no matter who died in that accident.

We’ll have to stay tuned to this story and see if more information is available.

Update: Here is a photo of the crash and more information from the local news source, WLTX. The plane crashed into an embankment when taking off, and then caught fire. Baholicious notes Perez Hilton says Perry Farrell and Gavin DeGraw were not on the plane, but that has not yet been confirmed. There were two passengers and two crew members who perished in the crash:

An airport spokesperson says a lear jet–a small, private passenger plane–crashed just after take off a little before midnight Friday.

At this time, it appears the plane was attempting to take off, ran off the runway, through a fence, and hit an embankment along Highway 302. The plane then caught fire, and airport emergency crews are working to put out the blaze.

Six people were aboard the airplane. It’s believed four people are dead, and two were taken to the hospital.

CBS News has confirmed that Travis Barker, a drummer who once was a member of the rock bank “Blink 182″, and D.J. AM, who’s real name is Adam Goldstein, were aboard that plane, and survived. They have been taken to the hospital for treatment at the Augusta Burn Center, and they both are in critical condition.

Barker and Goldstein were in Columbia Friday night as part of a concert in Columbia’s Five Points.

Update 2: TMZ is reporting that Perry Farrell was not on the plane. Hopefully Perez Hilton was right and Gavin DeGraw wasn’t on the plane, either.

Update 3: Gavin DeGraw wasn’t on the plane, according to his rep, quoted in People.

The other two passengers who died are said to be males, while the two crewmembers were a female pilot and a male co-pilot.

Update 4: TMZ reports that the pilot and co-pilot have died, Sarah Lemmon and James Bland, along with another male passenger, Charles Still, and Travis Barker’s assistant, Chris Baker, 29, (no relation) who was featured on his reality show Meet the Barkers. Baker had a wife and baby at home.

Barker and Goldstein escaped by opening the door of the plane and jumping out right after it crashed and was already on fire. Barker is said to be burned from the waist down and it is thought that he will survive. Goldstein has suffered serious burns to his face.

Travis Barker and DJ Am are shown at the MTV Movie Awards on 9/7/08
Anonymous pranks Oprah - or was it someone trying to discredit Anonymous?

Posted: September 20th, 2008, 5:53am CDT by Celebitchy

Tags: Cults

Oprah Winfrey did a serious episode about pedophilia, but when it came to understanding the online activities of that despicable population she fell for a stupid posting on one of her message boards referencing the group Anonymous. Oprah got all serious like the pedophiles were telling her they were organized, and said:

“Let me read you something from our message boards about someone who claims to be from a known pedophile network. It said this. ‘He doesn’t forgive, he doesn’t forget, his group has over 9,000 penises, and they’re all raping children.’ So, I want you to know, they’re organized, and they have systematic ways of hurting children, and they use the Internet to do it.”

Anonymous is a loosely based group of people online who have made it their recent mission to protest the Scientology cult and bring awareness to the cult’s illegal activities. Their motto is “We are Anonymous. We are Legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget.” The 9,000 reference is an Internet meme that’s used by the group to reference their number of members, which is unknown and is likely much higher. They’re just a bunch of Internet-savvy people, predominantly younger, but they’ve been routinely called pedophiles by Scientologists. They’re also not that organized - anyone anywhere can claim to be from Anonymous and pull stunts like this trying to discredit them. What a coincidence that someone used Anonymous’ motto on Oprah’s message board of all places and claimed to be a pedophile. I’ve seen videos on YouTube in which Scientologists accuse their detractors of that very thing.

It’s not funny to joke about being a pedophile and raping children, and who would do that except someone trying to smear the group? Oprah’s people should have some clue about the Internet, and the fact that they fell for this obvious reference to Anonymous, which has received coverage even in the mainstream press, makes me wonder how much else in this story Oprah aired - which I did not see - was hype. Of course pedophilia is serious and threatening and we should keep our children safe, but should we get scared and freaked out about it like the whole Internet is unsafe, or take measures to make sure our kids’ activities online are monitored and we know what they’re doing?

Shame on Oprah’s entire staff for falling for that stupid posting and putting it on the air. They should issue a retraction admitting they were duped.

Here’s wikipedia’s entry on Anonymous along with their anti-Scientology efforts, Project Chanology. The Encyclopedia Dramatica (ads NSFW) is also a way to see how some members of Anonymous take the threats against them - with humor and inside jokes. It’s possible a rogue member posted on Oprah’s message board, but I would bet it’s someone trying to make them look bad. They ended up mostly making Oprah look clueless.

Moderately related update: Here’s a link to a video of Scientologists harassing people at the NY protest. They yelled repeatedly at them, handed out flyers with the names of Anonymous members and even had a pamphlet in Scientolo-speak claiming they have no morality and laugh at tragedy. At around 4:00 minutes in a guy starts yelling about how they need to take their medication. They’re exercising the Scientology concept of “fair game” or “attack the attacker.”

Thanks to ONTD for the heads up on this story.

Photo by Sklathill of an LA Anonymous protest found on buzznet.