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Celebrity Scandal: Newspaper hacks star celebs phones to get dirt?

Celebrity Scandal!

Newspaper hacks star celebs phones to get dirt?

[Apr. 21]

We are not talking about Beyonce Knowles and Lada Gaga telephone video celebrity scandal. A scandal that has been brewing for years with Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World tabloid is coming to a head. A judge has ruled that four test cases, among them pet friendly actress Sienna Miller, star of Factory Girl (2006) and The Edge of Love (2008), may move ahead with a lawsuit against News of the World for a phone-hacking scheme that violated the rights of a number of celebrities, sports stars, and royal family.

The word broke out in 2005 and 2006 that the tabloid had been involved in various means of intercepting voicemail communication and other private communications through phone-hacking. The News of the World had previously claimed no knowledge of the phone-hacking scheme, saying it was the work of just a couple of rogue employees, but investigation lately has demonstrated that the practice was far more widespread than initially thought.

The attorney for News Group, which owns News of the World, has argued that the case should not be allowed to continue because the paper has offered to settle for more than what complainants are likely to get awarded in court should they win. Regarding Sienna Miller, the attorney, Michael Silverleaf told the judge, “She cannot realistically recover more than we are offering.”

Sienna Miller has 21 days to decide if she will take the settlement, but it could mean allowing the newspaper to escape investigation into what could be many more cases. The paper has identified only eight complainants with whom it is offering to settle.

KIVI-TV reports:

Miller’s lawyer, Hugh Tomlinson, said money was not the primary motivation for many of the claimants.

“Damages are an aspect, but when private information is involved, the kind of relief people are looking for goes beyond simply monetary compensation,” he said.

Already Andy Coulson has had to step down as head of communications for Prime Minister David Cameron as a result of the scandal. Coulson was editor for News of the World while the phone-hacking scheme was ongoing, according to Yahoo! News. And two senior men with News of the World have been held on charges, according to Reuters.

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Did dancer Mark Ballas get American Idol singer Pia Toscano on DWTS?

Hollywood Gossip!

Did Mark Ballas secretly help ex American Idol contestant Pia Toscano get a gig singing on DWTS?

[Apr. 20]

Dancer Mark Ballas and Disney princess Chelsea Kane are keeping up with the rankings on Dancing with the Stars. Sources close to the production crew on DWTS staff are wondering if Ballas pulled some strings to to get the American Idol favorite onto Dancing with the Stars. After Pia introduced herself to the dance pro by way of a mutual acquaintance of wrestling star Chris Jericho, who also is a competitor on DWTS. Ballas says, no, though. Even thought judge favorite Pia Toscano was voted off of American Idol, she is still a hot commodity in Hollywood social circles as a new voice and pretty face, and the hot male celebrity dance pro took note. Apparently, that Pia Toscano will be performing next week on Dancing with the Stars while Ballas dances with Karina Smirnoff on the April 26 results episode thanks to a romantic spark between Pia and Mark. But he denies being anything more than just friends and claims he has zero influence with the producers decisions who to bring on the show as musical guests.

Ummm… yeah. Sure he doesn’t have any pull… and of course they are just friends… and no WAY the DWTS producers would ever think of capitalizing on some free press if one of their dance pros just happens to hook up on his down time with the hottest female contestant ever voted off American Idol.

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Lindsay Lohan lost Victoria Gotti role bid, but will play Gotti Jr wife?

Lindsay Lohan News!

Lindsay Lohan lost Victoria Gotti role bid, but will play Gotti Jr wife?

[Apr. 20]

Troubled Disney princess and actress Lindsay Lohan is out of the running to play Victoria Gotti alongside John Travolta in his new film Gotti: Three Generations, according to a representative for Fiore Films, reports Access Hollywood. This would have been the first film role for Lohan since she was in rehab early this year. The star supposedly was hand-picked by Victoria Gotti herself, with whom the Lohan family is friends.

Just last week, Lohan was discussing her proposed role in the film. Access Hollywood reports:

“I’ve been speaking to some of the producers… and we’re discussing me possibly having a role in the film, which is very exciting,” Lindsay told a crew at the press conference for the project last week.

“I think it’s an amazing story in the things that the Gottis have gone through over the years and just everything that comes with that family. I think is an incredible story to tell,” she added.

But the representative for Fiore Films confirmed that the green celebrity actress was turned down: “Discussions have been broken between Fiore Films and Lindsay Lohan playing Victoria Gotti,” the rep said.

Instead, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Lohan has been tapped to play the wife of Junior Gotti in the film. She said it would be a “great honor” to work with superstars John Travolta, who plays John Gotti, Sr., and Joe Pesci, who plays Angelo Ruggiero, one of Gotti’s deputies.