Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie Suing Over Tabloid Gossip: "
Recent rumors of their demise have gotten so out of control that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are suing a London tabloid for claiming they are planning to split.
The couple's lawyer, Keith Schillings, tells BBC News that Pitt and Jolie have begun legal proceedings against the always-reputable News of The World tabloid.
On January 24, that publication said the two had agreed to divide their assets and made arrangements for the custody of their six kids. This is not the case.
Schillings tells the BBC that the report contained 'false and intrusive allegations' and the paper failed to meet a demand for a retraction and apology for it.
Schillings says Sorrell Trope, an L.A. divorce lawyer identified by some publications as advising the two, denied that he had been in contact with the couple.
Brangelina is not dividing up assets or Maddox anytime soon.
'I have had no contact from... Angelina Jolie and/or Brad Pitt,' Trope said in a statement. 'I have never met... your clients or had any involvement with them. The foregoing is true with respect to all other members of this firm.'
Basically, for a lawsuit to have merit, the plaintiff must prove it was deliberately defamed by false reporting, rather than the publication merely screwing up.
It certainly looks like that was the case here, as evidenced by Trope's denial. The News Of The World has yet to comment on the story or lawsuit.
Pitt and Jolie, who are not married, nonetheless appear wholly committed to their relationship and each other, as their Super Bowl PDA in Miami Sunday.
They took their eldest son, Maddox (pictured), to the big game. Surprisingly, there was no sign of Jennifer Aniston, who Brad is still in love with, according to OK!
One of the most famous singers of all-time passed away.
One of the most successful actors in history referred to a police officer as "sugar tits" and hated on Jewish people.
A multi-platinum recording artist allegedly urinated on a minor during sex.
Indeed, the years 2000-2009 were filled with celebrities behaving badly and/or dying. Which scandals top our list of the decade's most memorable? We count them down below... R. KELLY BELIEVES HE CAN (OPEN HIS) FLY
In February 2002, a grainy sex tape purported to show R. Kelly performing sex acts with an underage female companion, lowlighted by the male star urinating on his partner. The 35-year-old singer denied his involvement, but Chicago prosecutors indicted him on 21 counts of child pornography.
The case didn't go to trial until May 2008, followed by the singer's acquittal after three weeks of testimony. In the years since the video surfaced, all five of R. Kelly's albums have gone platinum. FROM BRANISTON TO BRANGELINA
After almost five years of marriage, Jennifer Aniston filed for divorce from Brad Pitt in early 2005. Tabloids ran amok with stories that the latter's affair with Mr. & Mrs. Smith co-star Angelina Jolie was to blame. These days, Pitt and Jolie are a (doomed?) couple, while Aniston is the go-to source for quotes about single life.
Incredibly, magazines still profit from this love triangle and perpetuate the myth that there are still feelings between Aniston and Pitt (see below). A MOCKERY OF MEL
Mel Gibson's life changed forever on July 28, 2006. He was pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving and actually uttered the words: ''F---ing Jews... The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world.'' He also allegedly referred to a female cop as ''sugar tits."
Sort of funny? We guess. Astonishing and disturbing? For sure. The actor/director eventually pleaded no contest to the DUI and apologized for his ''despicable'' behavior. BRITNEY GOES BALD
Britney Spears hadn't exactly been stable in the days leading up to February 16, 2007. She flashed her vagina to photographers and often rambled incoherently. On that date, though, it became clear Brit needed serious help.
She headed to a a hair salon and asked the owner to shave her head. It took almost a year - and a well-publicized incident between Spears, an umbrella, and a paparazzi member - for Britney to get hospitalized for mental issues. She appears to be doing better now. CHRIS BROWN BEATDOWN
The popular couple didn't show up for a dress rehearsal for the Grammy Awards on February 8, 2009. But they had a very good reason: due to a physical altercation between the pair, Brown was charged with assault and making criminal threats. Four months later, he pleaded guilty to felony assault.
In a slew of interviews this November, Rihanna revealed disturbing details about the attack. She told Diane Sawyer: ''I was battered, I was bleeding, I was swollen in my face." Brown has gone on to sort of apologize, but also to rail against stores that won't carry his CD. The guy sucks. TIGER ON THE PROWL
The latest scandal and, in some ways, the most shocking. No laws were broken and no one was peed on (that we know of), but Tiger Woods went from being the most famous, respected, professional athlete on the planet to a late-night punchline in less than a week.
He didn't just have an affair; he had an affair with an endless line of bar hoppers, reality TV stars and Las Vegas waitresses, many of whom he kept in regular contact with for reasons that defy comprehension. Beloved for his focus and determination on the golf course, Woods still possesses those qualities, only they're apparently focused on slinging poon instead of sinking putts. THE LATE KING OF POP
No explanation necessary. RIP, Michael.
By: Roger Friedman // Friday January 1, 2010
While Academy voters are studying their ballots and watching their videos, believe it or not there are a lot of new movies coming soon. Here’s a short list of what we’re looking forward to in 2010: Howl – a docudrama about poet Allen Ginsberg’s obscenity trial following publication of his famous poem is one of the Sundance openers this year. James Franco is Ginsberg, and should be riveting. Great supporting cast, too: Mary-Louise Parker, Jon Hamm, David Straithairn, Treat Williams, etc.
Shutter Island – Martin Scorsese’s thriller with Leonardo DiCaprio was supposed to have been released a few weeks ago. But Paramount delayed it, saying Oscar campaigns for “Up in the Air” and “The Lovely Bones” had them overextended financially. A February release isn’t always bad — look at “The Silence of the Lambs.” And Scorsese is rarely off key. The Ghost Writer – Roman Polanski’s new epic comes as he finishes it from lockdown home arrest in Switzerland. The film is supposed to open the Berlin International Film Festival on Feb. 8. Polanski won’t be there, but emotions and support will be high. He’s one of our greatest filmmakers, regardless of his past activities. An eclectic cast comprises Pierce Brosnan, Ewan MacGregor, Kim Cattral, Jim Belushi, Tim Hutton and beloved 93-year-old Eli Wallach. Get ready, this is going to be big news when it’s finally seen. The Tempest — Julie Taymor’s take on Shakespeare, with Helen Mirren playing Prospera, the distaff version of the Bard’s conjurer. The Tree of Life — Terrence Malick is never less than interesting. Now he’s got Brad Pitt and Sean Penn in a “Benjamin Button”-type ethereal epic that we probably won’t see until the fall. Will it be great? Weird? Self-referential? Or magnificent, like Malick’s “Days of Heaven”? We can only hope. Hereafter – Clint Eastwood won’t stop making movies, which is just fine. Following “Invictus” he went straight ahead to make this thriller with Matt Damon and Bryce Dallas Howard. My money’s on Clint. And unlike “Invictus,” this may have a love story. The King’s Speech — Colin Firth is so hot right now — and Oscar bound — in “A Single Man.” Add all that to Geoffrey Rush and very hot HBO director Tom Hooper (”John Adams”) and we may have a new “Shakespeare in Love” next fall. Woefully underused Jennifer Ehle, plus Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Timothy Spall, and Michael Gambon round out this cast. If this isn’t an Oscar nominee, I don’t know what it is. Robin Hood — Russell Crowe at least doesn’t have to fake an accent the way Kevin Costner did long ago. Saddled with many false starts and millions spent on scripts that didn’t work, Ridley Scott’s “Robin Hood” should nevertheless prove to be a success. Cate Blanchett is Marian, and there’s a strong supporting cast including breakout star Oscar Isaac (also in “Sucker Punch”) and stalwarts like William Hurt and Max von Sydow. Sucker Punch — The first new film from Zack Snyder, whose “Watchmen” was a watershed fantasy film this year. Snyder puts together Jena Malone, Abbe Cornish, Scott Glenn and Jon Hamm. Could be a winner, and nothing less than interesting. The Conspirator – Mary Surratt was the only woman charged with conspiracy in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Robin Wright (ex-Penn) gets to play her, directed by Robert Redford. If this is good, it’s also great, with awards awaiting. James McEvoy, on the edge of being huge, is featured along with Kevin Kline, Justin Long and Tom Wilkinson.
