IRS Investigates Madonna's Charity & Kabbalah Centre
LatestBoth the Kabbalah Centre and Raising Malawi, the troubled charity Madonna founded with Kabbalah Centre co-director Michael Berg, are the subject of an IRS investigation. Two people have reportedly been called before a grand jury to answer questions about the organizations. Madonna has donated millions to both, and is currently being sued by former Raising Malawi employees after plans for a $15 million school fell through. [Showbiz 411]
Scarlett Johansson and Sean Penn attended Reese Witherspoon‘s wedding together yesterday. Afterwards they went out for a drink and an eyewitness claims ScarJo muttered “this is so terrifying” because everyone was staring at them. However, she felt comfortable enough to sit in Penn’s lap and make out with him for 15 minutes later in the evening. [Us]
Ugh, if you no longer care about the exact mathematical percentage of Natalie Portman versus Sarah Lane dance scenes in Black Swan, feel free to move on. Today director Darren Aronofsky said he had his editor go through the entire film to analyze every shot of Natalie dancing. “111 are Natalie Portman untouched. 28 are her dance double Sarah Lane,” Aronofsky said. “If you do the math that’s 80% Natalie Portman. What about duration? The shots that feature the double are wide shots and rarely play for longer than one second. There are two complicated longer dance sequences that we used face replacement. Even so, if we were judging by time over 90% would be Natalie Portman … I am responding to this to put this to rest and to defend my actor. Natalie sweated long and hard to deliver a great physical and emotional performance. And I don’t want anyone to think that’s not her they are watching. It is.” [N.Y. Mag]
Katie Couric is leaving her post as anchor of the CBS Evening News in June and the network has offered her a spot on 60 Minutes and a position hosting a daytime talk show. [UPI]
- Though Dina Lohan claimed that Lindsay was dropping “Lohan” from her name, her rep says, “Lindsay Lohan has not changed her name. It remains Lindsay Lohan.” [Perez]
- Michael Lohan claims that his ex Kate Major is “really starting to creep Lindsay and Dina out by using her stories to get in their good graces.” They’re probably used to it after dealing with Michael for all these years. [Radar]
- Hear ye, hear ye: Samantha Ronson is dating yoga instructor Tiffany Russo. We’re supposed to be shocked because she was once married to a man. [Radar]
- Italians are already upset about Jersey Shore, which began airing in the country today. “They embody the worst stereotypes of Italians, multiplied by thousands and Americanized,” said one newspaper columnist. [N.Y. Post]
- European broadcasters are pulling Simpsons episodes that feature nuclear meltdown humor in light of the crisis in Japan. [N.Y. Daily News]
- Executive producer Al Jean responded, “We have 480 episodes, and if there are a few that they don’t want to air for a while in light of the terrible thing going on, I completely understand that. We would never make light of what’s happening in Japan.” [The Wrap]
- Futurama has been renewed for another 26 episodes. [The Wrap]
- Steve-O was arrested in Canada for assault with a deadly weapon on a warrant that was issued in 2003. [TMZ]
- Miley Cyrus was spotted with both of her parents and her sister Noah on Sunday. She hasn’t been seen with her dad since their (possibly fabricated) rift in February. [People]
- Lea Michele was in a minor car accident on Friday morning. “Lea was hit and notified the police,” says her rep. “She was not injured and is fine.” A source adds, “A couple of drunk girls hit her, got out of the car, giggled that she was famous, said something like ‘are you drunk, too?’ Then they drove off.” [Us]
- Photos have been released of Princess Diana‘s back up wedding gown. Apparently the concept behind both gown was MORE RUFFLES! [People]
- Here’s a photo of the bruises sustained by Britany Truett during her alleged fight with Teen Mom 2‘s Jenelle Evans. [TMZ]
- Brittany Maggard, the charming young lady who allegedly pushed Jenelle into fighting Britany (one T) explains, “Jenelle wanted to go and fight Britany because of something with her man. She was scared and wouldn’t go fight by herself so I went to help her out. Ya I instigated it, but what the hell are we supposed to do? I wanted to see them fight!” [TMZ]
- Elizabeth Taylor‘s $150 million jewelry collection is expected to be auctioned by Christie’s. [People]
- Jessica Simpson says no date has been set for her wedding to Eric Johnson. “I will be part of designing my own wedding gown. We might elope if it gets to that point.” [Us]
- When asked about Chris Brown‘s upcoming appearance on DWTS, host Tom Bergeron said, “I did say to the producers that it might be to their advantage to not have me interview him, because my natural tendency would be to say something. You know? So don’t put me in a position where you’re asking me to not say something, ’cause I won’t really do that. Even if it’s just a snarky little aside, you know, ‘How was your week?'” [E!]
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