Former Bad Boy Records employee Francesca Spero, 51, has reportedly filed a $12 million lawsuit against Diddy for alleged age discrimination. Spero, who spent 12 years at the label, claims the music mogul fired her abruptly while she was recovering from hip surgery and after confiding to a co-worker that she suffered a drug dependency relapse.
Oh no! More legal trouble for T.I. The rapper, who is currently on probation for a gun conviction, and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Cottle were arrested last night in West Hollywood for allegedly possessing a controlled substance.
The Metal Gods come to the aid of a “grief-stricken” reader who has been dealing with the loss of Slipknot’s Paul Grey and Ronnie James Dio.
Rocker Slash, who was just honored this weekend at the Sunset Strip Music festival, has reportedly filed for divorce from his wife of nine years, Perla Ferrar, citing irreconcilable differences. Slash is seeking joint physical and legal custody of the couple’s two sons, ages six and eight.
Kanye West and former Death Row Records head Marion “Suge” Knight are yet to settle Knight’s $1 million lawsuit against West over a gun shot wound and a lost earring. A “mediation session” reportedly took place yesterday (Aug. 26) in Miami, which Kanye attended by telephone, but produced zero results. According to Suge’s attorney, the case will likely go to trial.
Eddie Vedder and Dixie Chick Natalie Maines are joining forces to support the West Memphis Three at a protest event this Saturday (Aug. 28) in Little Rock, Arkansas. Vedder and Maines will perform acoustic sets at the Voices for Justice rally for Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, convicted of murdering three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis in 1994.
Pharrell Williams has reportedly filed a lawsuit against an Italian fashion firm over his Ice Cream clothing line. The producer is suing the Gilmar Group, which owns labels Ice and Iceberg, for blocking a trademark application on his brand name because it’s too similar. Willaims claims adding the word “cream” (street slang for “money”) creates a “vastly different sound, appearance, meaning and overall commercial impression.”
Five activists from Amnesty International, who were handing out leaflets to the audience, were detained by Moscow police last night (Aug. 25) before U2’s first-ever concert in Russia. A police spokesperson said they were without the necessary authorization; the head of the rights group’s Moscow office said U2 management had assured them before the concert that all necessary permits were in place. The activists were released within hours.
Former Happy Mondays member Bez, best known for dancing around with maracas, has been sent to jail after reportedly attempting to strangle his ex-fiancée. The dancer, who refused to perform community service, received instead a four-week sentence on charges of common assault and using violence to secure entry.
George Michael, who crashed his car into London photo shop Snappy Snaps in July, has pled guilty to driving under the influence of drugs and possession of cannabis. A judge reportedly suspended Michaels’ license for six months and warned that the pop star could face jail time.
More than 80 concertgoers have been arrested, most on drug charges, and at least 16 people were treated with injuries at the 18th annual Love Festival. The event took place this weekend inside the Los Angeles Sports Arena and attracted about 4,100 attendees.
Don’t mess with Mighty Michaels! The rock star has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Michael Banks and Aloha Events, claiming the concert promoters scrapped a scheduled concert in Syracuse, New York without warning. Michaels says he arrived for the gig only to discover a bare stage. Organizers blame Bret’s prior TV commitment on “America’s Got Talent” for the snafu, though that segment had been pre-taped.
Lil Wayne and his company Young Money Touring Inc. have reportedly filed a lawsuit against a former booking agent who allegedly stole $375,000 in touring proceeds. According to the suit, Wayne claims Ujaama Talent Agency Inc. and its owners are keeping money earned from 2009’s “America’s Most Wanted Music Festival” tours.
In response to our recent post “It’s Not Rocket Science, It’s American Idol” one Chicago mom wrote in about her never-ending audition process with her musician son and explains why she will never watch “Idol” again.
Courtney Love and Nirvana’s business management firm London & Co. have reportedly settled the $1 million lawsuit filed against Love in 2008 over profits from the sale of the band’s publishing catalog. Love’s attorney confirmed the settlement but no further details have been revealed.
Remember Erykah Badu’s strip tease? The soul/R&B singer, who was charged with disorderly conduct back in April, had to pay a $500 fine and will serve six months probation for taking her clothes off during the music video shoot for single, “Window Seat.” When in public, you gotta keep it covered.
The Metal Gods come to the aid of a “Concerned Aunt,” whose nephew has turned away from the power of Metal for an emo haircut and Bright Eyes. She is desperate to save him from a life listening to whiny boys who paint and debate the pros and cons of a macrobiotic diet. But is it too late?
Could you believe the luck! Within minutes of having been released from prison last night, DMX was reportedly stopped by police for a driving violation. The rap star, who just served 18 days of a 90-day sentence for a reckless driving conviction, was allegedly speeding and was without a license.
A man posing as Drake’s manager was arrested, after reportedly booking a show for the hip-hop star in Milwaukee and duping promotions company Eagles Entertainment out of a $9,000 deposit. Earlier this year, several “fake Drake bookings” were made for which Drake apologized to fans “let down by false advertising.”
Fantasia Barrino was hospitalized last night after a reported overdose of aspirin and a sleep aid. According to her rep, the “American Idol” alum ingested the pills after feeling “overwhelmed by the lawsuit and the media attention” surrounding her on-off relationship with Antwaun Cook.
