Michael Jackson has confessed he paid off people in the past to avoid the embarrassment of going to court to face child abuse allegations. The singer, 46, issued a statement insisting he would never harm a child - hours before American TV's Dateline NBC broadcast a report claiming Jackson paid $2 million to the son of an employee at his Neverland Ranch in 1990 to avoid a child-molestation accusation. He says, "I have spent my entire life helping millions of children across the world. I would never harm a child. It is unfortunate that some individuals have seen fit to come forward and make a complaint that is completely false." He adds, "Years ago, I settled with certain individuals because I was concerned about my family and the media scrutiny that would have ensued if I fought the matter in court. These people wanted to exploit my concern for children by threatening to destroy what I believe in and what I do. I have been a vulnerable target for those who want money." The entertainer is fighting charges that he molested a boy in 2003 - and is scheduled to face trial beginning on January 31.

Former American president Bill Clinton underwent heart surgery yesterday morning, and is said to be already on the way to a full recovery. Clinton was admitted to New York's Presbyterian Hospital on Thursday, after complaining of chest pains and tiredness. Medics discovered he had four clogged arteries that needed to be bypassed. Shortly after the surgery, Clinton's wife Hillary told journalists outside the hospital, "He's in great humor and he's beating us all at cards." A hospital spokesman says, "The surgery went well. Mr. Clinton is resting peacefully." The ever-busy former president didn't stop working while he was in the hospital over the weekend - he made calls to advise wannabe president John Kerry.

Ashley Olsen has ensured her move from Los Angeles to New York University is not a daunting prospect - she's began dating a Manhattan entrepreneur. The 18-year-old actress twin of Mary-Kate is dating Scott Sartiano, 30, who co-owns plush eatery Butter and is a promoter at Star Room in the luxurious East Hampton area of New York state. A source tells website Pagesix.Com, "They met about a month ago. They have been out everywhere together and went to (promoter) Ashley Margolis' birthday party together at Cabana." Meanwhile, Mary-Kate - who recently battled an eating disorder - is developing a close relationship to a friend of Sartiano identified only as Ollie, even though she's still officially dating David Katzenberg. But a representative for the Olsens insists, "They are all friends. They are not dating and Mary-Kate is still with David."

A Los Angeles court has revoked actor Tom Sizemore's probation for abusing former lover Heidi Fleiss, after he failed to take a drug test. But the Black Hawk Down star will remain out of jail until a hearing on November 8. According to the prosecution, Sizemore refused a probation officer's request for a urine sample and "simply walked out" of the probation office. Sizemore's lawyer contested that the 42-year-old actor had already had a negative test carried out on the same day and didn't want to undertake another test with someone he didn't know - for fear the sample would be tampered with. He was sentenced to six months in prison in October 2003 after being convicted of domestic violence against former madam Fleiss. His jail term was suspended to allow the actor to undergo drug rehabilitation treatment. Sizemore was arrested again in August after drugs were found in his Los Angeles home. He claimed they "belonged to somebody else and were planted". Charges have yet to be made relating to the drugs arrest.

Actor Jason Bateman has campaigned to get a new love interest on his acclaimed show Arrested Development - his older sister Justine Bateman. Jason's quirky show, which also features former Ally McBeal star Portia De Rossi, has been lauded by critics since is debut, while failing to attract huge audiences. And Jason admits he decided that bringing his former Family Ties star sister - who is now a successful fashion designer - on board would be a great ratings boost. He says, "The brilliant, genius Mitchell Hurwitz, who's our leader and creator of the show, was talking to me last year about a love interest. It's a whole demographic thing, they needed more women and whatever. So I said, 'What about Justine?' Justine is into it. But here's the thing: she wants to get back into acting now and we would make her some sort of religious zealot that makes it taboo to kiss, touch, do anything before you're married so that's the way we'd get around anything unseemly." He adds, "I don't think it's gonna happen because now that it's been leaked, it looks like it's a horrible reach for ratings. But I would love for her to be on the show, maybe in a different way."

French president Jacques Chirac has awarded legendary director Steven Spielberg with France's highest honor, for his work fighting hatred and intolerance Spielberg was made a knight of the French Legion Of Honor on Sunday at a star-studded ceremony in Paris - Gwyneth Paltrow and Sophie Marceau where among the celebrities in attendance. President Chirac cited Schindler's List as a powerful piece of film-making which has played a huge part in remembering past atrocities along with heroic deeds. He said, "In this difficult time when intolerance, racism, xenophobia, anti- Semitism and fanaticism are on the rise again, it is essential that cinema, which touches each one of us deep inside, recalls the horror of what is unutterable. It is essential that this form of eminently popular expression and creativity reminds everyone of the disastrous effects of hatred, intolerance and the rejection of others." After accepting this latest honor, Spielberg said, "We have to work very, very hard to make people understand that we have to celebrate people's differences and not condemn them."

Movie superstar Tom Cruise has become the highest earning actor in Hollywood history after signing a deal that could earn him a staggering $360 million for his role in War Of The Worlds. Rather than agree a set fee for his part in the Steven Spielberg-directed epic, Cruise will earn 10 per cent of the film's box office takings plus a share of profits from DVDs, video games and toys. Experts predict the film - based on HG Wells' classic novel about a Martian attack - could make $1.8 billion at the cinema alone, of which Cruise's share would be an incredible $180 million. And, if he stars in the two planned sequels, Cruise's earnings will double at least. A Hollywood source says, "No expense will be spared. Spielberg wants to make it the film of the decade - the one that everyone talks about and rushes to see."

Hollywood hunk Matt Damon has vowed only to date "civilians" in the future, following the media circus surrounding best pal Ben Affleck's ill-fated romance with Jennifer Lopez. Affleck and Lopez were bombarded with fervent attention during their 18 months together, and Damon has decided he'll never date a fellow celebrity again after observing it all. He says of his romances with Winona Ryder and Minnie Driver, "That was early on. These days I definitely only date, as we say, 'civilians'." Damon is currently dating former bartender Luciana Barroso.

Australian movie star Hugh Jackman has laughed off rumors he is following the Kabbalah and will be joining Madonna on a pilgrimage to Israel this month. American gossip site The Scoop reported the Van Helsing actor and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness were new students of the controversial offshoot of Judaism and were traveling to Israeli capital Tel Aviv to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with the Material Girl, her husband Guy Ritchie and designer Donna Karan. Jackman's representative Penny Williams says, "It's a load of old rubbish."

The Sopranos star James Gandolfini was shaken up after he was involved in a hit-and-run accident at the weekend. The Emmy-winning actor was driving to a college football game when his sports utility vehicle was hit by a drink driver in New Brunswick, New Jersey, after the other motorist ignored a red stop light. Gandolfini's aides insist the actor wasn't hurt in the collision.