Tom Cruise's producing partner Paula Wagner is furious with the treatment the pair have received from Paramount Pictures and insists they were the ones who turned their back on the studio after failing to reach an agreement regarding their contract. The studio announced on Monday it was severing ties with the pair after 14 years, citing Cruise's "unacceptable" offscreen behavior, which included promoting his relationship with Katie Holmes and his beliefs in Scientology. Wagner says, "We had ceased negotiations. I'm not sure why this happened. You need to respect your artists. I don't understand why this would be turned into a personal attack. Because that's what it is." Wagner says the pair were planning to strike out on their own and have raised a revolving fund of $100 million from two hedge funds to establish an independent production company. Cruise had been a lucrative asset for the studio in the past with his films grossing more than $2.5 billion for Paramount. According to sources close to Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone, who owns Paramount, the studio estimated that Cruise's uncensored off-screen antics were thought to have cost the studio $150 million in lost box office receipts for Mission: Impossible III. Top Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who has made several movies with Cruise including Top Gun and Days Of Thunder, has come to the star's defense. He says, "He's as viable an actor as he always was. He's a worldwide star and a lot of people want to work with him, including me."

A poster showing a naked and pregnant Britney Spears has been banned from Tokyo, Japan's subway, because bosses deem it "too stimulating" for young people. The picture, from the cover of the August edition of Harper's Bazaar magazine, shows the singer naked, but protecting her modesty by covering her breasts with her arms and crossing her legs at the knee. The snap will appear in the magazine's Japanese edition in October, and a large advertising campaign across the country was planned. But Tokyo Metro bosses have ruled the picture too rude and a threat to the nation's young. An official says, "We thought some of our customers would find it to be overly stimulating." The poster will go on show, but censored below Spears' elbow, with a statement that reads, "We apologize for hiding part of a beautiful image of a mother-to-be."

Phoenix, Arizona police have denied reports live rattlesnakes were released in a cinema during a screening of Snakes On A Plane, insisting the claims are a hoax. Local news reports on Tuesday said cinema-goers were terrified when two live venomous rattlesnakes were released at a showing of the Samuel L. Jackson film last Friday. Phoenix police sergeant Joel Tranter admits there is a shred of truth to the story - a 10-inch rattlesnake was found on Friday in a hallway at the movie theatre, but is thought to have slithered there on its own. A security guard swept the snake up outside and trapped it in a plastic container until a member of the Arizona Herpetological Association could haul it away. Snake handlers had also been called to the theatre earlier in the day to retrieve another rattlesnake from outside.

Tori Spelling is furious with her mother Candy for not inviting her to this Sunday's Emmy Awards ceremony where the Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences will pay tribute to her late father. Aaron Spelling died in June and Tori has reportedly been banned from participating in the tribute at her mother's insistence. A source tells American publication Us Weekly, "They shut Tori out." Tori herself tells the magazine, "I wasn't invited." A representative for Candy has hit back insisting, "Candy had nothing to do with who was invited." Sources say the tribute will include clips of Aaron's shows such as Charlie's Angles and Dynasty and will feature "some of the biggest stars Aaron had ever worked with." A friend of Tori's adds, "Tori would love to pay tribute to her dad, but she's appalled she didn't get invited."

Paris Hilton has been caught up in a cell phone scandal in America after being named among 50 SpoofCard users who have had their accounts terminated. The socialite has been caught allegedly breaking into unauthorized voice mail boxes and changing what others see on their caller ID display when they receive a phone call. According to website TMZ.com, Hilton used her SpoofCard account to hack into voicemail accounts on a US national mobile telephone network. Among those who were the victims of the phone pranks included Hilton's party scene rival Lindsay Lohan. SpoofCard attorney Mark Del Bianco tells Tmz.com, "Paris was entering unauthorized mail boxes," adding, "A number of the 50 persons were making unauthorized entrances to Miss Lohan's voicemail." Lohan's publicist, Leslie Sloane Zelnick, says, "I have turned this matter over to Lindsay's lawyers."

The 13th season of reality TV show Survivor has already sparked controversy by announcing that contestants will be divided into teams based on their race. The 20 participants will be divided up into four tribes - African-American, Asian-American, hispanic and white. Survivor host Jeff Probst defended the decision on US TV's The Early Show saying, "The idea for this actually came from the criticism that Survivor was not ethnically diverse enough. Because, for whatever reason, we've always had a low number of minority applicants for the show. So we set out and said, 'Let's turn this criticism into creative for the show.' I think it fits in perfectly with what Survivor does, as it is a social experiment and adding another layer to that experiment, which is taking the show to a completely different level." Survivor: Cook Islands will premiere on the CBS network on September 14 and will feature a wide range of individuals from all walks of life including a heavy metal guitarist, a boxer/waitress, a jazz musician and a professional volleyball player.

Jennifer Aniston's actor father John Aniston has reportedly suffered a heart attack. American publication Life & Style reports in its new issue that the actress heard the news about her father's health crisis last Friday and spent much of the weekend at his bedside. US soap star John, 73, is recovering at West Hills Hospital & Medical Center in California. A family insider tells the publication, "It was a scary few hours before Jen got definitive word from doctors that her dad would be fine." Life & Style reports Jennifer's boyfriend Vince Vaughn proved to be a great support throughout the weekend, dropping a number of commitments to be with her. The family source says, "He cancelled several appointments and stayed by her side. I don't think Jen is ever going to forget what a stand-up guy Vince was and how he really stuck by her just when she needed him the most." Aniston's representatives have refused to respond to a request for comment.

The Dukes of Hazzard star Jessica Simpson was rudely snubbed by pop star Britney Spears backstage at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, when Simpson innocently asked if she could kiss Spears' pregnant belly. Simpson was hosting the show and the heavily pregnant Spears was there to introduce husband Kevin Federline's debut performance as a rapper. After Simpson made her request, Spears immediately shot back, "Hell, no!" A backstage witness confirms the incident saying, "Jessica was really insulted, but Britney refused to let her do it."

Ashlee Simpson will play murderous Roxie Hart in the stage production of Chicago in October. The 21-year-old has been offered the role and will join the cast of the show in either London or on the Broadway stage in New York City. A source close to Simpson tells American publication Us Weekly, "She will probably choose London." Earlier this year, Rita Wilson stepped into the role in New York. Although Simpson has little experience in musical theatre, she has been a back-up dancer on her sister Jessica's tour and had a role on US family drama 7th Heaven. The singer has said she wants to focus on her acting career.

Actor Brandon Routh has confirmed he is engaged to his girlfriend Courtney Ford. The 26-year-old Superman Returns star fell for Ford when they starred together in the 2004 short film Denial. Routh proposed earlier this month and the couple plan to marry in the autumn of 2007. Routh's publicist Kacey Spies says, "They are very happy."