Music producer David Gest has lost the first round of his divorce battle with Liza Minnelli after his $10 million civil assault lawsuit was thrown out of court yesterday. Gest claimed his estranged wife beat him so badly during alcoholic rages he had to be hospitalized, but State Supreme Court Justice Jane Solomon wasn't buying the allegations. Instead she granted Minnelli's motion to dismiss the lawsuit after her own medical expert made it clear that Gest's much publicized headaches were caused by a strain of herpes. Gest plans to appeal the ruling. His lawyer insists her client tested negative for the virus. The music producer now faces an earnings-misappropriation attack from his estranged wife. Gest maintains he did not take money from Minnelli, and insists she owes him because of what he spent trying to revive her career. The couple wed in New York in March, 2002. They split in July, 2003. The divorce case is pending before state Supreme Court Judge Harold Beeler.

Oprah Winfrey has accused her lawyers of "overreacting" by slamming a cease-and-desist order on the man championing her for US presidency. The chat show queen had been tipped to be America's first female leader, and even inspired Kansas City businessman Patrick Crowe to write a book backing her bid, called Oprah For President: Run Oprah Run. However, lawyers for the TV star have asked Crowe to halt production on the project, as well as a website, saying its contents could cause "damage and irreparable injury" to Winfrey's reputation. Now Winfrey admits the affair could have been handled much better with a simple phone call, and insists she's not angry with Crowe at all. She says, "I feel flattered by it. My lawyers overreacted, I think, by sending him a cease-and-desist order because it really is a flattering thing. It should have been handled in a phone call."

Cult German film director Uwe Boll has knocked out some of his harshest critics in the boxing ring, in revenge for their harsh reviews of his movies. The film-maker challenged journalists to a physical contest after they criticized his movie BloodRayne, which stars Sir Ben Kingsley and Kristanna Loken. Five people were selected to go fist-to-fist with Boll in a series of boxing matches, one of which took place in Malaga, Spain, while the others took place in Vancouver, Canada. And Boll proceeded to knock out every one of his opponents. Critic Richard Kyanka of website Something Awful says, "I feel great. I feel like a very angry German man punched me in the head repeatedly. He kept saying it was PR stunt and a joke, but then he comes on just 'murderizing' me. I want to have more kids someday, so I just said, 'I'm not going to stay in here and keep getting punched in the head.'" And Boll's youngest opponent, 17-year-old Chance Mointer says, "I wasn't a big fan of House Of The Dead or Alone In The Dark, but after what he's shown me of Seed, I think it's fantastic." A triumphant Boll says, "See what happens when they take a blow to the head? They like my movies."

Hollywood actor Mel Gibson launched a scathing verbal attack on the US war in Iraq during promotion for his new film Apocalypto. Gibson made a surprise appearance at Fantastic Fest in Texas on Friday, an event devoted to science fiction and horror movies, where he screened his work-in-progress on Mayan adventure tale Apocalypto before fielding questions from the crowd. The Lethal Weapon star drew parallels between the Mayan civilization's collapse and the current political situation in America, warning audience members that the war in Iraq would be the downfall of the US. He said, "The precursors to a civilization that's going under are the same, time and time again. What's human sacrifice if not sending guys off to Iraq for no reason?"

David Hasselhoff and ex-wife Pamela Bach are fighting mad again after the actress/singer's claims the Baywatch star lied to cops when reporting his teenage daughter's alleged suicide attempt. Hasselhoff allegedly called police to report that his daughter Hayley, 14, had attempted suicide at the family home on Sunday night, but now Bach accuses her ex of making the call out of pure revenge. Bach spoke exclusively to website TMZ.com yesterday and insisted her daughter never attempted suicide, claiming Hasselhoff threatened her with the police call, telling her in a phone conversation, "You're going down. I'm calling the police." Bach insists her daughter was scratched by the family cat on Sunday night and was crying uncontrollably, so she called her ex and suggested that it might be appropriate for the girl to see a psychologist. But, she claims, her ex-husband launched a verbal attack on her and called in a suicide, prompting police and paramedics to come to the house and take the 14-year-old to hospital. Hasselhoff's publicist Judy Katz insists her client became alarmed when his older daughter called to say her sister was bleeding. She denies claims that the actor reported a suicide attempt but accepts the operator he spoke to may have interpreted it that way. Hasselhoff denies he even spoke with Bach on Sunday night, and says her allegations are false.

Mary Poppins star Dame Julie Andrews will be honored with a Life Achievement Award at next year's Screen Actors Guild Awards. The beloved stage, film, television and recording star and author, will receive the Guild's most prestigious tribute in January. Screen Actors Guild President Alan Rosenberg insists Andrews is the perfect choice for the top award: "Julie Andrews is a woman of great generosity, creativity, courage, elegance and wit. She embodies and transcends the memorable roles she has created. Julie has been a positive presence in my life and continues to inspire multiple generations. I believe it is exceptionally significant to be recognized by people who do the same work you do. Julie seems genuinely touched and thrilled to be receiving an award from her fellow actors. I have assured her the honor is ours."

Jennifer Lopez has dumped her new manager, Brittany Murphy's ex-fiance Jeff Kwatinetz. The singer/actress ended her year-long business relationship with the head of power players The Firm at the weekend, according to website TMZ.com. The split comes just before the release of Lopez's new films Bordertown and El Cantante, in which she stars alongside her husband, Marc Anthony. Her album of Spanish-language ballads, Como Ama Una Mujer, is also scheduled for release in November. In a statement, The Firm's bosses write, "Jennifer is a dear friend of The Firm and will remain so regardless of the business relationship. This was a decision based on differing styles and expectations and we wish her the absolute best."

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has secretly been battling hepatitis C, but he is finally ready to raise awareness of the dangerous disease. Hepatitis C, a viral infection of the blood that can lead to liver disease, is often transmitted through dirty needles. Recovering drug addict Tyler announced he is slowly getting better after a year of interferon treatments, which strengthen the immune system - and he is planning to speak publicly on Oprah Winfrey's talk show in order to warn people about the infection. He tells the New York Daily News, "It is nonexistent in my bloodstream … where it's like a complete cure. I've had hepatitis C for a long time, asymptomatic. I've been pretty quiet about this. The band took a break about three years ago. (My doctor) said now is the time, and it's 11 months of chemotherapy (interferon) so I went on that, and it about killed me. Hepatitis C is the one that, of all the people in this room, at least three have it and don't know it. It's the silent killer. I may go on Oprah and talk about this. I hope you don't mind me mentioning that." Tyler joins fellow celebrity hepatitis sufferers Pamela Anderson, Naomi Judd and Larry Hagman.

US pop star Aaron Carter has ended his engagement to model/actress Kari Ann Peniche - just nine days after proposing. The hitmaker, 18, asked former Miss Teen USA and Playboy model Peniche, 22, to marry him on stage at the Playboy Hollywood Comedy Tour in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 19. After Peniche accepted, the couple announced plans to wed in the next six months. However, Carter has now released a statement to American magazine Us Weekly, admitting he is too young to marry. He says, "I got caught up in the moment and proposed. I then realized it was a hasty thing to do and I am not ready for marriage quite yet." Peniche previously dated Carter's older brother, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter.

Russell Crowe has blasted reports he's planning to portray his late friend Steve Irwin in a new movie, admitting he's "appalled" by the rumors. Media outlets jumped to claims the Gladiator star was onboard an Irwin biopic project last week, but Crowe is upset that anyone is even thinking of promoting such an idea. He fumes, "It's appalling to me and offends me very deeply. It's so awful that I have to deal with millions of people thinking I would dance on my friend's grave. Yes, I do think there should be a movie made about Steve but I'm not the sort of person who will be doing commerce on my friend's grave."