7 August 2008
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Mary-Kate Faces Grand Jury In Ledger Investigation
Mary-kate Olsen has been subpoenaed to testify in front of a Grand Jury as investigators hope to end the mystery surrounding Heath Ledger's drug overdose death. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials in New York are calling on Olsen, Ledger's close friend, to fill in the blanks related to the six-month-long investigation, according to U.S. news show Access Hollywood. The latest news comes a day after her lawyer claimed the actress has provided law officials with all the information she knows about Ledger's accidental drug overdose in January . The 22-year-old actress' testimony is sought after because the masseuse who found Ledger dead called Olsen before contacting the emergency services. Reports on Monday suggested Olsen was refusing to co-operate with the federal probe until she was guaranteed immunity from prosecution. But her lawyer Michael C. Miller insisted, "We don't know the source of the information being quoted in the media regarding the Government's inquiry, but these descriptions are incomplete and inaccurate." A timeline for Olsen's testimony has not been released.
Freeman Heading For Divorce
Morgan Freeman is divorcing his wife of 24 years, his attorney has confirmed. Freeman, 71, denied allegations he was splitting from his wife Myrna Colley-Lee in June after reports alleged the actor had been unfaithful. But just days after The Shawshank Redemption star was involved in a serious car accident at the weekend , the actor's Mississippi-based lawyer and business partner Bill Luckett have confirmed the split. In a statement, Luckett says the former couple "are involved in a divorce action", adding, "for legal and practical purposes (Freeman and Colley-Lee) have been separated since December of 2007". Freeman was involved in the wreckage with a female passenger, identified as Demaris Meyer, whose relationship to the actor is unknown. She has been described as the actor's friend. Both Freeman and Meyer had to be cut free from the car, before they were airlifted to a Tennessee hospital where the star has undergone surgery for serious injuries to his left arm and shoulder. Meyer reportedly suffered only minor injuries in the crash but remains "in good condition". At an event in June , the actor was shocked to hear reports of his rumoured break-up with his second wife when quizzed about his marital status, insisting, "I don't know anything about that (filing for divorce)." Freeman married Myrna in June 1984. He also shares two children with his first wife Jeanette Adair Bradshaw, whom he was married to for 12 years from 1967.
Labeouf Headed To Rehab?
Actor Shia LaBeouf will check into rehab to help his chances of beating a drink driving conviction, according to reports. The 22-year-old star suffered serious hand injuries and was charged with driving under the influence (Dui) after a serious car crash in Hollywood on 27 July . Investigators have ruled the other driver caused the accident by running a red light, but LaBeouf is still facing a stiff sentence for drink driving when he appears in court later this month - and he's prepared to do anything to help his cause, reports the New York Post. The newspaper claims LaBeouf is readying himself for rehab because "judges like to see it (rehab)". A spokesperson for the actor - who checked out of hospital on Saturday - declined to comment on the allegations, adding: "Right now, we're focusing on Shia's hand."
Snipes Ordered To Reimburse Government Costs
Wesley Snipes has been ordered to pay back more than $200,000 (?100,000) to the U.S. government to cover costs for his tax evasion case. The Blade star, 45, was handed a three-year prison sentence in April after he was found guilty of failing to file taxes for five years. But Snipes, who is currently free on appeal, has been told he must reimburse $217,363.75 (?108,681.87) for the prosecution's legal fees. The ruling was originally made by U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary R. Jones on 2 July - but the actor's lawyers objected to the fee and attempted to have the decision overturned. However, U.S. District Court Judge William Terrell Hodges upheld Jones' ruling in an Ocala, Florida hearing last week .
Smith Wins Appeal For Film Rating
Filmmaker Kevin Smith has won an appeal to lower the U.S. cinema rating for his comedy Zack And Miri Make A Porno. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) boardmembers had initially given the comedy, starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks, an adults-only certification of NC-17, which would have prohibited people younger than 17 from seeing it. The Clerks director then censored two of the movie's sex scenes involving co-stars Jason Mewes and Katie Morgan, but failed to convince the board to lower the rating to an R. He subsequently launched an appeal against the decision - and on Tuesday the MPAA announced its appeals panel, which is separate from the ratings board, had screened the movie, about two friends who launch an amateur porn studio, and decided to revise the rating to an R. Smith explains, "We didn't set out to make an NC-17 film. That's just commercial suicide... "They felt it was rather sexually graphic. My point is, it was comically graphic. All the sex in the movie with the exception of one scene is very cartoonish, very campy. It wasn't designed to titillate." And Smith is confident the title alone will filter out audiences who could be offended by the content: "Anybody not inclined to see a movie with `Porno' in the title is not going to see it, so it kind of regulates itself to a degree. And anybody who is going is not going to be surprised by what they see." The new rating will allow those under 17 to watch the film, due later this year , in the company of an adult. It is not the first time Smith has gone to battle to reduce his films' ratings. His 1994 debut Clerks was originally stamped with an NC-17 that was lowered to an R on appeal, and his 2004 romantic comedy Jersey Girl was brought down to PG-13 from an R rating.
Hospital Probed Over Further 'Snoop' Claims
California health watchdogs are to investigate more staff members at Los Angeles' UCLA Medical Center over their involvement in the snooping into celebrity health records. More than 50 physicians and medical workers at the unit have already been probed over claims they improperly viewed celebrity medical records. One former administrative specialist, Lawanda Jackson, has been indicted for allegedly selling outpatient records to the media. The medical records of stars including Tom Cruise, Farrah Fawcett, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Britney Spears are believed to be at the centre of the ongoing investigation, which was launched after an expose by the Los Angeles Times newspaper earlier this year . But in a new state report, The California Department of Health investigators found that nearly twice as many medical centre employees than previously reported had looked at stars' confidential medical records. It means an additional 60 workers could be investigated. Department of Health boss Kathleen Billingsley says, "What's startling to us is, as we get to a point where we feel we've addressed a specific complaint and a specific issue, we identify additional issues. It's very disturbing to see this."
Director Berg Sued Over Fatal Golf Cart Accident
Hancock director Peter Berg has been caught up in a messy legal spat after allegedly playing a part in the death of a golf cart driver. Berg was a passenger in a Cadillac which struck the cart driven by 25-year-old Nick Papac in Arizona in August 2006. The moviemaker's assistant was driving. Papac was killed in the crash and now his parents are suing the moviemaker and his sidekick, Francis Keao, for burial expenses and unspecified damages. The court documents, which have been obtained by Tmz.com, were filed in Los Angeles on Wednesday .
Del Toro And Keener Dating?
Hollywood stars Benicio Del Toro and Catherine Keener are secretly dating, according to reports. The pair was spotted enjoying a meal together at Los Angeles restaurant Green Door last week - and onlookers claimed love was in the air. A fellow diner tells OK! magazine, "He whispered into her ear, and she listened with rapt attention. He brushed his hand on her back. They had nice chemistry." Keener divorced husband of 17 years Dermot Mulroney in 2007. Single Del Toro has never married.
Clooney Plans Swiss Dinner For Obama
George Clooney is hoping to drum up financial support for U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama by hosting a dinner in the Democrat's honour. But the ritzy experience won't take place on American soil; instead, the movie star will stage the two-part gala in Geneva, Switzerland - a short hop from Clooney's holiday home in Lake Como, Italy. Rich fans and local tycoons will be able to hear Clooney speak at a private reception on 2 September for $1,000 (Gbp500). The actor will then host a dinner for 75 guests, who pay $10,000 (Gbp5,000) for a seat. The money raised will go to Obama's campaign. The dinner party fundraiser is a dramatic turnaround for Clooney, who recently insisted he wouldn't be backing either Obama or his Republican rival Senator John McCain. The actor told CNN, "I feel that at times you can harm the person that you are trying to help. I don't want to damage anybody."
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