Chris Brown Gets Probation For Beating Rihanna

Ugh. This is so gross I can barely report it.

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Chris Brown took a plea bargain in his assault case against former girlfriend, Rihanna. In exchange for a guilty plea, Brown will get five years probation and have to serve 180 days doing community service in his home state of Virginia.

Following the hearing, Brown’s lawyer, Mark Gregaros, addressed the media because he likes to hear his own voice and bought a new suit for the occasion.

Via US Weekly:

“This is a kid who has never been in trouble before, who wants to move past this. He has accepted responsibility and will continue to do so. He embraces this as an opportunity to get his life back on track and his career back on track.”

Oh well, if he’s never been in trouble before, by all means, use any lady you’d like as a punching bag.

On top of the probation and community service, the judge also ordered a protective order forbidding the singer from contacting Rihanna and a 50 yard stay-away order which demands that both parties keep their distance from one another.

Rihanna was present but was not called upon to testify.

After Brown left the courthouse, Rihanna and her attorney met with the judge to discuss the stay-away order. The judge in this case, Patricia Schnegg, conveyed to the “Umbrella” singer that she also is not allowed to contact Brown under the protection order and stay-away agreement.

If only the girls on the Maury Povich Show could be afforded the same opportunity we wouldn’t be subjected to the “…but I love him” defense.

Rihanna Expected to Take Stand Against Chris Brown Today

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Today is a big day in the whole Rihanna vs. Chris Brown case. Rihanna is due to take the stand in court against the singer, more than four months after the horrific night where Brown was accused of assaulting her. The preliminary hearing will determine if there is enough evidence against him to stand trial. While both parties are required to appear in court today, Rhianna could very well refuse to take the stand due to the nature of the case. If she does take the stand, Rihanna is expected to describe what was written in the detective’s report from the night of the alleged attack. She could be on the stand for more than two hours. It will be her first time publicly talking about what happened the night her boyfriend allegedly attacked her. Her lawyer, Donald Etra, said Rihanna cleared her schedule so she could be in court if prosecutors call her as a witness. Her testimony could very well make or break the case.

One big question looms over Rihannas head: Will Browns attorney Mark Geragos cross examine her if she does indeed testify? If the case goes to trial, Geragos has said that he will make a big point that Rihanna was the initial aggressor in the situation, repeatedly hitting Brown before he began hitting on her. Rihanna said Brown had beaten her before and the violence was escalating. Also important to the case is the pictures taken of Rhianna after the attack. Those photos will almost certainly be introduced into evidence during todays hearing. Geragos has said he hoped to avoid the spectacle of public testimony, but plea-deal talks failed and California’s Supreme Court last week rejected his request to delay the hearing to decide if the case should go to trial.

Los Angeles Criminal Court Judge Patricia Schnegg decided against allowing cameras into the courtroom during Rihanna’s testimony, so there will be no tv or livestream coverage of todays events. Brown had better hope that Rihanna is having a good day, because his freedom ultimately lies in her hands.

Madonna Wins Mercys’ Adoption Appeal

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Watch out Angelina, looks like Madonna is catching up to you! In a desperate bid to add another baby to her collection, Madonnas adoption appeal for Mercy James has been approved. Overturning a lower court decisions, her Madgesty is now allowed to adopt a second child from Malawi.

Per People:

“I am extremely grateful for the Supreme Court’s ruling on my application to adopt Mercy James. I am ecstatic … My family and I look forward to sharing our lives with her,” Madonna said in a statement through her spokesperson Friday.

Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo ruled that her initial denial by the lower court was based on an old law. Although she hasn’t lived in the country for the required 18 months, the court said it should have taken into consideration her philanthropic efforts in the community. Madonna founded the charity “Raising Malawi” which helps to feed, educate and provide medical care for some of Malawi’s more than 1 million orphans. While preparations to bring 3 year old Mercy to America are now underway, it will take anywhere from 3-5 days to go through the necessary paperwork and to schedule the private jet with either Madonna’s lawyer or the director of her Malawi charity making sure she gets on the plane and arrives to the US okay… Wait, so let me understand this – she made such a big fuss over this adoption ordeal but now can’t find the time in her busy schedule of bumping uglies with Jesus to go and pick up the child herself?

Madonna’s lawyer said she was “ecstatic” when she heard the news that the adoption was finalized. Until she leaves, it is believed that Mercy may be moved to the Kumbali lodge where Madonna stays when she is Malawi. Mercy will join Madonnas other children children Lourdes, Rocco, and David, in New York where it is expected that she will attend nursery school with David. Madonna got her way, as she almost always does. While I find it wonderful that Mercy will now be able to have a decent life, laws are laws and she should have had to follow the requirements just like any other human being would have. I guess this goes to show that money does talk. I hope the Malawi government is proud that they basically sold a child. Am I the only one who sees the wrong in this situation?

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Images Via: Reuters, Wenn

Rihanna and Chris Brown NBA Finals Drama – Photos

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So there was a big hoopla last night over Rihanna and Chris Brown going to game 4 of the NBA Finals in Orlando. According to squealing sources, they requested to sit together. I doubted the validity of that. RiRi has been officially subpoenaed to testify against Brown.

They both did appear at the game. They sat separately and had individual private lounges that they hid in during half time. Nothing exciting happened like Chris asking her what’s going on with her hair or Rihanna making out with her new rumored boyfriend, Aubrey Drake Griffin while making ‘screw you’ eyes at Brown.

Quotables:

Dlisted – “With his shirt buttoned all the way up like that, he looks like a cross between Hannibal Lecter and Forrest Gump.”

C&D – “When cameras showed the whores in attendance, Alien Princess Rih Rih and Rabid Beaver were not sitting together but actually on opposite sides of the court.
SHAM. F**KING. WOW.”

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Images Via: Getty, AP Photos

Rihanna to Testify Against Chris Brown

Rihanna will be called upon by the D.A. to appear in court. The singer will be subpoenaed to the hearing on June 22nd. Her attorney confirmed her call to the stand in the case against Chris Brown. Donald Etra stated that RiRi is doing everything that has been asked of her after the former couple’s argument gone violent.

“Etra says his client will cooperate and take the stand. It’s not at all unexpected that the alleged victim would be called to the stand in a prelim.”

Lets hope justice prevails.

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Images Via: Bauer Griffin

Gerard Butler Facing 6 Months in Jail for Paparazzi Beat-Down

Movie star hunk Gerard Butler has been charged with misdemeanor criminal battery over an incident involving a paparazzi-photographer last year. If convicted, he could be sentenced up to 6 months in jail. The incident occurred the night of October 7th, 2008 after a premiere party for “RockNRolla.” Allegedly, the photographer was trailing Gerard’s limo for hours, verbally harassing Butler whenever he got in and out of the limo, and even was chasing people through the streets.

Gerard’s manager Alan Siegel said the actor was forced to have his driver stop the car he was riding in after the particular photographer repeatedly sped through red lights and almost struck two pedestrians. Butler was said to have then punched him several times, bloodying the photographer’s lip. Police filed a report against the “300” actor over the scuffle. The Los Angeles City Attorney has already filed legal charge against him on Wednesday, May 13th, and Gerard is due in court for an arraignment on June 10th. His attorney, Blair Berk, has said that Butler is not required to, and won’t, appear in court on the matter.

I don’t blame him for punching someone who was following him! It would have been cool if he yelled “This… is… Sparta!” right before knocking the pap in the mouth!!

Images Via: Getty, INF

Chris Brown Dating New Girls, Erica Jackson and Natalie Mejia

Chris Brown is so over Rihanna and their spat that he is dating another woman already. Just after pleading his innocence he has started making headway with Erica Jackson.

Chris and Erica had dated before his rise to fame. They were once a solid couple and Brown hasn’t been shy about “parading” his reheated relationship around. He reportedly went back to his hometown to regroup and ran into his ex. She offered a shoulder to cry and he accepted.

Via NY Daily News:

“They dated back in the day and reconnected a few weeks ago when Chris was in town. They’ve been spending a lot of time together, but things only really heated up over the last two weeks.”

Jackson is a polar opposite of Rihanna according to the loose lipped sources.

“She’s more of a plain Jane — cute though,” says our source. “Erica has a good head on her shoulders; she’s solid. At the very least, she’s helping to ease Chris’ pain over Rihanna. He was mad in love with that girl.”

Reps for the accused singer claim that there is not truth to a new woman in Brown’s life. Despite being seen with Erica at a tattoo parlor on Sunset Blvd. on Saturday, reps insist he “doesn’t even know” who she is. Another rumor states that he dating Natalie Mejia from the band Girlicious. This is said to be the girl in the tattoo parlor. (See Photo Above.)

Should a new lady in Chris’ life be true, RiRi is going to be pissed. I am sure Barney’s and Wet Seal will be feeling the wrath of her credit cards because I feel a makeover coming on. She and Lindsay Lohan can pick out matching weaves and cry over tubs of Ben and Jerry’s while watching “Beaches” together.

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Images Via: X17, Splash, INF

Madonna’s Malawi Adoption Rejected

Madonna was told today that her bid to adopt 3 year old Chifundo James, translated to Mercy James, has been rejected by Malawi High Court Judge Esme Chombo. It seems residency requirement is keeping Madge from taking home Mercy. Prospective adoptive parents are required to spend 18-24 months in Malawi before being able to go forward with an adoption. Obviously, Madonna has not spent that kind of time there. A judge denied the adoption stating several reasons for the

Per BBC:

“I must decline to grant the application for the adoption of the infant. By removing the very safeguard that is supposed to protect our children, the courts by their pronouncements could actually facilitate trafficking of children by some unscrupulous individuals. It is evident that Chifundo James no longer is subject to the conditions of poverty at her place of birth.”

Following five days of hearings, Judge Chombo made her official ruling. According to a witness, the judge said during the ruling that social workers need to look for more than “someone who just flies in and out” when looking for a fitting family. Madonna was not present at the ruling but was later told by her lawyer.

The Material Girl has been in Malawi for nearly a week with her three other children awaiting word on adopting Mercy. Her Malawian lawyer, Alan Chinula, has reportedly been working for the past 18 months to skirt the 18-24 month residency requirements. Madge even threw a party before the ruling on her application was made. Her lawyer says Madonna plans to appeal the decision.

I don’t see Madge giving up so easily. She has homes in New York and London… who’s to say she won’t set up a home in Malawi until her adoption request is finally granted?

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Images Via: Splash

Britney Spears Plots to End Fathers Control, Returns to Lutfi ?!?

Britney Spears is a sneaky lil’ thing!! Together with Sam Lutfi’s little sister Christina, the pair hatched a plan to override her fathers control over her by getting a cell phone to Britney so she can contact Sam behind her fathers back! Christina testified in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday about the incident, claiming Britney had initially called Sam’s cell phone number in mid-January to speak with Christina.

Per People:

“[Britney] told me she wanted to get a hold of Sam,” said Christina, 25, whose brother had once been Spears’s manager. “She wanted him to help her find a lawyer, and wanted someone to get a prepaid cell phone to her. She was scared because her father was blackmailing her with visitation rights over her kids… She asked me, ‘Will Sam be able to help me?’” Christina added.

Spears told Christina to meet her at the gym on the 5th floor at the Peninsula Hotel on January 16th. When Christina arrived, she saw Spears working out with her mother and a bodyguard. They later met up in the sauna at the hotel, and thats where the exchanging of the cell phone took place, with Christina telling Britney the phone was from Sam and ex boyfriend Adnan Ghalib. Britney’s security team later discovered and confiscated the phone from her purse.

Blair Burke, a lawyer for Britneys’ father Jamie, testified on Wednesday that Britney was in such fear of Sam that she asked if she could have him arrested to keep him away from her. An alleged recording of the singer is making its rounds on the internet, in which she asks for a lawyer’s help in ending her father’s legal control. Burke claims that Britney repeatedly denies that she was seeking outside legal help, and expressed doubt in the recording’s authenticity.

Jamie Spears and a lawyer were granted indefinite legal control over Britney following her two forced hospitalizations in early 2008. The ongoing hearing is to determine whether to extend a restraining order against Lutfi. Jamie Spears alleges Lutfi is harassing his daughter and is conspiring to disrupt his legal control over her life. Bryan Freedman, the attorney for Lutfi, is denying that he has done any wrongdoing.

“Sam’s only crime was trying to help out a friend,” Freedman tells PEOPLE. “When someone asks for your help, that person is obviously not scared of you or in need of a restraining order.”

Closing arguments in the restraining order case won’t be heard until April 21. Lutfi is forbidden to have any contact with Britney until then. Hopefully after then, he still won’t be allowed back into her life! Hang tight Brit. Just like the kitten poster at my dentist.

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Images Via: Candies, Wenn

Madonna’s Adoption Plans, Mercy James Baby Photo

Madonna landed in Malawi on Sunday in hopes of adopting 4 year old Mercy James, whose mother died shortly after giving birth to her. Madonna wants to give her first adopted son David a sister from the same country that he was born in. Mercy is living at the Mchinji Home of Hope, the same orphanage where David was living before being adopted. Before appearing in court for the matter, Madonna took a tour of a Malawian village, and talked of plans to build a school there. Accompanying her on this trip is Lourdes Leon, her daughter with former flame Carlos. Besides Lourdes, Madonna has a second biological child, Rocco, from her marriage to Guy Ritchie, which ended in divorce in January.

The adoption of little Mercy was halted on Monday where a judge delayed ruling on her application to adopt Mercy until Friday. Her grandmother, 61-year-old Lucy Chekechiwa, is reportedly against Madonna’s decision to adopt Mercy.

Via NY Daily:

“Why doesn’t this singer pick other children? It is stealing,” Chekechiwa told the Telegraph of London, adding that she has an agreement with the orphanage to take Mercy when she turns 6. “I want to go to court. I won’t let her go.”

Madonna was criticized by some when she started adoption proceedings for David in 2006, and the criticisms have started with this adoption, also. Children’s advocacy groups accuse her of using her wealth and influence to get around Malawian law requiring an 18- to 24-month assessment period before adoption. They are accusing her of using her status and wealth to bypass the African nation’s laws. “Save the Children UK” charity adds that her second adoption is sending the wrong message, encouraging poor parents “to abandon children in the hope that they will have a better life.” The singer’s 2008 divorce from Guy Ritchie has also upset the children’s charity, “Eye of the Child”. And human rights activists believe that Madonna’s recent split from Ritchie should disqualify her from adopting again.

Per Us Magazine:

“We should never allow our children to be placed into broken families,” Maxwell Matewere, director of children’s charity “Eye of the Child” has said.

Save the Children” believes that many international adoptions are unnecessary and has urged Madonna to ensure all other options had been exhausted before removing a child from a foreign orphanage. Meanwhile, Madonna’s adopted son David’s biological father, Yohane Banda, reunited with his son Monday morning. Yohane said David asked him lots of questions in English and that the two were able to talk with the help of a translator.

A court-appointed overseer will assess Madonna’s eligibility as a parent, and two reports will be presented before the judge before ruling on the adoption.

So what do you think – will Madonnas adoption go off without a hitch? Maybe the judge will see how she’s too sexually open, and not allow the bed-hopping Madge to place this child within a broken home? Or will he let the adoption go through proving more so that celebrities can adopt whoever they want to and not have to follow the laws?

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Images Via: AP Photos