Hey, Mama, you'll be missed.
Donda West, the former Chicago State University English professor who left higher education to guide her son to a Grammy-winning hip-hop career, died Saturday evening in Los Angeles.
She was 58.
According to Patricia West, a spokeswoman for Donda West, the cause of death was complications stemming from a "cosmetic procedure." No other details were disclosed.
The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office confirmed Monday that the death is under investigation but initial indications are that she succumbed to complications from surgery. Lieutenant Fred Corral, the watch commander, declined to elaborate, only saying that West was pronounced dead at Centinela Marina Hospital in Marina Del Rey at 8:20 p.m. Saturday.
Her remains will be brought to the coroner’s office later Monday and the autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, Corral said.
"The family respectfully asks for privacy during this time of grief," said a statement released by Kanye West's record label, Island Def Jam.
The 30-year-old rapper reportedly got the bad news while in London on the eve of a U.K. tour; he immediately boarded a plane for Los Angeles.
Mother and son's bond grew stronger after West's photojournalist father, Ray, left them when Kanye was 11 months old. Ray and Donda West divorced two years later, and she relocated Kanye from Atlanta to Chicago. There, she raised him as a single parent during his formative years—a time the rap star recounts with pride, citing her struggles to provide for him while working hard to forge a successful career as a teacher.
After he gained fame, first as one of hip-hop's most sought-after producer's and then as a solo artist with his 2004 debut album, The College Dropout, Kanye celebrated the positive role Donda played in his upbringing in the track "Hey Mama" off 2005's Late Registration.
"Hey, Mama, I wanna scream so loud for you/ Cuz I'm so proud of you/ I know I act a fool/ But I promise you I'm going back to school/ I appreciate what you allow for me/ I just want you to be proud of me," goes the refrain.
Later in the song, he raps: "My mama told me go to school/ Get your doctorate/ Somethin' to fall back on, you could profit with/ But still supported me when I did the opposite."
He performed the tune in his mom's honor during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, while she beamed on in the audience.
After 31 years rising through the teaching ranks to chair the English Department at Chicago State, Donda West retired in 2004 to manage her son's burgeoning career. She also headed up Super Good, the parent company of the emcee's fast-growing business empire, which includes apparel, accessories and other lifestyle products, and was the chairwoman of the Kanye West Foundation, a nonprofit devoted to increasing literacy and preventing youth from dropping out of school.
Donda West cowrote a book about their close relationship in Raising Kanye: Life Lessons From the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar.
"I never make any important decision without consulting her," the entertainer told the Chicago Times two years ago.
Kanye West's songwriting partner, Rhymefest, appeared on Chicago radio station WCGI Sunday and paid tribute to Donda.
"She was everyone's mom," he said. "A spirit never dies, a spirit lasts forever."
No word yet on funeral arrangements.
Via eonline
While Celebrity Big Brother has left a bad taste in viewers' mouths, there's something about watching celebs munch fish eyes and crocodile penis that never fails to bring a huge grin to our faces.
And scrolling back over the past six series, it's incredible how many all-time favourite TV moments this show has spawned - each one of them totally unpredictable.
With Malcolm McLaren walking out before he went in, the remaining celebrities are Hollyoaks babe Gemma Atkinson, ex-footballer Rodney Marsh, Changing Rooms' Anna Ryder Richardson, Catatonia singer Cerys Matthews, former EastEnder Marc Bannerman, 'J' Brown formerly of Five, supermodel Janice Dickinson, chef John Burton Race and PR guru Lynne Franks - but don't be surprised to see some extra arrivals.
Tonight we join Ant and Dec to see what terrifying stunt the producers have come up with this year for getting them into the jungle, although if last year's winner Matt Willis had his way, they'd all have to eat a kangaroo's bumhole before they could even pass go. Matt and his fiancee Emma Griffiths will be fronting the companion show I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here ... NOW! over on ITV2.
Producers have promised that this years' trials will be the toughest yet - but they always say that and really that's only a small part of why we love this show.
We watch it for those unscriptable moments like Paul Burrell's squeals, Natalie Appleton yelping "I touched a tree!" the mad, mad world of David Gest, Dean Gaffney's freak-out and the general Insania of watching spoiled celebs with too much time on their hand.
This year's jungle dwellers have a lot to live up to.
Via mirror.co.uk
Britney Spears in drug lab contact ruling
domingo, 11 de noviembre de 2007 | Etiquetas: Britney Spears
A drug testing lab must be able to reach Britney Spears at a single telephone number, a court commissioner has ruled.
The ruling came after her ex-husband Kevin Federline's lawyer complained that the pop star has repeatedly failed to respond to calls for court-ordered drug tests.
Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, told Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon that there have been 14 laboratory requests for drug testing and Spears failed to respond to eight of them.
Federline has temporary custody of Sean Preston, two, and one-year-old Jayden James because Spears has defied court orders. "Mr Federline doesn't want to take the children out of their mom's life, but we don't know what else there is to do," Mr Kaplan told Mr Gordon.
Federline, 29, and Spears, 25, were not in court for the hearing.
Spears' lawyer Anne Kiley argued the previous court order was unconstitutional and Spears did not respond to the lab phone calls within an hour, as ordered by the court, because she was sleeping.
Ms Kiley asked that Spears be given six hours to respond to the laboratory phone requests. But Mr Gordon said time was not the problem, noting Spears had lost telephone numbers and changed her telephone numbers.
The commissioner suggested that Spears get a separate mobile phone for lab use only.
After a court break, Mr Gordon issued his ruling, adding that he was not going to make any further modifications to existing custody orders. Under those orders, Federline has primary custody. Spears gets one overnight visit and two daytime visits a week. A court-appointed parenting coach, a childproofed home and car restraints were all written into the orders.
Lawyers for Spears and Federline, who married in October 2004 and whose divorce was finalised in July, have repeatedly been in court about custody since they split.
Via thepressassociaton
A barrage of flashing cameras greeted hotel heiress and Americancelebrity Paris Hilton when she attended her first press conference in Seoul, Friday.
Hilton, who is currently in Seoul for a promotional tour sponsored by sportswear brand Fila Korea, smiled and showed off her trademark pose for photographers and cameramen at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
With her upswept blonde hair and glowing tan, Hilton wore a gold puffer vest, hot pink track jacket, gray tank top and purple track pants. Everything she wore, except for a pink Chanel purse, was from Fila's collection, which she is endorsing.
The 27-year old fashionista, who is often seen wearing high-end designer brands, declared she loves the Fila brand. ``I love Fila. Girls who wear Fila have great style too. I love to mix the colors. The Fila brand comes in all different colors, so I can mix and match them. My favorite color is pink, so I wore this today,'' she said.
This is her first time in Korea, so she gushed about the beautiful Korean scenery. Hilton also said she loved bibimbap and would like to eat more of it during her trip.
``I love everything about Korea. People are amazing. I look forward to coming here more often. I wish I had more time here. I'd love to see the Korean palaces, architecture and old streets,'' she said.
Hilton, an heiress to the Hilton Hotel fortune, sees Korea as a great market for her brand. ``My fashion line is also coming out, which is clothing, outerwear, shoes, purses and jewelry. Also next is real estate, like hotels and restaurants. I try to be as professional as possible. I'm very excited to be in Korea. This is a great market for me. I'm happy to be here right now,'' she said.
As for her acting roles, Hilton said she appears in the romantic comedy ``The Hottie and the Naughty'' to be released in February. She also just finished shooting ``Repo: The Genetic Opera,'' and is developing another TV show.
When asked how she feels about the paparazzi following her every move, Hilton said she understands the photographers are only doing their job. ``I respect that. I can't complain about it. I love my life and I don't let it bother me,'' she said.
On Thursday, Hilton filmed scenes for her guest appearance on the popular MBC show ``Reckless Challenge'' (Muhandojeon) at the Korea House in Pil-dong. She said she wore a ``gorgeous Korean wedding dress'' (hanbok) for the show.
Hilton's one-year contract with Fila Korea is reportedly worth $1 million. Fila chose Hilton as its model last March because of her sexy, fashionable image. However, her ads were temporarily pulled last June, when she was sentenced to a 45-day jail term on a drunk driving charge.
Fila was originally established as an Italian company in 1911, but is now owned by Fila Korea.
Via koreatimes
Mark Wahlberg is in negotiations to star in "Max Payne," Fox's adaptation of the hit video game.
The story centers on a DEA agent named Max Payne who is framed for the murder of a fellow agent and finds himself in the middle of a mob war, which gives him a chance to avenge the Mafia slayings of his wife and child.
John Moore ("Flight of the Phoenix") is directing.
Wahlberg, currently shooting Peter Jackson's "The Lovely Bones," was most recently in theaters with the crime drama "We Own the Night."
Via reuters
The former headmistress of Oprah Winfrey's school for disadvantaged girls in South Africa says she was unaware of allegations that a dormitory matron sexually abused students.
"Contrary to reports, I had no knowledge of abuse. I did not and would never participate in any such coverup," Nomvuyo Mzamane said in a statement issued through her U.S.-based lawyer.
Winfrey announced Monday that Mzamane's contract would not be renewed, indicating that school officials had ignored complaints from the girls and tried to keep allegations from her.
Mzamane was suspended last month after allegations surfaced that one of the dormitory matrons was abusive.
Virginia Makopo, 27, faces 13 charges of indecent assault, assault and criminal injury committed against at least six students ages 13 to 15 and a 23-year-old at the school. Makopo, who said she was innocent, was freed on bail Monday.
Winfrey, who was a victim of child abuse, promised an overhaul of the school and said she had apologized to parents.
Winfrey opened her Leadership Academy for Girls outside Johannesburg on Jan. 2, with celebrities including Tina Turner and Spike Lee onhand, along with former President Nelson Mandela.
Via nydailynews
A PUNK rocker, Jack Nicholson’s ex-girlfriend and a television chef will share the jungle when I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! returns on Monday.
ITV bosses have pulled out all the stops to lure Sex Pistols’ manager Malcolm McLaren, 61, ex-supermodel Janice Dickinson, 52, and chef John Burton Race, 50, to the show.
Prince Andrew’s ex-girlfriend, actress Koo Stark, 47, was also in the frame but dropped at the last minute.
An insider said last night: “Koo was in until the end but she was deemed ‘not good telly’.”
Instead, Hollyoaks actress Gemma Atkinson, 23, Changing Rooms host Anna Ryder Richardson, 43, and PR guru Lynne Franks, 59, are in.
Also in the frame are ex-EastEnders actor Marc Bannerman, 33, singer Cerys Matthews, 38, and football pundit Rodney Marsh, 63.
Lesser-known musician Jason ‘J’ Brown, 31, of now-defunct boy band 5ive, is in the camp but, hopefully, Marsh will talk over him if he tries to sing 5ive’s hit Slam Dunk Da Funk.
Janice Dickinson, 52, a former girlfriend of Jack Nicholson and Sylvester Stallone, has promised to keep things interesting by talking about her claimed 1,000 lovers.
Channel 4 chef John Burton Race has also vowed to cook up trouble. He said from the Australian Gold Coast last night: “I will tell people what I think if they annoy me.”
A spokeswoman for ITV said: “The producers were determined to put together a bizarre mix…but quite a few big names said no.”
Also among those said to have been approached are socialite Paris Hilton, 26, singer Kelly Osbourne, 22, and Kate Moss’s ex-boyfriend, Pete Doherty, 28.
Coronation Street actress-turned-presenter Debra Stephenson, 35, and potter Grayson Perry, 47, refused.
In total, 12 celebrities — each earning up to £150,000 — will appear, meaning two more, possibly pop duo Right Said Fred, are still to come.
Via sundayexpress
Prince Harry’s girlfriend Chelsy Davy has reportedly dumped the young royal, telling him that she 'needs space' to establish her own identity.
According to friends, Chelsy is having a "trial separation" from the Prince while she studies at Leeds University and he pursues his Army career.
Sources say that the 22-year-old Zimbabwean made a series of tearful telephone calls to the Prince last week, and later confided to a close friend that Harry had agreed to the "trial separation".
Chelsy's decision to end the relationship comes amid reports that she is desperately unhappy in Leeds, where she is a student.
"This is not an over-for-good situation. Chelsy and Harry both love each other very much but Chelsy has had a lot to come to terms with over recent months since moving to the UK and has not found the transition an easy one,” the Daily Mail quoted a friend, as saying.
"She kept saying she needed to take some time out to re-establish herself. She still loves him, but she feels she needs to carve an identity as her own person rather than as Prince Harry's girlfriend.
"Over recent weeks she's been coming down to London and partying with Harry's friends. They were together at Amika nightclub in Kensington just two weeks ago when Chelsy appeared incredibly down and subdued.
"She was not her normal partying self. She had confided it was because she was missing Zimbabwe and her family in South Africa but in fact she was having doubts about her relationship with Prince Harry back then.
"While they care for each other deeply she needs to be able to be her own person. She is pragmatic about the split. They're using it as an opportunity to take a break rather than splitting for good,” the friend added.
Other reports suggest that Chelsy ended her three-year relationship with the prince after he missed her 22nd birthday party to go to the Rugby World Cup final in Paris.
Rumours are also rife that Chelsy become sick of the prince's playboy lifestyle and lack of commitment to her.
A senior Palace aide said: "The relationship is over. It has simply run its course. Harry will be carrying on his Army career and Chelsy will continue her studies."
A spokeswoman for Clarence House said they did not comment on the prince's private life.
Via topnews
Britney Spears must provide a working telephone number so she can be reached for drug testing, a court has ruled.
Ex-husband Kevin Federline's lawyer told the court there had been 14 requests for drug testing and she failed to respond to eight of them.
Ms Spears' lawyer argued the singer had not responded within the ordered timeframe because she was sleeping.
Mr Federline was granted full custody of sons Sean Preston, aged two, and one-year-old Jayden James in October.
"There needs to be one number that the testing facility calls that she responds to," Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon said.
He added that she could change phone number, as long as everyone involved was notified.
'Perfectly clear'
Mr Gordon said the process should be perfectly clear for Ms Spears.
"You get a call, answer the call, set up a meeting, get the test," he said.
Mr Federline's lawyer also told the court he did not want Ms Spears to be behind the wheel when their two sons are in her car, "to protect their safety".
In 2006, Ms Spears was photographed driving with son Sean Preston on her lap, and authorities visited her home to investigate.
Under current orders, Mr Federline has primary custody of their sons because Ms Spears had allegedly defied court orders - including an order to submit for drug-testing.
Ms Spears, 25, and Mr Federline, 29, were not present at the hearing.
Via bbc
US socialite Paris Hilton said Friday she has renewed her contract to represent a South Korean sportswear giant and hopes to extend her own fashion business here.
"I am very excited to be here, a great market for me. I think the Korean market is great for me," the 27-year-old heiress to the Hilton hotel empire told reporters.
Hilton arrived in Seoul on Wednesday from Tokyo, where she had been a judge in a beauty contest.
She was invited by Fila Korea, the sportswear maker she has represented since March. The value of her one-year contract has been estimated at one million dollars.
Hilton has appeared in the taping of a local television entertainment programme wearing a traditional Korean gown.
Fila Korea said Hilton would host a charity party Friday night with Korean celebrities at a club in Seoul's fashionable Apgujeong district.
The company refused to give details. Newspapers said the guest list includes Korean actors and singers as well as American pop star Beyonce Knowles, who arrived Thursday for her first concert here.
Hilton was in June jailed for violating probation over an alcohol-related reckless driving conviction. She emerged from prison declaring that incarceration had changed her and that she planned to "grow up."
She declared herself not much bothered by excessive media attention.
"Basically I know they are doing their job. Everybody has their job to do. So I respect that," she said.
"I just live my life how I do and don't let it bother me, even though it can get out of control sometimes."
Via afp
