by admin

The Boys Don’t Cry wasn’t the only celeb at Kadyrov’s extravagant, 35th birthday bash in Grozny, the provincial capital of Chechyna; action movie legend Jean Claude Van Damme, violinist Vanessa Mae and a slew of Russian stars were also on hand. Van Damme and Mae have yet to address the scandal.

PHOTOS: Stars who’ve screwed up

PHOTOS: Hilary’s big screen twin

Swank sure is sorry.

A former separatist rebel, Kadyrov has bragged that he killed a Russian soldier at age 15; his many rivals and critics have been violently murdered and harassed throughout Europe over the past several years, though he has denied involvement.

PHOTOS: Hilary’s surprise BFF

“I deeply regret attending this event,” Swank, 37, said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday. “If I had a full understanding of what this event was apparently intended to be, I would never have gone.”

Despite Swank’s claims, the Human Rights Foundation told TheWrap.com that it sent a letter to the actress in September — warning her of Kadyrov’s alleged crimes. Swank’s rep allegedly replied back, explaining she didn’t plan to attend the bash.

In her statement, Swank said she had no idea the over-the-top party was to be held in Kadyrov’s honor.

During the elaborate party, Swank said she was inspired by the Chechen government’s “passion to make peace and to make something beautiful.”

Two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank came under fire on Tuesday when it was revealed that she was among the attendees at a birthday concert on Oct. 5 for Ramzan Kadyrov, a Kremlin-backed Chechen leader accused of torture, abductions and murder by human rights groups.

---

• news

by admin

By August, the couple was living together in L.A., though Girardi — who first competed for Jake Pavelka’s affection in 2010 — is currently back home in her native Florida.

VIDEO: Kasey gets a tattoo — to prove his love for Ali Fedotowsky

VIDEO: Kasey serenades Vienna on Bachelor Pad

Vienna Girardi and Kasey Kahl’s made-for-TV romance is over.

VIDEO: Inside Jake and Vienna’s bitter breakup

“Yes, Vienna and I have split,” Kahl, 27, confirmed on Twitter Monday. “It’s been five weeks now. I can’t fake it anymore. I will always love, be there for her, and wish her the best.”

“We were dating for about three months before we ever came out publicly,” Girardi told Us Weekly in August. “I think having a public relationship is very hard because all of a sudden you don’t even know if it’s serious or if it’s going to last.”

The Bachelor Pad 2 couple began dating in March 2011, though they initially tried to keep their relationship under wraps.

Girardi, 25, added that Kahl “will always be my friend, but yes, we have split. No idea what the future holds for us, but we will always remain friends.”

---

• news

by admin

PHOTOS: Abe Lincoln and his little boy

PHOTOS: Before they were Oscar nominees

Tell Us: Will Lewis make a good Lincoln?

Daniel Day-Lewis is playing Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln, Steven Spielberg’s epic film about the hallowed Civil War President, currently shooting in Richmond, Virginia.

Richmond native Michael Phillips caught the two-time Oscar winner Lewis, 54, dining at a local restaurant made up as the U.S.’s 16th leader and tweeted a snapshot to his followers. Although the There Will Be Blood actor wears modern-day jeans and a turtleneck, from the neck up he’s a remarkable doppelganger for Lincoln with the iconic beard and swept-back hair.

Four years in the making, Lincoln also stars Sally Field, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tommy Lee Jones, John Hawkes, Hal Holbrook, James Spader, Tim Blake Nelson, David Strathairn, Jackie Earle Haley and David Oyelowo; Liam Neeson was originally set to play the sought-after role.

Honestly looks like Abe to Us!

PHOTOS: Stars’ big-screen twins

---

• news

by admin

After multiple sources confirmed to Us Weekly Tuesday that Richards, 47, had checked into an undisclosed rehab facility, pals were relieved — but not surprised.

This won’t be Kim Richards’ first time in rehab — but loved ones close to the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star are praying that it will be her last.

PHOTOS: Biggest RHOBH bombshells

Younger sister Kyle called Kim an “alcoholic” on the explosive season-one finale, and Kim’s bizarre, erratic behavior escalated during season two. “It became really obvious that Kim was not herself,” the source says of the former Disney child star. “It was really just a matter of when she would enter rehab. I think everyone is actually pretty happy she’s taking the proper steps forward to deal with her issues.”

VIDEO: Why the jury’s still out on her boyfriend Ken

Adds another insider of Kim’s tense dealings with Kyle, 42, older sister Kathy Hilton and other loved ones: “The relationship with everyone is so strained and it was because they weren’t going to coddle Kim – she had to know when she was ready to do this..She’s making the right decision.”

“Kim’s alcohol addiction along with other substance abuse problems has been obvious for quite some time, but it’s really good that she’s finally getting help,” one source tells Us.

PHOTOS: Child stars gone bad

---

• news

by admin

PHOTOS: Celebs you never knew were naturally blonde

“I feel sexier when I’m dark! I love how darker hair brings out my eyes and also complements my pale skin,” she tells Us.

No dye-lemma here: When Michelle Trachtenberg is filming in NYC — more than 2,000 miles from her L.A.-based hair colorist — she takes matters into her own hands with John Frieda’s Precision Foam Colour.

Like many blonde-born stars who have traded their sunny strands for darker locks (Audrina Patridge, Katy Perry, and Leighton Meester to name a few), the star absolutely loves sporting a deeper hue.

VOTE: Which star has the best hair in Hollywood?

VOTE: Which hair color looks hotter?

“It’s foolproof,” the Gossip Girl actress, 26, raves to Us Weekly about the solution, which comes in 20 colors.

Her new favorite shade? Brilliant Brunette Deep Brown-Black ($12.99, ulta.com). “I’m naturally dirty blonde and I’ve worn a reddish brown for a bit,” she says.

---

• news

by admin

France’s First Lady will be happy to return to he pre-pregnancy routine. “Quite frankly, I can’t stand it anymore,” she admitted to French magazine Le Parisien of being pregnant. “I spend most of my time either sitting down or lying down. I can’t smoke or drink anymore. I’m in a hurry to get it over with.”

C’est une fille!

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and wife Carla Bruni welcomed a daughter on Wednesday in Paris, France’s Le Figaro reports.

The former model has a son from a previous relationship, while Sarkozy has three children from his two previous marriages to Marie-Dominique Culioli and Cecilia Ciganer-Albeniz.

PHOTOS: What these stars love most about being a mom

PHOTOS: Best and worst celebrity births

Bruni, 43, and Sarkozy, 57, confirmed they were expecting their first child together in July.

PHOTOS: Adorable A-list tots

---

• news

by admin

PHOTOS: How to dress like Duchess Kate

“She was asking lots of questions and talking to the experts at length about the piece,” the onlooker tells Us. “She seemed completely fascinated by it.”

PHOTOS: How Kate prepared for life as a royal

It’s hard to imagine that Kate Middleton can walk among the commoners unnoticed these days — but that’s exactly what the Duchess did when she visited the National Portrait Gallery in London Wednesday.

“She was dressed all in black — she must have been boiling because it was a really hot day in London — in knee-length black boots, black tights and a slim-fitting black dress,” the onlooker says. “She had her hair up, completely pulled up into a twist at the back.”

The 29-year-old spent the afternoon touring the contemporary collection downstairs with a small group of curators, an onlooker tells Us Weekly exclusively.

“She didn’t spend a huge amount of time looking at it,” the onlooker notes. “She just smiled and admired it briefly.”

Middleton, who studied art history at St. Andrews (where she met future hubby Prince William, 29), wasn’t fazed by some of the more controversial pieces, including Marc Quinn’s Self, a self-portrait cast of the artist’s head made from his own blood and then frozen.

Middleton — who has broken tradition by not posing for her own post-wedding portrait — viewed a portrait of William and Prince Harry, 27, on her way out.

VIDEO: William and Kate talk baby plans

PHOTOS: Aww! Kate Middleton’s childhood album

Because the gallery downstairs is split into many side rooms, Middleton was able to move around without too many people noticing her — though one tourist did attempt to snap a photo of the Duchess. “Her security guard suddenly appeared and told the man he should delete the photo, but other than that she wasn’t bothered at all.”

---

• news

by admin

PHOTOS: SEE THE BEST DRESSES OF THE YEAR!

Blake Lively, who styles herself, chose a gorgeous pale gray Grecian-inspired Marchesa gown for the BAFTA Brits to Watch event in Los Angeles July 9.

PHOTOS: Emma’s red carpet style

Emma Stone stood out in a sea of bedazzled gowns at the Golden Globes (Jan. 16) when she opted for a minimalist peach-colored Calvin Klein design.

From glam ball gowns to sequin stunners, the stars hit the red carpet in some seriously show-stopping looks in 2011.

PHOTOS: Hot looks from last night’s red carpet

And of all the fabulous looks Mila Kunis wore this year, the lavender Elie Saab Couture gown she chose for the Oscars (Feb. 27) earned her a top spot on everyone’s best dressed list.

---

• news

by admin

The newly-married Tennessee native, 36, presented Blake Shelton with the award for Male Vocalist of the Year. See more pics of Reese and other stars at the CMAs.

PHOTOS: Reese’s best hairstyles

PHOTOS: Reese, her hubby and her kids

PHOTOS: Reese’s style evolution

And on Wednesday night the star continued to change it up when she hit the stage at the CMA Awards in Nashville rocking a hot pink strapless Stella McCartney dress with ruffle detail on the side. She wore her hair in loose waves and accessorized with nude pumps and sparkly Van Cleef & Arpels earrings.

Next up for the mom-of-two is coproducing a romantic comedy with Ryan Seacrest. The role will follow Witherspoon’s buzzed-about turn in This Means War, set for a February 17 release.

Between flashing her bra under a sheer shirt last week and trying out a trendy ‘do at a gala event on Saturday, Reese Witherspoon seems to be experimenting with a sexier look right now.

---

• news

by admin

Hours after she refuted claims that she abducted her 5-year-old son, the 36-year-old McCready shared more family news with Us Weekly: She’s five months pregnant with twins!

PHOTOS: Troubled stars

Declaring mother and son “safe, healthy and comfortable,” the singer’s publicist confirmed Zander “has been with his mother for more than 30 days. Law enforcement officials spoke with the child and saw Zander via Skype yesterday.”

PHOTOS: Adorable A-list kids

PHOTOS: 2011′s most shocking headlines

The New York Daily News reports that the babies’ father is McCready’s music producer boyfriend of two years, David Wilson.

Wednesday was quite the day for country singer Mindy McCready.

While she is able to visit her son, McCready does not have full custody of the boy; her mother does.

“I am working with lawyers to try to get all this straightened out,” the singer told Access Hollywood via email after the Associated Press reported that the Department of Children and Families filed a missing persons report. “I did not steal my child, as it would be impossible for me to kidnap what already belongs to me! There never was any missing persons report and never an Amber Alert.”

McCready first made headlines Wednesday when authorities said she and her son, Zander — who is currently in the care of McCready’s mother — disappeared from her father’s Cape Coral, Fla., home Tuesday evening.

News of McCready’s pregnancy was first reported by the National Enquirer.

---

• news