The lesson we’ve learned in the last few weeks is that one shouldn’t even attempt to ask Rihanna a question about her personal life if one wishes the interview to continue. Just ask Australian Sunrise reporter Natalie Barr. “How frustrating is it when you’re linked to another Hollywood star, even if you’ve barely met them?” Barr asked her, referring to Ashton Kutcher . To which the 24-year-old Battleship star abruptly said: “Very frustrating. Almost as frustrating as being asked about it. I mean, what’s the point?” The interview ended immediately afterward. Watch: Rihanna Sunrise Interview With Natalie Barr We sense a pattern here. Last month, she ripped into a reporter for a ballsy, even more out-of-nowhere question regarding herself and Kutcher. “Wow, how disappointing was that question,” she said, before admitting she is single, pointedly, and asking the press to move on. Immediately. Rihanna also snapped at a reporter at a Battleship junket this week when asked what struggles she and Brooklyn Decker have faced in real life. “Girl, you said the key word: personal. Next!” Rihanna quipped. Rihanna’s personal life has been all over the tabloids in recent months, due in part to her musical collaboration with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown . She says she doesn’t care what people think, but obviously, these questions hit a nerve. Should reporters leave her be? Or should she lighten up?
Fired (But Free-Alive) Detective In Sean Bell Shooting “I’m Not Sorry… No Apologies” [Video] This fool is crazy: A detective who fired the first shots in the 2006 shooting of an unarmed man on his wedding day says he believes his life was on the line that night and said he has “no regrets.” “I’m not looking back, no apologies, no regrets. I came to grips with what I did,” Gescard Isnora told News 4 in his first extensive public comments about the shooting of Sean Bell. “I am able to sleep at night. I am here talking to you.” Isnora and two other officers were acquitted of criminal charges in a 2008 non-jury trial. Last fall, he was found guilty of violating NYPD guidelines by using unnecessary force, and was fired two weeks ago by Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. Isnora was the first of the NYPD officers who opened fire Nov. 25, 2006, firing 11 shots. In the 50-bullet barrage, Bell was killed and two of his friends, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield, were wounded. No weapon was found, sparking accusations and months of protests that the NYPD was too quick to use deadly force. At Isnora’s disciplinary trial in October, attorney Adam Sheldon described Isnora’s actions as “outrageous, unimaginable and unjustified.” But Isnora, speaking to News 4, blamed the actions of the men leaving Bell’s bachelor party at Club Kalua in Queens that night. Isnora, who was at the club on an undercover operation, said he heard threats of gun violence outside the club after the men got into a confrontation with a man named Fabio Coicou. “Joseph Guzman said, ‘Go get my gun,’” said Isnora. “And there was another individual that said ‘Let’s ‘f’ ‘em up.” Isnora said he called for backup and followed the men as they rushed to their car. But the other officers did not arrive in time and Isnora said he felt he had to act. “I have to stop this car. If I don’t stop this car, Fabio Coicou gets shot. I served as Fabio Coicou’s last line of defense,” Isnora said. “They would have gone around the corner and definitely gotten to him.” Isnora said he pulled out his shield and his gun and ordered the car to stop. But Bell drove the car right at him, Isnora said, hitting his leg. Bell then ran the vehicle back and forth several more times, according to Isnora. “What people don’t understand is, a vehicle is a weapon as well. He used that vehicle. He basically wanted to run me over,” he said. Seconds later, fearing Guzman was reaching and raising a weapon, Isnora said, he opened fire. In grand jury testimony, Guzman denied saying anything about a gun outside the club; other witnesses also testified that the dispute with Coicou ended peacefully. Guzman and Benefield testified that they never heard the officers yell warnings before opening fire and tried to drive away because they feared for their lives. Isnora maintains he resorted to deadly force only after Bell bumped him with the car and smashed into an unmarked police van, and after he spotted Guzman make a sudden move as though he were going for a gun. “I’m still looking into the car. I noticed Guzman making an arm movement,” Isnora told News 4. “I yelled ‘gun’ very, very instinctively and fired my weapon.” Isnora fired 11 times into the car at Guzman just as the backup team arrived. Fellow officers would fire 39 times. “What is the right amount? What is not the right amount? In a heated situation, you are not counting bullets,” Isnora said. When asked whether firing a total of 50 shots was excessive, Isnora said: “People making those comments do not know the job that undercovers do. It was just survival at that time and moment, and the decision they took left me with no other choice.” Isnora said he didn’t learn until two days later in the press that the men in the car did not have a gun. “It’s easy in hindsight, it’s easy to say what could have been done, but right then and there, every step I took was correct,” said Isnora. Bell and Guzman “set the events in motion,” he added. Kelly fired Isnora last month, saying he broke NYPD rules by emerging from his undercover role before backup arrived and by firing into a vehicle filled with unarmed men. The city also paid more than $7 million to the Bell family and to Guzman and Benefield. His pension was also revoked. Detectives Michael Oliver and Marc Cooper were forced out but allowed to keep their pensions, a move that did not sit well with members of the Bell family. “It’s a slap on the wrist,” said Bell’s father, William Bell. “They’re going to get another job, their life is going to go on and mine’s just stuck.” Isnora said he is angry and feels betrayed the police commissioner and mayor. “I was fed to the wolves, if you want to use that,” Isnora said. “That’s exactly what the commissioner and the mayor did. I was there doing my job.” Isnora said city leaders, from the beginning, “were basically saving themselves. They couldn’t care about the rank and file members,” Isnora said. “I guess if it doesn’t look right to them, they will head for the hills. And that is what they did. They ran for the hills and they left us behind.” He said the police officers in the Amadou Diallo case and other controversial police shootings did not have their pensions taken away. Isnora grew up in Bushwick, the son of a Haitian immigrant who drove MTA buses for a living. His mother came to the U.S. from Mexico and worked child-care related jobs. Joining the NYPD was a proud day, and Isnora said he just wanted to help make the streets safer for children. Image and Source NBC New York More On Bossip! Making It Rain On Them House-Hoes: The Salaries Of The RHOA Have Been Leaked! International B.I.C.: Mommy Banger BeyBey And Hubby Hov Take Blue Ivy Yachting In St. Barths! Must Be Nice: Evelyn Soon-To-Be-Johnson And Stripper Pal “Tip Drill” Spend A Couple Stacks At G5 Strip Club In Miami Join The Craze: 10 More Celebrities That Need To Join Tumblr Like Beyonce
We look back at the most infamous renditions of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’ By James Montgomery The Fray perform the national anthem before the 2012 NCAA National Championship game Photo: Getty Images It seems odd that relaxed-khaki rockers the Fray would inspire acrimony of any sort (unless you hate “Grey’s Anatomy”), but that’s exactly what’s happened following their performance of the national anthem at Monday night’s NCAA national championship basketball game. To be honest, we didn’t think it was that bad, but critics have been savaging the band for their jangly spin on “The Star-Spangled Banner,” calling it everything from “dreadful” to “acoustic, emo and mercifully quick” ( two assessments that could equally have been applied to the actual championship game, now that we think of it). And while they may not be fair, those criticisms automatically add the Fray to the rather lengthy list of truly terrible national anthem performances. From crotch-grabbing comediennes to winded, warbling sprinters, here’s a look at some of the all-time worst. For the record, we don’t think the Fray’s version belongs anywhere on this list, but, hey, anytime you find yourself included alongside Steven Tyler and R. Kelly, you’ve got to be doing something right … right? Roseanne Barr A performance so putrid we’re still talking about it 20 years after the fact. In a move that was either inspired or completely insane (probably both), the San Diego Padres invited the foul-mouthed comedienne to sing the national anthem before a game, and, well, they got everything they could’ve expected … and more. After screeching her way through the song, Barr was showered with boos and showed her gratitude by grabbing her crotch and spitting. Amazingly, this was a huge deal, and she was vilified in the press. Sort of makes you miss the simpler times of H.W. Bush America, doesn’t it? Carl Lewis Hey, he’s an Olympic champion — surely he can sing, right? Wrong. Lewis’ gloriously off-key rendition of the anthem was so bad, people were asking him to give his medals back. As the 20th anniversary of his anthem approaches, it’s difficult to pick the worst (i.e. greatest) moment: His Crayola-colored suit? The part where he cracks a note and, as the crowd jeers, declares “Uh oh! I’mma make up for it now”? Watching members of the Chicago Bulls trying (and failing) to stifle fits of laughter? Nah, you know what? We’re going to go with the New Jersey Nets’ 1993 warm-ups. Those things are still hilarious. R. Kelly Call it the Massacre at Mandalay Bay. Before a big-ticket Vegas boxing match, Mr. Robert Kelly strode to the center of the ring and delivered a delirious, step-show-ready version of the anthem. Sure, he sings it well (since R. Kelly is amazing), but as a sheer stylistic choice, well, this one was a total bomb. Not surprisingly, despite Kelly’s repeated insistences, no one in the audience clapped their hands. Instead, they just booed. Michael Bolton Performing the anthem at Fenway Park, before the Red Sox and the Yankees met for a pivotal 2003 American League Championship game, Bolton made two key errors: One, he totally forgot the lyrics and was forced to read them off the palm of his hand (the crowd lustily booed him for the move), and two, he was Michael Bolton. In Boston. Before a Yankees game. Being from Connecticut wasn’t enough to save him or this performance. Christina Aguilera Poor Xtina. Performing before an audience of millions at Super Bowl XLV, she fumbled pretty much everything: missing notes and screwing up lyrics (we like the part where she goes “the twilight’s last reaming”). She was “devastated” by the mistakes, and since she’s done the anthem so well — and so often — before, we’re willing to forgive this one. Also, we love her on “The Voice.” Steven Tyler Yowch. Tyler delivered a cringe-worthy version of the anthem before the Patriots/Ravens AFC Championship game in January, and not even his sparkly Pats scarf could save him from getting booed. It was wobbly, shouty and even a tad pitchy, dawg. Good thing he’s not responsible for judging a singing competition or anything. Which do you think is the worst anthem? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists The Fray
WENN More On Bossip! BFWTFs: Random Celebrity Buds You Wouldn’t Imagine Hanging Out Watch Your Mouths! Celebrities Caught Making Stupid Racist Comments Poor Thang! Mommy Banger BeyBey Won’t Let Lil Blue Ivy Carter Get Her Shine On, Plus Auntie Solo Strutting Around Downtown A Bunch O’ Heathens! The 10 Least Religious States In The Country
“We want… education! When do we want it? Now!” About 50 students were suspended Thursday from the all-boys Frederick Douglass Academy in Detroit, Mich. for walking out of classes in protest, demanding “an education.”: Among their complaints: a lack of consistent teachers, the reassignment of the school principal, educators who abuse sick time and a shortage of textbooks. “We’ve been wronged and disrespected and lied to and cheated,” senior Tevin Hill told the Detroit Free Press. “They didn’t listen to us when we complained to the administration. They didn’t listen to the parents when they complained to the administration, so I guess this is the only way to get things solved.” One math teacher, parent Sharise Smith tells WJBK-TV, has been absent for more than 68 days. The students marched outside the school and chanted, “We want… education! When do we want it? Now!” Students and parents became increasingly alarmed when Frederick Douglass was no longer listed as an application school in the district — current students had to apply to attend. Smith told the Free Press that her son was given an A in geometry without taking a final exam. “It was by default, just for showing up. It wasn’t because he earned an A,” she said. The Frederick Douglass boys are just some of many students in a city that proved to be the worst-performing urban school area among 21 surveyed across the country. Despite its national rank, Detroit’s overall performance increased on the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress. The 17-year-old Hill told The Detroit News that so many teachers have been simultaneously absent from school that dozens of students had been forced to gather in the gym or other common school areas. Students also went for long periods without homework, and Hill said he struggled on a recent placement exam at Bowling Green State University, where he’s been accepted to attend next year. “I literally couldn’t answer a question on there,” Hill said. “Right now, I’m not going to be as successful as I should be because I haven’t been properly taught.” How sad! We salute these kids for standing their ground. It’s sad that children are being forced to protest just for a decent education SMH Source More On Bossip! BFWTFs: Random Celebrity Buds You Wouldn’t Imagine Hanging Out Watch Your Mouths! Celebrities Caught Making Stupid Racist Comments Poor Thang! Mommy Banger BeyBey Won’t Let Lil Blue Ivy Carter Get Her Shine On, Plus Auntie Solo Strutting Around Downtown A Bunch O’ Heathens! The 10 Least Religious States In The Country
Singer Steven Tyler promises to bring ‘a little bit of 1975 back.’ By Gil Kaufman Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler Photo: Getty Images As if guitarist Joe Perry’s surprise “Happy Birthday” serenade to singer and judge Steven Tyler on “American Idol” last week weren’t proof enough that all is good in Aerosmith land, on Wednesday, the veteran rockers confirmed they’re releasing their long-awaited studio album this summer. They didn’t reveal the title of the album, their first featuring new material since 2001’s Just Push Play, but singer Tyler told Reuters that after a few years of turmoil and tension things are (relatively) back to normal. “The camaraderie’s there, there’s some songs that are new rock, and old rock and middle-of-the-road rock, and blues, piano,” he said. “Joe Perry singing a couple of songs, I’m playing the drums, Joey sings, just all kinds of stuff.” Tyler, 64, added that they have re-teamed with longtime producer Jack Douglas in order to bring “a little bit of 1975 back.” Rolling Stone reported that Tyler said the band is two songs from the finish line and some of the titles completed so far include “Legendary Child,” “Beautiful” and “Out Go the Lights.” The release date was not announced, but the band — who arrived at the press conference via motorcycle, a white Lamborghini, taxi and rickshaw — promised to have the disc ready around the time of the kickoff of their recently announced North American “Global Warming” tour, which begins June 16 in Minneapolis. “You’re going to get some new songs from the new album and some old songs from the old albums and you’re going to get new us and old us, and we’re just going to go out and rock your world,” Tyler said. The Boston-bred icons have been trying to get together to record their 15th studio album for several years, but their efforts were interrupted by a variety of ailments, stage accidents involving Tyler (as well as his rehab stint in 2009) and enmity that was stirred up by the singer’s decision to sign on as a judge for “Idol.” But despite the grumbling from Perry when Tyler announced his decision to take a seat next to Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson in 2010, the motor-mouthed vocalist said the exposure has helped the group reach a whole new audience. “The music that we write, fortunately it’s been seductive to all genres of people,” he said. “There’s going to be kids who are going to get introduced to Aerosmith all over again, and there’s a bunch of new music that we’re taking a risk and putting out. It’s kind of futuristic rock, all the way across the board, we’re just good for that.” Related Artists Aerosmith
Interviews and Profiles Outer Alliance Podcast interviews Jennifer Pelland. Chomu Press interview with Quentin S. Crisp (video). Bastard Books interviews Myke Cole. John Scalzi’s The Big Idea: Peadar Ó Guilín. [SFFWRTCHT] A Chat With Author Tad Williams. Chuck Wendig interviews Nathan Long. Keith Brooke interviews James Lovegrove. The Debut Review interviews E.C. Myers. SFWA (Cat Related posts:… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : SF Signal Discovery Date : 15/03/2012 09:52 Number of articles : 2
The singer’s will was signed one month after Bobbi was born in 1993. By Gil Kaufman Whitney Houston and her daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown Photo: Steve Granitz/ WireImage The details of late diva an interview with Oprah Winfrey on “Oprah’s Next Chapter.” A press release announcing the interview said that Bobbi Kristina will share “personal memories of her mom and how she would like the iconic superstar to be remembered.” Related Videos Farewell To A Legend: Whitney Houston’s Funeral Related Photos Whitney Houston: A Life In Photos Related Artists Whitney Houston
Critics agree that rapper’s new women’s line is an improvement over last year’s. By Rob Markman Kanye West greets the audience after his show at Paris Fashion Week. Photo: Getty Images There is no quit in Kanye West . After critics picked and prodded at the first showing of his women’s wear line in October, Yeezy returned to the big stage on Tuesday night in France at the fall/winter ready-to-wear show with his new collection for Paris Fashion Week. Diddy, Kim Kardashian, Shyne and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour were all there as ‘Ye offered up what many critics described as a Givenchy-inspired look. There were leathers, backless motorcycle jackets, inventive knee-high boots, furs and go-karts — yes, go-karts. Comparisons to West’s first showing are inevitable, even if the rapper/ producer/ overall creative spirit feels that he was unfairly judged during the first go-round. “I got treated unfairly by the press last time. Why would I want to do this?” Kanye said to a roomful of editors after deciding to cancel a pre-show collection preview. Well, whatever doesn’t kill Kanye only makes him stronger. Here’s what the critics had to say about the Louis Vuitton Don’s new threads. Catch up on everything you missed with MTV Style’s Live Blog and Recap! “This show started out OK, with a series of tough-looking black leather and suede outfits based off of a motorcycle jacket. And it ended with go-karts spinning around two tracks on either side of the runway, which made Anna Wintour smile. His leather skirts had a stiff half-ruffle pointing out at the hems. Karlie Kloss wore a leather jacket that, kind of interestingly, had no back, but then there was again a preponderance of questionable fur looks, including pants that were broadtail on the front, clingy fabric on the back.” — Eric Wilson, New York Times “This collection was better. Markedly. I just hope Kanye West continues to show. And learns to show off. If it’s true what they say and he’s formed a think tank of sartorial smartypantses they should help him realize the visual equivalent of what he’s capable of aurally. This is what I expect of him and I refuse to lower my expectations.” — — Mary H.K. Choi, MTV Style . “Yes, the dark haute-goth looks were very Givenchy-Mcqueen-Balenciaga-ish. Very. But given the scathing criticism he got last year, it’s clear Kanye had better planning, better execution, and vastly better fittings this time around. Oh, and once again, his shoe fetish takes center stage. Last year it was those beaded/pearled bangle sandals. This time, sky high Feyd-Rautha-style strap boots.” — Miss Info “First the bad news: This Kanye West collection was so Givenchy-esque that it’s embarrassing that Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci was an expected guest. Kanye, whatever your legal arrangement, cribbing is cribbing. Ten points off for copying the smart guy sitting next to you. Next, the good news: this Kanye collection is a massive improvement. When I asked how he managed it, Mr. West dissembled and said he’d spent a lot of time in ‘libraries.’ ” — Christina Binkley, Wall Street Journal Related Photos Kanye West Paris Fashion Week Fall 2012 Related Artists Kanye West
