Back in February, we reported that Johnny Depp is going broke after spending his money on what we then described as “weird-ass sh-t.” In addition to the usual rich guy splurging (Sources say Depp spent $30,000 a month on wine .), there were some truly bizarre expenditures, such as a $3 million ash cannon to shoot the remains of his friend Hunter S. Thompson into the atmosphere. Rather than denying that he went a little crazy with his cash, however, Depp is now defending his right to blow a fortune on whatever gonzo luxuries he wants: The speculation of where Depp’s money went began when he sued his management group, TMG, for allegedly mishandling his sizable nest egg. TMG countersued, claiming that “Depp lived an ultra-extravagant lifestyle that often knowingly cost [him] in excess of $2 million per month.” The firm’s cross complaint argues: “Depp, and Depp alone, is fully responsible for any financial turmoil he finds himself in today.” In a new interview with The Wall St. Journal, Depp doesn’t claim that he never lived an overly-posh lifestyle, but instead argues that it was his right to do so, and his management group’s job to warn him before he went too far: “It’s my money,” Depp said. “If I want to buy 15,000 cotton balls a day, it’s my thing.” He went on to say: “Why didn’t they drop me as a client if I was so out of control? I’ve worked very, very hard for a lot of years and trusted a lot of people, some who’ve clearly let me down.” Depp says that in some areas, TMG lied to make his spending seem more lavish than it was, but in a hilariously candid quip, he says they actually underestimated his spending in one case. The cannon used to propel Thompson’s ashes into the night sky over the writer’s famous Woody Creek, Colorado ranch actually cost $5 million, not three. Depp has been unabashedly frank about his foibles throughout his career, and from a PR standpoint, the ball is now in TMG’s court. The firm finds itself in the unenviable position of facing off against a film icon who’s soon to resume his most famous role. The past year has been rough on Depp, but he still has a spot in the hearts of millions of devoted fans.
In the most stunning celebrity news story of the week, Chris Soules has been arrested for leaving the scene of a fatal car crash that left one individual dead. As previously detailed, the Season 19 Bachelor was driving his pickup truck on Sunday night when he rear-ended a tractor on a road near his farm in Iowa. Soules dialed 911 and reported that a man had been thrown out of the tractor and was now lying in a ditch, bleeding from the mouth… … but then he drove away and refused to let police officers into his home until they obtained a search warrant. Several hours after he crashed into 68-year old Kenneth Mosher and killed him, Soules was finally taken into custody and charged with the aforementioned crime. Authorities say cans of beer were found in Soules’ car, although it’s probable that too many hours elapsed between the time of the accident and the time of his blood test for the latter to turn up positive for alcohol. Still, pending an investigation, Soules may also be charged with involuntary manslaughter at some point. For now, he’s free on $10,000 bond. This incident, of course, is as serious as it gets; through his actions, whether by complete accident or whether his judgment was impaired in some way, Chris Soules took a life. However, if you watch The Bachelor online and/or have followed Soules’ reality TV career ever since his days as a contestant on Andy Dorfman’s season of The Bachelorette, you’re likely aware that Soules has frequently run afoul of the law. There’s nothing in his past this severe. But there’s enough on record that could impact how this case is handled going forward. Let’s take a look at all Soules has allegedly done, shall we? In 2001, he was charged on two separate occasions for being a minor in possession of alcohol. In January of 2002, he was cited for unlawful use of a license. Later in 2002, he was charged with leaving the scene of an accident after running a stop sign. (NOTE: this incident was eventually amended from leaving the scene due to defective brakes.) In 2005, he was charged with Operating While Intoxicated (Iowa’s term for DUI), after which he was fined $500; given a 60-day jail sentence; a 58-day suspended jail sentence; and a year of probation. Moreover, between the years of 2000 and 2012, Soules received a total of seven speeding violations. On their own, of course, none of these arrests or run-ins with the law are all that serious. But that’s a pretty long list for one individual to have accumulated, let alone one individual whose history of driving, drinking and irresponsibility may have finally caught up with him. In deadly fashion. View Slideshow: 20 Celebrities Who Very Likely Killed Someone E! News spoke to legal expert Troy Slaten to determine what sort of legal ramifications Soules could face in light of his latest charges and his lengthy criminal record. “What it looks like right now, he is facing what is called a Class D felony, which is leaving the scene of an accident causing death,” Slaten says . “Leaving the scene of an accident causing death is, in and of itself, a felony.” What if tests do come back that show Soules was over the legal drinking limit? What if his blood-alcohol content is above .08? “When somebody has a prior conviction for DUI, that can mean a couple of things,” Slaten explains, going into detail as follows: “It can change a case of vehicular homicide or vehicular manslaughter into murder, and here’s why: Normally when we talk about murder, there has to be some sort of malice or evil intent. “Getting in an accident is usually not evil… but when somebody has been convicted of DUI [in the past], they’re under a greater understanding of the dangers of drinking and driving because [they’ve] been through DUI classes and special alcohol education.” Makes sense, right? And it’s hard to argue with the logic behind these guidelines, no? The Iowa State Patrol is looking into whether alcohol played a role in the fatal crash. If so, prosecutors may cite “malice” due to Soules’ perceived knowledge of what happens when you drink and drive. They could say Soules showed an “indifference to human life” by once again getting behind the wheel after imbibing, according to Slaten, would could result in a MURDER charge. Soules was arraigned (see photo above) on Tuesday, which confirms he’s facing criminal charges. He also could face civil liability on behalf on the victim’s family. Mosher was a father of two and is also a grandfather. Sources say these relatives do not blame Soules for what happened, but that opinion could change if they learn alcohol was in his system. For now, Soules has simply issued a very straightforward statement through his spokesman. It reads: Chris Soules was involved in an accident Monday evening (April 24) in a rural part of Iowa near his home. He was devastated to learn that Kenneth Mosher, the other person in the accident, passed away. His thoughts and prayers and with Mr. Mosher’s family.
United Airlines is under investigation for the mysterious death of an especially large rabbit. Yes, you read that sentence correctly. Just a few weeks removed from the enormous public relations disaster of calling on the cops to drag away a customer who refused to leave his seat on an overbooked flight, the company is now under investigation again. This time, over the passing of an animal named Simon. Simon was a 10-month-old, three-foot long Continental Giant rabbit who was being transported in the cargo hold of a Boeing 767 while traveling from his breeder’s home in Great Britain to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. He was on his way to The Windy City to go to live with a new owner. However, when a United handler went to fetch Simon upon landing, the animal – whose 4’3″ father actually holds the Guinness World Record for longest rabbit – was unresponsive. He was dead. It was expected that Simon would outgrow his famous parent and eventually be crowned the new Longest Rabbit on the Planet. He had been sold to Bryan Bergdale, a farmland investment manager, who says he purchased the rabbit for his boss, Steve Bruere, who hoped to show it at the Iowa State Fair. “We’d built a pen and had toys all ready. It’s sort of a sad deal,” Bergdale told reporters. “We’re still in the mourning process. We’re not quite sure what we’re going to do.” Bergdale added that he paid $530 for the rabbit, along with $1,800 in shipping costs. According to Annette Edwards, a former Playboy model who lives and breeds these large animals in Worcestershire, Simon had been labeled fit to fly, with vets declaring him “in good physical condition” the day his plane took to the air. “Simon had a vet’s check-up three hours before the flight and was fit as a fiddle,” Edwards told U.K.’s The Sun newspaper yesterday, adding in confusion and anger: “Something very strange has happened and I want to know what. I’ve sent rabbits all around the world and nothing like this has happened before.” Across the globe, airlines require rabbits and most other caged pets to travel in a plane’s cargo holds. Here, the air pressure and temperature are supposed to be the same as they are in the cabin. Many companies also demand animals arrive with letters from a vet or certificates assuring they are healthy to travel. It’s unclear at this time whether or not Edwards provided documents of this nature. As previously cited, this is an especially bad time for United to be at the center of another scandal. It will likely shell out millions to Dr. David Dao for his horrendous mistreatment on board an oversold flight earlier this month. The passenger, who was sitting in a seat he purchased fairly and legally, was ordered to disembark so that United could fit four employees on board his plane. When Dao refused, he was physically yanked off board against his will, resulting in a concussion and multiple broken bones. And now USA Today reports that more than one-third of all 136 animals who died on passenger flights during the last five years passed away on United planes. What gives?!? That’s what PETA wants to know. “This rabbit was failed first by the breeder – who churns out and sells baby bunnies when animal shelters and rescue groups are full of homeless rabbits – and then by United Airlines, which shipped him off in a cargo hold like an old suitcase,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement to E! News. View Slideshow: #NewUnitedAirlinesMottos Take Over Internet: Choose a Favorite! “This rabbit’s death is not unique – more than 300 animals have died in cargo holds since 2005, and many more have been injured or lost. “PETA urges United to join JetBlue and Southwest in prohibiting companion animals from being flown as checked baggage in the confusion, noise, extreme temperatures, and improper pressurization of a cargo hold.” United is yet to commit to a change in its policy. But a spokesman has issued the following statement in the wake of this tragedy: “The safety and well-being of all the animals that travel with us is of the utmost importance to United Airlines and our PetSafe team. “We have been in contact with our customer and have offered assistance. We are reviewing this matter.” May Simon rest in peace. View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2017: In Memoriam
United Airlines is under investigation for the mysterious death of an especially large rabbit. Yes, you read that sentence correctly. Just a few weeks removed from the enormous public relations disaster of calling on the cops to drag away a customer who refused to leave his seat on an overbooked flight, the company is now under investigation again. This time, over the passing of an animal named Simon. Simon was a 10-month-old, three-foot long Continental Giant rabbit who was being transported in the cargo hold of a Boeing 767 while traveling from his breeder’s home in Great Britain to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. He was on his way to The Windy City to go to live with a new owner. However, when a United handler went to fetch Simon upon landing, the animal – whose 4’3″ father actually holds the Guinness World Record for longest rabbit – was unresponsive. He was dead. It was expected that Simon would outgrow his famous parent and eventually be crowned the new Longest Rabbit on the Planet. He had been sold to Bryan Bergdale, a farmland investment manager, who says he purchased the rabbit for his boss, Steve Bruere, who hoped to show it at the Iowa State Fair. “We’d built a pen and had toys all ready. It’s sort of a sad deal,” Bergdale told reporters. “We’re still in the mourning process. We’re not quite sure what we’re going to do.” Bergdale added that he paid $530 for the rabbit, along with $1,800 in shipping costs. According to Annette Edwards, a former Playboy model who lives and breeds these large animals in Worcestershire, Simon had been labeled fit to fly, with vets declaring him “in good physical condition” the day his plane took to the air. “Simon had a vet’s check-up three hours before the flight and was fit as a fiddle,” Edwards told U.K.’s The Sun newspaper yesterday, adding in confusion and anger: “Something very strange has happened and I want to know what. I’ve sent rabbits all around the world and nothing like this has happened before.” Across the globe, airlines require rabbits and most other caged pets to travel in a plane’s cargo holds. Here, the air pressure and temperature are supposed to be the same as they are in the cabin. Many companies also demand animals arrive with letters from a vet or certificates assuring they are healthy to travel. It’s unclear at this time whether or not Edwards provided documents of this nature. As previously cited, this is an especially bad time for United to be at the center of another scandal. It will likely shell out millions to Dr. David Dao for his horrendous mistreatment on board an oversold flight earlier this month. The passenger, who was sitting in a seat he purchased fairly and legally, was ordered to disembark so that United could fit four employees on board his plane. When Dao refused, he was physically yanked off board against his will, resulting in a concussion and multiple broken bones. And now USA Today reports that more than one-third of all 136 animals who died on passenger flights during the last five years passed away on United planes. What gives?!? That’s what PETA wants to know. “This rabbit was failed first by the breeder – who churns out and sells baby bunnies when animal shelters and rescue groups are full of homeless rabbits – and then by United Airlines, which shipped him off in a cargo hold like an old suitcase,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement to E! News. View Slideshow: #NewUnitedAirlinesMottos Take Over Internet: Choose a Favorite! “This rabbit’s death is not unique – more than 300 animals have died in cargo holds since 2005, and many more have been injured or lost. “PETA urges United to join JetBlue and Southwest in prohibiting companion animals from being flown as checked baggage in the confusion, noise, extreme temperatures, and improper pressurization of a cargo hold.” United is yet to commit to a change in its policy. But a spokesman has issued the following statement in the wake of this tragedy: “The safety and well-being of all the animals that travel with us is of the utmost importance to United Airlines and our PetSafe team. “We have been in contact with our customer and have offered assistance. We are reviewing this matter.” May Simon rest in peace. View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2017: In Memoriam
3 Florida Teens Arrested For Abusing Bunny Rabbit On Snapchat The Florida-Times Union (of course), is reporting that some mean azz b!tc#es have been popped for abusing a poor lil’ bunny rabbit and posting the footage to Snapchat. These lil heffas are the WORST. Three teenage girls were arrested on animal cruelty charges Saturday after a video surfaced on social media showing a bunny being thrown repeatedly against a wall, according to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. The video, which was posted to Snapchat, shows the rabbit held by the throat then thrown against the walls of a room several times. The teens can be heard giggling and laughing each time it hits. A loud thump also is heard as the rabbit strikes the wall. At least one teenager also appears to kick the bunny as it tries to escape, according to the video posted on a Nassau County community forum Facebook page. An x-ray showed the rabbit has a leg fracture but otherwise is safe and sound. However, it won’t be available for adoption for awhile. It will be receiving additional veterinary care, Nassau County Animal Services said in a post on its Facebook page. The teens, age 13 and 14, were arrested after the video was posted prompting several complaints to the Sheriff’s Office, which subsequently located a house where the injured rabbit was found and rescued. The three were taken to a juvenile detention facility in Jacksonville. The graphic video of the abuse is on the following page, if you’re into that sort of thing… Image via Nassau Animal Services
Former Playboy model Izabella St. James is weighing in on Holly Madison and why she is opening up about being Hugh Hefner’s girlfriend now. St. James’ abridged theory: Holly’s a pathetic, creepy, weirdo liar who’s just bitter because she was the one who had to please Hefner sexually. Yup, this is gonna be good … According to Kendra Wilkinson, Holly is out for revenge because she was cut out of Hef’s will. But Izabella thinks it goes even deeper than that. Sort of literally in some cases, if you follow. About Holly, whose book Down the Rabbit Hole makes some startling allegations about Hefner and Playboy , Izabella says her motive is clear: “She is selling the book by making outrageous claims, doing tell-all interviews where she says he degraded her and calls it the house of horrors.” “If it was the house of horrors,” Izabella adds , then Madison, rather than Hefner’s victim, “was the most willing and happy participant of it all.” Izabella believes Holly’s crazy claims stem from bitterness over being ostracized from the “core” Bunny group, referring them to the “cool kids.” After Madison was shunned as Hef’s “favorite” girl, St. James says, she became so desperate that she began emulating everything Hugh did. And doing anything he wanted to do. To her. According to Izabella, 39, Hef just wasn’t that into Holly, 35, even though Madison did everything to get him back into her any way she could. Holly was allegedly an active participant in orgies ending wth Hef “finishing off himself,” as well as the only willing participant in more sex acts. Back door and more, intrusive sex toys, you name it – Holly was willing to do whatever it took to please her man, and she’s bitter as a result. Izabella says, “She had to take one for the team, and she always did, and we have seen her do some extremely humiliating things sexually.” “I think part of her bitterness and humiliation and vengefulness comes from that. It was very belittling and she was the only one who did that.” Even the other bunnies were appalled, she says: “I think everyone looked down on it and looked down on her for having to be in that position.” Ironically, Izabella St. James is sort of doing the exact thing that she accuses Madison of when she sells her out to the media in this fashion. St. James’ comments are eye-opening, for sure, but could she be just a tiny bit bitter and desperate herself that she wasn’t Hef’s #1 girlfriend? Maybe not, in retrospect, given the sex with Hugh Hefner … but with all the mind games going on behind closed doors, you do have to wonder.
