THE BUSINESS!!!

Eddie Murphy: "She Trapped Me"

The National Enquirer is claiming to know why Eddie Murphy refuses to make contact with his daughter with Melanie Brown. The tabloid is reporting that the actor only had sex with the Spice Girl three times during the course of their three-month relationship and Mel reportedly claimed to be on birth control during that time. According to the National Enquirer's source, "What was supposed to be a casual relationship ended with her having his baby and taking him to court for millions." This, of course, is the exact opposite of what Melanie has said.

And now, the source is also saying that Eddie is avoiding seeing his daughter, Angel, because he doesn't want to have to deal with Melanie B. "He says he will have to wait until Angel is older before he can get to know her without any interference from her mother."

Everything seems all kinds of shady, no matter how you you want to look at it. Meanwhile, since Mel got pregnant, there have been two marriages and one divorce that took place. These are some busy people.

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Jacko lawyer: Neverland ranch saved

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


Guests of pop star Michael Jackson ride on one of the amusement park attractions at his Neverland Ranch,in this, Dec. 17, 2004, file photo in Santa Ynez, Calif. (AP/Mark J. Terrill)

Michael Jackson has refinanced Neverland ranch in time to save it from a public auction that was scheduled for later this month.

Jackson attorney L. Londell McMillan told The Associated Press on Thursday that the pop star has worked out a "confidential" agreement with Fortress Investment Group, LLC. The deal allows him to retain ownership of the famed property in Los Olivos.

"Neverland and MJ are fine," McMillan said.

An auction date had been set for March 19 because of $24.5 million the singer owed on the 1,011-hectare spread northwest of Santa Barbara.

A source close to the singer who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter said it's not clear whether Jackson will keep Neverland. Jackson has not lived there since his acquittal on child molestation charges in 2005.

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Ramsay to teach Beckham to cook

Thursday, March 13 2008, 16:05 GMT

By Beth Hilton, Entertainment Reporter
Ramsay to teach Beckham to cook

Gordon Ramsay has offered to teach David Beckham how to cook.

The celebrity chef is a friend of the family and is confident that Beckham could be a whiz in the culinary arts.

He told the Daily Star: "David absolutely loves his food. You'd be surprised, but Victoria's a real foodie too. David has mentioned a few times he would love to be able to cook properly.

"I think he could be very good and I wouldn't hesitate to give him a helping hand in the kitchen."

A source said: "Apart from cooking, one of Gord's favourite things is helping others improve their cooking skills. He knows David loves his grub - and he loves entertaining when he's not on the football pitch or working out.

"Gordon will show Becks some storming dishes which he knows will really impress his pals. And the dishes will be quite easy so Victoria and even their boys can help join in making them."

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This Years AI Front Runner Fouls Up

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Just In Time For Sping Break

The formerly incarcerated Girls Gone Wild svengali Joe Francis is once again a free man. After serving nearly a year in various jails, paying $1.5 million in bond to the state of Nevada and copping a plea to the charges against him in Florida, Francis, who the Florida state attorney has labeled "a convicted child abuser", was released from custody in Florida this week ... which doesn't bode well for the young co-eds who will be heading to various locales for Spring Break this year. Here are a couple pictures of Joe Francis addressing members of the media after his release this week lookin' like he really took advantage of those free meals he was fed in the slammer:
"Girls Gone Wild" video empire founder Joe Francis pleaded no contest to child abuse and prostitution charges Wednesday under an agreement allowing him to go free after nearly a year in jail. Francis, 34, returned to Florida after posting a $1.5 million bond this week in Nevada, where he is awaiting trial for tax fraud. The hearing in Bay County state court resolved his 2003 criminal case involving the filming of underaged girls during spring break on Panama City Beach. "I have never committed any crime. I pleaded guilty just to get out of jail," a defiant Francis said after the Bay County state court hearing. "A few corrupt individuals were able to keep an innocent man in jail for 11 months." Francis makes an estimated $29 million a year on videos of young women in sexually provocative situations. He pleaded no contest to one count of felony child abuse and two counts of misdemeanor prostitution. He also pleaded no contest to two additional child abuse counts on behalf of his company, Mantra Films. The charges were all that remained out of an original 73-count indictment brought after Bay County law officers raided Francis' hotel rooms and corporate jet in 2003. He also pleaded guilty in a 2007 case for having contraband — sleeping pills and cash — in the Bay County Jail. Judge Deede Costello sentenced Francis to 339 days on Wednesday, the time he has already served in Florida and Nevada. Costello also ordered Francis to pay more than $60,000 in fines, court costs and restitution to the county. Francis also agreed that his company would not conduct any filming between Escambia and Jackson Counties in Florida for the next three years ... Francis said plea agreement negotiations are under way in the Nevada case and he hopes to resolve them soon. "I'm going to go back to making videos, this afternoon," he said.