Nothing is Fiction

Joaquin Phoenix dropped one bomb of an announcement at a benefit for Paul Newman's camps for kids by announcing the unthinkable – his retirement from acting.

"I want to take this opportunity ... to give you the exclusive and just talk a little bit about the fact that this will be my last performance as an actor," the Oscar nominee told Extra who caught up with him at the San Francisco event, "I'm not doing films anymore."

"Yeah. I'm working on my music," the 34-year-old added, "I'm done. I've been through that."

The Walk the Line actor has reportedly  been working on some records with British band The Charlatans.

As Britney’s legal battles continue, her visits to the courtroom has become more frequent then ever.

TMZ reports that the pop star’s legal counsel have requested to make her conservatorship permanent, to which the judge agreed.

Brit’s current temporary conservatorship, which was supposed to end this coming December 31, has now been moved to become permanent. This will make it easier for the 26-year-old mother of two to regain custody of her kids, according to the family law commissioner.

"The conservatorship is necessary and appropriate for the complexity of financial and business entities and her being susceptible to undue influence," the commissioner was quoted as saying.

Tara Reid is not immune to criticisms. The latest ones, some unflattering photos of her in a bikini, surfaced on the Internet and attacked her post-surgery body. "I've been a media target for years now," the actress told People Magazine, "It does hurt my feelings, but what can I do? I have to move on."

Her coveted body now has scars on her stomach from a 2004 botched liposuction and subsequent reconstructive surgery. "They are my battle wounds," she says of the flaws on her abs.

Now, the 33-year-old actress focuses on her exciting new clothing line which reflects her moods and personality. "Red is for love, green for luck, white for peace – everything gives you a mantra of the day," Reid tells People,  "I made this line about feeling good about yourself."

 

Trouble in the family is the root cause for the brutal slaying of Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew. According to Chicago Tribune, this gruesome crime could have possibly stemmed from the troubled relationship Jennifer’s sister Julia had with her estranged husband William Balfour.

The American Idol finalist’s mother Darnell Donerson, brother Jason Hudson and nephew Julian King have been victims of a triple homicide. A source from the police department updated the paper that a dispute between Julia and Balfour began when the latter borrowed her car and failed to keep up with the repayments.

Ever before fame and superstardom, Jennifer Hudson already had one very important fan: her mother.

"They were very close, very tight," Richard Lyons, Hudson’s acting coach in her 2006 Oscar-winning role in Dreamgirls told People Magazine, "Her mom came down to the set and she was just the sweetest person. She was so humble."

The 27-year-old America Idol alum is now mourning the loss of her beloved mother, Darnell Donerson, who was slain in a shooting that occurred outside her home. Hudson’s brother Jason was also fatally wounded. A 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, was found dead in an abandoned SUV a few days later.

What must it be like to kiss ruggedly handsome Sean Penn?

Let’s just go ahead and ask James Franco! The actor who stars in the new movie Milk, based on the life of the first openly gay elected politician, Harvey Milk, can give us the juicy details of what it is like to kiss his leading man Sean Penn.

"We didn't really plan out angles or anything," Franco told Entertainment Tonight Canada. "There was not much talk before or after. We just kinda did it."

Franco then moves on to share more intimate details. "We did kiss for a minute straight,” he told ET, "and after 30 seconds, you can't really imagine you are somewhere else –there you are kissing Spicoli."

Maybe there are, maybe there aren’t. But then again, is it any of our business?

This is exactly what Jennifer Aniston’s publicist had in mind when asked to comment on the star’s rumored romance with Gerald Butler. “It doesn’t matter what it was; it is no one's business.”

The former Friends star was spotted on a mysterious lunch with the PS I Love You star last Wednesday at the Sunset Tower hotel. For those who have been keen on following Jen’s dating game can remember that this restaurant was also the setting for her so-called rekindled romance with former summer fling John Mayer.

Although the Scottish actor says that there is “absolutely nothing” between him and Aniston, sources tell Page Six that the two were “very affectionate” during their rendezvous.

After hearing the news of their former contestant’s tragic loss, American Idol judges Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell send their condolence to Jennifer Hudson.

"This is a horrific tragedy and my thoughts and prayers go out to Jennifer and her entire family," Abdul said in a statement, after learning of the singer’s tragic loss of her mother, brother and nephew. "The time I had to get to know Jennifer and forge a wonderful friendship with her while she was on Idol was very special to me, and I personally can't imagine a greater loss for any family."

"I was horrified when I heard the news. This is an appalling tragedy. My thoughts right now are with Jennifer, and her family," Cowell told Extra.

Police have confirmed that the body of a young boy they found in an abandoned SUV is indeed Jennifer Hudson’s missing 7-year-old nephew Julian King, E! News reports.

"At this time, we can confirm that the body located inside the vehicle was the body of 7-year-old Julian King,” Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis said in the press conference, “The vehicle was towed and taken in...for forensic processing."

The news was confirmed after Jennifer Hudson made the trip to the morgue to identify the body of her beloved nephew. This was the second trip she made to the grim place, the previous one was three days ago to identify the bodies of her mother and brother.

Prince Harry likes following in his big brother William’s footsteps. The older bro has learned to fly helicopters, so Harry is following suit, too!

This is no easy feat for the prince accustomed to living in the lap of luxury. As People Magazine reports, the younger Windsor is set to undergo intensive assessment in November to see if he has what it takes to be a part of the Army Air Corps training program.

The said training program includes mastering heavily armed aircrafts, a process which could take up to two years. "He has enjoyed flying and shown an aptitude for it,"  the prince’s office told the magazine.

Just ask any woman in showbiz, Billboard’s Woman of the Year Ciara for one, and they will tell you that being a lady is tough. Behind the glitz and glamour come a ton of hard work – and a whole lot of unwanted attention.

As Ciara told OK! Magazine, she admires Madonna’s toughness for handling the negative publicity surrounding her ugly divorce from Guy Richie. "She's a megastar, and that goes with the territory,” Ciara told the magazine which caught up with her during the Women in Music Awards ceremony in New York last October 23.

Here is one speedy recovery.

Pro dancer Julianne Hough will go back on Dancing with the Stars just days after undergoing a surgery for appendectomy, People Magazine reports.

“Everything’s okay,” the two-time champ on this reality dancing show told OK! Magazine. “I’m going to hopefully be back, if everything goes as planned, next week,” she said after performing the samba with her current partner Cody Linley.

“Only Julianne could say, ‘I’m having my appendix out, and I’ll be back in a week,’” the reality show’s host Tom Bergeron told the magazine.

Jennifer Hudson’s mother Darnell Donerson and brother Jason Hudson were found dead just before 3 pm last Friday night at Donerson’s home. The FBI has entered the picture and is searching for Hudson’s missing 7-year-old nephew.

Arrested is William Balfour, estranged husband of Hudson’s sister Julia, the mother of the missing boy Julian King. Authorities were hoping to find Julian upon Balfour’s arrest but there was no such luck. The FBI has called in due to the possibility that Julian has already been transported across state lines.

There were no signs of forcible entry and so far, no case is filed.

Here’s a holiday that’s perfect for the Wizards of Waverly Place star. So why miss out on the fun?

Disney princess Selena Gomez says that stardom does not change Halloween traditions. So it’s still trick or treat for this girl!

"Yes, absolutely!" the actress told OK! when asked if trick or treat is still part of her plans, "Me and my best friend Demi Lovato have a tradition that we’ve been doing ever since I can remember."

"We actually wear masks," she says of how she and bestie can enjoy the festivities incognito, "so it’s so funny because people don’t even know we’re walking by them."

On to more great expectations, rocker David Grohl and his wife Jordyn as expecting baby no. 2. The Foo Fighter’s rep has confirmed this news to People Magazine.

The 39-year-old musician and his wife welcomed a daughter, Violet Maye in 2006. Since them, the former Nirvana drummer’s party-going ways have ended.

"We don't talk about how much we drank last night [anymore],” he once told People in an interview, "[Now] it's how much sleep we got, how much sleep the baby got, diaper rash, formula. We used to go on the road for three months at a time. It's a struggle for me to leave for even 12 days. I realized the life I always imagined beginning once the band ended has to begin now."

What makes Zac Efron weak in the knees? Why, his new movie High School Musical 3: Senior Year of course! He and his co-star Ashley Tisdale sat caught up with OK! Magazine and revealed their favorite moments and music from their newest flick.

"In the third movie, you really get to see them fall more deeply in love," Zac reveals of his on-screen romance with real life love Vanessa Hudgens,  "I think it's great. They're perfect for each other.  It's fun to play off Vanessa, we have a great time."

"I think the music is even better [in HSM3] than the first two [movies]," Ashley shares on MySpace.com’s Artist on Artist, "The musical numbers are huge, the production value is insane."

After being accused of extorting sums from the bursting coffers of the Queen of Talk, a Louisiana man filed a lawsuit alleging that Oprah Winfrey has tarnished his reputation.

"There was substantial damage done to my name and reputation on a world level,” reads Keifer Bonvillain’s statement as obtained by E! News, "The extent of my damages is vast."

So vast indeed that Bonvillain is seeking $180 million in damages.

He was charged and sentenced to community service and a fine last 2007 after calling up the Harpo studios and threatening to go public with dirt that he dug up unless somebody paid to keep him quiet.

Kenny Chesney must be charting his country career along lucky stars.

The country superstar had four No. 1 albums in a row last year and since then, his country star has soared higher than ever. He bounced back into the top of the charts this week by selling 176,000 copies of his latest Lucky Old Sun album, as reported by Nielsen SoundScan.

The former Mr. Renee Zellweger heated up the charts with the single "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven," his 15^th chart topper in his career. The album also includes the title track and 1949 hit "That Lucky Old Sun” which has formerly been performed by music legends such as Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Ray Charles.

Now that the misdemeanor and traffic charges against Britney Spears have been dropped, her lawyer J. Michael Flanagan reveals why the superstar never took the witness stand in defense of herself.

"She is not very strong. She is still very fragile. I had to explain things to her," the attorney told OK! Magazine, also revealing that he had attempted to convince the singer to testify but to no avail.

"I said, look, if Britney testifies, we have a 90% percent chance of winning. If Jamie comes in, we have a 50/50 chance," the legal counsel shared to the magazine, "But she refused. She said 'I can't face all those people. I don't want to deal with all the people.'"

The party girl’s wild past is fast catching up with her.

Just when Lindsay Lohan finally let go of her former party girl set, a 2007 DUI incident comes back to haunt her. E! News reports that the three men involved are going to file assault and battery charges allegedly claiming that Lohan took over their SUV and took them for a spin around Malibu.

"Each of them felt surprise, shock, fear and panic at Lohan's surprising and sudden act of taking [coplaintiff Dante Nigro's] vehicle to begin to chase after Taryn,” revealed court documents obtained by E! News from the Los Angeles Superior Court.