Ashley Dupré: Girl Gone Hollywood?
A little questionable PR doesn’t seem to have scared Ashley Dupré away from the spotlight.
E! News has learned exclusively that the former high-priced prostitute at the center of the Eliot Spitzer scandal is developing a cable reality series and is considering moving from New York to Los Angeles.
When contacted by E!, a rep for Dupré declined to comment, only saying, “She has no TV deal.” Her rep would not address specifically whether she’s developing a series.
A source tells E!, however, that Dupré, 23, has been developing an unscripted show with production execs at L.A.-based Handprint Entertainment, the same company that has managed the career of reality icon Nicole Richie and Pamela Anderson.
One of the concepts being considered is a dating format.
“They’re talking to MTV about Ashley being the next Tila Tequila,” says a source close to the project. (Handprint execs couldn’t be reached for comment on the project; MTV declined comment).
News of Dupré’s reality TV aspirations comes less than a week after she abandoned her lawsuit against Girls Gone Wild CEO Joe Francis.
According to a statement released to by Dupre’s lawyer Richard C. Wolfe, “Ms. Dupré wants to eliminate all negativity from her life and focus on the positive. She has prospects for many exciting new projects and is looking forward to starting a new chapter.”
As for her involvement in the criminal investigation against Spitzer being conducted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New Yorkshe was granted immunity on March 15, 2008 after agreeing to testify against the former governor.
The U.S. Attorney’s office has temporarily delayed the criminal proceedings while the IRS conducts their own investigation to see if Spitzer misspent public funds (on things like the Emperor’s Club, the call girl service that employed Dupré).
Reporting by Matt Donnelly and Claudia Rosenbaum
Joel Madden: ’We Are Very Blessed’
Nicole Richie and Joel Madden greeted the arrival of their daughter with joy and thanks.
“We are very blessed she’s healthy and beautiful and so good already,” Madden told Friends on Saturday. “We are very happy.”
Richie, 26, and Madden, 28, welcomed 6-lb., 7-oz Harlow Winter Kate Madden on Friday, the couple’s rep at Handprint Entertainment says, and the Hollywood congratulations started flowing.
“It’s just amazing. I’m so excited,” Richie’s friend, The Hills star Lauren Conrad, told Friends while at the grand opening for Jimmy Choo’s Flagship store in Beverly Hills. “I want to see the baby! I bet it’s beautiful.”
• Additional reporting by JENNY SUNDEL
Nicole Richie, Joel Madden Have a Girl
Nicole Richie and her rocker boyfriend Joel Madden are the
parents of a daughter, the couple’s rep at Handprint Entertainment tells Friends.
Harlow Winter Kate Madden was born Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and weighed 6 lbs. 7 oz.
“The beautiful healthy baby girl left the hospital with her ecstatic parents,” says the rep, who confirmed the birth to Friends exclusively.
Richie, 26, said she was pregnant in July, telling Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America: “I would really want to be someone my child would look up to.”
Later, Richie, who had a famously wild childhood, said the idea of parenthood had made her more mature. “When I found out that I was pregnant, there was just something inside of me that felt a responsibility to mend any issues that I’ve had with my parents in the past, because, listen, I’ve put them through a lot,” she said.
As for Good Charlotte frontman Madden, 28, he told Friends in November he was looking forward to being a dad. “Having a baby is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me, and to us,” he said.
And the new parents plan to teach their little one the value of generosity. In December, the couple started the Richie Madden Children’s Foundation to help the less fortunate. “We want our child to be a part of the community, and to know that there’s a responsibility to help the community,” Madden said at the time.
The couple have yet to set a wedding date, but in September Madden said “marriage is in our future” – he just wasn’t sure when. “Right now our priority is our family and is the baby,” he said. “That’s all we’ve been thinking about. We are in love and are really happy.”
Photo Special: See Nicole and Joel’s Road to Baby!