Another Hard Day for Christie Brinkley
Another Hard Day for Christie Brinkley
Ever since her divorce trial began last week, Christie Brinkley has been put through the emotional ringer. And today was no exception.
The gorgeous supermodel arrived early this morning for another day in court, looking stylish as always in a pink blouse, white cardigan, khaki skirt and muted pink heels. Once inside, she took the stand to testify to the “nightmare” she was forced to face at the hands of her soon-to-be ex-husband.
Brinkley detailed the hardship of putting on a brave face and throwing a birthday party with 30 kids amid revelations that her husband had an affair with a teenager. But she said that family celebrations such as those were too important to miss.
Through tears she said, “That’s the most important thing — to have a big, happy family.” She also explained that in order to spare her children the messy details, she simply told them, “I think daddy has fallen out of love with me,” but always emphasized that they’d be “very, very loved.”
Naomi Campbell Pleads Guilty
Naomi Campbell Pleads Guilty
She’s a dream on the fashion show runway but a nightmare when it comes to her temper. And earlier today (Friday June 20th) Naomi Campbell pled guilty to assaulting two police officers in London’s Heathrow Airport.
The charges she copped to, stemming from an incident this past April, were two counts of assaulting a police constable, one count of using threatening, abusive words or behavior to cabin crew, and one count of using insulting, abusive, threatening behavior or disorderly conduct likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.
Crown Prosecution Service director Nazir Afzal said in his statement, “Ms. Campbell was aggressive, hostile and violent to people who were simply trying to do their jobs. Her behavior fell far short of what is acceptable.”
And talk about swift justice, Campbell may discover her fate by day’s end. A source told press, “The magistrate has asked for a report from the probation service prior to sentencing. It is expected that she will be sentenced this afternoon.”
Naomi could face six months jail and a $10,000 fine for each assault charge.
Brooke White: "I’ve Been Packed for Two Weeks"
For Brooke White, being on American Idol was an emotional experience. And leaving it was "kind of a relief."
"I think after Tuesday night I was ready [to go on]," White told reporters today. "Then I woke up Wednesday morning, and I knew: Brooke, you're going home."
White met her end in Neil Diamond week, and after two performances, one of which was deigned a "nightmare" by judge Simon Cowell. She placed fifth overall.
"I've been packed for two weeks," White admitted.
It was last week that White committed a historic Idol gaffe, stopping and restarting her rendition of "You Must Love Me," because she "lost the lyric." But Carly Smithson, not White, took the fall on results show night.
White was asked whether she had survivor's guilt about the turn of events.
"I don't know if guilt is quite the right word…I was grateful," White said. "This show is very interesting. You never know what's going to happen, and I think you take what you get."
When White's number finally came up, she resolved to stay strong.
"Thenboomit hit me: This is done," White said. "The finality of the experience being over was sad."
And so White cried. Again.
"I hoped so much I could have been stronger."
Though her morning-after voice was a little hoarse, White sounded chipper enough. A phone call from Carly Simon, a legend after the 24-year-old singer-songwriter's heart, apparently helped.
"It really boosted my spirits," said White, who sang Simon's "You're So Vain" in the semifinals. "It really gave me motivation."
And she didn't get verklempt once relating the story.
Other tidbits:
- White's take on Paula Abdul's critique of the Jason Castro song not yet sung? "It's live television. Anything can happen. Last week I stopped and restarted my song. It's just human moments…I don't know exactly what happened with Paula. I'm sure she just got lost in the moment. She's a good-hearted woman," she said. "And you move on."
- And fear not that Castro was affected by the Abdul moment. "Jason's a very laid-back guy," White said. "He was OK."
- For the record, White does not consider herself a lyric-forgetter, even if she did write a wordpalmon her hand for Tuesday night's show. "I had not had any problems with the lyrics until 'You Must Love Me,' and it started freaking me out," she said.
- Sure, the Idol finalists got to sing the Beatles this season, but some choice songbooks still remain off-limits. Said White: "I would have loved to sing a Fleetwood Mac song, or a James Taylor song."
Nightmare for a Kitchen Nightmares kitchen
Well, it was bound to happen eventually. It looks like a restaurant featured on the UK version of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares has failed. However, not in the way that you think.
Your first thought would be that, after chef Gordon Ramsay, star of FOX’s US version of Kitchen Nightmares as well as Hell’s Kitchen, helped revamp Momma Cherri’s diner three years ago, the owner, Charita Jones, just decided not to heed the chef’s advice and failed on her own. Not quite. After moving into a bigger location and expanding her staff, at Ramsay’s advice, Jones’ restaurant did quite well. In fact, it led to a business award and a book deal for the 52-year-old mother of two.
However, with the success of the television appearance, the book deal, and subsequent promotion of said book, Jones began to neglect the object that got her to where she is now in the first place. Momma Cherri’s closed and went into administration (the UK’s version of bankruptcy, I believe) with 200,000 pounds (about $395,000 US) of debt. It reopened last week under the ownership of Jones’ 28-year-old daughter Katryna.
Charita has no regrets about doing Nightmares and doesn’t blame Chef Ramsay for her bad luck. She does wish that Gordon comes back and does a follow-up show teaching viewers how to get the right backers for a successful restaurant.