Britney Spears’ Struggle With Motherhood
Britney Spears’ Struggle With Motherhood
When it rains it pours. And for Britney Spears, the news keeps getting worse. More and more of her former employees are dishing dirt on the pop singer’s lack of mothering skills.Of the assertions being made, probably the most upsetting is the fact that she would often get drunk in front of her kids and then hired childcare without checking their credentials.
A former employee revealed, “She drinks in front of the kids. At first, the drinks would help her loosen up and not be so angry. But she’d inevitably drink too much and be out of it, at which point the nannies would take care of the kids.”
And the caretakers are rarely qualified to take care of Sean Preston and Jayden James. According to a Spears staff member, “She just cares about whether they’re young and fun and like to drink and party. She hires people to be her friends.”
The “Sometimes” singer is also said to be a bit of a loony when it comes to exposing herself to her staff. One former worker told press, “She’ll strip down in front of staff, nannies, whomever. She’ll ask, ‘Do I look sexy? Do I look pretty?’ She’s extremely insecure.”
Enjoy the pictures of Britney and personal assistant Alli Sims having a tough time finding a parking spot (August 15), along with shots of Britney and Jayden at Cravings a few nights prior (August 13).
Trump Keen to Reunite Spears, Lohan and Hilton on 'Apprentice'
HOLLYWOOD - Property tycoon Donald Trump is desperate to reunite Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton on a celebrity version of The Apprentice.
The businessman is keen to give the trio an entrepreneurial chance on the hit TV show, insisting the experience would be "a positive thing for them to do"--and concedes socialite Hilton has already been in contact with show executives to secure a place on the series.
He tells the New York Post, "We're negotiating with Britney right now. Can you imagine her doing it? We're not sure what will happen. She's a f**king mess. And that little reality show she had did nothing. But she likes the idea of being on television and I think she'd be great."
"(Hilton) wants to be on, and we're thinking about it, but I don't know if we're going to do it. (Lohan is) another f**king mess. We haven't asked her yet, but I'm going to call her this week. It would a positive thing for her to do... for all of them."
Donald Trump
Few could lay claim to living the American Dream of fame and financial success, but hotelier and casino mogul Donald Trump did – though his prosperity was not without its consequences. Trump, or "The Donald" as he was famously dubbed by ex-wife Ivana, mastered the art of deal making, starting with utilizing his inherent ruthlessness and cunning. A success in the business world, Trump also managed to become famous for his brazen and unabashed personality, allowing him to be both darling and dupe of the media....
Full Biography
Few could lay claim to living the American Dream of fame and financial success, but hotelier and casino mogul Donald Trump did – though his prosperity was not without its consequences. Trump, or "The Donald" as he was famously dubbed by ex-wife Ivana, mastered the art of deal making, starting with utilizing his inherent ruthlessness and cunning. A success in the business world, Trump also managed to become famous for his brazen and unabashed personality, allowing him to be both darling and dupe of the media. Never one to miss the hottest trend, Trump jumped on board the reality TV bandwagon, starring in and producing the NBC series "The Apprentice" (2004- ); a surprise hit that forever etched Trump's infamous catchphrase, “You’re fired!” in the cultural lexicon.
A native of New York City, Trump represented the third generation of businessmen in his family – his father, Fred Trump, having turned to real estate to support his family when his own father had died prematurely. Young Trump assisted his father with various business ventures, and in the process, learned how to recognize the art of a good deal. After graduating from New York Military Academy in 1964, Trump studied finance at the renowned and first-of-its-kind Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon returning to New York, Trump eased his way through the upper crest by joining an exclusive club – on the one condition that he not try to steal the wives of older members. He used his membership as a means to an end – to make all the right contacts from whence his empire would be born.
The membership was a good move. Trump became one of the premier real estate tycoons in the early 1980’s by amassing properties in New York City, including Trump Tower and Trump Plaza. He also delved into the casino business, where his name was emblazoned on the only three five-star casino/hotels in Atlantic City. Trump continued to score with the publication of his first autobiography, The Art of the Deal, which sold in excess of 3 million copies, settling on the best-seller list for a comfortable 32 weeks. Three more books followed, though none were as successful as the first: Surviving at the Top, The Art of the Comeback and his first political manifesto, The America We Deserve. Also on Trump’s plate was his role as Executive Producer for the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Pageants, airing on CBS. Throughout the 1980’s, the mogul also saw the downside of fame firsthand, watching as his name was continually splashed across tabloids due to his rocky separation and divorce from first wife Ivana followed by a subsequent relationship with second ex-wife, Marla Maples.
Despite a long-string of daring successes and a life at the top of the real estate world, Trump’s fortunes came crashing down in 1990 when he was forced to file bankruptcy after a loss of over two-thirds of his net worth, or $1.5 billion. True to his hard-edged style, Trump fought back and returned his net worth to a more relaxing $3 billion. But for most of the late 1990s and into the 21st century, Trump remained largely out of the public eye.
His comeback arrived in the form of a new reality program, “The Apprentice,” which captured the public’s attention from the first. On the show, 16 contestants – eight men, eight women – competed against each other to become the president of one of Trump’s companies and recipient of a $250,000 annual salary. Each episode featured Trump assigning the teams with tasks to complete, including everything from selling lemonade on the NY streets to renting swanky apartment buildings for $20,000 a night. At the close of each episode, Trump brought all the contestants to the board room where he summarily “fired” one in business-like fashion. The surprise hit become one of the leading lights of reality series TV and a tent-pole property for NBC, which later launched a less successful spin-off version starring Martha Stewart.
"The Donald's" public profile was reestablished and he reveled in the limelight, using his pop cultural cachet to fuel projects big and small, from merchandising tie-ins to major corporate undertakings. However, he was never without his controversies. Trump found himself in financial trouble yet again, when the threat of bankruptcy loomed over his empire once more. His ailing Atlantic City casinos were swamped by $1.8 billion of debt. The entrepreneur again fought to stave off bankruptcy proceedings by seeking a $400 million cash infusion. Helpful was his continued "Apprentice" success and his continually colorful personal life, following his over-the-top, star-studded marriage to Slovenian model-actress, Melania Knauss, in January, 2005.
Britney Spears
A bubbly, blonde pop music sensation who built a fan base with a girl-next-door sweetness, catchy tunes, flashy dance moves and a magnetic sexual appeal, Britney Spears went from a small-town Louisiana girl to the veritable heir to Madonna's media saturation crown, beginning with the release of her first single in 1998 and holding fast well into the next millennium – and much like Madonna, the attention quickly shifted away from her artistry and focused squarely on her personal dramas....
Full Biography
A bubbly, blonde pop music sensation who built a fan base with a girl-next-door sweetness, catchy tunes, flashy dance moves and a magnetic sexual appeal, Britney Spears went from a small-town Louisiana girl to the veritable heir to Madonna's media saturation crown, beginning with the release of her first single in 1998 and holding fast well into the next millennium – and much like Madonna, the attention quickly shifted away from her artistry and focused squarely on her personal dramas. Starting in 2004, a much mocked marriage to back-up dancer, Kevin Federline, the birth of two babies in quick succession, and a seemingly self-imposed exile from the music industry kept her name in the forefront – though mainly as a gossip curiosity piece.
Born Dec. 2, 1981 in the rural Louisiana town of Kentwood to parents Jamie and Lynne Spears, the young girl started training for her future superstar status as a small child. A skilled dancer and gymnast – as well as a capable singer – Spears had the determination and stamina to get to the top, starting her career in the entertainment industry early – too early, in fact – for producers of the revamped "The Mickey Mouse Club" (The Disney Channel, 1989-1994). Producers of the star-making kiddie show turned down the talented youngster because of her age when she first auditioned in 1990. Mindful of her potential, Spears was hooked up with an agent and temporarily moved with her mother and baby sister to New York City the following year. Here, she starred in the off-Broadway production, "Ruthless," a stage comedy loosely based on "The Bad Seed." Playing the evil but seemingly angelic child was an enjoyable role for the 10-year-old Spears, who next wowed judges with her debut performance on the televised talent competition, "Star Search" (CBS, 1983-2004) in 1992. A year later, she was finally welcomed into the cast of the "Mickey Mouse Club," becoming a part of an elite cast that included future TV star Keri Russell as well as fellow teen pop luminaries Justin Timberlake and J.C. Chasez of *NSYNC and Christina Aguilera. As part of the ensemble, she could do all the dancing, acting and singing her heart desired, but unfortunately, the show ended its run in the midst of only her second season.
When "MMC" called it a day in 1994, the young star-in-the-making returned to Louisiana and attended a private junior/senior high school in nearby McComb, MS, but missed the excitement of the entertainment world. In 1997, she signed with Jive Records, beginning a partnership that would make Spears a household name. In 1998, she toured the malls of America a la teen pop star Tiffany did a decade earlier, getting her bouncy, blonde image into the minds of the people while, at the same time, getting her promo tape into their stereos. Her debut single "...Baby One More Time" was a smash hit in the last days of 1998, thanks, in part, to the provocative schoolgirl uniform-sporting music video that accompanied the catchy and oddly edgy tune. While the fresh-faced teen sensation improbably crooned "My loneliness is killing me," audiences of all ages were transfixed – from middle-aged men creepily fixating on the singer's short plaid kilt and midriff-baring blouse, to seven-year-old girls hopping around the playground, strangely pleading "Hit me baby, one more time." Spears' debut album went multi-platinum while her single stayed at the top of the charts in the first months of 1999. Upping her visibility, Spears' controversial Rolling Stone cover (clad only in a bra and hot pants, surrounded by stuffed animals while talking on the phone) had parent groups up in arms when the overtly sexy image hit stands in April – nearly eight months before the star's 18th birthday. Meanwhile, Spears and her inner circle began a long-standing policy of sending mixed messages, proclaiming the star's commitment to Southern, church-going values and remaining a virgin until she married.
Appearances on a myriad of specials and awards shows and a guest stint on the ABC sitcom "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" (ABC/WB, 1996-2003) helped keep her in the minds and hearts of the public in between record releases. When her follow-up effort, Oops!... I Did It Again dropped in 2000, her audience welcomed it with open wallets. Another round of multi-platinum sales were made, and the video for the lead-off title track won the performer more kudos, proving her dance talents with an eye-catching routine in a fetching red vinyl catsuit. When Spears appeared at that year’s “MTV Video Music Awards,” tearing off a man's tuxedo to reveal a flesh colored body suit, her sexy image was solidified. Indeed, it became central to her routinely controversial image, with fans and media debating over lurid topics such as whether or not the young star had received breast implants. Spears' sex appeal was tempered for her more family value-minded fans by her sweet and seemingly chaste relationship with longtime boyfriend (and former Mouseketeer) Justin Timberlake – by then, the lead singer of the hugely popular boy band *NSYNC, which shared the same musical management as Spears. Expressing herself, showing her versatility and growing up in the public eye while losing very few of her original preteen fans, the singer seemed poised to stand the test of time.
Though potential roles in the TV series "Dawson's Creek" (WB, 1998-2003) and the feature "Scary Movie" (2000) came to naught – reportedly due to her busy schedule – new projects with Spears' name attached sprung up frequently. Rumors of her co-starring with hot Latin singer Ricky Martin in a sequel to the 1987 hit musical, "Dirty Dancing," were not realized, but the singer/dancer made another major impression on TV viewers. Following a second erotically charged performance on the 2001 “MTV Music Video Awards,” during which she undulated in a barely-there harem outfit to her new song "I'm a Slave for U" while an albino python wrapped around her neck, viewers of both sexes were blown away yet again by her brazen “barely legal” performance. Britney-mania continued with her saucy performance in the HBO live concert, "Britney Spears: Live in Las Vegas" (2001) – a production that demonstrated her adult sex appeal as much as it did her propensity to lip-synch. Not satisfied with just conquering the music market, Spears tried her hand at publishing, co-authoring with her mother the autobiographical tome Britney Spears' Heart to Heart (2000) and the novel A Mother's Gift (2001) – the latter of which was turned into the ABC Family Channel telepic, "Brave New Girl" (2004), which Spears and her mother co-executive produced.
After much build-up, at last the young diva made her big-screen acting debut – with a healthy dash of the more proven skill, singing – in "Crossroads" (2002). Directed by Tamra Davis, the critically panned flick focused on three childhood friends on a road trip of self-discovery. Neither the mawkish film nor Spears' candy-coated, “aw-shucks” performance were exactly Oscar material, but it did appeal to a certain audience of die-hard Spears fans – namely the preteen and teen female and occasional smitten male. A blight on an otherwise world-conquering 2002 – including opening her own New York restaurant NYLA (which became a spectacular failure) and continuing to tour around the globe –was Spears’ very public break-up with Timberlake, amid sordid rumors of infidelity on her part. On the defensive, Timberlake rather ungentlemanly confirmed to much feigned shock that he and Spears had, indeed, put an end to her much-discussed virginity (as well as latter outing her as the cheater in his future solo hit single and video, “Cry Me a River”). Amidst all the professional solo triumphs and personal set-backs, she found time for a brief cameo in the comedy hit, "Austin Powers: Goldmember" and to record songs for a variety of film soundtracks.
By 2003-04, the media saturation of Spears and her fellow teeny-bopper idols (including Aguilera, Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC) resulted in the beginnings of the inevitable backlash, with the singer making news more for her personal escapades than professional activities. In a move many saw as desperate for all parties involved, Spears made headlines when, during an appearance on the 2003 “MTV Music Video Awards,” she opened the show in a musical sequence opposite her idol Madonna and her reported rival Aguilera, in which she shared a lip-lock with the Material Girl. That was followed by the release of her fourth album, In the Zone, in which the singer further pushed provocative boundaries in an obvious attempt to establish herself as a grown-up artist and to capitalize on her always buzzed-about sexpot charms. The album received a critical drubbing in most quarters and did not entirely live up to commercial expectations. The disc still provided hit singles, including the ubiquitous dance floor favorite "Toxic" and its controversial, overtly sexy music video, which was briefly relegated to late-night-only airings on MTV. Oddly, during the promotional period for the album, Spears appeared in many increasingly provocative, skin-baring photographs, including a recreation of a 1960s-era Angie Dickinson shot with her bare bottom peaking out of a strategically stretched sweater for the cover of Esquire, yet she claimed in interviews she did not approve the shots, still trying to project – albeit, unconvincingly at this point – an innocent, girl-next-door persona.
The wild child beneath the surface was bubbling over into her public persona, with the mainstream and tabloid press endlessly chronicling every juicy aspect of her behavior – which allegedly included late night partying and hook-ups with celebrity lotharios Fred Durst and Colin Farrell. The dam seemingly broke loose in January of 2004, when the singer shocked fans with a surprise marriage to her childhood friend Jason Alexander in an apparently booze-fueled New Year's Eve wedding in Las Vegas – something she called "a joke that had gone too far." The marriage was annulled within 55 hours (with a lucrative pay-off to Alexander), but that did not stop Spears' shocking second rush to the altar later that same year – this time to seemingly gold-digging back-up dancer, Kevin Federline. This union was not without its controversy either, as at the start of their romance, Federline was an expectant father involved in a relationship with actress Shar Jackson – who had already bore him one child not long before. Their engagement was announced in June, with plans for a fall 2004 wedding. Somewhere between romances, Spears continued to self-promote with faux-revelatory documentary specials on MTV, ABC and E! networks, and she performed a surprisingly uninspired live version of her universally panned Onyx Hotel tour for the HBO special "Britney Spears: Live in Miami" (2004). The blonde idol pulled out of the final leg of her poorly received tour after injuring her knee in June of that year, requiring surgery and four months of recuperation (she also admitted that her head "really wasn't into" the tour).
As a newly married woman in September of 2004, Spears increasingly found herself the subject of snarky bloggers and tabloid magazines. Much of it she brought on herself, as she was constantly photographed leaving gas station bathrooms barefoot and chowing down on Cheetos while cruising around town in a number of luxury vehicles. Worse yet, she often looking disheveled and messy coming in and out of seemingly every fast food restaurant in the greater Los Angeles area. And interestingly enough to the public – she seemed not to care what people thought of her or her new husband. This was most apparent when Spears and Federline sold home movies taken during their courtship to UPN, resulting in the May, 2005 premiere of their reality show, "Britney & Kevin: Chaotic" – complete with the questionable catchphrase: “Can you handle our truth?” By this time, it seemed the answer was no – and that no one cared to. Critics were less than kind, to say the least. In fact, the show made the couple an even bigger laughing stock than before, what with the constant stream of nonsensical baby-talk, mugging close-ups and uncomfortable pawing of one another. But Spears seemed happy – especially after giving birth to her first child, Sean Preston in September, 2005.
Not long after her son’s birth, however, Spears found that the media had zeroed in on something more sensitive than her fashion sense or choice in men – her mothering skills. In a quick succession of scandalous incidents, starting in early 2006, Spears was photographed driving with her infant son on her lap; with her infant son in the wrong car seat, facing the wrong way in a convertible – and finally – tripping on a NYC street, almost dropping the baby, while teetering on heels and trying to hold onto a glass of water. The public lambasting of Spears as bad mom was at an all time high that spring – enough that by the third incident in New York, some celebrity first-time mothers and organizations stuck up for her, especially after video footage shot through a restaurant window hit the internet, clearly showing Spears clinging to her baby and crying after the tripping incident. By the fall, the public scorn seemed to shift and redirect toward Federline – especially after he was spotted all over L.A. and Vegas, partying with cronies, while his wife, now pregnant with their second son was M.I.A. When a bedraggled Spears was forced to do damage control by sobbing to Matt Lauer on a notorious “Dateline NBC” interview in June, fans began counting down the days until Spears come to her senses and left the man they considered the ruin of the old Britney. The week the wannabe rapper released his first album, Playing with Fire – to a unanimous and expected critical beatdown – the public got its wish. On Nov. 7, Spears filed for divorce from Federline, citing “irreconcilable differences” and asking for physical and legal custody of one-year-old Sean and two-month-old Jayden, but for Federline to receive reasonable visitation rights. Spears gave the date of separation as the day before – the same day she flaunted her revamped post-pregnancy physique during a surprise appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman” (CBS, 1993- ).
Following her divorce announcement, Spears made news of a different kind. Free from her troubled marriage, the singer began a seemingly non-stop series of nights-on-the-town – first, with fellow party girl, Paris Hilton, then by herself or with new friends. When Spears was shot on three different occasions getting out of cars sans underwear, she became the toast of celebrity blogs and late night comics the world over – many of whom seemingly relished Spears' new out-of-control lifestyle. Her parenting again was called into question, as everyone – including her estranged husband, who was now, looking more and more the stable parent – wondered who was at home, minding the boys while Spears hit the club scene. Her partying ways continued into the new year, along with rumors of lesbian behavior dropped by her brief boyfriend, model Isaac Cohen, who spilled the beans to the press of her supposed sexual appetites. During the months of nighttime cavorting, Spears changed her hair color repeatedly – and after a one-day stint in rehab for undisclosed reasons – shaved it off altogether, leaving fans in shock at her radical appearance. The weekend after photos of a bald Spears hit the media, the troubled star checked herself into rehab for another one-day stint, only to take off with no explanation. Only days later, after an alleged confrontation with Federline, who reportedly threatened to take the boys away if she did not reenter rehab, Spears once again entered Promises Malibu, her mother Lynne driving her back again.
Lindsay Lohan
When it came time to find a young actress to assume the role of the twins (originated by Hayley Mills) for the 1998 remake of the film "The Parent Trap," an exhaustive casting search occurred throughout the USA, Canada and even in London. Perhaps because the behind-the-scenes figures opted to avoid the obvious and cast the Olsen twins, thousands of girls were considered. After three callbacks and a screen test with stars Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson, freckle-faced Long Islander, Lindsay Lohan, won the role....
Full Biography
When it came time to find a young actress to assume the role of the twins (originated by Hayley Mills) for the 1998 remake of the film "The Parent Trap," an exhaustive casting search occurred throughout the USA, Canada and even in London. Perhaps because the behind-the-scenes figures opted to avoid the obvious and cast the Olsen twins, thousands of girls were considered. After three callbacks and a screen test with stars Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson, freckle-faced Long Islander, Lindsay Lohan, won the role. Although she was just 11 years old when she was cast, she had an impressive resume. As the lovely redhead grew into adulthood, she continued to impress critics and gain fans of all ages – but most particularly, the ‘tween set who grew up along with her. After making her star-making turn in the hit comedy, “Mean Girls,” and her first adult romance with actor Wilmer Valderrama, Lohan became a favorite of the press. But once the still underage actress began hitting the town, losing drastic weight and getting into numerous fender benders – to say nothing of her numerous trips to the hospital for various reasons – it was then that the tabloids and blog sites began referencing her wild child ways more than her still consistently good work on screen.
Born July 2, 1986 in New York City, NY, Lindsay Morgan Lohan was the oldest child of four born to mother Dina Lohan, a former Radio City Rockette, and Michael Lohan, a long-time Wall Street trader. Their daughter began modeling at age three and was purported to be the first red-haired child signed by the Ford Modeling Agency. TV commercials for various products followed, including a Jell-O spot with pitchman Bill Cosby. Lohan also had recurring roles on two daytime dramas – CBS' "Guiding Light" and as Ali Fowler on NBC's "Another World" – before she landed the first movie role for which she ever auditioned. Playing twins separated at birth – one American and one British – for "The Parent Trap" remake, she turned in a delightful and skilled performance which led to numerous offers for the youngster. Lohan next filmed the telepic "Life-Size" (2000) – originally a "Wonderful World of Disney" production later released on home video – opposite Tyra Banks as a Barbie-style doll come-to-life – part of Lohan's three-picture deal with Disney. In 2000, Lohan was cast as Bette Midler's teen daughter on the short-lived CBS sitcom, "Bette" (2000). After shooting the pilot episode, the show's producers decided it would be easier on the L.A.-based crew if filming moved to California, so Lindsay gave up the role to stay in New York.
Finding consistent work, Lohan next played Lexy Gold in the Disney Channel telepic, "Get a Clue" (2002). The young actress also pursued a musical career when Emilio Estefan, Jr. took her under his professional wing in 2002, offering up a five-album production deal and the promise of an aggressive effort to sell her popular style "with a rock edge" to a major record label. The busy youngster also worked as a model for Abercrombie & Fitch Kids (A&F Kids) and Calvin Klein Kids.
Lohan continued her relationship with the Mouse Factory, signing on to play Anna Coleman in the theatrical remake of the body-swapping comedy "Freaky Friday" (2003) opposite Jamie Lee Curtis as the mother-and-daughter team who wake up one day in each other's bodies. The film was a surprise summer hit, generating over $100 million at the box office and raising Lohan's profile even further. Also helpful was a well reported public feud with fellow teen queen Hilary Duff, after the two briefly shared a boyfriend, singer Aaron Carter. Like Duff, she also incorporated her singing career into her acting gig, with the "Freaky Friday" soundtrack including her debut single, "Ultimate." Lohan returned to the big screen by carrying the chick-flick comedy, "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen" (2004) on her solo shoulders. In the film, Lohan played Lola, an egocentric teen uprooted from her home town who feels the world revolves around her and finds herself competing for attention in Manhattan, using grander and grander schemes. The actress provided vocals on four songs from the film's soundtrack, including "Drama Queen (That Girl)," "What Are You Waiting For," "A Day in the Life" and a medley that incorporated the original song "Don't Move On" with her take on Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City" and David Bowie's "Changes."
Next up was a slightly edgier role – one that would make her an international star and change the course of her life, elevating her to A-list status. Taking on the lead in "Mean Girls" (2004), a funny if familiar comedy penned by Tina Fey, which explored the in-fighting amongst a clique of catty high school girls, Lohan helped lead the film to box office success and watched it firmly cement her star power – this time, even beyond her teen and 'tween core audience. Under the wing of new mentor Tommy Mottola, the famed head of Sony Music, Lohan also released her first full album, Speak, which swiftly achieved platinum status and featured the single "Rumors," in which she decried the gossipy buzz that had begun to surround her every move.
Indeed, the young actress' rapidly maturing body and youthful sex appeal – combined with a burgeoning reputation for enjoying the Hollywood night life, despite being underage – suddenly made her regular fodder for celebrity gossip. These same publications dutifully covered her denials about having received breast implants, her brief 2004 relationship with TV actor Wilmer Valderrama, her alleged hard-partying ways, an aggressive paparazzi pursuit that resulted in a fender bender, and – after her figure had turned voluptuous and her titian hair became her trademark – her eyebrow-raising rapid weight loss (which the actress attributed to a healthier lifestyle) and new look as a bottled blonde. The actress also had to deal with press reports regarding her estranged father Michael Lohan, whose alleged substance abuse and short temper (he reportedly threatened the lives of his ex-wife and children) resulted in several brushes with the law, including a legal restraining order preventing him from contact with his family and jail time for a litany of legal offenses, including assaulting his brother-in-law at his son's first communion party, violating terms of his restraining order and a 2005 drunk driving crash in which his vehicle struck a utility pole in Long Island and caught fire. Further estranging his famous daughter, he also sought to claim a percentage of his offspring's earnings.
Despite all the lurid press, Lohan's popularity continued unabated and Disney cast her in further family fare, this time in the remake of the studio's famous "Love Bug" franchise, "Herbie: Fully Loaded" (2005) as a young girl who inherits the legendary Volkswagen Beetle and takes it to the NASCAR race circuit. The Mouse House did have some concerns about the voluptuous Lohan's image in regards to how their young audience might react, spending considerable sums to digitally decrease her growing bust size after it was deemed distracting.
In 2005, a mounting pile of scandalous headlines began plaguing the actress. She was rushed to the hospital during filming of “Herbie,” reportedly due to “exhaustion.” This would not be the last time Lohan would be hospitalized for a variety of ailments. She was in her second auto accident of the year, again blaming pursuing paparazzi. Her private life made headlines for the umpteenth time that year when she confessed to Vanity Fair that she had indeed experienced an eating disorder earlier that year – specifically, bulimia – that accounted for her significant weight loss and that she was shocked back to healthier ways after being confronted by "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ) producer Lorne Michaels and head writer Tina Fey while hosting the show that year. She also admitted to experimenting with drugs. The cover story was released just as Lohan was hospitalized for a reported asthma attack in Miami after ringing in 2006. Within a week, Lohan denied having made the statements to the magazine, saying her words were "misconstrued." The magazine stood by the story.
After moving on from Disney – and consequently her childhood image – Lohan began taking on more womanly parts in impressive ensembles and holding her own opposite some of Hollywood's most admired talents. She joined the impressive cast of Emilio Estevez's independent film "Bobby" (2006) – which included Anthony Hopkins and Sharon Stone – about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, and costarred opposite Oscar-winner Meryl Streep in Robert Altman's last film, "A Prairie Home Companion" – both released in 2006. She costarred with her reported off-screen love interest, Jared Leto, in "Chapter 27" (2007), an indie film about a woman who befriends Mark David Chapman during the weekend that he kills John Lennon in New York City. Although she continued to land roles in impressive films opposite heavyweight actors like Jane Fonda in "Georgia Rule" (2007) – the film she was making when its producers made public a scolding letter to curb her on set tardiness from all the partying – Lohan's increasingly erratic behavior and seemingly non-stop personal drama began shifting the focus from her undeniable onscreen talent to being the punchline of jokes.
For La Lohan, as she was being called on the internet, 2006 was more one long banner tabloid headline than a focus on career. If she was not caught getting out of boats and cars sans panties, she was getting into fights with fellow party girls like Paris Hilton. In fact, Hilton and her fellow trust fund baby, Brandon Davis, coined the term, “firecr*tch” in reference to Lohan, after both were caught on tape by TMZ.com mocking the actress in graphic terms. Celebrity bloggers and tabloids lived for Lohan's every move throughout the year, reporting gleefully on her relationships gone awry – including a summer romance with restaurant heir, Harry Morton – or her numerous trips to the hospital for "exhaustion." It was little wonder, that by year's end, GQ magazine named Lohan their “Obsession of the Year." At the time the magazine threw their annual party to celebrate their year-end issue, Lohan allegedly made a scene after seeing her ex-personal assistant in attendance and forced Al Gore to publicly denounce having spoken at length with her that night. Following only days later, the press reported – and Lohan later confirmed but downplayed – that a doctor was called to the Chateau Marmont for a rumored Lohan overdose. This shocking announcement was followed in quick succession by her mother Dina Lohan admitting on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show that her daughter had begun attending Alcoholics Anonymous.
Fans hoped that the actress would ease up on her fast track lifestyle and get back to the basics – her undeniable ability to light up the big screen with her luminous beauty and charm. Only weeks into the new year, however, Lohan was back in the news for entering rehab, reportedly at Wonderland Treatment Center in L.A., and released the statement that ""I have made a proactive decision to take care of my personal health. I appreciate your well wishes and ask that you please respect my privacy at this time." For a spell, it seemed as though she had her priorities in order. But on May 26, 2007, Lohan was driving down Sunset Boulevard at 5:30 am and lost control of her Mercedes-Benz, crashing into a hedge and fleeing the scene of the accident. Police found a small amount of what they believed was a “usable amount” of cocaine. Three days after the accident, Lohan checked herself into Promises Treatment Center in Malibu, CA. She left rehab in late-June and voluntarily agreed to wear an alcohol-monitoring device, something she enjoyed showing off to friends and paparazzi while being seen partying about town.
Then on July 2, 2007, Lohan turned 21 and was finally able to drink legally. A couple of weeks later, she quietly surrendered to Beverly Hills Police for her Memorial Day weekend incident and faced charges for a misdemeanor hit and run, and driving under the influence. Mere days after turning herself in, however, Lohan was again the victim of her own circumstances. On July 24, 2007, the of-age starlet was arrested in Santa Monica shortly after midnight. Police said they received a frantic call of a car chase on Pico Boulevard – it turned out that the vehicle in pursuit was driven by Lohan, and the vehicle being chased was driven by the mother of Lohan’s personal assistant, who had quit her employment earlier in the evening. Lohan was taken into custody in the parking lot of the Santa Monica Civic Center, registering a blood alcohol level of about 0.12, well above the California legal limit of 0.08. She was later charged with suspicion of drunken driving, possession of cocaine, bringing a controlled substance into custody and driving on a suspended license. Lohan was released on $25,000 bail and was set to be arraigned on August 24, 2007 – the same day she was scheduled to appear in Beverly Hills for her Memorial Day weekend DUI.
Paris Hilton
The great-granddaughter of famed hotelier Conrad Hilton and co-heir to the Hilton fortune, socialite Paris Hilton stridently endeavored to make her own mark in the world – and for the most part, succeeded. Alongside her younger sister, Nicky, Paris Hilton became one of the first media-dubbed "celebutantes” – a term used to describe a growing trend of young, attractive party girl socialites-turned-models/actresses and quasi-celebs. Regardless, whether you loved her or hated her, one could not deny the impact Hilton had on media and pop culture....
Full Biography
The great-granddaughter of famed hotelier Conrad Hilton and co-heir to the Hilton fortune, socialite Paris Hilton stridently endeavored to make her own mark in the world – and for the most part, succeeded. Alongside her younger sister, Nicky, Paris Hilton became one of the first media-dubbed "celebutantes” – a term used to describe a growing trend of young, attractive party girl socialites-turned-models/actresses and quasi-celebs. Regardless, whether you loved her or hated her, one could not deny the impact Hilton had on media and pop culture. Rightly or wrongly, by making a lucrative career of doing essentially nothing, Hilton – and those who followed in her footsteps – truly helped re-define the word “celebrity” for the new millennium.
Born in New York City, NY on Feb. 17, 1981, Paris Whitney Hilton was the first of four children born to Richard Hilton and Kathy Richards. She spent most of her youth growing up in the world famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan, which her grandfather, Conrad, had bought during the Great Depression. Hilton’s three siblings included a sister, Nicky Hilton, and two brothers, Barron Hilton II and Conrad Hilton III.
Upon graduating high school in 2000, the heiress immediately embarked on her quest for fame, first by modeling for such famed fashion designers as Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Bouwer and Catherine Malandrin; then, as a cover girl for numerous magazines, including GQ, Vanity Fair and FHM. An instant hit with the paparazzi, though largely unknown outside of N.Y.C. and L.A., Hilton received generous media attention for her love life. At the turn of the new millennium, the press romantically linked her to “Titanic” (1997) star, Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as such other eligible young celebs as actor Edward Furlong, boxing champ Oscar de la Hoya, and Tommy Hilfiger model, Jason Shaw.
Teamed with her tamer-by-comparison sister, Nicky, Hilton pioneered a career for herself as a professional socialite. Bouncing from party to party, she generated an impressive amount of publicity, thanks to her dazzling wardrobe and well-planned photo ops. Inevitably, her high profile and constant close proximity to celebrities made her one in her own right. To complement her newfound stardom, Hilton also adopted a flashy – though not always flattering – public persona as the ultimate “spoiled rich girl.” Her penchant for self-absorption and arrogance made for sensational tabloid headlines.
Much to the chagrin of trained and/or struggling actresses everywhere, Hilton’s barely-there fashion statements, constant cell phone usage and penchant for dancing atop nightclub tables eventually opened the doors to an actual acting career – of a sort. Usually cast as herself or someone very similar, Hilton made her film debut in “Zoolander” (2000), a Ben Stiller-Owen Wilson comedy about male fashion modeling. Hilton’s next cameo was in “Wonderland” (2003), a noir-like drama about a down-and out John C. Holmes, the ex-porn star who was caught up in a late 1970’s multiple murder case involving his former drug dealers. Another cameo was tacked on her resume when Hilton played a clubgoer in the big budget kiddy flick, “The Cat in the Hat” (2003) starring Mike Myers.
It was on television, however, that Hilton gained national recognition as the star of “The Simple Life” (Fox, 2003- ), a candid reality show which followed Hilton and life-long friend, Nicole Richie (daughter of pop singer Lionel Richie), in a series of unscripted misadventures. In the first season, Hilton and Richie ditched the glamorous Manhattan social scene and were relocated to an Arkansas farm, where they were forced to bail hay and milk cows. Seeing Hilton and Richie out of their element as they struggled to survive their discomfort provided the basis for much of the show’s comedy. To be fair, the premiere of “The Simple Life” received a huge ratings boost for one reason and one reason only –a certain VHS-captured sex romp that at first, may have haunted Hilton, but ultimately made her a household name almost overnight.
At the time Hilton was beginning to do press for her hoped-for-hit show in the fall of 2003, rumors popped up about a videotape of Hilton having sex with ex-boyfriend, Rick Salomon, who also happened to be the ex-husband of actress Shannen Doherty. Though the heiress and her lawyers initially denied the existence of such a tape, Hilton finally acknowledged her participation, once a three-minute teaser was spread far and wide across the Internet. To mitigate the damage, the Hilton family’s P.R. team went so far as to imply that their client may have been drugged – a move that later spurred Salomon to file a $10 million slander suit against the Hiltons. Many suspected that Salomon himself (or someone in his circle) was responsible for leaking the video, though this was never proven. In any case, the subject of the X-rated video would provide fodder for public discussion and late night comedy monologues for weeks to come. In response, a humiliated Hilton retreated from the limelight – albeit, only temporarily.
After the sex tape heard round the world boosted ratings for "The Simple Life," subsequently, a second season was green-lighted. Par for the course, however, each new season seemed to arrive with another public Paris mishap. In 2004, Hilton’s tiny Chihuahua, Tinkerbelle, went missing, causing a media furor (the dog was ultimately discovered and returned to her mistress unharmed). In 2005, computer hackers cracked open the contents of the Hilton’s Sidekick device and posted much of the material on the Internet. In addition to publishing the cell phone numbers and email addresses for such celebrity cohorts as Lindsay Lohan, the hackers also posted topless digital camera shots of Hilton passionately kissing a female Latin MTV personality.
In 2005, Hilton appeared in her first major film role as an insecure, possibly pregnant student named Paige in the warmed-over horror remake, “House of Wax.” While the film was panned by most critics, a few actually singled out Hilton’s performance as being the single most entertaining component of the film. At the same time, Hilton announced that her friendship with Nicole Richie had reached an impasse after several seasons of “The Simple Life.” Rumors abounded for months as to what this announcement would mean for their still popular reality show. However, after several months of speculation, Fox announced that both heiresses would return for a new season – together, no less. Despite this announcement, Fox later decided to dump the show from its 2005-06 schedule. After shopping the series around to other networks, E! Entertainment finally agreed to pick up “The Simple Life” for a fourth season.
Hilton next stoked controversy with a 2005 TV spot for Carl's Jr.'s Spicy BBQ Six-Dollar Burger. Clad only in a plunging black bathing suit and stiletto heels, the ad consisted of Hilton seductively washing a Bentley while eating a burger, amid the strains of Cole Porter's "I Love Paris" playing in the background. Obviously and overtly sexual, the ad drew instant criticism – most vocally from the Los Angeles-based Parents Television Council, which called it little more than "soft core porn." As expected, Hilton simply parlayed the controversy into more work. In 2005, Hilton landed a starring role in – and a producer credit! – on "National Lampoon's Pledge This!" In a less-than-huge stretch, Hilton, this time, played the president of an elitist sorority at fictional South Beach University.
Hilton’s tumultuous personal life continued to grab her headlines. In 2005, Hilton split from her fortuitously named fiancée, Greek shipping heir Paris Latsis, after a four-month engagement. Within weeks, she was involved with another Greek shipping heir, Stavros Niarchos. Away from the cameras, Hilton also got a good deal of publicity for her real-life run-ins with the law. In September 2006, Hilton was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after blowing a .08 blood alcohol level on a sobriety test. Pleading no contest to the charge, Hilton was fined $1,500 and was placed on 36 months of probation. Clearly not one to learn her lesson without a fight, however, Hilton would regrettably tempt the fates – a mistake she would come to sorely regret – approximately six months later. In March 2007, Hilton violated her probation by being busted once again, this time for a myriad of violations including speeding, driving with a suspended license, and failing to enroll in a court-ordered alcohol education program. Sentenced to 45 days in jail, Hilton promptly filed an appeal, claiming that the sentence was unnecessarily harsh. As expected by this time, Hilton got little sympathy from the court, nor the public, which had grown increasingly disenchanted with her spoiled behavior. In fact, dueling petitions competed on the web, with many people on the “Free Paris” bandwagon – but not surprisingly, even more people eager – nay, gleeful, even – to see the pampered socialite enter the big house.
On May 9, 2007, just days after her sentencing, Hilton issued a public statement through her attorney, Richard Hutton. Sounding noticeably more contrite than she had ever been before, Hilton accepted the responsibility and consequences of her actions. Ending with a plea for understanding and fairness, Hilton closed her statement with the following: “No one is above the law. I surely am not. I do not expect to be treated better than anyone else who violated probation. However, my hope is that I will not be treated worse.” After attending the MTV Movie Awards on June 3, Hilton voluntarily turned herself into police two days early to begin her sentence at a woman's prison in Lynwood, CA. However, much to the dismay of almost every American hoping for a full 45 day sentence served, Hilton was released by Sheriff Lee Bacca to ride out the rest of her sentence at home, wearing an electrical monitoring device – the reason cited, being an undisclosed medical condition. An outraged Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer – who had specifically sentenced her to serve her time without the option of house detention – ordered her back to court on June 8. Much to the dismay of Hilton and her family in attendance, in the courtroom, Judge Sauer demanded she return to Lynwood to finish the remainder of her term, which had technically already been reduced to 23 days. Hilton was reportedly taken away, screaming "It's not right!" and crying out for her mother. This reversal of fortune became instant headline news around the world, as did her eventual release from prison on June 26. Looking pretty as a picture, the heiress walked out of the facility, past throngs of photogs to hug her parents, who waited for her in the car. Declaring herself a "changed woman," Paris gave her first print interview to People magazine and her first television interview to "Larry King Live" – in which she declared she had learned her lesson, did not like the food, and that her mysterious and often speculated about ailments while locked up were extreme claustrophobia and ADD.
The businessman is keen to give the trio an entrepreneurial chance on the hit TV show, insisting the experience would be "a positive thing for them to do"--and concedes socialite Hilton has already been in contact with show executives to secure a place on the series.
He tells the New York Post, "We're negotiating with Britney right now. Can you imagine her doing it? We're not sure what will happen. She's a f**king mess. And that little reality show she had did nothing. But she likes the idea of being on television and I think she'd be great."
"(Hilton) wants to be on, and we're thinking about it, but I don't know if we're going to do it. (Lohan is) another f**king mess. We haven't asked her yet, but I'm going to call her this week. It would a positive thing for her to do... for all of them."
Donald Trump
Few could lay claim to living the American Dream of fame and financial success, but hotelier and casino mogul Donald Trump did – though his prosperity was not without its consequences. Trump, or "The Donald" as he was famously dubbed by ex-wife Ivana, mastered the art of deal making, starting with utilizing his inherent ruthlessness and cunning. A success in the business world, Trump also managed to become famous for his brazen and unabashed personality, allowing him to be both darling and dupe of the media....Full Biography
Few could lay claim to living the American Dream of fame and financial success, but hotelier and casino mogul Donald Trump did – though his prosperity was not without its consequences. Trump, or "The Donald" as he was famously dubbed by ex-wife Ivana, mastered the art of deal making, starting with utilizing his inherent ruthlessness and cunning. A success in the business world, Trump also managed to become famous for his brazen and unabashed personality, allowing him to be both darling and dupe of the media. Never one to miss the hottest trend, Trump jumped on board the reality TV bandwagon, starring in and producing the NBC series "The Apprentice" (2004- ); a surprise hit that forever etched Trump's infamous catchphrase, “You’re fired!” in the cultural lexicon.
A native of New York City, Trump represented the third generation of businessmen in his family – his father, Fred Trump, having turned to real estate to support his family when his own father had died prematurely. Young Trump assisted his father with various business ventures, and in the process, learned how to recognize the art of a good deal. After graduating from New York Military Academy in 1964, Trump studied finance at the renowned and first-of-its-kind Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon returning to New York, Trump eased his way through the upper crest by joining an exclusive club – on the one condition that he not try to steal the wives of older members. He used his membership as a means to an end – to make all the right contacts from whence his empire would be born.
The membership was a good move. Trump became one of the premier real estate tycoons in the early 1980’s by amassing properties in New York City, including Trump Tower and Trump Plaza. He also delved into the casino business, where his name was emblazoned on the only three five-star casino/hotels in Atlantic City. Trump continued to score with the publication of his first autobiography, The Art of the Deal, which sold in excess of 3 million copies, settling on the best-seller list for a comfortable 32 weeks. Three more books followed, though none were as successful as the first: Surviving at the Top, The Art of the Comeback and his first political manifesto, The America We Deserve. Also on Trump’s plate was his role as Executive Producer for the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Pageants, airing on CBS. Throughout the 1980’s, the mogul also saw the downside of fame firsthand, watching as his name was continually splashed across tabloids due to his rocky separation and divorce from first wife Ivana followed by a subsequent relationship with second ex-wife, Marla Maples.
Despite a long-string of daring successes and a life at the top of the real estate world, Trump’s fortunes came crashing down in 1990 when he was forced to file bankruptcy after a loss of over two-thirds of his net worth, or $1.5 billion. True to his hard-edged style, Trump fought back and returned his net worth to a more relaxing $3 billion. But for most of the late 1990s and into the 21st century, Trump remained largely out of the public eye.
His comeback arrived in the form of a new reality program, “The Apprentice,” which captured the public’s attention from the first. On the show, 16 contestants – eight men, eight women – competed against each other to become the president of one of Trump’s companies and recipient of a $250,000 annual salary. Each episode featured Trump assigning the teams with tasks to complete, including everything from selling lemonade on the NY streets to renting swanky apartment buildings for $20,000 a night. At the close of each episode, Trump brought all the contestants to the board room where he summarily “fired” one in business-like fashion. The surprise hit become one of the leading lights of reality series TV and a tent-pole property for NBC, which later launched a less successful spin-off version starring Martha Stewart.
"The Donald's" public profile was reestablished and he reveled in the limelight, using his pop cultural cachet to fuel projects big and small, from merchandising tie-ins to major corporate undertakings. However, he was never without his controversies. Trump found himself in financial trouble yet again, when the threat of bankruptcy loomed over his empire once more. His ailing Atlantic City casinos were swamped by $1.8 billion of debt. The entrepreneur again fought to stave off bankruptcy proceedings by seeking a $400 million cash infusion. Helpful was his continued "Apprentice" success and his continually colorful personal life, following his over-the-top, star-studded marriage to Slovenian model-actress, Melania Knauss, in January, 2005.
Britney Spears
A bubbly, blonde pop music sensation who built a fan base with a girl-next-door sweetness, catchy tunes, flashy dance moves and a magnetic sexual appeal, Britney Spears went from a small-town Louisiana girl to the veritable heir to Madonna's media saturation crown, beginning with the release of her first single in 1998 and holding fast well into the next millennium – and much like Madonna, the attention quickly shifted away from her artistry and focused squarely on her personal dramas....Full Biography
A bubbly, blonde pop music sensation who built a fan base with a girl-next-door sweetness, catchy tunes, flashy dance moves and a magnetic sexual appeal, Britney Spears went from a small-town Louisiana girl to the veritable heir to Madonna's media saturation crown, beginning with the release of her first single in 1998 and holding fast well into the next millennium – and much like Madonna, the attention quickly shifted away from her artistry and focused squarely on her personal dramas. Starting in 2004, a much mocked marriage to back-up dancer, Kevin Federline, the birth of two babies in quick succession, and a seemingly self-imposed exile from the music industry kept her name in the forefront – though mainly as a gossip curiosity piece.
Born Dec. 2, 1981 in the rural Louisiana town of Kentwood to parents Jamie and Lynne Spears, the young girl started training for her future superstar status as a small child. A skilled dancer and gymnast – as well as a capable singer – Spears had the determination and stamina to get to the top, starting her career in the entertainment industry early – too early, in fact – for producers of the revamped "The Mickey Mouse Club" (The Disney Channel, 1989-1994). Producers of the star-making kiddie show turned down the talented youngster because of her age when she first auditioned in 1990. Mindful of her potential, Spears was hooked up with an agent and temporarily moved with her mother and baby sister to New York City the following year. Here, she starred in the off-Broadway production, "Ruthless," a stage comedy loosely based on "The Bad Seed." Playing the evil but seemingly angelic child was an enjoyable role for the 10-year-old Spears, who next wowed judges with her debut performance on the televised talent competition, "Star Search" (CBS, 1983-2004) in 1992. A year later, she was finally welcomed into the cast of the "Mickey Mouse Club," becoming a part of an elite cast that included future TV star Keri Russell as well as fellow teen pop luminaries Justin Timberlake and J.C. Chasez of *NSYNC and Christina Aguilera. As part of the ensemble, she could do all the dancing, acting and singing her heart desired, but unfortunately, the show ended its run in the midst of only her second season.
When "MMC" called it a day in 1994, the young star-in-the-making returned to Louisiana and attended a private junior/senior high school in nearby McComb, MS, but missed the excitement of the entertainment world. In 1997, she signed with Jive Records, beginning a partnership that would make Spears a household name. In 1998, she toured the malls of America a la teen pop star Tiffany did a decade earlier, getting her bouncy, blonde image into the minds of the people while, at the same time, getting her promo tape into their stereos. Her debut single "...Baby One More Time" was a smash hit in the last days of 1998, thanks, in part, to the provocative schoolgirl uniform-sporting music video that accompanied the catchy and oddly edgy tune. While the fresh-faced teen sensation improbably crooned "My loneliness is killing me," audiences of all ages were transfixed – from middle-aged men creepily fixating on the singer's short plaid kilt and midriff-baring blouse, to seven-year-old girls hopping around the playground, strangely pleading "Hit me baby, one more time." Spears' debut album went multi-platinum while her single stayed at the top of the charts in the first months of 1999. Upping her visibility, Spears' controversial Rolling Stone cover (clad only in a bra and hot pants, surrounded by stuffed animals while talking on the phone) had parent groups up in arms when the overtly sexy image hit stands in April – nearly eight months before the star's 18th birthday. Meanwhile, Spears and her inner circle began a long-standing policy of sending mixed messages, proclaiming the star's commitment to Southern, church-going values and remaining a virgin until she married.
Appearances on a myriad of specials and awards shows and a guest stint on the ABC sitcom "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch" (ABC/WB, 1996-2003) helped keep her in the minds and hearts of the public in between record releases. When her follow-up effort, Oops!... I Did It Again dropped in 2000, her audience welcomed it with open wallets. Another round of multi-platinum sales were made, and the video for the lead-off title track won the performer more kudos, proving her dance talents with an eye-catching routine in a fetching red vinyl catsuit. When Spears appeared at that year’s “MTV Video Music Awards,” tearing off a man's tuxedo to reveal a flesh colored body suit, her sexy image was solidified. Indeed, it became central to her routinely controversial image, with fans and media debating over lurid topics such as whether or not the young star had received breast implants. Spears' sex appeal was tempered for her more family value-minded fans by her sweet and seemingly chaste relationship with longtime boyfriend (and former Mouseketeer) Justin Timberlake – by then, the lead singer of the hugely popular boy band *NSYNC, which shared the same musical management as Spears. Expressing herself, showing her versatility and growing up in the public eye while losing very few of her original preteen fans, the singer seemed poised to stand the test of time.
Though potential roles in the TV series "Dawson's Creek" (WB, 1998-2003) and the feature "Scary Movie" (2000) came to naught – reportedly due to her busy schedule – new projects with Spears' name attached sprung up frequently. Rumors of her co-starring with hot Latin singer Ricky Martin in a sequel to the 1987 hit musical, "Dirty Dancing," were not realized, but the singer/dancer made another major impression on TV viewers. Following a second erotically charged performance on the 2001 “MTV Music Video Awards,” during which she undulated in a barely-there harem outfit to her new song "I'm a Slave for U" while an albino python wrapped around her neck, viewers of both sexes were blown away yet again by her brazen “barely legal” performance. Britney-mania continued with her saucy performance in the HBO live concert, "Britney Spears: Live in Las Vegas" (2001) – a production that demonstrated her adult sex appeal as much as it did her propensity to lip-synch. Not satisfied with just conquering the music market, Spears tried her hand at publishing, co-authoring with her mother the autobiographical tome Britney Spears' Heart to Heart (2000) and the novel A Mother's Gift (2001) – the latter of which was turned into the ABC Family Channel telepic, "Brave New Girl" (2004), which Spears and her mother co-executive produced.
After much build-up, at last the young diva made her big-screen acting debut – with a healthy dash of the more proven skill, singing – in "Crossroads" (2002). Directed by Tamra Davis, the critically panned flick focused on three childhood friends on a road trip of self-discovery. Neither the mawkish film nor Spears' candy-coated, “aw-shucks” performance were exactly Oscar material, but it did appeal to a certain audience of die-hard Spears fans – namely the preteen and teen female and occasional smitten male. A blight on an otherwise world-conquering 2002 – including opening her own New York restaurant NYLA (which became a spectacular failure) and continuing to tour around the globe –was Spears’ very public break-up with Timberlake, amid sordid rumors of infidelity on her part. On the defensive, Timberlake rather ungentlemanly confirmed to much feigned shock that he and Spears had, indeed, put an end to her much-discussed virginity (as well as latter outing her as the cheater in his future solo hit single and video, “Cry Me a River”). Amidst all the professional solo triumphs and personal set-backs, she found time for a brief cameo in the comedy hit, "Austin Powers: Goldmember" and to record songs for a variety of film soundtracks.
By 2003-04, the media saturation of Spears and her fellow teeny-bopper idols (including Aguilera, Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC) resulted in the beginnings of the inevitable backlash, with the singer making news more for her personal escapades than professional activities. In a move many saw as desperate for all parties involved, Spears made headlines when, during an appearance on the 2003 “MTV Music Video Awards,” she opened the show in a musical sequence opposite her idol Madonna and her reported rival Aguilera, in which she shared a lip-lock with the Material Girl. That was followed by the release of her fourth album, In the Zone, in which the singer further pushed provocative boundaries in an obvious attempt to establish herself as a grown-up artist and to capitalize on her always buzzed-about sexpot charms. The album received a critical drubbing in most quarters and did not entirely live up to commercial expectations. The disc still provided hit singles, including the ubiquitous dance floor favorite "Toxic" and its controversial, overtly sexy music video, which was briefly relegated to late-night-only airings on MTV. Oddly, during the promotional period for the album, Spears appeared in many increasingly provocative, skin-baring photographs, including a recreation of a 1960s-era Angie Dickinson shot with her bare bottom peaking out of a strategically stretched sweater for the cover of Esquire, yet she claimed in interviews she did not approve the shots, still trying to project – albeit, unconvincingly at this point – an innocent, girl-next-door persona.
The wild child beneath the surface was bubbling over into her public persona, with the mainstream and tabloid press endlessly chronicling every juicy aspect of her behavior – which allegedly included late night partying and hook-ups with celebrity lotharios Fred Durst and Colin Farrell. The dam seemingly broke loose in January of 2004, when the singer shocked fans with a surprise marriage to her childhood friend Jason Alexander in an apparently booze-fueled New Year's Eve wedding in Las Vegas – something she called "a joke that had gone too far." The marriage was annulled within 55 hours (with a lucrative pay-off to Alexander), but that did not stop Spears' shocking second rush to the altar later that same year – this time to seemingly gold-digging back-up dancer, Kevin Federline. This union was not without its controversy either, as at the start of their romance, Federline was an expectant father involved in a relationship with actress Shar Jackson – who had already bore him one child not long before. Their engagement was announced in June, with plans for a fall 2004 wedding. Somewhere between romances, Spears continued to self-promote with faux-revelatory documentary specials on MTV, ABC and E! networks, and she performed a surprisingly uninspired live version of her universally panned Onyx Hotel tour for the HBO special "Britney Spears: Live in Miami" (2004). The blonde idol pulled out of the final leg of her poorly received tour after injuring her knee in June of that year, requiring surgery and four months of recuperation (she also admitted that her head "really wasn't into" the tour).
As a newly married woman in September of 2004, Spears increasingly found herself the subject of snarky bloggers and tabloid magazines. Much of it she brought on herself, as she was constantly photographed leaving gas station bathrooms barefoot and chowing down on Cheetos while cruising around town in a number of luxury vehicles. Worse yet, she often looking disheveled and messy coming in and out of seemingly every fast food restaurant in the greater Los Angeles area. And interestingly enough to the public – she seemed not to care what people thought of her or her new husband. This was most apparent when Spears and Federline sold home movies taken during their courtship to UPN, resulting in the May, 2005 premiere of their reality show, "Britney & Kevin: Chaotic" – complete with the questionable catchphrase: “Can you handle our truth?” By this time, it seemed the answer was no – and that no one cared to. Critics were less than kind, to say the least. In fact, the show made the couple an even bigger laughing stock than before, what with the constant stream of nonsensical baby-talk, mugging close-ups and uncomfortable pawing of one another. But Spears seemed happy – especially after giving birth to her first child, Sean Preston in September, 2005.
Not long after her son’s birth, however, Spears found that the media had zeroed in on something more sensitive than her fashion sense or choice in men – her mothering skills. In a quick succession of scandalous incidents, starting in early 2006, Spears was photographed driving with her infant son on her lap; with her infant son in the wrong car seat, facing the wrong way in a convertible – and finally – tripping on a NYC street, almost dropping the baby, while teetering on heels and trying to hold onto a glass of water. The public lambasting of Spears as bad mom was at an all time high that spring – enough that by the third incident in New York, some celebrity first-time mothers and organizations stuck up for her, especially after video footage shot through a restaurant window hit the internet, clearly showing Spears clinging to her baby and crying after the tripping incident. By the fall, the public scorn seemed to shift and redirect toward Federline – especially after he was spotted all over L.A. and Vegas, partying with cronies, while his wife, now pregnant with their second son was M.I.A. When a bedraggled Spears was forced to do damage control by sobbing to Matt Lauer on a notorious “Dateline NBC” interview in June, fans began counting down the days until Spears come to her senses and left the man they considered the ruin of the old Britney. The week the wannabe rapper released his first album, Playing with Fire – to a unanimous and expected critical beatdown – the public got its wish. On Nov. 7, Spears filed for divorce from Federline, citing “irreconcilable differences” and asking for physical and legal custody of one-year-old Sean and two-month-old Jayden, but for Federline to receive reasonable visitation rights. Spears gave the date of separation as the day before – the same day she flaunted her revamped post-pregnancy physique during a surprise appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman” (CBS, 1993- ).
Following her divorce announcement, Spears made news of a different kind. Free from her troubled marriage, the singer began a seemingly non-stop series of nights-on-the-town – first, with fellow party girl, Paris Hilton, then by herself or with new friends. When Spears was shot on three different occasions getting out of cars sans underwear, she became the toast of celebrity blogs and late night comics the world over – many of whom seemingly relished Spears' new out-of-control lifestyle. Her parenting again was called into question, as everyone – including her estranged husband, who was now, looking more and more the stable parent – wondered who was at home, minding the boys while Spears hit the club scene. Her partying ways continued into the new year, along with rumors of lesbian behavior dropped by her brief boyfriend, model Isaac Cohen, who spilled the beans to the press of her supposed sexual appetites. During the months of nighttime cavorting, Spears changed her hair color repeatedly – and after a one-day stint in rehab for undisclosed reasons – shaved it off altogether, leaving fans in shock at her radical appearance. The weekend after photos of a bald Spears hit the media, the troubled star checked herself into rehab for another one-day stint, only to take off with no explanation. Only days later, after an alleged confrontation with Federline, who reportedly threatened to take the boys away if she did not reenter rehab, Spears once again entered Promises Malibu, her mother Lynne driving her back again.
Lindsay Lohan
When it came time to find a young actress to assume the role of the twins (originated by Hayley Mills) for the 1998 remake of the film "The Parent Trap," an exhaustive casting search occurred throughout the USA, Canada and even in London. Perhaps because the behind-the-scenes figures opted to avoid the obvious and cast the Olsen twins, thousands of girls were considered. After three callbacks and a screen test with stars Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson, freckle-faced Long Islander, Lindsay Lohan, won the role....Full Biography
When it came time to find a young actress to assume the role of the twins (originated by Hayley Mills) for the 1998 remake of the film "The Parent Trap," an exhaustive casting search occurred throughout the USA, Canada and even in London. Perhaps because the behind-the-scenes figures opted to avoid the obvious and cast the Olsen twins, thousands of girls were considered. After three callbacks and a screen test with stars Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson, freckle-faced Long Islander, Lindsay Lohan, won the role. Although she was just 11 years old when she was cast, she had an impressive resume. As the lovely redhead grew into adulthood, she continued to impress critics and gain fans of all ages – but most particularly, the ‘tween set who grew up along with her. After making her star-making turn in the hit comedy, “Mean Girls,” and her first adult romance with actor Wilmer Valderrama, Lohan became a favorite of the press. But once the still underage actress began hitting the town, losing drastic weight and getting into numerous fender benders – to say nothing of her numerous trips to the hospital for various reasons – it was then that the tabloids and blog sites began referencing her wild child ways more than her still consistently good work on screen.
Born July 2, 1986 in New York City, NY, Lindsay Morgan Lohan was the oldest child of four born to mother Dina Lohan, a former Radio City Rockette, and Michael Lohan, a long-time Wall Street trader. Their daughter began modeling at age three and was purported to be the first red-haired child signed by the Ford Modeling Agency. TV commercials for various products followed, including a Jell-O spot with pitchman Bill Cosby. Lohan also had recurring roles on two daytime dramas – CBS' "Guiding Light" and as Ali Fowler on NBC's "Another World" – before she landed the first movie role for which she ever auditioned. Playing twins separated at birth – one American and one British – for "The Parent Trap" remake, she turned in a delightful and skilled performance which led to numerous offers for the youngster. Lohan next filmed the telepic "Life-Size" (2000) – originally a "Wonderful World of Disney" production later released on home video – opposite Tyra Banks as a Barbie-style doll come-to-life – part of Lohan's three-picture deal with Disney. In 2000, Lohan was cast as Bette Midler's teen daughter on the short-lived CBS sitcom, "Bette" (2000). After shooting the pilot episode, the show's producers decided it would be easier on the L.A.-based crew if filming moved to California, so Lindsay gave up the role to stay in New York.
Finding consistent work, Lohan next played Lexy Gold in the Disney Channel telepic, "Get a Clue" (2002). The young actress also pursued a musical career when Emilio Estefan, Jr. took her under his professional wing in 2002, offering up a five-album production deal and the promise of an aggressive effort to sell her popular style "with a rock edge" to a major record label. The busy youngster also worked as a model for Abercrombie & Fitch Kids (A&F Kids) and Calvin Klein Kids.
Lohan continued her relationship with the Mouse Factory, signing on to play Anna Coleman in the theatrical remake of the body-swapping comedy "Freaky Friday" (2003) opposite Jamie Lee Curtis as the mother-and-daughter team who wake up one day in each other's bodies. The film was a surprise summer hit, generating over $100 million at the box office and raising Lohan's profile even further. Also helpful was a well reported public feud with fellow teen queen Hilary Duff, after the two briefly shared a boyfriend, singer Aaron Carter. Like Duff, she also incorporated her singing career into her acting gig, with the "Freaky Friday" soundtrack including her debut single, "Ultimate." Lohan returned to the big screen by carrying the chick-flick comedy, "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen" (2004) on her solo shoulders. In the film, Lohan played Lola, an egocentric teen uprooted from her home town who feels the world revolves around her and finds herself competing for attention in Manhattan, using grander and grander schemes. The actress provided vocals on four songs from the film's soundtrack, including "Drama Queen (That Girl)," "What Are You Waiting For," "A Day in the Life" and a medley that incorporated the original song "Don't Move On" with her take on Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City" and David Bowie's "Changes."
Next up was a slightly edgier role – one that would make her an international star and change the course of her life, elevating her to A-list status. Taking on the lead in "Mean Girls" (2004), a funny if familiar comedy penned by Tina Fey, which explored the in-fighting amongst a clique of catty high school girls, Lohan helped lead the film to box office success and watched it firmly cement her star power – this time, even beyond her teen and 'tween core audience. Under the wing of new mentor Tommy Mottola, the famed head of Sony Music, Lohan also released her first full album, Speak, which swiftly achieved platinum status and featured the single "Rumors," in which she decried the gossipy buzz that had begun to surround her every move.
Indeed, the young actress' rapidly maturing body and youthful sex appeal – combined with a burgeoning reputation for enjoying the Hollywood night life, despite being underage – suddenly made her regular fodder for celebrity gossip. These same publications dutifully covered her denials about having received breast implants, her brief 2004 relationship with TV actor Wilmer Valderrama, her alleged hard-partying ways, an aggressive paparazzi pursuit that resulted in a fender bender, and – after her figure had turned voluptuous and her titian hair became her trademark – her eyebrow-raising rapid weight loss (which the actress attributed to a healthier lifestyle) and new look as a bottled blonde. The actress also had to deal with press reports regarding her estranged father Michael Lohan, whose alleged substance abuse and short temper (he reportedly threatened the lives of his ex-wife and children) resulted in several brushes with the law, including a legal restraining order preventing him from contact with his family and jail time for a litany of legal offenses, including assaulting his brother-in-law at his son's first communion party, violating terms of his restraining order and a 2005 drunk driving crash in which his vehicle struck a utility pole in Long Island and caught fire. Further estranging his famous daughter, he also sought to claim a percentage of his offspring's earnings.
Despite all the lurid press, Lohan's popularity continued unabated and Disney cast her in further family fare, this time in the remake of the studio's famous "Love Bug" franchise, "Herbie: Fully Loaded" (2005) as a young girl who inherits the legendary Volkswagen Beetle and takes it to the NASCAR race circuit. The Mouse House did have some concerns about the voluptuous Lohan's image in regards to how their young audience might react, spending considerable sums to digitally decrease her growing bust size after it was deemed distracting.
In 2005, a mounting pile of scandalous headlines began plaguing the actress. She was rushed to the hospital during filming of “Herbie,” reportedly due to “exhaustion.” This would not be the last time Lohan would be hospitalized for a variety of ailments. She was in her second auto accident of the year, again blaming pursuing paparazzi. Her private life made headlines for the umpteenth time that year when she confessed to Vanity Fair that she had indeed experienced an eating disorder earlier that year – specifically, bulimia – that accounted for her significant weight loss and that she was shocked back to healthier ways after being confronted by "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ) producer Lorne Michaels and head writer Tina Fey while hosting the show that year. She also admitted to experimenting with drugs. The cover story was released just as Lohan was hospitalized for a reported asthma attack in Miami after ringing in 2006. Within a week, Lohan denied having made the statements to the magazine, saying her words were "misconstrued." The magazine stood by the story.
After moving on from Disney – and consequently her childhood image – Lohan began taking on more womanly parts in impressive ensembles and holding her own opposite some of Hollywood's most admired talents. She joined the impressive cast of Emilio Estevez's independent film "Bobby" (2006) – which included Anthony Hopkins and Sharon Stone – about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, and costarred opposite Oscar-winner Meryl Streep in Robert Altman's last film, "A Prairie Home Companion" – both released in 2006. She costarred with her reported off-screen love interest, Jared Leto, in "Chapter 27" (2007), an indie film about a woman who befriends Mark David Chapman during the weekend that he kills John Lennon in New York City. Although she continued to land roles in impressive films opposite heavyweight actors like Jane Fonda in "Georgia Rule" (2007) – the film she was making when its producers made public a scolding letter to curb her on set tardiness from all the partying – Lohan's increasingly erratic behavior and seemingly non-stop personal drama began shifting the focus from her undeniable onscreen talent to being the punchline of jokes.
For La Lohan, as she was being called on the internet, 2006 was more one long banner tabloid headline than a focus on career. If she was not caught getting out of boats and cars sans panties, she was getting into fights with fellow party girls like Paris Hilton. In fact, Hilton and her fellow trust fund baby, Brandon Davis, coined the term, “firecr*tch” in reference to Lohan, after both were caught on tape by TMZ.com mocking the actress in graphic terms. Celebrity bloggers and tabloids lived for Lohan's every move throughout the year, reporting gleefully on her relationships gone awry – including a summer romance with restaurant heir, Harry Morton – or her numerous trips to the hospital for "exhaustion." It was little wonder, that by year's end, GQ magazine named Lohan their “Obsession of the Year." At the time the magazine threw their annual party to celebrate their year-end issue, Lohan allegedly made a scene after seeing her ex-personal assistant in attendance and forced Al Gore to publicly denounce having spoken at length with her that night. Following only days later, the press reported – and Lohan later confirmed but downplayed – that a doctor was called to the Chateau Marmont for a rumored Lohan overdose. This shocking announcement was followed in quick succession by her mother Dina Lohan admitting on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show that her daughter had begun attending Alcoholics Anonymous.
Fans hoped that the actress would ease up on her fast track lifestyle and get back to the basics – her undeniable ability to light up the big screen with her luminous beauty and charm. Only weeks into the new year, however, Lohan was back in the news for entering rehab, reportedly at Wonderland Treatment Center in L.A., and released the statement that ""I have made a proactive decision to take care of my personal health. I appreciate your well wishes and ask that you please respect my privacy at this time." For a spell, it seemed as though she had her priorities in order. But on May 26, 2007, Lohan was driving down Sunset Boulevard at 5:30 am and lost control of her Mercedes-Benz, crashing into a hedge and fleeing the scene of the accident. Police found a small amount of what they believed was a “usable amount” of cocaine. Three days after the accident, Lohan checked herself into Promises Treatment Center in Malibu, CA. She left rehab in late-June and voluntarily agreed to wear an alcohol-monitoring device, something she enjoyed showing off to friends and paparazzi while being seen partying about town.
Then on July 2, 2007, Lohan turned 21 and was finally able to drink legally. A couple of weeks later, she quietly surrendered to Beverly Hills Police for her Memorial Day weekend incident and faced charges for a misdemeanor hit and run, and driving under the influence. Mere days after turning herself in, however, Lohan was again the victim of her own circumstances. On July 24, 2007, the of-age starlet was arrested in Santa Monica shortly after midnight. Police said they received a frantic call of a car chase on Pico Boulevard – it turned out that the vehicle in pursuit was driven by Lohan, and the vehicle being chased was driven by the mother of Lohan’s personal assistant, who had quit her employment earlier in the evening. Lohan was taken into custody in the parking lot of the Santa Monica Civic Center, registering a blood alcohol level of about 0.12, well above the California legal limit of 0.08. She was later charged with suspicion of drunken driving, possession of cocaine, bringing a controlled substance into custody and driving on a suspended license. Lohan was released on $25,000 bail and was set to be arraigned on August 24, 2007 – the same day she was scheduled to appear in Beverly Hills for her Memorial Day weekend DUI.
Paris Hilton
The great-granddaughter of famed hotelier Conrad Hilton and co-heir to the Hilton fortune, socialite Paris Hilton stridently endeavored to make her own mark in the world – and for the most part, succeeded. Alongside her younger sister, Nicky, Paris Hilton became one of the first media-dubbed "celebutantes” – a term used to describe a growing trend of young, attractive party girl socialites-turned-models/actresses and quasi-celebs. Regardless, whether you loved her or hated her, one could not deny the impact Hilton had on media and pop culture....Full Biography
The great-granddaughter of famed hotelier Conrad Hilton and co-heir to the Hilton fortune, socialite Paris Hilton stridently endeavored to make her own mark in the world – and for the most part, succeeded. Alongside her younger sister, Nicky, Paris Hilton became one of the first media-dubbed "celebutantes” – a term used to describe a growing trend of young, attractive party girl socialites-turned-models/actresses and quasi-celebs. Regardless, whether you loved her or hated her, one could not deny the impact Hilton had on media and pop culture. Rightly or wrongly, by making a lucrative career of doing essentially nothing, Hilton – and those who followed in her footsteps – truly helped re-define the word “celebrity” for the new millennium.
Born in New York City, NY on Feb. 17, 1981, Paris Whitney Hilton was the first of four children born to Richard Hilton and Kathy Richards. She spent most of her youth growing up in the world famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan, which her grandfather, Conrad, had bought during the Great Depression. Hilton’s three siblings included a sister, Nicky Hilton, and two brothers, Barron Hilton II and Conrad Hilton III.
Upon graduating high school in 2000, the heiress immediately embarked on her quest for fame, first by modeling for such famed fashion designers as Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Bouwer and Catherine Malandrin; then, as a cover girl for numerous magazines, including GQ, Vanity Fair and FHM. An instant hit with the paparazzi, though largely unknown outside of N.Y.C. and L.A., Hilton received generous media attention for her love life. At the turn of the new millennium, the press romantically linked her to “Titanic” (1997) star, Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as such other eligible young celebs as actor Edward Furlong, boxing champ Oscar de la Hoya, and Tommy Hilfiger model, Jason Shaw.
Teamed with her tamer-by-comparison sister, Nicky, Hilton pioneered a career for herself as a professional socialite. Bouncing from party to party, she generated an impressive amount of publicity, thanks to her dazzling wardrobe and well-planned photo ops. Inevitably, her high profile and constant close proximity to celebrities made her one in her own right. To complement her newfound stardom, Hilton also adopted a flashy – though not always flattering – public persona as the ultimate “spoiled rich girl.” Her penchant for self-absorption and arrogance made for sensational tabloid headlines.
Much to the chagrin of trained and/or struggling actresses everywhere, Hilton’s barely-there fashion statements, constant cell phone usage and penchant for dancing atop nightclub tables eventually opened the doors to an actual acting career – of a sort. Usually cast as herself or someone very similar, Hilton made her film debut in “Zoolander” (2000), a Ben Stiller-Owen Wilson comedy about male fashion modeling. Hilton’s next cameo was in “Wonderland” (2003), a noir-like drama about a down-and out John C. Holmes, the ex-porn star who was caught up in a late 1970’s multiple murder case involving his former drug dealers. Another cameo was tacked on her resume when Hilton played a clubgoer in the big budget kiddy flick, “The Cat in the Hat” (2003) starring Mike Myers.
It was on television, however, that Hilton gained national recognition as the star of “The Simple Life” (Fox, 2003- ), a candid reality show which followed Hilton and life-long friend, Nicole Richie (daughter of pop singer Lionel Richie), in a series of unscripted misadventures. In the first season, Hilton and Richie ditched the glamorous Manhattan social scene and were relocated to an Arkansas farm, where they were forced to bail hay and milk cows. Seeing Hilton and Richie out of their element as they struggled to survive their discomfort provided the basis for much of the show’s comedy. To be fair, the premiere of “The Simple Life” received a huge ratings boost for one reason and one reason only –a certain VHS-captured sex romp that at first, may have haunted Hilton, but ultimately made her a household name almost overnight.
At the time Hilton was beginning to do press for her hoped-for-hit show in the fall of 2003, rumors popped up about a videotape of Hilton having sex with ex-boyfriend, Rick Salomon, who also happened to be the ex-husband of actress Shannen Doherty. Though the heiress and her lawyers initially denied the existence of such a tape, Hilton finally acknowledged her participation, once a three-minute teaser was spread far and wide across the Internet. To mitigate the damage, the Hilton family’s P.R. team went so far as to imply that their client may have been drugged – a move that later spurred Salomon to file a $10 million slander suit against the Hiltons. Many suspected that Salomon himself (or someone in his circle) was responsible for leaking the video, though this was never proven. In any case, the subject of the X-rated video would provide fodder for public discussion and late night comedy monologues for weeks to come. In response, a humiliated Hilton retreated from the limelight – albeit, only temporarily.
After the sex tape heard round the world boosted ratings for "The Simple Life," subsequently, a second season was green-lighted. Par for the course, however, each new season seemed to arrive with another public Paris mishap. In 2004, Hilton’s tiny Chihuahua, Tinkerbelle, went missing, causing a media furor (the dog was ultimately discovered and returned to her mistress unharmed). In 2005, computer hackers cracked open the contents of the Hilton’s Sidekick device and posted much of the material on the Internet. In addition to publishing the cell phone numbers and email addresses for such celebrity cohorts as Lindsay Lohan, the hackers also posted topless digital camera shots of Hilton passionately kissing a female Latin MTV personality.
In 2005, Hilton appeared in her first major film role as an insecure, possibly pregnant student named Paige in the warmed-over horror remake, “House of Wax.” While the film was panned by most critics, a few actually singled out Hilton’s performance as being the single most entertaining component of the film. At the same time, Hilton announced that her friendship with Nicole Richie had reached an impasse after several seasons of “The Simple Life.” Rumors abounded for months as to what this announcement would mean for their still popular reality show. However, after several months of speculation, Fox announced that both heiresses would return for a new season – together, no less. Despite this announcement, Fox later decided to dump the show from its 2005-06 schedule. After shopping the series around to other networks, E! Entertainment finally agreed to pick up “The Simple Life” for a fourth season.
Hilton next stoked controversy with a 2005 TV spot for Carl's Jr.'s Spicy BBQ Six-Dollar Burger. Clad only in a plunging black bathing suit and stiletto heels, the ad consisted of Hilton seductively washing a Bentley while eating a burger, amid the strains of Cole Porter's "I Love Paris" playing in the background. Obviously and overtly sexual, the ad drew instant criticism – most vocally from the Los Angeles-based Parents Television Council, which called it little more than "soft core porn." As expected, Hilton simply parlayed the controversy into more work. In 2005, Hilton landed a starring role in – and a producer credit! – on "National Lampoon's Pledge This!" In a less-than-huge stretch, Hilton, this time, played the president of an elitist sorority at fictional South Beach University.
Hilton’s tumultuous personal life continued to grab her headlines. In 2005, Hilton split from her fortuitously named fiancée, Greek shipping heir Paris Latsis, after a four-month engagement. Within weeks, she was involved with another Greek shipping heir, Stavros Niarchos. Away from the cameras, Hilton also got a good deal of publicity for her real-life run-ins with the law. In September 2006, Hilton was arrested and charged with driving under the influence after blowing a .08 blood alcohol level on a sobriety test. Pleading no contest to the charge, Hilton was fined $1,500 and was placed on 36 months of probation. Clearly not one to learn her lesson without a fight, however, Hilton would regrettably tempt the fates – a mistake she would come to sorely regret – approximately six months later. In March 2007, Hilton violated her probation by being busted once again, this time for a myriad of violations including speeding, driving with a suspended license, and failing to enroll in a court-ordered alcohol education program. Sentenced to 45 days in jail, Hilton promptly filed an appeal, claiming that the sentence was unnecessarily harsh. As expected by this time, Hilton got little sympathy from the court, nor the public, which had grown increasingly disenchanted with her spoiled behavior. In fact, dueling petitions competed on the web, with many people on the “Free Paris” bandwagon – but not surprisingly, even more people eager – nay, gleeful, even – to see the pampered socialite enter the big house.
On May 9, 2007, just days after her sentencing, Hilton issued a public statement through her attorney, Richard Hutton. Sounding noticeably more contrite than she had ever been before, Hilton accepted the responsibility and consequences of her actions. Ending with a plea for understanding and fairness, Hilton closed her statement with the following: “No one is above the law. I surely am not. I do not expect to be treated better than anyone else who violated probation. However, my hope is that I will not be treated worse.” After attending the MTV Movie Awards on June 3, Hilton voluntarily turned herself into police two days early to begin her sentence at a woman's prison in Lynwood, CA. However, much to the dismay of almost every American hoping for a full 45 day sentence served, Hilton was released by Sheriff Lee Bacca to ride out the rest of her sentence at home, wearing an electrical monitoring device – the reason cited, being an undisclosed medical condition. An outraged Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer – who had specifically sentenced her to serve her time without the option of house detention – ordered her back to court on June 8. Much to the dismay of Hilton and her family in attendance, in the courtroom, Judge Sauer demanded she return to Lynwood to finish the remainder of her term, which had technically already been reduced to 23 days. Hilton was reportedly taken away, screaming "It's not right!" and crying out for her mother. This reversal of fortune became instant headline news around the world, as did her eventual release from prison on June 26. Looking pretty as a picture, the heiress walked out of the facility, past throngs of photogs to hug her parents, who waited for her in the car. Declaring herself a "changed woman," Paris gave her first print interview to People magazine and her first television interview to "Larry King Live" – in which she declared she had learned her lesson, did not like the food, and that her mysterious and often speculated about ailments while locked up were extreme claustrophobia and ADD.
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