‘I have a surprise!’ -Pregnant Beyoncé

The singer made the surprise announcement as she debuted her baby bump on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards tonight.

Wearing a long orange gown by Lanvin, the 29-year-old clutched her visible bump and told assembled press: ‘I have a surprise!’

Scroll down to see Beyoncé’s performance of Love On Top

Baby bliss: Beyonce has revealed she is expecting her first baby with husband Jay-Z

The singer didn’t let her pregnancy prevent her from bringing the house down with an energetic performance.

She cheered on her husband Jay-Z, who performed new single Otis with Kanye West, before taking to the stage herself.

Arriving onstage in a purple glittery blazer and black trousers by Dolce & Gabbana, the mother-to-be said: ‘I want you to feel the love that’s growing inside of me.’

The singer glowed with happiness as she clutched her baby bump

 After a fabulous performance of Love On Top that attracted a standing ovation from the audience, Beyoncé ripped open her jacket and proudly rubbed baby bump.

The cameras panned to the audience where Jay-Z was beaming, as his friend Kanye jumped up and down, smacking the father-to-be on the back and shaking him.

Beyoncé performed at the Roseland Ballroom in New York on August 14, and covered up her stomach with a sheath of fabric that draped lightly across her protruding bump.

We say congratulations to the duo of Bee and Jay

 

“Rihanna is drunk more than she’s sober”

According to our confidential source within troubled singer Rihanna’s camp, the 23-year-old Bajan beauty is drowning her sorrows in expensive champagne. The source said Rihanna is “drunk more than she’s sober.”

The source said Rihanna, who is vacationing with friends in Portofino, Italy, begins her days by either getting high off pot or drunk.

The situation has gotten so bad that, in order to protect their investment, Rihanna’s handlers surround her with loyal friends from her native Barbados –because one friend alone can’t stop her from hurting herself. Her friends counsel her about drinking in moderation but she won’t listen. She’s like a brat who does whatever she wants.

“It’s a group effort; her friends watch how much liquor she consumes, and if she doesn’t stop drinking they gang up on her,” said the source.

Ironically, Rihanna just recently wrapped shooting a music video for her current hit single “Cheers (I’ll Drink To That)”. She was spotted snorkeling earlier today. Hopefully, she was sober.

China bans songs by Lady Gaga, Backstreet Boys

American pop star Lady Gaga in Singaporein July 2011. China has banned websites from …
China has banned websites from featuring 100 songs by artists from Lady Gaga to the Backstreet Boys, a statement on the culture ministry’s website said.
The ministry said it aimed to regulate the “order” of the Internet music market, adding songs that “harm the security of state culture must be cleaned up and regulated under the law”.
The notice, issued on August 19 and posted on the ministry’s website, included American singer Lady Gaga’s “The Edge of Glory”, “Hair”, “Marry the Night” and “Bloody Mary”.
It did not explain why the songs were banned but China routinely censors anything it considers politically sensitive or offensive.
While “Bloody Mary” ends with the line “Oh, liberdade, mi amor (Oh, freedom, my love)”, “Hair” includes the lyrics “This is my prayer/ That I’ll die living just as free as my hair”.
Boy-band The Backstreet Boys, American R&B singer Beyonce, Canada’s Simple Plan and British pop group Take That all had songs on the list — the third to be issued by China’s government.
Asian artists with songs banned included Taiwan’s Chang Hui-mei, who previously ran foul of the Beijing government after singing the Taiwan anthem at the inauguration of former Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian in 2000.
China, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory, temporarily banned her from mainland performances and pulled her product advertisements.
Authorities have reportedly blocked some foreign bands from performing live in China, or scrutinised set lists in advance to nix songs considered offensive.
The official squeamishness over headline foreign performances was heightened when Iceland’s Bjork closed a 2008 Shanghai show by shouting “Tibet!” at the end of her song, “Declare Independence”.
Since 2010, China has required all songs posted on music websites to receive prior approval, in a move the government said was partly aimed at rampant piracy.

Lady Gaga to design fashion range with ‘even edgier’ sister

Meat dresses, lobster hats, leather corsets, rubber gowns… Lady Gaga’s penchant for the outrageous and the unusual is so great that her music has at times been almost eclipsed by her headline-grabbing outfits.

Many were made bespoke under the sobriquet House Of Gaga and in partnership with close friend and stylist Nicola Formichetti, who called Gaga’s approach to fashion ‘fresh’. ‘Me and Gaga, our motto is ‘f*** fashion’ because we love it so much we want to destroy it and start again and keep it fresh.’

Given this desire to push sartorial boundaries, it was only a matter of time before Gaga poured that flair into a collection of her own.

 Surprisingly though, the line will not be designed alongside Nicola Formichetti.

Instead, Lady Gaga is teaming up with her younger sister, Natali Germanotta, 19, a fledgling fashion designer who has just completed her first year studying fashion design at Parsons The New School for Design in New York.

The two have worked together before, with Natali making a cameo appearance as a prison inmate in Gaga’s 2010 video for the hit Telephone.

Creative duo: Lady Gaga, right, is set to design a collection with her fashion designer sister, Nicola Germanotta, 19, left

Despite friends saying Natali is ‘even edgier’ than Lady Gaga, the collection will be ‘relatively normal and wearable,’ according to Grazia magazine.

‘Gaga came up with the idea of remodelling the styles of classic icons from the past, for example Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and Katharine Hepburn,’ a source told the magazine.

‘Natali loved the idea and she’s coming up with a slew of design options but, of course, everything will have their own iconic twist on it.’

Rumoured to feature in the collection is a rubber version of Marilyn Monroe’s white halterneck dress from Some Like It Hot, and the iconic black Audrey Hepburn shift, redesigned with a plunging neckline.

While there has been no official confirmation of the collaboration, Formichetti has hinted at the upcoming project on Twitter, saying Natali is set to become ‘a big player’ in the fashion world

Lil Wayne ‘Recovering’ after Receiving Nine Stitches for Gashing his Head at Skate Park

Rapper Lil Wayne is recovering after gashing his head at a St Louis skate park.

The 28-year-old hip hop star received nine stitches last night at the DePaul Health Centre’s Emergency Room where he is said to have arrived with a large entourage.

Wayne, real name Dwayne Carter Jr. tweeted about his accident today.
‘The Lou was good but I busted my head at the sk8park! 9stitches! Gnarly gash over my left eye! Luv the people.’
The 28-year-old star had earlier performed a gig at the outdoor Verizon Amphitheatre in the city.

He today also tweeted his reassurance to worried fans, before telling them he intended to improve his skateboarding skills.
‘Thx to u all for the concern but pls know that I will eventually take even harder falls if I wanna get better…and I will,’ he wrote.
Meanwhile, it was also announced that the rapper will release his new album The Carter IV in digital format after Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards where he will also perform.

His 2008 album The Carter III, was the best selling album of that year.
Wayne’s latest effort will be his first album since his release from jail last November where he served eight months after pleading guilty to a weapons charge.

The album, which includes collaborations with Drake, John Legend, T-Pain and Busta Rhymes, will be in stores on August 29.
‘I am extremely excited to be the first artist to utilise such an amazing idea,’ Lil Wayne said in a statement. ‘I hope that I can open the door for others.’

The Video Music Awards is among MTV’s most watched programmes, with approximately 11.4 million viewers tuning in to last year’s show.
This year’s show sees performances from Adele, Lady Gaga, Chris Brown and Bruno Mars.

BET, MTV BASE TO HONOR AALIYAH WITH ‘TRIBUTE SPECIAL’

It has been eight years since Aaliyah Dana Haughton passed away. The whole world went agog when it was announced that the 22-year-old singer lost her life tragic plane crash in the Bahamas on Thursday, August 25, 2001 after filming the music video for the song ‘Rock the boat’.

In remembrance of the late R&B singer, Black Entertainment Television (BET) andMTV Base will be honouring the accomplishments of the recording artist, actress and model before her untimely death.

The details of the ‘tribute special’ have not been announced but the network channels have hinted that they will be highlighting past videos and movies which the singer/actress.

In a somewhat short career, the Detroit, Michigan born singer released three albums Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number (1994), One in a Million (1996), and the self titled Aaliyah in 2001.

UPDATE: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith: ‘We Are Still Together’

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are still happily married.

After a day of buzz following a tabloid report that they have separated after 13 years of marriage, the couple have put a stop to the rumors.

“Although we are reluctant to respond to these types of press reports, the rumors circulating about our relationship are completely false,” the couple said in a joint statement Tuesday.

“We are still together, and our marriage is intact.”

Earlier Tuesday, In Touch magazine reported that the couple, married 13 years, was separating.

Will’s son Trey later took to Twitter to report that the rumors were false.

“Did Will and Jada split? No they did NOT split,” he wrote. “False information, it’s not true.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s First Post-Scandal Movie Starts Shooting This October

He’ll be back…pretty soon!

Last month, we heard that Arnold Schwarzenegger signed on for his first post-scandal movie called Last Stand, which is a western flick that’s been in development at Lionsgate for a long time.

Here’s what a Lionsgate exec had to say about it at the time: Read the rest of this entry »

HOW MANY PRESIDENTSOR EX-PRESIDENTS ARE LIKE THIS ON THE STREET? Bill and Hillary stroll arm in arm down the street

Strolling arm in arm through the streets of New York, former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary indulge in a rare public display of affection.

The pair looked relaxed on a shopping trip along Madison Avenue and chatted and waved to onlookers as they strolled down the street.

But it appears that – even in his wife’s presence – ah! eyin le mo jare.  Mr Clinton has not lost his eye for the ladies. He stopped to chat to a blonde woman before he and Mrs Clinton got into a secret service vehicle a few blocks away.

 Former president Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary stroll arm in arm during a shopping trip in New York

The relaxed nature of their outing could fuel rumours that Secretary of State Mrs Clinton, 63, is about to step down from public life.

She has previously admitted she could not see herself remaining in office if President Obama wins a second term next year- abi oh she needs to retire soon, whatcha think?

And she has ruled herself out of running for the presidency again after she was beaten in the Democratic primary by Mr Obama in 2008.

When asked if she could see herself in office after 2012, she said: ‘No, I really can’t.

‘The whole eight (years), I mean that would be very challenging. But I… don’t want to make any predictions sitting here.’

The former president is distracted by a blonde as he strolls along Madison Avenue with his wife….hmmmmmmm!

Mr Clinton and his wife appear to have patched up their differences after the Monica Lewinsky scandal during his time in the White House.

The former president has become a world statesman since leaving office through his work with the Clinton Global Initiative.

Mrs Clinton is rarely pictured with her husband as she spends a great deal of her time abroad in her role as Secretary of State.

But it may be that the Clintons are preparing to remove themselves from the public eye after decades on the front line.

Terrifying inferno guts Sir Richard Branson’S £60m paradise island

This smouldering wreckage is all that remains today of ‘s luxury Caribbean home after it was razed to the ground by fire. 

The multi-million-pound Great House on Necker, the Virgin tycoon’s £60million private island, caught fire after it was struck by lightning in the early hours of Monday when the region was battered by Hurricane Irene.

And the tycoon revealed that as his family and guests fled for their lives the Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet carried his 90-year-old mother Eve to safety.

All that’s left of Sir Richard Branson’s luxury home is a smouldering ruin

 

Fire in paradise? The wreck of Branson’s luxury home billows smoke over the beautiful coast of Necker Island

Winslet and her two children were among the VIP guests at the ravaged the wood and stone mansion and ran into the night air in just their pyjamas.

According to Sir Richard, courageous Miss Winslet acted like a true Hollywood heroine as she swept his 90-year-old mother Eve into her arms and helped carry her to safety as the mansion crumbled around them.

Also present in the 20-strong party was Sir Richard’s 29-year-old daughter Holly, who had been due to marry at the eight-bedroom property, which boasts stunning views of white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, on November 20.

 Sir Richard, 61, was staying in another villa around 100 yards away with his wife Joan and son Sam and apparently ran naked towards the flames shortly after 4am.

Sam, 25, who had heard explosions coming from the house and raised the alarm, bravely rushed inside to help the guests get out. Fortunately there were no injuries.

Sir Richard said: ‘Around 20 people were in the house and they all managed to get out and they are all fine.

Hero of the hour: Actress Kate Winslet,up, and her young children were among the guests rescued by Sir Richard’s son Sam, down, after the fire broke out on Necker Island

‘We had a really bad tropical storm with winds up to 90mph. A big lightning storm came around 4am and hit the house. It took hold incredibly quickly, with flames 100ft high. It ripped through the house very quickly.

‘Sam heard explosions in the main house and raised the alarm. He and my nephew Jack rushed to the house and helped get everyone out.

‘Kate Winslet, her boyfriend and her family were there and Holly and some of her friends were also staying. My mother was there and they managed to get her out and she is fine.

‘The main house is completely destroyed and the fire is not yet completely out. My office was based in the house and I have lost thousands of photographs and my notebooks, which is very sad. But all family and friends are well – which in the end is all that really matters.’

Of Miss Winslet’s role, Sir Richard told ITV News: ‘It was she who carried my mother out of the house. She said it was like being on a film set where you’re waiting for the words “cut” but they just don’t come. So it was quite surreal for her to be in a real-life situation.

‘She carried my Mum out of the house. My Mum is 90 and can walk but it was more just to speed the process up than anything else but anyway, she was great. She swept her up into her arms and got them out of the house as fast as possible.’

Miss Winslet, who won an Oscar for her role in the 2008 movie The Reader, has a daughter Mia, ten, from her first marriage to Jim Threapleton, and a son, Joe, seven, by second husband, director Sam Mendes, from whom she is separated. She is believed to be dating model Louis Dowler.

Sir Richard recalled how he rushed towards the flames naked in order to try to save his family.

‘It was terrifying for me because my daughter and nephews, nieces, friends were all staying in the house so I just ran, naked, towards the house to try to make sure I could get people out,’ he said.

Watching helplessly as the home of Richard Branson burns on his private Necker Island

Fire rages at the luxury property but thankfully all guests managed to flee to safety

Yesterday it was still raining heavily, according to staff who were surveying the smouldering damage, and the fire still wasn’t entirely put out.

Dramatic photographs released by Sir Richard showed flames consuming the stunning mansion, which he built in 1982 in ‘Balinese’ style, with open-air bedrooms overlooking the ocean.

The island, which he bought for £180,000 in 1979, is used by both family members and friends but can also be rented for £34,000 a night.

Ever the optimist, Sir Richard said he was determined to rebuild the property. ‘It’s very much the Dunkirk Spirit here,’ he said. ‘We want to rebuild the house as soon as we can. We have a wonderful staff here and we want them to stay in work.

‘We’ll all stay here for the time being. There’s a lot of damage and we won’t be able to stick it back together again right away. It was a beautiful house.

‘We will rebuild the house as soon as we can. We’ll all stay here. There’s a lot of damage but we’ll create something even more special out of the ruins.’

Idyll: The Great House on Necker Island before the blaze completely destroyed it

the Haven before the inferno

The living room of the Great House on Necker Island

 

Sir Richard Branson and his wife Joan

For the time being Sir Richard and his party will take over six exotic ‘Bali’ style villas dotted over the island.

A spokesman for Virgin could not confirm whether Holly Branson’s wedding to shipbroker Freddie Andrews, due to take place there on November 20, would still go ahead.

But sources close to the tycoon said: ‘They are really quite a remarkable family. They just get on with it. They are already sitting round as a family coming up with new design ideas. It is amazing really.’

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have sent text messages of support, friends of the couple told the Daily Mail.

Hurricane Irene is now heading for the U.S., with Florida in its sights. Winds of more than 100mph could reach the U.S. coastline by the end of the week, forecasters said.

Residents and holidaymakers in the region hugely popular with British tourists in the peak summer season have been urged to prepare with evacuation orders possible by midweek.

Storm warnings have also been issued for holiday spots including the Dominican Republic, the British Virgin Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. And there is a possibility that Hurricane Irene could hit land in Haiti, where 600,000 people are still living without shelter in the aftermath of last year’s devastating earthquake.

Puerto Ricans awoke yesterday to flooded and debris-strewn streets as the hurricane pounded the U.S. island territory.

Trees were uprooted, rivers overflowed their banks and more than a million homes were left without power, but there were no reports of any deaths.

As much as ten inches is expected to be dumped on Puerto Rico before the storm passes.

Sir Branson is a columnist for Sunday Punch, we commiserate with him.