Britney's New Man, Richie Arrested For DUI

The New York Daily News reports that celebrity socialite NICOLE RICHIE was arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Tuesday morning when she was found parked in the fast "carpool" lane, facing the wrong direction.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) were alerted by two separate 911 calls after Richie drove east in the westbound lanes of the 134 Freeway in Burbank. When the CHP approached her car - completely stopped in the left hand while oncoming traffic swerved around her - Richie was chatting on her cell phone. Richie was not drunk, but admitted that she was high on vicodin and marijuana.

A CHP officer said, "Someone could have been killed or seriously injured in a situation like this. She must have done a U-turn to change direction from eastbound to westbound, but she was at a complete stop in the carpool lane. Public safety was endangered. She was alone in the vehicle. She said she was lost and had been trying to follow some friends, but there were no friends around."

Richie was booked at 4:50 a.m. on Tuesday and was released about 3 hours later.

In related news, Internet gossip site TMZ reported that Richie pled no contest four years ago to DUI charges, which means that if she is found guilty of the same charges this time, the judge must impose a jail sentence.

TMZ has learned that, “The law requires a mandatory sentence of five consecutive days in county jail as well as a one year license suspension for anyone twice-convicted of DUI. In addition, Richie would be ordered to attend an alcohol education program for a year-and-a-half, even if the second conviction is not alcohol-related.”

In 2002, she was arrested for driving 50 miles per hour in a 15 mph zone near UCLA. She had a .13 blood alcohol level. In California, .08 is considered intoxicated. Six months later, she was convicted for possession of heroin and driving on a suspended license.

And if that wasn’t enough, Us magazine reports that Richie is telling close friends that the reason she was on Vicodin was to treat painful menstruation cramps. Yup, she was on her period! Richie's allegedly upset over media reports that she's addicted to pills and insists she only "occasionally" takes Vicodin once a month at the start of her period.

Richie is also extremely upset that cops listed her weight at 85 pounds on the official police report because "she's so proud of her weight gain," says the source, who adds that Richie has gained about ten pounds in the last two months and actually weighs around 95 pounds. "She doesn't know where the cops came up with 85 pounds and it's annoying to her."

MISS USA MAY BE DETHRONED
December 18, 2006

Tabloid website TMZ reported that pageant officials met Tuesday to discuss their extreme disappointment at Miss USA TARA CONNER’s alleged bad behavior, "including her conduct at New York City bars."

A spokeswoman for the Miss Universe Organization -- which produces the Miss USA pageant – stated that the Miss USA title holder is considered a role model and must act accordingly and behavior such as underage drinking is clearly prohibited.

According to the website, the organizers of the pageant announced Thursday that they are evaluating the "behavioral and personal issues" of the reigning winner and will decide her future within a week.

Pageant officials and business mogul DONALD TRUMP, who co-owns the Miss Universe Organization with NBC, would not say what Conner, 20, had done to prompt the serious evaluation.

"I can't really talk about it now," Trump said. "But we have to make a decision. There is no question about that."

The 5-foot-5 busty blonde Conner currently lives in New York. The Kentucky native has been competing in pageants since age 4. She won the title of Young Miss Russell County at the county fair when she was 13, and by 2002 she was second runner-up in Miss Teen USA. Conner was crowned Miss USA in April of 2006 and finished fourth in the Miss Universe pageant in July.

Trump said if Conner gets her crown stripped, first runner-up Miss California TAMIKO NASH would take over as Miss USA.

BRITNEY’S NEW MAN
December 18, 2006

The New York Post reports that pop superstar BRITNEY SPEARS was spotted kissing some mystery guy on Tuesday. Turns out the reported mystery man is actually music producer JONATHAN "J.R." ROTEM.

So who is this Rotem dude? The newspaper reports that Rotem’s a multi-platinum music producer who has worked with RIHANNA, 50 CENT, PARIS HILTON and, surprisingly, Spears’ ex, KEVIN FEDERLINE.

The two were caught on a date in Hollywood after weeks of buzz around Los Angeles that they’d hooked up. They were spotted kissing in public Sunday night and ended up going to see a movie before heading back to Rotem’s house in a limousine.

An onlooker said, "They looked like a couple in love. She sat on his lap and he stroked her back very tenderly. They seemed really into each other."

Spears, 25, filed for divorce from aspiring rapper Federline in early November citing "irreconcilable differences".

PARIS SNORTS HER DESSERTS?
December 18, 2006

Splash News reports that PARIS HILTON was spotted with some white residue in her nose yesterday after spending nearly $2,600 on lunch at Nellos restaurant in New York.

The hotel heiress was there with oil heir BRANDON DAVIS and the two left a $250 tip after ordering Caesar Salads followed by two $1050 dishes of Kobe Steaks with white truffles, a witness revealed.

In response to the suggestion that the white residue might be cocaine, Hilton’s tireless rep ELLIOTT MINTZ stated, "I can tell you Paris does not use narcotics. I would imagine [it's] something like whipped cream or a sugary substance from dessert. Something that naturally might have found it's way to onto her face if she touched her nose or whatever. I'd label it a stray dessert."

I can see a messy eater getting whipped cream on the tip of their nose or around their mouth, but in their nostrils?

YOKO ONO EXTORTION PLOT
December 18, 2006

New York Magazine reports that YOKO ONO – the widow of late Beatle frontman JOHN LENNON – was a victim of an alleged extortion plot.

Ono's personal chauffeur and bodyguard KORAL KARSAN was arrested on Monday for trying to bribe the 73-year-old woman for an astounding $2 million. Karsan allegedly threatened to leak embarrassing photos of Ono and hinted he would kill her and her son SEAN LENNON if he did not receive the huge sum.

Karsan -- who has worked for Ono for nearly six years -- was arrested by New York police after she reported the threats on Wednesday.

Ono's spokesman said, "She is one woman who has been through enough. For an employee - especially a trusted employee who drove her - to attempt a shakedown has left her just absolutely shocked."

Police officials said that on December 8, the 26th anniversary of Lennon's assassination, Karsan delivered a threatening note and a photo of the elderly widow in nightclothes to her apartment in New York's Dakota building, where she once lived with the former Beatle star.

In a later conversation with one of Ono's associates -- which was recorded by investigators -- the 50-year-old chauffeur talked about killing her, her son and himself.

Her spokesman added, "You're reminded that this takes place around that time of the anniversary, when she is in a particularly vulnerable position. It just adds insult to injury. This one's really cold."

ROMIJN AND O’CONNELL SET TO WED
December 18, 2006

Star Magazine reports that X-Men star REBECCA ROMIJN and actor JERRY O’CONNELL are set to wed.

A close source tells the magazine that after a 15-month engagement, Romijn and O'Connell finally agreed to hold an intimate wedding at their ranch near Los Angeles on January 6.

The 34-year-old former swimsuit model -- who was once married to ‘Full House’ star JOHN STAMOS for almost six years -- convinced her two-year younger fiancé to exchange vows at their Wagon Wheel Ranch before just 20 close friends and family.

"For Jerry, this will be his first marriage and he wanted to make it a big deal, but Rebecca held her ground," says a friend.

However, to compromise with the groom-to-be, "Rebecca agreed to let Jerry plan a party a few weeks after the wedding where everyone can get crazy!" adds another.

DICKINSON WAS A VICTIM OF A HIT N’ RUN
December 18, 2006

People Magazine reports that supermodel JANICE DICKINSON was the victim of a hit-n-run accident late Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Her reps tell the publication that the 51-year-old Dickinson was traveling in her SUV after a modeling shoot in Catalina when a truck driver ran into her vehicle, pushing it onto the highway median and throwing Dickinson headfirst into her windshield.

The self-proclaimed “first supermodel” suffered a concussion, while her stylist and makeup artist who were also onboard were "unharmed but shaken," her rep said in a statement.

The three were treated at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and released the following morning.

FRANCIS FACES FINES
December 18, 2006

According to Yahoo News, porn distributor JOE FRANCIS was recently ordered to pay $1.6 million for using underage girls in his infamous "Girls Gone Wild" video series. Francis reportedly violated article 2257, more specifically he filmed two nude 17-year-olds minors at Panama City Beach over spring break 2003.

Yahoo! News reports, “U.S. District Judge RICHARD SMOAK ordered Mantra's multimillionaire founder, Joe Francis, to read aloud in court a victim impact statement from one of the women, who said she was emotionally tormented by her appearance on a "Girls Gone Wild" video and that the video damaged her relationship with her family. Smoak told Francis he added the community service because it did not appear a fine would be a meaningful punishment. The fine represents less than 3 percent of Mantra's profits since 2002 and only 12 percent of Mantra's 2005 profits, Smoak said. "It does not take a very brave man to go out and corner a girl in the middle of spring break who had four drinks," Smoak told Francis.