LARRY BIRKHEAD GETS READY TO FIGHT TABLOIDS OVER GAY STORIES

The tabloids are going after Larry Birkhead

Anna Nicole Smith's ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead has hired top attorney Marty Singer to fight his defamation battles for him. Birkhead, who was named the biological father of Smith's baby daughter Dannielynn, is bracing himself for a slew of tabloid stories suggesting the photographer is both secretly gay and a womaniser. And he's reportedly hired high-powered lawyer Singer to take care of the libelous stories. Tmz.com claims Singer intends to sue some of the tabloids for defamation of character - on his client's behalf. Birkhead claims the tabloids are out to soil his good name after he sold the first family photos of him with his baby daughter exclusively to Britain's Ok! magazine.

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JENNIFER LOPEZ AND MARK ANTHONY FILE LAWSUITS AGAINST NATIONAL ENQUIRER

Jennifer Lynn Lopez, one of the richest Hispanic's in Hollywood according to Forbes magazine, and her husband Marc Anthony are suing the National Enquirer seeking "substantial damages" for a story which alleged the couple were linked to a drug scandal.They hired a Belfast-based lawyer Paul Tweed, a special lible lawyer, who told Reuters he had filed a lawsuit with the Belfast High Court on Tuesday, announcing they "will now make similar applications in Dublin, London and other jurisdictions." Paul Tweed said the Enquirer story was "totally unfounded.""It's virtually impossible to sue for libel in the United States because of First Amendment protections," Tweed explained to the Reuters news agency. "But these publications are now appearing in Ireland, the UK and France, and on the internet, and they're now subject to the libel laws of these jurisdictions." The article at question was published last month under the headline: "Jennifer and Marc Caught Up In Heroin Scandal". The March 12 article also reprinted a 2004 picture of Anthony standing beside photographer Michael Star, who is facing charges of heroin possession and child pornography in the U.S. Tweed told AP that actress-singer Lopez, 38, and singer Anthony, 37, were seeking "a six-figure settlement" from the Enquirer, based in Boca Raton, Fla., and its parent company, American Media Inc. A spokesman for AMI, Richie Valvo, said the company had no comment. "It would be our policy to not comment on it at this time, Valvo said. Lopez and Anthony married in a quiet home wedding on June 5, 2004, where guests had reportedly been invited to an "afternoon party" at Lopez's house and were not aware that they were actually going to the couple's wedding.

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LEONARDO DICAPRIO AND BAR RAFAELI TO TIE THE KNOT THIS JUNE IN ISRAEL

Leonardo DiCaprio and Bar Rafaeli are to marry this June, it has been reported.The 'Titanic' star is said to have secretly proposed to the Israeli model and they are already planning their big day. A source told the National Enquirer magazine: "Leo and Bar are ecstatic, as are both their families. Bar's mom and dad think Leo's a total gentleman and love the way he's treated their daughter."Although it may be a bit of a rush, they're thinking about getting married this June. That's when Bar turns 22."They say they'll probably have a private ceremony in Israel, then a big ring ceremony and party in the US towards the end of the year."The couple - who have been dating for 15 months - recently went on holiday together to Bar's home country of Israel.The source added: "The reason they made the trip to Israel is that Leo wanted to get Bar's parents' approval before he popped the question. Now they are busy making wedding plans."

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ELLEN DEGENERES GETTING MARRIED

Everyone Love's Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are getting married in June, it has been claimed. Ellen was allegedly confronted by Portia about their future plans after Ellen had finished hosting the Oscars. Former 'Ally McBeal' star Portia is said to have quizzed her long-term partner about her marriage intentions and forced her to set a date. A source told the National Enquirer magazine: "Portia demanded that Ellen marry her. After lots of talk and plenty of hints, Portia finally confronted Ellen right after the Oscars about making a commitment."The couple are now planning a lavish ceremony for friends and family at their California home in June, when Ellen's chat show is off air.The source added: "Ellen's hiatus starts at the end of May, and her show doesn't start up again until August."That gives Ellen some much-needed time with her new bride. They're still discussing a honeymoon location, but at this point Portia would just be happy at home enjoying their estate."Ellen is very happy too. All her dreams are coming true."

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VICTORIA BECKHAM CHASED BY PIGS

We All Chase Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham was reportedly chased by pot-bellied pigs while viewing potential schools for her sons in Los Angeles.The former Spice Girl - who has been scouring Hollywood's best private schools to find somewhere to enrol Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz when she and David move to Los Angeles this summer - fled one campus in horror after two amorous hogs took a shine to her. A source told the National Enquirer magazine: "Victoria was being shown around the science lab when two pet pot-bellied pigs, who are allowed to roam free, snuffled up to her."She screamed, 'Get it away!', and tried to run away in her high heels."It was hysterical, everyone was trying so hard not to laugh."Some of the parents of children who already attend the schools Victoria has been viewing are said to be horrified by the camera crews and photographers who follow her everywhere.Victoria is currently said to be favouring a Catholic school in Bel Air.

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CAMERON DIAZ SETTLES WITH ENQUIRER

Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz has settled for substantial libel damages from an American tabloid the other day, after the publication falsely claimed she was cheating on then-boyfriend Justin Timberlake with a married man. The "Charlie's Angels" star, 34, filed a lawsuit against publishers American Media Inc. over the offending article which appeared on the National Enquirer Web site in May 2005, with accompanying photos accusing Diaz of having an affair with MTV producer Shane Nickerson -- the man behind her adventure TV show "Trippin'".
Lawyers for the National Enquirer told London's High Court today the publication accepted the allegations were unfounded and "ought never to have been published." They agreed to pay the actress an undisclosed amount, and issued a public apology to Diaz, Timberlake, Nickerson and his wife for any distress their article may have caused. Diaz previously settled a similar libel claim with British newspaper The Sun in July 2005, after it printed the same story.

Apology to Cameron Diaz from National Enquirer

On May, 23, 2005 we published an article in our magazine and on our website entitled “Cameron Caught Cheating.” That article was accompanied by photographs which purported to show Ms. Diaz, who at the time was dating Justin Timberlake, kissing Shane Nickerson, a married man. We have subsequently been informed, and accept that, the relevant incident involved nothing more than Ms. Diaz giving a friend a good bye hug and accept that there is no question of a romantic relationship between Ms. Diaz and Mr. Nickerson. We are happy to set the record straight and apologize to Ms. Diaz and to Mr. Nickerson and his family for any distress caused.

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