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Day in Pop Report for 04/02/2012


Whitney Houston Cocaine Cover-Up Rumor Update
(TMZ) Whitney Houston's close friend -- Raffles van Exel -- is "extremely relieved" he is not in the crosshairs of the Beverly Hills Police Department in the singer's death investigation.

Several reports were posted this week that someone removed cocaine from Whitney Houston's hotel room before authorities arrived, and the reports say cops were targeting van Exel.

The stories are not true, because we know authorities actually found cocaine in the Beverly Hilton hotel room and cops are satisfied they have all the evidence they need to close the case.

Our sources assure us ... there is no investigation focusing on anyone removing evidence from the hotel room.

As for van Exel ... we're told he's going to the Beverly Hills PD next week with his lawyer to make sure they're square with him. more on this story

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That 70s Show Felony Abuse Arrest
(TMZ) Lisa Robin Kelly, who played the sister of main character Eric Forman on "That 70s Show," was arrested early yesterday morning on a felony charge of corporal injury upon a spouse ... TMZ has learned.

Kelly was busted at 12:50 AM by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. She is currently in custody and being held on $50,000 bail.

Kelly is no stranger to run-ins with the law. Back in 2010, she pled guilty to DUI in North Carolina. more on this story

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American Idol Bikini Girl Arrested
(TMZ) Katrina Darrell -- the chick who famously auditioned for "American Idol" in a bikini back in 2009 -- was arrested Friday morning for DUI ... TMZ has learned.

According to Pomona PD Sgt. Patrick O'Malley, the 24-year-old singer ... also known as "Bikini Girl" ... was arrested in Los Angeles at 12:16 AM ... with her mother in the passenger seat.

Darrell allegedly told police she was en route to a nearby hospital ... because her mom had fallen down at home.

But while Katrina was driving to the hospital, she allegedly ran a red light and smashed into another vehicle. more on this story

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Katy Perry Performs Part of Me at Kids Choice Awards
(popmusiclife) Katy Perry made a splash at the 25th annual Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards over the weekend.

Perry was up for three awards, including Favorite Female Singer, Favorite Song ("Firework"), and Favorite Voice From An Animated Movie, which she ended up winning for her role in "The Smurfs," over stiff competition from Johnny Depp, Antonio Banderas and Jack Black.

"I love kids," said Katy on the red carpet, "And I love that they have a choice. And I love that this is their day to go buck-wild crazy and stay up really late and eat tons of candy and just be crazy!"

Katy sang her latest single, "Part Of Me," and made a grand entrance on stage: watch the video and check it out for yourself here.

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Kid's Choice Awards Streaming Online
(popmusiclife) There was a whole lot of big fun at the 25th annual Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards on Saturday. If you missed it don't worry because you can watch it online!

Hosted by 10-time KCA winner Will Smith, the awards were broadcast from the Galen Center at USC in Los Angeles where kids' top choices in television, movies, music and sports were revealed through a flying blimp, silver robot and sword swallower.

Smith made an aerial entrance onto the venue by parachuting down from the official KCA blimp, a 246-foot orange airship situated above the arena. After rappelling to the stage and deactivating a booby trap set by a mysterious Creepy Voice determined to stop the show, Smith kicked off the silver anniversary celebration with a performance of "Can U Handle This" and balloons filled with confetti and slime.

Mega-stars including Katy Perry, Taylor Lautner, Big Time Rush, Selena Gomez, Kristen Stewart, LMFAO and Justin Bieber reigned as this year's favorites. Watch it here.

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Justin Bieber Previews His Boyfriend Video
(popmusiclife) Justin Bieber has released his new single, "Boyfriend," the first track from his forthcoming album, "Believe."

The song hit iTunes on Friday, and now Justin has offered up a preview tease of the video for the tune.

"The concept of this video, I mean it's not like a steady concept," Bieber told MTV in between takes on set. "It's not like 'Justin follows this girl to this spot.' No, it's a bunch of amazing scenes: Like a fire scene, we have an ice scene." Watch the tease here.

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Madonna's MDNA Hits The Top in The UK
(popmusiclife) Madonna's "MDNA" enters the UK album charts at #1 and, along the way, sets some new records for the pop icon.

The Official Charts Company reports "MDNA" is Madonna's twelfth Number 1 album in the UK, and she also overtakes music legend Elvis Presley as the solo artist with most Number 1 albums.

"MDNA" took top spot a comfortable 34,000 copies ahead of David Guetta's "Nothing But The Beat," which lands at #2. more on this story

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Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez Dance To One Direction
(popmusiclife) UK boyband One Direction performed at Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards on Saturday.

The group sang their hit, "What Makes You Beautiful"; caught dancing in the crowd were Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and many others.

One Direction recently made headlines when they became the first British group to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with "Up All Night." The disc sold 176,000 copies in its first week to claim top spot. Check it out.

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Octomom Receives Death Threats
(TMZ) Octomom's decision to go on welfare has angered people so much ... she's getting a flood of nasty messages and even death threats.

Hours of after TMZ broke the story this weekend, our sources say Nadya Suleman started getting angry and threatening phone calls from blocked numbers, emails, and Facebook messages.

According to our sources, Octomom's actually received a few positive messages too -- single mothers praising her for not letting pride stop her from doing what they believe is right for her children.

Despite the threats, we're told Octo has not called the cops ... yet. more on this story

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MTV Threatened To Replace The Situation
(TMZ) MTV had threatened to replace The Situation on "Jersey Shore" many times over the past two years due to his excessive drinking -- sources connected with the production tell TMZ.

According to sources, producers from MTV and 495 Productions sat Situation down for the first time while shooting Season 2 in 2010 -- explaining his drinking had become such a problem ... it was making it hard to shoot the show.

We're told Sitch promised to pull himself together -- but it quickly unraveled during Season 3, and producers had to speak with him again ... this time threatening to replace him on the show if he didn't clean up his act.

Sitch agreed again -- and made a concerted effort to reel in his bad habits between Seasons 3 and 4. We're told Situation showed promise in Italy during Season 4, but once the crew got back to the States ... he was back to his old ways. This prompted another sit-down ... and another threat of recasting.

Now, MTV's got the opposite problem -- Situation's in rehab and sobering up completely. As a result, sources tell us 495 Productions is looking for new castmates to add to the show ... in the hopes of phasing Sitch out entirely.

We reached out to MTV for comment ... which insists, "There are no plans to replace the cast of 'Jersey Shore.'" more on this story

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Manny Ramirez Won't Be Prosecuted For Domestic Violence
(TMZ) Manny Ramirez will not be prosecuted for misdemeanor battery for allegedly slapping his wife Juliana in their Florida home last year ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for the State Attorney's Office tells us ... "The state dropped the charge because the victim was uncooperative. She successfully avoided being served with a state subpoena and is believed to be out of state."

TMZ broke the story ... Manny was arrested on September 12 ... after Juliana called police and claimed Manny had slapped her in the face with an open hand ... causing her to hit her head against the headboard on their bed.

Manny had maintained that he had merely grabbed Juliana by the shoulders during an argument and when he "shrugged her" ... she hit her head against the bed. more on this story

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Kris Humprhies Make's 16-Year-Old Cancer Patient's Dream Come True
(TMZ) Being with Kris Humprhies may not be Kim Kardashian's wish anymore, but it is for a 16-year-old cancer patient in upstate NY ... and the NBA star is making it come true, TMZ has learned.

Friends of Kaely Kwitek started a Twitter account called @Kris4Kaely in an effort to get the attention of Kaely's favorite basketball player. Kwitek has stage 4 anaplastic large-cell lymphoma and her friends were hoping to wrangle Kris for a benefit for Kaely in May.

Their persistence paid off and Kris noticed. After trading a few emails, Kris and Kaely decided on April 23 for her to come down and catch a Nets game as Kris' guest. He'll handle all expenses for Kaely and her family and even meet up with her after the game.

Kris tells TMZ, "I'm truly honored that someone with much larger things on their plate feels that my involvement in their cause is important. Not many of us can be as strong as she has been. I hope that many more will join me and support Team Kaely." more on this story

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Antoine Walker Bankrupt
(TMZ) Antoine Walker can finally breathe easy -- he is officially done with his bankruptcy case.

The former NBA star -- who was $12.7 million in debt despite reportedly making $110 million in his NBA career -- was discharged from bankruptcy by a Federal judge on March 21.

As part of the case, Walker completed a personal finance management course on March 16, perhaps a sign he's ready to turn over a new financial leaf.

There are still some loose ends for Walker's bankruptcy trustee to clean up, the biggest one involving "Basketball Wives" star Evelyn Lozada, Walker's ex-fianc�e.

As TMZ first reported, the trustee is going after Lozada for $500,000 Walker gave to Lozada, allegedly under fraudulent terms. That case is still pending. more on this story

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Jeremy Shockey Angry Over Snitch Allegation In Saints Bounty Scandal
(TMZ) Jeremy Shockey is fuming mad that Warren Sapp labeled him as "the snitch" in the New Orleans Saints infamous "bounty scandal" -- and since Sapp called him out not the NFL Network, he wants an apology from Sapp and the league ... TMZ has learned.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has already come out and said that Sapp's report was "inaccurate," but we're told that's not enough for Shockey. Our sources say the tight end wants a formal retraction and apology from both Sapp and the NFL.

We're told Shockey has been meeting with legal and business advisors and has not ruled out taking legal action if Sapp and the league don't apologize.

Our sources say Shockey could make a decision as early as this week. more on this story

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Stephon Marbury Mansion Sold At A Foreclosure Auction
(TMZ) Good thing Stephon Marbury's making bank playing ball in China -- because his L.A. mansion was just sold at a foreclosure auction.

According to new court docs, obtained by TMZ, Stephon owed $3.1 million on the 7-bdrm 8-bath 8,000 sq. ft. L.A. property -- and the house was just sold to a lucky buyer for $2.275 million.

The docs don't say whether the bank plans to go after Marbury for the balance -- or if this settles his debt.

Stephon just won a championship playing basketball for the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association -- so it's unclear if he is even aware this happened. more on this story

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Basketball Wives Star Reportedly Spent $110K on Plastic Surgery
(TMZ) "Basketball Wives" star Kenya Bell spent $110,000 on plastic surgery and surgery-related expenses -- this according to her estranged husband ... who's now trying to prove she's completely reckless with her money.

It's the latest in the couple's divorce battle -- Kenya filed docs complaining her basketball-playing husband Charlie Bell has been shopping at Louis Vuitton in Paris ... while she struggles to provide for their children.

Charlie fired back with an explosive response -- listing off ALL the ways Kenya has allegedly squandered hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years ... and it's wild.

According to the docs, Kenya spent ...

-- $82,000 on a Corvette, which she drove for 3 weeks -- then resold it for $61,000
-- $12,000 on a motorcycle
-- $20,000 on criminal attorneys
-- $150,000 on "miscellaneous expenses to get even with Mr. Bell"
-- $3,000 on her brother's electric bill
-- $9,000 on luggage and shoes
-- and $110,000 on plastic surgeries and expenses in L.A. for the plastic surgery trips

Charlie -- who currently plays pro ball in Italy -- also claims he gave Kenya $200,000 before leaving for Europe ... so he wants the court to deny her request for him to set aside a large chunk of his money for support.

A judge has yet to rule. more on this story

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WWE's David Otunga Makes Young Haiti Refugee's Day
(TMZ) WWE star (and Harvard Law grad) David Otunga was so touched by the story of a young Haiti refugee ... he decided to give the kid the greatest present ever -- an in-person meet-and-greet with all of the boy's wrestling heroes.

Otunga was in Florida on Friday to give an anti-bullying talk at a John F. Kennedy Middle School -- and as part of the event ... the school raffled off a ticket to Wrestlemania 28 this weekend in Miami Gardens, where The Rock will face off against John Cena.

The kid who won the raffle turned out to be a refugee from Haiti's massive 2010 earthquake -- and now lives with foster parents in the US. Two weeks ago, the boy's biological mother died in Haiti.

Otunga caught wind of the boy's story -- and was so moved he decided a simple Wrestlemania ticket wasn't enough ... so he personally set up a meet-and-greet for the kid backstage ... with ALL the wrestlers at the event. more on this story

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Singled Out: Mother Falcon's Alligator Teeth
Today Nick Gregg from Mother Falcon tells us about the song "Alligator Teeth" from their album "Alhambra". Here is the story:

We were in 4th period orchestra class. Nick Calvin at that time was sitting right behind me. The class had just stopped for a brief break when Nick decided to fiddle around. I remember that moment still, the hell bent notes coming from his cello. "Stop it there," I said," I liked that. Keep it going." I proceeded to play what would be the accompanying melody. We would work on it periodically, and, two months later, wrapped in tuxedos and winter Texas air before the season's final concert, the jamming finally became a song.

Around that time, I was in my final stages of high school. I started to see stretch marks in the friendships made during middle and high school. I had gone through a typical bad breakup with a high school sweetheart that left all our friendships severed and unraveled. Everyone, including myself, just didn't seem who they had been growing up.

The lyrics deal with this theme in the beginning on a physical level, and, with the song, progress to a mental, dream-like state. The clapping at the end is the 'pinch yourself to wake up' impulse before realizing the ephemerality of this moment--the undermined relationships, the false assumptions. A smile might just be a smile, might just be a billboard to cover the sadness; or it might be filled with alligator teeth, sharp and ready. In that first moment of realization, it could go either way.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album right here!

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