File under: Is she crazy? Katie Holmes has turned down close to $2 million to reprise her role in the Batman franchise due to “scheduling conflicts.” Huh? Is there a Scientology cooking class Tom wants her to take? A hot lunch date with Posh and Becks she can’t miss? No, apparently Katie would rather appear in a flick called “Mad Money,” an all-female comedy caper, which Us Weekly reports pays a measly $250,000.
After finding out his rented crib overlooking Central Park was up for sale, Jay-Z nabbed a $65,000 a month apartment on the top floor of Trump Tower, right above Derek Jeter … Jane Fonda will lead a rally in Washington to protest the war in Iraq, alongside actors Danny Glover, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins … CBS’ reality show “Armed and Famous” failed to keep its ratings up against “American Idol” and has been shelved until the summer.
TMZ has obtained shocking video of Nicole Kidman’s terrifying car crash this morning on the Los Angeles set of her new movie “Invasion.”
Tires screeched and sparks flew as a stunt truck, towing a car carrying Nicole, skidded out of control on a slick street, slammed into a lightpost and sent broken glass showering onto the wreckage. Several actors and stunt men were injured, including a few who were hanging from the car during the filming. Kidman looks somewhat dazed as she leaves the accident scene.
A non-paramedic fire crew rushed to the scene to treat the injured. Kidman was reportedly taken to her trailer for a short time before finally deciding to get checked at a hospital. All eight of those injured were treated at local hospitals and released.
The stuntment hanging on the car were portraying zombie-like characters attacking the vehicle. “Invasion” is loosely based on the classic horror film, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.”
Nicky Hilton has got her big sister Paris’ back!
The party princesses arrived at last week’s re-opening of hip Melrose Avenue eatery, Table 8. A source tells us that as they made their way to a table, Nicky whispered some telling words of wisdom to sister Paris, “Just walk in a straight line. Just walk in a straight line.” Considering Paris’ recent no contest plea in her DUI case, those are words to live by!
It seems the hotel heiresses had started the night’s festivities prior to hitting the restaurant, and Nicky just wanted to make sure P didn’t lose her balance while making an entrance. You know — cause of her, er, high heels. Yeah, that’s it.
Who needs an alcohol education program, when you’ve got your little sister looking out for you?!
Cameras snapped Ashton’s MILF in Beverly Hills — just after she got a facial.
She might want to ask for her money back.
EXCLUSIVE — BRANDY ADMITTED FAULT AT SCENE
In an exclusive conversation with the man driving directly behind Brandy at the time of her fateful crash, TMZ has learned that the singer repeatedly blamed herself at the scene of the accident.
“She got upset, talking about how it was all her fault … she didn’t stop, kept saying how she hit the lady,” says the witness.
He added, “Brandy walked in front of traffic, crossing the lanes of speeding cars, then she did it again. People were honking at her to get out of the road. She was obviously disoriented and highly upset.”
The witness also claims he tried to calm the hysterical singer, and even dished out some legal advice, saying he advised her to stop admitting guilt. He also consoled her by repeatedly saying “It was an accident.”
The witness also claims he went over to check on the woman in the Toyota, but couldn’t find a pulse.
TMZ has learned R&B sensation Brandy was involved in a fatal accident last month, and it appears to be her fault.
It happened at 10:30 AM on December 30, 2006 on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Brandy was driving her 2007 Land Rover at 65 mph and did not notice that cars in front of her had slowed considerably. We’re told Brandy’s vehicle struck a 2005 Toyota. The Toyota then hit a 1989 Toyota. The 2005 Toyota then slid sideways and hit the center divider. As the 2005 Toyota came to a halt, it was struck by a 1988 Acura.
In a statement to TMZ from Brandy’s publicist, Courtney Barnes, the singer confirmed her involement in a fatal crash: Brandy was involved in a car accident December 30, 2006 in Los Angeles where there was a fatality. She wishes to publicly express her condolences to the family of the deceased. Brandy asks that you respect the privacy of everyone involved at this time.
We’re told the driver of the 2005 Toyota, Awatef Aboudihaj, was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in critical condition and she died the next day. Aboudihaj, a 38-year-old married mother of one, was a Los Angeles resident.
Brandy was not injured. The driver of the Acura suffered moderate injuries.
Brandy was not arrested and there is no evidence drugs or alcohol were involved.
Police are doing a mechanical investigation of the cars involved in the accident to determine if there was a malfunction.
Brandy’s “Moesha” co-star, Lamont Bentley, was killed in January, 2005 when his car plunged off the same freeway. Another “Moesha” co-star, Merlin Santana, was killed by a gunshot wound while sitting in the passenger seat of a car in 2002.
Tito Ortiz got a very special present for his birthday last night: a scantily-clad Jenna Jameson.
Our friends at SpyOnVegas.com were there as Jenna dressed up as a Pussycat Doll at PURE Nightclub in Caesars Palace last night to help celebrate her UFC fighter boyfriend’s birthday. She popped out of a box and danced onstage — and on Tito — to Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack.”
A couple of the Dolls then brought Tito a birthday cake. It probably wasn’t the only piece Tito got that night.
Cellphone-slinging supermodel Naomi Campbell is back to her hissy-fit-throwing ways, this time in Brazil. Campbell, who just pled guilty to assaulting her former maid with a BlackBerry, lashed out at a cameraman at a party on the beach, demanding his film and surrounding him with her girlfriends until he handed it over, report Rush & Molloy. After she got the tape, Naomi locked herself in a room and wouldn’t come out. This, despite the fact that she had been visiting a Brazilian “spirit guide” who was trying, presumably, to help her manage her anger, and that she was wearing healing crystals around her neck.
Pamela Anderson is taking on Colonel Sanders, and the Postal Service, which is considering giving Sanders his own stamp. The ex-”Baywatch”-er and PETA advocate has sent off an angry letter to the Postmaster General, reports MSNBC, because KFC has submitted a formal request to have the kindly, bearded Colonel immortalized on a lickable piece of paper. “Honoring a man whose legacy involves breaking animals’ bones and scalding animals to death in defeathering tanks is contrary to the values of most compassionate citizens,” writes Pam. Most compassionate citizens, yes, Pamela – except the millions that chow down on KFC every day.
Despite Paula Abdul’s sometimes woozy approach to judging (and interview-giving), Simon Cowell says he wouldn’t do the show without her. “I don’t want to work with boring people,” he said over the weekend. And, regarding Paula’s infamously wacky TV interviews, Simon says, “I’ve done those satellite interviews so many times, and by the end of it I’m talking complete and utter rubbish.” … Leonardo DiCaprio says it was “disheartening” to be “objectified” after the release of “Titanic,” and he wanted to stop acting for a while afterwards. He says he was just seen as “another piece of cute meat.” … Gatecrasher says that Seal and Heidi Klum have big naked photo portraits of themselves and their kids — on the walls of their house — taken before Heidi was pregnant with her third kid. “They are tasteful but, you know, confronting,” says a source.