Chris Brown reveals that he is not ready to date yet and has been working on getting himself together. He told MTV News that he “loves women” and that they are always going to be around but he needs to take time for himself right now. He says, “I haven’t really been trying to get into a relationship or trying to date anybody. I’ve just kinda been working on me. Like I said, just really getting me straight.” In some recent interviews Rihanna has spoken out about the assault on her from Brown and has described what took place that night. Chris says that he wished that Rihanna would have kept the matter private and not done the interviews. Rihanna and Chris Brown have been ordered by the court to keep a distance from each other for 5 years. He says that women are always going to be around for him, but that may not be so true after hearing what Rihanna has said about the incident.

For all you Friends fans, you may be interested to know that according to Lisa Kudrow (who starred as Phoebe) “it doesn’t look like” a Friends reunion is going to happen. The reason is not as juicy as you may think. She simply says that “everyone is busy.” Although the cast may be busy there are some objections to the reunion show. It’s not the cast members who are against the reunion, it’s actually the show’s writer-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane. Lisa also had some qualms about the reunion as well saying, “It would be fun, but I don’t know. How? Why? Really?” Friends ran for 10 years between 1994-2004. The other friends included Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox-Arquette, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer. There was a mini-Friends reunion as Lisa shot an episode of Courteney’s new television series, Cougar Town. I guess Friends fans will have to continue simply watch the reruns that are all on television.

Sources:
www.people.com
www.usmagazine.com

It looks like one of rock’s greatest legends may be leaving one of rock’s biggest bands. Steven Tyler, the 61-year-old frontman of the nearly 40 year old band Aerosmith, is talking candidly about making a break from the band. At a time in his life when most men are thinking about retirement, Tyler is thinking about…launching a solo career? “I don’t know what I’m doing yet”, said Tyler, “but it’s definitely going to be something Steven Tyler – working on the brand of myself – Brand Tyler.” According to reports, the band’s problems got worse after Tyler injured himself during a show, and have disintegrated to the point where he’s not returning his confused bandmates’ phone calls. But guitarist Joe Perry is ready to move on without him – and doesn’t think much of the way he’s treating his long-time friends. Said Perry, “He’s obviously had this planned for a long time. To disregard his brothers to the point where we have to find out about it on the Internet – it’s like ‘See you later, Bud’.”

Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has cancer. The announcement from his camp comes nearly a year after Abdul-Jabbar was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. The former basketball star, 62, is the father of five and is currently coaching the Lakers. According to his reps, his cancer is being successfully treated and he is expected to live a full, healthy life. Abdul-Jabbar, who is normally very private about his life, says he came forward with the news to encourage fellow cancer patients, who he has learned often skip doctors appointments and do not take their medication.

With her new album, Rated R, set to drop on November 23rd, the singer is being very candid about where her inspiration came from. Rihanna, who was badly beaten by her then-boyfriend singer Chris Brown in February, said “I’m usually a very guarded person, so having to go in and reach your emotions and personal things to say, it was very vulnerable.” The singer recently talked in detail about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Chris Brown, much to Brown’s dismay, who said it was “between them.”

What is with all these celebrities (or so-called celebrities) not being able to afford their taxes? I mean celebrities have to have an accountant or financial planner helping them with their money right? The latest celebrity to be hit with back taxes is Austin Power’s Mini-Me Verne Troyer. The actor fell behind on his taxes in 2005 and 2008 and owes the government $10,869.36 in back taxes. I guess this is nothing compared to the millions that Nicolas Cage owes in taxes but still, the guy has to come up with almost $11,000 soon. A few months ago Verne had mentioned that Mike Myers was coming up with an Austin Powers 4 movie. He better hope that Mike writes it awful fast so he can get some money.

Singer Mariah Carey is stepping forward and admits that she was emotionally abused in a relationship. She says that she can relate to singer Rihanna and her relationship with Chris Brown as she too was emotionally and mentally abused. Mariah, who married Nick Cannon last year, says that she has been through some painful relationships in the past. She told Larry King in an interview, “You know, I just think you get into a situation and you feel locked in. If your situation is similar to one of the situations I’ve been in – which I won’t harp on – for me, to really get out, it was difficult because there was a connection that was not only a marriage but a business thing, where the person was in control of my life.” In the same interview, Mariah also denounced the rumors that she was pregnant. She says that she would love to have a child now but with her movie Precious and singing career she does not have the time to devote to motherhood like she wants to. She said, “I wouldn’t be just like, ‘Oh, I’m having a child, Yay! Let me get a nanny so I can give her the baby. Take the kid. That doesn’t work for me. I don’t believe in that.” At least this is one celebrity who takes motherhood seriously rather than just pawning kids off on a nanny.

Sources:
www.tmz.com
www.people.com

Several months after that fateful car ride with Chris Brown, Rihanna has decided to open up about her ordeal. In an interview with Diane Sawyer, Rihanna looks thoughtful, saying, “This happened to me . . . it can happen to anyone.” She also reveals that the incident was especially hard on her, since Brown was “her first big love. “ Rihanna’s decision to finally open up about her experience with domestic violence comes at an interesting time – less than three weeks before the release of her new album, Rated R. Brown is currently serving his sentence and is also preparing to release a new album in December entitled Graffiti.

Although Twilight star Robert Pattinson constantly has to fend off advances from his eager fans, according to the actor, it’s not easy. In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Pattinson says he’s “trying not to drown.” Although he’s constantly surrounded by mobs of adoring fans, the actor goes on to say, “I’m not much of a crowd person.” As to his oft-reported romance with co-star Kristen Stewart, the actor (once again) denies everything. He claims the twosome are just “good friends” and that he admires her deeply. Stewart, in her characteristic shrewish fashion, has more to say about the rumors of a romance with Pattinson: “It’s so retarded.”

The ever-hypocritical Mel Gibson is officially a father – for the eighth time. His much-younger girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, became pregnant with Gibson’s child while he was still married to his wife of 30 years, Robyn. The couple officially filed for divorce in April. For Gibson, who backed production of Passion of the Christ and runs his own church, this must be a proud moment.

Chris Brown has publicly apologized to his fans for hitting a woman and it only took him 5 ½ months to do it. The singer issued a video-recorded statement in which he apologizes for behavior he describes as “inexcusable,” saying “my mother and my spiritual teachers have taught me way better than that.” He also says that he grew up in a home with domestic violence. Photos that emerged after the beating showed a barely recognizable Rihanna with a bruised and battered face. Although Brown says in the statement that he didn’t apologize publicly sooner on his lawyer’s advice, whether his former fans are willing to forgive him remains to be seen.

Since Heath Ledger‘s tragic death, the future of the new Batman movies has been a bit uncertain. Ledger, whose performance as The Joker earned rave reviews, was initially set to play a large part in at least the next Batman movie. However, since both producers and potential actors were hesitant to revise his role, they had to rethink their plans. It seems that finally, an alternate plan must have been reached, and production of the third movie may, after all, move forward. At Comic-Con 2009, Gary Oldman let slip that filming is to start on the third movie in 2010, with a release date of 2011. Fans can only hope!

Michael Jackson‘s death is looking less like a tragic accident and more like a homicide. According to law enforcement sources, the Los Angeles County Coroner will likely release autopsy results on Jackson next week and it will “almost certainly” be ruled a homicide. One of Jackson’s doctors, Dr. Conrad Murray, is currently being investigated as the doctor who may have given Jackson the powerful anesthesia agent Propofol on the day he died. One complicating factor: Jackson used at least four aliases to obtain prescription drugs, including Omar Arnold, Michael Armstrong, Jack London and Peter Midani. Authorities are currently trying to sort through the mess to determine what was actually going on.

Vampires have bitten the nation! With Twilight being dubbed as the next Harry Potter, until the second movie in the series, New Moon, comes out, people will have to settle for season two of True Blood, a vampire series on HBO. Anna Paquin stars, and according to various entertainment websites, she’ll be showing lots more skin. Photos of a topless Paquin filming a scene have been leaked, and it’s rumored even more of her will be bared during the season.

Speaking of baring skin, Bethenny Frankel of The Real Housewives of New York showed a little too much in a sheer black jumpsuit at the Apollo Theater 75th Anniversary Gala the week of June 13th. We guess now that the show has wrapped, she really wants to put herself out there.

And finally, Rihanna is getting ready to testify against her ex-boyfriend (and rumored current boyfriend, according to gossip sites), Chris Brown, in his assault trial. The singer will be in LA Monday, June 22 to testify at the preliminary hearing. It looks like Brown is already trying to clean up his public image, however. He’s allegedly hired a crisis management company called Sitrick and Company to help reverse his public image. Everything he’s done thus far, from his appearance at the NBA final game with a Rihanna-lookalike to his video on YouTube has been the carefully calculated work of the firm. But even though making more tame public appearances might make the trial fade into the background for some people, we’re sure it’s not working with Rihanna. The preliminary hearing should be interesting.

In the crazy world of celebrities, this week is all about love gone wrong and legal misadventures. According to People magazine, Jon and Kate of TV’s Jon & Kate Plus Eight are fending off new rumors that their marriage is on the rocks, after Jon was spotted out with an alleged female “friend” late one evening. Although he claims it was strictly platonic, he released a statement apologizing profusely for his “poor judgment.” Seems dealing with their eight kids has Jon a little confused.

Actor Sean Penn also filed for divorce this week from his wife of thirteen years, actress Robin Wright Penn. Although the couple has started and stopped divorce proceedings before, it looks like this time it will stick: Penn was seen with model Petra Nemcova during the separation. The couple are seeking joint custody of their two children, daughter Dylan, 18, and son Hopper, 15. And Mel Gibson, who is in the middle of a divorce, has wasted no time moving on to the woman of his (mid-life crisis) dreams. He showed up at the Wolverine premiere with his Russian lover, Oksana Grigorieva, 39. At the premiere, Gibson looked much older than his fifty-three years. I suppose the end of a 28-year marriage, having seven kids and going crazy will do that to you.

In legal news, singer and alleged woman-beater Chris Brown is trying to get the assault charges against him dismissed in the vicious beating of singer (and quasi ex-girlfriend) Rihanna. The reason for his attempt at a dismissal? Not that he didn’t do it, or that there’s not sufficient evidence – he’s trying to get the charges dropped because of the leaked photo showing the bloody and battered face of Rihanna after the incident. Say what?

That’s the low-down on the top celebrity gossip this week. From infidelity to Gibson’s younger Russian lover, celebrity news just goes to show you that some things never change.

Apparently when actress Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green break up they don’t do it for good. Green and Fox were spotted in Santa Monica looking for a beach apartment together. A source told reporters that, “Megan wanted great ocean views because she loves the beach and spotting dolphins. And they said they needed several bedrooms and lots of privacy.” Although the couple was together, Megan was not wearing her engagement ring at the time. The couple was recently engaged and then called off their engagement last month. Are they still together? Are they still getting married? Who knows?

Chris Brown has pled not guilty to the two felony charges he faces for assault and making criminal threats. The whole case goes back to the night were he allegedly beat his girlfriend, singer Rihanna, after she found a text message from another girl on his phone. Chris Brown showed up at court in L.A. and pled not guilty, as Rihanna spends some more time in Barbados. He is due back in court on April 29. It has been speculated that Chris Brown and Rihanna are still dating even after this incident. Also, the two sides are even trying to work out a plea bargain to end this case as quickly as possible.

Actor Ethan Hawke may want to stay away from Toby Keith if he is smart. In an article that Hawke wrote for Rolling Stone about Kris Kristofferson, he claims that a country singer who “had a monster hit about bombing America’s enemies back into the stone age,” started a fight backstage at Willie Nelson’s tribute concert with Kristofferson. Hawke never mentioned Toby by name, but only referred to his song, “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue (The Angry American).” Keith called Hawke out asking why he didn’t call him by name and went on to say explicit words about how Hawke didn’t know what he was talking about and the incident is made up. Hawke’s rep did not comment on the situation.

Sources:
www.tmz.com
www.huffingtonpost.com