Malawian Official Removed From Madonna Adoption Case

BLANTYRE, Malawi (September 3, 2007) — The senior Malawian child welfare official who was to go to London to assess whether Madonna could adopt a little boy from the southern African country has been removed from the high-profile case, officials said Monday.

The removal of Penstone Kilembe, the director of Malawi’s Child Welfare Services, follows allegations that he solicited money from the singer for the trip.

Simon Chisale, the country’s chief social welfare officer, said the government had gone to court last week to have Kilembe replaced as the assessor in the Madonna adoption. Chisale said he was now planning to go to London this week to carry out the delayed assessment of toddler David Banda’s progress.

Kilembe, who returned to Malawi late Monday after attending a conference in the United States last week, said he had not heard of the move and denied any wrongdoing.

“I am not aware of these developments. I have just arrived from New York and nobody from my office has told me anything. I will be in the office tomorrow,” he said.

Access Archives: Madonna

Madonna and her husband, film director Guy Ritchie, were granted temporary custody of David, then 13 months old, last October. His father had placed him in an orphanage after his mother died.

Critics accused Madonna, who found David in the orphanage while in Malawi to launch a project to help the country’s 2 million AIDS orphans, of using her celebrity status to circumvent Malawian adoption laws — allegations she denies.

The latest developments are likely to raise concerns that Malawi’s child welfare department is in a state of disarray at a time when it is under international scrutiny.

Madonna’s publicist, Liz Rosenberg, said in a statement that the adoption is going forward as originally planned.

“The plans to finalize the adoption of Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s son, David, are proceeding as outlined almost a year ago — the day the Malawian Government granted them their ‘interim’ adoption,” the statement read. “There has been absolutely no interference with Government Officials or use of Madonna’s ‘celebrity’ to speed up this adoption as reported. All appropriate legal requirements are being followed, including a home visit.”

The superstar’s rep added that the family is eagerly awaiting the final adoption.

“Madonna and her entire family look forward to being granted the final adoption early next year — 18 months following the original interim adoption order,” the statement concluded.

There have been newspaper reports in Malawi that Minister of Gender and Child Welfare Kate Kainja-Kaluluma stopped Kilembe from going to London because he had allegedly solicited funds from Madonna for the trip without the minister’s knowledge or permission. According to the original custody order, Kilembe was appointed to oversee the adoption, which included inspections of the star’s home in May and December.

Kilembe, who disputes the allegations, said he had spoken to the minister and that the matter had been resolved.

Malawian rights organizations have said their government needs help monitoring Madonna’s planned adoption.

In an affidavit presented to the court, child welfare officials said Kilembe was leaving the ministry and “moving on to a new posting.” It did not give details on his new position.

Chisale confirmed Monday that he had been appointed to replace Kilembe but refused to discuss the adoption further.

“Yes, I have just been informed I would do the assessment but I am not mandated to discuss the issue until perhaps we finalize the report,” he said.

The couple’s custody order could be revoked if it is found that David was being treated differently from their other children, Lourdes, 10, and Rocco, 6, or if the toddler’s rights were being violated in any way.

Bill Murray Talks Stockholm Arrest

VENICE, Italy (September 4, 2007) — Bill Murray has addressed his bizarre golf cart incident in Stockholm.

Last week, the star of “Lost In Translation” and “Groundhog Day,” was stopped by Swedish authorities, who told the AP the actor, when he was pulled over, smelled of alcohol.

Murray, who is attending the 64th annual Venice Film Festival, told reporters Monday, that authorities assumed he was inebriated.

“[The police] asked me to come over and they assumed that I was drunk and I explained to them that I was a golfer,” the AP reports Murray saying.

Murray said he was hanging out with friends following a golf tournament.

When no one offered to take the wheel and drive people home, Murray took the reins.

“I ended up stopping and dropping people off on the way like a bus. I had about six people in the thing and I dropped them off one at a time and as the last couple were getting out, who wished to be dropped off at a 7-Eleven. ... I didn’t know they had 7-Elevens in Stockholm,” Murray said.

Swedish police say Murray refused a breathalyzer so “we applied the old method – a blood test,” Detective-Inspector Christer Holmlund of the Stockholm Police said at the time.

Murray was released following the test. Results are expected in another week.

Whoopi Makes Her Big Debut On 'The View'

NEW YORK, NY (September 4, 2007) — “The View” kicked off its eleventh season today with the big debut of new co-host Whoopi Goldberg.

An enthusiastic standing ovation welcomed Whoopi and fellow co-hosts Barbara Walters, Joy Behar and (a very pregnant) Elisabeth Hasselbeck as they took their places on the revamped orange and yellow set.

New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg offered his own welcoming words with a letter, in which he jokingly inferred that they picked the wrong “berg” for the job. “Goldberg, Bloomberg,” his letter read. “You must’ve gotten confused. We look so much alike.”

The laughs didn’t end there, as the women easily played off each other to hilarious effect during the “hot topics” portion of the show.

Whoopi commented on the news that hotel mogul Leona Helmsley had left her dog $12 million dollars upon her death, saying, “If I’d have known that’s what she wanted, I would’ve been her — well, you know what I’m saying,” prompting Joy to chime in: “You would’ve been her b*tch,” to lots of laughs.

Video: 'The View' Welcomes Whoopi

Even when “hot topics” took a more serious turn, such as in the discussion of the Michael Vick dogfighting case, things remained civil and friendly among the hosts.

Danny DeVito, who stirred up some headlines when he appeared seemingly “tipsy” on the show last season, returned as the sole guest of the episode.

DeVito said that he had been merely tired during that infamous appearance, not drunk, and went on to discuss both his Premium Limoncello beverage line and the new season of his TV series, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”

As the show closed, Whoopi stated that it had been “a lot of fun,” and gave the sign-off, “Have a great day and take time to enjoy the view.”

As for the mysterious fifth co-host expected to join the show?

Walters told Access Hollywood after today’s taping, “We will shortly be adding a new member to the panel, and it’s not George Clooney as some have suggested — but it is somebody the audience will know (already). That’s all I want to say.”

Rita Cosby's Anna Nicole Book Sparks Criticism From Birkhead, Stern

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (September 4, 2007) – Investigative journalist and author Rita Cosby has gone on the record with startling new claims about Larry Birkhead and Howard K. Stern, in her new book about the death of former Playmate, Anna Nicole Smith.

Cosby’s book, “Blonde Ambition: The Untold Story Behind Anna Nicole Smith’s Death,” claims Birkhead, the father of Smith’s only daughter Dannielynn, engaged in a homosexual tryst with her longtime companion Howard K. Stern.

“It’s crazy and of course it’s not true,” an angry Birkhead told Access Hollywood’s Executive Producer Rob Silverstein in a phone call Monday afternoon. “Rita Cosby is going to get sued for everything she’s got.”

In an interview with Cosby conducted by Access Hollywood’s Tony Potts Tuesday afternoon, the author responded to Birkhead’s statement.

“I’m sure he would deny everything,” she told Access. “I’m sure he’d tell you the sky is green and stars are falling from it if he could.”

Cosby said she spoke to a number of sources including private investigators who spoke to two nannies who allegedly say they saw Smith, watching a tape, of Birkhead and Stern engaged in a sexual act.

“What I’ve heard actually is that they saw Anna looking at a video tape . . . some sort of tape. They have seen this tape and they told private investigators,” Cosby said.

Birkhead told Access Hollywood’s Silverstein that the ex-MSNBC journalist “never bothered to call me about the book,” a claim Cosby acknowledged. He added that he attempted to reach Cosby himself, but she never got back to him.

“Not true,” Cosby refuted.

Birkhead suggested “Blonde Ambition,” be removed from the non-fiction section in stores.

“The book should be sitting on the fiction shelves in bookstores next to ‘Harry Potter,‘” Birkhead told Access.

Cosby responded strongly to his suggestion.

“My response is Larry Birkhead is in Harry Potter-land himself if he’s sitting back and believing the American public [believes] nothing happened between him and Howard K. Stern,” she retorted.

L. Lin Wood, a lawyer for Stern also lashed out at Cosby’s book in a statement obtained by Access Hollywood.

“The more information I have received over the weekend about Ms. Cosby’s book, the more convinced I am that she has, as a practical matter, authored a work of pure fiction,” Wood’s statement on behalf of Stern read. “It appears that Ms. Cosby has joined the ranks of tabloid journalists who are willing to publish the print equivalent of sewerage to engage in character assassination for profit.”

Stern and his legal team are currently attempting to obtain a copy of “Blonde Ambition,” which they plan to take action on.

“If the statements about Mr. Stern cited in weekend media reports are in fact published in her book, Mr. Stern will sue Ms. Cosby and her publisher for libel,” Wood’s statement read. “All of the accusations in the published reports are false and defamatory.”

If the men do pursue legal action, Cosby told Access, she won’t be surprised.

“Larry Birkhead was threatening to file suit before he even knew what was in this book and I think that should speak volumes . . . I’m not surprised they’re threatening to sue. They would sue a paperboy if they could,” she said.

As for Hatten, from whom the relationship allegations appear to stem, Wood called into question her credibility. In his statement he noted that on Friday August 31, he “reminded Ms. Cosby and her publisher of the obvious fact that Jackie Hatten is not a credible or reliable source for any accusation against Mr. Stern.”

Cosby however, stands by her source.“There are a number of things she has said and they have proven true,” Cosby noted.

Calls made to Jackie Hatten were not returned at press time.

Nicole Kidman's Shocking Engagement Revelation

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (September 4, 2007) – Every big star wants to be on the cover of Vanity Fair – it’s the place to be for the Who’s Who of Hollywood.

But Vanity Fair has some high standards – if they put you on the cover, you better be ready to deliver some bombshells. Luckily, as the cover girl of the October issue, Nicole Kidman certainly didn’t disappoint.

While Nicole opens her blouse on the cover, it’s inside the pages where she truly gets revealing, telling the magazine she was engaged in between her marriages to Tom Cruise and Keith Urban.

So who was the lucky man?

“I couldn’t get it out of her,” Vanity Fair’s senior west coast editor Krista Smith told Access Hollywood.

Most notably, Nicole dated movie producer Steven Bing and rocker Lenny Kravitz during the five years between Tom and Keith.

Video: Access Archives - Nicole Kidman

In 2004, Kravitz was cryptic when Access asked him about his relationship with Nicole.

“We’re really great friends, you know, and um...have been and always will be. But you know, we keep the what, how and when and all that to ourselves,” a coy Kravitz said.

As for Keith, Nicole admitted to Vanity Fair it “wasn’t like the earth shook” when they first met.

For the magazine photo shoot, Nicole was happy and relaxed as she posed seaside in her native Australia. However, she revealed the past year was a difficult one.

Nicole stood by Keith’s side when he went to rehab, just four months after their wedding. However, Smith got the feeling quitting on the relationship was never an option.

“I don’t think it would ever occur to her to walk away from that,” Smith added.

Despite Nicole calling it a “very, very, very bad, painful place,” the couple is now in a much different place, as they prepare for a family.

“I’m yearning to have one,” Nicole told the magazine. “I think I would be very sad if I wasn’t able to have a baby.”

The new issue of Vanity Fair hits newsstands September 11.

Vanity Fair Nicole graces the cover of the new Vanity Fair

Britney Lines Up Two Songs For MTV VMAs

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (September 4, 2007) – Britney Spears will perform at the MTV Video Music Awards this weekend, according to USA Today.

The newspaper reports the pop singer is set to perform two tracks – “Gimme More,” and a song called “Cry.”

Spears’ dancer Ruben Dario confirms magician and “Mind Freak” Criss Angel will help Britney’s performance out. She will use mirrors, which will help the star to disappear and appear.

Britney’s new track, “Gimme More,” premiered for the first time on radio last week. It is expected to feature on her first new album of original material in four years, which is due November 13.

Britney's Vegas Weekend

Brad Pitt Talks Parenting. . . And His Past With Jennifer Aniston

VENICE, Italy (September 4, 2007) — As Brad Pitt looks to the future with partner Angelina Jolie and their children, he speaks openly about the friendship he still shares with ex-wife Jennifer Aniston since their divorce in 2005.

“Jen and I still maintain a deep friendship and have a lot of life together that isn’t erased in any way,” he tells V Magazine, hitting newsstands on Friday.

Brad, who sports “Old Hollywood” style on four separate covers of the magazine, adds, “The most important thing about that time was for Jen and me to figure out if — how do I put it? — if we didn’t want to go on without any outside influence. Is this where we got off? Have we taken this as far as we wanted to? Those questions had to be answered before an attraction for Angie could be answered.”

And now, while raising one biological child and three adopted children with Angelina, Brad has a new question to be answered: is it time for another kid?

At a Venice Film Festival press conference on Sunday, Brad spoke of the ups and downs of fatherhood, saying, “It’s the most fun I have ever had and also the biggest pain in the ass I have ever experienced.”

Weekend Wrap-Up: 9/3/07

When asked by an Italian state TV reporter whether he and Angelina were ready for a fifth child, Brad replied: “Yeah, we’re ready.”

He didn’t say whether they planned another biological child or if they would adopt.

Brad was in Venice promoting his upcoming film, “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” and he told reporters that having four kids “makes me much more efficient because that’s the main focus. It makes me feel when I do have time to work, I really do have to focus because there is a really short window to get something done. I am quite pleased by it all.”

But there is one specific drawback for Brad when it comes to raising four youngsters:

“I love it and I can’t recommend it any more highly,” he said, “although sleep is nonexistent.”

'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin Remembered One Year Later

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (September 4, 2007) – A year ago, the world tragically lost the “Crocodile Hunter,” Steve Irwin.

His death, at the age of 44 from the barb of a stingray, received while filming a TV show with Philippe Cousteau, was mourned by fans around the world including the Australian Prime Minister and film star Russell Crowe.

“It was way too soon for all of us. We have lost a friend, a champion,” Crowe said to mourners who gathered at Irwin’s memorial service, held at the Australia Zoo on September 20, 2006.

Irwin, who in addition to his popular show on “Animal Planet,” worked at the zoo where the memorial was held, was known for his love of animals. He devoted his life to animal conservationism.

Access Archives: Philippe Cousteau Remembers Steve Irwin

At his memorial service, Irwin’s then 8-year-old daughter Bindi, hailed him as her hero.

“My Daddy was my hero,” she told the crowd. “He was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things. But most of all he was fun.”

As part of the public memorial entitled “He Changed Our World,” actress Cameron Diaz said in a video presentation that Irwin was incredibly popular in the United States.

“America just flipped for him,” said Diaz. “Every kid was in love with the idea of being him.”

Actor Kevin Costner said in the video that Irwin was “fearless ... He let us see who he was. That is being brave in today’s society.”

Access Exclusive: Halle Berry Confirms Pregnancy To Nancy O'Dell

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (September 4, 2007) – Halle Berry is pregnant, she confirmed exclusively to Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell.

The 41-year-old actress revealed the news in an e-mail to Nancy on Tuesday that she is three months pregnant with boyfriend Gabriel Aubry’s baby.

“Yes, I am three months pregnant! Gabriel and I are beyond excited, and I’ve waited a long time for this moment in life. Now the next seven months will be the longest of my life!” she wrote to Nancy. “Can’t wait to see you and give you a squeeze and see a pic of your little sweetie. Until then, you heard it from ME first!”

Upon hearing the news, Nancy was elated for her good friend.

“I am beyond ecstatic for my friend Halle! I told her she is about to embark on the best time of her life! She is such a sweet person...so genuine...and therefore, will make an incredible mom. And can you imagine how gorgeous this baby is gonna be! Halle sent me the most adorable bunch of clothes for my new baby...I can’t wait to do the same for her,” Nancy said.

Video: Halle Chats With Access (April 2007)

Over the years, Halle has made no secret about her desire for a family. Back in April, Nancy and Halle sat down for a candid talk about Halle’s plans for kids.

“Not that there’s not more to accomplish, but I think I arrived at a point in life that I realized I needed more to get me up in the morning. More than going to a new movie set. Or as much fun as getting the star was yesterday, I need something even more profound than that and that’s family. And that’s children,” Halle said. ” I need that like the air to breathe these days and I’m ready. I’m at a point where I’m really, really ready.”

Halle and Gabriel met in November 2005.

Tobey Maguire Gets Hitched In Hawaii

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (September 4, 2007) - Tobey Maguire and longtime girlfriend Jennifer Meyer are now husband and wife, a rep for the actor confirmed to Access Hollywood earlier today.

The couple wed in Hawaii last night.

In Touch Weekly reports actor Lukas Haas was among the guests at the Big Island ceremony.

Maguire, the star of the “Spiderman” series and Meyer, the daughter of Universal Studios head Ron Meyer have been together for four years.

The couple have a daughter, Ruby, who was born on November 11, last year.

Tobey Maguire: A 'Dancing' Superhero