Comic relief
Jon Lovitz has apparently done what many comics have wanted to do for years — bash Andy Dick’s face in, TMZ.com reports.
According to the celebrity Web site, Mr. Lovitz told the New York Post that he confronted Mr. Dick at the famed Laugh Factory in Los Angeles after Mr. Dick told him last year that he had put the “Phil Hartman hex” on him — referring to Mr. Hartman’s 1998 murder by his wife Brynn — and suggesting that Mr. Lovitz might die soon. Mr. Lovitz expected an apology last Wednesday, but it wasn’t forthcoming, so, “I pushed him … Then I pushed him again really hard,” Mr. Lovitz says. “He’s a disgusting human being. All the comedians are glad I did it.”
Laugh Factory owner Jamie Masada saw the “pushing” slightly differently: “Jon picked up Andy … and smashed him into the bar four or five times, and blood started pouring out of his nose.”
Mr. Dick’s representative had no comment, TMZ.com says.
Sting stung for $51K
An employment tribunal yesterday ordered Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler, to pay a former chef $51,000 in compensation after she won a sexual-discrimination claim against them, Associated Press reports.
Sting and Miss Styler say they plan to appeal.
Jane Martin, 41, won her claim in May, saying she was fired after she became pregnant. Miss Martin says she had worked for the 55-year-old pop star and his wife for eight years, cooking meals for them and their guests, including Madonna and Elton John.
Miss Martin says Miss Styler grew unhappy with her after she became pregnant in 2005, making her work long hours and growing angry when she took time off because of illness. Miss Martin, who accuses Miss Styler of having a “grandiose ego,” left her job under disputed circumstances in April 2006.
Pay up, Jacko told
Michael Jackson has been told to pay more than $256,000 in legal fees to a firm that handled some side issues during his 2005 child molestation trial, Associated Press reports.
A Superior Court judge signed a judgment Friday that awarded $216,837 along with $39,177 in interest to the Torrance, Calif., firm of Ayscough & Marar, according to court records. The law firm sued the 48-year-old pop star for failing to pay legal fees for preventing the release of some information to the public and to lawyers in civil cases during his 2005 criminal trial in Santa Barbara County. Mr. Jackson was eventually acquitted of the child molestation charges.
This just in …
Britney Spears will host the opening of LAX nightclub in Las Vegas next month, People.com reports. The club, whose investors include Christina Aguilera and Nicole Richie’s former fiance DJ AM, opens Aug. 31.
Compiled by Robyn-Denise Yourse from Web and wire reports
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