Friday, February 20, 2009

TMZ Says It Has Photo of Bruised, Battered Rihanna



A purported photo of Rihanna following her alleged assault, and a photo of the pop singer in 2007.

The LAPD launched an internal investigation Thursday into the release of a domestic violence photograph that appears to be pop singer Rihanna after she was allegedly attacked by Chris Brown earlier this month.

TMZ.com posted the photo of a battered woman's face late Thursday, saying the photo was indeed Rihanna, 20, whose real name is Robyn Fenty.

Rumors have been swirling for more than a week that her boyfriend, 19-year-old singer Chris Brown, had struck her during an argument that took place Feb. 8. The release of the photo comes just days after Brown said much of what has been reported of the incident is untrue.

In a statement, the LAPD said it takes "seriously its duty to maintain the confidentiality of victims of domestic violence.

"The department launched an immediate internal investigation and subsequently filed a personnel complaint. A violation of this type is considerd serious misconduct, with penalties up to and including termination."

Click here to see the photo at TMZ.

Jim Moret of "Inside Edition" told FOX News' Greta van Susteren that there's no way of telling whether the photo is legitimate, other than taking TMZ's word.

"A photo was released a few days ago and it was later revealed it was Photoshop-ed," Moret said.

TMZ told FOXNews.com Friday that is was against company policy to disclose how the photo was obtained.

Brown surrendered to Los Angeles police on Feb. 8 and was released on $50,000 bail after being booked for investigation of making a criminal threat, a felony. He has not been charged by the district attorney's office, which is still investigating the case.

His arrest reportedly stemmed from an argument with Rihanna, shortly after they left a pre-Grammy Awards party. Both were nominated for Grammys and were scheduled to appear at the Feb. 8 awards show but canceled at the last minute. Brown surrendered to authorities just as the show was getting under way.

According to police, Brown and an unidentified woman began arguing as they were traveling in a car shortly after the Feb. 7 party. The fight escalated after they got out of the car, and Brown had left by the time officers arrived.

"Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor, my mother and other loved ones and I am committed, with God's help, to emerging a better person," Brown said in a statement issued through publicist Michael Sitrick.

FOXNews.com's Allison McGevna contributed to this report.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Donald Trump bankruptcy

This is really nothing new. It is not the first time he has declared bankruptcy. This is supposed to be the 3rd time alone just for the casino group.

By Ryan Tate

Donald Trump's casino group is expected to file for bankruptcy, the Wall Street Journal said, less than two weeks before the new Celebrity Apprentice starts. This is among Trump's most embarrassing failures.

And that's saying a lot.

Trump is no stranger to bankruptcy. Tuesday's expected Chapter 11 filing will be the third time the casino group — just that one Trump division, among several — has gone bankrupt. But this time is especially humiliating because this is the same company that went bankrupt in November 2004, in the midst of the fourth season of The Apprentice, the reality show in which Trump "fires" people who don't meet his business standards of constant failure and mammoth debt accumulation.

It is also the same company that was purportedly turned around by the besuited loudmouth and his partners by 2005, near the height of the Apprentice juggernaut, when it victoriously emerged from bankruptcy, for the second time.

Then late last year the company put off paying interest on its bonds, and earlier this year missed a $53 million payment, according to the Journal. Trump claims he wants to fix everything and offered to buy the company, but the bondholders are expected to seek involuntary bankruptcy, so he and Ivanka resigned the board.

In response to the bankruptcy, fellow upward failer and NBC entertainment bigwig Ben Silverman, who did a "tremendous job" by signing Trump for a second Celebrity Apprentice season, is expected to go skiing, then ask Jay Leno to move his show to 9 pm.