Ricky Martin Defends Gay Musicians

MEXICO CITY -- Ricky Martin defended the right of pop stars to come out of the closet, saying he felt solidarity with Christian Chavez of Mexican band RBD, who recently said publicly that he is gay.
"Life is too short to live closed up, guarding what you say," said Martin — whose sexual orientation has been the subject of speculation — in an interview with The Associated Press. Christian "has to be free in many aspects. I wish him much strength."
Martin, who was named person of the year in 2006 by the Latin Recording Academy, has hits including "Livin' la Vida Loca" and "Shake Your Bon-Bon."
He said his nonprofit Ricky Martin Foundation inspires him in his songwriting. One of the foundation's programs, People for Children, works toward the elimination of human trafficking, especially trafficking of children.
"When you start to work with social problems, it gets the attention of the media and people think it's a farce," the 35-year-old singer said. "It's a spiritual search. The philanthropic work helps me write music and the music helps me in the philanthropic work."
Martin said it was great that more celebrities are working with charities.
"If this is a fashion, then I hope a lot more fashions like this come along."
He will tour the U.S. in April and May.
RBD, which spun off Mexico's wildly popular soap opera, "Rebelde," has achieved success throughout Latin America and among Spanish speakers in the United States.

The Associated Press

Eminem, Ex-Wife, Agree to Be Agreeable

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. -- Eminem and Kim Mathers agreed Monday not to criticize each other in public for the sake of their daughter. The decision was made following a court hearing in which the 34-year-old rap superstar and his ex-wife agreed that insulting each other could prove harmful to their 11-year-old daughter, Hailie.
Eminem filed a motion in Macomb County Circuit Court earlier this month that sought to prevent Mathers from making "derogatory, disparaging, inflammatory and otherwise negative comments" about him in the media.
Mathers, who has twice married and divorced the rapper, blasted Eminem in recent TV and radio interviews, including one on a Detroit radio station in which she said he was unfaithful and uncaring — and disparaged his sexual prowess.
She attended the hearing and a closed-door meeting beforehand in the chambers of Friend of the Court Referee David Elias. Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, wasn't in court, but spoke by telephone in Elias' chambers.
The two sides agreed to the deal, which was announced at the court hearing.
"We're happy the court was able to bring this matter to a just and equitable resolution," Eminem's lawyer, Harvey Hauer, said outside the courtroom.
Michael J. Smith, Mathers' attorney, said the decision was reached "for the full benefit of the child."
Smith said Eminem and Mathers have "to attempt to promote a good relationship" and "can't talk bad about each other to the child."
However, Smith said the order doesn't prohibit Eminem from performing songs in which he is critical of his former wife.
Eminem has assailed Mathers with his lyrics.
The couple married in 1999, divorced in 2001, remarried in January 2006 and separated three months later. Their second divorce was finalized in December.
Their daughter, Hailie, was born in 1996.
Eminem has won nine Grammy Awards, including best rap album for "The Slim Shady LP," "The Marshall Mathers LP" and "The Eminem Show." He won an Oscar for the song "Lose Yourself" from the hit 2002 film "8 Mile."

The Associated Press

Jessica Simpson Visits Mexican Orphanage

NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico -- Jessica Simpson showed up in person on Tuesday to donate a new minivan to an orphanage in this Mexican border city. Simpson was greeted by dozens of cheering children as she arrived at the Elim orphanage in Nuevo Laredo, just across the border from Laredo, Texas, in a white 2007 Chrysler minivan that she had won at the MTV Video Music Awards.
The singer-actress, who was accompanied by her mother and father-manager, gave the keys to Guadalupe Carmona, the orphanage's founder and director, and stayed for about 40 minutes, posing for photos with the children and signing autographs.
"We're really happy," said Carmona, known as Mama Lupita. "This is the second time she has visited us."
Last fall, Simpson won a Chrysler Crossfire sports car at the MTV awards, but exchanged the $50,000 luxury car for a minivan so she could help the orphanage, Carmona said.
Carmona said Simpson first visited the orphanage in 1996 and last month announced she would donate a car. But few expected Simpson to deliver it in person.
Simpson, whose songs include "I Wanna Love You Forever" and "Irresistible," also has appeared in the MTV reality show "Newlyweds" with now-estranged husband Nick Lachey and in the movie "The Dukes of Hazzard."

The Associated Press

Rhymes to Go on Trial on Assault Charges

NEW YORK -- Busta Rhymes will face trial on two assault charges after a judge withdrew a plea offer Monday that would have let the rapper remain free.
Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Tanya Kennedy withdrew the offer that included probation, community service and a series of lectures to troubled youth. She cited his recent arrest for driving with a suspended license as the reason.
"The court's offer is off the table," Kennedy told Rhymes.
His attorneys declined to comment as they left court.
Rhymes' attorney, Robert Kalina, has said previously that Rhymes had been prepared to accept the deal.
After the judge withdrew her plea offer, the 34-year-old rapper rejected a follow-up offer by the prosecution of one year in jail for each of two counts of assault — to run concurrently — and a $500 fine for the suspended license charge, and will go to trial instead.
Kennedy tentatively set the trial to begin May 8.
In February, Rhymes rejected a prosecutor's offer of six months in jail on the two assault charges, but said he would consider the judge's deal that would have allowed him to plead guilty to misdemeanor assault and remain free.
Rhymes, whose real name is Trevor Smith, is accused in a complaint with beating Edward Hatchett, 39, his former driver, "with a closed fist about the head and neck" and kicking him in the ribs and torso during a dispute over back pay. The attack on Dec. 26 outside Rhymes' lower Manhattan office left Hatchett with cuts, bruises and substantial pain, according to the complaint.
In the other case, Rhymes is charged with assaulting a fan, allegedly for spitting on the rapper's car, after an Aug. 12 performance at the AmsterJam Music Festival on Randalls Island.
In February, the rap star was jailed briefly after police stopped his car for running a red light and discovered he was driving with a suspended license.
Police also have tried to question Rhymes as a potential witness in the February 2006 shooting death of his bodyguard, Israel Ramirez.

Police say Rhymes so far has refused to cooperate with their investigation.
Rhymes, known for wild outfits and an antic performance style, has hits that include, "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See," "Dangerous" and "Touch It." He also has appeared in movies, including "Shaft" and "Finding Forrester."

The Associated Press