[thanks Kevin]

TMZ is reporting new deets in the arrest of and alleged assault by Christian Bale. According to them, there was physical contact between Bale and his estranged mother and sister … but there is a disagreement as to whether that contact was a “push” or a “brush”:

Sources directly connected to the Christian Bale case tell TMZ there was physical contact between Christian and his mom, but it amounted to next to nothing. We’re told Bale pushed his mom out of the way during the altercation. She was not hurt and did not fall down. There’s a division of opinion on whether the contact was a “push” or a “brush.”

There is other unsubstantiated information going around that Bale’s mother and sister, Jenny (61) and Sharon (40), showed up uninvited at the Dorchester hotel (where he was staying) late Sunday night in an intoxicated state, looking for money (and trouble) and causing a scene. When Christian finally showed up at his hotel the incident ensued where he, apparently, tried to either get out of the hotel himself or get them ejected from the hotel — and that is when the physical contact occurred. Now, BE AWARE, this information is conjecture at best … only those involved with the police investigation (and those involved directly) know for sure what went down. I am quite comfortable believing that the truth will set Christian Bale free. I cannot for the life of me envision him purposely assaulting his mother and sister. These are people he may have been estranged from for many years but, even still, it doesn’t make sense that he would actively decide to assault anyone … especially when he is in the middle of a huge promo tour for a blockbuster movie. The idea that he assaulted these women doesn’t make sense … the scenario described above does make sense. Christian Bale is still clean in my eyes.

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Lindsay Lohan, Lauren LC Conrad, Audrina Patridge and Justin Bobby were among the celebs who hammed it up recently inside the LifeStyles Make-Out Booth which is currently at the DKNY Jeans Malibu Beach House all this summer … here are photostrips of Lindsay with an unnamed friend (who looks like her younger brother Michael’s girlfriend) and of LC, Audrina and Justin Bobby:

I understand that the Lifestyles Make-Out Photobooth pops out a strip of condoms with each photostrip it prints — isn’t that convenient? Very coincidentally, David and I are planning our own little photobooth excursion here in NY and hopefully in London and Paris. I’m a huge fan of photobooths and we were just talking about adding new pics to my collection. I doubt any of the photobooths we encounter will pop out any condoms with our photos but I think we’ll be able to make due. Fun!

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Christian Siriano, winner of Project Runway season 4, gave an exclusive interview to Bluefly about his new collection of designs that will be revealed to the world Wednesday July 23 at 6AM ET. Because the unveiling is being kept totally hush-hush until the appointed time of announcement, he wasn’t able to reveal all that much. But Flypaper (the official Bluefly blog) requested that I submit one question for Christian about his new collection … here is his response:

It’s a bit difficult to hear Christian’s response because of all of the background noise but in the end, it will be his designs that will be doing all of the talking for him. I’m not sure what to expect … but I know the designs will be fiiiiierccccce!

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Tori Amos made an in-store appearance at the Amoeba Records in Hollywood, CA last night to sign copies of the new book Comic Book Tattoo for the 200 lucky fans who managed to secure wristbands for the event. Here are a couple pics (snapped by one of the lucky attendees) of Tori at yesterday’s in-store signing and some deets about the book itself:

This July the ever-growing relationship between comics and music reaches new heights as Tori Amos and Image Comics release COMIC BOOK TATTOO, a 480-page, full color anthology adapting the themes and ideas behind her songs into a lush volume of sequential art.

“I have been surprised, excited and pleasantly shocked by these comics that are extensions of the songs that I have loved and therefore welcome these amazing stories of pictures and words because they are uncompromisingly inspiring,” says Tori. “It shows you thought is a powerful formidable essence and can have a breathtaking domino effect.”

To assemble COMIC BOOK TATTOO’s diverse roster of talent, Tori worked alongside editor Rantz Hoseley, co-creator behind the upcoming DISPLACED PERSONS and VIX. Together they formed a line up featuring Y: THE LAST MAN’s Pia Guerra, Leah Moore, John Reppion David Mack, Hope Larson, Ryan Kelly, Jonathan Hickman, Colleen Doran, Eric Canete, Ted McKeever, Jock, Anthony Johnston, Dame Darcy, Carla Speed McNeil, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Mark Buckingham, Ivan Brandon, C. B. Cebulski and many more, including an introduction by SANDMAN creator Neil Gaiman.

I admit, I’ve not been following the promotion and release of this book very closely but I am very intrigued by it nonetheless. Tori will also be appearing at the San Diego Comic Con this coming weekend to promote the book as well. I was able to place my order for the limited edition, slip-case version of the book (which you can order HERE as well, while supplies last) but the regular (and less expensive) version of the book can be ordered HERE. I am very anxious to see how these comic book artists were able to interpret Tori Amos’s music and them turn them into stories … it’s an intriguing notion. I think it’s brills to marry the music of Tori Amos with the art of comic books. I imagine this enterprise may not appeal to everyone but I know there is a huge cross-section of fans out there who will eat this up.

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Bea Arthur and Betty White issued statements to US Weekly to pay tribute to and mourn the loss of their Golden Girls co-star and friend, Estelle Getty, who passed away at the age of 84 years old earlier this morning:

Bea Arthur has released a statement to Usmagzine.com after the death of her Golden Girls co-star Estelle Getty: “Our mother-daughter relationship was one of the greatest comic duos ever, and I will miss her” … Saddened by the news, Betty White (who played the naïve Rose) told Us, “The only comfort at this moment is that although Estelle has moved on, Sophia will always be with us.”

Again, this is very sad news … I imagine it is very difficult for those people who knew Estelle and were close to her but I know that legions of fans are feeling the loss today as well. It’s hard to imagine the feisty Sophia Petrillo succumbing to death … I think Betty White is absolutely right in her belief that Sophia will always be with us. Her legacy will truly live on … even still, this is just really sad news.

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