While the news good for the love affair betwixt Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson it is much worse for the celeb couple made up of Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ross McCall … who, according to People magazine, called off their engagement over the holidays and ended their 3+ year relationship. They’re dunzo, y’all:

Jennifer Love Hewitt and her fiancé Ross McCall have called it quits, PEOPLE has learned. “They broke up over the holidays and have ended their engagement,” says a source close to the couple. “They’re both really sad about this. Even their friends are surprised; they seemed really happy. Everyone just wants the best for both of them.” Reps for both Hewitt and McCall had no immediate comment. The Ghost Whisperer star, 29, got engaged to the Scottish actor, 32, in November 2007 after dating for two years.

Aww … this is really sad news — and totally out of nowhere. Not that I really thought about J. Love and Ross very much but I did love them as a couple. They seemed so well matched and made a cute pair, I thought for sure they’d be together forever. Tho, I suppose it is suspicious that the couple remained engaged for so long without ever setting a wedding date. The couple would pop up at various events together (I last saw them together in public at an LA Galaxy game over the summer) but I would most look forward to seeing them show up at the holiday volunteering efforts at the LA Mission around Thanksgiving and Xmas (which they would attend together annually … except for this past Xmas and I guess now we know why). They really were a great couple … I’m sad for them :(

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

After enjoying a fairly successful relationship on both parts for the last decade, David Beckham has let his product endorsement contract with Pepsi Cola run out so that he can reportedly shift his focus to other of his more recent product endorsements … but I can’t help but wonder … could a deal with Coca-Cola be in the near future?

DAVID BECKHAM has canned his big money deal with Pepsi after TEN YEARS as the face of the soft drinks giant. Becks, 33, has thrilled his fans by dressing up as a gladiator, cowboy and surfer for the long-running TV advertising campaign. But the England footie hero, nicknamed Goldenballs, is now giving up his £2 million-a-year contract to focus on other work with companies such as Vodafone and Armani. Dad-of-three Becks — currently playing at AC Milan after being loaned out by his US team LA Galaxy — said last night: “I have nothing but good memories of my association with Pepsi. I’ve played a gladiator, a cowboy, a surfer, and worked alongside BEYONCE and JENNIFER LOPEZ as well as some of the biggest names in world football. I hope everyone who has seen the work enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed making it.” Pepsi hailed its work with Becks as “one of the most enduring partnerships in global brand history”. It added: “David’s football legacy will live on, and everyone at Pepsi will continue to be passionate about his success.” But the news will please the Consumer Association, which earlier this year complained to Becks that he was promoting unhealthy products to kids.

Altho pretty much all of Becks’s Pepsi commercials aired OUTSIDE of the US, I think it’s safe to say that their partnership was truly a match made in heaven. Both sides made a lot of money in the last ten years so I’m sure they are parting ways amicably. BUT, Becks is a very savvy businessman … he would NOT be parting ways with Pepsi if he didn’t think there might be a better deal down the line. I suspect his days of pimpin’ soda pop aren’t over … I guess we’ll have to wait and see. After the jump, as a farewell to Pepsi, check out one of Becks’s commercials wherein he plays a Wild West Cowboy fighting for a bottle of Pepsi against one of his fútbol cohorts … (more…)

Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails updated the official NIN website earlier this week and posted a thank you letter of sorts to all the fans who came out in support of the Lights in the Sky Over North America Tour (and beyond) this year. Speaking directly to the fans themselves, Trent talks a bit about touring plans for 2009 and even mentions the possibility that a “small holiday gift” may be on the way. Here is the full text of Trent’s latest message:

The LIGHTS IN THE SKY era has come to a close, and I’d like to once again thank you for your support. I am very proud of what we pulled off - it was an immense amount of work and worth it all. I’d like to thank Josh and Alessandro for being an integral part of this for the last few years and I wish them all the best. No rest for the wicked here, though. We start rehearsing the new band/format first thing next year and as I mentioned, we’ll be announcing some final waves of dates. North America, UK/Europe, Pacific Rim and elsewhere. Oh yeah - we may have a small holiday gift for you soon. Check back.

As excited as I STILL am over being fortunate enough to have a one-on-one backstage conversation with TR in Las Vegas, NV last weekend I am REALLY excited at the prospect of a “holiday gift” from the man himself. With Trent Reznor you never know what you’re gonna get … it could be a new song, it could be a new album — it could be a You Tube clip of the band doing the dance routine from Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) … er, but it most likely will not be the latter (I think). I will make sure to update news of this “holiday gift” as soon as it is announced.

Additionally, TR and NIN keyboardist Alessandro Cortini are featured in a new Apple promo video for their software program called MainStage:

As far as I can tell, the program was used extensively on the Lights in the Sky Tour and comes highly recommended by the NIN men themselves. After the jump, watch the video clip in full … (more…)

TMZ is reporting that former Full House star Jodie Sweetin is currently engaged in an emergency custody battle with her soon-to-be ex-hubby Cody Herpin (yes, that is really his last name, y’all) over their 8-month old daughter Zoe. Honestly, I am utterly and completely shocked … after all, the couple looked so happy when they made their public debut together as a couple:

Jodie Sweetin is locked in a custody battle so ferocious — that her estranged husband called for an emergency hearing this morning to get access to their 8-month old daughter ASAP. TMZ has learned the 26-year-old “Full House” star and her soon-to-be-ex Cody Herpin are currently facing off in an Orange County courtroom.

HMM … it’s pretty remarkable that Sweetin is so interested in keeping her daughter away from her father, especially considering all the nice things she had to say about him in her divorce papers:

“Our house is in foreclosure, our water has been shut off twice. Currently, all of our other utilities are overdue,” the actress says in papers filed Nov. 19 in an Orange County, Calif., court, describing the 16-month union as “rocky.” Herpin, a driver and transportation coordinator in the film industry, stopped working after they got married, Sweetin alleges. “[He] kept finding one excuse after another for his failure to even attempt to find employment,” she says. Sweetin, 26, claims the couple were kept afloat financially with Full House residuals and help from their parents.

Sad. And I thought this was one Hollywood couple that had it all … I mean, they looked so right for one another. Truth be told, I think baby Zoe would prolly be better off in the care of someone other than either Sweetin or Herpin … I wonder if Uncle Joey would be willing to take her.

UPDATE: TMZ has updated this story with new courtroom deets … and they aren’t great for Ms. Sweetin:

Jodie Sweetin is not allowed to see her 8-month-old daughter without supervision. Moments ago, an Orange County, Ca. judge made the explosive ruling after Sweetin’s estranged husband Cody Herpin accused the “Full House” star of being an unfit mother — citing an alleged incident where Sweetin drove intoxicated with their baby in the car. The couple faced off in open court today for an emergency custody hearing at Cody’s request. Jodie, an admitted meth addict and alcoholic who lives with her parents, will not be allowed to be with the child unless one of her folks is present. A doctor also took the stand and claimed that Jodie had recently fallen off the wagon. However, the doc confirmed Jodie has been in touch with her sponsor and is attending AA meetings. The doctor said she does not believe the baby is at risk at the moment. A judge ordered both Cody and Jodie to submit to drug tests before the next hearing.

Paging, Uncle Joey! You are needed — STAT!

[Source]

On Monday we learned from Madonna’s longtime publicist Liz Rosenberg that the final terms of Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s divorce settlement have been determined and that Ritchie’s pay-out from Madge would be in the range of $76 to $92 million. Today, it turns out, that that information either was erroneously reported to the media on Rosenberg’s part or the information is completely false. Madonna and Guy have issued a joint statement denying the terms of the settlement as reported by Madonna’s publicist and refuse to acknowledge the verity of any reports of any settlement that may have been decided upon by them. Um, yeah:

Madonna and Guy Ritchie are slamming recent stories about their divorce settlement. The joint statement – issued in London – came two days after Madonna’s U.S. rep gave the Associated Press details of the supposed deal. Liz Rosenberg said that Madonna, 50, was set to hand over cash and property worth between $76 million and $92 million, calling it “one of the largest [divorce] payouts ever.” But now the couple calls that information “misleading and inaccurate.” The statement reads:

“We have tried to maintain a dignified silence regarding the details of our divorce for the last few months whilst accepting the obvious media interest. A misleading and inaccurate statement, specifically in relation to the sums of money involved, was wrongly issued to AP this week. The financial details of the settlement will remain private, save to say that both of us are happy with our agreement. Our primary concern, like any co-parents, is the care and well being of our children.”

Wait … I’m confused. Madonna’s publicist herself was the one who reportedly made the money range claims and even was quoted as calling the settlement “one of the largest [divorce] payouts ever”. It’s not like the couple are refuting claims that were made by any outside party or media outlet. This information came directly from Liz Rosenberg herself … and to the Associated Press. I wonder why this joint settlement makes no reference to Rosenberg’s part in this “misleading and inaccurate statement” or, better yet, why Maddy doesn’t just order Rosenberg to rescind her statement. In any event, we can no longer be sure that the money payout is in the $76-92 million range … but I suspect it’s still really up there. To be honest, I’m looking forward to the finalization of this entire situation so we can be over and done with it already.

[Photo credit: Big! Pictures; Source]

Last month we learned that Madonna and very soon-to-be ex-hubby Guy Ritchie had reached a tentative divorce agreement and today we learn from Maddy’s long-time publicist Liz Rosenberg that the final divorce settlement has been officially agreed upon by both parties — and Guy is gonna get paid some major moolah. Essentially, as soon as the court signs the paperwork after child custody is hammered out, the fairytale marriage of Madonna and Guy Ritchie will be totally and completely dunzo:

Madonna has reached a divorce settlement with Guy Ritchie, according to the singer’s rep. The pop star will pay her ex between $76 million and $92 million, her spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg tells the Associated Press. Rosenberg says the figure includes the value of their country home Ashcombe, in western England, as well as the couple’s London pub, the Punchbowl. “I’d assume it’s one of the largest payouts ever in a divorce settlement,” Rosenberg told the AP. While the financial details of the settlement have been ironed out, Madonna, 50, and Ritchie, 40, are still finalizing custodial arrangements for their children. Madonna filed for divorce citing Ritchie’s “unreasonable behavior” as a cause. The two were granted a preliminary “quickie divorce” on Nov. 21 in the High Court of London. Richie’s rep declined to comment to the AP. As for reports that the couple plan to spend Christmas together, Madonna’s rep tells PEOPLE that is not true.

Damn. That is a lot of money … but really, this whole thing just saddens me. I’d like to say, again, that I really liked Madonna and Guy together. I’m bummed that it couldn’t work out between the two of them. While I’m sure that these mega millions that Guy will be getting will do much to cushion the loss of his marriage, I suspect that this whole ordeal is still a difficult one for the both of them. I’m sure it won’t be much longer until we hear that the couple are legally dunzo for good.

[Source]