LifeStyles condoms auctions artsy boxes

By Laura | Thursday, December 4, 2008, 03:19 PM

To commemorate World AIDS Day and AIDS Awareness Month, the makers of LifeStyles® Condoms are dressing up their undeniably recognizable condom boxes in an effort to raise both money and awareness for the worldwide AIDS epidemic. LifeStyles has enlisted some celebrities to create exclusively designed condom boxes for the LifeStyles Celebrity Pop Art Auction. This auction will be live until tomorrow, Dec. 5, on www.lifestyles.com/popart, with all proceeds being donated to YouthAIDS.

Some of today’s big names, from movie stars to fashion moguls, jumped at the chance to transform the signature LifeStyles condom carriers into works of art for this cause. Participants include Ashley Judd, Ethan Hawke, Margaret Cho and Dita Von Teese (that’s Dita’s, pictured above).

Some of the designs may make it into retail stores, said a LifeStyles marketing guru. The LifeStyles Celebrity Pop Art Auction was designed to harness the power of celebrities to raise money and increase awareness about AIDS, which takes the life of one child every minute. For additional information on YouthAIDS visit www.youthaids.org.

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Sean Avery apologizes for vulgar comment

By Laura | Thursday, December 4, 2008, 07:41 AM

Hockey star Sean Avery, suspended by the NHL for making an offensive statement apparently referring to ex-girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert, apologized Wednesday.

“I should not have made those comments and I recognize that they were inappropriate,” he says in a statement to People magazine. “It was a bad attempt to build excitement for the game, but I am now acutely aware of how hurtful my actions were.”

The hockey league’s commissioner summoned Avery, 28, who plays for the Dallas Stars, for a hearing today on his indefinite suspension for making what the commissioner called “inappropriate public comments, not pertaining to the game.”

Avery’s vulgar comment came Wednesday morning, when he told reporters, “it’s a common thing for NHL guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds.” Although he didn’t mention her by name, his ex, 24 actress Cuthbert, 26, now dates Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf and was previously linked to a player for the Montreal Canadiens. (Avery also dated “Stacey’s Mom” star Rachel Hunter, who now dates Los Angeles Kings star Jarret Stoll.)

“I caused unnecessary embarrassment to my peers as well as people I have been close with in the past,” Avery says. “As many of you know, I like to mix it up on and off the ice from time to time, but understand that this time I took it too far.”

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Anne Heche announces pregnancy

By Laura | Thursday, December 4, 2008, 07:34 AM

Anne Heche and her beau, actor James Tupper, are expecting their first child together. The two first met in 2006 on the set of their short-lived ABC drama Men In Trees while Heche was still wed to husband Coley Laffoon.

“In that friendship, we kind of discovered we saw the world in a somewhat similar way,” Tupper, who was also married at the time, told the Vancouver Sun last year. “I think we both made decisions that were based on the relationships we were in.”

Shortly after Heche announced her split from Laffoon (with whom she has a 6-year-old son, Homer), the two stepped out publicly.

“I wish people could meet her in person,” Tupper told the Sun of Heche, with whom he shares a home in Vancouver. “She has such a sparkle and such a love for people, and she works so hard. She is so dedicated to all the good things.”

Heche told Extra last year that she was relieved that they can finally be open about their relationship. “We’re so much more comfortable now that our feelings are exposed and everybody knows about them,” said Heche, who will be appearing with Tupper on an upcoming episode of Samantha Who? this season.

Asked whether she’ll expand her family, Heche said, “Gotta leave it open, ya know what I’m sayin’?”

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Hockey star suspended for tacky comment

By Laura | Wednesday, December 3, 2008, 09:05 AM

Sean Avery has never been a classy kind of guy, but this is something new, even for him. Still, suspended indefinitely? You be the judge:

Avery was punished indefinitely by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for using a crude term about his former girlfriends now dating other hockey players. Bettman acted within hours, in time to keep Avery out of the Dallas Stars’ game against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night.

Avery’s not-so-cute comment came following a morning skate in Calgary, Alberta. Reporters were waiting to speak with Avery about disparaging remarks he’d made last month about Flames star Jarome Iginla when Avery walked over to the group and asked if there was a camera present. When told there was, he said, “I’m just going to say one thing.”

“I’m really happy to be back in Calgary; I love Canada,” he said. “I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my (former girlfriends). I don’t know what that’s about, but enjoy the game tonight.” He then walked out of the locker room. Word is that he called his former girlfriends his “sloppy seconds.” Yeah, yuck.

Avery’s ex-girlfriend, actress Elisha Cuthbert of the television show “24” and the movie “Old School,” is dating Calgary defenseman Dion Phaneuf; she had been romantically linked to Mike Komisarek of the Montreal Canadiens. Avery also dated Rachel Hunter, the former Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model and actress who is now the girlfriend of Los Angeles Kings center Jarrett Stoll.

Bettman said Avery made “inappropriate public comments, not pertaining to the game.” The two will meet before the length of the suspension is determined. That get-together is likely to happen soon.

“I completely support the league’s decision to suspend Sean Avery,” Stars owner Tom Hicks said in a statement. “Had the league not have suspended him, the Dallas Stars would have. This organization will not tolerate such behavior, especially from a member of our hockey team. We hold our team to a higher standard and will continue to do so.”

Avery is the kind of player who delights in doing or saying something to get under the skin of opponents and their fans. He’s led the league in penalty minutes twice, and was doing so again going into Tuesday. He’s not only often called the most hated player in the NHL, he loves hearing it.

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Patrick Swayze refutes tabloid rumors

By Laura | Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 01:19 PM

People magazine is helping Patrick Swayze set the record straight, publishing a statement in which the actor strikes back at tabloid rumors about his health — he’s battling pancreatic cancer.

“I’m very proud of the work I’ve done on my new series The Beast, and I am happy to be back home for the holidays. It’s a great feeling of accomplishment to say you’re gonna do something and do it,” says the actor, 56. “The only thorn in my side being that many tabloids have been consistently reporting lies and false information about me and those close to me. And latest, they’re reporting that I’m on my last legs and saying goodbye to my tearful family!

“Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease and from the moment I was diagnosed, I knew I was in for the fight of my life. It’s a battle, and so far, I’ve been winning. I’m one of the lucky few that responds well to treatment.

“It’s upsetting that the shoddy and reckless reporting from these publications cast a negative shadow on the positive and good fight I’m fighting. For me, my family, and those close to me, it amounts to downright emotional cruelty. That makes me angry when hope is so precious.”

He concludes, “As always, I appreciate all the love and support people have sent and continue to send my way. I thank you.”

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Lindsay denies Sam Ronson breakup rumors

By Laura | Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 01:15 PM

When the rumors begin, can the truth be far behind? We shall see … Lindsay Lohan has taken to the Web to announce that she and Samantha Ronson are still very much a couple.

Writes Lohan, 22, on her MySpace celebrity blog, after exclaiming (in a very New York-like manner), “oy vey! rumors”:

“just to clear this up.. because i have been getting a lot of emails asking me this one question […] samantha ronson and lindsay lohan (me) are NOT breaking up.”

Lohan then added a smile and signed-off with, “take care xxLL.”

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Marg Helgenberger, husband separate

By Laura | Monday, December 1, 2008, 05:24 PM

CSI star Marg Helgenberger has separated from her husband of nearly 20 years, actor Alan Rosenberg.

“After 19 years of marriage, Marg and Alan have decided to take some time apart,” the actress’s rep said in a statement. “They love and respect each other and remain committed to their family.” Helgenberger, 50, and Rosenberg, 57, have an 18-year-old son.

Rosenberg is also president of the 120,000-member Screen Actors Guild, which is at an impasse in contract negotiations with the studios, with the possibility of a strike looming.

Hi CHUCK! Hi LINDA!

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