Miley Cyrus denies 'Bangerz' tour is racist and exploitative

March 1, 2014 14:02

Singer defends use of black dancers and little people

Miley Cyrus has defended her 'Bangerz' tour against accusations of racism and exploitation.

The tour has come under fire for its sexually suggestive dance routines, one of which sees her simulate oral sex on a lookalike of former US President Bill Clinton, her use of black dancers and the adoption of twerking, which prompted of distasteful cultural appropriation levelled at the singer. Finally, Cyrus has also been accused of exploiting little people for having a number among her backing dancers.

In an interview with MSNBC's Ronan Farrow, who also profiled her for W magazine, she said: "It's really funny how serious people take it. And they're like, 'You're racist'. And I'm like, 'Really?' We're like a bunch of kids dancing around in, like, bears, but we don't do choreography. They're just like dancing, doing these cute moves and they're awesome dancers like just on their own. It's not me telling them how to be. We're making them feel sexual and beautiful.

Speaking more specifically about one of the dancers, she added: "We're all about lifting her up and making her feel so sexy all the time, and having her dance - she's actually an awesome dancer."

However, one of Miley's former backing dancers, Hollis Jane – who was spanked by the star on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards last year – previously said she felt used by the singer, at the time writing: "I was a bear in Miley Cyrus' VMA performance and it was my first time doing anything like that... anything where I was being used because of my height, not because of my talent. And I will be the first one to tell you that standing on that stage, in that costume was one of the most degrading things I felt like I could ever do.''

She has since clarified the remark, saying she doesn't blame Cyrus, but that "little people need to stop being seen, in my opinion, in the media as jokes."

Last month, while supporting Cyrus in Anaheim, California, Sky Ferreira injured her leg and required 60 stitches meaning she has had to temporarily pull out of the tour but recovered enough to rejoin her a few days later for shows in Los Angeles, Oakland and San Jose.

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Tulisa denies Class A drugs supply charge in court

December 19, 2013 21:02

The pop singer will appear in front of judges again on January 9, 2014

Pop singer and former X Factor judge Tulisa has denied playing a part in the supply of Class A drugs.

Tulisa Contostavlos was arrested following tabloid newspaper reports that claimed she was involved in an £860 cocaine deal. She appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today (December 19) to deny charges of being involved in the supply of class A drugs, reports BBC News.

Michael Coombs also pleaded not guilty to the same charge of being "concerned with the supply of 13.9 grams of cocaine" to an undercover reporter following a police investigation in June. Both Contostavlos and Coombs were granted unconditional bail. The case has now been sent to Southwark Crown Court and the pair will appear before judges there on January 9, 2014.

During her appearance in court today Contostavlos was made to disclose her London address, though her solicitor had applied for it to be withheld. "Just to let you know, after it being read out, in the next month or so I might have to move to a new address," Contostavlos said after her address was revealed, with her solicitor citing the "unwanted visitors" it might attract.

In June an undercover reporter working for The Sun On Sunday recorded what is believed to be Tulisa saying that "half her phone book" had access to drugs and that she would introduce their reporter to a drug dealer. This introduction was allegedly then made, with the undercover journalist filming himself paying £860 for half an ounce of cocaine.

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Judge denies Usher's ex-wife custody of sons after accident

n">(Reuters) - A judge in Atlanta on Friday denied the ex-wife of R&B singer Usher temporary primary custody of their two children after one of them was hospitalized following a swimming pool accident at Usher's house.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge John J. Goger dismissed the motion for primary custody filed on Tuesday by Tameka Foster, saying that there was no reason for the singer to relinquish primary custody because of one accident.

Usher, 34, has custody of 5-year-old Usher Raymond V and his younger brother Naviyd, 4.

The Grammy winner and coach on NBC's TV singing contest "The Voice" won custody of the boys last year. He was married to Foster, 42, from 2007 to 2009.

In her court filing, Foster had alleged that Usher failed to personally exercise physical custody of the children by using caregivers and also traveled excessively, which took away from his parenting time.

The singer, whose full name is Usher Raymond IV, was not at his Atlanta area home on Monday when Usher Raymond V's arm got caught in a swimming pool drain when he tried to retrieve a toy.

The boys' aunt, Rena Oden, and two other women tried to pull the child free but could not. Contractors installing audio-visual equipment at the house jumped into the pool, rescued him and administered CPR.

"What happened here was an awful accident," Goger said when explaining his decision. "Based on the evidence here, I'm not certain that one person could have done any better than Ms. Oden. Ms. Oden did impress me."

Usher, Foster and Oden all testified at the hearing.

The boy is recovering in an Atlanta hospital and is expected to be released on Sunday, Usher's attorney said.

Last year Foster's older child and Usher's stepson, 11-year-old Kile Glover, died after suffering a brain injury during a jet-ski accident.

(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Editing by Mary Milliken and Mohammad Zargham)

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Chris Brown Injured in Club Brawl, Drake Denies Involvement

by Billboard Staff  |   June 14, 2012 2:20 EDT

The camps tied to Chris Brown, Drake and Meek Mill made a scene at a downtown NYC nightclub early Thursday, allegedly throwing bottles and blows over an argument about Rihanna. The brawl went down at SoHo club W.I.P. between 4-5 a.m. and left five people injured, police confirmed.

Brown tweeted several messages after the fight, including a photo that appears to show a gash on his chin. "Ni**as throwing bottles! Y'all ni**az weak!" he wrote in posts that have since been taken down.

According to GlobalGrind.com, a fight broke out after Brown sent Drake a bottle, which the Canadian rapper apparently saw as a provocation. He reportedly began arguing with the singer about his ex-girlfriend Rihanna and then "punched Chris Brown in the face, and hit him in the mouth with a bottle before he could retaliate from the punch."

However, Drake has denied involvement in the fight, explaining he was actually heading to the exits during the tussle. "Drake did not participate in any wrongdoing of any kind last night at W.I.P. He was on his way out of the club when the altercation began," a rep told TMZ. "[Drake] did not engage in any activity which resulted in injury to person or damage to property."

One of Brown's deleted tweets asked, "How u party with rich n---- that hate? Lol.... Throwing bottles like girls?#shameonya!"

Witnesses told the New York Post that "all hell broke loose" at the club and Global Grind has published an image purportedly showing the aftermath after the venue was cleared of partiers.

Rapper Meek Mill, a friend of Drake's, who was at the club at the time and was reportedly involved in the fight, later wrote on Twitter, "It wasn't me… (shaggy voice) lol."

Drake and Meek Mill, who are on tour together, arrived at W.I.P. after attending a listening party for Maybach Music Group's compilation album "Self Made Vol. 2" at Sin City, a strip club in The Bronx.

Two weeks ago, Drake, Meek and Brown went back and forth on Twitter, throwing subliminals as to each dating Rih Rih, according to MissInfo.tv.

No arrests were made and it's unclear if any charges will be filed. The NYPD declined to comment when reached by Billboard.

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Tony Iommi denies report of Black Sabbath reunion (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi on Tuesday denied a report that the veteran British rock band was getting back together in its four man original line-up.

British paper The Birmingham Mail had reported that Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne, bass player Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward had begun rehearsing for a tour and a new studio album for release next year.

It quoted Iommi, 63, as saying the original foursome, which dates back to 1969, was looking forward to performing together again.

But in a statement on his official website on Tuesday, Iommi said he was just speculating and described the report as "absolute nonsense."

Iommi said the journalist had taken "a conversation we had back in June and made it sound like we spoke yesterday about a Black Sabbath reunion.

"At the time I was supporting the Home of Metal exhibition and was merely speculating, shooting the breeze, on something all of us get asked constantly, "Are you getting back together?"

"Thanks to the Internet it's gone round the world as some sort of "official" statement on my part, absolute nonsense," Iommi said, apologizing to his three bandmates.

Osbourne was fired from the band in 1979, leading to a revolving line-up for a number of years. The original members got back together for the 1998 album "Reunion" but split again afterward.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Tony Iommi denies report of Black Sabbath reunion

Members of the band Black Sabbath Tommy Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward (L-R) react after being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the 2006 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York March 13, 2006.

Credit: Reuters/Mike Segar

LOS ANGELES | Tue Aug 16, 2011 6:01pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi on Tuesday denied a report that the veteran British rock band was getting back together in its four man original line-up.

British paper The Birmingham Mail had reported that Iommi, singer Ozzy Osbourne, bass player Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward had begun rehearsing for a tour and a new studio album for release next year.

It quoted Iommi, 63, as saying the original foursome, which dates back to 1969, was looking forward to performing together again.

But in a statement on his official website on Tuesday, Iommi said he was just speculating and described the report as "absolute nonsense."

Iommi said the journalist had taken "a conversation we had back in June and made it sound like we spoke yesterday about a Black Sabbath reunion.

"At the time I was supporting the Home of Metal exhibition and was merely speculating, shooting the breeze, on something all of us get asked constantly, "Are you getting back together?"

"Thanks to the Internet it's gone round the world as some sort of "official" statement on my part, absolute nonsense," Iommi said, apologizing to his three bandmates.

Osbourne was fired from the band in 1979, leading to a revolving line-up for a number of years. The original members got back together for the 1998 album "Reunion" but split again afterward.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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Lady Gaga denies Japan charity bracelet scam

Lady Gaga, wearing an arm band with the words ''We Pray for Japan'', attends a news conference in Tokyo June 23, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Issei Kato

LOS ANGELES | Tue Jun 28, 2011 5:16pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Representatives of Lady Gaga on Tuesday denied claims of a scam over sales of the singer's wristbands for Japan's earthquake relief efforts.

They described a lawsuit targeting the pop star and other companies involved in the sale and marketing of the $5 white and red "We Pray for Japan" rubber bracelets as misguided and without merit.

"This misguided lawsuit is without merit and unfortunately takes attention away from the kind deeds of the fans around the world who are supporting the people of Japan," Gaga's representatives said in a statement.

Michigan legal network, 1800LAWFIRM, filed a lawsuit last week alleging that not all of the proceeds from the wristband sales were going to help victims of the March earthquake and tsunami, as Lady Gaga had pledged on her website. The federal class action also claimed that shipping costs were inflated.

The lawsuit was filed on Friday while the "Born This Way" singer was in Japan for a benefit concert.

"The entire $5 donation made with the purchase of each bracelet is going to support the disaster relief. No profit is being made on shipping costs. Sales tax charges were made in accordance with local legal requirements. Lady Gaga has personally pledged her own funds to this cause and continues to support the victims of the disaster," Tuesday's statement said.

Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, is reported to have donated about $3 million to Japan disaster relief through sales of the wristbands and other ventures.

Lady Gaga was last month named the most powerful celebrity in the world by Forbes magazine, based on her earnings, media visibility and social media popularity.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

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