Boy you really do learn something new every day. So far my most surprising revelation is that Nelson Mandela and Naomi Campbell have been longtime friends. I just cannot imagine two such polar opposites. But apparently their history goes way back, with Campbell hosting several events for 46664 – Mandela’s prison number while he was jailed for 27 years, and now the name of his AIDS awareness campaign.

Mandela was so upset, disappointed, and embarrassed by Campbell’s recent arrest for assaulting two police officers during a scuffle on a British Airways plane that he has personally banned her from his upcoming 90th birthday celebration concert in London.

Nelson Mandela intervened personally to ensure Naomi Campbell does not appear on stage at his 90th birthday concert. He told organisers to take her off the line-up for Friday’s Hyde Park charity event. The former South African leader, who met the Queen at Buckingham Palace today, made his decision after Campbell, 38, was fined and sentenced to 200 hours’ community service last week for assaulting two police officers on a BA flight at Heathrow in April.

A source close to the event said: ‘The man himself intervened and she was pulled off the list. He was disappointed with her recent arrest – particularly as she was wearing a 46664 baseball cap at the time.’ The model, who calls Mr Mandela her ‘honorary grandfather’, has been deeply involved with his charity.

‘Naomi was on the list to play quite an integral role, such as introducing acts on stage. ‘But all plans were scrapped when pictures emerged of her being arrested wearing the baseball cap with the Mandela number on it. She will be allowed to sit in the grandstand and watch the performances, but that is as far as it goes.’

‘Everyone hopes this may teach her a lesson as the concert means so much to her.’

[From the Daily Mail]

Naomi’s rep of course denies the whole thing. Her response was that Naomi never planned on going to the concert in the first place. Which seems to be utter hogwash, considering she’s been at all the important 46664 events of the last ten years. We’re supposed to believe she was never going to attend the biggest one yet? Right. Way to save face.

I doubt anything will ever teach Naomi Campbell a lesson. But if anything could, it’d be this.

Here’s Nelson Mandela leaving the Dorchester hotel in London today in preparation for some of his birthday festivities this weekend. Naomi Campbell is shown at the ‘African Rising’ festival announcement held at the Royal Albert Hall in London today. Header of Nelson Mandela with Naomi Campbell at his home in Cape Town in 1998. Images thanks to WENN.