A few days ago, CB covered Roger Ebert’s announcement that his cancer had returned yet again and that he would be taking “a leave of presence.” Sadly, Ebert did pass away yesterday afternoon at the age of 70. CB asked me if I wanted to write about his death since I work as a film critic, and I agreed although I knew that I’d be fighting back some tears while trying to gather my thoughts. Honestly, I have written for Pajiba for six years but am not a “serious” critic who reviews prestige movies. Mostly, I review testosterone-laden action films, kiddie flicks, and horror movies. In comparison, Ebert did it all, he did it damn well, and he did it without apology. He also performed his duties as a film critic up until the very end of his life, and I think we would all be quite lucky if we died while still doing what we love to do.

Ebert had already repeatedly battled cancer to his thyroid and salivary glands for several years, and he lost much of his jaw as well as his voice as a result of many operations. A few years ago in a profile with Esquire, Ebert admitted that if the cancer returned again, he would not seek further operations, and his only solution would be “over and out.” It looks like that is exactly what happened, only I’m not sure whether or not Ebert realized how numbered his days would be while crafting the most recent letter to his audience. I do have a hunch that Ebert may have actually known what was coming and chose to continue working because he never wanted to give up any of his life, even just a little bit, to the resignation of not doing his favorite thing in the world — watching movies and writing about them. Indeed, Roger’s longtime employer, the Chicago Sun-Times tweeted the sad news of Ebert’s death:

It is with a heavy heart we report that legendary film critic Roger Ebert (@ebertchicago) has passed away

— Suntimes (@Suntimes) April 4, 2013

Obvously, I speak for countless people when I say that this is truly a loss of great proportions, and it is a loss that will be felt forever by moviegoers and people who simply enjoy reading film criticism. While Ebert’s writing style was considered very mainstream (he was syndicated in over 200 newspapers and hosted a few popular television programs as well), he also possessed a very acerbic wit that he never attempted to hide or tone down in any form. To film critics like myself, he seemed like the last of a (for lack of a better word) dying breed. Ebert was both a trailblazer (he was the first movie critic to win a Pulitzer Prize) and a living artifact from the days when print newspapers thrived. He worked as a critic for 46 years and made a successful transition to the internet as well. Over the past couple of years, lots of people felt as if they’d gotten to know Ebert better through his Twitter account, where he regularly interacted with readers.

Ebert is survived by his wife of nearly twenty years, Chaz Hammelsmith, whom he often referred to as “my protector.” Chaz took to Roger’s blog on the Sun-Times site to reveal that her husband died with a smile on his face while heading to hospice care:

Chaz Ebert issued the following statement Thursday about the passing of her husband, Roger Ebert, a day after he celebrated 46 years as a film critic:

“I am devastated by the loss of my love, Roger — my husband, my friend, my confidante and oh-so-brilliant partner of over 20 years. He fought a courageous fight. I’ve lost the love of my life and the world has lost a visionary and a creative and generous spirit who touched so many people all over the world. We had a lovely, lovely life together, more beautiful and epic than a movie. It had its highs and the lows, but was always experienced with good humor, grace and a deep abiding love for each other.

“Roger was a beloved husband, stepfather to Sonia and Jay, and grandfather to Raven, Emil, Mark and Joseph. Just yesterday he was saying how his grandchildren were “the best things in my life.” He was happy and radiating satisfaction over the outpouring of responses to his blog about his 46th year as a film critic. But he was also getting tired of his fight with cancer, and said if this takes him, he has lived a great and full life.

“We were getting ready to go home today for hospice care, when he looked at us, smiled, and passed away. No struggle, no pain, just a quiet, dignified transition.

“We are touched by all the kindness and the outpouring of love we’ve received. And I want to echo what Roger said in his last blog, thank you for going on this journey with us.”

[From Roger Ebert's Journal]

Just a little over a week ago, Ebert published his last review, which just happened to be a relative evisceration of Stephenie Meyer’s The Host that drew upon broader themes in life to describe exactly why the movie failed as a piece of cinema. Ebert’s comprehensive knowledge of culture (both pop and otherwise) really set his opinions apart from all other critics. I didn’t always agree with his viewpoints, but I never misunderstood his reasoning. In the letter that CB already discussed, Ebert ended his essay by saying, “Thank you for going on this journey with me. I’ll see you at the movies.” Yes, that is where I shall see him this weekend.

Photos courtesy of WENN

Sad news – Shain Gandee, star of MTV’s reality show Buckwild, has passed away. Shain was only 21 years old. In case you haven’t caught Buckwild, it’s a show about “country” people in West Virginia, and Shain was one of several young people whose huntin’, partyin’ and drinkin’ antics were catalogued on the show. What’s particularly bizarre about this story is that no information has been released about the cause of death.

A search for Buckwild star Shain Gandee and two others ended with the trio found dead in his car in West Virginia, authorities say.

“We are shocked and saddened by the terrible news about Shain Gandee, and those involved in this tragic incident,” an MTV rep said in a statement. “We are waiting for more information, but at this time, our main concern is for the Gandee family and their friends.”

Continues the statement, “Our thoughts and prayers are with them. Shain had a magnetic personality, with a passion for life that touched everyone he met and we will miss him dearly.”

The reality personality, 21, was discovered unresponsive in his car Monday morning with his uncle, David Gandee, 48, and another person, says Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper of West Virginia, where Gandee lived.

Kanawha County Commissioner Kent Carper tells PEOPLE that the family notified authorities on Sunday that they were missing since Saturday. A very intense search was done, concluding Monday morning, he adds, revealing MTV had been filming all weekend with Shain.

They had told people they were going four-wheeling in an SUV and were last seen at Larry’s Bar in Sissonville, W.Va., WCHS TV reports.

According to his bio on the stunt program’s website, Shain, nicknamed “Gandee Candy,” was “sociable and loyal.” He was his high school’s prom king, and had done every job from coal mining to being a garbage man.

Says the bio, “He loves mudding, hunting and four-wheeling, but most of all he loves his parents, who live three doors down.”

[From People]

This is really sad. If Shain and his uncle (and this mysterious third person) were drinking before they went four-wheelin’, I feel like the cause of death might be alcohol related? TMZ’s sources think that the deaths might be related to carbon monoxide poisoning. Yikes.

Incidentally, I caught a few episodes of Buckwild, and I actually wondered what the fuss was about – I grew up in Virginia (and I still live in Virginia), and there are plenty of people just like that all over. None of the Buckwild stars were geniuses or anything, but they weren’t vicious or nasty people (although they have had their fair share of drug and alcohol problems), they were just… “country”. People often treat the word “redneck” like a universal pejorative, but many people in the South own their “redneck” status with pride, and that’s what I was reminded of when I watched the show. At the end of the day, this Shain kid just liked to party, he loved to hunt, he loved his parents, he had a wide group of friends and he had worked some hard jobs. It’s really sad.

Oh, and MTV has suspended production of Buckwild. The mayor of Charleston, WV wants the show canceled.

Photos courtesy of Google.

There are so many follow-ups to country singer Mindy McCready’s tragic suicide on Sunday that it’s hard to know where to start. Many outlets are focusing on the story that Mindy was currently under investigation for the death of her fiance, David Wilson, who died of an apparent suicide by firearm about a month prior, on the same porch where Mindy killed herself. Mindy was not officially declared a suspect, although police had not ruled out murder. Some of Mindy’s statements were contradictory after the fact.

Mindy denied any involvement in David’s death
In an interview with the Today Show following David’s death, Mindy cried and appeared very distraught, and she denied any involvement in Wilson’s death. The truth expert at Eyes For Lies watched Mindy’s interview and wrote that “I see oblique eyebrows and true sadness, but I am pinged by one element. And while that element is not enough for me to say anything conclusive, it is begging me to look at more.” In the interview, Mindy denied that David was cheating on her, and when asked if she was the one who killed him she said “Oh my God, No. He was my life.” She didn’t say she was certain he committed suicide, though, admitting “I don’t know,” when asked if that was the case.

Mindy was working on a suicide prevention video
Just prior to her suicide, Mindy was working on recording a suicide prevention video with one of her friends, a private investigator named Danno Hanks. Danno told E! Online that Mindy was most likely reaching out to him to send a message that she was considering suicide herself, and that he bitterly regrets not seeing the signs. He said “She said she wanted to put together this video to help people deal when someone had suffered a suicide in their life and God, she was literally having me write her suicide note. If I had known, I would have made sure someone was there with her all the time.”

A friend recorded Mindy discussing David’s death
Danno also shared with E! a recording he made of his last phone conversation with Mindy, in which she described David’s last moments. Mindy is audibly crying during the call as she talks about begging David not to die and missing his last two hours in the hospital because the police had taken her away to administer a ballistic test for gunshot residue. She was also incredibly upset to have lost custody of her children to foster care on February 6, calling it “the cruelest, most awful situation I’ve ever seen. I just can’t even imagine it.” The call was very difficult to listen to.

Mindy’s ex says her suicide wasn’t a surprise
Mindy’s ex boyfriend and the father of her 6 year-old son, Zander, has spoken to the press about her death. Billy McKnight said Mindy’s suicide didn’t come as a surprise to him because he was “around her when she attempted suicide twice, so I knew it was in her.” He also said that he would like to care for his son and for Mindy’s other son, 10 month old Zayne. He said “Zander shouldn’t have been taken from me to begin with. He was taken out of Florida, and he has a happy home here. I can provide for him, and it’s just been a really big mess and enough is enough. He’s up there all alone. He has no family in Arkansas. He has plenty of family who love him here. He needs to come home.

Mindy’s ex wants custody of his son
“I would like to keep those boys being brothers together and try to turn my son’s life around. He’s had a rough first six years, and he deserves better than this, and my heart’s broken for him right now. I’m very worried.” Thank goodness Zander’s dad is willing to step up. I’m hoping he’s genuine about it and that he’s able to be a decent parent. It’s hard to tell.

Mindy was the fifth Celebrity Rehab contestant to die
Mindy was the fifth former Celebrity Rehab contestant to die tragically. Many are placing the blame squarely on Dr. Drew and the ineffectiveness of his program, including singer Richard Marx who compared Dr. Drew to Kevorkian and then apologized. In his apology, Marx tweeted “I went too far with the Kevorkian crack. It is, however, my opinion that what Dr. D does is exploitation and his TV track record is not good.”

Dr. Drew responds
Dr. Drew’s response was to point to addiction as a disease that went untreated with Mindy. He said “I’m certain she’s not the last [to lose their life to the disease.] If somebody has a deadly disease that requires chronic treatment… [and] are not, everyday, involved in that treatment, their life is in danger today.”

At least the guy could have acknowledged that Mindy required more follow-up. After five deaths you would think that Celebrity Rehab would recognize that their participants need ongoing care. I understand that they’re not responsible for keeping addicts sober, and the show’s participants are very hard cases. These are people who come into it with deep, longstanding addiction issues that are not going to be resolved in a few weeks. When someone who attempted suicide at least four times is successful, it’s not her old rehab’s fault. That doesn’t mean that the rehab was decent, though, or that even the best rehab could have prevented a tragedy.

In case you’re not familiar with Mindy McCready, she’s a country singer with some hits in the late 90s, including “Guys Do It All The Time.” She’s known more recently for her tragic personal life than her career, and we’ve covered her occasionally when she’s made headlines. Mindy lost her partner and second child’s father, David Wilson, in an apparent suicide by firearm last month. She denied any involvement in his death, and appeared genuinely sad in interviews discussing her loss. After her partner died, Mindy went on a downward spiral. Her father said in court documents that she “sleeps all day, drinks all night and is taking Rx drugs” and added that she wasn’t “bathing or even helping take care of her 2 children,” Zander, 6, and Zayne, 10 months. She was ordered by the court to attend rehab, which she did for just a day, checking out to attend some sort of outpatient treatment. Unfortunately Mindy is dead in an apparent suicide after reportedly shooting herself, and her dog, yesterday. Her children are in the care of her parents and they do not seem to have been with her at the time.

Country music star Mindy McCready was found dead Sunday at her home in Arkansas from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the local sheriff’s office said in a statement. She was 37.
Deputies from the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a report of gunshots fired Sunday afternoon and found McCready’s body on the front porch, the statement read.

McCready leaves behind two boys, one of whom is 10 months old. The infant’s father, record producer David Wilson, died of an apparent suicide last month.

The singer struggled with addiction and mental illness, often publicly. She appeared in an episode of “Celebrity Rehab” three years ago with Dr. Drew Pinsky, who said he contacted her last month after her boyfriend’s death.

“When I heard she was struggling, I did reach out to her and urged her to go to take care of herself, get in a facility if she felt she needed,” said Pinsky, who hosts his own program on CNN’s sister network HLN.

“Her biggest fear was the stigma of doing so and what people would think if she, God forbid, took care of herself. And this to me is the most distressing part of this story. She is a lovely woman, we have lost her, and it didn’t have to go down like this.”

McCready burst onto the music scene in 1996 with her debut album “10,000 Angels,” and the chart-topping hit “Guys Do It All the Time.”

In the past few years, McCready waged a public battle for custody of her elder son, Zander. She took the boy from her mother, who had custody, and fled with him to her home in Arkansas, saying she had concerns over his safety.

[From CNN]

RIP Mindy. This is sad and useless, but it particularly bothers me that she shot her dog. She must have been in a very deep dark place to have gone through with that. I hope her kids are ok and are being well cared for by their grandparents.

Mindy and her departed partner, David Wilson. (Note that I did not apply the filter on this image. That’s how it was posted originally before either of them passed.)

some photos credit: WENN.com

Can you believe that it’s been five years since Heath Ledger died? It doesn’t seem like that long ago, probably because it’s etched in my memory. When a young actor dies like that you remember it, and I still vividly remember the day I learned of River Phoenix’s death as well. Well the good news is that Heath Ledger’s parents still have have a connection to their son through his daughter Matilda, 7. Heath’s father, Kim, and his mother, Sally, told Australia’s New Idea Magazine that they have a very good relationship with their granddaughter. They also gushed about how Matilda’s mom, Heath’s ex Michelle Williams, makes sure that they can see and speak to Matilda often. This story makes me feel warm and fuzzy. Here’s more, thanks to Radar Online:

In an interview with the Australian magazine, New Idea, Heath’s mother Sally and father Kim gush about granddaughter Matilda, now 7, who was left without her daddy when he died of an accidental overdose on January 22, 2008 at age 28.

Matilda’s mom is Oscar nominated actress Michelle Williams, who had a relationship with Heath while they made the movie Brokeback Mountain together.

Fans have noted for years how much Matilda resembles Heath, who won a posthumous Oscar for playing The Joker in The Dark Knight. “Matilda is indeed very much like her dad — she has long limbs and similar features,” Sally told New Idea. “However, she also possesses the beauty of her mamma — lucky girl.”

Kim added, “Matilda has the same walk as Heath and is such a respectful little kid – she calls us ‘Papa’ and ‘Grandma Sal.’ Our family has the most wonderful relationship with both Matilda and Michelle. We talk frequently and visit as often as we can.”

[From Radar Online]

It’s true that Matilda is the spitting image of Heath! Do you remember these photos of him out with her? (There’s also a very cute photo of Matilda on Heath’s shoulders here.)

I’ve heard some sad stories about grandparents, particularly paternal grandparents, losing contact with their grandchildren in the wake of divorce. This speaks to Michelle’s efforts to make sure that her daughter has a relationship with her grandparents. This reminds me of a story last year that Michelle’s boyfriend, Jason Segal, allegedly reached out to Heath’s parents in order to let him know that his intentions for Michelle, and Matilda, were honorable. Given this confirmation from The Ledgers that they’re still close to their granddaughter, I believe it.

Also, there was at least one story about Michelle and the Ledger family arguing over Heath’s estate. Those stories were rare though, and we later heard that even though Heath’s will had left everything to his family (it was finalized before he had his daughter), Kim Ledger promised that the entire estate would go to Matilda when she turned 18.

Olivia (Heath’s sister), Kim and Sally Ledger at the G’Day USA black tie gala on 1-12-13. Credit: FayesVision/WENN.com. Header image is of Michelle and Matilda on 8-31-12. Credit: PacificCoastNews.com, They’re also shown on 8-27-12 with Jason Segal. Credit: FameFlynet

On Monday, a paparazzo was hit and killed by a car while attempting to photograph Justin Bieber’s white Ferrari after a traffic stop. Bieber was allegedly not driving, nor was he in the car. It happened when the photographer stood out in traffic attempting to get a shot, after he was warned by police to step back. TMZ has more about the man who was killed, along with detail about the scoop on Bieber he was allegedly after. There’s plenty of information, and it all boils down to a sad situation highlighting the dangers paparazzi can pose to themselves and others.

* Bieber has issued a statement expressing his sympathy to the family and stating that he was not present at the time of the accident. He’s also calling for anti-paparazzi laws to protect celebrities, bystanders and photographers. *Kaiser covered Bieber’s full statement in her earlier story about Miley Cyrus. As Kaiser mentioned, there are laws in place already in California to protect against the paparazzi, although it’s unclear whether they’re being enforced. (See below)

*TMZ revealed that the photographer’s name was Chris Guerra, that he was in his late 20s, and that he moved to LA in March in order to become a paparazzo. Guerro was single with no children.

*Guerra’s friend, an unnamed source who worked at a photo agency, told TMZ that Guerra called him and said he was certain that he saw Justin Bieber smoking marijuana while driving his car earlier in the day. What’s more is that Guerra claims to have spotted Selena Gomez’s car at the Four Seasons, where Bieber was staying. Guerra’s friend explained that Guerra was “overzealous” because, in TMZ’s words, “he believed he was on the cusp of an enormous scoop.” The friend partially blames Bieber for Guerra being in the situation that led to his death, due to how recklessly Bieber regularly drives.

*The person driving Bieber’s Ferrari at the time Guerra was tailing it was Bieber’s buddy, a 19 year-old rapper named Lil Twist. Apparently Lil Twist had just partied in Mexico with Bieber for New Year’s (because the two underage stars could legally drink there) and was hanging out with Bieber at the Four Seasons in LA. Bieber lent Lil Twist the keys to his Ferrari, and Guerra took off in pursuit, incorrectly assuming that Bieber was driving. There’s no word as to who the passenger in the car was, as we’ve heard there was more than one person in the car.

*In response to allegations that he was spotted smoking up, a source told TMZ that Bieber hated Guerra (I’m paraphrasing) and that Guerra “made Justin’s life hell … following and chasing him at every opportunity.” Bieber’s people also claim to have a solid alibi for their client that would exclude the possibility that he was getting high in his car. TMZ writes that their “sources say multiple witnesses will say the only time Justin left the Four Seasons on New Year’s Day was to go to Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles in Hollywood for lunch, and there was never a pipe in sight.”

*Sources also tell TMZ that there’s no way Guerra could have spotted Selena Gomez’s car at the Four Seasons because the on-off lovebirds “had a blow-out argument on December 30 and broke up… They haven’t seen each other since and she was never at the Four Seasons on New Year’s Day.” TMZ’s source goes on to say that Bieber had “‘very little respect’ for Chris Guerra but was trying not to say anything out of respect for the family, but Chris made it ‘very difficult by telling this guy (his friend) lies about Justin.’”

I have a lot of questions about this story that will probably never be answered. I want to know if Guerra was positive he saw Bieber smoking up and driving, or if it was possibly Lil Twist. If it was Bieber getting high, and Bieber realized he was seen smoking, did he possibly send Lil Twist (I can’t with that name) out in his Ferrari to deliberately throw Guerra off his trail? Why is Bieber so adamant that Selena Gomez wasn’t with him on that day, and what difference does it make?

Also, I’m wondering if the same guy that Justin Bieber stopped traffic for this November in order to tell him off. You can see a video of that here. Justin just sits there in his Ferrari while drivers behind him beep at him to move it. He tells the person filming that he’s “just not fun” and asks him “What do your parents think about what you do?”

There was another incident, in July, in which Bieber was cited for going over 100 mph on the freeway and a paparazzo faced charges for pursuing him. That was a different photographer, a guy named Paul Reef. The judge threw out the case, and ruled that the California anti-paparazzi law, passed in January, 2011, was unconstitutional.

Oh and in May Bieber was a suspect in a case of possible battery against a photographer. It looks like a different guy was involved there, too, but I can’t tell for sure. That case was also thrown out.

So does this mean that the anti-paparazzi law needs to withstand more legal battles before it can be enforced? This sad incident just brings more attention to the fact that something needs to be done. I also wish that Bieber’s people would move him somewhere remote. That would solve so much.

Update: I wanted to clarify that I wasn’t blaming Justin at all in this story. What happened is that I got really focused on the details while I was covering this, and I realized that there were more details that I wanted to know about what happened, that were unanswered. Of course Bieber is in no way to blame for a photographer stepping out in traffic when he was warned against it specifically by police. I do want to know what happened to precede this chain of events, and how everything went down, but that in no way makes Bieber culpable for this guy’s death.

Bieber is shown on 12-10-12 and 12-12-12. Credit: FameFlynet

These photos are from 12-3-12

When I first read the headline for this story, a scenario formed in my head of a high speed car crash. We’ve seen video of Bieber bobbing dangerously in and out of traffic with the paparazzi in hot pursuit, and he’s been cited in the past for high speed chases involving the paparazzi. He got a ticket in July for going well over 100 on the freeway.

What allegedly happened in this case is just as sad, but not as damaging to Bieber’s reputation. (I’m sorry to put it that way, but my initial instinct was to blame the kid for speeding and not pulling over. It’s not like he would have been entirely to blame in that scenario either, but this is more cut and dried. That is, if it happened the way they’re claiming.) So cops had pulled Bieber’s car, a white Ferrari, over for a “routine” traffic stop, according to TMZ. Supposedly Bieber wasn’t driving or even in the car, which sounds suspicious to me. A photographer who was following the vehicle got out of his car to take photos of the incident and was supposedly warned by police to get back as it wasn’t safe. The photographer was then struck and killed by an oncoming car. TMZ reports this and notes in an update that Bieber wasn’t even there. More on that in a moment:

8:40PM PST: Justin Bieber was not in the Ferrari … sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ. We’re told one of Justin’s friends was driving and another friend was in the passenger seat.

A paparazzo attempting to shoot photos of Justin Bieber’s Ferrari was hit by another car and killed this evening — although Bieber was NOT behind the wheel of the Ferrari … TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Bieber’s white Ferrari was pulled over by California Highway Patrol for a routine traffic stop on Sepulveda Blvd. … near the Getty Center in LA.

According to our sources, Bieber was DEFINITELY not driving at the time. It’s unclear at this point who was driving, and if Justin was even in the car.

We’re told a paparazzo — who was following the Ferrari at the time of the pull over — attempted to snap pics while officers conducted the traffic stop … until CHP advised the photog to move back because the situation was unsafe.

At some point, we’re told the photog was struck by an oncoming vehicle and killed.

Our sources say drugs and alcohol were not a factor for the driver of the vehicle that hit the photog.

[From TMZ]

The pap did a dumb thing but he didn’t deserve to die for it. I’m confused by the detail that the guy put his life in danger to step out in traffic to photograph some of Bieber’s friends. The same paps follow Bieber, he seemed to know the guy he was berating in that video I mentioned and he told another paparazzo following him that he really liked him. So it’s not adding up to me that someone was so keen to get a photo of Bieber’s friends getting pulled over. The guy probably didn’t realize Bieber wasn’t in the car. It looks like the Ferrari has tinted windows. I feel like we’re not being told the full story here, but maybe that’s the nature of breaking news.

You know what makes me a little sick, though? Someone is going to want to buy those last photos taken before this guy got killed. At least the money will go to his family.

Photo credit: WENN.com

I cannot even begin to describe how disgusted and saddened I am by this news. Kim Kardashian announced that her teacup Persian (or whatever) kitten Mercy was put down. Euthanized, sent to kitty heaven. Mercy Kardashian-West was given to Kim by Kanye West a few months ago, and I thought Mercy had been living with Kim down in Miami all this time. Turns out, not so much. Turns out, Kim is “allergic”. Which you wouldn’t have known from how many photo-ops she did with the cat in which she was not sneezing or breaking out in rashes or anything. So, Kim claims she was “allergic” and that’s why she had to give Mercy away to Khloe’s assistant Sydney. Mercy then got a “cancer-like virus” and she was euthanized. How much of that do you believe? Here’s Kim blogging about Mercy’s death:

It is with deep sadness that I have to tell you all that my kitten, Mercy, has passed away. My heart is completely broken.

When I first got Mercy, I had never lived with a cat before and so I had no idea that I was allergic. I thought that it might pass, but after a few weeks I decided to go visit two separate allergists, one of whom said my allergies wouldn’t get any better unless I started taking injections. I had fallen SO in love with Mercy that I wanted to try everything I could to keep her, but I didn’t think it was safe to resort to injections, and it wasn’t fair on Mercy, because I couldn’t play with her or give her as much attention as I wanted to. Mercy deserved a mom who could really give her the time and affection she deserved. I knew that Sydney, Khloe’s assistant, who had recently lost a cat she had loved and cared for for 17 years, would be the perfect mom for Mercy and Sydney was so excited to have Mercy as her own!

Sydney gave Mercy a loving home, but after a couple of weeks Mercy got really sick and Sydney had to rush her to the vet. They discovered she had a stomach problem that we weren’t aware of. Her stomach had filled with fluid and the doctor said she had a rare stomach cancer and that there was nothing we could do for her. Poor little Mercy died the very next day. It broke not only my heart that little Mercy died at only four months old, but Sydney’s too.

Mercy was a gentle and loving kitten and we are all going to miss her so much. Thanks to Sydney for making Mercy’s short life one filled with love. RIP Mercy Xo

[From Kim’s blog]

For the love of God. Some people are truly and terribly allergic to cats. I have a mild cat dander allergy, but my tolerance for cat dander builds up with more exposure to cats, so I’m okay minus a few sniffles here and there, which I’ve come to accept because… for the love of God, I’ve always been around cats. My point? When you have a really hardcore cat-allergy, you can’t just walk around Miami holding your cat, you know? Which makes me think that Kim either had a very mild allergy and simply couldn’t deal with it, or that Kim is simply made of lies. As for the whole “Mercy had stomach cancer” thing… maybe. Ugh. Rest in peace, poor little Mercy.

Dear Kanye: Please take this as a test case for a baby. This is exactly what will happen if you get your girl pregnant. Kim will have the baby and she will love it for a few weeks, then she’ll get bored and jealous (that the baby is getting so much attention) and she’ll make up an excuse to not pay any attention to the baby and then she’ll just let the nannies raise it. That is EXACTLY what will happen.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

So sad. Oscar nominee and lovable gentle giant Michael Clarke Duncan has passed away at the age of 54. Duncan had a major heart attack in July, and he was found unconscious by his girlfriend Omarosa Manigault (yes, THAT Omarosa). After the July heart attack, Michael was in the hospital, where Omarosa and her family stayed with him and tried to help him recover. But it was not to be. So sad:

Michael Clarke Duncan, star of such movies as “The Green Mile” and “The Whole Nine Yards,” passed away this morning. He was 54.

According to our sources, his passing came very suddenly. We’re told his fiancee, Omarosa Manigault, was with him in his hospital room in Los Angeles and left for a short period of time. When she returned … he had died.

Our sources say Omarosa’s mother was with him when he passed.

Duncan’s rep tells TMZ the actor never fully recovered from the myocardial infarction he suffered on July 13. As TMZ first reported, Omarosa found Duncan in cardiac arrest and performed CPR and was able to resuscitate him before calling 911.

The rep tells us, “[Omarosa] Manigault is grateful for all of your prayers and asks for privacy at this time. Celebrations of his life, both private and public, will be announced at a later date.”

Duncan was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of John Coffey in “The Green Mile.” He worked as a bodyguard for celebrities like Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, and Notorious B.I.G. before he got his break.

[From TMZ]

I was looking through Michael’s IMDB page to get a sense of his career – and I was surprised to see just how much the man worked. He worked all the time, on many different kinds of projects. Apparently his deep, beautiful voice was a constant fixture on video games and in cartoons, and his acting work is varied between straight dramas (like his Oscar-nominated role in The Green Mile), action films, comedies and television work. One of his closest friends in the industry? Bruce Willis! Bruce and Michael worked together on four films. Also: Michael was a cat lover. Which really, really breaks my heart. UGH. This is so sad. Michael leaves a massive – literal and figurative – hole in this world. Our thoughts and prayers to his family, friends and loved ones.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

This is such sad, incomprehensible news. Director and producer Tony Scott committed suicide yesterday in LA. According to reports and eyewitness accounts, Scott drove to the Vincent Thomas Bridge, got out of his car and then jumped off the bridge into the Los Angeles Harbor. Scott’s body was found hours later by the LA Port police. He is survived by his wife Donna Wilson and their twin sons. Here’s more:

Director Tony Scott, whose box-office hits included Top Gun, Days of Thunder and Beverly Hills Cop II, died after jumping from a bridge in Los Angeles Harbor, the Los Angeles Times reports. He was 68.

Witnesses told authorities that Sunday at around 12:35 p.m. the filmmaker left his parked Toyota Prius on the Vincent Thomas Bridge, scaled a fence and then leapt without hesitation. A note with contact information was left in the vehicle, says the newspaper.

Los Angeles Port police pulled his body from the water four hours later. A suicide note was recovered in his office, reports the Times. Its contents have not been disclosed.

The British-born Scott, the younger brother of director-producer Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator), lived in Beverly Hills. He had twin sons with his third wife, actress-model Donna Wilson.

Family spokesman Simon Halls confirmed Scott’s death and said the family requests “that their privacy be respected at this time.”

Ridley and Tony Scott ran Scott Free Productions, whose TV shows include The Good Wife. Tony Scott frequently worked with Denzel Washington, on Crimson Tide, Man on Fire, Deja Vu and The Taking of Pelham 123. Most recently they collaborated on Unstoppable.

Scott recently finished shooting the drama Out of the Furnace, starring Christian Bale.

In a Tweet Sunday, director Ron Howard wrote, “No more Tony Scott movies. Tragic day.”

[From People]

Yes, Tony Scott is probably best known through his producing partnership with his older brother Ridley Scott – they founded Scott Free Productions, which has an enviable history of producing outstanding films and television shows. Tony Scott’s IMDB is here – just some of his many films include: The Hunger, Top Gun, Days of Thunder, Beverly Hills Cop II, True Romance, Crimson Tide, Enemy of the State, Spy Game (a favorite of mine – that film is GENIUS), and Unstoppable. He worked with Denzel Washington many times, and he was tight with Tom Cruise too. Beyond his work as a director, Tony work as a producer is amazing too. This is a really terrible loss to the Hollywood community, and it’s just so sad. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tony’s family and friends.

Photos courtesy of WENN.