Actress Zhang Ziyi is fighting back against reports she was paid millions in exchange for sexual favors with a multitude of Chinese government officials. The Hong Kong news outlet Apple Daily is at the center of the story, claiming that Ziyi was unable to promote her upcoming film, a remake of "Dangerous Liaisons," in Cannes because she had been barred from leaving the country while under investigation for a sex scandal linked with China's former Minister of Commerce, Bo Xilai. The paper alleges that a wealthy associate of the former Chinese official has confessed to paying Zhang nearly a million dollars in 2007 to have sex with her. She is also accused of sleeping with a myriad of other government officials and businessmen for large amounts of cash between 2004 and 2007. The actress' rep was quick to release a statement flatly denying the reports as slanderous. Her team is promising swift legal action against the publication for their "lies" and demanding a complete retraction of their story. "Zhang Ziyi has been busy working day and night on the set of 'The Grandmasters,'" they explain of her absence from the film festival. "We will seek justice for Zhang Ziyi by taking legal action against Apple Daily and against any other media publishing these false reports."  Additionally, Ziyi's lawyers have sent a letter to the newspaper with the following statement: "Your allegations concerning our client are completely untrue and constitute a grave libel upon her. In consequence of the publication of these statements, our client's reputation has been seriously damaged and she has suffered considerable distress and embarrassment."Zhang Ziyi is best known to American audiences for her starring roles in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "House of Flying Daggers," "Memoirs of a Geisha" and "Rush Hour 2," opposite Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker.

 

Mayweather to trade mansion for Vegas jail cell

Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be one of the richest prizefighters ever. But the unbeaten five-division champion who goes by the nickname ''Money'' is about to trade life in a posh five-bedroom Las Vegas home for almost three months in a cell about one-third the size of a small boxing ring.  Mayweather is scheduled to surrender Friday before a Las Vegas judge who sentenced him for his guilty plea to reduced domestic battery charges in a hair-pulling, arm-twisting attack in September 2010 on the mother of three of his children.  As a high-profile inmate, police say Mayweather, 35, probably will serve most of his time in a small solo cell. There is floor space for sit-ups and push-ups. But Mayweather's stint in the high-rise Clark County Detention Center is expected to limit his ability to train for another fight. At least for the first week, Mayweather will be segregated for his protection from the other 3,200 inmates in the downtown Las Vegas facility, police Officer Bill Cassell said this week.  The judge sentenced Mayweather on Dec. 22, then later allowed him to remain free long enough to fight Miguel Cotto on May 5 in Las Vegas. Mayweather was accompanied into the ring by entertainers Justin Bieber and 50 Cent before winning the Cinco de Mayo weekend bout and a guaranteed $32 million. Cotto was paid $8 million. Saragosa said when she sentenced Mayweather that she was particularly troubled that he threatened and hit ex-girlfriend Josie Harris while their two sons watched. The boys were 10 and 8 at the time. The older boy ran out a back door to fetch a security guard in the gated community. However, the judge accepted the deal that had Mayweather plead guilty to misdemeanor domestic battery and no contest to two harassment charges. Prosecutors dropped felony and misdemeanor charges that could have gotten Mayweather 34 years in prison if he had been convicted on all counts. Mayweather's jail stay will be capped at 87 days, because the judge gave him credit for three days previously served. Mayweather also was ordered to complete a yearlong domestic violence counseling program, 100 hours of community service and pay a $2,500 fine. Harris and the three children now live in Southern California. Her lawyer, Charles Kelly, declined to comment

Justin Bieber Suffers Concussion During Paris Concert

Justin Bieber suffered a mild concussion Thursday after he ran into a glass wall backstage at a concert in Paris. Bieber, 18, said that he was disoriented after hitting the glass, on to return to the stage to finish his set. But later, as the "Boyfriend" singer was walking to his dressing room, he passed out for about 15 seconds. Immediately after the show, Bieber addressed the mishap, Tweeting: "im fine. just smacked my head and needed some water. all good." Doctors said Bieber suffered a mild concussion, but is expected to make a full recovery.
 Nearly five years after they tied the knot, Bones actress Tamara Taylor and her husband, Miles Cooley, are calling it quits. The actress, 41, who stars as Dr. Cam Saroyan on the hit Fox series, and Cooley, an attorney, finalized their divorce this week, Taylor's rep said. The star filed for divorce in February. The couple got married in an intimate ceremony on a beach in Mexico in 2007. They remain amicable, says the actress's rep. They have no children. Bones will be back for an eighth season this fall.

Martin Short on Kathie Lee Gaffe: 'People Make Mistakes'

Martin Short gets the award for Classiest Guy in Hollywood this week. One day after the much buzzed-about Today show incident – in which Kathie Lee Gifford mistakenly asked about his late wife – the actor has spoken out about the gaffe, and his reaction was nothing but gracious. "I think that it's live television and people make mistakes and there's no ill will intended," Short told E! News. "And I think it's nice to aspire to be that way."  Gifford had asked about the actor's relationship with his wife, who died in 2010 of ovarian cancer. The Today host apologized on air Wednesday and also Tweeted: "I send my sincerest apologies to @MartinShort and his family. He handled situation w/enormous grace and kindness and I'm so grateful."

"Diddy" Combs son criticized for accepting football scholarship

The son of rap impresario Sean "Diddy" Combs is embroiled in a firestorm for accepting a football scholarship from UCLA that critics say should go to a more needy student, but the 18-year-old cornerback says he earned the award. Justin Dior Combs, whose father topped a Forbes list of hip hop's wealthiest this year with a net worth estimated at $550 million, comes to the California school from the private, Catholic Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, New York. The younger Combs' scholarship to attend the University of California, Los Angeles, and play on the football team will provide $54,000 a year toward his education, with that money coming from what the athletic program generates, not from taxpayers, the school said.  That has not stopped some critics from questioning whether the money might not be better spent. The younger Combs, in response to a CNN story about his scholarship, took to Twitter on Tuesday to say that he earned the scholarship. "Regardless what the circumstances are, I put that work in!!!! PERIOD," he wrote.  In 2010, Combs gave Justin a Maybach car worth about $360,000, according to media reports. The rap star defended the purchase in an interview on ABC program "Nightline" saying, "I think it's appropriate to give my kids whatever I want to give my kids." "Regardless of what you do in life every1 is gonna have their own opinion," Combs, who played in nationwide high school all-star game in Arizona in January, said in a follow-up post. UCLA said in a statement that unlike need-based scholarships for academics, the school's sports scholarships are awarded strictly on the basis of athletic ability.

Matthew Fox's Assault Lawsuit Withdrawn by Bus Driver

Good news for Matthew Fox: a Cleveland bus driver who alleged that the actor assaulted her in August 2011 has withdrawn her lawsuit. At the time, Heather Bormann told authorities that the former Lost star delivered "sudden and severe blows to [her] right breast, groin, arm and legs, inflicting severe, disabling injury and pain" while attempting to board her vehicle. No criminal charges were filed at the time, but Bormann sued Fox, 45, for assault, battery and infliction of emotional distress. The bus driver's attorney withdrew from her case in April, and said that his client "intentionally failed and refused to provide full and timely cooperation and information." Bormann also failed to pay his out-of-pocket expenses, according to court documents. There was no settlement in this case. At the time of her alleged assault, Bormann said that Fox "really scared the crap out of me. … He smelled like a liquor cabinet – like a bar." The news of the lawsuit dismissal comes several weeks after Fox was pulled over in Oregon and charged with driving under the influence and driving without a license.
 Mary-Kate Olsen is doing her part for Franco-American relations, reportedly having found a new boyfriend in Olivier Sarkozy – the half brother of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy. The actress, 25, who split with her previous beau, artist Nate Lowman, more than two years ago, has been spotted with Sarkozy, 42, several times over the past few months – including at a New York Knicks game on April 25. Sarkozy, who is managing director of global asset management firm the Carlyle Group, previous dated poet and actress Stella Schnabel – the daughter of artist Julian Schnabel.

Tyler Perry Jumps to Bobbi Kristina Brown's Defense

Bobbi Kristina Brown is grieving the loss of her mother Whitney Houston – but the young aspiring actress didn't walk out on Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse and, in fact, did "great" work, according to the director. On Wednesday a report surfaced that Bobbi Kristina quit the TBS comedy and walked out of the show because she is dealing with the death of her mom. But Perry posted an adamant defense of Houston's daughter on his website saying, "Yes she was grieving, but grief aside, she managed to finish her obligation and did a great job at the same time."

Brooke Mueller, Charlie Sheen's ex-wife, back in rehab

Charlie Sheen's ex-wife Brooke Mueller has apparently checked herself back into rehab. This news comes just days after Mueller agreed to a 12-month probation for felony drug possession. Mueller, 34, signed into an in-patient center a few weeks ago. The publication says, according to a source close to Sheen, Mueller seemed out of sorts during a recent visit to his home. It was not long after that the actress/reality star decided to pursue treatment. This marks the second time this year that Mueller has spent time in rehab. She did so after the December 2011 cocaine arrest.As part of her plea deal, Mueller reportedly must offer periodic urine samples. Should one of those indicate drugs in her system, she could face jail time.