Top 9 Pop Stories for May 09

Chris Brown Denies Leaking Nude Rihanna Photos

When alleged nude photos of Rihanna surfaced online, some of the tabloid media zombies speculated that Chris Brown must have been behind the leak.

One infamous tabloid "blogger" flat out accused Brown of leaking the photos which promoted Brown's spokespeople to jump into action to dispute the accusation.

In a statement to Essence, Brown's spokesperson said: "This is both a false and defamatory statement. Chris has not released or 'leaked' any photos of Rihanna (or anyone else for that matter)." - Read the NME report

Stoned Idol: Paula Abdul Admits To Pill Addiction

(Hecklerspray) Let's say American Idol is a family. Who would Paula Abdul be? Correct, she'd be your aggressive, incoherent, substance-addled mother.

That's right - not your drunk mother or your mentally ill mother. Your substance-addled mother. Paula Abdul has finally revealed that she's been addicted to prescription painkillers for 12 years. and she went to rehab last year to get better.

Paula Abdul is America's sweetheart, in that she's got a slightly Muslim-y surname, she looks like she's always off her shit on over-the-counter medication and when she talks she's all like "meurgh meurgh meurgh" and nobody can really understand what she's saying. But under that glazed, boggle-eyed facade, a dark secret has been gnawing away at Paula Abdul, and now she's finally ready to reveal it to the world. - more on this story

50 Cent and Bette Midler Duet?

(E!) It's probably one of the most unlikely friendships ever created in show business: 50 Cent and Bette Midler.

Yes, the hip-hop impresario and the legendary singer-actress are tight. "Little Jewish lady and the great big rapper," Midler told E!'s Mark Malkin. "He's such a doll. I love him. He's gorgeous."

"I was hoping we'd sing songs from the Depression, but he's so young that I don't think he knows any of them," Midler laughs. "I'm going to have to check things out and see what he feels like singing." -

80s Pop Star Popped For Meth

(AP) Late-1980s pop artist Henry Lee 'I Wish I Had a Girl' Summer has been arrested in Indianapolis on methamphetamine possession and other charges.

Summer was arrested Tuesday after police say he threw drugs from his car during a traffic stop.

Officers who tried to pull him over for not using a turn signal say they needed pepper spray to subdue the singer, whose real name is Henry Lee Swartz. -

Justin Timberlake Hit With Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

Jam! reports: Justin Timberlake is facing legal action from an ex-employee who has filed a sexual discrimination lawsuit against two of the managers at his New York restaurant.

In papers filed on Thursday at Manhattan Supreme Court, Alison McDaniel, a former manager at Southern Hospitality, accuses Timberlake's business partners Eytan Sugarman and Ronnie Kaplan of "vile and discriminatory conduct".

The suit [alleges], "One or more of Southern Hospitality's owners and/or executive managers bullied, degraded, harassed and ultimately discharged McDaniel... because of her gender.

Update: Timberlake's rep sent out this statement, "While Justin and Trace Ayala continue their friendship with Eytan Sugarman who owns Southern Hospitality, they are not investors, owners, or partners, nor do they have any knowledge of or involvement in the operations of the restaurant." - more on this story

Depeche Mode Singer Rushed To The Hospital

AFP/Google reports: British electronic band Depeche Mode cancelled a long-awaited gig in Athens on Tuesday after frontman David Gahan was rushed to hospital, Greek media reported.

Quoting organizers of the concert, City 99.5 Radio said Gahan was taken to a private clinic with suspected gastroenteritis. Other news reports said the concert could be held on Wednesday if his condition improved.

Around 30,000 people had gathered at the Terra Vibe park near Athens, paying up to 100 euros a ticket to watch one of Britain's most successful and longest-lived bands. - more on this story

Are Fall Out Boy Cursed? Ask Their Witch Doctor

A bit of silly news to kick off this hump day courtesy of Jam!: Rockers Fall Out Boy have called in a witch doctor to banish a curse blighting their current U.S. tour.

The Dance, Dance hitmakers have suffered a run of bad luck on their current road trip, including several injuries to crew members, technical glitches, and a bout of severe food poisoning.

They eventually became convinced the tour is jinxed - so have called in the help of a medicine man to kill off the curse. And they are even taking matters into their own hands, making "reverse voodoo dolls" in a bid to turn their luck around. - more on this story

Souxsie Vs Eye Candy Pop Tarts

(Rock Radio) Souxsie Sioux says the music industry has gone backwards in the way it markets female performers, and that even though there are talented women in the industry, it's difficult to respect them.

The ex-Banshee tells the BBC: "I like a bit of eye-candy like anyone – but to have it solely about the eye-candy and have it fall into a category so rigidly is wrong.

"There are some strong female performers out there, but the industry's pre-occupation with the packaging of how a woman looks has gone completely the other way – back to almost the 60s or early 70s. - more on this story

Ex Wilco Member Dies

Yahoo Music reports: Former Wilco band member Jay Bennett has died at age 45. The multi-instrumentalist died in his Illinois home on Saturday night (May 23), although the cause of death has not been revealed.

A message on the website of his record label Undertow Music, Undertowmusic.com, explained that he died "in his sleep."

Bennett played with Wilco from 1994 to 2001, leaving the Americana band because of a fall-out with band leader Jeff Tweedy. -

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