Paparazzi Wars

Things are not well in the world of the paparazzi.

 We've had Kayne West being arrested over an alleged assault an LA snapper while Russell Brand and Mike Tyson have both had their collars felt over scuffles with snappers . 30Rock star Alex Baldwin is renowned for his biffo bouts with New York photographers while and our National Treasure, actress Nicole Kidman was recently bowled over by an excited pap on a push bike in New York.

Now come a tale of a bust up in Kings Cross between Kidman's bête noire, the paparazzo Jamie Fawcett and another snapper named Max.  Apparently Fawcett was also placed under a  citizen's arrest by a former business partner Ben McDonald and there are claims of broken car mirrors and snaps appeared of Fawcett sporting a black eye before the local constabulary intervened. Fawcett has been the subject of attempted AVO orders in the past from Kidman and Mel B.  Nicole also appeared in court as a witness against him in a libel case against Fairfax Media which Fawcett won but was ordered to pay costs of $1M.

Now a new law has been enacted in California  that prohibits photographers from shooting pics of children without their parents permission. It's mainly aimed at the children of celebrities as swarms of snappers were hanging around school gates to get pics of celebs arriving to pick up their kids. Will such laws spread here?
Sadly gone are the days when the Shuttle and the late gentleman photographer Dave Morgan would be stopped by Tom Cruise , then living in Sydney with Kidman, who would politely ask us if we could leave him alone for a few days. Naturally being very well mannered, we obliged . Once we were rewarded with an invitation to join Tom for lunch and at a game of pool in the local pub.
Meanwhile former high flyer and now bust agency boss Darryn Lyons was last scene riding in a polo event at the Warwick Farm Polo two weeks ago. Rumours that he is reluctant to return to the UK because of the Leveson Inquiry are of course, malicious.

Tearjerker Moment # 2

Every now and then X-Factor, AGT or The Voice throw up an unforgettable moment. Here is one from the America's Got Talent featuring a young man named Jonathan Allen. Watch the whole thing and remember the name:

Why Mel B Fled Oz

Just as the Shuttle exclusively revealed that Mel B and husband Stephan Belafonte had moved into a Vaucluse apartment, overlooked by the Double Newspaper editor Jane King of Latte Life, we can also reveal why the family are now packing up just 6 weeks after moving in and Scary Spice has flown to the USA..

And it isn't as the woeful daily newspapers reported because she was having visa problems ( people like Mel B don't have visa: problems- Mel and Stephan are taking out Australian citizenship) it's because Mel is to become a judge on America's Got Talent along with radio jock Howard Stern and Howie Mandel.


So many times we tell News Ltd & Fairfax to check details with us first but do they ?. No. The UK's Daily Mail does though.

Mel B : Out of Frying Pan into Fire

Inset : Jamie Fawcett

Fun loving Sydney resident and ex-Spice Girl Mel B has found new digs in the ritzy Eastern Suburbs after tiring of her harbour-side house which has become well known to the media.

Jane King

Mel and hubby Stephen Belafonte hope for more privacy and to shield their family from the gaze of paparazzi Jamie Fawectt.  Mel has already obtained an interim apprehended violence order (AVO) against the photographer.

Alas, Melanie has moved into the orbit of the local newspaper Latte Life. Editor Jane King discovered the identity of her new neighbours when she went to see why her 2 children were dancing in the garden of her Vaucluse house to the strains of Wannabe. There was Mel and her brood, sunbathing on their balcony in full view of the King house.
Fortunately a regular visitor to the King home, Latte Life social photographer Bill Ranken (right) is far too much of a gentleman to photograph Mel from over the back garden fence. He's very observant though. Mel. you have been warned.                           below : the Spice Girls and Wannabe:

When Spice Girl Attacks!

We aren't too sure what is happening here at the Emeralds & Ivy Ball last night. Mel B seemed to be leading fellow X-Factor judge Natalie Bassingthwaighte away by hand before she turned and lunged for her throat.
We've been assured Natalie is in good health, bearing in mind these two have clashed on the show.

Nat & Mel B were attending the ball which was hosted by one of our favorite Irish imports Ronan

Keating who brought his stunning girlfriend Storm Uechtritz to the ball. Storm should be a model. She is quite spectacular but she does something important on X-factor. There was however an Irish model there- Vogue Williams and her hubby Brian McFadden. And another ex-Boyzone star dropped in-Keith Duffy as our snap shows.

The Emerald & Ivy Ball at the Ivy Ballroom was to aid Cancer Research Australia and we've been told they are still counting the takings from the 300 who dipped deep in their pockets.

Meanwhile when it rains it pours-literally on a wild and wet Sydney Friday evening. A few streets away at the State Theatre Daniel Craig braved lashing winds to attend the Sydney premiere of the latest James Bond flick Skyfall. Craig says he'll make 2 more Bond films and then, maybe that's it.

Daniel Criag at the Skyfall premiere

Court Victory for Mel B?

X-Factor judge Mel B has won an AVO (Apprehended Violence Order) against paparazzi Jamie Fawcett that says " Fawcett must not "loiter" within 50 metres of Brown, must not approach within five metres of her and must not contact her."

The AVO was by mutual agreement, often the first step in these matters. But is this a victory ?. It's probably more a victory for Fawcett rather than Mel and husband Stephen Belafonte, pushing up the price of snaps of the two just a little higher. read the full story at the Nine Network site.

Mel B's Dramas!

One of the hot topics discussed at last week's Sony Music's Wharf4Ward kid's charity fundraiser was the absence of X-Factor judges Mel B, Ronan Keating and Guy Sebastian.
Given the charity lunch at the Finger Wharf is also an opportunity for the X-Factor finalists to strut their stuff and most of the X-Factor bigwigs, cast and crew were there including Natalie Bassingthwaighte, the trio's absence was noted.

There was some talk of a rift between the three judges over voting for their X-Factor wards and a family member of one of the finalists confirmed that recent reports of heated exchanges between the judges were correct and not a publicity stunt. The other talk was that Mel B and her husband Stephen Belafonte were still fuming over a weekend encounter with a paparazzi on Sydney Harbour.

All should be revealed when paparazzi Jamie Fawcett appears in Waverley Court today to contest an Apprehended Violence Order that Mel and husband have applied for. In 2004 Nicole Kidman successfully applied for an AVO against Fawcett after listening devices were found outside her Darling Point home.

As Big as One Direction

The Collective above are set to become as big as One Direction according to X-Factor judge Ronan Keating who knows a thing or two about successful boy bands.

Nathaniel Willemse

The lads were at Sony's Wharf4Ward the kid's cancer charity fundraiser where every restaurant along the strip on the Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo donates their services and profits raising hundreds of thousands of dollars.It's also a day when the finalists from X-Factor get to strut their stuff for the audience

Luke Jacobz & Natalie

Every TV network and film company and most of Australia's top PR companies along with banks take tables.
Oddly missing from this year's lunch were judges Mel B, Ronan Keating and Guy Sebastian with all sorts of rumours about their absence. Judge Natalie Bassingthwaighte and compere Luke Jacobz  put in appearance. Below is a video of Justice Crew who performed during the day.

Nikki Phillips

Shiane Hawke & Bella Ferraro

Hot Chelle Rae

      

Mel B Goes Commando

The whole town is talking about : Mel B's impromptu performance on X Factor with Korean Gangnam star Psy.
We can't quite see the wardrobe slip but co-judge Ronan Keating says he copped an eye full!
We'll let you be the judge..watch closely:

Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?

Mel B & Stephen Belafonte

Brynne Edelsten

Here they are-Who Magazine's 'Sexiest People'. Presented at a red carpet party at the Grand Hall at Sydney University. Plenty of good looking people but the only original thing about this bash was the superb location.

Breathless PR persons rushed yet another soapy star to be interviewed on the subject of being a 'sex symbol'. No wonder guests were fleeing after about 40 minutes.

One guest who looked rather pale and snatched the taxi the Shuttle was headed towards was Melbourne medical entrepreneur Geoffrey Edelsten and his Las Vegas born wife Brynne Edelsten who appears regularly on red carpets in sparkling outfits. Maybe Geoff had other matters on his mind such as a slight problem with the Taxation Office.

Here are a few of the guests and you can see the full list .here

Samara Weaving (Hugo's little girl)

Rhiannon Fish & boyfriend

Jodi Gordon

Rikki-Lee Coulter

Dr Geoffrey & Brynne

The X Factor Winner

It's a toss-up !. We do the hard yards so you don't have to. Just as we picked young Jack Vidgen after the first few bars on Australia's Got Talent.

# 16 year old Reece Mastin. A natural rock star. "Fan- bloody- tastic" as Mel B said.. He makes it look so easy.

# And did anyone imagine 19 year old Zaacharia Fielding from "the desert"-an Aboriginal community of 350 (with his Mel B tribute hair) would come out with the most beautiful, natural and accomplished voice ?. Such control .

# Admit it-you too had tears in your eyes when Iraqi orphan Emmanuel Kelly sang. You weren't alone.
Watch these three sensational performances from the current X Factor and you will have to agree.

Dame Edna Shines!

The Victorian racing season is in full swing although somewhat soggy with 2 days of rain now. It peaks with the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday and lasts until Ladies Day the following weekend.

Guests have included ex-Spice Girl Mel B (the Daily Mail in the UK reports Victoria Beckham asked for too much money to appear), Jerry Hall and daughter Georgia Jagger and Kelly Osborne.



Dame Edna at Derby Day



But it's Dame Edna Everage who has stolen the show. Last night at Luminere Club at an after races bash she got stuck into Brynne Gordon , the ex-fitness instructor from Las Vegas who married medical entrepreneur Dr Geoffrey Edelsten.

Brynne is known for her colourful frocks and Edna spotted her in the crowd from the stage :

"What  a gorgeous outfit my dear " said the Dame. " It must be suitable for a special occasion. What a shame it isn't suitable for this one !"

"Who did you come with ?" she continued "that little senior citizen beside you ?" referring to hubby Geoff.

And this is just the beginning!