Entertainment Briefs for October 9, 2010
Illegal labor at Dobbs' homes
NEW YORK - The Nation magazine is reporting that former CNN anchor Lou Dobbs relied on illegal immigrants to help maintain his homes even as he spoke out on the air against them.
The Nation said the article, published online Thursday, is based on a yearlong investigation including interviews with five immigrants who worked without papers on Dobbs' properties in New Jersey and Florida.
Dobbs said in an interview Thursday the article is "a political assault" based on what he called "the lie" that he has hired illegal immigrants. He says: "I have never, do not now, and never will."
Dobbs was host of a weeknight news and commentary hour on CNN until abruptly resigning last November after 29 years with the network. He continues to host a syndicated radio show.
Timberlake prefers vinyl
BERLIN - Justin Timberlake says he thinks vinyl records sound better than digitalized tunes.
The 29-year-old pop musician and actor told German newspaper Frankfurter Rundshau on Thursday that he loves putting on records featuring oldies from the Beach Boys and early Beatles, claiming they "sound warmer" and "more vintage" than digital versions.
Still, the singer acknowledges that MP3 files are handy for selling his own songs online.
Timberlake currently stars as Napster founder Sean Parker in "The Social Network," a biopic about Facebook creator Mark Zuckerburg. Napster clashed with the music industry over illegal sharing of music files. But Timberlake expressed sympathy for his character, saying he believes Parker really didn't harm the record labels.
Braxton files for second bankruptcy
LOS ANGELES - Toni Braxton has filed for bankruptcy a second time, citing millions of dollars in debt and financial problems exacerbated by a heart condition that forced her to cancel a series of Las Vegas shows.
The filing will likely result in the six-time Grammy Award winner having to sell some of her assets to pay off debts listed in court records as ranging between $10 million and $50 million.
Her attorney, Debra Grassgreen, said in a statement the filing will allow Braxton to pay off tax debts, sell heavily indebted property in Atlanta and still care for her children.
Braxton has had high-profile health issues in recent years. In 2008 she was forced to cancel a series of Las Vegas shows after experiencing chest pains that were later diagnosed as microvascular angina. Later that year, she performed on the ABC series "Dancing with the Stars" but missed the finale while recovering from removal of a benign breast tumor.
Grassgreen said the Vegas show cancellations left Braxton, 43, saddled with debts from which she could not recover.
The singer and her company Liberty Entertainment filed for bankruptcy Sept. 30, court records show. The filing was first reported Thursday by celebrity website TMZ.
"This was a very difficult decision for Ms. Braxton," Grassgreen said. "However, after months of trying to work out an acceptable arrangement with her principal creditors, she determined that the only way to assure that she could meet her tax obligations and provide for her two small children was to commence these bankruptcy cases."
Braxton has assets worth up to $10 million, her filing states.
She previously filed for bankruptcy in 1998.
Grassgreen's statement said Braxton is currently in good health.
Known for songs such as "Un-Break My Heart" and "Breathe Again," Braxton sued Lloyd's of London, which had insured her for the Las Vegas performances in case they had to be canceled. The insurer denied her claim, stating she had a pre-existing condition, and court records show the case was dismissed on Sept. 20.
Braxton's spokeswoman Jennifer Mercer said the case was "settled to the satisfaction of all parties."
Grassgreen said the bankruptcy will not prevent Braxton from future performances.