Carrie Prejean the Hot Topic at Miss California Pageant
Carrie Prejean may have been out of sight at Sunday's Miss California USA pageant—but she definitely was not out of mind.
The annual pageant, held at Agua Caliente Resort and Casino in Rancho Mirage, was full of overt digs at the controversial beauty queen. Donald Trump, the owner of Miss Universe, even got in on the action, appearing via video feed to introduce the interview portion of the show.
"Get ready for some really tough questions…and as time has proven, they get us in a lot of trouble," he promised.
Host Chris Jacobs also contributed a few cracks about Prejean, saying that one lucky girl would win the chance to "become TMZ's new favorite topic" and "give Larry King something inappropriate to talk about." He also referenced her solo sex-tape scandal, joking that a producer wanted to call Miss Photogenic "the Carrie Prejean award."
Backstage, pageant co-director Shanna Moakler weighed in on the controversies that have colored the organization's year. (Moakler, who left her post at Miss California USA during Prejean's reign, returned after Trump ousted the scandal-ridden titleholder.)
Twilight Stars Forced to Evacuate Hotel
Can Robert Pattinson's smoldering good looks set off a fire alarm?
Probably not, but you have to wonder whether a rabid Twilight could.
A fire alarm went off Wednesday at The Dorchester hotel in central London, completely evacuating the premises where—surprise!—Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner and New Moon director Chris Weitz were giving press interviews.
An eyewitness says the swanky hotel was completely cleared around lunchtime on Wednesday and that "everyone was out on the street" after the alarm sounded.
Everyone?
"There [Rob] was with his entourage, including Kristen," says the source.
Now anything could have set off the alarm, but you have to wonder whether it could have had something to do with flushing the Twilight trio out into the open. We hope not.
In any case, a Dorchester receptionist told E! News it was a "minor incident."
"It's all under control now and was dealt with quickly," she says.
Hollywood Burglars Begin to Turn on Each Other
Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images; Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images; Dominique Charriau/Getty Images; Michael Williams/startraksphoto.com
The Hollywood Burglary Bunch apparently has no problems eating its own.
As we previously reported, investigators believe that the ringmaster was one Rachel Lee, and now search warrants obtained Friday by E! News offer yet more details into the case against her.
Lee was seemingly sold out by her alleged partner-in-crime, Nicholas Prugo, who is quoted in the documents saying she orchestrated hits on such stars as Orlando Bloom, Audrina Patridge and Brian Austin Green.
Prugo told detectives that Lee chose their celebrity targets, while he would gather information and pictures on the Internet. He also told investigators she was primarily after the designer wardrobes of celebs she “admired.”
Prugo also gave investigators detailed desriptions of their methods and loot. For example, he said that he and Lee bagged between $200,000 and $300,00 of Chanel loot from Rachel Bilson’s home and entered Paris Hilton’s home three teams, taking cash, narcotics and personal effects.
Prugo said he was nervous about commiting the last burglary, at Lindsay Lohan's home, because they had already been captured on surveillance footage.
“You’re already here,” she allegedly told Prugo. “You might as well come inside and get something for yourself.”
Pattinson, Stewart & Lautner Moon the Globe
New Moon stars Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart took off this weekend for the start of the film's worldwide press tour.
We're keeping tabs on the threesome as they travel the world, and here are some early highlights:
• Stewart and Lautner touched down in Brazil on Halloween. Local papers reported the pair waited more than an hour after landing to deplane in hopes the crowds would disperse. No such luck. In fact, barricades were set up around the pair's Sao Paolo hotel to control the mobs of fans.
• Today Stewart and Lautner arrived in Mexico City, answering fan questions at a local radio station. Sample question: "Have you ever fallen in love with your best friend?" Stewart's answer: "No."
• Meanwhile, way over in Japan this weekend, Pattinson was all smiles—and chewing gum—as he landed at the Narita International Airport with New Moon director Chris Weitz. Wearing a New York Yankees hat, the star signed autographs, posed for pictures with waiting fans and looked a little dazed by all the attention and flash photography.
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Where else should we direct our New Moon mania? How about here!
Suspect in Real Housewives Slaying Denied Bond
The man accused in the weekend slaying of a Real Housewives of Atlanta star will be spending some quality time in a Georgia jail.
Fredrick Richardson is currently being held in Fulton County Jail after being denied bond at a court hearing today, Tracy Flanagan of the Fulton County Sheriff's Office tells E! News.
The 45-year-old was booked Monday evening as soon as he was discharged from a local hospital. He faces a voluntary manslaughter charge in the death of Ashley "A.J." Jewell, the on-off fiancé of new Housewives addition Kandi Burruss., who says she was "devastated" by the tragedy.
Under the guard of authorities, Richardson had been recovering from his own injuries following the strip-club brawl that left Jewell dead on Friday night.
Richardson is due back in court on Oct. 20.
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More of the police's finest portaiture in our Mug-Shot Mania gallery.
Nicole Richie Nicked by Paparazzo
Nicole Richie's lucky she didn't have any babies on board.
The celebutante is nursing what appear to be minor injuries after her car was dinged by a pursuing paparazzo in Beverly Hills
"She was rear-ended," BHPD Lt. Tony Lee tells E! News, adding that the accident occurred around 2 p.m. "There was a complaint of pain injury. She told officers at the scene that she’s going to seek her own medical treatment."
Richie, 27, who just gave birth last month, apparently left baby Sparrow and her big sis Harlow back at home base. She was traveling only with an unidentified adult passenger, says Lee.
No ambulances were called and the damage to the vehicles was described as minimal.
The shutterbug behind the bust-up was cited for being an unlicensed driver and his vehicle was impounded.
Detectives Go to the Videotape for Francis-Jenner Smackdown
Was Girls Gone Wildman Joe Francis the innocent casualty of a club clubbing? Was former Playmate Jayde Nicole the instigator or victim? And was her boyfriend Brody Jenner the bastion or chivalry or a sneak attacker?
It's up to Los Angeles' finest to sort out.
Sgt. Kristin Aloma of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s West Hollywood Division tells E! News that the Guys & Dolls nightclub has handed over security camera footage that may determine whether any of the fun bunch did anything criminal.
“Our detective is reviewing the footage,” says Aloma, adding that the department is still trying to track down everyone involved in the incident.
What we do know for sure is that the threesome got into a scrum last Friday, prompting Nicole to file a police complaint while Francis hit the interview circuit to proclaim his innocence and threaten legal action.
Adam Lambert Gets Advice From Madonna
You might think American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert would be used to brushing shoulders with celebs by now, but meeting Madonna still left him a little starstruck.
"[Madonna] was incredible. I was a bit intimidated, but she was very, very warm," Lambert told E! News during a visit to the studio where he's recording his debut album. "She gave me some advice on how to deal with the fame and the craziness. She said, 'You know, just keep your eye on the prize. Remember what it is that you want to accomplish. And try to ignore all the other crap.'"
Lambert, who is busy laying down tracks with producer RedOne at the Jim Henson Company in Los Angeles, insists he got exactly what he wanted from A.I., despite coming in second place.
Carrie Prejean Gets Fired—Again
For the second time in a week, embattled beauty queen Carrie Prejean has lost a job.
This time, she was axed by clothing brand Sledge USA. Prejean had been slated to be the spokesmodel for the line's upcoming fall campaign, but according to brand manager Vered Nisim, Prejean didn't hold up her end of the deal.
"She did not keep her appointments at all. She refused to confirm a time and date even though we were on a very tight schedule," Nisim tells E! News, adding that "it had nothing to do with her being let go as Miss California."
As for Prejean's Sledge sub? It's a matter of déjà vu...






