Did a prank go too far?
A nurse who unsuspectingly transferred a prank call from Australian hosts posing as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles has been found dead in what is reportedly a suicide. The nurse has been identified as Jacintha Saldanha.
Saldanha was the first to answer the call on Tuesday as hosts Mel Greig and Michael Christian tried to get information on expectant mother Kate Middleton, who was admitted into the King Edward VII Hospital after suffering from acute morning sickness. Saldanha’s first responses along with those of a second nurse were recorded and broadcast on air.
According to a statement by hospital chairman Lord Glenarthur, he said: “This is a tragic event. Jacintha was a first-class nurse who cared diligently for hundreds of patients during her time with us. She will be greatly missed.”
Prince William and Kate have also issued a statement, expressing how deeply saddened they are to learn of the death.
“Their royal highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII Hospital, and their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha’s family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time.”
While the Australian Communications and Media Authority are still investigating the case, the radio hosts have since issued apologies and have decided not to return to their radio show until further notice.
“Just on our royal prank call… we were very surprised that our call was put through, we thought we’d be hung up on as soon as they heard our terrible accents,” Christian wrote on his Twitter account. “We’re very sorry if we’ve caused any issues and we’re glad to hear that Kate is doing well.”
Drake has always been expressive on Twitter to his fans. And when his grandmother Evelyn passed away a few days ago, he took to the social networking site to reveal the sad news.
“Rest in peace to my grandmother Evelyn Sher. What a day to go…thankful to have had the times we did.”
Drake, who has always been close to his mom and grandmother, has mentioned his grandmother plenty of times in his songs. In fact, she was even featured in the song ”Look What You’ve Done“, which was a track off the rapper’s latest album Take Care.
In the song, she is heard saying, “All I can say Aubrey is, I remember the good times we had together and the times I used to look after you and I still have wonderful feelings about that. So God bless you, and I hope I’ll see you.”
RIP Evelyn. My deepest condolences go to Drake and his family.
Kile Glover, stepson of Usher and biological child of ex-wife Tameka Foster, passed away Saturday morning from injuries caused by a jet ski accident in Georgia earlier this month.
Declared brain dead two days after the accident on July 6, the family struggled to remove the boy from life support hoping that he would recover. When it was determined that the injuries were too severe to overcome, doctors removed the 11-year-old from life support.
“We know God’s in control, and are leaning on our faith in Him and His word at this most difficult time,” the family told CNN in a statement weeks ago. “We firmly believe in the power of prayer and ask that you all continue to pray and lift Kile up, as it’s the best way we can all support him now.”
Glover and a second victim, a 15 year-old girl, were struck by a Jet Ski while floating on an inner tube in Atlanta’s Lake Lanier. While the girl is reported to have suffered from a cut on the head and a broken arm, Glover suffered serious trauma to his head.
While the man driving the jet ski has been identified as family friend Jeffrey S. Hubbard, the police have determined that no drugs were involved and no charges are being pressed. (SOURCE)
Whitney Houston’s toxicology report is finally in and the coroner’s office determined that her death is accidental and the result of ”drowning and effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use.”
Whitney was found in the bathtub of her Beverly Hilton Hotel room on Feb. 11 the day before the Grammys, at age 48. Authorities collected several bottles of prescription drugs from her suite.
Although cocaine use and other drugs were identified, they did not contribute to her death. The toxicology report said: ”Cocaine and metabolites were identified and were contributory to the death. Marijuana, Alprazolam (Xanax), Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) were identified but did not contribute to the death.” [Source]
For the whole world Whitney Houston was an icon, but for Bobbi Kristina Brown she was just “mom.” The 19-year-old opened up about her mother’s Feb. 11 death to Oprah and the interview aired last night on OWN.
Bobbi said she feels her mom’s presence everyday and that sleeping in the house right after her death was impossible.
“I can hear her voice in spirit talking to me, ‘Keep talking to me. I got you,’” Brown said. “She’s always with me. I can always feel her. I can always feel her with me. She always asked me,’Do you need me?’ And I caught myself, out of nowhere, I didn’t even know I said it, I said, ‘I’ll always need you.’”
Although it’s still difficult to listen to her mom’s music, Bobbi said she hopes to carry on her mother’s work through singing, acting and dancing. “I have to carry on the legacy,” she said. “We’re going to do the singing thing. Some acting, some dancing.” That’s a lot of pressure for a young girl, but Bobbi has been in the spotlight since she was young, even performing on stage at her mother’s concerts.
Although Bobbi was composed throughout the whole interview, I still think it was too soon. The girl just lost her mother and has survived a media storm of accusations about her supposed drug use and relationship with her father.
Do you think it was too soon?
Target pulled this Whitney Houston card off the shelves nearly TWO WEEKS after her death. The creepy card cheerily warns against following Houston’s example. We’re not sure why they were carrying it in the first place Bobby Brown, but it took a whole new meaning after her death — don’t date the bad boys or else death will come knocking at your door.
Creepy. And we’re not sure what occasion the card could be used for. Perhaps after a bad breakup? At the early stages of dating a rebellious character? Your guess is as good as ours.
The clinically insane lovely people at The National Enquirer have raised the bar yet again for celebrity exploitation. In their latest issue, they decided to publish pictures of Whitney Houston’s open casket. What’s even more shocking is the publisher is standing by their decision, calling the photo “beautiful”.
They must have gotten bored with making up stories about celebrity alien abductions and decided to get into a new business, showcasing dead bodies. The National Enquirer obviously doesn’t care about grieving relatives or a standard code of human ethics. If it were possible, they would probably have no problem stringing the late singer up for “One Last Performance” like Weekend at Bernies.
It’s not nearly as bad as the autopsy photos of Michael Jackson but it’s definitely controversial. Sadly, that’s probably why they decided to publish the photo in the first place.
What?! How did we all miss this one? Degrassi fans were upset to hear that Neil Hope who played Derek Wheeler aka ‘Wheels’ on the late 90s TV show died… five years ago!! Hope’s character on the show saw him go through everything from molestation to drunk driving.
His 2007 death only broke out today. Reports says he died at the age of 35 of natural causes in Hamilton.
RadarOnline reports that Michael Lohan admits he should be dead by now. He’s not saying he necessarily deserves to be dead – more like he has cheated death.
“I don’t know what God has in store for me, but it must be BIG. I should have been dead 5 times already,” Michael exclusively told RadarOnline.
However, Lohan Sr. is back in a court ordered rehab facility, and he thinks things are looking up.
“It’s by far the best treatment facility I have ever worked with or have been to,” he said about A New Day treatment center in North Palm Beach, Fl. “A little while longer and the blood clot would have taken me out.”
The Lohans are an amazing bunch. Although they act recklessly, they just keep avoiding death. Impressive!
When everyone was making fun of his health during the Charlie Sheen roast back in October, no one expected his health to take his life so quickly.
41 year old Comedian Patrice O’Neal passed away today after suffering a stroke in October, The New York Daily News says.
O’Neal began his career in Boston and rose to fame with “The Opie and Anthony Show”. He also made numourous appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman and The Ellen Degeneres Show, not to mention countless comedy specials on HBO.
O’Neal was definitely a hit at the Charlie Sheen roast back in October. Unfortunately, those in attendence began to shift the roasting on to O’Neal, which displeased a lot of his fans because shortly after the episode aired, he suffered a stroke.
Mike Tyson took a jab at O’Neal during the Comedy Network special, saying “Patrice has always been destined for stardom, and diabetes. So tonight is not just the roast of Charlie Sheen, its’ also a farewell party for Patrice’s foot.”
No word from Tyson yet on the wake of O’Neal’s death. I’m sure as the day goes on, many celebrities and fans will pay their respects to such an outrageous comedien.
Selena Gomez has received a death threat that is considered extremely serious – so serious that the LAPD Threat Management Unit is now involved.
TMZ reports Thomas Brodnicki, who has a history of stalking, told his psychiatrist he is going to kill Selena.
Brodnicki told the shrink he has traveled from Chicago to L.A. three times and has told people he has spoken to God about killing her.
LAPD detectives are taking the threats “extremely seriously” given his history.
In an interview airing today on Ellen, Jon Cryer explains that he thought Charlie Sheen was going to die.
“Mostly I was worried that Charlie was going to die,” Cryer says. “That was the big fear for me.”
“And that…that did not occur and I’m thrilled about that,” Cryer says.
Ellen DeGeneres asks a question, “Now when he said bad things about you, you were so gracious. You were great. You didn’t say anything back. Since then, he has apologized. Have you spoken to him since?”
“We have not spoken,” Cryer replies. “And I will accept an apology both public and private. But again, it was in the heat of the moment I imagine when he said…So I did not put a whole lot of credence in it at the time.”
In a recent interview, Mitch Winehouse blames Amy’s ex-husband Blake Fielder-Civil for her drug addiction. Mitch claims it was Blake who introduced Amy to hard drugs like heroine.
While talking to Anderson Cooper, Mitch explains however he doesn’t blame Amy’s death on Blake. Blake is also serving time in prison for a burglary and firearm offense. Nevertheless, Mitch is adamant Amy’s life starting getting out of control when Blake hit the scene.
Anderson Cooper has a new daytime talk show called Anderson, and his first guests on September 12th will be Amy Winehouse’s family.
He tweeted on Tuesday, “On @anderson sept 12. Amy Winehouse’s family – her dad, mom, stepmom, boyfriend – speak for the 1st time since her death.” He added, “I’m really looking forward to speaking with Amy Winehouse’s family. They’ve been through so much, and her talent was so great.”
He told the Hollywood Reporter, “We want it to be a look at what happened to her and the struggles that she was facing and the struggles that the family was facing in trying to get [her] help and her incredible talent and career.”
This interview is the first time Amy’s family has spoken since her tragic death.
In a recent interview with GQ Magazine, Simon says that he wants to be frozen when he dies.
“It’s an insurance policy,” he tells the mag. “If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. If it does work, I’ll be happy. If it’s possible, and I think it will be, why not have a second crack? Does that sound crazy? I think it’s a good idea.”
And that’s not all. Simon also has had the same breakfast everyday for five years of; Hot water with lemon, then papaya juice with lime, then oatmeal, then tea, then three different smoothies: a spinach smoothie, an antioxidant smoothie and a super smoothie with seven fruits.
“It just puts me in a good mood,” he explains. “I know it sounds odd. It’s just what I enjoy doing. I’m sure it’s not completely normal.”
He’s a weird guy. But whatever he’s doing seems to be working for him.
It’s kind of like Amy Winehouse is more successful dead than she was alive. Amy’s album “Back To Black” is the U.K.’s top selling album of the 21st century, reports Billboard.
Reports say her second album has sold 3.26 million copies in the U.K.
Although her album has performed well since its 2006 release, sales have surged since her death.
The exact cause of her death is still under investigation.
The toxicology report shows that Amy Winehouse wasn’t using illegal drugs when she died? But what about prescription drugs?
TMZ reports the family isn’t commenting on prescription drugs. However they do acknowledge she was drinking.
Quite possible if Amy mixed the wrong medication with alcohol, that could have killed her…
Amy Winehouse’s family have revealed the toxicology report from her death. It proves that Amy wasn’t on any drugs when she died, but she had been drinking.
TMZ reports they have not determined if alcohol played a role in her death.
This is understandably shocking as it was common knowledge that Amy had a drug problem, and everyone assumed drugs played a role in her death.
Sean Kingston with andPOP's Dan Busheikin and Iyaz - August 2009
You think after nearly dying on a jet ski, Sean Kinston would take a break from the dangerous machines. However, Kingston insists that he will get another one soon.
Talking to Ryan Seacrest, Kingston said, “I’m gonna go on another jet-ski… I was new to the area; I had just moved to the island and I didn’t know about the tides, I didn’t know about anything like that. It happened to me because I chose to ride around in that area, but there’s so much water that I could have chosen to ride around on.”
Well – at least the guy has a hobby.
It turns out that Amy Winehouse was inspired to get into music by the band Hanson.
Isaac Hanson, the oldest of the brothers, only learned this recently and was touched by the news.
He tells WENN, ”It is tragic to see people not be able to fully deal with that inner turmoil, which unfortunately, most artists, including myself, have. You have this tortured element within you and you’re throwing yourself out there emotionally.
“God rest her soul. I feel so bad for her that she was not able to reconcile whatever was going on inside her… It sounds like there were so many lovely, lovely elements of who she was and unfortunately there were some darker elements that clearly got the better of her.
“I didn’t know that she was a fan.”
