Oprah sued for defamation Lohan's dad up for a fight
Published Tuesday October 7th, 2008
The ex-headmistress of Oprah Winfrey's school for girls in South Africa is suing the talk show host for defamation, claiming Winfrey falsely suggested she tried to cover up abuse at the school.
In widely reported remarks last year, Winfrey suggested that Nomvuyo Mzamane, 39, of Philadelphia, knew about alleged abuse by a dorm matron and tried to cover it up, Mzamane says in the lawsuit.
Her lawsuit, filed in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Friday, seeks more than $250,000 (U.S.) on five defamation and related counts from Winfrey and her production company.
"The thing that hurt my client the most was when Oprah said, 'I thought she cared about the girls of South Africa,' " said Mzamane's lawyer, Timothy McGowan. "It was devastating. She loved those girls."
A spokeswoman for Winfrey says the company has not seen the suit and plans no immediate comment.
Former dorm matron Tiny Virginia Makopo, 28, is charged with abusing six students at the $40 million school for poor girls that Winfrey built. Makopo allegedly tried to kiss and fondle the victims and is also accused of kicking and hitting some of them.
Makopo has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges of indecent assault, assault and criminal injury. Her trial is scheduled to resume later this month in South Africa.
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For the second straight day, Bruce Springsteen sang a few songs and urged thousands of potential voters in a battleground state to register and support U.S. Democrat Barack Obama.
Springsteen's free acoustic concert Sunday at Ohio State University followed Saturday's performance in Philadelphia, where he called the Bush administration "a disaster." He repeated that comment in Columbus.
Springsteen's appearance was aimed at encouraging Obama supporters to take advantage of Ohio's weeklong same-day voting period, in which state residents can register and cast an absentee ballot on the same day.
Springsteen had planned to play at another Obama gathering at Eastern Michigan University on Monday.
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Michael Lohan isn't the type to back down from a fight. The estranged father of actress Lindsay Lohan has publicly feuded with the actress, her girlfriend Samantha Ronson and her mother Dina Lohan.
For his next battle, Lohan will use his fists rather than his mouth. He's auctioning off the chance to knock him out in a charity boxing match Nov. 24 at the Hilton Long Island in Melville, N.Y..
Bidding to challenge Lohan begins at $5,000 (U.S.) Proceeds will go to charities including the Long Island Community Chest, which provides financial support to needy families.
Jeff Cohen, an organizer for the event, said he expects a big turnout.
"Anybody who jumps into the ring with Michael Lohan will become famous," Cohen said.
"Maybe you'll get one of Lindsay Lohan's ex-boyfriends who'll try and impress Lindsay by beating up her father. Who knows? . . . You might get Samantha Ronson trying to put a bid in there."
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Miley Cyrus' 16th birthday party was more boisterous than sweet.
Cyrus celebrated the hallmark birthday at an over-the-top Disneyland celebration Sunday - even though she doesn't actually turn 16 until Nov. 23. The theme park was closed for the supersized soiree, which included a four-song performance by the teen queen and a fireworks display above Sleeping Beauty Castle and 16 giant inflatable candles.
"Miley is really hard to surprise," her father Billy Ray Cyrus said at the event.
Organizers estimated over 5,000 people attended the special party, which cost $250 (U.S.) a ticket. On the event's purple carpet - that's Cyrus' favourite colour - the Hannah Montana star bragged that her parents bought her a new puppy for her birthday. What else does Cyrus want for her birthday? A new car? Perhaps a later curfew?
"My parents shut down Disneyland for me, so I'm good for a while," Cyrus said.
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