Anna Nicole Smith’s mom sues website
Virgie Arthur, mother of the late model Anna Nicole Smith, is suing TMZ website and Howard K. Stern for tarnishing her image by spreading false story.
Virgie alleged that TMZ website and Howard K. Stern, lawyer and partner of Anna Nicole, spread the false story that she gave birth to the child of her stepbrother. The website carried a story with the headline: ‘Virgie Has Son With Step-Brother’. The lawsuit says that their goal was to do away with anyone who opposes Howard K. Stern or his interest. Now, Virgie Arthur wants financial compensation as an apology. However, she has not denied the story.
Anna Nicole Smith was a very popular reality TV star and a Playmate models. She married billionaire J Howard Marshall, who was 63 years her senior. She died of drug overdose last year at the age of 39.
Anna Nicole Smith’s mother sues TMZ and Howard K. Stern
Anna Nicole Smith’s mother Virgie Arthur is suing TMZ and Howard K. Stern for “tarnishing her image.”
This crazy old hoot thought she was a good mama until TMZ and plenty of other bloggers ran her name through the mud. As Anna Nicole told it, Virgie was a hateful old hag who couldn’t even stand herself.
Arthur thinks that TMZ.com was working with Howard K. Stern to prevent her from getting custody of Anna Nicole’s daughter Dannielynn.
“Their goal was simple and straightforward,” the lawsuit filed in Texas State Court reads, “to ‘destroy’ anyone that was opposed to Howard K. Stern or his interest.”
TMZ ran a story titled: “Virgie has son with step-brother.” In their quasi-investigative piece, TMZ unveils that Virgie Arthur had a son with her step brother and a poll showed that most readers found it “creepy.”
Anna Nicole’s mama hasn’t exactly denied the story’s truth, but Virgie still wants financial compensation as an apology.
Anna Nicole Smith’s mother sues lawyer, Web sites
HOUSTON (Reuters) - The mother of Anna Nicole Smith has sued the deceased television star’s lawyer and several media outlets including celebrity Web site TMZ.com, claiming she was defamed.
Virgie Arthur said in a lawsuit filed in Texas state court on Monday that Smith’s lawyer and companion Howard K. Stern and others spread a false story that she was the mother of her stepbrother’s child in a bid to ruin her reputation.
“Their goal was simple and straightforward — to ‘destroy’ anyone that was opposed to Howard K. Stern or his interest,” the lawsuit said.
At issue is a story that appeared on TMZ.com titled “Virgie Has Son With Step-Brother,” according to court papers.
Harvey Levin, who is managing editor of TMZ, is also named in the lawsuit. Representatives for Stern and TMZ were not immediately available to comment on the allegations.
Anna Nicole Smith died at age 39 of an accidental prescription drug overdose in Florida in February 2007.
The death of the former pin-up model and reality television star sparked a legal battle between Arthur and Smith’s companions, including Stern and photographer Larry Birkhead, both over her remains and custody of her infant daughter, Dannielynn.
Arthur, who lives in Texas, lost those court fights.
Birkhead, following tests that showed he was her father, was awarded custody of Dannielynn, who as Smith’s sole heir could inherit a multimillion-dollar fortune.
Anna Nicole Smith opera in the works
LONDON, April 4 (UPI) — The British co-creator of “Jerry Springer: The Opera” said he is working on a new opera inspired by the life of late U.S. sex symbol Anna Nicole Smith.
Smith was a former stripper, model, actress and spokesperson who married a wealthy older man, then battled his family for his fortune for years after he died.
Smith’s 20-year-old son died suddenly of a lethal combination of prescription drugs while visiting her in the hospital after she gave birth to her daughter.
Smith herself died of an accidental drug overdose several months later, after which two of her ex-boyfriends claimed paternity and fought for custody of her infant daughter.
The Telegraph said composer Richard Thomas is writing the libretto for a contemporary show based on her life, which is to be acted out on the main stage of the Royal Opera House in 2010, accompanied by a 90-piece orchestra.
Thomas said Smith’s life story is “a classic American tale about celebrity,” which is “intrinsically operatic.”
The composer told The Independent newspaper, “She was quite a smart lady with the tragic flaw that she could not seem to get through life without a vat of prescription painkillers.”
Anna Nicole Smith, the opera
Anna Nicole Smith’s tragic life story is being turned into an opera.
The former Playboy model - who was found dead aged just 39 from an accidental drug overdose in February 2007 - is the subject of a new production being developed by the co-creator of ‘Jerry Springer: The Opera’, due to be staged at London’s Royal Opera House.
Richard Thomas, who is writing the words to a score by Mark-Anthony Turnage, told Britain’s The Independent newspaper: “It’s an incredible story. It’s very operatic and sad.
“She was quite a smart lady with the tragic flaw that she could not seem to get through life without a vat of prescription painkillers.” Smith - who was crowned Playmate of the Year in 1993 - achieved worldwide fame when she married octogenarian billionaire J. Howard Marshall in 1994, who was 63 years her senior.
Following his death a year later, she became embroiled in a bitter legal battle with Marshall’s son over his estate, a dispute that is still ongoing.
In September 2006, Smith gave birth to her daughter Dannielynn, three days later her son Daniel died in her Bahamas hospital room while visiting his new sister.
Just two weeks later, the busty blonde and her attorney Howard K. Stern, who claimed to be the father of Dannielynn, exchanged vows and rings in an informal commitment ceremony.
Five months later, Smith was discovered unresponsive in her Florida hotel room after taking a cocktail of prescribed drugs, including sleeping pills and sedatives.
Stern then became locked in a paternity battle with Smith’s ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead, who has been shown to be Dannielynn’s father in DNA tests.
However, Thomas does not plan to focus on the paternity battle, saying: “For me, it ends when she does. It’s an American story. I love American culture.
“Especially for opera, the stories seem to work on a grander, more epic scale.”
Anna Nicole’s son’s overdose surprised Stern
Anna Nicole Smith’s longtime lawyer and companion told a court today he was surprised to learn an overdose killed the Playboy playmate’s son, saying he never suspected the young man was abusing drugs.
Howard K Stern, the final witness to testify at the inquest to determine what killed Daniel Smith in September 2006, said he thought a toxicology report showing the 20-year-old died from a combination of drugs, including the painkiller methadone, was false because it didn’t fit with his impression of the son.
“I didn’t believe Daniel died of a drug overdose at all. Even after the toxicology report came back, I thought that was some kind of set up or something,” Stern said in the inquest, which ended today. “He wasn’t that kind of kid.”
Stern’s account contradicted the portrayal given yesterday by another former Anna Nicole boyfriend, Larry Birkhead, who described the young man as troubled and apparently struggling with drugs and alcohol.
Stern said he regrets not recognising that Daniel’s health was deteriorating shortly before he died in the Bahamas, the island nation that became the centre of a bitter custody dispute for Anna Nicole’s baby daughter when the 39-year-old model died February 8, 2007, from an overdose of prescription drugs.
“Daniel said to me, ‘I don’t know why I’m so tired.’ I didn’t think anything of it,” Stern said. “I wish I had.”
Stern, who is the executor of Anna Nicole’s estate, denied ever giving Daniel any drugs.
He also rejected previous testimony by Ford Shelley, the son-in-law of a developer who was embroiled in an ownership dispute over the Bahamas estate where Anna Nicole lived, who claimed the late reality TV star kept her numerous prescription drugs in a duffel bag.
“Anna did not have 300 bottles of drugs filling up a duffel bag like the world wants to think,” Stern said.
Stern testified he took a photograph of Anna Nicole cradling her dead son after his collapse in her hospital room. “I did that for her and I would do it again,” he said, adding that Anna Nicole requested the picture to be taken.
At the time of his death, Daniel was visiting his celebrity mother after she had given birth to daughter Dannielynn in a Nassau hospital. Anna Nicole’s fatal overdose in Florida occurred about six months later.
Stern was the last witness to testify before a seven-member jury that will formally determine what killed Daniel and has the power to recommend criminal charges if it finds evidence of wrongdoing.
The judge was scheduled to turn the case over to the jury for deliberations on Thursday.
Police have said there is no evidence of homicide in Daniel’s death, and an autopsy found the likely cause of death was a combination of drugs, including methadone and antidepressants.
Bahamas Judge Delays Smith Deliberations
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — A judge on Thursday postponed deliberations of a Bahamas jury charged with deciding what killed the son of former Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith.
Magistrate William Campbell said the jury will reconvene March 31.
“The evidence appears to be simple, but it requires more time for review,” he said.
The seven-member jury will formally determine what killed Daniel Smith and has the power to recommend criminal charges if it finds evidence of wrongdoing.
The 20-year-old died September 2006 shortly after he arrived in the Bahamas to meet his baby sister, Dannielynn, who was born in a Nassau hospital.
Police have said there is no evidence of homicide, and an autopsy found that Daniel likely died from a combination of drugs, including methadone and antidepressants.
The inquest began in November but was delayed when the court tried to obtain testimony from witnesses in the U.S.
During the final days of testimony this week, Anna Nicole’s former boyfriend, Larry Birkhead, said that Daniel was a troubled young man who struggled with drugs and alcohol. But her lawyer-turned-companion, Howard K. Stern, said he was surprised at the autopsy report and said he had never seen Daniel using drugs.
Anna Nicole Smith died from an accidental overdose in Florida in February 2007, several months after her son’s death.
Sugar Bits — Dannielynn Will Inherit Anna Nicole’s Fortune
Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter Dannielynn Hope has been named sole heir to her mother’s estate, while her father Larry Birkhead and Howard K. Stern will serve as the co-trustees.
Congrats to John McCain, who secured the Republican presidential nomination last night. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton regained momentum after defeating Obama in three of the four states in question, leaving the Democratic nomination still up in the air.
Matthew McConaughey is launching a line of swimwear and beach accessories called j.k. livin, which will be sold starting this Summer through his website, matthewmcconaughey.com.
Scarlett Johansson is apparently moving in with her boyfriend Ryan Reynolds, and her mom isn’t too happy about it.
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Pete Doherty is teaming back up with his Libertines bandmate to write a musical.
Splash News Online
Willa Ford Rocks as Anna Nicole Smith in New Movie!
Ever wonder what Anna Nicole’s life was really like before she died? What made her act the way she did, why the media had such an infatuation with Anna and how she ultimately changed the lives of everyone around her?
These questions - and many more - will all be answered in the new film, Anna Nicole Smith: The Movie.
Anna Nicole SmithActress Willa Ford will play the role of the blonde bombshell, who stole the hearts of men and women all over the world.
Hollyscoop.com says the movie is a way for the public to finally get to know the real Anna.
“Many just know her for her public battle and win over late husband, billionaire J. Howard Marshall’s estate, and her tragic death. This movie shows Anna’s rise to stardom from being a stripper, all the way to her days in Playboy.”
A trailer for the new movie has been released. Take a look below:
Will you watch the biopic?
GABOR’S HUSBAND PLANS TELL-ALL BOOK ABOUT ANNA NICOLE AFFAIR
ZSA ZSA GABOR’s love cheat husband is out to prove his romance with late star ANNA NICOLE SMITH was not all lies by releasing a book, complete with photos, about their affair.
Prince Frederic Von Anhalt hit the headlines shortly after Smith died last year (Feb07) when he joined the list of men claiming to be the father of the tragic actress/model’s baby daughter Dannielynn.
Photojournalist Larry Birkhead eventually proved he was the girl’s biological daddy.
Many laughed off Von Anhalt’s paternity claims, but now the 64-year-old aims to prove he was Smith’s lover.
His expose will feature a titillating photograph he took of Anna Nicole - on the cover.
He says. “I want to set the record straight once and for all.” In the book, the Hungarian royal will also reveal how he attempted to win Anna Nicole a title after their romance - by setting her up with a German aristocrat.
He tells America’s Globe, “I had someone lined up in Germany who wanted to marry her and give her the title, but sadly she died before it could happen.”