Q & A with Amy Richards

I recently did an e-interview with feminist and writer, Amy Richards regarding a feminist's perspective on the Rihanna and Chris Brown case and domestic violence in general. Here are the questions and answers of the interview!

Q: When the occurrence first happened, Rihanna reportedly did not want to press charges again Chris Brown or even testify against him. What is your opinion about that?

A: This is very common -- women don't want to "tell" on the men they love -- even if they did bad things to them. They just don't want to get them into trouble -- it's a natural instinct. Also I think one/she fears retribution -- if you tell you will be blamed for "ruining them" and/or for looking for a story. It's not easy for women to win in those situations.

Q: Three weeks after the assault, Rihanna returned to Brown and were spotted on Miami Beach. First, why do you think she did this and second, do you think that it was a good idea considering there was still a chance that he may become violent again?

A: I think it was a bad idea, but also a natural one -- women often think "it was only once" and male abusers often convince that it was random behavior and not part of a pattern. And so the are seduced by the fact that it was a once-off -- however, more often than not the behavior does repeat itself and women often get into more serious issues for assuming that it only takes once.

Q: How do you think this affected fan's reaction with them being such role models? (ie. influence female fans)

A: I am not sure they were great role models -- to the extent that they were famous yes -- but the attention on them as role models was more after the fact and just de facto because of their fame... I think it was an important moment to distinguish between fame and role models.

Q: What message do you think this is sending out to women?

A: I think the situation was very realistic and reflect many women's realities and to that extent we should talk about it more. The only thing that made it markedly different is the money and power and thus we assume that powerful people are immune to being vulnerable -- that was the best teaching moment of how human powerful people are.

Q: What do you think women should do if they become the victims of domestic violence? What are some of the important steps both people involved should take?

A: Women must be heard and listened to -- they have to take their stories seriously and that often comes as a consequence of other people taking their stories seriously. I think women need outlets -- friends, coworkers, mass media, support networks -- all echoing their reality and sadly the fact that violence (at various degrees) is almost as common as not. I think women must report the violence --if only to create a paper trail for future violence. I also think that women need to know what their options are -- i.e. how can they simultaneously tell on this person and continue to love them. They plan themselves for this contradiction and that's wrong.

Q: Do you think Rihanna's comeback and change of style is being focused on more than the real issue of violence? And how do you think Brown's image was affected by the occurrence?

A: Absolutely -- but I think she is using it to her advantage. At least trying to hide the facts of the case.

This interview was extremely insightful. Thank you to Amy for sharing her opinion and expertise with us.

Breakfast Club star could use another detention...

Actor Anthony Michael Hall is slapped with a restraining order from his ex-girlfriend Diana Falzone, a radio personality and relationship expert. Hall was allegedly attempting to kick down Falzone’s apartment door after stalking and harassing her weeks before. To prevent him from hurting himself, Falzone opened the door only to be assaulted by the bipolar actor. She stated that Hall brutally bashed her head against the wall. Ouch.

The temporary restraining granted to Falzone prevents Hall from “assault, stalking, harassment, menacing, reckless endangerment…intimidation,” among other things. That’s reassuring. The Brat Packer became obsessed with her, sources say, even though they briefly dated. However, he has yet to comment on the issue. His spokesperson stated that “all of the allegations are erroneous and will be addressed accordingly”. Basically, he’s denying it. He is also known to have had an alcohol problem but neither his alcoholism nor mild bipolarity has been suggested by either party to have contributed to the incident.

Regardless, assault = crime. Looking forward to seeing how this will be “addressed”.

Aaron Carter is all grown up and evading taxes!

Remember the good old days when Carter had that cute high pitched voice and the boy-band-blonde hair? Well the 21-year-old has turned into another tax-evading celeb. It is reported that he owes $1,010,635.08 to the government in taxes.

His manager, Johnny Wright told the Entertainment Tonight that “his finances were grossly mismanaged by his previous team.” He also claims that Carter was “unaware” of the situation because he was a minor when it occurred. Wright stated, “Aaron is working with a new team to take appropriate actions towards speedy resolution of the matter and looks forward to putting this behind him and moving forward with the next stage of his music career.” Uh-oh, what exactly is the next stage of his music career? Last we heard of him, he was doing pot and dancing on TV (not at the same time).

Take a listen to his new single, Dance with Me, featuring Flo Rida. Know where he the inspiration for this song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnY8-Ly2utk&feature=related

What do you think? I must admit, it’s rather catchy...

Carter recently got booted off Dancing with the Stars and dance partner Karina Smirnoff expressed to the press that he is doing well despite the tax mess. "He's dealing with it as maturely and professionally as he can," Smirnoff told US Magazine. Let’s hope he learned his lesson and get this whole debacle figured out.

Just for old times’ sake, take a trip down memory lane and check out pubescent Carter’s video, I want Candy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEyuUt3D35k

Yet another reality star with a DUI

That’s right, there’s another DUI in Hollywood. We’re up to, oh, how many now?

Reality star Shayne Lamas, daughter of Lorezo Lamas, was arrested for being suspected of driving under the influence. At around 1 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, Lamas drove home after having a drink and believing she was below the legal limit. The former Bachelor contestant and winner came forward herself and released this statement to the press:

Early Saturday morning, after consuming one drink, I willingly drove through a mandatory check point on my way home with complete confidence of passing. However, the breathalyzer indicated that I was over the legal limit of blood alcohol content and was arrested onsite.

I take full responsibility for my lack of judgment. I have always strived to be a role model for my friends, family, and fans and have never nor will ever condone drinking and driving. I apologize for all those I have disappointed, including myself.

Lamas was released from jail later in the morning and will appear in court on December 9 for the misdemeanour charge. She claimed that before the incident, she did not take drinking and driving seriously. Seriously?? Who in their right mind would not take drinking and driving seriously? I guess she just became MADD’s new poster girl on what NOT to do.

Skater gets scammed

Chief Financial Officer of MTV’s skateboarder, Ryan Sheckler has been charged with embezzlement. Matthew Mercuro was arrested and charged on Friday, Nov. 13 with embezzling over $365, 000 from the professional skater. He is currently being held on $400, 000 bail in Huntington Beach where he has been charged with two felony counts of grand theft. He must prove that his bail money comes from a legitimate and legal source before being granted bail. Mercuro could face up to six years and eight months in prison if the allegations prove to be true.

Sheckler, the Life of Ryan star, hired Mercuro to be the CFO of the two companies, granting him access to the accounts of the two businesses, Ryan Sheckler Rips LLC and Sheckler Merch 2 LL. He was caught when suspicious transfers from the two accounts were reported during a review of the companies’ finances. It was even more suspicious that the money was going into his personal accounts, the account of his wife, and the account of a friend. The terrible thief was bound to be caught sooner or later.

What’s worse, Mercuro is said to have been Sheckler’s trusted family friend and to have known the skater for years. He was employed by Sheckler from June 2008 to April 2009. No word on how the pro-skater is handling the situation.

The thing about white collar crime is that it affects more people than say, a street crime. There are more people who are impacted and potentially get hurt. As a society, we tend to focus on street crime and other horrific crimes rather than corporate or white collar crime. It is our responsibility to focus on these white collar and corporate crimes.

Brandy avoids civil trial

Singer Brandy Norwood has settled the lawsuit from the 2006 car crash that resulted in one woman dead. She was driving on a Los Angeles freeway when her Land Rover collided into a Toyota driven by Awatef Aboudihaj, the 38-year-old wife and mother of two children. The Toyota then collided with another vehicle and was hit by a different vehicle. This tragedy resulted in several injuries and one death.

Brandy has already settled with the victim’s children by paying the father $300, 000 for each child, as well as another party involved. Now she has just paid the parents of Aboudihaj who filed for a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit in 2008. The terms of the final settlement have been kept secret.

How terrible this tragedy must be for the singer, as well as the family of those impacted. There's no price to lose the ones you love.

No more Gucci for Gucci

Rapper Gucci Mane was just starting to get his act together. He was sentenced to 12 months in jail after violating his probation. In 2005, Mane pled guilty to assaulting a nightclub promoter and was sentence to 600 hours of community service. However, after failing to complete those hours, he was spent to jail in September where he spent six months.

As soon as he was released, he went straight to work on his new album. It appeared as though he had cleaned up his act, showing much dedication to his new album which is said to be the height of his career. Some of the artists he has worked with include Black Eyed Peas, Mario, Omarion, Mariah Carey and 50 Cent. Not a bad list. Mane currently has an album coming out in December which already has two smash hits - "Spotlight" featuring Usher and "Wasted" featuring Plies.

Well, he can hope that when he is released, his album will have gained him a lot of positive publicity.

Check out his single, Spotlight featuring Usher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdyeIZ7PTHA

Balloon Boy's parents busted

Everyone remember the Balloon Boy incident where a Colorado couple claimed their 6-year-old son had been carried away in a homemade helium balloon. Of course, this was all a hoax as most people discovered after spending hours watching footage of the empty balloon travelling across the sky. The good news is, they finally admitted it was all a sham!

Richard and Mayumi Heene, the parents of the “missing” boy, both pled guilty to different charges. Richard pled guilty to attempting to influence a public servant while Mayumi pled guilty to false reporting to authorities, both serious crimes. Mayumi, having Japanese citizenship, could even be deported for committing a misdemeanour. She could also face up to six months in a county jail and a fine of up to $750. Richard can face from two to six years in a state prison and a fine of up to $500,000. However, because they agreed to turn themselves in to authorities and plead guilty, Richard can only receive 90 days in prison and Mayumi 60 days.

The Heenes had participated twice in the reality television show, Wife Swap, and this hoax makes it clear that they were probably just looking for more publicity. Their 15 minutes of fame ended while being interviewed by CNN's Wolf Blitzer on the Larry King Live show and Falcon, the youngest of three sons (Balloon Boy), revealed that he didn't come out of the attic when called because they were “doing this for the show.” Authorities spend hours looking for the lost boy when he was hiding in his family’s garage the entire time. This wasn't just a regular game of hide and seek.

Falcon’s mother originally confessed to the police that it was a hoax, although Richard denied it was for publicity. Records show that Mayumi admitted that she and Richard had devised the deed two weeks prior to the incident so that their family could gain more media exposure and had even created the infamous balloon for that particular purpose. She also stated that she and Richard had forced their three children to lie to the media and authorities about their silly stunt. Admittedly, this was a creative yet childish way to get media exposure.

Now, I know they aren't exactly celebrities (they wish!) but lets give them an extra minute of fame for being so ridiculously cunning.

Lopez sues ex over sex-tape scandal

Wedding Planner actress, Jennifer Lopez was recently granted a temporary restraining order against her first husband, Ojani Noa. Lopez and Noa married in 1997 and divorced 11 quick months later in 1998. During this time he allegedly acquired over 11 hours of private footage of the actress in front of the camera. Some of the footage included the actress “‘fondling herself’ over skimpy clothing and getting spanked,” said a New York Daily News source who saw the footage. Noa was also in possession of photographs of their time together. He claimed that he never intended to sell the home videos but planed on using this footage to create a mockumentary film entitled, “How I Married Jennifer Lopez: The J-Lo and Ojani Noa Story”. He argued that he would not be making money out of the video, wanting to create it simply for “closure” since he is moving on with his life. Clearly a person wanting to move on makes a film using honeymoon home-videos of your ex for the world to see.

After leaving the courtroom on Tuesday, Noa spoke to the press waiting outside stating that Lopez is “destroying my life”. He did not have a lawyer present and argued that the racy videos were only used for inspiration. Noa and his film partner, Ed Meyer were forced to inform magazines and other third parties about the restraining order placed by the judge, as well as give up any material related to the mockumentary.

Jenny from the Block filed a $10 million lawsuit against the ex, maintaining that Noa violated a confidentiality agreement. In 2007, Lopez won $545, 000 because Noa attempted to publish a book about his relationship with the actress. If publishing a book about a past relationship didn’t work, why would the courts allow a film? This book alleged that Lopez had cheated with him with Marc Anthony, her current husband.

Noa stated that he plans to fight Lopez in court. However, Judge James Chalfani believes that the outcome lies in Lopez’s favour. He is scheduled to return to court on December 1. Noa is currently telling the press that his J.Lo is having him followed and sending him death threats. On the contrary, the overachiever is too busy working on her seventh studio to be uttering threats. The album, titled Love? is set to be released in March 2010. Just for fun, here is her latest single, Louboutins, which marks her comeback.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcDGdYs1ELE

Pushy paparazzi gets fist in the face

Looks like Mike Tyson still has moves! The former heavyweight boxing champion was travelling with his wife and 10-month-old child in an LAX when an overly aggressive paparazzi pounced. One punch in the face from Tyson was enough to drop paparazzi to the ground. The boxer claims he reacted out of self-defence to protect his child. He was soon arrested and will be charged with misdemeanour battery. According to police records, he was held for $20,000 bail. The photographer, identified as Tony Echevarria will also be charged with misdemeanour battery when he is released from the hospital. Echevarria suffered a cut to his forehead from hitting the floor. He should be happy it’s just a cut and not an ear.

While Tyson claims that the paparazzo followed him and his family through airport terminals and provoked him, Echevarria is reporting that the former boxer punched him when he tried to get a picture. However, the scuffle might be violating the terms of his probation. In 2007, Tyson was convicted of felony cocaine possession and misdemeanour DUI which has had him on probation for three years. If the courts find him guilty of violating his probation because of the brawl, he may face going to prison for up to five years.

Tyson has had a troubled past which may be a disadvantage while facing prosecutors. Growing up, he was involved in criminal gang activity and eventually attended a school for troubled youth. There he began boxing and ultimately became known as “Iron Mike” for his fierce fighting in the ring. He was also convicted of sexual assault against a Miss Black America contestant and spent three years of a six-year sentence in prison. With a rap sheet like that, why would anyone mess with the guy? Especially considering the many titles under his heavyweight belt.

All in all, a lesson for all paparazzi: Don’t mess with former fighters!

Check out this video of the arrest.

http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=114714&newsChannel=entertainmentNews

Profile

Here is a profile of me written by friend and Journalism classmate, Emma Elizabeth:

Caroline Mendez was born in Toronto and moved to Cambridge, Ontario when she was five years old. A career in journalism has been a goal she has had for years. As a child, Caroline idolized Lois Lane of Superman and thought that her job as a tough-as-nails journalist was extremely fascinating. Since then she has decided to work towards a career in print journalism.“There will always be a story to write about or something happening in the world that needs reporting on,” she says. Print journalism is interesting because reporters have the ability to expose the truth that has potential to reach the whole world.

In her new blog, she will examine the latest celebrity scandals and crimes. She will then compare similarities and differences with current crime stories. Caroline says her blog will dig deeper into the minds of stars “to see if these celebrities have some kind of an influence on, say teens who drive under the influence.”

In her spare time, Caroline likes to read, sing, write, and shop. Writing is something she puts a lot of time into and she is always practicing her skills and techniques. Caroline has been singing since she was about three or four years old and over the years has participated in many talent shows and special performances. Her favourite snack is fresh fruit and vegetables as she considers herself a healthy food fanatic (but she has been known to enjoy a few Doritos). Caroline is currently working towards her honours in Journalism and Contemporary studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Brantford. Her dream job would be traveling to cover entertainment or investigative news stories for an international newspaper.

I couldn't have said it better myself! Be sure to check out her blog, "The Plaster of Paris".

How many times must we tell people "Don't drink and drive!" ?

Stephanie Pratt, 23, one of the stars of the hit MTV show, The Hills, was arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence in Hollywood, California. Pratt was reported to have been at fellow Hills co-star, Holly Montag’s birthday party on October 18, where she supposedly left the nightclub drunk. The police apprehended her at around 3:45AM with her blood-alcohol level just above the legal limit. Pratt was Twittering earlier that evening that “It's my sissy @hollymontags bday party! Just finished dinner and going to Empire but I'm pretty tired aka yes i am the party pooper :(”

Pratt is best known for being one of the stars of The Hills reality television show, along with being Hills cast member, Spencer Pratt’s younger sister. But regardless of her celebrity status, everyone is equal under the law. Pratt was charged with a misdemeanour for driving under the influence of alcohol and was transferred to the Van Nuys jail in Los Angeles. There she spent several hours before being released on $5,000 bail. We’re just thankful she got pulled over before anyone was hurt.

Unlike Stephanie Pratt, an accident involving alcohol and speeding took the lives of three people in Toronto Saturday night. The accident was caused by a 21-year-old Toronto man driving a BMW who sped into the side of a Honda Odyssey killing three of the five passengers and leaving two in critical condition. The driver of the BMW however, did not have any life-threatening injuries. He remains under police surveillance at the hospital.

Click for a video of the scene:
http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/10/19/11446036-sun.html

The driver was identified as Pho Si Taing and the passengers were his wife, Hon To, his daughter, Khan “Christine” Taing, and two family friends. The family driving the Honda was coming back from a church outing when the BMW collided with the side of the van, causing three women to be thrown out of the vehicle. The driver and the friend were rushed to the hospital where they are clinging to their lives. The van was literally split into two pieces from the impact of the crash.

Roman Luskin, , the driver of the BMW, was charged with criminal negligence causing death, and refusing to submit a breath sample to the police along with several counts of impaired driving. Luskin was apparently already known to traffic police for speeding. Now at the young age of 21, he is looking to spend life in prison for his indictable offences.

The truth of the matter is, people have to start being responsible regardless of who they are. Whether it is a celebrity or the average Joe, drinking and driving is something completely out of the question. The message of not drinking and driving is constantly being advertised in our society yet some people tend to ignore this. There are many options when people are drinking, such as calling a cab or having a designated driver. For the amount of times people are told not to drink and drive, there are quite a few accidents that occur by those wishing to be reckless. But take Pho Si Taing for example. If he does survive the accident, he is left without a wife and daughter along with a family friend. And Roman Luskin at 21 will go to prison with this on his conscience. All because of one horribly stupid mistake that nearly took the lives of five people. So just remember this 21-year-old boy the next time you are drinking and please make the rational choice.

No Roman holiday from prison

Roman Polanski, the 76-year-old director, producer, actor, and writer is finishing his latest film from inside a Switzerland prison. He was arrested for the 1977 United States sex charge while going to the Zurich Film Festival to receive a lifetime achievement "Golden Icon Award". Polanski had been avoiding traveling to countries where he could be extradited to the United States for the 1977 charge of having sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl. Unfortunately, he forgot about Switzerland.

Polanski has lived in France for most of his life since fleeing Los Angeles in 1978 for fear of spending 50 years in jail. There is no statute of limitations to having non-consensual sex (in other words, sexual assault) with a minor, hence why Polanski was still a wanted man. He also pled guilty to the charge before fleeing the country after spending 42 days in a Californian jail.

The Ghost, his latest film based on the book written by Robert Harris was set to premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in February, 2010. However, since Polanski's arrest production has been stopped. Polanski is said to have completed editing the film on the day of his arrest. The film stars Pierce Brosnan and Ewan McGregor and is about a ghostwriter who while writing the biography of a British prime minister discovers some of his dark secrets, therefore putting his own life in at risk. Polanski is reported to be continuing to work on his film despite his imprisonment. Well, he is going to have a lot of free time of his hands...

One question on my mind is whether this current incarceration of the film’s director will help the film’s ratings or not. I guess we just have to stay tuned and wait to see if Polanski get extradited to the U.S. after all.

[Image from http://www.janetcharltonshollywood.com/roman-polanski-time-to-face-the-music/]