Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
Bratton`s Comment on Lindsay Lohan`s Sexuality; Paris and Britney Caught in Political Controversy; Jessica Simpson`s Startling Confession; Star Explosions
Aired August 01, 2008 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, CO-HOST: Dr. Phil and his wife set the record straight on whether or not he`s getting a divorce. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: And Sharon Osbourne rips into Paris Hilton saying she`s got no talent. Ouch. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
HAMMER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Bratton`s Lindsay bombshell. The outrage over L.A. police chief questioning Lindsay Lohan`s sexuality? Did Bratton make a huge mistake? And what does Lindsay think of all of this? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the chief controversy.
Jessica`s startling confession. Tonight, Jessica Simpson jaw-dropping abuse claim. Why she`s talking about being persecuted and tormented. And what about her up-and-down love life? Tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with Jessica`s private pain.
Plus, star explosions. What happens when stars get angry? Caught on tape.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you from Hollywood.
And tonight Ozzy Osbourne`s wife, Sharon, is on the attack against Paris Hilton saying that Paris has no talent, calling Paris infamous. But why? That`s coming up.
HAMMER: But first, Bratton`s gay bombshell. Tonight L.A.`s top cop William Bratton is claiming that one of the reasons Hollywood is a lot calmer these days is because Lindsay Lohan is gay. Yes, I know, that sounds really, really weird. And we`re going to explain everything, including the fact that Lindsay Lohan herself has never said she`s gay. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the late breaking developments making news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): He`s LAPD`s top dog. But this time, police chief Bill Bratton may have bitten off more than he could chew. He`s lashing out over a call for paparazzi crack down by Los Angeles City leaders. Even celebrities like John Mayer are asking for tougher laws against the guys who sometimes get too close to photograph their celebrity subjects.
JOHN MAYER, MUSICIAN: You`ve got a rock star out of bed at 8:00 in the morning. This must be really important, you know.
HAMMER: But it`s not Mayer who is taking the heat for what he has to say about all this. It`s Bratton`s own explanation for why he thinks the paparazzi are no longer a problem in Hollywood. Get a load of his bombshell comments with this KMBC(ph) camera.
WILLIAM BRATTON, CHIEF OF POLICE, LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT: If you notice, since Britney started wearing clothes and behaving -
HAMMER: It started out OK.
BRATTON: Paris is out of town, not bothering anybody anymore, thank god.
HAMMER: No one can argue with the police chief this one -
BRATTON: Evidently, Lindsay Lohan has gone gay. We don`t seem to have much of an issue.
HAMMER: He said what?
BEN WIDDECOMBE, "STAR" MAGAZINE: Clearly, he reads the tabloids.
HAMMER: Just to be sure, could we play Bratton`s bombshell about Lindsay Lohan one more time?
BRATTON: Evidently, Lindsay Lohan has gone gay. We don`t seem to have much of an issue.
HAMMER: Yes. You heard right. The LAPD chief, Bill Bratton alleging that Lindsay Lohan is gay. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Bratton`s bombshell is creating quite the controversy.
WIDDECOMBE: So the police chief certainly caused a storm.
HAMMER: He certainly did. And reporters jumped all over it, asking why on earth he would allude to Lindsay Lohan`s sexuality in response to the paparazzi problem. Bratton`s response, "Stop your crying."
BRATTON: Oh, get off it, for crying out loud. There`s nobody more supportive of gay rights than I am. My sister is gay in a married relationship. So let`s get off that angle, huh? For crying out loud.
(BABY CRYING)
HAMMER: But for crying out loud, why would the chief of police in Los Angeles bring Lindsay Lohan`s sexuality into all of this? Could it be Bratton was just trying to bring some attention to his side of things? Fighting the push for tougher laws against the paparazzi?
WIDDECOMBE: He knows what he was doing. He knows what to say. He knows how to get headlines.
HAMMER: That may be true. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, Lindsay Lohan has been making headlines of her own since she`s been seen hanging out with her DJ friend Samantha Ronson so much lately. But Lindsay remains mum about their relationship.
WIDDECOMBE: Lindsay, of course, herself has never confirmed whether she`s gay.
HAMMER: And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Lohan is certainly not the first celebrity to be thrown into a fierce game of politics. She joins Paris Hilton and Britney Spears as the latest political pawn.
FEMALE VOICE OVER: He`s the biggest celebrity in the world.
HAMMER: The Republican nominee for president, Sen. John McCain, used their images in a new ad attacking his rival, Sen. Barack Obama. What`s going on here?
WIDDECOMBE: Britney and Paris practically seem to be running the country. They`re in presidential ads. They`re in local Los Angeles politics. It`s seems that no public officials can open their mouths this summer without referencing one of the Big Two.
HAMMER: And who would have thought Britney Spears and Paris Hilton would be caught in the middle of a presidential campaign war? It`s almost as if we`ve stepped into an alternate universe.
WIDDECOMBE: It`s a quiet summer for the girls.
HAMMER: So who knows? In this alternative universe, maybe that rock star John Mayer who rolled out of bed to make his case against the paparazzi might some day consider running for office alongside one of the starlets.
WIDDECOMBE: Within two months, I think we could see John Mayer running the country and Paris as the mayor of Los Angeles.
HAMMER: Then again, maybe not. And hopefully they`ll stick to their day jobs.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT did reach out to Lindsay Lohan for comment. As of show time we heard the sounds of silence. So once again, we enter the world of the bizarre.
And here to help us figure out how to live in this very strange world in Hollywood, pop culture and legal expert Russell Wetanson of "PopSquire.com." And in New York tonight, VH1 host Janelle Snowden.
All right. Russell, Janelle, these rumors about some kind of romantic relationship between Lindsay Lohan and her friend Samantha Ronson have been zipping around in the air for months. It`s been on the tabloids. It`s all over the Internet, around the water coolers. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, I need to point out, has never mentioned it. We had no intention of ever mentioning it. I`ve got to say I never could imagine that of all people, the police chief of Los Angeles would be the one to make this so public.
Janelle, does this guy owe Lindsay Lohan a big apology?
JANELLE SNOWDEN, VH1 NEWS HOST: I think an apology would certainly be within good etiquette, and within good business. I don`t know about the citizens of L.A., but I wouldn`t want - I don`t really care about the opinion of my police chief on celebrities. I care that he`s cracking down on crime, and that`s really it. So for him to have said this - I`m sure he wished he hadn`t at this point because of all the flak that he`s caught over it. An apology would be in good measure.
HAMMER: Yes. Janelle, I`m right there with you, because here`s how I`ve always thought about this. I`ve always thought an officer`s duty was to serve and protect the people, not to try to out the people.
Russell, do you think Bratton crossed a big police line here, so to speak?
WETANSON: You know, A.J., the thing is though the women that he`s talking about have all been women involved with the law. So it makes sense that he knows what they`re doing. But whether he crossed the line calling Lindsay "gay" or saying she`s gone gay is a different issue. I think what`s crossing the line is society thinking it`s such a big deal. There`s a double standard here. I mean, Paris Hilton doesn`t have to confirm that she`s straight. Neither does John Mayer. We report on who they`re dating without a problem. So why is it such a big deal? That`s the bigger question.
HAMMER: That is actually an excellent point that you make. I do want to take a little look again at how Bratton tried to explain this whole thing away. He, of course, was just hammered about it when he appeared at a news conference. Let`s watch what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRATTON: There`s nobody more supportive of gay rights than I am. My sister is gay in a married relationship. So let`s get off that angle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Sounds to me like Bratton is using that "some of my best friends are gay" defense trying to weasel out of what he said. Do you think, Janelle, this at all gets him off the hook for perhaps saying something he probably shouldn`t have?
SNOWDEN: Not at all. If anything, I think it just further alienates him from the public. I think, you know, an apology would make people say, "OK, he`s human and makes mistakes." We all say things that we wish we hadn`t. Unfortunately, he said it on local TV which managed to be international within seconds. So, I mean, I don`t think it gets him off the hook. I think that if he wants to sort of win back the public, then he should maybe say, "You know what? I shouldn`t have said it. I`m sorry. It was early. I hadn`t finished my workout. I was on my way to get a tan." You guys can feel me. Something like that.
HAMMER: Russell, let me ask you, because, double standard aside, assuming that most people are thinking he probably shouldn`t have said a thing. Do you think, at all, he weaseled his way out with that little statement?
WETANSON: You know, I think that he weaseled his way out a little bit in a good way. You know, I don`t think that the gay community is going to be up in arms or that many people about his comments because, like he said, he pointed out that he has been supportive of gay rights. His sister is a lesbian. It doesn`t make his comments any less insensitive. So for that, you know, he might want a backtrack a little bit. But my favorite is just him talking to the press and a towel coming from the gym. It`s so L.A.
HAMMER: Yes.
SNOWDEN: Yes. The only thing that would have made that better is if he had said, "You know, guys, I was on my way to get a tan and I stopped just to clear this up."
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: Even better, Janelle, if he had on his little suntan-booth glasses, the little dark glasses. That would have been pretty cool. All right. Now, let`s not forget, of course, Lindsay was not the only one that Bratton took a swipe at. He also mentioned Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. I love L.A. Listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRATTON: You notice since Britney started wearing clothes and behaving, Paris is out of town not bothering anybody anymore, thank god, and evidently Lindsay Lohan has gone gay, we don`t seem to have much of an issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. What do you think? After Britney and Paris finished writing their letters to John McCain asking for an apology, should they also zip one off to Bratton asking for the same thing here?
WETANSON: You know, it`s not a bad idea for them to write that letter. But I think that they might be apologizing themselves. Let`s remember, Chief Bratton knows who they are because they caused a lot of stir. I mean, they`ve been in trouble with the law, both of them. Paris, as we all know, was in jail - a lot of controversy. Britney has had hit-and-run accidents. She`s been in court several times. So I`m not so sure that he needs to apologize or they need to write that letter. There might be some mutual apologies necessary here.
HAMMER: I think it`s just more amazing that the chief of police in Los Angeles is so aware of Lindsay`s rumored romantic life. Russell Wetanson, Janelle Snowden, thank you very much.
ANDERSON: A.J., it seems L.A.`s top cop went off on just about all the young hot stars.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke, but keep in mind now he did not mention the lovely Jessica Simpson at all. And personally, I`ve got to hand it to Jessica. This is one star who has been able to stay out of trouble. But tonight, I can tell you, Jessica is really opening up about how she feels persecuted, tormented, even abused. Bratton, Simpson - they said what? That`s coming up. Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIM MCGRAW, SINGER: Get rid of this guy, security!
FAITH HILL, SINGER: Somebody needs to teach you some class, my friend!
TORI AMOS, SINGER: Get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out of my show.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wow, those are some angry stars. And of course, the cameras were rolling so all this fury was caught on tape. Tonight, you will not want to miss my showbiz special report, "When Stars Get Angry."
ANDERSON: And lots of people fired up over this John McCain ad comparing Barack Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Our inbox has been flooded with your E-mails. Plenty of outrage and even support for the ad. We`ve got it next.
HAMMER: Now, remember, you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video anytime. In fact, we`re always posting new stuff for you to check out. Just go over to our Web site, which happens to be CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. And among the videos that are playing right now, "Too Sexy, Too Soon?" Are young stars like Miley Cyrus being pressured to be too sexy at too young an age? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FEMALE VOICE OVER: He`s the biggest celebrity in the world. But is he ready to lead?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tonight, why are Britney Spears and Paris Hilton lying so low in the firestorm over John McCain using them in his campaign ad?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. I cannot believe how once again today Britney Spears and Paris Hilton remain the center of attention in the presidential race. This is nuts.
We have received an overwhelming response from SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers on air and online to the controversial John McCain ad that compares Barack Obama to Britney and Paris. What really is amazing is how Britney and Paris are reacting to all of this.
Joining me in Hollywood tonight, Kim Serafin, senior editor for "In Touch Weekly." In New York, April Woodard, senior correspondent for "Inside Edition."
Kim, April, welcome. And I want to start with Paris Hilton who never met a press release or a publicity stunt she didn`t like. This is somebody who would go to the opening of an envelope. Take a look at what Paris` people told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT when we reached out to her, quote, "Miss Hilton was neither asked nor did she give permission for the use of her likeness in the ad, and has no further comment."
Kim Serafin, I would have thought Paris would have taken this opportunity, grabbed it to launch a new line of clothing or perfume, anything to capitalize on it. Why do you think she is lying so low?
KIM SERAFIN, SENIOR EDITOR, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Maybe she doesn`t know what to do, because usually the controversies she`s involved in are self- imposed. Here`s a time when she`s, through no fault of her own, involved in a controversy, so she`s stumped.
No, in seriousness, she actually really been staying out of the news lately, really lying low, really behaving herself. And I think this is a whole new image control kind of thing she`s doing, and she`s doing it well. Plus, you know, it`s politics and that is definitely the third rail. And if you`re a celebrity it`s a totally different animal if you get involved in a political campaign in any way. So maybe it`s something she doesn`t even want to take on. Plus, you know, her parents have maxed out in her donations to John McCain. So there might be a bigger issue here about why she doesn`t want to get too involved.
ANDERSON: Yes. Good point. Still, though, it is a little bit shocking that she`s not taking this and using it to further her fame or her career. And it`s not only Paris, who for once, has chosen to zip it. Britney`s people tell SHOWBIZ TONIGHT she`s not commenting at all. April, do you think Britney is just privately meditating on who she will support for president, or is there something else going on here?
APRIL WOODARD, SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, "INSIDE EDITION": Britney isn`t meditating on anything but her life right now. She`s trying to focus on getting life together. She wants to get her kids back. She`s in the studio working hard. She`s getting her body back in shape. She doesn`t really have time to deal with the presidential elections. She`s got to focus on her personal life.
ANDERSON: Yes. That`s her priority now, it seems. Great point there. And I want you guys to take a look now at what happened when we asked our viewers on air and online this showbiz question of the day - "Paris and Britney in McCain Ad: Will it backfire on him? An overwhelming 81 percent of you said yes, it will. Only 19 percent said no. Kim, do you think that McCain is maybe regretting using Britney and Paris?
SERAFIN: You know, I don`t think there are other people in the world that you can flash their photo for, you know, a millisecond in a commercial and start a firestorm, you know, a controversy that`s gone on for three days. It has developed into a talk about, you know, racial issues and social issues and response ads and concealing political story. And Paris and Britney are the people that can do that. And of course, the point of an ad, whether it`s for a political campaign or anything else, is to create controversy. And we know that Paris and Britney do that so I don`t think he`s regretting it at all. It has gotten people talking a lot.
ANDERSON: Yes, and they probably haven`t really thought much about it because they know what controversy is like, and they know what it`s like to be in the center of a firestorm. And I have to tell you, ladies, we had to hire an extra, I don`t know, 600 people to handle the flood of E-mails coming into our inbox over this. Like this from Stephanie in Louisiana, quote, "I am in disgust at the fact that the ad compares a well-educated, well-spoken leader of the Democratic Party to two ignorant, irresponsible party girls who can`t spell `democratic.` I think this will hurt McCain."
But Mike from North Carolina doesn`t think the ad will backfire, writing, "Why do you think Obama`s fans are talking about it so much except to divert attention from the truth of it?"
April, Mike saying that the Britney-Paris effect could work. What do you think?
WOODARD: Well, it could work because I think that Sen. McCain is saying - you know, he wants some attention basically. Some people are arguing that it`s his, you know, sour grapes ad that Barack Obama got all this attention in Berlin and had 200,000 people looking at him and coming out to speak, and he needs the attention put back on him. And any publicity is good publicity, at least that`s what the saying is. And this has given McCain a lot of attention that he hasn`t had in two weeks.
ANDERSON: Well, it certainly has gotten people talking. Unclear at this point, though, if it is in the way in which McCain hoped. Time will tell. Kim Serafin, April Woodard, good to see you both. Thanks so much.
HAMMER: Yes. Brooke, I just can`t believe that John McCain went there with the Paris and Britney stuff.
ANDERSON: Well, A.J., I can also tell you that the L.A. Police chief Bill Bratton said some outrageous things about Britney and Paris. He even commented on Lindsay Lohan`s sexuality. Are you kidding me?
Plus, I cannot believe some of the things Jessica Simpson opening up about. She`s talking about being abused. You`ve got to stick around for this. They said what? That`s coming up.
HAMMER: Well, Sharon Osbourne - we love her. She is a judge at "America`s Got Talent," and says that Paris has no talent. No, it`s a shot at the French here; she`s talking about Paris Hilton. That`s got to hurt.
We`ve also got this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Montauk, Long Island used to be known for its nice lighthouse. But now -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That`s pretty disgusting.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Eww. What is that?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That is the Montauk monster. Everyone`s talking about this thing that washed up on the beach in Eastern Long Island. It is really freaky-looking. But what is it? We`re investigating, straight ahead.
HAMMER: Have you checked out the free ever changing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast? Well, you should. It`s right there on our Web site, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also download it on iTunes. Just do a search for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Thanks, Charles. Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, Hulk Hogan says that being sent to Florida jail has made his son Nick a better person. Yes, Nick, who is serving an eight-month reckless driving sentence after nearly killing his best friend in a car accident, was moved to a minimum security facility last Sunday. Hulk now tells "People" magazine, quote, "He was moving through life and maybe not real appreciative of things. When this happened, it totally spun him in a 180. It`s the best thing that ever happened to him." Wow. Nick could be out in late October.
ANDERSON: A.J., listen to this. Tonight, Dr. Phil is finally setting the record straight on all those rumors that his marriage is in trouble. In a revealing interview, the daytime talk show host tells "Ladies Home Journal," quote, "It`s absolutely and unequivocally not true. Celebrity plus scandals equals sales."
Now, even if Phil and his wife of 32 years, Robin, were to have some trouble, she insists the "D word," divorce, would never come up because she says, quote, "Divorce is not an option for us. It never has been. We had the divorce conversation early on. We needed to make it clear: We`re never divorcing." Read more in the September issue of "Ladies` Home Journal." It`s on newsstands, August 12.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, I`ve got to say I hope that Dr. Phil`s marriage really is strong, because, obviously, what his wife says - well, that could truly come back to haunt both of them.
And will what L.A.`s police commissioner said about Lindsay Lohan come back to haunt him? He is questioning Lindsay`s sexuality. And then there`s Jessica Simpson talking about being abused. "They Said What?" That`s next.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIM MCGRAW, SINGER: Get rid of this guy, security!
FAITH HILL, SINGER: Somebody needs to teach you some class, my friend!
TORI AMOS, SINGER: Get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out of my show.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Hey, these guys need to do some yoga or something Zen because they are furious. Tonight, my showbiz special report, "When Stars Get Angry."
ANDERSON: And what washed up on Eastern Long Island that`s freaking everybody out? Is it a mutated animal, some sort of marketing stunt, or a Z-list reality stunt that got caught in the Hamptons? The bizarre tale of the Montauk monster is straight ahead.
(NEWS BREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: On SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, "The Said What?" L.A. police chief says Lindsay Lohan has gone gay. Jessica Simpson says she feels like America`s most wanted. Huh? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks, "They Said What?"
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIM MCGRAW, SINGER: Get rid of this guy, security!
FAITH HILL, SINGER: Somebody needs to teach you some class, my friend.
TORI AMOS, SINGER: Get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out of my show.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: When stars get angry caught on tape. There`s not a chill pill in sight, and the cameras are rolling. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has the most outrageous moments caught on tape, when stars get angry.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you tonight from Hollywood. You`re watching TV`s most provocative entertainment news show.
HAMMER: Well, tonight, two big stories new right now that made us all say, "They say what?"
L.A. Police Chief William Bratton getting slammed for saying one of the reasons Hollywood is so much more peaceful these days is because Lindsay Lohan has, quote, "gone gay."
Also tonight, Jessica Simpson reveals a dark past. Simpson has just revealed that she`s experienced abuse in her life, and also talks about persecution and torment.
Joining me tonight from Hollywood, Russell Wetanson, pop culture expert from the Web site, "PopSquire.com." Also tonight in New York, Janelle Snowden, host for VH1 news. And in Hollywood tonight, Kim Serafin, senior editor for "In Touch Weekly."
And gang, I`ve got to start up with what I think are just shocking comments by Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton about Lindsay Lohan`s sexuality. Now, Bratton spoke out to KMBC TV about this proposal that is aimed at cracking down on the paparazzi. And he tried to make the point this is not necessary. Take a look at what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRATTON: You notice since Britney started wearing clothes and behaving, Paris is out of town not bothering anybody anymore, thank god, and evidently Lindsay Lohan has gone gay, we don`t seem to have much of an issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Now, Bratton was referring to rumors that had been in the tabloids that Lindsay is in this romantic relationship with her friend, Samantha Ronson. Janelle, for the record, Lindsay has never said she was gay. Why do you think Bratton would even raise it?
SNOWDEN: Good question, A.J. I can`t even begin to give you an answer except to say I`m going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say, you know, he was in the middle of his workout, as you mentioned, at the top of the piece. And it was early in the morning and he didn`t really have his thoughts together. It certainly is not the most professional thing to do as a police chief. But hey, I think if this career fails for him, you guys should hire him for showbiz because he`s funny. He delivered a good punch line. He`s obviously opinionated when it comes to celebrities.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, you mentioned a workout. I`m thinking he`s there on the treadmill or the exercise bike reading the tabloids. I mean, how else would he possibly know about Lindsay`s rumored love life? Russell, off to you. Should he stick reading perhaps the police blotter of the tabloids.
WETANSON: Well, It`s really funny to watch this police chief talk about Lindsay`s personal life. Now, let`s be honest, though. He`s calling what he thinks is a spade a spade because if he is reading the tabloids on the treadmill, which would be great, he`s seen her called, with Samantha Ronson, gal pals - a close relationship, very good friends. So everyone else is skirting around the issue, but the chief, having the reputation he does, is going right to the heart of it.
HAMMER: Yes. Let`s keep in mind all speculation, all rumor, all conjecture. If there is any consolation, however, Bratton did go on record to defend himself at a news conference. He pointed out that he knows gay people. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRATTON: There`s nobody more supportive of gay rights than I am. My sister is gay in a married relationship. So, let`s get off that angle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Oh, Bill Bratton, bravo. All right. He`s a gay rights activist. His sister is gay. Kim, off to you. Does that give him the right to essentially out someone who may or may not be gay?
SERAFIN: No, and he really didn`t out her because he didn`t really - he doesn`t have any personal knowledge of this. Look, I live in L.A. I feel safe under Bratton. When I lived in New York, I felt safe under commissioner Bratton. He`s a great police commissioner.
And by the way, it`s probably better that he`s saying this even though it`s unconfirmed. Because, at least, that means he`s doing his police work. If he came out there and said, "Well, there`s a possibility that she might be gay, but the latest report that I heard said she hasn`t denied it. Yes, but maybe Samantha is saying it." Then that would scare me if he knew too much about it. So I think what he`s commenting on the myriad of articles and photos that are in, you know, the papers every day of the two of them.
HAMMER: Yes, I don`t think -
SERAFIN: Yes. He`s got to know a little about what goes on in the celebrity world because that is Hollywood.
(CROSS TALK)
HAMMER: Kim, I love you. You know I love you, Kim. I don`t think that has anything to do with him doing police work. Perhaps, maybe he was answering the 911 switchboard one day and a call came in with somebody reporting this rumor to him. I don`t know.
Now, we did, of course, reach out to Lindsay Lohan. We wanted a comment. As of show time, this is what we heard - nothing.
Janelle, do you think Lindsay should be upset by this?
SNOWDEN: She has every right to be upset. I mean, it was a totally inappropriate comment. But Lindsay has a thick skin by now, I would imagine. I mean, how often is she ragged upon? So hopefully she just files this away the rest of the stuff that people say about her and gets on with her life and her gal pal.
HAMMER: Yes. Well said. You said that, not me. Let`s move on to another story that`s breaking today. It made me say, "They said what?" Jessica Simpson opening up about her dark past. This is a brand new interview she gave to "Elle" magazine. And in it, Simpson says she relates to a song on her new album which is about abuse.
Let me read her quote from this article, quote, "There`s nothing on my album that you`re going to hear that I don`t relate to or that I haven`t experienced. Because the only way I know how to sing is from life experience. I don`t want to talk about it, but I`ve definitely experienced abuse in a way that I would tell people to take their heart and run."
Now, as she even pointed out, Jessica didn`t say how she was abused, doesn`t want to talk about it. Kim, I don`t know about you; I found this really disturbing.
SERAFIN: Disturbing a little bit, but more so revealing. I mean, I think this is a new side of Jessica Simpson that we`re seeing. She seems like she`s matured. She`s willing to be very open, talking about a lot of things in this interview that you wouldn`t normally hear her talking about and a very stark contrast to that Jessica Simpson of the "Newlyweds" show where she was kind of being the ditzy blond. So maybe she`s really turning over a new leaf. Obviously, she`s been through a lot recently with failed relationships. And it sounds like she`s really trying to refocus her career, refocus her life. And I think - good for her. It sounds like she`s really focused now and definitely mature.
HAMMER: That would be really nice if that`s what`s going on because, obviously, the past couple of years have been pretty rough on her. Of course, we all saw her go through her very public divorce. Her career has really been in the toilet. And for a long time now, she`s taken a beating from the tabloids.
In fact, I want you to listen to what she tells "Elle" magazine when they asked her what it felt like to go from what was described as America`s sweetheart to America`s most wanted. Listen to this, "So many people want to bring me down, and I can`t wait to prove them wrong, just people in general. If they believe what they read about me, they automatically persecute and torment me."
HAMMER: Now, those are strong words - "persecute" and "torment." Janelle, do you get the sense - I mean, maybe it`s just pretty obvious - Jessica is completely worn down by everything that`s been written about her.
SNOWDEN: You think? Definitely. I mean, perhaps rightfully so. She made her life very public through "Newlyweds," and so when she was no longer on the show, we obviously wanted to know what was going on with her. She kind of become the American sweetheart. I think it`s safe to say we wanted to - we hoped for the best for the two of them. And when they broke up, she tells the story of the article of having to go and perform in Nick`s hometown for Christmas like a month or so after the breakup. I`m not sure if the timing is right. And she says she just bawled on stage and the audience bawled with her. So there, you`ve got a sense that, you know, "We`re part of your family."
And so I think when she sort of retreated, we felt like, "Huh? How could she?" And then people started to rag on her, but that`s what the tabloids do.
HAMMER: You know, the healthiest celebrities I speak with and know don`t read anything about themselves. Russell, what do you think has got Jessica so down?
WETANSON: You know, unfortunately, I don`t think it`s just the gossip. She`s had some movies that have failed. She was booed recently on stage and she`s messed up on stage in front of George W. Bush. But it could just be that she`s still trying to figure out whether tuna is chicken or fish.
HAMMER: Good point. She is still beaming about her love life, though, saying everything is good with her boyfriend, Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo. Now, 10 seconds for you here, Kim, is he exactly what she needs right now, do you think?
SERAFIN: It sounds like and it seems like this is, again, the most mature we`ve seen Jessica Simpson in a long time. She seems like she`s in a stable relationship. And she seems really happy. So I hope things work out with the two of them.
HAMMER: I like her. She puts a smile on my face. And we wish her the best. Russell Wetanson, Janelle Snowden, Kim Serafin, I appreciate you all being here tonight.
ANDERSON: A.J., one thing you can say about Jessica Simpson, she never went off on one of her fans at a concert.
HAMMER: That is true, Brooke. That we know of, anyway.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATIE DARYL, TMZ.TV: There`s a lot of threats going on these days from some of our favorite singers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It`s true. Take Tim McGraw. He went off on an unruly fan at his concert, and that is just the beginning. Coming up, we`re taking a look at stars getting really angry caught on tape.
HAMMER: Also Sharon Osbourne is ripping into Paris Hilton. Yes. Just wait until you hear what Sharon says about Paris. I`ve got to say, I actually agree with Sharon, but I`m thinking, Paris, well, she`s probably not going to like it at all. I`m going to tell you what Sharon said, coming up.
ANDERSON: And there`s a monster in New York, something very unusual shows up on Long Island. And it`s kind of anyone`s guess as to what it is. You don`t want to miss this coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: And it wasn`t Paris.
Now, remember, you can watch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT video any time. In fact, we are always posting new stuff for you to check out all the time. We do it right there on our Web site. Just log in to CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. And among the videos that are now playing, "Too Sexy, Too Soon." Are young stars like Miley Cyrus being pressured to be too sexy at too young an age?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TIM MCGRAW, COUNTRY SUPERSTAR (singing): I ain`t looking for trouble, we can ride my pony double, make your little heart bubble like a glass of wine.
HAMMER: That was country superstar Tim McGraw`s music video for his hit song, "Indian Outlaw." Well, you heard him singing the song - he`s not looking for trouble, but it sure found him at a concert where he was performing.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, caught on tape, when stars get angry. Country music superstar Tim McGraw is one of the latest stars to be caught on tape just blowing his stack, grabbing a fan who allegedly attacked a woman right in front of him at one of his concerts. And McGraw has got plenty of caught-on-tape company. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings you all of the video. You have got to see this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): They fill our lives with song. The ear-pleasing ditties by country music love birds Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. The piano drenched melodies of Tori Amos. The soulful stirrings of Seal. These music superstars move us with their talent. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, if you`re going to one of their concerts, enjoy the music, but don`t ever, ever mess with them.
TIM MCGRAW, SINGER: Get rid of this guy, security!
FAITH HILL, SINGER: Somebody needs to teach you some class, my friend!
TORI AMOS, SINGER: Get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out of my show.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you a growing number of music stars aren`t taking any crap on stage. And when they go off, we`re seeing it all online.
DARYL: There`s a lot of threats going on these days from some of our favorite singers.
HAMMER: Who can forget Tim McGraw`s gallant outburst? During a concert in Washington State, when mid-song, he personally pulled a rowdy fan on stage and ejected him.
DARYL: This guy that he pulled out of the crowd was a big guy, a very large man in a cowboy hat.
HAMMER: He sort of reminded of us of that guy in "Varsity Blues." Once on stage, Tim and a fan appear to raise fists at each other before security whisks the rowdy fan away. And here`s the best part -
MCGRAW (singing): I ain`t looking for trouble -
HAMMER: McGraw continues with the show.
DARYL: He didn`t miss a beat.
HAMMER: McGraw`s publicist explaining the incident to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT saying, quote, "This overly aggressive fan attacked a female fan and Tim witnessed this incident. Tim called for security, but when they could not respond quick enough, Tim and several crew members removed the fan from the audience where he was then turned over to local authorities."
So he may have been a little rough about it. But it was for a chivalrous cause. As he says in his song he may be a real bad boy -
MCGRAW: But baby, I`m a real good man
HAMMER: McGraw`s incident came almost a year after his wife, Faith Hill, made headlines for her own concert smack down at a show in Louisiana.
DARYL: This time, it was a female fan who when Faith`s husband, Tim, was up on stage, grabbed his man junk and Faith said, "You know what? That is no good."
HAMMER: Everyone saw what happened next.
FAITH HILL, SINGER: You don`t go grabbing somebody else`s -
HAMMER: Faith scolded the lady, not that TMZ`s Katie Daryl could blame her.
DARYL: You do not grab another woman`s husband`s stuff.
HAMMER: First faith, now Tim. Who knew that country`s first couple could be so feisty? But it`s all part of the modern concert-going experience.
DARYL: People go to hockey games and they can`t wait for players to fight each other. I think people go to concerts these days, and they`re ready to see someone fall down, someone to lose their cool, or to see a fan get a little too rowdy.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you we`ve been seeing lots of music stars blow their stacks. Tori Amos became a viral video sensation for this clip of hers stopping her show to kick out two girls who were talking in the front row during her performance.
TORI AMOS, MUSICIAN: Get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out of my show. Get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out.
HAMMER: And it`s not just on stage, either. Seal made headlines for this video of him speeding away backwards to escape the paparazzi.
And Bjork probably wishes she didn`t have her picture taken in this much-seen clip of her beating down a reporter in Thailand for the crime of speaking to her.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE REPORTER: Welcome to Bangkok.
HAMMER: If you spend years getting made fun of for one dress, you`d be upset, too.
All of these incidents became viral video hits. TMZ`s Katie Daryl isn`t surprised.
DARYL: You can see that these stars are like regular people. They do lose their tempers. They do lose their cool.
HAMMER: But it`s all good, as long as when the beat down is over -
MCGRAW: I ain`t looking for trouble
HAMMER: They go on with the show.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
I love this detail. The song in McGraw`s band that was performing during the incident was "Indian Outlaw."
ANDERSON: Very fitting. Tonight, a monster mystery you have just got to see. A mysterious creature who washed up on the shores of Montauk, Long Island in New York. And the disturbing photos are buzz of the Internet. And no one has been able to figure out what this thing is. Here`s CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice over): Montauk, Long Island used to be known for its nice lighthouse, but now -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That`s pretty disgusting.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Eww, what is that? Seriously, what is that?
MOOS: Avert your eyes if you`re sensitive. They`re calling it the Montauk Monster, so ugly it has folks crossing themselves.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my gosh. Oh, man.
MOOS: The photograph was taken by this woman several weeks ago -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This was the actual shot.
MOOS: When the so-called monster washed up on the beach. Now, the Web is awash with it. It first appeared on a gossip site called "Gawkers," and folks have been gawking at it ever since.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is really not real. Is it real?
MOOS: It`s real according to a 22-year-old lifeguard. Collin(ph)Davis along with his friends claims to have recovered the remains after they decomposed a lot more.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This thing stinks.
MOOS: Collin(ph) says they`re keeping them in the type of zippered bag you keep a comforter in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a bag of bones and a skull. Decomposing black - it was more like goo.
MOOS: But the big question about the remains still remains -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you think it is?
MOOS (on camera): What do you think it is?
(voice over): Guesses range from turtle without the shell to semi-aquatic rodent. It`s the beak-like snout and flipper-like limbs that confuse folks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We`re going to definitely (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and try to have some expert analyze it. But in the meantime, we`re having a great time with it. It`s a really cool piece.
MOOS: Check out the cloth band found on the creature. One of Collin`s(ph) friends has been wearing it around his neck. Decked out in beach gear, we sampled opinion on the concrete beaches of Manhattan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some sort of hog.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. It`s a bird-like pig.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Part pig, part eagle.
MOOS: Posted one person, "It`s a dead pitbull. What`s wrong with you people?" Most experts seem to think, based on its teeth, that it`s a dog or a raccoon.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A raccoon?
MOOS: No, it`s not Mr. Bigglesworth.
MIKE MYERS, ACTOR: That`s right, Mr. Bigglesworth. We`re back.
MOOS: Some think it may have washed up from the nearby Plum Island Animal Disease Center where they investigate diseases. The director categorically denies the creature is from there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Something scientists have not identified yet.
MOOS (on camera): What creature could that be?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My husband?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m not that much of a beach person but it doesn`t look like anybody I know.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I`m pretty sure it`s an alien.
MOOS (on camera): You can`t really look at it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I`m squirmish.
MOOS (voice over): No, you`re squeamish. It`s squirmish.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I feel so sorry for that animal. That was CNN`s Jeanne Moos for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
HAMMER: Well, Sharon Osbourne is attacking Paris Hilton. Man, wait until you hear what Sharon said about Paris. I have to say I personally agree with Sharon but I don`t think Paris is going to be happy about it one bit. I`ll tell you what Sharon said. That is coming up next on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
But first make sure you check out our free ever changing SHOWBIZ TONIGHT podcast. Where do you find it? On our Web site of course, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also get it on iTunes. Just do a little search for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It`s time now for "Making It Work," where we take a look at stars who manage to build strong relationships while under the white hot glare of the spotlight. Tonight, my favorite, Halle Berry. Halle has had a share of heartbreak and high profile relationships that haven`t really worked out over the years. But now it seems like she`s happier than ever.
She and model Gabriel Aubrey welcomed their daughter back in March. And when I sat down with Halle just before the baby was born, I had to ask her how she and Gabriel deal with being in the spotlight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HALLE BERRY, ACTRESS: We do try to keep it - there are some things we do try to keep personal. You know, we do try to live a very normal life that`s away from all the, you know, lights, camera, action. And we try to find some sense of normalcy while realizing part of this life I`ve chosen is to be an actor and he doing what he does brings a certain amount of spotlight to our everyday life. And so we try to just find a way to juggle it, not fight against it, because it is what it is. But we do try to find a way to, you know, have our personal life and we try to protect that the best way we can.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And I can tell you Halle doesn`t just talk the talk when it comes to sticking up for her right to privacy. In fact, she recently filed a complaint against a paparazzi photographer for trespassing on to her property to get pictures of her 4-month-old daughter. Halle says her baby hasn`t made a choice to be a public figure and she will do everything she can to keep her out of the public eye.
ANDERSON: That is admirable.
OK. Tonight, Sharon Osbourne is on the attack against Paris Hilton. As a judge on "America`s Got Talent," Sharon knows a thing or two about what can make people famous and says Paris doesn`t qualify; she is just infamous.
In an interview with "Parade.com," Sharon says, quote, "She`s got a look that a lot of younger girls like and copied but she has no talent. I`m sure Paris would tell you that herself. She`s a very sweet, nice girl, but that`s it."
For more with Sharon Osbourne, check out "Parade.com." She doesn`t mince words.
HAMMER: No, she doesn`t, Brooke. Do you think Paris just thinks of herself as infamous? Is there a chance?
ANDERSON: Possibly.
HAMMER: All right. I`ll let you off the hook and wrap it up here.
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Hey, remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific, and in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern. The latest from "CNN HEADLINE NEWS" is coming up next. Take care.
END
