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Showbiz Tonight
Why Did Natasha Richardson Die?; Stars` Tributes to Natasha Richardson; Is the Octomom Putting Her Babies in Danger?; Oprah`s Brand-New Shot in Her Rihanna Crusade
Aired March 19, 2009 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE ANDERSON, HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, why did Natasha Richardson die? Tonight, brand-new questions about her sudden and tragic death. Why did she die so quickly after a seemingly harmless skiing accident? What will her autopsy show?
Her devastated husband, Liam Neeson, their two young sons and the legendary Redgrave family struggling to cope. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the heartbreaking death of a Hollywood superstar.
Tonight, is the octomom addicted to fame? The paparazzi, the videos, and now a brand-new revelation from the octomom herself on how all the attention could get her in trouble. Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, is the octomom putting her babies in danger?
Plus, Oprah fires a brand-new shot in her Rihanna crusade. Oprah with men who beat women and celebrity victims. It`s Oprah`s all-out war on domestic violence.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
Hi there, everyone. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you from Hollywood.
And tonight, brand-new breaking developments in the Natasha Richardson tragedy. It seemed really inconceivable. How could one of Hollywood`s most acclaimed and beloved actresses have what appeared to be a minor skiing accident, then be dead two days later?
Well, tonight, we have the answer. Late this afternoon, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained the results of the autopsy that explains what killed Natasha Richardson.
And tonight, her long-time husband, Hollywood superstar Liam Neeson and their family are trying to cope with the loss of their wife, their mother and a part of a legendary Redgrave family. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you the powerful and emotional outpouring of grief from Hollywood`s biggest stars. It is all making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHOOPI GOLDBERG, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": Our hearts are broken.
ANDERSON (voice over): From "The View" and just about everywhere else on TV, the tragic and surprising death of actress Natasha Richardson was all everyone was talking about. Oprah Winfrey took time from her show to address it.
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": I just want to say how deeply saddened I am, we all are, by the sudden passing of actress Natasha Richardson.
ANDERSON: And amid the grief, it seemed all of America was asking the same question, how could the 45-year-old wife of Liam Neeson and member of a legendary acting dynasty die so soon after what at first looked like a minor skiing accident? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you we`re now getting some answers.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have learned this afternoon from the New York City medical examiner`s office - they have ruled the cause of death was an accident.
ANDERSON: The New York City Medical Examiner`s Office has ruled the official cause of Richardson`s death was quote, "A blunt impact to the head." Even that official announcement likely won`t do much to ease the pain and shock felt by Richardson`s superstar family and friends.
Hours after announcing his wife`s death, actor Liam Neeson waved to fans as he returned to the New York City apartment the couple shared with their two sons. He was followed by Richardson`s mother, legendary actress VANESSA REDGRAVE and Richardson`s sister, "Nip-Tuck" star Joely Richardson.
REGIS PHILBIN, HOST, "LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY": Such a sad story, you know. My gosh.
ANDERSON: Regis Philbin, a neighbor of the famous couple, couldn`t hide his sadness on his show.
PHILBIN: Everybody is going to miss her in our neighborhood and in our business. She was a wonderful lady.
ANDERSON: Lindsay Lohan made her film debut starring with Richardson in "The Parent Trap." After learning of Richardson`s death, Lohan told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "She was a wonderful woman and actress and treated me like I was her own. I didn`t see much of her over the years, but I will miss her."
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, "360": I was privileged to get to know Natasha Richardson over the past year.
ANDERSON: CNN`s Anderson Cooper paid a touching on-air tribute to her.
COOPER: The lives of all those who knew her and loved her is a great deal darker tonight.
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you there are new details about what happened after Richardson fell during a skiing lesson on this slope in Quebec.
LAURA SCHREFFLER, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": She was on the bunny slope and she fell and she hit her head. And she said oh, "I`m fine. I`m fine."
ANDERSON: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now tell you an ambulance service director is telling a Canadian newspaper that his company actually sent an ambulance to the ski slope where Richardson was injured. But for some reason, he says the paramedics were turned away before they got to the scene.
SCHREFFLER: Finally, after about an hour, she agreed to go to the emergency room.
ANDERSON: Richardson ended up at this Montreal hospital. Her husband, Liam Neeson, who was filming a movie in Toronto, rushed to her side. Hours later, he flew with his wife to New York where she died at this hospital. And now this tragedy is dominating headlines.
SCHREFFLER: There`s such an interest in this story because there`s also a certain degree of fear behind it because people don`t understand why it happened. And it`s something that could actually happen to you. It could happen to anybody.
ANDERSON: But perhaps the most important piece of knowledge that we could get from this sad event was expressed by Oprah Winfrey on her show.
WINFREY: Yet another reminder of how fleeting life can be, and how precious we need to value every moment.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: As you just saw, tributes to Natasha Richardson are pouring in from some of the biggest stars and I`ve got to tell you, they are extremely touching. Coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, remembering Natasha, the moving tributes to this well-loved star.
Tonight, there are disturbing questions about the first of the octomom`s babies who have now gone home. Could the octobabies be in danger? All new octodrama is making big news right now.
In a brand-new interview just out today, octomom Nadya Suleman reveals that just days after the first two of her octuplets went home, the hospital is hopping mad. Will they keep her from getting the other six babies? And neighbor invasion. The paparazzi are everywhere, but the octomom wants to know why her neighbors are hiding out in the bushes.
Joining me tonight in New York is Cooper Lawrence, who is a psychologist and author of this book "The Cult of Celebrity." Also in New York, Attorney Tamara Holder.
Cooper and Tamara, it has been only two days since Nadya Suleman brought the first of the octuplets home. They`ve seen really a crush of paparazzi outside and cameras and other people inside the home.
Well, now, the octomom has just revealed to "Radar Online" that the hospital isn`t happy about this at all. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NADYA SULEMAN, OCTUPLET MOTHER: I got worried about contamination. I worried about people here. No one`s supposed to be in here. You know, so I did worry. It`s just so many people - it`s just not OK. And I got reprimanded a lot by the hospital.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They did?
SULEMAN: And they said if that happens - that if (UNINTELLIGIBLE) happens again they won`t release the babies.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: She got reprimanded a lot. The octomom is saying the hospital warning they may not release the other babies. Cooper, should we be worried about letting these other babies go home to a paparazzi frenzy?
COOPER LAWRENCE, PSYCHOLOGIST: And not to mention the camera crew in her house as well. I don`t think that`s so sanitary either. These kids just got out of a neonatal unit. It`s not like they`re perfectly fine and they`re coming home.
I mean, this is just bizarre. The whole thing is bizarre. Plus, with a lot of research on how the immediate environment that a child grows up in has an effect on their development, and this immediate environment is not healthy.
ANDERSON: Yes, they need a calm, serene environment to thrive. Tamara, given that warning by the hospital, why would she still have cameras inside the nursery doing these interviews? Get them out.
TAMARA HOLDER, ATTORNEY: Well, let`s see. Is there something called paycheck journalism? Who is going into the hospital? Let`s talk about that. We know exactly who`s going in. Those are journalists who were paying to get access to these children.
Why are we talking about that? All of this heat on the mom - what about the media that`s going in there? They`re the ones that are posing the danger. They are the ones that are paying her for this access. You know, it`s not just a one-sided street here.
LAWRENCE: She`s allowing it. She`s allowing it, Tamara. She`s the one cashing the checks.
HOLDER: No, no, no -
LAWRENCE: So as soon as she stops cashing the checks, nobody will be bothering her.
HOLDER: No, the hospital is allowing it. The hospital can change their policy. If they`re so concerned about it, they should change the policy. They should have some kind of security set up at the hospital.
Now, you know they`re changing their positions. They didn`t have a problem with it before. And you know, the hospital needs to sit down with security and with the mom and change the policy. And we`ve got to stop the paycheck journalism.
ANDERSON: Well, the hospital says they`ll check those babies. But now that it`s out of their hands in her home, that`s where they`re really raising concern. They can`t be there, right?
HOLDER: Right. But you know, the hospital, unless the children do have a, you know, medical reason for staying at the hospital, it`s not the doctors and the administration of the hospital to determine whether or not the kids are safe to go home if it`s not a medical reason.
And if there`s a problem, go to DCFS, have a judge decide. The hospital is not the one to play parent and say whether or not a child can go home.
ANDERSON: True, true.
(CROSS TALK)
Exactly. You`re right. Parents should (UNINTELLIGIBLE). And if the cameras inside and outside the octohome aren`t bad enough, listen to this, ladies. There are neighbors hiding in the bushes also trying to get a shot, get a picture.
I want to show you what octomom told "Radar Online" about that in the brand-new interview posted today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s getting crazy, isn`t it?
SULEMAN: It`s ridiculous. It`s a joke. It`s mean.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
SULEMAN: I still don`t understand why that woman neighbor was filming the bushes today. Does that make sense? She had her kids with her and they were like getting stuff on our property like rocks or something to give to her kids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Neighbors in the bushes, collecting rocks for their kids? Cooper, we were talking about a house that`s about to have eight newborns - eight preemies living inside. Quickly, is this just nuts?
LAWRENCE: It`s nuts because she`s a woman who is exploiting her children for money and she`s shocked that the neighbors are doing the same thing. If they get photographs, exclusive photographs, they could sell them to TMZ. They can sell them for all kinds of cash. So the fact that she doesn`t understand it is so hypocritical.
ANDERSON: And just make the madness stop, that`s all I ask.
LAWRENCE: Right.
ANDERSON: Cooper Lawrence, Tamara Holder, thank you. Thanks for your insight.
And we`ve got more dramatic octomom news. Her brand-new 911 call.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SULEMAN: Yes. This is - OK. My name is Nadya Suleman. I`m coming back to my house from picking up two of my new babies. The paparazzi is dangerous at this point. They are trying to break down the garage door.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Total chaos at the octuplet mom`s house as she fears for her kid`s safety. Also, is the octomom addicted to fame? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, is the octomom putting her babies in danger? Coming up.
I`ve got to hand it to Oprah. She is really trying to make some good come out of this Chris Brown-Rihanna drama.
Tonight, Oprah`s brand-new Rihanna crusade. Oprah with men who beat women and celebrity victims. It`s Oprah`s all-out war on domestic violence.
And is John Mayer being paid $10 million to reveal whether Jennifer Aniston`s body is a wonderland? Is he getting big bucks for a big, juicy tell-all book about his relationship with Jennifer? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: L.A. judge issues restraining order against Britney Spears` ex, Adnan Ghalib. Heather Locklear turns down CW`s offer to reprise her role on "Melrose Place" spin-off.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Tonight, remembering Natasha Richardson. As Richardson`s husband, Liam Neeson, and family members returned to their New York City apartment building after her tragic death, Hollywood`s biggest stars pay tribute.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, the heartbreaking and untimely death of Natasha Richardson has truly touched the lives of so many people. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has Hollywood`s tremendous outpouring of grief and affection for Richardson.
Joining me tonight from New York is Dave Karger, who is a senior writer for "Entertainment Weekly."
Dave, it truly is incredible. How many stars we have heard from since we got the official word last night that Richardson had died following a skiing accident.
Stars like Jane Fonda, who co-starred with Richardson`s mother, Vanessa Redgrave, in the film, "Julia," wrote this on her blog. Listen, quote, "I first met her on the set of `Julia.` She was a little girl, but already beautiful and graceful. It didn`t surprise that she became such a talented actor."
Dave, Jane really speaks for a lot of people, doesn`t she?
DAVE KARGER, SENIOR WRITER, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Oh, absolutely. Natasha had an amazing reputation for being someone who is so committed to her profession, but also just being so fun and lovely and witty to be around.
And also the fact that she did come from a family of Hollywood royalty, as it were, the Richardson-Redgrave family. She was around so many people in the entertainment business from such a young age. So she had strong relationships with so many people, whether she worked with them or encountered them socially.
ANDERSON: Yes. And Fonda`s description so fits her - beautiful and graceful. She was just really a so classy - a class act. We also heard today from Meryl Streep, who actually visited Natasha in the hospital in New York City.
Streep says, quote, "Tash was the warm sun in the center of a large constellation of family, friends, all of those lucky enough to know her. She is irreplaceable in our lives. She gave us so much, so generously - her legacy is the love that connects us all."
Dave, Meryl Streep calls her "irreplaceable." She really touched so many lives, didn`t she?
KARGER: She really did. The amazing thing about her is that even though she came from this family that was so well-known, there was no grandiosity in the way that she lived her life. She was just a regular committed mom like so many other committed mothers. And I think that`s why so many people are so shocked and touched by this story of her tragic death.
She wasn`t sky diving. She wasn`t flying a plane. She was taking a beginner`s ski lesson and people really get the sense that this could have happened to anybody, and it`s just an absolutely horrible thing to consider.
ANDERSON: It is. It`s devastating and really just shocking, as you say. And a neighbor of Richardson in New York City was Regis Philbin. And on "Regis and Kelly" today, he talked with Kelly about how much she will be missed. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KELLY RIPA, CO-HOST, "LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY": This lady - and she was a lady - I can`t tell you enough what a good person she was, and fun and vivacious. And the most full of life.
PHILBIN: Everybody is going to miss her at our neighborhood and in our business. She was a wonderful lady.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Dave, do you think the shock of this sudden loss is really adding to the raw emotion that people are feeling? Because it did happen so quickly.
KARGER: That`s right. I think there is this mythology surrounding celebrities that nothing bad can happen to them, that they`re charmed. And this is obviously just an example that they`re just like anyone else, that horrible things can happen to them when they least expect it.
And particularly in the New York theater community where Natasha Richardson gained most of her renown - I think that`s the part of the world that really seems most saddened and affected by this.
ANDERSON: Yes. Very tight-knit theater community. Again, I`ll say it - my heart, our prayers go out to Natasha Richardson`s family and friends.
Dave Karger, thank you so much. And you can pick up the latest issue of "Entertainment Weekly" on newsstands Friday.
And we`ve been getting a lot of phone calls into the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines about Natasha Richardson`s sudden and shocking death. Here is Brenda calling into "Showbiz on Call" from California.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
BRENDA, CALLER FROM CALIFORNIA: I`m very sad and shocked at Natasha Richardson`s passing away. My heart goes out to her husband, Liam Neeson and her two beautiful sons and her mother, Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson. This was one - a very, very sad day.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Brenda. We also heard from Ann calling from North Carolina.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
ANN, CALLER FROM NORTH CAROLINA: I`m very upset because Natasha Richardson filmed a movie with Jodie Foster called "Nell" here in Charlotte, and I got to see some of it going on. And she - Natasha is just a pleasure.
This is just devastating. I`m so sorry for all of her family.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Thank you, Ann. Call us at "Showbiz on Call" with your thoughts about Natasha Richardson or anything else that is on your mind - 1-888-SBT- BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899.
All right. Let`s give Oprah credit here. She`s trying to squeeze some good out of Chris Brown`s alleged attack on Rihanna.
Tonight, Oprah`s brand-new Rihanna crusade. Oprah with men who beat women and celebrity victims. Oprah`s all-out war on domestic violence.
And this -
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SULEMAN: My name is Nadya Suleman. I`m coming back to my house from picking up two of my new babies. The paparazzi is dangerous at this point. They are trying to break down the garage door.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The brand-new octomom 911 call, total chaos at her house as she fears for her kids` safety. We`re playing the dramatic tape. And is she addicted to fame? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares so ask, is the octomom putting her babies in danger?
And Angelina Jolie banned in the U.K.? We are setting the record straight. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: New Jonas Brothers album due out June 15th. CBS renews "The Big Bang Theory" and "Two and a Half Men.")
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Tonight, Angelina Jolie banned in the U.K. These are scenes from her movie "Wanted." It`s now out on DVD. But the British don`t want to have anything to do with it.
There`s an ad for the DVD release that the Advertising Standards Authority has stripped off TV because according to the Advertising Standards Authority, it could be seen as glamorizing gun violence. The ad shows Jolie and her co-star James McAvoy pretty much shooting up the place.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson.
And tonight, oh, no she didn`t. Joy Behar calls her "View" co-host, all of them, the B-word. Joy was on "Good Morning America" this morning and talked about how Whoopi, Barbara, Sherri, and Elisabeth talked about her blockbuster revelation that she`s thinking of getting married again. Joy also had some fun with the hysterical impression that "Saturday Night Live`s" Fred Armisen does of her. But first, listen to how she ripped her co-hosts.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I can`t believe these (EXPLETIVE DELETED) talk all over each other.
ROBIN ROBERTS, CO-HOST, "GOOD MORNING AMERICA": Diane, help! I`m phoning a friend. I`m phoning a friend. OK.
BEHAR: Why, is it too early to use that word?
ROBERTS: Yes. A little early.
BEHAR: We use it all the time on "The View."
ROBERTS: It`s a little early over here. What about the parody of you on "Saturday Night Live."
BEHAR: I think it`s funny. Are they going to show it?
ROBERTS: Yes. Let`s show a little bit of that from "Saturday Night Live."
FRED ARMISEN, ACTOR, AS JOY BEHAR: You know who looks like a donkey in the morning? Me, before I put on my damn minerals.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What`s damn minerals?
ARMISEN: Powder foundation for my face. I swear to God I roll my face in it like chicken in flour. So what? Who cares?
BEHAR: Hey, Sam. Hey, Sam. Come here for a minute. Come here. I want you and Robin to do what he just did. Just do me.
SAM CHAMPION, CO-HOST, "GOOD MORNING AMERICA": You know, Joy, I can`t do that.
BEHAR: So what? Who cares? Would this group please do it? So what? Who cares?
CHAMPION: So what? Who cares?
BEHAR: Where`s Diane?
ROBERTS: She`s long gone, honey.
CHAMPION: She was practicing the book title.
BEHAR: She`s reading. She talk (INAUDIBLE) as we speak.
ROBERTS: No, as soon as you said the B-word, she was like - she was out the studio.
BEHAR: Don`t you have a seven-second delay?
ROBERTS: Yes. Hopefully so.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: It`s good that Joy can laugh about all of it and those skits really are funny.
All right, now the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Total chaos at the octuplet mom`s house. The paparazzi everywhere. Is the octomom addicted to fame? Plus, the dramatic new octuplet mom 911 call.
Oprah`s brand-new Rihanna crusade - her all-out war against domestic violence.
And is John Mayer really getting paid $10 million for a spill-all book about his relationship with Jennifer Aniston? John speaks out to the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
(CAPTION READS: Party time! Justin Timberlake to launch a new line of Tequila. VH1 bringing back documentary series "Behind the Music.")
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SULEMAN: Yes, this is - OK. My name is Nadya Suleman. I`m coming back to my house from picking up two of my new babies. The paparazzi is being aggressive at this point. They are trying to break down the garage door.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The brand-new octomom 911 call. Total chaos at the octuplet mom`s house as she fears for her kids` safety. We`re playing the dramatic tape. And also, is the octomom addicted to fame? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, is the octomom putting her babies in danger?
Oprah`s brand-new Rihanna crusade. Oprah one-on-one with men who beat women and celebrity victims. It`s Oprah`s all-out war on domestic violence.
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood.
And tonight, brand-new octodrama. Octomom Nadya Suleman`s frantic 911 call about the paparazzi outside her house.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
SULEMAN: My name is Nadya Suleman. I`m coming back to my house from picking up two of my new babies. The paparazzi is being aggressive at this point. They are trying to break down the garage door.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That is just part of octomom Nadya Suleman`s frantic call to 911 about the paparazzi feeding frenzy outside her house as she came home with the first two of her octuplets from the hospital.
Also tonight, is the octomom playing her own game with fame? She has her very own camera crew following her every move practically and is documenting the first days of the babies` homecoming inside her house. But tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking, is octomom addicted to fame? And as much as she is saying she`s scared of all this attention, can she really let it go?
Joining me tonight in New York, Cooper Lawrence, who is a psychologist and author of this book, "The Cult of Celebrity." Also joining me, tonight in New York, Attorney Tamara Holder.
Cooper, Tamara, you`ve got to hear more of this frantic 911 call that octomom Nadya Suleman made Tuesday night. This after facing a media frenzy outside her house as she arrived home with those two babies. Listen.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
911 OPERATOR: 911, what`s your emergency?
SULEMAN: Hello? Yes, this is - OK. My name is Nadya Suleman. I`m coming back to my house from picking up two of my new babies. The paparazzi is dangerous at this point. They are trying to break down the garage door. We pulled in here and they are swarming the whole area.
911 OPERATOR: OK.
SULEMAN: I need help and this is not safe for any of the kids.
911 OPERATOR: All right. Hold on just one second.
SULEMAN: They came in the property into the garage when we drove in. Yes.
911 OPERATOR: OK. And about how many people are there in the garage?
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK, cooper, she`s keeping it together. But at the same time, she sounds terrified. I can`t say that I blame her.
LAWRENCE: No, she is terrified and she should be. I think what happened was is she created this juggernaut but I think she didn`t realize what she actually created until she was in there in the moment.
And the problem is - at least she, in the moment, knew that the children were the thing to be worried for, that she was - that the priority became the kids. That is a good sign, because we hadn`t seen that until now. A lot of this has been about her. The fact that she`s worried about those children is a great sign and bodes well for the future for her.
ANDERSON: Yes. No kidding. Is it too late though with all this attention after she has thrust herself into the spotlight, to hold back, to make them stand off now? But I want you to take a look at the dramatic aerial shot of the frenzy that night. "Radar Online" has been posting the exclusive octomom interviews. And listen to how "Radar Online`s" Chris Myers described it when I spoke with him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS MYERS, "RADAR ONLINE": This is like O.J., Britney, Lindsay, all having a big paparazzifest. I mean, this was a feeding frenzy like I have never seen. And L.A. is known for paparazzi feeding fests. But it was downright scary like you said. It was sheer chaos.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK, now you`ve got to see this. Compare the video from octomom`s house to the paparazzi frenzies that have surrounded Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton. Tamara, is there any difference here?
HOLDER: Well, yes and no. I mean, yes, there`s a difference because we`re talking about famous people who have been famous for many years. And we`re talking about a person who is new to all of this.
ANDERSON: Yes.
HOLDER: But listen, we`re not talking about one Lindsay Lohan. We`re not talking about one Paris Hilton. We`re talking about a woman with 14 minor children. And we need to back off. The paparazzi needs to back off because we`re talking about the safety of children here.
And no matter what anybody thinks about this mother, everybody hates her, everybody thinks that she signed up for it. But you know what? We have small children here and we`ve got to protect them.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. And you know, she -
LAWRENCE: But she has to protect them. But she`s the one that should protect them - that`s the whole thing. The idea that she created this and now she`s saying, "No, no, back off, back off." She needs to protect these children. She`s incapable of it, that`s why people are stepping forward saying, "Protect those children" because she`s not doing it.
HOLDER: How do you protect 14 children from a mob of paparazzi in front of your house, that are going into your garage, that hiding in the bushes.
ANDERSON: Well, that`s a good point, because she doesn`t have the same security and resources maybe for protection that other celebrities have, right?
HOLDER: Absolutely, absolutely. And you know, this is where she needs to go to the courts. And again, no matter what you think of this woman, she has these minor children. If everybody is so worried about these kids, then we need them to have protection set in place, some barrier, so that the kids can at least go home and be safe.
ANDERSON: Both make great points. And Cooper, I agree with you, she should also take some responsibility here.
And today, octomom responded to the paparazzi feeding frenzy surrounding her in another exclusive interview with "Radar Online." Nadya Suleman says she just doesn`t get why she`s getting all of this attention. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SULEMAN: I just feel that this is all wrong. It`s all wrong. I`m no different than anyone else.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it scary?
SULEMAN: Yes. I have to do everything for the babies. I was more scared for their safety because they`re little. Adults are durable, but babies -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
SULEMAN: I don`t understand. What`s wrong with these people in the world? Why? It`s just because something`s happened that someone became infamous overnight. Why are they different? They`re not different. They`re the same.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. She`s not getting the fact, it seems, that she is famous overnight, yet she`s telling this to a cameraman that is shooting her to put it up on the Internet so the whole world can see it. Cooper, is she addicted to fame?
LAWRENCE: Well, you know, let`s talk about addiction. Now, addiction, when you define it from a psychological perspective - psychological addiction is when you pursue something despite the fact that it has detrimental consequences to you, your family, your family`s health.
That is what we`re seeing here. It`s the same thing as someone addicted to gambling or to the Internet. It`s that type of an addiction where it`s mental as opposed to a disease.
And I think that`s what we`re seeing here. I think - you know, in a vacuum when she was thinking, "Wow, being a celebrity would be great. I`ll have lots of money. People will give me everything I need," versus the reality, versus the consequences of when they actually show up at her door.
The fact that she`s surprised in that video is - I mean, people are rolling their eyes watching that. Really, you didn`t think this was going to happen? Really?
ANDERSON: The fact that she is surprised is surprising.
LAWRENCE: Yes.
ANDERSON: And you know, she also said that in the middle of the night, a strange guy showed up that none of them knew, just to say congratulations.
Tamara, very quickly. We hear about stars all the time who have stalkers. But here, we have a woman who doesn`t have the security gates, who doesn`t have the security system in place right now to protect herself. Could this fame cost her? Very quickly.
HOLDER: Well, again, you were talking about - you`re asking about her. But what about her 14 children? And that`s what I`m trying to stress. No matter what people think of her, we have to think about the 14 children. We have to think about the barriers of protection that we put in place for the kids.
ANDERSON: Right. Yes, the kids should always be the priority. You`re right. Cooper Lawrence, Tamara Holder, thank you both.
And for complete coverage of all the octomom drama, you can head to our Web site CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. Check it out.
Oprah Winfrey has inspired millions to read, be healthy and help others. But now, is Rihanna inspiring Oprah`s brand-new movement? Oprah Winfrey has declared war on domestic violence ever since Chris Brown`s alleged attack on Rihanna. She`s getting more celebrities to open up about their stories. But is Rihanna heeding Oprah`s TV plea?
Also tonight, is John Mayer really getting $10 million for a tell- all about his romance with Jennifer Aniston? The SHOWBIZ Truth Squad gets to the bottom of the biggest celebrity breakup stories in Hollywood.
And forget "Your Body is a Wonderland." Your body is a bill board?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will tattoo myself for money anywhere they want to put a tattoo on me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The unbelievable and unusual new way people are using their bodies to create their own economic stimulus plans. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Stacy Keach, best known as TV`s "Mike Hammer" suffers mild stroke. Stars join Michelle Obama to speak to D.C. students about setting goals. Alicia Keys and Sheryl Crow among stars to visit D.C. schools with Obama.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Tonight, Rihanna is in a car pulled over by police. While her driver frantically speeds away from the paparazzi, the rented black SUV is pulled over in Los Angeles last night because it had no front tags and it had tinted windows.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Tonight, Oprah`s brand-new Rihanna war. Oprah is waging a full war on domestic violence. And even though Rihanna has yet to talk about it, she is fueling Oprah`s passionate discussion.
This afternoon, Oprah devoted another hour to this with men who had beat women and their message to Rihanna and Chris Brown.
Joining me tonight in New York, Lisa Bloom, who is an anchor for the legal network "In Session." Also tonight in New York, Janell Snowden who is the host for "VH1 News."
Ladies, Oprah said today that a whopping three women are murdered every single day because of domestic violence. Rihanna was the focal point of the entire show today. So Lisa Bloom, even though Rihanna obviously wants no part of it, is it safe to say that Rihanna is the new face of domestic abuse?
LISA BLOOM, ANCHOR, "IN SESSION": There`s no question about it. And the more that Rihanna hides her face from the cameras, runs from the paparazzi, the more people like us and people like Oprah are going to talk about it. It sounds like Oprah is trying to be a mentor to her.
And look, if Oprah wants to be your mentor, what an opportunity. Reach out, grab it, take it. I think one day Rihanna is going to thank her.
ANDERSON: Yes, and she does have such a rare opportunity here to really take a stand against abuse. Actress Robin Givens was abused for years by her ex-husband, heavy weight champion, Mike Tyson. She told Oprah on her show today what she thought Rihanna did to move the discussion about domestic violence forward. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBIN GIVENS, ACTRESS: Hitting a woman is unacceptable, unacceptable, unacceptable. And what scares me - I was talking with one of your producers - what if we didn`t have that picture of Rihanna? What if we didn`t have that picture? Part of us were all upset and appalled because we actually see her face. And it forces us to look at this. It forces us to examine this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes, it does. Robin talking about this photo released by TMZ allegedly of Rihanna the night that Brown allegedly beat her up. Janell, does Robin Givens have that right that you may not like the picture, but you cannot deny the impact.
JANELL SNOWDEN, HOST, "VH1 NEWS": She absolutely has the right and she speaks from a place of experience. We all know that she was abused by Mike Tyson during their marriage.
And I think she`s absolutely right. Before this picture came about, a lot of us were still kind of in denial that the attack had taken place as severely as it had. You know, we really didn`t know what happened, and we still don`t.
But I think that picture made it very real for all of us and it did make us sympathize more. It made us angrier and it just made us say, you know, this is no joke. This is no laughing matter. She was badly beaten and you know, who knows what happened on the other end? Because there are the reports she might have incited, you know, the fight.
But it doesn`t matter. I agree with Robin, there is absolutely no excuse. I don`t care what she did. There is no excuse for a man to hit a woman.
ANDERSON: No, there`s not. And speaking of not really knowing exactly what happened in that car, because at this point, Chris Brown has not been convicted of anything. Sean P. Diddy Combs has said repeatedly that we - you know, we don`t know what happened that night in the car between Rihanna and Brown.
And there are some who have even suggested that Rihanna might have even incited the fight. Today, Oprah and guest Kevin Powell, a former abuser and former star of MTV`s "Real World" said that that kind of talk is unacceptable. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WINFREY: I`ve done so many shows about this over the years trying to educate women. I think this whole idea now of educating men and getting men to speak up for men, that will be my new root.
KEVIN POWELL, FORMER ABUSER: I think it`s important. I`ve been getting tons of E-mails and Facebook messages, "Kevin, what about the women who looked at the BlackBerry?" I think it`s charged against Rihanna by some folks. "What if they hit the man? What if they spit in the man`s face?" Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
Let me say it loud and clear, as a man, there is absolutely no reason why you should ever put your hands on a woman or a girl.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Powerful words there. Lisa, does Kevin Powell`s message resonate that it doesn`t matter what Rihanna did or didn`t do, it is just not acceptable?
BLOOM: Hear, hear, I second everything that Kevin Powell says and I`ve got the same debate on my Facebook page when I talk about this stuff. A lot of teenagers write in and say, "Well, what if she spits on him? What if she grabs his cell phone?"
As far as I`m concerned, if you`re using words, there is no justification for a violent response. And I don`t care if you`re male or female. The reason why it`s wrong for men to hit women is because women are usually smaller and weaker and we`re not trained to fight.
Unless there`s a violent confrontation that she started by physically attacking him, which nobody has claimed yet in this case, there is absolutely no justification for him to punch her in the face over and over again and attempt to choke her to unconsciousness and that`s what she alleged to the police.
ANDERSON: Yes. Absolutely, an alleged relentless violent beating. And hopefully, this discussion on Oprah will get more people talking about it and hopefully, eventually, there can be an end to this sort of violence.
Lisa Bloom, Janell Snowden, thank you both. We appreciate it.
Hey, tonight, did you see this? The unbelievable and unusual new way people are using their noggins to create their own economic stimulus plans. People are not using their brains but their actual heads, arms and other body parts to become breathing billboards.
And before you think these people are totally nuts, you`ve got to check out how they are cashing in big-time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There was something that was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
ANDERSON (voice-over): An experience that earned full-time college student Kylie Bamberger (ph) cold, hard cash.
KYLIE BAMBERGER(ph), COLLEGE STUDENT: I paid off a lot of debt I had.
ANDERSON: Bamberger is one of 30 Californians who recently sold space on her head to Air New Zealand for $777. A tribute to the Boeing air crash, she displayed this cranial billboard, a temporary tattoo, for several weeks.
KENNETH WILBUR, MARKETING EXPERT: It will really get people`s attention in a way that traditional media can`t do.
ANDERSON: Marketing expert Kenneth Wilbur says this strategy could be a financially viable alternative for companies in this shaky economy.
WILBUR: What you might see is that people are willing to do this for a lower price than they might have been willing to accept when economic conditions were better.
ANDERSON: For Bamberger, it was an easy decision.
BAMBERGER: I have alopecia, which is an autoimmune idiopathic hair loss. I don`t grow hair anywhere on my body. Normally, I wouldn`t do anything for the money. I mean, America has just been in such a comfortable kind of position. And now, it took on its own, like, what are we going to do? I mean, I don`t know how I could resist saying, free money.
ANDERSON: Other businesses are also inking up for exposure. Dunlop Tires has been permanently tattooing their logos since 2005. On LeaseYourBody.com, people agree to don ads temporarily and for a price. And online gambling Web site, Golden Palace, was been using body billboards for years. An enticing proposition for some.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would tattoo myself for money anywhere they want to put a tattoo on me. Tough economic times, you know, you find different ways to pay the bills, feed the kids, do the things you have to do.
ANDERSON: Not for others.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, that`s my body. I wouldn`t, you know - you can`t put a dollar amount on your skin.
WILBUR: How much different is it from wearing a branded logo on a T-shirt? It`s obviously much more extreme, but in the principle, it`s pretty similar, isn`t it?
ANDERSON: Would you do it again?
BAMBERGER: I would. Glad to do it. I would do it five more times for that kind of money.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And get this, Bamberger may get her wish. Air New Zealand says the tattoo ads were so successful, they are considering doing another round soon.
Round two, of the Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer lovefest may be over. But are they still heating up the headlines? Yes. Is John Mayer really getting $10 million for a tell-all about their hot-and-cold romance? Tonight, the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad gets to the bottom of one of the biggest celebrity breakup stories in Hollywood. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: George Clooney`s return to "ER" gives show best ratings in two years. Source: Simon and Garfunkel reuniting for tour of New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is on a mission to separate fact from fiction. We are firing up the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad for one of the biggest breakup stories in Hollywood.
Is John Mayer really getting $10 million to write a tell-all about his on-again, off-again romance with Jennifer Aniston?
The new issue of "Star" magazine has a blaring headline that says just that. "Star" quotes John`s friends claiming he can`t wait to sell all of the couple`s juicy secrets.
Jennifer and John looked so lovey-dovey in an Oscars after party last month. Then all of a sudden, two weeks later, they split. So could it be sour grapes for John?
Well, here is what the SHOWBIZ Truth Squad found out. A spokesperson for Mayer tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT the kiss-and-tell-all book deal is totally made up, calls the story disgusting and says that "Star" should be ashamed of itself.
John`s rep tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, quote, "`Star` magazine`s story is absolutely false. Although this is typical of their low standards, this fabrication won`t be tolerated."
John`s rep says they may even sue "Star" magazine over the story.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT gets the naked truth about Matthew McConaughey. Why is he always caught on tape with no shirt on? You`ve seen the pictures, jogging, biking, just hanging out. Matthew frequently topless.
So "In Style" magazine just had to ask that burning question in a brand-new interview. Here`s Matt`s take on baring his body, quote, "That`s not how I dress 24/7. But I grew up outside and I`ve been running around without a shirt since I was born. I think the sun helps adjust your clock, raises testosterone - there are benefits, in moderation."
Matthew, you know, we ladies want you to be as healthy as possible and if that means no shirt, by all means, throw them all away. Matt is "In Style`s" Man of Style. And you can check him out fully clothed in the new issue of "In Style" magazine which hits the stands this Friday featuring Matthew McConaughey.
Wednesday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Octomom Fame Game: Are her kids at risk?" 94 percent of you say yes; six percent of you say no.
Here are some of the E-mails we got. Amanda from Tennessee, "I think the kids should be placed in a safe family. They are in a very bad situation. They need care and love."
Bobbie from Florida, "I don`t think that the octomom is putting her kids in danger. I think nosy people and the paparazzi are. Leave her alone and the kids will be safe."
That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much for watching. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. You can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and in the morning, 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN.
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