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Showbiz Tonight
Could Natasha Richardson Have Been Saved?; Who is the Octodaddy?; Octomom Fires Angels in Waiting; Overwhelming Reaction to the Chris Brown- Rihanna Drama Reenactment
Aired March 23, 2009 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the Natasha Richardson tragedy. Tonight, puzzling new questions about her death and disturbing details about the medical treatment she received after her fatal skiing accident.
Tonight, even as family and friends turn out for her emotional funeral, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT with the troubling questions - could Natasha Richardson have been saved?
Who is the octodaddy? Tonight for the very first time, octuplet mom, Nadya Suleman reveals details about the father of all of her 14 kids As two more of the octuplets come home. Tonight, the brand new video you`ve got to see that has us asking - is all of this getting to be too much for the octomom to handle?
And your overwhelming fired up reaction to the explosive, disturbing new video reenacting Chris Brown`s alleged beating of Rihanna.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He began applying pressure to her carotid arteries as she began to lose consciousness.
HAMMER: Did the video go too far?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
And tonight, the very disturbing question - could Natasha Richardson have been saved?
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you the very emotional funeral for Richardson who, of course, she died last week after a freak skiing accident. Her husband, Liam Neeson, their children, family and some of Hollywood`s biggest stars came out for the funeral in upstate New York.
But tonight the questions about the possible delays in getting her help after the accident are making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): It was a gathering of stage and screen royalty in an impossibly sad situation. Actor Liam Neeson joined by famous friends and family to say goodbye to Neeson`s wife, actress Natasha Richardson.
LAURA SCHREFFLER, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": The funeral was held in Millbrook, New York, which is where Natasha and Liam were actually married about 15 years ago. And Liam was there with their two children, her mother, Vanessa Redgrave. And her sister Joely Richardson was there.
HAMMER: With all the stars there, it looked almost like a movie premiere instead of a sad goodbye. Ray Fiennes, Laura Linney and Uma Thurman were among the many famous actors who turned up for the funeral.
But while Richardson`s famous family and friends grieve over their still-shocking loss, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has uncovered more information about the fatal ski accident that took her life and reports that it took much longer to get her medical help than we previously knew.
SCHREFFLER: That`s why this is so upsetting. Had Natasha been rushed to the hospital earlier, she might still be alive today.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, according to ambulance records, Richardson didn`t get to a hospital until four hours after she fell during a ski lesson at this resort in Quebec.
SCHREFFLER: Natasha was skiing on a bunny slope. Hit her head, "Oh, no, no. I`m fine. I`m fine."
HAMMER: Richardson`s accident happened at about 12:30 local time. An ambulance service tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, paramedics were called at 12:43 and arrived at the resort at 1:00 p.m., but were turned away minutes later.
At the time the ski resort said Richardson refused medical treatment, but later changed her mind.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: About an hour from the incident, she showed signs she wasn`t feeling well. So they called an ambulance which brought her to the hospital.
HAMMER: But ambulance records show paramedics weren`t called again until more than two hours after the fall, at 2:59 p.m. Later the ambulance took Richardson on a nearly 40-minute drive to this hospital.
But the hospital didn`t have a head trauma center, so Richardson was put back into an ambulance and driven all the way to a second hospital in Montreal. She reportedly may have arrived there as late as 7:00 p.m., more than six hours after the accident.
SCHREFFLER: But it was a little bit too late.
DR. WENDY WRIGHT, NEUROSURGEON: The helicopter was available. Montreal`s top head trauma doctor says that delay may have cost Richardson her life.
HAMMER: Now, surgeons are flooding the airwaves warning viewers that with head injuries like Richardson`s, faster emergency care is the difference between life and death.
WRIGHT: Any complaint of any neurologic symptoms requires immediate medical attention. And that does not mean get your child or friend in the car and drive them to the hospital. That is 911, ambulance to the hospital.
HAMMER: But as doctors talk about her injury -
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You have to try to operate on these as quickly as possible.
HAMMER: And attorneys talk about a possible lawsuit.
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, "360": Chris, could the ski resort be liable in her death?
CHRIS DAVIS, ATTORNEY: Well I think that is a possibility.
HAMMER: For Richardson`s grieving famous family, such matters aren`t as important as saying goodbye to a beloved wife, mother and star.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
An autopsy concluded that Richardson died from bleeding in her skull caused by the fall. Medical examiner has ruled her death as an accident.
ANDERSON: OK, moving on now to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s continuing coverage of the octomom saga. Tonight, who is the octodaddy? The new chapter in the octodrama is making big news right now.
Octomommy Nadya Suleman reveals for the very first time details about the man she claims is the father to all 14 of her kids. Could his identity finally be revealed?
Plus, what about the guy who claimed on national television to be the octuplets` father? Could he be the daddy?
Joining me tonight in New York is Attorney Midwin Charles. Also joining me in New York tonight, Lisa Bloom, anchor for the legal network, "In Session."
OK. So in the same weekend, two more of these octuplets came home from the hospital. Octomom does a brand-new interview with "Radar Online" where she`s giving hints as to the identity of the octodaddy. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NADYA SULEMAN, OCTUPLET MOTHER: He is from another country so I think people need to go look for him in another country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you are saying he is originally from another country?
SULEMAN: Yes, let`s say that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Describe him to me. What does he look like?
SULEMAN: Like that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. It`s getting very artsy, too, isn`t it? Lisa Bloom, is it just time for the octomom to stop being so coy and reveal who the father is once and for all? Or is it just as well that she doesn`t reveal his identity?
LISA BLOOM, ANCHOR, "IN SESSION": Well, that is one cute kid, I have to say. But she is not putting her kids` interests first. You know, she`s having a great time playing coy with the camera.
But this is the father of her children. Don`t those children, who desperately need a real grown up in their lives, have the right to know who their father is, to have some other parent besides this woman who seems to be emotional disturbed more and more every time we look at her?
I mean, that`s the sad thing here. She thinks this is all a great joke. While these children, I think, really need to know who their father is and have a right to know that.
HAMMER: And she is really enjoying the time in front of the camera, it seems. All right. So we didn`t get the name. We`ve got a profile, but no actual name from octomom. She did spill a lot of dish in the way she described him.
Let me run some of these items down. She says he is a California resident. He was born outside the United States. He resembles Suleman`s 7-year-old son, Elijah, whom we just saw a moment ago. He`s in his 30`s. And he`s not a civilian.
Now, that is the one I am having a hard time with, Midwin. I don`t know what she means by that. The octodaddy, not a civilian. Does that mean we should assume - I don`t know - that he worked for the military? You think this was some kind of cryptic message here?
MIDWIN CHARLES, ATTORNEY: I don`t know, A.J. I mean, who is to say that what she is saying is actually true? This is not a woman who has displayed any kind of modicum of sensibility or anything. So who`s to say that what she`s saying is true? She`s just enjoying the limelight. And I think as long as the cameras are there, she`s going to feed all kinds of information.
HAMMER: Yes. I`m with you there. And I`m thinking if I am the dad, maybe I don`t want to be exposed and be drawn into this circus. But who knows what is really going on there?
CHARLES: Right. And there`s a lot of legal ramifications here, too. Because if the dad was someone who kind of did not want his identity put forward from the beginning when he donated his sperm ...
HAMMER: Yes.
CHARLES: ... then, to a certain extent, she can`t necessarily divulge his identity.
HAMMER: Well, speaking of legal issues, you know, as if the octodaddy mystery wasn`t confusing enough, let us not forget that Nadya Suleman`s ex- boyfriend who went on "Good Morning America" to claim he believed he is the octodad, had this to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DENIS BEAUDOIN, NADYA SULEMAN`S EX-BOYFRIEND: She asked me to donate sperm. I thought it was kind of, you know - I don`t know - out of the ordinary. But I cared about her so much. I mean, we were in love.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, he also asked for a DNA test to find out if he was, in fact, the father. Lisa, what do you think? Could we potentially be seeing - I don`t know - another Howard K. Stern, Larry Birkhead, Anna Nicole Smith whole paternity thing?
BLOOM: Who could forget that paternity battle? You know, look, who ever is the father probably doesn`t want to step forward because then they`re potentially going to have to be on the hook for child support and all kinds of things.
I mean, Midwin is right. If this was done legally and properly, then his identity shouldn`t be divulged. But this makes me rethink the whole idea of sperm donors. I mean, surely a sperm donor never thinks that this is the situation that`s going to resolve.
They think they`re going to help some hapless woman who can`t have a child, not to create 14 children under age of seven that the mother can`t support. I mean, this is a real mess. And I salute that young man who did come forward, wants the DNA test, although I have to say he doesn`t look a lot like Elijah to me.
HAMMER: Well, that`s true. And the octomom, being apologetic here, I should point out - she gave this interview I mentioned to "Radar Online." And she wanted the father of the 14 kids to know she is sorry for what Suleman herself called a, quote, "mess." Let`s watch that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SULEMAN: Tell him, sorry. I am sorry. Sorry for all of this mess. And I hope he isn`t scared that it will come out because it won`t. As far as I`m concerned, I will never disclose who it is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: OK. So there you go. Midwin, octomom vows, "I will never reveal Octodad`s identity." But let me ask you this from a legal perspective. If she was called into a court battle concerning the children, could she be forced to reveal his identity?
CHARLES: It would depend on what the issue at hand was, A.J. She cannot necessarily be forced if there is something going on with the children. It`s very difficult to say, I highly doubt it. But I will tell you, if this man smells a book deal and a reality show, he will be showing up. The minute they start knocking, he will come.
HAMMER: Maybe he is waiting to get all those signatures down on paper.
CHARLES: That`s right.
HAMMER: That`s it. Midwin Charles, Lisa Bloom, I thank you. More octomom news tonight. Late today, the startling news, she is firing that special group providing around the clock care to her kids. This is unbelievable. Coming up on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, we`ve got the late-breaking developments as we ask, is all this getting to be too much for the octomom? Is she overwhelmed?
Now, I want to turn it over to you. Here is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Who`s the Octodaddy: Should the octomom reveal his identity?" Let us know at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. You can also E-mail us at showbiztonight@cnn.com.
I`ve got to say, the reaction to this explosive, disturbing new video reenacting Chris Brown`s alleged beating of Rihanna - it has been overwhelming.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He looked at her and stated you just did the stupidest thing ever. Now, I am really going to kill you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, we`re asking, does this video go too far? Well the person behind it is going to be right here to face the tough questions in the interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And what`s this? Are there problems with Ellen DeGeneres`s marriage to Portia De Rossi? Well, tonight, why Portia is saying she is sorry she married Ellen. You`ve got to see this video.
And the "Today" show`s Matt Lauer`s scary accident with a deer. And Matt gets hurt pretty bad. Those bizarre details are coming up. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: British reality TV star Jane Goody dies after battle with cancer. "Entertainment Weekly": Eddie Murphy in talks to play Richard Pryor in biopic.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. And tonight, there is big news about older dudes and younger women. And it involves two of the biggest movie stars in the world. I`m talking about Harrison Ford and Bruce Willis. Tonight, Bruce is a one-woman man again. The 54-year-old "Die Hard" star got married over the weekend to 30-year-old Emma Hemming, who`s a model and an actress.
Also brand new tonight, Indiana Jones is reportedly ready to walk down the aisle. People.com reporting 66-year-old Harrison Ford has proposed to 44-year-old longtime girlfriend Calista Flockhart.
And with us tonight at the older dudes, younger women news desk in Hollywood, Tanika Ray, who is a correspondent for "Extra."
OK. Tanika, I want to start off with Harrison Ford`s reported proposal to Calista Flockhart.
TANIKA RAY, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Yes.
HAMMER: I, for one, happen to have seen this happen. These guys have been together now more than seven years. And this morning, right there on "The View," co-host, Sherri Shepherd said what a lot of people said when they heard this news. Let`s watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRI SHEPHERD, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": I wonder what took so long, like did he just wake up -
BARBARA WALTERS, CO-HOST AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "THE VIEW": Well, we know some people who live together for 26 years and don`t want to get married.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, Barbara did have a point there. Tanika, to the question, what do you think took them so long?
RAY: You know, you can`t force a man to do anything. I think we have learned that over the years. They have to sort of feel like it is their idea or it`s not going to happen. I think Calista played it really, really smart. I don`t know if she ever cared about getting married.
But she definitely - that the vibe was that she sort of let Harrison lead the way.
HAMMER: Yes.
RAY: And who knows, maybe it is a mortality thing. Maybe it`s like he got to a certain age. He`s in his, what, 60s?
HAMMER: Yes, 66.
RAY: He got to a certain age - yes. I mean, you know, a guy who`s 66 - what`s the worst thing that can happen sealing a deal at this age, you know?
HAMMER: Yes. So he is 66. She is 44. We should probably discuss the age difference here. Now, do you think it really matters, or does it ever really matter?
RAY: You know what? I think love is love. God bless anybody that finds it out there. I don`t think it matters unless it is 60 and 22. That is a problem. But they`re 20 years apart. By the time you get to that age, it really doesn`t matter. They both are mature and cultured.
And they share the son that she adopted. I think he is adopting him now. So why not? The kid is getting older, probably going to school, want to share the same sort of family values. And I think it works for them.
HAMMER: I like them both. They seem real happy together. They`re pretty private, but when you see them together, they look like they truly do enjoy being with one another.
RAY: But don`t ask them about their relationship.
HAMMER: No. No. All right. Let`s move on to another couple. Maybe we`ll hear more from them. This is the next big older dude, younger woman headline tonight. 54-year-old Bruce Willis getting married in the Turks and Caicos Island to 30-year-old Emma Hemming.
Now, when Bruce did those "Die Hard" movies back in 1988, the very first one - I did the math on this. Also when he was starring in "Moonlighting" - remember that TV show?
RAY: Absolutely.
HAMMER: Emma was just in diapers. She was a newborn. Do you see this working?
RAY: You`re so wrong.
HAMMER: It`s true.
RAY: I mean, When you think of it that way, it is inappropriate. But 30 and 50 in Hollywood - it`s so prevalent. I dare you to go out and find - in L.A. find somebody who is 50 years old who`s married to a 50-year-old person.
HAMMER: That`s true.
RAY: It doesn`t happen out here.
HAMMER: Let me ask you something really quickly. Because right there at the wedding, 31-year-old Ashton Kutcher ...
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: ... the husband of his 46-year-old ex-wife Demi Moore. What do you think Bruce can learn? I have 10 seconds for you. Can the apparent success of Demi and Ashton -
RAY: Well, Bruce has spent a lot of time with Demi and Ashton, so he`s learned a lot, probably the right way to deal with the relationship. He`s watched his ex-wife. They`re very good friends. And now, they have both have 30-year-old spouses. It works perfectly.
HAMMER: Good luck to all of them. Tanika Ray, I thank you. And yes, we do know about the picture that Ashton just posted on his Twitter page that is supposedly his half naked wife Demi. But we thought it was in bad taste for him to do that, let alone for us to show it to you. So sorry, Ashton. We have not been punked.
All right. Moving on now, we`ve been getting so many calls coming into "Showbiz on Call." A lot of people calling in with their very personal and emotional thoughts about Natasha Richardson`s shocking and tragic death. And we got this call I want to play to you from Tammy, in from Texas.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
TAMMY, CALLER FROM TEXAS: I am so devastated about Natasha Richardson`s accident. I am going to greatly miss her. I have seen everything that her husband and her have ever done together. I loved her so much. And I am in total shock. God bless her and her family.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Tammy. We also heard from Jean calling in to "Showbiz on Call" from California.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JEAN, CALLER FROM CALIFORNIA: I know we didn`t know her personally, but she was such a shining person. She shined. As they said, you know, she shined. She was luminous. And she was a good mother and a wonderful wife. I`m so sorry - to Lima and the boys. My heart is breaking for them.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: We thank you for calling, Jean. You too can call us at "Showbiz on Call" to let us know your thoughts on this or anything at all. The "Showbiz on Call" phone lines open all the time, 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; that`s 1- 888-728-2899. Leave us your voicemail. We are playing some of your calls right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And your calls to "Showbiz on Call" also now online, right there on our homepage, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Well the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines, our E-mail inbox also flooded with fired-up reaction to this brand-new, explosive reenactment of Chris Brown`s alleged beating of Rihanna.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He resumed punching her. She bent over at the waist in an attempt to protect her face and head from the barrage of punches.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, we`ve got to ask, does this video go too far? Well, the person behind it is going to be right here to face the tough questions in the interview you will see only on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Is the octomom overwhelmed? Dramatic new developments today. The octomom fires the special group helping her even as two more of the octuplets come home. Are you kidding? Is this all getting too much for the octomom to handle?
And Matt Lauer versus a deer. Yes. And tonight, I`ve got the bizarre details of the "Today" show host`s scary accident. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: People.com: Danica McKellar, "Winnie Cooper" on "The Wonder Years," marries in California. "Unwritten" singer, Natasha Bedingfield, marries in Malibu, California.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer with some more stories that are making news right now.
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has learned that Robin Williams is expected to make a complete recovery from his heart surgery. In a statement, Robin`s publicist tells us that he is resting comfortably after his aortic valve was replaced. His mitral valve repaired and an irregular heartbeat corrected. Robin says he plans to resume his comedy tour when he is better.
So has Julia Roberts lost her box office power because she is a mom? Her new movie with Clive Owens, "Duplicity" got so-so reviews and it opened in third place at the box office over the weekend. And that got some people saying, that Julia, who of course was the first actress to get paid $20 million for a movie, may not be such a big star anymore.
Well, this morning on "The View," the ladies into a heated debate about this and wondered whether her recent box office bust had anything to do with Julia becoming a mom?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHEPHERD: I don`t know if people - if people are taking away the sexuality from Julia. Because every time you see Julia, she`s got her three kids. You know, she`s not all glamorous. Like Jennifer Aniston - her movies come in really high.
WALTERS: Well, Jennifer Aniston is 40, but she`s single. And she is -
(CROSS TALK)
ELISABETH HASSELBECK, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": So people are not then separating the personal life from the professional. Because on screen, this is the woman who broke through that glass ceiling of salary pay for women in the field, right? $20 million. She got it and she was equal to the men.
SHEPHERD: Yes.
HASSELBECK: So then maybe they are now equating personal life to (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
(CROSS TALK)
SHEPHERD: But Angelina Jolie has got 92 kids and everybody thinks - that she picked up along various different continents.
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": There`s another point maybe. Angelina looks European. And the European women are allowed to age - yes, I think it is true. She seems like a European actress to me, doesn`t she? She looks like European, like Rossellini looked like that, Ingrid Bergman`s daughter.
WALTERS: And Ingrid Bergman.
SHEPHERD: That one (INAUDIBLE) if it works against Julia, because, you know, has always been the, "I`m a real down-to-earth kind of woman. You know, I don`t have to comb my hair if I don`t want to." I can be - and I wonder if that has - cash.
(CROSS TALK)
BEHAR: That was her thing. She was pretty woman. Now, she is pretty old.
HASSELBECK: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Hey. Now, I think she looks great. She is 41 years old. She`s got three kids with her husband, Danny Moder, and the best smile on the planet, I might add. But yes, her recent movies just haven`t pulled in the numbers like they used to, I guess.
Well, now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what is coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Is the octomom overwhelmed? Breaking octomom news late today - is she really getting rid of the group that`s helping her with around-the-clock care, even as two more octuplets come home?
Also your overwhelming, fired-up reaction to the explosive disturbing new video reenacting Chris Brown`s alleged beating of Rihanna? Did the video go too far?
And why is Portia De Rossi apologizing for marrying Ellen DeGeneres? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Lisa Ling`s sister Laura is one of two TV reporters arrested by North Korean border guards. Vatican may boycott "Angels and Demons," follow up to "The Da Vinci Code."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He looked at her and stated, "You just did the stupidest thing ever. Now, I`m really going to kill you."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the shocking Chris Brown-Rihanna reenactment. Tonight, the fired-up reaction to the explosive disturbing new video reenacting Brown`s alleged beating of Rihanna. Does the video go too far?
Is the octomom overwhelmed? Tonight, as two more of the octuplets come home, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT asks - is all of this getting to be too much for the octomom to handle? Plus the octomom`s mom hits the road. Why she is leaving and says she is never coming back.
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 A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
Tonight, the Rihanna reenactment, the unbelievable re-creation of Chris Brown`s alleged beating of Rihanna in his car. It`s making big news right now.
Tonight a PSA featuring the alleged Chris Brown-Rihanna beating blow by agonizing blow has sparked a brand new debate. Does the ad go too far? Plus, new photos on "Radar Online" of Chris Brown out shopping this weekend surrounded by scores of adoring fans asking him for his autograph. Question is, are his fans being too forgiving too soon?
Also new right now, on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day, we asked, "Are you surprised that people are defending Chris Brown." And you will not believe how they voted.
Joining me tonight in New York is Nancy Loveland, who is the CEO of DoSomething.org - that`s the organization that made the PSA. Also in New York, Attorney Tamara Holder.
I`ve got to tell you, the reaction to this reenactment PSA has just been incredible. And I want you to take a look at some of it right now. The voice you are about to hear is reading directly from the detective`s affidavit of what Rihanna said after the alleged beating. And be warned here, this material is graphic. Let`s roll that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She picked up his cell phone and read a text message from a woman he had a previous relationship with. A verbal argument ensued. He reached over to her to open the car door and attempted to force her out. When he could not, he shoved her head against the passenger window of the vehicle, causing a circular contusion.
She turned to face him and he punched her. He looked at her and stated, "I`m going to beat the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out of you when we get home. You wait and see." She picked up her cell phone and faked a phone call, "I am on my way home. Make sure the cops are there when I get there."
He looked at her and stated, "You just did the stupidest thing ever. Now, I am really going to kill you." He resumed punching her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Just disturbing to watch. Nancy Loveland, off to you first. This is your organization that first released this PSA last week. Tell me what the reaction has been. What are you hearing from people?
NANCY LOVELAND, CEO, "DOSOMETHING.ORG": Yes. We have been absolutely overwhelmed by young people reaching out to us, really saying thank you. Thank you, you made me think. Thank you, I never realized that I was in a situation like this. You made me think and now I have talked to a friend.
The whole reason for doing this PSA was to bring to light teen dating abuse and to make young people active on the issue. They have the power to stop this.
HAMMER: It really does in an attention-grabbing way that you can`t deny, the whole thing running nearly two minutes long. I want to look at some more of that. Let`s roll that, Chris.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She turned off the car, removed the key from the ignition and sat on it. He began applying pressure to her carotid arteries as she began to lose consciousness. She attempted to gouge his eyes, but he bit her fingers and released. She brought her knees to her chest and placed her feet against his body, pushing him away. He continued to punch her legs and feet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: As I said, it really grabs your attention. Some people have said, maybe in too disturbing a way. Tamara, off to you. Do you think that "DoSomething.org" has done a good thing here or have they gone too far with this?
TAMARA HOLDER, ATTORNEY: Well, honestly, A.J., I don`t know what their point is. I mean, if you go online, they have, you know, a site where you can go on and get like a free bracelet. There is no information on how to get help. There is no information on shelters. There`s no information on how to get order of protection if you are being abused.
There`s no information whatsoever. I mean, getting teens to think - that`s the not the problem here. The problem is why are people in these violent relationships, and how do we help these people? Not creating awareness alone.
HAMMER: Nancy?
LOVELAND: Maybe you ought to get your eyes checked and check your Internet access because we have eight different hotline numbers there, right there on the Web site. The whole reason we are driving people to "DoSomething.org/Abuse" rather than just distributing these things willy- nilly, you have to come to "DoSomething.org/Abuse" so that you can read the Teen Dating Violence Bill of Rights, warning signs for how you can detect whether or not your friend is in a situation like this and what you do. And all of the hotline numbers.
And by the way as a result of this terrific organizations like "Break the Cycle," LoveDoesNotAbuse.org, have seen spikes in traffic because this campaign is driving people in that direction.
HAMMER: Well, it`s really been interesting. So it sounds like, Nancy, that the information is, in fact, there on your Web site. But it`s been interesting to hear all sides of the issue since you guys released this PSA.
And I`ve got to tell you, our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been on fire over the whole thing. There`s a call I want to play to you. It`s Andrea in New York. And she actually called in to "Showbiz on Call" to say she doesn`t think the PSA is graphic enough and doesn`t truly portray the atrocities of domestic violence. Listen to this.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
ANDREA, CALLER FROM NEW YORK: I don`t think that PSA goes half far enough. The voices aren`t even raised. And you never once see him hit her with a fist. You never see anything that could lead to the way her face looked afterwards. I think it`s way, way underplayed.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Nancy, I`m curious to hear what you have to say to that criticism that it actually wasn`t graphic enough. Because of course, once again, the reenactment comes from the direct transcript from the detective of the allegations against Chris Brown.
LOVELAND: Look, we didn`t set out to make a Lifetime TV movie of this incident. And we could have, I supposed, used fake blood and had people scream and call them by actual names that were more reminiscent of real people.
Instead, we really wanted to move from two specific celebrities to the issue of teen dating abuse more generally and get people to think, "That could be me. You know, that looks like me." We wanted to get away from this as a black or a white issue and show this as racially neutral. This could be everyone. And in fact, it does affect one in three teens.
HAMMER: Yes, and as I said, it is powerful. And I think it gets the message across. Now, the "New York Times" did this startling piece last week on how so many teens are now coming to Chris Brown`s defense.
And I want you to take a look at our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. We asked online and on-air, "Chris Brown Assault Charges: Are you surprised people are defending him?" Look at this, 59 percent said yes. So only 41 percent said no. That to me is the shocker - 41 percent of our viewers aren`t surprised that people are defending Chris Brown.
Tamara, I don`t really get it here. Why do you think so many people say they get it, they understand why people are coming to Chris Brown`s defense?
HOLDER: Well, you know this is like, the nature of our society. People are judging before they have all of the fact. Remember that this affidavit from this police officer is hearsay. It`s not going to come into court. He wasn`t a witness.
And so people are just jumping to conclusions. Whether they support him or they don`t, I mean, we need the facts. We need to understand what really happened before we start jumping to conclusions, creating PSAs that are actually reading the affidavit. It doesn`t matter what characters you use. They`re reading the affidavit from this case. It is the exact same thing.
HAMMER: Well and again just to "Do Something`s" point, I think they`re trying to transcend the case for the case`s sake. But to the point of people still coming out to support Chris Brown, and maybe he has the sense that outrage is dying down because he made a rare public appearance over the weekend.
This photo you`re looking at right here from "Radar Online shows him shopping for hats. Fans were crowded around, snapping photos of him on their cell phones. Somebody asking for an autograph. I only have about 20 seconds for you here, Nancy. But in light of what Brown is accused of doing, beating Rihanna, does it surprise you that his fans are still so loyal?
LOVELAND: You know what, Chris Brown is an amazing performer. I love his performances. His music is fantastic. And Rihanna - it`s still stuck in my head. There is no doubt that these are talented, talented people.
What we at "DoSomething.org" are all about is getting kids to take action to solve community problems, be a part of change. This public service announcement, not about Chris and Rihanna, not about assigning blame. It`s about change.
HAMMER: Got it. Got it. Got to end it there. And you do it in a powerful way, as I said. Tamara Holder and Nancy Loveland, thank you both for being here. I appreciate it.
Got to move on tonight - big breaking octomom news. Why is she getting rid of the special group brought in to give her kids around-the- clock care? I don`t get it.
And you don`t want to miss the octomom`s revealing new confessions about reaching her breaking point. And wait until you see the explosive caught-on-tape fight between the octomom and the octogranny.
Also tonight, Portia De Rossi apologizing for marrying Ellen DeGeneres? Is the superstar couple heading to Splitsville? What`s going on just seven months after they wed?
And did you wake up this morning thinking where in the world is Matt Lauer? It`s a bizarre story involving a bike, a deer and a really bad accident for Matt. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Lance Armstrong says he`s miserable after breaking collarbone in bike accident. Mariska Hargitay back to work on "Law and Order: SVU" after surgery for collapsed lung.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Well, a lot of people woke up this morning wondering, "Where in the world is Matt Lauer?" He wasn`t in some far-flung location. Lauer was actually involved in a bizarre bike accident.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Well, Lauer`s co-host Meredith Vieira was the one to break the news about the accident. She did it this morning on the "Today" show. And she revealed that Matt has a conspiracy theory on how it all happened. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEREDITH VIEIRA, CO-HOST, THE "TODAY" SHOW: Matt was, supposed to be here, but he was riding his bike yesterday - or over the weekend. He had a run- in with a deer. And I E-mailed him yesterday. He apparently dislocated his shoulder and his at the doctor`s this morning.
AL ROKER, CO-HOST, THE "TODAY" SHOW: Did he hit the deer?
VIEIRA: I don`t think so. I think he slammed on his brake and went over his handle bars, from what I understand. But he thinks the deer was hired by the competition. That`s what he said to me in the E-mail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, Lauer does have to go under the knife for that injured shoulder. But believe it or not, he is actually expected to be back in his anchor chair by Wednesday morning`s "Today" show.
Tonight, brand-new breaking octomom news. Late today, the news that octuplet mother Nadya Suleman is getting rid of the organization brought in to provide around-the-clock care for all of her kids. This is amazing.
Two more of the octuplets are now home. And in a brand new interview, octomom confesses that the octobabies already have her head spinning. You have got to hear this.
And octogranny`s big diss. Why the octogranny is leaving the octohome and never coming back.
Joining me tonight in New York is Midwin Charles of the New York law firm, Midwin Charles and Associates. Also tonight in New York is Lisa Bloom who is an anchor for the legal network "In Session."
And we have to begin with the shocking news late today that octomom actually told Angels in Waiting - that of course is the group that Dr. Phil helped bring in to provide 24/7 care for all 14 of her children. Octomom says they`re no longer needed. She is going to get her own nannies. Lisa Bloom, just have at it. I find this truly remarkable.
BLOOM: Yes. This is very disappointing. And I know that Dr. Phil is taping a show about this tomorrow. We`ll hear his side and the Angels in Waiting`s side. And they`re represented by my mother, Gloria Allred - full disclosure.
But the big concern should always be about these babies. How on earth is she going to care for them without trained nurses at Angels in Waiting? She`s got absolutely no plan. And to get rid of this wonderful organization that had people who could deal with medically fragile infants who are coming in at no cost to her to help take care of those children is really disappointing.
I am concerned now that she will lose custody of those children, that they will have to go into foster care because I just don`t think she can handle them.
HAMMER: No. We all felt so much hope when she agreed to have Angels in Waiting come in. And now, Midwin Charles, I have to think that this is just a terrible, terrible move.
CHARLES: It is a terrible move and it`s exactly what I was talking about earlier with respect to she really needs to be examined psychologically in order to determine whether she is appropriate to care for the children.
I mean, to turn down this amazing service which I think any mother in this country would be glad to have. Now, let`s remember, any mother with 14 children would be overwhelmed. However her decisions - her choices make absolutely no sense given the circumstances and she really needs to have a psych evaluation.
HAMMER: Yes. And the timing is terrible here. Octomom may have finally reached her breaking point. You know, two more babies did come home on Saturday. The streets were blocked off for paparazzi. There was - no paparazzi chaos going on.
But there is a brand-new interview that Nadya Suleman gave to "Radar Online," and she`s now saying, guess what? The chaos is in her head. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SULEMAN: I get so distracted. I want to do one thing. I don`t finish it. And I get distracted with something else. I don`t finish it. Go on to something else. My mind is spinning with all the stuff I have to do, plus the four babies are there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Whoa. OK. Lisa, what are you going to do when four more distractions come home in just a few weeks?
BLOOM: Well, guess what? Those other four may not be released to her by Kaiser Hospital. If she doesn`t have this appropriate - to care for the children, they`re not going home with her. I mean, she doesn`t seem to get how foreseeable all of this was, all right?
If you have two children, you get distracted and it`s hard enough. I should know. I have two children, all right? She`s got now 14 children - 10 at home, four on the way from the hospital. This is just not going to work.
And without a plan that focuses on the children, instead of focusing on herself ...
HAMMER: Yes.
BLOOM: ... which is what she always does. I mean, those children are not going to be released to her.
HAMMER: Yes. Midwin, I`m thinking that you are worried that she might already be overwhelmed now. And with four more babies to go, how can it possibly work?
CHARLES: It is just not possible. And the fact that she would turn down this assistance again goes to show that something is not, you know, right with her head, seriously.
I mean, let`s remove the fact that she would be overwhelmed. Like I said, any mother would be overwhelmed under these circumstances. But the fact that she is making these choices really raises some serious questions.
HAMMER: You think that is it for the drama? No, I have more drama for you.
CHARLES: I doubt it.
HAMMER: No, no, no, no. There is more. I`ve got it right in front of me. Octograndma furious. In a brand-new video from "Radar Online," octograndma gives Nadya the big diss and says that she`s just had it. You`ve got to see this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SULEMAN: Oh, I don`t want to open the door now. Elijah, come inside.
ANGELA SULEMAN, MOTHER OF NADYA SULEMAN: Why are you trying to be so disrespectful to me? Because you are! And I will not!
(CROSS TALK)
I got a ride from somebody and I will never come back, lady. I will tell you that.
SULEMAN: Mom, you need to calm down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: "I will never come back," the door slams. Then, a little later in the video, octomom goes on to berate her mother directly to the camera when her mom is not even around.
So without octogranny, no Angels in Waiting, Lisa Bloom, is octomom just simply up a creek here?
BLOOM: Yes, she is. And this is heartbreaking because she drives away and berates everyone who is good in her life. Her mother who cared for all of her other children when she was in the hospital pregnant with all of these babies. Dr. Phil, Angels in Waiting, my mother, Gloria Allred. I mean, to turn all of these people away, who only want to help and be grownups here and focus on the babies is very disturbing. What does that leave? That leaves Nadya and all the kids and that`s it.
HAMMER: Drama on top of drama, on top of drama. And again, we were feeling hopeful at a point there. Midwin Charles, Lisa Bloom, I thank you both.
Now, we have been asking you to vote on the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. It is this - "Who`s The Octodaddy: Should the octomom reveal his identity?" You can vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. If you have more to say, our E-mail address is showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Well as family and friends say goodbye to actress Natasha Richardson, so many of her fans are dialing up our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines with their heartfelt messages. And we do appreciate that.
Richardson, of course, died Wednesday after a skiing accident in Canada and was buried this weekend near her upstate New York home that she shared with her husband Liam Neeson.
We heard from Tanya calling in from Virginia to "Showbiz on Call" to say that Richardson will be missed.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
TANYA, CALLER FROM VIRGINIA: I just wanted to say to Natasha Richardson`s family that I am so sorry. She was such a wonderful person. And we loved watching her in the movie "Parent Trap" with Lindsay Lohan. I am so sorry.
Thanks so much, Tanya. We also heard from Tammy calling in from Nebraska in to "Showbiz on Call" with a message for Richardson`s young sons.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
TAMMY, CALLER FROM NEBRASKA: I just want to say that my thoughts and prayers go out to the family for the loss of their mother. It`s a very difficult time for all of them. I will pray for them and their family that God gives them strength. God bless them.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Tammy. Remember, the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are always open at 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; that`s 1-888-728-2899. Leave us a voicemail so we can play your call here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT and also post your call online on our homepage, CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Well, tonight, Portia De Rossi apologizes for marrying Ellen. But why? We have Portia`s on-camera apology to Ellen DeGeneres and the whole world. Why she says she is sorry, and why now? The answer is next. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Roseanne Barr considering new sitcom with former "Roseanne" producer. "Knowing" starring Nicolas Cage tops box office with $24.8 million opening weekend.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
All right. Tonight, is Portia De Rossi calling her marriage to Ellen DeGeneres a huge mistake? For seven short months after they tied the knot, De Rossi is apologizing to those that she has hurt by her nuptials. She unveiled her shocking new PSA on "Jimmy Kimmel Live." You`ve got to watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PORTIA DE ROSSI, SPOUSE OF ELLEN DEGENERES: So, I want to apologize to all those people whose lives have been affected by me getting married.
To Elaine Sutler, who suffered painful and debilitating paper cuts from holding up her simple message of intolerance.
To Amanda Milch, who came down with pneumonia while protesting my marriage in the rain.
To George Binder, whose mind was so tragically blown by the idea of gays getting married, he has to spend the rest of his life wearing this hat.
To Buddy the dog, who was forced to wear this ridiculous sign even though he, himself, is gay.
Thanks to Proposition 8, good people and animals like these will never again be subjected to the horrors of gay people getting married.
But for me, it is too late. I know there is no way I can make up for the pain I have caused. All I can say is: I am sorry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Paid for married gay people who are sorry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, DeGeneres and De Rossi are still very much in love. And although they recently shot down some baby rumors that were floating around, De Rossi says she does want to have a family someday.
And by the way, the very real battle over same-sex marriage is now before California`s Supreme Court.
Well, on Friday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. It was this - "Chris Brown Assault Charges: Are you surprised people are defending him?" Look at these results - 59 percent of you said yes. So 41 percent of you said no.
Among the E-mails we received, we heard from Christian from Nevada who writes, "I am actually seething in anger and frustration right now. I cannot believe there are women defending Chris Brown and people are actually blaming Rihanna for the abuse that she received. Are you kidding me?"
And Mer from Texas writes, "I was appalled by his (Chris Brown`s) actions, but I`m more appalled by the actions of the media. I`m leaning more on his side." Thanks for your E-mails and thank you for watching. That`s it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific and in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on HLN.
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