Return to Transcripts main page
Showbiz Tonight
Madonna`s Adoption Backlash; Candy Spelling Sells the Spelling Manor; Defending the Octomom; Ashton Kutcher Waxed
Aired March 30, 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, CO-HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - Madonna`s brand-new adoption battle. Tonight, the explosive backlash over Madonna trying to adopt another child in Africa. Madonna now in Malawi and SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is right there in Africa.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A hot-button issue, and you can`t really get anyone who doesn`t have an opinion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, why even the child`s very own grandmother may take on Madonna. And is Madonna getting special treatment? Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT in Africa with the late-breaking developments.
Defending the octomom. He called her greedy. He called her nuts. So why is the octomom`s former publicist now defending her? Tonight, the explosive new interview and why are so many other people now getting behind her? Tonight, a fired-up SHOWBIZ showdown, defending the octomom.
And caught on tape - Ashton Kutcher getting his chest waxed. Ouch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASHTON KUTCHER, ACTOR: Comment t`appelles tu? Tres joli. A tout a l`heure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CO-HOST: Hi there, everyone, I`m Brooke Anderson coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, Madonna`s brand-new adoption battle.
HAMMER: Brooke, here we go again. Or should I say, there goes Madonna again. And this could get even nastier than the last time. Madonna has taken some time out from her "Sticky and Sweet" concert tour. And she`s in the African nation of Malawi tonight, fighting to adopt a second child, a young girl who lives in an orphanage there.
But from the girl`s own grandmother to adoption agencies, Madonna has got a big battle on her hands. And is Madonna getting special treatment? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT taking on all the tough questions making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice over): You thought the octomom was causing controversy for having eight kids. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you Madonna is stirring up international mama drama for trying to adopt just one kid in Africa.
CNN correspondent, David McKenzie tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT from Kenya that Madonna`s adoption saga has the entire region buzzing.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Depending on who you talk to, it is a hot-button issue you can`t get anyone who doesn`t have an opinion.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT takes you to the African nation of Malawi where the material girl went to court to hear whether she would be allowed to adopt a little girl from the poor country.
MIKE FLEEMAN, "PEOPLE.COM": The child`s name is Mercy James. She is 3 years old. She lives in an orphanage. Now, her mother was just a teenager when Mercy was born and her mother died shortly after the birth.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How did it go?
HAMMER: How it went is that Madonna left court empty-handed. The judge said he is going to wait until Friday to rule on the adoption. But SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you, critics all over the world are not waiting to slam Madonna`s adoption plans.
DOMINIC NUTT, SPOKESMAN, SAVE THE CHILDREN, U.K.: We believe that children in poverty should be best looked after by their own people in their own environment and that people like Madonna and organizations like Save the Children are best off helping those families by building schools and supporting them to look after these so-called orphans and not transporting them to live across the world in pop stars` mansions, that sort of thing.
HAMMER: Madonna is in Malawi with her 12-year-old biological daughter Lourdes and 3-year-old son David whom Madonna adopted from Malawi last year. That adoption, like this one, made Madonna the target of a lot of criticism.
FLEEMAN: Local civil rights groups are saying, "Look the country`s laws say that you have to live here about a year and a half, be monitored, be determined whether or not you are fit to adopt a child." Madonna, on the other hand, is swooping in, picking up a kid and leaving. And the civil rights groups say, "Hey, wait. That is not the way we do it here."
While touring the Malawi village where she plans to build a school, the blunt-talking pop star said she doesn`t get what the adoption fuss is all about.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Can you understand people`s reservations about it, seriously?
MADONNA, POP STAR: No. It`s none of their business.
HAMMER: And some people in Malawi back Madonna saying that a choice between living in an orphanage or with a rich pop star is an easy choice after all.
AUSTIN MSOWOYA, LAW COMMISSION OF MALAWI: When you look at those two options and then perhaps it becomes the best interest of the child to allow the adoption if the parents and the guardians all consent to it.
HAMMER: There are reports the girl`s grandmother is indeed objecting to the adoption. But other reports suggest the little girl`s relatives now have gotten over their objections.
FLEEMAN: The adoption looks like it is going to be a go.
HAMMER: People.com`s Mike Fleeman tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reports that Madonna`s high-profile divorce from Guy Ritchie may complicate her latest adoption amount to a whole lot of nothing.
FLEEMAN: We talked to a court official who says under Malawian law, single parents can adopt. All signs point to Madonna adopting this child without any serious legal challenge.
HAMMER: But for now, Madonna and her kids are in Malawi, riding out the storm of controversy and waiting to see if the court allows this mother of three to add a fourth child to her family.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: So, will all of the controversy prevent Madonna from adopting the little girl? Joining me in Hollywood, Carlos Diaz, who is a correspondent for "Extra." Also in Hollywood, Laura Saltman, who is a correspondent for AccessHollywood.com.
Laura, Carlos, great to have you both with us. And Carlos, I want to begin with you. Because it seems to me that Madonna, you know, if she is, which I would be surprised - but you know, she should not be shocked at all that this was going to stir up a lot of controversy. What do you think?
CARLOS DIAZ, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Well, she shouldn`t be shocked because she went through the same thing with David Banda. But if you`re looking for someone who`s going to rip Madonna, meaning me, I`m not going to do it. Because I think this is absolutely insane that people are coming down on Madonna in this situation.
The worst day with Madonna is better than the best day in Malawi. She is offering a way out for these kids. And I`m shocked, you know, when they say - the term, you know, child trafficking has been used in this instance. I mean, basically, here is a woman who has proven herself with David Banda over the last two-and-a-half years to be a good mother when it comes to adoption.
And now she`s willing to adopt a sister for David Banda who would be the same age, 3 or 4 years old, as her adopted son. Why in the world would you stand in the way of this?
ANDERSON: Yes, it seems like she is trying to provide opportunities for this little girl that maybe she would not otherwise have. And I want to go back to the fact that she has been through all this before.
Children`s agencies from all over the world cried out when she first tried to adopt her son, David, from Malawi a couple years ago because it appeared that the process was fast tracked because of who she is. And the same thing happening here again. Laura, there is that appearance that she is getting special treatment, isn`t there?
LAURA SALTMAN, CORRESPONDENT, "ACCESSHOLLYWOOD.COM": Yes, there is. I mean the Malawi laws state that nobody from outside the country can adopt. And if they try to adopt, they have to come and live in the country for at least 18 months so that they can be evaluated and the child can learn about the culture that they live in if they are taken away.
So I mean, I can understand why people are upset. But I`m totally in agreement with Carlos - what is the deal? She is going to give the child a better life.
DIAZ: The laws are there for people who we don`t know. Those laws are there so people can`t swoop in and just take kids, and I understand those laws. But this is a different situation. And in this case, Madonna`s money and fame can be used as an advantage.
ANDERSON: As a benefit for that child, possibly. Well, reporters asked Madonna all about the criticism while Madonna was touring a site for a school along with her daughter Lourdes. I want you to watch what Madonna had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: How does it feel to be back in Malawi, Madonna?
MADONNA: Amazing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Can you tell us why you`re adopting again, Madonna.
MADONNA: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Can you understand people`s reservations about it, seriously?
MADONNA: No, it`s not of their business.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK, Carlos. I know you`re defending Madonna and I completely understand that. But is that really the best way Madonna could have answered that, that it`s none of their business? She is adopting a child from another country, for heavens sakes.
DIAZ: Right.
ANDERSON: People are going to have questions.
DIAZ: Yes, way go, Madonna. Way to ruin my point. No, I mean, it`s right. She didn`t handle that in the best way. But it may be the frustration is setting in with her. She went on "Oprah" when she adopted David Banda. And you could see the frustration. You could hear it in her voice. You can hear it now in her voice.
In her mind, she is trying to do something good. She`s trying to do something right. And perhaps, little Mercy, the girl that she wants to adopt and David Banda can come back in 15 to 18 years, and help this impoverished country. And like I said, Madonna might just be getting frustrated in the situation.
ANDERSON: Possibly, I could understand that. And you know, like you said, Carlos, she is helping a child who is in an orphanage, and this after the child`s mother died. That`s one of the poorest countries in the world.
And this is astounding. Of the 13 million people in the country, 1.5 million are AIDS orphans. So Laura, do you agree that we should be praising Madonna here for trying to give that child a better life?
SALTMAN: Absolutely. I think anybody should be praised for trying to give a child a better life. There are so many children around the world that need to be adopted. To play devil`s advocate a little bit, I have been reading some of the comments on all the stories.
And the interesting thing is people are saying that, well, Madonna has all this money. So instead of helping one child, what about putting all that money towards opening a school or putting money towards this orphanage so that a lot of people can adopt? I kind of have to agree with that, that maybe that is a little bit better.
DIAZ: She did that. She did that. She has a day care center.
SALTMAN: Well, she is building a school, but what they`re talking is the specific orphanage where she got David and from where she got Mercy from. It may be getting this money.
ANDERSON: And that could happen. She has been pouring some money into Malawi and is looking into doing more.
SALTMAN: That`s the best use.
ANDERSON: We`ll see what happens. Carlos Diaz, Laura Saltman, thank you both for your insight. We appreciate it.
We`ve got a lot more on this developing story, coming up. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is heading to Africa where Madonna was in court today. Plus, the latest on the backlash against Madonna. Don`t go anywhere.
And now, we want to hear from you about it. It is our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Madonna`s New Adoption: Is the criticism of her unfair?" Vote CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail us, there is the address - showbiztonight@cnn.com.
HAMMER: All right. So Brooke, tonight I can tell you that more and more people think the criticism of the octomom is unfair.
ANDERSON: That`s right, A.J. Our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are lighting up. Your fired-up calls, coming up next.
HAMMER: Yes, Brooke. Even the octomom`s former publicist is defending her tonight. And this is the guy who called her crazy and nuts. His explosive new interview is coming up. It is a fired up SHOWBIZ showdown over defending the octomom.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KUTCHER: This is awful. Hey! Hey! Comment t`appelles tu? Tres Joli. A tout a l`heure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Ooh-la-la, Ashton Kutcher, getting his chest waxed. Yes, that`s got to hurt. Hey, Ashton, dude - why would you videotape this though?
HAMMER: And tonight, dramatic new details of what went on behind the scenes at the Grammies the night after Chris Brown allegedly attacked Rihanna. You have got to hear what Justin Timberlake tells Oprah. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
ANDERSON: And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Grieving Liam Neeson returns to Toronto to finish shooting movie, "Chloe."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELIZABETH VARGAS, ANCHOR, "20/20": So your daughter is lying?
CANDY SPELLING, MOTHER OF TORI SPELLING: I`m not saying she`s lying. I`m just telling you what I have done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That is Aaron Spelling`s widow and Tori Spelling`s mom, Candy. Tonight, Candy opens up in a shocking new book and interview about her nasty ongoing battle with her daughter, including how she has never even met one of her grandkids. More on that in a moment.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson. Well, it is no secret that Candy and Tori have been fighting since Candy`s husband and Tori`s father, legendary TV producer, Aaron Spelling, died.
Tonight, Candy is selling the 56,000 square foot mansion where she and her husband lived. Asking price - $150 million. It is the most expensive house for sale in the U.S. But Candy tells "People" magazine she wouldn`t sell the Spelling Manor if she thought she, Tori, husband Dean and their two kids would get along.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Just down the street from the Playboy Mansion, the exclusive Holmby Hills area, the late Aaron Spelling`s sprawling residence called The Manor is now on the market publicly. Spelling`s widow Candy is unloading the 18-year-old, 56,000-square foot behemoth.
Among the lavish features, a bowling alley, projection room, wine cellar and wine-tasting room, gift wrapping room and a humidity controlled silver storage room. The finished attic alone is 17,000 square feet complete with a barber shop.
Outside, you`ve got a water fall, pool, tennis courts and space for 100 cars - perfect for entertaining something the popular Spelling did with ease. Aaron Spelling, who died in 2006, was one of the most prolific television producers of our time, creating a string of hits including "Charlie`s Angels," "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Dynasty," leaving a lasting legacy on screen and now in real estate.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
A realtor told me that because of the economy, Spelling Manor may be a tough sell. Another home in the same neighborhood, listed for $125 million, has sat on the market for the last two years.
Now, Candy is planning to move into a 17,000-square foot condo, where she tells "People" magazine she is building a playroom for her grandkids. But tonight I can tell you Candy says she hasn`t even met one of her grandchildren.
In a brand-new shocking interview with ABC`s "20/20," Candy says she has no relationship with daughter Tori and her husband, no longer sees her grandson Liam and most startling of all, she has never met 9-month-old Stella, her granddaughter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
C. SPELLING: I am the only grandparent that is living. So, I`m it. And I have never even met Stella.
VARGAS: You have never met her?
C. SPELLING: No.
VARGAS: My goodness. Have you tried to -
C. SPELLING: Oh, of course.
VARGAS: Go over ...
C. SPELLING: Of course.
VARGAS: ... or invite them over.
C. SPELLING: I don`t even know where Tori lives.
VARGAS: Candy, my goodness.
C. SPELLING: Amazing, isn`t it?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That is so sad. Now, the main reason Tori and her mom have been fighting seems to be money. Tori says her mom hasn`t given her grandkids any money. But Candy says that`s not the case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
C. SPELLING: It`s not for me to discuss what I`ve given my children.
VARGAS: Well, it is only because she`s made a big issue of it. And you, in your book, say you have left her money.
C. SPELLING: That`s right.
VARGAS: And you have left your grandchildren money.
C. SPELLING: That`s right, I have.
VARGAS: So your daughter is lying?
C. SPELLING: I`m not saying she is lying. I`m just telling you what I have done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: For the sake of the grandkids I hope Tori and her mom can work this thing out.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, here`s what I`m thinking. Maybe the octomom could use all that space at the Spelling Mansion. I`m just saying.
ANDERSON: Maybe so, A.J. Our "Showbiz on Call" operators could probably set up their own area code there.
HAMMER: You know, I find this so interesting. We are getting more and more calls into "Showbiz on Call," SHOWBIZ TONIGHT viewers defending the octomom.
ANDERSON: Yes. Check out this call from Faye in Nevada.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
FAYE, CALLER FROM NEVADA: I say leave octomom alone. If she wants to go out for a couple hours shopping or she wants to go get a Starbucks, as long as she has her babies handled, leave her alone.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks, Faye. We also heard from Joyce calling into "Showbiz on Call" from Arizona.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
FAYE, CALLER FROM ARIZONA: I really think we should start thinking positive about the octomom, show pictures of the babies how darling they are and give her a chance to be a mother. I think that it`s time that the whole country realize these are her babies and let`s love them as a nation, as people.
Let`s just start the positive things about it instead of always trying to knock her. I mean after all, eight babies are a miracle and they are precious.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Joyce, thank you. And here is Cynthia calling in to "Showbiz on Call" from California.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CYNTHIA, CALLER FROM CALIFORNIA: I believe Nadya is doing the best she can. I believe that Gloria Allred and Angels in Waiting should just back off and leave her alone. If Child Protective Services thought she was doing something wrong, they would have been at that home immediately.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thanks a lot, Cynthia. Call us at "Showbiz on Call" and let us know about this or anything else that is on your mind.
ANDERSON: "Showbiz on Call" phone lines open around the clock - 1-888-SBT- BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899.
Hey, A.J., question for you. Could you ever imagine getting your chest waxed?
HAMMER: It`s kind of personal, Brooke. That would be too painful, no way.
ANDERSON: Well, tonight, I can tell you that Ashton Kutcher went for the hair now, gone tomorrow look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KUTCHER: It`s awful - hey, hey. Comment t`appelles tu? Tres Joli. A tout a l`heure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Le ouch. You have got to see this, caught on tape. Coming up.
HAMMER: And the real story of what went on backstage at the Grammies the night after Chris Brown allegedly attacked Rihanna. Tonight, Justin Timberlake opens up to Oprah about his shocking Grammy surprise.
Plus, defending the octomom. You heard the calls. But check this out. Her ex-publicist, the guy who called her "crazy" and "nuts," is now defending her. It`s his explosive new interview. And let me tell you, he is not alone. Why so many other people are stepping up and defending the octomom. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Brooke Shields says her NBC series, "Lipstick Jungle," has been canceled. "TV Week": CBS nearing decision on whether to cancel "Guiding Light."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Look at these kids really excited at Nickelodeon`s Kids Choice Awards on Saturday. But two of the biggest nominees, Chris Brown and Rihanna, were both no-shows. Nickelodeon, of course, was slammed keeping Brown as a nominee after it came out that he allegedly beat up Rihanna. But Brown ended up withdrawing his nomination.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson. Now, more brand-new details about the Chris Brown-Rihanna drama.
HAMMER: That`s right, Brooke. Tonight, Justin Timberlake`s shocking revelations of what really happened the night Chris Brown and Rihanna didn`t show up for the Grammies. Just hours before they were scheduled to perform live, word came that Chris was arrested for allegedly beating Rihanna. Both stars canceled. And what you ended up seeing was this.
(VIDEO CLIP OF 2009 GRAMMY AWARDS)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: Justin Timberlake and Al Green scrambled to put together a duet of Green`s classic, "Let`s Stay Together." And now, for the very first time, J.T. reveals to Oprah the chaos leading up to that moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, POP STAR: I come into the dressing room, and I have the president of NARAS, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the producer of the Grammies and then president of CBS - they`re all in my dressing room.
And I walk in. And it is just like doom and gloom. Everybody is like - you know, they`re like, "What can you do?" And, so - I don`t know. I looked at the list of presenters that was going to be on the show. And I saw that the Reverend Al Green was going to be on the show.
And that the story that I told prior to the performance is actually true. I found out that we live down the street from each other. And we have become pretty good friends. And I was like, "Let`s Stay Together" - Al Green and myself and then Keith Urban on guitar.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And Brooke, what`s incredible here is that Justin also said that he and Al Green only rehearsed that song once before they did it on stage together.
ANDERSON: That is pretty amazing. True professionals, A.J. All right. Now, in a brand-new surprising move, Rihanna got a controversial gun tattooed on the side of her body. In a SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive interview, I asked Rihanna`s tattoo artist if it was really her idea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BANG-BANG, RIHANNA`S TATTOO ARTIST: No. I drew it. I put it on her and she loved it. As far as why it is a gun, a lot of people have been asking me, "Do you think it has something to do with her domestic violence issues?" And I would say, absolutely not. If someone asked me what a gun means to me, maybe protection and power. It`s very empowering. And she is very empowered right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Bang-Bang also tells us Rihanna is doing just fine.
HAMMER: Now, the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what is coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Why is the publicist who called the octomom "nuts" now coming to her defense?
Why is Ashton Kutcher getting his chest waxed for the world to see?
And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT heads to Africa for the latest on the backlash against Madonna as she tries to adopt another baby. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
ANDERSON: And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: New dating show, "More to Love," will feature overweight contestants. "Monsters versus Aliens" wins weekend box office, earning $58.2 million!
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT - defending the octomom. He called her "greedy." He called her "nuts." So why is the octomom`s former publicist now defending her? Tonight, the explosive new interview. And why are so many other people now getting behind her? Tonight, a fired-up SHOWBIZ showdown, defending the octomom.
Also this -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KUTCHER: Hey! Hey! Comment t`appelles tu? Tres joli. A tout a l`heure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Caught on tape, Ashton Kutcher getting his chest waxed. Ouch.
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you from Hollywood. And tonight, defending the octomom.
HAMMER: Brooke, octomom Nadya Suleman has been accused of being an absentee mom, of keeping a chaotic house, and of having absolutely no security. But now, people are jumping to her defense. And it is making big news right now.
Tonight, the octomom`s ex-publicist - yes, the same guy who once called her "nuts" and "greedy" - is jumping to her defense. In a brand-new interview just released, he tells "Radar Online" that octomom was bullied by the nurses who were brought in to help her from Angels in Waiting.
And he is not the only one defending the octomom. Our "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are overloaded with a lot of calls saying, "It is time to back off." So are the octotides changing? Is it time to stand up in defense of the octomom?
Joining me in Hollywood is Lillian Glass who is a psychologist. And in New York tonight is Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of course, of "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL" seen weekday nights, 7:00 p.m. Eastern right here on HLN.
I appreciate you both being with us tonight. The octomom`s ex- publicist, a guy named Victor Munoz, is a man, who in the past, as I said, has called the octomom "nuts." Now, Victor is now jumping to octomom`s defense. He`s telling "Radar Online" that Angels in Waiting and the returning Gloria Allred were downright bullies. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VICTOR MUNOZ, NADYA SULEMAN`S EX-PUBLICIST: I felt from day one that she was being bullied to going into Gloria Allred`s camp. I never understood that and I never wanted her to do it. For both parties - I thought it was never a great situation for either one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Lillian Glass, I`d look to begin with you. Is it time someone finally stepped up to defend the octomom.
LILLIAN GLASS, PSYCHOLOGIST: Absolutely, and I`m doing that. Because we`ve vilified her enough. We`ve called her a crazy monster. We call her the octomom. Her name is Nadya Suleman.
And she is resourceful. She is doing everything she can for these children. And in the history of the world, she is the person that has had eight children that have survived. And you have to give that to her.
HAMMER: Jane Velez-Mitchell, off to you. You are among those who have said, well shall I say, not most flattering things about octomom.
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": Well, look this ex-publicist is essentially saying Angels in Waiting acted in an opportunistic way, pushing a plush toy and a book - I don`t know if that is true. But if it is, it`s no shock.
Water finds its own level. Nadya Suleman, octomom, whatever you want to call her has turned her life and family into a cash cow. She has really exhibited crass commercialism. And of course other people are going to see that and go, "Look at that. Maybe I can make some money off of that too. Maybe there is an opportunity there for me."
So opportunists are going to continue to come out of the woodwork. She`s the one who created this situation in the first place, though, by living in a fish bowl.
HAMMER: She did allow it to become a three-ring circus. I will give you that. But wait. Of course, there is more. The octomom`s former publicist also talks about all that controversy over the hospital where the babies were born, giving the octomom an actual checklist of requirements before they would release any of the kids. He defends the octomom saying that was just standard operating procedure. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MUNOZ: It wasn`t a threatening list at all. It was a simple list that are given to every parent that has preemies coming home. Clean the carpets. Clean the walls. Get rid of the dust. The list did not say, "The kids are not coming home if you don`t do these specific things." They were merely suggestions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. If all that is true, I see where he is coming from. Lillian, do you agree with him that this was really another example of perhaps the octomom not really getting a fair shake about things?
GLASS: Yes, this is an example of Nadya not getting a fair shake of things because she did comply and they just overly dramatized everything.
HAMMER: Everybody has been wondering though, why would she sell her interviews? Why would she go online and do this daily video diary?
Well, her ex-publicist did have something to say about that defending the octomom`s right as a single mom of 14 to sell those interviews so, you know, she can make a few bucks, support the family.
And in an exclusive interview with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the octomom`s current publicist and attorney, a guy named Jeff Czech, confirmed to me - and this was for the very first time - that the octomom does in fact get paid by "Radar Online" and some other media. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF CZECH, NADYA SULEMAN`S ATTORNEY AND PUBLICIST: Well, she does have an arrangement with "Radar Online," of course. She has been ridiculed greatly for accepting public assistance. She obviously is a mother of 14 and she does need some income and they are paying her some money. I am presently working with Nadya to make some arrangements so that she can hopefully support her large family in the future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Jane Velez-Mitchell, a lot of mixed feelings about this. He is defending the octomom`s right to sell her story. Is it better for the octomom to sell her interviews as opposed to accepting public assistance?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, it is not either/or, A.J. Let`s face it. She boxed herself into a corner by doing something wildly inappropriate, namely, having 14 kids without the resources to take care of them.
So she has no choice but to sell her story. But to claim that she might possibly have a normal life after that or these poor kids will have a normal life, that`s like somebody setting their house on fire and saying, "You know what? In the midst of the flames, I am going to sit down on my plush couch and watch a TV show."
It`s just not going to happen. She has set up a situation that requires her to turn her family into a commercial enterprise. These kids are going to have psychological problems as a result. And the moral lesson here is don`t have 14 kids.
HAMMER: So Lillian Glass, how do we stand in defense of that?
GLASS: Well, we don`t know if they`re going to have problems down the road. Some of them may. Some of them may not. But one of the things that I am very impressed about when I watch the video of her is she is loving. And she does talk to them sweetly and tenderly. And she is very resourceful. So, the verdict is still out on that.
HAMMER: Lillian, you will be happy to know you are not the only one defending the octomom. The octomom`s gaggle of publicists not the only one jumping to her defense. "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been ringing nonstop, literally overwhelmed. A lot of people are calling in to us to also defend the octomom.
Call I want to play from Ann in North Carolina. Ann says Angels in Waiting and the returning Gloria Allred are to blame for the whole ordeal. Listen to Ann.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
ANN, CALLER FROM NORTH CAROLINA: I think that Gloria Allred and Angels in Waiting set out to tear Nadya and her family apart. Shame on them. Who do they think they are?
You can just tell Nadya was telling the truth. Angels in Waiting are making up stuff just to make her look bad. The octomom is a beautiful woman and she is going to do a fine job.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Doing a fine job. Lillian, let me go back to you for that. Do you believe that now with everything we do know, Ann is right, octomom will do a fine job? Can we really say that?
GLASS: I think she will do the best she possibly can. And she does love those children. And that`s a big deal. That says a lot. And she is very resourceful, so I think they may turn out pretty good. The first two turned out pretty well.
HAMMER: All right. Well, I want to hear now from one of the octomom`s biggest critics, Linda West-Conforti. Linda, of course, was the head of the Angels in Waiting group that provided the free nurse service and was the woman who was, of course, dramatically fired by the octomom last week. She told Dr. Phil the octomom doesn`t care about her kids. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LINDA WEST-CONFORTI, HEAD OF ANGELS IN WAITING: How can I talk to Nadya when she won`t - she is up in her bedroom reading 200 letters versus coming down feeding her babies? This woman does not care for these kids. I could honestly - that is my honest opinion. She is in here for the paparazzi, the media.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Now, Jane, what do you think? Is it possible to back off the octomom when we hear something like that?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, look, to me, Linda seems like somewhat bitter pill. If I had to be stuck on a desert island, I would probably choose Nadya Suleman over Linda.
But the bottom line here is that I have no personal animosity against Nadya Suleman. I wish her the best. She does seem like a loving mother. But what she did by having 14 kids is just plain, old inappropriate.
During the time that we had this discussion, dozens of kids, according to statistics, have died around the world of starvation and malnutrition. There is a limited number of resources on this planet. And to have this many kids and to say more is better is just irresponsible in today`s world, period.
HAMMER: Well, with the number of people coming to her defense, it will be interesting to see if people do begin to back off.
Lillian Glass, Jane Velez-Mitchell, thank you both. And for a complete coverage of all of the octomom drama, please surf on over to our Web site. It is CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
We`d also like you to call us at "Showbiz on Call" to let us know what you think about the octomom or anything else at all that is on your mind. "Showbiz on Call" phone lines are always open. The number to dial is 1- 888-SBT-BUZZ; that is 1-888-728-2899. That way, you can leave us a voicemail. We can play your call right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
ANDERSON: A.J., I don`t know about you, but sometimes Ashton Kutcher`s "Punked" makes me a little bit uncomfortable because it really catches people off-guard.
HAMMER: Well, Brooke, I assure you. You have got to hang on to your seat because you`re not going to believe what Ashton does to himself and it is all caught on tape.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KUTCHER: Hey. Hey. Comment t`appelles tu? Tres joli. A tout a l`heure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Wait until you hear the story behind Ashton`s chest waxing video. Ashton like you`ve never seen him before.
ANDERSON: All right. Tonight, Madonna`s adoption battle. The brand-new backlash over her plans to adopt a little girl from Malawi. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is going all the way to east Africa for the very latest on this drama.
HAMMER: All right, you know the Shamwow guy from those TV infomercials? You have seen him before. Well, he may have gotten himself into a real mess. This is a scandalous story. And who knows it could very well end his career. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Tim Allen and wife welcome a baby girl named Elizabeth. Bruce Willis makes marriage official with civil ceremony in Los Angeles.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KUTCHER: That tickles. This is awful. Hey! Hey!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yikes! This is not a wild stunt with Ashton Kutcher turning the punked cameras on himself. No, the chest wax and the pain are the real deal. Can you say TMI?
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Did you see this? Ashton Kutcher is video blogging about having to wax his chest for a movie. This is the kind of thing, you`d think Ashton would get unsuspecting actor to do for an episode of "Punked," right?
This is actually for Ashton`s own movie. Ashton actually wasn`t forced to take it all off for the role. Get this, he did it because his stunt double waxed his chest. It`s a pretty hysterical story. So we`ll let him tell it. And then, just wait until you see Ashton get his first taste of hot wax. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KUTCHER: So my stunt double waxed his chest. And now, we have a scene that we have to do in the water and then climb up this like two-story chain on to a boat. They won`t, for insurance reasons, let me do the stunt.
Now, I am being forced to wax my chest which I have never done before and I`m completely freaked out about it. Why? Why would a stunt man shave his - why would he wax down his chest without checking to see what the actor has got first? I think chest hair is back.
This is Angelie. And Angelie is going to be removing the hair from my body. Have you done this before?
ANGELIE: Yes, of course. Don`t worry.
KUTCHER: Have you done this on a guy before?
ANGELIE: No, no.
KUTCHER: No. See, no.
ANGELIE: It`s not really painful.
KUTCHER: It`s not really painful, pulling hairs out of your body?
ANGELIE: Yes. You will see.
KUTCHER: That tickles. This is awful. Hey. Hey. That`s body parts. That is something else. You know, this is why I did the `70s show. When you are on the show that is the `70s show, you don`t have to worry about stuff like this. This is completely - have you ever seen the `70s show? It`s OK. I have never seen it either.
Comment t`appelles tu? Tres joli. A tout a l`heure. Oh, wow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, now, Ashton knows a little secret we girls have known for years, beauty is pain. Beauty is pain.
HAMMER: OK. Let`s move on. Now, it`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s continuing coverage of the Madonna adoption backlash. And now, we`re taking you directly to Africa for the very latest developments.
Madonna was in a Malawi court today to make her case to adopt a girl who is 3 or 4 years old. But a judge put the case on hold until Friday.
Tonight, there are brand-new demands that Madonna back off, charges she is getting special treatment, the same claims made when she adopted her first child from Malawi. CNN correspondent, David McKenzie is in Africa covering the controversy for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I spoke with David who is in nearby Nairobi.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(on camera): OK. So, David, what has the reaction been there to Madonna trying to adopt a child? Are people pretty accepting of this?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, A.J., it depends on who you talk to. The reaction is split down the middle. International aid groups have been pretty vocal, saying this shouldn`t be done, that Madonna shouldn`t be going to Malawi and taking a child from the family, an extended family and taking it back to the U.S.
Actually, they say the children get (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Folks have been telling CNN they shouldn`t take the kids to pop stars mansions as he put it, which is quite harsh. But basically, people on the ground in Malawi - it`s a mixed reaction, A.J.
Some people say, you know, this is a great opportunity for this child to go with Madonna back to the U.S. It would be a better life in terms of education. And as long as Madonna brought her back occasionally to Malawi, they`d think it is fine. So really, depending on who you talk to, it is a hot button issue. And you can`t really get any one who doesn`t have an opinion. A.J.?
HAMMER: David, I know in addition to the people you mentioned who are against this adoption. Reportedly, the young girl`s grandmother says she is even going to try to block this. Now, we know the young child`s mother died. We know the father is still alive. But the child does live in an orphanage.
Is there any sense as to whether or not the grandmother could influence the outcome of this adoption process in any way?
MCKENZIE: Well she could influence it if she chose to. Certainly, those early reports suggested that the grandmother of the young girl whose name means Mercy was in fact against the adoption. But those reports are kind of dissipated.
And now, it seems like the family is for this adoption. A.J., the only time we`ll really know about this is after that hearing on Friday. It`s been a closed court session. Madonna ran into the courtroom, running out. Not really speaking to reporters. There`s obviously a real media circus in Malawi right now.
And so we will get really - all those details will come out on Friday. The judge will make a judgment. He will say whether he can, in fact, this global megastar can take this young 4-year-old from her home in Malawi back to the states. A.J.?
HAMMER: One thing that has been a very foggy element in this whole thing, I have been hearing that in Malawi, you can`t adopt a child if you are unmarried or divorced. And of course, Madonna is both of those things. So David, the law is still a little unclear. What about the attitude about that?
MCKENZIE: Well the attitudes are quite conservative in most of Africa. Certainly, A.J., in Malawi, it`s quite a conservative country. I don`t think that a person from Malawi, a Malawian, would really be able to adopt very easily a child who needed adoption and that person was a single mother.
The difficulty here is - the question is, is Madonna getting special treatment because of her power, because of her status, because of her, you know, name across the world? Certainly, she has done a lot to help the children of Malawi. She has a group that builds schools, that helps children on the ground there.
But the question is, and what people have grumbled about here in Africa is, not so much whether this child necessarily should be getting the possibility of a better life, but is Madonna getting different set of rules because of her celebrity status?
And we`ll have to see because, you know, often these things drag out for months and years in Africa. And certainly, even if it`s as late as Friday, it`s a pretty speedy resolution. A.J.
HAMMER: We will be waiting to see what happens on Friday then. CNN`s David McKenzie in Nairobi, Africa. Thank you so much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The supermodel Giselle Bundchen`s stunning comments about becoming a stepmom. It`s the revealing new interview about being a stepmom to new hubby Tom Brady`s baby. Giselle in her words, 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: New Kids on the Block announce summer tour. Josh Hartnett rushed to hospital for abdominal pains.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VINCE SHLOMI, "SHAMWOW" GUY: Shamwow. You`ll be saying "wow" every time you use this towel. It`s like a chamois. It`s like a towel. It`s like a sponge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, you know him as the hyper Shamwow pitchman. But now, Vince Shlomi may be in some hot water that`s quite frankly going to be tough to clean up.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Now, police in Miami reportedly arrested the Shamwow guy after he allegedly roughed up a prostitute. TheSmokingGun.com reports that Vince Shlomi met the woman at a nightclub and took her back to his hotel.
Shlomi told cops they started kissing and then she bit down on his tongue and wouldn`t let go. That`s when he punched her several times. The Shamwow pitchman and the woman are both facing battery charges.
ANDERSON: From supermodel to model stepmom, Giselle Bundchen reveals brand-new intimate details about being a stepmother. Bundchen tells "Vanity Fair" she had only been dating New England Patriot`s quarterback Tom Brady for 2 1/2 months when she found out the bombshell news that Brady`s ex-girlfriend was pregnant.
Now Bundchen, who married Brady in February, says she feels as close to her stepson John as his own mother does, quote, "I understand that he has a mom, and I respect that, but to me, it`s not like because somebody else delivered him that`s not my child. I feel it is, 100 percent. I want him to have a great relationship with his mom, but I love him the same way as if her were mine."
The baby`s mother is actress Bridget Moynahan.
HAMMER: Well, Katherine Heigl is dealing with more off-camera drama about her on-camera role on ABC`s "Grey`s Anatomy." Now, even though Heigl`s character, Dr. Izzie Stevens, just had brain surgery, Heigl says she`s not leaving the show. Heigl says she`s not sure if her character lives or dies. But the actress does say she is committed to the show.
Now, all of this comes after several reports last month that both she and co-star T.R. Knight were leaving "Grey`s Anatomy."
Well, on Friday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day. "Two More Babies Home: Is the octuplet mom turning it around?" Look at how the voting went.
Only eight percent of you said yes. 92 percent said no. Among the E- mails, we heard from Joy Ann in Georgia who writes, "I don`t think that Nadya is turning things around. She needs to stop making those daily video updates and take care of her children. They need love and attention from their mother, not from the nurses."
And Chris from West Virginia writing, "Nadya seems like a nice person and I wish people would not be so hard on her."
Well, that is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Thank you so much for watching. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson in Hollywood. Don`t forget, you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific, and also in the morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern right here on HLN. Take care.
END
