Do not give Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian money for cancer charities. Repeat: Do not. Credit: Getty
Oh man. This is not good. I mean, in the spectrum of not good things, this ranks pretty much at the top: Lamar Odom and wife Khloe Kardashian’s charity for kids with cancer looks like a scam. That’s right: They are fleecing kids with cancer. The only thing worse than scamming kids with cancer? Scamming kids with AIDS. That’s it. There’s nothing worse. (OK, maybe scamming orphans with AIDS and/or cancer, but that’s really it.)
A new report by ESPN (and this marks the first time ESPN has been mentioned in this column) says Odom’s charity, Cathy’s Kids, which started in 2004 in honor of Odom’s mother who died from stomach cancer, has raised $2.2 million, but not one cent has gone to cancer-related causes. Instead, it seems like the money has gone to two things: the charity’s “executive,” Jerry DeGregorio, who happened to be the best man in Kardashian’s and Odom’s wedding, and two elite youth basketball travel teams. It’s important to note that none of the kids in that elite basketball team seems to be battling cancer in between traveling to games.
When approached by ESPN, Odom brushed off the allegations with, “It’s my money.”
Actually, if you raise $2.2 million by having people donate their cash to help children with cancer, it’s not your money. I swear. Do I have to go to Hollywood myself to teach these people how to act?
Lohan in Brazil and jokes that she is pregnant
Lindsay Lohan made a very last-minute decision to continue her adventures in Brazil this week, making her way to the São Paulo airport for a flight back to New York only to opt out of getting on the plane, according to E! News. While her manager took the flight as planned, Lohan reportedly checked herself into the Emiliano Hotel with a female friend. “She’s staying on her own dime,” a source say. “She is staying against everyone’s advice.” Lohan’s promotional trip to Brazil for a denim company was to be followed by a quick trip to NYC before heading to L.A. for the Coachella Music Festival and then 90 days of court-ordered rehab. The extended vacation also gave Lohan a chance to get in on the fun of pulling an April Fools’ Day prank on her Twitter followers, posting, “It’s official. Pregnant…” and drawing a flood of shocked reactions. Maybe some of her fans didn’t realize it was a joke because, on the East Coast at least, it was no longer April 1 when the tweet went up. You know, despite everything, I used to like Lohan, but doing an April Fools’ Day joke that reached its pinnacle in 2009 on my Facebook timeline? Unforgivable.
Mayer zips his lips (for once)
John Mayer seems to have turned over a new leaf when it comes to dishing on ex-girlfriends, as in a recent interview with Ellen DeGeneres when he did not rise to her attempts to discuss his recent split from Katy Perry. “It was a very private relationship going in, it was a private relationship during and it’s a private relationship still,” Mayer said. “I can understand asking the question based on some previous answers I have given, but I have finally learned how to put the wall between one thing and the other.” The best DeGeneres could glean from the singer was a rather vague, “I’m on the same journey as everyone else. Coupling is a tricky thing.”
Bieber’s friends love a good time — on his dime
It turns out Justin Bieber doesn’t even have to be home to show his friends a good time. According to E! News, about four male pals have been crashing at Bieber’s L.A. home and throwing some pretty raucous parties in his absence. “The music is loud and everything, but where it is, the homes are so spread apart and so big, so I don’t know how they would be able to hear,” a source says. “They probably complain because when people come up, there are like 20 cars. That was a crazy party. We were just drinking and doing our thing.” The houseguests living it up while Bieber continues his European tour include rappers Lil Twist and King Kevi. And from what the source says, the house sounds like a teenager’s dream: “Right when you open the front door, there is an arcade room, basketball machines, a couple Pac-Mans, ping-pong table,” the source says.
Berry and Martinez in paparazzi fight
Halle Berry and fiance Olivier Martinez had a pretty rough homecoming after their Hawaiian vacation when Martinez got into a bit of a scuffle with paparazzi outside LAX, according to TMZ. Martinez allegedly kicked a photographer in the leg and wrist as he, Berry and Berry’s daughter, Nahla attempted to exit the airport, with Berry reportedly imploring the swarm of shutterbugs, “Get away, there’s a child.” Once Nahla was safely in their waiting SUV, Martinez reportedly stormed back to kick the photographer again before being pulled away by Berry.
