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Nicki Minaj Is The Latest Celeb To Get A Too-Close-For-Comfort Pat Down From The TSA

Posted 7/10/12 2:20 pm EST by in nicki minaj, Tweet Beat

By Cristina Recino

Nicki Minaj is the latest star to alert fans about a TSA agent getting a little too touchy feely at an airport.

The famously voluptuous hip-hop princess took to Twitter to discuss her experience with the Transportation Security Administration at London’s Heathrow Airport, saying, “Pretty sure I was just overtly fondled @ this check point. By a very old lady w/an accent. Word?”

Minaj then took a picture of the back of the TSA agents, which got her into trouble. She had a response to that too: “So TSA always takes pics of me while doing their job! But would u believe they just told ME EYE couldn’t take pics???? Wow. ?#luckyIMsick.”

The "Starships" singer was on her way to the Philippines after performing at Scotland’s T in the Park festival over the weekend.

But Minaj isn’t the only celeb to claim similar fondling at international airports. Khloe Kardashian infamously compared being body searched at the airport to rape, and "Jersey Shore" star Jenni J-WOWW Farley said she was “treated like a criminal” when going through security.

Hoping to bring the incidents of celeb airport harassment to a halt, as we previously reported, the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Transportation Subcommittee met in early June to offer the TSA advice on improving its image and provide suggestions to make the agency more efficient. One of their recommendations included an initiative to implement a more risk-based approach to security focusing on passengers the TSA has less information about.

Meaning famous faces should get a pass through the checkpoints! We'll just let Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Transportation Subcommittee, explain: "There are certain people that are just so well-known that you've just got to use your common sense. Because if you start patting them down, people are going to say, 'They're patting down Beyonce.' I mean, she's not going to blow a plane up.'"

So don't worry, Nicki, Rep. Mike Rogers has your back!

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Lady Gaga As Amped As We Are For The New No Doubt Album, Push And Shove

Posted 7/6/12 2:20 pm EST by in Lady Gaga, no doubt, Tweet Beat

By Zachary Swickey

We’re not the only ones excited about the new No Doubt record (their first in 11 years) – Lady Gaga reveals that she is “freaking out” about the new album.

Gwent Stefani and Co. are currently putting the finishing touches on their upcoming sixth studio album, Push and Shove, which is bound to fly off shelves just like No Doubt’s last effort, ‘01’s Rocksteady.

Lady Gaga hit up her Twitter account today (July 6) to reveal her excitement about the upcoming effort, writing, “Is anyone else freaking out about No Doubt putting out a new album. I can’t wait!”

Gaga will get her first taste of some new ND material soon enough; the band releases their new single, “Settle Down,” on July 16. No Doubt has already wrapped the track's video and recently posted a behind-the-scenes making-of featurette (below), which sadly doesn't give us even a tease of the new song and is set to their hit "Underneath it All," on their Facebook page.

No Doubt will perform the live debut of “Settle Down” July 22 at Nickelodeon’s Teen Choice Awards, which will be the band’s first official performance since their reunion tour back in ’09. They’re also set for appearances on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” on July 26 and a “Good Morning America” on July 27.

Push and Shove is largely produced by Mike “Spike” Stent (Madonna, Lady Gaga, U2), but ND also hooked up with Diplo and Switch (collectively known as Major Lazer), who contributed to the album’s title track.

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Britney Spears Shows Off Toned Bikini Body In Hawaii (Pic)

Posted 7/6/12 9:47 am EST by in Britney Spears, Tweet Beat

Lookin' good!

On vacation in Hawaii, pop superstar and (apparently tough) "X Factor" judge Britney Spears showed off a side of herself we used to see all the time but which has been a bit more allusive in recent years – her flawless abs.

Flanked by her young sons Sean Preston, 6, and Jayden James, 5, the "Till The World Ends" star posed for a pic, which she posted to her Twitter for fans to enjoy, before heading out for some fun in the sun with her boys and fiance Jason Trawick. She looks as healthy and happy as we've ever seen her!

"Getting ready for some pool time! Having a blast xxoo," she tweeted.

Check it out:

Britney Spears, Twitter

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Let's Help Ke$ha Name Her Kitten!

Posted 7/5/12 4:01 pm EST by in Tweet Beat

Kesha, Instagram

By Brandon Specktor

Two things we know for sure: 1) Mama always told us "don't accept gifts that a strange Russian forces through your car window outside a strip club at night, especially if that gift is a live animal," and 2) If anyone's gonna break that rule, it's gonna be Ke$ha.

As K recently tweeted, she is the proud new mama of a kitty "rescued" from a "Russian sketch ball" she met "after hitting a gnarly strip club" two nights ago. As you can see on Instagram, the expat pussycat is pretty adorbs. He is also tragically nameless.

How to go about such an important decision? The pop star posted an impromptu crayon ballot ("Mr. Peep$" and "Dave Grohl" seem to be the front-runners,) but so far nothing's stuck. We could look to other famous furballs for inspiration. It is a matter of public record that Katy Perry's cat companion answers to Kitty Purry. So what would the felinification of Ke$ha's name be? Probably something lame like Kat$ha. So no. We're better than that. Here's five more brilliant suggestions:

1. Meow-gic Mike. Like Channing Tatum before him, this nameless clutch of hungry muscle started his career at a strip club. Let's foster fraternity between nudie bar refugees, and just maybe, with the help of Ke$ha's powerful influence, no cat will ever have to parade itself in a**less chaps for a tin of kibble again.

2. Dollar Sign ("$" to his colleagues). They say that pets adopt the traits of their owners. If that's true, this kitty will no doubt develop a quick taste for the finer things, and for abbreviating his identity with a single number pad keystroke.

3. Dr. Glitterbomb. We like this one because it sounds kind of sinister. Like, if Ke$ha weaponized her glitter bombs on a world-threatening scale, this cat would no doubt be her faithful lap pet/Chief of Evil Party Science. Also, if on the off chance this cat should become a YouTube musical sensation (it happens), maybe he can sign on as a guest producer on Ke$ha's next record. Think about it: "Purrrty All Night (Doc Glitterbomb mix)." Just sounds right, doesn't it?

4. White Russian. Because he was probably rescued from one, and his fur has that succulent cream-and-kahlua tint. The Dude abides.

So what should it be? Let us know in the comments below!

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Rihanna Pays Tribute To Late Grandmother On Twitter

Posted 7/3/12 11:16 am EST by in Rihanna, Tweet Beat

A heartbroken Rihanna has pulled out of the Rock in Rio concert following the death of her beloved grandmother.

Earlier today (July 2), the pop superstar tweeted a photo of herself (right) about to board a plane with the caption, "Coming home to squeeze ya mama."

On July 1, Rihanna tweeted, "Goodbye #grangranDOLLY get your beauty rest until I see you," and has since been tweeting pictures of herself with her grandmother. In mid-March, Rihanna tweeted a series of images, many with the hashtag #grangrandollybday, from her grandmother's birthday celebration. Those pictures showed off a softer side of Rihanna, that of a devoted granddaughter, one who hit the kitchen to cook up some goods before enjoying a glass of wine with her grandparents, who met in Guyana before moving to Barbados and later the U.S. Growing up, Rihanna regularly spent holidays in New York with her grandparents.

In other pictures from the party, it's clear Rihanna showered Gran Gran Dolly with gifts and the family enjoyed cake and champagne as well as a fun game of dress-up. In several images, both her grandmother and grandfather Lionel sport sideways-skewed baseball caps and heavy gold chains.

The pictures that Rihanna tweeted Sunday and yesterday reveal that in the months since, her grandmother's health had deteriorated drastically. Global Grind reports that after a courageous fight, Gran Gran Dolly lost her battle with cancer.

Rihanna, Twitter

Our thoughts are with Rihanna at this hard time.

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Rihanna Escapes London Hotel Fire

Posted 6/28/12 12:00 pm EST by in Rihanna, Tweet Beat

Rihanna, Instagram

By Zachary Swickey

Smoking hot Rihanna had to evacuate her hotel in London yesterday after a fire broke out in one of the elevator shafts.

The Barbadian-born singer was rushed out of the Corinthia Hotel in Whitehall around 6 a.m. Thankfully, the fire was only minor, but around 300 hotel guests were evacuated from five-star digs, reports Metro.

It didn’t take long for Ri Ri to take refuge in a cab and tweet pictures of the incident onto Instagram.

“Roamin da streets since 6am! Fyah in da telly #evacuationlife,” she wrote.

Rihanna, Instagram

A spokesman for the hotel explained that the fire started "at approximately 6.30am, one of the service elevator motors burnt out. There was a slight discharge of smoke and because of our robust fire management policy, the alarms were activated and a full evacuation of the building was carried out."

He further elaborated: "As a matter of procedure, the fire brigade were called to carry out full safety checks throughout the building. All guests were safely accounted for and allowed back into the hotel soon after 7 a.m."

With Rihanna safe and sound, she can continue her string of successful European shows. On Sunday night (June 24) she appeared with Jay-Z at BBC Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend festival.

Next, she’s set to headline the Wireless Festival, taking place from July 6-8 at London’s Hyde Park, for about 65,000 fans. Other notable headliners include Drake and DeadMau5.

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Like Mother, Like Daughter: Lourdes Tries On Madonna's Cone Bra Backstage (Pic)

Posted 6/28/12 9:48 am EST by in Madonna, Tweet Beat

Exactly how appropriate a pose the 15-year-old is striking is another story.

Madonna's very own Material Girl, Lourdes Leon, had a little fun backstage on mom's "MDNA Tour" and tried on her mother's cone bra costume over her clothes and struck a sassy pose. The image was tweeted from the M and L's Material Girl Twitter account with the caption, "Lola backstage at MDNA!"

Check it out:

Material Girl, Twitter; Getty

Madonna made the cone bra famous (infamous?) on her 1990 "Blonde Ambition" tour and had the design's original designer, Jean Paul Gaultier, revamp the classic costume for her current "MDNA Tour."

After Lourdes was busted smoking a cigarette by photographers earlier this year, Madonna told "Rock Center's" Harry Smith that she "wasn't very happy" and felt she needed to toughen up as a mother. We assume these images – though Lola is clearly just goofing around – will only serve to stiffen her resolve with the daring teen.

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Lady Gaga Settles Charity Lawsuit And Covertly Responds To South African Controversy

Posted 6/26/12 12:10 pm EST by in Lady Gaga, Tweet Beat

By Zachary Swickey

No good deed goes unpunished, as pop superstar Lady Gaga found out when she tried to raise money for victims of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The accusations came in the form of a nasty lawsuit claiming that the charity she had set up for the victims was not donating 100 percent of the proceeds, and to settle the claim Gaga will write a big check for charity.

The lawsuit claims that fans and visitors to her website were misled with a charitable promotion selling wristbands – an idea similar to Lance Armstrong’s “Live Strong” bracelets. The charity stated that all proceeds would directly go to relief funds. However, the lawsuit claims that the sales tax and $4 charge for shipping created additional funds that were not donated.

Originally, Gaga offered the wristbands for just five bucks with the message “We Pray For Japan” stamped on them while also offering visitors the opportunity to donate more money. Public court records show that around $1.5 million was raised for the victims of the tsunami disaster, but Detroit-based attorney Alyson Oliver claimed the shipping and tax charges weren’t going to charity.

To settle the suit, Lady Gaga and several other defendants – who all feel the lawsuit has no credit – will pay an additional $107,500 to charity for the tsunami victims.

In other typical Gaga drama, a religious group with the long-winded name (Christians Against Lady Gaga & Beyonce’s SA (South-African) Tours) has got a few thousand followers behind them protesting the singer’s upcoming tour of South Africa. Not everyone is protesting the tour, of course, as ticket sales for the shows crashed the servers for the Computicket website.

The organization began a four-day “prayer avalanche” to support their cause and stop the “filthy demon” known as Lady Gaga from performing.

In a tongue-in-cheek pic post on her Twitter account, the superstar somewhat responded with a risqué photo of herself and caption reading, "Hey Melbourne we're here! We can hear you downstairs! Is that church bell ringing for us? The devil of pop is here."

The “Devil of Pop” and proud of it:

Lady Gaga, Twitter

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Blur To Debut Two New Songs Through Live Twitter Performance

Posted 6/25/12 1:30 pm EST by in Music, Tweet Beat

Blur

By Zachary Swickey

You have to love the future of technology, especially when it brings you two new songs from a band that hasn’t released an album in nearly ten years. We’re referring to the surprise announcement from English alt-rockers Blur that they will be debuting two new songs via Twitter next week.

The critically acclaimed quartet led by Damon Albarn of Gorillaz fame announced (video below) that they will perform two new songs – “Under the Westway” and “The Puritan” – on a rooftop (much like the Beatles final rooftop performance) in a live stream exclusively found on Blur’s handle on the social networking site.

It’s all going down at 6:15 pm BST on July 2 at @BlurOfficial. The songs will be available for digital download following the performance and a limited edition single is set for release on August 6.

Twitter’s UK division general manager, Tony Wang, was excited that the band decided to utilize Twitter to debut their new songs.

"People all over the world are connecting with the musicians they love on Twitter. Blur is taking this idea even further by debuting two new songs through a live stream and having a direct conversation with their fans on the platform,” Wang said.

He continued, "They know what their fans want and are setting the pace for the future of artist engagement online."

Meanwhile, there’s no telling what the future holds for Blur. Just this April, Albarn was saying future performances were “unlikely,” yet here we are with two new tunes and the band set to headline the Olympic closing ceremonies concert at London's Hyde Park. Not that we’re complaining… Read More...

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Lily Allen Confirms Work On New Album

Posted 6/20/12 1:06 pm EST by in Lily-Allen, Music, Tweet Beat

Lily Allen

So shut the f**k up about it, OK?!

It's been rumored for a while, as we previously reported, but today (June 20) Lily Allen confirmed what fans of the British pop doll have been longing to hear – that she's coming out of "retirement" and is in the studio working on a follow-up her 2009 hit It's Not Me, It's You.

As people are wont to do these days, the news was broken via tweet. Responding to a tweet from Popjustice regarding Kate Nash's return to music, which read, "It's better than no music at all isn't it. ISN'T IT LILY," Allen – whose Twitter handle is @lilyrosecooper – hit back, tweeting, "You will be pleased to know that I am currently in the f**king studio with @GregKurstin so SHUT UP PETER!"

(The "Peter" in question is Popjustice editor Peter Robinson.)

Allen "retired" from the music in 2010 to focus on fashion with her store, Lucy in Disguise, and later her family life with husband Sam Cooper and their first child, Ethel, born in November 2011. The "Smile" singer had said she was swearing off recording new material of her own, though she's recently been has penning songs for the upcoming "Bridget Jones' Diary" musical set to premiere in London's famed West End later this year.

In April, she was spotted at RAK Studios in St John's Wood, London, though she didn't comment at that time. Kurstin has worked with Allen before – he co-wrote and produced her 2008 hit "The Fear" – and is on something of a roll right now, having co-written and produced Kelly Clarkson's mega-smash "Stronger."

She followed up the announcement of her studio sessions with Kurstin with a bit of insight into exactly what she's up to, tweeting, "No big deal really, I'm just throwing s**t at the wall and seeing if anything sticks."

As longtime fans anxious for new searing pop ditties from the affable Allen, we certainly hope something does!

Check out Allen's last collaboration with Kurstin, "The Fear," below!

Read More...

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