We can't say we didn't see this one coming. While the Disney Corporation has been willing to look the other way when young starlets like
Miley Cyrus and
Vanessa Hudgens get snared in racy-picture scandals, you can be sure they don't want someone accused of drug possession playing to family audiences.
When Barenaked Ladies singer Steven Page was arrested on drug charges Friday morning, he admitted to cops that he had been snorting cocaine, according to a Canadian Press report. Page, 38 — whose band is booked on the Disney Block Party Tour this summer, along with such kid-friendly acts as Dan Zanes, Choo Choo Soul, Ralph's World and Raven-Symoné — told police, "Yeah, it's cocaine," according to court documents, echoing the statement given by Stephanie Ford, 25, who told cops she had just finished snorting what she believed was cocaine with a rolled-up Canadian bill. She said Page had stored several capsules of a white powder from a bottle labeled "Calcium."
Page was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance in the incident and was released after posting $10,000 bail. He is due back in court on August 25 and could face a maximum of 25 years in prison; Ford was also charged with drug possession. Ford told police Page ended up at her apartment after the singer got into a fight with his girlfriend at a bar, and she convinced the Ladies frontman not to drive back to Canada because he had been drinking. Page's girlfriend was arrested later that night and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.
In a statement posted on the official Barenaked Ladies Web site, the band said that Page will fight the charges. "Many of you have probably read or heard press accounts about Steven Page's recent arrest in New York state," reads the post. "Steven has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, and the validity of the charges against Steven will be strongly contested. ... While this is happening, it's business as usual for Barenaked Ladies. We will continue to perform and look forward to heading into the studio later this year to record a new album. We want to thank our loyal fans for their continued support during this difficult time."
The British legal system will never cease to amaze us. After footage emerged in January of her smoking what appeared to be a crack pipe, troubled singer Amy Winehouse was arrested for questioning last month and then not charged. But now the man and woman who police allege supplied her with the drugs have been collared. Police say they've charged John Blagrove, 34, and Cara Burton, 22, with conspiracy to supply cocaine and ecstasy to the "Rehab" singer. The pair were released on bail on Thursday (June 12) and ordered to return to court on July 1. Read more...