Colin Farrell sues to quash sex tape
LOS ANGELES, July 19 (UPI) -- Irish actor Colin Farrell is suing his former girlfriend in Los Angeles to prevent the release and sales of a steamy sex tape they made two years ago.
Farrell's suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday claims he and Nicole Narain -- Playboy's Miss January 2002 -- filmed their actions for their own enjoyment and agreed to never release the 15-minute tape publicly or commercially, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
The suit says the tape recently surfaced when Farrell's talent agent was contacted by the Internet Commerce Group, which owns pornographic Internet sites, announcing plans to "commercially exploit" the tape.
Farrell seeks unspecified damages and a permanent injunction against distribution of the tape with all copies returned to him.
Lil' Kim sues Lil' Cease for $6 million
NEW YORK, July 19 (UPI) -- Rapper Lil' Kim has filed a $6 million lawsuit in New York against a former collaborator and friend whose testimony is sending her to jail for a year.
Kimberly Jones was convicted of federal conspiracy and perjury charges stemming from a shooting outside a New York radio station four years ago.
Apparently, she wants to take some cash to the clink, because she's suing James "Lil' Cease" Lloyd for using her name and image in the DVD, "The Chronicles of Junior M.A.F.I.A," the group she left in 2001.
During Jones' trial in March, Lloyd contradicted her testimony, which helped lead to her conviction for lying to a grand jury and prison sentence.
She's supposed to report to prison on Sept. 19.
Coldplay nominated for Mercury Prize
LONDON, July 19 (UPI) -- The Kaiser Chiefs are 4-1 favorites to win this year's Mercury Prize, even though they are up against Coldplay's "X&Y" for the prestigious British award.
In addition to the Chiefs' album "Employment" and Coldplay, this year's nominees announced Tuesday include Bloc Party's "Silent Alarm," "Arular" by M.I.A. and Maximo Park's "A Certain Trigger," the Guardian reported.
British bookies quickly jumped on the Kaiser Chiefs' bandwagon, but a spokesman for William Hill predicted a close race this year.
The other nominees are: Antony and the Johnsons "I Am A Bird Now," The Go! Team "Thunder, Lightning, Strike," Hard-Fi "Stars of CCTV," K.T. Tunstall "Eye to the Telescope," The Magic Numbers "The Magic Numbers," Polar Bear "Held on the Tips of Fingers" and "Kitty Jay" by Seth Lakeman.
The 2005 Mercury Prize winner will be announced during a live ceremony to be broadcast live Sept. 6 on BBC TV and radio.
Ashanti says producer didn't earn wage
NEW YORK, July 19 (UPI) -- Pop star Ashanti testified in New York federal court she did not pay producer Genard Parker any money because he didn't earn it.
Parker is suing the singer for $4 million, claiming she signed a contract as a teenager promising him a cut of her future earnings.
Ashanti, 24, told jurors Monday: "I was like 16 years old," when her mother made the deal with Parker.
She said nothing ever came of the songs she recorded in the bathroom of Parker's apartment. Their relationship ended when a series of record deals Parker negotiated failed to materialize, she said.
Parker's lawyers played a videotape of the then 16-year-old calling the producer "inspirational" -- just moments after she testified she never described him in those terms.
