Stephen Tyler has hepatitis C
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Rock legend and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler revealed that he has been fighting a secret battle with hepatitis C.
Tyler admitted to being diagnosed with the infection three years ago, but said in an "Access Hollywood" interview to air Tuesday that, "I've had hepatitis C for a long time, asymptomatic," reported Us magazine.
"I've been pretty quiet about this," said Tyler, a former drug addict. "The band took a break about three years ago. ... (My doctor) said now is the time, and it's 11 months of chemotherapy ... so I went on that, and it about killed me."
As Tyler underwent the form of chemotherapy known as interferon therapy, his marriage to Teresa Barrick was damaged and they ended up divorcing earlier this year, they also have two children together, Us magazine said.
Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the blood, often associated with used needles, said the New York Daily News.
Aaron Carter cancels engagement
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Singer Aaron Carter canceled his and 22-year-old actress Kari Ann Peniche's engagement after just one week, deciding he wasn't ready.
"I got caught up in the moment and proposed. I then realized it was a hasty thing to do and I am not ready for marriage quite yet," Carter, 18, told Us Weekly.
A source told the magazine, "They are just going to be friends now. She still wants to keep dating him but Aaron is not quite sure. He was trying to appease her but came to his senses and realized it was the wrong thing to do."
Carter proposed to Peniche onstage in Las Vegas on Sept. 16.
Miss Cleo plays the lesbian card
NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Late-night psychic Miss Cleo has come out of the closet and announced that she is a lesbian.
The former card-reading infomercial queen whose catch-phrase "The cards never lie" made her a TV fixture, told The Advocate that her godson's homosexuality prompted her to make her own announcement.
"He was afraid of nothing and I thought, 'I can't be a hypocrite. This boy is going to force me to put my money where my mouth is,'" said Jamaica-born Miss Cleo, whose real name is Youree Dell CleomiliHarris.
The New York Daily News said Monday that the big news has cost Miss Cleo some friends and stunned family members. Miss Cleo's infomercials were pulled in 2002 due to lawsuits and regulatory inquiries.
Notorious B.I.G. case re-opened
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The City Council of Los Angeles has reinstated its $50,000 reward for any information pertaining to the death of rapper, The Notorious B.I.G.
The rapper, who's real name was Christopher Wallace, was killed in a shooting on March 9, 1997, in Los Angeles.
Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace, and his widow, Faith Evans, sued the city and others four years ago for wrongful death. Also accusing convicted cops Rafael Perez and David Mack of conspiring to kill Biggie with Death Row Chief Executive Officer Marion "Suge" Knight, SOHH.com reports.
U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper declared a mistrial in the family's suit in July 2005 after it became clear police deliberately concealed evidence in the rapper's killing.
Police were ordered to pay $1.1 million in attorneys fees to the dead rapper's legal team.
There will be a retrial, which was scheduled for January, but is now scheduled to begin on Feb. 27, 2007.
