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Published: March. 9, 2010 at 2:13 PM

Funeral held for Marie Osmond's son

PROVO, Utah, March 9 (UPI) -- Hundreds of family members and friends attended a funeral service Monday for Marie Osmond's 18-year-old son, Michael Bryan, at a Utah church.

People.com said Marie's brother Donny gave a moving eulogy at the service, which took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel in Provo.

A slide show of the teen in happier times played in the lobby of the chapel and Thomas S. Monson, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, officiated the funeral service, People.com said.

Michael reportedly suffered from depression and leaped to his death from the eighth floor of his Los Angeles apartment building late last month.

Sibling entertainers Donny and Marie Osmond took a break from performing their Las Vegas stage show to grieve for Michael. They are expected to resume performing Tuesday.


Elton John's gala raises $3.7M for charity

LOS ANGELES, March 9 (UPI) -- The 18th Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party in Los Angeles Sunday night raised $3.7 million for the fight against AIDS, organizers said.

Celebrity couple Elton John and David Furnish served as hosts of the event at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.

The evening began with a cocktail reception, dinner and viewing of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, followed by a live auction and performance by Grace Jones.

Guests of the gala included Adam Levine, Alan Cumming, Allison Iraheta, Apolo Ohno, Betty White, Chace Crawford, Christina Hendricks, Cory Monteith, Debi Mazar, Eric and Janet McCormack, Gina Gershon, Hayden Panettiere, Heidi Klum, J.C. Chasez, Jason Mraz, Jeremy Piven, Joaquin Phoenix, John Waters, Josh Groban, K.D. Lang, Kimora Lee, Lea Michele, Liam Hemsworth, Matthew Morrison, Michelle Rodriguez, Milla Jovovich and Paul W.S. Anderson, Miley Cyrus, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, Ricki Lake, Rob Lowe, Ryan Kwanten, S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Trammell, Selena Gomez, Serena Williams, Sharon and Kelly Osbourne, Simon Cowell, Slash, Tim Allen and Victoria Beckham.

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O'Neal disappointed by Fawcett Oscar snub

LOS ANGELES, March 9 (UPI) -- U.S. actor Ryan O'Neal says he was disappointed to see his late girlfriend Farrah Fawcett excluded from the "in memoriam" segment at Sunday's Oscars.

Dozens of members of the film industry who died in 2009 were honored during the touching montage, however, Fawcett's photo was not included.

Although the omission sparked outrage from her fans, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Monday it had not been an oversight.

An Academy spokeswoman insisted it is impossible to include everyone who has died in the segment and explained some tough decisions must be made every year as to who will be excluded.

"We have no comment other than we were disappointed that she was not included," O'Neal's publicist told UsMagazine.com.

"It was a terrible decision and very hurtful -- Farrah was a member of the Academy for over 40 years and we could not believe she did not get a mention ... Quite frankly, we were stunned at the decision not to include her in the tribute and I feel that the Academy should be scolded for that, everyone was shocked," O'Neal separately told RadarOnline.

Fawcett, who was known primarily for her work in television, appeared in more than a dozen theatrically released movies. She died of cancer June 25 at the age of 62. She and O'Neal had been a couple for more than 20 years.


Producer defends her Oscar interruption

LOS ANGELES, March 9 (UPI) -- Film producer Elinor Burkett is downplaying her decision to interrupt director Roger Ross Williams' acceptance speech at the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles.

Both worked on "Music by Prudence," which won the Oscar for best short documentary film. But they reportedly had a falling-out long before the ceremony.

Burkett appeared on-stage and cut off Williams as he was making his remarks upon winning the prize. He reportedly later complained she had "ambushed" him.

Asked by TV's "Inside Edition" what she would say to Williams in the aftermath of her actions, which have been criticized as rude by the media, Burkett said: "Oh come on, grow up. The point is can we focus on the film? Not on ego?"

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