UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News

• Tweet

'Storage Wars' star Mark Balelo's death confirmed as suicide

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The death of Mark Balelo, an auction-house owner featured on "Storage Wars," has been ruled a suicide, said the Ventura County Coroner's Office in California.

The 40-year-old reality TV personality was found dead Monday in his car, which was parked with the engine running in the garage of his business in Simi Valley, Calif.

E! News said an autopsy indicated Balelo died of carbon monoxide poisoning and the death has been ruled a suicide.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and our thoughts are with Mark's family," A&E, the cable network that airs "Storage Wars," said in a statement to E! News.

Balelo's death followed his arrest Saturday for suspicion of possessing a controlled substance.

Balelo was known for wearing flashy clothes to auctions on "Storage Wars," a series that follows people who buy the contents of unpaid storage units as single lots, then try to resell items for profit. The show debuted in 2010.

Adele says she was complimenting, not yelling at Chris Brown

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- British singer Adele says she was complimenting, not berating, recording artist Chris Brown at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles this week.

A photo making the rounds has been interpreted by some in the media as indicating Adele was yelling at Brown, possibly for not participating in a standing ovation for Frank Ocean, a rival who defeated him in the Best Urban Contemporary Album category Sunday night at the Grammy Awards.

But Adele said she and Brown didn't exchange angry words at the event.

"Chris Brown and I were complimenting each other in that photo actually!" she tweeted, without offering details about the encounter.

Adele won the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Song for "Set Fire to the Rain" at Sunday's ceremony.

Brown has seen his popularity diminish after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. He has since gotten into other high-profile altercations with artists, photographers and fans, as well.

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, 4, earns $3,000 a week for 'Maleficent' role

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The 4-year-old daughter of Hollywood couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will earn $3,000 a week for her role in her mother's film, "Maleficent," TMZ said.

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt also will earn $60 per day for expenses while she plays young Aurora in the big-screen retelling of the fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty," the celebrity news website said.

There was no word how long Vivienne is expected to work on the movie.

Jolie is playing the titular evil sorceress, while India Eisley will play young Maleficent.

Lautner marks 21st b-day with bowling bash

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Kristen Stewart attended her "Twilight" co-star Taylor Lautner's 21st birthday party at Hollywood's Lucky Strike Lanes bowling alley, E! News said.

Although he is now legally permitted to consume alcoholic beverages, Lautner drank soda throughout the Saturday night bash, while munching on pizza, slider hamburgers and cupcakes.

"He didn't want people to sing 'Happy Birthday' to him,'" a source told E! News, "but his friends wanted to do it anyway."

"Twilight" leading man Robert Pattinson, Stewart's real-life boyfriend, is in Australia working on the film, "The Rover."