UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News

• Tweet

'Die Hard' takes weekend box office honor

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- "A Good Day to Die Hard," the latest in Bruce Willis' ongoing "Die Hard" series, won the weekend box office with $25 million in receipts.

"Identity Thief," starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, was second with $23.43 million.

All studio estimates of gross North American receipts are via Box Office Mojo.

"Safe Haven" was a close third with $21.43 million; "Escape From Planet Earth" was fourth with $16.066 million; "Warm Bodies" fifth with $9 million; "Beautiful Creatures (2013)" sixth with $7.46 million.

"Side Effects (2013)" seventh with $6.307 million; "Silver Linings Playbook" eighth; "Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters" ninth with $3.470 million.

"Zero Dark Thirty" was 10th with $3.1 million.

Whitaker says he was publicly frisked

NEW YORK, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker said he was accused of shoplifting and was publicly frisked inside a deli in Manhattan.

The New York Post said Whitaker, in town to film "Black Nativity," was about to leave the Milano Market on Broadway when one of the workers allegedly saw him take an item from a shelf.

The worker allegedly stopped Whitaker and gave him a patdown in the store, The Post said.

No stolen items were found.

Whitaker's driver, Reggie Crupe, said he saw an employee come out of the store and apologize to Whitaker.

"He told Mr. Whitaker that the cameras in the store were at a bad angle and that he could not see if Forest had stolen anything," Crupe said.

The Post said the employee offered Whitaker free food as part of his apology.

Whitaker's spokesman said the incident violated the actor's rights and upset him.

The Post said the store employees have denied the incident occurred.

Hugh Grant announces birth of son

LONDON, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Hugh Grant announced the arrival of his second child with girlfriend Tinglan Hong on Twitter, E! Online said.

"In answer to some journos. Am thrilled my daughter now has a brother. Adore them both to an uncool degree. They have a fab mum," Grant tweeted Saturday morning. "And to be crystal clear. I am the Daddy."

E! Online said Hong and Grant had their first child, Tabitha, in September of 2011.

In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres last year, Grant said he enjoys parenthood.

"Everyone was right all these years, saying, 'Hugh, why don't you have some children? It changes your life,'" Grant said. "Now that I have a child, it is life changing. I recommend it. Get some!"

Blige has $901,769 tax lien in New Jersey

TRENTON, N.J., Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Mary J. Blige now has a $900,000 tax lien in New Jersey to add to a list of other financial woes, TMZ.com reported.

Documents show she also owes $901,769.65 in back taxes to New Jersey.

Blige was sued earlier this month for defaulting on a $500,000 bank loan, TMZ said.

The singer was also sued last year for defaulting on a $2.2 million bank loan, TMZ said, and before that, her charity was sued for not paying back a $250,000 loan.

Blige blamed the charity's financial staff for the problems last year, TMZ said.

"The problem is that I didn't have the right people in the right places doing the right things," she told TMZ.