March 2008 Gossip Archive (Page 19)

Friends of the 22-year-old high-priced call girl named "Kristen" are now rallying around the woman they knew as Ashley Youmans of Wall, N.J.

"We're just trying to keep her head up and keep her strong, have her look at this as a positive," high school friend Joe Pawlak tells People.

Pawlak, who graduated from Wall H.S. in 2003, a year ahead of Youmans - who now goes by Ashley Dupre - says she's only human and "people make mistakes."

"She's just trying to work through it," says Pawlak.

THG NOTE: Come on Pawlak. The girl slings the poon for thousands of dollars an hour. We're not judging, but there's no "mistake" about this.

Ashley Alexandra Dupre was identified this week as "Kristen" - the escort linked by federal authorities to New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who resigned.

Bevin Doherty, who knew Ashley Youmans on the Pop Warner cheerleading squad in middle school, tells People that, in contrast to statements Ashley made on her MySpace page about her home life, Ashley lived with her mom.

"Her mom would pick her up from cheering at school in a Jaguar," says Doherty, who assumed Ashley, who wore designer clothes, was wealthy.

Set to graduate from the Wall H.S. class of 2004, Ashley Youmans disappeared near the end of her sophomore year. At some point, Youmans legally became Ashley DiPietro, but later took on the "stage" name of Ashley Alexandra Dupre.

"When she left high school," said Doherty, "me and others thought she left to go get married. That's what I was under the belief ... that she met someone and had a ring and left to get married. We always wondered what happened to her."

A teacher of Ashley Dupre, Gerald Basiak, 58, recalls her as a very kind person, but a "B-C student who really wasn't focused on anything."

As for Ashley's being caught up in the Eliot Spitzer sex scandal: "I would never expect this, there were never indications of any problems at home."

Remember when Paris Hilton was released from prison and vowed to live a different, better lifestyle? You'd think this would have meant her next reality show would be focused on helping others or something.

Instead, shockingly, Paris is focused solely on her lonely, pathetic self. She's officially announced her new MTV reality show, Paris Hilton's My New BFF.

In it, 20 girls and guys will be competing to be Paris' new best pal, a role previously occupied by Kim Kardashian and Nicole Richie. So, what qualities is Paris looking for?

"Trust, loyalty and a sense of fun," Hilton said at a press conference.

If you wanna be Paris‘ new BFF, apply at ParisBFF.com.

You can fill out profiles, start blogs, post photos and wonder what's happened in your life to cause you to stoop to such depths.

We mean no offense by the following comparison. We loved the movie Beetlejuice as children.

And, come on, you can't deny that American Idol finalist Amanda Overmyer bears an uncanny resemblance to that undead character. Just don't say her name three times...

How far would you go to party Kevin Federline?

1. You wouldn't under any circumstances
2. If he happened to be at the same bar as you by chance, you'd say hello
3. If there were no cover charge, maybe you'd check out his party
4. You'd pay him $175,000 to make sure he shows

If you're Las Vegas' Pure nightclub, the answer is #4!

"Kevin is a big spender, and a draw for the crowds. So the money he gets is nothing compared to the money they make," a source tells the New York Post.

The former Mr. Britney Spears is being paid at least that much to host his 30th birthday party at the Sin City hotspot on March 21. Peep the invite!

Really? He's that big a draw? We apparently missed something in our two years in this business and many more as avid celebrity gossip fans...

Earlier this week, Britney's lawyers argued that she shouldn't have to pay for Kevin Federline's legal fees - as a court judge has ordered she do - because he's got more money than he claims. This doesn't exactly hurt her claim.

The former spouses are not entirely at odds, though, which is good. A family insider says that Kevin Federline is planning on spending a few days in Las Vegas, which might give his ex-wife a chance to spend some time with their kids.

"Kevin is hoping Britney will be able to have time with the boys for a few days while he's gone, but it all depends on how she is doing at the time," says the insider.

"Also, Kevin has to feel confident that (Britney Spears' father) Jamie will make sure the boys are watched over at all times while she is with them."

Even though he's leaving sons Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, behind, the aspiring rapper and actor won't be lacking for company.

Brother Chris Federline, who just celebrated his own birthday this week, will also be on hand for the party. Tremendous news there.

For six weeks, OK! Magazine reports, Britney Spears has been grounded by her dad, Jamie Spears, in a desperate measure to save her life.

As part of her dad's restrictions, the 26-year-old star is no longer allowed to hit the clubs in no underwear, hang out with her paparazzi pals or make frequent, erratic stops at gas stations, fast-food joints and public bathrooms.

Which is sad, in a way. It's the end of an era.

In any case, there could be worse places to be holed up than her $7.2 million, 7,400-square-foot Mediterranean-style villa in Studio City, Calif, right?

One would think.

Some friends of the the singer tell OK! Magazine that Britney recently snuck a text message to them saying, "I'm so bored. I hate my life."

A typical day with Britney Spears includes spending hours alone in her bedroom, which is "like a princess' room with several walk-in closets and a spa tub, plus a long counter where she used to keep all her wigs."

Papa Jamie Spears, who stays in a room downstairs, leaves her be when she's up in her private suite. Since she's no longer allowed to go out, the pop star now spends hours in front of the mirror trying on different outfits.

"Changing clothes all day long must seem harmless enough, so her dad doesn't interfere with that," a friend of Britney Spears explains to OK!

Continue Reading...

From Jason Wahler to Brody Jenner and even brief flings like Gavin Beasley, Lauren Conrad has dated her fair share of guys.

So who does her friend from back in the Laguna Beach days, and her BFF slash roommate now - Lauren "Lo" Bosworth - prefer for LC?

"Honestly, I think Stephen is best for Lauren," Bosworth told Us Weekly this week, referring to who she calls LC's best match, Stephen Colletti.

"It all goes back to friendships. We have all known each other for so long and that really translates to good relationships in the long run."

LC and Stephen Colletti dated during their Laguna Beach high school days and were thought to be maybe having a fling again this year (Lauren Conrad stated they have been "just friends" for a long time, however).

"He is so funny, has a really big heart and cares about his friends," Lo said of Stephen Colletti, seen here in an older photo with Lauren Conrad.

"He is there for you whenever you need him."

As for Conrad's on-and-off fling, Brody Jenner, Bosworth insists the two are on good terms (he even went to her fashion show Tuesday):

"Brody has a new girlfriend, Cora Skinner, and Lauren has completely moved on."

Conrad is also chummy with former foe, Kristin Cavallari - both of whom dated Colletti, which resulted in a long-running feud.

"Lauren and Kristin made up a few weeks ago," Lauren Bosworth said. "They were out at a bar and sat down and worked out their differences. Everything's fine."

Adds Lo, "We have all grown up so much since the Laguna Beach days."

The new season of The Hills debuts March 24.

Thanks to People magazine, as usual, for this collection of some of the funniest and most most memorable celebrity quotes from the past week ...

"She looks at me and says, 'Nice top shelf.' That was one of the greatest days of my life." - Justin Timberlake on Madonna

"He'll have to restrain his hair." - A Waffle House employee, on Kid Rock

"Do not pull them up tight and have your bulge showing. Let it hang!" - Victoria Beckham on the way to wear jeans

"You always want to point out the elephant in the room." - Jim Carrey, dressed as an Dr. Seuss' Horton the Elephant, on American Idol

"She knew her lines better than me." - How I Met Your Mother's Josh Radnor, on Britney Spears' visit to the set

"I had to face some difficult spending decisions and I've had to conduct sensitive diplomacy. That's called planning for a wedding." - President George W. Bush

"I really romanticized being pregnant. Then I realized, this is awful!"
- Marcia Cross, reminiscing about pregnancy

"A little later on I'll be at the Dinah Shore Golf Tournament, of course. That's if it doesn't conflict with my women's basketball games that I go to." - Ellen DeGeneres, leaving a message for Rep. Sally Kern of Oklahoma

"I just don't want to be thought of as a monster." - Ashley Dupre

More and more of the background of Ashley Dupre is coming into focus.

The 22-year-old woman at the center of the Eliot Spitzer prostitution ring sex scandal may have marketed herself on a modeling and acting site.

"Kristen," as the petite, brown-eyed brunette was named in a court filing, is legally Ashley DiPietro (full name Ashley Rae Maika DiPietro), according to the New York Times. Her stage name is Ashley Alexandra Dupre.

Got all that?

A website called ExploreTalent.com features a profile of a cute, 5-foot-3 girl, age 22, with brown hair and brown eyes, named Ashley DiPietro.

It appears, in our estimation, to be one and the same. Check out these seductive Ashley Dupre / Ashley DiPietro photos and see for yourself...

Ashley DiPietro, the legal name of Ashley Dupre, is the high-end hooker at the center of the sex scandal that brought down New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

In other interesting Ashley Dupre news, being outed as part of a prostitution ring has given an unexpected boost to the aspiring singer's music career.

New York's Z100, the most widely listened to radio station in the U.S., and one of the most influential, played her song "What We Want" on Thursday.

Since her identity was revealed, Dupre's MySpace page has had more than 5 million profile views - and growing - as of Thursday and the price of "What We Want" on Amie Street - a site which prices downloads on popularity, was up to 98 cents.

A second single, "Move ya Body," was also selling for 98 cents.

The Hills' Spencer Pratt, a man never known for keeping his thoughts to himself when it comes to... well, anything, has a new avenue for expression.

The boyfriend of Heidi Montag and the reality TV villain America loves to hate was reportedly given his own advice column by Radar Magazine.

"Spencer is never afraid to speak his mind," says Radar editor Maer Roshan.

"When asking for advice, it's always good to have someone who will be brutally honest with you, and tell it like it is."

The name of this scintillating Spencer Pratt advice column will reportedly be "YO SPENCER!" We're serious. We wish we were kidding.

It will debut in Radar's April issue, which hits newsstands Tuesday, March 25, a day after The Hills returns will eight all-new episodes.

We just hope that Spencer Pratt's arch-nemesis and his former BFF, Brody Jenner, writes in and asks for some advice about Cora Skinner.

We've already talked about her once today (for being such a fashion train wreck), but now, Kate Bosworth is on the Marie Claire cover for April 2008, so get ready for a double-dip of this very skinny and somewhat talented star!

Here are some excerpts of Marie Claire's Kate Bosworth interview ...

On getting older: "I just turned 25, which was a weird birthday. I feel like I had this quarter-century crisis. Whenever I said before that I was 21 or 22, everyone would say, ‘Oh, see, you're so young.' And all of a sudden, you hit 25, and people say, "Oh, right, uh, OK.' And you're like, ‘Uh, what do you mean?"

On James Rousseau: "Orlando Bloom and I were both in the public eye. So this relationship [with James Rousseau] has been a little easier. And I feel like I'm in a different stage of my life, to be honest. Orlando and I, we were younger..."

Kate, in the eyes of 21 co-star Josh Gad: "Kate Bosworth can drink anyone under the table. Get a couple in her, and she's definitely a very fun and crazy girl. We went out to a pub on St. Patrick's Day. Not only did she pick the place, but she picked the rowdiest place, where everybody and their mother came. And it's like, ‘OK, she's one of us! Let's get sh!t-faced!' Kate is always one step ahead of you. She had a blast, and everybody was just enamored of the fact that there's a star singing, dancing, going nuts. But she was also the first one to be like, ‘OK, I'm out of here."