Free Britney

Readers' comments on the recent Zac Efron gay photo scandal have ranged from disbelief to denial, from outrage to utter shock.

We don't know for certain if the High School Musical star is gay, but a shirtless Zac Efron kissing another male is definitely bi-curious.

Which we have no problem with. People lead their own personal lives, make their own choices and shouldn't have to defend them. No one can define love for anyone else. We respect all celebrities' ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientations.

So if Zac Efron isn't ready to come out just yet - and is merely giving "friend love" as one reader suggests - good for him. No one should be outed before they are ready. Do your thing, Zac, and take your time. We love you always.

Hopefully this new poster inspires fans to support him no matter what ...

** - Said report comes from Star Magazine.

In the exciting world of celebrity news, you have sources that are at least somewhat believable, and then you have Star, In Touch Weekly and OK! Magazine.

Our point? There's celebrity gossip, and there's making up blatant lies, which is somehow not illegal. We've got to meet Star's legal team someday.

Anyway, according to Star, which already claimed Britney and Adnan married in Mexico, Ghalib is now bragging that she is going to have his baby.

The evidence: The pop princess' belly is bulging. OMG it's true! That can't be from sucking down pork rinds and Starbucks lattes all day long or anything.

"Britney is Adnan's dream come true. He knows that if he has a child with Britney, he'll be made for life," a friend of Ghalib tells Star.

But while Adnan may be pumped up, Britney's parents are not.

Father Jamie Spears has tried hard to stabilize his eldest daughter's life and the last thing he and her mother, Lynne, want is another grandchild. Casey Aldridge already assured they'll be getting another l'il mistake in 2008.

"Her parents know she can't handle more children," says a family source.

Well, they probably didn't make that quote up at least.

The Hills' leading lady, Lauren Conrad, was spotted heading into her new home in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Here's LC carrying some pretty flowers ...

No official word on whether a special new man surprised Lauren with flowers or whether Conrad simply picked them out herself for decorative purposes.

With LC on this day was high school BFF and new roommate, Lauren Bosworth, who is not pictured above, unfortunately. We'll get you next time, Lo!

Season Three's new episodes of The Hills begin Monday, March 24! Yesterday, we brought you a special preview in the form of a new trailer!

The LAPD is finally commenting on the record regarding the investigation first reported earlier this month. The subject? You-know-who.

As TMZ reported in early February, Sam Lutfi is under investigation by the Robbery Homicide division of LAPD for allegedly drugging Britney Spears.

LAPD officials initially said there was no such investigation, despite sources within the department saying that Sam Lutfi was, indeed, being looked at. 

Sam Lutfi: Shady doesn't begin to describe him. 

Now, Captain Kyle Jackson of the Robbery Homicide division has issued the following statement regarding the LAPD's investigation:

"The issues regarding Britney Spears are being considered by the department to determine if laws have been violated. Particular suspects have not yet been fully identified nor has a formal investigation into open charges officially commenced. At this time we don't know whether or not a formal investigation will be initiated."

Translation: Find the nearest cave and hide, Osama.

Britney Spears' mom, Lynne Spears, has been praising her ex-husband, Jamie Spears, who has taken control of their troubled daughter's affairs.

"Jamie had to change his whole routine. Lynne sings his praises. He has been such a rock. He has stepped up to the plate," a family friend says.

"Jamie has gathered a team of reputable people who are around [Britney Spears] now. She's not well, but for the first time in a long time she has people around her who really care about her."

As for how Lynne Spears is coping with having her daughter in and out of the hospital, the friend says, "She's up and down. It's a roller coaster ride as a mother."

On top of that, Lynne also has pregnant 16-year-old daughter, Jamie Lynn Spears, who lives in Kentwood, La., to take care of. Lynne, who has been shuttling between Louisiana and California, is currently back in Los Angeles.

Lynne and Jamie Spears also have a 30-year-old son, Bryan Spears.

"She has to spend time between L.A. and Kentwood. As a mother she feels needed in both places. She's doing whatever she can to help both girls. She's got that maternal instinct, and it's in high gear."

One big positive lately? The ostracizing of Sam Lutfi.

Another positive step for the family has been Britney Spears' recent visits with her sons Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

"Lynne talked to Jamie, and he said it was a good visit," says the source. "[Britney] slipped into that motherly mode. They picked up right where they left off. She still has a long way to go [to get better], but that's what we hope and pray for ... Lynne and Jamie want their child to be whole again."

Jenna Bush and Henry Hager celebrated their final moments of unattached life with respective girls-only and guys-only getaways this month.

Bush, 26, the daughter of President George W. Bush, and a group of female friends headed to Florida in mid-February for a girls-only getaway.

"She had her weekend ... in Boca Raton, but at a private home," a source tells People. "It was like a spa weekend. It was very low-key."

The following weekend, Henry Hager, 29, and a group of male friends kicked off a bachelor party in Miami. It was one for the ages.

"It was a total boy's weekend," says the source.

"There were about 20 guys, most of whom came down from D.C. and New York. They went fishing all day Saturday, but they didn't catch anything!"

The group then headed to South Beach to continue the festivities. Wooo!

Jenna Bush and Henry Hager got engaged last year.

Henry Hager "was having a great time," but called it a night around 1:30 a.m., while some of his friends stayed behind.

The couple is set to marry May 10 at the President's ranch in Crawford, Tex. The Prez says he's writing the checks but is out of the loop as far as planning.

The People source says Jenna Bush and Henry Hager are considering traveling to many countries and spending four weeks in Europe on their honeymoon.

Four weeks! Sucks to be an Intern at The Hollywood Gossip and receive a measly one week off ALL YEAR. But of course, wherever they go, our interns don't have to worry about the Secret Service. So there are trade-offs.

Nicole Richie and her daughter Harlow Madden, born January 11 in L.A., are on the new, adorable cover of the celebrity news magazine People. Peep it ...

Surprisingly, Harlow Madden is pretty adorable!

Inside, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden talk about parenthood and about how it has changed their lives. Says Nicole Richie of life with cute little Harlow: "She gives life a whole new meaning and a whole new purpose."

Hopefully life will now include a few more meals. Just sayin'.

WARNING: The Hills spoilers below!

Lauren Conrad and The Hills return with eight all-new season three episodes on March 24, 2008. A two-minute trailer for the new episodes appears below and ... OMG, WTF! Some of the $h!t in there is totally off the chain.

Peep it ...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6iaSGCTC18[/youtube]

Looks like fans of The Hills can look forward to:

• Heidi kicking Spencer's ass out of the apartment
• BFF Lo (Lauren Bosworth) moving in with LC & Audrina
• The return of dirtball Justin-Bobby (a.k.a. Justin Brescia)
• Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port going on their work trip to Paris and meeting some French guys who look sort of gross
• LC and Whitney parting ways with employer Teen Vogue
• Brody Jenner getting a new girlfriend (Cora Skinner)
• The return of Stephanie Pratt - who apparently befriends Lauren Conrad and incurs the wrath of Spencer Pratt for doing so!

We'll be counting down the days until March 24, and will share with you any more Hills spoilers and gossip we come across between now and then.

Presidential candidate Barack Obama invited Us Weekly to join his campaign for a day. He revealed that his young daughters think Britney and Paris are "yuck" and offered some unique insight into the wonderful world of celebrity news.

Here are some excepts:

Us: How familiar are you with Us Weekly?
Barack Obama: My wife (Michelle Obama) reads it.

Us: Do your daughters (Sasha and Malia) ever ask about Britney Spears?
Barack Obama: Actually, yeah. But they're very sensible. They're pretty down on Britney and Paris and all of that. They think that's very "yuck." They're way more into Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) and Beyonce. They got to go backstage and meet Beyonce and they just love her to death.

Barack Obama can talk celebrity gossip as well as international affairs.

Us: Your supporters include Oprah Winfrey. Ever been starstruck?
Barack Obama: I don't really get starstruck. Everyone I've met has been very nice and friendly, like Kal Penn. During the writers' strike, he was like a staffer! And Scarlett Johansson has been traveling a lot. George Clooney is a good friend. He and I worked on Darfur issues together. I'm always impressed by people who do their homework... and use their celebrity to advocate for issues. George does that just about as well as anyone I know.

Us: So, boxers or briefs? Bill Clinton said he wore boxers** in a 1992 interview with MTV.
Barack Obama: I don't answer those humiliating questions. But whichever one it is, I look good in 'em!

** - The 42nd president did not specify whether he meant around his ankles. Airrrrrrballllll...

Seriously, the Dawson's Creek hotness days are long gone. Just sayin'.

But on to the pregnancy rumor surrounding possessed actress Katie Holmes.

Suri Cruise may be running with Jayden James Federline in The Hollywood Gossip presidential primary, but according to reports, Suri won't be getting a little brother or sister anytime soon in real life.

"She's not pregnant," Katie Holmes' rep said in response to OK! Magazine's new cover story which asks whether the actress, 29, is expecting.

Way to go, OK! Magazine. Those guys lie more than Roger Clemens.

The fabulously frumpy Katie Holmes is not with child.

The celebrity gossip magazine quotes a source as saying:

"She has that special glow that only pregnant women have. I would say there is a strong possibility that she's pregnant."

When asked if she wants more kids recently, Katie Holmes told Entertainment Tonight, "Yes, definitely."

How's that for hard evidence? OK!, lately you're anything but.