Screen People | Actress interrupted – Judge closes book on last Lohan criminal case in Los Angeles

Few stars have become more closely associated with Los Angeles’ court system than Lindsay Lohan, whose first arrest in May 2007 sparked a nearly eight-year court saga that finally ended yesterday.
Lohan’s career was already in trouble when she was arrested twice for driving under the influence in 2007, but the charges and two ensuing court cases cost the once-promising actress roles, time and prestige. Her frequent court arrivals replaced red carpet appearances, and her mandatory stints in rehab, morgue duty and house arrest left little time for acting work.
Early in her career, Lohan was the star of Disney films that earned more than USD240 million at the box office. Her roles have considerably diminished since her first arrest, with bit parts and several projects that were never broadly released.

Beat it – Molestation claim against Michael Jackson’s estate dismissed

A choreographer who accused Michael Jackson of years of molestation cannot pursue his allegations against the singer’s estate because he waited too long to file the legal action, a judge ruled.
Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff wrote in his ruling this week that Wade Robson’s claim is untimely and should be dismissed.
Robson had previously denied the pop superstar molested him and testified in Jackson’s defense at the singer’s criminal trial in 2005. Robson also spoke favorably about Jackson after the singer’s death in 2009.
However, Robson sued Jackson’s estate in May 2013 over the molestation allegations.
Attorneys for Robson said Jackson molested him over a seven-
year period. Attorneys for Jackson’s estate have denied the allegations.

The Academy – Natalie Portman urges new Harvard graduates to take chances

Natalie Portman advised graduating Harvard seniors yesterday to use their in-
experience to their advantage, saying she has learned that taking calculated risks can lead to life-changing rewards.
The Academy Award-
winning actress, speaking at Harvard College’s Class Day, cited her work in “Black Swan” as an example of a time she didn’t know her own limitations — and it paid off.
Portman, who won an Oscar for best actress in the 2010 film, said she might not have taken the role if she had known how “woefully unprepared” she was to pull off the movie’s ballet moves.
“The point is, if I had known my own limitations, I never would have taken the risk,” she said. “And the risk led to one of my greatest personal and professional achievements.”
The 33-year-old actress also met her husband, choreographer Benjamin Millepied, on the set of the movie.
Portman, who graduated from Harvard in 2003 and starred in the most recent “Star Wars” movies, also cited another personal example: her first experience writing, directing and acting in a movie. The film, “A Tale of Love and Darkness,” recently premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

Birthday Bash 20 – Kanye West to perform at concert in Atlanta

Kanye West is bringing his talents to Atlanta’s most popular hip-hop concert shows.
WHTA, known locally as Hot 107.9, announced yesterday that West will be one of the headliners at Birthday Bash 20 at Philips Arena on June 20. The Grammy-winning rapper will share the stage along with some of hip-hop’s top performers, including Ludacris, Wale, Future, B.o.B., Big Boi and Rae Sremmurd.
West, who returns for a third time, performed at Birthday Bash 15 and 10. The show is a part of a three-day weekend that includes two other concerts featuring music acts from Bun B, Soulja Boy and Kevin Gates.
Past artists to perform at Birthday Bash have included Jay Z, Drake, Usher, Lil Wayne, T.I., Chris Brown, Rick Ross and Young Jeezy.

Dixieland – Processional on Beale Street in Memphis honors B.B. King

A Dixieland jazz band walked ahead of a slow black hearse and a crowd of thousands followed as the city of Memphis said farewell to blues legend B.B. King with a tribute and processional down Beale Street.
The processional began just before 1 p.m. Wednesday (yesterday, Macau time), made its way down the street that’s synonymous with the blues and paused next to B.B. King’s Blues Club before turning onto B.B. King Blues Highway.
Behind the band and just ahead of the hearse, drummer Rodd Bland, son of the late blues singer Bobby “Blue” Bland carried one of King’s signature “Lucille” guitars.
The huge crowd filled Beale Street and spilled down side streets as onlookers pressed in making cellphone pictures.
King’s body is being taken to Indianola, Mississippi, which King considered his hometown, for his funeral on Saturday.
Early in his career, King was nicknamed “Beale Street Blues Boy,” and the name was soon shortened to “B.B.”
King died May 14 in hospice care at home in Las Vegas at age 89.