Celebrity Scoop

Madonna's "American Life" video has been reincarnated as a tamer, nonviolent version of its former self. The first video from her new "American Life" album, which comes out Tuesday, featured explosions, a runway show of couture army fatigues and Madonna dancing in a military uniform. The new version still features Madonna dressed in a military uniform, but she's simply singing in front of a backdrop of ever-changing flags of different countries. When Madonna decided not to release the original version earlier this month, she said: "Due to the volatile state of the world and out of sensitivity and respect to the armed forces, who I support and pray for, I do not want to risk offending anyone who might misinterpret the meaning of this video." But in a VH1 special, the 44-year-old singer said she was frustrated that some celebrities who express antiwar sentiments are suffering a backlash. "You know, it's ironic we're fighting for democracy in Iraq because we ultimately aren't celebrating democracy here," Madonna said. "Because anybody who has anything to say against the war or against the president or whatever is punished, and that's not democracy, it's people being intolerant."

Marlon Brando has settled a $100 million breach of contract lawsuit brought by a former maid who's the mother of three of his children, attorneys for both sides said. "It has been amicably resolved," Donald Woldman said as he left the courthouse Wednesday with his client, Maria Cristina Ruiz. Ruiz declined to comment and hid her face from photographers with a scarf as she left the courtroom. The 79-year-old actor didn't attend the hearing, which was closed to the public. Ruiz, 43, once worked as Brando's maid and lived at his home after they became romantically involved in 1988, according to the lawsuit filed in Superior Court in April 2002. She said the relationship ended in December 2001 when the actor stopped paying her living expenses, although he continued to support her children, ages 8, 10 and 13. Brando, who has been married three times, has nine children. In her lawsuit, Ruiz said she "devoted all aspects of her life to ... Brando's needs, the interests of their children, his personal interests and well being, to the exclusion of her own." Brando had disputed Ruiz's claims, dismissing their relationship as "nothing more than sexual."

Canadian megastar Shania Twain is to play London's Hyde Park in July, to promote her latest multi-million selling album "UP!" The concert, on July 12, is the star's only European date, and Shania's first show in the UK in 4 years. The gig is not part of her forthcoming world tour, and will be the first time she'll have played material from "Up!" in a full concert environment. The star is already looking forward to the night. "Live performance is like the big pay off, it's the true connection between you and the fans, you are speaking the same language for those two hours. That is very rewarding." The singer is planning to donate the proceeds from the Hyde Park concert to The Prince's Trust charity.

Oliver Stone's documentary on Fidel Castro has been postponed indefinitely by HBO, which had planned to broadcast the film next month. Stone spent three days with Castro in February 2002 in an attempt "to portray the human figure." But HBO, which had promoted "Comandante" as "an unflinching portrait of the famous icon," said Stone's interpretation was undercut by the Cuban leader's recent crackdowns. "In light of recent alarming events in the country, the film seems somewhat dated or incomplete," said HBO spokeswoman Lana Iny, who characterized the film as "still in the works." Governments and rights groups around the world have condemned Cuba in recent weeks for its crackdown on the opposition, followed by the executions last week of three men convicted of hijacking a ferry. At February's Berlin Film Festival, where "Comandante" was screened, Stone said his encounter with the communist leader left a deep impression. "We should look to him as one of the Earth's wisest people, one of the people we should consult," said Stone.

The pioneering rap group Run-DMC tops VH1's list of the 50 greatest hip-hop acts, which includes Tupac Shakur, Nelly, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and MC Hammer. Run-DMC's Darryl McDaniels told The Associated Press he's humbled by the music channel's choice. The complete list will be revealed Friday during a "50 Greatest Hip-Hop Artists" special. "What Run-DMC always wanted to do," McDaniels said Wednesday, "was represent hip-hop the way it should be represented." McDaniels said if he were compiling the list, Public Enemy would be No.1 because the politically charged group "said something with (rap). A lot of these cats now coming into the business, they are about show business." He said he also would have put fellow old-school rappers Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh near the top; they didn't make the list at all.

Angelina Jolie said she'll donate $10,000 to help a children's hospital in northern Sri Lanka. Jolie, a goodwill ambassador for the U.N.'s refugee agency, said Wednesday she was saddened after listening to a group of 500 orphan girls affected by the war between Sri Lanka's government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam. The 27-year-old actress said she's making the donation to help rebuild the pediatric ward in a hospital in Jaffna, an area that was the center of the twenty-year civil war. The government and rebels signed a cease-fire in February 2002. A series of peace talks since September have raised hope that the war, which has killed 65,000 people, may be ended. Jolie won a supporting-actress Oscar for 1999's "Girl, Interrupted." Her upcoming films include "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" and "Sharkslayer."

A jury on Thursday rejected a wrongful-death claim against rock drummer Tommy Lee for the drowning of a little boy during a children's birthday party at his home. The Superior Court jury took less than three hours before returning the unanimous verdict in the lawsuit over the 2001 death of 4-year-old Daniel Karven-Veres at Lee's Malibu home. The victim's parents, actress Ursula Karven and TV producer James Veres, sued Lee for wrongful death, accusing him of negligence for failing to have a lifeguard or someone trained in CPR present during the birthday party for Lee's son Brandon. Their lawyer, Thomas Girardi, had suggested a $10 million award.
Lee said he did everything he could to ensure the safety of his son's guests, including requiring that every child who attended have an adult there to supervise them. Lee's attorney, James Baratta, said responsibility lay with the boy's parents, who did not accompany him to the party, and other people who were supposed to look out for Daniel.

Toni Braxton is graduating from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" to "Aida." The sultry-voiced singer will join the cast of "Aida," the long running, Disney-produced Broadway musical, on June 30 for a limited four-month engagement. Braxton, whose hits include "Breathe Again," "Un-Break My Heart" and "He Wasn't Man Enough," previously starred as Belle in the Broadway edition of "Beauty and the Beast" in 1998. "Aida," which has a score by Elton John and Tim Rice, opened at Broadway's Palace Theatre in March 2000. Set in ancient Egypt, it tells the love story of the Nubian princess Aida, sold into slavery, and her love for a handsome soldier, Radames.