Jay-Z and Sean Combs, left, are giving the shirts off their backs to evacuees of the Hurricane Katrina disaster.
The two rap moguls are giving the Red Cross a $1 million joint donation, but also pledged clothing donations from their respective Roc-A-Wear and Sean John lines. “I can hear the cries of the people in the regions affected by Hurricane Katrina and will do whatever I can to help,” Combs said in a statement to the New York Post.
Oprah Winfrey said on a special episode of her talk show Tuesday that “I think … this country owes these people an apology” in the wake of slow efforts to help hurricane victims. Winfrey, who cut short her vacation to visit the Gulf Coast area, added, “This should not have happened.”
John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston delivered 5 tons of food Tuesday in his private jet. Travolta, a pilot, flew supplies to Baton Rouge, La., then visited rescue workers and shelters, the Melbourne Herald-Sun reported. The trip, coordinated with Winfrey’s relief group, also delivered 400 doses of tetanus vaccines.
Sean Penn joined the rescue effort, borrowing a boat from a journalist, the New York Daily News said. Tulane University presidential historian
Douglas Brinkley, part of Penn’s crew, denied reports the Oscar-winning actor’s boat sprang a leak. “The boat was overloaded with people. It got some water in it, as boats usually do,” said Brinkley, assigned by Rolling Stone to write on recovery efforts. “I witnessed him rescuing up to 40 people. (Penn) was up to his waist in toxic muck.”
Michael Jackson says he will record a song to aid hurricane victims. “From the Bottom of My Heart” is set to be released on 2 Seas Records, with proceeds going to charity.
Despite denials from her reps, Nicole Kidman appears to be getting cozier with Australian-born country singer Keith Urban. The two dined Saturday night at the Good News Café in Woodbury, Conn., then came back the next day for lunch, the New York Post said. A month ago, they were spotted in Woodstock, N.Y. They reportedly met at an L.A. gala honoring Australians.
Todd Wallace, 44, a photographer who tried to snap Reese Witherspoon at the California Adventure theme park, was cited in the alleged assault of two employees, Anaheim, Calif., police said.
– Compiled by Greg Henry from wire and Internet reports
So stars can dance? Celebrities can skate
Scott Hamilton will host “Skating With Celebrities,” which will pair six personalities with six professional figure skaters.
The D-list of stars scheduled to compete include Dave Coulier, Bruce Jenner, Todd Bridges, Kristy Swanson, Deborah Gibson and Jillian Barberie. The skaters are bigger names: including Nancy Kerrigan, Tai Babilonia and Kurt Browning. Olympic gold medalist Dorothy Hamill will be among the judges.
No word when the show will debut.
