Beyonce's Perfume Commercial Banned From Daytime Broadcast In U.K.

Singer's spot for Heat is not to air before 7:30 p.m. due to its 'sexually provocative' imagery.
By James Dinh


Beyonce in her ad for Heat
Photo: Coty UK

Whether through her music videos or concerts, Beyoncé has always used her sex appeal as part of her pop-star allure. But is she too sexy? The U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority thinks so. The singer's television spot for her fragrance, Heat, was recently banned from daytime rotation due to its "sexually provocative" imagery.

In a statement posted on its website, the advertising watchdog said that it has received several complaints about the spot, which was aired throughout the day during family programming and will now only be shown after 7:30 p.m. While the organization noted that the ad was unlikely to harm an older audience, it deemed the spot unsuitable for all-ages viewing. "We considered that Beyoncé's body movements and the camera's prolonged focus on shots of her dress slipping away to partially expose her breasts created a sexually provocative ad that was unsuitable to be seen by young children," the ASA said.

In the Jake Nava-directed commercial, Beyoncé plays a seductive temptress, meandering about a steamy room. As she makes her way around the area, the singer croons Little Willie John's 1956 classic "Fever."

While she remains dressed, the star's silky red dress holds close to her curves and exposes partial cleavage.

Coty UK, the company behind the fragrance, responded to the criticism, explaining that the TV spot was in line with the singer's "sexy chic style," artistically shot and consistent with many music videos.

Last year, the pop star spoke about the perfume's advertisement in an interview with WWD. "It's called Heat, so we wanted the ads to be really steamy and dewy," said the singer. "My sexiest moments are when I'm just getting out of the tub or the shower and I'm clean, so I wanted to incorporate that in the ads. The dress was this liquid-y satin. The song 'Fever' I did years ago and always loved it. [For the commercial] I got to sing it a bit more whispery, more natural."

Do you think the Beyoncé's TV spot is too sexy? Share your opinion below!

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Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year

Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff


Alison Krauss and Robert Plant accept the award for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."

He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.

You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.

Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.

And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain.

And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified.

To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.

One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album.

"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604582/20090209/plant_robert.jhtml

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Orlando Magic Gambling With Talent That May Not Fit

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ORLANDO -- This wasn't about finding pieces that fit -- because these really don't fit very well. This was about getting more players good enough to win an NBA title, and getting rid of those who had grown a little too comfortable.

It clearly was a gamble, a bold move, but a risky one for a franchise desperate to win a championship now.

When a 15-4 start became a 16-9 record, they didn't waste any time clearing the deck.

Magic general manager Otis Smith (photo, right) put his reputation -- and the team's future -- on the line Saturday when he orchestrated a surprising, two-trade day, a move that could push the Magic back toward the top of the NBA, or backfire so badly it will cost him his job.

"We have a window (to win a championship) . We're in that window now,'' Smith said. "Our ownership believes in that window. It's our job to make it happen.''

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/18/orlando-magic-gambling-with-talent-that-may-not-fit/

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Beyonce's Mom Says Daughter's Style Has Always Been 'Edgy'

'It's just a result of her constantly evolving,' Tina Knowles says of the fashion in Beyonce's "I Am ... World Tour" DVD concert special.
By Jocelyn Vena


Beyoncé
Photo: Paul Warner/ WireImage

Beyoncé has never been shy about hitting the stage in stunning costumes. Her appearance has always been a mixture of showgirl sparkle and pop star razzle-dazzle. And her style is on full display in her new DVD concert special, "I Am ... World Tour."

Her mom and stylist, Tina Knowles, said that while the looks may seem a bit edgier than what fans have seen from the singer in the past, she thinks that her superstar daughter has always been ahead of the style curve.

"Well, the wonderful Thierry Mugler designed the costumes, and I actually worked on some of the dancers and the band, and it was just amazing to work with him because he is so creative," Knowles told MTV News at a New York screening of the special. "So it's just a result of her constantly evolving, but she's been edgy. It's funny for people to say she went more edgy, but she's been wearing body suits and that type of thing."

And while Knowles may act as her daughter's stylist and costume designer, she says that Bey's style decisions are all her own. "Well, we discussed her working with Thierry Mugler, and I'm the biggest fan. And so she had seen some of the fashions and she loved it," she said. "So we always discuss things, but it's her decision, it's her career."

Beyoncé, who also directed the concert special , said it gave her a better understanding of the filmmaking process. "It was hard work," she said. "I learned so much. I have a new respect for directors and I think I would like to do more of it. ... Well, I've done some co-directing for music videos [but] this was definitely a big step for me, and I'm so thrilled."

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Beyonce Says She Takes Pregnancy Rumors In Stride

'I just hope that one day, when I decide to be pregnant that people are happy for me,' superstar jokes about year-round bump-watch.
By Jocelyn Vena


Beyoncé
Photo: MTV News

In 2010 alone, Beyoncé was pregnant at least twice, if you believe the rumors.

While the singer shot down the talk both times, she says that at this point she's pretty much to used to people speculating about potential baby bumps. "I mean, it's a part of it. At this point they said I've been pregnant like eight times, so I'm kind of used to it," Beyoncé told MTV News at a screening for her concert DVD, "I Am ... World Tour," in New York City.

"I just hope that one day, when I decide to be pregnant that people are happy for me, 'cause I'm like gosh, like, everyone's like, 'Oh god, please! She's been pregnant 100 times.' One day, hopefully, I will be. So whatever; it's a part of being a celebrity, I guess."

Her mom, Tina Knowles, was also at the screening and when asked if she thought that 2011 might be the year we give up gossiping about Bey's pregnancy status, she played it cool. "You have to ask her those personal things," she said. "I don't know!"

But Tina was also the lady to shoot down the baby-bump rumors last month when she sat down with talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres.

"I heard that, but I'm here to clear the rumors up. The truth is it's not Beyoncé that's pregnant, it's me," she joked. "No, it's not true. Not right now. I'm looking forward to it. With all the rumors, by now I should have about five or six grandchildren."

What do you think of the constant speculation about Bey and a baby bump? Tell us in the comments!

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G. Dep Confesses To Murder

Former Bad Boy MC and Diddy protégé admits to shooting a man 17 years ago.
By Paul Cantor


G. Dep
Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Former Bad Boy MC G. Dep admitted this week to fatally shooting a man nearly 20 years ago.

The New York Post reports that on Wednesday, the 36-year-old rapper, born Trevell Coleman, walked into the 25th precinct in Harlem and confessed to killing a man way back in 1993.

"I shot and killed someone 17 years ago," he reportedly told an officer at the precinct.

According to the Post report, Dep told police that he was riding a bike when he approached his victim, 32-year-old John Henkel, on Park Avenue and East 114th street near the James Weldon Johnson housing projects. Dep, just 18 years old at the time, was planning to rob Henkel, but when he resisted, shot him three times in the chest with a .40-caliber hand gun. He then fled from the crime scene and threw the gun into the East River. Henkel was pronounced dead at St. Luke's hospital.

The crime took place in the 23rd precinct, so investigators from that station house were contacted. William Dunn, a detective at the 23rd precinct, reportedly reviewed the case, which had gone cold, and found that the rapper's story went hand-in-hand with what was on file.

G. Dep was charged with murder for the 1993 shooting, and is being held without bail.

A police source, in an attempt to explain why Dep would suddenly confess to the crime, said "It was just eating away at him."

"My client is presumed innocent, and the case is going to grand jury," said G-Dep's lawyer, Michael Alperstein.

G. Dep came to hip-hop's attention in 1998 with a guest appearance on "The Mall," from Gang Starr's Moment of Truth LP. He signed to Diddy's Bad Boy Records the same year, and released his debut LP, Child of the Ghetto, in 2001. Despite two well-regarded singles, "Let's Get It" and "Special Delivery," the album was heavily bootlegged and failed to move many units. He later split with Bad Boy Records, and in 2004 dropped a mixtape, The Deputy: The Sheriff Is Back in Town Volume 1. But since 2003, he's racked up 25 arrests for crimes ranging from drugs to burglary to grand larceny.

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