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Beyonce's boo booNEW YORK (AP) -- The head of a private historical group says the government and NBC should have stopped a scantily clad Beyonce Knowles from dancing in a "patently inappropriate" way on the steps of the tomb of President Ulysses S. Grant.
Frank Scaturro, president of the Grant Monument Association, wrote letters Saturday to NBC, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton and National Park Service director Fran Mainella over Beyonce's nationally televised July 4 performance. Saying the former Destiny's Child singer used "lascivious choreography" and barely dressed backup dancers, Scaturro's letter to NBC complained: "At that location, a certain decorum should have been observed from which popular entertainers are not exempt." Representatives of NBC and Knowles didn't return calls seeking comment Saturday. National Park Service spokesman David Barna declined to comment because officials hadn't yet read the letter. Ulysses Grant Dietz, the great-great-grandson of the Civil War hero and 18th president, said Saturday he didn't object as a rule to most live performances, as long as the tomb is carefully maintained. But he suggested organizers be more thoughtful. "If they're doing a Fourth of July celebration and they're doing it at a grave of a president, maybe they should look a little more closely at what the performances are," Dietz said. Beyonce Knowles' latest single "Crazy in Love" featuring Jay-Z was the No. 1 single in the U.K. for a third week, outselling new releases by Madonna, Pink and Eminem, Billboard reports. Her album Dangerously In Love is currently at No. 2 on U.S. Billboard charts, right behind Ashanti's Chapter II. Schwarzenegger's day jobLOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- As Arnold Schwarzenegger dodges questions about his political aspirations, it's clear the "Terminator" star isn't ready to give up his day job just yet.
With his current feature "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" in its second weekend of release, Schwarzenegger has entered negotiations to star in the family comedy "Big Sir" for New Line Cinema. The project marks the second potential starring vehicle Schwarzenegger has lined up amid intense speculation that he might run for the California governorship, a post currently held by the embattled Gray Davis; the other is the Warner Bros. Pictures sci-fi remake "Westworld." Schwarzenegger has repeatedly said that he would not announce his political intentions until after "Terminator 3" has opened worldwide. Friday, his spokesman reiterated that the actor "has not made any decisions" and that no announcement will be made before next month. It is unclear whether "Big Sir" or "Westworld" will be Schwarzenegger's next film as both are currently in development and neither has been given a production start date. Schwarzenegger is also developing a "Conan the Barbarian" sequel, to be produced by Larry and Andy Wachowski, the duo behind "The Matrix." Although he had cleared his upcoming film slate in preparation for a possible political campaign, Schwarzenegger has already filmed a cameo appearance in the upcoming Paramount Pictures release "Around the World in 80 Days." Jackson's copyright suitINDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (AP) -- A group of musicians who filed a copyright lawsuit against pop star Michael Jackson have asked a federal judge to schedule a conference in hopes of settling out of court.
The plaintiff's attorney, Norman Reed, said he first discussed an out-of-court settlement with Jackson during a deposition June 10 in Indianapolis. Reed asked the U.S. District Court to set up a conference and said he hopes both parties can work it out. But Jackson's attorney, Robert Meyer, isn't so sure. "We've been amenable to discussing things with them in the past," Meyer said. "Now that we've gone through all the trials and tribulations of dragging Michael all over the place, frankly, I don't know if the door is still open on that." The lawsuit alleges that the Jackson 5 used the name of another Gary band, Ripples & Waves, and two of their songs without license. Jackson's attorneys have said the lawsuit is without merit and noted the singer was only 9 years old at the time. Update: Aretha's house fireBLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Michigan (AP) -- Traces of accelerants were found in the charred remains of Aretha Franklin's home and on the clothing of her son, Edward Franklin, according to a state investigator's report. An investigator's dog sniffed the accelerants on Edward Franklin's shoes and jacket, and tests later confirmed traces of flammable substances were on the items, the reports said.
Although the reports named Edward Franklin as a suspect, no one has been charged in the October 25 arson fire that destroyed the 10,000-square-foot home in Bloomfield Township, about 20 miles northwest of Detroit. Stu Sandler, a spokesman for the state Attorney General's office, declined to comment, saying the case remains under investigation. Edward Franklin's lawyer, William Mitchell III, said the chemical traces on his clothing and in the house were the result of contact with materials routinely kept in the house, which was used for storage. "The Oakland County prosecutors have never been shy about charging people," Mitchell told the Detroit Free Press. "If they have reached a credible conclusion, they would have done something about it." He said further investigation showed his client wasn't responsible for the blaze. The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.
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