Celebrity stories of the week

The grass is always greener on the other side, or in this case is it just longer?

US rapper Nicki Minaj kicked up a stink backstage this week at T in the Park. The Starships singer had already frustrated a few in the crowd by showing up almost an hour late then apparently miming a 25-minute set.

It was later revealed that backstage Minaj had thrown a tantrum, saying that the grass around her dressing room was too long and demanded that a member of the crew cut it.

But her attitude ruffled more than a few feathers. Singer and fellow T performer Frank Turner had a few words to say online.

He tweeted: “You can (I suppose) be a d*ck to your own crew, you’re paying them. But everyone else? Not to mention the people out front. Ugh.”

And later he added:

“To clarify: Nicki Minaj has been being a total selfish s*ithead to all the hardworking crew backstage at T. Pathetic. F*** off.”

And later on his site, Turner add: “The central point I wanted to make, and the thing that got me pissed off in the first place, is about respect. A lot of bands (and me) spend a lot of time talking about respect for the people who listen to your music, the people in front of the stage, the “fans” (I still hate that word) or whatever, and rightly so; personally, I feel that showing up late and not apologizing is a little weak. But the thing that got to me yesterday was more about respect for a different group of people: the crew.”

Tulisa wins apology over set tape

Tulisa Contostavlos has won a court apology from her ex-boyfriend after he published a sex tape of her online.

The 23-year-old singer and X-Factor judge had previously won a court order in March banning publication of the video clip which showed her engaging in a sexual act.

Justin Edwards, with whom Tulisa had split in 2009, offered his “sincere apologies” over the the footage.

Afterwards, Tulisa told reporters: “I am relieved that this is finally over.

“It has been a very testing few months and this was not a case I ever wanted to go through.

“I am disgusted by Justin and saddened by the people that believed I released the footage myself.”

Reality star Kourtney Kardashian named daughter after Scotland

US reality-TV star Kourtney Kardashian has named her new-born daughter Penelope Scotland Disick.

The baby girl was born early Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, weighing 7 pounds, 14 ounces.

The reason for the use of Scotland in the name is as yet unknown, but both mother and daughter are said to be ‘resting comfortably’.

The family appears on Keeping Up With the Kardashians, one of America’s most popular reality shows.

Telegraph headline leaves Clare Balding furious

TV sports presenter Clare Balding is guarding her words today, after a throwaway comment she made in response to a fan’s question during a webchat with Mumsnet was transformed into a full-blown headline.

The fan asked Balding if she felt pressurised to fulfil expectation as a woman and an open lesbian.

The next morning, Balding awoke to the Daily Telegraph headline: “Clare Balding: Being a lesbian helps me be a better sports presenter”.

The headline was followed up with the opening paragraph: “Being a lesbian helps when you are a female sports commentator because you are focusing on male sporting prowess rather than their bodies, Clare Balding has said”.

A furious Balding then turned to Twitter: “Woke up at 5am worrying about Daily Telegraph sensationalising one answer from an hour long Mumsnet webchat.

“For the record, I do not think being a lesbian makes me a better sports presenter any more than being straight would.”

So what was Balding’s actual response to the fan’s question. “I never feel it’s a burden and sometimes I wonder if it helps. I have never been a flirt so it’s not as if I would get giggly in an interview but I guess I benefit from not having anyone think that I’m commenting about a male tennis player or rugby player for any other reason than their talent on the field of play.”

Far from a bold declaration of superiority based on sexual preferences!

Maverick flying solo

So it looks like the Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes split has been finalised relatively quickly (in celebrity terms at least), as the pair have come to a divorce agreement.

Holmes has been granted primary custody of their daughter Suri, while Cruise has been allowed visitation rights.

It has been reported this week that the reason for the divorce is that Holmes doesn’t want Suri having anything to do with Scientology, the secretive system of beliefs cherished by Cruise.

However, it has also been rumoured that Cruise had already introduced Suri to Scientology.