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Hugh Grant claims the Mail on Sunday hacked his phone for a 2007 story about his love life.

His allegations came during testimony heard by a media ethics inquiry into the British tabloid press, which has been accused of targeting celebrities and other citizens with phone hacking.

It marks the actor’s first charge that a non-Rupert Murdoch newspaper eavesdropped on his voice mail messages.

Murdoch’s News of the World folded last July after 168 years in print after its editors and reporters were implicated in a major phone-hacking scandal.

Grant believes that the Mail on Sunday‘s 2007 article about problems in his relationship with Jemima Khan could only have been written if that paper had accessed mysterious “plummy voiced” messages left by a woman the Mail claims was a female studio executive.

The actor says there was no such woman, but that he’d been in communication with a producer friend’s assistant.

“She would leave charming, joking messages… and she had a voice that can only be described as plummy,” testified Grant.

When asked whether he had hard evidence of hacking, the actor said he didn’t, but added, “I’d love to hear what the Daily Mail or the Sunday Mail‘s explanation of what that source was if it wasn’t phone hacking.”

Grant also alleges that tabloids have breached his security with regard to his apartment and his medical records.

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Sienna Miller just won $162,500 from News of the World after the British tab allegedly tapped into her cell phone’s voicemail to snoop for scoops.

Miller, who dated Jude Law, was among more than 20 celebrities who claimed the paper hired a private investigator to hack into their cell phones.

After the actress’s victory in court today, her lawyer said, “Ms. Miller’s primary concern has never been how much money would be awarded by way of compensation, but to know exactly what the extent of the hacking was.”

As part of the settlement, News of the World will also have to turn over documents to Miller.

What do you think about Miller being awarded $162,500?

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Elizabeth Hurley announced today that she and her husband of nearly four years, Arun Nayar, have split.

The model tweeted, “Not a great day. For the record, my husband Arun and I separated a few months ago. Our close family & friends were aware of this.”

This all comes on the heels of a story in the News of the World, which claims Hurley had an affair with Australian cricket player Shane Warne.

The tab published photos of the two kissing and embracing in London.

Following Hurley’s breakup with longtime boyfriend Hugh Grant, the actress/model married textile tycoon Nayar in lavish wedding ceremonies, first in an English castle and then in a palace in Jodhpur, India.

Hurley has a son, Damian, from a previous relationship with Stephen Bing.

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A number of sites such as GossipCenter – working off a story from the News of the World – are reporting that Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron “are being courted to be hosts of the US version of ‘The X Factor.’”

After claiming that UK “X Factor” host Dermot O’Leary won’t be tapped by Simon Cowell for the U.S. version, the sites quote an unnamed “insider” as saying, “Dermot will be completely distraught. He spent months in America lobbying to get this job. He held out a lot of hope. But he can’t compete with Zac and Vanessa. They are two of the biggest stars in the States and will make American X Factor the biggest show in the world.”

Wow!

As in… wow, this is made up!

Hudgen’s rep EXCLUSIVELY tells Gossip Cop that reports of the young star and her boyfriend becoming “X Factor” hosts are “not true.”

Check out PHOTOS of Vanessa making her way through LAX Airport

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The article adds, “The music megastar is quietly plotting to launch her film career with a big-budget blockbuster.”

Really?

According to News of the World, the Gaga film will be “a cross between Michael Jackson‘s 80s Moonwalker flick and Beyonce‘s more recent Dreamgirls.”

A so-called “source” explains, “Gaga wants to emulate what Michael Jackson did during the 80s. You can already see that with her music videos. Every one of them is a mini event. So it’s only logical she moves that on to the big screen.”

And, the tab notes she’s “very excited” about this film project.

But you shouldn’t be because Lady Gaga’s rep says that it’s “not true” that the singer has any immediate plans to do a movie.

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Back in January, the British tabloid, News of the World, wrote that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were splitting up, and making arrangements for dividing their $320 million in assets and custody of their six children.

As you’ll recall, Gossip Cop was quick to call the story “bullsplit,” because it was totally fabricated.

The stars then sued the tabloid — and now won!

Today, in London’s High Court, the happy couple accepted an undisclosed sum in damages for the false and intrusive allegations.

Their attorney Keith Schilling said, ”When the News of the World failed to publicly retract the allegations and apologize for them — thereby leaving their readers in the dark as to the true position — the couple felt they had no alternative than to sue.”

He added, “Today’s victory marks the end of the litigation brought by Brad and Angelina.”

The two stars were not in court, but will be giving the money they won to charity.

Do you think stars should sue more or not?

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(NewsoftheWorld.co.uk)

When it came to his chimp Bubbles, Michael Jackson was completely bananas.

“Michael always wanted to know how to make Bubbles speak and talk,” La Toya Jackson claims in an eyebrow-raising interview with the News of the World.

“He wanted to give him vocal chords and asked doctors ‘Can I give him an operation so that I can know what his thoughts are,’” adds La Toya in all earnestness.

According to the piece, Jackson explored various routes, but was told the never-before-done surgery would put Bubbles at risk.

“The operation would have probably killed him,” notes La Toya.

Still, La Toya says he spent thousands upon thousands of dollars “flying in ape experts to try to help his pet to speak.”

Eventually, Bubbles, who had lived with Jackson for several years, was moved to a sanctuary because he had become too strong and aggressive.

And you can only imagine the filthy language that would’ve come out of an angry chimp.

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For the second time in as many weeks, rubbish about the young British royals’ personal lives is making headlines.

Just days after Star magazine wrongly claimed Prince William‘s bride-to-be, Kate Middleton, was unexpectedly pregnant, a News of the World rumor that Prince Harry has split with longtime girlfriend Chelsy Davy is now everywhere.

According to the paper, Davy is moving to South Africa to open her legal career “and has told him they are OVER.”

“We’re finished. This is a new beginning for me,” Davy supposedly told “friends” (in perfect, concise talking points). “I want to start my career in South Africa where I plan to spend the rest of my life. I don’t want to live in Britain.”

But professional inconvenience isn’t the only reason News of the World supplies for the split, as a so-called “source” claims, “The spark is gone.”

The couple’s relationship, however, is not.

A rep for Prince Harry would not comment on his personal life, but a Buckingham Palace insider tells Gossip Cop, “It is correct Ms. Davy is moving to South Africa. It is not correct that they have broken up.”

While there’s always the possibility a long-distance relationship will prove too difficult, as of now the royal couple is still together.

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“Beef up my role or else!” is what News of the World claims Kristin Davis has threatened.

According to the tab, Davis is none too happy that her character’s role in Sex and the City 2 was “severely cut down.”

“Now she is said to be demanding a bigger slice of the plotline before committing to a new production,” reports the paper.

Of course, with the poor reception for the current film, this may not even be an issue.

The paper also alleges Davis is “peeved” that co-star Sarah Jessica Parker embarrassingly exposed that she had stomach issues while they filmed in Morocco.

Gossip Cop looked into this, and guess what?

This, too, is a load of… bunk.

And a rep for Davis echoed, “This is absurd.”

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Far be it from Gossip Cop to have doubts about a story that starts with News of the World.

Its track record is sterling.

After all, it’s the outlet that told us a “Friends” reunion movie was in the works (wrong), Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron were engaged (wrong again), Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had split (keep trying), and Madonna fills her radiators with Kabbalah water (yikes, oh-for-four).

On second thought… maybe we should have significant doubts about News of the World‘s “reporting.”

The paper’s newest adventure in sloppy speculation claims Sarah Jessica Parker‘s friends “are worried about her health” and how “frighteningly gaunt” she’s become.

A “pal” tells News the “extreme” weight loss comes down to “complete and utter stress” over the release of Sex and the City 2. Promoting the sequel is “getting to its main star” and, says one “colleague,” it’s “affecting her ability to eat.”

What’s more, Parker allegedly spends “an hour EVERY day doing pilates.”

Exercising daily? That’s just crazy!

In any case, claims that Parker’s friends are concerned about her health are absurd. A source close to the actress called the story “ridiculous” and assures Gossip Cop Parker is healthy and happy.

Still no word on what she does with Kabbalah water, though.

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The News of the World claims Madonna has spent more than $6,700 in order to fill every radiator in her London mansion with Kabbalah water.

Madonna believes the water “has a special spiritual quality to heal and protect,” says the paper, which quotes a “source” as saying, “It’s (sic) cost a fortune. She’d have Kabbalah water coming out of the kitchen taps if she could.”

According to the tab, when plumbers recently tried to drain a malfunctioning radiator, her housekeeper “told them it was blessed water and they could not drain it.”

When the plumbers “insisted they had to change a broken valve,” says the paper’s source, the housekeeper eventually buckled and “allowed them to put the water in steel buckets, pleading with them not to spill a drop.”

Fascinating tale, but not a drop of truth.

While the Kabbalah devotee does drink the supposedly special water, she does not fill the radiators of her London home with the pricey potable.

A rep for Madonna succinctly called the story “crap.”

There ya go.

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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have initiated legal proceedings against News of the World, which wrongly claimed last month that the couple was set to split.

The paper’s bombshell story on January 24 purported to have details about Pitt and Jolie agreeing to divide their assets and make custody arrangements for the children, setting off an avalanche of new speculation that the high-profile Hollywood relationship was coming to an end. The report went so far as to say Pitt and Jolie had visited with a divorce attorney, had already signed an agreement, and that a breakup was imminent.

As Gossip Cop reported immediately after the News of the World-fueled breakup rumors exploded, sources told us the story was not true.

Today’s news corroborates our reporting.

A lawyer for the couple, Keith Schilling, called the “widely republished” allegations in News of the World “false and intrusive.” Pitt and Jolie have requested a retraction. The attorney’s statement also notes that Sorrell Trope, identified widely as the divorce lawyer advising the couple, has never even met them.

It’s looking more and more like media outlets acted recklessly when reprinting the News of the World‘s Brangelina reporting last month. Gossip Cop hopes they’re just as quick to spread a retraction.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for updates…

(Star Magazine)

Over the weekend, the Internet nearly melted down with rumors of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt splitting. A story in News of the World kicked off talk of an imminent break (which Gossip Cop debunked), but bad Brangelina buzz has now spilled over into the weekly tabloids. Us Weekly, In Touch, and OK! all tell tales of turmoil for the couple.

Star magazine leads the charge with a cover shocker alleging Pitt ex Jennifer Aniston has told him, “I’ll Take You Back!”

The mag claims Jolie and Pitt are in the process of signing a $350 million breakup contract. According to its version of events, “Brad finally realized there was no future for them when she suggested they each take other lovers.”

Wait, when did she do that? Star says she did so when she revealed to German magazine Das Neue her “doubt that fidelity is absolutely essential for a relationship,” sparking “open relationship” nonsense Gossip Cop cut down more than a month ago.

But the centerpiece of the Star masterpiece is the claim Pitt reached out to Aniston for comfort, and that a week of calls and texts culminated “in their emotional face-to-face meeting” at the Hope For Haiti Now telethon on January 22. “They seemed so happy to be sharing each other’s company,” a “source” tells the tab. “They were both smiling and staring at each other lovingly.”

No.

No they were not.

As Gossip Cop confirmed and numerous other outlets supported, Pitt and Aniston were both at George Clooney‘s Haiti event, helping to raise money for the earthquake-ravaged island.

But despite Star‘s story and OK!‘s insistence that the telethon was the site of an “emotional reunion,” Pitt and Aniston never met face to face.

And, as Gossip Cop reported, Pitt and Jolie have not split up.

Does a couple with six children, two high-profile careers, and overwhelming media scrutiny (to put it mildly) face tension? Yes. But sources tell Gossip Cop that whatever problems the couple has, Jolie and Pitt are working through them.

Will they endure? Time will tell. Poor sourcing and invented details will not.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for updates…

(GettyImages.com)

UPDATE –

There has been a crazy amount of speculation over the past 24 hours regarding the supposed split of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. And Gossip Cop‘s investigation seems to confirm our original post from early this morning – the story is not true.

Gossip Cop checked with a number of sources, all of whom say the report is typical News of the World nonsense.

We will keep monitoring closely, but all signs point to Brangelina NOT having broken up.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for updates…

*****     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****

ORIGINAL POST – 12:30 AM -

A claim that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have split radiated shock waves on both sides of the Atlantic tonight.

News of the World is reporting that Hollywood’s most visible couple signed legal papers earlier this month to end their five-year relationship, divide their vast fortune, and, most importantly, determine custody for their six children.

The paper’s “exclusive” reports that an official announcement is imminent. “It is clear it’s a case of when they break up rather than if,” the paper’s unnamed source is quoted as saying.

As for the kids, “It seemed clear they want the world to know they’ll both play a part in the upbringing of the children,” the same source claims, “But Angelina will actually be the one who lives with them full-time.”

According to the tab, Pitt and Jolie signed the separation document in early January after December visits to a top Los Angeles divorce firm. While the megastars never married, “the contract was like a tailor-made version of a pre-nuptial agreement except for an unmarried couple’s split,” the News of the World source reveals.

Gossip Cop is doing its best to get to the bottom of the bombshell claim. Is it possible the News of the World has just scooped everyone on the planet? It’s possible, but we have reasons to be very skeptical.

1. Our sources and sources’ sources haven’t been able to confirm the report.

2. Rumors about an imminent Brangelina breakup have circulated for months, and yet the couple has been photographed together (and happy) often during the same period, both at public functions and in private family moments. Earlier this month the couple donated $1 million – together – to Haiti earthquake relief.

3. News of the World has not just been wrong in the past – it has invented stories, as when the paper fabricated a shocking interview with Michael Jackson‘s ex-wife, Debbie Rowe, in the immediate aftermath of the pop star’s death.

Gossip Cop will verify or debunk this story as soon as facts allow. We are currently following up with sources and will have updates when possible.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for updates…

(GettyImages.com)

A few months ago Gossip Cop busted a News of the World story that reported, “Friends is back for a big-screen version of the hit sitcom.”

At the time, reps for several stars of the hit show told Gossip Cop, they were “not aware of any plans for a ‘Friends’ movie.” Well now Lisa Kudrow, who guest stars this week on Courteney Cox’s comedy “Cougar Town,” personally addresses the rumor.

Kudrow says that despite the success of the big-screen adaptation of “Sex and the City,” the creators of “Friends,” NEVER pitched the former cast members on a “Friends: The Movie.”

She tells the Associated Press, “’Sex and the City’ was already filmic… It was a single-camera show that was like a half-hour movie every week, anyway. Our show was multi-camera in front of an audience. Whenever movie versions of those types of shows have been done, they’ve been sort of satirical.” Adds Kudrow, “Maybe in 10 more years, other people will play us and make fun of it.”

Gossip Cop would like to know in the comments section if you agree with Kudrow that a “Friends” flick wouldn’t work, or if you would still like to see a big-screen version of the long-running comedy series.

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(GettyImages.com)

Jamie Jungers, one of Tiger Woods‘ most vocal mistresses, now claims that she was in bed with the golf star when his dad, Earl Woods, passed away nearly three and a half years ago.

Woods famously said of his Vietnam War veteran dad, “He was an amazing dad, coach, mentor, soldier, husband and friend. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”

Now Jungers, who notably told the “Today Show” a few days ago that “I got nothing out of this relationship but a broken heart,” is quoted today as saying she had had sex with Woods shortly before his revered father died of cancer.

There are various racy versions of what she says took place then, as well as some of the details surrounding their tryst before Woods’ dad died. The News of the World, where many of these stories are coming from, is reporting that “after visiting his dad in a hospice, Tiger went home and cheated on wife [Elin Nordegren] with former model Jamie Jungers.”

Gossip Cop looked into this, and contrary to the News of the World‘s story, the elder Woods, who succumbed to cancer on May 3, 2006, did not die in a hospice, but rather in his Cypress, California home.

That said, one should be a little suspect of some of what was quoted in the paper. Still, whether it’s true or not, Jungers was recorded as saying on video that after Woods returned to his L.A. home, where she was also staying: “We make love, went to bed, and at around 2, 3 o’clock in the morning there was a phone call that his dad passed away.”

Although Jungers claimed the only reason she sat down with the “Today Show” was to “clear the air,” Gossip Cop has to wonder – when the other alleged mistresses are remaining mum — why Jungers is still airing dirty laundry.

Gossip Cop would like to know what you think of the latest claim, and what’s motivating Jungers these days.

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(NewsOfTheWorld.co.uk)

The News of the World touted in an “exclusive” that “Friends is back for a big-screen version of the hit sitcom,” and studio bosses are “ready to break the bank with a multi-million package to get the main cast on board.”

Really?!

How did they get this GIANT scoop?

The tab reports, “James Michael Tyler – who played Central Perk oddball Gunther – confirmed: ‘Friends: The Movie’ is definitely on. I still keep in touch with a lot of the cast and they say that they are really keen.’”

Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, and Courteney Cox are “keen?” Really?!

Well, it’s news to at least half of them. In response to a note sent by Gossip Cop, reps for Aniston, Cox, and Kudrow said, “We are not aware of any plans for a ‘Friends’ movie.”

So the three leading ladies are in the dark, yet somehow bit player Gunther knows all the details?

Well, buried near the end of the article is Tyler saying, “The one thing I can tell you is that I am definitely on board to do the film.” Yeah, and he may be the only one. Gossip Cop wonders why News of the World didn’t just go with a “Gunther!” headline.

(GettyImages.com)

Guess we’ll just have to stir fry that rice we were going to throw at Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron.

The British newspaper News of the World ran a story, picked up by the blogs, that the “High School Musical” stars were getting married. The paper even quoted Hudgens as saying, “We haven’t set a date and if we did we’d keep it secret for as long as possible.” According to quotes attributed to Hudgens – the subject recently of more leaked nude photos – there’s a good reason they’re keeping their wedding date hush hush: “What if one of us was offered a major film part? Then we’d have to postpone our marriage and people would say we’d split up. And we don’t want that.” Of course.

Well, the News of the World can’t pull the veil over Gossip Cop’s eyes. We made our calls, sent our e-mails, and found out the young lovers are NOT engaged. Hudgens’ spokeswoman told Gossip Cop the story is “not true,” and didn’t even think her client spoke to the News of the World.

Gossip Cop reached out to the editors at the News of the World for a response, but have yet to hear back. Not even the Wildcat cheerleaders can dance around this one.

Today the blogger asked if Guy Ritchie’s “Sherlock Holmes” starring Robert Downey, Jr. really has a gay spin. The problem is: he didn’t even have a response to the question that Gossip Cop answered yesterday.

In the piece Hilton quotes Downey as saying, “We’re two men who happen to be roommates, wrestle a lot and share a bed. It’s bad-ass.”  Unfortunately for Hilton, Downey’s rep already confirmed to Gossip Cop that the actor never said that. News of the World fabricated the quotes.

Clearly not a lot of detective work was done.

(Warner Bros.)

What’s worse - a rumor that’s resurfaced, or a rumor that’s made up?

The New York Post‘s usually venerable “Page Six” column printed an item about the upcoming Guy Ritchie film “Sherlock Holmes” in which a “gay spin” has been given to the relationship between Robert Downey, Jr.’s Holmes and his assistant, Dr. Watson, played by Jude Law.

According to the piece, Downey is quoted as saying that his (new) Holmes “will sleep with and have sweaty grappling scenes with Watson.” He continued, “We’re two men who happen to be roommates, wrestle a lot and share a bed. It’s bad-ass.”

Problem number one: The seemingly new quotes, which the Post attributes to an interview Downey gave to the UK’s News of the World, have once again reared their ugly head, having first been printed more than five months ago on February 22.

Problem number two: The quotes are completely made up. “Robert never spoke to News of the World,” says his spokeswoman.

OK, so it’s old, and the comments were fabricated . . . but how what about that interesting twist of Holmes and Watson being gay?

“Watson and Sherlock both have female love interests in the film,” adds Downey’s spokeswoman. Oops.