Usher 'sued by ex-nanny for unpaid salary'

Usher has reportedly been sued by a former nanny.

Cecilia Duncan has claimed that the singer hired her as a part-time nanny back in December 2011 to look after his two sons, aged 4 and 5 years old.

However, she alleges that she often worked over 40 hours a week and was never paid overtime, reports TMZ.

The lawsuit states that Duncan spoke to Usher about her concerns in 2011, but he ignored her complaints for over a year.

She is said to have been fired in September without being paid overtime fees.

Duncan has sued Usher for wrongful termination, failure to pay wages, and other claims for unspecified damages, said to be in the six-figure range.

Usher's representatives later told TMZ that Duncan's claims are "completely false".

The R&B singer recently admitted he is unsure if he will be returning to NBC's The Voice next season.

Calvin Harris, Rita Ora 'spotted kissing' at Daft Punk album party

Calvin Harris and Rita Ora have reportedly been seen kissing at a party.

The pair - who are rumoured to have been on a number of dates together in recent weeks - were seen sharing an intimate moment at Daft Punk's album launch party in London on Monday (May 13).

"Calvin Harris and Rita Ora are at the Daft Punk party together. They just kissed," a source told Entertainmentwise.

The couple were also photographed out and about in Notting Hill later on Monday evening.

It was reported last week that Ora had met the Scottish DJ for dates whilst in Las Vegas, reportedly flirting with one another while Harris performed at the Grand Hotel's Hakkasan club on May 4.

Harris then posted a photo on Instagram showing Ora boarding his jet the next day, with the caption: "You again!"

Friends of the pair have described them as a "perfect couple", with one saying: "They are having a great time and are really into each other."

Angelina Jolie has double mastectomy: I don't feel any less of a woman

Angelina Jolie has confirmed that she had a preventive double mastectomy earlier this year.

The actress and director made the decision upon finding out that she carries the BRCA1 gene, which can increase the risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
Jolie, whose mother died of cancer at the age of 56, wrote an essay for The New York Times talking about her surgery and the discussions she had with her family - including her children - and said that she had chosen to share her experiences in the hope that others might benefit when it comes to making decisions about their health.

"Once I knew that this was my reality, I decided to be proactive and to minimize the risk as much I could," she wrote. "I made a decision to have a preventive double mastectomy... On April 27, I finished the three months of medical procedures that the mastectomies involved. During that time I have been able to keep this private and to carry on with my work.

"But I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience. Cancer is still a word that strikes fear into people's hearts, producing a deep sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian cancer, and then take action."

Jolie revealed that following tests, her doctors estimated she had an 87% risk of developing breast cancer and 50% risk of developing ovarian cancer. She did, however, stress that the risk factors are different for each individual who carries the BRCA1 gene.

She added that following the three rounds of surgery, her chances of developing breast cancer have dropped to 5%.

"I wanted to write this to tell other women that the decision to have a mastectomy was not easy. But it is one I am very happy that I made," Jolie further revealed.

"I can tell my children that they don't need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer. It is reassuring that they see nothing that makes them uncomfortable. They can see my small scars and that's it. Everything else is just Mommy, the same as she always was. And they know that I love them and will do anything to be with them as long as I can.

> Read Angelina Jolie's essay 'My Medical Choice' in full

"On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.

"I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive. So to anyone who has a wife or girlfriend going through this, know that you are a very important part of the transition.

"Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Centre, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries. We managed to find moments to laugh together. We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has."

Jolie continued: "For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options. I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices."

Adding that her own treatment programme would be published on the Pink Lotus Breast Centre website, she added that she appreciates there are alternatives to surgery, acknowledging the "many wonderful holistic doctors" working on such regimes.

.Jolie also highlighted the cost of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene testing in the United States, arguing that figures of over $3,000 (£1,960) pose "an obstacle for many women".

"It has got to be a priority to ensure that more women can access gene testing and life-saving preventive treatment, whatever their means and background, wherever they live," she wrote.

Jolie concluded: "I choose not to keep my story private because there are many women who do not know that they might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know that they have strong options.

"Life comes with many challenges. The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of."

Amy Winehouse statue in Camden approved by planners

A proposed statue of the late Amy Winehouse has been approved by local councillors in north London.

The life-sized bronze memorial - designed by Scott Eaton - was approved by Camden Council at a meeting earlier this week, the Camden New Journal reports. It is expected to be installed on the balcony at The Roundhouse in September.


Camden Town Conservation Authority had objected to the plans, saying: "We are concerned that this statue of Amy Winehouse should be proposed so soon after her death... It often takes some time to devise an appropriate and lasting memorial as well as to provide a really suitable venue.

"We are not necessarily impressed by Scott Eaton's statue and certainly feel that a much better venue could be found. The proposal certainly seems to have far more commercial aims than the simple one of remembering Amy."

Winehouse's father Mitch and the family were supportive of the proposal, with Sky News quoting him as saying: "Amy was in love with Camden, and it is the place her fans from all over the world associate her with.

"The family have always been keen to have a memorial for her in the place she loved the most, which will provide fans a place to visit and bring extra custom to local businesses.

"The Roundhouse seemed an obvious choice of location as Amy had a special relationship with the venue. She played there with Paul Weller when the venue re-opened in October 2006 and her last public performance was on the same stage just days before she passed away in July 2011."

Describing his daughter as "a wonderful person" and "one of the greatest singers the world has ever known", Mitch Winehouse added: "We are strong supporters of The Roundhouse and their innovative music programmes which provide access to projects and opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and we have funded their Roundhouse Radio programme for the next three years."

It has been agreed that the statue will not be lit up at night, in order to discourage crowds from gathering on the street. It has also been reported that the location was chosen to try to draw fans away from the late musician's former home in Camden Square.

Winehouse was found dead at her home on July 23, 2011 at the age of 27. Her death was ruled as misadventure by accidental alcohol poisoning at a coroner's inquest.

Shakira: 'I looked like a Shar Pei after giving birth to son Milan'

Shakira has spoken about her body after giving birth.

The popstar and Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué welcomed baby boy Milan into the world in January.

  
The singer, who recently took over Christina Aguilera's coaching role on NBC's The Voice, spoke to Ellen DeGeneres about her post-pregnancy figure.

She said: "Looking at your new image in the mirror, I looked like a Shar Pei when I first delivered.

"I was like, 'Oh my God. Am I ever going to be sexy again? Is my man ever going to feel attracted to me again the way he used to be?'"

Shakira recently spoke about her baby weight battle, saying: "I look decent. I still have a long way to go. I still have a few pounds over to lose."

She previously said of her role on The Voice: "I haven't done anything like this before in my life, so it is totally an adventure to me.

"It's just a really nice journey. I'm glad I'm here. I'm really thrilled."

Louis Tomlison throwing water on the crowd

Rihanna Tour Tickets: Probably Not Worth the Money... Or the Wait

Despite a handful of cancellations and an apparent inability to show up anywhere on time, Rihanna is still raking in the big bucks on her Diamonds World Tour. This week, the Barbados-born singer made headlines for taking the stage in Boston three hours after doors were opened to fans, and 90 minutes after the scheduled start time of 9 pm (rumor has it she was busy watching an NBA game). It might not have been such a big deal had she not cancelled a Boston gig in March, citing laryngitis.

But, uh. Maybe people need to stop spending money on Rihanna.

Yes, the woman is capable of lending her voice to some finely written tunes. Yes, she's nabbed 12 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. Yes, she is sexy. Raunchy, even

But she does not deserve your money. Certainly not more than $50, which is what a nosebleed seat will cost you.

As Idolator's Sam Lansky brilliantly pointed out earlier this week, Rihanna is one of the least satisfying pop stars because we've allowed it to be so: "[The] world has trained her to believe that if she acts like a ratchet monster, people will love her anyway, and let her get away with it," he notes. It's a notion echoed elegantly in the New York Times' review of her performance at Newark's Prudential Center. "Serving nonchalance several different ways is Rihanna’s real gift, more than singing or dancing or entertaining in any traditional sense ... [She] gives nothing because that’s the choice that keeps people wanting," writes Jon Caramanica.

So let's stop indulging her. Seriously. All you'll miss is this move over and over again, anyway:

.