Rap sheet grows for rappers and their moms

April 14, 2008

It was a bad week for rappers, those sliding toward has-been and those firmly in has-been territory. Here's your celebrity update.

Ice arrested: Not nice, baby

Vanilla Ice was in and out of jail following his arrest on a charge of simple domestic battery after an alleged argument with his wife at their South Florida home.

The rapper's wife called the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, saying he had kicked and hit her. She later told deputies he had only pushed her, the arrest report said.

Ice, 39, who decades after "Ice Ice Baby" pops up on reality TV from time to time, denied pushing her.

Meanwhile, the mother of Eminem is being sued by a man who claims he was cut out of the profits after he helped her with a book about the Detroit rapper.

Neal Alpert claims that Eminem's mom, Debbie Nelson, developed the book behind Alpert's back while she was under contract with him.

The suit says her book, My Son Marshall, My Son Eminem: Setting the Record Straight on My Life as Eminem's Mother, has sold 100,000 copies since its U.K. release last year.

The book hit U.S. stores this week.

G. Clooney, not G. Armani

Two people were investigated for alleged fraud after attempting to launch a fashion line with a brand using George Clooney's name, according to Milan police. "If someone tries to sell you clothes or watches that are based on me, don't buy them," Clooney, 46, says.

Jacko's off the hook

A judge has dropped Michael Jackson from a lawsuit filed by the family of a woman who died at Marian Medical Center in California soon after she was moved to make room for the pop star.

The family of Manuela Gomez Ruiz had sued Jackson and the hospital for infliction of emotional and mental distress, claiming she was kept from critical care after she had a heart attack on the same day Jackson was brought in with flulike symptoms during his 2005 child-molestation trial. Jackson was acquitted in that case. The lawsuit said Ruiz, 73, was moved from a two-bed room so Jackson could have it for himself. It complained of an "outrageous, circus-like atmosphere" in the last hours of Ruiz's life.

Yellow card for driving

David Beckham has been given a penalty, but not the kicking kind.

The Los Angeles Galaxy's star, driving a Cadillac Escalade, got a traffic ticket when he was pulled over in Hollywood. "It was a minor offense, and David complied with the officer," a spokesman said.

Father, forgive him

More details on the Roman Catholic priest who stalked Conan O'Brien:

The Rev. David Ajemian, 46, wrote "Is this the way you treat your most dangerous fans???" to O'Brien after flying to New York and trying in vain to get a spot in the host's audience. "You owe me big-time, pal."

Ajemian also told O'Brien he knew where he lived and wrote, "Remember [mobster] Frank Costello once dodged a bullet in your building, and so can you."

He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in Manhattan Criminal Court.

Meanwhile, details were not so forthcoming in what "malicious lies" an ex-nanny of Rob Lowe has been allegedly spreading.

Lowe filed suit against Laura Boyce, saying she violated a confidentiality agreement, and inflicted emotional distress on the star, his wife, Sheryl, and two sons.

Another ex-nanny, Jessica Gibson, is also being sued by the Lowes, who say she lied about having sex with Lowe, currently appearing on Brothers & Sisters.

The no-duh moment of the week

Heather Mills says she snapped when she poured a jug of water over the head of ex-husband Paul McCartney's lawyer, Fiona Shackleton, during their bitter divorce battle. Gee, ya think?

"Mrs. Shackleton said something under her breath so I cleansed and baptized her," Mills told Britain's GMTV. "I thought she looked fantastic -- I thought it did her the world of good."