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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

People: Kevin Spacey selfie with Mexican president spurs debate

From Wire Reports

What started as a tweeted selfie of Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto with actor Kevin Spacey earlier this month has devolved into a debate about politicians paying for positive coverage on social media.

In the photo, a relaxed Pena Nieto beams next to the grinning star of the Netflix television drama “House of Cards,” in which he plays Francis Underwood, a fictitious politician who moves into the White House.

“One of these Presidents is real. With President Enrique Pena Nieto in Mexico last night,” Spacey tweeted May 7 to his nearly 3.4 million followers.

Pena Nieto’s office later offered the photo to the news media, saying that the two had run into one another at a tourism expo in Cancun, the Caribbean resort city.

But it wasn’t long until a blogger for Forbes magazine reported that the meeting between the two was no accident: Spacey had been paid by the Mexican Tourism Board to attend the event – and appear with Pena Nieto. That’s when some Mexicans took to social media to lambaste both the actor and the president.

A day after Spacey sent the tweet, he tweeted again saying that in the photo, “I was in character as Francis Underwood in House of Cards! I don’t know jack about Mexican politics. I should have made that more clear.”

Paul McCartney cancels Tokyo concert

Paul McCartney came down with a virus and canceled his Tokyo concert Saturday, but he added a performance to make up for the lost show.

“I am very sorry to all my fans as I was greatly looking forward to the concert, but the situation is out of my hands,” the former Beatle said on the official Facebook site for his “Out There Japan Tour 2014.”

He said he felt sick Friday and that doctors told him Saturday to cancel his appearance that night at the National Stadium in Tokyo. But McCartney said he should be well enough for today’s scheduled concert and Monday’s makeup.

‘Girls Gone Wild’ creator arrested

“Girls Gone Wild” creator Joe Francis has been arrested on suspicion of assault after getting into a scuffle, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Los Angeles police Sgt. John Juarez told the Times that the 41-year-old was arrested Friday evening at an office building on Wilshire Boulevard after some “pushing and shoving.” Francis filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year after years of legal troubles and was issued a “stay away” order by a bankruptcy judge.

Juarez told the newspaper police were investigating whether Francis’ presence at the building violated the restraining order. Online jail records show Francis was released Saturday on $20,000 bail.

The birthday bunch

Actor Bill Macy is 92. Actor Robert Morse is 83. Actor Dwayne Hickman is 80. Rock musician Rick Wakeman (Yes) is 65. Country singer George Strait is 62. Actor Chow Yun-Fat is 59. Comedian-writer Tina Fey is 44. Singer-songwriter Jack Johnson is 39. Actor Allen Leech (TV: “Downton Abbey”) is 33.