North Korea is site for rapper’s buckets
It’s pretty hard to find a novel way to do the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by now, but two-time Grammy-winning rapper Pras Michel, a founding member of the Fugees, has done it – getting his dousing in the center of North Korea’s capital on Sunday.
Pras had two buckets of ice water dumped on his head along Pyongyang’s Taedong River, much to the surprise and bewilderment – and laughter – of North Koreans out for a stroll or some fishing on their day off.
The American rapper and documentary filmmaker said he wanted to join in the immensely popular charity challenge and thought Pyongyang – where the ice bucket craze is unknown – would be the perfect place to do it.
“I thought I’d put a little twist to it,” he told the Associated Press. “When we go to places, my crew, we stick out. You can tell instantly these guys aren’t from this neck of the woods. But the people have been good to us.”
He said he passed on the challenge to four people, including former bandmate Lauryn Hill and Britain’s Prince Harry.
Pras, in North Korea to watch a pro wrestling exhibition and “explore,” said he is currently working on several projects, including “Sweet Mickey for Prezidan,” a documentary about Haiti’s presidential election that is due out by the end of the year.
‘Keeping fingers crossed’ for Rivers
Joan Rivers’ loved ones said Sunday that they remain hopeful about her recovery three days after she went into cardiac arrest at a doctor’s office.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed,” her daughter, Melissa Rivers, said in a statement, thanking people who have expressed support for the 81-year-old comedian. Rivers on Friday described her mother’s condition as serious.
Joan Rivers was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital on Thursday, a day after she spoke at an employee event at Time Inc. in New York. Spectators there said she had appeared to be well.
Celebrity chef charged with DWI
Celebrity chef Todd English, who has opened restaurants around the country and written multiple cookbooks, was arrested Sunday on a charge of driving while intoxicated, authorities said.
Police in Southampton said English was arrested Sunday morning on a county road on Long Island. He made a court appearance later in the day, and authorities said he posted $1,500 bail.
The circumstances of the arrest were unavailable. An email to English’s representative and a call to his attorney seeking comments were not immediately returned.
Birthday bunch
Comedian-actress Lily Tomlin is 75. Singer Barry Gibb is 68. Singer Gloria Estefan is 57. Country singer-songwriter Charlie Robison is 50. Rap DJ Spigg Nice (Lost Boyz) is 44. Actor Scott Speedman is 39.