People: Trump settles with NBC, buys Miss Universe pageant
Donald Trump spokesman Michael Cohen confirmed the Republican presidential hopeful has purchased NBC’s half of the Miss Universe Organization and settled all lawsuits against the media company.
The move, which Trump announced via Twitter on Friday, gives him full ownership of the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants and completes a divorce begun in June when NBC announced it was ending its business relationship with Trump, who had starred on the network as host of “The Celebrity Apprentice.”
The network later said Trump would never be on “The Celebrity Apprentice” again.
Since he jumped into the presidential race, Trump has rocketed to the top of the GOP pack in the polls.
NBC confirmed it has sold its rights to the Miss Universe Organization to Trump.
The network said in June it was severing ties with Trump because of comments he made about Mexican immigrants during his presidential campaign kickoff speech. The fallout reverberated far beyond the pageant: Macy’s stopped carrying a line of Trump menswear, a television company owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim ended a project with Trump, and the PGA of America moved a golf tournament off a Trump-owned course.
At the time, NBC said it would no longer air the annual Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, which had been a joint venture between the company and Trump. Miss USA had aired on NBC since 2003. This year’s edition had been set for July 12, but aired instead on cable’s Reelz network.
Meanwhile, Univision canceled its coverage of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, which led to a $500 million lawsuit brought by Trump claiming his First Amendment rights were violated as well as claiming a breach of contract.
Chris Brown gets custody of daughter
A judge has granted R&B singer Chris Brown joint custody of his young daughter in Texas.
A judge in Houston on Friday agreed with Brown’s request to share custody of the toddler, Royalty, with the child’s mother, Nia Guzman.
Brown’s attorney, Mark Geragos, said Guzman previously had primary custody of the girl, who was born about 16 months ago in Houston.
Brown must continue monthly child support payments of $2,500. Guzman had sought $15,000 per month.
Guzman now lives in Los Angeles. Geragos said Brown is a resident of Virginia.
The birthday bunch
Actress Linda Gray is 75. Original MTV VJ Nina Blackwood is 63. Rock musician Neil Peart (Rush) is 63. Actor Peter Scolari is 60. Actress Rachel Ward is 58. Actor-comedian Louis C.K. is 48. Singer Ruben Studdard is 37. Singer-actress Jennifer Hudson is 34. Actress Emmy Rossum is 29. Country singer Kelsea Ballerini is 22. Actor Colin Ford is 19.