Theme parks? He knows all about those kiddie rides
Michael Jackson seems to be settling in to the Persian Gulf. The pop star has shopped for real estate here, been spotted in glitzy malls – and now appears to be interviewing for a job.
Jackson, who was acquitted on child molestation charges in California last year, is negotiating a position as a consultant with a Bahrain-based company that plans to set up theme parks and music academies in the Middle East.
AAJ Holdings Ltd. said it wants to hire Jackson, 47, to provide advice on setting up entertainment businesses.
Jackson is reportedly building a home in Bahrain, an island nation in the Persian Gulf linked to Saudi Arabia by a bridge.
Meanwhile, news reports out of Manama, the Bahraini capital, have quoted Jackson’s publicist as saying the pop star is finalizing his Hurricane Katrina relief song, which will be released on the regional 2 Seas Records.
Keisha Cole, Ciara, Snoop Dogg, Babyface and R. Kelly are among those taking part in the song, “I Have This Dream,” reports said.
The bride wore red, blue, green, yellow and brown
Eminem remarried his high school sweetheart over the weekend, a month after the superstar rapper announced they were getting back together.
Family and close friends attended the ceremony at a mansion in Rochester, Mich., including rappers 50 Cent, Obie Trice and members of D12 and G-Unit. D12’s Proof, whose real name is Deshaun Holton, served as best man.
The first marriage between Marshall Bruce Mathers III and Kim Mathers ended after two-plus years in October 2001 in an ugly legal fight that included a custody battle over their young daughter.
The couple grew up in suburbs along Eight Mile Road, Detroit’s northern border.
Black book, white dress
Brittany Murphy, who co-starred with Eminem in the movie version of his life, “8 Mile,” is engaged again.
The 28-year-old actress became engaged over the holidays to Joe Macaluso, whom she met while he was working as a production assistant on her 2004 film “Little Black Book.” No wedding date has been set.
Murphy previously dated Ashton Kutcher, her co-star in 2003’s “Just Married,” and was briefly engaged to talent manager Jeff Kwatinetz.
Out of line
Sanaa Lathan is denying she had an affair with Denzel Washington, her co-star in the 2003 thriller “Out of Time.”
”(The rumor) got started because the movie had a love scene with Denzel, and people took that and translated it to real life,” the 34-year-old actress says.
“They said I was pregnant with Denzel’s child, and people were calling my mother, saying I’m having his baby. It’s frustrating.”
Washington, 51, has been married for 22 years.
Baby 400-grand
This week’s cover story in People magazine, displaying a ripening Angelina Jolie under the banner “Yes I’m Pregnant,” didn’t come cheap.
According to the New York Post, the magazine paid “around $400,000” for the rights to publish the photos. The proceeds went to Yele Haiti, a charity founded by musician Wyclef Jean.
Jolie and daddy-to-be Brad Pitt visited Haiti last week.
The birthday bunch
Director John Boorman is 73. Singer Bobby Goldsboro is 65. Actor-director Kevin Costner is 51. Comedian Dave Attell (“Insomniac”) is 41. Actor Jesse L. Martin (“Law and Order”) is 37. Rapper DJ Quik is 36. Singer Jonathan Davis (Korn) is 35. Actor Jason Segel (“How I Met Your Mother”) is 26. Singer Samantha Mumba is 23.