People: Iggy Azalea falls off stage during pre-VMA performance
Iggy Azalea tumbled off the stage Friday night during an MTV Video Music Awards benefit concert. There is no immediate word if the Australian rapper was injured.
Azalea fell off the stage while performing her hit “Fancy” at The Avalon in Los Angeles. Security guards quickly pulled Azalea back onto the stage, and she barely missed a beat as Charli XCX joined her for the chart-topping single.
Afterward Azalea told the crowd she felt “very blessed” that she did not break her legs.
She appeared unharmed and in good spirits, even posting a video of the fall on Instagram. Azalea wrote in the caption: “I know I laughed.”
Neither Azalea’s representatives nor MTV immediately responded to emails seeking comment.
Azalea is up for seven awards at the VMAs airing live on Aug. 24.
Rapper, reality star lashes out at NYPD
A rapper and reality television star is lashing out at police who say he’s wanted for roughing up his ex-girlfriend and stealing her cellphone.
Joe Budden directed his ire at the New York Police Department via Twitter on Saturday after it sent out his picture and asked the public for help tracking him down.
In one expletive-punctuated tweet, the 33-year-old city native says he’s going to sue. In another, he tells the NYPD’s account to alert the “Man hunt” that he’ll be at an Astoria strip club Saturday night.
Police say the “Love & Hip Hop” star snatched the phone and twisted his ex-girlfriend’s arm during a dispute in his car early Monday in Manhattan.
Budden didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment. His latest album is “All Love Lost.”
Tom Hanks against use of artificial turf
Tom Hanks takes his soccer seriously. And when the Women’s World Cup comes to Canada in 2015, he wants the games played on grass fields.
The actor is adding his voice to those protesting the use of artificial turf for the six Canadian venues. On Friday, Hanks tweeted: “Opinion: Women’s World Cup is the best Soccer of the year. Hey FIFA, they deserve real grass. Put in sod.”
Forty international players recently wrote to FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association threatening legal action. They say requiring women to play on artificial turf is discriminatory.
Hanks is a fan of the English Premier League club Aston Villa.
The birthday bunch
Actor Kenny Baker (“Star Wars”) is 80. R&B singer Marshall Thompson (The Chi-Lites) is 72. Actress Anne Archer is 67. Actor Joe Regalbuto is 65. Actor-writer Stephen Fry is 57. Actor Steve Guttenberg is 56. Talk-show host Craig Kilborn is 52. Rock singer John Bush is 51. Actress Marlee Matlin is 49. Country singer Kristyn Osborn (SHeDaisy) is 44. Actor-comedian Dave Chappelle is 41. Actor Carmine Giovinazzo is 41. Actor Rupert Grint is 26.