A weight is off her shoulders
Star Jones Reynolds skirted questions about her dramatic weight loss for years, saying only that she had undergone a medical intervention. That intervention, it turns out, was gastric bypass surgery. Reynolds, 45, says she was "intentionally evasive" when people asked how she'd dropped 160 pounds in three years. She had gastric bypass surgery in August 2003. She writes about her weight loss in a first-person essay in the September issue of Glamour magazine, on newsstands next week. "I was afraid to be vulnerable, and ashamed at not being able to get myself under control without this procedure." Keeping her decision private made her a hypocrite, she says, because she had been so outspoken about her firing as cohost of ABC's "The View" last year. Reynolds, who weighed 307 pounds at her heaviest, says her "out-of-control behavior" began around her 40th birthday in 2002. Feeling lonely, she turned to food for comfort and gained 75 pounds over the course of 17 months. (AP)
Richards's story to Little, Brown
Little, Brown will publish the autobiography of rock legend and Rolling Stone Keith Richards. The book will be published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in the United Kingdom simultaneously. The deal was brokered by Richards's manager Jane Rose and literary agent Ed Victor. Richards will collaborate on the book, which is scheduled for a 2010 release date, with "White Mischief" author James Fox. (Publishers Weekly)
Richie confirms: I'm pregnant
After months of rumors, Nicole Richie confirmed yesterday that she is pregnant. "Yes I am. We are," Richie told ABC News' Diane Sawyer for an interview to be aired tomorrow and Friday. "I'm almost four months." Richie's boyfriend, Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden, is the father, she told ABC. (AP)
Cancer surgery for ABC's Roberts
ABC "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will be undergoing surgery Friday. Roberts, 46, told viewers about her cancer on yesterday morning's show. "I am so blessed that I found this in the early stages and the prognosis is so promising," she said. Roberts, who is co-anchor of "Good Morning America" with Diane Sawyer, said she examined herself and found a lump on her breast. (AP)
Ex-'Idol' contestant jailed in Arkansas
Corey Clark has been arrested on drug charges and an outstanding warrant from Arizona, authorities said. The former "American Idol" contestant was being held at an Arkansas jail pending a court appearance in North Little Rock yesterday, said a spokesman for the sheriff's department. Clark was arrested Monday on possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. A warrant had been issued for Clark after he failed to appear in an Arizona court on a summons stemming from an arrest last year for violating a court order and trespassing. Clark was disqualified after reaching the finals of the popular Fox TV show in 2003 for failing to reveal a previous arrest. He later accused "Idol" judge Paula Abdul of coaching him and initiating an affair. She denied his allegations. (AP)
Chef settles discrimination suit
Noted chef Daniel Boulud has settled a discrimination lawsuit brought by Latino and Asian workers who claimed he promoted white French workers ahead of nonwhite workers at one of his Manhattan restaurants. The settlement announced yesterday calls for Daniel, Boulud's flagship restaurant on the Upper East Side, to pay $80,000 in damages to the eight workers who sued, to adopt a policy to ensure that race and national origin are not factors in promotions, and to train managers about employment law. (AP) 