In a new interview with the gay magazine "The Advocate", James Franco is setting the record straight about his sexuality AND his alleged drug use.

He says, quote, "Everyone thinks I'm a stoner, and some people think I'm gay because I've played these gay roles.  That's what people think, but it's not true.  I don't smoke pot.  I'm not gay."

As for why he chooses to play gay characters, James says, quote, "In the history of cinema, there are so many heterosexual love stories.  It's so hammered, so done.

"It's just not that interesting to me.  It's more interesting to me to play roles and relationships that haven't been portrayed as often."

James says that nobody in his camp ever tries to stop him from playing gay characters, but they DID try to talk him out of doing "General Hospital".  He says, quote, "They didn't think me acting in a soap opera was the greatest idea."

This report comes to us from "In Touch Weekly", and it's really too silly to be true.  But the implications are so frightening that it's worth discussing . . .

Sources say that Lindsay Lohan thinks the best way to stay sober and tame her wicked ways is to HAVE A BABY.

A baby would solve Lindsay's problems in two ways:  First, she'd have to stay sober to take care of the kid. 

And second, Lindsay is the type of person who needs to be around someone all the time.  Usually, she fills that need in the wrong way . . . like by hanging out with bad people and hitting clubs at night.

But a baby can provide the company she craves, and won't lead her astray like one of her usual hangers-on would.

Plus, Lindsay has seen what having kids has done for former celebu-skank Nicole Richie.

A so-called "source" says, quote, "Lindsay thinks having a baby could straighten out her life."

This is far from official, but so-called "sources" say Lindsay Lohan is close to a deal to appear on "Oprah" . . . which begins its final season on Monday.

A rep for the show refused to confirm or deny the talks, but said, quote, "Nothing has been planned."

Dina Lohan’s Long Island home has been vandalized twice in one week.

On August 31st, someone pelted the front door with eggs and threw dirt bombs at the side of the house.  Then this past Monday, somebody pulled her mailbox out of the ground.

Police are investigating, but they don't have any suspects yet.  (Check out some pics here . . .)

http://photos.tmz.com/galleries/dina_lohan_egged#tab=most_recent

Demi Lovato is the latest celebrity to ditch her Twitter account.  We think.

Yesterday afternoon, she Tweeted, quote, "About to say goodbye to Twitter . . . I love my fans so much but the access that other people have is uncomfortable to me."

Then she added, quote, "Twitterbreak.  Peace."

However . . . Demi did NOT delete her page.  And AFTER she signed off for her supposed "Twitterbreak", she Tweeted a shout-out to Eva Longoria.

Here's something you didn't know about Kristen Stewart:  When she gets nervous, she SMELLS BAD. 

She tells "Stylist" magazine, quote, "When I'm nervous, I'm so mindless.  I twiddle my thumbs and my hands sweat and I smell bad." 

Angelina Jolie discussed who she vents to about the pressures of her international refugee work . . . during an interview with CNN, and she said quote, "I don't have a lot of friends to talk to."

Here's the entire quote . . . "I'll talk to my family.  I talk to Brad;  he wants to know as much as he can about these issues and every trip.

"But I don't know, I don't have a lot of friends to talk to.  He is really the only person I talk to."

New Movies Out this Weekend:

#1.)  "Resident Evil: Afterlife"  (R)  (It's also playing in 3D, if that's your thing.)

This is the fourth film in the "Resident Evil" series.  Milla Jovovich once again plays Alice, the only human to ever successfully bond with the T-virus that's turning everyone else into zombies.  In this one, she hunts down the head of the Umbrella Corporation.

Ali Larter, who played survivor Claire Redfield in "Resident Evil: Extinction", is also back for this movie . . . and "Prison Break's" Wentworth Miller gets to play her brother.

Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly_izxQsHIA

Official Site:  http://www.residentevil-movie.com/

#2.)  "I'm Still Here"  (Not Rated)  (Limited)

The documentary about Joaquin Phoenix's supposed attempt to "find himself" and become a rapper that was filmed by his brother-in-law Casey Affleck. 

It culminated in a bizarre appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman", and according to the "L.A. Times" the film also includes Joaquin being defecated on and, quote, "more male frontal nudity than you'd find in some gay porn films." 

(Here's that CLASSIC clip of Joaquin on "Letterman" . . . which ends with Letterman telling him, quote, "I'm sorry you couldn't be here tonight" . . .)

Joaquin and Letterman:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENJr98KXs5g

(And here's an amusing clip of Joaquin talking with Diddy about film money . . .)

Joaquin and Diddy:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSUemAg-Ks4

Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFawjKrxz-M

Official Site:  http://www.imstillheremovie.com/

#3.)  "The Romantics"  (PG-13)  (Limited)

Katie Holmes plays a bridesmaid trying to avoid getting sucked into a love triangle with her ex-boyfriend on the night before his wedding.  "True Blood" minx Anna Paquin plays the bride and Josh Duhamel is the groom.

The cast includes Elijah Wood, "The O.C.'s" Adam Brody, and blonde "Glee" minx Diana Agron . . . who's still hoping to get Katie to guest star on next season's "Glee".

Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-sgWHXJfZ4

Official Site:  http://www.theromanticsmovie.com/

#4.)  "Legendary"  (PG-13)  (Limited)

"Dexter's" Devon Graye plays a scrawny teenager who joins his high school wrestling team to try to get the attention of his older brother, WWE rassler John Cena.  Patricia Clarkson plays their mom, and Danny Glover is a wise old man who guides him.

Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPsd8EH4cFE

Official Site:  http://legendarythemovie.com/

#5.)  "The Virginity Hit"  (R)  (Limited)

A comedy about a skinny geek's misguided attempts to lose his virginity, while being recorded by his group of dorky friends.  It doesn't star anyone you've heard of, but it was produced by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, the team behind "Anchorman", "Talladega Nights", "Step Brothers", and "The Other Guys".

Red Band Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK23H_CLTTg

Official Site:  http://www.thevirginityhit.com/

Perhaps not surprisingly, MTV wants to capitalize on the surging popularity of "Jersey Shore" by adding two TV specials to the end of the show's second season.  The first special will be a "cast reunion show."  It'll air on October 28th.  MTV will also air a "behind-the-scenes" special, but there's no airdate for that yet.

Will and Jada are now the proud parents of TWO child stars, and both of them are YOUNGER than Justin Bieber.

First 12-year-old Jaden starred in the new "Karate Kid" movie . . . and now Jay-Z has signed nine-year-old Willow to a record deal on his Roc Nation label.

This comes just TWO DAYS after Willow's debut song, "Whip My Hair", leaked online, and blazed its way through the Internet.

In a radio interview yesterday . . . (with Ryan Seacrest) . . . Jay-Z said he knew "Whip My Hair" and its singer were GOLD the moment he heard the song.

He said, quote, "I was like, 'Man, that record's a smash.'  And then [my Roc Nation partner] Jay Brown said, 'She's 9,' and I was like, 'Whoa!'  And [then] he was like, 'She's Will and Jada's daughter,' and I was like, 'Whoa!' and it just went from there."

Jay-Z said he was immediately impressed with Willow the minute he met her. 

He explained, quote, "She walked in and the first thing she said was, 'I'm really nervous,' and I thought, 'That's maturity to explain exactly how she was feeling when she walked right into the room.'  I knew right then she was a star." 

Jay-Z also said he doesn't want to get too carried away yet, but he thinks Willow could be the next . . . Michael Jackson.

He said, quote, "I don't want to go so far, but I can imagine that's how [Michael] was as a young kid . . . he knew exactly what he wanted.

"I believe that you have to start somewhere, and when you have that sort of talent and vision, there's no such thing as too young. 

"Again, I heard the record without knowing who it was . . . we all danced to Michael Jackson records when he was eight [years old].  Stevie Wonder started at eight . . . it's just what it is, who she is."

Chris Brown’s mother, Joyce Hawkins, has apologized for a "controversial" comment she made Wednesday on Twitter.

Joyce said . . . using all caps . . . quote, "MICHAEL JACKSON DIED SO THAT CHRIS BROWN COULD LIVE!!!"  Clearly, whatever she was TRYING to say wasn't coming across, and some people flipped out at her for saying it.

Well, yesterday Joyce deleted the message . . . apologized . . . and attempted to explain what she meant.  In a new Tweet, she said that she meant, quote, "Chris would carry on Michael's legacy."

And she told "USA Today", quote, "I'm so sorry that the Tweet I sent was misunderstood.  What I meant to say is that Chris has always been inspired by Michael Jackson's music and his career." 

"Billboard" has put out a list of the Top 10 Songs of the Summer . . .

Here's the Top 10:

#1.)  "California Gurls",  KATY PERRY . . . featuring SNOOP DOGG

#2.)  "Love the Way You Lie",  EMINEM . . . featuring RIHANNA

#3.)  "Airplanes",  B.O.B . . . featuring HAYLEY WILLIAMS

#4.)  "OMG",  USHER . . . featuring WILL.I.AM

#5.)  "Dynamite",  TAIO CRUZ

#6.)  "Billionaire",  TRAVIE MCCOY . . . featuring BRUNO MARS

#7.)  "Cooler Than Me",  MIKE POSNER

#8.)  "I Like It",  ENRIQUE IGLESIAS . . . featuring PITBULL

#9.)  "Find Your Love",  DRAKE

#10.)  "Not Afraid",  EMINEM

Justin Bieber can get away with a TON of stuff REGULAR 16-year-olds can't. 

Justin was throwing water balloons around backstage before his concert at the Maryland State Fair last Sunday.  Specifically, he was targeting the CROTCHES of some of his crew.

But then he made the ill-advised decision to target some Maryland state troopers, who were there for crowd control.  Justin hit one of them in the stomach, but the balloon didn't break.  He hit the other in the belt, and it broke . . . soaking his crotch.

Supposedly, the cop was NOT happy about it . . . so Justin ended his balloon-throwing, and went back to his trailer.  Meanwhile, Justin's bodyguard smoothed everything over with the cop.

A Maryland state police spokesperson said Justin's behavior was, quote, "inappropriate" . . . but said that the officer did not file a report, so no action will be taken against Justin.

If there WAS any chance of repercussions, it doesn't sound like Justin took it that seriously.  After the show, he Tweeted, quote, "Still laughing.  GREAT DAY."

A former bodyguard is suing Britney Spears for sexual harassment, and he also accuses her of abusing her own children.

Fernando Flores claims that Britney was constantly throwing herself at him, and making sure he saw her in revealing and / or see-through clothing.

And he claims that on two separate occasions, Britney sent him on errands, and made sure that when he returned, he saw her, quote, "having vigorous sexual relations."

She also pulled the CLASSIC move where she'd summon him for some reason, and when he showed up, she'd be NAKED.

Britney didn't much care if the kids knew mommy was having sex.  Flores says that one time when she was staying at a hotel in California, Britney was, quote, "loudly having sexual relations while her two children were in the suite with her."

(It's not clear if the kids SAW anything, or were even in the same room.  The lawsuit doesn't specify that.)

Flores also claims that Britney once took his belt and whipped her son Sean Preston with it . . . which left Flores, quote, "shocked, horrified and deeply disturbed."

In another bizarre incident, Britney allegedly fed her sons crabmeat . . . even though they have SEAFOOD ALLERGIES.

And when the boys started throwing up, Britney refused to let Flores or the nanny help them.  In fact, she told them, quote, "Mind your own (effing) business!"

Flores also says that Britney once told the kids, quote, "Mommy is white trash."

It should be noted that Flores reported all of this to the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services.  They investigated and decided his claims had NO MERIT.

(If you're interested, you can read the lawsuit here . . .)

http://images.eonline.com/static/news/pdf/spearsbodyguard.pdf

If you love "Twilight"...

It's a visit to the Vancouver set of "Breaking Dawn".  It's being auctioned off on eBay, with the proceeds going to the Stand Up for Cancer charity.

The auction doesn't end until September 17th, and the price is already out of most people's range.  Last we checked, there had been 58 bids, and it was going for $8,600.

(Check it out here)

In other "Twilight" news, "Eclipse" is being re-released in select theaters TOMORROW, to celebrate the birthday of Kristen Stewart’s character, Bella Swan, which is September 13th.  (Tomorrow is the 10th, FYI.)

(To see if it's playing at a theater near you, hit up this link)

 "Jersey Shore" party animal Snooki was in court yesterday . . . answering to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, being a public nuisance, and criminally annoying others.  (And no, that's not a joke.  That's a real criminal charge.)

Snooki was arrested in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, back in July . . . during a marathon afternoon drinking session.  She was looking at a maximum sentence of $3,200 in fines and 90 days in jail, but she got off easy.

But not before being BERATED by Judge Damian Murray. 

He said, quote, "I have concerns about how much of this episode was scripted by your show . . . or how much was actions of your own initiative.  I mean . . . if this was scripted, only you can determine if it's worth trading your dignity for a paycheck."

After Snooki told the judge it was NOT scripted, he went on, quote, "If this was your idea of having a good time, it appears that your recent celebrity has apparently affected your judgment in this matter. 

"Seaside Heights is a town that invites people to have a good time.  We're a tourism town.  We want people to come down and have fun, but not at the expense of others."

And then he went in for the kill . . . quote, "Your actions . . . I don't know . . . you seem to be acting like a Lindsay Lohan wannabe.  Going through life rude, profane, obnoxious and self-indulgent . . . it's not the way you want to live your life. 

"And hopefully this incident will impress upon you that there are consequences to your actions."

(By the way, Lindsay's mom, Dina Lohan, has already commented on the Lindsay dis . . . saying, quote, "The family is very disappointed that a judge would say that in a court of law.")

Snooki was slapped with a $533 fine, and two days of community service with local animal control.

Before being sentenced, Snooki said she was sorry.  She told the court, quote, "I would definitely like to apologize to the Seaside cops.  When I saw what happened and everyone told me what happened, I was very embarrassed. 

"This was not like me and I've never been in this situation before."

And afterwards, she posted this on Twitter:  Quote, "Ah never again!  So scary . . . thank you judge for understanding, I'm very thankful for that!  Whew . . . now I can breathe!"  (She actually spelled "breathe" as "breath," without the "e")

Speaking of Snooki's Twitter . . . later yesterday afternoon she Tweeted, quote, "Ugh, stuck in Newark traffic is no fun.  OMG why I got a stick shift I will never know.  Stop and go traffic . . . I'm killin' myself here :("

And LESS THAN AN HOUR LATER, the Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, Cory Booker, who was apparently hanging out on Twitter at the time . . . saw it, and responded, quote, "Snooki!  I'm the mayor . . .

"Where R U . . . so I can give u a ticket 4 texting & driving.  We need revenue!"

Matthew Morrison, who plays Mr. Schuester on "Glee", is currently working on his debut album, which he's hoping to have out by February.

He says he's "about three-quarters of the way done with [it]" . . . and describes the sound as a mix of adult contemporary and stuff you can, quote, "hear in the club and you can dance to."  He also says he's hoping to tour at some point.

It's official:  "America's Got Talent" judge Piers Morgan will take over for Larry King after he ends his show in November.

There's been talk about Piers replacing Larry for MONTHS, but CNN has only just now confirmed it.  Piers' show, which is still untitled at this point, will premiere in Larry's 9:00 P.M. timeslot in January.  The concept seems similar to "Larry King Live".

As far as we know, this will not impact his gig on "America's Got Talent".

Usher has announced the dates for what he's calling his "OMG Tour."   

For now, it's scheduled to go from November 10th in Seattle through December 18th in Hartford, Connecticut.  (You can find the full itinerary, here)

Rich Cronin, the singer of LFO, a.k.a. the LYTE FUNKY ONES . . . died yesterday after a long battle with leukemia.  He was 35.  His brother said he passed away after suffering a stroke.  (Which was likely brought on by the cancer.)

Rich was diagnosed with leukemia in 2005 . . . and launched the Rich Cronin Hope Foundation to raise awareness for the disease.

The nominees for this year's "BET Hip-Hop Awards" are out . . . and Jay-Z leads everyone with 10, which is the most nominations for any one artist in the five-year history of the "BET Hip-Hop Awards".  (If that means anything to you.)

As usual, BET is handling the broadcast poorly.  The ceremony will be taped on October 2nd, and all the winners will be leaked online.  Then, it'll air 10 days later . . . on October 12th . . . when no one cares anymore. 

(You can find all the nominees at BET.com, HERE.)

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9.8.10

Auburn was just in town now check out her brand new video La La La featuring Iyaz here!

Heidi Montag got on Twitter yesterday.  She said, quote, "Giving myself a soft tissue breast massage.  Ladies we have to keep those implants soft."

In an earlier Tweet, she said, quote, "Warning:  to anyone who is thinking about getting their ears pinned.  I learned after the fact it is the most painful surgery a person can get."

Justin Bieber doesn't mind interacting with his fans.  But he wishes they'd stop yelling and screaming and just talk to him.

He says, quote, "Just talk to me.  Ask me how I'm doing.  Introduce yourself instead of yelling, 'Justin!  Justin!  Justin!  Can I have a picture?'

"And don't come up to me while I'm eating.  How would you like it if I came into your house and started taking pictures of you while you were eating?  I hate that."

By the way . . . It sounds like Justin is just as tired of seeing himself everywhere as we are . . . quote, "It's still amazing to see people wearing my shirts, but I feel like I can't get away from myself.

"Like, I go to Walmart and I just want to go get some boxers and socks, but there are posters of me everywhere.  Or my song comes on the radio, and it's like, 'Aah!'."

Lady Gaga’s latest attempt at creating "controversy" is to pose for a magazine cover naked . . . but covered in what basically counts as a RAW MEAT BIKINI.

Not surprisingly, PETA took the bait.  Here's what they had to say . . .

"No matter how beautifully it is presented, flesh from a tortured animal is flesh from a tortured animal.  Meat represents bloody violence and suffering, so if that's the look they were going for, they achieved it.

"Oh, Lady Gaga's job is to do outlandish things, and this certainly qualifies as outlandish because meat is something you want to avoid putting on or in your body."

Bill Ray Cyrus is moving on to do another TV show with another one of his kids.

Billy Ray and his 21-year-old son Trace, who's in that band Metro Station, are doing a documentary-style show for the SyFy channel where they investigate all kinds of weird and unexplained phenomena.

It'll be called "UFO:  Unbelievably Freakin' Obvious".  There's no word yet on a premiere date.

Billy Ray says, quote, "The existence of paranormal phenomena is something I've always wanted to explore further.

"Getting the opportunity to take this adventure with my son, who has always had a keen interest in this area, is a dream come true."

The two "Breaking Dawn" movies may not be where the "Twilight" saga ends.  There's already talk on the Interweb that a movie focusing on the vampire character Bree Tanner is in the works.

As you "Twilight" fans have already surmised , it would be based on Stephanie Meyer’s spin-off novella, "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner".

Bree only appears in "Eclipse", and she's killed off after Dakota Fanning’s character, Jane, orders that she be destroyed.

The character was played in "Eclipse" by a young actress named Jodelle Ferland.  But according to the rumor, they're looking for someone with a little more star power to take over for the stand-alone movie.

Bravo's "Real Housewives" universe has lost another "star."  Just a week after Bethenny Frankel announced she was quitting "The Real Housewives of New York City", Danielle Staub has left "The Real Housewives of New Jersey".

Danielle walked off the set during the second episode of the reunion special on Monday night, and now, Bravo has confirmed she won't be back for Season Three.

If you watch this show, you know that Danielle was essentially the VILLAIN of the show, and regularly got into it with the other cast members.  And it got rough.

Last November, Ashley Holmes, the daughter of Housewife Jacqueline Laurita, infamously ripped out a handful of Danielle's hair extensions, and Danielle claims some of her real hair came out with it.

She actually demonstrated this on the reunion special . . . when she pulled out a Styrofoam head of hair with extensions from her purse, and had the host, Andy Cohen, yank at the extensions to show how it also pulls out real hair.

What caused Danielle to storm off the set of the reunion special was when another co-star accused her of being, quote, "a call girl [that gets] with married men."

Afterwards, Danielle gave an interview explaining why she was leaving "Real Housewives", and as you'd expect, she had plenty to say.

Here are the highlights:  Danielle said, quote, "I'm way too good for this.  They have used me about as much as I can be used.

"I think it's time for me to move on and upward.  I don't see any interest for me to be attacked like that.  I mean, what's left for [the other cast members]?  To kill me?  Bravo seems to be glorifying their behavior.

"And I think it's almost like telling children to behave poorly at school, 'It's OK.'

"The bottom line is, they need me, I don't need them.  They don't talk about anything but me.  I don't talk about them, at all.  I talk about me too!" 

So what's next for her?  How about what's NOT next.  Danielle . . . who's already written a memoir, starred in a sex tape, and released a single as a wannabe singer . . . talked about doing all kinds of things to further her SUPERSTARDOM.

For example, she's "positively" planning on launching her OWN SHOW . . . which, among other things, will follow her surely riveting search to find her birth mother.

A "friend" of Teresa Giudice tells the "New York Post" that she's having a dispute with Bravo over money . . . and will probably not be back for Season Three of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey". 

There's been no comment from Teresa or Bravo.\

Will and Jada Pinkett Smith are obviously NOT opposed to their children following in their footsteps.  12-year-old Jaden just starred in the new "Karate Kid" movie, and now their nine-year-old daughter Willow has released a SINGLE.

It's called "Whip My Hair".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvV3l-dbRTI

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9.7.10

We've known it for weeks, but now it's official:  JESSE JAMES and KAT VON D are a couple.  Jesse attended the opening of Kat's new art gallery the other night. --Kat told "People" magazine, quote, "Jesse is only my ninth boyfriend.  I don't hang out with anybody unless I am in love."

Asked if she thinks Jesse is THE ONE, she said, quote, "I believe he is, so yeah."

She also said she didn't let the turmoil surrounding Jesse's personal life interfere with the relationship . . . quote, "I stayed away from that as much as possible, and when we connected recently, it was such a positive thing.

"It was just like, 'Wow, I can't believe I haven't spent this much time with you the entire time I've known you.'  Now I'm just embracing it and enjoying it."

The charges against those two people who tried to extort John Travolta in the Bahamas have been dropped . . . at Travolta's request.

As you probably recall, Tarino Lightbourne and Pleasant Bridgewater were accused of trying to squeeze $25 MILLION from John and his wife, Kelly Preston.

It was all over what turned out to be a pretty insignificant document that Travolta signed for a paramedic when his son Jett died during a Bahamian vacation in January of 2009.

The case already went to court once, with Travolta traveling back to the Bahamas to testify in person.  But it ended in a mistrial last October.  And John and Kelly apparently don't want to suffer through all of that again.

John issued a statement saying, quote, "The long pending status of this matter continued to take a heavy emotional toll on my family causing us to conclude that it was finally time to put this matter behind us.

"Therefore, after much reflection I concluded that it was in my family’s best interest for me not to voluntarily return to the Bahamas to testify a second time at trial.

"We are thankful to the people of the Bahamas for the friendship, love and support they provided to us during this matter."

Failed Haitian presidential candidate Wyclef Jean shot back at some of his detractors during a gig in New York City this past Friday night.

Wyclef was singing a song of his called "President", and he changed up the lyrics to say, quote, "I got a message for Sean Penn:  Maybe he ain't see me in Haiti because he was too busy sniffing cocaine."

He also took a shot at his fellow Fugee Pras, who didn't support his presidential bid. 

Wyclef said, quote, "I got a message for Praswell, even though you don't want to support me, I got love for you, even though you only kicked 8 bars in the Fugees."

Mel Gibson currently pays Oksana Grigorieva $5,000 a month in child support for their daughter Lucia.  But Oksana wants more.  A LOT more.

She's asking a judge to bump it up to $40,000.

Here's something that'll probably work against her, though:  She only gets $2,500 a month from Timothy Dalton for their 13-year-old son Alexander.

It's official:  Kara DioGuardi will not be returning to "American Idol".

In a statement, Kara said, quote, "I felt like I won the lottery when I joined 'American Idol' two years ago, but I feel like now is the best time to leave 'Idol'.  I am very proud to have been associated with [it] . . . it has truly been an amazing experience.

"I am grateful to FOX, FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment, as well as the cast, crew and contestants, for all they have given to me.  I look forward to my next challenge, and want to thank everyone who has supported me.

"All the best to everyone on Season 10!"  Several producers also commented on Kara's departure . . . basically saying the usual stuff:  That she was a joy to have on the show, that she will be missed, and that they wish her the best in the future.

Kara didn't elaborate further, but she's clearly insinuating that she quit.  However, that may not have been the case.  TMZ is sticking with the claim they made back in July . . . that she was fired from the show.

Lady Gaga’s former tour manager, a guy named David Ciemny, makes some interesting claims about Lady Gaga in a new book.

The book, titled "Poker Face:  The Rise and Rise of Lady Gaga" . . . which was written by someone named Maureen Callahan . . . will be out next Tuesday.

The former tour manager says Lady Gaga was hospitalized SIX times last year . . . because she wasn't taking care of herself.  He claims she would BINGE on junk food, and then starve herself for weeks at a time to stay skinny.

He adds, quote, "When I say she was sick, I mean physically and mentally."

And his wife Angela claims Lady Gaga would cuddle with her . . . in bed. 

Angela adds, quote, "I would say, 'Gaga, I have a husband to go home to.  I'll be in the room next door.'  She'd call and text me, 'I miss you, Ange, can you come back?' So I would.

"We literally would do our make-up together every morning and get ready for bed together at night."

Lady Gaga has not commented on any of this.

Kanye West and Taylor Swift will both be at the "MTV Video Music Awards" this Sunday, but in the meantime, Kanye is still trying to make amends for his now-infamous stage-storming incident at last year's "VMAs".

In a series of Twitter posts Saturday, Kanye talked candidly about the incident, apologized to Taylor . . . again . . . and announced that he has a gift for her.

He said, quote, "I wrote a song for Taylor Swift that's so beautiful and I want her to have it.  If she won't take it then I'll perform it for her.  She had nothing to do with my issues with award shows.  She had no idea what hit her."

Kanye called Taylor, quote, "justa lil girl with dreams like the rest of us" . . . and added, quote, "She deserves the apology more than anyone.  I'm ready to get out of my own way.  The ego is overdone.  Who am I to run on stage?

"I would never ever again in a million years do that.  Sorry to let you down.  I want to win [the haters'] hearts back so I can continue to bring my take on culture to the masses with a clean opinion.  It starts with this . . . I'm sorry Taylor."

He also said, quote, "I am not a bad person . . .

"Even in that moment I was only trying to do good but people don't always need my help.  BeyoncÉ didn't need that.  MTV didn't need that, and Taylor and her family friends and fans definitely didn't want or need that."

Kanye went on, quote, "There are people who don't dislike me . . . they absolutely hate me!  If you google '(A-hole)' my face may very well pop up 2 pages into the search.  People tweeted that they wish I was dead.  They wanted me to die people.

"I carry that . . . I wear my scars."

This isn't good for T.I.:  A spokesperson for the L.A. County Sheriff's Department has confirmed that the lab tests are back, and the pills found on T.I. and his wife when they were arrested last week WERE Ecstasy.

There's no immediate word on how this will affect T.I.'s probation.  But there's a decent chance he could be headed back to the clink.

T.I. is back in Atlanta now, but there's no word when or if he'll be back in court.  It all depends on when the office handling his probation finishes their investigation, and sends a report to the federal prosecutor's office in Atlanta.