AJC archive photo

Soulja Boy did not buy himself a $55 million plane for his 21st birthday.

It appears widely circulated media reports indicating the young rapper had taken to the friendly skies were something of a publicity stunt.

No, really.

The source of the prank seems to be: Soulja Boy.

TMZ has the latest. Their report notes that the rapper went on the radio and told the interviewer he was in a “G5″ state of mind – and did not contradict the story about his swank new ride.

TMZ doesn’t sound too happy about being punked, either.

“When our reporter spoke with Soulja earlier this week — and asked him directly, he responded, “Hell yeah … I bought it.”

Say what you will about this gossip site but they’re usually accurate. They were the first to report Michael Jackson’s death, remember.

Soulja probably hadn’t fooled too many people with his $55 million fable, though. Gawker posted a story headlined, “Who gave Soulja Boy $55 million?” and of course many Buzz blog responses …

Continue reading That $55 million Soulja Boy plane? Just kidding! »

AJC file photo

Rapper Soulja Boy cranked it but good for his 21st birthday this week. He celebrated by springing for a Gulfstream G5 jet, People reports.

The new ride is tricked out with upgrades including “custom Italian leather seats, flat screen TVs, four liquor bars, a customized travertine-tiled floor, a revamped bathroom and Brazilian hardwood cabinets,” People reports, citing a TMZ post.

Total price tag of Air Soulja: $55 million. (Forbes estimated his 2010 earnings at $6 million. Hmm.)

The young artist is throwing himself a birthday bash in Miami tonight, and his guest list includes Sean Kingston, Bow Wow and Dwight Howard.

You’re invited, too! Well, sort of.

If you’d like to join in the Pretty Boy Swag online, you’re welcome to stream the party video from Soulja’s website.

Sorry but watching the party on your computer involves a fee. Can you blame Soulja? He’s got a new plane to pay for, you know.

- Jennifer Brett/The …

Continue reading Soulja Boy’s $55 million birthday gift … to himself »

Jennifer Lopez sets up a scene outside Smith's Olde Bar Thursday night. Photos by Andrew Snook, www.andrewsnook.smugmug.com

Jennifer Lopez shot some scenes at Smith’s Olde Bar last night.

If you were driving in that area (or trying to) you probably didn’t make really great time.

“I had no idea it was there and it took me 30 minutes to drive a mile tonight,” one of our Facebook friends, Katerina Lewis, posted on our wall last night.

Yikes!

Photos by Andrew Snook, www.andrewsnook.smugmug.com

Well, here are some photos showing what was going on. These are from celeb photographer Andrew Snook, who braved the long and muggy night to capture these frames.

If you’d like to see more of his work visit his web site. He is awesome!

J-Lo also has been filming downtown, at the Hilton on Baker Street, and Ventanas, a special events facility.

A tipster said she was spotted at Legal Sea Foods, which is right in that area, near Centennial Olympic Park. We’ll have to check with our friends at …

Continue reading Photos! J-Lo at Smith’s Olde Bar »

AP photo

If Casey Anthony talks to NBC, she won’t be paid, the network tells TMZ. But the NBC representative did confirm to TMZ that they’ve paid for a hotel suite at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York for Anthony’s lawyer, Jose Baez.

NBC’s statement to TMZ is as follows:

“NBC News has not and will not be in a bidding war for a Casey Anthony interview. No money has or will be offered, no licensing or other arrangements. If we were to conduct an interview it would be under our standards.”

However, TMZ says “sources connected with ABC insist there was indeed a bidding war between the networks,” and also reports ABC says that network would not pay for photos and videos connected with interviews.

Here’s the TMZ story.

Previously, the LA Times had reported that Anthony had sealed a $1 million deal for a television interview. Here is a link to that story.

Anthony was found not guilty of murder and other serious charges in the death of her daughter, Caylee. She was found …

Continue reading Has NBC nabbed Casey Anthony interview? »

Family photo via http://www.thedailybeast.com

Five years a widower, John Ramsey, who lost his daughter JonBenet Ramsey in a case that riveted the world’s attention, has remarried.

People magazine, citing the National Enquirer, reports:

“Ramsey, 67, tied the knot with Jan Rousseaux, 53, a twice-divorced Las Vegas designer, on July 21 in Charlevoix, Mich.”

Here is a link to the People story. Here is a link to the Enquirer story.

Mr. Ramsey had previously been romantically linked to Beth Twitty, who is the mother of Natalee Holloway, but that relationship ended years ago.

JonBenet, the 6-year-old beauty queen found murdered on Christmas night in 1996, is buried in Marietta next to her mom Patsy, who died of ovarian cancer, and a sister who had died in a 1992 car wreck.

Their graves are at the very back of the Episcopal cemetery on Polk Street, near Marietta Middle School (formerly Marietta High School). It’s a nice, peaceful place and still attracts mourners. There are usually …

Continue reading JonBenet Ramsey’s father remarries »

Sounds like the next season of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” will feature some scenes with Falcons player Kroy Biermann, the significant other of cast member Kim Zolciak.

The two, who have a baby together, were spotted on Wednesday filming at Tara Humata in Roswell.

Our tipster who witnessed the filming described a pretty low key scene, free of kids and drama. It was the two of them just having dinner and talking. Must-see TV!

The pair met during the past season of RHOA, at a charity dance event. Before long Kim was pregnant. One of the final episodes, filmed at Fernbank during the wedding celebration of Cynthia Bailey, featured Kroy but not in a huge way. He was there accompanying Kim to the elegant event.

- Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com

Continue reading Kim Zolciak, Kroy Biermann spotted filming date night for RHOA »

AP

The Jennifer Lopez movie “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” is filming today in Midtown. Or it was, anyway, I haven’t been back by to check in the past couple of hours.

The production shut a lane of Peachtree Street in Midtown, near the High Museum, earlier today. If your commute was affected that may be why.

Some of the cast members, including Chace Crawford and Anna Kendrick, have been seen filming outdoor scenes. I’m told Lopez, who arrived in Atlanta by private plane, has filmed some interior scenes at a location in Midtown. I will let you know when I hear of any J-Lo sightings. I haven’t heard much yet.

The movie, compared to “Love Actually,” stars a number of big names including Chris Rock and Cameron Diaz.

OK a few star sightings for you.

Tara Reid (American Reunion) had brunch at Varasano’s on Sunday. Robert Duvall (Jayne Mansfield’s Car)and his wife also had brunch on Sunday, at Watershed in Decatur. Chris Klein (American Reunion) just had lunch at Tap. Robert …

Continue reading J-Lo movie is filming today; star sightings »

We hear funny guys Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller are coming to town for a movie called “Neighborhood Watch.”

This is billed as a “science fiction comedy.” They play dads who hang out in their subdivisions just being dudes but then they stumble onto some big conspiracy. So Atlanta is the perfect place for that movie.

Filming for this project cranks up this fall. Their folks are already in town poking around, scouting locations.

We also hear that the guys want to stay in style and are contracting with a local high-end leasing company to book them into some ritzy digs for the time that they are here.

Continue reading Ben Stiller-Vince Vaughn flick to film here »

Photo by Raymond Hagans for the AJC

Last year, a throng of screaming tween girls crammed into the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre for Usher’s New Look Foundation awards gala, jockeying for a glimpse of Justin Bieber and shrieking at his every word. The audience exploded when former President Bill Clinton walked onto the stage.

This year, not so much.

The Friday night event had a more corporate feel, with folks like Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce president Sam Williams, GE vice chairman John Rice and executives from Ford, a major sponsor, strolling down the red carpet.

A few entertainers attended, including “American Idol” alum Melinda Doolittle, but they were outnumbered by guys in suits.

Here’s a gallery of photos.

The lightly populated press pen lobbed a few friendly questions when Usher made it down the carpet, asking for his thoughts on philanthropy (he believes in giving back) and who most inspired him (his mother). Only one ill-behaved scribe veered off-message and …

Continue reading A low-key night for Usher, Ted Turner »

We're all about news you can use, so here's a tip to start the week. Lumen, the bar at the downtown Ritz-Carlton, has been named one of SugarSugar.com's “Top Sugar Dating Hot Spots.” The list was compiled through online polling and responses and member feedback. From the Sugar Sugar news bulletin: "Serving up signature cocktails with live jazz, Latin and Flamenco music, Lumen is a great place to spot sexy, wealthy singles after office hours." AJC staff photo by Hyosub Shin

Continue reading Downtown Ritz-Carlton bar named a top dating site »