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By Michael Lopez

In recent months there has been a disturbing trend happening during time-outs at high-profile basketball games. Top players like Kobe Bryant and Joakim Noah have been seen mouthing homophobic slurs, which has led to big fines and a major backlash from the gay community. NBA wife LaLa Vasquez recently chimed in too, criticizing athletes for their insensitivity.

"I don’t think it’s cool," Vasquez told Bossip. "I think that you can't do stuff like that. You've got to respect everyone and you definitely have to respect the gay community."

Thankfully Lala's hubby Carmelo Anthony hasn't been embroiled in any of the scandals, but Kobe and Joakim have felt quite a bit of heat. Back in March, Bryant was fined $100,000 for making derogatory remarks after a technical foul. Noah was ordered to pay $50,000 for screaming the words, "F**k you, f**got" to a fan.

Both players later apologized for their actions and the NBA organization was actually commended by GLAAD for its swift reaction to the incidents.

"The NBA sent an important message about how such slurs fuel a climate of intolerance and are unacceptable," GLAAD President Jarret Barrios said. "These anti-gay remarks, coming so soon after, demonstrate how much needs to be done."

What do you think about the increase of gay slurs on the court? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags basketball, Chisme, GLAAD, Jarret Barrios, Joakim Noah, Kobe Bryant, LaLa Vasquez, NBA, Sports

By Michael Lopez

A little bit of history was made last night on the American Idol stage. For the first time since the show's inception, a Latin-blooded singer took home the competition's top honor. And even though he's just a quarter Puerto Rican, Scotty McCreery has been proudly proclaiming his Hispanic roots for weeks. Speaking to Tr3s via conference call this morning, he shared his thoughts on the win.

"It’s pretty wild," Scotty explained. "I never would have expected this, but I’m handling it well. It’s my new life now."

In a truly over-the-top finale, A.I.'s favorite contestants came back for duets with their favorite celebrities. James Durbin wailed classic metal songs alongside Judas Priest, Jacob Lusk sang gospel with Gladys Knight, even Jack Black stepped up to the mic for a wild singalong with Casey Abrams. But, as expected, all eyes were on Scotty, who gave the crowd a huge smile when his name was announced.

"I was more than nervous going into last night," McCreery told us. "Everyone this year was so talented!"

And it wasn't just the competitors who had talent, judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez also got up on stage and strutted their stuff. Tyler sat at the piano and played bits of Aerosmith's classic, “Dream On.” And J.Lo got a little help from her famous hubby, who wowed the crowd with his interpretation of "Aguanile."

Despite the wide array of music displayed this season, Scotty promised his fans that he won't be abandoning his country roots.

"Country music is what I grew up with," he said. "It’s what I do. I figured it got me this far, why change it?"

And seeing how he is the first "Latino" Idol, we had to ask him about his Spanish skills.

"I don’t speak Spanish," McCreery confessed. "My grandma asked me when I was young, she said, 'do you want to learn Spanish?' I should have because I think it would have helped me a lot."

Don't fret, Scotty, it's never too late to learn (and possibly record in) español.

Did Scotty deserve to win? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags American Idol, Exclusive Entrevistas, Hot Stuff, Jennifer Lopez, Música, Scotty McCreery, Steven Tyler, Television, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Anyone who has a Twitter account knows how tough it is to get the handle you really want. With millions of users across the world, scoring a really cool, original name is nearly impossible. Just ask Belinda, who has been forced to use @belindapop. Interestingly, the Mexican songstress' fans have taken the matter into their own hands, bombarding Twitter user @belinda with angry posts to give up her moniker.

The other @belinda happens to be a Stanford University student, who seems well aware of her famous namesake. But she has not been willing to let go of her handle, despite hundreds of online protests.

Speaking to the twitterverse, @belinda the student said,

"BY THE WAY...my name is belinda. that is why i have this account name. no creo esta cuenta para "robar" de @belindapop.”

"@belindapop Please stop. Talk to any lawyer, who will tell you that what you are encouraging your fans to do is harassment and illegal."

But did the Belinda we know and love really encourage her fans to spread online hate? She did seem to pose the question to her 580,000 followers, but by the looks of things, they then took the matter into their own hands.

"Pero que piensan que es mejor belinda o belindapop?? Me acostumbre al pop jiji pero que piensan? Lo cambiamos?" Belinda originally wrote.

Once the fan tweets became mean-spirited, Belinda (aka @belindapop) did her best to cool the situation, apologizing to @belinda the student. In an extended tweet, she wrote,

"Dear Belinda, I would like to apologize for the inconvenience caused to you by some of my beloved fans, no one has ever tried to haras you or restrict the use of your own name. I only expressed in my community of fans my legitimate wish of using my birth name, nothing else…Enjoy your web navigation and your legitimate use of your name, Belinda that is also my name."

Do you think @belinda the student should give up her name? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Belinda, Celebrities, Chisme, twitter

By Michael Lopez

For the past several months, Los Angeles has been bombarded with Wanted posters related to a beating outside Dodger Stadium. Back at the March season opener, San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow was savagely attacked outside of the ballpark and is now listed in critical condition. The two assailants had remained at large, but now the case may have a break. Giovanni Ramirez was arrested on Sunday in connection with the crime, despite the fact that he's loudly proclaiming his innocence.

Just looking at the police sketch, it's easy to see a resemblance between Ramirez and the bald, goateed attacker. But Giovanni's family has spoken out and they are providing plenty of potential alibis for the 31-year-old parolee.

According to TMZ, Ramirez' lawyer has "proof" that he was nowhere near Dodger Stadium during the time of the beating. He claims to have testimonials from three witnesses, each of whom can attest for Giovanni's whereabouts during the game. They say that he spent the entire time babysitting his 10-year-old daughter.

But many in the media just aren't buying it. The alibi witnesses have stated that they later attended the infamous Dodger game and left Ramirez alone to watch the child. That leaves a lot of unaccounted for time. Plus one of the witnesses, who happens to be Giovanni's ex-girlfriend, is suspected of driving the getaway car.

Add to that a long felony rap sheet for Ramirez and things are not looking good. It was reported Wednesday that several witnesses to the beating have already identified Giovanni from a lineup and that the L.A. District Attorney was ready to file charges.

Sadly, even if Ramirez is the attacker, it won't make much difference to Bryan Stow. The 42-year-old father of two is currently in a medically induced coma and may have suffered permanent brain damage.

After the arrest of Ramirez, Stow's sister said:

"I can't even tell you the emotions that we're feeling right now," Bonnie Stow said. "To be excited? We don't even know what we are feeling."

If Giovanni is ultimately charged, we're certain it will make for a very sensational trial.

Do you think Giovanni Ramirez is the right guy? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Baseball, Bryan Stow, Dodger Beating, Dodgers, Giovanni Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Sports

By Michael Lopez

A while back, we told you about Pee Wee's heavily anticipated new album. Though it's still months away from completion, the 22-year-old pop star did drop some very interesting news about its release. Pee Wee has now confirmed that he's signed on to Top Stop Music, the same label as Prince Royce. Not only that, he laid down plenty of praise for up-and-coming bachata star.

"Yo pienso que el éxito que tiene Prince Royce se lo ha merecido mucho," Pee Wee told Univision. "Ha ofrecido algo nuevo y diferente para el público, un poco de inglés y español. La verdad respeto todo lo que ha logrado."

Could that mean a possible duet between the two? Or maybe some surprise Pee Wee appearances on Prince and Enrique's upcoming tour? PW didn't offer any concrete details and was actually rather shy when it came to discussing his new music.

"Acabamos de firmar entonces en cuanto tenga más detalles en cuanto a la música y el estilo les dejaremos saber." Pee Wee said. "Pero por ahora estamos manteniendo todo en secreto para caerles con una sorpresa."

Seeing the critical acclaim (and fan reaction) Pee Wee got from his last album, Yo Soy, we're sure his "surprising" new tracks will be top notch. Plus, as we all know, Top Stop Music has a reputation for putting out some great songs.

Would you like to see Pee Wee duet with Prince Royce? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Hot Stuff, Música, Pee Wee, Prince Royce, Top Stop Music

By Michael Lopez

If you thought Coachella was a massive music event, just wait until June 9. That's when over 80,000 attendees are expected to descend upon Great Stage Park in Manchester TN for the 9th annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

Featuring some of the hottest performers on the planet, this year's Bonnaroo is expected to break records and it's easy to see why. Artists like Eminem, Arcade Fire, and Lil Wayne are all lined up for three days' worth of live jams, art expos, movie screenings, and standup comedy. There will even be a gigantic ferris wheel on the premises to keep fans entertained.

First organized in 2002, Bonnaroo gained notoriety for its rejection of sponsors and traditional advertising. The festival has also become famous for its eco-friendly mantra, which includes "Rock the Earth" panels, recycled merchandise, and profit donations put toward environmental causes.

Obviously attending Bonnaroo gets you a lot of perks, but what continues to drive fans every year is the amazing array of music. 2011 marks the return of the festival's "superjam," which has showcased improvisational experiments from rockers across all genres. Past collaborations have included meshes of Cake and Metallica members and combos of Led Zeppelin and The Roots!

With groups like Mumford & Sons, Scissor Sisters, and My Morning Jacket on board, we can only imagine the musical mash ups that'll be getting the bootleg treatment this year.

And don't think that Bonnaroo 2011 won't have its share of Latino talent too. Cheech Marin will be hosting a 420 Comedy Blaze event featuring the standup world's hottest up-and-comers. And we know that Brazilian Strokes member Fabrizio Moretti will be tearing up the drum kit when his band takes over the headliner's tent.

For a complete list of the 100+ bands lined up for this year's Bonnaroo, check out their official website. But if you're looking get in, you may be out of luck. The event recently announced that it had already sold out all of its tickets!

Have you had a chance to check out the Bonnaroo festival yet? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Arcade Fire, Bonnaroo, Eminem, Hot Stuff, Lil Wayne, Música, Music Festivals, My Morning Jacket, Scissor Sisters, The Strokes

By Michael Lopez

Believe it or not, British singer Taio Cruz recently stepped out with a "married" woman. But don't worry, his public smooch fest with Mexican actress Fernanda Romero is nothing to be embarrassed about. As we all remember, Fernanda's the celeb who faked her marriage to stay in the United States!

People en Español caught the two lovebirds out in Los Angeles this past week and they seemed to be having a "Dynamite" time. Holding hands, shopping for clothes, and going in for a very sexy kiss, Fernanda and Taio were happily showing off PDA for photographers.

Aside from his new lady friend, Cruz has a lot to be excited about his days. His latest single, "Telling The World," was featured on the soundtrack from the smash film Rio and he also happened to co-write that new J.Lo song everyone's talking about, "I'm Into You."

Fernanda's dirty chisme has actually boosted her star power too. She's got several new film projects in the works (including Eva Longoria's Without Men) and, apparently, a hot new boyfriend. Let's just hope all of those community service hours she has to perform won't interfere with the romance.

Do you think Fernanda and Taio make a cute couple? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrities, Celebrity Couples, Chisme, Fernanda Romero, Hot Stuff, Taio Cruz

By Michael Lopez

Ever wonder how Enrique stays in such good shape? He's got a trained athlete by his side. And now it looks like Iglesias' main squeeze, Anna Kournikova, is going to be flexing her fitness skills on prime time TV. TMZ has just reported that she'll be joining season 12 of NBC’s The Biggest Loser.

Though many think hiring a tennis pro for a weight loss show is an odd idea, we've got high hopes for Kournikova. For one thing, she's got a huge fan base (which will definitely help in the ratings department). Anna's also in fantastic shape, as evidenced by those sexy K-Swiss ads.

Plus, as Loser producer Todd Lubin explained, she'll bring an exciting new element to the series.

"[Anna] grew up with very little in Moscow, pounding tennis balls every day when she was 5," Lubin said. "That’s the drive she's bringing to the show. [We’re] getting slightly away from just the tape measure, and getting into overall well-being and health."

At nearly 30-years-old, Anna still looks just as incredible now as she did during her 90's heyday on the court. Plus, it's clear she knows how to stay trim the natural way, unlike a few other weight loss role models who have been in the news lately.

Will you be watching Anna on The Biggest Loser? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Anna Kournikova, Enrique Iglesias, Hot Stuff, Television, The Biggest Loser, weight loss

By Simone Hilliard

The Kardashian family is bi-winning! Not only did middle sis Kim become engaged to boyfriend of six months New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humphries, but momager Kris Jenner was able to keep the news under wraps long enough to sell the story to People Magazine.

Kimmy tells People:

"I didn't expect this at all. I was in such shock. I never thought it would happen at home, and I never thought now."

Humphries proposed to Kardashian in her bedroom at her Beverly Hills home May 18th by spelling out "Will you marry me?" in rose petals, while waiting on bended knee. Kim said yes to a 20.5 carat custom-designed Lorraine Schwartz diamond estimated at $2 million.

Of course the rumor mill has already started questioning who actually foot the bill on the $2 million stunner. Humphries has earned an estimated $17 million in his six year NBA career, so technically the future Mr. Kardashian could have afforded the bauble. But we're guessing the couple intends to pay for Kim's ring with money received from the People exclusive, and/or any E! spin off or wedding special that chronicles the couple's race to the altar. You know it's coming.

What do you think of Kim's $2 million dollar ring? Even if it is of "the highest clarity and color," reality star fame is fleeting, so maybe that money would have been better suited in a bank with a more modest chip on Kardashian's finger.

Weigh in on Kim's engagement ring price tag in the comments, or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrity Couples, Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries, Kris Jenner

By Michael Lopez

Last week, we told you about the terrible accusations Kalimba's ex girlfriend was spreading to the media. Not only did she claim that the Mexican pop star sexually abused her, she said that he also molested her five-year-old daughter! Now Kalimba is fighting back, filing a lawsuit against his ex, Kimberly de la Campa.

Claiming extortion, Kalimba's lawyers have named both Kimberly and the father of her five-year-old in their suit. They say that before she went public with the story, de la Campa asked for $170,000 from the star. It is believed that if Kalimba paid up, Kimberly would have maintained her silence (which is a terrible thought if her daughter was actually molested).

Obviously Kimberly never got her cash, which Kalimba's people claim is what prompted her to spill details to TVNotas magazine. But interestingly, de la Campa has yet to file actual charges against the star. As of right now, it's just a tabloid story with no criminal action being taken against Kalimba.

That alone, seems to give Kalimba the edge right now. If, in fact, he was responsible for these heinous acts, why wouldn't Kimberly go to the police? It's hard to say where the truth lies, but this case has certainly created a big division among the singer's ardent fan base.

Do you think Kimberly is telling the truth? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Celebrities, Chisme, Extortion, Kalimba, Kimberly de la Campa, Scandals