Alleged shooter of Lady Gaga’s dog walker freed by mistake

US authorities were on Wednesday searching for the suspect accused of shooting Lady Gaga's dog walker in 2021, months after he was accidentally released from custody.

James Howard Jackson, 19, is charged with shooting Ryan Fischer with a handgun near Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles during an attempted kidnapping of the star's valuable French bulldogs.

Jackson was released in April due to a "clerical error," the US Marshals Service admitted, describing him as armed and dangerous.

It offered $5,000 for information about Jackson, one of three men charged with attempted murder and robbery over the attack.

Two of the suspects got out of a vehicle and demanded Fischer hand over the pets at gunpoint. Fisher was shot in a struggle before the men fled with two of the dogs, Koji and Gustav.

A third dog, Miss Asia, ran away during the encounter before returning to the badly-wounded Fischer.

Police said they don't believe the suspects targeted the dogs because of their famous owner, but because they are a coveted breed that can sell for thousands of dollars.

A 50-year-old woman turned the two missing pets over to police two days after the theft.

At the time, the three were described by Los Angeles police as "documented gang members." Lady Gaga had offered a $500,000 reward for their safe return.

Agence France-Presse

Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Madonna, Katy Perry lead celebs mourning Clinton loss

Lady Gaga called for kindness, Miley Cyrus was in tears, Madonna vowed never to give up and Katy Perry urged Americans not to weep as Republican Donald Trump stunned the world by defeating heavily favored Democrat Hillary Clinton in Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election.

Celebrities, many of whom had campaigned for Clinton, were shocked as Trump was elected after a long and bitter campaign.

A tearful Cyrus posted a video on social media on Wednesday saying she had not slept because of Clinton’s loss. But the “Wrecking Ball” singer, 23, who had said earlier this year she would leave the country if Trump won, urged unity, saying “Donald Trump, I accept you as President of the United States … Please treat people with compassion and respect.”

Lady Gaga went to Trump Tower in Manhattan early on Wednesday and posted a picture of herself on Instagram holding a “Love trumps hate” campaign poster.

“I want to live in a #CountryOfKindness #LoveTrumpsHate. He divided us so carelessly. Let’s take care now of each other,” she wrote.

Hollywood actors, comedians and filmmakers had thrown their support behind Clinton. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, entertainment sources contributed $22 million to her campaign and to pro-Clinton super-PACs through Oct. 19, compared with less than $290,000 for Donald Trump, Hollywood trade publication Variety reported this week.

Cher, who had said earlier in the campaign that she would move to Jupiter if Trump was elected, tweeted “World will never be the same. I feel sad for the young.” She made no mention of moving out of the United States.

Perry, who performed for Clinton at several campaign rallies, said “Do not sit still. Do not weep. MOVE. We are not a nation that will let HATE lead us.”

“A New Fire Is Lit. We Never Give Up. We never Give In,” wrote Madonna on Twitter.

“Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling, who is British, got into a Twitter spat after urging her followers to challenge “racism, misogyny and hatred.”

But Trump too had his show business supporters.

“CONGRATULATIONS PRESIDENT TRUMP! @realDonaldTrump against all odds ..against the establishment and even against most from the GOP..U did it!,” tweeted former “Cheers” actress Kirstie Alley.

Actor Stephen Baldwin, the brother of “Saturday Night Live” star Alec Baldwin, tweeted that he was “proud to have been part of such amazing history.”

source: interaksyon.com

David Bowie’s son not gaga over singer’s Grammy tribute

Lady Gaga wowed the Grammy audience with her multimedia song and dance tribute to David Bowie but the son of the late British singer seemed less than impressed.

Film director Duncan Jones, the son of Bowie and his first wife Angie, made a cryptic post on Twitter following Monday’s Grammy awards show in which he shared a dictionary definition of the word “gaga.”

“‘Overexcited or irrational, typically as a result of infatuation or excessive enthusiasm; mentally confused.’ Damn it! What IS that word!?” Jones wrote.

Gaga’s medley of Bowie’s biggest hits was punctuated by a torrent of flashing multi-colored lights and images projected on a large screen behind her, including a closeup of her face adorned in “Aladdin Sane: makeup – a nod to one of Bowie’s personas – with a spider crawling over her nose.

The tribute to Bowie, who died in January of cancer, was widely seen as one of the highlights of the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, and was one of the most-discussed moments of the show on social media.

Jones’ comments triggered both outrage and sympathy. Twitter user Lady Teapots said it was “cruel and mean spirited to attack Lady Gaga who gave her all to honor and entertain” while Darcy Bennett tweeted, “Surely the man is entitled to his opinion. especially considering it’s about his father.”

Gaga on Tuesday limited herself to giving Instagram thanks to those who made the tribute possible, including fashion designers such as Marc Jacobs who recreated some of Bowie’s signature looks during his glam rock phase of the 1970s.

During the weekend Gaga had showed off pictures of a new tattoo on her ribcage of Bowie with a lightning bolt across his face.

source: interaksyon.com

Lady Gaga dazzles at Grammys with glam David Bowie tribute

LOS ANGELES | Pop diva Lady Gaga stole the show at the Grammy Awards on Monday with an extravagant, multimedia David Bowie tribute that befitted the flamboyant rock legend, who died last month.

She blazed through the singer’s era-defining hits including “Space Oddity,” “Changes,” and “Ziggy Stardust,” accompanied on guitar by Nile Rodgers, who co-produced Bowie’s biggest selling album, “Let’s Dance.”

Gaga set the chaotic tone from the start, appearing in a bright orange wig with the trademark “Aladdin Sane” flash on her face, and affected an odd English accent as a huge spider was projected onto her face.

The singer, known for her brash outfits and sexual candor, is among the contemporary artists most obviously inspired by Bowie, the pioneer of glam rock.

She performed “Suffragette City,” “Rebel Rebel,” “Fashion,” “Fame,” “Under Pressure,” and “Let’s Dance” in front of a large LED wall, sporting pink eye shadow and a sparkly jumpsuit.

Gaga, born as Stefani Germanotta, won the longest ovation of the night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles as she finished the medley with “Heroes,” one of Bowie’s best-known songs.

The performance featured special effects provided by chip-maker Intel, including “digital make-up” projected onto her face that enabled her to take on a number of Bowie’s iconic looks without leaving the stage.

The company also provided a hologram of Bowie and a gold-colored piano with three robot arms that danced along to Gaga’s playing.

The music industry’s biggest night took place barely a month after the shocking death of Bowie, who over his half-century career became one of the most influential figures in pop culture.

The musician died on January 10 from a publicly undisclosed battle with cancer, two days after he released his final album, “Blackstar,” on his 69th birthday.

The headline-grabbing performance marked another tour de force for Lady Gaga who, since her rise to stardom nearly a decade ago, has delighted in provocative gestures and outfits, most notoriously a dress made of meat she wore to the MTV Video Music Awards in 2010.

At last year’s Oscars, she sang a medley of memorable tunes from “The Sound of Music” to mark the film’s 50th anniversary.

In December, she belted out an impressive rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” — in a tux and hat — at a concert in Las Vegas to mark what would have been the singing legend’s 100th birthday.

source: interaksyon.com

Lady Gaga chosen as Billboard’s woman of the year

LOS ANGELES | Lady Gaga was named woman of the year by music magazine Billboard after a 2015 that saw her channel Julie Andrews at the Oscars, tour with Tony Bennett and highlight the problem of college sexual assaults.

Gaga was chosen because she has been “a key influential figure who drove the conversation” this year, said Janice Min, who oversees Billboard as co-president of parent company Guggenheim Media’s Entertainment Group, in a statement on Tuesday.

“There is no woman dominating popular culture tastes and its evolution as much as she is today,” said Min.

The “Born This Way” singer won roaring applause and social media acclaim for belting “Sound of Music” tunes at the Oscars ceremony in February.

She played 36 shows on an international tour with crooner Tony Bennett, and this month she released the song and video “Til It Happens to You,” which will be featured in a documentary about sexual assault at college campuses.

Next week she will hit television screens in a leading role on FX’s “American Horror Story.”

Gaga, 29, will be presented with the honor at a Billboard ceremony in New York in December that will be shown live on national television for the first time. Last year’s honoree was Taylor Swift.

source: interaksyon.com

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett ‘cheek-to-cheek’ at Montreux jazz fest

MONTREAUX | Pop star Lady Gaga and crooner Tony Bennett brought a mix of Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra and even Edith Piaf to a sell-out crowd spanning generations at the Montreux Jazz Festival on Monday night.

Legendary producer Quincy Jones introduced the odd American couple, praising Gaga as a singer who had “blown his mind.” He also recalled working on the musical arrangement for Bennett’s 1966 hit “Girl Talk.”

“This would be Claude’s definite dream,” Jones said, referring to Claude Nobs, the late founder of one of Europe’s most prestigious summer music festivals, now in its 49th edition.

Bennett, the only person in the famed Stravinski Auditorium wearing a jacket and tie, and the blond Gaga, appearing first in a long shiny silver dress with plunging neckline, opened with “Anything Goes,” a Cole Porter tune of the 1930s.

The pair of New Yorkers then sang “Cheek to Cheek” by Irving Berlin, the title track from their 2014 album of jazz standards for which they won a Grammy Award in February.

Bennett, just weeks shy of his 89th birthday, and Gaga, already a six-time Grammy winner at age 29, delivered 30 songs during their 100-minute non-stop show, backed by nine musicians.

“We’re selling our album around the world, please buy it. She really needs the money,” Bennett quipped.

Gaga, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is better known for her hits “Paparazzi” and “Poker Face.”

Gaga hit the high notes in Montreux in half a dozen eye-popping outfits, changing backstage during Bennett’s solos. During love ballads, she gave him hugs or kisses on the cheeks.

For their “I Won’t Dance” duet, she wore a black dress and long gloves, with glittering eyebrows.

In “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” Gaga played the vamp in a red feathered dress with transparent top. For “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” her silver dress with chain belt gave her the allure of the swinging 60s.

She sat back-to-back with pianist Michael Renzi cabaret style for “Everytime We Say Goodbye,” another Cole Porter hit.

SINATRA CENTENARY

Bennett paid tribute to Sinatra, born 100 years ago, saying the late star had been “opening his soul” with the song “I’ve got the World on a String.” He then performed his personal favorite, “In the Wee Small Hours.”

Introducing the song “Smile,” Bennett told the crowd that he had once received a fan letter from Switzerland about the best-selling theme song from the 1936 movie “Modern Times.”

“I couldn’t believe it. It was from Mr. Charlie Chaplin,” he said of the British actor who lived in nearby Vevey.

Gaga, dressed in a vintage pink satin dress with huge bow at the waist, sang “La Vie en Rose,” earning the biggest applause of the night for her moving version of Piaf’s signature song.

source: interaksyon.com

Lady Gaga, Eminem to headline first YouTube Music Awards

LOS ANGELES | Pop singer Lady Gaga and rapper Eminem will be the headline performers at the first YouTube Music Awards, the Google Inc-owned online video steaming site said on Tuesday.

The November 3 award show in New York, which will be live-streamed, will honor the top songs and artists that were viewed on the website in the past year.

Nominees will be announced later this month and voting by the public will determine winners, YouTube said.

Canadian rock band Arcade Fire will also perform at the awards show. The show will be hosted by actor-musician Jason Schwartzman while film and music video director Spike Jonze will serve as creative director, YouTube said.

The video streaming website has become a crucial way for musical acts to share music in recent years and has also helped launch the careers of little-known artists such as Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jepsen and South Korean pop star Psy.

source: interaksyon.com

Lady Gaga is top earning celebrity under 30: Forbes

NEW YORK – Despite hip surgery that forced the cancellation of part of her tour, Lady Gaga still earned an estimated $80 million in the past year, propelling her to the top of Forbes list of highest earning celebrities under 30 years old.

Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber, who made headlines as much for his antics off stage as on, came in a distant second with an estimated income of $58 million. Singer Taylor Swift was third, pulling in $55 million, about $2 million less than last year when she topped the list.

The Forbes website said Lady Gaga, 27, would have earned more had she not had to cancel some 20 U.S. shows starting in February. Gaga announced earlier this month that she will release her next album “ARTPOP” on November 11.

DJ, songwriter and producer Calvin Harris, who played more than 150 shows from June 2012-June 2013 and earned $46 million, was fourth on the list, and Barbados-born pop star Rihanna rounded out the top five with earnings of $43 million.

To compile the ranking Forbes estimated entertainment-related income for the 12 months from June 2012 through June 2013 by talking to agents, managers, producers and executives.

British singer Adele, who won an Oscar for the theme from the James Bond movie “Skyfall,” was seventh on the list with an estimated $25 million.

Along with singers, two actresses also made the top 10. Best actress Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence, who wowed audiences and critics for her performance in “Silver Linings Playbook” and also appeared in “The Hunger Games,” earned $26 million, which secured her the No. 8 spot, just ahead of fellow actress Kristen Stewart of “Twilight” fame, who had earnings of $22 million.

source: interaksyon.com

Lady Gaga cancels tour, to have hip surgery

WASHINGTON – Lady Gaga has canceled the rest of her “Born This Way Ball” tour due to a hip problem that requires surgery, Live Nation Global Touring said Wednesday.

In a statement, the tour operator said the superstar singer has a labral tear of the right hip.

“She will need surgery to repair the problem, followed by strict down time to recover,” said the statement. “This unfortunately, will force her to cancel the tour so she can heal.”


In a series of tweets Tuesday, Lady Gaga said she had been hiding a show injury and chronic pain for some time and that it had worsened over the past month.

“I hid it from my staff, I didn’t want to disappoint my amazing fans,” she tweeted.

The latest tweet had described her condition as a case of synovitis, an inflammation of the joints.

Live Nation said refunds for the cancelled performances will be available starting Thursday.

source: interaksyon.com

Lady Gaga's high-end Manhattan resto hit over filthy habits

LONDON -- The high-end Manhattan restaurant owned by pop star Lady Gaga and her family has been slapped after the Dept. of Health uncovered violations.

Joanne Trattoria on the city's West Side restaurant was smacked with a shameful 'C' grade, the lowest possible rating.




This, after health officials uncovered its filthy habits, reported Daily Mail online.

They did not say what these habits were.

source: interaksyon.com

Lady Gaga's Indonesia concert canceled after threats

JAKARTA — Pop diva Lady Gaga on Sunday canceled her Indonesian concert with promoters saying the security threat was too serious after Islamic hardliners promised “chaos” if she entered the Muslim nation.

The promoters had indicated that a deal was being hammered out to tone down the June 3 concert in Jakarta, but the U.S. star’s management had stood firm, vowing there would be no compromise to appease religious conservatives.

“Lady Gaga’s management has considered the situation minute to minute, and with threats if the concert goes ahead, Lady Gaga’s side is calling off the concert,” Minola Sebayang, lawyer for promoters Big Daddy, told reporters.

“This is not only about Lady Gaga’s security, but extends to those who will be watching her.”

The flamboyant performer, who has nearly 25 million followers on Twitter—the highest number on the social networking site—wrote just hours before the announcement was made: “There is nothing Holy about hatred.”

After the announcement the show was off, thousands of her fans, who call themselves “little monsters,” sent a flurry of Twitter messages to persuade her to go ahead with the concert.

Earlier this month, Jakarta police refused approval for the show after the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) threatened violence if Lady Gaga performed, calling her a “devil’s messenger” who wears only a “bra and panties.”

Big Daddy president director Michael Rusli said it was “unfortunate” that the show, part of Lady Gaga’s tour of Asia that drew protests from Christian groups in the Philippines and South Korea, had to be called off.

“For the past few days, we have communicated with the government and Lady Gaga’s side. The government has given support, but this is not about the permit,” he said. “The cancellation is really due to concerns over security.”

More than 50,000 tickets had been sold for the event at the Bung Karno Stadium, but FPI Jakarta chairman Habib Salim Alatas said the cancelation was “good news” for Muslims in Indonesia.

“FPI is grateful that she has decided not to come. Indonesians will be protected from sin brought about by this Mother Monster, the destroyer of morals,” he told AFP.
“Lady Gaga fans, stop complaining. Repent and stop worshipping the devil. Do you want your lives taken away by God as infidels?”

The FPI claims seven million followers and has been known to raid pubs and clubs.

Conservative Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali welcomed the cancelation, saying other groups had also raised concerns.

“I strongly believe this cancelation will benefit the country. Indonesians need entertainment and art which have moral values,” he told reporters.

Lady Gaga is scheduled to play three shows in Singapore this week. She was due to play in Jakarta after that, before flying to New Zealand and Australia, and then to Europe on her “Born This Way Ball” tour.

Indonesian fans had suggested that Big Daddy look for another venue outside the capital after Jakarta police refused to give approval, but Rusli said “this is a huge concert, so it can’t be moved elsewhere.”

“Nowhere else in Indonesia can accommodate that many people”, he said, insisting that the 26-year-old singer was “prepared to adapt to Asian culture.”

The star’s manager Troy Carter said in Singapore on Thursday that Lady Gaga would not tone down her concerts.

Disappointed student Agus Murdadi, 17, said he had been waiting for months to see his idol.

“I’m shocked. She’s creative, not provocative. I bought a ticket because I want to see her dancing and singing ‘Judas’ in front of me,” he told AFP.

“I’m going to tweet to her to tell her that she should just come and not worry. The police can take care of FPI. I hate the FPI.”

Another fan, Muh Fadli Firdaus, tweeted on @FadliGermanotta: “Sorry for everything, we still love you.”

Ninety percent of Indonesia’s 240 million people identify themselves as Muslim, making it the world’s largest Islamic-majority nation, but the vast majority practise a moderate form of the religion.

In the past, pop stars including Beyonce and The Pussycat Dolls have been allowed to perform in the country on condition they wore more conservative dress than usual.

article source: japantoday.com

Gov’t Sets Security Plans For Lady Gaga’s Concert

MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang assured that there is ample security in preparation for the two-day concert of American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga.

“Basically, nakahanda na ang PNP (Philippine National Police), at sanay na sila mag-handle ng mga concerts (and they already know how to handle concerts),” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing yesterday.

“They can be assured – those people who are going to watch the concert,” he said.

Lacierda noted that foreign artists who hold concerts in the country usually bring their own security.

“The events organizer provides their own security, and in addition, the PNP, they also handle the ground, peace and order situation,” he said.

Earlier, some groups have been urging President Benigno S. Aquino III to impose a ban on Lady Gaga’s two-day concert, the first of which was Monday night at the newly-constructed “The Arena” in Pasay City.

They said they wanted a ban on the concert because of alleged immorality issues.

Also yesterday, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said the fans of Lady Gaga are in danger of falling into the clutches of Satan.

“They are in danger of falling into the clutches of Satan unless they are already there,” Arguelles said in an interview.

The prelate issued the statement hours before the scheduled concert of Gaga at the Mall of Asia, whom he described as part of devil worship.

This is also the reason why, Arguelles believes, that the singer does not deserve the title “Lady.”

“She deserves not the title lady, a title given to imitable and decent women like the Mother of God,” he said.

Arguelles then appealed to Gaga’s fans and those planning to watch her concert to keep out of the devils reach by avoiding all its enticements.

“I plead with them not to go away from God. The devil will only draw them to ruin. Seek fullness of life which can be found only in God,” he said.

“Avoid all enticements of the devil. They don’t need to get refund. Just keep out of the devil’s reach. For their own sake and for the love of God,” added Arguelles.

But Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond Palatino expressed confidence that the Filipino youth, who had attended the concert last night, have strong morals that would enable them to enjoy the artist’s music, at the same time shun the negative behaviors, attitude, or lifestyle that the concert may impart on them.

“We can survive two nights of Lady Gaga,” he assured.

He told various Christian and religious groups, and asked their leaders to let the younger generation enjoy the two-night concert of Lady Gaga.

“I am confident that our Filipino youth is matured enough not to follow whatever bad influence that they can see being embodied by Lady Gaga while being able to appreciate her music,” Palatino said.

“We survived 14 years of Martial Law. We can survive two nights of Lady Gaga since not all members of the young generation are going to see the concert,” he explained.

Palatino, one of the youngest lawmakers in the Lower Congress, also asked religious leaders to be more “tolerant” of the situation and give the younger generation the chance to discern on their own and make their own decision.

On the other hand, a certain Pastor Nanding Paunil had forwarded a text message to the public, saying that “Satan is now moving through the life of Lady Gaga,” who will perform in 116 cities all over the world.

Paunil said the singer promotes sexual immorality through her song, particularly “Born This Way,” and humiliates Jesus Christ in her song “Judas.”

Malacañang, however, said it would be up to the parents and guardians to guide their children on the issue of immorality purportedly contained in Lady Gaga’s songs.

Lady Gaga was banned from having a concert in Indonesia. In South Korea, those below 18 years old were prohibited from watching her concert.

source: mb.com.ph

Protests Greet Lady Gaga's Arrival in the Philippines

Hundreds of young Christians took to the streets Friday and Saturday in protest as Lady Gaga arrived in Manila for the latest leg of her Asian tour, the Associated Press reports.

The protesters, members of a group called Biblemode Youth Philippines, are calling for the cancellation of the pop star's concerts in the majority Roman Catholic country. "She declared a distorted view toward Jesus Christ and for us Biblical Christians it is offensive," protest leader Ruben Abante told the AP. "Her music and everything about her is different from what our values are."

Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball has been beset by similar incidents throughout Asia. After Christian groups complained about her racy lyrics and costumes in Seoul, South Korea, authorities banned fans younger than 18 from attending the tour's kickoff show. Gaga was then forced to cancel her sold-out June 3rd appearance in Jakarta, Indonesia, when she was denied a concert permit following objections from Islamic hard-liners.

The Manila concerts, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, were approved by authorities in the Philippines – with some caveats.

"Although we respect artistic and musical expressions, I won’t allow anyone or any group to provide acts which may be questionable in a way at any venue under my jurisdiction," the mayor of Pasay City, part of Metropolitan Manila, said in a statement. "We reminded the producers of Lady Gaga’s concert that the show and the event as a whole shall not exhibit any nudity or lewd conduct which may be offensive to morals and good customs."

The Biblemode Youth Philippines group plans to hold a vigil near the concert venue starting on Sunday.

source: rollingstone.com

Lady Gaga To Wow Fans At Mall Of Asia Arena

MANILA, Philippines — US pop diva Lady Gaga, who has captured the imagination of millions worldwide with her outlandish fashion sense of style, performance and music videos and recordings, is set to wow Pinoy fans anew when she performs on May 21 and 22 at the new indoor Mall of Asia Arena.

The two-night gig comprises the Manila leg of “The Born This Way Ball,” the brand-new global tour of the five-time Grammy Award winner which kicked off April 27 in South Korea and which will also take her to Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan.

The 13-city, 33-date tour, produced internationally by Live Nation and to be staged locally by Ovation Productions, will also cover Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia in Asia before proceeding to New Zealand and Australia and to 21 major cities in Europe. She is expected to perform 110 shows this year in support of her “Born This Way” album, which has sold nearly six million copies worldwide since its release in May 2011.

The May 21-22 gig of “The Born This Way Ball” will kick off the soft opening of the brand-new indoor Mall of Asia Arena as a world-class venue for entertainment and sporting events prior to its grand opening on June 16.

It will mark Lady Gaga’s second visit to Manila in almost three years after her sold-out concert on Aug. 11, 2009 at the Araneta Coliseum, also produced by Ovation Productions.

“The Born This Way Ball” concerts on May 21-22 at the Mall of Asia Arena are produced by Ovation Productions and presented by Smart and co-presented by Coca-Cola in association with Nestlé Drumstick and Lee. Media partners are ETC, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld and Yahoo! Philippines.

source: mb.com.ph

Lady Gaga auctions teacup to help Japanese artists

TOKYO — Fans bidding in a charity online auction to buy a teacup used once by pop diva Lady Gaga had offered more than four million yen ($50,000) by Tuesday, with five days left before the hammer falls.

The china cup and saucer set was used by the star at a press conference in Tokyo three months after the massive tsunami of March last year swamped a large stretch of coastline.

Lady Gaga told reporters at the time that she would auction the cup, marked with her lipstick and bearing the Japanese message “We pray for Japan” along with the star’s autograph.

All the money raised will be used to help young Japanese artists who want to study in the United States.

The cup was put on “Yahoo! Japan Auctions” at midday Monday, with the starting price of one yen. The auction is set to finish midnight Sunday.

By Tuesday morning, more than 500 bids had been placed, with the top offer at more than 4.1 million yen. The auction can be followed at http://page3.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/c323847712

The quake-tsunami catastrophe killed some 19,000 people on Japan’s northeast coast and sparked a nuclear accident, leading to a plunge in visitors to the country.

The songstress visited Japan twice after the disaster and called on tourists from around the world to follow suit.

She is due back in Japan next week as part of an Asian tour.

source: japantoday.com

Lady Gaga wows S. Koreans as global tour kicks offSEOUL - US pop diva Lady Gaga wowed tens of thousands of South Koreans at the opening show of her gl

SEOUL - US pop diva Lady Gaga wowed tens of thousands of South Koreans at the opening show of her global tour Friday with signature flamboyant outfits and a provocative performance.

The star dazzled some 50,000 fans at the Olympic stadium in Seoul, with the audience wearing paper bracelets reading "18 above" issued by organizers in response to Seoul banning under-18s attending.

The limit was imposed after a state ratings board judged the much-anticipated concert unsuitable for younger audiences, and ticket-holders had to present ID cards to enter the venue.

Lady Gaga rode onto the stage on horseback, wearing a glittering black bodysuit and an enormous black metal headpiece as screaming fans waved thousands of glowing sticks and chanted her name.

"I was told that your government decided that my shows should be 18 or over... So, I'll make sure it will be!" Lady Gaga shouted, to cheers from the crowd.

The professional provocateur's show included throwing dancers and herself into a giant fake meat grinder and staging scenes of machine gun fire and simulated group and lesbian sex.

The concert was the first in her "Born This Way Ball" tour, which will visit several Asian countries before going on to Australasia and Europe later this year.

It follows the success of her album "Born This Way," which has sold nearly six million copies worldwide since it was released in May 2011.

The "Poker Face" and "Bad Romance" singer belted out more than 20 hits in a 100-minute show on a stage featuring a castle-shaped structure topped with an illuminated cross.

The star, rated one of the 100 most influential fashion icons by the US magazine Time, showed off some 10 different outfits, ranging from a dress and a pair of heels fashioned out of raw meat to a skirt made of a piano keyboard.

Before the concert, dozens of Lady Gaga lookalikes in extravagant costumes inspired by the singer took souvenir pictures as hordes of fans waited in line outside the stadium, which was guarded by police and security guards.

Some male fans wore leather corsets over black and white suits and black sunglasses with metal spikes, while scores of others put on facepaint to honor the singer known for her otherworldly dress sense.

The concert prompted opposition from religious groups who accuse Lady Gaga of advocating homosexuality and pornography.

The Korean Association of Church Communication vowed last month to take "concerted action to stop young people from being infected with homosexuality and pornography" by the US star's concert.

Outside the stadium on Friday, two foreign Christian protesters held placards reading "Lady Gaga. Go home!" and "Sexual purity, virginity, fidelity", while about 20 South Korean Christian activists prayed.

In another part of Seoul about 100 Christian activists gathered for a rally.

"Lady Gaga... is a wounded soul that is in desperate need of restoration. Therefore Christians should love and bless her. We should hate the evil spirit behind her, not Lady Gaga herself," they said in a leaflet.

source: interaksyon.com

Lady Gaga ready for Seoul concert amid protests, 18+ rating

MANILA, Philippines – Lady Gaga is getting ready to kick off her “The Born This Way Ball” world tour in Seoul on April 27 amid protests by local conservative Christian groups that the singer promotes homosexuality and pornography.

The flamboyant singer arrived in Seoul on April 20 wearing a mask and a gown, a week before her concert to do rehearsals.

“What a warm and exciting welcome to Korea. I missed this country so much. Will be asleep in my castle until rehearsal. I love u!” the singer posted on Twitter upon her arrival at Guimpo International Airport.

No teens will be able to watch her concert as the Korea Media Rating Board banned those below 18 years old from attending the event, which will be held at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium.

Last month, the concert promoter submitted a recommendation to the board that Lady Gaga’s concert was appropriate for those over 12 years old but the board decided otherwise.

“For ‘The Born This Way Ball,’ Live Nation Korea submitted their recommendation report on March 16 saying the show was appropriate for people over the age of 12, according to the rating board. The board said it notified the company of the change of the age limit to 18 on March 22,” according to a report by Korea JoongAng Daily, adding that the ban on minors was mainly due to Lady Gaga’s song “Just Dance.”

On Twitter, Lady Gaga said parents should determine what’s right for their children.

“Although not affecting ticket sales in Seoul, parents should be given more credit to determine what’s good for their children. I love my fans. Thank u to all the adults in Korea who are speaking out for underaged who want to come to the BTW Ball. Maybe the gov. will change their mind,” she tweeted.

Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has banned about 4,200 songs including 35 Lady Gaga songs from being sold to children under 18, the Korea JoongAng Daily added.

Lady Gaga seems unperturbed by the rating and protests.

She tweeted, "I will perform the tour of your life if it...kills me.”

She also posted photos of her at the concert stadium.

“Imagine when it's full. I love that it's raining, so NEW YORK of you Korea! So happy! The Stage is more than I could dream for, time to kill the dance floor. Off to rehearsal,” she said.

After Seoul, Lady Gaga will hold concerts in different parts of the world including Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and the Philippines.

source: mb.com.ph