Friday, April 01, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
NORM: Federline story called 'fabrication'
Las Vegas woman claims to be in middle of "tabloid" reports about Britney Spears' marriage to Kevin Federline.
LeRoy Neiman will unveil painting today.
Steve Wynn sees "Forever Plaid."
|
A Las Vegas woman is claiming she's in the middle of what Britney Spears is calling "tabloid" reports that suggest her marriage is on the rocks.
The credibility of VIP escort Vanessa Hulihan, however, was under question late Thursday after a Hard Rock Hotel executive branded Hulihan's story a "fabrication."
Hulihan says she was with Spears' husband, Kevin Federline, throughout last weekend in Las Vegas.
"I was with Kevin 18 hours a day Saturday and Sunday," said Tommy Lipnick, a member of the Morton family-owned Hard Rock Hotel. "She wasn't even in the same building. She's coo coo for Cocoa Puffs."
Hulihan, 30, e-mailed me Wednesday "to tell my side of the story" but twice canceled meetings on Thursday because "everyone's freaking out" in Spears' camp.
Hulihan is the same woman who was in Federline's company back in January, a visit that ended with Spears flying in to meet him after he was spotted at the Spearmint Rhino strip club.
"All I really wanted to say was that Kevin and I are friends," she wrote in an e-mail to me. "Yeah he's a hottie but he's married."
US magazine reported that Hulihan was spotted sitting on Federline's lap at Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace last Friday.
Hulihan, in her e-mail exchanges, said, "the information is somewhat wrong."
Lipnick called the accounts "insane. There's not a shred of validity to it." He did acknowledge that Federline, as reported by US, said, "If I ever get a divorce, I'm moving to Vegas." But, Lipnick said, "what guy doesn't say that?"
Spears lashed out Wednesday on her Web site at what she called "false tabloids."
The Scene and Heard
The return of "American Idol" contestant Amanda Avila to the "Sirens of T.I." was something of a scorcher. Avila, who rejoined the "Sirens" on Monday, told "The Big Johnson Show" (KSFN-AM, 1140) on Thursday that a flare set a sail on fire during Wednesday's show. The fire erupted on the bull boat manned by the all-male crew that stages a fight scene with the "Sirens." Fire extinguishers quickly put out the blaze, she said. ...
KXNT-FM, 840 is launching a search today for the station's next talk-show host. Candidates can show up for live five-minute on-air monologues which start during the 8 a.m. hour of the Alan Stock and Heidi Harris show. The actual audition will be held Saturday at the Suncoast showroom from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ...
Pop artist LeRoy Neiman unveils his Las Vegas Centennial painting today at 11 a.m. at the Fashion Show mall near Nordstrom.
May I recommend ...
Pink's, a Hollywood hot dog institution since 1939, opened Wednesday at the Aladdin's Zanzibar Cafe, the eatery's first location outside of California. The menu ranges from the chili dog ($6.95) to my favorite, the Ozzy Osbourne Spicy Dog ($11.95), to the Pastrami Burrito ($13.95). Open 24-7.
Sightings
Steve Wynn and family, in the "Forever Plaid" (Gold Coast) audience Wednesday night. They were there to support Wynn's son-in-law Daniel Friedman, who performed as "Sparky." Friedman, a cantor at Temple Beth Shalom and a former "Plaid" regular during the show's run at the Flamingo, is married to Wynn's daughter, Kevyn.
The Punch Line
New York weather has been so nice "the surgeons were actually performing vasectomies on the roof." -- David Letterman
Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.
