Barr a no-show in LV after furor

After apologizing for remarks that angered gays and lesbians, Roseanne Barr was a no-show Saturday for a scheduled appearance at a gay nightclub in Las Vegas.

Barr canceled, saying she wasn't feeling well, said Krave nightclub VIP host Larry Edwards, who goes by the stage name of Hot Chocolate.

During her radio show last week with guest Jasmyne Cannick, a lesbian activist, Barr said: "Never once in my 54 years have I ever once heard a gay or lesbian person who's politically active say one thing about anything that was not about them. They don't care about minimum wage, they don't care about any other group other than their own self because you know, some people say being gay and lesbian is a totally narcissistic thing, and sometimes I wonder."

On her Web site, roseanneworld.com, Barr said she "was sick of divisiveness, and of gays only talking about gay issues and not anything other than that."

Barr, who has two gay siblings, sent her message to Krave through drag queen Jackie Beat, who was to co-star with her at Krave.

Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Washington-based Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, said Barr "defamed the hundreds of openly gay and lesbian elected and appointed officials who go to work every day to improve schools, make streets safer and better their communities."

He continued, "Politically active gays and lesbians are involved in many issues, and they're giving back to their communities. Inane comments like Roseanne's are irresponsible and uninformed."

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Sammy Shore, Elvis' opening act during the comeback at The International, now the Las Vegas Hilton, has moved here and will open for Tony Orlando May 25-27 at the Suncoast. Shore said there has been talk of him opening for Elvis stylist Trent Carlini to recapture the old days. Shore, who founded the Comedy Store in Los Angeles with wife Mitzi in 1972, told me that to this day, "women still come up to me and ask if Elvis got a book or letter they asked me to pass along." ...

More than 20 current and former NFL players, some sporting Super Bowl rings, boarded jets and flew into Las Vegas last week to purchase luxury units in the new Trump tower, Trump associate Jack Wishna said. ...

"Buffalo" Jim Barrier's last name was misspelled here Saturday.

SIGHTINGS

Oscar winner Sir Anthony Hopkins, dining Sunday with friends at Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab in the Forum Shops at Caesars. ... Carmine Gotti, of the TV show "Growing Up Gotti," dining Saturday with friends at Social House in Treasure Island before celebrating his 21st birthday at Pure in Caesars Palace. ... Actor Matthew Modine, celebrating his birthday Saturday with friends at Tao Bistro and nightclub in The Venetian. ... Ming-Na, formerly of "ER," former Olympic decathlon champion Bruce Jenner and "Tonight Show" announcer John Melendez on Saturday, at Polly Esther's in the Stratosphere for "Birdy's Bachelorette Party." Melendez's wife is one of the show's producers. ... Smash Mouth's Steve Harwell with Chip Foose of the TV show "Overhaulin'" at Social House on Saturday. ... Christine Lakin, from MTV's "Wild 'N Out," partying Friday at Coyote Ugly in New York-New York. ... Joe Mantegna, Doug Flutie and Vince Neil, at the Autism's Angels Gala at the Stirling Club in the Turnberry on Saturday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Hillary Clinton has announced she's going to meet with the Rutgers women's basketball team. Haven't these women suffered enough?" -- Jay Leno

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.