Salon.com > Stacey Plaisance

Madonna booed after touting Obama in La. Concert

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 16:07:00 +0000

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Madonna drew boos and triggered a walkout by several concertgoers after she touted President Barack Obama on her "MDNA Tour" in New Orleans.

The Material Girl asked during Saturday night's performance: "Who's registered to vote?" She added: "I don't care who you vote for as long as you vote for Obama." Drawing boos in touting Obama over Republican Mitt Romney, Madonna followed: "Seriously, I don't care who you vote for ... Do not take this privilege for granted. Go vote."

Madonna is often outspoken. Some Colorado fans, mindful of a mass shooting there, complained she used a fake gun to shoot a masked gunman in a recent concert act in Denver. A Madonna concert in Paris in July drew ire when a video showed a swastika on a politician's forehead.

Bar says employee won’t pursue Gooding Jr. charges

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 22:12:42 +0000

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Managers at a New Orleans restaurant say their bartender who claimed actor Cuba Gooding Jr. pushed her doesn't plan to pursue criminal charges against him.

A statement Wednesday to The Associated Press from the Old Absinthe House says the restaurant will continue to investigate.

On Tuesday, police issued an arrest warrant on a misdemeanor charge of municipal battery for Gooding. Police say the bartender told them that Gooding became upset after patrons asked him to pose for photos with them at about 3 a.m.

The bartender told investigators that Gooding pushed her after she asked him to calm down.

Gooding left before police arrived to the century-old French Quarter bar.

Gooding was issued a court summons and city attorneys had no comment on the charges. Gooding is in New Orleans filming a movie.

New Orleans celebrates Super Bowl win

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:02:00 +0000

Saints fans hugged, kissed, and spilled onto the streets Sunday as a citywide party erupted after their once woebegone NFL franchise defeated the Indiapolis Colts in the Super Bowl.

French Quarter crowds, beefed up by tourists in town for Carnival season and by those wanting to experience the euphoria of a Saints victory, poured onto Bourbon Street to celebrate in a scene that looked more like Fat Tuesday than a Sunday night. The Saints won 31-17 in the franchise's first appearance in the big game.

As a brass band played "When the Saints Go Marching In" inside Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse, revelers jumped up and down, stood on chairs and tables and waved black and gold umbrellas when the Saints won.

"This is so awesome," said Darlene Milliet, as she hugged her sister, Cindy Lasiter, both of them crying in the French Quarter. "I can't believe it!"

"It's like a dream come true. It's just a dream come true," said Lasiter.

Vince Scanil, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan in town for an anniversary weekend with his wife, said he remembered how special it was when his team won their first Super Bowl, but it seemed extra special for New Orleans, a city that suffered so much after Hurricane Katrina.