The Fix

Gwyneth denies ghost story. Paris accused of nasty talk. Plus: Barbie's hidden transgender agenda?

Published January 4, 2006 2:38PM (EST)

Morning Briefing:
A spooked Gwyneth Paltrow going Kabbalah-istic? London's Daily Mail reports that Gwyneth Paltrow has enlisted a rabbi from the Kabbalah Center to exorcise the ghosts from the five-bedroom London townhouse she shares with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and their 19-month-old daughter, Apple. "Gwyneth believes that the dark energy that has dogged her lately is due to something dark and unexplained in her home," a source told Daily Mail. "Her pregnancy is not as peaceful as her last one and she has also been upset by a stalker." A spokesperson for Paltrow, however, denies the report and claims that the couple's $6 million home "has wonderful energy." (MSNBC)

Barbie and Ken's missing genitals explained: A children's poll on Mattel's Barbie.com Web site caused some concern among the Concerned Women for America last week. A representative for the CWA told ABC News that by offering children three gender options, "I am a Boy, I am a Girl and I Don't Know," the site had come under the influence of the transgender movement and adopted a dangerous agenda of "bisexuality gender confusion." Mattel says it was an innocent mistake and has changed the phrasing of the third option to the much less concerning "I don't want to say." (ABC News)

Paris Hilton offensive to Mexicans too: First it was alleged use of the N-word, then anti-Semitic slurs, and now Paris Hilton stands accused of using racial epithets against Mexicans. Los Angeles event promoter Brian Quintana claims that Hilton called him a "lazy Mexican" and other "hateful" things. Quintana tells the New York Daily News that he introduced Hilton to her current beau, Stavros Niarchos, but that now she wants the matchmaker out of the picture and has been leaving threatening messages on his phone. In a restraining order filed against Hilton on Friday, Quintana alleges that Hilton "has a drug problem, some rather shady associates, and is known for erratic behavior." Quintana also said he believes his life to be in "imminent danger." (N.Y. Daily News)

Peety bird: An anonymous fan says that actress Amanda Peet flipped her the bird from her canvas chair on the set of the romantic comedy "Griffin and Phoenix" in New York's East Village. "She seemed very perturbed and self-conscious that anybody was looking at her," says the female fan, who lives on the street where filming was underway. "She was fidgeting. So I gave her a thumbs-up. I was trying to be supportive. And she responded with a frown -- and flipped me the bird. I can't imagine why. Maybe it was a carry-over from the scene." Peet's publicist insists it's all a big misunderstanding. (N.Y. Daily News)

Also:
Mischa Barton and boyfriend Cisco Adler were heard exchanging F-bombs at a New Year's party in Miami. (Page Six)  David Lee Roth has been hinting at an imminent Van Halen reunion. (Billboard)  Enrique Iglesias reportedly performed for the Khadafy boys at St. Bart's over the holiday. (N.Y. Daily News)  The humid Miami air sent Lindsay Lohan to the hospital with an asthma attack on Monday night, but her rep says she's just fine now. (MTV.com)  Kate Moss has reportedly found a new boyfriend, singer/songwriter James Burke, and he's only 20. She insists they're "just friends." (Page Six)  The Catholic League has persuaded Comedy Central to remove the "South Park" season finale involving a menstruating stone statue of the Virgin Mary from its rebroadcast lineup. (Page Six)  Eminem, who recently patched things up with his ex-wife, has reportedly been paying the medical bills of his long-estranged mother, Debbie Nelson. (N.Y. Daily News)

Money Quote:
"Brokeback Mountain" star Heath Ledger on filming love scenes with costar Jake Gyllenhaal: "I didn't really want to kiss Jake. Not only that, but it was hard looking him in the eyes and telling him I loved him. To show love in the eyes for another man is something I've never done. Everything was new about it -- so quite obviously there was fear about it." (MSNBC)

Turn On:
For those who find "Cops" a little too wimpy, try the new reality series "Texas SWAT" (Court, 8 p.m. EST). Giving nannies a run for their money, the new series "Little Angels" (BBC America, 9 p.m. EST) features a clinical psychologist who straightens out naughty toddlers, followed by "A Week of Dressing Dangerously," in which a fashion writer has women don bold outfits that reflect their inner identities (BBC America, 9:40 p.m. EST).

-- Ira Boudway

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