The Fix

Madonna defends adoption. A warrant out for Wesley Snipes. Plus: Whitney files for divorce, Lohan wants to marry by 30.

Published October 18, 2006 1:30PM (EDT)

Morning Briefing:
I'm gonna keep my baby: Saying that she and husband Guy Ritchie began the adoption process months before first going to Malawi, Madonna came to her own defense on Tuesday in the first public statements she has made since the whole adoption story began. "I did not wish to disclose my intentions to the world prior to the adoption happening as this is a private family matter," Madonna said in a statement, titled "An Open Letter From Madonna." "We have gone about the adoption procedure according to the law like anyone else who adopts a child. Reports to the contrary are totally inaccurate." And the Daily Mirror writes that she's planning to adopt another child -- this time a girl -- from the same village from which she adopted her new son. Madonna reportedly told her relatives: "I saw this girl with the saddest smile. I told Guy, 'We must give this child a home too.'" (People, Daily Mirror)

Warrant out for Snipes: "Blade" actor Wesley Snipes has been indicted on eight counts of tax fraud -- the government is accusing him of not filing a tax return in six years and attempting to collect $12 million in fraudulent refunds. If convicted on all charges, Snipes would face a maximum of 16 years in prison, but he has yet to be arrested, as authorities don't know where he is. (Associated Press)

Too much Ice: It has been a while since Ice-T has managed to stir up controversy -- the "Law & Order" role isn't exactly contentious -- but some record stores are refusing to stock "Gangsta Rap," his first album in seven years, which is slated to come out on Halloween. The problem isn't the lyrics but the cover art, which Page Six says "shows him lying on his back in bed with his ravishing wife's ample posterior in full view and one of her legs coyly draped over his private parts." Record stores have demanded that a sticker cover any naughty bits in the photo, and many online retailers haven't even put the image up on their sites. (Page Six)

Also:
They separated almost exactly a month ago, but now Whitney Houston has officially filed for divorce to end her 14-year marriage to Bobby Brown. (Associated Press) ... Bill O'Reilly is booked to appear on "David Letterman" again -- at their last meeting, Letterman said, "I have the feeling about 60 percent of what you say is crap." The segment will air Oct. 27. (Radar Online) ... "The Colbert Report" celebrated its one-year anniversary on Tuesday night. (Associated Press) ... The biggest record company in the world, Universal Music, has filed two separate suits against Grouper.com and Bolt.com for sharing music videos of its artists without permission, the first such suits against video-sharing Web sites. (Financial Times) ... Chris Rock's mom, Rose, is suing a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Myrtle Beach, S.C., claiming she and her daughter were denied service there on account of their race. The suit was filed for Rose by the Rev. Al Sharpton, who is mulling a class-action suit against the chain. (Rush & Molloy) ... Former Page Six writer Jared Paul Stern -- who was fired after Ron Burkle accused Stern of trying to shake him down last summer -- has sold a book about gossip to Simon & Schuster, allegedly for something in the six-figure range. (Gawker)

Money Quote:
Lindsay Lohan has the next decade all planned out: "I want to get married before I'm 30. And have my house. And make the kind of record I want. And I'd like to win an Oscar before then." (In Style via Associated Press)

Turn On:
Wednesday brings the season finale of "Project Runway" (Bravo, 10 p.m. EDT) and the season premiere of "Top Chef" (Bravo, 11 p.m. EDT), and Tyler Perry hosts the "2006 Black Movie Awards" (TNT, 10 p.m. EDT).

On the Talk Shows:
Charlie Rose (PBS, check local listings): An appreciation of R.W. Apple Jr.
David Letterman (CBS, 11:30 p.m. EDT): Maria Sharapova, Martha Stewart, Justin Timberlake (repeat)
Jay Leno (NBC, 11:35 p.m. EDT): Annette Bening, mad scientist David Willey, Sarah McLachlan
Conan O'Brien (NBC, 12:35 a.m. EDT): Kirsten Dunst, Harry Shearer, Corinne Bailey Rae
Craig Ferguson (CBS, 12:35 a.m. EDT): Billy Bob Thornton, Duane Martin, Starsailor (repeat)
Jimmy Kimmel (ABC, 12:05 a.m. EDT): Anne Heche, Matt Davis
Jon Stewart (Comedy Central, 11 p.m. EDT): John Ashcroft
Stephen Colbert (Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. EDT): David Kuo

-- Scott Lamb

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By Salon Staff

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