Feds probing the alleged sale of cancer-stricken Farrah Fawcett’s medical records to The National Enquirer could find a long mole tunnel between the hospitals and the tabloids.
Former UCLA Medical Center staffer Lawanda Jackson was indicted on April 9 after allegedly leaking private info about Fawcett, Maria Shriver and 60 other patients. Now vets at the ‘bloids are wondering how long it will be before other health professionals and reporters are drawn into the investigation.
Staffers at L.A. hospitals favored by celebs have been on the payroll of the supermarket weeklies for years, based on transcripts we’ve obtained of taped conversations among dirt-diggers at Globe magazine.
The recordings, made by former Globe managing editor Jim Mitteager, capture him talking with his reporters and sources about stars who allegedly have undergone cosmetic surgery and abortions, as well as been treated for mental illness, bulimia and AIDS.
Among the celebs mentioned in the conversations are Tom Cruise, Jessica Lange, Liz Taylor, Billy Crystal, Kelsey Grammer, Magic Johnson, Roseanne Barr, Al Pacino, Paula Abdul, Frank Zappa and Vanna White.
Recorded between 1992 and 1993, the tapes suggest the impunity with which hospital workers trafficked in sensitive information.
One reporter is heard telling Mitteager that, “If Liz (Taylor) is in St. John’s Hospital,” his source there will know it. “She takes a special delight on getting s? on Liz,” says the reporter. “She has access to the computer and talks to orderlies.”
On another tape, Mitteager contends that a now-deceased TV actor “has got AIDS. The people who want to sell the story have physical proof. They want $4,000. ? They want to move fast because it’s Christmastime and they want to get paid.”
Equally impatient is the husband of a nurse, who asks if he can get “some good-faith money” for his tip. Mitteager says he’ll pay only “if we run the story.”
Mitteager bequeathed the tapes to private investigator Paul Barresi, who has offered to cooperate with prosecutors and hospital officials.
“I remember the gleeful reaction from a Globe senior editor to the news that Dinah Shore had been diagnosed with cancer,” Barresi tells us. “It made my skin crawl. Nothing has changed inside the tabs.”
A spokesman for American Media Inc., which bought The Globe in 2000, said the legality of the dealings before then “are not our responsibility.” The rep declined to comment on the current Enquirer case.
A lawyer for several celebs mentioned on the recordings told us he would ask his clients if they want to pursue legal action. “The question is whether you can sue on something that happened 15 years ago,” the attorney added. “Also, how reliable is the information the reporters are talking about.”
Publicist Stan Rosenfield, whose clients include Grammer, Robert De Niro and George Clooney, said: “It’s alarming that this criminal activity could go on so long without being detected.”
Man that’s horrible, a hospital selling private medical records — I would be so pissed off!
See the parts bolded above? How much do you want to bet, the mental patient was Tom Cruise?
Paula Abdul was a dance squad queen before she became the drunk we all know and love today. Rock on with your Sharpie sniffing margarita filled rump.
Madonna was the top of the pyramid before utilizing lesbionic tactics to score press.
Cheerleaders Walking the Red Carpets
Cameron Diaz wore the oversized sweater and pleated skirt to show her school spirit.
Sandra Bullock was riding in the cheer-mobile before she set foot on a doomed bus and rescued by Keanu Reeves.
Lindsay Lohan first used her cheerleading uniform to root for the home team before using it to lure greasy socialites to her bed. I am sure it will be great for her future street corner tricks.
Cheerleaders Who Would Later Fall in Love With Botox and Paxil
Katie Couric practiced her scissor kicks before joining the D-list celeb news anchors. Oh how the mighty fall.
Cheerleaders Who Are Outwitted by Woodland Creatures and Small Children
The Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell masochistic relationship hit a new level.
After Paula’s new album dropped, Simon sent her a gift to say ‘congrats.’ As she read the card, that is probably filled with a poem about how he wants her to slap him around while she wears his mother’s nightgown, she knew something was up. The gift attached to the note of kudos was a digital picture frame that holds 150 photos.
Simon had taken 150 photographs of himself sitting in his cars, hanging by the pool and dancing around in a fedora while singing “I’m Too Sexy.” (Ok, so maybe not in a fedora.)
“It was reported Paula stormed onto the Idol set, and Simon asked how she liked her gift. She responded with:
“Just great! I’m putting it in my garage because the sight
of you always scares my dogs!”
Awww, so this is like some kind of British foreplay right?
Source: Simon Cowell framed in Paula Abdul gift rift [Rash Manly]
“I would have had Britney Spears last year when I thought she was trying to get it all back together again,” Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe said in a conference call Thursday.
“Britney, at this moment in time, I don’t think is well enough to do anything,” he continued. “I think she needs looking after. I think she needs to pull herself together.”
Lythgoe added that Spears is an “exceptionally talented girl” but “needs taking care of right now.”
Considering that this is coming from the guy that employs Paula Abdul, I’d say it’s not great news for Britney.
Everyone knows Oprah Winfrey is the highest paid television talent by far. But the rest of the list may surprise you.
Oprah makes an astonishing $260 Million a year to host her talk show.
Coming in second is the infamous Simon Cowell. He has made ‘American Idol’ what it is, but still only makes %17 percent of what Oprah does. Don’t get me wrong, I think anyone would take $45 million a year, even if they had to sit by Paula Abdul all the time.
The AARP of America must be giving this lady some ratings love, because Judge Judy Sheindlin is third making $30 million a year.
Rounding out the top 5 are Katie Couric (for now) with $15 million a year and Zach Braff. Can you believe this douche bag makes $6.3 million a year starring in ‘Scrubs.’ No wonder half of hollywood will humor him with one date.
I’m starting to feel a little sorry for Paula Abdul. It obvious she’s a little unstable, but is anyone helping the poor woman? Seriously, someone step in and take this woman on a long vacation somewhere far far away.
“It was reported Paula stormed onto the Idol set, and Simon asked how she liked her gift. She responded with:
“I would have had Britney Spears last year when I thought she was trying to get it all back together again,” Idol producer Nigel Lythgoe said in a conference call Thursday.
