Star Justice: Confrontations
August 10, 2004
A quartet of stars caught up in conflicts today, as Kobe's accuser fights on, Gloria Estefan braves a scary encounter, Naomi Campbell throws down with her maid, and Rick Fox and Vanessa Williams head for divorce court.
In a blockbuster development in the Kobe
Bryant case, the woman accusing the
basketball star of rape has now filed a federal civil
lawsuit against him. No word yet of how much she's demanding,
but her attorneys are seeking at least $75,000, with
more damages to be determined. Kobe's criminal trial
is supposed to begin later this month.
Gloria Estefan's Sunday
night concert in Houston was marred by a man who ambushed
the singer onstage. "Extra" has the tape of
the incident in which Juan Garcia jumped over barricades
and grabbed the pop star. Always the performer, Estefan
forced a smile and continued the song. But police are
taking the attack very seriously, saying the 37-year-old
man assaulted Estefan and charging him with criminal
trespass.
Estefan cancelled her Monday night concert, although her camp claimed it was not related to Sunday's incident, citing problems with the computers used in running the show's effects.
Meanwhile, in an even more physical confrontation, one
of the world's most famous catwalkers got into a nasty
catfight. It seems Naomi Campbell
and her housekeeper, Millicent Burton, got into a brawl
at the model's New York apartment.
Burton claims Campbell slapped and scratched her so badly that she ended up checking into a hospital. But Campbell's people said, "Miss Campbell vigorously disputes the version of events that is being presented by Miss Burton. It was Miss Burton who precipitated these events, and it is Miss Burton who now appears to be attempting to capitalize on the incident."
And it looks like NBA star Rick Fox
and his beautiful wife, Vanessa Williams,
who once seemed like the perfect family, are heading
for a split. Fox announced today that he's filing for
divorce after five years of marriage. The couple has
a 4-year-old daughter together. In a statement, Fox
said that he and Vanessa are committed to doing what's
best for their child.
Fox gave no reason for the split, but a couple of years ago the basketball star spoke to "Extra" about the challenges of balancing family time and a career, saying Vanessa, "Has a career that takes her numerous places and my schedule is set nine months out of the year."
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