Usher Brings 2012 BET Awards To A 'Climax'

R&B crooner let his vocals do the dancing with a simple, stripped-down performance.
By Kelley L. Carter

<P>With two spotlights shining down on him, a sleeveless <MTVNLINK type="artist" id="1270">Usher</MTVNLINK> belted out the first notes of his summer hit, "Climax," at Sunday's 2012 BET Awards.</P><P>The R&B crooner stood center stage, wearing all black, save for a pair of hot-colored shoes, and sang the ballad with the electro-beat from his seventh studio album, <i>Looking 4 Myself,</i> in front of a live band. Some wicked, black-and-white animation danced behind him on a large screen that backlit the auditorium.</P><P>This was the first time Usher has performed at the awards show since 2010, where he also sang another ballad, "There Goes My Baby," from his <i>Raymond v. Raymond</i> album.</P><P> </P><P>The Sunday night (July 1) performance came in the first half-hour of the show and was apropos, considering that Usher's latest studio album is topping <i>Billboard</i>'s charts for the second week in a row (and his fourth #1-debuting album in a row). The dance-friendly album was just released last month. "Climax" hit #17 on the singles chart, while second track "Scream" has peaked at #13.</P><P>For his BET Awards performance, the multiplatinum, multi-Grammy-winning R&B singer kept it fairly muted. Save for a few quick microphone movements, he let his vocals dance during the performance. Even his attire was muted compared to what we've seen Usher turn out at awards shows in years past; a lone, shiny timepiece decorated his wrist.</P><P>Usher concluded his performance with a quick wave of his hand to the fans down in front.</P><P><b>Stick with MTV News as we bring you all the scoop from the 2012 BET Awards, including winners and must-see performances!</b></P>

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'Hobbit' Director Peter Jackson Denies Animal-Abuse Accusations

Jackson takes to Facebook page to address allegations that negligence and poor facility maintenance led to the deaths of 27 animals on set.
By Kevin P. Sullivan


"The Hobbit" cast
Photo: Warner Bros./ New Line Cinema

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Can Selena Gomez Top VMA Vets Beyonce And Rihanna?

Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj also up for Best Female Video at September 6 show.
By Jocelyn Vena

<P>The girl power will be at an all-time high Thursday, September 6, thanks to the ladies nominated for Best Female Video at the 2012 Video Music Awards. With everyone from pop mavens to R&B goddesses duking it out for a Moonman this year, whoever ends up taking it home might just have the most diva moment of the night.</P><P>Most of the nominees in the Best Female category have been there and done that at the VMAs. But there's one young lady who has yet to taste the glory of a nomination. That rookie, however, will have to fend off these VMA vets for that coveted trophy. So will Katy Perry, Beyonc&#233;, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj or Selena Gomez go all the way? MTV News breaks down their nominated videos!</P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="Beyonce, Rihanna, Katy Perry Vie For Best Female Video" id="vid:821214.id:1690828" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P><P>Beyoncé, "Love on Top"<br> B made the 2011 VMAs all her own when she put her baby bump on full display during her "Love on Top" performance, but it's the subsequent video for the <i>4</i> track she's nominated for this year. Inspired by acts like New Edition, the simple performance clip features the Queen surrounded by several male backup dancers as she sashays in body-hugging outfits. Having already won 11 VMAs in the past, it's hard to deny her history of nabbing the prize.</P><P>Katy Perry, "Part of Me"<br> Riding high off an impressive 2011 Video Music Awards, during which the star took home a handful of awards and became a first-time winner at the show, the video for "Part of Me" showed off yet another side of the eye-popping pop star. The Marine-themed clip follows a heartbroken Perry as she shaves off her hair and enlists for service. Taken from her <i>Teenage Dream</i> re-release, Perry decided to forgo her love of aliens and whipped-cream bras to get serious and hit the ground running in the race for Best Female Video.</P><P>Nicki Minaj, "Starships"<br> With only one Moonman to her name (Best Hip-Hop Video for "Super Bass" at last year's show), Minaj's neon-hued beach video from <i>Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded</i> might help her win another one. Considering it features a scantily clad Nicki cavorting on the beach surrounded by tribal dancers and partygoers at a bonfire rave, the Anthony Mandler-directed video feels like the kind of over-the-top eye candy tailor-made to win a VMA.</P><P>Rihanna, "We Found Love"<br> It's been five years since Rihanna took home a Moonman, previously winning two for "Umbrella." Following a self-destructive couple, the "We Found Love" video stirred up a lot of controversy when fans thought it might be referencing her own split from Chris Brown. Well, considering the scope and message of her Melina Matsoukas-directed video, now might be her year to nab another piece of hardware.</P><P>Selena Gomez & The Scene, "Love You Like a Love Song"<br> Gomez may have hosted the 2011 VMA pre-show, but this year she's upping her game as a nominee with the trippy video for her dance-floor love song. The dreamy clip follows the singer as she's taken from a karaoke club and travels through the '80s in varying setups ranging from a muse inspired by "Amadeus" to a rockabilly babe. Can the unusual clip help the <i>When the Sun Goes Down</i> singer beat these seasoned vets? Only time will tell.</P><P><b>The 2012 MTV Video Music Awards will air live from Staples Center in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 6, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Head to VMA.MTV.com now through August 24 to vote for your favorites, or text BNA to 22444 to vote for Best New Artist all the way through the show!</b></P><P></p><div class="player-placeholder right" title="The 2012 Video Music Award Nominees Are..." id="vid:820732.id:1690828" width="415" height="255"></div><p></P>

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Katherine Jackson Removed As Guardian of Michael Jackson's Children

Cousin TJ Jackson is appointed temporary guardian of Michael's kids.
By Gil Kaufman

<P>The unpredictable wheel of Jackson family drama continued to spin on Wednesday (July 25) when a judge stripped family matriarch Katherine of her guardianship of the late King of Pop Michael's three children, handing over the duties to their cousin, TJ Jackson.</P><P>After nearly a week of increasingly bizarre public feuding, accusations, confrontations and allegations of kidnapping, TMZ reported that Judge Mitch Beckloff temporarily stripped Katherine of her guardianship over Paris, Prince and Prince Michael II ("Blanket").</P><P>He appointed TJ, 34, son of Tito Jackson, as the new guardian for the children, who appear to be at the center of a tug-of-war between the Michael's adult siblings. During an emergency guardianship hearing, Beckloff did not suspend Katherine for any wrongdoing, but said that she was being blocked from carrying out her guardianship by unnamed third parties, which the site speculated were siblings Randy, Janet, Jermaine and Rebbie.</P><P>Beckloff reportedly advised TJ and his lawyer to seek a permanent guardianship agreement following stories that Katherine, 82, was being held against her will by the same unidentified "third parties." During the hearing, TJ's lawyer described to the judge a strange phone call his client got from Katherine on Tuesday. "I've never heard my grandmother talk like that," TJ said, adding that she didn't sound "sharp" and that her "pauses, choice of vocabulary ... she has not used certain phrases like that before." He suspected she was talking in code.</P><P>Katherine Jackson called home on Tuesday after being out of touch for nine days, according to her lawyer. She had asked TJ to watch the children for her when she left her home on July 15.</P><P>In an unexpected twist, TMZ reported that one of Katherine's own lawyers, Sandra Ribera, said she had visited the family compound recently and also believes that her client is being held against her will. Katherine's other lawyer, Perry Sanders, said in court that he vigorously opposes a permanent move to strip Katherine of her guardianship and that when she returns to Los Angeles he will file a motion to reinstate her as guardian. CNN reported that after the hearing Sanders said he'd been informed by Randy Jackson that his mother was on a plane headed back to California.</P><P>Sanders also said the Tuesday night check-in call from Katherine was made after she met with Jermaine and Janet Jackson at a spa near Tucson, Arizona. He was barred, however, from meeting with her or talking to her at that time.</P><P>The judge also ordered that the children not be removed from California without a court order and that backup guardian Diana Ross and Debbie Rowe, biological mother of the two oldest children, also be informed of the order to keep the kids in the state. The move to wrestle guardianship away from the family matriarch was days in coming and allegedly supported by the children, as well as MJ's estate. A spokesperson for the estate had no comment on the actions at press time.</P><P>The temporary guardianship will be reviewed at a hearing scheduled for next month, where it's possible that Wednesday's action could be reversed.</P><P>While Michael's will gave Katherine custody of his children and a 20 percent stake in his massive estate, her husband, Joe Jackson, and the eight surviving Jackson siblings were completely cut out. Some of the siblings have reportedly been exploring a move to have the will invalidated by arguing that Michael was in New York on the day that the document was notarized in Los Angeles.</P><P>In a video that surfaced earlier this week, Janet Jackson is seen trying to take a cell phone away from Paris, 14, and berating her niece for using her phone to tweet about family business. That video leaked after Janet, Jermaine and Randy Jackson reportedly attempted to persuade Paris and Prince, 15, to leave Katherine's home on Monday. Both resisted and a short time later, sheriff's deputies arrived to break up a scuffle between Randy, Jermaine Jackson and TJ.</P><P>MTV News reported that police were called to the scene but did not make any arrests. </P>

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News Roundup: Rihanna And Chris Brown?s Single Leaks, Dave Grohl Will Be SXSW 2013 Keynote Speaker, And More

Last week we heard news that some activists in Sweden were plastering pictures with Rihanna‘s beatup face all around Stockholm. Their goal was to prevent Chris Brown from performing in their town. This week, Rihanna and Chris Brown’s newest single, titled “Nobody’s Business” (of course!) leaked online. We wonder how those activists feel about the [...]

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'Hobbit' Director Peter Jackson Denies Animal-Abuse Accusations

Jackson takes to Facebook page to address allegations that negligence and poor facility maintenance led to the deaths of 27 animals on set.
By Kevin P. Sullivan


"The Hobbit" cast
Photo: Warner Bros./ New Line Cinema

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1697732/hobbit-animal-abuse-allegations.jhtml "> http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1697732/hobbit-animal-abuse-allegations.jhtml

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