LOS ANGELES – "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks apparently has no regrets about putting MTV Video Music Awards host Russell Brand in his place after he mocked the Jonas Brothers' pledge to remain virgins until marriage.
"It got to a point where she was so peeved she couldn’t take it anymore," a Sparks pal told Pop Tarts. "Jordin felt very strongly the issue needed to be addressed and has no regrets saying what she said."
Reps for Sparks and Brand did not respond to requests for comment.
But it isn’t just the chastity condemnation that has caused an outcry across America — Brand's "retard cowboy fella" reference toward President Bush has deeply angered numerous disability groups.
"We don't think the words 'retard' or 'retarded' should be used in connection with people," Andrew Imparato, the president of the American Association of People with Disabilities, told Pop Tarts. "When either word gets used, we find it offensive, don't think it's funny, and find it similar to the 'n' word in that it has a long and sordid history and does real harm to the people who have carried that label historically."
But it turns out that Brand’s wild ways have gotten him in deep trouble before — he was even fired from the network that has given him his fame today. Brand’s first major hosting gig was as a veejay for MTV in the U.K., but he thought it would be funny to come to work dressed as Usama bin Laden after 9/11. His contract was consequently terminated.
"We then hired him back in a swirling haze of scandal," Van Toffler, the MTVN president, said in a statement earlier this year. "We’re definitely gluttons for punishment, since we already know he’s sought advice from some of his British colleagues, like Amy Winehouse, about how to behave in public."
Well, it looks like Brand's brand of controversy — along with Britney Spears’ much-hyped "opening act" — did wonders for the VMAs, which averaged 8.4 million viewers on Sunday, its biggest total since 2004. The show was up from 7.1 million last year. The VMAs hit a record high with 11.9 million in 2002.
Katy Perry: 'I Really Did Kiss a Girl'
Yep ... "I Kissed a Girl" songstress Katy Perry really did kiss a girl.
"I really did kiss a girl," Perry told Pop Tarts at the pre-VMA party that Blender magazine held in her honor on Saturday. "It was one of those frat-type songs that was just fun. I don't think people got the wrong idea — every girl kisses their friend at some point, right?"
And we have to say, there was something about Perry that made men (and women) stare at her in awe at Saturday's bash. Perhaps it was that cheeky smile, that genuine openness or (more than likely) it was that tight dress with a zipper running all the way from top to bottom that kept all eyes open.
But as far as we can see, Perry is straight. Katy and her Gym Class Heroes rocker beau, Travis McCoy, arrived (and left) with their arms all over one another.
While Perry was busy schmoozing through the soiree, McCoy lay low at the lounge while proudly observing pics of his punk princess in Blender. An inside source also said that Perry is getting prepped to grace her first-ever cover of the music mag.
Perry performed Madonna's "Like a Virgin" and "I Kissed a Girl" at Sunday’s VMAs, but despite being up for a string of awards, Perry went home empty-handed having been beaten by Britney Spears.
Diddy Cooks for Michael Phelps?
Who knew Sean "Diddy" Combs had the skills to cook for the world’s No. 1 swimmer?
Michael Phelps (and his huge entourage of guys) apparently cruised into the House of Hype party in the wee hours of Monday morning and indulged in a massive meal that was created by the hip-hop mogul himself.
This was washed down with Red Bull and Ciroc vodka, and when Phelps wasn’t busy getting some "Puffy" nutrition, we’re told he was posing for pictures with anyone and everyone from Ryan Phillippe and Missy Elliott to Audrina Patridge and Brody Jenner.
Beyonce Flashes $5M Finger; Posh Spice Copies Halle's Look
Jay-Z certainly loves his bling, and it looks as though he spared no dollars on wife Beyonce’s engagement ring.
For the first time, Beyonce flashed her ritzy rock (rumored to be worth a cool $5 million) on the red carpet of last Friday’s Fashion Rocks concert in New York.
Up until now, the hip-hoppin’ husband and wife have only showed off tattooed wedding bands since secretly tying the knot in early April.
Speaking of surprises, Victoria Beckham has been busy doing the rounds at New York Fashion Week sporting a boy-short buzz cut almost exactly like Halle Berry’s old hairstyle, as pointed out by Us Weekly.
So is our Posh trying to shake off some estrogen? In addition to the new ‘do, the songstress has also been spotted quite a bit wearing baggy, boyish jeans.
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