Beyonce, Museum Get Pranked By Vienna Radio Station

Station had arranged private tour for Beyoncé impersonator 'to see how people reacted.'
By Jocelyn Vena

Beyoncé
Photo: Gabriel Bouys/Getty Images

Just a week after someone released a fake audio recording of Beyoncé that was supposed to be from a "Today" show appearance last year, an Austrian radio station pulled a stunt at B's expense by arranging a private tour of a Vienna museum for a woman they claimed was the singer.

Marketing manager Andrea Hilber at Kronehit radio confirmed that they had someone call the Albertina art museum to be Beyoncé's manager saying they were looking to schedule a private tour for the singer. (Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Nicolas Cage have all received private tours at the museum in the past.)

The obviously fake Beyoncé was photographed at the museum, and when news outlets around the world began to report that Beyoncé herself had apparently sent a replacement on the tour so that she could go shopping instead, the radio station finally stepped in to admit to planning the prank.

"We'll call the Albertina to say we meant no harm," Hilber said, according to Earth Times. "It was a great museum tour."

Kronehit said the intention of the prank was to "see how people reacted when they could get up close to her," the Guardian reported.

The folks at the Albertina seem to be taking the joke in stride, saying they suspected something was fishy all along. "Her face was extremely similar, but her body was totally different," museum spokesperson Verena Dahlitz told the Guardian. "We consider it an absolute cheek. We had a grain of doubt that it might have been her because she avoided eye contact with the director, and she acted a little bit strangely."

As for B, who told MTV News the fake "Today" show recording was "ridiculous," we hope she didn't mind calling attention to Vienna's diverse tourism attractions on her visit.

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Heidi And Spencer Leave Mexico (And Swine Flu) Behind

After wrapping production on her music video, 'Hills' star says she's ready for a honeymoon.
By Jocelyn Vena

Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag arrive at LAX airport in Los Angeles, California on Wednesday
Photo: Jean Baptiste Lacroix/ WireImage

Heidi Montag and new hubby Spencer Pratt have wrapped up production on Heidi's new music video, "Blackout," and have landed back home in Los Angeles.

After their wedding on Saturday, the two had been in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where they were shooting the video while still taking precautions against being infected with the swine flu.

"I'm so sad to leave Mexico!" Heidi Tweeted on Wednesday. "Driving to the airport. I'm ready for a honeymoon!!! Done with my music video, best one yet! Get ready. I'm ready to get out of the pig [flu] country though. Wow the airport is scary! On the plane, L.A. here we come! Home, sweet home. Goodbye, Mexico!"

"The Hills" star also wrote about her wedded bliss. "PS. I can't believe I'm married!!!!!!!!" she added. "So, soooo excited [to be] Mrs.Pratt! Thank you, God! Thank you for my soul mate!"

Earlier this week, when Speidi called into Ryan Seacrest's radio show, Spencer told the "American Idol" host that the pair was doing everything they could to avoid the widely spreading virus. "We're definitely wearing the face masks everywhere we go," Spencer said on Tuesday. "We're not playing. I'm not trying to get pig flu! We're in isolation. We're in, like, full hiding."

Heidi also added that once they were done working on her video, she would be looking forward to a real honeymoon. "We're not on our honeymoon technically yet. This is a music-video shoot we're doing this weekend," Heidi said. "The honeymoon's coming in a couple weeks."

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Young Jeezy Show Canceled Due To Swine Flu Outbreak

University of Delaware officials cancel concert after 10 suspected cases discovered on campus.
By Gil Kaufman

Young Jeezy
Photo: George Napolitano/FilmMagic

After 176 reported deaths from swine flu in Mexico and cases confirmed in nine countries, the impact of the influenza that the World Health Organization is on the verge of calling a global pandemic has begun to widen. In addition to the closure of more than 100 schools across the United States — including one district in Texas that is temporarily closing all schools until at least May 11 — two major events at the University of Delaware scheduled to take place on Thursday (April 30) were canceled due to the outbreak of the fast-spreading disease.

According to the DelawareOnline.com, a show by Young Jeezy at the Bob Carpenter Center has been called off, as well as a talk by journalist Gwen Ifill, the host of PBS' "Washington Week" and moderator of last year's vice-presidential debate. Jeezy was to perform with up-and-coming rapper Drake, but due to worries that at least 10 students on the school's campus are suspected to be carrying the virus, the events were canceled.

In a letter to students on Wednesday, university president Patrick T. Harker wrote, "While the Centers for Disease Control have not yet confirmed any swine flu diagnoses, I have no doubt that these suspected cases are causing a great deal of concern among the entire campus community. The University's first priority is the health and well-being of our students and employees." The university will remain open and hold classes in the meantime, but will make decisions regarding large public gatherings on a case-by-case basis.

In addition to the Jeezy concert, the outbreak, which originated in Mexico, has already caused the cancellation of the launches of the new "Star Trek" and "X-Men Origins: Wolverine" movies in Mexico City, according to Variety. So far, there has been one confirmed death in the U.S. from the disease, a 2-year-old boy from Mexico City who traveled to Texas to visit family.

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Kelis Files For Divorce From Nas

Singer is seven months' pregnant with couple's first child.
By Jem Aswad

Kelis and Nas
Photo: Stephen Shugerman/ Getty Images

One of hip-hop's premiere couples is reportedly splitting: Kelis has filed for divorce from Nas, according to Vibe.com. She is seven months' pregnant with the couple's first child.

"I can confirm that she has filed for divorce," a spokesperson for Kelis reportedly told the site on Thursday (April 30). "We request the media to respect her privacy during this very difficult time."

On Thursday afternoon, attorney Laura Wasser (who has also represented Britney Spears) filed a divorce petition on behalf of Kelis, citing irreconciable differences. Vibe.com posted the petition on its site.

The news comes mere weeks after Nas spoke excitedly with MTV News about the baby. When asked earlier this month how Kelis was doing, he said, "She's great, man. She's doing good. [We are deciding between] a few baby names. It's kinda hard. I've been thinking about kinda putting something online: 'Choose his name.' You get a couple stacks for that. We take care of you for that. You win something real. But we're thinking now."

Nas and Kelis first met in 2002 at an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty thrown by Sean "Diddy" Combs. The couple dated for two years and were married in Atlanta in January 2005.

While rumors about the couple splitting have been circulating for some time, and RapRadar.com reported that a split was imminent earlier on Thursday, the news still took many by surprise.

Reps for both artists had not granted MTV News' requests for comment at press time.

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Matt Giraud Runs Out Of Saves On ‘American Idol’

Adam Lambert and Kris Allen sent to the bottom three for the first time.
By Gil Kaufman

Matt Giraud, Kris Allen, Adam Lambert and Ryan Seacrest on "American Idol" on Wednesday
Photo: Michael Becker/Getty Images/ Fox

The judges and Jamie Foxx can say it all they want, but even if all of the top five "American Idol" contestants really are true artists who will find career success after the show, someone had to go home this week. And, after first getting a wild-card bid back onto the show during the semifinals, then scoring the one-time-only judge's save two weeks ago Matt Giraud finally ran out of lives on Wednesday night.

That result (after a season high of 47 million votes) was almost overshadowed, though, by the shocking sight of season-long front-runner Adam Lambert making his first trip to the bottom three, accompanied by another newbie, Kris Allen, who landed at the bottom even after a massive effort by his hometown of Conway, Arkansas, to ensure his survival on the show.

In keeping with the week's Rat Pack theme, the top five first sang a medley of the swinging tunes "It Don't Mean a Thing" and "I Got Rhythm." Giraud used the opportunity to show off a bit of his soft-shoe dancing skills. On a night when it seemed like there was plenty of business to get through, we also got a glimpse at a recent food fight in the mansion between Danny Gokey, 29, and Allison Iraheta, 17, as they baked cakes for their respective birthdays.

After mixed results for his cover of "My Funny Valentine" — Randy Jackson called it pitchy; Kara DioGuardi thought there was an emotional connection missing, but Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell liked it — Giraud was the first to be separated from the group as Ryan Seacrest began reading results. Gokey, who got four thumbs up for his version of "Come Rain or Shine," was then swiftly sent to the opposite side of the stage.

Iraheta won praise from Randy and Kara for her "gut-wrenching" rendition of "Someone to Watch Over Me," though Simon called it "mechanical" and predicted she'd be in big trouble on elimination night. She was sent to stand with Gokey, as Kris Allen relived the praise he earned for "The Way You Look Tonight," and ended up standing next to Giraud.

That left Lambert, who sang "Feeling Good" and once again got high marks across the board from the judges. Ryan asked him to choose which group he thought he belonged in. In years past, contestants who were asked to make this Sophie's Choice demurred, but after a bit of hemming and hawing, Lambert chose the Iraheta and Gokey duo. That turned out to be the wrong pick, as he was shuttled across the stage to the bottom three for the first time this season.

That also meant that Allen landed in the bottom three for the first time, leaving Iraheta and Gokey — the latter now the only contestant left to never be in the bottom three — staring gape-mouthed at each other in disbelief.

"It's crazy; this is crazy," Abdul said. Seacrest then eased the tension slightly by sending Allen back to the safe couch. The 23-year old breathed a huge sigh of relief and gave Lambert a big hug on his way to the top four.

After Seacrest teased Cowell that perhaps Jackson and DioGuardi were more on their game in calling the bottom two this week, the typically acerbic judge quipped, "One week out of 12 isn't bad."

Like Allen, Lambert wasn't long for the bottom. Seacrest waved him through, leaving Giraud, 23, alone at center stage. The dueling-piano singer from Kalamazoo, Michigan, who got see-saw comments from the judges throughout the season, seemed resigned to his fate.

"I'll definitely remember being the cat with nine lives. ... It's definitely not the last time you'll see me," said Giraud, who appeared on the verge of tears before stepping up for an his final, emotional run through "My Funny Valentine." DioGuardi sent Giraud home with the praise, "One of the best things we did this season was save you."

Among the musical guests on the show were classic diva Natalie Cole, singing the snappy standard "Something's Gotta Give"; season-five Idol Taylor Hicks, performing the bluesy original "Seven Mile Breakdown"; and this week's mentor, Jamie Foxx, who gave the kids in the audience a taste of his AutoTuned homage to alcohol-fueled hookups, "Blame It," after reiterating that the top five were among the best performers he's seen in a decade.

Next week's rock-themed show will feature the top four being mentored by guitar god Slash. And on Wednesday night's elimination show, the reunited No Doubt will take the stage, and former "Idol" finalist Chris Daughtry will debut "No Surprise," the first single from his band's new album.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Did Rick Ross’ Deeper Than Rap Flop? 50 Cent Doesn’t Think So

'You can't call a #1 [album] a 'flop' under any circumstances,' 50 says.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Tim Kash

50 Cent
Photo: MTV News

While Rick Ross' Deeper Than Rap did hit #1 on the Billboard Top 200, some say the numbers were weak.

"150,000 is not a lot of copies sold on a major [label]," MTV.com reader Eagles36 wrote in. "Fifty did 691,000 his first week. Rick Ross is a joke."

Meanwhile, Ross advocate DCollins4444 said to naysayers, "Haters, haters, haters. Stand up ... it's a good album. This album would have sold [a million] six years ago in its first week."

For the record, Deeper Than Rap's first-week numbers aren't far off from his first two LPs, both of which went in at #1. Last year's Trilla pushed 198,000 copies in its first week, while his 2006 effort Port of Miami sold 187,000 out of the gate.

"It's interesting, because it's so many different factors working against the music industry right now," veteran journalist, music blogger and Hot 97 radio personality Miss Info said about the Ross debate. "You look at digital downloading and compound it with the state of the economy. You just feel like a lot of times the creative products are the first to be put on the back burner. ... In a lot of ways, I think record-label people are looking at gold as the new platinum. Literally. Someone told me they are making gold plaques again. At this point in time, you could have a lot of build-up on an artist and they're hitting 50,000 first week."

When asked about the first-week sales of Deeper Than Rap, Ross' biggest detractor in the music biz, 50 Cent, wondered if the numbers were somehow flubbed by the record company.

"I didn't get an opportunity to hear his record, but a lot of freak [SoundScan] numbers come out of the Def Jam system," 50 said with a grin.

Def Jam couldn't be reached for comment as of press time.

But even Fif didn't agree with some of his fans that the Ross record was a flop.

"I think it can be a disappointment to the system, based on how much of an effort and money they spent marketing," 50 explained. "But you can't call a #1 [album] a 'flop' under any circumstances. It's still #1."

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No Doubt Hope To Reach A ‘Fresh Batch’ Of Fans On Tour

Gwen Stefani is even working on son Kingston — 'if I can get him to stop listening to Miley.'
By James Montgomery, with reporting by Tim Kash

Gwen Stefani
Photo: MTV News

On Saturday, No Doubt will return to the stage, after an almost five-year hiatus, at the Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. But who will be in the audience? Die-hard ND fans? Squealing tweenie-boppers weaned on Gwen Stefani's solo albums?

No one seems to be sure — not even No Doubt themselves. Then again, things have always been that way for them.

"I think there will be a lot of new people, and that's exciting. That's what makes this fresh and new, is the fact that the dynamic has changed," guitarist Tom Dumont said. "A lot of bands put out record after record after record, and I think having a break makes it more fresh and exciting. It's a fresh batch of people coming, plus the old fans. It's perfect."

"But that's nothing new for us, because even the first nine years, before we even had a record, we always had different audiences that followed us as we changed," Stefani added. "Certain people were into what we were doing at the time, and we were always changing and evolving, and we never had any limits on what kind of music we would write. We'd gain some and lose some, and that's happened through the entire time we've been together.

"It's always exciting to get in front of new audiences. I got to experience — on my tour — some of the young girls that were there. ... That was the most rewarding thing for me," she continued. "Just seeing them out there, because they're so young, it's their first concert, they have their makeup on, even though they're really not supposed to be wearing it. I hope they show up again this time out. I loved it."

The landscape has shifted since the last time No Doubt toured — back in 2004, on a double-bill with Blink-182. And while that might pose a concern for concert promoters, ND aren't worried about filling the seats this summer.

"It's all about music. ... At the end of the day, you put music in people's ears, they hear recordings, they come to the shows," Dumont said. "Technology may change, and pop culture may change, but music doesn't. Everybody loves it."

And besides, there's more pressing matters to worry about — like getting the Stefani clan up to date on the No Doubt back catalog before the tour starts.

"I'm trying to get [2-year-old son] Kingston to listen to the No Doubt records. ... He didn't know the No Doubt records, so now I'm forcing him to listen to them, and I think he's going to get into it," Stefani laughed. "If I can get him to stop listening to Miley. He's listening to the Disney Channel a lot. ... But I think [9-month-old son] Zuma is more of a No Doubt fan than King is."

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Danity Kane Special: Aubrey Is Shy, Aundrea Almost Doesn’t Pass Audition

'Making the Band: The Rise and Fall of Danity Kane' airs tonight at 9 p.m. on MTV.
By Jocelyn Vena

The five members of a once-complete Danity Kane
Photo: Courtesy of Atlantic Records

When four out of the five girls of Danity Kane reunited during the season-three finale of "Making The Band," they weren't really ready to place blame on any one person or situation for what caused the demise of the group.

But a new special, "Making the Band: The Rise and Fall of Danity Kane," airing Thursday (April 30) at 9 p.m. ET, examines the good and the bad that went on in the ladies' world.

"It's hidden scenes and new information revealed of the backstage struggles of Danity Kane," Perry Dance, a producer on the show, told MTV News. "The new scenes in it allow you to better see how things were happening within the group ... now that you know where they ended up, you can find clues and secrets."

The show examines the group from "creation to demise" and features never-before-seen audition footage. Previously only Aubrey O'Day's audition was aired, but now fans can see how Aundrea Fimbres, Shannon Bex, D. Woods and Dawn Richard ended up in Danity Kane.

The girls, who haven't been filmed together since October, "ride a wave during their entire career," Dance said, adding that the special has "new footage and new information. It tracks them in good and bad. It's not a clip show, since it features a lot of unseen moments, but any clips are chosen to explain why they ended up where they ended up."

In addition to the audition footage, fans will also get to see an early fight between Aubrey and Diddy that "seemed minor, but led to bigger things," as well as a scene in season two where Aundrea tries to convince Aubrey not to do a Blender magazine photo shoot. "Aubrey was still shy," Dance explained.

"You get to see that Aundrea almost didn't make it into the group," he added. "And that Melissa Smith was going to be the fifth member, not Aundrea."

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Lloyd Banks Responds To Rick Ross’ Eminem Dis

'He's been in out of pocket too many times,' Banks says of Ross' slurs and insults.
By Shaheem Reid

Lloyd Banks
Photo: MTV News

G-Unit's Lloyd Banks has been at odds with Rick Ross since the Miami MC And now that Ross has been hinting at battling Eminem, Banks says that Ross has gone too far.

"As far as calling out Eminem, c'mon man. That's just gonna make me spank on you even harder," Banks said Thursday (April 30), before revealing that he has another diss record coming for Ross, who he slammed with his recent "Officer Down" track.

"I got 'Officer Down, Part II' coming. He'll have to deal with that," Banks added.

To backtrack, on Thursday Rick Ross released a video from St. Maarten, where he is vacationing after his Deeper Than Rap LP debuted at #1 on the Billboard albums chart this week. He then turned his attention to the G-Unit/ Shady camp, who recently put out a video by Banks and DJ Whoo Kid promoting their new 4-30-09: Happy Birthday, Vol. 4 mixtape. In it, Whoo Kid admonished Ross for calling the Unit "monkeys."

"You know now they saying 'monkey' could be [a] black-on-black racial [situation]," Ross says to his friend Gunplay in the video.

"Cut it out, that's racial. You can't call other black people monkeys," Whoo Kid said.

In Thursday's video, Ross took the slur to Eminem.

"The only way I could fix that — Eminem you're a monkey," Ross said in his video. "He's really a honky [pronounced to rhyme with 'monkey'], but that's racial. You n---as monkeys. The world knows you're monkeys."

Banks didn't take kindly to the Em insults.

"As far as calling out Eminem, you're not in the top 10 lyricists nowhere," Banks said. "So just sit down, man. We seen what Em can do. Em's in a whole 'nother lane. How do you go from praising somebody in one interview to calling him a 'monkey' in the next? He's been in out of pocket too many times. We'll see where his future goes. It doesn't look too bright, if you ask me."

Banks also said that Ross has nothing to be proud of as far as Deeper Than Rap's first-week sales go.

"First of all, his first week [sales] was 150 thousand and change," Banks said. "That was with two or three months of promotion, beefing with the most popular rapper there is right now outside of Eminem. There is no bigger promotion than that.

"He reminds me of 12 or 13 year old," Banks added. "You know he's always lying. He said he spoke to [G-Unit employee] Nelson [allegedly about offering Ross money to end the beef], and it already was put out there you didn't speak to him. Then you say, 'I took the [prison-guard] position because my boss asked' him to. They didn't need you to go to the penitentiary to make a buck. C'mon."

Despite his response to Ross, Banks was actually in a great mood: It's his 27th birthday, he just released the Happy Birthday mixtape, and "Officer Down" has been a stronger seller on iTunes.

"If [Ross] responds, it benefits me," Banks said. "It goes straight to iTunes. I found a way to make money off a beef."

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Ashanti Studying Diana Ross’ Performance To Prepare For ‘The Wiz’

'I watched the DVD twice already,' she says of getting ready for New York City Center production.
By Jocelyn Vena

Ashanti
Photo: Dr. Billy Ingram/ WireImage

Ashanti knows a thing or two about visiting Oz. Not only has she played Dorothy in the Muppets version of "The Wizard of Oz," but she also played the Wicked Witch of the West for a charity production of "Wicked."

So this summer, when she reprises her role as Dorothy in the NY City Center Encores! Summer Stars production of "The Wiz," a role made famous by Diana Ross in the 1978 movie version, the singer will spend a lot of time in front of her TV to do some research. "I'm excited. I watched the DVD twice already," she told MTV News. "I'm definitely going to have it on repeat."

Ashanti is using her nerves to prepare for the part. "I think it's definitely going to be pressure, but in a good way. Broadway is so prestigious, and just getting that experience and getting to work with more seasoned actors is exciting," she said. "Broadway, it's a horse of a different color."

Although she's had some experience in the role of Dorothy, the last time around she was acting alongside Muppets. She said she would jump at the chance to get Diana Ross' advice. "I actually saw her," Ashanti recalled. "I did a Cartier event last year, and she performed, and I was like, 'Oh, my God!' She was so sweet and so down to earth."

Ashanti said that she doesn't know who else will be in the production, which will run from June 12 through July 5 at the New York City Center, but she did have a suggestion for the role of Toto. "What's so funny is that I have my own teacup Yorkie named Mimi," she said. "And I'm like, 'Can they just let me use Mimi?' "

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