Dr. Dre’s Son Found Dead Over the Weekend
By Tony Hicks
The 20-year-old son of Grammy award-winning rapper and producer Dr. Dre was found dead over the weekend at his home in Woodland Hills, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.
Andre Young Jr. was out with friends Friday night and his mother later found him “unresponsive in bed” when she tried to wake him early Saturday morning, coroner’s spokesman Ed Winter told Reuters. She immediately called paramedics, who later pronounced Young dead at the scene.
“Dr. Dre is mourning the loss of his son Andre Young Jr. Please respect his family’s grief and privacy at this time,” said a statement released by his spokeswoman.
An autopsy was conducted and the cause of death is still pending toxicology and other tests, which may take six weeks or more, Winter said.
Some reports had Young out until 5:30 a.m. Saturday, which was disputed by TMZ.com, who quoted a source saying Young was home by 12:30 and in bed shortly thereafter.
Dr. Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, rose to stardom in the 1980s with rap group N.W.A’s controversial gangster rap album “Straight Outta Compton.” Dr. Dre later went on to produce and perform solo, winning a Grammy award in 1992 for “The Chronic” album’s single “Let Me Ride.”
He founded both Death Row Records and Aftermath Records and is recognized for bringing many rap phenoms into the mainstream, including Eminem, Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent.
BLAME BUFFY: Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar’s former hit show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” has been blamed for 50,000 women abandoning traditional Western religion to study paganism.
In a related story, some scientists are blaming “The Hills” for much of the nation’s abandoning rational thinking when it comes to watching TV.
According to the recent British study, published in Women and Religion in the West, young women have taken an increased interest in practicing witchcraft after Gellar’s hit show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” hit the mainstream.
The study’s author Kristin Aune, a sociologist at Britain’s University of Derby, says: “Because of its focus on female empowerment, young women are attracted by Wicca, popularized by the TV series ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’ In short, women are abandoning the church.” The Church of England has declined to comment on the study.
HORRIBLE NEWS FOR CIVILIZATION: Nicollette Sheridan and Michael Bolton are again going their separate ways, a rep for the actress told People.com.
“Nicollette Sheridan and Michael Bolton have amicably ended their engagement,” said Nicole Perna. “They appreciate your respect for their privacy in this matter.”
Who says we’re going to respect that?
The couple’s relationship originally started in 1992, and lasted for five years. The singer now 55, and the “Desperate Housewives” star, 44, resumed seeing each other in 2005 when Bolton finally cut his mullet. In March 2006 had announced their wedding engagement.
JUSTIN LONG HOPS FROM ONE BLOND STARLET TO ANOTHER: According to the New York Daily News, Justin Long isn’t as distraught as people think over his breakup with Drew Barrymore earlier this summer, after nearly a year of dating.
The “Mac guy” was recently seen “snogging” Dunst at Sunset Junction in Los Angeles. We’re not sure what that means, but apparently it’s legal to do in public in Hollywood. “They were making out while waiting in line for margaritas,” says the Daily News source. “They were holding hands and were all over each other.”
Well, that’s just what people in Southern California do when they’re in line.
Last month, Long reportedly dropped out of the roller derby comedy “Whip It!” which marks Barrymore’s feature directorial debut.
KATE SAYS SHE’S NO THIEF: Kate Hudson is firing back, after being named in a lawsuit, filed Friday in Los Angeles, which claims she took a sample given to her by bosses at 220 Labs and created her own product line with it this past June with celebrity stylist David Babaii.
Uh-huh. She must have analyzed it in the supersecret laboratory in a cave under her house, broken the code, and synthesized the formula to save the world from mind-controlling hair care products. This woman is a hero!
The product, David Babaii for Wildaid, an eco-friendly collection of shampoos and styling aids, is said to contain a special key ingredient — volcanic ash — which bosses at 220 Labs claim was their own secret idea.
Ah so they hide in a secret, volcanic lair, then.
Hudson, Babaii and their current manufacturer, Universal, have been charged with misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract, breach of confidence and fraud in the legal documents. But a Hudson representative said “Kate does not know the plaintiffs and has never met with them or spoken with them. Her representatives believe that the claims are baseless and without merit and (they) intend to vigorously defend the lawsuit.”
If not, sources say open combat involving sharks with laser beams could result.
Lawyers for 220 Labs are demanding unspecified damages and attorneys’ fees. They are also asking for an injunction against competitors’ use of their products.
Today’s People Column was compiled by Tony Hicks from news service reports. Comments? Write to us c/o the Times, P.O. Box 8099, Walnut Creek, CA 94596-8099. Or call 925-943-8262, fax 925-943- 8265, or e-mail thicks@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Birthdays: Musician Daryl Dragon (66), actress Tuesday Weld (65), rock singer-musician Tim Bogert (64), actress Barbara Bach (61), country musician Jeff Cook of Alabama (59), actor Paul Reubens (56), singer Willy DeVille (55), rock musician Alex Lifeson of Rush (55), rock musician Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols (52), writer-producer Dean Devlin (46), rap musician Bobo of Cypress Hill (40), actress Chandra Wilson (39), rock musician Tony Kanal of No Doubt (38), actress Sarah Chalke (32), rapper Mase (31), rock musician Jon Siebels of Eve 6 (29), singer Mario (22), actress Alexa Vega of “Spy Kids” (20).
Originally published by Tony Hicks, Contra Costa Times.
(c) 2008 Oakland Tribune. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.