Hollywood Dirt – Car Malfunction Possible Factor in ‘Fast & Furious’ Actor Paul Walker’s Death + More
EVIDENCE OF CAR MALFUNCTION: In case you haven't heard, "Fast and the Furious" star PAUL WALKER was killed in a car crash north of L.A. on Saturday afternoon. He was 40 years old. And now, sources close to the auto shop where the car was maintained insist a manufacturing defect must be to blame. According to TMZ, they point to a few details about the accident as strong evidence that there was a steering-fluid leak:
-The short, straight skid marks suggest that the driver, Roger Rodas, had no control of the car -- otherwise, he would have tried to swerve.
-The fire in the front points to some kind of leaking, flammable fluid, because the engine of the Porsche is in the back.
-The driver of the car, Roger Rodas, was known as a "world-class driver," so it's really unlikely that he would have just lost control, even if he were speeding.
The sources say that the $500,000 car was not modified and was driven rarely, so any malfunction must be the fault of the manufacturer. An official investigation continues. No results have been announced.
Walkier was in Valencia, California to attend an event his charity organization was putting on for typhoon victims in the Philippines. The event was co-sponsored by a high-performance car shop, which is owned by a former race car driver named Roger Rodas. Roger was a close friend of Paul's, and Paul was an investor in his shop. At around 3:00 P.M., Paul and Roger decided to go for a joy ride in Roger's 2005 Porsche Carrera GT.
But Roger lost control, and crashed into a light pole. The car immediately exploded. Roger and Paul were both killed instantly. Ironically, a 45 mile per hour speed limit sign was attached to the light post they hit.(PHOTO)
A witness to the wreckage said, quote, "It was clear the car had hit two trees then finally hit a street lamppost. Parts of the car were strewn everywhere on the street, as far as 150 feet." (PHOTO) (PHOTO) (PHOTO)
NEXT 'FAST AND THE FURIOUS' TO BE DELAYED: Walker was in the middle of shooting the seventh installment in the "Fast and the Furious" franchise at the time of his death. The "Hollywood Reporter" claims there has already been a meeting to try to determine the movie's fate, however there is no official word at this time. Supposedly, the plan is to delay production, but not to scrap the movie, which was supposed to come out on July 11th.
Another movie starring Paul -- the Hurricane Katrina drama "Hours" -- is scheduled to come out on December 13th. There's no word at this time if that is still the plan.
LOHAN LUNACY: LINDSAY LOHAN is suing the makers of "Grand Theft Auto V". Linds believes the character Lacy Jonas is based on her. Lacy is a celebrity who asks you to give her a ride to escape the paparazzi. Of course, I have no idea if Lacy truly is based on LoHo, but based on the game's promo images, her likeness sure isn't. She looks more like KATE UPTON, if you ask me. (PHOTO)
WATCH - SHARON OSBOURNE TALKS ABOUT HAVING HER HOO-HA TIGHTENED: SHARON OSBOURNE has always been open about her various plastic surgeries, but on a BBC show last week she really opened up. The 61-year-old copped to getting her hoo-ha tightened! She said the pain was "excruciating," but it was all worth it -- at least that's what hubby OZZY OSBOUNRE thinks.
COULD BE TRUE, COULD BE CRAP - LAMAR’S DIVORCE DEMANDS: It’s looking more and more like KHLOE KARDASHIAN and LAMAR ODOM are headed for divorce, but it’s not going to be an easy split. According to the National Enquirer, Odom is demanding Khloe give him back the $875,000 engagement ring he bought her, among other things.
Sources tell the not-always-reliable tabloid Lamar has plenty of insider info that could tarnish the Kardashian family’s reputation and he may use it as a bargaining chip during the proceedings. “He knows all about their extreme surgery procedures — when, how often and how much — and the pressure put on the younger girls to follow suit,” said an insider.
“Lamar is also prepared to destroy Khloe’s reputation by discussing their sex tape, and how she targeted him and tore his family apart.” The source adds, “Kris (Jenner) is insisting on a confidentiality agreement to ensure Lamar can never discuss his life with the Kardashians either in print or verbally,” but, the insider says, “he’s not signing anything until they cough up the dough.”
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO 'HMMM' - MIRANDA KERR'S NEW LOVE: MIRANDA KERR has a new love. Miranda, who split with ORLANDO BLOOM in October, has been linked with Australian billionaire James Packer. Perhaps not so coincidentally, Packer announced he was splitting with his wife, model Erica Baxter, right around the same time as Miranda and Orlando announced their break-up.
RELATIONSHIP REPORT - ASHTON/DEMI DIVORCE FINALIZED: ASHTON KUTCHER is finally a free man. His divorce from DEMI MOORE became final last week. It took almost two years to finalize the divorce because they were arguing over money. Demi, who is reportedly worth more than Ashton, still wanted some sort of spousal support from her ex. Sources say Ashton wound up giving her a bit more than he had to.
RELATIONSHIP REPORT - MARIA BELLO COMES OUT: MARIA BELLO, best known for her role in "Coyote Ugly", has revealed that she's romantically involved with a woman named Clare. In a piece she wrote in the "New York Times," Bello says she was inspired to come out publicly after finding herself in the position of having to reveal the relationship to her 12-year-old son. In case you're wondering, he took the news well telling her, quote, "Mom, love is love, whatever you are." You can read her entire story HERE.
MILEY MADNESS - CYRUS PERSON OF THE YEAR?!: Indicative of the times we live in, of all the people on the planet MILEY CYRUS is currently leading an online vote for Time magazine’s annual Person of the Year. Miley currently holds the lead in a poll which asks participants to decide which person “most influenced the news this year, for better or worse” -- by almost a 2-to-1 margin, no less! Ultimately, regardless of the online voting, Time editors will choose the Person of the Year themselves. The decision will be announced December 11.