NEW YORK – India.Arie is laughing off talk that she may have lightened her skin.

The R&B songstress is known for singing about being authentic and celebrating one’s true self. But some accused India.Arie of lightening her skin when a publicity photo for her song “Cocoa Butter” released this week made it look as though she were several shades lighter than her dark brown complexion.

But India.Arie took to Twitter on Friday to deny the accusations, saying she has no desire to bleach her skin because she loves herself and her brown skin “more than ever.” She also said that “magnificent lighting” is the cause for her “glow.”

She added that she’d like to keep the conversation going, though, on the issue of racism and colorism in the black community.

Jolie didn’t steal story, judge rules

 

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LOS ANGELES – A federal judge says actress Angelina Jolie didn’t steal the story for her movie “In the Land of Blood and Honey” from a Croatian author.

City News Service reports Friday’s tentative ruling in Los Angeles will throw out the suit accusing Jolie of copyright infringement.

In 2011, author James Braddock sued Jolie and the film company that made the film, saying it was partly based on his book “The Soul Shattering.”

U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee wrote in a tentative ruling that the plots, characters and themes in the two works were not “substantially” similar, though both centered on war romances.

Jolie wrote, directed and co-produced the film.

Braddock has been ordered to tell the court why his complaint should not be dismissed with prejudice.

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Germany quarantines Bieber’s monkey

BERLIN – Justin Bieber had to leave a monkey in quarantine after landing in Germany earlier this month without the necessary papers for the animal, an official said Saturday.

The 19-year-old singer arrived at Munich airport on March 21. When he went through customs, he didn’t have the documentation necessary to bring the capuchin monkey into the country, so the animal had to stay with authorities, customs spokesman Thomas Meister said.

Bieber performed in Munich on Thursday, beginning the latest leg of his European tour. He later tweeted: “Munich was a good time. And loud. The bus is headed to Vienna now. U coming?” He didn’t mention the monkey.

The Canadian singer is giving several concerts in Austria and then in Germany over the next week. Bieber had a trying stay in London recently. The star struggled with his breathing and fainted backstage at a show, was taken to a hospital and then was caught on camera clashing with a paparazzo. Days earlier, he was booed by his beloved fans when he showed up late to a concert.


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