December 2008

L.A. high school musical star seeks lawsuit dismissal

"High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens is seeking dismissal of a lawsuit by her former lawyer who claims the young singer and actress owes him 150,000 dollars, court documents showed Thursday.

Los Angeles lawyer Brian Schall filed the lawsuit last month against the 18 year-old Hudgens, alleging breach of contract and unjust enrichment by the star, who has become hot among American teenagers after playing a high school singer in the Disney Channel' s popular television movie and its sequel.

Hudgens is asking the court to dismiss the suit by arguing that she was only 16 when she signed a contract with the lawyer. A hearing on Hudgens' dismissal motion is set for Dec. 5 by the court.

Schall and Hudgens entered a contract in October 2005, and he advanced costs and expenses on her behalf in connection with her songwriting and recording career, according to court documents.

Schall says he drafted contracts for Hudgens that have helped her earn more than 5 million dollars, and Hudgens paid some of the money, but still owes him 150,000 dollars.

But court papers filed this week by Hudgens' lawyer say that California state Family Code "provides that the contract of a minor is voidable and may be disaffirmed before age 18 or within a reasonable time afterward." Hudgens earlier officially disaffirmed the contract.

Hudgens' court papers additionally state that she actually had an agreement with the law offices of Schall, but not with Schall as an individual.

Hudgens hired the Schall firm in October 2005 on representations by its attorneys that they were skilled in entertainment law, but she determined in the middle of this year that the services were "blow professional standards, resulting in a breakdown of their relationship," according to her court papers.

Source: Xinhuanet

Vanessa Hudgens: I got attacked

Vanessa Hudgens claims she was attacked last week, not Zac Efron.

The 'High School Musical' stars - who are enjoying an off-screen romance - were leaving London's Apollo theatre last Wednesday when a man in his 40s pushed past security to approach the pair.

Although it had been reported he lunged for Zac, 20, his 19-year-old girlfriend insists the unnamed man cut her face.

She told US TV show 'Access Hollywood': "I actually got hit in the face! If anything, I was the one who got attacked, not Zac.

"There was a guy who was walking down the street and I think he was a little drunk and he got pushed into the craziness of it all. He was blocking the door so our bodyguard had to push him aside.

"I looked in the mirror and got a huge scratch and I was bleeding."

Zac has revealed he wasn't even aware of the attack until they returned to their waiting car.

He said: "I just heard about it. I was just focused on the van door - I've got to get to it. I got in the van and we drove away. I don't remember getting harassed."

Source: Agencies

Teenage Disney star apologizes for posing nude

Vanessa Hudgens, star of the Walt Disney Company's hugely lucrative "High School Musical" films, has apologized to fans for the nude pictures of hers that are being splashed on the Internet, media reports said Tuesday.

The raunchy pictures depict the 18-year-old posing in various states of undress, including completely naked. In a statement issued recently, Hudgens asked for forgiveness from her fans, and said that the situation has left her embarrassed.

"I am embarrassed over this situation and regret having ever taken these photos. I am thankful for the support of my family and friends," the 18-year-old star said Friday.

"High School Musical" is Walt Disney Company's most successful show over the last two years generating profits to the tune of 1 billion U.S. dollars.

Just to make things more difficult, the photograph was allegedly taken by Zac Efron, Hudgens's 19-year-old boyfriend, and her co-star on the show. Together, the couple are by far the biggest "tween" stars in America, frequently appearing on the covers of celebrity magazines.

All this has left Walt Disney company with an impossible dilemma. If it supports Hudgens, will more nude pictures, some more explicit than the first, later emerge? And if it dumps Hudgens, will fans dump the show?

So far, the company has chosen to back Hudgens, for fear of meddling with a proven formula, thus forcing parents across the United States to have to explain to their children why their teen idol had disappeared from the screen.

The release of the images could pose trouble for Hudgens, who is currently in negotiations for a third "High School Musical" film.

And sources are claiming that the film's production house may have second thoughts about casting her in the light of the notorious episode. However, Hudgens' representative Jill Fritzo insists that all rumours that the singer-actress has been kicked out from future productions are untrue.

Source: Agencies

Vanessa Hudgens splits with boyfriend after nude scandal

High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens has split with her boyfriend and co-star Zac Efron, and is considering posing for a men's magazine - according to reports.

Hudgens, who was involved in a nude photo scandal earlier this month, split with boyfriend Efron while he was overseas, OK! magazine reported.

The mag said Hudgens was seen with another man at a Hollywood Hills party while Efron was in Australia to promote the movie Hairspray.

Eyewitesses told OK! magazine that Hudgens was "all over" her older date, and when someone asked her about Efron she "threw a fit".

Meanwhile, the Starpulse entertainment blog reported Hudgens is considering posing for a men's magazine - but has ruled out a spread in Playboy.

"I think being a woman and being able to show a sexy side is empowering," Starpulse reported Hudgens as saying.

"Being able to show we are comfortable in our skin is a good thing. I totally would pose for a sexy magazine. But not Playboy."

Earlier this month, a nude photo of Hudgens circulated widely on the internet.

Hudgens said she was "embarrassed" and regretted ever having taken the photos.

It is not yet known who leaked the photos.

Source: CE.cn