Evan Rachel Wood expecting first child with actor Jamie Bell

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Evan Rachel Wood said on Friday that she and her husband, British actor Jamie Bell, are expecting their first child.

"Thanks for all your warm wishes," Wood, 25, wrote on her Twitter account. "We are very happy. I'm gonna be a mama!"

Moments earlier, Wood posted a picture of the pregnancy book "What to Expect When You're Expecting" on the social media site.

It will be the first child for both Wood and Bell, who wed in October.

Wood rose to Hollywood stardom for her roles in 2008's "The Wrestler" and the 2003 coming-of-age drama "Thirteen." She was nominated for an Emmy award for the 2011 television mini-series "Mildred Pierce."

Bell, 26, found fame as the teen star of "Billy Elliot," about a ballet dancer growing up in a tough coal mining town in northern England. He won a British BAFTA award for the role and has since appeared in adventure movies such as "The Eagle."

(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; editing by Philip Barbara)

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Justin Bieber pummeled his ex-bodyguard, lawsuit claims

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Justin Bieber is apparently as adept at delivering hits behind the scenes as well as on the music charts. That is, if the allegations in a new lawsuit are to be believed.

In a suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, Moshe Benabou, who claims to be Bieber's former bodyguard, claims that he was repeatedly punched by the "Boyfriend" singer, who then fired him.

And then, to add insult to injury, Benabou was denied overtime pay, vacation pay and reimbursement for expenses, the suit also alleges.

Benabou says that he worked for Bieber from March 2011 until October 2012, often working seven days a week and for 14 to 18 hours each day.

That all came to an end on October 12, the lawsuit says, when Bieber "launched an abusive tirade against Moshe Benabou," apparently because the 19-year-old singer felt that his bodyguard was keeping a member of his entourage away from him.

According to the complaint, Bieber "repeatedly punched Moshe Benabou in the chest and upper body area." When Benabou turned to walk away following the alleged assault, the suit says, Bieber exclaimed, "You are fired!"

Bieber's manager has not yet responded to TheWrap's request for comment.

Benabou is also suing BT Touring, which hired him to guard Bieber, alleging that he was denied overtime and vacation pay, as well as expenses that he incurred as a result of doing his job.

The lawsuit also cites a section of California Labor Code stating that employers must pay an employee's wages for a period of up to 30 days until back wages are paid off in full or "an action is commenced."

In all, Benabou claims that he's owed "an aggregate amount exceeding $421,261." The suit is also seeking other unspecified damages, prejudgment interest, court costs and attorneys' fees.

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Britney Spears calls off engagement, quits "X Factor"

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop star Britney Spears on Friday called it quits with both fiancé Jason Trawick and as a celebrity judge on "The X Factor" talent show.

Spears, 31, and Trawick, 41 - her former agent - got engaged in December 2011.

"Jason and I have decided to call off our engagement," Spears said in a statement. "I'll always adore him and we will remain great friends."

The couple began dating in May 2010, following a turbulent few years in Spears' personal and professional life in which she lost custody of her children, entered rehab and shaved off her hair.

Trawick added in a statement: "As this chapter ends for us a new one begins. I love and cherish her and her boys and we will be close forever."

The wedding would have been the third for Spears. She divorced dancer Kevin Federline, with whom she had two children, in 2006.

The singer also spontaneously married childhood friend Jason Alexander during a trip to Las Vegas in 2004. That marriage lasted 55 hours before the singer annulled the union.

Spears and Trawick announced their split the same day that the "Toxic" singer confirmed she was leaving "The X Factor" after just one year as a judge on the Fox singing show, saying it was time to get back to making music.

"I had an incredible time doing the show and I love the other judges and I am so proud of my teens but it's time for me to get back in the studio.

"Watching them all do their thing up on that stage every week made me miss performing so much! I can't wait to get back out there and do what I love most," Spears said of her "X Factor" departure.

Spears' most recent album, "Femme Fatale," was released in March 2011.

Celebrity website TMZ.com reported on Friday that Spears was in talks about a long-term residency gig in Las Vegas. The gambling city is already host to stars like Celine Dion and Shania Twain, who perform under long term contracts.

Spears was recruited to "The X Factor" with a reported $15 million salary after a 14-year singing career that made her one of the biggest pop stars of the 2000s.

But audiences slumped and the TV show lost about 3 million regular viewers from its first season. Many fans and TV critics found Spears bland and boring.

The exit of Spears leaves "X Factor" creator Simon Cowell searching for two new judges to lift his show past its NBC rival, "The Voice," in the ratings when it returns in September.

Judge and record producer L.A. Reid announced in December that he would be returning full time to his job as the head of Epic Records.

Spears took "The X Factor" gig with singer Demi Lovato, 20, in May 2012 to fill the judges' seats left by Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, who were both fired by Cowell a year ago.

(Reporting By Jill Serjeant and Eric Kelsey; Editing by Eric Walsh and Carol Bishopric)

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Lakers star Kobe Bryant and wife reconcile, won't divorce

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, have reconciled and are no longer planning to divorce, the couple said in separate posts on social media sites.

Bryant, widely considered one of the greatest players ever in the National Basketball Association, and his wife filed for divorce in December 2011 after 10 years of marriage.

But they had been seen out together in recent weeks, leading to speculation about a possible reunion. They have two daughters, aged 10 and 6.

"I am happy to say that Vanessa and I are moving on with our lives together as a family," Bryant wrote on Facebook on Friday.

Vanessa Bryant posted a statement on her Instagram page that read: "We are pleased to announce that we have reconciled. Our divorce action will be dismissed."

In 2003, Bryant was accused of sexual assault by an employee at a Colorado hotel. He denied the allegations, and charges were dropped after the woman refused to testify.

Vanessa Bryant, who married the Lakers star in April 2001, stayed with her husband during that scandal.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Tim Gaynor and Peter Cooney)

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Miss New York is crowned Miss America

(Reuters) - Miss New York won the 2013 Miss America crown on Saturday at the annual pageant which tapped into the reality TV format by incorporating fan participation that pulled one contestant into the semifinals.

Mallory Hytes Hagan, 23, scored in the talent competition with a tap dance to James Brown's "Get Up Offa That Thing," and wowed judges with an unadorned, off-the-shoulder white evening gown.

"Oh, my God, thank you!" Hagan, from Brooklyn, said as she was crowned at the end of the two-hour live broadcast from Las Vegas' Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on ABC.

The first runner-up was South Carolina's Ali Rogers, followed by Alicia Clifton from Oklahoma, Wyoming's Lexie Madden and Miss Iowa, Mariah Cary.

Montana's Alexis Wineman, who has spoken about having been diagnosed with autism when she was 11, was chosen by fans online and made it to the semifinals. Fourth runner-up Cary discussed having Tourette's syndrome.

The judging panel, which included teenage Olympic gold-medal gymnast McKayla Maroney, "Dancing With the Stars" dancer Cheryl Burke, former Miss America Katie Stam Irk, former "Entertainment Tonight" host Mary Hart and ABC weatherman Sam Champion, was permitted to return one eliminated contestant to the semi-finalists' pool. They chose Washington's Mandy Schendel.

In the competition's final segment, each of the five finalists answered a question about current events. Hagan was asked whether, in the wake of the Newtown school massacre, armed guards should be put in schools.

"I don't think the proper way to fight violence is with violence," she said, indicating she opposes the idea.

Hagan, whose crown comes with a $50,000 college scholarship, said education and other measures such as extended waiting periods for gun ownership were more appropriate.

The pageant, held since 1921, is put on by the Miss America Organization.

Contestants compete in local and state pageants before going on to the national competition. In all, 53 women representing the 50 U.S. states, the Virgin Islands, Washington and Puerto Rico vied for the title.

(Reporting by Chris Michaud in New York; Editing by Xavier Briand)

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Evan Rachel Wood expecting first child with actor Jamie Bell

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Actress Evan Rachel Wood said on Friday that she and her husband, British actor Jamie Bell, are expecting their first child.

"Thanks for all your warm wishes," Wood, 25, wrote on her Twitter account. "We are very happy. I'm gonna be a mama!"

Moments earlier, Wood posted a picture of the pregnancy book "What to Expect When You're Expecting" on the social media site.

It will be the first child for both Wood and Bell, who wed in October.

Wood rose to Hollywood stardom for her roles in 2008's "The Wrestler" and the 2003 coming-of-age drama "Thirteen." She was nominated for an Emmy award for the 2011 television mini-series "Mildred Pierce."

Bell, 26, found fame as the teen star of "Billy Elliot," about a ballet dancer growing up in a tough coal mining town in northern England. He won a British BAFTA award for the role and has since appeared in adventure movies such as "The Eagle."

(Reporting by Eric Kelsey; editing by Philip Barbara)

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Justin Bieber pummeled his ex-bodyguard, lawsuit claims

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Justin Bieber is apparently as adept at delivering hits behind the scenes as well as on the music charts. That is, if the allegations in a new lawsuit are to be believed.

In a suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, Moshe Benabou, who claims to be Bieber's former bodyguard, claims that he was repeatedly punched by the "Boyfriend" singer, who then fired him.

And then, to add insult to injury, Benabou was denied overtime pay, vacation pay and reimbursement for expenses, the suit also alleges.

Benabou says that he worked for Bieber from March 2011 until October 2012, often working seven days a week and for 14 to 18 hours each day.

That all came to an end on October 12, the lawsuit says, when Bieber "launched an abusive tirade against Moshe Benabou," apparently because the 19-year-old singer felt that his bodyguard was keeping a member of his entourage away from him.

According to the complaint, Bieber "repeatedly punched Moshe Benabou in the chest and upper body area." When Benabou turned to walk away following the alleged assault, the suit says, Bieber exclaimed, "You are fired!"

Bieber's manager has not yet responded to TheWrap's request for comment.

Benabou is also suing BT Touring, which hired him to guard Bieber, alleging that he was denied overtime and vacation pay, as well as expenses that he incurred as a result of doing his job.

The lawsuit also cites a section of California Labor Code stating that employers must pay an employee's wages for a period of up to 30 days until back wages are paid off in full or "an action is commenced."

In all, Benabou claims that he's owed "an aggregate amount exceeding $421,261." The suit is also seeking other unspecified damages, prejudgment interest, court costs and attorneys' fees.

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Britney Spears calls off engagement, quits "X Factor"

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Pop star Britney Spears on Friday called it quits with both fiancé Jason Trawick and as a celebrity judge on "The X Factor" talent show.

Spears, 31, and Trawick, 41 - her former agent - got engaged in December 2011.

"Jason and I have decided to call off our engagement," Spears said in a statement. "I'll always adore him and we will remain great friends."

The couple began dating in May 2010, following a turbulent few years in Spears' personal and professional life in which she lost custody of her children, entered rehab and shaved off her hair.

Trawick added in a statement: "As this chapter ends for us a new one begins. I love and cherish her and her boys and we will be close forever."

The wedding would have been the third for Spears. She divorced dancer Kevin Federline, with whom she had two children, in 2006.

The singer also spontaneously married childhood friend Jason Alexander during a trip to Las Vegas in 2004. That marriage lasted 55 hours before the singer annulled the union.

Spears and Trawick announced their split the same day that the "Toxic" singer confirmed she was leaving "The X Factor" after just one year as a judge on the Fox singing show, saying it was time to get back to making music.

"I had an incredible time doing the show and I love the other judges and I am so proud of my teens but it's time for me to get back in the studio.

"Watching them all do their thing up on that stage every week made me miss performing so much! I can't wait to get back out there and do what I love most," Spears said of her "X Factor" departure.

Spears' most recent album, "Femme Fatale," was released in March 2011.

Celebrity website TMZ.com reported on Friday that Spears was in talks about a long-term residency gig in Las Vegas. The gambling city is already host to stars like Celine Dion and Shania Twain, who perform under long term contracts.

Spears was recruited to "The X Factor" with a reported $15 million salary after a 14-year singing career that made her one of the biggest pop stars of the 2000s.

But audiences slumped and the TV show lost about 3 million regular viewers from its first season. Many fans and TV critics found Spears bland and boring.

The exit of Spears leaves "X Factor" creator Simon Cowell searching for two new judges to lift his show past its NBC rival, "The Voice," in the ratings when it returns in September.

Judge and record producer L.A. Reid announced in December that he would be returning full time to his job as the head of Epic Records.

Spears took "The X Factor" gig with singer Demi Lovato, 20, in May 2012 to fill the judges' seats left by Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, who were both fired by Cowell a year ago.

(Reporting By Jill Serjeant and Eric Kelsey; Editing by Eric Walsh and Carol Bishopric)

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Lakers star Kobe Bryant and wife reconcile, won't divorce

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, have reconciled and are no longer planning to divorce, the couple said in separate posts on social media sites.

Bryant, widely considered one of the greatest players ever in the National Basketball Association, and his wife filed for divorce in December 2011 after 10 years of marriage.

But they had been seen out together in recent weeks, leading to speculation about a possible reunion. They have two daughters, aged 10 and 6.

"I am happy to say that Vanessa and I are moving on with our lives together as a family," Bryant wrote on Facebook on Friday.

Vanessa Bryant posted a statement on her Instagram page that read: "We are pleased to announce that we have reconciled. Our divorce action will be dismissed."

In 2003, Bryant was accused of sexual assault by an employee at a Colorado hotel. He denied the allegations, and charges were dropped after the woman refused to testify.

Vanessa Bryant, who married the Lakers star in April 2001, stayed with her husband during that scandal.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Tim Gaynor and Peter Cooney)

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Miss New York is crowned Miss America

(Reuters) - Miss New York won the 2013 Miss America crown on Saturday at the annual pageant which tapped into the reality TV format by incorporating fan participation that pulled one contestant into the semifinals.

Mallory Hytes Hagan, 23, scored in the talent competition with a tap dance to James Brown's "Get Up Offa That Thing," and wowed judges with an unadorned, off-the-shoulder white evening gown.

"Oh, my God, thank you!" Hagan, from Brooklyn, said as she was crowned at the end of the two-hour live broadcast from Las Vegas' Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on ABC.

The first runner-up was South Carolina's Ali Rogers, followed by Alicia Clifton from Oklahoma, Wyoming's Lexie Madden and Miss Iowa, Mariah Cary.

Montana's Alexis Wineman, who has spoken about having been diagnosed with autism when she was 11, was chosen by fans online and made it to the semifinals. Fourth runner-up Cary discussed having Tourette's syndrome.

The judging panel, which included teenage Olympic gold-medal gymnast McKayla Maroney, "Dancing With the Stars" dancer Cheryl Burke, former Miss America Katie Stam Irk, former "Entertainment Tonight" host Mary Hart and ABC weatherman Sam Champion, was permitted to return one eliminated contestant to the semi-finalists' pool. They chose Washington's Mandy Schendel.

In the competition's final segment, each of the five finalists answered a question about current events. Hagan was asked whether, in the wake of the Newtown school massacre, armed guards should be put in schools.

"I don't think the proper way to fight violence is with violence," she said, indicating she opposes the idea.

Hagan, whose crown comes with a $50,000 college scholarship, said education and other measures such as extended waiting periods for gun ownership were more appropriate.

The pageant, held since 1921, is put on by the Miss America Organization.

Contestants compete in local and state pageants before going on to the national competition. In all, 53 women representing the 50 U.S. states, the Virgin Islands, Washington and Puerto Rico vied for the title.

(Reporting by Chris Michaud in New York; Editing by Xavier Briand)

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