Mercury Illness Was Real: Piven

(NEWSER) - Jeremy Piven was on the level when he blamed mercury poisoning for his decision to bail on a Broadway production of Speed-the-Plow last December, an arbitrator has ruled. "While we respect the decision, we strongly disagree with it," the producers of the David Mamet play said in a statement. Said the Entourage star, who blamed overconsumption of sushi for his medical condition, "I'm pleased with the outcome of the arbitration and to be completely vindicated in this matter," Playbill reports. More»

Writer David Mamet is a little skeptical of star's ailment

(NEWSER) - Jeremy Piven is bailing on Broadway because of a high mercury count, and it doesn’t sound like David Mamet is buying the excuse, Variety reports. “My understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer,” said Mamet, who wrote Speed-the-Plow. The popular play, a show-business satire no less, opened Oct. 23 and runs through February. More»

Actor says he could have had heart attack

(NEWSER) - Jeremy Piven and his terrible case of sushi-related mercury poisoning got off easy during last night's Late Show appearance. David Letterman skipped questions prepared by the National Fisheries Institute—such as "why is it that people in Japan eat far more fish than you, yet don't complain about mercury poisoning?"—and let the actor explain why he bailed on Speed the Plow, the New York Post reports. More»

Play mocking mercury poisoning must stop defaming him, comedian insists

(NEWSER) - Jeremy Piven has had it up to here with people mocking his sushi poisoning. The comedian slapped the Public Theater with a cease-and-desist letter over The Piven Monologues, a show that explores his mercury poisoning fiasco. Piven’s attorney clarifies, “We didn't say you cannot do the play, we said you can't make defamatory statements about our client.” Somehow it seems that would make the play a lot less funny… More»

Plus, Rihanna subpoenaed, and more

(NEWSER) - Today is the day Susan Boyle returns to singing, the Mirror reports. The troubled star is set to join rehearsals for the Britain’s Got Talent tour. “There is no pressure on her but everyone hopes it means she will perform on Friday,” says a source. “It’s her decision.” Elsewhere:

• Rihanna was subpoenaed by prosecutors in the case against Chris Brown, and “if the preliminary hearing indeed goes forward, she will be there” June 22, her lawyer tells People.