Rihanna, Drake Heat Up

'Shameless PR flacks' invoke Gawker blogger's ire

(NEWSER) - Sure, sure, Chris Brown copped a plea yesterday in his assault case. But more important, what was his victim wearing? Thanks to Michele Marie PR, you no longer have to wonder, the Cajun Boy blogs for Gawker. Who cares that Rihanna was in court “to testify against a man who nearly beat and strangled her to death”? Public relations “will rest for no one”! More»

Rihanna expected to take the stand; media swarm

(NEWSER) - Los Angeles courthouses are no strangers to paparazzi, but today’s preliminary hearing for Chris Brown promises to be one for the record books. Brown’s case is proving more popular than those of fellow tabloid magnets Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and Lindsay Lohan, with 52 media outlets requesting attendance. “I’ve never seen this kind of interest, and I’ve been here seven years,” a court spokesman tells the Los Angeles Times. More»

Plus, Jon and Kate actually in the same place at the same time, more

(NEWSER) - Tinseltown is abuzz with speculation about what caused Sean Penn’s acting hiatus, the New York Post reports. Some say Natalie Portman, who was seen with Penn in the middle of his separation drama, broke his heart. Elsewhere:

• Jon and Kate Gosselin were actually spotted together—imagine that! The drama-ridden reality couple played with their kids outside their Pennsylvania home, Us reports, but didn’t show any affection toward each other.

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.

Geragos plans to mine internal police records for evidence

(NEWSER) - Attempting to learn how TMZ got a photo of Rihanna’s bruised face, Chris Brown’s lawyer filed two motions yesterday asking for internal police records, the New York Daily News reports. The LAPD is still probing the leak internally, but lawyer Mark Geragos is due back in court May 28; if he has uncovered evidence of misconduct, he could ask for the case to be dismissed. More»