Actress Jessica Lange is passing up a the chance of a horrific Hotel stay. The Emmy-winning star of the first four seasons of TV drama American Horror Story has announced that she will not be returning for the fifth in the anthology series, which will be subtitled Hotel. Committing to each season "is a huge investment", Lange said when she arrived at a PaleyFest tribute to the fourth American Horror Story entry, Freak Show. "I've done four great characters. It's enough." The Hotel cast will include singer Lady Gaga, who announced she had been cast in late February. Other newcomers include ctors Matt Bomer (The Normal Heart) and Cheyenne Jackson (Glee). American Horror Story: Hotel is due to begin in October. – AP
Bieber apologises during comedy roast for his bad behaviour
Justin Bieber really wants you to like him again. After being the butt of the joke for hours during the taping of his Comedy Central roast, the 21-year-old singer gave a contrite apology speech for his recent actions. "I turned a lot of people off over the past few years, but I know I can still turn out good music and turn everything all around," said Bieber, whose music has been overshadowed by his offstage antics, including reckless driving, public urination and throwing eggs at a neighbour's home. "I've lost some of my best qualities. For that, I am sorry," he said. "I'm looking forward to being someone who you guys can all look at and be proud of." It was a sweet ending to a night of sharp barbs. Hosted by Kevin Hart, the Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber also featured Snoop Dogg, Shaquille O'Neal, Martha Stewart and Ludacris. It is due to air in the US on March 30. The roasters – including a surprise appearance by Will Ferrell as his "Anchorman" character Ron Burgundy – made jokes about at Bieber's bad behaviour, his relationship with Selena Gomez, his music and his appearance. Perhaps the harshest remarks came from comedian Chris D'Elia: "You have it all," he said, "except love, friends, good parents and a Grammy." Stewart, meanwhile, offered Bieber tips for his eventual trip to prison. – AP
Elton John joins call for boycott of Dolce and Gabbana
British singer Elton John has called for a boycott of Dolce and Gabbana after one of the designers behind the Italian fashion label condemned IVF babies as "synthetic" in a recent interview. The designers, under growing social media pressure, on Sunday said their comments – in an interview with Italian magazine Panorama supporting traditional families with a mother and a father – weren't intended to judge the choices made by others. Elton John added his voice to the call for a boycott of the label, expressing his offence at their scepticism about the use of in vitro fertilisation and surrogate mothers to create families. The musician's two children were conceived by in vitro fertilisation. Singer Ricky Martin, the father of twins born by a surrogate mother, called on the pair to "wake up" in a message on Twitter, telling the designers that their voices were too powerful to spread hate. Gabbana said on Sunday that "it was never our intention to judge other people's choices. We do believe in freedom and love". Dolce said he was expressing his view about family based on his experience growing up in a traditional Sicilian family "made up of a mother, a father and children. I am very well aware of the fact that there are other types of families and they are as legitimate as the one I've known". Dolce said he was expressing his personal views "without judging other people's choices". The designers have put the traditional family at the centre of their last two collections, sending a pregnant model and models with their own children down the runway to celebrate motherhood for next winter's womenswear collection, while featuring grandmothers with their grandsons for menswear. – AP
Buffy the Vampire Slayer star faces new criminal charges
Former Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Nicholas Brendon is faces fresh criminal charges after a second disturbance at a Florida hotel. Brendon, who played Buffy's Pal Xander Harris in the supernatural drama and has also appeared in Criminal Minds, posted US$1,000 (Dh3,670) bond on Saturday from the Leon County jail. Tallahassee Police say he was charged on Friday with damaging property and criminal mischief after an incident in his hotel room. Brendon told the Tallahassee Democrat that he had taken sleeping pills and went "into a blackout". He added that he had been dealing with depression but not taking his medication. He said he would get medical help. Brendon faced similar charges after an incident last month at a Fort Lauderdale hotel. In October, he said he would seek treatment after a similar arrest at an Idaho hotel. – AP
Bristol Palin gets engaged to hero soldier
Bristol Palin has announced that she is engaged to Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer. The daughter of ex-Alaska governor and former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said in a blog post that Meyer came to Alaska to film the Amazing America reality show with her mother last year. She added that Meyer is wonderful with her son Tripp. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2011. The Kentucky native is credited with saving the lives of 36 Marines, Army soldiers and Afghan soldiers while providing cover for them to find their way out of a firefight with the Taliban. Sarah Palin posted a link to her daughter's blog post from her Facebook account. – AP
