Rapper 50 cent ordered to pay in headphone case

Also, Soha Ali Khan would rather vote than attend the IIFA in the US; Katherine Heigl is sueing a New York pharmacy; Farhan Akhtar is the brand ambassador of an Indian retail website; Rapper Big Sean ends engagement to Naya Rivera.

Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson promotes the SMS headphones at a press conference held at the Dubai World Trade Center. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

Rapper 50 cent ordered to pay in headphone case

Federal court records show that the rapper 50 Cent has been ordered to pay a Bradenton earphone manufacturer more than US$16 million (Dh59m) in connection with a failed partnership to produce the entertainer's line of headphones. The Bradenton Herald reports that 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson III, was ordered to pay Sleek Audio nearly $4.5 million in attorney fees and US$11.7 million in damages. The US District Court in Miami affirmed the award in late March after a three-year legal battle. Records allege that Jackson, a Sleek partner, stole the designs of over-the-ear headphones he asked the company to conceptualise and manufacture. Jackson has been selling headphones of a similar design under the 50-Over line with another manufacturer. – AP

Soha chooses to vote over attending the IIFA

The actress Soha Ali Khan says she has chosen to skip the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in Tampa Bay, Florida later this month to be in Mumbai because she wants to vote. The IIFA gala is scheduled for April 23-26; voting day for the Mumbai Lok Sabha election falls in the middle. Several celebrities are due to fly to Tampa Bay for the ceremony, and that has sparked debate that they are choosing an awards ceremony over voting. Ali Khan said she is aware of the debate. “I am in Mumbai on April 24, voting day here. I had got an invitation for IIFA, but I am not going anywhere because voting is my priority,” she said. – IANS

Heigl sues pharmacy company over photo

The Emmy-award winning actress Katherine Heigl has sued Duane Reade Inc, saying the company is using a picture of her leaving one of its pharmacies in its promotional materials. The 35-year-old who acted in the television series Grey’s Anatomy and in movies including Knocked Up and 27 Dresses is seeking at least $6 million in damages. The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan.

A Duane Reade spokesman did not immediately return a message seeking comment. The lawsuit says Heigl was recently photographed by paparazzi in New York City as she left a Duane Reade pharmacy. It says the company is exploiting the actress’ image for commercial gain despite her objection. The complaint says Heigl plans to donate any lawsuit proceeds to a charitable foundation that helps animals. — AP

Farhan Akhtar is the face of Yepme.com

The actor and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar will endorse the Indian online shopping portal Yepme.com, and he’s been involved in the making of the advert on several levels, from sharing his opinions on the storyboard to choosing the track to accompany the clip. The song Tension Kyun Lete Ho, composed by the musician trio Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy, has been picked, and the lyrics are by Akhtar himself. – IANS

Rapper Big Sean ends engagement to Naya Rivera

Rapper Big Sean and actress Naya Rivera are no longer engaged. A spokeswoman for the rapper announced Wednesday that he has cancelled plans to marry the Glee star. Publicist Tracy Nguyen said Sean hopes the two can continue to work through their issues privately.

Rivera, 27, and Sean, 26, announced their engagement in October. Though the couple met on Twitter, neither tweeted about the break-up on Wednesday. Messages left for Rivera’s representatives were not immediately returned. Rivera is best known as Santana on Fox’s Glee. Sean released Hall of Fame, his second album, last summer. — AP

Giant Marilyn Monroe arrives at temporary new home

A larger-than-life sculpture of Marilyn Monroe has arrived in New Jersey after a cross-country trip by flatbed. Forever Marilyn, a 26-foot-tall sculpture by Seward Johnson, was shipped in pieces from Palm Springs, California, to the Grounds for Sculpture, where it will go on view from May 4. The 17-ton stainless steel-and-aluminium installation depicts Monroe in her memorable billowing skirt pose from the 1955 movie The Seven-Year Itch. Its display will be part of an exhibit honouring its sculptor. He is also the founder of the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, just outside the state capital of Trenton. The exhibition will end on September 21. — AP

Rapper Drake to host ESPYs sports awards show

Drake is carving out a new niche as a television host and will helm the 2014 ESPYs, the sports award show of ESPN. The Toronto-based rapper, singer and actor and the sports entertainment network announced the gig Wednesday. The annual light-hearted awards show will be held July 16 at the Nokia Theatre Los Angeles. Live in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live. Drake’s used to the live TV thing. He turned in a strong performance as host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live in January. And he hosted the 2011 Juno Awards in Canada. The 27-year-old also has ties to the sports world. He’s affiliated with the NBA’s Toronto Raptors and memorably played a teen basketball player on Degrassi: The Next Generation before picking up the mic. — AP