The King of Pop had a fan in the White House.

President Barack Obama described himself as a longtime follower of Michael Jackson, the legendary performer who died June 25 at age 50.

“I grew up on his music - still have all his stuff on my iPod,” Obama said in an AP interview Thursday, adding that Jackson “will go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers.”

At the time of his death, the pop icon was preparing a series of comeback concerts to overcome years of sexual scandal and financial calamity - a troubled history the president acknowledged without naming specifics.

“I think that his brilliance as a performer also was paired with a tragic and, in many ways, sad personal life,” Obama said.

He expressed pleasure that the public is celebrating Jackson for his talents, instead of dwelling on his personal tragedies.

“I’m glad to see that he is being remembered primarily for the great joy that he brought to a lot of people through his extraordinary gifts as an entertainer.”

The president said he didn’t see any controversy in the fact that he did not issue a formal public statement upon Jackson’s death, and said he was unaware of any dissatisfaction in the black community with his response.

“I know a lot of people in the black community,” Obama said. “I haven’t heard that.”

Obama added that Thursday’s interview was the first time he had been asked about Jackson’s death.

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Britney Spears proved she was alive and kicking by taking her family out on a boat trip.

The singer, who was the victim of a malicious hacker earlier in the week, headed out for a jaunt along the California coast yesterday with Jayden James and Sean Preston.

The trip provided happy evidence that she is fine and well after her Twitter micro-blogging page carried the astonishingly heartless message that she had died.

The posting, left by a hacker, read: ‘Britney has passed today. It is a sad day for everyone. More news to come.’

However, soon after the message was deleted when an official member of Britney’s crew insisted she was alive and well.

A post read: ‘Britney’s Twitter was just hacked. The last message is obviously not true. She is fine and dandy spending a quiet day at home relaxing.’

After completing the UK leg of her Circus tour last month, Britney is currently enjoying a two week break before she continues the European leg of her The Circus… Starring Britney Spears tour in Paris on Saturday.

And on Tuesday, the newly-brunette pop star brought Sean Preston, three, and Jayden James, two, on a yachting trip off the coast of Los Angeles.

Setting off from the port of Marina Dey Rey, Britney looked relaxed in a stripy blue and white t-shirt and denim shorts as she hung out with her sons, a blonde friend and a bodyguard.

Sean and Jayden looked equally cool as they shielded their little eyes from the sun in matching green sunglasses and light blue shirts.

Sitting on a 30 foot Flybridge yacht, Britney pointed out sea life and birds to her inquisitive sons.

On the way back to her Hollywood home, Britney stopped by Fred Segal department store on Melrose Avenue and treated her boys to some inflatable guitars.

Britney is clearly loving being with her sons after being forced to spend lengthy times apart during a rocky 2008 when her ex-husband Kevin Federline was given custody of the boys.

However, under a recently agreed custody deal, Britney will now care for her sons for over 50 per cent of the time during the summer.

While Britney is on stage for her Circus tour, which returns to North America after the European leg wraps on July 26, Kevin will accompany her to care for the children.

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A month after David Beckham unveiled his last underwear campaign for Emporio Armani, the footballer is back in another new advert - but this time with his wife Victoria.

Following on from their first more restrained joint ad in January, the celebrity couple give us an insight to their private life as they cuddle up in their undies.

In a bizarre new image, a lingerie-clad Victoria, with a Geisha-style knot in her hair, lies astride her body oil-covered husband on top of a giant rope.

Exactly what the couple are doing with the rope is unclear, but perhaps it’s just as well we don’t find out.

In solo shots for the Italian designer last month, the 34-year-old athlete posed provocatively with the same rope wrapped around his toned body and six pack.

As well as the rope’s return, it appears Victoria’s former 34DD bust is back too.

Wearing little more than a black bra and knicker set, the former Spice Girl, 35, appears back to her busty best in the cleavage-heavy shots.

Posh was reported to have undergone a breast reduction operation down to a 34B in May - the same month these latest shots were taken.

In another new shot for Armani’s new autumn/winter underwear collection, the couple lie beside each other in predatory semi-crouching positions as David hangs off a metal rail.

Instead of her brunette bob, Victoria goes for the Cleopatra look with her plaited fake ponytail on the crowd of her head and her dramatic eye make-up.

The new shots bring the couple closer than their previous ad, which shows Victoria sitting on the floor, while her husband lay on the bed.

The latest photos were taken by celebrated photography duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and will appear in magazines and billboard nationwide from this month.

These new shots are just the latest in the couple’s multi-million pound advertising deal with the Italian fashion house.

Last year, David signed a £20million deal to become the firm’s new global ambassador, while his wife later clinched her own £12million deal to represent Armani underwear.

Designer Giorgio Armani said of the England footballer: ‘David has a great sense of style and is an inspiring role model - this is what makes him the perfect partner for Emporio Armani underwear.’

Meanwhile, as David prepares for his return to Los Angeles Galaxy after his lengthy loan to AC Milan, he should be prepared for some grief.

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Debbie Rowe wants custody of the two children she had with Michael Jackson.

“I want my children,” Rowe said during a 90-minute phone conversation Thursday morning with NBCLA’s Chuck Henry.

Rowe said she was willing to submit to any testing, including DNA to prove that she is the children’s true biological mother. Rowe also said she would submit to psychological testing.

She also said she would seek a restraining order to keep Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, away from the children.

The agreement does allow for visitation, but Rowe said it’s a very difficult process. She said if she misses a visitation date, it is difficult to reschedule with the Jacksons.

“I am stepping up,” Rowe said. “I have to.”

Rowe said she was still grieving. She said she decided she had to seek custody after Jackson’s death.

“We had an agreement… he didn’t keep his end,” Rowe said, referring to Jackson’s death. “It hasn’t been easy. It’s been painful.”

Jackson, who died at age 50, left behind three children: son Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11; and son Prince Michael II, 7. Rowe was the mother of the two oldest children.

The youngest was born to a surrogate mother, who has never been identified.

Rowe said she was concerned about splitting up the children. She said she did not expect the court to grant custody of the third child, but added that she would be willing to accept custody.

Rowe, who was married to Jackson in 1996 and filed for divorce three years later, surrendered her parental rights. An appeals court later found that was done in error, and Rowe and Jackson entered an out-of-court settlement in 2006.

In her testimony eight years ago, Rowe said, “I had the children for him. They wouldn’t be on this planet if it wasn’t for my love for him. I did it for him to become a father, not for me to become a mother. You earn the title ‘parent.” I have done absolutely nothing to earn that title.”

Earlier this week, Jackson’s mother was appointed temporary guardian of the children, pending a hearing on Monday. A will signed by Jackson in 2002 and filed with the court Wednesday requests that Katherine Jackson be named guardian of the children, but in the event of her death, he asked that singer Diana Ross be appointed.

The will also specifically leaves Rowe out of any inheritance.

“I have intentionally omitted to provide for my former wife, Deborah Jean Rowe Jackson,” the will states.

Rowe’s attorney, Eric George, told the Los Angeles Times he will be at the custody hearing Monday to represent her.

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Would actress Gwyneth Paltrow leave her native country behind to live in the Spanish countryside?
In a New York minute, apparently.

The Oscar-winning actress professed her love for Spain in a recent interview, and managed to diss American culture in general and New Yorkers in particular.

“Spain has become a second home,” Paltrow said. “Here in the United States an old building is about 17 (years old), and over there it’s from 500 B.C. It’s incredible.

“Also, the way people live over there. They seem to enjoy life a little bit more. They aren’t running around as much as in New York.

“They enjoy time with the family. They don’t always have their BlackBerries on.”

Paltrow lived in Spain briefly as a teen and is fluent in Spanish.

The 36-year-old star, who is married to Coldplay singer Chris Martin, wants her two kids, Apple and Moses, to speak Spanish as well.

She said she would love to act in her second tongue as well.

“I haven’t found the script yet,” she said, “but the first (movie) would have to be a small role, not very important, because I imagine I would have to get used to acting in Spanish.”

Currently, she is in filming for “Iron Man 2,” staring Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke.

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Bradley Cooper really is the man of the moment, and now he’s got a new lady on his arm: Renee Zellweger.

Although “The Hangover” star has been busy claiming he’s just friends with Jennifer Aniston - with whom he was seen having dinner late last month - he can hardly say the same about Zellweger after the two were caught on a cozy date Tuesday night.

We spotted the pair - who co-star in the upcoming thriller “Case 39″ - looking very into each other at upper East Side eatery Antonucci. The pair giggled and chatted in a corner booth of the restaurant and seemed to have amazing chemistry - Cooper even reached over to touch the “Bridget Jones” star’s arm and gazed at her adoringly. The duo lingered over dinner and drank serious amounts of white wine, then sipped from the same cup of tea after the meal was over.

Zellweger herself confirmed she was having a blast with her new man. When a restaurant patron told the actress she had a cute date, she giggled, “He’s sweet, really sweet!”

And hilarious, apparently. Throughout the night Zellweger, squealed, “You are so funny!”

The date seemed to remain great even when the paparazzi made an appearance around 11:30. Cooper and Zellweger playfully slid down in their booth to avoid being seen, while giggling and whispering intimately to avoid being overheard and plotting how to avoid being caught by the paps when they made their exit.

Finally, without saying goodbye, Zellweger asked, “Do you mind if I go first? I’ll see you in a little bit,” and paid the tab (what a lady!) before leaving the boite around midnight while Cooper lingered.

We think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Although the actor has been linked to beauties like “Nip/Tuck” star Rhona Mitra and actress Lake Bell, he and Zellweger seem like a match made in heaven. The real question: How long will the two last? Both Zellweger and Cooper split from their exes - country singer Kenny Chesney and actress Jennifer Esposito, respectively - after just four months each.

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Griffin O’Neal, Ryan’s son with Joanna Moore, drove 300 miles to LA to attend Fawcett’s service, but Ryan had him barred. Ryan was once dubbed “Hollywood’s Worst Father” by Britain’s Daily Mail because all of his children — Griffin, Tatum (who also was not al lowed to attend) and Redmond (his son with Fawcett who was allowed out of prison to at tend) — have had drug problems. Ryan told “In side Edition” Griffin was banned “because he’s a bad guy.” Griffin told the show, “I just wanted to say goodbye to someone that I knew and loved for 33 years.”

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