Sting ordered to pay $51K for sexual discrimination

London – An employment tribunal ordered Sting and his wife, Trudie Styler, on Tuesday to pay a former chef $51,000 in compensation after she won a sexual-discrimination claim against them.

Jane Martin, 41, won her claim in May. She said she was fired after she became pregnant.

At a hearing earlier this year, Martin said she had worked for the 55-year-old pop star and his wife for eight years, cooking meals for them and guests including Madonna and Elton John.

She said Styler grew unhappy with her after she became pregnant in 2005, making her work long hours and growing angry when she took time off work because of illness.

Martin, who accused Styler of having a “grandiose ego,” left her job under disputed circumstances in April 2006.

The panel at an employment tribunal in Southampton, southern England, said in its May ruling that Martin had been unlawfully dismissed by Lake House Estate, Sting and Styler’s management company, and was a victim of sexual discrimination.

Sting and Styler said they had already launched an appeal.

Oprah Winfrey to put on fundraiser for Barack Obama

Chicago – Forget the girl of YouTube videos. The real Obama girl is doing her part for the candidate.

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey plans to have a Sept. 8 fundraiser for Democratic hopeful Barack Obama at her palatial estate near Santa Barbara, Calif., according to campaign spokesman Dan Pfeiffer.

Obama has raised more than $58 million for his White House bid. Forbes magazine estimates that Winfrey, the Chicago-based host who boasts a lot more, including a magazine, is worth $1.5 billion.

Obama already enjoys the support of Hollywood moguls like David Geffen and Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Winfrey’s fundraiser is another chance for him to tap into money in California, which was his top donor state from April through June with a total take of $4.2 million.

Winfrey is a well-known fan of Obama, calling him “my favorite guy” and “my choice” on CNN’s “Larry King Live” last year before he announced he would run for president.