Diaz’s bag with Maoist slogan raises eyebrows in Peru

Aguas Calientes, Peru – Actress Cameron Diaz appears to have committed a major fashion faux pas in Peru.

The voice of Princess Fiona in the animated “Shrek” films may have inadvertently offended Peruvians who suffered decades of violence from a Maoist guerrilla insurgency by touring here Friday with a bag emblazoned with one of Mao Zedong’s favorite political slogans.

While she explored the Inca city of Machu Picchu high in Peru’s Andes, Diaz wore over her shoulder an olive green messenger bag emblazoned with a red star and the words “Serve the People” printed in Chinese on the flap, perhaps Chinese Communist leader Mao’s most famous political slogan.

While the bags are marketed as trendy fashion accessories in some world capitals, the phrase has particular resonance in Peru, where the Maoist Shining Path insurgency brought Peru to edge of chaos in the 1980s and early 1990s with a campaign of massacres, assassinations and bombings.

Nearly 70,000 people were killed during the insurgency.

A prominent Peruvian human rights activist said the star of “There’s Something About Mary” should have been a little more aware of local sensitivities when picking her accessories.

50 Cent in court fight over child support demands

Central Islip, N.Y. – The $25,000 a month in child support and household expenses that rapper 50 Cent pays to the mother of his 10-year-old son is not enough, says the boy’s mother, Shaniqua Tompkins.

The rapper is “worth tens and tens of millions of dollars,” said her attorney, Raoul Felder.

The parents of young Marquise Jackson are wrangling over the issue in family court in this Long Island community, where 50 Cent arrived Friday in an armored SUV equipped with a satellite dish.

50 Cent no longer needs to worry about the choice he famously expressed on a 2004 album – “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.”

With his G-Unit record label, clothing line, ring tones and other enterprises, 50 Cent – whose real name is Curtis Jackson – reeled in an estimated $33 million in the past year, according to Forbes. He has sold more than 11 million albums and has a new album, “Curtis,” due out in September.

Wilson among celebrity contributors to ‘Green Book’

Los Angeles – It’s not just trendy to be environmental, it’s easy. So says a new book that features everyday tips for greener living, plus advice from celebs – from Jennifer Aniston to Owen Wilson – who’ve already gone green.

“Sometimes it can be a bit daunting and seem like you’re in algebra class trying to figure out some of the stuff involved with helping the environment,” said Wilson, one of a dozen celebrities who contributed personal essays to “The Green Book.” “These are very easy-to-understand ideas that everyone could apply, just little, small steps people can take to make a positive contribution.”

Wilson, 38, said that when he bought a Prius a few years ago it acted as a “gateway drug” that inspired him to become more environmental. Now the actor uses solar panels to power his home.

“I began to read more about it, and you get an idea of the seriousness of the situation,” he said. “Now everyone is paying attention to it, which leads to greater awareness that can create a domino effect right to the people who make policy.”

Other stars who share their stories of bourgeoning environmentalism in the book include Cameron Diaz, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Robert Redford, Will Ferrell and Justin Timberlake.

‘Suge’ Knight’s mansion up for sale for $6.2 million

Malibu, Calif. – Marion “Suge” Knight’s seven-bedroom, 9 1/2-bath home has been placed on the market for $6.2 million, part of the rap music mogul’s financial overhaul under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The 8,272-square-foot Mediterranean-style mansion was built in 2001 and is located on a 6.79-acre lot in the hills above the Pacific Ocean. It has access to two beaches and is being sold with an additional 2.11 acres of land.

The gated property, which includes a pool and tennis courts, was listed earlier this month by Coldwell Banker.

An Internet listing notes that the home is being sold “as is,” and its sale is subject to approval by the bankruptcy court.

Knight sought bankruptcy protection for himself and his record company, Death Row Records, in April 2006. He claimed debts of more than $100 million in each filing.

Celebs to get HIV tests to raise awareness among blacks

New York – Regina King, Howard Hesseman and Jimmy Jean-Louis of NBC’s “Heroes” are among a group of performers getting HIV tests next week to raise awareness of the spread of the virus in black communities.

They will be screened Monday in front of cameras at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) headquarters in Los Angeles as part of a new campaign called “1 in a Million.” The goal is to motivate 1 million black Americans to get tested for HIV/AIDS by Dec. 1, 2008.

“Actors are blessed with the gift of voice, and people listen to what they have to say,” SAG president Alan Rosenberg said Friday in a statement. Rosenberg hopes others will take the “message to heart” and follow their lead.

Other celebrity participants include Hill Harper (“CSI: NY”), musical stage star Sheryl Lee Ralph, Gloria Reuben of the HBO movie “Life Support” and former “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star Tatyana Ali.

According to the statement announcing the campaign, AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women between the ages of 25 and 34, and up to 46 percent of black gay men are estimated to be HIV-positive.