People in the news

Madonna, Guy Richie divorcing

Los Angeles – The breakdown of Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s marriage has reached the logical conclusion.

The singer and her filmmaker husband are divorcing after more than seven years of marriage, report news sources.

A rep for Madonna confirmed the split, but the couple has yet to agree on a settlement.

Britain’s Sun newspaper reported that the couple will be releasing another statement on their failed marriage.

The couple’s rocky relationship has been under scrutiny for the past few months, especially following Madonna’s alleged affair with New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, whose wife filed for divorce in the summer because of his alleged extramarital affairs.

Madonna, 50, and Ritchie, 40, were married in December 2000 in Scotland and have two sons together: Rocco, 8, and the adopted David, 2. Madonna is also the mother of 12-year-old daughter Lourdes, the result of a relationship with actor/personal trainer Carlos Leon.

DJ AM recalls fleeing jet crash

New York – DJ AM was jolted from a nap by a real-life nightmare: the fiery plane crash in South Carolina that left him badly burned and killed four passengers.

After falling asleep on the runway, “The next thing I remember is us crashing into something,” the celebrity disc jockey tells People magazine. “I woke up to (fellow survivor Travis Barker) screaming and the plane engulfed in flames. I remember thinking it was like ‘Miami Vice,’ where a car is on fire and you run before the gas tank explodes – we gotta get out of here!”

DJ AM (real name: Adam Goldstein) said he jumped through a fireball while rushing out of the plane after former Blink-182 drummer Barker opened a door. They stopped, dropped and rolled – but Barker remained on fire.

He and Barker were the only survivors of the Sept. 19 crash at the main airport in Columbia. Two pilots and two other passengers were killed, including Barker’s assistant Chris Baker.

The recovering addict, who’s been sober for 10 years, said he might visit a therapist to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I can’t believe I made it,” he said. “I’ve prayed every night for the past 10 years. There’s a lot more to thank God for now. … I was saved for a reason. Maybe I’m going to help someone else. I don’t question it. All I know is I’m thankful to be here.”

Janet Jackson to resume tour

New York – Janet Jackson is returning to her “Rock Witchu” tour and – finally – revealing the mystery illness that led her to cancel a string of concerts.

Following two weeks of scrapped shows, Jackson was scheduled to resume her tour Wednesday night at the Verizon Center in Washington after a bout of migraine-associated vertigo. She is being treated for the illness, which is characterized by dizziness, imbalance and other symptoms.

“She’s a world-class entertainer and needs to be at the top of her game to give her fans the show they expect,” Jackson’s manager, Kenneth Crear, said in a statement. “She’s feeling much better and is ready to hit the road again to finish the tour.”

She is on her first North American tour in seven years.

‘Housewives’ actor injured in accident

Los Angeles – Gale Harold was in critical condition Wednesday after the “Desperate Housewives” actor crashed his motorcycle the day before, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Harold was awaiting further tests at USC Medical Center, spokeswoman Adelaida De La Cerda said. She gave no further details on his injuries.

Publicist Nancy Seltzer said Wednesday that Harold fractured his shoulder, and “Housewives” creator and executive producer Marc Cherry said he apparently has swelling on the brain but is expected to recover.

“We’re hearing he’s going to be fine, but he’s going to be recovering for a couple of weeks,” Cherry said.

Selzer said no one else was injured, but did not provide further details on the Tuesday wreck, which was first reported by TMZ. The California Highway Patrol said it had no information about the accident.

Ryan O’Neal, son face drug charges

Malibu, Calif. – Ryan O’Neal and his son, Redmond, were charged Wednesday with possession of methamphetamine.

Both face felony drug possession charges, deputy district attorney James Garrison said. Redmond O’Neal, 23, also faces misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of pepper spray.

He and his 67-year-old actor father are scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 13.

The father and son were arrested Sept. 17 after deputies searched their Malibu home, part of Redmond’s probation. Police said drugs were found on Redmond and in Ryan O’Neal’s living area.

Ryan O’Neal’s attorney said the drugs did not belong to his client.

“It’s unfortunate because Ryan O’Neal didn’t possess methamphetamine, doesn’t use methamphetamine and it wasn’t his methamphetamine,” attorney Mark Werksman said.