Publicist: Charlie Sheen leaves for rehabilitation

Los Angeles — Charlie Sheen has entered rehab and is taking a break from television’s top-rated comedy, “Two and a Half Men,” his publicist said Tuesday.

Publicist Stan Rosenfield wrote in a four-sentence statement that did not specify why Sheen, 44, was seeking treatment. The statement sought privacy for the embattled actor.

The move comes roughly two months after Sheen was arrested after a fight with his wife at his Aspen, Colo., home.

Prosecutors later charged the actor with felony menacing and misdemeanor charges of third-degree assault and criminal mischief. The most serious charge carries a maximum three-year prison term.

Sheen’s wife, Brooke, is also in rehab seeking treatment for an undisclosed reason, her attorney Yale Galanter said Monday. She is asking that the charges be dismissed, he said.

Bristol Palin to guest star on ‘Teenager’

New York — Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol will make her acting debut on the ABC Family drama series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager.”

The network says the 19-year-old will play herself on an episode set to shoot and air this summer. It will deal with the consequences of teen pregnancy.

The network calls Bristol Palin the most famous teenage mother in America. She was pregnant as her mother campaigned for vice president. Bristol Palin gave birth to her son, Tripp, in December 2008.

The TV series focuses on the relationships between families and friends and how they deal with teenage issues. It premiered two years ago, and its cast includes Molly Ringwald and Mark Derwin.

British singer Cole splitting from husband

London — British singer and TV personality Cheryl Cole says she is separating from her husband, football (soccer) player Ashley Cole.

The 26-year-old Girls Aloud pop singer is a judge for the British reality talent show “The X Factor” along with Simon Cowell. She asked the media to respect her privacy “during this difficult time” in a statement issued Tuesday by her publicist.

Ashley Cole plays left back for Chelsea and the England national team.

British media had speculated the marriage was in trouble after tabloids published front-page stories reportedly linking Ashley Cole to other women.

Cheryl Cole’s song “Fight for This Love” was nominated for a 2010 Brit award.

Assistant convicted in ex-punk manager killing

New York — The personal assistant of a punk-rock pioneer and celebrity real estate broker was convicted Tuesday of bludgeoning her boss to death with a piece of exercise equipment.

Jurors spent less than a day reaching a second-degree murder verdict in the Manhattan trial against Natavia Lowery, the personal assistant to Linda Stein, who managed the Ramones before becoming a real estate agent with celebrity clients including Madonna and Sting. Lowery showed no reaction when the verdict was read.

Prosecutors said Lowery stole more than $30,000 from Stein, then clubbed her to death to try and hide the theft.

Lowery’s lawyers had acknowledged she stole from Stein and at least one previous employer, but they denied she killed Stein.