News and gossip about Britney Spears

A celebrity photographer accused of stalking Jamie Lynn Spears and her fiance in a small Mississippi town has been arrested.

Edwin W. Merino, 30, of Los Angeles, posted bond Tuesday. He is scheduled to appear in court next week.

Authorities in Liberty, a small town in southwest Mississippi near the Louisiana border, said Merino wouldn’t leave the pregnant Spears and her fiance, Casey Aldridge, alone.

Merino denied the accusations in a phone interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. He said that he was about 200 feet away from the couple using a long lens when he was arrested at a gas station.

The younger Spears and Aldridge have been the subject of intense attention since she announced her pregnancy in December. She said then she was 12 weeks along, which would make the 17-year-old due any time.

Merino said he had little luck taking pictures of the couple and was preparing to leave the area.

“I’ve seen the young man Casey in pictures,” Merino said. “I haven’t worked on them myself. The first time I got a good look at him was in court.”

Spears’ family representatives did not immediately return messages Wednesday.

Merino has worked as a celebrity photographer for five years. He was one of the paparazzi who snared pictures of Jamie Lynn Spears’ older sister, Britney, without underwear.

Merino said he was the only photographer following Spears during most of his four days in the Liberty area.

“I just think since I was the only one there, it was just easier for them to single me out,” Merino said.

Merino’s arrest was first reported by the McComb Enterprise-Journal.

Merino said he didn’t spend any significant time in jail. A deputy drove him to three automated teller machines and he got the $1,143 he needed to be released.

In the end, Merino said the trip was a waste.

“The one picture I got was kind of by luck,” he said. “I got lucky when I saw them at Wal-Mart when I was buying deodorant.”

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Britney Spears’ former paparazzi lover Adnan Ghalib is officially going off the grid after receiving numerous death threats over a sex tape he filmed of him and Britney in Mexico. He’s also saying his stabbing in April wasn’t a random event. The Sun reports:

“Yes, I was injured by an attacker. This is still being investigated. I can’t say much about the cowardly attack other than: a) you better come a lot stronger than that if you want to make a point and b) most will be surprised by those behind it. I have had many calls about it from all over the world. In light of the constant calls about the sex tape and threats, I’m taking a break from the industry and keeping a low profile.”

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Rocker Joan Jett says she has never understood why Britney Spears covered her hit song, I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll’ — and doubts the singer even likes rock music.

Jett, who originally released the song in 1982, said, “I’ve never even heard Britney’s version. I mean, I’ve obviously heard about it, but I never understood that whole idea.”

She added, “I mean, people usually cover a song that says something about them, but I doubt she loves rock ‘n’ roll. Maybe she likes songs.”

Jett, 49, also spoke about Madonna — also 49 — and the criticism she has received because of her age.

She explains, “She’s criticized because people are scared, you know? I mean, a man can be 49, be sexy, have a full career, but no one tells him to shut his legs. But Madonna…she’s at a point where she’s going to be changing things. Because in this world, the Western world, all the baby-boomers are getting older, and if we want to stay in touch with our sexuality, it’s up to women like her to grab it.

“It’s up to us to say yes, I am sexy with wrinkles, I am sexy with extra weight. We have to fight against this photoshopped, airbrushed sexuality too – we all get that, but we have to say that age doesn’t defy sex.

“I mean, look at the 1940s: movie actresses had long careers then and were sexy, so why have things changed? I know why: because the ‘put you up, tear you down’ culture hadn’t kicked in then – but it has now. So these days, more than anything, it’s important for women to fight for themselves.”

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The troubled singer has been meeting with TV executives to discuss possible projects following her recent successful appearances on hit US TV sitcom ‘How I Met Your Mother’.

A source said: “Britney met Roy Bank, the president of Merv Griffin Entertainment, on Wednesday (28.05.08). It was a serious meeting and they spoke about various programme ideas – including a new music show.”

The 26-year-old ‘Toxic’ star is attempting to get her career back on track following a difficult period, which included her shaving her head and being hospitalised for mental illness.

She received rave reviews for her performance as a ditsy receptionist in the sitcom, and has also reportedly been approached to star as Sandy in a new production of musical ‘Grease’ on Broadway.

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