Celebrity and controversy went hand-in-hand this holiday weekend and everywhere one turned there was the ultimate validation that Vegas has become Hollywood’s ultimate playground, and LUXE LIFE has the best and most complete photo coverage from every extraordinary event in town.
But as the stars, the headliners, the VIP’s and the beautiful people partied and played, drank and danced, and made this Memorial Day weekend the biggest and best ever, there were growing conundrums and conflicts.
One major nightclub operator told me: “This was even better than New Year’s Eve which is supposed to be our busiest time of the year. We just had our best-ever weekend since we opened, and none of us guessed these kind of numbers were ever possible. Vegas is not only on fire, it’s #1 anywhere in the world and the invasion of celebrities proves it.”
Hidden though amongst the heat and happiness were some storm-cloud warning signals!
CONTROVERSY #1: Lindsay Lohan’s ultimate blow-out bash to celebrate her 21st birthday at PURE nightclub here in Vegas on July 2nd and 3rd is now completely up in the air following her DUI crash in Hollywood at dawn on Saturday.

Already the Svedka Vodka Company who was to pay a megabucks sum co-sponsoring the event has reportedly pulled out!
“It’s a total mystery now if she’ll cancel it, will defiantly come or be stopped from coming by the long arm of the law. Nobody knows for sure what will happen,” I was told. Lindsay, who was bringing in a private plane of pals, was getting her own newly decorated suite at Caesars Palace to hold court while her guests took over all the other rooms on a closed-off floor. She was set for a super-sized sushi, sashimi and sake celebration at Social House in TI, the Venus topless pool at Caesars was ready to be turned over to her exclusively, and then there is the birthday extravaganza itself, with top DJ’s A.M. and Samantha Ronson plus the Pussycat Dolls presenting her with an amazing cake.
“It was set to be the major media event of all time and the photos would have gone around the world.” said one of PURE’s executives. Even Lindsay had raved to Ellen DeGeneres on her TV talk show that she was pulling out all the stops to celebrate like nobody else had ever celebrated. Lindsay’s lawyer Mike Heller confirmed: “This should be one of the best parties ever—if not the best!”
But that all changed at the weekend when Hollywood cops tracked her down to the Century City hospital and arrested her for not only leaving the scene of an accident but also driving under the influence. The shock scenario got even worse when cocaine was discovered during a search of her damaged Mercedes and she had to undergo blood tests. Lindsay also faces possible charges for drinking under the legal age.
“Her personal life has hit a new low” said celebrity columnist Perez Hilton. “It even puts a nail in her career because she’s too much of a risk and producers will not be able to get her insured to work on their films. She’s the black sheep of Hollywood actresses.”
Saturday’s dawn crash (when she ran off the road miraculously not hitting any other vehicles) came after a hard-all night round of partying at Hollywood clubs, and just two weeks after security video was released showing her in drug-related circumstances with other girls in a ladies bathroom at a Los Angeles nightspot. She was only released from a drug and alcohol rehab clinic less than three months ago!!!
There were rumors Saturday night in Vegas, which I could never confirm, that she was going to put in a surprise appearance at the “Discreet” party in the Palms, but her arrest was blamed on the no-show. Meantime, PURE plans to keep its party plans in place and continue with its advertising and publicity campaigns – with fingers crossed she’ll put on a brave face and fly in for the festivities.
CONFLICT #2: Despite a stunning defeat against Rampage Jackson in mega-fight UFC Fight 71, thousands of fans showed at Studio 54 in MGM Grand to greet UFC legend Chuck Liddell at his post-fight party.

Supporters rushed to touch, speak with, and shake hands with the official face of the UFC; with one bold female fan grabbing Liddell’s face and kissing his lips, despite his girlfriend standing right by his side. Chuck happily signed autographs and posed for photos all night long in the club’s VIP area overlooking the mega dance floor so he could be closer to his supportive fans instead of his reserved private skybox.
Chuck had KO’d his last seven challengers over the past three years. But the first round surprise knockdown when the ref stopped the fight at 1:53 of the scheduled five round bout had his legions asking if he’d trained properly for the bad-boy’s battle.
In the six-days before the fight he’d been seen partying at clubs all over town. The nightclub crawl began at Body English in the Hard Rock a week ago. Monday he was at JET in the Mirage on the red-carpet with music-sensation Mickey Avalon. Midweek he was at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms where he tore through the 16oz Bone-in Filet Mignon enjoying an expensive ‘96 Pahlmeyer Proprietary red wine, and he was spotted again at Body English. At Studio 54 he told his fans, “I’ll be back. I will still keep training and fighting. I just made one mistake and he capitalized on it.”
Some insiders claimed the loss was just the perfect setup for two more rich PPV paydays for a Best-Of-Three promoters dream. A sellout crowd of nearly 15,000 watched the end of Liddell’s reign, including actors Kevin James and Adam Sandler.
Over at PURE in Caesars Palace, new champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson got a hero’s welcome for his win from Adam and Kevin, fighters Frank Trigg and Dan Henderson, Hollywood celebrities Mandy Moore, Kim Kardashian, Wilmer Valderrama, Dennis Haskins, David Arquette and sports star Larry Johnson.

The new champion kept his UFC Belt on most of the night and grabbing the mic to celebrate his victory with fans. Said Rampage, “It’s my turn now to get the big money. It’s about time because we put our lives into this.”
Next day Jackson wore his UFC title belt as he walked through the Palms lobby to his Fantasy Tower suite while Chuck recuperated in a private cabana at the Palms pool. Coincidentally, both fighters wound up sitting alongside each other on Sunday night when they partied together at Body English in the Hard Rock.

Nice to know that even shirtless Rampage has his name tattooed on his arm! Chuck kept his shirt on!
CHALLENGE #3: When security hustled golfing giant Tiger Woods and his mom Kultida came out of the Mandalay Bay Events center ballroom at his 10th Tiger Jam fundraiser, they forgot his pregnant wife, Swedish model Elin Nordegren.

It wasn’t until Tiger asked “Where is my wife?” that they found her in the crowds and got them reunited! Their first child is expected this summer and Tiger has said he will sacrifice playing in the Open Championship if it conflicts with the birth!
Incidentally, it was coincidentally “Mom’s” birthday so we all joined in a Happy Birthday chorus with Tiger!

Among the stars I spotted there were comedy actors
Will Ferrell and Chris Tucker, basketball great Alonzo Mourning, rockers Bon Jovi, Chris Daughtry, Hootie & The Blowfish, Bachelor stars Andrew Firestone and Chris Harrison, celebrity chef Michael. Mina who prepared the three course decadent dinner, gorgeous Gabrielle Union, record hit-maker Ken “Babyface” Edmonds and “Deal or No Deal” blonde beauty Patricia Kara.

Over its ten years the Tiger Jams have raised over $10-million for his foundation empowering young people with character development and educational programs.
This year’s event raised another $1.5 million with such auction items as a lunch with John Bon Jovi netting $26,000, a Tiger Woods autographed new Buick Enclave SUV brought $50,000, a trip to New Orleans for a dinner with super-chef Emeril Lagasse netted $20,000, a bike- ride in Austin with Lance Armstrong spun $21,000, a putting lesson from Tiger at two golf tournaments to watch him play added $95,000, Alonzo’s three sets of NCAA Final Four packages brought in just shy of $70,000, and two different backstage meet and greets with Tiger and the other stars attending including Bon Jovi and Daughtry after their concerts brought in another $74,000!
Tiger, who has won 55 PGA Tour events and earned $66 million in prize money commented, “Vegas is the perfect city for Tiger Jam. In addition to our Learning Center in Anaheim we have supported the Boys and Girls Club and the Center for Independent Living here in Vegas. We’re so fortunate to have had so many great musical stars support us at our ten Tiger Jams and we’ve been able to reach and help over ten million young people.”
CONTROVERSY #4: Right up until curtain time, showman Jeff Beacher feared pop-princess Britney Spears would try legally to shutdown his new season preview of the Madhouse at the Hard Rock, which officially begins June 30th, because he was presenting “little people” in a Mini-Brit and K-Fed spoof.

But it was the dwarf wrestling matches that had everybody talking instead with its risqué acronym of Midget Unprofessional Fighting Federation! Pitbull Patterson, who is known as the Andre the Giant of midget wrestling, was expected to wind up the winner, but Demo-man wearing mask and cap pinned him for the title. Rocker Vince Neil of Motley Crue fame was in the audience!

Incidentally, grabbing a late bite at Mr. Lucky’s in the Hard Rock before blackjack was eight time world-champion surfer Kelly Slater. ** (He was spotted earlier in the week playing Hawaii-home host to Cameron Diaz, but both insist they are “just good friends.” In fact, I can safely advise her new-found romantic fling with our heroic Houdini magician Criss Angel is growing stronger, and the two have been in constant contact while she was doing the Shrek three promo-tour “down-under” in Australia. They are expected to reunite in New York next week when she completes the European leg. Cameron will try to watch Criss’ June 4th stunt in New York’s Times Square when he will attempt to escape from a concrete coffin hoisted above the street.) **
Next day at the REHAB pool party at Hard Rock was actor Jamie Foxx in a private cabana, and also watching the sexy scene: Dallas Cowboys hunk Terrell Owens and the beautiful Gabrielle Union! Later at Body English nightclub Jamie won the award for “Party Animal of the Year” when he bought several bottles of expensive Dom Perignon champagne and Patron Tequila—and wound up pouring it right down the throats of numerous girls around the club that he invited to his VIP area!!!!!!
