British fashion designer Alexander McQueen has been found dead after taking his own life.

The 40-year-old committed suicide just days after the death of his beloved mother, Joyce, last Tuesday.

It is also just three years since his close friend, Isabella Blow — who plucked him from obscurity and helped him become a star — killed herself.

McQueen, who was christened Lee but used his middle name for his label, was found at his luxury flat in Mayfair, central London. It is believed he hanged himself.

One of his contemporary lines, McQ, was scheduled to be shown at New York Fashion Week this afternoon.

His design company said in a statement: ‘On behalf of Lee McQueen’s family, Alexander McQueen today announces the tragic news that Lee McQueen, the founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen brand, has been found dead at his home.

‘At this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated and are sharing a sense of shock and grief with Lee’s family.

“Lee’s family has asked for privacy in order to come to terms with this terrible news and we hope the media will respect this.”

McQueen was very close to his mother, a genealogist, and took her death very badly.

She had interviewed her son for a newspaper in 2004 and asked him: ‘What is your most terrifying fear?’, to which he replied: ‘Dying before you.’ She said: ‘Thank you, son.’

Posts on his Twitter page reveal he had been battling to cope with his grief.

On February 3rd, he wrote: “I’m letting my followers know that my mother passed away yesterday if she had not me nor would you RIP mumxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx…”

Moments later, he added: ‘But life must go on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’

Rihanna cuts the cake, present at Seoul party

When a girl has a giant cake to cut, the knife needs to be up to the task.

Rihanna looked confident she had the right blade for the job when she was presented with an early birthday cake while on a promotional tour in Seoul, Korea.

The singer, who turns 22 on February 20, appeared to relish the task, as she plunged the ceremonial sword into a double-tiered confection decorated with butterflies.

In a sharp shouldered tuxedo jacket and a peach organza skirt with a giant bow, the singer looked glamorous as she thanked her hosts, who also presented her with a birthday gift. But she may not be expecting a present from rumoured beau, Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player Matt Kemp, after hearing his view of their relationship.

The pair recently holidayed together in Mexico, and put on a steamy display of affection.

However, Kemp, 25, has downplayed the budding romance and said he and the pop star are ‘just friends.’

Julia Roberts’ niece Emma’s enormous leopard-print wedges

She stands a little over five feet tall, so it’s perfectly reasonable that actress Emma Roberts would choose high heels to give her a lift every once in a while.

But this head-turning pair of leopard-print platforms elevated her to extraordinary heights as she left the Dorchester Hotel last night on her 19th birthday.

Perhaps they were a gift for her special day?

Emma, who is in London for the movie premiere of Valentine’s Day, teamed the on-trend wedges with a pair of black jeans, a grey top, a leather bomber jacket and a beige scarf – topped off with a studded black bag.

The actress’ s choice of shoes added at least six inches to her petite 5ft 2in frame.

‘Jessica Simpson was like sexual napalm in bed,’ says John Mayer

After revealing too much about his relationship with Jennifer Aniston, American singer John Mayer is kissing and telling again.

The 32-year-old proves he isn’t much of a gentleman — yet again — as he describes his ‘crazy’ sex life with ex-girlfriend Jessica Simpson in a new interview.

Speaking in the March issue of Playboy magazine, he describes Simpson, 29, as ‘sexual napalm’ in the bedroom.

Jessica Simpson was ‘crazy’.

Mayer and Simpson dated on and off for 10 months from August 2006 — nine months after her high-profile split from husband and Newlyweds co-star Nick Lachey.

The singer admitted their relationship was sexually charged, describing Simpson as ‘a drug’.

He explained: ‘And drugs aren’t good for you if you do lots of them… Yeah, that girl is like crack cocaine to me.

‘Sexually it was crazy. That’s all I’ll say. It was like napalm, sexual napalm.’