It’s not unusual for one artist to seek inspiration from another in their work, but Rihanna’s latest music video is so similar to that of a famed Vogue photographer that she has been accused of plagiarism.

Many of the key scenes in the 22-yearold’s recently released S&M video correspond with photographs by David LaChapelle. One scene shows Rihanna ‘walking’ gossip blogger Perez Hilton on a leash while dressed in latex. It corresponds with a 2002 LaChapelle image for Vogue — Aristocrats — which shows a similar scene.

Other images allegedly copied in the Rihanna video include a striped room with girls wearing red Afro wigs dancing on the furniture. The Chapelle version, Striped Farce, is again remarkably similar. Yet another shows Lady Gaga naked, save for newsprint covering her private areas — Rihanna wears a similar outfit in her video.

Melina Matsoukas, who also directed her track Rude Boy, shot the singer’s video. A source told celebrity blog radaronline.com that he left photos of LaChapelle’s Vogue shoots lying around the set for inspiration. The similarities were spotted by the photographer’s fans, who flooded his fan pages on Facebook and Twitter with comments, thinking that LaChapelle had directed the pop star’s video. LaChapelle, 47, received his big break while working at Studio 54, when he was talent-spotted by Andy Warhol.

— Daily Mail

Is Eva ready to go public with Eduardo Cruz?

They’ve been romantically linked as far back as October, but Eva Longoria and rumoured new love Eduardo Cruz have so far gone to great lengths to avoid being spotted together.

Just over a week after her divorce from Tony Parker was finalised, the Desperate Housewives star enjoyed a very public date with the 25-year-old Spanish crooner. The pair were spotted enjoying the sunset aboard a luxurious yacht in Miami on Saturday.

The actress first sparked rumours of a new young lover when she was spotted with Eduardo at her Los Angeles restaurant Beso in October. Eduardo was also seen leaving Eva’s home on Christmas Eve, and following that, enjoying a flamenco dance troupe at Hollywood cabaret club Cafe Was in January.

Her publicist played down rumours of a romance at the time, saying that they are “just friends” and that “Eva does not have a boyfriend”. But a fellow diner later told People magazine: “Eva and Eduardo seemed to have a good time together. They were flirty, and held hands for a brief moment during the performance.”

Eva appears ready to move on from her devastating split from Tony Parker after their divorce was finalised in a Texas court on January 28. The couple split suddenly in November amid allegations that San Antonio Spurs basketballer Parker had cheated on her with his teammate’s wife.

— Daily Mail