These shocking pictures are actually photos of multi-millionaire rapper 50 Cent, who lost a staggering 54lbs in just nine weeks for a film role. In the film, which is set for release in 2011, 50 Cent plays a football player diagnosed with cancer, and he went from 214 pounds to an astonishing 160 pounds with a liquid-only diet and three-hour-a-day treadmill walks to look authentic for the part.

The 34-year-old is starring and co-producing Things Fall Apart, which is directed by Mario van Peebles and will also feature Ray Liotta. Soon after the dramatic weight loss pictures were posted on his website, 50cent.com, rumours that they were a hoax swept the internet, but in a statement the star, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, confirmed the pictures were authentic.

‘I was starving,’ he said, adding that now he is back on tour, ‘I’ve been eating. I’ll be back in shape in no time!’ In the past 50 cent has made much of his muscular body, often appearing topless in videos and showing off his huge frame. Additionally, the rapper has had the tattoos on his arms removed in preparation for his acting career. He has said: “I took ’em off. I’ve been on a few acting projects and my call time is four hours before the regular acting talent because of the tattoos.”

Jackson made his film debut in the semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in 2005. He also starred in the Iraq War film Home of the Brave in 2006, and opposite Robert De Niro in the 2008 crime thriller Righteous Kill, and starred in the British gangster film Dead Man Running last year. With an estimated fortune of $440 million, ‘Fiddy’ is one of the world’s richest performers and was named the 6th best artist of the 2000 – 2009 decade by Billboard Magazine last year.

What rivalry? Sex And The City stars show united front for premiere of the sequel

Rows over money and top billing, on-set catfights and screaming matches were all forgotten as the Sex And The City stars put on a glamorous and united front in New York on Monday.

At the premiere of their long-awaited sequel, the fashionistas put in a sensational effort, but there was no doubting that SJP was the star of the show in a hot lemon Valentino number in which she had quite clearly been practising her twirls. While fashion critics deemed her choice of attire risky, Parker, 45, was applauded for her fashion bravery. Speaking about her dress, the mother-of-three said: ‘I cared about being presentable to that degree. I never want to embarrass my children or my family, and it’s always lovely to get to borrow a beautiful dress.’

Kristin Davis, who plays Charlotte York-Goldenblatt in the film, looked lovely in hot pink. With her hair piled neatly into a high bun, Davis, 45, looked sleek in the vintage Jean Desses gown, which co-ordinated well with SJP. Cynthia Nixon, 44, went for safe but boring black in a long Carolina Herrera gown – perhaps paying homage to her 2008 outfit of a plunging dress, but failing to deliver the same effect.

Kim Cattrall, 53, completed the quartet in an elegant and sophisticated gold Naeem Khan creation.

–Daily Mail

Singer Kelis and Rapper Nas Finalise Divorce in LA

There’s officially no more milkshake left in Nas and Kelis’ marriage.

Court filings show that last Friday a Los Angeles judge dissolved the union between singer Kelis Rogers and rapper Nas, whose full name is Nasir Jones. No other details were revealed.

Rogers, best known for her feisty tune Milkshake, filed for divorce last May, citing ”irreconcilable differences.”

Documents show the couple married in July 2003, and Jones was ordered in December to pay more than $51,000 a month to Rogers and their infant son.

Calls to Jones’ attorney were not immediately returned. The office for Rogers’ attorney said she declined to comment.

Jones, who is considered one of rap’s most popular artistes, recently released a collaborative album Distant Relatives with Damian Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley.

–AP