Heather Mills: Pride Comes Before the Fall

I take one day off, and I miss the climax to a story I’ve been following for almost two years: Heather Mills and Sir Paul McCartney finally settled their divorce, with Mills garnering a £24.3 million settlement. McCartney laid low after the case. I wish we could say the same for the vituperative Mills, who burst out of the court yesterday like she was still angling for a tussle. She gave an eleven-minute rant worthy of Faye Dunaway to reporters, taking swings at her ex-husband and his lawyer, Fiona Shackleton (whom she reportedly drenched with water after the ruling was announced. In court. Yep, Heather sounds perfectly sane, that woman.)

Well, today, she’s on the receiving end of some harshly-worded invective: from the judge no less. In a public statement, Mr. Justice Bennett calls the evidence Mills presented “inaccurate” and “inconsistent.” (I’m sure he had a few more “in-” words to call her, but a judge must show restraint.) He also refers to her as “less than candid” and “a less than impressive witness.” Mills calls the judgment “outrageous,” according to BBC NEWS. But she would think that, wouldn’t she?

The Sun, of course, is having a field day with all of this. “Judge makes a mock of Mucca” is their headline.

Duffy spends her fifth week atop the UK singles chart. Her smash “Mercy” even fought off a two-track single from It girl Leona Lewis. Like Ms. Lewis, Duffy has her eyes on American success. According to Arjan Writes, the Welsh songstress rocked a high-powered crowd here in NYC. Special correspondent Brian Burgess says, “Let me just note that there was some serious diva worship going on in the venue. Lots of industry people, but handfuls of adoring gays who kept getting in trouble for taking photos and videos. It was great!”

Meanwhile, Leona Lewis has appeared on Oprah with her manager, Simon Cowell. Can’t say the girl lacks ambition. Oprah viewers will eat her up and give her debut album the Middle America momentum she needs to have a great first week.

Here are this week’s top 10 singles in the UK.

1. Duffy – Mercy
Watch the video

2. Leona Lewis – Better In Time/Footprints In the Sand
Watch the video for “Better In Time”
Watch the video for “Footprints In the Sand”

3. H Two O ft. Platnum – What’s ItGonna Be
Watch the video

4. OneRepublic – Stop and Stare
Watch the video

5. Nickelback – Rockstar
Watch the video

6. Alphabeat – Fascination
Watch the video

7. Flo Rida ft. T-Pain – Low
Watch the video

8. Taio Cruz ft. Luciana – Come On Girl
Watch the video

9. Utah Saints – Something Good ’08
Watch the video

10. Basshunter – Now You’re Gone
Watch the video

In other news:

• Keith Richards offers more unsolicited advice to Amy Winehouse: “There’s only one [singer I like], that girl Amy. Mind you, that girl isn’t going to be around long unless she sorts herself out pretty quick. Amy’s got to get smart. I’m not a preacher. But I’ve been there and you have to pass it on.” (NME)
• George Clooney and Julia Roberts have offered Amy Winehouse $1 million to headline an event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.(Mirror)
• Kick off the Moss: Jamie Hince‘s Kills bandmate doesn’t want his supermodel girlfriend joining them on stage.(Mirror)
• Peter Andre is just now embarrassed of his wife Jordan. (Digital Spy)