Shakira survives close call with roaring South African sea lion

Dear Shakira: "I decided to get a bit closer than all of the other tourists" is not something we want to see you writing on a postcard any time soon. Especially if you're getting closer to, oh, wild animals. Like sea lions.

Singer-dancer-philanthropist Shakira, 34, was attacked by a sea lion Sunday afternoon during a nature tour out of Cape Town, South Africa, and had to be rescued by her brother Tony, whom she says literally saved her life.

After seeing some seals and sea lions, the Colombian singer said on her Facebook page, "I thought to myself how cute they were so I decided to get a bit closer than all of the other tourists and went down to a rock trying to pet them doing a baby talk while taking pictures.... Suddenly, one of them jumped out of the water so fast and impetuously that it got about one foot away from me, looked me in the eye, roared in fury and tried to bite me."

(Maybe the critter was just a rabid fan? OK, that's not nice, especially since a male South African sea lion can weigh more than 600 pounds.)

"Everyone there screamed, including me. I was paralyzed by fear and couldn't move. I just kept eye contact with it while my brother 'Super Tony' jumped over me and literally saved my life, taking me away from the beast."

The "Hips Don't Lie" singer said she thought the animal mistook her BlackBerry for a fish, and believed she was teasing it. Brother and sister escaped with scratches on their hands and legs from clambering over the rocks.

Shakira honored with France's arts and letters medal

Singer Shakira has been honored by France as a Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, becoming the first Colombian to receive the honor.

Minister of Culture Frédéric Mitterrand presented the medal to Shakira, who in addition to her music — for which she was recognized — is known for her philanthropic work on behalf of children.

"I believe that every child should have the right to follow their dreams and get an education," she says on her website. "Growing up in Colombia, I saw that education can be a child's way out of poverty and a way to fulfill his or her potential. It is a basic right, but too often poor children are shut out."

She goes on to note the number of children worldwide who don't go to primary and secondary school, and calls on governments to, among other things, prioritize education funding. On a more practical level, in recent years she's gotten five schools built back home.

Note that this honor is different from the Chevalier Legion d'Honneur, a knighthood recently bestowed upon actress Salma Hayek amid whispers that she'd gone on the list only because her billionaire husband Francois-Henri Pinault is a close friend of President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The Chevalier de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres recognizes significant contributions to the arts and literature and has previously gone to folks including Clint Eastwood, George Clooney and T.S. Eliot. The Chevalier Legion d'Honneur recognizes significant service to the nation of France and sprang from the mind of Napoleon Bonaparte.

"Hips Don't Lie" singer Shakira was in Cannes to open Saturday's NRJ Music Awards with her song "Je L'Aime a Mourir" — watch it below.

 

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Shakira warms back up to ex-boyfriend Antonio de la Rua -- so where's Gerard Pique?

— Christie D'Zurilla
twitter.com/dzurillaville

Photo: French culture minister Frederic Mitterrand pins the Chevalier de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres on Shakira in Cannes, France, on Saturday. Credit: Lionel Cironneau / Associated Press

Shakira warms back up to ex-boyfriend Antonio de la Rua. Where's Gerard Pique?

This post has been corrected. See the note below for details.

Shakira may be warming back up to Antonio de la Rua after reports that the global pop star popped into her ex-boyfriend's 38th birthday party in Uruguay over the weekend.

The couple called it quits in August after 11 years together, but the "Waka, Waka" singer didn't go public with the news until January.

"Since August 2010, we made a mutual decision to take time apart from our romantic relationship," the singer wrote on her blog. "Throughout this time we have continued to work together hand in hand, have remained close and have kept the details absolutely private until now.

"We view this period of separation as temporary and as a time of individual growth as we continue to be partners in our business and professional lives," she wrote. "Our friendship and understanding of one another is unwavering and indestructible."

The Colombian-Lebanese "She Wolf" has since been dating FC Barcelona soccer star Gerard Piqué, right.

However, Shakira, who was on tour with her "Sale el Sol" album, headed for a Tuesday concert in Asuncion, Paraguay, is said to have coordinated with De la Rua's parents -- former Argentine President Fernando de la Rua -- and brother to attend the Sunday party for 100 guests at De la Rua's ranch in Punta del Este, Uruguay. He is said to have been assisting with her concert.

Celestrellas reports that the couple was "very warm toward each other, affectionate and close, embracing on more than one occasion, caressing, smiling and whispering secretly in each other's ear."

Watch out, Gerard ...

For the record, 11 a.m. March 12: This post originally placed the city of Asuncion in Uruguay. It is the capital of Paraguay. Thanks to commenter @Adrian for flagging the gaffe.

RELATED:

Shakira rocks the World Cup's Waka Waka with schoolkids in South Africa

Shakira's boyfriend thinks his 'She Wolf' is too sexy -- and we respectfully disagree

World Cup opens with a touch of sadness after death of Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter

-- Nardine Saad
twitter.com/NardineSaad

Top photo: Shakira performs at a concert at the Pop Festival in Paraguay on March 8. Credit: Pablo Burgos / AFP / Getty Images

Right photo: Gerard Pique reacts during the international friendly soccer match against Colombia at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid. Credit: Emilio Naranjo / EPA

World Cup opens with a touch of sadness after death of Nelson Mandela's great-granddaughter

The 2010 FIFA World Cup kicked off Friday morning with bold opening ceremonies and the opening game between Mexico and South Africa, following a Thursday night kickoff concert in Johannesburg featuring Shakira, the Black Eyed Peas, John Legend, Alicia Keys and a host of other performers, among them Somali-born K'Naan singing "Wavin' Flag.

Nelson Mandela did not attend the opening ceremonies or game, however, after one of his nine great-grandchildren was killed in a single-car crash early Friday morning coming home from the concert.

Zenani Mandela, 13, was a passenger; authorities suspect the unidentified male driver was intoxicated and said he may face a homicide charge, the Fabulous Forum reports. The Associated Press quoted a police spokeswoman as saying, "He lost control of the vehicle, and it collided with a barricade."

This sadness comes after lighter news that Fergie of the Peas was delighted after sharing a "flirty" moment with the anti-apartheid leader during her trip to the country to perform.

Click here for full L.A. Times sports coverage of the World Cup. EW.com's Music Mix has more concert clips here.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

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Shakira rocks the World Cup's Waka Waka with schoolkids in South Africa

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Shakira stops by the White House to say hello

Shakira's boyfriend thinks his 'She Wolf' is too sexy -- and we respectfully disagree

Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter (we're @LATcelebs) or 'Like' us into your Facebook news feed when you visit our Facebook page. Not all our headlines are steamy, we promise.

Shakira rocks the World Cup's Waka Waka with schoolkids in South Africa

Shakira, the Colombian singer well known for her dancing as well as her efforts to promote early childhood education, visited a South African school Wednesday ahead of the Thursday concert kicking off soccer's World Cup, aiming to bring attention to 1Goal: Education for All -- and to rock the Waka Waka, the official World Cup dance. 

Students at the Isu-lihle primary school in Soweto, Johannesburg, got to meet the "Hips Don't Lie" singer and give the Waka Waka a whirl.

Click here to see top players helping make the music video -- it's embedded after the break -- or learn the dance yourself and, if you dare, take Shakira up on her challenge to upload a video of the results. C'mon, if the kids can ... ?

Admit it: This official dance is significantly less scary than ...

White House invites the 'Glee' cast to sing at the annual Easter Egg Roll; meanwhile, Shakira stops by to visit

First Lady Michelle Obama has invited the cast of the TV show "Glee" to sing at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, and the show appears ready to accept the invite.

Hmm -- is it a case of cause and effect, given that news of the invite comes on the heels of a White House performance Sunday by the real-life Myrtilla Miner Elementary School Glee Club of Washington, D.C., with a little help from Harry Connick?

More likely merely coincidence -- plus, according to Entertainment Weekly, daughters Malia and Sasha are big fans of the show.

It's not a done deal yet, but producers reportedly jumped at the opportunity, according to Broadway World, offering to change the show's production schedule to accommodate the trip.

Want to try your luck at scoring tickets for the April 5 event? Sign up for the online lottery on Feb. 25-28. Yes, that's this week -- the drawing is March 1.

Any guesses on what the tunes might be? The Ministry (OK, me) would pay cash money ... 

Shakira's boyfriend thinks his 'She Wolf' is too sexy -- and we respectfully disagree

Couldn't she at least have worn a scarf?

That's what Shakira says her boyfriend -- who's not a performer -- asked when he saw her nude-leotard costume in the music video for "She Wolf."

Apparently boyfriend Antonio de la Rua, the son of former Argentine President Fernando de la Rua, wishes his girlfriend were just a little less sexy. 

The Ministry has seen the "She Wolf" video, and rather than finding Shakira to be "too sexy," as her man thinks, or "too sellout," as some others believe, we think she's much too much "Jane Fonda Workout" -- with a heaping helping of "I taught myself to do the Robot and this is how it came out" for good measure.

But judging by reports of Shakira's efforts to help the poorest children in her native Colombia, nobody has to worry that she's all shake and bake with no smarts or heart.

This is a woman who in recent years has, for example, gotten five schools built back home.

And the nuns just love her.

She clearly won over at least one reporter for the UK Observer:

Adam Lambert promises a 'sexy' performance at tonight's American Music Awards

Five boy dancers. Five girl dancers. And, Adam Lambert says, "the wardrobe is amazing."

Lambert will be right in the middle of it all tonight on the American Music Awards, he tells MTV News, accompanied by the band from his "For Your Entertainment" music video, which shot last week at the Alexandria Hotel in Los Angeles.

If you miss Adam tonight on the AMAs -- or maybe you happen to be in New York for Thanksgiving? -- catch him at his free live concert for "Good Morning America" on Nov. 25.

Click to the jump for a list of who else is performing, a link to the album review, and to hear Adam's "For Your Entertainment."

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Europe's version of the MTV VMAs doesn't know from Taylor Swift

If at first you don't succeed -- well, you just might have another shot at winning in Berlin.

Such was the case for Beyonce, who took home MTV Europe Music Awards on Thursday for best female and best video, for "Single Ladies," and best song, for "Halo."

The winners list is packed with names familiar to Americans who don't get out much, but we're most intrigued by the "best push artist," Pixie Lott, and that's why we're linking to her "Boys and Girls" video. The tune's catchy, and we give her bonus points for being able to wear a surprising array of sequined hot pants.

In related news, Shakira performed. We like to watch Shakira perform.

We've also heard that she sings.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Beyonce performs at the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards in Berlin. Credit: Dave M. Benett / Getty Images.