MTV News Round-Up 08/09/2004

*** Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel have had their MOBO nominations withdrawn. Both reggae stars were nominated for Best Reggae Act, but gay rights group Outrage! blamed them for having written homophobic lyrics. "The last thing MOBO wants to do is encourage prejudice," said a spokesman for the organization. The show will take place on September 30 and will be hosted by Pharrell Williams.

*** Twista has survived a fatal car crash. The Chicago hip-hop star and his entourage were thrown out of their van near Erie, Pennsylvania, after hitting the central reservation barrier and turning over several times. Twista's friend and bodyguard, Arthur Dixon, was killed in the accident. The other passengers were treated for minor injuries.

*** Franz Ferdinand have not only won the Mercury Music Prize, they also have big plans for the future. The band are already working on tracks for their second album, some of which would be produced by Dan The Automator. "We were interested in seeing what his take would be," said singer Alex Kapranos. "He's been a big influence on us".

*** Geri Halliwell has revealed that she's getting lots more action now she's got her curves back. "When I was skinny, it was like a desert," she said, "and the minute I got a few pounds on me, it changed. I'm quite shocked actually with the kind of attention I receive." After leaving the Spice Girls, Geri slimmed down to a tiny size six and seven stone.

*** Ian Smith, who plays Harold Bishop in Neighbours, already knows what he wants for Christmas: the number one single in the UK chart. Ian is reportedly working on a hip-hop record named 'I Am Not A Pop Star', of which he's told the tabloids: "I think it's a lot of fun and my mates are already calling me Puff Grandaddy."

HK