Reuters People News Summary

Following is a summary of current people news briefs. Justice Thomas assails landmark U.S. libel ruling that protects media

Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas on Tuesday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider its landmark 1964 ruling that made it harder for public figures to sue for defamation, a precedent that has served as powerful protection for the news media. Thomas took aim at the unanimous ruling in the libel case known as New York Times Co. v. Sullivan in an opinion he wrote concurring with the court's decision to end a defamation suit against Bill Cosby filed by a woman who said the comedian raped her in 1974. Gwyneth Paltrow counter-sues Utah man over ski collision, seeks $1

Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow on Wednesday counter-sued a retired optometrist who has taken her to court over a 2016 ski slope collision in Utah, saying he caused the crash and was seeking to exploit her fame and fortune three years later. Paltrow, 46, seeks a symbolic $1 in damages from Terry Sanderson, 72, who sued her last month for $3.1 million in Summit County District Court in Utah over the Feb. 26, 2016, incident at Deer Valley Resort in Park City. Actor Jussie Smollett arrested in Chicago: police spokesman

Actor Jussie Smollett has been arrested after he was charged with lying to police when he claimed he was attacked and beaten by two masked men shouting racist and homophobic slurs, Chicago police said on Thursday on Twitter. Smollett, a 36-year-old black, openly gay actor on the hip-hop TV drama "Empire," ignited a firestorm on social media by telling police on Jan. 29 that two apparent supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump had struck him, put a noose around his neck and poured bleach over him. Lady Gaga splits with fiance Christian Carino

Pop superstar and Oscar nominee Lady Gaga has split with her fiance, her second broken relationship in three years. A representative for the 32-year-old Gaga on Tuesday confirmed celebrity media reports that the "Shallow" singer and Christian Carino, who is also her talent agent, had ended their engagement, but gave no details. Fashion's 'creative genius' Karl Lagerfeld dies at 85

Haute-couture designer Karl Lagerfeld, artistic director at Chanel and an icon of the fashion industry with his extravagant outfits and striking catwalks, has died aged 85. Instantly recognizable in his dark suits, pony-tailed white hair and sunglasses, Lagerfeld was best known for his association with Chanel but delivered collections for LVMH's Fendi and his own eponymous label. 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett charged with faking racist attack

Actor Jussie Smollett was charged on Wednesday with lying to police when he claimed he was attacked and beaten on the streets of Chicago by two masked men shouting racist and homophobic slurs, police said on Wednesday as they sought his arrest. Smollett, a 36-year-old black, openly gay actor on the hip-hop TV drama "Empire," ignited a firestorm on social media by telling police on Jan. 29 that two apparent supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump struck him, put a noose around his neck and poured bleach over him. Meghan Markle in New York for baby shower: report

Meghan Markle, who is expecting her first child with Britain's Prince Harry in the spring, was in New York City for a baby shower on Tuesday, according to Harper's Bazaar magazine, which cited unnamed sources. It was the first trip back to the United States by the American former actress since her marriage to Harry at a celebrity-filled ceremony at Windsor Castle last May. Karl Lagerfeld: fashion's prolific commander-in-chief

Karl Lagerfeld enjoyed the stature of a god among mortals in the world of fashion, where he stayed on top for well over half of a century and up to his death, at an age almost nobody apart from himself knew with to-the-day precision. The German designer was best known for his association with France's Chanel, dating back to 1983. The brand, the legend now goes, risked becoming the preserve of monied grannies before he arrived, slashing hemlines and adding glitz to the prim tweed suits of what is now one of the world's most valuable couture houses.