CELEBRITIES
Dancer resigns:
Marcelo Gomes, above, a highprofile principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, has resigned amid an investigation into an allegation of sexual misconduct eight years ago. American Ballet Theatre said Thursday it initiated an independent investigation after learning of a “highly concerning” allegation about Gomes last week. “ABT does not tolerate the alleged behavior,” the company said. It said the alleged misconduct did not involve members of the company and did not occur while he was an employee. Gomes, a Brazil native, was invited to join ABT in 1997 at age 18 and was promoted to principal dancer in 2002.
Bio questions:
The publisher of a new Richard Avedon biography says it will look into alleged inaccuracies raised by the late photographer’s foundation, but rejected calls to withdraw the book. Earlier this week, the Richard Avedon Foundation issued a long list of “exaggerations and inaccuracies” in “Avedon: Something Personal,” co-written by Steven M.L. Aronson and former foundation head and longtime Avedon colleague Norma Stevens. The foundation asks Penguin Random House imprint Spiegel & Grau to cease publication of the book, which came out last month and draws on interviews with many Avedon friends and associates. The alleged errors include Stevens’ claim that she was “at his side” when Avedon died in 2004.
Dec. 23 birthdays:
Actress Susan Lucci is 71. Musician Eddie Vedder is 53. Singer and model Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is 50.