Singer/actor TYRESE GIBSON was pushed so hard to lose weight by WILL SMITH he passed out in his trailer.

The Sweet Lady hitmaker first rose to fame as a model known for his six-pack abs – but admits he let his healthy eating habits go in recent months.

And Gibson insists he was keen to keep packing on the pounds – until Smith reinspired him to get back into shape.

He says, “Life got a little comfortable for me for a quick minute. I got unprioritised and started eating a few things… probably a little over 40 pounds (18.14 kilograms).

“I was training with (Will Smith) on the set of his film Seven Pounds… that was the start of me turning it around. Plus some real powerful conversations. He’s intense. Will is intense.

“The times that I passed out in his trailer he was there to help me get on my feet… (I passed out) trying to keep up with him.”

BEN STILLER’s war comedy TROPIC THUNDER has retained its grip on the top of the U.S. box office, after earning an impressive $11.5 million (GBP6.2million) during its third week of release.

The comedy – which features Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise – beat out new futuristic thriller, Babylon A.D. starring Vin Diesel – which grossed $9.7 million (GBP5.2million) in its first week of release, coming in second place.

The Dark Knight moved up a spot from last weekend (beg22Aug08), to number three, taking in an additional $8.75 million (GBP4.73million).

The Batman film now boasts total takings of $502.4 million (GBP271.6million) in its four weeks – becoming the second movie in Hollywood history to top $500 million (GBP270.3million) at the domestic box office.

Rounding out the top five is Anna Faris-starring comedy The House Bunny, coming in at number four with taking of $8.3 million (GBP4.5million).

Don Cheadle-starring drama Traitor follows, taking in $7.9 million (GBP4.3million) in its first week.

RICKY GERVAIS stretched his acting skills to the limit as a man who can see spirits in new film GHOST TOWN – because he doesn’t believe in them.

The Office creator plays Bertram Pincus, who is revived by medics after dying for seven minutes, and discovers he can connect with supernatural beings.

But the part is an unlikely role for the funnyman – because he thinks ghost stories are just superstition.

And he has rubbished reports he fled the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood after finding out it was haunted.

A spokeswoman for the star says, “There is no truth in that – Ricky has never stayed there, and he doesn’t even believe in ghosts. He certainly wouldn’t leave a hotel for that reason.”

Ghost Town is due for released on 24 October (08).

Actor ADRIEN GRENIER has rushed to the defence of paparazzi darling PARIS HILTON – contratulating her on her “ballsy” relationship with the media.

The pair sent gossips into a spin last year (07) with rumours of an alleged romance.

And though Grenier insists their relationship is purely platonic – he admits he holds the heiress in high regard because of her artful way of dealing with reporters.

He says, “I have a lot of respect for Paris. She’s ballsy. She’s learned to play with the paparazzi attention and have fun with it, and she creates little mysteries in the tabloid arena.

“She’s an artist painting on a different canvas. I have fun with her, but it’s always been platonic. (Our relationship) wasn’t sexual – though I can understand that sex sells.”

The celebrity photographer who came under fire for MILEY CYRUS’ provocative U.S. magazine shoot in May (08) has denied claims she is over $715,000 (GBP386,486) in debt.

Annie Leibovitz’s impressive photographic portfolio – including iconic shots of Demi Moore, John Lennon and Brooke Shields for Rolling Stone magazine – has earned her a reported $2 million (GBP1.08million) annually.

However, according to court records, Leibovitz’ debt stemmed from failing on tax payments, equipment rental fees, renovations to her Manhattan apartment in addition to an aborted book project.

But the 58-year-old photographer denies her bills remain outstanding.

A spokesperson for Vanity Fair magazine tells the New York Post on behalf of the photographer: “To the best of my knowledge all of these (debts) have been resolved.”

LATEST: Filming on DAVID DUCHOVNY’s hit U.S. TV show CALIFORNICATION will not be halted after the actor’s sudden admission to a rehabilitation facility for sex addiction.

The 48-year-old – who plays a sex-loving author in the raunchy cable show – checked himself into rehab last week (beg25Aug08) in a bid to control his own sexual urges.

According to the New York Post, bosses at the series’ TV network Showtime have confirmed all 12 episodes for the second season have been filmed and are scheduled to debut on schedule this September (08).

A spokesperson tells the newspaper plans for the third season “have yet to be decided”.

THE ZUTONS frontman DAVE McCABE is convinced MARK RONSON is prone to exaggerating – insisting the superproducer tells a different story about the first time the pair met.

The British band’s 2006 song Valerie became a massive international hit a year later (07) when Ronson, 32, made a jazz version with singer Amy Winehouse.

The 28-year-old claims the first time he met Ronson properly was when he joined the band on stage at Glastonbury in June (08) but Ronson, insists he had previously been snubbed the singer.

McCabe says, “Apparently, I’d come across him once before, but I was a bit drunk so I don’t really remember it. The thing is, I think Ronson sometimes says things to make them sound more exciting. He told someone that the first time he tried to speak to me I walked away. That’s not true.”

British rockers DURAN DURAN found themselves banned from every Los Angeles hotel when they were caught putting shampoo in a fountain.

Former guitarist Andy Taylor admits the band were so disruptive during their stay at the Hyatt House hotel, they found themselves in trouble with local police.

He recalls, “We were being incredibly childish and it can’t have been fun for anyone else. There were lots of complaints, but we didn’t really take any notice until a bunch of stormtroopers from the Los Angeles Police Department showed up.

“News travelled fast and we soon discovered that no other decent hotel in town would take us, so we had to stay in a grotty doss-house for the rest of our time in LA.”

MOTLEY CRUE star NIKKI SIXX is considering burning his diaries – because he can’t control what becomes of his musings after he’s dead.

The bass player made headlines with his Heroin Diaries book – based on items written in his past journals – but he has no plans to be that honest again.

And he doesn’t want to upset his loved ones after he’s gone.

Sixx says, “It’s (Heroin Diaries success) really brought to my attention, glaringly, that I wouldn’t want any of my other diaries to ever be read.

“When the day comes that I pass, I won’t be able to control that. So I’ve been considering burning them so that I can leave those tales untold.”

British pop star LEONA LEWIS is fuming after an album of songs she recorded before she won the X-FACTOR is set to be released, according to reports.

The Bleeding Love singer laid down the vocals on ten tracks before she won the U.K. talent show – but left her label UEG when she was signed to Simon Cowell’s company Syco.

And now the label are set to release the untitled album in October (08) – and will be in direct competition with a re-release of the star’s official debut album, Spirit.

A source tells British newspaper The People, “Leona made it (the album) before she was famous and didn’t expect it to come back to haunt her like this.

“The album was finished in 2006 and due for release that year. Then Leona won X Factor and all communications between her and UEG stopped.

“There were attempts to release the album throughout 2007. But they were blocked immediately after signing the record contract with her current label. But now they have won the right to release it.”