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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

People: Don’t like him? K-Fed feeds on it


Kevin Federline
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
From Wire Reports The Spokesman-Review

What doesn’t kill Keven Federline, it seems, only makes him stronger.

“If you want to hate me, cool, hate me,” Mr. Britney Spears says in an interview posted Thursday on People magazine’s Web site.

“You know why? Because all it’s going to do is help me.”

The aspiring rapper has been aggressively promoting his debut album, “Playing With Fire,” set for release Tuesday.

“I know who I am,” says Federline, 28, promising the album will show his “edgy side.”

Last month, he played an arrogant teen on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”

“I shocked myself,” he says. “There were parts that I wish I would have done different, but there are parts that really took me, like, ‘Wow, did I do that?’ “

Federline has two young sons with Spears and two children from a previous relationship.

“It’s just time to get my stuff down while they’re young,” he says, “so I can sit back and watch them grow up.”

Defending their airspace

Lance Bass’ partner, Reichen Lehmkuhl, says he and the former `N Sync star have been dealing with threats resulting from his new memoir about the trials of being gay while serving in the military.

Lehmkuhl says he forwards the threats to private security personnel, who send the more serious ones to the FBI.

“Everything is being covered so we feel safe,” he says.

Lehmkuhl’s book, “Here’s What We’ll Say: Growing Up, Coming Out, and the U.S. Air Force Academy,” recounts what he calls a homophobic atmosphere in the Air Force.

Pete’s endless mire

Pete Townshend walked out before a scheduled interview on Howard Stern‘s satellite radio show Wednesday after Stern suggested he might ask about The Who guitarist’s 2003 arrest in London on suspicion of possessing child pornography.

Bandmate Roger Daltrey stayed on to defend Townshend, who was cleared of the charges, accusing Stern of “sniffing dirty underpants.”

“The wounds are so deep on the man, and it’s just tragic because he’s got so much to offer,” Daltrey said.

The first Who album in 24 years, “Endless Wire,” is set for release Tuesday.

For him, ‘nice’ is a big step

Now that he’s not “Dancing with the Stars,” what’s next for Jerry Springer?

The controversial talk-show host says his seven-week stint on TV’s top reality show, which ended Wednesday, has resulted in inquiries about “everything from hosting opportunities all the way to sitcoms.”

But for now, he’s simply relishing the experience.

“It was the first time I’d been on television when I didn’t have to play a role,” says Springer, 62. “People were so incredibly nice to me. That was overwhelming.”

The birthday bunch

Actress Nanette Fabray is 86. Actress Ruby Dee is 82. Actor-comedian John Cleese is 67. Country singer Lee Greenwood is 64. Author Fran Lebowitz is 56. Actor-director Roberto Benigni (“Life Is Beautiful”) is 54. Singer Simon LeBon (Duran Duran) is 48. Singer Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver) is 39. Singer Kelly Osbourne is 22.