People: Jason Mesnick's Change of Heart Staged?

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DEFENSE
'IT'S REALITY'
Mike Fleiss, the executive producer of "The Bachelor," says that Jason Mesnick's change of heart that prompted viewer outrage was not staged. Mesnick, a 32-year-old single dad from Seattle, proposed to Melissa Rycroft in New Zealand. But in the "After the Final Rose" special, taped six weeks later, he dumped Rycroft for runner-up Molly Malaney. He and Malaney are now dating.

OMG
BREAKING NEWS: CELEBRITY EXPERIENCES NORMAL FEELING
In the April edition of Elle magazine, Reese Witherspoon opens up about her divorce from fellow actor Ryan Phillipe in 2007. Witherspoon says the split was"very humiliating and very isolating." The actress is now dating actor Jake Gyllenhaal.

ILLNESS
ROBIN WILLIAMS CANCELS SHOW DUE TO SICKNESS
Robin Williams is canceling several performances in Florida of his show"Weapons of Self-Destruction" after recently experiencing shortness of breath. The comedian says doctors are evaluating him.

PRESSURE
'I MAY BE SMALLER THAN YOU, BUT I'M SCAPPY!'
Sean Penn, who won an Oscar for playing gay rights hero Harvey Milk, says he is confident California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will sign a bill recognizing Milk's birthday. On Tuesday, Penn said he didn't want to insult the intelligence of his fellow actor by assuming Schwarzenegger would again oppose designating a Harvey Milk Day on May 22. The"day of significance" wouldn't give state workers the day off, but schools would be encouraged to conduct lessons on the city supervisor's life.

ILLNESS
ACTRESS MARISKA HARGITAY HOSPITALIZED A THIRD TIME
According to Usmagazine.com, Mariska Hargitay is back in the hospital."Mariska Hargitay went to the hospital this morning after experiencing some discomfort relating to her earlier lung condition," her rep said Wednesday."She is undergoing tests and expects to be feeling better soon." This is the third time Hargitay has been hospitalized since December.

DONATIONS
MANY ORGANIZATIONS TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF CHANGE
Elizabeth Taylor has expanded her philanthropy with a $100,000 donation to the Alliance for Christian Education. The 77-year-old Oscar-winning actress says she was inspired by President Barack Obama's call to"reach across the aisle" of ideological divide.
» Pictured at left: Her makeup is also being spent liberally.

With contributions from The Associated Press
Photos by Matt Klischer/ABC; Matt Sayles/AP