British top model Naomi Campbell smiles as she poses during an event to publicise "Thisday's Music and Fashion Festival" at the Royal Albert Hall in London June 25, 2008. This year's festival themed "Africa Rising" has events scheduled throughout the summer in Abuja, Lagos, Washington DC and London. [Agencies]
Nelson Mandela has banned Naomi Campbell from appearing on stage at his 90th birthday concert.
The former South African leader is reportedly so upset by Naomi's behaviour over the past few months - which includes assaulting two police officers on a British Airways flight in April and being sentenced to 200 hours community service for the offence - he has personally requested she be taken off the programme from the star-studded event in London on Friday .
A source told Britain's Daily Mail online: "Nelson himself intervened and she was pulled off the list. He was disappointed with her recent arrest - particularly as she was wearing a baseball cap bearing the name of his AIDS-awareness charity, 46664, at the time. "Naomi was slated to introduce some of the acts on stage as she has done with 46664 concerts in the past, but she has been informed that this time she can only sit in the grandstand."
Naomi has always been close to Mandela, and even calls him her 'honorary grandfather'. She is said to have visited him for advice on handling her anger after she was arrested for throwing a mobile phone at her housekeeper in 2006.
(China Daily/Agencies June 26, 2008)
