Aiken’s charity isn’t that charitable

Looks like Clay Aiken’s charity isn’t terribly charitable.

Aiken co-founded the Bubel/Aiken foundation to benefit children with disabilities, but a document filed with the Internal Revenue Service revealed that of the more than $1 million the group raised last year, less than a third was handed out in grants.

More than $150,000 went for travel expenses, $173,000 for “professional services,” and nearly $150,000 for salaries. One of the reasons for the high expenses was high-profile galas held in places like Los Angeles and Hawaii.

Aiken’s rep didn’t return The Scoop’s call for comment, but his partner, co-founder Diane Bubel, told WRAL-TV in Raleigh that critics are misrepresenting the situation. “We’re volunteering and doing something good, and all we hear is complaining,” Bubel said.

Brazil rates American celebs

Peter Iovino / AP

Some stars aren’t on their best behavior when they’re below the border. Brazilian mag Contigo grilled a bunch of celeb journalists and junketeers, and here are their musings on a few, according to our translator.

Andy Garcia (shown at left): “A great disappointment,” said the unnamed journalist. “I thought he was charming and interesting and at the ‘Ocean’s 11’ junket I met a plain man, fat, thrown in a chair with an ugly jacket.”

Angelina Jolie: “One of the most fun celebrities to interview. Always in jeans and without make-up.”

Harrison Ford: “In person, Harrison Ford always proves why his bad temper is so well known. When I mentioned the word charisma and asked him why he’s so in demand to play heroes on screen, he cut me saying: ‘If you want to talk about charisma, go look for Ricky Martin.’ I was absolutely speechless after that.”

Catherine Zeta-Jones: “She’s astonishingly beautiful, no arguing that, but intellectually weak. When she doesn’t understand a question, which is not rare, she tries to make up anything in the answer. The worst part is when she makes jokes that she’s the only one who laughs about. A total embarrassment.”

Notes from all over

Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Let’s hope those red-string Kabbalah bracelets come in infant sizes. Britney Spears is planning a special blessing at LA’s Kabbalah Centre, to be held seven days after the birth of her baby, a source tells Life and Style Weekly.  . . . The celeb debate over psychiatric drugs continues. Scientologist Kelly Preston has said that her Scientologist friend Lisa Marie Presley coped with postpartum depression without the help of drugs. “It was interesting because her doctor said her hormones were elevated. Lisa, I think, just handled it naturally,” Preston said, reports World Entertainment News Network. “If your hormones are out of whack... there’s different homeopathics and different vitamins.” . . .Meanwhile, Tom Arnold, out promoting “Happy Endings” was asked what he thought of Tom Cruise’s comments slamming the drugs and Brooke Shields’ use of them. “I think he’s just ignorant,” Arnold said. “I think Brooke was very brave.”

Jeannette Walls Delivers the Scoop Mondays through Thursdays on MSNBC.com

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