Scoop: Brown's Not Guilty Plea Surprises Some

Some were surprised Monday when Chris Brown pled not guilty to the two felony counts he faced for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, Rihanna.

“We really thought that a deal was on the horizon,” a source close to Rihanna said. “It would have made all of this end more quickly, and allowed everyone to get on with their lives.”

Yet others say that if there is any chance Brown can walk away without a guilty verdict, he should take it.

“It’s not a cut-and-dried case,” said one person with professional ties to Brown. “He has to look out for himself, too. He’ll be much better off long-term if he can be found not guilty when this is all over. It’s a risk that’s worth taking right now.”

Scientists scorn Gwyneth’s shampoo fear
Gwyneth Paltrow might be good at dishing out advice on exercise and good foods on her Web site Goop, but experts wish she would quit with the medical advice.

Paltrow reportedly posted a missive on the dangers of shampoo, saying, “Fetuses, infants and toddlers are basically unable to metabolize toxins the way adults are, and we are constantly filling our environment with chemicals that may or may not be safe.”

Bacteriologist professor Hugh Pennington told the British press that unless you drink shampoo in large quantities, it is safe, and by and large, Paltrow’s claims were loopy.

“It does annoy me when celebrities use their position to spout nonsense,” Pennington said. “They have a perfect right to their views, even if they are loopy, but they do hold a position of influence.”

Star and Al’s near miss in Miami
Star Jones and her ex-husband, Al Reynolds, had their first near encounter at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami last week, but reports that the two were practically sitting side by side were greatly exaggerated.

“They weren’t anywhere near each other,” said a source from the tournament. “The awkward part came when Al had to move. Apparently the seats he was sitting in when he was spotted weren’t his own.”

Filming for Reynolds’ reality show, “Life After,” is what brought him to the tennis tourney in the first place. “That’s why he had press passes, and not real tickets,” explained the source.

Jones’ rep had no comment.

Celebrity sightings
In New York City
: On March 27, Jimmy Fallon kicked off his national promotional tour, “A Round on Jimmy,” at Whiskey River bar. On March 31 Taylor Momsen, Zach Braff and band The White Tie Affair celebrated Nylon mag’s 10th anniversary at the Thompson LES hotel. ... Carmen Electra was spotted with a Sugar Factory lollipop alongside Rob Patterson after a day of shopping April 3.

In Houston: Mickey Rourke sported a sweatshirt monogrammed with the name of his beloved deceased dog, Loki, at Wrestlemania 25 at Reliant Stadium April 5.

In Washington, D.C.: First lady Michelle Obama was spotted lunching with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton at B. Smith’s restaurant in Union Station on St. Patrick’s Day.

More on Chris Brown

Courtney Hazlett delivers the Scoop Monday through Friday on msnbc.com. Follow Scoop on Twitter: @ courtneyatmsnbc.

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