Quotes of the Year, From Kanye to Jessica

By The Associated Press Wed Dec 14, 3:12 PM ET

Quotes from the past year's major entertainment events:

___

"I will be acquitted and vindicated when the truth is told." — Michael Jackson.

"For those who follow these sorts of things, we would like to explain that our separation is not the result of any speculation reported by the tabloid media." — Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston.

"Brad Pitt is in the process of becoming the adoptive father of both (of Jolie's) children." — Pitt's publicist.

"George Bush doesn't care about black people." — Kanye West.

"The two of us were on fire every time we sat down" to write music. — Paul McCartney on John Lennon. The 25th anniversary of Lennon's death was Dec. 8.

"I think my work — the activism — will be forgotten. And I hope it will. Because I hope those problems will have gone away." — Bono.

"Is `I don't know' an acceptable answer?" — Dave Chappelle on his plans after walking away from his hit TV series.

"All my friends and those agents that stuck around when I couldn't get an audition, I would be absolutely nowhere without all of you and you know who you are." — Teri Hatcher after winning a Golden Globe for "Desperate Housewives."

"Matt, Matt, you don't even — you're glib. You don't even know what Ritalin is." — Tom Cruise, arguing with "Today" show host Matt Lauer.

"It is very much a familial relationship when you know you can depend on them being there, especially in a society where you can't always depend on people being there." — University of Alabama professor Jennings Bryant on the exits of TV anchors Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather and the late Peter Jennings.

"The last marriage that was televised was Prince Charles and Lady Di, and that didn't work out too well." — Donald Trump, saying his wedding with Melania Knauss would be private.

"Her combination of brains, humor, frankness and sense were unlike any other artist." — Mike Nichols on Anne Bancroft, whom he directed in "The Graduate." She died June 6.

"We have four black nominees tonight. It's kinda like Def Oscar Jam tonight." — Oscar host Chris Rock.

"The time has finally come to share our wonderful news that we are expecting our first child together." — Britney Spears.

"He was the kind of guy who was born to do what he did musically and let the world know about it." Roberta Flack on Luther Vandross, who died July 1.

"What's that?" — Paris Hilton, when asked if she reads blogs.

"This is possibly the most shameful situation I've ever gotten myself in in my life, and I've done some pretty dumb things in my life. So to actually make a new No. 1 is spectacularly stupid." — Russell Crowe, apologizing for throwing a phone at a hotel concierge.

"I just want to say I'm deeply ashamed and upset that I've hurt Sienna and the people most close to us." — Jude Law, apologizing to his fiancee, Sienna Miller, after an affair with his children's nanny.

"I have never for a moment had a feud with you." — Oprah Winfrey, to David Letterman on his "Late Show."

"He was the Charlie Parker of comedy, a master of telling the truth that influenced every comedian that came after him." — Quincy Jones on Richard Pryor, who died Dec. 10.

"I would say I'm 97 percent back now. It is very hard. ... Chemotherapy is so hard on a person. And I would say I'm fully recovered, yeah." — Melissa Etheridge.

"It just feels like the right thing to do — to come full circle." — August Wilson on "Radio Golf, the final chapter in his 10-play cycle. Wilson died Oct. 2.

"He said that my plays were necessary. I will go one step further and say that Arthur's plays are essential." — Edward Albee, on the death of Arthur Miller on Feb. 10.

"To play Daisy Duke, I mean, that's like an iconish ... is that a word? ... iconic figure." — Jessica Simpson.

"Hopefully mine and Nick's story will continue for the rest of our lives, like what we vowed, through sickness and in health." — Simpson, denying rumors of divorce from Nick Lachey.

"After three years of marriage, and careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways." — Simpson and Lachey.

"As silly as it seems to all of us, it has made a difference in a lot of children's lives." — Dawn "Mary Ann" Wells, on Bob Denver's TV character Gilligan. Denver died Sept. 2.

"This frozen embryo that is in New York is my child waiting to be brought to life." — Celine Dion.

"I do not have a child and all allegations saying so are false." — Janet Jackson.

"I'm a guy who's leaving! A guy who's not drunk. For once." — Gerard Depardieu, ending his film career.

"He's my hero." — Alan Alda on Ossie Davis, who died Feb. 4.

"He was one of the most honored performers of his generation." — "Law & Order" producer Dick Wolf on Jerry Orbach, who died Dec. 28. (this was in 2004)

"Katherine whipped Michael more than I did." — Joe Jackson, referring to his wife.