Larry Birkhead and Howard K. Stern are gay lovers, an explosive new book has claimed.
Birkhead, the father of the late Anna Nicole Smith's daughter Dannielynn, and her former lawyer Stern - who battled for custody of her baby and control of her fortune - are said to have been lovers who conspired to secure the former Playboy model's millions.
The sensational claims have been made by former MSNBC journalist Rita Cosby in her upcoming book 'Blonde Ambition: The Untold Story Behind Anna Nicole Smith's Death'. Cosby accuses Birkhead and Stern of cutting a secret deal after Anna Nicole's funeral in March, with Birkhead getting custody of Dannielynn in return for Stern being named executor of the star's estate.
Dannielynn - who turns one on Friday (07.09.07) - stands to inherit billions of dollars pending a court case regarding the estate of Anna Nicole's late husband, oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall. The book also includes allegations from Jackie Hatten - described as a close friend of Anna Nicole's - that she once caught Birkhead and Stern engaged in an oral sex act. Hatten is quoted in the book as saying: "Their bodies were intermingled. It was obvious what was happening."
The book claims Anna Nicole knew Birkhead and Stern were gay but her obsession with late Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe made her choose Birkhead as her lover because she wanted a blonde, Blue-eyed baby. Cosby also accuses both men of supplying the former stripper with a cocktail of prescription drugs.
Anne Nicole died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs in February. Both men vehemently deny the allegations.
Birkhead fumed: "None of it is true. I'M gonna sue Rita Cosby for it. If she printed that then she is really getting sued. My attorneys are going after her and that is absolutely false. And I am sure Howard and the estate and everyone else involved is going to sue her too. This is just nonsense."
Stern's lawyer, Lin Wood, branded the book "false and defamatory." Wood said: "Cosby has taken the coverage to a disgusting new low for which she will be held legally accountable." | 
