Sources report that the trouble-plagued diva has been wearing the red yarn bracelet that is a symbol of Kabbalah. The mystical branch of Judaism has become the rage among certain celebs lately, and has been embraced by Madonna and Britney Spears.

“It definitely looked like one of those Kabbalah bracelets,” says a source. “They’re supposed to absorb negative energy, and Mariah’s been surrounded by plenty of that over the last couple of years.”

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Another source says that the Kabbalah bracelet isn’t all that Carey has picked up lately; apparently, she has a new man in her life. “She brought him along on tour,” says the source.

Carey’s spokeswoman denies that the singer has found a new religion, saying “it’s not a Kabbalah bracelet” — but she declined to comment on whether Carey has a new sweetie.

Lost in Bigotry?
“Lost in Translation” translates into bigotry, some are charging.

The Oscar-nominated film has won critical acclaim for director and screenwriter Sofia Coppola, but critics are saying that the film mocks and stereotypes Japanese people.

“ ‘Lost In Translation’ provides a biased and offensive portrayal of the Japanese people and perpetuates negative stereotypes that are harmful to the Asian American community,” notes LostInRacism.org, which is appealing to members of the Academy of Motion pictures not to vote for the flick. “Had this film been set in Africa or Mexico, for example, we do not think Ms. Coppola would have given such an insensitive and racist portrayal of a people.”

“The Japanese are ‘funny,’ two-dimensional, cartoon-like characters who can’t pronounce English words correctly and often mix ‘L’ and ‘R’ sounds,” laments Yoko Akashi in an article in Japan Today. “The U.S. media traditionally dehumanizes Asians as a whole, making them an easy target for jokes or as a scapegoat. And that view is the norm for many Americans. But seeing it in this supposedly ‘intellectual’ and ‘artsy’ film was an unpleasant surprise.”

“I can see why people might think that but I know I’m not racist,” Coppola told the London Independent. “I think if everything’s based on truth you can make fun, have a little laugh, but also be respectful of a culture. I just love Tokyo and I’m not mean spirited. Even on our daily call sheets they would mix up the rs and the ls — all that was from experience, it’s not made up.”

Notes from all over
Ho / Reuters
“The Passion of the Christ” has received 38 percent negative reviews and 62 percent positive, according to RottenTomatoes.com. . . . Charlotte Church calls J. Lo’s life “boring.” “J.Lo, although she’s gorgeous, she works out three hours a day, doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink and doesn’t eat certain foods,” Church said, according to Handbag.com. “That sounds really boring to me.” . . . J. C. Chasez isn’t a Clay Aiken fan. When Rolling Stone asked about the “American Idol” runner up, the ‘NSyncer responded: “I don’t want to hurt the kid’s feeling, but. Dude, I can’t take another Clay Aiken record.”