Quantcast
Channel: Celebrity - The Huffington Post
Viewing all 15269 articles
Browse latest View live

Christian Singers Sue Katy Perry Over 'Dark Horse'

0
0
Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" is apparently a point of contention for Christian singers from Missouri who sued the pop star this week, claiming she not only ripped off their song, but also tarnished it because of the single's association with "black magic."

The hip-hop musicians behind the 2008 song "Joyful Noise" -- including Christian rapper Flame (born Marcus Gray), Chike Ojukwu, Lecrae Moore and Emanuel Lambert -- sued Perry, Capitol Records and others in St. Louis federal court on July 1 for copyright infringement, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch first reported. The lawsuit claims the 29-year-old singer ripped off their song, then exploited and profited from it.

The suit also claims "Dark Horse" gave them a bum rap.

"And by any measure, the devoutly religious message of 'Joyful Noise' has been irreparably tarnished by its association with the witchcraft, paganism, black magic, and Illuminati imagery evoked by the same music in 'Dark Horse,'" the suit reads, per Courthouse News. "Indeed, the music video of 'Dark Horse' generated widespread accusations of blasphemy and an online petition signed by more than 60,000 demanding removal of an offensive religious image from the video."

(An "Allah" pendant was removed from the "Dark Horse" music video in February after petitioners protested it as a "portrayal of blasphemy.")

The Christian musicians are suing for damages and want Perry to stop using any form of their music, according to TMZ.

"Joyful Noise" was released in 2008 on the album "Our World: Redeemed," which received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album. Perry's "Dark Horse" featuring rapper Juicy J was released as a single last year and appears on Perry's fourth studio album, "Prism."

A representative for Perry could not be immediately reached for comment.

WATCH: Robin Thicke Details Aftermath Of Breakup With Paula Patton

0
0


This Tuesday, pop singer Robin Thicke released his latest album, simply titled "Paula." The album is being marketed as a full-length plea for reconciliation directed at Thicke's estranged wife, the actress Paula Patton. The couple separated in February, shortly after a series of public sightings of Thicke intimately touching and dancing with other women.

Unlike last year's up-tempo (and controversial) single "Blurred Lines," the new album finds Thicke striking a remorseful tone -- or at least attempting to -- as he reflects on his marital woes. Many have criticized Thicke for trying to win Patton back in such a public manner, saying the approach forces Patton into the spotlight whether she wants to be there or not. (Writing at The Atlantic this week, Sophie Gilbert said "Paula" is "one of the grossest, most manipulative records ever made.") Others have questioned whether the couple's split is just a publicity stunt.

For his part, in an interview with Hot 97 Tuesday morning, Thicke said that he hasn't actually seen Patton since March or so.

"I haven't seen her in four months," Thicke told hosts Ebro Darden and Peter Rosenberg. "And you know what, we're cool. She's the best girl in the world, a great mother and still a good friend ... But because we weren't ever together anymore and I still had so much I wanted to apologize for and things I wanted to take responsibility for. So that's pretty much what the album is about."

"I'm a man. I messed up," Thicke went on. "And I had to lie for a while, and then I stopped lying. That was actually good for me, because I was tired of lying. So this whole album is me revealing everything."

Thicke also maintained that cheating wasn't the reason he and Patton split, saying, "We're apart because we just couldn't be together anymore for a while. There's a hundred different reasons, there isn't just one."

Later that day, Thicke faced a much more critical audience during a Twitter question-and-answer session tagged with #AskThicke, in which users pointedly accused him of disrespecting and manipulating the woman he's supposedly trying to win back.

Check out more of Thicke's Hot 97 interview in the clip above.


Cameron Diaz Says She's Completely Happy With Her Choice To Be Childfree

0
0
You won't find Cameron Diaz pining over baby photos any time soon.

In an interview for the August issue of Esquire, Cameron Diaz casually and confidently revealed why she chose not to have children.

While there's (sadly) still confusion surrounding many women who choose to be childfree, Diaz explained to Esquire's David Curcurito that her reasons were fairly simple:
It's so much more work to have children. To have lives besides your own that you are responsible for -- I didn't take that on. That did make things easier for me. A baby -- that's all day, every day for eighteen years. Not having a baby might really make things easier, but that doesn't make it an easy decision. I like protecting people, but I was never drawn to being a mother. I have it much easier than any of them. That's just what it is. Doesn't mean life isn't sometimes hard. I'm just what I am. I work on what I am. Right now, I think, things are good for me. I've done a lot. And I don't care anymore.


Despite being in the A-list limelight, Diaz has managed to consistently keep it real in interviews. And with her recent book preaching body love it's no surprise that the 41 year-old actress is pretty content with growing older. She explained to Esquire how everything's become a bit easier now that she's reached her forties:
I like being forty-one. I love it. So much sh*t just falls away. Fear, mostly. It's the best age. That's when a woman knows how to work things, or she doesn't care about that anymore. You just stop being afraid. You don't worry about what men think. You just don't worry that time registers anything awful.


Preach, Cameron. Drinks soon, please?

[h/t PopSugar]

Lucy Hale Talks 'PLL' Audition, Music And Getting Through Dark Times (EXCLUSIVE)

0
0
Fans know Lucy Hale best as the star of the wildly addicting drama "Pretty Little Liars" with its almost cult-like following ("PLL" broke records as the most-tweeted TV series of 2013), but before she was the edgy Aria, the actress was an "American Juniors" finalist who's now returning to her musical roots.

In a refreshingly honest interview, the double-threat, who is the newest spokesperson for the "Let's Get Her to Camp" campaign,* talked to HuffPost Teen about her new country album, "Road Between," what's on her bucket list and how music helped pull her through some of her darkest times.

We've watched Aria really develop and mature throughout the years. As someone who was a teen herself not so long ago, how have you used your personal experiences to shape your character?

It’s pretty interesting because I’m a 25-year-old and we're still playing teenagers. We’re seniors in high school this year. So I constantly have to remind myself that I’m a lot younger than I am in real life. It was a little tricky for me going into the show because I was homeschooled for high school and I’m not experiencing the same things that these girls in the show are experiencing. I haven’t dealt with the death of a friend, or obviously being stalked by someone, but there are some things that I can relate to such as being loyal to a group of friends, having a great group of girlfriends and love and heartbreak. You sort of just draw from those experiences and then everything else you have to kind of make up.

Were you surprised when you figured out who "A" was?

Well, a little bit. But with the nature of our show, is "A" ever really "A"? I feel like we’ve found out a few times and then its changed, so I don’t think we’ll ever really know who the big "A" is until the very end of the show -- and we’ve still got a while to go. But to answer your question, I’m constantly shocked at what’s being played out. We’re always taking left turns and once I think I’ve figured something out they completely change it. Our writers are really smart and they always try to keep it really interesting.

It seems like the show is on all the time, all year round. You guys are always filming. What do you like to do when you have free time? How do you relax?

Usually my free time is really dedicated to the music, and traveling with that and promoting albums. At the end of the day, music is my hobby, so even if I’m not out promoting it I’m usually writing songs or practicing my guitar. A lot of my free time when I get it is spent hanging out with friends, going to dinner or going to the movies -- and sleeping! I’m not really getting a lot of that these days so I have to force myself to relax, which is a little hard but just sitting down and reading a book or taking a bath or going for a hike is kind of like getting a dose of normalcy, which is much needed. Without those little moments, it gets a little crazy.

Aria definitely has the most daring fashion sense of all the girls. Do you feel like you’ve been influenced by her style or have you brought any of your own personal style to the show?

No, I don’t think so. Although I definitely respect [Aria's] bold fashion choices, I’m always drawn to people that are really set apart from the group and are really eclectic and do their own thing. My style probably couldn’t be more different than hers. I will say that if anything, being that daring on the show has helped me to think outside the box in my own personal style, but we’re sort of on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Did you originally test for Aria during auditions or did you try out for a different character?

The whole auditioning process was new to me because I was actually given the script by the producers because I’d worked with them on a different show. So pretty much what they said is, "You can choose any character that you want. We just want you to be a part of the show." And that was new to me; that had never happened. I read the script and immediately was drawn to Aria. I saw a lot of myself in her, but was really intrigued and interested in Hanna. I really loved the different sides of Hanna. So I read for both of them, and obviously I’m more of an Aria than a Hanna so I went with that!

Congratulations on your new album, “Road Between." Did you always know that you wanted to make music?

In my mind I’ve always been a singer who acted, not an actor who sings. To the rest of the world, I’m the opposite. I’m an actor who’s doing music, but music has always been that thing for me. It’s been my biggest passion. I always knew I was gonna release an album. I just wanted to do it when the timing felt right and when I was in the right place and the right state of mind, when I really knew what I wanted to sing about.

When I got the opportunity to make an album, we recorded it. We’ve been working on it for a couple years and it just came out a couple weeks ago. It just feels really good because music fulfills something in me that nothing else in the world can. It’s really cool to finally get to share that with everyone.

Do you have a favorite track off the album?

They’re all very special to me, but I think a song called “Nervous Girls” has made the most impact on my life and I think that it just has such a beautiful message to send out to the people that I know are listening to my music. I think that it's something every female should hear. We all kind of struggle with different things, we all go through the same emotions and it’s kind of like my way of spreading girl empowerment. I think that the song is very uniting and it makes us feel like one in the same which is something that we always lose sight of.

As a successful actress who’s now incorporating music into her career, are there any role models in particular who you’ve looked up to for inspiration along the way?

I have different role models in each area -- and this might sound a little strange -- but if I were to model my career on how I would want it to be, it would be Tim McGraw. Obviously, he is a very well-established country singer and he does all this touring and has so many albums and has so much respect. Then he goes off and he does amazing movies and still has a wonderful family life. So I think that’s something that I want to try -- to balance the best of both worlds and still kind of have a normal life, too.

What was the experience like performing at the Grand Ole Opry? Where were you when you found out you were going to be singing?

I was on a plane when I found out. I actually saw that the Opry tweeted about it. I called up my team and was like, “Am I singing at the Opry?” They had literally just found out, too. So that was funny. But yeah, I just performed there a couple days ago and that was something that was on my bucket list so it still hasn’t really sunk in. It’s really surreal. I mean, it was just incredible -- all my family was there and everyone that had helped me get to that point was in the audience or backstage. I can honestly say that I really wouldn’t have changed anything. It was just a really, really special night. I’m really grateful for it.

What’s next on your bucket list?

I did a lot of things this year that I’d always wanted to do, so I want to tour and I think that’s really high up on my priority list. I want to do films,. I want to do a lot of characters that are different from my "PLL" character. And I really -- aside from career-related stuff -- I really want to travel and take time to go explore different cultures and different ways of life.

Earlier this year, you had tweeted your support for your co-star Troian, when she spoke up about past eating disorder and self-harm issues in Seventeen magazine. What is something that you might want to tell teen girls who are struggling with body image?

I think if it's to the point where it’s dangerous, the biggest and most important thing you can do is go ask for help. I think that we often forget that. It’s almost like we’re weak when we ask for help, but really, that's the strongest thing you can do. Because sometimes it's okay to admit when you can’t handle things on your own. I think that’s something that I learned is that it’s okay to ask for help. So A.) Do that, when you’re at a point where there’s no looking back, and B.) I think that a lot of self-respect and loving yourself comes from growing up and really surrounding yourself with like-minded people.

It's hard growing up this day and age -- girls are so hard on each other. I think that you have to find people that only better you and that took me a long time to really figure out. You kind of are who you walk with and I think it’s best to be with people who bring out the best in you. But also, focus on things you like about yourself and do stuff that you love. I know for me, without music I don’t know what I would have done. It’s something that really helped me get through some of the darkest times in my life. So I think you need to focus on things that make you happy and that’s what helped for me.

That’s great advice. If you could go back in time and tell your teen-self one thing, what would it be?

I’d pretty much just say, don’t sweat the small stuff. At the time, we think that everything is just so detrimental. "It's the end of the world" and "I’ll never get over this person" or "I’ll never get through this day" or "Oh my God, my hair looks terrible." There’s so many different things and I think that that’s another thing you gain when you get older -- you see the bigger picture. At least I have. I quit focusing on the minuscule things and it’s actually made me happier. Like I can see the bigger picture and I can get through bad days now because I know I’m gonna get over the hump. I think it just goes back to telling myself "don’t sweat the small stuff" and continue to focus on what you love.

[Editor's note: Lucy Hale is partnering with Nestlé Crunch and Girl Scouts of the USA to send hundreds of girls to summer camp with the "Let's Get Her to Camp" campaign.*]

'House Of Cards' Can't Film At UN After Russia Refusal, Diplomats Say

0
0
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Diplomats say Russia has refused to allow the U.S. television series "House of Cards" to film in the U.N. Security Council chamber.

The show's producers approached the United Nations, and the 15 council members were asked whether they would allow the use of the chamber when the council wasn't in session, but Russia said "no," the diplomats said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private. France's U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud told reporters Wednesday: "It's disappointing for you, I guess, because you wanted to see the actors." The Washington-based series stars Kevin Spacey as conniving politician Francis Underwood and Robin Wright as his wife.

"It's reassuring because I think the actors would have seemed so much more elegant than we are, you know," Araud said, laughing.

Jewel, Husband Ty Murray To Divorce - CNN.com

0
0
(CNN) -- The latest celebrity breakup is a surprising one: Folk singer Jewel and her husband Ty Murray are going their separate ways.

Celebrity Bikini Selfies, Because The Paparazzi Need Days Off, Too

0
0
Celebrities are used to being photographed in their bikinis, but what happens when they look fabulous and *gasp* no one's around to capture the moment?

These celebs aren't going to let a good beach day go unnoticed, so sometimes they just have to be their own photographers and snap a pic of themselves. So if any paparazzi aren't reporting for duty this Fourth of July, don't worry: we've got you covered:



'Fast & Furious 7' Release Date Moved Up A Week

0
0
"Fast & Furious 7" will rev up theaters sooner than expected. Universal Pictures announced that the installment will open a week early, making the release date April 3, 2015, instead of April 10.




The news comes after the film was delayed in the wake of Paul Walker's death. "Fast 7" was originally intended as a summer 2014 blockbuster, but production was put on hold from December to March of this year. An April 10 release would have made it the only film currently slated for that date, but the April 3 opening places it opposite the adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' "The Longest Ride" and a documentary about the Christian band Hillsong.

Dwayne Johnson recently wrapped production on the film, almost exactly seven months after Walker's death. He posted a photo on Instagram with this caption: "My last day of FAST & FURIOUS.. I'm truly touched by the farewell love my film crew has shown me. Its been an honor to work with such an incredibly hard working and brilliant crew. (a crew who's had to practice great restraint daily on this production;). They may not be household names, but they'll ALWAYS be stars in my book. With great love and respect to all of you... see ya down the yellow brick road. Another place. Another time. #ThankUForAllYourWork ~ Rock"



Vin Diesel, who's reportedly been difficult on the set lately, also took to social media to reflect on his "Fast & Furious" work, specifically what it was like to film without Walker.




Kim Kardashian Shares Sweet Photo Of North West, Opens Up About Motherhood

0
0
There's no doubt motherhood has changed Kim Kardashian. It just hasn't changed her love of posting photos of herself online.

On July 2, the 33-year-old reality star posted an adorable bedtime photo of herself giving her 1-year-old daughter North a kiss, which she simply captioned, "Night!"



While Kardashian made the decision not to feature her daughter on her reality show, "Keeping Up With the Kardashians," she has been sharing more photos of little Nori via social media, and recently opened up about the joys of motherhood to the parenting blog Romy and The Bunnies.

"I love being a mom! It’s the most rewarding feeling! I really love every phase! Just the way my daughter laughs with me, all of the small things in life you appreciate," Kardashian told the website, adding that she found returning to work challenging because she didn't want to spend any time away from North.

And while most mothers probably don't want to take parenting advice from any celebrity, let alone Kim Kardashian, she did offer a few tips when asked if she could share any wisdom for busy moms trying to balance careers and families.

"It is an adjustment trying to balance a career and motherhood, for sure, but the key is to prioritize," she told the website. "You become more selective and work on projects that are so meaningful because you want every other waking moment spent with your family. You have to remember, though, to make time for yourself. If you feel good, you will be happy in your career and family life, and everyone is happy!"

Capitol Hill Or Hollywood? Take This Quiz And See If You Can Spot The Real Politicians

0
0
Hollywood has done a good job of making its politicians look like the real thing. Martin Sheen had a presidential aura as Jed Bartlet in "The West Wing." Frank Langella even looked quite a bit like Richard Nixon in "Frost/Nixon."

We thought it would be fun to pit some of the fake politicians from TV and film against actual politicians. It might not be our toughest quiz ever, but some of these actors can be pretty convincing.

Hit the key at the end of the quiz to view the answers.

Quiz widget by

Best Tweets: What Women Said On Twitter This Week

0
0
The week of July 4 festivities had a rocky start with the Supreme Court's disappointing ruling on the Hobby Lobby case. Although the decision was frustrating (to say the least), it was excellent fodder for women on Twitter: In light of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's, badass dissent we all agreed with Suri Ratnatunga when she tweeted, "I hope Ruth Bader Ginsburg is immortal." But actually.

Laura Bassett painted a perfect picture of how fierce RBG really is when she tweeted, "I am imagining Ruth Bader Ginsburg low-riding around DC in her car blasting 'Turn Down For What.'" Notorious BFG 4 Life.

Caprice Cane chimed in with the realness: "If men could get pregnant, birth control would not only be covered by health care, it would be available on every corner like Starbucks." We'd say "Amen, sister," but we have this odd habit of not imposing religious beliefs on others.

For more great tweets from women, scroll through the list below. Then visit our Funniest Tweets From Women page for our past collections.
















































No Worries, Even Celebrities Butcher Karaoke Songs

0
0
Celebrities really are just like us, especially when they sing karaoke.

If you need some inspiration for your holiday weekend escapades, just take a look at these A-list stars attempting to belt out the lyrics to their favorite tunes. Let's just say Robert Pattinson should stick to his day job ...

Here, RPatz and Katy Perry (drunkenly) duet to Boys II Men's "I'll Make Love To You." Enjoy.


Ed Sheeran and his pal Harry Styles took a stab at Elton John's hit "Don't Go Breaking My Heart." For musicians, we expected more!


Apparently Miley Cyrus doesn't care what she sounds like unless she's singing "Wrecking Ball."


Jude Law, on the other hand, isn't that bad! Below he sings "Johnny B. Goode."


Let's just say we wouldn't want to sing karaoke if Kelly Clarkson was there ... #competition.


John Krasinski can be our "hero" any day.


The Wanted's Tom Parker obviously sings Oasis in the shower ...


Yeah, this didn't need to happen?
allowfullscreen>

We got you, babe. (Aka, Rupert Grint).


Gerard Butler sang "Mustang Sally," with a little help from his friends Demi Moore and Michelle Monaghan.


Elijah Wood took on Black Eyed Peas' "I Got A Feeling" with The RZA, Nacho Vigalondo, Eugenio Mira, Tim League, Michael Lerman and Henri Mazza, and they killed it.

Here's Your Ultimate Guide To All Of The July 4th Marathons On TV

0
0
The Fourth of July may just be the most patriotic holiday of the calendar year. It's the day we celebrate our country's fight for freedom and independence. It's also the day we pig out on hot dogs, get up early to catch parades, and occasionally light ourselves on fire launching fireworks. But really, if you want to memorialize the day the right way, you should partake in America's favorite pastime. (And no, we're not talking about baseball.)

Oh, sure, sing the national anthem until your lungs give out and head to that dreaded family barbecue, but don't forget to do what true Americans do: watch some good TV. Here's your ultimate guide to all of the TV marathons this July 4th.

"The Walking Dead" Marathon on AMC
Cleverly nicknamed the "Dead, White and Blue" marathon, AMC is gearing up for Season 5 with this zombified recap for viewers to sink their teeth into. After you've gorged on those flesh-eating monsters and relived some of your favorite characters kicking the bucket on the show, stay tuned for a special "Talking Dead" Season 5 preview with never-before-seen footage from the show. The marathon begins at 9 a.m.

"Star Trek: The Next Generation" Marathon on BBC
Live long and prosper, America. The BBC is airing an all day ode to the Enterprise and its crew with this interstellar marathon. Watch Patrick Stewart and LeVar Burton seek out new life and new civilizations, and to boldly go where no man has gone before. Watch all of the action starting at 8 a.m.

"America The Story Of Us" on History
This one's for all the history buffs out there. The 12-hour television event chronicles the history of America, focusing on its leaders, influencers, failures and successes. From the Civil War to the Revolution, it's the best way to binge-watch how this great nation was formed. The series begins at 7 a.m.

"The Real Housewives of New Jersey" Marathon on Bravo
Really, what says America more than a bunch of Botox-injected women flipping tables and screaming at each other over a nice Italian dinner. Watch the ladies of New Jersey insult, degrade and generally embarrass each other and themselves on national television beginning at 9:35 a.m.

"NCIS" Marathon on USA
Watch Special Agent Gibbs and the gang thwart terrorist plots, handle kidnapping threats and solve murder mysteries with a dose of cheeky humor added in for fun. The marathon starts at 6 am.

"The Game" Marathon on BET
One of the network's most successful shows and most watched comedies is airing reruns starting at 8 a.m.

"Keeping Up With the Kardashians" Marathon on E!
Celebrate America with America's favorite family. Relive every ugly-cry moment, mom-ager meltdown and family therapy session with the gang from Calabasas starting at 7 a.m.

"Sex and the City" Marathon on E!
If you want even more fashionable moments and dramatic cat fights, stay tuned on E! for a mini "Sex and the City" marathon. Watching Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda navigate sex and relationships in the Big Apple might just be the trendiest way to celebrate Independence Day. The marathon starts at 2 p.m.

"The Twilight Zone" Marathon on SyFy
Have a good scare this Fourth of July by re-watching some of the best episodes from one of America's oldest horror TV shows. The sci-fi event kicks off at 8 a.m.

"Awkward" Marathon on MTV
What says America better than a group of pubescent teenagers trying to fight their way through the social hierarchy of high school. From losing your v-card to finding a date to the winter dance, the show reminds us why we'll never miss those awkward years. The marathon starts at 11:34 a.m.

The Duggar Family Marathon on TLC
Switch out the "K's" for "J's" and you've got America's second favorite family. The Duggars may lead an unconventional life, but they make for some great TV. Watch all the family drama unfold on beginning at 6 a.m.

"America's Next Top Model" Marathon on Oxygen
Show your patriotism by watching Tyra Banks whip a group of underfed models into shape. The girls compete for the top spot on the show and are constantly judged by a panel of so-called industry experts but the real fun comes in watching all of the cat-fights that erupt once you place 20 women in one house and tell them they have to share a bathroom with each other. The competition starts at 8 a.m.

"American Ninja Warrior" on Esquire
Watch a group of America's best athletes as they attempt to complete one of the most insane obstacle courses we've ever seen all in the hopes of becoming America's ninja warrior. The competition starts at 6 a.m.

ABC Family Movie Marathon
Catch a couple of "Flintstones" flicks and see Johnny Depp in all his swashbuckling glory with ABC Family's movie marathon starting at 11 a.m.

FIFA World Cup on ESPN and ESPN2
Don't miss out on any of the action going down in Brazil. Put on your favorite team's jersey, get your chant going and tune into the beautiful game when Germany faces France at 11:30 p.m. on ESPN2 and don't miss the home country take on Columbia at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.

"Criminal Minds" Marathon on A&E
Watch Agent Hotchner and his elite profiling team take down the bad guys and save the world by analyzing the most dangerous criminal minds in America. The marathon starts at 4 pm.

Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular on NBC
Watch as Nick Cannon hosts the annual event. Performers for this year's light show include Ariana Grande, Miranda Lambert and Lionel Richie. The special launches at 8 p.m.

Dave Coulier Got Married And His Wedding Was A 'Full House' Reunion

0
0
Congrats to Dave Coulier and Melissa Bring!

The couple tied the knot in a beautiful outdoor ceremony in Paradise Valley, Montana on July 2, and the guest list was full of familiar faces (because you know Joey Gladstone would never get married with out Danny Tanner and Jesse Katsopolis by his side).

Yes, Coulier's wedding was practically a "Full House" reunion with former co-stars Bob Saget, Candance Cameron Bure, John Stamos, and Andrea Barber all in attendance. And while even the show's creator Jeff Franklin was there to witness the 54-year-old actor's big day, there were a few members of the Tanner family who were missing. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who shared the role of Michelle, were not present for the festivities, nor was Jodie Sweetin, who played Stephanie.

While the whole cast didn't make it out to the wedding, it looks like those who did had a wonderful time:








Rupert Everett Claims There 'Isn't Very Far You Can Go' As A Gay Actor

0
0
Openly gay actor Rupert Everett is once again sounding off on how his sexuality impacted his Hollywood career.

The "My Best Friend's Wedding" star recently sat down with The Daily Telegraph in anticipation of his upcoming appearance in the play "Amadeus" at London's Chichester Festival Theatre. In addition to discussing his drug use during his interview, Everett again recounted how he believes that being openly gay in Hollywood damaged his acting career.

He told the newspaper:

All through my career it [being gay] was a huge issue. Movie stars and directors and studios spend a lot of money promoting human rights and being charitable in Africa but, actually, in their own backyard, they really don’t accept that any of these things [are] happening... So people mostly said to me: "Oh, but you’ve been so difficult and you’ve blown everything for yourself, you’ve sabotaged your own career."

To a certain extent, it’s true, but to a certain extent, it isn’t. There’s only a certain amount of mileage you can make, as a young pretender, as a leading man, as a homosexual. There just isn’t very far you can go.


This certainly isn't the first time that Everett has spoken out about this issue. In early 2013, the actor controversially suggested that gay actors should stay in the closet, claiming,"Straight men get every opportunity to play gay parts that they want and then win tons of awards for doing so. But the other way doesn’t really work out."

Head here to read Everett's interview in full.

(h/t Queerty)

Lea Michele & Boyfriend Matthew Paetz Step Out Together For First Time

0
0
Lea Michele and her new boyfriend Matthew Paetz look super cute together in these newly released photos taken last week in Los Angeles.

Chris Colfer Not Leaving 'Glee,' Manager Says Twitter Account Was Hacked (UPDATED)

0
0
UPDATE: Maybe it's not such a sad day for "Glee" fans after all. Chris Colfer's manager tells The Hollywood Reporter that the actor's Twitter account has been hacked and that the actor will in fact be back for show's final season.

The actor's publicist told THR that Colfer is on a mid-Atlantic flight without WiFi access and not immediately available to update his Twitter account.

20th Century Fox TV, the studio that produces "Glee," also confirmed to TV Line that Colfer is not leaving the show. "We've been alerted that Chris Colfer's twitter account has been hacked. Rumors of his dismissal from Glee could not be further from the truth. We love Chris and look forward to working with him again this season," the company said in a statement.

PREVIOUSLY: Sad news for "Glee" fans.

Chris Colfer announced on July 3 that he's leaving the show due to personal issues.




The 24-year-old played fan favorite Kurt Hummel for the first five seasons, and his exit before the show's sixth and final season comes as quite the surprise. Before his exit, Colfer spoke to E! News about the show's upcoming final season, telling the website he thought it was the right time for the series to come to an end.

"I think it will be a good time to conclude the series," he said. "It's a very, very difficult show to do, as everyone knows, and I think when people say that we're the hardest working cast and crew in television, I don't think it's an overstatement. I think it's very much the reality."

'Life Itself' Crafts Heartfelt, Candid Portrait Of Roger Ebert

0
0
"Life Itself," the documentary about the many years Roger Ebert spent as the country's primo film critic and the rich but complicated personal life he led on the side, may be 2014's most wrenching film. Directed by Steve James ("The Interrupters," "Hoop Dreams"), the movie is based on Ebert's 2011 memoir by the same name. It's not a sycophantic take on the life of an American treasure, nor is it an excuse to fawn over an outsized personality who rightfully captured the nation's admiration.

James offers a warts-and-all take on Ebert's life, just as the former Chicago Sun-Times critic does in his own writing. Sandwiched between a recap of Ebert's childhood and a celebration of his contributions to popular culture, James delivers the portrait of a man who made no apologies for his bouts with alcoholism, his love of voluptuous women and his temperamental dynamic with "At the Movies" co-host Gene Siskel. The documentary proves that, even if not everyone loved Ebert's thumbs, no one denies his resilient legacy.

Oscar-winning screenwriter Steven Zaillian ("Schindler's List," "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo") and his producing partner, Garrett Basch, approached James in 2012 with the rights to Ebert's memoir for their company, Film Rites. James hadn't yet read the book, but he quickly devoured it. A longtime Ebert fan, James watched "At the Movies" in its original, Chicago-based iteration (called "Sneak Previews") in the 1970s. When he later moved from southern Illinois to the Windy City, James began reading Ebert's reviews in the Sun-Times.

"I just thought, you know, what a great critic," James recalled when HuffPost Entertainment spoke with him at the movie's New York press day.

Ebert himself was the one to break the news that "Life Itself" would become a feature film. He did so in a tweet on Sept. 7, 2012, about a month after awarding "The Interrupters" four stars and 18 years after calling "Hoop Dreams" the best movie of 1994.




Days before the shoot was slated to begin, Ebert, who'd battled papillary thyroid cancer since 2002, entered the hospital with a fractured hip. "Life Itself" offers a glimpse at the days of a decaying cultural figurehead, told through the most intimate and compassionate framework. It's tough to watch at times, if only because we feel such deep sympathy for the subject. Ebert maintains a smile as nurses care for his needs and rehabilitation becomes increasingly onerous. That struggle provides a poignant fabric for the nostalgia of Ebert's heyday, when he was galavanting across the Chicago bar scene, the Cannes and Sundance film festivals, the Conference on World Affairs and other "cosmopolitan" (his word) stages, making friends and enemies aplenty along the way.

"My goal as a filmmaker is always to help you understand a main subject, including their warts," James said. "But I’m also trying to discourage you from sitting in judgment of them. I’m trying to sit back and look at it as the viewer and go, 'Okay, if you’re going to think he’s an asshole in this moment, it’s not like I want to take that out, but what can I do to kind of reposition you a little bit to think about that reaction, so that you don’t just condemn him?' No one articulated better than Roger: Movies are like a machine to help you generate empathy, to help you understand the hopes and fears of other people and their lives, and walk in their shoes, essentially."

"Life Itself" elicits deep empathy in candid interviews with the likes of Martin Scorsese (whose career Ebert helped to propel), documentarians Werner Herzog and Errol Morris, TIME critic Richard Corliss, New York Times critic A.O. Scott and a plethora of Chicago newspapermen who knew Ebert in his early days. Together they share heartfelt memories of Ebert's best and worst times, his unflinching passion for cinema and his perennial status as the best raconteur in any room.

"Outside of Chaz, [Gene Siskel] was arguably the most significant relationship of his life."

The movie's most surprising moments are exposed in Ebert's volatile relationship with Siskel. While Siskel was writing for the Chicago Tribune and Ebert for the Sun-Times, the critics were bitter rivals. By the time they were cajoled into doing a television program together, their dynamic became the utmost blend of love and hate. Vintage outtakes from "At the Movies" show the men bickering over the way they read their lines for the camera. Each hurls insults at the other as they struggle to find the perfect take while recording intros to various episodes. One might think there is nothing but animosity between the pair. It's only through interviews with Ebert's devoted wife Chaz, Siskel's wife Marlene and the show's producers that we learn there was much more to the relationship.

"There are other things that he didn’t really write as candidly about in the memoir, like his relationship with Gene," James said, referring to Ebert having documented his own weaknesses in the book without fixating much on his struggles with Siskel. "He talks about it some and he definitely talks about how there was this competitiveness, but the tone of the chapter he devotes to Gene is much more wistful, like, 'Yes, we once had our battles, but I miss him every day. [...] I knew that if we were going to do this we have to dig deeper than this memoir does into that relationship, because, outside of Chaz, it was arguably the most significant relationship of his life."

Therein lies the documentary's charm. That unbridled honesty gives way to true joy, when Ebert is at his professional best or when portions of the memoir are read aloud, enunciating his affection for Chaz -- who is arguably the movie's shining star -- and the industry in which he works.




doug
Chaz Ebert and Steve James attend the Los Angeles premiere of "Life Itself" on June 26.


It's that generous spirit that James says pervaded Ebert's life throughout his final years, even before he became ill. A.O. Scott says that's why Ebert was a "tougher" critic in his younger days, but James thinks it's because Ebert kicked some of his vices, fell in love and garnered a richer appreciation for, well, life itself.

"I think Roger became a more generous spirit in later years with films, because with all that he’d been through he kind of appreciated that he was able to be doing what he was doing at the level he was doing it," James said. "I do think that made him a little more generous of spirit. I don’t fault him for that."

America hasn't, either. Even after Ebert left broadcasting in 2006, he remained the nation's most celebrated critic. Not everyone appreciated his thumbs-up/thumbs-down approach to reviewing for television, particularly Richard Corliss, who challenged the binary approach in a 1990 Film Comment essay discussed heavily in the film. Yet, regardless of whatever objections arise, everyone seems to recognize the cultural fortress that is Roger Ebert. That's what the documentary sets out to depict. And it does, ever so lovingly. Listening to Ebert's passion for film, and for his own life, is so enriching that by the time his final days are upon us on-screen, it's sob-inducing.

"The level of candor was pretty remarkable, and the only place it really changed was at the end," James said. "You see in the movie that once he leaves home and goes back to the hospital and rehab, there’s not another image of Roger in the movie. And, in fact, there was not another image recorded of Roger anywhere. I have, I think, the last image of Roger. It’s not in the movie -- it’s a shot where my DP is on him and then pans off of him, and that was the end of the shoot.

"Even though Roger lived his life in this incredibly courageous, public way, and the way in which he dealt with the cancer he did in a very public way, just like this film shows a degree of candor you hadn’t seen before, there’s also a degree of candor beyond the scope of this film that you never will see. And that’s kind of as it should be."

"Life Itself" opens in limited release on July 4.

Shakira, Wyclef To Perform At 2014 World Cup Closing Ceremony

0
0
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Colombian pop star Shakira and hip hop artist Wyclef Jean will perform at the World Cup's closing ceremony in Brazil.

Shakira will be at the World Cup for the third time and sing her "La la la (Brazil 2014)" with Brazil's Carlinhos Brown ahead of the July 13 final at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium. Wyclef, guitarist Santana and Alexandre Pires will combine on Dar Um Jeito, the main theme song for the World Cup.

Announcing the lineup, FIFA also said Brazilian singer-songwriter Ivete Sangalo "will bring a distinctive local flavor to the show" with a medley of well-known Brazilian numbers and will be joined by Pires.

Bryan Singer, 'X-Men' Director, Asks Judge To Dismiss Sex Abuse Lawsuit

0
0

LOS ANGELES, July 3 (Reuters) - "X-Men" director Bryan Singer on Thursday asked a judge in Los Angeles to dismiss a lawsuit brought by an anonymous British man accusing the filmmaker and an entertainment executive of sexually abusing him as a minor.
Singer's attorney, Marty Singer, asked U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson to throw out the suit filed in May, saying that it was improperly filed anonymously by a British citizen, who was identified in court papers as John Doe No. 117.
Singer, 48, also demanded in court that the plaintiff pay $300,000 for Singer's expected legal fees.
The lawsuit filed by prominent child sex abuse attorney Jeff Herman, accuses Singer and entertainment industry executive Gary Goddard, 60, of coercing the British man into sex acts as a minor with the promise of helping him in an acting career.
Goddard last month asked for the suit to be dismissed.
This is the second sex abuse lawsuit against Singer that was filed ahead of the release of his film "X-Men: Days of Future Past." The film has so far grossed $715 million at the global box office in its first five weeks and will likely be one of the year's top-grossing movies.
Singer's lawyer has called the allegations in both lawsuits false and fabrications, and a bid to win money from the director behind other films in the "X-Men" superhero franchise. A lawyer for Goddard has also denied the allegations, calling them spurious.
Herman also represents Michael Egan, who has sued Singer, accusing him of abusing him sexually as a minor. Egan also sued Goddard, and fellow entertainment executive David Neuman and Garth Ancier, but those suits have been dismissed. (Reporting by Eric Kelsey; Editing by Mary Milliken and Lisa Shumaker)
Viewing all 15269 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images