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Naked Tom Cruise Sculpture Depicts Tom Cruise Naked

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Do you love Tom Cruise?


The way he runs with jacked intensity, that single wisp of un-gelled hair bobbing to and fro in the breeze? That foolhardy smile that says, "Sorry, boss, my way or the highway," with a combination of youthful naïvety and the cocksureness of a born winner? His compact, buff as hell little body that defies age and time? The way his movies are feverishly erected around him like cardboard boxes that, in his presence, morph into rocket ships? 


Well, if so, enjoy this naked sculpture of the man, the legend, the Cruise, courtesy of celeb-crazed artist Daniel Edwards.



The sculpture, a nude shroud of Cruise himself, serves as a tribute to the actor's 25th year with the Church of Scientology -- what could be his last. Sculptor Edwards and gallery Cory Allen Contemporary Art organized a "pop-up Church of Scientology" in honor of the anniversary, to be assembled near the authentic Church's Clearwater headquarters in Florida.


Taking a hint from the Shroud of Turin, the Shroud of Scientology is a 14-foot rectangular beast, depicting a fully groomed Cruise clutching the Scientology cross on his chest. 


"Radiocarbon dating will never rule out the Shroud of Scientology’s authenticity,"  Edwards explained in a statement. "It exists as a document of Tom Cruise’s faith in Scientology -- a photo negative of the radiance of his soul. It gives evidence for future generations that Tom Cruise not only belonged to Scientology, but saved it from obscurity."



Also on display is a Church of Scientology Silver Anniversary Medal for Tom Cruise. 


Edwards and Cory Allen are known for their controversial Hollywood-centric work -- Edwards, thanks to his sculptures of stars including North West and Justin Bieber, and, in 2006, a bronze sculpture of Suri Cruise’s “first bowel movement.” Cory Allen, on the other hand, had the laughably bad idea to put Jennifer Lawrence's leaked nudes on display as art.


Despite the artists' less-than-perfect track record, we can't deny our excitement at a Cruise-centric work, especially one in the buff. Flashback to P.T. Anderson's wise words on the set of "Magnolia": "Tom Cruise is the biggest movie star in the world. Are you kidding? Of course he’s got the world’s biggest cock."


The ‘Pop-up Church of Scientology’ featuring the “Shroud of Scientology” will open to the public at Cory Allen Contemporary Art’s The Showroom, located in the Warehouse Arts District in St. Petersburg, FL, on August 8, 2015


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Being a Freak on 'America's Got Talent'

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Many times as a kid I watched contestants as they were harshly critiqued on shows like "American Idol" or "America's Got Talent," and told myself, "I would probably kill myself if that was me." This past Tuesday, it was me.

Growing up in a Persian-American, single-parent home I learned early on that fitting in to the small, conservative, Southern town where I grew up just wasn't in the deck for me. I ran to New York City and found a haven in this beautiful, gender non-conforming, queer, art, nightlife scene where everyone was a kid feeling like they fit into something for the first time. Nightlife really was kind to me as it allowed me a paycheck, artistic learning grounds, a place to explore my sexuality and learn about celebrating queer culture. Quickly I rose from performer to scene king to event producer and was starting to get opportunities to be in magazines, including Paper, Interview and Italian Vanity Fair, as well as appearing in commercials. I was like, "Wow, it's true, just be yourself and fight for your individuality and life can be rewarding" -- which it still is, by the way!

Not only was I able to be celebrated for choosing to be myself, I got the chance to share my story with great platforms such as The Huffington Post, where I partook in a queer art's weekly column written by JamesMichael Nichols. After our interview was published, James wrote me that a producer from "America's Got Talent" was interested in having me "audition" for the show.

I had been asked to be on the show a year earlier by a former producer, but graciously declined; I had fears because a couple artists from my community, Narcisister and Leonid The Magnificent, had been on the show and were not treated so nicely. This time around I decided to speak up to the producer about my concern. I thought someone finding me through a series about queer nightlife definitely had to be somewhat open minded to the issues. I had a great conversation with the producer who assured me the show was not about bullying any longer and that was not what America wanted to see. I felt good and decided to be a contestant on "America's Got Talent."

For the next year, I had great emails with this very polite producer and was asked to film for the show's intros as well as the producer auditions, which are a preliminary round of auditions to decide which acts will go before the judges. Everyone was being super cool and I was feeling really good about this move.

The day came for my audition on the first televised round in front of a live audience and the judges in all their glory. My mom and sister flew in, and my fiancee coordinated the dancers and joined me on stage. It was a chance to share my artistry with the world and prove to my loved ones that I could take my art to the next level, even if I didn't pass this round.

In full, amazing looking and amazingly uncomfortable stage look, I waited through 10 hours on set. During interviews, I was really excited to share my story and struggles with growing up and self acceptance but the producer wouldn't let me be serious. When she said to keep it fun, I felt for the first time that this could be a trap. The producers kept me for the last performance of the day, it was all or nothing at this point.



My first act was never televised. Howard Stern and Howie Mandel really liked me, and although I complimented Heidi Klum on her NYC Halloween parties, she felt my voice was not there. Mel B was on the fence. At this point, jokes started about my hair and outfit, which I can take. But when I mentioned that one of the dancers, Anna, was my fiancee, Howie started making fun of our relationship and asked if her parents had met me. Anna replied that her parents had met me, love me and are very proud of me. The audience quit laughing and applauded, which was a great moment.

During the vote, Heidi said no. Howie said yes, he thought what I do is "funny and weird in a Tiny Tim kind of way, which isn't bad." Howard said YES, he wants to see me in bigger and crazier outfits, and swing vote Mel B said yes. It was awesome! After putting so much effort and really having to defend myself on stage it was a victory.

Receiving a "yes" from the majority of the judges does not mean that you will make it to the next round. It is really up to the producers. I was told I would be notified in a couple of months. After much anticipation I was sent a generalized email explaining that I would not be sent to the next round. I was disappointed but at least felt good for having made it so far.

A week later, I receive an email from a producer asking if I was still available for the Judgement Week cuts. I dropped everything I had going on and said YES, I would make it work. By the time production approved a song, I only had one week to prepare. I reached out to my friend Lily Maase and she was able to get a tight band together. After finding talented dancers and of course looks for everyone, I quit panicking and thought okay, we can do this! NYC is an amazing place among artists and the kids had my back, as they say.

To arrive on set by 9 a.m., my fiancee began doing hair for the dancers and band 14 hours earlier while I traveled back and forth from set filming interviews with the team. (Major props to Anna!) We left our home at 7 a.m. in full looks to travel the long distance to set on no sleep. I was grateful that this time, "AGT" sent a van because for the first round, I paid $500 out of pocket to transport myself, the dancers, our props, and my family to and from set in New Jersey during a blizzard. ("AGT" compensates performers solely in exposure.)

I arrived to the more intimate set and noticed the stage was awesomely designed. The audience was a bit smaller than the first taping, but really looked excited. The producers agreed on "You Spin Me Right Round" and I was ready to spin on that stage! Between makeup and costume time before we had to arrive on set, plus me having been to this set to tape the day before, it already felt like the day was over though it was really just beginning.

In the first audition, they had me meet with a vocal coach and had a tech rehearsal before my performance. This time, the team said they did not have time for it. My fear started to kick in because playing with a live band and dancers, singing live and wearing long cape, I knew that a performance without a tech rehearsal would be a disaster. I put my foot down. I was not going to step on that stage unless they at least gave us a tech rehearsal. The producers made 10 minutes for me to get the band with equipment, dancers, instruments and myself in place.

After this we were sent back to holding to be extras in B roll shots for other performers. My nerves were definitely kicking in. I had this gut feeling that it really didn't at this point matter to the producers if I did well or not although I was still very much so grateful for the opportunity to be part of the show.

Being a NYC performer, I'm used to things falling, instruments not working, etc., so I knew I could make this work. As I came down the steep glass stairs everyone was clapping strongly; the "clap signs" I am told by my friends were on at this point. What an entrance, what a welcome. But one thing was wrong. Howard kept calling me by a name other than my own. The first time I thought this was a joke; after the third time I realized something was off. Also Howie kept saying this guy is really funny, wait till you see. After telling Howard that my name is Kayvon, he asked production what sheet they were on and boom, papers ruffle and it felt like one of those Disney movies where a curse is put on a kingdom and the mood changes.

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I'm asked a couple questions, I cue my crew and get to it. We were full on and I gave it my all! At the end of the performance I noticed three X's which I did not hear during my performance. At the first audition I was X-ed, it was so loud I could hear it, but with the live band and not having proper monitor placement, levels and sounds were all over the place. I could barely hear myself let alone the three buzzers. I had a feeling at this point it was going to take a turn for the worst as the surprise guest judge for the night was Piers Morgan.

The judges critiqued and they were definitely out for blood. I knew this was a part of the competition and the producer with whom I'd been working told me before I went on to defend myself to the judges and fight to go to lives no matter what happened. When Howie told me I was a horrible pianist, I did this very thing and played. I knew my piano skills were something I could prove, as vocal timbre, genre and performance style are all subjective. Although the audience loved it, Howie insisted I was merely a comedy act and smashed the fourth buzzer, ending the competition for me.

After mean and petty banter I thanked the judges and decided to walk off and Howard asked me to come back. Howard told me he thought I was like Alice Cooper or Marilyn Manson, although he thinks they're talented and I am not. The conversation shifted to Howie again insisting I can't possibly take myself seriously. I referenced artists including Madonna and Lady Gaga, whom I believe are talented artists who don't take themselves too seriously, and said I am similar in that regard. Anything I had said at this point would have been booed, it was clear. The audience is taught ahead of time to cheer or boo.

I tried to get some constructive criticism from the judges. I told Mel specifically I had always felt the need to work on my voice and took six years of lessons. I asked her what she didn't like about my voice; I asked her if it was my pitch, my tone, if I was sharp or flat. Howie challenged us to a sing off. Everyone laughed but she didn't reply. I told Mel that I thought she was talented, and ha a great career, but that she was no Whitney Houston. I do not feel that Mel is one of the best singers in the world, nor do I feel this way about myself.

At this point, Piers called me a little brat. It all felt like school yard bullying. I realized everything the producers promised me in the beginning wasn't a reality. My mic was cut off so I couldn't defend myself any more, and I just walked off the stage with my head still high. As soon as I got off the stage a woman approached me saying she was the in house psychiatrist and she is worried about me. I'm not sure why, but this hit me so hard. Was it exhaustion? Was it that I had been ganged up on by a live studio audience whose behavior was instructed by judges and producers? I started crying like I hadn't in years except when I lost my dog. I felt so used and manipulated. I tried so hard to be respectful yet everything coming out of my mouth was treated like I had no right to speak. Cameras are still rolling although I asked them kindly to let me be as I was hurting. This is actually normal of reality television; I have seen many shows were cameras just won't leave unless you are heading for the rest room. After about an hour with the psychiatrist and with the producer I realize it is time to put on my big boy underwear and just head home and thank my team for standing with me.

The next day I collected my thoughts and I sent an email to the producers:

Yesterday definitely ranks in one of the most hurtful experiences in my adulthood. When I was contacted by Brian Updyke initially, reminder I didn't reach out to you guys, I was very vocal about how "AGT" was not the kind of show that I wanted to part take in as I dealt with a lot of bullying growing up. Brian reassured me that the show was no longer mean spirited as that was not what America wanted to see any longer. He mentioned the voice, which you guys should really learn from as they make amazing tv without having to hurt ppl and bully them. To know I was setup to fail, ppll being told to clap, and boo on command, knowing that obviously my storyline was to be humiliated and made a mockery of. To see me in tears as I was told to leave the stage and having cameras follow me as I ask them kindly to let me be was horrible. I still can't fathom how this company puts their head to rest at night. I put so much effort and the little money I had into this hoping it could be a platform, but instead my efforts, hopes, and hard work were scripted to be used in a way to make me appear as I have no talent. Why target eccentric ppl like myself in the LGBT community to appear as clowns and bully them with forced crowd response and scripted hate? Why not have someone like myself or from the community be shown in a positive light, bc clearly you guys think it's more profitable to laugh at ppl who struggle to remain true to themselves than to encourage and embrace their spirit. Not really sure what there is to stay in touch about. You know how I feel, u saw a grown man and his partner in tears last night. I think it's apparent how I feel.


I reached out again after a week because I hadn't gotten any response, and the producer reiterated to me that "AGT" is not about ruining people's lives. After a few weeks, the season finally premiered, but my first (more positive) audition was nowhere to be found. The producer promised I'd be happy with the edit of my second performance; that I had performed and come across great in the episode. Every week, the social media team emailed reminding all performers never to say anything negative about the judges.

On Tuesday night, I was very nervous, excited and kind of sad but I really hoped that it was going to be good for me. Finally my segment started, "Vogue" by Madonna is playing. Like any queer artist, I love Madonna. I thought awesome, my theatrics and fun are really coming through! Then I heard the band and my vocals. I knew here that it was going to go left. My performance was edited down, my piano volume was brought down and edited to just a couple of scales. The response of my eyes to the buzzer was faked; I never even heard it, but they had edited everything so amazingly that I was starting to doubt my own vision.

I watched the judges' deliberations and kept being that person who is on a reality show and telling myself, "Wait, I never said that when this person said that to me." Mel never said that here, Howie never commented on that, Howard said that later. Lastly, Piers calls me #obnoxiouslittlebrat and the hashtag is shared on TV. Immediately the hate starts. I am receiving death threats, harassment, being told how ugly I am, how much I suck -- you name it. (My social media is still full of hate as I write this.) Then I received an email from their social media person, "Your video is up"! I click and the title is "Obnoxious musician Kayvon Zand ..." I am in shock. What happened to the whole we are not about bullying anymore, we want to help people, you will be happy with your edit? I could not believe how gullible I had been. With the "AGT" staff, including on air personalities pushing this bullying hashtag, it's been made out that I deserve all this hate.

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In the long run, my career and ego don't matter. What really hurts is the message America sends with shows of this nature: if you are weird, if you're not a celebrity or person of privilege, your opinion holds no value next to theirs. Why scout a person from a minority group that's already second class citizens in America? The question is really about what someone like myself represents in our society. Many hate comments have questioned why I even got this far in the competition, and the ugly truth is that as long as others can celebrate their lives by laughing at me, I have value. The producers knew from the beginning that I don't live my life by the gender norm and I cannot take this off when I leave the stage to blend in and be a normal person and that life in general is a struggle because of this.

Yesterday I received a phone call from the head of social media giving me what he arrogantly referred to as a "hand out." I was told that if I made a video apologizing to Mel B, mentioning that she was in one of the greatest girl groups of all time that they would put the video up as a way to redeem myself. A producer has confirmed to me that the show is scripted, and told me not to think of is as a talent show, but a game show. I didn't go in with the intention of playing games. I decided not to film their apology video, and instead come to the Huffington Post as a new blogger to tell my story! I also recorded a response track this morning called "U Ain't Better Than Whitney" in which I say I'm gonna stand up. I would rather stand as a freak than be a heartless celebrity judge or producer on a "game show" called "America's Got Talent."

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'Harry Potter' Actress Scarlett Byrne Engaged To Hugh Hefner's Son

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Congrats to Scarlett Byrne and Cooper Hefner! 


Hefner, who is the son of legendary Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, shared the good news that they're engaged earlier this week. 


"To many more adventures with this lovely lady @scarleybyrne," Cooper wrote on Twitter along with a collage of photos, including one that showed off the 24-year-old's sparkling new engagement ring. 


Byrne, who played Pansy Parkinson in the last three "Harry Potter" movies and appeared on the "The Vampire Diaries" this past season, also celebrated the couple's news on social media. "I was lucky enough to fall in love with my best friend," she wrote. 








The couple aren't the only one's celebrating, as Cooper's father congratulated the couple on their engagement on Twitter, as well. 





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Kylie Jenner's 18th Birthday Means More NSFW Photos Are Coming

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Kylie Kristen Jenner, recent high school graduate, home-owner, reality star and Snapchat queen, turns 18 on Aug. 10. 


It's a birthday that's been a longtime coming for a girl whose has been in a rush to grow up, and it has some people feeling a little uneasy -- like her older sister Kendall, who posted this NSFWish photo to Instagram on Friday that she captioned, "weekend vibes #KyliesTurning18ImScared." 


We're guessing that Kendall is anticipating that as soon as Kylie turns 18 all those NSFWish photos will soon become just NSFW ones. It's a family tradition, after all. 



It looks like Kylie will be celebrating her birthday for more than a week, since the festivities have apparently just begun and she's scheduled to celebrate with a party at Beachclub in Pointe-Calumet, Quebec,  on Aug. 16, where the legal drinking age is, you guessed it, 18. 



A photo posted by King Kylie (@kyliejenner) on



 


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Correction: A previous version of this post misstated the date of Jenner's birthday bash in Canada.

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Zebra Katz Carves His Own Path To The Limelight

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When Brooklyn rapper Zebra Katz takes to a stage, it’s impossible to turn away from his piercing gaze.


Such was the case last Sunday when Zebra Katz played an early afternoon set at Chicago’s Lollapalooza. With massive trees protecting the area from the blistering August sun, he stalked, pounced and growled his way through songs ranging from his scathing new EP, “Nu Renegade,” to his better-known tracks, particularly the forever-fresh “Ima Read.”


All the while, the crowd gathered around the stage continued to grow in size to the point where Zebra Katz, clad in an all-white ensemble, ended his set off-stage, rapping while surrounded by his fans. The fourth wall had definitely been broken, and yet, the spell he held his audience under had not.


Three days earlier, Ojay Morgan, the man behind the “character” of Zebra Katz, sat in the basement of Berlin, where he was headlining the Chicago nightclub’s annual pre-Lollapalooza “side show.”


While he spoke with the same wit and conviction familiar to anyone who’s ever taken in a Zebra Katz performance, Morgan clearly occupies a different space in the world than Zebra Katz, which makes it difficult to put a finger on what Morgan is all about -- and this appears intentional. 


“Zebra Katz has a bigger bank account than I have, that’s the difference,” Morgan told The Huffington Post. “It’s really good to have a veil. Like Andy Warhol said, you should always have something to sell and I’m not selling myself, I’m selling a product. I’m selling a brand, selling a lifestyle and it’s not myself. That’s the comfort I have.”


The Zebra Katz "brand," which grew out of a performance piece Morgan first presented while a student at Eugene Lane College, hit the indie mainstream in 2012 with the release of “Ima Read,” a song that attracted the attention of the music and fashion world elite.




Since then, Zebra Katz has remained prolific, releasing a steady stream of mixtapes and videos while traveling around the world performing live sets that are just as intense, if not more so, than the material they are drawn from. Over the past year, he’s played shows in Spain, Switzerland, Germany and Japan. Last week, while spending time in Jamaica with his family -- his parents are Jamaican -- he was stung by a jellyfish. 


But throughout that time, Morgan has still yet to release a full-length album as Zebra Katz and has also expressed frustration with how his music has often been lumped in with that of artists like Le1f, Mykki Blanco and Cakes da Killa as a sort of New York-born queer rap "revolution." 


“I’m completely against the genre-ization of [a 'queer rap scene'] because it’s really fucked up,” Morgan, who identifies as queer, said. “I think as artists we have so much more to offer than a blanket sexuality that most people think is helping us sell music because it’s not. For some, it may, but it’s not in my music and not in my aesthetic.”


Instead of pursuing a more traditional path through the music industry, Morgan has taken an almost completely independent route, releasing his own music and doing his own publicity -- he may have been the only artist playing Lollapalooza who listed himself as his own media liaison.


But all that’s not to say Morgan doesn’t play well with others. For his “Nu Renegade” EP, released in May, he worked with London-based Iran-born producer Leila Arab, a frequent Björk collaborator Morgan met at a show of his. The result is a collection of six songs that are dark and sexy, sparse yet overwhelming and occasionally challenging to listen to. All of the songs, too, have accompanying videos which are being released once-a-month up until the final three, which will comprise a mini-film of their own.


The latest, the video for the EP-opening “Blk Diamond,” is as disturbing as it is explosive. The track itself brings together elements of rap, trip-hop, electronic and industrial music, like a mix of Grace Jones, the Haxan Cloak and Tricky at their strangest.




“We think it isn’t one of the ‘nicest’ EPs to come out this year,” Morgan admitted of "Nu Renegade." “It’s really brutal and I think that’s kind of just the reflection of our time and a reflection of what’s happening. No matter what realm or fragment of society is fucked up, it glimpses and touches on that.”


Twenty minutes into the interview, Morgan pulls back the curtain on his approach to his music and videos ever so slightly, explaining that the videos draw inspiration from horror films like “Rosemary’s Baby,” “The Shining” and “Candyman" and that he relishes playing a villain-type character through his music.


And though his visuals and lyrics might sometimes feel esoteric, Morgan insists there is a message to be taken away from the work, even if it’s not entirely spelled out.


“If people say it’s dark, it’s dark because people are only looking through the peephole of the world I’m creating. I haven’t let everyone in the door,” Morgan said. “But I’m talking about real-life shit. I’m talking about race. I’m talking about my black body, my body, how it means for me to have this body and how I want other people to experience it or experience me. That’s why I’m putting out so much work and all these visuals because it’s content, and with more content you have more context for what the hell I’m talking about.”



With festival season winding down, Morgan has his sights on completing his first full-length album for next year, in addition to bulking up his label, ZFK Records, to help artists with a similar point-of-view as Morgan gain exposure. He’s also looking forward to playing more live shows, with a European tour slated for the fall.


In the meantime, he won't be turning to the Internet for input on his next move.


“I used to Google ‘Zebra Katz,’ but I don’t anymore because I don’t really care for peoples’ opinions that much,” Morgan said. “If I would have listened to everything people told me to do, I definitely wouldn’t be here.”

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Everything We Know About 'American Horror Story: Hotel'

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We now know who the main characters are in "American Horror Story: Hotel," the real-life incident that inspired the season and when it will debut.


On Friday, the cast and creators of "AHS: Hotel" revealed a slew of new details about the upcoming season during the Television Critics Association summer press tour. We've compiled a list of everything we know about Season 5 of the anthology series so you're fully prepared to check in on Oct. 7. 



  • The name of the titular hotel will be Hotel Cortez, set in downtown Los Angeles. 

  • The new season will be more like Season 1. Co-creator Brad Falchuk described "Hotel" as more "noir-y" and said the horror will be "dripping out of" the hotel.

  • The new season was inspired by a surveillance video of a girl who went missing after she entered an elevator in a downtown hotel. "She was never seen again," Ryan Murphy said at the TCA panel. While it's not confirmed, we have a strong theory that Murphy was referring to the death of Elisa Lam, a woman who was last seen in the lobby of LA's Cecil Hotel in 2013 and was found dead in one of the hotel's rooftop water tanks.

  • Lady Gaga plays Elizabeth, the owner of the hotel. Murphy described her as "a very wealthy social doyenne who is consumed with art and fashion and people." Elizabeth also has a nefarious plan that unravels over the course of the season. Don't expect any musical moments from Gaga this season, though.

  • Sarah Paulson is Hypodermic Sally, who lives at the hotel and hates Kathy Bates' Iris. The actress described Sally as "a nasty gal" who is "quite dark." "She's sexy, she’s a drug addict," Paulson said at the panel. "Not that drug addicts are sexy, but she’s sexy." Sally also has a "budding something" with Wes Bentley's character.

  • Kathy Bates is Iris, who Bates described as "very, very sexy." Iris runs the hotel and has a relationship with Matt Bomer and Wes Bentley's characters.

  • Denis O'Hare plays a character named Elizabeth Taylor, who the actor described as "a person inspired by the awesomeness" of Taylor's movies, such as "Cleopatra" and "Butterfield 8." In the show, Liz Taylor works at the hotel bar, the Blue Parrot Lounge, with Iris.

  • Matt Bomer is Donovan who has a "very interesting" relationship with Gaga's Elizabeth.

  • Wes Bentley plays Detective John Lowell who is investigating gridly murders that lead him to check into the hotel. John is married to Chloë Sevigny's Alex who is dealing with a loss in the family.

  • Finn Wittrock plays Tristan Duffy, a male model who is "always looking for the next high and finds the biggest high in Lady Gaga." Wittrock said Gaga "sees all of [him]," whatever that means.

  • Cheyenne Jackson plays Will Drake, a fashion icon who has moved from New York to Los Angeles.

  • Angela Bassett plays Romana Royale, an actress who Bassett said is "sexy as hell." Romana has a strong, lasting relationship with Gaga's character. She doesn't live in the hotel, but she visits often.

  • Murphy revealed that characters from previous "AHS" seasons will begin checking in to "Hotel" starting with Episode 6.

  • Evan Peters will play Mr. March, and will be "evil" along with Paulson, Bates, Bassett and Bomer's characters. 

  • Lily Rabe will portray a famous serial killer on "Hotel."

  • Naomi Campbell will guest star as a fashion editor who will face off with Gaga's Elizabeth.

  • Darren Criss will reportedly appear on "Hotel" for a Halloween episode as Justin, a Silver Lake hipster, according to E! Online. Justin will apparently have some drama with Bates' Iris after he has too many room service demands. 


"American Horror Story: Hotel" will premiere on Oct. 7 on FX.


Maureen Ryan contributed reporting.


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Caitlyn Jenner Discusses Her Sexuality In New 'I Am Cait' Teaser

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Caitlyn Jenner's new friends are eager to know more about the 65-year-old's experiences dating "as a trans woman," but it's not a subject that the former Olympian appears to have even given much thought. 


In a teaser for an upcoming episode the docuseries "I Am Cait," Jenner told her friends, "I've only been with women." (Jenner split from Kris Jenner in 2013 after 22 years of marriage and had been married twice before.)


 "I have bigger things than an orgasm to worry about," she said. "I have bigger things to worry about than an orgasm."


When many of her friends raised their hands to say they are more attracted to men than women, Jenner responded, "I don't know. I've never been with a guy."


This is the first time Jenner has really spoken about any aspect of her romantic life since her divorce from Kris. And when Jenner came out as transgender this past April during a "20/20" interview with Diane Sawyer, the star, who had yet to reveal her female name, broached the subject of sexuality by stating that she's attracted to women and emphasized the difference between gender and sexuality.


 "There's two different things here. Sexuality is who you personally are attracted to -- who turns you on," Jenner said. "But gender identity has to do with who you are as a person and your soul and who you identify with inside."


"I Am Cait" airs Sunday at 8:00 p.m. ET on E!


 


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'American Horror Story: Hotel' Might Be Inspired By This Real-Life Mystery

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On Friday, "American Horror Story: Hotel" co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk revealed new details about the upcoming season during the Television Critics Association summer press tour. We learned who all the main characters are, the name of the titular hotel and that the season was inspired by a real-life event. Murphy didn't reveal the exact horror story that gave him the idea for Season 5, but based on his description and some clues, we have a pretty good idea.


During the panel, Murphy told the TCA audience that the creators were inspired by a real-life surveillance video. "A girl got in an elevator in a downtown hotel," he said. "She was never seen again." So what incident happened two years ago in a downtown hotel? The Elisa Lam mystery.


In 2013, Lam, a 21-year-old Vancouver woman, was found dead on the rooftop of the former Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles (now known as Stay on Main). The woman was last seen in the lobby of the hotel on Jan. 31 and presumed missing until police found her body in one of the water supply tanks on the hotel's rooftop on Feb. 19. During the investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department released a surveillance video of Lam acting strange in the hotel elevator, which showed her pressing multiple buttons, flailing her arms around and standing in the corner as if she was hiding from something. The LA County Coroner later ruled Lam's death accidental. Could this be the video Murphy and Falchuk were inspired by?


If so, one "AHS" fan already guessed it back in July. Tumblr user FriendlyWafer posted a photo of a director's chair from "AHS" (allegedly posted on Instagram by Murphy's assistant) along with a photo of Lam. FriendlyWafer speculated that the season could be about Lam's death since the initials CH were inscribed on the chair. Could Hotel Cortez be a reference to the Cecil Hotel?



The Huffington Post could not immediately reach an FX rep for comment on the theory, but we have a burning suspicion that "AHS" will have a spooky elevator scene this season.


"American Horror Story: Hotel" will premiere on Oct. 7 on FX.


Maureen Ryan contributed reporting.


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Mindy Kaling's Guide To Killer Confidence

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One evening last year, I was onstage at a Q&A in Manhattan hosted by a magazine to discuss my life and career. This was one of those fancy events where ticket prices are high, and there's wine and cheese beforehand, and cocktails, but no real meal is served at any point. It made you wish you had just shushed the naysayers and brought three hot little sliders in your clutch to nibble at opportune moments. No one else seemed to mind the lack of food, though, because the theater was packed, primarily with an older, mostly white crowd.

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Can Please We Stop Apologizing for Being Offended by Offensive Things?

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I can admit that I am an over-apologizer. I say sorry when I don't need to. I apologize for being in someone's way, I apologize after being corrected or notified of something I would've never known beforehand, and I even say sorry to inanimate objects whenever I bump into them. It's not that I'm actually contrite or even think the person (or thing) that I'm apologizing to expecting me to be; I just do it out of habit. My mother raised me to be polite and obedient. This world has conditioned me to "know my place" as a black person, as a woman and as a black woman.

Thankfully, I have learned to dismantle those limiting expectations from my psyche. But every now and then, I catch myself second-guessing my actions in fear of becoming the hostile black person or the overly emotional woman. Proudly owning, accepting and allowing my humanness is a daily work. When I witness others apologizing for their own discomfort inflicted by another, I can't help but feel disappointed yet sympathetic. Such is the case with Rosie Perez.

On Tuesday, during her guest host appearance on The View, Kelly Osbourne made a highly offensive comment about Latinos. In a discussion about Donald Trump's recent inflammatory and racist remarks on immigration, co-host Perez said that although many Latino-Americans agree "that the immigration problem is a problem," Trump's racist comments does not help. Osbourne attempted to add on to Perez's argument with her signature snark, but ended up being an epic fail.

"If you kick every Latino out of this country, then who is going to be cleaning your toilet, Donald Trump?" Osbourne said.

Whoa. Way to shut down racism with even more racism.

Osbourne stumbled over her explanation as Perez and co-host Raven-Symone called out her ignorance.

"Latinos are not the only people to do that," Perez told Osbourne, to which the British guest host snapped back "Come on! You know I would never mean it like that. I'm not part of this argument..."

Shortly after the show aired, Perez publicly (and unexpectedly) apologized to Osbourne for taking her "point wrong." I'm still unclear on the right way to receive such an awful comment.

"My apologies @KellyOsbourne, I took your point wrong-#Trump #Latinos. My bad. You're heart is so pure & righteous. I adore you. @TheView"

Osbourne, who apologized after Perez, issued a backhanded "sorry but not sorry" post on Facebook.

I want to start by saying I ALWAYS take responsibility for my actions. In this particular case I will take responsibility for my poor choice of words but I will not apologize for being a racist as I am NOT. I whole-hearted fucked up today. I don't want to bullshit anyone with lame excuses. Although, I was stopped mid-sentence by Rosie and couldn't finish my point I will not let Rosie take responsibility for my words. I should have known better as I was on The View and it was live. I've learned a very valuable lesson. It is my hope that this situation will open up a conversation about immigration and the Latin community as a whole. By the way I clean my own fucking toilets.


Despite her distasteful comment, Osbourne still manages to blame Perez for interrupting her point -- because claiming Latinos are the only ones who clean toilets is such an awesome lead into a great point. She acknowledges that she "fucked up" but she does not apologize for offending others. She doesn't even check her microaggressive racism.

It bothers me that Perez apologized for being offended by such an offensive comment. It bothers me even more that she shifted the issue from Osbourne's problematic comment to her sensitivity. Dear Rosie, you were not being too sensitive. Please stop apologizing.

Although I am disappointed in Rosie's unnecessary apology, I get why she did it. When you are a person of color, a woman, gay, trans or (even more stressful) all of the above, you tend to second-guess your feelings in favor of not disrupting the calm. Am I being too emotional? Too sensitive? Am I the angry black woman?

The dilemma gets even worse when your identity intersects with your relationship with the offender. In almost any scenario, one may find themselves apologizing for the actions of a loved one. Your friend or relative may not be intentionally racist, sexist or prejudiced, but in the words of Crissle West, "words mean things." It is possible to not be outwardly or directly hateful but still hold on to hateful concepts.

Coddling a friend or loved one's ego despite their ignorance does a disservice to your feelings and to their growth. Perez could've turned the situation into a learning lesson rather than shame herself for reacting appropriately. She may have robbed her good friend of a powerful lesson -- though she is totally not responsible for teaching Osbourne things a simple Google search can. Instead, Perez's apology reinforces the stigma that our problem with our problems is just that -- our problem. It reinforces the idea that marginalized groups of people should know their place and not challenge prejudiced ideologies.

Thankfully, Perez has now responded to the outrage surrounding her apology via Twitter.

"I tweeted at #KellyOsbourne in an effort to help keep her from spiraling after her unfortunate comment. I went overboard with my apology- #mybad. But I don't apologize for speaking up and calling her on it-mistake or not, it was offensive. And please don't ever question my support for mi gente... Ever." #boricua #enoughsaid"


From the keyboard of someone who knows unnecessary apologies all too well, can we all please be bold enough to call-out offensive shit? Can we turn awkward moments in which a loved one offends us with hurtful and ignorant remarks to moments of discussion? Sorry, but I'm tired of apologizing.

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A New Band Of Female Showrunners Is Breaking TV's Old-School Rules

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In a dynamic marketplace, a rising tide lifts all boats. And the tidal wave of television series production in the past few years has led to an unprecedented number of women serving as captains of their ships — as showrunners and auteur writer-directors of shows.

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A Complete Oral History Of 'Bring It On'

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Long before “Pitch Perfect” became a hit franchise and every group of women became our #squadgoals, there were the Toros and the Clovers. Fifteen years ago this month, Universal released “Bring It On” into theaters, a low budget, high-school comedy about rival cheerleading teams that spawned four spinoff films, a stage musical, and helped pave the way for the Barden Bellas, the McKinley glee club and many more.

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'Fantastic Four' Director Josh Trank Says His Movie Is Not Fantastic, Blames Studio

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If you've spent any time on the Internet this week, you likely know that the new "Fantastic Four" is getting less than fantastic reviews.


The Josh Trank reboot, which stars Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell, is crumbling quickly with a current Rotten Tomatoes score of 10 percent. But the director isn't going to take the blame. On Thursday night, Trank tweeted that his initial version of the movie "would've received great reviews," blaming the studio for the harsh critical reaction. The director soon deleted the tweet, but not before Mike Ryan of Uproxx was able to screen shot it.





Reports of problems between Trank and 20th Century Fox first began circulating in May. According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Fantastic Four" producers said Trank was "erratic" and uncommunicative on set, which allegedly led to the director leaving the stand-alone "Star Wars" film he initially signed on for.


In June, Trank denied the comments in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “None of those facts were true," he told the paper, "and any of the facts that were true were spun in such a maliciously wrong way." The director revealed that he decided to leave the "Star Wars" film because he wanted to do something original and avoid public scrutiny. “It’s not healthy for me right now in my life," he said. "I want to do something that’s below the radar." 


Reps for Fox and Trank were not immediately available for comment.


For more, head to Variety.


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Caitlyn And Kris Jenner Unite For Kylie's 18th Birthday

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The Kardashian-Jenner clan got together Friday night to kick off the birthday festivities for Kylie, who turns 18 on Aug. 10.


Kim, Khloé, Kourtney, Kendall and Kylie posed for a series of gorgeous (and silly) photos, posted across their different Instagram accounts. The girls' parents, Kris and Caitlyn Jenner, also made a photogenic appearance.



The parent trap

A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on



According to both People and Us Weekly, this is the first time Kris reunited with her ex-partner since Caitlyn's transition.


Caitlyn and Kris split in October 2013 after 22 years of marriage.



Happy Birthday Ky!!! We ❤️ U!!!

A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on




The great Cait

A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on




Sister ❤️

A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on




Sister Squad

A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on



Kendall posted her own version of "Sister Squad," as a follow-up to the NSFW pic she uploaded earlier in the day. She captioned the latter with #KyliesTurning18ImScared, which sounds like there's a fun weekend ahead.



Khloé took part in the social media celebration as well, posting the following photo with Caitlyn and a sweet photo of Kylie and a birthday cake.



A photo posted by Khloé (@khloekardashian) on




Happy early birthday, Kylie!


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Gina Rodriguez Schools Bullies On Social Media Hate, Is A Queen

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Gina Rodriguez, star of "Jane the Virgin" and all around gorgeous and talented gal, took some unwarranted heat this week after posting her People en Español cover on Instagram.



Apparently, some of her 327,000 followers and/or general Instagram peepers did not like Rodriguez's smiling image and chose to respond with hateful comments.


But Gina Rodriguez is not one to take bullying in silence.


The 31-year-old posted another photo from her People shoot, this time addressing the negative and spiteful comments she had received, wondering -- rightfully so -- "When did we decide social media was for hating, for putting others down rather than lifting them up."


"I refuse to participate in that kind of world," Rodriguez wrote. "Before you write a comment today on anyone's picture or anyone's page ask yourself would you want others to say that about yourself? What am I getting out of being mean to another person I have never met?"



The Golden Globe winner has been vocal in the past about issues she believes in, among them the importance of diversity and body confidence.


"We live in an industry where the desire to be something that you're not sells," she told HuffPost Live in April. "But why can't we make the desire to be what you are sell? Why can't we make that profitable?" 


In May, the actress participated in The Hollywood Reporter's comedy actress roundtable and spoke about the lack of roles for actresses of color.


"I remove myself instantly if something's perpetuating a stereotype," Rodriguez said. "But the only way to stop stereotypes is to say, 'I'm going to wait for a journey that suits me.' When you compromise, you don't do your best work. You're only left with your integrity."


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Bobbi Kristina Brown Estate Adds Wrongful Death Count To Nick Gordon Lawsuit

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ATLANTA (AP) — The administrator of Bobbi Kristina Brown's estate has added a wrongful death count to the lawsuit against her partner.


The amended lawsuit filed Friday also accuses Nick Gordon of giving her a "toxic cocktail" and putting her face-down in water.



The 22-year-old daughter of Whitney Houston died in hospice care July 26, about six months after she was found face-down and unresponsive in a bathtub in her suburban Atlanta townhome Jan. 31.


Gordon hasn't been charged criminally. It was not immediately clear Friday who his lawyer is.


An initial autopsy found no obvious cause of death and the medical examiner's office said it would likely take several weeks to rule on a manner and cause of death.


The district attorney has said they will review the investigative file.


 


 


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Amy Schumer Dancing To Backstreet Boys Is The Icing On Her Vacation Insta Cake

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So far this summer, Amy Schumer's Instagram has brought us girl power human pyramids, boogie-boarder King Tritan and JLaw on a Jetski.


Now, a new video adds the star dancing to vintage Backstreet Boys hit "As Long As You Love Me" into the mix:  



A video posted by @amyschumer on



 Slow it down, now:



A photo posted by @amyschumer on



UGH, sometimes stars REALLY ARE JUST LIKE US. (Except, like, in a more picturesque setting.) 


Don't think JLaw is in attendance on this new trip to Europe, but for posterity:  



A photo posted by @amyschumer on



 


 

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Ireland Baldwin Woke Up Like This: Topless On A Beach

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Ireland Baldwin, the impossibly beautiful daughter of actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger, already has a head start on the rest of us plebeians. So when she decides to pull a Beyoncé, you just know she's going to do it better than most. 




Indeed, when Ireland Baldwin "wakes up like this," it's topless on a beach in short shorts, with a Hello Kitty sleep mask and a surfboard. (Surfbort?)



i DK / i woke UP like this

A photo posted by Ireland Basinger Baldwin (@irelandbbaldwin) on



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Miley Cyrus Calls Out Industry Sexism, Big Bucks And Taylor Swift

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Miley Cyrus is Marie Claire's September cover girl and, in typical Miley fashion, is holding nothing back in the accompanying interview.


The 22-year-old singer and activist channels Twiggy on the gorgeous cover and inside, opens up about sexism in Hollywood and the music industry. "There is so much sexism, ageism, you name it," Cyrus tells Marie Claire. "Kendrick Lamar sings about LSD and he's cool. I do it and I'm a druggie whore."





Cyrus, who's slated to host the VMAs later this month, also touches on the issue of dough, calling out the rich and famous for being, well, so rich and famous.


"People in this industry think, I just gotta keep getting more money, and I'm like, What are you getting more money for? You probably couldn't even spend it all in thislifetime," she says. "People get more famous, so that they can make their brand more famous, so that they can sell more shit, so that they can make more money. It's a never-ending cycle."


"Getting more money, having more hits, being the lead in the movie -- those things might stimulate you, but they don't make you happy. I've experienced it all already, and I'm telling you firsthand, it doesn't," she adds. 


Elsewhere in the interview, Cyrus takes on fellow songstress Taylor Swift and calls out the hypocrisy in treating Swift like a role model.


"I don't get the violence revenge thing," Cyrus says about Swift's "Bad Blood" video. "That's supposed to be a good example? And I'm a bad role model because I'm running around with my titties out? I'm not sure how titties are worse than guns."


For more with Miley, pick up the September issue of Marie Claire​, on newsstands Aug. 18.


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Rapper Sean Price Dead At 43

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Rapper Sean Price died on Saturday at the age of 43. Duck Down Music confirmed news of the artist's death to The Huffington Post:



It is with beyond a heavy heart that Duck Down Music is sadly confirming that Sean Price passed away early this morning in his Brooklyn apartment, Saturday, August 8th, 2015. The cause of death is currently unknown, but it was reported that he died in his sleep.  He’s survived by his wife, and his three children.



Price rose to fame as one-half of the hip-hop duo Heltah Skeltah. He was also a member of the group Boot Camp Clik and a popular solo artist.


Friends, fans and members of the hip-hop community took to social media Saturday to honor the late rapper: 



R.I.P. Ruck....Love and Respect to The Duck Down Family!!! #SeanPrice

A photo posted by @djpremier on




Eshkoshka!

A photo posted by Questlove Gomez (@questlove) on




















This is a developing story. 


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