Brad Pitt, who was in Washington with his girlfriend Angelina Jolie, who was filming her spy thriller "Salt" in the American capital became the second member of the cast of the "Ocean's Eleven" to talk to Obama about policy.
Last month, George Clooney called on Mr Obama and Vice President Joe Biden to discuss how to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Darfur and then announced that they had agreed to send an envoy to the Sudan region.
Pitt, wearing sunglasses, a goatee and a three-piece black suit, was promoting his plan to create safe, cheap "green housing" in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans as a national model. He and Jolie set up the "Make it Right" foundation in 2007.
He held separate meetings with Shaun Donovan, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and Steven Chu, Energy Secretary, before being feted as a "hero" by Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, on Capitol Hill.
The red carpet treatment for Hollywood stars and musicians marks a major departure from the Bush administration's button-down style and the occasional invitation to a country music star.
Mr Obama has also hosted the 1970s band "Earth, Wind and Fire" and the singer Stevie Wonder at the White House, though not for performances rather than policy discussions.
After his wife Michelle had been treated by Wonder to a rendition of his "Isn't She Lovely", Mr Obama said: "I think it's fair to say that had I not been a Stevie Wonder fan, Michelle might not have dated me."
Via telegraph.co.uk
Barack Obama welcomes Brad Pitt to White House
sábado, 7 de marzo de 2009 | Etiquetas: Angelina Jolie, Barack Obama, Brad Pitt
Miley Cyrus cries at "absolutely everything".
The 16-year-old star is struggling to control her emotions and even shed tears when she watched her latest movie 'Bolt', an animation about a TV star dog who struggles to come to terms with his everyday life.
Miley said: "I cry at absolutely everything. Sometimes I cry uncontrollably if it's really sad. I cried during 'Bolt' - and I knew what was going to happen. I still worried about it and cried in the sad bit. I couldn't stop myself."
This is not the first time the 'Hannah Montana' star has discussed her rollercoaster emotions.
She recently admitted being "lonely and miserable" at school in Tennessee because she was picked on by some of her fellow students.
Writing in her new book 'Miley Cyrus: Miles To Go', she revealed: "The girls took it beyond normal bullying. These were big, tough girls. I was scrawny and short. They were fully capable of doing me bodily harm."
Miley claims her tormentors once locked her in the bathroom and also started a group called 'The Anti-Miley Cyrus Club'.
Via myparkmag.co.uk
Actor Robin Williams will undergo heart surgery for an aortic valve replacement, forcing him to cut short his stand-up comedy tour, his representative said on Thursday.
Williams, 57, was in the middle of his 80-city, one-man "Weapons of Self-Destruction" tour in Florida this week when he complained of shortness of breath. His representative did not disclose where or when his surgery would occur.
"I'm so touched by everyone's support and well wishes," Williams was quoted as saying in a statement. "This tour has been amazing fun and I can't wait to get back out on the road after a little tune-up."
Williams won an Oscar for his supporting role as a psychologist in the 1997 drama "Good Will Hunting." He is best known for a manic comedy routine steeped in wacky accents and improvisation. He spent two months in rehab in 2006 to combat a drinking problem.
The actor's older brother, Robert Todd Williams, died in 2007 of complications from heart surgery.
Via reuters.com
US critics warmly reviewed the first night of Britney Spears' Circus tour despite suggesting that she was lip-synching some songs.
The performer started her world tour in New Orleans and revealed a 17 song set with dozens of costume changes.
Reviewers praised the energy of the spectacle, although several noted the singer mimed to a backing track.
The singer will perform in 31 North American cities before coming to the UK in June for eight shows in London.
The tour is supposed to seal Spears' professional comeback after a turbulent time for the singer personally.
With a lot riding on the opening night, Jim Farber of the New York Daily News said: "Spears dutifully hit her marks, kept up a robust pace and looked determined and engaged."
But celebrity blogger Perez Hilton complained: "She lipsynchs during the entire concert. There is no live singing."
Backing track
Ann Power of the Los Angeles Times said that despite her decision to perform to a backing track, the circus theme was apt.
"Anyone who thinks her lacklustre would do well to remember what she really is: a burlesque performer," she wrote.
Jerry Shriver from USA Today added: "Amid the spectacle, it's impossible to tell how much of the singing is real, but the crowd couldn't have cared."
Fan Natasha Stcyr told Reuters: "The theatrics, the performance, it was great. Phenomenal. It was definitely a circus. It was awesome. She's definitely back."
But another concert-goer, Stephanie Chandler, told the news agency she was "very disappointed".
"She's just not in it. If you're going to lip-sync, then you'd better bring on the dancing, but she didn't," she told Reuters.
Spears has had an eventful personal life since her Onyx Hotel tour in 2004.
She got married and divorced, had two children, was admitted to hospital with mental health problems and been at the centre of court proceedings against a former manager and an ex-boyfriend.
Her father, Jamie Spears, is currently in legal charge of all of her affairs.
The tour supports the release of her Circus album, which has sold more than 1.3 million copies worldwide since being launched in December.
Via bbc.co.uk
Singer and actress Miley Cyrus was so bullied at school that a sandwich she clung on to became "pretty much my best friend".
A multi-millionaire TV, music and film star, she said her school days were friendless, lonely and miserable - leaving her in constant fear of physical abuse.
In her book Miley Cyrus: Miles To Go, the Hannah Montana star talks about the sad memories from her Tennessee high school days.
"The girls took it beyond the normal bullying. These were big, tough girls," she wrote.
"I was scrawny and short. They were fully capable of doing me bodily harm."
One on occasion she was locked in a bathroom by her tormentors and challenged to a fight by "The Anti-Miley Club".
"It seemed like Operation Make Miley Miserable was escalating to a new level. More like Operation Take Miley Down," she said.
"Three girls strutted up and stood towering over me.
"My stomach churned.
"I clutched my grilled cheese sandwich like it was the hand of my best friend. It pretty much was my best friend those days.
"They started cussing me and telling me to get up. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't take it any more. I wasn't chicken.
"What could they do to me? I was surrounded by people. I stood up, still a foot shorter then they were, and said: 'What's your problem? What did I ever do to you?'."
The 16-year-old star also wrote of splitting up with Jonas Brothers' star Nick:
"Deep down I know we weren't being our best selves."
She now dates Justin Gaston.
Via news.com.au
A detective's notes from the scene of the alleged Rihanna assault reportedly reveal disturbing details about what happened between the singer and her boyfriend Chris Brown in the early hours of Feb. 8.
According to FOX 11 in Los Angeles, which claims to have obtained the notes from a search warrant in the case, Rihanna, 21, read a lengthy text message from a woman on Brown's phone, which led to an argument. Brown – who has a standing court date Thursday – allegedly tried to force his girlfriend out of the Lamborghini, and hit her head against the passenger window.
Brown, 19, then punched the singer while still driving, according to the detective's notes, and blood filled Rihanna's mouth. He allegedly told her, "I'm going to beat the ---- out of you when we get home." Rihanna called her assistant and left a message saying, "I am on my way home. Make sure the cops are there when I get there." The police notes say that prompted Brown to reply: "You just did the stupidest thing ever. I'm going to kill you."
The report also says that Brown bit Rihanna and put her in a headlock, and that she almost lost consciousness.
Almost three weeks after the incident, the couple reunited in Miami Beach last week.
Contacted by PEOPLE, LAPD spokeswoman April Harding said, "We cannot confirm" the detective notes.
Via people.com
Lindsay Lohan is feuding with Katie Holmes.
The 'Mean Girls' star was expecting to appear on the cover of the April edition of America's Glamour magazine and was left fuming when the coveted front page was given to Katie.
A source said: "Lindsay did a Madonna-themed photo shoot and was totally under the impression it would be the cover.
"Her Marilyn Monroe shoot for New York Magazine made her relevant when she did it, she thought the same would happen this time. Only she wasn't on the cover, Katie was, and she's mad at her now."
Lindsay, 22, donned a vintage wedding dress, white gloves and jewellery to recreate the '4 Minutes' star's performance of 'Like A Virgin' at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards as part of the magazine's American Icons: Seven Decades of Rule Breakers, Risk Takers and Style Makers photo shoot.
Despite her gripe, magazine sources insist they never planned to put her on the cover.
An insider said: "If that was Lindsay's impression, it was a mistake. She was always going to be inside the magazine."
Other stars taking part in the Icon shoot included Emma Roberts as Audrey Hepburn, Alicia Keys as Michelle Obama and Hayden Panettiere as aviator Amelia Earhart.
Katie is not the first celebrity Lindsay has waged war against.
She is rumoured to have scrawled obscene graffiti about 'Lost In Translation' star Scarlett Johansson on a New York nightclub bathroom wall.
She was also engaged in a war of words with 'Lizzy Maguire' star Hilary Dufffter they dated singer Aaron Carter at the same time in 2004, though they later patched up their differences.
Her appearance in US sitcom 'Ugly Betty' was shortened to four episodes from six amid rumours she had argued with its main star America Ferrera.
Via myparkmag.co.uk
According to sources, the 'Mean Girls' star’s mother Dina and 15-year-old sister Ali are asking the actress to come back home in Long Island, New York, so that they can look after her and make sure she is eating well, reports China Daily.
"That way Dina and Ali can look after her and stop her skipping meals. It would be the best thing for her,” a source said.
"We know it's stress behind the weight loss," the source added. However, the 22-year-old actress, who has reportedly lost nearly 14lbs from her already-slender frame in the past two months, has reportedly refused to leave Los Angeles without her girlfriend, DJ Samantha Ronson.
"She won't be away from Sam. She's too insecure," the source said. Lindsay hasn't even been tempted by junk food bought by her sister. "For a while, Ali was buying her pizza, fries, chips and all her favourites. But she just sits there, taking a few bites, then picking at the rest. She really isn't fooling anyone," the source said.
Via indiatimes.com
Following a highly criticized reunion with Rihanna, Chris Brown returns to LA for arraignment. In other words despite the serious charges that singer Chris Brown faces in regards to the brutal assault of girlfriend and fellow superstar, Rihanna, the two reportedly reconciled and are staying at entertainer P. Diddy’s South Florida mansion.
Early this morning, the "Umbrella" starlet was spotted stepping off of a private jet in L.A. and into an SUV with Chris following behind her.
The public and media have been speculating why Rihanna had a change of heart and has seemingly forgiven her beau. While some outlets speculate Rihanna doesn't want Brown behind bars, Mediatakeout.com suggests to "Extra" that Chris could try and make a deal with the D.A. "Rihanna is willing to talk to the D.A. and try to get Chris Brown off. Chris is willing to plead no contest to domestic battery and in return get no jail time."
However The District Attorney won't be able to ignore the photographic evidence obtained by TMZ that showed a swollen and bruised Rihanna.
Rihanna, whose real name is Robin Fenty, called police after being assaulted and threatened by Brown after a pre-Grammy party in Los Angeles February 7, 2009. Both entertainers pulled out the award show at the last minute and it didn’t take long for Hollywood to speculate on the cause of the attack. She called police after being bit and pummeled by Brown while traveling in a rented Lamborghini on the way to perform at the 2009 Grammy’s. A leaked picture showing the extent of the damage done to Fenty’s face was leaked to the media and confirmed to the public just how serious the charges really were.
Via efluxmedia.com
Cancer-stricken Jade Goody has been admitted to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital only five minutes after leaving the Royal Marsden today.
The star is believed to be receiving treatment for unbearable and ongoing abdominal pain.
The 27-year-old Big Brother star left the Royal Marsden Hospital, in Fulham, south west London, in a wheelchair.
Hospital staff put Jade into a waiting ambulance and she was then driven away.
Her publicist Max Clifford said: 'In terms of her spirit, she has been very brave and positive.'
'It is only when she is in considerable pain that she has been sobbing. Other than that, she has been very upbeat and is looking forward to the christening of her sons.'
Goody is said to be planning the christening for her sons Bobby, 5 and Freddie, 4, over the weekend but her attendance has now been put in doubt.
Goody has been given weeks to live after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Goody was taken to the hospital last night after she complained of unrelenting pain while at St Clare Hospice in Hastingwood, near Harlow, Essex.
Goody's spokesman, Max Clifford, said she had been told an operation to remove a blockage from her bowel might be needed to relieve the pain.
Today he said it was not yet clear whether Goody would undergo surgery.
Her pain had been managed overnight and she had her first good night's sleep for several days, he said.
"I spoke to her earlier and she was feeling better this morning after a good night's sleep.
"She was waiting to find out what's going to happen," Mr Clifford said.
He confirmed that Goody had left the hospital and said his "instinct" was that she was being taken to the oncology unit at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, also in south west London, for further assessment.
The 27-year-old Big Brother star was taken to St Clare Hospice on Friday night and had been due to return to her home in nearby Upshire today.
Doctors have told Goody that she has weeks to live after her cervical cancer spread to her liver, groin and bowel.
Mr Clifford said Goody's sons, Bobby, five, and Freddie, four, may visit their mother in hospital today if she is well enough.
Goody and her sons are due to be christened next Saturday at a church close to her home.
She also plans to record a television interview with Piers Morgan for ITV early this week, Mr Clifford said.
Her husband, Jack Tweed, 21, appeared before magistrates in Epping, Essex, today to face a charge of assault. He denies the charge.
Via metro.co.uk
