Film star Brad Pitt has donated 100,000 dollars to oppose a California referendum seeking to ban gay marriage, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Gay marriage has been legal in California since June.
But opponents of same-sex marriages collected enough signatures to force a referendum seeking to ban them. Called "Proposition 8," it goes before voters in the most populous US state November 4.
"Because no one has the right to deny another their life, even though they disagree with it, because everyone has the right to live the life they so desire if it doesn't harm another and because discrimination has no place in America, my vote will be for equality and against Proposition 8," the Times quoted Pitt as saying in a statement.
He and partner Angelina Jolie have said they would wed when everyone who wants to get married in the United States is able to do so. Same-sex marriages are illegal in most US states.
Via afp
Pitt donates 100,000 US to support gay marriage rights
jueves, 18 de septiembre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Brad Pitt
Elle Macpherson has been voted the Greatest Model Ever in a new poll.
The Australian, 44, who’s known as The Body in the industry, beat Cindy Crawford, 42, to the top spot.
Ageing model Twiggy, 58, rounded off the top three in the Debenhams survey of 3,000 women.
‘Our research shows women prefer curvier figures like Elle and Cindy,’ spokesperson Caroline Adams tells the Daily Mirror.
‘Most of the original supermodels feature in the top 10 which illustrates just how iconic their figures are.’
Claudia Schiffer, 38, was fourth, Kate Moss, 34, was seventh and Liz Hurley, 43, trailed in ninth.
Via nowmagazine.co.uk
A director has distanced herself from comments about supporting the IRA made by an actress who stars in her latest film.
Rose McGowan sparked controversy with comments made at the world premiere of Fifty Dead Men Walking, a film based on the memoirs of Martin McGartland, an RUC Special Branch agent who infiltrated the IRA in the 1980s.
The 35-year-old American actress, whose father is Irish, said at a press conference at the Toronto Film Festival last week: "I imagine, had I grown up in Belfast, I would 100% have been in the IRA. My heart just broke for the cause. Violence is not to be played out daily and provide an answer to problems, but I understand it."
McGowan plays an IRA operative in the film, which also stars Sir Ben Kingsley and Jim Sturgess.
The producers and director of the film attempted to limit the damage caused by her comments by publicly expressing their disapproval. There are concerns that the comments could damage the film, presently being sold around the world and to be released in the UK next month.
In a statement, they said they regret any "distress that this (the comments) may have caused to people of Northern Ireland and particularly those who were victims of, or caught up in the shocking events that existed during the Troubles." The comments "were not shared, nor endorsed, by anybody associated with the production or creative elements of the film", they said.
Director Kari Skogland said: "Rose's personal opinions of Northern Ireland do not reflect the perspective of the film in any way.
"Our goal was to present an even, non-judgmental point of view so the audience could follow the path of an informer with empathy no matter what the politics.
"We are all very proud of this thought-provoking film and are deeply indebted to the city of Belfast and Northern Ireland for giving us such a warm welcome whilst filming."
Guy Collins, chairman of HandMade Films International, said on behalf of the co-producers: "We were surprised and disappointed by the comments made by Ms McGowan. To the best of our knowledge, her now-stated views were never expressed at any time before, during or after the shooting of the film, until the press conference ahead of the gala screening last week. Her opinions run entirely contrary to the stated aims of the film which has always been to tell one man's story viewed from both sides of the conflict."
Via ukpress
Ryan O’Neal has been arrested on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine. Police found the drug yesterday (17.09.08) at the actor’s Malibu home during a routine check connected with his 23-year-old son Redmond, who is on probation for three years after admitting driving under the influence and possession crystal meth, in June.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said: “Deputies were doing a routine sweep to make sure Redmond was adhering to his probation. “Upon searching the premises, the younger O’Neal was found in possession of narcotics. Later, a vial of drugs were found in the elder O’Neal’s bedroom. We believe the drugs found were methamphetamines.”
Both men were released after posting $10,000 bail and neither Ryan nor Redmond – whose mother is Farrah Fawcett, 61 - appeared under the influence of drugs, the sheriff said. The 67-year-old ‘Love Story’ actor was arrested last year on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and negligent discharge of a firearm after firing a gunshot during an argument with another son, Griffin, 43.
Ryan said he fired a warning shot just to scare his son. The dispute started after Redmond had been allegedly tied to a staircase by Griffin – his half-brother – to prevent him going out to buy drugs.
Charges were never filed for the incident.
Ryan first became famous on the soap opera Peyton Place. His role in 'Love Story' gained him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Further starring roles have been the screwball comedy 'What's Up, Doc?', Paper Moon (co-starring his daughter, Oscar-winner Tatum O'Neal), the Stanley Kubrick directed Barry Lyndon, the 'Love Story' sequel, Oliver's Story, and the Walter Hill car chase movie 'The Driver'.
O'Neal has been in a long-term (off and on again) relationship with actress Farrah Fawcett. He also dated Diana Ross for some time. He was previously married to actresses Joanna Moore and Leigh Taylor-Young. He has four children: Tatum O'Neal and Griffin O'Neal, Patrick O'Neal and Redmond O'Neal (with Fawcett).
Ryan’s daughter, Tatum O'Neal, 44, a former child star, pleaded guilty in July to disorderly conduct stemming from a drug arrest in June.
Via welt.de
She was just named one of People magazine’s best dressed for baring her legs and slim frame, but thirty something Gwyneth Paltrow said her new toned body isn’t the result of dieting.
The mother of two told Oprah Winfrey, in an interview airing Wednesday, that even the thought of counting calories and carbs is not in her blood.
“I just cannot diet,” she told the talk show host. “I think maybe it’s the idea that you can’t have something… I just can’t do it.’
Via msn.com
Miley Cyrus has got an older man
miércoles, 17 de septiembre de 2008 | Etiquetas: Hannah Montana, Justin Gaston, Miley Cyrus
Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus has got herself a new beau.
The 16 year old pop sensation stepped out with aspiring country singer and underwear model Justin Gaston, 20, when he attended a church service in Pasadena, California, with the Cyrus family.
The pair became friends earlier this year when Gaston was a contestant on Nashville Star, a reality show hosted by Miley's pa, Billy Ray Cyrus.
The two have so much in common. Apart from both being country crooners, Gaston has appeared in underwear ads for Kenneth Cole, while Cyrus wore only a satin sheet for her now infamous Vanity Fair shoot.
In a rare TV interview, Lynne Spears appeared on NBC's The Today Show on Wednesday, where she opened up to host Meredith Vieira about how her youngest child, Jamie Lynn Spears, told her that she and boyfriend Casey Aldridge were expecting a child.
"She hands me a note and tells me to go into the bedroom and read it," Lynne recalled. "It said she was pregnant and everything was going to be okay.... I thought it was a joke. I kept waiting for the punchline."
But after noticing that Casey, who was in the house was the bomb was dropped, couldn't look her in the eye, Lynne realized this was no joke.
"I was in shock... I started to cry," said Lynne, who also revealed that, as a mom, she tends to take the blame for all her children's mistakes on her own shoulders. "What did I do?" she asked herself at the time. "I took all the blame... It's always my fault."
As for her other daughter, Britney Spears, who has seen her life go from the top of the pop charts to the bottom of the tabloid barrel and now once again surging, Lynne says, "She's strong, she's resilient... Britney's fine... She's headed to the top once again."
Via okmagazine.com
Dan Gheesling, a 25 year old Catholic high school teacher from Dearborn, Mich., has become the first winner in the history of CBS television reality series “Big Brother” to win by unanimous vote, taking home the half-million dollar prize.
Gheesling left the house in glory, winning “Big Brother 10” and the $500,000 prize. Memphis Garrett, his best buddy in the house, was runner-up. Cheesling told Julie Chen, host of “Big Brother,” that winning was like a dream come true.
Memphis, 25, took home $50,000, while Keesha Smith, 30, received $25,000 as the winner of the Favorite Juror Prize.
According to his biography on the show’s website, Gheesling attended Michigan State University and earned a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology. He currently works as a teacher and football coach in an all boys Catholic school.
Gheesling, who prefers sushi, turkey cutlets, Mediterranean food and Cheez-Its, considers vegans to be “weird tree-huggers” and has similarly strong political views: should Hillary Clinton have become president, he would have moved out of the country. It’s all here.
In addition, the half-a-million-dollars richer young man lists as favorite movies “The Godfather,” “Good Will Hunting” and “The Karate Kid, Parts I and II.” He also likes to run and coach football.
Gheesling was one of 13 persons, complete strangers among themselves, who entered the house some ten weeks ago, to spend the summer surrounded by cameras and microphones recording their every move 24/7.
It was a good game for Gheesling though, as he won Head of Household three times and was ultimately voted unanimously as the winner, despite his own betrayals over the weeks. Or perhaps precisely because of them.
“Big Brother 10” had live audiences for every weekly eviction show, for the first time since the first season aired on CBS in 2000.
Via efluxmedia.com
A key witness in the O.J. Simpson robbery trial was confronted with contradictions in his testimony Tuesday, including his claim that he didn't try to profit from the casino hotel room confrontation that led to charges against the former football star.
Memorabilia dealer Bruce Fromong, who returned to the stand after becoming ill Monday, told defense attorney Gabriel Grasso he didn't have money on his mind while allegedly being robbed of sports collectibles by Simpson and a group of other men.
"You were not trying to profit off this?" asked Grasso.
"I was not trying to profit from it," said Fromong.
The attorney played a tape recording of the 2007 incident in which Fromong said, "It's not (expletive) over. I'll have 'Inside Edition' down here for us tomorrow. I told them I want big money."
Fromong acknowledged it was his voice and he conceded that he later advertised memorabilia on eBay with the statement, "The same ones stolen by O.J. in Las Vegas."
On redirect questioning, District Attorney David Roger asked to play more of the tape excerpt in which Fromong raged against Simpson.
"Nobody puts a (expletive) gun in my face. I stood up for this (expletive) when he was in jail. I stood up for him when he was on trial. I set up his offshore accounts," he yelled.
Testimony came on the first anniversary of Simpson's Las Vegas arrest. He and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart are charged with 12 counts of robbery, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon and coercion. They have pleaded not guilty.
Tempers in the case boiled as Roger referred to the confrontation as "the robbery." The defense, which claims Simpson was trying to recover stolen personal items, objected on grounds that was a legal conclusion.
"He can call it alleged. I'm calling it a robbery," snapped Roger.
The judge admonished Roger to say "at the time of the incident" or "at the time of the event." She told jurors to disregard his remark and then yelled at objecting lawyers: "Sit down!"
"Listen folks," she said. "The last thing you want me to do as the judge is to start losing my temper in front of the fine ladies and gentlemen of the jury and having to deal with all of you. You've been warned, folks."
Fromong's contradictions continued. He acknowledged that he said previously, "I felt my life was being threatened."
But moments later, under inquiry by Stewart's lawyer Robert Lucherini, Fromong said, "I was not scared."
He insisted the memorabilia Simpson sought was not stolen but said he didn't know where some of it came from.
"I believe those items belong to Mr. Simpson's kids. They should go back to him," he said, claiming that if he and Simpson had discussed it, they could have reached "an arrangement" by which he would trade the items for Simpson's signature on photos he could sell.
Jurors Tuesday also saw surveillance video from the Palace Station casino hotel which showed the comings and goings of Simpson, Stewart and seven other men on the night of the alleged robbery. The tapes showed men walking about and eventually leaving with boxes.
Via associatedpress
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the wife of the French President, recently performed live together with rock bands Metallica and Kings of Leon. Recording her song 'Tu Es Ma Came' on BBC's 'Later... with Jools Holland', the former supermodel evoked Parisian cafes with her signature breathy chanson style, while Metallica gave its thrilling heavy metal performance.
The 40-year-old singer was given a warm reception while the crowd cheered for Metallica. During the interview, the French first lady also confessed bothering her significant other when she played in the middle of the night. "I play it at home and I disturb him with it in the middle of the night," BBC quoted her, as saying.
"But he's very kind and he listens to all my doubts," she added.
Via oneindia.in
