Sunday, February 19, 2012

Cele|bitchy

Cele|bitchy


Were Bobby Brown and his entourage kicked out of Whitney Houston’s funeral?

Posted: 19 Feb 2012 07:56 AM PST

Whitney Houston's funeral was held yesterday. Even though the family said that they wanted a smaller, more private service, they still allowed cameras into New Hope Baptist Church, and several outlets (including CNN) did wall-to-wall coverage of the event. Guests/mourners at the event included Houston's family, Mariah Carey, Kevin Costner, Tyler Perry, Alicia Keys, Clive Davis, Stevie Wonder, Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton. Here's some information about everything that went down:

*Bobbi Kristina sat with her grandmother, Cissy Houston, in the front row of the church. Sources say both Cissy and Bobbi Kristina were very emotional. People Mag reports that Bobbi "broke down." Come on, guys. That's her mom. Let her grieve.

*Bobby Brown came to the funeral with an entourage of nine people, and allegedly "demanded" that he and everyone he brought be given front-row seats. Media outlets claim that Bobby was allowed in, but not his entourage, so "He was allowed to go in, pay his respects and then he had to leave. He was red-eyed going up to the casket and then left. He was there for 15 minutes.” And then he left with his entourage. A source tells Us Weekly that Whitney's family is still pretty pissed off at Bobby: “There are family members who felt Bobby drove Whitney into drugs. But now Bobby is clean and Whitney has unfortunately passed. So there’s resentment.”

*But! After Bobby left the funeral, he gave a statement: “My children and I were invited to the funeral of my ex-wife Whitney Houston,” he said, referring to his three kids from previous relationships Landon, 26, La’princia, 11, Robert Jr., 10, plus Cassius, his two-year-old with wife Alicia Etheridge. “We were seated by security and then subsequently asked to move on three separate occasions. I fail to understand why security treated my family this way and continue to ask us and no one else to move. Security then prevented me from attempting to see my daughter Bobbi Kristina. In light of the events, I gave a kiss to the casket of my ex-wife and departed as I refused to create a scene. My children are completely distraught over the events. This was a day to honor Whitney. I doubt Whitney would have wanted this to occur. I will continue to pay my respects to my ex-wife the best way I know how.” Is it wrong that I actually agree with him? Whitney would have wanted Bobby to be there for the whole thing, I think.

*Kevin Costner spoke at the funeral. He talked about how The Bodyguard got made and how Whitney was cast and all of that. He also said, "To you, Bobbi Kristina, and to all those young girls who are dreaming that dream, thinking that maybe they aren’t good enough, I think Whitney would tell you, guard your bodies. And guard the precious miracle of your own life. Then sing your hearts out.” In closing, he got choked up and said, "Off you go Whitney, off you go. Escorted by an army of angels to your heavenly Father. When you sing before him, don’t you worry. You’ll be good enough.”

*Whitney's casket was carried out to "I Will Always Love You". That casket was super-shiny, right? It almost glittered.

And that's about it. I'm sure I forgot to include a lot of stuff, but I'll admit that I barely watched any of the coverage. It felt like everyone was trying to make this into another Michael Jackson-like “event” when Whitney’s family really wanted everything to be much more private. My guess is that Cissy Houston just figured that if she let media outlets have the live feed of the funeral, the media wouldn’t bother them. It was good to see Whitney’s life and accomplishments celebrated, though, and I truly hope Bobby Kristina and Whitney’s family and loved ones found some peace.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN.
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Viola Davis’s orange gown at the Image Awards: too bright and too low-cut?

Posted: 19 Feb 2012 07:50 AM PST

The Help won big at the NAACP Image Awards two nights ago, taking home Best Film, Best Actress (for Viola Davis) and Best Supporting Actress (for Octavia Spencer). You can read more about the awards here. What I really want to talk about is the fashion. First, let’s set the mood. Like, I understand that the Image Awards are not the Oscars. Most ladies do wear gowns and get their hair and makeup professionally done, but it's not a full-on crazy high-fashion event – Lenny Kravitz came in leather pants, for the love of God.

So, with that in mind, what do you think of Viola's extremely low-cut orange Hervé L. Leroux dress? I just… I don't know. Viola's body is INSANE. She's beautiful, she looks so strong and sexy and fit. But I also feel like I don't need to see this much of her rack, you know? I feel like her boobs detract from the real issue – which is that she should and hopefully WILL win the Oscar. Also, I've been loathe to discuss this other issue, but I think we need to say something: Viola has an issue with too-bright colors. I understand that her gorgeous dark skin tone means that she CAN pull off really bright, vivid colors, and yes, she owns them in a way that other women cannot. But some of her color choices are just… too bold. Too vivid. I hate to say it, but some of the colors she's picking are kind of tacky. Tacky color plus boob buffet equals… trashy. Damn it, V! You better wear something gorgeous to the Oscars. And NOT TOO BRIGHT.

And here's Octavia in Tadashi Shoji. The color of this dress photographed very differently depending on the light, so I'm not going to call it too-bright when I don't know what it looked like in person. I do like the style of the dress on a voluptuous woman, though – the wrap effect at the bust is very flattering. That's something us large-busted girls figure out fast. V-necks, wrap effects, a loose sleeve, they all help to flatter our bust.

Last girl that I want to discuss – Taraji P. Henson in Randi Rahm. Like Viola, Taraji's body is crazy and beautiful – she's very strong and sexy, but this girl has not figured out how to dress her body. With her bust, she should not be wearing something this high-necked. The whole thing makes her look thick-waisted, which she isn't.

Photos courtesy of WENN.
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Angelina Jolie presented with a feast but she only “tasted a little bit of everything”

Posted: 19 Feb 2012 07:02 AM PST

Here are some more photos of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the Sarajevo premiere/screening of In the Land of Blood and Honey – Angelina's black Versace still seems dated to me, but whatever. Brad and Angie were all over the place in Europe last week – Berlin, Paris, Sarajevo and even Croatia. Angelina went to Croatia without Brad, and with the cast of ITLOBAH. Unfortunately, we don't have photos – you can see some here. Angelina wore a long-sleeved orangey-coral-colored gown for that event. I'm not crazy about her in that color, but the style of the dress is flattering enough. I appreciate Angelina's commitment to sleeves. Too many celebrity women fall into the "strapless gown" trap and never get out.

Anyway, while Brad and Angie were in Sarajevo last week, they hosted a party for the film, and Us Weekly has all the details on the lavish spread:

It was a feast fit for the King and Queen of Hollywood! To celebrate the Sarajevo premiere of her Bosnian war drama In the Land of Blood and Honey, Angelina Jolie pulled out all the stops for a lavish, unforgettable dinner on Tuesday.

With love Brad Pitt at her side, the actress-turned-director, 36, hosted about 30 people who worked on the film at Zetra Sports Hall, where the local film premiere took place; about 200 guests noshed on finger food during an earlier reception.

The dinner menu, prepared by the staff at the Bristol Hotel (where the superstar couple stayed), was sumptuous indeed: bruschetta with chicken liver pate; red trout fillet with black and red rice and fennel; veal filet with three kind of herbs; kadun butic (a traditional Bosnian dish featuring three types of minced meat on a cinnamon stick), and a dessert trio of hazelnut cremino, raspberry cheese cake and tartufo nero.

Jolie and Pitt, 48, paid their compliments to the staff; “they thanked them for wonderful hospitality and tasty food,” a staffer tells Us. “Jolie tasted a little bit of everything”.

In the Land of Blood and Honey actor Fedja Stukan (who dined at Pitt and Jolie’s table) gushed about the meal via the hotel Bristol’s Facebook page: “I must admit that I never had better tasting food! Angelina and Brad agreed with me.”

[From Us Weekly]

Do you believe that Angelina "tasted a little bit of everything"? The stans will say that she was working, she was networking, and that's why she didn't eat that much but she probably did eat and we're all just haters. The anti-Jolie people will say that of course she "tasted a little bit" and then she stopped eating because she's so thin and TERRIBLE and EVIL. As for me… I really don't think she looks as deathly ill as many of you seem to think. She's slender. Her legs are especially tiny, but she's always had really slim legs. From the hips up, I actually think Angelina is looking healthier than she has in a few years. When she puts on weight, it goes to her upper arms and her abdomen (which is incidentally why people think she looks pregnant). So, my verdict: she's eating solid food. She could totally eat more, and I wish she would, but I don't buy that she's starving herself. I think she just eats like a bird.

Here are some additional photos of Brangelina in Paris:

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
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Rihanna in green Stella McCartney in London: gorgeous or tacky?

Posted: 19 Feb 2012 06:27 AM PST

Here are some photos of Rihanna in London, where she attended the Stella McCartney show yesterday during London Fashion Week. Rihanna is in a Stella design – one of the rare Stella dresses that I hands-down love. It looks like one of those vintage Calvin Klein nightgown-dresses that were popular during the early 1990s – a red carpet look that always loved. I have mixed feelings about Rihanna's current hairstyle here, though. I was loving the blonde hair on her at the Grammys, but in these photos, her hair looks really damaged and kind of trashy.

Steaming up Fashion Week! Rihanna nearly set the front row of Stella McCartney’s presentation ablaze when she showed some skin in a slinky teal floor-length satin gown.

The “We Found Love” singer, who hit London Fashion Week Saturday, flaunted her assets in the backless gown with a plunging neckline and hip-high slit. The ensemble is reminiscent of the chic and sexy custom-made black number that she co-designed with Giorgio Armani for the 2012 Grammys on Feb. 12.

The 23-year-old star is currently overseas for the BRIT Awards, which take place Tuesday evening, and to begin work as producer on her yet-to-be-named fashion competition series in the U.K.

On the show, aspiring designers will compete for a chance to dress Rihanna for her London concert in July. Along the way, they will create costume stage designs for musicians and celebs to wear during performances.

Rihanna will be joined by Nicola Roberts from the British female pop group Girls Aloud, who will star as the host for the show.

[From Us Weekly]

I hope Rihanna stays in London for a while. I hope she finds some hot guy in London and forgets all about this drama with Chris Brown. I know a lot of you hate her for seemingly letting Chris back into her life (and maybe even hooking up with him again), but… I just feel bad for her. After the incident three years ago, I feel like Rihanna went through a lot of stuff in the public eye – in her interviews throughout the year immediately after the brutal assault, Rihanna seemed so sad, so unmoored, like she was trying to be defiant and strong, but she couldn't really convince herself. She shouldn’t have to be the poster girl for battered women and I just think she’s still trying to figure everything out. I worried about her then, and I worry about her now. I really hope that she just finds someone who will be nice to her and rock her world sexually so she can forget all about the beater.

Photos courtesy of WENN.
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Judi Dench, 77, diagnosed with macular degeneration, could lose eyesight

Posted: 19 Feb 2012 05:32 AM PST

Dame Judi Dench is currently promoting her latest film, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which was shot in India and also features actors like Dev Patel, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson. It's about British seniors who "retire" to India in a nursing home/hotel/facility operated by Dev Patel's character. It looks rather cute, and the quality of the actors makes me think the film will be good. Would you like to see the trailer? Here you go:

Cute, right? Anyway, Dame Judi has several new interviews, but everyone is talking about her recent admission that she has been diagnosed with a degenerative disease that could lead to blindness. Poor Judi!

Actress Dame Judi Dench has been diagnosed with a condition that can lead to blindness, she has revealed. The Oscar-winning star told the Daily Mirror she had age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and struggled to read scripts or recognize faces. But the 77-year-old has had some treatment and is hoping it might slow the decline in her eyesight.

AMD affects more than 600,000 Britons and last year research was published suggesting it could rise to 750,000.

Dame Judi, who is due to reprise the role of M in the 23rd James Bond film, Skyfall, told the Mirror: “I can’t read scripts any more before because of the trouble with my eyes. And so somebody comes and reads them to me, like telling me a story.”

AMD, which affects the macula at the back of the eye, is the cause of more than half of registrations for blind and partially sighted people in the UK.

She said: “I’ve got what my ma had, macular degeneration, which you get when you get old.”

[From BBC]

Poor Judi – wait, she's 77 years old?!?!? Damn, that old broad looks GREAT. As for her eyesight… I can't even imagine how difficult it must be for a woman who has had her sight for so many years to now be beholden to other people to read to her – especially when learning her lines is so important for her job! I hope her treatment goes well – prayers for Judi!

Additionally, Judi gave an extensive and lovely interview to The Telegraph which I wanted to point out – you can read the full piece here, and here are some highlights:

Judi on working in India: ‘I've never been to India before and I didn't know how I would react to the poverty. In the event I absolutely loved it and I can’t wait to go back.' One of the reasons she liked it so much was that scarcely anyone knew who she was. ‘I was recognised a little bit in Rajasthan because of the Bond films [in which she plays M] – nothing else.'

Playing a widow after being widowed 11 years ago: She plays a woman whose husband has just died and ever since the death of her own husband, Michael Williams, 11 years ago, she's steered clear of playing widows. ‘It wasn't just an emotional decision,' she says. ‘There were professional reasons, too. I think if I'd played a grief-stricken widow too soon after Michael died I might have over-egged the part. Or at least I don't think my judgment would have been that good.'

Working through grief: ‘I had this extraordinary energy after Michael died. I went off to Nova Scotia and did six weeks on The Shipping News. Then I came home and two days later started Iris. Then I did some more work on The Shipping News. And two days after that I started The Importance of Being Earnest. My poor agent nearly had a fit because I was cutting things so fine. But I found working at that pace and doing those kinds of parts helped me. Whereas playing a grief-stricken widow would have been no help at all.' In fact, she's always set a pretty daunting pace. ‘I've worked for 54 years, almost continuously,' she says proudly.

Being called "the greatest actor of all time": ‘The difficulty with any sort of esteem is that more is expected of you. I prefer not to think about it. I'd rather do a part because I want to, not because great things are expected of me. Then I get frightened and I rather resent that… People seem to have this idea that I've always been very ambitious. Nothing could be further from the truth. I've never had any idea what parts I would like to play. All I ever wanted was to be employed.'

[From The Telegraph]

God, I love British actors. "All I ever wanted was to be employed." Thank you for that, Dame Judi. Tell that to the Jessica Biels of the world. Tell that to the Rooney Maras of the world. It's just about getting work, and making the most of it. Isn't Judi the best?

Photos courtesy of WENN.
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