Newsletter Thursday, May 12, 2016

[LaineyGossip.com - Calling all smuthounds!] Thursday, May 12, 2016 [Intro for May 12, 2016] [Beyoncé] Dear Gossips, Before bed last night I read a piece at [Salon] about pop culture FOMO that I’m still thinking about this morning. Artists keep dropping new releases without warning. And then the internet rushes to consume and analyse…before the next New Big Thing comes out. Kendrick Lamar to Beyoncé to Drake to Radiohead, one after another – are we speeding through our enjoyment of these works, to feel like we’re a part of the movement and the hype and not “missing out”, but then not giving that work enough time to live in our lives before the next major work is made available? One of the hypotheses in this article is that if a think-piece isn’t offered immediately, it won’t be of interest later on, in a few weeks, once the initial momentum has slowed. I’m not sure I agree. I’m still reading think-pieces on Lemonade, and the counter think-pieces too, like [Ebony’s] defence of Beyoncé that was posted yesterday in response to [bell hooks’s] criticism of her two days before. And I’m still waiting for Roxane Gay’s think-piece on Lemonade, and/or hoping she’ll write one, because I’ve not read it yet. Also Kathleen and I have discussed the possibility that we may want to add to our own Lemonade posts, perhaps after we’ve seen her on tour in a couple of weeks and have had a month to let more thoughts grow around it. But it is something to think about. Whether or not our haste to collectively experience a major pop culture “surprise” event at a time when we’ve enjoyed a heavy blessing of “surprise” events shortens the cultural impact of these events. Or are we just stressing for no f-cking reason because we need to feel every goddamn thing all the goddamn time in the time of the internet? [Click here] to read the article. Yours in gossip, Lainey [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 1:31 PM [Smutty Tingles] The side part, the choker, the makeup, none of this was Anna Wintour approved ([Dlisted]) Am I supposed to want to use Apple Music after watching this? ([Just Jared]) This, for me, was the best dress from Cannes opening night ([Cele|bitchy]) Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee’s son gave an interview… and I enjoyed it ([TooFab]) There’s a rumour that MK Olsen is pregnant ([Celeb Dirty Laundry]) It used to be that Johnny Depp’s characters were less attractive than he was. And now…? ([Pop Sugar]) What is that around her neck though? Lips? ([The Superficial]) Can’t decide if I like this sheer top on Kristen Stewart ([Popoholic]) Selena Gomez and Orlando Bloom left together that night too. But they want to know their friends were around. ([TMZ]) [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 7:39 PM [Hot Harry, #1 cheerleader] [Prince Harry starts a race at the track and field events during the Invictus Games Orlando 2016 at ESPN Wide World of Sports on May 10, 2016 in Orlando, Florida] Today is the final day of the 2016 Invictus Games. Throughout the week, you have seen [Prince Harry], the perfect ambassador, supporting the athletes, never short on enthusiasm, and generally just promoting the f-ck out of this event. He has been the #1 cheerleader. Last night he was in the stands. Doing the salute for the jumbotron. Participating in some kind of finger-pointing with the rest of the crowd. Kissing athletes on the head. Flirting with the elderly. Getting wet from hugging all the swimmers… Hot Harry hasn’t just been present, he’s been everywhere, and 100% charm turned way up while looking, well, really, really hot. Please enjoy. [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 7:33 PM [First for Julia and Amal] [Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Amal Clooney attend the screening of 'Money Monster' at the annual 69th Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 12, 2016 in Cannes, France] It’s not only [Amal Clooney]’s first time on the Cannes red steps, it’s also the first time for [Julia Roberts]! All this time she’s never been there. Look at this shot of her though. Even though she’s never experienced it, she’ll still point her finger like she knows. GOD I LOVE HER. Anyway yellow seems to be the colour of the carpet so far this Cannes. Jessica Chastain and Anna Kendrick both [wore yellow last night]. Amal looks like she’s in Versace. I haven’t verified this but I feel like this is the Versace gathering – in the material, you’ve seen it many times, non? Not exactly the most fashion forward but I’m not mad at it because this is Cannes. And Cannes is less fashion forward than it is extra, extra, put on a ball gown. As for Julia, for me, it’s that emerald around her neck that’s stealing the show. And she’s giving me a serious case of the Angelina Jolies with this whole look. Couldn’t you see the Jolie in this dress and with this necklace? The hair is glorious too. By the way, I’ve not seen any shots of Danny Moder. So…get ready for the rumours. [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 7:03 PM [Smutty Social Media, May 12, 2016] [Anne Hathaway and husband Adam Shulman go to the Farmers Market in LA, May 8, 2016] Even the word “soda” has a bit of pretentiousness to it, right? The phrase "We don't carry sodas" is never said without a suffocating smugness. — Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) [May 10, 2016] Jenny McCarthy is now kind of brunette. Oh and still responsible for a massive misinformation campaign surrounding vaccines. [Thank you @juliusmichaelsalon and @want_hair for the gorgeous new hair! Loving the rich chocolate with blonde highlights from @kenraprofessional @brazilianbondbuilder 💗 #juliusmichael] A photo posted by Jenny McCarthy (@jennymccarthy) on May 11, 2016 at 1:32pm PDT Anne Hathaway captures Valentino in his natural habitat – on a yacht. [Frontal photo bomb with the birthday boy @realmrvalentino. Check out those shoes!] A photo posted by Anne Hathaway (@annehathaway) on May 11, 2016 at 8:51pm PDT Selena is still taking photos with fans. [San Jose, CA @revivaltour] A photo posted by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on May 12, 2016 at 1:32am PDT Um, I thought this was Amal Clooney for a second. I need a time-out. [Our June/July 2016 cover model is a girl that needs no real introduction. @KendallJenner talks fashion, family and stardom with #KarlLagerfeld inside our new issue, go to the link in our bio to read the full story. Photo by @KarlLagerfeld ​ Styling by @ElissaSantisi Editor @LauraBrown99] A photo posted by Harper's BAZAAR (@harpersbazaarus) on May 12, 2016 at 4:00am PDT Jessica Simpson working with producer Linda Perry – can she do for Porny what she did for Pink? [📽🎙🎼] A photo posted by Jessica Simpson (@jessicasimpson) on May 11, 2016 at 7:35pm PDT Yesterday, I posted about Leah Remini getting her wings. I said this: “I don’t have a fear of flying, but I want that cockpit door locked. I don’t want to see in, and I definitely don’t want to see the pilots entertaining visitors.” Since then, we’ve heard from the pilot. He said: "It was during the boarding process and I did it to help a passenger that was scared. A flight attendant brought her up to us. We do this to help passengers who have a fear of flying." [Knowing I have a fear of flying, these two gave me my wings! So sweet!] A photo posted by Leah Remini (@leahremini) on May 10, 2016 at 5:44pm PDT [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 6:26 PM [Bomer & Gosling] [Matt Bomer arrives at 'Good Morning America' in NYC's Times Square to promote the movie 'The Nice Guys', May 12, 2016] [Matt Bomer] and [Ryan Gosling] are in New York promoting The Nice Guys. This is a post with photos of Matt Bomer. Do you really need words? OK fine, I’ll give you some words. Matt Bomer, the angel, is wearing white, the colour of angels. And it makes him look even more like an angel. As for Ryan Gosling, he was on Good Morning America and the Hey Girl thing came up again and, again, he’s like, I don’t know where that came from because I have never said Hey Girl. Also he’s asked about the new baby and his answer is that, yes, it’s “heaven” but manages to jokingly direct it back to Russell Crowe and the juxtaposition between the happiness of his home and having to be around that piece of crust all the time, continuing to play on their relationship in the movie – and their chemistry is indeed terrific. They are SO GOOD together in The Nice Guys. So good that it should be a franchise. [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 5:23 PM [Being asked about Woody] [Blake Lively attends the Amazon Studios 'Cafe Society' press luncheon during the 69th annual Cannes film festival on May 12, 2016 in Cannes, France] As Sarah wrote [in her post] about [Woody Allen] earlier today, Ronan Farrow aimed to criticise the media for not raising the Woody Allen issue in a situation involving Woody Allen, for not addressing the allegations against him so as not to compromise celebrity access and future coverage around other projects not involving Woody Allen. The timing of his piece was key – just as Woody was in Cannes promoting Café Society. Last night was the world premiere. And during the ceremony, a joke was made by the MC on stage about Woody’s scandals: “It’s very nice that you’ve been shooting so many movies in Europe, even if you are not being convicted for rape in the U.S.” Some think that was also a reference to Roman Polanski. The point is, in addition to the Ronan Farrow article, this incident put Woody’s past front and centre at the festival, opening up an opportunity for reporters to go there with Woody, during interviews for the movie, and with his talent. Should the actors be questioned as to why they keep working with Woody Allen? This is what you’ve been emailing me. But is it fair, in these settings, to be putting the actors on the spot to defend their decision to work with Woody Allen? This is the conversation I had with Sarah yesterday. Why do actors keep saying yes? Is it their responsibility though? Should we even be burdening them with the responsibility when Woody, ultimately, should be the one to carry it? Since he’s untouchable though, as we’ve seen, do we get to Woody through the actors? Sarah posited that in collaborating with Woody, the actors become his protectors, creating what Ronan Farrow is pushing back against, a “system of collusion held up by all the people who benefit from the Woody Allen machine”. Thing is, while that system of collusion is formed by the actors and, most significantly, the corporate sponsors, like Amazon, it’s Woody who builds the power. And, well, I’m not sure he’s sharing the power with his talent, at least not all of his talent. Definitely not [Blake Lively]. She was asked about Woody Allen today in Cannes. [Click here] to read her comments. In short she said she thought it was inappropriate for the MC to make light of rape and she hadn’t read Ronan Farrow’s piece and didn’t want to talk about something she’s not familiar with. But did we really expect Blake Lively to go against Woody Allen? Being cast in a Woody Allen film is the most prestigious line on Blake’s resumé. She’s not going into that job with any influence. She is, however, hoping to leave that job with more influence (though it’s no guarantee). Which she would then likely attribute to Woody Allen, thereby transferring even more influence towards him, and, once again, adding to his power. Maybe that, then, should be the question we ask of them. Instead of making it about “art”, if we make it about “power”: Why do you want to add to his power while possibly compromising your own? Attached - Blake at a Cannes press luncheon today and at the opening ceremony and screening of Café Society last night. [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 4:39 PM [Assassin’s Creed certainly looks like something] [Trailer stills for Assassin's Creed] The first trailer for [Michael Fassbender]’s Assassin’s Creed came out last night and it is certainly something. Parts of it are gorgeous. Other parts of it are f*cking horrendous. Fassbender does look very cool as a medieval assassin. [Marion Cotillard] is delivering lines like she just had a lobotomy. The plot, as presented, makes no f*cking sense unless you’re already familiar with the video games. But hey! There’s a jump off a high tower! The video game curse has tanked more than one promising game-to-film adaptation. Most recently it was Prince of Persia, but the gold standard remains the HALO fiasco, which I [talked a bit about] a few years ago when it was first announced that Fassbender would try to be the one to break the curse and free the money princess from the video game castle. This doesn’t look as bad as the HALO fiasco because at least the movie got made and will be released, and so far no one has been fired. So they’re already way ahead of HALO. But I am not feeling this trailer at all. Audiences are more primed than ever to accept fantasy/sci-fi bullsh*t in their movies—thanks, superheroes!—but even still this trailer feels like a bridge too far. The “Animus” referenced by Cotillard’s character is a key component of the Creed games, but something about the way it’s dropped into this trailer is clunky and feels like forcing too much at once. All you need to do in the trailer is introduce the idea that there’s this guy, played by Fassbender, who has a mysterious past people are trying to pry out of him. I don’t think any of the goofy sci-fi terms actually need to be said. It’s the first trailer. All you have to do here is establish tone. If nothing else, Assassin’s Creed does look beautiful. There are some really gorgeous shots and striking images. Fassbender, who is also producing, reunited the team behind Macbeth, which was also a beautiful movie to look at. But is anyone buying the story, as presented? Does it even make sense to the uninitiated? If I didn’t already know the basics from the game, I don’t think this would make any sense. Assassin’s Creed opens in December, one week after Rogue One. Does anyone else kind of have a bad feeling about this? [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 3:41 PM [Those Movie Star smiles] [George Clooney and Julia Roberts at the 69th Cannes Film Festival photocall for Money Monster, May 12, 2016] [Julia Roberts], [George Clooney], and [Jodie Foster] were at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes today for the Money Monster press conference. The carpet is tonight, prime time Cannes Thursday, ensuring that the pictures and the buzz is out there ahead of the movie opening tomorrow. But with Civil War at the box office, will Money Monster even matter this weekend? It used to be that Movie Stars mattered. That truth has been challenged though, repeatedly. But those Movie Star smiles! Look at them. This is the Julia we have loved (and sometimes hated, which is basically the same thing) for over 25 years. And she lit it up today for photographers, and with George who knows how to play this game probably even better than she does. These shots of them looking at each other and grinning? And whatever joke they’re pretending to share between them? It’s a drug for me. I can’t stop wanting more. Partly it’s nostalgia. True celebrities represent more than just their work. They represent your connection to that work, your attachment to those characters, your memories of who you were when you met those character all while maintaining the illusion that they are who you are not. That is the job of the real Movie Star – to remind you that you are fascinated with them, and to keep fascinating you long after they’ve stopped being fascinating. At least that’s how it used to work. Does it work still? Are you going to see Money Monster? The reviews are OK. From the 7 or 8 that I’ve read it’s a popcorn movie showcasing the appeal of its two leads, in other words, the Movie Star appeal. I’m in. Are you in? [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 3:03 PM [The Woody Allen Problem] [Woody Allen attends the screening of 'Cafe Society' at the opening gala of the annual 69th Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 11, 2016 in Cannes, France] A reader named Regina emailed me and asked, “Why are we not ready for Mel Gibson to come back but we’ll still embrace [Woody Allen]’s films?” Turns out Regina has something in common with [Ronan Farrow], because he’s asking the same question. The Hollywood Reporter provided Farrow with a guest column following their [profile] of Allen last week (the one in which he said incredibly creepy sh*t about his wife). Farrow’s article is worth reading in full, and he poses some tough questions about how we cover great artists accused of terrible crimes. He admits to playing the game himself, trying to tread the line between wanting to ask about the tough stuff but not burning bridges in the process. But he draws a line in the ethical sand when it comes to his sister, Dylan Farrow, who has accused Allen of molesting her as a child. Farrow draws a parallel to Bill Cosby, whose career is effectively over after sixty women accused him assault, many of whom had previously gone on the record. But Allen’s career continues unabated, and Farrow is writing about the culture of silence, complicity, and protection that insulates Allen from serious interrogation or criticism. I absolutely believe Dylan Farrow. But while I think Allen is overrated and he keeps making the same movie over and over again, in his voluminous output he has made some good movies, like Annie Hall and Manhattan. Allen and his work pose the age-old question—can you enjoy art when you know its creator is a creep? TS Eliot was anti-Semitic, but The Wasteland is a tremendous piece of literature. Does one cancel out the other? Actors keep working with Allen because actors benefit from the relationship. Look what he did for Scarlett Johansson—working with Allen was a major part of her career reinvention a decade ago. [Kristen Stewart] did [recently say] that she and Jesse Eisenberg talked about it, though, so they’re aware of the pressure. But still, the allure of working with the great Woody Allen (insert eye roll here) overcomes whatever reservations they may have. So yeah, I think we have to question them, because he’s protected by his collaborators, isn’t he? That’s Farrow’s whole point. It’s a system of collusion held up by all the people who benefit from the Woody Allen machine. But the bigger issue isn’t one of actors—it’s the people who continue to give Allen money. Amazon is the latest, not only buying the distribution rights to Café Society, but also giving Allen the opportunity to make a television show. We should go harder on Amazon for choosing to go into business with Allen than Miley Cyrus for agreeing to star in his show. Getting to [neg] Miley Cyrus may be an ego trip, but the development deal perpetuates his influence and platform. Question actors, make them uncomfortable, maybe eventually they stop working with him, which would tarnish his prestige. But make it uncomfortable for the studios and investors giving him money and you might just diminish his power. (Lainey: and then we’ll see how “[youthful, agile, nimble, and spry]” he really is. And whether or not he can still keep writing his mind-f*cky little notes to his actresses.) [Click here] to read Ronan Farrow’s essay at THR. [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 2:14 PM [May 12, 2016 – Smutty Shout-Outs] [For Chana] Chana! Happy 15th Wedding Anniversary! It’s so good to hear from you, so good to know you’re doing well, so good about the kitchen! My best, again, to your stud. And thank you for keeping me in your lives, through the time of true film cameras all the way to where we find ourselves now, in the age of the selfie. To another 15, and more. And for Lisa, because it’s true, YOU were meant to be with HIM. Billy. Always, constant Billy, for all those years of real f-cking love. Did you hear about the findings they released last year from a study on dogs and their owners? And the chemical (like biologically proven nature ass evidence) similarity we have in our relationships with our dogs to the mother-infant connection? [Click here] for more. Billy was your family in every way that we define family. I’m so sorry for your loss. [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 1:42 PM [Privacy Policy] - [Unsubscribe]