Newsletter Tuesday, November 08, 2016

[LaineyGossip.com - Calling all smuthounds!] Tuesday, November 08, 2016 [Intro for November 8, 2016] Dear Gossips, Today is a day for …distractions? We are here for that. And several celebrities are helping. We even got a royal assist from Prince Harry. Are you swooning? Also today, since stress relief is at a premium, it’s that thing we do every year – handicapping the Sexiest Man Alive. If you’ve been visiting this site a while, you know it’s a prediction game we play a week or so before PEOPLE Magazine makes its annual declaration. I don’t think the list of possibles is very long this time. But remember, the SMA is not your personal choice of who’s the Sexiest, not that guy on that show that not many people watch but OMG you’re so into him. The SMA typically has to meet a broad set of requirements. And, as we’ve seen over the years, it’s now custom that the SMA must formally accept the title and give an exclusive interview. Can you remember last year’s SMA though? Without having to think too much about it? Without having to google it? Like by now, by the end of that last sentence, have you come up with his name? I completely forgot. I had to look it up last night. It’s David Beckham. And before that it was Chris Hemsworth. And before that it was the worst SMA of all time, Adam Levine. David Beckham? Past his prime as an athlete. Chris Hemsworth? He may be more well-known now but in 2014, not exactly a household name. Adam Levine??? No explanation required. The Sexiest Man Alive has been in decline. Can the Sexiest Man Alive be saved? Before we look ahead, maybe it’s worth looking back. The first Sexiest Man Alive was Mel Gibson, in 1985. A couple of years ago, Amanda Hess, [in a piece for Slate] wrote about the origins of PEOPLE’s annual feature. And how Mel came to claim the inaugural title. It wasn’t actually intended to be an interview naming him the Sexiest Man Alive. He was drinking on the set of Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. He seemed miserable and resentful and even though it would be another 20 years until his DUI arrest and subsequent vilification for his racist outbursts, this 29 year old Mel Gibson, as Amanda Hess notes, was already prone to “regressive rants (he managed to work in a casual dig at a ‘5-year-old Mongoloid’)”. Auspicious beginnings! Amanda’s article then goes on to examine the Sexiest Man Alive’s 30 year history and how it went from a selection that didn’t actually come with any expectation that the SMA participate in the process to where we are now, with the aforementioned exclusive interview and an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel for the official unveiling. In all that time, in the over 30 year history of the issue, only one SMA has been a person of colour. And no SMA has ever been a gay man. [Click here] to revisit the Slate piece if you missed it the first time and, with all that in mind, we’ll get to it after pressing gossip business later today. Yours in gossip, Lainey [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 12:36 PM [Moonlight with Brad & Julia] [Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts] Moonlight is one of the most acclaimed films of the year. Sarah [reviewed it at TIFF] and it is expected to be a contender at the Oscars. [Brad Pitt] is one of the producers of Moonlight. His work the last few years supporting stories about people of colour is one of the reasons The Undefeated asked in a piece published this summer whether or not he’s the “[wokest white man in Hollywood]”. Brad Pitt, however, as you know, has kept a very, very low profile the last couple of months. Ordinarily, he’d probably be using his considerable influence to campaign for his film. Last night, however, Brad Pitt Brad Pitt showed up at a private screening for Moonlight…with a very famous friend, [Julia Roberts]: Watching private [#screening] of [#Moonlight]! 📽🎞😍 [#picoftheday] [#film] [#bradpitt] [#juliaroberts] [#barryjenkins] [#artist] [#hollywood] [#caa] [#movie] [pic.twitter.com/qvFe0Dn80u] — Sashah Askari (@SashahAskari) [November 8, 2016] The Mexican! A reunion! (Joanna is very excited about this.) But of course, Julia would be on Team Brad. She was close with Jennifer Aniston when Brad was still married to her. And, do you remember a few years ago, when Julia was [asked on a carpet] what she thought of Brange’s engagement? [E!] has curiously pulled down that video. But I remember it because I wrote about it and I wrote about it because it was pure Julia. God, the tone in her voice, there was no mistaking her thoughts. “Indeed. Oh, yes.” So, in case there was any doubt, any at all, the prom king went off for a while with [Laney Boggs]. And now he’s back at the cool kids table. [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 8:46 PM [Dwayne The Rock Johnson: SMA Odds (#1 Prediction)] Arguments for: -World’s #1 International Box Office Star. [The Rock] is very, very, very popular. -The Rock is American. -He would totally say yes. And do a photo shoot. And give an interview. -It wouldn’t be embarrassing for him. His name is The Rock! He is above embarrassment. In fact, he’d run on the joke, he’d play with it, in that cheeky Rock way that he does best. He would promote the f-ck out of this title for PEOPLE Magazine. -Like Idris, both women and men appreciate The Rock. -Moana: comes out November 23, right around the time the SMA is typically announced, around Thanksgiving, family friendly, MiniVan Majority friendly. -Disney would LOVE this kind of publicity for the movie. -Diversity. As previously mentioned, only one Sexiest Man Alive has been a person of colour. It’s time now, isn’t it time? Arguments against: -NONE Odds: 2 to 1 Please note: would it be great if PEOPLE actually named a gay man as Sexiest Man Alive? Of course. OF COURSE. But this game is about predicting who I think they will go with, not who I would WANT them to go with. Hope that makes sense. [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 8:23 PM [Idris Elba: SMA 2016 Odds (prediction runner-up)] [Idris Elba attends the UK premiere for '100 Streets' on November 8, 2016 in London, United Kingdom] [Idris Elba] is my second choice prediction. Arguments for: -IS HE SEXY? ARE YOU SERIOUSLY ASKING IF HE’S SEXY? -The cool factor: Idris’s charisma automatically neutralises the cheesiness of the Sexiest Man Alive title. It wouldn’t be embarrassing the way he would wear the crown, you know? -Same goes for it being a joke. It is a joke. But while it could be seem as a detriment to actors like Jake G and Ryan Gosling who can kinda take themselves too seriously, Idris has the attitude and the charisma to turn that in his favour. He’s already a party DJ. And a kickboxer. And he’s still respected. So it’s not like this would take away from any of his gravitas. -His movie 100 Streets is coming out. Would certainly help the film. -So many people want him to be James Bond. -Women adore Idris. But he also has the respect of men. No man is going to look at Idris Elba on the cover of the Sexiest Man Alive issue and be like, bullsh-t. Arguments against: -None here. But if we haaaave to stretch… -So many people, ahem, certain kinds of people, don’t want him to be James Bond -Idris is not American. And, generally, PEOPLE doesn’t go back to back with non-American SMA selections Odds: 3 to 1 Here’s Idris at the London premiere of 100 Streets today. [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 8:20 PM [Justin Timberlake: SMA 2016 Odds] [Justin Timberlake] Arguments for: -If there’s anyone who would say YES PLEASE ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME to this title, it’s [Justin Timberlake]. Photo shoot? No problem. Exclusive interview? No problem. -Trolls and that goddamn song, Can’t Stop The Feeling. He can’t stop promoting it. He would use this as an excuse to be all like, oh, I’m doing it for the movie, when, really, he’s doing it for his own damn self, as usual. -Oscar. JT wants that Best Song Oscar. Getting in hard with the MiniVan Majority, having them onside, will help him convince those old ass boring Oscar voters that this is the public’s vote. (Please Lin-Manuel Miranda. PLEASE DON’T LET HIM DO THIS.) -He’d be desperate for it, did I mention this already? -He wants it the most, did I mention this already? -PEOPLE Magazine couldn’t ask for a more willing, more thirsty spokesperson for their annual honour, have I mentioned this already? Arguments against: -I mean, there are none, really, if you consider what PEOPLE Magazine would be looking for. He would basically song and dance his way across social media and all media bragging about this and helping them sell copies because he’s that hard for it, have I mentioned this already? -The only argument against then would be that it’s TOO F-CKING OBVIOUS. -Also: given that there’s only, in the history of PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive, been one man of colour who’s claimed the title. And at time when diversity is being demanded, when there are so many other options, picking Justin Timberlake is a, well, it’s really boring. And, to me anyway, straight up offensive. #NeverForget Odds: 5 to 1 [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 8:05 PM [Ryan Gosling: SMA 2016 Odds] [Ryan Gosling ] Arguments for: -See Jake Gyllenhaal, previous. Do we really have to do this? -He’s [Ryan Gosling]. -Hey Girl -[Colouring book] -[Hug pillows] -He is Manic Pixie Dream Boy -La La Land is the frontrunner for Best Picture. A big box office would increase its chances even more. It will be released in time for the holidays. They want this to be a Christmastime love story. They need women in those theatres, crying and hugging each other and falling for him all over again. Arguments against: -He’s turned it down before. The year Bradley Cooper was Sexiest Man Alive? Supposedly it was because Ryan was like, “no thanks”. But PEOPLE will offer it to him every f-cking year. What’s the special factor for him here, then? It’s not like it would be an achievement. -Same rationale as Jake Gyllenhaal: this is not how he wants to be seen -Ryan has become increasingly private since he and Eva Mendes became parents. We barely even knew they were pregnant, both times. And accepting a title like this, with all that comes with it, is like an invitation to people to wonder more about their family, their children. Odds: 30 to 1 [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 7:58 PM [Jake Gyllenhaal: SMA 2016 Odds] [Jake Gyllenhaal ] Arguments for: -Do we really have to do this? -He’s SO f-cking hot -He’s SO f-cking cute -He’s SO f-cking talented and [his talent is versatile] – he can sing, he can improv, he can do drama, comedy, action, indie, sketch -Nocturnal Animals comes out right around the time PEOPLE announces the Sexiest Man Alive. It could be a boost to the film that some say is a contender for a few nominations. Arguments against: -The SMA is not [Jake Gyllenhaal]’s thing. If he wanted it, please, they’d pay him to accept it. But can you see him saying yes to the crown? And doing a photo shoot with his eyes smoldering at the camera? And giving an exclusive interview talking about why he’s so sexy? -The SMA has become kind of a joke in some circles. And while Jake has a great sense of humour, he’s also pretty serious about being taken seriously for his work. I’m not sure this is the kind of thing he’d want to joke around about. I feel like he would be embarrassed. Odds: 30 to 1 [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 7:46 PM [Michael Phelps: SMA 2016 Odds] Arguments for: -All those Olympic medals -The comeback story -His body -He’s married, he’s a dad now, he can’t stop gushing about it on social media; the MiniVan Majority loves that sh-t -It doesn’t get more American than [Michael Phelps] -He would agree to it Arguments against: -We already had an athlete named Sexiest Man Alive last year (David Beckham) -It’s been months since the Olympics; the hype may have worn off and it’s not like swimming, as a sport, has the following of soccer. -I find him kinda cute but I’m not sure he’s empirically goodlooking? -He was all over the place a couple of weeks ago after revealing that he and his wife, Nicole, married in secret. And those pictures have been posted and were shown all over the place. I feel like if he was the one they’d have held that back as a PEOPLE exclusive Odds: 50 to 1 [CLICK HERE] to read the Sexiest Man Alive introduction and criteria post. [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 7:36 PM [Handicapping the Sexiest Man Alive 2016] Look, if we were voting on this today, and just today, I feel like [Prince Harry], with his [Love Shield] would be the unanimous winner. And, if they decide to dispense with what’s become a tradition, PEOPLE could totally name him the Sexiest Man Alive without an exclusive interview – because he’s definitely not f-cking giving one, especially not now. And if he had given one over a week ago, it’s doubtful he would have talked about his secret girlfriend and that would leave a huge gap in the story. So in the next few posts, I’m playing our annual SMA game which is to handicap the potential candidates and come up with a prediction. Some qualifications to keep in mind: Typically the SMA has to accept the invitation and participate in the whole rollout. Often the SMA is based on timing – who has what coming out and why it’s advantageous for his career. A majority of the past SMAs have been American. Only 7 of the 31 SMAs were born outside the USA. Two of them, Keanu Reeves and Ryan Reynolds, I’m not sure PEOPLE’s MiniVan Majority readership even knows they’re Canadian. And speaking of the MiniVan Majority, that’s who this is for. Any prediction has to pass the MiniVan Majority test. You ready? [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 7:28 PM [Smutty Social Media, November 8, 2016] I have recently developed an obsession with Denzel’s son, JD, so an Oscar campaign [comes at the perfect time for me]. [Rolling through the hood with #DenzelWashington] A photo posted by Lenny Kravitz (@lennykravitz) on Nov 7, 2016 at 10:32am PST I like John Mayer so much more like this. [Me , Dave and John Mayer say get out there and vote.] A photo posted by Chris Rock (@chrisrock) on Nov 7, 2016 at 8:29pm PST These two again. Ugh. [Congrats to this man on the #HFA song of the year. He's pretty good at this music thing. 🏆] A photo posted by Anna Kendrick (@annakendrick47) on Nov 7, 2016 at 11:39am PST Adele’s mannequin challenge has a saloon vibe. [Mannequin challenge] A video posted by @adele on Nov 7, 2016 at 4:48pm PST Read the wonderful Anne Helen Petersen on why Ivanka’s brand of postfeminism will be the real (and scary) legacy of her father’s campaign. Tiffany will definitely go on to [write a tell-all]. [Thank you Virginia! 🇺🇸] A photo posted by Ivanka Trump (@ivankatrump) on Nov 7, 2016 at 4:17pm PST This picture was taken in June but f-ck it, we NEED some Charlie today. [Charlie Hunnam and Norman Reedus at Comicpalooza in Houston, TX on June 19, 2016. The best picture ever!! #CharlieHunnam #NormanReedus #Houston #Comicpalooza2016 #Candids #ThrowbackThursday] A photo posted by Charlie Hunnam (@the.charlie.hunnam) on Jul 14, 2016 at 9:09pm PDT Jessica Alba was on Ellen, talking about how she [doesn’t go to the gym]. Ellen then brought up her Shape magazine cover and Jessica said it’s all about “covering the bits” and posing. Hmmm. Maybe she gave up working out after all these were posted. [Got it in this AM 🚲💦💨@cyclehousela thx Aaron n my werk out buddy @tracydawnhall] A video posted by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on May 3, 2016 at 9:22am PDT [We got it in this AM @bquattro @aylaeloy 💦💯🚲] A photo posted by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on Apr 15, 2016 at 9:27am PDT [Blessed to have @spingalnichelle to help me break through my boundaries 🚴🏾🙏🏼💦] A photo posted by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on Apr 3, 2016 at 12:28pm PDT [So we got it in at 6AM 💦🚴🏾💪🏽 w cutie Tyler @aylaeloy] A photo posted by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on Mar 29, 2016 at 4:07am PDT [Werking it out in #NYC -excited for my @honest baby spring event @ladureeus later today #honestlovesparis] A photo posted by Jessica Alba (@jessicaalba) on Mar 9, 2016 at 9:37am PST [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 7:19 PM [Rihanna is a nerd] [Rihanna, Cate Blanchett, Sandra Bullock on the set of Ocean's Eight in New York, November 7, 2016] [Rihanna] with [Cate Blanchett] and [Sandra Bullock] on the set of Ocean’s Eight in New York. Have I mentioned that I can’t wait to see this movie? Can I keep saying that? Can I be corny as f-ck and call it Girl Power excitement, especially on a day like today when the words Girl Power mean something much more than a movie or a pop band, when Girl Power could take over the highest office? “Could” is the operative word here and “could” is certainly not concrete. But I just read an article [over at Vox] about women who were born before women had the right to vote and how some of them have stayed alive, like 98 year old Estelle Liebow Schultz, for the opportunity to check off a woman’s name on her ballot: “I decided that I would like to live long enough to see the election of our first woman president,” she says. “To see such an accomplishment in my lifetime is momentous. I encourage all of my fellow nonagenarians to follow me in marking your ballot with a sense of pride in a life long lived and a country making history." When Estelle was born, women didn’t have a voice. Make no mistake, our voices are still not equal and no matter what happens tonight, that’s not going to change immediately. But Estelle would say that we can do a lot more with our voices than we used to be able to do. We can try more, we can learn more, we can do more, we can BE more. We can even be nerds. Rihanna is playing a nerd in Ocean’s Eight. I assume? With that laptop and all that gear, I’m thinking she’s the updated Livingstone Dell… with a lot more composure. Have you seen the Ocean’s movies? Livingstone sweats – a LOT. I can’t see Hacker Rihanna losing her chill the way he did. But I do love seeing her playing a nerd, playing a woman in a space that’s [not always been welcome to women], in a space where women are harassed and attacked. And now, one of the most fearless women in pop culture, a girl who has never hesitated to yell back and bare her teeth, is representing a girl’s right to be there. VOTE! [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 7:02 PM [But can Rami Malek sing?] [Rami Malek] The Queen movie/Freddie Mercury biopic has not had a swell time in development. First Sacha Baron Cohen [was going to star] as Queen frontman Mercury, [then he wasn’t], then Ben Whishaw [was going to do it], then he wasn’t, and now Deadline is reporting that the latest attempt involves Mr. Robot star [Rami Malek]. This movie has been in development as long as I’ve been writing for LaineyGossip. Will Rami Malek be the one to break the curse and end development hell? Are we actually going to get a Freddie Mercury movie? At this point, we’re dangerously close to Avatar sequel/“call me when it’s actually in theaters” territory. But producer Graham King does seem to have his ducks in a row this time. He’s got Fox and New Regency on board, and Bryan Singer is going to direct, and Queen bandmates Brian May and Roger Taylor will serve as music producers, and now they have Malek set to star. Certainly, he is a very good actor—Mr. Robot is overrated but Malek’s performance is not. He doesn’t look much like Mercury, but that’s not the most important thing, especially since, when it comes to Freddie Mercury, it’s all about That Voice. Can Rami Malek sing? I googled it and found this: Please no one tell me what that is. It’s perfect in its lack of context. And it seems like Malek can sing—he hits some strong notes in that…whatever that is. So he can act, he can probably sing, which leaves the big question: What is this going to be rated? [As Lainey once noted], a previous version of this film died because the surviving Queen bandmates wanted a more “PG” version of the story to be told. What exactly “PG” entails remains up for debate. [Source] [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 6:30 PM [Oh my God, mom!] [Beyonce, Jay-Z and Solange seen out in New York after Solange's SNL performance, November 6, 2016] Miss Tina had a great weekend. Her daughter [Beyoncé] and son-in-law [Jay Z] campaigned for Hillary Clinton in Ohio. Then they went back to New York for Saturday Night Live to support her other daughter, [Solange] as she gave her first performance on the show. [Soo proud of my baby on SNL. Right now❤️] A photo posted by Tina Knowles (@mstinalawson) on Nov 5, 2016 at 9:40pm PDT [She's still our baby ❤️We have Been picking her up like this since she was 10 yrs old . On the legendary SNL stage❤️] A video posted by Tina Knowles (@mstinalawson) on Nov 5, 2016 at 11:36pm PDT [How cute is this ?] A photo posted by Tina Knowles (@mstinalawson) on Nov 7, 2016 at 12:49pm PST By the way, Jay was at SNL too as shown to us by Leslie Jones who posted a shot of herself [backstage with him]. Just in case anyone was wondering if there are still issues between him and Solange after The Elevator, although, to be fair, not long after that incident they made a point of showing us that they all do spend time together. But that doesn't mean The Elevator isn't still a sensitive issue. Yesterday Tina posted this shot on Instagram: It's Solange. With her son. And Jay. In an Elevator. Tina quickly deleted it. But, as we know, the internet is forever. Maybe there are other reasons for pulling it down. Maybe it was an accident. But it's also not a stretch to wonder if she pulled it down because, well, Solange and Jay in an elevator is a loaded visual. And so much has happened since then. Since then it's been all good, all high, no stains. What made me laugh though is that even Beyoncé, the supernatural Beyoncé, isn't immune to her own Oh My God, Mom! moments. I have a moment like that every single day. [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 5:59 PM [Six Week Checkup, Pitch Edition] [Kylie Bunbury attends the premiere of Fox's 'Pitch' at West LA Little League Field on September 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California] Have you been wondering how you’re feeling about Pitch? A little bit, right? You enjoy watching it while it’s on, and you like it while you’re watching it, but you can’t exactly call it one of your favourite shows, even though you’d love to, right? I feel the same way. I can’t fix the way you feel, but I can explain why it’s coming down the way it is. I have a lot of things about the show I wish were different, while still being delighted by lots of it. Everyone glosses over how well the show’s made. The real Padres field, and the endorsements and players and logos being real, makes me feel like the stakes are high – and I’m a huge fan of the music, the juxtaposition of classical with the sweat-and-tears drama. There’s not a single technical flaw with the production. Nor with the actors, I should say. Every last one of them is pretty fantastic, (with two notable exceptions I’ll get to in a minute.) [Kylie Bunbury] is an understated revelation, unflinchingly present even when the script holds her back to being just an observer. I’m only human like the rest of you, so I will take Dan Lauria any time I can get him, and [Mark-Paul Gosselaar] is…well, he is the surprising subject of the great Taha crush of Fall 2016, first of all – I can’t get enough – but separate from that, he’s doing a great job at playing a realistic old hand in the locker room, even when he has to call the guys ‘brats’ instead of ‘f*cking dicks’ like he would if this weren’t network television. Blip and his wife are real people, too; the charisma of all the actors we know about, at least on the field, is essential and doesn’t disappoint. But I struggle to stay interested in Oscar the GM or Amelia the agent, mostly because I can’t shake the feeling that they were cast to be the pretty people, instead of actually imbuing their characters. Now it could be that since they’re playing suits so they don’t have characterization, and I can see that being Ginny’s perspective, but then…don’t try to get me to care about them in lengthy subplots, even ones where Oscar’s assistant is consistently awesome. I know there’s an upstairs downstairs aspect here – that what happens in the office affects the players – but Ginny is so utterly concerned with the field, as she should be, that Mark Consuelos on the phone is just a distraction. Having Ginny be just a member of the team is the whole point. She wants to be treated just like one of the team, she doesn’t date teammates, and she doesn’t get involved in drama. It’s her credo, her code of ethics. She’s a figurehead as much as a person. That makes perfect sense for the only female member of a baseball team, but it’s a tough role for the lead character on a drama. Yes, things happen to her (*cough* two car accidents in five episodes cough) but mostly they happen around her, like her best friend might get traded or her agent is secretly sleeping with her catcher, rather than when she’s actively making choices that drive the story. Either that, or we look back on her earlier life, when things were still allowed to happen to Ginny. I want to be clear that I don’t disagree with this from a characterization point of view. That is, I think if you had your eye on the prize and only on the prize for your entire life, you would eliminate everything else – friends, romance, drama. The most recent episode deals with this, where Ginny goes rogue for a night…but there are no real consequences, and a whole team of people ready to help her clean it up, whose job it is to clean it up, to keep Ginny unblemished. If Ginny can’t mess up, she’s not the center of the show. But every time she does mess up, it’s not permanent, because if it was, it would be a declaration about what it means to be a woman in baseball. The good news is that I think the show knows this, and it’s about to have a point of view. I hope they get there in time to retain the viewers they were working so hard to get, by proving to us the show wasn’t going to be about how hard it was to be a girl in a man’s world and not just about baseball, in case you hated baseball. But now that it’s proved it could, theoretically, be lots of things to lots of people, it’s time to start actually being a show that’s about Ginny, and about her actually having a life, not just tiptoeing through one. I still love the show, I just want to be addicted to it, rather than a casual observer. I hope you feel the same way so it sticks around – and digs in. [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 5:39 PM [New York in similar coats] [Katy Perry at The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in New York, November 7, 2016] [Katy Perry] was in New York last night at Stephen Colbert, seen here in a leopard print coat. Or cheetah. [Like I’ve said before], I can never remember or distinguish animal prints. Katy’s been campaigning hard for Hillary Clinton and her visit to Colbert was to “talk politics”. Meanwhile, also in New York, [Taylor Swift] stepped out in a similar coat to celebrate Lorde’s 20th birthday. Coincidence or conspiracy? Probably coincidence. But… I note the obvious differences between each sort and type, but we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. -Maya Angelou On a day like today, maybe that’s worth keeping in mind? As for [Lorde]’s party, Taylor hosted it in Lorde’s honour. Lena Dunham was there, [Karlie Kloss], Tavi Gevinson, Mae Whitman, [Aziz Ansari], and some of Lorde’s friends from New Zealand too. [had the best birthday party i've ever had tonight surrounded by my nyc family. all organised by tay who is as she says "a mom with no kids". i am ur kid and u love me so hard i could burst. here's to our 3 magic years of best friendship and more moments like this squished between angels] A photo posted by Lorde (@lordemusic) on Nov 7, 2016 at 11:34pm PST Here’s Taylor making sure you know that she and Aziz are tight: [When you both wear cat shirts 🐾@azizansari] A photo posted by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Nov 7, 2016 at 11:31pm PST And, this just in, here’s Taylor minutes ago on her way to vote, without f-cking it up [like Justin Timberlake]: [Today is the day. Go out and VOTE 🇺🇸] A photo posted by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Nov 8, 2016 at 8:01am PST Who do you think she voted for? There’s no #Imwithher tag. But then again, she was just last night with Lena Dunham and Aziz Ansari, both vociferous supporters of HRC. Karlie Kloss, however, is dating Joshua Kushner, whose brother is married to Ivanka Trump. Who do you think she voted for? [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 5:16 PM [Idris & Jourdan Dunn] [Idris Elba presents the Global Icon Award on stage at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2016 on November 6, 2016 in Rotterdam, Netherlands] [Idris Elba] was at the MTV EMAs the other night. God.Damn. In that shirt with just the rigggghhtt amount of cling. Wearing the f-cking sh-t out of those pants. And that leather jacket. That’s really all you need in this post. But the [UK Sun is reporting] that he was making moves with model [Jourdan Dunn] that night. They were seen getting close at an after-party and supposedly left together holding hands. Here’s a photo from Instagram of Idris seemingly incapable of staying too far away from her: [When @jourdandunn tells you she loves you on @mtvex I CANT EVEN DEAL!!! 😍 belter 😘😘 in my @modemwah dress 😍] A photo posted by Charlotte Dawson (@charlottedawsy) on Nov 7, 2016 at 2:12am PST Keep in mind it was just a week ago that the British tabloids were trying to make Idris and Madonna happen, a claim he [denied quite rigorously on Twitter]. So far, no denial yet from Idris, although Jourdan certainly doesn’t have the profile of Madonna and the speculation hasn’t made that much of an impact. Still, if I’m Naiyana Garth, these back to back hookup rumours aren’t encouraging, if they’re still together, that is. Doesn’t look like it anymore? In other Idris news, he has a new movie opening this week in the UK, 100 Streets. Trailer is below. Keep this in mind for later. That scene with him, shirtless, holding Gemma Arterton with his head buried in her neck? I know they’re crying and it’s a painful moment but I appreciate the visual. [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 4:20 PM [World War Brange: on the record/off the record] Seven weeks ago today, September 20, 2016, at 10:30am ET, a major date in gossip history – that was when news broke that [Angelina Jolie] had filed for divorce from [Brad Pitt]. Seven weeks later, it’s another Tuesday, and once again, Brange is making headlines, although taking up a lot less space considering there’s a much bigger story unfolding. To recap quickly: some sh-t went down on a plane, Angelina filed for divorce, they started slapping at each other back and forth through their own sources, the FBI is looking into it, the LA Department of Children and Family Services was brought in. They recommended temporary custody to Angelina with supervised visitation for Brad. That recommendation was extended last month. On Friday, Brad filed a response to Angelina’s divorce petition asking for joint custody. And now… Late last night, Angelina Jolie released a statement, on the record – her first official statement since that first Tuesday: "We can confirm that childcare professionals have encouraged a legal agreement accepted and signed by both sides over a week ago. In accordance with this agreement, the six children will stay in their mother's custody, and the children will continue therapeutic visits with their father. This has been determined by childcare professionals to be in the children's best interest. We are not in a position to discuss the details. We hope now that it is clear that the events which led to the dissolution filing involved minor children and their well being, there will be understanding of the sensitivity of the family situation. We believe that all sides are committed to healing the family and ask for your consideration during this difficult time." So Angelina is saying, on the record, that she gets sole custody. That Brad has signed his name to a legal agreement that supports this. But Brad is saying, through sources, that this new agreement is simply an extension of the previous agreement while the DCFS continues to look into their situation and that he still fully intends to seek joint custody. His sources have gone to [US Weekly], [E Online], [the Associated Press], [PEOPLE], and more, including [TMZ], of course, to dispute Angelina’s version of the story. What’s confusing to me though is that, again, Angelina’s version of the story is on the record. That statement was released through Judy Smith, the real life Olivia Pope, [who was brought on to Angelina’s team] shortly after she filed for divorce. Brad did not issue an on the record rebuttal. Instead, his position is being presented through “sources”. When you release a proper statement through a representative, it sticks. It can be entered into the record. Countering that statement through “sources” isn’t so sticky. In this case, by comparison, it can be considered less “official”. If what Angelina is saying isn’t actually true, if it’s misleading, if it’s not representative of the actual situation, why not counter it with an on the record statement of your own? I guess if you’re on Brad’s side you might say he doesn’t want to get into a public she said-he said with her, sure. But, again, it’s not like he’s maintaining a dignified silence. He’s sending out his “sources” to speak on his behalf, “unofficially”, to give the appearance that he’s above playing media games when, well, he’s playing them too, only the way he’s playing, he can always back-shuffle his way out of any accusations, washing his hands of whatever his sources are feeding the entertainment news agencies. Or maybe it’s all about timing. The Allied premiere is this week. Angelina unloaded this statement right before he’s supposed to show up to promote his movie. A pre-emptive strike? Brad was not part of the Allied junket but he is expected at the premiere. It will be the first time we see him since World War Brange began. Now, conventional wisdom would suggest that he poses for pictures, stays silent, and heads straight into the theatre. Or, you know, he could step right up to a camera and take this combat to the next level. If that’s the case then, can he still claim that he’s keeping it classy? [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 2:46 PM [Hot Harry’s Love Shield] [Prince Harry/Meghan Markle] HOLY SH-T HARRY. Again, are you swooning? As I’ve mentioned in my coverage of [Prince Harry]’s relationship with [Meghan Markle], even though it was a British paper that initially broke the news that they were dating, the American magazines have been taking the lead on exclusives, with US Weekly in particular the first to confirm that [Harry was actually in Toronto] when UK gossips thought he’d cancelled a trip there and following up with another exclusive about Meghan being invited by Harry to spend his birthday [with him at Balmoral] which is where she met his father, Prince Charles. And, as I told you, this is significant in two ways: he’s serious about her and he’s been seriously unimpressed with how the UK tabloids have reported on the situation, dragging rogue relatives out to call Meghan a golddigger and the [Daily Mail] repeatedly mentioning that her mother has dreadlocks, and one headline describing her background as “Straight Outta Compton”. It was a subtle warning to British press – I can easily take my information to the American media if you persist with this character assassination. Right. So here’s the headline that showed up [in the UK Sun] today: Fancy a quick puck? Reps for Meghan and Michael Del Zotto have already issued denials. My sources tell me that Meghan’s lawyer actually drafted a response to The Sun warning them that their story is defamatory. There are also rumours that several UK tabloids have also tried to bribe Meghan’s ex-husband Trevor Engelson and his family members and they’ve declined the requests. So, just over a week after the world first learned that he’s with Meghan, Harry threw up a Love Shield! Kensington Palace has issued a statement this morning about the harassment currently being experienced by Meghan Markle and her family. [pic.twitter.com/EuFZ4fmUIj] — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) [November 8, 2016] But God this is old-fashioned romantic, non? First, he’s named her, officially. Hi, world, Meghan Markle is my GIRLFRIEND. We’ll come back to this in a minute. Next, he has acknowledged that his position comes with public interest. This is not what he objects to. He understands that people care about his life. So he’s not saying don’t report on us. He’s saying don’t be racist assholes and use that as the justification to tear her down. You know the part that really got me though? This: “Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her.” Deeply disappointed. That speaks directly to his previous comments about finding a partner, about finding someone who will be able to share his big life, and the pressure that will inevitably be put on that partner – something his previous partners wanted no part of. And you have to think that in addition to appealing to the public, that’s also an appeal to the Queen. Grandmother, I am unhappy. I have worked hard as a representative of this family. But being a representative of this family has cost me. It may cost me someone I care about. What have I been telling you about [cashing in his bonus points]? He’s using them on Meghan Markle! It’s an unprecedented move. Remember this statement came correct, under the coat of arms. It implies that it has the endorsement of all the might and influence that comes with the person who gave him that coat of arms. They do not pull that out casually. So the assumption here is that this was approved by the Queen herself, that Harry has her full support. And even if it wasn’t, it means that Harry was willing to risk the wrath of Her Majesty …for Meghan. Last week I reported that Harry [informed his team] about his relationship with Meghan back in August. So he was serious enough about her even then to have his advisors ready to protect her. Now that he’s confirmed her status, as his girlfriend proper, though, it also means that she is now officially their responsibility, with access to his considerable resources. It took a lot longer for Prince William to do this for Kate Middleton. Harry’s impulses, it would appear, do not operate on delay. When he’s passionate, Jesus, look out. And look, he’s just made that the story. PRINCE HARRY IS IN LOVE. [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 2:02 PM [November 8, 2016 – Smutty Shout-Outs] [Domhnall Gleeson for Samantha ] Samantha! I hear you missed out on Adele the other day. Because you are a BOSS. Because you believe in the work. Because you are driven by the work. I respect that. And I feel like Adele would respect that. And Teresa, Myrna, and Heather DEFINITELY respect that. So here are Domhnall Gleeson, David Harbour, John Oliver, Charlie Hunnam, and Chris Pratt in your honour. And to the dream of seeing Adele all four of you together one day – when it happens, it’ll just be sweeter. And for Shira from Kayla with so much love – because Thanksgiving is close and you’re far away, because friendship is strong, because your friendship is what’s actually “emet” (but if you want to call me that, I’ll take it!). Thank you both for letting me raise you on gossip. Today, no matter what happens, is a good day for gossip. PS. Will you go back to that elevator one day and take a picture of yourselves in it for me? [Click here for the rest of the photos.] Posted at 1:06 PM [Privacy Policy] - [Unsubscribe]