Newsletter Friday, September 08, 2017

[LaineyGossip.com - Calling all smuthounds!] Friday, September 08, 2017 [Intro for September 8, 2017]( [Graydon Carter]( Dear Gossips, Graydon Carter announced yesterday that after 25 years, he’s stepping down in December as the editor of Vanity Fair. Of his decision, Graydon told [The New York Times]( that, “I want to leave while the magazine is on top”. Now, of course, everyone’s wondering about his successor, who that might be: Mr. Carter’s departure is likely to set off a steeplechase of sorts in elite journalism circles. The editorship of Vanity Fair is among the industry’s most coveted positions — Mr. Carter’s predecessor was Tina Brown, who went on to run The New Yorker — and speculation about Mr. Carter’s heir has long simmered. Frequently mentioned contenders are Adam Moss of New York magazine, Janice Min of The Hollywood Reporter and Joanna Coles of Hearst Magazines. “There will be some great candidates both inside and outside the company,” said Steven O. Newhouse, a top executive at Vanity Fair’s parent company, Advance Publications. He added, “We’re in no rush.” Mr. Carter said he had an idea for who might succeed him — he would not name names — and that he would offer suggestions to Vanity Fair’s publisher, Condé Nast. “I want to make it really easy for the next person,” he said. “I care about this magazine. I don’t want it to go anywhere other than up.” What will Vanity Fair look like if Graydon Carter chooses his successor …and if he doesn’t? Graydon tried to modestly downplay the importance of an editor during his discussion with the NYT. “Editors, you know, we don’t really do anything. To the owner, you’re sort of like a patch of mold on the kitchen ceiling. You’re not quite sure about it, but as long as it doesn’t start dripping, you can just let it be.” That’s obviously not true. During their tenures, legacy editors like Graydon Carter define the era of the publications they oversee. So if Graydon’s making recommendations to Conde Nast about who should take his place, does that mean he’s forwarding a candidate who will maintain the tone that he established? Or is it someone capable of beginning an entirely new footprint, so that in another 25 years, there will be a clear distinction between Graydon and whoever comes after? You can’t separate Graydon Carter’s stewardship of Vanity Fair from his Importance Index and Seven Rooms theories of fame. As I wrote [back in 2013](, when he was tussling with Gwyneth Paltrow (we’ll come back to that in a minute), the Importance Index is based on how celebrities rank each other. Like, if Robert Downey Jr gets a call from Jude Law and from Mel Gibson, who he calls back first determines their standing. As for the Seven Rooms, every celebrity thinks they’ve reached the last room, the room that they all aspire to, but, really, there’s always another room, or two rooms, except for maybe one or two people, but seventh room residents are rare. And they can’t stay in there forever. These are astute perspectives on the nature and psychology of celebrity. Celebrity is both interior and exterior. Fame is determined not only by the audience but it is also governed from within – fans can elevate a celebrity to a certain status but celebrities also legislate among themselves to establish worth parameters and maintain hierarchies. Remember when Gwyneth once allegedly referred to Jennifer Aniston as “that TV girl”? It’s an example of how celebrities themselves have set the standards of fame while continuously seeking more of it. Which is what the Seven Rooms analogy is all about. There’s always more fame to be had, more doors to more fame. And the famous are often both gatekeepers and guests hoping to get to the next rooms. What’s changed for Graydon Carter is that the person he once called a “[short-fingered vulgarian](”, someone he never imagined would have breached the Seventh Room, may have actually reached that Seventh Room. Because, in these times, the rules about who gets to pass through the rooms have changed. Celebrity has evolved – or, you might say, mutated. Reality television and social media have disrupted the Seven Rooms. There may now be more than Seven Rooms. Or those rooms have been forced to get bigger, to make way for people who, 25 years ago, when Graydon first started at Vanity Fair, would never have been allowed to approach the first door, let alone get inside of it. Graydon Carter tells the NYT that he’s “by nature a very wistful person”. Wistful for many things, probably. And, maybe, wistful about how fame used to be – more exclusive, less democratic. To go back to Gwyneth though, in 2013, Vanity Fair wanted to do a profile on her and why people hate her. For whatever reason she decided she wasn’t into it and sent an email to all her friends telling them to boycott the magazine. Which resulted in all kinds of rumours that Graydon then decided to turn the article into a hit-piece. Eventually [they made up]( and Graydon revealed that G called him to call a truce and ended up asking for advice about what to do about the haters. He told her that people hate her because she’s so thin. And then she told him that he got fat. Which, as I noted at the time, basically [meant she won](. Because for Graydon Carter, who has always considered himself a Hollywood outsider, Gwyneth Paltrow was exactly the kind of celebrity who met his criteria for fame and the Seven Room track. It’s getting harder and harder now though to adhere to the narrowness of that criteria. And whoever succeeds him will have to navigate celebrity by criteria that depends so much on Twitter and Instagram. Will that person be as petty as Graydon can be about how he wielded his influence? Gwyneth picked a fight with him that, for instance, a magazine like PEOPLE would have walked away from. Graydon met her challenge until she came to him. The year before he hissed at Gwyneth, after Katie Holmes left Tom Cruise, he approved the infamous Scientology [deep-dive article]( with details about Tom auditioning girlfriends and his weird friendship with David Miscavige, effectively ensuring that Tom, still a pretty big movie star, would never talk to Vanity Fair again. Last month Vanity Fair clapped back at Angelina Jolie when she claimed the magazine misrepresented the controversial audition process during First They Killed My Father. So while, for the most part, Graydon Carter’s Vanity Fair played nice with celebrities, it was willing to take on big targets from time to time – and often won, which made Vanity Fair good for gossip. Graydon Carter has been good for gossip. Will the new editor of Vanity Fair be good for gossip? [Click here]( to read Vanity Fair’s tribute to Graydon published yesterday following the news of his imminent departure. Have a great weekend! Yours in gossip, Lainey [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 1:06 PM [Sansa, a direwolf and her boyfriend’s mustache]( [Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner out in New York with their new puppy, September 7, 2017]( Here are new photos of [Sophie Turner]( and [Joe Jonas]( out in New York City with their adopted Siberian Husky puppy/ direwolf [named Porky Basquiat](. Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas really want us to know that they know who Jean-Michel Basquiat is. [Meet the newest addition to the krew @porkybasquiat 🐶]( A post shared by Sophie Turner (@sophiet) on Sep 2, 2017 at 12:48pm PDT I want to be more snarky about this puppy because of his try-hard name but holy f-ck, he’s cute. Porky Basquiat already has his own Instagram account, obviously, and I just spent way too much of my morning staring at pictures like this one: [Face goalz amirite]( A post shared by Porky Basquiat (@porkybasquiat) on Sep 3, 2017 at 9:03am PDT Porky can stay. Joe Jonas’s mustache has got to go. There were a few questions that came to mind when I saw these photos and the biggest one was, “what is going on with Joe’s aesthetic?” He looks like a hipster Tom Selleck going to a crossfit class. Is he wearing workout tights under his shorts? My partner does this to go running and it’s embarrassing. Is Joe going for a run? Who wears a cross body bag to go running? Sophie is also in workout gear. Who takes their puppy to the gym? WHAT IS GOING ON? I have just as many questions about these photos as I do about the final season of Game of Thrones. Like Sarah and Lainey and anyone with any sense, I am also obsessed with GoT. My friends and I got together for viewing parties every Sunday this season. What do we do now on Sundays without Sansa and Arya’s sister drama? So far, I’ve been coping by revisiting this GIF as much as possible. I'd like to nominate Littlefinger getting exposed as the new "Blinking White Guy" GIF [#GameOfThrones]( [#GameOfThronesFinale]( [pic.twitter.com/bmoGv27qdg]( — Tristan Cooper (@TristanACooper) [August 28, 2017]( Sophie Turner will be back in her Sansa Stark capes running Winterfell while Jon Snow does dumb sh-t when the show picks up filming again in October. Until then, I’m assuming she’ll be hunkered down with her new pup and her boyfriend’s dirty ‘stache. Can you own a dog with someone you don’t live with? If Sophie and Joe do live together, that means they’re serious enough for Sophie to sit Joe down and have a stern talk about this new style. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 7:47 PM [Smutty Social Media, September 8, 2017]( [Demi Moore and celebrity floral and fragrance designer Eric Buterbaugh attend the private opening of Sascha von Bismarck debut photography collection, PERFUME, at Eric Buterbaugh Gallery on September 6, 2017 in Los Angeles, California]( [Gwyneth](’s first goop magazine cover is here. (Will it be like O Magazine and feature one cover star for every issue?) There’s no interpretation needed for this as it is exactly goop’s wheelhouse – luxury wellness. It’s very rich looking, literally. The “Earth to Gwyneth” could be a play on words too, [another dig at her haters.]( As usual, she looks amazing but I do have one issue with the art direction. Why is she wearing bikini bottoms? It doesn’t look like she has a top on, so why not wear something with less noticeable lines on the bottom for a cleaner look? [goop magazine is here 👏 Look for it on newsstands next week or pre-order by tapping the link in our bio. cc: @condenast #gooponpaper]( A post shared by goop (@goop) on Sep 8, 2017 at 7:51am PDT You may have heard how Taylor Swift’s frequent collaborator, Joseph Kahn, [gave an interview]( and said he believes Beyoncé copied Taylor’s Bad Blood. He has been on Twitter for a couple of days stirring sh-t up because he has a movie showing at TIFF – so the gist is that he’s joking to drum up publicity for himself. There are two things I’ve noticed he does when he desperately needs attention: throw himself in front of Taylor like the world’s thirstiest shield (Wildest Dreams, the Day of Receipts) and pokes at POC and young women. When you ain't got no marketing budget, remember: bees make honey and it's delicious. — Joseph Kahn (@JosephKahn) [September 6, 2017]( I like your Beyoncé, I do not like your Beyhive. -Gandhi — Joseph Kahn (@JosephKahn) [September 3, 2017]( I don't think anyone can perform in music videos anymore because Beyoncé invented singing. — Joseph Kahn (@JosephKahn) [September 3, 2017]( What I like about Swifties: they don't attack, they defend. — Joseph Kahn (@JosephKahn) [September 2, 2017]( If I even hear a radio commercial for It, I change the station. I’m a chickensh-t. Come on out to the movies tonight. You'll float. — Stephen King (@StephenKing) [September 7, 2017]( I don’t watch Big Brother but I was mildly interested in Celebrity Big Brother… until I saw the cast list. I don’t recognize half of these names. Tiffany Pollard, Kathy Griffin, Spencer Pratt, CBS soap star, Ken Bone, Michelle Visage, Kevin Jonas, Candis Cayne, Jennifer Holiday & Charo — Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) [September 8, 2017]( [Look what you guys are making me do to get ready for this World Tour.... Tickets at KathyGriffin.com - - - #swifty #tour #kathygriffin #kathy #laughyourheadoff #worldtour #standup #comedy #laugh #funny]( A post shared by Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) on Sep 7, 2017 at 5:28pm PDT Um how do they afford the Four Seasons? [#selfielife in @fspuntamita #familyvacation #canwemovehere?]( A post shared by Tori Spelling (@torispelling) on Sep 1, 2017 at 9:20am PDT Very into [Busy Philipps]( and Colin Hanks dorm room looks circa 1998. [Oh good lord. #tbt @colinhanks and me in college at LMU. Clearly in a dorm. I love how dressed up I am and we were probably just going to Baja Fresh. 😂 Also the picture says 94 but that's not right. It was 1998.]( A post shared by Busy Philipps (@busyphilipps) on Sep 7, 2017 at 12:05pm PDT [Demi]( looks really god, really healthy. And that’s a nice transitional dress – not too summery, not too heavy. [With the Mrs celebrating @saschavonbismarck photo exhibition #Perfume #GreatNight]( A post shared by Eric Buterbaugh (@ericbuterbaugh) on Sep 7, 2017 at 4:23pm PDT This is peak White Ladies Who Always Have a Vase of Fresh Flowers in the House. [Flashback to the first time I met @HallieMeyersShyer and @NMeyers. It was on this day that we decided to work on @HomeAgainMovie together. Love seeing dreams turn into reality. #HomeAgainMovie is in theaters today folks! ✨❤️]( A post shared by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon) on Sep 8, 2017 at 9:34am PDT [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 7:03 PM [Deflating ScarJost]( [Scarlett Johansson/Colin Jost]( Earlier this week [Page Six]( reported that [Scarlett Johansson]( and [Colin Jost]( with the weak face were seen kissing in the rain on Labour Day. Scarjo and Colin first hooked up after the SNL season finale just before the start of summer. Then she was papped holding hands with her lawyer, Kevin Yorn. A couple of weeks after that, ScarJost was spotted in the Hamptons together. When that happened, [PEOPLE]( posted an update on Scarjo and Kevin, reporting that they’ve been on and off for years and that even when they’re off, it never means they won’t go on again. PEOPLE is doubling down on that, [in a new article]( that went up yesterday despite the fact that Scarlett’s been with Colin a lot more than she’s been with Kevin this summer. According to PEOPLE, “the feelings haven’t fizzled” between Scarjo and Kevin. Kevin might not be “the one” for her and they may both be openly dating other people but there’s always going to be something between them. This is amazing. Because …can you imagine what it must be like for Colin Jost? You hook up with Scarjo. And five minutes later she’s holding hands with some other dude. But you’re the one with her on Labour Day, kissing. Only now, PEOPLE Magazine, is telling the world that she’s still carrying around unfizzled feelings for someone else! Is someone trying to tell Colin Jost a message? Or at least remind him that, well, if he’s lucky enough to be with Scarjo, part-time status might be the only offer on the table? Could Kevin Yorn be the one who’s doing the reminding? [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 6:18 PM [Reese attempts to check her privilege]( [Reese Witherspoon covers Glamour Magazine]( [Reese Witherspoon]( wrote an essay for Glamour’s October issue [about ambition and women in Hollywood](. In it, she addresses the gender pay gap, her production company’s goal to create female-driven projects and reveals a conversation she had with [Mindy Kaling]( about women of colour in Hollywood that requires unpacking. This conversation is what most outlets are picking up on. The headline on PEOPLE was, “[Reese Witherspoon: How Mindy Kaling Helped Me See My White Privilege.](” My knee-jerk reaction to that headline in isolation was to scoff and mutter to myself, cool, Reese Witherspoon. Welcome to 2017. You’re only now realizing your privilege? You’ve been America’s Sweetheart for 20 years. PLEASE. White privilege is one of those buzz terms people love to scroll past or dismiss before hearing anything else. I’ve been in heated conversations with white friends and loved ones about how privilege works. These conversations are often uncomfortable and always exhausting but sometimes, they are necessary. The reality is that many white people don’t acknowledge their privilege unless they actually interact with a person of colour who can explain to them how much harder it can be for us. And that’s the point. The fact that Reese went this long in Hollywood before realizing what someone like Mindy Kaling goes through to get half as much of what she has is part of her privilege. Reese does not have to think about her race before every audition or every role she reads. Mindy does. Here’s what Reese Witherspoon wrote about her conversation with Mindy Kaling in full: Another thing I think about a lot is how it feels to be a minority woman in America, so rarely seeing yourself onscreen, and it’s unconscionable. When I asked Mindy Kaling, “Don’t you ever get exhausted by always having to create your own roles?” she said, “Reese, I’ve never had anything that I didn’t create for myself.” I thought, Wow, I feel like a jerk for asking that; I used to have parts that just showed up for me. I can’t imagine how hard it is to write your own parts and simultaneously have to change people’s perceptions of what a woman of color is in today’s society. Points to Reese for acknowledging that she was a jerk for basically asking, “oh gosh Mindy, aren’t you tired? Have you tried just not writing everything for yourself?” but she doesn’t get a giant pat on the back for recognizing a problem women of colour have been yelling to the void for years. Again, Mindy Kaling has not been given the options that Reese Witherspoon has. Mindy is a successful showrunner, writer and actress in Hollywood in spite of an entire system working against her. She is the exception. When Reese writes, “I used to have parts that just showed up for me,” that is a luxury not afforded to women of colour. It does sound like through this conversation and through hanging out with the likes of Oprah and Ava DuVernay on A Wrinkle in Time, Reese may slowly be starting to get it. OK. Great. Now what? Over the last few years, Lainey has repeatedly referred to Reese Witherspoon as an “[industry power player.]( She has produced some very successful female-led vehicles like Gone Girl and Big Little Lies. The essay goes to great lengths to humble brag about all the projects Reese has in the works that focus on women. She should be bragging about this. But when she cites stats about the improved state of gender diversity in Hollywood, like that 38% of major characters on TV are now women, how many of those characters are women of colour? Reese now has the power to create these characters. She has the power to do something about the “unconscionable” reality women of colour face in Hollywood. But will she? Reese is currently promoting a film called Home Again. After a quick IMDB scan, I can’t find a single person of colour in this movie. In the Glamour essay, Reese writes that she has 23 upcoming projects, “driven by great female characters of different ages and races.” I hope this is true. I hope this eye-opening conversation with her new Friend of Colour actually pushes Reese to make a difference but honestly, I’m a little skeptical. Because in the same breath that Reese is preaching diversity and attempting to check her privilege, she says this: I think there’s this fallacy that because I’ve been an actor, people are going to hand me stuff. Nobody hands me anything. Wait, what? White privilege does not mean that white people don’t work hard. Of course, Reese Witherspoon works hard but she just said that roles just show up for her. That is a form of something getting handed to you. It’s now about what Reese Witherspoon does with the powerful and privileged hands she’s been dealt. Also attached - Reese making the promotional rounds for Home Again in New York this week. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 6:04 PM [Fashion Week Leo]( [Leonardo DiCaprio leaves Up & Down in New York, September 7, 2017]( Rihanna partied at Up & Down last night after the launch of her beauty line. [Leonardo DiCaprio]( was also there. Of course he was. Of course he’s in New York right now. It’s Fashion Week. It’s model week. Where else would he be? As you know, there were rumours a few years ago that Rihanna and Leo were hooking up. Since then, whenever they show up at the same place, people try to start those rumours all over again. Rihanna has a boyfriend now though. And a couple of weeks ago, it was reported that Leo might be [bonafiding a new model, Lorena Rae](. Lorena was seen leaving the club just after Leo and, according to the paps, they got into the same car. I’ve only attached photos of Leo because you have to pay extra for the Lorena shots and I’m not paying extra on a model in Leo’s life who may not make it past this weekend. She was wearing a black top and a yellow skirt and she has light brown hair and long legs, what else do you need to know? The point is, as we approach cuffing season, Lorena is still being considered. That said, again, it’s NY Fashion Week. And Leo is the Buffet King at NY Fashion Week. Who knows who he’ll discover by the time all the collections have been presented? Why order just one entrée when there are new and fresh dishes, between 18 and 24 years old, being served all the time. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 4:51 PM [The Rihanna face]( [Rihanna arrives to the Fenty by Rihanna Launch at the Duggal Greenhouse on September 7, 2017 in New York City]( [Rihanna]( is in New York for Fashion Week and the launch of [Fenty Beauty by Rihanna](, her makeup line. She’s also on the [cover of ELLE](, not just in the US but [also in the UK](. [In celebration of @badgalriri’s sixth cover (💜and the global launch of @fentybeauty by Rihanna💜), ELLE turned the tables and invited some of her famous friends and fans—Tyra Banks, Eminem, April Bloomfield, Zac Posen, Pharrell Williams and more—to share the questions they were dying to ask the global megastar. Link in bio for a preview of her wonderful, hilarious answers. ||Photo by @solvesundsbostudio, styled by @judasvandewal Wrap by @yproject_official Earrings by @jenniferfisherjewelry Cuffs by @evafehren]( A post shared by Elle Magazine (@elleusa) on Sep 7, 2017 at 1:18pm PDT [Winter might be coming, but we've got some ridiculously good news to see you through the last dregs of summer: pop megastar @badgalriri is ELLE's October cover star! 🔥 Link in bio for more—including all of her famous friends sharing the questions they've been dying to ask. Credits—— Rihanna wearing Calvin Klein 205W39NYC and Chopard earrings, styled by Daniel Vandewal. Photographer: Sølve SUNDSBØ Hair: Yusef at Factory Downtown for Rich Hair Care Make-up: James Kaliardos for Fenty Beauty Manicure: Jimmie Kyees Produced by Tommy Roomers Fashion assistant: Daniel Gaines]( A post shared by ELLE UK (@elleuk) on Sep 7, 2017 at 1:25pm PDT This, as you know, is rare. And it’s reserved for the rarest of celebrities. Beyoncé. And now Rihanna. I LOVE the cover shot of her with the purple heart face. First because it’s an amazing photograph but mostly because so few celebrities would do this. So few would have their faces painted over, distorting their features. Most of the time, the point of being on the cover of a magazine is to be “pretty”, conventionally pretty. Rihanna has shown us time and again that she doesn’t pay attention to convention when it comes to style and beauty. Which is why it’s so exciting that she’s branding out to beauty. As she says: "FENTY BEAUTY WAS CREATED FOR EVERYONE: FOR WOMEN OF ALL SHADES, PERSONALITIES, ATTITUDES, CULTURES, AND RACES. I WANTED EVERYONE TO FEEL INCLUDED. THAT'S THE REAL REASON I MADE THIS LINE." The line, right now, is foundation and highlighters and contouring and tools and a gloss. So they’re starting with creating a glow face. To me, the standout product is what she’s calling [Killawatt](, a “freestyle highlighter” in several palette options that you can use all over your face – eyes, cheeks, and forehead. I think I might have to invest in this to hold on to my tan. I’m also curious about the [Gloss Bomb](, described as the “unicorn of nudes that looks good on anyone”, even though I’m not a gloss person. I like my lips matte. So matte that I will add a layer of mattifier on top of matte lipstick for extra flatness. Glossy lips just feel so sticky and it gets all over my hair. Also I feel like it only looks good for a minute before it gets absorbed and becomes clear – at least against my skin tone. The way Gloss Bomb is photographing though, they’re trying to convince me that the gloss stays thick like that the whole time and holds its colour. Even without lip-liner? If you try it, let me know. Rihanna decided to free-swing in yellow last night at the launch. Then she changed into black and silver for the after-party. By the end of the night though, she was back in furry slippers. Leonardo DiCaprio was seen at the party. More on this, next post. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 4:14 PM [Zayn’s acting]( [Zayn in Dusk Till Dawn music video]( Ah, the classic music video interlude. It has rarely been done right. When it has, we’ve gotten memorable scenes like [Don Cheadle vs Kendrick Lamar in DNA]( or the ridiculous/amazing Titanic rip-off in [Oops I Did it Again](. When it goes wrong, well, we have [Zayn Malik](’s new music video. Before I get to Zayn’s acting skills, I should acknowledge that the song is solid. Dusk Till Dawn is a duet with [Sia]( from Zayn’s upcoming album but it sounds like a quintessential solo Sia anthem. That’s a good thing. The video was directed by Marc Webb – the same guy who directed The Amazing Spider-Man and 500 Days of Summer – so I was expecting a little more than a mini bad action movie. You’ve got a good song, a competent director and celebrity cameo in the form of [Jemima Kirke]( from Girls. All the ingredients to whip up a half decent music video are there but instead, Webb delivers a run-of-the-mill sequence that wouldn’t hold up to any of the videos from the mid 2000s when storylines like this were the standard. The story goes like this: Zayn and Jemima Kirk (there’s probably a Taylor Swift connection here but I don’t care enough to make it) are sexy criminals on the run from the cops. There’s a briefcase that seems important. Zayn swaggers through Chinatown with said briefcase looking HOT until he is caught. At about the 2-minute mark, the music stops and the interlude we’ve all been waiting for kicks in. It’s hysterical. Zayn gets interrogated by a cop who tries to intimidate him with lines that would embarrass Michael Bay, like “your name is mud on the streets!” What? Anyway, Zayn’s acting face is one of complete disinterest –similar to his regular resting face—and when he delivers his one line, “you don’t know me,” I laughed out loud. Zayn can barely open his mouth when he lip-syncs so I don't know why I was expecting anything more from his acting skills. To put it mildly, he's no Harry Styles in Dunkirk. I don’t see any Christopher Nolan films in Zayn’s future. It probably wasn’t fair to bring up the Harry Styles comparison. Of course, Zayn isn’t trying to be an actor. And Harry isn’t trying to put out Sia-approved pop hits. Musically, their styles are so different it’s hard to believe they were ever in the same boy band. They are both living in their respective lanes and doing great. But while I [caught feelings for Harry recently](, this video is making me re-evaluate my longstanding crush on Zayn. The most I felt for him was during the final shot with him in the passenger seat as Jemima Kirke drives them away in their getaway car, as sexy criminals do. The shot is beautiful and I would have been OK if it was the whole video. Finally, I need to shut down one very important thing. Rolling Stone and other outlets have called Zayn and Jemima Kirke a [modern day Bonnie and Clyde]( which is straight BLASPHEMY because the only Bonnie and Clyde I recognize are ’03 [Jay-Z and Beyonce](. Watch the entire Dusk Till Dawn video below. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 3:47 PM [Stop, Maria]( [Maria Sharapova during her women's singles fourth round match against Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia on Day Seven of the 2017 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 3, 2017 in New York City]( I was so relieved last week when [Maria Sharapova]( was knocked out of the US Open. It was legitimate anxiety every time she advanced. For me, and perhaps for many of you, it’s more than just sports stanning. Celebrity is more than just who’s f-cking who and who’s not friends with the others. Sports too is more than just who wins and who loses. Especially in Maria’s case. Maria Sharapova, who doesn’t win nearly as much as [Serena Williams](, the Greatest Of All Time, made more money in endorsements than Serena Williams until only last year. Maria Sharapova was suspended for a doping violation and then supported on her comeback. Would Serena have been afforded the same generosity? The difference between Maria and Serena, and how they’re reported on and perceived, is bigger than a tennis court. It says something about the public court, about where we live. Maria Sharapova has written a book about her life. It’s called Unstoppable. And in the book she talks about the woman who has stopped her, over and over and over again: Serena Williams, obviously. The Daily Mail [published excerpts]( from Unstoppable yesterday, specifically a few parts where Maria shares her thoughts on Serena. Let’s see if you react with the same rage I did. Maria beat Serena in 2004 and when she walked into the locker room afterwards, she heard Serena crying: 'I don't think she's ever forgiven me for it' – witnessing this 'low and vulnerable moment,' she writes. 'I think Serena hated me for being the skinny kid who beat her, against all odds, at Wimbledon. I think she hated me for taking something that she believed belonged to her. I think she hated me for seeing her at her lowest moment. But mostly I think she hated me for hearing her cry. She's never forgiven me for it.’ Did you make note of the word “skinny”. It’s a key word. It keeps coming up in other subtle ways. Like, in contrast to her own “skinniness”, here’s how she describes Serena: “First of all her physical presence is much stronger and bigger than you realize watching TV. She has thick arms and thick legs and is so intimidating and strong. It's the whole thing – her presence, her confidence, her personality.” Oh wait, we’re not done yet. Maria needs to top her serving of grossness with a flourish: “Even now, she can make me feel like a little girl.” Maria Sharapova, the little girl underdog, and Serena Williams, the “thick”, “intimidating” not-so-little, not-so-underdog menace – this is the picture that Maria Sharapova is painting, and it’s heinous. Also, it’s bullsh-t. You want to talk underdog? Both in tennis and in life, Maria Sharapova is the opposite of a f-cking underdog. In tennis and in life, on sidewalks and on the side of the road, in courtrooms and in classrooms, a black woman will always be a thousand times more the underdog than Maria f-cking Sharapova. The fact that she’s using physicality to build the fallacy that SHE was the one who’s been disadvantaged is irresponsible and reprehensible. Because this description is EXACTLY the kind of f-cksh-t that have set black women – and black people – back for generations: that whiteness is innocent and vulnerable, that blackness is threatening and mean. That on that tennis court, a little blonde girl was getting pushed around by a big black bully. This is how you reduce a champion, the Greatest Of All Time, to a combination of body parts. This is how you undermine a legend’s mind and focus and preparation. This is how you undercut her achievements. This is how you reinforce assumptions and stereotypes. This is how you discriminate. I hear that dog whistle, Maria Sharapova. Stop Maria Sharapova. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 3:17 PM [Jakey's night before TIFF and his Stronger game]( [Jake Gyllenhaal attends 29Rooms Opening Night 2017 on September 7, 2017 in New York City]( Gaga or [(Jake) Gyllenhaal](: who would you pick? They both have world premieres at TIFF tonight, half an hour apart, across the street from each other. But on his night before TIFF, Jake sat front row with Lupita Nyong'o and Rashida Jones at the Raf Simons Calvin Klein Collection show at New York Fashion Week. At Calvin Klein, bold colors, dashes of Warhol and Helmut Lang, with Jake Gyllenhaal, Rashida Jones, and Lupita N'Yongo in the front row. [pic.twitter.com/UcOaJEgx1a]( — Jacob Bernstein (@BernsteinJacob) [September 8, 2017]( Jake seemed to be in great spirits, too - schmoozing with the crowd, chatting up Lupita, and posing with her and Trevor Noah together. He also posed in Refinery 29's 29 Rooms art installation booth, and his expression says it all: [Jake Gyllenhaal is here and we literally cannot.😽 📸: @blindsaay 🎨: Show Face with #JakeGyllenhaal #29Rooms #StrongerMovie #StrengthDefinesUS #TurnItIntoArt]( A post shared by 29Rooms (@29rooms) on Sep 7, 2017 at 7:52pm PDT Plus, this caption: "Jake Gyllenhaal is here and we literally cannot." Same. But, there's also a hashtag here for #StrongerMovie and #StrengthDefinesUs, the name and the slogan of his latest film, which will screen for the first time at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto at 6:30 p.m. ET. Perhaps, then, these two events are linked. Of course Jake is on the Toronto guest list and confirmed to attend. There's also a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday), with junkets and interviews after that. I always refer to later-morning press conferences as a party buffer, or schmooze buffer, and it looks as though Jake may need just that. Jeff Bauman, the Boston Marathon bombing survivor whom Jake plays in the movie, is on the list too and they'll be doing some press together. Jeff's friends jokingly call Jake his "boyfriend" [due to their close bond](, so there are bound to be some great stories and some great pictures to look forward to. And I haven't even gotten to his co-star ([and my favourite]( Tatiana Maslany yet. I'm dying to see them on the red carpet together. Or partying. Tatiana and Jake both have great laughs, and have an amazingly rich history with the festival so they'll probably look quite relaxed by tomorrow. Five years ago, when Tatiana was part of the Rising Stars program (and in the final audition phase for Orphan Black!!!), Jake was here premiering End of Watch, which is incredibly underrated. Yesterday, Lainey led the site with a post about Jake and how he [shows his work](. I've screened Stronger, and we signed the same embargo, so I can only say it is totally [as advertised](. One thing I can say or predict at this time, though? Jake will be great with his fans, and is among the most generous stars I've seen in action. I've seen this firsthand at the premieres of [Nightcrawler]( and [Southpaw]( or after seeing [Sunday in the Park with George]( (which as an obsessive Broadway tourist, it was way, way, way worth the hype and made me really regret not seeing him on-stage in [Little Shop of Horrors](. Blame sticker shock!). And maybe he'll be wearing Raf Simons' work at TIFF? He was at his menswear show earlier this summer: Watch Jake Gyllenhaal watch fashion [pic.twitter.com/i1H5TK2E00]( — Josh Duboff (@JDuboff) [July 12, 2017]( So, how long will Jake stick around for in Toronto? In my dreams, he would show up to the screening of The Deuce, his sister Maggie's new HBO show, starring my other boyfriend James Franco on Sunday. He did send her this brotherly love photo which she posted yesterday, so it's a fair guess. Oh, and obviously my answer is Gyllenhaal > Gaga. (No shots fired) [Nice hangin with you, bro xx #TheDeuce @HBO]( A post shared by Maggie Gyllenhaal (@mgyllenhaal) on Sep 7, 2017 at 12:44pm PDT [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 2:23 PM [Bill SkarsgÃ¥rd and a bunch of kids in It]( [Bill Skarsgard attends the premiere of 'It' at TCL Chinese Theatre on September 5, 2017 in Hollywood, California]( It lets you know what kind of movie it is right off the bat, when Pennywise the Clown ([Bill Skarsgård]() bites the arm off a little kid before yanking him into a sewer. The kid in question is Georgie, with his iconic yellow raincoat, and his disappearance begins a year-long reign of terror in the sleepy Maine town of Derry. Based on one of Stephen King’s most beloved novels, It was first realized as a miniseries in 1990, which totally does not hold up and only remains notable for Tim Curry’s performance as Pennywise. The movie, by virtue of Georgie’s violent, shark attack-like death, immediately sets itself apart, establishing both its horror and violence bona fides. Clocking in over two hours, It feels long, and it’s a great example of when characters from sprawling novels should be cut or condensed. The core group of kids at the heart of the story includes seven people—the movie only needs, like, four. Tops. But they’re all here: Stuttering Bill (Jaden Lieberher), hypochondriac Eddie (Jack Dylan Grazer), Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor), loudmouth Richie (Finn Wolfhard), uptight Stanley (Wyatt Oleff), Mike (Chosen Jacobs), and Beverly (Sophia Lillis). Of this over-inflated group, only Bill, Ben, and Beverly really matter. You could toss a coin for who should be the sidekick, Richie or Eddie. The others are completely superfluous. It is primarily focused on the summer of 1989, when the rash of disappearances that began with Georgie has expanded to include multiple classmates, the kids start seeing their fears manifested, and a creepy clown with red balloons haunts the town. Bill Skarsgård is FANTASTIC as Pennywise, and for the first half of the movie, Pennywise is effective and creepy. In the second half, he becomes less effective as we see more of him, and the final confrontation with the kids would be ridiculous if it weren’t for Skarsgård and his commitment. As for the kids, they’re a mixed bag. Sophia Lillis is the stand-out as Beverly, bright and spunky and steely when necessary. She’s so good it defies logic that Bill is the main kid. He’s the main dude in the book, but the way this movie shakes out, Beverly should be the central protagonist. It is most famous for Pennywise, but the real horror is the usual awful stuff humans do to one another, and how people are prone to looking past signs of abuse in order to maintain a polite, neighborly façade. To a degree, It captures this well, giving us moments with each kid, even their borderline deranged bully Henry Bowers (Nicholas Hamilton), to see their home lives and what they’re hiding. But again, the sheer number of kids included means that some get short-changed. Mike, for instance, has horrible backstory that suggests the good people of Derry tried to drive his family out of town by burning their house down. And Beverly, it is implied, is being molested by her father. This is where It goes a little sideways. As an R-rated movie, It has no problem showing us graphic scenes of violence, but for some reason the movie shies from explicitly naming the abuse the kids are suffering. It’s pretty clear Beverly is being raped by her father, but the movie won’t completely commit to that reality. Likewise, Eddie’s mother obviously has Munchausen’s by proxy, but again, the movie stops short of explicitly calling it out, and instead makes out Eddie’s mom to be a helicopter parent. Why? The whole point of It is how the demon inside Pennywise extrudes the real horror of the town, which is a choose-your-own-adventure of child abuse. It is effectively scary, and since each kid has a different fear, there’s plenty of nightmare fuel to enjoy. But the real meat of the story is the various abuses the kids are suffering, and there It falls short, refusing to fully engage with the children as survivors of not only Pennywise, but also their own nightmarish parents. Henry Bowers, though a cartoonish portrayal of a bully, stands out as one of the more interesting characters simply because his actions are informed by his abuse. Beverly, too, gets a complete arc, but the other kids are adrift, and it makes them less interesting, since there is little to no connection between their home life and how they deal with Pennywise. It stares down creepy clowns, but turns away from the ultimate evil. [Click here for the rest of the photos.]( Posted at 1:49 PM [Privacy Policy]( - [Unsubscribe](