Posted Aug 6th 2007 11:50AM by TMZ Staff
With the 2008 presidential election still in its pre-primary stage, Hollywood's elite players are still unsure where to throw their money. Now blogalicious Arianna Huffington can show you where the money is ... and isn't!
A new tool on HuffingtonPost.com lets users search through campaign contributions by name or location. A quick look through the database shows several usually political celebs are sitting out the race ... so far. The Baldwin brothers, the Sheen/Estevez clan (Martin, Charlie and Emilio), Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck all show no donations, says the HuffPost.
Scientologists have also been quiet thus far, with no records on anything from Katie Holmes' husband, Kelly Preston, John Travolta or Jenna Elfman. Perhaps they want to know where Sen. Clinton stands on Xenu.
Search your favorite celeb -- or your neighbor -- at HuffingtonPost.com.
Filed under: Features
Tags: affleck, clinton, cruise, election, obama, president, sheen
Posted Jul 9th 2007 5:54PM by TMZ Staff
Thank you Rev. Sharpton. In response to your statement questioning TMZ's use of the term "roboho," first and foremost, please note that we called Beyonce's performance outfit "roboho" not Ms. Knowles herself. There is a difference. One need not know a celebrity personally to have an opinion on their wardrobe. Joan Rivers created an entire industry based on this fact.
As to accusations that our comment was racially motivated, TMZ has humorously called into question many celebs for wearing racy outfits -- regardless of their race. In the past, TMZ referred to Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, as "poshtitute," Hulk Hogan's daughter a "working girl" and called Lindsay Lohan's trashy ensemble a "HO-rror." A tight mini-dress is a tight mini-dress! Even Kid Rock got a humorous "ho" reference in a December 2006 story, and last we checked, he was neither Black nor a woman.
The point of the BET Awards story was to humorously highlight the fashion missteps of celebrity attendees at the show. We were making light of their outfits -- not who they are as people. With everything serious going on in our world, if you can't make fun of something as superficial as awards show clothing, then what can you make fun of? TMZ has done similar fashion stories for the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, CMTs, etc. If nothing else, the wardrobe critique of the BET Awards proved that TMZ is an equal opportunity offender when it comes to the snarky fashion policing of Hollywood.
We ask you, should the word "ho" be banned? Or only in reference to Black women? Isn't the context in which a word is used almost as important, if not more so, than the actual word? While others may have used the term with maliciousness -- we clearly did not. It was a humor piece -- as all of our fashion roundup stories are.
TMZ appreciates your feedback, Rev. Sharpton, and the dialogue it has opened, but it is clear that the only thing more subjective than what is fashionable, is what one finds funny.
Filed under: Beyonce Knowles, Features
Posted Jul 9th 2007 5:52PM by TMZ Staff
National Action Network President Al Sharpton has set his sights on TMZ.com over the word "Roboho" in a fashion piece that was published two weeks ago:
"Calling any woman a "ho" is demeaning and abusive and it should not be tolerated on any level. It is intolerable to think that TMZ.com would find humor in calling Beyonce -- someone who symbolizes the strength, dignity and uplifting of Black women -- a "Roboho," and they should be denounced by the entire community for glorifying the continued oppression of women with this derogatory term. Racism in America is perpetuated by ignorance and hate and using one's airwaves or media entity to promote it is a blatant setback to civil rights and the advancement of equality.
National Action Network has been in the forefront of protesting the word "ho" and will hold a 20-city tour featuring 100 women in each market on August 7th to protest the use of the word "ho" as well as the "N" and "B" words. We encourage TMZ.com to retract their misogynistic labeling of Beyonce and apologize immediately."
Filed under: Beyonce Knowles, Features
Posted May 16th 2007 12:02PM by TMZ Staff
They've been through thick and thin together -- figuratively and literally.
Alfonso Ribeiro has been seen in the crowd of "Dancing With the Stars" supporting his pal, Joey Fatone. But the chums go back a long time. Maybe Joey can bust out the Carlton Dance. That's fresh!
Look out Matt and Jake -- there is a new celebrity friendship in Hollywood: Ladies and gentlemen, meet Fateiro!
Filed under: Features
Tags: alfonso ribeiro, AlfonsoRibeiro, joey fatone, JoeyFatone
Posted May 14th 2007 11:24AM by TMZ Staff
Some of England's wealthiest celebs are shelling out a fortune to help fund the search for a 4-year-old British girl who has gone missing in Portugal. This gives new meaning to the term "giving back."
Harry Potter authoress J.K. Rowling, Virgin titan Sir Richard Branson and "Idol" judge Simon Cowell have all ponied up to help find Madeleine McCann, who has been missing since May 2. According to the News of the World, Rowling donated in excess of $495,000, while Branson and Cowell chipped in $198,000 and $99,000, respectively.
Rowling's fortune has been estimated at $1 billion, Branson's at a megastore $7 billion, while Simon's said to be worth about $85 million ... slightly more than "Idol" raised in the recent "Idol Gives Back" event.
Filed under: Features
Tags: jk rowling, JkRowling, richard branson, RichardBranson, simon cowell, SimonCowell
Posted May 6th 2007 10:37AM by TMZ Staff
Celebs, Larry Birkhead and even the Queen of England were out in full force in Kentucky Saturday, making a run for the roses.
Check out all the festivities!
Filed under: Features
Posted Apr 14th 2007 3:06AM by TMZ Staff
Sometimes the lies of supermarket tabs are so good, they become reality.
That's the word from Hal Lifson, a longtime hack for the National Enquirer, Star, and a slew of other tabs. He's writing a new behind-the-scenes tell-all on tabloid life titled, "Sources Say: The Ugly Truth Behind America's Tabloid Business."
"Many stories have a kernel of truth," Lifson tells the NY Post, "...but they have to be taken further." Some of Lifson's fables? He once concocted a story for Celebrity Living mag, saying that Jessica Simpson and Jennifer Aniston were having frequent slumber parties, saying that Aniston had given Simpson the nickname of "Gidget," and the pair had started watching old "Gidget" surf movies together. Perhaps inspired by Lifson's story, Jess' dad, Joe, tried to acquire the rights to "Gidget" as a project for his daughter.
Lifson says the key to creating a great tabloid story is writing something with big names, and little controversy. Take the Tom Cruise "Bozo the Clown" incident, which ran in the Globe.
"One trick to concocting stories is to make them "nice" and relatively inoffensive so the celebs won't beef," explains Lifson. "[I came up a story that ] Tom plays Bozo for [his baby] Suri, and that it caused a problem because Katie Holmes is scared of clowns. The headline in the Globe was, 'Tom and Katie's Battle Over Bozo.' I said that Tom tapped into the innocent, pure image of Bozo. It wasn't a mean story, it wasn't ugly. Do you think Tom ever complained?"
Filed under: Features
Tags: jennifer aniston, JenniferAniston, jessica simpson, JessicaSimpson, katie holmes, KatieHolmes, tom cruise, TomCruise
Posted Apr 9th 2007 7:26AM by TMZ Staff
PARADE magazine claims their shocking tell-all interview with Halle Berry, in which the actress revealed that she once tried to kill herself, was not "regurgitated," as Berry accused -- and they can prove it.
Now PARADE has issued a response to Halle's critique saying, "All of the quotes in the April 1 PARADE profile on Halle Berry came from a candid sit-down interview between Ms. Berry and PARADE writer Emily Listfield on January 25, 2007. Ms. Berry talked very freely (on tape) about the challenges she has faced in her life, including her failed marriages and suicide attempt. It is unfortunate that Ms. Berry has chosen to respond to media interest by backing away from what she originally told PARADE. Anyone who actually read the article is sure to see it as a very positive profile of a strong woman who has overcome many challenges in her life and is now on a clear path to happiness."
Halle Berry's rep was unable to be reached.
Filed under: Celebrity Feuds, Halle Berry, Features
Tags: Halle Berry, HalleBerry, Parade
Posted Apr 9th 2007 7:21AM by TMZ Staff
Leonardo DiCaprio will travel to the end of the Earth to save it ... Knut the polar bear will not.
Leo's travels took him to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in southeast Iceland for the cover of Vanity Fair's 2nd Annual Green Issue, which hits newsstands this week -- while the baby polar bear was photographed in Berlin.
The cover photo was taken by legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz, who also went to the Berlin Zoo to photograph Knut -- who was then superimposed with Leo. This is DiCaprio's first work with icebergs since "Titanic."
The May issue of Vanity Fair is devoted to environmental issues and features an excerpt from DiCaprio's upcoming documentary, "The 11th Hour."
Filed under: Features
Tags: knut, leonardo dicaprio, LeonardoDicaprio, vanity fair, VanityFair
Posted Apr 8th 2007 3:02AM by TMZ Staff
Sasha Cohen is an Olympic Silver Medalist. Sacha Baron Cohen is Borat. Two different people.
The figure skating Cohen told TheSportsInterview.com that she often gets mistaken for the comedian Cohen. "Sometimes I will be making reservations and it will be like, 'Wait is this Borat?' And it definitely throws a lot of people off."
Skater Sasha says she is definitely a fan of her male counterpart. "I have watched his movies and his show and he's hilarious. He's really talented and has given people a really good time."
You can listen to the full interview at TheSportsInterview.com.
Filed under: Features
Tags: borat, sacha baron cohen, SachaBaronCohen, sasha cohen, SashaCohen
Posted Apr 7th 2007 3:02AM by TMZ Staff
According to Tobey Maguire, the hardest thing about playing "Spider-Man" isn't the hazardous stunts, long hours or strenuous workouts -- it's kissing co-star Kirsten Dunst!
In the new issue of Parade magazine, Maguire explains that during his infamous rain-soaked upside down smooch with Dunst in the first film, he had "rainwaiter running up my nose. Then, when Kirsten rolled back the wet mask, she cut off the air completely." Workmen's comp, please!
Maguire also reveals that once he's through wearing Peter Parker's tights, he doesn't "want to play any more wide-eyed high school kids who are awkward with girls." But he's only 31!
"Spider-Man 3" opens May 4.
Filed under: Features
Tags: Tobey Maguire, TobeyMaguire
Posted Mar 21st 2007 5:30PM by TMZ Staff
Whatever you do, don't call Justin Timberlake the new King of Pop!
The 26-year-old former *NSYNC frontman tells Details magazine that on his first solo album, "I tried so hard to be an R&B artist and it was the pop album of the year, and I was like, 'F*ck. That's the last thing I wanted.'" Be careful what you wish for, JT.
Justin also has a bone to pick with the Recording Academy over the debacle that was this year's My Grammy Moment, which featured JT singing with contest winner Robyn Troup. Timberlake agreed to the performance before the concept was fully developed. When he realized it was turning into a pathetic "American Idol" knock-off, Justin wanted out. Timberlake says he wound up keeping his word, "Because I'm the nice guy who follows through on the things he commits to." Save, of course, Cameron Diaz.
Read the rest of Justin's gripes in the April issue of Details or at Details.com.
Filed under: Music, Celebrity Feuds, Features
Posted Mar 14th 2007 11:25AM by TMZ Staff
Before she was a "Mean Girl," Rachel McAdams was just a short-haired third grader in St. Thomas, Ontario.
A loyal TMZ reader sent us her third grade class photo with her classmate, Miss McAdams. While we certainly couldn't recognize her from the plaid, knee-high dress -- who could miss Rachel's trademark wide-mouthed grin?
We called and emailed Rachel's reps to confirm it's her, but we didn't hear back. What do you think?
Filed under: Features
Tags: Rachel McAdams, RachelMcadams
Posted Mar 13th 2007 1:04PM by TMZ Staff
For some people, having good sex is easier than pointing at letters on "Wheel of Fortune," while others only do it if "The Price is Right," and someone says "Let's Make a Deal."
Whether you're the "Weakest Link" or someone "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," the latest issue of Details mag wants to see if you can tell if the "Identity" of the following faces are more in line with a triple-X flick ... or a round of Double Jeopardy. "Deal or No Deal?" Which are they? That's "The $64,000 Question!"
Go to details.com to see how well you scored!
Filed under: Wacky & Weird, Features
Tags: Details, game shows, GameShows
Posted Mar 8th 2007 12:50PM by TMZ Staff
Someone needs to get Scarlett Johansson a new mirror, because the gorgeous actress believes, "I think I look kind of like a boy."
While Scarlett makes this horribly untrue statement in the new issue of Parade magazine, luckily, she also realizes that "it's always a plus to have people think that you're attractive." And we do, ScarJo!
In the article, the 22-year-old reveals that growing up she was "a singing, dancing fool," and idolized another famous blonde; "I absolutely love Marilyn Monroe."
Even though Johansson hasn't been caught pantyless, nor gone into rehab, she still likes to go out and have a good time with friends, adding, "but I just lay low. Sometimes you get caught, and there's nothing you can do about it." Except say cheese!
Check out the entire article in Parade magazine, in newspapers on Sunday.
Filed under: Features
Tags: Scarlett Johansson, ScarlettJohansson
