Fan Fare
Entertainment behind the scenes
Perez Hilton — does he deserve a second chance?
Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton turned from snarky observer of celebrities into a news topic in his own right on Wednesday when he appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres” show (and spoke with Reuters) to declare he was ending his bullying of celebrities — gay and straight — after being labeled a hypocrite by the gay community.
Hilton, 32, said his change of heart was motivated primarily by his conflicting efforts to speak out against the rash of gay teen bullying, while enjoying a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most vicious gossips, and the man who helped “out” celebrities like Neil Patrick Harris and singer Lance Bass.
Hilton may be outspoken, but he is far from stupid — he admitted that he expected a lot of skepticism, and the loss of many readers, now that his web site is less nasty than it used to be.
Hilton started out by apologizing via Twitter to Demi Moore — whose daughter Rumer has come in for more than her fair share of jibes from “Hollywood’s most hated web site”.
“There’s too many to tell this to, but I thought I’d start with you. I’m sorry” Hilton said in a Tweet to Moore.
Good Charlotte” singer Joel Madden, also the boyfriend of Nicole Richie, was among the first celebrity to congratulate Hilton on his new positive stance. “way to be positive! Takes courage in a world filled with negativity”, Madden Tweeted.
New York gossip girl Kelly Will also congratulated Hilton on his “bold honorable choice.”
Perez Hilton’s ambitious concert tour dogged by apathy
Gossip columnist Perez Hilton probably hoped for bigger crowds and better buzz for his inaugural North American tour of up-and-coming musical acts. But the three-and-a-half week trek ended on a high note on Saturday as upwards of a thousand people showed up at the Avalon Hollywood theater to check out the vibrant lineup of would-be superstars.
Numbers may have been boosted by the addition of a not-so-secret mystery headliner, indie rock band The Gossip, who are probably better known internationally. The other performers on the final stop of the “Perez Hilton Presents” club tour included the B-52s-like rock band Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head, English singer/songwriter Julian Perretta, the glam-rock New York band Semi Precious Weapons, and usual headliner New Zealand dance-pop-rock starlet Ladyhawke (pictured at left).
And, of course, the excitable Hilton drew loud shrieks from his core demographic of young women packed into the front rows each time he took the stage to introduce the next act. “I have this little gossip site, but music is really my passion,” he said at one point. “This is a dream of mine.”
Whether the dream will yield a second tour is questionable. The trek drew modest crowds, and tickets for some of the all-ages gigs were given away. Tickets for the Hollywood show could be bought at the window for $25, down from the advertised day-of-sale rate of $31. Norwegian singer Ida Maria, one of the headliners, dropped out after a week claiming “total exhaustion.”
It also passed under the radar of the music industry, whose denizens are neither enamored of Hilton’s day job nor thrilled that he landed his own label at Warner Music Group. Hilton was aware that his stamp of approval could backfire on the artists, telling the Seattle Weekly that “if you love Ladyhawke, you shouldn’t let your dislike for me get in the way from coming to the show. Just get over it. It’s not about me.”
On the other hand, the promoters did seem to keep costs down, judging by the fact that many of the artists set up their own equipment. Ladyhawke (a.k.a. Pip Brown) recounted that she had driven 8,000 miles in a van with both her bandmates and with Semi Precious Weapons. Presumbly Ladyhawke and Semi Precious Weapons’ cross-dressing frontman Justin Tranter had plenty of time to swap makeup tips and pantyhose tricks.
The funniest line in this story is where Perez says, “It’s not about me.” I think that, in Perez’s mind, EVERYTHING is about him.I’m amazed that any band with an ounce of talent would want to hitch their wagon to this falling star. I suspect that they’ll lose more potential fans by being associated with him than they’ll gain.
Maya Angelou well — despite TMZ, Twitter reports
Octogenarian poet Maya Angelou was alive and well on Sunday, despite the dire overnight reports of online gossip site TMZ and a panicked army of Twitter followers.
TMZ reported on Saturday night that the prolific writer was hospitalized earlier in the evening ahead of a scheduled appearance at an awards show in Los Angeles. The report spread like wildfire through cyberspace, and Angelou became the top trending topic on Twitter as anguished members of the microblogging site passed around the news. Some morbid scribes added an “R.I.P.” for good measure.
The only problem is that 81-year-old Angelou was not ill, and was nowhere near Los Angeles. She was about 1,800 miles away in her hometown of St. Louis.
TMZ updated its story on Sunday to say that Angelou was never scheduled to appear at the event. It blamed the erroneous report on event organizers, saying that someone had told one of its cameramen that Angelou was a no-show because she had been hospitalized.
The online gossip community has had a mixed track record with recent deaths and mishaps. The emergence of Twitter means that such reports now get amplified. TMZ got the worldwide scoop on the death of Michael Jackson in June, but wrongly reported the following month that former UFC superstar Kimo Leopoldo had died. Last month, gossip columnist Perez Hilton claimed that former Charlie’s Angels star Jaclyn Smith had tried to commit suicide. It appeared to be a case of mistaken identity. Hilton also suggested in 2007 that Fidel Castro had died.
There is a reason why they are GOSSIP blogs.
Why are they now credited as news sources?
What a shame. Goodbye journalism.
Perez Hilton tries to clip Angel’s wings
Former “Charlie’s Angels” star Jaclyn Smith did not shoot herself in Honduras, despite gossip columnist Perez Hilton’s claim to the contrary on Tuesday.
Hilton created an international incident after he sent out a Twitter message: “OMG! Jaclyn Smith suicide attempt! Tragic news! She’s in critical condition! Details coming ASAP!” His source was a Honduran newspaper that later appeared to correct its initial report to say that rather than Smith, the victim was a woman who played her stunt double. Smith quickly took to Facebook and Twitter to calm the masses: “Jaclyn is safe and home with her family. She is not in Honduras. It is a lie.” Hilton, who once reported that Fidel Castro had died, took a lot of heat on Twitter, with the word “douche” cropping up frequently.
This is typical behaviour for Perez Hilton…I wish people would stop reading his blog and that he’d just go away.
Perez Hilton’s first all-star tour boasts international flavor
Disappointed that Ozzy Osbourne pulled the plug on his annual hard-rock festival Ozzfest this year? Maybe a new package tour organized by gossip columnist Perez Hilton will help fill the vacuum. Or not. The so-called “queen of all media” says he has lined up “the hottest acts on the planet — from all over the world!” to tour North America, beginning Sept. 10 in Atlanta, Ga.
“Perez Hilton Presents…” — with an initial lineup featuring Norwegian rock musician Ida Maria, New Zealand singer/songwriter Ladyhawke and the British pair of electropop artist Frankmusik and singer/songwriter Julian Perretta, runs through Oct. 3 in Los Angeles, he revealed on his blog Tuesday.
Other stops on the club trek include Boston (Sept. 14), New York City (Sept. 16) and San Francisco (Sept. 30). Tickets start going on sale on Thursday.
Hilton, the recent subject of a glowing profile in the Los Angeles Times, is already dipping his toes into the music industry through an imprint at Warner Music Group. His blog postings and Twitter messages often sing the praises of such acts as Katy Perry and Lady Gaga (not to mention Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys). One act that likely won’t appear is the Black Eyed Peas. Hilton got into a mild contretemps with the group’s road manager in Toronto last June following an exchange of angry words with singer will.i.am. He is suing the road manager, who was charged with assault by the Toronto police.
Wow, Perez Hilton has lost a significant amount of weight, I must admit, he looks good. And as far as his attitude is concerned, i think even THAT takes a lot of effort. This disposition can burn up a lot of calories. That probably explains his weight loss.
John Mayer’s Twitter abstinence is short-lived
Back on Sunday, “Waiting on the World to Change” singer John Mayer intimated on his Twitter page that he was looking to take a break from the social networking website for people with short attention spans.
“Suffering cerebral atrophy,” Mayer wrote. “Since I’ve been communicating in short pulses, I’ve been writing lyrics the same way.”
In a follow-up post, Mayer added: “The single-serve idea is killing my writing. Laying off a little in the coming weeks. Need books, thoughts, a sequence of ideas that build.”
All well and good. After all, communicating with your fans in 140 characters or less can be limiting. But then Mayer followed that pair of Sunday posts with a number of new Twitter updates.
Mayer is reportedly at work on a new album. So on Monday he wrote “Doing vocal warmups, trying to simulate that 1am singing vibe in the afternoon.”
Later in the day, he described the catch-a-butterfly feeling of trying to compose a song with the barest elements of it wafting around in his head. Then on Tuesday came these words of wisdom: “Writer’s block cure: accept temporary suckage.”
Since then, at least a dozen Twitter posts have appeared on Mayer’s page, including musings about a hummingbird and a statement about the disturbing use of the hardcore drug crystal meth by youths.
I know the feeling. I keep trying to give up the John Mayer, but just can’t to it.
Miss California pageant targeted by gay, anti-gay forces
In a sign of how controversial Miss California’s campaign against gay marriage has become, the organizers of the Miss California pageant say they have been targeted from both gay rights advocates and foes of same-sex unions, with the former slamming them for not denouncing their tiara-holder Carrie Prejean more forcefully and the latter targeting them for distancing themselves from the comments at all.
“We’ve gotten it from both sides,” the openly gay Keith Lewis, co-executive director of the Miss California pageant, told Reuters.
Organizers of the Miss California pageant are likely to have their phone ringing even more now, after Lewis went on CBS program “The Early Show” on Friday and said that before the Miss USA pageant, in which Prejean finished second, his group helped her get breast implants in an attempt to propel her to the Miss USA crown, as had been reported earlier this week.
“The Early Show” co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez asked Lewis, “Can you settle this once and for all? Did you pay for or help pay for Miss California’s breast implants?”
“We assisted when Carrie came to us and voiced the interest in having the procedure done, yes,” Lewis responded.
Lewis had previously told Reuters that his group only supported Prejean’s decision to have the surgery, and he would not say who paid for it.
Regardless of who paid, the fact that Lewis and model Shanna Moakler, co-executive director of Miss California, have talked about Prejean’s surgery on TV points to how much of a rift has emerged between them and Miss California, after she said in response to a question during the Miss USA pageant that she did not agree with gay marriage. The Miss California pageant organizers have also criticized Prejean’s comments in media statements, but they have stopped short of saying they would strip her of her Miss California crown.
“Set up?” She still had to follow the rules that came with being Miss California. If she doesn’t like playing by the rules, then she will never make it in life. Life comes with a larger set of rules than being a pageant winner.
Miss California vs. Perez Hilton = Marriage debate
On Sunday night, Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton was crowned Miss USA, but all the talk on Monday was about how runner-up, Miss California Carrie Prejean, fueled the gay marriage debate by saying during the telecast that she does not agree with same-sex weddings.
On Monday, Prejean told Access Hollywood that she sticks by her answer, despite the uproar from gay rights supporters.
“It did cost me my crown,” she said. “I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I said what I feel. I stated an opinion that was true to myself, and that’s all I can do.”
Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who was one of Miss USA’s judges and asked Prejean the question about gay marriage that got her into trouble, had a different take. In an expletive-laced online video blog, the gay self-proclaimed “Queen of All Media” said after the telecast that Prejean should have just avoided the question. “She lost not because she doesn’t believe in gay marriage, she lost because she’s a dumb (expletive),” Hilton said.
It’s significant that Hilton asked Miss California about gay marriage, because the state’s voters approved a ballot measure in November banning same-sex weddings. Since then, the Iowa Supreme Court has legalized same-sex marriages and the Vermont legislature has made the unions legal in that state.
Hilton and Prejean gave the country something to talk about, other than gowns and make-up. But since many of those in the audience at Miss USA are gay, perhaps Hilton was right that Prejean just did not know how to play to the home crowd. As model and Miss USA judge Claudia Jordan told celebrity Web site TMZ, “She should have known her audience better. There’s only like five straight guys in the audience at the pageant.”
I cannot believe the hypocrisy involved in the people blasting her for an opinionated question. If it’s one thing proponents of gay marriage should have learned by now, it’s NOT cool to rip somebody apart based on their beliefs. They of all people know what it’s like, so why partake in it themselves? I loathe and abhor the Miss USA pageant along with the majority of attention that centers around it, but I do support this candidate, ironically from California of all states, who spoke her mind knowing full well what kind of problems would ensue.She has restored my faith that some people can speak their minds boldly and independently despite the sure-to-come ridicule and reprimanding blasts from the media and bulk of society. Two-thumbs way up Miss California. FWIW, I support you.
Christian Bale: the fallout continues
(Writing and reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis)
Actor Christian Bale’s expletive-laced tirade on the set of the upcoming action movie “Terminator Salvation” has been the talk of Hollywood this week. The widely heard audio tape from that verbal explosion has been remixed into a dance song and has inspired a T-Shirt.
But on Wednesday, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton linked to perhaps the most creative product of the audio remix cottage industry that has resulted from Bale’s blow-up. It’s a mashup of the Bale tape and footage of television commentator Bill O’Reilly losing his cool on the set of his news program. Be warned, audio from ”Batman” Bale’s tirade is not exactly family friendly. The recording of Bale’s outburst was first posted at celebrity news site TMZ.com. Bale reportedly lost his temper on the set of “Terminator Salvation” when the director of photography interrupted a scene the actor was playing in. Hollywood has a long history of on-set tirades and grudge matches. What’s new is that the Internet provides a place to hear exactly how bad Hollywood’s bad boys and girls can be. Does that mean actors like Bale will keep their behavior in check next time? Don’t bet on it.
From blogger to Broadway — almost — for Perez Hilton
Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton began his rise to fame by gossiping online about the adventures — and misadventures — of Hollywood’s bold and beautiful but now he finds himself being talked about with a musical about him set for the stage.
From August 8-14, “Perez Hilton Saves the Universe! (or at least the greater Los Angeles area): The Musical” is running at the New York International Fringe Festival. Organizers describe the show as exploring a normal day in Hilton’s life – well, were it not for the plans of evil terrorists and Kathy Griffin. Throughout the day, Hilton wrestles with the demons of love, ego and celebrity, all whilst saving Los Angeles from an imminent nuclear disaster, with a pop music backing.
But not everyone is so enamoured by Hilton’s new-found celebrity status. ” Do we really need a Perez Hilton musical?” asks another rival celebrity blog.
I love people like Jon..who know nothing but come to conclusions…sounds like jealousy to me
Perez Hilton — does he deserve a second chance?
Absolutely NOT! Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr AKA is a professional plagiarist (more like cut and past artist)! The majority of the feature stories on his site are rips from other gossip sites with total impunity. The remainder of the feature articles are nonsense that he “makes up”! Given that he claims he needs to be a “kinder, gentler” reporter and defender of integrity, his blatant exploitation of the recent string of deaths of gay youth is nothing short of unconscionable and his feigned righteous indignation over the rash of “bullying” reports are about HIM, not the victims! He has a REALLY, REALLY annoying infantile habit of defacing the supporting article with graffiti that very often is offensive, like drawing penises and other sexually offensive imagery targeting the subject of the article. As has already been mentioned, he makes Inglorious Allwrong look like citizen of the year. His PerezHilton.com website should be permanently dismantled. It contains NO redeeming social value.