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KUTK Premiere: Caitlyn Jenner v. Khloe Kardashian

KUWTK

You’d think that if your entire fortune was based on the Kardashian empire, you’d be a little more grateful for the family that made you famous. But Caitlyn Jenner missed the memo. When the transgender LGBT advocate caught wind of Khloe Kardashian’s Howard Stern interview, she erupted and insisted that her ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashian’s’ step-daughter should simply smile and say only kind things. You can imagine Khloe’s reaction, given Caitlyn’s extremely honest Vanity Fair interview, which involved a very negative account of Kris Jenner’s actions toward not only her transition, but Caitlyn’s children from previous marriageS. And though I have zero issues with honestly and bemoan biting one’s tongue, I do have an issue with hypocrisy, and Caitlyn takes the cake. She’s so concerned with creating a positive image post-transition that she’s forgotten that what the public truly craves is authenticity. In fact, I’d advise Caitlyn to appear on Howard Stern and tell her own story. And yes, I am aware Bruce Jenner is a gold medalist. But both Bruce and Caitlyn have done absolutely nothing since that win, and without the Kardashians, no one would care at all anymore.
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Steve Miller Blasts the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

steve miller band

I love truth tellers, especially when it’s in the name of efficiency for the greater good. When Steve Miller was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the legendary singer/songwriter took the opportunity to blast the organization for its ridiculous policies, including its $10,000 fee for any extra tickets. Miller made it clear that though it’s nice to have ONE TICKET for his wife, his bandmates would also like to bring guests.. He also made note of their ludicrous legal contract, in which Miller was asked to indemnify the Hall of Fame. As a lawyer, I can say that’s pretty standard, but that doesn’t make it any less stupid. It basically means if the Hall of Fame gets sued for any reason related to the music played by Miller at the event, Miller is responsible for any and all fees. As for The Black Keys introducing him during the event? Well, he simply hadn’t heard of them, so he was less than honored by their presence.

All kidding aside, I read a post-interview with The Black Keys, and they had a different perspective that’s actually on point. They are fans of Steve Miller, and they left their children at home to take three days out of their life to honor an icon, and the man couldn’t take five seconds to simply google their accomplishments. For lead singer Dan Auerbach, he hopes that when he’s in his “twilight years, [he] can look back and be grateful to the people who have appreciated [him] and to be able to give back.” According to Dan “music is about sharing and passing on inspiration and that was [Steve Miller’s] opportunity to do that; not just lashing out in a way that was just completely unfocused.” So is Miller just a prickly old rock star that isn’t up with the times? Probably. But during a recent interview with Howard Stern, Ice Cube expressed the exact same discontent with Hall of Fame for N.W.A’s induction, so the man is obviously onto something.

Rebecca Romijn v. Yolanda Foster: “Your Children Aren’t Supermodels”

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After listening to Rebecca Romijn’s recent rant about Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid not being true supermodels, it suddenly occurred to me that the former model and Mrs. John Stamos missed her calling as a co-host of ‘The View.’ When asked for her opinion on the rise of social media supermodels during an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Romijn said:

No one has proven yet that numbers of followers translates to revenue. So it is frustrating. I know a lot of people — legitimate fashion people — can’t stand it. Hate it that these, you know, social media stars are now the supermodels in fashion. They are not true supermodels. And the thing is, I have always looked to Vogue magazine to lead the way, not be a follower. I rely on Vogue to set the standard, not follow what everybody else is doing. So I have been disappointed that fashion magazines have been supporting this trend of social media stars to set our style standards. But it will change; fashion always does. “

Needless to say, Mama bear and current cast member of ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,’ Yolanda Foster, responded harshly, saying, “They accomplished more at half your age in the fashion industry.” So is anyone right, and is it even worth the ruffled feathers? For starters, nepotism and connections run just about every industry, especially Hollywood. Without it, we wouldn’t have Drew Barrymore, Kiefer Sutherland, Michael Douglas, George Clooney, Anderson Cooper, Jane Fonda, Angelica Huston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert Downey Jr., etc . . . In fact, from my limited armchair experience, all of my inner circle (outside of Tinseltown) landed their jobs through connections. But connections are only the first step in a long list of qualifications, and they would go nowhere without natural talent and dedicated work ethic. I’d give a list of many connected people in the industry that have failed to prove that point, but it would not be kind to do so. Rebecca does; however, makes a larger point worth nothing. Just because one has a flurry of followers, does not mean their presence alone will push purchases. It also is a slightly lazy choice on the part of the fashion industry, who is using the public to field their stars, rather than finding them on their own. If the vetting process starts with social media rather than an innate ability to scope talent, then you’re going to miss a lot of potential powerhouses. And that goes with any industry. Also, does their focus on their personal life cloud the consumer? Does it become more about the person than the collection? It’s certainly worth exploring, and I find it refreshing that Rebecca actually gave her true opinion, completely unafraid of the backlash. If we focus too much on politically correct talking points we will all be a bunch of robots.

Madonna Reunites With Son – Shares it on Instagram

Forgive me for stating the obvious, but one would think that after a long, very-public and painful custody battle over her teenage son, Madonna might think twice about using social media to promote their visits. After all, when it was first revealed that Rocco Ritchie preferred to stay in London with his father, Guy Ritchie, it was believed he wanted a more private upbringing and no longer wished to live his life on tour. Madonna fought hard for his return, and when a judge encouraged her and her ex to act like adults and reach an out of court agreement, they finally relented. So what gives? I understand the desire to share your love for your children with the world, but can’t she do that with her closest friends instead?

We Need! 💜

A photo posted by Madonna (@madonna) on Apr 29, 2016 at 11:25am PDT

Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’ — Is “Becky” a Ploy to Drive Sales

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There’s no doubt that Beyonce is a powerful performer with something to say, and Lemonade is no exception. But while others are picking through the lyrics for evidence of Jay Z’s infidelity and the source of “Becky with the good hair,” I’d like to burst the bubble of this collective narrative in favor of a more realistic explanation. Becky doesn’t exist, and this is an elaborate ploy from two marketing masters to use marital drama as the catalyst for record sales. As for the rollout, it was strategic. It launched on HBOGo for 24 hours, followed by exclusive streaming on Jay Z’s Tidal, and then a general release via iTunes and Amazon.com. And the stellar sales indicate her “windowing” method worked in her favor. So did Jay cheat, and was that infamous elevator incident the glaring evidence, only to be relayed later via a musical platform? And would Jay place this on Tidal, knowing he’d receive backlash from the Beyhive? This power couple generated buzz in the most blatant of ways, and though I’ll drink their Lemonade because it tastes good, I think I know where it came from.

Kelly Ripa Returns With Classy, Funny Monologue

Kelly Ripa returned to ‘Live With Kelly and Michael’ after a press firestorm surrounding Strahan’s abrupt departure to ‘Good Morning America.’ Though it might seem impossible to make light of a difficult situation, Ripa stayed true to her classy form with some funny jokes and genuine honesty. She said she deserved to take two days off after over two decades with ABC, and she’s been assured that her show is in fact a priority. She also said there were snipers with tranquilizer darts ready in case she went off script. Strahan seemed to take it in stride, once again assuring Ripa that she is the Queen and he’s honored to have worked beside her. Their love-fest was short-lived; however, because it’s recently been revealed that Strahan will leave earlier than expected.

In everyday life, when one is upset with the executives in charge, he or she might call in sick in silent defiance and fly under the radar. Ripa is not given that same luxury, because the world is watching. I’ve previously noted that she has been given sexist treatment from the media and I still must tip my hat to her maturity. As for Strahan, I don’t blame him for taking a higher-paying job, but I think it’s the wrong move. To quote Andy Cohen, when your name is in the title of a show, how could you forgo that in favor of an ensemble? It must also be noted that Ripa can find solace in the fact that ABC will be punished for their poor, disrespectful move, because it has impacted Strahan’s squeaky clean image, which will make it more difficult to win viewers at his new post. So good job, guys.

Tabloid Gossip: Your Week of News

Susan Sarandon and Debra Messing had a twitter feud. Just Jared

Alexa Chung and Alexander Skarsgard are dating. E! Online

Chyna’s family plans to donate her brain to science. TMZ

Paris Hilton and her boyfriend broke up. Perez

Kylie Jenner and Blac Chyna called a truce. Us Mag

LeAnn Rimes is back in a bikini. Radar Online

Michael Buble has a very cute kid. Pop Sugar

Zac Efron and Sam Miro broke up. Just Jared

Did Jay Z cheat on Beyonce with Rachel Roy? Daily Beast

Is Chloe Moretz dating Brooklyn Beckham? People

Why TMZ Should Not Publish 911 Calls

911 TMZ Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg once said that of all the things money can buy, anonymity isn’t one of them. Though that might seem like a small price to pay for the advantages of an unlimited bank account and lavish lifestyle, there’s a monster lurking beneath the surface that is often not discussed. With fame comes special treatment, and that special treatment might cost your life.

In the case of Prince, reports have surfaced that the legendary musician suffered an overdose, and despite needing more treatment, he left the hospital early because he couldn’t get a private room. And when Kanye West was once asked what he has had to give up for fame, he said his mother, who tragically died after plastic surgery that I can only presume he paid for. He would not elaborate further, but it’s been revealed that his mother, Donda West, left the hospital early despite advice from the medical staff. Would the staff have pushed harder had she not been the son of Kanye? Who knows. What about Steve Jobs? The Apple giant opted for an herbal remedy instead of immediately removing a cancerous tumor from his pancreas, and though there are no reports of special treatment, I can’t help but wonder how hard he was advised against that decision, given his superstar status. And who can forget the doctor that snapped a photo of Joan Rivers during the surgery that ended her life? Lastly, there’s Michael Jackson, who managed to find a doctor to administer the drug that killed him. Dubbed “V.I.P Syndrome,’ doctors are often advised about the possibility of skewed judgment, but their famous patients are also to blame. They become desensitized to cutting corners, even when their life is at stake.

The desire for anonymity and the acceptance of special treatment manifests in dangerous ways, and though we can’t babysit celebrities, we can admonish the tabloids that facilitate this issue. TMZ is a major source of my entertainment news, mostly because I’m a lawyer, and I’m aware that Harvey Levin is a lawyer too, and he’s adept at the risks of defamation. I therefore know he would not publish lies, and most of his information is fed through reliable sources. Having said that, I’m also aware that they publish 911 calls, and I know this is a life-threatening decision. If a celebrity is in danger, they might think twice about calling for help when they know it will end up on the internet. Furthermore, their team might think twice, because they’re there to protect a star’s image, and the 911 call would expose very private information. Finally, addiction is a beast, and AA is anonymous for a reason. Each and every time a call is published, it chips away at the safe haven of calling the people paid to protect us. I understand TMZ and many other outlets have a job to do. But there’s a line in the sand. And this crosses it.

Michael Strahan’s Exit Reveals a Sexist Media

When Michael Strahan announced his exit from Live with Kelly and Michael, the public was apparently just as shocked as his costar. Sources reveal that the original plan was to tell Kelly Ripa well before the rest of the world, but when the story leaked, the timeline became truncated. Kelly ditched her desk the following day for an early exit on an already planned vacation, which prompted Strahan to publicly thank her with some canned comments.

Ripa’s primary objection surrounds not only the timeline, but the idea that both shows are under the Disney umbrella, and Bob Iger obviously values ‘Good Morning America’ more than ‘Live With Kelly and Michael,’ because taking her costar clearly puts one show at risk at the advantage of another. Furthermore, why would execs demand Strahan keep this a secret? If they’re all on the same team, then isn’t it fair to tell his longtime partner about the deal? Surely they’d know she would not leak the news. And finally, it’s disloyal. Ripa is an extremely valuable, high-performing partner on a major, revenue-generating show, and Strahan owes her everything. She obviously played a role in his hiring, influenced his success, and at times — carried him.

One would think that the press surrounding this situation would focus on Strahan’s disloyalty, along with taking the executives to task. But it’s shockingly (or not so shockingly) gone the other direction. Ripa has been portrayed as a drama queen who had an emotional “meltdown” or “tantrum” and immaturely didn’t show up for work. As for Strahan, he’s a “stand up guy” who didn’t have to be in the meeting with Ripa to break the news but chose to do so anyways out of the kindness of his heart. ABC is banking on Strahan’s likability on their bubble-gum daytime show, and if his departure gets tainted, their plan tanks. It’s therefore clear who’s behind these leaks, but the media is taking the bait, and falling into the same gender traps women have been arguing against for some time. Ripa is a powerhouse performer and Strahan betrayed her. Why isn’t anyone talking about that?

Katherine Heigl Clears Her Image On Howard Stern

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I’ve been very hard on Katherine Heigl over the years, which may or may not be fair, because I’m guessing she didn’t need another blogger bashing her during that time. There’s no need to rehash what landed her on the Hollywood shit-list, but in case you’re wondering, click HERE. Though Heigl has tried to correct her cantankerous image, she’s failed to fully reform in the public eye, UNTIL NOW. Heigl visited the Howard Stern show, and the format allowed her to adequately explain herself absent sound bites. For the first time in history, I finally understand her intentions. Here’s a rundown.

In response to that infamous comment about ‘Knocked Up’ being “sexist.”

Heigl said that though she liked the film, she personally felt her character was judgmental and unlikable. That doesn’t mean she took issue with the writing, she just would not personally hangout with the uptight chick she played. She might not have ever said that out loud, but she was somewhat when a Vanity Fair interviewer asked her to respond to the idea that the film was sexist (as in, the men are cool and the women are nags). Since she’s obviously not good at navigating controversial comments, she stepped in it. And Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen have yet to forgive her.

In response to removing her name out of Emmy contention.

Heigl rose to fame on ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ but there was a slow year for her character, and when asked to sift through her material to find something worthy of submitting to the Emmys, she simply felt she didn’t have a deep enough performance to compete. Though she didn’t think anyone would notice, they did, and when asked about it, she stepped in it again. She admits to apologizing to Shonda Rhimes. She also explained that the nature of an ensemble cast is difficult, because with 7 series regulars, everyone wants their time to shine.

Is she difficult to work with?

She doesn’t think so, but she’s so concerned about her image, she’s lost her “voice,” and she’s constantly baited by interviewers to give them something juicy or “f-ck up,” as Heigl puts it. In fact, her shoes once fit too tight, and she didn’t say anything for fear of fanning the fire.

And there you have it. Let this be a lesson to anyone in hot water. If you want to clear your name, go on Howard Stern.