Internet columnist Perez Hilton is being criticized for posting "upskirt" photos of 17-year-old singer Miley Cyrus, PopEater.com reported. Some feel that there may be legal ramifications for Hilton ( real name: Mario Lavandeira ) for putting up images of Cyrus without her underwear. Attorney Jeffrey Douglas told Salon.com, "We're not talking about a misdemeanor. You don't have to know what the definition of the law is, all you have to do is knowingly distribute the photograph." Hilton later claimed the photo was fake, according to ABC News.
A rep for Jodie Foster has labeled a father's claim that the actress assaulted his 17-year-old son as "a complete fabrication," MSNBC.com reported. Foster allegedly committed battery on the teenager in a May 29 incident in Los Angeles. Foster's rep said that the teen was a photographer who was attempting to snap pictures of Foster: " [ He ] was a professional paparazzo. He tailed Jodie and her children from the movie theatre to valet parking, crowding them and taking pictures the entire way. It scared the kids and Jodie definitely told him to stop."
America Ferrera is engaged. According to People.com, the star of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants film series and the LGBT-inclusive TV series Ugly Betty is slated to marry longtime boyfriend Ryan Piers Williams. Ferrera met Williams at the University of Southern California.
Oprah Winfrey, Neil Patrick Harris and Melissa Etheridge are among the celebrities slated to receive stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame next year, according to Advocate.com . Walk of Fame Committee head John Pavlik conceded that " [ i ] t was not an easy job to winnow down the extra large number of nominations this year to reach these 30 names." Others in the select group include Gwyneth Paltrow, Sissy Spacek, the Muppets, Joe Mantegna, Reese Witherspoon and the Go-Go's.
Writer/director Lisa Cholodenko began the Los Angeles Film Festival by screening her film The Kids Are All Right, which stars Annette Bening and Julianne Moore as a lesbian couple who has to contend with the sudden reappearance of the sperm-donor father ( Mark Ruffalo ) of their children. Cholodenko said she wrote the movie to comment on the dynamics of any family in an intense situation, regardless of the sexuality of the parents: "It was not about politics. If there was anything calculated, it was how do we make this movie universalhow do we make this a story about a family?"
Rapper Eminem has gone from writing/performing anti-gay lyrics to supporting same-sex marriage. In an interview with the New York Times Magazine, Eminem, 37, was asked, "Would you like to see gay marriage approved in Michigan, where you live?" He said, "I think if two people love each other, then what the hell? I think that everyone should have the chance to be equally miserable, if they want."
Angelina Jolie is being criticized for agreeing to play Cleopatra in a movie, according to USMagazine.com . Many people on African American-centered blogs and message boards are commenting that an actress of color should take on the role of the Egyptian queen. In an Essence.com article, "Another White Actress to Play Cleopatra?," the author stated, "Honestly, I don't care how full Angelina Jolie's lips are, how many African children she adopts, or how bronzed her skin will become for the film, I firmly believe this role should have gone to a black woman."
American Idol alum Blake Lewis ( who ended up second to Jordin Sparks in the sixth season of the show ) has a summer tour that includes several gay bars and gay-prides festivals, according to On Top Magazine. Lewis, 28, will perform at Minneapolis Pride June 27, San Diego Pride July 18 and Chicago's Northalsted Market Days Aug. 8. He will also perform June 24 at the New York gay dance club Splash Bar.
Swedish soccer star/model Freddie Ljungberg has no problem being called "gay," according to On Top Magazine. Regarding gay rumors, he told the New York Times, "I don't mind at all. I am proud of that. I love fashion, and I think so many gay people have amazing style. So that is a compliment to me. I really don't know why people are so interested. I just made a decision that I won't talk about it." Ljungberg, who currently plays in Seattle, also said he initially hated his model career ( which has included a Calvin Klein spread ) because he's shy.
Out Canadian actor Charlie David ( who starred on TV's Dante's Cove ) is among those who will compete in Challenge4aCause, a brutal seven-day, 200-plus-mile cycling challenge across the Namibian desert for the country's Save the Rhino Trust, according to a press release. David, who also hosts the gay-themed world-travel TV show Bump!, said, "It's not every day that you have the opportunity to experience Africa's desolate magnificence and at the same time support exceptional philanthropic works." For more info or to make donations, visit www.rhinoafrica.com/challenge4acause. The challenge starts in late July.
Let the catfighting begin. Controversial reality-TV veteran Omarosa Manigualt-Stallworth ( The Apprentice ) has said that the husband of Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel is gay after Frankel distanced herself from Manigualt-Stallworth by saying she has "a real career," according to SnarkFood.com . "The gloves are off," Manigualt-Stallworth said, according to PerezHilton.com, as she claimed Frankel had a post-pregnancy tummy tuck and that Frankel's new husband, Jason Hoppy, is gay.
Actor James Francowho played Harvey Milk's lover, Scott Smith, in the 2008 movie Milkwas at Los Angeles Gay Pride June 13, according to an On Top Magazine item. Franco said he was at the event with Kalup Linzy, who often performs in drag, because they are working on Franco's return to the ABC soap opera General Hospital. Franco, 32who supports marriage equalityis also in the upcoming movie Howl, in which he'll play gay poet Allen Ginsberg.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation ( GLAAD ) is asking people to join calls for the Spanish-language talk show JosĂ© Luis Sin Censura to stop using anti-gay terms and apologize to viewers, a press release announced. Audience members chanted the anti-gay terms "maricĂ"n" and "puñal" on the June 8 segment of the program; audience members then chanted another such term June 10. GLAAD's efforts resulted in KFC and Chevrolet pulling their ads from the program; read more at www.glaad.org/calltoaction/2010/censura.
Lady Gaga is not barred from the New York Yankees locker room. According to CBSSports.com, the "Alejandro" singer got past security and visited the Yankees clubhouse after the team lost to the New York Mets June 18and it's a no-no to visit the Yankees after they lose a home game. Yankees co-chair Hal Steinbenner reportedly banned Gaga after finding out what she did, but General Manager Brian Cashman said that the singer is fine to visitafter a win.
Singer/songwriter Vanessa Carltonbest known for her breezy pop hit "A Thousand Miles" from her debut album, Be Not Nobodycame out as bisexual at the Nashville Pride Festival June 19, according to the New York Daily News. Carlton, 29, told the crowd of approximately 18,000 that "I've never said this before, but I am a proud bisexual woman." She had been previously tied to Third Eye Blind lead singer Stephan Jenkins and musician John Mayer.
BET Networks has acquired gay favorite The Wendy Williams Show for a second season in the United States this fall, and will air the program on its international networks in the United Kingdom, Africa and the Middle East in 54 countries starting in July, according to PRNewswire. BET Networks' Barbara Zaneri said, "We ... believe Wendy's universal appeal will translate to all corners of the world, making her a key player for BET's international networks."
Controversial writer Ramin Seetoodeh, who penned a Newsweek piece criticizing openly gay actors ( such as Jonathan Groff and Sean Hayes ) who take on straight roles, has left the publication for a senior-writer position at People Magazine, according to Advocate.com . At his new post, Seetoodeh, who is himself openly gay, will write news and human-interest articles.
The vampires, shape-shifters and other creatures on HBO's pansexual hit True Blood will do the monster mash for another year as the show has been renewed for a fourth season, according to CNN. Production on the new season will start in early 2011, and will run next summer. The third season is currently running on Sundays.