Manny Pacquiao is standing by his criticism of same-sex marriage, but denies giving some of the strongly-worded quotes in a recent article about his views. The athlete, regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound boxer on Earth, criticized gay marriage in the wake of President Obama’s recent support of it. Pacquiao DOES NOT, however, believe gay people should be put to death, or treated intolerantly, blaming the media for distorting his take on the subject. Manny has been under scrutiny since the National Conservative Examiner published an interview in which he said that gay marriage is against the will of God. The article includes a reference to Leviticus 20:13, which says gays “must be put to death.” But Pacquiao says he never said that or referenced the verse. The boxer said in a statement, “I didn’t say that, it’s a lie … I didn’t even know that quote from Leviticus because I haven’t read the Book of Leviticus yet.” He also made a point to say, “I’m not against gay people … I have a relative who is also gay. We can’t help it if they were born that way.” “What I’m critical of [sic] are actions that violate the word of God. I only gave out my opinion that same sex marriage is against the law of God.” Gay marriage :
Recalling the night Whitney Houston died in her hotel room, Bobby Brown tells Ellen DeGeneres that he performed because she would’ve wanted him to. Despite many critics feeling it was poor taste for her ex-husband to perform at his scheduled show February 11, Brown has zero regrets … big surprise. “I was in Mississippi performing and I got the call. Of course, I tried to get a flight. Tried to rent a jet. Whatever I had to do,” he told Ellen Wednesday. Bobby Brown on Ellen “But it was impossible. So I knew the best thing that she would’ve wanted me to do was perform. You know, we are performers. That’s what we did.” “That’s what we do and she would want the best for me.” In retrospect, she might have wanted several other things from Brown that we don’t even need to get into here. Nevertheless, Bobby is guilt free. Which isn’t to say he wasn’t saddened. Brown broke down backstage pre-show and declined to join his New Edition bandmates for the opening song. Once he took the stage, he shouted, “I love you, Whitney!” and blew a kiss to the sky, looking visibly teary at the tragic news he’d learned hours ago. One week later, Brown peaced out of her funeral early with his family in tow, then showed up to perform that night at Foxwoods in Connecticut. Somehow, Alicia Etheridge plans to marry this guy.
‘The Houston Family Chronicles,’ which will feature Bobbi Kristina Brown and Cissy Houston, premieres on Lifetime later this year. By John Mitchell Whitney Houston and her daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown Photo: Steve Granitz/ WireImage A new reality series featuring the family of late pop superstar Whitney Houston will premiere on Lifetime later this year, the network announced in a statement Friday (May 11). Titled “The Houston Family Chronicles,” the show will feature Houston’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, and mother Cissy Houston, though the focus will be on “The Bodyguard” superstar’s brother Gary Houston and sister-in-law and manager Pat Houston, as well as their daughter, Rayah. Houston’s cousin Dionne Warwick and Bobbie Kristina’s godmother, gospel legend CeCe Winans, will also appear in the series. According to Lifetime, the reality show will focus on Pat and Gary “as they take on their greatest challenge, supporting and guiding Bobbi Kristina as she faces the world alone, without the one person she relied on the most, her mother.” Whitney Houston died on February 11 of this year at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The L.A. County coroner ruled that accidental drowning was the official cause of Houston’s death, adding that cocaine use and heart disease were contributing factors. The report indicated traces of cocaine were found in Houston’s system at the time of death along with Xanax, Flexeril, marijuana and Benadryl, though officials said these substances played no role in her untimely passing. “The tragic loss of Whitney Houston left a void in the hearts of people all over the world, but certainly none more so than her beloved family,” Rob Sharenow, executive vice president of programming at Lifetime Networks, said in a statement. “In this series, the multi-generations of the Houston family will bravely reveal their lives as they bond together to heal, love, and grow.” Lifetime has ordered 10 hour-long episodes of “The Houston Family Chronicles” and will premiere the show at a yet-undetermined time later this year. According to Pat Houston, the show had been in the works well before Whitney’s death. “I have been working with Simmons-Shelley [production company] over the past few years developing a project suitable for myself and our family,” Pat Houston said. “The unexpected passing of Whitney certainly affects the direction of the show. However, it is my hope that others will be enlightened as they watch our family heal and move forward.” Will you watch “The Houston Family Chronicles”? Let us know in the comments below. Related Videos Farewell To A Legend: Whitney Houston’s Funeral Related Photos Whitney Houston: A Life In Photos Related Artists Whitney Houston
The Cannes Directors Fortnight released its 2012 lineup Tuesday following yesterday’s Critics Week announcement and the Cannes official selection lineup last week. Michel Gondry’s The We and the I will open this edition of the sidebar, which was founded in May 1968 in the wake of the massive student uprisings in France. The Directors’ Fortnight styles itself to “independent-mindedness” and is non-competitive (though debut films are eligible for the Camera d’Or prize recognizing Cannes’ outstanding first-time filmmaker). Since its beginning it has showcased the first films of Werner Herzog, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Nagisa Oshima, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Ken Loach, Jim Jarmusch, Michael Haneke, Chantal Akerman, Spike Lee, Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Francis Ford Coppola Sofia Coppola and more. Feature Films : 3 de by Pablo Stoll Ward (Uruguay, Germany, Argentina) – Première internationale Granny’s Funeral by Bruno Podalydès (France) – Première mondiale Alyah by Elie Wajeman (France) – Caméra d’or – Première mondiale Camille redouble by Noémie Lvovsky (France) – Première mondiale The King of Pigs by Yeun Sang-Ho (South Korea) – Caméra d’or – Première Internationale Dangerous Liaisons by Hur Jin-Ho (China) – Première mondiale Le Repenti by Merzak Allouache (Algeria) – Première mondiale Ernest et Célestine by Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar, Benjamin Renner (France, Belgium, Luxembourg) – Première mondiale Fogo by Yulene Olaizola (Mexico, Canada) – Première mondiale Gangs of Wasseypur by Anurag Kashyap (India) – Première mondiale Enfance clandestine by Benjamin Ávila (Argentina, Spain, Brazil) – Première mondiale La Nuit d’en face by Raoul Ruiz (France, Chile) – Première mondiale – Séance spéciale La Sirga by William Vega (Colombia, France, Mexico) – Caméra d’or – Première mondiale No by Pablo Larraín (Chile, USA) – Première mondiale Opération Libertad by Nicolas Wadimoff (Switzerland, France) – Première mondiale Hold Back by Rachid Djaïdani (France) – Caméra d’or – Première mondiale Room 237 by Rodney Ascher (USA) – Caméra d’or – Première internationale Sightseers by Ben Wheatley (United Kingdom) – Première mondiale – Séance spéciale Sueño y silencio by Jaime Rosales (Spain, France) – Première mondiale The We and the I by Michel Gondry (USA) – Première mondiale – (Opening film) A Respectable Family by Massoud Bakhshi (Iran)- Caméra d’or – Première mondiale Short Films : Programme 1 – 1H38 With Jeff by Marie-Eve Juste (Canada) Rodri by Franco Lolli (France) Königsberg by Philipp Mayrhofer (France) Enraged Pigs by Leonardo Sette et Isabel Penoni (Brazil) Les Vivants pleurent aussi by Basil da Cunha (Switzerland , Portugal) Programme 2 – 1H25 Drawn from Memory by Marcin Bortkiewicz (Poland) The Curse by Fyzal Boulifa (United Kingdom, Morrocco) Tram by Michaela Pavlátová (France, Czech Republic) The Living Dead by Anita Rocha da Silveira (Brazil) Wrong Cops by Quentin Dupieux (France)
We thought they would always love you Whitney The fans lined the streets to pay their respects to a pop diva. Now Newark, New Jersey residents are outraged that $187,000 of their money will be used to pay for policing Whitney Houston’s funeral: Nearly 200 cops were on hand to keep the crowds away from the singer’s glitzy ceremony on February 18. While celebrities like Kevin Costner and Alicia Keyes paid respect to the singer in New Hope Baptist Church, thousands of residents grieved in the cold outside. Now CBS reports the city will foot the overtime bill for the cops that stood outside the church, the funeral home and the reception after the service. One Newark resident, Quincy Ruffin, told CBS that the star’s family should pay. Another resident Minerva DelValle said: “I think it was a waste of time and then now we find out what happened and how she actually died, it makes you think twice saying: ‘Was it worth it or not?’” As RadarOnline.com previously reported, “yayo” was found in Whitney’s system and in the hotel bathroom where she died. Newark Councilwoman Mildred Crump believes the police overtime was justified. She said: “If they had not been there someone may have been trampled, seriously hurt.” Source More On Bossip! Beyonce Releases NEVER SEEN VIDEO EVIDENCE OF PREGNANCY And “4-Year Anniversary To Jay-Z” Never Seen Pictures (20-Pics) [Video] Thickly Thick Goodness: Women That Looked Better When They Had The Extra Weight You Mad?? Bossip Confirms That Reggie Bush Has Been Thirsting For Kimmy’s Cakes For 6 Months, Bitter That She Chose Kanye Over Him! [+ Pics Of Kim And Kanye Today!] All Hail Sisqó! Celebrities Caught Out And About Rocking Thong Th-Thong Thong Thongs!
The trailer for Whitney Houston’s final film, “Sparkle,” debuted on NBC’s “Today” show Monday, giving her fans a glimpse of the big-screen performance that would be the superstar’s last. The remake of the 1976 Supremes-inspired flick is due to hit theaters in August, and marks Houston’s first return to movie acting in 16 years. In the film, Whitney plays the mother of Jordin Sparks’ character, a singer who never quite made it to the big time. Take a look: RELATED: Cocaine Found In Whitney Houston’s Hotel Room Tyler Perry Gives Bobbi Kristina A Job Bobby Brown’s Sister Accuses Ray J Of Giving Whitney Houston Cocaine [VIDEO] Whitney Houston’s Cause Of Death Revealed Ray J Finally Breaks His Silence
Bobbi Kristina has just snagged a job on Tyler Perry’s TV series For Better Or Worse, which was recently picked up for a second season on TBS . From Straight from the A: Tasha Smith’s character owns a beauty salon on the series and Bobbi Kristina will be featured in a recurring role as the daughter of one of the stylists in the her shop. The up and coming actress has been spotted coming and going from Tyler Perry’s Atlanta Studios for a few weeks now and my spies say that her play brother/boo Nick Gordon is always right by her side. Pat Houston has also been spotted at the facility, but I would guess it was to negotiate Bobbi’s contract to appear on the show. We’re happy for Bobbi K. What do you think about BK Brown delving into acting and working so quickly? RELATED: Bobby Brown’s Sister Accuses Ray J Of Giving Whitney Houston Cocaine [VIDEO] Whitney Houston’s Cause Of Death Revealed Ray J Finally Breaks His Silence
‘I can’t wait to see what all my fans think,’ RiRi tells Capital FM of upcoming clip. By Jocelyn Vena Rihanna Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/ Getty Images While fans are salivating for the chance to see what Rihanna and Drake will be up to in their highly anticipated “Take Care” video, the singer opened up a bit about the clip. In an interview with Capital FM , the always-feisty Rihanna teased that she recently saw the finished video and it lived up to her expectations. “I can’t wait to see what all my fans think. I saw it a couple of days ago. I love it,” she said. “It’s beautiful. It’s different from anything Drake has ever done.” Ri was spotted heading to one of Drake’s shows earlier this week in London when he performed at the O2 arena. Post-show, the twosome were spotted at London hotspot Low. Perhaps she saw the video during their hangout session? Rihanna and Drake previously appeared together in her video for “What’s My Name?” In the clip, the real-life pals played a lovey-dovey couple, and fans have been waiting to see what these two had in store for the “Take Care” video since February, when word of the shoot went public. Director Yoann Lemoine called the three-day shoot “very minimal” and “mellow,” adding, “They seemed to be super close, and that’s what I wanted for the video. They fit together pretty well, so it was just easy. “There’s a lot of space in the video, and I wanted the visuals to pay tribute to that,” he continued. “It pays tribute to nature. When I listened to the track, I was seeing a landscape … involving animals and massive landscapes. I won’t say too much, but it’s very surprising that there are very few elements in it. It’s very simple but there’s this big sense of emptiness in it. It’s not narrative at all, and it involves animals.” What are you expecting from the “Take Care” video? Share your ideas in the comments! Related Artists Rihanna Drake
Police found some cocaine residue when they searched the singer’s room following her death in February. By Gil Kaufman Whitney Houston Photo: Ebet Roberts/ Getty Images Police investigating the death of Whitney Houston recovered traces of cocaine in the Beverly Hills hotel room where the pop diva died last month . According to TMZ , documents from investigators do not reveal the quantity of the drug found but say simply that among the items recovered by police was “white, powdery remnants.” Quoting unnamed sources, the site said the powder tested positive for cocaine. The L.A. County coroner revealed last week that accidental drowning was the official cause of Houston’s death , adding that cocaine use and heart disease were also contributing factors. According to the coroner’s report, traces of cocaine were found in Houston’s system at the time of death, along with Xanax, Flexeril, marijuana and Benadryl, which officials said played no role in her death. At the time, it was reported that no cocaine was found in the singer’s room when she died, but coroner spokesman Craig Harvey noted that cocaine metabolites were found in her system, leading them to conclude that Houston was a chronic user of the drug. A number of prescription pills were recovered in the Beverly Hills hotel room, but officials from the coroner’s office said there wasn’t an unusual amount of medication. Houston, 48, was laid to rest in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey, on February 18 at an invite-only funeral service at the New Hope Baptist Church in a service that included Stevie Wonder, mentor Clive Davis and CeCe Winans. TMZ also reported that Beverly Hills Police detectives are not investigating the rumors that a friend of Houston’s allegedly removed cocaine from the room following her death because they are not convinced evidence of the drug was swept away before their arrival. Houston struggled with drug and alcohol issues for many years before her death. Related Videos Farewell To A Legend: Whitney Houston’s Funeral Related Photos Whitney Houston: A Life In Photos Related Artists Whitney Houston
Police surveillance video footage of George Zimmerman hours after he shot Trayvon Martin does not appear to show any injuries or bloodstains on the man who claims he killed the Florida teen in self defense February 26. His attorney says the video is too grainy to be revealing, however. The footage, obtained by ABC News late Wednesday, shows the handcuffed Zimmerman getting out of the police car, unaided, and walking into the police station where he was escorted after the shooting in Sanford, Fla. Watch: George Zimmerman Police Video In the police tape, taken about four hours after the deadly incident, there are no visible signs of injuries to Zimmerman’s head or blood on his clothes. However, he is wearing a red jacket, which could obscure a lot. Zimmerman’s attorney Craig Sonner described the video as “very grainy” on NBC’s Today , noting that Zimmerman had been “cleaned-up” and received first aid care in the hours between the incident and his arrival at the police station. Sonner previously said that his client suffered a broken nose and a gash to his head during the altercation in which he says Zimmerman feared for his life . Appearing on CNN Wednesday, Martin family lawyer Benjamin Crump called the video “the smoking gun,” proving the self-defense allegation is not true. “I think the video speaks for itself. You don’t see any broken nose. You don’t see any blood on his head. You don’t see any stuff on the back of his clothes.” “You have to ask why did this police chief, state attorney and now this acting police chief conspire to protect George Zimmerman for killing this unarmed teenager?” A neighborhood watch volunteer, Zimmerman was released without being charged. The Trayvon Martin case has since become a national obsession. Richard Kurtz, the funeral director who prepared Martin’s body, was asked if there were any signs on his hands that the victim had punched someone. “The only thing that I was able to see was the gunshot wound,” Kurtz told MSNBC. “I could not see evidence like he had been punching somebody.” “It just did not add up to me.” The self-defense claim clearly deserves scrutiny, but whether this is sufficient proof that there was no struggle is something investigators must determine.
