The Secret Service is looking into comments made this weekend by extreme right-winger Ted Nugent. During a gathering sponsored by the National Rife Association, the rocker – referring to the upcoming election – urged members of the organization help “chop their heads off in November” and added: “I’ll tell you this right now: If Barack Obama becomes the president in November, again, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year. We need to ride into that battlefield and chop their heads off in November. Any questions?” Ted Nugent Rant Against Obama Referring to the current administration as “criminals,” Nugent appeared to directly threaten Obama – which is a crime – by ranting: “If the coyote’s in your living room, pissing on your couch, it’s not the coyote’s fault. It’s your fault for not shooting him.” Responded Andrea Saul, a spokeswoman for Mitt Romney, the candidate Nugent is backing: “Divisive language is offensive no matter what side of the political aisle it comes from. Mitt Romney believes everyone needs to be civil.”
Ah, so this is what has brought Kim Kardashian and Kanye West together: a shared enemy. Not long after someone with a connection to PETA and an unhealthy affection for fur tossed flour all over Kardashian , the organization has come out and responded to a taunt from Kanye in his latest song, “Theraflu.” Kanye West – “Theraflu” As you can hear above, West raps at one point in this new track: “Tell PETA my mink is draggin’ on the floor.” And, because it just can’t resists any opportunity to make a headline, PETA actually took the bait and replied, via the following statement by Senior Vice President Dan Mathews: “What’s draggin’ on the floor is Kanye’s reputation as a man with no empathy for animals or human beings. He’s a great musician but doesn’t seem to have the fashion sense to design anything more than caveman costumes. We keep hoping that one day he’ll find his heart and join evolved style icons – including Russell Simmons, Pink and Natalie Portman – who have dropped animal skins.” Note to PETA: have you seen who Kanye is now dating? We’re pretty sure he no longer cares about his reputation.
A new beauty pageant scandal has broken out, but this one has nothing to do with naked photos or a contestant’s stance on gay marriage . Jenna Talackova – a 23-year old who was born a man, but who underwent gender reassignment surgery at the age of 19 – has been disqualified from Miss Universe Canada because, according to a statement from the organization, she does not “meet the requirements to compete, despite having stated otherwise on her entry form.” Producers added that they do respect Talackova’s “goals, determination and wish her the best.” “I am very disappointed with the decision taken by the Miss Universe … organizers,” Talackova said in a statement released today. “However, I will look to turn this situation into a positive so that other people in a similar situation are not discriminated against in the future.” Denis Davila, the director of the event, says there are rules in place that make it clear one must be born a woman in order to compete. Jenna, he says, indicated on her original registration that she was female, only to later explain her unusual situation. Reactions to the decision have been mixed with over 20,000 signatures on a change.org petition to reverse the pageant ruling. What do you think? Should Talackova have been disqualified?
Ray J still keeps a photo of Whitney Houston in his phone. He says the image is helping him cope these days. “It’s just such a tough time for me,” during the Brotherhood Crusade/Mothers in Action press conference yesterday. “I’ve been through a lot in these past few weeks. I’m able to look at life in a whole different way. I always look at my phone because I got a picture of somebody I really love and it helps me through the day.” Ray J – trying to shed his reputation as the guy who filmed himself having sex with Kim Kardashian – is giving back through the Brother Crusade. He’s donated school supplies, including Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones, clothes, backpacks and notebooks via the organization. But times remain trying for the man who was dating Whitney before she died on February 12. “I’m really emotional right now and I really don’t know what to say,” he told reporters. “But I will say I love and hurt. I enjoy being around people that support me and give me a sense of peace. That’s what these kids mean to me and what the Brotherhood Crusade does for me. “The most important thing of all is that God is talking to me. God is talking to me right now, and now is the time to listen. My ears are open.”
His new album, Born and Raised, is also slated for the spring. By Jocelyn Vena John Mayer Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images John Mayer announced he needed vocal surgery last fall, and now he’s back and ready to hit the road. On Monday (February 27), the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter announced plans for a spring tour , his first outing in nearly two years. The 18-date trek will kick off April 9 in Bloomington, Indiana, before wrapping up May 6 in Phoenix. The tour will be in support of his forthcoming new album, Born and Raised, which will be released sometime around the outing. The album’s lead single, “Shadow Days,” hits radio Monday. The tour will help raise funds and awareness for the Northern California Institute of Research and Education, which “provides veterans with a healthy reintegration into civilian life.” Mayer will auction off tickets to the shows to help raise money for the organization. Born and Raised will feature production from Don Was, and Mayer will get some vocal and instrumental help from singers David Crosby and Graham Nash, keyboardist/pianist Chuck Leavell, bassist Sean Hurley and drummer Aaron Sterling. On tour, Mayer will be joined by guitarist and vocalist David Ryan Harris, guitarist Doug Pettibone and percussionist Michito Sanchez. Previously, Mayer described the album as having “organic cowboy guitar sounds,” adding that he had this very romantic thought when it came to the album’s vibe: “What would it sound like if I wrote an album of cowboy songs on this guitar under the stars?” “Every new record I start, a new aesthetic comes in. I can’t help it,” he said about the project. “I think it’s gonna be more organic, more natural lyrics and chords and artful simplicity.” Will you check out John Mayer on tour? Let us know in the comments! Related Artists John Mayer
Sacha Baron Cohen not been banned from The Academy Awards. Not yet at least. But the actor is in hot water with the organization because he wants to walk the red carpet dressed as the main character from The Dictator , a Middle Eastern leader named General Aladeen. The Academy is less than enthused over this plan. “We would hope that every studio knows that this is a bad idea,” a spokesperson told Deadline . “The red carpet is not about stunting.” The Dictator Trailer Still, Cohen – who stars in Hugo , a Best Picture nominee – is still invited to the ceremony… for now. An insider does conform however, that his tickets will be rescinded if he goes through with the stunt. What do you think? Should the Oscars remain pure, traditional and promotion-free? Or is still stale, ratings-declining ceremony in need of someone like Cohen to spice the show up?
‘I believe that reaching out for help is the bravest thing a person can do,’ the ‘Harry Potter’ star says in the 30-second spot. By Kara Warner Daniel Radcliffe in the Trevor Project PSA Photo: Trevor Project As if we needed more reasons to love and respect Daniel Radcliffe. The “Harry Potter” actor successfully carried a history-making franchise on his shoulders for more than a decade, charmed audiences on the Great White Way with his critically acclaimed performance in “How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” and is making great post-“Potter” career choices. Not only is he generally talented and charming, but he has also put his star power behind the Trevor Project , which is a nonprofit organization that offers support to sexual minority youth, particularly those experiencing emotional difficulty dealing with their sexuality who need someone to talk to. The Trevor Project also endeavors to foster safe and inclusive environments in homes and schools. Radcliffe’s latest work with the organization is a 30-second PSA that aired Tuesday night during “Glee” and MTV News now has exclusively online. In the spot, Radcliffe addresses the very important issue of supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. “I’m Daniel Radcliffe, and I believe that reaching out for help is the bravest thing a person can do,” Radcliffe says in the PSA. “If you are struggling and need support, call the Trevor Lifeline at 1-866-488-7386. It’s free and confidential, and trained counselors are there to listen 24/7 without judgment.” The 22-year-old said in a statement that his work with the Trevor Project has taught him the importance of being a straight ally and offering his support. “When we let someone know that we accept them for who they are and that we are safe to talk to, we can help save lives,” he said. “It’s as simple as that.” Radcliffe has been involved with the Trevor Project since 2009, appearing in public service announcements for the group’s prevention hot line and speaking out in support of LGBT youth. Radcliffe has called his work with the Trevor Project “one of the most important, if not the most important, thing that I’m associated with.”
CNN Contributer, Roland Martin found out the hard way that a tweet can be costly. During last Sunday’s Super Bowl, Martin tweeted (what some believed to be) a “homophobic” message to his 95,000+ followers. Amid pressure from GLAAD and other Gay Activists Groups, CNN announced its decision to suspend Roland Martin from their network. “Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive,” the CNN said in a statement this afternoon. “Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being.” There was no return date referenced. The 43-year-old columnist, commentator and author has been a regular contributor to CNN since 2007. During the Super Bowl, Martin Tweeted: “If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad,” he wrote, “smack the ish out of him!” Gay watchdog groups, including GLAAD (Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), seized upon this as an anti-gay slur and demanded his removal from the network. SOURCE: AJC
Day after Decemberists withdrew support, breast cancer charity announces it has reinstated funding for PP health centers. By Gil Kaufman Much like Congress rethought its decision after the outpouring of public anger over the anti-piracy SOPA and PIPA (Personal Information Protection Act) acts, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation had a change of heart on Friday (February 3) after intense criticism for its decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood initiatives. Komen, the organization behind the popular pink-ribbon campaign, announced on Tuesday that it would stop funding breast cancer prevention, screening and education at Planned Parenthood health centers — a decision Planned Parenthood claimed was in response to pressure from pro-life groups. Over the past five years, PP centers with Komen program funding have provided nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams out of the more than 4 million exams performed nationwide at PP health centers, as well as more than 6,400 mammogram referrals out of 70,000 total referrals, according to PP. Following the firestorm of controversy over the decision, the founder and CEO of the nation’s largest breast-cancer advocacy group said on Friday that the group would work to change the criteria that sparked the outcry. “We will continue to fund existing grants, including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants,” Nancy G. Brinker said in a statement . “We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives.” Brinker went further, acknowledging that the original decision to pull funding was done for “political reasons, or specifically to penalize Planned Parenthood.” In the wake of the public furor, Komen’s director of community health programs resigned in protest over the decision. In addition, 26 U.S. senators had signed a letter this week asking Komen to reconsider its withdrawal decision. One of the leading artistic voices of dissent over the initial Komen withdrawal from Planned Parenthood were the Decemberists. The band had worked with Komen since the band’s keyboardist, Jenny Conlee, had revealed her breast cancer diagnosis. When news broke on Tuesday that Komen had pulled funding for breast cancer examinations at PP, the Decemberists redirected the funds from their “Team Jenny” T-shirt to PP. On their website , they explained, “The Decemberists are deeply troubled by Komen for the Cure’s recent decision to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood, a vital resource in the battle against breast cancer. Providing cancer screenings to low income women is integral to the prevention and defeat of breast cancer and it is unconscionable that Komen should politicize this very important issue by bowing to the fear campaign being waged against PP by the right.” On Friday, the band added an update to their initial posting, writing, “The Decemberists are pleased that Komen for the Cure reversed their decision.”
This is so sad. The remains of missing Atlanta woman Stacey English were identified Wednesday, however her cause of death is still a mystery. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office said Wednesday that the body of a woman found under a tree in south Atlanta has been identified as Stacey Nicole English, the Atlanta bank employee reported missing last month. English’s Volvo S260 was discovered, with the engine running, on Dec. 27 less than a mile away from the wooded area where two men searching for scrap metal located the body Monday. The 36-year-old SunTrust instructional designer was reported missing by family members on Dec. 31. Atlanta police spokesman Carlos Campos said authorities received a 911 call about the discovery shortly before 3 p.m. Monday. The body was located off St. Johns Avenue near Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood “in an advanced state of decomposition,” Campos said. English’s family was notified of the discovery. Atlanta police, with the assistance of Georgia State Patrol dive teams, had conducted massive searches of the area around Lakewood Fairgrounds in recent weeks but turned up no sign of English. Monday, Campos could not say if police had canvassed St. Johns Avenue on Jan. 6, when K-9 units and officers on horseback combed the area. Robert Kirk, of St. Louis, was the last person known to have seen English. He told detectives the woman began “acting peculiar” the night of Dec. 26, asking him if he was Satan. She told him to leave her apartment and Kirk told police he did, checking into a hotel, according to the incident report. Police said there is no evidence linking Kirk to English’s disappearance. Investigators have said there also was nothing to indicate English met with foul play, though they acknowledged “suspicious circumstances” in her disappearance. According to the incident report, English’s mother, Cindy Jamison, told investigators her daughter, a Fayette County High School graduate, had attempted suicide nearly three years ago and said she was taking an undisclosed medication. “We don’t know if she may have taken something else that caused a bad reaction, but the prescription was for something that has nothing to do with any mental illness,” Charlie Garnett-Benson, a longtime friend of the missing woman, told the AJC earlier this month. This is such a tragedy. There is no telling if they will ever find out what happened. Our hearts go out to her loved ones. Source More On Bossip! For The Fellas: Evelyn Lozada Brings Her Newly-Engaged, Puerto Rican, Reality Show Cakes To The Pages Of Maxim Magazine Don’t Cry, Seal! A History Of Other Swirly Couples That Didn’t Work Out Busted! The Most Embarrassing Examples Of Celebrities Making The Walk Of Shame For The Ladies: The Best Man Cakes Of The NFL, Part 1
