Twitter Exposes Racist Hunger Games Fans Via Their Tweets About Rue And Thresh “The Hunger Games” made a shatload of money this weekend at the box office ($155 million) but unfortunately a great film is almost being overshadowed by the overwhelmingly RACIST attitude some fans of the book have taken toward the casting of black actors in several of the main parts — even the ones who were described as having dark or brown skin in the book! Now as you may know, Katniss, the main character in the book and film, was described as having “straight black hair” and “olive skin.” It’s a post-apocalyptic world, so she could be a mix of things, but some pictured a Native American. Blonde-haired, blue-eyed Jennifer Lawrence won the part and dyed her hair dark. But when it came to the casting of Rue, Thresh, and Cinna, many audience members did not understand why there were black actors playing those parts. Cinna’s skin is not discussed in the book, so truthfully, though Lenny Kravitz was cast, a white, Asian or Latino actor could have played the part. But. On page 45 of Suzanne Collins’s book, Katniss sees Rue for the first time: …And most hauntingly, a twelve-year-old girl from District 11. She has dark brown skin and eyes, but other than that’s she’s very like Prim in size and demeanor… Later, she sees Thresh: The boy tribute from District 11, Thresh, has the same dark skin as Rue, but the resemblance stops there. He’s one of the giants, probably six and half feet tall and built like an ox. Dark skin. That is what the novelist, the creator of the series, specified. But there were plenty of audience members who were “shocked,” or confused, or just plain angry. The tumblr Hunger Games Tweets has collected a smattering of Twitter postings, with the goal of exposing “Hunger Games fans on Twitter who dare to call themselves fans yet don’t know a damn thing about the books.” What people are saying is disappointing, sad, stomach-churning, and just plain racist. Check out some of the tweets collected below: We saw the movie this weekend and loved it — Amandla Stenburg (Rue) and Dayo Okenyiyi (Thresh) were two of our favorite actors and we think it’s a damned shame that haters are gonna hate as usual. Source More On Bossip! No Isht Sherlock: Kat Stacks FINALLY Admits That She Is A Dirty, Shady, Deceitful Hoe That Lied About Soulja Boy’s Cocaine Use! Eff A Geraldo: A Gallery Of Lovable, Wholesome White People Rocking Hoodies…Should They Get Shot, Too?! Celebrity Seeds: Eddie Murphy’s Beautiful Daughters Seen Getting Their Nails Done In Beverly Hills [Photos] Strong Or Stupid? Women That Stayed By Their Men Despite TONS Of Cheating Rumors
One of the greatest things about Twitter is that it connects celebrities to their fans directly without publicists or lame-stream media intermediaries. This can be good, or bad in certain cases. Jimmy Kimmel chose to focus on the latter this week, because let’s face it, it’s a lot more entertaining. In honor of Twitter’s sixth anniversary, Jimmy put together a video montage of a number of stars reading some actual Tweets they’ve received. Watch below as Joel McHale, Jason Bateman, Louis CK, Kevin Nealon, Anna Faris, Will Ferrell, Kristen Bell, Will Arnett and others get personal: Celebrities Read Tweets About Themselves
‘This is OUR ALBUM,’ the singer tweets about Believe after fans choose art that will appear on single’s cover. By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber’s Boyfriend Photo: Walmart/ Island Justin Bieber invited his fans to get involved in helping him pick the artwork for his first Believe single, “Boyfriend,” and the time has come to reveal which photo fans chose. And the pop singer is giving his fans a lot of bang for their buck for taking the time to vote in the cover-art contest. After fans voted on Twitter for their favorite of two photos, the shot of Bieber tousling his hair (also known as #JBboyfriend1) won as the single’s cover. But that doesn’t mean that other shots won’t also be used in one form or another. “But it was so close that …” Bieber tweeted . “We are still going to use #JBboyfriend2 for press and even took one of the FAN MADE submissions and have decided that … we are going to sell an exclusive #BOYFRIEND fan single package in WALMART and the cover will be the one U the fans made! “So here it is … the cover of the Walmart #BOYFRIEND SINGLE COVER … made by U the fans! thank u! This is OUR ALBUM!” he tweeted before revealing the photo, which blends #JBboyfriend1 and #JBboyfriend2, the latter of which is just a shot of him looking off into the distance. “Boyfriend” officially drops on March 26. Believe will drop later this year. Produced by Mike Posner, the track features a bit of Bieber rapping lines like “Tell me what you like, dear/ Tell me what you don’t/ I could be your Buzz Lightyear/ Fly across the globe/ You don’t even need to fight, dear/ You already know/ I can make you shine bright/ Like you’re laying in the snow, brrr.” Related Videos Happy Birthday, Justin Bieber! MTV First: Justin Bieber Related Photos Justin Bieber’s Birthday: Celebrating 18! Related Artists Justin Bieber
The divorce may be off. No, Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries are not getting back together, but insiders tell TMZ both sides of the couple are willing to go the annulment path … as long as the other side admits he/she acted like a fraud during their 72-day union. Kim believes that Kris lied when he promised to move to Hollywood, only to then insist the couple settle down in Minnesota. Kris believes Kim never intended to commit to the marriage and is asking for $7 million in order to keep quiet about details that would reportedly support this allegation. The source adds that Kardashian is willing to go to any financial length to prove her side in court if it comes to that. In the meantime, she’ll just continue to Tweet topless photos of herself . Who do you think was the bigger fraud during this marriage?
Bieber will let his fans pick which photo he uses for the song, out March 26. By Jocelyn Vena Justin Bieber Photo: Valery Hache/ AFP/ Getty Images Ever dreamed of being Justin Bieber ‘s art director? Well, the singer is giving his fans that opportunity. Bieber has released two photos and requested that fans choose which will be the official art for his next single, “Boyfriend.” The photo that receives the most fan tweets wins. Biebs dons a gray checkered top over a gray T-shirt in both photos, but it’s the pose that really differentiates the two shots. In one, he stands looking away from the camera, his hands at his side. In the other, he’s looking to the camera, his hand running through his famous hair. The Mike Posner-produced track will drop on March 26. It’s the first single off his forthcoming album, Believe , out later this year. Bieber hit the studio with a number of A-listers for the album, including Maroon 5’s Adam Levine and super-producers Diplo and Ryan Tedder, plus will.i.am, Drake and Lil Wayne. “You can’t really expect anything from my album. It’s really, really different,” Bieber told MTV News. “And it’s new; it’s not the same thing everyone’s used to hearing right now on the radio. It’s really exciting for me, ’cause I’m able to break out of my shell and show my fans what I’m all about and show other people who might not like my music that maybe they can like my music. “I’m not trying to lose any of my young fans,” he continued. “I’m not trying to lose any of my fans, I’m just trying to gain fans, and I think that’s the best way to do it. Rather than try to grow up and lose your fans, you can get better and evolve and gain respect from more people.” Which Bieber photo do you think he should use as the cover art for “Boyfriend”? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Happy Birthday, Justin Bieber! Related Photos Justin Bieber’s Birthday: Celebrating 18! Related Artists Justin Bieber
Nick is flossing Bobbi Kristina’s cakes around town like they were meant to be together: Whitney Houston’s daughter engaged in some hardcore PDA — including a kiss — with her secret BF yesterday … a guy who happens to be her pseudo-adopted brother … and TMZ has the video. 19-year-old Bobbi Kristina was seen in a full-on lip-lock with 22-year-old Nick Gordon during a lunch run in Atlanta Tuesday … confirming suspicions the two are romantically involved. Remember we showed you Nick’s tweets the other day… if not, then click here and peep.
Annnnnd just when we thought he wanted that old thang back In Touch claims the reality star was dumped by her long time boo Reggie Bush after he only used her for a couple of freaky sessions: According to insiders, Reggie and Kim were hooking up and she thought a ring would be in the future. But that wasn’t the case with Reggie. “Reggie never really trusted her,” a source tells the magazine. Kim was just spotted in Paris for Fashion Week and she seemed to get very cozy with Kanye West. Instead of this making Reggie jealous, it made Reggie realize he and Kim aren’t right for each other. “Reggie’s been telling people that Kim’s disgusting for hooking up with Kanye ,” a source says. “They deserve each other.” Haters gonna hate! Source More On Bossip! Pancakes: The 10 Hottest Women With The Tiniest Cakes For Your Information: 10 Disturbing Facts About Minorities In The Criminal Justice System For Your Viewing Pleasure: Mommy Banger BeyBey Takes Blue Ivy For A Walk With Mama Tina Til’ Cancellation Do Us Part: The Best And Worst Of Reality TV Weddings
What’s a lil’ homophobia between friends? SMH Atlanta-based CNN has lifted its month-long suspension of analyst Roland Martin, who had ruffled feathers last month with Super Bowl tweets construed by some as anti-gay. The network told staff Monday on a conference call, according to FishbowlDC on TVNewser. 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!” Martin later said he is not a fan of soccer. “I was not referring to sexuality directly or indirectly regarding the David Beckham ad, and I’m sorry folks took it otherwise.” But CNN suspended him anyway, at the time releasing a statement: “Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated.” The 43-year-old columnist, commentator and author has been a regular contributor to CNN since 2007. Wonder if the folks from GLAAD are gonna run up on Roland like PETA and douse him with rainbow-colored paint? Source More On Bossip! Pancakes: The 10 Hottest Women With The Tiniest Cakes For Your Information: 10 Disturbing Facts About Minorities In The Criminal Justice System For Your Viewing Pleasure: Mommy Banger BeyBey Takes Blue Ivy For A Walk With Mama Tina Til’ Cancellation Do Us Part: The Best And Worst Of Reality TV Weddings
Despite nabbing an Academy Award last year with her self-financed and controversial “ Consider ” campaign, Melissa Leo says that neither life, nor the frequency of juicy Hollywood offers coming her way, is much different now that she’s an Oscar-winner. “The projects you think have been offered to me have not, I guarantee you,” she told Movieline this week at SXSW in Austin, where she and directors Melanie Shatzky and Brian M. Cassidy screened their minimalist character study Francine to critical applause. Still, Leo perseveres. And as the intimate acting showcase demonstrates, there’s plenty of reward to be had in smaller and more daring projects. Francine follows the quiet, often disorienting moments in the experience of a woman recently released from incarceration (Leo) who is now slowly and cautiously adjusting to life on the outside. Taking on a number of jobs and tentative friendships, Francine finds herself increasingly comforted by stray animals she adopts, only further alienating herself from the people around her. Filming in New York’s Hudson Valley region, co-directors Shatzky and Cassidy tapped their photography and documentary film backgrounds to capture Francine’s attempts and failures at human interaction with a sensitive observational style that allows Leo the space to fully, and courageously, inhabit the character. Prior to Francine ’s SXSW premiere (which garnered high praise for Leo’s performance and the directors’ minimalist use of visual and aural elements), Leo spoke with Movieline about why she sought and lobbied for the lead in Francine , how things haven’t changed all that much since winning her Oscar, the emotional scene in which a dog appears to be euthanized onscreen, and why it was important to show Hollywood that she could “show up.” How did you come to meet these folks and hear about their idea? It was the summer before last sometime in the springtime, and the Hudson Valley film commissioner is a good friend of mine – he and his wife run the Woodstock Film Festival – and I get little blurbs from them online about what’s going on in the Hudson Valley. It was a casting call, but not for Francine – for the various and sundry characters she meets along the way, and a lead lady was required for this film. The name was Francine, after all! They were going to do something very interesting and tell a story largely through the pictures and not so much dialogue; that sounded like a really interesting notion, so I inserted myself through Laurent [Rejto] and said if they’d be interested in considering me for Francine I would love to talk to them about it. And this was before you’d even seen a script? From a paragraph, really, which I think was based on their own words. Just a little paragraph of what it was. You sought this out from a single paragraph description, which makes me wonder: What sort of projects do you look for, and are you always searching? Constantly looking is a very good way to put it, but I don’t know that I’m looking for one thing or another in particular. Something specific, but it could be a lot of things that are specific. And this project sounded A) very specific, B) a leading role, and this notion of taking film – young, young, film – into yet another realm – really taking it back to its basics, of the images . The sound in Francine is a very important element in the film, both the music that’s laid in and the sound – just like in The Artist ! That’s not a silent movie; you don’t hear the actors’ dialogue but again in that film the sound is such an important aspect of the film. That all really intrigued me, but probably first and foremost the thing that caught my attention was the chance to do a lead. But you’re Melissa Leo! Are lead roles still hard to come by? Who’s that? [Laughs] I say that to you because that’s what most people even today still say. Cab drivers… and then there’s this embarrassing moment when they say, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize!’ It’s really ok! Maybe I should wear a stamp on my forehead. But more seriously, the life of an actor is not what one imagines, and I find too that the life of an Oscar-winner is not what one imagines. For an actor, for an Oscar-winner, life is no different than for all the rest of us. We must try each day to be our best selves and make our best choices. Maybe we have a finer array of choices put in front of us, but the process is no less different. My experience, 365+ days later? The projects you think have been offered to me have not, I guarantee you. It will happen in time, if I persevere. But if I expect something to return because I took a beautiful golden statue and a lot of prestige home, I’m going to miss out on the second half of my life. You still operate, then, the same way you always have when it comes to career choices? I hope to continue to grow as I think I’ve done all my life, to continue to be my genuine self all at the same time. We’ll see how it goes! Did you shoot in sequence? No, which is why it’s really important that they’re able to share with me this project as a whole. If we would have shot sequentially, this idea of withholding is a very important notion for a director. There is an advantage in withholding, there is an advantage in telling everything; you’ve got to weigh out when to do that. If you had been going sequentially I would wager to guess they could have withheld more. When we shot 21 Grams , which is told in this beautiful poetic way that [Guillermo] Arriaga wrote it, but we shot it in sequential way which is one of the things that makes 21 Grams land in reality the way that it does. Because Benicio [Del Toro] and I and the kids all knew every moment before this that we’re shooting right now, as we shot. But that’s the key to this project and in the aftermath of getting to see it now and talking to you guys and Brian and Melanie, it has been endless growth and education to me, and I think to Brian and Melanie also, of how these two uses of film – my experience in 30 years as an actor and their experience of light through celluloid, and the sounds that accompany it! – it’s a fascinating marriage. Your performance in Francine feels so alive and in the moment, especially compared to more heavily constructed films – almost theatrical in a way. Is this kind of work particularly rewarding compared to projects with more artificial constraints? I take that as a compliment – I think that it can happen both on the stage and in film, where the film over takes what’s being shot. I’ve read some scripts of films that we might whine about – ‘Oh god, that one was so bad, and they spent how many millions of dollars on it?’ – and my heart goes out to the actors that lead in those films, because those characters aren’t written as characters in a story, they’re written as vehicles in a film. Francine might well be a very nice vehicle for me, I saw that, but it is not conceived of as such. She’s conceived of as a character, and that is Brian and Melanie’s gift to me.
Young heroes rebel against a fascist government that controls its citizenry through institutionalized terror and reality television, igniting a revolution that spreads across an isolated land via broadcast images and word of mouth. The Arab Spring? Nope. Try The Hunger Games , set in a dystopian sci-fi future that parallels current global unrest, which stars Jennifer Lawrence , Elizabeth Banks , and Donald Sutherland say they hope could spur a generation of YA-consuming youths into political action. “We live in a world where in the past, present, and possibly future governments and certain countries are controlling their people by keeping them separate, weak and hungry so that they’re not strong enough to fight back,” said Lawrence, who stars in the adaptation as teenage coal miner’s daughter/District 12 tribute Katniss Everdeen . “I think that there are a lot of messages [in The Hunger Games ] about history repeating itself and how something is wrong when you stay quiet, how we are the new generation.” Elizabeth Banks , who plays Capitol-assigned chaperone Effie Trinket , echoed the sentiment. “There are oppressive regimes all over the world that are being toppled by young people using YouTube to start revolutions,” she said. “There is no greater connection. This book is happening right now.” It can certainly be argued that Collins’ book series and the Gary Ross-directed feature adaptation has the potential to influence a generation of youngsters who’ll come for the sci-fi escapism and leave the theater appreciating its personal messages of personal accountability and standing up for what’s right in the face of impossible odds. More subtle are the franchise’s critiques of capitalism, celebrity, and media exploitation; if The Hunger Games succeeds in teaching kids to think critically about reality television alone that will be some sort of cultural coup. (Of course, there’s the tricky contradiction of getting such message from a heavily-marketed $70+ million studio production whose elaborate campaign has tapped social, online, and mainstream media in the pursuit of a huge box office, not to mention the issue of selling “ Capitol Couture ” as a merchandising tie-in.) Thankfully, here’s Donald Sutherland to put the Hunger Games potential for real world translation into relatable terms: “This has the possibility to change everything – to motivate, to catalyze, to activate, whatever revolutionary instincts there are in what is, essentially, from my point of view, a dormant generation.” “I just hope that they see from this allegory that the future is unacceptable. But more than that, it’s unimaginable. If you look at the weather, if you look at fossil fuels, if you look at a political party that just says no only because they want to get elected – they have no concern for four years for the people… those people are our business managers! “We own this country; they’re supposed to administer it for us. It’s not for them. They’re not supposed to be profiting from it! You don’t profit from it in Canada. You don’t profit from it in France. You don’t spend hundreds of millions of dollars to get elected! Nobody in their right mind would spend that much money in Canada, it’s just a bad investment! But it’s a good investment here, and that’s a problem.” “And you’ve got a Supreme Court that says a corporation is a citizen? Sorry, no. They don’t file the same tax forms I file… if they do, I’d like to know what it is. Because General Electric can make $4 billion in profit and they don’t pay any tax? I’m sorry. Oliver Wendell Holmes said, ‘Taxes are what you pay for a civilized society.’ If you carry that all the way backwards, we’re not civilized.” Of course, while older viewers may be prompted into critical political thinking by The Hunger Games , 12-year-olds clutching Mockingjay pins may not quite grasp the world as Sutherland sees it… yet. Then again, maybe all that needs to be planted is the seed of awareness. “It could make them stand up and become aware through this allegory of the political structure that they live in and what needs to be changed,” insisted Sutherland. “They could all become Katniss Everdeen.” Read more on The Hunger Games , which arrives in theaters March 23. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
