Wolfgang Puck has a P.R. problem -- one Kanye West ... and he's screwing with the menu.
CUT -- Wolfgang's Bev Hills restaurant -- has menus with pics of various celebs on the cover, including Kanye West, President Barack Obama, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Angelina Jolie.
Last night, several tables got dealt Kanye menus and complained to the server, who obliged by trading up.
We spoke with the manager of CUT, who confessed people were handing back Kanye menus even before his hateful VMA stunt last Sunday. We think you know his record.
But truth be told, the manager says people have also turned back menus featuring Obama and Arnold.
The restaurant will boldly continue to deal in Kanye.
TMZ has obtained the audiotape of President Barack Obama calling Kanye West a "jackass" for hijacking Taylor Swift's acceptance speech during the VMAs.
The audio was recorded just before Obama went on camera to do an interview with CNBC. Before the interview began, Obama -- referring to Kanye's antics on stage -- said "I thought that was really inappropriate," then adding, "He's a jackass."
After making the remarks, Obama said "Where's the pool?" Presumably, he was worried the joke would go wide. He noted the last time that happened, he got burned for killing a fly.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is looking to raise her profile this week with a major foreign-policy speech -- too bad she can't raise her right arm.
Clinton is finally back in action after breaking her elbow in a fall June 17.
President Barack Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor (left), and "La Bamba" actress Elizabeth Peña at an event recently (right).
Only one of them is about to be probed by the Republican party.
When a cell phone interrupted President Obama's Press Secretary Robert Gibbs during his daily briefing -- dude went into the crowd and snatched it up faster than a high school teacher in study hall!
Warren Buffet could have been such a douche at the White House Correspondent's Dinner when we asked what the difference was between him and our photog... but he was very cool. For the record, 40 years AND 40 billion ....
Apparently President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle were trying to keep the whole Presidential dog thing under wraps -- and then we came along...
The White House had offered The Washington Post a "puppy exclusive" when the time came, according to The Washington Post! But last Friday, we got all the details.
-- the pup was coming from a Texas kennel -- the kennel had sold Senator Ted Kennedy 3 Portuguese Water Dogs in the past, all from the same lineage -- the dog the Obama's were getting is also from the same lineage as the Kennedy dogs -- the Obama dog was originally sold to a private owner, who returned it -- the dog was named Charlie, but the Obamas planned to rename it -- the dog was going to be "re-homed" to the Obamas from the kennel, and presented to the Obamas by the Kennedy family -- the reason it's important that the dog was "re-homed" is because the Obamas could not accept the dog as a gift, and re-homing averts the problem. -- the dog will be officially presented to the Obamas by the Kennedys on Tuesday
So that's what we said Friday. And sure enough, The Post is now saying the dog was renamed Bo, after Bo Diddley.
We got a pic of a pooch that appears to be Bo. Today, The Post ran a pic of the doggie with the Prez, Michelle, Sasha and Malia.
BTW, there are reports that Ted Kennedy gavethe puppy to the First Family as a gift -- untrue. It was re-homed by the kennel and the Kennedy family only facilitated the transfer.
So, we didn't break Watergate, but Puppygate -- we're all over it!
We have lots of exclusive details on the Portuguese Water Dog President Barack Obama and Michelle are getting for Sasha and Malia. The pooch will make its grand entrance on Tuesday, and it's coming from a prominent Texas kennel, with the help of Senator Ted Kennedy's family.
The black dog -- a male -- is approximately six months old. We've learned it was bred at the kennel and sold to someone who gave it back. The kennel is now "re-homing" the dog to the Obamas. The dog was named Charlie, but the Obamas will rename it.
Now here's where the Kennedys come into play. The kennel has sold the Kennedys three Portuguese Water Dogs in the past, all from the same lineage. The dog the Obamas will be getting is from the same lineage as the Kennedy dogs. The Kennedy family will be presenting the new dog to the Obamas, but it's really coming from the kennel.
The reason this all sounds so technical is that there are issues regarding gifts to the Prez. The fact that the pup is being re-homed makes it all kosher.
The dog pictured below (right) is the actual dog the Obamas will be getting, courtesy FirstDogCharlie.com.
Long known for their biting social commentary, a Turkish TV reporter donned blackface during a newscast yesterday while doing a report about President Barack Obama.
Al Jolson would be proud. Everyone else? Not so much ...
UPDATE -- TMZ spoke to a translator at the Turkish Bureau of Tourism who told us the video is actually pretty funny, if you speak Turkish. Apparently there is even a Clinton/Lewinsky joke. Those funny Turks!
Comedian Jackie Mason used what some say is a racial epithet in describing President Barack Obama during his act Thursday night, infuriating at least several people in the crowd.
During a performance at Feinstein's at Loews Regency in NYC, Mason referred to Obama as a "schwartza" -- some say it's equivalent to the "N" word -- others say it's just part of the Yiddish culture and a literal translation of the word "Black."
We're told one person walked out fuming, "He's more offensive to the Jews than Madoff tonight."
We spoke with Mason by phone a few minutes ago, and he was outraged at the criticism, saying, "I'm not going to defend myself. Chris Rock has told a lot more jokes about whites than I have against Blacks. What about the demeaning words Blacks say about Jews?"
Mason added, "If it's a racist society, the white people are the ones being persecuted because they have to defend themselves." Mason called people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson "professional racists."
Mason added, "I'm an old Jew. I was raised in a Jewish family where 'schwartza' was used. It's not a demeaning word and I'm not going to defend myself."
And there was this parting shot: "I'm more talented than Oprah Winfrey and look at how much she makes. I can't even make a living." UPDATE: Rev. Al Sharpton just sent us this statement:
"At this stage in Jackie's life and career he should get our prayers more than our responses. It is sad that maybe he forgot he used the same term against Mayor David Dinkins when he was elected the first African-American Mayor of New York City and got in trouble for it. As for him attacking me, maybe he forgot that he has had me on his TV show and has taken me to dinner and commended me for forgiving a white male who tried to kill me by stabbing me while I was leading a non-violent march. I'm sure Jackie just forgot."
Apparently President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle were trying to keep the whole Presidential dog thing under wraps -- and then we came along...
We have lots of exclusive details on the Portuguese Water Dog President Barack Obama and Michelle are getting for Sasha and Malia. The pooch will make its grand entrance on Tuesday, and it's coming from a prominent Texas kennel, with the help of Senator Ted Kennedy's family.
Comedian Jackie Mason used what some say is a racial epithet in describing President Barack Obama during his act Thursday night, infuriating at least several people in the crowd.
