Lore'l I Never Called Michael B. Corny!!! But, Troll Backlash Is Crazy
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Lore'l definitely had one of the most awwkwardddd class reunions, thanks to Michael B. Jordan's cold shoulder -- but she tells TMZ Hip Hop the online reaction's been even worse than that "Creed III" premiere moment.
We spoke to "The Morning Hustle" host in the aftermath of her viral MBJ incident, and she untangled a lot of misconceptions coming out of their interview, which has made her the target of tons of vile DMs.
Lore'l admits Michael's name was fodder for jokes among 7th-grade students in Newark -- after all, that was Michael "Air" Jordan's heyday -- but she points out she and Michael were only classmates at Chad Science Academy for one year before she moved.
That's why she says the narrative she tormented MBJ throughout high school is pure 🧢.
She also blames misleading headlines stemming from her 2021 podcast where her cohost Dominique Da Diva referred to Mike as "corny" -- that's the comment the Internet jumbled with Lore'l's own back-in-the-day school stories.
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BTW, when Lore'l switched schools she ended up being classmates with singers Rotimi and SZA ... who she just saw when her "SOS" tour stopped in D.C., and their reunion went much smoother than the MBJ one!
For the record, Lore'l's got no beef with Michael, and says she's still rooting for him.
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'Peter Pan & Wendy' Twitter Pissed Over Black Tinker Bell ... Would Rather Have New POC Characters
People think Disney's choice to make Tinker Bell Black in the upcoming "Peter Pan & Wendy" flick instead of making a new character for a person of color is a terrible move ... and now Twitter is up in arms over it -- what a shock.
In case you missed it, Disney dropped the trailer for the live-action film Tuesday, with fans getting a first look at Yara Shahidi as everyone's favorite pixie ... but a bunch of people are complaining about the switch-up, saying it feels like the company's more interested in image than inclusivity.
Twitter's in a frenzy over Yara's role -- with one person writing, "Disney loves to race swap these days instead of creating original and new characters that are POC."
Disney couldn’t care less about making new stories with Poc characters, they just put poc ppl to play white characters, and that shows 1) how lazy Disney is 2) how racist this is, it’s like they don’t think poc ppl deserve their own stories (beside like 3 animated movies?)
— Alex (he/they) (@tinyscribbles_) February 28, 2023 @tinyscribbles_
Another echoed that, saying Disney's more focused on race-swapping original characters as opposed to putting in the time to make a new product with a more diverse cast.
but tinker bells iconic look is literally the blonde hair n blue eyes. nothing wrong with the loose representation but why keep changing shit that already has a staple look
— ༺lin༻ (@melaniesteady) February 28, 2023 @melaniesteady
Others say Tinker Bell has always been known as a white girl with blonde hair and blue eyes -- and diverting from the original material isn't right.
As you know, Disney recently made this same move with "The Little Mermaid," casting Halle Bailey as Ariel.
Tenían a Dove Cameron para hacer de Tinkerbell 😩 https://t.co/fLd1TzbDIV pic.twitter.com/1WifBBbuj4
— ༒ 𝕷𝖎𝖌𝖊𝖎𝖆 𝕯𝖊𝖕𝖕 ༒ (@twiggywitch) February 28, 2023 @twiggywitch
As for who would make a great fit for Tink, Twitter's got that answer too -- a bunch of folks are saying longtime Disney Channel alum Dove Cameron would've filled the role perfectly.
The movie drops in late April ... and it appears Disney's now gotta brace for impact when it comes out.
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Tom Sizemore Condition Not Improving End of Life Decision Imminent
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Tom Sizemore's family has a tough decision -- in light of his condition not having improved since his brain aneurysm ... his life may well soon be coming to an end.
The actor's manager, Charles Lago, tells TMZ ... doctors updated Tom's loved ones Monday, and the word is -- it's not good. He remains in critical care, in a coma and in ICU ... with no sign of improvement at this point, we're told.
As a result, Lago says the medical staff where Tom is being treated has recommended an end-of-life plan -- and laid out options. We're told the family's mulling that over now, and a statement on what they decide will be released in the days to come.
Lago also tells us that Tom's aneurysm was the result of a stroke he suffered on Feb. 18 at his home ... causing him to collapse and to be rushed to the hospital. We broke the story ... paramedics were called out that morning around 2 AM after someone found him.
Lago also tells us this ... "We are asking for privacy for his family during this difficult time and they wish to thank the hundreds of messages of prayers and support that have been received. This has been a difficult time for them."
Considering this could be Tom's final chapter, it's a chance to examine his legacy ... while muddled in controversy -- it also reflects an esteemed career in movies and showbiz. Sizemore was a rockstar through the 1990s and has a lot of memorable roles under his belt.
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Ben Affleck Help, My Car's Stuck!!! Attempts to Get Benz Out
No rock, but Ben Affleck was recently caught between a couple of REALLY hard places ... doing his best to get his fancy car out and on its way in a hilariously relatable video.
Ben and his Mercedes-Benz were subject to a super tight squeeze Monday in Brentwood, CA ... crammed between 2 other parked cars along a curb. You can see him smoking a cig with his Dunkin' on the top of the car before working on his escape.
We've all been there, and you gotta admit it's pretty infuriating ... and, as Ben goes back and forth in this spot, he hits the car up front a few times before pulling away -- whoops.
As we reported, this isn't the actor's first bout of trouble behind the wheel ... he and Jen were pulling into a Starbucks in West. L.A. last year as a sign got stuck in his back rim. Luckily, a couple of paps jumped in to save the day.
6/26/22
Ben's son, Samuel also go into a fender bender last year -- hopping into the driver's seat of a Lambo and accidentally reversing it into a white BMW.
The curse of the cars continues for Ben -- sometimes ya gotta just walk!
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Mark Wahlberg Shoulda Recused Himself from SAG Due to Past Crime Against Asian Man
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Mark Wahlberg could've foreseen the awkward moment that unfolded live at the SAG Awards -- courtesy of his ugly criminal history with 2 Asian men -- so says one writer, who cringed upon seeing it.
We talked to Jeff Yang, an Asian-American WSJ columnist, who was one of many who commented on the Wahlberg moment Sunday -- and he told us MW was simply the wrong guy to present the cast of "Everything Everywhere All at Once" the final statuette of the night.
The reason ... back when Mark was a teenager in Boston, he pled guilty to assaulting 2 Vietnamese immigrants as he and others shouted racial epithets. He was convicted and served 45 days behind bars.
In light of that terrible stain, JY says Mark should've had better intuition and turned down the gig ... especially considering 'EEAAO' was considered a lock to win, and because it obviously wouldn't look good onstage -- which, according to the vast majority, it didn't.
Jeff does say it's possible Mark simply didn't know 'Everywhere' would win ... and if he did, perhaps he took the presenter job as an unspoken olive branch to the AAPI community.
While it's certainly plausible, Jeff tells us he truly doesn't think it's likely -- and that this was probably a tone-deaf decision on everyone's part ... especially because, in Jeff's mind, Mark hasn't really gone out of his way to correct the brutal wrong from his teen years.
Worth noting ... he has issued apologies, including back in 2014, when he unsuccessfully tried to get pardon.
Bottom line for Jeff ... the optics were terrible, and they could've (and probably should've) been anticipated. With that said, 'EEAAO' continues to fly high -- next stop, the Oscars!
George Clinton Wiz Playing Me Is Super-Cool ... Just Ask My Grandkids!!!
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Wiz Khalifa is all set to portray George Clinton in the upcoming film "Spinning Gold" ... an A-1 pick as far as the iconic musician's book is concerned ... mainly because it increased his cool factor!!! 😎
We spotted the P-Funk legend at LAX, rocking the latest fabrics in Erykah Badu wear, right on the cusp of him going to meet with Wiz to exchange experiences, among other things.
George tells us he loves Wiz's acting chops -- just as much as he loves his smoking skills and was already looking forward to their sesh.
Although George didn't handpick Wiz for the role, it still will be a symbolic moment -- his grandkids costar as Parliament-Funkadelic band members and will be featured throughout the film!!!
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George's been busy in other avenues too ... he recently joined Will Smith and T.D. Jakes in helping raise $10M for Ben Crump's Law School.
George and Ben have a lot in common ... they're both Omega Psi Phi frat guys who hail from North Carolina and reside in Tallahassee -- and Ben's helping George and the gang get their royalties back on track.
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They just re-recorded their funk classic "Atomic Dog" ... with several other records on the horizon.
The film drops March 31, but George is already sold on Wiz's performance!!!
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Michael B. Jordan Teams with Calvin Klein (Finally) ... For Underwear Campaign
Michael B. Jordan has done the inevitable -- linking up with Calvin Klein for a good old-fashioned underwear campaign, and all we can say ... yeah, it's about time.
The actor is the new face of the famed clothing brand's Spring 2023 collection, posing for a series of photos where he's stripped down to nothing but a pair of boxer-briefs (in a variety of colors, it seems) ... and looking chiseled in all black and white, a classic CK aesthetic.
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As you can see, MBJ is in great shape (per usual) ... and the timing of this is actually perfect -- right ahead of his third "Creed" movie, where he's also bulked up and shirtless a lot.
Like we said, this was probably a long time coming ... and, frankly, we're surprised the collab didn't happen sooner. Mike's been a Hollywood hunk for years now -- and Calvin's always flocking to the latest hot body in town for a photo shoot.
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Here's the thing, though ... as good-looking as Michael certainly is, he might not actually be the best new thing (eye candy-wise) around anymore. His boxing costar, Jonathan Majors, is taking the town by storm lately in equally steamy shots -- and the dude is blowing up.
JM is the face of a lot of campaigns these days ... often in as little clothes as possible. Makes sense -- his physique is top-notch (body-builder status, actually) -- and it seems movie studio execs can't get enough of him. Jon's been cast in a lot these past few years.
The good news for everyone else is that you can catch these two lookers on the big screen soon -- their film is hitting theaters this weekend .... so it's all Jordan and Majors, all day.
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SAG Awards 2023 Celebs Behind the Scenes ... All Smiles in Hollywood!!!
This year's SAG Awards ceremony was big -- not just for the winners and, of course, movie and TV fans ... but for all the nominees and presenters who had the most fun away from the broadcast's cameras!
It was a who's who at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City, CA Sunday night ... with the likes of Brendan Fraser, Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jennifer Coolidge and many more showing up for their nominations -- some of whom left with new hardware.
James Marsden was all smiles backstage at the prestigious event ... the "Dead to Me" actor presented the award with Jenny Slate for Drama Series Ensemble, going to "The White Lotus."
Cara Delevingne, Aubrey Plaza and Ariana DeBose were quite the gal pals during the commercial breaks -- and Aubrey joined her "White Lotus" cast later in the night, winning the Drama Series Ensemble award.
For celebs, the fun was just starting when the show ended -- a huge crowd stuck around for People's after-party Gala with big names like Tobey Maguire, Quinta Brunson, and Laura Linney hangin' out through the night.
As you know, "Everything Everywhere All at Once" swept the awards show taking home all four wins in its nominated categories -- breaking the record for single-film wins. Brendan won once again for his role in "The Whale" ... while the Life Achievement Award went to Sally Field.
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Jamie Lee Curtis Accepts Nepo Baby Label After SAG Win But 'This Is Amazing' at 64
Jamie Lee Curtis is among the many celebs lately who've caught flak for being a "nepo baby" -- but she said to hell with that after her big win ... one selected by actors for actors.
The legendary star got picked for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture at the SAG Awards Sunday ... which clearly took her by surprise, but which she handled with gusto and grace in her acceptance speech, coming straight from the heart and chock-full of emotion.
Check out the moment from start to finish, because it was something else. Jamie plants a kiss on her "Everything Everywhere All at Once" costar, Michelle Yeoh, and trotted onstage to a huge standing O.
Her speech itself was also pretty memorable ... with JLC invoking her parents' immigrant heritage and their rise in the Hollywood ranks as actors themselves -- which eventually led her to say, "I know you look at me and think 'Nepo baby,' and I totally get it!"
But she finished with a heartfelt sentiment, adding ... "But I'm 64 years old and this is just amazing." In other words, she's happy to be working as an actor and loves the job -- regardless of how she got there ... that seems to be her takeaway message here.
Say what you want about advantages, but Jamie is totally deserving in her own right. Yes, she's a Nepo Baby ... and no, we don't care. If it means more Jamie Lee -- so be it!
Congrats!
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Paul Rudd Human Ant Kills Drugged-Up Bear At the Box Office, That Is
Paul Rudd's still king of the (ant) hill in movies -- beating out a coked-out CGI bear ... but the weekend win isn't quite what it seems, considering a huge drop-off his flick endured.
We're talking about "Ant-Man: Quantumania" -- which came out last week with windfall box office numbers ($106 million) and which once again secured the top spot these past 3 days with another $32.2 million in domestic ticket sales against newcomer, "Cocaine Bear."
The goofy horror-comedy, directed by Elizabeth Banks, came in 2nd behind PR and co. ... raking in $23.1 mil domestically and $28.4 mil globally -- which is pretty good considering it only cost about $35M to make it. So, it's sure to make its money back and then some.
Not exactly the hit that "M3GAN" was for Universal -- but the studio's killing it lately with original ideas and relatively low investment. 'Ant-Man,' however, took a historical plunge.
Going from $106M to $32M in just one weekend is actually the biggest dip a Marvel movie has fallen into ... like, ever. As Variety noted, that's about 69%, more or less ... beating out the previous lowest record-holder in "Black Widow," which came in at a 67% drop-off in '21.
So, what are we to make of all this??? Well, from the outside looking in ... it seems Marvel might not quite be the bankable movie draw it was once (especially post-'Avengers'), and unique concepts in Hollywood can actually be winners with audiences. Take note, execs!
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Miles Teller L.A. Home Trashed by Burglars ... Rude Homecoming Awaits
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Miles Teller isn't going to have a pleasant return from an overseas trip -- cops say burglars took full advantage of his absence and hit his home hard.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... someone broke into the "Top Gun: Maverick" star's Los Angeles area home last week. We're told they gained entry by smashing a glass back door.
The crooks ransacked Miles' entire house looking for loot, but right now it's unclear what all they took. Once the actor's back in town, he'll go through the mess to evaluate what, if anything, is missing.
We're told cops were alerted to the caper by Miles' home alarm, but the suspects made a clean getaway.
Our sources say they don't believe Miles was intentionally targeted. Instead, he might have fallen victim to a string of burglaries that have been plaguing the area recently.
As of now, police haven't made any arrests ... but the investigation continues, and they're checking surveillance videos for clues.
We reached out to Miles' rep for comment, but so far no word back.
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Glynn Turman Not Shocked By Racist Elementary School Drawings ... 'Nothing Surprises Me In America'
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Glynn Turman tells us why Black elementary school kids getting racist drawings during Black History Month isn't a story that shocks him ... and he's got some incredible words for the kids that were apparently targeted.
We got the longtime actor at Wally's in Bev Hills ... and, as he puts it, hatred like this is deeply rooted in America's DNA, which is why it's an incident we should've seen coming -- and he calls out the lack of education as a reason why.
Glynn says we can't keep burying racism in this country, pointing to this vulgar act as an example. He's also got words of wisdom for Black kids who are facing hatred like this in schools today ... check it out, it's incredibly powerful.
As we reported, drawings saying things like "To my favorite cotton picker" and "You're my favorite monkey" were passed out at Pepper Tree Elementary School in Upland, CA ... needless to say, parents of the targeted students were outraged.
We spoke with the school's PTA President, who told us the students aren't being held accountable -- adding the drawings were made on their own, without a teacher's approval.
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Pink Xtina Wanted to Throw Down ... On 'Marmalade' Shoot
Pink claims Christina Aguilera wanted to throw hands during the 'Lady Marmalade' shoot -- something she says is ancient history ... but which definitely, allegedly, happened.
The singer spilled the beans to Chris Wallace on his weekly show, 'Who's Talking,' opening up about some apparent tension she says manifested on set when they were filming the music video way back in 2001. According to Pink, Xtina confronted her aggressively.
Watch how she describes it ... Pink says it all started because she was sitting in Christina's chair -- unclear if that means on set or off -- which she claims set Christina off. Supposedly, CA was so angry about this ... she was going to "shut down the entire production."
Pink says it didn't actually get physical right then and there, but did make clear ... she relayed to Christina at the time that she couldn't talk to her like that, period. Funny enough, Chris tells Pink he believes she could've kicked Christina's ass ... and Pink agrees.
As for the perceived shade everyone seems to think Pink is throwing Xtina's way ... Pink addressed that too, saying all she's doing is telling a story back as it happened and as she remembers it. If that truth happens to make someone look bad, so be it ... that's her view.
We should note ... Pink has claimed in the recent past that, in another old incident, Christina allegedly tried swinging on her at a club -- although Christina denied that at the time. As for this latest rehashing, we've already heard Christina also considers it old news/MAAN.
While it's clear neither artist has an issue with the other at the moment, time will tell if she wants to push back on Pink's characterization of things on 'LM' ... or just leave this one be.
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Paris Hilton Says Harvey Weinstein Got Aggressive ... Invited Her To His Hotel Room
2:05 PM PT -- Weinstein's rep, Juda Engelmayer, tells TMZ ... Harvey Weinstein is so miffed at Paris Hilton that he's now contemplating filing a defamation suit against her. Juda says, "Harvey told me that this never happened. He never yelled at her and never followed her. There were many people at amfAR, and this is provably false. Too bad it's all too convenient and seemingly popular to just say it without anything backing it up and it's just printed as if defamation doesn't matter anymore. Harvey intends to file a defamation suit against Paris Hilton."
Paris Hilton says she had a TERRIFYING run-in with Harvey Weinstein at the Cannes Film Festival when she was a just teenager.
Hilton told Glamour UK mag she was having lunch with a female friend at the festival in 2000 when Weinstein walked over to their table and asked if she wanted to be an actress.
The then-19-year-old Hilton says she responded, ‘Yeah, I really want to be in a movie.’ Paris says she was impressed by Weinstein and thought he was "cool" at the time.
Weinstein then allegedly hit on her, explaining, ‘Well, we should have a meeting. You can come up to my room and read scripts’… and I just didn’t want to go, so I never went.”
But, the next night, Paris says Weinstein followed her to the ladies bathroom at the festival's annual amfAR gala for AIDS research and screamed at her, “Ya wanna be a star?”
Paris says Weinstein then tried to open the bathroom door and started banging on it with his fist. But, Paris says, she refused to open the door and told Weinstein, ‘I’m in a stall, why do you want to come in here?’
Security eventually arrived and escorted Weinstein out -- btw, he was hosting the event. As Weinstein was led away, he allegedly went bonkers, stating, "This is my party!" Paris admits, "It scared me and freaked me out.”
Harvey Weinstein Sentenced To 16 Years In Prison In L.A. Sexual Assault Case
Through a spokesperson, Weinstein told Variety that Paris' story was "probably false." The disgraced film producer went on to say "he had always treated Paris Hilton with the utmost respect and kindness, and always believed they had a cordial relationship.”
As you know, Weinstein was sentenced Thursday at his L.A. trial to 16 years in prison for sexual assault. He is also serving 23 years for a 2020 rape conviction in New York.
Originally Published -- 6:51 AM PT
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Jansen Panettiere Romantic Kiss In One Of Last Films ... New Scene From Movie
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Jansen Panettiere had a few projects in the pipeline at the time of his death ... and he shared an intimate smooch in one of his final films, as a newly-obtained clip shows.
The footage, obtained by TMZ, showcases the late actor's on-screen kiss in the upcoming campy-horror 3-D flick, "Aaah! Roach!" Jansen, who plays Martin Jones, shared the screen with Grace Van Dien -- known for playing Chrissy Cunningham in "Stranger Things."
The movie features Jansen and Grace as their college is attacked by chemically altered man-eating roaches ... having to work together and save the day before it's too late.
Jenni Gold, director and producer of the film, tells TMZ ... the team is in shock at the loss of Jansen, adding he was loved by everyone and will be missed deeply.
She says the movie will be dedicated in his honor when released, which should be at the end of this year or early 2024. Jenni tells us the kissing scene was shot pre-pandemic and then filming got delayed, but the movie is now in post-production.
TMZ broke the story, Jansen, brother to Hayden Panettiere, passed away last weekend in New York, according to a family source. His cause of death is still unclear, but law enforcement sources tell us there's no foul play suspected.
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Cookie Monster Chaos Man Named Adam Sandler Harasses Community Dressed as Popular Character!!!
The Santa Cruz Police Dept. has put a warning out for citizens in the area -- beware of Adam Sandler -- but it ain't the actor, it's some dude with the same name dressed in a creepy costume.
In a release Wednesday, the SCPD said Adam -- who has no relation to the actor -- has been wearing the furry blue costume around the area's beach and wharf locations, with reports coming in saying he's been making uncomfortable comments and acting out.
While cops say Sandler hasn't committed any crimes, he does have a "history of unpredictable vulgar comments and troublesome behavior." The department's asking people to steer clear of him, and contact authorities if anything inappropriate is witnessed.
Santa Cruz PD makes it a point to say Sandler isn't employed by the city in any way.
This isn't the first time Adam's harassed people in character -- getting arrested back in 2012 while going on an antisemitic rant dressed as Elmo in Times Square, pleading guilty to disorderly conduct.
Someone should send not-so-Happy Gilmore back to Sesame Street.