Celebrity

Category: Paparazzi

File this Jesse James story under 'paparazzi are people too'

Jesse-james This isn't the Ministry's normal type of post, but we stumbled upon an only-in-celebrity-land item that made us go "aww" just a little bit. In a sort of jaded way. But "aww" nonetheless.

Seems Jesse James apologized to a celebrity videographer (that's code for "paparazzo with a video camera") Thursday after a run-in Wednesday, telling the X17 associate, "Sorry for yesterday. I understand you're just doing your job. Just be cool and don't get in my face." According to X17, James then offered his hand to shake on it.

The paparazzi scene outside West Coast Choppers was rather chaotic Wednesday, Radar Online said, after news hit that James' wife, Sandra Bullock, had filed for divorce. At least James knew the People cover story was coming.

As always, what a difference a day makes. OK, so it's only a tiny difference, but -- still a difference.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Jesse James at the NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 26  in Los Angeles. We cropped his date out of the picture, Match.com style, because that's what you do when people break up, right? Credit: Chris Pizzello / Associated Press.

Click and scroll down for the rest of the story on Sandra Bullock and Jesse James. Want the headlines? Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter (we're @LATcelebs) or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/ministryofgossip.


PREACH IT! Sandra Bullock calls checkmate in a tough public relations game

Bullock people Sandra Bullock: We salute you. Your People magazine cover this week has to be one of the most ninja public relations moves we’ve seen out of an A-list celebrity since Angelina Jolie hooked up with the United Nations.

Not that we’re saying you announced your baby, Louis, as some sort of calculated image rehab; we don’t mean that at all. Sister, you don’t need image rehab. No, we here at Preach It! congratulate you on keeping such a tight lid on your private affairs until just the right moment, and then springing forth like an amazon on horseback. Too, too magnificent.

Your new triumph represents the pinnacle of how the wronged-woman game should be played in this town. You have set a new bar. At first we thought that maybe Tiger Woods' wife, Elin Nordegren, was neck and neck with you in that department, but no. Sandra, you just knocked that formidable Swede right out of the running. Let’s examine why.

For weeks, Elin has epitomized the estranged classy broad. As Tiger’s myriad skanks paraded before the gossip blogs, Elin also let herself be photographed -- but only doing things like getting on a plane. To, you know, fly away from Tiger.

Elin-son Elin also bailed on Tiger’s much publicized “press conference” at Sawgrass in February, and skipped his return to golf when he appeared during the Masters, distancing herself both physically and psychologically from a poisonous situation. Now we hear that Elin is definitely, definitely, definitely divorcing Tiger -- but we're not getting the news from her. No. That would be beneath her. Instead, word is coming from high-class minions such as Donald Trump.

Sandra, meanwhile, holed up completely following the Michelle “Bombshell” McGee revelation; photographs of Bullock outside of her home were virtually nonexistent for weeks. She stepped out briefly to visit friends, but the only really solid shot of her before now was during a hike earlier this month -- without her wedding ring. Like Elin, Sandra used fancy friends to do the talking for her, namely, her good buddy George Lopez. Also like Elin, Sandra has said zip about her problems with her husband -- until Wednesday. When asked about Jesse James’ seeming preoccupation with Nazis, she said, "The photo shocked me and made me sad. This is not the man I married. This was stupid, this was ignorant. Racism, anti-Semitism, sexism, homophobia, anything Nazi and a boatload of other things have no place in my life."

Thank you both, ladies, for showing how to play through pain with style.

-- Leslie Gornstein

Top photo: The latest People magazine features Sandra Bullock and her newly adopted son, Louis Bardo Bullock. Credit: Jeff Christensen / Associated Press

Bottom photo: Elin Nordegren sits with her son Charlie during a semifinal match at the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla., on April 2. Credit: Lynne Sladky / Associated Press

Click and scroll down to tour the Preach It! archives. Want the headlines? Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter (we're @LATcelebs) or show us you like us on Facebook at facebook.com/ministryofgossip.



Kate Gosselin channels her inner Energizer Bunny

Kate dancing Yes, ex-husband Jon Gosselin is suing her for custody of their eight kids.

Yes, "Dancing With the Stars" judge Bruno Tonioli says, "She's crap. But in a nice way."

Yes, Jimmy Fallon got laughs brutally mocking her "Paparazzi" paso doble.

And yes, Hugh Hefner has turned up his nose.

Nevertheless, Kate Gosselin just keeps pushing ahead -- getting credit for boosting "DWTS" past "American Idol" in the ratings for the first time, signing on for her new TLC show "Twist of Kate" and smacking her ex upside the head in People magazine. 

Note to self: When Armageddon arrives, ensure proximity to Kate Gosselin. Chance of survival increases exponentially.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Kate Gosselin and partner Tony Dovolani dance to "Paparazzi" on "Dancing with the Stars" on Monday. Credit: Adam Larkey / ABC / Associated Press

Click and scroll down for more on Kate Gosselin. Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter (we're @LATcelebs) and Facebook.


Jude Law wins lawsuit against UK tabloid [Poll]

Jude law Jude Law has won damages and legal fees in a suit against Hello!, a UK celebrity publication, after the tab published pictures of three of his four kids while they were vacationing with him and Sienna Miller in the Caribbean in January. 

In addition to a fine of about $15,000, Hello! agreed not to publish pictures of Law alone or with his children in situations where they have "a reasonable expectation of privacy." Whether Law's fourth child is included in the decision -- well, maybe not?

The legal route is a departure from the orange-hurling tactics the actor used in November against NYU students apparently majoring in celebrity photography. 

We're almost afraid to publish this picture of Jude. Almost. But then we checked with our lawyers, who assured us there's no reasonable expectation of privacy on a red carpet. Whew. 

Your thoughts?

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photos: This picture of Jude Law was taken March 28, 2010, at the 2010 Empire Film Awards in London, where there were lots of other people around, and Law stood in front of cameras on purpose for publicity. Credit: Ben Stansall / AFP / Getty Images.

Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter (we're @LATcelebs) and Facebook.


Paparazzo's sex-furniture business far more intriguing than his lawsuit against Sean Penn

Sean penn aarp What else does a celebrity photographer need besides a long-lens camera, a trusty vehicle and the fight-or-flight instincts of a rhino? "A sex-toy and sex-furniture business on the side" would not be our first answer -- mostly because until about an hour ago, we didn't officially know that "sex furniture" existed.

We'd simply not poked sufficiently into the affairs of one Jordan Dawes.

Dawes is the photographer -- nay, the "Photographer, Filmmaker, Artist, and Hellraiser" -- who, TMZ reports, just filed a lawsuit against Sean Penn, alleging that while he was shooting a documentary about paparazzi, he was attacked and threatened by the actor. Death threats, Dawes is alleging. Like, "the next time I see you, you will be in a box."

Doesn't Dawes know that for Penn, wishing death upon those who cross him is just, like, conversation?

The incident happened in October, and TMZ reported in February that Penn had been charged with misdemeanor battery and vandalism -- Dawes says Penn broke his camera. The maximum penalty if Penn were convicted on both counts would be 18 months in jail.

But back to the sex furniture -- because really, Sean Penn tangling with a paparazzo is kinda BTDT news.

Continue reading »

Reports: Bullock divorce filing near, James ditches rehab

Bullock mug Let's get up to date on the latest speculation in the sad saga of Jesse James and Sandra Bullock

RadarOnline places Bullock on the verge of filing for divorce, and says the couple's prenup includes a no-money-if-you-cheat caveat. Of course, nothing's official till papers hit the court, and we haven't seen any court filing yet, nor have we seen a copy of the prenup.

James reportedly left rehab in Arizona, the New York Post says, supposedly after Bullock wouldn't take his phone call. If Us magazine's story about nasty phone fights is true, could you blame her? 

Incidentally, some of the worst paparazzi images ever emerged last week when Sandra headed to Holmby Hills to visit another human being.

A moving truck was seen for about an hour Friday outside the Orange County home shared by the couple, TMZ reported, and items including a couch, a love seat and "tons of boxes" were removed. James' mom was also spotted at the home. 

As always, we'll keep you posted.

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Sandra Bullock arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar party on March 7, 2010, in West Hollywood. Credit: Peter Kramer / Associated Press. 

Related dispatches from the Ministry of Gossip:

Jesse James buys himself some time -- er, goes to rehab

Jesse James' maybe-mistress No. 4 develops a case of the dainties

Bombshell McGee's dad knew about Jesse James

Continue reading »

Jesse James and a paparazzo tangle -- and of course there's video

 

James wcc It isn't easy being Jesse James these days -- witness this exclusive KTLA video from paparazzo Ulises Rios showing a March 25 run-in involving Rios, Sandra Bullock's husband and another man on a street across from James' custom motorcycle shop.

Rios says he was stopped at a red light across from West Coast Choppers when James, in the helmet, rode his motorcycle over and parked in front of his car. In the video, the two appear to shout at the photographer in his car, and James' companion pulls out what Rios said is a knife and appears to hit the vehicle with it. Rios reported three slashed tires and other damage.

On the morning of March 25, a photographer called Long Beach police to report vandalism to his property. When they arrived, mutual citizen's arrests were made. James told police he was being stalked by a paparazzo, according to the New York Daily News. Authorities also ...

Continue reading »

Transgressions R Us, Part 2: Tiger Woods drama die-hards only, please [UPDATED]

Australia

Hey, we're back! And you're back! Cool!

We had some fun last time, yes?

~~ Hmm. *You* are back too, oh respecter of Tiger Woods' privacy. Didn't we go over this once before? ~~

It's game day, and the Ministry is Coliseum-bound, but we wanted to make sure folks started the weekend up to date on the condition of the S.S. Tiger Woods, which, you may recall, sustained some damage below the waterline this week

Rules remain the same -- if you're above all this, what the heck are you doing here? Gold star for you; now scram.  Wanna know what's been going on in Tiger Town? C'mon out behind the gym for a few minutes and we'll hook you up.

~~ Privacy fans? This is where you click out. For real. ~~

Sometimes the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. Even if the one is, you know, Tiger Woods.

Let's meet a few of those needs, shall we?

Continue reading »

PREACH IT! And Leslie Looked Upon the Ministry Readers, and She Saw That She Was Good

Demi
Hi, I’m Leslie Gornstein, and I’ll be your preacher of all things celebrity truth. Have a seat on the first pew, there. Go ahead and tell Oprah to move over if you want; she isn’t so la-dee-dah up close, now, is she? Hold on a second; got a bit of extra truth stuck in my raiment.

OK, we’re all good now.

Children! Just wanted to dash off a quick note to introduce myself and invite you to go ahead and stand up and praise the lawdy lawd for my arrival here at the Ministry of Gossip. My mission: To deliver the real celebrity gospel unto you -- some straight, reasonable (and perhaps necessarily brutal) thinking about the latest gossip headlines. To put it simply, I am being paid to say the stuff the Ministry knows you’re thinking regarding celebrities and Hollywood news, but are just too nice to come out and say in polite Ministry company.

As a reporter who has covered celebrities for well nigh on a decade, I tend to come down pretty squarely on the side of the fan. What does that mean? That means that I ...

  1. Can’t get myself all worked up about Tiger Woods’ plea for privacy; I shall instead crusade until my last breath for your self-evident, God-given right to be as up in Tiger’s still-pretty-nebulous business as you want to be.
  2. Really don’t care if paparazzi make celebrities sad. If a paparazzo breaks the law, that’s bad, and that shouldn’t happen, but the good Lord didn’t put me and the rest of the media on this planet to help stars have a better day. Here’s what makes me sad: lonely sea creatures.
  3. Absolutely love getting Demi Moore fans in a huff every time I call her out as the most sanctimonious celebrity on Earth, and yes, I am counting Ed Begley Jr. Nobody gets all panties-in-a-wad like a Demi Moore fan.
  4. Kind of hope Roman Polanski keeps fleeing and getting arrested, just so we can watch Tilda Swinton and her friends completely freak out in a public petition format at least three more times.

Something in the celebrity sphere bugging you? Care to air an opinion on a breaking celebrity news headline, but fear that you’ll come off as less than respectful of your favorite member of the Hollywood royalty?

You are no longer alone. You have found your flock. Clap your hands and say yeah.

-- Leslie Gornstein

Photo: Yeah, that's Demi Moore on the right with Ashton Kutcher, after the two bravely presented a 2009 Frederick Douglass Award to Sina Vann, a person who's actually done something impressive. Isn't that woman simply divine? We mean Sina Vann, of course. Katy Winn / Associated Press.


EXCLUSIVE: BooBoo Stewart on his 'New Moon' premiere night

BooBooStewart BooBoo Stewart, the youngest member of the "Twilight" saga's wolf pack, doesn't make his official debut until the franchise's third film, "Eclipse," but he got his first taste of vampire magic at Monday night's "New Moon" premiere.

"You've never seen anything like it," he tells the Ministry of Gossip exclusively. "The fans were screaming, it was awesome."

Stewart (not to be confused with lead Kristen) and his sister Fivel prepped with a private hair session at West Hollywood's Parlour on 3rd, where they lifted his locks into a dapper coif -- rivaling the volume of that belonging to one Robert Pattinson.

"The second we left the salon, there were paparazzi everywhere," Stewart said.

From the salon, the duo hit the red carpet for more than two hours with the media, where naturally he was hounded about his personal life.

"Everyone asked if I had a girlfriend, but I always answer 'No,' because I don't."

Breathe a collective sigh of relief, fans.

After the onslaught, Boo Boo sat down to see "Twilight: New Moon" for the first time. And what did he think?

Continue reading »

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