Hollywood Blog

Celebrity Status and Charity

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When Angelina Jolie founded the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict (EPCC) in 2006 together with Gene Sperling, it was expected that her celebrity status will be put to good use in matters pertaining to the creation of widened awareness for the existence and the cause of the charity.  Of course, Jolie knew much better than to brazenly promote her personal causes lest they be interpreted as media hype but her involvement with EPCC has certainly created just the right exposure for the charity.

A case in point is the jewelry collection which Jolie and husband Brad Pitt created in cooperation with renowned London jeweler Asprey.  The couple promoted their artistic and philanthropic venture simply through the reinforcement of the message of the charity they are supporting.  There was no hard-sell, just reliance on the big potential in the creation of a successful project through three factors: the cause as provided by EPCC, excellent craftsmanship by Asprey, and the celebrity signature of approval by Brangelina.

The jewelry line called “The Protector” has for its basic design a coiling serpent.  It was reportedly inspired by a serpent ring given to Jolie during her first pregnancy supposedly for her and her child’s protection.  From then, it has become to symbolize a protector or a family guardian.  This and the Russian culture were combined to  produce the end result as seen through the symbolism and colors.

The Protector Collection is a collection of jewelry for both children and adults that includes bracelets, rings, earrings, pendants, and sterling silver baby gifts.  It also includes the first men’s item- the Protector Black Diamond cufflinks executed in 18k white gold with black diamonds and emeralds.  The designer cufflinks reportedly fetched the handsome price of $ 11,000.  All proceeds from the sale of Protector pieces goes to EPCC to fund the education of child victims of war, conflict, and natural disasters.  There are indeed many benefits of being a celebrity but none can be better than being able to use stardom to help people in need.

Hollywood Blah Blah, May 31, 2010

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I’ve always wondered why Celine Dion only ever had one child with husband/ long-time manager Rene Angelil, but apparently it’s because of pregnancy difficulties. Now, at the age of 42, after six attempts at in-vitro fertilization and the use of acupuncture, she’s said to be pregnant with twins. Good luck to Celine, but given how skinny she is, I’m not sure how she’s going to handle being pregnant with twins.

So wait, what? Brad and Angelina are openly affectionate in public, albeit at a private beach party. So I guess rumors of their relationship’s demise were just that, rumors. (Then again, rumors of them splitting have happened before.) On the other hand, Naveen Andrews (Sayid Jarrah on Lost) and Barbara Hershey, who started her film and TV career before Andrews was born, have called it quits. Actually, they called it quits six months ago but news of the split only surfaced now. According to People, they’ve been together for most of the span of time since they met in 1998.

Gary Coleman’s “heartbroken” parents want answers about his death? Um, aren’t these the same parents, along with his business manager, that Coleman sued because they appropriated many millions of his earnings, leaving him with so little that he eventually was working as a security guard? About you giving some answers? Do you wonder that you weren’t called to his bedside before he passed away?

Yeah, that’s what society needs. Michelle Homewrecker Bombshell McGee promoting Ashley Madison, in the nude. This is the pimping dating agency whose commercials seem to encourage people to cheat on spouses almost to the point of justification. Hey, if you want to pay Bombshell, whose name is now associated withbreaking up marriages, go ahead. Maybe it’ll put some sense into would be cheaters who don’t want to end up like her: despised.

Hollywood Blog Blather – May 3, 2010

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Have you heard? Lindsay Lohan, aka LiLo, is said to be playing porn star Linda Lovelace (also a “LiLo”) in the indie flick Inferno. Too bad she’s busy complaining about her ex-girlfriend, Samantha Ronson, and her dad when legendary actresses (Lynn Redgrave) are dying. Get your act together and get on with your life.

If LiLo has truly given up on men and is still looking for another girlfriend, she might want to ring up country music artist Chely Wright (see video below), who was going to out herself to People.com but got outed first elsewhere. Maybe Chely decided to out herself because no one knows who the heck she is (or how to pronounce her name). Or because such news will help sell her memoir and upcoming album (first in five years), Lifted off the Ground. Well if country music fans know and love her, maybe there’ll be a bit more tolerance towards gays and lesbians in that community. And then a few more country music stars can out themselves. Who? Wait and see.

Speaking of alleged bisexuality, Angelina Jolie seems to be giving back the snub to Barack Obama. Not to long ago, when The B was campaigning for Prez, the Brangelina duo of Angelina and Brad Pitt offered to do their part and were apparently turned down. Since then, Angelina has turned down multiple Washington, D.C.,  invites, including one to the prestigious White House Correspondents Dinner that took place this past weekend. Since this is the umpteenth invite she turned down, it sort of sounds like sour grapes. Or her role as UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) might in fact be keeping her busy as she claims for her excuse not to attend.

While Angelina’s busy in her social pursuits, Jessica Biel reminds me again of why I think she’s so much hotter than most actresses (despite her choice of Justin Timberlake as lover): she wants to climb Mt. Everest. If there’s any actress capable of this monumental feat, it really is Jessica. Bravo for you.

Speaking of hot model/ actresses, Clare grant just married actor comedian Seth Green at Skywalker Ranch. Who said short men don’t get the lady? Could it have been all those demented stop-motion Robot Chicken episodes that Seth co-created and voiced that won Clare over? Congratulations you two.