Celebrity Archives - Page 6 of 18

‘Harry Potter’ Star Daniel Radcliffe Opposes J.K. Rowling’s Remarks on Trans People

Music Observer Staff on November 7, 2022

The Chosen One explains why he decided to speak out against Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s comment. The author, in particular, made controversial remarks regarding transgender individuals.

As many know, Daniel Radcliffe played Harry Potter in the film adaptation of Rowling’s highly esteemed book series.

In a June 2020 interview with The Trevor Project, Radcliffe disagreed with the author’s statement on trans issues. However, Rowling is always sharing her opinions on social media and in published articles these days.

Radcliffe told IndieWire he released the statement because he felt he had to say something to Harry Potter fans above all else.

“Transgender women are women,” he wrote.

“Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo [Rowling] or I.”

Radcliffe added to his statement: “Particularly since finishing Potter, I’ve met so many queer and trans kids and young people who had a huge amount of identification with Potter on that. And so, seeing them hurt on that day, I was like.

“I wanted them to know that not everybody in the franchise felt that way. And that was really important.”

Harry Against Voldemort

The actor went on to say that if he hadn’t said anything about it, he wouldn’t have felt comfortable.

“It was really important as I’ve worked with the Trevor Project for more than ten years. And so I don’t think I would’ve been able to look myself in the mirror had I not said anything,” he said. “But it’s not mine to guess what’s going on in someone else’s head.”

Radcliffe initially entered the Trevor Project’s Circle of Hope in 2009. The program is a community of huge donors who play a vital role in the organization’s financial figurehead.

The Trevor Project is a national leader offering crisis mediation and suicide prevention services to the LGBTQ community.

The actor’s statements come after another Potter star came to Rowling’s defense, telling The New York Times that “the verbal abuse” on the author was “disgusting” and “appalling.”

Ralph Fiennes, who portrays Voldemort, said: “I mean, I can understand a viewpoint that might be angry at what she says about women.

“But it’s not some obscene, uber-right-wing fascist. It’s just a woman saying, ‘I’m a woman. And I feel I’m a woman, and I want to be able to say I’m a woman.’ And I understand where she’s coming from. Even though I’m not a woman.”

Harry Potter: 7 Books, 8 Films

Harry Potter spans seven books and eight films. Warner Bros. produced and distributed the film series.

Here are the film titles:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)

Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Goblet of Fire (2005)

Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)

Deathly Hallows Part 2 (2011)

The film series stars Radcliffe, Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), and Rupert Grint (Ronald Weasley).

Photo: The Daily Beast

Nicholas Brothers: A Dance Duo You Should Know

Music Observer Staff on November 7, 2022

Nicole Nicholas, granddaughter of Black dance icons Nicholas Brothers, recently opened up about the duo.

“They are your favorite dancers’ favorite dancers,” Nicole said.

The dynamic duo Fayard Nicholas and Harold Nicholas composes Nicholas Brothers.

“Even if people do not know them, the people that they do know were admirers of them and their work,” she elaborated. “And if you see them and you see any of their films, you’ll never forget.”

The Nicholas Brothers rose to prominence in the jazz industry during the Harlem Renaissance. They eventually appeared in worldwide and Hollywood films. Their amazing acrobatic dance techniques and tapping styles made the duo’s name echo.

Additionally, people remembered them for their musical performance, “Jumpin’ Jive,” which ended Stormy Weather in 1943.

Stormy Weather takes center stage as it is featured in the Academy Museum exhibit in the Stars and Icons section. The exhibition Regeneration: Black Cinema 1878-1971 focuses on the contributions of pioneering figures of early Black cinema.

The portion of the musical in which the brothers do many splits along the stairs and jump over each other remains unprecedented.

“The Stormy Weather routine is the greatest dance routine ever put on film,” Tony, son of Fayard, said. “That’s just not me saying that, but Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly and Gregory Hines. They all agreed that this is without a doubt the greatest dance routine ever put on film.”

Unmatched Nicholas Brothers

It also seems pretty wild that the duo made it without rehearsing. However, this is nothing new for the Nicholas brothers.

“What Fayard would say was that even though they didn’t rehearse it, they could see it,” Nicole stated.

Tony calls the performance the Nicholas Brothers’ signature number. Notably, it received much appreciation and recognition for its use in promoting Regeneration.

The performance was a milestone of their unending trials to go beyond what they had already accomplished. This comes every time they perform on screen. Remarkably, defying physical possibility highlights the split-sequence.

Tony giggles, recalling the number of people jokingly doubted his identity as Fayard’s son.

“After seeing them do that routine and coming down those steps, I don’t believe the Nicholas Brothers could have children,” viewers often said.

Although the exhibit might highlight the Stormy Weather performance, Tony and Nicole look forward to Regeneration opening a door for Nicholas Brothers’ recognition.

“The Nicholas Brothers would say that they did everything in show business except opera,” Nicole added. “They did comedies. They did impressions. And they did Broadway. They did movies. And they did TV. They did live theater. Harold spoke over five languages.”

She continued: “They were extremely versatile artists. Stormy Weather captures a bit of their genius in their artistry. But as artists, there were certainly much broader than that.”

Museum Exhibition

The family collaborated with the exhibit’s curators, Doris Berger and Rhea L. Combs. They decided on what to share from their collection. It brought the digitization of the Nicholas Brothers’ collection of home movies for posterity.

“The Nicholas Brothers always show up with class, style, and grace. After having to endure the racism of their peers, like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, did not have to endure,” Nicole contemplated.

Tony added: “Regeneration is opening up the whole idea of the Nicholas Brothers. They incorporated everything in their dance. And they did ballet, jazz, hip-hop, everything. I feel this from the bottom of my heart. They should be considered the greatest dancers that ever lived.”

Regeneration is currently open at Los Angeles’ Academy Museum through April 9, 2023.

Valerie Bertinelli Posts TikTok in Response to Matthew Perry’s Make Out Remarks

Music Observer Staff on October 31, 2022

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Can Valerie Bertinelli be more mortified?

The award-winning star appeared to react to Matthew Perry’s statements that they made out in the 1990s. Meanwhile, Bertinelli’s then-husband, the late Eddie Van Halen, passed out just a few feet away.

Bertinelli posted a video with background music of Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” on TikTok. A track from the pop star’s latest album, Midnights, with the lyrics, “It’s me, hi. I’m the problem; it’s me.”

“Anyone misbehave in their 20s and early 30s?” Bertinelli captioned the video. “Are you mortified?”

In his next memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry revealed that he hid his unrequited love for Bertinelli when the two starred in a short-lived 1990 sitcom Sydney.

It chronicled Bertinelli’s journey as a single woman trying to capitalize as a private detective in Los Angeles. Perry played Bertinelli’s younger brother a few years before his breakthrough role in Friends.

“I fell madly in love with Valerie Bertinelli, who was clearly in a troubled marriage,” Perry said.

“My crush was crushing. Not only was she out of my league, but she was also married to one of the most famous rock stars on the planet, Eddie Van Halen.”

Intense Feeling

Furthermore, Perry wrote that his feelings for Bertinelli were so strong that he imagined the actress breaking up with Van Halen.

While he was at Bertinelli and Van Halen’s house one night, Perry said he jumped at the opportunity with his co-actor.

“As the night progressed, it was clear that Eddie had enjoyed the fruits of the vine a little too hard, one more time. And eventually, he just passed out, not ten feet away from us, but still,” he said.

“This was my chance! If you think I didn’t actually have a chance in hell, you’d be wrong, dear reader. Valerie and I had a long, elaborate makeout session.”

After what happened, Bertinelli “made no mention” of what had been and acted “like this was just a normal day,” Perry said.

“I quickly got the hint and also played the role I was supposed to, but inside I was devastated.”

He underwent nights of crying as a consequence. He only felt relieved when the show was eventually called off, “and didn’t have to see Valerie anymore,” Perry recalled.

Child Star Bertinelli

Bertinelli and Van Halen tied the knot in 1981 and ultimately divorced in 2007. The rock musician faced his demise in 2020 from cancer. He was 65. The couple had a son together, musician Wolfgang Van Halen, now 31.

The actress is widely known for her performance in television acting and presenting. She has bagged several trophies. It includes two Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and multiple nominations for a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Furthermore, she earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Notably, Bertinelli first came to stardom as a child actress playing Barbara Cooper Royer on One Day at a Time (1975-1984). She snagged two Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film for the role.

As an adult star, she gained traction in the drama series Touched by an Angel (2001-2003).

‘Will & Grace’ Stars Remember Leslie Jordan on Social Media

Music Observer Staff on October 31, 2022

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Leslie Jordan faced death on Monday after experiencing a medical emergency while driving.In the end, he drove his BMW into a building’s side. He was 67.

Jordan played socialite Beverly Leslie for nearly 20 years and 17 episodes. The character is the nemesis of Megan Mullally’s legendary vulgar Karen Walker.

The role snagged Jordan an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.

Now the cast of Will & Grace have started taking to social media to honor the deceased actor as he was an unforgettable part of the production.

“Crushed to learn about the loss of @thelesliejordan, the funniest & flirtiest southern gent I’ve ever known,” Eric McCormack said. The actor played the protagonist Will Truman.

“The joy and laughter he brought to every one of his #WillandGrace episodes was palpable. Gone about thirty years too soon. You were loved, sweet man.”

Additionally, Sean Hayes (Jack MacFarland on Will & Grace) said: “My heart is broken.

“Leslie Jordan was one of the funniest people I ever had the pleasure of working with. Everyone who ever met him loved him. There will never be anyone like him. A unique talent with an enormous, caring heart. You will be missed, my dear friend.”

Jordan: ‘Flawlessly Funny’

Meanwhile, Mullally considered her friendship with Jordan thoughtfully. Last month, she just spotted the actor at an event for his book How Y’all Doing in D.C.

“My heart is breaking,” she said on Instagram.

“I really can’t believe it. Leslie Jordan was, hands down, one of the greats. People use that expression a lot, and I’m not sure it’s always applicable. There aren’t that many people who are truly great at anything.

“But Leslie was flawlessly funny, a virtuoso of comedy. His timing, [and] his delivery, [were] all apparently effortless. You can’t get any better than that.”

Furthermore, Mullally referred to Jordan as “a friendly, fun-loving, dear person.” She also stressed that “it meant so much to him” that he shared multiple stories on Instagram.

“He was absolutely unique. One of a kind. Thank you all of his fans! He really loved you all and was so genuinely appreciative of you,” Mullally added.

Funny Little Man

Jordan gained traction on TV in the 1990s, playing roles in sitcoms like Hearts Afire and Murphy Brown.

Recently, the pint-sized actor ballooned his fame. He appeared in American Horror Story and boasted over 5.8 million Instagram followers. On the platform, he shared hilarious stories in his signature Southern accent.

However, on Monday afternoon, a heartbreaking statement shocked his followers.

Furthermore, his manager shared with The Post: “The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan. Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times.”

“What he lacked in height he made up for in generosity and greatness: as a son, brother, artist, comedian, partner and human being,” his manager continued. “Knowing that he has left the world at the height of both his professional and personal life is only solace one can have today.”

Carly Simon Grieves for the Loss of Her Two Sisters a Day Apart

Music Observer Staff on October 31, 2022

Carly Simon is currently grieving the loss of her two sisters, Joanna and Lucy Simon. This week, the two were taken by cancer merely one day apart from one another.

On Wednesday, at the age of 85, Joanna – a former opera singer – faced demise from thyroid cancer. Meanwhile, Lucy – a Broadway composer – faced death from breast cancer the day after at 82.

According to Carly in a statement sent to EW, the losses will be “long and haunting.”

“I am filled with sorrow to speak about the passing of Joanna and Lucy Simon,” she said. “Their loss will be long and haunting. As sad as this day is, it’s impossible to mourn them without celebrating their incredible lives that they lived.”

The singer added: “We were three sisters who not only took turns blazing trails and marking courses for one another, we were each other’s secret shares.

“The co-keepers of each other’s memories. I have no words to explain the feeling of suddenly being the only remaining direct offspring of Richard and Andrea Simon.”

Carly ended her statement by saying that Joanna and Lucy “touched everyone they knew. And those of us they’ve left behind will be lucky and honored to carry their memories forward.”

The three sisters were born to Richard Simon – publisher and co-founder of Simon & Schuster – and Andrea. They also had a younger brother, who died in 2018 at 71.

The Simon Success

All three Simon sisters were bound to find success in the music industry.

Carly and Lucy initially joined showbiz in the 1960s ahead of going their separate ways. During that time, they formed the folk duo The Simon Sisters. Furthermore, they released three albums and compilation records such as Wikin’, Blinkin’ and Nod.

Afterward, Lucy went to attend nursing school and started a family. But she returned to music in the 1970s. She then produced two award-winning children’s albums with her husband, David Levine: In Harmony: A Sesame Street Record and In Harmony 2. They earned a Grammy for it.

Furthermore, she gained acclamation on Broadway. There, she wrote music for the Tony-nominated The Secret Garden and Doctor Zhivago.

Joanna echoed her name in the industry as well, starting in the 1960s. She debuted in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro in New York. Later, the acclaimed mezzo-soprano became a staple on the opera stage.

All her career, she played with several orchestras like the New York Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic. After her retirement, Joanna still excelled. She became an arts correspondent for PBS’ MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour, earning an Emmy.

Carly Time

Carly Simon’s series of hit records are commendable.

Her Top 40 US hits are: “Anticipation” (No. 13); “The Right Thing to Do” (No. 17); “Haven’t Got Time for the Pain” (No. 14); “You Belong to Me” (No. 6); and “Coming Around Again” (No. 18)

Meanwhile, her Gold-certified singles include “You’re So Vain” (No. 1); “Mockingbird” (No. 5); “Nobody Does It Better” (No. 2) from The Spy Who Loved Me, a James Bond movie; and “Jesse (No. 11).

Furthermore, she has written five children’s books and two memoirs.

Photo: Daily Pop Star

Sacheen Littlefeather is a ‘Fraud,’ According to Sisters

Music Observer Staff on October 24, 2022

Sacheen Littlefeather’s younger siblings oppose their sister’s claim on her heritage.

For context, Littlefeather is the late actress and Native American civil rights activist who famously took the stage to decline Marlon Brando’s Oscar at the 1973 Academy Awards.

Her sisters, Rosalind Cruz and Trudy Orlandi, said Littlefeather was not Native American. They revealed the information in a new investigative report published Saturday in the San Francisco Chronicle.

“It is a fraud,” Cruz said of Littlefeather, who recently died.

Moreover, Orlandi said: “It’s disgusting to the heritage of the tribal people. And it’s just insulting to my parents. It’s a lie.”

Littlefeather said she is from the White Mountain Apache and has carried on the tradition of the Yaki Indians throughout his life. However, her sisters revealed to Native American journalist Jacqueline Keeler that they were Spanish.

In addition, her family had nothing to do with tribal identity.

Keeler’s research into Littlefeather’s ancestry found something in favor of her sisters’ claims. The reporter discovered that the actress was born Maria Louise Cruz in 1946 in Salinas, California to parents Manuel Ybarra Cruz and Gertrude Barnitz.

In her research, Keeler said, “My review of her father’s side of the family tree, where she claimed her Native heritage, found no documented ties between his extended family and any extant Native American nations in the United States.”

Orlandi and Cruz said their decision to dismiss their sister’s claims stemmed from the need to protect their parents’ names. (Littlefeather’s nickname is “Deb.”)

Littlefeather isn’t Real

Previously, the actress said in a 1974 interview with The Berkeley Gazette that she was raised in poverty. She was living “in a shack in Salinas,” according to the Chronicle. Additionally, she said her father was abusive.

“My father was deaf. And he had lost his hearing at nine years old through meningitis,” Cruz elaborated.

“He was born into poverty. His father, George Cruz, was an alcoholic who was violent and used to beat him. And he was passed to foster homes and family. But my sister Sacheen took what happened to him.”

In addition, they disputed Littlfeather’s claims about how she got her last name.

The sisters said: “That she danced in front of my father and always wore a feather in her hair, in her head? And that’s when my father called her ‘Littlefeather’? That’s another fantasy.”

Furthermore, her sisters were not informed of her death and were not invited to her funeral.

The sisters also noted they were worried after witnessing their sister “being venerated as a saint.”

In August, the Academy formally apologized to her for the “abuse” and “emotional burden” that weighed her after her appearance at the ceremony.

Orlandi claimed: “Sacheen did not like herself. She didn’t like being Mexican.”

“So, yes, it was better for her that way to play someone else.”

Cruz added: “The best way that I could think of summing up my sister is that she created a fantasy.

“She lived in a fantasy, and she died in a fantasy.”

Photo: EW

Johnny Knoxville Remains Fond of Bam Margera Despite Public Clash

Music Observer Staff on October 24, 2022

Johnny Knoxville remains fond of former Jackass co-actor Bam Margera, even though they have clashed publicly.

Notably, Margera sued Knoxville for wrongful termination last year (but eventually dropped the complaint).

Although the 51-year-old star hasn’t communicated with the former professional skateboarder, he said in an interview with Variety that he loves Margera. Additionally, he hopes for the healing of his co-star as he is still being treated for substance abuse.

“I haven’t spoken to Bam in about a year and a half, give or take six months,” he stated.

“[Jackass director] Jeff Tremaine, Steve-O, and I had a face-to-face meeting with Bam and his wife, trying to figure out how to get him help. Then we had a Zoom as a group not long after that. And that was the last time I talked to him.”

He added: “It boils down to – I love Bam.

“I know that a lot has happened. And I just want him to get well for himself and his family. I love the guy, and I want him to get well and stay well.”

Against Knoxville and Production

Previously, in August 2021, Margera filed a lawsuit against Knoxville, filmmaker Spike Jonze, MTV, Paramount Pictures and others for wrongfully dismissing him from Jackass Forever.

He alleged that the production looked to “steal the popular and lucrative movie franchise and not compensate him.”

Additionally, the lawsuit alleged that Margera signed a contract with Paramount as part of a “Wellness Agreement.” It should be noted that he has been open about his struggles with addiction.

Margera then claimed that Knoxville and Jonze forced him to sign the deal. He accused both his co-actor and his director of approaching him during his time in a rehab facility in 2019.

The agreement stipulates that Margera must undergo a daily drug test. The lawsuit alleged that her wrongful dismissal was rooted in a test that found the Adderall prescription. And that “defendants knew full well that Margera took Adderall to treat his attention deficit disorder.”

At the time of filing, Margera told EW that his intent to sue “isn’t just about compensation. It’s about treating people with mental health and addiction issues in an honest manner. And not taking advantage of their disabilities to rip them off.”

Margera Dropped the Case

But eventually, Margera had a private settlement with all parties involved and dropped the lawsuit in April.

Alongside Margera, the franchise featured Knoxville, Steve-O, and other personalities in 2000’s Jackass reality show.

The 43-year-old appeared in the movies: Jackass: The Movie, Jackass Number Two, Jackass 2.5, Jackass 3D, and Jackass 3.5. He has also spearheaded the franchise’s spin-off Viva La Bam and Bam’s Unholy Union.

Knoxville delivered a safe answer when asked about Margera’s possible return to the Jackass world.

“I think that would be a discussion,” he said.

“I only want him to get better. That’s the first step. He has to take that step and maintain that step. Because everything else is just gravy. Jackass is not important when you’re talking about someone’s life.”

Photo: Hot World Report

Kelly Ripa is Unaffected by Kathie Lee Gifford’s Statements

Music Observer Staff on October 24, 2022

Kelly Ripa isn’t too bothered by Kathie Lee Gifford’s latest comments about her new book.

Ripa says only this: Thank you. This comes in response to Gifford’s remarks that she won’t read the much-discussed Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories: A book which discusses Ripa’s barely normal relationship with the former Live With Regis and Kelly co-host, Regis Philbin.

“I didn’t see the interview, so I tend to, like, not go into deep dives about things I can’t comment on because I haven’t seen them,” Ripa said in an appearance in Not Skinny But Not Fat episode on Tuesday.

Citing the chapters that provide insight into her relationship with Philbin, she continued: “I knew writing a book was going to open me up to all sorts of criticisms, right? But people who read the book have a very different take on those chapters because they read the book.”

Saying that she’s “a big free-speech person,” Ripa elaborated that she believes Gifford has a right to speak out. As a matter of fact, Gifford also hosted Live alongside Philbin between 1985 and 2000.

“You don’t have to read every book,” she stated. “Nobody has read every book on earth. The comments I’ve gotten about those chapters have been overwhelmingly positive. And the people who read the book took away a lot of positivity from it.”

Ripa later said: “It is ironic that it is that chapter where I talked about ‘What do I do in these situations? Do I advance a media narrative with clickbait and all of that stuff? Or do I just drop it?’”

Express Gratitude for Traction

But above all, the TV host is filled with gratitude for all the traction her memoir has garnered.

“It’s really hard to sell a book, right? And this is, like, week three of the book,” Ripa stated.

“I mean, honestly, I’m not going to lie. I was not reading any headlines anywhere. And suddenly, all of these headlines pop up. And there’s all of this attention in my book. So, I am a person that tends to take a negative and turn it into a positive. And so, my ultimate comment is: ‘Thank you.’”

Ripa calls the late Philbin chapter “the hardest” part to write. From 2001 until 2011, when she appeared in Live with Philbin, her time was like a roller coaster ride. In an interview with PEOPLE last month, she admitted that she has “good and bad days.”

“I don’t want to feel like I’m slamming anyone or that I’m being disrespectful,” Ripa stated. “But I also want people to know it was not a cakewalk.”

It took years to earn, Says Ripa

She also revealed how it took some time to gain the things typically just handed out to men.

She said: “It took years to earn my place there and earn things that are routinely given to men I worked with. Including an office and a place to put my computer.”

Ripa recalled a specific encounter with Philbin that stung her heart. The cohost greeted her and showrunner Michael Gelman on her first day, saying, “Uh-oh, Gelman, it’s got an entourage.”

In recent times, Gifford replied to the anecdote on Good Day New York.

“I was really sorry to see the headlines,” she stated. “What’s the point?”

She even said she had no intention whatsoever of reading Ripa’s memoir.

Gifford added: “I just know what Regis was to me. He was, for 15 years, the best partner a person could ever, ever have professionally. But he was my friend. We were dear friends. And after I left the show, for the next 20 years, we became better friends, dearer friends.”

Live Wire: Long-Winged Short Stories is available in bookstores now.

Photo: My Med Tale

Paloma Elsesser Paved the Way for Plus-Size Models

Music Observer Staff on October 24, 2022

Paloma Elsesser is a woman who has lived her dream into reality.

“I’m shooting a Vogue cover as a chubby, short, mixed-raced woman who never imagined this would be her reality,” said Elsesser of the “surreal” moment. That day Annie Leibovitz photographed her for Vogue’s January 2021 issue.

It was a triumph, and it’s not just for Elsesser.

For a long time, the standard of beauty on Vogue’s cover has been on a limited scope: White, tall and, of course, thin.

When the magazine placed highly-esteemed Black media personality Oprah Winfrey, on its cover on October 1998, editor-in-chief Anna Wintour allegedly recommended that Winfrey lose 20 pounds ahead of the shoot.

And Vogue wasn’t the only one. Curvy and London-bord daughter of an African-American mother and a Swiss Chilean father, Elsesser won’t forget an event that happened in Paris that made her shed tears.

Then 22 years old in 2015, Elsesser came together with make-up artist Pat McGrath, who brought her first eyeshadow promotion.

One day, the model remained backstage at the Lanvin. As a self-proclaimed tomboy in Supreme, she had not attended a single Paris show before. And her first-time thrill vanished into thin air when she saw the cast: White and thin.

She is gorgeous, with warm brown eyes and an appealing smile. However, broken by the concept of her otherness, tears started to fall down her eyes.

“I’m not supposed to be here. I don’t look like anyone here,” she recounted. “Who am I kidding? I’m not a f—king model.”

Things Changed for Elsesser

Now, things have changed.

Elsesser is among fashion’s most-coveted muses. Currently 30, she sashayed the runway for European luxury labels from Fendi to Chloe: Shows that matter to the industry like Lanvin.

Furthermore, she has appeared in massive advertising campaigns for Marc Jacobs, Coach, and H&M. Victoria’s Secret, once known for its limited beauty standards, has recruited the plus size model.

With society changing and fashion surfacing “from the dark ages,” demands for plus-size women are through the roof, according to Becca Thorpe, a Next Models agent. (Dark ages was when bigger models faced a huge obstacle for jobs and equal compensation.)

“Clients are paying equal or above what they’ve been paying for traditional models to get access to (bigger models,” added Treanna Lawrence, casting director at Cast Partner.

Plus-size models are those above a size 4 in high fashion and more than a size 12 in the general market. Now, they are essential in the business.

“Once agencies saw there’s a real route to success for a girl like Paloma, they started signing more,” said stylist Carlos Nazario.

“And when brands saw the engagement and attention they receive on the runway and in campaigns, they wanted a piece of the pie as well.”

However, the industry didn’t just give Elsesser’s journey to success to her. Instead, she paved the way for models like her, making the path for others.

“I think a lot of her modeling has been confronting the industry,” said DM Casting’s Samuel Ellis Scheinman.

Photo: Fem Competitor

Russell Crowe Says Alleged ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ Audition is ‘Pure Imagination’

Music Observer Staff on October 17, 2022

Russell Crowe might not agree with the recent blow in his acting skills.

In February, Vulture released an excerpt from Scott Meslow’s romantic comedy From Hollywood With Love: The Rise and Fall (and Rise again), in which director P.J. Hogan said Crowe performed “one of the worst table reads I’ve ever experienced” for the movie.

And today, more than eight months after Hogan’s statement, the Gladiator star wants to clarify a few things.

“Pure imagination on behalf of this director. I did not audition for this film,” Crowe took to Twitter to express his truth on Friday. “I have never done a table read with the actress mentioned. Would be funny if it wasn’t so pointless.”

In the article, Hogan claimed Crowe was his “first choice” to star alongside Julia Roberts as Michael O’Neal, her best friend and love interest in the rom-com following his wife – screenwriter and filmmaker Jocelyn Moorhouse – worked alongside Crowe on Proof, a 1991 movie.

But he eventually said Roberts had final casting clearance when it came to her co-actor, so Hogan told Crowe the casting was via a table read with the star that reportedly didn’t end well.

“I don’t know what went wrong,” he elaborated. “It was one of the worst table reads I’ve ever experienced. Russell was seated opposite Julia. He gripped that script, and he stared at that script, and he didn’t look at her once.”

Hogan Against Crowe

And to aggravate the situation, Hogan stated that Crowe carried on reading “every line in a monotone” and continuously prevented Roberts’ gaze.

“At one point, Julia was literally leaning over the table, staring, like, inches from Russell’s face, trying to make eye contact. And he wouldn’t look at her,” he stated.

“At the end of the reading, Russell came up to me and said, ‘I thought that went pretty well.’ And then I knew: Russell was not going to be in My Best Friend’s Wedding.”

Although, according to the excerpt, Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Perry, and Edward Burns were all vying for the role, Dermot Mulroney was the triumphant star in the end, completing the star-studded cast that consisted of Roberts, Cameron Diaz, Rupert Everett, and Philip Bosco.

When asked by EW for a comment, Hogan and Roberts’ reps did not respond.

Crowe Missed

My Best Friend’s Wedding follows the story of a 27-year-old (three weeks to 28) New York good critic Julianne “Jules” Potter as she receives a call from her longtime best friend Michael O’Neal, a sportswriter in Chicago.

Years earlier, the two had made a promise: if they hadn’t been married at 28, they would marry each other. If you think it happened, you need to read more.

Michael called to inform his best friend that he would tie the knot with gorgeous Kimmy Wallace in four days. After hearing the news, Jules realized she loved Michael more than a friend, so she decided to cook up a plan to sabotage the wedding. But all of that failed.

Ultimately, she and Michael did not end up together. But she found a new love interest named George.

Photo: YIMG