Bradley Cooper for W Magazine -October 2018 Says He Once Lost a Role Because He Wasn't ''F--kable''
Apparently not everyone agrees that Bradley Cooper's face was made for the big screen.
As one of the most popular A-list actors today, often recognized for his attractive looks, Cooper says he did not have quite the same reputation at the start of his career. He reveals in an interview with W Magazine, "I've always been an underdog. I was always operating under the lens of not really being seen as the ‘main guy.'"
Cooper's statement is surprisingly contrary from the roles Hollywood has recruited him to play, especially after critically-acclaimed and widely beloved performances in box office hits such as The Hangover, Limitless, and Silver Linings Playbook.
"I've heard it all my career. Early on, I didn't get a role because they said I wasn't ‘f--kable,'" he goes on to say.
Despite some of the discouraging feedback he received, the award-winning actor reflects on his experience and declares, "In the end, you have to reserve your attention for the work and not listen to anyone."
In fact, he faced a similar lack of support from loved ones when he announced he wanted to make his directorial debut with A Star Is Born. "People I care about, who care about me, told me not to direct [the movie], said that it would be too difficult and I should start with something easier. Luckily, I didn't listen. I loved that it was really, really hard to make this film. Otherwise, it wouldn't have the same value," Cooper explains.
People's 2011 Sexiest Man didn't just put on a new director's cap for the movie—he also co-wrote the script, co-composed several songs, and looked over every single aspect of the project also starring Lady Gaga. Not to mention, Bradley took vocal lessons to properly prepare for his singing performances in the motion picture.
Taking such major responsibility is no surprise considering his obsessive fascination by all things connected to film, which he recognized beginning in 2001 with his first major role as Will Tippin in Alias. Cooper recalls, "I was the one asking questions all the time. The thrill for me has never been in just acting."
The filmmaker points out, "That's always been my goal: to make something, no matter how challenging, that will be remembered."
Despite the obstacles, we think it's fair to say that the star and his work will not be forgotten for a very long time.
The highly anticipated movie, A Star Is Born, kicks off in theaters Oct. 5.
#RHoA: Kandi Burruss FREES her WEAVE!
Kandi Burruss Goes Weave-FreeKandi Burruss has gone weave-free for a taping of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
The singer and reality TV star took to social media to show off her weave-free look, but she admits she feels “naked” without weave because she’s been wearing them for so long.
I’ve been wearing wigs & weaves so long that I feel naked without them. Well here it goes! #NoWeave day.
Thanks @derekjhair 💇🏾♀️. I couldn’t do no makeup & no weave so….🤣. Thank you @whippedbykiara for the cute beat!
#Empire: Did y’all Read Terrence Howard's Marriage Advice To 'Empire' Co-Star Taraji P. Henson
Terrence Howard knows Taraji P. Henson well. The two play onscreen husband and wife in Fox’s hit series, Empire, which returns for its fifth season tonight.
But in real life, Henson is engaged to former NFL star Kelvin Hayden, and before she walks down the aisle her onscreen hubby has some advice for her.
“Never tell him no,” Howard advised Henson Monday night at the New York City premiere of Empire.
Judging by the look the 48-year-old actress gave Howard after his wise words, we’re not sure she’ll be taking his advice.
Still, fans of Empire can expect their onscreen characters, Cookie and Lucious, to be more on the same page in the fifth season of Empire. The co-stars told ESSENCE that Cookie and Lucious Lyon’s marriage is stronger than ever this time around.
“You can’t mess with true love like that,” Howard said, “[especially] when true love actually makes it’s way back to you. Lucious threw it away for seven years.”
Henson said that in season five, fans can expect to “see how the empire was built in the first place.”
Empire is on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on Fox.
#MusicNews: John Legend Announces First Christmas Album and Accompanying Tour
Multi-platinum recording artist John Legend has announced his first Christmas album entitled A Legendary Christmas.
Set for release on October 26 via Columbia Records, the 14-song set, executive produced by Raphael Saadiq, shows a warmer and more seasonal side of the Grammy winner.
A Legendary Christmas Track List
What Christmas Means to Me (feat. Stevie Wonder on harmonica)
Silver Bells
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (feat. Esperanza Spalding)
No Place Like Home
Bring Me Love
Merry Christmas Baby / Give Love on Christmas Day
Christmas Time Is Here
Waiting for Christmas
Purple Snowflakes
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
Please Come Home for Christmas
Wrap Me Up in Your Love
By Christmas Eve
Merry Merry Christmas
To accompany the album, John will embark on the 25-date A Legendary Christmas Tour, which kicks off November 15 in Clearwater, FL and will hit cities like Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles and more before commencing on December 30 in San Diego.
Tickets for the A Legendary Christmas Tour go on sale to the general public Friday, October 5, with a special pre-sale opportunity for fans today only. To purchase pre-sale tickets and for more information on the tour, please visit: www.johnlegend.com
A LEGENDARY CHRISTMAS Tour
11/15/2018 Clearwater, FL Ruth Eckerd Hall
11/17/2018 Miami Beach, FL The Fillmore at The Jackie Gleason Theater
11/20/2018 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
11/23/2018 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Resort Spa and Casino
11/24/2018 Mashantucket, CT Grand Theater at Foxwoods
11/25/2018 Boston, MA Boch Center
11/27/2018 Toronto, ON Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
11/28/2018 Oxon Hill, MD MGM National Harbor
12/03/2018 New York, NY Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden
12/04/2018 Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Opera House
12/06/2018 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
12/07/2018 Verona, NY Event Center at Turning Stone Resort Casino
12/09/2018 Columbus, OH Palace Theatre
12/10/2018 Indianapolis, IN Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
12/12/2018 Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theater
12/13/2018 Chicago, IL Civic Opera House
12/15/2018 Denver, CO Bellco Theatre
12/16/2018 Salt Lake City, UT Abravanel Hall
12/18/2018 Seattle, WA WaMu Theater
12/19/2018 Portland, OR Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
12/21/2018 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
12/23/2018 Los Angeles, CA Microsoft Theater
12/29/2018 Costa Mesa, CA Segerstrom Center for the Arts
12/30/2018 San Diego, CA San Diego Civic Theatre
#HipHopNews: DJ Paul Pressures Juicy J To Move Forward With Three 6 Mafia Reunion
The dispute over a Three 6 Mafia reunion continues to play out in the public. A few months after DJ Paul claimed Juicy J officially left the group, the two sides are once again exchanging words about reuniting via interviews and social media.
The latest back-and-forth spawned from a recent Juicy J interview with Zane Lowe. During the conversation, the Memphis rap pioneer said he’s down for a reunion, contradicting Paul’s previous claims.
“I mean, I love those guys when we started something, you know?” he said. “I would love to do something with those guys, man. We just need to sit down, you know, figure it out. But it’s all good, no bad blood, all love. I love all those guys.”
Paul caught wind of the interview via a DJBooth article and responded in an Instagram post.
“@juicyj Then What We Waiting For?” he asked. “Any Longer Then We’ll Have To Call This Album #TheEnd Aswell Love Bro #Mafia Ya!!!! #SeniorCitizenStudios.”
In August, Paul claimed Juicy J said he was done with Three 6 Mafia.
“Me and him had a conversation maybe four months back,” Paul told Complex. “What he told me was, ‘I’m done with Three 6 Mafia and I’m just gonna keep moving forward with my solo stuff.’ His solo stuff has been successful, so I wasn’t tripping out. Everyone has seen it coming. Me and him haven’t worked together in years.”
Crunchy Black and Gangsta Boo — the other living members of Three 6 Mafia — weren’t privy to any discussion between Paul and Juicy.
Uh Oh? Beyonce Can’t Shut Down ‘Feyoncé’ Merchandise
A New York federal judge on Sunday rejected a request from Beyoncé for an order shutting down a line of “Feyoncé” merchandise, ruling that the name was clearly chosen to capitalize.
According to reports, A federal judge rejected Beyoncé’s request for a permanent injunction to stop a Texas company catering to people engaged to be married from selling dozens of shirts, tank tops, hoodies and other items bearing the name “Feyoncé.”
The pop superstar complained in a lawsuit brought in April 2016 that Feyonce Inc’s sale of knockoffs infringed her trademark rights and would confuse consumers.
But in a decision issued on Monday, U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan said San Antonio-based Feyonce’s choice to capitalize off the “exceedingly famous” Beyoncé trademark did not mean confusion would follow.
“A rational jury might or might not conclude that the pun here is sufficient to dispel any confusion among the purchasing public,” she wrote.
Lawyers for Beyoncé did not immediately respond to requests for comment, nor did the people behind Feyoncé, Andre Maurice and Leana Lopez, who represented themselves.
Nathan said that by replacing the “B” in Beyoncé with an “F,” the defendants created a mark that sounds like “fiancé,” their core customer, in a “play on words” that could dispel confusion.
One of the Feyoncé items in dispute was a mug with the phrase “he put a ring on it,” which Beyoncé said was intended to recall the lyrics of her song “Single Ladies.”
Justin Bieber Refers to Hailey Baldwin as His ‘Wife’ During Museum Visit
Justin Bieber seemingly confirmed his marriage to Hailey Baldwin by calling her his “wife” during a museum visit.
The duo went to Stratford Perth Museum in Ontario, Canada on Monday where the museum says he “introduced Hailey as his wife.” The museum is famous for its Bieber exhibit which highlights the popstar’s career.
The museum posted a handwritten note from Baldwin to Bieber, which they captioned, “We were so pleased to have such a warm and special guest visit the museum yesterday (along with her very special husband 😊).”
The museum clarified the “husband” reference in the comments writing, “Justin very graciously introduced Hailey as his wife. Perhaps just a term of endearment? We loved their visit.”
There’s been tons of speculation as to whether the couple said “I do” during their NYC courthouse visit last month.
As reported, Bieber’s initially said only got their marriage license and Baldwin seemed to echo that by denying it on Twitter.
NOT SO FAST! TOYS R US and Babies R US are making a COMEBACK!
Toys “R” Us Inc. has canceled the much-anticipated bankruptcy auction for its brand name and other intellectual property assets.
Instead, Toys “R” Us’s controlling lenders—the hedge funds that pulled the plug on the retailer’s reorganization earlier this year—intend to the revive business behind the Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us brand names.
The retailer said in court papers filed Monday that while it received qualified bids for the assets—which includes the brand names of Toys “R” Us, Babies “R” Us, registry lists, website domains, Geoffrey the Giraffe, and other assets—it has opted to forgo the auction.
Toys “R” Us’s proposed reorganization plan contemplates “a new, operating Toys ‘R’ Us and Babies ‘R’ Us branding company that maintains existing global license agreements and can invest in and create new, domestic, retail operating businesses” under the brand name, court papers said.
The company’s controlling lenders have determined the qualified bids wouldn’t likely “yield a superior alternative to the plan,” because of factors including the recovery to creditors, as well as the benefits to other direct and indirect stakeholders maintaining the brands “under a newly-established, independent U.S. business.”
The pivot comes after the company consulted with its controlling parties—a group of lenders that includes Solus Alternative Asset Management and other hedge funds—that were behind the retailer’s decision to close its doors. The intellectual property is considered “a valuable piece” of the lenders’ collateral,” according to court papers.
Solus has denied playing any role in the liquidation of the retailer.
A company spokesman declined to comment, and a Solus spokesman didn’t immediately respond to comment.
Control of the retailer’s intellectual property has pitted the lender group, including Solus, against Toys’s foreign-subsidiary bondholders. Toys’s intellectual property also plays a role in the sale of Toys “R” Us’s Asian business, as any acquirer of the business would have to negotiate the use and cost of the intellectual property, or be subject to legal action. A group of bondholders has placed an opening bid on the Asian business.
The absence of Toys “R” Us has also left an $11 billion hole in the toy industry, and hundreds of toy vendors without a major bricks-and-mortar platform to sell their goods.
The decision to shut 800 U.S. Toys “R” Us stores also left 33,000 people without jobs. In recent months, those workers have been fighting for severance pay. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Toys “R” Us private-equity backers Bain Capital and KKR & Co. will be creating a $20 million fund to be distributed to the workers.
Kelly Rowland is gearing up to play Gladys Knight!
Kelly Rowland is gearing up to play musical icon Gladys Knight in BET's newest scripted drama series titled "American Soul." It's a 70s period drama about the rise music/dance television show, "Soul Train," created by the late Don Cornelius.
Singer Kelly Price has also joined the cast a series regular. Billboard breaks down the roles they'll be playing on the new series:
Rowland steps into a multi-episode, guest-star role portraying soul legend Gladys Knight. Knight was one of the first performers that Cornelius booked during Soul Train’s early days. Four-time Grammy winner Rowland, a co-founding member of the seminal girl group Destiny’s Child, will also record an original version of Knight’s signature hit with the Pips, “Midnight Train to Georgia” for the role.
Price joins the cast as a series regular, playing Brianne Clarke. Clarke’s character is described as the “wise yet cautious” head of the Clarke family whose children Simone and Kendall are rising stars in Los Angeles.
We know Auntie Gladys will not have any issues with Kelly portraying her. Two years ago, she made an Instagram post revealing she would love for Kellz to play her in a biopic:
"Power" star Sinqua Walls will play a young Cornelius in the upcoming series. Other cast mates include "Greenleaf" star Jason Dirden, "This Is Us" actress Iantha Richardson, along with Christopher Jefferson, Katlyn Nichol a
See the new Poster For ‘Creed Ii’ Starring Michael B. Jordan
Check out the new poster for CREED II starring Michael B. Jordan. The actor posted it on social media earlier today with the caption:
“You ready? 🙌🏽🙌🏽 #Creed2 👀🔥💥”
Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed. Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what’s worth fighting for, and discover that nothing’s more important than family. Creed II is about going back to basics to rediscover what made you a champion in the first place, and remembering that, no matter where you go, you can’t escape your history.
CREED II also stars Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, Russell Hornsby, Florian “Big Nasty” Munteanu, Andre Ward, Phylicia Rashad and Dolph Lundgren. It is directed by Steven Caple Jr. and executive produced by Ryan Coogler.
Amazon Raises Minimum Wage To $15/Hour
Amazon announced Tuesday it’s raising the minimum wage for all U.S. employees to $15, effective next month. The new minimum wage will benefit more than 250,000 Amazon employees — including part-time and temporary employees — as well as another 100,000 seasonal employees, the company said. Some employees who already make $15 per hour will also see a pay increase.
The company and CEO Jeff Bezos have been facing criticism for its pay disparity. Sen. Bernie Sanders last month introduced legislation called the Bezos Act to tax corporations for every dollar that their low-wage workers receive in government health-care benefits or food stamps. Retail rival Target announced in its holiday hiring release it would raise minimum hourly wage to $15 by 2020. Walmart announced plans in January to raise its minimum wage to $11.
Lebron James, Viola Davis Have Been Targeted By Celebrity Burglars in Los Angeles
The LAPD says the suspects who have been raiding the homes of celebrities in L.A. had a list of a dozen more stars they were targeting including LeBron James, Viola Davis and Matt Damon. and cops say the suspects had already obtained the addresses of their famous targets.
As previously reported, cops had arrested one of the suspects who had allegedly hit the homes of Yasiel Puig, Rihanna, Christina Milian and L.A. Rams star Robert Woods ... but now, officials say they've arrested 3 more people.
Of the 4 people in custody ... 2 of them are 19-year-old men, one is an 18-year-old man and the other is a 34-year-old woman.
The female suspect is the MOTHER of one of the teenage men, according to LAPD Capt. Lillian Carranza.
And, that's not all ... cops believe there are more people involved in the burglaries and investigators are currently on the hunt to catch them too.
In total, cops say the burglary crew has already hit more than 24 homes -- with at least 12 more rich and famous targets in their sights.
The key to solving the case ... cops say Robert Woods' neighbor made the initial call to report the robbery at his house and when they found the first suspect, the found items connected to the other high profile cases.
In total, cops say the group stole more than $1 MILLION in property -- including $50,000 cash, watches, purses and a vehicle. Cops say one of the suspects also had a firearm.
Cops are asking the public to help strengthen their case against the suspects by identifying the stolen objects and giving information about the suspects and other possible crimes.
#POLITICS: Trump Administration Will No Longer Grant Visas To Same-Sex Partners Of Diplomats
Same-sex couples used to be eligible for spousal visas, given how few countries recognize the right to
The State Department this week revoked its preferential visa policy for same-sex partners of foreign staff working at the United Nations and other diplomatic missions in the United States. This means same-sex couples will need to marry in order to remain in the country together ― an option that still doesn’t exist in most countries.
Effective Oct. 1, “U.S. Embassies and Consulates will adjudicate visa applications that are based on a same-sex marriage in the same way that we adjudicate applications for opposite gender spouses,” the State Department said on its website.
Diplomats with same-sex partners will have until the end of December to get married, or their partners will be sent home in January. Same-sex marriage is only legal in a handful of countries worldwide.
“The change in policy reflects the Department’s goal to help ensure and promote equal treatment, consistent with the Department’s policies regarding opposite-sex couples and derivative eligibility for visas in other visa categories,” a State spokesperson said in a statement. Personnel were notified of the upcoming change in July.
Exceptions may be made for those who come from countries that don’t allow same-sex marriage but do accept U.S. same-sex diplomatic spouses for accreditation.
The G-4 visa, which gets awarded to spouses, had been available to same-sex partners since 2009, when then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton allowed it to ensure that couples could remain together without needing to be legally married.
“With this change, the State Department is enforcing parity in the way they recognize opposite-sex partnerships and same-sex partnerships,” UN-Globe, a U.N. staff LGBTQ advocacy group, said in a statement. “It is an unfortunate change in rules, since same-sex couples, unlike opposite-sex couples, have limited choices when it comes to marriage.”
A spokesman for Clinton didn’t immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
Foreign Policy estimates there are at least 10 U.N. employees working in the U.S. who would have to get married by the end of the year for their partners to be able to stay in the country.
AND FINALLY FROM THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART FILES
PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS
Ehhhhh ohhhhh! Nothing like a good pun. Take that PETA. Shots fired. Ohhh, there’s another one!
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Felix The Bear!
Meet Felix! You can see more when CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PICS! And remember they’re NSFW!
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.
Enjoy!
HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!
EFREM
