December 03, 2010
So, this is actually happening: Former Prince of Persia Jake Gyllenhaal and country starlet Taylor Swift are officially dating, if you”re the type to believe smiley, hand-holding strolls throughout Brooklyn mean anything. The new couple has been spotted on coffee dates in Nashville, Los Angeles, and New York, with Taylor even hanging out with Jake’s sister Maggie Gyllenhaal in Park Slope. Their coffee addiction is slightly hilarious, though. They won”t be spotted at bars anytime soon”she’s only 20.
And as the Swiftenhaal alliance is created, another Hollywood romance falls apart. Christina Aguilera is speaking out about her split from husband Jordan Bratman. “Things were so unhealthy and unhappy for both Jordan and me, I knew I had to end it,” she said. “I felt torn about splitting our family up.” Christina is now dating Matthew Rutler, who worked as a set assistant on Burlesque. Music producer to set guy…that’s a lateral move. Jordan’s been notably silent.
Oy vey. I pity you if you take advice from the Kardashian sisters, and rightfully so. After previously endorsing a dangerous prepaid credit card with fees the attorney general called “outrageous,” Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney are turning their backs on the harmful plastic. Their lawyer said “The Kardashians have worked extremely long and hard to create a positive public persona that appeals to everyone” but the AG’s comments “threaten everything for which they have worked.” Like, tabloid covers. And infomercial deals. Luckily, only 250 people”roughly the size of their TV audience”signed up for the card before they stopping pimping it.
Bad news for Mr. Wesley Snipes. He’s finally heading to prison, two years after his tax evasion conviction and multiple appeals. His latest gambit for a reprieve was asking for a new trial because he claims jurors walked into his trial already biased. The judge nixed this, saying “The time has come for the judgment to be enforced.” He must surrender to a Pennsylvania prison by December 9. One Sweet Weekend of Freedom”that could work as a film title, no?
Ryan Seacrest had a boffo week. He just signed a $60 million three-year contact with Clear Channel, doubling his current deal. For those keeping score at home, that’s $15 million more than Derek Jeter was initially offered by the Yankees. Why the big pay day? Apparently the American Idol host is “trusted” and can tell you what is “the very best about popular culture at that moment.” It’s probably fair to say that Seacrest has in fact surpassed Dick Clark, the ultimate old school cultural barometer.
Britney Spears celebrated her 29th birthday on Thursday by refuting a tabloid’s claims that her current boyfriend and former agent Jason Trawick is abusive. Her one-time husband Jason Alexander says that Britney told him her boyfriend beat her. There’s even a tape on Radar Online, but Britney’s rep says the whole story is “laughable” and defamatory. The pop star, for her part, hopped on Twitter to say “PS “ Star Magazine, Radar Online, Jason Alexander and the rest of you liars, Ya”ll can kiss my lily white southern Louisiana ass.” The video of that smooch will likely be posted on Radar Online.
Elton John is getting a new career”at least for a day. He edited Wednesday’s issue of The Independent for World AIDS Day and overcame his technophobia to help lay out pages and decide the coverage. Elizabeth Taylor and Stephen Fry kicked in pieces for the daily, and sales from the paper went to the Elton John AIDS foundation.
So this is what a literary bachelor party looks like? A British radio presenter is taking her claim to the courts after a Sunday Times article said she hooked up with man-about-town, author Salman Rushdie. Mariella Frostrup took offense with the September article that also claimed Salman kissed Nigella Lawson and Dannii Minogue at his bachelor party before marrying Padma Lakshmi. Not only did Ms. Frostrup not kiss Mr. Rushdie, but she didn”t even attend the event. To make matters worse, she interviewed him two weeks later. Wonder what they talked about?
The King of Saudi Arabia came to New York for the fabulous health care service, and boy, is he taking advantage of it. King Abdullah is commanding an entire wing of the New York Pres/Weill Cornell Medical Center after his back surgery. To keep his VIP floor quiet, he rented out all the empty rooms. At least some can be filled with his luggage”he flew with three jets to the States and 20 cars were needed to transport his belongings.
Finally, in royal watching news, it seems Prince William and Kate Middleton’s lavish April nuptials could be popping off Brits” living room screens in 3-D. Rupert Murdoch’s BSkyB is weighing their options to broadcast the show in the high definition. Channels are already planning for the wedding to be one of the most-watched events ever. No pressure on getting those vows right.
