A new week has begun and troubled singer Amy Winehouse is back to her old routine: knocking ’em back with a vengeance. The scene of the crime: The Hawley Arms in Camden, North London. At least she’s got rid of those ghastly nose freckles. The picture was taken at about 3:30 AM as Amy stumbled home after a night of living it up.
Former reality TV personality Tila Tequila has gotten into an altercation with her boyfriend, San Diego LN Shawne Merriman. In answer to your next question Tila Tequila is not her real name, it’s Tila Nguyen. Though out weighed by maybe a couple of hundred pounds, Tila managed to make a citizens arrest (maybe he stopped in the name of the law?).
Then again Tila can be a bit high strung when she gets wound up. A while ago she was twittering/tweeting that she was pregnant or something. She also provoked Nicole Richie into a rage. I guess that she got tired of picking on people her own size.
Apart from pointing out the obvious – that if a guy that size choked her out then she probably wouldn’t be around to press charges, I’ll merely note that she’s got herself back in the headlines fast.
BTW – the current buzz around the San Diego area is that Tila was drunk out of her mind and wnated to go for a drive. Merriman didn’t think that was such a hot idea, but Tila insisted.
By now you’ve heard the bad news on Annie Lebovitz: she’s a couple of days away from a 24 million dollar marker getting called in. How could so successful a person get themselves into such a mess? Well she’s a driven perfectionist who pays for all the attentional out of her own pocket. She’s renovated a property that had cost over runs. Her partner Susan Sontag died, leaving her with a huge tax bill. Oh yeah and she doesn’t have a clue about money. Here’s a brief history of her fiscal mismanagement courtesy of New York Magazine!
The highlights:
– In last 2 yrs, she faced tax liens of $1.4 million and two lawsuits claiming that she has not paid more than $700,000 in bills for photography services.
– “She was notoriously bad with her expenses and was also known to give away expensive Minox cameras to anyone who said they admired hers.”
– ” She has been lax about keeping records of which studio expenses to bill to which client. Traditionally Leibovitz would submit claims to Condé Nast or an advertising client to cover her expenses. The client would then reimburse her, and she would pay her vendors. Now, it appeared, those payments weren’t making it out the door. Brent Langton, a lighting specialist, sued Leibovitz, claiming his company was owed more than $221,000 for rentals in 2006 and 2007. An agency representing Nicoletta Santoro, a clothing stylist, also sued, saying it was owed over $385,000.”
– “Leibovitz left Rolling Stone for Vanity Fair in 1983. Her reputation for dubious money management apparently traveled with her. “Getting her accounts at rental houses and film labs was a struggle,” says Andrew Eccles, now a highly regarded photographer who worked as Leibovitz’s assistant from 1983 to 1986. “I had to get people to believe me when I said it wasn’t the old days anymore. People would actually get paid for their equipment.” Because of her credit issues, Leibovitz was forced to deal almost exclusively in cash. In 1987, American Express offered her a plum ad campaign. Ironically, Leibovitz’s application for a card had been denied many times. After the ad agency found out she’d lost an envelope containing several thousand dollars in a phone booth during their shoot, strings were finally pulled to get her a card.”
– “Leibovitz once described her portraiture method as “get ’em somewhere where they’re bored shitless and there’s nothing to do except take pictures.” From there, she would work her subjects to the point of exhaustion, a state that could lead to revealing moments of vulnerability. For a 1981 Rolling Stone shoot, William Hurt sat in his parents’ house in New Jersey one afternoon. At seven o’clock the next morning, Leibovitz was still shooting the actor, who by now was wearing only a pair of briefs.”
– “In 2007, Leibovitz agreed to take Tina Brown’s portrait for her Princess Diana biography. “I thought she would just take a snap at my home,” Brown says. Leibovitz insisted that the shoot be on the beach near Brown’s summer home in Quogue, even though it was March and freezing. Leibovitz showed up in a van with a stylist and assistant. A second car stuffed full of clothes soon arrived. A wind machine would eventually be engaged. This was all on Leibovitz’s dime; she refused to charge Brown a cent. Unsatisfied with the day’s work, Leibovitz suggested that they try again the next day. “We’re through!” Brown told her, appreciative but worn out. “She’s a massive perfectionist,” Brown says, “and absolutely doesn’t care about the impact on her own bottom line.”
– “Leibovitz’s obsessiveness was reflected in her mothering, Kellum says. When Sarah [her daughter] started eating solid food, a rigorous journaling policy was instituted, in which every bite and bowel movement was to be committed to an unlined black notebook purchased from the Swedish stationer Ordning & Reda. Kellum regularly ordered replacement books from Stockholm so that the journaling could easily continue from one book to another. Once, when an order got lost in customs, Leibovitz insisted on having two notebooks sent from Stockholm via a special type of courier service called “quicking.” It was essentially like buying a seat for a parcel on the next plane. The shipping cost alone came to $800.”
– “Leibovitz had also built a life that had become extraordinarily expensive to maintain. It wasn’t just the mortgages on the homes. It was the Range Rover, the trips to Paris, the chef and housekeeper, the handyman, the personal yoga instructor, the terrace gardener, and the live-in nanny. There was only one man Leibovitz deemed qualified to work on anything involving air-conditioning or ductwork at either residence, and he lived in Vermont.”
– “Neither did Leibovitz behave as if the money to be earned in the fine-art market was worth the effort. Edwynn Houk, her gallerist until last year, had no trouble selling her images. Leibovitz, however, could never get around to signing the prints. A buyer might have paid in full but still not get his picture for two years.”
Then there’s the mess with her real estate dealings:
– “For days, a crew had been digging below the townhouses to build the sub-basement. The ground beneath the buildings had actually been underwater until 1820, when landfill turned what had been the Hudson River into buildable land west of Hudson Street. In the midst of the excavation, the wall Leibovitz’s building shared with the little trapezoidal building at 311 West 11th Street groaned and sank several inches. The wall separated from the floors, leaving a gaping hole. Fire trucks encircled the scene, and Con Ed workers raced to locate and repair a burst gas line. Insurance covered much of the damage, but the young family next door, whose home was immediately condemned, sued Leibovitz. Under a settlement the parties reached in 2003, Leibovitz would have to purchase their home for $1.87 million.”– “Leibovitz, like so many Americans during the boom years, had been taking out additional mortgages, heaping loan upon loan. The initial mortgage on the Rhinebeck property was about $1.8 million. Eventually, she had some $11 million mortgaged against it.”
She really wasn’t making as much money as people thought:
– “Her contract w/ Conde Naste wasn’t as large as reported: “In fact, a copy of Leibovitz’s contract that came to light in a recent lawsuit indicates that she is being paid $2 million per year, and only through 2011. The rumored $250,000 day rate to do an advertising job also appears to have been greatly exaggerated. “It’s not half that,” says a source with direct knowledge of Leibovitz’s finances.”
Wow, with that kind of irresponsibility she sounds like she could’ve had an executive position with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac! I’m just relieved that she’s not on Pres Obama’s economic recovery team! Incidentally Ms. Lebovitz, if you’re reading this I’m a very great admirer of your work. You can mail me my Minox. Just make sure it’s top of the line ’cause I’m a really big admirer.
Reversal of fortune isn’t something that only happens to the rich and famous. It can happen to real people to, like Real Housewife of Orange County Lynne Curtin. Now Lynne has a little trouble paying her bills. So that resulted in her owning $12 000 in back rent on the home she lives in on the series. She’d received a number of gentle reminders from the home’s owner, a 51 year old mother. Lynne is as bad as taking hints as she is at paying bills. So that resulted in the OC Sheriff’s Dept getting dragged in. The Sheriff Dept told Lynne that if she didn’t vacate the premises, per eviction notice, she’d be extracted kicking and screaming.
Though that would be bang up publicity, Lynne seemed to feel that her image could do without it. So she got out under the wire. However that has lead to even further complications. Lynne moved, but she took the furniture with her. only problem there being that she didn’t own the furniture – she was renting that too! Among the missing items – a bookcase, credenza, armoire and a glass shelf — worth around $5,000. Plus a carpet was ruined, a tub was damaged, and there were holes in the walls. So now more police reports have been filed. Says the home’s actual owner “I am blown away that grown people can behave this way. They have daughters, how can they seriously think they are setting an example.” At least she can get off of her mom’s couch and back into her own home, or whatever is left of it.
BTW – To answer that big Lynne Curtin question that everyone has been asking – no, Lynne Curtin is not really Steven Tyler, through they do share a freaky resemblance!
Annie Leibovitz had it all: money, fame, and prestige. Now she’s in danger of losing it all, including the rights to every photograph she’s ever taken. How could this happen? Well Annie has gotten herself into 24 million dollars worth of debt.
The trouble started back in 2002 when Leibovitz dropped a cool 4 million for a couple of adjoining properties she planned to renovate. She had her dream studio in mind. She soon ran into some significant cost over runs. In addition the neighbors got snippy and launched a $15 mill law suit against her. Leibovitz settled that by buying their house as well. Add some IRS tax leins into the mix and suddenly you’ve got a sea of red ink.
Annie resolved that by mortgaging her properties and various other assets, including her life’s work, for $24 million. Her life’s work includes a catalog of photographs, some of which are cultural milestones. For instance she did that 1981 picture of John Lennon, taken on the day he died. Liebovitz has always been pretty careful about how these gems have been presented. She usually favours the high art gallery type setting. However should the catalog fall into the wrong hands they could be milked for everything they’re worth. That means posters, T shirts, and especially advertising. Leibovitz has till Tuesday to cover the debt (at least the Labor Day weekend has given her a day of grace).
Annie Leibovitz isn’t the only highly effective person to face such a reversal of fortune. Michael Jackson went from the world’s No 1 recording artist, to having to hold a fire sale on his assets – including the Beatles catalog, to cover his debts.
It seems like Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds have been married for mere moments. Yet they’re already in trouble. At least that’s what the National Enquirer is saying. They should know too because they have a snitch. This snitch is telling NE that Ryan and Scarlett have hit what can be described euphemistically as a ‘rough patch’ (translation: they’re finding out that marriage is a lot more work and a lot less fun then they bargained for).
The Enquirer has more than the usual anonymous source too. It appears that Ryan has been going to his current co star Sandra Bullock for relationship guidance. Since Sandra has managed to remain hitched to hubby Jesse James despite literal run ins with his stalker (The woman in question tried to run him over in the drive way of Bullock’s home. There’s never a dull moment in Follywood!). Since Sandra has successfully navigated a marital obstacle course of stalkers, ex lovers, and tabloid naysayers, she feels that she has some insight to pass on. It can be summed up in the phrase “pretend that you’re adults”.
1. Communication. Like the song says it’s the problem to the answer. The more you say, the more chance that you’ll say something wrong. Saying the wrong thing can be absolutely fatal in a relationship. If something needs to be said it can be said later, but once something is said it can not be taken back. Questions are a burden to others, answers are a prison to ourselves.
2. Honesty. This one has killed more relationships than internet porn. Think of the last time your significant other asked you whether they looked fat in something, or whether you ever thought about some one else while doing the deed. Your relationship might never have recovered from a sudden attack of Megan Fox style bluntness.
We’re all adults so that means we should have more sense than to blurt out everything that we think. It also means that we should realize that when some one says ‘give me your honest opinion’ they really mean ‘tell me what I want to hear and say it like you mean it’. The problem with honesty is that it conflicts with what almost everyone wants to hear (Mother Theresa excluded). Fortunately you can cut down on the possibility of honesty by cutting down on the communication.
3. Togetherness. Though not a problem in the beginning it will sneak up on you. Things that were once cute become annoying and even irritating. When two people spend excessive amounts of time together, and participate in the same activities, they can’t help getting on each others’ nerves. Wires will get crossed, ideas will conflict. You will notice how your partner either has the most half assed way of doing everything which needs your firm and immediate correction; or that they are a neurotic perfectionist that is never satisfied with anything you do no matter how hard you try.
You’ll also begin to resent the complete loss of personal space. In the end you’ll resent them for breathing your air. Frequent and significant time apart will remedy this. If In Touch is to be believed Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are already implementing this into their strained relationship. Julia Roberts has managed to hang on to her surfer dude by letting him take frequent and extended vacations on his own. Though familiarity breeds contempt, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Besides you’re more likely to look forward to seeing someone if they’re not in your face 24/7. That is unless you’re Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes!
So whether you’re Scarlett & Ryan or Joe & Jane, these common sense relationship tips should help you weather the occasional storms on the sea of romance, and get your relationship back on an even keel. Here’s wishing you smooth sailing!
Disclaimer – the above advice was not endorsed by Sandra Bullock.
It may not be her cause but she’s taken on the fight with a vengeance!
A couple of days ago it was reported that the widower of reality TV star Jade Goody was accused of sexually assaulting a teenager, along with his good pal events promoter Ashley Rubin. Now the charges have been up graded to rape. Jane’s mom Jackie Budden ain’t to pleased about it either. Here’s a pic of her as she got the news, via text message, outside her boyfriend’s hair salon.
If looks could kill Jack would never make it to trial. There’s really nothing new to report except that Jackie’s nuts are really in the ringer. Will the damage caused by reality TV ever stop?
While were looking at pix, here’s one of a gal that’s never far from trouble (in fact if Jack Tweed were struggling with drug addiction then he’d be her kinda guy). It’s Amy Winehouse. Now there have been many pix posted over the Internet of Ms. Winehouse in various sad & sorry states but this one is a little different, even by Amy’s standards. Just take a close look at her nose (I know that’s asking a lot)!
Though some have speculated that continuous chemical abuse may have made her nose diseased, and that it is on the verge of dropping off, I’m told that actually Winehouse has painted freckles on it. It’s an attempt to look healthier and more youthful. Perhaps it’s a last ditch attempt before she makes that final transition to drinking the blood of virgins under the full moon. I don’t think that all the garlic on Earth could cure what she caught from Blake Civil Fielder.
They really need some new material before their credibility starts dropping to Ian Undercover levels! Anyway the gist of the article is that Brad and Angelina live separate lives under the same roof. Perhaps they’ve drawn a line across the living room I Love Lucy style? Here`s an excerpt from the article which paints a sad picture of emasculation and alcoholism!
“With this arrangement, they get their own space,” the insider says, adding Brad is renovating his area to modernize it. While Angelina stays in a building behind the main house, “Brad stays in his private area and plays his guitar and watches DVDs there by himself.”
Brad used to be happy, gregarious and social, but Angelina’s constant nit-picking and insults appear to have destroyed his confidence. “She still calls the shots and deep down, Brad realizes there’s not much he can do to change that if he wants to stay with the children. So he pts up with it,” says the friend.
“Brad is actually really shy and has low self-esteem now – and he drinks before social events because he can’t cope without using booze as a crutch,” the insider reveals.
A friend adds that soon after returning to their French home, Brad had a local liquor store deliver cases of Heineken beer, as well as vodka, assorted mixers and various French and Italian red, white and rose wines.
“He never gets drunk in front of the kids, but when they are asleep or he is away from the house, he seems to indulge.”
While Brad might be a shell of his former self, his living arrangement with Angelina seems to be working out for their children. According to the insider, because they feel guilty about their crumbling relationship, the two are spoiling the kids with attention and activities.
They’ve been organizing theme days, where the nannies and the kids and either Brad or Angelina dress up as characters from books or movies, like James Bond or Harry Potter, says the insider.
“They had a wizard day with magic potion punch to drink, and they had to solve clues to go to wizard college. The kids have so much fun, they don’t even notice their parents’ separate lives.”
I’m guessing that Angelina is the one who dresses up as James Bond, though if the article is any indication she only needs a Persian cat perched menacingly in her lap to complete the image of ball crushing super villainy!
In other news here’s that picture of Tallulah Moore Willis Kutcher that’s got Demi all a twitter.
Demi says it’s ‘pornographic’ and Perezhilton says that he would never ever under any circumstances and even in the case of a house fire let a daughter of his out looking like that. If that pic is any indication she could be any 15 year old. So what’s the big brouhaha about? Besides Tallulah is practically the same age Ashton was when Demi began seeing him! So the upshot is that Demi is okay with her daughter looking like that , just not with people looking at her daughter looking like that. Though it sounds complicated it’s actually perfectly simple. It just means that Tullulah isn’t in danger of a honour killing
Moore:
• “Clearly Perez Hilton isn’t taking violating child … laws very seriously. He might not but there are alot of people who do!”
• “Anyone who …. follows or supports Perez supports violating child …. laws!”
Hilton:
• “Expect another letter from my attorney, kitten. Xoxo”
• “P.S. Bring it on, b–tch!”
• “And THIS is what senile Demi is referring to [link] A photo I linked to on my Twitter a couple of weeks ago.”
• “That fine, upstanding, wholesome young lady is her 15 year old. daughter Tallulah, [link]
• “And thanks for drawing MORE attention to your daughter’s behavior and your parenting skills (or lack thereof). U r real smart!”
• “Should I sue Demi Moore?”
• “Still waiting for you to retract your incorrect, libelous and defamatory statements”
• “Look at her Tweets. SHE is the one breaking the law with her libelous, defamatory, inaccurate and stupid allegations.”
Moore:
“This is not a game . Children should not be exploited. They must be protected.”
Hilton:
“Ur daughter has been an actress in Bruce’s films. You 2 have been exploiting Tallulah for quite some time.”
On a side note it’s lucky for Miley that her Hannah Montana show became a hit before Billy Ray completed work on his ‘sex cage’ in the basement. I hear that it even has a stripper pole! That beats a hamster wheel, I guess.
photo courtesy of Gallery of theAbsurd
Wondertrash 