James Gandolfini died suddenly today at age 51, his rep has confirmed. The “Sopranos” actor suffered a heart attack while in Italy for the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily, according to TMZ. Gandolfini won three Emmys for his role as mafioso Tony Soprano on the HBO hit. Our thoughts go out to the actor’s family and friends. [CNN, TMZ]
Profile for Jessica Wakeman
Kanye Kept Kameras Out Of Kim Kardashian’s Delivery Room
- Kanye West wouldn’t let E!’s cameras into Kim Kardashian’s delivery room, even though you know Kris Jenner had her own camera out. She’s going to find a way to get that footage onto their show if it’s the last damn thing she ever does. [RadarOnline]
- This dude tried and failed to get his balls ironed like George Clooney. [NYMag.com]
- “50 Shades Of Grey” finally has its director: Sam Taylor-Johnson, director of “Nowhere Boy” and girlfriend of “Kickass” actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson. [NYMag.com]
- Here’s the Kidz Bop cover of “Thrift Shop” that you’ve been waiting for. I guess there’s nothing about a skeet blanket in this one? [Uproxx]
- Paula Deen’s racism goes viral with #PaulasBestDishes. [Salon] Keep reading »
Obesity Is Now Recognized As A “Disease” By The American Medical Association
- Lesley Kinzel from xoJane on how the American Medical Association classified obesity as a “disease” yesterday, but that really doesn’t mean a whole lot in a society with such a warped image of women’s bodies. [xoJane]
- A Christian college in Pennsylvania can exclude the morning-after pill and birth control from the college health plan, a court ruled yesterday. [Chronicle Of Higher Education]
- Our Hitched columnist Andrea Grimes on the scary-ass anti-abortion bills eking their way through the Texas legislature. [RH Reality Check]
- Ladies lie about rape for money, says this guy. [Feministing]
- Nothing says “pro life” quite like auctioning off assault rifles! [Raw Story] Keep reading »
Kickstarter Project Raising Money For A Book Filled With Rape Tips
People use Kickstarter to raise money for all sorts of dubious projects. Celebs funding movies. Celebs funding albums. Tips on how to rape women.
Wait, what?
Oh yes. Behold, Above The Game: A Guide To Getting Awesome With Women, by Ken Hoinsky of Connecticut, a new book that conflates advice on how to date rape women with tips on seduction. Keep reading »
House Of Representatives Passes Ban On Abortion After 20 Weeks
Fetuses Masturbate?
Texas politician says we should ban abortion because fetuses masturbate. Read More »
Yesterday, the Republican-dominated House of Representatives advanced a so-called “fetal pain” bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Fortunately, it is not expected to pass the Democrat-controlled Senate and President Obama would veto the bill. Thus, the bill is largely symbolic.
The Orwellian-worded bill called the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act is based on the idea, unsupported by the medical community, that fetuses can feel pain (and pleasure! They like to masturbate!) after 20 weeks. Numerous other bills have cropped up around the country, from Minnesota to Indiana to Texas, based on the same idea.
Not surprisingly, Republicans have a renewed vigor for “fetal pain” bills after the trial of Kermit Gosnell, a doctor who was found to have been killing babies in botched abortions — ironically, because the women who went to his inexpensive, illegally-run clinic were unable to obtain safer, earlier abortions. The House bill is sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), who made headlines last week for saying that pregnancy from rape is rare. Keep reading »
Charlie Sheen Reportedly Fired Selma Blair Over Text Message, Called Her The C-Word
Charlie Blasts Farrah
Charlie Sheen does not appreciate Farrah Abraham selling their texts. Read More »
- Odious human being Charlie Sheen reportedly demanded Selma Blair be fired from the FX show “Anger Management” over paranoia she’d been badmouthing him. Well … But the worst part is he reportedly fired her over text message and called her the C-word. [The Wrap, RadarOnline]
- Miley Cyrus, unlikely marijuana legalization advocate. [Rolling Stone]
- Celebrity chef and butter enthusiast Paula Deen has admitted in a deposition that she uses the N-word. [Radar Online]
- Kanye West is in trubs with the American Parkinson Disease Association for lyrics on his new album “Yeezus” that go, “We got this bitch shaking like Parkinsons.” [TMZ] Keep reading »
Russell Brand Told Katy Perry About Divorce Over Text Message
- Katy Perry, in the new issue of Vogue, on her divorce from Russell Brand: “Let’s just say I haven’t heard from him since he texted me saying he was divorcing me.” She also said Brand “didn’t like the atmosphere of me being the boss on tour,” calling it “very controlling.” She said there is a “real truth” to why their relationship ended (um, cheating?), but she won’t disclose what it is. Oh dear, drama! [US Weekly]
- Jon Gosselin ruined Ed Hardy’s tattoo-style clothing brand. Ruined it, I tell you! “That Jon Gosselin thing was the nail in the coffin,” Hardy said. “That’s what tanked it. Macy’s used to have a huge window display with Ed Hardy, and it filtered down and that’s why Macy’s dropped the brand.” Celebrities like Madonna used to wear Ed Hardy designs, but then Gosselin started wearing it and then the “Jersey Shore” douches and then … well … the rest is Douche History. [New York Post]
- In defense of the bridezilla. [xoJane]
- This might be the world’s strangest mascara wand. [Fashionista] Keep reading »
On Don Draper, Dick Whitman & Consent
- SPOILER: Why wasn’t there more of a discussion about the prostitute who nursed a young Dick Whitman back to health and then took sexual advantage of him? [The Atlantic]
- There’s an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal today by editorial board member James Taranto that posits the military’s effort to clean up sexual assault is a “war on male sexuality.” As blogger Amanda Marcotte put it so well on Twitter, “Most men don’t rape, actually, James Taranto. But implying that they do emboldens rapists who want to believe they’re normal.” [Wall Street Journal]
- Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri announced a Support For Hillary political action committee to encourage former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to run for president in 2016. [Guardian UK] Keep reading »
Not This Crap Again: CNN Says Nigella Lawson Looks “Weak,” “Subservient” Regarding Abuse Photos
Sexual Joke About Lawson
British politician tweets sexual joke about Nigella Lawson's abuse. Read More »
It’s not exactly a secret that CNN needs some help covering violence against women issues correctly. Remember when the Steubenville gang rape verdict was handed out and CNN was sooo worried about the poor young men whose lives had been ruined?
Well, looks like they still need some help. In a clip where hosts and reporters discuss the images that surfaced of Nigella Lawson being choked by her husband Charles Saatchi, the celebrity chef is referred to as looking both “weak” and “subservient.”
I can understand how CNN’s angle was trying to be, at least a little bit, ‘wow, what a shock that this wealthy celebrity couple might have abuse in their relationship!’ But the reporters’ are scrutinizing Lawson following the incident, rather than the guy who reportedly choked his wife four different times in front of shocked restaurant patrons. Keep reading »
TMZ Publishes Photos Of Evelyn Lozada Bleeding After Chad Ochocinco Assault
Domestic Violence Arrest
Chad Ochocinco was arrested for domestic violence this weekend. Read More »
Is Ochocinco Your Hero?
Some people's reaction to the abuse is that Evelyn Lozada had it coming. Read More »
Nearly a year ago, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson was arrested for domestic violence after he headbutted his new wife Evelyn Lozada. She hastily filed for divorce, just six weeks after their wedding. Ochocinco received only 12 months of probation and DV classes for the assault. He has been sentenced to 30 days in jail — but that seems to be more for slapping his lawyer on the butt rather than assaulting his wife. He was also kicked off the Miami Dolphins following the incident and VH1 canceled the couple’s reality show.
Today, TMZ published four photos of a bloodied Lozada, with a gash across her forehead, on its website. Keep reading »
