WebProNews

Author: Val Powell

  • Tara Lipinski Joins Other Big Names In This Year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner

    Olympic figure skater Tara Lipinski was back in the spotlight for a bit as she showed up at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

    Lipinski calmly answered reporters’ questions about being invited to the WHCD, the events she’ll be attending that week as well as her fashion options for these types of gatherings.

    The NBC sports commentator talked about how she got ready, fashion wise.

    “So I packed a lot. I came fully prepared. I came with three suitcases,” the 32-year-old said, before adding that “I have some outfits because I’m doing the [Kentucky] Derby with Johnny [Weir] next week,”

    Lipinski did seem well-prepared as she hit the red carpet with her cohort Johnny Weir.

    The blonde figure skating analyst wore a Rubin Singer gown in black and nude mesh, with gold sandals and a curled updo completing her look.

    Fellow figure skater turned figure skating analyst Johnny Weir, on the other hand, wore a tight black tux with cropped pants. He accented his look with a furry bow tie and a sparkly circlet.

    This was the two Olympian’s first time at the WHCD and the duo seemed excited to attend. Lipinski calmly said she was “honored to attend” while Weir was more enthusiastic.

    “We’re just so excited to be here to celebrate being one with our media brothers and sisters and really celebrating the spirit of the night and the spirit of what we all do in entertaining and educating the world,” the 30-year-old Weir said.

    Lipinski and Weir will then head off to the Kentucky Derby to take up their roles as fashion experts and commentators.

    This year’s White House Correspondents Dinner was certainly an eclectic mix of the movers and shakers in media and politics. There was even a sizeable contingent of actors who’re part of TV programs set in and about the nation’s capital, like Veep, Homeland and Scandal.

  • Keegan-Michael Key Brings The White House Down As Obama’s Anger Translator

    All eyes were understandably on President Obama during the White House Correspondents Dinner, but it was Keegan-Michael Key who stole the show.

    Before the president started his speech, he announced that he hired an “anger translator” and out came Key.

    The Michigan native is known for the Comedy Central show Key & Peele. The 30-minute show is popular for its comedy sketches, particularly Jordan Peele’s impersonation of President Obama and Key’s role of “anger translator” Luther.

    The comedian brought his character to life during the WHCD and promptly brought the house down.

    For those who’re still in dark to what Luther does, he translates everything the reportedly cool as a cucumber president wants to say, only with more yelling and swearing.

    The president started his speech by acknowledging that “In our fast-changing world, traditions like the White House correspondents’ dinner are important.”

    Luther promptly translated this as “I MEAN REALLY, WHAT IS THIS DINNER AND WHY AM I REQUIRED TO COME TO IT?!”

    President Obama also talked about next year’s presidential elections and the Koch brothers’ donation of a billion dollars for the conservative candidate.

    “Hillary will have to raise huge sums of money too,” the President admitted.

    Key gave a rousing translation, as well as a magnificent shout-out to Games of Thrones fans when he exclaimed- “She’s gonna get all that money, ooooh,” Key as Luther translated. “Khaleesi is coming to Westeros.”

    The short sketch ended in a fun twist when the two switched roles and Obama touched on climate change and started to become loud and belligerent.

    Acting surprised, Key/Luther tried to pacify him, before saying “Woah, sir. You don’t need an anger translator. You need counseling.”

    It goes without saying that Obama’s anger translator was all people could talk about after the event, with everyone wondering how the WHCD can top that memorable performance next year.

  • Chrissy Teigen’s Rear End Gets Ogled At White House Correspondent’s Dinner [Photo]

    Chrissy Teigen arrived at this year’s White House Correspondents Association dinner wearing a sheer, midnight blue Zuhair Murad gown that was covered in sequins and beads.

    But what caught everyone’s, including Bill Belichick and Russel Wilson’s, attention was the thigh-high split that perfectly showcased Teigen’s long legs.

    A photo posted on Belichick’s girlfriend Linda Holliday’s Instagram account shows Teigen flashing her gorgeous smile and legs – and New England Patriot’s head coach Bill Belichick’s eyes apparently on her rear end.

    To be fair, Belichick wasn’t the only one who appears to be eyeing the statuesque beauty, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and NBA hopeful Frank Kaminsky also seem to be enjoying the view.

    The photo has since captured the attention of netizens who have called the coach out. As did Teigen’s husband, crooner John Legend, who made his feelings about Belichick’s wandering eye known on Twitter.

    The Grammy Award winner poked fun at Belichick by tweeting “Spy Gate” along with a link to the incriminating picture.

    That incident aside, the Lip Sync Battle hostess appeared to enjoy her night at the gala. Accenting her eye-catching dress with a simple black clutch, a berry lipstick and bejeweled heels, Teigen was also photographed with Katie Couric and Jenna Dewan-Tatum.

    The venerable news anchorwoman seemed to get along well with Teigen and jokingly tried to emulate the Sports Illustrated swimsuit model as she also flashed her legs.

    Teigen also joined her husband for a series of photos with other guests like Walking Dead star Norman Reedus, editor and CBS co-anchor Gayle King and her daughter Kirby Bumpus.

    The White House Correspondents Association dinner is a yearly dinner with the president and a crowd that’s a mix of politicians, journalists and influential celebrities and sports figures.

    This year’s dinner was hosted by SNL’s Cecily Strong.

  • Bruce Jenner’s Ex-Wives Talk About Their Marriage And Support Of The Olympian

    As expected, Bruce Jenner’s long awaited 20/20 interview with Diane Sawyer opened a floodgate of reactions from family, friends and viewers.

    In the two hour interview, Bruce Jenner admitted that “Yes, for all intents and purposes, I’m a woman.” He also talked about his past relationships with his wives and how they all knew about his secret.

    His second wife Linda Thompson showed her support during the interview and opened up about her marriage to Bruce in an op-ed piece that she wrote in the Huffington Post.

    The songwriter, who was married to Bruce from 1981 to 1984 and has two children with him, recounted her years with Jenner. The touching article chronicled her first meeting with the gold-medalist and discussed her struggles keeping his secret while raising their sons.

    While she was heartbroken when Bruce confessed his secret, Thompson wrote that she realized his struggles “made mine pale in comparison.”

    And now that Bruce has finally revealed his secret, Thompson said that “I can now breathe a little easier, knowing he now has found the strength and the courage to fulfill his dream.”

    Bruce’s first wife Chrystie Scott also released a statement during the broadcast stating her support and “so hope the world can too.”

    Excerpt from Bruce Jenner’s 20/20 interview with Diane Sawyer

    In fact, the only one of Bruce’s 3 ex-wives who didn’t comment on his interview with Diane Sawyer was Kris Jenner, a fact that was quickly picked up by the media, most notably in a tweet by blogger Perez Hilton.

    However, Kris was quick to react to the tweet, replying “@PerezHilton f— you Perez no one asked me to comment ..and I’m sitting with Bruce now watching this show so let’s keep it real…LOL..”

    But ABC News was quick to counter that claim. In a statement, the network said that “ABC News sent an email to her publicity team more than once. They called and said no comment.”

  • Salma Hayek Visits Her Ancestral Homeland To Launch Animated Film ‘The Prophet’

    A line from a poem by the poet Khalil Gibran was a fitting ode to Salma Hayek on her return to her ancestral homeland of Lebanon.

    A poster with the poem “The children of my Lebanon, those who migrate with nothing but courage in their hearts and strength in their arms but who return with wealth in their hands and a wreath of glory upon their heads” welcomed the actress on her visit to the Gibran Museum.

    The 48-year-old Mexican-American actress is visiting the country to launch the animated feature-film The Prophet.

    Hayek co-produced the film, which revolves around the friendship of a young girl and an imprisoned poet. The actress voiced the character of Kamila, while renowned actors Liam Neeson and John Krasinki lent their voices to bring the characters Mustafa and Halim to life.

    The film is an adaptation of Gibran’s beloved book The Prophet, which showcased 26 philosophical essays written in poetic English prose. The book has never been out of print since it was first published in 1923 and has been translated into more than 40 languages.

    The Ugly Betty actress was accompanied by the film’s director, Roger Allers, who also directed two of Disney’s most popular animations – Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.

    Allers was particularly moved by the visit after “living with the spirit of Gibran for the last three years.” He added that “it has been a very intimate experience and now to come to his home is very moving.”

    The visit to Gibran’s quaint mountain hometown of Bcharre was also deeply personal for Hayek, whose grandfather was Lebanese. Looking sophisticated in a colorful floral top and black peplum skirt, the Frida producer was warmly received by Lebanese Member of Parliament Sethrida Geagea.

    When asked about the renowned Lebanese sculptor, painter and poet’s defining work, Hayek said that The Prophet is “about the courage to speak up, to believe you are worth being listened to.”

  • Margot Robbie Might Play Barbie In Live-Action Movie

    Sony Pictures is rumored to be planning a live-action movie of everyone’s favorite doll, and Margot Robbie is said to be in the running to play Barbie.

    The news didn’t come from any official statement from Sony Studios or the producers, but from some of the 170,000 emails that were hacked from Sony’s servers and released on Wikileaks.

    The emails are about a year old and appear to be a discussion by Sony’s top brass.

    Doug Belgrad, the president of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group, wrote that he likes “Margot Robbie, for instance, or possibly a discovery” for the role.

    Producer Laurie MacDonald agreed with the idea and said that the Australian actress “is Barbie come to life – she’d be great.”

    It’s not hard to see why Sony’s head honchos are gunning for The Wolf of Wall Street beauty, what with her long, blonde hair and mesmerizing blue eyes. You can easily imagine her wearing Barbie’s renowned stylish wardrobe.

    Luckily for the producers, it seems the 24-year-old Robbie is also keen on the idea of bringing Barbie to life.

    According to Hannah Minghella, co-president of production at Columbia Pictures division of Sony, “(Agent David) Bugliari pitched Margot the idea and she loved it! She’s free in October once she wraps Tarzan.”

    The hacked emails also discussed which actresses can be considered to play Barbie’s sidekick. Some of the names mentioned were Amy Adams, Amy Schumer, Kristen Wiig, Sandra Bullock and Tina Fey.

    While the choice on who’ll play Barbie seems unanimous, the emails also showed that the producers can’t agree on who’ll play Maggie. Some of the executives have voiced their concerns about the choices, explaining that Adams might have more marketing value or that Bullock might be too old to be playing a sidekick.

    Strangely enough, the role of Ken was never mentioned in any of the emails.

  • Clint Eastwood Clears The Air, Says He Didn’t Threaten Michael Moore

    Legendary gunslinger Clint Eastwood sets the record straight and denies threatening to kill Michael Moore.

    The American Sniper director was recently honored during The Legend of Cinema luncheon which was organized by CinemaCon and Warner Bros. The glitzy event, called “A Salute To Clint Eastwood,” showcased the actor’s distinguished career, both as an actor and as a director.

    The film icon also talked about various topics during a 30 minute conversation he had on stage with reporter Stephen Galloway. Eastwood reflected on his career, talked about his inspirations, discussed the success of his latest movie and finally addressed Michael Moore’s comments that he threatened to kill the Bowling for Columbine director.

    “Everyone kept saying I was going to kill Michael Moore but that’s not true,’ Eastwood confessed, before adding “It isn’t a bad idea.”

    His statement drew laughter and applause from the crowd. But the filmmaker tried to explain his side of a story that’s said to have happened 10 years ago.

    I think once years ago somebody asked me what would I do if a guy like him came to my house with a whole film crew and started filming away like he did with Charlton Heston,” Eastwood recalled. “But I thought if somebody was on your property you could shoot him.”

    He jokingly added that he thought about his famous line “get off my lawn.”

    (Moore notoriously ambushed a confused and sick Heston about his NRA leadership at his home for his film Bowling for Columbine.)

    The Play Misty for Me director also talked about his favorite movies (the heartbreaking Million Dollar Baby, Unforgiven and The Outlaw Josey Wales) during the event.

    The erstwhile Dirty Harry also gave his view on what made American Sniper successful.

    “I think that for a lot of Americans, there’s been a lot of news in the last year about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and everybody has opinions on it,” he said, adding that “nobody’s really thought about it from the point of view of the families of the people over there and the people who go over there.”

  • Lamar Odom & Khloe Kardashian Back Together? Cryptic Photo Of Tattoo Leaves People Guessing

    Khloe Kardashian showed some love to her estranged husband Lamar Odom via Instagram and left fans scratching their heads.

    The recently uploaded photo, which was captioned with a heart emoji, prominently displayed the small tattoo she got for her husband after their marriage in 2009.

    The out-of-the-blue posting and the cryptic heart does beg the question – are they back together as Khloe so obviously wants?

    The answer is sadly (or not), no.

    The 35-year-old Odom has reportedly gotten tired of waiting for Khloe to take him back and has rekindled his relationship with his ex, Lara Manoukian.

    A photo posted by Khloé (@khloekardashian) on

    Of course, the news didn’t sit well with the 30-year-old Khloe, who sources say is in a tizzy over the situation and has been hounding the retired NBA player.

    “Lamar’s phone has been blowing up with calls, texts and messages from Khloe ever since she heard about him and his ex,” the source says. “She’s just not ready to let go.”

    Khloe filed for divorce in December 2013 but has not shown a single interest in the case since then. She also can’t seem to make up her mind on whether she wants to get back with Odom or not.

    Even her fans appear to have gotten tired of her indecision, with some commenting that “He’s never coming back, Khloé!” in response to her Instagram post.

    Sources close to the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star are saying that the fact that Odom seems happy and in a better place without her is a big, bitter pill for Khloe to swallow.

    “Hearing that Lamar is back with his ex is crushing for Khloe. She’s heartbroken over it and still doesn’t know if she believes it,” one source explains. “To find out another woman is making him happy is like a knife to the heart. Hearing that he’s also doing better than ever living a good clean life while with this woman is even harder to deal with.”

    Ouch.

  • Cecily Strong, Of ‘SNL’ Fame, Will Host White House Correspondents’ Dinner

    She has held her own against her peers at Saturday Night Live, but Cecily Strong will soon face her toughest challenge yet when she hosts this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

    The 31-year-old is a surprising choice to host the annual dinner. She’s not a stand-up comedian like her SNL co-host Seth Meyer, nor is she a known host like Jon Stewart.

    But what she is is a veteran at improvisation who has honed her skills at Chicago’s Second City and iO comedy theaters, a skill that should come in handy at the White House roast.

    She’s also, as the WHCA’s president Christi Parsons describes – “the nice girl who’s cutting in a way that you don’t really notice until later.” – making her perfect for delivering those zingers to the politicians and journalists in attendance.

    Among those who’ll be in attendance is Strong’s father, a former journalist who was the one the Correspondents’ Association got in touch with first. Parsons emailed him to get in touch with Cecily.

    “I thought he was saying he had been invited. So I said, “Uh, great, Dad…have fun?” the SNL mainstay said before realizing the invitation was for her.

    Despite joking that she was hoping to find an excuse to turn down the offer, Cecily admits that “it’s too exciting to say no to.”

    “I would kick myself. How many times will I get to do this again? Never—he’s not going to have anymore! He’s done being president now! I’m giving him his last hurrah,” she added.

    And giving President Obama a fitting sendoff worries the funny lady, especially since she believes he’s the “funniest president” America has ever had.

    “He’s known as an amazingly funny guy,” she admits in an interview. “You know, his timing is great. He had that moment at the State of the Union where he said, ‘Well, I should know because I won two of them.’ I’ve never said anything that cool on the spot. And so, it’s tough to follow that guy.”

  • Melanie Griffith And Antonio Banderas’ Luxurious Estate Up For Sale At $16M

    If you have a spare $16 million lying around, you might want to consider sinking it on Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas’ lush estate on Hancock Park.

    The Hollywood power couple bought the house in 1999 for $4.2 million and expanded on it with their purchase of the neighboring lot for $1.3, bringing the total size of the property to about 1.5 acres.

    While most would find the price of Banderas’ family home to be a staggering amount, its history and features make it unique.

    The 15,000-square-foot home was designed by renowned architect Gordon B. Kaufmann, who’s also known for designing the Hoover Dam.  The house is designed in the Italian Revival style, is three stories high and boasts of 13 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, 4 fireplaces, a two-story hall, intricately hand-stenciled ceilings and paver-tiled floors.

    It also has a library, a bar lounge, a recording studio, fitness center, a mezzanine lounge, a double-height kitchen for those who love to cook and the best security system that’s available now.

    There’s also a separate guest apartment for visitors who require privacy.

    While the house is undoubtedly luxurious, the grounds are also a feast for the eyes. There’s an enclosed, central courtyard where the pool is nestled among shady trees. The property also has beautiful, manicured lawns, a rose garden and an organic vegetable garden.

    The sale is being brokered by Brett Lawyer of Hilton & Hyland.

    Griffith and Banderas have been one of Hollywood’s most enduring couples and fans were shocked with the news that they were divorcing. The couple has stayed relatively low-key through it all and only released one joint statement.

    “We have thoughtfully and consensually decided to finalize our almost 20-year marriage in a loving and friendly manner honoring and respecting each other, our family, and friends and the beautiful time we have spent together.”

  • Olsen Twins Surprised By ‘Full House’ Return But Open To Doing The Spinoff

    Now that the Full House reboot is officially on, fans are wondering if the Olsen twins would also be signing on.

    The popular sitcom’s return was announced by John Stamos – aka Uncle Jesse – on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

    The reboot will be called Fuller House and in an interesting twist to the original, the show will revolve around the widowed DJ Tanner (Candace Cameron) who has returned home to raise her 2 boys, with another baby on the way.

    The house will be fuller when her younger sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and best friend Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) and her teenage daughter also move in to help her.

    Fans of the original series are naturally dying to know whether the rest of the cast, especially the Olsen twins, are also coming back.

    The fashion mavens first broke into the scene playing little Michelle Tanner on the show.

    But the sisters revealed in a recent interview with Women’s Wear Daily that they were as surprised as the rest when Stamos broke the news about the reboot.

    “We just found out about it today,” Mary-Kate admitted. “I guess we’re going to talk to the creators and see what’s happening.”

    Ashley added that she “ran into Bob (Saget) the other day and we didn’t even talk about it.

    While the twins have been more focused on expanding their fashion empire, they’re open to returning to the Tanner home, if their on-screen dad is ok with it that is.

    “I’m going to call [Saget] and get his perspective,” Ashley said, presumably before she makes a decision about the sitcom.

    It appears that the cast are still close to each other and on first name basis, so it’s no wonder that the Olsen twins would choose to reach out to the man who portrayed their TV dad for eight long seasons.

  • Mila Kunis Sued For Alleged Chicken Stealing, Tries To Set The Record Straight

    Mila Kunis is known for a lot of things – her sultry beauty, her acting talent, her marriage to Ashton Kutcher – and for stealing a chicken.

    Wait, what?

    The Jupiter Ascending actress is being accused of allegedly stealing someone’s pet chicken.

    Singer Kristina Karo claims that she and Kunis were “inseparable” friends when they were attending first grade in the Ukraine. Kunis would always come over to her farm and play with her and her beloved pet chicken Doggie.

    The aspiring singer said that her pet chicken disappeared one day and Kunis confessed to the dastardly deed.

    “Kristina, you can have any other chicken as a pet, you have a whole chicken farm,” Kunis allegedly told her.

    The incident caused her to become an “emotional wreck” and she had to undergo therapy for it.

    But moving to the US to pursue a singing career has put the “Give Me Green Card” singer in close proximity to Kunis, reviving horrible memories of her loss and prompting her to resume some much needed therapy.

    She’s now suing the That 70’s Show star for $5,000 as compensation for the emotional toll of her lost chicken and to cover her therapy bills.

    In the meantime, Kunis appears to be taking the allegation of chicken-stealing in stride. Oz’ Theodora said that she hasn’t been served any papers regarding the lawsuit. She and her husband also took to Meerkat to air her side.

    When asked about the lawsuit, Kutcher said that “It’s shocking to me that news organizations, real journalists out there that have fact-checked this story didn’t pick up on the fact that this girl was one month old and having a conversation with you from Ukraine.”

    Based on Karo’s online biography and Kunis’ age, the wannabe green card holder was just about one-month-old at the time she claims her chicken was stolen. The village she grew up in is also more than 400 kilometers from where Kunis was raised.

  • Nikki Sixx Not Retiring Yet, Plans To Go On Tour With Sixx: AM

    Motley Crue might be retiring, but not Nikki Sixx. The bassist is staying true to the adage that rock and roll never dies and confirms in a Rolling Stone interview that he has no plans to retire yet.

    The 56-year-old guitarist has his eye on touring with his other band Sixx: AM once he gets off from his final tour with Motley Crue.

    It will be Sixx: AM’s first tour and Sixx is excited to focus on music from the band’s three albums, which he described as complicated and diverse.

    “We want to go to Japan and Australia and New Zealand and then Europe and back to America, all while we’re working on our fourth record,” Sixx reveals. “We’re f***ing ready to do it. No retirement for me!”

    But it is curtains for the legendary heavy metal band Motley Crue, which is set to take their final bows on New Year’s Eve at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

    The band has been a force in rock music since 1981 and the Crue’s members – vocalist Vince Neil, drummer Tommy Lee, bassist Nikki Sixx and guitarist Mick Mars – are known for staying true to rock’s hedonistic lifestyles.

    However, like their aptly named final tour, all bad things must come to an end and Motley Crue’s members announced that they have signed a “cessation of touring agreement” which will prevent them from touring under the band’s name beyond 2015.

    Their final tour kicked off on July last year and ends on December 31 of this year.

    Playing at the Staples Center is a fitting end to the band that started its rise to fame on the Sunset Strip. There have been reports that the band will play one last set at the famed Whisky club after their Staples gig, but Sixx has doubts that will materialize.

    But fans of Motley Crue shouldn’t worry about not seeing their favorite hellions anymore. Like Sixx, the other 3 members still have their own personal projects.

  • Teresa Giudice Won’t Get Out Of Prison Early, Still Acting Like A Diva

    It appears that Teresa Giudice will have to serve the entirety of her 15-month sentence for fraud, and it’s all thanks for her husband Joe.

    The Real Housewives of New Jersey star was expecting to be released from Danbury Connecticut correctional facility in time for the holiday season because she and her husband had a deal on the table.

    But a source says that the deal has gone sour and it was all Joe’s fault.

    “He met with the feds and the whole thing fell apart during those meetings because of the things he said,” the source explained. “So now the deal is off the table. [Teresa] is going to be sitting in prison for the rest of her sentence.”

    However, if reports from some inmates are to be believed, Teresa isn’t having such a terrible time in prison anyway.

    A former inmate at the facility has claimed that “Teresa’s a diva” and that the Real Housewife is getting special treatment.

    “Just the way she got her job, that’s definitely diva treatment,” the ex-inmate says. “She wipes tables three days a week and it’s maybe for 15-20 minutes a shift. She had that job before she came in, and that’s hard to get. Why should she get that when people are outside shoveling snow?”

    Good question.

    She is also allegedly getting preferential treatment when it comes to meals and visitors.

    Her own husband Joe also inadvertently alluded to the cushy life that his wife is living while serving time for wire and bank fraud.

    In an Extra interview aired last month, the businessman talked about having been made to wait for an hour while Teresa did her hair.

    He also described the 42-year-old mother as having “a little group she hangs out with and does her thing with every day.”

    The Italian-born Joe will be serving his own 41-month sentence for fraud once Teresa is released.

  • Sherri Shepherd Doesn’t Want Her Baby, Court Forces Her To Take Responsibility

    Sherri Shepherd is a mother once more.

    A Pennsylvania judge ruled that Sherri Shepherd is the legal mother of a baby boy who was born via surrogate after she filed for divorce from husband Lamar Sally.

    The 8-month-old baby, who’s named after his father, was conceived with Sally’s sperm and a donor egg, with Shepherd’s consent. However, Shepherd had a change of heart midway into the surrogate’s pregnancy and refused to claim the baby.

    The former The View co-host had also filed papers asking to be relieved of her parental rights and responsibilities for the baby.

    Records show that 47-year-old Shepherd had paid the surrogate $30,000 for carrying and delivering the baby. At one point, she even offered $150,000 to her estranged husband which he refused.

    “I want her to co-parent with me like we agreed,” he said. “Sherri is the one who initiated the surrogacy and we agreed to do this together, she wanted this child more than anything.”

    Legal representatives for the child also presented video evidence of Shepherd obviously happy and “expressing excitement over her and Lamar going to have a baby through the help of a surrogate carrier with no genetic connection.”

    With the court ruling, Shepherd can be ordered to pay for child support.

    His victory is a “bittersweet” one, according to Sally but says that Shepherd still owes him an apology, adding that the apology should go to “me, Jessica and [baby] LJ. At some point she is going to have to look into his face and say, ‘I’m sorry. You were conceived out of love.’”

    Jessica is Jessica Bartholomew, the surrogate that Shepherd and Sally chose. She has since spoken out against Shepherd for refusing to claim the child.

    The case is groundbreaking one for surrogates and gives them protection in the event that one or both of the intended parents decides to renege on the contract.

  • Muhammad Ali’s ‘Rope-A-Dope’ Should Not Be Glorified, Says Floyd Mayweather Jr.

    Floyd Mayweather Junior is already a legend in his own mind, and now he wants the world to know that he’s even better than Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson.

    In a recent interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, the outspoken pugilist said that “no one can ever brainwash me to make me believe that Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali were better than me.”

    He was gracious enough to acknowledge his respect for the veteran fighters, though.

    “But one thing I will [say]: I’m going to take my hat off to those guys and respect those guys because those are the guys that paved the way for me,” Mayweather said.

    Despite his professed respect for Ali, Mayweather didn’t seem too impressed with Ali’s fights with Leon Spinks and George Foreman.

    The heavyweight suffered a shocking defeat to a relatively inexperienced Spinks in 1978. Spinks had only fought 7 times before winning via split decision over the heavily favored Ali.

    The 38-year-old Mayweather also had some choice words to say about the “rope-a-dope” tactics Ali used against George Foreman in their classic Rumble in the Jungle.

    “So are you going to tell me that it’s cool to lay on the ropes and take punishment and let a man tire himself out from beating you and then he basically fatigued?” he asked before adding “You hit him with a few punches and he go down and quit, and you want to be glorified for that?”

    It’s quite easy to understand where Mayweather is coming from. The boxer is undefeated in 47 professional fights and is considered by most as the number 1 boxer pound-for-pound.

    But he might want to hold off on his gloating until he has faced off with Manny Pacquiao on May 2.

    The Filipino boxer is one of his biggest and most awaited challengers. A victory over Pacquiao could go a long way in making people believe that he’s better than boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson.

  • In-N-Out Faces Stiff Competition, Shake Shack Is Coming To LA

    In-N-Out has recently been voted as America’s favorite “limited-service” restaurant by the Consumer Picks survey for the third year in a row. But it might soon be facing some pretty tough competition when Shake Shack finally reaches California’s shores.

    The trendy burger chain recently announced that it will soon be plying its wares on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and West Knoll Drive by next year.

    California’s first ever Shake Shack restaurant will be designed like a modern roadside stand, complete with an outdoor patio and a parking lot. While the restaurant’s design is different from the ones in New York, the menu – which boasts of “100% all-natural, antibiotic-free Angus beef”- remains the same.

    It will be interesting to see how Los Angelenos would react to this upstart going head to head with their favorite In-N-Out. There’s already some excited buzz being generated over the news of Shake Shack’s impending arrival in California.

    However, it might not even come down to a burger showdown. While the two restaurants both pride themselves on their fresh ingredients, they offer two totally different eating experiences.

    The burgers at Shake Shack usually cost twice as much as an In-N-out burger, but the restaurant also offers twice as much in terms of food choices. It has hotdogs, ice cream, mushroom burgers, alcoholic beverages and even dog treats for those who want to eat out with their fur babies.

    On the other hand, In-N-Out prefers to keep their menu simple, although loyal customers know they can also fall back on the food chain’s “secret” menu.

    To put it in another way, Shake Shack gives a more upscale, citified experience while In-N-Out is the cooler, more laid-back one.

    With Shake Shack expanding globally (they’ve opened in Russia, Turkey, the Midldle East and the UK), you know it was only a matter of time before they set their eyes on conquering the West Coast.

  • Roseanne Barr: What’s Causing Her To Go Blind?

    Comedienne Roseanne Barr has been through a lot. She has struggled with divorces, weight problems, personal demons and now, she’s fighting a disease that’s slowly robbing her of her eyesight.

    In a recent interview she gave for The Daily Beast, the stand-up comic admitted that she’s suffering from glaucoma and macular degeneration. The disease is progressive and unfortunately, it also can’t be reversed.

    According to Barr, her doctors haven’t given her a definitive time frame on when she’ll lose all visibility.

    “No, they can’t. My vision is closing in now,” Barr describes, while making a narrowing motion with her hands. “It’s something weird,” she admits.

    Glaucoma and macular degeneration have been described as the silent eyesight killers and are the two leading causes of blindness in the world.

    Macular degeneration largely afflicts Caucasians 55-years-old and older and affects the part of the retina that’s responsible for 90% of our vision.

    Glaucoma, on the other hand, is caused by significant pressure placed on the optic nerve.

    Both diseases are genetically influenced and unfortunately, science hasn’t yet found a way to transplant the parts of the eyes that are affected by the disease.

    But along with certain lifestyle changes, there are medications and treatments that can help alleviate the symptoms of glaucoma and macular degeneration.

    In Barr’s case, the feisty funny lady has admitted that she uses marijuana to relieve some of the symptoms, but nothing can stop it from worsening.

    “That one’s harsh,” admits the one-time presidential hopeful. “Cause I read a lot, and then I thought, ‘Well, I guess I could hire somebody to read for me and read to me.’ But I like words and I like looking.”

    Barr has been surprisingly pragmatic about her situation.

    “I just try and enjoy vision as much as possible,” she says. “Y’know, living it up.”

  • Farrah Abraham Makes Explosive Comeback On ‘Teen Mom OG’

    It has finally happened. Everyone’s revered and reviled teen mom is back.

    Farrah Abraham finally made an appearance in the last 10 minutes of Teen Mom OG and in typical Farrah fashion, she brought some major drama with her.

    The Teen Mom original was dropped by MTV when the other moms didn’t want to work with her. But producers asked her to return midway through the season. And after some hemming and hawing, the erstwhile porn princess has decided to return.

    But not gracefully, it would seem.

    When the show’s producers and camera men arrived at her house, Farrah was frosty and barely civil. And when Heather, one of the producers, prodded her to shoot an intro segment explaining why she returned to the show, Farrah went off to sulk and cry.

    “I was dropped a year ago, then apparently now I’m not so crazy and it’s okay that I’m back on TV,” she ranted. “I’m just over being judged and I guess I don’t want to talk about that.

    The rest of her segment consisted of her sniping at her mom for talking with Heather (“I don’t even like that you’re having a fake, wannabe happy conversation”), throwing some shade at the crew (“I don’t care if you guys are here or not”) and being snarky at another producer who wanted her to share her feelings about being booted out of the series (“I already went to counseling for it. I’m not going to talk about it anymore.”)

    The explosive breakdown seems to have eclipsed other things that happened on Teen Mom OG, like Amber flying into a rage again because of Gary’s shenanigans or Maci telling her tantrum-prone ex about her pregnancy. Or even Catelyn and Tyler’s visiting their daughter Carly and having that tense conversation with her adoptive parents.

  • Amber Portwood Vents On Twitter About Fiance Cheating On Her

    Amber Portwood Vents On Twitter About Fiance Cheating On Her

    Amber Portwood can’t seem to get a break when it comes to matters of the heart.

    The Teen Mom OG member recently vented on Twitter that her fiancé was cheating on her.

    “Every man I give my heart to uses me and cheats on me @mattEPT,” Portwood tweeted.

    The tweet, which also included her fiance’s Twitter handle, was quickly deleted and replaced with another tweet from Portwood that says “We’re going to try to work it out.”

    Sources say the engaged couple had an argument because of a conversation that Matt Baier had with his ex-girlfriend several months ago.

    The two allegedly had a friendly conversation and they took a platonic selfie together. This happened while Baier and his fiancée Portwood were in Las Vegas last fall but according to the source “Amber was really upset and said she didn’t want Matt to talk to her.”

    However, the two have already resolved that issue (hence the second tweet).

    The source also clarified that the 43-year-old Baier never cheated on Portwood. However, the girl does have some serious issues when it comes to fidelity (maybe from past experience?)

    The 27-year-old Teen Mom star has previously accused her ex-boyfriend Gary Shirley of cheating on her while she was serving her sentence at the Rockville Correctional Facility.

    Portwood was sentenced to a 5-year prison sentence for drug possession but was released after only 17-months for good behavior.

    But that good behavior seems to diminish whenever Portwood comes in contact with her daughter’s father.

    Shirley, who is expecting another child with his new girlfriend, arrived to have a civil discussion with Portwood about their complicated relationship.

    But the supposedly grown-up conversation blew up and the two had another shouting match.

    Portwood snapped and started shouting at him after Shirley confessed that he “did not want another kid

  • Emma Stone To Play Billie Jean King Against Steve Carell’s Bobby Riggs

    The legendary tennis match “Battle of the Sexes” was a big victory for female athletes. Now Fox Searchlight will be bringing that epic gender fight to the screen, with Emma Stone playing Billie Jean King and Steve Carell as Bobby Riggs.

    In a surprise announcement, Fox Searchlight has scheduled the movie to begin shooting this fall, with husband and wife team Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris set to direct. Simon Beaufoy of Slumdog Millionaire wrote the script and it will be produced by Danny Boyle and Christian Coulson.

    The film is expected to have a light, comedic touch reminiscent of Little Miss Sunshine but with gender and political themes that still rings through today, maybe even more so.

    The “Battle of the Sexes” was a big moment in both Billie Jean King’s career and the feminist movement. The tennis great and activist initially turned down Rigg’s invitation but changed her mind when the retired tennis player started looking down on female athletes.

    It was also one of the greatest tennis matches of all time, and garnered the highest TV ratings since Armstrong landed on the moon. The 29-year-old King’s victory over the much older Riggs was hailed by a New York Times editorial as doing “more for the cause of women than most feminists can achieve in a lifetime.”

    But this is not the only retelling of the match that’s in the pipeline, although it’s expected to be the first one to start production.

    A still untitled HBO project is also in the works. Elizabeth Banks will be portraying King to Paul Giamatti’s Riggs. Proof’s David Auburn will be writing the script and Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman will be producing it.

    There’s also The Match Maker which stars Will Farrell as Bobby Riggs. Based on the ESPN article by Don Van Natta Jr., the film revolves around the premise that Riggs had to lose the match because of his gambling debts.