Academy Awards

HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW

Donald Trump continues to make news now that he’s inaugurated as our 47th president, and his friendship with the world’s richest man, Elon Musk has drawn a lot of interest. We just heard this on VERY GOOD authority. Donald, who likes to talk tough, gets very SUBMISSIVE to Elon when they are behind closed doors and it’s becoming an issue for those in his inner circle. Donald seems SO impressed (and intimidated) by Elon’s enormous wealth that he pretty much lets Elon call the shots when they are strategizing on policy and most everything else. Even Donald’s wife Melania is unhappy with the change in Donald’s demeanor, and she’s made no secret of her disdain for Elon. Behind the scenes she’s scheming to put some distance between her husband and Elon.

Wendy Williams made headlines once again for more phone interviews (including one on TMZ) where she is pleading for her release from what she describes as a luxury prison. Here is what we know. Behind-the-scenes, Oprah Winfrey is getting involved, trying to secure a one-on-one in person interview with Wendy. Oprah wants to see for herself if Wendy is truly being held unnecessarily under a conservatorship. Of course, Oprah being Oprah, she’s not out to exploit Wendy, so if the interview does happen, and Wendy doesn’t appear lucid, Oprah is telling pals, it will never see the light of day.

Jamie Foxx made headlines when it was announced that he and his girlfriend of more than a year, Alyce Huckstepp had called it quits. As we previously reported, Jamie and his ex-girlfriend Katie Holmes started talking soon after he recovered from his stroke. Now we know this. Although Katie has been rumored to be dating since splitting with Jamie, she’s always carried a torch for him, and he for her. The first time around their timing was off, but my inside source says don’t be too surprised if the former couple reconciles sooner rather than later.

The Los Angeles fires continue to make headlines more than two weeks after they first ignited. There’s been much debate about whether or not LA should host this year‘s upcoming Academy Awards but in true Hollywood tradition, the show must go on. We just heard this… producers are planning to turn segments of the show into a fundraiser, and are even planning to have some of the brave men and women of the fire department present some of the awards that night. So when they’re not handing out trophies, the focus will be on the fires. Even the red carpet is getting a makeover – instead of talking about fashion, celebrities will talk about how the fires have affected them and their loved ones.

Speaking of the Academy Awards, the nominees were announced on Thursday, January 23. While Ariana Grande was nominated for best supporting actress, her friend and former child star Selena Gomez was not. We just heard that the gals sent each other lavish floral arrangements after the nominations were announced. It was just a coincidence, but Selena wanted to congratulate Arianna for getting a nod, and Arianna wanted to let Selena know she felt she was snubbed.

And one last piece of Oscar gossip. Demi Moore, a Best Actress nominee for The Substance, is hoping to bring her ex-husband Bruce Willis as one of her Oscar dates! Bruce doesn’t get out much since his health has deteriorated due to dementia, but he does have good days, and Demi’s dream is to bring Bruce, their daughters and Bruce’s wife as her dates.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

HAS WILL SMITH BEEN PUNISHED ENOUGH?

Will Smith still has 8-years left on his 10-year Oscar ban after slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. According to a movie industry insider, he’s getting antsy and quietly trying to get the punishment amended. Will IS still remorseful about his behavior, but he now feels the punishment was too severe for the incident. He’s strategically trying to plead his case to influential Academy members one by one, but only time will tell if his top secret campaign to lift the ban is successful…

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA  Will Smith in Miami filming Bad Boys 4

THE OSCARS WANT RYAN GOSLING TO HOST NEXT YEAR

He didn’t walk away with any of the awards, but Ryan Gosling was the night’s big winner at the Oscars. His energetic performance of I’m Just Ken stole the show, and the reviews were unanimous that he hit it out of the ballpark. Producers noticed, and he’s already been offered the opportunity to HOST next year‘s Oscars. According to our source, the Academy wants to go back to a big opening song and dance number like they did in the days when Billy Crystal hosted. After his recent performance, they feel Ryan is the PERFECT candidate, since he can sing dance, tell jokes and act.

 

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

 

 

 

 

PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MIGHT POP UP AT THE OSCARS

Will they or won’t they? That’s the question Hollywood insiders are asking themselves now that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are secretly being wooed to become presenters at the upcoming Academy Awards! Now that they’ve gone Hollywood, the former royal couple have been offered a chance to present an Oscar at the upcoming ceremony. The invite is being kept a secret since they haven’t agreed to appear, but our knowledgable source reveals it could very well happen since the pair are already planning to attend the coveted after parties, including the ones hosted by Vanity Fair and Netflix. The details are still being sorted out, but if they agree the plan is for them to present either the award for best foreign film or best documentary.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

THE ACADEMY HAS NOT FORGOTTEN BRUCE WILLIS

Despite bringing in billions in total box office revenue, Bruce Willis has never been nominated for an Academy Award. Although he has two Emmys and a Golden Globe on his mantle (among other accolades) he’s never been in the running for an Oscar, but that’s about to change. An insider told me that Bruce is set to be honored with an honorary Oscar for his decades of contributions to the movie industry. Because of time constraints there likely isn’t enough time to make it happen when the awards are handed out on March 12, so it’s set to happen next year. Since Bruce’s health woes affect his ability to communicate, the plan is for the award to be accepted by his wife Emma Heming along with his ex-wife Demi Moore and his five daughters.

 

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

ONE LESS THING FOR WILL SMITH TO WORRY ABOUT

After last year’s Oscar Slap, Will Smith was banned from the Oscars for ten years. His people were quick to bring up the subject of his next movie Emancipation – what if Will were nominated for an Oscar for THAT? An awkward situation for the Oscars? Problem solved – Emancipation has not lived up to the hype- reviews have not been great and Rotten Tomatoes rated it “Rotten,” so it’s not likely that the film or Smith will even be nominated…

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

WHAT IF WILL SMITH HAD BEEN FORCED TO LEAVE THE OSCARS?

We just heard that after THE SLAP, Will Smith WAS asked by the Academy to leave the ceremony and he REFUSED! Of course this makes Smith’s egotistical behavior look even WORSE, and hopefully the Academy will be more likely to punish him in some way. Just imagine what MIGHT have happened if security guards had INSISTED that Smith leave, and attempted to “walk” him out forcefully! Smith would struggle and Denzel Washington would probably have leapt into the fray to try and calm things down. Tuxedoes notwithstanding, other hot-headed actors would have jumped at the chance to defend whatever side they were on. It could have degenerated into quite a melee (although many viewers would have loved it) so give the Academy a break. It’s so nice to hear that after THE SLAP, Chris Rock’s standup tour tickets started selling like crazy – this will be quite profitable for him.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

IS BEYONCE ANTI-VAX?

Because she was nominated for her song Be Alive from King Richard, Beyonce is blessing the Oscars with a much-needed live performance on the show. The website Gawker has calculated the it is highly probable that Beyonce is NOT vaccinated. The Oscars require that all nominees and guests show proof of vaccination and negative tests before they can attend the show. Strangely, PERFORMERS and presenters will only need to be tested in accordance with LA County rules. Did the Academy have different rules for performers because they REALLY want Beyonce on the show? Also suspicious- recently Beyonce did NOT attend the ceremony when her husband Jay-Z was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame– where proof of vaccination was required.

Photo: Beyonce in her Ivy Park fashions

WHEN THE OSCARS PREDICTED “THE STARS OF TOMORROW” – YIKES!

In 1989 the Academy made the cruel mistake of nominating the “Stars of Tomorrow” on the Oscars and having the young performers sing and dance on the show (including Corey Feldman.) Watch this clip and you will be shocked by how LITTLE success many of these familiar young actors had – none of them came close to getting an Oscar…(Watching Bob Hope and Lucille Ball in their 80’s introduce the segment is fun too!)

HALLE BERRY IS NOT STARTING TO LOOK HER AGE!

Halle Berry fans and fashion observers went absolutely NUTS when she appeared at the Academy Awards in a new short bobbed haircut. The hair completely upstaged her gorgeous Dolce & Gabbana gown and was the talk of the red carpet and LONG after. A lot of the comments were not so nice such as “Halle Berry is finally starting to look her age!” She finally got tired of the mostly negative uproar and admitted that she was wearing a wig. Just to make SURE that everybody knows she still has her long hair, the 54 year old actress has been posting photos of herself that prominently feature her still-intact tresses.

Photo: Instagram