Hot Shot
Mariah Carey walking down–most of–the stairs on a film set on Malibu Beach, California on Thursday afternoon. (Photo: WENN)
Lindsay Lohan hit back at her father Michael Lohan via Twitter Thursday after he released embarrassing tearful voicemails from his daughter. "Its [sic] so sad that I even have to share this w/everyone, but I haven't had a real relationship w/Michael Sr. in years. That is the truth. Xox," Lindsay wrote. "I just hope I can show others how to be strong through times & to be able to stand up for yourself and loved ones no matter what!" (Photo: WENN)
Matthew McConaughey turned 40 Thursday and is sharing his refelctions over Twitter. "Cyber world… mcconaughey here, 40 years young today…," Matthew Tweeted. "Thanks to all for the birthday wishes and to the people that share the same birthday, glad you were born too. The 30’s were good to me and I’m really looking forward to my 40’s, cause I'm late bloomer. Got everything I need for a perfect 40th…a happy and healthy lady, son, and another baby on the way….my family, closest friends and I celebrated last night with a performance by one of my favorite artists Jamey Johnson." (Photo: WENN)
Angelina Jolie sports many looks – from homely diplomat to sultry assassin – in the just-released trailer for her upcoming movie Salt, set to hit theaters summer 2010.
Watch it here:
Dancing With the Stars eliminated NFL-er Michael Irvin and Iron Chef host Mark Dacascos Tuesday night. Irvin and partner Anna Demidova were the first to go. Then Dacascos faced off against singer Aaron Carter in a dance off. Judges including, Carrie Ann Inaba, left, rated Carter’s jive tops. Dacascos struggled after his partner, Lacey Schwimmer, came down with the flu, and he was forced to dance with Anna Trebunskaya. (Photo: WENN)
Brad Pitt is looking for a new motorcycle after damaging his hog last month while fleeing photographers. "I had a little mishap," Pitt told reporters in Tokyo at a press conference for Inglourious Basterds. "No injuries, except my ego. I was trying to get away from some paparazzi and instead gave them a good story. It was my favorite bike, so that is really sad." Will he be shopping for a Japanese model while he's in town? "I will definitely be looking at motorcycles," Pitt said. "You've got some of the best builders right here." (Photo: WENN)
U BLOG: 'Slumdogs' Busted For Skipping School
by Audrey Szepinski
Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle’s 2008 film about the plight of children in the slums of Mumbai, India, was a surprise hit that took in over $300 million and eight Oscars. Stardom, however, didn’t do much to solve the real-life plights of Slumdog’s child actors, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and Rubina Ali, who play the younger versions of the two lovers in the story.
Despite the film’s success, Azharuddin and Rubina have been living a tough life. After returning to a life of extreme poverty in—you guessed it—the slums of Mumbai, government authorities demolished both of their shanty homes, not to mention the fact that Rubina’s father allegedly tried to put her up for adoption (to an undercover “sheik”) in exchange for about £200,000. Oh yeah, and Azharuddin was publicly beaten by his father for refusing an interview.
Filmmakers did set up a “Jai Ho” trust fund for the children’s housing and education, but Azharuddin’s family was moved into a small apartment only a few months ago. The filmmakers say that they have offered many apartments to the two families, and that they are still negotiating with Rubina’s father, but the families have objected to the distance of the apartments from their homes in Mumbai.
The children’s latest hardship comes in the form of something that plenty of more fortunate kids are familiar with—a charge of truancy. Not that anybody really aspires to snag that Perfect Attendance award anymore, but according to a Jai Ho trustee, Azharuddin has only been showing up to school 37% of the time, and Rubina 27%. If the children don’t boost their attendance to at least 70%, they will lose their trust money.
Azharuddin’s mother told the Associated Press that she has been keeping her son out of school because he was devastated after his father’s death in September. Rubina’s father blames the loss of their shanty and a nasty cut on Rubina’s leg. These reasons, combined with the children’s recently crippling living conditions (the AP reported that Rubina’s house was flooded with sewage, making it nearly impossible for the family to bathe and cook), seem pretty solid to me, but the trust fund administrator tells a different story. “They are constantly going to Paris and Cochin and Chennai,” he says. “That’s fine, but…not at the sacrifice of school.”
Obviously, there’s something fishy going on here. Let us accept for the moment that the children are somehow finding the means to go to Paris once in a while, or rather, “constantly.” The government tore down these kids’ homes, and now a bunch of Hollywood people are hounding them to go to stupid old *school*? Give ‘em a break. They did play a significant role in bringing in that $300 million.
Whatever the reason for Azharuddin and Rubina’s truancy, I hope they find a way to keep their trust money. Stay in school and don’t do drugs, kids—but first, trying getting those Slumdog Millionaire producers to rebuild your homes.
- Posted by Uinterview @ 11/5/09, 7:05 PM