Gawker
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celebrity weeklies
Lindsay Lohan Makes Being Gay So Much More Than Just OK!
Beloved child actress Lindsay Lohan's shocking "I'm Gay!" cover has hit newsstands! And it is truly shocking. The word "gay" is nowhere to be found?! It's all "Love" and "Wedding Plans" and "In Other Old News, Oy That Is A Remarkable Rack." More »
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By MoeComment by Steverino Begins: "Yep, I'm Bi-Trendy." Okay, I don't really think she's just being trendy, but I'm betting this is temporary and she'll wind... 7 Responses | Other threads
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brangelina
Brangelina Baby Shoot Booked Even Before Bidding Complete
Brangelina spawn photo war update! We hear that Getty is scheduled to do the photo shoot of Angelina Jolie's new twins on Monday. Knox and Vivienne are officially entering the celebrity media machine, and it's about time! The twist, of course, is that the bidding war between OK! and People for the rights to the photos is still ongoing. The price was hovering between $11 and $12 million this morning, and we hear it hasn't been decided yet. We know you are dying to know who will walk away the victor. A speculative look, and a guess: More »
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Comment by flossy: Eh, wake me up in twelve years when they go to rehab. more » | Other threads
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jennifer lopez
The Algebra Of Celebrity Baby Photos
Jennifer Lopez's last two movies, El Cantante and An Unfinished Life, did only $16m between them at the domestic box office. The singer-actress has ceded the celebrity weeklies, in which her relationship with actor Ben Affleck featured heavily, to younger stars. Her current husband, Marc Anthony, is a relative unknown. So why would pictures of Lopez's forthcoming offspring be worth up to $6m to People magazine? Because box-office appeal, buzz, and spousal synergy are all outweighed by one factor: the soppy readers of celebrity magazines adore pictures of twins. They're worth not merely twice as much; the multiplier is more like two to the power of two. Which means that Angelina Jolie's twins, which benefit from much more famous parents, will smash all records; her last, solo, child brought in $4m. More »
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By Nick DentonComment by CaptainFantastic: @the supergoddess: Hold still; you won't feel a thing. It will only take an instant. There, done. more » | Other threads
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christina aguilera
Giving You Baby Max, For $1.5m
Here are the first pictures of Baby Max, newborn son of singer, Christina Aguilera. Awww, isn't he cute? And he'd better be: People, part of Time Inc.'s struggling magazine group, outbid checkbook-wielding OK! for the photos. The price: an budget-busting $1.5m, we hear. So buy the magazine, or Max will be the last alpha offspring you ever see. (Read here why there's been such inflation in the price of celebrity baby snaps.)
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By Nick DentonComment by Truculent: Kid resembles Winston Churchhill. Just like the commoners' newborns more » | Other threads
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request for information
Rob Shuter
We're in the market for any background on the OK! editor, and former publicist. Shuter, who was fired as Jessica Simpson's publicist after making up an item about her love for John Mayer, is sleazy even by the standards of the debased celebrity weekly industry. So I'm thinking there's plenty of anecdote surrounding him. Email.
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By Nick DentonComment by AndIAmTellingYou: Nich Lachey has really let himself go. more » | Other threads
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celebrity weeklies
FBI's Paparazzi Probe
The New York Post's Keith Kelly confirms the Feds are investigating an editor at In Touch magazine for taking kickbacks from photo agencies. Not that much new in the piece that wasn't already aired on Gawker on Wednesday. But the allegation is that the celebrity weekly editor assigned lucrative assignments to favored agencies, in exchange for cash payments.
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By Nick DentonComment by PandoraSpocks: I will not stoop to anything with a gate suffix.(But I'm sure someone very clever will come up with a... more » | Other threads
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celebrity economics
Story-Murdering Editor Tale Haunts In Touch
Perhaps Complex magazine missed the juicier side of the FBI's dirty editor investigation: the tabloid editor in question may have been taking bribes to kill stories, not just promote them, according to one former coworker. An English editor based out of In Touch's New Jersey headquarters was, starting four years ago, widely rumored among In Touch staff to have accepted bribes on a regular basis, particularly from a fellow Brit working as a high-profile publicist to a collection of ditzy celebrities. Staff were particularly "horrified" when the editor accepted a rumored $10,000 payment to kill a story involving Jennifer Lopez after her breakup with Ben Affleck, the former colleague said. Though this editor was based on the East Coast, his story helps show why the FBI would be interested in the former In Touch West Coast-based editor on whom speculation has centered. More » -
celebrity economics
Will The FBI Get In Touch?
Famously, Al Capone was brought down, not by charges of racketeering or murder, but by a mundane prosecution for tax evasion. Could it be that's what finally crimps corruption at the celebrity weeklies? According to Complex magazine, federal investigators have tapped phones at In Touch, the also-ran gossip magazine put out by Bauer Publishing. The focus of the FBI probe: payments to at least one editor in exchange for prominent placement of certain B-list celebrities. (For more desirable stories, and baby pictures, the money flows the other way, from magazine to source.) Accepting bribes, while a sackable offense, is not illegal. However, if an editor failed to declare the income, he could be hauled up for tax evasion. News of the investigation has leaked because agents have called in former staffers for interviews over the last few days. In Touch: want to respond? Email and we'll publish. (After the jump, Robert De Niro as Al Capone, slamming the Untouchables for "doctoring up" some income tax violation.)
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us weekly
The celebrity storyline: you choose!
Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz are not engaged, Us Weekly reports in a confessional apology for getting the story wrong (twice). They’re getting good at confirming stories, especially when the stories are denials. But then they follow up with a reader poll: “Should Simpson and Wentz get married?” So at least they’re focus-grouping the lies now. [RM]
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By Nick DentonComment by langtry: (T)hey follow up with a reader poll: "Should Simpson and Wentz get married?" Yet another of those times when I... more » | Other threads
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angelina jolie
Angelina Jolie And 'People': Who Adopted Whom?
When the celebrity weeklies come out tomorrow, nearly all of them will have some version of the story of Angelina Jolie's adoption of three-year-old Pax Thien Jolie last week. But only one magazine will certainly have it as a photo-heavy cover. Only one gets the exclusive access to Jolie and her adoptees that the other tabs can only dream about.
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britney spears
Goofy-Acting Britney's Sex Tape Suit Thrown Out
Hide the cheetos. Britney Spears' lawsuit against Us Weekly, in which she claimed that that magazine had libeled her — not by reporting that she and KFed had made a sex tape (well, duh! Wasn't it called "Chaotic?"), but by saying that she had "acted goofy" while watching the tape in her lawyer's office — has been dismissed. The judge, not being a complete retard, saw right through that one and ruled that since Brit had "put her modern sexuality squarely, and profitably, before the public eye," the magazine had not defamed her. Hear that, Britney? Put your modern sexuality away now. Please. Please please. More »
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By Emily GouldComment by RonMwangaguhunga: Be careful. Federline is so fertile that even reading his name might get you pregnant. more » | Other threads
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anna nicole smith
Final, Dollar-Fetching Moments Between Anna Nicole Smith and Her Son
As first reported on Friday afternoon, Getty Images sent an email out to celebrity weekly editors hawking photos of Anna Nicole Smith, her newborn daughter, and her son, Daniel. The pictures were taken in the Bahamian hospital where, the next day, Daniel was found mysteriously dead. For an initial asking price of $200K, Getty would provide a handful of the tender! heartbreaking! tragic! images, the only caveat being that the buyer had to refrain from running the photos with any sort of negative press — which may be easier said than done if and when toxicology reports are released. More » -
photos
Fire Sale: Anna Nicole Smith's Last Moments With Her Son
Before all the inevitably ugly details surrounding the death of Anna Nicole Smith's son, Daniel — who was found dead in Anna Nicole's hospital room on Sunday morning, just three days after she gave birth to her new daughter — emerge with the autopsy and toxicology reports, why not cash in? Getty Images has sent an email to celebrity weekly editors saying they have 17 pictures of Anna Nicole, Daniel and the new baby, taken in the hospital the day before Daniel died. Preview images show Anna Nicole and Daniel in the hospital bed, with Daniel smiling and holding the baby; Daniel standing up, cradling the baby; and Anna Nicole holding the baby while her lawyer and BFF, Howard K. Stern, leans in with them. More » -
jessica simpson
Gossip Roundup: Jessica Simpson Grovels Like a Commoner
• After her recently fired flack Rob Shuter planted less-than-true items about her non-relationship with John Mayer, Jessica Simpson goes on serious damage control, placing personal phone calls to the celebrity weekly editor posse and apologizing for making everyone look like dumbasses. People editor Larry Hackett, however, didn't take the call. Time Inc. is a very "talk to the hand" kind of place. [Radar] More »
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By JessicaComment by raincoaster: Why is the Whitney/Bobby split story illustrated by snaps of Whitney and AL FRANKEN???? In unrelated news, semen is probably more... more » | Other threads
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racism
Reporter Reveals Diddy's Secret White Slave Ring
Much like every other publication in town, the Observer sent a reporter to last week's Video Music Awards, only to discover that the blingy fracas was less than — oh, what's the word? — halfway interesting. In fact, a major highlight comes not from a celebrity, but from a reporter: More »
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By JessicaComment by alex balk and nick denton's love child: It was Intern Neel more » | Other threads
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people
'People' Provides Aniston With Food, Shelter, Soapbox
In the world of celebrity weeklies, People is like this big, fluffy therapist's couch, where celebrities can lay down and emote and tell their stories exactly as they wish. It's so comfy, industry rumor is that evil queen flack Leslie Sloane-Zelnik once said, "With [People ME] Larry Hackett in charge, I can practically write the story myself." So naturally, the big P is where Jennifer Aniston chose to go to personally refute Us Weekly's claim that she and Vince Vaughn are engaged. She tells the magazine, "When it starts to travel over into the Today show and CNN, and supposedly reliable and accurate news programs, then you just go, 'This is insane. People are getting fed a lot of bull.'" More »
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By JessicaComment by Lucia Toledo: Interview's a fluffier couch, albeit, as a monthly, less immediate.... more » | Other threads
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celebrity weeklies
Celeb Weeklies Feel Emptiness of Angelina Jolie's Womb
Distressing news for celebrity weeklies: Mediaweek has obtained the ABC numbers, and the category appears to be leveling off. Newsstand sales growth has slowed and more titles have entered the fray, causing "saturation." More » -
media
Media Bubble: Ladies Enjoy Pictures Of Celebrities
• If you have a vagina, you probably enjoy reading about movie stars. [NYS] More » -
celebrity weeklies
Celebrity Weeklies: Lies! Lies! Lies!
Online gossip Mario Lavandeira was on Howard Stern this morning, yapping about whatever celebrity's drink he held last night — but when Stern asked him whether or not he worked for the celebrity weeklies, Lavandeira got more clammy than a diarrhetic's hands. He responded that he simply couldn't answer that question, explaining (to paraphrase), "I signed all these agreements, I can't even say I worked there." Lavandeira then added that every single one of the gossip rags printed lies, save for Us Weekly and People. Of course, this comes from a man who regularly contributed to In Touch — so he would know. Bauer, meanwhile, must be thrilled. -
williamsburg
Remainders: Williamsburg Water Taxi Brings Cookies, I-Bankers, Terror
• The Water Taxi comes to Williamsburg, bringing with it a level of comfort for Wall Streeters and a newfound terror for the hipsters who've fought so hard to delay the inevitable. [NYS] More » -
alcohol
Remainders: Pete Coors Loves That Refreshing Rocky Mountain Taste
• Beer king Pete Coors gets a DUI; in an era of corporate corruption, it sure is nice to see an executive who really loves his product. [Denver Post] More » -
us weekly
After the Bomb, Only Roaches and 'Us Weekly' Will Survive
When you're packing together a double issue and taking the next week off, how do you leave your readers? At the Observer, it's with an incredibly long profile of Us Weekly editor Janice Min. The piece seems to appear apropos nothing new other than that, well, she's back from maternity leave and, dammit, Us Weekly is good. It's the summer — that's a good enough peg, right? More » -
us weekly
'Us Weekly' Brings In FBI to Fix Outlook Settings
There's an interesting piece in today's Los Angeles Times revealing that the FBI is investigating an L.A. paparazzi agency at the behest of Us Weekly. Seems the agency was founded last year by a former Us staffer, Jill Ishkanian, and the mag had become suspicious that Ishkanian was gaining access to its reporting scoops for her own gain. The FBI executed search warrants at Ishkanian's home and office, and the working theory was that she was somehow tapping into the Us Weekly computer system to conduct this industrial espionage. What does Ishkanian's lawyer have to say to all this? Oh yeah, he says, she was in the email system. Yikes! And how did she crack the intense security measures? By using a password she'd been given, which no one ever bothered to change. More » -
bonnie fuller
AMI Renews Bonnie Fuller's Will to Live
Happy Monday to Bonnie Fuller: With just five days left on her contract, AMI has recycled the editorial harridan's paperwork for another three years. Fuller will keep her base salary of $1.5 million per year, and the only change to this round of paperwork is the potential for more bonus pay: she had previously earned an average bonus of $275,000 per year, but that has been upped to a guaranteed minimum of $500,000, provided that Star doesn't deteriorate into bag-lady toilet paper. At the end of the day, it's the same luscious paycheck, the same angry staffers pissing in her soup.
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By JessicaComment by Leon Freilich: STAR BRIGHT, STAR BLIGHT Good-news day, meet your bad-news mate: Bonnie's salary takes the palm, Reaching double-mil estate; Chick-chat book, however's, a bomb more » | Other threads
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legal
Reese Witherspoon Should Share the Lawsuit Love
So long as Reese Witherspoon is suing AMI for Star magazine's story claiming that she's pregnant with her third child, she might as well have her educated pit bulls serve something similarly sweet for the rest of celebrity weekly gang. At left, Life&Style claims that loose top = fertile womb; at right, OK! points out Witherspoon's gut and politely calls it a pregnancy. More » -
life & style
'Life&Style' Shills for Canary Diamond Specialists
At left, the purported engagement ring of Cameron Diaz. At right, Jennifer Aniston's. More »
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By JessicaComment by mediawhore: Slow morning or something, Gawker? This post barely even makes sense. more » | Other threads
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bonnie fuller
Bonnie Fuller's Salary to Be Humiliatingly Average?
WWD reports today that AMI editorial director Bonnie Fuller's juicy contract expires at the end of the month and has not yet been renewed. With AMI pinching pennies to the tune of sacking 5 Star staffers last week, some believe that there's no way in hell AMI chairman David Pecker will renew Fuller's contract for the $1.5 million she currently receives. In fact, Star's lackluster circulation has Pecker wanting to reduce her salary by much too much too much, dropping her Bonnie back down to the six-figure barracks: More »
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By JessicaComment by SecureLocation: Stay??? Where the fark is she gonna go? Ain't hardly anybody paying those great old seven-figure salaries of yesteryear. more » | Other threads
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media bubble
Media Bubble: Alas Poor Greenies
• Anna Wintour and Patrick McCarthy don't like each other. Also, Rick Stengel doesn't plan big changes at Time and "greenies" die at post-Siegal Times. [NYO] More » -
politics
Remainders: Nerds Everywhere Load Up on Lotion and Kleenex
• Ohmahgah, the NEW APPLE STORE WILL OPEN TOMORROW THANK YOU LORD STEVE! Curbed has a sneak peek inside the new 5th Avenue cube, and reportedly the cult leader himself will be present when the store opens. Now wipe that drool off your face and work on losing your virginity. [Apple Insider] More » -
bauer
Rumor Mongering: Bargman Gently Eased Out?
From deep within the jungles of New Jersey, a bit of totally unconfirmed chatter: We hear that Life & Style executive editor Joe Bargman may not last much longer. EIC Debra Birnbaum has reportedly assigned Chris Kensler, formerly of OK! and Celebrity Living, to "work with" Bargman. Interestingly, Kensler may also have the same title of executive editor. More » -
us weekly
'Us Weekly' Launches Pretty New Website
AdAge reports on the celebrity weekly wars (didja hear about that one?) and, in turn, reveals that Us Weekly plans to give their website a makeover. Wenner has brought in former Maxim EIC Keith Blanchard as launch editor for the site's "major revamp," which seems to have been conducted late yesterday: More » -
celebrity weeklies
William Safire, Please Address the Matter of Celebrity Scoopage
Star magazine has a sassy little lede on its paragraph-story about Britney Spears: "Once again, Star told you breaking celebrity news first — only to have another publication follow suit!" Oh, smack. We're sure Us Weekly is positively stinging. More »
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By JessicaComment by ZiggyStardust: Sigh, these are the deep philosophical questions I think about at 2 a.m. as well... more » | Other threads
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tomkat
How Did 'People' Break Suri Scoop? Bigger Binoculars.
Frank Swertlow, an L.A. reporter for we-don't-stoop-to- invading-celebrities-lives People magazine, photographed the other day outside the Cruise compound. Sent in by a West Coast snitch who successfully persuaded us of its authenticity. More » -
meredith vieira
Gossip Roundup: Meredith Vieira's Tragic Past
• Before she suffered abuse at the hands of Star Jones, Meredith Vieira had an abusive boyfriend to deal with. As she heads to the Today show, these serious revelations unfortunately do not help us forget that she hosts Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. [R&M] More » -
brad pitt
'New York' Mag's Total Mindfuck Issue
The image at right is not, of course, of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie bringing home the world's sexiest baby. Instead, the disturbing image is from New York's cover story about the paparazzi scramble to score a photo of the forthcoming baby "that Jen wouldn't give Brad" (yes, a celebrity weekly editor actually said that). More » -
media bubble
Media Bubble: It Is the Best of Times for Celeb Weeklies, and It Is the Worst of Times
•Celebrity Living notwithstanding, of course. [WWD] More »
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By JesseComment by The Velvet Blog: Hmm. FYI, Jossip linked to the scumbag and Romenesko items its end-of-day roundup, too. Could have given you a shout... more » | Other threads
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celebrity living
Breaking: 'Celebrity Living,' Now Really Dead
There've been rumors for the last few weeks, but now it's true: AMI is shuttering Celebrity Living, sources within the company tell us. And we hear more bad AMI news might be on its way. Updates as we know more.
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By JesseComment by Hannah sans Banana: But was it ever really alive to begin with? more » | Other threads
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media bubble
Media Bubble: There Is No News About Katie, and Yet Still She Is News
• Will Katie go to CBS? We continue to not really have any idea. [USAT] More » -
celebrity living
New Breaking Rumor: Death Knell for 'Celebrity Living'?
Speaking of rumors that turn out to be true — and speaking of simply asking for y'all to confirm shit for us — here's an interesting one that just arrived in the inbox: More »
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By JesseComment by slurred speech: They're busy trying to find a new job. more » | Other threads
celebrity weeklies
New York, 6:45 AM
Sat Jul 11
42 posts in the last 24 hours
Tip Your Editors:
tips@gawker.com
Tipline: 646-214-8138
Editor-in-Chief:
Gabriel Snyder | Email
Contributing Editors:
Valleywag:
Ryan Tate | Email
Media:
Hamilton Nolan | Email
Politics:
Alex Pareene | Email
Investigations:
John Cook | Email
Entertainment:
Richard Lawson | Email
Weekends:
Foster Kamer | Email
Video Editor:
Richard Blakeley | Email
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
