Various news outlets are reporting that Elizabeth Taylor has died of congestive heart failure after two months in the hospital. A staggering loss. More to come. [USA Today, ABC News, Radar Online]
Okay, so, we had a lot of questions when we heard that Angelina Jolie would be playing Cleopatra in the movie based on Stacy Schiff’s bestselling book Cleopatra: A Life. But! The buzz now is that David Fincher may direct, hot damn. He’s good. Still, this movie is supposed to be “the first telling of the Cleopatra story from a woman’s perspective.” So why the hell don’t the producers tap a female director? Here are some suggestions: Kathryn Bigelow. Mira Nair. Catherine Hardwicke. Allison Anders. Deborah Kampmeier. Jane Campion. Leslie Harris. For starters. [Deadline]
After allegedly throwing a chair, breaking a window and causing shattered glass to rain down on Times Square yesterday, Chris Brown spent the afternoon playing some basketball with his friends, relaxed and happy. Chillin. [Radar Online]
Christina Aguilera has joined Twitter! Just in time to promote her new TV show. [E!]
Lady Gaga did a video interview from the Google headquarters yesterday, answering questions from fans. She revealed that she will make her directorial debut with her next video, “Judas,” saying: “It’s no surprise I’m sure to many of you, that ‘Judas’ is a man of the biblical senses. So expect to see some symbolism in this video.” The lyrics: “When he comes to me I am ready/ I’ll wash his feet with my hair if he needs/ Forgive him when his tongue lies through his brain/ Even after three times he betrays me/ I’ll bring him down, a king with no crown.” She added: “The song is about honoring your darkness, in order to bring yourself into the light. It’s kind of what I just mentioned to you about if you’re standing in the light, you will cast a shadow. I have been haunted by my past for a very long time.” [Digital Spy]
More from Lady Gaga‘s Google interview: ” I say this with so much genuineness, from my heart – is that bullying really stays with you your whole life, and it really, really never goes away. I know [that] you’re using words like ‘superstar’ and ‘most Googled’ and ‘billions of YouTube videos’, but I was never the winner. I was always the loser, and that still stays with me. And do I want to stick it anybody? No, I just want to make music.” [Digital Spy]
Lady Gaga wrote two songs for Jennifer Lopez‘s album, BTW. [Contact Music]
- Lindsay Lohan has to decide if she will accept a plea deal today. [CNN]
Michael Lohan is out of the hospital and plans to press charges against his ex, Kate Major, who pressed charges against him and claimed that he assaulted her. Lohan says, “Look, I’m the one who got cut, I’m the one that was bleeding!” What a fucking mess. [Wonder Wall] - Jake Gyllenhaal says: “You’re always wondering how long this will last. It’s a piece of being an actor. There’s always someone more talented or younger than you.
“But I also like to write. In years to come, I think that will expand. I won’t just be scrapping for the next job. Maybe I’ll create something for myself.” Also, he will probably direct. [Contact Music] - Scott “American Psycho” Disick is on the cover of Men’s Fitness, making his gradual transformation into Patrick Bateman almost complete. Although! Don’t get it twisted. There is no substitute for the real thing. [X17]
- Britney‘s former nanny plans to refile a lawsuit against Ms. Spears for thousands of dollars in unpaid wages. [Radar Online]
- Glee fans! The Warblers album drops April 19. [PR Newswire]
- Eff what you heard yesterday. Today the news is that there is “no chance” of Charlie Sheen returning to Two And A Half Men. [TMZ]
- Over the weekend, Renee Zellweger did what any gal who just broke up with her nigh-profile paramour would do: She visited Sandra Bullock. [Us Magazine]
- Renée has also been hanging out with everyone’s hero, Bobby D. [Gatecrasher]
- Rebecca Black (or her producers?) are actually making money from “Friday.” Fun fun fun. [Forbes]
- Tish Cyrus says that she and Billy Ray are back together, and posted a message on Facebook reading, “Our family weathered a huge storm… I feel we are stronger than we have ever been!” An actual happy ending? How very Hannah Montana. [NYDN]
- On her show, Ellen grilled Selena Gomez about Justin Bieber — pointing out that the last time Selena was on the show, she claimed she wasn’t dating The Beebs. At the time, Selena said, “he’s like my little brother.” In the video at the link, Selena counters, “I didn’t lie to you!” Then Ellen gives her a Bieber pillow. [The Life Files]
- Hugh Laurie‘s debut album drops May 9. [Digital Spy]
- Zowie! A David Bowie album from 2001 has just been released! [Anitiquiet]
- “She takes ages to get ready. It’s unbelievable. I had no idea what went on, I was never normally around for that bit.” — Russell Brand on wife Katy Perry. [Contact Music]