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Leonardo DiCaprio Takes Private Jet to Accept Environmental Award

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This week, Leonardo DiCaprio was bestowed with a prestigious award for his environmental activism by New York nonprofit Riverkeeper. Awesome. Except that he arrived to the city via private jet. Maybe not so awesome. The actor was in France for the Cannes Film Festival when he jetted off to NYC, and then returned to the South of France the next day in another private jet. Needless to say, many fans weren’t thrilled, because that’s a lot of gas for just one dude. Nevertheless, DiCaprio’s rep explained that the Oscar-winner was due back in Cannes to speak at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS Gala and had few options for transportation. “He was asked to speak at both Riverkeeper and amfAR events, but the only way to attend the two fundraisers was to hitch a ride with flights that were already planned,” the rep told Us Weekly. “Leo helped both events raise millions, donated his own funds, auctioned off his house and had speaking roles in both programs.” Yeah, but still. The optics. During the gala, DiCaprio auctioned off a stay at his Palm Springs home for $336,000, which benefitted the charity. DiCaprio dedicated a good portion of his acceptance speech at the Academy Awards this year to the subject of climate change. “Climate change is real. It is happening right now,” he told the audience. “It is the most urgent threat affecting our entire species.”  “We need to support leaders around the world… who speak for all of humanity… I thank you all for this amazing award tonight. Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take this award for granted.” After the speech, he received a standing ovation and the adoration of environmentalists everywhere.

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Matt Damon endorses Hillary for President: she understands the issue of water

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Matt Damon is covering Town and Country’s June/July philanthropist issue. He talks about his work with Water.org, a charity he co-founded which brings clean water to the third world, and he endorses Hillary Clinton for President. I pegged Damon for a Bernie guy, but it sounds like he’s personally met with Hillary and knows that she’s committed to this issue. Plus it’s possible that he’s endorsing Hillary because it was thought that she had already statistically won the primary, although Bernie is giving her a good fight. (No disrespect to Hillary supporters and I swear I will vote for her!) Damon also discusses how he got involved with this charity. On the impact of being a celebrity and the influence that comes with it: “I became famous. It’s surreal to suddenly wake up to one day and have a larger sphere of influence than you ever anticipated. You genuinely want to do good in the world, but you’re going to make a lot of missteps. People started asking me to come to this gala or that. And then I would find my name associated with things that I didn’t know anything about. I didn’t want to be somebody at whom people rolled their eyes, thinking, ‘What is he doing, getting into the middle of this kind of stuff?’ And that’s why, once my life stabilized a little—my career was going pretty well, my wife was pregnant—I decided to get very serious about one thing.” On lack of access to uncontaminated water in areas where water is ubiquitous: “We don’t know anyone who goes thirsty. We have faucets everywhere. Our toilet water is cleaner than what 663 million people drink. The crisis in Flint, Michigan, ironically, is one of the first times, at least in my memory, that Americans have become aware of just how necessary clean water is, and the dire consequences of not having it.” On his endorsement of Hillary Clinton for President—because of water: “She understands it from a number of different angles—as a national security issue, as a human rights issue, and, obviously, its impact on women and girls. This is not a partisan issue, which is one really good thing about it. We’ve talked in equal parts to Republican and Democratic senators and congressmen.” On children missing school due to lack of clean water “One child dies every 90 seconds because of water-borne illnesses. It’s completely insane. But beyond just senseless death, this is robbing people of their humanity, of their hopes and dreams. And also of simple day-to-day things, like a kid having time to play.” [From Town and Country, received via email] Read the first paragraph above. Doesn’t it sound like his decision to go into charity work was image-driven rather than issue-driven? He’s serious and committed to this cause, I’m not questioning his involvement, I’m just saying that he describes his initial interest as a desire to control the narrative around him. Damon is calculated and careful with his public image and you can see that in how he reuses talking points, although he rarely talks about it. That said, he also focused on one thing so well that he brought worldwide awareness and money to an important cause. Water.org is an extremely effective and high-regarded charity and Damon has absolutely made a difference in the world. The full interview includes a nice story from Damon about how he talked to a 13 year-old girl in Haiti who had just received clean water in her village for the first time. The girl, who was top of her class, told Damon that she would use her extra free time to play. Damon said her answer “buckled my knees.” He also explained that he has four daughters and that he often hears how a lack of clean water affects girls especially. Embed from Getty Images

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Kelly Ripa is on vacation now and is ghosting Michael Strahan

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Embed from Getty Images I’m surprised how much interest there’s been in the Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan drama happening at ABC and I’m also surprised at the sheer number of stories about it. There are a massive amount of details coming out. While I was team Kelly yesterday and am still on her side I am starting to get the impression that she’s somewhat petty too. She came out of her townhouse in New York yesterday carrying a copy of Malcolm Gladwell’s David and Goliath, which seems to be a transparent metaphor for her situation with the big bad network. People is reporting that Kelly “jetted off to the Turks and Caicos islands to celebrate her 20th anniversary right after learning that her co-host Michael Strahan was leaving their show,” but this is not supported by paparazzi photos of her outside her townhouse yesterday. She heard Strahan was leaving on Tuesday, so maybe “right after” means the next day. The Ny Daily News has a very pro-Strahan piece about how he was professional in announcing his exit (remember that he was allegedly under orders not to tell her) and gave her several months’ notice considering that he’s not leaving until the end of the summer. He’s also been trying to contact Kelly, according to a source, but she’s not responding to him at all. He keeps calling, but she won’t pick up the phone. Michael Strahan has repeatedly tried to reach out to co-host Kelly Ripa but has been rebuffed, Confidenti@l has learned. “He’s reached out but there’s been no response,” a source close to the show said. Strahan shocked Ripa and “Live!” executive producer Michael Gelman Tuesday when he revealed to them in a post-show meeting that he was leaving “Live! With Kelly and Michael” to join “Good Morning America” full time. “He did the right thing and gave them a lot of notice that he was leaving at the end of the summer,” a second show source said. “He’s been there all week for the staff, she on the other hand has disappeared.” Ripa — who called out sick Wednesday and then took what a show rep says was a “planned vacation” — looked perfectly healthy as she exited her Upper East Side townhouse clutching a copy of Malcom Gladwell’s “David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits and the Art of Battling Giants.” [From NY Daily News] The NY Daily News also points out that Strahan didn’t attend a scheduled charity co-hosting event Tuesday night for the NYC Food Bank. He did send a video message though. Strahan, 44, was also photographed out with his 27 year-old girlfriend in their workout clothes yesterday. They’ve been dating over a year, and she doesn’t pass the “half his age plus seven” rule by a couple of years. Strahan appeared yesterday on both Live, co-hosting with Erin Andrews, and Good Morning America, which he’s set to join full time in September. On GMA he credited Kelly with teaching him the ropes and called her “family.” There were rumors that GMA’s Lara Spencer felt shafted by Strahan’s appointment at the show because she was hoping to get a promotion to the position he’s taking as lead anchor. A source denies to E! that Spencer is upset and states “Lara and Michael are very close friends.” People is reporting that Strahan will double his salary by moving to GMA and will be making $20 million a year. Ripa reportedly makes around $15 million at Live. CNN is reporting that execs plan to test out other co-hosts for Ripa once Strahan leaves this fall and they’re not planning on canceling the show as rumored. I wonder if they’re rethinking that now that Kelly is MIA and her people have talked to just about every outlet. Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

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Would we feel differently about the monarchy if Prince Harry was the heir?

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Here are some photos of Dirty Ginger Snap Prince Harry unveiling the UK Invictus Team in London on Wednesday. These photos made me sigh deeply and think about his mother. I actually thought, “His mother would be so proud of him in this moment.” To turn his military career into something so positive for veterans… it’s a unique and wonderful thing. At this event, Harry spent a lot of time posing with veterans (and a dog!) – go here to read more. The Invictus Games are in May, and Harry still has more to do to promote the games and work with some of the commonwealth teams. It’s just been announced that he will be traveling to Toronto on May 2 to launch the countdown to the games and meet the Canadian Invictus team. While Harry is in Florida next month, he’ll also be playing a polo match for charity, and he’s bringing his favorite horse. With all of this positivity about Harry (HONKS!), would it be weird if we also discussed the recent comments by Dr Anna Whitelock? She’s a historian – a royal-history historian – and she gave an interview a few days ago about how the British monarchy will likely end in our lifetimes. Whitelock predicted that after the Queen has passed, there will be a larger conversation about ending the monarchy, especially when Charles takes the throne. Whitelock said, in part: “All of those questions about ‘What the hell do we want this kind of unelected family (for)? What does that represent in Britain today?’, all these profound questions have been held in check because of the Queen. I think there’ll be a discussion and a debate in a way that there hasn’t before [after the Queen dies]. As the older generation who are generally more wedded to the monarchy die out, the question of the future of the monarchy will become even more pressing, and then potentially more critical voices will come to the fore. I would say by 2030 there will be definite louder clamours for the eradication of the monarchy. I can’t say that there won’t be a monarchy. I would definitely say that the monarchy – its purpose, what it’s about, will be questioned and challenged in a way that it hasn’t been before. I don’t think it’s out of the question that the monarchy would be potentially be on its last legs.” [From The Express] I do wonder what will happen after the Queen passes. I’ve stopped worrying about what Charles would be like as a king, just because he’s a workhorse and I believe he genuinely cares about public service. Charles has always been prepared to step up to whatever challenges would face him. But yes, when the queen passes and Charles becomes king, there will be these conversations and it will mostly be about what comes after Charles, whose reign will likely be brief. Because people are actually pretty concerned about Workshy Will. If Harry was the heir? If Harry was going to be the Prince of Wales? I think it would be a different story altogether. Photos courtesy of WENN.

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How much money is Duchess Kate spending on clothes for her 6-day tour?

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In this post, I’m using photos of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge from their last big overseas trip, the Australian and New Zealand tour in 2014. I’m doing that because we’re going to talk about clothes, more specifically the clothes Kate will be wearing for the India-Bhutan tour, which doesn’t start until April 10. We still don’t know which designers Kate will be using for the tour, but several outlets are running previews and I guess we should start to get excited about Kate-in-a-sari. Do you think that will even happen? I would love to see her in a sari, but I think it’s far more likely that she would wear a British Indian designer, something with Indian flavor but very much a formal gown. You never know though, maybe Kate will whip out a sari. The Telegraph did a big story on what Kate will wear, but there isn’t much new info here. She’ll take 12-15 outfits for six days, she’ll have “daytime dresses and evening gowns” and hopefully at least one pair of jeggings, I’m assuming. Kate’s team – including her secretary Rebecca Deacon – did a “rehearsal trip” to India to scout locations, take photos and prepare the color story of what Kate will be wearing. Still, a royal source insists: “She is in charge of it herself and takes an interest in paying tribute to the host country with nods to their culture and local style on at least a few of the engagements. The important factor on this tour is the heat, so that’s an issue that plays a big part in the choice of outfits.” She’s likely “commissioned” some special pieces as well as looking for some stuff online. She will be traveling with Natasha Archer – who acts as her stylist (very poorly, I might add) – and Amanda Cook Tucker, who is her hairstylist/wiglet tamer. No one has any idea how much Kate is spending on clothes for this tour, but I think we can assumed that she’s easily spending $40,000 or more. Meanwhile, the Daily Mail’s gossip girl (The Girl About Town) had this interesting piece of news: The Duchess of Cambridge is to cement her title as the Queen of Norfolk by hosting a £10,000-a-head ultra-exclusive party for 80 members of the county’s high society. The lavish gala will be held at Houghton Hall, Palladian stately home of the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley, and a short drive from Kate and Wills’ Anmer Hall. Kate’s name features on the invitation and the party is in aid of the East Anglia Children’s Hospice, the charity of which Kate became a patron in 2012. Tickets start at £6,000 per head and those who pay £10,000 are invited to stay at Houghton with the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley after the party on June 22, ten days after the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations. The ball will include a champagne reception, a lecture by writer Anthony Horowitz, live jazz, a magician, and food by top chefs including Tom Kerridge. The event is another sign that Kate will host more charitable events after Her Majesty turns 90 and will be good practice for Kate the working Royal, with an impressive list of grandees attending the proceedings in Houghton’s marble-clad Stone Hall. [From The Daily Mail] Since I’m an Anglophile, I know that “Cholmondeley” is pronounced “chumly” for British reasons. While I always applaud the very idea of Kate going to work and raising money for charity, of course the only way they’re getting Kate out of the house is by getting her to attend a fancy party full of posh people. I understand that is the definition of modern charitable fundraising, so why is it like pulling teeth to get Kate to attend/co-host charity fundraisers? Also – will Kate and William ever open up Anmer Hall for a fundraiser? Why must the Marchioness of Cholmondeley open her home for Kate’s fundraiser? Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.

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Beatrice Casiraghi wore Giambattista Valli to the Rose Ball: amazing or tragic?

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The Grimaldis celebrated one of their biggest annual events over the weekend. Every year, Prince Albert hosts the Rose Ball, a huge fundraiser for the Princess Grace Foundation, one of the Grimaldis’ big charitable organizations. The Rose Ball is a huge deal. So is it weird that Princess Charlene didn’t come out for it? I’ve been saying that Charlene and Albert seem a lot stronger now that they’ve got an heir and a spare (Gabrielle and Jacques), but it also feels like Charlene skips out on a lot of stuff now that she’s got the babies as an excuse to not be around. So, at this year’s Rose Ball, Albert’s sister Princess Caroline acted as hostess, and her children came out. Andrea and his wife Tatiana were there, as were the rest of her kids: Pierre Casiraghi and his new wife Beatrice, Charlotte Casiraghi (who was also missing her partner, Gad), and Princess Alexandra of Hanover, who is Caroline’s youngest child, the only child Caroline had with Ernst August of Hanover. Caroline and Ernst are pretty much separated full time – I don’t think he’s ever in Monaco, and he seems to live with a succession of mistresses all around the world. Just FYI. As for the fashion, Caroline, Charlotte and Alexandra all wore Chanel. Karl Lagerfeld is particularly close to the Grimaldis, and he often dresses the royal women. I personally like that Charlotte went with a caped pantsuit, it looks daring and modern on her, although the silk satin is slightly budget for Chanel. The big show-stopped look came from Beatrice Casiraghi, who married Pierre last summer in a lavish, multi-nation extravaganza. Beatrice is Italian, so she chose to wear an Italian designer: Giambattista Valli. Her gown with big, frothy and red. I actually like the big-ball-gown look, and my only real qualm is that with all of that old-money and glamour, her wispy bangs still look kind of awful. Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News.

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Is Garner competing with Affleck to see who can get the most publicity?

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Jennifer Garner timed her Vanity Fair cover so that it came out on the Friday right before the Oscars. The last time she was at the Academy Awards was in 2014 when she was a presenter, and Affleck was her date. (That was the year following his 2013 win for Best Picture, for Argo.) This year she was a presenter again and she flew solo. So she wanted people to know about it, so she got some publicity ahead of the Oscars. It’s also interesting to me that Garner’s publicity blitz for her Christian movie, Miracles from Heaven, out March 16th, comes as Affleck is furiously trying to promote Batman v. Superman, out March 25th. Warner Brothers is said to be running scared because Deadpool changed the entire superhero genre with an insanely successful dirty, funny R-Rated movie made on a $58 million budget. Batman v. Superman is an old school dark superhero movie that looks like it takes itself too seriously. It may also end up being the most expensive movie ever made. Just a few months ago we heard that the production budget was up to $410 million. So there’s a lot riding on Batman v. Superman, including Affleck’s career. He wrote it after all. You get the sense that Garner is trying to steal his thunder, which I don’t blame her for. It’s clever, she’s not being openly disparaging of him despite the digs she got in during her interview and she’s getting her side of the story out there. Radar claims that Affleck’s team is livid about her VF interview because Garner confirmed that Affleck was with the nanny – even though she tried to soften the blow by saying they were separated at the time. They quote a source who claims Affleck and his team are “furious,” but that he “can’t do anything until after his movies come out.” He also has Live by Night slated for release, but Radar is wrong, it’s not out until 2017. So maybe that’s all conjecture, but it’s hard to see how Affleck’s people would sign off on Garner’s VF interview. In the latest news about these two, Affleck has a contest through Omaze which offers a ride in the Batman to the film’s premiere to a random person who donates to his charity, The Eastern Congo Initiative. He visited Warner Brothers Studio tour and surprised fans with a ride in The Batmobile. You can see that video here, it was actually really cute. Meanwhile Vanity Fair has released a video of Jennifer Garner reading Go The F-k To Sleep in her saccharine sweet way. This book came out in 2011 and yet another celebrity reading it seems hackneyed. I really do get the impression that she’s competing with him now, and that she’s going to show him that she can fight back and come out of it smelling like roses. Embed from Getty Images This is Affleck outside the Four Seasons hotel yesterday. He looks hungover. photos credit: WENN and FameFlynet