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Iggy Azalea: ‘I’m not going to suddenly start rapping about political matters’

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This is the second five-page, intensive, wordy magazine interview I’ve read in the past 24 hours. Tina Fey was worth it – Iggy Azalea is not. Iggy covers the new issue of Elle Canada and she looks like a sad Barbie doll in the editorial. While she freely admits that she’s had work done – and sure, I’m happy that she admits it – I still don’t understand why she’s messed with her face to this extent. She was pretty before all of this. Anyway, Iggy is about to release her new album, Digital Distortion. And she’s trying to rebrand herself in ways beyond her new face. In this Elle interview, she even comes close to sounding regretful. You can read the full piece here. She’s back on social media after a self-imposed hiatus: “I’m back. But this time I’ve given myself some rules so I don’t get too sucked in again. For me, what happened, not just on social media but with everything in my career, was like a whirlwind. I started to feel like I was losing control over my own life… I even think back to the Papa John’s incident and ask myself ‘Why did that piss you off so much?’ I see now that it spiralled into something so quickly because I felt like I didn’t have any power over my own life. At that point, I needed to take some time, step away and just get that control back.” Her fraught relationship with the hip-hop community: “So many people think that I don’t care about rap music and the community, but I absolutely care about it, to the core of my being. That’s why the Q-Tip incident annoyed me so much: Why do you think I need a history lesson? Because surely if I did know anything about hip hop, I wouldn’t mix pop and rap together? Or I wouldn’t rap in an American accent if I truly understood? I just have a different perspective about rap music. I love learning about hip hop, I love reading about it and I actually love having debates with other people about it.” Whether there are valid criticisms aimed at her: “Do you not like me because I rap with an American accent and I’m not American? Well, that’s valid on some level because that’s your opinion and I can’t change that. But I’m not trying to sound black—I just grew up in a country where on TV and in music and film, everyone was American or any Australian person in them put on an American accent. So I never saw it as strange at all. And I think it’s hard for Americans to understand this because, when you look at the entertainment industry, American culture is the dominating culture across the globe. A lot of people say ‘Imagine if someone rapped with a fake Australian accent.’ Well, okay, but you don’t turn on the TV and hear American people with fake Australian accents, so I don’t think it’s a fair comparison. I grew up watching Nicole Kidman speaking with an American accent in every movie. Even Keith Urban sings with an American country accent. And that’s just what you have to do to make it in this industry and be accepted. It’s what I heard and it’s what I saw, so how can you not understand that that would be influential for me?” The racial part of the conversation: “It’s black culture and black music, so it becomes a racial conversation—versus Keith Urban, who is making country music, which is considered white. It becomes a very muddy area. And it became especially difficult in 2015. The United States has such a fraught history with race, and I don’t think I realized how prevalent racism still is and how hurt people still are until I moved here and saw it for myself. As I was growing up in Australia, it was easy to think ‘Well, that was then and obviously it’s not like that now.’ It’s not something you can understand when you’re on the other side of the world. But many people think I still live in that bubble and that I don’t understand that the United States is set up in a way that doesn’t benefit minorities. I’ve lived here for 10 years now, and I don’t want it to be that way either. I’m marrying a black man, and my children will be half black—of course I care about these things. And I understand if you’re not comfortable that I rap with an American accent, and you are totally entitled to your own opinions, but you don’t have to listen to my music. I’m still going to keep making music.” Her future goals in music: “I think it’s important for music to reflect what is going on socially and for there to be those kinds of voices within the industry. But I want to be that person you can listen to for four minutes and not think about that stuff at all, and it’s important to have that too…. I’m not going to suddenly start rapping about political matters; it’s just not what I do. There are other great people who do that, like Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole. I’m not here to offer that commentary, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care. I don’t think everyone has to be everything—like, does Katy Perry have to start making songs about politics? I think it’s good to still be able to have a little fun.” Her plastic surgery: “I think, in 2016, people should be more accepting of the fact that both famous and non-famous women are having cosmetic procedures. That’s just the reality. And I think more people need to admit that sh-t so it doesn’t have to be so taboo—because we’re all doing it anyway. I wanted to change my nose because I didn’t grow up with a bump on it—that happened when I got smashed in the face with a soccer ball when I was 16. Now I feel like my nose looks the way it’s supposed to look. But for how long do we have to acknowledge that I got a nose job? For the rest of my life?… There’s nothing black and white about beauty or plastic surgery. There are no guarantees that it will fix how you feel about yourself. All of those women [who criticize someone for having surgery]—if they had $10 million in their account tomorrow, I’d dare them not to change one thing about themselves or at least think about it. Yes, there are some women who wouldn’t change a thing, but, for the majority of us, we’d be thinking about that one thing. And there’s nothing wrong with that. I just hope that in 25 years the conversation will shift to where if a woman wants to change her body, all we say is ‘Good for her!’ instead of shaming her for making decisions about her own body.” [From Elle Canada] G—damn it, I found myself agreeing with her at several points in this interview. Do I still think she’s a culturally appropriating douchebag? Sure. But I also see her point – to a certain extent – about how American culture dominates across the world, and how that affected how she raps. Does that explain everything? No, of course not. I also think she should be forgiven for everything involving Azealia Banks, because those moments were not actually about Black Lives Matter or any serious conversation, it was about how Iggy and Azealia absolutely despise each other. Photos courtesy of Elle Canada.

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Prince William attends Welsh rugby game, his third royal-work event of the year

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See Prince William belt out the Welsh national anthem at rugby match https://t.co/lEfc1LTSCg pic.twitter.com/hKTKgpwFhn — People Magazine (@people) February 27, 2016 Last night, Prince William completed his third royal-work event of 2016. Yes, we’re at the end of February and William has completed all of three events. Plus, he’s done maybe 12 shifts at the EAAA, about 100 hours or 12 days of work. So… yeah, no one knows what he does with all of his free time. But here we are, at a point where the British press falls over themselves to talk about William being hard at work… by attending a rugby game. William is vice royal patron of the Welsh Rugby Union and patron of the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust, which is how he gets to go to a rugby game and count it as work. William apparently sang the Welsh national anthem, watched the fame and then attended a reception for injured players and their families. Kate was not there – last year, there was talk of Kate fighting against being a “rugby widow” and trying to learn more about the game to support her husband. I guess she’s given that up. Or, you know, she was just home with the kids or whatever. William went on the record saying many words about rugby, but it’s all in one ear and out the other for me. He also managed to slip in some words about his children, saying: “No broken bones yet, but they’re trying. Running around, pushing things, jumping. Please tell me it gets easier… Charlotte is very easy, very sweet, but all the fathers say, ‘Just you wait, when you get to 9, 10, 11, they go crazy.’ I’m looking forward to it, there will be some drama.” [From People] To be fair, how did you expect Will and Kate to organize a pap stroll with George and Charlotte in tow just to make this month’s work-shy kerfuffle blow over? That kind of effective baby-shilling takes time, so William just had to go with mentioning his daughter by name in public. I’m surprised he didn’t “accidentally” refer to his daughter as “Charlotte Elizabeth DIANA.” Speaking of Diana, if you noticed a significant uptick in Diana-mentions at the tailend of the week, it was because the geniuses in Will and Kate’s press office decided to “confirm” that Will and Kate will be visiting the Taj Mahal during their April trip to India. If this doesn’t sound like news, it’s because it’s not. We already knew/suspected/theorized that they would be going to the Taj Mahal, because it’s their first state visit to India and of course they’ll visit the Taj Mahal. But it was “confirmed” by Will and Kate’s press office on Friday, and so the British papers dutifully trotted out the old photos of Diana sitting alone in front of the Taj Mahal, looking forlorn and lonely. I guess the point of the press office pushing the story is that people are supposed to say “at least Diana’s son ended up in a happy marriage.” But… did he? Prince William travels to Wales; meets injured former rugby players & sings national anthem. https://t.co/KmzD0HUvyl pic.twitter.com/ZFIX8YlHw5 — Duchess News Files (@Duchess_Files) February 26, 2016 Embed from Getty Images Photos courtesy of Getty, Twitter.

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Jennifer Lawrence: ‘The most damaging term we have’ is ‘post-feminist era’

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Embed from Getty Images Here are some photos of Jennifer Lawrence at two pre-Oscar events in the past two days. As I keep saying, J-Law has been really good about not oversaturating the media with photos and interviews in the past few months. She was everywhere last year, and after she got her fourth Oscar nomination, she proceeded to not campaign for it at all. But she’s still J-Law, and she’s still the biggest star of her generation, and she’s still one of the biggest deals in Hollywood, so that’s why she came out for some events for Oscar weekend. First, the fashion. For last night’s Women In Film pre-Oscar cocktail party, Jennifer wore this absolutely awful Dior ensemble – the white jacket over what looks like an enlarged black fishnet dress. This should totally be considered a preview of things to come, because I’m sure she’s contractually obligated to wear Dior at the Oscars. And it might be bad. I think Dior is making gowns especially for J-Law, so maybe it won’t be THIS bad. I’m also including photos of Jennifer at that Dinner for Equality event two nights ago. She decided to forgo the Dior and went with Naeem Khan velvet pants and an embellished top. I would have enjoyed this more if the embellished top was a full-on dress. At the Dinner for Equality event, J-Law made some prepared remarks around pay equality (the event was co-hosted by Patricia Arquette, whose comments you can read here). J-Law said, in part: “It’s weird being a public figure talking about all of this stuff because you put a target on your nose. When I wrote that essay I got a lot of support but I also have a Republican family in Kentucky who told me my career was effectively over.” Lawrence said it’s vital to shed the notion that we live in a post-feminist era. “I don’t know who came up with that term, but it’s the most damaging term that we have, because it’s just not true.” [Via Variety] For what it’s worth, the Dinner for Equality event seemed like a very substantive discussion. At the Dinner for Equality event, they had feminist male allies from major studios talking about the importance on internal audits within studios to insure that women are being paid fairly and equally to their male counterparts. J-Law also said some words at the WIF event about pay equality: Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Photos courtesy of Getty.

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Alicia Silverstone in Christian Siriano at Women in Film: lovely or weird?

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These are more photos from the Women in Film event (Kaiser covered the other attendees here), which was held last night in LA. They were calling for diversity in film and wage equality for women, as they do annually at this event. It was hosted by the Women in Film president, producer Cathy Schulman (Crash.) I’ll just be covering some of the more questionably dressed women. First off is Alicia Silverstone, who is 39 years old but somehow manages to look 20-something. This scoop neck spaghetti strap bronze metallic Christian Siriano dress is making her look much younger too. This is a very young-looking dress, I think it’s the simple empire cut, but her styling is perfection. Here’s Kate Walsh in a simple v-neck black dress that somehow manages to look like a power suit. That dress is cool, I would wear that, and I like the skinny belt but she paired it with fishnet stockings and high boots. When you look at her makeup though – what was she thinking? She’s got like bright purple eyeshadow on both her lids and under her eyes with thick heavy eyeliner, too much mascara and pink lips. If a makeup artist did this to me I would wipe it off and redo it myself. She looked much better the day before at the Cadillac pre-Oscar party in a contemporary wrap dress. Patricia Arquette was in a plain black and white combo with a white blouse under a half sleeve jacket with a tea length skirt. This look is just too boxy for my taste. She would look better with a fitted jacket and some tailoring. Lake Bell was in a very bizarre fishnet shirt with a bandeau bra underneath for modesty. She has on skintight pinstripe pants with too long split cuffs. This entire outfit looks like a reject from Project Runway. (Credit: my mom.) She does get points for pairing it with shoes that mimic the pattern in her top and carrying a practical purse. I always carry a big purse for all the crap I need to have with me at all times. Photo credit: WENN.com

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Kesha loses injunction to break her contract with her alleged abuser Dr. Luke

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In 2014, Kesha went into a facility to get help for a bad personal situation. She was drinking too much and abusing drugs, plus she had mental health issues, an eating disorder and she was dealing with some intense issues from her relationship with producer Dr. Luke. Later that same year, Kesha filed a civil lawsuit against Dr. Luke claiming that he mentally and physically abused her, drugged her and sexually assaulted her. She wanted to be let out of her recording contract. Dr. Luke countersued and claimed Kesha had made the whole thing up and that he would not be letting her out of her contract. Well, Kesha went to New York Supreme Court on Friday to find out that the judge had thrown out Kesha’s injunction. Basically, Dr. Luke won because this judge, Justice Shirley Kornreich, has a totally Pollyanna idea of how the music industry really works. Here’s part of People Magazine’s report: Kesha’s lawyers fought for a preliminary injunction that would allow her to record and release music without Dr. Luke, 42, whom she is also suing for allegedly drugging and raping her. The singer also alleges he has abused her verbally and emotionally for a decade. (Luke has vehemently denied the allegations through his lawyer, Christine Lepera, who has told PEOPLE: “Kesha and her mother are engaged in a campaign of publishing outrageous and untrue statements about Dr. Luke to third parties, including scurrilous and false statements of purported physical and mental abuse of Kesha.”) However, Justice Shirley Kornreich recounted that both Sony and Luke provided affidavits that they would allow Kesha to record without the producer. “Your major issue is your client is saying she cannot with Mr. Gottwald. Reading these papers, I notice that Sony and [Dr. Luke’s record label] Kemosabe Records say they don’t care if Gottwald has anything to do with anything with the recording,” the judge said to Kesha’s attorney, Mark Geragos. “They are willing to allow her to record without any involvement of Mr. Gottwald … and there are papers from Mr. Gottwald that say he will agree to allow her to record without his involvement … She doesn’t have to work with him.” But, Geragos responded, arguing that it was an “illusory promise…If he’s the one in charge of the company that does all the things to produce it … she can record right now, but no one is going to hear it,” he said, reiterating his assertion that Kesha’s future in music is in jeopardy because the typical lifespan of a pop artist’s career is short and that he believes her album won’t be promoted in an attempt to sabotage her career. Geragos added: “She has a window in which she can produce music, that it can get out there, that it can get promoted … His end game here is to destroy her… She is set up to fail.” The judge disagreed, citing the companies’ competitive objective to make money and the clear terms of the contract, which require Kesha to record six more albums. “You’re asking the court … to decimate a contract which was heavily negotiated and signed by two parties in an industry where these kinds of contacts are typical; you’re asking me to decimate all that law,” said the judge. “Now the other side has come forward to say, ‘We will let her record without Dr. Luke.’ I don’t understand your problem … It’s not in [the company’s] best interest to not make money and not promote a recording artist.” Upon the judge’s dismissal of the request for the injunction, Kesha broke down in tears, holding her face in her hands while mom Pebe and boyfriend Brad Ashenfelter did their best to console her the bereaved pop star excused herself from the room for a spell with a bodyguard. Lawyers also argued over dueling counterclaims, but the judge has yet to make a ruling, reserving to decide on the matters at a later time, perhaps when more evidence has been presented. [From People] “It’s not in [the company’s] best interest to not make money and not promote a recording artist.” How naive. The judge assumes that every person in the music industry has simple, straight-forward capitalist motives and that there’s not a history of music producers and labels actively thwarting a singer or songwriter’s career over personal or professional drama, regardless if those un-capitalist motives end up losing money. Even if you’re not familiar with the music industry in general, watch 20 Feet From Stardom and listen to Darlene Love’s story about how her early career was ruined because of a sh-tty contract and a producer who was a petulant sadist. That sh-t STILL HAPPENS. For a while on Friday, #FreeKesha was trending on Twitter, and many women in the music industry tweeted their support for Kesha – go here to see. Kelly Clarkson sounds like she has some stories about Dr. Luke that I would be interested in hearing. This feels like… the beginning of something. Like, Dr. Luke might be Cosby’d in public. Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

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Lady Gaga wore Gucci to perform the National Anthem at SB50: fab or fug?

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Embed from Getty Images I’m developing a bizarre conspiracy theory about Lady Gaga this year. Not only does she look really, really different these days, but she sounds different too, right? I had totally forgotten that Gaga was scheduled to sing the National Anthem at Super Bowl 50, so I was pleasantly surprised when she stepped out in a sparkly suit and did a “Broadway” version of the Anthem. But… I didn’t think she sounded like herself. Her voice sounded different to me. Is it possible that she pre-recorded the Anthem and there was some post-production trickery? Is it possible that Old Gaga has been replaced by New Botox Gaga? I’m just putting it out there. If “Paul is dead” can be a conspiracy that lasts for decades, so too can the “Gaga has been replaced” conspiracy. She sounded fine. I’m glad that she treated the Anthem with respect and that she used the opportunity to show off her vocals, because it’s a notoriously difficult song to sing correctly. I’m also glad that Gaga wore an appropriate outfit, mostly because I’m grateful I’m not having to sift through 10 million headlines about “Why did Gaga wear a meat dress and nude panties to the Super Bowl?” Gaga’s sparkly suit is Gucci. Classy! Her blue sparkly mani got some attention too. Good for her. Man, 2016 really is turning out to be Gaga’s comeback year. Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Photos courtesy of Getty.

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Helen Mirren: ‘There is an extraordinary, extreme, right-wing voice in America’

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Was I too nice to Helen Mirren yesterday? Probably. I like her so much, I do tend to ignore it when she makes problematic statements. My defense of her is usually along the lines of “well, now she knows, maybe she’s learned how to speak about this issue now.” Anyway, Britain’s Channel 4 released the video of their interview with Mirren, and she talks about a lot more than #OscarsSoWhite and the Academy. She was also asked about American politics. Just for the record, Helen has been married to an American for nearly 20 years, and I’m almost positive that she lives most of the time in America (I believe she and Taylor Hackford own homes in New Orleans and LA). Mirren is also an American citizen, likely through her marriage. So… I feel like it’s totally fine for Mirren to talk about American politics, considering she likely votes in American elections. And as it turns out, Mirren kind of hates Ted Cruz and to a lesser degree, Donald Trump. Whether the rise of Donald Trump signals a return of 1950s-style conservatism: “Yes, Donald Trump… and Ted Cruz. I suspect more Ted Cruz in a way than Donald Trump. I think the people who support Ted Cruz think Donald Trump is a little bit of a liberal. I think Donald Trump has a populist voice, massively populist, and that slightly demagogue, populist voice. But I think Ted Cruz is more the really old-school extreme right conservative.” The extreme right wing: “There is an extraordinary, extreme, right-wing voice in America – extreme. If that does get into power fully – in the Congress, in the Senate, in the White House and has all the power that it wants, I can’t imagine how the world would look. I think it’s a very, very frightening idea, myself. This whole idea of ‘making America great’ it seems to me it would actually be sort of the end of America as a great country.” [Via Channel 4, People Magazine] Helen has previously referred to Trump as “stupid,” but in this interview, it sounds like she’s more worried about Ted Cruz. I’m kind of feeling it too – the interviewer clearly wants to talk more about Donald Trump and hopefully takeaway a juicy, bitchy quote, but Mirren is more concerned about Cruz’s neo-McCarthyism. She’s right to be concerned. And personally, I’m still hoping that Donald Trump’s final gift to the American people is a spectacular takedown of Cruz. Please let it happen! Here’s Mirren’s interview. Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.