Gawker: defamer, denials

Today in Angrily Denied Coupledom: Mickey Rourke and Evan Rachel Wood

STV — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:47:32 EST

Over the weekend, Mickey Rourke and Evan Rachel Wood demonstrated markedly different ways of attacking rumors about a romance blossoming from their deep, combustible chemistry on The Wrestler. You probably don't need the accompanying video to know which one played the "Tell that faggot who wrote all that shit in the paper I'd like to break his fucking legs" card versus the other party's "We are proud of the film we made together and I hope people will focus on the film and not get distracted by any nonsense," but just in case any ambiguity persists, let it be clear: Rourke has been and always will be a one-woman-at-the-Chevron kind of guy. Period.

Mickey Rourke Threatens to Break 'Faggot' Writer's Legs [Towleroad]

Evan Rachel Wood Denies Dating Mickey Rourke [People]

As if Page Six's blind items weren't problematic...

STV — Thu, 29 May 2008 13:25:00 EDT

As if Page Six's blind items weren't problematic enough, NY Post film critic Lou Lumenick last week offered a fun one from Cannes that found our refined hunch-dar betraying us. "Members of the press were lining up at the entrance to the announced venue well more than a hour before [Two Lovers] began," he wrote. " 'I'm not going to wait an hour for f—-ing James Gray,' one major U.S. film critic declared, before storming off, of the film's American director, who is much more popular among critics in Europe than he is in his native country." There's a pretty short list of "major U.S. film critics" these days anyway, but the anecdote provoked visions of the NY Times' Manohla Dargis protesting to the Cannes overlords. However, as Dargis assured us this morning, "storming" is not her style; she indeed waited an hour just like everyone else for fucking James Gray. So it's back to the blind-item drawing board for us, alas. Was Rex Reed at Cannes? [Defamer]

It’s a rare day at Defamer HQ when we receive...

Molly Friedman — Wed, 28 May 2008 12:40:00 EDT

It’s a rare day at Defamer HQ when we receive a denial from an A-lister’s publicist that actually makes us fall in love with them a little. Referring to our post last week suggesting Nicole Kidman may be posing nude and pregnant for a major glossy magazine cover (à la Demi Moore), we received the following note in our inbox from her rep, Catherine Olim of PMK: “Nicole is amused at this story, but it is ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE. She is not posing nude for any magazines, has not done so, will not be doing so, pregnant or otherwise. Heaven only knows where this came from! Seriously. Do quote me.” And quote you, we will. Our apologies, we should've never assumed that Nicole Kidman would drop trou for anyone other than Stanley Kubrick. Or Steven Shainberg. Or Jonathan Glazer. Or Anthony Minghella. We could keep going, but that's what Mr. Skin is for. [Defamer]

Earlier today, we wondered aloud as to what...

Mark Graham — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:07:00 EDT

Earlier today, we wondered aloud as to what Tina Fey could have possibly seen in Josh Hartnett's body of work that would lead her to think that he would be a suitable love interest for her character on 30 Rock. Well, it turns out that our speculation was for naught, as we have recently learned that the original OK! Magazine piece that ran this morning appears to be patently false. In an email communication just sent to Defamer HQ, an NBC spokeswoman told us that there's "Absolutely no truth to this story. OK magazine has it wrong..." Phew! This news not only soothes our irritable tummies, but it also fills our hearts with joy. While we bear no ill will towards Mr. Hartnett, we must admit that we can think of at least two dozen actors off the top of our heads who would make a better suitor for Liz Lemon. Yes, even Ashton Kutcher!

That was quick! Aniston's flack is quashing...

jgrode — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:17:14 EST

That was quick! Aniston's flack is quashing the baby banter. "She is not pregnant," says she. Spies also tell the tab that Jen has been spotted drinking martinis and getting her hair dyed, both no-gos for the gravid. Another update since the last post: Brad and Angelina had ten more kids and a water horse. [Us Weekly]

Simon Cowell Labels Diva Tag 'Dreadful, Horrid, Unfabulous'

jgrode — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:55:11 EST

Record exec/talent scout/television mogul/dedicated Kool cigarette smoker Simon Cowell is denying reports that his tantrum torpedoed an American Idol publicity photo shoot budgeted at $50K. Cowell spoke to Extra in between drags on his minty cancer stick:

"Extra" went straight to the source, and the TV mogul told us he was actually sick.

Simon was laid up for four days and didn't pull a "Britney-type hissy fit," adding, "For the first time in six years, I called in sick."

Keep in mind, this is coming from a man who attended the mixing sessions for Ruben Studdard's debut album, so save your baseless accusations of malingering. Simon Cowell is likely recuperating with plenty of rest, vitamin C, and the smooth drag of a menthol cigarette, the medicine of choice for England's elite and this country's working poor.

Simon Cowell Denies Throwing a Fit at Photoshoot [Extra]

Queen Latifah Urges Fans Not To Send Their Lesbian-Wedding Gifts Just Yet

Seth — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:00:07 EST

Having, like the rest of us, caught wind of a story circulating that Queen Latifah was finally going to make an honest woman out of her longtime personal-training companion, a Sun Times reporter at a junket for The Perfect Holiday gathered the nerve to ask the actress/torch singer/hip-hop architect whether the rumors were true:

I did ask Queen Latifah for reaction to recent tabloid gossip that she allegedly was going to wed her long-time female personal trainer.

She quipped, ''When you're famous these days, it's just part of the deal — unfortunately. People will make up all sorts of things that are not true. . .There ain't gonna be no wedding.''

Ain't gonna be no wedding: Five meticulously selected words that instantly dispelled all the Home Depot-registry rumors, while leaving the door conveniently cracked open for a nearly infinite array of romantic configurations for the great Mama Morton. Would that all much-whispered-about Hollywood heavyweights handle themselves with such aplomb when pressed such as this, perhaps we'd never be forced to swallow a great many unlikely claims, such as Travolta Airways's pledge that every Business Class fare includes free DirecTV and a personal smooch from the captain.

Queen Latifah laughs off gossip [Sun Times]

How To Make Shit Up Like Jenna Jameson

heatherfug — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:18:28 EDT

Apparently, merely yearning for the sight of Scarlett Johansson lovingly devouring pounds of sweaty ladyflesh does not make it so. Johansson's reps are swiftly, stiffly nipping in the bud all rumors that she will step into porn star Jenna Jameson's edible panties:

While Jameson has gushed for months that the A-list beauty-cum-Woody Allen muse would be the perfect choice to headline her lurid tale of sex, drugs and award-winning girl-on-girl action [...] Johansson denies any and all involvement in the sure-to-be skin-heavy flick.

"There is no truth to this," Johansson's spokesperson, Marcel Pariseau, pooh-poohs to MSN Entertainment. "Scarlett has never seen a script nor been approached about this project. She also has no interest in playing this role. It is wishful thinking on the part of Ms. Jameson."

We are shocked — SHOCKED — at this insinuation that a porn star would be deluded or desperate for publicity. If we didn't already know the apocalypse was nigh thanks to Scott Baio getting a reality show about his sex life, we'd be battening down the hatches, spraying for locusts and smiting Shiloh Jolie-Pitt for being a false messiah.

Scarlett, Jessica Solicited For Porn Roles [MSN.com]
Previously: How To Make Love Like Scarlett Johansson [Defamer]

Until She Reaches 'I'm Gay' Levels Of Exposure, Michelle Rodriguez Likes Men

Seth — Fri, 04 May 2007 17:13:50 EDT

In the grand tradition of Lindsay Lohan's Gore-entreating, fully adequite call to arms, and Courtney Love's 53 New Year's Resolutions Towards a Less Demon-Plagued Me, comes yet another worthy addition to the canon of incomprehensible celebrity manifestos. This time, the author is Lost casualty and repeat DUI offender Michelle Rodriguez, who responds on her website forum to lesbian magazine Curve for outing her based on "their own suspicions." Well, despite Kristanna Loken's unsubtle hints in the past that the two had been shacking up, it's simply not so, says Rodriguez. We think:

Whatever, I'm not insulted, I have a big lesbian following, and for whatever reasons they show me love I'm never going to shun, disrespect or neglect anybody who shows me genuine non-psychotic Love. [...]

If I were Ellen I may get away with: ' The I'm Gay' level of exposure, but I'm not a comedian, I like men; ( real One's Anyway) and I've only bin in this business for 7 years not 20. Years of recognition can give a person lots of leverage especially if you have many years of positive recognition under your belt. There are certain things that can close doors between a celebrity and certain audiences. Especially in a world where walls are constantly being put up by people seeking comfort and groups to belong to. There is so much out there, over-saturation of music, media, Agenda News, war, political drama, high school prom drama, image drama, religion drama, Bully drama. All this drama is caused by one thing, not understanding the true meaning of communication and the real power behind it. It's tough to learn, I'm working on it myself, but when people come out of nowhere and put words in my mouth or call me Gay, they should really think for one second How they could truly affect my life by doing such things. You don't know what producer, director, would be husband or future audience member may be influenced by these opinions and media content.

The troubled actress's stream-of-insanity ramblings at first left us at a complete loss as to her salient point: She's not a cuddly lesbian talk show host, but if she had bin one, she'd be more comfortable admitting it? After several readings, however, what began to emerge was the familiar concern voiced time and again by prominent gay actors worried openness will lead to typecasting. We'd therefore love to distill her message and pass it on: Michelle Rodriguez likes men, everybody. All kinds of men—from producers to directors, to directors she might consider marrying, to guys watching her movies who want to know they at least have an infinitesimal chance of getting in her pants. We look forward to seeing Rodriguez waving from the back seat of a convertible Cadillac as she grand marshals this year's Actors Who Conveniently Skirt and/or Flat-Out Deny the Issue in the Name of Advancing One's Career Pride parade.

[Michelle-Forum.com via Towleroad]