Writer and executive producer Aaron Sorkin gestures at the panel for the NBC television series "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" at the "Television Critics Association" summer 2006 media tour in Pasadena, California, July 21, 2006MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters
CAUTIONARY TALE
Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin believes the recent death of Philip Seymour Hoffman could end up saving others from the same fate. In penning the obituary for the late actor for Time magazine, Sorkin recalls a conversation the two men had during the shooting of the film Charlie Wilson's War. Sorkin, who earned a screenwriting Oscar for The Social Network and has also struggled with drug addiction, writes that he revealed to Hoffman that he was afraid of needles. "He told me to stay squeamish," Sorkin said, "And he said this: 'If one of us dies of an overdose, probably 10 people who about to won't." Sorkin's conclusion: "He meant that our deaths would make news and maybe scare someone clean."
Source: Time
TRANS TROUBLE
Piers Morgan is not endearing himself to the transgender community. On Tuesday night, the British journalist had trans woman and author Janet Mock as a guest on Piers Morgan Live to discuss her new book Redefining Realness. During the sit-down, Morgan focused on Mock's physical transformation and her previous relationships with boyfriends. Following the interview, Mock issued a series of tweets to Morgan in which she blasted him for his seeming lack of knowledge on transgender issues. "I was not 'formerly a man,'" said Mock in one tweet. "Pls stop sensationalizing my life and misgendering trans women." Morgan responded with his own huffy tweets, such as, "For the record, @janetmock had no problem at the time with our interview – but now seems keen to score cheap points. Very disappointing." Morgan also claimed: "Never been treated in such a disgraceful manner."
Source: Gawker
ESCAPE PLAN
Did Selena Gomez make an early exit from rehab to attend the Sundance Film Festival? New TMZ reports claim the actress-singer and former Justin Bieber girlfriend lasted only two weeks of a six-week program at the Arizona treatment centre The Meadows, where she allegedly checked into shortly after New Year's to treat dependencies on alcohol, marijuana and the prescription medication Ambien. According to TMZ, Gomez left after 14 days – against the advice of medical staff – in order to attend the premiere of her new film Rudderless at the Sundance film fest.
Source: TMZ
MILEY BARES ALL
Miley Cyrus continues to remind us that she's no longer Hannah Montana. The Wrecking Ball singer is nude and barely recognizable on the cover of the newly released March issue of W magazine. At the same time, outtakes from a Vogue Germany photo shoot showing Cyrus cupping her breasts and fully exposing one breast surfaced online from unknown sources. Not to be outdone, Cyrus herself tweeted a picture of herself from the W shoot in which she's in bed with photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott (with a bright red star strategically covering her exposed breast).
Source: CNN
BIEBER BASH
Legal problems? What legal problems? Canadian pop star Justin Bieber has shaken off his recent string of legal woes by partying hard in Atlanta. Bieber joined rapper/music mogul Diddy for a Wednesday-night soiree with a guest list that included rappers T.I., Jermaine Dupri, Rick Ross and Trinidad James. Also in attendance was Bieber's new female sidekick Chantel Jeffries, who was in the Lamborghini with him when he was arrested for DUI and resisting arrest in Miami Beach two weeks ago. And did The Biebs lose his shirt during the Atlanta bash? Of course he did.
Source: Perez Hilton
COMING CLEAN
Tom Sizemore has admitted that he made up that story about an affair between Bill Clinton and Elizabeth Hurley. Earlier this week, Radar Online published a report claiming Sizemore facilitated a year-long affair between the actress and the former American president. The story stemmed from an undated audio tape in which Sizemore, Hurley's former boyfriend, talks about arranging the hookup during a screening of Saving Private Ryan at the White House in 1998. On Wednesday, Sizemore recanted the story during an appearance on HuffPost Live and blamed his actions on his previous drug use. "I've never met former President Clinton, I've never known him to know Ms. Hurley," said Sizemore. "I'm not denying that I said these things…I don't remember saying these things."
Source: Huffpost Live