While Hugh Jackman is suiting up daughter Ava in her chocolate chip muffin costume just in time for trick-or-treat, Paris Hilton is making a serious decision.
Posts Tagged ‘Russell Simmons’
Bar Refaeli Ruffled By Leo-Whitney Rumors
October 21st, 2009 / Author: Valerie Nome
Bar Refaeli runs away when asked about reports that Whitney Port is dating ex Leonardo DiCaprio during the Angel Ball benefiting cancer research held Tuesday at NYC’s Cipriani Wall Street.
“Oh!” she gasps. “I don’t want to talk about that.”
The couple dated for three years before calling it quits in June.
Nixing all love life questions, the Israeli-born Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model regains composure when she returns to her area of expertise: beauty. Read more »
Nightly News: Charlize Theron Shows Support; Daily Celeb Tweets
October 7th, 2009 / Author: Jaime Rabb
- Charlize Theron supports the National Equality March. (Just Jared)
- Check out these celebrity daily Tweets. (Pop Eater)
- Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen have shopping pals. (Pop Sugar)
- Julie Henderson and Russell Simmons on vacation. (The Superficial)
- Nick Nolte’s son, Brawley King Nolte, gets DUI - Like father, like son. (TMZ)
- Janice Dickinson slapped with lawsuit. (Celebuzz)
Fashion Week Diary: Charlotte Ronson
September 11th, 2009 / Author: Laura Lane
The Show: Charlotte Ronson
Who Showed Up: Samantha Ronson, Jessica Stroup, Mark Ronson, Nicky Hilton, Keri Hilson, Russell Simmons, Ali Hilfiger
The Fashion: ’80s vibe on simple, solid colors. Greys and light colors. Baggy shirts with light fabric. Short sleeve suits. Braided headbands. High waisted shorts, lots of jeans, shoulder pads, Read more »
Russell Simmons Praises Kimora’s Mothering Skills
June 1st, 2009 / Author: OK! Staff
Russell Simmons doesn’t let his split from Kimora Lee, who is mom to their daughters Ming Lee, 9, and Aoki, 6, get him down.
His Baby Phat ex, 34, welcomed a baby boy Sunday with boyfriend Djimon Hounsou, 45. Russell is certainly sending his best wishes.
What are his tips for an amicable split?
“You smile no matter what happens, and you keep smiling,” Russell tells me. “During a marriage, they say you make a tremendous compromise. Men say all the time they just be quiet. You’ve gotta be quiet 24 hours. It’s OK if you’re separate and can be quiet, but it’s a mess if you talk. You just learn to be a little bit accepting and promote tolerance and act and be tolerant yourself. Allow each other a little freedom, and faith.”
The entrepreneur, 41, was thrilled to plan a surprise birthday party for Aoki at his Hamptons home last year.
“Ariel [The Little Mermaid] was the star of the party,” he says. “She was in the pool and moving around the house. And all kinds of toys were in my backyard and all kinds of friends. They came from New Jersey and New York State and even from L.A. to surprise her. She came in from Paris.”
Their older daughter Ming Lee helped out with ideas for the bash. Ming Lee is studying French and Italian.
“She loves yoga, she loves piano, she’s a very cultured girl. She went to Africa and Paris with her mother. She’s learned a lot about a lot to be so young.”
He’s proud of how Kimora is raising the girls.
“The thing that makes me most inspired is when there was some celebrity who was in the Hamptons and I just missed her. And they asked me, ‘did I want to see her?’ and I said ‘I’ll catch her later.’ They said ‘well, your daughter would like to see her.’ And she’s just one of those celebrities who runs around. They said ‘well your daughter would love to see her.’ I said ‘would you like to see — the name of this celebrity?’”
What celebrity?
“Doesn’t matter. And she said ‘no, no, I think she makes bad choices.’ That’s what Ming Lee told me. That to me reminded me that their mother has been doing such a good job with them because she knows what’s a good choice already.”
What does Russell love most about being a dad?
“The innocence is inspiring. The way young people think, you want to think like them so they teach you a lot. Having a child teaches you so much. That really is the best part of being a dad. You remember what’s important in life.”
Congratulations to Kimora, Djimon, Ming Lee and Aoki on the new addition to their family.
Ashley Dupre’s Helping Hand from Russell Simmons
March 11th, 2009
Saviors can come in the most unexpected forms… such as Russell Simmons.
Famous former hooker Ashley Dupre says that she has the Def Jam impresario to thank for turning her life around.
In an exclusive blog on GlobalGrind.com, Dupre says that if she had focused on the negatives after it was revealed in March ‘08 that former governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer had paid her for sex, it would have "eaten me alive".
But she says that after meeting Russell at a yoga class — and even getting some "hand placement tips" from him — she has become stronger and finds it "more natural and effortless… to draw positive people and uplifting experiences into my life."
Now, after a rough year, she adds, "I am now 23 years old and I’ve made more mistakes than most people make in a lifetime. But to look back and see all that I have overcome, and to stand here, and actually still be here at all, that is a huge achievement."
She hopes that her next "huge acheivements" will be a book about her experience, as well as a music career.
Russell Simmons Explains Child Support
February 27th, 2009
In light of reports that surfaced on Friday stating Russell Simmons, 51, was ordered to pay his ex-wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, $40,000 a month in child support, the entrepeneur has taken to his blog, calling the decision his own.
"I am reading these stories today about how a judge ordered me to pay Kimora $40,000 a month in child support and I want to make something very clear. Nothing was ordered, it was given. My kids have a fabulous life; they are exposed to a broad range of artistic and scholastic educational programs and I’m very happy to contribute to that. As long as I have it, they can have it. If I ever don’t have it, I’m coming to live with them!"
-Russell Simmons
According to E!, Kimora Lee was granted sole legal and physical custody of their two daughters, 9-year-old Ming and 6-year-old Aoki in the settlement, with Simmons paying child support until the girls reach 19 1/2 years of age.
In exchange for his bankroll, and on top of his visitation, Simmons will have custody of the girls every eighth week during the school year and on a handful of holidays.
LL Cool J Gives Marriage Advice
January 28th, 2009
LL Cool J wakes up early this morning to meet me at Bryant Park Hotel in NYC to announce he will be blogging for Russell Simmons’ new hip-hop venture, Globalgrind.com.
“I’m excited to get my blog on, and to talk crazy and breezy,” he says. “I’ll be nice sometimes, insult a few people here and there, and get insulted. It will be a lot of fun.”
He adds, “There is no correct point of view. I think everyone has the right to say what they want and say what they feel.”
Getting to know the man who was born James Todd Smith will be a treat. The 41-year-old rap entrepreneur is father to four children with wife Simone, whom he wed in 1995.
He reveals “maintaining the romance” is critical in keeping a marriage vital.
“The romantic aspects of the marriage need to take place during the day,” he tells me. “Too many men make the mistake of wanting to get romantic at the last second. It takes all day, and it’s an ongoing thing. It’s about support.”
LL and Russell go way back, and celebrated President Obama’s inauguration last week.
“We went from not hearing our music in the daytime to having a hiphop inaugural ball for a new president,” LL says. “When you’re like ‘Russell, is our music going to play in the daytime?’ to the president thanking us personally for getting him into office – that’s a pretty wonderful thing. We don’t want to take too much credit – we don’t want to be presumptuous – but hip-hop has come a long way.”
How does he feel about the undying adoration from his female fans?
“It’s a blessing,” LL says. “Without people embracing what you’re doing and appreciating what you do, I wouldn’t be able to continue to do what I do. You know I love them 150 million percent.”
Russell serves as the editor-in-chief for the site he dubs as “the Huffington Post of hip-hop.”
Catch LL’s latest updates on globalgrind.com, and check out his romantic comedy The Deal, which is out on DVD now.
Diddy, Beyonce, Mariah Pay Tribute At ‘Notorious’ Premiere
January 8th, 2009
Stars turn out in full force for the Notorious premiere held Wednesday at NYC’s AMC Lincoln Square, but Beyonce and Jay-Z drift in the side entrance and Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon sneak through the back door.
The superstars are simply being cautious given the circumstances surrounding the debut of the movie paying tribute to the life and death of rapper Notorious B.I.G., who was gunned down in 1997 after attending the Soul Train Music Awards in Los Angeles.
Lil’ Kim is unhappy about her portrayal and is threatening to expose the secrets of Biggie’s mom, Voletta Wallace, who says she has nothing to hide, laughing “I was exposed many years ago when I gave birth.”
Voletta adds, “It reveals a lot about my son that I don’t like, but I still love him.” What would surprise us about Biggie? “He was a manipulator.” She gives her stamp of approval to Angela Bassett’s performance of her.
Naturi Naughton, the former 3LW singer who plays Kim, confirms the controversy. “It is true, naturally, I’m not going to front,” she tells me. “But I hope she enjoys my performance because I put my heart into this. It was hard because you’re trying to appease the fans – they want to see a replica of what they’re used to – and you’re trying to appease the person because they see themselves in a different way. It’s a challenge.”
As the story goes, Kim had an affair with Biggie (born Christopher Wallace) while he was married to Faith Evans.
Dealing with the loss of her husband and father of her son Christopher doesn’t get easier for Faith Evans. She struggles to help others when they are grieving.
“You never get over it,” Faith tells me. “Even when I meet people who have gone through the loss of a loved one, I don’t know what to say even though I went through it — other than I’m praying for you, and keep your head up. I think it’s such a personal thing – you can only be there in the sense that you know that they need you. Just be there when you’re needed. Just keep yourself focused on your higher power, and keep yourself in prayer.”
After B.I.G. was killed, his good friend Puff Daddy recorded I’ll Be Missing You dedicated to his memory.
Of course, the artist now known as Diddy has no beef with how he was portrayed by Derek Luke.
“I think Derek did a great job,” Diddy says. “I think everybody on there did an excellent job. I would get chills when I was around them. I would have to actually leave. At the end of the movie, it broke my heart. My heart is broken every day with Biggie not being here, and it just opened it up even more so.”
The father of four — who is also an actor — doesn’t feel dissed because he didn’t want to play himself.
“I get to play myself every day,” Diddy laughs. “I’m looking for roles that would be a stretch for me, and playing myself is probably one of the hardest things to do. But I wanted the movie to not be about me. I wanted the movie to be about Biggie. And I’m looking to play roles that are not myself and are foreign to what I do every day.”
He adds, “I don’t know how many people who have had a movie that is made about them while they’re still young – it’s kind of hard when you’re young, because you’re looking at yourself and it’s something you would expect to happen when you’re older. I don’t know if I was mature enough to really handle it, and I still don’t know if I’m mature enough to handle it.”
Ginger Kroll, who plays another woman who has an affair with Notorious B.I.G., definitely would not cheat after this part.
“There are consequences,” she tells me. “I was punched in the face and had this big fight scene. It’s not a good idea. I don’t recommend it. I’m not a cheater, so I wouldn’t have been in that situation to begin with, but seeing the consequences of this film, even doubly so.”
Jamal Woolard, who suffers from diabetes, defied doctor’s orders to portray Notorious B.I.G. “I got up to 340 because I really wanted to win the role. I just ate everything in sight.” Also: he stuffed his bottom lip with cotton balls. “I put the cotton balls right here [in front of teeth] because B.I.G. had something extra right here. We went Marlon Brando-style with the cotton balls.”
Anthony Mackie, who plays Tupac, says the rapper who was gunned down in 1994 would be “very pleased” with the Obama administration. (His 1990s tune Changes includes the line “We ain’t ready — to see a black president.”)
Fabolous shares lessons learned from Biggie’s life and death.
“Life is precious,” he tells me. “You see someone who’s had so much great success – they could be here today, and gone tomorrow. Just the same as a regular person. He was a celebrity who represented being down-to-earth. He still went through the same trials and tribulations as regular people go through.”
Actress Melinda Williams remembers when Notorious B.I.G. was shot.
“I was in Jerry’s Famous Deli in L.A. at the time, and it’s directly across the street for Cedars-Sinai Hospital. Some guys came in saying ‘Biggie’s dead, Biggie’s dead’ and that’s certainly one of the worst nights I remember.”
Mary J. Blige pats Angela Bassett on the back, saying “you look so beautiful” as Ciara, Ice-T and Coco, and Russell Simmons head into the screening.
Notorious is in theaters January 16.
