Posted on Sun Feb 28th, 2016 6:19pm PDT By
X17 Staff
AMPAS/ABC
Chris Rock did it right! Balancing social commentary, a bit of finger wagging and lots of sarcastic humor, Rock walked a fine line and walked it perfectly in his opening monologue at tonight's Oscars ceremony.
After the nominations were announced and deemed #OscarsSoWhite, all of Hollywood (and the rest of the world) waiting to see what Rock would do. Would he ditch his hosting gig? Would he tow the line for the Academy? Or would he keep the job and use it as a forum to raise real issues, to start a real discussion and to, we hope, affect change? Fortunately, he did the latter.
No doubt, some jaws dropped, but he had to do it, right? Here are some highlights:
Rock said that in previous years, African-Americas didn’t protest the Oscars because they were “too busy being raped and lynched to care about who won Best Cinematographer. When your grandmother’s swinging from a tree, it’s really hard to care about Best Documentary Foreign — Short."
“Jada [Pinkett-Smith] boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties — I wasn’t invited!â€
Why didn't he quit? “The last thing I need is to lose another job to Kevin Hart!â€
"Her man Will was not nominated for Concussion. I get it. You get mad. It's not fair that Will was this good and didn't get nominated. You're right. It's also not fair that Will was paid $20 million for Wild Wild West!"
"Well, I'm here at the Academy Awards, otherwise known as the White Peoples Choice Awards."
"This year, things are going to be a little different at the Oscars. This year in the In Memoriam package, it's just going to be black people who were shot by the cops on their way to the movies."
Chris summarized his message like this: "What I'm trying to say is, it's not about boycotting. We want opportunity. We want the black actors to get the same opportunities as white actors. That's it! Not just once." That's it!
Reese Witherspoon and Alicia Vikander prove there IS color at the Oscars! Okay, maybe not skin color, but in bright, satiny dress, yes! Reese stunned in a deep purple Oscar de la Renta, while nominee Vikander's yellow Louis Vuitton is one of our favorite dresses of the night!
AP Images
And in the celebrity couples category -- Lady Gaga in a Brandon Maxwell jumpsuit with half-skirt and fiance Taylor Kinney looking more handsome than ever! Also, Sylvester Stallone, who has his fingers crossed for an Academy Award tonight, and sexy wife Jennifer Flavin in a strappy down with a thigh-high slit. Hey, if you've got it, flaunt it!
Posted on Sun Feb 28th, 2016 5:35pm PDT By
X17 Staff
AP Images
EVERYTHING!!!! Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet gave us what we've wanted for SO long -- a photo op on the red carpet at the Academy Awards!
Leo looked absolutely dashing in an Armani tuxedo (accessorized with a red Kabbalah string) and Kate looked sexy and voluptuous in a strapless Ralph Lauren.
The Titanic stars are on the edge of another Titanic year, awaiting Leo's first Best Actor win. It's happening tonight, right?!
Posted on Sun Feb 28th, 2016 4:54pm PDT By
X17 Staff
AP Images
The biggest night in film AND fashion has begun!
Hollywood's hottest are hitting the red carpet at the Oscars and showing off a myriad of styles, shapes and shades. Chrissy Teigen accessories her Marchesa lace number with a baby bump! Fellow celeb couple Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis were a stunning pair, Olivia going for a sexier look than usual, showing off some side boob and a bare back in Valentino Couture.
AP Images
The Room's Brie Larson stunned in a cobalt blue Gucci gown, accessories with a rhinestone belt. Olivia Munn showed off her amazing figure in a bright red column dress, while Rooney Mara went Victorian goth in a beaded Givenchy column dress. Her hair was pulled tight into three mini-buns down the back of her head.
AP Images
Sofia Vergara showed off her assets, as usual. She did a typical, full-skirted down, which could have been better. The navy blue Marchesa is a bit boring, no?! On the flip side, Heidi Klum always mixes it up ... and looks a little mixed up in this asymmetrical Marchesa (again!). She looks like the bedspread I had on a canopy, four-poster bed when I was 12!
AP Images
Jennifer Garner kept it chic in Versace but forgot her best accessory, Ben! While the two reunited last night for dinner out with the family, Jen decided to fly solo tonight for the Academy Awards. Saoirse Ronan went glam in a emerald green glittery Calvin Klein column gown and looked stunning!
The sexy mother-of-two attended a pre-Oscar party Saturday night in Beverly Hills, decked out in a super sexy little black dress with strappy heels and a cropped fur jacket. Hubby Eric Johnson held onto his wife's hand as they left the gallery where the event took place.
Jess looked so hot, we could only imagine what she and Eric were going to do when they got home, so our videographer's natural question for the couple, as they got into their waiting SUV was about them having more kids. You've gotta see how Jessica replied!
Posted on Sun Feb 28th, 2016 12:10pm PDT By
X17 Staff
Looks like Kylie Jenner and Tyga are definitely back ON!
The off-again-on-again couple spent Saturday night at a party with Scott. Oddly, they hid their faces from the cameras (hey, we know it's you, guys!) and kept their distance from each other. Tyga sported a Paul McCartney tee, supporting the aging Beatle after he was turned away at a post-Grammys party two weeks ago where Tyga was in attendance. The rapper had since come out in support of McCartney, saying he would have made sure Paul was granted access had he known security was blocking him.
Anywho ... the rest of the Kardashians kept busy this weekend, as well, Kourtney's been out and about with the kids -- shopping with mom Kris and taking the kids for an afternoon treat in Calabasas. Meanwhile, estranged baby daddy Scott Disick is up to his old tricks, partying with pals. We spotted him at The Nice Guy Friday night with his entourage and looking slightly worse for wear.
Khloe, the serious one, is keeping busy with Kocktails With Khloe tapings -- almost on the daily. Her guests in Saturday were so C-list we didn't even recognize them, but we DID recognizes those infamous curves on KhloKhlo as she left the studio in a sweatsuit and slides! It's been a while since we've seen her so dressed-down, but she always looks great!
Posted on Sun Feb 28th, 2016 9:43am PDT By
X17 Staff
Ben and Jen are back together! If these photos of the couple and their kids out to dinner last night are any indication, we're guessing Jennifer Garner's a hot second from calling off the divorce she filed for last year after hubby Ben Affleck was caught cheating with the family's nanny. Painful, yes; but a reason to break up her beautiful family? Maybe not ...
Jen's interview in the new edition of Vanity Fair is the first step of a massive PR push by the actress' team to have her drop the divorce and officially reunite with her husband, we'd say. She calls Ben "the love of her life" and says, "He's the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous."
Awww! Sounds like a girl who wants her man back!
So Saturday night, the family reunited for Samuel's birthday at Santa Monica restaurant Art's Table. The group had celebrated earlier in the day, as well, with a star-studded birthday party attended by Matt Damon and his kids and another neighborhood pal, Reese Witherspoon and her son Tennessee.
Dinner last night was a calm, casual family affair and everyone looked relaxed and happy, according to our photographer: "Ben was smiling the entire time. It's almost like that Vanity Fair quote was in his head and he was super happy about Jen redeeming him. He was beaming -- just looking at her, in love, the whole night."
Hey, no family's perfect, but maybe this one's back on track to being one big happy family!
Posted on Sat Feb 27th, 2016 2:34pm PDT By
X17 Staff
Move over, Oscars -- the Independent Spirit Awards are the real deal! And it's not just about diversity, it's about a panel of voters, voting for films that break ground, take risks and make a difference. It's not about big budgets and A-list actors, it's about art. The Oscars have long since forgotten about these qualities and it seems more about politicking and campaigning than it does honoring great film.
Alas ... this year's Independent Spirit Awards saw Spotlight -- about the Boston Globe's investigation into the Catholic church's abuse scandal -- take seven prizes; 14-year-old Abaraham Attah win best actor and his co-star Idris Elba win for their roles in Beasts of No Nation; Brie Larson and Room winning in several categories; and transgender actress Mya Taylor of Tangerine winning. A diverse group, indeed.
Click HERE to see a full list of winners ... and then make sure you see some of these awesome films!