Posted on Fri Dec 20th, 2013 12:30pm PDT By
X17 Staff
Classy move Mimi!
On Sunday, Mariah Carey gave a two-hour concert for authoritarian Angolan President Josè Eduardo Dos Santos for a whopping $1 million.
And while the songstress' glittering time not on the stage may have delighted the dictator's friends and family -- it appears to have angered a bevy of human rights group -- as well as anyone with good taste.
Dos Santos' critics have accused the dictator of murdering politicians, journalists and anyone else who has defied his orders or challenged his rule. Super cool! The dictator has also allegedly both monopolized and exploited oil and diamond resources and seized control of almost all aspects of Angola's government. Also super cool!
We are so glad that Mariah even took the time out of her busy schedule to pose with pics with that teddy bear of man!
The Mariah concert was sponsored by a mobile-phone company called Unitel which is owned by Dos Santos' daughter, Isabel, who is also the head of the Angolan Red Cross. It's reported that the Red Cross only received $65,000 in charity from the concert -- despite its hefty payout to the "Fantasy" singer. Super duper cool! Looks like Mimi is living in her own fantasy -- one in which performing for a controversial dictator is okay.
Thor Halvorssen, who is the president of the Human Rights Foundation, said
"It is the sad spectacle of an international artist purchased by a ruthless police state to entertain and whitewash the father-daughter kleptocracy that has amassed billions in ill-gotten wealth while the majority of Angola lives on less than $2 a day." Truth, Thor, truth.
You'd think the 43-year-old songstress would be more careful about who she performed for since she came under fire five years ago after performing for notorious dictator Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi, who was subsequently killed during the Arab Spring uprising in 2011. After there was public outcry following her performance for al-Gaddafi, Mariah did apologize for her concert
Thor also commented,
"Mariah Carey can't seem to get enough dictator cash. Just five years ago she performed for the family of Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi. Now, she goes from private performances to public displays of support and credibility for one of Africa's chief human rights violators and most corrupt tyrants."
Hey Mariah, anytime you want to apologize for this new ignorant move -- we are waiting. Although we understand you may be busy -- Kim Jong-un probably has a tea party that needs a little musical accompaniment.
Posted on Fri Dec 20th, 2013 11:55am PDT By
X17 Staff
Olivia Wilde and a pal stopped by the Grove in Los Angeles to do a little Christmas shopping on Thursday evening, and the pregnant actress covered up her baby bump with a baggy sweater and jeans. Just the other day she showed off her growing belly in a form-fitting dress at the premiere of
Her, but it seems like she likes to mix it up when it comes to her maternity style.
Olivia appeared on
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Tuesday, and she chatted about how people have been tiptoeing around her pregnancy news. "That's the worst thing in the world -- when you congratulate a non-pregnant woman on her pregnancy," Olivia told Jay. "I find that people will go to such great lengths to not mention it ... Even when you are clearly -- like, I feel like I'm clearly pregnant -- people will be like, 'Hey, would you like a glass of whiskey? Would you like to get on this roller coaster?' And I go, 'Oh, well, I'm actually pregnant.' And they go, 'What?!' Unless someone's watching you give birth, I don't think they want to make the wrong call."
Her baby bump isn't THAT big, but we see her point. So is it a boy or a girl? "It's human," she joked. "[Jason Sudeikis and I] feel good about that."
Posted on Fri Dec 20th, 2013 11:25am PDT By
X17 Staff

Eva Mendes is just like us! She shops for stuff too!
The Place Beyond the Pines actress was stocking up on some healthy essentials this holiday season. Taking the winter weather in stride, Mendes shopped for health good at Lassen's Natural Foods & Vitamins in Los Angeles' trendy Los Feliz on Thursday evening.
Wearing a flowing mid-calf length skirt and ankle boots and a button down tied at the waist, the brunette beauty kept her hair back with a bulky head wrap.
The
Hitch star was noticeably without her boyfriend of two years, Ryan Gosling, for the excursion. According to sources, the 39-year-old and the 33-year-old heartthrob are on a "break" in order to "re-evaluate their romance."
We'd love to say we weren't delighted that RyRy might be back on the market sometime soon -- but that would be a lie. And we don't want to lie this close to Christmas because liars go on the naughty list and we really want to be on the nice list so Santa will bring us what we asked for -- and of course that's Ryan Gosling, gift wrapped under the Christmas tree.
Posted on Fri Dec 20th, 2013 10:41am PDT By
X17 Staff
Since Beyonce and Madonna only go by their first names, one could argue that both of their egos might not fit in the same room, but that was clearly not the case last night. Bey took the stage for her Mrs. Carter Show tour at the Barclays Center in New York City, and during the concert she gave Madge's adorable 8-year-old daughter Mercy a loving smooch.
Madonna posted the pic above on Instagram and wrote, "
Mercy James gets a big fat one from the Queen. B!" Madge later added, "
Mrs. Carter crushes the BK [Brooklyn] with her bad *ss show! Girls run the world! #srtforfreedom." If the queen of pop was this excited, we can't even imagine how happy her little girl was!
After the show Beyonce headed to Times Square to celebrate her album release at a private party at ... Dave & Busters?! Yup! And not only that but Beyonce spent most of her time posing for photos with fans and fellow partygoers:
Danii Phae/Instagram
So much love!
Posted on Fri Dec 20th, 2013 10:20am PDT By
X17 Staff
We get it, you're playing the field!
Kellan Lutz grabbed dinner at Chi Lin in West Hollywood with an absolutely stunning brunette mystery woman last night, and it seems like the
Twilight actor is doing everything he can to shoot down rumors he's dating Miley Cyrus!
After all, the Hollywood hunk declared he's "
happily single" when asked at the airport yesterday about reports he was romancing the "Wrecking Ball" singer.
So who's this newest lady love, Mr. Lutz?
Posted on Fri Dec 20th, 2013 9:40am PDT By
X17 Staff
You didn't expect them to brave the airport crowds, did you?!
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West arrived at Van Nuys airport at 3am this morning on a private jet, and it appears the couple will be spending Christmas in sunny Southern California with the rest of the K clan.
The pair was just in Chicago for the Yeezus tour, so they must be glad to be back to warmer weather!
We wonder what gifts Yeezy will put under the tree for his lady love? So far this year, he's given her a baby and a diamond engagement ring, so it's going to take a lot to top that!
Posted on Fri Dec 20th, 2013 9:10am PDT By
X17 Staff
Talk about some big hair in the Big Apple!
Rihanna stepped out in New York City last night for dinner, and while her hair was the main attraction, she went pretty wild with her clothes as well! RiRi wore a vintage gold Versace necklace and one of her own River Island sweatshirts, along with denim cutoffs, knee boots and a long fringed leather jacket. Brrr! Hope she wasn't too cold!
Rihanna was recently named the new face of Balmain, and we can't even imagine how stoked she is. Can't wait to see more of her sexy ad campaigns -- maybe she'll even do a collab with the fashion house?
Read More!
Posted on Fri Dec 20th, 2013 8:40am PDT By
X17 Staff
Kimye can't be too happy with them after this!
Katy Perry appears on
The Ellen Degeneres Show today and talks all about her relationship with John Mayer, their Christmas plans, and her new album
Prism, and the singer got a big surprise when her boyfriend joined her during the sit-down!
The couple recently released the music video for their duet "Who You Love", and the talk show host inquired if it was their response to Kanye's over-the-top "Bound 2" video featuring fiancee Kim Kardashian.
"
Yes. I thought our response was a little bit more authentic because my hair was blowing in the right direction, though," Perry joked.
The pop star then went on to explain why her romance with the infamous Hollywood lothario works as well as it does.
"You know, we have music as an understanding and love between each other and we connect and you know, it's like he understands what I do because he does the same thing. And so after a long day if it's been tough, I don't really have to go into it he just gets it. You know, so it's nice with that understanding," the brunette beauty gushed.
We have a feeling there might be an engagement ring under the tree this year!