Naomi Campbell turns the UN in to her bitch

Naomi Campbell turned up seven minutes late for a UN trial in The Haque today, where she is giving evidence as to whether she received blood diamonds from former Liberian president Charles Taylor.  After repeated calls for her to take the stand, Campbell finally appeared in a stunning cream two-piece from Azzedine Alaia's spring/summer collection paired with a *FABULOUS* new wig.  


When she sat down, Naomi announced that she "didn't really want to be here. I just want to get this over with and get on with my life, this is a big inconvenience for me" - have you ever heard anything so obsurd?  Clearly the truth is Campbell was afraid if she said too much she would land either herself or Taylor in trouble, which could result in threats against her's and her families lives.  Instead, after an hour or so of cringe-worthy testimony about how, Campbell says, she received "two or three dirty stones in a pouch, delivered to me in the middle of the night", she was allowed to leave the stand and return to walking 40ft down a runway somewhere.


But seriously, the outfit and wig being overshadowed was the real crimes here.


P.S.  I find it quite hilarious that Campbell, prior to her appearance today, had gone to all the trouble of having a court injunction imposed that banned photographs of her entering or leaving the Haque to be published - only to have the whole deposition broadcast live around the world.  What an idiot. 

Coming Soon: Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae is one of those artists that are hard to define.  Her début LP 'The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III of IV)' is certainly full of Winehouse-inspired old-school sounds, but it's not without the odd hip-hop or dance number which is where Monae really shines, particularly on latest single 'Cold War' - which by the way, is the best song from the album.  Other highlights include the lead UK single 'Tightrope' featuring Big Boi from Outkast, which is accompanied by a simple yet hypnotising video.

The thing I can't get over with Monae though, is that her high-fashion, androgynous look leaves you wondering - is she really more style that substance?  She is a skilful singer, but is her art as unique as the packaging? The answer is up to you to judge when her album is released in the UK in September.  Until then enjoy the video for 'Tightrope' and 'Cold War' below.

'Burlesque' gets a trailer

As we've previously mentioned Christina Aguilera (fresh from the bomb of epic proportions that was her 'Bionic' album - which we'll have more on in the near future) and Cher, are starring in the film 'Burlesque' this November.

Anyway, here's the trailer.  It still gives no clues to how gay good or bad it's going to be.

Prop. 8 Overturned in California.

Today in California, a judge in a court of law has overturned Proposition 8.  If you don't know what Prop8 is and the controversy it has caused then click here.

This is only the next step for same-sex couples in California, the decision is almost guaranteed to be appealed, which will see it in the federal courts.  It is very likely it will then, whatever the ruling, be appealed to the US Supreme Court - potentially opening the flood gates for a full-on constitutional change (one way or the other) in America.

This is a big moment and certainly a reason to celebrate for gay people across the world, not just in California.

Quote of the Moment

"God put me on Earth for three reasons: to make loud music, gay videos and cause a damn raucous!" - Lady GaGa on hearing she has been nominated a record 13 times at this year's MTV Video Music Awards - two of which are for Best Music Video.

Goodbye Oprah

If you didn't know (or care), the next series of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' - it's 25th - will be it's last.  Oprah announced her decision to end the show last year to concentrate on her own television channel and prime time show, something she has been ridiculed and criticised for by the media.  My advice?  Do not underestimate Oprah Winfrey - this is a woman who turned a local mid-day talk show, in to an international multi-media empire making her the world's first black female billionaire.  Somehow I'm sure whether her life after the show ends is just as successful or not, Winfrey will be ok.

Below is the trailer for the last series of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'.

The GaGa Mermaid

Lady Gaga in the September issue of 'Vanity Fair' and Aerial from 'The Little Mermaid'.

The 3 Signs Britney is Releasing an Album Soon(ish)

1.  Song Leaks

Over the last week three previously unheard Britney tracks have 'leaked' online.  Record companies like to purposely leak old tracks online when an artist is gearing up to release new music, as a way of creating buzz in fan communities and get people talking about 'the music' again.  The Britney tracks that have leaked are all from round ten years ago and one of them is really good, the other two are not.

2.  Producers are talking

Another way of generating buzz and interest in a new album is when people connected with the project start talking in non-specific terms about it.  For example super-producer Rodney Jerkins (aka Darkchild) recently revealed in a webcam chat with fans that "Britney fans are going to be so happy in two weeks".  This could mean either he knows an announcement is coming, or he knows a new song will be premièring soon.  It could also be a hint that she will play some part in the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards at which Britney has always made headlines (It's where she danced with the snake, kissed Madonna, gave a not-so-great performance of 'Gimme More' and then the following year made her comeback, winning three awards.)

3.  It's nearly Autumn

With the exception of 2000's 'Oops... I Did It Again', Britney albums have always had an American release date of the third quarter.  In the past this has been for two reasons; the previously mentioned MTV VMA's at the end of summer, have always provided a massive promotional push for the upcoming album.  The other reason is that record companies save their biggest releases for the end of the year to monopolise on the Christmas season and Britney, no matter what you might think, is still one of the biggest selling artists alive and so normally gets an Autumn release date.

Pamela Anderson - Stunning.

Watch out Ke$ha - this is your future.

90's icon Pamela Anderson showed up at the Comedy Central roast of another 90's icon and her former 'Baywatch' co-star David Hasslehoff, looking like this.

Let's just be thankful she was wearing that dress.

The Hollywood Knifestyle

To your left is a picture of former super model Christie Brinkley at a benefit in California over the weekend, looking absolutely incredible at the age of 56.

What/who/how/ever she's doing/taking/sleeping with/having I'll take/have ten please!  She looks better than some women in their twenties (See Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears) let alone in their fifties.  More power to her.

RIP

On the left is a photo of snooker legend Alex Higgins in 2006.

On the right is Higgins again at the start of this year, only four years later.

Having suffered with throat cancer until his death last month, Higgins is perhaps the best advert possible for anti-smoking.

Joe McElderry Come Out (World continues to spin...)

This weekend the UK press has been abuzz with news that 2009 X-factor winner Joe McElderry has confirmed  he is gay.  His revelation was published in Saturday's Mirror - only one week, McElderry says, after he told his mum.

I have two things to say about this story.  The first is that I'm glad Joe was able to come to terms with his sexuality and felt liberated and comfortable enough to make such a public statement.  I hope that his decision was the direct result of a personal revelation, not because he was threatened with a 'kiss and tell' story that would have outed him anyway.  However, visibility of positive gay role models is always a good thing for the gay community and I hope Joe continues to be just that.

The second thing I thought when hearing this story, from a business perspective, was - I wonder what his record company thought?.  It was reported early on, once McElderry had won X-factor that he would be promoted as the boy-next-door, a clean-cut image with a demographic of young female fans.  Obviously I'm not saying, that because he's come out, McElderry can no longer be all those things - but very rarely are openly gay pop stars successfully promoted to such an audience.  So maybe, once the subject of his sexuality was raised to his record company, there was a shift in strategy that will now see Joe be promoted in a completely different way.  Or maybe they just don't care and plans will continue as they were before this weekend's announcement.

Either way, I'm now even more curious to see what happens when McElderry releases his début album at the end of the year.