‘My Mouth Was Going towards His Mouth’: Why Famous Men Are Kissing at Awards Ceremonies

THE GUARDIAN: From Mark Ruffalo to Robert Downey Jr, men are expressing platonic affection in ways their forebears wouldn’t have dreamed of

Matty Matheson and Ebon Moss-Bachrach kissing at the Golden Globes ceremony last week. Photograph: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
And the winner is … platonic male intimacy! Maybe everyone is just a bit overexcited this early in the awards season, or maybe we’re witnessing a seismic shift in male social intimacy, but there has been an outbreak of men kissing each other this year. Enjoy it before the inevitable backlash kicks in.

Where did it start? Perhaps at the Golden Globes ceremony last week, where co-stars Ramy Youssef and Mark Ruffalo were seemingly so thrilled that Poor Things won best film for musical or comedy, they forcefully kissed on the lips. “Well, my mouth was going towards his mouth …” said Youssef afterwards. “And then the next thing, mine went to his,” added Ruffalo – which goes to show how novel the concept of just kissing another dude is to some men. » | Steve Rose | Tuesday, January 16, 2024

I tried a ‘man-icure’ – now I’m hard as nails: With celebrities like Jason Donovan rocking varnished digits, I venture to a London salon to see if painted nails just might be a guy thing »

One Fat Lady in Race Row over Muslim Ghetto Jibe

MAIL ONLINE: Chef was 'surprised any of the people who might object could read what I wrote as it is written in English' / She describes visit to the 'ghetto' after getting lost in traffic and found herself 'in an area where all the men were wearing Islamic clothing' / But she says there's an upside — she's thankful for the large number of Asian restaurants in the city as 'you can eat excellent curry' there / Her comments were criticised by the Muslim Council of Britain and the city's mayor, who claims her account 'may help sell books but it is cheap'

She is as renowned for her outspoken views as she is for her cooking.

So when celebrity chef Clarissa Dickson Wright decided to write about her day out in a multi-cultural part of Leicester, she didn't mince her words.

The former star of the BBC's Two Fat Ladies claimed a visit to the city, which has a large Muslim population, was 'the most frightening experience of her life'.

Describing parts of Leicester as a 'ghetto', she said seeing so many men in Islamic clothing and women in a burkas left her feeling 'in the middle of my own country, a complete outcast and pariah'.

Yesterday her comments provoked fury from Muslim groups and local leaders.
But Miss Dickson Wright remained defiant, saying: 'I'm surprised any of the people who might object could read what I wrote as it is written in English.' The Islamic area of Leicester frightened me, says TV chef » | Paul Bentley | Friday, November 17, 2012

Actor’s Praise a Boost for Muslims

ADELAIDE NOW: ACTOR Liam Neeson's announcement that he may convert to Islam may help promote acceptance of the faith.

Neeson, 59, recently said he was inspired by the Islamic call to prayer while filming in Istanbul.

"There are 4000 mosques in the city (Istanbul) - some are just stunning, and it really makes me think about becoming a Muslim," he said.

"The call to prayer happens five times a day, and for the first week, it drives you crazy, and then it just gets into your spirit, and it's the most beautiful thing." Neeson, a Roman Catholic, said he had always been religious and was always questioning the meaning of life.

Australian New Muslims Association president Said Kanawati said celebrity converts to Islam were welcome. He said having celebrities accept Islam would help challenge the way people saw the religion. » | Tom Bowden | The Advertiser | Monday, January 30, 2012

Related »

ISLAM TODAY: Adelaide Australia Opens its Mosques to All Australians for Family Day Events » | Oslam Today/Agencies | Friday, January 27, 2012

'It Really Makes Me Think about Becoming a Muslim': Liam Neeson Considers Converting to Islam Following Trip to Istanbul

MAIL ONLINE: He may have been named after the local priest in his Irish hometown but Liam Neeson could be leaving his Roman Catholic beliefs behind.

The 59-year-old actor is said to be considering converting to Islam following a working trip to Istanbul.

According to The Sun, Neeson admitted that Islamic prayer 'got into his spirit' while he was filming in Turkey.

'The call to prayer happens five times a day, and for the first week, it drives you crazy, and then it just gets into your spirit, and it's the most beautiful, beautiful thing,' he said.

'There are 4,000 mosques in the city. Some are just stunning, and it really makes me think about becoming a Muslim.'

Neeson was raised in Northern Ireland as a devout Roman Catholic due to his parents[‘] beliefs. » | Kirsty McCormack | Wednesday, January 25, 2012

DOPPIO SCHERMO: Liam Neeson verso la conversione all'Islam: L'attore ha confessato che la preghiera islamica "gli è entrata nello spirito", durante le riprese di un nuovo film a Istanbul. » | Scritto da Sonia Arpaia | Mercoledì 25 Gennaio 2012

Conan’s Nude Photoshop Celebrity Pics

Delia Smith Wants to Do for Catholicism What She Has Done for Cooking

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Delia Smith, a devout Catholic, has said she would like to switch the nation on to spirituality in the same way she has done with cooking.

The television cook attends Mass every day and has written cookery books with religious themes including A Feast for Lent and A Feast for Advent as well as a book on prayer called Journey into God.

Once named one of the UK’s top ten most influential Catholics, she has now hinted that she might turn her handing [sic] to promoting the religion in some way.

She told a Sunday newspaper: “I can reach people who would like to cook but are finding it difficult. It’s the same with the spiritual. If people want it, I would like to be able to point them in the right direction.”

Smith converted to Catholicism at the age of 22 having been influenced by a friend who later became a priest, but has rarely spoken about her beliefs in public.

She regularly joins worshippers at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich after watching her beloved Norwich City, of which she is the joint majority shareholder with her husband of 40 years, Michael Wynn-Jones, and dedicates an hour a day to silent contemplation. » | Victoria Ward | Monday, November 21, 2011

Tony Bennett in Bizarre Rant as He Claims 'America Caused 9/11' and 'George Bush Told Me He Regretted the War in Iraq'

MAIL ONLINE: Legendary singer Tony Bennett said in an interview with Howard Stern on Monday night that 'we caused' the 9/11 attacks.

He also went on to say that President George W. Bush confided in him that the war in Iraq was a mistake.

Speaking on Stern's Sirius Radio show, Mr Bennett, who describes himself as a pacifist, said: 'They flew the plane in, but we caused it.

'Because we were bombing them and they told us to stop.'

Stern had asked the singer, a World War II vet, how the U.S. should deal with the terrorists responsible for the World Trade Centre attacks.

'But who are the terrorists?' Mr Bennett said, according to ABC News.

'Are we the terrorists or are they the terrorists? Two wrongs don't make a right.'

The 85-year-old spoke of the night in 2005 when then-President Bush made that astonishing statement.

Mr Bennett said: 'He told me personally that night that, he said, 'I think I made a mistake".'

The event was in honour of Mr Bennett and he said he believed Mr Bush made the admission because he liked the singer.

Mr Bennett said that his experiences as a teenager in combat in the Second World War forever changed his position on war.

'I’m anti-war,' he said. 'It’s the lowest form of human behaviour.' Read on and comment » | Daily Mail Reporter | Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Cheryl Cole 'Now an Al-Qaeda Target' after Afghanistan Trip
METRO: Cheryl Cole of Girls Aloud fame is now a terror target of al-Qaeda after her recent trip to Afghanistan's Helmand Province, fundamentalist cleric Anjem Choudary has warned.

The Girls Aloud singer has just returned from visiting British army members at Camp Bastion, where she took part in a mock battle and enjoyed a ride in a Sea King helicopter.

During her visit Cheryl praised the work of troops, telling the Daily Mirror: 'I always had admiration for what the guys do out here, but seeing them here at work is awe-inspiring.

'I'm delighted to be here to recognise all the hard work they do. Every one of them is a hero in my book.'

But while the former X Factor judge proved to be a hit among the armed forces, Islamic extremists have warned the high-profile visit has made Cheryl a target for terrorists.

Extremist cleric Choudary – who earlier this month led anti-American protests during the minute's silence for 9/11 victims in London – said she would 'only have herself to blame' if she was killed. » | Daniella Graham | Monday, September 19, 2011

A 78 ans, elle épouse un homme de 49 ans
Photo : Gala.fr
GALA.fr: Amoureuse. Liz Taylor est amoureuse, et elle pourrait bientôt se faire passer la corde au cou par un homme de presque 30 ans son cadet, Jason Winters.

On les voyait fouler les tapis rouge ensemble depuis de nombreuses années, (comme sur notre photo, au gala Macy’s Passport, en septembre 2008), ils sont désormais fiancés. Elizabeth Taylor, 78 ans, et Jason Winters, 49 ans, semblent prêts pour l’autel. Ce serait le neuvième mariage de l’actrice. >>> | Lundi 12 Avril 2010

THE TELEGRAPH: Elizabeth Taylor denies ninth wedding rumours: Dame Elizabeth Taylor has denied that she is getting married for the ninth time. >>> | Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Perez Hilton Holds Off TechCrunch, Mashable and Twitter Founders in Web Influence List
THE TELEGRAPH: Perez Hilton, the celebrity blogger, has been named the most influential person on the internet - ahead of the founders of TechCrunch, Mashable, Twitter and Digg.

Perez Hilton. Photo: The Telegraph
Forbes magazine's fourth annual web celebrity ranking praised Hilton - real name Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr - for his "off-colour blend of humour, opinion and immature humour".

It noted that his celebrity had begun to spill over into the non-virtual world, following a fracas last year in which he was allegedly assaulted by a manager of the band Black Eyed Peas. >>> Matthew Moore | Thursday, February 04, 2010