MTV News |
- Rick Ross Calls Out Sway, Squashes Beef With Floyd Mayweather
- 'American Idol' Thins The Herd On Group Day
- Kid Cudi Says Acting Is A 'Dream Come True'
- Lil Wayne's Mysterious Tooth Ailment: A Dentist Weighs In
- Ellen DeGeneres' 'American Idol' Debut: The Experts Weigh In
- 'Sexting In America: When Privates Go Public' Tells One Teen's Horror Story
- Lil Wayne's Sentencing Delay Is 'A Blessing,' Tyga Says
- John Mayer Apologizes For Controversial <i>Playboy</i> Interview
- Lady Gaga, Cyndi Lauper Raise AIDS Awareness With Lipstick
- Jessica Biel, Kenna's Treacherous Trek Featured In 'Summit On The Summit'
| Rick Ross Calls Out Sway, Squashes Beef With Floyd Mayweather Posted: 11 Feb 2010 03:00 AM PST Miami Boss challenges our own correspondent to a bowling showdown, in Mixtape Daily.
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive Rick Ross has a new single coming out called "Sweet Life," but recently, the CEO of the Maybach Music Group was living the suite life in Las Vegas. The Boss celebrated his birthday at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, where the Kingpin suite cost him $25,000 a night.
"It only makes sense to come out to Vegas," Ross told Mixtape Daily. " 'Cause to me, Vegas is the city of dreams. It started out as the desert. Once the sun goes down, there's a lot of stars in the streets. "You come right out of your bedroom to the bowling alley, baby," a shirtless Ross said standing on the lanes in his suite, right before rolling a strike. When it comes to knocking down pins, Ross' confidence is at an all-time high. "I get it down with my homies," the Miami native said of his bowling skills. "Gunplay got a little something. I would love to issue a challenge to anybody that think they could go cold turkey on the Boss. I hear Sway got something, but I don't think Sway want none. You feel me? This is the winner's side." Uh-oh, shots fired. Rick the Ruler wants to go up against MTV News' very own Sway. Surely this is going to be a showdown for the ages. The Mixtape Daily family is about to Don King the event in a major way. Of course, we had to get a response from the big homie down the hall. "You don't wanna see me on the lanes, man," Sway said after watching the footage of Ross' challenge, and the West Coast hip-hop veteran talks a lot of smack as well. "I know you been hanging out with Diddy a lot; talk to Diddy about me," Sway retorted, sending his own message to the Carol City Kingpin. "I'm gonna say this, Rick Ross challenged me. I gladly accept his challenge. More importantly, than me just taking it to the lanes, I think we should put something on it. We should do it for a charity in Haiti. Or even the Haitian community in Florida, those who may have suffered from this catastrophic event that hit the island. More importantly man, I think after we get busy on these lanes, and I take care of my business, I feel like I should get mentioned in a metaphor on one of your radio singles. I wanna be called 'Sway the Boss.' That's what we gambling for. That's what the stakes are. The stakes are high. I'm taking the challenge." You can expect a lot of trash talking between the two as we figure out when to have this face-off. It's all in love and fun on both sides. That hasn't always been the case when it comes to Ross and boxing champ (and friend of 50 Cent) Floyd "Money" Mayweather. Ross has dissed the pugilist in a couple of tracks, most recently on the Triple C's song "Go," and the two even had a brief run-in on New Years Eve in Vegas. But it's all water under the bridge now, and Ross says the friction is dead. He ran into Mayweather again in Vegas, and things were peaceful. "Yeah, bumped into Floyd Mayweather," Ross said. "Most definitely. We chopped it up like G's and after a discussion, we shook hands. So that's squashed. It's a new year, it's time to get new money. Y'all know what it is. I kept it 1,000." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Videos |
| 'American Idol' Thins The Herd On Group Day Posted: 10 Feb 2010 08:05 AM PST Some early favorites are sent packing during the first group round.
As usual, chaos, quarreling and drama ruled on group night on "American Idol." Wednesday's show found the 95 remaining singers shoehorning themselves into unnatural combinations that mostly upped the already tension-filled pressure-cooker atmosphere as battle lines were drawn over choreography, harmony, personality and anything else worth arguing about. Tears were shed, fingers were pointed and lyrics were blown time and again as the groups spent the traditional sleepless night working on their steps and trying to find their groove as viewers' heartstrings were pulled by big Michael Lynche monitoring his wife's labor on his cell phone and listening as his daughter was born across the continent in New York. First up was the group named Faith, singing Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" in near enough harmony to allow Charity Vance, Ashley Rodriguez and Michelle Delamor to advance even with Vance's thin, squeaky high notes and spartan choreography. Lynche was up next with Team Awesome, singing the Temptations' "Get Ready." Country hunk Tim Urban did his part, as did Lynche, but the group's other two members, third-timer Seth Rollins, a father of two, and Michael Castro, younger brother of Jason Castro, didn't make the cut. For Castro it was strike two in the Hollywood round. Two groups chose to sing Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" and, fortunately for Team Neapolitan, they went first. While Liz Rooney's platinum-blonde hair with pink highlights grabbed plenty of attention, her bum notes appeared to melt the group's chances. But Thaddeus Johnson and Pussycat Dolls-alike Jessica Cunningham redeemed the quartet with strong vocals. "I actually thought in its own way that was very good," Simon Cowell said, praising their effort to the chagrin of rival group Destiny's Wild, who were miffed that Neapolitan seemingly stole their idea to do the song a cappella. Wild had nothing to worry about, as their strong vocals, acrobatic choreography and infectious energy won the day. Between Todrick Hall's back-flipping gymnastics and soulful vocals, Theri and Jareb Liewer's impassioned singing and Siobhan Magnus' scratchy soul bark, Wild made it — just barely. "It really was weird," new judge Ellen DeGeneres said, comparing their outfits to Cirque du Soleil, but ultimately putting them through. The Mighty Rangers struggled to get enough practice time, and while Tori Kelly and Maddie Penrose did their part on Ne-Yo's "Closer," the house fell down when Mark Labriola and Kimberly Kerbow both forgot the words, prompting DeGeneres to ask them to stop. Kelly and Penrose got good news, while a weepy Labriola, wiggy Kerbow and Danny Jones were sent home, with Labriola tearfully begging for one more chance in his last year of eligibility. Just moments before Phoenix took the stage, one member bolted because she couldn't stand the pressure, leaving Ben Honeycutt, Jeff Goldford, Moorea Masa and Jermaine Sellers to solider on singing Kansas' "Carry On Wayward Son." It wasn't great, with Kara comparing it to "Survivor" and Cowell saying their excuses weren't cutting it. "The struggle was you had 12 hours to learn the song — that is not hardship," he said. Gritty crooner Goldford and smooth singer Sellers got passes, while the other two were sent packing. Note to future "Idol" wannabes: don't pick Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape," because if you forget the lyrics and toss bum notes, you will fail. Stefani was not kind to Orlando auditioner Matt Lawrence, who spent four years in jail for robbing a bank when he was 15 or Amanda Shectman, who won the panel over at her audition with some drama-queen antics. Both bit it hard on "Escape," forgetting the words and mumbling so unintelligibly that Cowell didn't even let them finish. "There isn't going to be any you stepping forward ... it was so horrific," he said, summarily dismissing the quartet. Middle C brought it with Janell Wheeler, Jermaine Purifory and pretty boy Casey James nailing their version of Ne-Yo's "Closer," while early front-runner Andrew Garcia lifted his group Three Men and a Baby higher, anchoring a solid performance of Alicia Keys' "No One" that also featured soulful turns from 17-year-old Katie Stevens and recent high school grad J. B. Ahfua. The final group was The Dreamers, a five-piece that seemed to spend most of their time arguing. Rock mom Mary Powers started things off by throwing a nervous laugh into her intro on Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams," which drew a harsh stare from Cowell. With lame choreography and thin vocals, things weren't much better for Texas bartender Hope Johnson, tone-deaf waitress Margo May or nervous-looking Texas teen Alex Lambert. "It's like the dream died somewhere on that stage," DioGuardi quipped. Despite the drama, Powers, Johnson and Lambert made it through, joining the 68 other singers who made it to the next round. Hollywood continues next week in the wind-up to the choosing of the top 24. Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. |
| Kid Cudi Says Acting Is A 'Dream Come True' Posted: 11 Feb 2010 03:50 AM PST 'It's just really dope,' MC says of his starring role in 'How to Make It in America.'
Over the last year Kid Cudi has made quite a name for himself. He's gone from the guy whose name no one could pronounce to three Grammy nominations and features on tracks with everyone from Jay-Z to Shakira. In a short time he's achieved a lot in the music industry, and now he's ready to show off his acting as Scott Mescudi.
"The fact that everybody is finally getting to see me act and stuff is part of my dream coming true. It's just really dope, and people could see me be silly. My album was so deep and serious, and that was just me showing my dark side," Cudi explained. "Acting is therapeutic — just being able to pretend to be somebody else for a little bit, it's dope." The MC makes his acting debut in HBO's new show "How to Make It in America." The series centers on the two characters of Ben Epstein and Cam Calderon, played by Bryan Greenberg and Victor Rasuk, respectively, as they attempt to start their own fashion line. Cudi plays their friend Domingo Dean (he named the character after his two older brothers) who helps them along the way. The show's creator Ian Edleman approached Cudi one night and asked if he had ever considered acting. "Of course I was like, 'Yeah,' but it was in the club and I was trashed. I didn't necessarily take him seriously. Two days later he had his assistant send me a script and I was like, 'Wow, this is dope. I would love to be a part of this.' " Cudi actually auditioned for the part while he was helping Kanye West on 808s & Heartbreak. "I would dip away from sessions with Kanye and go rehearse my lines when nobody was around because I was very self-conscious and I didn't want them to see me and make fun of me." "How to Make It" is executive-produced by the team behind HBO's "Entourage": Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, Rob Weiss and Julian Farino. The show takes place in New York, however, and its characters are far from A-list actors. "I'm talking about these guys work a 9-to-5 — actually, one of them doesn't even have a job. As the story goes along you see all of the hardships that they've had to go through in order to achieve their dreams," Cudi said. The show finds the cast bouncing all around the city from Brooklyn to the diverse art scene of Downtown to the upscale Upper East Side. The cast said that was one of the great payoffs of the show. "What was great about shooting the show was, sometimes me as a native New Yorker, I'll find spots and we'll start shooting and I'll say, 'I've never even seen this place before. I never even heard of this place,' " Victor Rasuk offered. "The cool thing about this show is, like, we're shooting in the best locations in NYC — the best restaurants, the best clubs," Greenberg said. "This is definitely one of the sets where all of my friends want to come visit." "How to Make It in America" premieres Sunday on HBO. Related Videos |
| Lil Wayne's Mysterious Tooth Ailment: A Dentist Weighs In Posted: 10 Feb 2010 12:57 AM PST Dr. Sherry Rudd says the gold and diamonds in Wayne's mouth complicate matters.
Much has been made of Lil Wayne's surprising adjournment in a New York courtroom on Tuesday, which saw the rapper's prison sentencing delayed until March 2 because of dental surgery. There have even been murmurs that Wayne had the benefit of celebrity justice.
But the request made by Wayne's defense was hardly guaranteed: He had a large contingent of supporters from the Cash Money/Young Money camps arrive with him, seemingly ready to see him off, and he has been recording music and videos at a maniacal pace in recent weeks. Above all, the delay had to be approved by a judge, and Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon agreed to forgo sentencing for the time being. But according to an Atlanta dentist who has worked with patients with grills, the New Orleans MC's condition is anything but routine. Dr. Sherry Rudd, who has 13 years of dental experience in private practice and working with inmates, said that although she doesn't know Wayne's exact ailment, the symptoms — a cracked tooth, 10 days of recovery time, his propensity for sweets and the condition of his teeth — point toward the lyricist having an infection. The malady is compounded further, she said, by the gold and diamonds encrusted on the rapper's teeth. "He probably has a bad tooth, a tooth that's abscessed," Dr. Rudd explained to MTV News on Wednesday (February 10). "With having all of [gold and diamond material] in his mouth, it's going to be really difficult to get clean because of all of the different crevices. I don't know if they're bridges or if they are all individual. But if it's going to be two weeks [from surgery to recovery], then I don't think he's going to get them all off, because of the potential damage. Without knowing what's exactly there, it's probably decayed and the decay got into the nerve, which causes the nerve to die." If that's the case, a decaying tooth, which is possible given the rapper's reliance on Orajel, could be treated in a variety of ways. Dr. Rudd said one such instance could be that Wayne receives antibiotics for up to a week to reduce the infection, to avoid it spreading. An abscess can infect the nerve and then drain into the surrounding gums, tissues and bone area, she said. Also, if the infection isn't properly treated prior to surgery, there can be complications with drainage into the throat area or even the eyes. Without knowing specific details — and Lil Wayne's attorney, Stacy Richman, declined to specify the ailment in court and afterward — Dr. Rudd said it's difficult to pinpoint exactly what type of surgery the rapper may undergo. She did note that the procedure probably isn't major, but she described it as complex given the variables. There are dentists in prison facilities who are capable of treating Wayne, she offered, but Rudd said since this is reportedly part of ongoing work Wayne reportedly has been having done, it's best to stick with his personal oral surgeon. "If [the tooth] just needs to come out, most dentists can do that," Rudd said. "You have different root structures; it could be a wisdom tooth, or impacted, it depends on the tooth. When I was in school we had rotations where we went to the prisons, so they have the ability in those facilities. But if they're going to take anything out and it's infected — and because of the condition of his teeth — it shouldn't be just anybody." Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Ellen DeGeneres' 'American Idol' Debut: The Experts Weigh In Posted: 10 Feb 2010 08:00 AM PST New judge receives mostly positive reviews, although one critic complains she said 'nothing of consequence.'
Taking the place of a beloved character on a long-running TV show is never easy. But on Tuesday night, talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres appeared to easily slide into the memorial Paula Abdul seat on "American Idol" without disrupting the show's flow, pleasantly surprising many of the "Idol" faithful who spent months fretting over how the Emmy-winning comedian would fit into the mix.
After questioning how DeGeneres would do once the show went live, one of the leading "Idol" bloggers, MJ Santilli, who runs mjsbigblog.com, had high marks for the debut on the first night of Hollywood Week. "Ellen's perfect bon mots from tonight's show were plucked from hours and hours of footage," she wrote. "Obviously, [the producers] want to set her in the best light. However, if she can live up to her best sound bites, she's going to be great." Santilli praised DeGeneres' knack for zeroing in on singers' specific strengths and weaknesses and offering "constructive critiques that are both humor-laced, and pithy. ... Ellen's long experience in front of the camera is definitely helping her." Veteran "Idol" watcher Michael Slezak of Entertainment Weekly opined, "Ellen DeGeneres may not have years of experience in the music industry, but who cares? Her ability to sit still, be quiet and ... actually pay attention to what's happening on the stage in front of her could set an exciting new precedent for 'American Idol' 's generally frustrating judges' panel. Yes indeed, the show is actually about discovering the next generation of music superstars, not watching four nimrods at a table drawing mustaches on each other, misstating pertinent facts about music history and finding new and annoying ways to make the phrase 'you gave it 100 percent' their own." Despite his early fears that DeGeneres would be more focused on tossing out punch lines than critiques, Slezak said she filled the Abdul chair with "a level of dignity and purpose that it had never before experienced." Over at the Los Angeles Times, critic Ann Powers was less enthusiastic, writing, "Hollywood Week's big news turned out a fizzle Tuesday night — not because Ellen DeGeneres was bad, or offensive, or much of anything, as a judge, but because she seamlessly fit into the patter and often meaningless 'critique' at the judges' table, the way a bottle of San Pellegrino fits in on a Beverly Hills brunch table. Quietly bubbly and refreshing enough, DeGeneres said nothing of consequence." Though she was lukewarm, Powers predicted we'll be thankful for DeGeneres when the show goes live. "Her calm demeanor and deadpan wit have already exerted a calming influence on Randy and Kara, if not Simon (who seemed disconnected tonight), and the judges'-panel schtick that had turned into a bunch of tics last year might actually regain its rhythm," she said. Not so on the fence was Dave Della Terza, founder of "Idol" spoiler site www.votefortheworst.com. "The first Hollywood episode was a bit underwhelming, because most of it was taken up by Ellen DeGeneres trying to be funny and failing miserably," he wrote in one of his kinder comments. "At least Kara DioGuardi can finally give away the title of Most Contrived Idol Judge." MTV's own "Idol" expert, Jim Cantiello, also overcame his initial fears about DeGeneres, admitting, "Although I initially thought she was a terrible choice (based on her spotlight-hogging star power, her conflict of interest and one astoundingly painful guest judge appearance on 'So You Think You Can Dance'), I can now say that Ellen DeGeneres is exactly what's been missing from the judge's table since the fourth season: passion." Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. |
| 'Sexting In America: When Privates Go Public' Tells One Teen's Horror Story Posted: 09 Feb 2010 11:49 PM PST Ally's life was turned upside down after she sent a naked text to her ex; MTV News special airs Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
As soon as she saw her ex and two of his friends pointing and laughing at her, Ally knew something was wrong. What happened next was a nightmare the New Jersey teen never imagined when she texted her former boyfriend a naked photo. Ally tells her story in "Sexting in America: When Privates Go Public," a 30-minute special airing Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, in which we take a closer look at the dangers of sexting and the serious repercussions for the people who send and receive naked pictures of peers on their mobile phones and other devices.
In the special, Ally walks by the spot at her school where her ex-boyfriend and his friend stood "pointing and laughing" at her, triggering the realization that the naked picture she sent him at his request had leaked out. Ally had broken up with her boyfriend during her sophomore year at Hamburg, New Jersey's Wallkill Valley Regional High School, and a month later, he told her he would get back together with her if she sent him a naked photo. "It was one picture, and he sent it out to everybody in his address book," the now-20-year-old told MTV News. "We were broken up, and I guess he did it to make himself seem cool. I never thought anybody else would see it. ... It was an impulsive thing that I did." Though her face was not in the photo, Ally said word about who the mystery subject was quickly raced around the school. "You wouldn't think that something could spread that far, that fast," said Kacie, one of Ally's good friends. After first denying it was her to the school's vice principal, as well as her parents, Ally finally 'fessed up, and her devastated mom's first reaction was that the family should leave town. Because there was no physical harm, though, the vice principal said there was nothing he could do about the incident unless other students began to threaten violence against her. Ally's story highlights the fact that nearly 1 in 5 sext recipients (17 percent) report that they have passed the images along to someone else, with more than half saying that they just assumed others would want to see them (52 percent), followed by a desire to show off (35 percent) and boredom (26 percent). Cyber-bullying and sexting incidents have led despondent victims to suicide and serious criminal charges against those who post and forward explicit pictures. Images taken of someone under the age of 18 can constitute child pornography, according to Parry Aftab, an Internet privacy and security lawyer. "If you take a picture, you can be accused of producing child pornography. If you send it to somebody, you can be accused of distributing child pornography. And if you keep a picture, you can be accused of possessing child pornography," Aftab explained. "Anywhere along this chain of transmission of the images, you can be charged as a registered sex offender." Ally said after four years, she's definitely over the incident, which she feels has made her a stronger person. "But I think I have to tell my story to other girls, because if I can help one person avoid this, I would definitely want to." If you or someone you know is a victim of digital abuse, get help now. Experts believe education and dialogue are key to identifying and stopping the spread of digital abuse. Head to AThinLine.org to find ways you can increase national awareness about this issue and be a part of the solution. The MTV News special "Sexting in America: When Privates Go Public," premieres Sunday, February 14, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Related Videos |
| Lil Wayne's Sentencing Delay Is 'A Blessing,' Tyga Says Posted: 10 Feb 2010 03:27 AM PST 'He could spend more time with his family, get what he needs to get done,' Young Money MC says.
On Tuesday in New York City, a judge delayed Lil Wayne's prison sentencing until March, allowing the MC time to recover from dental surgery. Wayne's camp is obviously pleased they have been afforded a little more time to spend with their friend and mentor before he has to report to jail for a year. "That's still a blessing, man," Tyga said. "He could spend more time with his family, get what he needs to get done. "We talk about it all the time," Tyga said of Wayne's upcoming time in prison. "It's not really a subject that's gonna hurt us [Young Money artists] as much. We're used to being around Wayne all day, every day, and his work ethic, so we just look at it like we need to work harder. Even though we work very hard, we need to work harder. This man shot six videos in one day in, like, five hours. That was motivation — that was a lot of inspiration right there to see somebody do that."
Tyga is referring to Weezy's production spree over Super Bowl weekend, in which he shot a total of nine videos in about 36 hours in Miami. The Cash Money/ Young Money family want to make sure the hub of their crew has plenty of visuals to tide the fans over while he is gone. Weezy also got in front of the cameras for two of Tyga's songs. "We just shot a video for my single featuring Wayne, called 'I'm On It,' " Tyga explained. "That'll be coming out real soon. We got cameos from Drake, Juelz Santana was there — we did that. We did another song of mine that's on Birdman's album as well as my album — that's called 'Leave Home.' It's me and Wayne, featuring Birdman. That one's crazy too. Look for 'I'm On It,' that one's coming real soon. Wayne did a lot of videos in one day. We did what we needed to get done." Related Videos Related Artists |
| John Mayer Apologizes For Controversial <i>Playboy</i> Interview Posted: 10 Feb 2010 02:40 AM PST 'I've created somewhat of a monster,' singer says on Twitter about his open demeanor in interviews and arguably racist comments.
Not surprisingly, given his copious use of Twitter in the past, John Mayer tweeted Wednesday about the uproar over his controversial interview with Playboy, in which he talked freely about sex, former girlfriends Jennifer Aniston and Jessica Simpson, and — most controversially — made comments about black women and his lack of a " 'hood pass" that many have perceived as racist. In a series of tweets on Wednesday afternoon (February 10), Mayer wrote: "Re: using the 'N word' in an interview: I am sorry that I used the word. And it's such a shame that I did because the point I was trying to make was in the exact opposite spirit of the word itself. It was arrogant of me to think I could intellectualize using it, because I realize that there's no intellectualizing a word that is so emotionally charged. "And while I'm using today for looking at myself under harsh light," he continued. "I think it's time to stop trying to be so raw in interviews. It started as an attempt to not let the waves of criticism get to me, but it's gotten out of hand and I've created somewhat of a monster. I wanted to be a blues guitar player. And a singer. And a songwriter. Not a shock jock. I don't have the stomach for it. "Again, because I don't want anyone to think I'm equivocating: I should have never said the word and I will never say it again." What do you think of John Mayer's apology? Let us know in the comments section below. Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga, Cyndi Lauper Raise AIDS Awareness With Lipstick Posted: 10 Feb 2010 02:40 AM PST Singers team up with MAC AIDS Fund's VIVA Glam campaign, which donates to the fight against AIDS and HIV.
Lady Gaga isn't afraid to speak her mind. Neither is her mentor, Cyndi Lauper. That's just one of the reasons they were asked to be the faces — and lips — behind the MAC AIDS Fund's VIVA Glam campaign, which donates 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of lipstick and lip gloss to the global fight against AIDS and HIV. But on Wednesday (February 10) in New York, they decided to let the lipstick do the talking. "We want to spread the word that women are at risk and that you can avoid contracting HIV and AIDS. And this lipstick a little reminder," Lauper said. "It's a great gift for Valentine's Day. It's a great gift for Chinese New Year. Tell your kid sister about AIDS, tell your mom about AIDS, give them a lipstick. It's a great reminder. This is a great campaign, because, through the years, they've raised $150 million to fight the disease."
And making women aware of AIDS and HIV is vital to the cause. Over the past two decades, the number of women infected with HIV has steadily risen. In the United States, more black women between the ages of 18 and 35 die from AIDS than any other illness. So the hope is, with one little tube of lipstick, women will be reminded of those stats. "We want women to feel strong and feel strong enough that they can remember to protect themselves. To have this lipstick as a reminder in your purse, that when your man is laying naked in bed, you go into the bathroom, you put your lipstick on, and you bring a condom out with you," Gaga said. "There are no exceptions. ... This idea of negotiation before intercourse is this kind of ridiculous thing in the age that we're living in. I would say never, but you must be in a loving, monogamous relationship or married. We're not in an age when you can have irresponsible, condom-less sex." That's why Gaga and Lauper are such great spokeswomen for the campaign — neither shies away from the topic of sex. The way they see it, someone has to talk about it. "I think the issue goes so deep. It's a social and cultural circumstance, that women are sort of operating at a more passive-aggressive way, but I think that's why part of Cyndi and I are here," Gaga said. "If you look at the way pop singers are treated in terms of being sexually independent and strong women — if you talk or sing about sex, it's considered to be inappropriate, you're a bad role model, when in reality, we have to talk about these things, and we do talk about them. And I think if we talked about them more, this wouldn't be such an issue." Head to Think.MTV.com to find a community where you, your friends and your favorite celebrities can get informed, get heard and take action on the issues that matter to you most. Related Photos Related Artists |
| Jessica Biel, Kenna's Treacherous Trek Featured In 'Summit On The Summit' Posted: 10 Feb 2010 06:44 AM PST MTV doc airing March 14 shows Emile Hirsch, Lupe Fiasco and others climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro for clean-water awareness.
The dramatic journey to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, to raise awareness about the global clean-water crisis will be documented in an MTV special titled "Summit on the Summit: Kilimanjaro." The 90-minute documentary, which will air at 9 p.m. ET on March 14, follows musicians Kenna, Santigold and Lupe Fiasco, actors Jessica Biel, Emile Hirsch and Isabel Lucas and a group of scientists and activists on their journey to the top of the highest peak in Africa as they learn about water issues and climb through snow, sleet, rain and treacherous terrain on their way to 19,340 feet.
While the January climb was chronicled on SummitOnTheSummit.com through tweets, photos and video in real time, the documentary will provide never-before-seen footage and insight into the climb while spotlighting the urgency of water issues. "MTV has a long history of educating its audience to raise awareness on issues that are important to them," Dave Sirulnick, MTV Multiplatform, News and Docs executive vice president, said in a statement. "More than 1 billion people worldwide do not have access to safe, clean drinking water. By airing this documentary, MTV hopes to mobilize a new generation of young people who may not be aware of this global cause to take action and get involved in helping find solutions to the water crisis." Battling crippling altitude headaches, freezing temperatures, sore bodies and soaking wet clothes and boots, the group trekked their way up the mountain, pushing themselves and each other to make the summit. "When I was younger, my dad pointed out Kilimanjaro on a huge atlas. It stood in my mind as one of the wonders of the world," said trip leader Kenna, who was determined to reach the summit on his second try. "This climb is dedicated to my father. As a child in Ethiopia, he lost his brother and lost his friends and family to water-borne diseases. A billion people in the world don't have clean water. I had to do something about it. For me it's personal. I could have been one of those kids. I needed to come up with something that would command attention. And the only thing I could think of that was that massive was climbing Kilimanjaro." From a dramatic demonstration in a steamy Tanzanian village at the foot of the mountain, where the climbers watched first-hand as sludgy brown liquid was turned into drinkable water using the PUR water filtration system, to their bone-chilling final assault on the summit, the documentary traces the climbers' dramatic path up the iconic mountain. In addition to raising awareness about water issues, the climb also raised funds for the Children's Safe Drinking Water Program, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and Water for People's PlayPumps Technology. "I know all of you want to be at the top of this mountain," Kenna told the trekkers as they neared the summit and conditions got so treacherous that they were warned about their corneas possibly freezing. "But your safety comes first." Reflecting on the journey, the Grammy-nominated musician said, "I think it's honestly something more powerful than any of us could imagine." Among the other participants on the climb are: Alexandra Cousteau (National Geographic Emerging Explorer and granddaughter of famed explorer and filmmaker Jacques-Yves Cousteau), Elizabeth Gore (executive director for Global Partnerships for the United Nations Foundation), Simon Isaacs (international development and water expert), award-winning photographers Michael Muller and Jimmy Chin, Kick Kennedy (environmental activist and granddaughter of Robert Kennedy), Bernise Ang (social entrepreneur and recipient of the YouthActionNet Award and Fellowship from the International Youth Foundation), Dr. Greg Allgood (director of the Children's Safe Drinking Water Program at Procter & Gamble), mountaineering expert Melissa Arnot and renowned trainer Jason Walsh. Tune in to "Summit on the Summit: Kilimanjaro" on March 14 at 9 p.m. ET on MTV. Related Photos Related Artists |
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