MTV News |
- Drake Says 'Young Sweet Jones' Reference Pays Tribute To Pimp C
- 'Glee' New Class: John Stamos, Charice And More
- Selena Gomez Says Fans Inspired <i>A Year Without Rain</i>
- John Legend, The Roots Talk 'Powerful' <i>Wake Up!</i> LP
- Lady Gaga Speaks Out Against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' In Maine
- Lindsay Lohan's Probation Revoked After Failed Drug Test
- Audrina Patridge Gets To Play 'Dress-Up' On 'Dancing With The Stars'
- Nelly Says A Diddy Pep Talk Influenced His <i>5.0</i>
- Lady Gaga's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Speech: The Full Transcript
- 2010 VMAs: Top Five Moments You Never Saw!
- Lindsay Lohan And E-Trade Settle 'Milkaholic' Lawsuit
- Emma Stone Talks Justin Timberlake Breakup In 'Friends With Benefits'
- 'Catfish' Trio Discuss Controversial Documentary's Aftermath
- James Franco Talks 'Blurring' Acting And Reality In '127 Hours'
- Kings Of Leon Lead Singer Caleb Followill Engaged
- Bruno Mars Arrest Was Over Alleged Cocaine Possession
- John Legend Challenges Students To Re-Imagine Financial Aid
- Lady Gaga Motivates Her Monsters For 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Rally
- Trey Songz Says <i>Passion, Pain & Pleasure</i> Scales 'New Heights'
- Lady Gaga's Rally To Feature Testimonial From Discharged Marine
| Drake Says 'Young Sweet Jones' Reference Pays Tribute To Pimp C Posted: 21 Sep 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'I feel like I'm extended UGK family,' Drizzy tells Mixtape Daily of controversy from Pimp-inspired 'Put It Down' verse.
The O.D.: A Mixtape Daily Exclusive Drake lays his game down flat on Bun B's "Put It Down," from the certified classic Trill O.G. "I just bought a car/ The n---a Pimp owned it," Drizzy rhymes on the chorus, paying homage to UGK's Pimp C. "I threw some tints on it/ He would have loved it how/ Put it down, put it down."
In his guest verse, the Toronto native says, "I got 100 girls in each phone/ Drizzy Drake mane, Young Sweet Jones." Sweet Jones, of course, was the late Pimp C's nickname. In fact, a posthumous Pimp album, due on October 5, is titled The Naked Soul of Sweet Jones. (Drake makes a guest turn on a track called "What Up.") The 23-year-old Young Money franchise player says he's heard about the small undercurrent of controversy stemming from his tribute-paying reference to the legendary Texas street general. But according to Drake, there was absolutely no disrespect intended. "I just feel that I'm a huge Pimp supporter," explained Drake, who sends the MC an R.I.P. at the end of his verse. "I'm a huge Pimp fan. I feel like I'm extended UGK family. Bun and Pimp are like uncles, dads to me. They're G's. [When I'm around them], I feel like I do around my uncles. They're still the coldest cats in the world, but Bun makes me feel ... he's a legend. His presence, it's like me calling myself Young Bun B, [when I call myself] Young Sweet Jones. "It's just seeing a bit of them in myself; by no means did I mean to offend. I heard it was somebody upset about me making that reference. I think it was somebody in his family or something. But I never mean any disrespect. I love rap. Young Sweet Jones is just a little nickname. People really started calling me that before I ever said it in a rap song. I used to rep for Houston so hard. They just be like, 'Man, that's Young Sweet Jones right there.' I just put it in a song. And it sounded dope." For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines. Related Videos |
| 'Glee' New Class: John Stamos, Charice And More Posted: 21 Sep 2010 03:52 AM PDT Chord Overstreet and Dot Jones are also 'freshmen' at McKinley High.
We all know who Rachel and Finn and Mr. Schue are, but when season two of "Glee" kicks off Tuesday (September 21), there will be a fresh crop of friendly faces to hang out in the halls of McKinley High.
When MTV News attended the red-carpet premiere party for the show's second season, we got a chance to know a few of those friendly, and sometimes familiar, faces. One of the newbies, Chord Overstreet, is not only a pal of Demi Lovato's, but will certainly have fans of the show buzzing as Finn's gridiron rival. Football is a sport known for hazing, so has Overstreet seen any of that happening on the "Glee" set? "I'm raw meat, fresh," he joked. "There's candles involved, a bunch of, like, Satanic rituals. Just some hazing, some general hazing. Little pranks here and there, nothing big, but I mean everybody was really welcoming when I came in." Speaking of rivals, Dot Jones will be joining this season as Shannon Beiste, a foil for McKinley's resident adult mean girl, Sue Sylvester, and the school's new football coach. "Already off the bat, I'm going toe-to-toe with Jane Lynch's character," she said. "She's one mean broad." While Overstreet and Jones might not be too recognizable, fans may remember Charice from her multiple "Oprah" appearances. "I love all the cast. They actually really gave me a warm welcome when I was on the set," she said. "I love my character. It's really me. It's very Charice." Finally, it will certainly be a full house thanks to the addition of John Stamos as the new dentist in town — who also happens to be dating guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury. Eventually, the good doctor and Will Schuester are bound to butt heads. Until then, fans might want to know if Stamos will sing any of his signature Beach Boys songs. "In the 'Rocky Horror Picture' episode, I'm singing on that one, which is coming up soon," he teased, adding, "I've been pitching [Beach Boys songs] like crazy, and they never respond." Which new character are you most excited to see on "Glee"? Let us know in the comments! |
| Selena Gomez Says Fans Inspired <i>A Year Without Rain</i> Posted: 21 Sep 2010 03:52 AM PDT Disney star says her supporters 'deserve the spotlight as much as I do.'
Selena Gomez already has a stamp of approval from Taylor Swift for her new album, A Year Without Rain, and now she's hoping her fans are equally delighted with the record, which dropped Tuesday (September 21).
In fact, she had her fans in mind for every decision and detail in the album process. "[I named the album after my single] because it's the name of the first song I recorded to put on the record. I feel like that song has a lot of meaning, and it also kind of was the start of what I wanted to base all the other songs around," she told MTV News. "I mean, even down from putting the track listing and numbering it, I wanted to make sure I envisioned [fans] putting it in their car or putting it on their iPod and how I wanted them to listen to the record." Many of the songs on A Year Without Rain are inspired by Selena's dedicated fans. "I wanted to make sure it made people feel good, but I also dedicated a couple songs to my fans, because there were moments onstage that I wish I could give to them, because they mean so much to me," she explained. "So there are songs like 'Intuition' and 'Spotlight' that are specifically for my fans and a way of saying, 'I get to live such a great life, but you guys deserve the spotlight as much as I do.' " Gomez said the album can be enjoyed at home or on the dance floor. "I think you can see that it's more of a dance/techno vibe," she said. "I wanted it to be a feel-good record." Are you excited to get your hands on Selena's new music? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos |
| John Legend, The Roots Talk 'Powerful' <i>Wake Up!</i> LP Posted: 21 Sep 2010 03:52 AM PDT 'He really, really exercised ... the rawness,' drummer ?uestlove says of pushing soul singer on upcoming joint collection.
John Legend and the Roots hooking up for a collaborative project hardly seems like a stretch. For one, the two acts have past works steeped in soul music, from John's solo efforts to the band's work with artists like Erykah Badu and D'Angelo.
But according to Legend, their new album, Wake Up!, was anything but a gimme. The LP is a collection of vintage cover tracks with a few contemporary edits, and the singer admitted the studio sessions forced him, in a pivotal way, to stretch beyond his comfort zone. "I think this album is bold and it's different than anything that I've done but I don't think people will think it's out of my sphere of what I do, because it's very soulful," Legend told MTV News. "It incorporates gospel, it incorporates hip-hop, funk, reggae; it's very classic. It's inspired by music from the '60s and '70s, all these are things you would expect me to do. And all these are things you would think the Roots are a phenomenal band and production team to do it with, and so it works really well in that regard. I think it will feel very powerful to Roots fans, John Legend fans, and all of the above people who haven't listened to us before, because the collaboration felt very natural, it felt very right." Although both John Legend and the Roots share a connection that stems from their Philadelphia backgrounds — the singer attended college in the area and the bandmembers hail from the city — joining forces wasn't a simple process. Roots drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson said he's selective about who he works with, limiting the list to a few veterans. But Legend, he said, shares a common palette when it comes to musical tastes. "As far as doing a full-fledged record with a singer, a lot of times I shy away from singers because a lot of them don't have the seasoning and the reference points that I look for when I do work with particular singers," ?uestlove explained, citing his '70s-era soul music influences. "So it was fun working with John," he added. "John is a double-edged sword: He has a velvety smooth voice, but here, he really, really exercised — much to my delight and much to his chagrin — the rawness." What do you think of John Legend and the Roots coming together for an album? Let us know in the comments! |
| Lady Gaga Speaks Out Against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' In Maine Posted: 20 Sep 2010 06:11 AM PDT 'There are amazing heroes here today whose stories are more powerful than any story I could tell,' she tells 4,500-person crowd.
PORTLAND, Maine — It was probably the smallest stage Lady Gaga has set foot on since her East Village days, but it might have also been the most important.
Because Monday (September 20), on that stage — a simple wooden thing with a brick backdrop — in Portland's Deering Oaks Park, she spoke loudly, proudly and passionately against "don't ask, don't tell," the long-standing policy that prevents openly gay men and women from serving in the Armed Forces and a policy that, on Tuesday, may very well be ancient history if the Senate approves the National Defense Authorization Act. Clearly, the stakes are high, and Gaga, ever the entertainer, was more than up to the task. Speaking before an audience of some 4,500 (mostly students from nearby colleges, activists and a few somewhat confused passersby) on behalf of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, she unveiled a speech titled "The Prime Rib of America" that took members of the Senate to task, urged her supporters to action and even managed to tie in rather nicely to the much-discussed "meat dress" she wore to last weekend's MTV Video Music Awards. "My name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. I am an American citizen ... [and] to the Senate, to Americans, to Senator Olympia Snowe, Senator Susan Collins — both from Maine — and Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts: Equality is the prime rib of America," she said. "Equality is the prime rib of what we stand for as a nation. And I don't get to enjoy the greatest cut of meat that my country has to offer. Are you listening? Shouldn't everyone deserve the right to wear the same meat dress that I did? Repeal 'don't ask, don't tell.' "I'm here today in this park, in Maine, to say that, if the Senate and the president are not going to repeal this 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, perhaps they should be more clear with us about who the military is fighting for, who our tax dollars are supporting and, ultimately, how much does the prime rib cost?" she continued. "Because I thought this was an 'all you can eat' buffet. This equality stuff, I thought equality meant everyone. But apparently, for certain value meals, for certain civil rights, I have to pay extra, because I'm gay. ... When it's time to order my meal, when it's time to benefit from the freedoms of the Constitution that I protect and fight for, I have to pay extra. I shouldn't have to pay extra. I should have the ability, the opportunity, the right to enjoy the same rights — the same piece of meat — that my fellow soldiers, fellow straight soldiers, already have included in their Meal of Rights. It's prime rib, it's the same size, it's the same grade, the same cost, at wholesale cost, and it's in the Constitution." But Gaga's entire speech wasn't one long meat analogy. At one point, she drew whoops of support from the crowd by suggesting that several senators — including Arizona Republican John McCain, who plans to lead a filibuster against Tuesday's vote — were "using homophobia as a defense in their argument" and said that, rather than continue to support "don't ask, don't tell," perhaps those same senators would rather support her proposed piece of legislation. "Doesn't it seem to be that 'don't ask, don't tell' is backwards? Doesn't it seem to you that we should send home the prejudiced? The straight soldier who hates the gay soldier? The straight soldier who has prejudice in his heart in the space where the military asks him to hold our core American values?" she asked. "I am here today because I would like to propose a new law; a law that sends home the soldier that has the problem. Our new law is called 'if you don't like it, go home.' If you are not committed to perform with excellence as a United States soldier because you don't believe in full equality, go home. If you are not honorable enough to fight without prejudice, go home. If you are not capable of keeping your oath to the Armed Forces to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic ... then go home." Earlier in the afternoon, members of the SLDN — including discharged servicemen Mike Almy and David Hall, both of whom accompanied Gaga to the VMAs — told the crowd their personal stories of unjust prosecution at the hands of "don't ask." Portland Mayor Nick Mavodones, who had worked directly with the organization to bring the event to his city, also expressed his distaste for the policy. But the majority of the crowd was here to see Gaga, and she delivered. There were no flashy costumes (she wore a sportcoat, power tie and glasses) or over-the-top showpieces, just one of the biggest pop stars on the planet speaking out against what she considers to be an unjust law — and, hopefully, helping to get it overturned. "There are amazing heroes here today whose stories are more powerful than any story I could tell, any fight I've ever fought, and any song that I could tell," Gaga said. "I'm here because they inspire me. I'm here because I believe in them. I'm here because 'don't ask, don't tell' is wrong ... it's unjust and, fundamentally, it is against all that we stand for as Americans." Share your thoughts on Gaga's rally in the comments below. Related Artists |
| Lindsay Lohan's Probation Revoked After Failed Drug Test Posted: 20 Sep 2010 12:52 AM PDT A bench warrant has been issued in case actress doesn't appear in court Friday morning.
Lindsay Lohan might soon have more than the embarrassment of a positive drug test to contend with. After admitting Friday to failing a test, TMZ reported Monday (September 20) that Lohan's probation has been revoked and a bench warrant was issued for her arrest in the incident. Lohan has been ordered to appear in court Friday morning, which means that, although the warrant was issued Monday, it will be held until she comes before Judge Elden Fox or executed should she fail to appear. The gossip outlet claimed that the revocation came after Fox read about Lohan failing a drug test — the site has claimed she actually failed two recent tests — on TMZ. According to the site, one test showed the presence of cocaine in Lohan's system and in another, she allegedly tested positive for amphetamines. Before she entered jail in July, it was revealed that Lohan had a prescription for the ADHD drug Adderall, which is an amphetamine, but it is unknown if it was that prescription medication that caused the positive test. Lohan's lawyer could not be reached for comment at press time. On Monday, Robert J. Lindsey, president and CEO of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency, told MTV News that, while it was not surprising that Lohan appears to have relapsed, he was encouraged by her ownership of the slip-up. "From what I've heard, the tone with which Lindsay talked about the fact that she tested positive was very encouraging," Lindsey said. "She really recognized that what this is is a relapse into active addiction, and she is very committed to making sure that she gets back on track." Over the weekend, Lohan admitted to failing her recent drug test. Hours after reports surfaced Friday that the "Mean Girls" actress didn't pass her latest test, the troubled starlet conceded she was still struggling with addiction. "Regrettably, I did in fact fail my most recent drug test and if I am asked, I am prepared to appear before judge Fox next week as a result," Lohan tweeted late Friday night. "Substance abuse is a disease, which unfortunately doesn't go away over night. I am working hard to overcome it and am taking positive steps forward every day. I am testing every single day and doing what I must do to prevent any mishaps in the future. ... This was certainly a setback for me but I am taking responsibility for my actions and I'm prepared to face the consequences." According to the conditions of her post-rehab release, the actress could return to prison for 30 days if Fox confirms that she failed a drug and alcohol test. Lohan served 13 days of a 90-day jail sentence in July over a probation violation from a pair of 2007 DUI cases. Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Audrina Patridge Gets To Play 'Dress-Up' On 'Dancing With The Stars' Posted: 20 Sep 2010 03:23 AM PDT 'I'm definitely involved in the design, the colors, textures, cuts,' former 'Hills' star tells MTV News.
If her enthusiastic Twitter feed is any indication, Audrina Patridge and partner Tony Dovolani (also an avid tweeter) are ready to wow their fans on the "Dancing With the Stars" season premiere Monday night (September 20). When we caught up with the former "Hills" star recently, she told us that, aside from all her sore muscles, she was having a blast getting to know her partner and all his dance techniques. "He is amazing," she said. "He's such a great teacher. He's very professional, and we have a lot of fun together. It's really fun. I look forward to going to rehearsal every day."
Regarding the challenges she's faced in learning so many new steps and routines, we wondered whether having to dance in high heels adds to the difficulty. "It's not that bad, because I'm used to wearing 5- or 6-inch heels," the stiletto-sporting Patridge said. "The ballroom heels are actually 2 or 2 and a half inches [high]. I had to get to that height, because I'm used to really high heels, so it's not bad at all." In addition to Patridge's fancy footwork, one more thing to pay attention to when you tune into the show's premiere are her flashy costumes, which she had a hand in designing. "All the costume designers are really good," Patridge said. "I'm giving them tear sheets and different ideas that I like to inspire each costume, but it really depends on your body and what looks good on each person. I'm definitely involved in the design, the colors, textures, cuts and this and that, so it's really fun." When asked if she had a favorite costume yet, complete with the famously flashy ballroom dance accessories — i.e., feathers, sequins and ruffles — Patridge hadn't decided. "I don't know yet, because each dance is so different, so it requires a different costume," she said. "Whether ruffles or fringe, I can't say, but I love everything. It's like playing dress-up." Will you watch Audrina and Tony on "Dancing With the Stars"? Have you picked a favorite couple yet? Let us know in the comments! |
| Nelly Says A Diddy Pep Talk Influenced His <i>5.0</i> Posted: 20 Sep 2010 02:04 AM PDT 'He was like, 'Let's go! What are you waiting on?' ' Nelly recalls of getting motivated after 2008 effort.
Diddy is wearing gold fronts, sporting enormous amounts of jewelry and riding shotgun with a superstar MC in videos these days as if it were the Bad Boy era of '94 all over again. But while most attribute Diddy's rejuvenation to his newfound affiliation with Miami rapper Rick Ross, to hear Nelly explain it, credit for the hip-hop mogul's revitalized state belongs to the St. Louis star.
"I got him back in that mode, ask him," Nelly told MTV News. "I told him — that's my big brother — I told him, 'Listen, you're going too fast: Where you at with the music — people ain't caught up yet. It's good, but where you're at, you got to bring it down. You got to get their attention first, then you can take them wherever you want to take them. My exact words were, 'We need that "Hate Me Now" Diddy,' " Nelly said, referring to the 1999 Nas track featuring Puff. In turn, the Bad Boy boss told Nelly that he needed to "speed it up." "He was like, 'Let's go! What are you waiting on?' " Nelly recalled. He admitted that the advice forced him to reflect on whether Diddy's words of wisdom might have merit. With his last album, 2008's Brass Knuckles, Nelly experienced his first commercial disappointment. Although the album was certified gold, selling more than 500,000 copies, his previous efforts were all multiplatinum smashes. The rapper replayed Diddy's talk in his head, and the result of that conversation, according to Nelly, is "Just a Dream," the rapper's first top 10 hit since 2005's "Grillz," featuring Paul Wall. "I was like, 'You know what? You're right,' " Nelly said. "And I left the party to go to the studio." Nelly's upcoming album, 5.0, is scheduled for a November 16 release. The project is set to feature collaborations with Kelly Rowland and Jim Jonsin ("Gone"), as well as the Notorious B.I.G.-sampling "1000 Stacks." Are you looking forward to Nelly's new album? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Speech: The Full Transcript Posted: 20 Sep 2010 06:20 AM PDT Singer titles her Maine rally address 'The Prime Rib of America.'
Good afternoon. Can you all hear me? I wrote this speech, this address, myself, I've spent 48 hours trying to find the perfect thing to say. My address to you today is called "The Prime Rib of America."
I do, solemnly swear, or affirm, that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies foreign and domestic, and I will bear true faith and allegiance to do the same, and I will obey the orders of the president of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the uniform code of military justice, so help me God. Unless, there's a gay soldier in my unit, sir. That is the oath taken every day by service members of the Armed Forces when they enlist to serve their country. Equality is the prime rib of America, but because I'm gay, I don't get to enjoy the greatest cut of meat my country has to offer. There are amazing heroes here today, whose stories are more powerful that any story I could tell, any fight I've ever fought, and any song that I could tell. I'm here because they inspire me. I'm here because I believe in them. I'm here because "don't ask, don't tell" is wrong. ... It's unjust, and fundamentally, it is against all that we stand for as Americans. The Pentagon and senators such as John McCain have cited that the military is a unique institution, they have cited that homosexuals serving openly cause disruption to unit cohesion and morale. So what this means is, that they're saying that straight soldiers feel uncomfortable around gay soldiers, and sometimes it causes tension, hostility and possible performance inadequacies for straight soldiers who are homophobic. And even though some studies have been done to show an overwhelming and remarkable lack of disruption to units with gay soldiers, I will, for a moment, entertain this debate. As I am less concerned with refuting the fact that, in the workplace, in any workplace, there are tensions, there is even more of a possibility to have tension when you're fighting for your life. But I'm more concerned that John McCain and other Republican senators are using homophobia as a defense in their argument. As the nexus of this law, openly gay soldiers affect unit cohesion, like it's OK to discriminate or discharge gay soldiers because we are homophobic, we are uncomfortable, and we do not agree with homosexuality, and I can't focus on the field of duty when I am fighting. "We have a problem with you." Wasn't that the defense of Matthew Shepard's murderers? When they left him to die on a fence in Laramie, they told the judge, 'Oh, Matthew's gay, and it made us uncomfortable, so we killed him.' 'Oh, he's gay, it makes me uncomfortable, send him home.' As a side note, both Matthew Shepard's killers have life sentences in prison, and laws have since been passed that homophobia cannot be used as defense anymore in hate crimes in our judicial system. Doesn't it seem to be that "don't ask, don't tell" is backwards? Doesn't it seem to be that, based on the Constitution of the United States, that we're penalizing the wrong soldier? Doesn't it seem to you that we should send home the prejudiced, the straight soldier who hates the gay soldier, the straight soldier whose performance in the military is affected because he is homophobic, the straight soldier who has prejudice in his heart, in the space where the military asks him to hold our core American values, he instead holds and harbors hate, and he gets to stay and fight for our country? He gets the honor, but we gay soldiers, who harbor no hatred, no prejudice, no phobia, we're sent home? I am here today because I would like to propose a new law; a law that sends home the soldier that has the problem. Our new law is called "if you don't like it, go home." A law that discharges the soldier with the issue, the law that discharges the soldier with the real problem, the homophobic soldier that has the real negative effect on unit cohesion. A law that sends home the homophobe, a law that sends home the prejudiced. A law that doesn't prosecute the gay soldier who fights for equality with no problem, but prosecutes the straight soldier who fights against it. Or perhaps that was a bit spun. ... To be fair, it sends home the straight soldier who fights for some freedoms, for some equalities, but not for the equality of the gay. He is the one — or she is the one — under this new proposition who will be discharged for disrupting the military. If you are not committed to perform with excellence as a United States soldier because you don't believe in full equality, go home. If you are not honorable enough to fight without prejudice, go home. If you are not capable of keeping your oath to the Armed Forces to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic, and I will bear true faith and allegiance to do the same, unless there's a gay soldier in my unit, then go home. Or, moreover, if you serve this country, is it acceptable to be a cafeteria American soldier? Can you choose some things from the Constitution to put on your plate, but not others? A buffet, perhaps. I'm not talking about citizens — we have a right to grieve, to protest, we have a right to this rally — but I'm talking about soldiers. Should the military be allowed to treat Constitutional rights like a cafeteria? In the military, is it acceptable to be a cafeteria American? What I mean to say is, should soldiers and the government be able to pick and choose what we are fighting for in the Constitution or who we are fighting for? I wasn't aware of this ambiguity in our Constitution. I thought the Constitution was ultimate. I thought equality was non-negotiable. And, let's say, if the government can pick and choose who they're fighting for, as exemplified in laws like "don't ask, don't tell," shouldn't we as Americans be made aware of this imbalance? Shouldn't it be made clear to the citizens of this country, before we go to war, shouldn't I be made aware ahead of time that some of us are just not included in that fight? "We're going to war for you and you and you and you, but not you, because you're gay." You can risk your life for this country, but in the end, you're not fighting for yourself; you're fighting for straight people. ... You are not included. You are not included when we say "equal." You are not even fully included when we say "freedom." I'm here today in this park, in Maine, to say that, if the Senate and the president are not going to repeal this "don't ask, don't tell" policy, perhaps they should be more clear with us about who the military is fighting for, who our tax dollars are supporting and, ultimately, how much does the prime rib cost? Because I thought this was an "all you can eat" buffet. This equality stuff, I thought equality meant everyone. But apparently, for certain value meals, for certain civil rights, I have to pay extra, because I'm gay. I'm allowed to stand in a line next to other men and women, I'm allowed to get shot at and shoot a gun to protect myself and my nation, but when it's time to order my meal, when it's time to benefit from the freedoms of the Constitution that I protect and fight for, I have to pay extra. I shouldn't have to pay extra. I should have the ability, the opportunity, the right to enjoy the same rights — the same piece of meat — that my fellow soldiers, fellow straight soldiers, already have included in their Meal of Rights. It's prime rib, it's the same size, it's the same grade, the same cost, at wholesale cost, and it's in the Constitution. My name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. I am an American citizen, to the senate, to Americans, to Senator Olympia Snowe, Senator Susan Collins — both from Maine — and Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts. Equality is the prime rib of America. Equality is the prime rib of what we stand for as a nation. And I don't get to enjoy the greatest cut of meat that my country has to offer. Are you listening? Shouldn't everyone deserve the right to wear the same meat dress that I did? Repeal "don't ask, don't tell" or go home. Go home. Thank you. Share your thoughts on Gaga's speech in the comments below. Related Artists |
| 2010 VMAs: Top Five Moments You Never Saw! Posted: 20 Sep 2010 05:19 AM PDT The telecast delivered great comebacks and wacky costumes, but plenty of action never made it to air.
From meat dresses to all-star performances, the 2010 VMAs had no shortage of memorable moments, so it's no surprise that people are still talking about it. The awards show drew nearly 11.4 million viewers (no big deal, just the biggest audience for any MTV telecast since 2002). Although you've probably seen many of the pictures, videos and even the blink-and-you-missed-'em moments, there's actually a lot more awesomeness that happened off camera. Check out the five best unseen moments from the 2010 VMAs: Drake, Mary J. And Swizz Beatz Nail It "Mary J. was not in L.A. earlier in the week because of prior commitments, so Swizz and Drake rehearsed with a stand-in," said Kim Reynolds, executive assistant to VMA Executive Producer Dave Sirulnick. While the trio's hectic schedules kept them apart initially, Mary made it a point to get there for dress rehearsal and the trio was able to practice at least once before the show — but that was the first and only time. Fortunately, the legendary Mary J. had no trouble nailing the performance along with Drake and Swizz. "Even with only one rehearsal the performance was amazing," Reynolds remarked. 30 Seconds To Mars Discover Glitter Hurts "The door to the restroom was being held open and I saw a bunch of people around the sinks," Mellman explained. "At first I thought that it was a celebrity getting ready and that they had taken over the bathroom, until I saw two paramedics assisting." Mellman soon realized the medics were helping to remove glitter from Shannon Leto's eye. "I overheard Jared Leto saying something to the effect of they didn't know the glitter was going to hurt, but it is the worst thing to get in your eyes." Will.I.Am Gets A Lift From A Toaster? Cyclists Crash White Carpet — Twice! "I'm walking up to go to the entrance of the limo route, and right around the corner comes one bike, comes two, three more," Production Coordinator Damian Vaca recalled. "They just crash the red carpet again. They're weaving in and out of limos, in and out of people. They completely took over the carpet until security was really kicking them out." Gucci Mane Rains Hundreds On VMA Carpet Share your favorite VMA moments with us in the comments! Related Photos Related Artists |
| Lindsay Lohan And E-Trade Settle 'Milkaholic' Lawsuit Posted: 20 Sep 2010 04:55 AM PDT 'The family is pleased that the case has been settled,' Dina Lohan tells TMZ.
Lindsay Lohan seems to be having her share of trouble with the law lately, but there's one battle she has won. According to TMZ, the actress settled a $100 million lawsuit against E-Trade, which ran a Super Bowl TV spot that Lohan felt mocked her tabloid reputation. Lohan's attorney Stephanie Ovadia revealed that the lawsuit had come to a close in a statement to TMZ: "The case between Lindsay and E-Trade has been settled ... there is no further comment." While no other details regarding the settlement have been revealed, Team Lohan is reportedly pleased with the suit's outcome, even suggesting that the actress received an undisclosed amount of money from the suit. Dina Lohan shared her two cents on the lawsuit, telling TMZ, "The family is pleased that the case has been settled." Representatives for E-Trade admitted to TMZ that they were interested in putting the case behind them, saying, "E*TRADE has always maintained that the claims were without merit, which is why we moved to dismiss the case. With the case now withdrawn, we are pleased to have the matter behind us." Earlier this year, Lohan's lawyer filed the $100 million suit in New York claiming that the actress' name was used without her permission in an advertisement. In the spot, a female baby character named Lindsay is deemed a "milkaholic" while in the midst of a baby love triangle. "That milkaholic Lindsay wasn't over?" the baby girl says, questioning why the baby boy didn't call her. "Many celebrities are known by one name only, and E-Trade is using that knowledge to profit," Ovadia told the New York Post back in March. "They used the name Lindsay. ... They're using her name as a parody of her life. Why didn't they use the name Susan? This is a subliminal message. Everybody's talking about it and saying it's Lindsay Lohan." Related Videos Related Photos Related Artists |
| Emma Stone Talks Justin Timberlake Breakup In 'Friends With Benefits' Posted: 20 Sep 2010 04:18 AM PDT 'I gotta tell you, breaking up with Justin Timberlake is really fun,' she jokes about upcoming comedy.
Fresh off the buzz from their charming teen comedy "Easy A," star Emma Stone and director Will Gluck are already waist-deep into an equally fun-sounding next project called "Friends With Benefits." The film revolves around two recently dumped individuals, played by Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, who eventually help each other get over their "evil" exes, played by Stone and Andy Samberg.
Amid idle chatter about how Stone needed an oxygen tank after filming her fake-sex scene in "Easy A," she said filming her breakup scene with Timberlake was equally hilarious. "I gotta tell you, breaking up with Justin Timberlake is really fun," she said. "It's a feel-good time. He's such a nice, funny guy. It was really fun. We had a good time." We then asked Stone if she was privy to any of Timberlake's rumored serenading on set. "There was some humming," Stone recalled. "Maybe some scatting." It seems as though JT saved his pipes for his "Benefits" director, as Gluck had a little bit more to say on the subject. "He sings everything," Gluck said. "He sings when we're waiting to shoot, he sings when he's pointing out paparazzi, he always sings everything. The funny thing is, unlike other people humming, every time he sings, you're like, 'That's Justin Timberlake! He's singing a song about "the boom just hit me in the face"!' and it could be a pop song if he does it right," Gluck said, adding that he would have to persuade his crew to refocus on their work and not Timberlake's vocal stylings. "He does like to sing, and he's good at it," Gluck said. "And even when he does a little dance [to go along with the song], he's good at it." Fingers crossed that Gluck will add a reel of Timberlake's on-set singing to the "Friends With Benefits" DVD. For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com. Related Artists |
| 'Catfish' Trio Discuss Controversial Documentary's Aftermath Posted: 20 Sep 2010 04:55 AM PDT 'We just wanted to start a conversation with this film,' filmmaker Henry Joost tells MTV News.
Audiences are still talking about "Catfish," the 2010 Sundance darling and one of the year's most heavily hyped documentaries. Now that the film has opened in select theaters across the country, more and more people are joining in on the "Is it real?" debate, as well as looking into the nuts and bolts of how the film came to be. In brief, the documentary revolves around NYC-based photographer Nev Schulman and the series of curious events that occur when he begins an online friendship with a precocious 8-year-old artist from a small town in Michigan and a romantic relationship with her older sister. When MTV News caught up with filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost, along with Nev, we asked them — without spoiling anything — how the film's supporting characters are doing back in Michigan. "Things in Michigan are good," Joost said. "We still have friends there, and they are becoming involved in the marketing of the film in a cool way, designing posters. We're pretty excited about that." Joost also said those friends were part of a small art show tied to the film's New York premiere. Regarding the strong reactions both audiences and critics have had to the film, Joost said there is a common theme. "I'd say maybe not the most common reaction, but a very common reaction is 'Wow. Now let me tell you what happened to me; let me tell you what happened to my friend or my cousin or my mom,' " he said. "It's incredible how many stories there are like this out there, and I think the film is kind of an open door to tell those stories now, that are sometimes embarrassing but often lead to good things." Joost added that their goal in making the film was to just get people talking. "We just wanted to start a conversation with this film and just continue the conversation we've been having in the editing room for two years," he said. What do you think of the buzz surrounding "Catfish"? Did the film make you rethink your approach to social networking or online relationships at all? Let us know in the comments! For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| James Franco Talks 'Blurring' Acting And Reality In '127 Hours' Posted: 20 Sep 2010 03:23 AM PDT 'The way we approached the performance is authentic,' he tells MTV News.
Toward the end of the exhaustive Moab, Utah, shoot for "127 Hours," James Franco found himself on the edge of a cliff. Portraying a real-life hiker forced to amputate part of his arm to escape a fallen boulder, Franco was in the midst of repelling down the steep face when he slipped and experienced the terrifying sensation of falling. He was rigged with safety lines, of course, but as the actor himself admitted to MTV News, "I was scared for a second."
The shot actually made it into the film. Again and again throughout the shoot, Franco and director Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire") strove for such moments of authenticity. At another point in the shoot, Franco found himself struggling for 15 minutes to tie up a harness with just one hand. "I yelled out a couple times, 'Eff!' " he said. "That was the character and me blurring at that moment. It really showed that the way we approached the performance is authentic on a real level, blurring the line of acting and experiencing." The entire production was a challenge, but it's one Boyle always wanted to take on and which, fresh off the Oscar-winning success of "Slumdog," he was not going to pass up. "We had a small window in which to strike, when people really believe in you," the director said. "I'd always been fascinated with this idea of trapping someone. In a medium that's all about movement and change and constant vibration of images, I thought it would be wonderful to challenge that and make an action movie where the hero doesn't move." The majority of the film takes place within a tight, rocky crevice, when Franco is pinned in place by the boulder. Only the actor and a cameraman could fit in, and Boyle had to watch from above via a video link. They'd shoot very long takes, as Franco went through a variety of experiences, from desperation to macabre escape. "It wasn't like we'd cut and ask props to rig a pulley while James relaxes," Boyle said. "He had to rig it. He had to do everything." Check out everything we've got on "127 Hours." For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com. |
| Kings Of Leon Lead Singer Caleb Followill Engaged Posted: 20 Sep 2010 02:17 AM PDT Rep confirms Followill's engagement to Lily Aldridge, who appeared in the band's 'Use Somebody' video.
It's a sad day for the female fans of Kings Of Leon. Lead singer Caleb Followill is officially one step closer to being a married man. It seems he put a ring on it when he asked his girlfriend of two years, Lily Aldridge, to marry him. His rep confirmed the engagement to People.com. Aldridge appeared in the band's "Use Somebody" music video. Followill is the latest Kings of Leon member to make plans to get hitched. Bandmate Nathan Followill got married last November to singer Jessie Baylin in an outdoor ceremony in Brentwood, Tennessee. While it appears that Caleb has been relatively mum about his love life, Nathan has been candid about the band's less-than-discerning views on love prior to their committed relationships. "I think it definitely prepared us for this. I mean, I don't think just anyone could handle being away from home for 10 months out of the year, but you know, it kind of helped us not to attach ourselves to a certain place for too long because we knew we were going to have to up and leave. So early on in our career it was perfect for the guiltless sex with the groupies, but now that we all have relationships, it's a little tough," he said, according to AZCentral.com. Before Caleb and his fiancée make it official, however, the guys plan to release their next album, Come Around Sundown, which is set to drop on October 19. The album has 13 tracks, several of which have been road-tested by the band during their summer tour. In keeping with tradition, the new Kings of Leon tunes combine bluesy, hard-rocking sensibilities with just the right amount of Americana twang (especially "Mary," which has quickly become a live staple). The new single "Radioactive" is a fantastically kinetic up-tempo rocker that features a giant sing-along chorus. Share your well-wishes for Caleb and Lily in the comments! Related Artists |
| Bruno Mars Arrest Was Over Alleged Cocaine Possession Posted: 20 Sep 2010 01:19 AM PDT Police say singer/songwriter had 2.6 grams of white powder on him at time of arrest.
More details have emerged about what led to singer/songwriter Bruno Mars' arrest early Sunday morning in Las Vegas on drug-possession charges. According to a copy of the arrest document provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the "Just the Way You Are" singer was arrested around 1:50 a.m. at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino — where he had performed earlier in the night — for felony possession of 2.6 grams of a "white powdery substance" that tested positive as cocaine. Mars (born Peter Gene Hernandez), 23, was taken in after Las Vegas police received a narcotics call from someone at the Hard Rock. According to the report, a bathroom attendant approached a security officer at the facility to say that there was a man in a bathroom stall who might be using drugs, telling the guard that a male in the bathroom was "taking a really long time." The attendant said he observed the suspect in a striped shirt with a "baggy of white powder substance." The attendant and the security guard approached the suspect as he exited the stall, and the guard ordered Mars to hand over whatever narcotics he had on him. "This is when Hernandez, with his left hand, pulled out a white powder substance, which was consistent with cocaine, from his left-front jeans pocket." When the guard asked Mars if he knew why he was being detained, the singer reportedly said, "Can I speak to you honestly, sir?" and then said he "did a foolish thing and has never used drugs before." Mars was arrested when the substance tested positive for cocaine, and he was then transported to the Clark County Detention Center, where he was booked on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance. A spokesperson for the Clark County District Attorney's Office said in a statement that the case against Mars is still under review and that no charges have been filed yet. He was released from custody at 7:45 a.m. Sunday and has been ordered to return to court for his arraignment November 18. A spokesperson for Mars' label had not released a statement on the incident at press time. Related Artists |
| John Legend Challenges Students To Re-Imagine Financial Aid Posted: 20 Sep 2010 01:09 AM PDT Singer visited Howard University to launch the $10,000 Get Schooled: College Affordability Challenge.
Grammy-winning singer John Legend surprised a class at Howard University last week, when he showed up to help kick off the Get Schooled: College Affordability Challenge, calling on current and aspiring college students to propose innovative digital tools to simplify the process of finding funding for school. The singer also became the class' guest teacher for the day for an upcoming episode of mtvU's "Stand In."
"Too many of our people are still living in consistent poverty, living in a country where opportunities are not equal," Legend told the class. "Educational inequality is the reality that where a child is born, what color that child is and/or how much money that child's parents make determine the quality of his or her education and life prospects. That's not just, that's not fair, that's not right." Legend — whose new album with the Roots, Wake Up!, is out on Tuesday — spoke of his journey toward obtaining a degree with honors from University of Pennsylvania. He praised past teachers who provided him with the support and guidance to receive a scholarship to UPenn and explained how vital scholarships were to his ability to complete college. "I was one of the lucky ones," he said. "Too many other kids don't have those same opportunities today." Studies have shown that upwards of 2 million college students don't apply for financial aid that is available to them each year, and that almost two thirds of students surveyed find the process of applying for financial aid difficult and time consuming. In response to these trends, MTV and the College Board Advocacy and Policy Center partnered to launch the Get Schooled: College Affordability Challenge. "They're calling on you guys and college students nationwide to re-imagine the financial aid process," Legend explained as he announced the contest. Students nationwide are encouraged to submit ideas for a digital tool that would connect their peers with more money for school at GetSchooled.MTV.com. The grand-prize winner will receive $10,000 and the opportunity to work with world-class design firm frog design to bring their tool to life. Applications are being accepted until December 17, 2010. Go to GetSchooled.com for resources on college completion and to watch the "Get Schooled: You Have a Right" special, featuring President Barack Obama, LeBron James and Kelly Clarkson. Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga Motivates Her Monsters For 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Rally Posted: 20 Sep 2010 12:15 AM PDT The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network explains how Monday's rally in Maine could help repeal the law.
The normally mild-mannered city of Portland, Maine, will find itself at the crossroads of pop culture and American politics on Monday afternoon (September 20), thanks to Lady Gaga. The singer will be the special guest at a rally in the city to draw attention to Tuesday's planned procedural vote in the Senate that will decide whether to break the filibuster over the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" laws and allow the House-approved bill to come to a vote.
The event, put on by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, seeks to prove to Maine Republican Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins that there is enough fervor in their constituency to justify their breaking party ranks and voting to end the filibuster. But Gaga isn't just a gun for hire. Rather, she is the whole reason the event is happening. "This has been a very organic process, and it all came from Lady Gaga," SLDN's Emily Sussman explained to MTV News via Skype. "She heard the stories of some discharged servicemen and women and insisted that she get involved." That involvement has manifested itself in a number of ways over the past few weeks. Following a concert in Washington, D.C., Gaga got the chance to meet some former members of the military who were discharged because of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" violations. She was so moved by their stories that she brought several with her to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, where they accompanied her on the white carpet while she rallied for their cause. Gaga also recently produced a pair of YouTube videos instructing fans on how to contact their senators and then showing off some of the responses she'd received. "Lady Gaga could not have gotten involved at a better time legislatively," Sussman said. "The House has already acted, and now is the time the Senate has to act. She motivated her base, and her little monsters responded." Not only have her actions brought about celebrity-assisted attention to the cause, but they have also yielded tangible results. "The response has been huge," Sussman said. "All I ever want is for people to start calling their senators, and all of a sudden [Gaga] tweets it, and the phone lines start blowing up! One of the first videos we saw in response was of two girls in Boulder, Colorado. They picked up the phone and called Senator [Michael] Bennet, and within a couple of hours, he made a YouTube video responding to it. This is really personal democracy in action. It's pretty exciting." The event will not only feature Gaga (who will speak about her experiences with members of the military) but also several former military members — both gay and straight — who will recount their stories. Gaga has even started to rally around the Twitter hashtag "4the14k," which represents the 14,000 members of the military who have been discharged because of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Related Videos Related Artists |
| Trey Songz Says <i>Passion, Pain & Pleasure</i> Scales 'New Heights' Posted: 19 Sep 2010 10:35 PM PDT Passion, Pain & Pleasure is propelled by 2009 'defining album,' Ready, Trigger tells MTV News.
Trey Songz has established himself as a beloved R&B artist, but the singer said it wasn't until his last project, Ready, that he began to feel like he had ascended to star status.
"I definitely feel that that album was what I thought it was. Before even the masses got it or anybody heard it, I felt like it was a defining album in an artist's career," he told MTV News. "Because even before that album, I had a couple hits, I had top 10 records, but those were songs. I had hit songs but I wasn't a hit artist. But right now people know my name and right now I feel like with Ready being so successful, I felt that was me only scratching the surface of my potential. That was almost the beginning of my career, if you will. With his latest release, Passion, Pain & Pleasure, Trey takes another big leap forward. Songz' first two offerings are already heating up at radio and on the charts. "Bottoms Up," featuring Nicki Minaj, sits in the top 20 on Billboard's Hot 100 and "Unusual," featuring Drake, appears primed to follow suit. "With Passion, Pain & Pleasure, I feel like I'm taking it to new heights," Songz said of his fourth studio album. After dropping Ready in summer 2009, the singer upgraded his management team to include former Warner Music and Def Jam executive Kevin Liles. The move, Songz said, was just another example of him taking greater control of his career. "As far as what I can attribute my success to, you know, taking charge of my career," he said. "Taking full control — from the music I make to the pictures I take." What do you think of Trey Songz' new album? Share your reviews with us in the comments! Related Videos Related Artists |
| Lady Gaga's Rally To Feature Testimonial From Discharged Marine Posted: 20 Sep 2010 12:34 AM PDT 'I got the chance to meet her in D.C., and she genuinely cared about the issue,' former Marine Danny Hernandez says of Gaga.
Since she first broke into the mainstream two years ago, Lady Gaga has used her fame to bring gay rights issues to the forefront. In the past few weeks, she has focused squarely on the repeal of the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, including bringing several casualties of the law to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles and recording a video that encourages her fans to contact their senators to oppose the policy. On Monday (September 20), Gaga will host a rally in Portland, Maine, organized by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), in an effort to get the two senators from the state — Republicans Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins — to vote to break a filibuster and repeal the DADT policy in Tuesday's procedural vote in Washington, D.C.
Those gathered at the rally will also hear testimonial from Danny Hernandez, a former Marine who was discharged from the military for "don't ask, don't tell" violations. "I was in the Marine Corps and was under investigation for violating 'don't ask, don't tell,' and I ended up working with SLDN in Washington," Hernandez explained to MTV News in a Skype interview from Portland. "They represented me, and it was through them I began working for them and getting involved with Lady Gaga." Hernandez first got the opportunity to meet the singer a few weeks ago after a concert in Washington. "I was a little skeptical at first," Hernandez said of Gaga's involvement with the cause. "I love her music but wouldn't consider myself a Little Monster. I got the chance to meet her in D.C., and she genuinely cared about the issue. It was then I realized that she's serious about this issue and getting the word out." Though Hernandez was a victim of a "don't ask, don't tell" discharge — one among 14,000 similar cases — he hasn't let that get in the way of his dream of service. "I've been wanting to serve in the military for as long as I can remember," he said. "My brother, my cousins — everybody is in the Marine Corps. It's a family thing. To have been discharged was one of the worst things to ever happen to me, but that's why I'm a part of this cause. And it's meaningful to the people around me as well as the people still serving in silence. But I'd like to get back into the military as soon as possible." The procedural vote — which would merely clear the bill (which has already been approved by the House of Representatives) for discussion on the Senate floor — is scheduled to occur on Tuesday afternoon. What do you think of Lady Gaga's involvement with trying to repeal "don't ask, don't tell"? Let us know in the comments. Related Videos Related Artists |
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