The New York Post has a doozy of a story about Amal Clooney this week. This isn’t some puff piece about how she’s the smartest, most fashionable unicorn in the world. It’s not that kind of story because… it came from sources close to Iraq’s mission to the United Nations. Amal Clooney was working at the UN a few weeks ago to work on behalf of her latest client, Nadia Murad, a Yazidi Iraqi who was kidnapped, held, raped and tortured by ISIS. Amal did a lot of press on behalf of her client last month, and apparently she took her love of the cameras too far when she brought an unauthorized camera crew into what was supposed to be a private meeting with the Iraqi mission. And that’s not all! The NY Post says Amal “threw a tantrum.”

George Clooney’s human rights lawyer wife nearly caused an international incident at the Iraqi UN Mission of Iraq in Manhattan when she lectured the ambassador on ISIS and showed up with an unauthorized camera crew, The Post has learned. Lebanese-born attorney Amal Clooney originally demanded to meet with the prime minister at the mission during the UN General Assembly, but that was rejected and she settled for the country’s UN Ambassador Mohamed Ali Alhakim, two Iraqi officials confirmed.

She arrived with Yazidi refugee and Noble Peace Prize nominee Nadia Murad on Sept 15, and, right from the get-go, she used a “dismissive, lecturing tone” with Alhakim while discussing how to bring captured ISIS fighters to justice, one official said. When the conversation turned to the Yazidi people, Clooney made it seem as if they were the only religious sect in Iraq being slaughtered by ISIS, the official said.

The ambassador and his staff tried to offer her a “full picture” outlining each group targeted by ISIS, but Clooney was “completely uninterested” and “tone deaf to the whole thing,” the official said, noting, “It was highly offensive. I have had cousins decapitated.”

Alhakim, who had 65 of his own family members exterminated by Saddam Hussein’s ruthless regime, became infuriated with Clooney and, at one point, turned to her, stating, “This is highly insulting. This is very unacceptable,” the official said. Despite Clooney’s “obnoxious” behavior, the tense meeting lasted about an hour and 20 minutes because the Iraqi diplomats wanted “to be respectful to Nadia,” the official noted.

When the meeting finally ended, the parties went downstairs to the lobby, where Clooney’s “media team” carrying film equipment had shown up unannounced – a violation of standard protocols that required pre-approval by the mission, the official said. Clooney requested an on-camera interview with the ambassador, but was quickly shut down and escorted outside with her posse.

“The main issue is what she did and how she did it is absolutely outrageous and using a victim of war crimes as an accessory and political currency. That makes my blood boil,” the official said. Clooney’s personal assistant did not return an email request for comment and efforts to reach the attorney by phone were unsuccessful. The Mission of Iraq declined to comment.

[From The NY Post]

It’s perfectly possible that there is an innocent explanation for this. It’s possible this is an incomplete story, it’s possible that it’s completely fabricated, and it’s possible that Amal has simply done something to piss off the Iraqi mission to the UN and they pushed this story to the Post. It’s possible that Amal was simply carried with passionately defending a survivor who endured unspeakable torture. It’s possible that the men of the Iraqi mission would have found it “rude” to speak about military and political situations with any woman. But isn’t it also possible that Amal is kind of a tantrum-throwing a—hole? Maybe.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.

In the minutes and hours following the release of the Access Hollywood tape, one of my first thoughts was “I bet there are more tapes of Donald Trump behaving deplorably.” My mind went to the idea that there was more proof in the form of audio and video tapes of Trump’s misogynistic views on women IN HIS OWN WORDS. It wasn’t until Sunday’s debate when Trump flat-out denied doing anything to women and claimed that his brags about sexual assault were “just words” that I thought “oh, that’s an open-ended invitation for every woman he’s ever groped, forcibly kissed, assaulted and worse to come forward.” Everyone in the press knew it too – it seems like every reporter has been primed for the onslaught of first-hand accounts of Trump’s deplorable actions and words. And here we go.

The NYT story. The NYT broke their exclusive with two women, Jessica Leeds and Rachel Crooks, both of whom say they were victims of unwanted physical contact by Trump. Leeds says that Trump sexually assaulted her on a plane nearly 30 years ago. Crooks says that in 2005 when she was just 22 years old, she introduced herself to Trump because their businesses were working together and he forcibly kissed her. You can read their stories here. Trump is already threatening to sue the NYT for this story.

Mindy McGillivray. McGillivray claims that Trump groped her ass at a Ray Charles concert in 2003 in Palm Beach, Florida. Allegedly, Trump just ninja’d his way behind her without Mindy realizing it and before she knew it: “This was a pretty good nudge. More of a grab. It was pretty close to the center of my butt. I was startled. I jumped.” Melania was there too.

Miss Washington 2013. Her name is Cassandra Searles and she posted to Facebook that Trump “treated us like cattle” and made the beauty queens “line up so he could get a closer look at his property.” She also says she has more to tell because “He probably doesn’t want me telling the story about that time he continually grabbed my ass and invited me to his hotel room.”

The People Magazine journalist. Her name is Natasha Stoynoff and she was sent to Mar-a-Lago to interview him in December 2005. Trump offered to give Stoynoff a tour of the property and when she agreed, that’s when “We walked into that room alone, and Trump shut the door behind us. I turned around, and within seconds he was pushing me against the wall and forcing his tongue down my throat.” Stoynoff says Trump had knocked her off balance and she felt “utterly violated.” You can read her full story here, and I would suggest doing so because it gets worse.

Trump Campaign surrogates attempted to blanket the cable news shows last night and defend Trump against the accusations. Trump has said that the more women who come out and accuse him of things, the more he’s going to go after Hillary Clinton… for her husband’s affairs and alleged misconduct. Which would be comparable if Bill Clinton was running for president, but since it’s Hillary… yeah, I don’t know. I watched as several crazy-sounding Trump surrogates threw everything but the kitchen sink at these new Trump accusers, saying that of course these women are lying, they’re Democrats, they’re stories aren’t believable, there’s no evidence and more. Then in the same breath those surrogates continued to mention Bill Clinton’s alleged misconduct, like the same thing couldn’t be said about those accusers. The cognitive dissonance is… startling.

The Daily Beast did a thoughtful timeline of the accusations against Trump here.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.

Normani Kordei of Fifth Harmony quit Twitter back in August after she was taunted with racial slurs. This was back when Leslie Jones was shining a light on some of the horrid things that trolls were posing about her on Twitter. Following the racism that Leslie faced, Twitter started cracking down on hate speech and promised that they would no longer tolerate racism or extremism. They’ve improved somewhat by banning accounts and putting others on notice. Kordei did an interview with US Magazine which was in their print edition (it was also online but I’m just seeing it now). She talked about the horror she felt at being a target online, and how she’s since moved on from that. Kordei is working with a nonprofit organization called the Cybersmile Foundation, which aims to support victims, raise awareness and spread niceness online. This is the first I’m hearing of it and I really like that idea.

Us Weekly: The bullying started when Fifth Harmony formed on The X Factor in 2012. What did people say?

NK: Everybody in the group gets online hate, but mine is different. Racism really does exist and I’m the only African American girl of the group. There are people creating Photoshopped pictures of me getting beat as if I were a slave back in the day.

Us: That’s horrible. How did you deal?
NK: I tried to ignore it at first. My way of dealing with it was to not deal with it, if that makes sense. I thought the best thing was just not to look at the comments. Even if there’s one comment, it’s superhurtful and it’s the one that sticks with you.

Us: What happened when you announced you were quitting?
NK: I felt like a weight had been lifted. And I got so much love. Keke Palmer, Zendaya, a bunch of my friends — they were all texting me, making sure that I was OK and giving me advice. It really did open my eyes to see that people do genuinely care about me. I don’t know how many times I heard, “Normani, I’m here to support you.” They came to our shows and made signs. The whole stadium was filled with posters saying, “Normani, we love you!” Once Twitter was gone, I felt a lot more present, not always looking to see what people were saying about me. It was a relief.

Us: So, why come back to Twitter?

NK: To turn the situation around and make it positive. I feel like it’s almost my purpose to speak up about my experience so it could help somebody else. The hate is not going to stop, but I needed to make a point that you can’t run away from a bully. You can’t allow someone’s hate to dictate your life. I want to be the voice for those people who are going through the same thing, like little African American boys and girls getting bullied at school. It wasn’t just, I’m going to get back in to tweet “I had a burger today.”

Us: What’s your goal?
NK: We created a hashtag, #ImACybersmiler, and you can make videos and share your stories to show people that you’re not alone, and we can support one another. Knowing that you’re not alone really does make all the difference in the world. I never, ever want to go back to that other place again where I worry about those ugly comments and people who hate. I’m just going to be me.

[From US Magazine]

I wish more celebrities would quit Twitter in favor of other social networking platforms that don’t tolerate abuse. Facebook offers a lot more control for users over comments and blocking, but it has its own issues of course. I don’t know much about Instagram but from what I understand it’s better than Twitter and they have a better community overall. Personally I quit my personal Facebook account several days ago due to stress over the election. I could completely relate to what she said about how it’s a relief not to have to check it or think about it at all, and no one was saying anything mean to me. It’s hard to imagine what it must be like to read that type of hate hurled at you. Good for Kordei for getting involved with a worthy cause and also for having the courage to speak out about what she went through. That can’t be easy to reveal.

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Milo Ventimiglia is currently knocking ‘em dead on the NBC series This Is Us. I’m glad, as it’s a really good show, despite the fact that NBC kind of sold it to us by showcasing Milo’s bare butt in the promo for the show. I was thinking it was going to get its own credit in the titles.

On the show Milo plays husband to the lovely Mandy Moore. They definitely have lots of on-screen chemistry, even with Mandy rocking a huge pregnancy belly on that first episode. Does that chemistry extend off-screen? E! asked the 39-year-old actor about his co-star in the snarkily named segment “A Quickie with Milo Ventimiglia” (Me: If you’re offering, okay, but only if he shaves off that mustache.) Of course, he had nothing but nice things to say about her, saying, “Mandy is one of the kindest, most amazing performers and women I’ve met in my life. She is exactly as I’d heard. She is amazing.” But when the subject of dating his co-stars came up, Milo bluntly replied, “Bad idea—don’t shit where you eat.”

I know, as I’m sure you also do, that you don’t answer a question like that unless you are speaking from experience, and Milo has dated co-stars before. He was romantically attached to his Gilmore Girls co-star, Alexis Bledel, for four years. After that, he entered a relationship with his Heroes co-star Hayden Panettiere. The union turned a few heads in Hollywood as Milo was 31 and Hayden was 19 at the time they dated. Guess Milo finally learned his lesson.

In the E! video, Milo also discussed working on Fergie’s video for “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” which he said was “amazing” but confessed to being “mildly terrified” of doing romantic scenes with the singer while (then boyfriend, now spouse) Josh Duhamel was watching. He also offered up some sage dating advice for the ladies, including, “Be yourself” and “Contribute as much as you’d like to take.” I know, I know, just remember, he’s an actor, not a matchmaker.

Milo continued the press tour for This Is Us with an appearance on The Talk on Tuesday. Inevitably, conversation focused on the butt shot seen ‘round the world. Milo recalled, “When I first read the scene I’m like, ‘This is NBC, I’ll be fully covered and everything. Then when I showed up for our very first scene, first day of working on the pilot I walk into my trailer and I see flesh colored fabrics in varying sizes. ‘Okay that’s the kind of rodeo we’re doing today so here we go.’” Milo tweeted a photo of said “flesh colored fabrics” with the caption “Day 1/Scene 1. Amazing wardrobe choices.”

Day 1/Scene 1. Amazing wardrobe choices. @20thcenturyfox @nbc. MV pic.twitter.com/zf2Uwz0a3U

— Milo Ventimiglia (@MiloVentimiglia) January 26, 2016

Mandy Moore was also on the show and recalled (perhaps wistfully) that Milo was eating pizza during the show’s table reads. I’m sure Milo loves pizza (who doesn’t?), but he was actually getting into character, in order to make audiences believe he was just your average 36-year-old 80s-era Dad. He admitted, “This was the first time in my career, in 21 years, where the producers said, ‘Stop working out.’” He must have resumed hitting the gym, because he showed off his toned torso on Ellen last week and that, my friends, was no “Dad bod,” 80s-era or now. Meow. But seriously, watch This is Us. It’s definitely my favorite new show of the season, butt shots or no butt shots.

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Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Photo credit: Getty Images, Fame Flynet

First thing’s first: Dev Patel looks really great these days, right? Right. While the puffiness of his mustache is questionable, overall he looks really good with facial hair, and I’m enjoying his longer hair overall. These are photos from last night’s BFI London Film Festival premiere of Lion, the true story of an Indian man who was adopted (when he was a child) by an Australian couple. The kid grows up and wants to find his birth family, including a long-lost brother. As I’ve said in previous posts, I’m not really into the story and I think it looks overwrought.

Nicole Kidman plays Dev’s adoptative mother in the film and Rooney Mara plays his girlfriend. Thankfully, Rooney’s sour puss did not make an appearance at the LFF. Kidman and Patel paired up to walk the carpet together and they really looked lovely together. Not in a creepy way, just in a “wow, they’re two tall, lanky, lovely people” way. The Sydney Morning Herald claims that Nicole’s performance could earn her an Oscar nomination. As I said, I’m not really feeling it and I doubt that a story about an Indian man would end up getting an Oscar nomination for the white actress, but stranger things have happened.

Nicole wore this Armani Prive Fall 2016 gown in black velvet. I was beyond thrilled when I realized this was velvet – I love when it gets to be the time of year when velvet starts appearing on red carpets! This is good quality velvet too – the whole look is very “rich.” My only complaint about the dress is that the pockets feel oversized and unnecessary. The gown has a really high slit too, so Kidman was Jolie-Legging all over the place. Also: Nicole’s face looks pretty good, right? I’m sure she’s still Botoxing and stuff, but maybe she has a new guy because it doesn’t look overdone.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

I am a big fan of the “challenge” movement for charities and research. Not only are they proving effective for raising funds and awareness for very worthy causes, they are a great deal of fun for us fans. The latest challenge is the Polished Man Challenge aimed at ending violence against children. Founded by the Australian charity YGAP, Polished Man asks men to paint one nail for the month of October. The challenge is male specific is because, as the organization says, “90% of all sexual violence against children is perpetrated by men.” The hope is that any teasing brought about by the nail polish will allow the polished man, “to start conversations and challenge the culture from where they stand.” The significance of only one nail is two-fold. A few years back, YGAP CEO Elliot Costello met and bonded with a young girl in Cambodia who painted his nails blue. Upon hearing her horrible story of abuse later, he decided to paint one nail to remember her by. It also serves to represent the 1 in 5 kids globally who are subjected to physical or sexual violence before they turn 18.

First up: Chris “The Greater” Hemsworth. He gets the title of the post not just because of my unbridled lust for him but because Chris has been a champion against child abuse for years. He signed up for the challenge two weeks ago but reposted Monday with some nominations, which I think was just started to bring the challenge more attention. Chris tapped Little Bro Liam, Zac Efron, Robert Downey, Jr., Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo and Tom Hiddleston. You know Ruffalo will do it and I am fairly certain Hiddleston will too, even if he doesn’t get to make one of his little videos.

I’m a @YGAP #polishedman Being a @PolishedMan isn’t just about remembering to buy flowers, how many rounds you shout, or how much you lift. It’s about saying no to violence against children. That’s why this October I’m painting my nail and asking you to donate to help the 1 in 5 kids globally who are subjected to physical or sexual violence before they turn 18. And I nominate @liamhemsworth @zacefron @robertdowneyjr @renner4real @markruffalo @twhiddleston nail it to end it. Become a polished man here www.polishedman.com @auschildhood , thanks to @laurapanton

A photo posted by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth) on Oct 9, 2016 at 3:01pm PDT

Liam “The Lesser” Hemsworth stepped up to the challenge, nominating his oldest brother Luke, professional surfer Kelly Slater and Jimmy Fallon. Without switching my Hemsworth Brothers’ allegiance, I prefer the shade Liam chose:

Thanks @chrishemsworth happy to also be a @polishedman and paint a nail this month to say NO to violence against children. 1 in 5 kids globally are subjected to physical or sexual violence before they turn 18. I nominate @hemsworthluke @kellyslater and @jimmyfallon find out more and how to help/donate at http://polishedman.com @auschildhood #polishedman

A photo posted by Liam Hemsworth (@liamhemsworth) on Oct 11, 2016 at 2:28pm PDT

Zac Efron accepted the challenge and nominated James Marsden, Hugh Jackman, Andy Devine, Workaholics’ Anders Holm and Blake Anderson and DeAndre Jordan of the Clippers:

Thanks for the nom, @chrishemsworth. Happy to paint one nail and be a @PolishedMan this month to say no to violence against children. 1 in 5 children are subject to physical and/or sexual violence before the age of 18 and that’s one too many. Find out how you can help/donate at http://polishedman.com. I nominate the following studs @james_marsden, @thehughjackman, @andybovine, @ders808, @blakeanderson and @deandrejordan6 to become a #polishedman. #nailittoENDit

A photo posted by Zac Efron (@zacefron) on Oct 11, 2016 at 1:06pm PDT

Pretty Little Liars Tyler Blackburn posted last week:

I’m helping raise funds and awareness to support the 1 in 5 children effected by violence before the age of 18. Click on my link to donate to the cause! #PolishedMan

A photo posted by Tyler Blackburn (@tylerjblackburn) on Oct 2, 2016 at 5:48pm PDT

Australian Gold Medalists (and devilishly handsome) Michael Klim, who is a longtime children’s advocate, also posted twice:

1 in 5 children fall victim to physical or sexual violence before they turn 18. That’s one too many. It shouldn’t hurt to be a child, and we all have the power to change this. Sign up now and start collecting donations! Nail painting is from 1-31 October. @polishedman @ygap #polishedman #support ? @higgsy7 www.polishedman.com

A photo posted by MICHAEL KLIM (@michaelklim1) on Sep 14, 2016 at 1:48pm PDT

You can sign up or donate here and you can follow #PolishedMan on Twitter to see who else has posted. The Mister signed up and my daughter painted his nail after squabbling over the color (she won). You can see his pic here. We attempted a checkerboard but settled for an offside cross as I suck at nail art.

Photo Credit: Fame/Flynet Photos and Instagram

Is this the secret to glowing skin? (Dlisted)

Even the way Matthew McConaughey describes his proposal is super DUDE BRO (Just Jared)

Princess Kate and the pearl earrings (Cele|bitchy)

Joe Jonas on his dick and his virginity (TooFab)

Quentin Tarantino has a new girlfriend (The…

Is this the secret to glowing skin? (Dlisted)

Even the way Matthew McConaughey describes his proposal is super DUDE BRO (Just Jared)

Princess Kate and the pearl earrings (Cele|bitchy)

Joe Jonas on his dick and his virginity (TooFab)

Quentin Tarantino has a new girlfriend (The…

Depeche Mode announced at a press event in Milan yesterday that there will be a new album called Spirit and a tour kicking off next May that will take them around the world. Which is why teenagers around the world were like, what the f-ck is this Depeche Mode that’s trending on Twitter all day?
…

Depeche Mode announced at a press event in Milan yesterday that there will be a new album called Spirit and a tour kicking off next May that will take them around the world. Which is why teenagers around the world were like, what the f-ck is this Depeche Mode that’s trending on Twitter all day?
…