******************************
It’s nearly Christmas you know, so come and have a butchers at some outrageously rude Christmas cards and gifts. Perfect for those special friends and dreaded Secret Santas.
******************************
“I know you can’t smell the shit if no-one stirs the turd” – Clay Aiken
POPBITCH _ _ _ _
_ __ ___ _ __ | |__ (_) |_ ___| |__
| ‘_ \ / _ \| ‘_ \| ‘_ \| | __/ __| ‘_ \
| |_) | (_) | |_) | |_) | | || (__| | | |
| .__/ \___/| .__/|_.__/|_|\__\___|_| |_|
|_| |_| 06.11.14 ISSUE 713
Free every week subscribe here.
Send stories email: hello@popbitch.com
* Calvin’s perfect formula
* New, new Russell Brand book
* Charts: Cheryl set for no 1
>> Don’t laugh <<
Real ethical celebs
The Fawcett Society (the “brains” behind the “This Is What A Feminist Looks Like” campaign) could have easily avoided getting turned over by the Mail on Sunday’s fine scoop that the T-shirts were made by women under sweatshop conditions if only they’d followed in the footsteps of some properly ethical celebrity role models.
The Chuckle Brothers.
They have a fine range of ethically produced organic cotton T-shirts manufactured in a wind-farm operated factory on the Isle of Wight.
Surely even David Cameron could find something he’d be prepared to wear in this lot. Link
News from a koala on the IACGMOH set…. Nik & Eva Speakman confirmed with Teri Hatcher & Nicola Adams, the boxer. Tulisa holding out for GBP500k before she’ll confirm.
>> Keeping Mum <<
Simon, put a sock in it
Last month, Simon Cowell’s lawyers (the famously aggressive Carter Ruck) sent a letter round to media outlets asking them not to do stories about Simon Cowell’s mother. “We need not remind you that Mrs Cowell is not a public figure and as such there can be no legitimate public interest in any story concerning Mrs Cowell” etc.
You can totally understand someone being protective of their mother – but perhaps media outlets wouldn’t need to be reminded that Mrs Cowell is not a public figure, or that no-one is interested in stories about her, if members of her own family did the same.
Here’s one of the Cowell brood chatting to Nick Grimshaw about his dear old mum. (“She comes from a showbusiness background… She was a dancer…”)
When? The very same day that the Carter Ruck letters landed.
Who? Hmmm… Sounds an awful lot like Simon, doesn’t it?
Watch – it’s actually rather a good interview
Everyone’s favourite ‘roidrager, George “Mr Katona” Kaye has had all of Kerry’s children’s names tattooed on his arm.
>> Big Questions <<
Who wants to know what?
Which YouTuber is quoting a fee of 150k if anyone wants her to turn up at a launch in the run up to the holidays?
Which former tween star has been doing so much gak she’s becoming really paranoid? Her new plan of hanging out with models isn’t going to help.
******************************
Enjoy the History of the World in 100 Objects? To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, come hear the man behind it, Neil MacGregor, explore the profound influence that Germany has had on modern Europe. Next Mon, 10 Nov, London. Tickets here
******************************
>> Khan do <<
Brand: Then and now
When Russell Brand was dating Jemima Khan, the associate editor of the New Statesman, he was brought in to guest edit a whole issue. This is what they had to say about him.
“We’re delighted to be working with someone as entertaining, inquisitive and provocative as Russell Brand on this special issue of the New Statesman.” Link
Now he’s not dating Jemima Khan, the associate editor of the New Statesman, this is what they have to say about him:
“Stuff your revolution if it doesn’t include treating women as people”
Link
FYI Heard about the other Russell Brand book? The one written about Brand. By an ex-girlfriend. If you haven’t, we’ve read it for you. (It’s in the new issue of the Popbitch magazine)
Ex-Chelsea footballer Frank Leboeuf stars as a doctor in the Stephen Hawking film, The Theory of Everything.
>> Gatesway <<
Bourne, you’re Busted
Someone needs to keep an eye on James Bourne from McBusted. He appears to be developing a weird Gareth Gates obsession.
Bourne wrote the musical, Loserville, which originally starred Gareth Gates.
Now Bourne has just completed a new musical, which opens in New York in the new year. The title of the new work? Murder at the Gates.
(Gareth, what did you do to upset him?)
Kate Bush’s gaff in Reading was discreetly sold months ago. It was in a poor state of repair and is currently being renovated, ready for its new owners for Christmas.
>> Money talks <<
Keeping up with the P-Joneses
Julia Peyton-Jones is the co-director of the Serpentine Gallery. She was overheard at a cocktail party this week telling a friend from the Courtauld Institute:
“You know what they say, millionaire is the new middle class. These days, you need a billion to feel truly rich.”
(FYI: Last year the Serpentine came under fire from arts commentators for giving their directors a 60% payrise.)
More Americans watched the World Cup final than the final game of the World Series.
>> Loserville <<
Second time unlucky
Poor old Clay Aiken. Runner-up again. The man who came second in American Idol, and then second in Celebrity Apprentice, has come second in North Carolina District 2.
Clay decided to abandon showbiz for a political career and ran for the House of Representatives in his local district. Sadly he lost badly (59-41%) to a tea-partier.
But take a look at this picture to see the uphill battle he faced. In 2010, the Republican imcumbents did some re-engineering of the boundaries to remove areas which traditionally voted Democrat. What they were left with was perhaps the oddest shaped district yet. Link
******************************
POPBITCH END OF YEAR QUIZ
26th November, at the Roundhouse bar, Camden. Bring your office, your friends, anyone. Questions about 2014. Brilliant prizes. Special food and drink offers. only a FIVER.
******************************
>> Happy Days <<
Before the killings
Sir Sven Svensson writes:
“I was at college with Rurik Jutting. I don’t remember many people from uni, but he always stood out. There was definitely something about him. We used to have these seminars with a Q&A at the end. He always asked a question, regardless of the topic, and they were incredibly arduous and abstracted to the point of meaninglessness.
“He was sporty, had a bit of an anger on him, and aloof, but generally pleasant enough. Cambridge is full of dysfunctional people with no social skills, so he’s not unique in that respect. Oh, and his politics were classic neo-conservative. He also banged a fellow student who went on to record and circulate every single grievance she had against every Petrean she knew in a novel-length PDF before winding up institutionalised. She’s now out, and has re-incarnated herself as the second coming of Princess Diana.”
In the US Taylor Swift’s 1989 has the biggest first week sales since Eminem’s The Eminem Show in 2002. Or 22% of all album sales last week. Or more than the next 106 albums combined.
>> Same difference <<
Calvin’s perfect formula
Calvin Harris’ new album, Motion, has 15 songs. There’s a ballad, with Hurts, and 14 songs that all work in much the same way. Start slowly, wait for about a minute, then there’s a big drop… and repeat.
The first drop comes at 48 seconds, in Summer. Then 12 of the other tracks build to a drop which comes in somewhere between the 50 – 70 second mark. Overdrive is a bit riskier – you have to wait for a whole 90 seconds for the drop.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
******************************
Rare & Collectible URBAN ART – the perfect Xmas Gift (for yourself)!
Up now: Banksy, Faile, Baldwin, Kidrobot, Danger, Moniker & Obey.
And listing Thursday evening: Invader, Kozik, Borf, Hess, Kaws, Cauty & more. Here
******************************
>> Hmmms <<
Vegans, dogs, Wes
Vegan politicians from around the world
Link
Dogs in space
Link
The Racket: 0 stories, 8 months, cost $2million
Popbitch: 9,000 stories, 13 years… er, didn’t
Link
The Wes Anderson and Devo themepark
Link
Awkward football shoots
Link
If you’re listening to Serial, you’ll enjoy these parodies
Link
Jihadists favourite strip club?
Link