Princess Diana's Sons to Inherit Her Fairy-Tale Wedding Dress

Princess Diana's Sons to Inherit Her Fairy-Tale Wedding Dress - Prince Harry and Prince William will soon receive a very meaningful memory of their mother, Princess Diana. On the occasion of Harry's 30th birthday on Sept. 15, he and his 32-year-old brother William are set to inherit their mother's iconic wedding dress, as detailed in Diana's will.

After Diana's shocking death at the age of 36 in 1997, her stunning bridal gown, along with other personal treasures, were put on display at Althorp, the Spencer family's 500-year-old estate in Northampton, England.

Last year, Diana's younger brother, the Earl Spencer, announced he would close the exhibit in 2014 in anticipation of the gown's departure. Spencer told the Telegraph in 2013 that Diana's will stipulated that her belongings be "looked after" by him until both sons turned 30, when the items would be handed over to his nephews.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles (AP Images)

Along with the wedding attire, the collection includes dresses, family jewelry, letters, and home movies. The memorabilia may go back on display at Kensington Palace, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge live, and where Diana resided until her death.

When 20-year-old Diana Spencer married Prince Charles in 1981, the now-famous wedding dress matched the fairy-tale "wedding of the century." The white confection designed by British dress makers David and Elizabeth Emanuel included a 25-foot train, puffed sleeves, and 10,000 pearls and sequins. It was immediately knocked off and copied for years to come.

"Princess Diana's wedding dress was what dreams were made‎ of at the time," NYC-based fashion stylist Robyn Victoria told Yahoo. "It gave the world a peek into the grandeur and splendor of royalty and it lived up to our imaginations. Everything about it was big and over the top, a theme that took flight in the 80s."

Prince William and Kate Middleton (AP Images)

Similar to Diana's famous wedding design, Kate Middleton's bridal gown, created by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen in 2011, was viewed by millions and spawned immediate copies. Middleton's satin-and-lace gown did go on display at Buckingham Palace following the nuptials, which apparently the Queen found "very creepy" because it was worn by a headless mannequin.

Since then, it's been kept at Kensington Palace. "The Duchess had it cleaned and it's packed away in a safe place," a royal aide told the U.K. Express in 2012. "There are no plans for it to go on tour; that's what she has decided. People have had a look and now she wants it for herself as a treasured memory." ( celebrity.yahoo.com )

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Princess Diana's Wedding Dress Handed Down To William And Harry

Princess Diana's Wedding Dress Handed Down To William And Harry - Princess Diana had a big present in store for her son Prince Harry’s 30th birthday: her wedding dress.

As stipulated in the late princess' will, the iconic gown will officially be inherited by both of Diana's sons -- Prince William gets to share -- on Harry's big day, Sept. 15, TODAY reports.

Then-Lady Diana Spencer wore the stunning ivory silk and taffeta lace gown, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, during her 1981 nuptials to Prince Charles. The royal couple recited their vows at St. Paul's Cathedral in London in front of hundreds of millions who tuned in to watch on TV.

The Victorian style dress, which was hand-embroidered with over 10,000 tiny mother-of-pearl sequins and pearls, boasted a 25-foot-long train -- the longest in royal history, according to the National Constitution Center.

Needless to say, the dress became an instant legend. It has recently been on a tour around the world and was regularly displayed at her family's estate, Althorp, in Northampton, while in Diana's brother's possession. Women's Day reports there's a hope the princes will put it back on display at Kensington Palace in London, where Diana lived.

Both Prince William and Prince Harry will also inherit other items from the estate of their mother, who died in a car crash in 1997, including personal photos, letters, and jewels. The score and lyrics to Elton John’s adapted version of “Candle in the Wind,” which was performed at her funeral, will also be handed down. ( huffingtonpost.com )

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Prince Harry, New Girlfriend Camilla Thurlow Take Romantic Saint-Tropez Cruise

Prince Harry, New Girlfriend Camilla Thurlow Take Romantic Saint-Tropez Cruise - All at sea! Prince Harry and his new girlfriend Camilla Thurlow took their romance to the open waters this past weekend, embarking on a cruise together, Us Weekly can exclusively reveal.

Thurlow, 25, joined the redheaded royal, 29, for a vacation on a luxury yacht, which began on Saturday, Aug. 23, in Saint-Tropez, France with a few friends. They are traveling with pal Ben Goldsmith and his model financée Jemima Jones.

Prince Harry, New Girlfriend Camilla Thurlow Take Romantic Saint-Tropez Cruise

"This trip's partly to celebrate Harry's 30th birthday which is just weeks away," a source explains to Us. Prince William's younger brother will celebrate his milestone 30th on Sept. 15. "It's also because he deserves some time off work to relax and recharge his batteries." Harry has been busy organizing the Invictus Games, held Sept. 10 through 14.

After he was first seen kissing Thurlow at a nightclub in July, Harry chose to bring his new love interest along for his time off. "They stayed in touch via text after the first night they kissed," a second source tells Us, about the couple who was spotted locking lips in London.


"It's a sign that he's really smitten with Camilla that he feels comfortable to invite her away with friends he's known for years," the first insider adds to Us.

The group of pals will be traveling in style, as the impressive liner boasts a luxe master suite, six other bedrooms, an on-deck jacuzzi, gym, swimming platform, and helipad.


After he unwinds, the young royal may be considering what's ahead for him in his personal life. A third source tells Us Weekly that Harry "is keen to settle down" and "thinking about what he wants in life." This reflective period follows Harry's split from longtime girlfriend Cressida Bonas this past April.

Now, his goals could include a future with Thurlow, who is a former Miss Edinburgh and works as a projects officer for The Halo Trust, a UK nonprofit which was once a project close to the heart of Harry's late mother, Princess Diana.


Kensington Palace had no comment on the romantic getaway. See more pics of Prince Harry through the years. (usmagazine.com )

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She loves playing dress-up: Kate Winslet gets into costume for A Little Chaos as she stars in yet another period drama

She loves playing dress-up : Kate Winslet gets into costume for A Little Chaos as she stars in yet another period drama  - Kate Winslet has starred in her fair share of period dramas and now she is at it again.

The 37-year-old was seen on the set of her latest movie A Little Chaos, dressed in traditional 17th Century costume.

Kate has had a lot of practice at acting in costume dramas and so it was no surprise to see her at such ease as she walked around in her uncomfortable outfit.

Here we go again: Kate Winslet was seen filming period drama A Little Chaos, in Surrey, England, dressed in full costume

Back to the past: Kate sported a rather large colourful hat as she mingled with cast and crew at the stately home

The mother-of-two wore a rather colourful hat as she wandered on the grounds of a stately home in Surrey, England.

The grand surroundings teamed with the long green coat that she was wearing gave the overall desired effect of time and place.

There was also a horse drawn carriage complete with driver to ferry Kate's character around the expansive grounds.

Old school: There was also a horse drawn carriage complete with driver to ferry Kate's character around the expansive grounds

Mixing it up: The 17th Century carriage was out of place with so many present day workers around it

One fine day: Alan Rickman, who stars in the film and also directs it, was seen surveying the area

A Little Chaos stars Winslet as a landscape garden designer in competition with a rival played by Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts.

The two green fingered impresarios compete for the right to design a fountain at the Palace of Versailles, France, for Louis XIV.

The project, which has taken five years to bring to the big screen, is directed by Alan Rickman.

Taking a closer look: Director Rickman was not in character, although he plays the role of King Louis in the film

Black box: The movie, which is set in Versaille, France, was being filmed in Surrey, England

The British actor is also starring in the movie as the legendary King Louis, and marks the second period drama that he has worked on with Winslet since 1995 hit film Sense and Sensibility. 

Kate has been enjoying something of an extended honeymoon since her December 2012 marriage to third husband Ned Rocknroll, 34, the nephew of Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson.

The couple wed in New York with the bride given away by her Titanic co-star Leonardo DiCaprio.

Kate has a daughter Mia, 11, from her first marriage to production assistant Jim Threapleton, and a son Joe, nine, with her second husband, Skyfall director Sam Mendes.

Flashback: Rickman and Winslet in the 1995 hit film Sense and Sensibility ( dailymail.co.uk )

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5 historical Oscar controversies you probably didn't know about

5 historical Oscar controversies you probably didn't know about - The annual gala has been a showcase for Communist propaganda and mysterious no-shows

Documentary filmmaker and Oscar winner Bert Schneider upset some American viewers with his politicized acceptance speech in 1975.AP Photo

n the days leading up to Sunday's 85th annual Academy Awards, we're sure to be treated to the highlights — and lowlights — of the previous 84 ceremonies. There was the streaker, Sacheen Littlefeather rejecting an award on Marlon Brando's behalf, Michael Moore's political diatribe, Jack Palance's pushups — really, the list goes on and on. But there are still some outrageous stories and uncomfortable situations that have slipped under the cultural radar. From mega-spoilers to George Bernard Shaw's tantrum, here's a rundown of five Oscar controversies you probably didn't know about:

1. The Brooklyn cabbie who presented an award to Bob Hope

Just recently, a fan made his way onto the stage at the Grammy Awards, setting off a furor over security. Well, the same thing happened in 1962 at the Academy Awards, only worse. While Shelley Winters and Vince Edwards presented the award for Best Cinematography, a Brooklyn cab driver named Stan Berman leapt to the stage and handed Winters a homemade Oscar statue. He then grabbed the microphone and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm the world's greatest gatecrasher, and I just came here to present Bob Hope with his 1938 trophy." That was a reference to Hope's film The Big Broadcast of 1938, for which he didn't receive an honor.

2. The director who spouted "Communist propaganda"

During the 1975 ceremonies, when debate over the Vietnam War was still raging, documentary filmmaker Bert Schneider used his acceptance speech to read a telegram from a Viet Cong diplomat offering "greetings of friendship" to the American people. Angry responses from viewers began to pour in objecting to the "Communist propaganda," and producers had to think fast. They sent host Frank Sinatra out with a statement saying that the Academy was not responsible for any political statements made during the show. Fellow host Shirley MacLaine was not pleased with the statement, which was reportedly the brainchild of Bob Hope, yet another host for the evening. MacLaine believed that the disclaimer made it seem as if the Academy had taken a right-wing position on the Vietnam issue.

3. The worst spoiler ever

Few people know who will win Best Picture on Sunday, but that wasn't always the case. From the start of the Awards in 1928, winners were actually announced to the press ahead of time. That changed in 1940 when attendees arriving at the gala were upset to discover that people were already talking about how Gone With The Wind had won eight awards. The Academy didn't issue these spoilers to ruin the fun: They did it to help the press cover the event and meet their deadlines. Actors and others were supposed to be kept in the dark, but one reporter was so excited about the Gone With The Wind results that he reportedly cracked and disclosed the Academy's biggest secret of the night. Word spread quickly from there.

4. The curious case of the non-existent screenwriter

When Robert Rich won for Best Original Story for The Brave One in 1957, nobody came up to accept the award. That's because Rich was really Dalton Trumbo, who had been blacklisted by the Academy for his alleged Communist connections. The Academy eventually eased up on Trumbo, paving the way for him to use his real name again in Hollywood. But Trumbo didn't come forward as the man behind "Robert Rich" until 1976, when he finally retrieved his award. In 1993, he was posthumously awarded the Academy Award for writing 1953's Roman Holiday; that one went to Ian McLellan Hunter, a real screenwriter who acted as a front for Trumbo in this case.

5. George Bernard Shaw's fit of pique

Talk about being ungrateful. In 1939, legendary playwright George Bernard Shaw was awarded for his screenplay for the movie version of Pygmalion. But Shaw didn't take it well — in fact, he wasn't on hand to receive it. From England, he reportedly said, "It's perfect nonsense! To offer me an award of this sort is an insult, as if they had never heard of me before — and it's very likely they never had." The Oscar eventually found its way to Shaw's residence overseas, but when Shaw died in 1950, his statuette was found to be in such bad shape that the curator tasked with turning his home into a museum used Oscar as a doorstop. Eventually, the statuette was repaired and is now displayed prominently at the museum. ( the week )

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Should Brad Pitt Let Jennifer Aniston Get Married First?

Should Brad Pitt Let Jennifer Aniston Get Married First? - By all indications, Jennifer Aniston's upcoming wedding to actor Justin Theroux is happening soon – but let us not forget that her equally famous ex-husband, Brad Pitt, is also betrothed. (Perhaps you've heard of Pitt's fiancee, Angelina Jolie)

While media speculation says the two couples may be racing to the altar, we decided to ask the authority on American weddings what the correct protocol is, on the issue of "who goes first" and other aspects of a remarriage.

 

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ( Steve Branitz/WireImage)

 

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Anna Post, great-great-granddaughter of etiquette queen Emily Post, was happy to help omg! figure out the rules. For starters, she's OK with Jolie walking down the aisle first.

"If someone is together longer, I'd say it might be acceptable to go first," Post says. Pitt and Jolie famously got together on the heels of his 2005 divorce from Aniston, so they'd qualify as first-up couple.

"In some cases … if the man is being a gentleman, he might touch base with his former wife and offer to let her go first."

We doubt Brad and Jen keep in close contact, but that phone call is fun to imagine. No matter when they say "I do," Post has some sage advice.

"What you really want to avoid is getting remarried too close to each other. Then you're competing for the guest list," she explains. "You need enough space between dates to accommodate travel, especially. Otherwise you may force people to choose," she said.

"Also, having comfortable spaces in between would say both their lives are moving in separate directions in a positive way."

As for gifts, Post insists that anyone in attendance at either wedding, who was present at their first, can come empty-handed.

"Guests who attended a previous wedding do not have to provide a gift. A 'new to you' person, like Justin Theroux's guests, especially if it's his first wedding, should," she says. Take note Ben Stiller, Justin's rumored best man.

For Aniston's dress, she needn't worry about avoiding white. It's open season.

"First-time brides don't have to wear white!" Post shares, pointing to the bridal color trend stars like Jessica Biel and Amber Tamblyn have jumped on. "And as for staying away from it for your second wedding, the world has moved past that."

As for that time-honored cliche that a second wedding ceremony should be half as long as the first, while the party should be twice as long. That's not entirely true.

"Certainly a full religious ceremony should be enjoyed if the couple prefers, and I'm perfectly fine with that party length."

And as for the guest list, neither star couple should feel the need to keep it small just because their first marriage didn't work.

"It's a reason to celebrate when people commit to something so challenging and rewarding," Post says. "There's no room for any stigma at such a happy occasion." ( omg! )

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Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson and James Taylor Tone Down Pop Personas For President Obama’s Inauguration

Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson and James Taylor Tone Down Pop Personas For President Obama’s Inauguration - President Barack Obama was treated to a triumphant assortment of musical entertainment from Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson, James Taylor, the Marine Band and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir during his Inauguration ceremony on Monday.

Beyoncé, Kelly Clarkson and James Taylor Tone Down Pop Personas For President Obama’s Inauguration

Singer James Taylor performs at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Grammy winner Beyoncé, who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” offered the most theatrical performance. The “Single Ladies” singer dressed in a sheer black gown appeared more serious than normal as she approached the podium.

Like a scene from movie Evita, the singer who performed Etta James' "At Last" at Obama's first Inauguration in 2009 took a moment to pan the crowd with an emotionless expression before belting the song’s opening lyric, “Oh, say can you see...”

Accompanied by the Marine Band, Beyoncé opted to stick with a more traditional arrangement of the National Anthem. She kept her vocal runs to a minimum, resisting the over-singing her fans are accustomed to hearing on her radio hits.

As the song progressed, Beyoncé relaxed and smiled, possibly relieved that the performance was going so well. By song’s end, she nodded her head as if to note victory before turning to greet the President.

Kelly Clarkson, who also sang with the Marine Band and is nominated for four Grammys this year, took a few more liberties with her rendition of “America (My Country ‘Tis Of Thee).” Clarkson’s version was driven by the Marine Band’s dominating wind instruments and her efforts to find an arrangement that settled between classical and popular music.

Like Beyoncé, however, Clarkson elected not to muddle the song with unnecessary ad-libs.

James Taylor’s acoustic version of “America The Beautiful” was brief but endearing.

Taylor played guitar as he sang the patriotic song that evoked an approving grin from the President. After his performance, Taylor greeted the Commander In Chief with a hug.

The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir provided the opening musical number for the event, singing, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” As the choir began its classical rendition, President Obama smiled as if he had a special connection to the hymn. ( yahoo.com )

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Aguilera's provocative new album cover

 

 

Aguilera's provocative new album cover - Christina Aguilera has unveiled the cover for her new album, "Lotus."

The pop star and current "The Voice" coach revealed the sexy new album cover through her Twitter account on Friday.

"Lotus" is set for release on November 13.

"Conceptually I didn't target one particular sound/genre. I made [music] that felt good," she told fans in a recent Twitter chat about the album.

Addressing the album title, the singer said in the September Twitter chat that it represented strength.

"Album title: Lotus. Representing an unbreakable flower that survives under the hardest conditions and still thrives," she wrote.

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com , Christina will be taking next season of "The Voice" off to focus on her music career. ( Access Hollywood )

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Filmmaker Sam Bacile in hiding after anti-Muslim film sparks violence in which American diplomat was killed

Filmmaker Sam Bacile in hiding after anti-Muslim film sparks violence in which American diplomat was killed - An Israeli filmmaker based in California went into hiding Tuesday after his movie attacking Islam's Prophet Muhammad sparked angry assaults by ultra-conservative Muslims on U.S. missions in Egypt and Libya, where a U.S. ambassador and three other Americans were killed.

Speaking by phone from an undisclosed location, writer and director Sam Bacile remained defiant, saying Islam is a cancer and that the 56-year-old intended his film to be a provocative political statement condemning the religion.

Protesters angered over Bacile's film opened fire on and burned down the U.S. Consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, killing U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others on Tuesday. In Egypt, protesters scaled the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and replaced an American flag with an Islamic banner.

"This is a political movie," said Bacile. "The U.S. lost a lot of money and a lot of people in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but we're fighting with ideas."

Bacile, a California real estate developer who identifies himself as an Israeli Jew, said he believes the movie will help his native land by exposing Islam's flaws to the world.

"Islam is a cancer, period," he said repeatedly, his solemn voice thickly accented.

The two-hour movie, "Innocence of Muslims," cost $5 million to make and was financed with the help of more than 100 Jewish donors, said Bacile, who wrote and directed it.

The film claims Muhammad was a fraud. An English-language 13-minute trailer on YouTube shows an amateur cast performing a wooden dialogue of insults disguised as revelations about Muhammad, whose obedient followers are presented as a cadre of goons.

It depicts Muhammad as a feckless philanderer who approved of child sexual abuse, among other overtly insulting claims that have caused outrage.

Muslims find it offensive to depict Muhammad in any manner, let alone insult the prophet. A Danish newspaper's 2005 publication of 12 caricatures of the prophet triggered riots in many Muslim countries.

Though Bacile was apologetic about Americans who were killed as a result of the outrage over his film, he blamed lax embassy security and the perpetrators of the violence.

"I feel the security system (at the embassies) is no good," said Bacile. "America should do something to change it."

A consultant on the film, Steve Klein, said the filmmaker is concerned for family members who live in Egypt. Bacile declined to confirm.

Klein said he vowed to help Bacile make the movie but warned him that "you're going to be the next Theo van Gogh." Van Gogh was a Dutch filmmaker killed by a Muslim extremist in 2004 after making a film that was perceived as insulting to Islam.

"We went into this knowing this was probably going to happen," Klein said.

Bacile's film was dubbed into Egyptian Arabic by someone he doesn't know, but he speaks enough Arabic to confirm that the translation is accurate. It was made in three months in the summer of 2011, with 59 actors and about 45 people behind the camera.

The full film has been shown once, to a mostly empty theater in Hollywood earlier this year, said Bacile. ( foxnews.com )



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Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: Queen to be entertained by 'party' barge in royal flotilla

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: Queen to be entertained by 'party' barge in royal flotilla - It will be the boat to get the Royal party started when they take to the River Thames to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

The Queen will be entertained with pop, jazz and rock music performed aboard a “party boat” which will accompany the royal flotilla for the Jubilee Pageant.

Rhythm on the River, the final boat to join the line-up of 10 musical barges taking part in the pageant, will feature a 16-piece big band and three singers, performing a medley of hits from the Queen’s 60-year reign.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will sail down the Thames aboard the Royal Barge, a specially converted state-of-the-art cruise boat designed to evoke the opulence of royal maritime traditions

Music by The Beatles, including their 1965 song Drive My Car, will be performed by a trio of singers including the 1980s pop star Junior Giscombe, who will also sing his 1982 hit, Mama Used to Say.

Popular songs from the 1990s and the past decade will also feature in the repertoire performed for the Queen, who celebrated her 86th birthday yesterday, which was marked by a 41-Gun Royal Salute performed by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Hyde Park.

Guy Barker, a leading jazz musician and composer who will be conducting the band, said: “We were asked to come up with something that would be soulful, funky and fun.

“We want to create a party atmosphere on the river, something that will get the royals tapping their feet. It will be a very different feel to the more classical theme of the other musical boats. I’d like our boat to make the Queen smile.”

Other musical barges participating in the pageant will feature an orchestra from the Academy of Ancient Music playing Handel’s Water Music, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines who will perform a selection of popular nautical tunes.

The pageant will take place on Sunday June 3, during a special four-day Bank Holiday weekend to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The seven-mile flotilla will feature 1,000 boats, the biggest gathering on the Thames for more than 350 years.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will sail down the Thames aboard the Royal Barge, a specially converted state-of-the-art cruise boat designed to evoke the opulence of royal maritime traditions.

They will be joined on board by senior members of the Royal Family, including the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Vessels taking part will include more than 40 of the “little ships” used in the evacuation of Dunkirk, dragon boats, houseboats, kayaks, pleasure cruisers and steamers.

Leading the flotilla will be a floating belfry, ringing a jubilee peal with eight bells named after senior members of the Royal Family.

Following the belfry will be Gloriana, an 88ft Viking-style gilded boat, rowed by 18 oarsmen, which is under construction and will be presented to the Queen as a gift for her Diamond Jubilee.

Flowers from the Queen’s gardens and her 16 Commonwealth realms will decorate the Royal Barge, with a royal colour scheme of red, gold and purple.

Floral and plant motifs on board will also reference the British Isles, featuring English roses, Irish shamrocks, thistles from Scotland and Welsh daffodils and leeks.

The floral designs for the Royal Barge are being created by Rachel de Thame, a presenter for the BBC’s Gardener’s World and Chelsea Flower Show programmes.

Ms de Thame is also using the Queen’s 1953 Coronation dress, designed by the royal couturier Norman Hartnell, which featured intricate embroidery representing floral emblems of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, as inspiration.

A traditional English “knot garden”, featuring a pattern echoing Elizabethan and Jacobean embroidery, will also be planted on board.

* Buckingham Palace has today launched a new website about the life of Queen Victoria, the only other monarch to have celebrated a Diamond Jubilee.

The Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Scrapbook website will contain documents from the Royal Archives, including paintings, photographs, letters and film clips, spanning from her childhood as a young princess to her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 1897, many of which will be made available to the public for the first time. ( telegraph.co.uk )

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Forget Gaga; Indonesia wild for own raunchy shows

Forget Gaga; Indonesia wild for own raunchy shows — Titin Karisma parades onto the stage wearing a rhinestone bustier and matching bottoms, with sequin fringe that jiggles wildly to the rhythm of the beating drums.

Preteen boys watch the singer wide-eyed as she straddles a speaker, whipping her long hair wildly. She licks the microphone and drops to the ground, repeatedly thrusting her pelvis toward a camera.

Lady Gaga's onstage antics are almost tame compared to this act, known as dangdut, the most popular genre of music in this predominantly Muslim nation of 240 million.

But while the pop star's show was effectively banned from Indonesia, tens of thousands of young women here put on performances like Karisma's every night. They shake and grind in smoky bars, ritzy nightclubs, at weddings, even circumcisions. In most cases the hosts say the sexier the better.

In this photo taken Friday, May 25, 2012, singers perform during a dangdut show at a pub in Jakarta, Indonesia. As U.S. pop star Lady Gaga canceled her sold out concert in Jakarta over security concerns after Muslim hardliners threatened to use violence against her, many started to question the extremists' double standard towards the raunchy dangdut shows performed almost every night by young Indonesian women who turn up everywhere from smokey bars and ritzy nightclubs to weddings and even circumcisions. Dangdut is the most popular music among lower class people in Indonesia. (AP Photo/Robin McDowell)

The apparent double standard highlights divisions between Indonesia's largely tolerant majority and a vocal minority of Islamic hard-liners. The conservatives hold outsized influence in government, and have successfully picked high-profile battles like the Lady Gaga show, but they haven't been able to stop dangdut, which has a long tradition here.

Karisma's stage shows have gotten nearly a million hits on YouTube. Julia Perez, an actress and wannabe politician, is dubbed the "sex bomb" for her racy act. Another performer, Dewi Persik, is known for her powerful back-and-forth hip thrusting "saw move" and public acknowledgments that she had surgery to become "a born-again virgin" to please her future husband.

The up-and-coming "Trio Macan," made up of three Gaga look-alikes, with dyed hair and catlike poses, often simulate sex with male customers on stage.

Members of the Anti Apostasy Movement, Indonesian Mujaheeds Council and the notoriously thuggish Islamic Defender's Front, better known as FPI, are quick to say they go after provocative dangdut performances. From time to time their followers jump in vans and ransack dangdut bars and nightclubs in the capital, Jakarta, and its outskirts.

But they know this won't get them the kind of attention they crave, said Andrew Weintraub, a professor of music at the University of Pittsburgh and author of the book "Dangdut Stories."

"Lady Gaga is a big name," he said. "It's a big stage for conservative Muslim organizations to promote their own agenda. They'll get a lot of attention internationally — which is also what makes the state nervous."

All 52,000 tickets for the concert Lady Gaga planned to give June 3 sold out within days, but members of the FPI had vowed to meet her at the airport if she dared step off the plane. Others bought tickets to her show saying, if it went ahead, they'd wreak havoc from inside the packed stadium.

As the weekslong controversy raged, conservative politicians and members of more mainstream Muslim organizations piled onto the anti-Gaga wagon. And police — for the first time ever — denied a permit to one of the many Western stars passing through, citing security. Lady Gaga eventually pulled the plug.

"We hold huge concerts here all the time," said Desi Anwar, a local television anchor, noting that crowd control is nothing new. "This is what happens when the government is perceived as weak and not consistent."

Indonesia is often held up by U.S and others as a beacon of how Islam and democracy can coexist, and in many ways they are right. Most of the secular nation's 210 million Muslims practice a moderate form of the faith and accept differences in others, with schoolgirls in headscarves regularly seen in shopping malls walking arm-in-arm with friends wearing tiny short shorts and T-shirts.

Sweeping reforms that followed the ouster of Gen. Suharto's 32-year dictatorship in 1998 have allowed citizens to directly pick their own leaders, while vastly improving human rights, opening up the media and allowing artists freely express themselves for the first time in decades.

But a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years, using its influence to push through controversial laws banning everything from kissing in public to showing too much skin. They've also become more violent, going after Christians and members of other religious minorities with batons and machetes, usually without paying any price.

More recently, mobs attacked Alex Aan, an atheist, now in jail for his beliefs, and rampaged a book discussion by visiting Canadian liberal Muslim activist, Irshad Manji.

That's one reason hard-liners felt they could take on Gaga — the biggest international star in the world, said Sidney Jones, a Jakarta-based analyst with the International Crisis Group think tank. They were emboldened by a string of successes.

"These guys are on a roll," she said, adding they have learned that by mobilizing various conservative groups and politicians, "they can set the agenda and underscore the importance of abiding by Islamic values."

Critics say President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose government relies on the support of Islamic parties, is largely to blame for rising intolerance for remaining silent.

But the passivity of the majority also plays a role, staying out of the debate unless their own liberal lifestyles are at stake — as was the case with Lady Gaga.

Dangdut, which got its name from the rhythmic "dang" and "dut" of the drum, is an occasional target of conservatives, though Weintraub, the music professor, says most of its singers are not raunchy.

Introduced in the 1970s, the genre is partly derived from Malay, Arabic, and Hindu music. For many years, it was mostly the music that expressed the hopes and disappointments of the downtrodden, spilling into the streets and back alleys from bars and restaurants, taxis and public buses.

After Suharto's downfall, when media restrictions were lifted, dangdut made the leap to commercial TV. Once male-dominated audiences expanded to include the middle- and upper-class women, many of whom felt empowered by overt expressions of sexuality.

From that emerged Inul Daratista, a village girl from East Java province who wowed fans nationwide with her rapid-fire, pelvic "drill dancing."

Hard-liners were mortified, calling her lewd and a threat to national morals. They held protest rallies, forced her to cancel shows and dismantled a statue of her built near her home.

Within a few months, the then 24-year-old largely disappeared from the limelight, in part because of legislation proposed in response to her wiggling derriere that eventually led to the country's controversial 2008 anti-pornography law.

The law has been applied arbitrarily since than, usually with hard-liners leading the charge.

It was used to jail the editor of Indonesia's now-shuttered version of Playboy, even though there are many smuttier magazines on the streets. The lead singer of a local pop band, Peter Pan, also is behind bars after a homemade sex video of him and two girlfriends found its way on the Internet, even though several lawmakers caught in similar sex scandals are still sitting in Parliament.

Dangdut's influences have changed over the years to include everything from American and British rock to salsa, house and remix, and styles of dance today are shaped by MTV and Western pop stars.

Hard-liners cite those outside influences as another reason they don't like it.

Conservative opponents of dangdut don't worry fans like Imam Siswanto, who says the genre is powerful because it often touches on issues that resonate with the masses: heartache, social inequality and, sometimes, faith.

He said that although critics sent Gaga packing, "I can firmly and confidently say that dangdut will never die." ( Associated Press )

Blog : Silence Right | Forget Gaga; Indonesia wild for own raunchy shows

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Don’t gag Gaga, churches urge cops

Don’t gag Gaga, churches urge cops - Church groups are urging the National Police to reverse their decision to deny a permit for US singer Lady Gaga’s upcoming concert in Jakarta, saying that it will hinder freedom of expression.

The Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI) rights commission secretary Benny Susetyo told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that the police bowed to pressure from hard-line groups such as the infamous Islam Defenders Front (FPI).

“This is dangerous for our democracy, because our law enforcers have surrendered to such brutal groups. The police should have good reasons to ban Gaga’s concert, not merely because of the groups’ pressure,” he said.

The Jakarta Police have also not issued a recommendation to the National Police to issue a permit for Gaga’s concert on June 3 at Bung Karno Main Stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

While the police have claimed that the decision was made because Gaga “has been spreading pornography” that is not suitable for local audiences, other organizations such as the FPI have been denouncing the pop sensation.

Commenting on this, Benny said that the police should explain their decision transparently to the public.

“We need to have a non-judgmental attitude in assessing artistic performances. Besides, the freedom of expression is guaranteed within our Constitution,” he said.

The Communion of Indonesian Churches (PGI) chairman Andreas Yewangoe separately hit out over the decision, saying that members of Indonesia’s civil society should be trusted to judge art performances.

“If other parties act like they are the nation’s moral police all the time, Indonesians will not have a chance to grow up,” he said.

In late April, conservative Christian groups in South Korea staged a series of protests against Lady Gaga during her recent concert in Seoul, accusing her of advocating homosexuality and pornography, The Korea Herald has reported.

South Korean artists and critics, however, called for cultural tolerance among the conservative churches.

The Korea Media Rating Board gave an over-18 rating to the concert, saying her song Just Dance, to be performed at the concert, is “inappropriate” for minors. The singer indirectly criticized the Korean government’s move to enforce the age restriction. ( thejakartapost.com )

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Jakarta police ban Gaga concert

Jakarta police ban Gaga concert - Indonesia's national police will ban pop diva Lady Gaga from performing in Jakarta because they say her show poses a threat to security and morality.

The police have denied they were backing down in the face of an Islamic radical group, the Islamic Defenders Front, which had threatened to mobilise 30,000 of its supporters to intercept her at the airport and violently protest at her concert.

Beef with the authorities ... Lady Gaga's scheduled Jakarta concert has been banned due to security reasons and the moral threat it poses to Islamic groups. Photo: Terry Richardson

But the Jakarta police cited opposition from Islamic groups, including clerics.

The national police senior commissioner, Boy Rafli Amar, confirmed last night that the national authorities would decline to grant a permit.

Lady Gaga's Indonesian promoter says more than 50,000 tickets have been sold for the June 3 concert at Jakarta's main stadium at about $50 each. He would not comment yesterday, saying he had not yet heard officially from the police.

But on Twitter, the provocative performer's Indonesian fans were voluble.

''This does not diminish our admiration for love + mother monster,'' one fan wrote.

''Heavy Gaga Monster'' wrote: ''I hope @ladygaga is doing well :/ she must be so sad for her Indonesians Monsters.''

In theory, Lady Gaga could perform outside Jakarta with the agreement of local authorities.

But Indonesia's ultra-Islamic groups have opposed the American performer's concert, with the FPI calling her ''dangerous'', saying she ''will destroy our children's sense of morality''.

That view won support in the government of the President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The Interior Minister, Gamawan Fauzi, said: ''We must protect all aspects of the Indonesian nation … [the police] have taken some [good] steps.''

General Romahurmurziy, the secretary of the Islamic-based PPP party, which is part of Mr Yudhoyono's governing coalition, said Lady Gaga's lyrics were ''anti-religious, while our country's philosophy is based on religiosity … it is forbidden to spread an anti-religious ideology''.

A Jakarta police spokesman, Rikwanto, said the Indonesian Ulema Council - a government-funded group of clerics who give advice to politicians - had asked for Lady Gaga to be banned because her performance was ''not in line with Indonesian morale and culture''.

Watching the concert was ''haram'', or against Islamic law, the council had said. ( brisbanetimes.com.au )

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'Magic Mike' to strip for the first time at Los Angeles Film Festival

'Magic Mike' to strip for the first time at Los Angeles Film Festival -- Having decided that its program could use a few more thongs, the Los Angeles Film Festival announced today that Steven Soderbergh's male-stripper drama "Magic Mike" -- starring Channing Tatum, Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer, and a bunch of other guys who look pretty darn good with their shirts off -- will have its world premiere as the festival's closing-night selection.

The festival, now in its 18th year, also unveiled the rest of its line-up. Among the notable movies featured are Woody Allen's ensemble comedy "To Rome With Love" (making its North American premiere as the opening-night film), the apocalyptic Steve Carell-Keira Knightley comedy "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World" (world premiere), the Chris Pine-Elizabeth Banks drama "People Like Us" (world premiere), and Sundance holdovers including "Beasts of the Southern Wild," "Celeste and Jesse Forever," and "Robot & Frank."

The Los Angeles Film Festival runs June 14-24 at the L.A. Live complex in downtown Los Angeles. (EW.com)

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Cuban Actors Disappear En Route to New York Film Festival Premiere

Cuban Actors Disappear En Route to New York Film Festival Premiere - In a case of life imitating art, a pair of young Cuban actors who were expected at the New York premiere of their film about defecting to the U.S. have disappeared after landing in Miami.

The film "Una Noche" is about three young Cubans who decide to flee the country on a raft after one of them is accused of assault. The film follows the day they attempt to make it 90 miles across the ocean to Florida.

Director of Missing Cuban Actors Would Like to Know They Are Safe (ABC News)

All three of the film's stars—Anailin de la Rua de la Torre, Javier Nunez Florian and Dariel Arrechaga—were expected to appear at New York's Tribeca Film Festival for the premiere. But Torre and Florian, both 19, were nowhere to be found the night of the event.

"Only Dariel Arrechada attended the Tribeca Film Festival premiere screening of 'Una Noche' on Thursday, April 19," a spokeswoman for the Tribeca Film Festival said in a statement. "We have not had any contact with Anailin de la Rua de la Torre or with Javier Nunez Florian."

Tammie Rosen, spokeswoman for the festival, confirmed to ABCNews.com that all of the actors were invited to the festival.

"We can't say for sure what the status of these guys are," Katie Tichacek Kaplan, spokeswoman for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), told ABCNews.com. "There are a number of things they could be thinking. We just don't know what their plans are."

Kaplan said that USCIS could not comment specifically on individual cases, but said that people in similar situations that come to the U.S. for asylum have a year to apply.

A State Department official told ABC News, "We are aware of the reports but we don't have any further information. We have not been in contact with the film festival organizers or the Cuban actors."

On the Facebook pages for the film and the actors, supporters have left messages of encouragement.

"Congratulations on making your dream a reality, wishing you much success in the land of the free," one person wrote.

Another wrote: "I'm glad you were able to get out. May God bless you."

Representatives of the film did not respond to requests for comment, but Lucy Mulloy, the film's writer and director, told the Huffington Post, "I really was thinking that they were going to come here and enjoy the festival, and I thought they would love to participate in it. They made a decision, I guess."

The British-born director recently graduated from New York University's graduate film program and "Una Noche" is her first feature film.

She did not anticipate that her stars would not be at the premiere.

"It is surprising," she told the website. "I mean, they had all of their family there and it's surprising. But things can be difficult in Cuba. There's an embargo and so there's a lot of challenges for people living in Cuba."

Arrechada, 21, the one actor who did attend, told reporters he was alone in New York and planned on returning to Cuba, as planned since his visa was going to expire.

"That's their choice, you know?" Arrechada said of his co-stars, according to the Huffington Post. "That's their way of thinking. No one is forced to stay. And no one is forced to go back. If you want to stay in the United States, I think, well, stay. If you want to go back, go back. Not all of us have to stay and not all of us have to go back. It's about what you want to do with your life."

He told the website he believed his co-stars would stay in the U.S.

A similar situation occurred in March when Yosmel de Armas, a Cuban soccer player, defected from his national team while in Tennessee for a game. Armas turned up in Miami earlier this month and is seeking asylum with the help of an immigration attorney. ( Good Morning America )

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Chelsea Handler Bashes Angelina Jolie — Again!

Chelsea Handler Bashes Angelina Jolie — Again! — Chelsea Handler is one loyal best friend! The comedian, who is pals with Jennifer Aniston, has some more unkind words for Angelina Jolie.

In the May issue of More, the "Chelsea Lately" and "After Lately" host — who counts Aniston and Reese Witherspoon among her closest friends — is asked what the opposite of a girl's girl is. Her reply? "Probably Angelina Jolie," she told the magazine. "You just know as a woman when you see another woman if that's a woman you can trust. She doesn't strike me as someone I would have a close friendship with."

Handler on the cover of More

Handler hasn't been shy about her feelings toward Jolie. She's made many jabs at Brad Pitt's fiancée through the years on her E! talk show, but made major headlines when she unleashed an expletive-filled rant against the Oscar winner during one of her standup shows in 2010. "She's a homewrecker, she is." Handler told the audience in Newark, New Jersey. "She can rescue as many babies from as many countries as she wants to. I don't f**king believe you … She gives interviews, 'I don't have a lot of female friends.' Cause you're a f**king c**t … you're a f**king b***h."

Handler and Aniston in Nov. 2011 (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Glamour Magazin)

Soon after, in an interview with Katie Couric for Glamour, Handler maintained her opinion but kept things PG. "Yeah, I'm not a fan," Handler said. "She just doesn't come off to me as a sincere woman. She seems like a woman that you'd really want to avoid."

Handler became pals with Aniston after she was a guest on her talk show in 2010. That year they spent Thanksgiving together in Mexico. Since then the "Friends" star has appeared on both of Handler's E! shows. In January, Aniston made a hilarious cameo on "After Lately" poking fun of her pal and saying she and Witherspoon "can only take [Handler] in small doses." And when they hang out with her they try to "keep her out of the public."

In the More interview, Witherspoon also weighed in her friendship with the outspoken Handler. "She is just so ridiculous," the mom-to-be said. "She always threatens to tape-record me when I go to the bathroom [during a program break on "Chelsea Lately"], because I have a microphone on. She caught me singing a Rihanna song backstage." However, she's "a really great friend. She's the kind of person who will cancel all her plans if you're in a bad mood and you just want to sit on the couch and watch a movie. She's really generous! We're the most unlikely friends like on Animal Planet where the giraffe and turtle make friends. That's us."

Jolie, who is currently doing humanitarian work in Ecuador on behalf of the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), has never commented on Handler's jabs. ( yahoo.com )

READ MORE - Chelsea Handler Bashes Angelina Jolie — Again!

Pageant wonder Eden Wood cements her reality star status as the Mob Wives step out to toast the youngster's new TV show

Pageant wonder Eden Wood cements her reality star status as the Mob Wives step out to toast the youngster's new TV show - She was one of Toddlers & Tiaras' most popular pageant contestants but Eden Wood has transformed into a reality TV star in her own right.

The seven-year-old threw a party in New York yesterday to celebrate the arrival of Eden's World, her new reality show which premiered on Logo last night and the event attracted the cast of Mob Wives.

The smiley youngster hammed it up on the red carpet at the Dream New York hotel as Renee Graziano and Angela 'Big Ang' Raiola from the fellow reality series fussed over their new little friend.

Running with the gangsters: Eden Wood, star of the new TV series Eden's World, mixed it with fellow reality stars Renee Graziano (left) and Angela 'Big Ang' Raiola (right) from Mob Wives, at her show party

The tiny tot, who retired from the pageant world last year at the age of six, arrived in a puffy purple gown that resembled something once seen upon the saloon girls of the Old West. A purple hair piece made of feathers and ribbon completed the look.

Eden, who is originally from Arkansas, grinned for the cameras as she showed off every angle of the rather mature outfit.

Little diva: Eden resembled a saloon girl as she arrived at the Dream New York hotel dressed in purple

She presented her trademark pose - the blowing kisses stance - to the cameras, revealing a pair of strappy silver high heels upon her feet.

And while her blonde ringlets were kept high in an up do, her face featured the multiple layers of make-up she is often caked in.

The miniature gown's mullet-style cut, that fell well above her knees in the front, exposed Eden's tiny legs.

The Mob Wives' attendance was of course a cross-promotion between VH1, which airs the reality show, and Logo, which airs Eden's World. Both networks come under the MTV umbrella.

Mickie Wood, Eden's mother and Andrew Sullivan, Eden's agent were also in attendance at the New York bash. Both members of the pageant star's entourage feature throughout the new eight-part reality series, which sees the clan mentor a new crop of pageant hopefuls every week.

She told the Wendy Williams show that Eden's World is about 'helping other kids get to the top of pageantry.' Eden added that she will be shown visiting Kentucky and even Japan in her quest to educate others.

She said: 'And it's really fun for me because I love helping other kids.' ( dailymail.co.uk )

READ MORE - Pageant wonder Eden Wood cements her reality star status as the Mob Wives step out to toast the youngster's new TV show

'Silent House' horror movie has dread but no scares

'Silent House' horror movie has dread but no scares - Anyone who has ever spent time in an old house knows that they creak. All sorts of things can, and do, go bump in the night.

Horror films like "Silent House" exploit the thin line -- at least for suggestible and susceptible viewers -- between creaky and creepy.

"Silent House," which is based on "La Casa Muda," a 2010 Uruguayan film, does creepy with artistic pretentions. Written by Laura Lau and directed by Lau and Chris Kentis (the married couple's previous film was "Open Water"), this low-budget indie is filmed in a series of extended takes. Additionally, the camera work is often intentionally shaky and numerous scenes are shot in the near dark.

Actress Elizabeth Olsen poses for a portrait while promoting her upcoming film "Silent House" in Los Angeles, California February 28, 2012. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

None of which can disguise for long that "Silent House" is serving up that hoariest of horror-movie plot standbys: A nubile young woman, threatened and in danger, grows ever more frightened even as she tries to escape her shadowy pursuer(s).

The woman in peril here is Sarah (Elizabeth Olsen), who is helping her father (Adam Trese) and uncle (Eric Sheffer Stevens) clean out the family's ramshackle, waterside summerhouse before putting it on the market. In keeping with the genre, the windows on the place are boarded up, the electricity isn't working, and there's no cell phone reception.

When Sarah starts hearing noises in the house and bad stuff begins to happen, things quickly go from bad to worse. Cue the panting, tears and screaming though, to the filmmakers' and Olsen's credit, Sarah isn't as flat-out dumb as some horror movie heroines, i.e. she never feels strip down to her scanties or take a shower in the middle of trying to escape her stalker.

"Silent House" is more effective at creating a sense of dread than actually scaring viewers and -- semi-spoiler ahead -- the supposed twist at the end seems tacked on and disappointingly hackneyed.

Olsen, so impressive in her debut in "Martha Marcy May Marlene," manages to hold a viewer's attention throughout here, and that's saying something. She mostly has to look extremely scared, run or cower, breath heavily and sob, all of which she does convincingly.

Also in its favor, "Silent House" clocks in at just less than 90 minutes. When there isn't really much going on, no reason to stretch it out. (TheWrap.com)

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