Editor’s Note: Whether on screen or off, Hollywood can always be counted on to keep us entertained. This is especially true when it comes to politics. Join us each week as we shine the spotlight on Tinseltown’s A-listers and their whacky and sometimes inspiring takes on today’s current events.
Baldwin Wants Police on Movie Sets
It’s no secret that the left wants to get rid of the police. It’s also well known that actor Alec Baldwin is a liberal, Donald Trump hater, and anti-gun advocate. But what may come as a shock is that Baldwin has called for having police officers on every set that uses guns. He tweeted:
“Every film/TV set that uses guns, fake or otherwise, should have a police officer on set, hired by the production, to specifically monitor weapons safety.”
Baldwin, a producer and actor in the film Rust, accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with a prop gun that should not have contained a live round – but did. His new request has drawn a lot of negative attention, especially from those who have been working towards removing police from Hollywood sets. Several months ago, after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer, activists with the group BLD PWR sent a signed letter with several demands, one of which was the removal of law enforcement on productions. Baldwin’s request goes directly against their initiative.
Rust set (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Tenants of Tinseltown have rallied around banning guns on sets altogether. Even actor Dwayne Johnson, commonly known as “The Rock,” has vowed to only use rubber guns in any of his productions. With all the attention directed towards improving safety on sets, some wonder if Mr. Baldwin’s request for police is an attempt to distract against the lawsuits piling up against him.
The chief electrician on the set of Rust, Serge Svetnoy, has filed a negligence lawsuit against Baldwin, the assistant director, and the armorer, according to Rolling Stone. He alleges that the bullet that killed Hutchins “narrowly missed him.” According to the lawsuit, Svetnoy “suffered injury, including severe emotional distress, as a direct and proximate result of this incident.”
Matthew Hutchins, Halyna’s husband, has reportedly hired a law firm that handles wrongful death litigation and may file a lawsuit, naming several individuals. And attorneys for the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, have suggested the set was sabotaged by disgruntled staff.
Howard Stern for President?
Who will run in the 2024 election: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, or … Howard Stern? According to the “shock-jock” radio host, if Trump tries to run again he will campaign as well – and he says he’ll beat the former president’s “a–.”
Howard Stern
(Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
The announcement came during a show with co-host Robin Quivers in which Stern called the reaction from his statements about Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers reportedly lying about being vaccinated and then testing positive for COVID “big news.” This, he said, meant he was popular enough to be a presidential candidate. “I think I’m going to run for president,” Stern said, adding that if Trump runs again, “I know, I’ll beat his a–.”
Quivers encouraged the talk show host, saying, “That’s what’s going to have to happen. We can’t leave it to the Democrats.”
Apparently, this wasn’t just an off-the-cuff comment for the show. Stern said he had already told his wife that he might have to serve his “civic duty” and run against Trump. “I would just sit there at debate and play that f—ing clip of him trying to fix the election, over and over again,” Stern said, referring to when Trump insisted to Georgia’s secretary of state Brad Raffensperger that there had been election fraud. “There’s no way I’d lose,” he added.
This wouldn’t be the first time Stern tried for a seat in the political arena. In 1994, he entered New York’s gubernatorial election as a Libertarian. However, when he found out he’d have to disclose his personal finances, Stern dropped out of the race before election day.
Cheers And Jeers
Sometimes, HollyWeird players make headlines for silly or bizarre happenings, so here is a collection of newsworthy doings — honorable and dishonorable — by the tenants of Tinseltown.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Son Sentenced
Andy Dick
(Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images for Jade Recovery)
Adam Abdul-Jabbar, 28, the son of Kareem, a legendary L.A. Lakers player, was sentenced to six months in jail for stabbing a neighbor during an argument. The 60-year-old victim, Ray Winsor, said he told Adam to move the garbage cans away from the driveway, an act that sparked an argument that resulted in Abdul-Jabbar stabbing Winsor seven times. “This slap on the wrist is an absolute miscarriage of justice,” said District Attorney Todd Spitzer in a statement. “This man nearly bled to death in front of the emergency room doors after being stabbed so violently over and over that his skull was fractured.” Abdul-Jabbar can apply for home confinement and, if approved, escape being incarcerated.
Andy Dick Arrested
Actor and comedian Andy Dick was arrested for felony domestic battery. The 55-year-old allegedly hit his boyfriend in the head with a liquor bottle, according to TMZ. Dick has had several run-ins with the law over recent years, most of them stemming from complaints of domestic violence. This was the second time police were called to his home in just two months. In October, officers investigated reports he had hit his partner in the face with a frying pan. In June, he was arrested for striking his partner with a metal chair. In 2019, he spent 14 days in jail for getting into a fight with an Uber driver. For his latest offense, Dick was released from jail after about three hours and posted a $50,000 bond.
It’s All About the Sex
Perfume and clothing lines are no longer the go-to for celebrity entrepreneurs, it seems. Just this past week two stars have announced their newest adult toys for sale.
Dakota Johnson (daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith) announced her new anal plug, saying, “When I first came onto the company, I asked if there would ever be some kind of an anal product because I know that there are so many people that are curious about it and, you know, there are so many parts of one’s anus that are erogenous zones that I think could just be fun for people to explore.”
Singer Demi Lovato announced her new “Demi Wand” for ladies, saying, “There is nothing more empowering than taking your pleasure into your own hands. We have spent far too long pretending we are not sexual beings – it’s time for us to put this stigma to rest. We are all deserving of pleasure. We are all deserving of orgasms.”
Celebrity Tweets
Celebrities say the darndest things …
Conan O’Brien
Recently, Sesame Street’s Big Bird came under fire from Republicans for trying to talk children into getting the COVID vaccination. In response, Conan O’Brien tweeted: “Great news about Big Bird, but sadly, 30% of Paw Patrol are still unvaxxed.”
Dean Cain
Superman from Lois and Clark, Dean Cain, tweeted out a funny little video on superheroes having an identity crisis. Check it out here.
John Stamos (Full House)
Actor and heart-throb John Stamos shared a picture of a scorpion on a pillow with the tweet: “Just found this on my sons pillow. Anyone want to buy my house?”
Tune in next week to see what else Tinseltown has planned.
~ Read more from Kelli Ballard.
