What’s this? Another young starlet feeling pressure to be thin? Unbelievable! Hilary Duff, 19, recently told People magazine that she feels pressure to be thin, but has never had a problem with her weight. Duff said that magazines can be “”judgmental and mean”” when it comes to comments on her body. Our culture has a problem with the portrayal of women’s bodies, but good job People magazine for asking the hard hitting questions about body issues when you perpetuate the entire cycle. And, oh yeah, Duff and Lindsay Lohan are like BFFs now that they’re not both dating Aaron Carter. It’s just like middle school, where you’re best friends one day and spreading “”Rumors”” the next.
Whirlpool Corp. conducted a nationwide search for the next “”Maytag Repairman”” and Clay Jackson of Richmond, Va., was selected out of the 1,500 people who auditioned. Whirlpool hopes that having a new face in the same old uniform will revamp Maytag’s image of having reliable products. And what an image it is!
Nine Inch Nails front-man Trent Reznor is taking a new approach to marketing his new album, “”Year Zero.”” Reznor’s recent line of band t-shirts cryptically highlighted certain letters that spelled out “”I am trying to believe.”” Savvy fans added a “”.com”” to that phrase and found the latest Nine Inch Nails website, which sends fans on yet another cryptic scavenger hunt. Also, USB drives with unreleased MP3s have been found in the bathrooms of their concerts. Reznor says this is not just a marketing campaign, but “”a new entertainment form.”” Who will find the next clue to the NIN “”Da Vinci Code””?
Robert Clark, 67, was killed in a head-on collision in Pacific Palisades when a drunk driver swerved into his lane. Clark was the director of “”A Christmas Story”” and also the original 1974 film “”Black Christmas.”” Clark’s 22-year-old son was in the car and also died with him.
John Travolta, 53, made an emergency landing in his Boeing 707 in Ireland. The actor was on his way to Germany to promote “”Wild Hogs”” when he experienced technical difficulties. After landing Travolta hired another plane, completing his journey. Even a plane-crash scare can’t keep an actor from promoting a first-class film.
– compiled by Alexandria Kassman
