List of All Articles with Tag 'showbiz'

It’s becoming increasingly clear that there’s nothing celebrities won’t do for beauty, especially when it comes to their skin From Kim Kardashian’s famous predilection for so-called “vampire facials” to Victoria Beckham’s enthusiasm for bird poo-infused face cream, society’s elite seem willing to go to any lengths to preserve their glowing complexions. However, Cate Blanchett’s preferred treatment must surely be the winner in the weirdness stakes. It is known simply as “the penis facial”. And no, this is not a misleading name, it really involves penises – more specifically, the foreskins of newborn Korean babies (you can’t make this stuff up). Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter In an interview with Vogue Australia back in 2018, Blanchett revealed how she first came across the eyebrow-raising regime with her friend, fellow actor Sandra Bullock. “Sandy [Bullock] and I saw this facialist in New York, Georgia Louise, and she gives what we call the ‘penis facial,’” she told Vogue reporter Remy Rippon. “I don’t know what it is, or whether it’s just because it smells a bit like sperm — there’s some enzyme in it, so Sandy refers to it as the ‘penis facial'.” Her comments sparked a flurry of interest – and horror – in the procedure, which was later clarified by the beauty expert, Georgia Louise. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (THR) she explained that the treatment’s technical name is an Epidermal Growth Factor facial – or EGF for short – and that no babies are harmed in the making of it. “The foreskin is collected during circumcision and the stem cells are then harvested and extracted through a centrifuge,” she told the website. “I am always very mindful to explain radical serums and potions that I carry in my back bar, so I always explain that EGF is derived from newborn baby foreskin, but cells were taken and from that, new cells are cloned from a laboratory,” she added. In a separate statement shared to her Instagram, she insisted that she only uses clone EFG cells that were “grown in a lab”, and that everything she uses is FDA approved. Apparently, the cells help to generate collagen and elastin, heal scar tissue and help treat pigmentation and sun damage. Anyone looking to emulate Blanchett and Bullock’s undeniable glow can now do so from the comfort of their own home: you can buy Hollywood EGF kits on the Georgia Louise website for a cool $415.00 (around £326). Inevitably, there’s no mention of the treatment’s NSFW nickname on the website but, let’s be honest, that’s how it will forever be known. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

As the new Indiana Jones film approaches, Harrison Ford has given a teary eyed interview in which he explained the importance of emotion in the film series. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny comes out on 28 June, and it will be the 80-year-old actor’s last in the franchise. Speaking to the BBC, Ford said: “The thing that I most admire about [the films] is the depth and the subtlety of the emotion.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “As this last one concerns age and frailty and the changing nature of life it was especially compelling to me because I am of that age and I wanted it to feel real for the audience. “I wanted them to see the complexity of that experience with someone they spent 40 years with. As the camera cut back to the interviewer, Ali Plumb, he said to Ford: “On behalf of the fans, thank you. It’s been such an adventure, we love you so much.” “I don’t want to make you blush or anything but you mean the world to us.” The actor, visibly growing emotional, replied: “And I must say to you, thank you, sincerely. It means the world to me.” The interviewer later tweeted out a clip of the tweet, saying: “So I think I made Harrison Ford cry (a bit). He certainly made me cry, I'll be honest with you.” The exchange prompted a further outpouring of love on social media from fans. One person tweeted: “He plays up the curmudgeon role so often, it’s rare to see him like this.” Another said: “This man and the very heart and soul he brought to Indiana is something I have cherished my entire life. And I do not say that lightly… Indiana Jones is my favourite character of all time, and I only hope Mr. Ford knows, truly knows, what a gift he is to so, so many.” One commenter added: “As though he couldn't make us love him even more.” It wasn’t all tears, however, as co-star Phoebe Waller-Bridge recalled a time on set where she tried to prank Ford and it didn’t quite go to plan. The Fleabag star said she and another person on set dressed as Ford “like the ghosts of Christmas past and present”, snuck up on him and tried to surprise him. Ford had “absolutely no reaction,” she added. “I’m always just a poor victim,” he quipped after. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Metallica has stepped in with a big compliment for a woman posting bagpipe covers of the band’s songs on Instagram, after she was criticised by fans online. New Yorker Ally Crowley-Duncan, known online as Piper Ally, has nearly 330,000 followers on the social media app, where she posts videos of her playing the instrument. On 20 June, Crowley-Duncan uploaded a video showcasing “Five Metallica songs you didn’t know you could bagpipe.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “Metallica and bagpipes is *chefs kiss*,” she wrote, with covers of some of the band’s biggest hits including Master of Puppets, Fade to Black, One, Enter Sandman, and Whiskey in the Jar. One Instagram user was unimpressed. “Bagpipes don’t belong in Metallica!!,” they wrote. “James [Hetfield, the lead singer] would not approve.” However, within minutes, Metallica intervened, saying: “@Ally the Piper. This guy doesn’t speak on our behalf. You’re awesome.” In a separate post, Crowley-Duncan shared the comment. She said: “When Metallica defends you in the comments of your own video.” Other users were quick to leap to her defence. One person said: “Could not have [a] bigger compliment.” Another said: “This is LEGENDARY.” Before long, the critic had deleted their comment, and later their own Instagram account. One commenter added: “This one goes out to that comment trying to talk for @metallica. Keep it up bad ass.” Another said: “Imagine getting owned so hard you up and quit Instagram. Metallica has spoken!” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Bebe Rexha has made light of having a phone launched at her over the weekend, by referencing one of her biggest hits in a TikTok video. The singer was struck by a phone during a concert in New York, causing her to fall to the floor in pain. In the video, the 33-year-old shows off her stitched-up black eye, while lip syncing: 'I'm good yeah I'm feeling alright' in reference to the situation. A 27-year-old man has now been arrested and charged. Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter

Adele has been wowing audiences at her Las Vegas residency over the last few months - but her tight-fitting costumes have come back to haunt her. The 35-year-old singer explained sweating under the lights while performing has caused 'jock itch' (a form of ringworm) resulting in a rash. "Obviously when I do my shows I wear Spanx and keep it all in and make it all fit me", she told her crowd over the weekend. "I don't know why the f*** I just told you that!", she added. Thankfully, a cream should clear things up. Ouch. Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter

TV gardener Daisy Payne has left fans stunned sharing snaps of her summer wardrobe – including gorgeous flowing dresses. The ITV presenter, who recently visited Belvoir farm, frequently shows off incredible outfits on Instagram, with her 22,000 followers eager to find out where the clothes are from. And she’s more than happy to share her fashion secrets, having revealed where she shops some of her top looks - from Studio B Fashion to Franks London and RIXO. In one clip, Daisy can be seen in a video frolicking in a field wearing a flowing white dress with blue flowers bought from Studio B Fashion, an online store with a curated edit of independent brands like Pink City Prints. She is visiting Belvoir farm, the brand well-known for its elderflower cordial, alongside Pev Manners, the company’s managing director, who challenges her to jump on board to help with the annual elderflower harvest, and race to make the fastest and freshest elderflower cordial of 2023. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The moment is made even more wholesome by Daisy holding a weaved basket as the pair skip through the field and Pev hums “I’m singing in the rain” – while gently swinging his wooden walking cane. A regular on ITV’s This Morning and a social media influencer, country-loving Daisy is known for bringing a touch of glamour and floral fashion to the gardening world. She rolled up her sleeves to help the local community pick flowers in return for cash payment. Daisy said: “I was delighted to be part of this wonderful harvest. “I’m a huge fan of elderflower cordial and it was great to find out more about how Belvoir Farm turns their wild and organic elderflowers into drinks with help from the local community.” “It was wonderful meeting the local volunteers around Belvoir Farm, who had come out to help us all pick and then transform this wonderful bounty of nature into the delicious drink we all know and love. “It’s really a unique experience. Not only can the pickers earn some extra cash with their endeavours, but it’s also a fantastic way to enjoy nature, and really understand the process of bush to bottle.” Company managing director Pev said: “It’s great to take Daisy out of her garden, into the wonderful Vale of Belvoir countryside and we’re delighted to say our annual harvest is still going strong and it was so much fun working with Daisy to welcome her into the wonderful wild organic fields at Belvoir Farm. “It really has given this year’s harvest a brilliant start.” Daisy went behind the scenes to see how the brand’s Elderflower Cordial charted its bush to bottle journey and award-winning recipe that’s now shipped worldwide to over 40 markets. Taking up the challenge to pick, infuse and blend the flowers with the brand's trademark sugar, lemon and spring water that go onto create its signature delicious flavour, Daisy then bottled, boxed and delivered the bottles to a local bar and supermarket to enjoy. The TV star still looked as fresh as a Daisy despite the hard work picking. “You look like a ray of sunshine,” says Sam. In another video, she wears another Victorian-style long dress in black and white, with her blonde tresses flowing across her shoulders. “Love your dress, where is it from? xx,” asks Mel, with Daisy replying that it’s from Franks London. [sic] Although that particular look doesn’t appear to be available on the retail site any longer, there are plenty of similar ones – with price tags from £190-£235. In a different post, Daisy wears a gorgeous flowing summer outfit from Hope & Ivy, priced around £85 depending on where you get it. Elsewhere, she is dolled up in a similar look but in a blue shade with flowers on it. “You come through HARD with the dresses,” writes one fan, as the presenter reveals the outfit is from RIXO and costs £275. Looking at her wardrobe, one thing is clear: Daisy Payne is the queen of floral. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Warning: This article does contain spoilers for The Flash (2023). If you are in any way interested in superheroes or movies in general you'll no doubt be aware that a new comic book film is being released this week concentrating on the DC character The Flash. It's the first time the scarlet speedster has ever been given a solo movie and despite the controversy surrounding the film's lead star, Ezra Miller, Warner Bros have invested a lot into making this a thrilling experience for fans. The premise of the film is a loose adaptation of the 2011 comic Flashpoint, where The Flash travels back in time to prevent the untimely death of his mother but inadvertently changes the future, as is often the case with time travel movies. As a result, Michael Keaton will be reprising his iconic performance as Batman, a character he hasn't played since 1992 with the likes of Michael Shannon also returning as General Zod and Sasha Calle also delivering a new take on Supergirl. However, people who have already seen the film have noted that several other iconic iterations of these famous characters also make appearances despite some of the actors having already passed away. Many of these are included in the film's climax and feature CGI incarnations of beloved actors like Christopher Reeve as Superman and Adam West as Batman. Other cameos include George Reeves as the Superman from the 1950s, Helen Slater from the 1984 Supergirl movie, Nicolas Cage playing Superman from the unreleased 1990s film and George Clooney reprising Batman from the much maligned 1997 Batman and Robin movie. While The Flash isn't the first movie to use this type of technology (numerous Star Wars titles have already recreated the likes of Carrie Fisher and a younger Mark Hamill for new stories) the use of Reeve's Superman has struck a particularly sour note due to both the messaging and the apparent ugly aesthetic. While Warner Bros is likey to have gotten permission from Reeve's estate to include his likeliness in the film many fans feel that it sets the wrong precedent given that the actor was left paralysed in 1995 before passing away in 2004. Fans of the Superman TV show Smallville have pointed to Reeve's cameo in the show in a 2003 episode which didn't hide his paralysis but respectfully recognised his contribution to the character's legacy and also allowed him to promote his paralysis charity. George Reeves inclusion has also sparked controversy given that the actor ultimately blamed playing Superman for the downfall of his career. His death in 1959 also remains with debates raging over whether he was murdered or took his own life. Given that Reeves is perhaps the least known of all the cameos, fans who have dug into his backstory were shocked that he was included. Ultimately, Warner Bros' owns the rights to Superman and essentially can do whatever they want to with the character but with the growing popularity of multiverses and an over reliance on nostalgia this type of thing will only become more and more common. One thing that we can hope for is that if the technology continues to be used then the tributes will be more tasteful and considered than this time around. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

With the release of the Barbie movie coming up, Margot Robbie gave an inside look into the Mattel doll's Dreamhouse with Architectural Digest - and it's just as iconic as you would expect. Of course, the one particular colour that is synonymous with Barbie and fuchsia pink is everywhere on the set - tables, chairs, walls, cars you name it. While the aesthetic took inspiration from Palm Springs's midcentury modernism, with furniture from the 1950s and 1960s, back to when Barbie was first created in 1959 by Ruth Handler as well as products that would be included in Dreamhouse today. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Production designer Sarah Greenwood and set decorator Katie Spence worked with director Greta Gerwig to recreate the childhood nostalgia on-screen, and the set was first made in a miniature format before it was actually created for the set. “I wanted to capture what was so ridiculously fun about the Dreamhouses," Gerwig told Architectural Digest. In terms of scale, the proportions were adapted to be 23 per cent smaller than human size for the set, Gerwig described how this created an "odd effect of making the actors seem big in the space but small overall." Some of the fun elements of the design include a slide to replace the stairs that goes from the bedroom to the pool - "Not super practical but nothing is for Barbie," Robbie said. (Though the pool is fake as there is no actual water in Barbie Land). Despite there being no water, Barbie still showers - but nothing comes out. Nonetheless, Robbie pretends to shower and recalled how she would "look up the old Radox commercials and try to replicate that." In the kitchen, Robbie explained how there is "a mixture of things that a physically there but then also decal (a picture, design, or label made to be transferred (as to glass) from specially prepared paper)," such as the oven and cooker. This plays into the world of toys and "how it would look if it was a Mattel product" as Robbie opened the fridge to show that the back is intentionally 2D with groceries painted onto the decal while the fridge shelf had physical products stocked. "I want everyone to feel like they can reach into the screen and touch everything," Gerwig said, as she recalled standing in Toys 'R' Us looking at Barbie dolls with the plastic sheet over them and wanting to take and touch everything. This is what inspired Barbie's wardrobe with clear doors to the doll's neatly hung up outfits and accessories, with her outfit already magically set out in her wardrobe. When it comes to getting from her bedroom to her car, Barbie impossibly floats down as Robbie said: "Greta said no one actually walks their Barbie down the steps to get into the car." Here's what fans had to say about the Dreamhouse tour: The Barbie movie is set to be released next month on July 21. Elsewhere, the new Barbie movie has caused a worldwide shortage of pink and a new version of 'Barbie Girl' will feature on the movie’s soundtrack. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Warning: This article does contain spoilers for The Flash (2023). If you are in any way interested in superheroes or movies in general you'll no doubt be aware that a new comic book film is being released this week concentrating on the DC character The Flash. It's the first time the scarlet speedster has ever been given a solo movie and despite the controversy surrounding the film's lead star, Ezra Miller, Warner Bros have invested a lot into making this a thrilling experience for fans. The premise of the film is a loose adaptation of the 2011 comic Flashpoint, where The Flash travels back in time to prevent the untimely death of his mother but inadvertently changes the future, as is often the case with time travel movies. As a result, Michael Keaton will be reprising his iconic performance as Batman, a character he hasn't played since 1992 with the likes of Michael Shannon also returning as General Zod and Sasha Calle also delivering a new take on Supergirl. However, people who have already seen the film have noted that several other iconic iterations of these famous characters also make appearances despite some of the actors having already passed away. Many of these are included in the film's climax and feature CGI incarnations of beloved actors like Christopher Reeve as Superman and Adam West as Batman. Other cameos include George Reeves as the Superman from the 1950s, Helen Slater from the 1984 Supergirl movie, Nicolas Cage playing Superman from the unreleased 1990s film and George Clooney reprising Batman from the much maligned 1997 Batman and Robin movie. While The Flash isn't the first movie to use this type of technology (numerous Star Wars titles have already recreated the likes of Carrie Fisher and a younger Mark Hamill for new stories) the use of Reeve's Superman has struck a particularly sour note due to both the messaging and the apparent ugly aesthetic. While Warner Bros is likey to have gotten permission from Reeve's estate to include his likeliness in the film many fans feel that it sets the wrong precedent given that the actor was left paralysed in 1995 before passing away in 2004. Fans of the Superman TV show Smallville have pointed to Reeve's cameo in the show in a 2003 episode which didn't hide his paralysis but respectfully recognised his contribution to the character's legacy and also allowed him to promote his paralysis charity. Ultimately, Warner Bros' owns the rights to Superman and essentially can do whatever they want to with the character but with the growing popularity of multiverses and an over reliance on nostalgia this type of thing will only become more and more common. One thing that we can hope for is that if the technology continues to be used then the tributes will be more tasteful and considered than this time around. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Harry Styles loves audience interaction during his concerts, but one fan was lucky enough to have her baby's gender revealed in front of a sold-out Wembley Arena. The fan had been holding a sign up alongside a gender reveal balloon, when the singer agreed to pop it on her behalf - showering pink confetti across the stage to signal the baby being a girl. He quipped: "Question, what if I hadn't seen the sign? You would have taken it to Coldplay or something? Yeah I know your game!" Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter

Carl from Pixar's hit movie 'Up' is back, and everyone is preparing to be in tears all over again. The sweet old man is reappearing in a new short film that sees him finally go on a date following the death of his wife, which was explored in the original movie. Of course, Doug the dog will be there for the ride too, advising Carl on whether the chocolates he bought for his date are good enough. Carl's date is released on 16 June. Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter

Lil Wayne has spoken about his issues with memory loss brought on by a number of health problems, saying that he can no longer remember many of his own songs. The rapper, real name Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., has been suffering with epilepsy and recurrent seizures over recent years. The 40-year-old said that early albums such as Tha Carter III, Tha Carter II and Tha Carter IV, hold “no significance” to him now as a result of the memory loss. Speaking in an interview with Rolling Stone, Lil Wayne said: “That’s just my God’s honest truth. You could lie, you could ask me (about) such and such song, I wouldn’t even know what we talking about. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “I don’t even know if that’s when Tha Carter III came out. That’s how much I don’t know,” he added. "And also, I always look at it as the curse part of the gift and the curse. "I believe that [God] blessed me with this amazing mind, but would not give [me] an amazing memory to remember this amazing s**t." The musician is still planning to keep working, and won’t let his memory loss impact his plans for the future. “Even when you say it, I don’t think you actually mean stop working or doing music. You probably just mean you want to retire from everything else but the music,” he said. “When you’re an artist, a real artist like myself, I was born this way. So I don’t think that the real true artists and pioneers, they never retire. They died doing this.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.