Baz Luhrmann’s “<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3704428/">Elvis</a>” isn’t your standard-issue biographical film.
There have been other Presley biopics released over the years, including one starring Kurt Russell (1979) and a miniseries with Jonathan Rhys Meyers (2005). But the director of “Moulin Rouge!” and “The Great Gatsby” figured something … different was in order.
Luhrmann’s “Elvis” brims with razzle-dazzle sequences, concert recreations and those Presley hip gyrations that caused a societal stir. Anyone expecting conventional rags-to-riches storytelling, though, will be disappointed.
Co-star Tom Hanks, playing the duplicitous Colonel Tom Parker, gets so much screen time it’s almost like you’re watching “Elvis and the Colonel.”
Luhrmann doesn’t ruminate on the icon’s ’70s excess but digs into his formative years. That means showing a young Presley attending black churches and peeping into clubs where black musicians made music outside the cultural mainstream.
None of the presentation is woke. It’s a celebratory recreation of Presley’s backstory. And this “Elvis” doesn’t condemn its subject for cultural appropriation.
It honors that amalgam of music, culture, and style.
It’s undeniable that Presley allowed the music industry to elevate gospel and R&amp;B stylings via a white performer who captured their essence.
That doesn’t tell the whole story, though, since some black artists did <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/07/whats-so-great-about-elvis-he-didnt-invent-or-steal-anything/374081/">crack the mainstream</a> during the 1950s, including The Dominoes, who made a run at the pop music charts with “Sixty Minute Man” in 1951. With the lyrics &#8220;I rock &#8217;em, roll &#8217;em all night long,&#8221; the track is even considered by some as the origin of the &#8220;Rock and Roll&#8221; genre.
Plus, Bill Haley beat out Presley on the charts, albeit barely, with 1954’s “Rock Around the Clock.”
Presley, though, became a once-in-a-generation superstar.
Born in Tupelo, Mississippi, he spent his early days in a racially mixed community. His tight-knit family attended the Assembly of God Church, exposing him at a young age to gospel music.
The future star moved to Memphis, TN, in his teen years, where he absorbed the sounds of historic Beale Street. Teen Presley shopped on the celebrated street and soaked in the blues and gospel singers who called the region their second home.
<a href="https://www.graceland.com/">Graceland.com</a>, dedicated to keeping Presley’s legacy intact, <a href="https://www.graceland.com/biography">elegantly captures</a> how the singer incorporated those influences into his art. “[Presley] uniquely combined his diverse musical influences and blurred and challenged the social and racial barriers of the time.”
The movie finds him comparing creative notes with the likes of B.B. King (played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.), and it’s clear being a white star channeling blues and gospel notes let him rise beyond some black peers.
Presley’s mammoth talents did the rest.
He openly spoke of how black singers impacted his creative choices. A 1957 interview with Jet Magazine, <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-truth-about-elvis-and-the-history-of-racism-in-rock">recalled by The Daily Beast</a>, offers a window into his generous spirit:
<blockquote>“I always wanted to sing like Billy Kenny of the Ink Spots. … I like that high, smooth style. … I never sang like this in my life until I made that first record—‘That’s Alright, Mama.’ I remembered that song because I heard Arthur (Big Boy) Crudup sing it and I thought I would like to try it.” </blockquote>
Black musicians, in turn, embraced him as an artist, not merely a white colleague. James Brown, for example, <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/elvis-presley-40-years-later-was-king-rock-n-roll-guilty-appropriating-black-651911">called him “his brother”</a> and upon Presely’s death said, &#8220;There’ll never be another like that soul brother.”
<a href="https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/sammy-davis-jr-turned-down-elvis-presleys-in-the-ghetto-wanted-king-of-rock-n-roll-sing.html/">Sammy Davis, Jr. similarly hailed</a> Presley and spoke openly of their respectful bond.
“Elvis” wisely ignores any cries of cultural appropriation. Luhrmann’s film honors Presley’s musical gifts while acknowledging his cultural influences. This shrewd approach to assessing the icon’s body of work is not only fair to the subject matter, but it’s also accurate to how Presley embraced those influences.
“Elvis” shows the superstar commiserating with Harrison Jr.’s B.B. King in scenes that lack the depth and details that haunt the rest of the superficial trappings. They reveal a musician willing to learn from his peers, no matter their skin color.
He worshipped music in all its wondrous shadings.
Not everyone signed off on Presley’s noble heart. Music impresario Quincy Jones dubbed Presley a racist based on what <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/quincy-jones-michael-jackson-elvis-presley-1234955138/">band leader Tommy Dorsey claimed about Presley</a>.
<a href="https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/shine-my-shoes/">Snopes.com debunked</a> one allegedly racist Presley quote which circulated in the late 1950s. Sun Records founder Sam Phillips similarly described an Elvis Presley who didn’t match Dorsey’s version: “The lack of prejudice on the part of Elvis Presley had to be one of the biggest things that happened to us …”
Presley’s story, as everyone knows, had a tragic ending. His medicinal addictions turned him into a sideshow — witness the “Fat Elvis” some impersonators evoke in their act. He died at 42 but remains an integral part of pop culture.
And his success, from his innate gifts to his ability to fuse cultural influences into one irresistible package sans hate, embodies the American dream in a way few others could replicate.
Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of <a href="http://www.hollywoodintoto.com/">HollywoodInToto.com</a>. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News&#8217; Big Hollywood. Follow him at <a href="https://twitter.com/HollywoodInToto?lang=en">@HollywoodInToto</a>. 
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Readers Pass – Toto – New ELIVS movie- Black roots are real, not woke16x9

‘Elvis’ Biopic’s Black Roots Are Real, Not Woke

Hollywood

Movies

Readers Pass

Tom Hanks

Leaked video from the new Disney show &#8220;Baymax&#8221; — based around the lovable robot that first appeared in the 2014 animated feature &#8220;Big Hero 6&#8221; — shows the titular character approaching a woman in a store and asking for help with feminine hygiene products.
The brief video clip was obtained and posted by writer, filmmaker, and activist Christopher Rufo — who also recently obtained and shared video from internal <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/disney-launches-lgbtq-pride-collection-clothing-line-for-kids-promises-to-donate-profits-to-lgbtq-organizations/">Disney</a> corporate calls, revealing the company&#8217;s dedication to creating content even for young consumers that highlighted and <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/disney-florida-bill-banning-sexuality-gender-discussions-for-little-kids-should-never-have-passed/">normalized radical gender ideology</a>.
&#8220;EXCLUSIVE: I&#8217;ve obtained leaked video from Disney&#8217;s upcoming show &#8216;Baymax,&#8217; which promotes the transgender flag and the idea that men can have periods to children as young as two years old,&#8221; Rufo tweeted. &#8220;It&#8217;s all part of Disney&#8217;s plan to re-engineer the discourse around kids and sexuality.&#8221;
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EXCLUSIVE: I&#39;ve obtained leaked video from Disney&#39;s upcoming show &quot;Baymax,&quot; which promotes the transgender flag and the idea that men can have periods to children as young as two years old.
It&#39;s all part of Disney&#39;s plan to re-engineer the discourse around kids and sexuality. <a href="https://t.co/y1ATnKCEce">pic.twitter.com/y1ATnKCEce</a>
&mdash; Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) <a href="https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1541924258326011906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In the clip, Baymax stood in the feminine hygiene aisle of a store and stared at the shelf in front of him. After a moment, he turned to the woman next to him and asked for her recommendation for a good product. She responded first with surprise, and then immediately did her best to assist him — and a crowd of others quickly joined in with their suggestions as well.
&#8220;Excuse me. Which of these products would you recommend?&#8221; Baymax asked.
&#8220;Oh, um — well — these are the tampons I usually use,&#8221; the woman replied.
&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Baymax said.
&#8220;I prefer pads,&#8221; another woman interjected. &#8220;They&#8217;re more comfortable for me.&#8221;
&#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Baymax said again.
&#8220;I always get the ones with wings,&#8221; another person — whose shirt was a transgender flag — chimed in as well.
As the crowd around Baymax continued to grow, another woman added, &#8220;Get unscented and bleach-free if you can.&#8221;
&#8220;Yo, my daughter loves these!&#8221; a man reached over Baymax&#8217;s shoulder to show him another package.
&#8220;These might be easier if it&#8217;s her first period,&#8221; yet another woman held a package out to Baymax, as one more approached the group, saying, &#8220;These are really environmentally friendly!&#8221;
Rufo&#8217;s previous efforts to expose the goings-on within Disney netted a number of videos revealing an executive&#8217;s &#8220;<a href="https://dailywire.com/news/not-at-all-secret-gay-agenda-disney-employees-break-down-adding-queerness-to-shows-and-degenderizing-theme-parks/">not-at-all-secret gay agenda</a>&#8221; and plans to infuse shows for children of all ages with examples of multiple different gender identities and sexual orientations.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I reported on Disney&#39;s self-described &quot;not-at-all-secret gay agenda&quot; for City Journal earlier this year:<a href="https://t.co/V0ThDv6ZlC">https://t.co/V0ThDv6ZlC</a>
&mdash; Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) <a href="https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1541925764228009984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Our leadership over there has been so welcoming to like, my like, not-at-all secret gay agenda,” executive producer LaToya Raveanu said in the leaked video. &#8220;Wherever I could, I was basically adding queerness to the show, if you see anything queer in the show, &#8216;The Proud Family,&#8217; nobody would stop me and nobody was trying to stop me.&#8221;
(Disclosure: The Daily Wire has announced plans for <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/videos/introducing-dw-kids">kids entertainment content</a>.)

Movement to eliminate sales tax on feminine hygiene products

Leaked Video From New Disney Show Features Trans Flag And Robot That Needs Help With Feminine Hygiene

New Disney Show 'Baymax' Appears To Include A Robot That Needs Help With Feminine Hygiene Products

Disney

Gender Identity

Sexual Orientation

Transgender

Fans knew it was too good to be true. Just one day after reports claimed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/johnny-depp">Johnny Depp</a> was in talks to reprise his iconic role as Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney’s “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">Pirates of the Caribbean</a>,” his rep denied those rumors outright.
&#8220;This is made up,” Depp’s spokesperson <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1335907/the-truth-about-johnny-depps-rumored-s300-million-pirates-of-the-caribbean-return">told</a> NBC News in a statement. 
The rumor started following a report from the Australian site PopTopic which claimed the actor was in talks with <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/disney">Disney</a> to return to the lucrative franchise. PopTopic noted that the deal could be worth $301 million, which in itself was a clue that it may not be real. The publication credited an anonymous source with breaking the story.
“Disney is very interested in patching up their relationship with Johnny Depp,” the source allegedly told the outlet. “They are very hopeful that Johnny will forgive them and return as his iconic character.”
It’s likely that the rumored offer, $301 million, came from a comment Depp made during testimony for his highly publicized defamation case against ex Amber Heard. While expressing his anger with Disney for firing him from &#8216;Pirates&#8217; without proof of wrongdoing, the actor “testified under oath that he would not take another ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise role for $300 million and a million alpacas,” The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/johnny-depp-cracks-up-when-disney-exec-gets-asked-about-one-million-alpacas-for-reprising-pirates-of-the-caribbean-role">reported</a>.
Depp and his lawyer were seen laughing together when Heard’s lawyer referenced the comments during the trial.
Meanwhile, it doesn’t appear that the animosity goes both ways. “Pirates” producer Jerry Bruckheimer did not rule out Depp’s return, seemingly leaving the door open to strike a deal. 
“Not at this point,” the Hollywood exec said when asked about Depp reprising his role last month. “The future is yet to be decided.”
It would probably take more than $300 million and a bunch of alpacas to soothe Depp’s hurt ego, though. He previously expressed anger over being dropped by the studio after Heard’s abuse claims went public. 
“Captain Jack Sparrow was a character I built from the ground up and was something that I, of course, put a lot of [myself] into the character and also having worked on these films with these people and added much of myself, much of my own re-writing of the dialogue and scenes and jokes,” he said, per Movieweb. 
“I didn’t quite understand how, after that long relationship and quite a successful relationship certainly for Disney, that suddenly I was guilty until proven innocent,” he said. 
(Disclosure: The Daily Wire has <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.dailywire.com/videos/introducing-dw-kids" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> plans for kids’ entertainment content.)

TOPSHOT-US-COURT-DEPP-HEARD

‘This Is Made Up’: Johnny Depp’s Rep Denies Rumors He’ll Return To ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’ Franchise

Johnny Depp's Rep Denies Rumors He'll Return To 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' Franchise

Celebrities

Entertainment

Johnny Depp

Podcaster Joe Rogan spoke to director Mike Judge recently about the legacy of his movie &#8220;Idiocracy,” saying Judge nailed &#8220;the dumbing down of people&#8221; in his dystopian comedy from 2006.
During Spotify&#8217;s &#8220;The Joe Rogan Experience&#8221; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBu_RpKqCg8">podcast</a> Wednesday, the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/joe-rogan-lights-up-lori-lightfoots-call-to-arms-what-the-f-are-you-saying-youre-in-the-most-violent-city-in-this-country">host</a> spoke with the writer and film director about the things he got right about the future. Rogan said that looking at the state of things in 2022, the director only missed one thing in his assessment about the future — phones and social media. It starts at the 1:26 minute mark <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBu_RpKqCg8">here</a>.
&#8220;And it&#8217;s so interesting, looking at the world in 2022,&#8221; the podcaster explained. &#8220;It&#8217;s like the only thing you missed was social media.&#8221;
Judge agreed and said, &#8220;I keep thinking about all the stuff I missed.” He also noted how he felt as though the movie was cursed from the start, saying that &#8220;everything that could go wrong&#8221; did — including shooting the film in Austin during what was supposed to be a drought, but ended up being the &#8220;rainiest summer&#8221; in the city.
The director said he came up with the idea in 2001, looking at the approach of futuristic sci-fi movies showing a &#8220;pristine, advanced civilization.&#8221; Judge decided to flip that idea as he looked at things like &#8220;The Jerry Springer Show&#8221; and &#8220;giant Walmarts,&#8221; and wondered if humans went the other way.
&#8220;Like more crass, foul-language in the mainstream,&#8221; the director explained. &#8220;More like just everybody getting dumber and dumber, advertising everywhere.&#8221;
At one point, the creator of the animated television series &#8220;Beavis and Butt-Head&#8221; said he wished he could remake <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/idiocracy-new-peegasm-trend-stupidest-possible-paul-bois">the movie</a> and said he would definitely include a lot more shots of people on their phones.
&#8220;I probably would have had more staring at phones and stuff,&#8221; Judge shared.
&#8220;That&#8217;s the only thing you missed though,&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/get-the-f-out-of-here-joe-rogan-says-health-dept-showed-up-in-his-studio-in-la-amid-covid-enforcement">Rogan</a> replied. &#8220;Dumbing down of people [in the future], you nailed.”
The two also talked about some scenes in the film that Rogan said stood out. The host spoke about &#8220;the very smart couple that&#8217;s holding off on having children,&#8221; while the dumber people just keep having sex. Judge joked that he felt like he &#8220;made the whole movie&#8221; just for that sequence.
A description of the 2006 film, per <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387808/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">IMDb</a>, reads, &#8220;Private Joe Bauers, a decisively average American, is selected as a guinea pig for a top-secret hibernation program but is forgotten, awakening to a future so incredibly moronic he&#8217;s easily the most intelligent person alive.”

Joe Rogan-2

‘Dumbing Down Of People, You Nailed:’ Joe Rogan Tells Creator Of ‘Idiocracy’ The ‘Only Thing’ He Missed About The Future

Joe Rogan Tells Creator Of ‘Idiocracy’ The ‘Only Thing’ He Missed About The Future

Joe Rogan

Social Media

Spotify

Fans of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/brad-pitt">Brad Pitt</a> might be disappointed to hear the actor claim that he&#8217;s on his &#8220;last leg&#8221; when it comes to his acting career.
During a lengthy interview for <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/brad-pitt-august-cover-profile">GQ magazine&#8217;s</a> upcoming July/August issue, the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brad-pitt-seeks-damages-against-ex-wife-angelina-jolie-over-business-reputation-sought-to-inflict-harm">58-year-old actor</a> talked about life after his divorce from ex-wife actress Angelina Jolie, his path to sobriety, and his plans to take the helm when it comes to what the writer called the &#8220;final stages of&#8221; the leading man&#8217;s career. The outlet posted the cover story in a piece published Wednesday.
&#8220;I consider myself on my last leg,&#8221; Pitt explained. &#8220;This last semester or trimester. What is this section gonna be? And how do I wanna design that?&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Brad Pitt for the August issue of GQ, photographed by Elizaveta Porodina <a href="https://t.co/7AH9aNSUUL">https://t.co/7AH9aNSUUL</a> <a href="https://t.co/0TVkxDBLz7">pic.twitter.com/0TVkxDBLz7</a>
&mdash; GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) <a href="https://twitter.com/GQMagazine/status/1539597824521666563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Out here in California,&#8221; he added. &#8220;There&#8217;s a lot of talk about &#8216;being your authentic self.&#8217; It would plague me, what does &#8216;authentic&#8217; mean? [For me] it was getting to a place of acknowledging those deep scars that we carry.&#8221;
These days, the superstar has been wearing his producer hat as he talks about the upcoming projects his production company, Plan B Entertainment, is working on. But fear not, the &#8220;Fight Club&#8221; star isn&#8217;t done with acting and the big screen just yet. He has taken on roles when the time is right.
His next film, which is due out in August, is titled &#8220;Bullet Train.” Per <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12593682/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_3">IMDb</a>, the film is about “five assassins aboard a fast moving bullet train” who “find out their missions have something in common.”
Pitt is also starring in Damien Chazelle’s “Babylon,” which is in post-production and due out later this year, as well as an untitled project with former co-star George Clooney that is in pre-production.
&#8220;I&#8217;m one of those creatures that speaks through art,&#8221; Pitt explained. &#8220;I just want to always make. If I&#8217;m not making, I&#8217;m dying in some way.&#8221;
In 2016, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/judge-awards-brad-pitt-joint-custody-of-children-after-angelina-jolie-pleads-to-have-kids-testify">Jolie filed for divorce</a> from the &#8220;Troy&#8221; star, and the two were legally declared single in 2019. Pitt said after Jolie filed for divorce, he spent a year and half going to Alcoholics Anonymous, where he participated in a &#8220;really cool men&#8217;s group&#8221; that was &#8220;really private and selective, so it was safe.&#8221;
&#8220;Because I&#8217;d seen things of other people who had been recorded while they were spilling their guts, and that&#8217;s just atrocious to me,&#8221; the legendary actor shared.
Pitt&#8217;s career spans more than three decades, with such notable films as &#8220;Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,&#8221; &#8220;Moneyball,&#8221; and the &#8220;Ocean&#8217;s Eleven&#8221; franchise, among many others.

“Ad Astra” Red Carpet Arrivals – The 76th Venice Film Festival

Brad Pitt Admits ‘On My Last Leg’ Of Acting Career

Brad Pitt Says He’s On ‘Last Leg’ Of Acting Career

Brad Pitt

The late actor <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/you-are-the-best-dad-anyone-could-ask-for-ray-liottas-daughter-breaks-silence-following-his-death/">Ray Liotta</a> became a hot topic on Twitter Wednesday after people complained that actor Brad Pitt looked dead in a GQ cover photo spread.
<a href="https://dailywire.com/news/brad-pitt-seeks-damages-against-ex-wife-angelina-jolie-over-business-reputation-sought-to-inflict-harm/">Pitt</a> appeared in a series of photos for the magazine&#8217;s July/August cover story, and British GQ posted the cover photo on Twitter. In the photo, <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/lets-just-end-everything-jennifer-aniston-cracks-joke-about-dealing-with-end-of-friends-with-brad-pitt-divorce/">Pitt</a> appeared to have been posed as though he was dreaming in a field of flowers — for the story titled &#8220;Brad Pitt Opens Up His Dream World&#8221; — but a number of critics determined that the legendary actor looked more dead than dreamy.
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Presenting GQ’s global July/Aug cover star: Brad Pitt.<a href="https://t.co/80MpNSG65C">https://t.co/80MpNSG65C</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GQGlobal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GQGlobal</a> <a href="https://t.co/t8WJquMhMa">pic.twitter.com/t8WJquMhMa</a>
&mdash; British GQ (@BritishGQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/BritishGQ/status/1539579364572004354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Looks like a Ray Liotta hologram,&#8221; Astead Wesley tweeted in response to the photo.
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Looks like a Ray Liotta hologram <a href="https://t.co/QO8ti93eUR">https://t.co/QO8ti93eUR</a>
&mdash; Astead (@AsteadWesley) <a href="https://twitter.com/AsteadWesley/status/1539637621437206529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Corpse Couture,&#8221; @skrrtontia <a href="https://twitter.com/SkrrtOnTia/status/1539636998666944513">remarked</a>.
&#8220;Another tradition dies — the one where magazines try to make their cover subjects look GOOD. Did #BradPitt sign off on the whole cadaver vibe?&#8221; radio host and columnist Mark Davis <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkDavis/status/1539684784749907969">wanted to know</a>.
&#8220;Who took the photo? A mortician?&#8221; @iamlexstylz <a href="https://twitter.com/iamlexstylz/status/1539633597375725568">asked</a>.
&#8220;Why does it look like they tried to bring Ray Liotta back in Brad Pitt&#8217;s body?&#8221; Tatiana Tenreyro <a href="https://twitter.com/tatianatenreyro/status/1539633993221537793">wondered</a>.
&#8220;Brad Pitt as Ray Liotta&#8217;s corpse in weekend at bernie&#8217;s 3,&#8221; @maxcapacity <a href="https://twitter.com/maxcapacity/status/1539683345994420225">added</a>.
GQ Magazine shared several other photos from the shoot, along with the note, &#8220;Brad Pitt for the August issue of GQ, photographed by Elizaveta Porodina.&#8221;
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Brad Pitt for the August issue of GQ, photographed by Elizaveta Porodina <a href="https://t.co/7AH9aNSUUL">https://t.co/7AH9aNSUUL</a> <a href="https://t.co/0TVkxDBLz7">pic.twitter.com/0TVkxDBLz7</a>
&mdash; GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) <a href="https://twitter.com/GQMagazine/status/1539597824521666563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
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But the other photos in the series met with some criticism as well, with a number complaining that Porodina had been attempting to make Pitt look like the late artist David Bowie.
&#8220;It’s giving David Bowie. Did Brad have a little work done? Because… he looks… not as… warm. Like… cadaver cold,&#8221; @reignofapril tweeted, adding, &#8220;He got rid of all the crinkles and laugh lines that gave his face character. Shame. I thought he was aging quite well the way he was.&#8221;
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It’s giving David Bowie. Did Brad have a little work done? Because… he looks… not as… warm. Like… cadaver cold. <a href="https://t.co/0J5DwTkPFH">https://t.co/0J5DwTkPFH</a>
&mdash; April is in Chicago (@ReignOfApril) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReignOfApril/status/1539683092327239681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Not everyone hated the look, however. &#8220;So cool, and a really different look for him. Somewhat of a #DavidBowie vibe!&#8221; @Jipsee shared.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
So cool, and a really different look for him. Somewhat of a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DavidBowie?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DavidBowie</a> vibe! <a href="https://t.co/PDOL5hDbbz">https://t.co/PDOL5hDbbz</a>
&mdash; Vanessa RK (@Jipsee) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jipsee/status/1539693210984783872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Still others compared Pitt in the cover photo to actors Rob Lowe and Val Kilmer — and several complained that the entire series had been an effort to make him look like One Direction&#8217;s Harry Styles. One even complained he&#8217;d stolen his makeup style from Julia Fox.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Not Brad Pitt stealing Julia Fox makeup routine <a href="https://t.co/mf6hejWqAs">pic.twitter.com/mf6hejWqAs</a>
&mdash; Meech (@MediumSizeMeech) <a href="https://twitter.com/MediumSizeMeech/status/1539584864340643840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Psychic in 2010: &#8216;The world will be a mess in 2022 and you’ll be having nightmares about Brad Pitt.&#8217; Me: &#8216;You mean dreams, right?&#8217; Psychic: &#8216;No, nightmares,'&#8221; Linda Childers tweeted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Psychic in 2010: “The world will be a mess in 2022 and you’ll be having nightmares about Brad Pitt.”
Me: “You mean dreams, right?”
Psychic: “No, nightmares.”
Me: 🙄 <a href="https://t.co/khk2pPf516">https://t.co/khk2pPf516</a>
&mdash; Linda Childers (@lindarchilders) <a href="https://twitter.com/lindarchilders/status/1539688621095104512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

‘Ray Liotta’ Photocall – 40th Deauville American Film Festival

Ray Liotta Trends After People Complain Brad Pitt Looks Dead In GQ Cover Photo

The latest &#8220;Toy Story&#8221; spinoff, &#8220;Lightyear,&#8221; struggled at the box office this weekend, following criticism over a gay kiss included in the kids movie.
The flick brought in a <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2022/06/18/nolte-disneys-big-gay-lightyear-is-latest-woke-box-office-flop/">total</a> of $51 million in its three day opening, bringing in $20.7 million on Friday, then dropping off to $16.3 million on Saturday, and bringing in another anemic $14 million on Sunday.
&#8220;What the hell happened here?&#8221; Deadline <a href="https://deadline.com/2022/06/lightyear-box-office-2-1235047729/">queried</a>, not once bringing up the film&#8217;s same-sex kiss controversy.
Instead, Deadline suggested the movie came out too soon in the franchise, writing, &#8220;this could be a case of going to the Toy Story well too soon, too fast.&#8221;
Cultural critic John Nolte at Breitbart dissed the suggestion and emphasized just &#8220;how bad&#8221; the opening really was.
&#8220;Marvel releases two and three movies a year. You mean like that going to the well too soon?&#8221; Nolte <a href="https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2022/06/18/nolte-disneys-big-gay-lightyear-is-latest-woke-box-office-flop/">mocked</a>. &#8220;The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit came out every year. You mean like that going to the well too soon?&#8221; 
&#8220;Well, three years ago, Toy Story 4 opened to $<a class="x5l" href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1979376/?ref_=bo_se_r_3" target="_blank" rel="noopener external">121 million</a>. If these figures hold, Lightyear won’t do HALF that,&#8221; he wrote.&#8221;
&#8220;Another thing to keep in mind is that there’s no competition,&#8221; Nolte added. &#8220;The only kiddie movie still in theaters is The Bad Guys, which opened all the way back in April. After the resounding success of Toy Story 4 and with a wide-open field at the box office, especially during the summer, especially over Father’s Day, there was never a better time to open Lightyear.&#8221;
Disney/Pixar notably reinstated a same-sex kiss between two female characters, Alisha and her wife, following Florida&#8217;s Parental Rights in Education bill, which bans classroom discussion on anything related to sexuality and gender to children in third-grade and younger.
Actor Chris Evans, who voices the movie&#8217;s main character, slammed critics who don&#8217;t approve of the gay kiss in the kids&#8217; film.
“The real truth is, those people are idiots,&#8221; Evans <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/instant-article/idUSL1N2Y103M">told</a> Reuters, slamming critics of the kiss. &#8220;Every time there’s been social advancement as we wake up, the American story, the human story is one of constant social awakening and growth and that’s what makes us good.”
Evans similarly <a href="https://variety.com/2022/film/features/chris-evans-lightyear-same-sex-kiss-1235293017/">gushed</a> over the gay kiss in an interview with Variety on Monday.
&#8220;Disney put a line in the sand saying, we’re putting this back in, but also, we’re not going to remove it for any other territories, in these places that would have a problem with it,&#8221; a Variety reporter said. &#8220;What did you make of the company making that decision?&#8221;
&#8220;I mean, it’s great,&#8221; the actor responded. &#8220;As great as it is — and you know, I’ve been asked the question a few times — it’s nice, and it’s wonderful, it makes me happy.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s tough to not be a little frustrated that it even has to be a topic of discussion,&#8221; Evans continued. &#8220;That it is this kind of &#8216;news.&#8217; The goal is that we can get to a point where it is the norm, and that this doesn’t have to be some uncharted waters, that eventually this is just the way it is. That representation across the board is how we make films.&#8221;
&#8220;Look, it’s an honor to be a part of something that is taking those steps, but the goal is to look back on this time and just be shocked that it took us this long to get there,&#8221; the &#8220;Captain America&#8221; star added.
(Disclosure: The Daily Wire has <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.dailywire.com/videos/introducing-dw-kids" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> plans for kids’ entertainment content.)
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/actress-slams-disney-for-replacing-tim-allen-with-chris-evans-in-lightyear-asks-why-they-would-completely-castrate-this-iconic-character">Actress Slams Disney For Replacing Tim Allen With Chris Evans In ‘LightYear,’ Asks Why They Would ‘Completely Castrate This Iconic’ ‘Character’</a>

UK Premiere For Disney Pixars’ “Lightyear”

Gay Kiss-Included Woke ‘Toy Story’ Spinoff ‘Lightyear’ Struggles At Box Office

Homosexuality

Should we bother having kids if we’re just going to turn them over to other people to raise? Children are in school &#8211; or engaged in extracurricular activities and homework &#8211; for roughly the equivalent of a full-time job each week. Outside of sleeping and recreation hours, that doesn’t leave parents much time to shape their kids physically, mentally and morally for adulthood. Many families still rely on public schools to help complete the job of preparing their children for life. But is a partnership with public school still workable today?
In recent years, many public schools have adopted divisive and harmful ideologies, like Critical Race Theory (CRT), gender theory, and radical sex ed programs into their curriculum. These concepts are being injected into every school subject, from math to history to P.E., often sowing confusion and anxiety in students who may already be struggling to meet basic educational goals. Reading and math proficiency rates in American public schools have <a href="https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/mathematics/supportive_files/2019_infographic.pdf">declined and stagnated</a> respectively since 2017, and the trend is likely to continue or get worse as unnecessary focus is placed on these politically charged ideologies. Sending your child to public school in this climate is a gamble, and there’s a good chance they’ll develop into a young adult who hates America, opposes your values, or adopts perspectives on sex and gender that depart from biological reality.
Thankfully there’s a way out of this madness, but it’s a solution that requires a different way of thinking. <a href="https://www.thehomeschoolawakening.com/">“The Homeschool Awakening</a>,” a new documentary film presented by actor and filmmaker Kirk Cameron, tells the story of parents around America who are catching a new vision for their kids’ education. A funny thing happens when you choose not to be governed by preconceived notions about grades, schedules, classroom style, homework, or even the value of college degrees and wealth. Once you put aside everything you know about mass-produced schooling, you get to the heart of what education is — learning. And who better than a parent to harness their child’s unique learning strengths and build an educational plan that fits them?
One of the most pernicious myths surrounding education is that it’s best left to the experts. Lately, parents have been told by educational leaders that they are not the <a href="https://townhall.com/tipsheet/reaganmccarthy/2021/09/30/education-sec-comment-n2596764">“primary stakeholders”</a> in their kids’ education, that they should <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/schools-face-parents-who-want-ban-critical-race-theory-don-ncna1284185?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma">“keep their noses out of school curricula,”</a> and that they are not <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/wi-school-district-parents-child-sexuality-heterosexual-privilege">“entitled to know their kids’ identities.”</a> 
 
But it doesn’t take a college degree, teaching credentials or a fancy title to educate your child. You’re already more qualified for the job than anyone on the planet. First, you love your child more than anyone else. According to one mom in the film, this alone means “you’re already leaps and bounds ahead of anyone else who can teach a child.” Second, you know your child better than anyone else. You know what makes them tick, what excites them and what deflates them. You can use that intimate understanding to your educational advantage. Loving and knowing your children will make you very likely to meet the third necessary qualification: a willingness to learn alongside them. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You can model teachability and enthusiasm and learn right along with them. 
Opponents of homeschooling will say, “What about socialization? Homeschooled kids are socially awkward and will have trouble socially adapting as adults, right?” This is another myth that is aptly busted in “<a href="https://www.kirkcameron.com/homeschoolawakening">The Homeschool Awakening</a>.” 
 
Throughout the film, we see homeschooled kids of all ages enjoying multigenerational socialization of all kinds, from park meetups and co-op gatherings to grocery store visits and adventures across America. Older kids help younger ones, grandparents enjoy learning activities with grandkids, and teenagers get valuable on-the-job experience with working adults. Compare this to the dodgy social climate in many of today’s public schools, where instances of bullying, violence, peer pressure, bad language, inappropriate smartphone use and more can negatively affect learning. In a homeschool environment, socialization becomes an organic part of everyday learning.
Anyone who’s had kids awhile will agree that the formative years you have with them fly by all too quickly. One minute you’re snapping pictures of your adorable first grader with a backpack almost as big as her. The next thing you know, she’s in high school and filling her days with a million activities. Homeschooling gives parents precious time and experiences with their children that they won’t get on any summer vacation. “It’s actually a gift more than a sacrifice,” says another mom in “The Homeschool Awakening” — the gift of togetherness and a deeper relationship with your child as you help them learn. When you’re in the trenches of parenthood and trying to navigate everything, it’s easy to forget that the real wealth of life is the time you spend with family. Homeschooling is a great way to invest in your family. Join the growing number of parents in America who are learning how to “un-public school themselves” and help their children succeed. 
Andrew McDiarmid is a senior fellow at the Discovery Institute. His writing has recently appeared in the New York Post, Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, RealClearPolitics and elsewhere. Follow him on Twitter at @AMcDiarmid and read more of his work at www.andrewmcdiarmid.org.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Readers Pass – McDiarmid – Parents Already Have What It Takes to Homeschool16x9

‘The Homeschool Awakening’: You Already Have What It Takes To Homeschool Your Kids

Documentaries

Homeschooling

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tom-hanks">Tom Hanks</a> won an Oscar for his portrayal of a gay lawyer in the 1993 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">drama</a> “Philadelphia,” but the actor doesn’t believe he’d get that same part today as a straight man.
Hanks made the comments during an interview with <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/06/13/magazine/tom-hanks-interview.html">The New York Times Magazine</a>, saying he agreed that straight actors shouldn’t pretend to be gay for TV or movie roles. &#8220;Could a straight man do what I did in ‘Philadelphia’ now? No, and rightly so,&#8221; the 65-year-old actor told the publication. 
&#8220;The whole point of &#8216;Philadelphia&#8217; was don’t be afraid. One of the reasons people weren’t afraid of that movie is that I was playing a gay man,&#8221; he said. 
&#8220;We’re beyond that now,&#8221; Hanks continued. &#8220;I don’t think people would accept the inauthenticity of a straight guy playing a gay guy. It’s not a crime, it’s not boohoo, that someone would say we are going to demand more of a movie in the modern realm of authenticity. Do I sound like I’m preaching? I don’t mean to.&#8221;
The actor won his first Academy Award for portraying Andrew Beckett, a gay attorney diagnosed with AIDS and facing workplace discrimination.
In his Oscars acceptance speech in 1994, Hanks said playing in the movie &#8220;is magnified by the fact that the streets of heaven are too crowded with angels,&#8221; per <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/06/15/tom-hanks-philadelphia-role-couldnt-happen-today/7642974001/">USA Today</a>. Several attendees wore red ribbons to bring awareness to HIV and AIDS.
&#8220;We know their names,&#8221; Hanks said. &#8220;They number a thousand for each one of the red ribbons that we wear here tonight. They finally rest in the warm embrace of the gracious creator of us all — a healing embrace that cools their fevers, that clears their skin and allows their eyes to see the simple, self-evident, common-sense truth that is made manifest by the benevolent creator of us all and was written down on paper by wise men, tolerant men, in the city of Philadelphia 200 years ago.&#8221;
Elsewhere in the NYT Magazine interview, Hanks explained why he left Twitter. His last post was in May 2020.
“I stopped posting because, number one, I thought it was an empty exercise. I have enough attention on me,” the “Forrest Gump” actor said. 
“But also I’d post something goofy like, ‘Here’s a pair of shoes I saw in the middle of the street,’ and the third comment would be, ‘[Expletive] you, Hanks.’ I don’t know if I want to give that guy the forum. If the third comment is ‘[Expletive] you, you Obama-loving communist,’ it’s like, I don’t need to do that,&#8217;” he said.

TOM HANKS IN PARIS FOR THE RELEASE OF ‘PHILADELPHIA’

‘Beyond That Now’: Tom Hanks Says Fans Wouldn’t Accept Him Playing Gay Man In ‘Philadelphia’ Now

Tom Hanks Says Fans Wouldn't Accept Him Playing Gay Man In 'Philadelphia' Now

LGBTQ

Much has been said about the summer blockbuster, “Top Gun: Maverick.” Yet, one thing I haven’t heard from anyone else is that the film evoked a touch of melancholy.
Okay, I’ll admit it’s an odd reaction. and it’s likely just a response to the nostalgic references that filled nearly every frame of the film.
Of course, I’m not suggesting the movie itself was in any way sad &#8211; it wasn’t. The aerial photography was thrilling. Catching up with Maverick, 36 years later, to find him still doing control tower fly-bys was certainly a blast.
Still, “Top Gun: Maverick” left me with the nagging feeling that, today, America’s best movie moments are ones that draw on their franchise’s cinematic past. It’s worth noting I felt the same way after watching “Spiderman: No Way Home.” It was an excellent chapter in the series, but it was mainly successful because it drew so heavily on the franchise’s nostalgia, leaning on past iterations of the hero and past heroic values that seem to be long gone.
From the beginning of “Top Gun: Maverick,” every choice seems old school in the best sense, starting with a personal greeting from the star and producer, 59-year-old Tom Cruise. It’s in this introduction to the film that Cruise does something unexpected: he looks straight into the camera and acknowledges his appreciation for the audience. Cruise seems like he genuinely wants America to enjoy the film he has created.
This gesture is especially refreshing in an age where Disney feels the need to include a gay main character in “Buzz Lightyear” in order to comport to the times. Tom Cruise, on the other hand, simply chooses to entertain his audience with “Top Gun: Maverick,” rather than construct a story that’s intentionally an affront to the average American’s values. Indeed, the actor/producer seems overjoyed to deliver fans apolitical summer movie fun. 
As an aside, I once shot a <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7846072/">very expensive commercial</a> with the director of “Top Gun: Maverick,” Joseph Kosinski. (Yes, Hollywood directors often shoot commercials too). Upon hearing he would helm the new sequel to “Top Gun,” I remembered telling Kosinski that I thought a sequel to “Top Gun” was exactly what America needed at the moment: something Americans could cheer for &#8211; together. Kosinski agreed. This was back in 2018 before George Floyd, the summer riots, and a divisive two-year pandemic, which delayed the production of “Top Gun: Maverick”. 
I had no idea how true those words would be &#8211; especially now, after all the rancor and division that’s only grown worse. While a movie can’t fix the tearing of America’s social fabric, watching a blockbuster together as a country is still a shared ritual that surely has some societal value. If we can cheer together and laugh together, perhaps, just maybe, we can live together?
Kosinski delivered on that unifying vision. At every turn, he and Tom Cruise appear to make conscious choices that eschew divisive woke politics. For instance, there might be a diverse group of TOPGUN pilots, but they’ve only been assigned to the mission because they are in the top 1% of Navy pilots. It’s a reminder that merit is the requisite qualification for promotion and success in America, not the Left’s new values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The characters don’t complain in “Top Gun: Maverick.” They experience setbacks, as all people do in real life. This is certainly true of the hero, veteran, and ace fighter pilot, Maverick. Yet, we don’t hear Mav whining about ageism or how he got a raw deal in his career when he languishes at the level of Captain &#8211; especially considering his former rival, Iceman, played by Val Kilmer, is promoted up the ranks to Admiral. Again, the film seems to harken back to a time when our national work ethos was still “leave it at home,” rather than “bring your full self to work.”
“Top Gun: Maverick” doesn’t apologize for its patriotism or equivocate about America’s leading role in the world, and there’s no global coalition to depend on when a dangerous international threat arises in the film.
I think it’s also worth noting that the movie chooses to forgo naming the enemy “Russia” when it so easily could have &#8211; and been heartily applauded for doing so. Of course, this would have politicized the film. Perhaps Cruise remembered the reliable axiom that all of Hollywood used to live by: keeping politics out of movies is almost always a smart decision.
“Top Gun: Maverick” features a romance, of course. After all, what else would you expect from the ageless ace pilot, Maverick? But it’s &#8211; gasp &#8211; a heteronormative romance, and there are no tawdry sex scenes. In fact, even in comparison to the 1986 original, “Top Gun: Maverick” is a bit tamer in every way &#8211; with less gratuitous language, for instance. Indeed, it’s a kinder, gentler Maverick we are reintroduced to, but he’s still full of male bravado and yet to be fully domesticated. However, this is why the character works. Maverick, the sensitive beta male, would never fly with America’s audiences.
The film’s main score also hasn’t changed, nor did it feel like it needed to. What was composed when Ronald Reagan was still president, still feels right today &#8211; and somehow even more fitting. The music, though nearly four decades old, retains a sense of optimism, possibility, and confidence in the American spirit, and the choice to leave the original score on the sequel &#8211; whether for that reason or not &#8211; felt so perfectly timed for the current American moment we find ourselves in.
“Top Gun: Maverick” even draws on the past in another way. Only one jet is up to the task of the impossible mission laid before the elite TOPGUN pilots in the film: The F-18 Super Hornet upgraded from the original F-18 design, not the newer fifth gen, F-35. It’s a two man job, demanding the increasingly antiquated two man plane. Of course, there’s a practical reason for this: to capture the authentic flight scenes, a two-seater cockpit is needed so one person can fly while the other one acts.
Ben Shapiro recently declared that Tom Cruise may be the last Hollywood star. I couldn’t help also thinking that Tom Cruise may just be the only star left in Hollywood that’s still able &#8211; or willing &#8211; to read the room. Americans want to get back to living, and Cruise seemed to perfectly intuit the current zeitgeist. He also seemed to sense the average American’s impatience for our national preoccupation with self-loathing. Wokeness is exhausting. It’s a social virus that poisons our shared national rituals, like singing the national anthem together, watching sporting events collectively, and, yes, catching a blockbuster seated next to other Americans simply seeking cinematic escape.
The theater where I viewed “Top Gun: Maverick” erupted in applause at the end &#8211; something I haven’t witnessed in years. It felt like a rare glimpse of national cohesion and a return to, dare I say, a sense of normality &#8211; especially after two very contentious years marred by racial tensions, vaccination debates, and ultra-divisive politics.
I know, I know &#8211; it’s just a movie. But still, it felt good.
And though it all certainly put a smile on my face, at the same time, the experience also left me with a touch of longing.
For what exactly?
For our cinematic past, where most movies didn&#8217;t shy away from our nation’s exceptional values. Where people &#8211; of all backgrounds &#8211; plopped down in a chair with popcorn on their laps and laughed, cried, and cheered at those very American cinematic moments together.
Brett Craig is EVP, Creative at The Daily Wire. He has created multiple Super Bowl ads and was featured on Adweek’s Top 50 movers and shakers list.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Daily Wire.

Craig – Top Gun Maverick and the Longing for America’s Cinematic Past

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ And The Longing For America’s Cinematic Past

Top Gun

Bradley Cooper opened up about the moment he realized he had &#8220;a problem with drugs and alcohol&#8221; and how he credits actor Will Arnett with the reason he was able to turn everything around.
During the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bradley-cooper-said-full-frontal-nudity-in-nightmare-alley-wasnt-gratuitous-but-it-was-pretty-heavy">47-year-old actor&#8217;s</a> surprise appearance on 100th episode of the &#8220;SmartLess&#8221; <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9yc3MuYXJ0MTkuY29tL3NtYXJ0bGVzcw/episode/Z2lkOi8vYXJ0MTktZXBpc29kZS1sb2NhdG9yL1YwL1V0Zi1lZmFlNU9GSzBCNmdHWDFXSjFVQVladXZ2ZTAtcUlOWWswcGhkcVk?hl=en&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjInbzI8q_4AhVroI4IHWlZAtwQieUEegQIBRAF&amp;ep=6">podcast</a>, Cooper talked about his early days in Hollywood when he shared an apartment building with the &#8220;Arrested Development&#8221; star and how Arnett, who has been open about his own recovery, was the reason he ultimately realized he had a problem and found sobriety, the <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/bradley-cooper-maestro-sobriety-smartless-podcast-will-arnett-1235165548/">Hollywood Reporter</a> stated in a piece published Tuesday.
The two recalled a dinner party and how Cooper said because he was &#8220;an insecure person&#8221; he tried to mimic the mean humor of the comedians at the time. Later, Arnett dropped by and said he was a &#8220;real asshole.&#8221;
&#8220;Will was like, &#8216;Hey man, do you remember we had dinner the other night? How do you think that went?&#8217; I was like, &#8216;I remember being at the dinner thinking I was so funny, and I thought these two guys who were my heroes thought that I was so funny,'&#8221; &#8220;The Hangover&#8221; star explained. &#8220;I thought it was great. I thought I was killing. Will&#8217;s like, &#8216;You were a real asshole, man. You were a real asshole.'&#8221;
Arnett then asked the actor if he had even taken his dogs out of the apartment that day as it was 4 p.m. and Cooper hadn&#8217;t.
He explained &#8220;that was the first time I ever realized I had a problem with drugs and alcohol. … The guy that I think is doing mean humor is telling me the truth and it changed my entire life.&#8221;
The &#8220;American Sniper&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bradley-cooper-hollywood-oscar-season-is-utterly-meaningless">star</a> said he had &#8220;zero self-esteem&#8221; back then and wasn&#8217;t aware he was hurting others because &#8220;how could I if I&#8217;m worthless? I was so lost, and I was addicted to cocaine.&#8221;
Around the same time he &#8220;got fired/quit&#8221; a job on the hit show &#8220;Alias&#8221; and suffered an injury.
&#8220;Will took that risk of having that hard conversation with me in, like, July of 2000 and that put me on a path of deciding to change my life,&#8221; Cooper explained. &#8220;It truly was Will Arnett — he is the reason.&#8221;
The &#8220;A Star Is Born&#8221; actor was previously romantically linked with supermodel Irina Shayk, with whom he shares a 5-year-old daughter. At one point in the interview, the actor talked about the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/actor-bradley-cooper-fatherhood-miracle-paul-bois">joys of being a father</a>.
&#8220;Fatherhood … everything changed,&#8221; Cooper said. &#8220;Every single thing is absolutely shaded by or brought out in glorious colors by the fact that I get to be a father to a wonderful human being. It&#8217;s just the absolute greatest thing.&#8221;

Bradley Cooper-2

‘I Was So Lost’: Bradley Cooper Reveals When He Realized He Had ‘A Problem With Drugs’ And The Actor Who Helped Him Turn Everything Around

Bradley Cooper On Realizing He Had ‘Problem With Drugs,’ Actor Who Helped Turn Everything Around

Alcohol

Drugs

This week, a rumor started circulating that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/amber-heard">Amber Heard</a> would be cut from &#8220;Aquaman&#8221; 2, but the actress vehemently denies the claim. 
&#8220;The rumor mill continues as it has from day one — inaccurate, insensitive, and slightly insane,&#8221; Heard&#8217;s representative <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/amber-heard-denies-cut-aquaman-johnny-depp-defamation-trial">told</a> Fox News Digital.
Heard’s involvement in the project has become a source of fascination now that her ex <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/johnny-depp">Johnny Depp</a> was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jury-awards-johnny-depp-15-million-but-hell-get-millions-less-heres-why">awarded</a> $15 million in his highly publicized defamation case against her. Some see this win as the end of the #MeToo era.
Part of Depp’s assertions was that Heard’s original claims of abuse significantly hurt his career when he lost his lucrative role in Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean.” After some details of their relationship and Heard’s lies and manipulation went public, her reputation also suffered.
The movie &#8220;Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom&#8221; is scheduled to be released in 2023, with Heard reprising her role as Mera. She’s not a major character, spurring movie fans to demand her removal from the project. 
Film journalist Grace Randolph first shared the news of Heard’s screen time getting cut.
“I hear #AmberHeard has less than 10 min of screentime in #Aquaman2,” Randolph <a href="https://twitter.com/GraceRandolph/status/1519734319388020736?">tweeted</a>. This news came as the Change.org <a href="https://www.change.org/p/dc-entertainment-remove-amber-heard-from-aquaman-2">petition</a> to have Heard removed gathered more than 3 million signatures. 
Also, the actress claimed during her testimony that she was released from her contract. She said she had to “fight” to stay in the film, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/amber-heard-claims-she-was-released-from-aquaman-contract-might-not-appear-in-sequel">reported</a>.
“They released me from my contract,” Heard told Depp’s attorney Camille Vasquez. “And I fought to stay in it, and they kept me in it. I just don’t know how much I’m in, actually, of the final cut.”
“I don’t know if I will even be in the final cut or how much I will be,” the actress added. “It was difficult to stay in the movie.”
Heard asserted that her being cut was an example of discrimination against women speaking up about domestic violence, while Depp’s attorneys pointed out that it could have been because of Heard’s past actions, like physically assaulting Depp, going public. 
“Aquaman&#8221; 2 producer Peter Safran said in July 2021 that removing Heard’s character would take more than an online petition created by fans.
“I don’t think we’re ever going to react to, honestly, pure fan pressure. You gotta do what’s best for the movie. We felt that if it’s [director] James Wan, and Jason Momoa, it should be Amber Heard. That’s really what it was,” Safran <a href="https://deadline.com/2021/07/amber-heard-aquaman-2-johnny-depp-fans-1234802845/">told</a> Deadline at the time. 
“One is not unaware of what is going on in the Twitter-verse, but that doesn’t mean you have to react to it or take it as gospel or accede to their wishes,” the producer continued. “You have to do what’s right for the film, and that’s really where we landed on it.”
But that was before the trial and the revelations about Heard that happened because of it. Now it appears Heard is in danger of being removed completely, even if her representative denies it.
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Amber Heard Denies ‘Slightly Insane’ Rumors She Was Cut From ‘Aquaman’ Sequel

Amber Heard Denies 'Slightly Insane' Rumors She Was Cut From 'Aquaman' Sequel

Amber Heard

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