celebrity

Britney Spears to vote in Afghanistan

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:21:47 +0200

Afghanistan heads to the polls today. The event however, is likely to be tarnished by election fraud. To prove just how easy it is to buy a fake voting card, one Afghan thought it amusing to get one in the name of... Britney Spears.

Source: Afpax

Reuters reports that a voter registration card under the identification of American pop singer Britney Spears has been circulating by email for the past few weeks and has even been on display in a bar in Kabul. According to website Afpax, who broke the story in June, the document was bought by a Kandahar resident in order to demonstrate "how easy it is to buy a usable Afghan voter registration card with any name or photo you want".

The post goes on to explain that the card is entirely valid because it was created, like thousands of others, by an electoral services employee. The name on the card is "Jamila", which means "she's beautiful" in Pashto. These documents are mass produced and cost less than a euro in the major cities. This one in particular seems to prove that the anti-fraud systems in place are not very vigilant. In a country where almost all women are veiled, a white, blond and bare-skinned applicant should have raised a few eyebrows. Concerns over fake voting cards were raised again recently when in some provinces huge numbers of women signed themselves up to the electoral roll. Such a sudden and mass interest was perceived as suspicious in a country where the majority of women rarely show up to vote.

Thirty years in Michael Jackson’s skin

Sophie Team Observers — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:12:34 +0200

Walking the streets of Mexico City, you might bump into what looks like Michael Jackson. Don't panic, he hasn't risen from the grave. It's just Victor Jackson, an MJ impersonator for the past 30 years. Here's his reaction to the King of Pop's death...

I haven't stopped crying since the news came out. Mourning for a normal fan is different from someone like me, who has impersonated him for the last thirty years. I don't want to see anybody or even leave the house. Friends and family phone me to know how I'm coping.

I began to impersonate him when Off The Wall came out in 1979. People kept telling me in nightclubs, especially Americans, that I looked very much like him. When Thriller came out, I began to realise how big he would become. I was thrilled by his white gloves and his characteristic hat and sunglasses. For me, the way he moved and did the moonwalk was just phenomenal. All this made me decide to dedicate my life to impersonating him. I love it, and I have to admit that every dance move Michael came up with, I rehearsed for three or four hours a day.

I did get the chance to meet him when I worked for his record label. There was a casting for an impersonator, and fortunately I was picked. I travelled worldwide to promote his albums on radio, TV shows, in shopping centres and nightclubs. When he came to Mexico City, I received an invitation from him to a small gathering in Hard Rock Café. It was the best experience of my life. For me, Michael Jackson will always be alive".

This post was created in collaboration with one of our Observers for Mexico, Gabriel Infante.

How to make millions: sell your death to the British tabloids

Sophie Team Observers — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:33:12 +0100

Photo: Terry Moran on Flickr

One of Britain's most hated and loved celebrities has made over a million pounds by selling her dying days to the tabloid press. The 27-year-old cancer sufferer, who's famous for being ignorant, racist and overweight, has been given weeks to live - and she hasn't wasted a minute.

The kind of celebrity Britons revel in, Jade Goody is famous just for being famous. She emerged in 2002 on reality TV show Big Brother and soon became a target of ridicule for her pure stupidity. Since then she's launched her own perfume, published an autobiography, outraged millions by making racist remarks on "Celebrity Big Brother", and amassed a fortune. Now, the news of Goody's terminal cancer has brought her even more attention by allowing a 24-hour film crew to follow the balding sufferer through her last weeks. She's also used her battle to make around a million pounds (1,130,000 euros) by selling the rights to her - quickly improvised- wedding with convict Jack Tweed on Sunday, only possible thanks to pain-killing lollipops. She says the money is for her children.

Web goes psycho over Christian Bale going psycho

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:15:38 +0100

The leaked audio of Christian Bale's four-minute furious rant, in which he managed to fit in the word "fuck" 35 times, is the web's biggest hit this week. The American Psycho star erupted into the unending onslaught of insults, aimed at one of the set's directors, while shooting for Terminator 4. Even in the land of stars, the verbal assault has caused outrage. But on the inside of the industry, a producer tells us that it's nothing unusual.

Although it happened last July, the audio recording of Bale's outburst didn't reach public ears until this week, when it was leaked by celebrity gossip website TMZ. It turns out the incident happened just days before the Hollywood actor was arrested for allegedly pushing his mother (the charges were later dropped). The victim of the verbal assault was cinematographer Shane Hurlbut, who apparently fiddled with some lights on set when Bale was trying to act out an important scene. In response, Hurlbut received a four minute offensive from Bale, who finished by saying "seriously man, you and me, we're fucking done professionally".

McCain mocked for comparing Obama to Britney Spears

Sophie Team Observers — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:25:07 +0200

The latest case of negative campaigning from McCain's election team has done the Republican candidate no favours. His comparing Barack Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton has been met with ridicule by Web users, leaving the public wondering if Britney and John would make the ultimate dream ticket...

"Celeb" was added by the McCain campaign team on July 30.

"He's the biggest celebrity in the world," the campaign ad says. Even Britney Spears and Paris Hilton seem obsolete next to the Democratic star, adored the world over. But "Is he ready to lead?" We certainly wouldn't let Britney or Paris into the White House...

The problem is, whether Britney or Paris would be let into the White House is considered somewhat irrelevant by many American Web users. Especially since Spears and Hilton are known for their Republican - rather than Democratic - inclinations. As soon as it was put online, the video found itself torn apart by satirical Democrat supporters, who were more than happy, as always, to make a mockery of McCain.

UPDATE (6 August 08): Paris Hilton has replied to McCain with a video, posted on YouTube on Wednesday. She says that after appearing in the video of "that wrinkly white haired guy", she's decided to enter the race to the White House herself. (Watch the video)

Chuck Norris, American idol

Julien — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:24:00 +0100

Actor Chuck Norris has become quite an idol at American military bases. His posters are as frequent on camp walls as the obligatory pin-up, and soldiers at the Baghdad helicopter base have even erected an altar in his glory.

"Chuck" is admired by many but also ridiculed by others. Sites and videos that make fun of the actor are not hard to come by on the web. Chuck Norris Facts, for example, ironically lists the star's incredible abilities and feats. Our favourite: "Chuck Norris counted to infinity- twice".

The net is divided. War hero and patriot, Norris represents more a complex conflict troubling Americans: namely the Iraq war.