A couple weeks back French Montana shared photos from the set of his “Gifted” video shoot with the Weeknd, announcing that he’d decided to keep two baby tigers he filmed with that day. Fans figured he was joking and PETA even sent an e-mail to MTV News, confirming that they’d checked in with French to make sure he wasn’t serious. But maybe he really kept those tigers?
MTV News caught up with French last week in NYC where he told us that his video with the Weeknd would be out shortly (“I love working with the Weeknd because we’ve been friends for a long time and [the video's] gonna be a classic look), but mostly he was really into those tigers. “If you look at my Instagram I took a picture with a bunch of little tigers in the video,” he said. “I bought them, they’re in the house right now.”
So, what about that message from PETA stating otherwise? “Nah, I have to lie to PETA cause they’re gonna try to come to get the tigers back,” French responded, adding that he’s feeding them whatever he’s eating. Hey, PETA, we think he was just joking again…
ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey — Donning all white everything, Kanye West fearlessly commanded a sloped stage Friday night as he let his confessional lyrics carry an intimate, winter-themed performance.
Passionate fans flocked to Atlantic City dressed to the nines to get up close and personal with the rapper during his first of three consecutive nights at Revel Resort‘s 5,500-seat Ovation Hall.
Without the backing of any special guests or the dancers that have joined him onstage during his past solo outings, Yeezy alone remained front and center for the 75-minute set.
He ascended onto the stage ramp to Foreigner’s “Cold as Ice” and wasted no time putting his personal life on full display, opening with “Cold,” which caused a stir back when it was originally released, as “Theraflu.”
The lyrics, “I had fell in love with Kim,” teased his relationship with Ms. Kardashian well before the pairing was the tabloid fodder it has become. And, the song came under fire from PETA: After he baited them with the line, “Someone tell PETA my mink is draggin’ on the floor,” the animal-rights organization said Kayne has “no empathy for animals or human beings.”
‘Ye performed the song in front of a backdrop of icebergs and snow-covered mountains as video projected onto the floor gave the illusion he was walking on water.
West kept it deeply personal, following up with “Clique,” another recent single in which he reveals “Deep depression when my momma passed.”
Classic choices included “Can’t Tell Me Nothing,” “Touch the Sky,” “Stronger” and “Good Life,” a standout from the night that ‘Ye called “one of my favorites.”
Though the stage effects were kept minimal, “Power” had some pyro, and snow dusted the audience during “Jesus Walks.”
West covered his face with masks a few different times: First with a white feather piece, and later, a silver sparkly one.
The haunting “Runaway” and its tender “If you love somebody tonight, hold on so tight” fadeout gave way to the party jams “Gold Digger,” “All of the Lights” and 2 Chainz’ “Birthday Song.”
Closing with “All Falls Down,” West announced, “That’s my show tonight,” exiting the stage with a huge smile and a wave. “I love y’all.”
This trio of shows marks the rapper’s return to Revel, following two sold-out shows in July. Since his appearance at the 2011 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, the resort has hosted West’s only U.S. solo performances.
Revel, which has been struggling financially since it opened in the spring, is hoping to end the year with a bang. Alongside Kanye‘s three-night run, the northernmost casino on the Atlantic City boardwalk also has a big weekend of EDM on tap: Revel’s HQ Nightclub hosted Axwell of Swedish House Mafia on Friday night, and will present Alesso Saturday night (December 29) followed by Kaskade on Sunday.
And, on Monday, Ovation Hall will be home to the resort’s New Year’s Eve blowout featuring international dance-music superstar Tiësto.
Wellington, New Zealand, seemingly shut down yesterday as elves, dwarves, wizards, and, of course, hobbits filled the street for the world premiere of the first installment in a new Middle-earth trilogy, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”
The world expected a large affair for the return to J.R.R. Tolkien’s mystical world after a nine-year gap since “The Lord of the Rings” ended with “Return of the King,” but few could have anticipated the throngs of fans who took the streets to welcome director Peter Jackson and his cast at the Embassy Theater in Wellington.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, an estimated hundred thousand people lined a red carpet that stretched 1,600 feet. (For reference, that’s the length of more than 450 hobbits stacked one on top of the each other.)
The event was not entirely celebratory, however. With the recent animal cruelty controversy still fresh in the minds of many around the world, Jackson took some time out of the pre-premiere press conference to once again deny claims of animal abuse on the New Zealand set. The director said (via Deadline) that there was “no mistreatment, no abuse,” and again accused PETA of seeking publicity, a move he called “pretty pathetic.”
Ultimately, the controversy could not bring down the excitement surrounding the massive premiere and one of the first screenings of the film. “X-Men” director Bryan Singer was on hand to see the film and tweeted his reaction to the controversial high frame-rate, writing “Just saw #Hobbit. Having some serious frame rate envy. Amazing and involving. Loved it! And @ianmckellen118, my friend, you are brilliant!”
“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” opens in theaters on December 14.
GQ kicks off their Sneaker Month today with the initial Grail of the Day showcase. This custom-made pair of Jordan 1s was crafted by Perfectly Made Kicks, as the 1 of 10 drop features elephant, ostrich, python, boa, crocodile, lizard, alligator, suede, and sting ray skin all utilized throughout the makeup — sorry, PETA. The limited Brooklyn Zoo release is slated to become available on November 7. Stay tuned for more from GQ‘s Sneaker Month.
On Thursday, a fiery letter hit the Internet. In it, animal rights activist and pop star Ke$ha reportedly took Lady Gaga to task for wearing fur.
However, after the lengthy memo made the rounds, a rep for the glittery pop singer denied she penned the message to the Mother Monster. A rep confirmed to MTV News that the letter is a fake. K-Dollar Sign also addressed the note on her Twitter, sharing, “Animals+ @ladygaga – jus woke up in Japan +heard that there’s a letter from ‘me’ floating around.well it’s a fake.not from me.love u all xx.”
Gaga later took to her Twitter in response to the debunked letter, writing, “@keshasuxx thanks for clearing up that the letter was fake. U are brave+know the meaning of acceptance. Box of animalcrackers coming ur way.”
Gaga has come under fire this week for her decision to wear fur coats. She shot back at PETA after they did write a letter to Gaga, calling her a “turncoat” for wearing animal pelts. She had this sassy tweet for the organization on Tuesday: “Please don’t forget to credit the designer HERMES.”
She then took to the defense of Kim Kardashian who has also been criticized and even flour-bombed for wearing fur. “And to campaigners, Save your flour to make bread for the children who are hungry. And Kim Kardashian is fabulous,” she concluded.
Just days after Lady Gaga fired back at PETA for criticizing her for wearing fur, the Mother Monster has released a lengthy statement to address her decision to wear clothing made of fur and offering up a mea culpa to her Little Monsters who may have felt hurt by her curt response, “Please don’t forget to credit the designer HERMES.”
In it, she notes that she maintains certain rules when it comes to wearing it and that she looks at the material as art.
“To the fans. i want you to know that I care deeply about your feelings and views, and I will always support your philosophies about life. We’ve been having over-arching conversations about society, equality, and politics for the past five years, and we should continue,” she writes in a letter on her Little Monsters website. “I do not however support violent, abusive, and childish campaigns for ANY CAUSE.
Particularly one that I respect. ‘Animal Rights.’ I am choosing not to comment on whether or not the furs I purchase are faux fur-pile or real because I would think it [hypocritical] not to acknowledge the python, ostrich, cow hide, leather, lamb, alligator, ‘kermit’ and not to mention meat, that I have already worn. This should already put me in a category as one who appreciates and adores the beauty of animals in fashion, but am not a strict vegan.”
She then breaks down the types of fur she invests in and why. “I have truly always stayed away from skinned fur, especially i have never been able to afford a nice one, but this does not mean my morals are rigid and that I won’t bend at the sight of an absolute art piece of a coat. I have no chains about this. You see a carcass, I see a museum pièce de résistance,” she writes. “But I am truly sorry to fans who are upset by this, its a fair and applaudable feeling about the health and safety of animals. I respect your views, please respect mine.”
In the end, Gaga shows her support for a fellow celebrity who often wears fur and has been criticized for it, reality starlet Kim Kardashian. “And to campaigners, Save your flour to make bread for the children who are hungry. And Kim Kardashian is fabulous,” she concludes, in reference to the PETA supporter who flour-bombed Kim earlier this year.
Coincidentally, the same day that Gaga released her manifesto on fur, fellow pop star Ke$ha had some choice words for the fur-loving Mother Monster in an open letter to the Mother Monster, where she speaks on behalf of PETA. During the lengthy address, she asks the star to “reconsider” her decision to wear fur. But, based on Gaga’s own letter, it doesn’t seem like that will happen anytime soon.
Do you support Gaga’s decision to wear fur? Leave your comment below!
Lady Gaga has come under fire after being photographed in various fur jackets over the past few weeks. Animal rights organization PETA is taking issue with the Mother Monster and her furry fashion choices.
In a statement released on PETA‘s website, VP Dan Mathews recalls a statement she gave to Ellen DeGeneres in 2010 after she wore the infamous meat dress to the VMAs that year. And from there he takes aim at the star for being what he calls “Judas” to animal rights activists everywhere.
“Many of your gay fans, I among them, have long admired what you told Ellen: ‘I hate fur and I don’t wear fur.’ I included a link because these recent photos of you in fox and rabbit and with a wolf carcass make it appear that you have amnesia,” he wrote. “What happened? Are your stylists telling you that it’s fake, or are you a turncoat? Many gays are animal advocates because we recognize that the same arrogance and indifference that some have toward animal suffering has at times been directed toward us personally because of our orientation.
“PETA has long participated in Pride events around the country, and just last week, we helped lead protests against Chick-fil-A. But by wearing those dumb furs in a heat wave, you’re making yourself a target just like the mindless Kim Kardashian,” he said, comparing her to the reality starlet who was flour-bombed by a PETA member earlier this year. “As we plan our fall campaigns, please tell us whether what you gracefully told Ellen was heartfelt or just a pose.”
He then asked for a response from her, but he didn’t have to wait too long to get it. Gaga kept her response short, sweet and tongue-in-cheek. “For those press and such who are writing about whether or not my fur is actually real, please don’t forget to credit the designer HERMES. Thank You! LOVE, gaga,” she wrote late Monday.
Was Lady Gaga’s response appropriate? Leave your comment below!
Once again, Chris Brown is making headlines for something other than making records. The ever-controversial artist is back in the public bullseye for starting a puppy mill– a move that has drawn a stern rebuttal from animal-rights organizations. They are imploring the singer to promote adoptions instead.
The controversy actually originated with Brown’s mother, Joyce Hawkins, when she posted a link to the business which is called CB Breeds. She tweeted a photo of Brown holding a newborn puppy and advertising seven fully-vaccinated pit bull terrier puppies for sale at $1000 each.
Brown, who does appear to be a dog lover, is not under fire for animal abuse or neglect, but PETA went on the attack because he is selling dogs.
“There is no such thing as a responsible breeder while wonderful dogs are being put down in animal shelters across the country for lack of a good home,” said PETA in a statement to E! News. “This is a moneymaking scheme, and Brown will count the suckers who fall for it as he counts his money on the way to the bank. Shelters will count the bodies in a barrel.”
Another organization, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, focused on selling pit bulls in particular – a breed that already fills shelters all over America. ”The $1000 prince tag for a Chris Brown puppy could be better spent saving the lives of shelter animals,” spcaLA chapter president Madeline Bernstein said.
But of course, Brown has a good explanation. His publicists claim that Brown’s family dogs in Virginia gave birth to the litter, and he is just making sure they find good homes.
“He loves animals,” said a rep for Brown. “Especially dogs.”
