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Brad Pitt Became the Tougher Parent After He Had Biological Kids With Angelina Jolie

Antonio Stallings — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 01:27:00 +0000

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie experienced a role reversal as parents when they expanded their family. The Tomb Raider star was once very candid about how Pitt changed after the pair welcomed twins to their family.

Angelina Jolie once gave insight into her and Brad Pitt’s parenting styles

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt | Steve Granitz/WireImage

Jolie and Pitt welcomed a pair of twins to their family in 2008. Although the former power couple already had a full house of children, the twins would be the first of their kids who they had biologically.

The decision to have biological children wasn’t one she made lightly. But Pitt provided Jolie enough confidence and reassurance to give a natural birth. However, Jolie and Pitt didn’t expect their brood to grow as much as it did. The fact that she was giving birth to two children instead of one was a pleasant surprise for the stars.

“We weren’t expecting twins,” Jolie once told Entertainment Weekly (via People). “So it did shock us, and we jumped to six [children] quickly. But we like a challenge.”

At the time, Jolie was already planning on ways to make sure her and Pitt’s other children didn’t feel excluded when the twins arrived. This was why she felt it was important for everyone to chip in and take care of the newborns when the time came.

“They’re old enough to feel included to change diapers themselves, to feed bottles themselves, like if I pump into a bottle. We’re trying to find ways where it can be a fun group thing … Everybody gets special time so we can make sure we know where they’re at,” Jolie added.

After the twins’ debut, however, they also had an interesting impact on Pitt’s and Jolie’s roles as parents. According to Jolie, she actually used to be stricter than Pitt.

”I used to be the tougher parent but since the birth of the twins, Brad’s had to play bad cop more often,” she once told Ok! (via News 24).

But Jolie also confided that she and Pitt might bond with their kids individually in different ways based on their personalities.

“It also depends on which of the children we are talking about. Brad has always had this incredible bond with Mad, who’s very smart, and Brad loves teaching him about history and art and culture – it’s an amazing thing to watch them together,” she said.

Brad Pitt considered himself the goofier parent between himself and Angelina Jolie

Jolie may have considered Pitt the stricter parent in some cases, but Pitt still viewed as himself less serious than her. In a 2015 interview with WSJ, Pitt spoke fondly of Jolie’s dedication as a mother. Even on Jolie’s days off from her busy work schedule, the Maleficent star still invested a good amount of time on her children.

“When Angie has a day off, the first thing she does is get up and take the kids out. This is the most important ‘to do’ of the day. No matter how tired she might be, she plans outings for each and all. She has an incredible knack for inventing crazy experiences for them, something new, something fresh,” Pitt said.

Although Pitt felt he was the more fun one, goofing off with the kids wouldn’t have been possible without Jolie’s direction.

“I may be the bigger goof of the pair, but she invents the stage,” he said.

Still, Jolie shared that she might not have been too serious compared to Pitt. She confided that some of the most fun she’s had was spent with her kids before bedtime.

”Our happiest moments are probably in the evening before the kids go to bed. We often play together in our pajamas after dinner and it’s like having a party sometimes where we’re all dancing and jumping around and being silly. That’s when you really feel the beauty of having a family. It’s our little world,” she said.

Kobe Bryant’s Eldest Daughter Natalia Has Grown Into a REAL BEAUTY!

Ali Hicks — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 21:24:37 +0000

As Americans watched the incredible conclusion of the Olympics’ women’s basketball competition, they may have spotted the Bryant family sitting courtside. Vanessa Bryant and her daughters Capri, Bianka, and Natalia Bryant cheered on Team USA first at the semifinal and finals games. Fans couldn’t help but notice Natalia’s striking beauty. Learn more about the Bryant crew’s Olympic experience and Kobe Bryant‘s eldest daughter here.

Natalia Bryant and Vanessa Bryant at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 | Karwai Tang/Getty Images

The Bryant family caused a stir at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. With three girls by her side, mother Vanessa attended several major competitions, including two basketball games, breaking, and the women’s soccer gold medal match between Brazil and the USA. First, on Friday, the foursome wore red, white, and blue casualwear to the breaking competition at Place de la Concorde.

Natalia Bryant, Bianka, Capri, and Vanessa at the Olympic Breaking competition | Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

Then, they headed over to Team USA’s faceoff against Australia’s women’s basketball team.

Vanessa Bryant, Natalia Bryant and basketball coach,Dawn Staley at the women’s semifinal match | Gregory Shamus/Getty Image

On Saturday, August 10, Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri supported the women’s soccer team. (Team USA defeated Brazil to win gold for the first time in 12 years.) At Parc des Princes, Vanessa, 42, wore all white as she held Capri’s hand and took in the panoramic game views. Capri, 5, sat between Bianka, 7, and Natalia, 21, who wore a simple white Ralph Lauren polo shirt and jeans.

Vanessa, Bianka, Capri, and Natalia Bryant at the women’s soccer Gold Medal match between Brazil and USA | Karwai Tang/Getty Images

On Sunday, August 11, the Bryant family sat courtside at Bercy Arena. Day 16 of the Summer Olympics became one of the most exciting. Team USA beat Team France, earning the gold medal by a narrow victory of 67-66. It felt right that Kobe’s family would witness the women’s basketball team’s eighth consecutive gold medal.

Vanessa, Capri, Bianka, and Natalia Bryant at a semifinal match between the U.S. and Australia | Sarah Stier/Getty Images

After securing the victory, Sabrina Ionescu of the WNBA’s New York Liberty ran over to hug Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. The moment was especially sweet because Kobe had mentored the guard before the helicopter crash that took his and Gianna’s lives. During the medal ceremony, Natalia Bryant took to her Instagram stories. She shared a photo of Ionescu with a gold medal around her neck, captioning it, “We love you, @sabrina_i!!!!!!“

Natalia Bryant hugs Sabrina Ionescu after Team United States’ victory against Team France | Elsa/Getty Images

At 26, Ionescu is five years older than Natalia, who turned 21 on January 19, 2024. As Natalia explores adulthood in her twenties, she’s modeled for luxury fashion houses and brands, like Beyoncé’s Ivy Park. The 5-foot-9 young woman has “always been interested in fashion since a very young age,” reports People. In 2021, Natalia turned 18 and signed with IMG Models. She made her runway debut two years later at the Versace show for Milan Fashion Week.

Natalia Bryant at the 2023 Versace fashion show | Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images; Pietro D’Aprano/Getty Images

Now, Natalia is in her third year at the University of Southern California and rooming with Euphoria actor Storm Reid. As a film student, Natalia hopes to direct movies sharing women’s perspectives. The music lover also interned for Beyoncé during her Renaissance World Tour. Natalia worked for Parkwood Entertainment, the Grammy award winner’s record label and management company.

How Much Money Did Snoop Dogg Make at the Olympics?

Emma McKee — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 20:46:00 +0000

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, celebrities appeared on the sidelines at a number of events, but no one was as present as Snoop Dogg. The rapper sat with athletes’ families, provided commentary on events, and offered his analysis on plays. He was one of the primary faces of the Games, and he was paid handsomely for his avid support of Team USA. According to one source, Snoop received a big payday for his presence at the Olympics.

Snoop Dogg walked away from the Olympics with a big paycheck

This summer, Snoop Dogg has been one of Team USA’s biggest fans. He joined athletes at the trials, even trying some of the events on the track. When he arrived in Paris, Snoop took a swimming lesson from Michael Phelps, dressed in full equestrian gear with Martha Stewart, practiced fencing, and cheered on Simone Biles with her family.

His ubiquity at the Games is the result of a deal with NBC. He traveled to Paris to provide commentary on various Olympic events. This gig reportedly paid quite well.

Snoop Dogg | VICTORIA VALDIVIA/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images

On X, formerly known as Twitter, Henry McNamara, an investor, posted about a conversation he had with an NBC executive.

“Sat next to an NBC exec at dinner, he said Snoop gets paid $500k a day plus expenses to be here promoting Olympics. From Gin and Juice to a few million to be a celebrity at the Olympics – what a world.”

The Olympics ran from July 26 to Aug. 11, meaning that Snoop could have raked in nearly $9 million.

His 2021 Olympic commentary secured him the spot

NBC hired Snoop Dogg based on his commentary on the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. That year, Snoop and Kevin Hart hosted a highlight show on Peacock. NBC was so happy with his performance that they decided to make him a special correspondent in Paris.

“That performance alone has earned Snoop a job as our Special Correspondent in Paris,” NBC executive Molly Solomon said, per The Daily Mail. “We don’t know what the heck is going to happen every day, but we know he will add his unique perspective to our re-imagined Olympic primetime show.”

The decision has paid off. The Paris Olympics has brought in a significantly higher number of viewers than Tokyo, which some credit in part to Snoop Dogg’s presence.

Snoop Dogg performed at the Olympics closing ceremony

On Aug. 11, Snoop continued to promote the Olympics, but this time from the other side of the world. The 2028 Summer Games will take place in Los Angeles, and the city hosted musical performances as part of the closing ceremony. Snoop teamed up with Dr. Dre and performed “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “The Next Episode.”

Snoop Dogg | Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for LA28

In California, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Billie Eilish also performed. H.E.R., Phoenix, and Yseult performed at the ceremony in Paris.

Yoko Ono Gave Julian Lennon the ‘Rudest Shock’ After John Lennon Died

Emma McKee — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 19:46:00 +0000

Immediately after his father’s death, Julian Lennon traveled to New York to be with Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon. While he was not particularly close with Ono, he felt New York was the best place for him to be in the aftermath. According to Cynthia Lennon, an offer Ono made Julian came as a terrible shock to him.

Yoko Ono shocked Julian Lennon with an offer after John Lennon’s death

When Julian arrived in New York, he helped Ono break the news of Lennon’s death to Sean Lennon. The following day, Ono showed him Lennon’s ashes.

“The morning after Sean was told, Julian was asked to go to Yoko’s room,” Cynthia wrote in her book John. “‘Would you like to touch it?’ she said, indicating an urn that stood over the fireplace. Julian stopped in his tracks and stared in horror. Almost on autopilot, he did as he was told. It was still warm.”

Julian Lennon, Sean Lennon, and Yoko Ono | Robin Platzer/Images/Getty Images

While Cynthia believed Ono had good intentions, she shocked Julian to his core.

“No doubt Yoko meant well — perhaps she thought it would help Julian say goodbye or feel connected to his father — but for Julian it came as the rudest shock to realize that the urn contained his father’s ashes,” Cynthia wrote. “It was just over forty-eight hours since John had died and although Julian had known there would be no funeral — Yoko had made a public statement to this effect — he wasn’t ready to be presented with a jar and told it contained the remains of his father. The shock stayed with him for a long time afterward.”

Yoko Ono brought Julian Lennon away from the chaos of the city

While Julian found this moment unpleasant, some of Ono’s other decisions benefited him. She thought, for example, that Julian should have a friend to support him.

“However, Yoko also suggested he might like a friend to keep him company, an offer he accepted gratefully; he asked for Justin,” Cynthia wrote. “The whole thing was arranged speedily and Justin was soon in New York.”

She also realized that the crowds surrounding the apartment building at all hours were keeping Julian isolated. She decided to bring the boys out of the city to spend time at her home on Long Island. They stayed there during the silent vigil for Lennon.

Cynthia Lennon was not happy with her

Though Cynthia appreciated some of what Ono did for Julian, she also felt the other woman behaved insensitively at times. In a statement she wrote to the public, Ono did not mention Julian’s presence in New York or his loss.

Sean Lennon, Yoko Ono, Cynthia Lennon, and Julian Lennon | Wendell Teodoro / Contributor via Getty

“This statement, published in newspapers around the world, summed up so much of what Julian had to go through,” Cynthia wrote. “There was no mention of his being there with Yoko when she told Sean. Yoko even quoted Julian’s words as her own. There was no mention that John’s older son had also lost a father. And Julian’s name was not added to the signature. The insensitivity of this took my breath away.”

Cynthia thought it was terrible that Julian had to deal with this exclusion while he mourned his father’s death.

Jennifer Lopez Is Proud She Has ‘Survived’ Show Business

Emma McKee — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 00:28:00 +0000

Jennifer Lopez has been in show business for close to three decades. In that time, she has built a career as a dancer, actor, singer, and businesswoman. She has, undoubtedly, found success on her chosen path. Still, she said she was proud of herself for having survived for as long as she has.

Jennifer Lopez gives herself credit for surviving show business

Though Lopez has enjoyed years of success in show business, she admitted that she is only just starting to give herself credit for her success.

“I feel very proud that I’ve survived as long as I have in this business,” Lopez told Harper’s Bazaar in 2019. “At this point in my life, I’m trying to give myself more credit.”

Jennifer Lopez | Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

Lopez said it was hard to ignore some of her critics. No matter what she has achieved, she said she will always remember the harsh things people have said about her.

“It’s hard when people are always telling you that you’re not good at things or saying, ‘Why is she successful?’” she said. “You get a lot of that when you’re a successful woman. You don’t get that as much when you’re a man. The thing about people, women especially, is that you can have 12 people telling you you’re amazing, but that one person kind of putting you down, that’s the voice that sticks in your head.”

She admitted she sometimes feels like a fraud

Lopez said that the weight of others’ opinions of her can sometimes be too much. She admitted she sometimes feels like a fraud.

“I think sometimes people try to make you feel like you’re a fraud,” she said. “And maybe you’re afraid you’re one too.”

She has to continually remind herself that she worked hard for what she has achieved.

“Then finally you go, ‘Wait, I’m not lying. I’ve been doing this a long time. This is not a mistake. I worked hard to be here.’ And you know what? Congratulations to myself,” she said. “Not in an arrogant way, by any means. It’s like, ‘You’re doing good, baby. Give yourself a break.’”

Jennifer Lopez said she doesn’t always feel that she fits in in show business

Though Lopez has been a mainstay in show business for years, she does not feel that she fits in with her peers. She admitted that she always feels like an outsider.

“I’ve always felt like an outsider, in the fashion world, the music world, the movie world,” she told Vogue in 2022. “I feel like everybody knows each other and all the artists talk, and you go to the Met ball and all the girls are hanging out together, and I’m not in that group. Maybe that’s just insecurity.”

Jennifer Lopez | Edward Berthelot/Getty Images

As a result, she said she doesn’t typically network. She relies on hard work to move ahead.

“I’m not the kind of person who goes up to everybody at a party and says hi,” she told Harper’s Bazaar, adding, “I’m not a networker. I’ve always just kept my nose to the grindstone.”

Many of Lopez’s friends have described her as the hardest working person they know.

George Clooney Once Shared Why He Refused to Do Politics

Antonio Stallings — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 23:59:51 +0000

George Clooney has been very open about his political beliefs. Although fans know he utilizes his celebrity to help certain political pauses, he would never run for office.

George Clooney felt being a politician was ‘hell’

George Clooney | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Clooney has kept his pulse on politics even far before he became a movie star.

“You know, I grew up as a Democrat in Kentucky in the ’70s, so, you know, I grew up in a place — I was a minority, you know, in that world. I didn’t move to Hollywood and become a Democrat,” he once told Fox News Sunday (via E! News).

He uses his celebrity and star power to make significant contributions to the Democratic party. Last year Clooney launched a fundraiser for President Joe Biden that amassed $28 million for his reelection campaign. In the past, he launched several fundraisers for Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Because of his passion and knowledge of politics, many have wondered if the ER alum might run for a government position one day. But the actor has no interest in pursuing a second career.

“I’ve been asked about that for almost 20 years now,” Clooney once said according to Contact Music. “The answer is just no. I mean, who would ever wanna live like that?”

With close friends involved in politics, Clooney witnessed what most politicians must endure in their field. This only further discouraged him.

“I’m friends with a lot of those guys, and I just think it’s hell. I commend people who go into public service because it’s just such a horrible way to get elected. It’s such a horrible time while you’re in office. No, I wouldn’t want to be in politics; I have no interest in it,” Clooney said.

However, he did vow to use his influence to help position politics in a better, more compassionate place.

“I believe in the political process, and I believe that government at its best is designed to look after the people that can’t look after themselves,” he adds. “That’s our responsibility to hold our government to task for that. I consider that as each of our responsibility as citizens,” he said. “I’m always frustrated by it and it moves incrementally forward and sometimes it’s three steps backwards, but I still very much believe in the process and I will continue to be as much a part of it as I can be because I’m a citizen of the country.”

George Clooney hasn’t changed his mind about entering politics

It seems in his older years, Clooney seems to be less inclined to get into politics than he was before. The Michael Clayton star received a question about whether he might’ve had political aspirations after his 60th birthday. But to him, he hit a decade where he simply wanted to enjoy life and maintain his health.

“I turned 60 this year, and I had a conversation with my wife, and we were working a lot, as we both do, and I said, ‘We have to think of these as the halcyon years.’ If we have our health, which we do … and I’m 60 and I can still play basketball and still do the things I love, but in 20 years, I will be 80, and that’s a real number,” Clooney said in a 2021 interview on The Andrew Marr Show.

80 for Clooney was and still is two decades away. But it’s close enough for him to pay even more attention to how he manages his time.

“Doesn’t matter how much you work out, what you eat. You’re 80,” the Clooney said. “And so I said, ‘We have to make sure we enjoy and live these years in the best possible way.'”

Ben Affleck Once Said He Shouldn’t Be Offering Parenting Advice Based on How Jennifer Garner Viewed His Skills

Emma McKee — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 21:20:00 +0000

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner share three children together. By all accounts, they seem to be very dedicated to the well-being of their kids as they co-parent. When their first daughter was born, though, Affleck joked that he shouldn’t be offering anyone parenting advice. He explained that Garner didn’t seem to trust him to do even the simplest of tasks.

Ben Affleck said Jennifer Garner didn’t seem to trust him with their baby

In a press conference for Affleck’s 2006 film Hollywoodland, one reporter asked the actor if he had any advice to offer new parents. He had recently become a father for the first time.

“I am not the person to come to for advice. … I’ll tell you a quick anecdote. Two days ago my wife had to go to work,” ” he told IGN, adding “I was there. I was taking care of the baby. I was trying to make sure everything was going to be okay.”

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner | Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

As Garner prepared to walk out the door, she asked Affleck if he could handle feeding their daughter.

“She said, ‘Okay, I’m running out,’ she gave me the baby,” he recalled. “She said, ‘Okay, you know how to feed her with the solid food?’ I said, ‘Yes, I know how to feed her.’ She said, ‘You take the peaches, you stir that up and you put that in with a little oatmeal and then put that in with a little bit of the crushed pears, and you mix that up,’ and then she looked at me and said, in all seriousness, ‘Is this too complicated?’”

Affleck joked that this anecdote should make anyone think twice about asking him for parenting advice.

“This is [what] my wife thinks of my parenting abilities,” he said. “Clearly, I should not be offering advice to anyone else.”

Ben Affleck said he admired Jennifer Garner’s parenting skills

While Affleck said that people shouldn’t ask him for advice, he did love to be a father. He said it completely changed his life.

“I love being a father, it’s wonderful,” he said. “It’s changed my life. It all sounds like platitudes and clichés because they’re true. It fast became the most important thing in my life and I reorganized my priorities instantly in a way that feels really good. I love that.”

He said it helped that Garner was such a good parent.

“My wife is spectacular, a spectacular mother, spectacular everything, so that’s really nice,” he said.

He also said he could tell Jennifer Lopez would be a good mother

Before Affleck married Garner, he was in a relationship with Jennifer Lopez. While they never had children together, Affleck once said he could tell Lopez would be a good mother.

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez | Rich Fury/WireImage

“Jen and I want to get married for the reason everyone else does: we fell in love,” he told Vanity Fair in 2003. “I’m in love; I want to have a family; and she’s the only person I’ve ever met who made me entertain the thought of doing that. You know within 10 minutes of meeting Jen that she’ll be a good mother.”

When they married in 2022, they brought their families together.

Ben Affleck Once Revealed the 1 Project Jennifer Garner Stopped Him From Directing

Antonio Stallings — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 20:23:00 +0000

Ben Affleck helped his career resurgence by becoming a top director in the film industry. But there was one passion project he blamed ex-wife Jennifer Garner for not being able to shoot.

Ben Affleck almost directed an episode of this television series

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner | Steve Zak Photography/FilmMagic

Affleck once credited Garner for his transition into directing. He was already familiar with writing projects in addition to acting in them, but he had no experience actually directing full length features. He decided to take a chance with filmmaking after his career experienced a downward spiral. His crumbling relationship with Jennifer Lopez, coupled with his film choices, inspired Affleck to take a break from Hollywood.

During his time off, he got into a deeper relationship with Daredevil co-star Jennifer Garner. After his brief hiatus, Affleck figured directing might be a good way to continue his comeback. His decision to shoot the movie Gone Baby Gone was a critical success, establishing Affleck as a true filmmaker. This led to Affleck filming several other successful movies like The Town and Argo.

But if it wasn’t for Garner, who knows if Affleck would’ve had the same motivation to pursue filmmaking.

“Getting to know her, falling in love with her and being connected with her gave me a foundation to reach out and say, ‘Okay, I’m going to do Hollywoodland; I’m going to direct Gone Baby Gone,’” Affleck said in a 2013 interview with Playboy (via She Knows).

Ironically, however, Garner inadvertently also stopped Affleck from directing a small little passion project. Affleck was a fan of Claire Danes’ Showtime series Homeland. So much so that he planned on filming an episode for the political thriller. But he couldn’t work around his and Garner’s established schedule at the time.

“I liked the show. I signed on. The guys were ready. I don’t want to blame it on ‘her,’ but my wife and I have an arrangement where when she works, I don’t work and when I work, she doesn’t work,” Affleck once shared according to Us Weekly. “She said, ‘I have this movie, it’s 10 weeks, it’s in Atlanta.’ I said, ‘Okay, forget it. I’m sure nothing will happen with it anyway.'”

Ben Affleck would’ve loved to direct Jennifer Garner even after their split

Affleck and Garner were already used to working together. They both collaborated on projects like Pearl Harbor, where they met, and Daredevil. But even when they were married, Garner never acted in any of Affleck’s own movies. And after they’d gotten married, Garner wasn’t sure if working alongside Affleck was the best idea for their relationship.

“I think he’s brilliant at what he does, but why rock the boat? It works between us pretty well the way it is,” Garner once told W Magazine.

She didn’t rule it out, but Garner joked that their work together would be short and perhaps pretty uneventful.

“I don’t know if I want to go to work with him. I’d be like, ‘OK already, you got the shot. Let’s go home,’” she added.

Meanwhile, Affleck seemed much more receptive to the idea of directing Garner in a picture even after their divorce.

“I would love to, are you kidding me? I think that would be great. I’ve often said that I want to direct a movie that Jennifer was in because I think she’s so great and she could do something really cool,” Affleck once told People (via Yahoo).

But their kids made the potential collaboration difficult.

“The problem that gets in the way is that one of us has to be looking after the kids at home,” Affleck said.

Zendaya Was Worried About Being So Much Taller Than Tom Holland When They Met for ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’

Antonio Stallings — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 18:42:00 +0000

Zendaya and Tom Holland first met for a Spider-Man: Homecoming audition. The pair seemed to immediately click. Still, Zendaya wondered if their height difference might affect her chance of landing the role of MJ.

Zendaya wondered if her height might be a problem for Tom Holland and ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’

Tom Holland and Zendaya | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Zendaya was one of a few actors who hoped to be cast alongside Holland in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming. The superhero film was a bit of a breakthrough for Zendaya, who achieved superstardom through her work with Disney. Before her Marvel and Euphoria days, fans best knew her for the successful but short-lived sitcom Shake It Up. After the series ended in 2013, she was on the lookout for opportunities to further expand her career. That’s when Homecoming fell in her lap.

“I wasn’t supposed to know that it was Spider-Man. But I have good agents. I found out, and I was like, ‘Hell yeah, I want to be part of that,’” she told Variety in a 2017 interview.

Zendaya arrived at her audition without wearing makeup to fit her character’s style. When she met Holland, however, she revealed they had two different interpretations of their meeting.

“He says when we first met, it was super awkward because he went for a handshake, and I went for a hug,” she said. “But I don’t remember that. I thought it was cool.”

What really worried Zendaya during the audition: their height difference. Zendaya is considerably taller than Holland, which she thought might take her out of the running for Homecoming.

“I was worried because he’s so much shorter than me,” she said. “I was like, ‘Damn it! It’s going to be weird because I’m super tall.’ But then we ended up doing the audition sitting. So that was good.”

But Zendaya still wasn’t sure she’d be cast in Homecoming until it was official.

“A lot of time, the thought process of an actor of color is ‘I’m going to go and give it my best shot, but they are probably not going to go with an actor of color for this,’” she said. “We all think it. I didn’t know they were going to switch up the characters and really cast the best people for the roles instead of what’s most like the comic book. I think that was the coolest part for me, knowing they embraced the diversity.”

Tom Holland noticed he was shorter than the girls he auditioned with for ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’

Holland and Zendaya became a very high-profile couple after working together on Spider-Man: Homecoming. During an interview with Sirius XM, host Jessica Shaw brought up some of the public’s reactions to their dating. Shaw pointed out that a few more negative reactions contributed to the stereotype that men should typically be taller than women in relationships. Zendaya especially disagreed with the idea, citing that her parents also had a similar height difference.

“My mom is taller than my dad, my mom’s taller than everyone,” Zendaya said. “This is normal, too.”

But during the interview, Holland felt pairing him up with a taller female actor in Homecoming might’ve been intentional. He recalled how the film’s director, Jon Watts, didn’t really have Holland screentest with a shorter love interest.

“I had wondered if that was a decision that Jon had made. There was no one tested that was shorter than me,” Holland said. “Maybe that was a decision Jon Watts made and something he was aware of and wanted to break the stereotype. I think it’s great!”

Snoop Dogg Says Queen Elizabeth ‘Was a Fan’ of His: ‘That’s My Girl’

Mandi Kerr — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 18:35:00 +0000

Snoop Dogg counts the late Queen Elizabeth II as a fan. Ahead of the 2024 Paris Games, the rapper headed to London, England, where he shared his affection for the monarch. Plus, how—in a roundabout way—he had “influence” on her in the ‘90s.

Snoop on Queen Elizabeth: ‘My girl’

On his way to Paris, France, for the Olympics, Snoop spent some time in London. There he spoke with Capital FM’s DJ Jordan North and called Queen Elizabeth, who died in September 2022 at the age of 96, his “girl.”

First, he said he might stop by Buckingham Palace. “I’ll go by the palace, see if they let me in,” he replied when asked what his plans were for the visit.

“Well, I’ve heard the future king, [Prince] William, is a huge Snoop fan,” the DJ said to which Snoop shared he’s not his only royal fan. (The Prince of Wales is also a big AC/DC fan.)

“Well, the queen was a fan too. Rest in peace to the queen, that was my girl. You know what I’m saying? So, just may want to go up and, you know, see what you do.”

Queen Elizabeth came to Snoop’s ‘defense’ amid 1994 calls to ban him from the U.K.

Snoop’s fondness for Queen Elizabeth goes back 30 years to 1994. At the time, the “Gin and Juice” rapper was facing murder charges, which were later dropped, in Los Angeles, California. Set to tour in the U.K., some didn’t want him to visit or perform in the country.

As the Grammy winner told DJ Whoo Kid in 2022, the queen made the ban talk go away by saying he could go to the U.K.

“Guess who came to my defense? Just take a guess,” Snoop said. “The queen. The queen said, ‘This man has done nothing in our country. He can come.’”

“The queen…bow down,” he added. “When the queen speaks, bow down.”

Snoop thought Prince William and Prince Harry had something to do with it

Prince William, Prince Harry, and Queen Elizabeth II | Samir Hussein/WireImage

In the same interview, Snoop speculated other British royals, namely the queen’s young grandsons, William and Prince Harry, now 42 and 39 and estranged, played a part in what happened back in 1994.

“You think they weren’t there, saying, ‘Grandma, please let him in, grandma. He’s OK. We love his music,’” he said.

Speaking to The Guardian in 2015, Snoop explained how his music gave him “influence” behind palace walls.

“When they tried to kick me out of England,” he told the publication, “the queen made a comment that her grandbabies loved Snoop Doggy Dogg, and he had done no wrong in the UK. So she gave me permission to be here.”

“Those grandbabies grew up to be Prince William and Harry. So I had influence on them, and they had influence on their grandmother, which enabled me to get into this beautiful country.”

“They love my music, and it is what it is. There’s a mutual love and respect,” he concluded.