Vv Magazine’s industry insiders and undercover scenesters fill you in on the best first-hand gossip from Hollywood, the media, and everything in between. A column that will make you lust for more… who are we talking about? We don’t tell – but we see and hear things and like you, we gossip about it. Check in every Wednesday for the latest!
Jian Ghomeshi surrenders to police and heads to court in Toronto
Juice Factor: 10/10
Former CBC poster boy and host of Q Jian Ghomeshi is in court right here in Toronto this afternoon. So much for falling from grace away from the spotlight in sunny LA. Ghomeshi surrendered to police this morning and has been charged with sexual assault. According to Toronto police said Wednesday, Ghomeshi has been charged with four counts of sexual assault and one count of overcome resistance — choking. Word is Ghomeshi has been released into his mother’s care on $100k bail, which is on top of the $18k he had to pay this week for the CBC’s legal bills. It’s expensive being a douchebag. Editor’s Note: For more on the high price of being awful, see our Justin Bieber gossip below.
Cuba Gooding Jr. makes a scene at Harbour Sixty… it’s not what you think… or maybe it is…
Juice Factor: 5/10
Once upon a time (1996, to be specific), Cuba Gooding Jr. said the famous words “show me the money” in Jerry Maguire, and they entered into international vernacular forever. We can only imagine that the Oscar winner has been forced to repeat the now iconic phrase thousands of times to adoring fans… actually we don’t have to — it happened right here in Toronto last week. The actor was spotted getting jovial with friends at Harbour Sixty Steakhouse, where he gladly obliged requests from diners to yell “show me the money” in the restaurant. Gooding was apparently in town for the North American premiere of his upcoming TV mini-series, The Book of Negroes, which had an exclusive advanced screening at the Canadian International Television Festival held at the TIFF Lightbox. Somewhere, Tom Cruise is repeating the almost-as-famous Jerry Maguire line — “Hello, I’m looking for my wife” — to less ecstatic fanfare.
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Jeremy Freed leaving Sharp Magazine? Conde Nast coming to Canada?
Juice Factor: 8/10
On Friday, Vv Magazine scenesters were out on the town with a bunch of magazine industry folk, when talk heated up about rumours that Sharp Magazine editor-in-chief Jeremy Freed is apparently leaving his position at the magazine. He’s still working there according to Twitter, but the gossip mill is certainly pumping out its own all-whispers, no-hashtags “you didn’t hear it from me but…” stories. This wouldn’t be such a hot gossip topic if we didn’t also hear rumours just two weeks ago that Conde Nast is apparently looking to break into the Canadian men’s magazine scene. Maybe it’s wishful thinking but — then again — consider this: Vogue (owned by Conde Nast), not only named West Queen West, the second coolest neighbourhood in the world back in September; they also recently ran an online travel feature on Toronto. That also got us to thinking that this might be part of the reason why Dress to Kill Magazine, ELLE Canada, and Fashion Magazine all launched men’s editions this year: DTK Men, ELLE Man, and Men’s Fashion, respectively. The three new offshoot men’s magazines are run by almost all of the same editors at the helms of the original women’s versions of the publications, which means none of them have a dedicated, unique, and male-content-focused staff. That suggests they’re just responses to market demands, advertising dollars, and industry fears of missing out. We’ve actually yet to be impressed by an issue that shows what a Canadian men’s magazine can really do. That said, if Conde Nast really does end up coming to Canada, maybe we’ll be getting GQ Canada? One can dream. Until then, we’ll stick to regular ol’ American and British GQ.
Blind Item: In a town full of publicists…
Juice Factor: Say whaaa?!
This Toronto-based publicist, who’s fallen from the ranks over the years, allegedly once asked one of her interns if she’d be willing to work as an escort for some of her more “important” clients. We hope it was a paid internship at least. And we thought the CBC had problems…
Is that Nicolas Cage or our Uncle Serge from Gatineau?
Juice Factor: 6/10
Nicolas Cage was recently spotted in Toronto’s dbar rocking giant gold rings on every finger – yes, every single one – a V-neck blazor (complete with studs… yes, studs), and giant sunglasses. He hung out alone in a corner of the bar all night looking like he took his style inspiration from a Quebecois Elvis impersonator. We’re taking this as the official sign that Toronto has stolen the crown from Vancouver and is now Hollywood North.
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The world’s richest celeb under 30 is from Ontario
Juice Factor: 4/10
We guess paying $80,000 to his neighbour for egging his house was the Justin Bieber version of losing a quarter. Even though it’s been almost a year since JJB’s last album, Journals, was released, the Canadian singer still nabbed the No. 1 spot on Forbes‘ list of the highest-earning celebrities under 30. Earning around $80 million between June 2013 and June 2014, the Biebs ultimately beat out One Direction (in the No. 2 spot with $75 million), Taylor Swift (No. 3 with $64 million), Bruno Mars (No. 4 — just barely making the list at age 29 — with $60 million), and Rihanna (who rounded out the top 5 with $48 million). In fairness, Bieber took in most of his spare change from his Believe concert tour, which scored him $69.9 million from just 67 shows. As it turns out, music is still where the money is, provided young stars are willing to make the most of world tours and the posters, T-shirts, bobbleheads, perfumes, toothbrushes (One Direction, we’re lookin’ at you), and whatnot that goes with the territory.
New Italian Restaurant to WOW Toronto
Juice Factor: 5/10
Restaurateur extraordinaire Hanif Harji doesn’t like to sit still and his new restaurant just south of King West will apparently put everyone else to shame. Grabbing Ben Heaton, former chef and owner of The Grove, as his executive chef for the new eatery, the duo plan to wow the residents of Fort York with what Harji claims will be some of the best Italian in the city and by far the best brunch Toronto has ever seen. He’s never disappointed before, so mark your calendars for December 12 when they are scheduled to open their doors. Name is still under wraps…
J-Law represents Hollywood… all by her lonesome
Juice Factor: 4/10
Back to rich young thangs… Jennifer Lawrence was notably the only actress to make an appearance on Forbes‘ top 10 list of the richest celebs under 30. The two-time Oscar winner came in at No. 7 with $34 million, which no doubt has a lot to do with her work on the blockbuster franchise The Hunger Games (oh, and being the face of Dior). With the first half of the of last installation of the trilogy — The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 — in theatres now, it’s likely J-Law will hold onto a single digit position on the list for years to come. Lesson to aspiring young stars: memorabilia is where it’s at.
Does Harper actually care about the Canadian fashion industry?
Juice Factor: A big juicy congrats, Beker!
Canadian fashion icon Jeanne Beker received the Order of Canada on Friday, November 21. Does that mean the Canadian government is starting to actually care about our nation’s fashion industry and its game-changers? The Order of Canada is given to a person who demonstrates “an outstanding level of talent and service or an exceptional contribution to Canada and humanity.” Beker looked both patriotic and glamourous in a red gown from Toronto boutique Freda’s, which she wore to the ceremony at Ottawa’s Rideau Hall. “It was very, very humbling,” Beker said while appearing on City’s Breakfast Television Montreal on Monday. “No question – just about my proudest moment.”
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Martha Stewart deemed winner of the latest round of Gwyneth VS Martha!
Juice Factor: 5/10… but it’s all 100% natural and organic juice, we promise
Sure, we secretly love a good hockey brawl that ends with teeth on the ice, but there’s something about the ongoing Gwyneth Paltrow vs. Martha Stewart passive-aggressive showdown that has our mouths thirsty for blood and hungry for cake. GP and M-Stew have been rivals for years (though it’s hard to pinpoint when the first metaphorical punch was thrown, because it was likely in the form of an exquisite recipe for the perfect family-picnic punch). Stew stirred up trouble in the latest round of fine-living fighting, publishing a recipe called “Conscious Coupling” in the November issue of Martha Stewart Living, which clearly poked fun at Gwyneth’s “conscious uncoupling” with ex-hubbie Chris Martin. Paltrow fought back last week with a “Jailbird Cake” — equally as below the belt. We were thrilled to find out that the staffers at ETonline decided to determine a winner like refs in the ring: by baking the Goop cake and Stew pie themselves! After staffers voted, they deemed M-Stew the victor by virtue of her pie, well, just tasting better than Gwynnie’s cake. Baking is clearly the new boxing.
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What did you think of The Scenesters’ latest gossip column for Vv Magazine, “Scene & Heard: Drunk Celebs, Wild Publicists & GQ Canada Rumours”? Tell us in the comments below or tweet at @ViewTheVibe!
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