FOXX BIG HIT
Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx is co-starring with an actor of equal coolness and weight, Robert Downey Jr., in 'The Soloist'. They both attended the film's premiere in Los Angeles, California on Monday (20 APR 2009).
It's based on the true story of former homeless man, Nathaniel Ayers, played by Foxx, who, at 20, was playing before audiences at New York City's Lincoln Center and at 21 was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Films aside - Jamie Foxx is basking in the success of his hit song with rapper T-Pain, 'Blame It (On the Alcohol)'.
The video for the track features a host of big names recruited by the star including Forest Whitaker, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Quincy Jones, Clarence Avant, Bill Bellamy and Cedric the Entertainer.
Foxx even claims that it means more to him than his movie accolades:
"There is nothing like having a number one song. You can have a number one movie and it will be great maybe domestic maybe whatever but a song goes all the way around the world. To have my second album and to have a record like that. It (the 'Blame it' single) is breaking every single record that is out there it broke 50 Cent record. One hundred million listeners it's incredible."
'The Soloist' opens across the United States and in Canada on Friday (24 April 2009).
Announcement
MISS CALIFORNIA KEEPING TITLE -- FOR NOW
Officials of the Miss California USA pageant strongly criticized some of the actions of titleholder Carrie Prejean at a press conference on Monday but said it's not their decision whether she should be stripped of her crown. Co-executive directors Keith Lewis and Shanna Moakler told a press conference that only Miss USA pageant owner Donald Trump can make that decision.
The officials said Prejean has been "unavailable" so they have appointed the state pageant's runner-up, Tami Farrell, as a "Beauty of California Ambassador" to fulfill any duties the winner normally would handle. Lewis said that if Trump allows Prejean to retain her crown, state pageant officials would welcome her back and encourage her to take part in her normal duties.
Prejean, 21, of San Diego, created controversy during the Miss USA pageant when she answered a judge's question by saying she believes marriage should only be between a man and a woman.
The state pageant has been investigating whether she violated her contract by making public appearances with groups opposed to same-sex marriage. Prejean also failed to reveal that she posed in her underwear as a teenager.
"I want to address the organizations that have decided to take Carrie into their fold, even if it meant forcing her to violate her contract as Miss California: Shame. Shame, shame, shame. Shame for taking this young woman and exploiting her to further your own agenda," Lewis said. "Shame for not preparing her for the firestorm you knew you were creating. And most of all, shame for doing it all the while knowing that you placed her in a position where she stood to possibly lose her crown -- not for her beliefs as you so screamed -- but for the breach of contract you so willingly encouraged."
Lewis said the state pageant has never criticized Prejean for her beliefs, but he added Miss California USA must represent everyone in the state.
