Gisele Bundchen Shops Controversy Away
Gisele Bundchen Shops Controversy Away
While the American media debated her “racially charged” Vogue cover, Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen shopped the day away in the Balearic Island of Ibiza.
The April issue of the popular fashionista magazine has caused controversy in the States due to a King Kong reference.
The cover, which is graced by Gisele and Lebron James (one of the world’s top basketball players), depicts LeBron dribbling a basketball with an angry game face pose and holding Miss Bundchen by the waist.
The spark behind the controversy is that assorted leaders and journalists have claimed that the photo is reminiscent of the stereotypes that feed into the public’s perception of the black male.
LeBron is compared to King Kong, and Gisele is compared to the white woman in distress.
Officials Rule Universal Studios Fire an Accident
Accidents do happen, some more destructive than others.
Los Angeles fire officials have determined that the blaze that tore through the Universal Studios backlot yesterday morning was set off accidentally by workers making repairs to one of the sets.
“The investigation has ruled out any deliberate actions on the part of anyone,” L.A. County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman said at a news conference Monday.
Two workers and a supervisor were using a blowtorch to apply asphalt shingles to the roof of a building on the New York/New Jersey street set, Freeman said. Following protocol, the men waited about an hour after finishing up and, when they saw no signs of fire, they took a break at 4 a.m.
“At 4:43, a security guard in the vicinity of the backlot…noticed the fire and immediately notified the fire department,” Freeman said. “At approximately the same time, the workers returned to the location and also witnessed the fire and confirmed with the security guard that the fire department had been notified.”
Nine firefighters and a sheriff’s deputy suffered minor injuries. The fire destroyed most of the New York City street, sets used in films such as Back to the Future, Bruce Almighty and To Kill a Mockingbird; a warehouse containing more than 40,000 videos (all of which exist in copies elsewhere, officials said) and the King Kong portion of the Universal Studios tram ride.
Reports have also pegged the rapid spread of the fire, which covered an area the size of two city blocks at one point, on a taxed water-pressue system at the site.
“Obviously it was not effective at preventing the spread of the fire,” Freeman said.
L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said an interdepartmental assessment team has been established to investigate.
“Was there an infrastructure, mechanical or human error problem, or a combination, or none of the above?” Yaroslavsky said. “It has a lot of implications for this fire and other fires.”
Meanwhile, the 2008 MTV Movie Awards and red carpet festivities went on as scheduled yesterday afternoon at the nearby Gibson Amphitheatre, while Universal Studios and the adjacent CityWalk entertainment district reopened today.
Fire update: Ghost Whisperer sets damaged but Desperate Housewives safe
Here’s an update on the massive fire that hit Universal Studios yesterday morning. The only TV show affected by the fire is CBS’ Ghost Whisperer, which had two of its many sets damaged in the blaze (the fall season will not be delayed, however).
The Wisteria Lane set used on ABC’s Desperate Housewives didn’t receive any damage at all.
The courthouse set used in Back to the Future (and dozens of other films, including To Kill A Mockingbird) was destroyed, and the clock tower building seen in BTTF was heavily damaged. A set used as a New York City street (seen in everything from the first Dirty Harry film to Seinfeld) was destroyed, as was a set used as a New England street. The King Kong exhibit was destroyed as were many videos in the vault (luckily there are backups for those).
400 firefighters were involved in fighting the blaze, and the cause is still under investigation. The studio/theme park opened for business this morning.
Wisteria Lane Survives More Drama, Ghost Whisperer Not as Lucky
Wisteria Lane has survived tornadoes, catfights and now, raging infernos.
An ABC representative for the hit series Desperate Housewives tells News that there is “no damage to Wisteria Lane” from Sunday morning’s massive blaze at the Universal Studios backlot, despite earlier rumors. The show’s infamous neighborhood is housed on the property.
However, CBS’ Ghost Whisperer, starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, may not have fared as well. A press executive for the studio tells News, “Preliminary reports say just two exterior sets were damaged.”
They haven’t received the full report yet but do not think the damage is extensive enough to delay production on the show.
Neither Universal’s CityWalk nor theme park were damaged, but the park was shut down for the day. The MTV Movie Awards, hosted by Mike Meyers, is scheduled to go on as planned Sunday night at 5 p.m. in Universal’s Gibson Amphitheatre.
At least 400 firefighters were called in to quench the at times 100-foot-high flames, which broke out around 4:45 a.m. and tore through a soundstage and several buildings and famous movie sets.
The King Kong exhibit, New York and New England streetscapes, the iconic Back to the Future set (including the clock tower) were extensively damaged, as was the studio’s television video archive. Four firefighters and a sheriff’s deputy were also injured, although not severely.
Crews are bulldozing demolished buildings and heavy smoke continues to pour out of the fire, eight hours after it started.