Visit msnbc.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy Sean Penn’s Haiti Benefit at Cannes on Saturday raised over $2 million for charities including his own, The J/P Haitian Relief Organization, his girlfriend Petra Nemcova’s Happy Hearts Fund and director Paul Haggis’ Artists for Peace and Justice . In a press conference ahead of the event, Penn alienated some with a remark about how how the whole world had forgotten Haiti. It was an understandable sentiment from someone so dedicated to a cause, but it came across as angry. He said “It’s not only celebrities who went for a day [to Haiti]. It’s the whole f#$*ing world . It’s all of you.” In a new interview with Ann Curry on the Today Show, Penn came across much better than some of the quotes from the press conference made him sound. He was intense, but you could tell he cared so deeply and that this was a cause close to his heart. This may sound rude, but it was funny for me to contrast Ann Curry’s milquetoast concern, which is her approach to basically all interviews, and Penn’s impassioned pleas. Their styles worked together and Penn really seemed to open up. The dude is dedicated to this cause. He started crying and I wanted to give him a hug. Here’s what he said at the beginning, when he got choked up. Curry: I detect an emotional component in this for you. Penn: It’s emotional because you see how it can work, and you say ‘Oh God, it better work this time.’ Curry: What in your view, does victory look like in Haiti? Penn: Victory looks like a brilliant young Haitian kid, who had no better choice than to go to the United States and get an education, make a decision to go home. [starts choking up] It looks like where people have a chance, where kids get to say “I was born here, I can get the education here, and I can do it.” Then Sean told a story about a man affected by the earthquake who lost his whole family and became a hero. This made me cry. Curry: For many people who go to these kinds of places, there is an… image that doesn’t leave you. Penn: I could give you a story image of a policeman who rationed his cigarettes because of the expense… Went home, he would see his children, his parents, his wife, downstairs… Went upstairs, took off his police uniform… walk outside to have that smoke. Then the earth shook and he turned around to the two level home behind him with his whole family in it, and it was up to his knees. He dove into it after his family, he reached into the concrete to get them and all he got was his uniform. So he put it on and he became the one guiding the emergency traffic that saved about 500 lives in the first two days. As for his known anger, Penn laughed and explained that he gets pissed off at relief workers who come to Haiti for the glory and not to help people. He laughed about it, and said he needs to work on his temper. I thought this was funny. I’ll use the Today Show’s writeup for this part, because it puts his other comments into context: Curry asked Penn about his demanding nature, particularly when working with helpers in Haiti, and he was unrepentant: “Most of the people I’m angry at are usually international volunteers who are coming over to stamp themselves with a do-gooder label. … I don’t control my temper well, I guess.” Penn has long been a supporter of humanitarian causes, including journeying to post-Katrina New Orleans to help rescue people, though he drew some fire for bringing a photographer to document the event. But, he adds, he’s not out to prove he’s more moral-than-thou. “I’m not going to accuse myself of being moral. … I recognize a lot of the things that are less than good in me, and similarly there is a very powerful thing that comes when something is good despite me,” he said. And on the subject of morality, Penn has some ideas about the afterlife: “I prefer not to go to hell,” he said. “I’d like to think that heaven is a little sexier than generally portrayed … but if it is black and quiet, that’s OK too.” [From MSNBC.com ] I came away with much more respect for Penn and for the incredible hard work he’s doing. Toward the end of the interview, around 4:00 in, they showed clips from some of his seminal roles. Curry asked Penn if he accepts that he’s “ one of the greatest actors of our time ,” and he answered it extremely well, basically admitting that he’s a good actor but chalking it up to a character flaw. “ I am constantly embarrassed by my own personality. Maybe I have a strength in that as an actor, in that maybe it’s because I’m willing to give it up. I have a very tough time with people. It’s not that I’m totally anti-social, it’s just that I don’t want to socialize with the people I already know .” Then Curry called him an idealist and they had a laugh. It was probably one of the best interviews she’s done. Sometimes her approach works. These are photos from the Haiti Carnivale party at Cannes, featuring Penn, Petra Nemcova, co-host Georgio Armani and guests Jessica Chastain, Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson, and Jada Pinkett Smith. I’m impressed with how great everyone looks. Credit: Fame Flynet

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Sean Penn cries during his Today Show interview “I don’t control my temper well”

Now that Nick Stahl has checked into rehab after his wife reported him missing to the Los Angeles Police Department, the actor is focused on healing. His wife Rose tells People magazine that she’s “elated” to have him resurface, and she’s hopeful that he’s finding the help he needs during his 30-day-stay at an undisclosed rehab facility. The 32-year-old Terminator 3 actor has reportedly been going through the worst addiction cycle of his life, and has lived apart from his family since February. Rose tells people she’s even had to ask, “How dark is it before the dawn?” because she finds comfort in it. But Nick’s family isn’t giving up, they’re asking for fan’s support, and saying they have a lot of hope.   . 

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Nick Stahl Focused on Healing in Rehab

Ugh. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were still in London over the weekend, and there are literally 20 million new photos of them at various events, walking down the street and leaving various clubs and parties. Kim and Kanye both had business in London – she was promoting her latest fragrance (“True Reflection”) and doing press for Keeping Up With The Kardashians . Kanye performed with Jay-Z at the O2 arena , and then Kanye, Jay and Kim all partied together at DSTRKT. Gwyneth Paltrow was there. Do you think Goop was nice to Kim? Do you think Kim will get a shout-out in a future Goop newsletter? Or will Gwyneth pointedly omit all Kardashian references in future name-dropping. Like, “Oh, yes, Kanye and Mr. Jay-Knowles-Z and I were discussing peacock feather enemas and some other people were there too, I forget their names.” The British tabloids have been having a great time with Kim and Kanye actually hanging out in their city. A few days ago, The Sun claimed that Kim had been ordering Kanye around – which, do you think that ever happens? No. KANYE West doesn’t wear the trousers in his new relationship. His girlfriend Kim Kardashian has been barking orders at him during their stay in the UK. She’s now gone to the extent of banning girls from going backstage on Kanye and Jay-Z’s Watch The Throne tour. A source said: “Kanye has a load of girls he’s friends with. Most are stylists or from the fashion set but Kim’s not happy about them being alone with him backstage. She sees how well he gets on with girls because of his sensitive side and has decided to rein in the entourage a bit. Kim is trying to put a stop to this as she doesn’t want to look or feel awkward at any point.” Kanye won’t want to get her upset — she’s his dream woman after fancying her for years. [From The Sun ] I’m always a bit put off by the Kardashian propaganda pushing a version of this hookup as “Kanye is so into Kim, he’s been obsessed with her for years.” While I think Kanye and Kim find each other mutually beneficial, I really have my doubts that it’s like THAT. As for the fashion on display – Kim chose some particularly hideous getups, per usual. It was wishful thinking on my part to suggest that Kanye was maybe styling her for the better now. She still looks awful and refuses to dress for her body type. A note to Stella McCartney: you designed a hideous dress which was first worn by A-listers but is now being worn by the likes of LeAnn Rimes and Kim Kardashian. You should be ashamed. Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.

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Did Kim Kardashian order Kanye around & ban him from seeing other girls?

Here’s Katy Perry at last night’s Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, where she’s still pulling the horrific dark lipstick look that makes her look like a slutty Morticia Aadams in a faux-gothy effort to remind us that her “music is about get real f&#*ing dark.” The hair is still violet, and it looks fine (by Katy standards), but I wish she’d trash the pseudo-hardcore lipstick because dark lips really wash out her complexion. Let’s talk about the dress. Katy wore Blumarine (like she did at Elton John’s Oscar bash ), and this gown is kind of shapeless and very unlike Katy’s usual gimmicky take on fashion. It’s not an awful dress, but it just does very little for her normally tiny-waisted figure. Here’s the back view, which is slightly more interesting from that angle than it is from the front. Perhaps one clue why Katy chose a relatively modest dress for the occasion is that she brought her grandmother as her date. That’s actually really sweet, and I’m sure grandma appreciated not having to pose next to her granddaughter’s massive cleavage on the red carpet. See? Katy can be respectful when she wants to do so. Katy also performed at the awards, and she chose to showcase her upcoming single, “Wide Awake.” People got advance word that Katy was set to perform this song, which is supposedly about (surprise) her disastrous marriage to Russell Brand: Is Katy Perry trying to send a message to Russell Brand? The singer, whose divorce from Brand is supposed to be finalized next month, is set to sing a revealing breakup song, “Wide Awake” off her latest album, this Sunday at The Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, PEOPLE has learned. “It’s obviously about Russell,” a source said, though Perry has not publicly confirmed it. The song speaks about being blinded by love, including the lyrics, “I wish I knew then what I know now — wouldn’t dive in, wouldn’t bow down.” [From People ] Sure enough, that tipster (probably Katy’s dad) was correct, and Katy performed “Wide Awake” during her live performance. Here are some more lyrics from the song and a video of her onstage as well. I’m wide awake Not losing any sleep Picked up every piece And landed on my feet I’m wide awake Need nothing to complete myself – nooohooo I’m wide awake Yeah, I am born again Outta the lion’s den I don’t have to pretend And it’s too late The story’s over now, the end [From YouTube ] Poor Russell. He’s been walking around saying nice things about his estranged wife, and she’s still trying to cut him down during awards show performances with her silly pop songs. Of course, this song will probably hit #1 too, and then Katy will deny that she wrote it about him . It’s all part of her act, you know. Now back to Katy’s grandma — I love her sparkly cane! Such a nice touch. Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and WENN

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Katy Perry in pale violet Blumarine at the Billboard Awards: pretty or boring?

'Enough is enough': Heavily pregnant Chantelle Houghton walks out on fianc Alex Reid weeks before birth | UPDATED: 09:22 GMT, 20 May 2012 She has been pictured looking drained in the past few weeks – and more importantly alone. And it seems the strain has finally got to Chantelle Houghton as the 28-year-old has reportedly walked out on fianc Alex Reid. Continue reading

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"Enough is enough": Heavily pregnant Chantelle Houghton walks out on fianc Alex Reid weeks before birth

She’s quickly closing in on her due date and, in celebration of her impending motherhood, Kristin Cavallari was treated to a festive baby shower on Saturday afternoon (May 19). Held at a private Hollywood residence, the 25-year-old reality star was joined by around thirty guests including former “The Hills” co-stars Heidi Montag and Stephanie Pratt . The momma-to-be covered up her burgeoning bump in a cute black maxi dress while she and her fellow partygoers noshed on Pink Salt Event Cuisine catered sweets including green and blue frosted cupcakes and a starry themed three-tier sponge cake. Of the scene, a source told People magazine, “It was the perfect weather for a fun celebration. Kristin arrived with her mom. She looked stunning in a black dress with her hair in a ponytail. She was smiling and seemed very excited about celebrating her baby. Guests seemed to enjoy the shower as well and there was a lot of laughter.” With Kristin and her baby daddy, NFL QB Jay Cutler, being gifted with items ranging from strollers and high chairs to blankets and bath toys, another insider dished to Us magazine, “Kristin was glowing and gorgeous. She looked so happy! Guys were there, too. It was co-ed.”

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Kristin Cavallari’s Baby Shower Celebration

Yesterday I posed the question as to what exactly gorgeous model Petra Nemcova, 32, had in common with her on-again crusty sourpuss lover, Sean Penn, 51. A commenter named K schooled me that they “ share a common passion for charity work ,” which is true and could partially explain it. The general consensus was that Penn has charisma and is good in bed, however. As for shared interests, here are both Petra and Sean at a photocall in Cannes for a new fundraising event this year, co-hosted by Georgio Armani and Penn , called Haiti Carnaval. Proceeds will go to three charities founded by Penn, Nemcova, and director Paul Haggis: Penn’s The J/P Haitian Relief Organization , Nemcova’s Happy Hearts Fund and Haggis’ Artists for Peace and Justice , which was on the ground in Haiti prior to the devastating 2010 earthquake. Penn was on the Cannes jury last year, and his influence was undoubtedly instrumental in help making this new fundraiser happen. Like most of Sean’s endeavors, a press conference held today for the event didn’t go off without a hitch. Sean used the F word while describing his frustration at the lack of continued support for Haiti. He has previously called other relief workers dispassionate , and has of course publicly bitched about many other things. It’s not new from him, nor is it particularly shocking. He deserves so much credit for his charity work, but he seems to think other people deserve blame. Sean Penn accused the media of abandoning Haiti on Friday during a news conference for a benefit for the impoverished country. “It’s not only celebrities who went for a day,” he said to a room full of journalists at the Cannes film festival. “It’s the whole f#$*ing world. It’s all of you.” He added, “The reason we have Haiti fatigue is because there was never a commitment in the first place.” The activist-actor, who spends much of his time in Haiti, said the country finally had a chance to reestablish itself after decades of turmoil. He said that because of the commitment among young people, “You see the very tangible success story that Haiti can be.” Penn was at a news conference with Czech supermodel Petra Nemcova and film director Paul Haggis, each of whom have non-profit organizations working in Haiti. They are joining forces with the Cannes Film Festival at a benefit for Haiti on Friday night. [From Yahoo.com ] I get it. He’s seen things we can’t imagine while we’re sitting on our comfortable couches enjoying his movies on demand and stuffing our faces. He’s experienced countless frustrating circumstances trying to get basic supplies to people in dire need while he’s been working on the ground for months. Would it kill him to frame it in a less accusatory way, though? It’s not like people don’t care. I was looking over Petra’s website for Happy Hearts Fund, and she has a video in which she says essentially the same thing as Penn – but in a more compassionate, compelling way. As you probably know, Petra survived the 2004 tsunami that claimed the life of her fiance, whom she was vacationing with at the time. Her charity work comes from a very genuine and personal place. In the video I mentioned, she said she has “in her heart a thought. ‘What would it be like if I was forgotten after a natural disaster?’ That’s what it’s like each time after a natural disaster, there’s an incredible outpouring of support… and when the first responders leave the world’s attention is turned to other issues. And then a gap happens, a gap which takes up to 10 years when children and entire communities are forgotten. During that gap period, children are skipped from education, sometimes an entire generation… that leads to extreme poverty. That’s what we are focusing on. ” That to me, is way more convincing and makes me want to donate more than hearing that I suck for abandoning a cause. It makes me think of the little kids who are suffering and how I can help make a difference. It’s not as easy to filter down into a quote, though. Maybe Petra is really good for Sean. Maybe she’ll help him realize why he’s doing charity work, and what he should focus on. Here they are at the photo op today. I think Petra looks amazing in that lovely blue faux wraparound dress. I would love to own that, it looks like it would flatter non-model types. Her hair looks great too. Sean looks really greasy and smarmy. The stache needs to go. Oh and Paul Haggis is here. It just came out that he’s divorcing his wife , although they seem to have split up a couple of years ago. I wonder if it had anything to do with Scientology, which he denounced in late 2009 . The other woman shown is Roberta Armani. It looks like Petra and Sean deliberately avoided posing together. Photo credit: WENN.com

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Sean Penn blasts journalists at Cannes: “‘The whole f’ing world abandoned Haiti”

Marion Cotillard is at Cannes this week chatting up her latest movie Rust and Bone . She wore Dior last night for the red carpet premiere of the film, and posed alongside costars Matthias Schoenaerts, young actor Armand Verdure, and director Jacques Audiard. The picture is ready for audiences after Marion and Matthias worked on it together last Fall in the South of France. Marion plays Stéphanie in the film, a killer-whale trainer whose life is changed after a tragic accident. So far, the Rust and Bone reviews are positive. We caught up with the actress today at a press event this morning. Marion chatted about getting into the mindset to play Stéphanie, as well as about her career. She also touched on how life is different now that she’s a mom to 1-year-old Marcel, and whether or not she consults with her husband, director and actor Guillaume Canet, before making a big career decision. Marion also gushed about her Inception and Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan. She said: On motherhood changing her approach to work: “When I am in the character, it’s completely the character. But usually when I work, I create this environment – especially that most of the time I am out of Paris and France - so I can create a new apartment in a new house or a hotel room. I can create a special environment that I need. I will entirely go back to myself when the movie is finished . . . [but during production] someone is sharing my body and is there most of the time. With my son it’s impossible to take someone else home . . . There is this human being that I love more than anything, and who needs me.” On consulting with Guillaume before accepting a role: “It’s usually all for myself. If I need advice, I will obviously ask the people I love and the people I trust. Usually, I create my own little world and deal with it.” On it being easier to act in French: “To play in French is definitely less demanding than playing in English with Polish accent or Italian or even French accent. Simply because I don’t have to think about how I say the words. I don’t have to think about, ‘Does it sound French?’ Because it will obviously sound French! But I love working in English. It’s very, very interesting.” On being tough like her character, Stéphanie: “I definitely have strength . . . it would be a long conversation on how strength is manifested in yourself, but there’s very few things that – actually I don’t think there’s one thing I could think about that could put me down.” On working with Christopher Nolan: “I really love this guy. He’s so, so smart. He is such an amazing director and author. It’s very rare to work with a director in Hollywood, especially on big, big movies like Batman , who not only directs the movie but writes the script. It’s very, very unusual . . . It’s massive, but it’s also very, very intimate. I love this about him. He loves real things, real connections, real feelings.” On using her celebrity to spread awareness about the environment: “If you manage to spread what you think - because you think what you think is right - it’s a beautiful thing to meet people who are not aware. Because there are still people who are not aware of what we are going through and what the world is going through. It’s a good thing to share, and to change, step by step.”

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Marion Cotillard Talks Rust and Bone and Loving Her Baby Son Marcel

Ladies, you might find yourself wanting a copy of June’s Playboy issue because none other than Tom Cruise opened up in an interview about his belief in Scientology, his marriage to Katie Holmes and how his career almost tanked. The “Top Gun” actor talked about the challenges of living under the microscope telling Playboy, “There’s what people say, and there’s reality, and you can’t worry about stuff like that. Do you wish they wouldn’t say certain things? Yeah, you wish.” Tom’s acting career almost ended when tabloids exploded with gossip about his marriage and religious preference and the attention intensified after odd interviews several years ago with Matt Lauer and Oprah Winfrey . However, the 49-year-old didn’t give up explaining, “There comes a point when you just have to go, ‘You know what? Here’s how I’ve lived my life: I’ve never been late to set. I make films I believe in. I feel privileged to be able to do what I love.’ You just have to keep going and remember that.” adding, “The other stuff? I hear it, I read it, I get it. But life is not a matter of trying to prove anything to anybody”. When it comes to Cruise’s family he’s not afraid to fight back false media claims, “They know I mean it, that if I have to, I will sue,” says Cruise. “You start with a letter saying, ‘Okay, you know it’s not true. Apologize.’” It’s easy to see Tom is very much in love with his wife Katie because when asked about her, he gushes, “She’s funny and charming, and when she walks into the room, I just feel better. I’m a romantic. I like doing things like creating romantic dinners, and she enjoys that. I don’t know what to say—I’m just happy, and I have been since the moment I met her. What we have is very special.” Tom also touched on his religious beliefs saying, “What’s interesting is, if I don’t talk about my religion, if I say I’m not discussing it or different humanitarian things I’m working on, they’re like, ‘He’s avoiding it.’ If I do talk about it, it becomes, ‘Oh, he’s proselytizing.’” Cruise added, “I have respect for what other people believe. What I believe in my own life is that it’s a search for how I can do things better, whether it’s being a better man or a better father or finding ways for myself to improve. Individuals have to decide what is true and real for them.”

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Tom Cruise Gets Intimate with Playboy June 2012

Stepping out for a bite to eat, Whitney Port was spotted leaving the King’s Road Cafe in West Hollywood, California on Wednesday (May 17). Showing off her effortless style, the former reality star strutted to her car in colorful sandals wearing an extremely short tie-dye dress under a beige button up cardigan and carried an over sized nude purse. Port recently tried her hand at designing jewelry and is preparing to launch her “Bits & Bobs by Whitney Eve” line of accessories this fall, but fashion designer recently dished to People about the most challenge part of designing the range. “I really had to explain and translate what was in my head to the people that know how to make it, I can’t make it on my own. So that’s always a challenge.” Port admitted. The 27-year-old’s jewelry collection features, “a lot of mixed metals and chains,” Port explained. “It’s vintage-y looking. It’s kind of like punk mixed with a little feminine edge. Lots of golds and silver. It’s pretty exciting.” Although Whitney is pumped about launching her jewelry range, she’s still busy doing what she loves the most, “My clothing line is really my main focus right now.”

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Whitney Port Talks Clothing & Jewelry Lines