It's be a rough week for celebrity photogs. Normally content to snap pictures of Paris Hilton cruising into Hyde as she sings along to her first single and chase Lindsay Lohan off the road, now they're getting roughed up by their very subjects. Sure, celebs fighting with the paprazzi is nothing new (we're pretty sure that's how Justin Timberlake stayed busy in between records). But when, say, Woody Harrelson chokes a TMZ-employed photog – and it's caught on tape – you've caught our interest.
Paparazzo-about-town Josh Levine was on the receiving end of Harrelson's grip Thursday night outside Element in L.A.
As Harrelson left with three women and two men, Levine and other photogs began shooting. Harrelson became irritated and asked Levine to stop shooting. Harrelson then walked over to Levine, put his hand on the camera and asked Levine to stop. Levine said "All I'm doing is my job." Harrelson, who appears in "A Prairie Home Companion," then said, "I've asked you to stop, are you going to stop?" and Levine replied, "Not when you ask me like that." The video then shows Harrelson break the camera and the picture goes dead.
TMZ obtained a second video, shot by another photog, showing the altercation. The photographer began shooting just as Harrelson grabbed Levine's neck.
And over on our coast, the Daily News' John Roca – a staff photog, mind you, and not a paparazzo – was accosted by Jessica Simpson's security manmeat when he broke out his camera to snap pics at Pink Elephant in Southampton.
Dressed in a plunging bustier, miniskirt and iridescent heels, Simpson, 25, was stretched out on a raised divan inside a prime cabana at the Pink Elephant in Southampton, L.I., when Roca approached and asked to photograph her.
"As she turned around, I hit her with a volley of shots. Before you could say 'Madonna,' four guys pounced on me," Roca said.
Simpson's protectors grabbed Roca's camera - but not before he managed to pop out the memory card and stuff it in his pants pocket, he said. When one plunged his meaty fist into Roca's Brooks Brothers duds to retrieve the card, he tore the seam of his pants, the photographer said.
Simpson's talking head Rob Shuter blames Pink Elephant's security for the roughing up, though it's pretty clear it was Jessica's heavies keeping her bloodshoot eyes out of the tabloids.
Harrelson Chokes TMZ Photog — LAPD Investigates [TMZ]
Dustup with Jess' boys not a pretty picture for News fotog [George Rush and Jordan Lite, NYDN]
Oh, holidays. Three day weekends. Memorial Day. All the wonderful things that low level editorial assistants, interns, and office managers get to work overtime during so their bosses can go to the Hamptons.
But if you're one of the lucky ones who doesn't have a real job, or has a sugar daddy with a Park Avenue penthouse, this post's for you. Now that there are clubs in the Hamptons, blogger in the Hamptons, and even New York mag journos looking for waiters to write stories about in the Hamptons, it's no longer just a place for crazed PR people to run over droves of party goers or over privileged kids to bark out racial slurs.
We won't be there, but we hope you will try to take advantage of some of the wonderful things this great Long Island beachfront has to over. (Cue cheesy music in your head.)
• Omg, omg, omg. VMA parties? We so bet Carson Daily will come from the beaches of LA to the beaches of NY just to try and tongue you at Boutique! [Shecky's]
• We already told you Pink Elephant (pictured) would be opening. So, we hope you're already on the list.
• The party boys think you should go to the opening of Cain in South Hampton. We love the idea of a bunch of WASPS chilling in an African safari inspired club. Please, please send photos. [Urban Daddy]
• We hear from the coolest person we know that Star Room is going to be jumpin' jumpin'. But, if it sucks, you can blame us for blowing up your spot. If the New York article a few years ago didn't do that already.
• Oh, and we guess at some point, you're going to have to eat, so the new Hamptons blog, The Beach, is there to help you find some alternatives to white wine spritzers. Be prepared for long lines and mediocre service. [The Beach]
And if you're somebody who just loves their job so much you can't force yourself to leave it (or you're just broke) we understand. And we'll be blogging Friday and Monday … so send us your gossip bitches!
The uber world of Manhattan is being transported to the beach this summer, when Pink Elephant opens Hamptons. And you know Peter Davis and Patrick McMullan are totally creaming all over their Visionaires.
Complete with the infamous pheromone releasing scent machine, perfect for enhancing the roofies Hudson Morgan will drop in your Veuve, the Pink Elephant Hamptons is sure to attract the who's who of the "I really want to be somebody" crowd.
Currently the top Celebrity and Bottle Service VIP club in New York catering to Socialites, Jet Setters, and Europeans, PINK ELEPHANT continues its foray into the world of luxury by partnering with some of the world’s most exclusive and desirable brands (such as Petrossian, Cavalli, Valantino, etc.) to bring premium products and amenities tailored to the niche Hampton set.
The PINK ELEPHANT Southampton’s team also boasts a mix of New York’s most notable hosts, such as Mark Baker, Dirk Von Stockum, Ronnie Madra , Karl Alomar, and Marc Biron to give patrons a refreshing events menu over the summer in the form of sunset BBQs, pool parties and late night festivities.
And we fully expect the cast of Summer Share to grind on every table this new club has to offer.
• The mango salsa and the Thai lime and chile peanut freaks flock to Union Square for an East Coast grocery culture clash.
• Britney Spears refuses to stop being a total dumbass.
• Manolo Blahnik hates being famous. Hates it, hates it, hates it. And he's going to beat Sarah Jessica Parker with a shoe over it, which makes total sense.
• Every blogger makes a joke about not knowing what the Virginia Quarterly Review is. That's right, it's ASME time.
• Bonnie Fuller's brilliance is much too much for Crazy Cindy.
• Gawker introduces celeb Google Map stalking, and the entire media world has to go home and change their pants.
• Our baby brother/sister wins a Bloggie! So much better than an Ellie or an Oscar, and they didn't even have to take their clothes off. They just wanted to, ok?
• Somebody's running around with Pink Elephant's pheromone machine. And they won't share it. Bastards.
You know what really makes somebody feel better when their throat is closed so they can't swallow, and feverish dreams of Cindy Adams are haunting them during naps? (Yes, Jossip's editor is sick, and bitching about it.) But, what brightens her day are her lovely readers who send in tips that make us laugh until orange juice comes out her nose.
Remember those awesome pheromone scent machines that were going to be all the rage over at Pink Elephant? One was (according to our fave reader of the day) stolen. Which is hilarious (minus the fact that some guy is using this to drug and date rape every girl that comes to his apartment).
Guess we weren't the only ones who were a little unimpressed with the lack of open bar at last month's opening.
Earlier: Jossip in the Pink
The Pink Elephant that is. The latest addition to the Meatpacking District finally, finally opened Thursday night. In fact, the doors flew open so last minute, that the club wasn't even ready at the invitation's posted time (10 pm). However fashionable it is to be chic and late, that is for the guests (not the host) to decide. And we're very sure Martha Stewart would agree with us on that one.
Besides the very rude bouncers, who were eventually replaced by a bubbly girl working the door, and the major downside of no open bar, the crowd was all in all fun — if not particularly friendly. Too bad this new spot is nothing like the Pink Elephant of our college days — even thought the interior is much prettier, the scene is already kind of played out. Well, we guess we can't expect much from people in the MPD.
Still, Pink Elephant is a better shot than its over-hyped neighbors like Bed and even (dare we say?) Crobar. A decent sized dance floor and a crazy amount of low seated VIP areas make it hot enough place to go club, you know, if you're into to that "look at me, and watch me walk around and not talk, dance, or smile" thing.
Prepare for the standard over priced drinks, annoying door policy, and long bathroom lines. But, the elegant entrance and lighting, not to mention the cocktail waitresses in gold dresses, add a real touch of class that's been sorely missing from the W 27th St. scene. All it needs now is a couple Bruce Willis/Lindsay Lohan sightings, and everyone will be planning Marquee as their fall back, should they not make it past the velvet pink rope.
Earlier: Bruce Willis doesn't read Jossip
Pink Elephant phunks with our heart
Somebody needs to clue in Bruce Willis' assistant on the goings on around town. As you all know (because you read our relevant and informative site) The Pink Elephant re-scheduled last night's club opening bash, uh, because the bar within a bar wasn't quite ready to open. The originally scheduled V-Day party was forced to move to another, undisclosed location.
It's really a shame, too, because the trendy club, recently relocated from 8th Avenue to the innards of Crobar on 27th St., would have been the perfect scene for the single celeb on Valentine's Day. At least that's what Bruce Willis thought.
The star, unaware of that club's change in plans, showed up stag to the opening of another soon-to-be hotspot, Pre:Post under the assumption that it was, in fact Pink Elephant. A gossip bird tells us, "he just walked up, smoking a cigarette, and went into the bar, thinking it was the Pink Elephant opening."
All these openings, closing, re-schedulings, changings, no wonder B was all mixed-up! Luckily, posh photog Patrick McMullan was inside (throwing his 1.2 millionth promo party for his book Kiss Kiss) and invited Bruce in for a drink. The lonely Valentine accepted, but then headed on into the night.
No word as to where the rest of night brought him. Possibly wandering the streets looking for love? Or trying to find a bar that was actually open?
Earlier: Pink Elephant phunks with our heart
After Hilary Clinton's bash got moved from Pacha to Crobar the other week, we thought maybe this would be end of the party transfers.
Hmm, nope. It seems as though the **NEW!** Pink Elephant, which was supposed to open on everyone's favorite pink-filled day, is taking the fun out of V-Day with its own set of problems.
Of course it's all being blamed on supplies getting held up due to the blizzard, but tomorrow's much anticipated opening bash (inside Crobar! yay!) is being moved to another location. And we were so looking forward to spending February 14th at the best new club within a club evah.
Construction's delayed a little on Pink Elephant. Some lights are in, some audio's in, and they're finishing staining the floors tonight. So, it won't be ready to open by tomorrow night for the Valentine's Day party.
Where they are planning on taking the party, we have not a clue. But, we do hope to bring a full update on the club when it actually does open (whenever that may be). At the very least, one club is living up to its promise of opening on time. Tonight the Blue Owl flings the doors wide for those who are into that whole "super-secret speakeasy" scene.
Earlier: Its all pink heart balloons at the *NEW!* Pink Elephant
We know you've just been dying to find out when Crobar will open its jowls to reveal the Pink Elephant resting in its belly.
Well, happy Valentine's Day lovah's.
Opening date: By February 14th for certain.
Space: 2,500 to 3,000 square feet
Capacity: 600 people (approx)The *NEW* PINK ELEPHANT (co-owner: David Sarner) is totally new, they poured cement and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on it. One of the owners owns a construction company and they literally DUG A TUNNEL underground on 27th Street as the entrance to the venue. Patrons enter through the tunnel, where they are greeted by PINK ELEPHANT hostesses.
How's that for romance? They literally dug a hole in the ground for you to walk through.
We know you've been craving your Pink Elephant Tuesday night fix since the club sadly closed in December. Well, dry your eyes, because it is re-opening, predictably in the next few month. Feel better?
Ok, now you can start crying again: the beloved PE is going to be on 27th Street, inside New York's most shameful "club" in history (next to Limelight). You guessed it — Crobar.
Our source says that the new space will be within the Crobar building, and even though it will have a separate entrance preventing club-goers from going back and forth between venues, everyone will still have to stand near the Crobar crowd in line.
Spies say there will be a "tunnel" under the DJ booth in the main room of Crobar, which will lead to the outside. Pink Elephant itself will be in Crobar's former prop room, and will be filled with "lots of toys and visual effects." (Gasp, our virgin ears!)
Apparently, owner David Sarner expects to target the same couture clad crowd as the old PE, but besides wannabe super models and coked out Wall Streeters, nobody goes to Meatpacking anymore.
We guess we'll have to wait and see how bad it will really get though. Maybe all the B & T won't be able to figure where the door is, and it can stay cool. Hey, it worked for Hiro.
Pink Elephant Website
Ealier: Jossip's Pink Elephant coverage
• Annie Lennox needs a bodyguard to protect her from no-life losers like Orlando Bloom. [Defamer, Cityrag]
• And you thought mediabistro parties were just for lame freelancers. [Fishbowl NY]
• All those fifteen-year-old guys searching for find hidden sex tapes and naked pics of Brittney Spears have finally gotten the recognition they deserve. [MSNBC]
• Foxy Brown confirms she can't hear a flippin' thing. Bloomberg blames the ice cream trucks. [Scoop]
• Say it aint so! We hear the pink Elephant is relocating to a "secret" location. Christmas Eve is your last night to catch a glimpse of your old, better life — and Friday they're throwing a going away party (one of many, we're sure). We have the promo, after the jump.
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Editorial Director
