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Awards might not be golden
for Nicole Kidman
Plus: Don’t ask Ben Affleck about J.Lo;
Dick Gregory thinks Jackson was framed
 Bruno Vincent / Getty Images file Nicole Kidman isn't too happy about the idea of seeing her ex-husband's new girlfriend at the Golden Globes. |
Nicole Kidman is dreading the prospect of running into her ex, Tom Cruise, at the Golden Globes this year, says a source — but even more so, she is cringing at the thought of encountering his current sweetie, Penelope Cruz.
“Both Tom and Nicole are nominated [Cruise for “The Last Samurai” and Kidman for “Cold Mountain”] and various people are working behind the scenes on details such as arrival times, to avoid any awkward meetings,” says the source. “But mostly, Nicole doesn’t want to cross paths with Penelope. She’s slightly obsessed with Penelope, and went to great lengths to avoid her at Cannes. She has let it be known that she really, really doesn’t want any unpleasant encounter to upstage the evening.”
The awards ceremony takes place next Sunday, and Cruz’s rep tells The Scoop, “At this point, Penelope is still undecided about whether or not she will attend the Golden Globe Awards.” Kidman’s “date,” meanwhile, is her parents.
Kidman’s rep, however, scoffs at the suggestion that she’s trying to influence Cruise’s choice of escorts for the evening, telling The Scoop, “Nicole would not presume to tell Tom who to bring to an awards show.”
Ben's banned topic
 |
Carlos Alvarez / Getty Images file |
“It was just a few minutes into the interviews,” says the insider. “Ben was talking about Matt Damon and he seemed really happy to talk about that. Then someone asked if Jennifer had influenced his musical tastes and someone else asked where she was.”
Affleck got quite tense and sullen-looking, says the source, but tersely responded to the questions. His publicist then stepped up and called a halt to the press conference. “The reporters were all complaining and jeering,” says the insider. “The whole thing had lasted only about five minutes, and everybody was told to leave. It wasn’t a pretty sight.”
“Unfortunately there were many questions about his personal life,” Affleck’s rep tells The Scoop, “and Ben answered every one.”
Notes from all over
Dick Gregory thinks Michael Jackson has been framed. “He’s a good man and I feel that he’s been the target of a conspiracy to destroy his career,” the activist and comedian told Final Call, the official newspaper of the Nation of Islam, “Michael Jackson did something that no one thought a black man would do. He purchased the Beatles catalog for $48 million and today it is worth $1.5 billion. . . . Previously when Michael needed money to produce an album he could go to Sony and borrow the money. They came to him with a deal that he would have to put up collateral for future loans; he put up the catalogs as collateral, not all of the catalogs, but enough of them for him to lose control if he forfeits the loans.” . . . Two-time mom Madonna and preggers Gwyneth Paltrow are said to be re-bonding over baby talk. . . . Golden Globe presenters will get gift bags worth $27,000 this year. Among the freebies: a diamond pin from Diamond Information Center, pearl earrings from Mikimoto, a diamond butterfly necklace by Ritani, a velvet quilt by Donna Karan, a bi-coastal 6-month membership to Sports Club LA, a fur-trimmed parka from Woolrich, a portable DVD player from Spiegel Audiovox, and a caviar spoon and “The Most Expensive Perfume in the World” by Clive Christian.
Jeannette Walls delivers The Scoop Monday through Thursday on MSNBC.com
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