Justin Bieber bugged by mom’s anti-abortion film, insider says
By Bill Zwecker January 20, 2013 10:27PM
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Singer Justin Bieber (R) and mother Pattie Malette attend the 40th American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Updated: February 22, 2013 6:26AM
In general, Justin Bieber steers clear of controversial political or social issues. So it’s not surprising the teen pop kingpin is not particularly happy about all the attention his mom, Pattie Mallette, is drawing for her promotion of “Crescendo,” a strongly anti-abortion film.
Mallette not only is an executive producer of the short film, but she’s hoping that after it begins distributing Feb. 28, it will raise at least $10 million to fund anti-abortion pregnancy centers around the country. A longtime Bieber associate explained Sunday, “Justin just is very uncomfortable about political issues — especially ones like abortion that are very divisive. He’s all about entertaining his fans with his music and not interested in pushing a political agenda. ... Furthermore, I don’t believe he agrees with his mom on this issue.” That likely will come as a big relief to his core audience of girls and young women, not all of whom would agree with Mallette’s views. The source also noted that Bieber doesn’t need any more controversial headlines in his life these days “so soon after a lot of relatively negative stories tied to his own actions. First there was the alleged drug use, then the mooning photo on Twitter this weekend. ... He doesn’t need this [his mother’s role in the anti-abortion film] on top of it.” An added wrinkle in all this is the fact Mallette is also soliciting financial support for her “Crescendo” co-producers — including HERO stands for Human Rights Education and Relief Organization, with its stated purpose as “promoting a ‘whole life’ ethic that recognizes the intrinsic worth of the sanctity of human life at all stages of physical development, regardless of social standing, physical or mental abilities, or geopolitical circumstances.” The anemic 10th place finish (with an estimated take of only $6.7 million) for its opening weekend reportedly shocked Schwarzenegger — if not many others in Hollywood. “Arnold has to face facts. His time [as an action star] is past. Plus this movie was pretty lame,” said a veteran Hollywood studio executive who has worked with Schwarzenegger in the past. A second source added, “Arnold was fine being part of that great ensemble [of
† No public word from Maria Shriver about her estranged hubby’s big bomb this weekend, but I hear she smiled slyly when she heard about the film’s poor showing. However, a very close Crowe associate quietly told me Sunday, “Trust me. Sheryl really didn’t know about any of that, and she did believe him — at least in the beginning. Obviously, all the evidence that stacked the deck against Lance so much has come out quite some time after they split up.”
On top of that, Shailene Woodley (“The Descendants”) is very excited to be heading to Chicago to film “Divergent” this spring. Steinberg says she also caught up with great young director and Columbia College Chicago grad Jordan Vogt-Roberts (“Toy House”).
† Before Nancy Pelosi headed back to Washington for President Obama’s inauguration, the U.S. House Democratic leader stopped at Sundance to support her daughter, Alexandra Pelosi, who premiered her latest HBO documentary “Fall to Grace,” at the festival. It’s about former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey, who resigned in 2004 after it was revealed he had cheated on his wife with a man. Since then, McGreevey not only came out as a gay man but has worked with incarcerated women and helped them as they transitioned to life after release from prison. The younger Pelosi, a former NBC News journalist, has made seven earlier HBO documentaries, covering everything from homeless children to the Tea Party movement to “Fall to Grace,” will debut on HBO March 28.
Spaeth partied with his family and pals and (separately) Christie Hefner was spotted dining at the popular Grand Avenue eatery as well. … In the minds of many, you’re not an official Chicago boldface celeb until you’ve eaten at Gibsons, so it seems apt that new Bears head coach Marc Trestman dined at the landmark Rush Street steakery on his first night in Chicago last week.
