Russell Brand asks Katy Perry to cut him from her movie
By Bill Zwecker May 31, 2012 9:32PM
Katy Perry was married to Russell Brand during filming of her documentary “Part of Me.” Their divorce takes effect in July.
Updated: July 6, 2012 9:50AM
Even though Russell Brand has gone out of his way to say nice things about Katy Perry since their split, there’s buzz the Brit actor and comedian is more than a little nervous about Perry’s upcoming documentary, “Part of Me.”
Brand apparently asked that any footage shot while they were married be deleted, but that request was turned down. He’s supposedly worried that some of his more caustic rants may come off as making him look bad — if they indeed are used in the film.
I’m hearing the budding entertainer is not happy about her father, Bobby Brown, talking to the press — pontificating about his daughter while likely avoiding her mom’s struggles with addiction. “Bobbi Kristina just wants him to shut up,” said a close Houston family friend. “He’s the last guy who should talk about that subject!”
† There are two local amateur cooks who made it to the first round of Gordon Ramsay’s “Masterchef,” premiering Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m. on WFLD-Channel 32. Congrats to Chicago musician Tali Clavijo and Glencoe educational administrator David Martinez.
† If you’re up on “The Good Book,” you might want to audition for “The American Bible Challenge,” the new GSN game show hosted by Jeff Foxworthy. Local tryouts take place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Crowne Plaza in Glen Ellyn.
DIET DITTIES: Things couldn’t be better for Jessica Simpson. Along with being the happy new mom of daughter Maxwell, the singer/actress has inked a reported $3 million deal as the next Weight Watchers “celebrity ambassador.”
This news comes as Queen Latifah segues from her Jenny Craig diet plan endorsement role to a new one that seems a bit contradictory: spokeswoman for the Fatburger fast food chain!
FILM FLAM: A special premiere of the Chicago-made “I Heart Shakey in 3D” takes place June 13 at the Hollywood Palms in Naperville. Filmmakers DeAnna and Kevin Cooper, along with some of the cast members of the movie — which stars Steve Guttenberg, Beverly D’Angelo, Steve Lemme, Alfonso Arau and Rylie Behr — are scheduled to walk the red carpet that evening.
The family film focuses on a widower and his 9-year-old daughter who have to get rid of their devoted mutt, Shakey, after moving to a Chicago apartment from a rural town.
The movie will be available on demand June 15 and released in theaters June 29.
SEEN ON THE SCENE: John Ortiz of HBO’s “Luck” was seen dining with family members at Harry Caray’s on Kinzie — happily diving into an 18-ounce ribeye. … Recent sightings at Francesca’s on Taylor have included Olympic medalist Nastia Liukin — here for the USA Gymnastics events at UIC Pavillion — plus (separately) Jerry Reinsdorf, Milwaukee Bucks coach (and ex-Bulls coach) Scott Stiles and Tony LaRussa. … Yup, that was Derrick Rose seen in the drive-thru grabbing some grub with his mom at Portillo’s at Clark and Ontario.
