Tattle: Some don't like 'Hot' Stefani video
Howard Gensler, Daily News Tattle Columnist
Posted: Monday, November 5, 2012, 3:01 AMNo Doubt's new video "Looking Hot," didn't look so hot to Native Americans.
The video featured lead singer Gwen Stefani dressed as an Indian princess who's captured by cowboys played by drummer Adrian Young and guitarist Tom Dumont. Bassist Tony Kanal played an Indian chief who rescues Stefani.
But after complaints were received by offended Native Americans, Reuters reported, the group removed the video and issued an apology.
"As a multiracial band, our foundation is built upon both diversity and consideration for other cultures," the band said. "Our intention with our new video was never to offend, hurt or trivialize Native American people, their culture or their history.
"Although we consulted with Native American friends and Native American studies experts at the University of California, we realize now that we have offended people. . . . We sincerely apologize to the Native American community and anyone else offended by this video," they said.
Eddie Murphy honored
Eddie Murphy joined Stevie Wonder, the subject of one of his classic impressions, for a rousing rendition of Stevie's 1973 hit "Higher Ground" during the taping of the Spike TV special "Eddie Murphy: One Night Only," which is set to air Nov. 14. The Roots - who else - served as the house band.
Jamie Foxx, Tyler Perry, Martin Lawrence, Chris Rock, Arsenio Hall, Tracy Morgan, Adam Sandler, Russell Brand and Keenan Ivory Wayans were also among those paying tribute to Murphy Saturday at the Saban Theater, in Los Angeles.
From the N! ews Desk
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Accompanied by a pretty blonde, Murphy beamed throughout the two-hour program, saying that he was touched by the tribute.
"I am a very, very bitter man," he said with a beguiling smile. "I don't get touched easily, and I am really touched."
Morgan called Murphy "my comic hero" and came onstage wearing a replica of Murphy's red leather suit from his standup show "Delirious."
"He set the tone for the whole industry a long time ago," Morgan said before taking the stage. "He inspired me in a fearless way."
Sandler was still in high school when he first saw "Delirious," which he described as "one of the most legendary standup specials of all time."
"Everybody on the planet wanted to be Eddie," he said. "He's funnier than us. He's cooler than any of us."
Samuel L. Jackson said that Murphy "changed the course of American film history" by giving Jackson his first speaking role on the big screen, in 1988's "Coming to America."
"If it weren't for Eddie, we might not have all the wonderful films that I've made," Jackson quipped.
TATTBITS
*Director Betty Thomas ("Private Parts," "The Brady Bunch Movie") says that she's working with John Cusack on a movie about Rush Limbaugh.
Thomas said that Cusack's production company has a script ready that will star the actor (and a whole lot of padding and facial latex) as the rotund conservative yakker.
Cusack is an outspoken liberal, so you can be sure it's going to be flattering.
Production is set for next year, Thomas said. The working title is "Rush," not to be ! confused ! with "Rush Hour," in which Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker fought crime, "Premium Rush," in which Joseph Gordon-Levitt played a bicycle messenger pursued by bad guys, or the 1991 drama, "Rush," about the drug culture.
Not OxyContin.
*A bridge in the Bahamas was renamed Friday to honor Oscar-winning actor Sidney Poitier. Hundreds of spectators cheered as Poitier and Prime Minister Perry Christie arrived for the rechristening of the Paradise Island Bridge as part of the 40th-anniversary celebration of Bahamian independence.
The bridge, the largest in the Bahamas, will now be known as the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge.
There had been some grumbling in the weeks since the government announced its plan to rename the bridge, with critics questioning whether Poitier had done enough in the country to warrant the honor. Celi Moss, an opposition candidate for parliament, and others had called for protests at the rechristening ceremony. But no opponents showed up and the event went off without incident.
Can't imagine that it's a good campaign strategy to be anti-Sidney Poitier in the Bahamas.
*Danny Baker, a well-known British broadcaster for 30 years, reacted to news that his show had been canceled with an extended on-air rant against what he called the "pinheaded weasels" running the BBC.
Baker blamed the decision to ax his afternoon show on BBC London local radio on cost-cutting middle management "who know only timid, the generic and the abacus."
"I hope their abacus comes undone and they choke on the beads," he said.
*According to amNY.com, NBC's benefit telethon Friday night, "Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together," brought in nearly $23 million for the American Red Cross.
*Us Weekly reports that Leonardo DiCaprio, 37, has split with 23-year-old Victoria's Secret model Erin Heatherton.
One of the ! nice thin! gs about being serial supermodel-dater Leo, however, is that even after Erin, Bar Refaeli and Gisele Bndchen, there's always another 23-year-old Victoria's Secret model waiting in the wings.
Daily News wire services
contributed to this report.
Email gensleh@phillynews.com.
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