Indonesia not ready for Gaga after all
Lady Gaga will have to cancel her sold-out show in Indonesia following protests by Islamic hard-liners and conservative lawmakers, who said her sexy clothes and dance moves will corrupt young people.
National police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar, responding to the pressure, said Tuesday that the permit for her June 3 “Born This Way Ball” concert had been denied.
Indonesia, a nation of 240 million people, has more Muslims than any other. Although it is secular and has a long history of religious tolerance, a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years.
It was supposed to be the biggest show on Lady Gaga’s Asian tour, with fans snapping up every seat in Jakarta’s 52,000-seat Gelora Bung Karno stadium – half of them in the first two hours of sales.
DeGeneres to receive Mark Twain Prize
This fall, Ellen DeGeneres will join Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Fey, George Carlin and Will Ferrell in an exclusive comedy club: recipients of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
The Emmy-winning host of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” is being honored for her stand-up work, her daytime show, her various hosting gigs, activism and books.
According to the Kennedy Center, recipients of the Mark Twain Prize are “people who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th century novelist and essayist Samuel Clemens.”
DeGeneres will receive her award during a ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 22.
Kissinger is used to TSA stopping him
When former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger flies, he gets patted down by security agents just about every time. Kissinger, 88, was stopped again a few days ago as he passed security at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on his way to Toronto.
But the elder statesman released a statement Tuesday, saying it’s “not unusual” for him to be patted down during airport security screening. He said he wears a brace on his foot and can’t remove his shoes.
Kissinger praised agents of the federal Transportation Security Administration for their “professionalism” and “courtesy” while performing what he calls “an important job.”
The birthday bunch
Actor Pierce Brosnan is 59. Actress Debra Winger is 57. Olympic gold medal gymnast Olga Korbut is 57. Actress Mare Winningham is 53. Rock musician Krist Novoselic is 47. Singer Janet Jackson is 46. Actress Tracey Gold is 43. Actress Tori Spelling is 39. Actress Megan Fox is 26. Actor Miles Heizer (“Parenthood”) is 18.