Fishy, or did she just chicken out?
Jessica Simpson loves President Bush. She’s just not a big fan of Republican fund-raisers.
The pop tart was in Washington, D.C., on Thursday to lobby for Operation Smile, an organization that provides reconstructive surgery to children with facial deformities.
But all anyone wanted to know was why she turned down an invitation to attend a Republican fund-raiser with the president.
“We went back and forth, and we could never get the details worked out,” said her father and manager, Joe Simpson. “When it became obvious that it was not just a state dinner, it was more of a fund-raising event, that is the wrong purpose of why we are here.”
Still, he said, “We are huge fans of (Bush) and of his family, his girls. Jessica loves the heck out of him.”
Asked about Simpson’s absence, House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said: “You know, I really feel like I got bagged.”
Hey, la-a-ady – er, ma-da-a-ame
Jerry Lewis received a uniquely Gallic gift for his 80th birthday on Thursday – a medal and induction into France’s Legion of Honor.
Lewis, always wildly popular in France, received the honorary title of “Legion Commander” in a raucous ceremony in Paris.
During Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres‘ speech, he yawned, checking his watch and even pretending to fall asleep as the audience roared, often drowning out Donnedieu’s lofty words.
In the end, Lewis declared: “The French people are the best in the world.”
Just to annoy Jane
Meanwhile, Jane Fonda‘s 1972 trip to North Vietnam is haunting her again.
In a 38-1 vote, the Georgia Senate on Thursday defeated a resolution that would have honored the actress’ charity work in the state.
Fonda, who is out of the country, had asked for the resolution to be withdrawn to avoid the controversy, but Republicans forced a vote.
Swiss miss once more
It’s splitsville for British rocker Phil Collins and his Swiss-born wife, Orianne, who announced their separation Wednesday.
They were married in 1999 and have two sons, Nicholas, 4, and Matthew, 1. Collins has three children from two previous marriages.
He will continue to live in Switzerland to be close to his latest offspring, the statement said.
And how long for the divorce?
Rumors were swirling in Italy on Thursday that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie might get married this weekend at George Clooney‘s lakefront villa in the Italian town of Laglio.
“There’s a lot of movement at the villa, a lot of people there. We were expecting Clooney today but he didn’t show up,” said Monica Mantero, the wife of Laglio’s mayor.
She added that the couple hadn’t talked to her husband, but that “even if they contacted him an hour before he could still marry them.”
The birthday bunch
Guitarist Paul Kantner (Jefferson Airplane/Starship) is 65. Singer-songwriter John Sebastian (Lovin’ Spoonful) is 62. Actor Patrick Duffy is 57. Actor Kurt Russell is 55. Actress Lesley-Anne Down is 52. Actor Gary Sinise is 51. Actor Rob Lowe is 42. Singer Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins) is 39. Actress Marisa Coughlan (“Freddy Got Fingered”) is 32. Rapper Swifty (D12) is 29.