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Sabtu, 01 Juni 2019

Elton John slams Russian distributor's censorship of 'Rocketman' gay sex scenes - CNN

The local film distributor, Central Partnership company, cut the scenes to "comply with Russian legislation," it told state news agency TASS.

According to high-profile Russian film critic Anton Dolin, who has seen both the edited and unedited versions, "all scenes of kisses, sex and oral sex between men were cut out."

'Rocketman' spins jukebox version of Elton John's bohemian life

"Only five minutes were removed from the film, but this is very noticeable," said Dolin on his Facebook page, adding that they were a "fundamental five minutes, very important for artistic design."

John and the filmmakers said in a statement that they rejected "in the strongest possible terms the decision to pander to local laws and censor Rocketman for the Russian market."

They said film company Paramount Pictures had been "brave and bold partners in allowing us to create a film which is a true representation of Elton's extraordinary life, warts and all."

Paramount, for its part, said it was "releasing the film in its entirety around the world regardless of rating." But it added that "like all studios, we must adhere to local laws and requirements in certain territories in which the film is being shown."

The decision to remove the scenes was "made solely by the distributor," Russia's Culture Ministry told TASS, adding that it "issued no recommendations" concerning the scenes.

Elton John refused to 'tone down' the sex and drugs in 'Rocketman'

The film features British actor Taron Egerton as John, following his rise to fame from gifted pianist "Reggie Dwight" to a flamboyant superstar fighting drug and alcohol addiction, and coming out as gay.

In an article for the Guardian, John wrote: "I didn't want a film packed with drugs and sex, but equally, everyone knows I had quite a lot of both during the '70s and '80s, so there didn't seem to be much point in making a movie that implied that after every gig, I'd quietly gone back to my hotel room with only a glass of warm milk and the Gideon's Bible for company."

Film critic Dolin said the "grossest thing" about the Russian edit was that the final caption had been removed from the closing credits.

"In the original, it says that Elton John found the love of his life and is raising children with the man he loves (there is a dramatic moment in the film when his mother says to him 'you are doomed to be lonely')," wrote Dolin.

"In the Russian version it says the musician set up a foundation to fight AIDS and is still working with a long-time co-author," he said.

CNN's Fran Curtis, Megan Thomas, Bex Wright, Mary Ilyushina reported from Atlanta, London and Moscow. Sheena McKenzie wrote in London.

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https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/01/entertainment/elton-john-rocketman-russian-censorship-intl/index.html

2019-06-01 16:48:06Z
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Pete Davidson Makes Runway Debut at Alexander Wang - Papermag

It seems Pete Davidson now moonlights as a high fashion model. Since Saturday Night Live just ended Season 44, the comedian definitely wasn't at 30 Rock to do his regular gig. Instead, to the audience and everyone else on the Internet's surprise, he was there for Alexander Wang's Collection 1 2020 runway show.

Davidson wore a simple look — not too far from something he would wear on the daily: a white tank top that showed off his collection of tattoos, including one of the Notorious RBG. He also wore a black backwards cap with the Alexander Wang label, along with two-tone pants with one leg in black leather and the other a light-wash jean.

If you want to see how the 25-year-old did on his runway debut, see the video, below:

Aside from Pete, other celebrity sightings during the show also included supermodels Kendall Jenner and Kaia Gerber.

But, really, what made Collection 1 2020 such a spectacle was the fact that it was opened to the public. While VIPs and executives gathered by the checkerboard runway below, people were watching from above by the sidelines of the iconic Rockefeller Center fountain. And Wang made sure that New Yorkers and visitors felt welcome, even providing free New York treats such as hotdogs, pretzels, roasted nuts, and canned snow cones and green tea slushies with the Alexander Wang signature label, of course.

Wang also partnered with Lyft for pedicab rides around the city. See the gallery, below, for a look into the full Alexander Wang Collection 1 2020 experience.

Lead photo via Getty / Additional photos courtesy of Martin Romero

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http://www.papermag.com/pete-davidson-alexander-wang-nyc-2638641215.html

2019-06-01 14:48:36Z
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