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Showbiz Tonight
Kirstie Alley`s Weight Confessions; Miss California`s Brand-New Anti-Gay Marriage Campaign; Mel Gibson`s Date Debut; Octomom Kid Scare
Aired April 30, 2009 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Kirstie Alley`s shocking weight confessions to Oprah. Tonight, Kirstie reveals why she gained back all 75 pounds that she lost. Will Kirstie try to lose it again? And why she says there`s a Michelle Obama factor in all this. But tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is asking, does Kirstie have anything to apologize for?
Miss California`s brand-new anti-gay marriage campaign. Tonight, the outrage over Miss California`s new push against same-sex marriage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARRIE PREJEAN, MISS USA CONTESTANT: I am not paid for this. I`m very passionate about this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, the remarkable new backlash against the beauty queen. Should she lose her crown?
Plus, the controversial Mel Gibson date debut. Your unbelievable response to Mel stepping out with his brand-new girlfriend in the midst of his divorce. Dumb move or no big deal?
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show starts right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
Tonight, Kirstie Alley`s weight shocker on Oprah. Kirstie Alley made an absolutely remarkable appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" today, looking nothing like the Kirstie who lost 75 pounds and became the face of the Jenny Craig weight loss program for years. And that`s because Kirstie has gained it all back.
The one-time diet inspiration opened her heart and mind to Oprah today, revealing what happened and why, which is why Kirstie`s confessions are making big news right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): This was the last time we saw Kirstie Alley strutting her stuff in a two-piece bikini on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" two years ago, after having lost 75 pounds. A dramatic moment, but nowhere near as dramatic as Kirstie Alley`s current appearance.
OPRAH WINFREY, HOST, "THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW": Come on out, Miss Kirstie Alley.
HAMMER: The actress and former Jenny Craig spokesperson returned to "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to show the world that she`s gained all of the weight that she had lost, 75 pounds and then some.
WINFREY: How are you feeling?
KIRSTIE ALLEY, ACTRESS: Fat.
HAMMER: The former sitcom star was able to make light of her latest setback in her long battle with weight, but she makes clear it still hurts.
ALLEY: It`s humiliating. I think the biggest thing for me that is the biggest, most painful thing for me is I have all these people that I inspired and then I let them down.
HAMMER: SHOWBIZ TONIGHT brings you Kirstie`s dramatic confessions to Oprah, who knows a thing or two about gaining and losing weight.
WINFREY: Are you mad at yourself?
ALLEY: I have been. I`ve hated myself. I`ve loathed myself.
HAMMER: And Alley reveals how she felt when she saw her former Jenny Craig partner, Valerie Bertinelli`s own stunning weight loss.
ALLEY: I about died. I`m not kidding.
WINFREY: You about died.
HAMMER: Kirstie says it was Oprah herself who inspired her to go public with the most recent weight gain. Oprah did the same thing just this last December when she admitted to the world she had hit the 200 pound mark after years of dramatic weight losses.
WINFREY: I have lost, as of this morning, as of this morning, 67 pounds.
HAMMER: Alley says she fell off the weight loss wagon after she left her long-time gig as a spokesperson for Jenny Craig.
ALLEY: You`re chubby too. Let`s lose weight together.
When I stopped being a spokesperson I wasn`t weighed anymore.
HAMMER: Alley tells Oprah without the Jenny Craig people to keep her in line, her motivation to stay slim went out the window.
WINFREY: They come to your house and weigh you?
ALLEY: They come to your house and they weigh you, because it`s a legal issue. You have to really weigh what you say you weigh. I didn`t weigh for a year and a half. I didn`t work out for a year and a half.
HAMMER: In that year and a half, she said adios to her home gym.
ALLEY: I had all my equipment moved out about a year and a half ago, and I haven`t worked out since. And I turned it into a dining room. Big mistake. You can pretty easily see why I got fat.
HAMMER: Now, adding insult to injury is Valerie Bertinelli, who Alley brought into the Jenny Craig program.
ALLEY: Hey, Jenny, listen. I`m not fat anymore, but my friend Valerie Bertinelli is.
VALERIE BERTINELLI, ACTRESS: Hello. Standing right here.
HAMMER: Bertinelli, now a solo Jenny Craig spokesperson, recently unveiled her slamming new body on "People" magazine, and in a new round of ads.
BERTINELLI: I haven`t worn one of these in almost 30 years.
WINFREY: What is it like being on the cover of "People."
ALLEY: Are you trying to kill me?
WINFREY: No.
HAMMER: Mock jealousy aside, Kirstie tells Oprah she`s happy for Valerie.
ALLEY: There`s no comparison in my revealing (INAUDIBLE). Her body, like, rocks.
HAMMER: And Alley says Bertinelli has inspired her to tackle her weight issue once again. And Alley says she has another role model.
ALLEY: Look, Michelle Obama`s (INAUDIBLE). I`m like, "I could have those arms."
HAMMER: So Alley`s exercise equipment is going back.
ALLEY: Bring it in. Bring it in, quickly before I change my mind.
HAMMER: She says she`s already shed 20 pounds with her own weight loss line, which she plans to unveil soon. And she tells Oprah we might see another bikini shot soon, although Oprah doesn`t seem to be in a hurry.
WINFREY: Does the bikini have to be the goal?
ALLEY: Well, yes.
WINFREY: I want you to do it in your own time.
ALLEY: OK.
WINFREY: And do it in a way that`s going to be good for you.
ALLEY: February?
WINFREY: OK, February.
HAMMER: So it looks like even after a big setback, Alley is continuing her weight loss battle.
ALLEY: I think I`m ready to work.
WINFREY: OK.
HAMMER: Kirstie`s painful struggle is certainly one so many people can identify with. So does she really have any reason to feel embarrassed about it?
Joining me tonight is Beverly Johnson, who is a supermodel and businesswoman. And in Hollywood tonight, Jessica Weiner, who is a self- esteem expert and the author of this fabulous book, "Life Doesn`t Begin Five Pounds From Now."
So we saw her - Kirstie - back on Oprah today. This is two and a half years after coming out on the same stage in a bikini, only this time she wasn`t doing a whole lot of celebrating as we saw.
Jessica, do you think a lot of people are seeing this and feeling sorry for Kirstie? Or is there some real judgment that`s now going on from people looking down on her because, in their minds, she failed before our very eyes?
JESSICA WEINER, SELF-ESTEEM EXPERT: I think, A.J., some people are rolling their eyes and some people are being sympathetic because if we remember, celebrities are just ordinary people with extraordinary jobs. And Kirstie Alley is an ordinary woman like Oprah, like myself, like everybody out there who struggles with weight issues.
It`s a lifelong struggle for most people until you make a lifestyle change. What bothers me about this recent appearance is that Kirstie Alley continues to make dieting a spectator sport. And that actually sends horrible messages to women and girls out there.
And I think, once again, most of the women watching are probably going to be more fed up than anything else. It`s like, enough already. Don`t lose weight in front of the media and then complain when the media follows you for results. If you want to make a lifestyle change, Kirstie, do it privately, tackle those demons and do it for yourself.
HAMMER: Yes. That`s really an interesting point, Jessica, because a lot of people now really associate Kirstie Alley with her dieting more than anything else, more than her acting, more than her years on "Cheers" or anything like that.
Beverly Johnson, I`m really happy you`re here because I`m so glad we get to get your perspective on this. You have worked in the modeling business for over 35 years now, so you know a lot about this. There is a lot of pressure to be thin within your business everywhere you go.
Do you think Kirstie`s shame about her recent weight gain has a lot to do with that same pressure that comes with, you know, being in the Hollywood spotlight and perhaps trying to fit some kind of cookie cutter mold?
BEVERLY JOHNSON, SUPERMODEL: Yes, absolutely. I think as we in the industry, I`ll say, in the entertainment industry and the modeling world, we put pressure on everyday people and we also put that same pressure on ourselves. Maybe even more so.
So, absolutely. There is a tremendous amount of pressure. I mean, I feel, and I have my own challenges with food. And because of the modeling - my days in the modeling world where food is really a big issue and it continues to be a big issue even in my life.
HAMMER: Well, Kirstie certainly has a sense of humor about everything in her life. But she made it clear, even through all the jokes she was making, all that laughter that was going on, that she really does feel ashamed about her weight. Listen to what she told Oprah today about the fact that her weight does continue to be this public issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEY: You know, it`s humiliating. You sort of - you have people who you inspire. And I think the biggest thing for me that is the biggest, most painful thing for me is I have all these people that I inspired and then I let them down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, Jessica, this sort of plays into the point you were making, the fact that you think she`s made this some kind of a spectator sport. It sounds like Kirstie is apologizing there. The question is, should she be?
WEINER: No. You know, she shouldn`t be apologizing because it`s not up to Kirstie Alley to cure my self-esteem or body issues. It`s not up to Oprah either. We all have an individual responsibility. And I think I`m growing more and more tired, A.J., of watching these celebrities use media opportunities to sort of lash out at themselves when they fail.
Listen, diets don`t work. Lifestyle changes work. And when you lose weight for money or you lose it for the public eye, it`s not really about you and tackling why you`re so humiliated and shamed about your body.
This is Kirstie`s battle to fight and I just wish that she would do it privately and make peace with it, because that`s how she`s going to be how she`s a fantastic role model for anybody else.
HAMMER: Yes. And the truth is, Jessica, you know, so many people, probably more people than not, do rely on various diet programs to attain their goals. We saw it happen with Kirstie.
You know, when Kirstie first started losing weight, she brought her friend, Valerie Bertinelli, into the Jenny Craig program. They were appearing in commercials together. And both at the same time on the track to success.
Well, now, Valerie has lost over 40 pounds. She was just on Oprah as we saw, showing off her hot bikini body. Take a look what Kirstie thought when she saw Valerie`s new body.
ALLEY: I about died, I`m not kidding you.
WINFREY: You about died?
ALLEY: It was like I was married to someone and they left me for (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Clearly, Kirstie`s joking around there. But Beverly, to you, it`s got to add to that pressure that she feels when she sees Valerie going one way with her weight and she`s going the opposite direction.
JOHNSON: It`s impossible to compare yourself with anyone else, particularly with weight.
WEINER: Right.
JOHNSON: Weight is a very complex issue. But to speak on Kirstie`s behalf, she is a very public figure. So unless she`s going to go to a monastery and lose the weight, it`s always going to be an issue. We`re public figures so all of our problems.
WEINER: Yes. But she doesn`t have to go on television and talk about it.
JOHNSON: Well, all of our problems are there for the public to see, whether we want to talk about them or not. They`re there and other people will talk about it.
HAMMER: Yes, and people will - you`re exactly right.
JOHNSON: I really feel that she`s really doing a tremendous service to people to bring this issue to the forefront.
HAMMER: Jessica, I know you`ve got to say something to say about that, but I`ve got to end it there, though. Beverly Johnson, Jessica Weiner, thank you so much for being here tonight.
All right. Moving on, I can tell you tonight, there are a whole lot of people outraged at what Miss California is doing and plenty who support her as well. It`s Carrie Prejean`s brand-new anti-gay marriage campaign. And this has got a lot of people fired-up and asking, should she lose her crown? Well, let me tell you, this beauty queen debate is getting really ugly. That is coming up.
So one of Tom Cruise`s "Top Gun" co-stars admits to being gay. You don`t miss these shocking confessions.
And I cannot believe how fired up you are about the super skinny model controversy, so many people defending the 19-year-old pageant winner who`s being called anorexic. Your calls, your E-mails, coming up. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Chris Brown`s lawyer to attempt to dismiss Rihanna`s assault case. Sean Penn files for legal separation from wife Robin Wright Penn.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HAMMER: OK, did you see this? The Swine Flu Song. That`s right. Now, we all obviously know how scary the swine flu outbreak is. But this guy, Ryan, from San Diego State University, says he is trying to take the edge off with his Swine Flu Song.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. And tonight, it`s a bird. It`s a plane. It`s the first lady?
Yes, just as President Obama hits the 100-day mark in office, there is a brand-new comic book out which features his wife, Michelle. Now, she obviously doesn`t have any superpowers that we know of, but she does have some super-friends, Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin. And oh, yes, some serious super-sales. This Michelle Obama comic book, flying off the shelves, I tell you.
Here`s CNN "American Morning" entertainment correspondent Lola Ogunnaike for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOLA OGUNNAIKE, ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT, "AMERICAN MORNING" (on camera): If you could give Michelle Obama a superpower, what would it be?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Super women`s intuition.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think she would be perfect for super-strength and give her the ability to fly, too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Laser beam. Probably flying, too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The adventures of Superman.
OGUNNAIKE (voice-over): She may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound or race faster than a speeding bullet. But Michelle Obama can move merchandise. Books and ball growns, Jay Crew to Jason Blue and countless magazine covers. Now, one comic book company is betting that she`ll be the new wonder woman in town.
DARREN DAVIS, PRESIDENT, BLUEWATER PRODUCTIONS: We`re thinking women are buying them for their daughters. I think that`s a big part. I think people that want Michelle Obama collectibles will be getting them or Barack Obama collectibles because he`s also a (INAUDIBLE).
OGUNNAIKE: Darren Davis and his partner, Jason Schultz, are behind the Female Force series which showcases powerful women in the public eye. Since launching the series in March, they featured Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin. Experts say a Michelle Obama comic is a no-brainer.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think these comic books folks will make a lot of money off of this and they are going to fly off the shelves. And they`re very smart in kind of timing it for the first 100 days so they know there`s going to be a spike in interest for Michelle Obama.
OGUINNAIKE: The comic is a swift biography of the first lady`s rise from the south side of Chicago to the White House. Her days at Princeton. Her marriage to now President Barack Obama. How she juggles family and a law career. It even includes the most flattering moments on the campaign trail.
MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: For the first time in my adult lifetime I`m really proud of my country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OGUINNAIKE: Preorders have sold out. A second printing is on the way. And mighty Michelle has already outperformed both Palin and Clinton.
DAVIS: Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin comics sold about 15,000 each. And then, the Michelle Obama sold about 45,000 copies up to this point.
OGUINNAIKE: But have no fear, fans will see more of Mrs. Obama in cartoon form next January.
DAVIS: I promise you we are going to be doing a sequel to this comic book.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: And you know, if she wears a cape, everybody`s going to buy one. That was CNN`s Lola Oguinnaike for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Well, the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines have been ringing and ringing with people calling in about Mel Gibson who has gone public with his new girlfriend when he`s not even divorced. Is that a good idea or will that move be a lethal weapon to his image?
I can tell the hands of the "Showbiz on Call" operators, they`re lethal weapons. I mean, look at them go.
We`ve got a call into "Showbiz on Call" from Ileana in Nevada who says, "Mel, bad move."
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I believe that Mel Gibson should not be going around with his girlfriend. He should respect the so many years that he had with his wife and the mother of his children. He should respect her. And he should give it some time and wait for the divorce to go through before he panders around with his girlfriend.
He is supposed to be a religious man, but obviously he is not. So I feel for his wife and I hope she takes him to the cleaners.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Thank you for your call, Ileana. We also heard from Darney, who called into "Showbiz on Call" from Texas. Now, Darney says, and I`m channeling Joy Behar here, "So what? Who cares?"
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I think Mel Gibson should go public with his girlfriend. He`s been separated from his wife for three years. So if he`s been separated from her, then he should be able to go with whoever he feels he wants to be going in public with. If he`s happy with his girlfriend, hey, more power to him. I think the media and everybody should just back up and let the man live his life.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Thanks a lot, Darney. You can call us at "Showbiz on Call." And that way, you can let us know what you think about this or anything else. "Showbiz on Call" phone lines open all the time. This is the number, 1-888-SBT-BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899. Leave us a voicemail so we can play your call here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
And your calls to "Showbiz on Call" also now online on our homepage, which is CNN.com/ShowbizTonight.
Well, I know for a fact a lot of you are still really fired up over this Miss California anti-gay marriage fight. Tonight, there is brand-new outrage - support, too, over her brand-new, same-sex marriage campaign. Just wait until you hear what Miss California is doing now. This has a lot of people wondering, should she lose her crown? That is coming up.
Also, this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nadya, you said that Aidan had a little bite mark and a little bit of a black eye. So how did he get those?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Police and social services called to the octomom`s house after one of her sons shows up to school with bite marks and a black eye. Well, tonight, the octomom herself is explaining what is going on here and if everything is OK.
And one of Tom Cruise`s "Top Gun" co-stars admits to being gay. You have got to hear the shocking confession. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Britney Spears extends "Circus" tour, adding a dozen European shows. NBC will bring back "Celebrity Apprentice" for another year.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON GOSLIN, "JON AND KATE PLUS 8": It`s tough for me. I can`t be Jon. I have to be "Jon and Kate Plus 8," which is a real hard thing for me. I still haven`t come to grips with that yet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That`s right, tonight, things are getting even tougher for this reality star, his wife and their eight kids after someone took a shocking picture of him with another woman.
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer with some more stories that are making news right now.
Tonight, a major uh-oh for a married reality show star with eight kids, and I`m not talking about the octomom. I`m talking about Jon Goslin from TLC`s "Jon and Kate Plus 8."
Now, Jon was caught in a shocking photo that appeared in "US" magazine leaving a Pennsylvania bar with a woman who was not his wife.
In a new interview with "Entertainment Weekly," though, Jon says this is all a misunderstanding. Quoting now, "Like most people, I have male friends and female friends and I`m not going to end my friendship just because I`m on TV. However, being out late at night showed poor judgment on my part. What makes me sick is that my careless behavior has put my family in this uncomfortable position."
Also new right now, the ladies of "The View," some of the most influential people in the world. Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Sherri Shepherd and Elisabeth Hasselbeck have all been named to this year`s "Time" 100 list of the most influential people. I can`t say I disagree. We tune in each day.
Well, now, CNN`s Anderson Cooper sat down with the co-hosts as part of a "Time 100-AC 360" special. And tonight, I have got your sneak peek right here. Check what Anderson got out of Joy when he asked her about how she survived all 12 years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR, "ANDERSON COOPER 360": How have you survived, Joy? I mean, it`s a tough riddle.
JOY BEHAR, CO-HOST, "THE VIEW": People do ask me that.
COOPER: Yes, I`m sure they do.
BEHAR: Well, I`ve had a lot of psychoanalysis. And also I used to work in a mental hospital which really prepared me for "The View." But also, I consider "The View" a kind of a cocktail party with guests just changing. So I just adjust to the new group that comes along.
COOPER: What`s been the low point and what`s been the high point in the time that you`ve been here?
BEHAR: The low point of the show?
COOPER: Yes.
BEHAR: I don`t know.
BARBARA WALTERS, CO-HOST AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, "THE VIEW": I don`t think we`ll say.
COOPER: I didn`t think you would.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Well, the low point is, I`m going to guess, the whole Rosie thing, the Donald Trump stuff or maybe the whole Star Jones fiasco. I`m just guessing there. You can catch the "Time 100 and AC 360" special, Friday.
Now the SHOWBIZ lineup. Here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
The brand-new Miss California anti-gay marriage controversy. Tonight, she`s involved in a new campaign against same-sex marriage. Should Carrie Prejean lose her crown?
Also, your fired-up overwhelming response to Mel Gibson stepping out with his new girlfriend. Dumb move or really no big deal?
And the octomom kid scare. One of her sons shows up to school with a bite and black eye. Is he OK? The octomom setting the record straight, coming up. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Farrah Fawcett`s son, Redmond O`Neal, pleads not guilty to heroin charge. Oprah announces Dr. Mehmet Oz`s new TV show will debut September 14th.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, Miss California`s brand-new anti-gay marriage campaign. Tonight, backlash over the beauty queen speaking out. Should she lose her crown?
The great Gibson debate. Should Mel Gibson have trotted out his girlfriend in the middle of a multimillion dollar divorce? Your overwhelming response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nadya, you said Aidan has a little bite mark and a little bit of a black eye. So how did he get those?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Brand-new octodrama. Why was child welfare called to the octohome? The bites, the bruise on one of her kids.
Plus, more stories breaking from the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker."
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.
Tonight, gay marriage beauty outrage. Miss California today launched a brand-new anti-gay marriage campaign and she is not holding back one bit in her brand-new push against same-sex marriage. Carrie Prejean is speaking out in a brand-new ad campaign with the National Organization for Marriage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gay marriage activists attack people for supporting marriage because they don`t want to debate the consequences of same-sex marriage. They want to silence opposition.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: And tonight, Carrie Prejean has got pageant producers in an uproar. Former Miss USA Shawna Moakler is also one of the directors of the Miss USA pageant, is striking back tonight with her own brand-new ad to protest the ban on same-sex marriage. So SHOWBIZ TONIGHT dares to ask, does Miss California deserve to lose her crown?
Joining me in New York, it`s Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL," seen every single night of the week, 7:00 p.m. Eastern here on HLN. In Hollywood, tonight, Pat Lalama who is an entertainment journalist.
I want to begin by showing you more of the new ad campaign with the National Organization for Marriage featuring Miss California. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A question about a same-sex marriage, a young contestant answers honestly.
PREJEAN: I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman - No offense to anybody out there. But that`s how I was raised and that`s how I think it should be -between a man and a woman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She`s immediately attacked.
PARIS HILTON, CELEBRITY BLOGGER AND MISS USA 2009 JUDGE: She`s a dumb (EXPLETIVE DELETED), OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When a pro-marriage group expresses concerns how same- sex marriage will impact religious groups, they are called liars and bigots.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Wait until you hear this. In an extraordinary response, the producers and co-executive directors of the Miss California USA pageant issued this fiery statement today.
They say, quote, "In the entire history of Miss USA, no reigning title holder has so readily committed her face and voice to a more divisive or polarizing issue. We are deeply saddened Carrie Prejean has forgotten her platform of the Special Olympics, her commitment to all Californians, and solidified her legacy as one that goes beyond the rights to voice her beliefs and instead reveals her opportunistic agenda."
Wow. Strong words. Pat Lalama, off to you first. As those words suggest, do you think Miss California crossed the line here?
PAT LALAMA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: Are you kidding me? I guess I woke up in a nation that suddenly says expressing your personal beliefs means you are subjected to the PC terrorism police. It`s absolutely ridiculous.
Should Hillary Clinton, who has espoused the same opinion, have her role as Secretary of State taken away from her? And President Obama, who has said the same thing? You know, I`ve got to tell you something, A.J. Someone said this to me today, "Well, Obama didn`t really mean it. He just had to say that to get elected."
I`m thinking, oh, so now we have a president who can`t man up and say what he really feels about the issue? This is such hypocrisy. I can`t believe that this woman - she is a beauty queen! She`s a beauty queen.
HAMMER: But Pat and Jane - Jane, help me out here. Isn`t that the point? And isn`t that why the Miss California people are so ticked off here?
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST, "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL": A.J., yank her crown right now - that`s what I say. And I can`t believe there`s not something in her contract that says, "You can`t do this. You can`t become a spokesperson."
And she seems to believe - and Pat seems to believe as long as you say something in a dainty fashion and polite, then you could say whatever you want. What if she were to become a spokesperson for a racist organization or a sexist organization or anti-Semitic organization?
LALAMA: Oh, my God.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: That`s OK too? You cannot confuse form and function.
LALAMA: Why are you aligning her with racism and - you know, it is outrageous.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: Hold on. Hold on.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Forty-eight percent of voters in California did not want the gay marriage ban. She is saying something that`s deeply offensive to those 48 percent of voters.
HAMMER: What about that, Pat?
LALAMA: The fact of the matter is why - to me this isn`t about gay marriage. This is about.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes, it is!
LALAMA: Jane, why do I not get to speak? Why is it that she can`t express her rightful opinion? She`s entitled to her opinion. There`s nothing that implies -
VELEZ-MITCHELL: She can. But she just can`t do it as Miss California.
LALAMA: Jane, how come you`re not terrorizing Hillary Clinton?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Take her crown off and she could tell anybody whatever she wants.
LALAMA: Jane, why are you not terrorizing Hillary Clinton?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: First of all, let me just say this.
LALAMA: No, answer - no one will answer that question.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I`m going to answer if you let me, Pat.
LALAMA: I (INAUDIBLE) for someone to answer that question.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: First of all, the reason why she lost is because she misstated a fact. She said, "In our land, we get to choose." Incorrect. Gay marriage, as well all know, is only legal in a handful of states. She also referred to heterosexual marriage as "opposite marriage."
So I believe she lost the crown because she was inarticulate. Politicians are.
LALAMA: So wrong.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: . in business to express their opinions, not pageant contestants.
LALAMA: Oh, my God!
HAMMER: Let me jump in here for a second.
LALAMA: The energy - the energy that`s spend on this (INAUDIBLE) claim.
HAMMER: Let us hear from Miss California herself, because at the press conference earlier today, she talked about why she has become so vocal about her anti-gay marriage stance. Let`s take a look at her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PREJEAN: I do not want to raise my own children in a world where this traditional view of marriage is considered hateful or discriminatory. I`m not affiliated with any organization. Like she said, I am not paid for this. I am very passionate about this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Pat, let me toss this to you, because she says she does not want to be portrayed as a bigot. But I hear her words there, and I see her taking a stance against gay marriage. Just by doing that, aren`t people going to see her, by its very nature, as discriminatory?
LALAMA: We suddenly live in a society where being against gay marriage makes you a homophobe. I detest that attitude - where being against Obama about something makes you a racist. What has happened to our right to say what we feel without being terrorized?
(CROSSTALK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: What if I told you, in my opinion you have no right to get married? How would you feel about that?
LALAMA: Oh, my gosh, Jane. It`s not about that. It`s about my right to say how I feel about it. I am not protesting the issue of gay marriage here.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And Pat, we have the right to respond to her right to have freedom of speech.
LALAMA: But not terrorize people.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Nobody is terrorizing her.
(CROSSTALK)
LALAMA: Jane, I have.
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: All right, stop, hold on a second. I can`t hear either one of you. Let`s hear from Miss California and let her break up the madness for just a moment.
She was on the "Today" show this morning. She spoke with Matt Lauer. And she said from the very beginning, she felt attacked for giving her opinion. This is what Pat is talking about, when she came out against gay marriage when she was asked about it during the Miss USA contest. Please roll that clip.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PREJEAN: I was attacked for giving my own opinion on stage of the Miss USA contest. And I`m going to do whatever it takes now to protect marriage. It`s something that is very dear to my heart. And I`m just here to protect it. That`s all I`m here to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Let me move this along a little bit. Jane, this to you - do you think Miss California realizes really she`s now the de facto face for everyone who opposes gay marriage and coming with that territory on such a polarizing issue, she`s going to be attacked?
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I think this is the only card she can play. Let`s face it. She lost the competition. She didn`t win. So what is she going to do? This is something that she can do with her time now. And, you know, the fact is that she lost the competition despite the fact that she got breast implants which is something we`re not even discussing that was paid for by the pageant, which was revealed by the pageant directors today.
LALAMA: Why don`t you care about everyone in Hollywood who`s got breast implants, who was a spokesperson for the (INAUDIBLE).
(CROSSTALK)
HAMMER: And apparently, that`s not out of the norm.
LALAMA: Come on.
HAMMER: Let me jump in to just ask this one last question. Perez Hilton, who of course asked the controversial question about gay marriage at the pageant, said now in a statement today to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, he wants her to lose her crown.
You`ve got 10 seconds and no more, Pat Lalama. We know how Jane stands. You don`t think she should lose her crown?
LALAMA: No, but I have to tell you, the gay marriage issue is going to be hurt by this. This is not the way to win people`s hearts and minds by attacking them and terrorizing them. That`s all I`ve got to say.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: We`re not terrorizing. We disagree with her.
HAMMER: And your 10 seconds are up. Pat Lalama, Jane Velez-Mitchell, I thank you. It is always great to see you both. Don`t forget, watch Jane on "ISSUES WITH JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL," 7:00 p.m. right here every single night of the week on HLN.
LALAMA: Bye, Jane.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Bye, Pat. Love you.
LALAMA: Love you.
HAMMER: Bye, ladies.
HAMMER: All right. Let me turn this over to you. Here`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Anti-Gay Marriage Campaign: Does Miss California deserve to lose her crown?" What do you think? CNN.com/ShowbizTonight is where vote or E-mail showbiztonight@cnn.com.
People are fired up over that. I`ve got to tell you, people are really fired up over Mel Gibson going public with his new girlfriend. Tonight, it is the heated debate. Did Mel do the right thing by trotting around on the red carpet when his multi-million dollar divorce isn`t even final yet? Was that OK? Has Mel gone mad?
And you are definitely outraged over the super-skinny Australian model. Is she scary skinny or is her weight just fine? We`ve got your explosive "Showbiz on Call" phone calls coming up and the furious weight debate.
And one of Tom Cruise`s "Top Gun" co-stars is coming out of the closet. You`ve got to see who it is and the star`s shocking video confession, coming up. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: Malawi`s chief justice takes over Madonna`s adoption appeal. Georgia man convicted in New York City of stalking Tyra Banks.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Tonight, two explosive new debates involving two of Hollywood`s most buzz-worthy stories. First, Mel Gibson`s gal pal outrage. Did he make a mistake by going public with his new girlfriend on the red carpet at a big Hollywood premiere, three weeks after his wife of 28 years filed for divorce?
And look at this - it`s the picture that`s touched off an international scandal. Tonight, why so many people are actually defending this 19-year-old super-thin Australian beauty contestant, who is being called anorexic? And I`ve got to tell you, we`ve been hearing from you. We`ve been overwhelmed by your fired-up E-mails and phone calls to "Showbiz on Call." They have gone nuclear, I tell you.
Joining me tonight in Hollywood, Melanie Bromley. She`s the west coast bureau chief for "Us Weekly" magazine. Also in Hollywood tonight, Tanika Ray, correspondent for "Extra."
And we`ve got to begin with Mel Gibson, guys, coming out with his new girlfriend, Oksana, for the very first time publicly. And we asked on air and online in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day this - "Mel Gibson Separated: Is it OK for him to go public with his new girlfriend?" More people thought so than not. 60 percent of you said yes; 40 percent said no.
Tanika, to you first. Are you surprised by the fact that Mel, at least in this poll, seems to have more supporters than detractors?
TANIKA RAY, CORRESPONDENT, "EXTRA": Absolutely. OK. When I saw this poll, I figured out, of all the people you interviewed, 60 percent must have been bitter men and 40 percent women.
What? That`s not OK. Your divorce isn`t final. It was actually just announced. You don`t show off your girlfriend the day after, at somebody else`s premiere. That was so not cool. Very surprised.
HAMMER: I think a point that a lot of people are making, Tanika, and maybe why they think it`s OK, is because even though the divorce announcement just happened weeks ago, Mel has been separated from his wife for three years.
RAY: Sure.
We got a ton of phone calls about this. We`ve got a ton of calls about this. Let me play one. This is Darney in Texas. This is what Darney said when he called in to "Showbiz on Call." Roll that, Charles.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I think Mel Gibson should go public with his girlfriend. He`s been separated from his wife for three years. So if he`s been separated from her, then he should be able to go with whoever he feels he wants to be going in public with. If he`s happy with his girlfriend, hey, more power to him. I think the media and everybody should just back up and let the man live his life.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, he`s telling us to step off there. Thank you for that call, Darney. What do you think, Melanie? Does Darney have a point? Are we just making too big a deal of this?
MELANIE BROMLEY, WEST COAST BUREAU CHIEF, "US WEEKLY": Well, I mean, we first heard about reports about Oksana and Mel last August, so we`re looking at a relationship that is potentially eight months in now. So when you look at it like that and you consider he and his wife have been split for three years, then it`s not too soon. But to the public, of course, it is. This was one of the biggest premieres of the year. And it`s being seen as completely disrespectful to Robyn, his wife.
HAMMER: And nobody knows if he has spoken to his kids and how they feel about it either. But I`ve got to say, we still have been getting, in addition to the phone calls, a lot of E-mails coming in about this about this Mel girlfriend shocker.
Let me read one to you. This is Melanie who`s writing in from Texas. And I think she makes a really interesting point. She says, "Let`s be honest here, this was less about a night out and more about hurting his wife. I`m totally disgusted."
HAMMER: Tanika, do you agree? I mean, just totally insensitive of Mel to that point, you know, taking perhaps a jab at his wife here?
RAY: Absolutely. It`s very declasse. When you think about it, yes, she may have been separated from his wife three years ago and they may have had understanding. But in the court of public opinion, we think it`s disgusting and we didn`t know that they had been separated three years.
And I think he`s had a couple glitches along the way as far as his public persona. And I just don`t think that`s the way you want to go out. Now, people are like not only is he not cool with his wife. But he`s about to lose $500 million because of it. It`s just not a cool thing. Just take the classy road.
HAMMER: And as I`ve said before, you know, when you`re about to lose $500 million, you`re liable to make some unpopular decisions.
Let`s move on because also making news and controversy right now - take a look at Australian Miss Universe contestant Stephanie Naumoska. She says that she`s 5`11," weighs 117. She`s gotten slammed for being too skinny.
And I`ve got to tell you that people are slamming us here at SHOWBIZ TONIGHT for even going there and talking about this.
April from Ohio called into "Showbiz on Call." Man, did she give us an earful. Roll that.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I`m outraged on what you just said about the model who you think is too skinny and that she needs help.
For your information, I have a picture very much like what she looks like at 19 years old. I looked just as skinny and people used to say that I was anorexic. And I used to cry myself to sleep because I couldn`t believe people were like that.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Melanie, over to you for this. You saw the picture. You heard the caller. Is April. who called in, right to be so peeved with us? Or is the criticism fair?
BROMLEY: Look, this story deserves attention, not because the girl is skinny but because the girl is skinny and performs in a beauty contest that thousands of girls are going to see her image. And girls look up to beauty contestants. They do. And so was it wrong for her to be competing? Absolutely it was.
HAMMER: Very quickly, a lot of people writing in also and suggesting that there`s a double standard here. Tanika, is that true? We`ve got 10 seconds for you. You know.
RAY: Yes.
HAMMER: . when people are heavy, they get called out.
RAY: Absolutely. We`re all just jealous that she`s tall, skinny and beautiful. Come on. It`s just haters out there. Here`s the deal. It`s not really a story. I think, yes, she`s very tall and thin. Let`s wait until she`s 30 and she`s popped out a couple kids and see what her butt size looks like. That`s all I`m saying.
HAMMER: Thank you both. Yes, she`ll probably look a little different. Tanika Ray and Melanie Bromley, thank you both.
Tonight, Tom Cruise`s "Top Gun" co-star`s shocking revelation she`s gay. Kelly McGillis played Chris` love interest in the megahit 1986 film. She played Charlie, the sexy pilot instructor.
Well, since then, the 51-year-old McGillis has been married and divorced twice. She has two daughters from her second marriage, but she`s never been able to shake rumors that she was gay.
Well, in a brand-new interview with the Internet show "Girl Rock," she finally reveals the truth.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I asked if you were single and you said "yes" on stage so.
KELLY MCGILLIS, ACTRESS: Yes, I am single.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK. That`s exciting and so you`re - well, a man? A man? Or either or -
MCGILLIS: No, definitely a woman.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good.
MCGILLIS: I`m done with the man thing. I did that. I need to move on in life. Yes. Yes. That`s another part of being true to yourself.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.
MCGILLIS: I think that`s been a challenge for me, personally.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was it hard at first - at what point did you come out or realize?
MCGILLIS: I think that was an on-going process from the time that I was probably 12. So I`ve been through a long, arduous journey. I had a lot of things happen that convinced me that God was punishing me because I was gay. So that was a hard process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, McGillis really has had a long journey. She was reportedly attacked and raped in her own apartment back in 1982. She says now, she`s at peace with being herself and she wants to get back to acting. That is, only if she doesn`t have to dye her graying hair. I think she looks terrific.
Well, tonight, brand-new octodrama. The octomom lands herself in some hot water. Why was Child Welfare Services called to the octomom`s home?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nadya, you said that Aidan has a little bite mark and a little bit of a black eye. So how did he get those?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: A bite? A bruise? What happened? Octomom explains in her own words, coming up. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news right now.
TEXT: "Time" magazine names 100 of the "World`s Most Influential People." Stars on the list include: Zac Efron, Kate Winslet, Tiger Woods.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Yes. We do have brand-new octodrama tonight.
Here we go again. Just when I thought that the octomom was all toning down, getting her act together, well, social services and the police come knock, knock, knocking at her door.
In a brand-new interview, octomom Nadya Suleman says social services and the police paid her a visit after a teacher found a bite mark on her 4- year-old son`s Aidan`s back. If that weren`t bad enough, he also had a bruise on his face. What`s going on?
Well, in a video posted today on RadarOnline.com, the octomom was asked about the incident and she`s going on the record to say she didn`t do anything wrong.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NADYA SULEMAN, OCTUPLET MOTHER: They came over because of the teacher. The teacher reported, just to check about abuse or neglect. Oh, gentle. Show me, gentle. Gentle. He has a bite mark on his back from this guy. So then they wanted to verify to make sure that he`s OK and not being, you know - make sure he`s being supervised enough.
It was my fault. I didn`t respond quickly enough. Because I finally saw the note yesterday that she was asking how he got that bite mark. And (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So she did try to contact you? So she did try to get in touch with you?
SULEMAN: Yes. She probably thought right that I didn`t respond. I did try to communicate with a note.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I love that (INAUDIBLE) video, the kids are beating up each other. As for the bruise on her son`s face, Suleman says that he banged his face on a desk during one of his many fits. He is autistic.
And of course, she did make sure to mention that social services said she`s doing a good job and they were shocked by how organized things are in the octohome. I`d be shocked, too.
Wednesday, we asked you to vote on our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day - "Mel Gibson separated: Is it OK for him to go public with his new girlfriend?" Sixty percent of you say yes, 40 percent no.
Here`s some of the E-mails we got. Frank in Ohio writing in, "He has a right to go public with his girlfriend. He is getting a divorce and he is showing everyone that he has moved on."
We also heard from Jacquie in Wyoming. Jacquie writing, "Why shouldn`t Mel Gibson go public? Separated for three years, pending divorce ... and she gets half! Heck, yes, rub it in."
And thank you for writing in. That is it for SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Keep in mind you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on the 11:00s - on at 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific or in the morning 11:00 p.m. Eastern on HLN.
END
