Here's the Scoop...
I'm not a fan of celebrities offering up their politics or using their celebrity to push an agenda. But I do think it's noble when famous folks are generous to help those in need.
The first story I have for you today is one of those acts of kindness, compassion, and generosity that a majority of celebs need to do more often than telling me who to vote for or what to wear.
The Flint water crisis is not about them, it's about helping and supporting those that support them. I like Mark Wahlberg, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Eminem, Wiz Khalifa and Big Sean a little extra after reading this top story. I don't know who most of them are, but you have to give credit where credit is due.
Be Well,
Steve
Email Steve: mailto:groaner@gophercentral.com
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Mark Wahlberg and Diddy's company to donate water during Flint crisis
Mark Wahlberg and Sean "Diddy" Combs have been investing stock in AQUAhydrate, a high performance water bottle company since 2013 and they can rest well knowing that their money is also going toward a good cause. The alkaline-based water company has pledged to donate 1 million bottles of water to the residents of Flint, Michigan during their water contamination crisis.
The company announced that they are sending 5,000 cases of water to the area posting a pic on Twitter of a truck being loaded with the brand's beverage.
"We are currently loading up 5,000 cases for Flint," read the caption.
LIVE - We are currently loading up 5,000 cases for Flint! pic.twitter.com/ogt6nH7X0D- AQUAhydrate (@AQUAhydrate) January 25, 2016
The Los Angeles-based company said the water will arrive Wednesday.
The Boston Globe reported that the company promised to "continue to provide bottles to residents until the city's water problems are solved."
Eminem is another big supporter of the crisis relief program headed by AQUAhydrate. The rapper posted to Twitter saying, "Proud to support efforts of @AQUAhydrate in the million bottle water donation for people in Flint. More to come."
Proud to support efforts of @AQUAhydrate in the million bottle water donation for people in Flint. More to come.- Marshall Mathers (@Eminem) January 25, 2016
High levels of lead were detected in Flint's water since 2014 when the city switched from the Detroit water system to drawing water from the Flint River in order to save money.
When news of the crisis broke out CNN reported that "lead piping elevated lead levels 10 times higher than they had previously measured. A local hospital discovered that the percentage of Flint children with elevated lead levels nearly doubled after the switch."
Rappers Wiz Khalifa and Big Sean are also supporting the efforts towards safe water in Flint.
LOOSE LIPS:
"You can't control life. I roll with the punches. And ultimately, it's like, 'Where is the opportunity in this?' And that's been a nice way to look at it. Like, oh my God, I get to have so much special time with my son now."
--Malin Ackerman, on finding the silver lining in divorce and becoming a single mother to PEOPLE
??? Guess Who ???
Which former Oscar winner and current nominee said it was 'Shameful and embarassing' that no minorities nominated for Oscars two years in a row?
Gillian Anderson shocked by unequal 'X-Files' pay
Gillian Anderson says she was sad and shocked to be offered unequal pay for The X-Files revival.
The 47-year-old actress discussed the disparity in an interview with The Daily Beast. Anderson fought to secure equal pay during her original X-Files run, but confirmed she was initially offered half the amount of co-star David Duchovny's salary for the revival.
"I'm surprised that more [interviewers] haven't brought that up because it's the truth," the star said. "It was shocking to me, given all the work that I had done in the past to get us to be paid fairly. I worked really hard toward that and finally got somewhere with it."
"Even in interviews in the last few years, people have said to me, 'I can't believe that happened, how did you feel about it, that is insane,'" she related. "And my response always was, 'That was then, this is now. And then it happened again! ... It is sad."
The Hollywood Reporter first commented on the disparity, and later reported Anderson and Duchovny eventually took home equal pay. The pair played Dana Scully and Fox Mulder on nine seasons of The X-Files before reprising the roles for the revival.
"It actually took me longer than I thought it was going to," Anderson told TV Insider of getting back in character. "I assumed that it was going to be a lot easier ... To find Scully, it comes down to a simplistic, find Scully's serious look that's different than other serious looks."
"I initially had an expectation that six [episodes] would be it [for the revival]," she added. "I had no interest in doing any more. I think I'm a little bit more open to the idea of doing more, but under certain circumstances."
The X-Files revival premiered Sunday on Fox, and will air new episodes Mondays at 8 p.m. ET. Mitch Pileggi, William B. Davis and Annabeth Gish are among the other stars who will reprise roles on the limited series.
??? Guess Who ???
Which former Oscar winner and current nominee said it was 'Shameful and embarassing' that no minorities nominated for Oscars two years in a row?
Matt Damon and Steve McQueen are among the latest stars to address the Oscar controversy.
The 45-year-old American actor and 46-year-old English director joined the debate nearly a week after actress Jada Pinkett Smith announced she will boycott the 2016 Academy Awards due to a lack of diversity in the nominations.
"It was shameful and embarassing that there were two years in a row without a single actor of color nominated," Damon told Bustle at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of Manchester by the Sea on Saturday.
"It's a strong first step," he added of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' pledge to diversify the organization. "This is gonna be a very long road. But I'm glad there's at least a first step."
Damon, who won Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting in 1997, is nominated for Best Actor for The Martian at this year's ceremony. Will Smith was expected to be nominated for Concussion, but all 20 nominees in the major acting categories ended up being white.
"I'm hoping in 12 months or so we can look back and say this was a watershed moment, and thank God we put that right," McQueen, whose film 12 Years a Slave won Best Picture in 2013, told the Guardian in an interview published Sunday.
"One could talk about percentages of certain people who are Academy members and the demographics and so forth, but the real issue is movies being made," the director opined. "Decisions being made by heads of studios, TV companies and cable companies about what is and is not being made."
"This is an important issue. It's an us issue," he added. "This is not about black, not about white, this is about us, how we want to improve our environment and our society, and who we are. So, let's get on with it. Let's fix this. It's ridiculous!"
Will Smith announced he will support wife Jada Pinkett Smith's boycott last week, telling Good Morning America, "It was her call to action, for herself, and for me and for our family to be part of the solution."
The 88th Academy Awards will air Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. ET on ABC.