(GettyImages.com)

(GettyImages.com)

In the March issue of Ebony, Samuel L. Jackson gives an outspoken interview in which he says that he supported President Obama because of his race.

“I voted for Barack because he was black,” Jackson is quoted by the New York Post as saying in the magazine.

He continues, “‘Cuz that’s what other folks vote for other people – because they look like them.”

Jackson explains, “That’s American politics, pure and simple. [Obama's] message didn’t mean [bleep] to me. In the end, he’s a politician. I just hoped he would do some of what he said he was gonna do.”

“I know politicians say [bleep]; they lie. ‘Cuz they want to get elected,” adds the Oscar nominated actor.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

(GettyImages.com)

(GettyImages.com)

Not only does New Jersey have a problem with Snooki, but it seems Snooki has a problem with New Jersey.

On Wednesday, the “Jersey Shore” cast member declared on Twitter that the state’s governor, Chris Christie, would never get her vote in a presidential election.

RELATED – Snooki Endorses Donald Trump

It’s important to note, of course, that Christie has repeatedly said he has no plans to make a run for the White House in 2012, but Snooki was riled up, anyway.

“I will not be voting for Chris Christie. Love always, the ‘buffoons’ from that degrading Jersey Shore show,” she tweeted.

The reality star added, “I DEF don’t want a judgmental president who has NEVER met me in person. F that.”

In September, Christie blocked “Jersey Shore” producers from receiving a massive tax credit because the show “does nothing more than perpetuate misconceptions about the state and its citizens,” he said.

In her Twitter rant, Snooki said she intends to “stick w [Barack] Obama.”

As for Christie, “a man wanting to be president&calling us names when he’s never met us..no thanks,” she said.

No comment yet from the governor on losing the key Snooki endorsement for a non-existent presidential run.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

(NBC)

Michelle Obama made her late-night TV debut as First Lady on Tuesday’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and talk turned to her husband’s recent singing at The Apollo.

The President’s talents come as no surprise to Mrs. Obama.

“He does have a beautiful voice. He sings to me all the time,” she told Leno, mentioning that the president favors Al Green, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye.

Her daughters are less impressed.

“Anything we do is highly embarrassing,” explains the First Lady.

Check out the video below!

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WATCH:

(CNN)

Etta James’ funeral was held on Saturday, with a number of high-profile entertainers joining the late singer’s friends and family at a Los Angeles church.

James died earlier this month, having battled leukemia and other ailments.

At the service, Rev. Al Sharpton delivered a eulogy that included a message from President Obama.

Stevie Wonder performed “Shelter in the Rain,” and Christina Aguilera sang James’ signature song, “At Last.”

Check out the video of Aguilera’s performance below!

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WATCH:

(The Hollywood Reporter)

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie may not wait until gay marriage is legalized to have their own wedding, after all.

“We’d actually like to [get married], and it seems to mean more and more to our kids,” he says in a wide-ranging cover interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

He adds, “We made this declaration some time ago that we weren’t going to do it till everyone can. But I don’t think we’ll be able to hold out. It means so much to my kids, and they ask a lot.”

As for adding to their brood, Pitt says he and Jolie “haven’t closed the book on it.”

“There’s a really nice balance in the house right now, but if we see the need and get the lightning bolt that says, ‘We can help this person; we could do something here,’ then absolutely,” explains the Moneyball star.

Pitt also reflects on a past that was not always so personally fulfilling.

He recalls, “I got really sick of myself at the end of the 1990s: I was hiding out from the celebrity thing; I was smoking way too much dope; I was sitting on the couch and just turning into a doughnut; and I really got irritated with myself.”

The actor got his second wind – and mostly dropped pot – after an eye-opening visit to Morocco.

“[I] decided to get off the couch,” he says.

In terms of politics, Pitt is in President Obama’s corner, although he’s been following the Republican debates.

“I’m an Obama supporter, no question,” says Pitt. “But it doesn’t mean there’s nothing to learn from the other side.”

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

(CNN)

President Obama might have a future in music.

At a Thursday night fundraiser at Harlem’s iconic Apollo Theater, the Commander-in-Chief referenced soul singer Al Green – and then launched into a bit of the performer’s hit “Let’s Stay Together.”

The crowd loved it.

After his rendition, the President pointed at doubters off-stage and said, “I told you I was gonna do it!”

Check out the video below!

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WATCH:

(NBC)

Even President Obama is wishing Betty White well on her 90th birthday, although he does have one request.

In a video submitted for Monday’s big television special in White’s honor, Obama writes a letter to the beloved actress, which we narrates in a voiceover.

“You look so fantastic and full of energy, I can’t believe you’re 90 years old,” says the president, before adding, “In fact, I don’t believe it.”

He continues, “That’s why I’m writing to ask if you will be willing to produce a copy of your long-form birth certificate.”

Then he rocks out to the “Golden Girls” theme song.

Check out the video below!

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WATCH:

(CNN)

Rob Lowe might wind up next to Kelly Ripa in the future – but he has his eye on a different (potential) dynamic duo.

Appearing on “Piers Morgan Tonight,” Lowe tells the host what he thinks of a possible general election between President Obama and Mitt Romney.

“I do think the two of them on a debate stage would be a lot of fun to watch,” says the actor, adding, “I think it would be an interesting contest.”

The onetime “West Wing” star feels the two combatants would generate a “high level of discourse.”

That said, Lowe doesn’t think electability is the best way of choosing a nominee.

He explains, “I’m not so sure that any party should pick a candidate based solely on whether they can beat the other candidate.”

Check out the video below!

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WATCH:

(GettyImages.com)

(GettyImages.com)

Matt Damon rips President Obama in Elle magazine, blasting his leadership qualities and saying he’d prefer “a one-term president with some balls who actually got stuff done.”

The actor, a longtime supporter of the Democratic Party and onetime Obama advocate, reveals frustration with the administration in his wide-ranging interview.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people who worked for Obama at the grassroots level,” says Damon. “One of them said to me, ‘Never again. I will never be fooled again by a politician.’”

Damon then gets even more direct with his own criticism.

“You know, a one-term president with some balls who actually got stuff done would have been, in the long run of this country, much better,” argues the We Bought a Zoo star.

He adds, “If the Democrats think that they didn’t have a mandate – people are literally without any focus or leadership, just wandering out into the streets to yell right now because they are so pissed off.”

“Imagine if they had a leader,” wonders Damon.

Wow.

What do you think of the actor’s comments?

Check out PHOTOS of Matt Damon “getting shot” on movie set!

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

(YouTube)

The holidays came early for the Obama family, who celebrated “Christmas in Washington” on Sunday with a slew of celebrities, including Justin Bieber.

The President, wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia welcomed Bieber, Conan O’Brien, Jennifer Hudson and others to the National Building Museum for the spirited festivities.

Bieber and his celebrity pals each had a turn on the stage before all coming together for a group performance with the President at the end of the night.

VIDEO BELOW

The special event, which will air on TNT on December 16, left Bieber particularly impressed.

“Great night! President Obama is one cool Prez,” the singer tweeted. “He told me he was ‘chillin.’ #PresidentialSWAG”

Check out the video below!

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WATCH:

(GettyImages.com)

Michelle Obama is NOT pregnant.

There’s a new rumor spreading across Twitter and Facebook, thanks to the phony news site, Weekly World News, which claims President Obama and The First Lady are expecting their third child in May 2012.

It’s NOT true.

The pregnancy story is almost identical to the same wrong rumor Gossip Cop busted last January.

It includes tidbits such as President Obama being “ecstatic” and Mrs. Obama being “about two months” along in her alleged pregnancy.

Weekly World News even says, “The White House announced that Michelle Obama is pregnant with the couple’s third child.”

This is patently false.

The White House did NOT make that announcement.

But that hasn’t stopped some outlets and Twitter accounts from picking up the report as though it’s the real thing.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

Jimmy Kimmel will host the 2012 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the annual star-studded night when comedians take jabs at President Obama and other political figures.

In a statement, the late-night TV personality said he looked forward to the occasion, joking, “I love dinner.”

“Jimmy’s humor is sophisticated and edgy while appealing to a wide audience,” said White House Correspondents’ Association president Caren Bohan. “We are thrilled that Jimmy has accepted our invitation to be the featured comedian at our annual dinner.”

“Saturday Night Live” player Seth Meyers had hosting duties last April, using the platform to blast then-possible presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Other recent emcees have included Jay Leno and Stephen Colbert, who infamously mocked an unamused President Bush.

The Kimmel dinner is set to take place on April 28, 2012.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

 

(NBC)

President Obama appears on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on Tuesday, and, among other things, talks about Halloween at the White House and his hesitance to pay much attention (yet) to the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

“Have you been watching the GOP debates?” asks Leno.

Obama replies, “I’m going to wait until everyone’s voted off the island… Once they narrow it down to one or two, I’ll start paying attention.”

On the subject of trick or treating, the President is concerned about First Lady Michelle Obama‘s habit of handing out healthy snacks like fruit and raisins.

“The White House is gonna get egged,” he jokes.

Check out clips from the chat below!

The full interview airs tonight.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WATCH:

(GettyImages)

In a wide-ranging interview with iVillage, Michelle Obama let slip a secret President Obama has never publicly revealed.

Our nation’s chief executive is… wait for it… no fan of The Kardashians!

When asked about Malia and Sasha‘s TV viewing habits and restrictions, the First Lady explained that the young girls are not allowed to watch television on weekdays.

And when and what they can watch during the weekends is limited.

According to the First Lady, “Barack really thinks some of the Kardashian [content]… when they watch that stuff… he doesn’t like that as much.”

She, however, feels “if we’re talking about it, and I’m more concerned with how they take it in… what did you learn when you watched that. And if they’re learning the right lessons, like, that was crazy, then I’m like, okay.”

If “crazy” is the yardstick, they’re learning a lot.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

(CNN)

It’s not a good idea to compare President Obama to Adolf Hitler… but what about Captain Kirk?

William Shatner was asked whether the Commander-in-Chief should be more like the “Star Trek” skipper during a CNN interview.

“There are some people who think that given the situation in the country right now, President Obama should be a little less Mr. Spock and a little more Captain Kirk,” suggested interviewer Ali Velshi.

As “Star Trek” fans know, Spock represents logic and contemplation, while Kirk stands for decision-making.

But Shatner didn’t think the comparison was apt.

“Mr. Obama has got the onerous burden of obeying the Constitution,” explained Shatner, whereas Captain Kirk “was captain of everybody’s fate… he was a dictator.”

He continued, “Unless he were to become a dictator, relating Kirk and Obama is unfair.”

There you have it.

Shatner has spoken.

Check out the video below!

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WATCH:

(GettyImages.com)

Lady Gaga attended a Silicon Valley fundraiser for President Obama as a paying guest on Sunday night.

The event was held under a tent at the residence of Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg.

Approximately 70 guests paid up to $35,800 per couple to be part of the small affair.

According to the press pool report, Gaga wore a floor-length sleeveless lacy black dress and sky-high heels, with her hair “gathered in a bouffant up-do.

Obama is said to have spoken for eight minutes, during which he didn’t directly acknowledge Gaga.

The pop star’s attendance comes less than a week after she expressed her desire to talk with Obama about anti-bullying legislation in the wake of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer‘s suicide.

It’s not evident whether the two discussed the matter at Sandberg’s fundraiser.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

(CNN)

Morgan Freeman blasted the Tea Party as “racist” in an interview with Piers Morgan that airs tonight.

The actor, who played a president in Deep Impact, says on “Piers Morgan Tonight” that the Tea Party’s goal “is to do whatever it takes to see to it that Obama only serves one term…. What underlines that? ‘Screw the country. We’re going to… do whatever we can to get this black man outta here.”

When the CNN host presses Freeman and asks, “Is that necessarily a racist thing?” rather than a political goal, the Oscar winner says, “It is a racist thing.”

Check out the video below of the interview, and share your thoughts.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WATCH:

(GettyImages.com)

Lady Gaga has taken up the cause of Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old boy who committed suicide on Sunday after years of bullying based on his sexuality.

Rodemeyer’s death is especially tragic given that he posted an “It Gets Better” YouTube video last May (watch below) as part of that initiative’s message of optimism and hope following a spate of gay teen suicides.

This evening, an emotional Gaga, whose “Born This Way” has become an anthem for inclusiveness, spoke to her millions of Twitter followers.

“The past days I’ve spent reflecting, crying, and yelling. I have so much anger. It is hard to feel love when cruelty takes someone’s life,” wrote Gaga moments ago, referring to Rodemeyer.

“Bullying must become illegal. It is a hate crime,” she declared.

“I am meeting with our President. I will not stop fighting. This must end. Our generation has the power to end it. Trend it #MakeALawForJamey”

Within minutes, the phrase was indeed trending – helped by the fact that Gaga has even more Twitter followers than President Obama.

Gossip Cop has reached out to Lady Gaga’s camp for comment on whether the superstar has made new, specific plans to address the bullying issue.

Gaga was a major proponent of repealing the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy toward homosexual servicemen and women. That law was officially erased this week.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WATCH:

(GettyImages.com)

(GettyImages.com)

Rush Limbaugh compared President Obama to an Oreo cookie during his radio show.

While discussing the new Triple Double Oreo, Limbaugh referred to it as a “bi-racial cookie” and “Or-Bam-Eo.”

The product has three chocolate wafers, and both vanilla and chocolate cream filling.

“It isn’t gonna be long until it’s gonna be called the Or-Bam-Eo or something like this,” said Limbaugh, explaining, “Well, it’s a biracial cookie here.”

What do you think of Limbaugh’s comments?

Listen to the audio from Limbaugh’s program below.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

LISTEN:

(MSNBC)

On “Morning Joe” this morning, after being asked to characterize President Obama‘s Wednesday press conference, MSNBC contributor Mark Halperin answered, “I thought he was kind of a dick yesterday.”

VIDEO below.

Wow.

Halperin apologized for his remark on the air and then on Twitter, writing, “I want to offer a heartfelt and profound apology to the President and the viewers of Morning Joe. My remark was not funny. I deeply regret it.”

Now, MSNBC has suspended Halperin indefinitely, calling his comments “completely inappropriate and unacceptable.”

“We apologize to the President, The White House and all of our viewers,” said the network in a statement. “We strive for a high level of discourse and comments like these have no place on our air.”

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WATCH:

(GettyImages.com)

Rosie O’Donnell says Osama bin Laden deserved due process and a trial before Navy SEALS eliminated the 9/11 mastermind in a heroic raid last Sunday.

“You don’t want to become what you loathe… wasn’t the whole point of this is that we are not monsters?” wonders O’Donnell during a recent segment of her radio show.

She argues, “You can be upset about the fact that [bin Laden] didn’t have due process, that he didn’t get tried,” later explaining, “Because other people are capable of criminal acts on our soil doesn’t equate to ‘Therefore, we are allowed to do criminal acts on their soil.’”

O’Donnell also questions the “drunken fraternity boys” who celebrated in front of the White House after President Obama announced bin Laden’s death.

Her position will undoubtedly rub many Americans the wrong way.

Take a listen to the O’Donnell audio below. What do you think about her controversial stance?

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

LISTEN:

(GettyImages.com)

President Obama will appear on Sunday’s “60 Minutes” for his first and only interview since Osama bin Laden‘s death.

The President is set to sit down with Steve Kroft at the White House tomorrow for the interview, which is will air on May 8.

Bin Laden was killed last Sunday by U.S. military personnel in an operation in Pakistan.

Will you be tuning in?

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

(NBC)

Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) appears to have known about Osama bin Laden‘s death before almost anyone.

The Fast Five star was already enjoying a record weekend at the box office when, at 10:24 p.m. ET last night, Johnson tweeted, “Just got word that will shock the world – Land of the free… home of the brave DAMN PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!”

What’s interesting about Johnson’s excited tweet is that it came roughly 45 minutes before news confirming bin Laden’s death began leaking to media outlets.

While online sources were obviously speculating about the reason for President Obama‘s last-minute speech long before he took the podium, Johnson’s 10:24 p.m. note seems to have popped up shortly before journalists and other “people in the know” started spreading the Osama shocker.

Intriguing.

Of course, it’s possible Johnson, as his “Saturday Night Live” character The Rock Obama, gets special security and intelligence briefings every day.

In any case, he sped past everyone else this weekend, both at multiplexes and in the news cycle.

Oh, and in case you were wondering whether The Rock’s roll will continue – today is his birthday.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

(C-SPAN)

Seth Meyers didn’t hold back as the keynote speaker at last night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, taking shots at everyone from President Obama and Joe Biden to Sarah Palin and Anderson Cooper.

But the “Saturday Night Live” Weekend Update anchor may have saved his most biting remarks for Donald Trump, who was in the room and seemed less than entertained.

Check out the speech below!

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for accurate celebrity news!

Like us on Facebook!

WATCH:

(C-SPAN)

President Obama dished out some jokes at last night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, mocking a number of political targets, but also celebs including Donald Trump and Matt Damon.

In an amusing nod to persistent rumors that he was born in Kenya, the President announced that he was releasing his official “birth video” – which just turned out to be the opening from The Lion King.

What do you think of Obama’s comedic chops?

Check out the video below!

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for accurate celebrity news!

Like us on Facebook!

WIN MOVIE TICKETS FOR A YEAR from FANDANGO and GOSSIP COP!

WATCH:

(Worldwide Pants)

David Letterman accused Donald Trump of racism during last night’s “Late Show,” taking Trump to task for the President Obama birth certificate controversy.

During an interview with guest Dr. Phil, who’s friendly with Trump, Letterman suggested that Trump’s recent implication that Obama only got into Columbia and Harvard because he’s black is when things stopped being funny.

“It’s all fun, it’s all a circus, it’s all a rodeo – until it starts to smack of racism,” said Letterman.

When the host asked Dr. Phil whether he considered Trump a racist, the guest replied quickly, “I do not,” explaining that Trump often just doesn’t think before he speaks.

Letterman didn’t seem so sure.

“If he comes back on this show, and I am not sure we want him back on this show under these circumstances, he ought to be prepared to apologize just for that kind of behavior.”

Check out the surprisingly frank exchange below.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WIN MOVIE TICKETS FOR A YEAR from FANDANGO and GOSSIP COP!

WATCH:

(MSNBC)

President Obama just finished speaking with Oprah about the decision to release his birth certificate this morning.

In an interview set to air on May 2, Obama explained that the issue was becoming a distraction as the government attempted to deal with more serious matters, such as the national budget and investment in education.

“The biggest news was this birth certificate thing,” said the President.

“And so at that point I said to my team, look… Even though the Republican Governor of Hawaii, the Democratic Governors of Hawaii, all the various officials had confirmed that I was born here, let’s ask them for a special dispensation where they will go ahead and provide us with the original to see if we can put this to rest.”

Obama continued, “We are living in a very serious time” and “we can’t be distracted by sideshows and, as I said at my press conference, carnival barkers who are going around trying to get attention instead of actually solving the problems.”

The President did offer some levity.

At one point the talk show host asked, “When [the birth issue] first came up, were you thinking, ‘I hope I was born here’?”

“Can I just say… I was there, so I knew – so I knew that I had been born. I remembered it,” replied Obama, as the audience laughed.

Check out VIDEO of the moment below!

What do you think about Obama’s decision?

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WIN MOVIE TICKETS FOR A YEAR from FANDANGO and GOSSIP COP!

WATCH:

(GettyImages.com)

(GettyImages.com)

Donald Trump is already feuding with Bill Cosby, the biggest sitcom star of the 1980s, so it makes sense he’d now find himself in a battle with the biggest sitcom star of the 1990s.

The current war of words began after Jerry Seinfeld decided to pull out of a benefit for the Eric Trump Foundation, the potential Republican presidential candidate’s son’s charity.

The comedian “has grown increasingly uncomfortable” with Donald Trump’s questioning of President Obama‘s citizenship, according to his rep, and “feels this kind of demagoguery has no place in public discourse.”

Instead, Seinfeld opted to make a contribution to the Trump Foundation and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, which the September 13 event will benefit.

Papa Trump was not happy with Seinfeld’s decision, and he shot off a scathing letter to make his disgust abundantly clear.

“I just learned you canceled a show for my son’s charity, because of the fact that I am being very aggressive with respect to President Obama, who is doing an absolutely terrible job as our leader,” writes Trump.

“We don’t care that you broke your commitment, even though the children of St. Jude are very disappointed, and despite the fact that your manager clearly stated you are ‘truly a man of his word.’”

“What I do feel badly about is that I agreed to do, and did, your failed show, ‘The Marriage Ref,’ even though I thought it was absolutely terrible… Despite its poor ratings, I didn’t cancel on you like you canceled on my son and St. Jude. I only wish I did,” adds Trump.

He ends the letter by scolding, “You should be ashamed of yourself!”

Wow.

What do you think of Trump’s latest public fight?

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WIN MOVIE TICKETS FOR A YEAR from FANDANGO and GOSSIP COP!

(GettyImages.com)

Donald Trump isn’t afraid to talk, but he might want to be more careful with what he says.

In a new radio interview with Talk 1300 in Albany, Trump makes the statement, “I have a great relationship with the blacks.”

The potential Republican presidential candidate, whose innumerable feuds now includes a war of words with Bill Cosby, made the statement while discussing the demographics of Barack Obama‘s 2008 primary battle with Hillary Clinton.

“I tell it like it is. [You'll] hear a political reporter go on and say it had nothing to do with race. But how come she had such a tiny piece of the vote?” asks host Fred Dicker.

“I have a great relationship with the blacks,” continues Trump. “I’ve always had a great relationship with the blacks. But unfortunately, it seems that, you know, the numbers you cite are very, very frightening numbers.”

LISTEN to the segment below.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!

Like us on Facebook!

WIN MOVIE TICKETS FOR A YEAR from FANDANGO and GOSSIP COP

LISTEN:

(CNN)

Matt Damon visited Piers Morgan last night, and the conversation turned to politics.

Known for his Democratic Party allegiances, Damon expressed disappointment with President Obama‘s first two years in office.

“I really think he misinterpreted his mandate… I no longer hope for audacity,” said Damon, referring to Obama’s memoir “The Audacity of Hope.”

Video of the moment is below.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for accurate celebrity news!

Check us out on Facebook!

WATCH: