Seriously? OMG! WTF?

Just when it seemed Michael Richards was about to leave the most troubling incident of his career behind, his publicist is having to explain how the comic could consider himself to be Jewish. Last week, crisis-management expert Howard Rubenstein acknowledged that Richards had shouted anti-Semitic remarks in an April standup comedy routine — well before his appearance earlier this month in which he harangued hecklers with the n-word. But he defended Richards’ language about Jews, saying that the comic "is Jewish. He’s not anti-Semitic at all. He was role-playing." As Rubenstein’s assertion circulated, Jewish organizations and commentators pointed out that the man who played Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld has not converted to Judaism and neither of his parents are Jewish. Which makes him … "Technically, not having been born by blood as Jewish and not formally going into a conversion, it was purely his interpretation of having adopted Judaism as his religion," Rubenstein told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "He told me, ‘I’m Jewish,’" when I asked him. "He said there were two mentors who raised him and who had a big influence on his life, and they were Jewish. He said, ‘I agree with the concepts and the religious beliefs of Judaism and I’ve adopted Judaism as my religion,’" Rubenstein said. "He really thinks of himself as Jewish." What do some Jews think? "You can’t feel Jewish. It’s not a matter of feeling. You can convert to Judaism. You can’t not convert to Judaism and then be Jewish," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. Hier defined being Jewish from two perspectives, if someone hasn’t gone through the process of formal conversion. "From the Orthodox point of view, if that person has a Jewish mother, he would be considered Jewish," Hier said. "In the Reform tradition, there’s also a patrilineage. Under those categories, he would not fit." Rabbi Mark S. Diamond of the 280-member Board of Rabbis of Southern California agreed. "There are many people who appreciate Jewish customs, who may embrace aspects of Jewish culture and practice, but that does not make them Jewish," he said. After his tirade came to light, Richards apologized on David Letterman’s Late Show on CBS, saying his remarks were sparked by anger at being heckled, not bigotry. He also apologized to the Rev. Al Sharpton, and apologized Sunday on the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s syndicated radio program. Rubenstein said Richards wasn’t available for an interview Tuesday. "He wants to rest," the publicist said. "He’s been talking to his psychiatrist.

USA Today

If he feels Jewish, but really isn’t a Jew than he should join Kabbalah. Seems to be what Madonna said it is all about!

Sofia Coppola gave birth today to a girl, I can exclusively report. The father is Coppola’s boyfriend, musician Thomas Mars. No official confirmation just yet on the newborn’s arrival, but I’m told they have named her Romy. Coppola and Mars met after she used his band Phoenix’s song "Too Young" in the soundtrack of her 2004 film Lost in Translation, for which she won a screenwriting Oscar. Coppola, the daughter of director Francis Ford Coppola, most recently wrote and directed Marie Antoinette, a biopic about the French queen starring Kirsten Dunst.

Planet Gossip 

Maybe her daughter and Matt Lauer’s son can hook up in the future since they were born on the same day!

WGAY-TV, America’s first free-to-air terrestrial TV station aimed at LGBT audiences, will launch in Key West, Florida at midnight on January 1, 2007. The station plans to expand nationally on cable, and will be carried on cable in Key West from launch. "Our goal is to offer a variety of free programming both online and through local cable affiliates that will appeal to the diverse gay and lesbian population," said Jason Sherwood, the station’s co-founder and general manager. The channel will be available in Key West on UHF channel 41.

Digital Spy 

You can check out the station at WGAY.tv.

Earlier today, we told you how Eagles of Death Metal got booted from their opening slot on the Guns N’ Roses tour after just one gig, with GNR fans booing them roundly and Axl calling them “Pigeons of Shit Metal” during his set. Well, the Eagles have responded: “At first the audience refused to welcome us to the jungle, but by the time we took our final bow, it had become paradise city. Although Axl tried to November rain on our parade, no sweet child o’ mine can derail the EODM night train. We say live and let die.” While the Eagles’ rebuttal may be just as silly as Axl’s diss, big ups to them for not dipping so low as to mention Axl’s hideous cornrows, shaky voice, or how, you know, GNR’s new album has been delayed longer than the return of Christ.

Rolling Stone 

I never heard of them before this, but I am sure we will all be hearing a lot about them in the near future!

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