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Eyal Booker was catapulted into fame last year after taking part in the phenomenon that is Love Island, the ITV2 reality show that's become beloved all over the world.

The 23-year-old appeared on Celebs Go Dating after his stint in the Spanish villa, and definitely knows his stuff when it comes to reality TV romance. 

We caught up with the model and TV star at the launch of a massively-exciting essence lip collection. Their Lip Saviours range features 52 fabulous products including lipsticks, lipglosses, lipliners and liquid lipsticks.

Eyal Booker at the essence Lip Saviours launch in Dublin

Oh, did we mention that they're all under €4? essence have also created the ultimate lip look book to offer you dozens of options to create your signature look.

essence also prides itself on it's cruelty-free status, so you can mix and match to find your glamorous, natural, vibrant, glossy, understated or matte lip looks without worrying about animal testing.

Eyal Booker is representing the ground-breaking beauty brand, which sponsors both Love Island on Virgin Media player as well as the biggest pageant in the country; Miss Ireland 2019.

Of course, we simply had to ask him his opinions on our Irish exports, namely Longford lass Maura Higgins.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Luckily for us, he's a big fan;

“I love the Irish contestants, I love Maura. I just loved her from the start. I think that the way she’s entered the villa, the way that she’s held herself, the things she comes out with; I think she’s a powerful, independent woman who’s proud of who she is and stands up for what she believes in and says what she wants. I think that that’s really inspiring for young women out there, and she’s a good influence and good person to have within the public eye and society”.

“She’s going to have a good career. At first, it took a little time to get used to her but now we can’t get enough of her. She’s contagious and just says it how it is. That goes a long way in this show.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The latest controversy to shake the villa is, of course, the meltdown between Anna Vakili and Jordan Hames.

The model asked Anna to be his girlfriend only days ago, yet pulled India Reynolds aside for a chat (on Curtis' advice) to confess his feelings for her, while Anna was only metres away.

What does Eyal think was going through his head? The pair were dumped from the villa last night, but were they authentic?

“I don’t know where that’s come from (Jordan’s feelings for India), I don’t know what Jordan was thinking. They’ve screwed each other over within the process, you know when Anna left him for Ovie and then came back to him and now Jordan’s about to do the same. As much as they’re trying to make us believe their relationship, I don’t buy the reasons that they’re in the villa. I just think they want to be genuine but they’re actually just not that into each other.”

ITV bosses have faced numerous accusations that the reality show is a 'fix', with claims made against the honesty of each character.

In Eyal's time in the villa, he denies that the show every forced anyone into a certain narrative of hero or villain, womaniser or gentleman;

“They don’t try and create something that’s not there. They highlight some things over others, in terms of the edit. I wasn’t just this spiritual, tree-hugging guy but that’s a lot of what I was made out to be. You can’t all be the same, and they edit everyone a different way. There’s no one there saying ‘You should do this’ or ‘You should do that’.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Other criticisms made against the show involve the noteworthy emphasis on physique and appearance. Does Eyal think the show has contributed to the continued popularity of beauty pageants like Miss Ireland?

“Pageants have always been popular and I think with social media and the world that we live in, they can grow even quicker and bigger because there’s accessibility to a wider audience. I think Love Island showcases the fact that it can reach such a vast and big audience. It encourages other people to get on social media and get on platforms and use that platform in order to further themselves."

Amy Hart recently posted an Instagram snap of a charity who she works with closely, but trolls commented that the image was 'boring'. Social media presence is a huge part of Love Island stars' careers when many of them leave, but do they control who they work with and their brand?

According to Eyal; “We have complete control. When I came out of the villa, I got a management because I needed to manage everything that was going on. They try and guide you in a direction that they see fit for you but also a direction that you see fit for yourself. It’s just a discussion that you have. We have incredible platforms when we come out, and I think charity is a big thing on people’s minds and people want to use their platform for good as well. It’s something that a lot of people go into and become ambassadors for because, as much as you’re reaping the rewards of having such a huge platform and getting all of these brand deals, you also want to give back to people in less fortunate positions."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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He continued; "Charity is a nice thing to do, I’ve always worked with them but now I’m doing on them on a bigger scale because I’ve got a bigger audience.”

“I work with World Vision, very closely. I’m an ambassador for them, and I also work with the RSPCA and Dog’s Trust. I’ve always loved animals, all animals, and animal welfare. World Vision is to do with young children and their families in areas of conflict or disaster, and it’s about sending emergency response and helping them further themselves. Children are the future, they’re the generation who are going to shape our world and who are going to be here when we’re not. Providing them with the best possible tools in order to have the best and brightest future is essential for our world to get better and better.”

Another problematic aspect of the show, arguably, is their continuous sponsorship from fast fashion brands. The stars wear different ensembles every day in the villa, with companies like I Saw It First working with the reality show.

Once the Islanders leave the villa, many of them will work with branding constantly, showing a materialistic lifestyle via their social platforms. Does Eyal see an issue with this side of Love Island life?

“It’s an interesting one, I actually hadn’t heard that until now. I think there’s two sides to this story. I think that everyone’s individual style and fashion showcases the fact that you can self-express and be who you want to be, and dress and wear what you want to wear. I think fast fashion is affordable for people, but at the same time, fast fashion is one of the biggest polluters of our environment. It contributes to huge amount of emissions and pollution and adds to climate change."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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He continues; "It’s one of those things where we want instant gratification and we want to be able to purchase all the things that we want for a low price but we don’t really see at which cost we’re getting them at and how detrimental it is to our environment. I’m in a Catch 22 about that one, I work with some fast fashion brands and I would like to think I’m an environmentalist and I care about our planet. I think there’s a balance that we can find within it. Although fast fashion, although it’s been around for a while, it has only just come into play and become as popular as it is. It’s about us starting to regulate that and coming on board with how we as a society consume things and over-consume things.”

Does he do his homework on the brands that he associates with, when it comes to ethics?

essence is cruelty-free which is part of the reason I’m at this event. I couldn’t be an ambassador for, let’s say the RSPCA who campaign against animal testing, and then a brand who test on animals. We’re only human and we make mistakes, we overlook things, but we try as hard as we can to highlight the things that align with me and then we go from there.”

The show is undeniably heteronormative, and excludes the majority of the population.

With Love Island spreading Stateside and now to South Africa for the winter edition, does he think these expansion moves could mean an LGBTQ+ version could be in the pipeline soon?

“I think it would take some time for people to catch on to. I’ve grown up within an entertainment, performing world, I don’t differentiate between anyone; your sex, the colour of your skin, your appearance; whatever you are, you are. But I think we, as a society, whether we like it or not are still evolving and still changing and becoming aware of the LGBTQ+ community. I think as much as I’d like to say that there’d be no stigmas attached and no judgements, if we see what judgements come from Love Island and how much stick people can get as heterosexuals, then we have to be realistic at what the response would be. I think that that’s the way it’s going to go, and eventually there will be all kinds of shows for all kinds of people, but we have to ease it in slowly.”

Feature image: Instagram/@eyalbooker

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Amber Rose is getting massive backlash from fans after she advertised weight-loss tea while she's pregnant.

The 35-year-old is expecting her first baby with husband AE – aka Alexander Edwards.

She is already mum to six-year-old Sebastian with ex, Wiz Khalifa.

The model took to Instagram to promote Flat Tummy Tea.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Amber Rose (@amberrose) on

She wrote, ''Okay listen up @flattummyco just launched an Organic Pregnancy Tea to help us moms with those bloated, nauseous, blah feeling days! It’s safe to take while pregnant and breastfeeding.''

She continued, ''This is not a detox tea – it’s specially designed to help reduce occasional nausea and support digestion during pregnancy – haters stop riding the bandwagon and think for yourselves.''

However, her fans were outraged at her advocating detox tea during pregnancy. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Amber Rose (@amberrose) on

One said, ''Come now amber I respect you and all that but I doubt this stuff good for a pregnant woman to take.''

While another wrote, ''Another shameless ad for "magic tea" perpetuating the need to have a flat tummy… Now aimed at pregnant women! Ily. You're supposed to be a feminist. You have enough money. Seriously just stop.''

Jameela Jamil also took to social media to give her opinion.

She said, ''FLAT TUMMY PRODUCTS FOR… PREGNANT WOMEN? Is this FDA approved? Are we… KIDDING?''

What do you think?

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The tackiest night in Irish television is upon us once more. 

Every year, we send an act to some European capital to sing and dance onstage alongside the rest of the EU in the hopes of taking home the trophy and hosting the same thing the following year in our capital. 

We've won the thing a record-breaking seven times (and three years back-to-back which is INSANE) and although the last few years have seen our luck dissipate, we still enjoy a good Eurovision party every May.

This year, however, isn't like any other.

The 64th edition of the competition is set to take place this Saturday in Tel Aviv, Israel.  

Image result for eurovision

So what exactly is the boycott and why is it happening?  

It centers on Israel's alleged human rights abuses towards the Palestinian people, with Gaza-based Palestinian Artists Association has since accused Israel of using the event to “perpetuate oppression, promote injustice or whitewash a brutal apartheid regime”.

There has been a petition signed by many famous faces who say that by letting Israel host the Eurovision, we are supporting the violation of Palestinian human rights.

Among those who have signed it are band Wolf Alice, Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters while a counter-letter has been penned by Stephen Fry, Sharon Osbourne, Marina Abramovic, and Scooter Braun.

The letter states that ''Spirit of togetherness is under attack by those calling to boycott Eurovision 2019 because it is being held in Israel, subverting the spirit of the contest and turning it from a tool of unity into a weapon of division.''

The crux of the whole thing boils down to the fact that those who are for the competition to go ahead are saying that they are so because the contest is not supposed to be political in any way and they are not performing for politicians.

Instead, they are for putting on a show for the people, the audience, for entertainment and unity.

It will be broadcast by both RTE and BBC and both stations have issued statements to this effect. 

RTE said, ''As a long-running non-political, entertainment event, the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) is designed to bring audiences and countries together. RTÉ is confident that the European Broadcasting Union and the host broadcaster will take all necessary steps to safeguard the non-political character of the event throughout the organization of the competition.''

BBC meanwhile echoed a similar sentiment.

They said, ''The competition has always supported the values of friendship, inclusion, tolerance, and diversity and we do not believe it would be appropriate to use the BBC’s participation for political reasons. Because of this, we will be taking part in this year’s event. The host country is determined by the rules of the competition, not the BBC.”

The irony here is why their point might be seen as acceptable where the host country is involved in minor conflict or political unease when it comes to the case in Israel, it's not the same.

Rory Cowen of Mrs. Browns' Boys' has been vocal on social media and tv in his support for the contest taking place in Tel Aviv and he tweeted, ''We were there in Russia, in Turkey, in Azerbaijan, in the UK, etc. We went to perform in many countries that were involved in conflicts. It would be discriminatory to single out just one not to go to'' to which he received a reply saying, ''Israel is not involved in a conflict. The Israeli regime is involved in the systematic extermination of the Palestinian people. Quite a different thing altogether.''

Ireland's entrant Sarah McTernan is getting ready to take to the stage for tomorrow nights second semi-final.

The Clare native, who will sing 22, had to hit back at the massive backlash she has gotten for going to Tel Aviv.

She said, ''Everybody has their opinion on the issue, which is totally fine, but we’re about the music, and about spreading the love and the music, and that’s what Eurovision is about. We’re here, and we’re loving it.''

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Sarah McTernan (@sar_ious) on

There is a really strong for-against that appears to be happening in the media.

Madonna, who is set to perform at the live final this Saturday, is determined to perform despite the loud callings for a boycott.

The numbers are low for fans travelling from Ireland to Tel Aviv – Diarmuid Furlong, president of Ireland’s Eurovision Fan Club confirmed that there would only be 30.

And overall, there will only be 5,000 or so foreign fans in Tel Aviv, much less than hoped for by organisers…these figures speak for themselves.

What will you be doing this Saturday – tuning in or blocking it out?

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There's nothing we love more than a good rom-com and The Notebook is just iconic.

From Rachel McAdams and Ryan Goslings fizzing chemistry to the cool 1940s fashion to teh absolute sob-fest of a finale, you can't go wrong with it.

Unless you're Netflix that is.

The streaming service has come under extreme fire on social media after fans were baffled at what appeared to be an alternate ending.

Image result for notebook ending gif

Alternate…ending…of The Notebook?!

No, it cant be: Noah and Allie dance, Allie remembers their epic love story for a millisecond and then forgets and they die peacefully in each others arms we're bawling so hard at this stage.

However, in Netflix' version, after Allie remembers their love, they are seen holding hands before the credits roll.

Obvs fans went mad on social media – and rightfully so. 

One said, ''DO NOT EVEN DARE GIVE US YOUR WEIRD EDITED VERSION OF THE NOTEBOOK. That ending is sacred!''

While another wrote, ''The @netflix in the UK doesn't show the full ending to The Notebook & I'm actually about to riot.''

We hear you.

Netflix was alerted to all the dramz and took to Twitter to reassure viewers that they didn't edit the beloved flick.

They said that an alternate version exists and they played the one that they were given.

They soon updated the situation by writing, ''We've we've uploaded the correct (is it correct? who knows at this point) version so the familiar ending is restored.''

Well thank f*ck for that – now we're off to stock up on tissues and give the classic another watch.

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Pete Davidson, comedian and former fiancé of Ariana Grande, has returned to the stand-up circuit and things haven't exactly gone as planned.

He has continued to make appearances on Saturday Night Live, and his shows have gone relatively well all things considered. However, he ran into trouble last night with an insensitive heckler.

During his set at the South Orange Performing Arts Center in New Jersey, the 25-year-old comedian was in the middle of a joke, and said, “My friend died in my apartment,” when a fan yelled out "Mac Miller"?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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recording obtained by TMZ hears Davidson immediately halting the show and asking, “Who’s that guy? We’re getting him out.” The room went silent as the SNL star urged the audience to point the heckler out.

He referred to the man who shouted the tasteless gag as a “f*ck-face," before threatening to leave the venue if the heckler wasn't kicked out.  “I will not continue until that kid is gone,” Davidson said in the clip. “Find him.”

His ex-fiancé Ariana Grande dated Mac Miller for years, before splitting with the rapper and he subsequently died of a drug overdose last September.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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"I'll leave," Davidson can be heard saying. "So if you want the show continue, call out the person who did it, get him the f*** out. I don't deal with that s**t. This show is just for fun, so I'm not going to have that s**t at my show."

His comments were met by applause after the heckler was kicked out of the venue. Davidson has performed a number of stand-up shows in New York since the start of the year, but clearly has zero time for bullsh*t about his personal life.

Grande split from the 25-year-old in October, and paid tribute to ex-boyfriend Miller on her new album thank u, next and also thanked Davidson for his patience as she dealt with the trauma from Miller's death.

Feature image: Instagram/@petedavidsons/@macmillerdivine

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Rami Malek is a treasure who must be protected at ALL COSTS.

The 37-year-old won the prestigious Best Actor gong at the 91st Academy Awards last night, his first win and nomination, so his nerves are understandable.

The adorable, immensely talented actor was kissing his co-star girlfriend Lucy Boynton the entire night, and we don't blame him. It was basically Wezz. He declared his love for her in his speech, and pretty much everyone melted.

Malek and Boynton play Freddie Mercury and Mary Austin in Bohemian Rhapsody, which was the biggest winner of the night but failed to win Best Picture, and the world has fallen in love with them.

On stage, Rami professed his love for the 25-year-old English actress before falling off afterwards and had to be treated by paramedics, which will 100 percent make a great story to tell the grandkids.

He said, "Lucy Boynton, you are the heart of this film, you are beyond immensely talented, you have captured my heart. Thank you so much." AW. He also opened up about his Egyptian heritage;

Malek is apparently moving to London to be around his love, after totally falling for her. The poor lad even fell off the stage with the shock of his award, with People reporting that Malek was moved to a private area backstage.

"Paramedics appeared to rush to the actor's aide, who was photographed seated in the front row with his Oscars statuette still in hand. Malek was then moved to a private area backstage, where he received further treatment for possible injuries."

Malek was unable to pose with Mahershala Ali, Regina King and Olivia Colman, who also won big at the Academy Awards in the Dolby theatre. He was featured in a photo with them after the ceremony however.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Bohemian Rhapsody was the biggest winner of the night, taking home the awards for Best Actor, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Film Editing.

Spike Lee, director of BlacKkKlansman, was NOT happy when Green Book took home Best Picture, which has been controversially labelled a "white saviour" movie.

Queen featuring Adam Lambert opened up the Oscars instead of an opening monologue, as the ceremony went hostless without Kevin Hart.

Feature image: Instagram/@raami.malekk

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News hit yesterday that the iconic fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, the prolific creative director of Chanel and formerly Fendi, had passed away aged 85.

Tributes poured in from celebrities and members of the fashion industry alike, but the question on everyone's lips was; "What will become of his beloved pet cat, Choupette?"

Last year, the eccentric and controversial designer said that his cat would be one of the heirs to his $200 million fortune.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Choupette Lagerfeld (@choupettesdiary) on

A statement from The House of Karl Lagerfeld confirmed his death, having died in a Parisian hospital after being admitted on Monday night, according to French news site Pure People.

While the cause of death is not yet known, French newspaper Le Figaro reported that Lagerfeld had been "weak for many weeks."

He was juggling work as the creative director of Chanel, Fendi and his own brand, Karl Lagerfeld at the time of his death, but last April he told Numéro that he'd had "every test under the sun and they can't find anything wrong,"

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Choupette Lagerfeld (@choupettesdiary) on

He went into great detail about what he would want for his funeral, and who would inherit his fortune, which was reported to be around $200 million when he died (€170,000)

"There will be no burial. I'd rather die," Lagerfeld said of his funeral. "I've asked to be cremated and for my ashes to dispersed with those of my mother … and those of Choupette, if she dies before me."

He was asked whether Choupette would inherit his fortune, and he answered; "Among others, yes. Don't worry, there is enough for everyone."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Choupette Lagerfeld (@choupettesdiary) on

He told CNN back in 2013 that: "There is no marriage, yet, for human beings and animals … I never thought I would fall in love like this with a cat."

Choupette had an entire fashion collection dedicated and created for her, called Choupette in Love. Her eyes were even the inspiration for a Chanel haute couture collection, the dazzling blue having enraptured Lagerfeld.

A book titled Choupette: The Private Life of a High-Flying Cat was published in 2014, and she apparently earns $4 million a year after appearing in ad campaigns for Shu Uemura and German car company Vauxhall.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Choupette Lagerfeld (@choupettesdiary) on

Lagerfeld once told Harper's Bazaar that Choupette had two maids, was cared for by his driver, and ate and drank out of dishes made by Goyard, a Parisian luxury goods maker best known for its handbags.

"She has one for water, one for her little croquette, and one for her pâté," he said in 2012, also mentioning that two maids monitored her day, including "two daily brushings." He also told Numéro that Choupette dined with him.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Choupette Lagerfeld (@choupettesdiary) on

"Now she's an adult she dines with me. She sits opposite me and eats what she has to eat. Before she might have attacked any old prawn, but now she will only touch the four different dishes prepared for her on that day, served in fabulous bowls."

No one knows yet who will take care of Choupette now that her dad has passed on, but she's sure to be pampered for the rest of her days.

Feature image: Evening Standard

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TMZ are reporting that Katy Perry is under fire for including designs in her shoe range which resemble blackface.

Her eponymous shoe line, Katy Perry Collections, include two styles; the 'Rue Face Slip-On Loafers' and 'Ora Face Block Heel Sandals'. Both are being pulled from retail shops due to the backlash.

In a statement representing the brand, a spokesperson said; "In order to be respectful and sensitive, the team is in the process of pulling the shoes."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by KATY PERRY (@katyperry) on

The loafers came in two colours, nude and black, and the high-heeled versions in black and gold. The designs feature blue eyes, bright red lips and a triangular-shaped nose, which has some Twitter users feeling VERY angry.

An image of the shoes was posted to the Roar singer's Instagram last August and there was serious criticism in the comments section.

Numerous fashion brands have come under fire for allegations of blackface, with Prada and Gucci especially receiving negative attention.

Numerous fashion brands have come under fire for allegations of blackface, with Prada and Gucci especially receiving negative attention.

Perry's shoes are currently available at Dillard's and Walmart and cost a whopping $129, but will be removed.

Feature image: Women's Health

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An online petition is quickly gaining traction which calls for actor Liam Neeson to be scrapped from the new Men in Black: International movie.

The Taken and Cold Pursuit star is facing massive backlash after an interview with The Independent saw him admit to roaming the streets hunting for a "black b*stard" to kill after a close friend was raped.

The interview was published on Monday, and already the repercussions have been stark. The actor cancelled an appearance on Stephen Colbert's US talk show, and the premiere of his new film was cancelled.

Now fans of Men in Black are calling for him to be re-cast, and it's gotten ugly.

Neeson went on Good Morning America to insist that he's not racist in a follow-up interview, but many people were of the opinion that he made the matter even worse, and want him gone from the upcoming reboot.

The remake stars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, and is based on the iconic Will Smith sci-fi alien film..

One Twitter user wrote that they "hope it’s not too late to digitally erase" the Northern Irish actor from the movie, with a source reporting to The Sun that: “Mounting pressure on Neeson to be axed won’t go unnoticed.”

Many of us probably are totally unaware that he's even cast in the film…

Speaking about his interview with The Independent, Neeson tried to explain his actions:

“We were doing a press junket and the topic of our film was revenge. The lady journalist (Clémence Michallon) was asking, "How do you tap into that?" and I remembered an incident nearly 40 years ago when a friend of mine was brutally raped I was out of the country and when I came back she told me about this."

“I had never felt this feeling before which was a primal urge to lash out.”

Whoopi Goldberg jumped to Neeson's defence on The View, saying she believes he's "not a bigot", and former England football player John Barnes also praised him for admitting his guilt, saying that if we don't acknowledge racism, how can we tackle it?

Men in Black: International will be released in UK cinemas on June 14.

Feature image: Twitter/@heroichollywood

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It seems like every celebrity has been getting themselves into a spot of bother lately, even heartthrob singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes.

The 20-year-old Canadian artist has let his guitar-strumming fingers 'accidentally' like a transphobic tweet, and Twitter went OFF.

The tweet is hella offensive for trans people, so bear in mind it could be triggering to see. In essence, it makes a joke about testicular cancer for trans women, and Shawn liked it either by mistake or on purpose.

His fans were quick to point it out to him, telling him to unlike the tweet immediately and apologise for any unintentional harm caused. His fans definitely have some good sense..

The Stitches singer replied pretty promptly, explaining that he had accidentally liked the tweet while scrolling through his feed (hmm).

"Must of accidentally liked it scrolling down a feed, you know me and I'd never. Sorry," he tweeted to his 20 million followers.

He tweeted a simple, 'Love you' afterwards, most likely thanking his devoted fans for spotting a mistake which could have landed him in even more trouble had he not explained and apologised.

Why did a transphobic tweet pop up in his feed, though? He does follow over 50,000 accounts so it is probably difficult to keep track of all the comments coming his way.

He has also been very supportive of the LGBT+ community in the past. 

When producer Teddy Geiger transitioned last year, Shawn urged others to "just open your eyes and open your mind, because, for me, going through one of my closest friends going through a very big transition period in her life, was incredible to watch."

Feature image credit: esmondstation.com

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We've all experienced the highs and lows of Facebook, but recently it seems like the lows are endless.

From controversy surrounding Mark Zuckerberg, reports of paying children for labour to eavesdrop on conversations and using our own data for the company's agenda, it seems like the drama ain't worth the effort.

Now, researchers at New York University and Stanford University are saying that deactivating Facebook for just FOUR WEEKS can lead to a big improvement in people's mental health.

The researchers focused their study on the impact of quitting the social network on their mental health and behaviour.

The Welfare Effects of Social Media took place in the lead-up to the 2018 midterm elections in the US and 2,844 users took part in the study. The participants used the platform for over 15 minutes per day.

When the candidates deactivated their Facebook accounts, there was a noticeable increase in offline activities, like socialising with friends and family members.

Their well-being was also boosted, but the people involved were less informed about current events.

Image: Fossbytes

Researchers also discovered that anyone who deactivated their Facebook accounts were more likely to see a consistent reduction in their use of the social media app after the experiment concluded.

The authors wrote; "Our study offers the largest-scale experimental evidence available to date on the way Facebook affects a range of individual and social welfare measures,"

"Deactivation caused people to appreciate Facebook’s both positive and negative impacts on their lives," they said.

In a statement to The Washington Post a spokesperson for Facebook said its teams are working on creating meaningful connections across its platform. "This is one study of many on this topic and is should be considered that way," they said

Feature image; Gizbot

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The rumour mill is swirling about a possible new Cleopatra movie, but the internet has already summoned up the inevitable backlash which comes with casting nowadays.

Cleopatra has featured in over TWENTY movies, tv shows and animations, and has been portrayed previously by Hollywood queen Elizabeth Taylor, Vivien Leigh and Claudette Colbert.

Allegedly, a new biopic about the Egyptian ruler is in the works from Sony, with Lady Gaga and Angelina Jolie as frontrunners to be considered for the role.

Elizabeth Taylor infamously played the role, and also popularised kohl eyeliner and black wigs in the meantime. Vivien Leigh and Claudette Colbert also had their chance to play her back in the day.

However, there's a serious debate over Cleopatra's ethnicity, with some Twitter users claiming a black or ethnically diverse actress deserves the chance to play the character.

Others argue that Cleopatra was of Greek and Macedonian descent, which technically means she was Caucasian… so Twitter is pretty divided to say the least.

Complex starring roles for women are still far and few between in Hollywood, meaning that this role is the chance of a lifetime for an actress.

Twitter debate about Cleopatra began as a Lady Gaga vs Angelina battle, but it was soon asked whether a white woman should play her at all.

IMDb list the new biopic as in production, with Angelina Jolie being considered since back in 2014, but Lady Gaga's newfound Hollywood fame resulted in her name being suggested.

Social media users are now mentioning women of colour in a bid to give them a deserved chance, including big names such as Rihanna, Beyoncé, Priyanka Chopra, Jameela Jamil and Jennifer Lopez.

Hollywood's lengthy history of shutting out actresses and actors of colour from contention has proven problematic, I mean did anyone see Prince of Persia? Jake Gyllenhaal, you should have known better.

According to Vox, in 2009 archaeologists discovered the remains of a woman they're convinced is Princess Arsinoe, who was Cleopatra’s sister. Her remains indicated that her mother was African.

Egyptologist Sally Ann Ashton created a 3D computer animated image of Cleopatra as a brown-skinned woman using forensics.

According to Ashton: “She probably wasn’t just completely European. You’ve got to remember that her family had actually lived in Egypt for 300 years by the time she came to power.”

No one has fully confirmed her ethnicity, with some researchers maintaining that she was pure-blooded Macedonian, and others disagreeing. 

Whatever her ethnicity is, maybe at least give diverse actresses an audition? Bit of equality in Hollywood never hurt anyone…

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