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By Larry Yepez Jr

Back from her widely criticized appearance to celebrate the controversial Chechen president, Hillary Swank has begun to fire those responsible for arranging her visit.

U.K.'s The Independent Newspaper reported that Swank fired her friend and manager of eight years, Jason Weinberg, whom she thanked during her speech after winning the best actress Oscar for Million Dollar Baby.

The two-time Oscar-winning actress had accepted a six-figure fee for her exclusive happy birthday wish to Chechnya's autocratic President Ramzan Kadyrov, who is accused of the torturing dissidents, political assassinations and encouraging citizens to abuse immodestly dressed women.

Swank' decision comes three weeks after human rights groups blasted the actress along with Jean-Claude Van Damme, violinist Vanessa Mae and singer Seal for attending the 35th birthday party of Chechnya's president. Swank pledged to donate her fee to "various charitable organizations," and said "[she] deeply regrets attending."

Prior to the event, Weinberg -whose clients include Madonna, Demi Moore and Lindsay Lohan- reportedly told New York-based organization Human Rights Foundation that Hilary "had no plans to attend."

Creative Arts Agency reps Amie Yavor and Josh Lieberman, who traveled with Hilary to the event, also received their pink slips and were pulled off of Swank's team. It looks like Swank has no plans to end her relationship with CAA, since her partner of five years, John Campisi, works for the agency.

Do you think Hillary did the right thing?

Tags Amie Yavor, CAA, Demi Moore, Hillary, Hillary Swank, Jean-Claude Van DammeCreative Arts Agency, John Campisi, Josh Lieberman, Lindsay Lohan, Madonna, Million Dollar Baby, Oscsar, Ramzan Kadyrov, Seal, Vanessa Mae

By Michael Lopez

News of Kim Kardashian's quickie divorce definitely shocked most of America. But interestingly, one person who also claims to have been "blindsided" is her soon-to-be ex husband, Kris Humphries!

Kris reportedly learned about his divorce through the TMZ website. Their cameras caught the New Jersey Nets star shortly after the story broke and it's clear he was visibly shaken by the news.

"I'm committed to this marriage and everything this covenant represents," Humphries said. "I love my wife and am devastated to learn she filed for divorce. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make it work."

Interestingly, the breakup may affect Kris' professional career too. Currently a free agent, Humphries stock in the basketball world rose heavily because of his famous wife. With Kim in the stands, a lot more eyes were focused on Nets games. Now, they may be clicking their TVs over to Divorce Court.

Do you think Kim gave up on her marriage too quick? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrity Divorce, Chisme, Kim Kardashian, Kris Humphries, NBA, New Jersey Nets, popnews

By Michael Lopez

It looks like Marc Anthony is seriously enjoying scouting for talent on his new show ¡Q’Viva!. The newly-single crooner hit up Costa Rica this past week to film some segments and, by the looks of things, to get his party on!

TMZ posted pix of a very inebriated Anthony smiling and wrapping his arm around female crew member, Dianna Perez. The production team reportedly threw a huge party while in the country, which Marc took full advantage of.

Reports claim that he jumped into the DJ booth, posed for pictures, and even let Perez plant a big kiss on his cheek! Though his ex Jennifer is also a producer on the show, it appears she skipped the festivities.

We're actually very curious to see if any of the party footage actually makes it into the show. ¡Q’Viva!, after all, is supposed to be a reality expose, crew member kisses and all! We'll find out when the series debuts in early 2012.

Have you ever partied in Costa Rica? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags ¡Q’Viva!, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Costa Rica, Dianna Perez, Marc Anthony, Television

By Michael Lopez

Well, it's official. Puss In Boots is a bona fide smash. The Shrek spinoff scored big bucks at the box office this weekend. And the film's voice cast seemed to see its potential from the moment they stepped in the recording studio, as they explained to us at a recent press conference.

"Working on this film was so much fun," Salma Hayek explained. "Chris Miller is an amazing director. I really cherished the experience I had with him and he really pushed me to explore improvisation and comedy."

And having seen the film, we can definitely vouch for Hayek's comedy chops. Here, she plays the elusive Kitty Softpaws, a new addition to the Shrek universe and a fitting rival for the overconfident Puss (who happens to be voiced by her longtime collaborator Antonio Banderas).

Antonio told us he was thrilled to be playing Puss for the fourth time. He first voiced the character in 2004's Shrek 2 and has been closely associated with swashbuckling kitty ever since.

"Doing this movie was just so easy and fun," he said. "You never feel rushed here like you do in a non-animated feature film."

We're sure part of the "fun" came from Banderas' new animated costar, Humpty Dumpty. Voiced by The Hangover’s Zach Galifianakis, the egg-shaped sidekick has some hilarious lines and a bit of a crafty side too.

"I think Humpty Dumpty is a bit all over the place," Zach said. 'He's a little bit dangerous, but I think he's really trying to have a friendship with Puss. I think deep down in his yolk, he's a good guy."

Other colorful cast members include Amy Sedaris and Billy Bob Thornton as the demented couple Jack & Jill. The Puss In Boots versions of these nursery rhyme favorites are not quite like you would imagine. Here, they're gun-toting outlaws eager for a piece of Puss' hide!

"Fairy tales and nursery rhymes are pretty dark in general," Billy Bob said when describing Jack 2.0. "It was great recreating these edgy and weird characters."

So even though Shrek and Donkey may be gone, it looks like the orange tabby is in some very good company with Puss In Boots!

Who's your favorite Shrek character? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Amy Sedaris, Antonio Banderas, Billy Bob Thornton, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Movies & CineMás, Puss In Boots, Salma Hayek, Shrek, Tr3s Exclusives, Zach Galifianakis

By Michael Lopez

Had a chance to see any pictures of Joseph Baena yet? If so, you'll know that the 14-year-old love child of Arnold Schwarzenegger and his Latina housekeeper bears a striking resemblance to dear old Dad. But even more striking, is seeing Arnie 2.0 in a full Conan the Barbarian costume! Yup, Joseph dressed up like one of papa's most famous characters over Halloween weekend.

Spotted making his way into Six Flags' Fright Fest, Baena was accompanied by his mother Mildred and an unnamed family member. TMZ got some close up shots of the two, which show Joseph posing with a giant plastic sword.

Of course, some could argue that Baena was emulating the modern-day Conan, Jason Momoa. But we don't seem to think so. With his fuzzy vest, black bandana, and huge boots, he's the spitting image of Schwarzenegger's 80's sword slinger.

Judging by all the chisme he's been surrounded with, we doubt Arnold made a popular Halloween costume this year. But on the flipside, Baena's mom has become a very trendy personality to emulate…just ask George Lopez.

What do you think about Joseph's Halloween costume? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Arnold Schwarzenegger, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chisme, Conan the Barbarian, Halloween, Joseph Baena, Mildred Baena, popnews

By Larry Yepez Jr.

Tragedy struck the star-studded set of Expendables 2 when Silverster Stallone's stuntman working on the film was killed in Bulgaria this week.

According to producers, the stuntman was killed during an accident involving a n inflatable rubber boat and an explosion late Thursday night. Two stuntmen were involved in the scene; the second suffered serious injuries and is fighting for his life in the hospital in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and he is now said to be in stable condition.

The production companies involved, Nu Image and Millennium Films, released a statement saying:

"It is with great regret that we confirm this unfortunate accident. Our hearts go out to the families and those on the production affected by this tragedy. The filmmakers are working closely with the authorities in responding to and investigating this accident."

The accident occurred while the second unit filmed at the Ognyanovo Dam in Bulgaria, 15 miles just outside the capital, Sofia.

Expendables 2 is the sequel to the 2010 action film written and directed by Stallone. The film is scheduled to hit theaters next August and stars Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, Jet Li,  Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Tags Arnold Schwarzenegger, Blogger: Larry Yepez Jr, Bruce Willis, Bulgaria, Chuck Norris, Expendables 2, Jason Statham, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jet Li, Millennium Films, Nu Image, Ognyanovo Dam, Silverster Stallone, Sylvester Stallone

By Michael Lopez

Hungry for a little R-rated entertainment this holiday season? Not to worry. Lovable big screen stoners Harold and Kumar are back in theaters this weekend with their 3D Christmas movie. And their creators, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, spoke with us about what to expect for this latest outing.

"We really love these characters," Schlossberg said at the H&K press junket. "We always wanted to continue their journey. We ended the first movie with a 'To Be Continued' in the hopes we could keep writing more."

And interestingly, each Harold & Kumar film has become more and more successful. The first movie, Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, became a major cult hit on DVD and H&K 2 (titled Escape From Guantanamo Bay) grossed over $40 million at the box office. Hurwitz confessed that after that kind of success, the studio was eager for a third installment.

"When Harold & Kumar 2 came out, the first Friday it did very well," Jon explained. "We actually got a call that Saturday from the studio asking if we’d be willing to do a third one."

And now, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas has arrived. And this time, the guys have surrounded themselves with a very colorful cast. Tr3s fave Danny Trejo has a memorable appearance as Harold's father-in-law and Bad Teacher's Tom Lennon adds laughs as the new buddy of the group. But the real clincher is the addition of 3D.

"We actually did not write our first draft knowing it was going to be in 3D," Hayden said. "The studio suggested that idea. Then we took a look at the script again and realized there's a lot of things that could be enhanced by 3D technology."

But rather than flying Na'vis and cute dolphins, H&K’s 3D elements include puffs of smoke, flying eggs, and munchie treats. Having seen the movie, we can definitely say that you've NEVER seen the third dimension used quite like this before.

But, Schlossberg and Hurwitz were quick to point out that this latest film also includes a new layer of maturity for the characters.

"We've aged the characters as we've aged," Jon said. "We're older now and we're deriving our comedy from different life circumstances."

You can see just how "evolved" Harold and Kumar have become when 3D Christmas hits theaters this Friday.

Are you planning on watching the new Harold & Kumar movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 3D, A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Harold & Kumar, Hayden Schlossberg, Jon Hurwitz, Movies & CineMás, Tr3s Exclusives

By Larry Yepez Jr

Looks like a "fairytale wedding" won't be having such a "happily ever after" ending after all! With only 72 days on the marriage calendar, reality star Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kris Humphries, today on Halloween, citing the typical, irreconcilable differences!

Ryan Seacrest, who is a friend of the family and the producer of Keeping Up With the Kardashians has confirmed the news! He tweeted,

"Yes, @kimkardashian is filing for divorce this morning. I touched base with her, getting a statement in just a few mins."

The filing comes after weeks of speculation of trouble in their brief marriage. Kardashian already had mentioned that living in New York City with her sister Kourtney, her boyfriend Scott Disick and their baby Mason wasn't an ideal situation for the newlyweds.

For Halloween, Kim dressed as Poison Ivy, hosted a Midori Green party and arrived with best friend Jonathan Cheban as her Robin. Batman's poisonous enemy said that her husband was not around because she was headed to Australia this week. Maybe she sent him there to pick up his Batman outfit while she ran to Britney and Angelina's lawyer, Laura Wesser, to file for divorce!!

But is it breaking news? I think we were all expecting this to happen sooner or later...well maybe not so soon, but hey it's really not a shocker! This is absolutely embarrassing not so much for Kris, who at the end of the day got his 15 minutes of fame, but for Kim, whose lavish and highly publicized ceremony came on the heels of the British royal wedding. But while the royal newlyweds are celebrating 6 months of marriage and going strong, the Hollywood wannabe-royals only lasted a mere 72 days together!

The buzz now is that this was all a scam and that the rapid courtship was part of a mega publicity stunt. The Kardashians made tons of money in sponsorship, endorsements and selling photos from Kim's wedding. There's also the two-part E! special of the affair.

Tags alex Rodriguez, Blogger: Larry Yepez Jr, Danilo Gallinari, Derek Jeter, E!, Jonathan Cheban, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney and Kim Take New York, Kourtney Kardashian, Kris Humphries, Laura Wesser, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, NFL, popnews, Ryan Seacrest, Scott Disick

By Michael Lopez

Yes, we know Halloween on a Monday can be a bit of a drag. But even if work and school obligations keep you from partying your heart out tonight, you can still enjoy a scare at home with the newly released DVD, Atrocious. Written and directed by Mexican filmmaker Fernando Barreda Luna, it's reality-based horror puts Paranormal Activity and Blair Witch to shame. Fernando spoke to us exclusively about what went into his monstrous masterpiece.

"This is my first movie," Barreda Luna told us. "And I'm really enjoying the reactions I’ve been receiving. It seems to have already built quite a following both in the U.S. and overseas."

Shot entirely in Spanish, Atrocious follows the lives of a brother and sister who delve into a creepy local legend. Could a missing girl from the 1940's really be haunting the woods outside their parents' summer home? The two adventurous teens are determined to find out and bring their home video camera to document their explorations.

We think you can imagine what happens next. In the tradition of all those "found footage" horror movies, the audience sees the siblings' tapes after their vicious slaughter. Was the ghost in the woods behind it? Fernando's unique shooting style will keep you guessing until the very end.

"I had a lot of inspiration from other movies when making Atrocious, particularly in the suspense genre," he said. "If you don’t see the monster, it can be a much scarier experience. I wanted to keep that idea of not knowing the monster. Our imagination can be much more scary than what’s showing on the screen."

Barreda Luna also confessed that budgetary limitations prevented him from creating intricate CGI ghouls. But, he felt that worked to his advantage and ultimately challenged him to create a better film.

"The original idea was for a much more straightforward movie," he said. "But because of budget limits, we decided to make a much smaller film. We adapted it to this 'found footage' style and it worked. Paranormal Activity kind of follows the same mold. There's a lot of suspense and a lot of drama, but it wasn't expensive to do."

Having seen the film, we can definitely vouch for Fernando's fright tactics. A lifelong scary movie fan, he's picked up some great techniques from the cinema's best horror directors. And seeing how it's Halloween, we had to ask what his favorite films from the genre are.

"I have like 40 favorite horror movies," he jokingly said. "Rob Zombie's stuff is great. But I also really love the classics, like the original Alien, John Carpenter's The Thing, and Poltergeist."

You can find out more of Barreda Luna's horror inspirations (and even download the movie) by visiting the official Atrocious website.

What's your favorite scary movie? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Atrocious, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Exclusive Entrevistas, Fernando Berreda Luna, Halloween, Horror Movies, Movies & CineMás, Paranormal Activity, The Blair Witch Project, Tr3s Exclusives

By Michael Lopez

Did the paparazzi get a shot of former RBD star Maite Perroni sunbathing topless? It seems like there may not be a definitive answer to that question just yet. Yes photos of a bare-breasted Perroni are circulating across the internet, but are they real or just the product of some creative Photoshop techniques? Whatever the case, Maite's boyfriend is piping mad about the incident.

"Si estás en tu casa, cada quien es libre de hacer lo que quiera," Perroni's steady Mane de la Parra said. "Lo que no se vale es que la gente se meta a tu privacidad, lo exponga y lo publique de esa manera, me parece una falta de respeto. Cualquier persona está en su derecho de ir a la playa y divertirse con sus amigos, no es nada nuevo."

Maite has remained mum on the subject, but we imagine she's also pretty peeved at the moment. The zoom lens definitely invaded her personal space. And if they went so far as to digitally remove her bikini, that's definitely crossing the line.

Whatever the outcome, it's nice to know that Perroni has a loyal boyfriend by her side. Mane (who's a popular Mexican singer in his own right) seems to be quite furious and, to be honest, we don't blame him.

Have you seen Maite’s “topless” pictures? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Chisme, Maite Perroni, Mane de la Parra, Photos, popnews