MAMBA GOSSIP

Talking Italian with Jake Gyllenhaal

One of the sexiest men in the universe, Jake Gyllenhaal, appears on the cover of the February edition of the Italian Vanity Fair. Here are a couple of pictures from the issue for your appreciation…

Noah’s Arc movie announced

If you’re a fan of the Noah’s Arc gay soap series screened at the Out In Africa festivals (sadly, like Queer as Folk, no local broadcaster has had the balls to pick it up), listen up. While many were disappointed that the ground-breaking show, about the lives of a group of African-American gay friends, was cancelled after two seasons there was talk that a big screen version was in the offing.

Well, now it’s official: The movie has been greenlit by Logo (the gay TV network). It’s been titled Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom and it’s confirmed that the luscious Darryl Stephens (who we interviewed a couple of years ago) will be back as Noah. The rest of the original cast are expected to also star. From what we hear, the film will pick up where the series left off and will feature a wedding…

Panic in the streets as Jane Fonda says the “c” word on television

Okay, perhaps we exaggerate a tad, but the Americans are up in arms after one of Hollywood’s most loved geriatrics when she said the dreaded “c” word while on national television. It all happened when she appeared live on The Today Show talking about one of the monologues in the stage play The Vagina Monologues. Jane was explaining how, when she first heard about the play, she wasn’t really interested: “…I was asked to do a monologue called Cunt, and I said, ‘I don’t think so. I’ve got enough problems,’ she said with a laugh. Later the host, Meredith Vieira, who appeared quite startled, apologised to viewers: “Jane Fonda inadvertently said a word from the play that you don’t say on television. It was a slip and she apologises, and so do we. We would do nothing to offend the audience so please accept that apology.” Check out the clip on Youtube.

Natalie comes out in support of gay marriage

When interviewed in the latest issue of W magazine, Natalie Portman came out firmly in support of same-sex marriage while, oddly, slating the institution in general. Speaking about her thoughts on getting married, the V For Vendetta star said, “I’m into monogamy. But I’m not really into marriage. I sort of hate the legal aspect of it. What does the state have to do with it?” She then went on to state, “Why are they making rules that say my lover can stay in the United States if they’re foreign or share my health care benefits because I’m straight – but if you’re gay, you can’t have that?”

Natalie shares the cover of W with actress Scarlett Johansson, who told the magazine in the joint interview that she is no slag: “I’ve been battered for saying that I don’t believe humans are monogamous by nature. The response was, like, ‘What a ho-bag!’ I didn’t mean that I don’t practice monogamy in my own life – of course I do! I’m not going to be in some tarty relationship. I remember another time, I said I get tested for Aids twice a year, and again that got spun as me being promiscuous. But I was single at the time, and I think it’s important to do that,” she said. With boyfriends ranging from Justin Timberlake to Ryan Reynolds we don’t imagine it would be hard to stay monogamous at all…

John Mayer does Borat

Now what was John Mayer thinking? While making an appearance and performing at a fan cruise in the Caribbean, the tasty singer felt compelled to try on a lime green one-piece Borat-style thong. Okay, we admit that it’s rather pleasing to see the star wearing as little as possible – but why-oh-why that particular outfit? In any case, the fans must have been mightily pleased at the rare glimpse of his man-flesh.

Ben Cohen supports gay rugby players

The studly and consistently gay-friendly UK rugby player Ben Cohen has talked about the lack of openly gay players in rugby (an interesting phenomenon that is also repeated in South Africa). In an interview with OutSports.com he said that he wouldn’t think it would be a problem for a player to come out the closet: “Most rugby players are cool about it and think that people should be allowed to live their lives how they want to, but I can’t speak for everyone,” he said.”I don’t know for sure, but my feelings are that if he were completely open about it, after the first bit of banter, things would calm down.” The happily married (to a woman) Ben has long nurtured his gay fan base and has appeared at a number of gay events.

More gay claims about Anna Nicole’s ex

Adding credence to other similar claims, Anna Nicole Smith’s former bodyguard insists that Larry Birkhead is definitely gay. Following a claim in a biography about Anna Nicole, in which the author said that Larry and her lawyer Howard K. Stern had a fling, the newest claims certainly make one wonder. In a TV interview with Access Hollywood, bodyguard Big Moe (hahaha), says that Larry, who landed up with Anna Nicole’s daughter, Dannielynn, after her death, was merely a sperm donor: “Well, (Anna Nicole) told me that, you know, he was a homosexual. She knew deep down that he didn’t want to be with her… Anybody that’s been around Anna, they would know that Larry wouldn’t be her type. First of all, she liked men that was wealthy, I mean that’s no secret…Because of how Larry looked, she figured, oh my child would look great. Blonde hair, blue eyes, you know, ‘Go great with me and my baby will come out beautiful.'”Big Moe also expressed his disgust at the way Larry regularly parades the young Dannielynn on camera. I thought that was very disgusting, I thought it was staged. I do believe he loves his daughter, but the thing is, when he comes on TV and he parades her off, it seems like it’s like a laugh in Anna’s face. Like, ‘Ha! I got her anyway!”

Another US sports star gets naked

What is it about US celebrities and sports stars and their need to get naked on camera? Perhaps it’s a form of rebellion against conservative upbringing or a instant-fame strategy, but US quarterback Riley Skinner is the latest to bare all on the internet. There are claims that he was attempting to sell the photos to make a quick buck, but all we really care about here at Mamba Mansions is the damn picture. If you want to see him in all his glory, click here.

Madonna’s “like a virgin” when it comes to directing

After much anticipation, Madonna’s film, Filth and Wisdom, finally screened to the public on Thursday at the Berlin Film Festival. Sadly, her directing debut, about a cross-dressing Ukrainian immigrant and his two female flatmates, was not very well received. The Hollywood Reporter said that it was “ragged, uneven and potholed with some dire dialogue,” while The Guardian newspaper wrote that “Madonna has been a terrible actor in many, many films and now – fiercely aspirational as ever – she has graduated to being a terrible director.” Ouch! Neverth