A bad week for Kate Middleton. Not only did topless photos of the Duchess go viral on Friday, prompting a Royal lawsuit against French celebrity magazine, Closer, but according to an article in TMZ, Closer's editor has now been propositioned by a porn site wanting to buy more intimate shots of Kate Middleton and Prince William.
While justifying her decision to publish photos of topless Kate on holiday in France, Closer editor Laurence Pieau let slip that she had in her possession overtly sexual photos of the royal couple but had chosen not to print them.
"I won't hide the fact that there are more intimate pictures that exist that we haven't published and will not publish," said Pieau. "These images are full of joy, not degrading."
Whether this admission could be considered blackmail in face of a lawsuit or a last-ditch attempt to defend her decision to print the topless pictures is kind of moot.
That dangling carrot was enough to lure YouPorn.com exec Corey Price, who apparently wrote to Pieau: "We feel very confident that we can show this footage legally, and would like to make you aware that we have an 'open checkbook.'"
It was bad enough with Harry frolicking naked in Vegas. Now the Royals are really in a pickle. They are rushing to court seeking an injunction against the magazine to prevent any more photos (they took some 200!) from being leaked to the press.
But Pieau stresses in this video on TMZ that the photos were taken from an open balcony, from an accessible road. Any other celebrity magazine would have printed them in a heartbeat. To her mind there is no scandal, only a matter of culture that distinguishes how we view the photos. To the French a topless pretty woman in love is a very natural thing.
The photos are an infringement, clearly. For William the irony must be painful -- Kate is already living in the same hell that dogged his mother, Diana.
Should young Royals be treated to more privacy than other celebrities, or par for the course?
Remember the Edmonton teacher who caused a stir by assigning zeros to student who didn't complete work? Well, according to an article in the Huffington Post, the suspended teacher, Lynden Dorval, has now been fired.
A teacher at Ross Sheppard High School, Dorval had insisted on handing out zeros instead of marking assignments as incomplete when no work was done.
"I'm not bitter, a little bit angry," Dorval apparently told CBC Edmonton. "I was particularly upset with the language in the termination letter."
The Edmonton School Board Superintendent, Edgar Schmidt, officially terminated the teacher on grounds of insubordination, unprofessional conduct and refusing to obey orders.
The Huffington Post article states that Dorval's teacher contract ends on October 15.
The Board's decision has sparked public outrage in the form of a Twitter hashtag #Dorval.
"Lynden #Dorval is a hero - standing up for informed principles in the face of personal sacrifice," tweeted Brad King (@bdking12)
The fact remains, he disobeyed the principal and went against school policy.
“I was still hopeful that this wouldn’t occur, but I believe the superintendent had made it clear his mind was made up,” said Dorval in the Edmonton Journal. “I tried to steel myself for this outcome but I had some hope it wouldn’t come to this.” The teacher plans to appeal the decision to the Education Minister.
Do you agree with Dorval's stance?
Kathy Bates is one brave lady. Forget the sinister sledgehammer-wielding face of Misery which nabbed her an Oscar back in 1991. According to an article in the BBC, the Emmy-nominated star of Harry's Law underwent a double mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis two months ago.
"I don't miss my breasts as much as I miss Harry's Law," tweeted 64 year old Bates earlier this week.
After much consideration, Bates revealed to People Magazine that she had opted for the mastectomy over radiation and chemotherapy.
"My doctors have assured me I'm going to be around for a long time," she added with trademark joviality. Her fans will be pleased to hear that Bates is eager to get back to the work she loves: acting.
In her shoes, I very much doubt I would sound so chirpy, having been through her ordeal, especially given she's been there once before. According to the BBC, in 2003 the About Schmidt and Primary Colors actor also contracted—and ultimately beat—ovarian cancer.
"My family calls me Kat because I always land on my feet and thankfully this is no exception," said Bates, who also seems to be feline in that she has nine lives!
I will be thinking of you, Kathy, and so many of my dear friends, as I run as part of Team YMC to kick breast cancer on September 30th...
Breasts are such an integral part of a woman's sexual identity and femininity. Would you choose a mastectomy over chemotherapy as Bates did?
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