Clarence Avant is “the Black Godfather.” Who? Ask Quincy Jones, Oprah, Bill Clinton, Snoop Dogg, Hank Aaron, Clive Davis, Obama.
Jamie Foxx: “He’s this enormous figure everybody respects.” … Jim Brown: “An African-American in Hollywood, he defied what Hollywood was supposed to be.” … Sean Puffy Diddy Daddy etc., Combs: “He became our mentor.”
Pharrell Williams: “He played a part in many things — activism, sports, politics. People of color, they trust him. He got us fair deals. Instead of an advance, you’d get a Cadillac or drugs. Instead of your publishing rights, it had someone else’s name. He figured how to change all that.”
His daughter Nicole’s doc “Black Godfather” is set for Netflix.
Please pay attention
For the second Cabaret at the Circus, Tony Shalhoub hosted a real circus. And where’d it take place? The Big Apple Circus … David Webb’s 22-karat heavy-duty bejewelled bracelet cost a few hundred thousand. A Fifth Avenue jeweler’s now selling its knockoff for 80 thou … Nonagenarian cake lady Sylvia Weinstock to Nairobi, Kenya, for Christmas … MoMA screening. “Incitement,” Israel’s Academy Awards entry, is based on Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination. Caroline Kennedy showed for the screening … Ricky Martin grabbed a bronze Enrique Cabrera skull sculpture at the Zenith Gallery in Miami. Cost 30 G’s … A flight attendant, after a few cocktails, said Faye Dunaway bought an economy seat then, daring someone to move her, plopped into first class.
It’s all sewn up
To meet Helena Christensen and co-open their NY Academy of Art booth at Art Miami, Brooke Shields forgot the tag on her new dress. Ripping it off, the neckline also ripped off. Sewing it in the car, she told fair director Nick Korniloff, “I was a supermodel. I’ve carried a needle and thread since my Calvin Klein days.”
He said, “You’re a good girl.” She answered, “Not always.”
Bits & pieces
In 2013, Elizabeth Vargas, into rehab, said, “I’m dealing with addiction.” In 2019, she’s into a local gym cheering her basketball player son … Tavern on the Green, same table: Harvey Keitel with directors Brett Ratner and Barry Levinson. Next table: Cristina and Chris Cuomo … Broadway’s fun musical “The Prom” finally filled out its dance card. The Netflix flick will star Meryl and Nicole.
Just an idea …
Here’s no subject in which I have expertise. I know nothing. I beg apologies for being out of line. But: Winter’s upon us. Homeless are upon us. Warm indoor paid hacks make empty speeches about raising millions to help them etc., etc., and blaah blaah. Couldn’t giant office buildings, empty after hours, with paid security in place, allow them a place to be safe and warm through the night?
Begs for a sequel …
Godiva, Cleopatra, Marie Antoinette, Annie Oakley, Mae West, Gypsy Rose Lee, Eva Perón are in the book “Bad Girls Throughout History.” Author Ann Shen says Oprah once smoked stuff and got pregnant early. Oprah — one of the USA’s modern terrifics — mentioned in a bad-girls book — what’s a sequel to say about Lindsay Lohan, K. Kardashian, Demi Lovato and a cast of thousands?
Kerry in waiting
Glossy hairdo, glitzy history and goody lifestyle, John Kerry itches to creep forth from his little bunker. Former Naval officer, Massachusetts senator, Secretary of State — he’s been standing beside Biden. If Uncle Joe waffles, Kerry’s itching for the Oval Office.
Kids are so sophisticated today. A lady asked a 6-year-old what he wanted Santa to bring him this year. His answer? Nothing. I’ll use my charge card.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.