Styles & Scenes

Will "Blood" kill diamonds at the Oscars?

Is the international diamond industry getting really, really, really nervous about the impact of "The Blood Diamond” on their Christmas and Valentine’s Day gem sales?

You bet. Almost three months before  the Warner Bros film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly and Djimoun Hounsou, is due for release (Dec. 15), the World Diamond Corporation has launched a major offensive campaign with a big ad in large newspapers (and on their website) explaining that the "conflict" or "blood diamond" problem has been solved.

The ads mention the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, a plan put in place to certify a stone's origins, insuring that no conflict stones enter the marketplace. The KPCS is currently under review with results on the program's effectiveness due out this fall.

Why is the WDC trying to fend off criticism so early? Have they seen any film footage? No, according to studio sources.

But the diamond industry seems to be shaking in their bright shiny shoes, worried that consumers will believe that conflict diamonds are still being smuggled and sold. Or worse, that they will read about the stones being a viable currency funding international terrorist forces  such as Al Qaeda  and Hezbollah.

“If they want to educate the public, that’s great. The more information on conflict diamonds that gets out, the better,” says a source close to the film about the WDC's pro-active ads.  “Unfortunately, their ads do not tell the whole story, that, despite their attempts to police their industry, there are flaws and loopholes in the Kimberley Process.”

Amnesty International and Global Witness still warn of ongoing inadequacies in the diamond industry’s ability to curtail or control "blood diamond" sales.

Whatever happens to the diamond market, it will be interesting to see how A-list actresses will cope with questions about their bling in December, when "Blood Diamond," and other Oscar hopeful films, are released.

Here's a sampling: Did the jeweler who loaned you that million dollar necklace mention how many people had their hands hacked off for it? How do you feel knowing that your pretty ring could have funded Hezbollah? Or that those fabulous chandelier earrings may have bought arms for Osama?

May I suggest that any Oscar-hopefuls planning on wearing diamonds on the carpets have a prepared answer to these inevitable questions, along with the notes on who designed their gowns and made their shoes.

Otherwise, they'll risk looking stupid, vapid and uninformed. And that sure won't help an Oscar campaign, now will it?

Photo Credits: Thanks to "Blood Diamond," diamonds may not be as prevalent in the 2007 Awards Season. Even Teri Hatcher, selecting a ring at the Diamond Information Center's Pre-Oscar Suite at the Soho House last March, may think twice about bling.
Wire Image/Amy Graves

Do Hollywood Swag Addicts need an IRS intervention?

It's okay. You can all relax. Looks like Oscar presenters, performers and nominees won’t have to pay back taxes on their past gift baskets, after all.

According to a release from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, they've reached a “mutually satisfactory agreement” with the IRS settling the tax obligations on gift bags up until 2005.

What a relief. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been losing sleep about this ever since I heard rumors that Academy swag bags filled with goodies, fabulous trips, services, designer stuff estimated at $75-100 grand, might be dubbed additional income and could cause a slight tax hike for celebs.

Because I’m sure these poor stars who make $10-50-100 million per movie don’t have accountants who can hide a gift basket or find a charity contribution to offset a measly hundred grand. I've also been worried about what the elimination of goody bags might do to the Hollywood re-gifting habit when all that unwanted swag is handed out on birthdays/holidays to loyal servants, maids, gardeners, hairdressers, personal trainers, manicurists, stylists, pet-sitters and yes, even friends.

C’mon, guys. You know you do it.

But gift bags will continue. And the recipients of the Oscar gift basket given at the 2007 awards will be issued appropriate informational tax forms by the Academy and will be responsible for satisfying their income tax obligations.

“We appreciate the Academy’s leadership on this issue,” IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson says in the release. “The gift basket industry has exploded, and it’s important that the groups running these events keep in mind the tax consequences.”

“We are happy to have reached an agreement with the IRS which works to the benefit of the gift basket recipients and the Academy,” said Academy president Sid Ganis.

Ganis said that it was unclear as to when the practice of thanking Academy Award presenters and performers with baskets began, but that it was well established by the early '70s.  The major stars who present awards on the show are not paid for that service, and the performers receive only the minimum union payment.

Over time these so-called “thank-you gifts” – call them incentives - became more elaborate as hotels, resorts and high-end clothing lines vied to associate their services and products with Hollywood’s most famous names.

In April, the Academy Board of Governors voted to discontinue the practice of thanking Academy Awards presenters and performers with gift baskets.

And publicity about the baskets led Everson to issue a press release three days prior to the 2006 Academy Awards broadcast which focused on gift baskets and pointed out that “movie stars face the same tax obligations as ordinary Americans.” 

“The Commissioner worked some movie titles into his reminder that gave it a humorous spin,” Ganis said, “but the basic message was clear:  the contents of the baskets, however much we may have been inclined to view them as mannerly thank-yous, in fact constitute taxable income.  And since we didn’t want any of our presenters to get hit retroactively for a gift we had given them, we asked the Service if there was a way for us to take on the tax obligations and they were very willing to work with us.”

Whew. Well, at least that’s over with. But somebody should tell IRS Commissioner Everson that this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is more work that must be done. He may not realize that the Oscar gift basket created a virus of freeby fests that sprout up all year round in Hollywood.

And trust me, it’s reached dangerous and toxic levels...

Photo Credits: Hollywood life imitates "Sopranos" art. Michael Imperioli makes off with his goody bag stash at the VHI Big in 2002 Awards. Bet Tony doesn't want it!
WireImage/Jeff Vespa

The best supporting award goes to Victoria's Secret

So you’re all dressed up in a totally hot low-cut gown at the Vanity Fair Oscar party and some jerk comes by, checks out your décolletage, and says, ‘Hey, nice chicken cutlets!”

Don’t deck him.

He may actually be a jerk. Or he may have just heard about Victoria’s Secret latest secret weapon — what the VS PR gals call “chicken cutlets” — cleavage-creating Sensual Shapers inserts.

The VS reps at the Beauty and the Boudoir Oscar lounge at Frederic Fekkai’s Beverly Hills salon actually referred to the rubbery flesh-colored inserts as “Chicken Cutlets” because, well, that’s exactly what they look and feel like; raw chicken breasts — with nipples. And there are two Sensual Shaper sizes, the discreet one-cup increase and the vavoom two-cup increase ($28 and $48).

These VS raw materials were displayed for all the celebs who were visiting Fekkai’s before the Oscars for facials, blow-dries, mani-pedis, Botox and consults with plastic surgeon David Sayah, to touch, feel and try on.

Other Oscar gown-boosters included the VS Bare Attitude bra ($24), a backless and strapless mold that literally sticks to your chest for an advised 4 to 6 hours. Wow. If the Oscars run long and you’ve got three parties to hit, you could be in deep trouble.

On-site to explain the importance of Oscar gown support was Chantal Thomass, the legendary French fashion designer who was the first to pull lingerie out of the underwear drawer and onto her Paris runways in 1975.

Photo: No, Scarlett Johansson is not wearing Victoria’s Secret “chicken cutlets” at the Weinstein Co./Glamour 2006 Golden Globes after-party. Pretty impressive, huh?
(Albert L. Ortega / WireImage)