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Henry Kissinger Dies: Infamous Architect of War Was 100 on November 30, 2023 at 12:33 pm The Hollywood Gossip

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Last night, the news broke: Henry Kissinger passed away in his home.

The former US Secretary of State held almost unthinkable influence within US foreign policy for decades.

Victims of those policies and their surviving loved ones span the globe. In every time zone, people went to bed or awoke to the news of his death.

Responses have ranged from eulogies to memes to outright celebrations.

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Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger speaks during a National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) conference November 5, 2019. (Photo Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

We want to begin by acknowledging that no coverage of Kissinger’s death is going to outdo Rolling Stone‘s article.

“Henry Kissinger, War Criminal Beloved by America’s Ruling Class, Finally Dies,” is a title as powerful as it is accurate. We’d be hard-pressed to match it without straight-up ripping off Spencer Ackerman.

Rolling Stone had a while to think it up — initially publishing the article without his date of death or his age at the time. Like countless others throughout the world, Rolling Stone had clearly been waiting for this moment.

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Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger speaks during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China November 22, 2019. (Photo Credit: Jason Lee-Pool/Getty Images)

Born in Germany in 1923, Henry Kissinger escaped Nazi Germany with his family when he was 15 years old. With that backstory, he seems like an unlikely candidate for someone with such a deadly legacy.

As a geopolitical consultant, he served as Secretary of State and national security adviser under both Nixon and Ford.

On Wednesday, November 29, Kissinger’s consulting firm reported that he had passed away at his home. He was 100 years old. Technically, 100 and a half.

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Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, on January 25, 2018. (Photo Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Image)

In Cambodia alone, estimates put Kissinger’s civilian victims at as many as 150,000. Note, those are the civilian deaths, not the total kills.

It’s true that Kissinger did not initially support the bombing of Cambodia. But, as is so often the way of politics, Nixon decided to do it — and Kissinger made it worse.

Unfortunately, this is only a fraction of the death toll that Kissinger’s direct and indirect actions exacted from the world. From brutality in Chile to helping make Laos the most bombed country in history, Kissinger has left an indelible mark upon the world.

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Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger stops by for a visit at the Great Hall of the People, November 8, 2018 (Photo Credit: Thomas Peter – Pool/Getty Images)

We must note that we are well aware that foreign policy of any kind is complex. Politics is a tangled web. And, frankly, the term “war criminal” is sometimes misused in appalling ways.

But none of those are really viable excuses for Kissinger.

Journalist Steven Talbot once interviewed former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara ahead of an interview with Kissinger. Upon telling the latter that he’d met with the remorseful McNamara, Kissinger began mock-crying and joking about McNamara “still feeling guilty” for atrocities under that administration.

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The gimmick account, Is Henry Kissinger Dead Yet?, was around for a couple of years before tweeting the answer “YES.” (Image Credit: Twitter)

With that in mind, perhaps more people can understand why there is so much schadenfreude, celebration, and outright glee throughout the world today.

Above, you can see a Twitter account whose sole purpose has been to track whether Henry Kissinger has died yet. For years, tragic deaths of celebrities and civil rights leaders have prompted cries of “why did they die while Kissinger still lives?

Wonderful people have died young. Many, through Kissinger’s own policies. His longevity seemed like an increasingly cruel joke.

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Twitter gimmick account Liza Minelli Has Outlived marks the ends of administrations, the deaths of other famous people, and, in this case, the passing of Henry Kissinger. (Image Credit: Twitter)

There is a trend in our culture in which people avoid speaking ill of the dead. Even when the dead did great harm in life. This can mean relatives, celebrities, or some of the most prolific mass murderers of the past half-century.

(War crimes are rampant and it is always a horror on any scale. But to put things into perspective, the cost in innocent lives from Kissinger’s policies might make Vladimir Putin or Benjamin Netanyahu blush)

One nice thing about recent decades is that this is slowly going away. More and more people are refusing to sanitize the stories of the world’s most evil men just because they are dead. Or the world’s most evil women, for that matter.

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If you’re not getting the joke, tying up one’s hair is sometimes shorthand for preparing to perform oral sex. And rumor held that Nancy Reagan was the throat goat of the MGM backlot back in the day. Possibly the only complimentary thing about her in many people’s eyes. (Image Credit: Twitter)

Amidst the celebrations (and even discourse) of Kissinger’s passing on social media, three names have come up repeatedly: Jimmy Carter, Anthony Bourdain, and Mitch McConnell.

In the case of President Carter, many people feel relief that, no matter what becomes of his health battle, he will outlive Kissinger. Sometimes, you have to celebrate the small victories.

As for the late Anthony Bourdain, the beloved celebrity chef once wrote: “Once you’ve been to Cambodia, you’ll never stop wanting to beat Henry Kissinger to death with your bare hands.” Many people thought of him almost immediately.

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Most do not think of Mitch McConnell as a particularly funny person, but this Twitter user noted — just hours after the death of Henry Kissinger — that the former Speaker of the House has the opportunity to bring a lot of people joy in the near future. (Image Credit: Twitter)

As for Mitch McConnell, who has demonstrated some hard-to-miss health problems lately, the reasoning is simple.

With Kissinger gone, a lot of people are going to need a new go-to lamentation when a beloved public figure dies.

McConnell has done significant and lasting harm to the United States and its citizens. But we’d caution people against getting their hopes up. Morality does not alter one’s life span, one way or the other. Look no further than late centenarian Henry Kissinger.

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Henry Kissinger Dies: Infamous Architect of War Was 100 was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

Last night, the news broke: Henry Kissinger passed away in his home. The former US Secretary of State held almost …
Henry Kissinger Dies: Infamous Architect of War Was 100 was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip. 

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Jennifer Lopez’s Ex Fires Back: “You Are the Problem”

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Ojani Noa Accuses J.Lo of Cheating After “Never Been Loved” Comments

Jennifer Lopez is once again at the center of a media storm — but this time, it’s her first husband, Ojani Noa, turning up the heat. Following Lopez’s recent Howard Stern Show interview, in which she claimed she has “never been truly loved” by any of her exes, Noa has publicly accused the superstar of cheating and playing the victim.

In the viral Instagram post that has now spread across major outlets like TMZ and New York Post, Noa didn’t hold back.

“Stop putting us down. Stop putting me down with your victim card,” he wrote. “The problem is not us. Not me. The problem is you. You’re the one who couldn’t keep it in your pants.”

“You Chose Fame and Lies Over Love”

Noa and Lopez were married briefly from 1997 to 1998, before her rise to Hollywood superstardom. In his explosive statement, he accused her of being unfaithful during their marriage, claiming she prioritized fame over their relationship.

“You have been loved a few times. You’ve been married four times. And have had countless relationships in between,” Noa continued. “You decided to lie, to cheat on me. You begged me to keep the marriage intact to avoid bad press.”

Noa described himself as “faithful, honest, and loving,” saying he uprooted his life and career to support Lopez at the beginning of her entertainment journey. “I left my family, my friends, everything behind for you,” he wrote, “but once fame came calling, you left me behind.”​

Lopez Silent Amid Growing Backlash

As of now, Jennifer Lopez has not publicly responded to Noa’s allegations. During her Howard Stern interview, the singer and actress claimed her former partners “weren’t capable” of loving her, saying, “It’s not that I’m not lovable… it’s that they’re not capable.”

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Her remarks were widely interpreted as referencing all of her ex-husbands — including Marc Anthony, Cris Judd, and Ben Affleck — but it was Noa who reacted first and most forcefully. His comments have ignited widespread debate online, with many questioning whether Lopez’s honesty came at the expense of others’ reputations.

Public Response and Media Fallout

The online reaction has been intense, with social media users split between defending Lopez’s right to share her truth and blasting her for allegedly rewriting history. Meanwhile, entertainment analysts note that the controversy adds to an increasingly turbulent year for the singer, following canceled tours, underperforming films, and ongoing scrutiny over her marriage to Affleck.

This latest backlash has also reignited conversations about Lopez’s highly publicized romantic history. As tabloids and fans speculate whether more exes might respond, the situation underscores an old truth in celebrity culture — that every candid confession comes with consequences.

For now, Jennifer Lopez remains silent. But in the court of public opinion, the debate about who’s really at fault in her love story is only just beginning.

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Selling Your Soul in Hollywood: The Hidden Cost of Fame

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By all appearances, Hollywood is a dream factory — a place where charisma, talent, and luck collide to create stars. But behind the camera lights and red carpets lies a conversation few inside the industry speak openly about: the spiritual and moral price of ambition.

For actor Omar Gooding, the idea of “selling your soul” in Hollywood isn’t a metaphor — it’s a moral process that begins with tiny compromises. In an October 2025 interview, Gooding explained that no one in Hollywood makes a literal deal with the devil. Instead, it’s the quiet yeses, the moments when comfort overrides conviction, that mark the beginning of the trade. “They don’t say, ‘Take this or you’ll never make it,’” he said. “They just put it in front of you. You choose.”

Those choices, he argues, create a pattern. Once you show that you’ll accept something you once resisted, the industry notices. “Hollywood knows who it can get away with what,” Gooding said. “One thing always leads to another.” The phrase “selling your soul,” in this context, means losing your say — doing what you’re told rather than what you believe in.

That moral tension has long shadowed the arts. Comedians like Dave Chappelle, who famously walked away from millions to preserve his creative integrity, often serve as examples of where conviction and career collide. In resurfaced interviews, Chappelle hinted that he felt manipulated and silenced by powerful figures who sought control of his narrative, warning that “they’re trying to convince me I’m insane.”

This isn’t just about conspiracy — it’s about agency. Hollywood runs on perception. Performers are rewarded for being agreeable, moldable, entertaining. Those who question the machine or refuse the script risk exile, while those who conform are elevated — sometimes beyond what they can handle.

We see the ‘collections’ all the time,” Gooding explained. “When the bill comes due, you can tell. They made that deal long ago.”

But the story doesn’t end in darkness. Gooding also emphasizes that in today’s entertainment landscape, artists have more control than ever. With streaming, social media, and creator‑driven platforms, performers don’t have to “play the game” to be seen. Independent creators can build their own stages, speak their own truths, and reach millions without trading authenticity for access.

Still, the temptation remains — recognition, validation, quick success. And every generation of artists must answer the same question: What are you willing to do for fame?

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As Gooding put it, “You just make the best choices you can. Because once it’s gone — your name, your peace, your soul — there’s no buying it back.”

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California Bans AI Clones from Replacing Real Talent

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California just made a dramatic stand for human creativity, defeating the threat of AI actor clones with a sweeping new law that puts people—not algorithms—back in the Hollywood spotlight. With the stroke of Governor Gavin Newsom’s pen in October 2025, the state has sent a clear message to studios, tech companies, and the world: entertainment’s heart belongs to those who create and perform, not to digital facsimiles.

California Draws a Hard Line: No More AI Clones

For months, the entertainment industry has been divided over the use of artificial intelligence in filmmaking. Studios, lured by promises of cost-cutting and creative flexibility, have invested in software that can mimic an actor’s face, voice, and even emotional range. But for performers, this wave of synthetic reproduction has triggered alarm—encouraged by chilling stories of deepfakes, unauthorized digital doubles, and contracts that let studios reuse a star’s likeness indefinitely, sometimes without pay or approval.

The new California law, anchored by AB 2602 and AB 1836, changes everything:

  • Every contract must explicitly detail how studios can use digital replicas or voice models, preventing once-common “blank check” agreements that overlooked this risk.
  • No one—not studios nor streaming giants—can create or release AI-generated clones of an actor, living or dead, without clear, written consent from the performer or their estate.
  • The law gives families new powers to defend loved ones from posthumous deepfake exploitation, closing painful loopholes that once let virtual versions of late icons appear in new ads, films, or games.

Actors Celebrate a Major Victory

The legislation rides the momentum of the recent SAG-AFTRA strike, where real-life talent demanded control over their own digital destinies. Leaders say these protections will empower artists to negotiate fair contracts and refuse participation in projects that cross ethical lines, restoring dignity and choice in an industry threatened by silent algorithms.

Stars, unions, and advocacy groups are hailing the law as the most robust defense yet against unwanted AI replications.

As one actor put it, “This isn’t just about money—it’s about identity, legacy, and respect for real artists in a synthetic age.”

A New Chapter for the Entertainment Industry

California’s move isn’t just a victory for local talent—it’s a warning shot to studios everywhere. Companies will now be forced to rethink production pipelines, consult legal counsel, and obtain proper clearance before digitally cloning anyone. Global entertainment platforms and tech developers will need to comply if they want to do business in the world’s entertainment capital.

These laws also set a template likely to ripple through other creative fields, from musicians whose voices can be synthesized to writers whose work could be mimicked by generative AI. For now, California performers finally have a powerful shield, ready to fight for the right to shape their own public image.

Conclusion: Human Talent Takes Center Stage

With its no-nonsense ban on AI actor clones, California draws a bold line, championing the work, likeness, and very humanity of its creative stars. It’s a landmark step that forces the entertainment industry to choose: respect real talent, or face real consequences. The age of the consentless digital double is over—human performers remain the true source of Hollywood magic.

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