Crowe’s latest shot
at Clooney a little dated

Plus: Russell Simmons' mixed message

Reuters file

Check the fact: George Clooney is in fact older than Russell Crowe.

By Jeannette Walls

msnbc.com

updated 2:29 a.m. ET Feb. 23, 2005

The George Clooney/Russell Crowe feud continues.

First Crowe blasted Clooney — and some other actors — who appear in commercials. Clooney then tweaked Crowe for playing in a band. Now Crowe is shooting back, but some think it looks like a misfire.

“George is a dilettante,” Crowe was quoted in the London Sun. “Check the facts, I think I was playing in a band before George was born.”

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That would mean that Crowe was playing in a band years before he was born. According to several celebrity biography sites, Clooney was born before Crowe. Clooney’s birth date is May 6, 1961; Crowe’s is April 7, 1964.

Crowe’s rep didn’t respond to requests for an explanation.

Simmons' mixed message?
Image: Russell Simmons
Diane Bondareff / AP
Does Russell Simmons practice what he preaches?

The hip-hop mogul is getting some flak from a top Jewish organization for condemning anti-Semitism, while, the group claims, acting as an apologist for Nation of Islam leader the Reverend Louis Farrakhan, who has been accused of anti-Semitism.

The “I am a Jew” public service announces feature celebs such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Beyonce Knowles; it is sponsored by the Foundation of Ethic Understanding, which Simmons heads up.

“According to the ADL, Simmons repeatedly has ‘made apologies for’ Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam leader with a history of anti-Semitic comments,” according to the Jewish Telegraph Agency, which quoted a statement from ADL national director Abram Foxman, saying, “It is hypocritical for Mr. Simmons to lead a charge against anti-Semitism while failing to denounce manifestations of anti-Jewish hatred within his own community.”

Simmons’s rep didn’t return calls for comment, but an associate of his told the Scoop, “File this under no good dead goes unpunished.”

Notes from all over

Jo Hale / Getty Images
Priscilla Presley, Danny Masterson and Jenna Elfman are among the Scientology celebs who will be speaking out at a forum this Saturday, opposing a federal plan for psychiatric tests on school kids, tests they say lead to increased use of psychiatric drugs. “The celebrities ... want all psychiatrists and their programs out of schools and let teachers get on with what they do best: teach,” notes the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, a group established by the Church of Scientology. The group, which opposes psychiatry, notes that several of the celebs “are likely to be heading” to Congress to fight the fed’s plan. ... Madonna is rumored to be looking into a management shakeup. ... Academy Awards fans are betting on more than who will take home Oscars. They’re focusing on what’s really important: the stars’ outfits. According to AnyBets.com, there’s heated betting on who will be granted People magazine’s Best Dressed award. To date, 23 percent of bettors have picked Kate Winslet, following closely by Hilary Swank with 20 percent of the vote and Annette Bening at 11 percent.