BRANGELINA A STEP CLOSER TO MARRIAGE
No more excuses for couples holding out for gay marriage
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt already are engaged, but Hollywood insiders were predicting the Supreme Court’s decisions effectively recognizing the legality of same-sex marriage will increase the likelihood of the superstars tying the knot very soon.
Jolie and Pitt had no comment Wednesday but long have said they would be happiest getting married when everyone can wed.
“Forget all that nonsense of them being concerned about the timing of a Jennifer Aniston wedding,” said a longtime close associate of the famous couple. “This defeat of [California’s Proposition 8] and [the Defense of Marriage Act] would have much more impact on Brad and Angie’s decision to get married.” Beating the Jolie-Pitts were
Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard. They, too, have promised to marry only when their gay friends could legally do so. That was a pledge the couple repeated to this column during an interview for their film “Hit and Run” last year.
After the Supreme Court’s ruling became public, Bell actually was the one proposing — via Twitter: “@daxshepard1 will you marry me?” — to which Shepard said yes, coupled with an expletive. The two have been engaged since 2010 and are the parents of daughter Lincoln, born this past March.
The Supreme Court’s decisions Wednesday had star-watchers predicting already engaged gay couples like designers Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, actress and “The Talk” co-host Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry, and Neil Patrick Harris and his fiancé David Burtka soon would walk down the aisle.
Wednesday’s announcement brought exciting news from Melissa Etheridge, who tweeted she will marry her partner, “Nurse Jackie” producer Linda Wallem. The singer told CNN they will wed in California, where Proposition 8’s ban on gay marriage was overturned by the court. Etheridge separated from longtime partner Tammy Lynn Michaels in 2010.
Former Chicagoan Ted Allen, the award-winning host of “Chopped” on the Food Network, also turned to social media — his Facebook page — to tell his friends and fans that he and his partner of 20 years, Barry Rice, also got engaged Wednesday.
STARS SALUTE SUPREMES: It’s no surprise that a slew of celebrities immediately turned to Twitter to react to the Supreme Court’s rulings regarding same-sex marriage.
†Among openly gay stars, Ellen DeGeneres tweeted, “Congratulations everyone. And I do mean
everyone.” … “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson used humor: “Remember the old days when #DOMA was around and gay people couldn’t get married in California? Crazy right!?” … Singer Adam Lambert declared, “Something to be very proud of this upcoming July 4th.”
Straight stars also weighed in. Leonardo DiCaprio called it a “historic day.” … Ditto for Debra Messing. … Lady Gaga tweeted “Be proud, the prejudiced are now the minority.” … From Demi Lovato: “Gay, straight, lesbian, bi. No one is better than any one else.” … Humor was used by some praising the decisions. John Stamos tweeted, “I’m so happy about today’s decision I could kiss a man!” … Lena Dunham admitted she doesn’t “wanna traffic in stereotypes but let’s be real: I’m gonna love a gay wedding.” … Which tied into Ricki Lake’s comment: “I smell some fabulous wedding invites in my future.”
SEEN ON THE SCENE: RL regular (when he’s in Our Town) Jimmy Buffett lunched at the Ralph Lauren eatery Wednesday.