A Michigan father of a fallen soldier is NOT a fan of New Jersey governor Chris Christie.
The governor ordered all flags to be flown half-staff for Whitney Houston and John Burri protested his disagreement in a big way.
Burri burned New Jersey's state flag, caliing his protest "a little drastic" but he believed the right should be reserved for soldiers. His son was killed in Iraq and he called Christie's gesture a "slap in the face."
Check out the video (above) for the full story.
A little drastic?! Yeah, perhaps. He is entitled to his opinion, but maybe he shouldn't have taken things this far.
What do U think?
There really is going to be a lot of stars at Whitney Houston's funeral.
We saw Ray J and his sister Brandy earlier, and now we're seeing that Kevin Costner is also attending.
With bags in tow, he was holding onto his wife's hand as they started their journey to New Jersey.
So sad that she passed, but the overwhelming amount of respect coming from the community is a sight to see.
It's beautiful how many lives she touched!
[Image via XposurePhotos.com.]
We guess since they are planning to broadcast the actual funeral online, the family wants at least some private time to grieve.
It has been announced that a private viewing has been scheduled for tomorrow afternoon for select friends and family of Whitney Houston. The viewing at Whigham Funeral home in Newark, New Jersey and we're told that Bobbi Kristina is expected to attend, marking the first time she will see her mother before her passing.
So sad. We can't imagine the heaviness in her heart right now. The poor thing. Hopefully, having some marked special time not in front of the cameras will give her some closure.
[Image via WENN.]
A somber piece of news, but still kind of nice all the same.
According to multiple Houston family sources, Whitney Houston will be buried Saturday in the plot right next to her father's grace. Sources say that it was always Whitney's wish to have her final resting place be next to her dad, who is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey.
The new was confirmed by Whitney's official death certificate.
At least, in away, she'll be with family. We know she was a spiritual woman, so maybe they're already together right now. We'd like to think that, for her sake.
[Image via WENN.]
Fran Drescher is using her name for good.
Drescher just announced that on March 6th, while she’s in New York to promote the second season of her sitcom Happily Divorced she’ll also officiate the marriage of three lucky lesbian or gay couples in NYC!!!
So if you’re gay, looking to get married, and are from New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, here’s what you have to do...
Submit a video or written story and picture on the TV Land Happily Divorced Facebook Page HERE.
Tell them about how your relationship best represents the idea that “love is love” and why you should be the chosen couple for Fran Drescher's Love is Love Gay Marriage Contest!
As we said before, we definitely think it was a smart move not having a public memorial. Whitney's family deserves the opportunity to say goodbye to her in private.
Yesterday, we learned that Whitney Houston's funeral will be an invitation-only service, which will take place on Saturday at the Hope Baptist Church (where Whitney started her singing career) in Newark, NJ.
Now, we've learned some new details about the the funeral arrangements, which are as follows:
- Whitney's mother Cissy Houston is taking charge of the funeral arrangements
- Faith will be a major focus of the ceremony
- Funeral home being used also handled Whitney's father John Russell Houston's burial arrangements in 2003
We're just glad to hear that things seem to be moving forward smoothly at this point. Hopefully we don't hear about any more drama with regards to these funeral arrangements.
[Image via WENN.]
Woo!
New Jersey follows the other incredible states that have legalized same-sex marriage, as their State Senate just passed a bill doing just that!!
The vote was 24-16 in favor of the bill in the end, a major difference from 2010, when the Senate rejected it 20-14.
There is still a problem, however: The promise of a veto by Gov. Chris Christie. Boo!
Even though he's a staunch republican with an outdated and harmful view of equality, there are those that are optimistic about overturning his veto. It would take two-thirds of both chambers of the Legislature and would have to happen by the time the current legislative session ends in January 2014, but some really do believe it's possible.
And so do we!!
Congrats, New Jersey, and good luck on the upcoming battle if he vetoes it!!
[Image via AP Images.]
Looks like Snooki and JWoww get to stay in Jersey!
After being shut down by Hoboken, Jersey City has agreed to let MTV film the girls' spinoff there.
Jersey City is New Jersey second biggest city and mayor Jerramiah Healy has no qualms about Snooki and JWoww coming to his city.
Mayor Healy said the following about the show:
My view is the more people that see anything about Jersey City and see what we have in Jersey, the better it is for Jersey City.
Until these girls wreck havoc all over it, then maybe not so much!
Production is scheduled to begin this month. We'll see how these girls do without Seaside Heights.
[Image via WENN.]
What is wrong with people?! Why can't we just act like decent human beings?!
Luckily, the FBI has found the person who has been sending horrible death threats to Taylor Armstrong over Twitter.
We can't even believe someone thought they could do THIS without repercussion:
@Hardboiledpeggs: "see u on February 7 ill be there with a book and a rope so i can kidnap u"
Taylor: "Don't ever contact me again."
@hardboiledpeggs: "Turn around bright eyes every now and then, Kennedy's dead."
Taylor: "Don't ever contact me again."
That Twitter handle was then deleted. It takes a sick person to also threaten the lives of children.
The scary part, other than the threats themselves, was that Taylor DOES have a book signing on February 7th in New Jersey.
Like we said, though, the FBI has found this person. Here's what a source said about it:
"The FBI has identified a suspect that made the threats, they know who it is. The suspect doesn't live in California, and the public will be shocked to learn who it is. Taylor and Kennedy are safe and secure."
We wonder who it was??
Despite this, the signing event will have increased security. Thank goodness!
Don't worry about this TOO much! There other wonderful places to shoot in New Jersey! LOLz!
Last we heard about Snooki and Jwoww's Jersey Shore spinoff back in January 2011, they had shot preliminary footage for their show in Long Island.
Guess they decided to keep it in the Jerz, because we're hearing that they tried to get a film permit in Hoboken, NJ...but were DENIED!
Here's what Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer wrote about it on the city's website:
"Based on protecting public safety and quality of life concerns for Hoboken residents, the city has denied a film permit for a spin-off of the Jersey Shore to be filmed in public locations."
And more from Mayor Zimmer:
"Any attempts to film in a manner that is not permitted without a permit will be dealt with immediately and aggressively by the city of Hoboken."
Yikes! Mayor Zimmer isn't messing around!
We understand why the city would have mixed feelings about this, BUT it would bring looooooots of tourism! Just sayin'!
What do U think? Would U want Snooki and Jwoww shooting their new show where U live???
[Image via WENN.]