Galliano is back, Seinfeld rapping, Stern apologizes to Dunham

NEW YORK (6NoBacon) — Nearly two years after his infamous anti-Semitic rant, designer John Galliano is back.

Galliano, who was sent packing from his position as creative director for Christian Dior after being filmed saying that he “loves Hitler,” was invited by designer Oscar de la Renta to spend time at his New York studio over the next three weeks. And the Anti-Defamation League over the weekend applauded Galliano’s efforts to make amends.

“I am an alcoholic,” Galliano said. “I have been in recovery for the past two years. Several years prior to my sobriety, I descended into the madness of the disease. I said and did things which hurt others, especially members of the Jewish community.” 

The Anti-Defamation League released a statement over the weekend saying that it believed Galliano had changed his ways.

“We believe that individuals can change their hearts and minds as long as they demonstrate true contrition,” the ADL said. “Mr. Galliano has worked arduously in changing his worldview and dedicated a significant amount of time to researching, reading, and learning about the evils of anti-Semitism and bigotry.

In response to the ADL, Galliano said that he “remains committed to making amends to those I have hurt.”

What’s the deal with rap music?

The hip-hop world is going to get quite funnier soon, as Jerry Seinfeld is preparing to appear in a new rap album by Wale.

Four years ago, Wale made an album titled “The Mixtape About Nothing,” which was inspired by the classic ’90s sitcom “Seinfeld” and featured samples from the hit show’s episodes. The album even featured Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who played Elaine on the show.

Now Seinfeld himself is joining the second album, in collaboration with DJ Omega.

“Wale wanted me to do something with him and I didn’t understand it,” Seinfeld said, “but he did, and I kinda liked the guy, I dug the guy, I liked his music, so I said all right, I’ll do it, even though I didn’t know what I was gonna do.”

In a recently published video about the collaboration, Seinfeld claims he’s a rapper, too, because ”hip-hop is words, and I do words.” According to Spin, Seinfeld originally wanted to create a rap album with Sean Combs, the rapper and entrepreneur better known as Diddy, but since the latter didn’t like the idea, Seinfeld decided to work with Wale. 

Stern apologizes to Dunham

Last week, Howard Stern chose to “congratulate” Lena Dunham for winning the best actress and best comedy Golden Globe by saying that she is a ” little fat girl who kinda looks like Jonah Hill, and she keeps taking her clothes off, and it kind of feels like rape.”

Following some angry responses from fans, Stern decided to apologize and actually complimented Dunham by saying, “I realize not only am I addicted, but I totally get you. I’m in love with you and your character.”

Dunham accepted the apology and said, “I’m a big fan of your particular brand of free speech.” Dunham also commented on her own weight in her special way. “I’m not super thin,” she said. “But I’m thin for, like, Detroit.”

Stern said that Dunham isn’t “obese or anything,” to which Dunham replied, “Howard Stern says I’m ‘not obese or anything’ … I appreciate it and I appreciate your effort, but whether you’d done that or not, I’d have remained an enthusiast.”

Norris for Netanyahu

Just days before the elections in Israel, Chuck Norris endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a video produced by Johnny Daniels, a Jewish public relations guru and strategic adviser (he also was behind Donald Trump‘s endorsement of Netanyahu a few days ago), publicity shots from Norris films are interspersed with footage of Israel while Norris’ voice intones Netanyahu’s virtues. 

Dear Abby dies

Pauline Phillips, the woman known to the world as the advice columnist Dear Abby, has died. Phillips, the daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants, died at 94 after years of battling Alzheimer’s disease, according to news reports.

Writing under the pseudonym Abigail van Buren, Phillips’ Dear Abby was syndicated in more than 1,200 newspapers and had 95 million readers at its height. Her sister, Eppie Lederer, wrote a similar column under the name Ann Landers. Lederer died in 2002.

Born Pauline Esther Friedman in Iowa, Philips began writing the column in 1956 when she was 37 years old.

Shira rocks ‘Idol’

Move over, Edon! The next great Jewish singer is Shira Gavrielov, who made it through the audition stages of the first episode of this year’s “American Idol” and will next try her luck in the Hollywood training camp later in the season.

Gavrielov, daughter of the famed Israeli singer Miki Gavrielov, moved from Israel to Brooklyn recently “because of the American dream” and to “have a bite of the Big Apple.” In Israel, a cover version she made of the song “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley rose to the top of the Israeli charts.

When Gavrielov stood before the judges at the New York auditions, Mariah Carey told her “shalom” and “Shanah Tovah,” as expected. Gavrielov receved high praise from the panel for her rendition of the Amy Winehouse song “Valery.” Nicki Minaj called her a “superstar,” adding that she loved the song choice and that it worked great with her tone.

Bialik recovering from rough year

Mayim Bialik is still trying to get over a very difficult 2012. 

First it was a car accident in August, in which the “Big Bang Theory” star and mother nearly lost part of her right hand. Then it was the public separation from her husband of nine years, Michael Stone.

The Emmy-nominated Bialik, 37, is still recovering from both events, she told People.com, and believes that “things can only get better.”

“I’m a person of deep religious faith,” Bialik told People. “I really believe that things will be right in the universe. Things are hard, but I’ve really been taught in my tradition that the harder things are, the greater the potential reward. I really believe that.”

In addition, Bialik is planning to take on the challenges of the new year in a special way — by climbing a mountain. Bialik is planning to climb “a large mountain” with a friend who is a professional climber.

“I don’t want to say everything happens for a reason, but every day is lined up right next to the other one for a reason,” she said. “The best you can do is do each day well with kindness and as a good person.”

Franco’s inauguration poem

James Franco, the man who does everything, found some time over the weekend to write a poem for President Obama. The result is unintentionally hilarious.

The poem, titled “Obama in Ashville,” doesn’t rhyme and isn’t particularly clever, but it features lines like, “Finally, I got to shake his hand, he knew me from Spider-Man” and “I went to class and then the little burrito place where they know me.”

A video of Franco reciting his poem on the Internet shows him rambling on in a dull voice. 

Franco, who has a new book of poetry due next year, was commissioned by Yahoo! News to write the poem.  

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