AMBER HEARD DONATES DIVORCE SETTLEMENT TO CHARITY

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp are officially divorced, and although Heard has agreed to drop her domestic abuse charges, she will be receiving a reported 7 million dollar divorce settlement. Heard has released a statement that the entirely of the settlement will donated to charity-- every single penny. We can see the “all she wants is money” critics fading into the distance, as they attempt to quickly and cleverly find a new angle to Heard’s story. We suggest they give up their search.

Half of the settlement will be going to the American Civil Liberties Union, and half to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Heard has been a longtime volunteer at CHLA, and has released a statement revealing why these two organizations are so important to her.

“As described in the restraining order and divorce settlement, money played no role for me personally and never has, except to the extent that I could donate it to charity and, in doing so, hopefully help those less able to defend themselves.

As reported in the media, the amount received in the divorce was $7 million and $7 million is being donated. This is over and above any funds that I have given away in the past and will continue to give away in the future.

The donation will be divided equally between the ACLU, with a particular focus to stop violence against women, and the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, where I have worked as a volunteer for the past 10 years alongside organizations like the Art of Elysium. Over the years, I have seen firsthand how more funding for staffing, better equipment and better medication can make the difference between life or death for a child.

I know these organizations will put the funds to good use and look forward to continuing to support them in the future. Hopefully, this experience results in a positive change in the lives of people who need it the most.

- Amber”

Even if she had decided to keep her settlement, Amber Heard did not divorce her husband (and file for a restraining order) for money and attention. We hope her donation to the ACLU goes toward women without a platform, or financial stability, or a prominent voice. Hopefully, Heard’s celebrity is able to help women in the same situation, because whether your husband is a world-famous actor or not, women so often receive doubt when they need someone who will listen.

If you would like to learn more or donate to these organizations, please go to ACLU.org and CHLA.org now.

CLARESSA SHIELDS WINS HER SECOND OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL

21 year old Claressa Shields won her second (!!!) Olympic Gold Medal in boxing on Sunday, and became the FIRST U.S. boxer to win back to back gold medals (with a record 77 wins and 1 loss to date.) Shields' performance and win was nothing short of mesmerizing, but it was what happened after the final bell that left us in awe.

When receiving her gold medal, Shields put pulled out her London medal out of her pocket and slipped it on. "People didn't give me my recognition for doing it one time,” she explained to Melissa Block of NPR after the ceremony.  “So I was like, you know what? When I get on the podium, I'm gonna put on both, so people will always remember and never forget that I'm the first American boxer to win two Olympic gold medals."

When Block touched upon Shields lack of notoriety or endorsements after her first Olympic win four years ago, Shields confidence and positive attitude don't falter. 

“They had this weird definition of what a strong woman was. For some reason, that definition was pretty, non-sweaty and not as muscular. And one, I'm very pretty. I think I'm fine! I'm gorgeous!"  

YESS. When Shields isn’t busy being the best boxer in the world, can she give inspirational speeches on self love?

Shields continued. "When I'm boxing, I look so strong and I'm punching so hard and I'm punching so fast, and I make people feel intimidated. I think that now people are starting to embrace that. The definition of a strong woman is Laila Ali. Lucia Riiker. Serena Williams. Claressa Shields."

Shields putting her own name (rightfully) next to outstanding athletes and role models like Serena Williams is a big deal. So often, women are told to be humble, or to downplay their accomplishments, and this way of thinking can cross over into damaging territory, like not feeling comfortable asking for a higher salary.  Claressa Shields has the confidence and self worth to know that she not only deserves her gold medals--she deserves respect and recognition. Amen.

Editor’s Note: Emma and I are basically professional boxers who have trained under Claressa Field’s herself.

Okay, not true, but we did learn the basics and interview her at Gleasons Gym', and we’ll never forget it! Watch our inspiring interview with Claressa/ uninspiring attempt at a workout here.

MILLIE BOBBY BROWN SHAVES HER HEAD FOR HER DREAM ROLE 

 Actress Millie Bobby Brown committed to the role of Eleven in the Netflix summer hit Stranger Things. 

The actress took to Twitter on Sunday to share a video of her head being shaved before Stranger Things began filming. With the show being one of the biggest breakout hits of the summer, everyone has been quick to watch the transformation of Brown into one of the shows best characters (yes, yes, I know. Barb is still the fan fave. Barb for life!)

Brown and her parents were hesitant about shaving her head at first, but we're convinced once the series creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, brought up one of the most iconic badass in current film--Imperator Furiosa. Played brilliantly by Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road, the no-nonsense character who leads abused women to safety (not to mention brings water and a new beginning to The Citadel--you’ve watched this movie, right?), Brown was inspired and ready to transform into the intense and complex character of Eleven. Brown told Elle magazine that to calm her concerned mother (mom’s are very attached to their children's hair, I've found), she told her “ You need to chill out; it’s gonna grow back.”

Brown may be 12, but her maturity and self-awareness speaks volume. She’s right-hair does grow back, and if you have an opportunity to play a strong, interesting lead character, it just may be worth buzzing it.

Watch Brown’s home video here (great song choice, btw.)

TALKING ABOUT RENEE ZELLWEGER'S WEIGHT IS BORING

There is nothing more boring to me than people talking about Renee Zellweger's weight. I knew the floodgates would open after the most recent Bridget Jones trailer, this time to complain that Zellweger did not gain weight for the role, as she did in the previous two films.

I’ve always found the character of Bridget to be greatly relatable and funny and never really gave her weight a lot of thought, aside from when she had a self-deprecating moment that we all experience from one time to another. However, Bridget’s weight does not define the Bridget character. Bridget Jones is Bridget Jones, no matter the size. Renee Zellweger, currently living an odd parallel to Bridget, is Renee Zellweger no matter what her face looks like. So why do we have to talk about it all the time?

Zellweger, with the patience of a saint, did explain the weight decision to The Daily Telegraph: “Sharon was hoping we could show that Bridget had achieved her ideal weight, but at the same time, it didn’t mean her life was perfect,” the actress explained. "We all have something we think is wrong, that needs fixing, that in our own minds represents the ideal that we are meant to obtain. And I like the idea that that stays with us throughout our lives.”

Zellweger's explanation makes sense, but again, why does she need to explain this? My weight is not the same as it was TWELVE YEARS AGO, why are we having this discussion?

What I do want to know: Where is Bridget in her career? Does she still sing Celine Dion when she’s drunk (like me)? How have she and Marc Darcy managed to split up again, and why am I being tortured this way? I really, truly, 1000% do not care about her weight, because it has never actually been the essence of Bridget Jones (and if it is to you, you're missing the point.) Zellweger's physical appearance has never played a definitive role in her acting, and to borrow a line from the Aniston vernacular, we are both fed up. Fed up, I tell you! Zellweger wrote this piece for the Huffington post, kindly asking people to back up and look at themselves, and I wrote, well this.

Now enjoy the movie, everyone!

HELEN MIRREN HANDLES A SEXIST INTERVIEWER LIKE A QUEEN

This week, the pop culture vault was cranked open and we were bestowed with a gift: Dame Helen Mirren holding her own/owning in one of the most grossly sexist interviews we’ve ever seen. And we've seen a lot! 

In 1975, Mirren chatted with Michael Parkinson, a professional British interviewer who had his talk show from 1971 to 1982 and from 1998 to 2007. So, like, a really long time! He continued to work after this interview, and in high regard! My feelings about this can be summed up by Mirren’s face, a descriptor I will continue to use from this day on out:

Mirren was a 30 year old actress who had already received critical acclaim and notoriety in theater and television, but Parkinson wasn’t totally convinced she could be a true success. After all, she has boobs!

When Parkinson’s asks ““Do you find that in fact, what could best be described as your equipment hinders you in the pursuit of being a successful actress?” (That is a very real question he asked! I swear! And he air quotes “serious!” To a future oscar winner!) Mirren tries to play it off, joking, “You mean my fingers?”

Now, I do not know Dame Helen Mirren personally, but I’d like to think she was trying to give this sucker a moment to reevaluate how absurd his question was. Even with the breathing room, HE ASKS HER AGAIN “No, I meant your figure.”

“I can’t think that can necessarily be true,” she says. “What a crummy performance if people are obsessed with the size of your bosom or anything else. I would hope the performance, the play and the living relationship between all the people on the stage and all the people in the audience overcome such boring questions.”

It’s the perfect answer; an answer Parkinson’s can’t truly bounce back from. It’s honest, and fair, and puts his terrible question in perspective-- if all he can concentrate on is her figure, than the issue isn’t her being a serious actress, it’s him not being a serious audience member. No air quotes needed.

Watch the interview below: 

Bless the Queen. 

by Team Thinx