The Hollywood Reporter published a really great article full of blind items, shenanigans and fire quotes. The article is “Hollywood Battle Lines Emerge in Simmering Vaccine War” and I cannot believe we are here in the year of our lord Beyonce 2021. One good thing: I genuinely snort-laughed when I got to George Clooney’s excellent quote!! I can’t wait for you to read it. I’m also curious to hear some guesses about the lede paragraph blind item and, as always, it’s good to remind people that Letitia Wright may play a genius (Shuri) in a Marvel franchise, but she’s actually an idiot about science and she spouts anti-Vaxx talking points constantly. Some highlights from THR:

Anti-vaxx idiot blind item: In August, a high-profile actor was on the set of a film when he came down with COVID-19 and was hospitalized. The star, known to the cast and crew as being dismissive of vaccines and masks, was said to be unvaccinated. The film shut down for three weeks, but not before more than a dozen crewmembers got sick, sources say. Ultimately, the stoppage resulted in a seven-figure hit for the production company. The Hollywood Reporter is withholding the actor’s name because he didn’t flout any specific protocol on the project. The actor’s rep declined to comment.

This one is about Miles Teller: Paramount+’s The Offer shut down production in late July due to a Zone A COVID-19 positive. That positive person was publicly identified as a series star who was said to be unvaccinated. Sources tell THR that the stoppage resulted in a $6 million loss for the limited series about the making of The Godfather. (A Paramount+ rep counters that the figure was below $6 million.)

George Clooney has had enough: He calls it a “crazy” situation that some of his brethren are eschewing the COVID-19 vaccine. “It’s stupid. And it’s stupid because every generation in our country for more than a lifetime has been asked to sacrifice something for the safety of their fellow man — get shot, fight Nazi. All that anyone’s being asked here is to get a shot in the arm and put on a mask. Grow up. Get something done.”

Letitia Wright is still spouting anti-Vaxx views on the set of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: While vaccine skeptics are far less likely to voice their opinions publicly, plenty of industry holdouts remain. A number of performers, from Rob Schneider (now shooting Netflix’s Home Team) to Letitia Wright (filming Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) have shared anti-vaccine positions on social media. In Wright’s case, a set source says she has espoused similar views about the COVID-19 vaccines on the Atlanta production. The British actress quietly parted ways with her entire U.S. team of representatives in the wake of a backlash over posting a controversial anti-vaccine video in December.

Sean Penn came back to ‘Gaslit’ set after demanding a vaccine mandate: Penn came back about two months later. His return was considered a compromise. (Only Gaslit’s Zone A members were required to be vaccinated, but an NBCUniversal spokesperson says there is currently an all-zone mandate until production wraps.) Penn… also stuck his neck out while promoting his MGM film Flag Day and requested that unvaccinated moviegoers skip the cinemas. “Stay home until you are convinced of these very clearly safe vaccines,” Penn told THR, adding: “We’ve normalized this notion of radical libertarianism, and it really is a violation of the idea of interconnectedness.”

Anthony Anderson is vaxxed, but he’s not judging anti-Vaxxers: “Each individual has his or her own rights. We aren’t in control of anyone’s body, only that person is. I’m vaccinated because I have preexisting conditions as a Type 2 diabetic, so I wanted to make sure that I did whatever I could to stave off this pandemic and COVID. But I’m not here to judge anyone on what they should do with their body. I can only govern what I’m doing with mine. As long as they respect me, I respect them. And as long as we keep our 6-foot distance and wear a mask, then we can interact and do what we want to do. But it’s not my place to police anyone.”

Another blind item: THR learned of an instance that saw an A-lister cut ties with a beloved yoga instructor who refused the vaccine. The star had highly recommended the guru and facilitated introductions to a cadre of fellow insiders, some of whom are said to have ended the relationship as well to protect loved ones with vulnerable conditions.

Giancarlo Esposito has a suggestion: He hopes that the unvaccinated simply avoid sets while the delta variant rages. “If you don’t want to vaccinate, go to a small island and sequester yourself. [Otherwise] you’re saying ‘F-k you’ to all you other human beings. We all have to do it if we want to live. I don’t understand how people don’t vaccinate. For me, I’ve lost dear friends, so I know it’s real. Not only in Europe but in America, friends who were completely healthy and uncompromised. The vaccine is the answer. I’m not downing anyone who doesn’t want to vaccinate. Don’t work. Go ride it out somewhere where you’re not going to compromise anyone else if you get it.”

[From THR]

Giancarlo Esposito and George Clooney are giving me Big Angry Dad Energy and I am here for it. I want Clooney to start yelling at specific actors: “GROW UP!” The blind item about the actor who cut ties with their yoga instructor… that feels like it’s Jennifer Aniston, correct? As for the first blind item… I don’t think that one is Miles Teller. The Offer (the series) shut down because of Miles, or at least that’s what the gossip was at the time. I think the blind item is about someone else. Hm…

And yes, Letitia Wright didn’t learn a thing. And I can’t believe she fired all of her American reps! They were probably trying to talk some sense into her and she just refused to listen.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.