Was J.Lo’s Ben here? Did Richard play golf?

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/07/2003 (8309 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE streets of Winnipeg are awash with rumours about what the stars are doing when they’re off the set of Shall We Dance.

So Yours Truly — and Falsely — set out to separate the straight goods from the tangled tales about Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and, of course, J.Lo.

What follows is a true and false test, where you can score yourself.

The honour system is in effect.

So…

Shall We Gossip?

* * *

True or False:

Jennifer Lopez’s fiance Ben Affleck flew into town yesterday to celebrate her 33rd birthday at a home on Wellington Crescent.

False.

But there was cake on the set and the extras sang Happy Birthday.

Source: The Film Insider who was there.

True or False:

Richard Gere is so enamoured with Winnipeg and its beaches that he has bought a cottage on Lake Winnipeg. Or maybe Lake of the Woods.

False.

At least as far as we can tell.

The rumour probably flows from a truth, though.

What is true is Gere has been spotted sampling the quaint walk-about charms of back-to-the-’50s Victoria Beach as a guest of a local millionaire.

Source: The Victoria Beach Herald.

True or False:

Susan Sarandon went to a powwow at Swan Lake a couple of Sundays ago.

True.

She was escorted by Winnipeg film commish Kenny Boyce.

Source: Kenny Boyce.

True or False:

Richard Gere, who is on an animal-rights short list for the world’s sexiest vegetarian, had a steak at Winnipeg’s poshest and priciest steak house, 529 Wellington.

True.

It was salmon steak.

Trick answer.

Source: WOW Hospitality marketing director Jackie Steven.

True or False:

Jennifer Lopez’s jewelry was stolen from the set of Shall We Dance and ended up in the Winnipeg hotel room of a dismembered, murdered man.

False.

Everyone who reads the newspaper knows it was actually Susan Sarandon’s movie set jewelry that was lifted. But anyone browsing Internet celebrity sites like Starswelove.com and Eonline. can be forgiven if they come away thinking it was J.Lo’s $4,000 necklace that was stolen from a prop trailer on July 1.

Under the lurid Eonline headline: “J.Lo Movie’s ‘Dance’ With Death,” it’s reported that there has been a “gruesome end to a necklace heist involving Jennifer Lopez’s latest film.”

The Internet version of the story takes several paragraphs to finally slip in the following fact:

“The bauble reportedly appears around Susan Sarandon’s neck in the film.”

Source: Winnipeg Police Service and Eonline.

True or False:

Richard Gere played golf at Kingswood Golf and Country Club and purchased three tee times in front and behind him so he could have some privacy.

False.

In fact, Gere has never played there.

Where do these rumours start?

Well, my neighbour told me that story, because that’s what someone at Kingswood told him.

Source: Kingswood Golf and Country Club management.

True or False:

Richard Gere has been seen more than once at Wasabi, the Japanese restaurant on Broadway.

True.

But what where else would you expect to find a vegetarian who eats fish?

Source: Wasabi management

True or False:

Richard Gere was turned away from Tavern on The Park because he didn’t have a reservation.

False.

Richard Gere has never been to Tavern on the Park. But Susan Sarandon has been there for brunch and dinner on the patio.

Source: Tavern In The Park

True or False:

Susan Sarandon isn’t in Winnipeg any more.

True.

But she’ll be back for more shooting

Source: The Film Insider

True or False:

Jennifer Lopez’s famous rear end was retouched — so to speak — on the poster for her current film, Gigli, because she felt the photo wasn’t flattering.

True.

No, False.

Actually, I don’t know and I don’t care.

Frankly my dears, I don’t give a damn about J.Lo’s derierre.

And that’s the bottom line on that.

gordon.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca