New York Daily News just reported that Hasidic Jew actor Abe Karpen has droped out of the film New York, I Love You after receiving repeated death threats from his community. Karpen, who was already working on the film as Natalie Portman’s husband, was forced to leave the city and to go into hiding because the backlash from the film was so intense. Karpen is married with three children and works as a kitchen cabinet maker, but couldn’t resist when the opportunity came to star in a movie alongside A-list actress Natalie Portman. Before he fled the city he did give this statement:

“It’s not acceptable in my community,” he said of acting. “It’s a lot of pressure I am getting. They [the rabbis] didn’t like the idea of a Hasidic guy playing in Hollywood. I have my kids in religious schools and the rabbi called me over yesterday and said in order for me to keep my kids in the school I have to do what they tell me and back out.”

A friend of his Levi Okunov also gave a statement, “The community wants to kill him.”

Don’t you just feel bad for the guy, he didn’t even get his 15 min. It was more like 5!

Natalie Portman is teaming up with Scarlett Johansson again to shoot New York, I Love You. Seems like that the two have been bff lately since shooting their last movie The Other Boleyn Girl. In this flick, however, Natalie will be playing a young Jewish wife. Her story is only one of five different short films about the universal theme of finding love in New York City; in other words an Oscar worthy version of Sex and the City. But Natalie and Scarlet aren’t the only ones shining in this film. Elijah Wood, Nick Nolte and Kevin Bacon will also help make up this all-star cast.

Our New York photogs had a busy night last night. They ran into Bruce Willis as he entered The Waverly Inn alone. It’s unusual for me to see Bruce smile for photogs. I’m used to seeing him hurling water and cursing us out! I guess he’s getting too old for that sh*t. Heh-heh. See what I did there?

I can hear the snickers already. Yes, he is walking an actual dog, not his wife. Grow up people! Check out some pics of Mr. Sarah Jessica Parker walking his tiny dog in New York on Sunday. I really don’t know what’s up with those green pants either.

Check out more pics of Matthew after the jump.

After weeks of being photographed with boxes of the nicotine gum Ariva, sources tell JFX that Lindsay is set to fully endorse the gum. Lindsay arrived in New York yesterday to film her first commercial for the anti-smoking gum and, from how Lindsay is holding the box, to be prominently photographed with it. We caught up with the LiLo as she was leaving Di’Salvano’s in the Village earlier tonight looking sexy and confident proudly displaying her box of Ariva gum!

Wow, this is pretty eerie. Sean Lennon, son of the late great John Lennon and Yoko Ono, is looking too much like his dad these days. And the peace sign doesn’t help, although the gesture is definitely appreciated. Our NY photogs found Sean at the Rose Bar in Manhattan. Sources tell us that Sean was actually pretty tipsy the whole night and was talking happily to the ladies. By night’s end, folks spotted him with two females. He was overheard shouting “I’m taking home two girls” and “make peace not war.” Well, at least he adds on the pro-peace stance with his incredible macking skills. Well Sean, hopefully you got lucky with at least one of the ladies. We have more pics of Sean after the jump. Enjoy.

We caught a bundled up Jessica Alba on her way back to her hotel room on a chilly New York Friday night. Mom to be is keeping her little Cash (or Cashette) bump under wraps from the paps but at least she’s not trying to hide her beautiful face from the cameras, which is her normal M.O. when she’s home in So Cal. Alba is in New York to promote her upcoming movie, The Eye. Check out the other Jessica pics below.

Naomi Watts and Liev Shreiber took their son Alexander Pete out for a little stroll in New York Sunday afternoon and the happy couple didn’t seem to mind the chilly weather. Being born and raised in Los Angeles, I fid it hard to believe anyone can possibly live and even raise kids  in cold weather! I’m sure it won’t cause any permanent damage at least until these guys come to their senses and move back to Los Angeles. GO GIANTS!

I don’t really know if they’ve escaped from New York or not but we’ve got some shots of the First Family of Scientology leaving their New York hotel. Poor little Suri. Check out her facial expression below as she reacts to the deluge of camera flashes but she still manages to dutifully do her part for Mommy’s upcoming movie Mad Money.

Wowsers! Katie Holmes visited the David Letterman Show today in New York and showed off some leg to the cameras. Katie wore a short red trench coat that I’m sure has a more fashionable name but since our fashionista Haydee took the day off today, it’s a short red trench coat. Katie is in town to help peddle her upcoming movie Mad Money. Check out more pictures below.

Finally! A non-Britney story. Katie Holmes arrived early this morning for a visit with Regis and Kelly in New York. I’m not usually the one to comment on style and fashion but I’ve got to say that the bob hair doo that Katie is sporting is so very cute. Check out some more pictures below and we’ll be posting video of her arrival soon, so check back for it.

Check out Clive Owen on the New York set of The International with co-star Ulrich Thomsen. What a mess these two are. Thankfully ladies, this stuff cleans off pretty quickly and Clive will be back to his squeaky clean 5 o’clock shadow look in no time. Clive and Ulrich were filming at New York’s Guggenheim and be sure to check back later, we’ll have some video of the scene that was filmed yesterday.

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Ok gals, blood or not, you’d still do this guy just as he stands wouldn’t you?

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes arrived in New York with baby Suri in tow last night. The power couple are in town to help promote Katie’s new movie, Mad Money among the morning shows as well as hitting up David Letterman.

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That Suri sure is a cutie pie isn’t she? I don’t know if she is indeed Tom Cruise’s daughter or not, but she’s definitely got Katie’s cuteness. Check out more pictures of the happy family below and we’ll be uploading video of the arrival later, so check back.

We caught Clive Owen on the New York set of The International over the weekend. From the looks of it, Clive’s stretching those acting abilities from his previous cool-tough guy movies like Shoot Em Up, Sin City and Children of Men. Clive could have walked on to any one of those movie sets and probably not have had any trouble getting into character. But despite that, Clive kicks ass and he would have been a great James Bond.

The International synopsis on IMDB says “An Interpol agent (Owen) attempts to expose a high-profile financial institution’s role in an international arms dealing ring.” So Clive’s on the right side of the law this time? Maybe it will be a stretch after all. Check out more images below.

UPDATE: Apparently, Adnan’s been using all his paparazzi skills to throw off the scent of their trail! After going through a whole lot of work to set up Red Herring’s all over the world, Adney (we’re trying out some new names for this couple) or perhaps Britnan, were spotted driving together in Mexico! Someone’s racking up those frequent flier miles!

Reports are coming in from everywhere that Britney and Adnan have escaped from Los Angeles via private plane and arrived in New York late Wednesday evening. Although this contradicts what some “news” agencies were reporting earlier in the day which was that Britney threw Adnan to the curb because she found out his agency sold semi-nude images of Britney to the tabloids. If that is indeed true, perhaps that’s how Adnan managed to pay for the private plane tab. Have fun guys and don’t forget to come back, Britney’s got to be back in court next week!

That’s right, folks, Bob Saget is still alive. He was in NY last night heading out to Butter Lounge for a show and he got a full house. I really don’t know if he had a full house in there, but thinking up a title with America’s Funniest Home Videos entwined in it was just too difficult. Bob’s a special creature, in that he’s well beloved by most American households as a fun-loving and wholesome TV dad, yet he can get very edgy and raunchy in his stand-up shows. He guest starred in Entourage once and his character was dead on what he’s like on stage. Do your own research if you’d like on YouTube or something. In any case, I wonder if Ashley and Mary Kate go and see his shows. And where the hell did Candice Cameron go? Will someone please tell me? At any rate, we also have a video of Mr. Saget for those listless fans of his who have been waiting for his resurgence. Enjoy.

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