Spotted

at Donald Trump's campaign launch at Mar a Lago:

Pic of the day..

Golfing legend Greg Norman is a golfing partner of president Donald Trump. Is this how the pair will play a round on the Mar a Lago golf course in the near future?. (Now try to get that image out of your head.)

The Feud #7

Lord Sugar wishes Piers Morgan Happy Mother's Day.

Dreams of Stardom..

It was just a short time ago Whispers brought you the news that artistic Sydney duo Charles & Christa Billich were heading for the USA and a planned meeting with US president Donald Trump.

This info was imparted to us as we were being whisked home after a party in the Billich's sleek chauffeured Bentley.
Now news arrives that the colourful pair are to feature in a US reality TV show. And why not? Everyone is doing it these days.


Partnering in this proposed fab series is Aussie LA based budding show-biz star James Maas (pictured) who also appears in many scenes in the pilot as our snaps show. But where is Charles? It seems James (30 something) is romancing Christa (70) in most scenes. Possibly inspired by the glamorous French First Couple Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron.
Well the Billichs are a freewheeling pair.

According to Maas he is working with US producer Adam Schroeder  who produced The Truman Show and the very weird Zoolander hit movies.
The film follows the colourful pair as they attempt to open an art gallery in Los Angeles.

And what of Mr Trump?. When he gets through with dealing with the errant Kim Jong Un and North Korea surely he will host a dinner at the White House for Charles & Christa.
After all, the trio have so much in common.

And just to remind our loyal readers: here is what happens at an average Billich party...and below that..a scene from the series Real Housewives of Sydney Maroubra where Christa marries her cat. As one does.

That guest list in full...

At a weekend party in the ritzy Hamptons outside New York this weekend. Many of those in attendance are fierce critics of each other-on social media. For example Steven Spielberg is a virulent critic of president Donald Trump on Twitter. Billionaires George Soros and David Koch are the polar opposite in politics. Isn't it nice that they can all sup and wine together without a fight breaking out ?

Exclusive ! Barack Obama in Bali

Here is our exclusive video of former US president Barack Obama and family on holiday in Bali yesterday. They were leaving the Four Seasons Hotel to go sightseeing on a rainy afternoon. OK you can't actually see the Prez and Michele but they're in one of those 17 vehicles in the motorcade. Courtesy of former Sydney nightclub owner Arthur Karvan who was caught in the traffic jam. Isn't it fun?.

US election update

Jon Ossoff, an American documentary film-maker and former political aide is the Democratic candidate for Georgia's 6th congressional district which will take place on the 20th June. Ossoff has created some serious waves and even incurred the wrath of President Donald Trump (which isn't that hard) given he picked up 48.1% of the vote in an election that was predicted a few months ago to be easily won by Republican candidate Karen Handel. As neither candidate got a majority vote they will compete in a run-off vote this month.

And a little known fact- Ossof is also half-Australian. His mother Helen Fenton (pictured with Jon) hails from Sydney and emigrated to the US where she married Thomas Ossoff with the couple settling in Georgia where Jon was born. As an investigative journalist Jon has exposed human traffickers, been responsible for taking down dozens of international corrupt politicians and has exposed ISIL atrocities in Iraq. He makes a formidable opponent as can be seen in this debate 3 days ago. It's that Aussie spirit !

Charles & Christa for the White House?

As Whispers was being ushered home from the rather splendid Twinnings Design Challenge the other night in leather luxury via the chauffeured Bentley of the artistic duo Charles & Christa Billich, the pair told us of their plans to visit New York in the near future. It seems Charles has an exhibition lined up at the United Nations building in the Big Apple.

Christa & Charles at the Twinnings party

The pair had also just returned from Canberra where the Cuban ambassador had laid on a splendid dinner for the pair. They have just been to Havana and were somewhat of a hit among the locals. Charles is also hoping to present US president Donald Trump with a painting . Will it be one of Charles' tasteful nudes? Perhaps one of Christa. It would surely be to The Don's taste and would make a terrific talking point if it were hung in the Oval Office. Just imagine the discussions Trump could have with the Russian ambassador!

We felt we had to warn Charles of the incident when decades ago Trump commissioned a painting from the late Andy Warhol, of his splendorous Trump Tower. Warhol duly presented the portrait of three Trump Towers in typical Warhol colours. Trump was unimpressed particularly as the picture was based on a Polaroid camera snap (as were all Andy's portraits) and besides, he wanted the tower to be gold just like everything in his palace. He refused to accept the painting or pay for it. Let's hope Charles has more luck. Just to remind folks of Charles at work we present Whispers' video taken last year at the Billich Gallery.

Kirsty's Palm Beach Bash

Palm Beach swells Carol Jaeger & Douglas Jenks pose on the Clark's patio

While all eyes are on Palm Beach's Mar-a-Lago (described by it's owner as the Southern White House) as Donald Trump plays yet another round of golf, Whispers presents an exclusive as former Queensland model Kirsty Clark (nee Hinze) and her billionaire husband Jim Clark host a concert for the Pelmen Music Program at their own nearby home.

The event saw nearly 200 classical music lovers and philanthropists gather for drinks on the porch of the Clark's magnificent mansion followed by a concert of Pelmen students with pieces by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Dvorak captivating the audience.
pictured left : Jim Clark

 Among the Palm Beach heavyweights on the guest list : Martha and Steve Greenwald, music figures Vicki and Chris Kellogg, legal eagles Patricia Lowry and Hon. James Hopkins and Hollywood actress Sheryl Lee Wilson (right) best known for Twin Peaks and The Book of Mormon. 
 Pics by Annie Watt

Music lovers joined Kirsty Clark (centre) : Susan Lloyd, Jason Laskey, Michael James, and Mark Addison

What is happening with James Murdoch?

Whispers asks this question because of a sudden spike in a story we penned in 2010.  It's the tale of how we spotted a 15 year old James Murdoch asleep on a sofa at a party at Lady Mary Fairfax's home Fairwater in Double Bay. At the time Murdoch was accompanying the Sunday Telegraph social writer Primrose 'Pitty Pat' Dunlop (pictured right) on 'work experience'. Our spy disguised as a Tiffany's compact in Jerry Hall's handbag and which sends us regular reports on hubby Rupert Murdoch's movements has produced no news about the Murdoch clan that may have inspired over 100,000 readers from the UK to click on the tale in the past few days.

Read the full story here:

A 15 year old Murdoch and the groom who eloped with his best man in Venice

 

 A screenshot of our statistics shows how readers can suddenly flock from a certain country depending on the current post. As an example, when we published the claim that former Sydney and now Los Angeles based private investigator Frank Monte was heading to New York to work on Donald Trump's presidential campaign, readers from the USA flocked to Whispers at the rate of around 40,000 a day. But why an older tale about James Murdoch has suddenly gained new traction is a mystery.

 

Nearly Summer

 Mid Spring but it feels like Summer with warm and balmy sunny days. A perfect excuse to attend a bikini launch! Designer Fiola Labron Johnson (above centre) launched her new swimwear range Fiola Rose Swim at the d'Albora Marina at The Spit in Mosman.
And there were some pretty swell gin palaces on display. We could get used to this. Below, AdProManagement's Grant Dwyer with Fiola and some gals wearing those new swimsuits. Look good don't they?

We clambered aboard this vessel with only a flute of Champagne to fortify us against the seas

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A missive arrives from LA gumshoe Frank Monte who has taken up residence at New York's wondrous Waldorf Astoria Hotel (our favourite ) :

"Hi Friends, much has been said in the press and radio here in NYC about my checking the stories of these 'Ladies' who are impugning Mr. Trump's Good name. At the outset there's a confusion about who I am. A younger Frank Monte 45, of New Jersey and a Vet. has been in court several times against Mr Trump and has been fighting him for years. I am not he.

I am a Frank James Monte, over 60...and a fully licensed CA Private Detective formerly of NYC now of LA. CA. To date I've sucessfully blown out of the water 4 out of the 8-9 'Ladies' making unsubstantiated accusations against my friend Donald Trump. I'm now chasing after Attorney, M/s Gloria Allred's clients all of whom are in hiding from me.

It's a trial by the Press and the more they say, naively believing the crap these women say, the more press there is.I'm continuing with my case load. Those who know me, remember I totally destroyed the David Jones Ltd case of the $37 million sexual harrassment suit by a former DJ's staffer in 2010. She ran away with just court costs.

If you know more, speak up, I'm at the Walforf Astoria Hotel here on Park Ave.Cheers. Frank Monte." 
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Popular Posts

The statistics don't lie as internet surfers flock to Careless Whispers in their thousands. Is it because of our superb and unique take on society? Or are they simply bored. We'll never know but who cares as long as they keep visiting this distant corner of the internet.

Left is a screenshot of Blogger's 'stats' for this website and interestingly topics with a 'conservative' bent were all almost equally popular. Of the 'views ' of out little tale on Republican candidate Donald Trump, nearly three quarters came from the USA. Have we influenced the American election?.

Donald Trump, Miss Universe & Whispers

When Australia's Jennifer Hawkins won the Miss Universe title in 2004 she was considered the most successful winner of all time in the contest.
When Hawkins returned to Australia she embarked on a two week tour of Australia organized by top model agent Grant Dwyer who discovered Hawkins and numerous other beautiful models who are household names today.

Whispers accompanied Jennifer on the Aussie tour along with half of a dozen of Donald Trump's Miss Universe workers. The tour was a promotional sensation. The Trump crew were astounded at the continued front page and television publicity including the above sensational snap taken by Whispers in Sydney at a fashion show as her skirt slipped off while she left the stage.
The picture swept around the world

But behind the scenes chat with the Trump workers was illuminating . They simply abhorred the man, hated working for him, rarely got paid on time and classed him right back then as a shocking misogynist and a ruthless bully. America, you have been warned

For our US readers

we get around 1000 per day:


## an amazing reaction to our report on Sam Neill's put down of the local licensing laws that seem to be decimating Sydney's night life. Many views came from Europe & the US. What does this mean for tourism?. Also perhaps the entire population of the Southern Highlands has now read up on the local dramas there.

P.J. O'Rourke: 'Dangerous State of The Nation" at Sydney Opera House

 Best-selling author P.J. O'Rourke is heading straight to our stage to deliver his Dangerous State of the Nation.  Roaming foreign affairs correspondent for Rolling Stone magazine for 20 years,  He is also a libertarian Republican satirist who recently reluctantly backed Hilary Clinton as "the second-worst thing that can happen to [America]." Former gonzo Editor of National Lampoon and writer of Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government, he is now the H.L Mencken Research Fellow at the Cato Institute.  TICKETS HERE for August 9th.
Read Susan Chenery's interview with O'Rourke in The Saturday Paper

Movie News

Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban at the US Country Music Awards

  While the Australian media has ignored the activities of former Sydney based private investigator Frank Monte , the US media shows no such timidity. Monte along with his partner Sharon Sargeant upped stakes and moved to Beverly Hills nearly a year ago where Monte has always maintained an office. He is licensed to practice as an investigator throughout the US and has some pretty high profile clients from Hollywood stars to New York business moguls. He also acts for a famed Las Vegas casino.
Whispers first met Monte at a New York party given by US presidential candidate Donald Trump. Our snap below shows Monte with Trump and also on the Larry King Show. In total Monte has appeared in 1000s of US publications and TV shows.
Cindy Adams the show biz columnist on the New York Post's famous Page Six has now published a snippet about Monte & Sargeant's reality TV show The Private Eye &The Madam now in production in LA. Whispers hears that numerous TV networks are negotiating with Monte for his series including the giant Redo Globo in Brazil and Silvio Berluscini's  Italian Mediaset (Monte was born in Egypt & his parents were Italian).
Word now reaches Whispers that a long term Frank Monte project has fired up one Hollywood's top producers : a biopic on the life of Michael Rockefeller (left) the explorer who disappeared in New Guinea in sensational circumstances that gripped the world's media in 1961. Monte was hired by the powerful US Rockefeller family and has never revealed the truth of what happened to their son & heir except to the family. Monte penned a script for the film two decades ago which was picked up the powerful William Morris Agency with superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger buying the rights. Complex legal negations with the Rockefeller family stalled the project but apparently a settlement has finally been reached.

Sharon Sargeant & Frank Monte are regulars on the social circuit

New York Letter #44

Paris Hilton at the Designer of The Year awards..and with brother Barron & Nicky Rothschild

 Some snaps from Whisper's resident New York City spy the ubiquitous social snapper Patrick McMullan. 
It's just a hint of the Big Apple's social scene and golly, there isn't a newsreader or footballer to be spotted.
left : Richard Gere at the Carnegie Hall 125th Anniversary dinner 
right : Henry Kissinger at the Carnegie Hall dinner

Donald Trump's ex Ivana Trump with Karl Wellner & Larry Kaiser at the Designer of the Year awards

singer Neil Sedaka (you remember him: mega hits) & wife Leba at the Designer of The Year wards.

Meanwhile Downtown at the Lucky Bee Restaurant in Soho owned by Aussies Rupert Noffs & Matty Bee, writer Sir Salman Rushdie paid a visit for dinner- pictured here with Noffs

More

A Sydney Pad for Ricky Martin (& kids)

He's due to arrive in late February with the family in tow : Ricky Martin is looking for somewhere to bed down in Sydney and live La Vida Loca with partner Carlos Gonzalez Abella and of course, their twin boy bubs and presumably a coterie of assistants and nannies.

Martin is replacing Keith Urban on The Voice for 2013 and is looking for digs near Fox Studios where the show will be filmed. The Shuttle's hears a Martin rep has been in town for 2 weeks checking out suitable  properties and several have taken his eye with details dispatched back to Martin who has just taken possession of a new New York apartment.

First up is the sensational Altona in Point Piper, once the home of Rupert Murdoch's nephew Matt Handbury and his wife Fiona. Fiona scored Altona as part of a divorce settlement and sold it for around $29M before fleeing to the UK and joining the aristocracy as the Countess of Dartmouth.

Altona is on the market for around $54M but it can rented for $40,000 a month. It comes with a harbor side swimming pool and a jetty with a boathouse (handy for security guards).

Altona                                                                                  The Astor                                Packer's Bondi beach house

 Another property looked at is the grand 1920's apartment block in Macquarie Street in the city :The Astor. The 2 storey 5 bedroom luxury apartment is being sold by Yellow Brick Road boss Mark Bouris who fronts the TV show The Apprentice as a local Donald Trump but with better hair. The Astor apartment is going for four grand a week and was once owned by Barry Humphries. It has superb harbour views.

And discreet inquiries have been made about James Packer's luxury Bondi pad that was recently put quietly on the market for $20M.
 Ricky can basically pick and choose from any number of Eastern Suburb mansions. Many have lingered on the market for years now while owners ask impossibly high prices.
As for Martin's spiritual health- he is a Buddhist -we also hear his rep made a visit to the Nan Tien Temple (right) in Woolongong.

Dark Side of The Beauty Business

Grant Dwyer with Jennifer Hawkins (centre)

GRANT DWYER is well spoken young entrepreneur who often does business the old gentlemanly way-on a handshake.

Running a medium sized model and promotional agency from chic premises in Double Bay, he has had countless successes. Dwyer has a unique eye for spotting talent amongst the dozens of young aspiring models who walk through his door.

Jamie Foxx

In just the past few years, many of the careers launched by Dwyer have become household  names.

Model Ashlea Talbot,  teenage water skiing champion Lauryn Eagle, Celebrity Apprentice winner Jesinta Campbell, TV presenter Rachael Finch and the most successful Miss Universe ever Jennifer Hawkins.

Donald Trump's Miss Universe contest was languishing in the doldrums until Dwyer spotted the young Newcastle demonstration model Hawkins and persuaded her to enter the quest. A panel of judges that included fashion photographers, journalists and the Oscar winning actor Jamie Foxx all concurred with Dwyer's choice and sent Hawkins off to the 2004 quest in Ecuador.    

Lauryn Eagle

When Hawkins took the Miss Universe crown the contest became a major media event that astonished even the jaded Trump who couldn't believe his luck. Dwyer organised a home coming tour that would have been the envy of any chart topping pop group. Hundreds of fans rushed Hawkins. TV and newspaper cameras followed her every move over a two week tour of Australia culminating in the famous fashion slip in Sydney that catapulted Hawkins back onto front pages and TV screens around the world .

Rachael Finch

Now a legal stoush has broken out over one of Dwyer's top discoveries Rachael Finch

On Wednesday in the Downing Street Local Court Finch's current manager Deborah Miller was ordered to pay Dwyer $9406 after  Dwyer said he brokered a deal for Finch to appear as a celebrity ambassador for the McHappy Day fundraiser, which raises money for Ronald McDonald House Charities, after learning the beauty once worked for the fast food chain.

The rewards enjoyed by Dwyer's discoveries can be considerable. Even though Finch only came fourth in the 2009 Miss Universe contest in the Bahamas, Dwyer was already negotiating deals before she had returned to Sydney including a $45,000 make-up deal and a Disney promotion for $36,000.

As for Jennifer Hawkins, as the face of Myer department stores and with her own range of swimwear, Hawkins is estimated to earn up to $5M a year.