Jada Pinkett Smith responds to Leah Remini's claim Jada is a Scientologist, plus more news

Jada Pinkett Smith responds to Leah Remini's claim Jada is a Scientologist

Can someone appreciate the tenets of Scientology without becoming a Scientologist themselves? Jada Pinkett Smith thinks so. In a series of tweets this week, she responded to claims about her religion made by Leah Remini, who's made it her personal mission to reveal what she believes to be dangerous practices within the controversial church. Speaking to the Daily Beast, Leah described a party she attended at Tom Cruise's home with Jada. According to Leah, the three of them were all practicing Scientologists at the time. "I know Jada's in. I know Jada's in," Leah said in the interview. "I never saw Will [Smith] there, but I saw Jada at the Celebrity Centre. They opened up a Scientology School and have since closed it. But I saw Jada at the Centre all the time." The Daily Beast confirms the school, The New Village Leadership Academy, was "largely funded by" Jada and Will. The pair reportedly hired mostly Scientologists onto the staff and used "Study Technology," an approach to education developed by L. Ron Hubbard. Leah also said Jada appeared on "Watch What Happens Live" and denied what Leah maintains is a true story about Tom Cruise demanding that she play hide and seek at the aforementioned party, a demand Leah said she was expected to meet because of Tom's rank in the church. Finally, Leah said she believes Jada still practices the religion. Here's Jada's response via Twitter: "I recently lit Shabbat candles with Rabbi Bentley at Temple Sinai… but I am not Jewish. … I have prayed in mosques all over the world but I am not a Muslim. … I have read the Bhagavad Gita … but I am not a Hindu. … I have chanted and prayed in some of the most magnificent temples on earth … but I am not a Buddhist. …I have studied Dianetics, and appreciate the merits of Study Tech … but I am not a Scientologist. … I practice human kindness, and I believe that we each have the right to determine what we are and what we are not. … NO ONE ELSE can hold that power."

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Jake Gyllenhaal gets creative with his latest avoidance of Taylor Swift questions

"If you lost your legs in real life, do you think Taylor Swift would write a song about it?" That's how Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman craftily broached the subject of Jake Gyllenhaal's 2010 romance with Taylor Swift during a Facebook Live session this week. Jake plays Jeff in "Stronger," his new film about the bombing and the two have reportedly become pals. Still, the actor refused to give up much about the relationship — or acknowledge the fact that two of her songs, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and "All Too Well," were purportedly written about him. "For me, or about it?" Jake asked, dodging the question like a master. Bauman replied, "For you. Like a country song." Quipped Jake: "She sort of moved more into pop now." As Us Weekly reminds us, Jake has avoided talking about his relationship with Taylor pretty much from day one.

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Blac Chyna wants to launch a rap career and major labels are reportedly interested

Is this the rap world's next star? Blac Chyna hopes so, according to the New York Post. Insiders tell the tab Chyna is working to launch a rap career and has already met with four labels and is "collaborating with very big artists." One source expects "big news" to be announced regarding Chyna's new music plan in the near future. Another insider was less enthusiastic, telling the Post Chyna's rapping is "horrible," but "the majors are listening" and she's likely to score a record contract that could come with an advance as large as seven figures.

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Eva Mendes didn't realize working would make her feel guilty about parenting

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling have been parents for three years now. But there's something Eva is just starting to learn about parenthood. "Oh my god, nobody warns you about the guilt that you feel when you do work!" the actress exclaimed to E! News this week when asked how she manages a career along with the duties of being a mom to Esmeralda, 3, and Amada, 1. "I don't know how I find balance, because I think it is like a day to day kind of struggle, you know?" she said. "I'm all for obviously taking care of myself—that's how I can take care of them of course—but that guilt that is just kind of always there. It's like, 'Ugh, this is gonna be there forever now.'" Eva does have at least one trick up her sleeve we're guessing assuages at least some of the guilt. Esmeralda is allowed to wear "whatever she wants," according to Eva. "Literally, you wanna wear jammies all day? Wear jammies all day," she explained. "Like, to me, it is such a beautiful time to be a kid and not have, you know, no pressure." Not to mention, if the history of the Western female teenage world is any indication, there may come a time when Eva and Ryan feel compelled to do a little more policing with regard to their daughters' outfit choices …

Laura Dern is giving her Emmy to her mom

After winning her first Emmy for her performance in "Big Little Lies," Laura Dern made two plans: First, she announced what she would be doing with the award, then, she told ET she and her costars Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman planned to hit "every party" in Hollywood after the ceremony. "I think I'm gonna give this to my mom — my original actress, mentor, inspiration," she said of her mother, Diane Ladd. "I definitely want to have her have this. But, yes, I'm telling her right now with you that 'Mom, I want you to have this.' She wanted to be here, but she's a working actor." Later in the same interview, she made a number of comments that suggested there was no merit to suspicions she doesn't get along with Reese, whom Laura failed to hug or even acknowledge when she won the award. "Oh, we're the best of friends, " she said, adding that Reese's mom and Laura's mom have become close, too. She also gushed about the experience of working with such a women-centric cast. "Well, it's girl power because as I spoke to tonight, I hadn't worked with women — a large group of women — ever," she said. "It's so lucky. You know, maybe you get one crew member, one actress. This was an amazing tribe. May there be more and more fierce female characters and female crew."

Channing Tatum is all about Jenna Dewan Tatum's booty

Yep, that Zac Posen gown Jenna Dewan-Tatum wore to the London premiere of "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" involved Jenna's bottom half being visible through mounds of see-through fabric. And her husband, Channing Tatum, is the look's No. 1 fan. "I love that," he told E! News on Monday, Sept. 18., when a reporter asked how he felt about the fact his wife's rear could be seen through the dress in silhouette. "She's got a great booty," Channing added. Jenna, for her part, felt the dress choice was practical, noting, "There's only a little longer I can do this." Somehow we doubt that, girl.

Selena Gomez steps out with her new puppy in New York City

Selena Gomez stepped out in the Big Apple on Tuesday, Sept, 19, with her new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, aka the cutest puppy you'll see all week. Although it's unclear if Selena and her boyfriend The Weeknd adopted the little guy together, a recent post on The Weeknd's Instagram proves he's enjoying plenty of puppy time himself. The pooch's name, according to The Weeknd, is Charlie. Given Selena's recent announcement she underwent a kidney transplant this summer, seems like she's due for a little love from a snuggly furball.

Avril Lavigne named the most dangerous celebrity to search for online

Think twice before you search online for free music by Avril Lavigne. According to a new survey from McAfee, the singer is now the most dangerous celeb online when it comes to the security of your computer. The New York Post reports an online search about Avril yields a 14.5 percent chance of sending you to a page containing threats to your computer such as malware and viruses, while searches for free MP3s by the singer up your likelihood of getting a virus to 22 percent. Bruno Mars was ranked the second most dangerous celeb to search for online, with Carly Rae Jepsen coming in third. Avril beat out last year's Computer Enemy No. 1, Amy Schumer, for 2017.

That time Jennifer Lawrence tried to explain the Kardashians to Javier Bardem

In which Javier Bardem proves [middle-aged] men are from Mars and [Millennial] women are from Venus … While promoting "Mother!" last week, Javier admitted he remains utterly confounded by his costar's well-known reality show fandom. The obsession famously earned her a relaxation tent on the set of the new thriller in which she could wind down from psychologically stressful scenes by, well, keeping up with the you-know-whos. "She told me once about the Kardashians," Javier told MTV News last week. "Now I know more about who they are, but at the time, I didn't know who they were." He went to recall the joy and confusion with which she responded to his admission he was unfamiliar with the reality TV royalty. "She was laughing at me so hard, 'You don't know who the Kardashians are?' Like she was talking to me about Einstein," he said. "'No, I don't know who those people are. Who are them? What's their planet? Where are they coming from? What do they want? Where is the spaceship?"' All valid questions, Javier, all valid questions …

Taylor Swift sued over 'Shake It Off' lyrics

Taylor Swift is facing a new lawsuit that could cost her big. TMZ reports songwriters Sean Hall and Nathan Butler, who have worked with Justin Bieber, the Backstreet Boys, Maroon 5 and others pop stars, claim the main hook in "Shake It Off" was stolen from their 2001 song "Playas Gon' Play," which the group 3LW recorded, sending it to No. 81 on the Billboard Hot 100. The lyrics include the line, "playas, they gonna play, and haters, they gonna hate," which the songwriters maintain means "Shake It Off" is 20 percent theirs. Taylor's team denies the writers have any stake, telling TMZ: "This is a ridiculous claim and nothing more than a money grab. The law is simple and clear. They do not have a case."