By Drew Grant 3/04 5:04pm

Spring Breakers

You have to admit a similarity. (Getty/Division Films)

‘Ask FRANCO who his image was based on’: Rapper RiFF RaFF Rips Spring Breakers Star

Last week, The Observer reported on a potential feud brewing between Nascar Grand Marshal James Franco and RiFF RaFF, a Texas-based rapper who had claimed that the role of Alien in Spring Breakers was originally offered to him, though he was later offered a smaller role as part of the character’s posse. Franco not only disagreed, but claimed to not have even used RiFF RaFF as a major inspiration for the part, despite striking similarities in grooming and wardrobe.

Today the artist currently under Diplo’s label and working on an album called NEON iCon responded to our requests to clarify the situation. Read More

By Drew Grant 2/28 9:44pm

Acting with James Franco

Clockwise from top: Franco, Dangeruss and Riff Raff

James Franco Finds Way to Piss Off Rapper After Playing Down Spring Breakers Inspiration

In Spring Breakers, James Franco has made the role of a lifetime: Alien, a gangsta white-boy townie from Florida who seduces (and in turn gets seduced by) the trio of bubble-gum co-eds turned criminals played by Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, and director Harmony Korine’s wife, Rachel Korine. He’s a creepy, status-obsessed wannabe, but Franco managed to take inspiration from outside of himself anyway.

Since the beginning, rapper Riff Raff has been promoting the film, saying the Franco character was based on him. And the similarities are evident: the gold grill, the dreadlocks, the fact that one of his albums was called The Golden Alien and he and Korine appeared on a Sneeze magazine’s cover together.

All was kosher. That is, until James Franco got upset over the idea that his performance could have been done by the From Gs to Gents contestant himself. Read More

By Kara Bloomgarden-Smoke 10/03/12 11:28am

Oh No He Didn't

Photo Via Twitter

Designer Hedi Slimane Punches Back at Times Fashion Critic Cathy Horyn

There’s a simmering fashion feud percolating between New York Times fashion critic Cathy Horyn and Hedi Slimane, the designer who has taken over Yves Saint Laurent and is widely credited with Dior Homme’s skinny silhouette. The beef led to Ms. Horyn not being invited to the YSL show, which didn’t stop her from reviewing it in The New York Times on the Runway blog using publicly available photos. Needless to say, her take wasn’t overwhelmingly positive.

“I was not invited. Despite positive reviews of his early YSL and Dior collections, as well as a profile, Mr. Slimane objected bitterly to a review I wrote in 2004—not about him but Raf Simons,” wrote Ms. Horyn.

As best we can tell, the deliberate non-invitation was a result of Ms. Horyn’s doubts about the origins of the skinny-silhouetted suit. Read More

By Aaron Gell 2/27/12 2:07pm

Food Fights

manganaro_grosseria-300x211

Legendary Sandwich Shop Manganaro’s Grosseria Italiana Says Basta!

Manganaro’s Grosseria Italiana, the venerable Ninth Avenue sandwich shop, is serving up its last sub today, according to DNAInfo, ending a long-running feud with Manganaro’s Hero Boy next door. The closing was first reported by Vanishing New York. The shops are owned by different branches of the Dell’Orto clan, who have not been on speaking terms for years.

The news comes almost a full year after the Wall Street Journal prematurely reported the news.  Read More

By The Editors 9/22/10 4:13pm

SLIDESHOW: Larry Summers’ Greatest Showdowns

Larry Summers is brilliant, brash, and influential. He’s held numerous top White House economics posts spanning multiple administrations. Following news of his departure, The Observer took the opportunity to look back at some of the top squabbles Summers has found himself in over the years.

To see Larry’s intellectual sparring partners, take a look Read More