Aid for AIDS
In addition to an outfit in keeping with the rock and roll theme, most guests arrived at Friday night’s YouthAIDS gala with a Sarah Palin quip. Take Mistress of Ceremonies Sharon Osbourne, who donned her eyeglasses in order to read the TelePrompTer, only to say, “Oh, dear, I better take these off. I feel like Sarah Palin. … Even I could be vice president!”
A bit more merciless was “Daily Show” correspondent John Oliver, who presented an award to MTV Networks CEO Judy McGrath. Oliver joked that after the debate, he spent the day “slamming my head into something just to prove I can still feel something.” He later added that when he listens to Palin, “something inside of me dies.”
No matter, said the Englishman, “I don’t recognize America as a nation,” as he pointed out that “we used to own this place until you started throwing tea into the ocean.”
Also seen at the gala:
» YouthAIDS global ambassador Ashley Judd introducing Live Aid founder Bob Geldof, who gave an impassioned speech about eradicating international poverty. (Osbourne introduced awardee Annie Lennox, who was unable to come due to her recent back surgery.)
» Vanquished “Project Runway” contestant Suede, who ironically was kicked off the show for underperformance in creating a rock and roll–themed look.
» Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza, who went sash-less for most of the night, prompting more exclamations of “Who’s that?” than anyone else at the event. Mendoza spent much of her afternoon conducting interviews and hanging out in the Gibson Guitars bus parked out front of the hotel. (Fun fact: The driver told us it was formerly Dave Matthews’ tour bus.)
» John Mellencamp, the evening’s entertainment, who performed a rather quick, surprisingly quiet set of four acoustic numbers, which he said were handpicked by MTV’s McGrath.
(Photos: Carrie Devorah)
» DJ Lady Miss Kier (you remember, from the early ’90s psychedelic electronica act Dee-Lite?) spinning tunes at the after-party. Mendoza hosted the after-party with Anna Kournikova.
Sharon Osbourne with Anna Kournikova
Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza with Kournikova
(Photos: Brandon Todd)
