Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Fame Addiction - Characteristic #63: Ostentatious Consumption

You think he would have learned when he drove around in the Bentley? Over the weekend, while the happy couple seems to have fallen off the face of the earth, it was announced that Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban purchased a $7.6 million dollar home in the section of L.A. called Brentwood. There was also a rumor, and that is all it is at this time because those hired by Kidman to preserve her image, have not confirmed it, that the Kidman’s have purchased a $3 million dollar home not far from Keith's former home in Nashville.

How interesting that the Kidman’s are putting down roots and buying very expensive homes in closed off areas of the two cities where they work the most out of. Also interesting that this news was released at the same time that People magazine did a story on which celebrity couples make the most money.

People magazine claims that Keith made more than Nicole in 2007. Whoever made more doesn't matter; what matters is the amount was well over $60 million dollars. $60 million dollars? Sorry, but it amazes me that these two can get two cents for anything that they put out in 2007. The sadder thing is, that with this knowledge, it just cements more and more how out of touch both of these two is with the reality that is day to day living. Yes, if you can earn millions of dollars, go for it! That’s a true American pursuit but, and this is a big but, do not flaunt that money by bragging and living a pretentious lifestyle.

I understand the house in Brentwood. Kidman and her one true love lived there for over a decade. Her best friend, a more talented actress, has a home there. It is where Kidman stayed when Keith was in institutional time out.

Oh and if it matters, her acquired prop children are close by. Brentwood was always exclusive and private. We are not going to see the home at all. This may be the home Kidman lives in for the rest of her life out of sight. Having a home in L.A. also means that people will not be able to be bribed to leak news about Kidman, for example, that her husband was eating alone when he was supposed to be with her; or, that they always had the same kind of suite; and, if they were having an argument during the early morning hours. Now the neighbors are blessed with the motorcycle blazing off and the ghostly white mistress of the house sitting by the koi ponds at three in the morning because she can't sleep.

Nashville isn't L.A. There are large homes there but they are for the most part outside of Nashville. When Keith was building his first solo home in Nashville, the one that was recently sold, not the one he owned with his former supermodel fiancĂ©e, he said that he wanted some place that he would be able to write music, a place that wasn't “Alan Jackson big”. The home that many thought that a certain tabloid darling had bought is rumored now to be the home that Kidman bought so Keith could have a place to live when he makes his twice yearly visits to Music City. I just bet you are asking why I think Kidman was behind the purchase? It is obvious that Kidman has no clue about Keith’s real audience; real people who are not impressed by ostentatious displays of wealth.

Country music is about people who may only be able to go to one or two shows a year; people for whom the current economic situation is grave. Yep, if you can afford a three million dollar home go ahead and live there, but to just have a home that you can visit twice a year while others are losing their homes to foreclosure is tacky; it’s obscene. But what do we expect from a woman who uses her private jet like it is a taxi? What do we expect from a woman who costs money for the business she is in, yet demands contracts and is paid for those roles based on a long ago semi-successful run? My dear Nicole, if you put yourself on top of the hill you are simply setting yourself to be toppled off that hill. Keith is obviously addicted to the moneyed lifestyle and that can be cured. How? By not contributing to it. What was wrong with the farm that they were building? Did they have to have a home because they need to be seen in Nashville? Yes, everyone knows that Kidman hates Nashville. We also know that Keith loves the city. Of course living pretentiously makes him less the man that would be found at a local club chatting with the locals and more of the man that supposedly needs a bodyguard. And that is what Kidman has always wanted with Keith, a way to keep him from the public. A way to create a mystery about them so they can create an aura that some will want to explore, thus it contributes to the fame. It is sick, and sad, and oh so obvious.

We will get to see Keith pushing the baby carriage around a park. We will see Keith and Nicole eating out in those quaint Nashville restaurants they have been to before and we will not see them in their home, in their pool, on the tennis court or walking the grounds of the estate, because that would ruin the effect wouldn't it? This has worked for years for Kidman, living life in private and presenting a front to the public. It simply looks sad and wasteful and obviously covers up what is lacking in the Kidman household.

I guess Australia was home until it wasn't useful anymore. The same will be said of Nashville for Kidman. My wish is that Keith realizes that you don't have to live in a huge mansion to create a home. Houses can take up a lot of space; homes are in your heart.

Finally, I am stealing this from a post from one of the original skeptics on a Keith site, about the Nashville house, when do you think they evicted Jed, Granny and Elly Mae?

N.B.: While we were preparing to publish this blog, Kidman's rep supposedly denied the purchase of the Brentwood property. Haha!

A follow up:

Yes, oh yes, they denied that she bought the house. Of course they would. Do you think they want people to know where it is? Do you think they want people to know they are dumping Oz as soon as the kid is hatched and splitting to a place that Kidman prefers? Because her kids are there or because her one true love is close by? Do you think that they want you to know how much was spent on the house? Just like they didn't want you to know that she was engaged. Or that they were getting married in Australia. Or that Keith was in fact institutionalized at Betty Ford. Nope, all good things come to those who wait. So a broker buys the house and eventually they live there; no foul, no harm, and another chapter in “I Am Just One Crazy Fameho” by Nicole Mary Kidman Cruise Urban. And the best friend is a better actress and even Kidman knows that.

33 comments:

undecided said...

I don't think they are bragging or flaunting their money. In fact, it seems they took pains to conceal it.
Why shouldn't they have multiple homes if they travel?

I feel way more 'out of touch' with a performer who puts thousands of dollars worth of drugs up his nose than someone who buys real estate.

maclen said...

There does seem to be an avalance... a deluge of ongoing and converging circumstances... 4 straight years of kidman mediocre, critical and box office failures that has led to these rash of "news stories". Kidman is unable to live without constanct attention... whether its on the film set, being fussed over for hair, make up and wardrobe... and now that the game plan had to be shifted and forced from the "fantasy" world of make believe, it is now growing ruff shot over the internet news cycles like a rat infestation upon Australia. And just like that infestation, kidman's is being resisted at all possible fronts.

doublewide said...

let's see.....if her rep denies it, then it must not be true. just like

the dating
the engagement
the baby

and so on and so forth

maclen said...

doublewide said...
"let's see.....if her rep denies it, then it must not be true. just like
the dating
the engagement
the baby

and so on and so forth"

yeah, doublewide, that's the well oiled, notoriously always "professionally" well communicated team kidman. Deny today, confirm tommorrow...but never be straightforward, the dimwits will certainly buy it... no matter what.

banbotox said...

Excellent blog.

While I certainly think Keith has every right to enjoy the finer things in life since he can afford them, I have been deluged with alerts in my inbox about how kidman has bought this and that-tossing around millions of dollars like they were tens or twenties. And in my opinion, she is flaunting her wealth and it is quite pretentious. Wonder how much she gets as a write off in taxes?

realitycheck said...

This blog entry just reeks of jealousy. People as wealthy as Nicole and Keith, famous or not, can buy and sell homes and real estate as much as we change our underwear. No one said life is fair.

Regardless of whether or not they tried to hide it, when A-list stars buy and sell homes it makes the papers. And from all the pics Ive seen none of the homes they have purchased were ostentatious. Maybe someone here on staff needs to do some research on Alan Jackson. A man whose career has been singing all about "The Little Man". But we all know he's got plenty of loyal fans that cant afford to live in a mansion with its own name.

Keith has already said in the past his home is where his wife is. Which is the way it should be in a marriage.

BTW Umyths, what does your opinion of Naomi's acting ability have anything to do with the topic at hand. Oh thats right...absolutely nothing!

getaholdofurself said...

it's a buyer's market. if i had the money, i'd make the investment in a heartbeat.

maclen said...

Well, Anna over at Forehead is speculating that the reason for this burst and glut of kidman news leaks of another film role, buying a new home in what ...oh my god... within blocks of ex cruise in LA!...Stop the presses!!! even the leaking of an insignificant vacation trip... is something big may be coming up. Well, it simply just occured to me that there hasnt been a pre-arrainged patented kidman engineered photo op in what appears to be 6 whole days... the last seeming to have been the lunch date with naomi watts on the 2nd of april. Id say the rash of news stories is simply a pre scheduling of media coverage from the totally predictable team kidman to cover the fact that there was going to be no photo opportunities for the week. So leak a bunch of movie, houses and vacation stories... just an insignificant smathering of everything little thing.

TexasCourtJester said...

"It's a buyer's market. If I had the money, I'd make the investment in a heartbeat."

Key word here is investment. The LA purchase has been denied. In a week the TN purchase may or may not be denied. (I think it will be but they will let a little time pass to make another headline on another day.) At least NK was in LA and could have been looking at houses. We know NK hasn't seen any properties in TN and who buys property sight unseen if they truly plan to live there. For that matter when was the last time Keith was in TN. Nope, just like the Sydney beach house and the London property purchase they would just be investments. NK has Tom's Sydney home just like she wants it and has no need or want to travel far from it for long.

TexasCourtJester said...

"There hasn't been a prearranged patented Kidman engineered photo op in what appears to be 6 whole days... the last seeming to have been the lunch date with Naomi Watts on the 2nd of April."

Except there weren't any pictures of NK, KU, and NW together. We were told they were together - we were also told they were together before NK left OZ for the Oscars - but there is no photographic proof. The background of Naomi's picture is different from NK & KU's picture. Aussies might know the area to know if it is close by or not but the rest of us don't. For all we know Watts was just out for a walk.

isitoveryet said...

As a mother, I am certainly not jealous of a woman who chooses NOT to live in the same neighborhood, city, much less state as Tom's children.

As a wife, I am certainly not jealous of a woman whose boyfriend/fiance'/husband has cheated on her with not one woman, but multiple women. I am also not jealous that her husband had to go into rehab four months after their wedding.

As a woman, I am certainly not jealous of a woman who is so fearful of looking old that she has to inject Botulism into her face. I am not jealous of a woman who has to insert earth worms into her lips. I am not jealous of a woman who would bleach her skin to get rid of freckles. I am not jealous of a woman who has a boob job, which was hosed up and the right one is way bigger than the left. I am comfortable in my own skin. I don't have to have everything fake in my body or for that matter, in my life, to make myself look better.

doublewide said...

i love my life!

skankypants (to quote a friend) can have her money and fame.....wouldn't trade with that heinous woman for all of the money in the world.....blech

she's pathetic

that ANGLE ain't gonna work RC

and keith is lookin so pathetic, who would want him? sorry bibby, but i gotta tell it like it is....

maclen said...

Excellent points, isitoveryet...and that is becoming some list isnt it? Botox...lip injections...cheek implants... boob job...not to mention, not just her apparent use but more and more obvious need of different length wigs and off color weaves...
Well, doing a quick morning news and blog search, its seems another day without a photo op... the news cycles are still banging around the house purchases... and of course, more and more are mentioning the ex, cruise.

isitoveryet said...

Thank you for reminding me maclen! I certainly am not jealous of the balding head On Kidman either. I'll take my full, thick head of hair anyday, and my hair has color!

realitycheck said...

doublewide, you personally may not be jealous but whoever wrote that blog makes it seem like they are.

I still dont understand why, if there really is more than one blogger here, they dont take credit for what they write individually. I'm not asking for real names but they could each have screen names like we do. Makes you think...

realitycheck said...

" the news cycles are still banging around the house purchases... and of course, more and more are mentioning the ex, cruise."

All i keep reading is that his film "Valkryie" has been pushed back yet again to dead season. Its going to bomb. Tom Cruise isnt beliveable as a man plotting to take out Hitler. He couldnt even attempt a German accent for the film because we all know he isnt capable of one. The mere notion of TC in a picture like this is ridiculous.

Imahick said...

Tom has seen better days...I agree with that. The momentum has definitely turned on him since his crazy ass displays in 06.

But I get the same sense with NK. Her time has come and gone. She has made too many bad choices in terms of scripts and has altered her appearance too much ... now she is just being pushed aside by more relevant actresses. It's inevitable in Hollywood ... but she sped the inevitable up through her own poor choices.

As far as jealousy...I don't follow your logic. I don't speak for all the skeptics...but for myself. I have no desire to be Nicole Kidman.

First of all, I am a happily married mother of 2. I love my husband and support him in his life and career. I love my kids and would die for them. It's as simple as that. This is a life that I'm happy with...not perfect, but it's a good life, nonetheless.

Do I want to be someone like NK who is so obviously unhappy with who she is that she alters her appearance until she's a laughing stock? No.

Do I want to be someone like NK who is so obsessed with HER career that she'd live anywhere but where her kids are? No.

Do I want to be someone who is desperate to be in the media all the time ... like NK ... and tries to control the press to her advantage? No. I like my anonymity.

Do I want to be someone like NK who is so frantic over the failure of her own career that, in her attempts to save it, she shows absolutely NO consideration toward her marriage, the health of her unborn child or her husband's life and career? No.

I am at a loss about what anyone would be jealous of. The money? What good has it done NK? Nope...I am quite comfortable and don't need $150 million at the expense of my children, my husband and my own happiness.

getaholdofurself said...

CJ said...
"'It's a buyer's market. If I had the money, I'd make the investment in a heartbeat.'

Key word here is investment. The LA purchase has been denied. In a week the TN purchase may or may not be denied."

true, but the blogger seems to think the denials are bogus. if the blogger is right and they're purchasing properties, they're great investments.

TexasCourtJester said...

UM I don't remember. Did reps deny the purchase of the Sydney beach house or the England house? I'm thinking they did not but I'm really not sure. Berry Hill, want to research that for us?

maclen said...

So, today will make the 7th day of a possible photo op-less kidman. It seems urban is set to return to underwoods Carnival tour... with his g-hits cd slumping down at #20, I remind you... could it have been that kidman was busy traveling with urban to the states? And could it have taken so long, 7 days, because they were so busy on a quick getaway "vacation" to Tahiti, and stashing up on a couple of "fixer upper" mansions at several points in the states? Is kidman already boning up for that fab new movie role with the great judie dench?...cause if she is, what about the monroe/millionare movie remake... or that horror/suspense movie remake...or that adaption of the broadway play "Rabbit Hole, which she is supposed to produce and act in for Fox...( hey, isnt she even looking for anything original anymore?) Because you see, you always hear about these "deals" for movies that she's got "lined up"... which is suppose to "prove" she is still "successfull"...cue the kidman kreepy krawling konscripts..."See, she still gets movie roles...she's still working!" She made a 3 movie deal with Fox to produce and star in the movies. The last and only movie she produced was In The Cut, and that was 5 years ago. So certainly a collection of potential movie roles certainly does not a continuing successful career make...So, the orignial question is, is there something up in fantasyland that would give her a reason to take a lull in photo opland?

Urban Myths said...

Ah, maclen. They were photographed in Tahiti ...

http://isifa.com/reportage_ed.php?repid=883270

http://www.tahitipresse.pf/index.cfm?snav=see&presse=23679

Supposedly they flew out to LA in her jet after 2 days in Bora Bora. He had a show in Baltimore last night. Haven't heard if she was there.

maclen said...

Well, it seems she got her photo from the leak, Urban Myths... not much of photo though, long range and simply exiting the plane...boy, really dullsville, man. Seem the tahitian paps are simply over or not to interested in the supposedly expecting and posing "couple" and no opportunity for kidman to brush up on her goofy paparatz grin. Back in LA? Does this mean we will all be rewarded with the already tired out "work outs in the usual black suit... bash a paps" photo opportunities? My money is on kidman "touring" with urban, by at least being in the same country as the gigs... fly off to baltimore or stay in LA? She seems to have over attended the orbs gigs by one when she fell asleep at the first one....

pezsucks said...

time will tell what the famewhore is up to because KU will be on the road regularly starting next week and I seriously doubt that the human pez dispenser will be on the road with him. Maybe this will be a much needed break for KU from "casper" and he can actually start to have fun again and get his mojo back. As long as he still has that neuse around his neck, he may as well keep a room reserved somewhere for rehab. Having to deal with someone with NK would make the strongest of men resort to rehab.

pezsucks said...

I meant in the previous post, that having to deal with the likes of NK would be enough to make the strongest of men seek rehab.

don't believe the lies said...

First off I am loving the private plane they continue to take even though they claim to care about the environment. What a joke. Second why would they deny buying a house? Who really cares what they spent? Everyone knows they have a lot of money so it's not like they have to try to hide it. Stupid. The only thing fascinating is if it is down the street from Tom. Because then she'd be in closer stalking distance to him. lol

Speaking of Tom I think him and the pasty one should just get back together. It may save both of their careers...which is all they really care about anyways and in the process free Keith and Katie from the hells they have seem to put themselves in. Looks like a win, win situation for all of the above.

Also still not seeing a "baby bump." Aren't her and the 17 year old Spears chick due around the same time? She's got quite a belly already. hmmmm...where's Nicoles?

wastedemotion said...

Honestly I dont give a shit what they buy, when they buy it, or where they buy, I'm just tired of hearing about her when what she tries to put out there never matches what she really puts out there.
I do agree for a couple that claim to be so "green", and also for a couple that claim to be so charitable they sure dont act like it. They need all three houses?! Really those millions they spent they couldnt have "invested" elsehwere?! Like I dont know St. Judes, AIDS research, Breast Cancer Research, name it, they could have given a million to seven of them, half a million to 14of them, but instead they spent it on themselves, and why jet to Bora Bora for 2 days?! Really was that a need, no these are to people who clearly live life by their WANTS.
Jealous, no that would be a waste of emotion on a woman who clearly has nothing I want or need.

maclen said...

Well, wastedemotion, honestly I'm surprised the brentwood house purchase story is still going strong on the news circuit...days after it was planted.... kidmans shills must have leaked the story to every contact they have to ensure the maximum exposure. If youll notice, the new role in talks, along side judi dench has pretty much died down. Why does this particular story have such long legs? Since I pretty much doubt she actually intends on moving back to the states, it's seems pretty insignificant really, and a usual pr stunt. And as for urban still "touring", pezsucks, considering his cd is falling off the top of the charts, it does look like urban is using touring as an excuse to get out of her manipulating clutches.

maclen said...

a postscript...

Oh so according to this kidman main leaking site...

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20190437,00.html

..the reason urban is still touring through the summer... is to shill for the maybebaby... "ohhh hes gonna be a daddy!" And since this is kidman's #1 leak site, the fact that its states kidman was "out of sight" certainly means she was not there... cue the black suit and paps brass knuckles, peeps... it's gonna be non-baby bump watch, non -events but most certainly pale... haggard.. obsessive... thinning hair days for the kid...man.

doublewide said...

hey maclen, look at the yacht, they spent 4 whole days on in bora bora....
http://yachtspotter.com/focard3.php?foo=FY011

looks more like a cruise ship.....do ya think maybe they didn't want to have to see each other? this thing is monstrous! just like their egos......

i see mr. diva pants is enjoying the high life even though he looked miserable in the last photo ops.

maclen said...

Yes, doublewide, were seeing the highest levels of gluttony in kidmans desperate need for media coverage... and the orb being dragged to each and every one of them makes him but a prop in them...he's becoming less and less significant..does anyone really care what he becomes now?

TexasCourtJester said...

"I'm gonna be a dad soon, and it only took me 40 years!"

Way to denounce the "Gave my kid up for adoption" rumors Keith. Let NK make bad press go away - she's had more experience in the process.

I wonder what they'll do with all the baby gifts. Keith used to truly appreciate and use gifts from the fans. I know NK would never put her child inside in anything so generic as a onsie - not attention grabbing enough for photo ops.

banbotox said...

That's true cj and never will the royal baby put on a onsie that says Baltimore Ravens!!

TexasCourtJester said...

pr-inside.com published on April 15 the Brentwood, California house purchase story. That makes me wonder if the rep lied. That source is usually correct.