The daily gossip: Pete Davidson leaves irate voicemail for PETA, Chris Hemsworth agrees that 'Thor: Love and Thunder' was 'too silly,' and more

1. Pete Davidson leaves irate voicemail for PETA

Pete Davidson is barking back. The "Saturday Night Live" alum left an expletive-filled voicemail for PETA after the animal rights group called him out for buying a dog from a pet store instead of adopting it from a shelter. "It's tragic that Pete didn't seek out a borough-born mutt from a city animal shelter," PETA's Daphna Nachminovitch told TMZ. Davidson responded in a voicemail published by TMZ, angrily explaining he's "severely allergic to dogs," so he had "to get a specific breed" after his mom's pet died. Davidson told Nachminovitch to "do your research," adding, "F--k you, and suck my d--k!" But PETA doubled down, telling TMZ that "Petfinder has listings for homeless dogs of every breed under the sun, including the one he purchased," and Davidson then admitted he wasn't aware he could "adopt a specific hypoallergenic dog." He told TMZ he "shouldn't have said what I said" but isn't "sorry for standing up for myself and my family."

TMZ

2. Chris Hemsworth agrees that 'Thor: Love and Thunder' was 'too silly'

Why didn't lightning strike twice for Taika Waititi and Chris Hemsworth on "Thor: Love and Thunder"? Speaking with GQ, Hemsworth addressed how the preceding "Thor: Ragnarok" received better reviews than the recent "Love and Thunder" — including from his kids' friends. "It's a bunch of eight-year-olds critiquing my film," the actor recalled. "We thought this one had too much humor, the action was cool but the VFX weren't as good." Ultimately, Hemsworth admitted he and Waititi may have gone overboard on the comedy, reflecting, "I think we just had too much fun. It just became too silly." Hemsworth also told GQ that it's "super depressing" to hear criticism of Marvel movies from directors like Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. "There goes two of my heroes I won't work with," he said. "I guess they're not a fan of me." Spoken like a man trying to keep Thor's surprise cameo in "Killers of the Flower Moon" a secret.

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GQ

3. Elle Fanning was told she lost a role when she was 16 'because she's unf--kable'

Casting in Hollywood isn't always based on merit, and Elle Fanning has the stories to prove it. During a Hollywood Reporter actors roundtable, the actress revealed that at just 16 years old, she was told she was rejected for a part in a father-daughter road trip comedy "because she's unf--kable." She said she heard the feedback from an outside party that she left unidentified. "It's so disgusting," the actress said. "I mean, there's so many stories like this." Fanning added that she's now able to laugh at the "disgusting pig" who said this, and the film ended up not even being made, anyway. Natasha Lyonne chimed in with a similarly gross casting story, recalling how she auditioned for "Lolita" when she was 14 or 15 and was asked to slowly eat a banana. "It's sick," Lyonne said. "... It's dark as hell."

The Hollywood Reporter

4. Cuba Gooding Jr. settles rape lawsuit, avoiding trial

Cuba Gooding Jr. isn't headed to trial after all. The actor has settled with a woman who accused him of rape, avoiding a trial, according to The New York Times. The settlement, terms of which weren't disclosed, was revealed on the same day that jury selection was going to begin. The accuser was seeking more than $6 million in damages in the civil lawsuit, according to ABC News. She previously alleged that in 2013, Gooding took her to his hotel room, blocked her from leaving, and raped her. He denied the allegations. Gooding has been accused of sexual abuse by numerous other women, some of whom were set to testify in this trial. He pleaded guilty to harassment last year and apologized "for ever making anybody feel inappropriately touched."

The New York Times ABC News

5. Disgraced director Bryan Singer reportedly self-financing documentary about himself

Don't look now, but Bryan Singer is eying a comeback. The disgraced filmmaker, who has been accused of sexual assault, is looking to return to directing and is attempting to secure financing for "three narrative features set in and around Israel," Variety reports. But Singer is also reportedly working on a self-financed documentary, which would see him address the allegations against him and his attempted career comeback. "Well, at least we know it will be fair and balanced," a documentary veteran sarcastically told Variety. Singer hasn't directed a film since 2018's "Bohemian Rhapsody," though he was fired during production and replaced by Dexter Fletcher. In 2019, a report from The Atlantic accused Singer of sexually assaulting underage boys. He denied the allegations, claiming the article was a "homophobic smear piece."

Variety