Looks like Charlize Theron might have some explaining to do to the winner of that $140,000 kiss and prize pack.

The actress was on stage during a fundraising auction for the OnexOne charity offering up a trip to South Africa for next year’s World Cup finals and a meeting with Nelson Mandela. When bids stalled, she upped the ante with that famous 20-second kiss everyone was talking about later.

Unfortunately, that whole “meeting with Mandela” part of the package was never actually approved — something the Nelson Mandela Foundation is apparently quite pissed about.

“A very strict process needs to followed to get a meeting with Mandela,” the foundation’s chief executive, Achmat Dangor, told Beeld, an Afrikaans-language newspaper. “Not even the charity foundations Mandela himself established are allowed to auction off time with him.”

It makes sense that Mandela wouldn’t want to be attached to every single charity fundraiser, but it’s odd that such a high-profile event would mess up a detail like “asking permission”. Theron’s camp couldn’t be reached for comment — so we assume someone is running around trying to make amends here. Stay tuned.

Matt Damon, a constant force in support of the OneXOne charity foundation, was unable to attend the 2nd Annual Gala Fundraiser for the organization last night in San Francisco due to a family emergency. A rep for the event, which Damon had been scheduled to host, told E! News that “He wouldn’t have missed this otherwise.”

Nevertheless, the event did go forward as planned – with celebrities like Charlize Theron, Jeremy Piven, David Arquette, Josh Groban, and Mia Hamm in attendance.

The evening featured a keynote address by Vicki Escarra, CEO of Feeding America, performances by Josh Groban, Carlos Santana, and the announcement of a new partnership with Charlize Theron’s African Outreach Project. Check out some pictures from the event below.

The controversy surrounding the popular Nobu’s sushi restaurant chain (co-owned by Robert DeNiro) continues to grow. Last September, Greenpeace threw the opening shot after it discovered endangered bluefin tuna on the menu. Weeks later, Nobu answered the charges — not by removing the tuna — but by adding a moronic warnings to their menus that the fish people were about to eat was endangered. Not quite the action Greenpeace was looking for.

Now, in conjunction with the new documentary The End of The Line, celebrities are signing a petition to raise the heat on Nobu’s management and hopefully get the bluefin removed permanently. Elle Macpherson, Sienna Miller, Alicia Silverstone, Charlize Theron, Sting and Trudie Styler, Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson and Stephen Fry are among the 31 famous folks who have signed a petition vowing not to patronize Nobu London until it stops serving the near-extinct  tuna. From their statement:

“As customers and fans of Nobu we strongly feel that bluefin tuna must be completely removed from your menu due to its perilous position as an extremely endangered animal. Nobu is a restaurant we all love, a world leader in sushi with a fantastic reputation and enormous influence. If Nobu took a definitive stand on this issue it could make a critical difference.”

Nobu is not one to take celebrity criticism of its establishment lightly. The restaurant is a haven for the rich and famous — so such involvement from Hollywood in the matter will certainly make a difference. The only question is: Will they choose protecting a species of fish over tastebuds? Japanese chefs consider bluefin to be the tastiest of all tuna — hence it’s popularity in sushi restaurants. Having Nobu take the lead on dropping bluefin could potentially lead to others following its lead.

We’re just waiting for DeNiro to stop wussing out and do the right thing. That’s right, we’re talking to you.

Classy actress and UN Messenger of Peace Charlize Theron is taking to the streets and standing up for same-sex marriage. 

Theron is teaming up with The Courage Campaign and more than 70 other organizations to help promote Meet in the Middle for Equality —  a rally that aims to raise awareness about same-sex marriage. 

Billed as “a day of dignity after the California Supreme Court releases its decision on Proposition 8, ” the event will take place in Fresno, California at 1 p.m this Saturday.

Theron said:

“We know the people whose lives are on the line – those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender – will be there, but we need everyone there. Especially straight people. While we don’t know when the Supreme Court will rule exactly, we know it will be within the next four weeks. Californians need to be prepared to commit right now to go to Fresno on the Saturday after the decision is announced, no matter what that decision may be. The battle for equality has to be fought in Middle America – in places like Fresno, California – not just in gay-friendly cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. California’s Central Valley population is far more reflective of national attitudes towards LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) equality – and until we engage the communities of Middle America, we will not achieve full equality in California.”

To find out more about how you can get involved, visit CourageCampaign.org!

via: looktothestars.org

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said of Charlize: “You have used your voice, compassion and special relationship with the public to create a better world”. From a woman who fought back against sexual harassment in North Country, to a serial killer who suffered violence and abuse in Monster, Cheron’s message of peace circulates around ending violence against women.

Charlize herself has witnessed domestic violence first-hand; at the age of 15 she saw her mother fatally shot her alcoholic father as he threatened the family in a drunken rage.

Besides Clooney and Goodall, Charlize joins celebrities like Michael Douglas, musicians Daniel Barenboim, Midori Goto and Yo-Yo Ma, authors Paulo Coelho and Elie Wiesel and equestrian Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein.

Peace out, Charlize! Peace out!

via: waleg.com

Photo credit: PR Photos

- Charlize Theron as quoted from the US Airways magazine I’m reading on my layover from New York to Tampa.

“‘Don Cheadle has created extraordinary work in his career as an actor and producer. This honorary award is a gesture of our appreciation for his diligence and determination to produce consistently brilliant work for the film world,’ Dawn Hudson, executive director of Film Independent, who throws the annual fest, said.”

Most recently, Cheadle’s documentary Darfur Now was released on DVD — with a portion of the sales benefiting The Solar Cooker Project for the protection and empowerment of women in war-ravaged Sudan. The organization, Not On Our Watch, that he helped found with other actors Clooney, Pitt, and Damon also donated $500,000 in relief aid to the cyclone-devastated country of Myanmar.

Congrats Don!

via Singersroom

Here at Ecorazzi we make a valiant effort to keep you up to date on the latest “naked celebrity ala PETA” news. Most recently, Jenna Jameson encouraged people to pleather themselves (get it) to help promote fake leather. Well now Jenna is putting some porn star pressure on Charlize Theron to get naked!

Jameson said: “It would be amazing if Charlize Theron did one of our ‘Go naked’campaigns. I saw her just the other day and she just blew me away. Charlize is so sexy – I would totally love for her to go naked. I’d die for that.”

Could it happen? We know that Theron is a humanitarian, environmentalist and an overall green lover, but does she have the guts to bear it all for the animals? Only time will tell!

“She says, ‘To see kids be able to talk that way with each other, with an adult, with a counsellor, that never happened when I grew up in this country. It’s hard because part of me feels incredibly blessed in my life and then you come here and you see people struggling, and then you see this beautiful thing which is the spirit of these people and how resilient they are and that’s the miracle.’”

Theron chatted with the kids, handed out gift bags, and assisted with the AIDS testing. The experience left her feeling grateful for the life she has, and even more determined to give back in return. She told Oprah, “Those kids have a 50 percent chance of contracting HIV and AIDS and dying from it, and that could have been my life.”

While the warm-up act that generally is considered the Golden Globes never showed, we’re all waiting with sick anticipation for the 2008 Academy Awards. Regardless of how the writers’ strike impacts things, there for sure will be plenty of alternative parties to enjoy. First and foremost on our radar is the 5th Annual Global Green USA Pre-Oscar Party.

As with previous years, the event promotes “smart solutions to global warming”. Proceeds raised go towards Global Green’s climate initiatives and also their current main focus, the green rebuilding of New Orleans. Last year, Maroon 5 was the headlining act. This time ’round, Michelle Branch will be entertaining, as well as some “surprise musical guest” not yet announced.

This party is one of the most star-studded in attendance during Oscar week. Of course, it helps to have some of the top A-listers on your Los Angeles committee. These include Orlando Bloom, Kate Bosworth, Penelope Cruz, Leonardo DiCaprio, David Duchovny, Salma Hayek, Edward Norton, and Charlize Theron.

Tickets are limited, but that doesn’t mean you can’t register now and enjoy the fun. $250 is the starting price for general admission — while $5K will get you “green carpet” access and entrance to the Patron Lounge. Remember, this is all for a great cause.

As always, we’ve no guarantees that any of the above celebrities will be in attendance. If previous years are any indication, however, you can expect to have one hell of a good time.

Click here to view the invitation and purchase tickets.