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Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel
Little Pedophile on the Prairie; AJ Benza Breaks Down This Week’s Hottest Gossip
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- [00:00]
AJ Benza
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- [00:44]
Ali Jackson
If you're a podcast host, listen up. This one's for you. My name is Ali Jackson. I'm the host of Finding Mr. Height, a dating and relationship podcast that I've been doing for four years now, sharing my positive and practical approach to dating that's built on my own life experience. And I wanted to share another experience that I've had. My secret behind monetizing my show. It's called Red Circle. And I was just telling my colleague about how much I love their platform. With Red Circle, not only am I getting a seamless hosting experience, but I also love the support I receive in ad sales. It's not just typical ad sales either. It's targeted opportunities based on my show and my life. And the platform is super simple. You just set your preferences and Red Circle matches you with sponsors that align with your show. You can vet every opportunity and their platform gives you great analytics. More recently too, my Red Circle team has brought me opportunities outside of my podcast on social media to really augment the podcast partnerships. Bring them full circle. I just can't recommend them enough. If you want to give a try, go to redcircle.com to get your free trial. That's redcircle.com for a free trial today.
- [01:42]
Rachel Yukatel
On Misunderstood with Rachel Yucatelle. I mean, we're gonna both get in a lot of trouble for saying that for sake.
- [01:47]
AJ Benza
I don't care what you do, little pedophile on the prairie. You don't need that. Melissa Gilbert. Sydney Sweeney's a sex bot. I love her body. Can we all agree that her face is like a six and a half? There's a level of fame where you get everything you want, everything you've ever desired. You can have tigers and lions in your house, but some of these guys go, let me try a guy I don't know. I like a Finger up might say, let me try more than a thing. Now here come the Somalians. They've learned how to take hundreds of millions from our government and send it overseas to their people to basically help finance terror around the world. So, yeah, they gotta go. Forgive me for this joke, but did you get an invite to Tigers 50th?
- [02:28]
Rachel Yukatel
Today's guest is one of my favorite people to have on this show, and honestly, one of the last true originals left in gossip and media. AJ Benza is an OG gossip columnist, a former New York Daily News and also Page Six staple. A longtime media personality and someone who didn't just report on celebrity culture, he helped shape it. Before podcast, before TikTok T, before Anonymous blinds became a business model, there was aj. He was breaking stories when people still answered their phones and secrets actually stayed secret until they didn't. And today, AJ is the host of the wildly popular podcast Fame is a Bitch with spinoffs like Politics is a bitch, Relationships are a bitch, and more. Because in AJ's world, pretty much everything is a bitch. And he says it exactly how he sees it. And that's what you're going to get. Today we cover all the hot and uncomfortable topics. Melissa Gilbert's husband, Timothy Busfield is being held on child sex abuse charges. The very buzzy and very messy drama surrounding Members Only Palm Beach. What's really being whispered about with Sean Diddy Combs, Tyler Perry, Will Smith, and why suddenly Hollywood seems to be having let's call it a collective identity moment. We also get into all the news allegations surrounding Julio Iglesias, and of course, AJ's unapologetically controversial take on all of it. You may not agree with AJ Benza and honestly, you probably won't agree with him on everything, but you cannot deny that he's a riot. He's fearless and he somehow still knows everybody on the planet. This is a no filter, no pr, no safe space conversation. And that's exactly why I love having him here. So buckle up. This one is unhinged, hilarious, and very, very misunderstood. Welcome, AJ Benz. I've missed you. Why are you in Chicago? Did you move there?
- [04:44]
AJ Benza
No, no, no, no. You look great, by the way. Marriage agrees with you.
- [04:48]
Rachel Yukatel
How does this look?
- [04:50]
AJ Benza
Man, if you. If I didn't listen, listen, in my younger days, I would have snatched you and pulled that ring off your finger, baby. But no, you look great. No, I'm in Chicago. My sister and my brother in law live here and he's really in bad health, so I'm helping her out since Christmas. And he's been through the hospital, he's got a really bad illness, so I'm here for them. And now it's snowed again, so that sucks. It's like eight inches of snow on the ground. But I'll be leaving in about a week. Just doing my thing as a good brother.
- [05:20]
Rachel Yukatel
Well, that's very nice of you and I'm so glad you made the time for us. So I wanna hop right into this.
- [05:26]
AJ Benza
Go ahead.
- [05:27]
Rachel Yukatel
There's so much going on and I have a list of things I wanna get to. But I'm just curious because you host your amazing podcast.
- [05:34]
AJ Benza
Yes.
- [05:35]
Rachel Yukatel
I just wanna know, is there something in particular that you're covering and with right now or is it just all the same hot topics that I'm gonna cover with you?
- [05:42]
AJ Benza
I mainly do hot topics, but you know, I have a Politics as a Bitch show as well and I've been talking about Minnesota a lot and I really wanna, this weekend I'm gonna do a show on the fact that there's so much anger coming from women that I just find it, I'm not too shocked by it because women, a lot of women have been changing ever since Donald Trump became president the first time. And I don't see enough men out there. And I'm concerned because women see men can go out in the street and cause some shit because we can fight. We know our limits. We've been in the schoolyards and the playgrounds and the mean streets of New York or what have you. So we know how to size someone up. These women who are in their homes, or this lesbian who got shot and killed, they don't understand what a man can do, especially if he's given the right to hurt you if you, if you fuck up their investigations, right? So they're walking out there nuts, they're shaving their heads off. I don't know what, I don't know how many men can handle your wife just shaving her head because she's mad that Trump's in office. Basically, I think that there's no more sex in marriages. I think these women are just sex starved. The men don't give a shit. And they're out there just trying to have some kind of excitement in their life and they're gonna get killed over it. It's just ridiculous. Wait a minute.
- [06:53]
Rachel Yukatel
But these two women, this woman that got shot was a lesbian. So she's, I mean, you know, anybody.
- [06:58]
AJ Benza
Who was married and had children with a man then turns lesbian, I'm very suspect over, you know, I mean, I'm sure she likes women, but it just doesn't sit right with me. You had three kids with your man and now you like a woman and you like it because she shaved her fucking head and looks like a female boxer. What are you doing?
- [07:15]
Rachel Yukatel
Right, right. Well, I've never understood that. Yeah, because if you like a butch girl, then why don't you just date a man? I don't get it. But anyway, I'm not a lesbian, so I don't know that there's anything wrong.
- [07:26]
AJ Benza
With it, but have a ball, do your thing, I don't care.
- [07:29]
Rachel Yukatel
But hold on. So what is your take on what happened there? Who do you think?
- [07:34]
AJ Benza
You know, I make no bones about being a Trump guy. And I think he gave his orders to ICE to get to that state. That's one state out of many that are going to have problems with fraud and all sorts of stuff. And I think what he's doing is great. He's cleaning up the country. I know it can look ugly at times. You're getting rid of people, I get it, it's not a pretty sight. But it's what we have to do to clean up this country after years of abuse. And he's the guy to do it. So my take is she was in the wrong. Cuz she was out there for hours. It wasn't the first day. Her and her wife take classes to learn how to be anarchists. They send their son to a school that doesn't even talk about academics or learning. It's all about social justice. A K through 5 school, which is insane. So the agitators, professional anarchists. She's out there. The guy was hit by the truck. I don't care what people say. He had internal breathing, he went to the hospital. He was dragged 100 yards a year earlier by another crazy driver. So he shot.
- [08:31]
Rachel Yukatel
So he was a little gun shy or whatever, trigger happy, whatever you want to say. Because he had this incident a year before. Right?
- [08:38]
AJ Benza
I think that definitely played into it. Sure.
- [08:40]
Rachel Yukatel
Yeah, but.
- [08:40]
AJ Benza
But then again, I don't think you're going to see many federal agents standing in front of trucks anymore. Or SUVs. I think it's dangerous. But that woman wasn't attempting a K turn or a U turn. She was fleeing. And she knows she got too deep into it. Her girlfriend, her wife said, drive, baby, drive. And she drove. And the guy got hit and he shot. Normally a cop shoots center mass. You know, you can't aim for a leg or a hip. You shoot center mass, center mass. Was behind the wheel, so he shot up above it and hit her head. I feel bad for the dog in that car more than I feel bad.
- [09:12]
Rachel Yukatel
I was going to ask. I mean, it's a terrible thing to say. What happened to the dog?
- [09:15]
AJ Benza
The dog's okay, but I feel more for the dog than the woman. What do you bring a dog out for that kind of situation? What's wrong with you?
- [09:21]
Rachel Yukatel
See, if you're a man, it's. The whole thing was just so upsetting in general. So I really have tried to stay out of it. I don't know why they had to insert themselves. I mean, ICE was there clearly, to get an illegal immigrant. And I don't know why they got involved.
- [09:38]
AJ Benza
It's all. It's all hatred of Trump. All of this is because they can't stand Trump. Who wouldn't want their neighborhood cleaned up? Getting rid of fraud, getting rid of people who are illegal, who cause crime and disruption in your neighborhood. There's no reason why you wouldn't want that to go down. So it's all about, we can do anything as long as we hate Trump. We have to keep doing this and keep doing this. He's made the other half of the world and the other half of the American people berserk because of his tactics, his personality, which doesn't bother me at all. I mean, sometimes I think he shouldn't have said that, but overall, I'm thrilled with what he's doing, and I want more of it. So.
- [10:15]
Rachel Yukatel
Okay. Well, it's interesting because I love you and I respect anything you say. I'm not a maga, but I don't have a problem with, like, you know, listen, I live in. In Palm Beach, Florida. Everybody here is magna, and. And it's fine. I just can't deal with the people that are so overly hateful. And I know that a lot of you guys think that the libtards are. Are hateful as well. I just. Listen, I'm in the middle, and it upset me that a woman got shot. That had nothing to do with it. It upset me that she inserted herself and got involved. So, you know, the whole thing is upsetting on all levels. I don't like to get involved in it because to me, it just. There's so many sides, and everybody gets angry. And I've tried to in my 51 years. I'm gonna be 51 next week. I have learned that I don't want to be in that anger zone anymore. I know I get involved in it.
- [11:05]
AJ Benza
You know what? I get it. And I'll tell you something, my, well, now ex girlfriend, but we still were very close. She's the same way. She's a. She's into. She's more conservative than liberal, but she doesn't want to deal with the anger and the people and the fighting. She's just like, kind of pushed herself away from it. Doesn't want to watch the news anymore. And look, one of my good friends for 31 years is Bill Maher. We hang out, we play basketball. I'd go and fly in his plane to Vegas with him. We don't talk politics. We just laugh about shit that's going on in the world.
- [11:32]
Rachel Yukatel
And I love Bill Maher.
- [11:33]
AJ Benza
Yeah, he's the. 31 years ago we became friends. We used to double date in New York City. He's phenomenal. I love the guy. He's so brilliant. And he's the only one that I've seen in so long that's at least trying to bring people toward the middle, toward common sense more. And he's being ostracized for it. You saw that, the Golden Globes. Wanda Sykes had to tell him, try less. Try doing more, less.
- [11:55]
Rachel Yukatel
I didn't get that. First of all, she went through the list of people. She started rudely with him. I found that uncomfortable all the way to the last person. I forget who it was. And she was basically like, I love you. It made no sense.
- [12:07]
AJ Benza
It made no sense. She said, ricky Gervais, I'm going to accept this award because Ricky Gervais is an atheist and he talks about the trans community. And she said, if I. If you win, I'm going to accept your award and thank God and the trans community. Then she told Bill, do less, try less, all because these are people that are bringing common sense back with their comedy or their political shows. Just be more sensical, you know, why don't you want your neighborhoods cleaned up? Why do you want Riff Raff coming over? They just found a Somali senator.
- [12:34]
Rachel Yukatel
I was just gonna. I was just gonna say about this. What's going on there with the Somalians in Minnesota is insane. And it. And it's kind of fascinating that this young kid uncovered all of it.
- [12:46]
AJ Benza
I know.
- [12:46]
Rachel Yukatel
And at first, when I started to see those posts that he was making, I was like, oh, that's crazy. Is that real? And then it was one after one after one. And for people that are listening, that don't know what we're talking about, the government was funding these Somalian daycare companies and giving them grants or whatever for millions and millions of dollars. And this kid went with a cameraman to these Somalian centers where no kids existed and no one was there working. It was shocking. And this is a place run by someone who is going to be the Vice President of the United States. Right, Tim Walls. And so it's kind of shocking that all this stuff is happening so well.
- [13:28]
AJ Benza
I think that the INS is. Kamala Harris chose Tim Walls because he was able to raise like $35 million very quickly for the campaign. And they. That lit up her eyeballs. But it's not only, it's not only learning centers and childcare, the transportation services, translating services. Do you know if a Somalian goes to a doctor or their kid has to go to a doctor, they want to go to a specialist two states away. They'll. They're Uber. The government will pay for their Uber. Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of dollars to go there with a translator that gets hundreds of dollars an hour so the Somalian can understand the illness. Then they Uber back. And that caused this is happening everywhere. They don't go to the nearest doctor, they take an out of state doctor. Cuz the government's gonna pay for them. When I drove a cab many years ago, there are people who are on Medicaid and such that they don't pay for cabs. So you knew when you were picking them up you weren't gonna get a tip because they don't pay for the fare. And it happened. So look at New York City. I don't know how long the last time you've been there. It's been a while for me. But all the way in, you know, Roosevelt, all the way to the east side, there are, there are so many neighborhoods, areas in that neighborhood that are just phone stores, loan stores. All these places where you can send money and they all take, they all ship money overseas. They all ship. So my father was an undercover cop many years ago and he told me we only really notice minorities when they invent their own crimes. And then they're on our radar like the Italians, like the Jews, like the Irish. Now here come the Somalians. They've learned how to take hundreds of millions from our government and send it overseas to their people to basically help finance terror around the world. So yeah, they got to fucking go. If they're illegal, they really got to go. Now you see these guys, one guy they grabbed was illegally came at the, at the agent with a snow shovel. There was a video of him beating the guy. How do you want these people in your neighborhood?
- [15:25]
Rachel Yukatel
Right?
- [15:25]
AJ Benza
It's just hatred of Trump. That's all it is.
- [15:27]
Rachel Yukatel
Yeah. Okay. All right, so let's move on to some of the hot topics that are happening right now. To me, the biggest thing that I was shocked about was that Melissa Gilbert's husband has been accused of sex abuse charges on two young boys. So for people listening, let me just read what the headline is or whatever, what's happening here. Melissa Gilbert, who's best known for her iconic, iconic role on Little House on the Prairie, is at the center of a disturbing story involving her husband, actor and director Timothy Busfield. Busfield, who has appeared in projects like the West Wing and Field of Dreams. I mean, his face is recognizable. I didn't really know who he was or what his name was, but he turned himself into authorities. I think it was yesterday after being accused of criminal sexual contact with two minors. According to prosecutors, the allegations involve inappropriate conduct with two boys, and a judge has ordered him held without bond as the case proceeds. He's denied all the allegations, and Gilbert has publicly stated she's standing by her husband as the legal process plays out. And as of now, she has taken down all of her social media, her Instagram, everything. I actually read the documents that were filed. They were lengthy.
- [16:42]
AJ Benza
Yeah.
- [16:42]
Rachel Yukatel
And long story short, it looks bad. I mean, first of all, it doesn't say anything about, like, that he had sex with them.
- [16:52]
AJ Benza
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [16:52]
Rachel Yukatel
Right as that he fondled them on set. And now I'm forgetting the name of the show.
- [16:59]
AJ Benza
The cleaning lady.
- [17:00]
Rachel Yukatel
Yeah. All right. What's your thought on the whole thing initially?
- [17:03]
AJ Benza
Look, we've been down this road with a number of celebrities. Now, last week was a big one. Daniel Stern gets a prostitute. Kiefer Sutherland gets assault in a ride share. But Timothy Buzzfeed, I remember his show 30 something. I watched that in my. In my 30s way long ago. I didn't want to believe it because I think a lot of people come in after stars in that capacity when they direct children. I've been on sets with Ron Howard, was directing a movie of mine, and he had to tickle a little boy's legs because he wouldn't laugh during a scene. Sometimes directors have to do that. It could be that or the more I read about it and looked into it, this Guy does have two different sexual assault accusations in his past. In the 90s and the 2000s. Both were settled with Cash, and I believe NDAs were signed, so we won't know anything about that.
- [17:48]
Rachel Yukatel
And now with children.
- [17:50]
AJ Benza
No, no, these weren't children. But yesterday, after he turned Himself in. There was another. A father came out and said, look, my daughter worked at the Beach Street Theater, which she runs. And he kissed her. She was 16. He put his hands down her pants and felt her private area. This father came out the day he turned himself in. So that's another situation he's got to go through. His talent agency dumped him, which normally happens. Now his publicist will dump him. And we've seen this before during the MeToo era. I don't want to believe it. Not that I love the guy, but I just feel like I don't think he did it. I just. My gut tells me they're going for him, but, look, I've always been the guy who jumps on kid did lose. But something tells me I don't think he's guilty. This one. So.
- [18:35]
Rachel Yukatel
So here in the paperwork, and I don't have it in front of me, but. But the gist was, it went through the entire investigation, and there's this one cop who's going through all the people he talked about and what stood out to me. And that was interesting. There were people that said he was creepy, and he just, you know, he's just a creepy guy in general. But there was an actress on the show, and I forget her name, but she was an actress in. In this movie who said that the mother of the two boys specifically said, I'm gonna come after him because I guess they didn't bring the boys back and they didn't want to have them return as a returning character, whatever. And the mother was very vengeful and actually said out loud, I'm gonna make sure he pays for this. Meaning Timothy.
- [19:18]
AJ Benza
Yeah, that's what resounded in my ears. That resounded in me. I didn't like that statement. The actress who starred in that show, I forget her name, too. But she brought that news out and she told Timothy that news. Yeah, that sucks. That doesn't sound right.
- [19:32]
Rachel Yukatel
Terrible about it also is that she had told that to a cop originally or in some original investigation, but when this cop went to get her statement, she wouldn't cooperate and instead sent a voicemail to him or whatever, saying, I don't want to be involved in this. So she wouldn't repeat that and go on the record saying that, which sucks for him because I think that gives him, you know, some sort of credibility that it didn't happen, whereas everyone else said he was creepy. So it'll be interesting to hear what happens. Listen, I've always thought it's one thing to, you know, have sexual acts with, like, young children. But he. I didn't know that he may be gay. I mean, it's one thing to do it with boys versus girls, right? I mean, all the allegations. I did read that in the night in the 90s, he was accused of sexual harassment or whatever, but with a woman or a girl.
- [20:26]
AJ Benza
I don't think he's gay. I just think that he has a. Maybe if this is all true, that he has a predilection for youth. And look, the guy's got 700 credits as a writer, director, producer, actor. I don't think there's anybody who has more than that. That's insane. So he's been around a lot of sets. So if these are three or four allegations after 700 different opportunities, I don't know, I kind of. Not that I like him. I just feel like this is going to be a hill. A nothing burger. That's what I feel.
- [20:56]
Rachel Yukatel
Well, no matter what. I mean, his reputation has done.
- [20:58]
AJ Benza
Yeah, he's shot. Yeah, he's done.
- [21:01]
Rachel Yukatel
And how do you come back? Like, if my husband was accused of that, like, how that's going to affect their relationship regardless of if it was true or not. Like, how mortified is she, how angry is she?
- [21:11]
AJ Benza
Oh, my God.
- [21:11]
Rachel Yukatel
All these things. So it'll be. It'll be very interesting to see how little.
- [21:15]
AJ Benza
A little. Little pedophile on the prairie. You don't need that. Melissa Gilbert.
- [21:21]
Rachel Yukatel
Okay, so which brings me to another one. I feel like everybody's being charged with sexual stuff. So let's see. Julio Iglesias. Did you read about this?
- [21:31]
AJ Benza
This last I saw last night, yeah.
- [21:33]
Rachel Yukatel
Within 24 hours, international music icon Julio Iglesias, who, by the way, is now in his 80s, is facing allegations from former employees who claim sexual and physical abuse while working in his residence in his residences abroad. Spanish prosecutors are reportedly reviewing the claims, though no formal charges have been announced at this time. And he has denied any wrongdoing. This poor guy. I mean, this is going to affect his legacy also.
- [22:01]
AJ Benza
It will, but then again, I mean, he's too much of a. Of a brilliant performer for so many decades that his real fans won't leave him. How much longer can he sing anyhow? Is he even singing still in his 80s? I don't know.
- [22:15]
Rachel Yukatel
Look, part of his Persona, like, he's.
- [22:18]
AJ Benza
A little swarm for all the girls I love before. He's a big. I mean, yeah, he's a lover. He's a Latin lover. I don't know. They get to be this old. And I think a lot of People feel like there's some money at the end of the rainbow. If I just accuse him of something, he'll sign. Well, he'll give me something as a parting gift. Same thing happened to Smokey Robinson. How great is Smokey Robinson been for 70 years? And now they're coming out saying he abused his. Not nurses, his housekeepers. And I just, I tend not to believe it when they're this old.
- [22:50]
Rachel Yukatel
Right.
- [22:51]
AJ Benza
I just think that certain people weaponize themselves and know they can get some money out of somebody. Cuz most people don't want to go to court and go to trial. They just go, what does she want? Get my lawyer on. Does she want 100,000? Give her 100. I have. I have $200 million. Give her 100 grand. Let me get out of this shit. That's what. That's what it comes down to. I don't believe these stories.
- [23:09]
Rachel Yukatel
Well, but here's another one though, with Tyler Perry and these.
- [23:12]
AJ Benza
I believe him. Oh, I believe him.
- [23:14]
Rachel Yukatel
Okay. So for people that are listening, let me read the blurb about him. Tyler Perry, who's one of Hollywood's most powerful filmmakers and studio owners, is facing multiple sexual assault lawsuits filed by men who allege abuse tied to professional relationships. One lawsuit seeks tens of millions of dollars. I think it was like 77 million or something crazy. Accusing Perry of sexual assault, battery and emotional distress. Perry has categorically denied all allegations, calling them false. No criminal charges have been filed yet in these. But lawsuits have reportedly caused some industry figures to distance themselves publicly as the case moves forward. So you believe that these might be true?
- [23:54]
AJ Benza
I do believe it. And look, I go back to the Harvey Weinstein case, which was a friend of mine, and I think still consider him a friend. I began my podcast when Harvey went nosedive. And I know a lot about these guys, these powerful men in Hollywood, and they have such immense power when they meet somebody younger and can promise them stardom and fame, that it really can fuck people. Heads up. Tyler Perry doesn't want to admit that he's gay. That's the first red flag in my book.
- [24:20]
Rachel Yukatel
Is he still not out? This episode is sponsored by Better Help. The new year doesn't require a new you. Maybe just a less burdened you. I think a lot of us walk around carrying things we don't even realize we're holding onto. Fear, pressure, the need to be perfect, doubt about whether we're doing enough or being enough. And sometimes what really helps is having an unbiased perspective. Someone whose role is to help you better Understand your relationships, motivations and emotions so you can let go of what's weighing you down. BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. They work with fully licensed therapists in the US who follow a strict professional code of conduct. BetterHelp also does the matching matching work for you. You answer a short questionnaire and they help connect you with someone who fits your needs. And if your first match isn't quite right, you can switch to another therapist anytime. With over 30,000 therapists and more than 5 million people served globally, BetterHelp has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 for live sessions. Sign up and get 10% off@betterhelp.com that's B E T T E R H E L P and thanks for listening to Misunderstood with Rachel Yukatel.
- [25:30]
AJ Benza
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Rachel Yukatel
See so many cars.
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Ali Jackson
That's a clicktastic inventory.
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AJ Benza
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- [25:41]
Rachel Yukatel
I mean that's Clickonomics101.
- [25:44]
AJ Benza
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Ali Jackson
Just a hop, skip and a click away.
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AJ Benza
And bought.
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Rachel Yukatel
No better feeling than when everything just clicks.
- [25:54]
Ali Jackson
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- [26:00]
AJ Benza
I don't think he even talks about it really. I think he acts like it's a non issue. But it is an issue. Cuz the only people coming after him are men. And I believe these guys who were saying that he did this and that promised them roles. But there's some sour grapes mixed in in with these people who are suing him. Why do you keep going with them? Why do you keep dating them? Because they want to be famous. They want that shot at fame. So partly it's their fault if you, if you, if you keep going back to an abuser or somebody, you know, look, you're a woman. You've been out with many guys. You know, want to get in bed the first night, but you know how to handle yourself. Tyler Perry can handle himself, but the people that he's with, they just assume I'm going to get all the riches I deserve. I've studied, I'm an actor. He's my guy. Maybe I got to sleep with him one night and then suddenly your acting isn't up to par and the part doesn't last and you're left on your own again. So what do you do? I got assume he put his hand down my pants. You let him put his hand down your pants. You were there, you went to his house. I don't like this shit. But I don't think. Look, you can't wear a dress your whole career and act like you're straight. And when men come after you and say that you touched me, I would give it 80% he did, but that 20%. I'm mad at the people, the so called victims, because they do this to themselves. You know, they bring themselves in front of a guy that you know can make you famous. But if he doesn't do it fast enough on your clock, then you have some kind of revenge tactic. I don't like that shit. Same thing happened to Harvey. Not saying he's an angel. If he raped one girl, he deserves to be in prison. But there are many women who came out against him who just wanted to be famous and it didn't work out.
- [27:36]
Rachel Yukatel
I agree with you. I mean, we're going to both get in a lot of trouble for saying that. But I mean, I do think it's true. And listen, I have another question for you. You're a guy, you're really hetero, alpha, whatever. What is the deal with all these men being gay? I mean, are all men gay secretly? Like, what the fuck? Like Will Smith, I also saw is like now in trouble for touching a guy too. Like, why is everybody gay secretly?
- [27:59]
AJ Benza
Listen, 30 years ago, I was driving in a car with Al B. Shore. Remember Al B. Shore, the great R B singer? We were friends and I love Albie. Tough guy. Albie would fight at bars. We was great together. So we're getting in New York City. And Albie liked transvestites. There were a lot of transvestite hookers in the city. My neighborhood, the West Village. And we drive through the neighborhood and they would run after his truck. He liked it. Then Will Smith calls one night, we're in the car together. He wants to have a party. Him and Jade up in some hotel room uptown. Bring a girl, bring a guy. And Albie's telling me, it's like, I'm into it. I go, I'm not into that shit, man. He goes, I'm gonna go. And he got another buddy of mine who I won't mention, but that guy went with him with their girl. And they shared each other's women and men again. I'm not putting them down for whatever their sexual kink is, but I was there for the phone call. Will Smith has always been this way. So when things like this pop up, I know it's true. I was there 30 years ago. I heard it. I heard it. So I don't know Whether. I don't know why they're okay. I think they don't want to go through Hollywood with one hand tied behind their back. I think they want all the opportunities they can. There's a guy today who just one of the actors on Different Strokes. I think it is a black kid. His marriage is over. You see a picture of the wife, it's a man. There's no doubt. It's. He married a man. I forget the actor's name, but it'll pop up in the news that check tmz. He married a fucking man. I don't know what's going on. I think that. Look, when I was in college and I was a journalism major with a theater minor, but when I went to the theater, I'm not gonna lie to you, I wanted to do all the Al Pacino plays, but there was a lot of hot girls in theater. Man, I was having a ball. But there were a lot of gay guys in theater. And I think a lot of those gay guys begin in theater and go up the ranks in Hollywood. And if they're handsome and strong looking, they can't come out. And eventually who they really are comes out. Will Smith became a superstar. Now we're getting to know what I knew 30 years ago. That it ain't all there. Mickey Rourke's the same way. I was best friends with Mickey 100 years ago. Mickey always looked at guys. He asked me if my nephew was gay. One said, no. He said, oh, too bad. It's such a weird, fascinating thing about men in Hollywood that I never doubt it when I hear somebody's gay. I go, yeah, I totally believe.
- [30:16]
Rachel Yukatel
Yeah. All right. But it's not an underlying thing that all men are gay.
- [30:20]
AJ Benza
No. I like potpourri and candles and flowers in my house, but I don't want a man's thing in my hand. Never.
- [30:27]
Ali Jackson
Got it. Got it.
- [30:28]
AJ Benza
Okay. Give me women.
- [30:30]
Rachel Yukatel
All right, well, you brought up Keith or Sutherland. Keith for Sutherland a minute ago. And I forgot. He was just arrested for, like, assault and battery on, like, an Uber driver, something. What happened there?
- [30:40]
AJ Benza
Who knows what happened? He told the driver, let me out. I gotta get out. The driver was Russian. They didn't really speak great English. And Kiefer was giving him shit. If you don't let me out, I'll kill you. I'll beat the shit out of you. And the guy, you know, the guy called the cops on him. They got Kiefer. But Kiefer. Look, I think it means he's drinking again. Because I used to hang out with Kiefer 25 years ago at the After Hours clubs in LA. And this is when he was doing the show 24, which was a huge hit. We would be at the after hours till 4 o' clock in the morning, drinking. Everybody was out of their minds. And there was a limousine across the street ready to take Kiefer to the set to do 24. He would, he would stumble out of that after hours house. I don't know how he made it. I watched the show and go, how did he get straight? What kind of coffee is he drinking that he can act four hours from now? So I think he's drinking again, unfortunately, and he'll settle. He'll give the guy, you know, 50 grand, 75 grand, it'll go away. But you know, a lot of these stars know they can get away with murder because their daddies were big and famous. And now they're big and famous and they just take these big. Look, Kiefer's done this before. He jumped on a big Christmas tree in a hotel and knocked the whole thing over. He headbutted a guy who bumped into Brooke Shields one night and he headbutted the guy. And he's a wild man because he drinks. So if he's beaten up or threatening a cab, he. He's back on the sauce.
- [31:58]
Rachel Yukatel
Right, Right. Something you were talking about made me think about the docu series that's out or documentary about Charlie Sheen. Did you, did you end up watching that?
- [32:09]
AJ Benza
Of course. I love Charlie.
- [32:11]
Rachel Yukatel
So what did you think of that? Like, do you think he's having this comeback? Like, what, What's Charlie?
- [32:17]
AJ Benza
Absolutely. If you. I, again, I hate to keep saying, I hung out with Charlie many times in the past. We had the same manager when Charlie was on the down low. He was not even. He wasn't, he wasn't hireable. And we had the same manager, which shows you how down he was. And then we would hang out a lot. And this is before Two and a Half Men. He was always honest about his drug use and how crazy it was. But I think, well, first of all, I knew girls that went to his house and stayed there for days on end. And I knew what was going on. I knew about the hiv. I even broke, I broke that story, which I didn't want to do, but. But I did break it on radio. You know, Charlie Sheen is a remarkable actor, great comedic actor, a great talent. I don't know what to say. Some people, we just accept the fact that they're fuck ups, where we love their acting. We love to see them in a movie. And I do think he's going to have a big renaissance and a big comeback. I think he's going to get a dramatic role or two, and people are going to see, holy shit, we have in mind.
- [33:14]
Rachel Yukatel
He does.
- [33:15]
AJ Benza
I think I do, too. The guy's look, I know, hey, man, I had a 1.1 millionth of his money. Not even. I can't even imagine the fraction I've had. I've had a ball. I don't even know. I was with him one night when a girl said, hey, Charlie. And he's like, looking at her gorgeous girl, Charlie, it's me. Charlotte didn't have. He had no response. She goes, I spent a week at your house. You gave me your car. And he said, too many Percocets, and that's it. He lived such a crazy life. But every girl who hung out with him. I know a lot of girls who stay with him, they speak so highly of him that he didn't beat them. Like, it was just a. He just liked to have fun. There was some nights that got out of hand, of course, but I think. I think in general, we want to see Charlie come back because we all want to give somebody a second chance. We all deserve one. And he's honest to a fault about his demons. So I hope he gets a second chance. And I think he will and do well with it. It.
- [34:11]
Rachel Yukatel
It's interesting the people that are around him. Like, Denise Richards seems like she's having so many problems right now. She has this show, and she always seems drunk when she has these cameos in the Housewives of Whatever, and she's wearing her clothes backwards, and that seems like a whole mess.
- [34:26]
AJ Benza
It's horrible.
- [34:27]
Rachel Yukatel
And Brooke is in and out of rehab, and, you know, you kind of want the best for her, but I don't know. That seems like a mess, too. And then, by the way, this is the first time in a while we saw Heidi Fleiss came out in the docu series and spoke. By the way, Heidi and I have struck up a friendship and we talked.
- [34:44]
AJ Benza
Me too. Often. Me too. I love Heidi.
- [34:46]
Rachel Yukatel
I love her. And they're doing a documentary on her right now that she's filming. They have a biopic that they're doing, and I think Audrey Plaza, or whatever her name is, is playing her. Heidi and I are talking about doing a podcast together. We've named it the Mistress and the Madam, which is really fun.
- [35:03]
AJ Benza
Yeah, she's great.
- [35:04]
Rachel Yukatel
I love her, but I wish her the best, you know? There's all sorts of interesting characters around Charlie and. And I just think he's fun and it's kind of like a happy, like, you know, but. But I do wish him the best, honestly.
- [35:17]
AJ Benza
Hey, when he said he turned the menu over and discovered men sexually.
- [35:23]
Rachel Yukatel
Oh, yeah, yeah.
- [35:24]
AJ Benza
I mean, that's another one. Who expected that?
- [35:27]
Rachel Yukatel
Yeah, that was nuts. And it's like the things you do with drugs in your system or drugs or whatever. And it was the same thing with Armie Hammer. Remember when he disappeared and then came back and said how he tried to have sex with a guy or whatever. I mean, it's unbelievable. Again, what is that?
- [35:44]
AJ Benza
I really think it's because, like, I'll give you Mike Tyson, Eddie Murphy. There were some guys in the 90s that these transvestite hookers who live in my neighborhood in the West Village would tell me. Eddie was here last night. Arsenio was with him. Mike Tyson came and I'd be like, what? Why? They like us, man. They would tell me this in a delicatessen at like 4 o' clock in the morning while they're doing their makeup in the metal cold cut count. I'm like, they like us, man. I can't believe it. But sometimes there's a level of fame where you get everything you, you want, everything you've ever desired. You can have tigers and lions in your house, 100 foot boat, anything. So you run out of things to try. I can't imagine ever being this way. But some of these guys go, let me try a guy. I don't know, maybe there's something to it.
- [36:28]
Ali Jackson
I don't know.
- [36:29]
AJ Benza
Like, I like a finger up my ass. Mom might say, let me try more than a finger. I don't know what they think. I can't even imagine that scenario. But I don't hold it against them. I love Charlie, I love Tyson. I've been with Mike a bunch of times. Doesn't bother me. But sex is a very different game. You get into people's sexualities and you gotta be careful. It's very murky. It's like jumping in a lake and not seeing two feet in front of you. Sex is. Sex is so different for so many people. And it's nobody's business what turns people on. So army wanted to tie chicks up and they wanted to be tied up up. People want to be talked down to and degraded. Whatever your thing is, keep it in your house, okay? Be happy. I'm not against it, but I can't imagine it, but I'm not against it.
- [37:11]
Rachel Yukatel
Right, right. Well, speaking of all those dirty things, we're going to get into Sean Combs here for a second.
- [37:19]
AJ Benza
Oh, boy.
- [37:20]
Rachel Yukatel
You know, like the talk about him has started to die down. Okay, this. The thing that 50. Was it 50 cent that put out the docuseries was fascinating. I mean, people watched it. And now I believe, you know, he's doing another docuseries on Tyler Perry. Oh, is that who it's about?
- [37:37]
AJ Benza
Okay, that's what he said. He said that, yeah.
- [37:39]
Rachel Yukatel
Okay. So, yeah, he's kind of riding this true crime boom, and he. It says he's expanding his footprint in television and film by developing new true crime projects focused on power, crime and celebrity. So that'll be interesting to see. What is the latest on Sean Combs?
- [38:01]
AJ Benza
There hasn't been much coming out of the prison he's in about what he's up to, but I always maintain when he was found guilty that he's not going to do the whole term. I think he'll be out in a year. And I don't foresee him having any future in the music business after this. I can't imagine what he'll do.
- [38:21]
Rachel Yukatel
I don't.
- [38:22]
AJ Benza
I don't know what he can do. I don't know who's going to go in the studio with him. I mean, I mean, first of all, many years ago, I felt that the whole him and Biggie, Biggie Smalls friendship was horseshit. I knew that he was, you know, kind of using him. And as soon as he died, he went on that tour to remember Biggie. And I said, this is all horseshit. He's making so much money off Biggie. These are bad guys. I never spoke kindly about Sean Combs when I was a gossip columnist because I knew from people. I was in that hip hop crowd back in the 90s. I came up with everybody and I knew he wasn't a good guy. I knew people died because of Sean. I was. Look, I was friends with Kim, his ex, who wanted to go out with me. Yeah, Kim gave me her number one night and I was like, wait a minute, what about your man? You know, and she. I thought she was beautiful. And I was like, yeah, I'll hang out with you. What about your man? He doesn't care. Don't worry about him. And I remember going, what the. Now, I never called her because I didn't want any bit of that smoke. But I'm like, what does that mean, he doesn't care? So he's always been a weirdo with sex. He's Always been into guys and girls, but mainly he likes to see guys, obviously have sex with Cassie. I heard the documentary. Blew my mind that these people, these men, would spend hours with her. And while he's directing it, again, it's a sexual kink. But what bothers me about Puffy is all the. All the violence in his life, the guns and the shooting people and beating people up. And I don't see how he can come back and maintain a music career. I don't know what he's gonna do. He has money forever, but I don't see him coming out.
- [39:56]
Rachel Yukatel
I just think that that power, right, that he. He still has some sort of power, and especially with his money, you know, he'll come out, and I. I can't imagine he's not gonna try and do something, and I can. And I think that there are plenty of people that are still covering for him. There's probably terrible stuff that never came out, and those people will be rewarded, and they will do stuff with him. Like, do you actually think that anything really happened with Justin Bieber?
- [40:23]
AJ Benza
Yeah, absolutely. I know that business. I know what they do. I know that they have these youngsters come in, like Tevin Campbell, who you've completely forgotten about, who was gonna be a youngster.
- [40:34]
Rachel Yukatel
I'm obsessed with Tevin Campbell, and he disappeared and was such a good singer. And I think he disappeared when he kind of became a teenager and was in his 20s and kind of everyone knew he was gay. But these are the people that I'm so fascinated by. What happened? And could it be that they got wrapped up in some stuff with Sean Combs and then could not, like, function?
- [40:56]
AJ Benza
Yeah, yeah. Like, Mace is another one. Mace and Puffy were great together, and he split and became a minister or something. Look, you know these. I know these guys. I know they get these young. Young talent in the room and have them do something that I can't say, look, I was so in that crowd with an ex girlfriend of mine who was black, that I know so many of these stories without having to print them. I just keep in the back of my mind. But I know what they do. They take a youngster who's talented and make them do something they don't want to do. And they film it and it's on camera. And if that kid, that person doesn't like the contract or gets uppity, we can release that tape. Want that tape out, motherfucker? And they're like, no, no, no, no, no. I'll do it. I'll sign the rap Hip hop world is like the mafia. That's why they call themselves Gotti and Murder Inc. They're copying the mafia. Not the homosexual part, but that power part of we got you under our thumb. You can't do shit because we got dirt on you. And I knew that Puffy was going down in Andre Harrell 100 years ago when he was a youngster coming up the ranks in the music business. Russell Simmons, another guy. He used to take my ex girlfriend out and I'd say, you're always going to have a Russell when I'm out of town. Because he's harmless. He doesn't like girls like you think he does. What? And then you call 30 years later you go, holy shit. Now I'm starting to understand this stuff. Like it's a very sordid world. Rapid hip hop really, really sorted.
- [42:23]
Rachel Yukatel
Yeah. What other things are you watching on streaming or on TV these days?
- [42:28]
AJ Benza
Oh, God, I watch everything. I'm a junkie when it comes to that. I just finished his and hers, which.
- [42:33]
Rachel Yukatel
Oh, me, I'm watching it now. It's fantastic.
- [42:35]
AJ Benza
The twist at the end is going to blow your mind.
- [42:37]
Ali Jackson
Wow.
- [42:38]
AJ Benza
I won't say more than that. That killed me. That was something else.
- [42:41]
Rachel Yukatel
I love the mayor of Easttown. Is that what it's called?
- [42:44]
AJ Benza
Yeah. I never saw that one. I know. I'm not.
- [42:46]
Rachel Yukatel
That's a good one. I never wanted to watch it and Dan wanted to watch it. So we started and I couldn't stop. Very, very good.
- [42:52]
AJ Benza
You know what sucks now? There's so many opportunities to see stuff and we binge. Right. We don't want to wait a week. It's to think about waiting a week. It seems so foreign. Like I'm not going to wait a week to see the. I want to see it tonight, tomorrow.
- [43:03]
Rachel Yukatel
I get so upset that Landman.
- [43:05]
AJ Benza
Landman. I love Landman.
- [43:07]
Rachel Yukatel
Yeah, but it takes. Takes too long. I can't wait till every Sunday. And I know the Pit is back out and you have to wait every to every Thursday. It's terrible.
- [43:15]
AJ Benza
I'm watching the Pit now. I didn't see it. I'm watching season one. I'm not crazy about the Pit.
- [43:19]
Rachel Yukatel
I don't know, but it takes you a while to get into.
- [43:21]
AJ Benza
Really?
- [43:22]
Rachel Yukatel
I thought it was boring. I was like, wait, what's happening? And then I couldn't stop watching. So it does take a while to get into.
- [43:27]
AJ Benza
But land man, I'm all. I'm all about land man. I love. I know Billy Bob for when he made Sling Blade. He's a great guy. He's a really generous, wonderful guy. I knew him when Angelina Jolie. We were hanging out one night and he said, we're at the Sunset Marquee in Hollywood. He's like, man, Angie kept knocking on my door last night. I said, what? He goes, angelina, man, she just banging on my door. I said, why didn't you open it? I don't know, man. I don't know what's going on. I got a girl back in such and such. I said, wait, she wants to be with you. And I remember going, you have to be with her for all of us who can't be with her. What are you doing? And he goes, she wants to get married. I said, marry her. Go to go. About a week later, he married her. And I mean, I know it didn't end up right, but they're still friends. But Billy Bob's a great character. He's a wonderful guy. Really generous, sweet guy. I love land, man. I love Ally Larter. I didn't think I'd ever like her like this in my life.
- [44:20]
Rachel Yukatel
What a. What a. I mean, it's not like she ever fell from grace, but what an upcoming.
- [44:26]
AJ Benza
And to be more true, to be.
- [44:27]
Rachel Yukatel
More just great actress. I mean, the two of those girls, the girl that plays her daughter, one of the most beautiful actresses you've ever seen and very good at her role.
- [44:38]
AJ Benza
There's about six women in that show that I'm crazy about.
- [44:40]
Rachel Yukatel
Yeah. And Demi Moore looks great. I mean, you could see she's had a lot of plastic surgery, but who cares? She looks like a very good looking older woman and she plays that part perfectly.
- [44:53]
AJ Benza
And by the way, here's something you like that I know for sure. I talked to Billy Bob not too long ago. Demi Moore and Andy Garcia get to keep all their clothes and Demi Moore's wearing couture. Shit.
- [45:04]
Rachel Yukatel
Yeah.
- [45:04]
AJ Benza
You see that coat? She had a coat that hung over her shoulders a couple weeks ago when she was. She's keeping all that shit. I love that. I love that about some movies and TVs, they give you your own wardrobe. That's awesome. But that little. I think what's. I like the attorney a lot. The chick that's. That's hanging out.
- [45:20]
Rachel Yukatel
Oh, she's gorgeous. Gorgeous. Never seen her before. I don't know where she came from.
- [45:24]
AJ Benza
And my theory is that. That she's going to get knocked up by this wildcatter and that's going to be a big thing for next season.
- [45:31]
Rachel Yukatel
Oh, that's your theory? My prediction was that he was going to die in.
- [45:34]
AJ Benza
Oh, wow.
- [45:35]
Rachel Yukatel
On the, you know, wherever he is on the water. And it's going to be devastating for. Because it'd be this big love story and then she's going to want to sue her own, you know, the company she works for. That's what I thought was going to happen.
- [45:47]
AJ Benza
Well, I think that Ali Lauder and Billy Bob, there's going to be a break off there. I think they've been too close this whole season. There's going to be a. There's got to be a split. Something's got to happen. Don't forget, she won all that money at the casino. She won like $300,000. He's been fired. He might need that money. I just. There's a lot of things happening. But I do think the attorney is going to get knocked up. And I'm all for it. I love that girl, whatever her name is.
- [46:10]
Rachel Yukatel
She's beautiful, gorgeous, gorgeous.
- [46:12]
AJ Benza
The little girl, the daughter. The daughter is dating Jacob Lorby from Frankenstein.
- [46:17]
Rachel Yukatel
Right. I saw that too. But you know, I don't even know who that guy is. And she could do much better. She could go for like a list. Like she's.
- [46:24]
AJ Benza
Well, Jacob. I mean, he's six, five.
- [46:27]
Rachel Yukatel
Oh, is he okay?
- [46:28]
AJ Benza
He's a good looking dude. You didn't see Frankenstein?
- [46:31]
Rachel Yukatel
No.
- [46:31]
AJ Benza
Oh my God.
- [46:32]
Rachel Yukatel
Not my kind of movie.
- [46:33]
AJ Benza
All right. I'm telling you, it might win the Oscar.
- [46:36]
Rachel Yukatel
Really?
- [46:38]
AJ Benza
But they're gonna give it to one battle after another. I, I'm. That. That movie did nothing for me. With DiCaprio and Benich.
- [46:45]
Rachel Yukatel
Yeah. I didn't see it. I didn't. When I. The Golden Globes came out, I didn't even understand who have to.
- [46:51]
AJ Benza
I didn't even know we weren't up for best podcast. How do you figure that?
- [46:54]
Rachel Yukatel
I know. And you know, it's funny because I looked at that list and it's basically like just a list of celebrities.
- [47:01]
AJ Benza
Right? Hollywood. It's Hollywood Lefty. It's Hollywood left. And I like smart list. I like Amy Poehler. I listen to her show every week. I love Smart.
- [47:08]
Rachel Yukatel
Is it good?
- [47:09]
AJ Benza
Yeah, she's Amy Polish. She's funny. She's got a good repartee with a guest. It's a kind of a talk show thing. They're sitting across from each other for a half hour now.
- [47:17]
Rachel Yukatel
How did Joe Rogan not make the last.
- [47:19]
AJ Benza
No, that's, that's my point. You don't. You cannot mention Joe Rogan or Adam Carolla who've been doing this for years. They're the podfathers. Basically. Rogan's bigger than God. So everybody on that list from smart list to call me Daddy, all that, they're all, they're all left. They're all liberals. And again, fine, they don't talk politics on their show. But that's what they are and that's what they're voting for. They would never put Rogan on that list.
- [47:42]
Rachel Yukatel
The call me Daddy or call her Daddy or whatever it is. So I don't get it. All right? Like she it. Half the people she interviews are people I've never heard of. They're like 21 years old and I don't even understand what they're talking about. And then all of a sudden she has like a Jane Fonda. I looked her up recently because I was like, wait, I haven't, you know, seen a lot on her recently. And what was incredible to me was the guests were in the last like couple weeks, which I thought, oh, they've made a big push because obviously she's now up for something. Kim Kardashian, Bethany Frankel, Andy Cohen, like those are names we all know. And like the biggest gets, so to speak. Cause they don't do people's shows. So I don't know if that was a push so that she would win that award or like what's happening. But I don't know why those people would do her podcast.
- [48:30]
AJ Benza
I'll tell you why. Because the day has ended where you do the Tonight show or Jimmy Kimmel or any of other shows and you don't get a million people. You don't get a million people hearing your eight minutes of funny tidbits like your new movie coming out. You do an hour podcast and you're gonna get 20, 30 million. Some of these people have huge audiences that I can't even fathom. But why would you want to spend seven minutes on Kimmel when you can spend an hour somebody and get 30 million people to hear what you have to say? It's a no brainer. Television is dying in that capacity. Late night shows don't mean anything anymore. All they're good for is hits on YouTube. So now you got writers trying to do bits with the talent that'll end up on YouTube tomorrow. It's not Johnny Carson or David Letterman or Jay Leno. Those days are over. Having a talk show is nothing anymore. Having a podcast that reaches millions is everything. But I'm getting nervous about podcasting because I never want. Well, I never wanted it to be. I never wanted this medium to become. Come on my show and tell me what you're pushing. What are you plugging? I don't like that. I'm sick of that. When I had my talk show for four glorious weeks, I said, I'm not doing promotional shit. I just want to talk to people. Like Merv Griffin and Johnny Carson did. No plugging. I'll plug. I'll plug myself, not them, and let's just talk. So that's gone. And I think that right now, podcasts are becoming like, I'm sick of seeing one guest do, like, the circuit of podcast that I listen to. I'm like, I heard him on Bill Maher. I heard him on Share Expert. Now I gotta hear my smartest. How many times do I have to hear this guy? But it's all about clicks and likes. And I can't believe what these guys are making for their podcast. I mean, 60, $70 million deals. I can't imagine how these sponsors are getting their money back, right? How do you get, by the way.
- [50:15]
Rachel Yukatel
What manager is setting that up for them? Because you and I need that manager.
- [50:18]
AJ Benza
I don't. You know what? My manager and agent both died about five, six summers ago in the same summer. And I haven't even gotten. I've not even been back thinking about Hollywood at all. I might make a stab at it again for some TV shit I want to do. But the business is so different, Rachel. It's not like it was when I was in it. It's just so different. They're hiring people that have large YouTube followings, large Instagram followers. Like Teyana Taylor is a great example who was in one battle after another. Teyana Taylor was on MTV's My Sweet Sixteen, right? That show that showed these spoiled kids having the most extravagant sweet 16 parties. So this girl was always on the radar. Then she became a good dancer in New York City. So she was teaching some celebrities how to dance, and she ended up on some tours with Beyonce. And so she was coming, coming. She married a New York Nick, had a few kids. Then she did this video for Kanye called Fade, where she's in a crop top, blue tank top, magnificent body, kind of a G string on the bottom, and she's in a weight room dancing and posing. Any. Any man would see this 10 times in a row. That's how sexy she is. And then she just blew up. Now she's got a Golden Globe. She's directing movies. I don't. I. I don't know what happened, but I don't see her as being so multi talented. But because she has 20 million followers, let's get her in a movie, let's get her to direct something. That's all it's about. Even trying to publish a book. I'm writing my third book now and my agent tells me I have a book. Agent still tells me. It's so different now. What can you bring when it's published? Can you bring 10 million people? No, I can't. Well, that's gonna be a big part of how they say yes or no. I don't, I don't. I never was big on social media trying to get a million followers. I just thought my thing, right, so. But it's not about the quality of your work. It's how many people can you bring to the table? And unfortunately, we're getting pounded by that Sydney Sweeney look. Sydney Sweeney is a sex spot. I love her body. Can we all agree that her face is like a six and a half, maybe? I mean, she's kind of a little bit of a slow looking person, if you will. Really? I mean, I'd love to date her. If I was a young boy. Like, absolutely. I'd be out of my mind. I'd love to fuck Sydney Sweeney. But really, if you look at her face and you go, yeah, that was all about her body, man. Her body's insane. But her face, you can find a better face at the mall. Come on.
- [52:38]
Rachel Yukatel
Oh, my God, she's got followers.
- [52:41]
AJ Benza
She's got so many people. Why don't you. Of course you got to hire her. I get amen on, you know, I.
- [52:46]
Rachel Yukatel
Hear you, but I don't even understand it because the algorithm, the algorithms don't even make sense because people are buying followers and it's a lot of. So none of that makes sense to me. And all these influencers, you know, I, I think, you know, advertisers have, have started to get with the program and realize they're buying fake shit with these people that are essentially nobody.
- [53:07]
AJ Benza
I don't understand advertising because I can't imagine how they get their money back on some of these situations. But I'll tell you what I do like, and I don't mind seeing it. I really like seeing Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet together. I think they look adorable and cute. I like his huckspah. I like what he's doing with his career. And I think she looks so sweet next to him. She don't hear much out of her mouth, which maybe is a good thing because she's probably dumb as a Stump. But look, she has two kids, right? Just.
- [53:33]
Rachel Yukatel
I think so. Yeah.
- [53:34]
AJ Benza
I mean, I don't know. I like them two together. She doesn't bother me. I'm not really a Kardashian fan. But look, we have to admit, they. In the last 15, 20 years, have we ever seen something like this, this phenomenon of a family of girls getting so wealthy and popular. It's unbelievable.
- [53:52]
Rachel Yukatel
No, I feel bad for the brother. I mean, he's just the outcast. I mean, I know. Geez, what a loser he must feel like, you know. But she doesn't bother me. Listen, she was the ugly duckling that got beautiful. Hot girl. I mean, she doesn't look her age. She looks like a hot 38 year old, but whatever. And. And her makeup line, I guess, does really well and, you know, good for her. He's another one who I thought was gay, but okay, I thought so too.
- [54:18]
AJ Benza
I thought so, too. When he came out, I saw him dating Madonna's daughter, and I thought, this a bunch of shit. He's a little gay boy. But he's not. You could tell now that he's grown into his skin. He's not. But I think in Hollywood, you know, they.
- [54:28]
Rachel Yukatel
He.
- [54:29]
AJ Benza
He had that effeminate look, so they put him in that movie, you know, call Me by my Name or whatever. Yeah, that gay movie. Yeah. So you got. You get stamped right away. But I think that was it. Courtney and Travis, I think they're on the rocks, right? I've heard they're on the rocks.
- [54:44]
Rachel Yukatel
That they are so boring to me. I mean, that is just the grossest couple. I don't find either one of them remotely interesting or attractive.
- [54:51]
AJ Benza
You might. I know. I think I'd be. I think if I was able to date Courtney, I think after a week, I'd want to get the hell out of Dodge. She seems so boring to me.
- [55:00]
Rachel Yukatel
She's. There's nothing cute about her. Like. She also always acts like she's so bored and she's slow and.
- [55:06]
AJ Benza
Right, right.
- [55:07]
Rachel Yukatel
Just like, to me, the hottest one is Courtney. No, sorry. Chloe.
- [55:13]
AJ Benza
Chloe. Well, God, this is her third face at this point.
- [55:16]
Rachel Yukatel
I know.
- [55:16]
AJ Benza
I agree.
- [55:17]
Rachel Yukatel
Third face looks amazing.
- [55:18]
AJ Benza
I agree. Listen, listen. I know all them have had work, but I'm on record on my show saying I think Kim Kardashian is one of the most beautiful women we've ever seen. I don't like her from the waist down. I hate that big giant ass for the black man's target. I don't want that. But from the waist up, Kim I think is gorgeous. I think Khloe's gorgeous. I think Kendall's gorgeous. Kylie's a fun time. And Kourtney, you know, like you said, boring. Whatever. But if you met her at the mall, you date her. I mean, I would, but I'll tell you, I saw a video of this.
- [55:47]
Rachel Yukatel
You put her in some skims, she'll probably look like.
- [55:50]
AJ Benza
Oh, by the way. Yeah, they're all we. I mean, two pair of skims. This sort of video of Travis's daughter, Alabama, who he had with Shayna Moakler. Right? Yeah, I knew Shayna back in the day. Crazy, crazy girl. But this chick got $200,000 in presents for Christmas. I can't believe the amount of Birkin bags and Chanel and shoes and underwear and laptops. $200,000 for Christmas. This is unbelievable. What are you doing to your kid?
- [56:20]
Rachel Yukatel
It's crazy. Yeah, that whole family just bore.
- [56:23]
AJ Benza
I know, it's gross.
- [56:24]
Rachel Yukatel
Wait, I want to go back to one last thing about what's on tv. Have you seen this new show on Netflix called Members Only? Palm Beach?
- [56:31]
AJ Benza
I did see snippets of it. I know they're having a little bit of trouble because they want to film a Mar a Lago and people want them thrown out of Mar a Lago. I forget the woman's name, but.
- [56:41]
Rachel Yukatel
Rosalyn.
- [56:42]
AJ Benza
Yeah. Is that the one that. I mean, I'm. So far. I mean, I've been to Palm beach twice. I know a little bit about it. My buddies were 63, so we're not that old crowd, old money kind of people. But I don't know, what do you think about it? That's your hometown. You live there now. What do you think about it?
- [56:59]
Rachel Yukatel
Yes, I've seen it. I've interviewed one of the girls on it. I know a couple characters on it. So for people listening, let me just say, members only. It's a new reality series set in Palm beach, set in Palm beach, quote unquote, that centers on wealth, exclusivity and the social dynamics of an ultra elite community. Even before the full rollout, the show has generated significant buzz online with viewers closely watching both the cast and the off camera drama connected to it. All right, let me give you some background here. I was filming a pilot, or I had asked to be part of a pilot that they that was being done for Bravo called Snowbirds. And a couple of the people that are on the show which were extras in it, like friends of Gail, the woman with the wig who falls off a chair. She was a cast Member on Snowbirds. Another woman who was in a couple. Another couple. Women who are in some of the scenes as extras were also part of it. They ended up getting a deal with Netflix, so they beat us out.
- [57:58]
AJ Benza
Wow.
- [57:59]
Rachel Yukatel
The casting in this is horrendous. I don't get it. None of these women live in Palm Beach. But by the way, that's the biggest talk of the town. And none of the women live in Palm Beach.
- [58:09]
AJ Benza
Oh, they don't.
- [58:10]
Rachel Yukatel
But here's what I say. I don't care. Like, I know it's called Members Only, Palm Beach. Who cares? Like, why is it such a scandal that they don't live here? All right, it shouldn't have been called that. It should have just been called maybe Members Only.
- [58:20]
AJ Benza
Yeah, yeah.
- [58:21]
Rachel Yukatel
Members Only, Florida. Tasha lives in Boca and Miami. I know Taja for a long time. I actually really like Tasha. I just had her on my show. She's married to or a significant other of David Cohn, the pitcher, I guess.
- [58:36]
AJ Benza
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [58:37]
Rachel Yukatel
Psy Award winner. Like, legit.
- [58:39]
AJ Benza
Yeah. I love David.
- [58:40]
Rachel Yukatel
The other women are from West Palm all the way down to Miami. Okay. And it looks like, you know, to me, Bravo's out, it had its peak, and now it's done. And now Netflix is taking. Other streaming networks are taking over the shows. But this is similar as to Housewives. But, you know, all the girls kind of fight and create this, you know, animosity against each other and who really belongs. And the biggest drama outside of it is, well, none of these women belong because they wouldn't be let into our community because they act like such animals and they dress like ghouls. You know, there's all this drama going on. Taja was on my show and got into the whole thing with Gayle, and I want people to know this. I know Gayle. She lives in a rental in West Palm and has some roommates. And during the summer, because she thought we were part of Snowbirds, she rented a room in the Hamptons and shared it with this other woman so that they could say that they're Snowbirds. This is not a woman worth $100 million that she claims. She claims she's the queen of Palm Beach. She's just not. I'd never even heard of her when we started filming for Snowbirds. And my family is from Palm Beach. My mother lives there. My grandparents have lived there for 90 years. My whole family has lived there, and I grew up coming here. No one's ever heard of Gail Brophy, so I just thought it was interesting. But it made for good tv if you could keep up with it. I mean, even me being here, it was hard to get into. But once you get into the fourth episode and Gail's falling over and her wig's falling off of her head, you know, it's great. I think they would not have been offered a second season had so much press not arose after the fact. Tasha was on my show. She's received a cease and desist from Rosalyn about talking about the fact that. What you brought up, that Mar A Lago is talking about throwing them out. For the record, Tasha didn't start that rumor. It was on Page six. I asked her about it and she just replied with, yeah, I saw that. That, you know, she. Yeah, she should be thrown out or whatever. She's. She shouldn't be a member. Whatever she said. I don't even remember what she said. But she's now being. She was given a cease and desist about the podcast she did with me, just cuz she happened to talk about it. These girls are all fucking nuts. It's crazy.
- [60:56]
AJ Benza
The Housewife franchise is on its way out. Andy Cohen know it. It's just everything has a run. He had a great run. He made millions of dollars. Good for him. I know Andy way back in the day when he worked for CBS News. I know when I was at the News. But look at. There's a certain kind of woman. Well, I had my column in New York.
- [61:15]
Rachel Yukatel
Oh, there we go. Sorry, I lost you for 10. I lost you for two seconds. Just repeat that one last line.
- [61:21]
AJ Benza
I forget what I was saying that. And the Housewives franchise is kind of on its way out. These women. I was gonna say when I had my column in New York, Bethenny Frankel was somebody who was always out in parties and trying to be mentioned in the columns. People don't understand. Back in the day, New York City's gossip columns were it. There was no other place to be mentioned. There was no gossip column in Utah or New Jersey. It was New York City. So Bethany would call me. I was at that party. Can you put my name down that. I was at that party. And I remember going, Bethany is like six Hollywood. I can't. It just doesn't make sense. So she was always at my door. Dolores Catania, same thing. I don't know how many years ago she met me on Instagram or something. She wanted me. Can you get me a job? Can you get me on tv? They're so hungry for fame, these people. I'm glad they got it. But it ain't all what it's cracked up to be. And you get. You see. You see it. You see how much they're lying and pretending, and it's all nonsense. And people like you and me, when we get too close to it, it. Because we've been around these people and know them for who they are, it takes the luster off what we're watching. We know that's not. This isn't real. This is horseshit. You know?
- [62:27]
Rachel Yukatel
Exactly. All right, A.J. what? Tell people where they could find your podcast. Fame is a bit.
- [62:33]
AJ Benza
My podcast. Actually, I do. Okay, look, I do a couple of free podcasts called Relationships is a Bitch and Everything is a Bitch, But My Politics is Bitch and Fame is a Bitch are Behind a paywall, and that's patreon.com fameisabitch and it's a mixture of everything you've heard today, plus stories about my family. I have a wild upbringing and a crazy life, as you do, too. So I always incorporate that into my stories as well as the. Anything. We're talking about Hollywood. And Hollywood always gives. There's always. It just. It always provides. You wait a few days, and here are three arrests. Daniel Stern, Kiefer Sutherland, Timothy Busfield. It just keeps on getting. Keeps on giving.
- [63:15]
Rachel Yukatel
Anything new and exciting coming up in your future?
- [63:18]
AJ Benza
Just finishing my third book. My third book is called Fame Adjacent, which is on substack. Ajbenza.substack.com I think I have four chapters up now. I'll finish that. This. I'll finish that before summer, and then I'll go out to my agent and try to get it published. But it's all about my brushes with fame, my crazy stories of meeting people from Frank Sinatra to Mike Tyson to working with Sly Stallone. John gotta just luminaries. Weinstein, Howard Stern, all crazy, wonderful, wild stories of what it was like while I had my ascent into this crazy occupation, whatever you call it, right?
- [63:57]
Rachel Yukatel
And any stories that you're going to be covering in the future on one of your shows that we should start paying attention to or something that I think.
- [64:05]
AJ Benza
I think that I'm going to. I'm always going to concentrate on my politics show. What's. What's happening with this uprising of women. I think that's something we have to really focus on. I don't know what's happened to men. I know you're a married woman now, and if you told your husband, I want to get in the car and go fuck around with the feds and slow their operation down, he'd say, Rachel, get the fuck in the house. What are you doing? Get in the house. Play with the dog. I see your dog. What's the Palm's name?
- [64:30]
Rachel Yukatel
Mishka.
- [64:30]
AJ Benza
Oh, I love it. I love. I had a problem when I was a baby, when I was a little boy.
- [64:34]
Rachel Yukatel
I also have an extra large bully. So you do have three dogs total. So I have one from 100 pounds all the way down.
- [64:40]
AJ Benza
Oh, wow.
- [64:41]
Rachel Yukatel
Supposed to be seven pounds, but she's like 19.
- [64:43]
AJ Benza
19, yeah. That's a good mom. You feed her good. I. My. My. My girlfriend had. My ex girlfriend has our. I had my shih tzu. She gave me a shih tzu. That's how we met. She gave me a shih tzu because I lost my Japanese chin. And she felt like I should have a dog. And I didn't know her. And we met and when she said, I want to give you this puppy. We met in Death Valley, halfway between Vegas and California. And when she got out of the car with the dog, I knew I was in with love. Love. And I took the puppy and I fell in love.
- [65:10]
Rachel Yukatel
In love with the girl or the dog?
- [65:11]
AJ Benza
Love it all. The dog instantly. But the girl, I fell in love with her and we went off. I. My marriage, we were separating, and then I had almost five years with her, which were tremendous, but it didn't work out. But I gave. I let her have the dog because she has the dog's mommy and she has three other shih tzus. And I just. I love my dog so much that I wanted to be around all her family. I don't want to take her away in la. Just be alone with me.
- [65:35]
Rachel Yukatel
Yeah.
- [65:36]
AJ Benza
So I always get pictures and hear stories about how much she's happy. And I love little dog. So that's really it. Now I'm on the. Look, I gotta get a girl. Rachel, what's going on?
- [65:46]
Rachel Yukatel
All right, well, are we gonna put you on Bumble or run?
- [65:49]
AJ Benza
You know what? I just feel so weird doing that shit.
- [65:53]
Rachel Yukatel
Why?
- [65:53]
AJ Benza
I've never done it, by the way.
- [65:55]
Rachel Yukatel
You know how. That's how I met Dan on Bumble.
- [65:57]
AJ Benza
Oh, really?
- [65:58]
Rachel Yukatel
Yeah, I met him like four years ago. Talked to him on the phone, then didn't talk to him. Never met him in person till like three years later or whatever.
- [66:07]
AJ Benza
Well, what did it. What made you take the leap? What was the final. The final thing that you said? This is my guy.
- [66:14]
Rachel Yukatel
Well, I'll be honest with you. I just think timing at the time was not right. And by the way, Funny story, when he called me, I was living in the Hamptons for the summer. Wyatt was in camp there or something. And Dan lived in Florida, but he owns like four security companies. At the time. It was two security companies. And he. When we exchanged numbers or whatever on Bumble, he said, oh, you know, I run a. I have a security company and I'm here for Michael Rubin's white party. And I'm listening to him talk. We had a great conversation. He was really nice. And I hang up and I'm like, I'm not trying to be rude, but I don't date the security guard. I date the guy who's throwing the party. I didn't realize he was the CEO of major companies and it's like weapons detection. He's not a security guard. But I didn't know. So I was a real bitch back then. And I didn't mean to be a bitch, but I just thought I needed to be with a certain type of person anyway, you know, whatever.
- [67:11]
AJ Benza
You're very intimidating. You're intimidating. I told you this from day one. You're a beautiful woman, but you come with an intimidation factor that a lot of guys don't want to even test. I don't care. I'll go after the most beautiful women, famous women in the world, and I've been successful at it. But I know there's sometimes you go, ah, this is going to be a fuck. This is going to be tough. She. I know what she wants. I don't have what she wants. So why am I going to go in there? Even campaign, I don't have it. You know what I mean? But I always knew. I always knew, like, even not to bring up a sore subject. Even the picture of you crying when your fiance was killed. I remember going. And you did interviews after that. I'm like, this girl is very. There's something about this chick. And I said to you a long time ago when we met, I knew I was going to know you. I knew I was going to meet you and be friends with you. I didn't know how to, but I said, I know. I am. I know it. And then we became friends throughout my. My friendship and your friendship with the. Well, I guess the dabbies of the people I know. I don't know who you know, that knew me, but it's through my friends, the daddies in New Jersey that we met. Yeah, I forget the.
- [68:12]
Rachel Yukatel
I don't really remember. I thought it was through the guy who owns Podcast Junkies, Brian Howie.
- [68:19]
AJ Benza
Yes, but no, we. But we Also know we have friends in the.
- [68:23]
Rachel Yukatel
Oh, yeah, we have a million mutual friends.
- [68:26]
AJ Benza
But I. And I always thought, yeah, Rachel's gonna be good. Rachel. And then I wondered, you know, forgive me for this joke, but did you get an invite to Tigers 50th?
- [68:37]
Rachel Yukatel
I did not.
- [68:38]
AJ Benza
I'm going to save this for you on my show because I want to ask you, and I'll prepare you. I'll be decent. I'm not going to be Howard Stern, but I want to know how a man feels. You got to be a very secure man to come at you and know what's in your past, respectively, about Tiger Woods. That's like a man that's not really, you know, equipped to handle that shit would fold. But your man must be very secure in himself that he doesn't care about. That was old, a long time ago. Blah, blah, blah.
- [69:10]
Rachel Yukatel
But. But when I'm on your show, I'll save it for your show. I will tell you numerous stories of very powerful men. When they got a little bit into too much alcohol or got upset with me about something, the first thing they would be triggered by is, well, I'm not. Not.
- [69:27]
AJ Benza
There you go.
- [69:27]
Rachel Yukatel
Professional golfer.
- [69:29]
AJ Benza
There you go.
- [69:29]
Rachel Yukatel
I never will be. So I don't know if I'm good enough or whatever. But I'll tell you some specific shows, all right?
- [69:34]
AJ Benza
And I'll tell you because I had my supermodel girlfriend in the 90s, and then I. We broke up after four or five years. And still great friends. She's godmother to my daughter. But I. I would date other girls, and if things started to go bad, they'd say, sorry, I'm not a supermodel, like, it always comes down to that. For fuck's sake. I don't care what you do. You're just hot, you're beautiful, you're funny.
- [69:57]
Rachel Yukatel
Move on.
- [69:58]
AJ Benza
Just move on. I know. It sucks.
- [70:01]
Rachel Yukatel
Well, aj, it's always a pleasure to see you. We will continue to do this. I can't wait till you finally invite me on your show.
- [70:06]
AJ Benza
I'm gonna. Listen, let me get out of Chicago, and I promise George can hold me to it. I'll get you on in the next two weeks. We'll talk about life, marriage, relationships.
- [70:14]
Rachel Yukatel
Okay?
- [70:15]
AJ Benza
Because.
- [70:15]
Rachel Yukatel
Oh, yeah. Have me on your relationship.
- [70:17]
AJ Benza
I know. That'd be great. You know what? That's a great idea, because we have my friend, my friend Kenny, who lives in Palm beach with his wife, Irina, who is a relationship expert, and she's Russian. She's really, really smart and wonderful, and last time I was in town I was hoping that all of us to get together but I couldn't. But next time I go down there to see them, I'll make a whole thing with you and your man and we'll all get together and have a good time.
- [70:39]
Rachel Yukatel
100%. I can't wait. Thank you so much for listening to Misunderstood. I'm your host Rachel Yukatel. Please be sure to subscribe to the show and give us a five star rating and review. You can support the show by joining our patreon@patreon.com misunderstood with Rachel Yukatel. Do you have ideas for the show or want to reach out? Email us@infomisunderstoodpodcastmail.com that's spelled M I S S. Understood. Thank you so much and I'll see you next time.
- [71:20]
AJ Benza
Get that Amex Gold Card ready. I'm too tired to cook.
- [71:22]
Rachel Yukatel
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