Hollywood Popular Artists

May 24th 2013, 21:45

Kim Kardashian may be everywhere, but let's not forget who the original Hollywood socialite is! Paris Hilton is back on our radars, and in a big way -- she's making headlines for signing with hip-hop empire Cash Money Records.

Outside of hitting the recording studio, here are few activities we wanna see Paris do with her new label mates Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Drake.

+ Skateboard with Lil Wayne

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Last fall, Lil Wayne opened DEWeezy Skatepark in his hometown of New Orleans. The park is in the Lower Ninth Ward, an area that has seen little growth since it was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. "I just wanted to help out my city, help out the people and the kids and give them something to do," he said. "Something they haven't done before. It's always good to learn something new." Paris and Weezy should head down to the skate park and skate with the kids…or at least try. Sounds like a scene straight out of "The Simple Life."

+ Walkabout with Drake

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Most artists buy lavish cars when they sign recording contracts, but we want Paris Hilton to buy…wheelchairs! 100 million people worldwide and up to 6% of people in developing countries need a wheelchair but can't afford one. The Walkabout Foundation donates $300 all-terrain chairs to these people. Why all-terrain? Many U.S. buildings and sidewalks aren't wheelchair friendly, so just imagine how hard getting around must be for the disabled developing nations! Before he was a famous rapper, Drake played wheelchair-bound Jimmy on "Degrassi: The Next Generation." Drakes personal ties to the cause and Paris' huge signing bonus make them the perfect candidates to donate the cause.

+ Play Barbies with Nicki Minaj

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Are there any ladies in Hollywood who look more like Barbies than Paris Hilton and Nicki Minaj do? These two are bound to become BFFs, if they're not already. They should deliver "Nicki & Paris" dolls to hospitalized girls, to cheer them up and show them that beauty and friendship come in all colors AND shapes, 'cause you know that Nicki doll is gonna have a big booty.

Want to have your own Young Money Cash Money experience of your own? Take action below!

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May 24th 2013, 20:25

With a presence of 160 million across all of its social channels, it's safe to say MTV knows a little something about social storytelling.

Using our superpowers for good, we teamed up with volunteer platform Catchafire to work with the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO). We put our "creative and social firepower" to work, giving the nonprofit a better way to tell its story.

CEO is in the business of second chances. The nonprofit works to help men and women, with an emphasis on helping those ages 18-25, transition into the work force after they are released from prison. According to the nonprofit's CEO Molly Tarlow, more than "90 percent of 615,000 young people ages 18-24 in prison will return home. 67 percent of those paroled will be rearrested within 3 years and more than half will return to prison." Although the program works, with one study showing CEO saved New York taxpayers $4,900 per participant, the organization needed to tell its story in a way that would get donors stoked about their work. And, let's be real here, there's a stigma attached to helping out people who have a criminal record. So the storytelling has to be REALLY good.

MTV president Stephen Friedman reached out to Rachael Chong, his mentee and the founder of Catchafire, because he was "looking for an opportunity for his staff and for the MTV audience." He told Co.Create that MTV works to make sure "that we are not just entertaining but engaging and being advocates for the audience on social issues." After narrowing down a pool of 70 potential nonprofits, Catchafire eventually paired MTV with CEO.

Over the course of three months, Friedman and a dedicated group of 15 MTV employees worked to give the nonprofit a "makeover."  According to Co.Create, MTV created a new corporate video, "redesigned CEO's corporate presentation template, repurposed its storytelling assets, did a full social media audit and created a toolkit and strategic plan for the CEO staff to follow going forward."

To learn more about MTV's work with CEO, check out the video below and take action with the org in our action widget!

+ Watch MTV & Catchafire Give Nonprofit a Makeover

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May 24th 2013, 19:02

The new 3-D computer animated film "Epic" tells the story of a battle between the (very small) forces of good and evil in nature, where the very life of a forest hangs in the balance. It features the voices of Amanda Seyfried, Jason Sudeikis, Colin Farrell, Josh Hutcherson, Christoph Waltz, Aziz Ansari, Chris O'Dowd, Beyonce Knowles, Steven Tyler and Pitbull.

In the movie, Ansari plays a cocky slug named Mub; O'Dowd is his brave snail sidekick, Grub. Together they form a comedy team in the grand tradition of animated duos like Timon and Pumbaa, Buzz and Woody, and Shrek and Donkey.

Though he brings a lot of funny to "Epic," Ansari described his serious (and very made-up) preparation for the role. "Pitbull and I took a few classes at a nearby university to learn as much as we could about the insect world," he told MTV News. "We learned quite a bit."

O'Dowd was slightly less academic with his own "research" —"I just watched telly," he said.

"Epic" is in theaters now.

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May 24th 2013, 18:00

Today "Fast & Furious 6" hits theaters. Meanwhile, "Fast & Furious 7" already has a release date. So is it safe to assume that more movies are in the works in the "Fast & Furious" franchise? It's not much of a stretch, if Vin Diesel is to be believed.

"I don't want to go too far ahead. I found myself talking about '8' yesterday and I had to stop myself," Diesel told MTV News, adding, "I will say that '7' is a reset."

Paul Walker piped up, "His ability to manifest stuff is like nobody else in the business, I'm going to tell you, and I've been a part of that for 10 plus years. Who is this guy, Nostradamus? It's pretty impressive, that's for sure."

It sounds like the greater plan is for a third trilogy to continue the storyline of "Fast & Furious 7," which is due in theaters on July 11, 2014. Diesel said that looking at the series in sets of three has helped them better develop its story.

"We realized when we came back to the franchise [in '2 Fast 2 Furious'] that it would be a cool thing if we could connect all our movies; if all of our movies felt like a continuous ride. So if you look at '4,' '5' and '6,' even, you'll see a continuous ride throughout where the films are speaking to each other," he said. "That wasn't the traditional way that Hollywood was making sequels at the time, as you know. A sequel was just another version of the same movie. What we were doing was continuing the story, so when you go to see 'Fast and Furious,' you're expecting bookends, you're expecting to pick up a little bit where you left off, and I think all of us collectively have done a great job of keeping the audience completely in the know."

Whatever does end up happening, expect the central cast of characters to return for it. "At the core, our saga is about family, which I feel separates us from other action films," Diesel said. "I don't see any movie, especially a movie of this size and of this nature and of this kind of action content, that puts such an emphasis on family, but ours is organic. Jordana [Brewster]'s been my sister, so to speak, for 14 years. We were all coming into this movie fresh and we were brothers and sisters from 1999. For better or for worse, that's what we are."

How long would you like to see the "Fast & Furious" franchise continue? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

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May 24th 2013, 17:54

Everyone's itching to get their three-day weekend full of barbecues and blowout sales, but let's not forget the real meaning of Memorial Day. We've put together a list of five of our fave celebs who also make a point of honoring the men and women in uniform.

+ Katy Perry

Katy Perry knows her singing makes people happy, so she's made a point to perform for the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis and take part in "VH1 Divas Salute the Troops." Playing a Marine in "Part of Me" also honored women in the military while giving Katy a better understanding of the sacrifice service members make. "I was educated on the people in the service, who I've always respected, but this time the respect goes above and beyond anything I could've imagined," she said.

+ Ludacris

Ludacris has recently gotten together with C*A*M*M*O'S Mission One Voice to give back to the troops. He'll be taking part in concerts to thank service members, and Luda said, "I look forward to the opportunity to perform for the troops and their families. This should be a time of reflection for us to appreciate what they have done to keep us all safe and what their families have sacrificed by being separated from them."

+ Kellie Pickler

Kellie Pickler has performed in a USO tour and often Tweets gratitude and supportive words toward the troops. Just recently she also made a point of touring the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to make sure the patients there knew they were loved and appreciated. Aww! Kellie's always talking about how the troops are heroes, but her kindness is probably making her a hero to them as well!

+ Justin Timberlake

Memorial Day is to honor the men and women who have died fighting for America, and Veterans Day is to celebrate all veterans. Justin Timberlake got some celebrating in by going to the Marine Corps Ball with Corporal Kelsey DeSantis on Veterans Day. He said, "I've always been very vocal about my support of our Armed Forces. I've always felt like they offered us the opportunity to live our lives freely without the fear that so many other nations have to endure still to this day. And, they do it without asking for anything in return."

+ John Mayer

Four years ago John Mayer started a collab with Veterans Health Research Institute, which entailed him performing for the troops and donating part of his concert tix proceeds to help veteran health. "Our part as Americans who have not seen war is to go deeper than the 24-hour news cycle or the fashion of culture when it comes to Veteran's health," he said. "We must put forth a consistent, long term effort to see to it that the word 'Veteran' is associated with only the very best that life has to offer."

Ready to join them this Memorial Day weekend? Take action below!

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May 24th 2013, 16:00

It's not a spoiler to say that there is going to be a good deal of naked Ken Jeong in "The Hangover: Part III." Leslie Chow is back and crazier than ever in the new film, and Jeong believes that being naked is a necessary part of his character's personality.

"He's entering the world in this kind pantheon of chaos in a certain way," Jeong explained to MTV News. "When I think of a 'Hangover' movie, I think of 'loving chaos.' Like Chow loves chaos, and he enters the world loving chaos -- you know, of the 'Hangover' movies -- and then he finishes the trilogy with he still wants to show everyone that he still loves chaos. That to me is a bigger kind of message that I got from that, which I love."

For Jeong, the nudity is just part of the fun of acting in these films. While he as a person isn't a fan of stripping down in front of strangers, Jeong actually was the person who originally suggested the idea of a naked Chow to director Todd Phillips.

"You don't. It was my idea. I don't know if you know, but it was my idea to pop out naked in the trunk in the first movie. When I read the script, Chow had clothes on, and I was thinking to myself, 'Chow has to be naked.' This is screaming for Chow to jump out naked. To me, it was screaming for that, and I actually asked Todd Phillips, 'Do you think I could do it naked?' and he said, 'You don't have to ask me twice.'

Jeong has played a number of memorable characters during his career, including "Community's" Señor Chang and "Knocked Up's" Dr. Kuni. Still, according to him, Chow is "the best character I've ever played."

"He's like Lucifer," Jeong explained. "He's like the devil, basically, because the Wolf Pack's got to do a deal with the devil to get Doug back in the first one and then Chow keeps popping in and out of the movies. And now you really get to see Chow really standing in the way of the Wolf Pack gaining their maturity and moving on with their lives. Just when you think the devil is done, think again."

Do you like what Jeong brings to "The Hangover" movies? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

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May 24th 2013, 15:52

Maroon 5 just dropped the video for their single "Love Somebody," and it's four full minutes of Adam Levine. Shirtless. Covered in paint. Sold. (Shout out to Jesse, Mickey, James, and Matt, the four other band members who don't get to body paint a supermodel in the video.)

Check it out, then peep our list of orgs that are all about teaching us to love, too.

+ Watch Maroon 5 "Love Somebody"

+ Love Is Respect

One in three young people in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a significant other, but many don't know they are being abused. We all wanna "Love Somebody," but it's also important to love ourselves. Love Is Respect teaches young people about what is and is not acceptable in relationships, and to spot and stop abuse before things go too far. Mood swings, possessiveness, false accusations, and constant insults can all be signs of an unhealthy relationship.

+ Love Is Louder

You could draw Adam Levine's initials onto your hands in permanent marker, but why not use that valuable, visible space to advertise something even more awesome?! Love Is Louder is a movement started by The Jed Foundation, MTV, and "Pitch Perfect" star Brittany Snow to display love and solidarity in times of sadness and difficulty. Write "Love Is Louder" on one or both of your hands, take a sweet selfie, then share the photo online (#loveislouder) to join the hundreds of thousands of others who also believe that love is more powerful than bullying, violence, natural disasters, or any other negative current events. Even Ke$ha's in on it!

+ Love Is Not Abuse

Love Is Not Abuse is an initiative of Break The Cycle -- a non profit dedicated to ending dating abuse and promoting healthy relationships. Dating abuse can be physical, emotional, verbal, sexual, and even digital. It happens to people of all ages, races, genders, sexualities, nationalities, and religious preferences, and puts victims at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, unsafe sexual behavior, and future domestic violence. Take action below to Break The Cycle by learning how to "Love Somebody," and love yourself, better.

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May 24th 2013, 15:43

"World War Z" is going to be getting a healthy dose of the Grammy-winning band Muse. Not only will two of the band's songs be featured in the film, but Muse will also perform at the movie's upcoming London premiere.

Paramount Pictures has revealed that two tracks from Muse's album "The 2nd Law," which debuted in 2012, will be featured in the movie. Muse has been featured prominently in a film before, as the band also had a big presence in "Twilight" back in 2008.

As part of their collaboration with "World War Z," Muse will also be performing after the London premiere of the film on June 2. Tickets for the live event will go on sale on May 28 at 9 a.m. BST. The concert will take place at Horse Guards Parade Ground at St. James's Park.

This isn't the first time the folks behind "World War Z" have tried to include fans in the movie's promotion. Star Brad Pitt recently surprised viewers with an early screening of "World War Z" in New Jersey because it was a location featured in the film.

"I said OK but we can't do it without showing it to the people we made the film for," Pitt said. "We got to do a screening for the fans, so we decided there's no better place to do that than Jersey."

Are you glad Muse has partnered with "World War Z"? Tell us in the comments section below or on Twitter!

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May 24th 2013, 14:49

In the wake of the devastating tornado that hit Moore, Oklahoma, on Monday, celebrities immediately offered their support online, while those who had close ties to the state stepped up in a big way.

Oklahoma City Thunder basketball player Kevin Durant and native Carrie Underwood both donated $1 million to the Red Cross. On Tuesday night, Blake Shelton, also an Oklahoma native, and his wife Miranda Lambert opened NBC's "The Voice" with a special performance dedicated to those affected by the natural disaster.

The pair kicked off the show with "Over You," which was originally written for the Shelton's late brother. The singers hoped their performance would encourage viewers to donate to relief efforts in the wake of the natural disaster. After the show, Shelton talked about pulling together a benefit concert for those affected in his home state. He has reportedly already begun organizing the event, which he expects will "happen really quickly" and "raise a lot of money." Although no one is confirmed to perform at the concert yet, Shelton had a few suggestions, one of which included "The Voice" coach Usher.

You can find out more about how you can help those affected by Monday's tornado here. You can watch Shelton and Lambert's performance of "Over You" in the video below.

+ Watch Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert Perform "Over You"

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May 24th 2013, 14:30

Looks like Kellie Pickler is gearing up for Memorial Day! The "American Idol" star and most recent "Dancing with the Stars" winner continued to show her support of the troops by touring the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

The dancing queen Tweeted:

Toured the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center today. Our service men, women, & Veterans have made the ultimate sacrifice.#USAheros

— kellie pickler (@kelliepickler) May 23, 2013

National Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical joined forces in 2011, and that's what brought about The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, which is sometimes called "The Nation's Medical Center." It has a staff of 8,500 medical professionals who work round the clock to help military fams, soldiers on active duty, veterans and national leaders -- so this is some serious business!

Kellie doesn't go into deets on what happened during her visit, but anyone who follows her on Twitter knows that she often praises the hard work and dedication that come from the nation's men and women in uniform. She's been involved with the USO tour, and she did plenty of Tweeting about that, as well!

If you'd like to donate items to patients at the medical center, WRNMMC asks that this be done through the Red Cross. The number to call is (301) 295-1538, and Kellie, the medical center and the patients would all be appreciative. Kellie's been in her share of reality TV shows, but she knows that the reality soldiers face can be terrifying and difficult, so she wants to make sure they get the emotional and medical support they might need. And a visit from her is def a good Memorial Day gift!

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May 24th 2013, 14:00

FROM MTV GEEK

Brad Pitt surprised fans in Hoboken, New Jersey two nights ago with a screening of his epic zombie flick, "World War Z." The actor wanted to throw a screening for the people that he made the movie for in the first place, so he decided to bring the film to New Jersey, one of the locations featured in "World War Z."

"I said OK but we can't do it without showing it to the people we made the film for," Pitt said. "We got to do a screening for the fans, so we decided there's no better place to do that than Jersey."

MTV Geek had a man on the ground for the screening, and he was able to see the movie and the fan reaction first hand. Head over there now to see how it all went down!

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May 23rd 2013, 21:00

Jon Favreau directed a partially live-action ad for Bungie's follow-up to the "Halo" series, "Destiny." It's really cool, and we haven't even mentioned the cameo from Giancarlo "Gus Fring" Esposito.

Also, lots and lots of "Return of the Jedi" stuff in today's Dailies!

» Check out these early "Return of the Jedi" returns from a 1980s fan magazine. [Huffington Post]

» Jon Favreau directs live-action "Destiny" ad [Variety]

» "Return of the Jedi" documentary [Entertainment Weekly]

» 4-year-old knows her Marvel trivia! [CBR]

» "Rush" trailer [/Film]

Welcome to the Dailies, where the MTV Movies team runs down all the film and television news, odds and ends that are fit to print! From awesome fan art to obscure casting news, this is your place to feast on all the movie leftovers you didn't know you were hungry for.

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May 23rd 2013, 20:39

Has Justin Timberlake ever not been winning?! Well, there was that time he bleached his 'fro, but other than that, I'm pretty sure everything he touches turns to gold, or -- if it's music -- platinum. Hit songs, big movies, and now, just when I thought J.T. couldn't get any cooler, he's kickin' it with the President.

But what on Earth could the two of them be looking at?! Twitter? Rihanna's latest dirty Instagram? Themselves on the front-facing camera? Or maybe one of the following:

+ MTV ♥ OKC

Authorities reported 24 deaths and $2 billion in damage after a horrendous tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma early this week. After sharing our Vine (created by Khoa!) with the President, J.T. obvi texted REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to the recovery efforts.

+ Finger Monkeys

When life gets stressful, J.T. and Obama do what any other person would to lighten up: look at pictures of finger monkeys (real name: pygmy marmosets). Yes, that's real. No, you can't have one. Global warming, loss of habitat, and the unfortunate fact that they taste delicious is causing animals to go extinct  between 1,000 and 10,000 times faster than the natural extinction rate. One in four monkey species are endangered! Pygmy marmosets are currently on the "vulnerable" list, meaning they're not endangered yet, but may be soon if we don't work harder to preserve mama Earth.

+ Selfless Snaps

J-Obama are allllll about our "Selfless Snaps" feature -- daily pics of celebs doing awesome things in the world. Check 'em out to start your day with a smile on! Selfless snaps; shameless promo.

+ Wedding Cake Toppers

12 states have legalized same-sex marriage, and the list keeps gettin' longer! Same-sex marriage is also legal in Washington D.C., and Justin and Obama just found the cake topper for what will soon become the biggest political scandal in U.S. history...

K. Maybe not, but if they weren't both straight and married, they'd make an awfully cute (and powerful) couple, right?

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May 23rd 2013, 19:08

Last night's episode of "Real World Portland" brought the drama as usual, but this time from an unlikely source. A good night became a bad fight when the typically soft-spoken Anastasia got upset with her visiting boyfriend Mark for having a few drinks too many.

Drinking smart is important both on an individual level, and in relationships as well. The effects of drinking too much can be worsened when there are underlying issues that haven't been addressed sober. Although she had a point, Anastasia's loud reaction to Mark's over-drinking seemed out of character considering her usual, calm way of addressing house drama. After the episode, she revealed there was more to the story, and chatted AfterBuzzTV about her history with Mark. We reached out to the girl they call "Bird" to find out more.

MTV ACT: So far this season, you've been impressively levelheaded while addressing house drama…but Mark really got you riled up! Were there other, unseen, factors that led to the big blowout?

ANASTASIA: Alcohol (shot after shot after shot) played a detrimental role in our argument, but I would like viewers to know the full story, because I gave editors very little information to work with in order to tell it. I found out briefly before I left for Portland that my boyfriend had a serious drug problem. He told me he would get help once I left. That never happened. I made a conscious decision not to tell anyone on the show, or in production, about my boyfriend's problem. I didn't feel it was my right to speak on behalf of Mark. So I walked around the house for months bearing an extremely heavy load. But, I should also have a chance to speak up for myself. Now, I believe it's best to be honest.

I am not an evil girl who detests people having fun. Mark came to see me high on pills, and even bought drugs in Portland. He drank like a fish. This is an extremely lethal combination, and also deadly. In the bedroom, I was trying to TELL him that I KNEW he was using, and I was disappointed. However, remember that I was very careful never to let cameras or people know. So, it's pretty coded. But he knew what I was saying. Later, in the hotel, he was acting bizarre, irrational. I was trying to beg him to stay because I didn't know what to do at that point. I didn't want him doing something harmful to himself. I wanted him to stay, then go home and get help. The cameras actually gave me a day of private time with him, and after that day I could see he had a very serious problem, and I was extremely worried.

ACT: Why the decision to come forward now, and not while you were in the house?

ANASTASIA: I loved him. I didn't want to embarrass him on television or force him to reveal anything before he was ready. I was also embarrassed. I didn't want my friends, family, and "Real World" viewers to know I was in a relationship with an addict. I'm coming forward now because I want people to know the truth. I want girls to know that they don't have to go through what I went through and keep it a secret. I stayed in an unhealthy relationship for too long. I made Mark's problems my problems, and didn't have the strength to speak up or leave him.

ACT: You tend to be the advice-giver in the house. In hindsight what advice would you give to yourself in that moment, or to others in similar situations?

ANASTASIA: I should have let Mark go. Everyone has issues, but when your partner's issues directly affect your lifestyle, health and emotions, it's time to go. I'm all for helping people, but sometimes you have to help yourself. If someone doesn't want to change, they won't. I hate that I was so drawn to fixing Mark's problems that I didn't help myself. Don't ever feel guilty for putting yourself first. As you can see, Mark put himself first the entire episode. He selfishly came to see me on drugs, made a choice to get wasted knowing how emotional I am about that (given I have an alcoholic gather), and wanted me to leave one of the best experiences of my life for him. Hello! Wake up, Anastasia!

ACT: Where do you draw the line between petty arguments and emotional or verbal abuse, and do you think that line was ever crossed -- between you and Mark, and in the "Real World" house in general?

ANASTASIA: When one person is speaking calmly, but the other is using curse words and insults, that's verbal abuse. If someone repeatedly says things to make you sad or put you down, that's verbal and emotional abuse. The things Mark said to me during our argument -- and some of the things the roommates said to each other when they fought -- definitely crossed the line.

ACT: What advice do you have for people in similar situations?

ANASTASIA: Verbal and emotional abuse are never acceptable. Anyone who makes you feel like your feelings don't matter is not worth a second of your time. Love yourself and get out while you can. When it comes to substance abuse, you can urge someone to get help, but they will not accept it until they are ready to. Always offer help and be a safe outlet, but don't stay in a relationship with someone who isn't ready to change, and only drags you down with them. That's not love.

ACT: How is Mark now, and are you two still together?

ANASTASIA: We are no longer together, but he's doing well. I want to stress that, in spite of his issues, Mark is a good person. He lost himself, but sought the help he needed, and has been clean and sober for almost a year now. (End of interview)

Anastasia's initially secretive reaction to Mark's substance abuse is common, but if substance abuse or misuse leads to repeated interpersonal problems for you or someone you know, get help. Learn to recognize the signs of verbal, physical, and emotional abuse, and what to do when you spot them, so you can help yourself or others if or when they occur. Even through minor bumps in the road, relationships should lift us up, not drag us down, and one should never risk his or her own physical or emotional well-being to "fix" a friend or loved one. If someone close to you is having a particularly hard time, be there in the kindest and safest ways possible, but know that you alone cannot fix everything.

If you're looking to give or get help, check out Half Of Us and Love Is Respect, or contact a local licensed professional. If, like Anastasia in last night's episode, you're not yet comfortable speaking to people you know, call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP for 24/7 anonymous help and resources. And if someone's life is in immediate danger, call 911! Catch more of Anastasia and the rest of her "Real World Portland" roommates on MTV, Wednesday nights at 10/9c.

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