One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Antonio Banderas Got a Cool Nickname From Obama's Secret Service
Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffiths Photo via Shutterstock
Sometimes secret service agents need to exercise their creativity, too. When Antonio Banderas played host to Barack Obama back in October (it's possible that all you remember from that day is the tail lights you were sitting behind for three hours, but go with us...), the president's security nicknamed the actor "Zorro."
Sure, it's not the most secretive secret name ever. But The Hollywood Reporter notes that Banderas, who's now ensconced in junkets to promote his new movie, "Puss and Boots," was pleased with the moniker.
"It could have been worse. I could have been Puss," he said.
During the same visit to L.A., Obama attended an event hosted in part by Eva Longoria. No word on what the government agents were privately calling her.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
