Alec Baldwin Replacing Sharon Stone as Cannes amfAR Benefit Host

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Some of the world's great couture gowns - by Armani Prive, Gucci Premiere, Dior, Lanvin, Chanel, and of course, Jean Paul Gaultier - annually show up on stars at the annual amfAR ball at Cannes, held at the Hotel du Cap, this year on May 24. In terms of fashion, it's the Oscars of Cannes. But a regular feature at amfAR, Sharon Stone will be not be on stage this year, auctioning off major items to an audience of people who can definitely afford them.

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Alec Baldwin will instead host the event this year, lending it a good dose of irony and comedy. Baldwin is at Cannes shooting a documentary with director James Toback about raising financing to make  a movie during the festival, in which he plays himself. They've already been spotted on the Croissette several times, the day before the festival even opens.

The amfAR gala this year will also feature a major fashion show styled by and staged by former French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld, with new dresses from twenty designers. Janet Jackson and Kylie Minogue will provide this year's entertainment, and we hear Milla Jovavich is confirmed to attend; hopefully, Nicole Kidman, Kristen Stewart and Kirsten Dunst will be there as well.

Some media outlets are actually staying Stone has been banned from the event and the group for which she's raised so much money, but there's no confirmation of that. Her appearances were a bit theatrical, so say the least.