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Today — 11 January 2025Entertainment News

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Visit L.A. Wildfire Victims

10 January 2025 at 21:07
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Visit Los Angeles Wildfire Victims
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P)

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have rolled up their sleeves to help out those affected by the wildfires that ravaged parts of Los Angeles.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the World Central Kitchen in Pasadena, California on Friday, January 10.

Us Weekly understands Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, volunteered to hand out food and supplies to people affected by the Eaton Fire.

During their visit, the couple witnessed harrowing stories from victims, but also strong community spirit as they offered their support. The Duke and Duchess also took time to connect with elderly individuals and families affected by the crisis inside the Pasadena Convention Center.

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Open Montecito Home to Friends Amid L.A. Fires

As well as serving meals alongside World Central Kitchen (WCK) volunteers outside the venue, Harry and Meghan donated clothing, children’s items, and other essential supplies to the main donation center, Us understands.

Monetary donations have also been made to relief, recovery and rebuild efforts via their charity organization, the Archwell Foundation.

Harry and Meghan also joined Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California’s First Partner, and Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, in personally thanking first responders, including Fire Chief Marrone and his team from the LA County Fire Department as well as Members of CalFire and the Pasadena Police Force at the Rose Bowl.

As part of their volunteering efforts, Harry and Meghan met with World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés at the charity’s food stations and thanked the teams for the hard work involved  in supporting the community in its time of need.

It comes after Meghan and Harry opened their Montecito, California home this week to friends who were evacuated as fires blazed across parts of Los Angeles including the Pacific Palisades area, Malibu, Santa Monica and the Hollywood Hills.

Meghan and Harry live in Montecito with their children Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. Their home is around 80 miles north of the Pacific Palisades area in LA, where the fires first broke out on Tuesday, January 7.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Are 'Casually House Hunting' in Malibu

While it is not known which of the couple’s friends have made use of the home, thousands of people had been forced to flee their homes due to the wildfires. Among the celebrities affected by the fires were Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, Spencer Pratt and Milo Ventimiglia, whose homes all went up in flames.

The couple has dedicated a page on their official website to the wildfires, sharing information about resources and organizations taking part in the relief effort.

The couple first moved to California from the UK in 2020 during the pandemic. After initially staying on Vancouver Island, Canada, they then spent several months at Tyler Perry’s Los Angeles home before buying their own home in California.

Check the LAFD website for local wildfire alerts and click here for resources on how to help those affected.

Kate Beckinsale Says Seeing Her Stepfather Die ‘Will Haunt’ Her ‘Forever’

10 January 2025 at 19:55
Kate Beckinsale Says Seeing Her Stepfather Die will Haunt Her Forever
Kate Beckinsale. (Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImage)

Kate Beckinsale has marked the one-year anniversary of her stepfather’s death with a candid and emotional post, detailing what it was like to watch him as well as her father die.

The actress shared a photo of her late stepfather, Roy Battersy, via her Instagram account on Friday, January 10.  In the image, Roy is seen wearing a novelty shirt that reads, “World’s best farter. I mean father” and is smiling while  holding a bouquet of flowers.

“Finding my father‘s dead body alone in the middle of the night at the age of five shaped my entire life. Seeing my beloved stepfather die a year ago today will haunt me forever,” Beckinsale, 51, wrote in the lengthy tribute. “It does seem terribly careless to have managed to be present for both deaths and unable to prevent either, the second time trying with every single thing I had. It was not enough.”

The Canary Black actress reflected on her grief and sense of loss surrounding Battersy’s death, who passed away in Los Angeles in January 2024 following “a brief illness.”

Kate Beckinsale’s Stepfather Roy Battersby Dead at 87

“In the process of losing my beloved Roy I lost family, friendships , at some points my own health, and all the money I had due to how disgusting the American healthcare system is for those who are not insured. I would do it again. No question.I cannot help feeling that I dreadfully failed,” she wrote

Beckinsale went on to explain that she is leaning on what she can to “console” herself, telling herself that Battersy was prepared for the end of his life and was “at peace with it.”

“It does feel like a lie I am telling myself to try and feel better, however. Perhaps I am just unfortunately not enlightened enough to sell that to myself over my sense of loss, guilt and failure,” she admitted.

The one-year anniversary of Battersy’s death was a difficult pill to swallow, according to Beckinsale.

BAFTA Addresses Kate Beckinsale's Criticism Over Stepfather's Tribute

“It is a tough day to talk about our fledgling and precious tragedy,but given that I couldn’t save him, I’ll be damned if I’m not going to honour him in some small way,” she continued. “He taught me how to be brave. He taught me that it doesn’t matter if people don’t like you as long as you’re doing the right thing, he lost everything fighting for justice for the trade unions, for the Palestinians in the ‘70s,living with them in refugee camps in Lebanon for several years making his 1977 documentary “The Palestinian”, fighting for the miners losing everything in the strikes.”

She concluded, “I am so lucky that I was raised by someone who uncompromisingly knew what was right and lived it. And loved me .Thank you for being my father. I miss you so much.”

TJ Holmes and Amy Robach Defend David Muir After Clothespin Backlash 

10 January 2025 at 18:35
TJ Holmes and Amy Robach Defend David Muir Say He Doesnt Deserve the Hate
T.J. Holmes, Amy Robach and David Muir Getty Images (2)

TJ Holmes and Amy Robach are defending David Muir after he received widespread backlash for using a clothespin on his flame-retardant jacket while reporting on the Los Angeles wildfires.

Holmes, 47, and Robach, 51, who previously worked with Muir at ABC, gave their perspective on the incident during the Friday, January 10 episode of their podcast, “Does This Make Me Look Fat?”

Muir, 51, came under fire when viewers spotted the clothespin cinching his jacket during a live cross on Wednesday, January 8 and accused him of caring more about how he looked on TV than the natural disaster he was reporting on.

Holmes defended Muir against that accusation, claiming the news anchor may not even have been aware of the existence of the clothespins.

Fans Are Divided Over David Muir Tailoring His Coat For Wildfires Report

“The perspective might be missing if you’re just reading tweets. The perspective might be missing in that, often times — and I don’t know if he does — travel with a producer or even a wardrobe person whose job is — you might be looking at your phone, getting the latest, looking at notes or doing something, and people are pulling and plugging things onto you, the mic and the IFB [in-ear monitor] and all these things,” Holmes explained. “You don’t even know what’s happening to you, and someone could’ve made the decision of ‘Let me do this with the jacket.’ We don’t know.”

Holmes said that despite the use of clothespins, he believed Muir is incredibly hard-working.

He continued: “But just a little context, the guy works his butt off. You don’t like what he did, fine. It’s just a lot to be piling on.”

However, Holmes conceded it did look bad for a TV journalist to be caught worrying about superficial aspects when reporting on an event where people have lost their lives and homes.

David Muir Ditches Jacket Clothespin During Coverage of LA Wildfires 2
David Muir ABC

“The idea that people — even if the midst of a tragedy — about to anchor a main evening broadcast wouldn’t give a damn about how they look is just unreasonable. Now to what degree should they care is the issue and to what degree should they come off like they’re caring is then a separate issue, but of course he has to care and pay attention to how he looks before he goes on TV,” Holmes said. “But if your house was on fire and you see a guy over there with a mirror brushing his hair doing all this before he goes on the air and reports about your tragedy, that’s going to piss you off.”

Meanwhile, Robach admitted that when she was reporting from the road, she usually made a concerted effort to not appear too “glamorous” for this reason by keeping her hair and make up simple.

David Muir Ditches Jacket Clothespin During Coverage of L.A. Wildfires

“I have taken great care as a journalist to not seem as though I’m concerned about how I look in that moment,” she said. “We all look different on the scene of these sorts of tragedies than we do on the set. On the set, we’ve got hair and makeup and nice suits and fitted clothing, but when you’re out there, it’s just a very different environment.”

Robach also defended Muir against the heated backlash he’s been receiving and said she doesn’t believe he deserves it.

“I don’t think he deserves the hate he’s getting… I don’t think that is fair or appropriate in any way — and especially from people who’ve never had to be on television every day where your image, your looks are constantly being critiqued or acknowledged so you might have a hyper-awareness about that,” she said.

Check the LAFD website for local wildfire alerts and click here for resources on how to help those affected.

Bill Hader and Ali Wong’s Relationship Timeline

10 January 2025 at 17:58

Bill Hader and Ali Wong are a match made in comedy heaven.

Hader and Wong were both married to other people before they were first linked in 2022. Hader wed director Maggie Carey in 2006 and welcomed three daughters: Hayley, Hannah and Harper. News broke in 2017 that the pair had split after more than a decade of marriage. They finalized their divorce in 2018.

Wong, meanwhile, wed Justin Hakuta at City Hall November 2014, and the two welcomed their daughters, Mari and Nikki, in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

After eight years of marriage, Wong’s rep confirmed in April 2022 that she and Hakuta had gone their separate ways.

One year later, Hader’s love life raised eyebrows when he spoke about his “girlfriend” in an interview with Collider.

“My girlfriend and I were just figuring out that I haven’t had a vacation in 10 years. I went with her to San Francisco, but that doesn’t really count,” he said in April 2023.

Hader’s rep subsequently confirmed to Us Weekly that he’s seeing Wong. “Bill Hader and Ali Wong are dating again,” a statement read.

Scroll through for more on Hader and Wong’s timeline:

© Charley Gallay/Getty Images

© Shutterstock (2)

The pair were first linked in the fall, per Page Six. 

© Shutterstock (2)

News broke that the pair had quietly split.

© Shutterstock (2)

Us confirmed the pair were back on after Hader referenced his “girlfriend” in various interviews while promoting Barry season 4.

© Shutterstock (2)

The duo were photographed taking a hike on Wong’s 41st birthday. Hader gave the actress a kiss in one snap and wrapped his arm around Wong in another, according to photos obtained by Page Six.
An insider later told Us that the duo were taking things slowly after rekindling their romance. “It’s an official romance, but there’s no talk about moving in together or anything like that,” the source explained. “While they seem to be serious, they’re both on the same page about taking it one day at a time. At this point it’s all about having a connection, which they do, and having some fun.”
The insider added that the pair decided to give their relationship "another shot" because the timing worked out. “Ali and Bill are have known each other for a while from their respective comedy worlds,” the source told Us. “They were friends first, nothing serious, but once she was single, the idea of dating became a possibility. They were both at a good place in their lives and decided to give it another shot.”

© Faye Sadou/Cover Images; Sara De Boer/startraksphoto.com

Wong made a rare comment about her love life during an interview with Variety, reflecting on the "weird" level of attention on her relationship. "It's quite an adjustment," she confessed.
She went on to explain how not being single impacted her stand-up routine as she prepared to tour. "When practicing, I was in the habit of talking as if I was still single," she said. "What's strange is now [my romantic life] is public information. For me, stand-up is still an abstraction of truth — it does not represent the whole me. Out of respect for my relationship, I have to practice putting them in the past tense."

© ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images; Jon Kopaloff/WireImage

Wong and Hader shared a sweet moment at the 2024 Golden Globes after walking the red carpet separately. After being announced as the winner for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television for Netflix’s Beef, Wong shared a kiss with Hader before walking up to accept her award.
One week later, they packed on the PDA again when Wong won at the Emmy Awards. 

© Amy Sussman/Getty Images

While the couple sparked breakup rumors after Wong attended the 2025 Golden Globes sans Hader, the actor’s rep explained why Hader was not present for the occasion.
“Bill was not able to attend the Globes due to a pre-existing eye condition that flared up and he was advised by his doctor to stay home and rest,” Hader’s rep told People at the time. “He and Ali are still together.”

Why Bill Hader Missed the 2025 Golden Globes With Ali Wong

10 January 2025 at 17:56
The Truth Behind Why Bill Hader Missed the 2025 Golden Globes With Girlfriend Ali Wong
Bill Hader and Ali Wong Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

Bill Hader had a very good reason for not being at the 2025 Golden Globes with girlfriend Ali Wong.

“Bill was not able to attend the Globes due to a pre-existing eye condition that flared up and he was advised by his doctor to stay home and rest,” Hader’s rep told People on Friday, January 10. “He and Ali are still together.”

Hader, 46, and Wong, 41, sparked breakup rumors after the comedian attended the awards show last weekend without Hader by her side. While Wong walked the red carpet solo, she ended up bringing a close friend as her plus-one.

When Wong took home the award for Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television for her Netflix special Ali Wong: Single Lady, she made no mention of Hader in her speech. Instead, she gave her pal a shout-out.

Ali Wong Attends 2025 Golden Globes Without Bill Hader

“My best friend is here! Mia, thank you so much for all of your love and support throughout the years,” Wong said during her speech. “This means a lot. Thank you so much.”

At last year’s Golden Globes, Hader was by Wong’s side when she won for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television for her role as Amy Lau on the Netflix show Beef in 2024. While Wong didn’t mention Hader in her speech then either, the couple celebrated her accomplishment by sharing a sweet kiss and multiple hugs.

The Truth Behind Why Bill Hader Missed the 2025 Golden Globes With Girlfriend Ali Wong
Ali Wong Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Wong and Hader were first linked in 2022 following her separation from Justin Hakuta. Wong and Hader briefly split later that year, but Us Weekly confirmed in April 2023 that they rekindled their romance.

In her now-award-winning stand-up special, Wong joked about how she and Hader got together.

“Hey, Ali, I just happened to hear the news of your divorce today, and I gotta tell you … I’m excited,” she recalled Hader telling her in a phone call after he got her number from a mutual friend. “I am, Ali, because look, I have had a crush on you forever, and I actually told my best friend years ago that you were my dream girl. And I know this sounds crazy, but, uh, I want you to be my girlfriend.”

Bill Hader Says Ali Wong is ‘Off the Market’ at Her Comedy Show

Wong shared that while she was on tour in Europe, Hader followed up by sending her flowers in multiple cities. While her female friends thought the gesture was “so sweet,” her male friends warned her that Hader could be a “psychopath.”

“That’s how cheap and lazy men have become,” Wong quipped. “That now when a fellow man commits any act of kindness, any romantic gesture, it must be a symptom of an undiagnosed mental illness.”

Jennifer Garner Tears Up Revealing a Friend From Church Died in L.A. Fires 

10 January 2025 at 17:27
Jennifer Garner Reveals Her Friend From Church died in the Los Angeles Fires
Jennifer Garner. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/FilmMagic)

Jennifer Garner became emotional as she revealed she lost a friend from church in the Los Angeles wildfires.

The actress, 52, choked up as she told MSNBC on Friday, January 10 that one of her friends died in the wildfires ravaging parts of Los Angeles including the Pacific Palisades area, Malibu, Santa Monica and the Hollywood Hills.

“I did lose a friend, and for our church, it’s really tender so I don’t feel like we should talk about it yet,” Garner told the outlet. “I did lose a friend. She didn’t get out in time.”

The Family Switch actress added that she felt for those who had lost their homes in the devastating fires.

Celebrities Share Personal Photos of Heartbreaking Los Angeles Wildfires

“My heart bleeds for my friends,” Garner said. “I mean, I can think of 100 families, and there are 5,000 homes lost. I can — without even [thinking] — I could just write out a list of 100 friends who lost their homes.”

She added: “I feel almost guilty walking through my house. You know, what can I do? How can I help? What can I offer? What do I have to offer with these hands and these walls and the safety that I have?”

Garner has been rolling up her sleeves to help out amid the wildfire outbreak, volunteering at one of Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen pop-ups in Los Angeles County. These have been set up to help feed evacuees who have been forced to flee their homes due to the fires.

Jennifer Garner Reveals Her Friend Died in the Los Angeles Fires
Jennifer Garner. (Photo by Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images)

“I’ve lived in and around the Palisades for 25 years, so I just think all of us, we want to get our hands into working, somehow, to be helpful,” Garner said. “And because of my work with Save the Children, we have a relationship with the Chef, and I was able to just say, ‘Can I be with you for the day? What can I do to help? Put me to work.'”

A string of wind-caused wildfires broke out in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, quickly causing mass devastation. Many residents have left the city limits under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders and thousands are estimated to have lost their homes.

Which Stars Have Been Affected by the Los Angeles Fires?

Many celebrities have also been impacted by the wildfires, including Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, Spencer Pratt and Milo Ventimiglia, who all lost their residences to the blaze.

Hollywood has also canceled a slew of events over the past few days including premieres for The Last Showgirl, Wolf Man and Jennifer Lopez’s Unstoppable as well as The Critics Choice Awards, among others.

Check the LAFD website for local wildfire alerts and click here for resources on how to help those affected.

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