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Today — 29 January 2025Us Weekly News

Joey Fatone Teases ‘NSync Reunion After Bandmates Meet up Without Him

29 January 2025 at 04:03
Joey Fatone Teases ‘NSync Reunion: ‘I’m Trying to get These Guys Together’
‘NSync in 1998 Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Former ‘NSync star Joey Fatone is still eager for an official reunion — even though his four former bandmates got together last week without him.

Lance Bass, JC Chasez and Chris Kirkpatrick all went along to Justin Timberlake‘s show on Monday, January 20, while Fatone was busy on Broadway in & Juliet. Bass wrote via Instagram, “In honor of Joey’s Broadway debut tonight, we had a date night without him” — but thankfully Fatone, 48, has taken the snub in good humor and still wants to reunite properly.

“I texted them, I said, ‘you sons of bee-yatches!’” he told E! News, when asked if the beloved boy band were planning a reunion tour. “That’s why I’m trying to get these guys together, so we can have that conversation.”

Fatone added that he has now invited his old friends to come and see his Broadway show, in the hope that they can talk afterwards about the much-anticipated — especially by Fatone — reunion.

Joey Fatone Tell Us What He'd 'Like to See' in a 'NSync Reunion Tour

He previously told the New York Post that the fivesome were hoping to make firm plans soon. “That’s really what it boils down to,” he said. “And we’re gonna hopefully do that soon. We keep saying soon, but it’s getting where it’s like either s— or get off the pot. Let’s be real.”

Meanwhile, a planned biopic of the boy band is on hold, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The movie, which has producer Neal H. Moritz behind it — best known for The Fast and the Furious and Sonic the Hedgehog — would focus on the group’s success in the aftermath of their legal battle with former manager Lou Pearlman.

While all five former ‘NSync members are clearly on good terms right now, getting sign-off from multiple different management firms is believed to be a stumbling block for the project.

Justin Timberlake Teases ‘NSync Reunion, Says They've Been ‘In the Studio’

‘NSync formed in 1995 and recorded a demo at Shaquille O’Neal’s house before getting a record deal … initially, in Germany. They soon became huge across Europe before taking the U.S. by storm with their debut album, ‘NSync, reaching No. 2 in the Billboard charts in 1998. Over the next few years, they had a string of hits including “It’s Gonna Be Me,” “Bye Bye Bye” and “Girlfriend.”

While Timberlake is the only member to find major success since the group went on hiatus in 2002 and then confirmed in 2004 that they had split for good, ‘NSync fans — and that’s all of Us, right? — are eager to see all five together again, especially with the ‘90s and ‘00s reunion in full swing. Movie, tour, both? We don’t mind, just as long as they remember to invite Fatone this time!

Amy Schumer, 43, Reveals That Bradley Cooper Thought She Was 50

29 January 2025 at 02:46
Amy Schumer, 43, Reveals That Bradley Cooper Thought She Was 50: ‘I Tried to Recover!’
Bradley Cooper and Amy Schumer Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images

You have to be an extremely brave man to ask a woman her age — especially if she happens to be a Hollywood actress — but Bradley Cooper is clearly a brave man: he foolishly asked Amy Schumer if she was 50 yet!

Speaking on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, January 28, Schumer — who is actually only 43 — revealed that she had run into the actor earlier in the week. “So I saw him, and you know ‘how are you?’, and he said ‘You know, I turned 50 this year’ and he goes ‘You 50?’,” she said. “I tried to recover — you know, I’m 43 — so I’m like, ‘I will be 50! But I’m not 50 yet! Yeah no, I’m not, Bradley, but thank you for thinking of me!’.”

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being 50 — Cooper himself celebrated his big birthday just a few weeks back, on January 5 — but when you’re only in your early forties, that question has got to sting a little. Schumer, who is promoting her new Netflix movie Kinda Pregnant, added: “Look, we all want to be hot. People go through a lot to be hot. This is how bad people want to be hot: people literally run!”

It sounds like Schumer is no stranger to awkward encounters though: she also told Fallon that she is frequently mistaken by members of the public for her fellow comedy actresses Melissa McCarthy and Rebel Wilson — but it doesn’t bother her at all. “And I should be so lucky,” she said. “I don’t correct them. I just go, ‘Yeah, Bridesmaids changed my life’.”

Bradley Cooper Through the Years: From Guest Star to Leading Man

Schumer and Cooper actually go back a long way — she has previously talked openly about her out of control crush on the charismatic actor. In another chat with Jimmy Fallon, back in 2015, she said that Cooper is “the kind of hot, trust me, when he is in front of you, you just grab your ankles.” She added: “You would just say things you didn’t mean. Like, ‘any hole’s fine’.”

She also joked that, after a 30 minute conversation with the actor, she was “pretty sure” they were dating. “I changed my Facebook status from “it’s complicated” to “I’m engaged to Bradley Cooper”!” she said.

In the same 2015 interview, she said that Cooper is all too aware of her crush. “I always harass him,” she said.  “I feel very uncomfortable talking to somebody that handsome. He’s very charismatic and stares into your eyes and asks you questions, which no man does.”

Amy Schumer’s ‘Call Her Daddy’ Sex Confessions Include Past MLB Hookup

Unfortunately, she probably wasn’t anticipating that, a decade on, one of those questions would be about her age. There’s just one thing we want to know: when Schumer’s 50th birthday does finally roll around in June 2031, will Cooper make the guest list?

Paige DeSorbo Is Freezing Her Eggs Following Split From Craig Conover

28 January 2025 at 22:52
Paige DeSorbo
Paige DeSorbo Taylor Hill/WireImage

Paige DeSorbo announced she is preparing to freeze her eggs following her recent split from Craig Conover.

Speaking candidly about her health decision during the Tuesday, January 28, episode of her podcast, “Giggly Squad,” cohosted by Hannah Berner, DeSorbo, 32, discussed where she was at in the process.

“On Monday, I am going for my first appointment … to freeze my eggs,” DeSorbo said before clarifying that she “wanted to do it … last year, probably in the spring.” (It is unclear when DeSorbo and Conover, 35, officially parted ways, however DeSorbo announced their split during the December 30 episode of her podcast.)

DeSorbo detailed how she had planned on making her first medical appointment late last year. “I was like, OK, 2025, I’m freezing my eggs and I had it on my list because … I’m just going to, like, chill the month of January and I have a list of things I wanted to get done in the month of January.”

Southern Charm’s Craig Froze His Sperm While Waiting to Have Kids With Paige

The TV star added that she has pinpointed “the beginning of March” to commence the process, also known as oocyte cryopreservation, which Healthline defines as a procedure where “medications are used to stimulate eggs to grow” before they are then “harvested from the ovaries and frozen for storage.”

“The only thing is that I have to pick two weeks that I’m going to be home because I have to do the shots at the same time every night,” DeSorbo said.

Paige DeSorbo and Craig Conover
Paige DeSorbo and Craig Conover in March 2024 Sara Jaye/Getty Images for Panera

DeSorbo and Conover dated for three years before calling it quits, with DeSorbo detailing during her December announcement, “Craig and I have decided to no longer be together. I love him, I think he loves me. I think we will remain friends. No one did anything. It wasn’t a bad thing.”

Despite the amicable explanation, Us Weekly confirmed on Monday, January 27, that Conover was no longer following DeSorbo on Instagram. Us also confirmed the following day that Conover was active on the celebrity-approved dating app Raya.

The new podcast episode saw DeSorbo further detail her decision to freeze her eggs, revealing that she’s wary of how the procedure may alter her body. “I’ve talked to some girls who have said because you’re pumping yourself full of hormones … and then you’re doing the egg retrieval, that your body changes,” she said. “That freaked me out but it was only, like, two girls [who] said that to me.”

Berner, 33, also expressed her own concerns for her cohost, saying DeSorbo is “someone who has PCOS,” referring to polycystic ovary syndrome. DeSorbo didn’t expand on that particular topic but followed Berner’s remark by telling listeners she has “always known” she would eventually freeze her eggs.

‘Southern Charm’ Season 10 Moments That Didn’t Age Well for Craig and Paige

“When I first decided to freeze my eggs it wasn’t like, ‘oh my God, my career!’ I genuinely thought that at 32 I would have a kid,” DeSorbo explained. “But always in the back of my head I was, like, what if I get to 39, 40, and I’m like, ‘Wait, I want one more.’”

She continued, “Now it’s different, I need it as a security … but it is making me relax a little bit though, knowing that I’m doing it.”

DeSorbo added that in preparation for the procedure, she has stopped “smoking weed” and, as a result, has not “loved life more.”

Meghan Markle's Friend Lindsay Roth Leaves Note for Her in Self Help Book

28 January 2025 at 21:29
Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle Leon Bennett/FilmMagic

Meghan Markle’s friendship with college pal Lindsay Roth has been immortalized in Roth’s latest self-help book.

Within the pages of Romances & Practicalities: A Love Story (Maybe Yours!) in 250 Questions, released by Roth on Tuesday, January 28, Markle, 43, is directly discussed.

“Meghan Sussex, Meg, to be sisters by choice, still thinking the same thing at the same time after all these years — no matter how many miles between us — is my favorite part of our unbreakable bond,” the acknowledgments section reads, per People. “There for each other always, sharing a deep loyalty and understanding — I could tell you anything, and it would be OK. I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart).”

Roth’s heartfelt book inclusion was a surprise to Markle, according to the outlet, with Roth only revealing the passage to her on Tuesday. “I have saved that as a little token for her to see when the book comes out,” Roth told People in an article published on Tuesday. “I think it’s rare to find friends who love you unconditionally, and I’ve been lucky in my life to have a few who I truly consider family. It’s almost like those words aren’t enough.”

Everything We Know About Kate and Meghan's Complex Relationship

According to Goodreads, the book features a set of “research-backed” questions spanning money, children, chores, sex and beyond, to help readers identify “wants, needs, and non-negotiables” to help navigate stronger relationships.

Roth has proven a loyal friend to Markle since the pair met as students at Northwestern University and graduated together in 2003. Roth, an author and TV producer who once worked on Larry King Now, appeared in Markle and Prince Harry’s 2022 Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan.

Lindsay Roth and family
Lindsay Roth and her family Courtesy of Lindsay Roth/Instagram

Markle also served as Roth’s maid of honor when she married Gavin Jordan in 2016.

In a March 2021 Instagram post that Roth shared after Markle and Harry, 40, were subjected to backlash for their tell-all CBS interview, Roth gushed about her pal. “Meg’s M.O. has always been kindness; goodwill runs in her bones. I know this to be true after 22 years of very close friendship. I have seen firsthand how she treats her friends and their families, and her colleagues,” Roth began.

Roth accompanied ⁣her post with two photos of the pair — one that captured Markle applying lip gloss to Roth on her wedding day, and another that showed Markle sporting a graduation cap as she posed alongside her smiling friend.

Meghan Markle's Life Now: A New Brand, Netflix Show and 'Peace' at Home

“If she’s driving with you in the passenger seat, she will fling her right arm in front of you at the slightest bump in a gesture of love to ensure your safety,” Roth’s post continued. “If you have a specific goal, she will help you get there, and your passions will become hers on your behalf. If you ever have the pleasure of meeting Meg – and I hope more of you do – you will see the altruistic, magnanimous friend who I am so lucky to have in my corner.”

Just like Prince Harry, who married Markle in May 2018 and now shares two children, son, Archie, 5, and daughter, Lilibet, 3, with her, Jordan is also an Englishman and he and Roth share two children together.

Rachael Kirkconnell Says Matt James Didn't Tell Her About Breakup Post

28 January 2025 at 20:34
Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James
Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James Manny Hernandez/Wireimage

Rachael Kirkconnell claimed Matt James did not tell her he was planning to announce their breakup via social media.

Kirkconnell, 28, said during her Tuesday, January 28, appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast hosted by Alex Cooper, that James, 33, blindsided her by announcing their breakup via Instagram on January 16.

“He didn’t even text me to give me a warning, like, saying, ‘Hey, I’m posting this,’” Kirkconnell, who found love with James during season 25 of The Bachelor, said. “It just hurt to know that’s how my friends found out in my family and my little sister. I didn’t get to talk to them about it or grieve privately for, like, a day.”

Despite James’ shock move, which she also labeled “f—– up” during the interview, Kirkconnell added that she has “spoken with him since all of that.”

Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell’s Split: What Went Wrong?

The breakup post from James, who found a match in Kirkconnell on the reality TV show in 2021, featured a photo of the former couple appearing on The Bachelor as well as a caption that read, “Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts. Give us a peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding. Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us.”

Kirkconnell confirmed on the podcast that she and James had broken up “the same day” James’ post went live.

Kirkconnell’s podcast interview also delved into what she believed James’ motivations were behind his breakup post, revealing that she is still confused by it. “I don’t know if it was out of just him being so worked up, if it was out of anger, or if it was one of those things where he felt like he needed to do it to really finally just put a nail in the coffin,” she told Cooper, 30. “I do know that he definitely acknowledges that that was not the right decision.”

Kirkconnell and James broke up the first time after taping of The Bachelor wrapped, revealing their separation during the After the Final Rose special which aired in March that year. The pair reconciled one month after the TV special.

Rachael Kirkconnell Breaks Silence on Matt James Split, Cheating Rumors

This second split came as a major shock to fans who had followed the pair’s journey closely over the years. In October 2024, James even teased the possibility of marriage during an appearance on the “De-Influenced with Dani + Jordan” podcast.

“I think that’s the next step,” James quipped during the interview, which also featured Kirkconnell. “Having had so many of Rachael’s friends go through engagements, I wouldn’t dare go look at a ring without consulting Rachael first.

Kirkconnell’s in-depth “Call Her Daddy” interview also expanded on the aftermath of James’ breakup post, detailing how she was awoken by a call from James at 1 a.m. less than one week after the post went up.

“He just asked how I was doing,” Kirkconnel told Cooper. “Like, how do you think I’m doing? I confronted him about the post … and that’s when he was like, yeah, I fully admit that I could have handled this a lot better. And he apologized.”

Kirkconnell added that she doesn’t “want people thinking” James is a bad guy. “But, obviously, he made a mistake … I think he regrets it,” she said.

The podcast also revealed how Kirkconnell believed that James didn’t see compatible qualities within her, which ultimately led to the pair’s split. “He said that at the end of the day there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife,” she explained. “At the end of the day, there are things that we aren’t compatible with and the whole accountability and saying sorry and all that was really the main thing.”

Diddy's Ex-Assistant Claims He Had to Clean Up After Wild King Nights

28 January 2025 at 20:31

Phil Pines, a former assistant for Sean “Diddy” Combs, opened up about his alleged experiences with the rapper in the new Investigation Discovery docuseries The Fall of Diddy.

Pines spoke for the first time on camera during the show’s fifth episode, which premiered on Tuesday, January 28.

“The reason I wanted to tell my story was to make sure that Sean Combs and people like him can’t do these kinds of things to anybody else,” Pines told journalist Mara S. Campo. “It’s hard to come here and sit down with you and talk about these situations, because he was somebody that I looked up to.”

Pines, who worked as an executive assistant for Diddy from December 2019 to December 2021, filed a lawsuit against the mogul last month. Diddy’s legal team addressed the filing in a statement to Us at the time, saying: “No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor. We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail in court.”

Diddy’s Former Employee Details ‘Wild King Nights’ in New Lawsuit

Pines repeated many of his claims in The Fall of Diddy, including the allegation that he had to clean up hotel rooms after so-called “wild king nights.” (Pines claimed that he knew Diddy’s parties only as wild king nights and did not hear the term “freak off” until he’d left his employment.)

According to Pines, he would be told via text message that he needed to come to a room and provide “emergency cleanup.” After Campo asked what that phrase meant, Pines elaborated.

Diddy s Ex Assistant Claims He Had to Clean Up After Wild King Nights
Rebecca Sapp/WireImage for The Recording Academy

“That means that he destroyed the hotel room,” he alleged. “That was, for me, probably one of the hardest things to do. When you get there and you see the wreckage, you see the stains, you see the bodily fluids, you see the used condoms, you see the baby oil, half-used Astroglide oozing down the sides of the bottle — and you have to pick it up. Broken glass, urine, blood. It wasn’t uncommon for there to be stains on furniture, stains on sheets that we needed to remove. One can only imagine what was actually happening. It’s disgusting.”

Diddy’s Ex Kat Pasion Alleges 'Scary' Nonconsensual Incident in New Doc

Pines went on to say that he now has a visceral reaction to baby oil following his years working for Diddy, 55.

“It’s a little triggering for me because the smell of baby oil is just something that I don’t ever want to have to smell again,” he explained. “I kid you not, you could slip because there was baby oil all over the floor. There would be baby oil surrounding the bathtub and there would be a bathtub full of water, and you would reach down there to unplug and you feel the baby oil was in the tub.”

Diddy s Ex Assistant Claims He Had to Clean Up After Wild King Nights
Investigation Discovery

After Diddy’s homes were raided in March 2024, investigators later said they “seized various ‘Freak Off’ supplies, including narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant.” Following Diddy’s September 2024 indictment, which included the baby oil detail, his lawyer Marc Agnifilo said his client “buys in bulk.”

“I mean, he has a big house,” Agnifilo told TMZ at the time. “I think they have Costcos in every place where he has a home.”

Later in the interview, Pines claimed that his former boss once pressured him to participate in a wild king night by having sex with a female guest.

“I think my life changed a lot on that day and I’ve never really recovered from it,” Pines told Campo. “This particular incident, he’d been drinking all day. … He’s out of his mind at this point. You could tell. Again, he’s in rare form, as we would call that. Rare form. I remember hearing the words, ‘Prove your loyalty to me, king.’”

Breaking Down the 5 Most Shocking Claims From Diddy’s 14-Page Indictment

Pines alleged that Diddy then gave him “a quick massage like a coach would give a player that’s about to enter the game” before handing him a condom and directing him to a guest who was on the couch.

“I froze before it took place, didn’t know what was really happening,” Pines said. “In the moment, it just felt like, ‘What? Is this fun for him? Is this a test? Is this for entertainment? Does he know that he’s actually doing this? Is he that gone?’ I didn’t know what to do. She gave me the consent, like, ‘Yeah,’ nodded her head. And I performed for a little bit. And then I ran out of there as soon as I didn’t see him in my sight anymore.”

When asked why he didn’t tell Diddy no, Pines claimed that he was worried about the repercussions if he pushed back.

“I heard about previous employees getting physically assaulted,” he alleged. “I saw how angry and upset he could get from the most simple thing. And I just thought to myself, ‘If I don’t do this, I don’t know what’s gonna happen.’”

Diddy s Ex Assistant Claims He Had to Clean Up After Wild King Nights
Investigation Discovery

Following the incident, Pines said he “had a great sense of remorse” but didn’t initially tell anyone what had happened. “I wanted to tell somebody, but there was so much at stake,” he recalled. “I knew if I had said anything that a kind of bomb would just explode. I hid that from everybody, including my significant other, my family, other employees.”

Diddy’s legal team responded to the docuseries’ claims in a statement to producers, saying, “Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone. … We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail in court.”

Diddy is currently in jail awaiting trial after he was arrested in September 2024 and charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has denied all the allegations against him and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

All episodes of The Fall of Diddy are now available to stream on Max and Discovery+.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

© Rebecca Sapp/WireImage for The Recording Academy

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Rachael Kirkconnell Details Matt James Split on Call Her Daddy: Revelations

28 January 2025 at 19:39

Less than two weeks after her split from Matt James rocked Bachelor Nation, Rachael Kirkconnell is ready to tell her side of the story, revealing that the breakup came “out of nowhere” during a fight.

“It’s different everyday. I’m doing OK,” Kirkconnell, 28, began to “Call Her Daddy” podcast host Alex Cooper on Tuesday, January 28. “I would say some days are better than others — one day I’m feeling kind of empowered, like, ‘I’m excited to be on my own.’ And the next day I can barely get out of bed and I just miss him and I’m sad about everything.”

James, 33, had revealed the breakup in a headline-making statement on January 16.

“Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts,” he wrote alongside a photo of the pair at Nemacolin resort, where they filmed season 25 of The Bachelor. “Give us a peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding. Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord 💔.”

Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell’s Split: What Went Wrong?

James tagged Kirkconnell in the post, which she didn’t share. She told Cooper that he posted three hours after he broke up with her on their trip to Tokyo.

Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James Tell All Interview 14
ABC/Craig Sjodin

“We’re literally getting ready to take off and my phone blows up. It’s one of my best friends and it says, ‘Rach,’ with a bunch of question marks, and as soon as I saw that, I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, how does she know,’ and then she texts me again and said, ‘I saw Matt’s post. Is this real life?’ And that’s how I found out that he posted,” she told Cooper. “So then, literally the plane is taking off and I see his post, and that’s it. I don’t have any service or anything for the next 12 hours, so I’m freaking out because, you know, just got broken up with and now, a few hours later, it’s for the whole world to see and I’m still trying to process it. I’m still in total shock, so then knowing like the whole world is seeing this. I’m like, ‘This is so crazy. I can’t even wrap my mind around this right now,’ and I think that’s why I didn’t say anything. Still haven’t made a statement or anything because I’m processing this just like everyone else is.”

Keep reading for more revelations from Kirkconnell’s appearance on “Call Her Daddy”:

The Bachelor Days

Kirkconnell noted it was “total infatuation” when she first met James on The Bachelor. “It felt very comfortable,” she said. “We were just talking to each other like there weren’t a million cameras and people around.”

When asked when she realized she was falling in love with James, Kirkconnell said things were “solidified” on their one-on-one date. Fans will recall that the twosome left the season without getting engaged, agreeing to date.

“It was one of those things where it felt like it was out of my control, because I wasn’t the one handing out roses at the end of the day. So it was one of those things where I told myself, like, if we do make it to the end of this and he proposes to me, of course I would say yes,” she said of him opting not to propose. “The proposals on The Bachelor are just interesting — because I think you’ve seen plenty of couples re-propose and say, like, ‘This is the actual engagement.’ And I’m not saying that the engagements aren’t real on the show, but I think now, having been through it all, it would be so crazy to get engaged with someone you barely knew and you’ve only known each other for a few weeks.”

While the show was airing, Kirkconnell came under fire for past photos of her at an Old South-themed party in college. James subsequently ended things, but the twosome stayed in touch.

“I think that he felt so much pressure with the state that the world was in at the time with Black Lives Matter. And that was the year after George Floyd, and it was like just such a heavy, heavy topic in our country at the time, and then, of course, all of the controversy within the show did not help,” Kirkconnell recalled. “And I think he felt so much pressure to just make the right decision and to stand by what was right for him at the time. And, you know, strangers and people that were really close to him in his life were saying, like, ‘I don’t think you should be with her.’ And so I think at the time, he thought that was the right decision, just to take a step back and not be together. … I was definitely shocked when [he] broke up with me, only because we were very happy together, even with all of the chaos around us when it was just me and him behind closed doors, it was amazing. It was so much fun. We were so happy when we decided to not let the outside noise get to us.”

Early Issues

When the twosome were broken up, James did end up talking to another girl. (During spring 2021, a woman named Grace went to Reality Steve to reveal she was spending time with James while he was still in touch with Kirkconnell.)

“I was very, very, very upset when I found everything out, and I just remember telling him that he lied to me. … I just remember storming out of his place, and I was like, ‘Don’t ever talk to me again, like, we’re done,’ because I just found out a lot of stuff all at once,” she recalled. “I just was definitely a little bamboozled.”

After briefly cutting off contact, the twosome got back together when James ended up in Georgia, nearby Kirkconnell.

Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell’s Split: What Went Wrong?

“I met him downstairs and we sat in my car and talked for like six hours just sitting in the parking garage, and he explained everything. I heard him out and it was just one of those things where he was like, ‘Just give me a chance. I’m sorry and I do love you and I do want to be with you and I’m done, you know, playing these games. Let’s give this a real shot. Let’s get back together,’ so I said, ‘OK.’ I gave him a chance ’cause I loved him.”

The Post-Show Dynamic

“I just was really insecure the first year of our relationship. I think it was everything that happened, of course, but also that power dynamic — him being the lead of a dating show and then [me] just being a contestant … it definitely felt like he was like the star, and I was just, you know, his little, like, groupie or something,” she recalled. “And it’s not anything he did. I think that probably every couple that comes from the show might have a little bit of difficulty in that area of like, you know, you were this person that 40 women were fighting over and that everyone’s obsessed with, and then I’m just, you know, some girl. That’s how it felt. Going out publicly, it seemed like [or] I told myself that the world hated me, but everyone loved him.”

Kirkconnell later noted that when the twosome did have disagreements, James would tell her that she struggled to take accountability despite the fact that she felt like she was always the first to say sorry.

Rachael Kirkconnell on Call Her Daddy
Call Her Daddy

No Cheating

Kirkconnell admitted that James seeing another woman when they were apart affected her for a while, but maintained that she never thought he cheated on her during their four-year relationship.

“I felt like I had a hard time trusting him because of what was happening when we were apart, and that girl coming through, obviously, and everything, I was just asking myself, like, ‘Are you still doing this?’ But I know to this day … he’s not a cheater, you know?” she said. “I never actually had to worry about him cheating on me, because technically, if he was ever with other women, we were apart. So I can’t, you know, call him a cheater, or worry about him cheating on me.”

Living Separately

Kirkconnell explained that the twosome never officially lived together.

“He said that he didn’t want to live together until we were married and he’s a very religious man, so I was like, ‘That’s OK, I can do that,’ but at the same time, I’m a little confused because we’re still, you know, traveling together, staying in the same hotel and it was like we were living together,” she explained. “Half of his stuff is still at my place in Georgia right now, but he always had an apartment in Miami or New York, so we were either in New York, Miami, or Atlanta and I think at the time I just didn’t worry about it too much because it was fun. I feel like whenever we would talk about our life, we would say we want multiple homes anyways or a little space here and there — a home somewhere, but it’d be fun to keep the apartment in Miami or keep the apartment in New York. I think that I was making excuses for it because it was one of those things where we were saying that that was gonna be our life anyway, so I guess I just didn’t think too much on it, but I also think it was me trying to justify it just because I didn’t want to worry like, ‘Well, is this like fear of, you know, taking the next steps?’ You know, of course you don’t want to admit that to yourself, so now, yeah. Looking back on it, maybe that is what it was.”

Rachael Kirkconnell Endorses Suggestion She Was Blindsided by Matt James

Looking for Rings

“We talked about rings. He told me a few months ago to start, you know, saving some things, picking things out or that we should go look at some,” Kirkconnell claimed. “That was such a green flag to me and I felt like the longer we were together, the more he was able to talk about it. I think, at first, I could tell it was something that did scare him a lot or it was a really hard  thing for him to talk about and it just seemed easier and easier as our relationship went on, so I felt like that was a good sign.”

The Tension Leading Up to the Split

Kirkconnell noted that they were in Tokyo after meeting in London in early January when James ended things. The twosome were butting heads over where to go for dinner and Kirkconnell got briefly emotional after a tense meal where she felt like she was “disappointing” him over her dinner choice.

“He was like, ‘I’m just so confused, like, why you were so upset. Like, what was that?’ And I explained to him, like, ‘I felt like I’d let you down.’ Like, ‘I felt like that was disappointing. And I hate going to a place that isn’t somewhere that you could post about [on Instagram]. I feel like it’s a waste.’ And he just was trying to tell me like, ‘It’s not that serious. Like, it’s not that big of a deal.’ But then he was concerned about me getting so upset. He was like, ‘That was like, there was no reason for you to get upset like that.’ And he found it concerning that I got that emotional, I guess,” she recalled. “He was trying to express to me, like, ‘If you get emotional about little things like this, what is going to happen in life when something really terrible happens? Like, how are you going to be able to react to things that are actually really scary or disappointing or sad?’ … I felt like I was being punished for crying.”

Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James Tell All Interview 5
ABC/Craig Sjodin

The Breakup

James broke up with Kirkconnell the following day.

“We were in good moods. And I think it was one of those things where … little arguments open up a can of worms,” she said. “So we were on the way to get some food and I was scrolling through my phone, showing him a bunch of videos. I guess I was bothering him. I was annoying him. … [He] kind of snapped at me to where I got mad at him because I was like, ‘You know, even if I’m annoying you like, don’t treat me like that.’ And so then it seemed like we were both kind of mad at each other or annoyed with each other.”

Kirkconnell — who reiterated that the twosome were talking about rings and wedding days before this point in the trip — believed that the pair were a little irritated with each other after spending three weeks together. When they got back to the hotel, James “let out” all of his concerns.

“He said that at the end of the day there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife,” Kirkconnell said. “At the end of the day, there are things that we aren’t compatible with and the whole accountability and saying sorry and all that was really the main thing. It was just one of those things where he, I think, just had this realization that ‘I should want to propose to you by this time. Like, at this point in our relationship, I should be wanting those things and I should be ready for that. But I’m not still, I still don’t feel like we’re ready or I don’t feel like I’m ready. I don’t know if I ever see myself proposing to you. I can’t actually see myself married to you.’”

Kirkconnell got emotional as she recalled what James told her.

Rachael Kirkconnell Reacts to Rumor She Was Spotted With Ex Matt James

“He came to the conclusion that he didn’t think it was me and that he said, like, he just didn’t want me to end up resenting him by wasting more of my time if it wouldn’t happen,” she said. “And yeah, he just said, you know, ‘You’re beautiful, smart and funny and you’ll find, you’ll find someone, you’ll find a guy that will love you for you.’ But yeah, he just didn’t think that it was him. But it was just really, it was just a lot to hear at once because a few days before, you know, I’m hearing the opposite.”

The Post

James shared the split with his breakup prayer when Kirkconnell was at the airport to go home.

“I was so freaked out about the breakup itself … I wasn’t even analyzing the post like everyone else was, so I guess it was kind of funny just to see what people had to say,” she said. “People thought it was weird that it was a Bachelor photo because we definitely tried to remove ourselves from the show. It was interesting to see the caption only because I feel like there was no — I don’t know how to explain it. I guess it almost seemed like saying it like a prayer was the easier way to say it than to say something real. Not that it wasn’t real, but just something authentic to our actual relationship, but it’s very him. I guess it didn’t surprise me that he said it like that. I guess I was just surprised that he said it at all, that he posted that.”

When asked why she thinks he posted when and how he did, Kirkconnell noted that the pair have spoken.

“I would love to know. I don’t know if it was out of just him being so worked up, if it was out of anger, or if it was one of those things where he felt like he needed to do it to really finally just put a nail in the coffin, but I have spoken with him since all of that and I do know that he definitely acknowledges that that was not the right decision … When I step back, I’m mad … he should not have done that to me after four years. He didn’t even text me to give me a warning, like, saying, ‘Hey, I’m posting this.’”

The Last Time They Talked

Kirkconnell said James called her at 1am “four or five days” after his breakup post and has tried to check in on her a few more times.

“I confronted him about the post. … And that’s when he was like yeah, ‘I fully admit that I could have handled this a lot better.’ And he apologized,” she said, adding that she doesn’t want the world to think James is a “bad” guy. “I think he regrets it. I probably wouldn’t even be sitting here if you didn’t do that.”

They Won’t Get Back Together

“I don’t think I can, which is sad. I don’t think I can ‘cause I think when someone says those things that he said, you know, ‘I don’t think you’re my person. I don’t see us getting married,’ I think that’s when you have to call it quits. Just the way that he handled all of this and this post and everything, like I forgive him, but I just don’t think I can be with someone that — I felt like he disrespected me at the end of the day doing that,” she said. “It’s just one of those things where you have to stand up for yourself even if you don’t want to. Of course there’s part of me that we could just get back together and pretend that this never happened, but that’s not the case and I think as hard as it is, I think the right decision is to stand up for myself and be on my own.”

© ABC/Craig Sjodin

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Kyle Richards Texted Dorit and PK When Their Son Jagger Was Hospitalized

28 January 2025 at 19:33
Kyle Richards
Kyle Richards BG041/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

As Kyle Richards and Dorit Kemsley claim to put their contentious past behind them, a new development may again rock the boat.

During the Tuesday, January 28, episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: After Show, Kyle, 56, revealed that she had texted both Dorit, 48, and her estranged husband, Paul “PK” Kemsley, after learning of their son Jagger’s hospitalization. (Kyle and Dorit have argued repeatedly about Kyle’s friendship with PK, 57, after he and Dorit split in May 2024.)

Kyle told RHOBH costar Erika Jayne that she had learned of Jagger, 10, being admitted into hospital via Dorit and PK’s Instagram posts in October 2024, and reached out to the two of them.

“They posted … that Jagger’s been going through a hard time and he was in the hospital and I have been talking with [Dorit] and, by the way I will admit, freely, and PK too,” Kyle began. “I texted both of them regarding their child. Do I feel bad about texting PK about his child? No I do not. And if someone says there’s something wrong with that, f— you.”

Dorit and PK Kemsley's Son Jagger, 10, Hospitalized After Feeling 'Unwell'

Dorit previously offered Us Weekly details into Jagger’s surgery one month after his hospitalization. “I’m very, very happy to say that he’s doing so much better,” Dorit exclusively told Us in November 2024. “He had two hip surgeries in under a week. Emergency surgery. This little guy has been through a lot, but he’s incredible.”

PK had previously shared via Instagram that the couple’s son had fallen ill. “Our little boy Jagger has been unwell for the last few weeks, Mommy and Daddy have been with him in the wonderful @cedarssinai we wanted to publicly thank them and the Drs and Nurses,” PK posted on October 15 last year. “We are still here but he’s 🙏on the mend. … He’s our Rocky.”

Kyle Richards and Dorit Kemsley
Kyle Richards and Dorit Kemsley in 2022 Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Wheelhouse

Kyle’s admission to texting both PK and Dorit came after she confirmed on Tuesday night’s After Show that she and Dorit are trying to mend their broken friendship. “I’m good now, we’re fine. I don’t want to have an argument with her,” Kyle told the cameras.

Dorit was also seen telling Bozoma Saint John during the episode that she and Kyle were “trying to start moving forward” with a friendship. “I don’t think it’s something that can happen overnight,” Dorit added. “I think it’s really easy to lose trust in someone and it’s really hard to get it back.”

Kyle and Dorit have locked horns over countless issues in recent years, including accusations of insufficient support during their respective marital breakdowns (Kyle separated from estranged husband Mauricio Umansky in summer 2023) and prioritising other friendships over theirs.

Kyle’s text contact with PK has served as an ongoing issue, most recently sparking a screaming match between Kyle and Dorit during the January 7 episode of RHOBH. The fight was also featured in the January 14 episode, with Kyle reading the text to Erika, 53, and costars Sutton Stracke and Garcelle Beauvais.

The text, sent after Dorit and PK announced their separation, read, “I know you have a lot of friends but I am also one and here if you need me. I’ve never repeated anything you have ever shared with me and never would. (Meaning you can trust me always). Will keep sending memes and won’t forget laughing emojis.”

Ubah Cries as Brynn Details 'Shame' of Past Assault on 'RHONY' Reunion

28 January 2025 at 19:00
RHONY Reunion Part 1 Ubah Hassan Cries as Brynn Whitfield Details Past Sexual Assault 204
Jocelyn Prescod/Bravo

Part one of the Real Housewives of New York City reunion was emotional for Brynn Whitfield and costar Ubah Hassan.

During the first half of the two-part season 15 reunion, which aired Tuesday, January 28, Brynn, 39, opened up about why she chose to share her experience as a survivor of sexual assault with the Bravo cameras.

“I’m still healing from something,” Brynn explained, noting that when she has previously discussed other tough topics on the reality series — such as her family life — it felt “like 17 years worth of therapy.”

Host Andy Cohen praised Brynn’s “brave” decision to speak out about her experience, before asking about the response she’s received from viewers. “[People have talked about] the shame of it all and living with the day to day,” she said, referring to the prevailing stigma associated with experiencing a sexual assault. “Just how it’s not one of those things you can go around and tell. And to have everyone know something so personal as a woman, it’s just different.”

Brynn Whitfield Breaks Her Silence on 'RHONY' Finale: Everything We Learned

Brynn struggled to hold back tears as she confessed to feeling a similar sense of shame. “I suck things up. I move on,” she continued. “Because if I don’t, I never get out of bed. So you just keep going.”

She went on to reveal that the alleged perpetrator was “someone who was courting me” and that she still sees the person now. “I understand why people commit heinous crimes,” she said.

RHONY Reunion Part 1 Ubah Hassan Cries as Brynn Whitfield Details Past Sexual Assault 209
Clifton Prescod/Bravo

Throughout the emotional conversation, Brynn’s costars were shown grappling with her revelations. At one point, the camera panned to Ubah, 41, who mouthed, “Oh, my God.”

Tensions were high between Brynn and Ubah during the season 15 finale, which aired January 21 and showed the dramatic end to the cast’s Puerto Rican vacation. Ubah alleged that Brynn slept with someone to get on RHONY, prompting Brynn to come forward to her costars about her assault. Brynn claimed that she had told Ubah about the incident already, but Ubah denied ever hearing the story. Eventually, Brynn admitted that Ubah might not have “clocked it” during their previous conversation.

The conflict caused the remaining Housewives to question other events that occurred throughout the season, calling out Brynn’s apparent tendency to bend the truth. She spoke to Rolling Stone after the finale aired and doubled down on her side of the story.

“It’s not right to assume that everyone remembers everything that you say all the time and then hold them accountable for that,” she claimed. “I know for a fact that I said it [to Ubah], but when someone’s screaming into the phone, the other person might not necessarily hear them.”

Where Do 'RHONY' Stars Stand With Brynn Whitfield After Season 15 Finale?

During the reunion, Brynn revealed that she considered pressing charges against her alleged assailant following the assault. “But it’s so hard … unless you literally go and walk into an emergency room and say, ‘Hi, I’m here because I just got sexually assaulted. Let’s do the rape kit,'” she added, adding that her first instinct was to “go home and shower.”

Brynn said that in the moment she just wanted to “forget that it happened,” which caused Ubah to get emotional. She silently wiped tears from her eyes before being handed a tissue.

“It’s hard if you know the person,” Ubah said. “Like, she said you could commit a crime.”

Getting choked up, Ubah whispered, “I’m sorry,” to Brynn, who replied, “I know you are. I know.”

The Real Housewives of New York City reunion continues on Bravo Tuesday, February 4, at 9 p.m. ET.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

What to Know About Justin Baldoni’s Next Project ‘The Senior’

28 January 2025 at 18:55
What to Know About Justin Baldoni s Next Movie The Senior 272
Roger Wong/INSTARimages

Justin Baldoni may be in a messy ongoing legal battle after the release of his summer blockbuster, It Ends With Us — but his first film of 2025, The Senior, is waiting in the wings.

While Baldoni won’t appear in the sports drama, which is set to release on March 7, he does serve as a producer alongside his independent production company, Wayfarer Studios, and Allen Media Group’s Freestyle Releasing.

The film, which is based on a true story, follows former college football player Mike Flynt (played by Michael Chiklis) as he discovers he has a second chance at his dream after being kicked off his team 35 years earlier.

“We’re honored to partner with Freestyle to bring Mike Flynt’s inspiring story to audiences nationwide,” Wayfarer’s President of Production, Andrew Calof, said in a November 2024 statement. “With Michael Chiklis leading an incredible cast, Rod Lurie’s direction, and the remarkable work of Mark Ciardi, the team at Ten Acre Films, and our partners at Unity Entertainment, we’re excited to share this powerful message about never giving up on your dreams.”

What's Justin Baldoni Doing Next After 'It Ends With Us' Drama?

The Senior’s release comes less than six months after It Ends With Us — which Baldoni produced, directed and starred in — hit theaters and instantly made waves for the contention between Baldoni and his costar Blake Lively.

After rumors of a rift between the duo began following the movie’s Los Angeles premiere — where Baldoni did not appear alongside the rest of the cast — Lively filed a lawsuit in December 2024 against Baldoni accusing him and Wayfarer Studios of sexual harassment, creating a hostile work environment and launching an alleged smear campaign against her. Baldoni, for his part, denied all the allegations, and filed a $400 million countersuit against Lively, her husband, Ryan Reynolds, and Lively’s publicist Leslie Sloan. The actor cited civil extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy and more for his reasoning behind the suit. (A trial date is currently set for March 9, 2026.)

As the It Ends With Us battle ages on, keep scrolling for everything to know about Baldoni’s next project, The Senior:

When Is ‘The Senior’ Coming Out?

The Senior’s theatrical release is set for Friday, March 7.

What to Know About Justin Baldoni s Next Movie The Senior 271
Wayfarer Studios

What Is ‘The Senior’ About?

Based on a true story, The Senior follows Mike Flynt (Chiklis), a man searching for a second chance after being kicked off his college football team 35 years prior. When the now 59-year-old learns he has one year left of eligibility to return to his old school and earn his degree — plus try out for his former team — he jumps at the chance to redeem his past and prove that it’s never too late to tackle your dreams.

What Has Been Cast in ‘The Senior’?

In addition to Chiklis in the main role, the film stars Mary Stuart Masterson, Brandon Flynn, James Badge Dale, and Rob Corddry.

Is Justin Baldoni Directing ‘The Senior’?

While Baldoni and Wayfarer studios serve as producers, the film is directed by Rod Lurie (The Contender) with a script by Robert Eisele (The Great Debaters).

 

Rachael Kirkconnell Reveals Why Matt James Ended Their Relationship

28 January 2025 at 18:37

Rachael Kirkconnell has offered some insight the reason for her split from Matt James.

“He said that at the end of the day there were just qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife,” Kirkconnell, 28, shared during her “Call Her Daddy” podcast appearance, which premiered on Tuesday, January 28. “At the end of the day, there are things that we aren’t compatible with and the whole accountability and saying sorry and all that was really the main thing. It was just one of those things where he, I think, just had this realization that ‘I should want to propose to you by this time. Like, at this point in our relationship, I should be wanting those things and I should be ready for that. But I’m not still, I still don’t feel like we’re ready or I don’t feel like I’m ready. I don’t know if I ever see myself proposing to you. I can’t actually see myself married to you.'”

Kirkconnell recalled James saying that “one day” he would get to the point of a proposal, but didn’t feel ready.

“I told him, I said, ‘Well, I feel like after four years you should know or you should feel ready. And if you don’t then that’s not a good thing. We probably shouldn’t be together if you don’t feel like that after four years because you know me better than anyone. I know you better than anyone, so you should know by now if you see this for the long haul or not,'” she continued, noting that James “didn’t think” she was his “perfect person.”

Rachael Kirkconnell on Call Her Daddy
Call Her Daddy

“He just didn’t want me to end up resenting him by wasting more of my time if it wouldn’t happen,” Kirkconnell added. “He just said, you know, ‘You’re beautiful, smart and funny and you’ll find, you’ll find someone, you’ll find a guy that will love you for you.’ He just didn’t think that it was him. It was just a lot to hear at once because a few days before, you know, I’m hearing the opposite.”

Hours before her “Call Her Daddy” interview dropped, Kirkconnell was stopped at an airport and briefly addressed her split from James, 33, for the first time.

“It’s nothing that you can prepare for. So, you just take it one day at a time,” she said in the video posted via the Instagram gossip account Deux Moi on Tuesday. “I think things will start to come out.”

Bachelor’s Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell: A Complete Timeline

Kirkconnell said that she had plans to speak about the split “whenever I’m ready,” which appeared to be when she was sitting across from “Call Her Daddy” podcast host Alex Cooper.

“For now, I’m just protecting my peace,” she added at the time. (Kirkconnell also denied that infidelity was the reason for their split, before noting that there was no chance for a reconciliation in the future.)

Rachael Kirkconnell Says TK About Matt James Split on Call Her Daddy
Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell Paras Griffin/Getty Images

James blindsided Bachelor Nation earlier this month when announcing that he and Kirkconnell had split after four years together. (Kirkconnell said during Tuesday’s “Call Her Daddy” appearance that he posted the announcement “a few hours” after breaking up with her.)

“Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts. Give us a peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding,” he wrote on January 16. “Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord.”

Rachael Kirkconnell Reacts to Rumor She Was Spotted With Ex Matt James

James shared a photo of himself and Kirkconnell from his Bachelor season, which aired in 2021, along with the breakup announcement. (The former pair left the season together but broke up before the finale aired in March 2021 due to Kirkconnell’s past racially insensitive social media activity. They reconciled shortly thereafter.)

“The split may seem abrupt, but this has been brewing for a while. It was a long time coming,” a source told Us Weekly exclusively following their breakup news. “Matt just couldn’t commit to her.”

The same source noted that it was “hard” for Kirkconnell to “trust” James.

“Rachael really wanted to get married and settle down and they were not on the same page,” the insider added. “She felt like she was waiting around, and he would never give her what she wanted.”

© Paras Griffin/Getty Images

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‘The Home Edit’ Star Clea Shearer Rushed Into 8th Breast Cancer Surgery

28 January 2025 at 18:02
Clea Shearer
Clea Shearer Araya Doheny/Getty Images for Baby2Baby

The Home Edit’s Clea Shearer has undergone surgery for an eighth time after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022.

Taking to social media to share her health update, Shearer, 42, revealed she underwent an operation on Tuesday, January 28, after her doctor discovered a wound at an incision site that opened to a breast implant over the weekend.

“I didn’t expect to need surgery today,” the lifestyle company’s cofounder wrote via Instagram in the hours leading up to her surgery. “He took one look at it and said, “what are you doing on Monday?” My heart sank because I knew what was coming next.”

Shearer, who also appeared in the Netflix series Get Organized With The Home Edit,  learned in February 2022 that she was suffering from breast cancer, sharing the diagnosis publicly via Instagram in April that year. Her latest surgery comes after announcing in November 2022 that she was “cancer free.”

Stars Who Beat Breast Cancer: Linda Evangelista, Cynthia Nixon and More

Shearer’s emotional new post detailed how she had believed that her seventh related procedure, which occurred in November 2024, was supposed to be her last. “I celebrated what I *thought* was my final surgery (at least for a long while). Lucky number 7 was going to be it!” she wrote. “But two months later, I’m at the hospital about to go in for my 8th.”

The unexpected discovery may lead to further subsequent surgery, as Shearer explained in the post. “The scary part about today’s surgery is that there’s a good chance it leads to my 9th. I’ve been told to emotionally prepare myself that swapping my implant out might not work, in which case I’ll need a larger reconstruction that uses tissue from my latissimus dorsi muscle in my back,” Shearer wrote.

Shearer shared a post-operation update with her concerned fans via her Instagram Stories, posting a selfie that showed her holding one thumb up while lying in a hospital bed. “In recovery now and just ate 264 saltine crackers and peanut butter,” Shearer captioned the Story. “The surgery was a success, so now I just have to hope the next few weeks go well so I can avoid another one.”

The entrepreneur’s original breast cancer diagnosis, which was presented as stage 1 mammary carcinoma, came after she found a lump in her breast in February 2022. Shearer’s social media announcement at the time detailed how she eventually learned she had two tumors that measured one centimeter each.

“[They] are aggressive and fast moving — but I caught it early,” Shearer wrote, noting that, “Had I not taken this upon myself, I would be in a completely different situation right now.”

She added in the 2022 post that publicly sharing her diagnosis made “cancer feel purposeful,” and that if her experience was able to “convince any of you to self-examine on a regular basis, self-advocate always and to prioritize your health over your busy schedules — then this will have meant something.”

John Boyd on Scola and Nina’s 'FBI' Future, Teases ‘Most Wanted’ Crossover

28 January 2025 at 18:01
John Boyd Teases Scola and Nina s Future on FBI Says a Most Wanted Crossover Is Coming 146
Bennett Raglin/CBS

FBI star John Boyd is excited for Scola and Nina’s future on the CBS series after their emotional and vulnerable moment on screen this week.

Warning: Spoilers below from FBI season 7, episode 9.

During the Tuesday, January 28, episode of FBI, Special Agent Stuart Scola (Boyd) helped thwart a would-be terrorist attack after Bolivian extremists virtually commandeered several planes. The case hit close to home for Scola, whose brother, Doug, was killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Once Scola and his team saved a commercial airliner from being shot down by the government for flying into illegal airspace (all while the terrorists were in control of the vessel) he confronted his own demons.

John Boyd Says Scola's a ‘Different Person’ After ‘FBI’ Midseason Premiere

Scola revealed during the final moments of the episode that he had received a letter from the government related to his brother’s death. Instead of reading it alone, he asked his partner, Nina Chase (Shantel VanSanten), to do it for him.

“That was such an important thing in the scene,” Boyd, 43, exclusively told Us Weekly of the moment that Scola let his walls down and leaned on Nina. “I thought to myself, ‘Oh, it would be so interesting if Nina read what that letter was.’ And sure enough, I got the first draft and that’s exactly what [the writers had] been planning on doing the whole time.”

Scola and Nina learned in the letter that the government had finally found his brother’s remains, finally allowing his family some closure after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Fans previously learned that Doug’s death was a big reason why Scola left Wall Street for the FBI.)

John Boyd Teases Scola and Nina s Future on FBI Says a Most Wanted Crossover Is Coming 147
Bennett Raglin/CBS

“The vulnerability in asking [Nina] is so important because it shows that he’s ready, that he has family,” Boyd explained, noting that Scola has come a long way since fans first met him.

He said, “The old Scola was so angered. He was so mad at the loss of what happened, the senselessness of that tragedy. And he’s at a place now I think where he’s able to ask his partner for help.” Boyd noted that his character is “growing up a little bit” and he’s finally “OK.”

Scola and Nina began dating during season 4 of FBI, when Nina joined the cast. In 2023, during season 5 of the flagship series, the TV couple welcomed a son named Dougie, after Scola’s late brother.

Edwin Hodge Feared Something Would Go Wrong at ‘FBI: Most Wanted’ Wedding

Nina later moved over to FBI: Most Wanted full time during its fifth season in February 2024. Since then, the couple have crossed over to each other’s shows. According to Boyd, the crossovers will continue during the second half of Most Wanted season 6 and FBI season 7.

“Everything’s settled in nicely enough,” Boyd told Us of the couple’s next steps. “We’ve got some closure around his brother [so] we’re [now] ready for things to get shaken up.”

The actor teased that he doesn’t know what that means exactly, but noted that fans shouldn’t “get too comfortable because anything can happen.”

While Scola and Nina aren’t engaged, Boyd said nuptials are not off the table. “I think every relationship has its own way of doing and being what it is,” he said, playing coy about a possible wedding for the pair. “So whatever the future has in store for them. If we wanted to tell that story that it would — they could do it in a way that was them.”

Boyd added that although a marriage hasn’t been written into his character’s story line just yet, viewers will see him on Most Wanted later this season.

“I’m going over to Most Wanted. I don’t have the script yet [but] I heard a little bit about it,” he shared. “It sounds great. It’s gonna be family stuff. I think it’s more of Nina’s family and me being there for that.”

FBI's Katherine Renee Kane Wants Scola and Nina to Be Next Franchise Wedding

Nina, meanwhile, will be back later on in season 7 of FBI for another Scola-centered episode.

“We’re doing an episode now about Scola’s upbringing. We find out that Scola actually attended a military school that his parents sent him to upstate [New York],” Boyd told Us in January. “You find out more about his childhood, how he was kind of, like, you know, going down the wrong path.”

He called the upcoming episode “super dark” and filled with “really intense” revelations about the military school.

“It’s really a great, great episode,” Boyd concluded. “I’m excited about it.”

FBI airs on CBS Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.

Yesterday — 28 January 2025Us Weekly News

Timothee Chalamet Reveals He Gained 20 Lbs to Play Bob Dylan

28 January 2025 at 17:16
Timothee Chalamet Reveals He Gained 20 Pounds to Play Bob Dylan 267
Timothée Chalamet. Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

In addition to learning to sing like Bob Dylan, Timothée Chalamet also underwent a physical transformation for his role in A Complete Unknown.

“I’ve turned over every stone. I did all the work, like you just described, physicality, behavior-wise,” Chalamet, 29, said in an interview with NPR published on January 20. “But something we haven’t really talked about, I also put on 20 pounds because … believe it or not, I was thinner than the guy.”

In addition to bulking up for the role, Chalamet learned to sing and play guitar like Dylan. In the film, Chalamet portrays a younger version of the legendary musician at the start of his career in the 1960s. He explained that the biopic was a “five-year process.” While Chalamet said he didn’t get a chance to meet Dylan, 83, during that time, he did get to see him perform live.

“I saw him live. I’ve seen him live twice. And that was — I don’t want to say helpful enough,” Chalamet told the outlet. “It would have been great to [meet], but it was super educational just to see his energy observed from a distance.”

Timothee Chalamet Reveals He Was Asked to Gain Weight for 2 Roles

Ahead of A Complete Unknown’s premiere in December 2024, Dylan gave Chalamet his stamp of approval.

“There’s a movie about me opening soon called A Complete Unknown (what a title!). Timothee Chalamet is starring in the lead role,” Dylan wrote via X at the time. “Timmy’s a brilliant actor so I’m sure he’s going to be completely believable as me. Or a younger me. Or some other me.”

After seeing Dylan’s praise, Chalamet gushed about how much it meant to him.

Timothee Chalamet Reveals He Gained 20 Pounds to Play Bob Dylan 268
Macall Polay, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

“Screaming crying laughing screaming laughing pooping screaming crying,” the actor wrote via his Instagram Story. “THANK YOU BOB!!!! DREAM COME TRUE!!!!”

Dylan wasn’t the only one impressed with Chalamet’s performance.. Following the film’s December 2024 debut, Chalamet was nominated for a Golden Globe (though he ultimately lost to Adrien Brody for his performance in The Brutalist). Chalamet also received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

Months before Chalamet revealed he had gained weight for the biopic, he opened up about the struggles he faced in Hollywood regarding his body type. Early on in his career, Chalamet was advised to gain weight after he was told he didn’t have the “right body” to take on leading man roles.

Timothée Chalamet Goes Blonde at ‘A Complete Unknown’ Premiere in NYC

“If I auditioned for The Maze Runner or Divergent, things of that variety that were popping when I was coming up, the feedback was always, ‘Oh, you don’t have the right body,’” he said during a November 20024 interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. “I had an agent that called me and said, ‘You got to put on weight,’ basically — not aggressively, but you know.”

Instead of changing his frame for blockbuster projects, Chalamet opted to go for more artistic roles like Call Me by Your Name, Lady Bird, Little Women and more.

“Those were smaller budget, but very — I don’t know how else to put it — personable movies that started in this theater space,” he shared. “This is where I found my rhythm, my confidence, my flow, whatever you want to call it.”

Nikki Garcia Gets Candid in 1st Interview After Divorce: 'I Was in Shock'

28 January 2025 at 17:00

Nikki Garcia thought she’d finally found her happily ever after. In early 2019, shortly after calling off her engagement to fellow WWE superstar John Cena, Garcia reconnected with her Season 25 Dancing With the Stars partner, Artem Chigvintsev, for what would become a whirlwind romance. By November, the two were engaged and soon welcomed their son, Matteo, now 4.

“Artem is the first person I’ve been with where I feel like I can be Nicole and never fear he’s going to leave me for it,” Garcia, 41, said at the time, calling Chigvintsev, 42, “the sweetest soul 
you’ll ever meet.”

They wed in the summer of 2022 and seemed to have a solid marriage, with Garcia often making headlines for her TMI confessions about their chemistry in the bedroom. “He gets very embarrassed,” the Total Divas alum once playfully told Us Weekly of her openness. “He hates it!”

But last August — just days after their second wedding anniversary — police were called to the pair’s Napa Valley, California, home following an alleged altercation between Garcia and Chigvintsev. The Russian professional dancer was arrested and booked on felony domestic violence. (The Napa County District Attorney’s office ultimately declined to file charges.)

In the weeks that followed, Garcia filed for divorce from Chigvintsev, and the two submitted temporary restraining orders against each other. In her filing, Garcia detailed multiple previous physical altercations with Chigvintsev, including the August incident in which she claimed that he’d “tackled me multiple times and pinned me to the ground while our child was present.” The two went on to settle their divorce and agreed to “drop the domestic violence restraining orders against each other in an effort to move on with their lives and effectively coparent their son,” Garcia’s rep told Us in a statement at the time.

Shell-shocked from what transpired and determined to protect her son, Garcia stepped away from social media to process it all and grieve the end of her marriage. She also took a three-month break from the “Nikki & Brie Show” podcast, which she hosts with her twin sister, Brie. Now, the fog is finally starting to lift. The wrestling legend is focused on being a mom and a possible return to WWE (she made her Raw comeback on January 6 after a nearly two-year hiatus).

“I’m definitely finding more moments of joy,” she tells Us in the latest cover story, adding that she feels “stronger” every day. “[I’m] excited to just live this new era of me.”

Here, Garcia, who didn’t want to go into detail about the lead-up to her split from Chigvintsev, opens up about healing from heartache and how her son has helped her find the resilience she didn’t know she had.

You’ve been through a lot these past few months. How are you doing?

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Claire Planeta

I have to say that 2025 has been amazing so far for me. I’ve really taken the time to kind of date myself. I have days where I get to focus a lot on me and self-care and just really get to know who I am in my 40s. I feel like I have this whole new era to look at, and I get to choose how I want to be and [where to] take it.

You’re known for being an open book. But when everything happened, you took a step back from the public eye. Tell Us more about that decision.

Everything was very shocking, all of it. And I think that was a main reason why I knew I had to disconnect. I was in shock. You couldn’t have ever told me that this would’ve been the ending of my 2024 or my marriage — [I] wouldn’t have believed you. It takes a long time to process something. I needed that disconnection to process everything that happened.

Who did you lean on during that time?

I couldn’t get through [it] without my therapist, without my mom [Kathy Colace], without Brie. I needed them, and I needed their love — whether it was hugs or just sitting and letting me cry and vent, or meeting up with Matteo and having a happy time. Whatever it is, your team is so important. You need people around you to [not only] empower you, but to love you and to let you feel the emotions.

Were your family and friends surprised by the split?

Brie’s been very vocal. She said that she felt like this relationship should end long before it did. She always felt we were just two different people trying to make it work. But my mom was a huge supporter of [me and Artem]. She was actually flying in [the] day [of the incident] to spend the whole weekend with us.

Nikki Garcia Hasn't Had 'A Day Without Tears' Since Settling Artem Divorce

You returned to your podcast on December 2 after a more than three-month break. Were you nervous?

Definitely. We hear it from anyone in the public eye — [they] talk about the trolls on the internet. It’s wild. That was probably my biggest fear. And then my therapist [Cari Rose], she’s my life coach as well, was like, “There are more people in this world that need your message than troll you.” It gives me chills now. And I go, “Amen to that, because that is the truth.”

What was the reaction like from your fans?

It was overwhelming in such a great way. I didn’t realize disconnecting for a long time — then taking the high road for my son and trying to be as private as possible — how much that would inspire people.

How have you explained everything to Matteo?

I’ve used words like divorce, [but] it’s only been when he’s asked. Everything’s kind of been about us just having our own homes. You get to go see Mommy and you get to go see Daddy. On Christmas, we made sure we were both there when we baked Santa’s cookies. Matteo went to bed and we both were there when he woke up. Because he’s our focus, we want to keep those moments.

What’s it been like coparenting with Artem so far?

Artem Chigvintsev Nikki Garcia Gets Candid in 1st Interview After Divorce
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

What’s crazy about coparenting is you get a schedule. It’s wild that one day it’s like, “OK, here are the days you get your son,” and that’s just what you do. For me, that part is incredibly tough. I had never been in our home without him. So getting through those days is extremely difficult because I just love being around my son so much.

How’s Matteo adjusting?

Matteo’s OK and not affected. So that makes it easy. He’s happy to go to both homes.

Looking back, do you have any regrets?

No, I can’t have regrets like that. I feel like things happen for a reason. I’m stronger today than I’ve ever been. And that’s not only for myself, but for Matteo. I feel like being a mother and wanting the best for my son and knowing I’ll do whatever it takes for him to have that makes you incredibly strong.

When do you feel your best these days?

Definitely when I work out. Anytime I break a sweat, I feel like I can conquer the world. It’s one of the best forms of therapy I can do. I’ve [also] been making playlists and just dancing. I’ve been having so much fun because I felt like I lost a part of me, not my sex appeal, but I was like, “Girl, are you even sexy anymore? Let’s try to loosen you up.” So I’ve been trying to dance a lot by myself in the mirror, just seeing how I can move my body.

Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev’s Relationship Timeline

Do you ever struggle?

I still get moments of heartache for sure, when an event comes up, or you drive by something or a song comes on. I know in time that will get better. But overall, I feel a lot of joy in my heart and feel so grateful. I have so much gratitude [for] my family, my health.

Tell Us about your healing journey. What other changes have you made in your life?

For me, focusing on healing is totally mind, body, soul. I fully took out [alcohol] for months. I didn’t want anything to be in my body that can make me feel more emotional or sad or depressed. I focused on putting good nutrients in my body and upped my vitamins and [did] whatever I knew could help my inside be physically strong. Then, I work[ed] on the mental part. And honestly, it’s been incredible to my healing.

Are you drinking again now?

I’m at a place where I save it for special occasions. And since I’ve gotten into my 40s, Brie and I both can’t do more than two drinks because the hangovers are for real now — and they’re like three days! But it’s crazy because the past few months really opened my eyes to how I see things more clearly.

Do you think there are misconceptions about you?

I think the one thing people get very shocked about is how empathetic [I am]. I truly have a big heart, and I wear it on my sleeve, which can be hard at times. But I’m very soft [with] people. And I think it’s because when you see your own father go through life being addicted to drugs and abuse, but then overcome it — he’s such an incredible man. I think when people meet me and even Brie, they’re like, gosh, those girls have so much love to give, and they’re so understanding. And I think it’s just been our journey and what we’ve gone through.

Nikki Garcia Breaks Her Silence on ‘Tough’ Artem Chigvintsev Divorce

Do you still believe in true love, given everything that’s happened?

I do. I truly feel people come into your life for a reason. People come in, and they teach us things. And sometimes, when those loves don’t work out, you have to look and go, “What did I learn and what did I gain?” Because there’s always beauty in it.

Are you open to dating again?

I can definitely see myself falling in love again. I don’t think it’ll be anytime soon. I think it’s going to take me a while to get back in that place and also to just feel confident about my body.

You look amazing!

I feel great, but it’s like when I’m naked, you just kind of sadly start to dissect yourself. What if the person isn’t a dad and he doesn’t understand a “mom bod?” Like you can’t date someone younger because then he’s going to be like, “Oh, she has an older body,” or my boobs kind of sag from nursing. I’m not going to just give that up. I need to be in a good place for that. Mama needs her groove back first for herself.

Do you think you’d ever get married again?

I don’t ever want to sign paperwork again. If I find the right person, I don’t mind [a commitment ceremony], but I don’t want to be legally [bound].

What about more kids?

Artem Chigvintsev Instagram Matteo Nikki Garcia Gets Candid in 1st Interview After Divorce
Courtesy of Artem Chigvintsev/Instagram

I definitely do not want more kids. I am fine.

Why not?

Just being 41, and I feel like I’m back to being myself finally. I’m just getting out of the toddler years and I don’t want to go back. I’m chugging cold brews to hang at the playground. I’m like, OK, it’s a lot!

What are some of the lessons you’ve learned over the last year?

I think boundaries are so important, whether that’s with your family, relationship, career, business partners, whatever it may be. I’m [also] not going to stress about things not working out. I know whatever is meant for me or my purpose will come.

What does the future look like for you?

[My dream] is to continue not only thriving in my career but to [do so] while being the best mom possible and just having a life filled with happiness and love.

For more on Nikki, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.

If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.

© Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Netflix

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Meryl Streep Had to Cut a 'Car-Size' Hole in Fence to Flee L.A. Wildfires

28 January 2025 at 16:59
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Meryl Streep. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Meryl Streep became her own hero while trying to escape the deadly Los Angeles wildfires earlier this month.

“Evacuation mandates were sent across the city,” Meryl’s nephew Abe Streep wrote in a New York Magazine article published on Tuesday, January 28. “My aunt Meryl Streep received an order to evacuate on January 8, but when she tried to leave, she discovered that a large tree had fallen over in her driveway, blocking her only exit.”

He recalled the 75-year-old actress’ strength in the face of danger, writing, “Determined to make it out, she borrowed wire cutters from a neighbor, cut a car-size hole in the fence she shared with the neighbors on the other side, and drove through their yard to escape.”

On January 7, wildfires burned through several acres surrounding the greater Los Angeles area, including Altadena and the Pacific Palisades. Meryl reportedly owns property in nearby Pasadena, which was close to the Eaton Fire in Altadena.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers Loses Malibu Family Home in L.A. Wildfires

Martin Short — who is rumored to be in a romantic relationship with Only Murders in the Building costar Meryl — was also forced to evacuate the Palisades in early January. According to Abe, the actor retrieved family photo albums after one of his son’s called him to make sure he was preparing to leave.

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VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images

“Short drove down toward the Pacific Coast Highway, only to find the exits from his neighborhood were clogged,” Abe wrote, noting that Short, 74, had experienced a similar wildfire incident in 1993, but firefighters were able to save his home.

The Saturday Night Live alum “remained in his car, where it took him more than an hour to cover a distance that would normally take five minutes” while exiting the area. Others abandoned their vehicles in order to flee quicker on foot.

Meryl Streep and Martin Short’s Friendship Through the Years

Short’s home was spared once again, but one of his sons lost their house. “I will definitely stay in my home,” Short told Abe after the reality set in.

Actor Haley Joel Osment had a similar experience when leaving his home in Altadena, California. “After he let his dogs out into the yard, he saw a large plume of black smoke and a glow coming from the canyon,” Abe wrote of Osment’s recount of the Eaton Fire. “So he loaded up his dogs, passport, and family photos and went to his parents’ house, which was nearby.”

Hollywood Celebrity Hotel Welcomes Firefighters, Evacuees of L.A. Fires

Both Osment, 36, and his parents lost their homes as a result of the wildfires. The Sixth Sense actor revealed that he plans to rebuild on his same plot of land.

There have been 12 deaths from the Palisades Fire and 17 from the Eaton Fire as of Tuesday, according to authorities. The Palisades Fire has burned more than 23,000 acres of land and is now 95 percent contained, per Cal Fire’s latest report.

The Eaton Fire has burned 1,021 acres since its star and is currently 99 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.

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

OnlyFans' Bonnie Blue Says Her Events Are the 'Best’ for Men to Cheat

28 January 2025 at 16:20
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Courtesy of Bonnie Blue /Instagram

OnlyFans star Bonnie Blue is open to men attending her events with the hopes of cheating on their partners.

“So the reason my queues are the best place to cheat is because there’s that many men [there],” the influencer, 25, said in a Monday, January 27, TikTok video. “Even if your wife is looking for you, she wouldn’t know which one you [were.]”

Blue added that a person’s partner probably would not be able to recognize them since they likely “have not seen ‘down there’ in a long time.”

In the caption of the video, Blue wrote that wearing “wedding rings” is “encouraged” at any of her events.

OnlyFans' Bonnie Blue on How Much She Makes, Her Ex-Husband and More Revs

One day later, Blue uploaded a follow-up TikTok sharing her advice to men who have decided to cheat on their spouses.

“So when you’re cheating on your wife, remember to still sleep with your wife occasionally,” she said in the Tuesday, January 28, video. “I know that is difficult … but if you stop the bedroom activities she’s going to think something is happening.”

Blue noted in the caption to “make sure you don’t do all the moves your bit on the side teaches you” to avoid raising suspicion.

The social media personality rose to fame earlier this year when she claimed she broke a world record after having sex with 1,057 men in 12 hours. In a TikTok video posted earlier this month, Blue reflected on the experience, recalling how it started off as a series of group sex sessions.

OnlyFans Bonnie Blue on How Much She Makes
Courtesy of Bonnie Blue/Instagram

“The room was absolutely full,” she said. “Then we did groups of five. Like, one after the other. … I wanted to give people more time, so then it went down to, like, one on ones. So, like, one person would watch when I was with somebody [and then] it would rotate in a circle like that.”

Blue also gave insight about how she was recovering from the event.

“I don’t need a wheelchair. I’m fine,” she shared. “Just feels like I’ve had a heavy day in the bedroom. Which is exactly what I’ve had.”

Blue kicked off her OnlyFans career after she went through a divorce from her longtime partner.

“I used to be married. We were together nearly 10 years, and we just grew apart,” she said in an October 2024 episode of the “Saving Grace” podcast. “We met when I was 13. Broke up last year.”

Why Kevin Love Posted a Photo of Viral OnlyFans Star Bonnie Blue

Blue began building her NSFW brand by sleeping with “freshers,” who are either virgins or recently turned 18. As she rose to fame, she started holding sex events for college students but later expanded her clientele after one guy brought his dad.

“When I first saw him with his dad, I thought he’s gonna tell me off,” she said in the podcast. “No, it was the opposite. He was jealous and wanted to join in.”

Blue revealed that she “made” the son and father “go separate” and she slept with the son first. The dad, who was married, was “next door in the same apartment” while he waited for his turn.

‘The Voice’ Singer Ryan Whyte Maloney Dead at 44

28 January 2025 at 16:03
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Ryan Whyte Maloney. Frazer Harrison/ACMA2012/Getty Images for ACM

The Voice singer Ryan Whyte Maloney has died at the age of 44.

The reality show alum, who appeared on the show in 2014, died by suicide, the Clark County Coroner in Las Vegas confirmed to Us Weekly on Tuesday, January 28. (People was first to report the news.)

Just hours before his death, the singer shared a video via his Instagram Stories while at what appeared to be a restaurant.

“Nine fine Irishmen for a private party tonight,” he said in the video, “and we will be rocking.”

Celebrity Deaths of 2025: Stars We’ve Lost This Year

During his appearance on The Voice, Whyte Maloney performed “Lights” by Journey in a blind audition. His voice earned a four-chair turn from coaches Usher, Shakira, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine.

“Y’all will never know how f’ng scary this was to do,” he wrote via Instagram on January 13 along with a clip from his audition. “Hah no sleep, 10am/sober yeah!!!”

Whyte Maloney ultimately chose to be on Shelton’s team and made it through two of the show’s Battle rounds. While he didn’t advance to the finals, he became one of the country singer’s top 5 finalists.

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“When the opportunity arose to showcase my talent on The Voice, I was in a dire state during filming,” Whyte Maloney recalled via Instagram on January 16. “Struggling financially, resorting to meager scraps for sustenance from the hotel garbage and hallways, while those around me reveled carefreely with their family like they were on vacation, I stood there, trembling with fear, merely surviving.”

While audience members and viewers may have considered Whyte Maloney to be “just another act in the show,” he considered the opportunity to perform on NBC’s singing competition show as a future-defining moment.

“[It’s] a battle for my future, a testament to my dedication to my craft,” he explained. “Persistence is key — never falter, never surrender!”

After the show, Whyte Maloney continued focusing on his love for music by performing live at the M Resort in Las Vegas.

In 2024, the singer had the opportunity to perform at Shelton’s brand-new venue, Ole Red, on opening day. He continued singing at the Las Vegas location as part of an ongoing residency.

'The Voice' Coaches Through the Years: Who Left and Why

Just weeks before his death, Whyte Maloney appeared to be focused on making new music. In one of his final Instagram posts, the singer shared a selfie from TruNorth Recording Studio.

“Wake up,” he wrote. “Let’s kill this day baby!”

Us Weekly has reached out to the Clark County Coroner for comment.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org

Kimberly Schlapman Reveals Marriage Secret She's Kept for Almost 20 Years

28 January 2025 at 15:15
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Courtesy of Kimberly Schlapman/Instagram

Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman is the latest star to cohost Today with Jenna & Friends.

During the Tuesdsay, January 28, show, Schlapman revealed a secret she’s been keeping for almost 20 years.

When asked if she’s “ever had a wild night on vacation,” Schlapman said one story came to mind, but it was a secret only four people in her life knew about, not even her “mama and daddy” were aware.

In preparation for reveling the truth, Schlapman quickly gave her parents a call, so that they could hear it from her first before she shared the truth with the world.

“I was like, ‘Mama, is Daddy there, can he hear me? I have to tell you something,’ ” she recalled of the frantic phone call. “And I told her and she was like, ‘What?!’ And then finally I got more nervous and nervous and then she started giggling. And I was like, ‘Okay.’

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In 2006, Schlapman married her husband Stephen Schlapman. They share two children, Dolly Grace and Daisy Pearl.

It’s publicly known that Schlapman and her husband exchanged vows in a traditional ceremony in November 2006. However, the secret was that they had already been married for six months.

“Schlap and I got married November 2006, but six months earlier we eloped to Vegas,” she revealed, admitting not even their kids were aware of their secret elopement.

“We planned it,” she said of the decision to say “I do” in Las Vegas first.

“We planned it because we were meeting some family out at the big beautiful lake out there. So Schlap was like, ‘What if we go a day early to get married.’ And I was like, ‘I’ve never done anything bad!’ And I was like, ‘Yes, yes.’ “

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“And we kept the secret a really long time. And then — this was back when we were booking hotel rooms with Little Big Town, I had to tell Karen [Fairchild] because I wanted a hotel room with my husband. And so she knew and like one other person, I told my sister.”

Schlapman admitted it was “nice to be free” of her secret.

‘Smallville’ Star Tom Welling Arrested for DUI in California: Report

28 January 2025 at 15:15
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Tristar Media/Getty Images

Tom Welling was recently arrested for allegedly driving under the influence, according to reports.

The Smallville alum, 47, was reportedly taken into custody in an Arby’s parking lot in Yreka, California, shortly after midnight on Monday, January 27, according to TMZ, the first to report the news. (Us Weekly can confirm Welling was arrested on Monday. Us has reached out to the actor for comment.)

Welling’s blood alcohol level was reportedly at or above .08 percent, well above the legal limit.

No further details about Welling’s alleged DUI have been released, nor has the actor publicly commented on the incident.

'Smallville' Cast: Where Are They Now?

Prior to his reported arrest, Welling gushed about his life on a ranch in Northern California and his wife, Jessica Rose Lee, who celebrated a birthday on Sunday, January 26.

Tom Welling Mugshot
Tom Welling Courtesy of Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office

“Happy Birthday to our Angel who makes our dreams come true and inspires us even more!” Welling wrote via Instagram over the weekend. “We love you to the moon and back! @jessicarosewelling #happybirthday #love.”

The Cheaper by the Dozen actor shared several photos of his spouse to commemorate the occasion, including a snap of the pair horseback riding.

Celebrity Mugshots

One week earlier, Welling gave fans a glimpse at his life on the couple’s ranch. “Grateful #RanchLife two mamas and an OLYMPIA #love,” he captioned a selfie with three of his horses and a mountain range in the backdrop.

Lee, who is a horse lover and equestrian, revealed in November 2024 that it had been four years since the couple purchased their ranch.

Welling and Lee got engaged in February 2018 after four years of dating. That October, Lee revealed she was six months pregnant with the couple’s first child.

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Ray Mickshaw/WireImage

“We are over the moon filled with joy, love and so excited,” she exclusively told Us of the news in November 2018. Their son Thomson Wylde was born in January 2019.

The actor married Lee later that year during a romantic ceremony at Sunstone Vineyards & Winery in San Ynez, California, in November 2019. (Welling was previously married to model Jamie White, whom he divorced in 2013 after 10 years of marriage.)

The pair expanded their family once more in June 2021 with the birth of their son, Rocklin Von.

After a decade together, Lee reflected on her life with Welling via Instagram in November 2023. “Ten years together, four as one. Forever the luckiest, this lifetime of love. ♥,” she captioned a photo of the pair on their wedding day.

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The following year, Lee gave fans a glimpse at her life with Welling in honor of his birthday.

“Life is absolutely meant to be celebrated, and it’s so easy to celebrate you! You bring so much light and joy to everyone who has ever met you,” she gushed via Instagram in April 2024. “I love watching you embrace your path with a sense of wonder and humor. Your candid approach to life makes you so perfectly human, and yet, undeniably superhuman.”

She shared photos of the pair traveling the world, cuddling up with their sons and hanging out on their ranch.

“It’s hard to believe we’ve officially entered the season of life when the years go by in a flash, and the quality of each and every single moment is truly so precious,” Lee added. “Embracing our beautiful boys with the same gusto you approach life will be a gift that lives on forever. I’m so in love with you, where we’ve been, and where we’re going. How lucky that our stars aligned to celebrate this life together in this infinite universe.”

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