Rachael Kirkconnell subtly reacted to speculation surrounding her recent split from Matt James.

In the comments of her last December 2024 Instagram post, one social media user theorized Kirkconnell’s reaction to James’ faith-driven breakup statement.

“The more I’m thinking about it, the more I think he completely blindsided her with this,” the fan wrote on Thursday, January 16. “Give her some grace and let her respond in her own time.”

Kirkconnell, 28, subtly dropped a “like” on the message but has not offered further comment. A source now tells Us Weekly that Kirkconnell wasn’t blindsided by the split itself but rather James’ statement and post.

The Bachelor's Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell Break Up

Several hours earlier, James, 33, confirmed the pair ended their relationship.

“Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts,” James captioned an Instagram pic from their time on The Bachelor. “Give us a peace [sic] 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 .”

James did not elaborate on what led to the breakup but turned off his social media comments on the upload. Days earlier, he and Kirkconnell were on a joint trip to London and uploaded content from their culinary adventures.

Kirkconnell was James’ final pick on The Bachelor season 25, which was filmed in 2020. They briefly broke up after the finale when Kirkconnell’s past racially insensitive social media posts resurfaced online only to reconcile one month after taping the live After the Final Rose special.

Matt James’ Content From London Is Raising Questions About Rachael Split

James and Kirkconnell continued to go the distance for three more years, often getting candid about their hesitancy to get engaged.

“I feel like when you feel pressure, it’s when you don’t wanna do something,” James exclusively told Us Weekly in June 2024. “So I’ve never really felt pressure [to get engaged] because it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. It’s something that we’re gonna do at some point. That’s why we’re together and what we’re working toward. I’m excited about our future.”

Four months later, James hinted that a proposal was “the next step” once Kirkconnell picked out an engagement ring she liked best.

“I feel that’s definitely something we want. I’m on his time,” Kirkconnell said during a joint appearance on the “De-Influenced” podcast in October 2024. “My problem is I definitely need to go find a ring I like and everything, but that’s on him at that point. … That’s a problem, I don’t even know what I want.”

For decades, it’s been an unspoken rule that celebrities are expected to be friendly and approachable in public — but lately, we’ve seen a shift in stars dropping the facade when their boundaries are crossed.

Take Jason Kelce. The typically affable former NFL player shocked his loyal following in November 2024 when he used the f-slur during a heated confrontation with a heckler who was following him and had used the same slur to insult his brother, Travis Kelce.

The dad of three, 37, isn’t the only star who’s lost their cool when provoked. In June 2024, footage circulated of Lana Del Rey clashing with a group of people following her and her family in Paris. (She later allegedly claimed on social media that they were “stalkers” who told her they’d try to “make me look bad.”)

There’s no argument that — to borrow from Jason’s subsequent apology — to “greet hate with hate” is entirely unacceptable. Still, these incidents have inspired an important conversation about the expectations of public figures’ reactions when their personal space is violated.

Kelce Family's Most Controversial Moments: Phone Swatting, More

With fan culture (and criticism) reaching new heights in today’s social media–driven society, it’s no wonder stars are getting tired of keeping up appearances.

“[A fan] may see a public figure as not being human in the same way they are — they may rather view them as larger than life, not ‘real’, and not empathize with being violated,” Dr. Gail Saltz, associate professor of psychiatry at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell School of Medicine, told Us. Alternatively, “Their envy of the celebrity who seems to have it all could drive their being aggressive and feeling entitled to act in whatever way they choose.”

Feeling entitled to a star’s attention is not only misguided but can also lead to negative interactions. “Sometimes a celebrity is pushed to assert boundaries because others are threatening, disrespectful, hurtful, attacking or dangerous,” Saltz shared. That may just be what the person who is doing the provoking is hoping for: “Negative attention is deemed better than no attention at all to someone who craves the attention.”

Celebs Fight Back on Social Media

It’s easy to dismiss a celebrity who lashes out in public as selfish or difficult, but sometimes, they’ve simply reached their limit. “This tends to occur when there are a combination of emotional, psychological and situational factors at play,” licensed clinical professional counselor Anne M. Appel told Us, pointing to stress, burnout and fatigue as factors. “Ideally, they’d respond in a calm and composed way — however, just like all people, they can get pushed to a ‘breaking point’ and may react in a less than ideal way publicly.”

This could explain the April 2024 video of Alec Baldwin allegedly hitting a cell phone out of a stranger’s hand. In reality, the individual had been berating him for several moments — going so far as to ask an offensive question about the victim of the fatal 2021 Rust shooting — before he reacted.

Setting limits is “absolutely reasonable,” says Appel, who encourages celebrities to communicate their expectations “clearly and directly.”

But is it bad business for a household name to show their less-than-shiny sides, like when Chappell Roan received mixed reactions for publicly confronting photographers on two separate occasions? According to Robbie Vorhaus, founder of PR/media company Vorhaus Communications, Inc., it depends on the context.

Daniel Craig Praises Chappell Roan's Criticism of Fame: 'Celebrity Kills'

“The issue of celebrities having their boundaries crossed is complex because public visibility is inherently part of their profession,” he told Us. “However, this doesn’t justify harassment or invasion of personal space.”

Paparazzi are known to invade celebrities’ personal space. For example, Tom Holland was filmed allegedly pushing away a photographer who got a little too close to his now-fiancée, Zendaya, in October 2024 — but it’s unlikely the incident will resonate when it involves his flawless reputation.

“If a celebrity’s response appears justified, it rarely causes lasting career damage,” Vorhaus explained. Still, “We advise clients to establish clear boundaries while remaining professional, as a recorded outburst can overshadow the initial provocation.”

Chris Vlasto, cofounder of crisis communications firm Haven Strategies, agrees these incidents don’t have long-term effects, noting that for those who’ve had public scuffles with paparazzi, “All of the instances are replayed for decades but in the end, their audiences don’t care. The battles are meaningless and the fans are sympathetic.”

The takeaway? The Golden Rule — do unto others as you would have them do unto you — still applies when you’re dealing with those in the spotlight. A little empathy goes a long way, so remember there’s always more to the story, and that stars really are just like Us: They have good days and bad days too.

Blake Lively has responded via her legal team to Justin Baldoni’s studio filing a new lawsuit against her, her publicist Leslie Sloan and her husband Ryan Reynolds.

The filing, obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday, January 16, seeks damages of $400 million and accuses Lively, 37, of being “determined to make Baldoni the real-life villain in her story” to avert from her alleged “tone-deaf” promotion of It Ends With Us, the film which Baldoni, 40, and Lively worked on together. The lawsuit also contains accusations of civil extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy among other claims.

Lively’s legal team hit back at the Baldoni camp’s “desperate” strategy, sharing a statement with Us Weekly on Thursday, January 16 in response.

“This latest lawsuit from Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, and its associates is another chapter in the abuser playbook. This is an age-old story: A woman speaks up with concrete evidence of sexual harassment and retaliation and the abuser attempts to turn the tables on the victim. This is what experts call DARVO. Deny. Attack. Reverse Victim Offender,” the statement read. “Wayfarer has opted to use the resources of its billionaire co-founder to issue media statements, launch meritless lawsuits, and threaten litigation to overwhelm the public’s ability to understand that what they are doing is retaliation against sexual harassment allegations.”

Justin Baldoni's Studio Sues Blake Lively, Reynolds, Rep for $400 Million

Lively’s legal team accused Baldoni’s team of trying to “shift” the focus to Lively and away from Baldoni himself.

“They are trying to shift the narrative to Ms. Lively by falsely claiming that she seized creative control and alienated the cast from Mr. Baldoni. The evidence will show that the cast and others had their own negative experiences with Mr. Baldoni and Wayfarer. The evidence will also show that Sony asked Ms. Lively to oversee Sony’s cut of the film, which they then selected for distribution and was a resounding success,” the statement read.

The statement continued: “Their response to sexual harassment allegations: she wanted it, it’s her fault. Their justification for why this happened to her: look what she was wearing.  In short, while the victim focuses on the abuse, the abuser focuses on the victim. The strategy of attacking the woman is desperate, it does not refute the evidence in Ms. Lively’s complaint, and it will fail.”

 

Baldoni alleged that the feud between him and Lively began in May 2023 when the film started. He claimed Lively created a “takeover strategy” while they battled for creative control.

The documents include emails between Baldoni and Lively before filming began, with Baldoni claiming Lively “expressed warm gratitude” for the preparation but believed she would attempt to gain control.

Baldoni alleged that Lively hadn’t read It Ends With Us. The lawsuit reads, “she even tried to Google the color of her character’s hair rather than pick up the book.”

Following the lawsuit, Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, shared in a statement to Us, “This lawsuit is a legal action based on an overwhelming amount of untampered evidence detailing Blake Lively and her team’s duplicitous attempt to destroy Justin Baldoni, his team and their respective companies by disseminating grossly edited, unsubstantiated, new and doctored information to the media.”

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's Reported 'It Ends With Us' Drama Explained

The statement continued, “It is clear based on our own all out willingness to provide all complete text messages, emails, video footage and other documentary evidence that was shared between the parties in real time, that this is a battle she will not win and will certainly regret. Blake Lively was either severely misled by her team or intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the truth.”

“Ms. Lively will never again be allowed to continue to exploit actual victims of real harassment solely for her personal reputation gain at the expense of those without power,” the statement read. “Let’s not forget, Ms. Lively and her team attempted to bulldoze reputations and livelihoods for heinously selfish reasons through their own dangerous manipulation of the media before even taking any actual legal action.  We know the truth, and now the public does too. Justin and his team have nothing to hide, documents do not lie.”

Us Weekly has reached out to Baldoni for comment.

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Influencer Chris O’Donnell shared cryptic song lyrics about how he’d be remembered just two months before his death.

O’Donnell, also known as Creeohdee, died at the age of 31 on Saturday, January 11, according to an online obituary.

On November 9, 2024, O’Donnell posted song lyrics to Instagram referencing how he’d be remembered after he died.

“I wonder when I leave this earth, when I leave the rat race, when I’m lying in the dirt, if you’d remember my face,” O’Donnell wrote, quoting lyrics from the song “Manic Man” by Curtis Waters.

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The song played over a reel of O’Donnell singing, hiking, skiing, and driving around in multiple locations across Arizona and Utah.

O’Donnell was best known for posting fitness and bull riding content to TikTok, where his account has more than 844,000 followers, and Instagram, where he has more than 241,000 followers.

O’Donnell died by suicide, according to a statement by the Maricopa County medical examiner’s office in Phoenix, Arizona, which was issued to multiple outlets, including E! News and People.

The comments section of O’Donnell’s video, and other videos on his Instagram account, have been flooded with messages of condolences since the star’s death.

“May the views be even better up there for you Chris,” one person commented on the video from November 9.

Another wrote: “I’ll always remember you brother. Rest in peace.”

O’Donnell was vocal about mental health and used his platform to advocate for greater awareness. In a December 2022 Instagram post, he said: “I have been outspoken about mental health since I was speaking about it as a YL leader in high school, and have been transparent about my own struggles in the hopes it will help others along their own path.”

Most Shocking TikTok Star Deaths: Chris O'Donnell and More

“I also got sober in 2018 and have been an advocate for substance abuse awareness ever since, helping men and women who are struggling find the treatment they need,” he added.

O’Donnell continued: “I thrive off of true, meaningful connection and lifting others up but I am also a very solitary person all the same and it takes a lot for me to fully let people in.”

“We see people on here through the lens that they allow us to see through, and I want you all to have a full field of view,” he wrote.

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

Love Is Blind alum Kwame Appiah overhauled his diet after an ulcerative colitis diagnosis.

“In November [2024], I got just a little bit sick. I felt just a little bit off, but I didn’t take it too seriously — and then next thing you know, we’re about a month in,” Appiah, 34, said in a Thursday, January 17, Instagram video. “By the time I got to the doctor’s in December, I was having fevers for about three weeks, I had lost 20 pounds. Based on those symptoms, the doctors discovered it could be an array of things.”

While Appiah’s physicians were initially worried he had cancer, it was eventually determined that the reality TV alum was battling ulcerative colitis. According to the Mayo Clinic, ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes sores in part of the digestive tract.

In his Instagram caption, Appiah called his diagnosis “very scary,” and detailed how he plans to manage his symptoms moving forward.

Love Is Blind's Chelsea and Kwame Send Clear Message to Haters

“This experience changed the way I think about it,” he wrote. “As someone who’s never experienced health-related issues, I’m now forced to change my diet and lifestyle to accommodate my health. Happily accepting that responsibility, and encouraging everyone to stay ahead, so you don’t get too far behind.”

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A post shared by Kwame Appiah (@ayokwam)

Appiah has also learned several lessons from the health scare.

“Quick reminder that life is incredibly precious,” the Netflix star said in his social media video. “I didn’t realize how important the normal things I did in my day were for me until I couldn’t do them anymore.”

Appiah continued, “Lesson No. 2: Small things can lead to big problems if we ignore them, so don’t. Lesson No. 3: Information is everything. You have to know what it is, if you are going to fight it.”

Love Is Blind's Chelsea Griffin and Kwame Appiah's Relationship Timeline

By the time the video was uploaded, Appiah was on the mend.

“I’m going to end this with a lot of gratitude for the fact that I feel like myself again [and] for all the people who sent out love and support, gratitude for Chelsea [Griffin], who helped me and was there for me all the way through this,” Appiah said, referring to his wife. “It’s a new year, it’s a new opportunity for us to stay ahead of our health, so I’m wishing you all health, wealth and success. Hope you all have a great year.”

Appiah met Griffin, 33, during season 4 of Love Is Blind when the Netflix pods arrived in Seattle. After navigating love triangles and getting engaged sight unseen, Appiah and Griffin wed in the season finale.

Griffin also shared her support in the comments of Appiah’s upload.

“I love you, baby! To have you feeling better and on your way to remission is such a blessing,” the speech pathologist replied. “Proud of you for your message, your openness and advocacy. It’s not easy talking about such personal matters and you did so beautifully.”

Nick Viall is weighing in on Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively’s ongoing lawsuit saga, sharing his own opinion of the It Ends With Us director.

The Bachelor star told Bustle in a profile published on Thursday, January 16, he “wasn’t that surprised” the cast of It Ends With Us distanced themselves from Baldoni, 40, as legal issues between him and Lively, 37, arose.

“I had the chance to interview Justin a couple of years ago on my show, and I just had a feeling he wasn’t the person he so loudly portrayed himself to be,” Viall, 44, told Bustle. “When the story broke that the entire cast and author of the book [the movie is based on] had clearly distanced themselves from him, I wasn’t that surprised. However, I was surprised how quickly the internet seemed to start trying to find reasons to discredit Blake by bringing up old interviews and past alleged mistakes.”

He added: “I think the internet has made it easier for people to share other people’s opinions rather than come up with their own. This story just kind of reinforced that.”

Justin Baldoni Alleges Blake Lively Pushed Cast to 'Shun' Him

Viall interviewed Baldoni for his podcast “The Viall Files” in January 2023. As rumors of bad blood between Lively and Baldoni swirled in August 2024, Viall questioned why Baldoni hired PR crisis manager, Melissa Nathan, who previously represented Johnny Depp during his legal battle with Amber Heard.

“This PR team eviscerated Amber Heard online,” Viall said via his podcast at the time. “It was, like, an all-out assault on her character.”

In the interview with Bustle, Viall alluded to his previous comments on the Baldoni/Lively feud and said he was just “sharing his opinion.”

“When I shared my opinion on this topic, I didn’t see it as speaking out as much; it was me sharing my opinion and challenging my audience to ask themselves different questions,” he explained.

Rumors of a rift between Baldoni and Lively first arose in August 2024 during the promotional trail for It Ends With Us when the pair, who were both the lead actors in the film, did not do press together.

In December 2024, Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment. (Baldoni denied all allegations against him made in the lawsuit, which was obtained by Us Weekly.)

It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover described Lively as “honest” and “brave” via her Instagram the same day the lawsuit was reported.

Justin Baldoni Claims Blake Lively 'Kicked' Him Out of 'It Ends With Us'

Days later, Baldoni was among 10 plaintiffs who launched a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times for its coverage of Lively’s accusations. (A spokesperson for The New York Times told Us that the outlet is planning to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”)

Lively filed a lawsuit that same day against Baldoni in a New York federal court which mirrored her earlier claims — which were filed with the California Civil Rights Department.

Baldoni’s studio filed a new lawsuit on Thursday against Lively, her publicist Leslie Sloane, and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, seeking damages of $400 million. The lawsuit includes accusations of civil extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy and other claims.

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Ben Stiller and his wife, Christine Taylor, are grateful that they found their way back to one another.

The Zoolander actor, 59, and Taylor, 53, briefly separated in 2017 before reuniting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the couple — who share daughter Ella, 22, and son Quinlin, 19 — aren’t taking a single day for granted.

“I think we both wanted it,” Stiller said of his reconciliation with Taylor during a Thursday, January 16, appearance on The View.

He continued, “In a relationship — we’ve been married for 25 years — you have to work at it. COVID happened and we all got in a house together with our family. I’m grateful. I’m so grateful we’re back together.”

Stiller admitted that sometimes exes shouldn’t get back together because it’s “not the right thing,” but for him and Taylor, “it was the right thing.”

“Now, every day that we’re together, we do not take for granted. I know I don’t,” the comedian gushed. “Because you know it could go away. That, to me, is the gift [of] our relationship is that we have that every day. I’m so happy that we’re [back together].”

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor Rock the Red Carpet With Son Quinlin

Stiller also opened up about his reunion with Taylor in an interview with The New York Times published Saturday, January 11.

Stiller said his marriage was not “in a great place” after moving from California back to New York following the release of Zoolander 2, a flop that “blindsided” Stiller.

“There was a lot going on,” Stiller said. “When we separated, it was just having space to see what our relationship was, what my life felt like when we weren’t in that relationship, how much I loved our family unit.”

“It was like three or four years that we weren’t together but we always were connected. In my mind, I never didn’t want us to be together,” he continued. “I don’t know where Christine was, you’d have to ask her, but COVID put us all together in the same house.”

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In a conversation with Drew Barrymore in 2023, Taylor said the reconciliation during the pandemic “was for us.”

“We got married very quickly,” Taylor recalled of their 2000 wedding. “We knew each other six months, got engaged. We were married within a year, and then had Ella the next year.”

“I think of us, life just, especially in this business and careers, a lot of work and family was always a priority, but I think Ben and I both sort of started to grow in different directions,” she added.

Ryan Reynolds is expanding his soccer empire!

The Deadpool & Wolverine star and his Wrexham AFC co-owner, Rob McElhenney, were named Thursday, January 16, among a group of investors set to take over the top Colombian team, Club Deportivo La Equidad Seguros.

According to Bloomberg and ESPN, the group of investors is led by real estate investor Al Tylis and soccer executive Sam Porter, who both own a stake in the Mexican soccer team Necaxa. Other investors include actress Eva Longoria, supermodel Kate Upton and Upton’s husband, MLB pitcher Justin Verlander.

“We welcome Al Tylis and Sam Porter, who arrive with a clear, long-term vision to continue strengthening our club,” La Equidad shared in a statement via X on Thursday. “This is the first step towards a future full of opportunities.”

Ryan Reynolds Says His and Blake Lively’s Kids are ‘Obsessed With Wrexham’

“Al Tylis and Sam Porter not only have extensive experience in the sports world but they also have the support of recognized figures such as Eva Longoria, Rob McElhenney, Ryan Reynolds, Justin Verlander, Kate Upton, Shawn Marion and Scott Galloway,” the statement continued.

Reynolds, 48, and McElhenney, 47, took over ownership of Welsh team Wrexham in 2021, helping the club achieve worldwide visibility in part thanks to their FX docuseries, Welcome to Wrexham. Tylis bought a small stake in Wrexham in April 2024, while Reynolds and McElhenney invested in Necaxa, reported Bloomberg.

News of Reynolds’ latest investment came the same day as he was named a defendant in a $400 million lawsuit filed by Justin Baldoni, his wife Blake Lively’s It Ends With Us costar and director.

According to the filing obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday, Baldoni, 40, is accusing Lively, 37, Reynolds, and Lively’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, of civil extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy and other claims. In the suit, Baldoni claimed he was pressured by Reynolds and a “megacelebrity friend” of Lively’s to accept the actress’ changes to the film’s script.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's Reported 'It Ends With Us' Drama Explained

Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, shared in a statement to Us, “This lawsuit is a legal action based on an overwhelming amount of untampered evidence detailing Blake Lively and her team’s duplicitous attempt to destroy Justin Baldoni, his team and their respective companies by disseminating grossly edited, unsubstantiated, new and doctored information to the media.”

The statement continued, “It is clear based on our own all out willingness to provide all complete text messages, emails, video footage and other documentary evidence that was shared between the parties in real time, that this is a battle she will not win and will certainly regret. Blake Lively was either severely misled by her team or intentionally and knowingly misrepresented the truth.”

Every New Claim in Justin Baldoni’s $400 Million Blake Lively Lawsuit

The lawsuit follows one filed by Lively against Baldoni on December 31, 2024, accusing him of sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and lost wages.

Us reached out to Lively’s rep, fellow defendant Sloane, for comment Thursday but did not hear back.

Justin Bieber is sending his fans’ pulses racing with his latest Instagram Stories.

The “Peaches” singer, 30, shared photos of himself stripped down to just his wet Calvin Klein boxer briefs on Thursday, January 16.

In the snaps, the tattooed star can be seen sporting a buzz cut and posing in a wooden chair after apparently taking a plunge. Another picture shows Justin all cozy in what appears to be a ski jacket and pants.

Justin didn’t share a caption over the images but set one of his racy pics to the song “Agora Hills” by Doja Cat, and another zoomed-out shot to the tune of Future’s “Too Fast.”

The new dad has also been documenting his journey into fatherhood via his Instagram since welcoming son Jack with wife Hailey Bieber in August 2024.

Justin shared a sweet pic with Jack via Instagram on Wednesday, January 15, that showed the singer nuzzling the top of his son’s head. Justin’s eyes were closed in the black-and-white snap, which he featured alongside a carousel of images from a wintry family holiday.

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The new father left the caption of his post blank, only tagging the photographer Rory Kramer.

The other snaps show Justin striking various poses against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains and trees, and stepping out of a creek wearing nothing but his underwear, a hat and boots. The photos also feature the pop star with his wife, Hailey, who is shown in one snap walking alongside Justin in a white ski suit, and in another, indoors and looking at her phone. The couple’s dogs, Oscar and Piggy Lou, also make appearances.

Justin and Hailey became first-time parents in August, with Justin announcing their son’s birth in a social media post.

“WELCOME HOME,” he captioned a photo of Hailey touching Jack’s foot, which was wrapped in a fuzzy blanket. “JACK BLUES BIEBER .”

Since becoming parents, the pair are experiencing a new set of relationship dynamics.

Hailey Bieber ‘Didn’t Want to Rush’ Having a Baby With Justin Bieber

“There has been a total shift in their marriage since renewing their vows [in May 2024] and welcoming baby Jack,” a source exclusively revealed to Us Weekly earlier this month. “He’s truly brought them so much happiness and a renewed bond.”

According to the insider, fatherhood has put Justin in a good place mentally as he is “obsessed” with his child. The source noted that Justin is a “really good dad.” As for Hailey, the insider said that her “main priority is being a mom right now.”

Justin and Hailey hope to have “a big family” one day, but aren’t in a rush to expand their brood. When it comes to adding siblings for Jack, the source noted that they feel it’s “up to ‘God’s plan.’”

Selling Sunset’s Chrishell Stause is opening up about how she “froze in fear” during the L.A. wildfires evacuations.

The reality star, 43, shared during her Wednesday, January 15 appearance on Sherri that the fires and subsequent evacuation process brought back long buried memories of watching her home burn down as a child.

“When we did need to evacuate, there was a fire kind of like right in our backyard. It was just immediately like, ‘You gotta go,'” she explained during the episode. “I think I kind of got frozen in fear. I kind of had forgotten, when I was 12, I did watch my house burn down.”

Stause added that the incident was “something you don’t think about. It happened so long ago.”

Chrishell Stause on Feuds, Fame and ‘Selling Sunset’ Season 7

However, it led her to “freeze” when it came time to evacuate. Stause credited her wife, Australian singer G Flip (real name Georgia Claire Flipo) with taking charge during the evacuations while the reality TV star struggled due to her past experience with fires.

“You don’t know how you’re gonna react. I think I would’ve liked to have thought I’m good in an emergency case,” Stause continued. “But this kinda showed me, I really needed a little kick in the butt, and G was there to keep me focused and so it was just nice to have them.”

Stause further praised G Flip via an Instagram Story last week as she reflected on her traumatic childhood experience.

 

“A little PTSD  from that whole experience that I completely forgot about until last night as I’m standing there in shock,” she said. “Luckily I had my partner who is amazing who snapped me out of it and helped me stay focussed.”

While Stause was evacuated, she was fortunate enough to not lose her home in the wildfires ravaging parts of Los Angeles including the exclusive Pacific Palisades area, Malibu, Santa Monica and the Hollywood Hills. Stause is one of many celebrities caught up in the natural disaster. Stars such as Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Paris Hilton and Miles Teller are among those whose houses went up in flames and were reduced to rubble.

Chrishell Stause Says Partner G Flip Was 'Sent' To Her by Late Parents

Stause started seeing G Flip after her split from Jason Oppenheim in late 2021. Stause and G Flip went on to tie the knot in May 2023.

Stause gushed over her relationship with G Flip in an interview with Vogue in June 2022, telling the outlet, “just being around G [is] such a mood-lifting experience; if you ever had the pleasure of being in the same room with them, you would quickly see what I mean. I love feeling that endless support of just wanting the other person to be fully who they are.”

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

ADA Dominick “Sonny” Carisi has a close-knit relationship with Olivia Benson onscreen, but so do Law & Order: Special Victims Unit actors Peter Scanavino and Mariska Hargitay.

“I think my relationship with Mariska really mirrors their relationship,” Scanavino, 44, told Us Weekly exclusively ahead of the SVU winter premiere on Thursday, January 16. “When I came on the show, I always respected her. I looked up to her as an actor and even as a friend. I think Carisi did as well, as a detective.”

When Scanavino joined SVU during the 16th season premiere in 2014, Carisi was an “inexperienced detective” and worked his way up within the squad. He’s since pivoted to being an ADA in the Law and Order universe.

“As their relationship has grown, so has mine with Mariska,” he continued. “It’s one of the most important relationships I have in my life. She’s one of my best friends. We can speak very honestly with each other in real life, just like Benson and Carisi can speak very honestly with each other.”

Mariska Hargitay's Top 10 Best Law & Order: SVU Episodes

Thursday’s winter premiere of SVU was semi Carisi-centric as the character deals with uncovering his trauma in the aftermath of the show’s November 2024 fall finale. The episode, titled “First Light,” is Carisi’s first time back in the courtroom after he was held at gunpoint at his local deli. During one scene — after declaring several times that he’s “fine” — Carisi seemingly blows the case after fumbling in court. He and Benson have a rather tense but rewarding heart-to-heart after the fact.

“That one scene in particular, it’s nice how it’s kind of followed that [journey]. It all feels very earned,” Scanavino told Us. “There was nothing forced, nothing pushed. It was just an organic relationship evolving into this thing where they’re very, very close now.”

Another relationship showcased during Thursday’s episode is, obviously, that of Carisi and his wife, Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish). Scanavino told Us that Carisi is “in good hands” with Rollins when it comes to overcoming these hard times.

The family scenes between him and Giddish featured in Thursday’s episode “feel very real” to Scanavino, he said.

Actors Who Played Multiple Roles on ‘Law & Order: SVU’

“I have a family and I think Carisi and myself are very similar in that way. I think we really prize family above all else,” he shared with Us. “Working with Kelli, who I have such respect for personally, and I just think Rollins as a character — who’s obviously been through a lot — she’s very well-suited to deal with somebody else going through something.”

Scanavino also said that he’s “not quite sure” how Carisi overcoming his trauma will play out as SVU season 26 continues.

“At the end of this episode, what you can see is that he’s starting on the path. The clouds have parted just momentarily and you can see a way forward,” he said. “We’ll see what happens if he gets confronted again with this. If he has to revisit this in a trial or whatever form that may take.”

Law & Order: SVU season 26 airs on NBC Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET and streams the next day on Peacock.

© Virginia Sherwood/NBC

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Things got heated when The Traitors contestants came for Dylan Efron‘s brother Zac Efron — and his acting skills.

During the newest episode, which premiered on Thursday, January 16, Dylan, 32, called out Bob the Drag Queen at the roundtable banishment meeting.

“I genuinely think he is a Traitor. Like what is an easier game for a Traitor to play? I would play a very quiet game because I can’t be boisterous,” he said. “What would Bob do? Bob is an amazing actor.”

Dylan used his experience with Zac, 35, adding, “I grew up with an actor.” Without missing a beat, Bob, 39, replied, “Not a good one.”

Zac Efron’s Family Guide: Meet Brother Dylan, Sister Olivia and More

The rest of the cast weren’t thrilled by Bob’s dig at Zac. “That was not nice,” Dolores Catania noted before adding later in the episode, “Good job, Dylan. And listen, your brother is a good actor.”

Zac, 37, has been a big topic of conversation on the competition show despite not making any appearances — yet. He previously rose to stardom after landing a multitude of TV and movie roles, including 2006’s High School Musical, while Dylan spent more time behind the scenes working as a producer and stuntman on various projects.

“I’ve been behind the camera. But being able to not stay behind the scenes has been a really nice change,” Dylan exclusively told Us Weekly in September 2023 about his plans to try something new. “So I think as long as I can kind of wear all those hats and still kind of craft the stories I want to tell [that would be great]. To be able to experience it firsthand, it’s really nice. It’s a good mix of both worlds.”

Dylan admitted at the time that he couldn’t see himself working on a scripted project.

Zac Efron's Sweetest Family Photos With His Siblings Over the Years

“What Zac does, I could never do. I play myself in front of a camera while Zac’s playing characters. It is two different skill sets,” he added. “He can play different characters and I can only play myself.”

After working on Netflix’s docuseries Down to Earth With Zac, Dylan praised his older brother for setting a good example on set.

“I love doing stuff with my brother. There’s a really comforting thing being with family [and] doing this stuff. That’s always going to be high up there on what I love to do. But I think it’s good that we do things separately too,” he continued. “Because I remember back in the day, we wanted to do a show together and I really wouldn’t have been prepared for that. He’s been in front of the camera his whole life and it’s been second nature for him. I was a shy little kid, so I’ve had to grow into that.”

Dylan said he would be thrilled to work with Zac on a project again in the future. “It’ll be the right time now,” he shared. “We’re still thinking [about what to do]. We’re in the thinking process. We really want to just take a step back and see what stories we want to tell, how we can do it and enjoy ourselves. We want to keep leveling it up.”

Who Is Zac Efron's Brother Dylan? What to Know About 'Traitors' Contestant

Before Dylan became a breakout star of The Traitors season 3, Zac subtly showed support for his brother’s newest endeavor.

“I think Dylan’s going to win,” Zac told E! News in June 2024. “I hope he does, because he’s so good at games. He always has been, since we were kids. He’s like the game master. … If anyone can do this, it’s him. I’m rooting for him.”

New episodes of The Traitors will be released on Peacock Thursdays until March 6.

Surviving Barstool season 4 has come to an end after more than a month.

The game show, based on Survivor, puts some of Barstool Sports’ biggest names under one roof to compete — this time around — for $250,000. The most recent season, which came to an end on Thursday, January 16, was full of firsts, from the number of employees who were competing (24) to where the competition took place (at Barstool’s Chicago office).

Host Jeff D. Lowe said during the December 2024 premiere that Barstool founder Dave Portnoy put together the major group of contestants.

“I have no idea what to expect, it’s an all-star cast,” Portnoy, who was also in the competition, said. “I don’t think we’ll ever get this group of people back together in one room. I’m excited.”

Lowe noted that this season was “bigger in every way” — especially as it had multiple sponsors like Body Armor, Reebok, Dude Wipes and Tommy John.

Keep scrolling for details about the finale — and see who won:

Who Won ‘Surviving Barstool’ Season 4?

Ria Ciuffo took home the Surviving Barstool prize during Thursday’s finale.

She beat out remaining final four members Megan “Makin Money” Nunez, Dave Portnoy and Maddie “Moobie” Schrader for the crown.

How Much Reality Stars Get Paid for 'Vanderpump Rules' and More

Who Is Ria Ciuffo Winner?

Ciuffo, who won this season, has hosted the “Chicks in the Office” podcast alongside Fran Mariano since 2017. She has worked at Barstool since getting hired as an intern. Ciuffo is engaged to fellow Barstool employee Marty Mush.

How Much Money Does the ‘Surviving Barstool’ Winner Get?

Previously, the stakes have been much lower. This season, the winner received $250,000 in cash, which was kept in a briefcase that was shown in the beginning of the season.

“I love the cast, and I wanted to make it a prize worthwhile, where maybe some people who would be on the fence or wouldn’t have play would be like, ‘Yeah, I’ll play for this,’” Portnoy said during the first episode of season 4, detailing the higher prize.

Barstool Employees Who’ve Detailed Salaries and Contract Negotiations

What Is the ‘Surviving Barstool’ and ‘Bussin’ With the Boys’ Drama?

“Bussin’ With the Boys” hosts Taylor Lewan and Will Compton (who won Surviving Barstool season 3 in 2024) were voted out during what was called the “Pink Wedding” this season.

After their elimination, it was explained why Portnoy didn’t want either of them to take home the prize.

“Right now, the ‘Bussin’ With the Boys’ crew is in a negotiation for a bag on the next contract,” Compton said during his confessional earlier this month. “You gotta think, if you’re Dave and Dan [“Big Cat” Katz], you can’t have the ‘Bussin With the Boys’ guys running wild, winning $250K.”

After their elimination from the show, Compton texted Ciuffo about backstabbing Portnoy and getting him out of the competition despite her alliance. She refused.

It has yet to be confirmed whether their contract was renewed.

© Gotham/GC Images; Amy Sussman/Getty Images; Courtesy of Maddie Schrader/Instagram; Courtesy of Megan Makin Money/Instagram

For The Traitors fans in desperate need of more content, look no further than Peacock’s aftershow.

Inspired by Dutch series De Verraders (which previously led to a popular U.K. version), The Traitors brings together celebrities, especially reality TV stars from different franchises — including Survivor, Big Brother, Real Housewives and more — as they compete in a mafia-style game for up to $250,000.

Season 3 features Wells Adams, Gabby Windey, Ciara Miller, Chrishell Stause, Jeremy Collins, Carolyn Wiger, Tony Vlachos, Bob the Drag Queen, Britney Haynes and Danielle Reyes. Bob Harper, Dylan Efron, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Sam Asghari and Nikki Bella made up the rest of the group with later additions Rob “Boston Rob” Mariano, Wes Bergmann and Derrick Levasseur.

The online aftershow dropped new installments after each episode that featured never-before-seen interviews with banished and murdered contestants. After the three-part premiere, Wells and Dorinda were the first to speak out about their exits.

All the Bravo and ‘Real Housewives’ Connections in ‘The Traitors’ Season 3

“I think before the show started, I said I would be the first one out, and I got to say I am pretty proud of myself because I was the second one,” he quipped in the January 2025 aftershow clip. “I did not stick to my plan. That thing that got me banished was that as an ex-radio host, it is really hard for me to shut the hell up.”

Meanwhile, Ayan was more direct in her episode with Tony.

“So these bitches are just killing Housewives. I just figured that out. Everybody is jealous of a Housewife,” she told the cameras. “My son said, ‘Mom, you are the worst liar ever. If you are not going to be the first person killed then I would be proud of you.’ Guess what? Mommy was the third person murdered.”

The Real Housewives of Dubai star continued: “I didn’t have a strategy. I am a beauty bitch, I am not a thinking bitch. I think I was killed because I am fabulous.”

Keep scrolling for the funniest moments — and biggest bombshells — from The Traitors season 3 aftershow:

Ayan Guesses Her Killer

While the aftershow reveals to each banished and murdered person who the Traitors actually are, Ayan named one herself.

“Bob the Drag Queen, I think he killed me. I thought that he was jealous about my looks because a couple of times he would [make a face],” she shared. “I am like, ‘What the f— is wrong with this man?’ He goes, ‘But I came with the looks. I thought I was going to be the look queen.’ I was like, ‘Oh, s—. He does not want to see me fabulous.'”

Ayan said she “was going to call” Bob out as a Traitor before being murdered.

“I am so used to people being jealous of me and I knew nobody was going to kill me because everybody loved my looks,” she continued. “Everybody gave me compliments but you did not give me no f—– compliments and that is why you killed me, bitch. And you will never be as fabulous as me.”

All Rules and Behind-the-Scenes Secrets You Didn’t Know About ‘The Traitors’

Putting Boston Rob on Blast

Tony was banished in part because Boston Rob named him at the roundtable. He subsequently accused Boston Rob of being a Traitor himself.

“Alan gave us cryptic clues again by saying, ‘Trust needs to be earned, not given.’ So all I am thinking about the three new players that came in,’” Tony said before it was revealed that his suspicion was right.

Ayan also had a bad experience with Boston Rob.

”The reason why I am dead was [Rob] used me. I f—ing never felt used in my life. He promised that he was going to give me the shield. I gave him nine coins, nobody else did that,” she noted. “And he went and trusted someone else? I am a supermodel. I ran for you. You need to come and bow down and thank the queen for that.”

The Bravo personality suspected Carolyn as well, adding, “She kept on asking me if I got a shield all night. Then I kept drinking red wine so I don’t know if I told her.”

The Dylan Efron Compliment

“I like [Dylan], he was good to look at. He reminds me of Ted Bundy,” Ayan told the camera while comparing Zac Efron’s brother to the notorious serial killer. “Ted Bundy was so pretty but then he was also a killer. So I just pray to God that Dylan is not the serial killer.”

Not Caring About Danielle’s Game

In addition to calling Danielle a “hot grandmother,” Ayan had some interesting things to say when Tony asked her about Danielle’s skills as a Traitor.

“She has a nice ass for her age. Like it is super up there for a 52-year-old woman,” Ayan said. “Her ass made me think she wasn’t a Traitor.”

2025 TV Wishlist: What Us Weekly Wants to See on 'Bridgerton' and More Shows

Reflecting on a Friendship

Meanwhile, in Wells and Dorinda’s aftershow, the Bachelor in Paradise bartender had a special shout-out for Ayan.

“Ayan is the most wonderful person I ever met in my entire life — excluding my wife,” Wells, who is married to actress Sarah Hyland, shared.

The Tom Sandoval Dig

“The fact that Tom Sandoval is still there and we are not,” Dorinda pointed out to Wells, who replied, “What does that say about us?”

The duo joked about being the first ones out compared to Sandoval. “Now that is really bad,” Dorinda quipped.

Hourglass girlies . . . we’re here to save the day and your collection! Say goodbye to all of the waist gaps and all of the hours spent in the dressing room groaning at all of the jeans that just never are the right fit! We rounded up the 17 best jeans that enhance and flatter the hourglass shape — and they start at just $14.

Fill in all of the gaps of your jean wardrobe with these jeans that are actually made to fit a curvier shape. Whether you’re wanting a more timeless style like a classic straight jeans or something more trendy like these barrel jeans, our roundup has something for you. We also made sure to include other preferences like petite, plus-size, black jeans, white washes and more to make sure everybody can find the style and fit they’re looking for. Happy shopping!

Shop Brooke Shields’ Chic Flats While They’re 36% Off

The 17 Best Jeans to Enhance and Flatter an Hourglass Shape

1. Our Absolute Favorite: An editor-loved jean, you simply can’t go wrong with this curve-loved style from Abercrombie that comes in your perfect wash and length!

2. Hourglass Hero: Literally made for hourglass figures, these Everlane high waisted jeans will highlight your waist while still comfortably flattering every curve.

3. High Waisted Hero: Guaranteed to eliminate the waist gap are these extra high waisted jeans from Old Navy that have roomy legs as well!

4. A Best-Seller: The long-time number one best-seller in women’s jeans, these classic tapered jeans have proven to Amazon shoppers they can fit all kinds of silhouettes!

5. Retro-Chic: With their extra wide leg design and unique spade pockets, these retro-chic jeans from Lee feel like they’re from the 70s era!

6. Barrel Beauty: One of the latest trends in fashion, these barrel-style jeans from Abercrombie are made to fit curves as well!

7. Better Bootcut: A great silhouette for curvier bodies, these Madewell curvy bootcut jeans help to balance out the silhouette with their slight flare at the bottom.

15 Booty-Lifting Jeans That Look High-End but Feel Totally Comfy

8. We Love a Wide Leg: Not only will these Spanx wide leg jeans fit at the waist, they’ll also bring them shapewear as well!

9. It Girl Favorite: A brand all of fashion’s “it girls” can’t stop wearing these curve high rise jeans from Aritzia come in three washes made for everyday wear!

10. Plus Size Perfection: Helping to contour the curves in all of the right ways are these shaping straight jeans from Levi Strauss that hold everything in place!

11. Best Budget: Great for pairing with all your knee-high boots are these curve skinny jeans that come in several length sizes to choose from!

12. Curve-Flattering: Made by Khloe Kardashian’s brand Good American, you know these curve straight leg jeans will fit in all the right places!

13. 90s-Style: These 90s curvy straight jeans from Madewell channel the ultra chic fashion era!

14. Free to Fluctuate: Considering that the “Always Fits” jeans from Good American are made to fluctuate with you at any size, they’ll definitely fit an hourglass shape as well.

15. We Love a Wide Leg: Not only will these ultra wide leg jeans from Joe’s flatter the legs, they’ll fit nicely around the waist too!

16. Distressed Details: Bring some rugged flair into your denim collection with these baggy wide leg jeans from American Eagle that have distressed rips on the knees!

17. Straight Style: Checking all of the boxes for a flattering jean, these curvy high rise jeans from Gap have 90s style and come in an everyday dark wash.

11 Curve-Enhancing Dresses for Creating an Hourglass Shape

© Luis Alvarez

TikTok star Chris O’Donnell, best known as Creeohdee, had died at the age of 31.

O’Donnell died on January 11 according to his online obituary. Details regarding a memorial service have not been listed. One of O’Donnell’s friends paid tribute to the content creator on his obituary page.

“Chris, I’ll love you forever. You’ve been a light in my life since we met in 2016. I wish we would’ve moved to CA together in 2021 like we talked about,” pal Morgan Ballou wrote on Thursday, January 16. “I wish we kept in touch more than just online every few weeks. I have so many wishes. In the end, I wish you peace. My heart is broken. All the love and thoughts in the world to your family and Blue.”

One of O’Donnell’s followers also sent condolences to the family and left a sweet message about how the internet personality’s videos provided daily inspiration.

Most Shocking TikTok Star Deaths: Chris O'Donnell and More

“I’m so sorry for your loss, my heart aches with your family. I never had the pleasure of knowing Chris, he was an incredible inspirational figure for myself and motivated me to go to the gym,” the fan wrote on Wednesday, January 15. “I loved watching him share his life online, showing his adventures and his passions and living life to the absolute fullest with a burning smile. I’m heartbroken for you for the loss of such an amazing and influential individual. My thoughts and condolences are with you as you grieve.”

A cause of death was not officially listed. However, E! News reported that the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s office ruled it a suicide.

Fellow TikToker Iron Sanctuary (real name: Kevin Clevenger) posted a video on the platform in honor of his late friend. The clip featured several moments of the pair over the years.

“One day I’ll find peace in knowing you’re not in pain anymore, but today my heart aches that you’re gone. I love you,” Iron Sanctuary captioned the Thursday upload.

O’Donnell was best known for posting fitness videos on both TikTok and Instagram. According to his Instagram page, O’Donnell was also a bodybuilding and bull-riding enthusiast. One day before his death, the social media star uploaded his last Instagram post.

TikToker Chris Olsen Explains How Private Photo Scandal Really Played Out

“That they do,” he captioned a photo of him in the desert sporting a straw cowboy hat, aviator sunglasses and a white button-up shirt.

Many fans and loved ones paid tribute to O’Donnell in the comments section.

“I wish we had the chance to hike the mountains together bro… maybe one day we will. Rest in peace,” fitness influencer Daniel Ryjov replied while fitness coach Nathan Freihofer responded, “Gonna miss you buddy.”

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

© Courtesy of Chris O'Donnell/Instagram

Southern Hospitality star Emmy Sharrett is set on marrying boyfriend Will Kulp — despite rumors that he was unfaithful while in law school.

“Will has 110 percent been faithful to me,” Emmy, 26, exclusively told Us Weekly on Wednesday, January 15, later adding, “I do not believe Will cheated on me at all for one second.”

The reality star shut down the “narrative” that she is “so dead set on being a lawyer’s wife that I don’t care if Will cheats on me,” claiming that if he stepped out on her that would be the end of their relationship.

“I would dump Will in two seconds if he cheated on me, gone goodbye. I will not be disrespected,” Emmy declared. “Do it once, I will warn you. Do it again, I’ll break up with you and I won’t look back. And that’s how I’ve always been.”

She noted that thanks to her parents’ “beautiful marriage” she has “very high standards” and is willing to walk away from Will if he doesn’t meet them.

Emmy also pointed out that since Will is in year two of law school he is “tens of hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt” and she is the “breadwinner” now.

During the season 3 Southern Hospitality trailer, which dropped in November 2024, Will was accused of sleeping with “multiple people” during year one of law school while Emmy was back in Charleston.

Southern Hospitality’s Will Denies Cheating on Emmy: ‘I’m Getting Attacked’

As the season has unfolded, almost all of Emmy and Will’s friends have claimed that Will drunkenly badmouthed his girlfriend. He allegedly told people at Republic that Emmy is no longer “fun” because she stopped drinking and made more unkind comments.

“I knew about what Will had done already, and I don’t think people knew I knew because I never talked to my friends about it,” Emmy told Us of the comments Will made behind her back. “A lot of it is also being exaggerated, as you can imagine.”

Emmy claimed that when Will went off about her allegedly not having any drive and slammed her body transformation he was “stressed out” ahead of exams. Will had also broken his ankle and had just had surgery, according to the VIP server.

“You take it out on the people closest to you and you say stuff you don’t mean because you’re avoiding the reality of what’s really causing your pain in your life, which for him at the time was law school,” Emmy alleged. “Will and I had our own conversation about it where he was incredibly apologetic and embarrassed, and he knew it was inappropriate.”

She was adamant that what viewers will see Will say on the show was “not as crazy and as bad” as it was in real time.

“If Will was living this happy, luxurious life where he was a bachelor, making all this money and wasn’t struggling with his mental health, struggling in law school, not doing well [and] in chronic pain — if he was in a good place and this happened [it’d be a] different story,” Emmy explained. “But the context of [it] — I [had just] nursed Will for weeks and I know exactly what he was going through and his mental state. So I have a lot of understanding and empathy for it.”

'Southern Hospitality' Premiere: Where Do Emmy and Will, More Couples Stand?

She added: “Do I condone it? No. Was it unacceptable? Yes. But nobody’s perfect and we all make mistakes.”

Emmy noted that she overlooked Will’s harsh words, and they are in a good place. In fact, she’s ready to head to the altar whenever he pops the question.

“Will has a three-year plan because he’s in school, so it only makes sense to then build a plan off of that as far as our relationship goes,” she told Us, saying that “realistically this would be the year that he would propose.”

Southern Hospitality’s Emmy Says She Didn’t ‘Betray’ Maddi With Promotion

Emmy said that since Will has a short break after law school graduation in 2026 and taking the bar that summer, getting married before the end of 2026 sounds perfect.

“Probably summer [or] fall of 2026 is probably when we would have a wedding. It just makes sense,” she gushed. “We’ve been dating for three years, so it’ll be four years in October. So it’s a long time. So it’s not like this is crazy out of the blue.”

Emmy teased that “by the end of this year” she is expecting a ring. “It would just make the most sense, but I always say that’s between Will and my dad,” she concluded, noting, “Plans always change.”

Southern Hospitality airs on Bravo Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi

© Charles Sykes/Bravo

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Kenny Law, who starred on the Discovery Channel docuseries Moonshiners, has died. He was 68.

Kenny’s death was announced via a Facebook post by Law’s Choice Distillery on Wednesday, January 15.

“With sorrow, we announce that Everett ‘Kenny’ Law passed away peacefully on January 14, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. ” the post read. “We will share his obituary as soon as possible. Thank you to everyone so far for the outpouring of love, support and prayers. ”

The post was accompanied by a photo of the third-generation, Virginia-based distiller sitting beside a creek holding a bottle of moonshine.

Reality TV Tragedies: The Saddest and Most Shocking Deaths

No official cause of death has been released. However, Kenny’s cousin Henry Law, who ran Law’s Choice Distillery with Kenny, told TMZ on Thursday, January 16 that Kenny died at a local hospital after suffering multiple health issues over the past few years.

According to Henry, Kenny suffered a heart attack in 2024 and had been dealing with heart trouble. In addition, he struggled with diabetes amid his health struggles, per TMZ.

Kenny was best known for starring in Moonshiners, which premiered in 2011 and is currently in season 14. According to Discovery, the series follows “a diverse group of people living in Appalachia who carry on a 200-year-old tradition passed down from their forefathers, making moonshine.”

Kenny’s Moonshiners costar Amanda Bryant, 32, honored the late distiller with a tribute via social media.

“Last Night We Lost a True Legend, Kenny Law from our Moonshiner Family,” she wrote via Facebook. “You will be dearly missed, it was an Honor to know you and call you my friend. Rest Easy Big Guy.”

She added, “Prayers for the whole Law family in this time. They are dear friends of mine and my heart breaks for each of them. Rest In Peace Kenny Law Much Respect to you Always.”

Country Music Tragedies: The Saddest and Most Shocking Deaths

The official Moonshiners Facebook page also paid tribute to Kenny with a touching post following his death.

“We’re deeply saddened about Kenny Law’s passing. He was a treasured member of our Moonshiners community since season eight,” the post read. “We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Shine on, Kenny.”

According to his obituary, Kenny is survived by “his daughter and son-in-law, Kenzie and Nathan Wright; grandsons, Atlas and Fox Wright; brothers, David Law and Ronnie (Suzanne) Law; cousin, Henry Lee Law who was like a brother to him; and many beloved aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins.”

Naming Chrishell Stause as a potential Traitor was just one of many mistakes Tom Sandoval made while filming season 3.

“I thought it was ridiculous,” Chrishell, 43, exclusively told Us Weekly about Sandoval’s initial approach. “I just felt like of all the people and all the minds at this table, do we really think Sandoval solved the puzzle in 0.5 seconds of leaving the room? No.”

Chrishell noted that Sandoval’s decision to name her right off the bat “worked” in her favor, adding, “I felt like he was so loud and so wrong. It really felt like whoever he says [the Traitor] is, we probably know it isn’t. So I think it helped in my case, to be honest.”

During the three-episode premiere, Sandoval, 42, got off to a rocky start when he accused Chrishell of not being a Faithful despite no evidence to support his theory. The pair faced off at the first roundtable banishment meeting where Chrishell accused Sandoval of naming her just because she’s close with his ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix.

All Rules and Behind-the-Scenes Secrets You Didn’t Know About ‘The Traitors’

“He’s terrible [at playing the game]. To be honest with you, there was no other reason for him saying my name,” she said. “He just said it so blatantly that he knew I was a Traitor. Of course he’s going to act like, ‘Oh, I really was just playing the game.’ To me, it felt personal and you probably can’t change your mind at this point.”

Chrishell told Us she “definitely” didn’t ask Ariana, 39, for advice about dealing with Sandoval before joining the hit Peacock series. Before he was cast as a season 3 contestant, Sandoval received major backlash after his March 2023 split from Ariana due to an affair with their Vanderpump Rules costar Rachel “Raquel” Leviss.

After Sandoval and Ariana’s breakup made headlines, Chrishell weighed in, writing via X alongside a red carpet photo of her and Ariana, “I love when we can all agree on something.”

Rumors of a feud between Sandoval and Chrishell began in November 2024 when she shared a series of promotional photos of all her fellow contestants — except Sandoval. The Selling Sunset star didn’t address the omission at the time but is now opening up about her strategy going into the show.

“It was to make friends and lay low. You don’t want to really even make the edit that much in the beginning. My name was being brought up at the very first round table. I went in with the best of intentions and had to throw that game plan away,” she recalled. “I had to go with what I could, which was to really defend myself and make sure people felt like I was a Faithful.”

Chrishell continued: “But then if you do too good of a job, you’ll be up for murder. So I knew I had to get a shield and then I had to defend myself at the roundtable. At that point in time [after Sandoval named me], my game plan was shot.”

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The reality star was able to avoid getting banished — or murdered — in the first two rounds but it remains to be seen how long she lasted as a Faithful on The Traitors.

“This season is crazy. Every single episode is going to leave you on the edge of your seat because in the middle of filming I was just thinking, ‘Wow, how are they going to edit this?’ Because even the round tables had you on the edge of your seat the whole time,” she teased. “I thought the first three episodes were so entertaining. Even if I take myself out of it, I’m such a fan of the show. It’s one of the situations where I’ll just say buckle up because you are going to be a very bumpy and very entertaining ride.”

New episodes of The Traitors will be released on Peacock Thursdays until March 6.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi