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Today — 22 December 2024Main stream

All the Celebs Mentioned in Justin Baldoni's Alleged Blake Lively Takedown

22 December 2024 at 07:14
All the Celebrities Mentioned in Justin Baldoni's Alleged Blake Lively Takedown Plan
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds.

There are more than a few recognizable names in the lawsuit Blake Lively has filed against her It Ends With Us costar and director, Justin Baldoni.

Lively, 37, sued Baldoni, 40, for sexual harassment in the lawsuit which was filed on Friday, December 20.

In the lawsuit, obtained by Us Weekly after it was reported on by TMZ and The New York Times, Lively also accused Baldoni of launching a smear campaign to “destroy” her reputation.

Celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Leighton Meester, Anna Kendrick, Ben Affleck, Hailey Bieber and Ryan Reynolds are all referenced within the court documents.

Scroll on to see how the A-listers were mentioned in the court exhibits.

Taylor Swift Mentioned in Justin Baldoni's Alleged Blake Lively Takedown Plan

Leighton Meester, Anna Kendrick and Ben Affleck

All the Celebrities Mentioned in Justin Baldoni's Alleged Blake Lively Takedown Plan
Leighton Meester, Anna Kendrick and Ben Affleck.

According to a “scenario planning” document attached to the complaint seen by Us Weekly, Lively’s previous working relationships with Meester, Kendrick and Affleck were a point of interest for Baldoni’s crisis management team. (Lively worked with Meester on Gossip Girl from 2007 to 2012, Kendrick on 2018’s A Simple Favor and Affleck in 2010’s The Town)

In response to the hypothetical scenario that “Blake subtly hints at her ‘experience’ [with Baldoni in It Ends With Us]  in post-premiere coverage, either in an op-ed, interview or otherwise”, Baldoni’s side suggested encouraging journalists to scrutinize Lively’s past working relationships with the three named actors as one of the response options.

“These pieces will likely come out following any potential hit piece and/or coverage from the

premiere,” the document reads. “Our recommended approach would be to provide reporters who reach out for comment, should it be obvious she’s referring to you, with the appropriate background information (listed in Scenario 1) to ensure their stories are balanced and the speculation can be turned to another one of the many people she’s had issues working with (Leighton Meester, Anna Kendrick, Ben Affleck, etc.).”

Gossip Girl executive producer Joshua Safran told Vanity Fair in 2017 that Lively and Meester “were not friends” like their characters. “They were friendly, but they were not friends like Serena and Blair,” he said. “Yet the second they’d be on set together, it’s as if they were.”

“Blake is very much in the moment,” Safran continued. “Blake knows what’s happening. You talk to Blake on a very contemporary level, and she would be like, ‘I’m doing this thing tonight. Have you been to this restaurant?’” Meester, in comparison, was “very removed and very quiet” on the set. Safran remembered that Meester would do her own thing when Gossip Girl wrapped scenes.

The two actresses haven’t spoken at length about their on-set relationship, but other cast members have denied a feud. “When we were filming, there was, ‘Leighton hates Blake, Blake hates Leighton, everyone hates Blake, everyone hates Leighton, everyone hates Chace,’ and blah, blah, blah. It really wasn’t,” Michelle Trachtenberg told the outlet. “We were all chill. It was cool.”

Lively and Kendrick, meanwhile, appear to be on good terms as they reunited for the Simple Favor sequel earlier this year. “She lives on the East Coast, I live on the West Coast, so we don’t get to see each other often,” Kendrick told People in October. “But it was lovely, and I think that those characters have such weird chemistry that it’s so fun to just get the gang back together. And it does feel a little bit like riding a bike.”

Affleck, meanwhile, praised Lively in interviews while promoting The Town, calling the actress “very poised and comfortable about it — more mature than some of the crew members” when it came to their sex scene.

Taylor Swift 

All the Celebrities Mentioned in Justin Baldoni's Alleged Blake Lively Takedown Plan
Taylor Swift.

Swift was also referenced within the lawsuit documents.

Exhibits attached to the complaint showed a crisis management expert working for Baldoni wrote in an August 6 email “we have seen the most innocuous issues turn giant due to socials or the hugest crises have no effect on social whatsoever. You just cannot tell at this stage. But, BL does have some of the same TS fanbase so we will be taking it extremely seriously.”

A separate “scenario planning” document from Baldoni’s side also notes “our team can also explore planting stories about the weaponization of feminism and how people like Taylor Swift, have been accused of utilizing these tactics to ‘bully’ into getting what they want.” (Lively and Swift, 35, have long been close and have documented their friendship over the years.)

Hailey Bieber

All the Celebrities Mentioned in Justin Baldoni alleged Blake Lively Takedown
Hailey Bieber.

Baldoni appeared to use a social media post of Hailey Bieber as an example in an “astroturfing” plan against Lively. (Astroturfing is defined as”‘the practice of publishing opinions or comments on the internet, in the media, etc. that appear to come from ordinary members of the public but actually come from a particular company or political group.”)

According to text exchanges reviewed in a legal complaint obtained by Us Weekly on Saturday, December 21, Baldoni sent a screenshot of an X thread that unpacked “Hailey Bieber’s history of bullying women,” according to the text, writing, “This is what we would need.”

Ryan Reynolds

All the celebrities mentioned in Justin Baldoni alleged Blake Lively Takedown plan
Ryan Reynolds.

Based on text exchanges obtained by Us, Baldoni claimed in May 2024 that Lively’s husband Ryan Reynolds, 48, had blocked him on social media. Baldoni also claimed Reynolds blocked his production company Wayfarer Studios on Instagram as well.

“We should have a plan for IF she does the same when [the] movie comes out,” Baldoni wrote of Lively in a text exchange with a publicist l, per court documents. “Just want you guys to have a plan. Plans make me feel more at ease.”

The Biggest Feuds Between Movie Directors and Stars

21 December 2024 at 22:26
Biggest feuds between directors and stars
Megan Fox and Michael Bay.

Creating movie magic on the big screen often requires a lot of blood, sweat and tears behind the scenes to pull all the threads together.

While the ideal end result for a movie is an entertainment seamlessly brought to life (that also makes the people involved a lot of money in the process), sometimes things can get a little messy between the people making it along the way.

From big blow ups to lawsuits to war of words, scroll on to dive into some of the most notorious feuds between movie directors and stars – and discover how their relationships became less than harmonious.

A Look Back at the ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ Drama 1 Year After Its Premiere

Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively

Biggest feuds between directors and stars
Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively.

Rumors swirled that director/actor Justin Baldoni and actress Blake Lively weren’t getting along during the promotional tour for It Ends With Us, which was released in August 2024.

 The animosity between the pair was confirmed when Lively, 37, sued Baldoni, 40, in December 2024 for sexual harassment and accused the director of trying to tarnish her reputation with a smear  campaign – a claim lawyers for Baldoni vehemently denied.

Olivia Wilde and Florence Pugh

Biggest feuds between directors and stars
(L-R) Nick Kroll, Florence Pugh, Chris Pine, Olivia Wilde, Sydney Chandler, Harry Styles and Gemma Chan.

In the case of 2022 release, Don’t Worry, Darling, many onlookers became more interested in the drama behind the scenes than in the film itself. The movie was directed by Olivia Wilde and starred Florence Pugh – and speculation was rife there was tension between the pair.

In the lead up to Don’t Worry, Darling’s release Pugh did limited promotion for the film, avoided being photographed next to Wilde and skipped or arrived late to press commitments. While neither confirmed the truth behind their relationship, there were whispers Pugh may have been unhappy with Wilde’s relationship costar Harry Styles.

Megan Fox and Michael Bay 

Biggest feuds between directors and stars
Michael Bay and Megan Fox.

During her Transformer days, Megan Fox rocked the boat with director Michael Bay when she publicly compared him to “Hitler” – which ultimately led to her getting fired from the franchise and replaced with Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

“He’s like Napoleon and he wants to create this insane, infamous mad-man reputation. He wants to be like Hitler on his sets, and he is,” Fox, 38, told Wonderland Magazine in 2009. “So he’s a nightmare to work for but when you get him away from set, and he’s not in director mode, I kind of really enjoy his personality because he’s so awkward, so hopelessly awkward.”

While he ended up cutting her from his films, Bay told GQ Magazine in 2011 that he wasn’t particularly offended.

“I wasn’t hurt, because I know that’s just Megan. Megan loves to get a response,” Bay, 59, said. “She does it in kind of the wrong way. I’m sorry, Megan. I’m sorry I made you work 12 hours. I’m sorry that I’m making you show up on time. Movies are not always warm and fuzzy.”

Jake Gyllenhaal and David Fincher

 

Biggest feuds between directors and stars
David Fincher and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Jake Gyllenhaal and David Fincher didn’t mince words when it came to talking about their experiences working with one another on 2007 film Zodiac.

“Fincher paints with people,” Gyllenhaal, 44, said of the director in 2007, complaining, “It’s tough to be a colour.”

Fincher later had his own take on what it was like working with Gyllenhaal – and didn’t hold back.

“Jake was in the unenviable position of being very young and having a lot of people vie for his attention, while working for someone who does not allow you to take a day off,” Fincher, 62, told The New York Times in 2020. “I think Jake’s philosophy was informed by — look, he’d made a bunch of movies, even as a child, but I don’t think he’d ever been asked to concentrate on minutiae, and I think he was very distracted.”

Katherine Heigl and Judd Apatow

Biggest feuds between directors and stars
(L-R) Katherine Heigl, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann and Judd Apatow.

Another infamous case of a movie’s star going head to head with its director was when Katherine Heigl came out swinging against the movie she was starring in, 2007’s Knocked Up.

Its director Judd Apatow was left less than impressed when she slammed Knocked Up during an interview with Vanity Fair in 2008.

Breaking Down Blake Lively’s Accusations Against Justin Baldoni

“It paints the women as shrews, as humourless and uptight,” Heigl, 46, said. “It paints the men as loveable, goofy, fun-loving guys. It exaggerated the characters, and I had a hard time with it, on some days. I’m playing such a bitch; why is she being such a killjoy? Why is this how you’re portraying women? Ninety-eight per cent of the time it was an amazing experience, but it was hard for me to love the movie.”

For his part, Apatow told radio host Howard Stern in 2009 that he expected an apology from Heigl after the disparaging remarks but he never got one.

“[You’d think] at some point I’ll get a call saying ‘Sorry, I was tired …’ and then the call never comes,” Apatow, 57, said.

Colleen Hoover Calls Blake Lively ‘Honest’ Amid Justin Baldoni Lawsuit

21 December 2024 at 18:57
Colleen Hoover praises blake lively amid Justin Baldoni Lawsuit
Colleen Hoover and Blake Lively.

It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover has offered words of support to Blake Lively, who starred in the film adaptation of her book.

The author took to social media to share glowing praise for the actress, 37, via an Instagram Story posted on Saturday, December 21.

“Blake Lively you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met,” Hoover, 45, wrote. “Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. Never change. Never wilt.”

A photo of Lively and Hoover hugging accompanied the caption.

Blake Lively Sues It Ends With Us’ Justin Baldoni for Sexual Harassment

The poignant Instagram post came after news broke that Lively has filed a lawsuit against It Ends With Us’ director and lead actor, Justin Baldoni, 40. A link to an article about the lawsuit was attached to Hoover’s Instagram post.

In the lawsuit, which was filed on Friday, December 20, and obtained by Us Weekly after it was reported on by TMZ and The New York Times, Lively accused Baldoni of launching a “social manipulation” campaign against her to “destroy” her reputation.

Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni on Friday, which claimed a meeting was held during production of It Ends With Us in January 2024 to address Lively’s claims against her costar.

Colleen hoover praises blake lively amid justin baldoni lawsuit

Per the lawsuit, Lively’s demands included “no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous ‘pornography addiction,’ no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew’s genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s dead father.”

Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman addressed Lively’s “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” allegations in a statement to Us. He claimed Lively filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” regarding the production of the film.

He further alleged the actress made “multiple demands and threats” during filming, including “threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.”

What 'It Ends With Us' Cast Has Said About Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni

In a statement to The New York Times in December, Lively said, “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted.”

The actress denied spreading negative information about Baldoni.

Rumors were rife earlier this year that there was bad blood between Lively and Baldoni when they did not do press for the film together while on the promotional trail ahead of its release in August.

Before yesterdayMain stream

Alexis Bellino Confirms ‘Real Housewives’ Exit: ‘I Was Not Asked Back’

19 December 2024 at 23:08

Alexis Bellino will not return for the 19th season of The Real Housewives of Orange County.

The reality star confirmed her departure during an appearance on the Friday, December 20 episode of the  iHeartRadio“Going Rogue” podcast, which she guest hosted.

“I was not asked back next season,” Bellino, 47, revealed.

Bellino, who particularly clashed with castmate Shannon Storms Beador, 60, said she wasn’t overly surprised when she learned she was unable to return.

Alexis Bellino confirms RHOC exit
Alexis Bellino.

Alexis Bellino Was 'In Talks' for ‘RHOC’ Return Before Dating John Janssen

“I can’t say it came as a shock, it did not come as a shock,” Bellino said on the podcast. “It was a hard conversation. … I guess I wasn’t really prepared [because] I didn’t think contracts were coming out — like, I thought we had more time. … [So] it was a shock when the call came, but I was never shocked about that information.”

Bellino had returned to the Housewives franchise as a “friend” following a decade-long absence. (Bellino kicked off her first stint in 2008’s season 5 before leaving in season 8.)

On the podcast, Bellino said that having previously dealt with leaving the show meant she was able to take the news in her stride.

“It was a little bit of a relief,” Bellino said. “I mean nobody wants the rejection, and no one wants to [hear] you’re not asked back. But it already happened to me. It happened to me in season 8. I’ve been there, done that!”

Alexis Bellino Confirms RHOC exit
Alexis Bellino.

Storms Beader and Bellino clashed throughout season 18. Part of their feud stemmed from Bellino choosing to date Storms Beader’s ex-boyfriend John Janssen, whom she split from in 2022. Bellino and Janssen, 64, became an item in 2023 and in August, they announced they are engaged.

Speaking to Us Weekly in November, Storms Beader confirmed she did not enjoy filming with Bellino.

Shannon Beador Is Not in a 'Competition' With Alexis for Ex John Janssen

“I was on Nick Viall’s podcast, and he said, ‘What will you do if Alexis is back on the show?’ And my answer was, ‘I’m not filming with Alexis ever again,’” she recalled. “If they choose to bring Alexis back on the show, enjoy, but I’m not filming with you.”

She added, “I’ve never said I’m not coming back. I might have done that in my third or fourth year and I’ve never done it since.”

Storms Beader said that she would like to return for season 19, but added, “But if Alexis Bellino comes back, sorry, not gonna be around [her].”

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Jason Kelce 'Calls Bull' on Why Travis Wears No. 87, According to Kylie

19 December 2024 at 21:47
Jason Kelce Calls Bull on Why Travis Wears no 87
Jason and Travis Kelce.

A touching gesture made by Travis Kelce in tribute to his brother Jason may not be all that it seems.

While chatting with sports presenter Charissa Thompson on the Thursday, December 19 episode of her podcast, “Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce,” Jason’s wife Kylie poked holes in a story Travis previously told.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis, 35, claimed that the reason he wears the number 87 on his jersey is to honor his brother Jason, who was born in 1987.

Thompson, 42, recalled the moment Travis made the revelation in an interview for NFL Films, which she was involved in.

Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce's Most Supportive Quotes About Each Other

“That’s when Travis told me he wears 87 because of Jason’s… that’s the year he was born,” Thompson said, before Kylie interjected.

“Jason still calls bull,” Kylie, 32, said. “Jason still calls bull on that revelation. He’s like, ‘No, you got given ‘87’ and were like, ‘Uh, how can I remember this? It’s my brother’s birth year.’”

Whether or not the story is true, Thompson acknowledged, “Well it’s a sweet sentiment. It’s a nice story.”

Kylie agreed, responding, “It was so sweet.”

Jason Kelce Calls Bull on Why Travis Wears No 87
Travis Kelce.

NFL Films shared an interview with the brothers in December 2023, where Travis made the claim about his jersey number.

“If there is a Kelce legacy, two brothers making it to the NFL, it all started in 1987 because this big guy was born in 1987,” Travis said of Jason, 37, during the interview.

Travis and Jason have developed a strong brotherly bond over the years and neither are never shy about praising their sibling in public.

Jason gushed over Travis making it to his third Super Bowl in February 2024. He described the experience as “a little bit different” watching Travis play as opposed to being in the big game himself.

Travis Kelce’s Sibling Day Shout-Out to Jason Kelce Has Us Crying

“I love just being a fan. Being able to root and just watch good football. I can’t wait to watch it,” Jason told NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe at the time. “Whenever you’re watching a loved one compete there’s a very prideful feeling that you have. That’s very different than competing [on] your own.”

Jason added, “Obviously, my brother and I love each other very much. We’re cherishing these moments because we know eventually, they’ll be gone.”

Meanwhile, Travis gushed over his older brother during his monologue while hosting Saturday Night Live in February 2023.

“Jason and I have actually been playing football together since we were little kids and he was always better than me — at everything,” Travis said of Jason, before quipping, “In high school, he was an honor student and I got kicked off the team because I failed French. And then, when we were in college, I actually got kicked off the team because I tested positive for marijuana.”

The Beatles Star John Lennon’s Family Guide: Meet His Two Sons

19 December 2024 at 20:22

John Lennon family guide

As bandmate Paul McCartney would later note, The Beatles’ John Lennon’s short life was full of tragedy.

Brought up in a turbulent family dynamic after his father Alfred left at an early age and his mother Julia let her sister Mary “Mimi” Smith raise him, John’s family life was never smooth sailing.

As an adult John welcomed two sons, Julian Lennon, 61, and Sean Ono Lennon, 49, – and was a vastly different father to each before his untimely death at 40 in December 1980.

These days, the brothers “face demons together,” according to Julian in an interview with Esquire in 2021.

Julian Lennon Admits ‘Hey Jude’ Drives Him ‘Up the Wall’

“It’s funny because there’s always been, especially in the UK press, ‘Lennon Sons Feuding,’ this, that. We’ve never had a fight in our life. It’s such bull,” he said.

Scroll on for more on the key family members throughout John’s life.

 Julian Lennon

John Lennon Family Guide
Julian and John Lennon.

John’s foray into fatherhood got off to a controversial start when he and then-girlfriend Cynthia Powell discovered they were expecting a child after they failed to use contraception.

When John (then 21) found out Cynthia (then 22) was pregnant, he decided they would marry – and the pair tied the knot in 1962. Their son Julian was born in April 1963 but John missed the birth due to his responsibilities with The Beatles.

While John was around for the first few years of Julian’s life, he eventually left Cynthia for Yoko Ono and had a strained relationship with Julian for much of his life.

John Lennon's Son Julian Details Successful Surgery After Cancer Diagnosis

Julian later reflected on his tricky relationship with John in an interview with The Guardian in 2020.

“Then suddenly my dad literally disappeared off the face of the planet. At least, that’s how it seemed to me. He and Yoko Ono were deeply and publicly in love. And I felt as if my mom and I had been cast aside,” he told the outlet. “Maybe 10 years passed during which my dad and I barely spoke. I was very angry about how he left the family. It was thanks to my mom that we started having conversations again. She was such a gentle soul, never vindictive in any way, shape or form. She always wanted me to have a relationship with him.”

Julian, who is the inspiration behind Paul McCartney’s song “Hey Jude,” written for him after John and Cynthia’s divorce, also shared that he eventually reconnected with his dad before his death.

“I was scared the first time I went to visit him in the US after my parents’ divorce. I was becoming more aware of the magnitude of this man,” he told The Guardian. “Much to my relief, the visit was a success. My dad was charming and funny and warm. From that trip on, I remember us getting along better.”

Sean Ono Lennon

John Lennon family guide
Sean Ono Lennon and John Lennon.

In stark contrast to his parenting style with Julian, John was a more hands-on father the second time around.

John welcomed his youngest son Sean into the world in October 1975 with second wife Yoko, and took a break from music to become a house husband.

In an interview with Playboy that took place in September, 1980, and was published in January, 1981, John shared how well he had taken to the role.

“I’ve been baking bread and looking after the baby … because bread and babies, as every housewife knows, is a full-time job,” he told the magazine at the time.

Sadly, John was fatally shot in December 1980, when Sean was just five years old.

Speaking to Rolling Stone in 2020, Sean reflected on how his father’s death affected him and explained that he still has memories of his dad when he was alive.

“A lot of people don’t remember when they were five,” he said during the interview. “I’ve never asked a psychologist, but I’ve assumed that because my dad dying was so traumatic for me that a lot of those early memories just stayed. I have more memories of being five and four than I do being 16.”

Julia and Alfred Lennon

John Lennon family guide
John and Julia Lennon.

John’s parents Julia and Alfred Lennon first met when they were teenagers and married in secret a decade later in 1938. John was born in 1940 but his parents didn’t raise him – Julia allowed her sister Mary “Mimi” Smith to bring up her son.

Fellow Beatle, McCartney, spoke about John’s troubled upbringing at the 2023 Tribeca Festival.

“As a kid, his mother was decreed to not be good enough to bring him up… His father had left the home when John was 3. So that’s not too wonderful,” McCartney, 82, recalled. “It made me realize why he had that vulnerability. I always admired the way he dealt with it because I’m not sure I would deal with the stuff he went through that well.”

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr Are Releasing The Beatles' Final Song

Julia was tragically killed after being hit by a car at age 44 in 1958. John was just a teenager at the time.

“That was another big trauma for me. I lost her twice. When I was five and I moved in with my auntie, and then when she physically died,” he told Playboy in 1980. “That made me more bitter; the chip on my shoulder I had as a youth got really big then. I was just really re-establishing the relationship with her and she was killed.”

John and Alfred were estranged for much of their lives but reconnected on Alfred’s deathbed in 1976.

Mimi Smith

John was raised by his aunt, Mimi and her husband George Smith. Mimi and John remained close throughout his life. Following his success in The Beatles, John purchased a property for Mimi in Dorset, the U.K. where she lived until she died in 1991.

Luigi Mangione Will Be in Same NYC Jail as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs: Report

19 December 2024 at 18:05
Luigi Mangione Will Be in Same Brooklyn Jail as Sean Diddy Comb
Luigi Mangione.

Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, will reportedly be housed in the same New York City jail as Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Mangione, 26, arrived in New York from Pennsylvania on Thursday, December 19, to be arraigned on federal murder charges. If convicted of the crime, he could face the death penalty.

According to CNN and ABC News, Mangione is now in federal custody and will be housed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn – the same jail where Combs, 55, has been held since September.

Mangione and Combs also have another connection; the pair share the same lawyerMarc Agnifilo. Agnifilo appeared in federal court with wife Karen Friedman Agnifilo on Thursday to inform Judge Katharine Parker that they will be representing Mangione.

Suspected CEO Assassin Luigi Mangione Hires Lawyer Connected to Diddy Case

A spokesperson for Friedman Agnifilo’s firm, Agnifilo Intrater LLP, confirmed to Us Weekly on Monday, December 16, that she was retained to represent Mangione in New York. Friedman Agnifilo will “not be making any statements at this time,” the spokesperson told Us.

Mangione was named as the prime suspect in Thompson’s death earlier this month. Thompson was fatally shot in front of a Manhattan hotel on December 4. Following a five-day search, Mangione was arrested on December 9.

A New York grand jury indicted Mangione on terrorism charges on Tuesday, December 17, in addition to first-degree murder. He also faces charges for possessing weapons and forged instruments.

Luigi Mangione Will Be in Same Brooklyn Jail as Sean Diddy Combs
Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Federal prison consultant Sam Mangel previously explained to Us what conditions are like at MDC, noting that contraband and anything with sharp edges or pins are prohibited at the facility.

Visitor stays usually last 30 minutes and are limited to four people at a time, while phone calls are capped at 15 minutes.

Mangel added that staffers give prisoners time in the enclosed recreation yard to play sports tournaments, and they’re free to enjoy dominos, chess and card games. Religious services are usually offered, and TVs are on and tuned into major sports events.

Mangione has dominated headlines in recent weeks, with reports that a documentary is already in the works. Filmmaker Stephen Robert Morse, best known for his work on Netflix’s Amanda Knox, is developing the project.

Luigi Mangione Documentary in the Works From 'Amanda Knox' Filmmaker

Meanwhile, Combs has been behind bars since his arrest earlier this year.

In March 2024, several of Combs’ homes — including residences in Miami and Los Angeles — were raided by Homeland Security in connection to a sex trafficking investigation. In September, Combs was arrested in New York City and indicted on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has denied all allegations against him. (His trial is scheduled to begin in May 2025.)

Since Combs’ arrest, more than 20 civil suits have been filed against him, and he has denied all charges.

After Diddy was arrested, Agnifilo said during an appearance on CNN’s The Source With Kaitlan Collins that his client is not guilty. “He’s innocent,” Agnifilo said. “I believe he’s innocent. I believe he’s innocent of the charges,” he said. “He is going to go to trial. And I believe he’s going to win.”

 

Viral Ring Girl Sydney Thomas Announces Her Return to the Squared Circle

12 December 2024 at 22:42
Viral Ring Girl Sydney Thomas announces return to squared circle
Sydney Thomas.

Sydney Thomas, also known as “Viral Ring Girl” after being thrust into the spotlight after appearing at the Jake Paul–Mike Tyson fight last month, is returning to the squared circle.

Thomas, 21, announced news of her return via two Instagram Story posts shared on Thursday, December 12.

“Back in uniform,” she wrote alongside a selfie, where she could be seen rocking her “ring girl” outfit. A second full-length post showed her attire in full, and she simply captioned it “weigh ins.”

Ever since she was instantly catapulted into fame thanks to her foray as a ring girl in the much-watched fight in November, Thomas’s career has continued to rise.

Viral Ring Girl Sydney Thomas Officially Signs With Huge Hollywood Agency

Earlier this month, she announced she had officially signed with the sports division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which notably looks after big names such as MLB star Shohei Ohtani, NBA star Devin Booker, NHL star Sidney Crosby and WNBA star Cameron Brink.

Thomas took to social media to reveal the news on December 1 via a TikTok video highlighting “the craziest week of my life.” In the clip — which included a snapshot from her meeting with CAA — she revealed in the caption that she had officially “signed.”

VIral Ring Girl Sydney Thomas Announces Return to Squared Circle
Sydney Thomas.

There have also been big changes in Thomas’s personal life recently. The college student recently called it quits with her boyfriend, but clarified the split happened before she found internet fame.

“[I] had no problems with him at all — he was great,” Thomas told YouTube creator Nick Nayersina in a December 2 interview.

“I just broke up with him because I was like, ‘I just needed and want more time with myself,’” Thomas added.

In the interview, she explained she also wanted to be able to “discover who I am” and needed space to simply “be alone.”

Ring Girl From Tyson/Paul Fight Says Instagram DMs Have Been 'Flooded'

Since the big Paul-Tyson fight, Thomas has been taking the increased attention in her stride.

Speaking to Us Weekly following the fight, Thomas said she was “very blessed and very grateful” for all of her new fans.

“I think what’s next for me is to continue building up my social media and continue working with [Paul’s] Most Valuable Promotions and being a ring girl,” Thomas said. “I think dialing into the ring girl and modeling aspect of my life and sharing that with my audience that I’ve now built up.”

As well as new fans, Thomas has also attracted critics but she had a message for those who underestimated her.

“Contrary to popular opinion or popular belief, I actually am smart,” Thomas said via a TikTok video posted in late November. “People get the image that a pretty blonde doesn’t have a brain. But I got a 33 on my ACT in high school and I’m finishing college a year early. So, take it as you want.”

Dr. Terry Dubrow Says Brandi Glanville Doesn't Have a Face Parasite

12 December 2024 at 21:20

Dr Terry DuBrow Says Brandi Glanville Doesn't Have a Face Parasite

Dr. Terry Dubrow is weighing in on Brandi Glanville’s health woes.

The Botched doctor shared he was concerned about what was happening to the Real Housewives star’s face and offered to lend a hand in an interview with TMZ, published Thursday, December 12.

“I saw one of her interviews and I’ve seen the picture of her, the one where she is swollen, the one where she is really deflated with the irregular skin,” Dubrow, 66, told the outlet. “Here’s the thing, here’s what Brandi really needs to focus on… and it’s not her fault, it’s her doctor’s fault. Brandi needs a diagnosis.”

Glanville, 52, previously claimed that her condition could be due to “face parasites” but Dubrow doesn’t believe this to be the case.

Brandi Glanville Says She Spent $70K to Cure Face Parasites

“She has to figure out if there’s a microorganism in there,” he said. “It’s not going to be a parasite, it’s not going to be something she ate, it’s going to be from something that got into her bloodstream.”

Dubrow added that he was concerned about what could happen to the reality star if she doesn’t get the diagnosis she needs ASAP.

“She’s like a ticking time bomb. Every minute that that microorganism is allowed to stay in her skin and do potential damage, she could suffer worse for it,” Dubrow added. “It could be more difficult to treat and she could form more scars and more nodules. So Brandi needs a diagnosis. She probably needs a surgical intervention to get a piece of tissue and figure out what’s going on.”

Sharing a message directly to Glanville via TMZ, Dubrow offered to assist if needed.

“Brandi, if you can’t get a diagnosis okay, and you need help, the Botched doctors are here for you,” he said.

Brandi Glanville Says Face Parasites Have Disfigured Her Spent 70K to Fix 330

Glanville has been open about her health struggles. She previously shared a photo of her facial deformities and revealed she’s spent $70,000 looking for answers as to what’s causing it.

“Honestly, I have so many doctors and I’ve had so many tests … I did lab work for $10,000,” she said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight published on Tuesday, December 10. “I ran every test under the sun.… They’re like, ‘It could be a parasite.’ That’s, you know, new.”

Glanville explained that before a doctor theorized she potentially contracted a parasite, she experienced “swelling” and was “unable to speak.” When she sought out treatment, some medical professionals thought the issue may have been due to old face fillers that were dissolving. However, Glanville stated that she hadn’t gotten any fillers done in a while and the former had already dissolved.

Brandi Glanville Shares New Selfie Amid Health Issues: 'Suck It Haters'

Glanville also initially thought food poisoning in Morocco while filming The Real Housewives: The Ultimate Girls Trip may have caused the issue.

According to Glanville, she has a decent idea of where the parasite is living under her face. While she has not seen the organism with her two eyes, she has seen and felt it move. If Glanville “messes with it” it will jump around to a different area and will look like “tiny bubbles bursting” on her skin.

As well as the issues affecting her face, Glanville shared that the parasite also produces a lot of fluid that her lymph nodes are unable to properly drain.

NFL Star Xavier Legette Tells Story About His Love of Eating Raccoons

12 December 2024 at 19:37
NFL Star Xavier Leggette Tells Story About His Love of Eating Raccoons
Xavier Leggette.

NFL player Xavier Legette has surprising taste when it comes to food.

The Carolina Panthers rookie, 23, appeared on the Tuesday, December 10 episode of the “St. Brown Podcast” and made the unexpected revelation about what he likes to eat.

After podcast hosts Amon-Ra, 25, and Equanimeous St. Brown, 28, asked Legette about his “hottest food take” when it comes to “something weird” he likes to eat, the athlete revealed a certain type of animal makes it to his dinner plate.

“I eat raccoon,” Legette shared with the NFL wide receivers.

Gronk! Chrissy! Celebrities Share Their Favorite Super Bowl Party Dishes

The visibly shocked St. Brown brothers then asked him to clarify what he meant.

“Like a raccoon you see in the trash can,” Legette said. “I hunt it. I kill it. I skin ‘em. Cook ‘em. Eat ‘em. All that.”

Legette added that the last time he dined on a raccoon was at Thanksgiving and shared insight into what the meat tasted like.

“Everybody tries to stay stuff tastes like chicken,” Legette said. “But raccoon got its own taste.”

The rookie went to share that it wasn’t just raccoon he likes to eat. According to the sports star, squirrel and rabbit also often makes the cut for his at-home menu.

NFL Star Xavier Leggette Tells Story About His Love of Eating Raccoons
Xavier Leggette.

It’s not the first time Legette has publicly shared his love of munching down on raccoon meat.

In November, Legette appeared via social media to talk about his family’s plans for their Thanksgiving feast.

While many Americans traditionally love to eat turkey on the holiday, Legette said raccoon was on the cards for him.

“Man, what I’m mostly excited to eat today, is gonna be that raccoon,” he said via an Instagram story posted on Thanksgiving.

“My cousin called me up last night, told me they killed the raccoon two days ago. They took the clothes off and everything — washed him up. Yeah, we ‘bout to dive into that today.”

Celebs Trying Ordinary Foods for the First Time

It’s not the first time the football rookie has made headlines for his views on food.

After a Panthers training session in Munich, Germany in November, Legette tried some authentic German sausages in an amusing video for RTL Sport.

“Do I have to cook it?” he hilariously asked about the sausages, before taking a bite.

Legette also had some thoughts about the chicken wings as he reviewed the German offerings.

In the video he admitted he was used to “a different twang of barbecue sauce.”

“I had some chicken wings earlier,” he said. “It had a little different taste to it.”

Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau’s Daughter Audrey Is Pregnant

12 December 2024 at 18:00
Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau’s Daughter Audrey Announces Pregnancy
Audrey Fualaau and Ethan Tela Porter.

Audrey Fualaau, the daughter of controversial couple Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau, is pregnant.

Taking to social media, Audrey, 27, shared the news she was expecting her first child with fiancé Ethan Tela Porter via a TikTok post on Wednesday, December 11.

A series of sonograms over several weeks of the pregnancy featured in the TikTok clip.

“I’m so excited! I can’t wait to find out if you’re a boy or girl. You’re so loved already baby,” Audrey shared.

Revisiting the Infamous Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau Scandal

A sufferer of type 1 diabetes, Audrey previously shared that her first trimester had “been rough” while she also dealt with her health condition.

“My sugar levels before this were kinda like out of control because I’m a terrible diabetic, and I don’t take care of myself,” she shared via a TikTok video posted on Saturday, December 7. “As soon as I found out I was pregnant it kind of like kick started everything into place like, ‘Oh my god, I need to start taking better care of myself.”

@audreylokelani

I’m so excited! I cant wait to find out if you’re a boy or girl 🥰 Youre so loved already baby ❤ @Eway

♬ original sound – tapedeckoriginals

Audrey and Ethan shared news of their engagement last month via a TikTok video.

The clip posted via Audrey’s account in November showed off her engagement ring.

“On 11/11/2024 I said YES!” Audrey shared. “I can’t believe i get to marry the man of my dreams. Soon to be Mrs. Ethan Porter. I love you forever @Eway !!! You make me so happy! To [infinity] and beyond in this life and after. God brought us together and i’m never letting you go.”

@audreylokelani

On 11/11/2024 I said YES! 😍❤ I can’t believe i get to marry the man of my dreams 🥰 soon to be Mrs. Ethan Porter ❤❤❤ I love you forever @Eway !!! You make me so happy! To ♾ and beyond 💍 in this life and after. God brought us together and i’m never letting you go 🥰

♬ Im In Love Im Obsessed Rihanna x Casa Di Remix – CasaDi

Audrey’s parents were embroiled in controversy in the 1990s due to the scandalous nature of their relationship.

Mary Kay, a then married, 34-year-old teacher, made headlines in 1996 when news broke of her affair with Vili, who was an elementary school student at the time.

Mary Kay met Vili when she was his second-grade teacher at an elementary school in Burien, Washington. Mary Kay was married to Steve Letourneau — with whom she shared four kids — when she was later caught spending time with Fualaau, then 12, outside of school.

Mary Kay Letourneau’s Ex-Husband Vili Fualaau 'Offended' by 'May December'

She was arrested in March 1997 and pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree child rape. Mary Kay gave birth to her first child with Vili, daughter Audrey, later that year.

Mary Kay was sentenced to six months in prison and three years of sex offender treatment in the rape case. She was released after completing half the time and was ordered not to contact Vili. However, Mary Kay was found in a car with Vili two weeks after completing her jail sentence and her original prison sentence of seven-and-a-half years was reinstated.

While serving out her second stint behind bars, Mary Kay welcomed her second daughter with Fualaau, Georgia, in October 1998. Following her release, Mary Kay and Vili married. Mary Kay died of colon cancer in 2020 at age 58.

Georgia, now 26, welcomed her first child, son Liam in January this year.

Chris Evans Is Set to Return to Marvel for 'Avengers: Doomsday' 

9 December 2024 at 23:54

Chris Evans is set to return to marvel in avengers doomsday

Chris Evans is making a surprise return to the Marvel universe.

The actor, 43, has signed on for Avengers: Doomsday, according to a report published by The Hollywood Reporter on Monday, December 9.

Avengers: Doomsday is slated for a May 2026 release but it is unclear what role Evans will play in the film.

Evans appeared as Captain America (a.k.a. Steve Rogers) in 11 Marvel Cinematic Universe titles between 2011 and 2019.

Chris Evans Breaks Silence on His ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ Cameo

His character, Rogers, put down his shield as the superhero in Avengers: Endgame. Due to this storyline, fans are wondering whether Evans would return as both Captain America/Steve Rogers, or just Steve Rogers, who no longer is holding the Captain America mantle.

Evans also made a cameo as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine earlier this year, leading to speculation he may be playing this character – or someone else entirely.

Appearing at the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle in March this year, Evans weighed in on the idea of playing Captain America again.

At the time, he said a return to the MCU “doesn’t feel quite right” at the moment but teased, “I think there’s more Steve Rogers stories to tell.”

Chris Evans is set to return to marvel in Avengers Doomsday
Chris Evans.

Evans shared how protective he is over his most famous character.

“But at the same time, I’m very, very precious with it,” Evans continued. “It’s like this little shiny thing that I have that I love so much, and I just don’t want to mess up in any way. I was a part of something that was so special for a special period of time and, in a way, it really landed so well.”

During the panel Evans also revealed that 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the actor’s second foray as the masked crusader, was his favorite movie from the MCU.

'Captain America 4' Has a New Title and Release Date

“It’s my personal favorite Marvel movie that I was a part of,” he said. “It’s not just for the movie itself but the experience. The first film, I was so nervous. You know what you’re stepping into and as a result you’re playing defense and you’re playing not to lose. When Winter Soldier came around, we were playing to win.”

He also defended Marvel against criticism from people who like to take aim at superhero movies.

“Comic book movies in general, for whatever reason, don’t always get the credit I think they deserve,” Evans said during a panel discussion. “They are these big, giant movies. There’s a lot of cooks in the kitchen. But the empirical evidence is in. They are not easy to make.”

The actor added, “If it was easier, there would be a lot more good ones.”

50 Cent Mocks Jay-Z Attending Premiere With Family After Rape Allegations

9 December 2024 at 22:15
50 cent mocks Jay Z for attending premiere amid rape allegations
50 Cent.

Jay-Z and his family made their first public appearance following the rapper’s rape allegations — and fellow rapper 50 Cent wasted no time mocking him for it.

With wife Beyoncé, daughter Blue Ivy Carter and mother-in-law Tina Knowles by his side, Jay-Z walked the red carpet of the Mufasa premiere in Hollywood on Monday, December 9.

50 Cent (real name Curtis Jackson) took aim at the rapper for the decision, sharing photos of Jay-Z with Beyoncé, 43, and Blue Ivy, 12, at the event via Instagram that same evening.

“Jay said they said I rapped [sic] a kid, everybody get dressed we going to see Mufasa LOL,” the Get Rich or Die Tryin’ rapper, 49, captioned the since-deleted post.

Jay-Z Walks 'Mufasa' Red Carpet With Beyonce and Family Amid Rape Allegations

The outing marked the first public appearance of Jay-Z, 55, since he was accused on Sunday, December 8, of raping a 13-year-old girl in the early 2000s along with Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Earlier on Monday, 50 Cent took to social media and appeared to allude to the controversy via a post on his X account which referenced the Super Bowl.

The rapper shared a popular meme of himself sitting in a car and driving away.

“Ok I don’t know what’s going on, but are we gonna still have the Super Bowl. 😟,” he captioned the post. “I’m just asking for a friend.”

50 cent mocks Jay Z for attending premiere amid rape allegations
Jay-Z, Beyonce and Blue Ivy Carter.

Jay-Z’s company Roc Nation has played a key part in pulling together the Super Bowl’s halftime entertainment since 2020.

Kendrick Lamar is currently scheduled to be this year’s headliner, performing at the event which is to be held in February 2025 in New Orleans.

When asked about the X post on the “Big Boy TV” podcast episode later that day, 50 Cent joked, “I’m just asking for Kendrick. I’m just trying to figure out if we’re still doing everything.”

He explained that he believed the NFL might want to cut ties after the allegations, adding, “They will fall back, the NFL … they won’t necessarily be associated with that.”

Per NBC News, Jay-Z was accused of allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000 with Combs, 55. The accuser, who has remained anonymous and was only identified as “Jane Doe,” claimed the assault occurred at an afterparty for the MTV Music Video Awards.

Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, responded to the lawsuit on Sunday. The statement, provided to Us Weekly, denied the allegations, saying that his “only heartbreak is for my family.” (Jay-Z has been married to Beyoncé since 2008, and the pair share three children, Blue Ivy and twins Rumi and Sir, both 8.)

Beyonce Praises Blue Ivy at 'Mufasa' Premiere Amid Jay-Z Rape Allegations

“My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people,” Jay-Z’s statement read. “I mourn yet another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure such at their young age. It is unfair to have to try to understand inexplicable degrees of malice meant to destroy families and human spirit.”

The statement also spoke to Jay-Z’s “strict codes and honor,” claiming that he strives to protect all children. Directing his response to Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee, who filed the lawsuit on Sunday after its initial filing in October which only included Diddy’s alleged involvement, Jay-Z wrote, “You seem to exploit people for personal gain. Only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake physics, will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable.”

Beyonce Praises Blue Ivy at 'Mufasa' Premiere Amid Jay-Z Rape Allegations

9 December 2024 at 20:17
Beyonce praises blue ivy at mufasa premiere amid rape allegations
Jay-z, Beyonce and Blue Ivy Carter.

Beyoncé is praising her daughter Blue Ivy Carter for her role in Mufasa as controversy swirls around husband Jay-Z following rape allegations leveled against him.

The singer took to social media on Monday, December 9, to gush over the couple’s 12-year-old daughter, and shared photos via Instagram from the Mufasa premiere, which was held in Hollywood, California earlier that evening.

“My gorgeous baby girl. This is your night,” Beyoncé, 43, wrote alongside a series of photos that featured Blue Ivy posing on the red carpet in a floor-length gold gown. Beyoncé, for her part, matched her eldest daughter by rocking a black and gold cut-out ensemble.

In the film, which hits theaters on Friday, December 20, Blue Ivy voices the lioness cub Kiara, while Beyoncé is the voice of lioness Nala. The animated adventure serves as a sequel to the 2019 live action adaptation of The Lion King. 

Jay-Z Walks 'Mufasa' Red Carpet With Beyonce and Family Amid Rape Allegations

“You worked hard and you did such a beautiful job as the voice of Kiara,” Beyoncé added in her caption. “Your family could not be prouder. Keep shining.”

Beyoncé attended the premiere with Blue Ivy, along with Jay-Z and her mother, Tina Knowles.

Monday’s appearance marked the first public outing for Jay-Z since he was accused of raping a 13-year-old girl in the 2000s alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs.

The family put on a united front as they walked the red carpet of the Disney movie’s premiere, posing in front of photographers while embracing one another.

Beyonce praises Blue Ivy at Mufasa Premiere Amid Rape Allegations
Blue Ivy Carter.

Per NBC News, Jay-Z, 55, was accused of allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000 with Combs, 55. The accuser, who has remained anonymous and was only identified as “Jane Doe,” claimed the assault occurred at an afterparty for the MTV Music Video Awards.

Jay-Z (real name is Shawn Carter), responded to the lawsuit on Sunday, December 8. The statement, provided to Us Weekly, denied the allegations, saying that his “only heartbreak is for my family.” (Jay-Z has been married to Beyoncé since 2008, and the pair share three children, Blue Ivy and twins Rumi and Sir, both 8.)

“My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people,” Jay-Z said in a statement to Us. “I mourn yet another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure such at their young age. It is unfair to have to try to understand inexplicable degrees of malice meant to destroy families and human spirit.”

Inside Beyonce and Jay-Z's Daughter Blue Ivy's Hollywood Life

On Monday, December 9, Us confirmed that Jay-Z filed paperwork to dismiss the civil lawsuit “for lack of subject matter jurisdiction due to the plaintiff’s lack of standing.”

Tina was also caught up in the scandal when she was spotted “liking” an Instagram post reporting the news of Jay-Z’s rape allegations. She later claimed it wasn’t her.

“I was Hacked!” Knowles wrote in a Notes app message shared via Instagram on Monday, December 9. “As you all know I do not play about my family. So if you see something uncharacteristic of me. Just know that is not me!”

Knowles added in the caption, “Please stop playing with me !!!!”

Rebecca Minkoff Says Danny Masterson Was 'Supportive' of Her When They Met

9 December 2024 at 19:20
Rebecca Minkoff says Danny Masterson was supportive of her
Rebecca Minkoff and Danny Masterson.

Real Housewives of New York’s Rebecca Minkoff has spoken out about her past connection to disgraced Danny Masterson.

The fashion designer, 43, appeared on the Monday, December 9, episode of the “Two Ts in a Pod” podcast and shared details of how she knew the convicted rapist in the past.

“When I started out, he was incredibly supportive to me,” Minkoff told podcast hosts Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge, noting that she hasn’t “seen or spoken to the actor” in 10 years.

According to Minkoff, she met “girls and actresses that were excited to wear my product” through fellow Scientologist Masterson while she was still an up-and-coming designer, adding that the That ‘70s Show alum introduced her to his famous friends who were willing to wear her designs.

Danny Masterson Found Guilty of Rape in Sexual Assault Retrial: Details

Minkoff did not weigh in on Masterson’s legal troubles, however, and told Mellencamp and Judge, “And that’s all I can say. I didn’t participate in the case. I don’t have details.”

Masterson was found guilty on two counts of forcible rape for incidents that occurred in the early 2000s. The actor, who has vehemently denied the allegations, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in September 2023. (That same month, his now ex-wife, Bijou Phillips, filed for divorce. The pair share daughter Fianna, 10.)

Rebecca Minkoff says Danny Masterson was supportive of her when they met
Rebecca Minkoff.

Four women claimed in March 2017 that Masterson sexually assaulted them in the early 2000s. A fifth woman came forward in December 2017, claiming that while she was dating the actor, he “repeatedly raped” her.

Masterson maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty in January 2021 to three counts of rape. His first trial began in fall 2022, which ended in a mistrial. Masterson went back on trial in spring 2023 when he was convicted of two counts of rape.

Prior to the rape conviction, Masterson was best known for his role as Steven Hyde in That ‘70s Show from 1998 to 2006 and his role on Netflix’s The Ranch as Jameson “Rooster” Bennett from 2016 to 2018.

Danny Masterson Sentenced to 30 Years to Life in Sexual Assault Case

Meanwhile, Minkoff has touched on her ties to Scientology in the past and opened up about her beliefs during an appearance on the “Dinner Party With Jeremy Fall” podcast in October 2021.

“Scientology, which the word itself means knowledge,” Minkoff said at the time. “That’s all it means.”

She continued: “I’m Jewish so I have my beliefs with Judaism and God and I go to Scientology to learn knowledge,” she continued. “And that’s spiritual because I’m not working out my abs. We’re just separating the body from the spirit. It has personally helped me from my own demons, my own things I’m not happy about myself.”

Jay-Z Walks 'Mufasa' Red Carpet With Beyonce and Family Amid Rape Allegations

9 December 2024 at 18:41
Jay Z puts on united front with family amid rape allegations
Tina Knowles, Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter.

Jay-Z has made his first public appearance after being accused of raping a 13-year-old girl with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in the early 2000s.

The rapper, 55, stepped out alongside his wife, Beyoncé, the couple’s daughter Blue Ivy Carter and his mother-in-law, Tina Knowles, at the premiere of Disney’s Mufasa in Hollywood, California, on Monday, December 9.

The family put on a united front at the event, posing arm in arm on the red carpet. Beyoncé voices lioness Nala in the film — which serves as prequel to the 2019 adaptation of The Lion King — while Blue Ivy voices lioness cub Kiara.

The outing comes after Jay-Z was accused of rape in a civil lawsuit along with Combs.

Jay-Z References Beyonce, Kids in Statement Denying Rape Allegations

Per NBC News, the rapper  was accused of allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000 with Combs, 55. The accuser, who has remained anonymous and was only identified as “Jane Doe,” claimed the assault occurred at an afterparty for the MTV Music Video Awards.

Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, responded to the lawsuit on Sunday, December 8. The statement, provided to Us Weekly, denied the allegations, saying that his “only heartbreak is for my family.” (Jay-Z has been married to Beyoncé, 43, since 2008, and the pair share three children, Blue Ivy, 12, and twins Rumi and Sir, both 8.)

Jay Z walks red carpet amid rape allegations
Jay-Z and Beyoncé.

“My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people,” Jay-Z’s statement read. “I mourn yet another loss of innocence. Children should not have to endure such at their young age. It is unfair to have to try to understand inexplicable degrees of malice meant to destroy families and human spirit.”

Jay-Z Accused of Raping a 13-Year-Old Girl With Diddy in 2000: Civil Lawsuit

The statement also spoke to Jay-Z’s “strict codes and honor,” claiming that he strives to protect all children. Directing his response to Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee, who filed the lawsuit on Sunday after its initial filing in October which only included Diddy’s alleged involvement, Jay-Z wrote, “You seem to exploit people for personal gain. Only your network of conspiracy theorists, fake physics, will believe the idiotic claims you have levied against me that, if not for the seriousness surrounding harm to kids, would be laughable.”

Buzbee is one of the attorneys who has filed lawsuits on behalf of several of Diddy’s alleged victims. He has previously claimed to be representing at least 120 of the disgraced mogul’s alleged victims. Diddy, who has been in prison since his September arrest, has denied the allegations. Diddy has been denied bail four times and currently remains behind bars until his trial, which is scheduled for May 2025.

 

'Dynasty’ and ‘Stranger Things’ Actor Mark Withers, 77, Dies

6 December 2024 at 23:00
Dynasty Mark Withers dead
Mark Withers.
Mark Withers, best known for roles in Dynasty and Stranger Things, has died. He was 77.
The actor’s daughter, Jessie Withers, confirmed her father had passed away following a battle with pancreatic cancer, Variety reported on Friday, December 6.
According to the outlet, his death occurred on Friday, November 22. Mark was survived by daughter Jessie and wife Haiyan Liu Withers. The family has suggested donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to honor his memory.
Jessie honored her late father and his legacy via a touching tribute, per Variety.
“He confronted his illness with the same strength and dignity he brought to his craft, creating a legacy of warmth, humor, and dedication, along with his remarkable ability to make every role unforgettable,” she wrote. “Mark’s enduring talent and commitment to the industry will be fondly remembered by colleagues, friends, and fans alike.”
During his illustrious career, Mark played Ted Dinard in the original Dynasty series, which aired from January 1981 to May 1989.
His character was a love interest for sexually confused Steven Carrington (Al Corley), one of the main family members in the soap opera.
In dramatic scenes, Steven’s father Blake Carrington (John Forsythe) accidentally murders Ted after seeing him embrace his son – marking the end of Mark’s time on the show.
More recently, Mark portrayed Gary in Netflix’s hit supernatural series, Stranger Things. The character was coroner at the local morgue and appeared in the first season.
Throughout his acting career, Mark also clocked up credits in an array of TV shows and movies, including Castle, Criminal Minds, Dallas, Days of Our Lives, Drop Dead Diva, and Fraiser.
He also appeared in Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, Magnum P.I., Matlock, Remington Steele, Sense8, Wonder Woman, The Dukes of Hazzard and The King of Queens.
According to Variety, Mark was a star athlete before pursuing his acting career and had nabbed a football scholarship to Penn State.
In the early days of his acting career, he was able to secure gigs in commercials. Among these were roles in campaigns for McDonald’s, American Airlines, Folger’s Coffee, Irish Spring soap and Crest toothpaste.
Born June 25, 1947 in Binghamton, New York, Mark studied acting and directing at California State University, Los Angeles.
He later graduated with a Master of Fine Arts at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Zachary Levi and Girlfriend Maggie Keating Are Expecting First Baby

6 December 2024 at 21:48
Zachary Levi and Maggie Keating expecting first child
Zachary Levi.

Zachary Levi is about to become a dad for the first time!

The Chuck actor shared via Instagram on Friday, December 6, that his girlfriend Maggie Keating was pregnant with the couple’s first child.

“I’ve wanted to be a dad since I was literally a kid. I’ve always felt that call on my life,” Levi, 44, gushed in the post, which revealed the exciting news. “This desire in my heart. A strange feeling of incompleteness by not having that level of love and responsibility in my journey. That the best years of my life would be on the other side of finally being a father.”

He continued: “But deep down I knew that there were things in my life that needed to shift before I was ready for the blessing of something so special and the responsibilities that come with it.”

Laura Benanti Slams Broadway Costar Zachary Levi: 'I Never Liked Him'

Levi also detailed the changes he had undergone as he prepared to “manifest” his dreams of becoming a dad.

“Last November I started to make some shifts in my life. Shifts that ultimately came down to loving and valuing myself more. Prioritizing my own health physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually,” he wrote. “And lo and behold, immediately things started to manifest for the better. And very quickly God brought a brilliant, honest, grounded, and deep love into my life thru the angelic form of @maggiekeating. A wonderful woman on the same journey of self discovery and love, ready to step into a new and amazing chapter of life with me. So, we did. 🥰

Looking ahead to the baby’s arrival, Levi joked that the couple are open to suggestions when it came to the newborn’s yet-to-be-determined name.

“We can’t wait for y’all to meet our little bambino. We’re waiting until the birth to know the sex, but I’ll be stoked out of my mind either way,” Levi wrote. “Always accepting potential baby names. Keep ‘em original, but not TOO original. We don’t need them being bullied more than their theater-nerd father.”

Celebrity Pregnancy Announcements of 2024

Alongside the lengthy caption, the actor shared an ultrasound of the pair’s unborn child as well as a loved-up couple snap of Levi and Keating together.

Levi most recently hit headlines after his former Broadway costar Laura Benanti, 45, took aim at the actor, claiming she “never liked him.”

“Everyone was like, ‘He’s so great!’ And I was like, ‘No, he’s not,’” she said on the Wednesday, December 4 episode of “That’s a Gay Ass Podcast”, adding, “He’s sucking up all the f—ing energy in this room.”

‘Duck Dynasty’ Alum Phil Robertson Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s Disease

6 December 2024 at 20:36
Duck Dynasty Phil robertson Diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease
Phil Robertson.

Duck Dynasty’s Phil Robertson is in the “early stages” of Alzheimer’s Disease, his family has confirmed.

Phil’s son Jase Robertson shared the health update on his father, 78, via the Friday, December 6 episode of podcast, “Unashamed with the Robertson Family”.

“According to the doctors, they’re sure that he has some sort of blood disease that’s causing all kinds of problems,” Jase, 55, explained on the podcast. “It’s accelerated and it’s causing problems with his entire body.”

Jase added that the diagnosis has been difficult for his father both mentally and physically, sharing, “He’s just not doing well. He’s really struggling.”

'Duck Dynasty' Cast: Where Are They Now?

In addition, Phil’s health has also been deteriorating due to an ongoing blood disease issue, Jase said.

Phil did not appear on the podcast episode due to his health making it difficult to do so despite the reality star wishing he was able to.

“He keeps saying, ‘I’m gonna get back to the podcast,’” Jase said. “But I’m like, ‘Well Phil, you can barely walk around without crying out in pain, and your memory is not what it once was.’ He’s like, ‘Tell me about it.’ So he is literally unable to — I think he would agree — to just sit down and have a conversation.”

Duck Dynasty Phil Robertson in Early Stages of Alzheimers Disease
Phil Robertson.

Phil found fame alongside his family on duck-hunting reality series Duck Dynasty, which aired from 2012 to 2017. As well as Jase, Phil shares adult children Willie, 52, Jep, 46, and Alan Robertson, 59, with wife Kay Robertson, 76.

He also discovered in 2020 that he had a daughter, Phyllis Thomas, 49, who was born following  an affair that took place 45 years prior.

In the podcast, Jase said the family were rallying around Phil as they help him battle the terminal illness.

“We’re trying to do a lot of things to figure out how to make him more comfortable, and maybe help with his memory,” he said. “We’ve got a team of doctors and they’re all in agreement that there’s no curing what he has. And so, what do you do? We’re trying to make him a little more comfortable.”

‘Duck Dynasty' Stars Missy and Jase Robertson's Farm Destroyed by Tornado

Jase previously spoke about his love for his family in 2020 after discovering he had a sister that he didn’t know about.

He shared that because of this, he was determined to meet Phyllis and be amicable.

“I fight with my family a lot but I got their back,” Jase explained in a May 2020 episode of his “Unashamed” podcast. “I love them. I’m there for them. So I’d already made that decision. I was ready to go either way. I was gonna love her no matter what. But I was like ‘I really like her,’ which is awesome

Julianne Hough Spotted With ‘Bachelor Nation’ Star Tanner Courtad

6 December 2024 at 19:10
Julianne Hough Spotted Spending time with Tanner Courtad
Julianne Hough.

Julianne Hough has been spotted hanging out with a Bachelor Nation reality star.

In photos published by Just Jared on Friday, December 6, the Dancing With the Stars cohost, 36, was pictured spending time with Tanner Courtad.

The outlet reported the pair had dinner at the Sportsman’s Lodge shopping center in Studio City, California on Thursday, December 5.

For the outing, both Hough and Courtad opted for activewear for the early evening outing. Hough wore a green puffer jacket teamed with black leggings while Courtad chose an all-black ensemble consisting of a T-shirt and shorts.

Julianne Hough Says She Is ‘Looking for a Guy' After Saucy ‘DWTS’ Routine

Courtad, 31, vied for the heart of Charity Lawson on The Bachelorette in 2023 before later appearing on Bachelor in Paradise the same year.’

ABC described Courtad in his bio for the Bachelor franchise as “100% husband material.”

“The fitness instructor is extremely close with his family and hopes to find a relationship as special as the one his parents have,” the bio read. “While growing up, Tanner and his family rescued over 50 dogs and he hopes to rescue more with his future wife.”

Meanwhile, Hough has a lucrative gig at the helm of Dancing With the Stars and recently joked about her single status while performing a saucy routine to viral TikTok song “Man In Finance” in a November episode of the reality show.

Julianne Hough Spotted spending time with Tanner Courted
Tanner Courted.

“Great to see you out on the floor with the guys,” Hough’s cohost, Alfonso Ribeiro joked at the time.

In response, Hough quipped, “Yeah, the guys. Well, you know, I am single and I’m looking for a guy anywhere I can find one.”

Hough publicly came out in a September 2019 profile for Women’s Health, noting at the time that she informed then-husband Brooks Laich that she was “not straight.” The couple ultimately split in 2020 and finalized their divorce in 2022.

Julianne Hough's Candid Quotes About Coming Out as 'Not Straight'

While Hough previously acknowledged she is “not straight,” the TV personality admitted in a September episode of the “Jamie Kern Lima Show” podcast that she believes she will eventually settle down with a male partner.

“I feel like I’m going to end up with a man,” Hough said, but noted she is open to this not being the case. “I want to be living and vibrating in the pace of my most authentic self for that to be what attracts whoever it is versus I’m gonna put what I think I want and need out there and then literally force-create it,”

Hough added she wants to have “a partner” and “build a life with somebody and have a family.”

She continued, “That’s still, like, where my heart is open, but I’m content, which content used to scare the s— out of me.”

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