Maria Menounos proves she’s just like Us thanks to husband Keven Undergaro’s many nicknames for her.

“So Keven, in the early days, used to call me Froggy,” the TV show host, 46, exclusively reveals in the latest issue of Us Weekly. “That went away once I stopped being cute, started being Type-A girl … that’s what he says.”

Menounos jokes that Undergaro’s nicknames for her went from cute to teasing as their connection grew. The couple tied the knot during the 2017 New Year’s celebrations in Times Square after 15 years of dating. Now, Undergaro’s monikers for his wife go from “Mrs. Bitch” to “The Crowd Goes Wild” — and Menounos explains why.

“Keven’s really funny and he does have a lot of nicknames for everyone. Our dogs each had 50 names and Keven loves to mess with me,” she shares. “So we will go to Chili’s for dinner and the woman will say, ‘Oh, how many?’ He’ll go, ‘One.’ He’ll go, ‘Two, one bitch.’ And the waitress is always like, ‘What?’”

Maria Menounos Says Her Sex Life Is On a ‘Down Cycle’ After Baby

Menounos teases that Undergaro, 57, has a “dark sense of humor.” In addition to having random nicknames, Menounos shares that she and Undergaro have their daily talks in an interesting location.

“Keven and I have our morning meetings in the shower,” she says. “That’s where we go over everything.”

Keep scrolling to see how just like Us Menounos is:

Us: What is the last thing you waited in line for?

Menounos: Groceries. You wait in line to pay for your groceries, I just did that. I don’t like to wait in lines … I hate lines.

Us: When was the last time you went out to a nightclub?

Menounos: I don’t know. I remember my college days were in Boston, but that’s about it. I spent lots of time cleaning nightclubs in Boston.

Us: What’s the one task or errand you tend to keep putting off or procrastinating on?

Menounos: I don’t know. I’m pretty diligent about my errands right now [but] I think Amazon returns are kind of annoying.

Us: What’s your favorite song to sing in the shower and why?

Menounos: Well, I have some Greek songs. I really like singing in the shower [but] I’m starting to realize I haven’t sung in the shower a lot because I’m with Keven, so we’re talking.

Us: What’s the last meal you made for yourself or your family?

Menounos: I bought some cauliflower crust and I made my super pizza. So [for] my super pizza, you use the Rao’s sauce, you get chopped garlic, you get some fresh oregano, you get some shaved Parmesan [and] put that on there. Do a little bit of salt, and then you add fresh mozzarella — sliced — and then you throw some of the other mozzarella on top. A little dash of oregano on the top [and] pop it in the oven.

Us: What celebrity news that you’re kind of obsessed with right now?

Menounos: I could care less about celebrity news. I’m sorry. I never really cared in the first place. I was supposed to be a sports anchor. I just fell into it. It just happened. I love everybody, but I don’t really care what everybody’s doing necessarily other than if it’s something I want to see. I’m happy for everybody to do their thing, but I’m not actively searching [for] what everybody’s doing. That’s not me. … Searching how to get better, how to survive, how to give less Fs, how to heal — that’s my energy zone.

Maria Menounos Jokes Sex Scenes (And Orgasms!) Deter Her From More Acting

Us: What time do you wake up and go to sleep every night?

Menounos: I try to go to sleep at sunset-ish, which right now on the East Coast is hard. It’s very early, but it does make me want to go to bed right away. And then I wake up at sunrise, non-negotiable every day.

Us: What are you thankful for?

Menounos: I am thankful for my family every day. Thank you, God, for my family. Thank you for my beautiful, happy, healthy daughter Athena. Thank you for my health and my healing. Thank you for allowing me and sparing me to be here every day so that I can be with my baby. Thank you for the abundance of opportunity and great people and just great things in my life.

Us: What’s your New Year’s resolution?

Menounos: I can never keep track of these things. I have to think about it for this year. I need some time.

For more on Menounos, watch the video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.

Only Murders in the Building dropped throwback pics of Meryl Streep and Martin Short decked out in wedding gear from the season 4 finale.

“#BehindTheScenes of filming the wedding scene in 410. New York City, May 2024. ,” the official account of the Hulu series wrote alongside a carousel of images shared via Instagram on Friday, December 20.

The first pic featured Streep, 75, and Short, 74, standing in front of a floral arch with white and pink roses outside the iconic Arconia building’s courtyard. Streep stunned in a cream long-sleeved floor-length gown that featured floral embellishments. Short, for his part, looked dashing in a lavender suit paired with a cream vest, matching tie and scarf.

The pair stood close together with their arms wrapped around each other as they smiled for the camera. The post also featured snaps of more of the floral arrangements from the scene, the gigantic wedding cake and the series’ beloved pup Winnie — who belongs to Short’s character.

Meryl Streep and Martin Short's 'Only Murders' Romance Is 'Unexpected'

Many fans of the crime comedy flocked to the comments section joking that Streep and Short, who have been rumored to be dating in real life, looked like a full-on couple.

“U could have [told] Meryl and Martin married, I would have believed,” one user replied while another responded, “Wdym behind the scenes I’m convinced this happened .”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Only Murders in the Building (@onlymurdershulu)

Short has starred as Oliver in Only Murders in the Building alongside Steve Martin (who plays Charles) and Selena Gomez (who plays Mabel) since the series premiere in 2021. Streep joined the cast in season 3 as Loretta, who is an actress and Oliver’s love interest. In season 4, Loretta and Oliver got engaged and their wedding took place in the season finale.

While the pair’s nuptials were a success, Loretta and Oliver’s future is up in the air. In the finale, Loretta shared that she has to leave for New Zealand days after the ceremony to film her show. Olivier insisted that they would make the distance work as he will remain at the Arconia alongside Charles and Mabel. The trio have another murder investigation on their hands as the Arconia’s doorman Lester (Teddy Coluca) was found dead in the fountain following Oliver’s wedding.

Only Murders in the Building was renewed for season 5 shortly after the season 4 premiere. Short, Martin and Gomez are expected to return, but no additional casting announcements have been made yet.

When Tiffany Boone stepped in for her Mufasa audition, she had no idea she would get to play the iconic lion queen Sarabi.

“I created the character that was in my head, [but] I didn’t know I was auditioning for Sarabi,” the actress, 37, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, December 19, while discussing Mufasa: The Lion King. “It had a different name on the page. So I was like, ‘This must be some new character.’”

As Boone read through the script, she thought the character seemed “cool” and wanted to use her voice to reflect that aspect of her personality. Boone was thrown for a loop once it was revealed that she was going to voice the beloved cartoon character.

“So when they told me who I was actually playing, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s quite a bit of pressure, actually,’” she confessed.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. Teases His Version of Scar in 'Mufasa: The Lion King'

Boone shared that she asked director Barry Jenkins whether he wanted her to make her vocals sound more like Madge Sinclair, who originally voiced the character in the original Lion King from 1994, or like Alfre Woodard, who played Sarabi in the 2019 live-action adaptation. Jenkins, 45, had faith in Boone’s talent and encouraged her to be herself as they developed Sarabi’s backstory.

“I had so much freedom to create the younger version of her and give the other layers to the character [and] the challenges that she went through to become the great queen that she becomes,” she told Us.

As a fan of The Lion King, Boone always saw Sarabi as the “perfect” wife, mother and queen, so she wanted fans to get a taste of Sarabi’s personality before she became Mufasa’s loyal partner.

“She wasn’t always perfect. She’s sassy … she’s sarcastic and she makes fun of the boys,” Boone said, referring to Mufasa and his adopted brother, Taka, who will become Scar later on. “I think she has a sense of humor about her. She’s really vulnerable, and all those things are really fun to add to the complexity of the Sarabi that we see later on.”

Boone teased that fans might be “surprised” to see how Sarabi’s relationship with Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) unfolds, hinting it’s “not such a straight line.” As for rumors of a love triangle between Sarabi, Mufasa and Scar, Boone hinted that fans will “get an answer” when they see the movie.

“You’re gonna get to understand the three of them a lot better, for sure,” she teased.

Boone admitted that she’s “still pinching” herself that she is now a member of the Lion King family.

“I can’t believe that I’m a part of it,” she shared, noting that her younger self couldn’t have dreamed of such an opportunity. “Telling that little version of me that used to sit and watch the VHS in my mother’s bed over and over again, like, ‘You’re gonna be a part of that family, that story.’ I feel like her little head would explode. My imagination couldn’t even dream of this.”

Stars Who Played Disney Characters in Live-Action Films

However, Boone admitted that there was “definitely pressure” to make sure she and the whole Mufasa team delivered — especially for fans of the animated classic.

“I know that there’s a bunch of people who are like, ‘Are they gonna do this justice?’” she reflected. “But there’s also so much joy, and that’s what I think we were trying to remember when we were recording. And I think Barry Jenkins really led us in the direction of finding the joy in these moments and having a lot of fun and to let the pressure kind of roll off our backs and just do our jobs as actors.”

Mufasa: The Lion King is in theaters now.

With reporting by Kat Pettibone

Joey Graziadei’s Christmas is going to include quality time with Kelsey Anderson’s dad, Mark Anderson, and Barbara Alyn Woods.

“We are going to actually spend it with Kelsey’s family and Mark’s new girlfriend as well … which is gonna be great,” the former Bachelor, 29, said of his and Kelsey’s holiday plans on the Friday, December 20 episode of the “Bachelor Happy Hour” podcast. “Barbara’s awesome.”

Graziadei added that this will not be the first time he’s gotten to hang out with his future father-in-law, 57 and Woods, 62.

“We’ve gotten a chance to go out to dinner with her and her family, when Mark came to L.A.,” he continued. “We spent Thanksgiving with my family. We’re spending Christmas with hers, and we’re excited for it.”

Mark Anderson and One Tree Hill’s Barbara Alyn Woods’ Relationship Timeline

Mark and the One Tree Hill alum sparked romance rumors in October when the pair dressed up in a Cinderella-themed couple’s costume.

“When Cinderella and Prince Charming have a baby,” Woods captioned a Halloween Instagram Reel that featured her 24-year-old daughter Natalie, who was dressed as the Star Wars character Grogu from The Mandalorian series. (Woods shares daughters Alyvia, Natalie and Emily with her ex-husband, John Lind.)

The following month, Woods shared a TikTok video of her and Mark dancing together in front of a Christmas tree. She captioned the clip, “IN GOOD COMPANY,” and tagged Mark in the post.

When Graziadei was crowned the season 33 champion of Dancing With the Stars, Woods publicly congratulated him via social media.

“CONGRATS @joeygraziadei,” she wrote via her Instagram Story in November alongside a clip of the moment Graziadei and his partner, Jenna Johnson, were holding up the Len Goodman mirrorball trophy.

Barbara Alyn Woods and Mark Anderson Are Having a Barbie and Ken Holiday

Bachelor Nation got to know Kelsey’s dad briefly during Graziadei’s season where Graziadei proposed to Kelsey during the season 28 finale, which aired earlier this year. Fans fell in love with Mark more when he appeared on the inaugural season of The Golden Bachelorette. While Mark didn’t win the heart of Joan Vassos, fans were rooting for him to find a second chance at love — including Kelsey. (Kelsey’s mom, Denise, died in 2018 following a battle with breast cancer.)

“I think that he grew a lot from it and I’m just really proud of him,” Kelsey told Us about watching her dad’s journey on the dating series in October. “I’m also really thankful for Joan in helping my dad through all of this.”

Paulina Gretzky went all out for her 36th birthday bash.

“Tini bit older ,” Gretzky, 36, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, December 19, alongside a carousel of images from the get-together held in Palm Beach, Florida, which was martini-themed.

In the first snap, Gretzky posed alongside husband Dustin Johnson. The couple snuggled up on a pink couch and left two martini glasses resting on the coffee table in front of them.

Gretzky rocked a sultry satin red mini dress. The frock featured a halter neck that had a long red ribbon flowing on the back. She completed the look with matching stiletto heels. The golfer, 40, opted for a classic black and white suit.

Paulina Gretzky’s Golf Style Is Unmatched: Her Best Looks

Gretzky’s outfit was on theme, as the party decor featured an array of red flowers and other embellishments including the tablecloth, candles, balloons and more. The event also had an olive-themed cake which had the phrase “tini bit older” written in frosting. The beverage of the evening was a standard olive martini which many guests had placed on the dining table.

In addition to being joined by her husband, Paulina’s parents, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones Gretzky, were also in attendance. Paulina and Johnson posed alongside Wayne and Janet, both 63, as they sat in front of a dinner table.

Paulina’s brothers Ty, Tristan and Trevor, and many of Paulina’s friends were also at the party. Johnson’s brother, Austin, and his wife Samantha also attended. Paulina and Johnson’s sons, sons River, 9, and Tatum, 7, were not featured in any of the photos.

Johnson, for his part, paid tribute to his wife in a post of his own.

“Happy Birthday to the most amazing wife and mom,” the LIV golfer wrote on Thursday. “We love you so much @paulinagretzky!”

Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky’s Relationship Timeline: Photos

Paulina and Johnson tied the knot in April 2022 after being engaged for nearly a decade. Before walking down the aisle, Paulina welcomed River in January 2015. Two years later, the pair expanded their family with Tatum.

“I don’t know if people know if me and Dustin are really married or not. We’re not, [but] we’re so in love,” Paulina said during an episode of sister-in-law Sara Gretzky‘s “The Netchicks” podcast in 2021 before her nuptials. “I feel like everyone is like, ‘What is it? Is he not wanting to or she not wanting to?’ It’s so stupid… Being just with kids and being happy, I don’t want anything from Dustin other than I love him.”

Mark Ronson and Grace Gummer both come from famous families, but they’ve enjoyed keeping their romance low-key.

The couple were first romantically linked in September 2020 after they were spotted together in New York City. Fast-forward one year later, and Ronson revealed in June 2021 that he had gotten engaged to an unnamed woman. He also recounted his first kiss with his mystery paramour.

“There’s a plaque for that somewhere. There’s a first kiss, very corny Hallmark first kiss plaque,” he quipped at the time. “But no, it was forever, it will be etched. It’s still my record.”

Two months after sharing his engagement news, Ronson secretly wed Gummer, who is the daughter of Meryl Streep.

Keep scrolling to see Ronson and Gummer’s relationship timeline:

April 2019

The pair reportedly met at the Chanel Tribeca Film Festival Artist Dinner.

September 2020

More than one year after meeting, Ronson and Gummer were spotted on a dinner date in NYC.

Meryl Streep's Family Guide: Meet the Actress' Kids, Grandkids and More

June 2021

Ronson casually announced that he got engaged during an episode of his “The FADER Uncovered” podcast.

July 2021

One month after announcing his engagement, Ronson made his red carpet debut with Gummer at the opening of the Gucci East Hampton boutique.

August 2021

Ronson revealed that he and Gummer secretly tied the knot on his 46th birthday.

“To my truest love…out of nowhere, you made 45 hands down the greatest year of my life. And I’m sure it took me 45 years to become the man worthy of your love,” Ronson wrote via Instagram in September 2021 alongside photos from their nuptials. “I hope I spend every one of these birthdays by your side til my last day. And beyond. Forever and ever yours (and yes, we got married).”

Celebrities Who Secretly Welcomed Children

August 2022

The songwriter wrote a touching tribute for his wife in honor of their first wedding anniversary.

“When people used to tell me their spouse was their best friend, I thought they were spouting hallmark nonsense or that they were some freak anomaly of love,” he shared via Instagram. “So now I guess I’m either someone who spouts hallmark nonsense or I’m a freak anomaly of love. Or maybe I just married the most incredible human being around. Happy Anniversary to my darlingest, you’ve made me happy beyond my wildest .”

October 2022

Gummer subtly revealed that she and Ronson were expecting their first child when she debuted her baby bump at W magazine’s 50th anniversary party.

March 2023

Ronson and Gummer secretly welcomed daughter Ruthie. The parents were spotted walking with their little one in New York City.

July 2023

Ronson brought Gummer as his plus-one to the Barbie premiere.

January 2024

The twosome attended the Golden Globe Awards together.

February 2024

Ronson and Grace made the Grammys a family affair as they were joined by Streep, who presented at the awards show, and Grace’s sister Mamie Gummer.

December 2024

The couple revealed that they were expecting their second child together at Justin Theroux’s annual holiday party at Pebble Bar in NYC. Gummer flashed her baby bump in a form-fitting red dress, while Ronson wore a blue striped button-down shirt over an arm sling.

Vanderpump Rules alum James Kennedy is trying to get on the right path forward following his recent domestic violence arrest.

“James is trying to win everything back including [girlfriend] Ally [Lewber],” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “If he doesn’t stay sober, he knows he has a lot to lose.”

According to the insider, Lewber, 28, is keeping her distance for now as Kennedy prioritizes his sobriety. The source adds that Kennedy is “staying sober and getting treatment. He’s taking it [very] seriously.”

“Ally is staying away until he gets help and she is leaning on friends and family.” the insider says. “People are rallying around her. She has a lot of support.”

James Kennedy and Ally Lewber Are Taking ‘Some Distance' After His Arrest

Kennedy’s reps did not respond to Us’ request for comment.

Kennedy, 32, was arrested on Tuesday, December 10, after law enforcement received a call “regarding an argument between a man and a woman” at Kennedy and Lewber’s home. Police deemed it to be a “domestic incident” and Kennedy was subsequently taken into custody.

After news of his arrest broke, Kennedy’s attorneys spoke out in a statement to Us.

“We are in the process of conducting our own investigation into the allegations levied by the Burbank Police Department against James,” the December 13 statement read. “We understand that there were no injuries and we are hoping that, after careful review, the city’s attorneys will decide not to file formal charges.”

Kennedy and Lewber started dating in January 2022. Three months before they met, Kennedy and his former Pump Rules costar Rachel Leviss called off their engagement. In March 2022, the DJ and Lewber made their relationship Instagram official, showing off pics from the couple’s vacation to Tulum, Mexico.

Lewber, for her part, has remained out of the public eye since Kennedy’s arrest made headlines, but she took to social media to let everyone know how she was faring.

“Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love and support and for checking in on me,” Lewber wrote via her Instagram Story on Saturday, December 14. “I’m OK and taking the time I need right now. I deeply appreciate all the kindness and respect for my privacy during this time.”

Bravo Investigated James Kennedy Before His Arrest

A second source previously told Us that Lewber’s parents came “into town” and the group have been staying in “an Airbnb.”

One week after his arrest, Kennedy broke his silence, sharing how he was prioritizing his commitment to being sober.

“I am committed to making meaningful changes in my life,” the Bravo star shared via Instagram Stories on Tuesday, December 17. “I am taking time to focus on my sobriety, personal growth, and being present for my loved ones. Navigating challenging moments is not easy but I am determined to learn, grow and move forward with the incredible support system around me.”

With reporting by Andrea Simpson

Brittany Furlan shared a TMI fact about husband Tommy Lee’s grooming habits.

“My husband’s very neat, which people wouldn’t expect from someone who’s a musician,” Furlan, 38, said on the Wednesday, December 18, episode of Kaitlyn Bristowe’s “Off the Vine” podcast. “They would expect him to be a f—ing nightmare, like, dirty. He doesn’t shower a lot, but he’s very neat.”

Furlan explained that Lee, 62, justified his position that he is “not big on the showers” because while he was “growing up” in Athens, Greece, where bathing on a daily basis was not a priority.

“He said … that’s a thing in Europe. You don’t need to shower every day,” she said. “They would just do the white washcloth if they felt like they were getting a little funky. My husband showers, like, once a week.”

Rockin’ Love! Tommy Lee and Brittany Furlan’s Relationship Timeline

According to Furlan, when the Mötley Crüe cofounder doesn’t feel the need to take a proper shower, he’ll go for a “bird bath,” which typically involves using soap, a washcloth and a sink. Furlan, for her part, stated that her preference was to hop in the shower every day.

“This hair is so thick so I wash the hair, like, once a week,” she explained. “And then I shower every night.”

Furlan joked that she probably showers too much and that her “overly clean” nature is most likely “stripping” her “body of all the oils it probably needs.”

While Furlan and Lee, who have a nearly 24-year age gap, have a difference in opinion about their cleanliness routines, the social media personality isn’t turned off by it all.

Tommy Lee’s Wife Brittany Furlan: Where I Stand With Pamela Anderson

“No, because he’s so handsome. It’s really crazy,” she gushed. “He’s a really good-looking guy. He doesn’t really give me the ick.”

Lee and Furlan tied the knot on Valentine’s Day 2019 after two years of dating.

“It’s official!!!! We’re married!!! MR & MRS LEE YAHOOOOOOOO,” Furlan wrote via Instagram at the time. Lee responded, “Holy s–tballs!!!! We did it!!!! Mr & Mrs Lee.”

Celebs Who Have Discussed Their Shower Habits

Furlan is Lee’s fourth wife. The drummer was previously married to Elaine Starchuk from 1984 to 1985, Heather Locklear from 1986 to 1993 and Pamela Anderson from 1995 to 1998. Lee and Anderson share sons Brandon Thomas, 28, and Dylan Jagger 26.

After news broke of Lee and Furlan’s nuptials, Anderson shared her support for her ex-husband as he found another chance at love.

“He’s married and happy, and she’s good to him and I totally support that and think that’s great,” Anderson said during a January 2023 appearance on The Howard Stern Show.

Angelina Jolie loves seeing her children find their passions — and sometimes that’s on set (or in the theater) with her.

Jolie shares sons Maddox (born August 2001) and Pax (born November 2003), daughters Zahara (born January 2005) and Shiloh (born May 2006), and twins Knox and Vivienne (born July 2008) with ex-husband Brad Pitt. As her kids have grown up, Oscar-winner Jolie has included them in several of her projects.

Maddox made his first cameo in Pitt’s 2013 film World War Z. In 2014, Pax, Zahara and Vivienne had minor roles in Maleficent which starred Jolie as the titular character.

After dabbling in acting, Jolie’s children shifted their focus from on-screen to behind-the-scenes. Maddox joined his parents behind the scenes for their 2015 movie By the Sea as a trainee. Two years later, Jolie brought Maddox and Pax on as part of the team for the TV series First They Killed My Father, which she directed. Maddox worked as an executive producer while Pax was credited as a still photographer.

Angelina Jolie's Most Inspiring Motherhood Quotes

While Jolie’s children have acted in the past, she confessed that their preference is to work behind the scenes rather than on camera.

“No, I think they’re especially shy, very private people,” Jolie said of her children’s preference to being crew members over actors to E! News in October 2024. “And they want to be private.”

Maddox and Pax have continued to work alongside their mom in several of her other projects including Without Blood and Maria. Vivienne, for her part, teamed up with Jolie for the Broadway musical adaptation of The Outsiders. While Jolie was a producer, Vivienne served as a producer’s assistant.

Keep scrolling to see what Jolie has said about working with her children:

Trying New Things

Jolie shared that both Maddox and Pax were doing assistant directing with her for Maria, which they’ve done in the past.

“They’ve done that quite a few times, and I think that’s good for them,” she told The Hollywood Reporter in August 2024. “Pax tends to do stills and he gets brought in, and [director] Pablo [Larraín] was wonderful and recognized that he was good at it.”

Watching Her Work

“They’ve seen me go through a lot of things, but they hadn’t experienced me expressing a lot of the pain that usually a parent hides from a child,” Jolie said in a December 2024 interview with BBC News about how Maddox and Pax aided her during her emotional scenes as real-live opera diva Maria Callas in Maria. “So, they were there to witness some of that, but then we would hug or they would bring me cups of tea.”

Jolie added that it was good for her sons to see their mom “not do something easily” and get frustrated but have the courage to “try again.”

“One of the greatest privileges of being an actor is you often are supported by a crew to try something and explore something you’ve never done,” she continued. “And this certainly was most challenging.”

Seeing Them Get Inspired

Jolie opened up about how blown away she was to see how passionate Vivienne was about The Outsiders musical when they first saw the show together.

“As a mother, as a person, I was watching it, but I was really watching the effect it was having on my young daughter and what she was telling me about herself, and I was learning what about it was important to her and why it connected so deeply to her,” Jolie said during a June 2024 interview with Deadline. “It was a very different experience of understanding, of how this is having a significant effect on her as a young person right now, and she’s communicating something to me.”

After that, Jolie watched Vivienne as she worked on how they could bring the Broadway adaptation to life.

“Viv and I sat together and we wrote down what we liked, what we were curious about. And they responded to our notes,” she recalled. “For me, it was a moment to learn more about Viv, not me thinking of becoming a producer.”

Taking Notes

Jolie revealed that Vivienne was not afraid to give her mom critiques as she took her role seriously.

“She’ll correct me. She’ll say, ‘Didn’t you read the memo? We have to do this. We have to go through this,’” Jolie said to People in April 2024 of working with her youngest daughter. “She’s been a really tough assistant. She takes it very, very seriously.”

Witney Carson and husband Carson McAllister took some R&R on a romantic getaway to Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

“With the DWTS season just ending, we felt it was a perfect time to get some much-needed relaxation and quality time together as a couple,” Carson, 31, exclusively tells Us Weekly of her and McAllister’s getaway. “The kids were able to stay with family (getting some much-needed cousin time) while our new house is being renovated!”

During their trip, Carson and McAllister stayed in a Beachfront Villa Suite at the resort, which included a private pool and their own personal butler service. The suite was also steps away from the beach. The pair went scuba diving, rode ATVs, participated in couples’ workouts and more.

The Dancing With the Stars pro shares that she and McAllister “usually” bring sons Kevin, 3, and Jet, 19 months, on vacation, but the couple likes to do at least “one trip a year together as a couple” to spend some “quality time alone.” While the parents are away, Carson confesses they miss their kids “so much” during the time apart.

“Jet is 19 months and starting to talk so much. He is really into everything his big brother is doing,” Carson says of her little ones. “He enjoys climbing on things and jumping off (which makes things stressful for us!). Leo is really enjoying getting back into school with his friends, learning, building Legos with Dad and loves karate.”

Carson adds that while her former DWTS partner Danny Amendola was coaching Leo in football during the season, they haven’t been able to team up again since the finale.

“Danny lives in Texas, so no coaching at the moment,” she tells Us. “Leo has been working on his spiral though, and I have to say it’s getting good! We love Coach Danny!”

Keep scrolling to see more of Carson and McAllister’s time at Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:

While Hilary Duff is mom to four kids now, her biggest parenting obstacle came when she welcomed baby No. 3 three years ago.

“People lied to me and said that when you get to three, once you get past two to three is easy,” Duff, 37, exclusively reveals in the latest issue of Us Weekly. “Three sent me for a loop. I could not get my feet to touch the ground for a solid year.”

Duff and husband Matthew Koma tied the knot in December 2019. The actress was already mom to son Luca, now 12, whom she shares with ex-husband Mike Comrie. Duff and Koma, 37, welcomed their first child together, daughter Banks, in October 2018. They expanded their brood again in 2021 and 2024 with daughters Mae and Townes, respectively.

As Duff has adjusted to being a mother of four, she now has the strength to be adaptable and not feel guilty when things aren’t perfect.

Hilary Duff Jokes Matthew Koma Is Like Her 'Really Good Assistant'

“It’s taken me having four kids to realize that I can’t control everybody’s happiness and I can’t be constantly the cruise director of everything,” she shares. “I try my hardest, but it’s been a really nice practice to just say no a little bit more.”

That lesson, of course, came with practice. Duff says she assumed that by her third child, they would “just do what the family does” and be “easy.” That, however, was not the case with Mae. According to Duff, Mae likes to “run everything” and has a big “personality.”

“She is a wild woman, but she has her own ideas,” Duff explains, but added that she’s “obsessed” with her daughter’s spirit.

“And then we obviously liked her enough to go for number four,” she quips. “And [it] felt like there was space, and I’m not sure there is, but we’re figuring it out.”

While Duff has a strong support system by her side, she also utilizes tools like Meta AI to help her stay on top of things — especially during the holiday season.

Everything Hilary Duff Has Said About Her Motherhood Journey Over the Years

“The burden is heavy for the moms. I wake up in the middle of the night like, ‘Oh, I have these things I didn’t handle, and just driving when you shouldn’t be using your phone. And of course, that’s when all the wheels are turning. So I’m getting slowly but surely prepared and definitely excited. I love the holiday season so much, but being an adult now and making it magical for so many people is just so much,” she says of her partnership with the brand. “So I have been utilizing meta AI and it’s been incredible because it’s like a thought partner. It’s just something that you can rattle your thoughts off with, and it comes with ideas that maybe feel a little stale to me.”

For more on Duff watch the video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi

Jackie Goldschneider is not a fan of people commenting about her looks.

“So guys, I posted photos from Jingle Ball. I got a lot of comments that were really quite shocking,” the Real Housewives of New Jersey star, 48, said in a TikTok video uploaded on Monday, December 16. “People calling me plump, juicy, full-figured, big. All sorts of comments like that.”

Goldschneider shared that the remarks were “not helpful” even if they were meant with the best of intentions.

“You can compliment me without commenting on how much weight you think I’ve gained or what you think of the size of my body. That’s No. 1,” she continued. “No. 2, if you think my body size is full figured and big, I suggest that you sign off of TikTok and OnlyFans and Instagram and you look around the real world and see what a real woman’s body looks like because real women are not skin and bones.”

Jackie Goldschneider Shares Why She Hasn’t Weighed Herself in 2 Years

Goldschneider explained that if she wanted to lose weight quickly, she could start using medications like Ozempic. However, that method is not what works best for her wellbeing.

“If you’re on [Ozempic] — fine,” she said. “But I choose not to do that because I strongly feel that humans are meant to feel hunger and they’re meant to eat food and they are not meant to be skin and bones.”

Goldschneider implored her followers to be mindful of the words they use — especially around young women.

“If you have a daughter, I beg of you, please do not compliment her by telling her the size of her body is bigger,” she advised. “Or just don’t talk about the size of her body unless there’s a medical issue that you need to address.”

Goldschneider explained that in most scenarios, “if somebody’s gained weight, I guarantee you they know it.” She also shared that she wasn’t going to let the comments break her especially when she’s been candid about her struggles with an eating disorder.

“If your intention was not to compliment me but to passive-aggressively insult me and to throw me off my game, that will never f—ing happen,” she retorted. “I recovered from 20 years of anorexia, and I am so proud of myself, and I also happen to think that my body is strong and beautiful and, frankly, it’s a work of f—ing art. So enjoy looking at it. And yeah, that’s it — good talk, guys.”

Goldschneider previously opened up about her struggles in her 2023 memoir, The Weight of Beautiful.

RHONJ’s Lauren Manzo Shuts Down Critics Who Say She Lost Too Much Weight

“I lived a life dominated by starvation, where no one dared to ask me if I needed help. For almost two decades, my diet followed a strict set of rules that were never stretched or broken, bound to maintaining a dangerously low body weight,” she penned. “There was no flexibility, there were no days off from exercise, there were no indulgences. And for all that time, through dating and marriage, infertility, parenting, and eventual fame, it was all done in secret.”

Before opening up about her condition, Goldschneider attempted to hide her struggles but many of her RHONJ costars addressed their concerns for her wellbeing including Margaret Josephs and Jennifer Aydin. Goldschneider later revealed that being on the reality series helped during her recovery.

“[The show] did help me recover. … I don’t think I would have recovered if I was the only one holding myself accountable,” she said during a January episode of Jana Kramer’s “Whine Down” podcast. “So having the show, so that I could do this on a public stage, was really helpful to me.”

Kelly Reilly and Wes Bentley gave it their all in the intense showdown between Beth and Jamie in the Yellowstone finale.

“Obviously there are places where you will put in their doubles, who have also been with us from the beginning,” executive producer Christina Alexandra Voros said of choreographing the fight scene between Reilly and Bentley’s characters in an interview with Variety published on Tuesday, December 17. “They’ve learned the way the actors move and have been studying that so you do have that element for places where you want to pull the pad out and someone has to hit the ground and Kelly has 12 more days of shooting and nothing can happen to her. But Kelly and Wes did the majority of that fight themselves.”

During the Sunday, December 15, finale, fans saw Beth (Reilly) make her move against Jamie (Bentley) in their fight for their family’s farm following the funeral for her father, John Dutton, who was played by Kevin Costner. Beth attacked Jamie with bear spray, which led to a violent altercation that ultimately resulted in Jamie’s death.

“Even if they are not taking a punch or throwing one, the energy it takes to keep in that space emotionally is exhausting,” Voros continued. “So I think what people don’t realize when they see that fight is yes, it looks real and bloody and gruesome, but just staying in that mindset of being this ferocious takes a great deal from the actors to stay in the headspace.”

Wes Bentley Reveals Which ‘Yellowstone’ Scene Was the Hardest to Film

Voros applauded Reilly, 47, and Bentley, 46, for their ability to keep their composure amid all that intense choreography.

“Forget about the milk and the bear spray and the stabbing and all that. That’s the easy part,” she said. “My kudos to Kelly and Wes for being able to keep in that extreme state of war emotionally throughout that scene.”

Following the Paramount Network drama’s finale, Reilly shared a photo of her and Bentley on set after completing that fight scene.

“Wes Bentley and I after that scene … One of the greatest scene partners I have ever had,” the actress wrote via her Instagram Story on Tuesday alongside a selfie of the pair covered in fake blood. “Love you Wes xx.”

Reilly also opened up online about how much her Yellowstone character has grown since the series’ first season, which premiered in 2018.

“[Beth] definitely changed. In early seasons [the farm] was a place with too many bad memories. The place haunted her,” she wrote via Instagram on Sunday. “She was loyal to her father as she loved him so ferociously but she also felt such responsibility and guilt about the death of her mother, his wife.”

How Did ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 End? Breaking Down [Spoiler's] Death

Reilly continued: “It almost became her reason to live to make it right, to do this for him. She became his most loyal soldier. Over the seasons you saw her fall in love with it again. She did it for him. For the land. And for a part of her soul.”

Since it was announced that Yellowstone would end with season 5, there have been multiple reports of a spinoff in the works starring Reilly and Cole Hauser, who played her love interest, Rip Wheeler.

“I loved this season. There were some really different territories to explore, so I’m not clinging to her,” Reilly told Town & Country in November about possibly reprising the role. “I’m happy to put her back in her padlocked box.”

Yellowstone is available to stream on Peacock.

Sabrina Carpenter isn’t buying into any old adages following her recent split from Barry Keoghan.

Carpenter, 25, surprised fans at Jack Antonoff’s annual The Ally Coalition talent show event at the NYU Skirball Theatre on Tuesday, December 17, where Us Weekly was in attendance. She rocked a black two-piece capri pant set that featured bows and paired the look with black high heels.

The pop star joined the Bleachers frontman on stage to perform their song “Slim Pickins.” Antonoff produced the track for Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet album.

Before they performed the track, Carpenter shared that she and Antonoff were inspired by the idiom there’s “plenty of fish in the sea.” However, Carpenter joked that she’s not feeling as hopeful these days. She told the crowd that the old saying is a “big fat lie, I think.” She added that while her opinion might be unsavory she teased the song has a more “pessimistic” outlook.

Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan's Split: What Went Wrong? (Sources)

Carpenter’s comments come weeks after Us confirmed that she and Keoghan, 32, called it quits after nearly one year of dating.

“It’s been challenging for their relationship since she started going on tour and has been gone a lot,” a source exclusively told Us at the time. “Their schedules were not aligning. All the time spent apart it was hard to maintain a relationship amid her career exploding.”

After news broke of their split, Keoghan deleted his social media page and asked fans to “please be respectful.”

“I can only sit and take so much. My name has been dragged across the internet in ways I usually don’t respond to,” he wrote in an X statement earlier this month. “I have to respond now because it’s getting to a place where too many lines are being crossed. I deactivated my account because I can no longer let this stuff distract me from my family and my work.”

It’s been a whirlwind year for Carpenter. She had a major breakout by dropping her Short ’N’ Sweet album, completing with the U.S. leg of her Short ’N’ Sweet tour, releasing her Nonsense Christmas special on Netflix and becoming a first-time Grammy nominee. Keoghan, for his part, has been busy as well with his various film projects including Peaky Blinders, Bird and more.

Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter’s Relationship Timeline

Keoghan and Carpenter met during a Paris Fashion Week event in fall 2023 and started dating the following January. After the actor was spotted at several of Carpenter’s concerts, they made their red carpet debut at the Met Gala in May. The pair also teamed up for the singer’s “Please Please Please” music video where Keoghan made a cameo as Carpenter’s love interest.

“Please Please Please” has become one of Carpenter’s biggest songs and earned several nods at the Grammys. During the Tuesday concert, Carpenter and Antonoff performed a “Christmas version” of “Please Please Please” while she sat on the music producer’s piano. The crowd cheered as she sang the chorus. Sabrina joked that this performance was her “last singing day of the year.”

With reporting by Lexi Carson

Giannis Antetokounmpo knew right away that his $500,000 prize for winning the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup would go directly to his family.

“I just got married, my wife’s a little bit needy, so I might have to get [her] a gift,” Antetokounmpo, 30, jokingly said of his plans for the prize money after the Milwaukee Bucks won the tournament in Las Vegas on Tuesday, December 17, in an Instagram video shared by the NBA. “It’s Christmas.”

For winning the NBA Cup, every Bucks player will receive $514,970. Antetokounmpo joked that in addition to treating wife Mariah Riddlesprigger to something special, a majority of the cash will be spent on his children.

The couple share sons Liam, 4, and Maverick Shai, 3, and daughter Eva Brooke, 16 months. Antetokounmpo also confirmed that he and Riddlesprigger are expecting baby no. 4 after online speculation that the social media personality was pregnant.

NBA’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mariah Riddlesprigger's Relationship Timeline

“I have also three kids. I got to go Christmas shopping. And, I have a kid on the way,” he continued. “You know, diapers are expensive. So, the money’s already gone.”

Antetokounmpo further teased that the money wouldn’t last long as it goes toward his and Riddlesprigger’s family.

“I got the money today, and the money’s already gone,” he quipped.

Riddlesprigger brought her and Antetokounmpo’s little ones to watch the power forward and the Bucks face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Emirates NBA Cup. The Bucks won in a 97-81 victory, and Antetokounmpo took home the MVP award after scoring 26 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists.

While Antetokounmpo celebrated the win, he also took to Instagram to share his appreciation for his family’s support.

“My motivation ,” the basketball player captioned a photo of Riddlesprigger and their kids at the game.

Antetokounmpo and Riddlesprigger tied the knot in Greece — where the NBA player was born — earlier this year ahead of the NBA season.

Gabrielle! Ayesha! Jordyn! Meet the Partners of Basketball Players

“We had an incredible few days there together. We had fun,” Antetokounmpo told People in September about his and Riddlesprigger’s nuptials. “It was a celebration of our love. Now we’ve become one. And I’m happy that we did it. I feel like a lot of people had fun.”

Antetokounmpo added that many of his teammates, friends and loved ones were able to make it to the celebration.

That same month, Antetokounmpo shared a series of snaps from his and Riddlesprigger’s Greece trip.

“The good life! Taking over my instagram again!! ,” he captioned the slideshow.

Anchors at the CBS affiliate KOLD-TV in Tucson, Arizona paid an emotional tribute to their late colleague, Ana Orsini, on air.

“Sad news to share with you, our beloved friend and co-anchor Ana Orsini passed away unexpectedly last week,” anchor Tyler Butler told viewers during the Monday, December 16 broadcast.

Co-anchor Carsyn Currier — who was visibly upset and fighting back tears — added that Orsini had been a member of the station since June of 2023 and that the group is “devastated by this loss.” Butler supportively grabbed Currier’s hand as the journalists reflected on their friendship with Orsini.

“We had the opportunity to work with her every day, and we do want you to know that what you saw with her on air — the funny, crazy person she was — she was just like that off-camera and more so,” Butler said.

Former NBA Player Janis Timma Dead at Age 32 After Apparent Suicide

Currier explained that her and Butler’s outfits were picked out today with Orsini in mind. Butler rocked a blue suit paired with a baby pink tie, while Currier donned a magenta cardigan sweater.

“And of course we’re wearing pink just for her,” Currier said. “While there’s no perfect way to remember the life Ana led, we do want to honor her by sharing some of our favorite Ana moments.”

The clip then cut to a reel of several of Ana’s previous broadcasts with the network.

According to the outlet, Orsini unexpectedly died one week earlier as the result of a brain aneurysm. She was 28 years old. Orsini’s family told KOLD-TV that they wanted the late journalist to be “remembered for the bright, sunny person she was.”

In lieu of donations, the family encouraged viewers to donate to their local animal shelters in honor of Orsini, since the journalist was an avid animal enthusiast and “never met a dog she didn’t love.” Orsini had her own rescue dog named Harley.

LA Radio Host Robin Ayers Dead at 44

In addition to the broadcast, several of Orsini’s coworkers paid tribute to her online.

“There are special people who come into our lives that will have an everlasting impact and Ana Orsini was one of them. Our thoughts and sincerest prayers are with the Orsini family during this incredibly tragic time,” anchor Dan Marries wrote via Instagram on Monday. “The unconditional love she shared with them is something I wish everyone could be blessed with. Ana, you were one in a trillion; wise beyond your years, full of practical insight, smart, compassionate, quick-witted, and possessed a contagious love for animals, especially dogs.”

Before joining the KOLD-TV staff, Orsini worked as an anchor in Medford, Oregon and reporter in Lubbock, Texas. During her time in Texas, Orsini launched her “Pet of the Day” segment, where she highlighted and helped local shelter animals.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will reportedly not celebrate Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham this year.

According to Hello! magazine, Beatrice, 36, and Eugenie, 34, will be spending the holidays with their respective inlaws. This will be the first time the royals will spend the holiday season away from their royal family members since their respective weddings.

Beatrice has been married to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi since July 2020. The couple share daughter Sienna, 3, and are currently expecting baby number two. (Edoardo, 41, is also a father to 8-year-old Wolfie, whom he shares with ex-fiancée Dara Huang.)

Eugenie, for her part, wed Jack Brooksbank in 2018. The pair are the parents of sons August, 3, and Ernest, 18 months.

Prince Andrew Gets Visits From Daughters and Grandchildren Amid Crisis

Beatrice and Eugenie — the daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson — have traditionally spent Christmas at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England with King Charles III and other members of the royal family. The only time the princesses did not attend was in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Independent previously reported that Beatrice and Eugenie’s parents will also not be spending Christmas at Sandringham. The news came shortly after reports surfaced of Andrew’s alleged connection to a businessman accused of being a Chinese spy.

In a December 14 statement to BBC, the Duke of York, 64, claimed that he “ceased all contact” with the individual. Andrew’s office further claimed that Andrew met the man “through official channels” and “nothing of a sensitive nature [was] ever discussed.”

According to the outlet, the alleged spy — who has been referred to as H6 — was previously banned from the U.K. in 2023 following security court proceedings. Judges were told that H6 allegedly tried to gain Andrew’s influence and was subsequently invited to his birthday party in 2020.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie Have 'The Best of Both Worlds' as Royals

Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in the U.K. denied the espionage claim. “Some individuals in the U.K. are always eager to fabricate baseless ‘spy’ stories targeting China,” a spokesperson said in a statement to the BBC.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on Andrew’s latest scandal since he is a non-working royal. In 2020, Andrew was stripped of his title by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and forced to take a step back from his official duties and patronages after he was sued for sexual misconduct. Andrew denied the allegations. In 2022, Prince Andrew settled the lawsuit out of court.

While Andrew is no longer a working member of the royal family, Beatrice has taken on some extra responsibilities. Last month, she stepped in for Charles, 75, when she attended The King’s Foundation’s Future Textiles exhibition in London. During the event, she met with the foundation’s executives and several students.

More details are coming to light about the incident that took place during Jamie Foxx’s birthday dinner.

“There was someone in an upper-level area of the restaurant who was with a big group of people and pointed a laser light on Jamie’s face while Jamie was at his table,” a source tells Us Weekly. “The laser light was in the form of a penis.”

According to the insider, Foxx, 57, “went over” to the group shining the laser to “talk to them.” The source shares that the “crew” with the laser was “being aggressive” on the upstairs level of the establishment — but that didn’t faze Foxx.

“Jamie was being polite. He asked them to knock it off because kids were there,” the insider explains. “He walked away calmly, and they threw a glass as he sat back down and it cut his face. That’s why he got stitches. He didn’t retaliate.”

Jamie Foxx Reveals He Had a Brain Bleed That Led to Stroke in New Special

Foxx was spotted celebrating his 57th birthday on Saturday, December 14, at Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills alongside his two daughters, Corinne and Analise, and his ex Kristin Grannis.

“Jamie Foxx was at his birthday dinner when someone from another table threw a glass that hit him in the mouth,” Foxx’s spokesperson told Us in a statement following the incident. “He had to get stitches and is recovering. The police were called and the matter is now in law enforcement’s hands.”

According to the Beverly Hills Police Department, a call was made around 10 p.m. about an alleged fight at the restaurant. “Upon investigation, officers determined that the reported assault with a deadly weapon was unfounded,” BHPD said in a press release. “Instead, the incident involved a physical altercation between parties.”

No arrests were made, and the investigation is complete per the authorities’ statement.

TMZ reported on Monday, December 16, that Dickhouse Productions — which is owned and operated by Jackass creators Johnny Knoxville, Jeff Tremaine and Spike Jonze — is the group that rented out the upper level of the eatery that evening. The outlet noted that Knoxville, Tremaine and Jones were not in attendance at the company’s outing.

One day after the incident occurred, Foxx broke his silence.

Jamie Foxx Was 'In a Stone Cold Coma,' New Netflix Special Reveals

“The devil is a lie,” Foxx captioned an Instagram post which had the sentence “The devil is busy … but I’m too blessed to be stressed” typed across a black background. “Can’t win here… thank you to everybody that pray and check on me… when your light is shining bright… they try to bring you darkness … but they don’t know that you’re built for it… the lights have been shining bright…”

Foxx also thanked everyone who watched his new Netflix special, which premiered earlier this month.

“And huge thank yous to everyone that have watched and been inspired by What Had Happened Was … number 1 on @netflix,” he continued. “If you haven’t checked it out please go check it out it’s from my heart and my soul….”

With reporting by Andrea Simpson

Keanu Reeves and his long-time girlfriend, Alexandra Grant, have been going strong since they went public with their relationship in 2019, but their love connection didn’t start right away.

The pair formed a professional connection after meeting at a dinner party in 2009, going on to collaborate on several projects like Reeve’s books Ode to Happiness and Shadows. The duo also opened their own publishing company, X Artists Books, together before they were romantically linked.

Reeves and Grant went public with their romance during a November 2019 red carpet appearance. A source exclusively told Us Weekly at the time that they had “been dating for years” and that “it wasn’t a secret.”

In March 2021, another insider gave Us insight into Reeves and Grant’s happy and strong relationship. “They fit together perfectly, and he really fawns over her when they’re together,” the source shared, adding that they were “in no rush to make it to the altar.”

Keep scrolling for Reeves and Grant’s relationship timeline:

Lawyer Alex Spiro is claiming that multiple people are willing to come forward to address the supposed inconsistencies in the rape allegation made against Jay-Z.

“There are dozens and dozens of people that are gonna say there was no party in the ‘white house,’” Spiro told Us Weekly and other reporters during a press roundtable on Monday, December 16, at Roc Nation’s New York City offices.

Spiro was referring to the alleged location where the unnamed woman, who has been referred to as Jane Doe, claimed Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs raped her at an MTV Video Music Awards after party in 2000. According to Spiro, the home in question does not exist.

Earlier this month, Diddy and Jay-Z, both 55, were named in a civil lawsuit where the woman accused the two rappers of raping her when she was 13. The lawsuit was initially filed in October with only Diddy named in the paperwork, but attorney Tony Buzbee, who is representing numerous people claiming to be victims of Diddy, refiled the paperwork on December 8 to include Jay-Z in the suit.

Jay-Z's Lawyer Says Rapper and Diddy's Relationship Was Purely Professional

Both Jay-Z and Diddy have refuted the allegations, and the Roc Nation founder has filed a motion to dismiss the civil lawsuit.

On Monday, Spiro began the roundtable by stating that Jay-Z “did not rape a child” before giving a presentation that detailed alleged holes in the accuser’s story.

The woman came forward last week to acknowledge the inconsistencies in her account but stood by her claims. One of those inconsistencies is her description of the house where the incident allegedly took place. Buzbee and his team shared that they were attempting to determine the location that the woman described. Spiro, for his part, criticized Buzbee on Monday.

“You can see here now that this is starting to unravel and the truth is coming out, he’s starting to walk away from it,” Spiro claimed. “He’s saying, ‘Oh, sorry. This case was referred to our firm by another firm, so I didn’t really check it out.’ It’s basically what he said, right? He brings an accusation like this, attacks a man with the integrity of Mr. Carter, and all he has to say for himself now is, ‘Well, I didn’t really check on this. I got a referral trying to make a little bit of money. So we just went live with it.’”

Buzbee subsequently responded to Spiro’s comments in a statement to Us.

Jay-Z Rape Accuser ‘Never Demanded a Penny’ From Rapper, Says Attorney

“This client was signed up and referred to our firm by another law firm. That law firm drafted the initial complaint,” he said on Monday. “However, four individuals at our firm have also interviewed the client and checked details after accepting the referral. A background check was run on the client. We also engaged a seasoned investigator to vet some details she disclosed to us. Those results were consistent with what the client had told us.”

Buzbee continued: “We sent a letter to Mr. Carter’s counsel and offered to sit down to discuss the claims confidentially. Rather than accepting that offer, Mr. Spiro chose to file a public lawsuit accusing me personally of extortion. He made that claim knowing that we made no demand at all for money and out it in the public sphere. That case is utterly frivolous. Further: At least three lawyers from our firm interviewed the client prior to filing the amended complaint naming Mr. Carter. The client also has signed two separate affidavits. Our client remains adamant about her claim. Mr. Spiro tries to be a bully. But we won’t be bullied. Our conduct has been beyond reproach and will continue to be. We will be raising some of the conduct of our adversaries in due course that is extremely troubling.”

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

With reporting by Brody Brown