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Yesterday — 12 January 2025Main stream

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

12 January 2025 at 14:28
Extravagant Hollywood Celebrity Hotel Welcomes Firefighters Evacuees of LA Fires
FG/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

The exclusive Chateau Marmont, a beloved hotel to many of Hollywood’s most famous stars, is opening its doors for firefighters and evacuees of the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires.

“To the heroes and victims in the Hollywood community who’ve lost their homes… we’d like to invite you to our safe haven,” the hotel announced via an Instagram post on Sunday, January 12. “For the next week, we’re making our cottages available for complimentary two-night stays for Los Angeles firefighters and members of the unions representing our city’s creative industries.”

In order for firefighters and those displaced by the ongoing fires to take advantage of the offer, the post directs those in need to “call the hotel directly.” The correct number for the Chateau Marmont can be located in the hotel’s Instagram bio.

“Requests for cottages will be located in the order they’re received,” the post concluded.

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

According to local authorities, at least 16 people have lost their lives as a result of the five wildfires burning around L.A., though officials believe that number is likely to increase as more search and rescue efforts are underway. According to NBC News, the fires have burned through at least 37,000 acres and destroyed more than 12,000 structures, while tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes under mandatory evacuation orders.

Extravagant Hollywood Celebrity Hotel Welcomes Firefighters Evacuees of LA Fires
DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images

Many celebrities and Hollywood A-listers have lost their homes as a result of the fires, including Paris Hilton and Anthony Hopkins. Other stars have gone out of their way to help their fellow Angelinos as communities continue to be ravaged by the flames.

Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, spent time volunteering alongside World Central Kitchen workers, while Selling Sunset’s Jason Oppenheim announced his realtors will be donating their services to those in need of a new home.

“If you’ve lost your home in the Los Angeles fires and you need to find a place to rent until your home is rebuilt, all Oppenheim Group agents will represent you for free or credit you back any commission we receive in the transaction,” the Selling Sunset star, 47, wrote in a Thursday, January 9 Instagram post. “Please reach out to us at [email protected].”

Celebrities Share Personal Photos of Heartbreaking Los Angeles Wildfires

Actress Jennifer Garner was spotted in L.A. also volunteering alongside World Central Kitchen workers and celebrity chef José Andrés, People reported at the time. Meanwhile, Sharon Stone and Halle Berry have donated their “entire closet” to those who lost everything in the fires.

“I’m packing up my entire closet and heading over to the COOP!” Berry, 58, said via Instagram on Thursday, January 9. “If you live in the Southern California area, I urge you to do the same. This is something we can do right now today to help all of the displaced families that are in need of the basics today! Thank you @sharonstone for your leadership. Love you Lady.”

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

Ashley Tisdale Addresses Mental Health in Emotional Post Amid L.A. Fires

12 January 2025 at 12:20
Ashley Tisdale Shares Emotional IG Story on Mental Health Amid LA Wildfires
Ashley Tisdale Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Ashley Tisdale is opening up about the toll the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires are taking on her mental health.

“There are times in my life due to my mental health where I feel very alone, even when I’m out to dinner with friends,” Tisdale, 39, wrote in an emotional post shared via her Instagram Stories on Saturday, January 11.

“This experience has shown me how many amazing people I have in my life and I am far from alone,” she continued. “The amount of people checking in with each other is so amazing. You realize in dark moments you have each other. The human connection is not lost. Shout out to the mom group that’s there in the highs and the lows.”

Tisdale went on to tag several of her friends in the post, including Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore and Meghan Trainor.

Celebrities Share Personal Photos of Heartbreaking Los Angeles Wildfires

In another candid post, Tisdale also opened up about how difficult it is to parent during such a heartbreaking time.

Ashley Tisdale Shares Emotional IG Story on Mental Health Amid LA Wildfires
Courtesy of Ashley Tisdale/Instagram

“It’s all too much,” she posted, as reported by Entertainment Tonight. “Trying to be a parent to my two kids while I’m scared as hell and calling my own parents. I’m traumatized.”

Tisdale and her husband Christopher French share two daughters, Jupiter Iris and Emerson Clover.

At least 16 people have lost their lives as a result of the five wildfires burning in and around the greater Los Angeles area, according to local officials who stressed the death toll is likely to climb as more search and recovery efforts are underway. According to NBC News, the first have burned through at least 37,000 acres and have destroyed or severely damaged more than 12,000 structures. Thousands of residents have been forced to flee their homes under mandatory evacuation orders.

Spencer Pratt Defends Mandy Moore Amid Wildfire GoFundMe Backlash

Tisdale’s BFF, Moore, 40, has also been vocal on social media about the devastating fires and how they are impacting her and her family, including her in-laws who she says lost their home in the blaze.

Ashley Tisdale Shares Emotional IG Story on Mental Health Amid LA Wildfires
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

“We were able to park and walk up our street to bear witness to all the loss,” Moore wrote in one Instagram post on Friday, January 11. “Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now.”

“It’s not livable but mostly intact,” Moore continued. “We lost Taylor and griffin’s studio with every instrument and piece of equipment they’ve ver owned. We lost our garage and back house. Everyone we know lost everything. Every house on our street is gone. My in laws. My brother and sister in law — 6 weeks from welcoming their first baby. Our best friends. Feeling weird survivors guilt. We love this community and will do everything we can to help rebuild and support. Thanks for everyone for checking on us and offering us help. Altadena strong.”

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

Kim Kardashian Praises Incarcerated Firefighters Battling L.A. Flames

12 January 2025 at 08:37
Kim Kardashian Shouts Out Incarcerated Firefighters
Kim Kardashian Taylor Hill/FilmMagic ; ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Kim Kardashian is using her massive platform to bring attention to a relatively unknown and overlooked group of firefighters battling the devastating Los Angeles fires.

“I have spent the last week watching my city burning. And have seen and spoken to many firefighter who are up all night long using every ounce of their strength to save our community,” Kardashian, 44, said in a series of posts shared via Instagram Stories on Saturday, January 11.

“Thank you to @calfire la County Fire and Los Angeles City Fire for everything you are doing to save lives, homes property,” she added.

Kardashian then went on to praise the incarcerated firefighters battling the flames. (According to a recent report from The New York Times, at least 900 prisoners are currently fighting the historic fires in and around the greater Los Angeles area.)

Celebrities Share Personal Photos of Heartbreaking Los Angeles Wildfires

“On all 5 fires in Los Angeles, there are hundreds of incarcerated firefighters, risking their lives to save us,” Kardashian explained. “They are on the Palisades fire and Eaton fire and Pasadena fire working 24 hour shifts. They get paid almost nothing, risk their lives, some have died, to prove to the community that they have changed and are now first responders. I see them as heroes.”

According to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in California, incarcerated firefighters in the area are “working to cut fire lines and remove fuel to slow fire spread,” as reported by The New York Times. “Their presence provides much-needed manpower to depleted fire crews,” the outlet writes.

“The incarcerated firefighters have been paid $1/hour to risk their lives and this pay has been the same since 1984,” Kardashian continues in her Instagram Stories. “It has never been raised with inflation. It’s never been raised when fires got worse and many [firefighters] died. This year there was an agreement to raise the incarcerated firefighter pay to $5/hour, but it got shot down last minute.”

Kardashian, who is also known for her prison reform advocacy work, then urged California Governor Gavin Newsom to increase the pay incarcerated firefighters receive when battling wildfires.

“I am urging @cagovernor to do what no Governor has done in 4 decades, and raise the incarcerated firefighters pay to a rate that honors a human being risking their life to save our lives and homes,” she wrote.

Which Stars Have Been Affected by the Los Angeles Fires?

At least 16 people have lost their lives as a result of the five wildfires burning around L.A., according to local officials. According to NBC News, the fires have burned through at least 37,000 acres and destroyed more than 12,000 structures.

A number of Hollywood celebrities — from Milo Ventimiglia and Anthony Hopkins to Eugene Levy and Paris Hilton — have lost their homes.

In her Saturday post, Kardashian also thanked the “firefighters from the @calfire Ventura Training Center for saving my community when it started burning this week.”

“These are all FORMERLY incarcerated firefighters who have come home, and want to continue serving our communities as firefighters,” she continued. “Due to bills passed by @antirecidivismcoalition, these guys can now get their sentences reduced, expunging the felonies from their records for their fire service. And when they come home can get six figure jobs working for the fire departments.”

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

Reporter Battling Cancer Says Olivia Munn ‘Played a Role in Saving My Life’

11 January 2025 at 14:12
'Inside Edition' Reporter, 34, Credits Olivia Munn With 'Saving My Life' as She Undergoes Mastectomy
Alison Hall, Olivia Munn Courtesy of Alison Hall/Instagram ; Cindy Ord/Getty Images

One reporter is crediting actress Olivia Munn for saving her life.

Inside Edition’s Alison Hall shared an emotional post via Instagram on Wednesday, January 8, announcing that she has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and is preparing to undergo a mastectomy.

“Let me tell you the story of how Olivia Munn and the show I work for, Inside Edition, played a role in saving my life,” Hall, 33, wrote in the post’s moving caption. “Last spring, after @oliviamunn shared her story about her breast cancer journey, the producers at @insideedition assigned me to the story and sent me to a breast cancer doctor here in NYC to undergo testing, on-camera. Inspired by Olivia, I took the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Test.”

According to Hall, her risk was “revealed to be high,” so the “wonderful doctors” at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City “encouraged me to start a schedule of yearly mammograms and MRIs.”

“I was prepared to do this for a long time and had no idea just how quickly this story would change my life,” she continued. “In October, I had my first breast MRI and a week later just before I turned 33, I became one of millions of women to hear the words ‘you have breast cancer.’”

Hall explained that physicians also told her that her cancer is a “stage zero,” meaning it “has not spread.”

“I have an early form of malignancy called DCIS,” she added. According to Johns Hopkins, DCIS – or ductal carcinoma in situ — is a ‘non-invasive form of breast cancer that develops in the milk ducts of the breast.”

“As you can imagine, I have been on a rollercoaster ride of fear, anxiety, dread AND gratitude,” she continued in the Wednesday post. “My husband reminds me that this is ‘the best, bad news’ we could have gotten. For many reasons including my family history of breast cancer and my own history of breast abnormalities, I’ve decided to not only tackle the current cancer head-on but dramatically reduce my risk of future breast cancer. I’ve chosen to undergo a double mastectomy with reconstruction, next week.”

Munn, 44, revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2024.

“Surprisingly, I’ve only cried twice,” Munn wrote in a lengthy Instagram post detailing her diagnosis and subsequent treatment, which also included a double mastectomy. “I guess I haven’t felt like there was time to cry. My focus narrowed and I tabled any emotions that I felt would interfere with my ability to stay clearheaded,” she wrote at the time.

In her Wednesday Instagram post, Hall said that she considers “this experience a gift,” adding that her diagnosis allows her to “do this for my future self, for my future children.”

“I have some of the best family, friends, dog, therapist, doctors and colleagues in the world who have shown up for me and provided more love than I could imagine,” she added. “I believe in the power of storytelling. Olivia Munn sharing her story saved lives. It certainly had a part in saving mine. I’m sharing my story with the same hope.”

Club Chalamet Account Creator Slams 'Evil' People Celebrating Home Burning

11 January 2025 at 13:05

While celebrities and citizens alike rally around the communities most impacted by the ongoing Los Angeles fires, one creator behind a popular Timothée Chalamet fan account has words to say to the people celebrating the devastation.

“To those of you who have sent me private messages laughing at me, wishing I had died in the fire too, or that you’re drinking champagne at my misery, or that it’s my ‘karma,’ just know that I know what you are and you do not matter to me,” the Club Chalamet account posted via X on Saturday, January 11, which is ran by a person who goes by the name Simone.

“I read some of these messages, deleted and blocked them, and it doesn’t hurt me because, again, I know what you are,” the post continued. “You are heartless and evil, and you’re the type of people who would loot the ashes of the homes to find scraps.”

On Thursday, January 9, Simone confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that she lost her home in the L.A. fires. “I lost my home in Altadena, but I am safe with friends,” the content creator told the publication.

Celebrities Share Personal Photos of Heartbreaking Los Angeles Wildfires

To date, the fires have killed at least 11 people and burned more than 37,000 acres of land, according to Cal Fire. The fires have also destroyed more than 12,000 structures and displaced tens of thousands of Los Angeles area residents.

Timothée Chalamet Fan Account Creator Slams ‘Evil’ People Celebrating L.A. Fire Destroying Her Home
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

In the same social media post shared on Saturday, Simone thanked followers who have expressed their heartfelt condolences and concern for her safety.

“I want to take a moment to thank each and everyone of you who have reached out to me directly expressing support, empathy, and love for me in the fallout of the #EatonFire that destroyed my home on Tuesday night,” she wrote. “I have been in a fog of confusion, I have been scared about what to do next, and I have been exhausted from not sleeping well, all between shedding tears.”

The social media influencer went on to say that she is getting “a bit stronger” with “each passing day,” adding that she is “confident I will move on from this stronger, thanks to friends.”

Which Stars Have Been Affected by the Los Angeles Fires?

“I do want to address the elephant in the room which is the heavy troll activity that seems to enjoy seeing me lose everything,” she continued. “These type of people don’t matter to me, they never have, and never will. It says so much about their character to take joy in learning that someone’s home burned down, not realizing that I wasn’t even the homeowner and that I risked my life rescuing 5 animals where most people would have left them to die, especially when you have the Altadena sheriff’s department yelling at you through a bullhorn to evacuate.”

Numerous Hollywood stars — from Paris Hilton and Whitney Cummings to Jennifer Grey and Emily Procter — have reportedly lost their homes to the historic blaze.

“I am so grateful to have survived, but it is my home,” Procter, who starred on The West Wing, told CNN’s Jake Tapper in an emotional interview. “It is my neighborhood. It’s my community. What we mourn is our lives.”

Simone explained in the same X post that she is “temporarily living with my boss, along with my landlady’s dog and cats.” She shared that in the immediate future she’ll move in with a friend “until I can get back on my feet and get a new place.”

“Meanwhile, I’ll be resuming my support of Timothée Chalamet in his historic quest for his Oscar for his inspirational performance as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown,” she added. “Lastly, my heart goes out to those of you or your loved ones who also lost their home or had to be evacuated, and I hope time heals your sorrows.”

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

© ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Dave Coulier Gives Candid Cancer Update: ‘In Fight or Flight Mode’

11 January 2025 at 11:10
Dave Coulier Shares Cancer Update
Dave Coulier David Livingston/Getty Images

Full House star Dave Coulier has shared a candid update regarding his ongoing cancer treatment.

“The side effects have side effects,” Coulier, 65, said in the latest episode of his “Full House Rewind” podcast published on Friday, January 10. “And then you take a drug to counteract that and this and that. So it’s this constant cocktail where your body is in fight or flight mode and you’re just trying to adjust to, ‘Okay, how am I adjusting to steroids? How am I adjusting to the chemo cocktail?’”

Coulier went on to say that his body is in “a constant fight.”

“It’s a little bit of an internal battle,” he continued.

Dave Coulier Has Stage 3 'Very Aggressive' Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

In November 2024, the actor revealed he had been diagnosed with Stage 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In an interview with People, Coulier explained that he had first received his diagnosis in October the same year after experiencing an upper respiratory infection that resulted in severe swelling of his lymph nodes.

As a result, Coulier underwent PET and CT scans as well as a biopsy.

“Three days later, my doctors called me back and they said, ‘We wish we had better news for you, but you have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and it’s called B cell and it’s very aggressive,” Coulier told the outlet at the time. “I went from, ‘I got a little bit of a head cold’ to, ‘I have cancer’ and it was pretty overwhelming. This has been a really fast roller coaster ride of a journey.”

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a form of cancer that fights the body’s lymphatic system and affects “white blood cells called lymphocytes [that] grow abnormally and can form growths (tumors) throughout the body,” according to the Mayo Clinic.

Dave Coulier Likely to Make 'Full Recovery' in Cancer Battle, Doctor Says

After publicly revealing his diagnosis, Coulier explained that he and his wife Melissa Bring relied on the advice of friends working in the medical field to create “a very specific plan for how they were going to treat” his aggressive form of cancer.

“That was really a conscious decision of, I’m going to meet this head-one, and I want people to know it’s my life,” Coulier explained in a November 2024 episode of his podcast following his diagnosis reveal. “I’m not going to try and hide anything. I would rather talk about it and open the discussion and inspire people.”

In the Friday episode of his podcast, Coulier revealed that since sharing his diagnosis he has “heard from so many people who have been affected by cancer in their lives.”

“The words of encouragement have, I think, really helped people,” he shared. “So that, to me, is worth the journey of all of this. Just being able to alert people that it’s okay to get a colonoscopy or early screenings or a mammogram, it’s really worth it.”

Before yesterdayMain stream

Socialite Candice Miller Rebuilding Her Life After Husband's Death: Report

11 January 2025 at 09:46

Candice Miller is reportedly finding a way to move forward with her life six months after her husband Brandon Miller’s untimely death.

The former mommy blogger is said to be attending parties, various events and dinners after resettling in Miami Beach, Florida, according to a Page Six report published on Saturday, January 11. Two friends claiming to be close to Candice, 42, told the outlet that she has been seen attending workout classes and does not reportedly give the appearance that anything is wrong or awry, according to the same report.

Candice’s husband, Brandon, unexpectedly died in July 2024. His death was later ruled a suicide. Candice and Brandon got married in 2009 and later welcomed two daughters.

“Candice is devastated by the loss of her soul mate, and her two young daughters’ lives are forever impacted by the loss of their beloved daddy,” a spokesperson for the family said in a statement to the New York Times shortly after Brandon’s death.

Candice Miller Reportedly Auctioning Off Belongings After Husband's Death

Candice and Brandon were best known for showcasing their seemingly extravagant lifestyle online via the mother of two’s now-defunct “Mama & Tata” blog and Instagram account. In the former posts, Candice would highlight the family’s various trips on multi-million dollar yachts, private jets, and more.

But in the wake of Brandon’s death, court papers obtained by The New York Times in December 2024 revealed that the late real estate mogul was $33.6 million in debt at the time of his passing. According to Candice, her husband died without a will, leaving her in massive debt and, according to the social media star, only $8,000 in her bank account.

As Us Weekly previously reported, Candice “initially deactivated her social media following” following Brandon’s death, and in court papers obtained by The New York Times, claimed she owed $20 million in unsecured loans from various banks.

That same year, Candice was also sued for $195,000 in unpaid rent on the couple’s Manhattan condo. Documents obtained by Us at the time claimed that the influencer had failed to pay, while lawyers for Candice argued she was not responsible for the payments because her name was not on the apartment’s lease.

'Mama & Tata' Creator Allegedly in $33.6 Million Debt Since Husband's Death

Earlier this year, Candice reportedly started auctioning off her husband’s belongings, according to a Page Six report published on January 3. According to the outlet, multiple items were listed on the website Auction Ninja, which featured “an exclusive curated online auction” sale at the Mecox Bay Water Mill Estate.

“The auction features a carefully selected collection of fine art, furniture, decor, and bespoke pieces that were part of the home’s decor, providing an exclusive chance to own a piece of this stunning, meticulously crafted living space,” an online description of the auction items reads. “For collectors and design enthusiasts, this is an unmissable opportunity to acquire rare, beautifully curated items with the unique touch of a celebrated designer.”

According to the Saturday report from Page Six, Candice is not shopping regularly but instead living a relatively quiet life when compared to her former, luxurious online persona. She was reportedly out on Halloween with her children, and while her life has exponentially changed she has also reportedly not changed — just living a low-key, quiet life.

The report also describes Miami as the perfect place for Candice to start over, in part because it is filled with people who will accept the former social media influencer.

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

© Courtesy of Candice Miller/Instagram

Jeff Baena Wrote Movie Inspired by Family’s Mental Health Struggles

5 January 2025 at 15:08
Aubrey Plaza s Husband Jeff Baena Wrote Movie Inspired by Family s Mental Health Struggles
Jeff Baena. Jeff Vespa/WireImage

In the wake of indie screenwriter and filmmaker Jeff Baena’s untimely passing, fans are recalling his 2020 movie Horse Girl — a film inspired by his family’s mental health struggles.

“Alison and I both have had family members who have had mental illness, and it was a major influence on working on this,” Baena, who was married to Parks and Recreation star Aubrey Plaza, told Reddit users ahead of the film’s 2020 release.

Baena co-wrote the film with actress and friend Alison Brie, who also starred in the film. Baena also served as the movie’s director.

During the same 2020 Reddit Q&A, Baena explained that his first stepmother experienced “manic depression and was in and out of facilities in Miami due to the Baker Act (5150 California),” Page Six first reported.

Alison Brie Reacts to Frequent Collaborator Jeff Baena's Death

“While I would not consider Horse Girl to be an activist film, the themes of how we as a society and individuals treat persons with mental illness was a major focus and impetus for making this,” the director added at the time.

On Friday, January 3, Plaza’s husband was found deceased in the couple’s residence. According to medical records reviewed by Us Weekly, Baena died by suicide. No additional cause of death or special circumstances related to his passing were listed, and an exam was conducted on Saturday, January 4.

Aubrey Plaza s Husband Jeff Baena Wrote Movie Inspired by Family s Mental Health Struggles
Alison Brie and Jeff Baena. Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb

Plaza has not publicly commented on her husband’s death. A representative for the actress provided a statement to Deadline in which she and her family asked for privacy during “this difficult time.”

In the wake of Baena’s death, celebrities and friends alike publicly offered their condolences to Plaza via her Instagram. Others shared touching tributes to the filmmaker and screenwriter, who was also known for his work on Life After Beth, I Heart Huckabees, and more.

Revisiting Late Director Jeff Baena's Film Career and Stars He Worked With

Horse Girl follows Sarah (Brie), who finds solace in supernatural crime shows and horses, but whose lucid dreams slowly start taking over her reality. In 2020, Brie revealed in the same Reddit conversation that the film “tapped into very real emotions” due to her experience with her grandmother, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

“It’s based on my family’s history with mental illness, specifically my grandmother’s schizophrenia,” she said at the time, adding that the film also depicted her “fear of that existing in my DNA.”

Plaza and Baena, who started dating in 2011, kept their relationship relatively private. In 2021, Plaza revealed that she and her husband wed in a private ceremony at their home during COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

“A lot of things happened during COVID for me. Yes, we got married. Big deal,” Plaza recalled during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres show. “We got a little bored one night. We got married and I’ll tell you how: Onehourmarriage.com. That’s real, look it up.”

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

Why Travis Kelce Didn’t Take the Field During Chiefs’ Season Finale

5 January 2025 at 14:02
Travis Kelce Isnt Playing in the Kansas City Chiefs Season Finale Against Broncos
Travis Kelce Perry Knotts/Getty Images

Football fans and devoted Swifties alike didn’t watch Super Bowl champ tight end Travis Kelce take the field in the Kansas City Chiefs’ final game of the regular season.

Prior to the Chiefs’ Sunday, January 5 matchup against the Denver Broncos, the team’s official X account posted a list of inactive players, which included Kelce and a slew of Chiefs starters.

“Our inactives for today’s matchup,” the Chiefs wrote, highlighting Kelce and his fellow teammates, running back Isiah Pacheco, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, cornerback Trent McDuffie, defensive end George Karlaftis, tackle Jawaan Taylor, and defensive tackle Chris Jones.

Why did the chiefs decide to sit so many starters for the final game of the regular season? The reason behind the decision is a good one — the 15-1 team has already secured home field advantage and a first round bye in the upcoming NFL playoffs. The Chiefs captured the No. 1 seed in the AFC on Christmas Day 2024, after their 29-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Travis Kelce Will Not Play in Sunday's Chiefs Game

Travis Kelce Isnt Playing in the Kansas City Chiefs Season Finale Against Broncos
Travis Kelce Nick Cammett/Getty Images

In other words, it’s not worth risking their starters’ health on a game that, for the Chiefs, won’t change their playoff standing.

With Mahomes not starting, backup quarterback Carson Wentz was under center at Denver’s Empower Field at Mile High. While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, January 1, head coach Andy Reid said he wasn’t “worried” about sitting his starters.

“I’ve been through that before, so I’m not worried about all that,” Reid explained at the time. “It gives the other guys an opportunity here to grow and you can use everybody.”

Travis Kelce Reveals Why He Sat Out During Chiefs Game Against Chargers

Reid, 66, went on to say that the “primary thing is to make sure that we stay sharp in all areas through this game and for the upcoming weeks.”

“We want to stay sharp mentally and physically and then that’s our responsibility to do that and how we manage the time,” he added. “I make sure I do that practice-wise and the guys go out, players and coaches, and work on that.”

Given that the Chiefs’ final game of the regular season was an away game and Kelce did not play, it wasn’t a huge surprise to Swifties and NFL fans that the tight end’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, was not in attendance.

Rest assured, the pop star is likely to attend more than a few of the team’s playoff games, especially since the road to the Super Bowl goes through Kansas City.

Police Say 'No Suspicious Circumstances' in Drag Star The Vivienne's Death

6 January 2025 at 09:50

UPDATE — 1/6/25 at 12:50 p.m. ET:

Authorities have confirmed that the death of drag star James Lee Williams, also known as The Vivienne, had “no suspicious circumstances.”

“Police attended, investigated the circumstances of the death of the 32-year-old man and concluded there were no suspicious circumstances,” a spokesman for the Cheshire Police said to Hello! on Monday, January 6. “A file will be prepared for the coroner.”

The Vivienne went by they/them pronouns.

Additional details of The Vivienne’s death have yet to be released.

Original story:

Beloved drag queen and RuPaul’s Drag Race star James Lee Williams, better known as The Vivienne, has died. They were 32.

“It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved James Lee Williams — The Vivienne, has passed this weekend,” the performer’s manager, Simon Jones, wrote in a statement shared via Instagram on Sunday, January 5.

A cause of death has not been revealed.

“James was an incredibly loved, warm-hearted and amazing person,” the publicist’s statement continued. “Their family are heartbroken at the loss of their son, brother and uncle. They are so proud of the wonderful things James achieved in their life and career. We will not be releasing any further details. We please ask that James’s family are given the time and privacy they now need to process and grieve.”

Reality TV Tragedies: The Saddest and Most Shocking Deaths

In a follow-up statement also shared via his Instagram account, Jones shared a more personal reaction to the news of the drag queen’s untimely passing, writing that The Vivienne was more than a client — they were a friend.

Beloved Drag Queen James Lee Williams, Known as ‘The Vivienne’, Dead at 32
James Lee Williams Courtesy of James Lee Williams/Instagram

“These are words I never ever wanted to write,” Jones said in the second statement. “Viv was a close friend, a client and someone I loved very much. From the moment I met them in 2019 I knew we could create magic together and I became their manager. Their talent was immense and the light they brought to every room was astonishing.”

Jones went on to explain that “no one has ever made me laugh in my life as much as Viv did,” before adding that “their comic genius and quick wit was like no other.”

“I’m so proud and lucky that Viv was such a big part of my life every day for the last 5 years,” the statement continued. “It’s tragic that their career was only just beginning. In music theatre Viv had found a space and career they loved, excelled and thrived in. I am heartbroken and devastated at this news. RIP my wonderful friend. You left us way too soon.”

'RuPaul's Drag Race' Stars: Where Are They Now?

The Vivienne was best known for their time on the hit reality television show RuPaul’s Drag Race UK — the drag queen won the inaugural series in 2019. Drag Race judge Michelle Visage responded to news of The Vivienne’s passing, calling it “heartbreaking.”

“Your laughter, your wit, your talent, your drag. I loved all of it but I loved your friendship most of all,” Visage wrote via Instagram on Sunday. “You were a beacon to so many… I love you my darling. You will be so missed.”

© Courtesy of James Lee Williams/Instagram

Former NFL Player Thinks Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Will Marry in 2025

5 January 2025 at 12:57
Former NFL Player Reveals He Thinks Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Will Marry in 2025
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce XNY/Star Max/GC Images

Diehard Sifties and Kansas City Chiefs fans aren’t the only ones actively hoping they see tight end Travis Kelce and pop star Taylor Swift walk down the aisle in 2025.

“I’m thinking this year they are going to get married, or after football,” former NFL corner and Pro-Bowler Adam “Pacman” Jones told The Mirror in an interview published on Friday, January 3. “Of course, they are going to be together.”

Jones also addressed the online conspiracy theory claiming Kelce and Swift are not in a “real relationship,” telling the outlet that he absolutely believes their romance is genuine.

“I think they are in a real relationship,” he said. “I know Trav, because he went to UC. His love [is genuine]. When he says he is with somebody, he is with somebody.”

Sorry Troy Aikman, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Aren't Engaged

He went on to add that he’s a “true believer” when it comes to the pair’s relationship, saying that “with the other young lady he was with, he was with her and he found something better and he moved on.”

“But I believe Travis a hundred percent,” Jones reiterated.

Kelce and Swift were first romantically linked in September 2023, after Swift attended her first Kansas City Chiefs game in person. The pop star later discussed her relationship with the Super Bowl champion in an interview with TIME as the outlet’s Person of the Year.

“When you say a relationship is public, that means I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care,” Swift said at the time. “The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone. And we’re just proud of each other.”

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Friends Are Hoping for an Engagement

Jones said in the same interview that he’s a big fan of what Kelce’s relationship with Swift has done for the NFL regarding women tuning in to watch more football games. He’s also pleased to see what Kelce’s elevated status as “Mr. Swift” has done for the tight end’s career off the football field.

“I love it,” he explained. “I wish I was that smart when I was young. What I’m saying is you see how many marketing deals he is getting. You see how many jerseys he’s selling. You see how many people [are] coming up to games — the Swifties. You see what his Instagram did since he [has] been with her. All of that s— plays a part.”

Celebrities Voice Support for Aubrey Plaza After Husband’s Death

5 January 2025 at 09:56
Celebrities voice support for Aubrey Plaza after Husbands death
Jeff Baena and actress Aubrey Plaza Chad Hurst/Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival

Celebrities are speaking out and voicing their heartbreak and support for Aubrey Plaza following the untimely passing of her husband, Jeff Baena.

“No words can touch this painful time,” actress Selma Blair wrote on Plaza’s most recent Instagram post on Saturday, January 4. “Only love and strength and support from everyone. I am so sorry.”

Actress Julia Fox also shared her condolences in the comments section, writing, “Sending you so much love” and sharing a dove emoji.

Meanwhile, Alison Brie, who worked with Baena and Plaza on various projects, posted a series of photos on her Instagram Stories on Sunday, January 5, featuring the late filmmaker. She posted a broken heart emoji on the first photograph, featuring the pair posing for the camera.

The indie screenwriter and film director was found dead on Friday, January 3, according to medical examiner records reviewed by Us Weekly. The cause of death was listed as suicide, according to the same records, and a medical examination was conducted. No other special circumstances or causes of death were listed. Deadline and TMZ were the first to report the news of Baena’s passing.

Plaza, 40, first met Baena in 2011. Though the pair kept their relationship relatively private, the Parks and Recreation actress confirmed they tied the knot in 2020 during COVID-19 lockdown.

Aubrey Plaza and Late Husband Jeff Baena’s Relationship Timeline

“We got a little bored one night,” Plaza recalled on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in December 2021. “We got married and I’ll tell you how: Onehourmarriage.com. That’s real, look it up.”

Best known for co-writing the 2004 film I Heart Huckabees, which was nominated for a 2004 Gotham Award for Best Feature, Baena also worked with Plaza on Life After Beth, the 2014 horror/comedy that served as his directorial debut.

“She’s awesome. I’d be working with her if she wasn’t my wife, but luckily she is my wife,” Baena told Reel Talker in August 2022. “The opportunity to do something creative [together] where we’re both fulfilled — how rare is that?”

'The White Lotus' Season 2 Cast's Dating Histories

While Plaza has yet to publicly comment on her husband’s passing, other Hollywood A-listers and celebrities are speaking out in support of the actress during such a terrible time and in the wake of such a profound loss. Here are just a few who have given their public condolences and reflected on the life and legacy of Baena.

Adam Pally

The comedian and actor shared a touching tribute to Baena via an Instagram post shared on Sunday, January 5. In addition to sharing photos of the late filmmaker, Pally wrote a heartfelt message offering his condolences to his friend, Plaza.

“Jeff Baena was a sweet Jewish boy from Miami. He was a collaborator, a mentor, the scrappiest basketball player with the ugliest jump shot you ever saw. He was a talented director with impeccable taste and vision, he was a connector of people, a fosterer of possibility, the guy who knows where the best restaurant was no matter where you were,” Pally wrote in a screenshot shared via the same Instagram post.

“An overly gracious host with an almost disturbing open door policy, a film encyclopedia, and most important to me a friend,” he continued in the statement. “As a director Jeff strove for the truth. Nothing could sound, look or feel inauthentic, and that is a direct representation of who Jeff was. Authentic. You never worried that Jeff wasn’t telling you the way it is. Cause Jeff’s virtue was telling you the way it was. My heart breaks for my friend Aubrey and the Baena family and for all of us who spent time on his sets or at his house or in his orbit. Thanks for believing in me, Jeff, may your memory be a blessing.”

Selma Blair

Shortly after news broke of Baena’s passing, the Cruel Intentions star made a touching comment on Plaza’s most recent Instagram post.

“No words can touch this painful time,” she wrote at the time. “Only love and strength and support from everyone. I am so sorry.”

Molly Shannon

Celebrities voice support for Aubrey Plaza after Husbands death
Courtesy of Molly Shannon/Instagram

The Saturday Night Live alum posted a carousel of photos featuring Breana on her Instagram, tagging the late screenwriter and posting a broken heart emoji. Plaza was featured in several of the images, including a photo of Shannon and The White Lotus star posing for the camera and Plaza sitting beside her late husband.

Brie, actress Olivia Munn, and other celebrities posted broken emojis (including a heart and a broken heart emoji) in the comments section of Shannon’s post.

Julia Fox

The actress and fashion influencer posted a short but sweet message to Plaza’s latest Instagram post, writing, “Sending you so much love” and posting a dove emoji.

Alison Brie

Celebrities voice support for Aubrey Plaza after Husbands death
Alison Brie Courtesy of Alison Brie/Instagram

Brie worked on various projects alongside Plaza and her late husband, including the film Joshy.

“Jeff [came] to the set of Community in our sixth season and asked me to play a small role in his film, Joshy,” Brie recalled of working with Baena during a 2022 interview with Collider. “There was no script for that. All of his films that I’ve been involved with, prior to this one, were fully improvised. So, he came to my dressing [room]. We set a meeting, and he came to meet me. … I knew a lot of the cast members in that movie. Nick Kroll, Jenny Slate and Adam Pally were friends of mine. I just thought, “Yeah, that sounds fun to do.” It was one day. I’m in two scenes in that movie. I thought the story was cool. And then, it just grew from there.”

On Sunday, January 5, Brie shared a series of photographs to her Instagram Stories featuring the late filmmaker, including photos of the two posing for the camera. On the first photograph, she posted a broken heart emoji.

Jeff Baena Once Revealed How He and Wife Aubrey Plaza Worked Together

5 January 2025 at 09:01

In the wake of Jeff Baena’s untimely and sudden death, fans are looking back at some of the most touching comments he made about working with his wife, Aubrey Plaza.

“My first movie was a big learning experience on all fronts, and so working with her was a benefit because we have a shorthand and a close relationship,” Baena, who was 47 when he was found deceased in his home on Friday, January 3, once said in an August 2022 interview with Newsweek.

“As I’ve made more and more stuff, I’ve come to appreciate everything that she brings,” the late filmmaker continued at the time. “She’s insanely talented and so smart and obviously really good at producing. And she’s writing. There are very few people who can wear as many hats as her, as elegantly as she does.”

Baena had worked on several films alongside Plaza, 40, including Life After Beth, which served as his directorial debut.

Aubrey Plaza Gave Insight Into Her Marriage 3 Months Before Husband's Death

“At this point, I think we kind of have it worked out,” Baena told Newsweek, referring to his time working with Plaza on the film Spin Me Around, which Baena both co-wrote and directed. “We’ve done it four times.”

In the same interview, Baena gushed about his wife, telling the outlet that he thinks “everything she does is amazing” and that “generally people point her out in whatever project she’s in as being the best part.”

“She’s, like, insanely talented and I’m very lucky to have her in my life,” Baena added.

On Saturday, January 4, news broke of Baena’s passing. According to medical records reviewed by Us Weekly, the filmmaker died by suicide and no additional causes or special circumstances related to his death were listed. Plaza has not publicly commented on her husband’s passing.

Aubrey Plaza and Late Husband Jeff Baena’s Relationship Timeline

In the same 2022 interview with Newsweek, Plaza opened up about how difficult — and rewarding — it can be to work with a spouse.

“It’s a really hard thing to do, first of all, be married in this business and to be in the same business and then to work together is another level of challenge,” she said at the time. “But we have done it a couple times now and we work well together. It changes movie to movie, how we approach it. But we’ve made it this far.”

Plaza and Baena started dating in 2011 before tying the knot in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. During a December 2021 appearance on the Ellen Degeneres Show, Plaza opened up about her nuptials.

“A lot of things happened during COVID for me. Yes, we got married. Big deal,” Plaza said at the time. “We got a little bored one night. We got married and I’ll tell you how: Onehourmarriage.com. That’s real, look it up.”

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

© Mark Davis/Getty Images

Pro Surfer Koa Smith Reflects on Being ‘Depressed, Suicidal, Heartbroken’

4 January 2025 at 14:20

Pro surfer Koa Smith is opening up about his past mental health struggles in a candid Instagram post celebrating his 30th birthday.

“Oh Man… 30 years old and what a trip this life is! No one told me that with every year life as an opportunity just gets better. Slowly the rules of the game uncover day by day,” the athlete posted on Friday, January 3. “The magic just gets thicker, the colors more clear, the purpose refined, the love that surrounds me grows. My connection to life only gets deeper. I am so grateful.”

Smith, 30, went on to explain that “at times” he closes his eyes and goes back “to visit the version of myself that was struggling.”

Drew Carey Reflects on His Battle With Depression and 2 Suicide Attempts

“Concussed, depressed, suicidal, heartbroken,” he continued in the moving post, which also featured numerous photos of the surfer riding big waves, spending times with friends and enjoying the beach. “I put my hand on his heart and say it’s all worth it! You just wait, it all worth it!”

He concluded, “Thankful for everyone of you! Let the Abundance Flow and the light shine bright!”

In a March 2022 interview with The Independent, Smith opened up about a catastrophic injury he sustained while surfing in Indonesia that resulted in the surfer experiencing mental health issues.

“I heard this crazy, super peaceful violin,” he told the publication at the time, referring to the moment he crashed while attempting to ride a wave. “I had one of those moments where I was above the whole bay looking down. I could see my friends in the lineup. I could see the boats in the bay. I could see the mountains. Then all of a sudden I realized that I was actually underwater.”

He continued: “I felt maybe I was leaving my body. The weird thing was it was a very comfortable, very loving, euphoric state. There was no fear. It was just like being home.”

Celebs Who Have Spoken About Ketamine Use: Matthew Perry, More

The somewhat euphoric feeling was short-lived — when the surfer regained consciousness, he could not recall his own name or his address. As a result of the crash, Smith said he suffered a severe concussion and later realized “something just broke” inside of him.

“I couldn’t even function anymore,” he explained at the time. “I had to spend 10 hours a day in my bed in the dark and just kind of figure out what I wanted to do from there.”

After struggling with his mental health despite seeing doctors, Smith told The Independent he decided to try psilocybin mushrooms as part of his “healing process.”

“It took me back to my childhood, that fire inside me as a child,” he explained. “It reminded me that I was a good person and that I was here to do good in this world. It reminded me that I should use my head injury as a guide to healing.”

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

© Phillip Faraone/Getty Images

Blake Lively Called Intimacy Coordinators 'Critical' Prior to Lawsuit

4 January 2025 at 12:18
Blake Lively Said It Was Critical to Have an Intimacy Coordinator for It Ends With Us Before Lawsuit
Blake Lively Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Before Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against her It Ends With Us costar and director Justin Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation and more, the actress opened up about the vital importance of intimacy coordinators.

“I think it’s critical to have an intimacy coordinator,” Lively, 37, told DigitalSpy in an August 2024 interview, published three months before she filed her lawsuit against Baldoni with the Southern District of New York.

“You coordinate stunts, you coordinate dancing, it is choreography,” she continued. “So it’s to be able to say, ‘This is what happens here, here and here in a stunt,’ and ‘This is what happens here and here in a dance,’ but like ‘Now you guys put your bodies together, and your mouths and whatever’ and just action and cut.”

Lively went on to say that she believes “being choreographed” during intimate scenes is “critical for everyone’s safety.”

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

Lively officially sued Baldoni on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, Us Weekly previously confirmed, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and lost wages. In addition to Baldoni, Lively is suing publicists Melissa Natahan and Jennifer Abel, as well as Wayfarer Studios.

Lively also filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, citing similar claims.

“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,” Lively said in a statement to Us.

In response, Baldoni filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times on the same day and for its reporting on Lively’s sexual harassment accusations. In the suit, Baldoni accuses the publication of libel and false light invasion of privacy, alleging that the newspaper “cherry-picked” communications and omitted context in order to mislead readers.

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

The lawsuit also alleges that Lively pursued a “strategic and manipulative” smear campaign against Baldoni, using false “sexual harassment allegations to assert unilateral control over every aspect of the production.”

Baldoni also alleges that Lively never met with an intimacy coordinator while filming It Ends With Us.

“In this vicious smear campaign fully orchestrated by Blake Lively and her team, the New York Times cowered to the wants and whims of two powerful ‘untouchable’ Hollywood elites, disregarding journalistic practices and ethics once befitting of the revered publication by using doctored and manipulated texts and intentionally omitting texts which dispute their chosen PR narrative,” Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, said via a statement to Us on Tuesday, December 31.

“In doing so, they pre-determined the outcome of their story, and aided and abetted their own devastating PR smear campaign designed to revitalize Lively’s self-induced floundering public image and counter the organic groundswell of criticism amongst the online public,” Freedman continued. “The irony is rich.”

Jennifer Love Hewitt Is Returning for ‘IKWYDLS’ Reboot: What to Know

13 December 2024 at 15:24
What to Know About IKWYDLS Reboot Including Jennifer Love Hewitts Return
Jennifer Love Hewitt in 1997’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”

It’s official: Jennifer Love Hewitt is returning to her horror roots.

“It’s never too late to go back,” Hewitt wrote via Instagram in December 2024, confirming that she will reprise her role as Julie James in the upcoming reboot of the 1997 film I Know What You Did Last Summer.

“Julie James is returning,” Hewitt continued. “I know what you will be doing next summer!”

In May 2024, Sony Pictures announced the upcoming franchise reboot was officially a go. The horror flick is set to be directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, who cowrote the screenplay with writer Sam Lansky.

'I Know What You Did Last Summer' Cast: Where Are They Now?

Hewitt’s official participation in the much-awaited reboot has only added to fans’ excitement over the film, which reportedly started filming in November 2024 and is scheduled to hit theaters in the summer of 2025.

What to Know About IKWYDLS Reboot Including Jennifer Love Hewitts Return
Freddie Prinze Jr, Ryan Phillippe, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Jennifer Love Hewitt in 1997’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”

“Listen, I loved doing those movies,” Hewitt exclusively told Us Weekly in May 2024. “There is nothing more fun than doing a horror movie. It’s the best. Julie James is awesome. I do think that there’s unfinished business there, and so I would be happy to do it.”

For the horror fans among Us who already knowing what they’re doing next summer, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot:

When Does ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ Premiere?

In May 2024, Sony announced the upcoming reboot with a release date on July 18, 2025.

Who Is Starring in the ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ Reboot?

In addition to Hewitt, OG cast member Freddie Prinze Jr. is confirmed to return, while Brandy, who starred in the 1998 sequel, has said that she’s spoken to film execs about coming back.

Hewitt confirmed her participation in the film more than six months after the reboot was announced, fueling initial speculation that she may have been left out of the project.

Movies That Were Turned Into TV Shows Over the Years

“It’s fun that it’s out there and it’s been fun to see people’s reaction that they would be excited for that,” Hewitt told Us back in May 2024, adding that both her and Prinze Jr. were in a “holding period” at the time, waiting to hear whether they would be involved.

Newcomers Chase Sui Wonders, Madelyn Cline, Sarah Pidgeon, Tyriq Withers, Jonah Hauer-King, Lola Tung, Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Austin Nichols round out the cast.

Has Filming Started on ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’?

On Thanksgiving 2024, Sarah Michelle Gellar — who’s married to Prinze Jr. and who also starred in the 1997 original — posted a photo from the set (although her character died in the original).

“You would think that being in my position, I know what rules are on sets when they say ‘closed sets,’ ya know?” the actress confessed while appearing on Live With Kelly and Mark. “So my husband’s starring in the movie, and it was Thanksgiving so I took our kids to Australia to go out there and visit him. And I was sitting on set, and I was like, ‘Oh, what a great picture,’ and then I posted it.”

What Is the Premise of the ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ Reboot?

Like the OG film, the reboot will center around a group of friends who are “terrorized by a stalker” who knows the secret involving a “gruesome incident from their past.”

Derek Hough Reveals What He Stole From the ‘Harry Potter’ Set

4 December 2024 at 17:05
Derek Hough Reveals What He Stole From 'Harry Potter' Set
Derek Hough

Dancing With the Stars judge Derek Hough has a confession to make.

“Did you know @juleshough and I were in the first Harry Potter film?” Hough, 39, asked his fans via Instagram on Wednesday, December 4. The professional dancer was referring to his and sister Julianne Hough’s short appearance in the 2001 film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

“We spent three months in the Great Hall, the Forbidden Forest, and even the Quidditch pitch!” Derek continued in the caption of the post, which featured snapshots of the siblings’ cameos. “It was incredible to be part of such a historic moment.”

Hough went on to admit that he “may have ‘accidentally’ taken” a few items from filming, including a “Ravenclaw robe, scarf, tie, and a few pieces of silverware from set.”

Stars You Forgot Were in 'Harry Potter': Rege-Jean Page and More

“But shh, don’t tell,” he joked. “Just a little holiday magic and nostalgia to share with you all. Happy holidays.”

Derek and Julianne, 36, appeared as extras in the film, playing Hogwarts students in the adaptation of author J.K Rowling’s novel of the same name. In the comments section, Derek also revealed that as a fellow blonde he sometimes stood in for Tom Felton, who played the notorious Slytherin character Draco Malfoy.

Derek Hough Reveals What He Stole From 'Harry Potter' Set
Emma Watson and Derek Hough

“Also, I stood in for Draco Malfoy to set up shots,” Derek wrote. “PPPPPOTTER!”

Fans were quick to express their shock and excitement in the comments section as well, including Potterheads who admitted they had never noticed the famous siblings’ appearance until now.

“WHAT! How did I not recognize Julianne in that scene!” one person wrote in the comments section.

“Did. NOT. Know. Love this little fun fact,” another commented.

“The Hough lore never ends!! He’s a wizarddddd,” one fan wrote, while another quipped, “You really have lived a hundred lives.”

'Harry Potter' Stars: Where Are They Now?

While Derek’s revelation came as a surprise to some, this is not the first time a Hough sibling has discussed their short time on the Harry Potter set. In a 2017 interview with People, Julianne opened up about her time on the iconic film — and even the feelings she had for the movie’s star, Daniel Radcliffe.

“I gave him a love note and a Beanie Baby for Valentine’s Day,” the actress confessed at the time. “I didn’t personally give it to him because I was just an extra, but I gave it to his assistant or PA that was working with him. I don’t know if he ever got it.”

Ring Girl Sydney Thomas Clarifies She Broke Up With Boyfriend Before Fame

3 December 2024 at 16:30

Viral ring Girl Sydney Thomas is setting the record straight when it comes to her current relationship status.

“[I] had no problems with him at all — he was great,” the 21-year-old college student said of her ex-boyfriend during a Monday, December 2, interview with YouTube creator Nick Nayersina.

The model went on to clarify that the pair split prior to her appearance as a ring girl during the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul Netflix fight last month, which catapulted Thomas into instant internet fame.

“I just broke up with him because I was like, ‘I just needed and want more time with myself,’” Thomas continued, adding that she wanted to “discover who I am” and needed space to simply “be alone.”

Viral Ring Girl Slams Haters: ‘Contrary to Popular Opinion, I Am Smart’

“As hard as it was to lose him and lose each other, I feel like it’s all God’s plan,” the University of Alabama senior shared. “It works out in the end.”

During the same interview, Thomas confirmed that she is currently single and has zero plans on entering the dating pool anytime soon.

“Any man is a distraction to me,” she said.

Instead, Thomas seems focused on turning her viral moment into a long-term career. In a TikTok video shared on Sunday, December 1, the model revealed she has officially signed with the sports division of the prestigious Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

“The craziest week of my life,” Thomas wrote on the video, which featured photos of her time in the ring during the Tyson-Paul fight. For the uninitiated, CAA represents some of the biggest names in sports, including MLB star Shohei Ohtani, NBA star Devin Booker, NHL star Sidney Crosby and WNBA star Cameron Brink.

News of Thomas signing with the agency wasn’t much of a surprise — the model hinted she had partnered with CAA on November 21 via her Instagram Story featuring two photos from her time spent at the agency’s L.A. office.

Viral Ring Girl From Paul-Tyson Fight Addresses OnlyFans Controversy

Later, in a “get to know me” video shared on TikTok, the model said she was “very driven with self-improvement,” before adding that she believes “the biggest investment you can make in your life is an investment in yourself.”

“That’s where I spend most of my time,” she explained at the time. “My path is so different and unique that I take it day by day. I don’t stress too much about the future. I know the path I’m on is the right one and I’ll end up where I need to be and it will all work out in the end.”

While Thomas is focused on her budding career — and her final year of college — she did share what she looks for in a potential romantic partner.

“I need a man that’s taller than six foot,” she told Nayersina. “I’d like a tall man in my life [since] I’m a tall girl. I need someone who is respectful and I think that’s honestly one of the biggest turnoffs for me — when a man isn’t respectful.”

©

Beyonce Named Billboard’s Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century

3 December 2024 at 11:02
Billboard Names Beyonce as Greatest Pop Star of 21st Century 715
Beyoncé.

The Queen Bey has officially been crowned.

After slowly revealing its list of the most influential pop stars to take the stage over the last 100 years, Billboard announced Beyoncé as the No. 1 greatest pop star of the 21st century on Tuesday, December 3, beating out fellow musical icons like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Drake and more.

In a post announcing the honor, Billboard noted their editorial staff chose Beyoncé, 43, “based on her full 25 years of influence, evolution and impact.” The outlet went on to praise her “quarter-century of dominance,” writing, “The greatness of Beyoncé as a pop star is both immediately obvious on its surface and worthy of extensive exploration in its vastness. You can watch her on stage for half a minute and instantly recognize that she’s an all-timer; her inherent combination of dazzling beauty, impeccable fashion, captivating staging, otherworldly physicality and simultaneously earthy and skyscraping vocals all speaks for itself.”

Queen Bey securing the top spot is hardly a surprise — the singer is the most-decorated Grammy artist in history with a total of 32 wins. Earlier this year, she also became the most nominated artist of all time after securing 11 Grammy noms for her most recent album, Cowboy Carter, bringing her total to an astounding 99 nominations over the span of her decades-long career.

2000s Pop Stars, Then and Now: Hilary Duff and More

In February, Beyoncé became the first Black woman to top Billboard’s Hot Country songs chart, courtesy of her No. 1 single “Texas Hold ‘Em,” proving that her music and talent spans multiple musical genres. Two months later, she became the first Black woman to lead the Top Country Album chart as well as the first woman to claim the top three spots on Hot Country Songs.

Billboard Names Beyonce as Greatest Pop Star of 21st Century 714

Despite being snubbed the Country Music Association Awards in November after the release of her eighth studio album and debut country record Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé also secured a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album, Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “II Most Wanted” featuring Miley Cyrus, Best Country Song for her hit “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Best Country Solo Performance for “16 Carriages” and Best Americana Performance for “Ya Ya.”

Beyoncé also won three Grammys during her time with Destiny’s Child alongside group members Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland, including Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for their hit song “Survivor” in 2002.

Stars Who Have Broken Grammy Records: Beyonce, Adele and More

Late last month, Billboard announced Swift as the second greatest pop star of the 21st century, writing that because the 34-year-old decided to honor “all the traits that made her different” as an artist she was “able to forcefully, gravitationally bend culture to her will and become one of the world’s biggest undisputed pop stars, despite her eight-year late start in country music.”

In the essay announcing Beyoncé as the No. 1 entry on the list, Billboard preemptively addressed critics who may think Swift deserves the honor instead, acknowledging that Swift’s commercial successes cannot be topped by anyone.

“There is zero question who the biggest pop star in the world is right now, and anyone who wanted to make the case for her as the century’s greatest would have a fair and reasonable argument with which to do so,” the outlet opined. “But when you’re talking about greatness, and when you’re talking about greatness for the 21st century specifically, no one has a longer or fuller track record than Beyoncé. It is insanely impressive that Taylor has even made it a discussion after missing the whole first quarter of the period, but only Beyoncé has spent the entirety of the last 25 years exemplifying greatness in every form imaginable. … She has pursued excellence thoroughly and relentlessly, and the number of times where she’s notably fallen short in that pursuit doesn’t even approach double digits.”

Rihanna was named the third greatest pop star of the 21st century, with Drake, Gaga and Britney Spears rounding out the top six, respectively.

Live-Action ‘Snow White’ Trailer Gives New Meaning to 'Fairest of Them All'

3 December 2024 at 07:32

The highly-anticipated full-length trailer for Snow White is finally here.

After the release of successful live-action Disney films like The Little Mermaid and The Lion King, Disney announced it was taking on the iconic 1937 animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 2022.

Starring Rachel Zegler as Snow White and Gal Gadot as the Evil Queen — the ultimate and original movie villain — the studio has kept details about the film relatively under wraps but the film. According to limited reports, the movie is said to maintain the same storyline as the original animated film, but with an updated, more feminist approach. Andrew Burnap, Ansu Kabia, Martin Kelbba, and Dujonna Gift also star.

In the trailer, Snow White suggests that the Evil Queen show some “kindness” to her subjects, and the Evil Queen promises she wants to be “the fairest of them all.” It seems this interpretation isn’t using fairest to mean most beautiful but instead most equitable.  The clips show off all the iconic imagery fans know and love, from the iconic yellow and blue dress to the stunning forest to the seven dwarves.

PREP Snow White Trailer

When the film was first announced at Disney’s 2022 D23 Expo, it had a scheduled premiere date of March 2024. Disney later announced the release date would be pushed back to March 21, 2025. According to Deadline, the SAG-AFTRA strike was the reason behind the delay.

Directed by Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer) and written by Barbie’s Greta Gerwig and Erin Cressida Wilson, the adaptation has reportedly been in the works since 2016. Along with the geniuses behind-the-scenes, the released cast list — led by Zegler and Gadot — has only added to the buzz surrounding the film.

Rachel Zegler Says Her Snow White’s Name Doesn’t Involve Skin Tone

According to Zegler, the live-action adaptation will stay true to the original — with just a few, slight twists.

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“We did a really deep dive into fixing and making a modern woman out of Snow White,” Zelger told Variety on the D23 red carpet in 2022. “I think she’s 13 in the original cartoon, so we started there and said, ‘No, she’s 18 in this one.’ She’s a bit more independent. She’s also living in grief. I mean, there was a lot of complex emotion that we decided to deep-dive into. And understanding what it’s like to be a teenager on top of all that.”

The origins of Snow White’s name have also been altered for the live-action film, according to Zelger. Instead of her name paying homage to her skin being “white as snow,” the moniker is inspired by her story of survival.

“It fell back to another version of Snow White that was told in history, where she survived a snowstorm that occurred when she was a baby,” Zelger explained. “And so the king and queen decided to name her Snow White to remind her of her resilience. One of the core points in our film for any young woman or young person is remembering how strong you actually are.”

Snow White hits theaters on March 21, 2025.

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