“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson,” he wrote. “Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on General Hospital alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew.”
Alongside the message, Valentini shared a photo of the four-time Daytime Emmy nominee smiling. “I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set,” he continued. “On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time.”
Charleson began playing the role of Monica Quartermaine on the soap opera in 1977, making her the longest-running cast member on General Hospital.
“I started the show the day Elvis Presley died, and being such a huge fan, I of course was very upset driving to the studios, and then getting there I was told that they hoped I had brought my own wardrobe and makeup because there was a strike going on — and that was before I even got in the building,” Charleson recalled to Soap Opera Digest in 2022.
“Then I got in the building and I realized that no one really liked me, because the girl playing Monica before me was very rudely fired,” Charleson continued, referring to Patsy Rahn, whom she replaced.
After 30 years on the show, Charleson appeared on General Hospital in a recurring status in 2010. Charleson, who has had health ups and downs, had returned to the show a few times — most recently appearing in a wheelchair in December 2023.
While speaking with Soap Opera Digestin 2016, Charleson — who was married to Bill Demms from 1988 to 1991 — reflected on her General Hospital legacy.
“It has been quite a long run,” she said at the time. “I am just so pleased because, unlike some of the actors that have come and gone, and gone on to other soaps or other things, this has really been my home since I started here, way back then, hundreds of years ago. I am very grateful to keep working at something that I love to do, and I am certainly grateful that it has endured.”
“That first night I wrote a will, I thought I was going to die,” George, 36, said in a Saturday, January 11, interview with The Sun.
The Wanted frontman recalled waking up with freezing blue hands on December 11, 2024, while he was staying with his mom.
“I hadn’t been feeling myself for a few days, I started feeling a bit rough,” George said. “I couldn’t put my finger on it. I was quite lethargic and stuff, struggling to get out of bed. But I didn’t think it was anything serious.”
He continued, “Luckily I’d gone around to my mum’s to stay and I woke up and I remember looking at my hands and they were blue, and my arms were a grey colour and I was freezing cold. I struggled to even sit up in bed.”
When George’s mom saw him, she gasped and called a doctor. While George had a check-up and was sent home, his mom continued asking around for help.
“At this point I had a panicky feeling, but was also just absolutely knackered,” he said. “I couldn’t move my arms and the worst feeling was I felt like my throat was closing up. It felt like someone had their hands around my neck. Thank God I stayed at Mum’s house — she saved my life.”
Doctors informed George that something was “not right with the bottom part” of his heart and he would need a pacemaker.
“For some reason the rhythm is way off and the signal doesn’t seem to be getting from the top chamber of your heart to the bottom part, the bit that pumps the blood around your body,” he recalled the doctors telling him. “I was in complete shock.”
George called the experience “really scary” noting that it was “certainly not a place I thought I’d be in at 36.”
“I was awake all night, feeling a closing in my throat, I was really struggling to move and had really deep, slow breaths,” he said. “There was nothing that they could do to stop that. I could have lived maybe a few weeks, maybe a few months, but it could have been a few hours. We didn’t know.”
Two days after being admitted to the hospital, George’s heart rate dropped to 26 beats per minute.
“Friday, December 13, was the worst day that I had there,” he said. “My heart rate and my blood pressure dropped at the same time, and that was the biggest worry.”
He continued, “The consultants weren’t there on hand to do the operation in an emergency. It was quite close that night, it really felt like my neck was closing up and that’s when the sort of panic really kicked in. I felt like I was dying. It was the worst, I felt emotional.”
George was taken by an ambulance to a hospital on December 15, where he had a CT scan. He received a pacemaker three days later, with his partner Maisie Smith by his side as he became aware of his surroundings.
“I had a proper heartbeat by then as well. My heart rate started just shooting up. So I remember feeling my feet going tingly, because I think obviously the blood started to properly pump around,” he said.
He continued, “I was like, ‘Holy s—, I feel alive again,’ like it was a really nice feeling. It’d been so hard being away from Maisie, but she climbed on the bed, obviously she lay on the other side of my chest to my op, and put her head on me. We just had a cuddle for a couple of hours while I talked about football and we treated it like normal. I could feel butterflies again next to her.”
Erin Andrewsand her husband, Jarret Stoll, don’t always see eye-to-eye when it comes to sharing their personal lives with the public.
“My husband would rather we not be so public — me not be so public,” Andrews, 46, told Success magazine in an interview published on Friday, January 10.
While the couple, who tied the knot in 2017, navigated their fertility journey, the idea of being private came up. “He was just like, ‘Why do we have to say this?’ And I said, ‘Because these waiting rooms are packed,’” she explained.
Andrews has been candid through the years about her fertility journey, sharing in a 2021 essay for Bulletin that she had been undergoing “time-consuming and emotionally draining” treatments since she was 35. In July 2023, the couple welcomed their first child, son Mack, via surrogate.
Now, the couple is thinking about adding another little one to their family. “We’re talking about trying it again,” Andrews told E! News in October 2024. “I was really, really honest with my doctor a couple weeks ago. I just said, ‘We’ve had so much high with the birth of Mack and how great he’s doing that I don’t want to go back to that place of failure again, and I’m really, really afraid of it.’”
Before Mack’s birth, Andrews lost two of her embryos. “It’s crazy, because once you get back on the phone with your fertility doctor and you start talking about the journey again, PTSD all comes back, of how crappy you felt, how numb your body gets, just the fear of loss,” she said.
Andrews noted that she and Stoll, 42, leaned on each other through the emotional process, helping each other by sharing their feelings.
“Sometimes men don’t want to talk about this stuff, but they’re also feeling the feels, too,” Andrews said. “My husband was really, really great after we were going through more lows than highs, just being like, ‘This sucks. This just isn’t great. I feel really crappy, and I feel like a failure,’ and that really helped a lot too.”
While navigating her job responsibilities and parenting duties, Andrews shared that she’s still figuring out a proper work-life balance. “I talked about it on a walk with my husband last night as we were walking our dog — we’ve got a lot going on,” she told Success magazine.
Andrews said the start of the NFL season is when her life gets “absolutely crazy” with her work. “Plus it’s a Super Bowl year,” she said. “We have Tom Brady on our broadcasting crew this year. So it’s going to be a lot.”
“Thank you so much to everyone. No. 1 on iTunes chart, oh my gosh,” Montag shared via a Saturday, January 11, Instagram Story. “Thank you for the overwhelming love and support of my music and really rallying behind us in this devastating time and making it such a blessing.”
Montag’s album Superficial, which was released in January 2010, topped the iTunes albums chart ahead of Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS and the Wicked movie soundtrack. The titular song off the album also charted No. 1 before ROSÉ and Bruno Mars’ “APT” and other tracks. Montag’s tune “I’ll Do It” also came in at No. 7.
“Thank you for helping support us, helping build us back up, helping to encourage us, give us that hope and faith and excitement in such a dark, dark time,” Montag continued. “No. 1, ahhh! Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it. And it’s the 15th anniversary of Superficial. So, the timing is just crazy. It’s so crazy, thank you…”
Scroll down to see which celebrities are showing their support:
The model shared a video via TikTok of her listening to Montag’s “I’ll Do It.” Ratajkowski wrote over the clip, “Didn’t expect this Heidi Montag song to be the soundtrack to the 2025 apocalypse but you know what f—- yeah.”
Flavor Flav
Flav shared a video via TikTok with the text reading, “Doing my part to get Heidi Montag to #1.”
Hilton encouraged fans to stream Montag’s music while sharing a video dancing to “I’ll Do It.” He wrote over the TikTok clip, “Streaming Heidi Montag’s music to help her and Spencer Pratt rebuild after their home burned down in Los Angeles.”
Paris Hilton
Paris sent a message to Montag, which Pratt shared via Instagram. “Congrats @heidimontag ,” she wrote.
Jenny McCarthy
McCarthy shared a video via TikTok of her husband, Donnie Wahlberg, purchasing Montag’s Superficial album on Saturday, January 11. “So close. One more to get to number one! Let’s go! Donnie in da club,” McCarthy captioned the clip.
Check the LAFD website for local wildfire alerts and click here for resources on how to help those affected.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 16: Aubrey PlazaAmy Sussman/WireImage
Aubrey Plaza has deleted her Instagram account one week after the death of her late husband, Jeff Baena.
While Plaza’s account was previously active, a message now reads, “Sorry, this page isn’t available.”
Plaza’s decision to erase her account comes after news broke that Baena died at age 47. According to medical examiner records reviewed by Us Weekly, Baena’s official cause of death is listed as suicide. No additional causes or suspicious circumstances surrounding Baena’s passing were listed.
Days later, Plaza’s rep addressed his death in a statement on behalf of the Parks and Recreation actress and her family. “This is an unimaginable tragedy,” the statement to Us read. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”
Prior to his death, Plaza, 40, and the filmmaker had been together for 14 years and exchanged vows in 2020. One year after saying “I do,” Plaza recalled how she and Baena decided to tie the knot.
“A lot of things happened during COVID for me. Yes, we got married. Big deal,” Plaza recalled during a December 2021 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.”
Aubrey Plaza and Jeff BaenaMichael Loccisano/Getty Images
Plaza continued, “We were in the lockdown. Things got a little crazy, especially in my house. My husband got really into tie-dying and when I say tie-dying, I mean 50 shirts a day.”
The White Lotus actress said she wanted to “do something” special for their 10th anniversary and decided to throw a ceremony in their backyard.
“I created a very quick love altar in our yard. Facts of our love, little stones, smoke, fire. Things of that nature,” she said. “Then the man from Alhambra showed up in a Hawaiian shirt with a briefcase [to perform the ceremony]. … I can’t remember a lot of it, it was fuzzy. But I’m pretty sure it’s legal.”
The following year, Plaza shared that her nuptials to Baena was not well-received by some fans. “Oh, my God. Jeff got death threats in his DMs,” Plaza told Cosmopolitan in a 2022 profile. “I think so. People project so much stuff onto marriage, but it wasn’t some big statement I’m trying to make where I want everybody to react to it.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Craig Melvin is stepping into a new role at Today after being part of the morning show family since 2018.
After Hoda Kotb announced her departure from Today in September 2024, Melvin was named as the morning show’s new coanchor alongside Savannah Guthrie. Melvin gushed in November 2024 that he is “beyond excited and grateful” to be taking over for Kotb.
“I want to, obviously, thank NBC and the folks here who deemed me worthy,” he said at the time. “I’ve enjoyed just a lifetime of blessings, and this is the latest in a long line of blessings.”
News of Melvin’s new role was well-received in the office, a source exclusively told Us Weekly. “Craig is so awesome, people were cheering when they got the staff email,” an insider said. “He’s the best – everybody is so excited for him.”
The source added that Melvin made sense as a replacement for Kotb. “He has been ‘Steady Eddie’ for seven years – alongside Savannah and Hoda,” the insider added. “It was the right choice, the clear choice, the choice that everybody could get behind. He is so beloved.”
Scroll down for what to know about Melvin’s first day as a Today coanchor:
When Is Craig Melvin’s 1st Day as Today Coanchor?
Nathan Congleton/NBC
Days after Kotb’s final appearance as a coanchor on Today, Melvin will begin his new role alongside Guthrie on Monday, January 13.
“Craig, I mean, I’m so happy for you,” Kotb said through tears on the Friday, January 10, episode of Today. “You’ve earned this. You own this. And come Monday at 7:00 a.m., I’m going to be dead asleep but you’re going to be fantastic. You are going to bring it home. Craig, you’re going to be so good.”
Will Craig Melvin Continue to Cohost the 3rd Hour?
Prior to following in Kotb’s footsteps, Melvin served as a news anchor on the show’s first and second hours. He also was a third hour cohost alongside Al Roker, Sheinelle Jones and Dylan Dreyer — a position he will continue to hold.
Melvin will not be taking over as cohost of the fourth hour alongside Jenna Bush Hager. While the show finds a replacement for Kotb, the fourth hour will be renamed as Today With Jenna & Friends and will feature a lineup of rotating guest cohosts.
How Much Is Craig Melvin Making as Today Coanchor?
A separate insider exclusively estimated to Us in November 2024 that Melvin will make around “$5 or $6 million” in his new gig.
“.Happy Heavenly Birthday. ,” Dorsey, 41, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, January 12. “5 birthdays since you’ve been gone. Thoughts everyday about how it went wrong. The memories attached to places, Still see all the things, see all our faces.”
“Visions of happiness and sadness, 15 years flash by when I hear a certain song. I shake my head often still in disbelief, They say time heals all, but all is not grief,” he continued. “Doing the best I can for our JoJo Binx, As the time goes by, Im often alone and sit and think.I think more of our better times, Like this picture from the past, but it still f—— stings.”
Alongside his message, Dorsey shared a picture of him and Rivera walking hand in hand while attending a previous Golden Globes award show.
“So give Emmy and Lucy one good rub, And if you’re reading this, Be kind to the ones you love, You’ll never know when you give your last hug. .” (Emmy and Lucy were the former couple’s dogs.)
Dorsey and Rivera tied the knot in 2014 and welcomed son Josey the following year. “They are so excited to be first-time parents,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly at the time. “It was a very easy pregnancy and birth. Naya was born to be a mother and is doing really great so far. And Ryan has amazing paternal instincts and has been waiting on them both hand and foot.”
The pair divorced in 2018, coparenting their son until Rivera died in July 2020 at age 33. Rivera was swimming at Lake Piru in California with Josey when she drowned.
Since her death, Dorsey has continued to honor Rivera via emotional social media tributes. In January 2023, Dorsey commemorated Rivera’s birthday with a series of throwback photos of her and Josey.
“A little easier with each little bit of time that passes by to look at pictures…but I still don’t have the answers to the questions to the why’s our sweet boy asks from time to time. I never will,” he wrote via Instagram. “Doing the best we can. Fly high .”
He continued, “If you’re reading this no matter what you’re going through, take a moment of gratitude that you’re still here on this ride. I know some days are harder than others to get up, but keep we just gotta keep pushing onward. .”
Bob the Drag Queen,Chelsea Guglielmino/Getty Images ; John Nacion/Getty Image ; Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Bob the Drag Queen is aware it was a controversial move to murder two Housewives on The Traitors.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for season 3 of The Traitors.
While recalling his decision with fellow traitors — Danielle Reyes and Carolyn Wiger — to kill The Real Housewives of New York’s Dorinda Medley in episode two, Bob, 38, explained they agreed someone from the Bravo franchise should leave because they “have the strongest numbers.”
“The Survivor people do not like each other. The Housewives are friends,” Bob said on a Friday, January 10, YouTube livestream recapping the first three episodes. “The Survivor people and the Big Brother people have all backstabbed each other, they’ve hurt each other, so they are not buddy-buddy. The Housewives are buddy-buddy, and we do not think they will turn on themselves unless they want to make a point, right?”
Despite Wiger, 38, thinking Medley, 60, could be a “good shield,” Bob (real name Christopher Delmar Caldwell) said they decided to kill the RHONY alum.
“This really pissed people off on the internet,” Bob said of their decision. “I don’t know this woman. I don’t know that she’s this icon on Real Housewives. I don’t know [if] she’s causing a scene. I have no clue who Dorinda is, so I’m like, ‘Girl, kill her.’ I don’t know, let’s pick someone, because they’re all strangers to me.”
Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Chanel Ayan, Bob Harper, Dolores Catania, Wells Adams, Danielle Reyes, Gabby Windey, Jeremy Collins, Dorinda Medley, Tom Sandoval, Chrishell Stause, Tony Vlachos, Bob The Drag Queen, Robyn Dixon, Chanel Ayan, Ciara Miller, Dylan Efron, Carolyn Wiger, Nikki Garcia, Sam AsghariEuan Cherry/Peacock
The next morning, the contestants gathered for breakfast and discovered that Medley was missing. While the group’s reactions were shown on camera, Bob and Reyes, 52, were seen crying — but he insisted his emotions were genuine.
“I was not acting,” Bob said. “It genuinely was sad for someone to go. Her dreams got crushed. Yes, I did it, yes I did it,but it was still sad. … I was never really acting on the show. If I was crying, I really was crying because I was emotional. It was also a crazy time in my life.”
While reflecting on her exit from the show, Medley said she “cried my eyes out.” She told Decider in an interview published Friday, “When I saw that envelope, it was so unexpected. First of all, I think I should have been a traitor. But it was so devastating because unlike the Housewives, where you can sort of go on and you’re in control of what you say, how you say it, what you’re doing … this, you just have no control over.”
Medley shared why she thought the traitors went after the Housewives. “I just think they realized that the Housewives are strong characters. We’re opinionated, and we’re strong,” Medley said. “I think people especially think of me as a strong woman who’s been through a lot of stuff and doesn’t take a lot of bulls—.”
After Wells Adams gets banished from the castle, the traitors’ next move was to kill The Real Housewives of Dubai’s Chanel Ayan. (Boston Rob joined the traitors after their first murder.)
“I know, guys. I know you’re mad at me. Get over it,” Bob told fans on Friday, before explaining his strategy. “Ayan will never get out at the round table. That will never happen, so how are we going to get her out? We have to kill her, right. … I do feel bad that she got murdered but it is what happened.”
The Traitors season 3 airs on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Peacock.
“Well, actually, I just interviewed with him and he is my very first costar on Saved by the Bell, Mario Lopez,” Richards, 53, told Entertainment Weekly in an interview published on Saturday, January 11.
Richards revealed that she had a conversation with Lopez, 51, about him appearing on Special Forces. “And I asked him, ‘When are you going to do it?’” she said. “He would do awesome on it. He’d make it to the end, I’m sure.”
The pair appeared alongside each other during a 1991 episode of Saved by the Bell, where Cynthia (Richards) attempts to meet A.C. Slater (Lopez). (The series, which aired for four seasons from 1989 to 1993, followed a group of teens — including Lopez — navigating the highs and lows of high school.)
While appearing on Special Forces, Richards attempted to jump from a speeding boat to a speeding helicopter and jumped off a bridge before claiming she hurt her back. (She also later revealed she ruptured her breast implants.) As the contestants participated in a punishing Navy SEAL exercise known as surf immersion in the second episode, Richards initially asked to sit out. She ultimately went on to take off her armband, signaling her withdrawal from the competition.
Despite her early exit from the series, Richards said that she’s “very proud” of herself. “I had the guts to jump off a bridge and that I jumped off. I was so happy. Even though I couldn’t climb in that helicopter, I was very happy,” she told the outlet. “I was able to at least grab on and hang from there. I never in a million years thought I could do that.”
PETE DADDS / FOX
Richards was also the first contestant on the show to get vulnerable about her past, revealing that she has frozen in certain situations because she is “completely overcome by fear.” Richards shared during a conversation with the staff that the first time she experienced a “freeze” like that was at age 15.
“I noticed a man following me. He came up from behind me, put his hand around my mouth, grabbed my vagina and started dragging me,” she said. “And I froze, like, I couldn’t even scream for help.”
Before sharing her story on Special Forces, she had previously only told husband Aaron Phypers about the incident. “It’s so scary to have that situation, you know, [at] that age and be so vulnerable,” she continued. “And I have three daughters, and I want them to be able to never go through that. And also, if something, God forbid, happen to be strong enough.”
While recalling Richards’ candidness, Directing Staff instructor Billy Billingham said in a joint interview with fellow soldier Rudy Reyes gave insight into why contestants share their stories.
“Before we do the mirror room, even [if it’s only been 12 hours], you’ve already put through a phase of deprivation,” he said at Us Weekly’s NYC studio on Thursday, January 9. “When you’re tired, you’re hungry, you don’t care anymore. You’re more open. Now there’s something about that, what we call the mirror room. I don’t know why it is — and we are not psychologists and we have no idea what that story’s gonna be right out of that person’s mouth.”
Special Forces: The World’s Toughest Test airs on Fox Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
After the audience voted to save other artists, Gray, 57, who was Toad in the Hole in the show, performed against Bear. The judges ultimately chose to save Bear, sending Gray home — and leading her to walk off the stage.
Gray later returned in the Saturday, January 11, episode to unveil her identity and was interviewed by host Joel Dommett. After the episode aired, Dommett, 39, shared a clip of his conversation with Gray. “Lol,” he captioned his Instagram post.
Dommett went on to recall the events during an appearance on BBC Radio 2. “This is why The Masked Singer is so good, it doesn’t matter if you’re a good singer or if you’re not, the show doesn’t sit in either camp,” Dommett said during the Sunday, January 12, episode, per the Daily Mail. “The case with Macy is she is a legend, she has a recognisable voice and she might as well go because we all know it is her, and they put the other person through because we still don’t know who they are.”
Dommett claimed that it’s a “win-win situation” if a contestant is eliminated early because they “get the same money and [they] don’t have to do anything else.”
“You can’t be vexed when you’re dressed as a toad. In my professional career — I love Macy, she is incredible, great voice —- but I have never witnessed anything more funny than a 6ft toad storming off,” he said. “It’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Prior to Gray’s stint on the UK version of the series, she previously competed on the US show in 2023. During the season 10 finale, Gray — who was the Sea Queen — called herself a “seasoned performer” but noted that The Masked Singer was difficult due to her costume. “It’s hot in there!” she quipped.
Macy GrayThe Masked Singer/Youtube
The Grammy-winning vocalist previously told Us Weekly that she has struggled with her self-confidence. “I have to step out of myself,” Gray said in September 2023. “I literally put on a cape and transform into the person that is brave and confident enough to get up there.”
While Gray prepares for a show, she told Us she takes a moment to reflect and “transform into the person that is brave and confident” before hitting the stage. Gray gushed to Us that “nothing is better than performing.”
“Here’s the thing about addicts: we know each other. Whether we’ve got 10 days clean or 10 years, there’s this unspoken recognition. A vibe, a nod, a ‘yep, I see you.’ It’s instant,” Lassner, 58, began via his Instagram Story on Thursday, January 9. “tWitch never gave me that. At all. He carried light, joy, and kindness in a way that made people feel safe and seen. Every day his energy wasn’t the chaos of addiction — it was the calm that so many of us fight for.”
Lassner continued, “Obviously, as an addict, I know about keeping secrets and bulls—- the world about who we are. I’m not saying there weren’t maybe some things about his life I was completely missing. But if there were, he was as good at hiding them as anyone I’ve ever seen. Ever.”
Lassner noted that his heart has “never stopped hurting” for Boss’ family, including Holker, 36, and their three kids. (Boss and Holker, who wed in 2013, shared daughter Zaia, 5, and son Maddox, 8. He was the adoptive father of Holker’s eldest daughter, Wesley, 16.)
“I’m not here to weigh in on what is right or wrong, or what is true or not,” Lassner concluded. “But I am here to tell you that the man I knew for many years was an absolute king and I think he deserves to be remembered that way.”
Lassner’s statement came one day after Holker received backlash for revealing new and personal details about her late husband’s alleged drug addiction and childhood sexual abuse in her new book, memoir, This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light. (Boss died by suicide at age 40 in December 2022.)
Araya Diaz/Getty Images
Holker went on to release a statement explaining why she included those details in her book. “To fans of Stephen and our family and friends, I want to be clear that my only intention in writing the book is to share my own story as well as part of my life with Stephen to help other people,” Holker wrote via her Instagram Story on Wednesday, January 8. “Just like you, I never really knew what happened, and even as I am trying to put the pieces together I will never really know.”
In her message, Holker said that she hoped readers would see she intended to “celebrate the love and life” she and Boss had with their family.
“I hope that by sharing our full story maybe I can help someone else who might see themselves or a loved one in Stephen,” Holker continued. “In sharing I hope that maybe they can catch some of the red flags that I missed before it’s too late.”
While writing the memoir, Holker claimed she spoke with several mental health nonprofits for the past two years to ensure she accurately detailed the subject. Holker added that she plans to give proceeds from the book to the foundation she created in Boss’ memory.
“My hope is that that we won’t need to lose another husband, brother, father, or friend to suicide,” she said. “I believe that if Stephen were able to choose, he would choose to have his story told if it meant saving even one life. Much love to all those who have supported our family these many years.”
One day later, Boss’ mom, Connie Boss Alexander, slammed Holker. “Our family is absolutely appalled by the misleading and hurtful claims made about my son, Stephen Boss,” Boss Alexander wrote via Instagram on Thursday. “The recent publications spreading untruths about Stephen have crossed every line of decency. As his mother, I will not let these accusations go unanswered. We will not stand by while his name and legacy are tarnished. He doesn’t deserve this, and the kids don’t deserve this.”
Boss Alexander said she had “remained quiet and away from the public eye to protect my family” for the last two years.
“My primary focus has been on healing and attempting to remain connected to my grandchildren,” she continued. “But when I read these dreadful claims about my baby, our beloved Stephen, I realized I could not stay silent any longer. Our family will ensure his name and memory are protected, and we are committed to defending his honor.”
In the comment section of the post, Lassner replied, “Sending you so much love.” Us Weekly reached out to Holker’s rep for comment at the time.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Stephen Baldwin, Denise Richards, and Cam Newton.PETE DADDS / FOX
While season 3 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test began with 16 contestants, only some have what it takes to make it to the end of the competition.
In the reality show, which features celebrities trying their hand at tasks the real United States Special Forces must complete to become part of the military, contestants move forward by passing a series of tests — or they turn in their armband to signal their voluntary departure from the series.
While attempting assignments in Wales, England, Stephen Baldwin became the first season 3 contestant to exit the competition. The dad of Hailey Bieber successfully jumped from a speeding boat to a speeding helicopter and climbed into the helicopter — but claimed he got injured in the process.
“I smashed my meniscus on the helicopter today and my back is in knots and I can’t turn my head past there,” Baldwin said while talking with the on-duty doctor.
After Baldwin explained that he “cannot get injured” ahead of a gig he had lined up after the show, the Special Forces operatives dismissed him from the series. “No. 5, you failed this course and you failed yourself. Go,” the staff said.
Baldwin withdrew from the competition out of fear of getting injured after claiming to have “smashed” his meniscus on the helicopter.
Ali Fedotowsky
Pete Dadds / FOX
After Fedotowsky injured her hand, the doctor recommended she get an X-ray — leading her to withdraw from the competition in the second episode.
Denise Richards
Pete Dadds / FOX
Richards took off her armband after claiming she hurt her back and wanted to sit out of a punishing Navy SEAL exercise known as surf immersion in the second episode.
Nathan Adrian
Pete Dadds / FOX
Still competing on the show.
Alana Blanchard
Pete Dadds / FOX
Still competing on the show.
Kayla Cicole Brown
Pete Dadds / FOX
Still competing on the show.
Landon Donovan
Pete Dadds / FOX
Still competing on the show.
Carey Hart
Pete Dadds / FOX
Still competing on the show.
Brody Jenner
Pete Dadds / FOX
Still competing on the show.
Marion Jones-Thompson
Pete Dadds / FOX
Still competing on the show.
Cam Newton
Pete Dadds / FOX
Still competing on the show.
Kyla Pratt
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Still competing on the show.
Christy Carlson Romano
Pete Dadds / FOX
Still competing on the show.
Trista Sutter
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Still competing on the show.
Golden Tate
Pete Dadds / FOX
Still competing on the show.
Jordyn Wieber
Pete Dadds / FOX
Still competing on the show.
Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test airs on FOX Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
Tens of thousands of people — including A-list celebrities — have evacuated following the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires, leading many to wonder how to help those in need.
“This is the moment to reach out to anyone who lives in Los Angeles, who you think might be in some sort of traumatic shock and grief about losing their homes and the devastation of their neighborhoods and communities and offer your hand, home and resources,” Jamie Lee Curtis wrote via Instagram on Thursday, January 9, alongside aerial images of the destruction in the area. “We are going to have to come together,as we may never have done before, in the City of Angels and help each other. AND WE WILL!”
The Oscar winner donated $1 million to a relief fund, but even those who can’t afford to donate a blockbuster-size paycheck can help.
While GoFundMe has created a centralized hub for all the fundraising pages for those affected by the wildfire, other organizations including the Salvation Army have sprang into action to provide aid.
Scroll down to see resources on how to help those affected by the wildfires:
Nonprofit organization World Central Kitchen is providing food and water to both residents and first aid responders. “Our teams have mobilized across the region to provide immediate relief in the form of sandwiches and water as we identify all areas of need,” the organization said in a statement.
How to Help Provide Shelter
JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images
Katie Couric and Lea Michele are among the many celebs that noted The American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles is providing emergency shelter, food, water, health and mental services to those impacted. The shelter is located at Westwood Recreation Center in Los Angeles.
“Wildfires can spread rapidly, and it is important to prepare now and have your car ready; do not wait until there is not enough time to grab your essentials,” the organization said in a statement.
The organization is accepting donations online, by calling (800) 733-2767 or texting REDCROSS to 90999.
How to Help With Medical Care
DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images
Direct Relief is in communication with local health providers and emergency management teams.
“The organization is currently deploying medical aid, including emergency medical supplies for first responders and displaced residents, and respiratory protection equipment, including N95 respirators, to mitigate health risks from smoke exposure,” the organization wrote in a statement.
Camila Morrone encouraged Instagram followers “to help our LAFD firefighters” with the LA Fire Department Foundation’s Wildfire Emergency Fund. The organization is supporting local firefighters to finance emergency fire shelters, hydration backpacks and wildland brush tools.
The California Fire Foundation is also providing support to surviving firefighters and their families by commemorating firefighters who died, offering aid to victims of fire and scholarships to children of firefighters who died.
The CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation is also offering financial aid to firefighters and their families as well as supporting burn victims and their families.
How to Help Animals
AGUSTIN PAULLIER/AFP via Getty Images
Sophia Bush and Kylie Jenner both shared a post flagging several animal shelters, including the Pasadena Humane Society, which is helping to ensure pets are removed from the areas where wildfire is spreading and providing emergency services.
“If you are under evacuation orders, please take your pets with you. Prepare now. Pack a ‘go bag’ with your pet’s food (at least five days worth), water, dishes, toys, and any medications. Ensure your pet is wearing a collar with a current ID tag in case they get lost,” they said in a statement.
The organization will have Animal Control Officers onsite at the Pasadena Convention Center to help with animals. If in need of assistance, residents can call the animal control dispatch at 626-792-7151 ext. 970.
The American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles is providing a shelter for pets with Pierce College in Woodland Hills. Jessica Alba shared via Instagram that the Canine Rescue Club is also seeking volunteers for temporary foster care for dogs displaced by the wildfire.
The athleisure brand Set Active is accepting donations of clothing for those impacted by the fire through an Instagram Direct Message. Mandy Patinkin and Jesse Williams shared MutualAid LA’s information, which noted that The Anderson Munger Family YMCA and the Koreatown YMCA Center for Community Well-Being are also accepting donations of items including unopened food, clothing, blankets, emergency supplies and pet food.
Donations can be received at the Anderson Munger Family YMCA, 4301 W. 3rd St. in Los Angeles and at the Koreatown YMCA, 433 S. Vermont Ave. in Los Angeles.
Hailey Bieber shared via Instagram that Baby2Baby is also providing baby products for families affected by the fire, accepting donations online at their Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Program.
Spencer Pratt may have lost his home in the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires, but he still has some of his Taylor Swift merchandise.
Pratt, 41, took to his TikTok on Wednesday, January 8, to respond to a user who wrote, “All your [Swiftie] crap prob gone.” In the video, Pratt stared at the camera as he zoomed in on his white sweater with red writing that read, “TAYLOR SWIFT.”
In the background of the clip, which was set to Swift’s Reputation tune “…Ready For It?”, ocean waves were visible in the distance.
Pratt has been candid through the years about his obsession with Swift, 35. While attending her ReputationStadiumTour in 2018, he met the pop star. He and his wife, Heidi Montag, also attended the record-breaking Eras Tour in August 2023.
Amid the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area, Pratt’s sister, Stephanie, revealed he and Montag, 38, lost their home. (TMZ was the first to report the news, with sources sharing that the “entire family was able to safely evacuate earlier in the day.”) UsWeekly reached out for comment at the time.
“Honestly looking for advice. I’m frozen in shock. How horrible for my sweet little nephews to watch their house disappear like this. They must be so scared and confused,” Stephanie, 38, shared on Tuesday, January 7, that she was devastated for her family. (Pratt and Montag, who wed in November 2008, share sons Gunner, 6, and Ryker, 13 months.)
Stephanie shared that she was devastated for the family. “I am beyond heartbroken for my brother, Heidi & the kids,” Stephanie added, alongside an image of Spencer watching the fire. “Just spoke to my dad — he tried to save my brother’s house but the wind is so strong there was nothing he could do.”
The next day, Pratt shared a photo of his security camera from one of his son’s rooms. “The one positive sign i saw as our house burned down was ours sons [sic] bed burned in the shape of a heart,” he wrote via Instagram. “A sign of how much love was in this house so thankful for all the years.”
Later that day, Montag shared insight into her mindset. “The craziest thing when you’re packing for a fire is that your brain just freaks out,” Montag said via her Instagram Story on Wednesday. “You’re like, ‘What do I need? What do I not need?’ It’s so overwhelming packing up a house. I mean, I only have, like, two pairs of jeans, two shirts. I got so much more clothes for the kids.”
Montag said she asked herself, “‘Why didn’t I grab more?” While beginning to get emotional, Montag said, “The main thing is that we’re safe. Got out.”
“You really just panic and then a part of you [thinks], ‘I’m coming back.’ You know, ‘Of course I’m coming back for all [our things].’ So I’m praying for everybody else who’s going through this and all my friends and loved ones,” she said. “Thank God we have our health and our children — and I know that. Just trying to focus on the gratitude. It just kind of comes in waves.”
Stephen “tWitch” Boss’ mom, Connie Boss Alexander, is breaking her silence one day after her late son’s wife, Allison Holker, included personal details about his life in her upcoming memoir.
“Our family is absolutely appalled by the misleading and hurtful claims made about my son, Stephen Boss,” Boss Alexander wrote via Instagram on Thursday, January 9. “The recent publications spreading untruths about Stephen have crossed every line of decency. As his mother, I will not let these accusations go unanswered. We will not stand by while his name and legacy are tarnished. He doesn’t deserve this, and the kids don’t deserve this.”
Boss Alexander explained that she had “remained quiet and away from the public eye to protect my family” for the past two years.
“My primary focus has been on healing and attempting to remain connected to my grandchildren,” she continued. “But when I read these dreadful claims about my baby, our beloved Stephen, I realized I could not stay silent any longer. Our family will ensure his name and memory are protected, and we are committed to defending his honor.”
The statement was signed with her name, “Connie Boss Alexander.”
In the comments section of the post, former Ellen DeGeneres Show producer Andy Lassner replied, “Sending you so much love.” Us Weekly reached out to Holker’s rep for comment.
Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage
Holker received backlash after a Tuesday, January 7, interview about her late husband and her upcoming memoir, This Far: My Story of Love, Loss, and Embracing the Light, in which she discussed his alleged drug issues and childhood sexual abuse. Boss died by suicide in December 2022 at age 40.
Holker, for her part, released a statement explaining her reasoning behind sharing intimate details in her book.
Connie Boss Alexander and Stephen “tWitch” BossCourtesy of Connie Boss Alexander/Instagram
“To fans of Stephen and our family and friends, I want to be clear that my only intention in writing the book is to share my own story as well as part of my life with Stephen to help other people,” Holker wrote via her Instagram Story on Wednesday. “Just like you, I never really knew what happened, and even as I am trying to put the pieces together I will never really know.”
Holker added that she hopes readers will be able to see she intended to “celebrate the love and life” she and Boss had with their family. (Holker and Boss shared daughter Zaia, 5, and son Maddox, 8. He was the adoptive father of Holker’s eldest daughter, Wesley, 16.)
“I hope that by sharing our full story maybe I can help someone else who might see themselves or a loved one in Stephen,” Holker continued. “In sharing I hope that maybe they can catch some of the red flags that I missed before it’s too late.”
Holker also claimed that she spoke with several mental health nonprofits over the past “two years” to ensure she accurately detailed the subject. She plans to give proceeds from the memoir to the foundation she created in Boss’ memory.
“My hope is that that we won’t need to lose another husband, brother, father, or friend to suicide,” she said. “I believe that if Stephen were able to choose, he would choose to have his story told if it meant saving even one life. Much love to all those who have supported our family these many years.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
“When Josh [Hall] and I split up, I hadn’t really talked to Ant in years,” Haack, 41, exclusively shared in her Us Weekly cover story with Tarek El Moussa and Heather Rae El Moussa. “The whole time I was with Josh, I would worry [thinking about how] Hudson’s sports [games] are coming up, we’re going to have to be on the field together, how’s Josh going to handle it?”
Haack and Anstead, 45, split in September 2020 after welcoming son Hudson one year earlier. She moved on with Hall, whom she wed in 2022, but the pair filed for divorce two years later.
“[After we broke up] I was dropping Hudson off at Ant’s house, and he gave me a big hug and was like, ‘I’m here for you and I’m so sorry you’re going through this,’” Haack recalled to Us. “He said, ‘I feel like Josh is the source of the problem [and why] I couldn’t communicate.’ Now we’re back on track.”
The former couple are on such good terms that Anstead is also scheduled to make an appearance on her new series, The Flip Off, in a surprising twist. (Haack teamed up with Tarek, 43, and Heather, 37, for the new HGTV competition series. Originally, Hall was also slated to be in the show — but he departed from The Flip Off after their separation.)
Michael Kovac/Getty Images
Anstead, meanwhile, has been dating actressRenée Zellweger since 2021. Haack told Us that she has met the actress, calling her “great” — but said their friendship is different than hers with Heather. (Haack and Tarek, who split in 2016 share daughter Taylor, 14, and son Brayden, 9. Tarek went on to tie the knot with Heather in 2021, with whom he welcomed son Tristan in January 2023.)
“It’s not like Heather and I, where we spend a lot of time together,” Haack said. “It’s mostly just on the soccer field or at drop-off, but she’s super nice. She loves Hudson, and Hudson loves her. And she and Ant are happy.”
Haack, for her part, is not quite ready to dip her toe back into the dating pool just yet. “I’m terrified of men!” she told Us. “I’m taking a break and spending time with my girlfriends and my kids.”
Christina Haack, Tarek El Moussa and Heather Rae El MoussaHBO/HGTV
Despite her heartbreak, Haack said she “of course” still believes in love. “I’ll always love love. I probably will [get married again] eventually,” she said. “But not anytime soon, and I’d be engaged for a minimum of like five years.”
The Flip Off premieres Wednesday, January 29, at 8 p.m. on HGTV.
For more on The Flip Off, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.
Christina Haack is recalling the alleged treatment she received from estranged husband Josh Hallon the set of The Flip Off before he parted ways with the show.
“Josh was very hard to film with,” Haack, 41, exclusively shared with Us Weekly in the latest cover story with her ex-husband Tarek El Moussaand his wife, Heather Rae El Moussa. “He didn’t get it. He’d always get upset with me, like, ‘Oh, my gosh, you did this,’ or ‘You did that.’ And I’m like, ‘I’m making a TV show.’”
After Haack and Hall filed for divorce in July 2024, his role with The Flip Off changed. Us confirmed at the time that since the series was already “in production,” Haack, Tarek and Heather would be “moving forward with the show without” Josh.
“Ultimately, it was better that he left after episode 1 because the show would’ve sucked,” Haack told Us.
Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images; Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage; Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
When asked whether Hall voiced any concerns about her working with her ex Tarek, Haack replied, “If I would laugh at Tarek, I would get the silent treatment for a week.” Haack claimed that his reaction stemmed from “insecurity.”
Haack explained that filming The Flip Off “probably just sped [their split] up.” Haack noted that she and Tarek had “filmed together forever,” referencing Flip or Flop, which premiered in 2013. (Haack and Tarek, who share two kids, finalized their divorce in 2018 but continued to work together until the show’s final season in 2022.)
“Somebody with more confidence would be able to say, ‘This is my wife, but yes, she does this for TV. She was filming with Tarek when I met her,’” Haack told Us. “There was a rationale there that didn’t make sense. You know what you signed up for. I’m your wife, and I’m choosing you, but you’re choosing to make my life harder over insecurities.”
Despite her separation from Hall, Haack shared that she didn’t think about calling it quits on The Flip Off.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
“This isn’t Josh’s show,” she said. “No one’s going to miss that he’s not in it. Josh is not a TV host, he’s not a house flipper, he’s not a designer. He was just my husband in it. With Tarek, we built everything together, and I still have respect for him. I have no respect for Josh.”
While the breakup between Haack and Hall will play out on camera, Haack told Us she’s “not nervous” to watch any part of it. “There are definitely some very emotional scenes,” she said. “It’s different than anything I’ve ever shot for television — it’s very real and raw.”
Now, as she navigates her life after parting ways with Hall, Haack said she’s “been very busy, which is probably a blessing.” She added, “It’s really been a big growth period.”
Tarek and Heather, for their part, always tried to be “very friendly” with Hall. “He was our kids’ stepdad, so we wanted a positive environment,” Heather, who welcomed son Tristan with Tarek in January 2023, explained.
Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
However, since Hall left the show, Heather called the dynamics “better.” She added, “Not to be mean, but he definitely didn’t have the best personality. So it’s like a breath of fresh air. And [Christina is] in a really good place.”
The Flip Off premieres Wednesday, January 29, at 8 p.m. on HGTV.
For more on The Flip Off, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.
“It was difficult at times. I think she probably was open about that with you guys, too,” Graziadei, 29, said on the Wednesday, January 8, episode of “The Squeeze,” referring to Anderson’s previous appearance on the podcast. “It was never a walk in the park and it’s literally just because of timing. I would have loved — especially in this important beginning time in our relationship — I would have loved to have been able to put so much more time into it than I physically could have.”
Graziadei equated his time on DWTS, which he called “the coolest experience I’ve ever had,” to his past role as a tennis instructor.
“The way I always described it for her and tried to explain it for myself too is it felt like when I was teaching tennis as much as I possibly could. When you’re on court for 40 hours a week and you’re on the entire time.” he said. “Like, you’re talking to people, you’re giving every single version of yourself. When you go home, the last thing you want to do is be ‘on’ again.”
He continued, “It’s not like I had to be ‘on’ in our relationship. But I have to be giving her attention, I have to be making sure that I’m there fully.”
Graziadei explained that he would take 5-10 minutes when he got home to “forget what was in my head with dancing” and then he would “want to hear all about [Kelsey’s] day.”
“But if I came in the door and I wasn’t fully excited, I need to explain why. Like, I was still doing a two-step in my head. Like, I didn’t even know where I was at the time,” he said. “But that was the hardest part initially. You know, everyone’s outside opinion at the beginning, there’s a lot of stuff you can’t control.”
While Graziadei and his partner, Jenna Johnson, competed for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in fall 2024, Anderson, 26, addressed fan comments calling her “so strong” for watching the twosome dance. “We are all good in the hood,” Anderson said at the time, adding that Graziadei gives her the “security” and “reassurance” she needs in their relationship.
Disney/Eric McCandless
Graziadei gushed on “The Squeeze” that Anderson was “so amazing and so understanding.” Ultimately, Graziadei said his stint on DWTS — which he won with Johnson, 30 — made his relationship with Anderson even better.
“It made our relationship stronger at the end of the day, which is one of the things I’m most grateful for from the experience,” he said.
Now, as Graziadei and Anderson look toward the future, the former Bachelor gushed that he’s excited to start planning their upcoming nuptials. (Graziadei popped the question to Anderson during The Bachelor season 28 finale, which aired in March 2024.)
“We want to start figuring out some things, planning for the wedding, getting all that kind of cleaned up and getting excited about what’s going to be there for us,” he said. “But I’m excited about the dumbest little things, too. Like, we’re finally cooking in our own kitchen together. We’re finally being able to set up a couch in the TV to have our own movie nights and we can have, you know, parties with people coming over and host people. Like, we have not been able to do that yet.”
“So those are some of the mini things I’m excited for,” he continued, “and my goal is just to be open and available to put as much time as I can into that.”
Josh Swickard, Katelyn MacMullen and Chad DuellABC/Craig Sjodin
General Hospital is issuing a warning to viewers ahead of upcoming episodes as wildfire spreads in the Los Angeles area.
“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the fires currently raging in Los Angeles county,” the show’s official account shared via social media on Wednesday, January 8. “In light of current events, today’s episode of General Hospital (and several that follow) may prove too difficult to watch for some.”
A wind storm sparked brush fires on the morning of Tuesday, January 7, leading local areas to be evacuated. Several A-listers have been affected by the wildfires, with other stars voicing their support for the Los Angeles community.
“Please keep this in consideration prior to tuning in,” the message from General Hospital concluded. “Thank you for your understanding.”
The warning is referring to the latest General Hospital story line about Michael Corinthos (Chad Duell) being set on fire by an explosion and screaming in pain. Two months before the scene aired, Duell, 37, announced his decision to exitGeneral Hospital after more than 14 years.
“This wasn’t an easy decision for me, but it feels like the right time in my life,” he wrote via Instagram in November 2024. “I’m beyond grateful to [executive producer] Frank Valentini, the cast, crew, and everyone behind the scenes who have been like family to me throughout this amazing journey.”
ABC
Duell wrote at the time that this “isn’t a goodbye — it’s a see you later.” The following month, he opened up about his decision to walk away from the series.
“It’s a life adjustment,” he said on an episode of the “Daily Drama” podcast in December 2024. “A lot of stuff’s been going on in my life. There’s a few things behind it but one thing I did say is my dad passed away and I’m still coming to terms with that.”
Duell shared that he wanted to spend more time with partner Luana Lucci and their 16-month-old son, Dawson.
“I’m preparing myself for next chapters,” he continued. “Right now, I’m just trying to grow in ways that maybe I feel like I stifled myself in certain aspects and sometimes you need to take drastic steps or make yourself feel uncomfortable and that’s not what I’ve done in a long time.”
While reflecting on his run with the series, Duell said he had “a very strong comfort in this for such a long time that my identity was wrapped up in that.”
“It’s going to be a process, but kind of unraveling that and really seeing who I am and where I am now in my life,” he said. “It’s going to be a little journey. I don’t know what the future holds, but there is a lot of work I have to do to achieve the potential that I know I have. Not just career-wise, but a lot of aspects.”
General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC and can be streamed on Hulu.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is not bothered by Luigi Mangione joining him behind bars in New York City.
Multiple outlets reported on Tuesday, January 7, that Diddy, 55, was upset about the attention Mangione, 26, had taken from him inside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
However, a source close to Diddy denied the idea that he was jealous of Mangione. “This story has been completely made up, and there is no truth [to] it,” the insider exclusively told Us Weekly.
Mangione, who is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, arrived in New York from Pennsylvania in December 2024 to be arraigned on federal murder charges. (Mangione has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism.)
Paras Griffin/Getty Images; Curtis Means/Getty Images
Mangione is now housed at the same jail where Diddy has been since being arrested in September 2024 on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. (He has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.)
Diddy was previously reported to be in the same housing unit as convicted cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried. Convicted sex offenders R. Kelly and Ghislaine Maxwell and NXIVM sex cult leader Keith Raniere have also spent time at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Besides residing in the same jail, Diddy and Mangione also share another connection — their lawyers. News broke in December 2024 that Mangione hired Karen Friedman Agnifilo to represent him. The attorney is married to Marc Agnifilo, who is involved in Diddy’s case.
A spokesperson for Friedman Agnifilo’s firm, Agnifilo Intrater LLP, confirmed to Us that she was retained to represent Mangione in New York. Friedman Agnifilo will “not be making any statements at this time,” the spokesperson told Us at the time.
Since Diddy entered the notoriously dangerous jail, Agnifilo has expressed concerns about his client’s safety.
“The food is inedible, from what I’ve been told,” Agnifilo said in a September 2024 interview after Diddy was denied bail, adding, “It’s violent. Someone like Mr. Combs might be a target for certain things. We can’t let that happen.” (A judge denied Diddy bail in four separate appeals.)
While Us is unaware of the conditions of the Metropolitan Detention Center, several former inmates spoke out about their experiences in an October 2024 cover story.
“It’s a terrible, horrible place,” an inmate who spent three months in the jail in 2019 told Us. “There’s no air movement, and the food is slop.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
