Professional boxer Paul Bamba has died at the age of 35.

Bamba was managed by singer Ne-Yo, who confirmed his death via a joint statement with the athlete’s family on Friday, December 27.

“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of beloved son, brother, friend and boxing champion Paul Bamba, whose light and love touched countless lives,” the statement read. “He was a fierce yet confident competitor with an unrelenting ambition to achieve greatness. But more than anything, he was a tremendous individual that inspired many with his exceptional drive and determination.”

The note concluded, “We are heartbroken by his passing and kindly ask for privacy and understanding during this difficult time as we collectively navigate our grief.”

Most Shocking Celebrity Deaths of All Time

Ne-Yo, 45, shared the same statement on his Instagram Story set to Nipsey Hussle’s “Victory Lap.”

Bamba signed with Ne-Yo’s management company in November. It marked the musician’s first foray into the boxing ring.

“To be completely honest? Just belief in the fighter,” the “Miss Independent” singer told NBC News last month of the career move. “Realizing places I could help him, realizing places he could help me, it all made sense. You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t shoot. So let me see what it’s about, let me give it a try.”

Ne-Yo, in particular, was inspired by Bamba’s “drive and dedication to a cause.”

“You’d be surprised how rare that is nowadays,” he added at the time. “Like everybody wants something handed to them. You know what I mean? Everybody wants it the quick and easy way. And Paul Bamba is not one of them cats.”

Six days before Bamba’s sudden passing — a cause of death has not been confirmed — he was crowned WBA Gold Cruiserweight champion after a fight against Rogelio Medina.

Celebrity Deaths of 2024: Stars We Lost This Year

“This year I set out with a goal. I did just that,” Bamba wrote via Instagram on Wednesday, December 25. “Wasn’t easy there were many obstacles that I adapted to overcame and kept on the path we set regardless of extenuating circumstances. 14 fights. 14 knockouts ending with the WBA GOLD cruiserweight world title.”

He gushed, “Blessed to have my family my team and all my supporters along the way. That being said if you got what some might call an ‘outlandish goal,’ GO chase it. Anyone who thinks that isn’t as brave as you, prove people wrong!”

After the victory, Ne-Yo also paid tribute via his Instagram.

“The best is yet to come. Congrats my guy!!” he wrote earlier this week. “Honored to be your manager. Let’s keep going!!!”

Rapper OG Maco has died. He was 32.

“With heavy hearts, we share the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved ben, known to the world as OG Maco,” the musician’s family wrote in a Friday, December 27, Instagram statement on his official page. “His life was a testament to resilience, creativity and boundless love. Through his music, passion and unwavering spirit, he touched so many lives and left a lasting impact.”

The statement continued, “While we grieve this immense loss, we also celebrate the extraordinary life he lived — one that will continue to inspire and uplift others. Maco’s influence, both as an artist and as a person, will remain forever etched in our hearts.”

A cause of death for Maco, real name Benedict Chiajulam Ihesiba Jr., has not been publicly shared. It was previously reported that he suffered a gunshot wound. TMZ alleged earlier this month that police were called to Maco’s Los Angeles home after a firearm went off. Per the outlet, Maco was subsequently taken to a local hospital for surgery.

Most Shocking Celebrity Deaths of All Time

“He is currently in critical but stable condition,” a December 16 statement from Macy’s family read. “He is receiving the best possible care and we are staying hopeful as he continues to fight. … We thank you for your understanding, support and continued prayers during this difficult time.”

Maco is survived by his parents and his older sister.

“For those who wish to offer condolences, share memories or connect with the family, please reach out through the account,” the Friday statement added. “Your support means more than words can express. To all of Maco’s fans, friends and supporters: thank you for standing by him throughout his journey.”

The message concluded, “Today, we celebrate a life that was extraordinary in every way. With love and gratitude, the family of OG Maco.”

Celebrity Deaths of 2024: Stars We Lost This Year

Maco rose to fame in 2014 with the release of his debut single, “U Guessed It” featuring 2 Chainz.

“It’s so crazy because every day I wake up, and I’m more famous,” he quipped to Vice later that same year. “I think it’s like this for everybody in the city who actually ends up making it. It was a long period of ‘You’re angry because, you know, I’m nice! And nobody’s paying attention!’”

At the time, Maco noted that he drew from his emotions to create his tracks.

“I pull from it. But because I can rap, it’s not just pure yelling,” he explained to the outlet. “It’s formatted, but it’s really just my pure emotion.”

Chances are if your favorite show felt different over the years, a showrunner shift occurred at some point behind the scenes.

Law & Order: Organized Crime attempted to solidify itself as a successful spinoff of Law & Order: SVU but instead it has continued to make headlines for numerous showrunners exiting the series. The police procedural, which premiered in 2021 on NBC, stars Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler, reprising his role from SVU.

By the time the show was renewed for its fifth season — and moved to Peacock — it had gone through seven showrunner changes. No official statement was made about the numerous swaps in the writers’ room.

Meanwhile, The Handmaid’s Tale became a household name with Bruce Miller at the helm. The hit series then faced a shakeup right before its sixth and final season when Miller stepped down as showrunner. He remained a writer and executive producer but passed on his duties to executive producers Eric Tuchman and Yahlin Chang.

TV’s Shadiest Behind-the-Scenes Shakeups

“We are ending our show on our own creative terms,” he told Entertainment Weekly in 2022 before his departure. “Do I know what happens in season 6? Yes, I did think about the stuff that happens in season 6 for a while.”

Keep scrolling for more shows with significant showrunner swaps:

‘Law & Order: Organized Crime’

When Stabler got his own show in 2020, Matt Olmstead took on the role of showrunner but ultimately stepped down later that year. He was replaced by Ilene Chaiken, who remained on the show for one season before Barry O’Brien took over. Bryan Goluboff became the showrunner for season 3 but left after three months. He was replaced by Sean Jablonski, who left due to “creative differences” and David Graziano took over for the final episodes of the season. After Law & Order: Organized Crime was renewed for a fourth season, John Shiban was brought on as the newest showrunner but he didn’t stick around and Olmstead was brought back to finish up the scripts as an executive producer.

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

When the show was first in development, Chaiken was meant to run the show but Showtime passed on the pilot. Miller became the official showrunner once Hulu picked up the series and remained at the helm until the final season. Miller stepped down in order to focus on adapting The Testaments and Tuchman and Chang were named co-showrunners for the sixth and final season.

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’

After Netflix announced a reimagined live-action remake of Avatar, creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko were named as showrunners. They departed the series in 2020 due to creative differences and Albert Kim came onboard instead. Kim stepped down after the show was renewed and Christine Boylan and Jabbar Raisani became showrunners for the second and third seasons.

‘Call Me Kat’

The Fox sitcom, which starred Mayim Bialik, hired Darlene Hunt as a showrunner, which lasted for one season until Alissa Neubauer took over. Jim Patterson and Maria Ferrari were announced as the new showrunners for the third season, which turned out to be the show’s last.

TV Shows That Changed Their Premise: From 'Scrubs' to 'Saved by the Bell'

‘Designated Survivor’

Amy B. Harris was originally set to be the showrunner in 2016 but stepped down after Designated Survivor was officially picked up. Jon Harmon Feldman replaced Harris until Jeff Melvoin came on to supervise the second half of the first season. From there, writer Keith Eisner took over until the show was canceled on ABC. Netflix revived the series, which paved the way for Neal Baer to be named showrunner.

‘The Walking Dead’

The post-apocalyptic series premiered in 2010 with Frank Darabont at the helm. He departed after one season and Glen Mazzara took over until season 3. Scott M. Gimple was promoted to showrunner for four seasons until he became Chief Content Officer of the entire Walking Dead franchise and Angela Kang replaced him in the writers’ room.

‘West Wing’

The political series was created by Aaron Sorkin in 1999 and he remained with the show until the fifth season. After his departure, John Wells remained the sole executive producer and showrunner until the 2006 series finale.

‘Grey’s Anatomy’

Considering how long Grey’s Anatomy has been on the air, it makes sense that there have been some changes behind the scenes. Shonda Rhimes was the original showrunner for five seasons until Krista Vernoff joined her at the helm. One season later, Rhimes was began working alongside Tony Phelan and Joan Rater and the pair remained in charge when Rhimes stepped down to focus on other projects. From seasons 11 to 13, Stacy Mckee and William Harper were the showrunners before Mckee left and Vernoff returned. Vernoff was subsequently the sole showrunner from seasons 16 to 19 until Meg Marinis took over.

‘Supernatural’

Before Supernatural was picked up by The CW, creator Eric Kripke was developing the show for nearly 10 years. He remained as the showrunner until season 6, which is when Sera Gamble took over. Jeremy Carver was the sole showrunner from seasons 8 to 11 before turning control over to Robert Singer and Andrew Dabb for the remainder of its run.

'Superman & Lois,' 'The Witcher' and More TV Shows That Recast Characters

‘Gilmore Girls’

Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino were at the helm until failed contract negotiations caused them to leave after six seasons. David Rosenthal took over for the seventh and final season but ultimately it wasn’t the same. Sherman-Palladino ultimately returned for the four-part miniseries revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.

‘The Office’

Greg Daniels developed the show and served as the showrunner for the first four seasons before leaving for Parks and Recreation. Paul Lieberstein and Jennifer Celotta were named the showrunners for season 5 but Celotta left the series one season later. Lieberstein stayed on for the following two seasons then briefly left to work on a potential spinoff. Daniels returned as showrunner for the ninth and final season.

‘Community’

After basing the script on his experiences, Dan Harmon was the showrunner for four seasons. He was briefly replaced by writers David Guarascio and Moses Port before returning one year later.

‘Seinfeld’

Created by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, Seinfeld was run by David for seven seasons. His exit led to Seinfeld — who also starred on the show — to take over for two more years until the 1998 series finale.

‘Dawson’s Creek’

Kevin Williamson left after the first season to focus on another show, which meant Alex Gansa became the new showrunner. A production shutdown — due to the cast’s frustration with the story lines — led to Gansa being replaced by Greg Berlanti in season 3.

Model Dayle Haddon died on Friday, December 28, at the age of 76 after a suspected carbon monoxide leak.

Multiple outlets reported that local police officers discovered an apparent leak at the Bucks County, Pennsylvania home of My Life With the Walter Boys star Marc Blucas following a 911 call. In a police report, an unidentified 76-year-old man was found “passed out” on the first floor of the residence while Haddon was found dead in an upstairs bedroom.

“New Hope Eagle Volunteer Fire Company was also on scene and detected a high level of carbon monoxide in the property,” the police report read. “Two medics were transported to Doylestown Hospital for carbon monoxide exposure and one Solebury Township Police Officer was treated at the scene. This tragedy is currently under investigation by the Solebury Township Police Department.”

Further details have not yet been released.

Celebrity Deaths of 2024: Stars We Lost This Year

Haddon and ex-husband Glenn Souham shared daughter Ryan, who married 52-year-old Blucas in 2009. (Ryan shares two children with Blucas, as well as two older kids with ex Christian Slater.)

Later on Friday, Ryan, 53, paid tribute to her mother’s legacy.

“The bright light that is Dayle has dimmed in this Earthly realm. Shining somewhere as radiantly as ever where it’s most needed, I have no doubt,” the journalist wrote via Instagram. “She was a woman in her power, yet soft and attentive to all. Deeply creative and curious, gifted with beauty inside and out. Always kind and thoughtful.”

She added, “In conversation, she could go to the deepest of places and also soar the highest heights of spiritual understanding. She held so many up, saw their greatness sometimes hidden to them, and always built bridges with her own connections to help them ascend. She was everyone’s greatest champion. An inspiration to many.”

Ryan further noted that she will continue to “honor” Haddon’s memory.

Most Shocking Celebrity Deaths of All Time

“I always trust the timing of things. There are no accidents and certainly how we enter and exit this world is mystical and unknowable,” Ryan added in her upload. “She was a high-hearted spiritual being that put value on her soul’s evolution, so I know her journey here in this dimension must have been complete. I honor her. I bow to her. I revere all the paths and adventures taken. I saw her be golden and always reach for the Light in all areas of her life.”

She concluded, “Thank you everyone who was a part of her journey that helped to shape her, enrich her and activate her to become the absolute gem that she is. She loved so many. A pure heart. A rich inner life. Touching so many lives. A life well-lived.”

Ryan also reshared the post onto her Instagram Story, with the caption, “Rest in Light, Mom. So grateful for this beautiful should and to be her daughter this lifetime.”

Haddon is survived by Ryan and her four grandchildren.

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Denzel Washington and wife Pauletta Washington’s relationship blossomed at the start of his career.

The couple first connected while filming the 1977 TV film, Wilma: The Wilma Rudolph Story. However, Denzel and Paulette didn’t grow closer until the following year. During a 2018 interview on Live With Kelly and Ryan, Denzel hinted that greater forces were at work to set him up with his future wife.

“About a year later there was a party I was invited to … and she was there,” he recalled. “At that party, I talked about going to see a play. I went to see the play and at intermission, the lights went up. And [Pauletta] was sitting [near me].”

Denzel recalled Pauletta telling him that she “just happened to go see the show,” but the actor teased that he didn’t buy it. Despite his joke later on, Denzel and Pauletta ended up hitting it off and the couple wed in 1983.

One year after their nuptials, the couple welcomed their first child, son John David Washington. They later expanded their family with daughter Katia and twins Olivia and Malcolm in 1986 and 1991, respectively.

Keep scrolling to revisit Denzel and Pauletta’s love story:

1977

The actors first crossed paths on the Wilma: The Wilma Rudolph Story set.

1978

One year later, Denzel and Pauletta began dating. In a June 2019 interview with E! News alongside her husband, Pauletta revealed that she ended up fronting the costs for the cab on the pair’s first date.

“I’m [planning on] paying for the cab ride but then I’m watching the meter and I’m running out of money,” Denzel explained before Pauletta interjected, “He turns to me and says, ‘I have no money.’”

Denzel denied that’s what he said but Pauletta insisted she has a vivid memory of the experience. She reaffirmed she paid for the taxi, and Denzel made it well known that he has taken the initiative to pay for everything “ever since.”

June 1983

The couple tied the knot. Before walking down the aisle, Pauletta rejected Denzel’s proposal twice before agreeing to marry him.

“She turned me down, she said ‘no,’” the Oscar winner said to Access Hollywood in July 2013. “And since it was three times, that means she turned me down twice.”

July 1984

One year later, Pauletta gave birth to the pair’s first child, John David.

November 1986

The twosome expanded their family with daughter Katia.

April 1991

Denzel and Pauletta completed their family with twins Olivia and Malcolm.

1995

After 12 years of marriage, Pauletta and Denzel renewed their vows. The ceremony took place in South Africa and was officiated by their pal, archbishop Desmond Tutu.

March 2002

Denzel brought his wife as his date to the Oscars. He ended up taking home the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role in Training Day.

June 2005

The couple won the Humanitarian Award at the BET Awards.

January 2016

Pauletta was by Denzel’s side when he accepted the Cecil B. Demille Award during the Golden Globe Awards.

June 2019

Denzel made it a family event when he was recognized for the Lifetime Achievement award at the AFI Film Awards.

September 2024

Pauletta and Denzel attended the Toronto International Film Festival to support Malcolm and John David’s film, The Piano Lesson.

That same month, Pauletta opened up about what it meant to celebrate her and Denzel’s 41st wedding anniversary earlier that year.

“We work at it. It’s work. It’s not that you sit there and you go, like, ‘Oh, you know…’” she reflected to People. “There are a lot of prayers for strength for staying in a forgiveness mode and both parts, mine and his. But it’s the basic love that we have for each other.”

December 2024

Denzel got baptized and licensed to become a priest ahead of Christmas, during which he thanked Pauletta for her support.

“I am thankful for all that God has given me in 70 years: A loving, faithful wife,” he said, per ABC News.

Pauletta then gave a testimony on his behalf, recalling how they first met, “The lights came on at intermission and we were sitting next to each other and 45, 46 years later, here I’m still sitting next to him. As only God will have it. And I’m so very proud of him.”

She added, “You are the head of our house, and you have set a great example for our children, who are now adult children and who know the difference because we have shown them the difference.”

Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Anna Delvey. Erik and Lyle Menendez. Over the last few years, killers and con artists have gone from names you hear in the news to figures more akin to celebrities with reality shows, hundreds of thousands of social media followers and everyday people invested in every aspect of their lives, from their marriages to what they’re eating behind bars.

According to a June 2024 YouGov survey, 57 percent of American adults consume true-crime content, and the entertainment industry has long drawn inspiration from the world’s most infamous cases (think: the Zodiac Killer and Ted Bundy). But this current crop of criminals aren’t so black-and-white.

Case in point: Blanchard. She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for her role in the killing of her mom, who experts believe had Munchausen by proxy. In 2019, Hulu gave the story the Hollywood treatment in The Act. After Blanchard, 33, was released from prison, she filmed a Lifetime docuseries and appeared on The Kardashians.

Meanwhile, Delvey — the “fake heiress” who was indicted for stealing about $275,000 — was portrayed as a criminal mastermind by Julia Garner in Netflix’s Inventing Anna. This year, Delvey, 33, got special permission from ICE to travel out of New York to compete on Dancing With the Stars, bedazzled ankle bracelet and all.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard's Pop Culture Relevance Explained: TV Shows and More

According to criminologist James Pipe, these ex-cons becoming rising stars “is rooted in society’s fascination with darker aspects of human behavior,” he tells Us. “People are drawn to stories that explore moral ambiguity, and their cases challenge traditional ideas of right and wrong.”

The Menendez brothers are another example, who, despite killing their parents in 1989, have become antiheros in light of Ryan Murphy’s Monsters. “Having an actor play a criminal gets people interested in the real-life case,” psychiatrist and expert forensic witness Carole Lieberman explains. Without Monsters, criminal defense attorney Stacy Schneider says, “I don’t believe the prosecution would have revisited their lengthy jail sentences.”

With more scripted series getting the green light — Melissa McCarthy will star in a Paramount+ project about JonBenét Ramsey, while Hulu’s Amanda, based on the 2007 Amanda Knox case, is currently filming — this trend isn’t going anywhere. Netflix’s Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey? director Joe Berlinger has a theory on why the genre has become a “go-to bucket” for Hollywood: “There’s a hunt for justice, a protagonist and an antagonist vying for the truth and [at times,] a resolution at the end,” he tells Us, pointing to its “classic dramatic structure.” Lieberman shares the same sentiment: “Truth is stranger than fiction and attracts more viewers. Also, the industry seems to be short on original ideas these days.”

These projects can also serve a larger purpose. National Center for Victims of Crime CEO Renée E. Williams credits “good true crime” — like Anna Kendrick’s Woman of the Hour about serial killer Rodney Alcala — for educating viewers. “Decisions such as what images to show [can tell] tell an impactful story versus one that’s harmful.” she shares. So, while this form of media may be America’s guiltiest pleasure, it’s important to treat the stories that inspired them as what they really are: cautionary tales.

“The stories are so sensational that it feels like a ‘you can’t make this stuff up’ moment,” Schneider tells Us.

For more on true crime getting the Hollywood treatment, pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.

When it comes to double tap-worthy beauty Instagrams, these celebrities just get it.

From Jennifer Lopez’s chic everyday look to Chappell Roan’s drag makeup, there were countless stellar makeup looks this year, all shared on social media.

Take Chappell, for example, who looked fierce with hot pink eyeshadow blended to her brow bone in September. With the help of Ali Scharf, she teamed the color with a sage green cut crease, dramatic black winged eyeliner and fuchsia lips.

Selena Gomez was a standout too, with her simple but classy glam at a Rare Beauty event in October. Her beat included feathered and filled-in eyebrows, bronzed and blushed cheeks and long lashes.

Zendaya, of course, made our list too, with her shimmery olive green eyeshadow that matched her custom Loewe gown at the Challengers premiere in March.

In no particular order, keep scrolling to see the top 10 best beauty Instagram moments of 2024:

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The royal family kept a relatively low profile in 2024 — especially as several members faced a major health crisis.

At the start of the year, things were looking up for the Windsor family. However, both King Charles III and Princess Kate Middleton underwent respective surgeries in January. The next two months included statements announcing cancer diagnoses for both senior royals — although, details about the type of illness have been kept under wraps.

As the year continued, there were continous health updates with Kate finishing chemotherapy in September. While Charles is set to continue his treatments in the new year, the king will resume his regularly scheduled programming going forward.

“We’re now working on a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour program for next year, which is a high point for us, knowing that we can think in those terms,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson told Hello! Magazine in October.

Reexamining Kate Middleton’s Whirlwind 2024

While Charles and Kate’s cancer diagnoses were two major events within the royal family this year, it’s not the only thing that went down for the Brits in 2024.

Keep scrolling for a reflection on the biggest royal family moments this year:

The King’s Illness

The palace announced that Charles underwent a routine prostate procedure in January. One week later, the king was diagnosed with an unspecified type of cancer.

“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties,” a February statement announced. “Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.”

Charles initially took a step back from his public-facing duties but has since returned to work full force. Details about his cancer journey have been few and far between but the palace did share that Charles would be continuing chemotherapy in 2025.

When asked for a health update in December, Charles proved he’s still in good spirits. “I’m still alive,” he joked. (Well, that’s promising.)

The Photoshop Scandal

Kate celebrated Mother’s Day on March 10, and shared a photo with her three kids — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — that appeared to have been edited. Many news outlets received a “kill notification” to remove the photo from their respective sites. Speculation surrounding the image led Kate to speak out one day later and admit to editing the image.

Meghan Markle Announces Her Brand

After five years off Instagram, Meghan returned to the social media platform to announce her American Riviera Orchard brand (which has yet to officially launch). As the year went on, Meghan’s famous friends received — and posted about on social media — products from the company which teased what fans can expect.

Kate’s Whirlwind Cancer Journey

Amid the Photoshop scandal, Kate was privately experiencing a health battle.

The Princess of Wales underwent a “planned” abdominal surgery in January and took a break from all public-facing duties while recovering. Silence from Kate and the lack of public appearances led to wild speculation about her whereabouts. On March 22, she finally spoke out and announced that she was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer. She kept a low profile until making two public outings in the summer — one at Trooping the Colour in June and Wimbledon in July.

By September, Kate made a return to her royal duties after completing her treatment. While out and about on Christmas day, the Princess of Wales offered a minor health update during a discussion with royal watchers.

“The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families,” she said in footage obtained by the Daily Mail. “People like you are doing all the hard work out there. I’m hugely grateful.”

Prince William and the Kids Meet Taylor Swift

The Prince of Wales celebrated his 42nd birthday rocking out to “Shake It Off” while taking Prince George and Princess Charlotte to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour at Wembley Stadium on June 22. The kids (and William) got a chance to meet Swift backstage, snapping selfies with her and Travis Kelce.

Prince Harry’s ESPYs Drama

In July, it was announced that Harry would receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPY Awards that same month. The Duke of Sussex received widespread backlash after being chosen (even Pat Tillman’s mother spoke out against the choice) but still took the stage at the event when accepting the award on July 11.

I stand here not as Prince Harry, Pat Tillman Award recipient but rather a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel across 20 nations who have made the Invictus Games a reality,” he said during his speech, in part. “This award belongs to them, not to me. That said, it is of great importance to me to highlight these allies, athletes and their amazing families for their achievements, their spirit and their courage at every opportunity, especially on nights like this in front of people like you.”

Harry was given the award following his 10 years of service in the British Armed Forces and for cofounding the Invictus Games which offers wounded, injured or sick armed service members to compete in various sports.

William’s Beard Is All Anyone Can Talk About

Royal watchers were shook when William debuted new facial hair in August. The scruffy look was here to stay for the rest of 2024 — even though Princess Charlotte was not a fan.

Kate Middleton ‘Will Be Doing More Next Year,' Prince William Reveals

“Charlotte didn’t like it the first time,” William said in November. “I got floods of tears, so I [had] to shave it off. And then I grew it back. I thought, ‘Hang on a second,’ and I convinced her it was going to be OK.”

Princess Beatrice Expands Her Family

Buckingham Palace announced on October 1 that Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, were expecting baby No. 2. The couple already shares 3-year-old daughter Sienna.

Edoardo is also the father to 8-year-old son Wolfie, whom he shares with ex-fiancée Dara Huang.

We’re Still Talking About Prince Andrew

Another year, more royal drama surrounding Prince Andrew.

In November, it was reported that Charles had cut his brother (whose royal titles were stripped in 2019 following a sexual misconduct scandal) off financially. Royal author Robert Hardman’s book, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, stated that Charles had revoked his brother’s annual allowance which was estimated to be in the realm of $1 million.

The following month, Andrew made headlines once again when he was allegedly connected to a businessman accused of being a Chinese spy, who has been referred to as H6. In a December 6 statement to the BBC, Andrew confirmed that he had “ceased all contact” with the individual and any past contact they had was “through official channels” and “nothing of a sensitive nature [was] ever discussed.”

Jerry O’Connell is eyeing his next chapter now that The Talk has come to an end.

“Maybe I can be the first Real Househusband who’s a cast member,” O’Connell, 50, joked in the new issue of Us Weekly, revealing that he and wife Rebecca Romijn, 52, are huge fans of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. “I want a diamond! That would be really fun. I think I’d do a great job.”

Despite his affinity for reality TV, O’Connell might never get the chance to appear on a Bravo show — at least not right now. (O’Connell said goodbye to The Talk alongside Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales and Sheryl Underwood on December 20. He joined the show in July 2021, following the departure of Sharon Osbourne.)

“My wife won’t do it,” he confessed to Us. “She’s much more private.”

Jerry O'Connell Jokes 'Nepo Baby Is Coming' After Helping Daughter in Play

O’Connell has been married to Romijn since 2007. The couple are parents to 16-year-old twin daughters Charlie and Dolly, who O’Connell said wouldn’t bring much drama.

“They’re not vaping,” he declared to Us. “And, at least, so I’m told, aren’t ‘getting with’ anybody, so that’s good.”

This is hardly the first time O’Connell has spoken about his RHOBH aspirations.

“Would I consider it? Yes,” he told Us during a separate interview in October 2022. “I’ll tell you, I really wanted to be a House Husband. Like, I look at Mauricio [Umansky], and Ken Todd [Lisa Vanderpump’s husband] and PK [Kemsley], and I wanna, like, hang out with those guys.”

Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell's Relationship Timeline

Romijn shared her concerns about ever joining the show during the same interview.

“We’re such fans of the franchise [but] you know, the truth is probably not ‘cause I really would rather talk about them than be one of them,” the actress explained. “I feel like I would miss out on the gossip part of it. Or I guess, they all gossip when they’re on the show, but I don’t like fighting.”

O’Connell agreed, noting that seeing Lisa Rinna get booed at BravoCon that year was “a little scary” from his point of view. (Former RHOBH star Rinna gave the crowd two middle fingers after getting booed during her panel at the time.)

“If I got booed at Bravocon, I would leave the country,” he joked. “I would be gone. I don’t know if I could handle it, but Lisa Rinna handles it really well.”

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

It isn’t surprising when a celebrity gives their baby a unique name, but it’s always fun to discuss (and debate if we’d steal for ourselves).

Stars from Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden to Jenna Dewan and Steve Kazee chose interesting monikers for their newborns, including “Cardinal” and “Rhiannon.”

Giving a nod to her daughter’s name, Dewan shared Fleetwood Mac’s song “Rhiannon” on Instagram Stories in June, as well as a photo from a book describing “Rhiannon” as “the muse” and “the divine queen of faeries.”

Love Is Blind stars Bliss Poureetezadi and Zack Goytowski also chose a standout name for their daughter, Galileo Terri Rayne, born in April.

“A powerful name for a powerful little lady: Galileo was not only one of the great brilliant minds of time but the name also represents the area where Jesus performed his miracles,” Poureetezadi wrote in an Instagram comment, adding that they call her “Leo (Lay-o) for short.”

Keep scrolling for more unique celebrity baby names of 2024:

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Just like Us, when George Lopez gets sucked into a good reality TV show, he can’t help but binge it all.

“I just finished all seven seasons of Love Is Blind,” Lopez, 63, reveals exclusively in his 25 Things You Don’t Know About Me feature in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now. “ I couldn’t change that f—ing channel for a week.”

The Netflix reality dating show follows a group of men and women hoping to find love, who date each other in “pods” and ultimately decide if they want to get engaged, sight unseen. Only after a marriage proposal is accepted are the couples allowed to meet face-to-face.

With seven seasons since its premiere in 2020, Love Is Blind comes back for an eighth installment in February 2025.

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Lopez, however, might be too busy to binge the new show as his own series Lopez vs Lopez returns to NBC on January 3, 2025, at 8:30 p.m. ET.

“My favorite scene in Lopez vs Lopez is seeing Mayan in a wedding dress [in season 2, episode 10],” the comedian tells Us of the show, in which he stars opposite his real-life daughter, Mayan Lopez.

For more fun, personal facts from George — including his experience with his haunted house — keep scrolling:

1. Biggie [The Notorious B.I.G.] was my No. 1 artist on my 2024 Spotify Wrapped.

2. If I could only watch one movie for the rest of my life, it would be Vision Quest.

3. My go-to takeout order is two of Baja Fresh’s bean and cheese burritos and two steak tacos.

4. My favorite scene in Lopez vs Lopez is seeing [real-life daughter] Mayan [Lopez] in a wedding dress [in season 2, episode 10].

5. When I was 15, I sold flowers to buy a guitar. Now I have close to 100 and my most valuable possessions are special guitars from Eddie Van Halen.

6. My favorite wardrobe item is a pair of Louis Vuitton slides that I vowed never to get wet.

7. My favorite comfort food is a dish my grandmother used to make: elbow macaroni with ragu, ground hamburger and olives. It’s delicious.

8. For the last 12 years, I’ve played guitar every day. I’ve spent more time working on “Tie Your Mother Down” and “Black Dog” than I worked on my career.

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9. My first car was a 1976 Ford LTD. I had a cut in the fuel line, and gas was shooting out. I showed my grandfather, and he said, “Go take it to get fixed.” I [replied], “I’m not going anywhere!”

10. My most starstruck moment was when I was getting ready to rehearse for We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial [in 2009], and Bruce Springsteen was standing next to me.

11. My favorite book is Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss.

12. My alternate profession would be as the person at Home Depot who brings out generators or heavy cement mixers.

13. The app I use the most is X.

14. For a while, my celebrity crush was Joan Rivers. I told her and she [said], “What the f— is wrong with you?”

15. “Old Days” by Chicago brings back the best memories. I was close to my junior high and high school friends, and a couple of them aren’t around anymore. “Old Days” would play when we were in the car.

16. My house is haunted. There used to be banging in the attic, and I’ve heard [the spirit] say, “Ma,” “good afternoon” and my name. But until it actually touches me, I’m going to stay.

17. My fondest childhood memory is seeing Dodger Stadium for the first time. I had never seen anything that big or beautiful.

18. My idea of a perfect vacation is going to Cabo, golfing and being out there in the sun.

19. Social studies was my best subject in school.

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20. My first job was working at H Salt Fish & Chips in San Fernando for the summer. It was easy, but you’d smell like fish.

21. Growing up, I looked up to the guys in Kiss and Carlos Santana. [Ironically,] everybody that had a poster on my wall, I became friends with. It’s a shame I put the Playboy centerfolds in my closet.

22. My dream collaborator is Santana. He asked me to play with him at the House of Blues. If I break off a little of “Black Magic Woman,” I’d be happy.

23. My favorite holiday is the 4th of July.

24. I just finished all seven seasons of Love Is Blind. I couldn’t change that f—ing channel for a week.

25. Getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006 was the proudest moment of my career. When I was 15, I would stand on George Burns’ star, cover his last name with my foot and imagine that my name was there.

Billie Lourd admitted she’s feeling “griefy but grateful” as she marked the eighth anniversary of her mom Carrie Fisher’s death.

Opening up about her complicated feelings about the sombre occasion, Lourd shared an emotional tribute alongside a throwback image of herself with her late mom via Instagram on Friday, December 27.

“It has been 8 years since my mom died. As my son would say “that’s a lot!” I always dread this day. I spend so much time leading up to it thinking about how awful I’m going to feel,” Lourd, 32, wrote, “And my dread is usually right. I woke up this morning with a dark cloud over me. But when my kids woke up the dark cloud dissipated and made way for bright glowing sunshine. Her death anniversary is like an emotional tropical storm. It pours rain a lot of the day but between the storms the light is more beautiful than on any day without storm clouds. There are no rainbows without rain.”

The actress went on to draw upon a similie to explain how it felt to grapple with her feelings of grief.

Billie Lourd Honors Late Mom Carrie Fisher 7 Years After Death

“There’s a great Anne Lamott quote, grief is ‘like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly – that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp’. And that describes how I feel today perfectly,” Lourd wrote.

She continued, “Yes, the grief weather is cold and yes I may have a limp but I am absolutely dancing through life (oops I quoted wicked?). And I am actually a better dancer with my limp. My grief has given me a deeper appreciation for all the little moments of life. So today I am griefful (griefy but grateful). I watch the magic that is my son and daughter and I know she is a piece of that magic. And I feel all the things. The grief. The joy. The longing. The magic. The emptiness. The fullness. And it all coexists in a profound way. Sending my love to everyone out there who needs it. ”

Since Fisher’s death, Billie has welcomed son Kingston, 4, and daughter Jackson Joanne, 2, with partner Austen Rydell.

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Fisher died in December 2016 at the age of 60 after suffering a heart attack. One day later, Fisher’s mother, Debbie Reynolds, died of a stroke at the age of 84.

In the years since her mother and grandmother passed, Lourd has often opened up about her loss.

Last year, Lourd commemorated the anniversary of her mom’s death with another poignant post.

“It has been 7 years since my mom died (but who’s counting?? Me I guess?),” Lourd wrote in December 2023. “Every anniversary brings a different iteration of my grief. Some infuse me with rage, some make me cry all day long, some make me feel dissociated and empty, some make me feel nothing, some make me feel guilty for feeling nothing, and some make me feel all of those things all at once.”

How Billie Lourd Felt Closer to Late Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds

The Scream Queens alum also acknowledged in December 2021 that processing grief is “never simple.”

“I’m in a different stage of grief in each moment of every day,” Lourd wrote via Instagram. “My grief is a multi-course meal with many complicated ingredients. An amuse bouche of bargaining followed by an anger appetizer with a side of depression, acceptance for the entree and of course a little denial for dessert.”

She continued: “And that’s how grief should be – all things all at once – actually there is no ‘should’ in grief – grief just is whatever it is for you and that is how it ‘should be.’”

Brianna “Chickenfry” LaPaglia is celebrating putting on 11 pounds as she continues to move on from her split from Zach Bryan.

The podcast host shared details of her weight gain via a video posted via TikTok on Thursday, December 27.

“We have exciting news. I think I’ve gained 11 pounds. I know, I know,” LaPaglia, 25, happily announced in the clip. “And it’s great and it’s awesome because I have an appetite again, I’m eating. I’m like, b–ch, you haven’t eaten for a year but maybe relax a little bit.”

LaPaglia went on to explain why she was so excited about putting on weight, sharing that she had initially lost the weight due to the stress of dealing with her break-up with Bryan, 28.

Brianna Chickenfry ‘Sick From Anxiety’ Amid Zach Bryan Split, Down 15 Pounds

“If you’re confused, I lost a lot of weight. It was a toxic, awful, horrible situation. And I was mentally going through something bad but I couldn’t eat and I became skin and bones so I started force feeding myself sh–ty food,” she said. “Like, I’ve been eating pasta, fast food – anything that is just sh–ty, that will make me gain weight.”

The “BFFs” podcast host went on to detail some of the physical changes she’s experienced recently.

@ihatebriannachickenfry

♬ original sound – Brianna LaPaglia

“The jeans are starting to fit around my thighs. Not baggy on my thighs anymore. Double chin, coming back! I don’t know if that ever really left,” she said. “These are things that are making me feel happy, making me feel good. It took me like, I want to say three months to get an appetite back. And like I said, I literally feel like, I’m like ravenous.”

She continued: “It’s possible it’s happening and gaining weight isn’t a bad thing. Sometimes it can actually be a really good thing. And a really good sign that things are going well.”

Brianna Chickenfry Holds Back Tears While Moving Out of Zach Bryan’s Home

In October, LaPaglia claimed she was “blindsided” when the country music star publicly announced via his Instagram that the former couple had gone their separate ways.

The following month, LaPaglia shared via a TikTok video that she was too distraught to eat in the wake of her relationship breakdown, causing her to inadvertently shed 15 pounds.

“It’s not because I didn’t want to eat. I was physically sick from what I was going through mentally,” she explained. “When you’re in a constant fight or flight, your body is so anxious to the point where you throw up, you can’t eat, you can’t hold anything down.”

Olivia Hussey Eisley, best known for playing Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, has died. She was 73.

The news was announced via her official Instagram account via a post shared on Friday, December 27.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Olivia Hussey Eisley, who went peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on December 27th,” the post read. “Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her.”

The tribute went on to remember Hussey Eisley as having “lived a life full of passion, love, and dedication to the arts, spirituality, and kindness towards animals.”

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“Olivia leaves behind a loving family— her children, Alex, Max, and India, her husband of 35 years David Glen Eisley, and grandson, Greyson, and a legacy of love that will forever be cherished in our hearts,” the post continued. “As we grieve this immense loss, we also celebrate Olivia’s enduring impact on our lives and the industry.

The caption concluded, “We thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time and ask for privacy as we mourn the loss of a truly special soul.”

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The Argentina-born actress was just 15 when she starred in Romeo and Juliet alongside Leonard Whiting as Romeo.

The critically acclaimed film was a box-office success upon its 1968 release and went on to score four Oscar nominations and two wins for Best Costume and Best Cinematography in 1969.

In August 2018, Hussey Eisley spoke to The Guardian about her role in the movie in honor of its 50th anniversary. “I loved playing Juliet,” she said at the time. “The only part I didn’t like was all the PR. It was exhausting, and I was this wild little thing.”

The film wasn’t without controversy, however. Hussey Einsley and Whiting previously found themselves in a legal battle with Paramount Pictures over the movie’s nude scene.

‘Romeo + Juliet’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

In the initial complaint, filed in December 2022, the costars claimed they were told by the film’s late director, Zeffirelli, that the movie would not feature nudity and that they would wear flesh-colored undergarments for a bedroom scene, according to the Associated Press.

A judge dismissed the case in May 2023. Whiting and Hussey fought back by filing a second lawsuit against Paramount in February 2024, claiming the studio digitally redistributed the film without their permission.

Other memorable roles in the actress’ career included playing Mary in the 1977 miniseries Jesus of Nazareth as well as Rosalie Otterbourne in Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile, which was directed by John Guillermin and released in 1978.

Emma Roberts and Garrett Hedlund’s son Rhodes just turned 4 – and his parents celebrated by posting some sweet snaps to mark the occasion.

Both Roberts, 33, and Hedlund, 40, shared photos of Rhodes via their respective Instagram accounts on Thursday, December 27.

“Happy Birthday angel boy 4!!” Roberts, who dated Hedlund for three years before they called in quits in 2022, wrote.

For his part, Hedlund shared his own photos of Rhodes and wrote a loving message alongside the father-son images.

Emma Roberts Shares Photo of ‘Angel Boy’ Son Rhodes on His 3rd Birthday

“Happy 4th Birthday to my dearest Rhodes!” Hedlund wrote. “My ‘where the roses grow.’ My heart. Here’s to our new year of endless journeys!!!”

Fans were quick to notice the strong similarities between Rhodes and his mom in particular, flocking to the comments section to point out the striking similarity in looks.

“Tell me you’re Emma Roberts’ son without saying anything! He’s your double!” wrote one follower on Robert’s post, while another added, “Have the MOTHER face.”

Echoing the sentiment, another fan wrote, “I can see the Robert’s blood it runs strong!” A further comment read,  “He’s 4 already!!! @emmaroberts your mini me. HBD Roadie ”

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A post shared by Emma Roberts (@emmaroberts)

Roberts and Hedlund kept their relationship largely out of the public eye while dating. They were first linked in 2019 and news broke in August 2020 that they were expecting their first child together.

“Garrett is really looking forward to becoming a dad and feels as though this is something he needed,” a source exclusively told Us in November 2020. “He is ready to take on all the daddy duties, and Emma getting pregnant has forced him to become more responsible. He thinks that’s a blessing.”

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A post shared by Garrett Hedlund (@garretthedlund)

Hedlund and Roberts ultimately called time on their relationship in January 2022 and an insider told Us Weekly a month later there was no animosity.

“They have a very amicable relationship with each other and are being very adult about their breakup,” the insider explained in February 2022.

Emma Roberts Shares Sweet Snap With 3-Year-Old Son Rhodes

Roberts previously touched on her experience with motherhood while speaking to Jamie Lee Curtis for Violet Grey in March 2021.

“It’s not something you’ll always feel like you’re getting right, but you will get better every day,” she said when asked about parenting advice she wished she’d gotten ahead of the infant’s birth. “When in doubt, just love your child and yourself.”

Hedlund gushed about his fatherhood journey in an interview with Extra in July 2021.

“I’ve done a lot of dad things,” the actor told the outlet. “The best part is we were just in Boston, my gal, [Emma Roberts], was working so it was every day all day with mister young man. My favorite part of every day was the bedtime stories [with] me telling him stories of his grandfathers, which was wonderful for me and hopefully him. It was just a really sweet, connecting dad moment.”

Tina Knowles does not appreciate how some NFL viewers have taken aim at her daughter Beyoncé following the singer’s Christmas halftime performance.

Taking to social media, Tina, 70, came out swinging as she defended the singer, 43, against critics via an Instagram post shared on Friday, December 27.

Tina reposted an image of a fan’s reaction to the haters, which described Beyoncé’s halftime show as a “flawless freaking performance” that didn’t warrant negativity.

“Irrespective of if you like Beyoncé’s music or not, it is PROOF and motivation that no matter how undeniably talented you are, people will always, ALWAYS, always have some negative ish to say,” the fan post reads.

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Agreeing with the fan’s sentiment, Tina weighed in further with her own thoughts.

“My sentiments exactly! It is mind-boggling to me that you would take your precious Christmas day and watch a performance of someone you hate and you don’t think has talent so that you can go talk ish about it later” she wrote. “Obviously you are so obsessed with them , addicted to them, and secretly admire them, wish you could be them, that you cannot help but to watch and critique and comment and say dumb ridiculous stuff that makes you look like a joke !!”

She continued, “So go to another channel when it’s halftime watch goofy cartoons or Bozo the clown or something you can relate to and see yourself in. Said with love PS I have learned so much from her warrior spirit, of when they go low I work harder. ‘No weapon formed against me shall prosper’. One, two, three, waiting for the fake bots to come.”

Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer showed support with fire emojis while Uzo Aduba, 43, chimed in, “As my mother would say, ‘My dear, don’t mind them.'”

Loni Love, 53, added her appreciation for Beyoncé to the comments section: “That boo boo got on horses, cars, two stepped, brought her baby to two step, sang with multiple people, danced with a marching band, flew up in the sky, cowboy hat never came off, all that white never got dirty and was done in 13 minutes… haters could never do that.. tell her we are proud of her @mstinaknowles!”

Beyonce's Netflix Halftime Show Had More Viewers Than NFL Christmas Games

Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss, 48, commented, “@beyonce was AMAZING!!!! We’re not acknowledging anybody saying anything different.” Real Housewives of Potomac star Gizelle Bryant, 54, echoed, “No weapon!!!”

Meanwhile, Shea Couleé, 35, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 5, applauded Knowles’ zinger: “‘Go watch Goofy or Bozo, something you can relate to’ took me out!!!! You better remind them of what they are Ms Tina … CLOWNS .”

Despite some criticism, Beyoncé’s NFL Christmas Gameday halftime performance drew 27 million viewers on Netflix, more than the two games that aired the same day.

The opening game, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game, drew 24.1 million viewers while 24.3 million viewers watched the second game, the Baltimore Ravens vs. the Houston Texans.

Brooks Laich found his ultimate fitness buddy — and travel sidekick — with girlfriend Katrín Tanja Davíðsdóttir.

Laich split from Julianne Hough in May 2020 after nearly three years of marriage. Several months later, he sparked romance speculation with Davíðsdóttir after “liking” several of her Instagram photos. While Hough filed for divorce in November 2020, it wasn’t until summer 2021 that Laich went public with his and Davíðsdóttir’s relationship.

After watching Davíðsdóttir compete at the 2021 NOBULL CrossFit Games in Madison, Wisconsin, Laich sang her praises. “You continue to inspire and amaze, and it was an absolute joy to watch you in your element last night!” he wrote via Instagram in August 2021, to which the Icelandic athlete replied, “Thankful for you & the best support always always always.”

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Two years later, Laich once again supported Davíðsdóttir while she competed in the CrossFit Games. “One of my favorite things about @katrintanja is she’ll fight right to the end, and you supported her right through the final finish!” the retired NHL player wrote via Instagram in August 2023.

“You are the best there is babe Thank you for being on this journey with me & supporting me through it all —you make it all THAT MUCH BETTER,” Davíðsdóttir replied in the comments.

Scroll down to see Laich and Davíðsdóttir’s relationship from the start:

Summer 2020

Eagle-eyed fans noticed that Laich began “liking” Davíðsdóttir’s Instagram photos.

July 2021

Laich publicly showed Davíðsdóttir support for the first time via Instagram, writing, “Day 1 of the @nobull @crossfitgames is complete. Proud of how this girl competed today! #SledDog.” The pair were later seen kissing in a livestream video from the 2021 NOBULL CrossFit Games in Madison, Wisconsin.

August 2021

The twosome went Instagram official one week before enjoying a romantic getaway to Hawaii. “Life is better with a couple coconuts & this favorite human of mine @brookslaich,” Davíðsdóttir captioned a vacation snap.

Brooks Laich’s GF Katrin Tanja Davidsdottir: 5 Things to Know

February 2022

The couple sparked engagement speculation after taking a trip to Iceland on Valentine’s Day. “You are a shining example of kindness, beauty, grace, and most of all — love. Thank you for being you, today and every day forward – ég elska þig!” Laich wrote via Instagram alongside pictures from their trip to the Blue Lagoon.

June 2022

Davíðsdóttir sang her boyfriend’s praises in honor of his 39th year around the sun. “I love witnessing you be you, my love . It may well be my favorite thing in this universe to experience moments in which you are just pure joy ,” she captioned a goofy video of the former hockey player.

May 2023

Laich gushed over his girlfriend on her 30th birthday. “Your smile is my favorite thing about you and you are a ray of sunshine everywhere you go in this world, and to everyone you meet!” he wrote in his Instagram tribute. “I wish for you all the happiness, health, success, peace, and love that this life can offer — and may this new decade bring you more joy than ever before! Theo, Koda and I thank you for the way you show up in our lives, and the endless love you give!”

June 2023

“Happy birthday to the brightest light in my life & my favorite person to lay in the grass & just LAUGH with! It’s the greatest gift that I get to do life with you, @brookslaich!!” the CrossFit athlete wrote in honor of her partner’s milestone year. “I am so excited to see what this decade brings for you: The best is yet to come my love — happy 40th!! (It looks REAL good on you ) Thank you for being you & for all that you embody — I love you with all my heart &&& so do our bestest boys xxx.”

August 2023

The duo went on safari in Africa to celebrate their respective 30th and 40th birthdays. “Absolutely loving my time with @katrintanja while on this safari at @taasalodge! She knows it’s my favorite adventure on earth, and after the first few days here I’m pretty sure it’s becoming hers as well!” Laich wrote alongside several pictures of him and Davíðsdóttir getting cozy on the trip.

Later that month, Laich served as one of Derek Hough’s groomsmen at his wedding to Hayley Erbert where he reunited with ex-wife Julianne, who was a bridesmaid. Laich and Davíðsdóttir topped off the month at Laich’s lake house in Idaho.

December 2024

The couple announced their engagement shortly after Christmas. “Forever feels just right with you!” Davíðsdóttir captioned a joint Instagram post.

The sports community is mourning the death of legendary broadcaster Greg Gumbel. He was 78.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our beloved husband and father, Greg Gumbel,” his family said in a statement via CBS Sports on Friday, December 27. “He passed away peacefully surrounded by much love after a courageous battle with cancer.”

According to wife, Marcy, and his daughter, Michelle, Greg “approached his illness like one would expect he would, with stoicism, grace and positivity.”

Greg spent more than five decades covering sports. He joined CBS Sports in 1989 after years of hosting and play-by-play duties for New York Knicks basketball and New York Yankees baseball for the Madison Square Garden Network.

Celebrity Deaths of 2024: Stars We Lost This Year

During his career, he had the opportunity to host The NFL Today and was able to cover three Super Bowls. He also became a key part of the network’s March Madness coverage.

“I wanted to pattern myself after [fellow CBS play-by-play man] Pat Summerall,” Greg once told Sports Illustrated in 2022. “He didn’t overtalk. He was understated. He was specific about the things that he said. And he was terrific. But how can you not be terrific when you’re doing Giants-Cowboys, Bears-Packers, Rams-49ers, Eagles-Giants?”

One major career accomplishment came when Greg was asked to be the primetime anchor of CBS Sports’ coverage of the 1994 Olympic Winter Games.

“There has never been a finer gentleman in all of television,” CBS Sports said in a statement on December 27. “He was beloved and respected by those of us who had the honor to call him a friend and colleague. … It is an extremely sad day for all of us at CBS Sports and the entire sports community.”

CBS Sports praised Greg as having one of “the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time.” They also called him a “tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller.”

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“He was a familiar and welcoming voice for fans across many sports, including the NFL and March madness, highlighted by the Super Bowl and Final Four,” the statement continued. “Greg broke barriers and set the standard for others to follow.”

As sports fans continue to mourn Greg’s loss, his closest family members will remember his “iconic voice” on game day as well as the love he showed for life away from any field.

“He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication to over 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcast industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” his family’s statement read. “Greg’s memory will forever be treasured by his family, dearest friends, colleagues and all who loved him.”

Julianne Hough reached out to ex-husband Brooks Laich after he and Katrín Tanja Davíðsdóttir announced their engagement.

“12.16.24 Forever feels just right with you!” Davíðsdóttir captioned a joint Instagram post on Friday, December 27.

Within half an hour, Hough, 36, commented on the post with her well wishes. “Congratulations I’m so happy for you both as you step into this beautiful new chapter together,” she wrote. “Wishing you both a lifetime of love, laughter, and endless adventures! .”

Laich, 41, was quick to reply, writing, “Thank you for the kinds words, much love Jules!”

Julianne Hough Says Brooks Laich Marriage Allowed Her to ‘Be a Little Girl’

Laich’s romance with Davíðsdóttir, 31, was confirmed in summer 2021, more than one year after Laich and Hough announced in May 2020 that they split following nearly three years of marriage.

The former Los Angeles Kings player and the Dancing With the Stars cohost tied in the knot in June 2017, but by December 2019, they had sparked breakup speculation after Hough was spotted without her wedding ring. Us Weekly exclusively confirmed in January 2020 that the duo were “having problems.”

Hough filed divorce papers in November 2020, and they finalized their split in June 2022.

Despite the breakup, Julianne’s brother Derek Hough has maintained a friendship with Laich. Days after their initial split, an insider told Us Derek did “not have any animosity” toward his sister’s ex, noting that he “saw that they were figuring out themselves as individuals and that they weren’t a match as a couple, but that doesn’t take away their love for Brooks as a person.”

In August 2023, Laich was a groomsmen in Derek’s wedding party. Hayley Erbert, Derek’s wife, also shared her excitement for the couple, writing, “ So happy for you two .”

Brooks Laich and Fiancee Katrin Tanja Davidsdottir’s Relationship Timeline

In a September podcast interview with Jamie Kern Lima, Julianne said it was “so beautiful” to run into Laich and Davíðsdóttir at a wedding. In another part of the podcast, Julianne noted that her marriage was “greatest thing that could have happened to me at that time of my life” and helped her begin a healing journey.

Laich confirmed his romance with Davíðsdóttir in August 2021 after he was spotted cheering her on at the 2021 NOBULL CrossFit Games in Madison, Wisconsin, that month.

“You continue to inspire and amaze, and it was an absolute joy to watch you in your element last night! #SledDog,” Laich wrote via Instagram after watching her compete.

The duo then jetted off to Hawaii following the games, documenting their romantic getaway on social media. They’ve been traveling the globe together ever since with recent destinations including Botswana and Indonesia.

Scottie Scheffler has withdrawn from the first event of the PGA Tour’s 2025 season-opening tournament due to injury.

“On Christmas Day while preparing dinner, Scottie sustained a puncture wound to the palm of his right hand from broken glass,” Scheffler’s agent Blake Smith said in a statement shared via the PGA Tour’s official X account on Friday, December 27. “Small glass fragments remained in the palm which required surgery.”

Scheffler’s recovery time will be about “three to four weeks,” per the statement. He is now unable to participate in The Sentry tournament in Maui, Hawaii, which is held from January 2 to 5. The decision came shortly before the tournament’s commitment deadline which was at 5 p.m. ET.

While Scheffler, 28, will not be in Hawaii next week, he is expected to return for The American Express tournament in La Quinta, California, which commences on January 16.

Scottie Scheffler Tearfully Celebrates Olympic Gold Medal With Wife, Infant Son

Sheffler is the reigning PGA Player of the Year and is ranked the No. 1 golfer in the world. In June, he made history with his sixth PGA Tour win. Sheffler celebrated the win with his wife, Meredith Scudder, and their newborn son, Bennett, whom they welcomed in May. Following the win, Sheffler became the first golfer to earn six PGA Tour wins before July since Arnold Palmer accomplished the feat in 1962.

“This golf course produces a lot of the exciting stuff coming down the stretch so it was nice to be out there competing,” Scheffler said in a press conference after his victory. “It’s great competing against one of my good buddies in Tom Kim, but it’s also very difficult at the same time. I want what’s best for him so sometimes it can be hard and I think, for both of us, battling against each other out there. But, it was a lot of fun and I’m proud to be sitting here with the trophy.”

Scottie Scheffler Drops Live TV F-Bomb on the Golf Course

Two months later, Sheffler competed in the Paris Olympics for Team USA. He brought home a gold medal for Men’s Individual Stroke Play. In August, Sheffler returned to the PGA for the 2024 FedEx Cup which he won as well. The win came with a $25 million prize.

“I’m just proud of the work that we put in,” Scheffler said at the time, per ESPN. “It’s hard to put into words what this year has been like for me. It’s been pretty emotional. There’s been a lot of stuff that’s gone on outside of golf. It’s been a bit of a wild year.”