Renée Zellweger’s blink-and-you-missed-it marriage to country singer Kenny Chesney was so short-lived that even the actress herself sometimes forgets it ever happened — but at the time, it was one of the biggest celebrity dramas around. Twenty years on, let’s look back at what really became of Renée ‘n’ Kenny…

How it Began

It was at NBC’s Concert of Hope (a tsunami aid telethon) in January 2005 that Zellweger, now 55, and Chesney, now 56, first met — but this was no chance encounter. The Bridget Jones actress had already planned to pass a note to the country star after admiring him from afar. Chesney, meanwhile, had cited her as one of his top celebrity crushes in a 2002 interview with The Tennessean, saying “Here’s a country girl who’s still down to earth. You never see her coming, then — wham! — there she is. And that makes her really, really sexy. Plus she seems like the kind of girl who could fit in and be at home anywhere.” His 1999 song, “You Had Me From Hello,” was also rumored to have been inspired by seeing the actress utter a nearly-identical line in 1996’s Jerry Maguire.

The story, as told by entertainment expert and former People magazine Editor-in-Chief Jess Cagle, goes that after the telethon, where Chesney was performing and Zellweger was answering phones, he approached her and said “I hear you are trying to pass me a note — don’t let the principal find out!” and the pair promptly started getting to know each other.

“They had each other from hello,” said Cagle at the time. “At that point, they exchanged numbers and emails and started this sort of long-distance relationship that became a real romantic thing.”

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The first public hint of a romance between the pair came in April, when Zellweger unexpectedly appeared on stage with Chesney at his show in Jacksonville, Florida, presenting him with a margarita and kissing him on the cheek.

How Long it Lasted

This is the part that got everybody talking.

After less than four months of dating, the couple got married in May 2005 in an intimate ceremony at Chesney’s private estate on St.John in the U.S Virgin Islands. Zellweger wore a Carolina Herrera gown and was walked down the aisle by her father, with 35 close friends and family members in attendance.

It all seemed dreamy, but after less than four months, Zellweger filed for an annulment, citing “fraud” as the reason for the split.

How it Ended

When news of the shocking breakup went public, there was fierce speculation about what “fraud” might mean, even leading to intrusive speculation about Chesney’s sexuality (which he later addressed head-on).

Zellweger released a statement to clear things up, saying she wanted to “clarify that the term ‘fraud’ as listed in the documentation is simply legal language and not a reflection of Kenny’s character.” She added: “I would personally be very grateful for your support in refraining from drawing derogatory, hurtful, sensationalized or untrue conclusions and greatly appreciate your understanding that we hope to experience this transition as privately as possible.”

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What They Said About Each Other

Chesney responded to Zellweger’s statement with his own words. “This is an incredibly sad time,” he said. “I just hope everyone can respect the privacy that I know Renée has already asked for.”

But still the gossip rumbled on, forcing the couple to issue yet another statement — this one, together, and via their reps. They said: “The miscommunication of the objective of their marriage at the start is the only reason for this annulment. Renée and Kenny value and respect each other and are saddened that their different objectives prevent the success of this marriage.”

Both stars mostly laid low in the immediate aftermath but in November 2005, two months after the annulment, Chesney was complimentary towards his ex in an interview on The View. “She and I fell in love like a couple of schoolkids,” he said. “I’m glad to know that can happen, that that exists and we still really care about each other. It would’ve been a bad thing if I hadn’t met her. She’s wonderful. I don’t want to sit here and go: ‘Poor me.’ I am totally blessed, and I’m grateful for it.”

What They Say Now

Now that more time has passed since the brief, some might say doomed marriage, both parties have felt more able to speak about what really went down.

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“I think people need to live their lives the way they want to, but I’m pretty confident in the fact that I love girls,” said Chesney in a 2009 Playboy interview. “I’ve got a long line of girls who could testify that I am not gay. In order for us to get an annulment, the legal papers could claim either physical abuse, which wasn’t true, or three or four other things that also weren’t true. The best thing we could put in there was fraud. So I said, ‘All right, do it. Whatever’.”

In a 2010 interview, he gave a few more details — and it sounded like he simply wasn’t ready for marriage. “I look at my life as a box,” he said. “So everything that I put in — learn how to play guitar, put that in the box. The friends I made. I put that in the box, and my career grew. That box grew into this wonderful house… And you protect everything and all the relationships and all the people that helped you build that house. “It was out of the box. [Renée’s] a sweet soul, no doubt about it, but I just wasn’t ready…. This is the first time I’ve actually talked about it, but that’s what happened.”

In another Playboy interview, in 2015, Chesney was even more reflective about the turn of events, and the impact on his life. “Nothing positive at all in my life came from it, I can tell you that,” he said. “I didn’t have any clue as to what true marriage meant. I was so used to committing to one thing — music — and then I had to totally commit to a second thing, marriage. I didn’t know how. It was a scary moment for me. I had never really had any kind of attention from the paparazzi. It went from zero to the complete other end of the spectrum. I’d go to a concert and there would be helicopters circling, trying to get a picture of me and her together. I thought it would be like that all the time. I just totally panicked. I did the only thing I knew to do: I ran. I pushed her away, in every way possible—to the point where I just didn’t want to be married to her anymore. It’s that simple. I still struggle with it. Was it the right thing to do or not? I still think about her every day. Every day I wonder if she’s okay. I mean, you don’t just fall out of love with somebody.”

More recently, in a 2023 interview with Billboard, Chesney talked about how his experience with Zellweger had made him conduct his life more privately. “One of the reasons I’m so private is when my life started to change and people started caring at a different level, the only thing I could keep to myself was the intimate details of my life,” he said. “What is interesting is we were playing stadiums already, and after that … I didn’t have social anxiety before that, then you add our success and then you add that to your life and you have a little bit of social anxiety. And now, dealing with the way the world is today and how social everything is, and how information is transferred — yeah, you’d have to be crazy to want to be a celebrity today.”

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Zellweger has also spoken about the tumultuous period of her life, and said in a 2016 interview with The Advocate that the speculation about Chesney’s sexuality really upset her. “It made me sad that somehow people were using that as a way to be cruel and calling someone gay as a pejorative, which has fateful consequences,” she said. “Of course, there’s the bigger-picture problem of why anyone had to make up a story at all. I’m an old-fashioned gal who doesn’t feel it’s appropriate to hang out your laundry on the lawn. I feel you devalue yourself as a human being when you share very personal things with a bajillion strangers who are making fun of you. I just don’t see that there’s any dignity in that.”

Zellweger added that she often forgot the marriage had ever happened, saying “It’s a pretty big thing to forget, isn’t it?”

Key Relationship Takeaways

Looking back, it seems like these two just got carried away with the romance and passion of falling in love after admiring each other from afar — but forgot to actually figure out if they were compatible. Both in their mid thirties at the time, getting married probably felt like the obvious thing to do.

Renee Zellweger and Ant Anstead's Whirlwind Romance: Relationship Timeline

Two decades later, both are in long-term relationships — just not with each other. Chesney has been dating model and dancer Mary Nolan since 2012 — and their relationship is extremely private — while Zellweger has been with British TV star and motor specialist Ant Anstead since 2021. Interestingly, though, neither party has ever married again; did those disastrous few months put them both off for life?

From “Magic” to “Right Round,” Pitch Perfect’s all-male a capella group the Treblemakers sang many hit songs in the 2012 comedy — but star Adam DeVine says one hit sticks out to him.

“My favorite song that I sang in Pitch Perfect [with the Treblemakers] was ‘Don’t Stop the Music’ by Rihanna,” DeVine, 41, reveals exclusively in the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now. “I still have the whole dance memorized. I destroy at karaoke with that one.”

The movie — which also stars Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin and Rebel Wilson — opens on DeVine (as Bumper) singing the 2007 Rihanna hit alongside the Treblemakers at the International Championship of Collegiate A Capella.

DeVine finishes the song in a split, which prompts ICCA commentator Gail Abernathy-McKadden (Elizabeth Banks) to exclaim, “Sexy man splits!” while her colleague John Smith (John Michael Higgins) replies, “His pain is our gain, Gail.”

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DeVine — who cohosts the iHeartRadio podcast “This Is Important” with his Workaholics costars Anders Holm, Blake Anderson and Kyle Newachek — went on to star in the sequel, Pitch Perfect 2, and a Peacock spinoff series based on his character, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin.

Keep scrolling for more fun facts from DeVine, including why he considers season 1 of Workaholics to be the proudest moment of his career:

1. My favorite song that I sang in Pitch Perfect [with the Treblemakers] was “Don’t Stop the Music” by Rihanna. I still have the whole dance memorized. I destroy at karaoke with that one.

2. I used to collect Pez [dispensers].

3. The most surprising thing I’ve learned since welcoming [my first child] Beau [last March] is that I don’t mind changing a poop-filled diaper. It’s no big deal when it’s your son. I’ll do anything to help out the lil homie. The better question might be what haven’t I learned. Becoming a parent truly changes your perspective on life and turns your priorities upside down.

4. A cheeseburger and french fries from In-N-Out is my favorite comfort meal.

5. My first car was a 1993 Cavalier Convertible. It was white with spray-painted red hubcaps and a salvaged title!

6. My most starstruck moment was meeting Kobe Bryant backstage at some awards show. I’m a basketball fan, and I didn’t know I would be seeing him. I lost my mind.

Celebrities Share Their Favorite Karaoke Songs

7. I could watch all three Lord of the Rings movies for the rest of my life.

8. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen is my favorite book.

9. Jennifer Love Hewitt was my celebrity crush growing up.

10. My alternate profession would be a radio DJ. I love comedy too much to not be able to do it in some way.

11. When I was still in school, I was great in the passing periods. I really shined while walking to the next class.

12. Growing up, I always thought Green Day was the coolest band.

13. Zac Efron is probably the most famous person in my phone book. He’s so damn famous!

14. My dream collaborator is Shaggy. I want to do a reggaeton album with him.

15. The proudest moment of my career was finishing season 1 of Workaholics. I knew I had just done something special with my best friends. I miss doing that show. I didn’t realize how good I had it.

16. My favorite way to spend the weekend is just by taking it easy with no plans. I’m at the age where a nice relaxing weekend sounds great.

17. I would like to travel more. This world is big and beautiful. I want to be on my deathbed and smile, knowing I saw it all.

18. I don’t binge-watch TV shows — I savor — but that being said, I just rewatched Narcos: Mexico in three days.

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19. My first job was as a bag boy in a grocery store.

20. I took a bath for maybe the third time in my adult life last week [and thought to myself], “Why haven’t I been doing this all the time? It’s great.”

21. The childhood memory that makes me smile is fishing with my dad. I hope to create those types of lasting memories with my son. I hope he’s not expecting to catch anything, though — I’m a much worse fisherman than my father.

22. I learned how to act in a sitcom from working on Modern Family. The dialogue is so fast-paced and snappy — I learned how to keep it tight and right. I love that show so much.

23. I’m one hell of a hacky sacker.

24. The app I use the most is MyFitnessPal. By planning out my week and tracking my food, I can stay accountable and keep my long-term health goals in mind without letting setbacks — hello, beer! —
discourage me. [This] is my year! I’m hoping to finally have abs… in my 40s.

25. My favorite place to vacation is Hawaii. I fell in love with
it while shooting Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.

Fran Drescher‘s Golden Globes look was no doubt stunning, inspiring curiosity as to which products the age-defying 67-year-old used for the big night. Thankfully, celebrity makeup artist Gregory Arlt spilled the tea to Us — and we were taken aback by the fact that the “Italian movie star”-inspired look was actually accessible! The Nanny actress’ flawless skin was prepped with a hydrating primer from Laura Geller Beauty, which you can shop right on Amazon.

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Laura Geller Beauty is a makeup line formulated with mature skin in mind, so all of its products complement women of any age. Arlt leaned into the old Hollywood glam trend seen everywhere on the Red Carpet, taking notes from Audrey Hepburn. He began with a fan-favorite, Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer Hydrate, using it to prep the Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG-AFTRA) President’s skin. Arlt added that it’s “his go-to primer for Drescher to help blur any pores or fine lines while holding foundation in place to keep skin looking fresh for a long night out.”

See Laura Geller Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer Hydrate for $36 on Amazon! 

We’ve been obsessed with hydrating primers lately due to their ability to make skin look like it has a real-life filter, especially in winter. A cross between skincare and makeup, Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer in Hydrate is infused with hyaluronic acid, glycerin and antioxidants that nourish skin while creating a flawless base for makeup. Many users even say they can skip foundation after using this primer!

Among the thousands of 5-star reviews, one devotee wrote, “Love this stuff,” noting that it’s “great that if I put it on and I’m in a hurry, I don’t even feel the need to put on foundation!”

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“This has been a game changer for me and a mainstay in my makeup vanity for the last five or so years now,” a second shopper confirms. “It really does work to smooth out your skin and all your makeup, to set on it instead of settling into your pores.” They add that while “the hydrating version is my go-to,” they also find that the “Diamond is great for a more glowy look,” referring to the luminous version of the Spackle Primer.

Still, while the reviews are no doubt lovely, it’s worth seeing this pick in action — the before-and-after photos will make your jaw drop! And if the goal is to keep makeup in place all day or night, or you’re looking for a refreshing skin-perfecter on days you go makeup-free, scoop up this industry insider pick today.

See Laura Geller Spackle Skin Perfecting Primer Hydrate for $36 on Amazon! 

Keri Russell Wore This Celeb-Loved Foundation at the Golden Globes

© ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images

Let’s talk about sex … or the lack thereof. While the movies are still a way to escape the realities of life, it seems there’s no more fantasizing about what it’d be like to spend the night with an A-lister — unless they’re offering OnlyFans content.

Some of the biggest blockbusters from the past few years have made millions at the box office, but they’re missing one major thing: a steamy sex scene. Miles Teller only felt a rush flying an F-18 as far as 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick is concerned, and Tom Cruise didn’t even sleep with love interest Jennifer Connelly in the movie. Similarly, Twisters had audiences up in arms when it premiered in July because nothing romantic happened between leads Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Not even a smooch — unless you count the deleted kiss that was leaked on X.

Listen, Us is fully on board with a slow burn, but sometimes escapism in the form of two hot people getting it on onscreen is what we want — and need. When did the tides turn? And, more importantly, why does it seem like all the sex is gone? Let’s put the blame on the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Of course, we’re kidding because who doesn’t love a good superhero movie? (Chris Evans, we miss you!) But there’s a point to be made about the 34 and counting films in the MCU. Mind you, the film franchise has been going on since 2008, and only one of the flicks features a sex scene (2021’s box office bomb The Eternals). Most of them don’t even have a kiss!

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Are we really living in a “puritanical age” of Hollywood, as some have called it? Well, a study published last year by The Economist says yes, stating that sexual content in movies has dropped 40 percent since 2000. Previously, 20 percent of movies had no sex at all, and the same study revealed that number has now gone up to 50 percent. It has been argued, however, that the rare intimate scenes of today are more graphic than they once were — but that’s still up for debate.

An added layer to this discussion is the actors who have taken a stand. A number of stars have been vocal about their distaste for filming (or choreographing, as some will say) intimate scenes. Henry Cavill, for one, bluntly stated that he’s “not a fan of doing them” in scenes “overused” in film. The younger generation, who favor TikTok over AMC Theaters, seems to agree — OnlyFans anyone?

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Overall, it seems more fitting to say that technology is the cause for the recent decline in onscreen lovemaking. The internet age has made sex more accessible for Gen Z, thanks to OnlyFans and streaming services galore. The thrill of going to the movie theater and trying to fake-avert your eyes from an intimate moment between two actors doesn’t seem necessary anymore.

While sex scenes might be what the younger generation prefers to stream on their phones, studios are leaning into what audiences can only truly enjoy in a theater. Watching Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal fight it out in the Colosseum during Gladiator II on an IMAX screen is never an experience we’ll get at home. Maybe movie theaters should make a permanent shift from intimacy to action movies? Because based on the box office receipts, it seems likely that those are the only kind of hot and sweaty scenes we’ll see on the big screen. We’ll take what we can get.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have rolled up their sleeves to help out those affected by the wildfires that ravaged parts of Los Angeles.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the World Central Kitchen in Pasadena, California on Friday, January 10.

Us Weekly understands Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, volunteered to hand out food and supplies to people affected by the Eaton Fire.

During their visit, the couple witnessed harrowing stories from victims, but also strong community spirit as they offered their support. The Duke and Duchess also took time to connect with elderly individuals and families affected by the crisis inside the Pasadena Convention Center.

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

As well as serving meals alongside World Central Kitchen (WCK) volunteers outside the venue, Harry and Meghan donated clothing, children’s items, and other essential supplies to the main donation center, Us understands.

Monetary donations have also been made to relief, recovery and rebuild efforts via their charity organization, the Archwell Foundation.

Harry and Meghan also joined Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California’s First Partner, and Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, in personally thanking first responders, including Fire Chief Marrone and his team from the LA County Fire Department as well as Members of CalFire and the Pasadena Police Force at the Rose Bowl.

As part of their volunteering efforts, Harry and Meghan met with World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés at the charity’s food stations and thanked the teams for the hard work involved  in supporting the community in its time of need.

It comes after Meghan and Harry opened their Montecito, California home this week to friends who were evacuated as fires blazed across parts of Los Angeles including the Pacific Palisades area, Malibu, Santa Monica and the Hollywood Hills.

Meghan and Harry live in Montecito with their children Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. Their home is around 80 miles north of the Pacific Palisades area in LA, where the fires first broke out on Tuesday, January 7.

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While it is not known which of the couple’s friends have made use of the home, thousands of people had been forced to flee their homes due to the wildfires. Among the celebrities affected by the fires were Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, Spencer Pratt and Milo Ventimiglia, whose homes all went up in flames.

The couple has dedicated a page on their official website to the wildfires, sharing information about resources and organizations taking part in the relief effort.

The couple first moved to California from the UK in 2020 during the pandemic. After initially staying on Vancouver Island, Canada, they then spent several months at Tyler Perry’s Los Angeles home before buying their own home in California.

Kate Beckinsale has marked the one-year anniversary of her stepfather’s death with a candid and emotional post, detailing what it was like to watch him as well as her father die.

The actress shared a photo of her late stepfather, Roy Battersy, via her Instagram account on Friday, January 10.  In the image, Roy is seen wearing a novelty shirt that reads, “World’s best farter. I mean father” and is smiling while  holding a bouquet of flowers.

“Finding my father‘s dead body alone in the middle of the night at the age of five shaped my entire life. Seeing my beloved stepfather die a year ago today will haunt me forever,” Beckinsale, 51, wrote in the lengthy tribute. “It does seem terribly careless to have managed to be present for both deaths and unable to prevent either, the second time trying with every single thing I had. It was not enough.”

The Canary Black actress reflected on her grief and sense of loss surrounding Battersy’s death, who passed away in Los Angeles in January 2024 following “a brief illness.”

Kate Beckinsale’s Stepfather Roy Battersby Dead at 87

“In the process of losing my beloved Roy I lost family, friendships , at some points my own health, and all the money I had due to how disgusting the American healthcare system is for those who are not insured. I would do it again. No question.I cannot help feeling that I dreadfully failed,” she wrote

Beckinsale went on to explain that she is leaning on what she can to “console” herself, telling herself that Battersy was prepared for the end of his life and was “at peace with it.”

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A post shared by Kate Beckinsale (@katebeckinsale)

“It does feel like a lie I am telling myself to try and feel better, however. Perhaps I am just unfortunately not enlightened enough to sell that to myself over my sense of loss, guilt and failure,” she admitted.

The one-year anniversary of Battersy’s death was a difficult pill to swallow, according to Beckinsale.

BAFTA Addresses Kate Beckinsale's Criticism Over Stepfather's Tribute

“It is a tough day to talk about our fledgling and precious tragedy,but given that I couldn’t save him, I’ll be damned if I’m not going to honour him in some small way,” she continued. “He taught me how to be brave. He taught me that it doesn’t matter if people don’t like you as long as you’re doing the right thing, he lost everything fighting for justice for the trade unions, for the Palestinians in the ‘70s,living with them in refugee camps in Lebanon for several years making his 1977 documentary “The Palestinian”, fighting for the miners losing everything in the strikes.”

She concluded, “I am so lucky that I was raised by someone who uncompromisingly knew what was right and lived it. And loved me .Thank you for being my father. I miss you so much.”

TJ Holmes and Amy Robach are defending David Muir after he received widespread backlash for using a clothespin on his flame-retardant jacket while reporting on the Los Angeles wildfires.

Holmes, 47, and Robach, 51, who previously worked with Muir at ABC, gave their perspective on the incident during the Friday, January 10 episode of their podcast, “Does This Make Me Look Fat?”

Muir, 51, came under fire when viewers spotted the clothespin cinching his jacket during a live cross on Wednesday, January 8 and accused him of caring more about how he looked on TV than the natural disaster he was reporting on.

Holmes defended Muir against that accusation, claiming the news anchor may not even have been aware of the existence of the clothespins.

Fans Are Divided Over David Muir Tailoring His Coat For Wildfires Report

“The perspective might be missing if you’re just reading tweets. The perspective might be missing in that, often times — and I don’t know if he does — travel with a producer or even a wardrobe person whose job is — you might be looking at your phone, getting the latest, looking at notes or doing something, and people are pulling and plugging things onto you, the mic and the IFB [in-ear monitor] and all these things,” Holmes explained. “You don’t even know what’s happening to you, and someone could’ve made the decision of ‘Let me do this with the jacket.’ We don’t know.”

Holmes said that despite the use of clothespins, he believed Muir is incredibly hard-working.

He continued: “But just a little context, the guy works his butt off. You don’t like what he did, fine. It’s just a lot to be piling on.”

However, Holmes conceded it did look bad for a TV journalist to be caught worrying about superficial aspects when reporting on an event where people have lost their lives and homes.

“The idea that people — even if the midst of a tragedy — about to anchor a main evening broadcast wouldn’t give a damn about how they look is just unreasonable. Now to what degree should they care is the issue and to what degree should they come off like they’re caring is then a separate issue, but of course he has to care and pay attention to how he looks before he goes on TV,” Holmes said. “But if your house was on fire and you see a guy over there with a mirror brushing his hair doing all this before he goes on the air and reports about your tragedy, that’s going to piss you off.”

Meanwhile, Robach admitted that when she was reporting from the road, she usually made a concerted effort to not appear too “glamorous” for this reason by keeping her hair and make up simple.

David Muir Ditches Jacket Clothespin During Coverage of L.A. Wildfires

“I have taken great care as a journalist to not seem as though I’m concerned about how I look in that moment,” she said. “We all look different on the scene of these sorts of tragedies than we do on the set. On the set, we’ve got hair and makeup and nice suits and fitted clothing, but when you’re out there, it’s just a very different environment.”

Robach also defended Muir against the heated backlash he’s been receiving and said she doesn’t believe he deserves it.

“I don’t think he deserves the hate he’s getting… I don’t think that is fair or appropriate in any way — and especially from people who’ve never had to be on television every day where your image, your looks are constantly being critiqued or acknowledged so you might have a hyper-awareness about that,” she said.

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

Bill Hader and Ali Wong are a match made in comedy heaven.

Hader and Wong were both married to other people before they were first linked in 2022. Hader wed director Maggie Carey in 2006 and welcomed three daughters: Hayley, Hannah and Harper. News broke in 2017 that the pair had split after more than a decade of marriage. They finalized their divorce in 2018.

Wong, meanwhile, wed Justin Hakuta at City Hall November 2014, and the two welcomed their daughters, Mari and Nikki, in 2015 and 2017, respectively.

After eight years of marriage, Wong’s rep confirmed in April 2022 that she and Hakuta had gone their separate ways.

One year later, Hader’s love life raised eyebrows when he spoke about his “girlfriend” in an interview with Collider.

“My girlfriend and I were just figuring out that I haven’t had a vacation in 10 years. I went with her to San Francisco, but that doesn’t really count,” he said in April 2023.

Hader’s rep subsequently confirmed to Us Weekly that he’s seeing Wong. “Bill Hader and Ali Wong are dating again,” a statement read.

Scroll through for more on Hader and Wong’s timeline:

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© Faye Sadou/Cover Images; Sara De Boer/startraksphoto.com

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© Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Bill Hader had a very good reason for not being at the 2025 Golden Globes with girlfriend Ali Wong.

“Bill was not able to attend the Globes due to a pre-existing eye condition that flared up and he was advised by his doctor to stay home and rest,” Hader’s rep told People on Friday, January 10. “He and Ali are still together.”

Hader, 46, and Wong, 41, sparked breakup rumors after the comedian attended the awards show last weekend without Hader by her side. While Wong walked the red carpet solo, she ended up bringing a close friend as her plus-one.

When Wong took home the award for Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television for her Netflix special Ali Wong: Single Lady, she made no mention of Hader in her speech. Instead, she gave her pal a shout-out.

Ali Wong Attends 2025 Golden Globes Without Bill Hader

“My best friend is here! Mia, thank you so much for all of your love and support throughout the years,” Wong said during her speech. “This means a lot. Thank you so much.”

At last year’s Golden Globes, Hader was by Wong’s side when she won for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television for her role as Amy Lau on the Netflix show Beef in 2024. While Wong didn’t mention Hader in her speech then either, the couple celebrated her accomplishment by sharing a sweet kiss and multiple hugs.

Wong and Hader were first linked in 2022 following her separation from Justin Hakuta. Wong and Hader briefly split later that year, but Us Weekly confirmed in April 2023 that they rekindled their romance.

In her now-award-winning stand-up special, Wong joked about how she and Hader got together.

“Hey, Ali, I just happened to hear the news of your divorce today, and I gotta tell you … I’m excited,” she recalled Hader telling her in a phone call after he got her number from a mutual friend. “I am, Ali, because look, I have had a crush on you forever, and I actually told my best friend years ago that you were my dream girl. And I know this sounds crazy, but, uh, I want you to be my girlfriend.”

Bill Hader Says Ali Wong is ‘Off the Market’ at Her Comedy Show

Wong shared that while she was on tour in Europe, Hader followed up by sending her flowers in multiple cities. While her female friends thought the gesture was “so sweet,” her male friends warned her that Hader could be a “psychopath.”

“That’s how cheap and lazy men have become,” Wong quipped. “That now when a fellow man commits any act of kindness, any romantic gesture, it must be a symptom of an undiagnosed mental illness.”

Jennifer Garner became emotional as she revealed she lost a friend from church in the Los Angeles wildfires.

The actress, 52, choked up as she told MSNBC on Friday, January 10 that one of her friends died in the wildfires ravaging parts of Los Angeles including the Pacific Palisades area, Malibu, Santa Monica and the Hollywood Hills.

“I did lose a friend, and for our church, it’s really tender so I don’t feel like we should talk about it yet,” Garner told the outlet. “I did lose a friend. She didn’t get out in time.”

The Family Switch actress added that she felt for those who had lost their homes in the devastating fires.

Celebrities Share Personal Photos of Heartbreaking Los Angeles Wildfires

“My heart bleeds for my friends,” Garner said. “I mean, I can think of 100 families, and there are 5,000 homes lost. I can — without even [thinking] — I could just write out a list of 100 friends who lost their homes.”

She added: “I feel almost guilty walking through my house. You know, what can I do? How can I help? What can I offer? What do I have to offer with these hands and these walls and the safety that I have?”

Garner has been rolling up her sleeves to help out amid the wildfire outbreak, volunteering at one of Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen pop-ups in Los Angeles County. These have been set up to help feed evacuees who have been forced to flee their homes due to the fires.

“I’ve lived in and around the Palisades for 25 years, so I just think all of us, we want to get our hands into working, somehow, to be helpful,” Garner said. “And because of my work with Save the Children, we have a relationship with the Chef, and I was able to just say, ‘Can I be with you for the day? What can I do to help? Put me to work.'”

A string of wind-caused wildfires broke out in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, quickly causing mass devastation. Many residents have left the city limits under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders and thousands are estimated to have lost their homes.

Which Stars Have Been Affected by the Los Angeles Fires?

Many celebrities have also been impacted by the wildfires, including Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, Spencer Pratt and Milo Ventimiglia, who all lost their residences to the blaze.

Hollywood has also canceled a slew of events over the past few days including premieres for The Last Showgirl, Wolf Man and Jennifer Lopez’s Unstoppable as well as The Critics Choice Awards, among others.

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

When Hoda Kotb capped off a week Today dubbed “Hoda-bration!” honoring the longtime host’s last day on Friday, January 10, she dressed the part in a familiar Veronica Beard white blazer suit that, sartorially speaking, felt like a full-circle moment that honored her legendary career.

While Kotb, 60, has been part of the fabric at NBC News for nearly 30 years (she announced she would be departing in September 2024), it’s hard to believe that she faced nearly just as many rejections. She was turned down 27 times for a television job before someone finally said “yes,” and she said the big break was all because of a jacket.

On her first day, an anchor got sick so she filled in on the evening newscast. “The litmus test for who anchors the news in Greenville, Mississippi WXVT News Center 15, is who shows up to work with a blazer,” Kotb said in an interview with PR for Anyone.

“I remember [Stan Sandroni, the late news director,] busted in, and he goes, ‘Okay, who has a blazer?’ I go, ‘What?’ ‘A jacket. Who has a jacket?’ I go, ‘A jacket? I have a jacket. It’s hanging on the hanger.’ ‘Oh good, you need to anchor the news, because Ann [Martin] is sick,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘OK!’”

Hoda Kotb Officially Exits 'Today': Biggest Moments From Her Final Episode

She frequently looks back on that moment and says it only takes one person (and one blazer) to change your life, which made her smart suiting for her farewell feel all the more fitting. A proud wardrobe repeater, Kotb has always kept her work uniform simple and streamlined.

“I’ve worn the same dress I don’t know how many times. I re-wear everything,” Kotb said in a 2020 interview with Glamour. “A lady tweeted to me, ‘I’ve seen that dress 57 times,’ and she was right!”

Kotb continued: “Our staff even put up pictures of the number of times I wore the dress. I thought it was funny … There are people who are much cooler than me, who have a much cooler fashion sense than I’ll ever have. It’s not my thing.”

Her pragmatic sensibility was echoed by Savannah Guthrie in a video shared via YouTube on Friday, January 10. “She’s about what matters,” Guthrie, 53, said. Then, she jokingly held up Kotb’s “red carpet purse” which was a Ziplock bag with lip gloss, a compact, cash and a banana for a snack. Guthrie ended on a more serious note: “I love you deeply whether you’re sitting next to me or not whether we get up at 4 o’clock in the morning together or not, I will always be by your side.”

Indeed, Kotb took a similarly sentimental approach with her accessories: stacks of bracelets, rings and necklaces for her final episode that she said she holds near and dear to her heart.

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A post shared by TODAY (@todayshow)

She pointed out, “This top bracelet that says, ‘With You,’” a gift she received from Guthrie, before showing off a ring that Guthrie gave her which said, “Love.”

For her part, Guthrie chose a black dress for the farewell show, because she was in “mourning” on her beloved colleague’s last day. Talk about wearing your heart on your sleeve — or blazer.

Josh Hall is taking another chance on love following his split from Christina Haack.

“Josh met someone wonderful in Nashville, and they have been happily dating for some time,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. “Josh wasn’t trying to date, but he met someone, and it was a perfect match.”

The source adds that Hall, 44, is “trying to live a more private life” since he “has no desire to be a celebrity” after he and Haack, 41, called it quits in July 2024 following two years of marriage. As Hall has moved on from Haack, he’s been keeping his new romance out of the spotlight.

“He hasn’t made a show of the relationship, but it’s not a secret. Josh is just low-key,” the source adds. “He is very happy with his life and looking forward to 2025 and what’s on the horizon. This is the happiest he’s been in some time.”

Joshua Hall Reflects on 'Tough' 2024 Amid Christina Hall Divorce

According to an additional insider, Hall is dating Stephanie Gabrys, a model based in Nashville. While not much is known about Hall and Gabrys’ relationship, the pair have interacted on social media. Within days of his birthday last September, they both posted separate Instagram photos from Big Sur, California. She also tagged Hall in a Story showing off a stunning bouquet of flowers with the message, “You don’t have to ask him if he loves you.”

On New Year’s Day, Hall reflected on how the previous year was “tough” for him but noted he was grateful for how much he grew as a person.

“Sometimes the tough situations can change you. You end up becoming a different person. A better version of yourself. You learn things about yourself you didn’t know before,” he wrote via Instagram. “It has opened my eyes to many things. Even though it was tough, I know that it taught me many lessons and for that I’m grateful. I always tell myself that God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers.”

Gabrys, for her part, took to the comments section to cheer Hall on as the new year began.

“Proud of you and the strong, patient, hard working, generous and kind hearted man you are!” she replied. “2025 is going to be the best year yet! .”

Hall “liked” Gabrys’ response.

Currently, Hall and Haack are in the middle of a contentious divorce. Haack hired lawyer to the stars Laura Wasser to assist in finalizing their split as soon as possible. While the pair are no longer together, their relationship is still in the public eye as the premiere of the new HGTV series, The Flip Off, draws closer.

Both Hall and Haack were supposed to star in the show alongside Hall’s ex-husband Tarek El Moussa and his current wife, Heather Rae El Moussa. While filming for the home improvement show began before their split, Hall was subsequently dropped from the project following news of their divorce. Us previously confirmed that The Flip Off was moving forward with Haack, Tarek and Heather.

Earlier this month, HGTV released a first look at the series that teased Hall and Haack’s relationship ups and downs. After the clip dropped, Hall took to social media to slam the network.

“TFW you can’t get enough ratings with celebrity designers so you manufactured drama with me, a nobody,” he wrote via his Instagram Story on Monday, January 6, seemingly referring to an intense exchange between the exes in the series’ trailer. “@hgtv, you’ve changed.”

Haack reposted Hall’s response and fired back.

Christina Haack 'Did Not Enjoy' Filming With 'Insecure' Ex Josh Pre-Divorce

“Manufactured?! Pretty sure no one at Hgtv told you to be rude to me …” she responded via her own Instagram Story alongside a screenshot of Hall’s post. “That was all natural.”

As Hall has moved on, Haack is open to the idea of finding love again one day, but she doesn’t plan on walking down the aisle in the near future.

“I’ll always love love,” Haack exclusively revealed in a cover interview with Us Weekly earlier this week. “I probably will [get married again] eventually. But, not anytime soon.”

With reporting by Andrea Simpson

After booking the role of Reba McEntire‘s daughter on Happy’s Place, Emma Kenney received support — and meaningful advice — from none other than her Shameless costar Steve Howey.

“I was very excited to be a part of Happy’s Place and work with Reba. I worked with Steve Howey for a long time, who also worked with Reba for a long time. So going into it, I gave him a call,” Kenney, 25, exclusively told Us Weekly. “He had nothing but amazing things to say about her and he was not wrong.”

Kenney had “such a great time” working with McEntire, 69, who previously shared the screen with Howey, 47, on the Reba sitcom. “She has such a kind and generous and welcoming energy, which is very special when you’re joining an already established cast to feel like that,” Kenney noted. “So I was very fortunate to have that.”

After sharing the screen with McEntire, Howey went on to star alongside Kenney in Showtime’s hit series Shameless. Howey returned to his roots with a guest role on Happy’s Place earlier this season, which set the scene for a potential onscreen reunion between him and Kenney.

'Shameless' Cast: Where Are They Now? Emmy Rossum, Jeremy Allen White, More

“I would love to get back onto a set with Steve. He is one of my favorite people and the funniest person,” the actress gushed to Us. “He’s definitely kind of an uncle figure to me. And I would love to do scenes with him and Reba. That would honestly be so much fun.”

For now, Kenney is celebrating the chance to act with McEntire after bringing the role of Gracie to life in the Friday, January 10, episode of NBC’s newest sitcom.

“I definitely felt a lot of responsibility going into this project and playing Reba’s daughter. She’s such an icon and such an established performer,” Kenney continued. “The show had already aired a few episodes when I started shooting. So obviously I watched what I could that was out and tried to prepare in that sense. I definitely wanted to come and try to bring some honor to her daughter’s character.”

Part of Kenney’s preparation meant developing her own take on the character.

“She’s very tough and very no-nonsense. Gracie definitely has a lot of resilience and I’d say determination,” she shared. “But I definitely wanted to bring some heart to her and I wanted the audience to be able to see why she’s got this tough exterior.”

Kenney continued: “I always do a character analysis that I write down. Sometimes I’ll choose a zodiac sign for the character, as kind of strange as that might sound. It gives me a little bit of a point of view for this character. I chose [Gracie] to be a Capricorn. I felt it made sense for her.”

‘Reba’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

While Kenney would love to reprise her role as Gracie, she would also love the chance to reunite with former costars — including her Shameless family.

“I miss working with them all. It is always a sad and maybe nostalgic feeling when you wrap a show that you’ve done for years because it’s most likely never going to be the exact same casting crew. Although doing The Conners [on ABC] did give me hope,” she admitted. “In the sense that they literally brought back the entire crew from their original show from the ’80s and ’90s. But I’ve been really fortunate to work with such wonderful people that I’ve really formed strong bonds with. I’d love to get on the set with any of them again.”

Happy’s Place airs on NBC Fridays at 8 p.m. ET.

Justin Baldoni’s experience meeting Britney Spears on set is being examined thanks to a resurfaced clip.

During a January 2017 interview with Fuse, Baldoni, 40, recalled an awkward moment when he interacted with the pop superstar while she was guest starring on Jane the Virgin.

“I know she was a fan of the show,” he recalled. “We were shooting and then a few of us that weren’t in scenes with her came to watch one of her scenes. Because I had tweeted her and she had tweeted me back, I’d gone up to her [too], so in my mind we were friends, but we weren’t. I went up and I gave her a big hug and I think I scared her.”

After the moment, Baldoni saw his costars laughing, leaving the actor wondering: “Did I just harass Britney Spears?”

‘Jane The Virgin’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

“I was a huge Britney Spears fan in high school. What adolescent boy wasn’t?” he asked. “The guest star I was most excited to work with was Britney Spears. And then it turned out, I didn’t get to work with her. And there was zero scenes with Rafael and Britney Spears — probably at her request.”

Baldoni played Rafael Solano in Jane the Virgin for nearly 100 episodes between 2014 and 2019. During season 2, the show welcomed Spears, 43, as a guest star where she played herself.

“I had tweeted her. I was going to bring a poster from her Live [From] Las Vegas tour to set and I didn’t do that because I don’t have one,” Baldoni recalled. “I was joking. But I think she thought I was serious.”

Us Weekly has reached out to Baldoni’s team for comment on the video.

The resurfaced clip comes as Baldoni finds himself in a legal battle with his It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively.

In December 2024, Lively, 37, sued Baldoni for sexual harassment. The lawsuit alleges that there was a meeting conducted to address Lively’s claims that there was a “hostile work environment” on set. She also accused the actor of launching a “social manipulation” campaign against her to “destroy” her reputation.

Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s Alleged Feud and Lawsuits Explained

Baldoni’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, called Lively’s accusations “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” in a statement to Us, claiming that Lively filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” about the movie’s production.

Baldoni hit back days later with his own lawsuit, where he was listed as one of the 10 plaintiffs suing The New York Times for $250 million after its reporting on Lively’s legal filing. Baldoni’s lawsuit alleged that Lively pursued a “strategic and manipulative” smear campaign against him and “cherry picked” communications while leaving out key details.

A spokesperson for The New York Times said that the publication is standing by the story and plans to “vigorously defend against the lawsuit.”

As a Los Angeles resident, my heart breaks for those affected by these horrific wildfires. The destruction is devastating and the loss is immeasurable. I am extremely grateful for the firefighters and first responders who have been working tirelessly to protect our community.

While this tragedy is still very much unfolding in real time, I wanted to shine a spotlight on fashion and beauty brands that are supporting wildfire recovery efforts. By purchasing any of the products below, you will be directly aiding in disaster relief. Keep scrolling to find out other ways in which you can help during this crisis.

Little Words Project Resilience Bracelet

Little Words Project is donating 100% of proceeds from the sale of this Resilience bracelet to the Wildfire Recovery Fund by the California Community Foundation. I love the message of resilience — our community is strong, and we will recover and rebuild in time.

$25.00

See It!

Tarte Fake Awake Eyeliner

Tarte is donating 100% of net proceeds from sales on tarte.com from January 8 to 11 t0 World Central Kitchen to support wildfire relief efforts. In addition, the beauty brand is contributing $250,000 to the same organization to aid in wildfire relief efforts and delivering self-care kits to evacuation shelters.

As someone who hasn’t slept well all week, Tarte’s Fake Awake eyeliner has been a saving grace. Apply this eye highlighter in your water line to instantly brighten your eyes!

$24.00

See It!

Pura Vida Los Angeles Fires Disaster Relief Bracelet

Jewelry brand Pura Vida is donating 100% of net profits from the sale of this Los Angeles Fires Disaster Relief Bracelet to Direct Relief to provide resources to wildfire-impacted communities in California. This waterproof braided bracelet is a simple staple for every day.

$8.00

See It!

BK Beauty Flawless Face Brush Trio

BK Beauty is donating 100% of net proceeds from sales on bkbeauty.com from January 9 to January 11 to the California Community Foundation to support those affected by the wildfires.

This brush kit includes three BK Beauty bestsellers: the 101 Contoured Foundation, the 109 Mini Contoured Foundation and the A506 Concealer. Give your glam a glow-up with these makeup brushes!

Was $90You Save 12%

On Sale: $79

See It!

Frances Valentine Canvas Easy Heart Tote

Spread some love with this heart print tote, just in time for Valentine’s Day! Frances Valentine is donating 100% of proceeds from the sale of this bag to LA Wildfire Relief and Rescue.

$48.00

See It!

 

How to Help

Consider donating to:

• Baby2Baby
• California Community Foundation’s Wildlife Recovery Fund
• California Fire Foundation
• Dream Center
• Habitat for Humanity Greater Los Angeles
• Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
• World Central Kitchen

© Little Words Project

While the best players in the NFL are millionaires many times over, it’s not as easy for the rest of the league.

The NFL minimum salary for rookies was $795,000 in 2024, representing the smallest payday of any of the league’s nearly 1,700 active players who stay signed all year. It sounds lucrative, but as the wife of former NFL player Chad Hansen explained, life in the league isn’t always as opulent as it seems.

In a December video posted to TikTok, Bryce Watts Hansen debunked the misconception that everyone in the NFL is a millionaire.

Chad, now 29, spent five years in the NFL, bouncing between the New York Jets New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons.

NFL Star Orlando Brown Jr. Calls Super Bowl LVIII Ticket Prices 'Unfortunate'

“He was on eight different NFL teams,” Watts Hansen said in the video. “That means eight different contracts are being signed and broken.”

She acknowledged that even at its worst, players still make considerable money, but it also comes with expenses many don’t consider — including Watts Hansen until she was confronted with the realities of having to constantly relocate.

“I know how to get a flight, move all our stuff. It’s kind of just like a cost that you have to eat.” she continued. “It’s just, like, all these little things that you can like have to play out in your head.”

The “NFLadies” podcast host added that at one point, she and her husband were paying rent in three different cities because of the unpredictable nature of his job. And for the month and a half that the wide receiver was a member of the Falcons, they paid $10,000 to move to Atlanta.

Watts Hansen also admitted to previously believing that all players were millionaires, but that’s not the reality for those who are constantly signed and then cut.

NFL Cheerleader Salaries: How Much Money Do They Make During Football Season?

“That would have been really great if that was the case, if we were one team and all that stuff,” she explained. “But you know, that’s just not the reality for everybody.”

“[Chad] signed a contract. Then a couple months later you get nothing, especially if you sign at the beginning of the offseason and then you’re cut during the offseason,” she added. “You’re not seeing any of that money because you haven’t played again and again, you haven’t gone to practice.”

Players also must account for the risky nature of their job. Watts Hansen said that the couple had to spend a considerable amount on doctors appointments, just another one of those “weird little things here and there.”

And even for players who have more stable careers, the money doesn’t go as far as some might think. The average NFL player only lasts three to four years in the league before being forced into retirement with no other professional experience. Even a six- or seven-figure salary in those few years won’t last for life.

Vince McMahon was the CEO and Chairman of the Board at World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for decades before “voluntarily” stepping down.

McMahon confirmed in June 2022 that he was resigning from his post while the company investigated misconduct claims against him.

“I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the Special Committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” he said in a statement at the time. “I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.”

Several hours later, McMahon opened SmackDown Live with great fanfare. “It is a privilege as always to stand before you here tonight, the WWE universe,” he said during the June 17, 2022, broadcast. “I’m here simply to remind you of the four words we just saw in what we call our WWE signature. Those four words are: then, now, forever, and the most important word is together. Welcome to SmackDown!”

Hollywood's Sexual Misconduct Scandals

Amid McMahon’s exit from the WWE executive suite, federal law enforcement officials have continued investigating the allegations. The former pro athlete has not yet been charged with a crime.

Nearly two years later, McMahon faced a second misconduct scandal when a former WWE employee accused him of sexual assault, trafficking and abuse in a January 2024 lawsuit. He denied all claims before resigning from WWE’s parent company, TKO Group.

Keep reading for a breakdown of McMahon’s misconduct scandal:

What Was Vince McMahon Accused of?

Days before McMahon stepped down from his WWE position, the Wall Street Journal reported that he paid a $3 million settlement to a former employee after an alleged affair. He has not publicly addressed the allegations.

In January 2024, former WWE staffer Janel Grant accused McMahon of sexual assault, trafficking and abuse in a lawsuit.

How Did Vince McMahon React to the Scandal?

McMahon left his position as CEO and Chairman of the board in June 2022, pledging in a statement to cooperate with the ongoing investigation and “accept the findings and outcome.” He ultimately returned as a board member six months later in January 2023, agreeing to reimburse WWE for any expenses pertaining to the investigation. According to an SEC statement the following August, McMahon has since paid approximately $17.4 million to cover the costs.

Regarding the 2024 lawsuit, McMahon vehemently denied all claims.

“This lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth. He will vigorously defend himself,” a spokesperson for McMahon told Us Weekly in a statement.

Who Replaced Vince McMahon as the CEO of WWE?

McMahon’s daughter, Stephanie McMahon, was appointed interim CEO and Chairwoman in her father’s absence.

“I love this company and am committed to working with the Independent Directors to strengthen our culture and our Company; it is extremely important to me that we have a safe and collaborative workplace,” Stephanie said in a statement at the time. “I have committed to doing everything in my power to help the Special Committee complete its work, including marshaling the cooperation of the entire company to assist in the completion of the investigation and to implement its findings.”

WWE's Stephanie McMahon Resigns From Co-CEO Position: See Her Family Guide

Is Vince McMahon Still Involved in WWE Operations?

Chief Creative Officer Triple H (real name Paul Levesque), who is married to Stephanie, revealed during an August 2023 press conference for WWE’s Summer Slam that Vince is not currently working with the WWE creative team.

“As far as contributions, I would just say this. The reason WWE is what it is … you could make an argument — a very valid one — that without Vince and his vision for this business, maybe it wouldn’t be here anymore,” Triple H said at the time. “There was some things at that time, back in the day, that were very popular … that just disappeared off the face of the planet. Vision of what he did changed the business, changed all of it for 50 years. Incredible run of success. No greater mind in the business.”

He continued: “In this point in time, if all of us didn’t look at moments in time for counsel from him on thoughts or ideas or if we had a question to go to him and ask, we’d be silly not to. It’s sitting next to somebody that knows more about this, or has forgotten more about this, than you’ll ever know, and to not utilize that in some aspect. But is he day-to-day? No. Is he in it all the time? No. If anybody has, he’s earned that right to be able to do that.”

Vince formally resigned from his position as executive chairman of the TKO Group, which is the parent company of WWE, in January 2024.

“Out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately,” he said in a statement shared with Us. “I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant’s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name.”

Has Vince McMahon Cooperated With the Federal Investigation?

Several days before Triple H’s comments about the lack of Vince’s day-to-day involvement in the media brand, the SEC executed a search warrant and issued a subpoena to both Vince and the WWE. According to CNN, U.S. federal agents requested copies of certain documents. Vince has not addressed the warrant or subpoena.

How Did the Hush Money Payments Get Settled?

In January 2024, McMahon agreed to pay a $400,000 civil penalty while reimbursing WWE $1.3 million. McMahon was not forced to admit or deny the SEC’s findings.

McMahon released a statement via X shortly after the settlement was announced. 

“The case is closed,” McMahon wrote. “Today ends nearly three years of investigation by different governmental agencies. There has been a great deal of speculation about what exactly the government was investigating and what the outcome would be. As today’s resolution shows, much of that speculation was misguided and misleading.”

He continued, “In the end, there was never anything more to this than minor accounting errors with regard to some personal payments that I made several years ago while I was CEO of WWE. I’m thrilled that I can now put all this behind me.”

McMahon’s statement is a bit of a misnomer, however, as Grant’s civil suit will still move forward in the wake of the settlement.

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

Rolling in the dough! Reality TV shows can be grueling, awkward and time-consuming, but for many contestants, it’s more than worth it based on the prize money they can win at the end.

Johnny “Bananas” Devenanzio, who has won seven seasons of MTV’s The Challenge, has taken home more than $1.2 million in winnings over the years. When it comes to an individual season win, The Challenge, has ranged in what the top competitor takes home, with the grand prize totaling $900,000, split between two people for 2021’s The Challenge: Double Agents. For its milestone 40th season, The Challenge: Battle of the Eras upped the prize to $1 million.

Baking shows also have a wide variety of seed money, with some series only giving a cake stand to the champion and others awarding the top chef a restaurant job and salary. Talent competitions, however, have the most inconsistencies with regard to prizes.

For years, The Voice coaches have been vocal about how the winners of the singing competition don’t appear to get the proper support from the record label that signs them as part of their winner’s compensation package.

“We work with these artists and give them this tremendous workshop and get them to the end of the show, and I think the work that we do on the show is amazing,” former coach Adam Levine told reporters at a press conference for The Voice‘s season finale in December 2017. “We give these guys this incredible platform and this really rare thing, a lot of exposure and airtime. Once we pass the torch, it is the record label that completely destroys that.”

Scroll down to see the reality show prize numbers from worst to best:

© Courtesy of Networks

© YouTube

© The Food Network

© Tom Dymond/Netflix

© Courtesy of Netflix

© CBS

© YouTube

© Trae Patton/NBC

© Nicole Weingart/Bravo

© Euan Cherry/Peacock

© FOX

© Shutterstock

© David Becker/NBC

© Cliff Lipson/CBS (3)

© PARAMOUNT+/MTV

© Trae Patton/NBC

© Monty Brinton/CBS

© Robert Voets/CBS

The Weeknd’s sixth album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, may be the last that he releases under his stage name.

The singer, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, said he is considering retiring the persona that has helped define his music and acting career after the album’s January 25 release.

The Weeknd, 34, opened up about the next chapter of his life in a cover story for Variety published on Friday, January 10.

“It’s a headspace I’ve gotta get into that I just don’t have any more desire for. I feel like it comes with so much,” he explained. “You have a persona, but then you have the competition of it all. It becomes this rat race: more accolades, more success, more shows, more albums, more awards and more No. 1s. It never ends until you end it.”

Celebrities' Real Names: Emma Stone, Jonah Hill and More

That thinking came in part from an onstage incident at SoFi Stadium during his After Hours Til Dawn tour in 2022. The Weeknd found his voice breaking at the beginning of his show and could not recover. He eventually had to offer the audience refunds and promise a rescheduled date.

“Part of me actually was thinking, ‘You lost your voice because it’s done; you said what you had to say. Don’t overstay at the party — you can end it now and live a happy life,’” he continued. “You know? Put the bow on it: Hurry Up Tomorrow. Now we’re here. When is the right time to leave, if not at your peak? Once you understand who I am too much, then it’s time to pivot.”

That’s not to say The Weeknd is quitting music. Though he has also delved deeper into acting, including in the accompanying Hurry Up Tomorrow film, which also stars Jenna Ortega, he admitted that music will probably always be a part of his life.

“I don’t think I can stop doing that. But everything needs to feel like a challenge,” he said. “And for me right now, The Weeknd, whatever that is, it’s been mastered. No one’s gonna do The Weeknd better than me, and I’m not gonna do it better than what it is right now. I think I’ve overcome every challenge as this persona, and that’s why I’m really excited about this film, because I love this challenge.”

The Idol's Jane Adams Says ‘Feminists’ Are ‘Not Listening’ Amid Drama

The Weeknd isn’t out to satisfy anyone else. For example, he admitted it was “unfortunate” that his short-lived HBO show, The Idol, was met with so much criticism, but that’s not why he did it. It was about his expression as an artist. It’s why he’s looking forward to his next challenge, whatever it may be.

“I just want to know what comes after,” he said. “I want to know what tomorrow looks like.”

There’s no shortage of doctor shows in Hollywood but HBO’s The Pitt has a fresh take on the traditional hospital drama.

Noah Wyle (of ER fame) returned to the emergency room as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, who is easily the best doctor on shift. As emergency department chief, Robby’s goal is to keep the ER running smoothly, but the first season takes place on a particularly hard day — the five-year death anniversary of former boss Montgomery Adamson who died of COVID-19. (Yes, we said first season. Each episode chronicles one hour of Robby’s 15-hour shift.)

The first two episodes — which premiered via HBO on January 9 — also introduced viewers to some other faces in the ER, including resident Dr. Frank Langdon played by newcomer Patrick Ball.

Not much is known about Dr. Langdon thus far other than the fact that he’s full of sass and recently got a dog for his 4-year-old, much to his coworker’s chagrin. But with each passing episode more will (hopefully) be revealed.

For now, here’s everything Us knows about the cute new star with the glimmering blue eyes. Keep scrolling for five things to know about the actor:

1. He’s an Ivy League Graduate

Ball graduated from the David Geffen School of Drama (a graduate school) at Yale in May 2022, according to his Instagram account. “We out,” he captioned an Instagram post he shared at the time.

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2. He Appeared on an Episode of ‘Law and Order’

Just like every up-and-coming star, Ball appeared on an episode of Law & Order in January 2023. “Officially a member of the Dick Wolf cinematic universe,” he wrote via Instagram at the time.

The episode, titled “Almost Famous,” starred Ball as Jason Wheeler, a social media influencer and manager who ends up taking a plea deal after the death of another character occurs in the episode.

3. He’s Also a Stage Actor

Other than his onscreen roles, Ball has taken part in multiple stage shows over the years with various theatre companies. His Instagram shows him appearing in Love’s Labor’s Lost, The XIXth, The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, In His Hands, All My Sons and more.

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4. He’s From North Carolina

According to his Instagram, Ball is from North Carolina where he often returns to spend time with his family.

5. He’s Not Single

The actor celebrated his one-year anniversary with Elysia Roorbach in October 2024.