“@blakelively is a kind, lovely, honest and generous person (and an incredible mom) FYI,” Olson, 49, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Thursday, December 26, sharing The New York TimesReel breaking down their story regarding Lively’s lawsuit.
Lively, 37, sued Baldoni, 40, for sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed on December 20. The actress made a barrage of accusations against her It Ends With Us costar (and the film’s director) detailing what allegedly went down when cameras weren’t rolling and alleged that he orchestrated a smear campaign against her.
“I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” Lively shared in a statement to The New York Times.
Baldoni has since denied the contents of the complaint through his lawyer, Bryan Freedman, calling the allegations “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.” The attorney claimed in a statement to Us that Lively filed the suit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” about what went down on the movie’s set.
Olson’s support for Lively comes amid their husbands joint business venture. Olson is married to Rob McElhenney, who co-owns the Wrexham AFC soccer team with Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds. (The pair bought the Welsh sports team in 2020 and star in a show titled Welcome to Wrexham which chronicles the trials and tribulations of the squad.)
Prior to her social media statement, Olson spoke with Us Weekly exclusively about her connection with Lively. Unfortunately, the two couples don’t double date that often.
“Everyone’s very, very busy,” Olson shared during the High Potential premiere in September. “I’ve met Blake twice.”
Olson explained that she and McElhenney, 47, “live on a different coast” than Lively and Reynolds, 48.
“I would love to hang out with them both more often,” Olson added. “I love Ryan.”
Olson has appeared alongside her husband on Welcome to Wrexham more than once. She and their two sons — Axel, 14, and Leo, 12 — have also become soccer fans thanks to McElhenney’s big purchase.
“Honestly, it’s absolutely extraordinary. There’s nothing to compare it to,” Olson told Us of Wrexham. “It’s unlike anything we’ve ever done before, and this community is so wonderful. They are such wonderful people.”
The actress added: “If you ever get the chance to visit, I highly suggest it. They are so supportive of each other and supportive of their team. They’ve welcomed us like family, and I would do anything for them.”
“Wear shoes that keep your child entertained,” Sofia, 26, captioned an Instagram Story post on Thursday, December 26. In the photo, Sofia wore a pair of embellished Alaïa flats which go for $1,290. The model’s daughter, whom she shares with husband Elliot Grainge, could be seen reaching her hand out and grabbing for the shoes.
While Sofia and Elliot, 31, have yet to publicly share their daughter’s face, the couple have shared a glimpse at Eloise’s life since her May birth.
This is hardly the first time that Sofia has showed off her daughter’s budding style. Earlier this month, the 6-month-old was holding her mom’s Chanel purse in a sweet mother-daughter snap shared via social media.
Sofia and Elliot sparked dating rumors in January 2021 and went Instagram official in April of that year. The following year, Sofia announced that she and Elliot were engaged. The couple tied the knot in April 2023.
Sofia Richie Grainge and daughter Eloise.
This past January, Sofia announced that she was pregnant. By May, her and Elliot’s baby girl was born.
“My life makes sense now,” Sofia said about motherhood during a November episode of the “Therapuss” podcast. “I’ve never loved anything more in my life. I’m obsessed with her, she’s perfect. And I’ve lost 50 pounds.”
She started laughing after the revelation along with podcast host and close friend Jake Shane. Sofia continued to discuss her pregnancy journey, revealing the advice she gives to friends who are expecting.
“It was beautiful. This is the thing I always tell my friends,” she shared. “I’m like, ‘Oh, it got crazy.’ But I was always empowered. The entire way. I was like, ‘I am unbelievable that I can do this.’”
In October, Sofia detailed her birth story and postpartum health struggles during an appearance on the “SHE MD” podcast. The model explained that she was induced at 38 weeks and had an “emotionally draining” birth experience. After welcoming Eloise, she “blew up like a balloon” and was diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia.
“From the second Eloise was born, I was like, ‘I can’t miss an awake time. I can’t miss a moment. I don’t want someone else taking care of my kid,’” Sofia recalled. “I wouldn’t have had a kid if I wasn’t ready to take that on. My mom guilt has been balancing those two things.”
Stassi Schroeder’s daughter Hartford is a huge Wicked girl — and she’ll even draw blood over the movie.
“Christmas was bloody Wicked this year!” Schroeder’s husband, Beau Clark, captioned a video uploaded via Instagram on Thursday, December 26.
Hartford, 3, wore a yellow dress and held Elphaba’s broom from the Wicked movie while Cynthia Erivo’s “Defying Gravity” played in the background. Schroeder and Hartford were singing along to the song with the latter furiously thrusting her broomstick into the air. At one point, Hartford’s broom collided with Schroeder’s face.
“Are you OK?” Hartford asked as Schroeder, 36, wondered whether she looked like Dracula. The Vanderpump Rules alum’s daughter went to go get her mom “a napkin” for the injury.
Schroeder turned to look at Clark, 44, who was still recording, and blood could be seen dripping down the left side of her mouth. Clark gasped, which made Schroeder ask, “Is it really that bad?”
As Clark continued to repeat “oh, my God,” Schroeder started laughing because she couldn’t tell if he was “messing” with her. When Hartford wiped the blood off her mom’s face, Schroeder chuckled in disbelief.
“I’m so sorry,” Hartford told her mom, as she continued to hold a cloth to Schroeder’s face. (It’s important to note that the Wicked soundtrack was playing in the background the entire time.)
Schroeder left a comment on Clark’s video explaining why the injury wasn’t that bad on her end.
“But yes, that side of my chin has always been numb ever since the chin implant lol,” the former Bravo star explained, referring to the plastic surgery procedure she got at age 18.
Schroeder and Clark share daughter Hartford along with son Messer, 15 months. Since welcoming her kids, the reality star can’t help but gush over her role as a wife and mom.
“Having it all in terms of what my family looks like, I’d love to have more kids if I was just insanely wealthy and had the most amount of help ever,” Schroeder shared during an October appearance on the “Disrespectfully” podcast, noting that in a perfect world she’d have “a really big family” with Clark.
“I think of single parents every day, multiple times a day, because I do have help,” Schroeder continued. “Hartford’s in school and I have a husband that does half the things I do. So, I’m supported, but I still get overwhelmed all day long. I literally think, ‘There are people that are just doing this alone. Alone, alone.’”
Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater are “inseparable” as they continue to enjoy the latest chapter of their relationship in the wake of Wicked’s box office success.
“Ariana and Ethan have written a whole new book together,” a source tells Us Weekly exclusively. Even though they’ve been together for more than a year, Grande, 31, and Slater, 32, are “still in the honeymoon phase of pure bliss,” a second insider shares with Us.
“The Wickedpress tour made their relationship ever stronger, and Ariana is over the moon about Ethan,” the source continued. “They have so much in common, which is something Ari never had with past relationships.”
Grande’s romance with Slater is “a new dynamic” for the singer, the second insider tells Us. The first source adds that the couple is “living in bliss” following the release of Wicked, adding that “their friends are fully supportive.”
Us confirmed in July 2023 that Grande and Slater were in a “fairly new” relationship following their respective marriages to Dalton Gomez and Lilly Jay.
“Ariana is not rushing to get married again,” the second source tells Us. “She feels she is content with how things are now and it’s a really healthy situation. Ariana used to move really quickly in relationships and has learned to slow down.”
Grande was married to Gomez, 29, for two years before Us confirmed in July 2023 that they had called it quits earlier that year. Slater, meanwhile, filed for divorce from Jay, with whom he shares a 2-year-old son, after four years of marriage shortly after news of his relationship with Grande went public.
The second source tells Us that Grande and Slater “practically live together” in New York City as their relationship continues to blossom.
They “have created a new life together,” the insider adds. “She needed a change of pace after her divorce.”
As Grande and Slater completed the Wicked press tour, they also “spent time” at the singer’s Los Angeles home. (Grande and Slater starred as Glinda and Boq, respectively, in the musical movie which hit theaters last month.)
The couple had plans to celebrate the holidays together, the same insider shares, noting that Slater has become “close” with Grande’s mom, Joan Grande, and brother, Frankie Grande.
“They are both still on a high over all the success of Wicked,” the same source says of the couple. “It’s been a non-stop celebration.”
“Happy Christmas,” Glanville, 52, captioned an Instagram post, which included a family photo with her kids Mason 21, and Jake, 17, Rimes, ex-husband Eddie Cibrian and more extended family on Thursday, December 26. “Not my favorite look for my face but I felt ALL the love from my modern family.”
“Big thanks to Le for offering to help with my situation,” Glanville concluded her caption, referring to her ongoing health battle. The former Bravo star’s face could also be seen turned away from the camera, showing off only her left side.
Earlier this month, Glanville shared a message to haters (telling them to “suck it”) while revealing that she might have a parasite in her face.
“Honestly, I have so many doctors and I’ve had so many tests … I did lab work for $10,000,” Glanville further explained during a December 10 interview with Entertainment Tonight. “I ran every test under the sun. … They’re like, ‘It could be a parasite.’ That’s, you know, new.”
Glanville estimated that she’s spent $70,000 to attempt and fix the face issue. The reality star also said that she can feel the apparent parasite and if she “messes with it,” the organism will move around and look like “tiny bubbles bursting” on her cheek.
“She has to figure out if there’s a microorganism in there,” he explained during an interview with TMZ earlier this month. “It’s not going to be a parasite, it’s not going to be something she ate, it’s going to be from something that got into her bloodstream.”
It seems Rimes, who married Cibrian in 2011, also offered assistance during their joint family Christmas celebration.
Glanville revealed in 2018 that things between her and her ex-husband were on better terms after a nasty divorce.
“The three of us sat and talked for hours [and] hashed everything out and the feud with @leannrimes Eddie and I is over” Glanville shared via X in April 2018. “They will not be getting rid of me on any holidays #modernfamily.”
New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge is reportedly gearing up for fatherhood.
Page Six broke the news on Thursday, December 26, that the 32-year-old outfielder and his wife, Samantha Bracksieck, are expecting their first child — a baby girl. The couple, who are famously private, have yet to confirm the news themselves. (Us Weekly reached out to Judge’s reps and the Yankees for comment.)
Judge and Bracksieck started dating while attending Linden High School in California. Judge graduated in 2010 and started his journey to the big leagues. It’s been reported that the athlete reconnected with Bracksieck in 2019, taking their relationship to the next level.
While they never made any official proposal announcement, the couple sparked engagement rumors when Bracksieck was spotted wearing a ring on her finger in 2021. They got married during a quiet Hawaiian ceremony in December of that year.
Yankees fans started speculating that Judge was gearing up for the next chapter in his life this past October. Eagle-eyed baseball watchers snapped photos of Bracksieck sporting what appeared to be a baby bump while attending the American League Championship Series. At the time, Bracksieck appeared to join Judge on the field after the Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians, according to photos that were shared via X (but have since been deleted).
While Judge and Bracksieck rarely talk about each other publicly, the duo will make the rare appearance together.
Samantha Bracksieck and Aaron Judge.
“What a time we had out in LA for the All Star break! Can’t thank Yankee fans and all the fans out there for their support and making this one of the best years yet! Time to get rolling in the 2nd half!” Judge captioned a July 2022 Instagram post, offering a look at his relationship.
The MLB star also said in a 2022 interview that his wife had a hand in helping him secure a $360 million contract with the Yankees that same year.
“I was in California. Sam and I were headed to Hawaii to celebrate our [wedding] anniversary. We had a flight at 8 a.m., so 2 o’clock in the morning, 3 o’clock, we’re just staying up,” Judge recalled during an interview with “Casa De Klub” podcast this past July. “We’re going back and forth about different offers from different teams. What do you want to do? And I’m telling her, ‘I want to stay in New York. I don’t want to go anywhere else.’”
Bracksieck encouraged Judge to call Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner.
“We call him and I’m just kind of laying it out there, like, ‘Hey, I don’t want to go anywhere. This is where I want to be if you can just add one more year to the deal. I’m set. I’m not looking for anything more, I just want one more year. I want to play this game for a long time,’” Judge recalled., The athlete then found out he was going to be named the 16th captain of the Yankees.
Justin Baldoni and his wife, Emily Baldoni, have welcomed two kids during their relationship.
The duo’s daughter, Maiya Baldoni, was born in June 2015, nearly two years after they tied the knot. Justin and Emily expanded their family in October 2017 by welcoming son Maxwell Baldoni.
“At the end of the day my goal is to raise good humans,” Justin said about being a father during a 2021 interview. “The only way I think we can do that is if we actively teach them the things the world is going to tell them they can’t be. And then they get to decide what qualities they want to have.”
The actor seems to have a supportive family. However, they did not publicly address any allegations when Justin was sued for sexual harassment in December 2024 by his It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively. Through his lawyer, Justin denied the claims made in the filing, calling them “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.” Lawyer Bryan Freedman said Lively filed the suit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” about what happened behind the scenes while filming the movie in a statement to Us Weekly at the time.
Keep scrolling to look back at Justin and Emily’s family photos:
“Maiya hasn’t seen her dada in two days because he’s been working so hard,” Emily captioned a February 2018 family photo.” So tonight, even for just 5 minutes in between takes and before we had to go home for bedtime, we had to make sure they got to squeeze each other. And they didn’t want to let go. It’s the SWEETEST love!!”
“There are days when this is the best. And there are days when this is really hard,” Emily wrote when celebrating Mother’s Day in May 2022. “It’s no doubt my most beautiful work of art and my greatest honor. And yes, I most definitely asked for some alone time today.”
“We got everything we wanted this year. Hope you did too,” Allio, 40, captioned an Instagram video on Wednesday, December 25. “Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays friends. Here’s to the best year yet.”
In the clip, Allio could be seen decorating a Christmas tree with his 8-year-old son, James. While putting up the ornaments, an unidentified woman walks into the frame with the assist. Fans were quick to comment about this apparent new romance for the Bachelor in Paradise alum. (Allio shares son James with late wife Laura, who died in 2019 following a battle with breast cancer.)
“Loooooove seeing you and your son happy,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “Hoping whoever she is she brings you and your son happiness.”
Amanda Kloots also shared a comment, writing, “Merry Christmas guys!”
Allio made his Bachelor Nation debut during Katie Thurston’s Bachelorette season. Following his elimination from the show, he went on the eighth season of Bachelor in Paradise, which aired in 2022.
During his tenure on the beach, Allio kicked off a relationship with Danielle Maltby. While they didn’t get engaged when the season came to an end, the duo left Mexico as a couple. One year after their love story played out on TV, the former couple announced their split.
“I guess I’ll just come out with it. We’re not together anymore,” Allio said during a September 2023 episode of Jason Tartick’s “Trading Secrets” podcast. “It’s not what we planned. We both threw a lot into this relationship and it’s really awful when it doesn’t work out.”
Danielle Maltby
He added, “You mourn the loss not of just that person and that friend in your life, but also the future that you had envisioned. And it’s to no fault of hers.”
Allio said that Maltby, 39, “poured everything” into their relationship but things didn’t work out in the end.
“This breakup was not a mutual decision arriving at some perception of incompatibilities,” she shared via social media days after Allio talked about their split. “However, I do hope the best for Michael, and I will always have [his son] James in my heart as we move forward separately.”
She added, “I know so many people were rooting for Michael and I, and I appreciate your support so much. I don’t regret the love I gave for a second.”
Pregnant Brittany Mahomes might have skipped out on her husband Patrick Mahomes’ Christmas Day football game, but she still found a way to praise the NFL quarterback on social media.
“Always keeping his promises,” Brittany, 29, wrote via Instagram Stories on Wednesday, December 25, sharing a post from ESPN in which Patrick, 29, said he and the Kansas City Chiefs were going to clinch a win.
Patrick and the Chiefs took on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday, winning 29-10. The team’s victory allowed them to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
“I told my pregnant wife I was gonna get the No. 1 seed so we can go have that baby,” Patrick told reporters after the Chiefs’ win. His teammate Travis Kelce was clapping by his side following the declaration.
Brittany may have skipped out on the game, but she was still watching at home with the couple’s two kids, Sterling, 3, and Bronze, 2.
“Baking and watching Daddy,” she captioned an Instagram Story on Wednesday. Brittany and Sterling were wearing matching pajamas in the sweet mother-daughter snap. “Already on our second box of baking.”
Brittany and Patrick announced in July that they were gearing up to welcome baby No. 3. “Round three, here we come,” they shared in a joint Instagram post at the time.
Patrick offered a post-game update on his wife’s pregnancy on Wednesday. Brittany is gearing up to give birth “any day now,” he told reporters.
“Brittany says I’ve been stressing her out too much this season,” Patrick added. “So, I gotta try not to put so much stress on her through these football games — and get the bye.”
Patrick added, “Hopefully, God works the right way, and we can have that baby on the bye week somewhere. Then, everything will work out perfectly.”
The quarterback, who married Brittany in March 2022, continued to gush about his wife, noting that she deserves the MVP trophy this year.
“MVP ‘cause she’ll go in [to the playoffs] and she’ll crush it,” Patrick added. “We’ll have three babies, and I can take a break for a long time and just focus on playing football and raising those babies.”
Because Patrick was playing football on Christmas Day, he said his family celebrated the holiday earlier in the week.
“Christmas with the Mahomeses is a lot of chasing kids around,” Patrick added. “Santa leaves surprises for the kids. Seeing them grow up and understand what the holidays are all about; I’m making those traditions now. I’m hoping to have some that I’ll have for the rest of my life.”
Derek Hough spent Christmas with family and friends — and his cat’s veterinarian.
“Look what I got for Christmas ” Hough, 39, captioned an Instagram post on Wednesday, December 25. “A plastic bag filled with stuff Otis ate and had to be removed from his stomach costing $8000 ! Yay! Glad he’s ok.”
Hough shared a photo of himself in festive Christmas-themed pajamas holding Otis the cat — and a bag full of the contents of his pet’s stomach. The professional dancer wrote “$8000” over the photo and added an animated arrow pointing to the plastic bag.
“Noooooo!!!! Glad he’s ok!!” fellow dancer Maks Chmerkovskiy commented. Dancing With the Stars pro Sasha Farber added, “S—” in the comments section as well.
Hough, however, seemed to be in high spirits despite the health emergency. The DWTS judge continued to share a glimpse at his Christmas via Instagram Stories.
He and longtime friend Mark Ballas completed a “Christmas build,” according to one photo. (The pair were putting together a toy car.) Ballas, 38, also showed off his “latte art” in another video.
Hough’s holiday also included his wife, Hayley Erbert.
“We’re literally stuck together now,” Hough captioned a second video on Wednesday. The clip showed himself and Erbert, 30, wearing Christmas onesies that were connected, meaning they had to move as one.
This year’s holiday season marked the second for Hough and Erbert as a married couple. They tied the knot in August 2023 and experienced a series of trials during their first year of marriage as Erbert faced a major health scare.
The professional dancer underwent emergency brain surgery for a cranial hematoma in December 2023 after passing out backstage at one of her and Hough’s live shows. (She danced with Hough for the first time during an episode of DWTS in October.)
“It was one of the most difficult times of my life,” Erbert told Us Weekly exclusively in a cover story last month. The dancer explained that she is “relearning how to live” after the surgery.
“I could [have sat there] and just been ‘poor me’ all day long, every single day. But I was like, no — there’s so much beauty in this life still. And I want to live for it,” she explained. “We are truly gonna be so present and appreciate life so much more.”
Erbert told Us that she’s “98 to 99 percent back to what I was” before the surgeries.
“There’s some things here and there, but minor things. Nothing that will hinder me from just doing what I do in everyday life and my career,” she added. “It truly is a miracle. And I’m so grateful to be able to do what I love still.”
The Today cast opened their Secret Santa gifts during the show’s broadcast on Wednesday, December 25. Guthrie, 52, revealed she had Kotb, 60, and the emotional gift had everyone feeling some type of way.
“This is for me? I got wishing candles,” Kotb said while opening her gift bag. When pulling out the second item, Kotb could be heard whispering, “Oh, God,” to herself before showing a small framed square to the camera.
“OK, this phrase, ‘May you find a light to guide you home.’ It’s a beautiful song that Savannah gave to me every time I was going through something new,” Kotb explained. “Oh, my God. It’s too much.”
The lyric is from the song “May You Find a Light” by Josh Garrels.
“I thought you could put it on your desk in the morning when you’re reading your stuff,” Guthrie explained. Kotb responded, “You know what I love about this the most? That’s your handwriting.”
Guthrie confirmed that she did write the framed note before sharing a hug with her cohost.
This year’s Christmas broadcast marked Kotb’s last with the Today show. She announced in September that she would be departing the show in 2025. (Kotb’s final episode date is January 10.)
“I realized that it was time for me to turn the page at 60, and to try something new. This is the right time for me to move on,” she shared at the time.
Kotb has hosted the Today show’s fourth hour since 2007 and became a coanchor of the morning show in 2018. She and Guthrie — who joined the Today family in 2012 — have experienced several ups and downs together, which made the gift that much more meaningful.
During Kotb’s Today tenure, she has spoken candidly about her personal life on air. In 2007, Kotb announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy.
She and Joel Schiffman adopted two daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, throughout her time on the show. Kotb and Schiffman also got engaged in November 2019 after six years together, just one year after the television host took over as the Today coanchor.
Two years later, Kotb announced that she and Schiffman split during a February 2022 Today broadcast. Throughout all the hardships, Guthrie has been by Kotb’s side.
Kotb even referred to Guthrie as her “ride-or-die” in an open letter on Today.com announcing her departure from the show.
It might be cold outside, but soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is heating up fans’ Instagram feeds for Christmas.
“Merry Christmas, everyone!” Ronaldo, 39, captioned a new post on Tuesday, December 24. The athlete was shirtless in the image, showing off his chiseled physique while standing outside in the snow.
Ronaldo stood on a deck, which was adorned with holiday-themed twinkle lights. It’s unclear exactly where Ronaldo is celebrating the end of the year, but his girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez, previously shared a glimpse of their family vacation in Laponia, Finland.
Ronaldo’s thirst trap comes one day after he shared a photo of himself riding a snowmobile with one of his kids. Both the soccer star and his child were bundled up with face masks and helmets but threw their thumbs up at the camera.
Ronaldo is a father of five: Cristiano Jr., 14, Alana, 8, twins Eva Maria and Mateo, 7, Bella, 2. Two of Ronaldo’s children — Eva Marie and Mateo — were born via surrogate. Rodriguez, 30, gave birth to Alana and Bella, the younger of whom had a twin brother named Ángel who died after birth.
“It is with our deepest sadness we have to announce that our baby boy has passed away,” the couple wrote via Instagram at the time. “It is the greatest pain that any parents can feel. Only the birth of our baby girl gives us the strength to live this moment with some hope and happiness.”
They added, “We are all devastated at this loss and we kindly ask for privacy at this very difficult time. Our baby boy, you are our angel. We will always love you.”
While Ronaldo is not shy when it comes to sharing his kids via social media, the athlete has spoken candidly about choosing not to identify the mother of his eldest son, Cristiano Jr.
“People speculate I was with this girl or another, or there was a surrogate mother,” he said during a November 2015 interview. “When Cristiano is going to grow up, I am always going to say the truth to him because he deserves it, because he is my son, but I am not going to say because people want me to say.”
Yes, Powell has been in Hollywood for years, but nothing solidifies heartthrob status for an actor quite like wearing a white T-shirt while it rains or shotgunning a beer on stage with Luke Combs (a special thank you to the summer blockbuster Twisters for allowing Us to have both iconic moments.)
The actor famously made his onscreen debut in the 2003 movie Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. From there he starred in some small, but notable roles, like Chad Radwell in the short-lived — but totally epic — series Scream Queens or the swoon worthy Charliein Netflix’s Set It Up. Fans can argue (and they will) that Powell’s breakout role came as Jake “Hangman” Seresin in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, but it wasn’t until this year that he became a true household name.
“That’s the funniest part about this moment,” Powell told The Hollywood Reporter in May when reflecting on his career. “I’ve worked really hard for a long time, putting things together and just trying to get them in shape enough for people to give a s—. Then you get to a place where people are just like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it,’ and suddenly you’re playing musical chairs with yourself. You’re like, ‘Wait, do I sit in all these chairs right now?’”
The Texas native will, no doubt, continue to sit anywhere he wants in Hollywood, especially as his star continue to rise. 2024 might have been his year but Powell is just getting started.
Keep scrolling for a breakdown why Us was obsessed with Powell this year:
Overall Sex Appeal
Glen Powell in ‘Twisters.’
Powell posed shirtless for Men’s Healthin November 2023, and we definitely thought it couldn’t get better than that — until Hit Man was released on Netflix. The streaming service turned up the heat as summer was starting with Powell’s onscreen sex montage with costar Adria Arjona.
Two months later, Powell put on his cowboy hat and proved their ain’t no love in Oklahoma, unless you’re starring alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones in a movie about tornados. Twisters put Powell’s sex appeal on full display, and this time, the actor kept his shirt on the entire time. He’s just a real movie star and that’s all Us has to say about that.
Life as a Dog Dad
Glen Powell.
If Powell’s looks aren’t good enough, his old terrier poodle mix named Brisket (@hotbrisket on Instagram) might seal the deal. While filming Twisters, the actor adopted his now-famous pup who has even gotten his own magazine cover. Vogue became “Dogue” this past August and Brisket was, of course, featured.
“Brisket’s best quality, I would say, is his ability to snuggle,” Powell gushed of his pup. “If there’s any shape on your body that is remotely cuddle-able, he will figure it out, whether it’s the top of your head, neck, hips, or feet. He is just built for snuggles.”
Anyone familiar with Powell’s social media footprint knows Brisket is built for thirst traps too.
No. 1 Son
Glen Powell (R) and his parents Cyndy Powell (C) and Glen Powell, Sr. (L).
Powell has attempted to put his parents, Cyndy and Glen Sr., in every one of his projects and 2024 was no different. They returned to the big screen for this year’s Twisters — Powell’s big blockbuster hit of the summer — as a couple sitting behind Powell and costar Daisy Edgar-Jones during a rodeo sequence.
“They have some very good screen time, and they’re in the cowboy hats and the boots and the whole get-up,” Powell told Us in July. “They look great. I mean, obviously, they’re from Texas. So, they should look very comfortable in that look, but they nailed it.”
In addition to their endless cameos, Cyndy and Glen Sr. have also been known to show up and support Glen whenever possible — and often show fans exactly where Powell gets his sense of humor. At the May premiere of his Netflix film Hit Man, the duo hilariously followed the actor around with huge signs that read, “Stop trying to make Glen Powell happen” and “It’s never gonna happen.”
“I think that’s maybe the greatest gift that my parents gave me is never, never making me sit in things I didn’t want to sit in and letting me chase the passions I wanted to chase no matter what,” Powell told Us of his parents supporting his career over the years. “When I discovered movies, that’s all I wanted to do. And it didn’t matter the schedule. I would, like, wake up thinking about it and I wake up talking about it. So I just am really grateful for my parents for not trying to deter me from a job that has such a low success rate, which I think a lot of parents do.”
Showing love and appreciation for your — very cool — parents no matter how famous you get? Totally sexy.
Costar Chemistry
Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar Jones.
Powell told Entertainment Weekly in June that when it comes to on screen chemistry, “It either is or isn’t. There’s no way to force it.” And while that might be true, Powell seemingly hasn’t met a costar he doesn’t have “it” with in spades.
From his time on Scream Queens with Nick Jonas to his rom-com Anyone But You with Sydney Sweeney, Powell has always sizzled on screen with his costars — but the sparks he created in 2024 with Twisters and Hit Man leading ladies Edgar-Jones and Arjona were maybe the most intense of all.
“The basis of it is, ‘Oh we could spend four hours together and not shut up. This is somebody that I feel incredibly comfortable with,’” Arjona told Netflix about her instant rapport with Powell. “And once you feel comfortable with someone there’s a layer of trust and respect. You free yourself and you allow that, kind of, chemistry to live.”
We love that Powell can create chemistry with anyone or anything — some would even argue he has it with storms — but it’s knowing his costars feel safe and respected on set that make him the ultimate green flag.
Lookalike Madness
Glen Powell.
Celebrity look alike contests became all the rage in 2024, with some stars — like Timothée Chalamet — showing up to the event to lend their support. While Powell was unable to appear in person when his own look alike contest was held in Austin, Texas, he was sure to send mom Cyndy to help judge in his place — and even popped up in a video to offer his winning doppelganger a special prize.
“Look, I know there is some cash and a hat at stake here, but I just want to say that the winner of today’s contest gets a personal prize from me,” Powell said in the video. “Now you may know that my parents make a cameo in every movie I make, but today, the winner of the Glen Powell lookalike contest wins their parents, or any family member of their choice, a cameo in my next movie. I am completely serious.”
That down to earth aura is exactly what makes Powell so endearing. If you ask Us, he’s everything a true movie star should be.
Reynolds, 48, posted a video on Tuesday, December 24, asking fans for donations to the SickKids Hospital. The actor also shared that he and Lively, 37, are “matching any donation” up to $500,000 before Christmas Eve comes to an end.
“This organization is a sanctuary for so many kids and their parents traversing the unimaginable,” Reynolds wrote, thanking director Bryan Rowland for helping with the holiday charity campaign commercial, which was released earlier this month.
Reynolds also gave a shout-out to Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter, who is also in the advertisement, before praising his daughter’s hard work. “Thank you to my daughter for being such a good person despite your dad asking you to swear (for a good cause),” the Deadpool & Wolverine star shared.
The commercial, released on December 12, showed Reynolds and Inez reprising their respective roles as Deadpool and Kidpool to discuss the importance of raising money for the SickKids Hospital.
“Benevolence is thirsty work,” Reynolds said in character, noting that his next goal is to “eliminate” sick children.
Misunderstanding her dad’s statement, Inez as Kidpool responded: “Oh, dude, that’s so f—ed up.”
Reynolds’ Deadpool clarified, “No. We’re eliminating the sickness by encouraging people to donate.”
Inez made her first appearance as Kidpool in Deadpool & Wolverine, which premiered in July. (Reynolds and Lively also share daughters James, 9, Betty, 5, and son Olin, born in February 2023.)
“Only costar I argued with,” the actor shared via X, posting a photo of himself in costume next to Kidpool. “Most people think Kidpool is the dirtiest. But she’s also pretty good at backtalk and never taking out the trash. #DeadpoolAndWolverine.”
The majority of Reynolds and Lively’s family made an appearance in the movie. Olin played a character named Babypool and Lively stayed masked as Lady Deadpool. While Betty wasn’t on screen, she was credited as “Hugh Jackman Wrangler” in the film.
“They’re all kind of in love with Uncle Hughy over here, so that worked out pretty well,” Reynolds told Extra of his kids in July. “He got attacked by Betty backstage, who thinks she has claws, so she goes at him. I have to actually give her a little tiny time-out.”
Andy Cohen’s 5-year-old son Ben has quite the holiday wish list.
“He had me help him write a letter to Santa, and he said he wants a police drone for himself, which is very timely,” Cohen, 56, told Us Weekly exclusively while promoting his partnership with Fresca Mixed. “A Lego police drone that really flies. I’m like, ‘I don’t think that exists, but all right.’ It is timely.”
Cohen joked, “I’m like, ‘What have you been watching the news?’” (The television host was referring to the recent reports of drones flying over New Jersey.)
Ben also wanted to make sure Santa came through for his 2-year-old sister, Lucy.
Andy Cohen.
“He asked for bath toys for Lucy and he wants a kit of Valentine’s cards so he can make Valentine’s for me ’cause he loves me,” Cohen shared. “I couldn’t believe it.”
While Cohen’s holiday season is mostly kid-focused since he became a dad, the Watch What Happens Live host still finds time to have his adult fun — namely when hosting CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live alongside friend Anderson Cooper.
“I bring over a couple producers from Watch What Happens Live because we are the fun people,” Cohen told Us. “Anderson imports the fun. CNN is about the news. He brings in the fun from my squad, which is great.”
For the broadcast, Cohen said that he and Cooper, 57, “plan a lot of fun games” to play before midnight.
“A couple years ago, at about 11:45, they’re like, ‘Oh, you’ve got 15 minutes to midnight,’ and there were no guests,” Cohen said. “I remember talking [and] at one point, my mind started to wander.”
This year, however, they are prepared.
“We have a lot of fun guests,” he teased. “There are a lot of fun surprises, and I’m really excited about it.”
Even despite the mishaps that might occur during a live show, Cohen said he’s learned “to have fun” during the broadcast. “Last year, Anderson and I had the most fun we had ever had. It was great.”
Those familiar with Cohen and Cooper’s New Year’s Eve broadcast know the drinks are always flowing. Cohen — as expected — puts himself in charge of libations.
“I literally bring a duffle bag with a few bottles of tequila. Some Fresca mix for me during the hour. The tequila is for shots and then shot glasses. I bring ice,” he explained. “I bring this myself. I go to the bodega. I get this stuff.”
As he prepares for 2025, Fresca Mixed is top of mind for the television host who teamed up with the brand to help ring in the new year in style.
Liz Plank was more than Justin Baldoni’s “Man Enough” podcast cohost — she has a successful hosting career under her belt.
Plank publicly announced her decision to step down from “Man Enough” in December 2024, days after Blake Livelyaccused of Baldoni of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed that same month.
“I’m writing to you today to let you know that I have had my representatives inform Wayfarer that I will no longer be co-hosting the ‘Man Enough’ podcast,” Plank’s Instagram statement read. “Thank you for trusting me with your hearts and stories, for holding space for mine, and for making this show what it was.”
Plank noted that she will “miss” the listeners and the community they created. She did not name Baldoni in the statement but discussed but shared what was next after “this chapter closes” in her career.
“Thank you for being here, for trusting me, and for being by my side for the last four years. We all deserve better, and I know that together, we can create it,” Plank added. “I will have more to share soon as I continue to process everything that has happened. In the meantime, I will continue to support everyone who calls out injustice and holds the people standing in their way accountable.”
Baldoni did not publicly react to news of Plank’s departure, but he denied the allegations made in Lively’s lawsuit via his lawyer. Attorney Bryan Freedman called Lively’s claims “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” in a statement to Us, noting that she filed the suit to “fix her negative reputation.”
Keep scrolling for everything to know about Plank:
1. Plank’s Connection to Baldoni
She started hosting the “Man Enough” podcast in 2021 alongside Baldoni the president of his Wayfarer Studios production company, Jamey Heath (who was also named in Lively’s suit).
2. Plank Has Multiple Degrees
The television host was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Plank attended McGill University where she majored in women’s studies and international development. Following her undergraduate career, Plank attended the London School of Economics where she received a master’s degree.
During the 2016 election, Plank worked for Vox Media where she hosted several series focused on politics.
Prior to Plank’s career at Vox Media, she acted as a correspondent on MSNBC’s Krystal Clear.
4. Plank Is an Author
She published the book For the Love of Men in September 2019, which focused on “mindful masculinity.”
5. Plank Is a Media Mogul
Since kicking off her career, Plank has made a massive impact in the media world. In 2015, she was named as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in the Media category.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is being sued by former employee Phillip Pines, who is alleging that he participated in “Wild King Nights” with the disgraced music mogul.
The lawsuit, obtained by Variety on Monday, December 23, detailed the alleged “Wild King Nights” as evenings where Diddy, 55, would “engage in a night of sex, drugs and alcohol” with various guests. Pines alleged that, on one occasion, Diddy pressured Pines into having sex with a female guest.
The former employee alleged that he served as Diddy’s “personal lackey” and claimed he would be asked to obtain “red lights, ice buckets, alcohol, marijuana joints, honey packs for male libido, baby oil, astro glide, towels, illegal drugs and power banger sex machines,” before the “Wild King Nights.”
Diddy’s team addressed the filing in a statement to Us Weekly on Tuesday, December 24: “No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor,. We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail in court.”
The complaint further claimed that Pine would deep clean hotel rooms after the alleged “Wild King Nights” nights — which could be previously planned or occur on a moment’s notice — came to an end. (Pines worked for Diddy from December 2019 through December 2021.)
Sean “Diddy” Combs
Part of his duties included “removing evidence of drugs, removing bodily stains like blood and urine from furniture and sheets, and packing away all items used,” the suit alleged, per Variety. Pines was told to make sure that details about the alleged “Wild King Nights” did not go public and would leave “hotel cleaning crews large tips.” The former employee alleged that he would watch “any incriminating videos” from Diddy’s personal devices and delete them or else he would be fired.
Pines’ suit comes amid several cases against Diddy and days after he was accused of sexual assault by a woman named LaTroya Grayson, who claimed she was drugged and raped at the musician’s “White Party” in 2006. (Grayson won a contest to attend the event where the alleged incident took place.)
Diddy’s team denied the allegations in a statement to TMZ on Friday, December 20. The rapper’s legal team has continued to vehemently deny all allegations against him following Diddy’s arrest on a barrage of charges in September. (Diddy has pleaded not guilty and his trial is set to begin in May 2025.)
Diddy is currently incarcerated in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center where he awaits trial.
Blake Lively’s It Ends With Us wardrobe made headlines when the first photos of her character, Lily Bloom, surfaced online in 2023. More than one year later, the actress’ outfits from the film are raising eyebrows once again — this time in the context of Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against Justin Baldoni.
Lively, 37, made a barrage of accusations against her It Ends With Us costar (and the film’s director) Baldoni, 40, in court documents filed on Friday, December 20. The docs, which have been viewed by Us Weekly, detail alleged moments between Lively and Baldoni on the film’s set. According to the complaint, Baldoni “made the rest of the cast and crew wait for hours” while he allegedly broke down in tears over the public’s reactions to Lively’s costumes.
Baldoni’s apparent breakdown took place in Lively’s dressing room. The suit claimed that he was upset over “social media commenters” posting that Lively “looked old and unattractive” after seeing photos from their first It Ends With Us filming day.
The lawsuit states that Lively “tried to reassure [Baldoni] that she should look authentic in the scenes depicted in the photos, which were just after her character had been abused by her fictional husband.” (Lively plays Lily in the movie, while Baldoni took on the role of her abusive husband, Ryle.)
“His lengthy outburst caused a delay in shooting, forcing an emotional scene to be shot haphazardly,” the suit claimed.
Lively allegedly told Baldoni that looking “hot” was not the goal of the scene. The lawsuit claimed that Baldoni “appeared focused on [Lively’s] sexual appeal above all else.” This was detailed at length throughout the rest of the court documents as well. Elsewhere in the complaint, Baldoni allegedly called Lively “sexy” and “hot” while she was wearing a onesie, which was “pre-approved wardrobe” for the scene.
Baldoni has denied the “outrageous” claims made in the lawsuit through his lawyer, Bryan Freedman. In a statement to Us, Freedman referred to Lively’s accusations as “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” before claiming that she filed the suit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” about what went down on the film’s set.
When the first photos of Lively on the It Ends With Us set surfaced online in May 2023, fans of Colleen Hoover’s book of the same name did have comments about the character’s outfits. Similar to what was stated in the suit, one social media user claimed the actress looked “frumpy” while another wondered “why” Lily wasn’t dressed more fashionably.
Lively did not speak publicly about the backlash at the time. Hoover, 45, did make it known that she was unbothered by the negative comments, explaining that it showed that people “cared” about the project.
“I don’t remember describing outfits at all. I don’t care what they have on,” the author told Jenna Bush Hager in a June 2023 interview. “In my head, it’s about the conversation they’re having and the story. It’s the same way in the movie. You’ve seen a couple of outfits that are completely out of context. I’m not worried about it.”
King Charles III is breaking Christmas tradition with his annual speech.
The royal family’s official Instagram account shared a photo from Charles’ prerecorded holiday broadcast on Monday, December 23, revealing that this year’s message was filmed in the Fitzrovia Chapel in London. The location appears to have a special connection to the ongoing health crisis Charles, 76, has been experiencing throughout the past year.
“Formerly the chapel of Middlesex Hospital, it is now a space for quiet reflection, discovery and celebration, connecting diverse communities from all faiths or none,” the Instagram caption read, noting that Charles’ grandfather King George VI “laid the foundation stone of the building” in 1928.
This year’s Christmas broadcast was the first time in 14 years that the speech was not filmed on a royal estate. Monday’s Instagram caption also revealed that the Christmas tree featured in the prerecorded package was donated to Croydon BME Forum and Macmillan Cancer Support’s ‘Can You C Me?’ project and will be placed in the Royal Trinity Hospice in London.
Every year, the reigning monarch records a Christmas broadcast that gets played via television and radio at 3 p.m. local time. This year’s message comes nearly a year after Charles announced in February that he had been diagnosed with cancer. (The following month, Princess Kate Middletonrevealed her cancer diagnosis as well.)
“During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” Buckingham Palace shared in a statement at the time. “His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.”
The type of cancer has never been publicly specified. However, Charles has returned to his public-facing duties.
The king is set to continue undergoing chemotherapy in the new year, a recent report revealed on Friday, December 20. The treatment is part of a “managed condition” as his health is already headed in a “positive direction,” ABC News shared at the time.
Charles proved he was in good spirits that same day when joking with reporters about his wellbeing.
“I’m still alive,” he joked while at Waltham Forest Town Hall on Friday.
In October, Buckingham Palace confirmed to Hello! Magazine that Charles’ rigorous schedule will not change going into the new year.
“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,” the spokesperson said at the time.
Chigvintsev, 42, shared four black-and-white photos with his son on Sunday, December 22. In the snaps, the father-son duo are laying down, with two images showing them both laughing with their mouths wide open. Matteo is hugging Chigvintsev, squishing their faces together, in a third image.
Chigvintsev and Garcia started dating in 2019, two years after they competed together during DWTS season 25. The former couple welcomed Matteo in 2020 and got married in 2022.
This past August, shortly after Chigvintsev and Garcia celebrated their second wedding anniversary, the professional dancer was arrested for domestic battery and booked on a felony domestic violence charge after an apparent altercation with his then-wife. (The charges against him were dropped in September following a “thorough” investigation, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley shared at the time.)
“Nikki and Artem have settled their divorce and will not be going to court,” Garcia’s rep shared in a statement. “Both parties decided to drop the domestic violence restraining orders against each other in an effort to move on with their lives and effectively coparent their son.”
Garcia broke her silence on the divorce in a December episode of her podcast, “The Nikki & Brie Show,” which she hosts alongside twin sister Brie Garcia.
“I’ve been heartbroken,” Garcia told listeners. “You dream of having this family and you have this incredible love, and it just goes the other way. You go from having a great love story to having a terrible one.”
Garcia further explained her silence, noting that she wanted to “disconnect” to put Matteo’s needs first.
“I’m a mom and my son’s protection and privacy is the most important,” she said. “I was going to do whatever it took for that most importantly, and then just needing space for healing, for facing trauma head-on.”
“I know being a public figure, I have to say a little bit about this, right?” Garcia noted. “After this, I don’t want to ever talk about [it] again, because I truly do want privacy for Matteo. That has been the most important part.”
” Hough, 39, captioned an Instagram post on Wednesday, December 25. “A plastic bag filled with stuff Otis ate and had to be removed from his stomach costing $8000 ! Yay! Glad he’s ok.”
