Celebrities are just like Us, and they read faerie smut, too.

Former football player JJ Watt nearly broke the internet when he revealed he was reading Sarah J. Maas’ steamy romantasy series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, which has taken the internet (specifically BookTok) and the fantasy genre by storm.

First published in 2015, the first book in Maas’s sweeping epic romance follows Feyre Archeron, who for years has struggled to keep her family alive in the magicless human realms of Prythian. However, when Feyre unknowingly kills the sentry of a powerful High Fae named Tamlin, she is transported to a world of magic, faeries and violence where she must fight not only to save her family but her entire realm.

Watt isn’t the only celebrity who has been drawn in by the magic of Prythian and its High Lords: singer-songwriter Maren Morris, actress Megan Fox and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, among others, have all checked the first book (at least) off of their TBR list.

A Comprehensive Guide to the Sarah J. Maas Universe: 'ACOTAR' and More

Maas has so far published five novels in the series, with the fifth book, 2021’s A Court of Silver Flames, serving as the first installment not told from Feyre’s perspective but instead from the POV of her ruthless older sister, Nesta. Maas confirmed in 2023 that a sixth ACOTAR book was in the works, though she revealed no further information about the plot. (She is also the author of the best-selling Throne of Glass and Crescent City series.)

“I am working on the next ACOTAR novel,” Maas shared during “Live Talks Los Angeles” in September last year. “I’m drafting it, and that is all I will say.”

A Court of Thorns and Roses television series is in the works at Hulu as well, Us Weekly confirmed in February, though casting choices and a potential release date have not been revealed. Ronald D. Moore revealed in July 2024 that he is no longer the showrunner after moving to Sony. (Hulu is owned by Disney.)

Keep scrolling to see all the stars who’ve entered Prythian:

@fathercooper

It starts slow but

♬ original sound – Alexandra Cooper

Alex Cooper

Cooper started ACOTAR because she needed a distraction with everything going on in the world.

“I f—ing hate everything going on in the world and I’m like, ‘What could distract me? What could take away this emotional hangover?’” Cooper shared in a TikTok video in November 2024 before holding up her copy of the popular fantasy novel. “Best decision. I never thought this book would be for me. I’m more of a romance girlie.”

Cooper noted that she “didn’t know” if she’d be into fantasy novels, but she was pleasantly surprised with how much she liked it.

“I know I’m late to the game, but I’m just telling you, if you need something to distract you, read bitch. Specifically, read this,” she gushed.

Chloe Burrows

The Love Island alum told The News Movement in October 2024 that she had just finished the series. “It has altered my brain chemistry. Everyone should read it, it’s so good!” she said.

@ilonamaher

My plan is working #acotar #booktok @Lauren Doyle #sarajmaas

♬ Can’t Catch Me Now – from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes – Olivia Rodrigo

Ilona Maher

The Olympian has read every Maas book, and BookTok quickly determined which Bat Boy would be the best boyfriend for Maher.

“So recently, people were pairing me with Cassian, so I’m going to cast myself as Nesta — and also, I would like to makeout with Cassian,” Maher told Access Hollywood in October 2024. “You know what? I have three sisters, we can all play [the Archeron sisters].”

She even suggested Dancing With the Stars partner Alan Bersten could play The Suriel.

Yung Gravy

The rapper has found that Sarah J. Maas fans love hearing his deep voice read the spicy scenes, and he even read some passages on stage at concerts. In an August 2024 TikTok, he picked up A Court of Wings and Ruin, introducing his video by saying, “My fellas with toxic masculinity, it’s time to get out of here. Everybody else, it’s time to get steamy.”

Hannah Dodd

“Help, I’m in love with a fictional character,” the Bridgerton actress captioned a July 2024 Instagram Story. “Hannah Fey Katie Dodd is what I will respond to now.”

JJ Watt

Watt shared that he had picked up the first book in the ongoing ACOTAR series in April on his wife Kealia Ohai Watt’s recommendation. “Kealia swears by it,” he wrote via X at the time. “I have no idea what I’m getting myself into.”

As a first-time ACOTAR reader, Watt was initially rooting for love interest Tamlin when he started the series, even expressing his desire to play the High Lord of the Spring Court in a live-action adaptation. However, he was encouraged by fans to keep reading before he decided on any favorite characters, as the book series is full of twists, turns and betrayals.

“Finished the first book, started the second. Sucks to suck Amarantha,” Watt wrote via X in April, referring to the first book’s Big Bad. “(although if she’s so magical, how did she not know Rhys helped during 2nd challenge?)” By the time he finished the first book, Watt shared that he didn’t know who he should be rooting for: Tamlin and his best friend and emissary Lucien, or Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court.

Maren Morris

Morris shared a photo of herself reading A Court of Thorns and Roses via Instagram in a May photo dump. “A week of horny songs and fiction,” she captioned the post.

In a video, she held up A Court of Mist and Fury, the second novel in the series, and gave a shout-out to a fan-favorite scene: “To those who gave me a heads up about Chapter 55, thank you.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda

The Hamilton scribe checked the entire ACOTAR series — which currently consists of five books — off of his summer reading list in 2023.

Jordan Fisher

Fisher, for his part, has read more than one series from Maas, including her first-ever fantasy series, Throne of Glass, published in 2012, three years before ACOTAR’s release. In a video shared via TikTok in April, Fisher shared that he was in the last “hundred pages” of Queen of Shadows, the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series.

“It’s at this point in every Sarah J. Maas book, the last hundred pages, every single Sarah J. Maas book,” the former Disney Channel star said, exasperated. “She don’t give a s—t about you or your family or your feelings, how it affects you at work. She don’t give a s—t.”

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Claire Holt

The Vampire Diaries alum took to TikTok in March 2024 to post about her experience with the series, sharing a video with the overlaid text, “Me to the fictional book character who didn’t return by feelings,” set to the trending sound from Love Is Blind: “When you see and realize what you missed out on, you are going to choke.”

While Holt didn’t say how far into the series she was, she did ask in her caption, “What does Feyre have that I don’t?” She’ll have to ask Rhys, the High Lord of the Night Court, about that one.

In the comment section of an August 2024 TikTok, Holt shared that her fancast for “the perfect” Rhysand would be Olympic swimmer Thomas Ceccon.

Megan Fox

Fox talked fantasy during her March 2024 episode on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast when asked by host Alex Cooper how she likes to unwind at the end of the day.

“I usually stay by the fire and I like to read,” Fox shared. “I read a lot of metaphysical books, but right now I’m reading whatever that new, like, adult version of Twilight book that’s out. It’s like an erotic faerie book.”

A Comprehensive Guide to the Sarah J. Maas Universe: 'ACOTAR' and More

When she confirmed that the name of the series was, in fact, A Court of Thorns and Roses, Fox noted that she was “loving it” so far, though she hadn’t yet “gotten to the horny part” of the story.

“But I know that I’m gonna get there because I know that he has, like, the ability to bind her energetically with magic,” she noted, “and I’m already, like, I’m here for that.”

Hayden Panettiere

A behind-the-scenes pic shared via Be Real showed Panettiere reading ACOTAR in 2022 while on the set of Scream VI.

Margot Robbie

Robbie gushed over her love for all of author Maas’ books during a September 2024 interview with Harper’s Bazaar. (It’s important to note that Robbie and Maas were spotted getting coffee together in February 2024.)

“I’m beyond obsessed. She’s the coolest. You know she’s in her 30s? She’s also a genius. We’ve become friends,” Robbie said of the author, noting that she’s read all of Maas’ books “a million times over.”

Sharna Burgess and Brian Austin Green

Burgess shared a video of herself reading A Court of Silver Flames in November 2024. The social media caption revealed that she got Green to start the series as well.

“I’ve convinced Bri to read the ACOTAR series and I AM HERE FOR IT!” she wrote.

Jordin Sparks

The singer is totally on board with the book series as well, sharing that she “highly” recommends it to her fans.

“I just finished ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas and I’m reeling…REELING!!! It’s been a long time since a book series has left me unable to put it down and wanting more,” she captioned an X post in November 2024. “There’s still so much to be written!”

Ali Fedotowsky

The former Bachelorette star gushed over the book via Instagram Stories in December 2024.

“My goodness where do I even start with this book. This is the third book in the series. The first book was really good. The second book was great! And oh my gosh this third book had me floored!” she wrote, in part, while holding up A Court of Wings and Ruin. “This author does such a beautiful job of making you fall in. Love with her characters and their relationship dynamics.”

Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes have had plenty unforgettable BFF moments this year — and equally unforgettable outfits.

Taylor and Brittany, who is married to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, sparked a friendship during the 2023-2024 football season after the pop icon started dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

“They have a really genuine friendship and love hanging out at the games together and cheering on their men,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly in January. “Brittany loves that Taylor is dating Travis, and she’s so supportive of their relationship. They have a very similar sense of humor and are always cracking jokes and laughing.”

Both women have become known in their own right for their game day outfits, with Brittany often showing up to Chiefs games in stunning personalized garments. Earlier this year, the pair wore matching puffer coats made out of Patrick and Kelce’s jerseys for a Chiefs vs. the San Francisco 49ers game.

Taylor Swift and Brittany Mahomes Cheer on the Chiefs in Private Suite

“Twinning & Winning ,” Brittany captioned an Instagram pic of the twosome from their private suite.

Whether they’re at a Chiefs game or out for a night on the town, the pair will always be dressed to impress. Here’s every time Brittany and Taylor were twinning in 2024:

January 2024

Swift, Mahomes and Lyndsay Bell were spotted leaving Spago in Los Angeles in January. While Lyndsay, wife of former Chiefs tight end Blake Bell, wore a cream-colored sweater dress, Swift and Mahomes coordinated with each other in all black outfits.

Channeling her Reputation era, Swift rocked a long-sleeved black mini dress and knee-high boots — accessorized with her signature red lip — while Mahomes looked chic in a black sweater tucked into a matching Gucci skirt.

January 2024

Swift and Mahomes wore matching custom puffer jackets made from Patrick and Kelce’s jerseys for the Chiefs’ AFC Wild Card game against the 49ers in January. The jackets were made by 49ers player Kyle Juszczyk’s wife, Kristin Juszczyk. 

They each wore black pants and matching boots along with their personalized coats.

February 2024

Sometimes friends can be style twins when they’re not together. In February, Brittany was spotted on vacation in Mexico for a friend’s bachelorette party, where she wore the same shimmering mini dress from Area that Swift had sported on her cover for TIME’s Person of the Year in December 2023.

June 2024

It was reported that Brittany had started working with a key member of Swift’s style team, Venetia Kidd, who has worked with the pop star’s longtime stylist Joseph Cassell Falconer for the past six years. As a duo, Falconer and Kidd collaborated on several of Swift’s outfits for her Eras Tour, from the glittering bodysuits to the black-and-white outfits featured on the album covers for The Tortured Poets Department.

September 2024

Swift attended the Chiefs vs Cincinnati Bengals game at Arrowhead Stadium on September 15, wearing an oversized red-and-white shirt paired with thigh-high black boots. One week later, Brittany channeled her friend’s game day style with knee length red cowboy boots and an oversized Chiefs shirt.

October 2024

It was the return of the puffer jackets in October when Swift and Brittany (pregnant with baby No. 3) posed in their matching outfits with Lyndsay — who was showing off her own adorable baby bump — while cheering on the Chiefs.

In the photo, Taylor and Brittany donned their custom Chiefs puffers as they posed on either side of a smiling Bell and cradled her baby bump. Along with their jackets, the duo wore their blonde tresses down, matching each other with white hats and black bottoms.

Blake Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against It Ends With Us costar Justin Baldoni claims he admitted to not “always” asking for consent before engaging in sex with past partners.

The lawsuit, which was obtained by Us Weekly on Saturday, December 21, alleges that both Baldoni, who also directed the film, and producer Jamey Heath had “discussed their personal sexual experiences and previous porn addiction” with her “and tried to pressure [Lively] to reveal details about her intimate life.”

The documents describe a “car ride with [Lively], her assistant and driver” during production wherein Baldoni allegedly claimed to Lively “that he had been sexually abused by a former girlfriend” which “caused him to reexamine his past.” (Baldoni, 40, spoke about experiencing sexual trauma in a previous relationship on an episode of Elizabeth Day’s “How to Fail” podcast earlier this month.)

According to the documents, Baldoni then claimed, “Did I always ask for consent? No. Did I always listen when they said no? No,” adding, “This was an example of how we all have things from which we can learn and grow.”

Breaking Down Blake Lively’s Accusations Against Justin Baldoni

Lively claimed that when Baldoni “exited the car, [her] driver immediately remarked that he did not want Ms. Lively to be alone with Mr. Baldoni going forward.”

Lively filed her sexual harassment complaint against Baldoni on Friday, December 20, alleging that he had created a “hostile work environment” on the set of It Ends With Us, causing the actress “severe emotional distress.” She also accused Baldoni and his team of orchestrating a smear campaign against her to damage her reputation.

The legal filing states that a meeting was held during production in January to address Lively’s claims against Baldoni. Her demands for the meeting included “no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous ‘pornography addiction,’ no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew’s genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s dead father.”

Court documents also claim that unwanted kissing had been improvised by Baldoni in scenes between his and Lively’s respective characters.

Blake Lively's Infamous 'It Ends With Us' Costumes Play a Part in Lawsuit

“Mr. Baldoni improvised physical intimacy that had not been rehearsed, choreographed, or discussed with Ms. Lively, with no intimacy coordinator involved,” the docs state. “For instance, Mr. Baldoni discreetly bit and sucked on Ms. Lively’s lower lip during a scene in which he improvised numerous kisses on each take. Mr. Baldoni insisted on shooting the full scene over and over again, well beyond what would have been required on an ordinary set, and without advance notice or consent.”

The suit also claims that Lively was not the only cast member to complain about Baldoni’s behavior, noting the “concerns she raised were not only for herself, but for the other female cast and crew, some of whom had also spoken up.”

The lawsuit reads: “As result of Mr. Baldoni’s behavior, on May 29, 2023, another cast member lodged a sexual harassment complaint about Mr. Baldoni’s ‘gross’ and ‘unwanted comment[s]’ towards her and others.” In the docs, Lively alleged that “another actress made a complaint about Mr. Baldoni’s comments on her appearance.”

“Mr. Baldoni expressly acknowledged her concerns in writing, stating he would ‘adjust accordingly,’” the docs continue. “Yet on June 8, 2023, that actress informed Ms. Lively that ‘outside of anything in a scene, I actually cannot talk to Justin at all.’ Mr. Baldoni later expressed suspicion regarding Ms. Lively’s friendship with this actress, as if they were colluding against him.”

Blake Lively Claims Justin Baldoni Texted About Ruining Her Reputation

In a statement to Us, Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman addressed Lively’s “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” allegations, claiming she filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” about the film’s production.

Lively, for her part, has received support from several people involved with the movie since her complaint was filed, including It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover, who voiced her support for the actress in a lengthy statement on social media, praising Lively for her “ability to refuse to sit down and ‘be buried.’” (Lively starred in the film adaptation of Hoover’s book as Lily Bloom opposite Baldoni’s Ryle, Lily’s abusive husband.)

“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,” she said in a statement to The New York Times on Saturday. The actress also denied spreading negative information about Baldoni.

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UPDATE 12/23 – 6:00pm EST: Vital Voices, the organization behind the Vital Voices Solidarity Awards, has chosen to rescind an award recently given to It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni amid his ongoing legal battle with Blake Lively.

“The Voices of Solidarity Award honors remarkable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls,” a statement shared via Instagram on Monday, December 23, read. “On December 9, 2024, we recognized Justin Baldoni with this award. On Saturday, December 21, we learned through news reports about a lawsuit brought by Blake Lively against Mr. Baldoni, his publicists, and others that is disturbing and alleges abhorrent conduct. The communications among Mr. Baldoni and his publicists in the lawsuit — and the PR effort they indicate — are, alone, contrary to the values of Vital Voices and the spirit of the Award.”

Vital Voices confirmed in the statement they had “notified Mr. Baldoni that we have rescinded this award.”

Original story below:

Hasan Minhaj honored Justin Baldoni as an ally for women’s rights just one week before news broke of Blake Lively’s lawsuit against the It Ends With Us director.

It seems a moment between two men congratulating each other on being allies to women hasn’t aged well. Earlier this month, Baldoni, 40, was honored by Minhaj, 39, at the 2024 Vital Voices Solidarity Awards which, according to the official website, is an “awards program that honors remarkable men who have shown courage and compassion in advocating on behalf of women and girls worldwide.”

Following the event, which was hosted on December 9 by non-profit Vital Voices, Baldoni wrote via Instagram that he was “deeply honored and humbled” to receive the 2024 Vital Voices Solidarity Award “presented by my soul brother [Minhaj].”

Minhaj starred in It Ends With Us as Marshall alongside Baldoni and Lively, 37.

Breaking Down Blake Lively’s Accusations Against Justin Baldoni

“Thank you, brother, for using your brilliant mind to be of service by challenging us all and making us laugh at the same time. No one does it better,” Baldoni’s post continued. “Thank you for being a true friend and always showing up — but most importantly, when the cameras aren’t rolling.”

Baldoni, who also hosts a podcast called “Man Enough” about modern masculinity and gender roles, went on to write that it was “hard to accept an award when it’s so evident that there is still so much more work to do.”

“My hope is that we can teach our boys, while they are still young, that vulnerability is strength, sensitivity is a super power, and empathy makes them powerful,” he continued. “That they should love and embrace their masculinity — that being a boy and a man is amazing and nothing to apologize for. And to value all the beautiful and complicated parts of them that make them human. I believe with all my heart that once our boys learn to be safe spaces for themselves, our world will finally be a safe space for everyone.”

On Friday, December 20, one week after Baldoni accepted this award, Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him with allegations that he had created a “hostile work environment” on the It Ends With Us set and caused the actress “severe emotional distress.”

Blake Lively Claims Justin Baldoni Texted About Ruining Her Reputation

Per the lawsuit, which was obtained by Us Weekly after it was reported by TMZ and The New York Times, a meeting was held during the film’s production in January to address Lively’s claims against her costar.

Lively’s demands for the meeting included “no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous ‘pornography addiction,’ no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew’s genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s dead father.”

In a statement to Us, Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman addressed Lively’s “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” allegations, claiming she filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” about the film’s production. He alleged Lively made “multiple demands and threats,” which included “threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.”

Additionally, the lawsuit claimed that Baldoni and his team had orchestrated a smear campaign against Lively to damage her reputation. Earlier this year, the actress was the subject of a social media firestorm surrounding the promotion for It Ends With Us, when it was reported that she and Baldoni had clashed on set.

What 'It Ends With Us' Cast Has Said About Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni

“There were two camps on the film — team Blake and team Justin,” a source exclusively told Us in August. “This creative struggle set the tone for the negative experience behind the scenes and grew into them not speaking anymore.”

Minhaj, for his part, was asked about this alleged feud in a September with Esquire, saying he “can’t speak to other people’s experience” on set, noting that “everybody was very professional and cool to me.”

He added, “It was lovely and everybody was lovely, and it is just as disillusioning for me, because I’m like, ‘What happened? Wait, what’s going on?’”

In a statement to The New York Times on Saturday, Lively — who has received support from several stars, including It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover and producer Alex Saks— said, “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.” She denied spreading negative information about Baldoni.

Justin Baldoni allegedly claimed to It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively that he could speak to the dead — including her late father.

Lively, 37, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni, 40, on Friday, December 20, which included allegations against him such as creating a “hostile work environment” and causing the actress “severe emotional distress” on the set of It Ends With Us.

Lively’s complaint alleged that Baldoni had “engaged in other behaviors that were shocking and emotionally distressing,” which included “[claiming] he could speak to the dead, and on several occasions told [Lively] that he had spoken to her dead father.” The complaint described it as “off putting and violative” for Baldoni to allegedly “claim a personal relationship with [Lively’s] recently deceased father.”

Lively’s father, actor Ernie Lively, passed away in June 2021 at the age of 74.

Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni

Breaking Down Blake Lively’s Accusations Against Justin Baldoni

Along with Blake, Ernie and wife Elaine Lively shared children Lori, Jason, Robyn and Eric. After news of Blake’s lawsuit against Baldoni broke, Robyn, 52, took to social media to show support for her sister.

“FINALLY justice for my sister @blakelively,” Robyn wrote via Instagram Story on Saturday, December 21.

According to Blake’s complaint, a meeting was held in January 2024 during the production of It Ends With Us to address the actress’ against her costar. Per the lawsuit, Blake’s demands for the meeting included “no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous ‘pornography addiction,’ no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew’s genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s dead father.”

Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, addressed Blake’s “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” allegations in a statement to Us Weekly, claiming the actress filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” regarding the production of the film.

Blake Lively Claims Justin Baldoni Texted About Ruining Her Reputation

He alleged Lively made “multiple demands and threats” during the film’s production, which included “threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.”

In a statement to The New York Times on Saturday, Lively said, “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.”

The actress denied spreading negative information about Baldoni.

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Justin Baldoni’s crisis management team mentioned Taylor Swift in their alleged plan to take down Blake Lively.

Lively, 37, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni, 40, on Friday, December 20, and her allegations against him including creating a “hostile work environment” and causing the actress “severe emotional distress.”

Exhibits attached to the complaint showed a crisis management expert working for Baldoni wrote in an August 6 email “we have seen the most innocuous issues turn giant due to socials or the hugest crises have no effect on social whatsoever. You just cannot tell at this stage. But, BL does have some of the same TS fanbase so we will be taking it extremely seriously.”

A separate “scenario planning” document from Baldoni’s side also notes “our team can also explore planting stories about the weaponization of feminism and how people like Taylor Swift, have been accused of utilizing these tactics to ‘bully’ into getting what they want.” (Lively and Swift, 35, have long been close and have documented their friendship over the years.)

Breaking Down Blake Lively’s Accusations Against Justin Baldoni

Us Weekly has reached out to Lively’s rep for comment. Us reached out to Swift’s rep for comment as well.

Baldoni also appeared to use a social media post of Hailey Bieber as an example in an astroturfing plan against Lively. Text exchanges reviewed in a legal complaint obtained by Us on Saturday, December 21, showed Baldoni had sent a screenshot of an X thread that unpacked “Hailey Bieber’s history of bullying women,” according to the text, writing, “This is what we would need.”

Lively’s December complaint states that “millions of people (including many reporters and influencers) who saw these planted stories, social media posts, and other online content” were the “unwitting consumers of a crisis PR, astroturfing, and digital retaliation campaign” allegedly orchestrated by Baldoni against Lively.

Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni on Friday, which claimed a meeting was held during production of It Ends With Us in January 2024 to address Lively’s claims against her costar. Per the lawsuit, Lively’s demands included “no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous ‘pornography addiction,’ no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew’s genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s dead father.”

Blake Lively Claims Justin Baldoni Texted About Ruining Her Reputation

Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman addressed Lively’s “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” allegations in a statement to Us. He claimed Lively filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” regarding the production of the film.

He further alleged the actress made “multiple demands and threats” during filming, including “threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.”

In a statement to The New York Times in December, Lively said, “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.”

The actress denied spreading negative information about Baldoni.

Justin Baldoni has been dropped as a client by WME.

According to Deadline, the decision was made by WME leadership on Saturday, December 21, for the talent agency to part ways with Baldoni, partly due to the complaint of sexual harassment filed against the actor/director by his It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively on Friday, December 20.

Lively, for her part, is still represented by WME.

On Friday, Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni, wherein she alleged his behavior on the set of It Ends With Us — on which he starred, directed and produced — caused her “severe emotional distress.” (Lively executive produced the film as well, and starred as protagonist Lily Bloom.)

Breaking Down Blake Lively’s Accusations Against Justin Baldoni

The lawsuit claims that a meeting was held during the film’s production in January 2024 to address Lively’s claims of the “hostile work environment” on set. The meeting was attended by numerous people who worked on the film, including Baldoni and Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds.

As stated in the complaint, Lively’s demands for the meeting included “no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous ‘pornography addiction,’ no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew’s genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s dead father.”

In a statement to Us Weekly, Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman addressed Lively’s “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” allegations, claiming that the actress had filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” regarding the production of the film.

Lively, on the other hand, has accused Baldoni’s team of intentionally dragging her name through the mud through a calculated “astroturfing” campaign.

Blake Lively Claims Justin Baldoni Texted About Ruining Her Reputation

In his statement to Us, Freedman further alleged that Lively made “multiple demands and threats” while filming It Ends With Us, such as “threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.”

In a statement to The New York Times in December, Lively said, “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.” The actress also denied spreading negative information about Baldoni.

Us has reached out to reps for both Lively and Baldoni for comment.

Justin Baldoni appeared to use a social media post of Hailey Bieber as an example in an astroturfing plan against It Ends With Us costar Blake Lively.

According to text exchanges reviewed in a legal complaint obtained by Us Weekly on Saturday, December 21, Baldoni sent a screenshot of an X thread that unpacked “Hailey Bieber’s history of bullying women,” according to the text, writing, “This is what we would need.”

Lively’s lawsuit alleges that Baldoni’s “plan went well beyond standard crisis PR,” saying that what Melissa Nathan, a crisis communications specialist for The Agency Group, had proposed was “a practice known as ‘astroturfing,’ which has been defined as ‘the practice of publishing opinions or comments on the internet, in the media, etc. that appear to come from ordinary members of the public but actually come from a particular company or political group.’”

Earlier this year, Lively was the subject of a social media firestorm surrounding the promotion for her film It Ends With Us, when it was reported that she and Baldoni had clashed on set.

Blake Lively Claims Justin Baldoni Texted About Ruining Her Reputation

“There were two camps on the film — team Blake and team Justin,” a source exclusively told Us of the movie’s production in August. “This creative struggle set the tone for the negative experience behind the scenes and grew into them not speaking anymore.”

Lively also received criticism for the way she answered questions about the film’s themes of domestic violence. Additionally, her behavior in interviews resurfaced from years prior was also called into question. Amid the backlash, Lively shared domestic violence resources on social media, before she left social media entirely.

Lively’s December complaint states that “millions of people (including many reporters and influencers) who saw these planted stories, social media posts, and other online content” were the “unwitting consumers of a crisis PR, astroturfing, and digital retaliation campaign” allegedly orchestrated by Baldoni against Lively.

“That is precisely the goal of an astroturfing campaign,” the lawsuit stated. “To light the fire and continue to stoke conversations secretly, blurring the line between authentic and manufactured content, and creating viral public takedowns.”

Breaking Down Blake Lively’s Accusations Against Justin Baldoni

Lively’s complaint also cited a Scenario Planning document from Baldoni’s team at TAG that mentioned exploring “planting stories about the weaponization of feminism and how people in [Lively’s] circle like Taylor Swift, have been accused of utilizing these tactics to ‘bully’ into getting what they want.”

Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni on Friday, December 20, alleging that his behavior on set caused her “severe emotional distress.” The lawsuit claims that a meeting was held during production in January 2024 to address Lively’s claims of the “hostile work environment” on set. The meeting was attended by numerous people, including Baldoni and Reynolds.

Per the lawsuit, Lively’s demands for the meeting included “no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous ‘pornography addiction,’ no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew’s genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s dead father.”

Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman addressed Lively’s “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” allegations in a statement to Us, claiming that Lively had filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” regarding the production of the film.

Everything Justin Baldoni Has Said About Working With Blake Lively

He further alleged the actress made “multiple demands and threats” during filming, including “threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.”

In a statement to The New York Times in December, Lively said, “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.”

The actress also denied spreading negative information about Baldoni. Us has reached out to Lively’s rep for comment.

Months before Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, her husband Ryan Reynolds allegedly blocked the It Ends With Us director on social media.

Based on alleged text exchanges obtained by Us Weekly, Baldoni, 40, realized in May 2024 that Reynolds, 48, had blocked both him and his production company Wayfarer Studios on Instagram, months after filming on It Ends With Us had wrapped.

“We should have a plan for IF she does the same when [the] movie comes out,” Baldoni wrote of Lively, 37, in a text exchange with publicist Jennifer Abel on May 17, 2024, per legal documents. “Just want you guys to have a plan. Plans make me feel more at ease.”

It turns out, however, that “both Ms. Lively and her husband had unfollowed Mr. Baldoni’s social media accounts ten months before,” a footnote in the docs — related to his text message about Reynolds blocking him — reveal.

Breaking Down Blake Lively’s Accusations Against Justin Baldoni

As for Lively, her lawsuit alleges that “as early as May 2024, Mr. Baldoni told his team that they needed a plan to get ahead of the claims against him, in the event they were to go public.”

Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni on Friday, December 20, alleging that her It Ends With Us costar’s behavior on set caused the actress “severe emotional distress.”

The lawsuit alleges that, during production, a meeting was held in January 2024 to address Lively’s claims of a “hostile work environment” on set. The meeting was attended by numerous people working on the film, including Baldoni and Reynolds.

Per the lawsuit, Lively’s demands for the meeting included “no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous ‘pornography addiction,’ no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew’s genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s dead father.”

Baldoni’s lawyer Bryan Freedman addressed Lively’s “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious” allegations in a statement to Us Weekly, claiming that Lively had filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” regarding the production of the film.

Blake Lively Claims Justin Baldoni Texted About Ruining Her Reputation

He further alleged the actress made “multiple demands and threats” during filming, including “threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.”

Us has reached out to Lively’s rep for comment.

In a statement to The New York Times in December, Lively said, “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.” She denied spreading negative information about Baldoni.

Years before his past issues with porn were named in a lawsuit about his alleged behavior on the set of It Ends With Us, director Justin Baldoni previously shared how he developed an “unhealthy” relationship with porn after being introduced to it at a young age.

“I was introduced to porn when I was ten years old. Long before I ever, you know, could have an erection or even knew how I felt about anything,” Baldoni, now 37, shared on a July 2021 episode of Sarah Grynberg’s “A Life of Greatness” podcast. “We’ve sexualized this thing, so of course it becomes fascinating and interesting and you’re like, ‘oh my God, boobs.’ And then, you know, hormones start raging.”

Baldoni added at the time that he “sought refuge [in porn] when I felt alone, or when I felt abandoned, or when I felt hurt or something like that, because it was a dopamine rush — I didn’t know that then. At an early age, I trained my brain to deal with pain with the dopamine hit.”

On the podcast, he shared that despite never drinking alcohol or doing drugs, he could still have a vice and use something in an “unhealthy” way.

Everything Justin Baldoni Has Said About Working With Blake Lively

“And I found myself, over the course of my life, going back to looking at images and videos of naked women when I was feeling necessarily bad about myself,” he told Grynberg. “And I knew that it was an issue for me when I would tell myself that I don’t want to do that.”

Baldoni is also the author of a book titled Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity, where he wrote extensively about his “relation” to the porn industry and how it informs young men’s understanding of consent.

“I do believe that especially the porn that young boys are watching is very violent and because we never no one ever sits us down and teaches us about consent, we learn it through porn,” he said in 2021. “So what do you have? You have an entire generation of boys who think that when a girl says ‘no,’ or ‘stop,’ or ‘that hurts,’ that that means that’s good.”

Baldoni’s previous comments about porn are relevant again after Blake Lively filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against her It Ends With Us costar on Friday, December 20,, alleging that Baldoni’s behavior toward her on set caused the actress “severe emotional distress.”

Inside Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni's Intense ‘Creative Struggle’

The lawsuit also alleges that, before filming resumed in January 2024, a meeting was conducted to address Lively’s claims of a “hostile work environment” on set, which was attended by numerous people as well as her husband, Ryan Reynolds.

Per the lawsuit, her demands included “no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake, no more mention of Baldoni’s alleged previous ‘pornography addiction,’ no more discussions about sexual conquests in front of Blake and others, no further mentions of cast and crew’s genitalia, no more inquiries about Blake’s weight, and no further mention of Blake’s dead father.”

Bryan Freedman, Baldoni’s lawyer, addressed Lively’s accusations in a statement to Us Weekly, which he called “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.”

Freedman claimed to Us that Lively had filed the lawsuit to “fix her negative reputation” and “rehash a narrative” regarding the production of the film, further alleging the actress made “multiple demands and threats” during filming, including “threatening to not show up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release, if her demands were not met.”

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

Us has reached out to Lively’s rep for comment.

“I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” Lively said in a statement to The New York Times in December, where she also denied spreading negative information about Baldoni.

In honor of his 75th birthday, Don Johnson posed for a rare family photo with all of his children.

“My Kids are my Everything!!! Happy Birthday to me!!!” Johnson wrote via Instagram on Sunday, December 15. The Miami Vice star was all smiles as he sat in the middle of the large group photo, surrounded by family, on a staircase decorated for Christmas.

Johnson, who was styled in a wide-brim gray hat, scarf and jacket, was seated next to his wife, Kelley Phleger, whom he married in 1999. She looked classy in a black dress with a frilly white collar. The pair share three children: Grace, 24, Jasper, 22, and Deacon, 18.

The actor was also joined by eldest child, son Jesse, from his relationship with ex Patti D’Arbanville, and his daughter Dakota Johnson, whom he shares with actress and ex-wife Melanie Griffith. Dakota’s half-brother Alexander Bauer, born to Griffith, 67, and actor Steven Bauer, was also present in the photo.

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“How beautiful this is!!! FAMILY is everything. Happy Birthday Don ,” Griffith wrote in the comments section. Her daughter Stella Banderas, who she shares with ex Antonio Banderas, was also in attendance at Don’s birthday celebration.

Keep scrolling to find out who’s who in Johnson’s family photo:

Top Left: Jesse Wayne Johnson

Born on December 7, 1982, Jesse is the only child of Johnson and D’Arbanville, who were together for five years before their split in 1986. Jesse is a musician as well as an actor, first following in his dad’s footsteps in 2001 when he made his acting debut on Johnson’s hit television series Nash Bridges. Jesse went on to appear in shows like Hawaii Five-O, Twin Peaks, Grey’s Anatomy and NCIS.

Top Middle: Deacon Johnson

Johnson and Phleger welcomed Deacon, their third child together, on April 29, 2006, which also happened to be the couple’s seventh wedding anniversary.

“I love kids, so it’s more good times, more joy and more fun. It’s no less exciting this time than it was the first time,” Johnson told OK! Magazine in 2006 after Deacon’s birth.

Phleger celebrated Deacon starting his senior year of high school in 2023, sharing a photo of her youngest via Instagram at the time. “Astronaut in the making,” she wrote in the caption.

Top Right: Alexander Griffith Bauer

Alexander was born to Griffith and Bauer on August 22, 1985. (The couple split in 1989.) Despite having actors in the family, Alexander is more private than his parents and siblings, largely keeping out of the spotlight. Johnson officially adopted Alexander when he was married to Griffith between 1989 and 1996.

Second Middle: Dakota Johnson

Don welcomed daughter Dakota with Griffith on October 4, 1989. She has since followed in her parents’ footsteps as an actress and is known for her roles in films like Fifty Shades of Grey and Bad Times at the El Royale.

Second Right: Jasper Breckinridge Johnson

Born on June 6, 2002, Jasper is the second child of Don and Phleger. He played basketball in high school in Santa Barbara, California. He told the college sports organization NCSA that his family frequently attended his games.

“My parents have never missed a game and support me every step of the way,” he shared.

Bottom Left: Stella Del Carmen Banderas

Stella is the daughter of Griffith and ex Antonio, born on September 24, 1996. Her parents finalized their divorce in 2015 after 18 years of marriage.

“We have thoughtfully and consensually decided to finalize our almost 20-year marriage in a loving and friendly manner,” the pair told Us Weekly at the time. “Honoring and respecting each other, our family and friends, and the beautiful time we have spent together.”

Bottom Right: Grace Johnson

Grace, born on December 28, 1999, is the oldest daughter and first child of Don and Phleger. The model is close with her siblings, including sister Dakota — they even attended the Met Gala together in 2019.

Patrick Mahomes limped off the field with an ankle injury during the Kansas City Chiefs’ game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, December 15.

The Chiefs quarterback, 28, suffered his ankle injury in the fourth quarter of the game, when he was replaced by backup Carson Wentz. Mahomes was listed as questionable to return by the Chiefs. While Mahomes walked off the field with a limp, he was later spotted riding in the back of a cart, per NFL footage.

“I was trying to make a play happen,” Mahomes said, according to the NFL. “As I threw the ball I got hit, and I haven’t seen it, it felt like someone hit me from behind as well, so kind of got rolled up on. Kind of happens in football. Try to bound back up but obviously it hurt a little bit. Now we’ll get after the rehab part of it and try to be ready for next week.”

Mahomes did not return to the game but watched from the sidelines as the Chiefs defeated the Browns 21-7.

Patrick Mahomes Helps Kansas City Chiefs Win the Super Bowl After Ankle Injury

“Patrick, his right ankle has been hurt. It’s not broken, but it’s sore,” Chiefs head coach Andry Reid said of the quarterback’s ankle in an interview with reporters after the game, per social media. “He’ll get started on the rehab part of it as we go, and then we’ll just have to see how he does.”

“It’s not broken, that’s what I can tell you,” Reid continued. “He’ll literally be day-to-day as we go forward. I don’t know how much swelling he has or any of that.”

Mahomes sustained a high ankle injury following a combined hit when he was caught under two Cleveland Browns players: defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo and defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr.

“It’s sore,” Reid further told reporters. “It’ll literally be day to day. He probably could’ve gone back in. He wanted to go back in. There was no need for that.”

Patrick Mahomes, Pregnant Wife Brittany Feel 'Very Merry' at Holiday Bash

Footage after the game showed Mahomes leaving the locker room and being driven on the back of a cart headed for further evaluation on his ankles — he was not wearing a brace or tape on the injured extremity.

“Usually the day after is when you get a good sense of it,” Mahomes said of his injury. “I feel like I could have finished the game in different circumstances. But I thought the smart decision was put Carson in. He’s played a lot of football, and he finished the game well.”

It’s currently unclear if Mahomes will be ready to play with the Chiefs for their final two games of the year. The NFL team is set to play the Houston Texans on Saturday, December 21, and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday, December 25.

Mahomes’ injury comes after he was fined almost $15,000 for making a “violent gesture” during the Chiefs’ November 17 game against the Buffalo Bills, which they lost 30-21. In the fourth quarter, Mahomes was caught by CBS cameras pantomiming the use of a shotgun after a major play. The NFL deemed this a fineable offense for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Patrick Mahomes Hypes Up Chiefs Teammates in Locker Room Speech

Despite recent events, Mahomes has previously stated that the fourth quarter of a football game should be “a little calmer” than the rest of the game.

“You want to have some blowouts,” Mahomes told reporters after the Chiefs 30-27 victory over the Carolina Panthers on November 24. “You want to be a little calmer in the fourth quarter. I’ve always said it can be a good thing as you get to the playoffs and later in the season, just knowing that you’ve been in those moments before and knowing how to kind of attack it.”

Donnie Wahlberg explained how season 6 of Very Scary People will connect to his brother Mark Wahlberg’s Hollywood career.

“This season is interesting because there’s a wide array of very scary people that we’re covering,” Donnie, 55, exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday, December 10. “We’re covering the guys who my brother Mark’s movie Pain & Gain was based on. That certainly didn’t keep me up at night, but it was pretty bad.”

Investigation Discovery’s Very Scary People, hosted and executive produced by Donnie, is a documentary series that explores the “twisted crimes committed by some of America’s most heinous individuals,” per the show’s official description.

The new season will include an episode about the activities of the Sun Gym gang in the 1990s, telling the true story behind the events on which Mark’s 2013 black comedy film Pain & Gain are loosely based. Pain & Gain costarred Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Anthony Mackie.

Donnie Wahlberg's 'Very Scary People' Is Back, Jenny McCarthy Joins Spinoff

“The movie was, I think, at least presented to the public as a bit of a comedy, like a goofball caper, but these guys were pretty serious and did some awful things,” Donnie told Us. “That one was a real surprise to me. Of course, I see all my brother’s movies and Mark and I support each other. Contrary to popular belief, we’re very supportive of each other. I just had no idea how intense this story really was.”

Donnie explained that Very Scary People season 6 will also cover subjects like the infamous Matusiewicz family, whose history he called “very scary in a completely different way than a typical Very Scary People story.”

He also mentioned another crime figure from the 1990s, kingpin Clarence “Preacher” Heatley, will be the focus of an episode in season 6.

“Growing up in Boston, it was close enough to New York that we always heard stories about things taking place in New York and he was this sort of mythical figure to us,” Donnie explained to Us. “And then knowing that [singer] Bobby Brown, who is a friend and also someone who I’ve looked up to my whole life, has a little part in that story, was really fascinating to deal with and address.”

Donnie Wahlberg Shares His Hopes for ‘Blue Bloods' After Cast Takes Pay Cut

For context: Brown, 55, was kidnapped in Harlem, New York, by Heatley and his crew in 1993.

“To have him be part of the show, which is a little bit of a spoiler, but to have him be part of one of our episodes is very, very cool,” Donnie concluded.

Season 6 of Very Scary People premieres on Sunday, December 15, on Investigation Discovery.

Reporting by Christina Garibaldi

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Whether they’re romantically involved or not, former Dancing With the Stars partners Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber definitely made Us believe in showmances in 2024.

Tran came to DWTS following the heartbreaking conclusion to her journey on season 21 of The Bachelorette. After accepting a proposal from Devin Strader, Tran revealed live during a September episode of After the Final Rose that her ex-fiancé had called off their engagement while their season of The Bachelorette was still airing on television. Tran was cast in season 33 of DWTS one day later.

Paired with Farber, the two struck up a connection as Tran used her time on the competition series to start her “healing” journey through dance. She even credited Farber with helping to “ground” her following the dramatic split from Strader.

Tran and Farber sparked romance rumors from fans both on and off the show, even after they were eliminated from DWTS in week 6. Speaking with Us Weekly in September, when asked about their chemistry, Tran gushed over Farber and called him “such an amazing coach.”

Us Attempts to Break Down If Jenn Tran and DWTS’ Sasha Are Really Dating

“Every week we just grow stronger and stronger and closer and closer,” she told Us. “I really feel like we’ve built such a great foundation.” Tran even shared that she was (temporarily) crashing on Farber’s couch after the DWTS season finale in November.

Whether the dance partners have brought their relationship to the next level for real remains to be seen, but keep scrolling to see the moments in 2024 Tran and Farber had Us believing in true showmance:

Keeping Outfits Cute and Coordinated

Romantically involved or not, it’s no secret that Tran and Farber have been known to complement each other when it comes to their outfits. In November, the pair stepped out together at the Los Angeles farmers market dressed in chic, coffee-coded outfits. While Tran dressed in an orange, brown and cream blazer and gold jewelry, Farber sported a brown turtleneck sweater.

Earlier that month, the duo gave his-and-hers style vibes when they were seen together on another laid-back outing. While Tran stunned in a plum athleisure set and brown, oversized leather jacket, Farber charmed in sunglasses and a color-blocked cardigan.

Pet Names Abound

DWTS fans may remember where they were when Farber called Tran “babe” in a TikTok video shared in September, which ultimately sparked speculation that they were a couple. The video showed the pair playfully bickering over ice cream after they had ordered food at McDonalds.

But the pet names didn’t stop at “babe.” In another flirty TikTok video shared by Tran on November 24 — her birthday — the Bachelorette alum referred to Farber as “honey” while cozying up on his couch. “Honey, can you teach me a dance for my birthday?” she asked him, to which Farber replied, “No.”

While “honey” and “babe” are innocent enough, there’s one name that Farber would prefer people didn’t use. While appearing on a November episode of the “Sorry We’re Cyrus” podcast, host Tish Cyrus asked Tran, referring to the upcoming DWTS tour, “How fun to go on tour with your boyfriend?”

The Bachelorette alum, who would “love nothing more” than to be part of the tour, replied, “Oh, God. If you say boyfriend, he’s going to freak out.”

One Steamy Couple

Gene Simmons made a splash as a guest judge on the hair metal episode of Dancing with the Stars in October. He was particularly impressed by the chemistry between Tran and Farber. Despite his high praise, the KISS frontman gave them a low score for their paso doble to Europe’s “The Final Countdown.”

“Well, there’s no question you two make a steamy couple,” Simmons told the dancers. “Sasha is terrific as a professional does it every day, but all the pressure is on you. I have to say, besides being beautiful, you delivered.”

Tran and Farber weren’t fazed by Simmons’ commentary. “Listen, he’s an icon. It’s rock ‘n’ roll night. It’s Hair Metal Night,” Farber said after the episode. “And if you think icon, which icon would you think is bigger than Gene Simmons? No one. So to have him say that — I’ll take anything he says.”

Tran agreed with her partner, saying, “I’ll take anything he says. Listen, I don’t listen to heavy metal, whatever this is. But I know Gene Simmons, and that’s just how amazing he is.”

Private Rehearsals

Following their elimination from DWTS, Tran and Farber further fueled romance rumors by suggesting they would continue to dance together. Tran shared a TikTok in October knocking on Farber’s door, sending fans and DWTS costars into a frenzy. “Private rehearsals starting ASAP,” she captioned the clip, which showed the pair embracing after Farber answered the door.

DWTS judge Derek Hough commented on the video, writing, “I give this a 100. Happy for you two ,” while DWTS star Ezra Sosa added, “I ship it.”

Hough previously said he “ships” Tran and Farber together during October’s “Disney Night” on DWTS after the pair danced to “Kiss the Girl” from The Little Mermaid. The routine ended in a chaste forehead kiss for Tran from Farber, much to the disappointment of the judges, who were hoping for a real smooch.

“We wanted to do the scene justice and do it the way the movie was,” Tran told Us at the time. “We don’t want to make up stuff that didn’t happen in the movie, that’d be crazy.”

Friends, Family and Costars Fuel Romance Rumors

It wasn’t just Tran and Farber fueling the rumors — it was their friends, family and costars as well. Jenn’s brother, James Tran, even joked in the comments section of a TikTok she shared in November, writing, “When’s the wedding rehearsal? .” The video featured a compilation of Jenn’s dances with Farber throughout their time on the show.

Beyond that, DWTS alum Kaitlyn Bristowe, who called Farber one of her “good friends,” further fueled speculation during an October episode of her “Off the Vine” podcast when she said, “[Jenn] and Sasha are dating, for sure.”

“I was like, ‘Well are you just loving your partner and time with Jenn?’ He was like, ‘I really am,’” Bristowe recalled of a conversation she’d had with Farber. “He was really hyping her up and I was like, ‘Is there flirty vibes?’ He goes, ‘It’s dancing, there’s always flirty vibes.’” However, Bristowe added that Farber was “defensive” about his and Jenn’s relationship status.

Either way, this didn’t stop the former dance partners from spending Thanksgiving together this year. The former Bachelorette and Farber attended DWTS cohost Alfonso Ribeiro’s Thanksgiving gathering with his wife, Angela, in November. “Cutest Couple: Sasha and Jenn,” Angela wrote via Instagram, alongside a photo of the pair eating by each other’s side.

Tyler Cameron is reflecting on his choice to post screenshots of a text fight with his girlfriend, Tate Madden, on social media.

“I got crushed for that,” Cameron, 31, told Page Six on Friday, December 6, at the Celsius Padel Classic held at Wayne Boich’s padel club in Miami, Florida. While the Bachelorette alum said he “thought it was funny” to share the texts with his followers, girlfriend Madden was not happy about the post.

“So I paid the price for it, learned my lesson,” Cameron told the outlet. “Some jokes should be kept inside.”

Last month, Cameron had shared a screenshot of a text conversation between the couple via Instagram, which showed Madden scolding her boyfriend after he had gotten ice cream without her. He had written in the caption, “Don’t go on a sweet treat run without your girlfriend … lesson learned.”

Tyler Cameron and Girlfriend Tate Madden’s Relationship Timeline

In the text chain, he asked Madden, “Now you’re mad again?” to which she replied, “I just don’t understand why anything fun you do you don’t want to do with me. We’ll go to riverside. Have a fun night.” He answered, “We’re getting ice cream, are you kidding me? This is a fun moment?”

Cameron told Page Six on Friday that he made it up to Madden in “lots of ways,” including, “Lots of ice cream trips.”

Cameron confirmed his relationship with Madden during an Amazon Live in September, adding that the pair live together in Florida after quietly dating for year before going public. The couple spoke about their plans for the future during a November 2024 appearance on the “Trading Secrets” podcast.

“It’s a fear I have, and it has nothing to do with Tate,” Cameron told host Jason Tartick on the November 25 episode. “It’s just when I grew up, I had parents who busted their asses and worked their asses off for us, gave us everything they had. We lost everything in the [2008] market crash.”

Every Woman Tyler Cameron Has Been Linked to Since 'The Bachelorette'

He continued, “So it’s like me just taking that leap of faith is that I want to be in a financially set place, that if I have kids, I never have to have that fear, that worry, because I just know what that did. At the end of the day, my parents did an amazing job and still overcame all that, but I never want to have anyone go through what we went through.”

Madden, for her part, noted that Cameron was trying to “build something that has longevity” as their relationship continues.

“I think right now, just doubling down and just working as much as we can to get to that spot so then when we do hopefully have kids one day, God willing, that he can also be the dad that he wants to be,” she said at the time. “Never miss a game, be the coach, do all the things. Which I think right now, doing what we’re doing will get us to the place where you can also have financial stability.”

The Crown producer Left Bank Pictures is bringing a new true crime series called The Lady to ITV, which will tell the story of Jane Andrews — convicted killer and former dresser to the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.

The four-part drama series will offer a “partially fictionalized” account of Andrews’ life, following her path from abject poverty to trusted confidant of a royal family member to murderer when, in 2001, she was convicted of stabbing her lover Thomas Cressman to death with a kitchen knife.

At the time of Cressman’s murder, Andrews had been working for the Duchess of York for nearly a decade; the murder earned her the nickname of the “fatal attraction killer.” Per the show’s description, “The Lady charts the rise and fall of former royal dresser Jane Andrews, whose rags to riches fairy tale fell apart when she was convicted of murder.”

ITV previously released a documentary about her titled Fergie’s Killer Dresser: The Jane Andrews Story in 2021. As for the upcoming drama series, The Lady will be written by Debbie O’Malley and directed by Lee Haven Jones. The Crown producer Florence Hadden-Cave signed on as an executive producer.

Sarah Ferguson's Royal Ups and Downs Through the Years: Divorce and More

“Debbie’s compelling and brilliant scripts re-evaluate what we think we know of Jane Andrews and the events that led to the tragic end of Thomas Cressman’s life,” Helen Ziegler, who will oversee the production on behalf of ITV and ITVX, said in a Wednesday, December 4, statement.

Keep scrolling to read more about ITV’s The Lady:

Who Is Jane Andrews?

Sian McWilliams, the creative director at Left Bank Pictures, said of the series, “[O’Malley’s] beautifully nuanced scripts deftly explore the tragic series of events that led to the murder of Thomas Cressman and pose the question — who is the real Jane Andrews?”

Andrews was born into poverty in 1967 and grew up in Lincolnshire. She struggled with depression and eating disorders from an early age, and attempted suicide for the first time at 15 years old. She was later diagnosed with borderline personality disorder during the murder trial.

As for how she landed her gig in Buckingham Palace, Andrews reportedly found an anonymous job advertisement in search of a personal dresser posted in The Lady magazine. Six months later, Andrews was hired as Ferguson’s personal dresser. She was 21 years old.

Andrews and Ferguson reportedly hit it off very quickly. It was said Ferguson had even started calling her new dresser “Lady Jane” as an affectionate nickname.

However, during her trial, Andrews was described as a relentless social climber who was obsessed with Fergie and tried to copy everything about her, from the Duchess’ style to her accent.

In 1998, she began an intense romantic affair with Cressman, a former stockbroker. Before his murder, the couple had vacationed together and Cressman reportedly rejected any notion of ever marrying Andrews. When they returned home, the pair had an argument so heated that Cressman called the cops fearing for their safety. Later that night after he had gone to sleep, Andrews hit Cressman with a cricket bat and stabbed him in the chest, killing him.

After working for the Duchess for nine years, Andrews was sentenced to life in prison.

Who Is in ‘The Lady’ Cast?

No casting announcements have been made for The Lady yet. There is also no trailer or a release date. The series will be set in both Grimsby and London and will begin filming sometime in early 2025. Casting news for The Lady will be announced closer to the filming start date.

What to Expect From ‘The Lady’ Series?

Robert Schildhouse, president and general manager of BritBox North America and BritBox International, described the show as a “riveting exploration of ambition, desire and the pursuit of social mobility,” adding that the series will intend to portray “this true crime drama with nuance and depth.”

He added, “We know the universal themes of power, class, and belonging will resonate with audiences everywhere.”

In the same statement, O’Malley, the show’s writer, noted, “When Jane Andrews was tried for the murder of Thomas Cressman in 2001 it made headlines around the world.” She added, “But behind those headlines, lay a much more complex, painful and thought-provoking story — an exploration of female ambition and human frailty and a devastating chain of events that ended in the taking of a man’s life.”

According to O’Malley, the story of Andrews is “tied up with our national preoccupation with class and our ongoing obsession with the Royal family,” saying it “feels every bit as relevant now as it did twenty years ago.”

Jay-Z has been accused of rape in a civil lawsuit along with Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Per NBC News, the rapper (real name Shawn Carter) was accused of allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000 with Combs, 55. The accuser, who has remained anonymous and was only identified as “Jane Doe,” claimed the assault occurred at an afterparty for the MTV Music Video Awards.

The lawsuit was originally filed in October in the Southern District of New York and, at the time, only listed Combs as a defendant. However, it was refiled on Sunday, December 8, to include Jay-Z. However, it was refiled by Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee on Sunday, December 8, to include Jay-Z, 55.

“My lawyer received a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter, from a ‘lawyer’ named Tony Buzbee. What he had calculated was the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle,” Jay-Z said in a statement to Us Weekly denying the allegations. “No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!”

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“These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!! Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?” the statement continued. “These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case.” (Jay-Z’s statement was also shared via Roc Nation’s official Instagram account.)

Buzbee has filed lawsuits on behalf of several of Diddy’s alleged victims; he has previously claimed to be representing at least 120 of the disgraced mogul’s alleged victims.

Diddy Accused of Sexual Assault and Raping 13-Year-Old Girl in New Lawsuits

“This amended complaint and the recent extortion lawsuit against Mr. Buzbee exposes his barrage of lawsuits against Mr. Combs for what they are: shameless publicity stunts, designed to extract payments from celebrities who fear having lies spread about them, just as lies have been spread about Mr. Combs,” Diddy’s attorneys said in a statement to Us on Sunday. “As his legal team has said before, Mr. Combs has full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor.”

In October, Buzbee told TMZ he had sent out demand letters to other celebrities he intended to sue alongside Diddy.

“I think I’ll let the lawsuits speak for themselves,” the lawyer said in the October 7 interview. “Everyone’s focused on what other celebrities were involved, who’s going to be named, who’s going to be outed — I don’t expect that to happen this week. I’m hoping to file some lawsuits this week.”

Jay-Z’s response to this current lawsuit comes a month after an unnamed male celebrity filed a lawsuit against the attorney and his firm for “shamelessly attempting to extort exorbitant sums from him or else publicly file wildly false horrific allegations against him,” according to court documents obtained by CNN.

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The plaintiff filed the complaint against Buzbee under the name “John Doe” in the Los Angeles Supreme Court on November 18.

Doe claimed in the filing that Buzbee and his firm had “threatened to unleash entirely fabricated and salacious allegations of sexual assault” that include “multiple instances of rape of a minor, both male and female” if their client “refuses to comply with their demands.”

Diddy was arrested in September for racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution. Alleged victims have started filing lawsuits against him since his arrest, accusing him of past sexual assault, drugging, and threats of violence. As he awaits criminal trial in May 2025, Diddy has maintained his innocence and denied all civil allegations against him.

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Sandringham Estate, one of the beloved royal residences of King Charles III, has reopened after temporarily closing for “health and safety” reasons.

The estate announced its decision to close part of its Winter Light Trail on Saturday, December 7, via Instagram Story, citing “health and safety” concerns caused by severe weather from Storm Darragh.

“All ticket holders for this evening’s cancelled event on Saturday 7 December have now been emailed and/or sent a text message,” the message read alongside a photo of the residence and its Winter Light Trail.

An annual festive attraction at Sandringham, the Winter Light Trail is a mile-long trail illuminated by interactive light displays and festive music for the holiday season. The trail was impacted by Storm Darragh’s strong winds and heavy rains. As a result, the park was closed so the estate’s team could conduct the necessary safety checks once the storm was over. All ticket-holders for Saturday’s event were reimbursed.

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“Our team on the ground are monitoring conditions on site today and assessing any damage following yesterday’s weather,” Sandringham’s official account continued in their announcement. “We are sincerely hoping to be able to welcome you along to tonight’s (8th Dec) Luminate and will update you further here, at approximately midday or as soon as possible. Thank you for understanding.”

Later in the day, it was confirmed by the estate’s team that the trail had been reopened, writing via Instagram Story, “We have completed our safety checks following yesterday’s closure and are delighted to say we will be open as normal tonight and can’t wait to welcome you!”

The estate’s official website also confirmed the trail’s reopening, saying, “The team have completed safety checks and are delighted to say Luminate Winter Trail will open as normal.” The Winter Light Trail at Sandringham Estate runs from November 21 to December 24.

Unforeseen weather-related closures at Sandringham Estate are not the only things the royal family has on their plate this year as Charles, 76, has dealt with several health issues since undergoing a “corrective procedure” in January for a benign prostate enlargement. Buckingham Palace announced the next month that the king had been diagnosed with an undisclosed “form of cancer,” and Charles had “commenced a schedule of regular treatments.” As a result, he would postpone “public-facing duties.”

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As for other royal family members, Charles’ daughter-in-law, Princess Kate Middleton, underwent her own cancer treatment this year as well. She completed a round of chemotherapy in September after she was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer earlier this year.

Queen Camilla, for her part, faced her own health setback this year. In November, Buckingham Palace confirmed the queen had been suffering from pneumonia, but she was on hand for an indoor luncheon on December 3 where she told guests she had gotten sick after her and Charles’ trip to Australia.

Charles returned to his public duties in April. Among those duties also include his and wife Camilla’s 2024 Christmas card, which was shared via the royal family’s social media accounts on Sunday.

“Christmas is coming… Their Majesties are pleased to share this year’s Christmas card, taken by Millie Pilkington in the Gardens of Buckingham Palace in April 2024,” the caption read.

Princess Charlotte was her late grandmother, Princess Diana’s mini-me at Princess Kate Middleton’s annual “Together at Christmas” carol service.

The Princess of Wales, 42, hosted her annual holiday concert at Westminster Abbey, on Friday, December 6, where she was joined by her husband, Prince William, and their three children, Prince George, 11, Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.

A photo taken of Charlotte at the event drew comparisons to Diana as the young princess glared at a photographer while passing by. A fan account dedicated to the royal family shared a side-by-side comparison of the “Spencer Stare” via Instagram of Charlotte next to a photo of her grandmother giving a camera a similar stern look.

“Aw those eyes are the same for Diana and Charlotte,” one fan wrote via the Instagram comments, while another noted the “striking resemblance.” Others however, thought Charlotte resemble a different family member. “She looks like her great grandmother the Queen Elizabeth,” one person wrote.

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Even without the family resemblance, Kate and William — who welcomed Charlotte in May 2015 — also graced their only daughter with Diana as a middle name to honor the late Princess of Wales, who died tragically in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

“We’ve got more photos up around the house of her, and we talk about her a bit and stuff,” William explained during the 2017 HBO documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy. “And it’s hard because obviously Catherine didn’t know her, so she cannot really provide that level of detail. So I do regularly, putting George and Charlotte to bed, talk about her, and just try to remind them that there are two grandmothers — there were two grandmothers in their lives. And it’s important they know who she was and that she existed.”

Diana’s influence has even extended to how Wiliam and Kate have chosen to raise their children. A source exclusively told Us Weekly in August 2019, “Diana was such a wonderful mother. William and Kate are doing their best to take after her when it comes to raising George, Charlotte and Louis. They’re determined to give their kids a normal life, just like Diana did.”

At Friday’s carol service, Charlotte and Kate were the twins, as they both donned red coat dresses, while William and the boys donned navy suits with complementary maroon ties.

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Earlier this year, Kate was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer but revealed in September that she had finished her chemotherapy treatment. Royal author Phil Dampier told Hello! on December 2 that Charlotte had been a huge help to her mother while she was undergoing her cancer treatment.

“I’m told that although the Princess of Wales has obviously been looking after her children during her cancer treatment, and reassuring them she is getting better,” he told the outlet. “Charlotte has been a great source of strength to her.”

Dampier added, “Winston Churchill once said of the late Queen Elizabeth when she was a child that he had never seen such maturity in someone so young. And Charlotte seems to have inherited that trait from her great-grandmother, to whom she bears an uncanny resemblance.”

Kendra Wilkinson is cheering on 14-year-old son Hank and his high school basketball team.

“What an amazing week it’s been!!!” Wilkinson, 39, wrote via Instagram on Friday, December 6, alongside a carousel of photos from throughout her week. “Watching my son play basketball (starting on varsity), friends, productive meetings, touring homes in Hidden Hills n Beverly Hills and Ernie’s holiday party. Enjoy.”

Among Wilkinson’s photos was a sweet snap of her and son Hank Baskett IV in his basketball jersey posing in a high school gymnasium. Wilkinson welcomed Hank IV in December 2009 with her ex-husband, Hank Baskett, a former wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Along with Hank, Wilkinson and Baskett, 42, also share 10-year-old daughter Alijah. The reality star previously gushed about her children in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly last month.

Kendra Wilkinson's Son Hank, 14, Is All Grown Up, Prep School Bound

“My kids are effing amazing. They’re just the most amazing human beings,” Wilkinson told Us at the 11th Annual American Reality Television Awards on November 18. “I pinch myself every day. They’re just good, nice people, just aiming for a good life and to be good and to do good in the world. It’s such a pleasure and it’s just the most amazing feeling to have them. They give me so much purpose.”

The Kendra Sells Hollywood star added that being a parent is “a full-time job,” saying, “They’re both into basketball, and they’re both really, really successful at basketball.” She also said of her son Hank, “He’s on his way to the NBA, like big time, and I hope we all get a chance to see all that happen.”

Wilkinson and Baskett divorced in 2018. Before their split, they shared a significant look inside their marriage via reality television shows such as Kendra, which aired from 2009 to 2011, and Kendra on Top, which ran from 2012 to 2017.

While the year is winding down, Wilkinson already has her sights set on 2025. While speaking with Us last month, she also shared her plans for the next year — particularly when it comes to love.

Kendra Wilkinson Shares Coparenting Update With Ex-Husband Hank Baskett

“It’s time that I kind of evolve here and not stay in the booty call land,” Wilkinson told Us. “It’s time I evolve and look for a husband or boyfriend or something.”

She continued, “I think I’m gonna crawl up from the dead here soon and look for this man of mine, wherever he is. I’m willing to give it all a try.”