“Tom figured the holidays were the best time to propose in a very low-key way,” a source exclusively told Us Weekly shortly after news of the couple’s engagement broke on Monday, January 6. “She didn’t want anything over the top.”
One day before Us confirmed the pair’s relationship milestone, Zendaya, 28, sparked engagement rumors on the 2025 Golden Globes red carpet by sporting a diamond ring on her left hand. According to the insider, “Zendaya tried to keep it a secret but was very excited to show off her ring. She didn’t think people would notice but didn’t care either way.”
The source went on to note that both felt the timing was right. “Tom wanted to propose because he feels he is at the right time in his life and feels ready to settle down.” the insider said. “They had many conversations over the years, but there was never any pressure. Zendaya is giddy and excited. She knew it might have been coming but never put pressure on it.”
Holland, 28, previously shared that he was spending the holidays with Zendaya’s family in the U.S. during a December 2024 episode of “The Dish from Waitrose” podcast. “Where we’ll be is a secret. … I’ll know where we’re going [but fans won’t],” he said without spoiling his proposal plans.
Bringing their families together for the holidays is something he and Zendaya want to start doing going forward. “That’s what I think we want to do next time, ‘cause we’re both actors; We’re both terrible at organizing things, so it hasn’t happened yet,” he explained.
Holland and Zendaya first sparked romance rumors in 2017, the same year they costarred in their first film together, Spider-Man: Homecoming. The couple eventually took a break and Zendaya briefly dated her Euphoria costar Jacob Elordi from 2019 to 2020 before she and Holland got back together. Their romance was confirmed in July 2021 after being spotted kissing in a car. They made their red carpet debut as a couple that November at the premiere of Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Another source exclusively told Us in July 2024 that the duo’s relationship was “the real deal,” noting, “They started as besties, and that’s [why] their relationship is rock solid. … They’re each other’s biggest supporters. They ‘get’ each other.”
At the time, the insider noted that Holland and Zendaya’s families were “all in” on their romance. “[They] think they’re perfect together.”
In an interview with Men’s Health earlier this month, Holland revealed that he one day plans to step back from acting after starting a family. “When I have kids, you will not see me in movies anymore,” he revealed. “Golf and dad. And I will just disappear off the face of the earth.”
When asked why he wasn’t making any awards season red carpet appearances with his now-fiancée, Holland told the outlet: “Because it’s not my moment, it’s her moment, and if we go together, it’s about us.”
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey will return for more post-apocalyptic adventures on the upcoming second season of HBO’s The Last of Us.
Based on the 2013 video game of the same name, the series follows Joel (Pascal), a grizzled survivor tasked with transporting Ellie (Ramsey) across the country, 20 years after a zombie-like fungus, cordyceps, wiped out much of civilization. As they continue on their journey, the unlikely duo form a surrogate father-daughter bond along the way.
Upon the show’s premiere in January 2023, the series — cocreated by Craig Mazin and the game’s writer and creative director, Neil Druckmann — was renewed for season 2 after only two of the season’s nine episodes had aired.
The second season is expected to follow the plot of the video game’s 2020 sequel, The Last of Us Part II, which picks up a few years after the original story. Though the show hasn’t been picked up for a third installment, Mazin previously teased that the series’ team may need more than one more season to properly portray Part II’s events.
“The amount of remaining story would take us more than a season to tell. But definitely, I don’t see this as something that runs on and on and on,” he told Collider in January 2023. “We don’t have that ambition. Our ambition is to tell the story that exists, as best as we can, in a different medium.”
Scroll below to find out everything we know about The Last of Us season 2:
The TV personality, 43, teased what fans can expect from the revamped version of Today With Hoda & Jenna, retitled Today With Jenna & Friends, in an interview with Variety published on Monday, January 6. The new series will debut the week after Kotb’s final episode on the NBC morning show on Friday, January 10.
Noting that she is “involved” in picking Kotb’s permanent successor, she clarified the process isn’t something she and the show’s crew are rushing. “Chill out,” she quipped. “I feel like our audience deserves the time to get to know a ton of different people, [a] ton of different backgrounds. We’re hoping to pull up the chairs to all different types of people.”
For now, Bush Hager will cohost Jenna & Friends with a rotating lineup of celebrity guest hosts. For her first week as the show’s main host, Bush Hager will be joined by the likes of Taraji P. Henson, Eva Longoria and Keke Palmer.
“I think there will be some surprises for sure,” she added. “And so, it’s like when we know, I think we’ll know.”
Jenna & Friends executive producer Talia Parkinson-Jones mirrored Bush Hager’s comments, telling the outlet that the show doesn’t want to “replicate” Bush Hager and Kotb’s onscreen dynamic. “We’re in this new version of the show, and it’s really Jenna’s dating,” she explained. “We get a chance to meet different people, and we’ll fall in love one day, but until then we’re just having a really good time.”
NBC News executive vice president Libby Leist added: “This is the part of the Today morning where you’re the most honest and raw and personal. You hear everything from Hoda and Jenna, and I think that’s what the audience has come to expect. They really love when our talent shares the personal, shares advice and themes you may not always see in more of the news programs.”
This week won’t mark the last time Today fans see Kotb, 60, pop up on the show, as the outlet notes she will occasionally make appearances on Today and other NBC programming, as well as continue to host her “Making Space” podcast.
At the time of her interview, Bush Hager was filming a brand-new intro for Jenna & Friends. According to the outlet, the new theme will feature footage of Bush Hager walking through a nearby New York City park, exiting a donut shop and walking into Today’s NBC studio through a revolving door.
The intro is reportedly reminiscent of The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s opening credits, which famously showed the actress as a working woman in the big city. “We didn’t mean for that to happen, but we’re not mad at it,” Bush Hager said of the unintentional reference.”
Bush Hager joined Today as an on-air contributor in 2009 and took over Kathie Lee Gifford’s spot as Kotb’s fourth hour cohost in 2019. Kotb announced her Today departure in September 2024, citing turning 60 and being a mother to her young daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, as the main reasons behind her decision. Craig Melvin will follow in Kotb’s footsteps as Savannah Guthrie’s coanchor.
Following Kotb’s final episode on Friday, January 10, Today With Hoda & Jenna will be revamped into Today With Jenna & Friends. The new show will see Bush Hager, 43, cohost alongside a rotating panel of celebrity guest hosts until Kotb’s official replacement is selected.
“Whoever sits in this seat is going to have the easiest job in the world ‘cause they’re sitting next to you,” Kotb, 60, said on a September 2024 episode of Hoda & Jenna after announcing her Today exit. “I mean, the only thing they have to do is not laugh so hard they pee their pants. That’s it. They just have to hang on. You are this bright light, you always have been, and it’s your turn.”
At the time, Bush Hager replied: “If I’m bright, it’s because I’m sitting in your glow.”
Kotb helped Bush Hager announce her first lineup of guest hosts during her final week of Today, describing her first three picks as “heavy-hitter, homerun [and] wow” on the Monday, January 6, episode of Hoda & Jenna.
After hearing the brand-new Jenna & Friends theme song, Kotb tearfully told her TV partner: “I was picturing you and how proud I’m gonna be of you walking right here from that wall to this desk with that song. It’s gonna be awesome. It’s gonna be amazing.”
Scroll down to see which celebs will be sitting next to Bush Hager on Today With Jenna & Friends:
Hoda Kotb is saying goodbye to Today with a week full of fun and heartfelt festivities.
The stars of the NBC morning show kicked off Kotb’s “Hoda-bration” on Monday, January 6, to mark her final week of episodes. “We’re gonna celebrate you, which is gonna be easy. It’s gonna be really easy,” Jenna Bush Hager said on Today With Hoda & Jenna before joking that she couldn’t even “hold my emotions for one minute.”
Kotb announced in September 2024 that she was leaving Today after nearly 30 years working at NBC, citing her 60th birthday and role as mom to daughters Haley, 7, and Hope, 5, as the main reasons behind her decision.
“I had my kiddos late in life, and I was thinking they deserve a bigger piece of my time, the pie that I have. I feel like we only have a finite amount of time,” she explained on air at the time. “And so, with all that being said, this is the hardest thing in the world.”
Kotb’s week-long “Hoda-bration” will conclude with a special episode of Hoda & Jenna filmed in front of a live studio audience on Friday, January 10. “There will be big surprises, lots of surprises that Hoda won’t even know about,” Bush Hager, 43, teased on a December 2024 episode of the series.
Following Friday’s episode, Bush Hager will continue to cohost the morning show’s fourth hour as Today With Jenna & Friends. She will be joined by a series of rotating guest hosts until a permanent replacement is picked. Craig Melvin, meanwhile, will take over Kotb’s role as Savannah Guthrie’s coanchor.
Before her official farewell, scroll down to see the biggest moments from Kotb’s final Today episodes:
A Sorority Surprise
The marching band from Kotb’s alma mater, Virginia Tech, performed at 30 Rockefeller Plaza on Monday’s second hour of Today. After Kotb shared a hug with the school’s mascot, HokieBird, Guthrie surprised her colleague with 70 of her Tri Delta sorority sisters.
“They called us two weeks ago, and they said, ‘Can you get a few Tri Deltas?’” one of the sisters stated. “[Everybody] rallied, came from all over the country because we love you.”
A shocked Kotb hugged several members, including the woman who was her “little sister” in the group. “You guys, I was the pledge trainer for this sorority. It meant the absolute world to me,” she gushed. “I can’t believe you guys came. I’m shocked!”
Kotb went on to tell her sisters they had to hang out after the show. “Everybody’s at my house! Let’s go!” she exclaimed. “We gotta go out today. We have to. We’re making it happen.”
Heartfelt Home Décor
On Monday’s episode Hoda & Jenna, Bush Hager gave Kotb a personalized gift from one of her favorite authors, Charlie Mackesy, who wrote The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Mackesy captioned a painting of the book’s titular characters with the message: “Hoda, every step you take is a victory. Love Charles.”
Kotb got emotional as she accepted the present. “First of all, I love him so much. His book has been life-changing for so many people, including me,” she gushed. “In fact, I actually have a framed, just a sketch, in my office, of just a sketch from his book. I can’t believe he did that.”
Bush Hager continued the fun by playing a special video message sent by Mackesy, 62. “I’m in the rain in London to say I’m wishing you all the luck in the world and all the blessings, and I hope your next step is fun,” he stated in the clip. “You’ve given so much and give so much and I hope you love what you’re gonna do next. And every single step you take is a victory, and thank you for including me on your journey with the book. I’m so grateful to you, always will be so grateful. Thank you, Hoda.”
A Long-Lasting Memory
During her interview on Monday’s Hoda & Jenna episode, actress and comedian Michelle Buteau recalled how Kotb showed her kindness during the early days of her career.
“You won’t remember this, but about 23 years ago, I was editing local news, WNBC overnights. … And it was off of the overnight [shift], you were coming in [for] the morning, and nobody said hi to me. They just gave me tape to edit,” she recalled. “Not only did you say hi to me, you looked in my eyes, through my soul and said, ‘How is your day?’ And I was like, ‘I don’t even know.’ And you’re like, ‘I get it.’
She continued: “And you won’t remember, but I remembered because I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s who I want to be. That’s how I want to make people feel: seen.’ No matter what they do, no matter what title they have, you look at somebody and you say, ‘How are you?’’ And you mean it. And so, that’s how I lead my show and my projects, and it’s the only way to live. So, thank you so much.”
The story made both Buteau, 47, and Kotb tear up. “Why did I wear lashes?” Buteau quipped.
The actress, 77, was censored during the awards ceremony on Sunday, January 5, while presenting the winner for Best Motion Picture – Drama. “One of my most treasured possessions is a letter that Katharine Hepburn wrote to me, in which she described what we all do as, ‘This terrible profession. This terrifying profession. And let’s face it, this delicious way to spend your life,’” she began her speech.
As she continued, the broadcast briefly cut its audio feed. Footage of Close’s complete speech — profanity and all — was later uploaded via the Golden Globes YouTube channel.
“We are so f—ing blessed and lucky, blessed and lucky to be together in this room,” she gushed. “Let’s get to the reason why we’re here.”
Close proceeded to present the prestigious award to the cast and crew of the historical drama The Brutalist. The film took home a total of three wins on Sunday, including Best Director – Motion Picture for Brady Corbet and Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for Adrien Brody. Emilia Pérez scored the most wins of any nominated film on Sunday with a total of four.
Close, for her part, was not nominated at this year’s Golden Globes. Her most recent nod came in 2021 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture in Hillbilly Elegy. She has earned three Golden Globe trophies over the years for her performances in projects such as The Lion in Winter, Damages and The Wife.
Just as Close quoted a letter she received in her presentation speech, she looked like a letter on the red carpet in a black Balmain dress with sequined embroidery reminiscent of handwritten notes. She completed her look with matching black opera gloves, black heels and a small clutch.
Close posed with several celebrities inside the event, including Viola Davis and Elton John. She even had an Air Force One reunion with Harrison Ford by sitting next to the actor during the show. She famously portrayed the vice president to Ford’s President James Marshall in the 1997 action thriller.
Close also hilariously crashed one of Glen Powell’s red carpet interviews as Entertainment Tonight’s Nischelle Turner and Kevin Frazier were interviewing the pair at the same time. “I’m so honored. You’re the ultimate Glenn,” Powell, who was nominated for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for his role in Hit Man, gushed to the actress who shares his name. “I kinda thought about this for a long time. This is great.”
Before going back to her own individual interview, Close told Powell, “Wonderful to meet you. Congratulations.”
She went on to reflect on her decades-long Hollywood career, telling ET, “I feel very blessed. I’m going into my 51st year [of] being a working actress. So, it’s all about resilience and belief and learning and humility.”
Kieran Culkin and his wife, Jazz Charton, have been by each other’s sides for more than a decade.
The Succession star and the London native met at a New York City bar in 2012. Culkin recalled his hilarious first conversation with his future wife in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I said, ‘I’m Kieran. You have an English accent. What’s your name?’” he shared in October 2021. “She said, ‘I’m Jazz.’ I said, ‘J-A-Z-Z, like the music?’ And she said, ‘Yeah.’ And I said, ‘Well, that’s f—ing stupid.’”
His humor worked the trick, and the two tied the knot a year later.Culkin and Charton welcomed their first child in September 2019. Their second baby arrived in August 2021 — the same year Kieran’s brother Macaulay Culkin and fiancée Brenda Song became parents.
Scroll below to relive Kieran and Charton’s sweetest relationship moments:
“I want to get out and run around! I want to yell at people!” Barrymore, who will sit in the famed center square on the upcoming series, exclusively shares in the latest issue of Us Weekly. “I’ll pull out a hair extension.”
Hollywood Squares originally aired from 1966 to 1980, with previous reboots running from 1986 to 1989 and 1998 to 2004. The show sees contestants play a tic-tac-toe game to win cash and other prizes. The twist? The squares are occupied by celebrities who give answers to questions posed by the contestants. However, the players must determine if the stars’ answers are correct or not.
Following in the hosting footsteps of Peter Marshall, John Davidson and Tom Bergeron is Nate Burleson. “We’re here to tip our hat, pay homage to those who have come before us and take this show into the future,” he tells Us.
Joining Barrymore, 49, in the X’s and O’s this season are stars such as Julie Bowen, Tiffany Haddish, RuPaul, Drew Carey, Tyra Banks, Yvette Nicole Brown, Oliver Hudson, Gabriel Iglesias, Jay Leno, Justin Long, Sheryl Underwood and Jimmy O. Yang, to name a few.
Hollywood Squares has been a game show “favorite” of Barrymore’s for several years. “People like to feel like they’re a part of a party,” she tells Us. “I didn’t understand that until E.T. came out [in 1982] and I saw people congregating and having a collective experience. People lie to be together and they want to laugh and be happy, and then when it comes to the game, they want to win and have stakes.”
As for what makes Barrymore and Burleson, 43, giggle the most on set? “Laughing with each other and at each other,” Burleson shares. “That’s why Hollywood Squares has been on for 60 years.”
He continues: “Think about it: You’re at home seeing people you admire cracking jokes. At the same time, you’re yelling at the screen because the contestants don’t know the answer or you’re mad they went up top instead of going down low on their tic-tac-toe strategy. It gives you the chance to [feel] all of these feels.”
Both Barrymore and Burleson have busy TV schedules, also serving as the host and cohost of The Drew Barrymore Show and CBS Mornings, respectively. But when it comes to taking time off, Barrymore jokes that her ideal day-off plans are “boring.”
“I’m a single lady with four cats, so I like to be alone with my cats. I enjoy remote controls in one hand, nachos in the other, watching the Food Network,” she tells Us, to which Burleson adds, “Or [watching] a movie you’ve seen 1,000 times. Sometimes you need to watch something you’ve seen already just to relax into it — familiar and cozy, just like this show.”
Until Hollywood Squares premieres on Thursday, January 9, fans can continue to catch Barrymore on her eponymous talk show, which was renewed for a sixth season last year. “I really did not think at certain points that we would ever get here,” she says of returning for the 2025/2026 TV season. “And so, it is such a gift to everyone doing the show because then they know they have some job certainty. We’re not going year-to-year.”
She adds: “This is such a gift and a privilege that I don’t take one thing for granted, and I’m really excited for everyone who works on the show to take a sigh of big relief.”
Hollywood Squares premieres on CBS Thursday, January 9, at 8 p.m. ET and will move to Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET starting Wednesday, January 29.
Many of the past year’s most critically and commercially successful films are up for the 2025 Golden Globes’ biggest awards.
Nominations for this year’s awards show were announced in December 2024, with the musical thriller Emilia Pérez leading the pack with a total of 10 nominations. The Spanish-language French film took home four awards during the Sunday, January 5, ceremony, the most of any film nominated.
The movie won two of the night’s biggest awards — Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language. Emilia Pérez also won Best Original Song – Motion Picture for “El Mal” and Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture for star Zoe Saldaña.
Following close behind was The Brutalist with a total of three wins, including Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for leading man Adrien Brody.
The Substance won in one of its five nominated categories, with Demi Moore earning her first Golden Globes win for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. I’m Still Here’s Fernanda Torres, meanwhile, took home the title of Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama.
Keep scrolling for a comprehensive breakdown of movies with the most amount of nominations and wins at the 2025 Golden Globes:
‘Emilia Pérez’: 10 Nominations and 4 Wins
Nominations: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture (x2), Best Director – Motion Picture, Best Screenplay – Motion Picture, Best Original Score – Motion Picture, Best Original Song – Motion Picture (x2)
Wins: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture, Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language, Best Original Song – Motion Picture, Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
‘The Brutalist’: 7 Nominations and 3 Wins
Nominations: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture, Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture, Best Screenplay – Motion Picture, Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Wins: Best Director – Motion Picture, Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, Best Motion Picture – Drama
‘Conclave’: 6 Nominations and 1 Win
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture, Best Director – Motion Picture, Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Wins: Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
‘The Substance’: 5 Nominations and 1 Win
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture, Best Director – Motion Picture, Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Wins: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
‘Anora’: 5 Nominations
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture, Best Director – Motion Picture, Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
‘Wicked’: 4 Nominations and 1 Win
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
Wins: Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
‘Challengers’: 4 Nominations and 1 Win
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Original Song – Motion Picture
Wins: Best Original Score – Motion Picture
‘The Wild Robot’: 4 Nominations
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Animated, Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, Best Original Score – Motion Picture, Best Original Song – Motion Picture
‘A Real Pain’: 4 Nominations and 1 Win
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Wins: Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
‘A Complete Unknown’: 3 Nominations
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
‘Dune: Part Two’: 2 Nominations
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Original Score – Motion Picture
‘Gladiator II’: 2 Nominations
Nominations: Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
‘The Last Showgirl’: 2 Nominations
Nominations: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, Best Original Song – Motion Picture
‘The Apprentice’: 2 Nominations
Nominations: Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
‘Inside Out 2’: 2 Nominations
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Animated, Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
‘All We Imagine as Light’: 2 Nominations
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language, Best Director – Motion Picture
‘I’m Still Here’: 2 Nominations and 1 Win
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language
Wins: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
‘Babygirl’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
‘Maria’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
‘Lee’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
‘Queer’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
‘Sing Sing’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
‘Nightbitch’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
‘Heretic’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
‘Saturday Night’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
‘Kinds of Kindness’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
‘Hit Man’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
‘A Different Man’: 1 Nomination and 1 Win
Nominations: Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Wins: Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
‘Moana 2’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Animated
‘Alien: Romulus’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
‘Twisters’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
‘Better Man’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Original Song – Motion Picture
‘Nickel Boys’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Drama
‘September 5’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Drama
‘The Room Next Door’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
‘Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Animated
‘Flow’: 1 Nomination and 1 Win
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Animated
Wins: Best Motion Picture – Animated
‘Memoir of a Snail’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Animated
‘The Girl With the Needle’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language
‘The Seed of The Sacred Fig’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language
‘Vermiglio’: 1 Nomination
Nominations: Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language
It’s been more than 10 years since Zendaya competed on Dancing With the Stars, but she’s still upset about her season’s final results.
The actress, 28, famously competed on season 16 of the ABC competition series in 2013. After a season full of high scores, she and her partner, Val Chmerkovskiy, ultimately lost to Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough.
“Listen, I’m still harboring a little animosity about that,” Zendaya told W Magazine in an interview published on Friday, January 3. “I felt that loss. I was only 16 years old, and it was highly stressful.”
Competing on live television every week was something Zendaya told the outlet was “so scary,” adding, “I took it very seriously, which, in retrospect, I wish I didn’t. I wish I’d enjoyed it a little bit more and just was like, ‘Eh, whatever.’ You know what I mean? But I was stressing myself out. I really went through it on that [show].”
Zendaya went on to note that these days, she doesn’t watch DWTS despite being on it. She first made the revelation in an interview on “The Awardist” podcast last year, sharing that she hasn’t tuned in since her season.
“I have not watched Dancing With the Stars since I was on [it],” she said in October 2024. “I didn’t really watch Dancing With the Stars before I was on Dancing With the Stars. I don’t think I was the target demographic. My grandma, like, loves Dancing With the Stars. That’s her bag.”
She continued: “I also think it was a very stressful experience. I was like, ‘I don’t think I’m gonna be watching this anymore.’”
Zendaya’s upset over season 16’s results is something she shares with Chmerkovskiy, 38, who has since gone on to win the mirrorball trophy three times with past partners Rumer Willis, Laurie Hernandez and Xochitl Gomez.
“My biggest heartbreak was on Dancing With the Stars, not winning with Zendaya, honestly. That was a huge heartbreak for me because she was 16,” he told Entertainment Tonight in March 2018. “I wanted this to be such a huge moment for her. She worked so hard, and I really wanted her to lift that trophy and jump-start her career. And she didn’t lift the trophy and I felt heartbroken about that.”
Luckily, as Chmerkovskiy put it, Zendaya’s time on DWTS “jump-started her career.” He added: “That’s when you learn that it’s not necessarily always about winning or losing, it’s really about learning through the process and then using those tools to further yourself down the road.”
Prior to DWTS, Zendaya was best known for her roles on Disney Channel’s Shake It Up. In the decade since, she has become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars with projects such as The Greatest Showman, Challengers, the Dune series and the Spider-Man franchise.
Back in 2020, Chmerkovskiy took to Instagram to congratulate Zendaya on becoming the youngest actress to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Euphoria (an award she also took home in 2022).
“I always knew you were special. Our season on DWTS, and now your continued success since has brought me [a] ridiculous amount of joy,” he captioned a clip of one of their performances. “I’m so proud of you Z! Youngest ever winner of an Emmy for a leading role. You’re a superstar, and always have been! Love you fam to many more wins in your life.”
As Justin Baldoni’s legal battle with Blake Lively continues, his attorney Bryan Freedman claims the actor didn’t approach the situation with any ill intent toward his costar.
In an interview with NBC News’ Liz Kreutz on the Friday, January 3, episode of Today, Freedman denied Lively’s claims that Baldoni coordinated a smear against her after the two butted heads on the set of It Ends With Us. “One hundred percent no,” he stated. “Justin Baldoni, from the get-go, said, ‘I don’t want to do anything negative toward her. I don’t want to hurt her.’”
Noting that he and Baldoni, 40, “absolutely” plan to countersue Lively, 37, Freedman also said they “plan to release every single text” between the former costars, claiming that text screenshots shared in Lively’s sexual harassment lawsuit against Baldoni lacked context.
“I’m not asking anyone to not believe anyone,” Freedman said. “I am more than willing to take every single text message that exists out there, lay them out, put them on a website for the world to see, have them see the truth and determine the truth for themselves.”
When asked whether he acknowledges that uncomfortable behavior went down on the It Ends With Us set, Freedman replied: “I think there’s some behavior always that can make people uncomfortable, and I don’t think anybody has the intention to do that. The question, really, in this case is does it rise to the level of sexual harassment?”
Following online speculation that Lively and Baldoni struggled to work together while filming It Ends With Us, Lively accused her former costar of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed late last month (and first published by The New York Times). Among her claims, Lively accused Baldoni of body-shaming her, attempting to add additional sex scenes into the movie, showing her pornographic images and videos, breaking character and continuing to kiss her while filming and launching a “social manipulation” campaign against her to “destroy” her reputation.
Freedman called the allegations against Baldoni “completely false” in a statement to Us Weekly at the time, claiming that Lively instead threatened to not show up on set and not promote the film if her “multiple demands” were not met.
Baldoni and nine other plaintiffs later filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times on Tuesday, December 31, accusing the outlet of libel and cherry-picking in their reporting of Lively’s lawsuit. In the legal docs, obtained by Us, Baldoni continued to deny Lively’s claims of inappropriate workplace behavior, retorting several of her stories, including the aforementioned claims about pornography on set, working with an intimacy coordinator and more. He also alleged that she “kicked” him out of the editing process for It Ends With Us, despite his role as the movie’s director.
A New York Times spokesperson stood by the organization’s reporting in a statement to Us, sharing, “Our story was meticulously and responsibly reported. It was based on a review of thousands of pages of original documents, including the text messages and emails that we quote accurately and at length in the article. Those texts and emails were also the crux of a discrimination claim filed in California by Blake Lively against Justin Baldoni and his associates.”
Lively’s attorney also told Us Baldoni’s NYT lawsuit changed “nothing” about her accusations in her December 20 lawsuit or her federal complaint against Baldoni, publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, and Wayfarer Studios filed on Tuesday.
“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 December 21 statement to Us.
Joshua Hall is ready to put his 2024 struggles behind him and start the new year on a fresh note.
“2024 was a tough year but it’s taught me a lot,” Hall, 44, wrote in a Wednesday, January 1, Instagram post marking the new year. “It helped me grow and be stronger than I’ve ever been. Sometimes the tough situations can change you. You end up becoming a different person. A better version of yourself. You learn things about yourself you didn’t know before. It has opened my eyes to many things. Even though it was tough, I know that it taught me many lessons and for that I’m grateful. I always tell myself that God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers.”
In July 2024, news broke that Joshua and wife Christina Hall (née Haack) called it quits after more than two years of marriage. They both filed divorce docs on July 15, with Joshua listing their date of separation as July 8 and Christina, 41, listing their split date as July 7.
Though Joshua did not address the breakup in his post, he noted that 2024 “wasn’t all that bad” thanks to his loved ones. “I realized who is really there for you. These people become your pillars in life. They stand by you,” he explained. “They understand when you need space. They’ve got you even if at this moment in time, you don’t have them. I will forever be grateful for my community who continue to love me, support me and those special ones who came into my life.”
He wrapped up his Instagram update by giving cheers to “2025, a new year, a fresh start, and a chance to write a new book with some new beginnings,” adding, “This WILL be my best year yet … .”
Joshua began dating Christina shortly after her 2021 divorce from Ant Anstead. The two tied the knot in 2022 and went on to star on several HGTV shows together, including Christina on the Coast and Christina in the Country. The duo were set to compete together against Christina’s ex-husband Tarek El Moussa and his wife, Heather Rae El Moussa, on the new series The Flip Off before their split. (A source exclusively confirmed to Us Weekly that Anstead, 45, will film “a portion of the show” as Christina’s partner.)
Joshua shared his new year’s post one day before HGTV dropped a tense sneak peek of him and Christina on The Flip Off. “This is a competition, you gotta pull out all stops. Whatever it takes to win, I’ll do it. Hall’s rule,” he told Christina during a car ride.
After she didn’t respond, he stated: “You’re supposed to say it with me or repeat it or something to show that you’re with me. Remember, you’re a Hall now. Don’t get confused in this competition about what your last name is. You’re rude.”
The clip concluded with Christina informing Tarek, 43, that she and Joshua had “officially split up.”
As the pair’s messy divorce wages on, Christina hired attorney Laura Wasser in hopes of finalizing their split sooner rather than later. “Christina was not happy with the progress or lack thereof,” a source exclusively told Us in November 2024. “[She] decided to go with the best divorce attorney out there to try and wrap this up quickly and fairly.”
In an interview with Sports Illustrated — where she was named 2024 Sportsperson of the Year — published on Thursday, January 2, Biles, 27, said returning for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics would feel like “life and death” after winning four medals in Paris this past summer.
“Because I’ve accomplished so much, there’s almost nothing left to do rather than to just be snobby and to try again and for what?” she explained. “I’m at a point in my career where I’m humble enough to know when to be done.”
Though Biles did not confirm a firm decision, she told the outlet it would feel “greedy” if she did return to the Games. “Those are the consequences. But that’s also your decision to decide,” she said. “What sacrifices would be made if I go back now? When you’re younger, it’s like, prom, college. Now it’s like, starting a family, being away from my husband [Jonathan Owens]. What’s really worth it?”
Biles took home a total of four medals at the Paris Summer Olympics, which ran from July 2024 to August 2024, bringing her total medal count to 11. (The 2024 Olympics also marked a major return for Biles after she was forced to withdraw from several events at the Tokyo Olympics.)
In addition to helping the U.S. women’s gymnastics team win gold in the women’s team competition, Biles won two individual gold in the women’s all-around and vault events. She also earned a silver in the women’s floor exercise, coming in second to Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade.
Her wins in Paris earned her the honor of the most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history taking the title from former Olympian Shannon Miller.
Having never expected to become the face of U.S. gymnastics, Biles told the outlet she’s not ready to wrestle with the legacy she’ll leave behind. “I don’t think the reality has set in of what I’ve exactly done in the sport,” she noted. “I can see it, and I hear it from people, and I see a glimpse of it, but the full magnitude I don’t think I’ve realized just yet. I don’t think I’ll realize ’til maybe I retire and look back in a couple years like, ‘Damn, she was good.’ Because I can see that, but I do it every day. So, for me, it’s normal.”
Shortly after the Paris Games came to a close, Biles exclusively told Us Weekly what she would change about the Olympic Village in 2028. “We’re elite athletes trying to compete on the biggest stage of our life, the most important meet of our life, and they’re like, ‘Hey, try doing it after you sleep on this cardboard bed,’” she shared in September. “We’re the best athletes in the world, so I feel like for just one or two weeks we deserve the best of the best. You know, we shouldn’t be stressing about sleeping on a cardboard bed.”
She later hinted at a possible retirement in the second half of her Simone Biles Rising Netflix docuseries, which dropped in October 2024. “At this moment in my career, I feel like if I had to process it, it would be bittersweet,” she said of hanging up her leotard after Paris. “I mean, we’ve been longing for this for a while now and now it’s here. It’s gone.”
Noting that she felt “a lot of relief” after competing in Paris, she added: “Now, I’m like, ‘Oh, my God. Like, what happens in life now?’”
The actresses opened up about working together to establish equal salaries while filming the two-part movie musical in a joint interview with Variety published on Thursday, January 2. “We went through our contracts together and called each other up,” Grande, 31, shared. “[We were like,] ‘Did you see that? What do you think about that? Let’s get together.’”
Erivo, 37, added: “We both went through it — ‘What number are we doing? How do you feel about that?’ We were really f—ing honest. And that’s really rare. People don’t do that.”
Noting that she and Erivo are “very different,” Grande told the outlet that “her needs [became] my needs” while working on the project. Erivo reiterated her words, stating: “And her needs become mine.”
Shortly after the film’s November 2024 theatrical release, false reports spread online that Grande was paid millions more for her role as Glinda than Erivo for her role as Elphaba.
“Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder,” a spokesperson for Universal Pictures told Us Weekly in a statement at the time. “The women received equal pay for their work on Wicked.”
A source close to Grande also told Us that the rumors “started on Reddit” and were “completely not true.”
Director Jon M. Chu praised the women’s equal pay negotiations in Thursday’s Variety interview. “This is a modern production,” he stated. “This is what Hollywood should reflect. These are co-CEOs of ‘Wicked Inc.’”
Based on the Broadway musical and 1995 novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire, Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, a.k.a. the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda, a.k.a. Glinda the Good Witch, before and during the events of The Wizard of Oz. The plot follows the two women as their relationship develops from rival roommates to best friends to unlikely rivals amid the backdrop of societal turmoil in Oz.
Grande and Erivo’s decision to share salaries and contracts comes as no surprise to fans of Wicked — which hit theaters in November 2024 — as the pair share a strong friendship on and off the big screen. The two have even gone viral for getting emotional in several of their press tour interviews.
“I feel so grateful and proud of how present we’ve been able to be,” Grande told Variety of her and Erivo shedding tears in interviews. “A lot of people have come up to us and been like, ‘How you holding up?’ with a long face. And we’ve just peeked at each other and been like, we’re grateful and floating.”
Erivo went on to add: “We have a good time.”
Wicked is in theaters now and is available to rent and purchase on digital platforms. The sequel, titled Wicked: For Good, will hit theaters on November 21.
Like all movies, certain scenes from Wicked: Part One ended up on the cutting room floor.
Luckily for fans, the film’s deleted scenes are available to watch now that the movie is streaming and available to purchase on several platforms. From a longer version of Fiyero’s (Jonathan Bailey) Shiz University arrival to extended looks at Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda’s (Ariana Grande) Emerald City adventures, the cut scenes add even more magic to the musical adaptation.
Director Jon M. Chu explained in a December 2024 interview that while it broke his heart to cut certain scenes, he did so “to serve the bigger grand scheme of what the movie was trying to do, and have a rhythm that could be sustainable.”
Among the bonus clips is an extra scene from Glinda’s fan-favorite musical number, “Popular,” in which she helps Elphaba “get some pep in your step” by jumping on her bed. “I need you to bounce with me, girl,” she hilariously states, to which Elphaba replies: “I’m not really a kind of bouncing person. It’s not a thing I do.”
After getting Elphaba to loosen herself up, Glinda demonstrates another version of her iconic hair toss. “You can do toss, toss, leg,” she says while flipping her hair and sticking her leg out. Much like the other methods shown in the film, Elphaba tries to no avail.
Scroll down for everything the Wicked: Part One deleted scenes revealed about the film and teased for part two:
Pfannee and ShenShen’s Origins
In the movie, Bown Yang’s Pfannee and Bronwyn James’ ShenShen were already established as Glinda’s friends upon her arrival at Shiz. However, a deleted scene reveals just how the trio’s friendship came to be.
“[We’re] from Miss Cringeable’s Twirling Academy,” Pfannee states, after which ShenShen asks Glinda if she remembers them.
“Wait, of course,” Glinda says before the three break out their twirling academy moves. “Oh, so good to see you!”
Glinda proceeds to ask the pair how they are, to which Pfannee hilariously responds: “I’ve been through. I’ve been through.” (The line, improvised by Yang, made the comedian and Grande crack up as they recalled the scene on his “Las Culturistas” podcast.)
Fiyero Gets Scratched
The streaming release’s bonus content featured an extended clip of Fiyero and Elphaba’s adventures rescuing the lion cub. While arguing over where to release the young animal, the cub becomes agitated and scratches Fiyero’s face. Elphaba points out Fiyero’s injury in the original version, though the moment is not shown.
The clip ends with Elphaba placing the clip by a stream to drink, as she does in the theatrical cut.
Friendship Tensions
While Elphaba and Glinda become besties after making amends at the Ozdust Ballroom, a deleted scene of them studying in Madame Morrible’s (Michelle Yeoh) classroom offers insight into how their relationship will be put to the test heading into Wicked: For Good.
“Didn’t expect magic to be so hard,” Glinda states after failing to levitate a coin. Pointing out differences in their upbringings, Elphaba replies: “Maybe it’s harder for you to make magic because things have been kind of easy for you. So you don’t need it.”
Changing the topic, Glinda asks Elphaba why she chose Fiyero to help her rescue the lion cub instead of her. “I would’ve helped you,” she says. “If you needed someone, you could’ve picked me.”
Sensing Glinda’s upset — and likely trying to hide her true feelings for Fiyero — Elphaba apologizes. “I’m sorry. It was a mistake,” she states. “I won’t leave you behind again.”
The moment leads into the scene in which Elphaba’s invitation to the Emerald City from The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) arrives at Shiz and previews Elphaba inviting Glinda to join her in Oz.
Boq And Elphaba Call Each Other Out
Two of the movie’s deleted scenes take place at the train station before Elphaba and Glinda journey to the Emerald City. While one sees the return of Elphaba’s father, Governor Thropp (Andy Nyman), and nanny, Dulcibear (voiced by Sharon D. Clarke), the other features a heart-to-heart conversation between Elphaba and Boq (Ethan Slater).
Boq informs her that he still has “hope” Glinda will return his affection, but Elphaba shuts down his hopes by questioning him about his true feelings for her sister, Nessarose (Marissa Bode). “Why can’t you just tell my sister the truth?” she asks. Noting that he doesn’t share Nessarose’s love, he tells Elphaba that he doesn’t want to “hurt her.”
“I can’t just change my feelings,” he adds before asking Elphaba, “Could you change yours for Fiyero?” After she denies having a crush on Glinda’s boyfriend, Boq retorts: “Oh, I’m sorry. I misunderstood. I thought we were being honest.”
He gets up to join the rest of the train station crowd as Elphaba is left to think about his comments. This moment hints at more to come for Elphaba and Fiyero in part two.
Working ‘Hand in Hand’
In bonus footage of Elphaba and Glinda walking around the Emerald City, Elphaba encounters the same pop-up book about The Wizard she had in the flashbacks of her childhood. Looking forward to the pair’s meeting, she holds the hand of the cutout Wizard, a nod to “The Wizard and I” lyrics, “As we work hand in hand / The Wizard and I.”
The small interaction could also be a hint at Elphaba and the wizard’s connection in the film’s second half, which hits theaters in November 2025. (Spoilers!)
Isla Fisher rang in 2025 with several days of rest and relaxation.
“This has been the most incredible way to spend the new year. 6 days at Buchinger! @buchingerwilhelmi,” the actress, 48, captioned Instagram photos of herself at the Buchinger Wilhelmi rehabilitation center in Überlingen, Germany, on Thursday, January 2. “Therapeutic fasting, integrative medicine, inspiring treatments for the spirit and soul. Every kind of therapy cocooned in warmth & care — the kindest hands. Everything you repress just comes out, all at once.”
In one snap, Fisher looked at ease while posing in a comfy white robe in front of the clinic’s picturesque Lake Constance backdrop. In addition to sharing a sunset pic of the view, Fisher posed with a head-shaped statue on the grounds in her robe and slippers.
In another Instagram post shared on Tuesday, December 31, Fisher wrote that she was “ending 2024 with gratitude” following her split from estranged husband Sacha Baron Cohen. “For my family and old friends who have supported and loved me, to the new friends who have opened their hearts and homes to me and my children and to those who kept shooting me texts to check in,” she wrote over a selfie. “I love you all and I wish you the happiest 2025.”
Fans and celebrities sent the Australian native well wishes in the post’s comments. “Love you so much. No one funnier or smarter in the room!!” Naomi Watts wrote to Fisher. “Can’t wait to see you in the new year for belly laughs .”
Mary Elizabeth Ellis, meanwhile, commented: “I hope to hug you in person this coming year. Sending love.”
Fisher’s visit to the German wellness center comes nearly nine months after she and Cohen, 53, announced their split after 13 years of marriage. “After a long tennis match lasting over twenty years, we are finally putting our racquets down,” the duo captioned an Instagram Story photo of them dressed in tennis attire in April 2024. “In 2023, we jointly filed to end our marriage.”
They continued: “We have always prioritized our privacy, and have been quietly working through this change. We forever share in our devotion and love for our children. We sincerely appreciate your respecting our family’s wish for privacy.” (The pair share three kids, whom they have kept out of the spotlight over the years.)
At the time of their announcement, a source exclusively told Us Weekly that Fisher and Cohen had “been living separate lives” since initially calling it quits in 2023 “but wanted to give this space and time for their children to be OK with this before the news came out.” The insider also clarified that their divorce had “nothing to do” with Rebel Wilson’s misconduct allegations against Cohen made in her 2024 memoir, Rebel Rising. (Cohen has denied the allegations.)
A second source told Us that the former spouses “furiously argued” over their work-life balance before ending their relationship.
Back in July 2024, Us confirmed that the exes filed a divorce application in England in September 2023 and stated that their marriage had broken down irretrievably in joint paperwork filed three months later.
A source from the London court exclusively told Us in November 2024 that Fisher filed “for financial remedy proceedings to consider how their finances will be divided” two months prior. The proceedings, however, were “put on pause” as she and Cohen were “going into arbitration to try and resolve the financial matters amicably.”
There were only three people Tom Brady wanted to ring in 2025 with: his kids.
“I couldn’t have imagined a better way to ring in the new year than with the loves of my life,” Brady, 47, captioned new photos with his kids Jack, 17, Benjamin, 15, and Vivian, 12, via Instagram on Wednesday, January 1. “Reflecting on last year and thinking about the year ahead, there’s no better perspective than looking at these three and always trying to be better for them each day, and helping to guide them in whatever way possible.”
The former NFL quarterback welcomed Jack with his ex Bridget Moynahan in 2007. After tying the knot with Gisele Bündchen in February 2009, the pair welcomed their first child, Benjamin, that December. They went on to welcome Vivian in 2012 before eventually ending their marriage in October 2022. Bündchen, 44, is now expecting her first child with boyfriend Joaquim Valente.
“I’m so grateful for the experiences, blessings, family, friends, and everyone else who has impacted me along the way,” Brady’s New Year’s caption continued. “I’m so blessed to have joy and gratitude in my life. No year ever goes exactly the way we want, but when I think about 2024, I could not have imagined anything better. So many new experiences that I got to share with amazing people, especially the three beautiful angels in these photos.”
He concluded his post by wishing his fans “a happy [and] healthy 2025,” adding, “And as I tell so many of my loved ones, ‘the best is yet to come!’.”
Fans pointed out the kids’ strong resemblance to their famous parents in the post’s comments, with one fan writing, “Boys look like dad and daughter looks like mom.” Another user joked that Jack “looks like Tom Brady more than Tom Brady does.”
He also went viral for being the subject of his very own Netflix roast special, during which celebrities such as Nikki Glaser, Ben Affleck and Kim Kardashian took digs at his personal life and professional career.
Following the special, Brady noted that he wasn’t thrilled when jokes were aimed at his family.
“I didn’t like the way they affected my kids,” he said on a May episode of the “Pivot Podcast.” He added: “It’s the hardest part about … like, the bittersweet aspect of when you do something that you think is one way and then all of a sudden you realize, ‘I wouldn’t do that again because of the way that it affected actually the people that I care about the most in the world.’”
Brady shared several special moments with his kids throughout 2024, including posting photos of himself and his children via Instagram for his 46th birthday in August and taking his sons to seeTaylor Swift’s Eras Tour in October.
“There’s definitely some challenges and there’s a lot of blessings,” he exclusively told Us Weekly in June 2024. “And I think just us as parents, we’re just trying to help them navigate a little bit. There’s a lot of cool things, a lot of things that are maybe a little tricky, but you just got to deal with it all in the best way you can.”
Brady noted that keeping his kids grounded and “giving them perspective all the time is really important.”
He continued: “They’re kids, so we’re all human. We’re all going through stuff, so they’re going through their own set of unique experiences and you just try to give them the right perspective on the things that you’ve experienced and that you can correlate to their life.”
John Travolta started 2025 with his kids by his side.
The actor, 70, shared a new photo of himself with daughter Ella, 24, and son Ben, 14, via Instagram on Wednesday, January 1. “Happy new year from the Travolta family,” he captioned the family photo.
In the snap, the trio smiled for the camera while posing behind a snowy forest backdrop. While Travolta and Ella sported winter coats and scarves, Ben braved the cold in a navy T-shirt.
“Omg your son is growing like a weed and I love that he’s like a typical teenager always in short sleeves even when it’s cold out lol,” one fan commented on the post. Several other users returned the holiday wishes, with one fan writing, “Beautiful family! And you sir, are as handsome as ever Wishing you peace.”
Another user pointed out the kids’ strong resemblance to their father, stating, “Strong genes lol they both have your face.”
Ella shared more glimpses into her family’s holiday celebrations via her own Instagram. “Merry Christmas everyone, so much love to you all,” she captioned a December 26 slideshow featuring pics of their festive Christmas tree and homemade sweet treats.
While the group opted for a chill holiday this year, they previously celebrated Christmas by going skiing together in December 2023. “Wishing everyone a merry Christmas, from our family to yours,” Ella captioned an Instagram pic of herself, her father and her brother at a ski resort, which Travolta also shared on his profile.
At the time, they followed up the winter sports activity by dressing up for a fancy New Year’s Celebration. “Happy New Year!! Thank you for always being there for us! Love John Ella and Ben!” Travolta wrote alongside an Instagram montage of New Year’s pics and video, which included a clip of Ella dancing in front of a grand Christmas tree in a little black dress.
Travolta’s late wife, Kelly Preston, died of breast cancer at age 57 in July 2020. In addition to Ella and Jack, the couple, who wed in 1991, also shared son Jett, who died at age 16 in 2009 after experiencing a seizure on a family vacation in the Bahamas.
Earlier this year, Ella paid tribute to Preston in the song “Little Bird” off her debut EP, Colors of Love. “[My mother’s death has] definitely been something that I had wanted to communicate and had been thinking about, obviously, for many years,” she shared during a November 8 appearance on the third hour of Today. “I think it’s different for each person, going through loss. But for me, personally, it was just this pure message that I wanted to give to my mom.”
The song’s music video featured home videos of herself and Preston with their family from over the years. “There was a lot of crying, but they were happy tears,” Ella said of gathering the footage for the video. “And I wanted it to be a celebration, too, of her life ‘cause it’s all those best, most happy moments. And that’s how I remember her.”
The EP was a family affair, as Travolta served as a producer on the project. “I love working with my dad. If I could always do it, I would,” Ella gushed. “He’s amazing and he’s so protective because he’s been in the movie industry and the music industry forever, so he knows how to protect me, in that sense.”
The actor, 30, went Instagram official with his girlfriend, Brooke Irvine, on Wednesday, January 1. “Happy New Year to All ,” he captioned a slideshow of photos of the two of them cuddled up, laying together on a palm tree at the beach in one snap and embracing each other at a party in another.
The couple seemingly celebrated the holiday together, as Asghari placed his hand around Irvine’s waist at what looked like a New Year’s Eve party in a Wednesday Instagram Story post. “Happy new year to everyone ,” he wrote alongside the sweet snap.
A source confirmed the pair’s romance to Us Weekly last month, shortly after they were spotted together in West Hollywood in November 2024. The insider noted that the relationship began a few months prior and that Asghari took some time for himself following his divorce from ex-wife Britney Spears.
Prior to beginning his new romance, Asghari exclusively told Us that he was putting his focus on his career instead of his love life. “It deserves that type of work ethic, and watching my sisters do such an amazing thing at pursuing their dreams makes me inspired,” he explained in July 2024. “Watching them work 100 percent makes me realize it’s going to take 100-and-something percent to reach my goals.”
He added: “My goals are always the opposite of my personality,” he said. “That’s gonna require a lot of time, so I’m not really focusing on [dating] at the moment.”
Asghari’s relationship with Irvine marks his first since calling it quits with Spears, 43, after one year of marriage in August 2023. In his divorce filing, Asghari cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split and listed their date of separation as July 28, 2023.
“After 6 years of love and commitment to each other my wife and I have decided to end our journey together,” he wrote in an Instagram Story statement at the time. “We will hold onto the love and respect we have for each other and I wish her the best always.”
In an August 2023 Instagram post of her own, Spears wrote that she “couldn’t take the pain anymore” in their marriage. “I will be as strong as I can and do my best!!! And I’m actually doing pretty damn good!!!” the pop star added.
The exes settled the terms of their split in May 2024 and officially finalized their divorce on Spear’s 43rd birthday last month.
While Asghari seemingly spent the holidays with his girlfriend, Spears reunited with her youngest son, Jayden, 18, on Christmas. “Best Christmas of my life!!! I haven’t seen my boys in 2 years!!!” she captioned a December 25 Instagram video of herself with her son. “Tears of joy and literally in shock everyday [sic] koo koo crazy so in love and blessed!!! I’m speechless thank you Jesus!!!” (She shares Jayden and son Preston, 19, with her ex-husband Kevin Federline.)
Spears gushed about her son in another Instagram post on Tuesday, December 31, writing, “He came back and he feels older and smarter than me!!! He’s a man and I cry everyday [sic] of my life because of the miracle and genius he is!!! When he plays the whole earth shakes!!!”
Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper’s latest CNN New Year’s Eve broadcast came with many memorable moments, but Diplo’s surprise revelation takes the cake.
“I’m so curious, what’s the most conventional place that you’ve done LSD?” Cohen, 56, asked the DJ, 46, in a clip from the Tuesday, December 31, broadcast shared via social media. Diplo, who was video chatting live from Los Angeles, giggled before admitting: “Right now. I did some on the helicopter on the way here. … I’m not even lying.”
His nonchalant response caused Cohen and Cooper, 57, to erupt into shocked laughter. Cooper, for his part, was laughing so hard he couldn’t even speak. “Oh, my God! Hold on, hold on, hold on,” Cohen quipped. “Please tell me — you’re tripping right now?”
Diplo simply replied, “Yeah.” According to The Hollywood Reporter, he went on to explain that he was on a “light trip” after “microdosing” but possibly “macrodosed” earlier that day.
After gathering his composure, Cooper went on to joke: “I wish I was Diplo. I gotta say, I just think he has a fun, cool lifestyle. Can you imagine his lifestyle? ‘I’m Diplo. I do things.’”
Cohen then asked whether Cooper would follow the musician on Instagram after the broadcast. “I’m absolutely going to start. I mean … I feel bad about my own boring life compared to Diplo’s,” Cooper replied. “He’s got helicopters and he’s like doing things. He did, like, four shots while we were talking. … And he’s going to play. How does he work? How does anybody do anything? I’ve had four shots. I just want to go to sleep.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Diplo shared an Instagram Story clip of himself flying over L.A. in a helicopter. He later performed a handful of shows at the Avalon Hollywood nightclub in California.
Back in March 2023, Diplo revealed that he ran the L.A. Marathon while on LSD, having added drops of the substance into a water bottle the night before the big race. He finished with a time of three hours and 35 minutes.
“I do a lot of LSD, but I’m not tripping and looking at the stars going ‘Whaaa?’ I microdose it, maybe a little more,” he told Esquire in May 2023. “I was nervous before the race because 14 miles was the most I had ever ran. But woke up kind of late, put it in my water and drank it on the way to Dodger Stadium. It was maybe half of a tab of acid.”
He attributed his performance to using LSD but noted he “wouldn’t recommend anyone else do it.” He explained: “I wanted to experiment. It made the time go by fast, and the worst thing about running is how boring it is. It’s boring as hell.”
Diplo also told the outlet that he used LSD to “ween” himself off alcohol. “I also don’t like to smoke weed. But I do eat less food than I used to,” he said of his diet. “I still eat bread and meat, dairy. Those are things that don’t affect my body too much. I stay away from sugar. I try to do the basic things, but I do work out an hour or two hours a day, five days a week, if I can. I feel normal when I sweat.”