Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Eva Mendes Once Felt ‘We Own the Night’ Gave Her Indie Cred

Antonio Stallings — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 04:36:00 +0000

Actor Eva Mendes became an A-lister thanks to projects like 2 Fast 2 Furious and Hitch. But she also featured in a couple of smaller projects as well. There was one independent film in particular that gave Mendes some serious credibility as an indie star.

Eva Mendes initially turned down the film that was a career turning point

Eva Mendes | Richard Lewis/WireImage

Mendes worked alongside filmmaker James Gray and Joaquin Phoenix for the first time in We Own the Night. Although she starred in a variety of movies, Mendes never had a prominent role in an indie before. Ironically, she initially turned down the film because the part she was offered lacked depth.

“I said to him, ‘You know I love this, but it’s a bit too ‘victimy’ for me. I’m kind of prancing around wearing cute clothes.’ But he was so adamant and said, ‘I promise you that I will make this better. Once I get you and Joaquin in and we work on developing the characters.’ And I said, ‘Thanks, but no thanks,’” Mendes once said according to Black Film.

However, she asserted that Gray wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“But then he came back to me a year later, and I thought: ‘This dude…there’s got to be something special about him if he’s pursuing me a year later.’ So I said yes, not totally convinced that I was making the right choice. I have to tell you though, hands down, that it’s my favorite experience. My deepest experience in my acting career. I’m thankful to him now,” she said.

The result of which was the first step towards her indie career.

“Now that was the film that gave me street cred, serious indie cred. And here I am,” she said in a resurfaced interview with Stylist.

Whereas her old work like Children of the Corn made her feel like a terrible actor, Mendes thought Gray’s film brought the best out of her.

Eva Mendes hoped that ‘We Own the Night’ opened the door for more interesting movies

Mendes might’ve made more money in bigger films. But she credited We Own the Night for showing audiences what she was capable of. She even felt it was a better showcase for her acting than Training Day, the film that stopped her from quitting acting.

“I’ve never worked at this level before,” she said about the movie according to Female. “Even though I’ve worked with amazing people I’ve never worked on something like this. I did a drama once. The first kind of thing that broke me out was Training Day, but I only had two scenes in that. Not to minimize that but it was on so much of a lesser scale. The movie wasn’t but my scenes were. I barely spoke in that one, even though it got me a lot of attention. I’ve never been pushed and challenged like this on a daily basis before.”

Mendes also hoped that We Own the Night would eventually afford her the opportunity to do the kind of art her contemporaries were known for.

“I hope that it allows people to think about me in ways that they haven’t been able to before. And I hope that I get more dramatic opportunities. Not just dramatic, I would love to do another romantic comedy. I’d love to do a musical. I love the whole gamut. But I want to be considered for things that Kate Winslet considered for – absolutely. I’m so in love with her. She is so amazing. I think she’s spectacular,” she said.

Speaking with Cinema, Mendes further gushed that the film helped her rediscover her love of acting.

“I was doing rehearsals with Joaquin and James and I was feeling something I’d never felt before and I don’t know, maybe it’s because it’s a drama and I found what I love, I’ve found my niche. We were rehearsing and it felt really good, maybe it was because there wasn’t a camera,” she said.

Blake Shelton Paid $40K for a Role in a Mark Wahlberg Film

Emma McKee — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 03:51:00 +0000

Blake Shelton has made his career as a country singer, but he’s looking to expand into film. At an auction, Shelton spent big money on the opportunity to appear in a Mark Wahlberg movie. Here’s what the country star said about his win at the charity auction.

Blake Shelton paid to appear in a film

In 2024, Shelton performed at the Keep Memory Alive’s 27th Annual Power of Love Gala in Las Vegas. Before this, though, Shelton participated in a live auction, bidding on a walk-on role in a future Wahlberg movie. He spent $40,000.

“I don’t know if you guys saw the auction earlier,” he said when he took the stage to perform, per People. “This is maybe the last time I’m ever gonna perform country music.”

Blake Shelton | Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Shelton joked that he was committing fully to the career pivot.

“I’m a movie star now,” he said. “I’m not f***ing around.”

He said it has been a relief to step away from ‘The Voice’

Shelton looks forward to this on-camera role, but he’s feeling relieved to have stepped away from another. Shelton decided not to return to season 24 of The Voice.

“This show has changed my life in every way for the better and it will always feel like home to me,” he said in a press release, per Us Weekly. “It’s been a hell of a ride over these 12 years of chair turns and I want to thank everyone at The Voice from NBC, every producer, the writers, musicians, crew, and catering people, you are the best.”

Shelton said it was not an easy decision, as he loved working as a coach on The Voice. Ultimately, though, he wanted to be able to spend more time with his family. Shelton believes this was the best choice for him.

“It’s been such a relief to have more flexibility with his schedule,” a source said. “Seeing Blake ultra-relaxed and in family mode is so endearing to Gwen and reminds her what a catch he is.”

Blake Shelton’s wife has had a bigger film career than him

Shelton’s wife, Gwen Stefani, might be able to show him the ropes on his new career path. The No Doubt singer has appeared in a handful of films. She admitted it was hard to let go of creative control while working on The Aviator.

“I would have done it a little differently,” she told Vogue. “I’m always in control of my hair and makeup. I was like, ‘Are you sure you want the lips to be that thin? Jean Harlow’s were bigger than that. It’s not like I didn’t read two biographies and watch eighteen of her movies before I got here.’”

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani | Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AFI

Still, she felt confident that she had the ability to work as an actor.

“The whole acting thing really feels like something I could do,” she said. “Whenever I’ve done it, whenever I had moments where it works, it’s just like performing. You hit a moment. And that’s what movies are: a series of moments.”

Nathan Fillion Would’ve Liked ‘Castle’ to Last 6 Years so It Could End Strong

Antonio Stallings — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 03:46:00 +0000

Actor Nathan Fillion’s hit television series Castle enjoyed an eight-season run before its divisive series finale. A couple of years before the show’s last air date, however, Fillion revealed when he thought might be the right time to end the show.

Nathan Fillion hoped that ‘Castle’ knew when to wrap it up

Nathan Fillion | Richard Cartwright / Getty Images

Castle’s series finale was the best showrunner Alexi Hawley could do after being somewhat blindsided by the procedural’s cancellation. The ending Hawley shot, showing Fillion’s Rick Castle and Stana Katic’s Kate Beckett as a healthy married couple with a family, left too many unanswered questions. Fillion also seemed to agree with fans who didn’t think Castle earned its happy ending.

“It wasn’t the beautiful send-off that I think maybe you could hope for,” Fillion said in a resurfaced interview with The New York Post. “It’s the entertainment industry, it’s a business, I get it. I don’t take it personally when a show gets canceled — I can’t take it personally, all my shows gets canceled! Look at my resume, it’s a long list of canceled TV shows.”

But Fillion clarified that the series’ disappointing ending didn’t nullify the great experiences he had on the show.

“The fact is, I made a lot of great friends on a really great show,” he said. “I’m really happy for everything that that show has done for me.”

Fillion had a lot to be proud of when it came to Castle. At its peak, it was its network’s highest-rated show. Its longevity was also a good measure of its success since it was Fillion’s longest-running show. He was proud of Firefly, but it didn’t last nearly as long as Castle, and he felt it was treated as a problem show by its network. The Rookie, however, seems likely to catch up to Castle, as the show’s currently in its seventh season and still going strong. But the Superman star once considered how long Castle should actually run for. Its ideal end point might’ve been a bit sooner than eight seasons.

“I would like to do six years – maybe seven years, if it’s strong enough at that point – and then wrap it up,” he said. “Six years would be great, wouldn’t it? I would love to end strong.”

Ironically, Castle lasted about seven years, airing from 2009 to 2016. Fillion was worried that the show’s quality would decline if it ran too long, which happened with many shows that lasted past its expiration date. He credited shows airing in England for typically having short seasons and rarely overstaying their welcome.

“I think something that you guys here [in the UK] do really well is take shows, have incredible stories and then finish strong and wrap them up,” Fillion once told Digital Spy. “That’s something I can really appreciate. What I don’t want to see happen to Castle is… I don’t want to see it peter out and die a slow death, and be forced out.”

In the end, however, that might’ve been exactly what happened to Castle.

Nathan Fillion felt he was wrong about this 1 thing about the show’s natural ending

Fillion believed Rick Castle’s relationship with Kate Beckett was what drew in many Castle fans. For much of the series, a romance was teased between Fillion and his co-star Katic. But Fillion was always adamant that making Castle and Beckett a couple would’ve meant the end of the show.

But the pairing would officially happen long before the series ended. After Castle and Beckett got together, Castle showrunners proved to Fillion that there were still more stories in the show to tell. Which Fillion acknowledged in an interview with Playboy.

“I’m the guy who said, ‘Don’t put Castle and Beckett together, because that will be the end of it. That’s the end.’ People watch because they don’t want them to be together, but at the same time how long can you wait for two people to finally… Yeah, remember how wrong I was about that? I’m going to reserve my opinion for the future. I’m going to just kick back and wait and watch and see what happens. My hope is that there’s no natural end point. That we can continue as long as we want to. That would be nice,” he said.

Fillion wasn’t completely wrong, though. The relationship between Castle and Beckett wouldn’t last, with the show’s writers coming up with creative ways to pull the couple apart. It wasn’t until Beckett and Castle were shown in a seemingly stable relationship, as husband and wife, that the show felt comfortable ending.

‘Married at First Sight’: Did David Cheat on Michelle?

Megan Elliott — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 03:35:00 +0000

Married at First Sight is dropping more clues about the cheating scandal that rocked the season 18 cast. The Lifetime show has been teasing a hookup between two people who aren’t married to each other, potentially leading to the show’s first-ever couples swap. The identity of the people who stray is still a mystery, but a teaser for an upcoming episode offers some pretty clear evidence as to who breaks their marriage vows.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Jan. 14 episode of Married at First Sight Season 18.]

Michelle calls out David for sexting another woman

Michelle and David’s relationship has been rocky since their wedding night. Michelle has been disappointed with David’s sense of style, living situation, and what she sees as his lack of ambition. David has been getting more and more frustrated as Michelle continually rejects his attempts to work on their marriage. Still, they’ve managed to make some progress, unlike fellow Chicago couple Emem and Ikechi, whose relationship has completely broken down. In the Jan. 14 episode of Married at First Sight, Michelle took her husband shopping for a new wardrobe, and they both opened up about their childhood during a session with MAFS expert Dr. Pepper Schwartz.

Unfortunately, any hopes that Michelle and David might salvage their marriage are likely to be short-lived. In a teaser for the next episode, Michelle confronts her husband after she receives a suspicious text message.

“I got a very interesting text message from you last night,” she says. “What was that about?”

We don’t see David’s reply, but later, Michelle again brings up the text.

“Married people don’t go on dates with other women and they don’t sext other women,” she tells her husband.

“I’m not sexting anybody,” he replies.

“Well, for the record, you’re lying,” Michelle says as she gets up to leave.

David isn’t admitting to messaging another woman. But Michelle is convinced that’s exactly what is going on.

“My gut says that he accidentally texted me and that was for somebody else,” she tells her friend.

Does David cheat with ‘Married at First Sight’ Chicago cast member Madison?

If Michelle is right and David is sending racy texts to someone else, the question is who is on the receiving end of those messages. Assuming it’s another MAFS cast member as the show has teased, there’s really only one likely candidate: Madison.

Madison is married to Allen, but their relationship has been rocky as well. In this week’s episode, they had a serious argument about Allen’s decision to drink and drive. And during a session with Dr. Pepper, Madison basically admitted that even though she thought Allen was a good guy, she wasn’t attracted to him. During that conversation, Allen made a telling comment.

“I don’t want to fit a square peg into a round hole,” he said. “Because I see how natural it is for you to interact with everybody else, like the girls, maybe David or something. It’s like an instant, natural hug.”

Allen’s obviously picked up on a vibe between Madison and David. And a few weeks ago, David mentioned that he was working out with Madison, who’d previously said that she wanted Allen to spend more time in the gym. David has also talked about liking blonde women, and Madison fits that description.

Other teasers for MAFS Season 18 show Allen angrily kicking a kitchen cabinet, suggesting that he and Madison have a major blowup about something. Plus, the other cast members seem less likely to be unfaithful to their spouses. Camille and Thomas are building a solid connection. Ikechi is mostly checked out of the Married at First Sight process, while Emem is still fighting for her broken marriage. Karla and Thomas aren’t always on the same page, but neither seems likely to get involved with one of the other cast members. At this point, it looks like the odds are that David and Madison are the season 18 cheaters, and that Allen and Michelle are the jilted spouses.

New episodes of Married at First Sight Season 18 air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Lifetime.

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Kate Middleton Reveals What She ‘Needed’ During Cancer Treatment

Mandi Kerr — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 02:49:00 +0000

Kate Middleton is opening up about her cancer treatment. The Princess of Wales, 43, recently visited the same hospital where she received cancer treatment in 2024. During her visit, Kate shared the two things she “needed” during treatment.

Kate visited the Royal Marsden Hospital after receiving treatment there in 2024

In her first appearance of 2025 on Jan. 14, 2025, Kate returned to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, England, the same place she received cancer treatment in 2024. The visit came after Kate and her husband, Prince William, 42, were named co-patrons of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.

“I wanted to come and show my support for the amazing work that’s going on here and for those who are going through treatment and having such a hard time,” Kate told the mother of a patient during her visit (via Hello! Magazine).

Kate announced she’d been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer in March 2024. In a short video at the time, she shared that doctors discovered it following a planned abdominal surgery in January 2024.

Kate spent the rest of the year largely out of the spotlight save for a handful of appearances. Meanwhile, her father-in-law, King Charles III also dealt with his own cancer diagnosis, which he too never shared specifics on.

What Kate Middleton ‘needed’ during cancer treatment: sun and water

While talking to patients and their loved ones, Kate opened up about her own cancer treatment, sharing what she “needed” at the time. Nothing complicated or costly, the future queen said she “needed” lots of sun and water. “I really felt like I needed to get the sun,” Kate said, per the outlet. “You need loads of water and loads of sunlight.”

Kate previously announced she’d completed treatment in an unusually personal video posted to her and the Prince of Wales’s social media accounts in September 2024. It showed the couple, along with their children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, spending time outside. (Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, also briefly appeared.)

In a voice-over, Kate shared how it had been a “relief” to complete treatment. Furthermore, that the last nine months were “complex, scary, and unpredictable.” However, it “reminded” her and William “to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.”

Kate added that she had a “long” way to go to make a “full recovery.”

Kate Middleton is in remission but not fully back to royal duties

Kate Middleton | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Four months since Kate announced she’s “cancer-free” and the future queen is easing back into royal duties after saying she’s in remission in an Instagram post following her hospital visit. Kensington Palace hasn’t issued a specific return date for the royal mother of three.

Instead, Kate’s slowly ramping up her schedule with more engagements. December 2024 included two big ones on Kate’s calendar—her annual carol concert and the royal family’s Christmas walk to church.

Kate is reportedly trying to “balance” royal duties with her ongoing recovery. At the same time, she’s made surprise appearances which, according to royal commentators, give her a certain level of “flexibility.”

John David Washington Quipped He Was Disappointed Zendaya Wasn’t Like Her ‘Euphoria’ Character

Antonio Stallings — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 02:48:00 +0000

Zendaya played John David Washington’s wife in Malcolm & Marie, a film that had some questioning if they were together in real life, too. However, thanks to her convincing role in the HBO series Euphoria, Washington expected to meet a completely different Zendaya.

John David Washington joked that he was disappointed Zendaya wasn’t like her ‘Euphoria’ character

Zendaya | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Washington had little exposure to Zendaya when the pair first collaborated in Malcolm & Marie. The only project he saw her in was Euphoria, where Zendaya plays a 17-year-old drug addict. Although Washington was a bit unfamiliar with her work, he confided that he formed an immediate bond with his co-star.

“When we met, we instantly connected. She was wearing her hoodie and glasses and no makeup. She struck me instantly as a quiet, powerful force,” Washington said in an interview with W.

But Washington did admit he had certain preconceived notions about Zendaya because of the show. So much so that he was surprised Zendaya couldn’t really relate to her Euphoria counterpart Rue Bennett.

“Watching Euphoria, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I wonder what she’s been through in real life. Something happened,’” Washington told IMDb. “I’m like, ‘Ok, she’s digging from a place.’ [She] ain’t never drank, smoked nothing in her life. I was almost let down. And then I got extremely insecure, like, ‘You’ve never done nothing? Oh my god.’”

John David Washington felt like a rookie working with Zendaya

Malcolm & Marie seemed to be the exact type of movie that Zendaya was interested in tackling as she got older. She spent the majority of her career playing teenagers, a fact she acknowledged. Even perhaps her most popular role in the HBO series Euphoria didn’t see Zendaya graduate past high school, despite being in her 20s.

“And I get that, I get the Rue of it all, and that totally works and has worked for me, but also I am not a child. And at some point you have to play characters that are your own age and have experiences that you don’t have — for example, having children or getting married. While those are all things I want and I’m looking forward to, they just haven’t happened quite yet,” Zendaya said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

Malcolm & Marie gave Zendaya the opportunity to break the pattern. Playing Washington’s wife, Zendaya found a character that was close to her own age. Still, that didn’t stop some critics from complaining about the age difference between herself and her co-star. In an interview with Variety, however, Washington explained why he paid little attention to the criticism. Although Washington was 36 years old at the time of filming, Zendaya was 24. And he was confident skeptics would see just how mature Zendaya was for the film. Additionally, Washington asserted that Zendaya actually had more years on him when it came to the movie industry.

“People are going to see in this film how much of a woman she is. She has far more experience than I do in the industry. I’ve only been in it for seven years. She’s been in it longer, so I’m learning from her. I’m the rookie. I was leaning on her for a lot,” Washington said. “Some of the stories she’s shared about what she’s had to go through with Twitter and everything. I appreciated her wisdom and discernment when it comes to this business. I admire that.”

Striking Similarity to Princess Charlotte Seen in Recent Photo of Prince Harry and Meghan’s Daughter Princess Lilibet

Michelle Kapusta — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 02:02:00 +0000

There was a lot of buzz when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s 2024 holiday card was released in December.

The duke and duchess’s card featured a few snaps of the pair on various trips they took throughout the year and one pic of them with their two children. In the shot with the Sussexes’ kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have their backs to the cameras and are running to Harry and Meghan’s arms.

Many royal watchers noticed something about Lilibet in that photo that’s just like her cousin, Princess Charlotte. Here’s more on that and why the photo caused controversy.

Prince Harry and Meghan were accused of editing the image with the children

Of course, as with everything the Sussexes do, the photos were dissected and analyzed by social media users who quickly noticed that the pic with their children appeared to be edited. Therefore, much like the wrath the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) received months earlier after she released a card that was deemed “heavily edited,” fans began pointing out every oddity in the photo.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have released their official 2024 Christmas card Spot the heartwarming image of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle embracing Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

: Archewell pic.twitter.com/B4iMYbIruq
— HELLO! Canada (@HelloCanada) December 16, 2024

Several people stated that the image was blurry, prompting one X user to ask: “In this day and age, with the quality of cameras, is this blurred [picture] the best they could achieve? What are they hiding?”

Others focused on the height of the children as a sign of manipulation inquiring why at 3 years old, Lili is just as tall as her big brother who is 5 years old. Several people also noticed something wasn’t right with Lili’s left foot and shoe, saying: “Is that little girl wearing built-up shoes?”

Other users called attention to how unusually long Meghan’s arm looked and something strange about her posture. The upper half of the duchess’s body is turned one way while her bottom half is going the other way, leading one person to write: “Her lower half is facing Lili but her top half is turned towards Archie for a hug” and “It looks disconnected from the body. The legs are facing Lili but her upper body is reaching out to Archie. It’s a tough pose to make. Try it without falling down.”

Moreover, it was noted that both parents and Archie are dressed for cooler temperatures in long sleeves and sweaters while Lili is in a summer dress.

How Princess Lilibet’s photo resembles what we’ve seen Princess Charlotte wearing

Princess Charlotte arrives with Prince William at the Lindo Wing, St. Mary’s hospital to meet her little brother Prince Louis | Karwai Tang/WireImage

Edited or not, fans gushed over Princess Lilibet’s outfit in the snap as it reminded many of the same style her cousin has worn several times in the past.

Lilibet’s floral dress bears a striking similarity to those Charlotte has donned over the years.

Express noted that the Prince and Princess of Wales’ daughter has been photographed numerous times out and about in a flower-print dress. In 2017, she was seen wearing a nearly identical outfit with matching white socks as she arrived in Germany with her parents. The following year, Princess Charlotte wore a similar outfit when she and Prince George escorted their father to St. Mary’s Hospital after their mom delivered their little brother, Prince Louis. Then, in 2019, she sported a blue floral for an official photo.

And even over the last couple of years, Charlotte has continued to favor the style including twice in 2023. She opted for her go-to floral print for an Easter Sunday service and during the Wimbledon tennis men’s finals she attended with her parents and Prince George.

Princess Charlotte attends the traditional Easter Sunday Mattins Service alongside her mom, Kate Middleton, at St. George’s Chapel | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Social media users loved how the princesses seem to have the same style when it comes to their attire.

One person wrote on Facebook: “Beautiful girls like their beautiful mothers.”

A second added: “I think there is a similarity. And they are both beautiful young girls.”

A third agreed and opined that not only do Charlotte and Lilibet look alike but they also remind them of another royal, positing: “I think they do resemble one another they look like Queen Elizabeth.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Are ‘Offended’ and Firing Back After Being Dubbed ‘Disaster Tourists’ Who Took ‘Morbid’ Fire Tour

Michelle Kapusta — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:47:00 +0000

It’s been said that “no good deed goes unpunished” and that may be the case for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after the couple made headlines for touring areas of Los Angeles County that have been ravaged by several wildfires.

The former working royals were photographed on Jan. 10 at the Pasadena Convention Center with Mayor Victor M. Gordo where they spoke with residents who lost everything.

When news broke that the prince and former Suits star, who live about 90 miles away in Montecito, were in town to “survey the damage” their critics came out in full force. But now the Sussexes are responding to the backlash.

Prince Harry and Meghan dubbed ‘disaster tourists’ by actor

Because everything Meghan and Harry do is analyzed and dissected, there was an immediate reaction and some on social media were disgusted about the coverage the Sussexes got for visiting the evacuation center.

Family Ties alum Justine Bateman was one the first people to publicly criticize the pair on X calling them “disaster tourists” and likening them to “ambulance chasers” only showing up at the site to “achieve a repulsive photo op.” And about their “tour of the damage” the actor asked: “Are they politicians now?”

Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers. What a repulsive "photo op" they achieved. They are "touring the damage"? Are they politicians now? They don't live here; they are tourists.
Disaster Tourists. #PalisadesFire https://t.co/Kv6v6jSX4y
— Justine Bateman (@JustineBateman) January 12, 2025

But it wasn’t just Bateman, several commentators agreed with her assessment including To Di for Daily podcast host Kinsey Schofield.

After some compared what Harry and Meghan did to what Prince William and the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) have done in the U.K. following disasters, Schofield had a message for Sussexes about their “morbid” LA fire tour.

During an episode of Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered, she reminded everyone that the U.S. doesn’t have royals and argued: “Our ashes are not your royal engagement.”

Schofield explained that there were plenty of other ways Meghan and Harry could have helped without being “in the way” and jumping in front of a camera which took focus off the victims of the tragedy, adding: “Inserting yourself at ground zero and rubbernecking amongst someone else’s devastation, it’s turned a lot of people off … To some [what they did] seems entirely self-serving.”

Commentator Megyn Kelly also took aim at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their visit during her show insisting that they went to Pasadena for only reason was “to get their faces back on camera to improve their image. They want people to think well of them … They made sure they got on camera. They made sure their names got in the press and that was the name of the game [for them].”

The Sussexes find the criticism they have received ‘offensive’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit a local farming family in Dubbo, Australia | Chris Jackson – Pool/Getty Images

However, a source close to the duke and duchess don’t think the criticism they have received is fair or warranted and have fired back.

The source responded telling Page Six: “It’s offensive to Meghan and Harry that anybody would think this is merely a photo opportunity. Meghan was born and raised in Los Angeles so this is, and always will be, home to her.”

The insider added therefore Meghan is “not just a tourist” and “her heart is completely broken for all the lives that have been lost and for those whose homes have been destroyed in these fires.”

The source went on to say that the Sussexes have “invested significant time and resources. They have donated money and essential items” and “they have also dedicated countless hours to volunteering, long before the media even caught wind of their involvement.”

Taylor Swift Renovates Mansion After Betting Experts Believe That’s Where She’ll Get Married

Lauren Weiler — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 23:36:31 +0000

Taylor Swift is making big changes to her home in Rhode Island. Swift bought the mansion in Westerly’s Watch Hill neighborhood in 2013 and hosted several Independence Day parties there in the past. According to building permits, Swift has major plans for the residence. Here’s what to know — and what betting experts previously said about Swift possibly choosing the location for a wedding.

A building permit shows Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island home is undergoing major renovations

Taylor Swift’s iconic Rhode Island home serves as the perfect New England summer getaway. She bought the 11,000-square-foot mansion, which sits at the highest point on Watch Hill, in 2013 for $17.75 million. The eight-bedroom, 10-bathroom property boasts eight fireplaces and 700 feet of private beachfront property. It sits on 5.23 acres.

According to building permits from December 2024, Swift hired contractors to build an addition. The permit notes that the mansion will have a new 16-by-24-foot bedroom and bathrooms added. Additionally, she wants kitchen renovations. The total cost of the renovations is about $1.7 million.

A clip shared by a fan on TikTok shows the renovations in action as crews work on Swift’s home from the outside, seemingly building the addition. One fan commented on the clip and seemed to have more information regarding what the permits say.

“Kitchen remodel and enlarging a bedroom suite by turning the current bedroom into a bathroom/lounge and re-adding the bedroom (additional 400 square feet),” the fan wrote. “Building permits are public record.”

Other fans guessed that Swift might be adding a recording studio to the estate. Other guesses included a possible baby room now that she and Travis Kelce are more serious than ever. Swift hasn’t publicly said anything about the renovations. She also owns properties in Beverly Hills, New York City, and Nashville.

Betting experts think Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce could tie the knot at her Rhode Island home

Taylor Swift’s home in the background during the eye of the Tropical Storm Henri in Westerly, Rhode Island, on Aug. 22, 2021 | Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce haven’t revealed their plans. But fans of the famous couple predict they could get engaged in 2025. So, if Kelce and Swift decide to pursue an engagement, where will they have the wedding? According to betting experts from Sportscasting.com, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and New York are the top locations. Experts think the couple has a 33% chance of tying the knot in Rhode Island.

“Kelce’s hometown of Ohio could be an outside option at 16/1, while with Swift having links and homes in New York and Tennessee, these states will be praying they hear wedding bells to get the added attention,” spokesman Andy Newton noted. “However, the word on the street is that Rhode Island, where Swift has a $17 million beach-fronted mansion and grounds, has already been discussed by the pair as their top-favored wedding venue, and so I’m with the bookies here and will side with the smallest U.S. state grabbing all the headlines.”

The pop queen allegedly wants a summer wedding

A source told Life & Style that Taylor Swift wants to have a summer wedding — and Rhode Island could serve as the perfect state.

“Taylor has her heart set on a summer wedding,” the insider said. “She’s already narrowed down her picks for her bridal gown and two other designer dresses she wants to wear.”

The source added that Travis Kelce and Swift “agreed on a lavish outdoor ceremony and celebration at her place in Rhode Island” and hope to be “surrounded by family and close friends.” Of course, with the high-profile couple and their A-list friends, security will be at an all-time high. “There’s talk of banning phones,” the insider continued, “and having everyone sign NDAs to keep the day as private as possible.”

This article was originally reported by The Providence Journal.

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Jay-Z Has ‘Zero Loyalty’ to Diddy and ‘Scrubbed’ the Mogul ‘From His Existence’ Post-Allegations, Source Says

Lauren Weiler — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 23:22:36 +0000

Jay-Z, real name Shawn Corey Carter, found himself in hot water following allegations involving him and Sean “Diddy” Combs. According to a lawsuit set forth by an anonymous plaintiff, Jay-Z and Combs raped her when she was 13 years old at an MTV VMA afterparty in 2000. In light of the allegations, Jay-Z is allegedly trying to distance himself from Combs.

Jay-Z allegedly has ‘zero loyalty’ to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs amid allegations

Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs had a friendly relationship before Combs’ arrest in September 2024. However, the true nature of their friendship is largely unknown. While the hip-hop moguls ran in the same social and professional circles (and Jay-Z attended Combs’ birthday party), Jay-Z is allegedly trying to distance himself from Combs after Combs’ arrest. Agents arrested Combs for racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution, and he heads to trial in May 2025.

Jay-Z vehemently denied the allegations outlined in a lawsuit against him. The allegations state he and Combs raped a 13-year-old in 2000. A source told DailyMail.com that Jay-Z has “zero loyalty” to Combs and will do what it takes to “clear his name.”

“Jay-Z would absolutely throw Diddy under the bus if that is what it took to clear his name and walk away from this,” the insider alleged. “He has zero loyalty to Diddy. The moment Diddy was arrested, Jay-Z scrubbed him from his existence. He is going after [lawyer Tony] Buzbee for himself and not for anyone else.” Tony Buzbee is a Texas-based lawyer representing the woman with allegations against Jay-Z and Combs.

“The only thing that he cares about is him never stepping foot inside a jail cell and his family being safe,” the insider continued. “Jay-Z is extremely powerful and will deploy any tactic necessary.”

A second source verified that Jay-Z plans to do what it takes to defend himself.

“Jay-Z is more than ready to throw Diddy under the bus to defend himself if that is what it takes and doesn’t want anything to do with his lawsuits,” the second source told the publication. “Any notion that Jay is trying to help Diddy by going after Tony Buzbee is false. He doesn’t care about Diddy.”

Jay-Z allegedly felt ‘appalled’ by the video of the mogul attacking Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Jay-Z attend the Pre-Grammy Gala and Grammy Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on Jan. 25, 2020 | Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

In late 2024, footage showing Sean “Diddy” Combs attacking then-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura leaked. The footage appeared to show Combs running out of his hotel room in a towel and physically assaulting Ventura. Federal prosecutors used the video to show how Combs was a danger to women.

The second source who spoke to DailyMail.com said Jay-Z felt “appalled” by the video footage.

“Jay was appalled by the Cassie video, which is why he is adamant that he and Diddy weren’t friends, as he didn’t really know what he was capable of,” the source explained. “The video was a deciding factor for Jay when announcing that he and Diddy weren’t close.”

However, defense attorney Alex Shapiro claimed that the prosecutors “invented” the narrative with the footage. He claimed the video “omits footage corroborating the defense account,” according to ABC News.

Defense lawyer Alex Shapiro explained how his client has ‘nothing to do with’ Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

Jay-Z’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, told Us Weekly that his client “has nothing to do with” Sean “Diddy” Combs. According to Spiro, Jay-Z and Combs’ relationship was purely professional.

“Mr. Carter has nothing to do with Mr. Combs’ case or Mr. Combs,” Spiro said. “They knew each other professionally for a number of years. Just like in all professions, people know each other. At the music awards, they support each other. If you go to the NBA All-Star game, they support each other. That’s just how professions work. There is no closer association between any of them. That’s also a matter of fiction.”

How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.

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