#MAGFAB: Gigi Hadid Covers ELLE’s March 2023 Issue
In ELLE’s March 2023 cover story, photographed by Mario Sorrenti, Gigi Hadid shows that through tears, joy, and hard work, the model-turned-designer is reimagining her life.
This year has given Hadid the chance to find ways of working that help her feel whole—and the ability to show the world elements of herself that haven’t made it into the photos. Last fall, Hadid, 27, launched Guest In Residence, a line of cashmere classics with a spin, built around the idea that key staples meant to be kept and worn for years are inherently sustainable. She is also starting a new role as a co-host in Netflix’s reality competition Next in Fashion, alongside Tan France, with season two debuting next month.
When ELLE associate editor Adrienne Gaffney asks what is it that you wouldn’t know about her from the headlines or social media posts, Hadid pauses and, unexpectedly, her eyes well with tears. “What does the world not know about me? I don’t know. I’m getting emotional [thinking about it]. I think that I’m someone who you have to be in front of to experience. It’s not hard. This isn’t a complaint. It’s more that in my job, you see a lot of snapshots,” she says. She wipes away the tears and kindly excuses my apology for bringing them on. “No, it’s fine. Apparently, I needed to say it. There are a lot of snapshots and really quick moments where, again, there’s not a lot of context given.”
On hosting for new Netflix show Next in Fashion alongside Tan France and how it has allowed her to show another side of herself—her ‘goofy’ side— to people: She’s a reality competition completist and France is a friend, so “it felt like a safe place for me to take the plunge,” she says. “But Netflix was not easy on me. They really put me through an audition process. I respected that, and it made me feel good when I got the job. I felt like I had earned it in their eyes, and so that gave me the confidence to go for it. You get a sense of impostor syndrome and you’re like, ‘Okay, are they just giving me this show because I have a lot of followers?’ The fact that they really questioned my intentions for being on the show helped me jump into it headfirst. If they think that I can do it, then that gives me more confidence than maybe I would’ve had otherwise.” The show has helped draw out seemingly hidden traits in Hadid as well: “People say I’m funny. I don’t know, but I think that the more time I’m given, then the more I’m able to be goofy.”
On landing the tricky balance between discretion and disclosure that fame requires and how it is a matter of trial and error that she’s been fine-tuning for nearly a decade: “I’ve had early experiences where you learn how the world reacts when you share things in certain ways. Sometimes you just leave some- thing feeling like you were taken out of context. Or just feel like you revealed too much, and it was taken advantage of. Whatever those learning-the-hard-way experiences are, you grow a certain skin,” she says.
On advice from Serena Williams that has helped her get through the scrutiny and criticism: “realizing that nothing really matters. Serena Williams once told me, ‘Nothing stays in the press longer than three weeks.’ You can feel like your life is ending,” Hadid notes, but “if it’s a mistake, then it will pass. I think it’s about not taking yourself that seriously and being like, ‘When I am on my deathbed, I’m not going to remember that one awkward interview from when I was 19.’”
On what people wouldn’t know about her from the headlines or social media posts: She pauses and, unexpectedly, her eyes well with tears. “What does the world not know about me? I don’t know. I’m getting emotional [thinking about it]. I think that I’m someone who you have to be in front of to experience. It’s not hard. This isn’t a complaint. It’s more that in my job, you see a lot of snapshots,” she says. She wipes away the tears and kindly excuses my apology for bringing them on. “No, it’s fine. Apparently, I needed to say it. There are a lot of snapshots and really quick moments where, again, there’s not a lot of context given.”
Donatella Versace on Hadid: “She has incredible presence as a woman, an inner strength that shines within her. She is also one of the kindest women I know, and family is so important to her—like it is to me.”
Tommy Hilfiger, who worked with Hadid on a series of Tommy x Gigi capsule collections, on Hadid: “Throughout her career, she’s had so many fantastic achievements, but it’s her kind personality and down-to-earth energy that have made her stand out from the rest.” He adds that he’s not surprised to see her leading her own brand.
#RHOA: NeNe Leakes Ordered To Pay Photographer $1k After Blowing Off Lawsuit Over Alleged Debt
Ex-Real Housewives of Atlanta star NeNe Leakes has been ordered to cough up $1,150 to a photographer who claimed they were stiffed by the reality star, RadarOnline.com has learned.
According to court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, a hearing was held on February 9 as part of the lawsuit brought by Photography by Ace LLC.
The court granted the motion for a default judgment after NeNe failed to respond to the lawsuit despite being served with the legal papers.
The court order noted, “Defendant failed to appear.” As a result, the judge awarded Photography by Ace a total of $1k in principal and another $150 for court costs. The default judgment will continue to grow with interest until NeNe pays it in full.
As RadarOnline.com first reported, last year, Photography by Ace filed a lawsuit against NeNe and her club, The Linnethia Lounge.
The photography company said it had worked at the club on multiple dates. It invoiced NeNe and the club for the work but never received payment.
The first invoice was for a total of $500 for work done on October 30 and 31, 2021 for a brunch and a Falcons Halloween party. The second invoice was for $500 related to work done on November 12 and 13, 2021.
Despite numerous demands, Photography by Ace said NeNe finally responded that she “no longer is communicating on this matter.” The company said NeNe claimed the photography company did not work for her or her lounge.
The company grew tired of waiting and decided to take the matter to court. It hired a process server to track down NeNe outside her $1.8 million condo in Atlanta.
The process server told the court they handed the legal documents to NeNe after she exited her Blue 2020 Rolls Royce. “I delivered the documents to Linnethia Leakes with identity confirmed by the subject saying yes when named. The individual accepted service with direct delivery,” the server wrote.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, NeNe is also dealing with a separate lawsuit brought by her current boyfriend’s ex-wife who accuses her of playing a role in her marriage’s demise. NeNe and her boyfriend have denied the allegations.
#MusicNews: Mario Featuring Ty Dolla $ign “Used To Me”
Check out the brand new single from Mario called “Used To Me” featuring Ty Dolla $ign. The song was produced by D’Mile and written by Mario himself.
LISTEN HERE
The veteran singer is currently working on an upcoming album that has yet to be officially announced.
#HipHopNews: Charleston White Goes Off On ‘B!tch-Ass’ J. Prince: ‘Suck My D*ck’
Charleston White has posted a number of increasingly aggressive rants aimed at J. Prince, his sons and their affiliates in response to a cancelled Houston appearance over the weekend.
The YouTube star and former gang member’s tirade started on Saturday (February 18), after rumors began circulating that a scheduled comedy show of his was cancelled, purportedly due to his strained relationship with J. Prince. In an effort to disprove the fake news, White posted a flyer for a youth mentoring event in which he was scheduled to participate.
“The internet is lying,” he wrote in the caption. “I did not have a show in Houston and Houston Police Department @houstonpolice did not contact me and cancel anything. @jprincerespect nor his fictitious Mob Ties gangsters stop me from coming to Houston, Texas locking in with @mrs.pap57 and her organization Parent’s Against Predators.”
However, after reposting the flyer several times, tagging some of the outlets and media personalities who had shared the rumors about the comedy show, Charleston White shared a screenshot confirming that Sonia Parker, the organizer of the community event, had in fact been told to cancel his involvement in the event.
Since being pulled from the lineup at Parents Against Predators’ Youth Mentoring Day, Charleston White has posted a number of lengthy videos taunting J. Prince and calling out the Houston Police for allowing him to influence their actions.
In one video reposted by a Twitter user, White brandishes a variety of firearms, while declaring that he’s prepared to “go to war” with anyone, including law enforcement authorities.
“Houston Police Department: I see y’all scared of Rap-A-Lot,” he says in the clip. “I see why that boy got killed out there. I see why they able to do the things that they do out there in Houston: the police got pussy. I’m starting to think they on the payroll of James Prince and Rap-A-Lot Records. I think that’s what’s happening down there.”
In a separate post, the controversial social media personality delivered another blistering onslaught of insults directed at Prince and the HPD.
“J. Prince can suck my dick,” he screams into the camera. “Mob Ties/Rap-A-Lot gangstas can suck my dick. You Houston n-ggas can suck my dick. I don’t give a fuck about none of you bitch ass n-ggas. It’s Texas n-gga on mine! I run this shit. Shut yo bitch ass up, J. Prince. I’m still talkin’ shit. I made J Prince go snitch on me. You talking on a muder investigation. James Prince, shut yo bitch ass up; and I’m talking to Senior, n-gga.”
Charleston White then steps out of the car and turns the camera on the collection of weapons in his trunk. “I ride around ready to go to war with any one of you bitch ass n-ggas,” he declares. “I got a car full of goddamn guns ready to go to war with any one of you muthafuckin’ n-ggas.”
According to HotNewHipHop, in a separate social media post, White said that he had been personally contacted by the mayor of Houston as well as a representative for the Houston Police Department’s gang unit, both of whom allegedly told him that they didn’t want his presence in the city to cause any issues with J. Prince.
As of this writing, neither J. Prince nor his sons have made any public statements regarding Charleston White’s numerous rants.
Parents Against Predators founder Sonia Parker took to Instagram Live ahead of her event on Saturday to address the drama.
In the video, which has since been pinned to her IG feed, Parker admonished White and J. Prince — without addressing either by name — for “beefing” instead of using their time and resources to help the underprivileged youth who need their support.
Don Lemon Axed From CNN Morning Line Up For Monday's Show As His Future As Cohost Hangs In The Balance
After catching some serious heat earlier this week for claiming 51-year-old politician Nikki Haley wasn't in "her prime", CNN host Don Lemon has reportedly been axed from the network's morning show line-up for this Monday, February 20.
The 56-year-old anchor was co-hosting CNN This Morning on Thursday when he reacted to Haley's comments on the age of politicians.
"This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable,” Lemon said during the live broadcast. “I think it’s the wrong road to go down. She says people, you know, politicians are suddenly not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry, when a woman is in her prime is in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”
The morning show's other hosts, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, later left the set after Lemon's age-shaming comments — an act that was originally played off as a "well-timed" bathroom break.
Lemon ended up giving a halfhearted apology during an editorial phone conference on Friday morning, confessing that he was "sorry" and that he didn't "mean to hurt" or to "offend anyone."
He also tried to walk back his original comments explaining, "What I said came out wrong and I wish I hadn’t said it. I believe women of any age can do anything they set their minds to. The people I am closest to in this organization are women."
Apparently, the relationship between the three co-hosts have been "smoldering for months," according to insiders.
One source close to the matter told Confider there are serious "ongoing conversations about Don’s future," hinting at the CNN personality losing more than just his seat at the morning table. The insider went on to call the primetime anchor a "constant distraction."
"He has a colossal ego and he’s the kind of person who goes around saying he’s not going to take the fall for his show flopping, it’s not his fault and the network’s tanking, and they shouldn’t have pushed him out of his primetime slot," they continued.
Lemon, who was in Miami with his fiancé over the weekend, did not appear on CNN This Morning this past Friday, as he had a scheduled day off, but now it's unclear when, if ever, the host will ever return to his post.
‘Law & Order: SVU’ stars pay tribute to Richard Belzer: ‘How lucky the angels are to have you’
The “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” family is mourning Richard Belzer following the news of his death at the age of 78.
On Feb. 19, Universal Television and NBC issued a statement confirming the actor had died.
Belzer introduced the world to one of television’s most loved and well-known cops, Detective John Munch, on the series “Homicide: Life on the Street” in 1993. He went on to reprise the character in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and starred on the hit NBC series from 1999 to 2013.
The late actor also made cameos as Munch in several other series.
After learning about Belzer’s death, many of his former “SVU” cast members took to social media to celebrate his legacy.
“SVU” star Mariska Hargitay posted a heartfelt message to Instagram.
“Goodbye my dear, dear friend. I will miss you, your unique light, and your singular take on this strange world,” she wrote in a statement.
She added, “I feel blessed to have known you and adored you and worked with you, side by side, for so many years. How lucky the angels are to have you. I can hear them laughing already."
Hargitay wrote that she will love Belzer “now and forever.”
Christopher Meloni, who plays Detective Elliot Stabler in the “Law & Order” universe, uploaded a sweet photo to Twitter of him planting a kiss on Belzer’s cheek.
“Good bye mon ami. I love you. #TheBelz,” he said in the post.
In a second tweet, Meloni uploaded a throwback photo of Hargitay feeding Belzer on set as Olivia Benson and John Munch.
On Instagram, Meloni called Belzer a "beautiful soul" and "a dapper dresser."
"Never met anyone like him, and I never will again," he wrote in a post on Feb. 19. "Ur last words have helped make ur passing easier to take."
Writer Bill Scheft, a friend of Belzer's who was present at his death, told The Hollywood Reporter that the actor's last words were "F*** you, motherf*****."
Dick Wolf, producer of the “Law & Order” franchise, paid tribute to Belzer on Instagram, calling Munch “one of television’s iconic characters.”
“I first worked with Richard on the ‘Law & Order’/ ‘Homicide’ crossover and loved the character so much,” Wolf recalled. “I told Tom (Fontana) that I wanted to make him one of the original characters on ‘SVU.’ The rest is history.”
He concluded, “Richard brought humor and joy into all our lives, was the consummate professional, and we will all miss him very much.”
Ice-T, who plays Munch's former partner, Odafin “Fin” Tutuola, shared a photo of himself and Belzer on Twitter, writing "I'll miss you homie."
"After one of the most amazing weeks of my life. I wake up to the news I lost my friend today," the rapper said in the post. "Belz is gone.. Damn it! But remember this..'When you ARE having real fun and are Truly Happy. ENJOY it to the fullest! Cause Pain is inevitably coming.’ I’ll miss you Homie."
Dean Winters, who has appeared in over 30 episodes of “SVU” from 1999 to 2019 as Detective Brian Cassidy,” shared a throwback picture of Munch and Cassidy together, calling Belzer his "brother" in the caption.
Winters explained that the two became friends back in 1992 and their friendship grew when he booked his first role on “Homicide: Life on the Street.”
He revealed Belzer told Wolf that he would only join “SVU” if Cassidy was written as Munch’s partner.
“There aren’t a lot of people with class like that left,” Winters wrote, praising the late actor.
He continued, “Everyone can have water, not everyone can have class. Richard Belzer had class for days. I will miss this man very much.”
“SVU” executive producer Warren Leight posted a YouTube clip to Twitter from the 2016 episode where Munch returned for his final appearance on the show.
“Richard Belzer was the first actor to welcome me when I started at SVU,” the executive tweeted. “Open, warm, acerbic, whip smart, surprisingly kind. I loved writing for Munch, and I loved being with Belz. We sensed this would be his parting scene. Godspeed Belz…”
Fellow “SVU” executive producer and writer Julie Martin, who also worked with Belzer on “Homicide: Life on the Street” shared on Twitter that collaborating with him “has been a hilarious, surprising and always joyful experience.”
Martin added, “I’m sure he’s giving ‘em all a lot of laughs upstairs.”
The BAFTA Awards 2023: See the full list of winners
The BAFTA Film Awards took place at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England on Sunday.
The German film "All Quiet on the Western Front" was the sweeping victor of the night, winning seven awards including best film and best director.
"We've been blessed with so many nominations and winning this is just incredible," said producer Malte Grunert on stage.
"The Banshees of Inisherin" was also favored at the event, clinching both the supporting actor and supporting actress awards, as well as best original screenplay, among others.
"Everything Everywhere All at Once," a favorite heading into next month's Oscar, was largely snubbed on Sunday, taking home only one award, for best editing.
Austin Butler accepts the leading actor award for his performance in "Elvis" on Sunday, February 19, in London.
Austin Butler accepts the leading actor award for his performance in "Elvis" on Sunday, February 19, in London.
Heading into the show, German film "All Quiet on the Western Front" led with 14 nominations, followed by ten nominations apiece for "The Banshees of Inisherin" and "Everything Everywhere All At Once." "Elvis" rounded out the pack of top contenders with nine BAFTA nods.
The full list of nominees is below, with winners indicated in bold.
Best film
"All Quiet on the Western Front" *WINNER
"The Banshees of Inisherin"
"Everything Everywhere All At Once"
"Elvis"
"'TÁR"
Outstanding British film
"Aftersun"
"The Banshees of Inisherin" *WINNER
"Brian and Charles"
"Empire of Light"
"Good Luck to You, Leo Grande"
"Living"
"Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical"
"See How They Run"
"The Swimmers"
"The Wonder"
Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer
"Aftersun" Charlotte Wells (writer/director) *WINNER
"Blue Jean" Georgia Oakley (writer/director), Hélène Sifre (producer)
"Electric Malady" Marie Lidén (director)
"Good Luck to You, Leo Grande" Katy Brand (writer)
"Rebellion" Elena Sánchez Bellot (director) Maia Kenworthy (director)todi
Best film not in the English language
"All Quiet on the Western Front" *WINNER
"Argentina, 1985"
"Corsage"
"Decision to Leave"
"The Quiet Girl"
Best documentary
"All That Breathes"
"All the Beauty and the Bloodshed"
"Fire of Love"
"Moonage Daydream"
"Navalny" *WINNER
Best animated film
"Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" *WINNER
"Marcel the Shell with Shoes On"
"Puss in Boots: The Last Wish"
"Turning Red"
Best director
Edward Berger, "All Quiet on the Western Front" *WINNER
Martin McDonagh, "The Banshees of Inisherin"
Park Chan-wook, "Decision To Leave"
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"
Todd Field, "TÁR"
Gina Prince-Bythewood, "The Woman King"
Best original screenplay
Martin McDonagh, "The Banshees of Inisherin" *WINNER
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"
Tony Kushner and Steven Spielberg, "The Fabelmans"
Todd Field, "TÁR"
Ruben Östlund, "Triangle of Sadness"
Best adapted screenplay
Edward Berger, Ian Stokell and Leslie Patterson, "All Quiet on the Western Front" *WINNER
Kazuo Ishiguro, "Living"
Colm Bairéad, "The Quiet Girl"
Rebecca Lenkiewicz, "She Said"
Samuel D. Hunter, "The Whale"
Best lead actress
Ana de Armas, "Blonde"
Cate Blanchett, "TÁR" *WINNER
Viola Davis, "The Woman King"
Danielle Deadwyler, "Till"
Emma Thompson, "Good Luck to You, Leo Grande"
Michelle Yeoh, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"
Best lead actor
Austin Butler, "Elvis" *WINNER
Brendan Fraser, "The Whale"
Colin Farrell, "The Banshees of Inisherin"
Daryl McCormack, "Good Luck to You, Leo Grande"
Paul Mescal, "Aftersun"
Bill Nighy, "Living"
Best supporting actress
Angela Bassett, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever"
Hong Chau, "The Whale"
Kerry Condon, "The Banshees of Inisherin" *WINNER
Jamie Lee Curtis, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"
Dolly De Leon, "Triangle of Sadness"
Carey Mulligan, "She Said"
Best supporting actor
Brendan Gleeson, "The Banshees of Inisherin"
Barry Keoghan, "The Banshees of Inisherin" *WINNER
Ke Huy Quan, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"
Eddie Redmayne, "The Good Nurse"
Albrecht Schuch, "All Quiet on the Western Front"
Michael Ward, "Empire of Light"
Best original score
Volker Bertelmann, "All Quiet on the Western Front" *WINNER
Justin Hurwitz, "Babylon"
Carter Burwell, "The Banshees of Inisherin"
Son Lux, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"
Alexandre Desplat, "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio"
Best casting
Lucy Pardee, "Aftersun"
Simon Bär, "All Quiet on the Western Front"
Nikki Barrett, Denise Chamian, "Elvis" *WINNER
Sarah Halley Finn, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"
Pauline Hansson, "Triangle of Sadness"
Best cinematography
James Friend, "All Quiet on the Western Front" *WINNER
Greig Fraser, "The Batman"
Mandy Walker, "Elvis"
Roger Deakins, "Empire of Light"
Claudio Miranda, "Top Gun: Maverick"
Best editing
Sven Budelmann, "All Quiet on the Western Front"
Mikkel E.G. Nielsen, "The Banshees of Inisherin"
Matt Villa, "Elvis"
Paul Rogers, "Everything Everywhere All At Once" *WINNER
Eddie Hamilton, "Top Gun: Maverick"
Best production design
Christian M. Goldbreck, Ernestine Hipper, "All Quiet on the Western Front"
Florencia Martin, Anthony Carlino, "Babylon" *WINNER
James Chinlund, Lee Sandales, "The Batman"
Catherine Martin, Karen Murphy, Bev Dunn, "Elvis"
Curt Enderle, Guy Davis, "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio"
Best costume design
Lisy Christl, "All Quiet on the Western Front"
J.R. Hawbaker and Albert Wolsky, "Amsterdam"
Mary Zophres, "Babylon"
Catherine Martin, "Elvis" *WINNER
Jenny Beavan, "Mrs Harris Goes To Paris"
Best makeup and hair
Heike Merker, "All Quiet on the Western Front"
Michael Marino and Zoe Tahir, "The Batman"
Shane Thomas, Louise Coulston, Mark Coulier and Barrie Gower, "Elvis" *WINNER
Naomi Donne, Barrie Gower, Sharon Martin, "Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical"
Anne Marie Bradley, Judy Chin, Adrien Morot, "The Whale"
Best sound
Lars Ginzsel, Frank Kruse, Viktor Prášil and Markus Stemler, "All Quiet on the Western Front" *WINNER
Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Julian Howarth, Gary Summers and Gwendoyln Yates Whittle, "Avatar: The Way of Water"
Michael Keller, David Lee, Andy Nelson and Wayne Pashley, "Elvis"
Deb Adair, Stephen Griffiths, Andy Shelley, Steve Single and Roland Winke, "TÁR"
Chris Burdon, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Mark Taylor and Mark Weingarten, "Top Gun: Maverick"
Best special visual effects
Markus Frank, Kamil Jafar, Viktor Müller and Frank Petzoid, "All Quiet on the Western Front"
Richard Baneham, Daniel Barrett, Joe Letteri and Eric Saindon, "Avatar: The Way of Water" *WINNER
Russell Earl, Dan Lemmon, Anders Langlands and Dominic Tuohy, "The Batman"
Benjamin Brewer, Ethan Feldbau, Jonathan Kombrinck and Zak Stoltz, "Everything Everywhere All At Once"
Seth Hill, Scott R. Fisher, Bryan Litson and Ryan Tudhope, "Top Gun: Maverick"
Best British short animation
"The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" *WINNER
"Middle Watch"
"Your Mountain is Waiting"
Best British short film
"The Ballad Of Olive Morris"
"Bazigaga"
"Bus Girl"
"A Drifting Up"
"An Irish Goodbye" *WINNER
EE Rising Star
Aimee Lou Wood
Daryl McCormack
Emma Mackey *WINNER
Naomi Ackie
Sheila Atim
Congrats to all the winners!
Rebel Wilson Proposed to Fiancée Ramona Agruma with a 2.55-Carat Tiffany & Co Ring
Rebel Wilson's fiancée has got some new bling! The Pitch Perfect actress, 42, announced her engagement to Ramona Agruma on Sunday, sharing a set of photographs on Instagram of the pair's proposal at Disneyland in California.
Wilson proposed to Agruma with a classic round cut, 2.55-carat Tiffany & Co diamond ring.
"Our friend Hugh, who set us up, gave us Tiffany heart charms on our first-ever date in Los Angeles in late 2021," Wilson tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement. "So it's amazing to celebrate our engagement with a gorgeous Tiffany's ring."
Wilson announced her exciting news engagement news on social media, writing, "We said YES! 💗💗."
"Thank you @tiffanyandco for the stunning ring 💍 and to Bob Iger and the incredible team at Disneyland @disneyweddings for pulling off this magical surprise!" she added.
In the images shared, Wilson and Agruma can be seen wearing matching pink and white striped sweaters with a black heart etched in the center.
One shot shows the couple sharing a kiss as Agruma extends her arm out to show off her new ring. The other shows the couple in front of Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty castle with flowers falling from above.
Wilson — who welcomed her first child, daughter Royce, via surrogate back in November 2022 — announced she was in a relationship with Agruma, founder and owner of the athleisure brand Lemon Ve Limon, that June.
The actress recently told PEOPLE that she was "shocked" at "how deep the connection was and how instant it was" when she met Agruma, as she had thought up until that point that she "was really looking for a husband" — to the point where she "[dated] about 50 guys in one year to try to catch up on the dating experience."
"I always was a bit of a girls' girl and had deep friendships with women, but this was the first time that it was a romantic connection and I was just shocked," Wilson, who is launching a new dating app called Fluid, recalled.
She added: "And then I was like, 'Oh, well, what if that was just part of my personality that I was repressing and wasn't exploring?' And maybe I should have 10 years earlier. My journey is what it is, but it's just awesome now to be in a relationship."
Brittney Griner marks WNBA return in one-year deal with the Phoenix Mercury
Brittney Griner will suit up with her Phoenix Mercury teammates when the 2023 WNBA season tips off in May. The 6-foot-9 center reportedly signed a one-year deal, according to a source who confirmed her status with the team to CNN on Sunday (Feb. 19). She has been with the franchise since 2013.
Griner made it clear that she was focused on getting back on the court in her first Instagram post following her release from a Russian detention center last December. “I intend to play basketball for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury this season, and in doing so, I look forward to being able to say ‘thank you’ to those of you who advocated, wrote, and posted for me in person soon,” she wrote.
At the time of this report, neither the three-time championship-winning team nor Griner has issued public commentary about the reported deal. However, on Feb. 16, the Phoenix Mercury shared the first installment of a three-part series called “For the W,” where they “showcase the power of women in the WNBA who used their platforms, and we take you behind the scenes of our meeting with the State Department in Washington, D.C.”
As previously reported, the basketball star was arrested in February 2022 when Sheremetyevo Airport personnel found THC vape cartridges in her luggage. Six months later, she was found guilty, sentenced to nine years in prison, and fined more than $16,000. As outrage over her arrest and harsh sentencing grew, so did calls for the U.S. to step up its initiatives to see that Griner was safely returned home. For months, her case made headlines as political figures, including President Joe Biden, shared that negotiations were underway to reunite the NCAA champ with her loved ones. Her freedom came in exchange for the release of notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
Rihanna’s dad found out she was pregnant during Super Bowl halftime show
Rihanna’s dad was just as surprised as the rest of the world when the “Umbrella” singer revealed her baby bump during the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show last weekend.
Ronald Fenty, who flew from Barbados to attend the game in Glendale, Ariz., told TMZ that he had no idea his daughter was expecting her second child with A$AP Rocky.
“Oh my God! My baby girl looks pregnant,” he recalled saying to this partner while in the stands at State Farm Stadium.
Ronald also noted that he hopes the Fenty Beauty mogul, 34, will welcome a baby girl this time around – after giving birth to a son last year.
As previously reported, the “Disturbia” singer, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, has had a rocky relationship with her father through the years.
Ronald divorced Rihanna’s mom, Monica Braithwaite, amid alcohol and drug issues when the singer was just 14 years old.
Rihanna later accused her father of misusing her name to benefit his own entertainment company. However, she eventually dropped the lawsuit she brought against him in September 2021.
Ronald recently spoke to Page Six about being a grandfather to Rihanna’s first child, who was born in May 2022.
“She’s loving it. She’s a very overprotective mother,” he said, noting the “Rude Boy” singer had visited her home country with the youngster twice so far.
“Everybody says [the baby] looks like me, but you know, babies change, faces change. He [resembles] a lot of Rihanna and Rocky together,” he went on.
Ronald, who joked that Rihanna would “have [his] head” if he divulged the bub’s name, also said that Rocky, 34, was “a cool guy.”
“[He’s] very respectable. He’s taking to fatherhood very well,” Ronald said.
However, he “doesn’t know” whether the couple will ever tie the knot.
“I don’t know about marriage, I really don’t know.”
Shanquella Robinson supporters rally together to demand justice from Mexican authorities
Shanquella Robinson’s name may have faded from the headlines, but the push for justice and answers regarding her death is ongoing. As previously reported on Feb. 16, members of the Charlotte community that Shanquella called home announced plans to mail letters to Mexican authorities enclosed in pink envelopes.
“We cannot let people forget this. We need to keep talking about Shanquella,” one supporter told WBTV. “Every time they see a pink envelope, they’re going to know that we’re trying to put pressure on them to execute the warrants,” said another.
On Saturday (Feb. 18), supporters walked from Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church to hand-deliver the written demands for updates in the ongoing case. The 25-year-old’s name echoed through the crowd as they each shouted “Shanquella” while placing letters into the mail dropbox. Bernard Robinson, Shanquella’s father, told the news outlet that he appreciated the gesture. “I don’t take nobody’s kindness for their weakness,” he said. In total, about 100 envelopes were dropped off.
Four months have passed since Shanquella traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for vacation with a group of six people she believed to be her friends. Tragically, just one day after landing, she was found unresponsive in their rental property. Her travel companions claimed she suffered from alcohol poisoning, but an autopsy determined she sustained a severe spinal cord and neck injury and likely died within 15 minutes. Soon after her death, video surfaced of Shanquella unclothed as another female brutally attacked her.
Daniel de la Rosa Anaya, a local prosecutor for the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, announced that an arrest warrant had been issued for an unidentified female on Nov. 23. The individual has yet to be extradited, and further updates have not been publicized.
Jan. 9 marked what would have been the North Carolina native’s 26th birthday. Family and those closest to her gathered for a balloon release at her gravesite at Beatties Ford Memorial Gardens.
Jack Nicholson's Estranged Daughter Tessa Gourin Claims He 'Wasn't Interested' in a Relationship
Tessa Gourin continues to speak out about her childhood and what she says it was like growing up as the estranged daughter of Jack Nicholson.
The New York-based actress, 28, spoke with The Daily Beast in a recent interview about her experiences, explaining that since she was young, her mother, Jennine Gourin, told her "not to tell anyone that I have this famous dad."
"I knew he was powerful and Daddy Warbucks-level rich, so I kind of equated my life to being like Orphan Annie's," she said.
Gourin told the publication — which described her as the "spitting image" of Nicholson — that the actor "wasn't interested" in having a relationship with her when she was a child. Gourin declined to go into detail on specifics, although she did state that he funded her early education.
"When you're a child, you don't have a choice where you're going, so if your mom is pushing you on someone who's technically your father and he agrees to see you for anywhere between one hour and a couple of days, that's where you're going to go," Gourin said. "I don't know this person very well, we'll just say that."
Nicholson, who has five other children, hasn't publicly acknowledged Gourin as his daughter. A rep for the actor didn't immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
Gourin also told The Daily Beast that she wanted to act her entire life, asking to be filmed as a kid and performing at sleepovers. "My mom wouldn't let me act when I was younger, and I can respect that, but I'm like, 'F---, I would have killed it,' " she said.
Last month, Gourin wrote a piece for Newsweek where she explained that she "sat on the sidelines and watched in frustration as other celebrity children have seamlessly secured roles or been signed to huge agencies." She added some additional thoughts on the "nepo baby" discussion and other actresses denying that they benefitted from nepotism in her The Daily Beast interview.
"It's such a double-sided thing, because I can also understand the frustration of getting in the door, and then once you're there it's like, 'Okay, now show us what you can do,' " Gourin said. "But as an actor, that's the most exciting thing to me. It's a driving force to want to prove yourself. This guilty thing over ultimately having a gift is something you should just work out yourself, and put into your work."
While she had a lifelong admiration for acting, Gourin revealed that she grew fearful of being blacklisted because of her connection to Nicholson, and stopped in her mid-20s. "I was afraid people would think I was tacky or that I was riding off his coattails," she said. "But this person doesn't want me in his life, so how would you use that to your benefit?"
As an actor, Gourin said she has respect for Nicholson. "I really want this to come across: If I were to discredit anything about his acting, then that wouldn't make me an artist, because making art and being the world's greatest dad are not the same thing," she said.
Nicholson's five other children are Jennifer Nicholson, 59, from his marriage to Sandra Knight; Caleb Goddard, 52, with Five Easy Pieces costar Susan Anspach; Honey Hollman, 41, with model Winnie Hollman; and daughter Lorraine, 32, and son Ray, 30, with actress Rebecca Broussard.
The actor previously told AARP Magazine in 2010 that he wanted to be "inspirational, or some kind of good influence on them without overburdening them" as a father.
"I always read to them, from childhood on; I think that's a father's responsibility," he said at the time of the two younger children. "I took them to things I knew they might not love — opera, ballet. They like going to the ball games with me. And they are very comfortable around show business; they are good set rats."
Kerry Washington Spotted in Army Green Uniform For 'Six Triple Eight' Filming
Kerry Washington gets all decked out in her uniform on the set of her upcoming Netflix movie, Six Triple Eight.
The 45-year-old actress was spotted on the set with writer/director Tyler Perry, as well as co-stars Milauna Jackson, Jeante Godlock, Sarah Jeffery, Shanice Shantay and many others.
Together, the large group of actors and extras filmed at the Duxford Military Museum based in Cambridgeshire, England late last week.
Jeante was even spotted filming a video of her look on her phone during some downtime on set.
Based on the article by Kevin M. Hymel, the movie will center on the only all-Black, all-female World War II Battalion.
The battalion consisted of “855 women joined the war effort with little knowledge of what exactly they would be doing, but were quickly given the mission of a lifetime: sorting through and fixing a three-year backlog of undelivered mail.”
Kendall Jenner & Bad Bunny Fuel Dating Rumors, Seemingly Hang Out Together Amid Speculation
Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny are doing nothing to make those dating rumors die down!
After reports that the two were kissing last week, the 27-year-old model and 28-year-old Un Verano Sin Ti hit-maker were spotted leaving the same restaurant on Saturday night (February 18) in Beverly Hills, Calif.
In new photos obtained by TMZ, Kendall can be seen leaving Wally’s solo with her security, and not long after, Bad Bunny stepped out of the same restaurant from the back.
According to the report, the two appeared to be a double date with the Biebers: Justin and Hailey Bieber!
Kendall arrived around 8:30 p.m., and Bad Bunny arrived shortly afterward, around 8:42 p.m. After that, Justin and Hailey arrived separately as well.
The married couple also left through the back of the restaurant, but almost an hour before Kendall and Bad Bunny.
Andrew Tate Plans To File $300 Million Lawsuit Against Victim If She Doesn’t Retract Rape Allegations
Andrew Tate is planning to file a $300 million lawsuit against one of his alleged victims if she doesn’t retract her rape and human trafficking allegations against him and his brother, Tristan.
A cease-and-desist letter was issued by Tate’s lawyer who said the brothers are seeking $300 million for defamation if the victim does not retract her allegations. The letter says: “In April 2022 you falsely stated to a third party that our Client human trafficked you, abused you and held you against your will. You have repeated false and defamatory statements to the police, the media, and another United States citizen about the Tate brothers.” According to the BBC, the woman’s lawyer, Benjamin Bull, accused the brothers of filing the multimillion dollar suit to keep the women silent.
As previously reported, the Tate brothers are currently held at a prison in Romania on sex trafficking and rape allegations. They have yet to be charged for the allegations and have continued to deny any wrong doing.
One of the victims said the Tate brothers allegedly forced her to stay on streaming platform for hours in order to meet a certain quota or she would face physical abuse. She said the brothers had a content schedule and allegedly forced the women to stay on TikTok for hours until they met a quota of $12,000 a month. A clinical psychologist said some of the women who didn’t make the accusations were manipulated into believing the two men were in love with them.
‘Although the named [woman one] and [woman two], both in the statements given before the criminal investigation bodies, as witnesses, and through the authenticated statements given before the notary and submitted by the defense to the case file, denied any form of exploitation on the part of the four defendants, the collegial panel of rights and freedoms appreciates that these statements do not reflect reality. It is known that, in the case of the ‘lover boy’ or ‘by falling in love’ recruitment method, the victims of human trafficking do not always recognize the fact that they were enslaved and exploited and do not cooperate with the judicial bodies, attesting to the idea that these activities were carried out voluntarily.’
A lawyer stated that the biggest challenge for the Tate brothers is the misogynistic content that was released by Andrew on social media. He claimed he moved to Romania because of thier lax laws on sexual assault and stated women should be held responsible for being raped in addition to claiming that he wouldn’t let women leave his home.
Remy Ma Thinks Media Helped Sway Megan Thee Stallion And Tory Lanez Shooting Trial
Remy Ma has shared her two cents on Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez shooting case. While sitting down with Jason Lee on "The Jason Lee Show", the "All the Way Up" raptress said that she believes the media helped sway the verdict.
During the chat, the 42-year-old femcee, along with Hitman Holla, spoke about the media and how they impact what the verdict will be in a highly-publicized case. "I feel like when it come to public cases, the media convicts people and the media determines what a verdict is," she explained.
"Coming from somebody who was on trial before, everything is never 100% on your side," Remy further elaborated. "Each side is gonna bend s**t so that it goes to whatever caters to them. I just feel like lot of times, especially with celebrities, everybody go with who's their favorite."
Moreover, Jason pushed back with some questions. "This hashtag, 'Protect Black Women.' Is it a real thing? 'Cause everybody be talking about the Black queens. But I feel like when Meg and that whole Tory thing went down, nobody was really standing up for her." In response, Hitman said, "I mean, the thing with that is, nobody knew the truth."
"They don't, but I'm saying that you can't expect somebody to protect somebody. 'Cause what if she was, like..? I'm just saying, I stay out of people's business if I don't know what's going on. If I don't know if it's true or not, I stay out the way," Hitman added.
Then, Jason asked a doubtful Remy if she thinks Tory shot Meg. She replied, "I don't know, I wasn't there, I'm not in the space to talk about anybody getting shot. If she was black or white, I wasn't there."
Of the shooting case, Tory was found guilty of three counts, including felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possession of a concealed, unregistered firearm and discharging a firearm with gross negligence. He faces up to 22 years and eight months in prison as well as deportation to Canada. He's due to be sentenced on January 27, but that date has since been rescheduled to February 28 due to a change in his legal counsel.
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Trashed By 'South Park', Called 'Dumb' And 'Stupid'
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were ridiculed as "dumb and stupid" in the latest episode of "South Park". While Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle were not mentioned by names in the cartoon, which was titled "The Worldwide Privacy Tour", the couple - who stepped down from royal duties in 2020 - bear a strong resemblance to central characters The Prince and Princess of Canada, who simultaneously requested privacy while drawing attention to themselves.
Starting with the news that the Queen of Canada had died, the episode saw the pair arriving for her funeral and being booed by other royals for their attitude towards the monarchy - with one even farting on the Princess of Canada's face.
Another scene showed the couple boarding their private jet for a global "We Want Privacy" tour, taking in countries including Australia, India, and France as the pair chanted about their dream of being left alone.
Later in the episode, the couple - who eventually move to South Park in their quest for a normal life - appear on "Good Morning Canada" and hold up signs, with the prince's saying "We want privacy" and the princess holding one carrying the slogan "Stop looking at us."
Asked if he hates journalists, the prince agrees but the couple then storm off the show when the host points out his royal guest is also a journalist because of his new book "Waaagh", which has a very similar cover to that of Harry's memoir "Spare".
The couple eventually move to South Park in their quest for a normal life, infuriating locals, in particular their new neighbour Kyle. The youngster moans, "They have this huge jet parked in front of my house and they keep on wanting me to buy their book."
And while the group's classmates sit discussing the "prince and his wife" in the school dining hall, he ranted, "It's seriously driving me crazy. I'm sick of hearing about them. But I can't get away from them, they're everywhere. In my f****** face." Stan replied, "Look, Kyle, we just kind of don't care about some dumb prince and his stupid wife."
Team Giannis Defeats Team LeBron 184-175 in the NBA All-Star Game
Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James‘ perfect 5-0 record as an NBA All-Star Game captain has come to an end after his team was defeated 184-175 by Team Giannis in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Sunday night.
Upon receiving the winning trophy, All-Star captain and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo jokingly said “Winner, winner chicken dinner.”
The 72nd All-Star Game concluded a weekend-long showcase of the league’s most talented players, held in Utah for the first time in 30 years.
Both teams played to raise nearly $1 million for their selected charities — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah for Team LeBron and Raise the Future for Team Giannis.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum finished the game with a game-high 55 points, setting a new All-Star Game record. Tatum was named the MVP of the game.
“It means the world,” Tatum said when asked about the significance of beating the record.
“You think of all the legends and great players to play in this game and in all honesty, records are meant to be broken,” Tatum said on the TNT broadcast after the game. “So, I’ll hold it for as long as I can but I’m certain someone will come along in a couple of years and try to break it.”
During halftime, the league honored James, who broke the NBA scoring record earlier this month. He was joined by Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Utah Jazz legend Karl Malone, who hold the second and third spots on the NBA all-time scoring list, respectively.
James was ruled out of the game after suffering a hand injury, after apparently hitting his hand on the rim in the first half, according to the TNT broadcast. He finished the night with 13 points and four assists.
“I’ll be fine. I don’t think it’s too much to worry about, but for precautionary reasons I had to take the rest of the night off,” James said following the game.
The weekend’s contests began Friday with an All-Star Celebrity game featuring rappers 21 Savage and Cordae, actor Simu Liu, tennis star Frances Tiafoe, NFL player DK Metcalf and singers Nicky Jam, Janelle Monáe and Ozuna.
The celebrity players were coached by Ryan Smith, Utah Jazz governor and honorary captain, and three-time NBA champion Dwyane Wade.
Also on Friday, four teams competed in the Rising Stars showdowns, featuring the best rookie and sophomore talents in the league.
Saturday’s lineup included a Skills Challenge, Three-point Contest and Dunk Contest.
Mac McClung was crowned NBA Slam Dunk champion, scoring a perfect 50 for three of his four dunks, and capping a week in which he signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Warner Bros. Cancels ‘Judge Mathis’ And ‘The People’s Court’ After Airing For More Than Two Decades
Warner Bros. cancels two court shows, ‘Judge Mathis’ and ‘The People’s Court.’
On Friday, the entertainment company ended two popular daytime court shows due to the challenging market in the daytime syndication landscape.
Since local TV stations have shrunk their syndication dollars on top of the advertising marketplace shrinking for daytime syndication, first-run syndications have become a challenging landscape.
‘Judge Mathis’ premiered in 1998 and aired for 24 seasons. During that time, the court show racked up a handful of accomplishments. In 2018, the show won a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding legal/courtroom program. ‘Judge Mathis’ was also coined as the second longest-running court show with a single production life after ‘Judge Judy.’
On another note, ‘The People’s Court’ initially debuted from 1981 to 1993 with Judge Jospeh Wapner. The series ran was later revived in 1997 and followed Judge Ed Koch before Jerry Sheindlin took over. A few years later, Judge Marilyn Milian became the presiding judge in 2001, making her the first Latino judge to host a nationally syndicated television court show.
Nevertheless, the series made incredible strides similar to aforementioned show. ‘The People’s Court’ won four Daytime Emmy Awards for outstanding legal/courtroom program.
The daytime show is also the longest-running traditional court show and second-longest-running court show in general.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Announces A New Paid Verification Subscription For Instagram And Facebook
Mark Zuckerberg announced a new paid verification subscription service for Meta.
On Sunday, Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, revealed that Instagram and Facebook will now have a new feature. The update mimics Twitter’s verification service and will have users pay for a blue verification badge.
“This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services,”Zuckerberg said.
In order to get the service, users will need to meet certain requirements to qualify for the badge.
For starters, users must be at least 18 years old and meet minimum account activity requirements. They will also have to submit a government ID that matches their profile name and photo.
To decrease the chances of impersonation, the company will implement “proactive monitoring” to combat account impersonation, according to a Meta spokesperson.
In addition, Met says users will have to go through the application process again if they decide to change their username, birthdate, and profile picture.
The new update is expected to launch sometime later this week but will only be available for Australia and New Zealand users, with more countries to come. The subscription will cost $11.99 a month online and $14.99 a month on iOS. As of now, businesses are not eligible for the verification feature.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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