ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Laguna Beach's Casey Reinhardt and Sean Brown Are Expecting Baby No. 2. Casey Reinhardt is serving up some extra sweet news this week! The former Laguna Beach star and owner of Casey's Cupcakes dropped some big news on social media this afternoon. As it turns out, the proud mom is pregnant and expecting baby No. 2. "Sean, Kensington, and I are sooooo thrilled to finally announce that angel baby number two will be joining our family in January!!" Casey wrote on Instagram. "We are beyond excited for our new precious addition and we feel so incredibly blessed!!" She added, "#BabyBrownNumberTwo #January2018 #15weekspregnant #TwoBabiesUnderTwo #LifeisSoGood #soakingupeverysecond." Famous friends including Real Housewives of Orange County stars Lydia McLaughlin and Kara Keough Bosworth immediately shared their congratulations after the post surfaced. Casey and husband Sean Brown are already proud parents to a daughter named Kensington Kelly Brown. In fact, both parents are more than excited to celebrate her first birthday sooner rather than later. "My precious Princess I love you so much and I can't believe you are going to be ONE in a few weeks!!!" she shared on Instagram. "This has been the best year of my life and I love love love being your mama!!!" Fans first met Casey on MTV's unforgettable reality show called Laguna Beach. Since then, the Orange County resident has found huge success as a philanthropist, entrepreneur and the owner of Casey's Cupcakes. Ultimately, the subject that brings Casey the most joy is her family time she continues to document with her followers on social media. "Feeling so blessed and so beyond grateful!" she recently shared on Instagram. "I love you @seanmbrown1 and Kensington Kelly." Congratulations to the couple on their big news! (Eonline)

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth Are Not Married, but Here's the Real Story Behind His Ring. Just because Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth haven't said "I Do" doesn't mean they've stopped loving one another. Earlier this week, rumors swirled that the Hollywood couple had secretly tied the knot after Liam was spotted wearing a band on his ring finger. It also didn't help that the images surfaced at the Cyrus house in Kentucky. Nice possible wedding venue, right? Ultimately, a source tells E! News that this famous pair is not married. As for that piece of jewelry, there's special meaning behind it. "He wears that ring as more of a 'promise' to Miley, but they are not officially married," a source shared with E! News. "The only thing that is missing is the legal piece of paper. The pair is not focused on planning a wedding at this time. They are more focused on making their love as strong as possible." Back in January 2016, E! News confirmed that the couple was engaged more than two years after calling it quits. Since then, the twosome has stayed mum on any concrete wedding plans. In fact, Tish Cyrus once revealed that an actual ceremony may not be on the agenda for a long time. Nonetheless, it hasn't stopped fans from wondering what's next for these two lovebirds. "Miley and Liam are in a really good place because they truly understand each other. Their families spend a lot of time together and are basically one unit," our insider shared. "It is a really good situation right now and no one is in any rush to the altar. Their favorite thing to do as a couple is spend time with both of their families and they dedicate their weekends to family get-togethers." And now the Kentucky pictures make even more sense, right? "Miley and I, we always had this slogan -- 'If you ain't happy, it ain't working,'" Billy Ray Cyrus previously shared with E! News. "Just seeing these -- I still call 'em kids -- these two kids happy, that's all that matters." For now, the couple will do their thang that includes a music career for Miley and more acting jobs for Liam. And yes, expanding the family has been brought up before. "They both want kids and if anything, children would probably come first before the wedding," our source predicted. "Miley loves being an aunt to Liam's nieces and nephews, and knows Liam would be the best dad." (Eonline)

Avril Lavigne Is in a ''Really Good Place'' and Moving Toward a Romance With Music Producer J.R. Rotem. Things are on the up and up for Avril Lavigne. Now more than two years after the pop rock singer went public with her Lyme disease diagnosis, a source tells E! News exclusively her health, music career and personal life is taking a turn for the better. "Avril is in a really good place right now," our insider shares. "Her recovery has been going well and she's been getting stronger and stronger. She has more energy and has even been exercising." The chronic condition left Lavigne, 32, bedridden for five months and sidelined her professional endeavors up until last December when she announced her sixth studio album. And good news, Avril fans! It appears new music from the "Complicated" singer (who recently moved into a new Los Angeles home) is closer than ever. "She should be releasing new music by the end of the year," the source reveals. "It's been a slow process." So what can music lovers expect from Lavigne now that her "Sk8r Boi" days are over? We're told the Canadian star drew inspiration from personal experiences related to Lyme disease and her 2015 divorce from Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger. "She writes her own material and she's been through a lot with her marriage and her illness," the source explains. "She has a lot to say." There's also a new man in Avril's life, who E! News has learned is music producer J.R. Rotem. The Israeli-American insider and Lavigne were photographed holding hands while out in Los Angeles Monday evening, and according to our source, things are moving toward a romantic relationship. "J.R. is a producer she's been working with," the source says, describing the Israeli-American music man as successful and sober. "He's respected in the industry. Lately, they've started hanging out socially and there's definitely chemistry there. They're both so passionate about music." The insider says of the friends, "They've been out a few times now and things seem to be headed in a romantic direction." Lavigne was last linked to Ryan Cabrera after the pair was spotted getting cozy on a dinner date and it was revealed that the singer-songwriter was living with her following a separate breakup. Are you excited to see what's to come for Avril's future? (Eonline)

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's Divorce Is in Limbo. Angelina Jolie saw it as a fresh start. Following her September 2016 filing for divorce from Brad Pitt, she and their six children spent nine months living out of suitcases in various Malibu rentals. But in June, the actress, 42, along with Maddox, 16, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 11 and 9-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne, unpacked in a newly purchased 11,000 square-foot mansion in L.A.'s Los Feliz neighborhood. Calling the six-bedroom, 10-bathroom estate "a big jump forward for us," in the September issue of Vanity Fair, the Oscar winner said, "We're all trying our best to heal our family." They may be headed for a full recovery. Nearly a year after Jolie separated from Pitt -- following a much-discussed, dramatic plane trip where the actor, 53, and Maddox reportedly got into a heated altercation -- she's second-guessing her choice, a source reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly. "The divorce is off," says the source. "They haven't done anything to move it forward in several months and no one thinks they are ever going to." Jolie's indecision is shocking considering her behavior in the immediate aftermath of the split. Fed up with the War Machine star after years of fighting, claims one insider, she set out to paint him as a villain. At the time, the insider alleged that people in Jolie's inner circle were "running a smear campaign" against the actor, who was accused of infidelity and physical abuse. But in the months that followed, Jolie's passion for her partner of 12 years led her to regret her decisions. Explains the source, "She's still so in love with him." Her change of heart coincided with Pitt's own about-face. The actor, who confessed to GQ he was "boozing" so much that he "could drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka," gave up alcohol cold turkey. (In the May cover story, he noted he'd been sticking to cranberry juice and fizzy water for the prior six months.) As he fought for joint custody of their children, Pitt also faced his own parental shortcomings. "I grew up with a father-knows-best/war mentality -- the father is all-powerful, superstrong -- instead of really knowing the man and his own self-doubt and struggles," the two-time Golden Globe winner, raised in a conservative home in Springfield, Missouri, explained to the mag. "And it's hit me smack in the face with our divorce: I gotta be more. I gotta be more for them. I have to show them. And I haven't been great at it." His determination to improve himself warmed Jolie. The United Nations special envoy for refugees had confessed to friends that she'd consider taking Pitt back "if he showed he was committed to raising a family," says a Jolie pal. And his decision to ditch alcohol was a great first step. "He got sober to try and win her back," explains the source. "He knew he had a problem that he had to take care of. And that's all she ever wanted." With the divorce currently in limbo, the source says the couple could make the next step together. "Everyone thinks they are going to get back together," says the source. "It wouldn't be surprising if they announced that they're calling it off and trying to work things out." (US Weekly)

Ashley Judd slams 'everyday sexism' after airport security run-in. Don't call Ashley Judd "sweetheart." The actress slammed an airport employee for referring to her by the pet name, as well as putting his hands on her. "This is the kind of thing to me that happens which I categorize as everyday sexism," she fumed in a Facebook Live video on Saturday. "And it is so easy to let it go and not to speak up, particularly when it is so easy for someone to push back and say, 'Oh, I was just being polite.' So I was coming through security and a guy said 'Hey sweetheart,' and I said, 'I'm not your sweetheart, I am your client.' So I was already setting a boundary." Judd, 49, didn't specify at which airport the incident occurred, but had been traveling through Europe over the weekend to film "Berlin Station." She claimed the offenses didn't end there. "When I was setting my things out, he said, 'Hey nice dress!' I didn't hear him say anything about the attire of any of the other folks in the entire line and I am in one of the most traveled airports in the world. I'm surrounded by lots and lots of other people dressed in lots of different kinds of dress. ... And then guess what happened next? He touched me," she alleged. "I didn't see him touch anybody else. And I turned around and I said, 'That was unnecessary.' By that time, you know, my skin was burning, my feet are burning -- it's so hard to continue to set these boundaries when someone continues to push," she explained. "And then for good measure, he just said one more time, 'Have a good day sweetheart!'" Judd spoke to a manager about the experience, which she said ended positively. "I'm very happy to report that the manager with which I spoke immediately apologized. ... He had a very long conversation with the employee and he also assured me that their training ... is to call people 'sir' and 'madam,' and that touching someone is totally inappropriate." She added, "I also spoke with the manager about how our dream, our ideal, would be that we would record this little Facebook Live post together, but because he was in uniform, he wasn't able to do that. I think it's really important if we're discussing the problem, also to highlight a solution." (PageSix)

Robert Pattinson Recalls Riding in Trunks of Cars to Avoid Paparazzi. He's Robert Pattinson, super spy. At least, based on the way he says he maneuvered around soon after becoming a major star thanks to Twilight. According to GQ magazine, which features the actor on the cover of its September 2017 issue, he took extreme measures to escape the paparazzi and what the outlet called the "nightmare of his vampire franchise-induced fame." It reported that during the height of the "Twilight madness," Pattinson rode around in the trunks of cars "constantly." GQ also reported that the actor "had his friends call Ubers while he traded outfits with them in the restaurant bathroom, so that photographers wouldn't know which car he got into, and then he sent all the Ubers in different directions." The outlet said that he once kept five rental cars in parking lots around town and that if he was being followed, he'd change his clothes and drive away in one of the vehicles. He recalled driving around for hours to avoid disclosing where he lived and confronting a member of the paparazzi, asking him to leave him alone. He said the person told him, "My boss says I can't come back until I know where your new house is. Sorry, man." "As soon as I saw a tail, I would just disappear again," Pattinson said. "It worked after a while. They're just like, 'Oh, the guy is just a hassle.'" "There are ways to disappear, like, fairly easily," he added. "It just involves effort, and most people can't be bothered to put the effort in." In the interview, Pattinson also recalled the media attention he received when the Twilight films were in theaters. He remembered appearing at a promotional event and being asked by young female fans how he styled his hair. He told them, "I have 12-year-old virgins lick it," after which studio executives sent him to media training, GQ reported. Pattinson -- and his hair -- can be seen in the new crime drama Good Time, which hits theaters Friday. (Eonline)

Tiger Woods to Enter DUI Offender Program After Florida Arrest. Months after his Florida arrest, Tiger Woods will likely enter a first-time DUI offender program. The pro golfer did not appear in court in Palm Beach Gardens for his scheduled arraignment on Wednesday. On his behalf, attorney Douglas Duncan met with court personnel and reset the next hearing for October 25. According to a reported plea deal worked out with the state prosecutors, Woods will likely enter into Palm Beach County's first-time DUI offender program. "The Program is an important effort to make our community safer by ensuring that drivers prosecuted for first-time DUIs (for both alcohol and drug use) have their underlying substance abuse issues addressed. Defendants accept responsibility for their actions, our streets are safer, and taxpayers benefit from fewer trials and lower costs to our criminal justice system," state attorney Dave Aronberg said in a statement. According to Aronberg's statement, the defendant is required to plead guilty at arraignment to reckless driving. The state prosecutor may not prosecute him for his driving under the influence charge if he meets the conditions of the state's requirements, including "DUI school, victim impact panels, and 12 months of probation, which includes a ban on alcohol and drug possession and consumption." Woods was arrested in the early morning of May 29 for driving under the influence in Jupiter, Fla. According to the Palm Beach County's booking sheet, the pro golfer had an unlawful blood alcohol level at the time. He later released a public statement, attributing the incident to an "unexpected reaction to prescribed medications." "I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions. I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved. What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn't realize the mix of medications had affected me so strongly," he said. The athlete once again took to social media in June to confirm he had sought professional help. "I'm currently receiving professional help to manage my medications and the ways that I deal with back pain and a sleep disorder," he wrote on Twitter. "I want to thank everyone for the amazing outpouring of support and understanding especially the fans and players on tour." In early July, he confirmed he had completed an out-of-state intensive program. (Eonline)

Victoria Beckham is contemplating legal action after discovering a pizza advertisement that depicts her in a tasteless way. The ad, which came from a restaurant called Sidhu Golden Fish and Chips in Tyneside, England, features a caricature of a stick-thin Beckham in a bikini with her ribs poking out, wearing a sash that reads "Anorexic Fashion Icon." It is prominently displayed on the establishment's delivery van, promoting a pizza that they call "Victoria Beckham Thin Crust" and tout as "only 2 mm thin!!" "It is highly inappropriate to trivialize such a disorder, and defamatory to be so thoughtless with a person's reputation in this way, therefore we are seeking legal advice," a spokesperson for Beckham told Fox News. Brooklyn Beckham Gets His First Tattoo, a Native American Figure That's "Just Like Dad's" The 18-year-old got his first tattoo on Saturday, sharing the experience with his 9.6 million Instagram followers. In a statement to iTV, the restaurant's manager, Soni Sidhu, stated that he is "genuinely horrified if anyone was genuinely offended" by the ad, noting that it was "offered as a fun way to make people smile, and to escape from the daily hustle and bustle of life." Sidhu added that he recognizes "how serious eating disorders are and would never make light the seriousness of people with eating disorders," yet remains hesitant to remove the sign. "If, in 2017 Britain, we are asked to take down this advert it will be a sad day for freedom of expression," he said. Beckham has fought back against criticism of her weight in the past, telling BBC Radio that "there's a big difference between someone having an eating disorder and someone who is controlled about what they eat." In 2015, she defended the models in her fashion show, telling The Telegraph: "They're young, they're thin, but that doesn't mean they're ill." (People)

Mighty Ducks Actor Shaun Weiss Sentenced to 90 Days in Jail After Being Arrested for Meth Possession. UPDATE: A Spokesperson for the Burbank Police Department tells E! News that Shaun Weiss was sentenced to 90 days in county jail yesterday after being arrested and charged with meth possession earlier this week. The child actor recently found himself on the wrong side of the law. The actor, known for starring as goalie Greg Goldberg in The Mighty Ducks franchise, was arrested and charged with suspected meth possession, a spokesperson with the Burbank Police Department confirms to E! News. Weiss was detained on the afternoon of Aug. 2 after authorities were called over concerns of an unknown man allegedly wandering around the property of an apartment building near Warner Bros. studio in Los Angeles. Upon law enforcement arrival, Weiss was found to be in possession of presumed methamphetamine. He was subsequently placed under arrest and booked into the Burbank City jail on one count of drug possession, a misdemeanor. E! News has learned Weiss is being held on $10,000 bond and is expected in court Wednesday. At the time of his arrest, the law enforcement spokesperson tells E! News that Weiss was also in possession of credit cards in someone else's name. It was later determined that the property belonged to a friend who did not press charges. This isn't Shawn's first legal run-in. According to TMZ, the celebrity's latest arrest comes only five days after he completed a jail sentence for petty theft. Weiss was sentenced to 150 days in connection with an incident at Fry's Electronics where he stole $150 in merchandise, but according to the outlet, ultimately served 12 days due to overcrowding. Aside from his starring role in the classic Disney films from the 90s, Weiss is known for his stint on Freaks and Geeks and a cameo appearance on The King of Queens. A rep for the actor tells E! News, "Shaun is asking for prayers from his fans that he can find the light." (Eonline)

Inside Taylor Swift's Sexual Assault Trial: What's Really Going on Behind Closed Doors. Taylor Swift appeared in court Tuesday as she continues in her legal battle against Colorado radio DJ David Mueller. As we've previously reported, Mueller was fired from his job at 98.5 KYGO radio after the 27-year-old claimed he reached up her skirt and groped her when they posed to take a photo in 2013. Mueller then filed a lawsuit against Swift in October 2015, claiming he was fired from his job at KYGO over "false allegations." The "Shake It Off" singer responded by filing a counter suit for assault and battery shortly thereafter. The trial began on Monday when Swift and Mueller appeared for a jury selection. A total of eight jurors -- two men and six women -- were reportedly selected from a group of 60. Tuesday, E! News can confirm the singer arrived to court once again, appearing around 8:30 a.m. with her mother, Andrea Swift. Though no photography is allowed during the trial, we did receive the court sketch, which showed Swift wearing an all-black long-sleeve ensemble with her hair tied back in a low bun. During the day's trial, Swift and Mueller's respective lawyers gave their opening statements. Mueller's attorney Gabe McFarland spoke first, denying any of the groping allegations and recounting his client's start in the radio industry before landing his "dream job," which he then lost due to Swift's allegations. "Mueller absolutely unequivocally denies he put his hand under her skirt and grabbed her bottom or touched her inappropriately," McFarland explained. "Mueller has been hurt and wants his good name back and he wants to be fairly compensated for income he lost and ability to earn income in the future." Swift's attorney Douglas Baldridge followed suit, saying the singer is "taking a stand for all women" as this is a "case of sexual assault in the work place." He continued, "A woman is assaulted. She reports it and she gets sued... it doesn't make sense. She's trying to tell people out there that you can say no when someone grabs you no matter who they are." After the opening statements, Mueller took the stand. An eyewitness told us Swift was "very serious" throughout his testimony. "As he took the stand Taylor watched intently," our insider explained. "She had her chin resting in the palm of her hand and was listening closely to every word. Her mom was taking notes as David talked. His voice was cracking as he told the story of working his dream job at the radio station. Taylor [also] wrote notes and passed them to her lawyer. She seemed very invested and wanted to make sure that nothing is overlooked. She was staring at David and focused on every single thing he said." Meanwhile, we're told Mueller wore a gray suit and black tie and spent a majority of the appearance looking down at the table in front of him before taking the stand. "My hand came into contact with a part of her body... what seemed to be a ribcage or ribs," he said during his testimony. When asked by his lawyer if he had mistaken Swift's ribs for her butt, Mueller answered, "No." When asked if he had filed a claim against Swift for financial gain, he said it was a "humiliating thing to be accused of something that despicable." The trial continued Wednesday, but it is still unknown when Swift will testify. (Eonline)

Usher in no way, shape or form had sex with the woman who came forward and claimed he exposed her to the herpes virus, because he's just not into her type ... so he's telling his close circle. Quantasia Sharpton claims Usher picked her out of the audience at a concert, got her number, and went over to her hotel room where they had sex. She claims he didn't tell her he allegedly had genital herpes. Our sources say Usher told them he may have pulled her up onstage ... he doesn't remember, but he absolutely didn't hook up with her. As for why he may have picked Sharpton out of the crowd and brought her onstage, the sources say Usher "looks to bring a diverse group of people up onstage, not just supermodels." One source says he believes it's "an esteem booster" to choose various people Usher sees in the audience and single them out. (TMZ)

Prosecutors rested their case Tuesday against four Boston union members accused of trying to extort jobs from "Top Chef" producers three years ago. Lawyers for Fidler, Daniel Redmond, Robert Cafarelli and Michael Ross declined to call witnesses to the stand, according to the Boston Herald. Show host Padma Lakshmi had testified about an encounter with the angry Teamsters, who were picketing outside a restaurant where the show was filming in 2014. (Page Six)

Amber Rose wants Wiz Khalifa's mom to back the hell off ... so she's lawyering up to get a restraining order against her ex-mother-in-law. Sources close to Amber tell TMZ ... Amber's furious that Katie Wimbush-Polk's hatred for her has spilled into the courtroom. Katie has sued Amber for defamation, claiming Amber's allegation Katie's an unfit grandmother is a big fat lie. We're told Amber believes it's just a revenge lawsuit because Katie can't let go of the fact Amber left her son 3 years ago, and Katie has tried to make Amber's life a living hell ever since the split. Katie's also taken shots at Amber on social media, ripping her to shreds every chance she gets ... like in 2015 when Katie jumped into the Kardashian-Amber beef and defended the Klan. Amber wants a restraining order to keep her and Wiz's 4-year-old son, Sebastian, far away from Katie ... fearing that exposing Sebastian to Katie's hatred for Amber will hurt the kid. We've reached out to Katie, so far no word back. (TMZ)

Justin Theroux's war with his NYC neighbor is actually pretty one-sided -- Justin does all the damage and the downstairs neighbor's left to deal with it ... according to new legal docs filed by the guy. Norman Resnicow responded to Theroux's recent harassment lawsuit against him, claiming he and his wife have been terrorized by the actor's rude behavior at their Greenwich Village co-op for years ... including endless barking from his rescue dogs left isolated for long periods, dropping heavy weights on the floor at 3 AM and angry outbursts. Despite all this, according to the docs, Resnicow has actually had Theroux's back in the past -- including when he was the co-op president -- and the 2 have a history of "friendly relations and cooperation." That's why he calls Justin's allegations against him ... "as fictional as the television series in which he recently starred." For example, Norman claims Jennifer Aniston's hubby asked him to help quietly kick Justin's ex-gf out of his apartment. Resnicow says he's been nothing but helpful to Justin, yet J.T. won't return the favor by soundproofing his unit, and that's why Resnicow has pitched a fit from time to time. We reached out to Justin, so far no word back. (TMZ)

Blac Chyna had the cops called on her after Rob's baby mama went ham over a roofer. It happened Tuesday morning at Chyna's L.A. home. She pitched a fit when a guy next door started pitching a roof at 9 AM. We're told Chyna confronted the homeowner, saying it was too damn early to start construction. She said the noise woke up little Dream, and that pissed her off. The neighbor claims Chyna went so ballistic she got scared and called the cops. We're told cops showed up and gave Chyna a free lesson about the law. In L.A., construction can fire up at 7 AM, so the roofer was well within his rights. Chyna calmed down, and cops beat it. (TMZ)

Bethenny Frankel's Ex-Husband Jason Hoppy Arraigned on Additional Charges. UPDATE: E! News has learned that Bethenny Frankel and Jason Hoppy's legal battle still continues. A source tells E! News that after a court hearing, a judge dismissed Hoppy's motion to dismiss harassment and stalking charges made by his ex-wife. An insider adds, "The order of protection has brought Bethenny enormous relief. In the past eight months, she's been happier and felt more free because of it." Hoppy's team filed a motion to dismiss the case and it was denied, however, he has until September 27 to accept the existing plea deal or else the case goes to trial. Hoppy was arrested in January after he allegedly sent the Real Housewives of New York star multiple emails and texts and showed up at their 6-year-old daughter Bryn's school to confront her. He was charged with one count of aggravated harassment in the second degree, one count of stalking in the fourth degree and one count of harassment in the second degree. He appeared in court for the charges, and a spokesperson for the New York District Attorney's office confirmed to E! News that he was arraigned on additional charges, including one count of stalking in the third degree and another count of stalking in the fourth degree. We reached out to Hoppy's attorney for comment who told us, regarding the prior charges, "We filed a motion to dismiss today." As for the new charges, he added, "We deny the allegations and will answer them in court [on August 8th]." Frankel's attorney has not returned our request for comment. Meanwhile, Frankel and Hoppy were married for two years before filing for divorce in 2012. Their divorce took nearly four years to finalize as they fought over alimony, child custody and Frankel's New York City condo. By July 2016, Hoppy had moved out of the Tribeca home and a few weeks later, their attorneys confirmed the divorce was finalized. However, the road remains rocky for the former couple. Frankel filed a complaint last year accusing Hoppy of sending her over 160 emails and several text messages between November and January. She also told police he contacted her via text message and email between August and November, including one message that allegedly read, "I will continue to communicate with you as often as I see fit in hopes that you will stop regardless of any attorney you retain." According to that complaint, her attorney sent Hoppy a cease and desist letter on Nov. 22, 2016. Then, he was arrested earlier this year after sending more emails and texts and showing up at Bryn's school to confront Frankel. "The victim stated he made numerous emails and FaceTime calls, which placed her in fear for her safety," a court public information office told us at the time. "She said the communication was unwanted." According to Frankel's complaint, Hoppy approached her and her former boyfriend Dennis Shields at the school on Jan. 27 and repeatedly stated, "OK I see. This is how you want to do this. OK. You can play your game. It doesn't matter. You can get 10 lawyers. There's nothing you can do to stop me. You'll be sorry. You've been warned. I can't help it. She's pure evil. You've been warned. Don't say I didn't warn you." Hoppy denied the allegations as "false charges" and rejected a plea offer in court in March. People was the first to report the story. (Eonline)

Quantasia Sharpton declaring "I need money" has nothing to do with her lawsuit against Usher -- she's just struggling financially like millions of Americans ... according to her lawyer. Celebrity attorney Lisa Bloom tells TMZ her client has been raked over the coals since her Monday morning news conference. In particular, Bloom defended Quantasia's social media post saying she's hard up for cash ... which came one week prior to the suit. Bloom says it's unfair to connect the two things -- "It's not a crime to be poor in America. It's not a crime to be honest about the fact you need money. Most people need money." She points out Quantasia didn't put a dollar amount on the lawsuit, and only wants what a jury deems fair. In addition, Bloom says Quantasia's been repeatedly fat shamed online since the news conference. As for the tweet about her last hours as "a regular girl" -- just before going public -- Bloom says it's only natural her client was nervous, but still ... she's been "so brave to step forward." (TMZ)

Goldie Hawn is mourning the recent death of her best friend. "My best friend has passed," the Snatched star announced on Sunday, captioning a vintage black and white photo of herself and the unnamed friend on Instagram. "Please treasure each other," she added. "Best friends get us through. Blessings to all this Sunday." Hawn followed up the announcement by posting a photo of her granddaughter, Rio Hudson, 4, hugging her own best friend. "Says it all!" she captioned. The actress spoke about the importance of friendship during a recent sit down with PEOPLE. Asked who makes her laugh these days, Hawn said, "You have your girlfriends you really laugh with and there aren't that many." Fortunately, she's also getting plenty of laughs out of being a grandma. Hawn was on hand earlier this summer when Rio, her son Oliver's daughter, graduated from preschool. She spoke to PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly Editor-in-Chief Jess Cagle about her blended family, which includes kids Oliver, 40, Kate, 38, Boston, 37, and Wyatt, 30, along with five grandchildren, saying that she has learned the secrets to a long-lasting relationship. "Love, gratitude, compassion, because sometimes every man or every woman will drive their partner crazy. Family. Fun. Laughs. Sex," Hawn said. "If you don't nurture that, and remember, you're done." (People)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Chris Pratt Wrote the Foreword to Anna Faris' New Book Before Announcing Separation. Like they always say, timing is everything. Although Chris Pratt and Anna Faris announced on social media Sunday evening that they were separating, that doesn't take away from a special project the pair worked on in recent months. E! News has obtained the cover for Anna's new book titled Unqualified. As it turns out, Chris wrote the foreword to the piece that is set to be published on October 24. "Her comic memoir and first book, Unqualified, will share Anna's candid, sympathetic, and entertaining stories of love lost and won," the project's description stated. "Part memoir, part humorous, unflinching advice from her hit podcast Anna Faris Is Unqualified, the book will reveal Anna's unique take on how to navigate the bizarre, chaotic, and worthwhile adventure of finding love. For those who missed the big news, the beloved Hollywood couple revealed to fans that they were splitting after eight years of marriage. "We tried hard for a long time, and we're really disappointed. Our son has two parents who love him very much and for his sake we want to keep this situation as private as possible moving forward," Chris wrote on Facebook. "We still have love for each other, will always cherish our time together and continue to have the deepest respect for one another." Since the announcement was made, the October issue of Live Happy magazine has been released that features new quotes from Anna. In the interview that was conducted in early June, the actress spoke about her struggles with confrontation and vulnerability in long-term relationships. "There was a time when I was willing to make any cute boy that looked at me," Anna explained. "I felt like if someone was attractive and wanted to hook up, it was a validation of my own identity." She also added that she's not one to confront situations head-on when it comes to relationships. "I can't stand confrontation, which maybe is a character flaw," she explained. "But having said that, I do feel like when I do get upset, which is rare as my husband and family would say, I have a hard time letting go." (Eonline)

Beyonce Invites Best Friend Kelly Rowland to SoulCycle Session with Husband JAY-Z! Beyonce and JAY-Z aren't the only ones keeping up with their workout routines. The pair was accompanied by longtime friend and fellow former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland to a Tuesday SoulCycle class. The parents of three wore matching cream colored sweatshirts with hoodies covering their faces -- although Beyonce's long blonde locks were a dead giveaway as she walked out of the gym in black leggings and white sneakers. Rowland, 36, opted for a gray Calvin Klein sports bra, black shorts, and black and white Nike shoes. The "Run the World" singer, 35, is a fan of SoulCycle and has taken classes there various times since giving birth to twins Rumi and Sir Carter eight weeks ago. A source close to the singer told PEOPLE in July she was "slowly starting to get back to her 'normal' life," with the couple "motivating each other to stay in shape." The two -- who also share 5-year-old daughter Blue Ivy -- have been spotted around Los Angeles in recent weeks. The stars hit up a Venice roller rink on Friday, while JAY-Z, 47, reportedly sat on the sidelines. The superstar couple was spotted at a local sushi joint on Wednesday during a date night -- with a source telling PEOPLE that since raw fish was prohibited during her pregnancy, JAY-Z and Beyonce made it a point to dine at their "longtime favorite" restaurant, Sushi Park. The family is currently living in a $400,000 per month rental home in Malibu and are still looking for a permanent home closer to Blue's school. "Beyonce is happy with just being a mom right now. She has no plans to work," an insider previously told PEOPLE about the star's current slower pace. "She seems relaxed and very happy. Everything is good with her and Jay, and they seem to have a lot of fun raising their family together." (People)

Cynthia Nixon: New York is losing its working class. Cynthia Nixon wouldn't address rumors she's eyeing a bid for governor of New York, cryptically telling us at a premiere of her film "The Only Living Boy in New York," "I really can't say." Nixon did talk about what she most loves about the city. "It is all the different kinds of people here from every country, so many different languages and religions, gender identities, and I think that one of the things the film is about is, as New York gets wealthier and wealthier, we are losing our working class," she said -- just like a politician. (Page Six)

Luann de Lesseps kicking herself over lost countess title. Luann de Lesseps is kicking herself over giving up her beloved countess title -- for the sake of seven months of bad marriage to businessman Tom D'Agostino. "Poor Luann. She loved being a countess," said a source. De Lesseps has used the title since she married French Count Alexandre de Lesseps in 1993 (and even introduced herself as "the countess" to limo drivers and other staff). She continued to go by it after their divorce in 2009, but had to give it up when she married D'Agostino on New Year's Eve last year. Before the wedding, she said on Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York City" that "the only title I'd give up 'countess' for is 'wife.'?" It turned out to be a very bad trade. Page Six exclusively reported last week that the couple had filed for divorce after seven months. On Tuesday, she told us via text, "I was married to my first has been [A Freudian slip? Or perhaps she meant to type 'husband'] for a long time and had two children with him. The countess will always be a part of who I am." De Lesseps still uses the title for business: She has clothing and bedding lines called "the Countess Collection." Interestingly, Luann chose Switzerland -- where she used to live with the count during her first marriage -- as her getaway following her split with D'Agostino. Perhaps she's trying to rediscover her countess core? (PageSix)

Tamra Judge is choosing to focus on love. Despite the recent drama she's been entangled in, the Real Housewives of Orange County star took to Instagram on Tuesday afternoon and shared an uplifting post as she husband Eddie Judge renewed their vows in Aruba "Celebrating love with all the hate that's going on. My God bless your life because it's not always easy. But God has a plan.. a big plan," she captioned a photo of herself and husband Eddie Judge holding hands and kissing while walking on a beach. The couple, who wed in June 2013, renewed their vows on Eagle Beach in Aruba during the Caribbean's largest vow renewal ceremony. "Aruba is simply beautiful," Judge told PEOPLE. "It meant everything for Eddie and I to be able to 'renew our I Do's' in such a picturesque setting, in the company of our family. Cheers to a lifetime of love and adventure, from the One happy island!" She also gave a shout-out to three of her supportive RHOC costars: Shannon Beador, Lydia McLaughlin and Kelly Dodd. "I wanna say thank you to @shannonbeador @oclydia @rhoc_kellyddodd (you know what you did and you all rock)," she wrote, and added the hashtag, "#arubaido." Judge, 49, shared the image not long after she blasted RHOC alum Gretchen Rossi on the photo and video-sharing app as a "thirsty wannabe" and an "#obsessedfreak." "I usually don't give this troll any attention because it's exactly what she wants. But after years of her bashing me and now reaching out to my daughter I must say. Gretchen you are the biggest piece of s -- I've ever met. Move on with your sad empty childless life and stay out of mine you thirsty wannabe," Judge wrote about Rossi, 38. "You are obsessed with my life and I haven't even seen or spoke to you in 5 years. #MoveOn You have NO IDEA What my family is going through or what the truth is, Nor do you care. It's just an opportunity for you to get your name in the press. #obsessedfreak," Judge continued. "Funny you of all people should be talking about morals. You have none!" 'The Real Housewives of Orange County' Star Tamra Judge on Vicki Gunvalson: 'She's Done Too Much Damage to Me' "RHOC's" Tamra Judge reveals she's helping fellow housewife Shannon Beador with her weight struggles Her first social media post was sparked after Rossi responded to Sidney Barney's (Judge's eldest daughter) lengthy Facebook post about Judge on Monday, in which she claimed that Judge "was no mother to me." In an effort to extend her support, Rossi left a comment on 18-year-old Barney's post, encouraging her to "stay strong." "You have no idea how your brave words are helping so many who have been wronged by your Mother's manipulation and lies as well... so thank you for being brave enough to speak the truth," Rossi commented on Barney's post. "I am so sorry your mother and your family is going through any of this, especially publicly, but continue to stay strong. Your morals and strength are commendable and inspiring." But Judge evidently didn't appreciate Rossi chiming in on the personal family matter: her Instagram attack featured a screenshot of the RHOC alum's message. (Judge's Instagram post about Rossi has since been deleted.) Recently, Judge appeared to be making strides in her relationship with her eldest daughter. "We're making progress. Every day is a step forward and we're just really trying to bring the family back together," Judge previously told The Daily Dish. "She's amazing. She's doing great. She graduated from high school, going off to college, and I'm just really proud of her." But their progress appears to have taken a downward turn. "All I've ever done is love you from the second I found out I was pregnant. I'm sorry you hate me so much," Judge wrote in the comment section of her daughter's Facebook post. "I fought so hard for you. I will always love you and hope you realize one day how wrong all this is. So hurtful and not necessary." The Real Housewives of Orange County airs Monday (9 p.m. ET) on Bravo. (People)

Oprah Winfrey Launches a Comfort Food Line with a Healthy Twist: 'People Don't Want to Be on a Diet. Oprah Winfrey is officially in the food business. The media mogul is launching O, That's Good!, a line of health-conscious, heat-and-eat foods in collaboration with Kraft Heinz, the star tells PEOPLE exclusively in the new issue, on stands Friday. The comfort food collection includes four refrigerated side dishes and four refrigerated soups -- all with a nutritious "twist." The initial offering is Original Mashed Potatoes and Garlic Mashed Potatoes (both with added mashed cauliflower), Three Cheese Pasta (with added butternut squash), Creamy Parmesan Pasta (with added white beans), Broccoli Cheddar Soup (with added butternut squash), Creamy Tomato Basil Soup (with added celery and carrots), Baked Potato Soup (with added cauliflower) and Creamy Butternut Squash Soup (with added pureed sweet potatoes and carrots). "I've been asked over the years to do anything you can imagine to attach my name to it to," Winfrey, 63, tells PEOPLE. "I have always just wanted to stay in my lane and to do what was organic for me, authentic and natural. Food would be it." The company, she says, won her over with its desire to bring variety and wellness to the refrigerated food aisle. "They mentioned the idea of making nutritious food accessible to a lot of communities that do not have that option," she says. "And that is what intrigued me." The items will retail for $4.99 each. Winfrey, a self-proclaimed food lover, was involved with the development and testing process from the beginning, including doing multiple tastings with the team to create recipes that felt true to her own diet. "The twist on the cauliflower mashed potatoes, which is really what sparked this whole thing, is me sitting at the table in my own house and whipping up some cauliflowers," the Wrinkle in Time star says. "And I was thinking, gosh, this really isn't mashed potatoes. But what if you actually used only a portion of the mashed potatoes and added the cauliflower? Then you would have a substantive potato-cauli dish. I've eaten more cauliflower and potatoes then you can imagine trying to get the exact right summation of cauliflower to potatoes. I think we did it." The O, That's Good! line -- which got its name from Winfrey's reaction to the winning recipes -- will begin appearing in grocery stores in early August and will be available nationally by October. "I love soup," she raves. "I associate it with warmth and love, so I have soup almost everyday." One thing Winfrey knows most people don't love: counting calories, which is why the Weight Watchers spokeswoman chose to skip collaborating with the company for her line of veggie-infused comfort foods. (People)

Music

Listen Up, Directioners! Liam Payne Says One Direction Will Reunite. One Direction have a whole lot of history, and according to Liam Payne, they're not finished yet. The boy band heartthrobs went their separate ways back in late 2015, announcing an indefinite hiatus after the release of their fifth album Made in the A.M., and while we've watched all of the boys find success on their own since, we can't help but wonder when (and if) the group will be getting back together. The "Strip That Down" singer, having gone solo like the rest of his bandmates, stopped by Buzzfeed to show off what makes him beautiful by playing with some adorable puppies and talking about the future of 1D. "I think we will reunite at some point in the future. I'm sure," Liam said. "We have to! We have an album that we haven't even toured yet and I want to write some more songs as well with the boys." Time to take a sigh of relief. Having released two solo singles so far, "Strip That Down" with Quavo of Migos and "Get Low" with Zedd, Liam seems to be headed in a more dance/hip-hop direction musically (he also said one of his dream collaborations would be with Nicki Minaj). So which 1D member would he most like to work with on his solo album to go with his new vibe? "I think I would collaborate best with Zayn [Malik] because we do a really similar type of music," the 23-year-old said. "And I would like our music video to be right here with these puppies 'cause this is just too much fun right now." However, songs like "Strip That Down" aren't the only thing you should expect on Liam's forthcoming debut album. "There's some ballads, there's some hip-hop songs, there's some more dance music," the pop star said. "So I think there's a really varied mix of different things that we have." While all the 1D boys have released solo music at this point, Harry Styles is the only one to have also pursued a whole new medium by recently making his acting debut in Dunkirk. Liam took to Twitter to congratulate his bandmate on his new endeavors, and told Buzzfeed that he's "not at all" surprised by Harry's acting chops. "I think honestly he's really, really suited to the job and I know that Harry's really good at what he does," Liam said. "I wanted to congratulate him on his massive moment -- being in a Christopher Nolan action film, like, how amazing. It's super cool. I haven't seen it yet but I am planning on having a little event with my team and some of my family and going down and all of us watching it together." Harry is also gearing up to hit the road next month, opting for smaller theaters for the first leg of his solo tour, and Niall Horan similarly following suit with a theater tour of his own kicking off at the end of this month (R.I.P. our bank accounts). While Liam hasn't announced any tour dates himself yet, he said he would rather stick to the arenas One Direction performed in. "I love a big stage and I like running around," the singer said. "I do like smaller venues, it's nice and intimate, but I love to do really big shows, and I want to put on a great show with loads of different elements so we can all have a good time." In addition to his already busy year, Liam recently became a father to his first child, with his girlfriend Cheryl Cole giving birth to their son Bear back in March. The new dad revealed on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in May that "the moment that little boy or girl looks in your eyes, your life is changed forever." Liam has yet to announce a release date for his debut solo album, but we fully expect to be dancing all night to the best songs ever once it comes out. (Eonline)

Journey fans can relax, keyboardist Jonathan Cain insists the band isn't calling it quits over their White House visit without founding member Neal Schon -- although Neal doesn't seem nearly as sure. We got Cain and his wife, Paula, at LAX Tuesday and asked about Neal going off on Twitter about the visit. Everyone attended but Neal, who thinks the band shouldn't be exploited by anyone especially for politics or religion. Cain, whose wife is a televangelist with strong ties to President Trump, says he hasn't talked to Neal since the rant, and the guitarist is still steaming almost a week later. He has made it clear the tension isn't about Trump, but certainly made it seem like it's about Jonathan mixing his wife's agenda with the band's. So, fresh off their Hall of Fame induction ... is Journey rock solid? Depends on who you choose to keep believin'. (TMZ)

Will Smith and James Corden Talk Barack Obama, Get 'Jiggy' In First Episode of 'Carpool Karaoke: The Series'. James Corden got away his new "Carpool Karaoke" series with the help of a Hollywood A-lister and some extra brass. The Late Late Show host's wildly popular spin-and-sing segment has now jumped to Apple Music with "Carpool Karaoke: The Series," which premiered overnight with Will Smith in the passenger seat. Will Smith is a "Karaoke" producer's dream. Here's a guy who works well with others, the camera adores him and he just loves to rip out his hip-hop tunes. And those tunes got a workout in episode one as Smith and Corden blasted "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" and "Boom! Shake the Room." So what's changed with this new show? Well, for starters Corden clearly has a budget to play with. The British funnyman shows us the money in a sequence where he enlists the help of a marching band to "fill out the sound" of "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It." The pair also get chatting about Smith's musical past. He wrote his first rhyme at age 12, we discover, and got his first release at 16 with "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble." "I had a record on the radio for the last 30 days as a senior," he recalls, suggesting he pretty much ruled at high school. And with one particularly random question, we learn that Smith has been asked to play Barack Obama, and that the former president gave his blessing. And then Corden goes for the top drawer with a dig at Wild Wild West. The entire episode is at applemusic.com/carpoolkaraoke and the first six minutes can be seen. Next week's episodes (premiering Aug. 15) will feature Alicia Keys and John Legend, plus and Metallica and Billy Eichner. (Billboard)

James Corden Will Defer to Chester Bennington's Family About Airing 'Carpool Karaoke' Episode. Linkin Park filmed an episode of Carpool Karaoke: The Series for Apple Music before singer Chester Bennington's death last month. But now it's up to Bennington's family to decide if the piece -- reportedly filmed on July 14, less than a week before Bennington's July 20 passing -- will air. In an interview with the Associated Press, James Corden said it's not his decision to make. The show debuted on Tuesday (Aug. 8) with an episode featuring show creator Corden getting jiggy with Will Smith, though no air date has been announced so far for the LP ride along, which was originally set to debut in October. "We will approach it in whichever manner his family or the people that were involved in that episode, however they would like it to be handled," Corden said. "We will navigate it as delicately as possible and just adhere to whatever wishes they would want because I don't think there's any other way we could deal with it, really. It's completely up to them and that's a conversation we haven't even thought about having right now... It's a tragedy." Actor Ken Jeong tweeted a picture of himself on the Carpool set with the band prior to Bennington's death. Corden's comments drew immediate reaction from Bennington's widow, Talinda, who thanked the late night host for his kind offer. On Tuesday (Aug. 8) the two-year old viral phenomenon jumped from Corden's The Late Late Show on CBS to Apple Music with surprising mix of athletes, musicians and actors slated to show up every Tuesday. The 20-episode run will include song-and-dance-filled rides with stars including Miley Cyrus and family, The Daily Show host Trevor Noah, Game of Thrones stars Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner, Will Smith, Metallica, Shakira, John Legend and Alicia Keys, as well Blake Shelton, John Cena, Chelsea Handler, Ariana Grande, Joe Jonas, Camila Cabello, Tyrese, Ludacris, Jessica Alba, Jada Pinkett Smith, Ice Cube and many others. (Billboard)

Rihanna Semi-Apologizes For Dissing Diplo's Music. In a new interview with GQ, Diplo details his unsuccessful quest to collaborate with Rihanna. "I played her 'Lean On.' She was like, I don't do house music. I face-palmed so hard on that one," he begins. "Another time I had a session with her, and Future was also invited. The Weeknd was there. Metro Boomin was there before anybody knew who he was. I was so contact high. Future played her, like, 700 songs. It was four in the morning. Finally, I was like, 'Yo, G, I'm leaving unless you let me play her a song.' So I played her a song. And she was like, 'This sounds like a reggae song at an airport.' [laughs] I was like, I'm gonna go kill myself." And now Rihanna has taken to Instagram to semi-apologize for her epic shade, posting a screencap of an article about the incident with the caption "#DutyFree ------ My bad @diplo." (Billboard)

Movies

Cinematographer John Bailey is the new president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The organization's board of governors elected Bailey to a one-year term late Tuesday. He succeeds Cheryl Boone Isaacs, who has held the post since 2013. Boone Isaacs became a very visible representative of the organization during her tenure, with the #OscarsSoWhite scandal and this year's best-picture flub. She said earlier this year that she would not seek re-election. Bailey's film credits include "American Gigolo," ?The Big Chill," ?Groundhog Day" and "As Good as It Gets." He has been a film academy governor representing the cinematography branch for 14 years. The film academy president traditionally appears on the Academy Awards telecast. Next year's ceremony is the 90th. (Page Six)

Disney is to pull everything from Netflix & basically this is a disaster for our hangovers. We have so many feelings about this ???? Say goodbye to hungover re-viewings of Cinderella. No more quiet nights in cooking in front of Enchanted. And if you were planning an Air Bud marathon, then you'd better get your sporty golden retriever fix quickly because *enormous wail* Disney is going to take all its programming off Netflix. We'll give you a moment to let this sink in. Oh, hang on, we forgot to mention that Pixar content will be leaving too. No, fair enough, we can't deal with this either. The only

good* news is that it's not going to happen for a while, *and* Marvel's TV shows, like Jessica Jones and the upcoming Defenders, will remain on Netflix. As part of their expansion into Pixar, Marvel and everything else, Disney has announced plans to launch a streaming service of its own, starting in America in 2019, and then moving out globally. So, in a couple of years, if we want to watch Disney on demand, we'll be heading to their service. And then going to Amazon Prime to watch American Gods; Now TV to watch Game of Thrones; Netflix to watch Stranger Things-basically, we're going to be coughing up for a really expensive satellite package by proxy. The as-yet unnamed Disney streaming service will however feature all its brand new titles, including Frozen 2 and the live-action remake of The Lion King, as well as new TV shows and films made especially for the channel. In the meantime, we've got an urgent appointment with every Pixar and Disney classic on there-and don't get us started on the Marvel films, we're not sure if they're going as well, but Disney does own the studio *takes a deep breath face* (British Glamour)

TV

World of Dance Finale: Who Took Home the Top Prize? World of Dance has crowned its first winner! After nine weeks of amazing dancing and heartbreaking eliminations, the three divisional finalists took the stage one last time to impress judges Jennifer Lopez, Ne-Yo and Derek Hough and prove to America that they're the most deserving of the million dollar grand prize. With the finalists' wildly varied styles, the judges had their work cut out for them as they scored Junior Division finalist Eva Igo's mature-beyond-her-years contemporary routines, Upper Division finalists Les Twins' out-of-this-world hip-hop performances, and Team Division finalists Swing Latino's exuberant salsa dances. While each were more than deserving of the win, there could only be one winner and Les Twins came out on top! "We made it," the duo said after being crowned the winner and taking home the $1 million prize. "This competition was hard from the beginning. Thank you [runner up Eva Igo] for going hard on us." "The way you were moving, it was so powerful" Lopez gushed about the winner after their final dance of the season. "You did Les Twins." While it may be time to say goodbye to World of Dance for the summer, a second season will be here before you know it. NBC renewed the series back in June, hailing it as the most-watched summer alternative series debut on cable or broadcast in nine years. "I am so proud to not only star, but produce a show that is so close to my heart,'" Lopez said at the time. "I am so happy that World of Dance has resonated with audiences and we are able to put dancers on the pedestal they deserve. I cannot wait to continue this journey and my partnership with NBC." Did the right dancer win? Or was your favorite robbed? World of Dance will return to NBC for season 2 in 2018. (Eonline)

We Dare You Not to Fall in Love With This Young Dirty Dancing Duo on America's Got Talent. Forget about the singers, magicians and other talented acts on America's Got Talent. We just fell in love with a young dancing duo. On Tuesday night's all-new episode, viewers were reintroduced to Artyon and Paige who are eight and nine years old. In Tuesday night's performance, the duo decided to channel their inner Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey with a rendition of "Time of My Life" from the Dirty Dancing movie. Despite being in elementary school, this duo completely wowed the audience and judges with their moves and famous lift. And spoiler alert: They totally made it through to the next round. If their routine wasn't enough to make you a fan, the pair also shares a special story that viewers can't get enough of. After meeting in dance class a year and a half ago, Artyon and Paige have become BFFs and even hope to marry each other when they get older. "We've already started planning our wedding. We want it in Hawaii in a palace or by the beach," Paige explained to the cameras. "I want my ring to be a diamond ring. I want a long, sparkly dress. And I want, like, really high heels with diamonds on it." As for Artyon, he's a little concerned about the price tag for such an elaborate celebration that must also include a dog fashion show. "So that's why we just need to win the million dollars from America's Got Talent," Paige explained. Brilliant! After a brief deliberation from the judges, this duo made it through to the next round. In other words, that big no vote from Simon Cowell after their initial audition is easily forgiven. America's Got Talent airs Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. on NBC. (Eonline)

Disney Announces Plan to Offer Its Own Streaming Service. The Walt Disney Company is throwing its hat into the streaming ring! The company made three huge announcements: first, the House of Mouse has agreed to pay $1.58 billion to acquire the majority ownership of streaming platform, BAMTech, LLC; next, that the company will launch an ESPN-branded multi-sport video streaming service in early 2018, and finally, the big news that's got fanatics jumping for joy (and likely throwing Netflix into a tizzy) is that there will be a new Disney-branded streaming service, which will be rolled out in 2019. According to a statement on the Walt Disney Company's website, "The new Disney-branded service will become the exclusive home in the U.S. for subscription-video-on-demand viewing of the newest live action and animated movies from Disney and Pixar, beginning with the 2019 theatrical slate, which includes Toy Story 4, the sequel to Frozen, and The Lion King from Disney live-action, along with other highly anticipated movies." Like its competitor, Disney says that it will also make "significant investment" in its original movies, TV shows and short-form content. Disney also says that the service, which is still a year and a half away, will showcase the brand's vast and lengthy library of content, which Disney and Pixar movies and Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD television programming. "The media landscape is increasingly defined by direct relationships between content creators and consumers, and our control of BAMTech's full array of innovative technology will give us the power to forge those connections, along with the flexibility to quickly adapt to shifts in the market," said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. "This acquisition and the launch of our direct-to-consumer services mark an entirely new growth strategy for the Company, one that takes advantage of the incredible opportunity that changing technology provides us to leverage the strength of our great brands." The big move also means a big change for the company's relationship Netflix, which streams Disney films and TV shows. Disney also announced that as a result of having its own streaming service new releases would no longer be on Netflix starting in 2019. The statement read, "Disney will end its distribution agreement with Netflix for subscription streaming of new releases, beginning with the 2019 calendar year theatrical slate." In an interview with CNBC earlier Tuesday, Iger said that the price for the service will be competitive with Netflix. (Eonline)

Cable TV Cord-Cutting Reaches "Fastest Rate of Decline on Record". Dish is hit hardest in Q2 as nearly 1 million subscribers vanish and new digital competitors emerge. Americans are cutting the cable cord at an alarming rate, and it could get worse. At least that's the message from second-quarter earnings reports, and Wall Street appears a bit spooked, with shares of Comcast, Charter Communications, Dish Network and AT&T (home of DirecTV) all down in the first week of August. Craig Moffett at MoffettNathanson estimates a whopping 941,000 subscribers cut the cord during the quarter, up from 809,000 in the same time frame a year earlier, a clear indication cord-cutting is accelerating. "The rate of pay TV subscriber erosion worsened, rising sequentially from 2.5?percent last quarter to 2.7?percent in the second quarter, the fastest rate of decline on record," notes Moffett. The major providers have been countering the decline with skinny bundles of TV channels online through services like DirecTV Now and Sling from Dish, but even there they are competing with such upstarts as PlayStation, YouTube and others. Dish might be in a particularly precarious position given its reliance on cut-rate packages to draw new customers. Even with Sling, the satellite provider lost 261,000 subs year-over-year. For the most part, cable has fared a little better than satellite, and Moffett sees that trend continuing. "Satellite operators can't offer a competitive lineup of VOD, and their one-way-only programming guides are increasingly disadvantaged in an age of two-way interactivity," he says. "Making matters worse, cable's ability to bundle broadband means that satellite ends up being more expensive than cable." "Growing a subscriber base by adding low-quality subs that are likely to churn is not a great strategy," says Ben Weiss, chief investment officer at 8th & Jackson Capital Management. Of course, broadband subs keep climbing for cablers, making up for some video losses. At Charter, for example, residential TV subs dropped 288,000 to 16.65 million in the past year while Internet subs rose 1.37 million to 22.03 million. And Comcast, the granddaddy of cable providers, managed small year-over-growth in video (up 74,000 to 21.48 million) but enjoyed a heftier surge in high-speed internet (up 1.18 million to 23.36 million). "That's why the headline quarterly numbers are not necessarily reflective of the long-term competitive position and sustainable cash generation potential of the large connectivity companies," says Weiss. Adds Moffett: "If there was any surprise, it was only that the carnage this quarter came up short of the worst-case scenarios." (Hollywood Reporter)

Disney Discloses $177 Million Settlement in Aftermath of ABC's "Pink Slime" Trial. In Disney's latest quarterly earnings report, the Mickey Mouse company reports a $177 million expense related to the settlement of litigation. Was it the price for getting Disney's ABC News unit out of a defamation lawsuit? On June 28, the case between Beef Products Inc. and ABC abruptly ended after three weeks of what was expected to be an eight-week trial. BPI had been seeking damages worth several billions over a series of World News reports in March 2012 about its product, officially called "lean finely textured beef" (LFTB) and dubbed "pink slime" by critics. At trial, the plaintiff attacked media bias and attempted to prove that ABC damaged its reputation by stating or implying that its product isn't meat or beef, isn't nutritious, isn't safe, was only approved by government regulators through misconduct and referring to it as "pink slime." Jurors heard from Diane Sawyer, a beef expert, a marketing consultant and others before the parties surprised everyone by announcing that after about five years of litigation, before ABC had a chance to present its own case, a settlement had been reached. The terms weren't disclosed, but since Disney has been for years reporting about the existence of this lawsuit -- and no other lawsuit -- in 10-Q reports to shareholders filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, its first quarterly report since the settlement announcement had some intrigue. Disney's third-quarter report doesn't specifically attribute the $177 million settlement expense to the "pink slime" case and also notes this is a net sum after the factoring of "committed insurance recoveries." If $177 million is what ABC paid to end the case, though, it would represent one of the biggest hand-overs of cash in a defamation case in media history. Of course, it's not nearly the $5.7 billion demanded by BPI. (Insurance money could have gone to the beef giant, too). Disney hasn't responded to an inquiry. (Hollywood Reporter)