ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Sofia Richie & Scott Disick: They're still going strong. The couple are inseparable. Scott Disick's love life has been the talk of the year. First he was spotted getting cozy with Bella Thorne, the next day it was Chloe Bartoli and THEN, the 34-year-old was photographed flirting with 19-year-old Sofia Richie on a yacht in Cannes. And it seems the unlikely couple are still going strong as they've recently been spotted partying and hitting the beach together in Miami. Last month, a source told People the couple are "very serious" and Sofia, who is the daughter of Lionel Richie, is a positive influence on Scott. The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star has had a highly-publicized battle with alcohol abuse. "She's been great for him," the source said. "She's made a big impact on his life and hasn't partied at all since they met. His friends adore her and nobody notices the age difference. She is very mature, she grew up in Hollywood and has always been in older situations. They seem really happy." Scott is almost 16 years older than Sofia and shares three children with his ex-Kourtney Kardashian. In May Sofia denied any romance, tweeting they were "just homies" so things have obviously developed a little since then... (British Glamour)

Allison Janney Gives Anna Faris' Boyfriend Michael Barrett the Seal of Approval. Allison Janney is "so happy" for Anna Faris. The actress dished exclusively to E! News about her Mom co-star's new relationship with cinematographer Michael Barrett and revealed she's met Anna's new man. "She's such an amazing...I can't believe all the stuff she does, in addition to Mom she has her podcast and she teaches a class at USC and she's got her new man who she seems -- she seems just great, she's really doing well and I'm so happy for her," Allison told us at the I, Tonya press junket in Los Angeles on Tuesday. So does Michael have Allison's seal of approval? "I met him once, he seems really lovely," she shared with us. "I don't know him, but I'm happy for her. If she's happy, I'm happy." Anna and Michael have been spotted spending time together after her split with Chris Pratt. In November, the duo was photographed on a trip together in Venice, Italy. On Dec. 3, Anna was spotted house hunting with Michael in the Los Angeles area, two days after Chris filed for divorce from Anna. She also filed a divorce response, obtained by E! News, which looked identical to Chris' filing. "They are both ready to move on with their lives," a source told E! News. "They worked everything out and it was time. It was well coordinated and all details were agreed upon." I, Tonya opens in theaters in New York and Los Angeles on Dec. 8 and expands nationwide in January. (Eonline)

Fergie Recalls Crystal Meth Addiction: "I Was Hallucinating on a Daily Basis." Fergie doesn't want to erase her past. When she was a member of the pop trip Wild Orchid in the early 2000s, Fergie began using crystal meth. At her lowest point, "I was [suffering from] chemically induced psychosis and dementia. I was hallucinating on a daily basis," the 42-year-old "A Little Work" singer told the U.K.'s iNews Thursday. "It took a year after getting off that drug for the chemicals in my brain to settle so that I stopped seeing things. I'd just be sitting there, seeing a random bee or bunny." Fergie believed the CIA, FBI and a SWAT team were tracking her, so she sought refuge at a church. "They tried to kick me out, because I was moving down the aisles in this crazy way, as I thought there was an infrared camera in the church trying to check for my body," she recalled. "I bolted past the altar into a hallway and two people were chasing me. I remember thinking, 'If I walk outside, and the SWAT team's out there, I was right all along. But if they're not out there, then it's the drugs making me see things and I'm going to end up in an institution. And if it really is the drugs, I don't want to live my life like this anymore, anyway.' I walked out of the church -- obviously, there was no SWAT team. It was just me, in a parking lot. It was a freeing moment." It's a story Fergie has told time and again -- most recently, in a September interview with the London Evening Standard. After walking out onto L.A.'s Wilshire Boulevard, she started "seeing devils everywhere." Yes, she knows that sounds crazy. "I'm very open about what I call my 'dark period.' I went into a church and had this epiphany. It was a crossroads. The drugs that I was taking were making me insane," Fergie said. "I was definitely seeing things and talking to them." Fergie told Oprah Winfrey in a 2012 interview that she did drugs for about a year before getting sober. "What got me through it was a lot of therapy, soul searching, discovering why I took the drugs in the first place -- because that's really what it is," she said, adding that she first experimented with ecstasy before trying crystal meth. At her lowest, she weighed about 90 lbs. "With any drug, everything is great at the beginning -- and then slowly, your life starts to spiral." In her interview with iNews, Fergie added, "The drugs thing, it was a hell of a lot of fun... until it wasn't. But you know what? I thank the day it happened to me. Because that's my strength, my faith, my hope for something better." The fact that she's alive to tell her story today is nothing short of a miracle. "It's so incredible, I know," Fergie said. "I think I must have guardian angels." (Eonline)

Diane Kruger's latest film left her so depressed she took up smoking. Diane Kruger says shooting her latest movie, "In the Fade," made her feel so depressed that she took up smoking. The actress -- who plays a German mother who loses her husband and 6-year-old child in a neo-Nazi terrorist attack -- said at a Q&A on Monday: "[I] lost 7 pounds .?.?. I felt like I was drowning in grief, drowning in the gray weather, and drowning in the story. I picked up smoking." Kruger added, "Grief is a weird thing, and I felt a heavy responsibility to find the truth and to honor the people that this has happened to." She said that researching and filming the movie "changed my life forever." (PageSix)

Mark Hamill Talks ''Regret'' of Not Knowing Billie Lourd as a Child: ''I Wasn't There for My Niece.'' Mark Hamill could not help but gush about his "niece" Billie Lourd, and just how much the starlet reminds him of his late friend and her mother, Carrie Fisher. "She is wonderful in her own right," he told E! News in a sit-down interview. Despite meeting the Scream Queens star when she was just a young girl, he lost touch with Fisher for a time and the Star Wars actor feels that he finally got to know Billie when she starred alongside him and her mother as Lieutenant Connix in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Hamill expressed his regret about the time when he and Fisher were not in contact, saying, "I feel badly that I wasn't there for my niece." Luckily, with Billie's character playing a more prominent role in the Last Jedi film, he has been able to reconnect with her and, in doing so, has realized just how similar the actress is to her mother and grandmother, Debbie Reynolds. "There is so much of Carrie in her and so much of Debbie Reynolds in her," he said. Hamill reminisced about the times when he and Fisher were inseparable, and he would spend time with her and her mother in Malibu and New York. It was during these moments together that he was able to observe how "bright and bouncy" Reynolds seemed in comparison to her "dark and down" daughter. He joked that her mother and grandmother were like "fire and ice," but that the introduction of Billie to the family provided an "anchor in Carrie's life." In addition to singing his praises about Lourd's personality, he praised her professionally, applauding her performances in Scream Queens and American Horror Story: Cult the way any proud family member would. The star also took the opportunity to apologize to Lourd for his "cheap joke" about her being like her mother, saying, "I have been making this terrible joke about how they said, 'She is so much like Carrie,' and I said, 'Yeah she is late all the time.'" He clarified that she is in fact "very professional." Star Wars: The Last Jedi premieres nationwide in theaters on December 15. (Eonline)

Ireland Baldwin is finding hope in surprising places. The model, 22, shared an Instagram video of a small group of musicians singing and playing music to Jose Feliciano's classic holiday song, "Feliz Navidad." The music troupe- complete with singers, guitarists, violinists and trumpet players-put on an impromptu festive performance at the Ventura County Fairgrounds where residents who were fleeing the fires were evacuating to. "live from Ventura," ??Baldwin wrote in the caption of the video of the performers. The air in the video had a distinctive gray tone with orange glow to it, and as Baldwin moved to the camera to focus on the sky, the severity of the fires that are ravaging Los Angeles and Ventura County was evident. Various people in the video were wearing face masks, including some of the musicians who had tied bandanas to cover their nostrils and mouths. At one point, a Red Cross volunteer also walked past the singing group. Since Monday, at least 180 structures have been destroyed by raging wildfires across Los Angeles and Ventura County. More than 65,000 acres have burned so far, and L.A.'s notoriously traffic-dense freeways have either been shut down or clogged with cars as residents evacuate. More than 1,700 firefighters are on duty in Ventura County to contain the flames, but many aren't able to enter the area due to the intensity of the fire. On Wednesday morning, firefighters were faced with a new blaze in Bel Air, a neighborhood famous for being home to many celebrities. As of now, the homes of Jennifer Aniston, Elon Musk, Beyonce and JAY-Z are under threat of being affected by the fires. Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Garner and Harrison Ford have homes that may also be in danger if the flames spread. (People)

Casey Affleck is a successful actor, but it's a little surprising how much he rakes in, in the movie biz. According to new docs, obtained by TMZ, Affleck pulls in $400,000 a year ... we're guessing big brother Ben rakes in exponentially more. The divorce docs also reveal child support payments for the 2 kids he shares with ex-wife Summer Phoenix. He's paying her $4,000 a month. He's also going to be paying private school tuition for the kids for the next 2 years. As for spousal support ... he's not paying her anything. (TMZ)

David Cassidy Cuts Estranged Daughter Katie Cassidy Out of His Will. It's no secret that the late David Cassidy had a troubled relationship with his estranged daughter, Arrow actress Katie Cassidy, but Cassidy's will sheds even more light on the depth of their divide. On Wednesday, The Blast reported that according to Cassidy's last will and testament, the Partridge Family singer specifically cut out his daughter out of his will, leaving money only to his son Beau Cassidy, a 26-year-old singer/songwriter. In docs provided by the outlet, Cassidy, who died on Nov. 21 at the age of 67, stated in the will, "It is my specific intent not to provide any benefits hereunder to Katherine Evelyn Cassidy and/or any descendant of Katherine Evelyn Cassidy." While David was her father, Katie was raised primarily by her mother Sherry Williams and stepfather Richard Benedon. In fact, David confirmed to the publication in February 2017 that he was no longer in connection with his daughter. Earlier in 2017, David told People that he no longer had a relationship with the actress. "I wasn't her father. I was her biological father but I didn't raise her. She has a completely different life," he explained. "I'm proud of her. She's very talented. It's hard for me to even accept how old she is now." The docs also detail that Cassidy had approximately $150,000 in various assets, all of which were left to his son. The one-time heartthrob, who struggled with alcoholism during his life, also had three half-siblings, who were willed anything that was "music memorabilia." The outlet states that the will was originally filed in 2004 and at that time his personal representative was his then-wife, Susan Cassidy, but the couple split in 2016 and that role was taken over by a cousin of Cassidy. Whether or not the Katie and David patched things up near the end is unknown, however, the actress did take to Twitter to write a thank you to fans two days after her father's passing. She wrote, "Words cant express the solace our family's received from all the love & support during this trying time. My father's last words were "So much wasted time." This will be a daily reminder for me to share my gratitude with those I love as to never waste another minute...thank you." E! News has reached out to a rep for Katie for comment. RIP, David... (Eonline)

Stephen Belafonte says Mel B is breaking the deal they struck in their divorce, and he wants a judge to drop the hammer on her ... but Mel says he's full of it. In docs, obtained by TMZ, Mel's attorney says Stephen is finding any excuse to accuse her of breaking the deal they struck in November, but she has answers for all his allegations. Stephen says Mel was late on her spousal support payment in November. Mel's lawyer says some of her business deals fell through at the last minute, so although she was late ... Mel's all caught up now through December. Stephen complained Mel isn't giving him access to the old family home as they agreed. Mel says Stephen's refusing to give her any advance notice about when he wants to come, which she says is unreasonable. Bottom line ... Mel thinks Stephen running to the judge is a waste of everyone's time and money. (TMZ)

Meek Mill is seriously cleaning up while he's in prison, bouncing between several different jobs ... and doing it at a rate light-years from his rap dough. Meek's serving his 2 to 4 years at Pennsylvania's SCI Chester ... where he's part of the general labor crew, getting his hands very dirty. A prison rep tells us Meek cleans the cell block, tidies up prison grounds and washes dishes. He also cooks food and serves it up, too! He does it all with a smile, apparently, while earning just 19 cents per hour. The rep says he's a model inmate who gets some juicy perks due to good behavior. Meek gets access to electrical and carpentry shops, and he's waitlisted for some therapy courses. Lemonade from lemons, for sure. We still think he'd rather be poppin' bottles. (TMZ)

Radio DJ Who Groped Taylor Swift Says He Paid Her $1 Last Week. Former radio DJ David Mueller said Wednesday he mailed a symbolic $1 to Taylor Swift after he was found guilty of groping her during a 2013 photo op. Mueller sent the money Nov. 28 and provided proof of payment to the Associated Press, Washington, D.C.'s ABC7-WJLA reports. Mueller previously told the AP he intended to send a Sacagawea dollar, as it features a Native American woman. "I mean, If this is all about women's rights...It's a little poke at them, a little bit," he said in August. "I mean, I think they made this into a publicity stunt, and this is my life." Swift was among the "Silence Breakers" named as TIME's Person of the Year. In an article published Wednesday, the "...Ready for It?" singer said she hadn't yet received Mueller's dollar. The singer also described, in her first interview about the ordeal, what really happened in 2013. "When we were posing for the photo, he stuck his hand up my dress and grabbed onto my ass cheek," the "Look What You Made Me Do" singer said. "I squirmed and lurched sideways to get away from him, but he wouldn't let go. At the time, I was headlining a major arena tour and there were a number of people in the room that saw this plus a photo of it happening. I figured that if he would be brazen enough to assault me under these risky circumstances and high stakes, imagine what he might do to a vulnerable, young artist if given the chance. It was important to report the incident to his radio station because I felt like they needed to know. The radio station conducted its own investigation and fired him. Two years later, he sued me." Swift privately reported the incident to the station at which Mueller worked, and he was fired. Mueller sued Swift for defamation, saying she cost him a $150,000-a-year job; he sought up to $3 million in damages. Swift countersued for $1, and in August, a federal jury ruled in her favor. The singer was defiant on the stand, offering a straightforward testimony. When asked if she felt guilty about Mueller losing his job, she told his attorney, "I'm not going to let you or your client make me feel in any way that this is my fault. Here we are, years later, and I'm being blamed for the unfortunate events of his life that are the product of his decisions -- not mine." The pop star said she was upset by how court proceedings unfolded by the time she testified. "This man hadn't considered any formalities when he assaulted me, and his lawyer didn't hold back on my mom -- why should I be polite?" she argued. Proudly, Swift told TIME, "I'm told it was the most amount of times the word 'ass' has ever been said in Colorado Federal Court." (Eonline)

Dr. Larry Nassar is probably going to die in prison -- the disgraced former Team USA gymnastics doc just got 60 YEARS in his child porn case. The 54-year-old was just sentenced by a judge in Michigan -- after being convicted of having more than 37,000 child porn images in his possession. Prosecutors say they found the images on computer hard drives while investigating the sexual assault claims against him. Of course, besides the child porn ... Nassar also sexually assaulted more than 100 female athletes while working with Team USA gymnastics and Michigan State University. His victims include some of the most famous gymnasts in the world -- from McKayla Maroney to Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman. Nassar will be sentenced in that case in January. (TMZ)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Steven Tyler wants to pay it forward, and he did so in a big way Wednesday when he opened Janie's House for abused and troubled girls. Steven was on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony just outside of Atlanta and his heart was busting with pride. It's a pretty incredible place ... the facility can house and provide therapy to 30 battered and sexually abused girls. It's the first of its kind launched through Steven's Janie's Fund. Steven has had an incredible career in music, but he makes it clear to our photog ... Janie's House is his crowning accomplishment. (TMZ)

Leo haggles over $850K Basquiat drawing at Art Basel. Leonardo DiCaprio spent more than 45 minutes in a private room haggling over the price of an $850,000 Basquiat drawing at Art Basel Miami. The Oscar winner -- who tried but completely failed to hide his identity under a baseball cap and a black hoodie while walking around with a huge entourage -- spent more than an hour at New York's Van de Weghe booth at Art Basel in Miami during Wednesday's VIP preview. The 1983 Jean-Michel Basquiat work, titled "Wire," measures 76 x 56 cm and is signed and titled on the reverse and features a figure looking at a fly with the words on corresponding parts "teeth," "liver" "knee," and a quite "keep your hands off that wire." Leo had earlier walked around the convention center with his posse looking at art in numerous booths for galleries including Luhring Augustine, Metro Pictures -- which had a big Cindy Sherman artwork on display -- White Cube, Max Hetzler, Hauser & Wirth and Acquavella. Photographers who tried to take a picture of Leo were told they would be thrown out and have their press passes revoked. Plus, his art advisor, Lisa Schiff, led Leo towards the Basquiat drawing. A witness said, "It seemed like they had a plan beforehand. They brought the work into a private room with Leo, the advisor, and slowly the hat-clad entourage also poured in. "Two blonde models who looked very much Leo's type came and talked to his posse for a bit," says the spy. After about 45 minutes Leo emerged and looked at art at the booth across the way, while his advisor stayed to negotiate. "We are good, we're getting there!" she said when she emerged while Leo huddled with his posse. Also making the rounds at Art Basel Miami were Brad Pitt, former Knick turned collector Amar'e Stoudemire and model Frederique van der Wal. There were also many high profile art world figures including collector Beth Rudin de Woody, Jeffrey Deitch, Tico Mugrabi and artist Chuck Close who told Page Six of the work on display, "There is a lot more interesting work here this year compared to previous years, mainly because the higher priced artworks aren't exactly flying off the shelves right now. So the galleries are bringing their bigger pieces rather than digging into storage for something to show." He added his favorite artwork he'd seen so far was a painting by Brooklyn-based artist Dana Schutz. Meanwhile, over at the Helly Nahmad Gallery stand, we are told a number of offers had gone in for the $25 million Pablo Picasso painting "Homme à l'epee" (1969). Leonardo Dicaprio Foundation has an exhibition at the Perez Art Museum during Basel. The Perez will also be screening his climate documentary Before the Flood on Sunday. (PageSix)

Buyer of $450M da Vinci painting has art world abuzz. The art world's buzzing after the revelation that Leonardo da Vinci's 'Salvator Mundi' which recently sold at Christie's for a record of nearly $500 million will be on display at the new Louvre Abu Dhabi. There has been much speculation about the mystery buyer of the da Vinci. But now the painting, which has been mired in controversy over its authenticity, will become the big draw at the Louvre Abu Dhabi-supposedly its answer to the Louvre Paris' seminal work, the Mona Lisa. Insiders at Art Basel Miami speculated the buyer's wealthy Abu Dhabi prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi who's been funding Louvre Abu Dhabi and ruler of the United Arab Emirates intent on promoting the cultural legacy of the area. But the New York Times reported Wednesday that documentation reflects the buyer's a different prince, Saudi royal Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud. (PageSix)

Meghan Markle is about to get a crash course on being a royal -- from knowing the rules of curtsying to handling herself at State events -- and we've learned her teacher is her fiance, Harry. Meghan has a million things to learn, according to royal expert Katie Nicholl. Just a few examples, she has to know the curtsy rules ... she has to bend for the Queen, Kate, Beatrice, Eugenie and others. She needs to know how to address dignitaries, and the rules of royal fashion. She needs to know how to handle herself at State dinners. She also has to learn royal etiquette at the table ... how to hold conversations, and on and on. Harry knows the drill because he's been around it since birth, so he's the perfect mentor. There are silly little no-no's Meghan needs to understand. We're told one thing that she'll have to lose is her love of selfies with fans. It's just not done. Diana ran afoul of the rules early on when she wore a revealing black gown for an event with Princess Grace. In royal-dom, all black outfits are reserved for funerals and mourning. And get this ... we're told Harry started giving Meghan royal homework months ago, which means he knew she was a keeper. We're guessing Meghan will have a few books on her nightstand, like Katie Nicholl's upcoming book, "Harry: Love, Life, Loss." It's a learning process for sure, but she has to have everything down pat by May 26 ... when she and Harry get hitched. (TMZ)

Who Does Meghan Markle Have to Curtsy to -- and Who Will Bend and Bow to Her? Meghan Markle is just months away from becoming a royal when she marries Prince Harry, but there's a complicated system of etiquette when it comes to the royal family that she'll have to master. Of course, the American actress will have to cursty, a British sign of respect that is done upon greeting, for Queen Elizabeth, but what other members of the family will have her taking a dip? Myka Meier, founder and director of Beaumont Etiquette, tells PEOPLE the last time the Queen updated the Order of Precedence in the Royal Household, which essentially lays out who must curtsy to whom, was when Kate Middleton married Prince William in 2012. It's expected to be updated again at the next royal marriage of Harry to Meghan in May 2018. In addition to Queen Elizabeth, Meier says Meghan will be expected to curtsy to Prince Philip, Princes Charles and his wife Camilla Duchess of Cornwall. She'll also be bending and bowing for Prince William and Kate, due to his position in line for the throne. The 36-year-old must also curtsy to the princesses born into the royal family, Princess Anne, Princess Alexandra, and the daughters of Prince Andrew, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. However, if Harry is present, their roles are swapped and they must curtsy to Meghan. Meghan will also have to curtsy to Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, but only is when she is physically with her husband, Prince Edward, who is the Queen's third son. The public hasn't gotten a look at the former Suits star's curtsy just yet, but the gesture is a simple movement where one leg is placed behind the other before bending the knees and adding a brief bow of the head. Though it's a matter of preference when it comes to which foot goes behind, Kate typically puts her left foot behind. Even Princess Charlotte has proven to have this whole "royal curtsy" thing down pat. While departing from Warsaw, Poland, after a two-day visit with her parents and Prince George, to head to Berlin in July, Charlotte bid adieu to the Polish dignitaries who lined up to see the family off. And at the encouragement of her mom, Charlotte ducked into a curtsy (like a pro, we might add!). (People)

Brooklyn Beckham is adding to his body art collection. The 18-year-old photographer received a new piece of ink by celebrity tattoo artist Dr. Woo. The son of Victoria Beckham, had the tattoo artist etch an image of Cupid wielding his bow. Brooklyn had the cherub-which is synonymous with love and desire-inked across his chest, right where his heart is. While a romantic placement, the sternum is a very painful spot to have a tattoo done and is rated as one of the most painful. Dr. Woo shared the photo on his Instagram page on Wednesday, writing, "Fun one for BB ?????? thankz bud @brooklynbeckham." It seems Brooklyn is following in the footsteps of his famous father, David Beckham, who has over 40 tattoos on his body. In April, the teenager got his first tattoo from famed tattoo artist Mark Mahoney of the Shamrock Social Club in Hollywood, who has previously inked his father, Lady Gaga and Johnny Depp. "Honored to have my first tattoo done by dads friend Mark Mahoney," Brooklyn captioned a black and white photo of the artist hard at work. For his first one, Brooklyn decided to take inspiration from one of his father's tattoos: a Native American wearing a traditional headdress. While the soccer star has the body art on his chest, Brooklyn opted to place the design inside his right forearm. "Thank you so much Mark x just like dads," Brooklyn captioned another photo. Brooklyn has been busy visiting Woo. He's added to his tattoo collection, getting a hyper-realistic camera inked on his inner left bicep, a very detailed eagle on his left hand and a compass to his left forearm. He also went back to Mahoney to get a rose going up his left ribcage. (People)

Kate McKinnon's impression of Gal Gadot will make you love her even more. It's on point. From Hillary Clinton to Justin Bieber, Kate McKinnon is known for her hilarious celebrity impressions on Saturday Night Live. Now she's added another to the list - Israeli actress Gal Gadot. The star of Wonder Woman hosted SNL in October, and Kate definitely picked up some tips because it's bang on. Speaking to Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, Kate joked: "She's like... not that special, right? Everything she says is like a prophecy." "She really made an impact down at SNL," she continued. "I asked her, 'Do you have hobbies, Gal?' and she was like, 'I love to go to the beach, I love to paddle board, I love to watch my children run on the sand, I love to go to the Maldives. Do you have a hobby, Kate?' I was like, 'I watch Dateline!'" (British Glamour)

Matt Lauer's distraught-looking wife, Annette Roque, was spotted without her wedding ring in the Hamptons -- and her father says she plans on divorcing the disgraced newsman. While Annette was photographed jewelry-free on a Wednesday morning visit to a grocery store in the Hamptons, with reports saying the couple's done, lusty Lauer was still wearing his wedding ring in Sag Harbor. Meanwhile, Page Six has learned that Lauer has no intention of trying to stage a professional comeback. Lauer has made one statement regarding his firing from NBC's "Today" for alleged sexual harassment, saying, "Repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul searching and I'm committed to beginning that effort. It is now my full-time job." A source says, "Matt has no intention in returning to public life .?.?. He plans to disappear and play golf." The source added, "He wants to be a regular Joe. To play golf and stay in the Hamptons. He has no intention of mounting a Billy Bush-style comeback campaign. He is going to stick to his one statement and not address the allegations further." Another source says of Lauer's vow to remain out of the spotlight, "I wouldn't make a 20-year promise .?.?. but he wants to focus on his family." He's been seen in Sag Harbor with his wedding band still on. A source told us that Lauer and Roque are still living together in the Hamptons, where she's emerged looking miserable and gaunt. "She's back in the Hamptons to take care of the kids," says a source. "This has taken a huge toll. She's painfully thin. People at her kids' school are concerned." The Dutch model's dad, Henri, 76, told the Daily Mail from his home in the Netherlands: "She is not going to stay with him and work it out. They are not together trying to work it out." Back at "Today," ratings without Lauer are through the roof. Perhaps it's just car-wreck viewing, but the show was No.?1 over ABC's "Good Morning America" for the five days ending Dec. 1. A source even tells us, "They are not going to actively replace Matt." Another insider added: "Savannah [Guthrie] and Hoda [Kotb] will continue hosting the show for the short term. No long-term -- decisions have been made." (Page Six)

Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop Responds to Backlash Over "Extreme Diet" Advice. Gwyneth Paltrow's company, Goop, is clearing up a bit of controversy surrounding their health and weight loss advice. The company has responded to claims that it is endorsing an unhealthy and "potentially harmful" diet plan after it published weight loss advice from celebrity fitness guru Tracy Anderson. In a statement to E! News, a representative for Goop said, "We would never advocate for an unhealthy diet or extreme routine. As Tracy said in the interview, you should make choices based on what is best for your individual body." An insider at Goop also confirmed that the article in question was published more than six months ago, and the site "does not promote weight loss, only healthy eating." Anderson, who has worked with celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Madonna, wrote that if women wish to see fast results and "do a 14-lb. weight loss in four weeks," they should "get off gluten and go very low carb." Anderson also suggested her meal replacement bars, which she claimed are a "healthy combination of protein, energy and flavor that will satisfy you and support your weight management or weight loss journey." Anderson's claims were quickly challenged by Harley Street nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert, who told the The Independent, "I am in complete shock that this article has been published as this has the potential to harm a lot of relationships with food." Lambert particularly criticized Anderson's assertion that cutting out carbs and gluten will speed up the weight loss process, saying, "It is not sensible to eliminate whole food groups or make drastic dietary changes which are not sustainable." In response to the sharp criticism the article has drawn, a spokesperson for Anderson told E! News Wednesday, "Over the course of her 20-year career, Tracy has consistently practiced owning a 1-2 lb. weight loss per week when someone has unhealthy weight to lose. Owning a 1-2 lb. weight loss per week is different than simply dropping 1-2 lbs. per week, which causes people to hold onto unhealthy weight. Of the 14 lbs. that someone could effectively lose in a month -- if they have excess weight on them -- the goal is to own 8 lbs. of that, which is aligned with Tracy's practice of not living on extreme diets." The spokesperson added, "Tracy does not advocate for processed foods existing in a healthy diet." This is not the first time Paltrow's company has drawn criticism over content they have published. As recently as this August, the lifestyle site was accused by a watchdog group of making "deceptive health and disease-treatment claims to promote products in violation of the law." They promptly corrected their actions, but naysayers still criticize the website's outlandish sex tips and $6 million dollar 2017 Holiday Gift Guide. (Eonline)

Senator Al Franken is resigning, but still insists some of the allegations against him are not true, and he thinks the Ethics Committee would agree he's done nothing wrong while in the Senate. In his speech on the Senate floor, Franken said he wanted to be respectful of the women who accused of him of sexual misconduct, but that doesn't mean he was admitting their claims were true. Then he said he would be stepping down in the coming weeks, but also took a huge parting shot at President Trump and Roy Moore. Franken said, "I am leaving while a man who has bragged on tape about his history of sexual assault sits in the Oval Office, and a man who has repeatedly preyed on young girls campaigns for the Senate with the full support of his party." Franken's latest accuser came forward Wednesday -- taking the count to at least 7 -- claiming Franken tried forcibly kissing her in 2006, adding he allegedly said, "It's my right as an entertainer." Franken denied the latest allegation, but that didn't stop the drumbeat for his resignation. At least 39 Senators called for his exit. The Franken accusations began with radio host Leeann Tweeden posting a photo showing he groped her and also sexually harassed her during a USO trip in '06. More accusers came forward, claiming everything from unwanted groping to attempts of forcible kissing. Franken apologized time and again, but that clearly wasn't enough. (Eonline)

John Conyers' son -- the one he wants to replace him in Congress -- was arrested this year for felony domestic violence ... TMZ has learned. John Conyers III got in a fight with his girlfriend on February 15. Law enforcement sources tell us he accused her of cheating after going through her computer at around 2 AM. The argument allegedly escalated into physical violence ... she told cops John body slammed her on her bed and on the floor, pinned her down and spit on her. She says she tried calling the cops, but he took her phone. The woman claims he then chased her into her kitchen where she grabbed a 10-inch knife to protect herself, ordering him to leave the house. She says he grabbed the knife and then swung at her twice, stabbing her, cutting her right bicep which required 3 stitches. She says he then chased her back into the bedroom, pinned her against the bed and slapped her. They both called 911 and when cops came John claimed she pulled a knife on him and, when he grabbed it to protect himself, he accidentally stabbed her. Cops looked at the woman's injuries and then arrested John for felony domestic violence. The woman was taken to the hospital. The L.A. County D.A. declined to prosecute John ... partly because there were no witnesses and partly because prosecutors couldn't prove beyond a reasonable doubt the stabbing wasn't an accident. We reached out to John, who lives in Michigan, for his side of the story, but so far no word back. (TMZ)

Harvey Weinstein told women he slept with Gwyneth Paltrow to coerce them into having sex with him, according to a report in the New York Times. Multiple women told the Times that Weinstein, 65, claimed he made Paltrow, 45, a star with "Shakespeare in Love" after she slept with him, insinuating that an affair with him could also result in stardom for them. One woman, who accused Weinstein of sexually assaulting her in 2004, claimed that he kept a framed photo of Paltrow in his bedroom. Another who alleged that Weinstein sexually harassed her in 2000 said that Weinstein told her he'd been intimate with Paltrow and other stars. "He's not the first person to lie about sleeping with someone," Paltrow said. "But he used the lie as an assault weapon." Paltrow told the paper she personally spoke to some of the women who Weinstein allegedly coerced with the lie, calling the incidents "devastating." The actress previously told the Times that Weinstein put his hands on her and suggested she give him a massage at his Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel suite when she was 22 years old, saying, "I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified." After her then-beau Brad Pitt confronted Weinstein over the incident, Paltrow claims the disgraced producer "screamed at [her] for a long time." (Page Six)

Music

Ed Sheeran Suits Up to Receive an MBE From Prince Charles: Why It Was a "Full Circle" Moment. Ed Sheeran got all dressed up for a very special occasion. On Thursday, the Grammy winner donned his royal best for a unique occasion at Buckingham Palace. Sporting a long suit jacket and pants, the 26-year-old star stood tall and proud as he was made an official member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his services to music and charity. During the investiture ceremony, Sheeran smiled as Prince Charles granted him a prized red and silver neck decoration, which he later gleefully showed off to photographers afterward. Judging by the Sheeran's grin, the moment was one he'll always remember. "Honoured to be awarded an MBE today at Buckingham Palace," he gushed on social media. While the day was already special, it also marked a heartbreaking anniversary for the singer. "My grandfather...he died on this day four years ago, so it's actually quite a nice full circle thing," he said, according to Clarence House. "I guess he'd be pretty proud." Sheeran is also in acclaimed musical company as all four members of The Beatles were granted MBEs in 1965, although John Lennon ultimately returned the honor in protest. Congratulations Ed! (Eonline)

Gotta catch 'em all! Ryan Reynolds is set to star in the live-action movie adaptation of Pokemon, according to The Hollywood Reporter in a post published on Wednesday, December 6. The 41-year-old Deadpool actor will star alongside Jurassic World star Justice Smith and Big Little Lies actress Kathryn Newton. Reynolds will play the title role in the film, Detective Pikachu, which tells the tale of a teen (Smith) whose father is kidnapped, leading him to link up with Pikachu in order to find his father and uncover the mystery behind his disappearance. The team is later joined by a spunky journalist (Newton) who helps them on their mission. THR reported that Reynold's role will be motion capture inaction and the production company, Legendary, is eager to keep additional casting details and information about the project under wraps. The Green Lantern actor, known for his hilarious tweets, has yet to comment on the film via the social networking platform. (US Weekly)

Camila Cabello Drops Two New Tracks Off Upcoming Debut, 'Never Be The Same' & 'Real Friends'. Camila Cabello has released the next song off her upcoming debut album Camila, on the first day of pre-sale. "Never Be The Same" is the first real hint of a ballad off the new record, and comes as an instant-grat track with every pre-sale purchase Dec. 7, alongside the provocative "Real Friends." Cabello sings of an addictive love in "Never Be The Same," crying out in the chorus "It's you, babe/ And I'm a sucker for the way that you move, babe/ And I could try to run, but it would be useless/ You're to blame/ Just one hit, you will know I'll never ever, ever be the same." With a more low-key groove, "Real Friends" is sure to nudge at fans still reeling over her Fifth Harmony departure, quite literally singing in the chorus, "I'm just lookin' for some real friends/ All they ever do is let me down" over a muted guitar rhythm. While neither necessarily fit the certified-bop mold that "Havana" undoubtedly left, the two new tracks just took the hype around Camila to a whole new level. Camila is scheduled to be released on Jan. 12. (Billboard)

'Call Me by Your Name' Spurs Biggest Streaming Week Ever for The Psychedelic Furs' 'Love My Way'. The Psychedelic Furs' classic 1982 song "Love My Way" claims its biggest streaming week ever, largely thanks to its placement in the new movie Call Me by Your Name. The track -- which is featured in a dance party sequence in the film -- collected 177,000 on-demand streams (audio and video combined) in the U.S. in the week ending Nov. 30, according to Nielsen Music. That's up 9 percent compared to the previous week. Of that sum, the song's on-demand audio streams jumped by 15 percent, rising to 131,000 in the week. Both metrics for the latest week -- total on-demand streams, and on-demand audio streams -- mark the song's largest weekly sums since Nielsen began tracking streaming data in 2005. While the on-demand streaming total of "Love My Way" for the week is tiny when compared to the week's biggest on-demand streaming song (Post Malone's"Rockstar," featuring 21 Savage: 22.9 million), "Love" still earned more clicks than such familiar rock oldies as U2's 1983 hit "Sunday Bloody Sunday" (168,000 streams), David Bowie's "Changes," from his 1971 album Hunky Dory (159,000), and Nine Inch Nails' 1989 recording "Head Like a Hole" (152,000). "Love My Way's" gain is also notable considering that Call Me by Your Name is playing in only two cities (New York and Los Angeles) and in four theaters. The film opened in the U.S. on Nov. 24 to glowing reviews, and expands to further cities and theaters on Dec. 8. Unsurprisingly, the song saw robust streaming gains in both New York and Los Angeles during the tracking week ending Nov. 30. "Love My Way" rose 121 percent in on-demand audio streams in New York, while it jumped 29 percent in Los Angeles. The song's streaming popularity has been on the rise for the past two months, since the movie's studio, Sony Pictures Classics, released a snippet of the dance party scene. In the clip -- issued on Oct. 11 to coincide with National Coming Out Day -- actor Armie Hammer is seen dancing with abandon to the track, surrounded by a crowd of fellow dancers. Soon, Hammer's co-star Timothee Chalamet joins the fun, hopping and gyrating to the tune. In the last eight weeks (Oct. 4 through Nov. 30), "Love My Way" scored 882,000 on-demand streams -- up 13 percent compared to the previous eight weeks (782,000). "Love My Way" became The Psychedelic Furs' first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 43 on the list dated April 16, 1983. It also reached No. 40 on the Dance Club Songs chart. (The alt-rock classic arrived before Billboard's Alternative Songs chart launched in 1988.) The song is included on the multi-artist Call Me by Your Name soundtrack, which was released on Nov. 3 through Madison Gate Records and Sony Classical. (Billboard)

Sia Answers Criticism About Working with 15-Year-Old Dancer Maddie Ziegler: 'My Goal is to Empower Her'. Sia can hide behind her signature face-obscuring wig, but those get-ups don't shield her from criticism. On Tuesday (Dec. 5), writer Bonnie Malkin of The Guardian published a piece examining the Australian singer's apparent double standard in putting the spotlight on her frequent collaborator and dancer, 15-year-old Maddie Ziegler. Malkin attended Sia's Nostalgic for the Present tour stop in Sydney, Australia, and from what she saw it raised some questions. "Up on the stage in Sydney on Saturday, with Furler concealed and Maddie in the spotlight, it seemed that the superstar was deploying a child in a way that she herself refuses to be," Malkin wrote in part. She continued: "Where Furler was hidden, Maddie was exposed. Where Furler was still, Maddie was moving. Where the singer was in darkness, the child was in the spotlight. Where Furler's face and body was carefully hidden from the eyes of a stadium full of strangers, Maddie's face and body was offered up instead." Sia saw Malkin's words and responded rather thoughtfully via Twitter on Wednesday (Dec. 6). "This article poses a question I have asked myself often," the first of her four tweets begins. "I do check in with Maddie weekly about whether she wants this, and assure her if she ever wants it to stop it stops. It's a conversation we should all be having. Not just myself but all directors, stage parents and agents with their children, clients, charges. Maddie was already famous when I discovered her, but I have certainly expanded her exposure and feel responsible for that. I feel very protective of her and my goal is to empower her in whatever choices she makes. "Some would argue a teenager can't or shouldn't be charged with making sound choices for themselves and so I do try to choose the best for her always. But I think this is an important conversation. What I learned from Maddie is that fame affects her differently than how it affected me. I can only trust that she is telling me the truth. If that changes, we stop." Ziegler was discovered by Sia while on reality television show Dance Moms, which Ziegler appeared on from 2011 to 2016. Since beginning work with Sia, Ziegler has starred in videos for Sia's songs "Chandelier" (which has over 1.7 billion views), "Elastic Heart," "Big Girls Cry," "Cheap Thrills," "The Greatest" and more. Ziegler is (obviously) currently accompanying Sia on tour. (Billboard)

Movies

J.K. Rowling Defends Keeping Johnny Depp in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Like it or not, Johnny Depp will return for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Shortly before Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was released in November 2016, news of Depp's stunt casting leaked in the media. He appeared briefly at the end of the movie, with the promise of a bigger return in its sequel, set for release on Nov. 16, 2018. Earlier that year, Depp's volatile marriage to Amber Heard made headlines, leading some to question his casting. Last month, director David Yates defended his decision to keep Depp. "Honestly, there's an issue at the moment where there's a lot of people being accused of things, they're being accused by multiple victims, and it's compelling and frightening. With Johnny, it seems to me there was one person who took a pop at him and claimed something. I can only tell you about the man I see every day: He's full of decency and kindness, and that's all I see. Whatever accusation was out there doesn't tally with the kind of human being I've been working with," he told Entertainment Weekly. Calling it a "dead issue," he said "some of the women" in Depp's life have defended him against the claims made by his ex-wife. "It's very different [than cases] where there are multiple accusers over many years that need to be examined and we need to reflect on our industry that allows that to roll on year in and year out. Johnny isn't in that category in any shape or form," Yates explained. "So to me, it doesn't bear any more analysis." J.K. Rowling, who wrote both screenplays, stayed silent -- until now. Cryptically, she tweeted a link to her website, explaining, "I'm saying what I can about the Grindelwald casting issue here." "When Johnny Depp was cast as Grindelwald, I thought he'd be wonderful in the role," she began. "However, around the time of filming his cameo in the first movie, stories had appeared in the press that deeply concerned me and everyone most closely involved in the franchise." "Harry Potter fans had legitimate questions and concerns about our choice to continue with Johnny Depp in the role. As David Yates, long-time Potter director, has already said, we naturally considered the possibility of recasting. I understand why some have been confused and angry about why that didn't happen," the best-selling author continued in her blog post. "The huge, mutually supportive community that has grown up around Harry Potter is one of the greatest joys of my life. For me personally, the inability to speak openly to fans about this issue has been difficult, frustrating and at times painful. However, the agreements that have been put in place to protect the privacy of two people [Depp and Heard], both of whom have expressed a desire to get on with their lives, must be respected. Based on our understanding of the circumstances, the filmmakers and I are not only comfortable sticking with our original casting, but genuinely happy to have Johnny playing a major character in the movies." "I've loved writing the first two screenplays and I can't wait for fans to see The Crimes of Grindelwald. I accept that there will be those who are not satisfied with our choice of actor in the title role. However, conscience isn't governable by committee. Within the fictional world and outside it," Rowling concluded, "we all have to do what we believe to be the right thing." Depp, for his part, has yet to comment on the casting controversy. Warner Bros., which distributes the films, also issued a statement Thursday regarding Depp's involvement in the series. "We are of course aware of reports that surfaced around the end of Johnny Depp's marriage, and take seriously the complexity of the issues involved. This matter has been jointly addressed by both parties, in a statement in which they said 'there was never any intent of physical or emotional harm,'" a spokesperson said. "Based on the circumstances and the information available to us, we, along with the filmmakers, continue to support the decision to proceed with Johnny Depp in the role of Grindelwald in this and future films." (Eonline)

Lady Gaga Will be Credited as Stefani Germanotta in 'A Star Is Born'. When Lady Gaga appears in the latest remake of A Star Is Born, she'll do so without the guise of Mother Monster. The pop superstar, who will play the central character Ally, is credited by her real name, Stefani Germanotta. Due out in May, the singer and actor will appear alongside Bradley Cooper, who plays Jackson Maine, a fading country music star who guides an aspiring young artist into the spotlight as he battles his own demons. "It all comes down to this broken love story," explains Cooper, who makes his directorial debut with the movie. "[We're asking]: What happens when you're 30 and the idea that 'Maybe I'm not going to make it' has crept into your artistic brain?" he tells EW. "There's no better way to express that than through singing because there's nowhere to hide when you're singing." A Star Is Born is based on the 1937 film starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, a study of a movie star who helps an aspiring young actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism plunges his own career into a downward spiral. It was remade again in 1954 by director George Cukor, with Judy Garland and James Mason headlining, and once more in 1976, with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson starring. (Billboard)

Sophie Turner Is on Fire in X-Men: Dark Phoenix First Look. Sophie Turner has never looked hotter. Entertainment Weekly released the cover of its Dec. 15/22 "First Look Issue" Thursday, giving fans their first look at Turner in 20th Century Fox's upcoming mutant epic X-Men: Dark Phoenix. In the climatic final moments of last year's X-Men: Apocalypse, Jean Grey (Turner) unleashed the Phoenix force that lay dormant inside her. In the next movie, out Nov. 2, 2018, the X-Men team is dispatched to space for a rescue mission. After a solar flare hits the X-Jet, a surge of energy taps into the power-hungry force within Jean: The Phoenix. "It's about the butterfly effect of this thing happening," says Turner, who studied schizophrenia and multiple personality disorders to prepare. "What happens when the person you love the most falls into darkness?" For Turner, stepping into the lead role was a big challenge. In fact, she admits, "I have to go from broken-down Jean to this confident, arrogant, know-it-all character within milliseconds." Jean is both the hero and villain. But X-Men: Dark Phoenix also introduces an alien shape-shifter, played by Jessica Chastain, who tries to manipulate Phoenix for her own secret agenda. Chastain says it was writer-director Simon Kinberg's female-driven script that intrigued her most of all. "I've always wanted to do a big comic-book film, but I had some issues with the female characters I was being offered," she says. "This definitely passes the Bechdel test, and I don't know how many comic-book films can say that." Jennifer Lawrence, who returns as Mystique, adds, "It was unrecognizable. Everything was on time. Everything was organized. These movies have always been fun amidst chaos, and now they were fun with no chaos." "The movie does not work if she's not great," Kinberg says of Turner's performance in the upcoming movie. "Sophie really lived and breathed the movie in a way that was extraordinary." X-Men: Dark Phoenix features an ensemble cast that includes Michael Fassbender as Magneto, Nicholas Hoult as Beast, James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, Kodi Smit-McPhee as Nightcrawler, Evan Peters as Quicksilver, Tye Sheridan as Cyclops and Alexandra Shipp as Storm. For more movie details from Entertainment Weekly's "First Look Issue," buy a copy on newsstands Friday. (Eonline)

Did You Know A Christmas Story's Ralphie Also Starred in Elf? You guys, we may have one of the greatest gifts of knowledge to give to you this holiday season... Remember Ralphie from A Christmas Story? We're sure you do -- the slightly awkward, blonde-haired, blue-eyed kid has continued to steal our hearts every time we re-watch the 1983 classic flick. But we just found out something that's blowing our minds...He also starred in another one of our all-time favorite holiday movies: 2003's Elf! Yes, his real name is Peter Billingsley, and he played one of the lead elves, Ming Ming, alongside Will Ferrell as Buddy. He was 12-years-old when he played Ralphie, and apparently, he just couldn't grow out of the Christmas spirit! He took on the role of Ming Ming at age 32. And if that doesn't make you smile like Buddy the Elf, we don't know what will... (Eonline)

Daisy Ridley Admits the Star Wars Cast Doesn't Hang Out Much. Daisy Ridley is the star of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, even if she doesn't think of herself as such. "I'm not a Hollywood star; I'm an actress," she insists to E! News. "Let's be real! I'm an actress." Even if she won't admit it, Ridley became an instant star the moment J.J. Abrams cast her as Rey in 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The movie introduced a new generation of characters to the franchise, like John Boyega's Finn and Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, while also bringing back old favorites, like Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia and Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker. Rian Johnson directed the second installment in the trilogy (in theaters Dec. 15). Because of the size of the ensemble cast, it was rare that the actors were able to spend time together once cameras stopped rolling. "There was a night that I think Adam was around, so me and him got together for a little drinkie-poo," Ridley recalled. "John and I weren't working together so much, but we would see each other in the day. That's really the only time I can think of, actually! And it's interesting, because on Murder on the Orient Express, we were getting together every weekend. [But] it's very long days, so that's actually the only time I can think of. That can't be!" Luckily, the actors are able to make up for lost time during their worldwide press tour. (Eonline)

Lindsay Lohan Wants a Mean Girls Sequel ASAP: "We Need Rachel McAdams!" Unlike the word "fetch," a Mean Girls sequel is eventually going to happen -- if Lindsay Lohan gets her way, that is. E! News caught up with the 31-year-old actress at The Daily Mail's holiday party in New York City Wednesday, where she said she "would love" to see Tina Fey's movie-inspired musical, now in previews in Washington, D.C., and coming to Broadway in April. "I don't really know much about it," she said. "I heard about it yesterday from a friend. We'll see!" A direct-to-DVD sequel came out in 2011, but Lohan wants to the original cast back together again. "Mean Girls 2 the movie -- this is the importance. We need Rachel McAdams! We need the whole cast back!" said Lohan, who played Plastics infiltrator Cady Heron in the 2004 comedy. "I'd love to do it again. We had so much fun making it. Mark Waters is such a great director, Tina Fey is an amazing writer, Paramount was great to work with -- we all had a blast." Paramount had been asking Fey for years to help produce a follow-up to the original movie, which grossed $130 million at the worldwide box-office and spawned a massive cult following. "Paramount was very generous and solicitous with me for several years, saying, 'Would you like to do it?'" she said in 2010. "And at the time, I was like, 'They should just let it be what it is!'" After the sequel was released, without her participation, Fey reconsidered. "Now, it's like, why not just do it?" she told Movieline. "I should have done it, because now it's happening anyway!" So, for now, Lohan will have to wait. Luckily, she has a plenty of other projects to focus on as she waits for the call. In fact, it's "quite possible" she will be working on some new music in the coming year. "I love writing. The thing is, with me, when I'm acting, I always have headphones on, because that really helps me get the character that I'm about to play. So, it has always played a very strong role in my life," she told E! News. "And music can make you feel anything." The "Confessions of a Broken Heart" singer hopes to work with artists like Ed Sheeran and Eminem, but she hasn't reached out to either of them about possible collaborations. "Nothing's set in stone," she said. "We'll see what happens while I'm in New York -- what we can get done." Lohan, who left L.A. and New York City for London several years ago, now resides in Dubai. Though she was briefly in Miami over the weekend, the actress' trips to the U.S. are few and far between. "For me, I prefer to come back to America when I'm working or to see family, because then there's no noise around when I'm back here, because you have no privacy. So, I like having my private life and feeling safe, and I feel very safe in Dubai," she said. "And it's very convenient for me to see the family I work with in Istanbul when I'm there; I have a lot of projects I'm working on that will take place/are filming there. It's a really, really beautiful world. I spend a lot of time in Phuket; I hide away a lot, I do meditation and I like to explore. That's who I am." Regarding reports she's dating Je-yong Ha, who refers to himself as the "Korean Hulk", she laughed set the record straight with E! News. "I'm single!" she said. "I'm married to the UAE." (Eonline)

John Travolta's "Gotti" biopic wasn't thrown to the wolves by Lionsgate Premiere, but instead bought out by a group that plans on distributing it to the masses, TMZ has learned. One of the film's executive producers, Keya Morgan, tells TMZ the "Gotti" project was originally supposed to be distributed by Lionsgate Premiere ... a branch of the company that handles smaller, niche releases. Morgan says his team believes the movie could do gangbusters in wide release and he even believes Travolta could end up with some hardware on his mantle. We're told the original distro contract featured a buyback clause, so Morgan and others wired $10 million to prove to LGP they meant business and the company forked over the release rights. Morgan says LGP will profit big-time when the movie comes out. Travolta's flick was scheduled to hit the screens next week, but Morgan says the new plan is to take it to Cannes or Venice first and then release it in at least 1,000 theaters. The release date is uncertain. (TMZ)

Reese Witherspoon got a lot of accolades for producing "Gone Girl," and now she's got a lawsuit. Leslie Weller claims she wrote a screenplay called "Out of the Blue" back in 2005. She sent a copy to a script consultant and claims that set the wheels in motion for someone to jack her work. She says the book "Gone Girl" which came out in 2012 is a rip off of her screenplay. Weller claims a bunch of similarities ... they both focus on a married couple's relationship where the husband and wife are slowly drifting apart. They both contain a key twist where the wife is not the nice, normal, and somewhat naive housewife and is in fact a psychopath who sets up her husband. Weller goes on ... both her screenplay and the novel are structured in the same way -- first, everyone sympathizes with the wife, and then you start to despise the husband, but things turn and by the end, you despise them both. And she says both her work and "Gone Girl" feature a scene with a hammer that leads you to believe the husband might hurt the wife. Weller is also suing the book's author, Gillian Flynn, along with the movie's director, David Fincher. She says the movie lifts from the book, which lifts from her screenplay. (TMZ)

Controversial Prophet Muhammed Film to Get Re-Release Across Arab World in Restored Version. The 4K restoration of the Anthony Quinn-starring 'The Message' is having its world premiere at the Dubai film festival before being released in June. A 4K restored edition of The Message, Moustapha Akkad's controversial 1975 film chronicling the life and times of the Prophet Muhammed, is set to be released across the Middle East next year. The historical epic was initially banned in Arab territories, encountering opposition from authorities and forcing the crew to move to Morocco and recreate model cities of Mecca and Medina for the shoot. During its release it also faced heavy backlash and theatrical banning in most Middle East territories. In the U.S., the film's theatrical release was suspended after an extremist group staged a siege in the capital city of Washington D.C. after it was mistakenly believed that Anthony Quinn played the role of Prophet Muhammed on film. But the newly restored version of the film, as well as receiving its world premiere at the Dubai International Film Festival of Dec. 13, is now due to travel across the region in June 2018, in time for Eid, with Trancas International and local distributors Front Row Filmed Entertainment having signed a deal. The Dubai screening will be attended by Malek Akkad, chairman and CEO of Trancas and son of the late Moustapha Akkad. Malek Akkad is currently producing the Halloween remake with Miramax and Blumhouse. The film's cast will also be reunited after 40 years. "With SVOD platforms on the rise, this important film that is traditional viewing for billions of Muslim families during Eid can finally be accessed in every home only this time reaching a new and non-Muslim audience hopefully changing the perception of Islam," said Gianluca Chakra, managing director of Front Row. Added Akkad: "The Message's edicts of peace and understanding are extremely prevalent to our times. It is a tribute to my late father. It's his legacy. I want a new generation of viewers, both Arab and international, to experience his greatest achievement once again. This film is a turning point. It's a perfect time to reintroduce Arab faith and culture to a worldwide audience." (Hollywood Reporter)

'X-Men: Dark Phoenix,' 'New Mutants' Headed to Imax Under Fox Deal Extension. The giant-screen pioneer has extended its global slate deal with 20th Century Fox after the box-office success of 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle.' More Fox heroes are headed to Imax screens. The giant-screen exhibitor on Thursday said it will release globally four upcoming tentpoles from the 20th Century Fox slate, including The Darkest Minds, as well as Marvel's The New Mutants, which stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Maisie Williams, X-Men: Dark Phoenix and Gambit. Having extended its slate deal with the Hollywood studio to 2019, Imax is following up the successful release of Kingsman: The Golden Circle on its giant screens in September, which is included in the latest deal, and earlier releases of Fox pics like Deadpool, Logan and War of the Planet of the Apes. Imax and 20th Century Fox previously unveiled upcoming giant-screen releases aimed at fanboys for Maze Runner: The Death Cure, The Predator and Alita: Battle Angel. The Fox films will be digitally remastered and released in Imax's giant-screen format worldwide. (Hollywood Reporter)

'Betrothed' Is the Anti-Teen Romance Drama You Didn't Know You Wanted. The sci-fi series from AfterShock Comics launches in March 2018. Playwright Sean Lewis has the perfect hook for his new AfterShock Comics title, Betrothed. His pitch for the teen drama turned inter-dimensional sci-fi actioneer? "Riverdale meets Star Wars." The new series, which launches in March and features artwork from Uncanny X-Men and Avengers: The Initiative veteran Steve Uy, follows two teenagers who discover that they're not exactly who they thought they were just ahead of their 18th birthdays. "Kieron and Tamara discover that in a parallel universe they are the heirs of two warring families," Lewis explained to Heat Vision. "Even better, to ensure peace the two teens have been Betrothed to one another. Problem is, these teenagers want no part of it." According to the writer, Betrothed combines magic, sci-fi fi and teen angst for an everyday story about "what it is to save the world during that time in your life when it feels the world is ending." Lewis was effusive in his praise for collaborator Uy. "Steve is great. I knew I wanted slight manga influence on the book, there's a humor and personality that comes in that style, and Steve's work just nailed it while still being in line with the Marvel work he'd done," he said. "He really can convey humor, bad ass action and pathos to an impressive degree." Betrothed's debut issue will be available in comic stores and digitally March 14. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

The Crown: Michael C. Hall details his surprising JFK portrayal. JFK is coming to Netflix's acclaimed British royal family drama The Crown, but you can expect a rather different depiction of the 35th president than the laudatory portraits typically seen in American film and television. As played by Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Six Feet Under) in the show's second season (premiering Friday), President John F. Kennedy is still a charming leader who can deliver an inspiring speech (a scene where Kennedy describes a divided nation and calls for healing leadership seems particularly on point). But he's also shown behind the scenes as a controlling jealous conniver prone to outbursts, including very roughly handling Jackie Kennedy (Jodi Balfour) -- who later reveals her and her husband's heavy dependence on drugs. The drama series, whose second season follows the life of Queen Elizabeth (Claire Foy) from the years 1956 to 1964. (Entertainment Weekly)

The Final Season of Game of Thrones Premieres in...2019? Drogon may be gone from your TV longer than you originally thought. In an interview with Variety, Sophie Turner revealed Game of Thrones' final season may not drop until... 2019. When asked about her big year ahead, Turner slipped and said, "Yeah, I'm really excited. Game of Thrones comes out in 2019. [X-Men: Dark Phoenix] is in November. Then I have a couple indie movies coming out. I'm a producer on my next movie [Girl Who Fell From the Sky]. So I'm really excited about the future." Turner said production on the final season of the series kicked off in October, so there's about six or seven months left, and everyone is aware this is their last go around with the show. "When we all had the read-through for the final season, it was very, very emotional. For the first time in Thrones history, we had everyone there. All of the Americans wanted to come over. Every single cast member was pretty much there. We're all kind of feeling the end of it coming," she said. "We're all staying in town a little longer, going out for more meals, trying to get together more. We're all trying not to take it for granted any more." Former Game of Thrones star Jason Momoa visited the set of the final season (don't expect a cameo) and told Entertainment Weekly big things are coming. "It's going to be the greatest thing that's ever aired on TV. It's going to be unbelievable. It's going to f--k up a lot of people. And it was a bummer because I'm a huge fan and I didn't want to know what's going on. I was like, 'Damn, I didn't want to know that!'" As for Turner's Sansa Stark next season, the actress said it's going to be "tricky" to play the Game without Littlefinger. "It's going to be tricky for her, because at the end of last season, she felt that she had everything set up. She had her family back together. They were in control of the North again," she said. "This season, there's a new threat, and all of a sudden she finds herself somewhat back in the deep end. And without Littlefinger, it's a test for her of whether she can get through it. It's a big challenge for her, without this master manipulator having her back. This season is more a passionate fight for her than a political, manipulative kind of fight." How will you pass the time until Game of Thrones returns? (Eonline)

Law and Order: SVU's Midseason Cliffhanger Is Benson's Worst Nightmare. Olivia Benson's worst nightmare just happened. At the end of "Intent," the Law & Order: SVU midseason finale about an elaborate online catfishing that resulted in a social media star (Gage Golightly) getting raped by a famous fighter (Steve Howey), Mariska Hargitay's Benson received the call every parent fears: Noah (Ryan Buggle) is missing. The episode featured Hargitay's character lay down the law with Sheila (Brooke Shields), Noah's maternal birth grandma after Sheila told Noah about his birth mother. The two reached an understanding of sorts and Benson agreed to let Sheila take Noah shopping for a winter coat. While in the clothing store, a hooded figure watched as Noah tried on coats. When Sheila turned her back to get Noah a coat with a smaller hood, the hooded figure seemingly pounced. We're saying seemingly because SVU loves their twists. A panicked Sheila then made the call to Benson. Talk about a cliffhanger! Ahead of SVU's "Something Happened," the episode that departed from the series' traditional story structure of crime, investigation, litigation, Hargitay teased what's to come next for Benson. "I remember saying to [SVU showrunner Michael Chernuchin], 'I don't know how we did it. I don't know how we did it.' It's just like this whole other flavor," Hargitay said about the upcoming episode. "We just dove into motherhood, and what it means to be a mother and what we would do for our children. And again, we keep finding all these beautiful areas to excavate and it's deeply exciting." Law & Order: SVU airs Wednesdays, 9 p.m. NBC. New episodes begin on Wednesday, Jan. 3. (Eonline)

Riverdale Brought Back Dark Betty and We Feel Uncomfortable. Uh, Betty Cooper, is that you? Riverdale is great at being absolutely nuts, and there's no shortage of scenes that made us go "huh?" But the night's episode verged on an uncomfortable "huh??" as Betty (Lili Reinhart) stripped down -- in front of everybody -- and performed a very seductive rendition of a Tears for Fears song, practicing her stripper pole moves in front of her mom, her boyfriend, his dad, and an entire gang. Apparently, it's all part of the outdated, misogynistic (Toni's words, not ours) initiation ritual for ladies in the gang, called "The Serpent Dance." Toni said Betty didn't want to know, but uh yeah, Betty did. She wanted to know everything. And so, later on, at the party she and Jughead threw for FP's gang retirement (who throws a gang retirement party?), Betty took over after Archie and Veronica's perfectly moody performance of "Mad World" imploded, leaving the Serpents pissed as hell. She took the stage, quickly ditching her tasteful but dangerously unbuttoned sleeveless chambray and revealing the black bodysuit underneath. She just sang for a second, but then she also ditched the singing for the stripper pole while her disembodied voice continued with the song somehow anyway. Then, Alice finally showed up at the front of the crowd to sigh and completely underreact to her teenage daughter stripping for a bunch of old motorcycle dudes, in some kind of ritual she apparently had to perform in order to be part of her boyfriend's gang. Sure, Toni pointed out that this little initiation ritual was sexist and weird, but that didn't change the fact that it was, or that it was going to happen anyway. In the words of Jughead, "Why did you do that?!" Dark Betty's fun and all in theory, but does that darkness really have to come from stripping in a bar?? Can't she just keep wearing wigs and pouring maple syrup onto people in hot tubs?? Boy do we miss the days of maple syrup in hot tubs! Anyway, we just hope Lili Reinhart was totally cool with that performance and that every single adult man in that bar felt super uncomfortable. Riverdale airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on the CW. (Eonline)

Jeffrey Tambor's future on 'Transparent' now unclear. Jeffrey Tambor said last month that he did not see how he could return to Amazon series "Transparent" following multiple misconduct allegations against him from trans women who worked on the show. The actor now appears to be backpedaling from what was widely reported at the time as his decision to leave the series. "What he said was that given the toxic atmosphere and the politicization on the set, it's very hard for him to see how he can possibly return," a spokesperson for Tambor said Wednesday. "But no final decision for next year has been made, either by Jeffrey or by Amazon." The New York Times reported Wednesday that Tambor's unresolved status has left in limbo plans for the show's upcoming fifth season. Amazon is currently investigating misconduct allegations against the actor, and results of that effort are not yet known. An Amazon representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Tambor was accused of sexual harassment by his former personal assistant, a trans woman named Van Barnes, in a private Facebook post on Nov. 8. Later that month, guest star Trace Lysette came forward with further alleged instances of inappropriate behavior. Tambor issued a statement Nov. 19 saying, "Playing Maura Pfefferman on 'Transparent' has been one of the greatest privileges and creative experiences of my life. What has become clear over the past weeks, however, is that this is no longer the job I signed up for four years ago. I've already made clear my deep regret if any action of mine was ever misinterpreted by anyone as being aggressive, but the idea that I would deliberately harass anyone is simply and utterly untrue. Given the politicized atmosphere that seems to have afflicted our set, I don't see how I can return to 'Transparent.'" Tambor has won two Emmys and a Golden Globe for his work on the Amazon series. (PageSix)

The writer-producer is also readying FXX's animated 'Deadpool' series. FX is expanding its relationship with Stephen Glover. The cable network has signed an overall deal with the Atlanta writer-producer, who is the younger brother of the show's star Donald Glover. The pact, which will see him develop projects for the cabler's sibling studio FX Productions for FX and other outlets, comes as he is readying an animated Deadpool TV series for FXX and Marvel. "We can't wait to build on the success Stephen's achieved as a writer and producer." FX president of original programming Eric Schrier said Wednesday in a statement. "We appreciate everything Stephen has done to make Atlanta one of the best comedies on TV, taking an even bigger role with his brother Donald on the untitled Marvel's Deadpool animated series, and now creating his own projects with the same uncompromising artistry." Glover won two WGA Awards for Atlanta's critically hailed first season, taking home the writing prize as well as the honor for outstanding comedy series. Atlanta's second season will air in 2018 on FX, with Deadpool slated to come to FXX next year as well. Glover becomes the latest member of the Peabody-winning Atlanta team to sign an overall deal with producers FX Productions. Donald Glover also has an overall deal with FXP, with breakout writer Stefani Robinson also signing a development pact in October. That came as part of a meteoric rise for Robinson, who was merely an assistant at the Gersh Agency when she landed her staff writer position on Atlanta. Though she's quickly added other credits, Atlanta was her first formal writing job. Glover is repped by WME and Lev Ginsburg. (Hollywood Reporter)

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