ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

How Taylor Swift Keeps Her Relationship With Joe Alwyn Private. Despite rarely being spotted together in public, Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn are still going strong. But how is it that the world's most famous singer has almost entirely managed to keep her relationship out of the spotlight with the British actor, who lives in London? With a lot of work and a lot of extra measures to keep the details of their high-profile romance quiet -- that's how! While the public may seldom get hints or glimpses of the two together (they were seen at Z100's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert in December), you can bet the pair have seen more of each other than fans know about, a source tells E! News. "Taylor has been in the UK a LOT more than people know," an insider says. "She has the entire routine down pat now." The source explains that in order to keep the media off her trail during visits across the pond, the under-the-radar American flies in via private jet or a private airfield and then she's driven straight to north London, where Joe lives, in a fairly nondescript blacked-out car." Additionally, the popstar doesn't go through any of the terminals at the airports and her passport is checked on board, while the car is waiting on the tarmac. The whole thing happens with no one knowing. The spy says that she will be in the UK, but that "people just won't see her." "Unless you're part of her inner circle, you wouldn't know when she is or isn't here," says the source. Adding, Taylor "barely leaves a trace." Instead of going out to clubs, bars, restaurants, concerts or normal dates, the two spend all their time in London at "his place." "They're clearly serious," said the source. And it's not just the 27-year-old Mary Queen of Scots star who's all about the "Look What You Made Me Do" singer--his close-knit fam, including brothers Patrick Alwyn and Thomas Alwyn, is on board with the pairing. "Taylor's met all of Joe's family. They've done many a Sunday roast together -- in fact it happens without fail if she's here over a weekend -- and they seem very comfortable around her," added the insider. "His brothers all seem to be fans of them together as they've hung out with Taylor and Joe on several occasions." E! News first learned about Swift and Alwyn's relationship in May. It is the most secretive romance Swift has ever hadwith a celebrity or otherwise. (Eonline)

Chris Hemsworth Shows His Kids Thor: Ragnarok: "The Brainwashing Has Begun." Chris Hemsworth finally decided to show his three children Thor: Ragnarok -- and, as the 34-year-old actor joked with his Instagram followers Wednesday, "the brainwashing has begun." Hemsworth instructed his children to "soak it up," joking that he's now the "#fatheroftheyear." Who could blame Hemsworth for "brainwashing" his children, considering he told E! News' Sibley Scoles last fall that the siblings were "wildly unimpressed" whenever they would visit him on the set of the Marvel Studios blockbuster last year. "They were like, 'This is so boring! We thought you fought monsters for a living and you don't. You just pretend, and so we're going to wreck stuff,'" he said. "And that's what they did. They ran around and broke things." To be fair, Hemsworth admitted, "If they see the movie and they see all the special effects, which make me look cool, then I'm the hero. But once they saw behind the curtain, it ruined it." At the time, Hemsworth said they preferred another superhero: Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman. "I love wonder Woman," the actor said. "Different universe...but that's OK." Hemsworth will play Thor twice more -- in Avengers: Infinity War (in theaters May 4) and the untitled Avengers sequel (in theaters May 3, 2019). "Contractually, right now -- yeah, this is it," Hemsworth told USA Today one month ago. "I'm done. I won't be playing the character again." After the success of Thor: Ragnarok, Hemsworth and director Taika Waititi found themselves "throwing ideas around" for a possible fourth film. Whether that comes to fruition is ultimately up to Marvel Studios, he added, but "there is a bigger platform now to continue if we want to." (Eonline)

Emma Thompson reveals her Love Actually storyline was shockingly similar to her real life in heartbreaking confession. For most of us, Love, Actually conjures up fuzzy and festive emotions but for one of the iconic film's stars, it's a far less romantic nostalgia. Emma Thompson, who plays a wife scorned by her cheating husband, has revealed that the reason she played such a convincing role was because her storyline was shockingly close to her real-life experience. Indeed, Emma has admitted that her tearful scenes were so persuasive because she was having her heart 'very badly broken' by first husband Kenneth Branagh, who was having an affair with Helena Bonham Carter. The couple split after eight years together when he began an affair with Helena. Speaking to an audience this week about the incident, she said: 'That scene where my character is standing by the bed crying is so well known because it's something everyone's been through', she said. 'I had my heart very badly broken by Ken. So I knew what it was like to find the necklace that wasn't meant for me. 'Well it wasn't exactly that, but we've all been through it.' Emma Thompson opened up for the first time about her former husband, Kenneth Branagh's affair with fellow British actor Helena Bonham Carter back in 2015. The Love Actually star, who was married to thespian Branagh from 1989 to 1995, revealed that she has since made peace with former Merchant Ivory darling Bonham Carter, calling it "all blood under the bridge". At the time, she said: "You can't hold on to anything like that. It's pointless. I haven't got the energy for it. Helena and I made our peace years and years ago." Thompson also showed there are no hard feelings between her and Bonham Carter, adding that she could see why Branagh might have liked both ladies, quipping: "Being slightly mad and a bit fashion-challenged. Perhaps that's why Ken loved us both. She's a wonderful woman, Helena." Bonham Carter and Branagh were said to have begun an affair in 1994 when she played his love interest in his adaptation of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Meanwhile, Thompson is married to actor Greg Wise whom she met on the set of Sense & Sensibility. The couple have two children together. (British Glamour)

Stan Lee's finally revealing why he's had to bail on his throngs of Marvel Universe fans lately -- the comic book legend is fighting pneumonia like Spidey fights crime. The Marvel co-creator's recorded a personal message to update everyone on his health. You can tell the normally energetic 95-year-old is having a tough time ... but he reassures fans he is getting better. As we reported ... Stan's been dealing with a string of issues, besides his lungs, recently -- from missing money, to a face-off with his former body guard and a heart health scare. On the flip side, the "Black Panther" box office has gotta make him smile. As Stan puts it ... "Excelsior!" (TMZ)

Danielle Bregoli doesn't have a father anymore ... legally speaking. Danielle's mother, Barbara Bregoli, filed docs -- obtained by TMZ -- to formally remove her dad's name, Ira Peskowitz, from her birth certificate. A judge has signed off on it to make it official. As we've reported ... Danielle -- aka Bhad Bhabie -- has had bad blood with Ira ... claiming he was an absentee father who only now wanted to be in her life because she's making bank. Ira also begged the court to let him off the hook on child support. We're told Barbara and Ira struck a deal, whereby he surrendered all parental rights, including custody and child support. We don't know if Barbara paid Ira to go away. We're told Danielle wants her legal last name to be Bregoli, and since the judge agreed, she now wants Ira entirely removed from her life. (TMZ)

Armie Hammer Revives Twitter Feud With Buzzfeed Writer: Maybe Try ''Medicating.'' Armie Hammer still harbors negative feelings toward a Buzzfeed writer who published a critical opinion piece about him. Last November, senior culture writer Anne Helen Peterson's "Ten Long Years of Trying to Make Armie Hammer Happen," which painted the actor's Hollywood career in a negative light, caused Hammer to quit Twitter. The Call Me By Your Name star said his "life was way better off" without Twitter's "toxic environment," but ultimately reactivated his account in late January. Their feud is still apparently very much alive, as Hammer fired back at Peterson on Twitter in response to her critique of Vanity Fair's recent Jennifer Lawrence profile. "I have read a lot of painfully banal celebrity profiles but this new VF one on Jennifer Lawrence," Peterson tweeted, "it's like toothache-magnitude-painful levels of banality." Hammer responded, "Anne, your glass seems chronically half empty... maybe try meditating? Or even medicating? #chillpillneeded" Peterson also claimed she received threats over Hammer's initial reaction to the article, tweeting, "Harassment of entertainment journalists is very real and generally dismissed. But a threat to come to your house and kill your dog (which happened last time this all happened) is the same no matter what inspired it." Hammer is expected to attend Sunday's Oscars ceremony, where Call Me By Your Name is nominated for Best Picture. (Eonline)

What the hell happened to Heather Locklear? With her bottle-blond hair, sky-blue eyes and gorgeous smile, Heather Locklear was one of the hottest stars of the 1980s and '90s. A darling of high-powered TV producer Aaron Spelling, Locklear had it all: starring roles in the hit series of the day such as "Dynasty" and "Melrose Place,'' plus back-to-back marriages to two of the world's biggest rockers. But her fairy-tale streak has ended with a thud. Locklear, 56, is due to appear in Ventura County Criminal Court on March 13 on charges she not only assaulted her new boyfriend Sunday night -- but also attacked the cops who responded to the 911 call. The ugly bust is only the latest in a string of troubling incidents for the fallen star in recent years. A family member told The Post on Tuesday that Locklear has been struggling with her inner demons -- mainly anxiety and substance abuse -- despite numerous stints in rehab. Her issues have wreaked havoc on her body -- as well as her relationships, the kin said. The actress has now divorced twice and gone through a slew of boyfriends since. "She has so much talent and beauty, and we hate to see that wasted," the relative said. "But she's fighting a lot of demons. The only thing she can do is go back to rehab and try again." It was Locklear's own brother who called the cops to her home over the weekend. Her sibling was horrified at the fight between her and her current beau, Chris Heisser, an old high-school flame who had recently moved into her Thousand Oaks mansion. When officers saw a mark on Heisser's body, they decided to arrest Locklear on domestic-violence charges, cops said. She claimed to be injured, but we didn't see any sign of that," Ventura County Sheriff's Office Capt. Garo Kuredjian told The Post after Locklear's arrest. "We determined she had battered her boyfriend." Locklear only made matters worse when cops tried to cuff her, flipping out, calling a female officer a "ct" and kicking a male officer in the groin -- all in front of her 20-year-old daughter, Ava, police said. Heisser, for his part, was arrested for allegedly driving drunk on a nearby highway less than an hour later. He was cited and released. A spokesman for the Ventura County District Attorney said authorities are still weighing the case against Locklear, who was released on $20,000 bail. "No decision will be made about what, if any, charges will be filed by March 13th, when she is due here in court," the spokesman said. Locklear's relative admitted that her family is concerned about the rekindling of the couple's romance. Heisser, 56, served two years in prison after being convicted on theft and fraud charges in Riverside, Calif., in 2011. Before the felony conviction, Ventura County records show he also was repeatedly cited for traffic infractions between 2008 and 2015 for everything from speeding to driving with a suspended license and using his cellphone behind the wheel. "They rekindled their relationship a little over a year ago," the family member said. "We're not sure how good they are together." At the height of her career, Locklear could have had any man she wanted. She married bad-boy Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee in 1986. At one point, the lovey-dovey duo wore matching mullets. But Lee's touring with his band took its toll on the marriage, and the two split about seven years later. Locklear married handsome Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora the next year, in 1994. On Oct. 4, 1997, they welcomed daughter Ava. But in 2006, Locklear abruptly filed for divorce, shocking friends -- and even her husband. About an hour after her publicist announced that Locklear had filed for the split, an ABC News reporter asked Sambora, who had been touring, for comment. "It's completely untrue,'' the stunned rocker said, only to eventually learn that his marriage was indeed really over. Locklear went on to date a host of Hollywood actors, including David Spade, Mark Harmon and Scott Baio. It was after her breakup with Sambora that her troubles began. In the summer of 2008, a 911 call by someone claiming to be her doctor reported Locklear was trying to kill herself, according to reports. After the call, Locklear checked into a medical center to treat her anxiety and depression, reports said. By that September, she was arrested for allegedly driving drunk near Santa Barbara. Two years later, she was arrested again allegedly for hitting a no-parking sign on a public street. She was cited for a misdemeanor hit-and-run. In 2011, Locklear got into a physical fight with her then-boyfriend, soap actor and singer Jack Wagner, and the cops were called to his place in Los Angeles. "She lost it on him, and he retaliated," a law enforcement source said at the time, adding that neither ended up pressing charges. Locklear was hospitalized in January 2012 after her sister called 911 and reported she was mixing prescription drugs with booze, reports said. She was released the next day. In January 2017, she struck down rumors that she was on the edge. "I am feeling great and am taking steps to enrich and better my life," she told E!. "Currently I am working on tying up some loose ends regarding certain issues so I can hit 2017 full steam ahead." But this past September, she crashed her Porsche into a ditch, suffering minor injuries. The authorities didn't file criminal charges, saying drugs and alcohol were not a factor. In the months before Sunday's debacle, Locklear had been sharing cheerful photos on Instagram of her daughter and her dog. She also posted several photos of her posing with Heisser, captioning on one: "So grateful to you." Then came the weekend mess with her beau, which sources said wasn't totally unexpected, since Locklear hasn't been doing well for a while. The family member told The Post that it's clear that Locklear needs help -- and it couldn't come too soon. There is fear among some of those close to her that if she doesn't address her issues once and for all, the worst is yet to come. Her whole family is pushing her to get help, the kin said. "She is still so beautiful,'' the relative said. "There is still so much to live for." (Page Six)

Bellamy Young apologized for her comments about Ryan Seacrest on Tuesday, February 27, via Twitter. "I have an apology to make. On Monday night on the red carpet, I spoke on record about something I had no firsthand knowledge of. I trusted that the information that the journalist provided me with was complete, and I gave my general opinion based on the information he provided," Young wrote. "The world is changing quickly right now, and many of us have been affected by this issue: I spoke up because I feel deeply that the secrecy of shame plays a significant part in what has kept this shift from happening before now. But never has there been a more urgent time to make sure our voices are used for truth, and I failed in that regard Monday night." "Our words matter. Our word matters," Young continued. "I apologize to Ryan Seacrest. He has been exonerated from the allegations I was told about on the carpet, so my opinion is different now. I just want to clarify that anyone who uses my quote going forward is using the quote of an uninformed person and fanning the flames of a non-story making use of an unwitting accomplice. I've learned that 'I don't know' can be a complete answer. I will do better next time." Original story below: Bellamy Young does not think Ryan Seacrest should host the Oscars red carpet amid allegations of sexual misconduct against him. "I've been at work all day, so I didn't know about that. I think this is the time to step aside and let someone of equal talent that is beyond reproach to be in charge," Young told Variety -- the same publication who detailed the allegations against Seacrest -- at the premiere for a Wrinkle in Time on Monday, February, 26. "It's funny because I know it feels like the rules have changed, so I'm sure people who have been in dominant positions are taken by surprise, many of them living in fear," the 48-year-old actress continued. "Many of them thinking, 'What, but this is how we said we'd act.' But we never said that. We never consented. Now that someone is asking, 'Do you consent?' And we get to say no, people have to accept our no and step aside." As previously reported, the E! Live From the Red Carpet host, 43, was accused of sexual misconduct by a former E! stylist in November. He denied the allegations. The network later released a statement that there was "insufficient evidence to substantiate allegations against Seacrest" following an investigation. The aforementioned stylist, Suzie Hardy, went public on Monday in a story published by Variety. She told the publication that Seacrest shoved her head in his crotch, tried to start a romantic relationship with her, asked her take naps with him and hugged her in his underwear multiple times. The American Idol host released a statement regarding the Variety story on Tuesday, February 27. "Much has been said about the #MeToo and Times Up movement(s) and the importance of providing women and men with the opportunity to share their stories of workplace misconduct, in an effort to change our culture and the systemic inequalities that exist. I absolutely support this cause unequivocally and applaud all the brave souls who have come forward to share their stories," Seacrest, 42, said in a lengthy statement to Us Weekly. "Sadly, last fall I became one of the accused, which I promptly revealed proactively to the network involved and to the public. And to be equally clear, those accusations were then investigated by an independent third-party over the course of a two-month process and involved dozens of interviews that included me, the accused and countless others. Ultimately, my name was cleared. I eagerly participated in the investigation in order to demonstrate my innocence because I know my truth, and I believe in due process." "Yesterday, Variety published a salacious story that revealed the specific claims against me for the first time even though an independent third-party investigator found insufficient evidence to support the claims," Seacrest continued. "Much to my dismay, Variety didn't speak with me or bother to speak with other credible witnesses or even ask for any of the evidence that was obtained during the investigation when offered, all of which clearly challenged the veracity of the claims made against me." As he concluded his statement, Seacrest alleged that his accuser attempted to receive compensation in an exchange to stay silent, but he refused and continued to deny the accusations. "This person who has accused me of horrible things offered, on multiple occasions, to withdraw her claims if I paid her millions of dollars. I refused," he said. "I have worked extremely hard to achieve my success and I don't take my opportunities for granted. I don't want to accuse anyone of not telling the truth but in this case, I have no choice but to again deny the claims against me, remind people that I was recused of any wrongdoing, and put the matter to rest." Seacrest is set to host Live From the Red Carpet on E! on Sunday, March 4. The network confirmed to Us on Tuesday that Seacrest will be hosting the show as scheduled. E! previously released a statement to Us on Monday following Variety's report. "E!'s investigation was extremely comprehensive and thorough. Over the course of a two-month process, our outside counsel interviewed more than two dozen people regarding the allegations, including multiple separate meetings with the claimant," the statement read. "The investigator is an attorney with nearly 20 years' experience and is highly regarded professionally. Any claims that question the legitimacy of this investigation are completely baseless." (US Weekly)

Ryan Seacrest Responds to Sexual Harassment Accuser Going Public. After his accuser went public, Ryan Seacrest is once again denying the sexual harassment allegations leveled against him. "Yesterday, Variety published a salacious story that revealed the specific claims against me for the first time even though an independent third-party investigator found insufficient evidence to support the claims," Seacrest said in a Tuesday statement. "Much to my dismay, Variety didn't speak with me or bother to speak with other credible witnesses or even ask for any of the evidence that was obtained during the investigation when offered, all of which clearly challenged the veracity of the claims made against me." Seacrest continued: "This person who has accused me of horrible things tried to buy her silence by asking for money on multiple occasions -- I refused. I have worked extremely hard to achieve my success and I don't take my opportunities for granted. I don't want to accuse anyone of not telling the truth but in this case, I have no choice but to again deny the claims against me, remind people that I was recused of any wrongdoing, and put the matter to rest." The talk show host was first accused of harassment by his former E! wardrobe stylist in November -- but before the accuser went public with the claims, Seacrest chose to get out ahead of the story, vehemently denying the "reckless" allegations against him and agreeing to fully cooperate with an internal investigation into matter at the network. Nearly three months later, E! completed its investigation into the allegations by outside counsel hired by NBCUniversal and found "insufficient evidence to support the claims." The American Idol and Live with Kelly and Ryan host then wrote a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter about the experience, in which he once again denied the claims and expressed his desire to apart of changing the systemic gender inequality issues in Hollywood. "To have my workplace conduct questioned was gut-wrenching. I've always aimed to treat all of my colleagues with honesty, respect, kindness and compassion. Yet, I knew, regardless of the confidence I had that there was no merit to the allegations, my name would likely soon appear on the lists of those suspected of despicable words and deeds," he wrote. "I absolutely want to be part of the change, the progress, that is coming. I did not want to be a postscript of evidence of its cause." Seeing Seacrest's column, titled "What Happened After I Was Wrongly Accused of Harassment," prompted his accuser to come forward with her name and previously unreported details of the allegations. The former stylist, identified as Suzie Hardy in a Variety report, claims that she was subjected to years of unwanted sexual advances while working for the TV personality. Among the inappropriate behavior she alleges is Seacrest groping her [private parts], grinding [himself] against her while laying on top of her in only underwear and slapping her butt hard enough to leave a welt. Over the course of several interviews, the publication was able to corroborate many of the claims with former co-workers and friends of Hardy's. In 2013, she was reportedly asked to meet with human resources to discuss the nature of her relationship with Seacrest, and two weeks later she was told that her employment with the company would end in a few weeks. "I didn't know how to deal with it," Hardy told Variety. "I really didn't. I was battling finally being in a decent financial position to breathe and be a mom, that I didn't have to be freaking out all the time, and then dealing with this infantile celebrity person who was testing me on every level and manipulating me and knew that I was in a vulnerable position." Ryan Seacrest's full Tuesday statement is below: (MSN) Much has been said about the #MeToo and Times Up movement(s) and the importance of providing women and men with the opportunity to share their stories of workplace misconduct, in an effort to change our culture and the systemic inequalities that exist. I absolutely support this cause unequivocally and applaud all the brave souls who have come forward to share their stories. Sadly, last fall I became one of the accused, which I promptly revealed proactively to the network involved and to the public. And to be equally clear, those accusations were then investigated by an independent third-party over the course of a two-month process and involved dozens of interviews that included me, the accuser and countless others. Ultimately, my name was cleared. I eagerly participated in the investigation in order to demonstrate my innocence because I know my truth, and I believe in due process. Yesterday, Variety published a salacious story that revealed the specific claims against me for the first time even though an independent third-party investigator found insufficient evidence to support the claims. Much to my dismay, Variety didn't speak with me or bother to speak with other credible witnesses or even ask for any of the evidence that was obtained during the investigation when offered, all of which clearly challenged the veracity of the claims made against me. This person who has accused me of horrible things tried to buy her silence by asking for money on multiple occasions -- I refused. I have worked extremely hard to achieve my success and I don't take my opportunities for granted. I don't want to accuse anyone of not telling the truth but in this case, I have no choice but to again deny the claims against me, remind people that I was recused of any wrongdoing, and put the matter to rest.

Lisa Marie Presley has to ante up $100,000 to her estranged husband ... a particularly difficult task since she says she's flat broke. The judge in her divorce case ordered the payment to Michael Lockwood within 30 days. It's unclear how she'll pay the loot, because she claims she's $16 million in the hole. Lockwood has claimed Lisa's lying about her assets, alleging she rakes in way more money than she spends. The $100k is for Lockwood's attorney's fees. He wanted $450k, so in a way it's a victory for her ... at least in the short term. (TMZ)

Joe Jonas is dealing with the downside of having someone run his errands ... especially if that person allegedly hits someone else with his car. A woman is suing the DNCE singer, claiming his assistant was driving Joe's 2012 Audi A6 in the heart of Hollywood, when she made a left turn in an intersection that resulted in a collision with the woman. According to the legal docs, it went down in March 2016. The woman's lawyer, Gerald Marcus, tells us his firm ran the plates and confirmed the Audi was registered to Jonas. We're told no police report was filed and there were no witnesses. It's unclear from the docs if Joe was in the vehicle with his assistant. Regardless, the woman's suing both Joe and the assistant for negligence, claiming she was injured in the collision and has endured mental and physical pain, incurred medical expenses and lost earnings. We reached out to Jonas ... no word back so far. (TMZ)

Rose McGowan wants her felony cocaine possession case tossed because she says the coke may well have been planted ... and she points to Harvey Weinstein. McGowan has pled not guilty to cocaine possession after cocaine was found in the wallet she accidentally left behind on a United jet. McGowan says the timeline is critical ... noting 5 hours passed between the time she got off the plane and her wallet was found by the cleaning crew and handed over to cops. Her lawyer says in the motion to dismiss, "There is simply no point in time at which the evidence places Ms. McGowan and the cocaine together in the same place." The lawyer goes on to allege McGowan's claims against Weinstein may be behind it all, arguing evidence was planted ... the result of "the underhanded targeting of Ms. McGowan by the fallen mogul." (TMZ)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Meghan Markle Shuts Down This Major Misconception About Women's Empowerment. Much like women everywhere, Meghan Markle doesn't need to find her voice -- she already has one and she's using it. The future royal made that clear when she took the stage at the first annual Royal Foundation Forum on Wednesday in London. Flanked by her future husband, Prince Harry, and future sister-in-law, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, the American star eloquently tackled several questions, including her thoughts on the Royal Foundation and her future plans to contribute as a member of the royal family. Having already devoted much of her time championing on behalf of women and girls, the former Suits actress and ongoing activist has been working "quietly" behind the scenes with organizations in preparation to take her official post after her May nuptials. While discussing her intentions for her part in the foundation, Markle highlighted an important distinction about the kind of work she -- and everyone else -- needs to focus on in the realm of empowering women and girls. "I hear a lot of people saying when speaking about girls empowerment, finding and knowing their worth and women's empowerment as well -- you'll hear often people say, 'Well, you're helping women find their voices,'" she explained on stage. "I fundamentally disagree with that because women don't need to find a voice -- they have a voice. They need to feel empowered to use it and people need to be encouraged to listen." As she noted in her impassioned remarks, that variance has been highlighted by the #MeToo Movement and Time's Up campaign rooted partly in her former industry. "I think right now in the climate we're seeing with so many campaigns, with #MeToo and Time's Up, there's no better time than to really continue to shine a light on women feeling empowered and people really helping to support them -- men included in that." As the bride-to-be concluded, "It makes such a tremendous difference." Markle wrapped up her serious note with a smile. As she quipped, "I guess we wait a couple months and then we can hit the ground running." We can hear those wedding bells already! (Eonline)

Ava DuVernay and Elaine Welteroth to Be Honored at 30th Annual Gloria Awards. Three cheers for Ava DuVernay and Elaine Welteroth! The Ms. Foundation for Women announced Wednesday morning that it will be honoring DuVernay, the director of A Wrinkle in Time, and Welteroth, Teen Vogue's former editor-in-chief, at the 30th Annual Gloria Awards: A Salute to Women of Vision, in New York City May 3. "We are thrilled to announce the honorees for the 30th Annual Gloria Awards. Women of color are essential to our mission to advance equity and justice for all," said Teresa C. Younger, who has served as president and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women since 2014. "It is fitting that this year's honorees are a group of brilliant black women whose innovation, leadership, and courage have moved this country closer to a just and inclusive democracy for all genders." "Ms. DuVernay is an outspoken advocate whose work showcases strong, positive and complex characters of color, and has pushed some of our most difficult political conversations into the forefront," she added. "As Conde Nast's youngest-ever editor-in-chief, Ms. Welteroth brought informative, compelling and inclusive content to women and girls around the country and amplified the intersection of race and gender in order to advance the conversation of equity." The Gloria Awards were named for Gloria Steinem, one of its founding members. DuVernay will receive the Woman of Vision Award, "honoring feminist leaders who create positive change," while Welteroth will get the Marie C. Wilson Award, celebrating "young, trailblazing feminists." Since 1973, the Ms. Foundation for Women has invested over $65 million to build grassroots movements fighting for gender equity for women, particularly women of color, around the U.S. This year's event will also honor three leaders from grantee-partner organizations, all of whom have advanced the women's movement in "unparalleled" fashion: Shannan Reaze of Atlanta Jobs With Justice; Monica Simpson of SisterSong; and Joanne Smith of Girls for Gender Equity. (Eonline)

Ireland Baldwin Fulfills Childhood Dream With Nude Photo Spread for PETA. Ireland Baldwin is fur-free and proud. E! News has an exclusive look at the 22-year-old model's PETA campaign, which comes almost 25 years after her model mama Kim Basinger famously posed nude in support of the animal rights organization. Ireland (whose father is actor Alec Baldwin) rocks nothing but her birthday suit in the black and white snapshot, as the phrase "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" covers her body parts. As the blond bombshell explains in an accompanying video, working with PETA was a lifelong goal for Ireland. "I saw the images from when my mom shot this campaign so it's something I've aspired to do," she says. "Since I was a little girl I wanted to do something for PETA." Ireland is so passionate about the cause, in fact, that her modeling contract includes a clause saying she won't wear fur. "I didn't want that to be a part of my brand," she says. "I've had wardrobe people try to put me in fur coats and jumpsuits and lay on a fur rug and do whatever, and I've actually told people to f--ck off." The model hopes to educate others by partnering with PETA, saying, "Some people just really don't know. They really don't have the education... You're still buying cruelty and you're still advocating for it. To a fur maker and a fur farmer, an animal is just dollar signs." (Eonline)

Meet the 18-Year-Old Royal Who's Taking the Modeling Industry by Storm. There's a brand new royal model in town, and by the looks of his likes on social media, people have already taken notice! According to Denmark-based agency Scoop Models' Instagram account, Prince Nikolai of Denmark, son of Prince Joachim and Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg, recently signed a contact with the agency. In a series of headshots, which were posted by the company, the model appears calm, cool, and collected while posing in a grey sweatshirt and jeans. The images are already flooding with comments regarding the 18-year-old's curly hair and good looks. Nikolai, who walked the runway at the Burberry show during London Fashion Week, made his catwalk debut while dressed in the designer from head-to-toe. A representative for Scoop Models confirmed the news to Danish newspaper, Billedbladet. "I can confirm that he is with us and that it was us who booked him for the Burberry show at London Fashion Week." The agency, which has been in business since 1993, prides itself in being "the most recognized independent agency worldwide, representing a strong spectrum of editorial, high fashion and commercial models and introducing new talents overnight." And while the star may be new to the industry, he's in good company! Famous offspring like Kendall Jenner, Gigi and Bella Hadid, and Gabriel Day-Lewis are just a few of the young models with well-known parents, many of whom Nikolai will be rubbing shoulders with in years to come. See you on the runway! (Eonline)

Liev Schreiber is vacationing with rumored girlfriend Taylor Neisen, 26, in San Jose, Costa Rica. The "Ray Donovan" star, 50, and the former Miss South Dakota have been alleged to be a couple since last fall, but never confirmed the relationship. They were seen frolicking on the beach in bathing suits while on the vacation along with Schreiber's two sons, Alexander and Sam. Schreiber split with the boys' mother, Naomi Watts, in 2016 after 11 years. Page Six reported in December that Schreiber and Neisen were seen on a date at Joe's Pub. Neisen competed to be Miss USA in 2012 -- Olivia Culpo won. (Page Six)

It's the buzz heard 'round the world. Milo Ventimiglia, who plays the beloved Jack Pearson on NBC's "This Is Us," gave fans another heartbreak when he shaved off his signature mustache and cut his hair upon wrapping Season 2. Ashley Streicher, who styles Ventimiglia's co-star Mandy Moore's hair, was responsible for the chop "Keepin' it in the Fam #ThisIsUs end of season chop for @miloanthonyventimiglia #momANDdad #jackANDrebecca," she captioned a picture of his new 'do. Fans were heartbroken this season to finally learn how 40-year-old Ventimiglia's character died in the hit series -- from a massive heart attack due to severe smoke inhalation as the family's house burned down. While he'll probably grow it all back out in time for the third season, fans for now will have to say "goodbye" to Jack Pearson and "hello" to Jess from "Gilmore Girls." (Page Six)

Richard Sherman is a visionary ... he was accepting Bitcoin on his website back in 2012 and 2013 -- but there's just one problem ... HE CONVERTED IT ALL TO CASH BEFORE IT EXPLODED!!! NO! It's a true story... the NFL superstar tells TMZ Sports he's been a fan of cryptocurrency for years and believes it's eventually going to be the standard way people pay for things like groceries and clothes. Of course, the price per coin was around $2.00 in 2011 ... and grew to around $1,000 by the end of 2013. It didn't really pop again until 2017 -- when it soared to more than $19,000 PER COIN!! So, how much money would Sherman have made?? A lot. Don't feel too bad ... Sherman says he did make some profit -- just not the gazillions that people like the Winklevoss twins hauled in. Plus, he signed a $56 million contract extension in 2014 ... so he ain't losing sleep over it. (TMZ)

George Clooney and Scooter Braun are secretly working behind the scenes for the March for Our Lives campaign ... and TMZ knows this all because we wanted to find out how many MOL t-shirts were sold. One of our producers emailed members of the campaign triggered by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting. She wanted to know how many sweatshirts, t-shirts and other merch items have been sold to raise money for the upcoming marches -- in particular, the march in Washington to ban assault rifles and end gun violence. We were told over 22,000 items have been sold, but our producer wanted to know more, and she was referred to a woman who is running the fundraising campaign. Turns out ... the woman works for Scooter Braun. After more digging, we found out Scooter is deeply involved in the fundraising efforts but was determined not to take the spotlight away from the students, so he used one of his employees for cover. As you know, Scooter organized the Manchester charity event for the victims of the Ariana Grande concert bombing. We also found out Clooney, who donated $500k to March For Our Lives, is actively working behind the scenes to provide various forms of help. And sources at MOL tell us Clooney is the one who started the behind-the-scenes work and recruited Braun and others. We're assuming they've done all this on the QT because they feel it would diminish the impact of the movement if celebrities appear to be running the show -- the students are the ones changing hearts and minds and it's important it stays that way. Clooney tells TMZ, "Amal and I fully support the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas. We've donated money to help pay for their march. But the march and all of the activities surrounding this movement belong to the you people across the country." Clooney goes on ... "To suggest anything else would not only be completely inaccurate but also undercut the courage and determination of these incredible kids. They make me proud to be an American." (TMZ)

There's only one thing that could make Oprah Winfrey run for president in 2020. Amid calls for her to consider a run for the White House -- from fans as well as her closest friends -- "I went into prayer," she tells PEOPLE in the magazine's new cover story. " 'God, if you think I'm supposed to run, you gotta tell me, and it has to be so clear that not even I can miss it.' And I haven't gotten that." The media mogul and star of the new movie A Wrinkle in Time found herself in the political spotlight after her inspiring speech at the 2018 Golden Globes while accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award. Winfrey had the crowd of Hollywood's biggest stars on their feet and in tears with her moving words and promise that "a new day is dawning." She was surprised to hear the immediate response the rest of the country had. "When I walked off with Reese [Witherspoon], I thought, 'I got that done,'" she says. "It wasn't until I was back in the press room that they said, 'Do you realize you're trending?'" Winfrey says her best friend Gayle King urged her to take the possibility seriously and peppered her with messages of support from others who would back her. "I had people -- wealthy, billionaires -- calling me up and saying, 'I can get you a billion dollars. I can run your campaign," she reveals. "That many people saying something made me think, 'Am I at least supposed to look at the question?'" In the issue, the mogul opens up about working with Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling and young newcomer Storm Reid on the highly anticipated A Wrinkle in Time and her emotional decision to finally say #MeToo and talk about her experience with sexual abuse. Winfrey also says she had no regrets about not raising children with longtime partner Stedman Graham, saying instead that the South African girls she helps through her Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls have been "enough." "It was just the right combination of mentor, mother, leader, guide. Just to see all of them blossom into these flourishing human beings," Winfrey says. "They delight me. Make me laugh a lot. They have surprised me in ways that have brought wonder and great joy." Now in her 60s, and after decades of being a comfort to millions all around the world, Winfrey still says making people happy is what she loves most. "Nothing makes me happier than to see other people in their purest moments of joy," she admits. "Sometimes, honest to goodness, I'm just sitting around thinking, "What could I do to make somebody feel really good today?" (People)

Donald Trump Jr. might have to face a judge, after all -- he's reported to a Manhattan jury pool room as a potential juror ... TMZ has learned. President Trump's oldest reported to the New York County Criminal Court building Wednesday morning -- and it was pretty obvious someone in the First family was there. Secret Service is swarming around the building ... according to our law enforcement sources. There's a huge line to enter the courthouse, most likely due to increased security with a Trump in the house. We called his office, and we were told he's "happy to be there." If Junior gets selected for a jury panel it seems like a long shot he'd be selected, especially if the defendant is Russian. (TMZ)

Akon's learning the hard way that giving the cold shoulder never pays ... especially when it comes to lawsuits, cause now he's gotta cough up tons of dough. Akon's been ordered to pay $164,786.99 to a company that leased him some space on the 66th floor of the Empire State Building for his fashion line, Aliaune Milano ... this according to legal docs obtained by TMZ. The leasing company, GTFM, said Akon agreed in July of 2012 to pay $25k per month and did so until July of 2015 when he stopped paying rent. GTFM claims Akon's company finally left in January of 2016, owing almost 7 months of rent. GTFM had sued Akon, but the singer never responded to the lawsuit, so the judge issued a default judgment. (TMZ)

Music

While Anastacia was cranking out hits in the late '90s and early 2000s, she forgot about the people who helped get her to the mountain top ... so claims the singer's ex-manager. Anastacia -- immensely popular for her songs, her shades, and/or her abs -- was down and out after a failed record deal in 1998 ... according to Lisa Braude, the ex-manager. Braude claims she nurtured her, paying her bills, until she became a finalist on the MTV talent search show, "The Cut" in 1999. According to a lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Anastacia got a record deal with Epic Records after the show, and hired Braude as her manager. They worked together until 2004, which was the singer's heyday -- 3 studio albums, including her smash hit, "I'm Outta Love." As you might recall, Anastacia was forced to take a break due to breast cancer, but still released compilation albums. In the docs, Braude says she hasn't gotten her cut from those records ... hence the lawsuit. Braude wants Anastacia to cough up $3 mil, mostly in unpaid commissions. (TMZ)

Birdman Dubs Nicki Minaj The 'Best Female Ever In Hip-Hop'. Birdman had some bold statements to say about his YMCMB family, Nick Minaj, and it painted her in the most positive light possible. In a recent interview with Rap-Up, the mogul reportedly crowned Minaj the greatest female rapper of all time. As you could imagine, Twitter users had a lot of thoughts about his declaration. "I always say she's the best ever, best female ever in hip-hop, hands down, facts. There's no getting around it," Birdman stated. "There's levels to this s**t. Very much levels to this s**t. She's an elite." Luckily, Baby did provide some evidence to back up his thesis. "Sometimes, you can put Nicki in a room with males on a rap, but if you put her on females, it's nothing," he explained. "She's a monster in her own race." Birdman continued to gush over Nicki's talent: "She's just a special talent. I'm blessed to have her a part of my team. She's a special talent I've never heard before." He also commented on Nicki's social media absence, stating that she's been "focused" on new music. Naturally, Minaj's fanbase, a.k.a., the Barbz rejoiced that their fave was finally getting the respect that was due. But others, took a problem with Birdman's title. Many critics pointed out other legends in the game, including Lil Kim, Lauryn Hill, MC Lyte, and Missy Elliott. Nicki Minaj definitely has the resume to back up her spot on the top 10 list of best female rappers of all time. Do you think she's the first? (Billboard)

Gucci Mane Offers to Pay for His 20-Year High School Reunion. To celebrate 20 years since his 1998 graduation from Atlanta's Ronald E. McNair High School, Gucci Mane invited his classmates to a custom car and bike show and offered to pay for their reunion. On Twitter, the rapper invited anyone who graduated from McNair to the annual V103 Car and Bike Show, showcasing Atlanta's finest custom cars and bikes. The Guwop king is likely the most successful student in his class, as a platinum recording artist and New York Times best-selling author for his memoir The Autobiography of Gucci Mane. Earlier this year, he announced plans for a biopic based on the memoir, suggesting the launch of his own production company 1017 Films. Last year, he took a surprise visit to his high school, sending the school in a frenzy. Since his release from prison almost two years ago, Gucci Mane made it a point to live a life of positivity and support, spreading messages of love via social media. (Billboard)

Movies

Wreck-It Ralph 2 Trailer Mocks the Power of Clickbait, eBay and Memes. Wreck-It Ralph is getting an upgrade. On Wednesday, Walt Disney Animation Studios debuted a teaser trailer for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2. For this film, Rich Moore shared the directorial duties with Phil Johnston, who co-wrote the screenplay for 2012's Wreck-It Ralph with Jennifer Lee; Johnston co-wrote the sequel with Pamela Ribon, so Lee could focus on Frozen 2 and A Wrinkle in Time. So, what have the video game characters been up to in the last five years? Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) must leave their retro arcade behind and enter the digital space, where they'll encounter apps, clickbait, eBay, memes and much more. The reason for their journey is simple: a Wi-Fi router gets plugged into the arcade, and the unlikely (but charming) duo must find a replacement part to fix Sugar Rush. Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch are back as Fix-It Felix, Jr. and Sergeant Calhoun, respectively. Taraji P. Henson voices Yesss, while James Corden, Ana Ortiz and Alan Tudyk were cast in undisclosed roles. Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 will hit theaters Nov. 21, 2018. Several Marvel and Star Wars characters are slated to appear in the follow-up film, as are all of the Disney Princesses: Irene Bedard as Pocahontas, Kristen Bell as Anna, Jodi Benson as Ariel, Auli'i Cravalho as Moana, Linda Larkin as Jasmine, Kelly Macdonald as Merida, Idina Menzel as Queen Elsa, Mandy Moore as Rapunzel, Paige O'Hara as Belle, Anika Noni Rose as Tiana and Ming-Na Wen as Mulan. (Aurora, Cinderella and Snow White will be voiced by new actresses.) Walt Disney Pictures' next movie, A Wrinkle in Time, is in theaters March 9. (Eonline)

Robert De Niro and Bobby Cannavale displayed raw emotions on set ... with a side of beef. The duo was filming Martin Scorsese's mobster thriller "The Irishman" on Tuesday in Queens. Robert and Bobby looked a little perplexed as a slab of beef arrived on set. That feeling clearly didn't last long ... the legendary actor later laughed his ass off. Classic De Niro. Unclear if anyone started punching the meat a la Rocky ... but what is very clear is De Niro is NOT wearing those hideous lifts. Remember? The guy De Niro is portraying stands at an intimidating 6'4". De Niro's only 5'10". All good ... De Niro still nails the mobster role. Never mind that he laughs like a little kid. Excuse us ... an intimidating little kid. (TMZ)

Jennifer Lawrence Gets Real About Learning Ballet for Red Sparrow: "It Was Really Brutal." When it comes to ballet, Jennifer Lawrence admits she's no dancing queen. In an interview with E! News at the Red Sparrow premiere in NYC, the 27-year-old star revealed that she hasn't kept up with her formal dance training since the making of the movie. "Oh absolutely not. No, I don't keep up with ballet," she said. "It was really brutal. I have so much respect for those athletes slash artists. It's amazing what they do, but as soon as I wrapped the ballet scene, I threw my shoes in the trash. Done." In the film, Lawrence transforms herself into a ballerina for a six-minute opening scene. The star trained with former New York City Ballet member, Kurt Froman, who also taught Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis for their 2010 film, Black Swan. And while Lawrence gave the film her all, the actress explained that those close to her are quick to judge her dancing capabilities. "My friends are awful, they're terrible people," she joked. "My cousin was making fun of me and was like, 'This is your dance move,' and I was like, 'No it's not!' And then I started doing it and I was like, 'This does feel like home.' And she was right, so I'm embarrassed, but she's right." Following the topic of dance, Lawrence spoke out about the love she has for her cast. "I'm so lucky to be part of this," she said of the film. "This just got me so excited and invigorated and I just couldn't wait to get on set. And once the cast started coming together, I had been wanting to work with Matthias [Schoenaerts] for years on different projects, and when he fell into place, and Joel Edgerton, who I'm a huge fan of, Jeremy Irons, Charlotte Rampling. I mean, this cast was just very exciting." Red Sparrow hits theaters March 2. (Eonline)

Tilda Swinton to Become Mentor at Doha's Qumra Film Event. Andrey Zvyagintsev and Apichatpong Weerasethakul are also among the list of names set to mentor emerging filmmakers in Qatar next month. Tilda Swinton is the latest name to be added to the lineup heading to the Qumra film event in the Qatari capital of Doha next month. The Oscar-winning actress is set to join the Qumra Masters program, aimed at mentoring emerging filmmakers from around the world through sessions, one-on-one meetings and masterclasses. Other masters at this year's event including current Oscar-nominee Andrey Zvyagintsev, plus Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Bennett Miller, Gianfranco Rosi and Sandy Powell. Qumra, which focuses on first and second time filmmakers, will welcome talent linked to 34 projects from 25 countries that are currently in development and post-production stages. The fourth edition of the event, hosted by the Doha Film Institute, will be held March 9-March 14. (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

Mariska Hargitay, Michael Chernuchin and the Secret to Law and Order: SVU's Season 19 Success. For 19 years of television, Mariska Hargitay has had a badge and gun strapped to her person as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU, and she's showing no signs of fatigue with the long-running series. The Emmy winner has repeatedly told E! News she's more engaged with the subject matter and character than ever -- and there's a reason why: Collaboration. SVU returned for season 19 with a new showrunner, Michael Chernuchin, a veteran of Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and the showrunner of the short-lived Chicago Justice, who came in with a game plan for the season and its leading lady. "Well, I told her I was going to really lead her through the woods, basically. She was going to hit bottom with the tug between home life and family life. We've kind of done that with the Brooke Shields episodes where everything seems great and it then it couldn't get worse. She comes out stronger for it, and I think we succeeded," Chernuchin told E! News. "And she loved it." Chernuchin also old the writers at the start of the season the show is about family. "A lot of our plots are family-driven plots, and also, I wanted to look at the people in SVU as if they were family. You have mama bear, you have the crazy uncle [Laughs.], people come, people go, and the kids," he said. "We always have in the back of our mind when we're starting any script: it's about family." And the head of SVU's family is Mama Bear Benson, both on screen and off. "I call [Hargitay] the No. 1 No.1. She is the best lead actor I have ever worked with, collaboratively," he said. Chernuchin and Hargitay worked closely on the standout episode "Something Happened." The episode broke from the traditional SVU structure of crime, investigation and prosecution, and largely took place in the squad's interrogation room. The episode featured Hargitay's Benson and Melora Walters' victim-turned-suspect diving deep in what was essentially a two-person play. "I don't know if she told you, on that episode 'Something Happened,' we would get to the stage about two hours before call and just rehearse and figure out every scene. It was basically Mariska, Melora, Alex [Chapple], the director, and myself, and it was the most fun I've ever had in Hollywood. I love that creative collaboration and who knows Benson better than Mariska? It's been going great," Chernuchin said. "I can't wait to get to work every day. It's one of those things." The feeling seems to be mutual for Hargitay. She said her experience and working relationship with Chernuchin has been unexpected. "It's been utterly collaborative in a way that I didn't even know was possible, and certainly not in a way that we traditionally... Each week it gets more exciting because [Chernuchin] keeps topping himself for me," Hargitay told E! News in November. "Before, the writers would come up with the material and we would do it or tweak it, but Michael is a true collaborator in ways like that. I just did another episode with Brooke... we did this amazing show... We did a read through and I was like, 'I don't know, what if we did this? What if we did that?' and Michael was the first one to go, 'This is why I love to do read-throughs! I want everybody's input!' And we, together as a group, came up with this amazing idea and Michael was the one who seemed to be the most excited by this collaboration. "I really find him ego-less, which is such a great testament to his artistry. It's always the best idea wins. Right now the creative team at SVU is so exciting to me because it is a true sort of team, in that everyone is pitching and throwing ideas and everyone is listening. It's the best idea wins. That's just the way we roll," she continued. "It's been very exciting. For Michael to give me the honor to have so much input, it's absolutely thrilling and of course makes me even more engaged." Chernuchin said he has "never felt as free as a writer as I have on this show." "When I first joined, I said, 'How can we do rape week after week? It'd get boring.' It's a lot more than that. I get to deal with issues like I did on Law & Order, but I get to throw raw emotion on the screen every week. On Law & Order you really couldn't do that because your victim was dead," he said. "We couldn't be more relevant right now with what's going on in the world, with #MeToo, it's incredible...It's great that we're dealing with things that the world is dealing with." Law & Order: SVU airs Wednesdays, 9 p.m. on NBC. (Eonline)

Jersey Shore Family Vacation Already Renewed for Season 2. The fist-pumping is starting early! We may still have over a month to go before the April 5 premiere of Jersey Shore Family Vacation, but MTV is throwing its support behind the revival of its beloved Jersey Shore franchise by ordering a second season, E! News has confirmed. The reunion series, which finds original cast members Deena Nicole Cortese, Paul "Pauly D" Delvecchio, Jenni "JWOWW" Farley, Vinny Guadagnino, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and Mike descending on Miami with their families in tow (minus Polizzi's husband Jionni LaValle, who told fans on Instagram that he wouldn't appear because he doesn't like being on reality TV), marks the first time nearly all of the stars have appeared together on TV. (Missing cast member Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola is sitting this one out, though she did appear in Reunion Road Trip: Return to the Jersey Shore on E!. That special, however, was missing her ex Ortiz-Magro, as well as Guadagnino and Cortese.) The follow-up to Jersey Shore Family Vacation, which will debut as MTV's first-ever day-and-date global premiere, has yet to earn a name nor a shooting location. However, don't expect a return trip to Miami. After all, that first promo released by the network did hint at a whole host of locations for this lovable crew of guidos and guidettes to get their GTL on in: "F--kin' New York? F--kin' Dallas? F--kin' Chicago? Ole F--kin' Faithful? F--kin' Miami? F--kin' Las Vegas? F--kin' Grand Canyon? F--kin' San Fran? Mt. F--kin' Rushmore? F--kin Seattle?" Our vote for the second stop on this reunion tour? A return to Florence, Italy, the location of the original series' epic fourth season. Deadline first reported the news. Jersey Shore Family Vacation premieres Thursday, April 5 on MTV. (Eonline)

The "Teen Mom OG" hole created by Farrah Abraham's firing is being filled by another 'TM' alum, Mackenzie McKee ... TMZ has learned. Sources close to the production tell us the "Teen Mom 3" star, and fan fave, has officially joined the 'OG' cast, and she's already shooting scenes. As we told you, Farrah was 86'd and claimed, on her way out the door, MTV execs shamed her for doing porn. We're told 'TM' producers recently pitched Mackenzie the idea of joining 'OG.' They were already shooting a 2-hour special with her about her mom's cancer battle. She was diagnosed earlier this year with stage 4 brain cancer. We're told Mackenzie agreed to step in for Farrah and she's been filming for more than a week now. You'll recall ... Mackenzie was part of the 'TM3' franchise before getting canceled after one season in 2013. She was very popular then, and fans have wanted to see her come back. While Farrah's off fighting Viacom and MTV in court ... it looks like 'Teen Mom'-sters are getting exactly what they wanted. We've reached out to MTV, but no word back yet. (TMZ)

The Challenge Season 32's First Teaser Is Here. The teaser does reveal that fans can expect the new season to premiere this summer, and we hear soundbites from Nicole Zanatta and Kailah Casillas, who are currently competing on Vendettas. Plus, we also get an old sound-bite from fan-favorite veteran Darrell Taylor, saying, "Whatever I gotta do I'm going to do it." So does that mean we'll see these three return to compete this summer? Here's hoping (and Kailah tweeted about the new theme)! And it sounds like Veronica Portillo is also interested in returning, tweeting, "We want to know the location! Who cares about the vague theme name!!!" And to quote host TJ Lavin, we love this game! Who do you want to see compete in Final Reckoning? The Challenge airs Tuesdays on MTV. (Eonline)

Amazon Takes Marvel, ABC Shows for India. The company will stream for its Indian subscribers such shows as Marvel's 'Inhumans' and 'Runaways' and ABC's 'The Crossing' and 'Station 19.' Amazon Prime Video and Disney India on Wednesday unveiled an exclusive content deal that will allow Amazon to stream seven new and upcoming shows from Marvel and ABC in India immediately after they premiere in the U.S. The deal, financial terms of which weren't disclosed, covers Marvel series Cloak and Dagger, Inhumans and Runaways, as well as ABC series The Crossing, Station 19 and Freeform's Alone Together. The deal also covers past seasons of ABC hit series Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds,Desperate Housewives, Scandal and Scrubs. "It's critical for us to make our diverse content available to fans everywhere," said Amrita Pandey, Disney India regional head, media distribution and OTT, adding, "This opportunity with Amazon Prime Video in India allows us to bring some of our fan-favorite shows from Marvel and ABC to Indian audiences on a device of their choice and convenience." Last year, Disney said that it would end a licensing deal with Netflix and launch its own streaming service. Since Netflix launched in India in January 2016, the service has been streaming such Disney content as Marvel's Jessica Jones, Defenders and Iron Fist. Rival streaming service Hotstar, which is owned by 21st Century Fox's Star India network, includes such Disney movies as Lucasfilm's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in addition to Doctor Strange and Captain America. For Amazon India, the Disney pact builds on the streaming service's earlier content deals with Warner Bros., Paramount and Lionsgate, boosting its Hollywood offerings for its India subscribers. (Hollywood Reporter)

Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson Back Off "Scripted" Town Hall Question Claim. The about-face from the Fox News hosts comes after a high school student's father admitted to inadvertently deleting words in an email to a CNN producer. Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson, two primetime Fox News hosts who helped popularize the narrative that CNN had "scripted" a question for high school student Colton Haab to ask in a Feb. 21 town hall on gun control, admitted on their respective shows on Tuesday night that no evidence now backs up that claim. Their comments came after the Associated Press spoke to the student's father, Glen Haab, who told the news wire that he unintentionally deleted a few words from an email he had received from a CNN producer before sending it to outlets covering the "scripted" story. The omission of those words gave more credence to the belief that CNN had essentially told the student what he should ask the politicians assembled for the event. On top of statements from CNN denying that it did anything untoward, both network president Jeff Zucker and anchor Jake Tapper personally told The Hollywood Reporter in interviews that the whole thing is baloney. "It's just not true," Tapper said last week. "There is no evidence, as of right now, that CNN tried to give Colton Haab a scripted question," Carlson said in an "update" on his show. Carlson had interviewed the student on Thursday night, an interview that President Trump then tweeted about. He said his show had asked CNN to verify and comment on the emails that the Haab family provided, which he said the family now "concedes" it altered. "Tonight, Glenn Haab told the AP that he omitted some words from the email; he says he did not do it on purpose," Hannity said on his show. "Therefore, what Haab told all news outlets last week was inaccurate. Our job, I always to strive for the truth, and we wanted to correct the record." When contacted, a spokesman for CNN declined comment on the record about the about-faces. A Fox News spokesperson pointed only to the videos of the Tuesday night segments. (Hollywood Reporter)

ABC Orders Alec Baldwin Talk Show, Plans Post-Oscars Sneak Peek. The first episode of 'Sundays With Alec Baldwin' will feature in-depth interviews with Jerry Seinfeld and Kate McKinnon. ABC is prepared to spend its Sundays With Alec Baldwin, and it is hoping viewers will, too. The network has ordered eight additional episodes of Baldwin's hour-long talk show, which will be modeled after the interviews he has done for years on his popular WNYC podcast. In an early vote of confidence for the show, ABC plans to air a version of the pilot episode immediately following Sunday's Academy Awards telecast as a glimpse of what's to come this year. The first episode, which is being billed as a sneak peek rather than a season premiere, will feature in-depth interviews with Baldwin's longtime friend Jerry Seinfeld and Saturday Night Live castmember Kate McKinnon. Rather than turn up to shill a new film or TV show, both guests sat with Baldwin for wide-ranging conversations that touch on topics ranging from the state of comedy in the current political climate to their lives and experiences pre- and post-fame. "I'm excited about this show and grateful to ABC for taking a chance on me in what is, admittedly, a crowded field," Baldwin said Tuesday in a statement, alluding to a landscape that now includes a new batch of streaming talk shows as well as a growing collection of broadcast and cable ones. "I've enjoyed doing my podcast for WNYC and look forward to the challenge of doing a show on camera." Going forward, Baldwin will aim to include two interviews per show, letting them collectively stretch the entire hour, save commercial breaks. Like his podcast, which has featured lengthy conversations with everyone from Barbra Streisand to Anthony Weiner, Sundays With Alec Baldwin will line up actors, comedians, politicians and other newsmakers in the American pop culture sphere as guests. "Alec's intellect, wit and wealth of life experience afford him a voice and perspective we haven't seen before in this format," said ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey. "When we shot the pilot, we knew immediately we had something special ... that showcases Alec as one of today's most compelling conversationalists and highlights the type of intimate discussions that he has captured on his podcast for years." For the time being, ABC is staying mum on its timeline or future airdates for Sundays With Alec Baldwin. The Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning host intends to fit these interviews in as he does his podcast ones, in between a packed schedule that also includes film and TV projects; hosting ABC's Match Game, now in its third season; and his ongoing stint lampooning President Donald Trump on SNL. The talk show, filmed in New York, where Baldwin is based, is being produced for ABC by his company El Dorado Pictures, which inked a two-year first-look deal with ABC Studios last summer. This is Baldwin's second at-bat in the talk show space, having previously attempted a short-lived MSNBC series, Up Late With Alec Baldwin, which was rushed onto the air and ran for a brief period on Friday nights in 2013. That series, like this one, was designed to have richer conversations than are typically held in the late-night format, but rather than pair him with a news producer, as MSNBC did, ABC has teamed Baldwin with a late-night veteran in Jason Schrift, who served as Jimmy Kimmel Live's longtime producer. (Hollywood Reporter)