THE OTHER STUFF . . .
Tell-all Meghan Markle, Prince Harry interview could be 'damaging' to royal family. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Megxit could soon get even uglier -- amid fears they will give an explosive interview branding the royal family "racist and sexist," it was reported Sunday. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been lambasted for their shocking split Wednesday -- and close friends believe they will hit back by attacking the Monarchy to justify distancing themselves, reports say. The couple hinted at issues with the family in a documentary last year -- and the journalist behind it, the couple's friend Tom Bradby, says the royals should fear what the alienated pair could say. "I have some idea of what might be aired in a full, no-holds-barred sit-down interview and I don't think it would be pretty," Bradby wrote in The Times of London. While Bradby did not elaborate, The Times of London said royal courtiers fear Meghan would brand members of the family "racist and sexist." Bradby said it would be "very damaging indeed" if the monarchy's international reputation was tarnished by the breakaway pair. Bradby claims that Harry and Meghan find other royals "jealous and, at times, unfriendly," making it clear that that did not include Queen Elizabeth II nor her husband, Prince Philip. He claims the "fallout" began at their 2018 royal wedding when "really damaging things were said and done." The ITV journalist made it clear he hopes the royals can patch up their disagreements before it potentially turns too ugly to repair. "The family urgently needs a meaningful peace deal with the young breakaway couple, because a protracted war would be very bloody indeed," he wrote. (PageSix)
Queen Elizabeth Orders Prince Harry, Prince Charles & Prince William to 'Talk Things Through'. It is likely Meghan Markle will participate in the family meeting via phone. Queen Elizabeth has ordered a family summit at her home to thrash out what to do about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wish to step down from senior royal roles. The Queen will be joined by Harry, his brother Prince William and his father Prince Charles at the meeting at her country home of Sandringham, Norfolk, on Monday, Jan. 13, palace sources told PEOPLE on Saturday. It is likely the Duchess of Sussex will participate via phone if it happens within the right timeframe, bearing in mind that she is currently in Vancouver Island, Canada. The high-level meeting to "talk things through," as the source put it, raises the prospect that a conclusion is in sight to the unprecedented talks to find a solution that works for the Sussexes and the family. "Following a series of meetings and consultations across the last few days, there is a range of possibilities for the family to review which take into account the thinking the Sussexes outlined earlier in the week," the palace source said. "As we have said previously, making a change to the working life and role of the monarchy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex requires complex and thoughtful discussions. Next steps will be agreed at the meeting," the source shared. "The request for this to be resolved 'at pace' is still Her Majesty's wish. The aim remains days not weeks. There is genuine agreement and understanding that any decision will take time to be implemented." Their meeting will be the first time they've all been together since Remembrance Day weekend in November. The meetings that have been taking place between the households of the Queen, Charles, William and Harry and Meghan have also involved the U.K. and Canadian governments. The source would not be drawn on the timing of Monday's meeting or whether it was in order to conclude the talks and come to a final agreement. "There is a range of possibilities for the family to review," the source reiterated. But it is clear that the motivation of all, directed by the Queen, 93, is to get this done as quickly as possible. Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, stunned the world with their decision to "step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family" on Wednesday. They revealed their plans to "carve out a progressive new role within this institution," they wrote in a statement on Instagram. "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment," they wrote. "We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support." (People)
Prince Harry to Meet With Queen Elizabeth II to Discuss His and Meghan's Future: Report. Prince Harry has some unfinished business to attend to. The Duke of Sussex is reportedly having a face-to-face meeting with Queen Elizabeth II at her Sandringham Estate on Monday, Jan. 13, according to multiple reports. Additionally, senior members of the British royal family will reportedly attend the meeting as well, including Prince Charles and Prince William. The purpose of the meeting, according to multiple reports, is that Prince Harry will discuss his and Meghan Markle's future after they recently announced their "step back" from royal duties. As of right now, it appears the Duchess of Sussex will not be present during the Monday discussion considering she just returned to Canada with her son, Archie Harrison. A palace source told NBC News she "might call into the meeting" and that other people "the royals want in the room" may join in on the conversation. "There is a range of possibilities the family will review, taking into account the thinking of the Sussexes," the insider told NBC News. Adding that there's a "genuine agreement and understanding that any decisions will take time to be implemented." Of course, Harry's meeting with the Queen of England comes days after he and Meghan made the shocking announcement they would no longer be "senior members" of the royal family. "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," their joint statement read. "We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen." "It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages," the statement continued. "This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity." At the time of the couple's announcement, the Buckingham Palace issued a response over the bombshell news. "Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage," the statement began. "We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through." While it's unclear what the next steps are for the royal couple, it looks like things are slowly falling into place. On Saturday, it was reported that the former Suits actress inked a deal with Disney, which will also help the organization, Elephants Without Borders. However, not much is known about her upcoming project. (Eonline)
Meghan Markle Returns to Canada Without Prince Harry Amidst Royal Family Drama. Meghan Markle is back on Canadian soil. A source tells E! News the former actress has returned to Canada to be with son Archie Harrison after spending just three days in the United Kingdom. She leaves behind an embattled Prince Harry, who is currently attempting to resolve problems that arose from the announcement. It appears Meghan and Harry made the decision to leave Archie in Canada with friend Jessica Mulroney and a nanny as they attended to business, multiple outlets report. The Duchess of Sussex returned to Britain just long enough to attend her and Harry's first royal engagement of the new year and to reveal they will be stepping back from their roles as "senior" royals. At the moment, multiple outlets report Prince Harry will be reuniting with his wife and son in Canada in the coming days, but, as some royal reporters have pointed out, he has another engagement scheduled in England for next Thursday. As Meghan returns to her son in Canada, the rest of the Royal Family is celebrating Kate Middleton's 38th birthday. On Thursday morning, all of the Royal Family social media accounts wished the Duchess of Cambridge a happy birthday. Behind closed doors was another story. The BBC previously reported Queen Elizabeth called an urgent meeting to discuss the Duke and Duchess' surprise announcement. It was at this meeting, with Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry, that Her Majesty directed all individuals work together to find "workable solutions" within days, not weeks. Later that night, members of the Royal Family and the Middleton family were seen arriving at Kensington Palace, where the House of Windsor threw an intimate dinner for Kate. Judging by the many episodes of The Crown, the Royal Family likely won't let the controversy put a damper on their celebrations. Happy Birthday, Kate! (Eonline)
Why Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Were Forced to Prematurely Announce Their Plans to Step Down. A quick turnaround. Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were forced to announce their plans to step back as senior members of the British royal family sooner than they initially anticipated. A source confirms to Us Weekly that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to share the news via their Instagram account on Wednesday, January 8, after finding out that The Sun caught wind of their plan of action and had been prepping a story about it. However, they were still too late. "It was the paper's front page hours before the official announcement, so Harry and Meghan technically didn't beat them to it," the source notes. The journalist who broke the story, Dan Wootton, tells Us that he first reached out to the couple's public relations team for comment on December 28 -- 11 days before the Sussexes shocked the world with their Instagram post. "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," Harry and Meghan's statement read. "We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment." The prince, 35, and the retired actress, 38, explained that they "plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America," which would allow them to raise their 8-month-old son, Archie, "with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity." The pair ended their statement by vowing to "continue to collaborate" with Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince William and other members of the royal family. The queen, 93, had no idea the statement was coming though, and said later on Wednesday that "these are complicated issues that will take time to work through." Elizabeth, 93, called an emergency meeting on Thursday, January 9, with Charles, 71, and William, 37, to discuss the shakeup. "[They] have directed their teams to work at pace with governments and the Sussexes' office to find workable solutions, and this is expected to take days, not weeks," a palace source told Us. Harry and Meghan also made a trip to London amid the drama, while Archie stayed with the Suits alum's close friend Jessica Mulroney in Canada. Meghan has since flown back to reunite with her son. (UsMagazine)
Oprah Winfrey Denies Rumors She Advised Meghan and Prince Harry On Their Royal Exit. As the world continues to make sense of #Megxit, plenty of speculation regarding Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's decision to step back from their royal duties are beginning to surface -- starting with Oprah Winfrey's involvement in their unprecedented move. On Thursday, Page Six reported that Oprah, who is a close friend to the couple and attended their 2018 wedding, advised the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on how to "break free" from the royals, noting that the SuperSoul Sunday host encouraged the couple to move to North America and capitalize on their Sussex Royal brand. But, in a statement to NBC on Friday, Oprah insisted that she was not behind it. "Meghan and Harry do not need my help in figuring out what's best for them," she said. "I care about them both and support whatever decisions they make for their family." While Meghan and Harry's future is still to be determined, the couple shared that they're setting out to "carve out a progressive new role within this institution" while "continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen" and maintaining a positive relationship with the royal family. "We do not know how this will play out in the next months, the next few years," a royal expert told E! News. As royal biographer Penny Junor predicted in her 2014 biography Prince Harry: Brother, Soldier, Son, the 35-year-old royal always seemed keen on charting his own course. She wrote, "He could decide to kiss goodbye to the whole thing... He would be relatively in his rights to do so, so long as he paid for his own protection and all the rest of it." In the past, Harry has admitted to having thoughts of leaving the royal family. In a 2017 interview with Newsweek, he said, "I spent many years kicking my heels and I didn't want to grow up. I felt I wanted out but then decided to stay in and work out a role for myself." Marrying Meghan and becoming a father to son Archie Harrison, 8 months, also played a contributing factor to his and Meghan's bold decision. Once they tied the knot, word got out that the newlyweds were considering moving to Africa in attempts to kick-start their philanthropic efforts. Then, they decided to leave Kensington Palace and move into Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Shortly after, the Duke and Duchess formally parted ways with the Royal Foundation, which he created with brother Prince William. With Meghan and Harry transitioning into their new roles, Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the royals have begun preparing for their official exit. One day after the Duke and Duchess' announcement, Her Majesty summoned the Royal Households for an emergency meeting and "'tasked' them with coming up with a 'workable' future role for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex within 'days not weeks,'" according to The Daily Mail's royal correspondent Rebecca English. It's unclear if the royal family has a game plan set, but as Buckingham Palace said in their statement following the news, "We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through." (Eonline)
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Will Return to Host the 2021 Golden Globes. Our favorite duo is back! The 2020 Golden Globe Awards may have already aired, but it's never too late to start looking for the next set of hosts for next year's telecast. On Saturday, Jan 11., NBC Entertainment Chairman Paul Teledgy announcing during the Television Critics Association Tour in Pasadena, Calif. that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler would be returning to the Golden Globes as co-hosts for the 2021 awards ceremony. While the date of next year's Golden Globes is yet to be announced, we can't help but start counting down the days until these two hit the stage. As fans recall, the two hosted the Golden Globes from 2013-15. "NBC has long been home to two of the funniest people on the planet -- Tina Fey and Amy Poehler -- and we didn't want to wait any longer to share the great news that they'll be hosting the Globes once again," said Teledgy. Following the news of their return to the Globes stage, fans on social media shared their excitement. 30 Rock star, Fey, has won two Golden Globes and six Emmys for writing and acting in the Emmy Award-winning comedy and Saturday Night Live. Parks and Reaction star, Poehler, is also a Golden Globe and Emmy winner and is currently an executive producer of the Emmy-nominated Netflix series Russia Doll. According to reports, the Wine Country actress made the announcement herself during the TCA event this Saturday. (Eonline)
Jennifer Garner's Son Gives Her a Check for Being His "Mama." We're not crying, you're crying... If there's anything we can't get enough of, it's Jennifer Garner's Instagram account and all wholesome and hilarious content she shares with us there. The latest? On Friday, the 13 Going on 30 actress took to her account to share a picture of a check that her son had written for his "Mama" on Christmas Day. "Apparently, birthing and raising someone is valued at $168.42. I guess I should keep my day job [laughing emoji]. #iwouldbehismamaforfree #ohwaitialreadyam," Garner captioned the adorable picture of her son's check. The check, paid to the order of his wonderful mom, might not be enough to cover all the expenses it takes to raise a child but it's the thought that counts, right? This also isn't the first time the actress shares what her kids are up to or what motherhood for her is like. In November, the mother-of-three (Violet, 13, Seraphina, 10 and Samuel, 7) gave a glimpse into her morning routine with her kids. On Instagram, the Alias actress shared a snap of the quick look she pulled together when getting her kids ready for school. "She barely made the bus on time, but at least her mother kept it classy," she wrote, as she rocked a navy blue robe monogrammed with her initials and beige slippers. All in all, we can't get enough off of Garner's relatable posts on the 'Gram! (Eonline)
Selena Gomez Reveals New Tattoo Inspired By Her Kidney Transplant. Selena Gomez is giving fans a "rare" look at some special ink that represents the day a friend helped save her life. The 27-year-old pop singer had revealed in September 2017 that she had undergone a kidney transplant to treat complications from lupus, an autoimmune disease she first disclosed she had in 2015. In late December, she said in an interview with Capital FM radio in the U.K. that she had gotten a tattoo of the date of her surgery. She also said her friend and kidney donor, Francia Raisa, has the same ink. On Friday, Selena posted behind-the-scenes photos of herself from the shoot of her new music video, "Rare," and part of the tattoo is seen on her arm. It shows a six, suggesting her kidney transplant was carried out in the month of June. "Rare" is the title track of her new album, which was also released early on Friday. Selena, who has several tattoos, talked about the record in a Twitter Q&A session with fans. When asked to describe the album in three words, she tweeted, "Honest, empowering and uplifting." Selena said in the fan Q&A Rare's biggest message is "self-love, acceptance and empowerment." The album contains the previously released singles, "Lose You to Love Me" and "Look at Her Now." Many believe they are about her ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber. "I am not a victim...but I don't act in the manner that I need to keep getting down on myself for things that I have done," Selena said about the first single, speaking at her iHeartRadio album release party on Thursday. She said she thought her song "Vulnerable" was the most empowering track on the album. "Vulnerability is strength, it's not something that makes you weak at all," she said. "I love this song and I love how it makes you feel." "I think all I want for this record is for people to make it their own...for people to turn these messages into something great," she told the crowd. "I wanted to be the voice for people who have had the same kind of hurt, or kind of experiences that I have had." (Eonline)
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino is not willing to dance for Chippendales despite his rock-hard abs and background as a stripper ... Sitch says the male revue can't afford him!!! We got the "Jersey Shore" star and ex-con in New York City, and our photog asked Mike if he's ever going to follow Vinny Guadagnino's lead and join the famous production in Vegas. Easy to see why folks think Situation and Chippendales are a match made in heaven ... the reality star is all about his abs. There's also some history between the two ... Sitch judged a Chippendales competition back in October, but couldn't be coaxed into taking off his shirt. And, there's this ... "Jersey Shore" alums have a history of bringing in huge box office numbers at Chippendales. Vinny was such a smashing success last year, they brought him back for an extra 6 weeks. Situation isn't shutting the door on a potential run at Chippendales ... but he's channeling Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character in "Jerry Maguire" and telling Chippendales to show him the moola. (TMZ)
Larry King and his estranged wife have taken a big step in their ongoing divorce proceedings ... by unloading their mansion in Beverly Hills. We broke the story ... Larry and Shawn Southwick listed their massive pad in October for $16.995 million, in hopes of reaching a divorce settlement quickly and smoothly. So far so good, because TMZ's learned it officially sold today for $15.5 million. The ex-couple bought the 5-bed, Tuscan-style house in 2007 for just under $12 mil, so despite the drop in their initial asking price ... they still netted a nice profit. The property is 11,000 square feet and features a master suite with twin bathrooms, a skylit foyer, a pool, a trophy room ... and comes with a 2-bedroom guest house to boot. Mega-realtor Kurt Rappaport had the listing. As we reported ... Larry filed for divorce from Shawn in August after 22 years of marriage, just months after his medical crisis in April, in which he suffered what doctors described to Shawn as a heart attack. Word is the 2 had marital troubles for years, but sources told us the final straw came while Larry was hospitalized ... and Shawn allegedly asked him to adjust his will and screw his 2 sons out of their inheritance. Shawn's side denies this and maintains she was blindsided by the divorce. However, she said she wasn't going to battle him because she's been told by doctors that Larry -- who's 86 -- is dying. (TMZ)
Christopher Dennis -- a street performer known for portraying Superman on Hollywood Blvd. for more than 25 years -- died from a lack of oxygen after crawling into a clothing donation bin while high on drugs. The Man of Steel impersonator suffocated to death as a result of blunt force trauma to his head and neck ... this according to the L.A. County Coroner's Office. The Coroner's report also cites methamphetamine toxicity as a significant factor in his death. Christopher suffered the fatal injuries after being partially entrapped within a metal box used for donating clothes, according to the Coroner's Office, which ruled his death accidental. As we reported ... Christopher -- who was homeless -- died back in November when his lifeless body was discovered lying headfirst in the donation bin. Investigators believed he was attempting to gather clothes for himself. Christopher entertained folks in Hollywood for over two decades by dressing up as Superman ... he also starred in the documentary "Confessions of a Superhero," and made multiple appearances on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" He was 52. (TMZ)
Queen Elizabeth Orders Prince Harry, Prince Charles & Prince William to 'Talk Things Through'. It is likely Meghan Markle will participate in the family meeting via phone. Queen Elizabeth has ordered a family summit at her home to thrash out what to do about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wish to step down from senior royal roles. The Queen will be joined by Harry, his brother Prince William and his father Prince Charles at the meeting at her country home of Sandringham, Norfolk, on Monday, Jan. 13, palace sources told PEOPLE on Saturday. It is likely the Duchess of Sussex will participate via phone if it happens within the right timeframe, bearing in mind that she is currently in Vancouver Island, Canada. The high-level meeting to "talk things through," as the source put it, raises the prospect that a conclusion is in sight to the unprecedented talks to find a solution that works for the Sussexes and the family. "Following a series of meetings and consultations across the last few days, there is a range of possibilities for the family to review which take into account the thinking the Sussexes outlined earlier in the week," the palace source said. "As we have said previously, making a change to the working life and role of the monarchy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex requires complex and thoughtful discussions. Next steps will be agreed at the meeting," the source shared. "The request for this to be resolved 'at pace' is still Her Majesty's wish. The aim remains days not weeks. There is genuine agreement and understanding that any decision will take time to be implemented." Their meeting will be the first time they've all been together since Remembrance Day weekend in November. The meetings that have been taking place between the households of the Queen, Charles, William and Harry and Meghan have also involved the U.K. and Canadian governments. The source would not be drawn on the timing of Monday's meeting or whether it was in order to conclude the talks and come to a final agreement. "There is a range of possibilities for the family to review," the source reiterated. But it is clear that the motivation of all, directed by the Queen, 93, is to get this done as quickly as possible. Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, stunned the world with their decision to "step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family" on Wednesday. They revealed their plans to "carve out a progressive new role within this institution," they wrote in a statement on Instagram. "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment," they wrote. "We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages. This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity. We look forward to sharing the full details of this exciting next step in due course, as we continue to collaborate with Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and all relevant parties. Until then, please accept our deepest thanks for your continued support." (People)
Prince Harry to Meet With Queen Elizabeth II to Discuss His and Meghan's Future: Report. Prince Harry has some unfinished business to attend to. The Duke of Sussex is reportedly having a face-to-face meeting with Queen Elizabeth II at her Sandringham Estate on Monday, Jan. 13, according to multiple reports. Additionally, senior members of the British royal family will reportedly attend the meeting as well, including Prince Charles and Prince William. The purpose of the meeting, according to multiple reports, is that Prince Harry will discuss his and Meghan Markle's future after they recently announced their "step back" from royal duties. As of right now, it appears the Duchess of Sussex will not be present during the Monday discussion considering she just returned to Canada with her son, Archie Harrison. A palace source told NBC News she "might call into the meeting" and that other people "the royals want in the room" may join in on the conversation. "There is a range of possibilities the family will review, taking into account the thinking of the Sussexes," the insider told NBC News. Adding that there's a "genuine agreement and understanding that any decisions will take time to be implemented." Of course, Harry's meeting with the Queen of England comes days after he and Meghan made the shocking announcement they would no longer be "senior members" of the royal family. "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," their joint statement read. "We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen." "It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages," the statement continued. "This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity." At the time of the couple's announcement, the Buckingham Palace issued a response over the bombshell news. "Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage," the statement began. "We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through." While it's unclear what the next steps are for the royal couple, it looks like things are slowly falling into place. On Saturday, it was reported that the former Suits actress inked a deal with Disney, which will also help the organization, Elephants Without Borders. However, not much is known about her upcoming project. (Eonline)
Meghan Markle Returns to Canada Without Prince Harry Amidst Royal Family Drama. Meghan Markle is back on Canadian soil. A source tells E! News the former actress has returned to Canada to be with son Archie Harrison after spending just three days in the United Kingdom. She leaves behind an embattled Prince Harry, who is currently attempting to resolve problems that arose from the announcement. It appears Meghan and Harry made the decision to leave Archie in Canada with friend Jessica Mulroney and a nanny as they attended to business, multiple outlets report. The Duchess of Sussex returned to Britain just long enough to attend her and Harry's first royal engagement of the new year and to reveal they will be stepping back from their roles as "senior" royals. At the moment, multiple outlets report Prince Harry will be reuniting with his wife and son in Canada in the coming days, but, as some royal reporters have pointed out, he has another engagement scheduled in England for next Thursday. As Meghan returns to her son in Canada, the rest of the Royal Family is celebrating Kate Middleton's 38th birthday. On Thursday morning, all of the Royal Family social media accounts wished the Duchess of Cambridge a happy birthday. Behind closed doors was another story. The BBC previously reported Queen Elizabeth called an urgent meeting to discuss the Duke and Duchess' surprise announcement. It was at this meeting, with Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry, that Her Majesty directed all individuals work together to find "workable solutions" within days, not weeks. Later that night, members of the Royal Family and the Middleton family were seen arriving at Kensington Palace, where the House of Windsor threw an intimate dinner for Kate. Judging by the many episodes of The Crown, the Royal Family likely won't let the controversy put a damper on their celebrations. Happy Birthday, Kate! (Eonline)
Why Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Were Forced to Prematurely Announce Their Plans to Step Down. A quick turnaround. Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan were forced to announce their plans to step back as senior members of the British royal family sooner than they initially anticipated. A source confirms to Us Weekly that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to share the news via their Instagram account on Wednesday, January 8, after finding out that The Sun caught wind of their plan of action and had been prepping a story about it. However, they were still too late. "It was the paper's front page hours before the official announcement, so Harry and Meghan technically didn't beat them to it," the source notes. The journalist who broke the story, Dan Wootton, tells Us that he first reached out to the couple's public relations team for comment on December 28 -- 11 days before the Sussexes shocked the world with their Instagram post. "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," Harry and Meghan's statement read. "We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment." The prince, 35, and the retired actress, 38, explained that they "plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America," which would allow them to raise their 8-month-old son, Archie, "with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter, including the launch of our new charitable entity." The pair ended their statement by vowing to "continue to collaborate" with Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince William and other members of the royal family. The queen, 93, had no idea the statement was coming though, and said later on Wednesday that "these are complicated issues that will take time to work through." Elizabeth, 93, called an emergency meeting on Thursday, January 9, with Charles, 71, and William, 37, to discuss the shakeup. "[They] have directed their teams to work at pace with governments and the Sussexes' office to find workable solutions, and this is expected to take days, not weeks," a palace source told Us. Harry and Meghan also made a trip to London amid the drama, while Archie stayed with the Suits alum's close friend Jessica Mulroney in Canada. Meghan has since flown back to reunite with her son. (UsMagazine)
Oprah Winfrey Denies Rumors She Advised Meghan and Prince Harry On Their Royal Exit. As the world continues to make sense of #Megxit, plenty of speculation regarding Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's decision to step back from their royal duties are beginning to surface -- starting with Oprah Winfrey's involvement in their unprecedented move. On Thursday, Page Six reported that Oprah, who is a close friend to the couple and attended their 2018 wedding, advised the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on how to "break free" from the royals, noting that the SuperSoul Sunday host encouraged the couple to move to North America and capitalize on their Sussex Royal brand. But, in a statement to NBC on Friday, Oprah insisted that she was not behind it. "Meghan and Harry do not need my help in figuring out what's best for them," she said. "I care about them both and support whatever decisions they make for their family." While Meghan and Harry's future is still to be determined, the couple shared that they're setting out to "carve out a progressive new role within this institution" while "continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen" and maintaining a positive relationship with the royal family. "We do not know how this will play out in the next months, the next few years," a royal expert told E! News. As royal biographer Penny Junor predicted in her 2014 biography Prince Harry: Brother, Soldier, Son, the 35-year-old royal always seemed keen on charting his own course. She wrote, "He could decide to kiss goodbye to the whole thing... He would be relatively in his rights to do so, so long as he paid for his own protection and all the rest of it." In the past, Harry has admitted to having thoughts of leaving the royal family. In a 2017 interview with Newsweek, he said, "I spent many years kicking my heels and I didn't want to grow up. I felt I wanted out but then decided to stay in and work out a role for myself." Marrying Meghan and becoming a father to son Archie Harrison, 8 months, also played a contributing factor to his and Meghan's bold decision. Once they tied the knot, word got out that the newlyweds were considering moving to Africa in attempts to kick-start their philanthropic efforts. Then, they decided to leave Kensington Palace and move into Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. Shortly after, the Duke and Duchess formally parted ways with the Royal Foundation, which he created with brother Prince William. With Meghan and Harry transitioning into their new roles, Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the royals have begun preparing for their official exit. One day after the Duke and Duchess' announcement, Her Majesty summoned the Royal Households for an emergency meeting and "'tasked' them with coming up with a 'workable' future role for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex within 'days not weeks,'" according to The Daily Mail's royal correspondent Rebecca English. It's unclear if the royal family has a game plan set, but as Buckingham Palace said in their statement following the news, "We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through." (Eonline)
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Will Return to Host the 2021 Golden Globes. Our favorite duo is back! The 2020 Golden Globe Awards may have already aired, but it's never too late to start looking for the next set of hosts for next year's telecast. On Saturday, Jan 11., NBC Entertainment Chairman Paul Teledgy announcing during the Television Critics Association Tour in Pasadena, Calif. that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler would be returning to the Golden Globes as co-hosts for the 2021 awards ceremony. While the date of next year's Golden Globes is yet to be announced, we can't help but start counting down the days until these two hit the stage. As fans recall, the two hosted the Golden Globes from 2013-15. "NBC has long been home to two of the funniest people on the planet -- Tina Fey and Amy Poehler -- and we didn't want to wait any longer to share the great news that they'll be hosting the Globes once again," said Teledgy. Following the news of their return to the Globes stage, fans on social media shared their excitement. 30 Rock star, Fey, has won two Golden Globes and six Emmys for writing and acting in the Emmy Award-winning comedy and Saturday Night Live. Parks and Reaction star, Poehler, is also a Golden Globe and Emmy winner and is currently an executive producer of the Emmy-nominated Netflix series Russia Doll. According to reports, the Wine Country actress made the announcement herself during the TCA event this Saturday. (Eonline)
Jennifer Garner's Son Gives Her a Check for Being His "Mama." We're not crying, you're crying... If there's anything we can't get enough of, it's Jennifer Garner's Instagram account and all wholesome and hilarious content she shares with us there. The latest? On Friday, the 13 Going on 30 actress took to her account to share a picture of a check that her son had written for his "Mama" on Christmas Day. "Apparently, birthing and raising someone is valued at $168.42. I guess I should keep my day job [laughing emoji]. #iwouldbehismamaforfree #ohwaitialreadyam," Garner captioned the adorable picture of her son's check. The check, paid to the order of his wonderful mom, might not be enough to cover all the expenses it takes to raise a child but it's the thought that counts, right? This also isn't the first time the actress shares what her kids are up to or what motherhood for her is like. In November, the mother-of-three (Violet, 13, Seraphina, 10 and Samuel, 7) gave a glimpse into her morning routine with her kids. On Instagram, the Alias actress shared a snap of the quick look she pulled together when getting her kids ready for school. "She barely made the bus on time, but at least her mother kept it classy," she wrote, as she rocked a navy blue robe monogrammed with her initials and beige slippers. All in all, we can't get enough off of Garner's relatable posts on the 'Gram! (Eonline)
Selena Gomez Reveals New Tattoo Inspired By Her Kidney Transplant. Selena Gomez is giving fans a "rare" look at some special ink that represents the day a friend helped save her life. The 27-year-old pop singer had revealed in September 2017 that she had undergone a kidney transplant to treat complications from lupus, an autoimmune disease she first disclosed she had in 2015. In late December, she said in an interview with Capital FM radio in the U.K. that she had gotten a tattoo of the date of her surgery. She also said her friend and kidney donor, Francia Raisa, has the same ink. On Friday, Selena posted behind-the-scenes photos of herself from the shoot of her new music video, "Rare," and part of the tattoo is seen on her arm. It shows a six, suggesting her kidney transplant was carried out in the month of June. "Rare" is the title track of her new album, which was also released early on Friday. Selena, who has several tattoos, talked about the record in a Twitter Q&A session with fans. When asked to describe the album in three words, she tweeted, "Honest, empowering and uplifting." Selena said in the fan Q&A Rare's biggest message is "self-love, acceptance and empowerment." The album contains the previously released singles, "Lose You to Love Me" and "Look at Her Now." Many believe they are about her ex-boyfriend Justin Bieber. "I am not a victim...but I don't act in the manner that I need to keep getting down on myself for things that I have done," Selena said about the first single, speaking at her iHeartRadio album release party on Thursday. She said she thought her song "Vulnerable" was the most empowering track on the album. "Vulnerability is strength, it's not something that makes you weak at all," she said. "I love this song and I love how it makes you feel." "I think all I want for this record is for people to make it their own...for people to turn these messages into something great," she told the crowd. "I wanted to be the voice for people who have had the same kind of hurt, or kind of experiences that I have had." (Eonline)
Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino is not willing to dance for Chippendales despite his rock-hard abs and background as a stripper ... Sitch says the male revue can't afford him!!! We got the "Jersey Shore" star and ex-con in New York City, and our photog asked Mike if he's ever going to follow Vinny Guadagnino's lead and join the famous production in Vegas. Easy to see why folks think Situation and Chippendales are a match made in heaven ... the reality star is all about his abs. There's also some history between the two ... Sitch judged a Chippendales competition back in October, but couldn't be coaxed into taking off his shirt. And, there's this ... "Jersey Shore" alums have a history of bringing in huge box office numbers at Chippendales. Vinny was such a smashing success last year, they brought him back for an extra 6 weeks. Situation isn't shutting the door on a potential run at Chippendales ... but he's channeling Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character in "Jerry Maguire" and telling Chippendales to show him the moola. (TMZ)
Larry King and his estranged wife have taken a big step in their ongoing divorce proceedings ... by unloading their mansion in Beverly Hills. We broke the story ... Larry and Shawn Southwick listed their massive pad in October for $16.995 million, in hopes of reaching a divorce settlement quickly and smoothly. So far so good, because TMZ's learned it officially sold today for $15.5 million. The ex-couple bought the 5-bed, Tuscan-style house in 2007 for just under $12 mil, so despite the drop in their initial asking price ... they still netted a nice profit. The property is 11,000 square feet and features a master suite with twin bathrooms, a skylit foyer, a pool, a trophy room ... and comes with a 2-bedroom guest house to boot. Mega-realtor Kurt Rappaport had the listing. As we reported ... Larry filed for divorce from Shawn in August after 22 years of marriage, just months after his medical crisis in April, in which he suffered what doctors described to Shawn as a heart attack. Word is the 2 had marital troubles for years, but sources told us the final straw came while Larry was hospitalized ... and Shawn allegedly asked him to adjust his will and screw his 2 sons out of their inheritance. Shawn's side denies this and maintains she was blindsided by the divorce. However, she said she wasn't going to battle him because she's been told by doctors that Larry -- who's 86 -- is dying. (TMZ)
Christopher Dennis -- a street performer known for portraying Superman on Hollywood Blvd. for more than 25 years -- died from a lack of oxygen after crawling into a clothing donation bin while high on drugs. The Man of Steel impersonator suffocated to death as a result of blunt force trauma to his head and neck ... this according to the L.A. County Coroner's Office. The Coroner's report also cites methamphetamine toxicity as a significant factor in his death. Christopher suffered the fatal injuries after being partially entrapped within a metal box used for donating clothes, according to the Coroner's Office, which ruled his death accidental. As we reported ... Christopher -- who was homeless -- died back in November when his lifeless body was discovered lying headfirst in the donation bin. Investigators believed he was attempting to gather clothes for himself. Christopher entertained folks in Hollywood for over two decades by dressing up as Superman ... he also starred in the documentary "Confessions of a Superhero," and made multiple appearances on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" He was 52. (TMZ)
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