THE OTHER STUFF . . .
Queen Elizabeth II Gives Prince William a New Royal Position. Prince William just earned a new royal position. On Saturday, it was announced that Queen Elizabeth II appointed her grandson, the Duke of Cambridge, another title: the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. So, what exactly does that mean for the father of three? According to Royal U.K. website, "The Lord High Commissioner's role is to maintain the relationship between the State and the Church, and a long-standing tradition of appointing a Lord High Commissioner originated in the latter part of the 16th Century." A press release shared with E! News also stated that Prince William will "attend the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on behalf of the Sovereign. He makes the opening and closing addresses to the Assembly, and carries out a number of official functions as the Lord High Commissioner." The news of the royal member's title comes only a week after Queen Elizabeth II announced that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would lose their HRH titles, amid their exit. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives," Buckingham Palace said in a statement last week about the couple. "As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments. They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties." The statement continued, "The Queen had said last week in a statement that Meghan and Harry had "made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives." Additionally, Buckingham Palace announced Harry and Meghan would lose their HRH titles. "With The Queen's blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations," the statement read. "While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty. The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home." Closing the lengthy message, it read: "I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family," the Queen said. "It is my whole family's hope that today's agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life." Earlier this week, Harry reunited with his wife and son, Archie Harrison, in Canada. In photographs taken of Harry, he appeared to be all smiles as he walked off the plane. "He kept to himself and nobody noticed him. He was the first to get off the plane behind his bodyguard," a source shared with E! News. "He had a car waiting for him on the tarmac at Victoria Airport and was taken straight from the door of the plane to the car. He was driven to his home in Victoria where Meghan was waiting." It's clear things are quickly changing with the royal family, but it looks like things are moving smoothly. (Eonline)
Meghan Markle dropped out of post-Megxit event 'at the last minute'. Meghan Markle was supposed to stand beside husband Prince Harry when he publicly defended their Megxit -- but left him in the lurch at the last minute, according to a report Sunday. The Duchess of Sussex, 38, was expected to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Harry, 35, at the Sentebale charity event in London last Sunday as he said they had "no other option" but to leave royal duties, according to the Mail on Sunday newspaper. Instead, she "left him at the last minute to face the world's cameras alone," sources told the UK paper's Talk of the Town column. "It was always billed as a Meghan and Harry event behind the scenes with hopes the Duchess might speak or play a part in the speech," a source told the paper. "All of a sudden we were told Meghan wasn't going to be making an appearance after all, let alone making the speech." The excitement of a "double Sussex" appearance at such a historic moment in royal history left the event oversold, with a fountain removed from the venue to make room for more tables, the paper said. Meghan instead stayed in Canada with baby Archie. It comes amid another report in the same paper claiming that Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, was a "silent but steely" influence behind Megxit. "She is like the Queen she never complains and never explains," a former confidante of 63-year-old Doria told the paper, saying that "Harry, in particular, turns to her for advice." "For Harry, her discretion and silence mean the world," the source told the Mail on Sunday. "When Meghan and Harry announced they were walking away from their jobs as Royals to be financially independent, it immediately smacked of Doria. Being financially independent has always been important to her." (PageSix)
Diddy is helping shine a light on a group of children battling cancer ... and now the kids are getting brand new iPads. Here's the deal ... former celebrity weed dealer Milk Tyson launched a viral campaign to get Diddy to join their crusade to help kids fighting cancer, and get them a segment on the 'Ellen Degeneres Show.' The children at Miami-based nonprofit Fighting All Monsters appeared in a viral video with Snoop Dogg, dancing to Diddy's hit song "Bad Boys For Life" and asking him to vibe with them. Diddy caught wind of the initiative, and blasted the video out Thursday to his nearly 16 million Instagram followers, and now the group says tons of folks want to get involved. Since Diddy's re-post, we're told someone donated 100 iPads -- worth $21,000 -- to the children in the video ... and an exec at Apple asked the nonprofit about ways to aid the kids. What's more, we're told FAM -- which supports pediatric cancer patients -- has seen an influx in folks asking to volunteer, with more than 300 people blowing up their inbox within an hour of Diddy's post. As you know, next week's Super Bowl is being played in Miami, and we're told Diddy's post inspired someone to donate 2 tickets to the big game!!! Yes, 2 lucky kids will get to go!!! Diddy's getting even more involved -- we're told his team reached out to FAM and they're planning something BIG. (TMZ)
Jennifer Aniston Surprising Friends Fans at Central Perk Will Give You All the Feels. Should we get some coffee? On Friday, Jennifer Aniston returned to her old stomping grounds on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and gave Friends fans the surprise of their lives. Filling in as guest host for Ellen DeGeneres, the SAG Award winner visited the show's Central Perk coffee house set on the Warner Brothers Studio Lot in Los Angeles, which is where the beloved '90s sitcom filmed for its 10-year run. Crouching down behind the iconic orange couch, Jennifer waited as unsuspecting fans had their picture taken. When the moment was right, she popped out and photo-bombed their souvenir snapshot. Chiming in as they declared their favorite Friends character, The Morning Show star jokingly scolded fans that didn't name her character Rachel Green. She even came equipped with some props. In one photo, Jennifer channeled Rachel in her early waitress days and poured the stunned fans a cup of coffee for the pic. Feeling at home on the set, Jen had the best response to a fan who asked if the show really filmed on the lot. "I live here, so... " As if their day couldn't get any better, the fans that met Jen during the segment were invited to attend the show. After airing the clip, Jennifer waved to the excited audience members and said, "Now that you guys are here, you get to watch your third favorite Friend." Jen's visit to the set wasn't the only nostalgia Friends fans got during her guest hosting gig. While interviewing her friend Selena Gomez, the "Look At Her Now" singer couldn't help but gush over Jen and the show. Addressing the fans that didn't declare Rachel as their favorite, Selena said, "First off, are you guys kidding me? Rachel was my life." "But you know what, though?" she asked Jen. "You know what makes me so happy? Is that I would watch on channel 33 at 10:30 every night on Thursday with my mom and I cried when the whole season was over." She continued, "But what made me so happy is that now, like, people my age and everyone else is just obsessed and it just makes me so happy, like, for you and for the show because it's iconic." After professing her love for Jen and Friends, Selena dished about the first time she actually met the Horrible Bosses star. "Nobody knew who I was and you were in the bathroom wearing a black dress," she recalled. "I think we were at, like, Vanity Fair something event and I was there with my mom and I walked into the bathroom. And I saw you and you were, like, so nice... my heart, like, stopped and I freaked out and I ran to my mom and I was like, 'Oh, my god. I just saw Jennifer Aniston.'" Switching gears, the Dumplin star dished about another famous pal of hers: Ellen. And, she even shared some dirt on the Greatest Night of Giveaways host. "I'm telling you some deep dark secrets, okay, guys?" she began. "Like, for example, people think that she buys and sells houses because she loves real estate. No, it's not true. It's because she's on the run. From the law. You have no idea." After revealing Ellen's real moniker and that she mercilessly throws out lucky pennies, Jen wrapped things up with a truly shocking bombshell: "Oh, and one more. She once voiced an animated adult film called Grinding Nemo. It's hard to find, but you know how to find it... " (Eonline)
Kim Kardashian West is finally walking shoulder to shoulder with one of her idols -- in what might be the best pairing since Sonny & Cher ... and Kim's got the role of Sonny. Yes, Kim and CHER were spotted strolling the streets of DTLA Thursday decked out in all black!!! The pair also had a photo and video crew in tail, and at one point, Kim mounted a motorcycle to pose for some pics. It's unclear exactly what the duo is collaborating on, but Kim has made no secret of the fact that Cher is someone she's always looked up to for both fashion and personal motivation. You'll remember back in 2017, Kim dressed as Cher for Halloween and she's paid homage to her looks over the years. Kim also had one of the best seats in the house during Cher's Las Vegas residency. The two women are also both Armenian ... a fact both Kim and Cher are extremely proud of. As for Cher, she's got a busy 2020 ahead ... she'll be back in Vegas next month before hitting the road and making stops on her tour across the United States. Keep your eyes peeled for this collab to pop up soon. (TMZ)
Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott are planning an epic birthday bash for their little Stormi ... and if her first bday is any indication, this party's gonna be outta this world!!! Sources close to Kylie and Travis tell TMZ ... they are getting back to their co-parenting ways to throw a joint party for Stormi's 2nd, renting out a studio space for friends and family and running up the tab to a cool six figures. Stormi's already gotten a special trip to Disney World to kick off the birthday festivities -- Feb. 1 marks her second trip around the sun -- but the Mouse House is only the tip of the bday iceberg. You'll recall ... Stormi's first birthday bash was nothing short of spectacular. Kylie rented out the entire backlot of Universal Studios for a "Stormiworld" theme, complete with carnival rides, a butterfly rainbow forest and tons of food and games. "Stormiworld" coincided with Travis' Astroworld tour ... and while this year's theme is still unclear, we're told there's a good chance Stormi's love for "Trolls" will serve as inspiration. Our sources say Stormi had one of the "Trolls" visit her for Christmas ... so the Dreamworks movie characters could be coming back for her bday. It pays to have a billionaire for a mother. (TMZ)
Move over, Mr. Sheffield! Fran Drescher says she's happy being single because she has a casual sex partner on speed dial. "You know I'm kind of dating myself and it's going quite well. I'm not dating," she told Page Six at the NBCUniversal New York Press Junket on Thursday. "I have my gay ex-husband who I love and he fulfills a lot of needs. I have someone on the side who is a friend with benefits." The former "The Nanny" star says that due to their heavy travel schedule, they see each other about twice a month and it's "more than enough." "It's delightful and delicious but I've got a big life," she said. The best part about their dynamic is she feels she can easily voice her sexual desires. "[We're] very comfortable with each other and we have our routine," she told us. "It's always the same experience. We really don't go out, we don't go to restaurants, we don't date. What we do, we do great." And the "Indebted" actress pulls out all the stops on their nights together. "He comes over, we hang out and we do the hot tub and I make us some food and we lay in bed and maybe we'll watch tennis together, whatever it is or a movie," she said. "We talk, we have good conversations." She added with a laugh, "Of course we have sex and it's delightful and it keeps me going." Drescher did not reveal who the lucky guy is. She was previously married to Peter Marc Jacobson for 21 years, but he came out as gay when they broke things off in 1999 and they have remained close ever since. She was also married to Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai from 2014 to 2016. (Page Six)
Michelle Figueroa was excited to disconnect during her recent vacation in Puerto Rico. "I was like, 'I'm turning off my phone. I'm going to be present in the moment,'" she tells PEOPLE. But when the CNN en Espanol journalist powered back up, she found an unusual amount of notifications. "I can't even tell you who the message was from that I read, but it said, 'Congrats on the prince following you!' And I was like, 'What prince?'" she says. While Figueroa was taking a break from social media, her Good News Movement Instagram page became the sole account that Markle and Prince Harry followed on the social media platform. Keeping with their monthly tradition of changing up their follow list to feature worthy causes and organizations, the couple put their mark on Figueroa's page. "Happy New Year!" the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's post began. "For 2020 we will be continuing our tradition of highlighting accounts that inspire, and that remind us of all the good that is happening in the world. However, this time we will be focusing on just one account each month. For January, we would like to shine a spotlight on @goodnews_movement. This journalist run-page covers and celebrates acts of kindness and good news in our global community. We hope it brings you joy!" Figueroa says she got "no heads up at all" that Good News Movement would be featured, and she hasn't heard from Meghan, Harry or their staff. "I just sent them a note, a direct message, in appreciation," she explains. "But I haven't heard back and I figured, you know, just let it be. They're plenty busy." Although Figueroa has no idea how Meghan, 38, and Harry, 35, heard of her page, she does count celebrities such as Kristen Bell, Jennifer Garner and Katie Couric among her followers. And while those stars certainly helped expand her reach, it wasn't until she got the royal stamp of approval that her followers list climbed from around 185,000 to nearly 325,000. "I'm hoping that they find in my platform something worthwhile and that people will enjoy," she says. Good News Movement started last year when Figueroa, who has worked as a network journalist for over a decade, was home sick due to a combination of the flu and an ear infection. So, she took a "leap of faith" and started the page, which shares uplifting stories in both English and Spanish. "I always gravitated towards the stories that show the good in the world," she shares. "I thought it was important to reach people where they are, so if people are on their phones four hours a day, why not meet them where they are?" She adds that social media provides a limitless space for good stories that don't make a newscast or the newspaper, turning what can often be seen as a negative medium into a vehicle for positive social impact. "There's so many people that need help, and there's so many people that want to help," she says. "I found this platform as a way to connect those people and carry out acts of kindness. It's really neat to use this platform for the positive." And the page is a team effort. "The word 'movement' is in the name because a lot of the followers play an active role. They send me their stories," she explains. "Sometimes they film it themselves, sometimes they know about a neighbor or someone in the community they'd like to highlight. Every day I receive a lot of messages either with stories or people saying how much they appreciate positivity in the world with so much bad news." While Meghan and Harry start the next chapter in the life after stepping down from their roles as senior members of the royal family, Figueroa sees them as "genuinely kind people." "They're people who are always looking for positive impact," she says. "Hopefully they'll be able to continue championing the causes that they believe in and that they find happiness in." (People)
Troubled NFL star Aldon Smith isn't giving up his dream of getting back on the football field ... 'cause he's training like crazy in hopes of making a return to the league. 30-year-old Smith hasn't played a down in the NFL since 2015 due to a variety of issues including substance abuse, a hit-and-run and a domestic violence conviction. Before the off-the-field issues, Smith was one of the most dominant players in the league -- he was a 1st Team All-Pro in 2012 when he recorded 19.5 sacks ... setting the San Francisco 49ers single-season franchise record. Smith has spent time in jail and rehab over the years -- but now we're told he's laser-focused on getting his life and career back on track ... which is how he ended up at Jay Glazer's Unbreakable gym in West Hollywood the other day. In fact, model Julia Rose posted a video with Smith goofing around during a boxing workout -- and he looks to be in great spirits. The issue for Smith moving forward ... he hasn't been reinstated by the NFL yet and you have to assume he'll be suspended for all of the legal issues he's racked up over the years. But, even if he doesn't make it all the way back to the NFL, hopefully the gym life can give him the structure and support he needs to stay sober and out of trouble in the future. (TMZ)
Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez's billion-dollar rematch ain't happening -- not now, not ever -- so says the Mexican superstars' promoter, Oscar De La Hoya. Remember, the boxing legends fought back in 2013 ... and Canelo -- who was only 22 years old at the time -- was easily handled by Floyd, losing by majority decision. The two have been talking trash to each other publicly ever since -- Canelo's mocked Floyd for fighting Conor McGregor. Floyd went after Canelo for his positive PED test in 2018. For a second, it started to feel like they were seriously building toward a rematch. In fact, just last year De La Hoya told us the rematch would be the biggest event in boxing history -- easily a $1.5 BILLION event. But, things have changed and now, Oscar seems to be slamming the door on getting the superstars back in the same ring. "I think the weight is just too much now," Oscar tells us ... "Canelo can't make 154. He fought at 175. It's impossible." Oscar is pointing out that Alvarez has gone up in weight since the Mayweather fight -- he weighed in at 152 pounds when he fought Floyd. But, Canelo bulked up to 175 to take on Sergey Kovalev in November and he doesn't plan on cutting down any time soon. Bottom line ... Canelo vs. Floyd II ain't happening "unless Floyd gets to 168." Don't hold your breath. (TMZ)
CM Punk is finally responding to Logan Paul's big MMA call out ... and bad news -- it's a big, fat THUMBS DOWN! Of course, Paul is looking to continue his combat sports career after that big boxing match with KSI back in November -- and the two names he's thrown out are Antonio Brown and CM Punk. With AB's troubling legal issues, that fight seems like a long shot now ... so what about Punk? Remember, 41-year-old Punk has two UFC fights under his belt -- and even though he lost 'em both, we're told he's a maniac in the gym ... and a lot of people would like to see him get another shot. Paul is one of the people ... telling TMZ Sports he'd LOVE to throw down with the WWE legend and bragging, "I think I would destroy CM Punk if I'm being honest." So, when we saw CM out in L.A. the other night -- we had to ask if he had any interest. "No." Bummer. So, is it about the paycheck? Because our photog thinks there's "big money" in a Punk vs. Paul card. "My definition of big money and everybody else's definition of big money is completely different," Punk explained. Instead, Punk says he's laser-focused on his new gig with FOX and the FS1 show "WWE Backstage" ... and even gave us a prediction on the Royal Rumble. (TMZ)
For viewers who criticized "The Biggest Loser" as a product of the unhealthy marriage of reality TV and at-all-costs weight loss, Bob Harper hears you. "We're really focusing on the after-care with the reboot," the 54-year-old personal trainer told Page Six at the NBCUniversal New York Press Junket on Thursday. "Not only with a gym membership but a nutritionist and a support group." The heavily tattooed Harper returned to the show after a heart attack nearly three years ago, and he's stressing how both he and the show have mellowed out. "We want to give you all the tools you need because what I've learned in this business is that, no matter how you lose weight, fast or slow, 80 percent of people gain their weight back. Those are the cold hard facts. So it's about accountability, it's about changing your life." Harper hasn't chilled out that much, though -- he still emphasizes a "no days off" approach to health. "Keeping [weight] off is so difficult because you've got to keep doing it, every single day ... I knew I had to be here today. I had to get up really early and do my workout before [I came here] because I knew I wasn't going to be able to. I didn't want to, I wanted to lie in bed with my dogs," he said. Harper's personal life has evolved along with his outlook. He got engaged to longtime boyfriend Anton Gutierrez in June 2019, and says while shooting the newest season of "Biggest Loser" in Santa Fe has been distracting him from his nuptials -- the pair haven't set a date yet -- he wants to keep things low-key. "You know what sounds great? Eloping -- just like eloping and having a party. I'm not going to walk down some aisle, you know. I'm not going to do that," he told us. Also changing is Harper's diet, which has moved from an Atkins-adjacent high-fat, high-protein approach to "more plant-based, low-fat" following his health scare. "I haven't cut out meat completely, but I don't have as much, especially red meat. I really miss it. I will say whenever my fiance is eating a burger, I really enjoy kissing him even more." And while Harper doesn't have an explicit statement on former "Biggest Loser" trainer Jillian Michaels' controversial comments on Lizzo, his diplomatic comment does reflect a progression from the "Biggest Loser" of old: "Her weight is none of my business unless she hires me." (Page Six)
Ronnie Ortiz-Magro and Jen Harley are officially moving on ... when it comes to their Vegas home anyway, 'cause TMZ's learned they've listed it for sale. Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... the 'Jersey Shore' star and Jen put their home on the market 3 months ago for a cool $869,900 and we're told the reasoning is surprisingly quite simple -- Ron's moving to L.A. and Jen's got no use for it and is game for selling it. We're told Ronnie plunked down all the cash for the crib back in October 2017, but they'll split the profits, if any. They bought it for $725k. Our sources also say the sale has nothing to do with their drama-filled relationship ... it's just that, logistically, they don't need it. A source close to Ronnie tells us he footed all the bills for the home as well ... and Jen also had a place of her own in the city. The house itself is a marvel ... 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and nearly 3,000 square feet of living space. It's nestled inside a gated community ... so, privacy. It also features a full panoramic view of the strip, city and mountains. There's also a relaxing spa. Ronnie and Jen, however, did anything but relax in that house -- the site of some of their most volatile fights in their frequently hostile relationship. You'll recall they were on their way home when they got into a brutal fight in June 2018 ... resulting in Jen's bust for domestic battery after she allegedly dragged Ronnie with their car. Jen also claimed Ronnie was the one who ransacked the crib on New Year's Eve 2018 after getting into a huge fight. TMZ also obtained footage of Ronnie going to town on a Ring security camera back in December. On that particular night, Ron had shown up and threw an object through a window when Jen refused to let him inside. Most recently, Jen showed up unannounced to the crib and allegedly attacked Ron with an eyeliner. No word if new buyers are seeking a drama discount. For any prospective new owners -- things can ONLY get better! (TMZ)
Rick Fox is backing his former teammate Kobe Bryant on WNBA stars playing in the NBA ... tellin' TMZ Sports women can DEFINITELY ball out in the men's league!!! "Skills are skills," Fox says. "I mean, you try some of these WNBA ladies and they'll give you the business, fam!" The Black Mamba said earlier this week there are some WNBA players who can compete with the guys in the Association ... specifically naming Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi and Elena Delle Donne. When we got Fox leaving Wally's in L.A. on Wednesday ... he told us he couldn't agree more, saying, "Skills have nothing to do with your sex or your race." In fact, Fox says he's seen some pro women bust NBA players on the court before with his own two eyes!!! "I can think of a couple women that have held their own in pick-up games and competed well," Fox tells us. "So, it's not a new thing." As for how some of the women are feeling about a possible jump to the men's league ... we got Delle Donne at Reagan Airport on Thursday -- and she told us she's flattered by the comments, but she's got no plans to try out for the NBA just yet. (TMZ)
Jade Roper Tolbert Stripped of $1 Million DraftKings Prize After Cheating Allegations. Bachelor in Paradise alum Jade Roper Tolbert, and her husband and former co-star Tanner Tolbert, will not get to keep the $1 million from DraftKings after all. The sports betting company has stripped the reality star, Instagram influencer, podcaster and mother of two of the top fantasy sports prize that she won earlier this month for coming in first place during its Millionaire Maker contest during the wild card weekend of the NFL playoffs, USA Today reported on Saturday. Jade and Tanner have not commented and had previously attributed her win to "pure luck." DraftKings had begun investigating her win after online users accused the couple of collusion, complaining that the two submitted 150 picks each with no overlap in their lineups, which doubled their chance of winning. DraftKings' rules state each contestant is allowed to enter up to 150 potential lineups, and prohibit players from having more than one account or "colluding with any other individual(s) or engaging in any type of syndicate play." The company has not released the results of its investigation into Jade's win. It said in a statement on Twitter on Saturday, "DraftKings has decided to update the standings for several contests. All customers affected by the updated standings will be notified directly." The former runner up in the wild card weekend contest, user spclk36, is now listed as the $1 million winner in the wild card weekend contest, USA Today reported. The person had hired prominent attorney Alan Milstein after the controversy erupted, suggesting they planned to contest the results after Jade was declared the top winner. "Thrilled to announce my client has been declared the winner of the DraftKings Millionaire Maker Contest," Milstein tweeted. "I have had my share of interesting cases but never conceived this would be one of them." At $25 per entry, Jade and Tanner spent a combined $7,500 to enter this particular contest. They each entered the maximum number of entries every week of the NFL season, according to ESPN, which suggests they had spent a total of $135,000 on DraftKings entries since the season began until the wild card weekend. After they were accused of cheating, Jade and Tanner had said in a statement, "We respect that Draft Kings feels they must do their due diligence in regard to Jade winning their $1million dollar prize for the fantasy contest for the NFL's wild-card round this weekend. Though we must ponder, would the questions, accusations and curiosity about this win be the same if the winner had been male and someone who wasn't already in the public eye?" "It is incredibly important for us to establish that Jade's win is nothing more than pure luck and we are confident that Draft Kings will determine the same," they added. (Eonline)
Andy Dick was inconsolable, and understandably so, after a man walked into his art studio and shot himself in the head. The tragic incident went down Monday around midnight inside Andy's downtown L.A. art gallery ... which opened late last year. Witnesses say the man had been waving a gun around before heading inside, where Andy and someone else was working. Once inside, the man fired the shot. Witnesses say it appeared to be an accident. It's unclear if Andy witnessed the shooting, but he was visibly shaken as LAPD and paramedics responded to the scene. The victim was transported to a hospital, and according to one source, he's currently on life support. The video shows a traumatized Andy explaining to police what he'd seen. We've reached out to Andy, but so far no word back. (TMZ)
Meghan Markle dropped out of post-Megxit event 'at the last minute'. Meghan Markle was supposed to stand beside husband Prince Harry when he publicly defended their Megxit -- but left him in the lurch at the last minute, according to a report Sunday. The Duchess of Sussex, 38, was expected to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Harry, 35, at the Sentebale charity event in London last Sunday as he said they had "no other option" but to leave royal duties, according to the Mail on Sunday newspaper. Instead, she "left him at the last minute to face the world's cameras alone," sources told the UK paper's Talk of the Town column. "It was always billed as a Meghan and Harry event behind the scenes with hopes the Duchess might speak or play a part in the speech," a source told the paper. "All of a sudden we were told Meghan wasn't going to be making an appearance after all, let alone making the speech." The excitement of a "double Sussex" appearance at such a historic moment in royal history left the event oversold, with a fountain removed from the venue to make room for more tables, the paper said. Meghan instead stayed in Canada with baby Archie. It comes amid another report in the same paper claiming that Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, was a "silent but steely" influence behind Megxit. "She is like the Queen she never complains and never explains," a former confidante of 63-year-old Doria told the paper, saying that "Harry, in particular, turns to her for advice." "For Harry, her discretion and silence mean the world," the source told the Mail on Sunday. "When Meghan and Harry announced they were walking away from their jobs as Royals to be financially independent, it immediately smacked of Doria. Being financially independent has always been important to her." (PageSix)
Diddy is helping shine a light on a group of children battling cancer ... and now the kids are getting brand new iPads. Here's the deal ... former celebrity weed dealer Milk Tyson launched a viral campaign to get Diddy to join their crusade to help kids fighting cancer, and get them a segment on the 'Ellen Degeneres Show.' The children at Miami-based nonprofit Fighting All Monsters appeared in a viral video with Snoop Dogg, dancing to Diddy's hit song "Bad Boys For Life" and asking him to vibe with them. Diddy caught wind of the initiative, and blasted the video out Thursday to his nearly 16 million Instagram followers, and now the group says tons of folks want to get involved. Since Diddy's re-post, we're told someone donated 100 iPads -- worth $21,000 -- to the children in the video ... and an exec at Apple asked the nonprofit about ways to aid the kids. What's more, we're told FAM -- which supports pediatric cancer patients -- has seen an influx in folks asking to volunteer, with more than 300 people blowing up their inbox within an hour of Diddy's post. As you know, next week's Super Bowl is being played in Miami, and we're told Diddy's post inspired someone to donate 2 tickets to the big game!!! Yes, 2 lucky kids will get to go!!! Diddy's getting even more involved -- we're told his team reached out to FAM and they're planning something BIG. (TMZ)
Jennifer Aniston Surprising Friends Fans at Central Perk Will Give You All the Feels. Should we get some coffee? On Friday, Jennifer Aniston returned to her old stomping grounds on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and gave Friends fans the surprise of their lives. Filling in as guest host for Ellen DeGeneres, the SAG Award winner visited the show's Central Perk coffee house set on the Warner Brothers Studio Lot in Los Angeles, which is where the beloved '90s sitcom filmed for its 10-year run. Crouching down behind the iconic orange couch, Jennifer waited as unsuspecting fans had their picture taken. When the moment was right, she popped out and photo-bombed their souvenir snapshot. Chiming in as they declared their favorite Friends character, The Morning Show star jokingly scolded fans that didn't name her character Rachel Green. She even came equipped with some props. In one photo, Jennifer channeled Rachel in her early waitress days and poured the stunned fans a cup of coffee for the pic. Feeling at home on the set, Jen had the best response to a fan who asked if the show really filmed on the lot. "I live here, so... " As if their day couldn't get any better, the fans that met Jen during the segment were invited to attend the show. After airing the clip, Jennifer waved to the excited audience members and said, "Now that you guys are here, you get to watch your third favorite Friend." Jen's visit to the set wasn't the only nostalgia Friends fans got during her guest hosting gig. While interviewing her friend Selena Gomez, the "Look At Her Now" singer couldn't help but gush over Jen and the show. Addressing the fans that didn't declare Rachel as their favorite, Selena said, "First off, are you guys kidding me? Rachel was my life." "But you know what, though?" she asked Jen. "You know what makes me so happy? Is that I would watch on channel 33 at 10:30 every night on Thursday with my mom and I cried when the whole season was over." She continued, "But what made me so happy is that now, like, people my age and everyone else is just obsessed and it just makes me so happy, like, for you and for the show because it's iconic." After professing her love for Jen and Friends, Selena dished about the first time she actually met the Horrible Bosses star. "Nobody knew who I was and you were in the bathroom wearing a black dress," she recalled. "I think we were at, like, Vanity Fair something event and I was there with my mom and I walked into the bathroom. And I saw you and you were, like, so nice... my heart, like, stopped and I freaked out and I ran to my mom and I was like, 'Oh, my god. I just saw Jennifer Aniston.'" Switching gears, the Dumplin star dished about another famous pal of hers: Ellen. And, she even shared some dirt on the Greatest Night of Giveaways host. "I'm telling you some deep dark secrets, okay, guys?" she began. "Like, for example, people think that she buys and sells houses because she loves real estate. No, it's not true. It's because she's on the run. From the law. You have no idea." After revealing Ellen's real moniker and that she mercilessly throws out lucky pennies, Jen wrapped things up with a truly shocking bombshell: "Oh, and one more. She once voiced an animated adult film called Grinding Nemo. It's hard to find, but you know how to find it... " (Eonline)
Kim Kardashian West is finally walking shoulder to shoulder with one of her idols -- in what might be the best pairing since Sonny & Cher ... and Kim's got the role of Sonny. Yes, Kim and CHER were spotted strolling the streets of DTLA Thursday decked out in all black!!! The pair also had a photo and video crew in tail, and at one point, Kim mounted a motorcycle to pose for some pics. It's unclear exactly what the duo is collaborating on, but Kim has made no secret of the fact that Cher is someone she's always looked up to for both fashion and personal motivation. You'll remember back in 2017, Kim dressed as Cher for Halloween and she's paid homage to her looks over the years. Kim also had one of the best seats in the house during Cher's Las Vegas residency. The two women are also both Armenian ... a fact both Kim and Cher are extremely proud of. As for Cher, she's got a busy 2020 ahead ... she'll be back in Vegas next month before hitting the road and making stops on her tour across the United States. Keep your eyes peeled for this collab to pop up soon. (TMZ)
Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott are planning an epic birthday bash for their little Stormi ... and if her first bday is any indication, this party's gonna be outta this world!!! Sources close to Kylie and Travis tell TMZ ... they are getting back to their co-parenting ways to throw a joint party for Stormi's 2nd, renting out a studio space for friends and family and running up the tab to a cool six figures. Stormi's already gotten a special trip to Disney World to kick off the birthday festivities -- Feb. 1 marks her second trip around the sun -- but the Mouse House is only the tip of the bday iceberg. You'll recall ... Stormi's first birthday bash was nothing short of spectacular. Kylie rented out the entire backlot of Universal Studios for a "Stormiworld" theme, complete with carnival rides, a butterfly rainbow forest and tons of food and games. "Stormiworld" coincided with Travis' Astroworld tour ... and while this year's theme is still unclear, we're told there's a good chance Stormi's love for "Trolls" will serve as inspiration. Our sources say Stormi had one of the "Trolls" visit her for Christmas ... so the Dreamworks movie characters could be coming back for her bday. It pays to have a billionaire for a mother. (TMZ)
Move over, Mr. Sheffield! Fran Drescher says she's happy being single because she has a casual sex partner on speed dial. "You know I'm kind of dating myself and it's going quite well. I'm not dating," she told Page Six at the NBCUniversal New York Press Junket on Thursday. "I have my gay ex-husband who I love and he fulfills a lot of needs. I have someone on the side who is a friend with benefits." The former "The Nanny" star says that due to their heavy travel schedule, they see each other about twice a month and it's "more than enough." "It's delightful and delicious but I've got a big life," she said. The best part about their dynamic is she feels she can easily voice her sexual desires. "[We're] very comfortable with each other and we have our routine," she told us. "It's always the same experience. We really don't go out, we don't go to restaurants, we don't date. What we do, we do great." And the "Indebted" actress pulls out all the stops on their nights together. "He comes over, we hang out and we do the hot tub and I make us some food and we lay in bed and maybe we'll watch tennis together, whatever it is or a movie," she said. "We talk, we have good conversations." She added with a laugh, "Of course we have sex and it's delightful and it keeps me going." Drescher did not reveal who the lucky guy is. She was previously married to Peter Marc Jacobson for 21 years, but he came out as gay when they broke things off in 1999 and they have remained close ever since. She was also married to Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai from 2014 to 2016. (Page Six)
Michelle Figueroa was excited to disconnect during her recent vacation in Puerto Rico. "I was like, 'I'm turning off my phone. I'm going to be present in the moment,'" she tells PEOPLE. But when the CNN en Espanol journalist powered back up, she found an unusual amount of notifications. "I can't even tell you who the message was from that I read, but it said, 'Congrats on the prince following you!' And I was like, 'What prince?'" she says. While Figueroa was taking a break from social media, her Good News Movement Instagram page became the sole account that Markle and Prince Harry followed on the social media platform. Keeping with their monthly tradition of changing up their follow list to feature worthy causes and organizations, the couple put their mark on Figueroa's page. "Happy New Year!" the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's post began. "For 2020 we will be continuing our tradition of highlighting accounts that inspire, and that remind us of all the good that is happening in the world. However, this time we will be focusing on just one account each month. For January, we would like to shine a spotlight on @goodnews_movement. This journalist run-page covers and celebrates acts of kindness and good news in our global community. We hope it brings you joy!" Figueroa says she got "no heads up at all" that Good News Movement would be featured, and she hasn't heard from Meghan, Harry or their staff. "I just sent them a note, a direct message, in appreciation," she explains. "But I haven't heard back and I figured, you know, just let it be. They're plenty busy." Although Figueroa has no idea how Meghan, 38, and Harry, 35, heard of her page, she does count celebrities such as Kristen Bell, Jennifer Garner and Katie Couric among her followers. And while those stars certainly helped expand her reach, it wasn't until she got the royal stamp of approval that her followers list climbed from around 185,000 to nearly 325,000. "I'm hoping that they find in my platform something worthwhile and that people will enjoy," she says. Good News Movement started last year when Figueroa, who has worked as a network journalist for over a decade, was home sick due to a combination of the flu and an ear infection. So, she took a "leap of faith" and started the page, which shares uplifting stories in both English and Spanish. "I always gravitated towards the stories that show the good in the world," she shares. "I thought it was important to reach people where they are, so if people are on their phones four hours a day, why not meet them where they are?" She adds that social media provides a limitless space for good stories that don't make a newscast or the newspaper, turning what can often be seen as a negative medium into a vehicle for positive social impact. "There's so many people that need help, and there's so many people that want to help," she says. "I found this platform as a way to connect those people and carry out acts of kindness. It's really neat to use this platform for the positive." And the page is a team effort. "The word 'movement' is in the name because a lot of the followers play an active role. They send me their stories," she explains. "Sometimes they film it themselves, sometimes they know about a neighbor or someone in the community they'd like to highlight. Every day I receive a lot of messages either with stories or people saying how much they appreciate positivity in the world with so much bad news." While Meghan and Harry start the next chapter in the life after stepping down from their roles as senior members of the royal family, Figueroa sees them as "genuinely kind people." "They're people who are always looking for positive impact," she says. "Hopefully they'll be able to continue championing the causes that they believe in and that they find happiness in." (People)
Troubled NFL star Aldon Smith isn't giving up his dream of getting back on the football field ... 'cause he's training like crazy in hopes of making a return to the league. 30-year-old Smith hasn't played a down in the NFL since 2015 due to a variety of issues including substance abuse, a hit-and-run and a domestic violence conviction. Before the off-the-field issues, Smith was one of the most dominant players in the league -- he was a 1st Team All-Pro in 2012 when he recorded 19.5 sacks ... setting the San Francisco 49ers single-season franchise record. Smith has spent time in jail and rehab over the years -- but now we're told he's laser-focused on getting his life and career back on track ... which is how he ended up at Jay Glazer's Unbreakable gym in West Hollywood the other day. In fact, model Julia Rose posted a video with Smith goofing around during a boxing workout -- and he looks to be in great spirits. The issue for Smith moving forward ... he hasn't been reinstated by the NFL yet and you have to assume he'll be suspended for all of the legal issues he's racked up over the years. But, even if he doesn't make it all the way back to the NFL, hopefully the gym life can give him the structure and support he needs to stay sober and out of trouble in the future. (TMZ)
Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez's billion-dollar rematch ain't happening -- not now, not ever -- so says the Mexican superstars' promoter, Oscar De La Hoya. Remember, the boxing legends fought back in 2013 ... and Canelo -- who was only 22 years old at the time -- was easily handled by Floyd, losing by majority decision. The two have been talking trash to each other publicly ever since -- Canelo's mocked Floyd for fighting Conor McGregor. Floyd went after Canelo for his positive PED test in 2018. For a second, it started to feel like they were seriously building toward a rematch. In fact, just last year De La Hoya told us the rematch would be the biggest event in boxing history -- easily a $1.5 BILLION event. But, things have changed and now, Oscar seems to be slamming the door on getting the superstars back in the same ring. "I think the weight is just too much now," Oscar tells us ... "Canelo can't make 154. He fought at 175. It's impossible." Oscar is pointing out that Alvarez has gone up in weight since the Mayweather fight -- he weighed in at 152 pounds when he fought Floyd. But, Canelo bulked up to 175 to take on Sergey Kovalev in November and he doesn't plan on cutting down any time soon. Bottom line ... Canelo vs. Floyd II ain't happening "unless Floyd gets to 168." Don't hold your breath. (TMZ)
CM Punk is finally responding to Logan Paul's big MMA call out ... and bad news -- it's a big, fat THUMBS DOWN! Of course, Paul is looking to continue his combat sports career after that big boxing match with KSI back in November -- and the two names he's thrown out are Antonio Brown and CM Punk. With AB's troubling legal issues, that fight seems like a long shot now ... so what about Punk? Remember, 41-year-old Punk has two UFC fights under his belt -- and even though he lost 'em both, we're told he's a maniac in the gym ... and a lot of people would like to see him get another shot. Paul is one of the people ... telling TMZ Sports he'd LOVE to throw down with the WWE legend and bragging, "I think I would destroy CM Punk if I'm being honest." So, when we saw CM out in L.A. the other night -- we had to ask if he had any interest. "No." Bummer. So, is it about the paycheck? Because our photog thinks there's "big money" in a Punk vs. Paul card. "My definition of big money and everybody else's definition of big money is completely different," Punk explained. Instead, Punk says he's laser-focused on his new gig with FOX and the FS1 show "WWE Backstage" ... and even gave us a prediction on the Royal Rumble. (TMZ)
For viewers who criticized "The Biggest Loser" as a product of the unhealthy marriage of reality TV and at-all-costs weight loss, Bob Harper hears you. "We're really focusing on the after-care with the reboot," the 54-year-old personal trainer told Page Six at the NBCUniversal New York Press Junket on Thursday. "Not only with a gym membership but a nutritionist and a support group." The heavily tattooed Harper returned to the show after a heart attack nearly three years ago, and he's stressing how both he and the show have mellowed out. "We want to give you all the tools you need because what I've learned in this business is that, no matter how you lose weight, fast or slow, 80 percent of people gain their weight back. Those are the cold hard facts. So it's about accountability, it's about changing your life." Harper hasn't chilled out that much, though -- he still emphasizes a "no days off" approach to health. "Keeping [weight] off is so difficult because you've got to keep doing it, every single day ... I knew I had to be here today. I had to get up really early and do my workout before [I came here] because I knew I wasn't going to be able to. I didn't want to, I wanted to lie in bed with my dogs," he said. Harper's personal life has evolved along with his outlook. He got engaged to longtime boyfriend Anton Gutierrez in June 2019, and says while shooting the newest season of "Biggest Loser" in Santa Fe has been distracting him from his nuptials -- the pair haven't set a date yet -- he wants to keep things low-key. "You know what sounds great? Eloping -- just like eloping and having a party. I'm not going to walk down some aisle, you know. I'm not going to do that," he told us. Also changing is Harper's diet, which has moved from an Atkins-adjacent high-fat, high-protein approach to "more plant-based, low-fat" following his health scare. "I haven't cut out meat completely, but I don't have as much, especially red meat. I really miss it. I will say whenever my fiance is eating a burger, I really enjoy kissing him even more." And while Harper doesn't have an explicit statement on former "Biggest Loser" trainer Jillian Michaels' controversial comments on Lizzo, his diplomatic comment does reflect a progression from the "Biggest Loser" of old: "Her weight is none of my business unless she hires me." (Page Six)
Ronnie Ortiz-Magro and Jen Harley are officially moving on ... when it comes to their Vegas home anyway, 'cause TMZ's learned they've listed it for sale. Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... the 'Jersey Shore' star and Jen put their home on the market 3 months ago for a cool $869,900 and we're told the reasoning is surprisingly quite simple -- Ron's moving to L.A. and Jen's got no use for it and is game for selling it. We're told Ronnie plunked down all the cash for the crib back in October 2017, but they'll split the profits, if any. They bought it for $725k. Our sources also say the sale has nothing to do with their drama-filled relationship ... it's just that, logistically, they don't need it. A source close to Ronnie tells us he footed all the bills for the home as well ... and Jen also had a place of her own in the city. The house itself is a marvel ... 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and nearly 3,000 square feet of living space. It's nestled inside a gated community ... so, privacy. It also features a full panoramic view of the strip, city and mountains. There's also a relaxing spa. Ronnie and Jen, however, did anything but relax in that house -- the site of some of their most volatile fights in their frequently hostile relationship. You'll recall they were on their way home when they got into a brutal fight in June 2018 ... resulting in Jen's bust for domestic battery after she allegedly dragged Ronnie with their car. Jen also claimed Ronnie was the one who ransacked the crib on New Year's Eve 2018 after getting into a huge fight. TMZ also obtained footage of Ronnie going to town on a Ring security camera back in December. On that particular night, Ron had shown up and threw an object through a window when Jen refused to let him inside. Most recently, Jen showed up unannounced to the crib and allegedly attacked Ron with an eyeliner. No word if new buyers are seeking a drama discount. For any prospective new owners -- things can ONLY get better! (TMZ)
Rick Fox is backing his former teammate Kobe Bryant on WNBA stars playing in the NBA ... tellin' TMZ Sports women can DEFINITELY ball out in the men's league!!! "Skills are skills," Fox says. "I mean, you try some of these WNBA ladies and they'll give you the business, fam!" The Black Mamba said earlier this week there are some WNBA players who can compete with the guys in the Association ... specifically naming Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi and Elena Delle Donne. When we got Fox leaving Wally's in L.A. on Wednesday ... he told us he couldn't agree more, saying, "Skills have nothing to do with your sex or your race." In fact, Fox says he's seen some pro women bust NBA players on the court before with his own two eyes!!! "I can think of a couple women that have held their own in pick-up games and competed well," Fox tells us. "So, it's not a new thing." As for how some of the women are feeling about a possible jump to the men's league ... we got Delle Donne at Reagan Airport on Thursday -- and she told us she's flattered by the comments, but she's got no plans to try out for the NBA just yet. (TMZ)
Jade Roper Tolbert Stripped of $1 Million DraftKings Prize After Cheating Allegations. Bachelor in Paradise alum Jade Roper Tolbert, and her husband and former co-star Tanner Tolbert, will not get to keep the $1 million from DraftKings after all. The sports betting company has stripped the reality star, Instagram influencer, podcaster and mother of two of the top fantasy sports prize that she won earlier this month for coming in first place during its Millionaire Maker contest during the wild card weekend of the NFL playoffs, USA Today reported on Saturday. Jade and Tanner have not commented and had previously attributed her win to "pure luck." DraftKings had begun investigating her win after online users accused the couple of collusion, complaining that the two submitted 150 picks each with no overlap in their lineups, which doubled their chance of winning. DraftKings' rules state each contestant is allowed to enter up to 150 potential lineups, and prohibit players from having more than one account or "colluding with any other individual(s) or engaging in any type of syndicate play." The company has not released the results of its investigation into Jade's win. It said in a statement on Twitter on Saturday, "DraftKings has decided to update the standings for several contests. All customers affected by the updated standings will be notified directly." The former runner up in the wild card weekend contest, user spclk36, is now listed as the $1 million winner in the wild card weekend contest, USA Today reported. The person had hired prominent attorney Alan Milstein after the controversy erupted, suggesting they planned to contest the results after Jade was declared the top winner. "Thrilled to announce my client has been declared the winner of the DraftKings Millionaire Maker Contest," Milstein tweeted. "I have had my share of interesting cases but never conceived this would be one of them." At $25 per entry, Jade and Tanner spent a combined $7,500 to enter this particular contest. They each entered the maximum number of entries every week of the NFL season, according to ESPN, which suggests they had spent a total of $135,000 on DraftKings entries since the season began until the wild card weekend. After they were accused of cheating, Jade and Tanner had said in a statement, "We respect that Draft Kings feels they must do their due diligence in regard to Jade winning their $1million dollar prize for the fantasy contest for the NFL's wild-card round this weekend. Though we must ponder, would the questions, accusations and curiosity about this win be the same if the winner had been male and someone who wasn't already in the public eye?" "It is incredibly important for us to establish that Jade's win is nothing more than pure luck and we are confident that Draft Kings will determine the same," they added. (Eonline)
Andy Dick was inconsolable, and understandably so, after a man walked into his art studio and shot himself in the head. The tragic incident went down Monday around midnight inside Andy's downtown L.A. art gallery ... which opened late last year. Witnesses say the man had been waving a gun around before heading inside, where Andy and someone else was working. Once inside, the man fired the shot. Witnesses say it appeared to be an accident. It's unclear if Andy witnessed the shooting, but he was visibly shaken as LAPD and paramedics responded to the scene. The victim was transported to a hospital, and according to one source, he's currently on life support. The video shows a traumatized Andy explaining to police what he'd seen. We've reached out to Andy, but so far no word back. (TMZ)
Comments
Post a Comment