11 August 2022

Dame Olivia Newton-John will receive a state funeral.

Olivia Newton-John will receive a state funeral

The ‘Grease’ legend will be laid to rest with a state memorial service in Australia after her family accepted the offer days following her tragic death aged 73 earlier this week.

Speaking on ‘A Current Affair’, her niece Tottie Goldsmith confirmed: “We will [accept], on behalf of not just our family, but I think Australia needs it. She was so loved.

“I think our country needs it so we’re going to accept it.”

A venue and date is yet to be revealed, but discussions will continue between the family, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and his department.

He commented: “The family were quite touched at the prospect of Victorians being able to come together and celebrate Olivia’s life.

“As tough as this time is… it’s made a little easier by all the outpouring of grief and support, and the very fond memories people are sharing of such an amazing person.”

Premier Andrews had previously confirmed his government would approach the late actress’ family about the official farewell.

He told news.com.au: “As for celebrating her life… her music and film and all the other amazing contributions that she made, we would, of course, want to speak to the family and be as respectful as we can.

“She took her cancer journey and used that to save lives and change lives, and that’s just a deeply impressive thing.

“The research that’s done there [at the cancer and wellness centre], the treatment, the care, the love and support that is central to that place is a lasting legacy to the person that she was.”

Olivia’s husband of 14 years, John Easterling, shared a statement across the star’s social media channels on Monday, confirming she had passed away.

It read: “Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.

“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer. Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the @onjfoundation

“Olivia is survived by her husband John Easterling; daughter Chloe Lattanzi; sister Sarah Newton-John; brother Toby Newton-John; nieces and nephews Tottie, Fiona and Brett Goldsmith; Emerson, Charlie, Zac, Jeremy, Randall, and Pierz Newton-John; Jude Newton-Stock, Layla Lee; Kira and Tasha Edelstein; and Brin and Valerie Hall.”

11 August 2022

Madonna was warned her career was “over” when she accidentally flashed her butt on stage.

Madonna was warned her career would be over

The 63-year-old singer was one of the performers at the very first MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in 1984 when she caused a sensation when her dress flipped up and she flashed her backside while singing ‘Like a Virgin’, and though the wardrobe malfunction was accidental, her management team were convinced the brief flashing of flesh would spark enough outrage to ensure she’d never work again.

Speaking to Jimmy Fallon on ‘The Tonight Show’, she said: “I did that show and I walked down the very steep stairs of the wedding cake and I got to the bottom and I started dancing around in my white stiletto pumps fell off.

“And I was trying to do this smooth move like, dive for the shoe and look like it was choreography. And my dress flipped up and my butt was showing. Can you imagine?

“Those were the days when you shouldn’t show your butt to have a career. Now it’s the opposite.

“It happened by accident and when I didn’t even know my butt was showing. It wasn’t even like the whole butt it was just like a butt cheek, like half a butt cheek.

“Yeah, when I went backstage, my manager told me my career is over with.”

The ‘Beautiful Stranger’ singer also recalled how much it “blew [her] mind” when she saw people dancing to her music for the first time at a club called Danceteria.

She said: “I want to tell you when I finally got this guy, Mark Kamins, to play my cassette, it’s a song called ‘Everybody’.

“It’s on his record and I swear to god, I had to promise everything to him to get it played. And when he played it, everybody got up and started dancing to it and it blew my mind I mean, seriously, like that was everything to me.”

11 August 2022

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney had never met each other before becoming co-owners of a soccer team.

Ryan Reynolds co-owns a soccer team in Wales

The 45-year-old actor and the ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ star are now the co-owners of Wrexham AFC, after they first developed a friendship through social media.

Appearing alongside his Wrexham co-owner on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, Ryan shared: “I kind of slid into your DMs.

“I saw Rob in one of the episodes of ‘It’s Always Sunny’. He did something that was absolutely spectacular. It was one of the most beautiful things that I’ve ever seen. It was a dance sequence, it was all black and white and the rain … I genuinely … it was probably, pound for pound, the most gorgeous, beautifully shot and performed three minutes I’d ever seen on television.

“And I … as I’m getting older I’m thinking, I’ve got to tell people when I appreciate them more. So, I happened to follow you on social media and I just DMd you and said, ‘What I just saw on your show was spectacular!'”

Asked by Rob how many DMs he slides into, Ryan replied: “Not very often, but this one in particular changed my life because this is what led to us becoming co-owners, co-chairman of Wrexham.”

Ryan also revealed how he broke the news to his wife, actress Blake Lively.

He said: “I remember when you reached out about this absolutely insane idea. I remember seeing Blake and saying, ‘I’ve bad news and I’ve really bad news. The bad news is I slipped into someone’s DMs again. The really bad news is I might have bought half of a fifth tier football club in Wales.'”

Rob, 45, subsequently revealed that he’d never met Ryan before they agreed to buy Wrexham in 2020.

He explained: “A lot of people are amazed to hear that we’d never met in person. We had this … we had talked on the phone and had various Zooms and things like that, but we had never met each other in person.”

11 August 2022

Halle Bailey received “words of encouragement” from her grandparents following the racist abuse to her ‘The Little Mermaid’ casting.

Halle Bailey was supported by her family after the racist backlash to her casting as Ariel

The 22-year-old singer called it “inspiring” to be uplifted through the supportive words of her family, who reminded her how integral it was for little girls of all different races to see her take on the iconic role of Ariel in the Disney live-action remake of the 1989 animated classic that kicked off the Disney Renaissance.

Halle told Variety: “It was an inspiring and beautiful thing to hear their words of encouragement, telling me, ‘You don’t understand what this is doing for us, for our community, for all the little Black and brown girls who are going to see themselves in you.’”

The one half of Chloe x Halle – which she creates and performs music with her sister Chloe Bailey, 24 – gushed about how the part would mean so much to her younger self.

Halle said: “What that would have done for me, how that would have changed my confidence, my belief in myself, everything. Things that seem so small to everyone else, it’s so big to us.”

Despite her glee at the gig, the ‘Do It’ hitmaker was the target of a vicious campaign of hate when she was named as the actress in the “iconic role” in 2019.

At the time, Rob Marshall, the film’s director said: “After an extensive search, it was abundantly clear that Halle possesses that rare combination of spirit, heart, youth, innocence and substance — plus a glorious singing voice — all intrinsic qualities necessary to play this iconic role.”

Many social media users expressed their outrage and launched a petition, titled #NotMyAriel, which sought to get the Walt Disney Company to recast her with a white actress.

In response, Freeform penned an ‘An open letter to the Poor, Unfortunate Souls’ that doubled down on their decision to cast Halle, calling it “INSPIRED”.

11 August 2022

Dionne Warwick says her friend Dame Olivia Newton-John was a “sweetheart”.

Dame Olivia Newton-John was a great friend to Dionne Warwick

The ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ diva called the ‘Grease’ star and her good pal – who died on Monday (08.08.22) aged 72 more than 30 years after being diagnosed with breast cancer – was “one of the nicest people” she ever met.

The 81-year-old music legend told Entertainment Tonight: “We kind of just hit it off. You know how girls are, and such a sweetheart. I mean, one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in a long, long time. She was Olivia. I think that was the charm that she never changed. She was Olivia.”

Dionne – who got Olivia on her chat show ‘Dionne!’ in the 90s – said performing with the ‘Xanadu’ star was like “hanging out” with a girlfriend.

She said: “It was two girlfriends on stage hanging out. That’s exactly what it was, and that’s how I’m gonna always remember it, being around her and singing with her and being a part of her life, musically especially. She was very generous, very, when it came to performing with anyone. She kind of laid back when she needed to and gave it all she had when she had to. It was a lot of fun working with her. Very easy.”

The ‘Heartbreaker’ congress remarked that their duet, ‘Wishin’ and Hopin’ on Dionne’s 2006 album, ‘My Friends and Me’ was “very easy to sing”.

Dionne said: “You know, when you find songs that are as lovely as that and meaningful as that, it’s very easy to sing.”

Many other stars have come out to sing the praises of the late ‘Magic’ himaker and how she touched their lives.

John Travolta – who starred opposite Olivia’s Sandy Olsen as Danny Zuko in the 1978 movie musical – led tributes.

The 68-year-old actor wrote: “We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever!

“Your Danny, your John.”

11 August 2022

Sir Cliff Richard paid tribute to the late Dame Olivia Newton-John.

Sir Cliff Richard paid tribute to Dame Olivia Newton-John

The ‘Summer Holiday’ hitmaker lamented about the passing of the ‘Grease’ star, his good pal on Twitter, who died more than 30 years after being diagnosed with breast cancer on Monday (08.08.22) at her California ranch surrounded by loved ones, aged 73.

The 81-year-old musical icon wrote that he was “at a loss at as what to say” about his friend, who he met in 1970.

Cliff added that death “is a vicious enemy and all of us will be taken by him,” before saying: “But all us are not taken by him at the same time and so while Olivia remains in our minds and memories, she remains very much alive!!’

The ‘Mistletoe and Wine’ crooner described himself as “just one of an army of lucky people who knew and loved” the ‘Xanadu’ star, before posing the question: “How could we not love her?”

“She was gorgeous, gifted and had a heart of Gold.”

Cliff added: “Also, a bunch of Records that were Gold, but her Golden Heart is is her legacy to us (sic).”

He reminisced about how Olivia – who left behind her husband John Easterling and daughter Chloe Lattanzi, 36 – “put her career on hold for years” after finding out she had a lump and praised her positivity despite her prognosis.

Cliff said: “Why? Because she wanted to inspire other sufferers to do as she did… fight the ugly disease, although she said in one interview that she wasn’t in a battle with cancer just that she had something she simply wanted to get rid of.”

He added: “Olivia always an up-beat approach to life.”

Cliff shared that he last spoke to Olivia on the telephone three weeks ago and didn’t think he would be now “acknowledging her death”.

He said: “Only three weeks ago I was on the phone to her and she was her bright positive self and I never thought for one moment that I would be writing this and acknowledging her death.”

Cliff also admitted that “hates” the word death, and said: “From now on I will only believe that our gorgeous Olivia simply stopped living. I will miss her.”

“The world will miss her, so let’s all keep her alive in our hearts and memories.”

Cliff signed off, writing: “God bless you Livvy. Rest in Peace…… Cliff xxx.”

11 August 2022

Armie Hammer allegedly texted a woman he was “100 per cent a cannibal”.

Armie Hammer allegedly texted a woman he was a cannibal

The ‘Call Me By Your Name’ star is now the subject of a new documentary series, ‘House of Hammer’ – which includes testimony from two alleged victims of his sexual fetishes – after he was accused of rape and battery by 24-year-old woman, which he strongly denies and checked into a rehab in May 2021 for substance and sex issues.

A text – apparently from Armie to one of his alleged victims – sent to one of two women read: “I am 100 per cent a cannibal. I want to eat you.”

Courtney Vucekovich, one of a pair of women who claim the 35-year-old disgraced actor assaulted her, detailed the abuse she allegedly endured, saying that things started fantastically “but then things change” as he “pushes your boundaries a little bit at a time.”

She detailed how the mention of cannibalism meant she spent ages “freaking out” and it was the only thing Armie ever “wanted to ever talk about”.

Courtney also claims she got a message from him that said: “I’m going to bite the f*** out of you” and photos of rope texted to her by him.

Of the rope, she said: “The ropes were around your neck, your wrist, your ankles, and you’re completely immobilized. I was closing my eyes until it ended.”

Julia Morrison, the second accuser featured in the documentary, got a text she says she got from Armie that reads: “I have a fantasy about having someone prove their love and devotion and tying them up in a public place at night and making their body free use and seeing if they will f*** strangers for me.”

Julia claims that she got a voice note from the ‘Rebecca’ star, saying: “My bet was going to involve showing into her place and completely tying you up and incapacitating you and then being able to do whatever I wanted to every single hole in your body until I was done with you.”

In the three-part series, due to debut on Discovery Plus next month, they share string of texts – which they assert came from Armie, who according to reports works as a timeshare dealer in the Cayman Islands – detailing his apparent intentions.

One reads: “You are mine! You hear me? I own you now. I’ll own you forever”

Another goes: “I decide when you eat, when you sleep. When you f***.”

The scandal – which was prompted by texts leaked in January 2021 – has been labelled “bulls***” by the ‘Social Network’ star – who has daughter Harper, seven, and son Ford, five with his ex Elizabeth Chambers – but has since been fired from many projects in Hollywood.

11 August 2022

Michael K. Williams “never felt more ugly” in the aftermath of his facial scar.

Michael K Williams felt ugly after getting his facial scar

The late ‘The Wire’ star – who worked as a dancer and a model before his big break – explained how he struggled with his face at first after he got the marking after getting involved in an altercation when he was 25 at a birthday party in Brooklyn in 1991.

In an extract of his posthumously published memoir, ‘Scenes From My Life’, shared in PEOPLE magazine, Michael wrote “the cut healed into one big swollen line and I never felt more ugly.’

The ‘12 Years A Slave’ star – who died from a fentanyl overdose in 2021 aged 54 – detailed how he got the scar on Jamaica Avenue after he tried to defend a friend in a bar fight and how he approached one of the men while he stood alone, writing: “In a flash, he smacked me across the face. I put my hand to my forehead. Then I saw the dark liquid on my fingers. The guy hadn’t been slapping me. He had been cutting me open.”

Michael wrote: “Strangers would stop me on the street and say they found my scars striking. I began to get gigs in music videos, not even to dance,” including a request from David LaChapelle to photograph him and being cast by Tupac Shakur from his headshot alone to play his younger brother in his film debut, ‘Bullet’ in 1996.

The ‘Boardwalk Empire’ star – who is survived by his son Elijah – admitted that the scar made him stand out and appear like a “tough guy,” which he denied actually being in reality.

Michael added: “I guess the scar gave me an ‘edge’. It made me look like the tough guy I wasn’t.”

11 August 2022

Jerry Hall and Rupert Murdoch have finalised their divorce.

Jerry Hall and Rupert Murdoch finalise divorce

The 66-year-old model filed for divorce from the 91-year-old media mogul last month, and the former couple have now officially gone their separate ways and have vowed to “remain good friends”.

A joint statement from Robert S. Cohen, attorney for Rupert Murdoch, and Judy Poller, attorney for Jerry Hall reads: “Jerry Hall and Rupert Murdoch have finalised their divorce.

“They remain good friends and wish each other the best for the future.”

It comes after it emerged on Wednesday (10.08.22) that Jerry had requested the Los Angeles Superior Court cancel the divorce petition.

According to the Daily Mail newspaper, a document said the divorce could be dismissed “without prejudice”.

A note was reported to have been filed by Ronald Brot, Jerry’s California lawyer, with Tuesday’s (09.08.22) date.

News of the pair’s split was first reported in June, and in July it was revealed Jerry had filed for divorce to officially end their union.

She was said to have cited “irreconcilable differences”, requested spousal support and for her husband – who is said to have an estimated net worth of around $20 billion – to pay her legal fees in the paperwork filed in the Superior Court of California in L.A. County.

The documents added that Jerry did not want the court to award support to her estranged husband.

In her filing, Jerry said she was “unaware of the full nature and extent of all assets and debts, and will amend this Petition when the information has been ascertained”.

The pair tied the knot in a civil ceremony at Spencer House in London on March 4, 2016, before holding a wedding service at Fleet Street’s St. Brides Church the next day.

At the time of their nuptials, Rupert claimed he was “the luckiest and happiest man in the world”.

The media tycoon – who owns both The Times and The Sun newspapers in the UK – was first married to Patricia Booker, with whom he had Prudence, 64, before splitting from her in 1967.

He then married his second wife Anna Maria Torv later that year and the couple had Elisabeth, 53, Lachlan, 50 and James, 49 together but he went on to marry Wendi Deng in 1999, just days after his divorce from Anna.

However, Rupert and Wendi – who have children Grace, 20, and Chloe, 19, together – divorced in 2013.

Jerry previously had a long-term relationship with Rolling Stones legend Mick Jagger in the 1990s and has children Elizabeth, 38, James, 36, Georgia May, 30, and 24-year-old Gabriel with him.

They parted ways in 1999 when she discovered that he had had an affair with Brazilian model Luciana Gimenez.

11 August 2022

Lottie Tomlinson has given birth.

Lottie Tomlinson gives birth

The 23-year-old make-up artist – who is the brother of former One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson – and former pro tennis player Lewis Burton have welcomed their first child together into the world, a baby boy.

Lottie posted a picture of their newborn on her Instagram Stories, and added the caption: “dreams do come true [love heart emoji]”

Lewis reposted the message and had earlier shared a picture of Lottie, writing on his Stories: “Very proud of you, we are both lucky to have you [baby emoji]”

Lottie’s sister Phoebe Tomlinson shared a picture of her pregnant sibling, and confirmed the newborn is a boy.

She wrote: “i am beyond proud of you. He is perfect. Love you both @lottietomlinson @mrlewisburton (sic)”

In February, Lottie and Lewis announced the news they were expecting a baby together.

Lottie shared an image of her growing bump as Lewis cradled her stomach.

She captioned the post: “Just the 3 of us.”

Commenting on the post, Lewis wrote: “I love you both forever.”

Lottie’s sister Daisy shared her relief that her sibling had gone public with her pregnancy, saying: “Finally I can screammmm about it. I love you 3 so much. (sic)”

Lewis started dating Lottie in July 2020 and their romance was soon confirmed when they were seen holidaying together in Ibiza.

He was previously dating British TV presenter Caroline Flack when she tragically ended her own life at the age of 40 in February 2020, however, the pair were not permitted to have contact with each other since December 2019, due to her bail conditions over charges of an alleged assault on him.

Caroline had denied the charges against her, and Lewis had called for them to be dropped.

Lottie has also had tragedy in her life. She lost her 18-year-old sister Felicite following an accidental overdose, and her mother Johannah died from leukaemia in 2016.

10 August 2022

Normani has “real life s*** going on in [her] personal life”.

Normani has hit back at her critics

The 26-year-old singer admitted she’s dealing with some personal problems during a fiery online exchange with a fan, who previously accused her of lacking motivation.

The online critic initially wrote on Twitter: “No idea where Normani’s motivation (no pun intended) has gone but I just dont see the same passion from her as I used to. Before yall start, its not depression so dont even go THERE! (sic)”

Another Twitter user then added: “What happens when you’ve gotten comfortable and you’re not HUNGRY anymore. (sic)”

However, Normani – who shot to fame as a teenager as part of Fifth Harmony – quickly fired back at her critics, urging them to be quiet.

She wrote: “just shut the f*** up. (sic)”

A number of fans subsequently came out in support of the ‘Motivation’ hitmaker, including fashion illustrator Hayden Williams.

Hayden tweeted: “It’s so interesting that people that have no clue what it’s like to be in the music industry and the complexities that can come with that, but will dish out unwanted and rude opinions all the time smh. (sic)”

Normani later observed that those issues are compounded by “real life s*** going on in [her] personal life”.

However, the singer didn’t elaborate on the issues she’s dealing with.

Meanwhile, Normani previously admitted to feeling alone as the only black member of Fifth Harmony.

The ‘Wild Side’ hitmaker starred in the girl group alongside Ally Brooke, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregui, and Camila Cabello – but she admitted to having a different experience compared to her bandmates.

She shared: “I don’t think they had the tools that they needed, because it’s not their experience. I can give them credit for trying to be there for me, but at the same time … The girls don’t experience things the way I did.”

10 August 2022

Mindy Kaling says it “doesn’t bother” her when people think BJ Novak is the father of her children.

Mindy Kaling isn’t bothered by thoughts BJ Novak is her kids’ dad

‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’ creator – who has kept mum about the paternity of her four-year-old daughter Katherine and 23-month-old son Spencer – doesn’t care if people think her ‘The Office’ co-star, 43, is their dad.

The 43-year-old funny lady told Marie Claire: “He’s the godparent to both my kids—and they have such a great relationship—and so far [the rumors haven’t] affected my happiness at all, it hasn’t affected my kids or BJ. If that’s what is going to be titillating to people, I’ll take it.”

Mindy revealed that she will discuss it; her two little ones are “old enough to talk to me about it.”

She added: “I’m the only parent my kids have. I think I err on the side of super cautious so that there’s less things that they can potentially be mad at me about down the line.”

Mindy detailed to the magazine why she “waited” to have kids on her “own terms”.

She said: “I waited until I had the means and that made all the difference,” while citing the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade – which gave constitutional access to safe and legal abortion across the US – adding: “The choice to have a child – by yourself, on your own terms – it was the best part of my life.. It’s the thing that I hope women feel confident doing by themselves.”

In 2020, ‘The Mindy Project’ star gushed about how the ‘Vengeance’ star and director – who she used to be date – is “”is so much more like family now than a platonic friend” while talking about he made up part of their “pandemic pod”.

Mindy added: “He’s great with kids. And so it’s been really nice to have his energy in the house.”

10 August 2022

Oscars producer Will Packer has praised Will Smith for his public apology to Chris Rock.

Will Smith said sorry to Chris Rock last month

The ‘King Richard’ star caused a sensation at the Academy Awards ceremony in March when he stormed the stage to smack the comedian after he made fun of the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and last month he directly said sorry for his “unacceptable” behaviour.

And the ‘Men in Black’ actor has been praised by Packer – who headed up this year’s Oscars – for being “transparent” about his “personal rehabilitation”.

He told ‘Entertainment Tonight’: “I love the fact that he’s being so transparent about his process. Clearly he is going through his own personal rehabilitation.

“I’m pulling for him. I’m pulling for him to continue his own process, but I think this is for him. He needs to do it.

“I’m wishing you the best, brother.”

The ‘Beast’ producer declined to say if he’d spoken to either star since the incident, but insisted he wasn’t taking sides.

He said: “I would just say I love both of those brothers and I’m pulling for them.”

Despite the attention the row received at the time, Packer is “very prideful” of what he and his team achieved with their delivery of this year’s Oscars, which was hosted by Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer and Regina Hall.

He said: “People always talk about that [slap], but I hope that over time people will realise it was an energetic, diverse, history-making Oscars ceremony. A lot of energy went into it. I’m very prideful of it.”

When he apologised last month, Smith – who resigned from the Academy in the wake of the row and was subsequently banned from the Oscars and all the organisation’s events for 10 years – blamed being “fogged out” and “fuzzy” for not saying sorry to the ‘Top 5’ star at the time.

He added in a question and answer session which he said was filled with “fair” questions from fans: “I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk when he is, he will reach out. So I will say to you, Chris, I apologise to you.

“My behaviour was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”

He also apologised to Chris’ mother and entire family, saying: “I just didn’t realise how many people got hurt in that moment, so I want to apologise to Chris’s mother. I want to apologise.”