Jennifer Lopez was photographed out and about a few times on Friday, May 17. She was seen entering and exiting a Burbank dance studio, where she’s presumably prepping her tour. Later in the day, she was photographed going over to a school function for one of Ben’s kids. She had her arms full of sunflowers. Ben came over to talk to her and they did not hug or kiss in greeting. After the play, they walked out together and seemed like they were deep in conversation. All of those Ben-and-Jen photos are super-exclusive, but I’ll include some tweets at the end of the post. The important thing is that they were photographed together for the first time in 47 days. The important thing is that Jennifer still shows up to events for her stepkids. But it does look like all of the reports of significant marriage problems are true. Even People Magazine reported this:

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are living separately while both are in Los Angeles, according to multiple sources.

The couple were seen together in public on Thursday, May 16 for the first time since March 30, but a source close to Lopez, 54, tells PEOPLE that Affleck, 51, has not been staying at the couple’s Los Angeles home. He is instead staying at one of their other properties while filming his movie The Accountant 2.

Reps for Affleck or Lopez did not respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.

Lopez was spending time in New York in recent months to film her movie Kiss of the Spider Woman, promote the Netflix film Atlas and serve as a co-chair for the 2024 Met Gala, which she took part in without Affleck by her side. He recently attended the May 5 live Roast of Tom Brady solo between filming.

[From People]

Yeah, whatever is happening, Benny Medina is letting this story come out. Maybe this is even the story J.Lo wants out there, since Benny doesn’t even seem to be doing any damage control. That’s important, because I think the default for a lot of people will be to solely blame J.Lo, when really, her behavior seems to indicate that she’s pissed off at Ben, like HE did something and she told him to move out. Speaking of, Us Weekly’s sources also noted that Ben “moved out” of the home he shared with J.Lo “several weeks ago.” Meanwhile, Page Six’s sources say that both Ben and Jen have been house-hunting separately in recent weeks.

So… yeah, my vibe is that they’re having significant problems but I’m hesitant to say it’s ALL Jennifer or ALL Ben. They’re two massively dysfunctional people, which is sort of why I’ve always loved them together – their dysfunctions fit together pretty well and I thought they really did love each other. We’ll see though – Jennifer has a big premiere on Monday night. Will Ben come out for her?

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were photographed for the first time together in over a month as Jen made it to a show for Ben’s children, where Jennifer Garner was also in attendance.

More details: https://t.co/j0avmLOvwq pic.twitter.com/aVMaESa91O

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) May 17, 2024

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in Los Angeles https://t.co/yKNLY6LrWH

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) May 17, 2024

Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Backgrid.

It’s hard to believe that Emma Stone is now a two-time Best Actress Oscar winner. And yet, it’s not that hard to believe. Emma is widely considered to be one of the best actresses of her generation, and the fact that she’s leaned into making (and producing) weird, arty, offbeat films adds to her allure. Speaking of, Emma was in Cannes to promote Yorgos Lanthimos’ Kinds of Kindness. She’ll probably get another Oscar nom out of it, all things considered. Emma delivered at the Cannes premiere, wearing a rich-looking Louis Vuitton (she’s a brand ambassador). I honestly love the dress, which surprises me. I think this is a very good look overall for Emma, but I wish she would have “dressed it up” a little bit more. Bigger earrings or half an arm full of bracelets.

Emma’s costars were there as well – Hunter Schafer wore Armani Privé and Margaret Qualley wore Chanel. I love Hunter’s dress, it’s structural in a cool way.

Lily Gladstone sort of needed some structure – this Balenciaga was too much of a sack dress! She looks amazing in that saffron color though.

Look at Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wearing yet another completely bonkers Falguni Shane Peacock gown. I love this absolutely silly energy.

Demi Moore wore Armani Privé – really blah, right?

Eva Green – who is on the Cannes jury this year – wore Iris van Herpen. No, this is too much??

Uma Thurman wore Burberry to a different Cannes premiere (Oh, Canada). Satin is so difficult and the sheath dress could have fit a bit better.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

Daisy Ridley wore Prada to the premiere of Young Woman and the Sea. I actually like the dress a lot, but the whole look is way too matronly for her. [RCFA]
Rihanna & ASAP Rocky stepped out again in NYC. [Just Jared]
Kelly Osbourne & her mother talk about Ozempic. [OMG Blog]
Oh no I might have to try the new McFlurry flavor. [Seriously OMG]
Anya Taylor Joy at the Furiosa photocall in Cannes. [Socialite Life]
Nooooo Chris Pine shaved his beard!! [LaineyGossip]
Something is really broken in Aaron Rodgers’ brain. [Pajiba]
I love this floral on Mindy Kaling. [Go Fug Yourself]
It feels like every 90 Day Fiance star is doing crime. [Starcasm]
Fun facts about misogynist Harrison Butker. [Hollywood Life]
I stand with this guy too – it’s ridiculous to be asked to do a 90-minute Excel task in a job interview. He was right to question it. [Buzzfeed]

The Murdoch-owned British outlets have been trying new things for their royal coverage. The Sun has a YouTube “talk show” with a steady stream of royalists banging on about… the Sussexes. Meanwhile, the Times of London has a “Times Radio” show with Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey to sort of organize the royal gossip of the week. I totally understand if you guys don’t want to watch the whole thing (I skimmed it) but here’s the full video:

A few interesting parts, in no particular order. Kate Mansey trying to make Harry’s statement about not meeting his father sound whiny, only to admit just seconds later that Harry put Buckingham Palace “on the back foot.” Mansey also admits (around the 5:30 mark) that the king came out of the “no meeting” debacle looking pretty “shoddy” for not meeting with Harry AND ignoring the Invictus service. There’s also a discussion – a somewhat shady conversation – about Charles’s “convening power” as a king, yet he cannot convene his relationships with his sons.

Around the 14-minute mark they talk about how Prince William and Kate have all of these homes, and how there was pushback on their move to Windsor in 2022, when Kate got her little separation home, Adelaide Cottage. It’s interesting. They know more than they’re saying about the Waleses’ housing situation.

The most interesting part starts around the 24-minute mark where they talk about Charles and his sons and what’s in store for the years to come. Mansey points out something we noted last week, which was that the focus was all about Charles-and-Harry and whether they would meet and how Charles was mad about Harry’s statement, etc. There was no Kensington Palace briefing spree about how much William hates his brother or “William REFUSES to meet Harry.” Mansey says, “Now the rift is so deep, so widely accepted, that’s not even a story, no one assumes that William and Harry will ever meet.” Which is true. Then Nikkhah brings up the idea that William’s coronation will probably happen soonish and: “If, god forbid, we were to have another coronation in the next few years, would Harry be there? I don’t think William would invite him. And I don’t think Harry would come. That’s an extraordinary thing, isn’t it?” I… actually agree with Roya Nikkhah?

It’s worth remembering this Royalist story from last November, in which sources close to William claimed that the next time William will speak to Harry is “at their father’s funeral.” I think about that story too much. I think it’s true – William would “allow” Harry to come back for Charles’s funeral and that’s it. That would be the end of the brothers’ relationship. Just how Camilla wanted it.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

In late February, Thomas Kingston died by gunshot wound to the head. The coroner later said that it was almost certainly self-inflicted, and I cannot tell if there’s still any ongoing investigation, but I don’t think there is. Kingston’s widow, Lady Gabriella Windsor, is said to be really torn up about her husband’s death. She’s no longer living in the London home they shared, and she’s moved into her parents’ Kensington Palace apartment. There was already a small, private, royal funeral held for Kingston, but there are plans for a larger memorial service at some point in the near future. The Windsors are apparently rallying behind Gabriella, and according to Richard Eden at the Mail, the king wants Gabriella to come out for Trooping the Colour.

Of all the troubles to have afflicted the Royal Family this year, none has been more devastating than the tragic death of Thomas Kingston, the 45-year-old husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor. Handsome and popular, Tom died from what was described as a traumatic head wound in February. A gun was found near his body in an outbuilding at his parents’ home in the Cotswolds.

This weekend will be particularly poignant for Lady Gabriella, as Saturday is the fifth anniversary of her wedding at St George’s Chapel, Windsor – a joyful occasion with the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip among the guests.

Now, the Royal Family is rallying round once again, this time to help Lady Gabriella – daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent – to recover from the ordeal. I can reveal that their Majesties have invited Ella, as she is known by friends, to attend the King’s Birthday Parade next month. The parade is the formal name for Trooping the Colour and an appearance at the occasion would be the first time she has been seen in public since her husband’s death.

‘Everyone hopes that Ella will attend the celebrations, if she feels up to it,’ a royal source tells me. ‘It would be a powerful signal of the Family’s love and concern for her.’

It is not clear if Lady Gabriella will be invited to join the King and Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the traditional fly-past when the parade is over. Along with other junior royals, Ella had made regular appearances on the balcony until the arrival of Covid-19 in early 2020. When the pandemic was over and Trooping the Colour returned, Queen Elizabeth invited only ‘working royals’ to join her, so sparing the blushes of her son Prince Andrew, who had been stripped of public duties, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who had stepped back from royal duties with ‘The Firm’.

If Lady Gabriella does feel able to attend the King’s Birthday Parade and the private lunch that will follow, it would be useful preparation for an even more important date in her calendar the following weekend.

I can disclose that Tom’s family, in partnership with the royals, have organised a big memorial service for him. Some of his friends have already been invited. ‘It will be a wonderful chance to celebrate his life,’ one tells me. Most were not invited to his funeral in March. This was a small and, I’m told, ‘highly emotional’ gathering at the Chapel Royal within St James’s Palace – the setting for the marriage of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840 and the Christening of Prince George in 2013.

[From The Daily Mail]

I know this isn’t the point of the story – or maybe it is, knowing Richard Eden – but it would be WILD if Gabriella was on the balcony for Trooping. Like, for years now, the Windsors have made such a BFD about “the balcony is only for WORKING ROYALS” and “Harry and Meghan are desperate to get on the balcony, but we’re snubbing them!” It must have dawned on the king’s courtiers that this year’s Trooping balcony is going to look pretty stale and musty, especially if the Princess of Wales and the Wales kids are not there. But allowing Gabriella on the balcony? It will be fascinating, if it happens. Anyway, all of the reporting around Kingston’s death has really emphasized that the Windsors are rallying behind her and throwing a protective shield around her. As they should, I’m glad that she’s being protected. I just wish the Windsors treated every female family member that way.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

One thing has been made abundantly clear this month: the war is not just between Prince William and the Sussexes. More than four years after the Sussexes left, King Charles and Camilla are still actively briefing against the Sussexes and working against them. It might sound obvious, but for much of the past year, Buckingham Palace has tried to position Charles as “above the fray” and “open to reconciliation.” That’s over. Charles and Camilla do not want reconciliation, they do not want to see the Sussexes whatsoever, and they’re absolutely furious that the Sussexes got such a positive reception in Nigeria. The Daily Beast’s Royalist column has been getting that message for weeks now, and here’s the latest:

Harry & Meghan look like they’re representing the family! One former royal staffer told The Daily Beast: “Overseas visits might look like jollies, but they are actually a matter of foreign policy. They are about promoting the U.K. and building diplomatic and trade alliances on behalf of the government. Harry and Meghan have different priorities because they are no longer working royals. But of course the vast majority of the world is ignorant of such distinctions, and regard Harry and Meghan as every bit as representative of the royal family as William and Charles, so if these rival foreign tours become a regular thing, it could muddy the waters. The reason they went to Nigeria was to promote Invictus (the Paralympic-style event Harry set up)—and themselves. That’s not what royal tours are about.”

The idea that more Sussex tours are coming: Of particular alarm in some quarters is the clear suggestion by the couple that the trip to Nigeria was not an isolated event and more such sorties are being planned. Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office was contacted for comment, but did not reply to The Daily Beast. Neither Harry nor Charles’ offices commented to The Daily Beast, but the former staffer said: “Be in no doubt, Harry and Meghan being freelance royals is the stuff of nightmares for the Palace. It’s exactly what the late Queen Elizabeth wanted to avoid.”

Relations between the Windsors & the Sussexes: A family friend of the royals told The Daily Beast: “Relations are as bad as they have ever been. Nothing has been resolved. But Charles does not spend a great deal of time dwelling on the matter because he is so busy.” Asked if they believed reports this week suggesting that William was “preventing” Charles and Harry reconciling, the friend said: “If William was prepared to reconcile with Harry it would certainly make things easier, but that’s not the whole story. The king was particularly hurt by what Harry said about Camilla.”

[From The Daily Beast]

“But of course the vast majority of the world is ignorant of such distinctions, and regard Harry and Meghan as every bit as representative of the royal family as William and Charles, so if these rival foreign tours become a regular thing, it could muddy the waters.” Yeah, people might think that the Windsors are desperately trying to appropriate some of the Sussexes’ beauty, charisma and international popularity. The problem is not that people see the Sussexes on tour and think that they’re still part of the Windsor clan – the problem is that the Sussexes’ overseas successes remind people that the Windsors were foolish, racist and short-sighted to exile these two rock stars out of jealousy.

“The reason they went to Nigeria was to promote Invictus —and themselves. That’s not what royal tours are about.” So we agree that this was not a royal tour? We agree that the Sussexes were there on Invictus and Archewell business and NOT Windsor business? You can’t have it both ways.

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Photos courtesy of Save the Children, Misan Harriman and Getty.

This summer will be the 25th anniversary of the deaths of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. They died in a plane crash in August 1999. I was in college, I remember it well, and it happened less than two years after Princess Diana’s tragic death. Since their deaths, hundreds of books have been written about their marriage and lives, very few of them complimentary to Carolyn. Hopefully, this new book will be different. Elizabeth Beller has written Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. People Mag had exclusive excerpts – go here to read the full excerpts. Beller says that she’s trying to show a different side of Bessette, the side which wasn’t some harsh ice queen.

When JFK Jr & Carolyn met: In spring 1992, Calvin Klein was just getting back into menswear. None other than John F. Kennedy Jr. had an appointment for a fitting and [Calvin decided] Carolyn should show John the selection. He came out of the meeting smitten, with a few suits and Carolyn’s number. “John invited her to join his group at a gala dinner,” recalled [Calvin’s assistant.] “Sitting next to him was another woman that Carolyn either mistook as his date, or actually was his date.” It was unclear, and Carolyn wasn’t pleased. But when they met again at a May 18 fundraiser, they were spotted in deep conversation at the bar. John and Carolyn stayed there for over an hour, never looking away from each other. Lightning had struck.

Early courtship: After the benefit, John and Carolyn continued to see each other, in a haze of sultry dinners, dancing, and walks in Central Park. John even brought Carolyn to Sea Song, the Long Island, home he rented with his cousin, Anthony Radziwill. The week after that, Carolyn met John for dinner at El Teddy’s, where he presented Carolyn with a letter [from] a friend of his. The letter claimed Carolyn was a user, a partier, that she was out for fame and fortune [and] “dated guys around town.” John casually tossed the piece of paper at her, stood, and walked out the door. Carolyn stared in shock at John as he departed.

Carolyn wanted John to think she moved on: “John called all the time,” says [a] Carolyn friend, “[We recorded] an outgoing message on her answering machine.” Anyone who called would get Carolyn saying, “Hey, hon, I’ll be back by seven o’clock, can’t wait to see you!” The idea was that John would hear it and assume she’d moved on. John did—and he called even more. But behind closed doors, Carolyn and John were developing a real kind of intimacy.

The proposal: The weekend of July 4, 1995, he asked her to go fishing in Martha’s Vineyard—and proposed. He turned to Carolyn and said, “Fishing is so much better with a partner.” Then he put a platinum band of diamonds and sapphires on her finger. Carolyn told him, “I’ll think about it.” This was also the time when Carolyn lost weight, and plucked her eyebrows to small wisps. And so when Carolyn stepped into the [Municipal Art Society] gala on John’s arm [on Feb 27, 1996], she had metamorphosed to a platinum siren.

Princess Diana’s death: Almost a year later, Princess Diana was killed in a car accident as the result of her driver trying to outrun the paparazzi. Carolyn was terrified. [She] tried to get John to call Princes William and Harry to give his condolences when it came out that Diana had hoped for her sons to emulate John’s modesty in the face of media obsession. He demurred, as he didn’t know them and thought that their situations greatly differed.

Marriage counseling: They began marriage counseling in the spring of 1999. A week [after July 4], John had told several friends and colleagues that he and Carolyn were splitting up. Yet, others noted they seemed very happy together, even the weekend before. After initially refusing to attend his cousin Rory’s July 17 wedding, Carolyn agreed. John would also fly Carolyn’s sister Lauren from New York to Martha’s Vineyard on their way to Hyannis Port.

The pedicure story: Tabloids put forth an alleged timeline in which Carolyn lingered for hours getting a pedicure. Yet an eyewitness report has her leaving the pedicurist by 5 p.m. She went to Saks to buy a dress for the wedding and picked out a black Yves Saint Laurent evening dress. After the purchase, the salesgirl wished Carolyn good luck. “Thanks,” Carolyn replied. “I’m going to need it.” [John, Carolyn and Lauren] were stuck in traffic and didn’t make it to the airport until after 8 p.m. Before they took off, Carolyn called Carole Radziwill, and they talked about Sunday-night dinner. “The plan,” Carole wrote in What Remains, “was grilled steaks and peach pie.”

[From People]

The pedicure story was started years ago by a particularly brutal Vanity Fair article, in which it was heavily implied that Carolyn was so vain, she kept having her pedicure redone and redone to match her dress, and that she was the reason why they left in the plane so much later than people thought. But the marriage counseling story seems true, as was Carolyn’s general unhappiness in the marriage in the last year or so. Anyway, I’m totally going to read this book.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Avalon Red.

The David Copperfield-sexual misconduct rumors have been around for years, but now more of his victims are coming forward. [Pajiba]
Taylor Swift changed & updated the Eras Tour. [Buzzfeed]
Would you buy this fan art? LOL. [OMG Blog]
What the hell? Just… what the hell. [Jezebel]
Are people still into Charlie Hunnam or nah? [JustJared]
People are still freaking out about that King Charles portrait. [Socialite Life]
Andrew Scott in a tight henley? Yes. [LaineyGossip]
Updates on The Last of Us Season 2. [Hollywood Life]
South Park will tackle the Ozempic craze. [Seriously OMG]
More fashion from Cannes. [RCFA]

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The more we see of Rose Hanbury, the more I wonder if we’ll ever see the Princess of Wales again. The Marchioness of Cholmondeley was out in public for the second time in the past week. Over the weekend, she attended the Badminton Horse Trials and she was pointedly photographed with Queen Camilla. On Wednesday, Rose was seen out again at an event attended by Queen Camilla and King Charles: the Service of Dedication for the Order of the British Empire. That was where Charles and Camilla staggered around in their cheap-looking polyester robes and looked particularly grumpy.

So, yes, Rose was there with her husband David Rocksavage, aka the Marquess of Cholmondeley. AKA King Charles’s Lord in Waiting, a position the king gave David last year. I have no idea if Charles and Camilla have always been close to the Cholmondeley family or this association and friendship has warmed up in recent years. I would assume that Rose and David attended this service because of David’s position as Lord in Waiting. Interestingly, Rose and David’s son Lord Oliver Cholmondeley was also chosen to carry the king’s train in and out of the service. Oliver was also one of the pages at the coronation, as was Prince George. I know there are always paternity rumors about Rose’s kids, but all I’ll say is that when the stories first began circulating about Rose and Prince William (circa 2019), no one questioned the paternity of Rose’s sons.

Oh, and apparently Rose is wearing a hat which Kate wore on Remembrance Sunday several years ago. The vibes are definitely off and the energy around all of this is very unsettling. That being said, I do think Rose has an It Factor. She’s striking, she’s thin and leggy, and she really does have beautiful eyes.

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Photos courtesy of Getty, Avalon Red.

The Windsors and their media allies are still incandescent with rage over the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Nigerian tour. Prince Harry and Meghan spent three days in Nigeria in what was called a “quasi-royal tour.” I mean, technically that’s true – it had the feel of a royal tour, but streamlined and done without any input from the left-behind Windsors and the British press. So much of the rage directed at the Sussexes is just based on shock – these people never believed that the Sussexes would survive away from the royal system, much less thrive. And now the Sussexes are doing it BETTER than the Windsors. Well, something must be done! We cannot let two charismatic people go around and be successful, charming and attractive. They must be stopped! Except the Windsors can’t figure out a way to “stop” the Sussexes, so they’re just sitting around, bitching and moaning.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have left King Charles and Prince William “absolutely furious” with their Nigerian tour, according to a royal expert.

Royal expert Tom Quinn has suggested the Prince of Wales isn’t happy with the couple. Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, he claimed: “William is absolutely furious and determined to find a way to stop this happening in future. Charles is said to be angrier than anyone has ever seen him. What’s really upset the applecart is the fact that that the Nigerians treated Meghan and Harry as if they too thought this was an official tour – all the signs were there as the couple were greeted with dances, receptions, visits to schools and charities.”

The royal author said there had been fears among the Royal Family that Meghan and Harry “would try to pull a fast one” and believes the Nigeria trip “has confirmed their worst fears.” He explained: “It’s as if Harry and Meghan have gone rogue – their Nigeria trip is a bold statement that they refuse to accept they are no longer working royals. William and Charles are scratching their heads and thinking, ‘How are we going to control this nightmare situation?’” Looking back at Meghan and Harry’s trip, Tom said it’s “easy to see why the senior royals are worried”.

Tom explained: “Everything you might expect from an official royal visit was there – the receptions, the visits to schools and charities, to wounded soldiers and the disabled. Meghan and Harry’s speeches and their whole attitude has been designed to give the impression that they are still fully paid-up royals and William and his father King Charles don’t like it one bit. For Charles and William, it’s as if Meghan and Harry are saying, ‘We don’t need your permission to be working royals – we will do it on our own terms whenever and wherever we like’.”

“The fact is that Harry and Meghan are cocking a snook at their relatives back in the UK and this will further damage relations with William and Kate, and King Charles. When Meghan and Harry were told they could not be part-time working royals it was assumed at Kensington Palace and Clarence house that they would go quietly. The Nigeria trip was Meghan and Harry’s way of saying, ‘We don’t need your permission. We will organise our own royal tours’.”

[From The Daily Mirror]

“Their whole attitude has been designed to give the impression that they are still fully paid-up royals and William and his father King Charles don’t like it one bit…” So the Sussexes did something without the Windsors, which did not cost the Windsors or the British taxpayers anything, the tour was a galloping success and now the Windsors are banging their heads against the wall about their inability to control or undermine two people they exiled. What is the point of “fully paid-up royals” – they’re mad that British taxpayers aren’t financing the Sussexes? Jesus, they don’t even know why they’re mad. This is also quite telling: “When Meghan and Harry were told they could not be part-time working royals it was assumed at Kensington Palace and Clarence house that they would go quietly.” That really is what the Windsors thought. They cannot believe that Harry didn’t divorce Meghan (as they ordered him to) and come crawling back to them.

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Photos courtesy of Getty, Avalon Red.