Another day, another palace briefing about Prince William and Kate’s rage towards the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They’re just going to keep repeating it for the next ten, twenty years – Will and Kate are big mad at Harry and Meg! The “why” of it changes from week to week, but an old favorite got dusted off: because Harry and Meghan’s exit increased Peg & Buttons’ workload! The added twist here is that Will and Kate are now under so much work pressure (lmao) that they’re turning on each other. Please, it’s been years and I still can’t believe that Team Keen believes this is a winning message.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are said to have “had a huge impact” on Prince William and Kate Middleton when they stepped back from the Royal Family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to leave The Firm back in 2020 before starting a new life together in America. A source has now said that after their departure, the Prince and Princess of Wales were forced to pick up the “extra workload”.

“Prince William and Kate are feeling incredibly resentful towards Meghan and Harry for leaving them to pick up the work they dropped when they moved to the States. The extra workload that’s been handed to them is huge,” the source said.

They also claimed William and Kate have had to take on “even more responsibility” since Meghan and Harry left. The source said this has had a “huge impact on their marriage and family life”.

“At times it can feel like they are cracking under this relentless pressure. With less time at home together and having to spend more time apart, they feel constantly torn apart in different directions and they insist that wouldn’t be happening if Harry and Meghan hadn’t abandoned their royal duties.” the source told Closer magazine.

It’s been reported that William and Kate are also setting their sights on making waves in America, meaning Meghan and Harry could face competition across the pond. The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to be in the midst of submitting a trademark application in the United States. PR expert Andy Barr from 10Yetis.co.uk has revealed exclusively to The Mirror that Meghan and Harry would be “jealous” of the connections and opportunities William and Kate would be presented with should they decide to crack America. “I love brand Meghan and Harry but I do think that were Kate and Wills wanting to crack America, as rumoured, they would do so with far greater ease and speed than their power couple rivals,” he revealed.

[From The Daily Mirror]

“With less time at home together and having to spend more time apart, they feel constantly torn apart in different directions and they insist that wouldn’t be happening if Harry and Meghan hadn’t abandoned their royal duties.” I mean… lmao, what’s crazy is that it’s sort of true. True in the sense that the Sussexit was the beginning of the end for the Wales marriage, and they no longer had the Sussexes as a distraction to paper over their issues. All of which to say, if Harry and Meghan were so vital to the whole operation, maybe the family should have treated them accordingly? Maybe Will and Kate shouldn’t have been abusively racist a–holes? Anyway, I came here for Kate whining about how she’s a Top CEO under relentless pressure, but I leave this piece believing that the press is trying their best to telegraph the fact that all is not well in the Wales marriage.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, Cover Images.

Last December, Netflix dropped the trailer for the Harry & Meghan docuseries in the middle of Prince William and Kate’s Boston Flop Trip. William was, predictably, incandescent with rage, and he truly sat around for hours, screaming down the phone to every royal reporter back in the UK. William’s big talking point that week was that Harry and Meghan are “like the Kardashians,” and that it’s extremely “tacky” to overshadow Earthshot – which is like the Super Bowl!!! – with one trailer. Seriously, that was such a crazy week and it was bonkers to watch William’s incandescent briefing spree in real time. I bring this up because the British media was especially bored this week given Will and Kate’s refusal to do any work during their kids’ school breaks, so the media began churning away at some dumbf–k story about how the Sussexes might appear on Hulu’s The Kardashians. None of this is real, but the Daily Beast’s Royalist column was bored, so there was a big, stupid write-up. Some lowlights:

The Sussexes & Kardashians: Reports that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are being wooed to make a cameo in a new series of The Kardashians is a telling sign of how “they have frittered away their reputations in pursuit of money,” a former friend of Harry’s has told The Daily Beast. The person said they had been left “gobsmacked” at reports that Harry and Meghan are weighing an offer to appear in Hulu’s hit reboot of the legendary reality show. However, industry insiders told The Daily Beast that it makes sense for Meghan to be “aligned” with the Kardashians, especially if she is planning to relaunch herself as a lifestyle and social media influencer, a space the Kardashians rule, as some reports have suggested.

What is the source? The rumor first emerged in British gossip magazine Bella before being picked up by other tabloids such as the Mirror, and also appearing in Page Six. A source was cited as saying: “It’s no coincidence that the Kardashians all move in the same circles as Meghan’s new circle… It’s just a slam dunk for the two families to team up, but Kris doesn’t want to push too aggressively, too soon… Even if it’s just a cameo, that’s a huge win for Kris, the business side is now in motion and looking very lucrative.”

Who even cares: While the prospect of the exiled royals appearing on The Kardashians may be being greeted in England with a surge in demand for smelling salts, the producer, asked if an appearance would damage Meghan’s brand, said: “Not if she wants to be famous. Sure, the Kardashians are tacky, but that family are an entertainment juggernaut. Meghan will certainly want to be aligned with them, especially if she wants to make a splash on the social networks…. Meghan is having her moment in the sun, but the Kardashians have been going for over 15 years now [Keeping Up With The Kardashians premiered in 2007 on E!]. If Meghan is being seen at events with them in LA then it’s probably not too big a leap before they get her to sign a release and be on camera, even briefly. That is how those shows work.”

An old friend of Harry (who sounds like William): One old friend, who was friends with Harry and William at Eton and has maintained a friendship with William despite not being in touch with Harry any more, told The Daily Beast: “I mean, it used to be a joke, ‘Oh, they are going to be the new Kardashians.’ The idea that it could actually happen is insane. I’m gobsmacked. They have frittered away their reputations in pursuit of money, and this is the result. I actually think they ultimately probably will do it, or something very like it. They have done everything else, and they are going to need the money.”

[From The Daily Beast]

I get that people “on here” hate the Kardashians, but guess what? They’re super-successful by nearly every metric, Kim especially, and they’re accepted within the Hollywood/entertainment industry. A big chunk of this is just more of “the British people Britsplaining American culture” thing – these are truly the same people who think that David Beckham is one of the biggest celebrities ever in America (he is not). My point is that I doubt Meghan and Harry feel one way or the other about the Kardashians, and that they all have friends in common (like Serena) and it’s all fine. There’s this bizarre obsession with trying to make the Sussexes sound like C-listers, when really, all evidence points to the Sussexes being well-liked and popular within the A-list crowd.

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Embed from Getty Images

Photos courtesy of Getty, Cover Images.

Here are some photos of Taylor Swift out and about last night in LA. She had a girls’ night with Zoe Kravitz and Selena Gomez – they went to Sushi Park in West Hollywood. Keleigh Teller (Miles Teller’s wife) was also with them, although I don’t see any photos of her (she might have arrived separately). While Taylor and Selena have been friends for more than a decade, it feels like Tay’s friend-collection of Zoe and Keleigh is somewhat more recent. Taylor’s outfit here is so “granny chic” too – she’s literally wearing ‘80s jeans and a Shein doily. Meanwhile, we’ve got an update on Taylor and Travis Kelce. That man is in it to win it, and he’s even planning to visit her during part of her Eras Tour in South America.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s romance is reaching new heights as the NFL star is planning to be by her side when she starts her international tour dates, scheduled to kick off in November. A source tells ET the duo is fully committed to their relationship and the future.

“Travis and Taylor are all in. The two are very into each other and are enjoying their time together but are also planning for the future. Taylor starts her international tour in November, and Travis is planning to be there to spend time with her,” the source says. “Travis and Taylor are very serious about their careers, and the two bond over that and want to show support for each other whenever they can.”

During week 10 of the NFL season, Travis and the Kansas City Chiefs enjoy a bye week, providing him with a brief respite. Coincidentally, during this very week, Taylor is set to take the stage for three consecutive nights in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from Nov. 9 to 11, marking her debut international Era Tour performances. This fortunate scheduling overlap grants Travis the opportunity to be in attendance.

In the midst of their whirlwind romance, Travis is taking proactive measures to safeguard his privacy. ET has learned Travis recently purchased a new home, something he has been wanting to do for a long time. His current house was easily accessible to the public, which is no longer feasible given the onslaught of attention he’s received.

On this week’s new episode of his New Heights podcast with brother Jason, Travis also addressed the viral videos of him helping Taylor from the car on a recent date night, admitting that he does feel “protective” of the singer when they’re out together. “I feel like whenever I’m on a date, I’m always having the sense that I’m a man in the situation. I’m protective, yeah, for sure. You always have to have that feeling or self-awareness, I guess.”

[From ET]

I feel like Traylor will get so much love in Argentina. Taylor’s South American fanbase is huge and Argentinian fans will feel so special if Travis shows up there. And yes, I think Travis is all-in. This is so unique for Taylor – she was pursued by a man who has his own fame, his own money, his own profile. He’s showing her constantly that he prioritizes her and wants to protect her, and that he’s very serious about her. Is that what Taylor’s girls’ night was all about? Taylor was like “can you believe this, he doesn’t play any games and everything is so easy!”

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

Jim Jordan keeps losing Speaker votes, and his team has sent threats to his colleagues and their spouses over the Speaker vote. It’s insane. (Jordan now says he won’t do a third Speaker vote, so House Republicans are finding some temporary solution.) [Jezebel]
Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez went out to dinner this week. [LaineyGossip]
A rave review of David Fincher’s The Killer, starring Michael Fassbender. [Pajiba]
Lots of drama with RHOSLC’s Mary Cosby. [Starcasm]
More photos from the Glamour Women of the Year Awards. [Tom & Lorenzo]
Hailey Bieber is still trying to make “glazed donut” skincare happen. [Egotastic]
What happens when teachers date each other. [Buzzfeed]
What’s the New Girl cast up to these days? [JustJared]
Valentino’s Resort collection is really good. [GFY]
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu wore Armani, looked amazing. [RCFA]
The Masked Singer’s big reveal was a tennis legend. [Seriously OMG]

“We need a functioning Congress and I don’t know how we’re going to get it,” Rachel @Maddow says. “[Republicans] are incapable of choosing a leader amongst themselves and so we’re just waiting for them to get it together.” https://t.co/cVclFZQmjA pic.twitter.com/4kvTAhpPtI

— The View (@TheView) October 18, 2023

Last night, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended a celebratory event at Mansion House in the City of London. I’m not really sure what the hell that means, but the Guardian explained it thusly: “a reception and dinner to recognise the work of the City of London civic institutions and Livery Companies – the city’s ancient and modern trade guilds.” Like, a better-business bureau with costumes?? I’ll stop trying to ‘Murica-splain this British stuff at some point. Charles and Camilla have been in London for a few weeks, after their “summer” at Balmoral, where they were actually staying at Birkhall. Charles was especially active in Scotland over the summer, doing events and making all kinds of public appearances. Camilla less so.

For Wednesday night’s dinner, Camilla repeated a Bruce Oldfield gown. She last wore this gown in Germany earlier this year, for the big state dinner in Berlin. Last night, she paired the old frock with Queen Mary’s Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, which was one of QEII’s favorites and one which she wore frequently. Camilla’s diamond necklace and earrings also belonged to QEII. At the dinner, the king made a speech about interfaith dialogue, understanding and respect:

King Charles has stressed the importance of mutual understanding in religious faiths and the space to think and speak freely, saying it is “never more vital than at times of international turmoil and heartbreaking loss of life”. In a speech at Mansion House in the City of London, against the backdrop of the Hamas-Israel conflict, Charles stressed that tolerance and civility were among the virtues that Britain could draw on.

Reflecting on what made Britain “so special”, he said the nation could draw on “deep wells” including “the breathing space we afford one another.”

Though he did not directly mention the Gaza conflict, he told guests: “This well carries the politeness and respect we owe to one another; our willingness to put others first and treat them as we would wish them to treat us. To listen to their views and, if we do not agree, to remind ourselves to engage in a way which is passionate, but not pugnacious. This includes the practice of our religious faiths, in freedom and mutual understanding… Such understanding, both at home and overseas, is never more vital than at times of international turmoil and heartbreaking loss of life.”

“The instinct to cooperate wherever and whenever possible is deep within us. Even in the most fractious times – when disagreements are polished, paraded and asserted – there is in our land a kind of muscle memory that it does not have to be like this; that the temptation to turn ourselves into a shouting or recriminatory society must be resisted, or at least heavily mitigated whenever possible, especially in the digital sphere, where civilised debate too often gives way to rancour and acrimony.”

[From The Guardian]

In some sense, he’s advocating for the British Way – to paper over ideological, religious, moral and political differences with a thin veneer of forced politeness. That being said, Charles’s message is diplomatic and he threaded the needle in a smart way. I don’t know, it was better than avoiding the topic altogether.

LMAO, look at all of the medals Charles gave himself! He’s completely run out of room on his lapel/breast pocket.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.

In a story last week, I mentioned that the British tabloids were obsessed with the fact that the Duchess of Sussex hasn’t worn her engagement ring to any public event in recent months. She’s worn her wedding band, she’s worn other rings and other pieces, but not the engagement ring which Harry designed for her. The ring features a large diamond sourced from Botswana, with two smaller diamonds taken from one of Princess Diana’s pieces. Harry and William inherited their mother’s jewelry collection, and in Spare, Harry made it sound like there wasn’t any beef or disagreement about who got what. Harry has clearly already given Meghan several pieces from Diana’s collection, including the aquamarine ring, a pair of butterfly earrings, a Cartier watch and I think a few bracelets too. We’re always told that Kate wears Diana’s pieces as well, but they’re usually talking about Royal Collection jewelry which never really belonged to Diana. Anyway, there was a story last week that William is suddenly obsessed with Meghan’s missing engagement ring. Like, this is not a good story for William? It makes him sound creepy.

Prince William is reportedly “committed” to finding Meghan Markle’s £140,000 ($170,000) engagement ring after it disappeared from her finger. The Royal is apparently keen to uphold his promise to “preserve his mother’s legacy” according to a jewellery expert. Meghan’s ring from her 2017 engagement to Prince Harry was missing from her finger for the entirety of the Invictus Games.

Now expert Stefano Pietrini from Watches and Crystals has suggested why the Duchess Of Sussex has not been seen wearing her ring of late. He explained: “It has been revealed that this removal has been completely unrelated to her relationship with the Duke of Sussex. Unfortunately, there have been issues with the setting of the ring which has resulted in the stones becoming loose. As two of the stones are part of Princess Diana’s collection there is even more urgency when it comes to protecting the ring.” He explained that any issues which “risk the safety” of the diamonds are “immediately dealt with” to prevent damage. Stefano said Meghan is currently getting the ring fixed.

Stefano also told GB News his opinion on why Prince William would be so worried about the absence of the ring from Meghan’s finger. He said: “Prince William’s primary concern for the location of Meghan’s engagement ring has solely to do with the sentimental attachment of the late Princess Diana’s diamonds.” He added that it is “no surprise” that William is committed to preserving his mother’s legacy, with her jewellery being a big part of that.

Diana is said to have ensured her jewellery collection was inherited by both William and Harry, so they could have an even share. Stefano gave a detailed valuation of the ring itself. He described: “The ring is worth a total of approximately £140,000 with the central diamond, sourced from Botswana, attributing the highest value of £115,000. Surprisingly, the two smaller stones of Princess Diana’s, placed on either side of the central diamond, are valued at a lower figure of roughly £4,000 each. However, as these diamonds are part of Princess Diana’s collection they have a much higher historical value that will continue to rise due to their unmatched sentiment.”

[From The Daily Mirror]

One of the things that surprised me about Prince Harry’s Spare is that Harry made it sound like he and William didn’t consult with each other about their mother’s jewelry whatsoever (update: actually, Harry did reference consulting William about the engagement ring). Like, Harry didn’t seek William’s permission to use Diana’s diamonds in the engagement ring, nor did William seek Harry’s permission to give Kate the sapphire ring. We’ve never heard anything about Harry consulting William about giving Meghan the aquamarine ring or anything else either. So… what even is this story? Is William actually obsessively watching his sister-in-law’s jewelry choices? Does William also care that Meghan still has Diana’s aquamarine and other pieces? What is this all about?

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

A playwright named Jonathan Maitland has written a play called The Interview. It’s all about Martin Bashir’s famous interview with Princess Diana in 1995, the one which was dramatized in The Crown last season, and the one which will never air on the BBC again. The Windsors – specifically King Charles – did the most to bury the interview and silence Diana in her lifetime and in her grave. There was a lengthy investigation into the interview and how Martin Bashir scored the interview (through fraudulent means), and in 2021, the Dyson Report revealed the results of the investigation. Basically, Bashir used deceit to secure the interview, he forged bank records and manipulated Diana. But the Dyson Report also noted (begrudgingly) that Diana was always going to give an interview and it was just a matter of deciding who she would speak to. While Bashir contributed to Diana’s paranoia at the time, he was not the sole reason for her paranoia – she already believed that her phones were being tapped, that she was being monitored, that if something happened to her, it was Charles who gave the orders. Anyway, Maitland is raking over all of this again, and he wrote a piece in the Daily Mail about all of it:

Diana’s bravery: We know about the sensational star quality — apart from Marilyn Monroe, has the camera loved anyone more? — but that interview highlighted Diana’s extraordinary, kamikaze-like bravery. You can think she was wrong to grant Bashir an audience in the first place but still admire the moral courage she showed as a 34-year-old woman, single-handedly taking on the British monarchy, one of the most powerful institutions in the world.

Diana knew what she was doing: There are many who say Bashir manipulated her into it — that she was, in effect, not in her right mind — but I don’t think that’s the case. She knew what she was doing and it’s clear she was always going to grant someone that interview: it was simply a question of who she did it with. Bashir’s deceit didn’t generate the interview itself, it just ensured that it was he who got the gig.

Diana could be capricious. The whole affair highlighted her catastrophic lack of strategic judgment. Her attack on her then husband’s fitness to rule was a terrible error. She told Bashir ‘the top job, as I call it, would bring enormous limitations to him, and I don’t know whether he could adapt to that’. This made her look vindictive. As her former aide Patrick Jephson argues in his book Shadows Of A Princess, had she taken a more diplomatic line throughout the interview, she would have won the PR battle hands down. Jephson thinks she could, and should, have forgiven Charles for his behaviour. Indeed, at least one close friend advised her to do just that. But Diana’s view was, essentially: ‘They need to apologise first.’ It would have been hard, admittedly, but had Diana taken a softer approach it would, in the long term, have helped to establish her as a substantial public figure of grace, wisdom and honesty.

Wow, it’s almost like Maitland is saying Charles killed Diana: Imagine if, instead of saying that the marriage was ‘crowded’, she had said: ‘I was heartbroken by my husband’s affair. But for the sake of my children, the country and the Royal Family, I am prepared to forgive and move on.’ If she had found it in herself to be that shrewd, who knows? She, not Camilla, could now be Queen.

Prince William’s tantrum about the interview: Following the Dyson Report, Prince William said: ‘It is my firm view that this programme holds no legitimacy and should never be aired again.’ The BBC immediately agreed to his request and so the interview is now, in effect, banned. Anyone who uses chunks of it for a documentary, film, or indeed play, runs the risk of being sued for breach of copyright. So that means we can no longer hear, or see, an interview which, despite its dodgy provenance, is a truly historic and significant journalistic document. I can understand why the BBC caved into William but it was supine and undemocratic. The Corporation should reconsider its decision.

He’s basically William Parker-Bowles: How can it be right for a public-service broadcaster devoted to free speech, to censor a revealing interview with one of the 20th century’s most significant figures? It’s ironic that the eldest son she brought up to have the courage to speak out has silenced his own mother… who had the courage to speak out.

[From The Daily Mail]

“The whole affair highlighted her catastrophic lack of strategic judgment. Her attack on her then husband’s fitness to rule was a terrible error.” I’m ready to fight about this – Diana, in 1995, was ready to settle scores, it’s true. Charles had already given his interview to Jonathan Dimbleby where he made it sound like he was forced to marry Diana and that he treated her like a broodmare, only there to provide heirs. Diana was pissed, justifiably so. But has anyone stopped to think that maybe she was telling the truth? That Diana, with all of her emotional intelligence, having seen Charles close up, realized that he would be a terrible king, the kind of short-sighted, vindictive a–hole who would evict Diana’s son from the family home he paid for? The kind of terrible king who would leave the daily staff management to his mistress-wife?

Now, what Maitland says about William is exactly right – William’s tantrum about the interview and insistence that the BBC shelve it forever is Diana’s son silencing her and failing to see her courage and bravery.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images, screencap from GMA/ABC.

In her memoir, Britney Spears reveals that, in late 2000, she became pregnant when she was with Justin Timberlake. She described wanting to have the baby, but Justin told her that he was not ready to be a father and that she should get an abortion. There’s an added detail to the story now, from Us Weekly:

In her upcoming memoir, The Woman in Me, Spears, 41, recalled the way Timberlake, 42, attempted to comfort her after she terminated her pregnancy. Spears wrote that Timberlake “thought maybe music would help,” an insider exclusively confirmed to Us Weekly. As Spears lay “crying and sobbing” on the bathroom floor, Timberlake strummed his guitar.

[From Us Weekly]

Granted, when I was that age (18/19), I was in love with a guy who gaslit me, treated me badly, played all kinds of mind games, all while strumming a guitar. It’s almost a rite of passage for several generations of women: at 18, your boyfriend is a douchebag who plays the guitar. The problem is, Justin Timberlake is absolutely still that f–king guy. Speaking of, Britney’s memoir has apparently caused chaos in the Timberlake household:

Britney Spears’ memoir has already caused “chaos” for ex Justin Timberlake’s family, a week ahead of its official release. The Oops I Did It Again singer revealed that she fell pregnant with her ex’s child, but decided to have an abortion as he thought they were “too young” to have a baby. Sources have now revealed that the admission couldn’t have come at a worse time for Justin, who is preparing to make a musical comeback.

“Justin owns who he was when he and Britney were together, even though his personality, career, lifestyle, and personal priorities are radically different now, 20 years later,” the source revealed. “This book is a nightmare for him because of how it throws the whole family into chaos. The timing stings just as much as the revelation itself.”

“Justin had a big fall planned with new music on deck, more work with his old friends in ‘NSYNC, and of course, the next installment of the Trolls franchise, which has been a huge moneymaker for Justin over the last several years,” the insider told the US Sun.

The source also admitted that it’s unclear whether Justin told his wife, Jessica Biel, about the abortion from his previous relationship. They said: “I have no idea if the abortion was something he ever told Jessica about because Justin’s relationship with Britney is not something he discusses with his friends. He’s not in denial about it, but to him, this was a million years ago.”

[From The Daily Mirror]

I mean… it was twenty-three years ago, before he even met Jessica Biel, so I would hope that Biel isn’t upset about the abortion. I doubt Justin is even really worried about what his wife thinks here, the main thing he’s worried about is how Britney’s revelations will affect him professionally. Again, if it was just about “two teenagers and an unplanned pregnancy which was terminated,” the story would be notable but not that scandalous. The fact that we know what happened next is what makes Justin the villain – his indiscretion, using Britney to launch his solo career, bad-mouthing Britney in interviews and in music.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.

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In March, 2022 Kelly Clarkson finalized her divorce from Brandon Blackstock, after a lengthy legal battle. This year Kelly released her tenth studio album Chemistry and relocated her daytime show from LA to New York City. She’s been busy. With The Kelly Clarkson Show returning this week, post-WGA strike (more on that later), Kelly is talking about the need for starting fresh in a new place and falling in love with NYC:

A fresh start: “At this point, I’m 40 years old. Mama rented something nice!” Clarkson says with a laugh, sitting at a studio just blocks away from her talk show’s new home in 30 Rockefeller Plaza. “I was like, ‘I’m not living here unless it’s right by the park and really nice for the kids.’” Clarkson shares two children with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock: River Rose, 9, and Remington, 7. The pair split in 2020 and finalized their divorce last year, which was partly what prompted the change of address. “I’ll be real honest: I thought I was making a horrible decision.” Clarkson says of her apprehension before the move. “I knew I needed a fresh start and couldn’t be in LA. I really wanted to be in Montana, but you can’t really do a show from there quite yet. So I was like, ‘The only other option would probably be New York.’” After just a few weeks, she’s sold on the city: “I genuinely love it, and I love that my kids love it.”

Her first NYC show had an audience of doormen: Taping her Season 5 premiere last Wednesday, Clarkson received a rambunctious New York welcome from an audience entirely comprised of apartment and hotel doorpeople (the city’s “unsung heroes,” as she explained). Throughout the episode, she spotlighted Lenny Faverey, a TikTok-famous “dancing doorman;” Correll Jones, a beloved longtime greeter at 30 Rock; and Noel Maguire, a Park Avenue doorman who started a foundation to help the city’s unhoused population.

She made a hard decision and owned it: Daytime programs such as “The View” and “The Drew Barrymore Show” also earned scrutiny last month, after resuming taping before the Writers Guild of America strike ended. As a songwriter, Clarkson could understand what the Hollywood writers were fighting for, having witnessed firsthand the negative impact of streaming and artificial intelligence on the music industry. That’s why it was important for her to shut down production when the strike began in early May. “I felt in my gut, ‘This is what we should do,’ so we made the decision as a team to end Season 4 and stand with them,” Clarkson says. “I had a lot of hard conversations with people like, ‘Hey, we don’t know if the show is going to make it if you don’t come back.’ But that’s gotta be the hard decision, and it sucks. I don’t think people realize, with a lot of the people that got blowback, the stress of that decision.”

Smiling and actually meaning it: Through the last four seasons of her daytime show, “full disclosure, I put on a smile a lot of those times because I was struggling a lot in my personal life,” Clarkson says. “I’ve learned a lot about what I’m capable of handling, and also what you should not handle. That was me saying ‘bye’ to ‘The Voice’ and having this big move. I love that family, but I was like, ‘I’m struggling. I can’t smile anymore. I don’t feel like smiling.’ What’s cool for me with Season 5 is I am in such a great place, not only with my kids, but with me personally and with the show,” Clarkson continues. “I feel like a weight has lifted. That move was very needed. I think the thing I’m most excited about with Season 5, on a selfish level, is just showing up to work smiling and actually meaning it. That’s a beautiful gift that you don’t realize until you’re out of it.”

[From Yahoo! Entertainment]

I hope you’re listening, Drew Barrymore, because that is what it means to own a decision. It was very nice of Kelly to try and make Drew sympathetic by saying it was a stressful decision. But Kelly handled the strike situation with twice the grace despite only being a public figure for half as long as Drew. To be fair, we’re obviously not privy to what goes on behind the scenes. Kelly maintains a lot of goodwill from the public, even when her show was hit with toxic workplace allegations earlier this year. People tended to make a point of separating Kelly from the accusations, going so far as to say they believed she knew nothing of what was going on. That being said, executive producer Alex Duda was cited in those allegations and is very much still with the show.

As for starting anew in New York City, I too fell in love when I moved here as a fresh-faced college student. But if I had to do it all over again, I would do it rich like Kelly, so I could get myself some nice digs as well. I don’t even need/want a place in Manhattan anymore, I’m just hoping to hang on in my Queens neighborhood! The only thing I don’t understand is: why is Kelly renting instead of buying?

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I really do find myself subscribing to Mariah Carey’s holiday ideology more and more as I get older. Like, as soon as Halloween is over, I’m ready for the Christmas season. I’m fine with a two-month-long “holiday season,” which includes Thanksgiving for Americans. I used to be like “why are they pumping Christmas music into every store on November 1st?” But now it’s lovely to me. I love this time of year, minus my least-favorite holiday, Halloween. Anyway, Mariah gave an exclusive interview to People Magazine to promote her new ad campaign with The Children’s Place (a kids’ clothing retailer), featuring her two 12-year-olds, Monroe and Moroccan. Dem Babies are on the verge of their teenage years! Some highlights:

Monroe & Moroccan turn 13 next April: “Don’t rush all of our lives. They’re still 12.” According to Carey, getting to watch Moroccan and Monroe grow into young adults is “actually really beautiful. They’re good, nice kids. They’re kind-hearted people, and I really enjoy being around them and watching them grow up into the people that they’re ultimately going to become.”

The kids are involved with sports: She doesn’t “want to be that overbearing person that talks about all the stuff that they do…[but] They’re into activities like physical sports and stuff like that, which I was hoping they would be, because when they were little, I had them doing that. Then, when it was COVID, they really couldn’t go anywhere and do anything. So now they’re both really enjoying activities and sports and all of that.”

Her holiday plans: “I keep that part as secret as possible until we get everything set. It’s just one of those things I do every year, where I make everybody wait to play Christmas music until I’m ready to take it in and feel like, ‘Okay, now it’s time for the holidays.’” Carey also says that she, Moroccan and Monroe “do the holiday season a little bit differently than most people,” but notes, “We have a great time. We have our traditions, like rolling in the snow, jumping in the hot tubs — stuff that most people don’t do, but it’s just that we’re all kind of daredevils. We also sit and play games, like Heads Up! or Taboo. For the past four years, I’ve been trying to make my traditional Christmas meals, like my dad’s recipe for linguini and clam sauce. I like to make sure Monroe and Rocky come in and cook with me.”

She hopes her kids love Christmas too: “All of us spending time together is more than enough as a gift for what I want for Christmas, and what I want for my kids for Christmas is to just enjoy themselves, be happy, enjoy being with family, and feel loved.”

[From People]

She sounds almost subdued about Christmas! But you know she has something amazing planned. I hope that her kids are good and well-adjusted. I’ve talked a lot of sh-t about Mariah over the years, but I do think she’s a good mom who is trying to provide her kids with the lives and experiences she dreamt of for herself. It also sounds like Nick Cannon barely has anything to do with his firstborn children, mostly because he keeps having babies with other women. Anyway, can’t wait for November 1st, the official start of the holiday season!

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Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Instagram.