From CB: The holidays went way too fast! If you’re like me and haven’t taken your Christmas tree down yet (you’re supposed to have until January 6 but I’m giving myself until the 15th, no pressure), you may want to get an ornament storage box. I bought a similar model from this same brand, Zober, two years ago and it’s a game changer! I used to keep my ornaments wrapped in tissue paper in a plastic bin but this makes them so much easier to protect, find and store. This Christmas ornament storage box has over 9,300 ratings, 4.5 stars and an A on Fakespot. It’s under $31 for the large version and if you’re in the US you can get it with two day Prime delivery! I also highly recommend this wrapping paper storage box. I got this two years ago and it was a real upgrade from keeping my wrapping paper in large gift bags. Here are some sales and some more things Rosie and I are looking at on Amazon!

Fashion and accessories
Up to 66% off Outerwear and Accessories from Cole Haan, Kenneth Cole, and more
Up to 63% off Apparel from Calvin Klein, DKNY, and more
Up to 64% off Amazon Essentials Men’s Apparel and Accessories
Up to 70% off Amazon Essentials Women’s Apparel and Accessories
Up to 71% off Kids’ and Baby Clothing from Amazon Brands
Up to 71% off Watches from Fossil, Timex, Invicta, and more
Dresses, Shoes, and more from the Luxury Stores Designer Sale

Beauty, health and personal care
Up to 31% off Premium beauty from The Face Shop, VERB, and more
Up to 48% off Haircare favorites from Revlon, Hot Tools, TIGI, Clairol, and more
Up to 43% off Amazon Brands health products
Up to 48% off Nutrition and Wellness from Natural Vitality, Bayer and more
Up to 47% off Health and Intimate Wellness from K-Y, Summer’s Eve, Always and more

Home and Accessories
Up to 25% off Stanley Hydration and Camp Products
Up to 13% off Hydro Flask Travel Tumblers
Up to 24% off Home Care from Swiffer, Downy, Tide and more
Up to 34% off Home Storage & Organization from Amazon Basics
20% off OXO GoodGrips POP Containers
Spend $60, Get $15 Amazon Credit on Household Supplies

Electronics and appliances
Up to 39% off Samsung Monitors
Up to 25% off Peloton Bike, Bike Plus, Guide, Accessories and Apparel
Up to 40% off DEWALT Batteries, Mechanics Sets and Tools
Up to 60% off Greenworks Battery Powered Outdoor Tools and More
Up to 41% off Health and Household devices from Omron, Guardian, Homedics and more

A travel hairdryer you’ll want to use every day

From CB: I have the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium hair dryer and I love it. It’s $90 right now and is well worth the price. You can get the travel version on sale for under $30! This listing has 4.4 stars, over 6,400 ratings and a B on Fakespot. People say it’s small and lightweight but has a lot of power. “Small but mighty hairdryer! Perfect for travel or if you just want a hairdryer to not take up so much space. Works very well!” “I have the full size baby pro dryer and needed something smaller for travel. This dryer is a great compact size I don’t feel like I’m skimping on quality. It’s pretty quiet and very powerful. I would definitely recommend this dryer.” (The BaBylissPro Ceramic XTreme is also on sale for under $60.)

Soft comfortable leggings you’ll want in several colors

From CB: I wear leggings to bed, to walk the dog and to work out in and I go through at least two a day. They’re comfortable and you don’t feel like you’re wearing pajamas if you need to run an errand. These high waist leggings with pockets by The Gym People are the number one bestselling leggings on Amazon. They come in 21 different colors and prints and in sizes x-small to 3x. These have over 66,000 ratings, 4.4 stars and the same score on ReviewMeta. Women say they’re comfortable, warm, flattering and hold up over time. “These leggings are one of the best that I’ve ever purchased. They are very comfortable and provide good support around the waist. They have great stitching and design. They also are nothing like the cheaply made leggings that feel like plastic- these are soft!” “Super comfortable leggings! They are pretty thick but not hot. I wanted the sort of silky fabric of the Wunder Under/Luxtreme fabric leggings from lulul*mon but they’re more like the Luon fabric. Good value for the money, especially compared to brands like lulul*mon and fablet*cs.”

50% off clear plastic drawer organizers that will help you sort all the things

From CB: I’m planning to get more organized in the new year. These clear plastic drawer organizers by WowBox are 50% off and are under $18 for a 25 piece set of four different sizes. (They also come tinted in black, blue and purple which are not on sale.) They should really help get your bathroom, kitchen and office clutter under control. These have almost 6,000 ratings, 4.5 stars and the same score on ReviewMeta. People say they’re great for organizing drawers and helping tame chaos. “They helped me utilize every inch of these shallow drawers I got for under my desk. Everything looks super cute and organized. I had to play Tetris and swap the pieces around quite a bit, but I finally ended up with some layouts that worked for me.” “These have so many multiple uses. I was able to organize drawers, art supplies, makeup, etc. What I love about them is unlike a one-piece multiple-compartment drawer organizer, should something spill, you do not have to take everything out to clean it, you just clean the one compartment.”

An oil cleanser that gently removes makeup and leaves your pores clean too

From CB: This under $18 oil cleanser by Anua is among the bestselling personal care products on Amazon. It’s mild, hypoallergenic and is said to clean skin while helping clear your pores. It has over 2,200 ratings, 4.4 stars and a B on Fakespot. People say that it cleans thoroughly without irritation and many notice a reduction in blackheads too. “I tried it as soon as I got it and I was shocked with how effective it was. With one use I saw immediate results! My nose looked clear for the first time, it was so smooth I couldn’t believe it. It’s gentle and makes my face feel so soft and moisturized. Also, it is AMAZING at removing make up.” “I decided to try this oil out over a few others I use on a whim. I’m so glad I did. I’ve only used it a few nights and I swear my pores aren’t clogged and ALL my make has come off. I’ve used oils and balms that are highly rated and raved about and I’m always left with eye make up and clogged pores. My skin literally hasn’t looked this good in so long.”

A sauna jacket for sweatier, more satisfying workouts

From Rosie: I tend to do more inside workouts in the wintertime. When I do, I wear this sauna suit, which helps me get my sweat on quicker and feel less bloated. Sauna suits are not for everyone, though, so if you have any health issues, please check with your doctor first, and as with any workout, make sure you’re properly hydrated! This suit has a 4.5 star rating, more than 1,400 reviews, and an A on Fakespot. Users comment on how sweaty it makes them. “I love wearing this whilst riding the Peloton and it makes you sweat during your workout.” “I workout about 5 times a week… I would barely sweat, once I started using this I am drenched in sweat! I feel less bloated after working out!” Here’s what else CB and I are looking at on Amazon this week.

A digital smart scale that measures your body metrics

From Rosie: I bought this scale six years ago when I was looking for one that broke down your body metrics and still really like it. It has a companion app that’s easy to set up and use. You can also have multiple users. There are six different design options, ranging from $23 to $30, including a solar-powered one. You can also bundle it with a digital measuring tape. This scale has a 4.7 star rating, more than 307,700 reviews, and a B on Fakespot. Reviewers also appreciate how useful and easy-to-use this scale is. “I like the ability to track your body metrics and weight over time using the app (the line graphs in particular).” “Over [my] lifetime I’ve had plenty of different scales that claim to do different things but this scale offers more useful health information about yourself at this price point then any other comparison.” “I am impressed with the quality and it’s pretty accurate I’d say. The app is pretty useful and nice to track trends on everything as well.”

A hydrating night cream for softer, smoother skin

From Rosie: CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Night Cream is formulated with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and ceramides to help retain your skin’s moisture. It is fragrance free and non-greasy. At just $15, it’s a good price too. This cream has a 4.6 star rating, more than 41,400 reviews, and an A on Fakespot. People love how it makes their face feel overnight. “This CeraVe cream is a winner when it comes to moisturizing and hydrating your skin. It also has working benefits in it like peptide complex , niacinamide and ceramides. These all work for your skin. It is very hydrating, so I use it mainly at night.” “My skin looks healthy after about 3 weeks of use. Wrinkles are less pronounced and fewer.” “This night cream is so nice! It makes my skin feel amazing and definitely keeps my face feeling clean and fresh all night long. When I wake up in the morning I can tell it’s worked it’s magic because my skin still feels so soft.”

Kelly Clarkson is still recovering from the absolute disaster of her first marriage. She married Brandon Blackstock in 2013, and ten years later, her divorce was finalized. There’s still a lot of legal stuff to get through – she’s suing him for mismanaging her career for years AND stealing money from her AND defrauding her out of lucrative deals and on and on. As Kelly has said before, she ignored a lot of red flags and she’s still crawling out of that completely sh-tty situation. But Kelly is still Kelly and she’s fundamentally a happy, perky optimist, so she’s on the cover of People Magazine this week with an interview about how she’s doing great these days.

Her latest album, ‘Chemistry’: When she started writing Chemistry, “I didn’t see it other than: This is my outlet. I’m a let-go person; I don’t hold grudges. So it was really delving into what happened in my life and why—and what am I going to do about it? I cannot express how appreciative I feel for having that kind of healthy outlet. Because the level of depression and things that come with divorce or grieving is extraordinarily hard. You feel alone, and it’s just a blessing to be able to have that outlet for those emotions that are overwhelming.”

Taking her power back: Finally releasing it “[was] like, ‘I’m taking my power back,’” Clarkson adds. “That sounds very therapy, but that’s because I love therapy, and I think it’s important to have those tools to navigate your life and relationships.”

Life in New York: Today as she builds her own village as a single mom in New York City, Clarkson, who is also an ambassador for Wayfair, is especially grateful for new beginnings. “Sometimes you don’t know what life has in store for you, and you think your life is going to go one way, and it’s OK that it doesn’t,” she says. “You never know how beautiful that might be.”

[From People]

I’m genuinely happy for her that she’s rebuilding her life and reclaiming her power, because Blackstock screwed her over in a million different ways. She sounds like she’s in a good place right now. You can also tell that she feels strong enough because she’s still suing the pants off of Blackstock. As part of her ongoing legal actions against Blackstock, Clarkson was deposed and she spoke about how her husband/manager told her she wasn’t sexy enough to appear on The Voice:

Kelly Clarkson claims her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, once told her she wasn’t “sexy” enough to be a coach on “The Voice.” The “American Idol” alum, 41, said in court documents obtained by The Post Tuesday that she told the talent manager, 47, for years that she wanted to star on the NBC singing competition show, but he informed her that network executives were “looking for a more sex symbol type.”

Blackstock also allegedly told Clarkson that NBC wanted “someone sexy” like Rihanna over his then-wife.

The “Kelly Clarkson Show” host made the bombshell claim last year to a California labor commissioner, who ultimately ordered Blackstock to pay Clarkson $2.6 million for unlawfully procuring deals that should have been handled by her agents.

When Clarkson’s lawyer, Ed McPherson, asked how she was able to recall the conversation, the pop star replied, “Well, a wife doesn’t forget a time she gets told she’s not a sex symbol, so that stays.”

[From Page Six]

While I never watched The Voice, didn’t the show’s popularity rest more with the judges’ chemistry with each other? As in, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera and everyone else all had to get along and play-fight and be able to riff with each other? It had nothing to do with sexiness and everything to do with charisma and star-power, both of which Kelly has in abundance. This just shows that her ex negged her and was probably deeply emotionally abusive as well.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Avalon Red, cover courtesy of People.

Embed from Getty Images
I didn’t learn to drive until I was 25. My high school was walking distance from my house and I was dead-set on moving to New York City with its vast subway network, so it didn’t seem necessary to my teenage self. When I did finally learn, it was when I was back in California for a little bit. I wouldn’t want to be a seasoned driver behind the wheel in NYC, let alone a novice one. But California may be off my list now, too, or at least Los Angeles. Last summer Pedro Pascal recalled being in three instances of road rage in LA. Earlier this week, Beverly Hills 90210 alum Ian Ziering was driving on Hollywood Boulevard when a nasty altercation broke out between Ziering and a pack of bikers, captured in a video posted to TMZ. It’s hard to tell what started the fight just from the clip, but what is apparent is how many bikers violently ganged up on Ziering. Ziering has posted his account on Instagram:

“Yesterday, I experienced an alarming incident involving a group of individuals on mini bikes,” Ian wrote. “While stuck in traffic, my car was approached aggressively by one of these riders leading to an unsettling confrontation. In an attempt to assess any damage I exited my car. This action, unfortunately, escalated into a physical altercation, which I navigated to protect myself.”

Ian confirmed that he and his daughter Mia, 12, who was in the car with him at the time of the incident, were “both completely unscathed” in the attack.

“But the incident has left me deeply concerned about the growing boldness of such groups who disrupt public safety and peace,” Ian continued. “This situation highlights a larger issue of hooliganism on our streets and the need for effective law enforcement responses to such behavior. As a citizen and a parent, I find it unacceptable that groups can freely engage in this kind of behavior, causing fear and chaos, while the response from authorities seems insufficient.”

At the end of his post, after he reiterated “the importance of personal and community safety” after being attacked by the group of bikers, Ian thanked his family, friends, and fans for their support. “It’s in challenging moments like these that the strength and unity of our community are most vital,” Ian wrote.

“Happy new year.”

[From Hollywood Life]

And Yahoo had some more details on the attack:

Officers responded to the area of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue at around 3 p.m. on reports of a fight that broke out after the group of bikers were driving recklessly in the area, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to KTLA.

It is unclear what exactly prompted the brawl between Ziering and the bikers, but video posted by the tabloid outlet shows the actor pushing one of the mini-bike riders, who was right in front of what seems to be his SUV just before an all out fight broke out.

The 59-year-old “Sharknado” star is then immediately ganged up on by several of the other bikers. In an attempt to get away, Ziering makes a dash across busy Hollywood Boulevard, dragging his attackers along with him.

When he gets to the other side of the street, the footage shows him fighting back as he gets walloped by one of the bikers, eventually breaking free and running away on the sidewalk.

TMZ reported that both the bikers and Ziering left the scene with their vehicles.

It’s unknown if anyone involved in the violent scuffle was seriously injured. Police told KTLA that the incident remains under investigation.

[From Yahoo! News]

What I can’t get past from watching the video is how quickly all the bikers descend on Ziering. They’re so angry so immediately. It’s chilling to watch, and his poor daughter was there to witness it all. Ziering said they were “completely unscathed,” but that’s just physically. I hope both dad and daughter have strong support around them in the aftermath of this episode. In an effort to bring at least a little levity into this post, I will admit that I chuckled with Ziering’s word choice of “hooliganism.” It sounds so old fashioned, right? “I say, the little whippersnappers are up to their old hooliganism antics again!” But more than being a bit retro, I’d say “hooligan” is an awfully generous term to use for those bikers. Be safe out there, everyone!

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A post shared by Ian Ziering (@ianziering)

photos credit: Getty, Backgrid and via Instagram

As we discussed on Tuesday, the original versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse went into public domain on January 1 (also known as Monday). Disney’s copyright on their First Couple expired, which means that anyone can legally use their incarnations from the 1928 short cartoon Steamboat Willie. And so they have! While Minnie has (so far) been spared, it seems many an auteur were chomping at the bit to give Mickey the horror film treatment. A teaser trailer for Mickey’s Mouse Trap dropped on YouTube literally the first day he entered public domain:

Leading things off is an official teaser for Mickey’s Mouse Trap, a horror flick based on Mickey Mouse from 1928’s Steamboat Willie, which was released via YouTube on Monday.

The footage from the upcoming film, which is expected to release in March 2024, sees a group of teens in an arcade stumble across a blood-soaked jungle gym before cutting to a reel-to-reel projector eerily running clips from Steamboat Willie, the Walt Disney short that first introduced Mickey Mouse to the world. The following scenes showcase an individual dressed as Mickey Mouse going on an apparent murderous rampage through the arcade.

Mickey’s Mouse Trap was directed by Jamie Bailey and is a Bailey Phillips Production. In the description underneath the film’s teaser, the creators wrote “THIS IS NOT [sic] A DISNEY FILM OR PRODUCTION. IT IS NOT AFFILIATED OR ENDORSED BY DISNEY IN ANY WAY. This film makes use of Public domain Steam Boat Willie Mickey Mouse only. Steamboat Willie’s Mickey Mouse entered public domain on January 1st 2024. No copyright infringement of later versions of Mickey Mouse or trademark infringements.”

But wait, there’s more! A second Steamboat Willie-Mickey horror film is set to start filming in the Spring:

Following Mickey’s Mouse Trap was the announcement of a second, unnamed film based around the character of Mickey Mouse from Steamboat Willie. This project, which has no affiliation with Mickey’s Mouse Trap, sees a mouse tormenting passengers on a ferry.

In a press release obtained by Variety, Steven LaMorte, director of the second film, made it known that his character won’t be identified as Mickey Mouse or make any mention of Disney. “We are doing our due diligence to make sure there’s no question or confusion of what we’re up to,” he said, noting that producers are working with a legal team to ensure they stay within the law. “This is our version of a public domain character. It’s a scary thrill ride with heart and humor, based on this character that everybody knows.”

Upon entering the public domain on Monday, Disney lost the copyright law protection that has allowed the studio total control over Steamboat Willie and that film’s version of Mickey Mouse’s likeness since 1928. Disney still retains copyright protection over the later, more recognizable iterations of Mickey Mouse.

“Steamboat Willie has brought joy to generations, but beneath that cheerful exterior lies a potential for pure, unhinged terror,” LaMorte added, according to the publication. “It’s a project I’ve been dreaming of, and I can’t wait to unleash this twisted take on this beloved character to the world.”

[From People]

I barely know where to start, this flurry of slightly-anarchistic activity is making my impish heart sing. First of all, the fact that one of the horror film directors is named LaMorte is killing me. I don’t care if it’s a stage name to cement his brand, it still works. A director hasn’t been so aptly named since Roger De Bris from The Producers. Moving right along… There’s an anthropological study to be conducted on why, when made available to the public, the first two projects out the gate are slasher films casting Mickey as the villain. Have there been generations of children traumatized by Mickey who’ve all just been waiting to exact their revenge via hokey cinema? I mean, it sounds like LaMorte in particular has been plotting for this moment since loooong before the copyright was even close to expiring.

As for the Mickey’s Mouse Trap trailer, it’s hilarious. To me it’s one of those things that’s so bad it swings back into being fabulous. The production value reads as film school (the first comment to the video was “The budget for this must be $100”). People Mag’s description of the killer being “dressed as Mickey Mouse” isn’t quite right — the figure is clad in hockey clothing just with a black & white Mickey mask over his head. The shot that absolutely sent me over the edge was of his silhouette coming into frame just in shadow, panning up to reveal the unmistakable outline of his ears.

Please enjoy the Mickey’s Mouse Trap trailer. It’s awful, it’s fantastic, and I wish them all the luck in the world going up against Disney.

Melania Trump skipped the NYE festivities at Mar-a-Lago because her mother is apparently in the hospital. Is something happening? [Hollywood Life]
Does Lewis Hamilton have a new model girlfriend? [LaineyGossip]
Predictions for the biggest hits & flops of 2024. [Pajiba]
Buzzfeed has a new pub quiz. [Buzzfeed]
Emily Ratajkowski returned to NYC after spending NYE on a beach. [JustJared]
The Fug Girls’ favorite posts of 2023. [GFY]
Why didn’t the Kardashians release a Christmas card? [Starcasm]
I can’t believe it’s been a year since Jeremy Renner almost died. [Socialite Life]
I still can’t believe that they brought Night Court back. [Seriously OMG]
Was Schiaparelli really the couturier of the year? [RCFA]

For years, the Princess of Wales has blatantly copied the style of other, more fashionable women. Kate loves a creepy homage of Princess Diana, and Kate keeps her Meghan Lookbook updated every time Meghan is photographed in a new piece. But it was years before I realized just how thoroughly Kate has copied Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary. Mary married Prince Frederik in 2004 and Mary is ten years older than Kate, so Mary basically did everything first. Mary was wearing all of Kate’s “favorite designers” before Kate. Mary was wearing floral headpieces years before Kate. Mary combined professional working-woman separates with couture decades before Kate. Mary did artsy black-and-white family photos years before Kate. Looking at side-by-side comparisons, it’s clear that Kate’s Mary Lookbook might be longer and more well-maintained than her Meghan Lookbook. The Telegraph helpfully put together a wealth of side-by-side photos to show just how thoroughly creepy Kate has been for years about hijacking Mary’s style. The Telegraph is trying to put a bow on it, claiming that Kate will be watching Mary’s sartorial transition from crown princess to queen.

The Princess of Wales is hailed as a style inspiration to women around the world, but who might her own muse be? Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has long been credited as the woman Kate studied to perfect her own brand of modern regal realness. Whenever the two have been photographed together, their resemblance is uncanny, and not just because they both have sleek, shiny brunette hair and sporty model figures.

“Kate is like a younger sister to Mary, who is both beautiful and elegant,” the designer Karl Lagerfeld said ahead of the 2011 wedding of Kate and William. Ten years the Princess of Wales’s senior, Australian-born Mary has been at the forefront of working out what a princess (and now queen) should look like in the 21st century. From prim frocks to floral headbands (Kate is said to have been inspired to wear one to Prince Louis’s christening by Mary wearing one for her son Christian’s) to the effortless ability to transition from sportswear to ballgowns, the style comparisons between the two women are endless.

“Crown Princess Mary’s signature style is very classic and sophisticated. She often goes for simple lines and streamlined silhouettes,” say Sarah Williams and Heaven LeeMiller, the founders of royal fashion website UFO No More. “She manages to balance Scandinavian minimalism with Australian bohemianism very well. Her outfits always have a touch of trend or whimsy to prevent them from looking dull or boring.”

It helps that the royal family that Mary married into reigns over one of the world’s most fashionable countries. While her signature look is more glamorous and ladylike than your average Scandi-cool ensemble, she can call on labels like Ganni, Cecilie Bahnsen and By Malene Birger, as well as the jeweller Sophie Bille Brahe, to provide just fashion-forward enough pieces to keep her looking relatably of-the-moment.

Not that she limits herself to shopping Danish. Mary, who has worked with her stylist, Anja Camilla Alajdi, since her 2004 marriage (just as Kate has maintained her trusted adviser, Natasha Archer, since her earliest days as Prince William’s wife) has a wardrobe spanning H&M to Prada and Hugo Boss. She loves British fashion, too, which has led to even more “twinning” moments with Kate in labels such as Alexander McQueen and Erdem.

Of all the influential modern royals who have the power to make an item sell out when they wear it, Mary is the one who is perhaps the most genuinely committed to sustainability, attracting shocked tabloid headlines when she deigns to wear something for the seventh (!) time – often, in the manner of Princess Anne, many years after its first outing (symbolising not only her recycling nous but the fact that, as a 51-year-old mother of four, she can still fit into pieces first worn almost two decades ago).

Williams and LeeMiller calculated that she has added 70 new items to her wardrobe this year, almost half that of the Princess of Wales. “Very early on, it was clear that there were expectations about what you wore and how you dressed appropriately to an event,” the Crown Princess told the Financial Times in 2022. “That was pretty daunting for me. I was a T-shirt-and-shorts girl, known to go barefoot.” She will have been able to advise Kate even more candidly in private on the treacherous transition from low-key commoner to international style icon. Now that T-shirt-and-shorts girl is about to become Queen of Denmark, Kate will no doubt be paying particular attention to how she styles out her new role.

[From The Telegraph]

The biggest difference between Mary and Kate is that Mary had already spent a decade as a professional working woman and she already had that base of knowledge – what’s appropriate, what’s good quality, what looks professional and age-appropriate. Kate never had that background – she was a party girl who spent a decade waiting for a ring. That’s why Kate latches on to more stylish women and copies whatever they’re doing or have done. Kate’s a nearly-42 year old woman who is still obsessively style-stalking other women.

Also: given Kate’s years-long obsession with Mary, it’s still very strange that Buckingham Palace went out of their way to UNINVITE Mary from QEII’s funeral in 2022. Remember that? What was up with that?

Photos courtesy of Cover Images, Instar, Backgrid.

Something I think about way too much: Nostradamus correctly predicted Queen Elizabeth II’s death, down to her age and the year she would die. Not only that, but Nostradamus predicted that Charles’s reign would be quite short, and that he would abdicate because of his lack of popularity, and that someone unexpected would become king. Like… it’s a lot to consider. Now, with Queen Margrethe’s sudden abdication, it feels like “abdication talk” is in the air in the UK. I honestly don’t believe that Charles would ever willingly give up the throne, even if he was the most unpopular king in history. But royal experts are still throwing out theories about what could happen.

King Charles could choose to abdicate in the next five to ten years and hand the throne to William and Kate while they are still young because Queen Margrethe’s decision has gone down so well in Denmark, royal experts told MailOnline today. The Danish monarch, 83, announced in her annual New Year’s Eve speech that she will step down on January 14.

Commentators believe that Margrethe ‘deliberately’ dropped her ‘massive bombshell’ at the right time to secure the future of the Danish Royal Family, and its ‘greatest asset’, Crown Princess Mary amid rumours that Crown Prince Frederik may have had an affair.

Royal biographer Phil Dampier believes that King Charles will be influenced by events in Denmark since New Year’s Eve – especially if it would protect the future of the British Royal Family. Mr Dampier said that the Prince and Princess of Wales are very friendly with Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, and will have been in contact with them this week.

He said: ‘It must make you wonder if in five or ten years’ time King Charles might think about doing the same if his health suffers or he just thinks it is a good time to pass on to William and Kate while they are still young. Our late Queen would never abdicate because of what happened in 1936 when her uncle abdicated and her father came to the throne. But times change’.

He added: ‘William and Kate get on very well with Frederik and Mary and will be among the first to congratulate them. They will be fascinated to see how they get on as King and Queen and it will make them think about their future as well’.

[From The Daily Mail]

Five years from now, Charles will be celebrating his 80th birthday. If he has his mother and grandmother’s longevity genes, he will probably still feel healthy and cognizant. I mean, QEII didn’t really begin to “slow down” physically and mentally until her 90s. You could argue that sure, maybe Charles *might* consider abdication in 15 years, around his 90th birthday. But even then, I just doubt that Charles would ever willingly give up power. Now, when the end comes, it might not be up to Charles. His heir is certainly going to go above and beyond to ensure that his father’s reign is as short as possible.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

As we discussed, Taylor Swift was in Kansas City for New Year’s – she attended the Chiefs game at Arrowhead on NYE, then Taylor and Travis Kelce went to a big party that night. People at the party were taking photos and videos, and that’s how we know that Taylor and Travis kissed at midnight (which will absolutely make its way into a song). According to obsessive Swifties who studied the videos from the NYE party, Travis also said “I love you” to Taylor at or around midnight. I mean… they’ve been dating for five or six months. I suspect that they’ve already said “I love you” many times to each other.

Anyway, if all of this is enjoyable to you or you find yourself wondering about Travis’s rapid ubiquity, wonder no more – the New York Times has done a fascinating piece about Travis’s two business managers, brothers Andre and Aaron Eanes, and how these three have been planning out Travis’s cultural rise for years.

In the only recent year in which Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs weren’t playing in the Super Bowl, the N.F.L. star was driving around Los Angeles in early February with his business managers, André and Aaron Eanes, marveling at billboards featuring Dwayne Johnson, the actor and entertainer better known as the Rock. “Man, I don’t think I’ll ever be as famous as the Rock,” Mr. Kelce said. His co-managers looked at each other. “We’re like, Yes, you can,” André Eanes said.

The Chiefs have spent the last few years as the most unstoppable force in football and, along the way, Mr. Kelce’s other team has grown to include a creative strategist, a community outreach coordinator, a Los Angeles-based publicist, a personal chef and a trainer. He has four football agents, led by Mike Simon at VMG. In the spring, he also became a client of Creative Artists Agency to feed his budding acting itch.

The Eanes brothers coordinate it all, managing the surging flow of incoming traffic for a piece of Kelce Inc. Film scripts have been shared among the team. Game shows are a consideration. Maybe a few less commercials.

“People say to me, ‘Man, it’s been a crazy year,’” Aaron Eanes said. “When I say, ‘Actually, it’s not that crazy,’ people look at me funny. It’s because it’s easy when you have a plan. We’re executing that plan.”

Before you run to YouTube and TikTok to research conspiracy theories, no, the plan did not include Taylor Swift. But while Mr. Kelce’s shift into a more mainstream form of celebrity was planned out before he met Ms. Swift, there is no question that the doubling of his prospective audience — from mostly men between the ages of 18 and 49 to a far larger group bolstered heavily by Ms. Swift’s female fans of all ages — has changed the calculus for where the plan goes from here.

“The awareness of Travis is much larger and with an even broader audience,” said Richard Lovett, C.A.A.’s co-chairman. “It’s accelerated that which was probably inevitable in terms of his level of awareness and appeal.”

[From The NY Times]

I’m not a Traylor Hater, but I am a Traylor Conspiracist. I think Travis genuinely likes and maybe even loves Taylor Swift. But I also think that the way everything worked out between them was a bit too convenient. I mean, Travis saw his opening and he took it. He’s played it perfectly too – enjoying Taylor’s fame, supporting her, speaking her love language of demonstrative drama. Do I think this was all some scheme hatched in his business manager’s office? No. But I do think that Travis and his team all quickly realized how they could and would play all of this.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, Instagram.

Predictably, it seems like Cardi B & Offset reconciled over the holidays, although they haven’t announced anything yet. [Hollywood Life]
Kristin Chenoweth got covid over the holidays. [Seriously OMG]
Kristen Stewart will be honored at Sundance. [LaineyGossip]
People are raving about Zac Efron in The Iron Claw. [Pajiba]
The best & worst looks of 2023. [Go Fug Yourself]
John Waters’ top 10 films of 2023. I didn’t expect some of these. [OMG Blog]
Andy Cohen was scammed out of a lot of money. [JustJared]
What were the best beefs of 2023? [Jezebel]
The fashion critics’ favorite looks of 2023. [RCFA]
T&L’s podcast about the end of The Crown. [Tom & Lorenzo]
Thrifters dream about finding stuff like this. [Buzzfeed]

People are still reeling from Queen Margrethe’s surprise announcement, on New Year’s Eve, that she would abdicate the Danish throne on January 14th. Most of us thought immediately of the most recent scandal to hit the Danish royal house – Crown Prince Frederik’s alleged affair with a woman based in Spain, an affair which was widely reported in the Spanish and British media. While I think that scandal could be a factor, let’s also remember that Margrethe had major back surgery in late February/early March, which was so significant she had to make Frederik her regent. I would guess that 2023 was the year Margrethe really began feeling her age and her mortality. Now, is the abdication also about Frederik’s wandering sceptre? Perhaps. The Daily Mail thinks so:

Queen Margrethe acted decisively to end her reign and promote her son Crown Prince Frederik in a ‘shrewd’ bid to save the Danish monarchy and avert the ‘disaster’ of his marriage to Crown Princess Mary crumbling amid rumours of his affair, royal experts told MailOnline today. The Danish monarch, 83, announced in her annual New Year’s Eve speech that she will step down on January 14 – the first abdication in the Nordic state for 500 years.

Royal commentators have told MailOnline that Margrethe ‘deliberately’ dropped a ‘massive bombshell’ at the right time to secure the future of the Danish Royal Family, and its ‘greatest asset’, Crown Princess Mary.

Less than a fortnight ago Australian-born Mary was spotted in tears and shared a cryptic post about loneliness just weeks after her husband was pictured on a night out in Madrid with a Mexican socialite, sparking rumours of an alleged affair with Genoveva Casanova.

British royal author Phil Dampier, also an expert on European monarchies, told MailOnline: ‘I think Margrethe may have worried that their marriage was in trouble and therefore she had to act. The Queen always thought Mary was a fantastic asset to the royal family and if she thought she might leave it would have been a disaster. She will now hope that Frederik and Mary patch up any differences and work together as the new King and Queen’.

Australian-born Mary is hugely popular with the Danish public, and is often compared to her good friend, Britain’s Princess of Wales.

Mr Dampier said: ‘I never thought the Queen would abdicate and this has come as a total shock to many Danes. I can’t help thinking that it has something to do with the recent rumours about Crown Prince Frederik spending a night with a Mexican socialite. Mary recently spent time home in her native Australia and she arrived with her children but Frederik only joined them after a few days. She appeared tearful at one stage and posted some poignant tweets’.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said that Queen Margrethe does not wish the Danish monarchy to be viewed as old and out of date. He said: ‘Queen Margarethe of Denmark is a shrewd operator. She has stunned the nation by announcing she will abdicate in a fortnight in favour of her son Crown Prince Frederick. Recently rumours of an affair with Mexican socialite and actress Genoveva Casanova, illustrated with what appears to be embarrassing photographic evidence which was published last November, have been extremely damaging to the royal family’.

[From The Daily Mail]

It’s interesting to think of using an abdication as a way to force the crown prince to stay with his wife. I have no idea if Princess Mary is actually all that popular – they’re lying about her “friendship” with Kate, after all – but it does feel like Mary and Fred were at some kind of crossroads in their marriage. Now they basically have to stick it out – there’s no way Frederik would seek a divorce just as he becomes king. Mary might have even gotten some guarantees that she could carve out a separate life for herself as queen, just as long as she doesn’t pursue a divorce. I’ll say this – if Margrethe made this decision partially because of Fred and Mary’s marital problems, it actually is sort of a masterstroke?

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.