We’re coming up on the 25th anniversary of John F. Kennedy and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s deaths on July 16th. People Magazine already had exclusive excerpts from a book about Carolyn published this year, Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. Now Us Weekly has published more excerpts and additional stories in this week’s cover story. The main focus of Once Upon a Time was that Carolyn wasn’t some villain, nor was it her fault that the marriage had ups and downs, nor was it her fault that the flight was delayed. I don’t know the truth of their situation, but like everyone else, I do find John and Carolyn fascinating. Some highlights from Us Weekly’s cover story:

John & Carolyn were solid in the last year of their lives: Despite reports the pair — who wed in 1996 — were headed for a split prior to their untimely deaths, new revelations tell a different, more nuanced story of their complicated, passionate and enduring relationship. They were in therapy together and were talking about starting a family. “Toward the end of their lives, they had managed to reach this kind of rapprochement,” The Day John Died author Christopher Andersen shares in the latest issue of Us Weekly. “Whatever friction was there was being dealt with.”

The early days: According to Beller, the couple spent the early days of their romance going on dinner dates, traveling to Kennedy’s Long Island summer rental and hanging out in Central Park, playing touch football with Kennedy’s pals from Brown. “[Carolyn] would stay on the sidelines with John’s German shepherd Sam … calling plays, and teasing everyone mercilessly, laughing. John loved it,” Kennedy’s college friend Richard Wiese said in Once Upon a Time.

Carolyn played hard to get? Andersen says Bessette was “very cool, very smart [and] very intoxicating.” Historian Steve Gillon, who wrote America’s Reluctant Prince: The Life of John F. Kennedy Jr. and was a former good friend of Kennedy’s, adds that she “could challenge him intellectually. Carolyn found him, and then she made him work for her. I think that’s one of the reasons he was smitten.” Kennedy — considered to be one of the world’s most sought-after bachelors — proposed on July 4, 1995; Bessette reportedly made him wait three weeks before she said yes. They tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in front of just 40 guests at a small church on Cumberland Island in Georgia.

Reclusive Carolyn: Their marriage was marked by highs and lows. “There were a lot of issues,” says Gillon. Bessette hated being thrust into the spotlight and hounded by the paparazzi, and she resented Kennedy for it. “John had grown up with this media presence his whole life; it didn’t bother him,” explains Gillon. “But Carolyn was terrified. She became more reclusive.” They fought, sometimes publicly. (Photos of them arguing at NYC’s Washington Square Park made front-page news in 1996.) “They were both very high-strung, and I think they had tempers,” says Andersen. (Gillon recalls a fight the pair had in the kitchen of their Tribeca loft over a letter Kennedy received from his boss at his political magazine, George, during which Bessette “lit into” Kennedy for not sticking up for himself more.) “We saw several arguments they had in public,” adds Andersen, “but by and large, people thought Carolyn was worth it.”

They were discussing having kids in their last months. “[John] even had a name picked out,” says Andersen. “[Whether] it was a boy or a girl, they were going to call the child Flynn.” Bessette was coming around after having reservations about bringing a baby into the mix with all of the media attention they garnered. “She was doing much better in the closing weeks of their marriage,” Andersen says. “John was making accommodations for Carolyn and she was finally making them for him.”

Things were looking up. “Carolyn had found a way to cope with all of the attention,” says Andersen. “They had found a way.” Kennedy (who’d finally decided to follow his father’s footsteps into politics — “that was his calling,” says Gillon) was feeling hopeful, Andersen adds. “Days before he died, John said, ‘I’m happy with where my life is now.’”

[From Us Weekly]

I’m kind of wary of either extreme when it comes to stories about the last months of their lives. They were having well-documented issues and they had likely separated, however temporarily. But they were working on their marriage and it was actually a “good sign” that Carolyn wanted to go with John to a Kennedy family wedding that weekend. It does feel like there’s a movement to approach John or Carolyn as a sainted “great white hope” figure, when really, they were both messy people.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images. Cover courtesy of Us Weekly.

On May 4th, Kendrick Lamar dropped “Not Like Us,” the fifth song in his 2024 “beef” with Drake. I’m counting Kendrick’s feature on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That” as Kendrick’s first song of this year’s beef, but Kendrick and Drake have made oblique references to each other in their music for many years. “Not Like Us” came less than 24 hours after Kendrick released “Meet the Grahams,” one of the darkest lyrical eviscerations I’ve ever heard. But “Not Like Us” was basically Kendrick having a ball as he stomped on Drake even harder. It’s become the song of the summer and it was Kendrick’s closing song at The Pop Out concert he organized for Juneteenth. Kendrick performed “Not Like Us” five times and every single person there knew every word.

After the Pop Out, we heard that Kendrick was filming the music video for “Not Like Us” in Compton. I saw some fan-videos online, including one lady pinching Kendrick’s cheek as he walked past and he turned and smiled at her (adorable). Well, it really happened, and Kendrick dropped the video on the Fourth of July. Imagine choosing those two holidays for the biggest “I hate Drake” moves ever. When Kendrick dropped just the song on May 4th, the YouTube video racked up millions of views in just a few hours. The same thing happened with the music video – it came out around 7 pm EST last night and it already has over 12.5 million views. Kendrick also seems to be previewing a brand-new song at the beginning and there are consistent rumors that he will drop a full album soon.

There are so many visual references to Drake – the owl pinata, the actual owl in a cage at the end, the push-ups and on and on. Drake also claimed all kinds of sh-t about Kendrick’s relationship with his fiancee Whitney, and Whitney is there, in the video, with their two children. This was Whitney’s clapback too. Drake also claimed that Whitney had a thing with Kendrick’s friend Dave Free… the same Dave Free who co-directed the music video with Kendrick. The whole video is amazing, what’s your favorite shot? I love when Kendrick looks into the camera for “other vaginal option,” as if he’s saying: I really mean this sh-t. I also love the hopscotch for “A minorrrrr.” Tons of cameos too, including DJ Mustard and basketball player DeMar DeRozan (“I’m glad DeRoz came home, y’all didn’t deserve him neither”).

Drake: Your kids aren’t yours, your wife doesn’t love you

Kendrick & Whitney: pic.twitter.com/5IU5FvUf5L

— Joey (@gothamhiphop) July 4, 2024

Screencaps courtesy of ‘Not Like Us’.

Last week, PopBitch ran a particularly gross blind item – you can see the full screenshot here. The basics were as follows: an A-list actress has a house in the Hamptons and she regularly has friends stay with her. One of her friends – “a NYC-based wordsmith” – stayed in a guest room and had some kind of explosive diarrhea incident. Instead of confessing to the A-list actress, he just left money for the maids and got the hell out of there. Now the A-list actress is disgusted with the guy and she’s telling her friends about what went down, plus Hamptonites are now texting each other about “Ozempic-induced diarrhea.” Well, the Daily Mail did a big reveal. Unsurprisingly, the A-list actress is none other than Gwyneth Paltrow. But the NYC-based wordsmith? Who is he?? Turns out it’s everyone’s favorite hanger-on, Derek Blasberg. He’s like Jonathan Cheban for the elite.

The mystery surrounding the unfortunate guest who lost control of their bowels in a bed at Gwyneth Paltrow’s Hamptons home has now been solved by insiders who have named the person at the center of the scandal. DailyMail.com can reveal that the culprit behind the mortifying incident is socialite and celebrity hanger-on, Derek Blasberg.

The internet was whipped into a frenzy last week when a blind item in a popular gossip newsletter claimed that Goop founder Paltrow, 51, had been tasked with cleaning up someone’s ‘Ozempic-induced diarrhea’ at her home. But insiders have claimed that media personality Blasberg, 42 – once described as ‘one of showbiz’s most well-connected men’ – only conveniently blamed it on the popular weight loss wonder drug before allegedly fleeing the property.

‘It’s not Ozempic, that’s just what he told everyone,’ the insider said, before revealing how the secret made its way through the Hamptons set. ‘Gwyneth told Oprah, Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld, and Larry David. It’s shocking how many people know this story and how he has managed to keep it out of The Post… probably via his best friend [socialite Dasha Zhukova] – whose mom just married Rupert Murdoch.’

Blasberg is no stranger to spending time with Paltrow at her five-bedroom Long Island home, where she hosted her wedding to Brad Falchuk. In 2022 the fashion expert posted a snap of himself and the actress celebrating her 50th birthday at the sprawling property. And it appears someone tried to out Blasberg as the phantom pooper four weeks ago when they commented two poop emojis, a toilet emoji and a dynamite emoji on the Instagram post.

[From The Daily Mail]

“It appears someone tried to out Blasberg as the phantom pooper four weeks ago when they commented two poop emojis, a toilet emoji and a dynamite emoji.” OMFG. Like… how embarrassing, how awful, how scandalous. It’s bad enough that Gwyneth knows about Derek’s awful exploding diarrhea, but the fact that she’s telling everyone about it? Blasberg is probably going to be cut out of Hamptons society for at least a year. And if it wasn’t Ozempic-related diarrhea, what was it? Let me be honest – when I had the norovirus years ago, it was a mess. Not this bad – I was horking up almost everything – but it was BAD. For days. If he was legitimately sick, I would be more understanding. But what caused this??

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.

Britain’s general election was held on the Fourth of July, and British people came out in droves to declare their independence from the Tory Party’s chokehold on Britain for the past thirteen years and five prime ministers. The Tories oversaw Brexit, a significantly faltering economy, a diminished standing in European politics and global politics and, let’s not forget, Sussexit happened on the Tories’ watch. Rishi Sunak has offered his resignation and accepted responsibility for the Conservative Party’s historic defeat. I’m not a Sunak apologist or anything, but it wasn’t entirely his fault, right? This was a backlash against the party writ large, not Sunak specifically. If anything, it feels like people are still mad as hell at Boris Johnson.

Britain’s new prime minister is Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who can be seen in these photos with his wife Victoria. He will meet with King Charles today and do the ring-kiss thing and then he has to form a government. But first, let’s talk about Labour’s historic landslide:

An earthquake in British politics. With far-right politics ascendant across the English Channel in France, the United Kingdom has swung in the opposite direction. Official election results Friday showed a landslide victory for the country’s center-left Labour Party — its first victory in 19 years, since under the leadership of Tony Blair.

Incoming Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed his win as historic, saying early Friday: “Change begins now.”

“We can look forward again. Walk into the morning,” Starmer told supporters before dawn. “The sunlight of hope, pale at first, but getting stronger through the day.”

For the Conservatives — the party of Margaret Thatcher, Boris Johnson and the incumbent Prime Minister Rishi Sunak — it was the worst defeat in their party’s nearly 200-year history. Prominent lawmakers including former Prime Minister Liz Truss, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Penny Mordaunt lost their seats in the U.K. parliament. Sunak retained his seat but resigned Friday as Conservative Party leader, and apologized to the country.

“I am sorry. I have given this job my all but you have sent a clear signal, that the government of the United Kingdom must change,” Sunak told reporters as he and his wife left the prime minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street for the last time. “I have heard your anger, your disappointment and I take responsibility for this loss.”

After 14 years in power, the Conservatives were punished at the polls for all the tumult that occurred on their watch: Brexit, which most Britons now regret; Johnson’s Partygate scandal, in which the then-prime minister threw parties while the country was under COVID-19 lockdown and lied about them; and the disastrous 2022 budget of Johnson’s successor Liz Truss, which sent shockwaves through financial markets. Britain now has more children in poverty than any other wealthy country, according to the United Nations. Without London, it’s poorer than Mississippi.

This election also upended the U.K’s two-party system, with surging support for smaller parties. The environmentalist Green Party had its most successful election night ever, winning a record four seats — up from one in the previous parliamentary session. The centrist Liberal Democrats multiplied their representation in Parliament. And the far-right, anti-immigrant Reform UK Party will enter Parliament for the first time, with four seats — among them, one for its leader, Brexiteer Nigel Farage, who ran and lost seven times previously.

In Scotland, the once-hegemonic Scottish National Party — which has lobbied for Scottish independence from Britain — was decimated, with Labour taking most of the SNP’s seats. In Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K, the nationalist Sinn Fein party — which wants Northern Ireland to gain independence from Britain and join the Republic of Ireland to its south — won the most seats, becoming the region’s biggest party in the U.K. Parliament.

[From NPR]

The Scottish part is interesting, but I don’t completely understand what it means. Is the dream of Scexit over? Because it honestly felt like Scottish support for independence was growing every year? Or was the Labour support less about independence and more about throwing out all of the Tories in general? Anyway, congrats to all of the British peeps who came together to throw out those Tory a–holes. There’s a scary rise of right-wing ideology happening in many European countries, but British people said no, we want a more progressive government. Good for you guys.

Update: Starmer arrived at Buckingham Palace an hour ago and here’s the photo of Starmer meeting King Charles.

King Charles III welcomes Sir Keir Starmer during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London, where he invited the leader of the Labour Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government following the landslide General Election victory for the Labour Party.

Pic PA pic.twitter.com/RYjnV8JTG9

— Elliot Wagland (@elliotwagland) July 5, 2024

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

Two weeks ago, something very notable happened at Royal Ascot: Carole and Michael Middleton made their grand reentry into British high society after Party Pieces collapsed into insolvency. Last year, the Middletons were exposed as con artists and habitual liars – Party Pieces’ collapse left a trail of financial destruction – they screwed over local Bucklebury businesses and British vendors, they defaulted on pandemic loans, and they basically went into hiding for months. After last year’s coronation, the Middletons only came out for one public event in the past year: Kate’s stupid Christmas carol thing in December. It was genuinely surprising and notable to see Carole and Michael Middleton at Royal Ascot, rubbing elbows with royals and society people and trying to act like their whole house of cards didn’t collapse.

Well, funny story. Carole and Michael went to Wimbledon on Thursday. Not only did they go to Wimbledon, they were seated in the Royal Box. This a big deal – even when the Middletons were in good standing and their house of cards was pre-collapse, they were rarely welcomed into the Royal Box. I remember one year, Carole begged Roger Federer’s wife Mirka for extra tickets in the players’ box area on Center Court. Speaking of, Roger was in town and I would guess that was the reason why the Middletons popped up. Carole has a thing for Roger and Roger sucks up to the British royals and royal-adjacents.

You know what we need to bring back as a society? Shame. How are the Middletons not ashamed to show their faces? How can they afford to keep up appearances at Wimbledon after screwing over so many people? Why were they even invited to sit in the Royal Box? Their appearance at Ascot sort of proved that whatever went down in the first six months of the year, the Middletons successfully negotiated whatever this is – a reentry into society, with the British media refusing to point out the Middletons’ grift and financial catastrophe.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images.

I guess it’s documentaries-on-fabulous-women season and someone forgot to tell me, because not only did Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story premiere at Tribeca this year, so did a new doc on the impossibly cool Diane von Furstenberg. And unlike Liza, we don’t have to wait to see the film on Diane! Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge is streaming now on Hulu and Disney+, the release timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of her iconic DVF wrap dress. People Mag just interviewed Diane to talk about the anniversary, the film, her best style tip, and the markings of a fully lived life:

Fifty years after Diane von Furstenberg created the wrap dress, the cultural luminary’s presence in the fashion industry is still as palpable today.

To celebrate her creation’s milestone anniversary, von Furstenberg, who’s now cochair of her eponymous brand, recently launched a capsule collection featuring the silhouette in a new Crossword print. She also designed limited-edition sunglasses with Italian eyewear brand L.G.R. And, in addition, she launched a whopping 200-piece assortment with Target that ranged from apparel and accessories to home decor, including made-to-order furniture, that naturally sold out.

As she looked back on the history of the piece — and ahead to the premiere of her documentary, Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge, during a recent chat with PEOPLE, the legendary designer shared that when she first thought up the garment, she hadn’t imagined it’d have such a lasting impact.

“I didn’t know when I made that little dress that it was going to be a social phenomenon and that people would be buying it 50 years later,” she says of her famous design.

“I made the wrap dress, but really the wrap dress made me. It just happened. I owe her as much as she owes me,” continued the author and philanthropist, 77.

Von Furstenberg added that the dress is “a vehicle” for her to honor women. “I care about [her],” von Furstenberg says.

Of its longtime popularity, she surmises, “I think it’s successful because it makes a woman feel confident.”

Von Furstenberg, who says she sees her wrap dress on women when she’s out and about “all the time,” shares that her best style tip is “be yourself.”

She continues, “It’s not trying to be who you are not. Embrace your imperfections. If you do, you turn them into assets. I can’t say it enough: There’s nothing more becoming than that.”

In the documentary, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 5 and debuted on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally on June 25, von Furstenberg can be seen gracefully climbing into her sink to get a close-up of her skin while moisturizing her bare face.

It’s a striking moment that sums up her take on beauty and aging.

“I never had my hair or makeup done for [the documentary],” von Furstenberg explains.

“The point is: I think that people are too afraid of aging. But aging is a good thing. Aging proves that you have already lived. I never thought I would get to be my age. I used to think I was going to die by the time I was 30 because I had accomplished so much by the time I was 28. That’s why I say, instead of asking, ‘How old are you?’ you should ask, ‘How long have you lived?’ And then, all of a sudden you answer with pride.”

[From People]

I cannot recommend this documentary enough. Admittedly, I’m easy to lure in with a panoply of bright, bold patterns. And in a brisk 97 minutes? Color me happy. But I actually didn’t know much of anything about DVF, and found myself utterly captivated not only by her story, but by her telling of it. She is so direct, and clear about herself. I imagine some of that comes with age, or excuse me, how long she’s lived. Yet after seeing the film, I also got the feeling that Diane has always had a knack for really knowing herself and reveling in that, and it’s like she’s made it her mission in life to pass on that wisdom: be yourself! Of course, not all of us were dealt the cards of somehow being effortlessly regal yet simultaneously casual like DVF, but don’t let me spoil a profound statement about celebrating oneself. One moment from the doc that I loved (it happens early on, so not a spoiler!) was Diane saying, “It wasn’t that I wanted to be a fashion designer. I wanted to be in charge, and fashion ended up being the way I could do that.” Here’s to women being in charge. Or as I call it, the natural order of things.

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photos credit: Cat Morley / Avalon, James Warren / Bang Showbiz / Avalon, Caroline Torem-Craig / Avalon

The Daily Mail columnist Amanda Platell has written one of the most disgusting pieces I’ve ever read about Prince Harry. Usually, British commentators save this kind of contempt-riddled revisionist history for stories about Prince Harry’s wife. Platell has unsurprisingly latched on to her newspaper’s bizarre exclusive with Mary Tillman, the mother of the late Pat Tillman, following ESPN’s announcement that Prince Harry would receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service. Platell gives away the game – I wondered last week whether there would be an immediate and furious reaction from the British media and the Windsors to the award. There wasn’t really – that’s how upset they were. They’ve quietly stewed in their hatred for days and it’s spilling out now. Platell cites Mary Tillman’s words criticizing Harry and then Platell says outright that Harry deserves to be excoriated for the “treachery” of “abandoning” his family and country after serving in the British military.

…Pat’s mother Mary Tillman is unimpressed and asks why he has been chosen over more deserving candidates: ‘I am shocked as to why they would select such a controversial and divisive individual to receive the award when there are recipients far more fitting,’ she said. And she is not alone. Mary Tillman is speaking for countless others, since social media comments condemning the decision have flooded the internet not just from disgusted Americans and Britons, but from countries as far away as Australia, India and elsewhere in the world.

All are aghast not just that Harry is to receive such a distinguished honour, but also that he has the gall to accept it. One British veteran who served for 40 years posted on X that he was ‘incensed’.

To understand why there is such anger, it helps to compare Pat Tillman and Harry’s attitudes towards fame, fortune and duty. The star American football player, gave up a £3million NFL contract to fight for his country after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He joined the army and made the ultimate sacrifice, dying in Afghanistan in 2004, aged just 27.

Harry may also have fought for his country, but he then abandoned it, along with his duty as a member of the Royal family, for a life of money-grubbing opportunity in California off the back of his title. He then turned his guns on the monarchy – in that Oprah Winfrey interview, in the Netflix series about he and Meghan, and in his memoir Spare. All so he could cash in. It’s pure treachery!

As many have pointed out, including some of the 30,000 (and counting) Americans who have signed a petition in protest against Harry’s award, Pat Tillman walked away from money and fame for honour and duty, while Prince Harry walked away from honour and duty for money and fame.

[From The Daily Mail]

I guess it would surprise Amanda Platell to learn that Harry left the Army in 2015, a year before he even met Meghan. Reportedly, he was pressured to leave the Army because his lazy-ass brother needed someone to pick up his slack. Harry did not “abandon” the military at any point – he retired from active service after two tours and then his honorary military patronages were removed by QEII out of spite, because they were punishing him for the Oprah interview. Harry was neglected and abused, and watched as his family coordinated with the media to destroy his wife, just as they destroyed his mother. And along the way, Harry has devoted himself to helping and uplifting veterans and the military community. The British dumbf–ks using this moment to lie about Harry and his history deserve to rot in hell.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop has had a beauty line for years, making their own branded skincare and beauty products, sometimes in collaboration with existing beauty brands. Last year, Goop Beauty launched Good Clean Goop, a supposedly “affordable” beauty line with all of the core tenets of Goop: “clean” branding and eye-rolling at broke peasants. Gwyneth repeatedly looked down on consumers who cannot spend hundreds of dollars a month on skincare. She repeatedly made a point of saying that Good Clean Goop was basically a watered-down version of what she wanted because they couldn’t put expensive ingredients into the products because then the peasants wouldn’t be able to afford them. Is it a huge surprise that Good Clean Goop isn’t doing well? Perhaps not. But what surprised me is that, according to Puck, Goop Beauty is doing poorly across the board.

Goop’s overall sales, which include Goop Beauty, have been more or less flat since 2021, I’m told. Paltrow’s wholesale beauty businesses aren’t doing great, either. Despite WWD recently citing “Amazon overall and the wholesale business as key strengths for Goop Beauty,” I’ve heard that U.S. retail sales for the brand were only in the six figures at Amazon and Sephora for the month of May. (Summer Fridays did millions in sales at Sephora during the same period.) A spokesperson for Goop said that Goop Beauty’s sales overall are up 17 percent year-to-date.

Good.clean.goop, a more affordable and wholesale-only skincare brand that launched simultaneously at Target and on Amazon last October, also underperformed. I’ve heard the line is in the “bottom 15” at Target, which de-escalated some partnerships following the blowback to its LGBTQ+ Pride campaign last year. A source with firsthand knowledge of Target’s beauty business told me that the retailer had “reputational concerns” regarding Paltrow being a polarizing figure and decided to “take a step back” in terms of marketing and in-store placement of the brand.

“They got so conservative because of what was happening with Pride that everything was put on hold. Gwyneth ended up opening up the brand to Amazon, and it was not an exclusive launch. The brand lost momentum––it was put on a back endcap in the store, and it never really got traction,” this person said. (A spokesperson for Target declined to comment.)

There was also confusion around the market, pricing, and buyer for good.clean.goop. The line didn’t necessarily appeal to Paltrow’s wealthier core demographic, but it was still too expensive for the not-yet-Goop’d customer who doesn’t want to spend $30 to $40 on skincare, especially in the absence of serious marketing and prime placement in Target’s stores. “At the end of the day, it may not be priced correctly for what it is,” an executive at the retailer said.

Then the parody went mainstream. Goop Beauty lost its first-mover advantage when clean, nontoxic, and “free of” beauty marketing became inescapable. With every skincare brand chasing “clean” status––which, for the record, is purely a marketer’s gimmick since most ingredients on the “dirty” lists would never make it into beauty products in the first place––there was little setting Goop apart.

[From Puck]

I fundamentally believe that Gwyneth is a bandwagoner who merely takes credit for inventing/pioneering most things, but Puck correctly points out that Goop really missed so many opportunities to stake out their claim in the beauty/skincare market earlier on. Now the gap left by Goop has been filled by Fenty Beauty, Rare Beauty, Kylie Cosmetics, etc. Puck goes on to suggest that Goop’s “midlife crisis” is the result of Gwyneth failing to “install proper executive leadership, or even a seasoned C.E.O. with the operating chops to streamline the company’s various product lines.” I absolutely agree with that. Gwyneth has always expressed a desire for Goop to be a stand-alone entity eventually, and not be synonymous with Gwyneth’s name. But Gwyneth has still centered herself within the company, and for good reason – because she IS Goop. But that also means that she’s sort of half-assed it when it comes to building the company and ensuring the company’s independence.

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.

We still have not been able to spend our Sussex Bucks on one single item from the Duchess of Sussex’s American Riviera Orchard brand. She sent out strawberry jam and lemons, but there has been no real ARO launch or actual product reveal. I’m not “concerned,” I just want to be able to buy some ARO stuff. The ARO launch might have been paused for a few months while Meghan filmed her Netflix… cooking show? Entertaining show? Lifestyle show? All of the above, probably. Well, the Daily Beast’s Royalist got a hot tip that Meghan has wrapped filming the show, and of course Tom Sykes has to put the most negative spin on it:

Meghan Markle needs a hit. If she is lucky, she may have one soon. She has finished filming her new cookery and home show, The Daily Beast understands, meaning her as yet untitled new project could soon be appearing on Netflix. A Hollywood source told The Daily Beast: “It all went well and it is in the can.”

A spokesperson for Meghan declined to comment to The Daily Beast when asked if filming had finished. Neither the streamer nor Meghan’s team have said when the new series will air or what it will be called, however Meghan has said it will “celebrate the joys of cooking & gardening, entertaining, and friendship.”

Meghan was recently spotted by one TikTok user filming in a Beverly Hills park. The industry insider said that while it was possible that the show might need a few extra shots, they suspected that the filming uploaded to TikTok was unrelated to the home show project as the team had “got everything” they needed.

The Daily Beast has been told that filming has now ceased at a residential property just a few miles from Meghan and Prince Harry’s own home which was being used as a principal set for the show. While the decision on when to transmit the new show will ultimately be down to the streaming giant, Meghan will likely be eager to make a start on her new career as a home and lifestyle guru in the mold of Martha Stewart or Gwyneth Paltrow as soon as possible.

And there is no denying that a slam-dunk smash hit would be extremely helpful, after a perceived failure to follow through coherently and profitably with her various initiatives and businesses in recent years.

One expert on the intersection of talent and business, the PR consultant Mark Borkowski, told The Daily Beast, “The issue is Meghan’s ability to generate actual money. That is dependent on the quality of this new show. I suspect it won’t be a car crash; there is too much riding on it and she is being repped by the most powerful talent agency in the world, who will have gathered the right people around her. If she has listened and learnt and is comfortable in this new role as a kind of sub-Martha Stewart, sub-Oprah, this could be a relaunch to something new and interesting. If it is another fail, it will be more difficult, because she will have to pivot to yet another new direction. But the bottom line is that whatever Meghan Markle does will always generate massive interest, she brings eyeballs and that means there is a long line of people who would still want to align with her. She will always attract somebody who will want to leverage her brand.”

[From The Daily Beast]

I cut out a chunk of Sykes lamenting the lack of updates on the 40X40 mentorship project, because Sykes and all of the British commentators seem to think that it was actually an “initiative” rather than a suggestion Meghan made to fans for her 40th birthday. Anyway, I’m glad Meghan has wrapped on this show and I hope we get to see it soon. I’m not looking forward to the negativity around it, but I suspect that Meghan isn’t even going to breathe a word about the left-behinds. It’s going to be wholly positive and all about food and flowers and sh-t.

Photos courtesy of Instar, Cover Images and Archewell.

From CB: I bought the Roku I mentioned last week to replace my very annoying LG TV home screen and it works great! I set it as my default home screen and get one popup from LG instead of 10 and a bunch of LG ads. Roku is so easy to install and use – all I did was login and it remembered all my apps from my other Roku. I highly recommend one if you need to upgrade an older TV or if your TV’s built in software is slow or annoying. I also recently reordered the best dog waste bags that exist, from Earth Rated. They make an unpleasant task easier. Here are some Fourth of July sales and some more things Rosie and I are looking at on Amazon.

Fourth of July Sales and Deals
46% off With Prime Samsonite Omni 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage set
29% off Ninja QB3001SS Ninja Fit Compact Personal Blender
30% off SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker
49% off TOZO A1 Mini Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth 5.3 in Ear
34% off SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 6 40mm Bluetooth Smartwatch
15-49% off Bedsure Comforter Set – Bed in a Bag 7 Pieces
30% off Bwine F7 GPS Drones with Camera 4K Night Vision, 2Mile Range, 75Mins Flight Time
16% off YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike Brake Pad/Magnetic Stationary Bike
38% off REDTIGER Dash Cam Front Rear, 4K/2.5K Full HD Dash Camera for Cars
42% off Wavytalk Professional Ionic Hair Dryer Blow Dryer
33% off Nugget Ice Makers Countertop, 33 Lbs/Day Sonic Ice Maker
24% off KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer K45SS
21% off Cricut Explore 3 Smart Cutting Machine – Vinyl Starter Bundle

Make microwave popcorn without having to buy the bags

From CB: I make microwave popcorn in paper lunch bags by adding about 1/3 cup kernels and setting the microwave for 2.5 minutes. The results are uneven and sometimes the bags split. This microwave popcorn maker by Ecolution is under $20 for the large 3 quart version and under $13 for the 1.5 quart snack size. It comes in six colors, is dishwasher safe and has a cover that has a built in measuring area for kernels and an area you can melt butter in. This listing has over 67,000 ratings, 4.3 stars and an A on Fakespot. People say it makes popcorn night easy and fun. “This is so easy to use. Lost the directions. so I accessed them on the web. Just measure the corn in the lid up to the line, pour in pot, add butter or what I used, plant-based spread in the top and micro for about 3 minutes. Very few kernels in the bottom of the bowl, I like that. And the popped corn is not chewy, it is fresh and easy to chew unlike bagged micro corn.” “This is my favorite popcorn popper of all time! Done from start to finish in 3 minutes, the butter goes on top so once done all you do is dump it into a bowl and add your salt. It’s perfect for one to two people and it comes in a variety of colors.”

50 no-pull hair ties for $6

From CB: I don’t know where my scrunchies and hair ties go, but I’m constantly losing them. You can get a set of 50 no-tug hair ties in either all black, shades of brown or multicolor, for just $6. They come in a little jar for easy storage. This listing has 3,734 ratings, 4.7 stars and an A on Fakespot. People say they hold their hair back well and don’t damage it at all. They’re also said to be great for kids. “These hair ties are the best I’ve ever purchased. There’s a lot of them, I love the fun colors, they don’t hurt in your hair, and they are just a win!” “I have thick long curly hair and it’s hard to find good elastic hair ties. These are so easy to use and you get so many I have them all over the place! I will definitely have them in my pocket all summer to put my hair on top of my head! The hold!”

$100 off a Dyson Airstraight

From CB: I bought a Dyson Airstraight about a month ago. It’s is a hybrid hair dryer and flat iron. You can close it and it blows like a typical dryer to dry your roots and then you separate your hair into sections to flat iron and dry it at the same time. It leaves my hair sleek looking and straight, but it looks more like a flat blowout than a flat iron. I have to go over a section about 2-3 times depending on how wet it is. This listing has 509 ratings, 4.3 stars and a B on Fakespot. Right now it’s on sale for $100 off, but it’s still quite pricey at $399. I like it but I don’t love it at the price, however I have very fine hair. Women with very curly/thick hair say it’s amazing and a real game changer. “I really wanted to hate it at this price. But, it’s all it says it is. My hair has never looked better or healthier. Be sure to use a blow dry cream just like you would with blow drying your hair normally. When closed, it works like a hair dryer to dry your roots and almost get it dry. Like 70% focused at the roots. Then run it through, small sections slowly. It comes out dry, straight, smooth, and so shiny! I wish it was less expensive but it’s worth every penny.” “I have frizzy wavy/curly hair that is difficult to manage in a time crunch. My normal routine is wash, blow dry (15 mins or more), straighten (20 mins). I’ve kept my hair short to minimize the effort it takes. Now, with this product, my routine from wet to straight is done in 15 mins total! The effect is a little less sleek compared to a flat iron, but for most days, this is just what I need.”

Waterproof Uno cards for hours of poolside fun

From Rosie: My family and I love playing Uno, and since we’re going to spend time at both the beach and pool this summer, I picked up these waterproof Uno cards that my friend recommended. Her daughter plays Uno with her friends on the swim team in between races. Uno Splash is the same as the regular game, but with waterproof cards. You can also pick up a pack of waterproof Uno Splash Flip, which puts a more challenging spin on the game. It has a 4.7 star rating, more than 16,000 reviews, and a B on Fakespot. Users say it’s the perfect addition to their outdoor activities. “I got this for our summer vacation and it’s been a hit. We have several versions of Uno, but the plastic cards of this set make shuffling so easy…100% recommend.” “Great product for water and outdoor activity…The travel clip worked well and was able to clip on to different hooks and bags to take anywhere..very giftable materials were sturdy would recommend and buy again” “We love uno, so having this to bring along for downtime or rainy days while we are camping without worry that the cards will be ruined is great! I also love that they come with a storage clip instead of a box.”

20% off a portable beach tent to get out of the sun

From Rosie: This beach tent/sun shelter is a must-have if you’re planning on spending a lot of time outside this summer. Offering UPF 50+ UV protection, it’s lightweight and is easy to transport, set up, and take down. This tent comes in five different colors, but the sky blue version is currently 20% off in the four- and six- person sizes and almost 40% off in the two-person size. It has a 4.2 star rating, more than 4,200 reviews, and an A on Fakespot. In reviews, people mention that it’s very portable and super handy to have when you need to get out of the sun. “Brought this to the beach and it’s very easy to assemble. It’s very roomy and can accommodate 3 people as it says, 1 being a child. It’s very portable and takes very little space in the car. For the price, quality seems great and did what it’s supposed to do.” “We use it frequently and in our back yard for the kids to play. Easy to put together. Great sun blocker.” “We went to the lake on Memorial Day, and this saved our trip! Allowing a safe place for our baby to play out of the sun, and nap! It’s big enough for the whole family to sit in the shade! Absolutely love!”

$30 off a rowing machine for a full-body workout at home

From Rosie: If you’re looking for a full-body workout that you can do indoors, rowing is a great form of exercise. It engages your core, arms, legs, back, and glutes. Sunny Health and Fitness’s adjustable rowing machine is currently on-sale for $90, when it’s usually $130. There’s also a smart version that lets you hook up to workouts via your phone/TV that’s on sale for $130 (usually $160). It has a 4.4 star rating, more than 18,600 reviews, and an A on Fakespot. Users say it’s a great addition to their home gyms. “This Rowing Machine is a solid choice for anyone looking for an affordable yet effective rowing machine. It offers a smooth rowing experience with adjustable resistance levels to cater to users of varying fitness levels. The machine is well-built and sturdy, providing a stable platform for your workouts.” “After every workout, I feel it in my body. That’s a good thing! This rower is an excellent addition to your home gym. I do my 10K steps per day and this rower daily.” “This is an effective leg, back and arm workout combo machine. Enough to keep you in shape if that’s your goal… For the money and convenience it’s definitely worth the price.”

Packing cubes for easier, more organized packing and travel

From Rosie: Headed out of town this summer? It’s my semi-annual reminder that packing cubes are the BEST. I bought these for a trip to Europe earlier this year, but have gotten so much use out of them since. For example, my kids and I visited my parents for a few days and I used one packing cube for each of our clothes, which kept things organized and let us only have to bring one suitcase. There are 14 different colors to choose from. Depending on which color you get, they’re between 10% and 20% off. There is also a deal going right now where you get an additional 5% off if you buy two sets. They have a 4.7 star rating, more than 19,200 reviews, and a B on Fakespot. People call them a “game-changer.” “These cubes are a game-changer, making packing and organizing my suitcase a breeze…I love how easy it is to separate my outfits and essentials, which saves me so much time and hassle when I reach my destination.” “These made traveling easier. They help keep clothes organized and we were able to fit a lot more.” “I was able to pack 7 days plus worth of clothing in these bags and my suitcase still had room for more and managed to maintain the weight restrictions. I felt way more organized and was able to stay that way throughout the entire trip. i loved the toiletry bag and its hanging function as well as the laundry bag.”

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