As Lainey mentioned in her intro, The Social: Year in Gossip airs tonight in primetime on CTV. We shot it last week. It was the last show I produced on my last day at The Social. It’s a recap of all the scandal, fashion, romance, and drama of the past year. It’s all sequins and big hair. You’re goi…

When Tom Hiddleston and Taylor Swift first started happening in 2016, it felt like Tom was trying to take advantage of his raised profile. Suddenly, he booked a Prada campaign and he was being constantly discussed for James Bond, and he just became extremely overexposed. What was weird is that… Tom had a really great career before the Tiddlebanging even started, but he suddenly looked so thirsty, and like he was trying to parlay his relationship for career advantage. I bring this up because I think Taylor learned a lot from that, and I think Joe Alwyn examined the effects of Tiddlebanging too. When JoeTay first started happening, I rolled my eyes at the idea that Taylor could make this pale English actor into a “thing.” But guess what? She made him into a thing.

Joe Alwyn has been in four films this year – Operation Finale, Boy Erased, The Favourite and Mary Queen of Scots. The last three films are awards-season contenders, especially The Favourite. While Joe will not be nominated personally for anything big, his attachment to one or more “Oscar contenders” will absolutely help his career in huge ways. And he did it all without whoring out his relationship with Taylor. It’s a Christmas miracle! Anyway, Joe has a feature in the latest issue of Esquire, which you can read here. Some highlights:

Playing Robert Dudley in Mary Queen of Scots: “He isn’t driven by politics and ambition and power in the same way as the other male characters. The others try to circle the women and use them for their own advantage. That’s not to say that my character is incapable of doing that, but he has higher priorities or higher feelings—his love and loyalty to Elizabeth.”

His big break in Ang Lee’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. “It’s still the most amazing experience I’ve ever had. Since that film, I’ve tried to make a conscious effort to find projects where, if there were supporting roles where I could learn and be surrounded by a great cast of actors and filmmakers and crew, then that was what I wanted to do.”

He approaches his work with humility: “I still find it a strange readjustment when you go back to set. To do your work in a way where you don’t feel anxious and completely consumed by anxiety, it takes experience and practice.”

Whether anyone (like Taylor) gave him guidance on fame: “I didn’t seek out advice on that. Because I know what I feel about it. I think there’s a very clear line as to what somebody should share, or feel like they have to share, and what they don’t want to and shouldn’t have to.”

[From Esquire]

Yeah, it’s kind of a boring interview. But that’s a good thing, long term. Taylor doesn’t want a boyfriend who is going to spill his guts in Esquire or GQ. My question is this: do you think after the Tiddlebanging, Taylor sat down and figured out some rules for her boyfriends, and how quickly did Joe get with the program? Or maybe this is just who he is – discreet, and happy that Taylor is “the star” and not looking to compete with her at that level.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Embed from Getty Images

The Daily Mail published a story yesterday from a woman who is celebrity adjacent, Kayti Edwards. She’s an allegedly 41 year-old former model along with being Julie Andrews’ granddaughter. Kayti claims to have had an ongoing friends with benefits relationship with Dax Shepard, 43, with their last encounter happening at a party in 2009. Kayti has photobooth pictures where she’s making out with Dax which you can see them on the DM’s site. It’s not just a playful exchange, it’s full on foreplay and I don’t doubt that she was with him that night. Plus she shares details but I’ll spare you. It’s stuff you can’t unlearn. In 2009 Dax had been with his current wife, Kristen Bell, for two years. They had their first baby in 2013 and got married later that year. So Dax would have been cheating on Kristen. Only he says that the photos are from 13 years old, not nine as Kayti claims, and that she’s sold stories about her other relationships with famous men.

View this post on Instagram

Hey Daily Mail, that photo is 13 years old, not 9. Also, Kayti has sold stories to tabloids about Matthew Perry, Jack Osbourne, Kid Rock, and now me. I look forward to her next one. Fingers crossed it’s about my #1, Brad Pitt

A post shared by Dax Shepard (@daxshepard) on Dec 13, 2018 at 1:19pm PST

I like how the DM put the photo of Dax kissing Kristen on their sponcon vacation right next to the photo of him making out with Kayti. I believe him that it was 13 years ago, not nine. I believe him because if he was fibbing about it he would have picked a number that’s closer to Kayti’s, like 11 years or something. My favorite comment response to this IG is this one “she needs to wash her dirty mind on that @samsungus washer you and Kristen promoted awhile back.” LOL!

This reminds me of a couple in my circle who are so annoyingly OTT on social media. (That’s part of the reason I don’t do facebook anymore and also why I try to hide my job from friends – so I can talk about them.) Mutual friends told me that he cheated on her, early in their relationship, with another woman he met at one of our parties. They’re not a poly couple either, they’re exclusive and always acting like they’re amazingly in love. Also the other woman bragged to the current girlfriend, in front of witnesses, about shagging him! (I’m not British I just like that word.) A lot of us find the girlfriend annoying and I am sorry I missed that exchange.

Getting back to this story, If Dax cheated on Kristen regularly, I feel like we would have heard about it. Maybe they’re at a level of fame where people don’t go digging to find anything about them though, especially since they share so much on social media.

Embed from Getty Images

I’ve always wondered how military and veteran-related events are parceled out between Prince Harry and Prince William. Both princes served in military branches, and Harry did two tours of duty in Afghanistan. Both princes went to Sandhurst, and both princes are probably in-demand for all of the military events throughout the year. So how are the events divided? Does William get first pick, and Harry gets whatever William doesn’t want? Do different military branches request one brother rather than the other?

In any case, Prince William had a military engagement today. He represented the Queen as the “Reviewing Officer” at The Sovereign’s Parade at Sandhurst. The Reviewing Officer is basically tasked with walking the line of Sandhurst cadets, and perhaps talking to them and reviewing their formation. I’m totally making this up as I go along, based solely on the photos! According to Kensington Palace, William was also tasked with presenting awards to some of the Officer Cadets. He also made a speech about his time in Sandhurst.

For the past three weekends in a row, the Duchess of Sussex has been targeted and smeared pretty hard by unknown and unnamed courtiers, sources and “friends of” the Cambridges. I’m assuming this weekend will be no different, and I’m interested to see what new angle they come up with. I have a feeling that William’s fingerprints are going to be all over at least one more big story.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Those fireworks could be a metaphor for, well, everything: their intense relationship, falling in love quickly, getting engaged and married, the drama around the wedding, the major publicity around the pregnancy to kick off their first overseas tour, and the recent gossip about the supposed tension …

Those fireworks could be a metaphor for, well, everything: their intense relationship, falling in love quickly, getting engaged and married, the drama around the wedding, the major publicity around the pregnancy to kick off their first overseas tour, and the recent gossip about the supposed tension …

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lea Michele (@leamichele) on Dec 12, 2018 at 6:53pm PST

Lea Michele’s interviews aren’t on my must read list, but I have a grudging respect for her. She reminds me of Paris Hilton in that she has a high opinion of herself and she’ll tell you about it. I wish I had that kind of confidence. Anyway Lea talked to People Magazine about her holiday plans and they sound so nice that I got excited for Christmas! I can’t believe how soon it’s coming up. Now all I want to do is sit around with my mom in my pajamas, watch Hallmark movies and eat. Lea’s Christmas is just like mine. What does that say about me?

Lea Michele plans to get cozy with her fiancé Zandy Reich this Christmas.

“Having the morning and having a bagel, I know it’s so silly and stupid, but that is so romantic to me,” she gushes. “Not having plans, you don’t have to get up and rush. And it’s cold outside, maybe it’s snowing and we’re just sleeping in. The best.”

“I don’t know the secret yet,” she muses. “I’ll tell you that. I’m still trying to figure it out. I just think that I take cues all year. I’ll just kinda try to see if I hear anything, and I’ll wait the whole year.” (On the other hand, she’s easy to shop for: “There’s no planting seeds. I’m totally out there and open. Spa gift certificate, candles, pajamas … It’s like, just please buy me this and nothing else.”)

This holiday, also joining Michele to sing carols with the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus at the Bryant Park skating rink will be her mom and dad.

“We’re just gonna be cozied up together, the four of us. Super simple cooking, Christmas movies, hanging out relaxing in pajamas,” she says.

[From People]

I love that Lea is like “get me these specific things on my list.” This reminds me that Lea is engaged. I’m looking forward to her wedding as you know it’s going to be as extra as she is. I couldn’t find any information about a potential date for that, except for the fact that she’s using Pinterest to plan. Maybe she really is like Paris Hilton in that her wedding isn’t going to happen either. Getting back to Christmas, I’m going to watch Hallmark Christmas movies this weekend in anticipation of watching more schmaltzy movies with my mom over the holidays. That’s the good thing about Christmas romance movies, there are so many you never run out. I know Lea has a different career trajectory but I would watch the hell out of Hallmark movie with her in it. Oh I just saw Kat Graham in The Christmas Calendar on Netflix. That was so cute. I’m saving A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding to watch with my mom!

View this post on Instagram

Grateful ?

A post shared by Lea Michele (@leamichele) on Nov 22, 2018 at 8:53am PST

View this post on Instagram

So excited for the show tonight in San Fran! Come see what all the hype is about! #LMDCtour LMDCtour.com

A post shared by Lea Michele (@leamichele) on Oct 29, 2018 at 11:32am PDT

Photos credit: Instagram/Lea Michele, WENN and Avalon.red

Kim Kardashian’s marriage is so bad, y’all. I would actually have a little bit of sympathy for her if she wasn’t doing the performative ride-or-die thing for Kanye West. As we discussed, Kanye decided to go batsh-t on Twitter last night about Drake. Drake and Kanye’s beef has been simmering for months, and Drake has apparently not spoken to Kanye directly about it in a while. But Drake has spoken to Kris Jenner, and Drake is tight with Travis Scott, who is with Kylie Jenner. Kanye wrote about a hundred tweets over the course of six hours about or to Drake last night. So what did Kim have to say about it?

My husband is the most brilliant person, the most genius person that I know. He has broken so many boundaries, everything from music, stage design, fashion and culture and will continue to change the world.

— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) December 14, 2018

This is how you placate a child. Even though people were joking in her mentions that Kanye wrote this or Kanye “forced” her to write it, this is ALL Kim. This is Kim stuck in a sh-tty marriage and wanting out, but also wanting to see if she can “manage” her way out of the situation. She keeps hoping that if she can just get Kanye calm and on his meds and listening to her all the time, that maybe she can get this to work. At what point does Kim throw up her hands and say “no more”? The thing is, I think one of the reasons why she hasn’t left is the reason why so many women don’t leave their toxic marriages: because Kim knows Kanye would fall apart completely if she left him. If we think Ye’s rants about Drake are bad, just wait until the complete MAGA meltdown if Kanye doesn’t have Kim trying to moderate his words and actions.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Backgrid.

Kensington Palace released the photo that’s featured on the Cambridges’ Christmas Card today and look at Big G in his big boy pants! Royal boys, as you know, are supposed to wear shorts until, I dunno, some prescribed age like… 7? 8? 10? That’s why little Louis Trey is in shorts, with tights. Big G …

Kensington Palace released the photo that’s featured on the Cambridges’ Christmas Card today and look at Big G in his big boy pants! Royal boys, as you know, are supposed to wear shorts until, I dunno, some prescribed age like… 7? 8? 10? That’s why little Louis Trey is in shorts, with tights. Big G …