Dear Gossips,

Sandra Bullock was in Sao Paolo this week promoting her new movie Bird Box which premieres on Netflix on December 21. Basically Netflix’s strategy is to get you to stay home during the holiday season and not leave the couch. Sarah wrote about the first trailer a few weeks ago. A se…

It amuses me to see how often the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s events often involve arts and crafts projects. It’s their “thing.” William and Kate are like actors who always need “business” with props – they have to be given a paintbrush or some glitter or a pair of scissors or else what’s the point of an event? So it was yesterday, when Will and Kate did an event at Evelina London Children’s Hospital. They were tasked with doing crafts with the kids, which led to some notable exchanges:

On Tuesday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid a visit to Evelina London Children’s Hospital in London to visit young patients and get involved in some festive activities with them. And during an arts and crafts session, Prince William and Kate Middleton helped children make some beaded bracelets, something it seems Princess Charlotte is also fond of, as Kate told the youngsters: “Charlotte would love making these.” William, meanwhile, laughed at his lack of artistic skills as he helped to make a welcome sign for the hospital’s Christmas dinner. Cutting out the letter E, William said: “My son knows I’m useless at this. Catherine in the artsy one.”

[From Hello]

I think Kate probably is the artsy one, like her mom – she likes putting together crafting activities for kids and she seems happy when she gets to show that artistic and kid-friendly side. Which brings me to a question… why was William even there again? Kate was made the new royal patron of the hospital, and given the crafting activities, the event was planned around her and her interests. Why was William there?

Also, Hello Magazine noted that when Will and Kate were in Cyprus for the Christmas party, William was asked why he and Kate don’t bring some or all of their kids to these fun and kid-filled events. He told the person: “Because I can’t do this and look after the children.” For one, a better answer is “because Charlotte and George are in school.” Secondly, his answer just seemed… curt. And it still doesn’t make sense, why wouldn’t you want to gently expose George and Charlotte to a short engagement with lots of kids? I’ve often wondered that.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, WENN.

We know Jennifer Garner is doing well with her new bestie, Ina Garten, because she posted a photo with Ina taken at In-N-Out Burger and helped promote Ina’s book. It’s been a while since we’ve heard anything about Jennifer Garner’s relationship with restaurant technology CEO John Miller. She could post a photo of the back of John’s head as he does something, like decorate for Christmas or help cook, it’s not like she has to be so obvious as to pose with him. The press would cover it and the subtext would be that they’re doing well. Instead there are competing stories about whether they’re serious or not. This same tactic was used in an earlier press round about their relationship. It’s been a few weeks so rinse and repeat. Note that both of these outlets, Entertainment Tonight which had the original story and US Magazine which had the response, have received insider quotes from Garner’s camp in the past. I doubt either ran these stories without the go-ahead. Here are the quotes.

Entertainment Tonight: Jen ‘has slowed things down’
A source tells ET that “Jen has slowed things down with John Miller since the word got out they were dating. Jen’s children, career and Ben [Affleck] are her main focus at the moment and she is not ready for anything too serious.”

The source adds that the Peppermint star had confided to friends recently that she’s not looking for anything too demanding right now.

“Privately, she has told friends she doesn’t want to be deeply committed at the moment,” the source says. “She wants to focus on family, career and getting Ben back on track. She enjoys her time with John but she has concerns of moving too quickly because she doesn’t want to be disappointed. Her friends are in full support of her stepping back a bit because they all know relationships take a lot of work and right now her plate is full.”

“She still communicates with Ben almost daily because his sobriety is so important, she wants be a strong support and he leans on her a lot,” the source adds. “She truly is a great friend to him and an amazing mother.”

US Magazine: Jen and John ‘are solid as a couple and committed’
“They are solid as a couple and committed,” a source told Us Weekly on Tuesday, December 11, just one day after Entertainment Tonight reported Opens a New Window. that the pair were slowing things down.

“John and Jen are going stronger than ever,” the insider added. “They are still spending a lot of time together.”

The source noted that the Cali Group CEO, 40, “will typically spend the night” at the 46-year-old Peppermint actress’ house “because it’s easier to be unnoticed there.” The insider also revealed that the couple “also went away together over Thanksgiving weekend.”

[From Entertainment Tonight and US Magazine]

This is a tired scheme as I mentioned. It may serve a dual purpose though. This may help Garner avoid culpability for these stories. What does she tell her boyfriend about this? Does she say that ET ran the story without her side’s go-ahead and that she’s only refuting it because it’s necessary? Does she say that it happens without input from her and that it’s part of being famous? I know people have affection for her and will say I’m wrong and this is all press speculation, that’s fine. I’ve been watching this, all day, for years. This is all heavily orchestrated so we’ll talk about it. It’s working, but the response is supposed to be that she has no choice in the matter. She has a choice whether the press covers her personal life. Before this we’d almost forgotten about the new guy, right?

Oh and she posted a video where she’s baking at 5:30 in the morning and trying not to wake anyone up. I also do crap in the kitchen around 5 a.m. and have to try to be quiet. I’m Type A and have to contain the urge to try to control things.

photos credit: Backgrid and Avalon.red

One of the biggest reasons why I’ve always enjoyed Karl Lagerfeld’s interviews is because he’s from a generation that knew that “less is more,” especially when speaking. Lagerfeld doesn’t go on and on about himself, or anything, really. He is the master of the pithy quote or the four-word insult. So while I think Lagerfeld is an unpleasant and grumpy dude in general, I always enjoy his interviews. He sat down with The Cut to talk about his latest collections, fashion in general, and the great love of his life, his fluffy kitty Choupette Lagerfeld. You can read the full piece here. Some highlights:

He knew he would be famous: “I was 6 years old. I was sitting on my mother’s desk in the country estate, in the big house — on her desk, where I was not supposed to sit and sketch — and I said to myself: You will become very famous.”

Texts from Choupette: [There was] one moment in the interview where he took off his sunglasses was when he picked up his phone, which has the initials KL embossed on the case, to show me texted photo updates of — he says “from” — Choupette. On the sofa, on the bed, lounging around looking, yes, very much like the child-princess surrounded by servants in Velázquez’s Las Meninas, to which he’s often compared her.

He will eat some meat: “I don’t eat chicken birds…I only eat what doesn’t look anymore like what it was when it was alive. I can only eat hamburgers. I am not inclined to steakhouses.”

How he stays informed: “Today the world comes to you. I read every magazine and everything. There are very few people as informed as I am… I think it’s great [to read on a smart phone], but I have assistants who inform me [about] what I have not seen. Personally, I have no time. I don’t do internet, I don’t do Facebook. I have to sketch, I have to play with Choupette, I have to sleep. The day is too short for that.

His thoughts on Germany: “I’m very drawn to Germany, but to a Germany that doesn’t exist any longer, [that] died in 1933. If they became Nazis again in Germany, I’d throw my passport out of the window … My mother said Germany without Jewish people is like a dish with no salt.

His mother’s advice: “I was a very bad driver. I had two accidents that were my fault — where I fell asleep — and it’s a miracle that I’m still alive, but I never touched a wheel again. You know, as a child I was told by my mother, you must learn nothing. You always have to depend on people, because then you have to make an effort to have the money that they will do it for you. I don’t know how to cook, I don’t know how to make a bed. I only know sketching and talking and making collections.

His love for “My Choupette.” It was more than a surprise, because my best friend, Sandy Brant, had a cat, and I thought it was too much, the fuss about the cat. Then a friend of mine came with Choupette and said, to one of my mates, not even to me, “I’m leaving for two weeks, can you keep the cat?” When he came back, I told him that the cat was not returning to his house, and I kept it, this kind of genius creature….Yes, of course [she’s coming to New York]. She is always on the knees of the pilots. She loves private jets. She adores them. You know, the problem with private jets is that even if you have a big one, if you have many people [aboard], then it is a nightmare. More than three or four, forget about it. I remember I came back from Moscow and brought all my assistants. It was the worst flight, because they asked for drinks and this and that. I like to sleep in planes. Or I close my eyes and clean my brain.

[From The Cut]

At one point, Lagerfeld insists that he is “working class,” which… I think he means he grew up working class, because if he still considers himself working class now… good lord. Mostly, I just think he’s softened so much because of Choupette. She is his daughter, and the most important “person” in his life. “I am not inclined to steakhouses” should be on a t-shirt. As should “I don’t know how to cook, I don’t know how to make a bed. I only know sketching and talking and making collections.” The thing is, I doubt that Lagerfeld is truly that helpless in normal, everyday situations.

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Its called “art” dahhhling. You wouldn’t understand.

A post shared by Choupette Lagerfeld (@choupettesdiary) on Nov 29, 2018 at 10:30am PST

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A Tisket A Tasket This is Choupette’s Basket! ? #dontbotherme

A post shared by Choupette Lagerfeld (@choupettesdiary) on Jul 11, 2018 at 5:41pm PDT

Photos courtesy of WENN, Instagram.

Late night tales at the #fashionawards Congrats @clarewaightkeller on your award, with the most lovely duchess of Sussex @hrhofsussex and the incredible @rosamundpike Thank you @britishfashioncouncil

A post shared by Yvan Fabing (@yvanfabing) on Dec 10, 2018 at 3:58pm PST

I liked LaineyGossip’s theory that the Duchess of Sussex’s appearance at the British Fashion Awards was a “f–k you” to the British tabloids, the stuffy royal protocol bitches, the racists and the shady royal courtiers. It’s more than possible that Meghan would lean in and show her strength after a weeks-long smear campaign. It’s more than possible that Meghan would show everyone what she brings to the table: glamour, the ability to hijack headlines, comfort in the spotlight. But…the Instagram above used to be on the British Fashion Council’s Instagram page, but it was mysteriously taken off just hours after the British Fashion Awards. Huh.

The Duchess of Sussex took part in a starry photobooth session at the British Fashion Awards on Monday night – but the results appear to have been moved from Instagram. The boomerang-style shot of the mother-to-be, 37, with Givenchy designer Clare Waight Keller and actress Rosamund Pike was posted on the British Fashion Council’s account following the awards ceremony.

However, the shot taken by photographer Yvan Fabing is no longer on the BFC’s Instagram page, even though black and white GIFs of other celebrities and designers are still on the account. It is not clear why the photobooth snap of the Duchess has been removed, although another picture of Meghan on stage remains on the BFC’s Instagram account.

[From The Daily Mail]

I guess we’re supposed to theorize that shadowy men In Grey from the palace called up the British Fashion Council and demanded that Meghan’s boomerang be taken down. But… I doubt that. I think it’s much more likely that some media consultant adjacent to the British Fashion Awards preemptively took it down just so they wouldn’t get a call from the Men In Grey. Another possibility? Meghan asked that it be removed.

Also: as many people have noted, shady sh-t keeps happening with the Kensington Royal social media, the official Instagram and Twitter accounts of the Sussexes and Cambridges. Whenever William and Kate do ANYTHING, there’s timely wall-to-wall coverage on the Kensington Royal accounts, usually within minutes. It took about 16-17 hours for KP’s communications office to post anything about Meghan’s British Fashion Awards appearance, and when they did post something, they sandwiched the photos in-between a dozen posts about the Cambridges. We see you, Jason.

“I feel especially proud to announce tonight’s winner, who is a British designer leading on the global stage with vision and creativity, but also with incredible kindness.” – The Duchess of Sussex pic.twitter.com/7AtfpG3Diy

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 11, 2018

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Photos courtesy of Instagram, Twitter and Getty.

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A post shared by Kourtney Kardashian (@kourtneykardash) on Nov 22, 2018 at 2:33pm PST

I only bother to care about Kourtney Kardashian about once every three months or so. Kourtney is the most boring Kardashian-Jenner, and lately it feels like she’s been going through a bad time. I mean, relatively speaking. She just seems profoundly unhappy all the time, and like she doesn’t want to do anything or be with anyone. Kourtney has three kids, and she and Scott Disick share some kind of custody of Mason, Penelope and Reign. But mostly, I feel like Scott just spends most of his time hanging out with his girlfriend, Sofia Richie. Sofia is like Hailey Baldwin to me – a dumb nepotism model who probably belongs to a Evangelical cult, and that’s about all she does. But People Magazine is trying to create some drama around the fact that Sofia and Kourtney don’t really get along:

Scott Disick and his ex Kourtney Kardashian always make a point of prioritizing their family, and while Sofia Richie may be bothered by the dynamic from time to time, she does her best to handle it, a source tells PEOPLE.

“There has been and will continue to be things with Scott’s family life that bother Sofia, but she is trying to just deal without causing drama,” says the insider. “She loves Scott and wants to be with him. She knows she will always be kind of the outsider, but she loves being around Scott and his kids,” the source continues, adding that Richie, 20, “getting better at handling Scott’s family situations in a mature way.”

Disick, 35, and Kardashian, 39, share three children — Mason, 8, Penelope, 6, and Reign, 3 — and frequently spend time together as a family.

The insider also shares that while Kardashian and Richie “will never be best friends,” the model is just happy to have built up some trust with the reality star, as far as her children are concerned.

“She knows that Kourtney isn’t her biggest fan and she understands that. Sofia and Kourtney will never be best friends, but Sofia is happy that she has proved to Kourtney that she is great with her kids,” the source says. “Sofia is hoping that her relationship with Scott lasts.”

[From People]

If this is a plotline from Keeping Up with the Kardashians – is it? – then it’s more interesting than Kourtney’s drama with her younger ex, Younes Bendjima, or whatever jailbait fake model she’s banging now. I mean, if you’re forcing me to briefly care about this, I’ll say that I think Scott looks incredibly foolish with Sofia (who is 20, but looks 14) and Sofia looks foolish for even trying to make any of this an issue? Kourtney and Scott coparent, and they’re still in each other’s lives because of the kids. Sofia is too young to understand those dynamics, so she’s throwing tantrums and leaking dumb sh-t to People.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Backgrid, Instagram.

Connie Britton covers Health Magazine’s January issue. Her interview is so highly quotable that it’s hard to know what to excerpt. I found myself just nodding along as I was reading it. She’s goals to me in so many ways and I’ve been mesmerized by her since seeing her on American Horror Story’s first season. Connie is currently starring on Dirty John, on Bravo, which tells the true story of a woman whose boyfriend was a dangerous con artist. I have it sitting on my DVR waiting for me. She said the character she plays, Debra Newell, is a product of her environment and societal expectations. Connie also discussed her workouts and how her body has changed with age. She’s 51, and said that she can see the difference in her body the past few years especially.

What is your workout philosophy?
I don’t love the gym. For a good part of my 20s, while I was pounding the pavement auditioning for acting roles, I taught aerobics in New York. I did step class or good old high-impact aerobics and calisthenics. I spent a lot of time in gyms, but now I really love a mind-body-spirit kind of a workout, and that’s more easily done outside—swimming, hiking, or yoga.

Do you keep a strict diet?
I’ve done a bunch of cleanses over the years. Raw food really worked for me, and so did the Blood Type Diet. But now that I’ve turned 50, it’s not so easy. I used to be able to exercise or change what I eat, and in a few days I was good, but that doesn’t happen anymore. I’m in a new phase, and I haven’t figured it out yet. But moderation is important. I eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and clean proteins. And I try to stay away from sugar—it really is a drug for me. It not only impacts my weight, it impacts my body chemistry. Though if I could have a chocolate chip cookie or really anything that is chocolate, I would be a very happy camper.

How has your sense of your self changed as you’ve gotten older?
It’s true what they say—your body really does change. And I do for sure have those times when I don’t feel good in my skin. In your 40s, you have this genuinely acquired grounded wisdom, and your body is still recognizable. In your late 40s, it’s like, “What is happening?” But I’m not super hard on myself, and I allow myself to feel sexy. We have to be patient with ourselves. We are constantly evolving.

[From Health]

There’s so much more in the interview. Connie answered a question about social media by saying that it’s hard to do as a parent and feels like a job. (She is on Instagram though and seems to know what she’s doing.) She has a seven-year-old son, Yoby, and said she never thought she would have a son or that she would adopt but her life is turning out in ways she couldn’t have imagined.

I could relate a lot to her thoughts on diet and exercise. It’s disappointing to hear that she’s had success from cleanses and a blood type diet (that’s based on bad science but it may work as a diet anyway), but at least she’s not selling anything or telling other people to do it. I’m a few years younger than her and it’s true that things change and you have to be more regimented with your diet as you get older. I can’t imagine not being able to eat chocolate or ice cream as a treat though. That’s dedication, to give up chocolate.

Here’s Connie’s cover and photoshoot (mouse over and click the arrows to see). Her head looks odd in these photos, like it’s too big for her body, but she looks gorgeous anyway.

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A post shared by connie britton (@conniebritton) on Dec 11, 2018 at 12:42pm PST

photos credit: WENN and Health via Instagram

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Yesterday, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer went to meeting at the White House. The meeting was in the Oval Office, and they were there to negotiate with Donald Trump – in front of cameras – about the f–king wall and the budget. Trump has been threatening to shut down the federal government if the House and Senate don’t pass a budget with billions of dollars for the border wall. The same fakakta border wall which he claimed, on the campaign trail, that Mexico would pay for. What happened at the meeting was performative on all sides, but substantive too, because the majority of Americans are on Pelosi and Schumer’s side, in that no one wants to fund the wall and no one wants a government shutdown. It was also interesting because Trump lied repeatedly, and he took ownership of a shutdown, if it happens.

Most outlets – even People Mag – ran with the angle of “Trump throws tantrum, threatens to shut down government if he doesn’t get the wall he claimed Mexico would pay for.” He got played by Pelosi and Schumer and they barely even TRIED to own him. As Schumer and Pelosi left the White House, Pelosi put on her sunglasses and basically dropped a diss track on Trump, telling Politico: “I was trying to be the mom.. it goes to show you: you get into a tinkle contest with a skunk, you get tinkle all over you. It’s like a manhood thing with him — as if manhood can be associated with him. This wall thing.” She’s a folk hero. I don’t want to hear anything else about how Pelosi is “too old” or “a woman.”

Trump: “Nancy’s in a situation where it’s not easy for her to talk”

Pelosi: “Mr. President, please don’t characterize the strength that I bring to this meeting as the leader of the House Democrats who just won a big victory”

Schumer: “Elections have consequences, Mr. President”

— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) December 11, 2018

can this gif of nancy pelosi host the oscars pic.twitter.com/1J8lz6T1yA

— Amanda Ach (@amandaach) December 11, 2018

Nancy Pelosi leaving the White House after #TrumpShutdown talks. pic.twitter.com/YI1N3YEN3M

— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) December 11, 2018

Trump: If I needed the votes for the wall, I would have it in one session
Pelosi: You do not have the votes in the House
Trump: I do
Pelosi: Then go do it. Take the vote we’ll find out

Nancy Pelosi from the great State of KNUCK IF YOU BUCK pic.twitter.com/JV71nvUgHJ

— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) December 11, 2018

Damn it feels good to be a gangsta. #Pelosi #madamspeaker #TrumpShutdown #TuesdayThoughts pic.twitter.com/VUCFPdhLSU

— CocoonOfBitterness (@brainpictures) December 11, 2018

Embed from Getty Images

Photos courtesy of Getty.

I honestly find it difficult to keep up with everything happening in the American political landscape, so imagine how difficult it is to keep up with all of the sh-t happening in British politics. Brexit has been a disaster from start to finish, only no one really know how to finish it. I truly don’t understand how the UK cannot just take a mulligan on the 2016 Brexit vote, and just do a general vote again to see if British citizens still want to Brexit. But I’m sure there are “reasons” why that can’t happen, so instead, Theresa May has been trying, for more than a year, to put together some kind of soft-Brexit deal which wouldn’t wreck the British economy. Her attempts have all failed. And now May is facing a vote of no confidence:

British Prime Minister Theresa May will face a vote of confidence in her leadership of the Conservative party Wednesday, something she vowed to contest “with everything I’ve got.” Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs, confirmed he has received the 48 letters of no confidence — from 15 percent of current Conservative MPs — needed to trigger the ballot. Only Tory MPs will vote.

The challenge is to May’s leadership of her party and if she lost it would not automatically trigger an election, though if she is replaced as Tory leader her successor would take over as prime minister. The news came after May delayed a House of Commons vote on her Brexit deal, which had been due to take place Tuesday night. Instead, she spent Tuesday touring European capitals in a bid to secure assurances over the controversial Northern Irish backstop from other EU27 leaders in the hope of winning over more Tory MPs, many of whom have said they opposed the divorce deal the prime minister negotiated with Brussels.

Speaking outside No.10 Downing Street, May warned a change of leadership now would “create uncertainty when we can least afford it” and said any new prime minister would be forced to extend the Article 50 Brexit negotiating period or revoke it all together.

[From Politico]

So… May’s argument is that if she’s thrown out and a new prime minister comes in – however temporarily – then the Brexit negotiating period would have to be extended? But isn’t that what a majority of British voters want? As I said, I don’t really understand any of this – parliamentary rules seem impossibly obscure and obtuse to me. So, will May survive the vote of no confidence??

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

Netflix’s Dumplin was such a fun, highly watchable movie. It was one of those cute feel good films that isn’t so dumb and predictable you feel guilty for watching it. Plus there are a lot of great performances. Jennifer Aniston was very good in it, there’s a cameo by Kathy Najimy, and the lead Willowdean (Dumplin is her mom’s nickname for her), Danielle Macdonald, 27, is mesmerizing. (Other newcomers, including the best friend, played by Odeya Rush, and another pageant contestant, Maddie Baillio, are wonderful. The love interest, played by Luke Benward, is getting a lot of buzz as well.) Danielle first shot to fame as the star of 2017?s Patti Cake$, available to stream on HBO. It turns out Danielle is actually an Australian actress, and you wouldn’t know it as she nailed the accent. She practiced a lot to get that right. Danielle told Teen Vogue about her preparation process and how she relates to her character.

On identifying with Willow and her message
“I think we all go through those moments of self-doubt. Don’t get me wrong I still go through them, [but] you just get to a point where you’re like, ‘I’m OK with who I am. You are enough.’

“I hope that people can see you can have self-doubt, you can feel insecure at times, but also be [a] person that knows their worth — and be witty and confident. You don’t have to be entirely one thing. I think that hopefully [by] watching this movie, [people] can hopefully relate to all of these characters and realize, ‘Oh wow, we all have these moments. We all go through this.’ We aren’t all as different as we think we are, we’re all just going through it together and that’s really comforting.”

On working with Jennifer Aniston
“I grew up watching Friends and all her movies, and I was so excited to work with her. And then, I met her and I was like, ‘Oh. You’re like a very relatable human being.’”

On more inclusive casting
“It would be really cool to have some more roles where it doesn’t matter how a character looks. You get a script you see it and it doesn’t matter, there’s no description of how the character looks in any way shape or form, it’s just whoever is right for the role is the person. Don’t get me wrong I love these roles, too. I love roles where people actually get to talk about issues and problems, but it’d be nice to mix it up a little bit as well.”

[From Teen Vogue]

I love that line about how you can doubt yourself but still know your worth. It’s not one or the other. I also really liked what she said about how it would be great to have roles where a character’s appearance isn’t central to it. This reminds me of something we’ve heard from actresses of color, recently Viola Davis and Regina King, that all women should be considered for roles and that the default shouldn’t be white and thin. This occurred to me when I was watching Dumplin, that even though her build was a plot point it didn’t seem to matter at all. She was a believable lead actress and love interest. If we’re considering female coming of age movies she could have played the lead in Lady Bird for instance. Instead the best friend and sidekick was a larger woman. (Maybe that’s a bad example as it was based on Greta Gerwig’s life and Saoirse Ronan was awesome in it, but you know what I mean!) Eighth Grade is a great example of a film with a lead who wasn’t made to look perfect. Elsie Fisher had blemishes and she was an average size and she stole every scene.

photos credit: WENN and Netflix