As soon as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left the UK, Sophie tried to convince everyone that she could fill Meghan and Harry’s shoes. Back when she was the Countess of Wessex – she only recently became the Duchess of Edinburgh – Sophie would tell everyone that she was Queen Elizabeth’s favorite, that they were especially close, and that QEII thought of her as the monarchy’s secret weapon. Sophie’s ham-fisted PR blitz continued after QEII’s passing as well. She publicly pleaded with King Charles for the elevated Edinburgh title and Sophie even took public swipes at Camilla, Kate and William (Sophie, you see, works “harder” than them). I hoped that we would finally see Sophie settle down after her police escort killed an elderly woman, but no – we’re still doing this.

Daily Mirror Royal Editor Russell Myers hopes the Duchess of Edinburgh gets more “airtime” after her secret trip to Iraq, where she spoke at the annual CSSF Women’s Voices First Conference. Sophie has vocalised her support in the past for survivors of sexual violence in conflict regions.

“I think, certainly, she has been described as the Royal Family’s secret weapon in the past,” Mr Myers told Sky News host Caroline Di Russo.

“Hopefully, we will try and see a bit more of her work because it has always gone under the radar.”

[From Sky News]

Sophie visited Iraq last week and the only reason I know that is because she was in Iraq when Helen Holland passed away after being in a coma for two weeks. Sophie’s Iraq visit got little attention otherwise, and that’s always been the case for all of Sophie’s events. These people can call her the “secret weapon” all they want, but there’s a fundamental misjudgment happening here. No one cares about Sophie, and it’s tacky as hell that she was still doing horse shows and garden parties after her police motorcade killed a woman. It’s also tacky to still call Sophie a “secret weapon” when her motorcade caused someone’s death!

Photos courtesy of Cover Images.

From CB: Hecate moved on to another career and we miss her! Check out podcast number 152 for more on that. Rosie is our new co-writer for the Amazon posts. Rosie is a mother of two boys who grew up on Long Island and now lives in NC. She has a BA in Journalism and a paralegal certificate. She loves going on adventures, hiking, reading mystery novels, and geocaching. Her claim to fame involves once meeting the late great RBG.

As for stuff I’ve bought recently, due to a tick bite I’ve had to switch out my personal care products to vegan varieties. (I previously had alpha gal in 2019, an allergy to beef and pork. I got alpha gal again about two weeks ago.) The good news is that some of the brands I use and love, like Garnier, Elf and NYX, are either vegan or partially vegan. I’m especially glad that I don’t have to switch out my favorite micellar water from Garnier. Here are some more things Rosie and I are looking at on Amazon.

A plant-based body wash for more luxurious showers

From CB: I bought this Love Beauty and Plant body wash from CVS. It’s formulated with rosewater and niacinamide, has a light, pleasant smell and I’ll definitely rebuy it when it runs out. (They also have other varieties.) It’s not the cheapest but you get a huge bottle and it’s vegan and free of sulfates and phalates. This has 470 ratings, 4.4 stars and the same score on ReviewMeta. People say it smells great without being too perfumey and that it cleans well. Many say the pump breaks easily though. “Love the smell of this as well as the lasting suds. The scent isn’t over powering.” “This sent is nice and very unique. My skin feels soft and refreshed after using this product. It is definitely worth the price and the bottle is bigger than I expected.”

An affordable concealer that’s a dupe for Nars

From CB: Many people say Maybelline Fit Me Concealer at under $7 is a dupe for Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, which is $32. This lightweight concealer comes in 12 different shades. It’s said to have a natural finish and to blend well with other makeup and foundation. This has over 68,000 ratings, 4.4 stars and a B on Fakespot. Reviewers say it’s good for sensitive skin and covers dark circles and blemishes. “I have been using this product for years. It provides excellent coverage and allows you to layer! It also works great with my other makeup and isn’t too cakey. I highly recommend this product.” “Easily covers and blends into skin! Covers dark circles under eyes well!” “My skin is in between fair and mid and I tend to have dark circles under my eyes no matter how much sleep I get. This works well to conceal them and blends well with foundation. Not too bright, not too dark.” (Note that this is not vegan and that products are not vegan unless noted.)

A huge set of clear airtight canisters to reorganize your pantry

From CB: I recently wanted to streamline my pantry and purchased some canisters from Homegoods. They were pricey and I couldn’t get a matching set. You can get a 14 pack of Clearspace BPA-free airtight canisters and labels for under $40! These have over 2,000 ratings and 4.5 stars on ReviewMeta. People say they’re easy to set up, that they keep food fresh and make their cabinets and kitchen counters look so neat. “The lids lock and stay locked. They save space and keep food fresh.” “Love how it came with a chalk pen so writing is super neat. Everything is as described & easy to use.” “If you have a cabinet in your kitchen that seems a bit disorganized, you need these.” “I bought the 14 pack it come with the perfect variety of sizes. They are easy to open and stack nicely.”

An at-home blood pressure monitor for peace of mind

From CB: In the past I’ve had high blood pressure due to birth control and have had to monitor mine. Even if you don’t have high blood pressure it’s good to have a blood pressure monitor at home just in case. This battery powered blood pressure monitor by iHealth is compatible with apple and android devices and is on sale for under $40. It has over 12,000 ratings, 4.4 stars and the same score on ReviewMeta. People say that it works well and is accurate. “I brought this with me to my annual physical, and compared it with the professional blood pressure monitor in the doctor’s office. The numbers were right on! It’s also very easy to use and the large type is easy to read.” “Love using this when anyone is sick and the app is pretty user friendly as well. I love that I can keep track of each individual and sync up with my apple health app. I have total peace of mind having this in my med kit. It’s helped me decide several times if a couple days if rest or an immediate care visit is warranted”

A cooling cap for migraine relief

From Rosie: Over the last year, I’ve been getting these awful cluster headaches. I had two different people recommend the Magic Gel Migraine Ice Head Wrap, so I decided to order one, and it really is awesome. This cold cap is $20, comes in black or purple, and can be adjusted to wear several different ways: over the temples, covering your entire face, pulled down to your neck, etc. It has a 4.4 star rating, over 17,250 reviews, and a B on Fakespot. People marvel at how long it stays cold and quickly it eases symptoms. “I was absolutely amazed at how well it works. It’s almost immediate relief! … Highly recommend this cap for anyone who suffers from severe headaches/migraines.” “When I go to bed with a migraine, this thing is cold long enough for me to go to sleep.” “This helmet has been a good tool in my migraine tool kit.”

A tick removing device endorsed by doctors and veterinarians

From Rosie: Over the weekend, both of my kids had ticks on them after playing outside. A neighbor mentioned that he’s switched from #TweezerLife to tick spoons, so I ordered a set. The tick spoon has a specially designed notch that grabs the tick and removes it completely in one motion, catching it in the spoon part. It’s endorsed by both physicians and veterinarians. This product has a 4.7 rating, more than 1,300 reviews, and a B on Fakespot. Users praise how much easier they are to use than tweezers. “This thing pulls them [clean] off everytime.” “We have used [ours] for years on ourselves and our dogs. They work much better than tweezers for removing ticks.” “Very easy to use and works every time. Fantastic device.”

A set of comfortable wrist and ankle weights for more effective workouts

From Rosie: I bought Bala Bangles after noticing that a good 60% of the women in my Pure Barre Empower class were using them instead of the gross studio ones. I use them during class or while lifting weights at home when I want to add resistance but don’t want to use a heavier set of weights. These wrist weights are adjustable, come in five different colors and a 1lb or 2lb option. They are easy to clean. They have 876 reviews and 4.5 stars on ReviewMeta. Reviews mention how comfortable they are. “Very simple to put on, and they’re definitely not going to come off until I take them off.” “Use these at pure barre. Easily go on wrists and ankles and quick to pull off mid workout.” “I got these because the online pilates classes I was doing were starting to feel too easy and I was hoping these would up the difficulty and they absolutely did!”

Richard Kay, the longtime royal columnist for the Mail, was part of a big discussion on the Mail’s Palace Confidential show this week. It’s basically a YouTube/subscriber thing where royal reporters gossip on camera, and it has a niche audience. Kay usually doesn’t participate in it, but I guess this was a special edition. The topic was supposed to be about “how is King Charles’s reign going,” but of course, the conversation quickly turned to Prince Harry.

Richard Kay on Harry and Charles’s relationship: ‘In the last few months Harry has set about his brother William and sister-in-law Kate, but also Camilla and that is a no go for Charles.’ The editor said Charles would have been ‘deeply upset that his beloved son could attack his beloved wife… (Charles) seems to be adopting the Queen’s strategy of doing nothing – and letting time be the healer. I think he is convinced that over time, things will resolve themselves. He will be very reluctant to force an issue, he’ll be reluctant to take their titles away. I fear that what this means, in the short term, they’ll be more bad news for him down the line.’

Kay on the Sussexes’ paparazzi chase: ‘I think a lot of people would have had their hearts in their mouths when that statement emerged from New York and the talk of a near-catastrophic car chase because instantly it switches us back to 1997, and the tragedy of Diana’s death. Nobody, nobody wants that. The paparazzi don’t want it and the Royal certainly don’t – none of us do. And there really has to be some meaningful way where the couple – I’m talking about Harry and Megan – are able to go about their lives without generating the kind of frenzy that at times apparently took hold last week in New York. Quite how accurate the detail is, we’re still not entirely sure. There is definitely one of those ‘recollections may vary’ issues surrounding some of the facts.’

Kay on the Waleses’ focus on family time: ‘Charles was never like that, he always put royal matters first and central, as did the Queen. And there was some cost in all that. There is a great deal of hope and expectation on William and Kate’s shoulders. They are undoubtedly the future, as are their children, and the best and most rounded upbringing they have has to be good for the long term welfare of the monarchy. But that does put pressure on the others because if William and Kate can’t pick up the extra work that’s required, who is?’

[From The Daily Mail]

The thing is, even with Harry’s “attacks” on Camilla, Charles still maintained that Harry absolutely needed to show up at the coronation. Charles “punished” Harry by evicting his family from Frogmore Cottage and by leaking all of that sh-t about the Sussexes for months. But if Charles was so mad, why did he insist that Harry must come to the coronation? What no one can admit is that Harry behaved with respect and love for his father, all while Charles has thrown Harry to the wolves. Speaking of, do you think Kay honestly believes that the royals don’t want any harm to come to the Sussexes? The Windsors didn’t even bother to check in with the Sussexes after the pap chase.

As for the final thing about William and Kate being lazy bums… that was always part of the Sussexit equation which never got fully worked out. The whole reason why William and Charles were so insistent that the Sussexes had to go was because everyone presumed that William and Kate would finally “step up” once their main competition was in exile. That hasn’t been the case. Oh well!

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.

Brad Pitt is such an asinine person. He’s still trying to sue Angelina Jolie because she legally sold her half of Chateau Miraval. Jolie tried to sell her half, Nouvel, to Brad Pitt but he not only tried to low-ball her on what Miraval was worth, he also tried to attach a gag order to the sale. Jolie walked away and sold Nouvel to Tenute del Mondo, a subsidiary of Stoli. Since the sale went through, Pitt’s life has been hellish, because Stoli and Tenute del Mondo are seasoned professionals and they know that Miraval’s operations are, at best, completely chaotic. At worst, Pitt is committing massive financial crimes. Yuri Scheffler – owner of Stoli – has been using the French courts to his advantage, and the French authorities have conducted raids on Miraval to get their hands on Miraval’s dodgy financial records.

Brad Pitt’s financial messes are being reported on quite openly in the French media, but none of that has filtered down to the American media. The American media is still publishing whatever Pitt’s crisis management team gives them, which is how Page Six got their hands on “legal documents” where Pitt accuses Angelina Jolie of being super-mean to him when he bribed a judge for a favorable custody ruling, a ruling which was quickly overturned by the California Supreme Court.

Brad Pitt says Angelina Jolie “secretly” plotted to sell her share of their French estate, Château Miraval, to get back at him amid their bitter custody battle. According to legal documents obtained by Page Six, the “Bullet Train” star claims that he and Jolie agreed they would never sell their share in the $30 million property — which they bought in 2008 — without the other’s approval. Yet when they got divorced in 2019, Jolie decided she wanted out and started to negotiate a buy-out option with Pitt, 59.

The 47-year-old allegedly even agreed to divide the business up 68 percent to 38 percent in Pitt’s favor because he had invested more money and time into the project.

Yet in the summer of 2021, Pitt found out via press release that the “Maleficent” actress had sold her 50 percent stake to a “Russian oligarch,” whom Pitt had previously turned down.

Pitt claims his “vindictive” ex-wife “collaborated in secret” with Yuri Shefler, who also owns Stoli Group, to ensure he would be “kept in the dark.”

The new filings claim that Jolie “no longer wanted to sell to Pitt” in the “wake of the adverse custody ruling,” in which he was granted joint custody of their six children. (The decision was later overturned.)

“Her decision to terminate negotiations with Pitt was intentional and pretextual,” the document filed in LA Superior Court states. “As will be demonstrated at trial, Jolie’s actions were unlawful, severely and intentionally damaging Pitt and unjustly enriching herself.”

Not only that, but Pitt believes his ex-wife specifically chose Shefler because she knew it would be bad for business given his ties to Vladimir Putin — specifically his “invasion of Ukraine and homophobic legislative agenda.”

“Stoli and Jolie have sought to force Pitt into a partnership with a stranger, and
worse yet, a stranger with poisonous associations and intentions,” the document alleges.

Now that half of the property has been sold to a third party, Pitt says it defeats the purpose of buying Miraval as a “loving home for their six children” in the first place.

The latest filings come nine months after Jolie filed a $250 million counter-suit against the “Fight Club” actor for trying to “seize control” of the French winery to “ensure… [she] would never see a dime” of its vast profits. The suit — which Jolie’s company, Nouvel, brought — also claimed that Pitt tried to force Jolie to sign a “hush-clause” that would silence her from discussing the circumstances of their divorce. It adds, “In retaliation for the divorce and custody proceedings, Pitt embarked on a multi-faceted, years-long campaign to seize control of Chateau Miraval and appropriate the company’s assets for his benefit and that of his own companies and friends.

[From Page Six]

He found out via press release, you guys! BELIEVE HIS STORY! Nevermind that Angelina has extensive documentation that she negotiated with Pitt and his team in good faith before he tried to attach the gag order to the sale. Nevermind that she and her lawyers organized the sale while keeping Pitt in the loop entirely. Nevermind that Jolie and Pitt never had a “secret agreement” that she could only sell Nouvel to him. God, I hope Angelina and her lawyers take Pitt to the f–king cleaners.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

So, we’re still talking about Al Pacino and his “29-year-old girlfriend” Noor Alfallah. Noor is eight months pregnant and Al Pacino is 83 years old. Apparently, he got her pregnant after only about four months of dating. Not only that, but TMZ reports that Noor didn’t even tell him about her pregnancy until “two months ago.” When… she was six months pregnant? TMZ reports that Pacino insisted the kid wasn’t his, so he asked for a DNA test.

Al Pacino was so certain he could not get his girlfriend or anyone else pregnant, he did not believe the baby was his at first, and got a DNA test for proof … sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ.

The 83-year-old actor, we’re told, had medical issues that would have commonly prevented a man from impregnating a woman. We’re told Al had no idea until 2 months ago that 29-year-old Noor Alfallah was pregnant, and when he found out he was “shocked.” Our sources say Al doubted at first the baby was his and wanted a DNA test. We’re told Noor obliged and the test showed he was indeed the dad.

[From TMZ]

This TMZ story came out after Showbiz 411’s juicy exclusive, where their sources claimed that Noor actually only waited to tell Pacino until she was about eleven weeks along, as opposed to six months along. These sources also insist that Pacino and Alfallah are no longer in a relationship and that they’ve both lawyered up. From Showbiz 411:

My sources say that the 82 year beloved Oscar winner was hoodwinked by Noor Alfallah, who’s due next week and is described as a gold digger. “She knew Al didn’t didn’t want to have more kids, they have no relationship, it’s a mess.” Alfallah is famous for dating a series of rich, older men like Mick Jagger.

Where to start? What’s the worst part of this story? Maybe that Pacino — one of my very favorite people ever in Hollywood — has no idea about Alfallah’s background. I can tell you exclusively that her father pleaded guilty in a 2017 $3 million tax fraud case brought by the Department of Justice. He just recently filed for bankruptcy. Fallah Alfallah has otherwise a trail of lawsuits that would make Michael Corleone blush.

“They have no relationship,” says an insider says of the about to be parents. “Lawyers have been working on this for months.” Indeed, I am told that Fallah didn’t even tell Pacino she was pregnant for the first 11 weeks. Pacino, I’m told, was so surprised at Fallah’s news that he demanded a pre-natal DNA test.

Worse? Sources say that Fallah, once introduced to Pacino before the pandemic, ingratiated herself into his life by becoming fast friends with Pacino’s 22 year old daughter, Olivia, whose mother is actress Beverly D’Angelo. “Suddenly Fallah was everywhere Olivia was, especially during the lockdown,” another source says.

Pacino has three children at present: his great filmmaker daughter, Julie, and twins with D’Angelo– Olivia and her brother, Anton James. I reached out to D’Angelo’s rep but so far it’s crickets from that end. “The kids are very upset,” says a source.

So the impending birth is not a happy situation. Unlike Robert De Niro, Pacino did not plan this at all. “He actually thought their relationship was over a long time ago,” says an observer. When Fallah did come back in his life after a more than year break, my insiders say she told Pacino she couldn’t have children anyway due to a thyroid problem.” Pacino is said to be shocked. He did not want children, which an ex girlfriend talked about in an interview.

[From Showbiz 411]

“Sources say that Fallah, once introduced to Pacino before the pandemic, ingratiated herself into his life by becoming fast friends with Pacino’s 22 year old daughter, Olivia” and “Suddenly Fallah was everywhere Olivia was, especially during the lockdown.” That makes zero sense – even if Noor was trying to ingratiate herself to Al Pacino by going through his daughter, Al Pacino could have, you know, not dated her or slept with her. He could have used protection! Dear god. So, yes, I do think Noor was trying to land a rich older man and what have you, but I also just think this whole situation is a giant mess and Al Pacino needs to take responsibility for his part in the mess.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instagram.

On Thursday, Rajwa Al Seif became Princess Rajwa, wife of Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein. They make a beautiful couple and a portrait of a modern Jordan, much like Hussein’s father and mother were seen when they married.

Princess Rajwa is a 29-year-old bride, and she chose a very modern silhouette for her wedding ceremony look – a stunning, figure-hugging Elie Saab. It was sleek and flattering. It’s honestly one of my favorite wedding gowns that I’ve seen in years. Princess Rajwa apparently got to borrow some royal jewels for the occasion – she wore a delicate diamond tiara and diamond earrings. If I have one qualm about her wedding look, it’s that the tiara and earrings don’t necessarily go together? That and I wish her veil was connected to the tiara.

Princess Rajwa also wore flats! I love that – she didn’t want to trip on heels on her wedding day. Plus, I don’t think her groom is that tall, and she probably didn’t want to tower over him.

As much as I loved her wedding gown, I really disliked her reception look. A ball gown with too much going on, too many appliques, too Scarlett O’Hara. Yikes. Oh well – people will remember her wedding gown and hopefully they’ll forget about her reception dress.

Crown Prince Hussein & Princess Rajwa in this reception outfits. pic.twitter.com/mFTmmJh3uO

— Gert’s Royals (@Gertsroyals) June 1, 2023

Screencaps courtesy of videos. Photos courtesy of Cover Images.

The second part of the Vanderpump Rules three-part season 10 reunion just aired and while there were definitely big chunks of non-Scandoval filler, there were some very relevant discussions. We got to see Andy Cohen’s one-on-one interview with Raquel Leviss after seeing him speak to Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval last week. Raquel still seems oddly happy about the whole situation, but she at least say some of the right things to Andy, including that she was “very deceitful” and is “ashamed” of the affair. I’ll believe it when she’s able to talk about it without grinning and giggling.

Before Raquel Leviss joined the ‘Vanderpump Rules’ reunion, tension got so thick between Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix that Tom Schwartz popped a Xanax in front of cameras, his castmates and Andy Cohen.

During part 2 of Vanderpump Rules’ season 10 reunion, Raquel Leviss confessed to feeling “ashamed” of her “very deceitful” affair with Tom Sandoval, while she was accused of “blaming” their costar Ariana Madix.

On Wednesday’s episode, fans finally saw the 28-year-old pageant queen’s one-on-one pre-interview with Andy Cohen.

She told the Watch What Happens Live host, 54, about the beginnings of her affair with the Schwartz & Sandy’s co-owner: “Things started getting more romantic after this girl’s trip that I went on.”

When asked if Sandoval, 40, “made you feel special,” Raquel said, “Yeah, he made me feel heard and seen. And those are feelings that I haven’t really felt maybe ever the way that he was seeing ever.”

“How did you envision that this was going to play out with Ariana, did you think that there was a path forward for the two of you?” wondered Andy.

Admitted Raquel, “I think I was living in my own little reality hoping that it would work out.”

When discussing the “many signs” Ariana ignored when it came to Sandoval and Raquel’s secret affair, which ultimately ended the couple’s nine-year relationship, Andy noted: “It’s interesting because Tom said to me that he felt like … ‘Maybe she knows but she’s in denial about this somehow.”

“It seemed that way,” Raquel claimed. “She never pressed about it. She never confronted me about it. From what I know what Tom has told me, she didn’t question him too much about it just believed like at face value what he would tell her.”

“That kind of sounds like you’re blaming her,” Andy said.

“At the time, I think that was my mindset,” she explained. “And I now I know that she really did want to know, and it was very deceitful. I’m very ashamed of it.”

Andy then asked how the conversation between Raquel and Ariana, 36, after Sandoval’s ex found out about the affair.

“It was a lot of pain that I felt from her,” recalled Raquel. “She begged me to tell her when it all happened. And at this point we were going to tell her, we just wanted to get our story straight, basically because he felt like it would hurt her if she knew how long this has been going on.”

Andy interjected, “So by getting your story straight, you were going to maybe truncate how long it had been going on or something?” Raquel acknowledged that was the plan.

“I told her the truth,” Raquel continud. “And she said, ‘Thank you for telling me because Tom would have never told me the truth.’”

[From People]

So far everything Raquel says and does just makes her look worse. As Andy pointed out, she did sound like she was blaming Ariana for not being more suspicious of the affair. Whether that’s an original idea or one that was fed to her by Tom — after all, he thought Ariana could have followed him to see he wasn’t at Schwartz’s — doesn’t matter. The pair of them are basically blaming Ariana for… trusting her partner of nearly a decade and her close friend of many years. It’s gross! And the thing is, Ariana was suspicious, but not of Raquel. In another interview, Ariana admits to asking to see Tom’s phone and to checking his phone’s location from his iPad. She was probably suspicious he was having one-nighters with randos instead of a sustained affair with a member of their friend group. Anyway, Tom at least knows he has to appear as if he feels bad — and he probably feels bad for himself if not Ariana — but Raquel didn’t seem to get that memo. She still seems to lack remorse, almost like she’s happy about the whole thing, despite learning and confronting Tom about the fact that he and Ariana were still intimate and he didn’t really try to break up. But Tom’s mask is starting to slip too, he had a tantrum about not being able to coach Raquel privately and even called Ariana “MF-er” on the main stage. Next week with all three of them on the main stage is going to be a banger for sure.

Photos are screenshots from YouTube/E! News and Bravo

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Amber Riley is still probably best known for playing Mercedes Jones on Glee, which is a shame, because since then she’s taken every opportunity she could to showcase her talents. In 2017 Amber won rave reviews and an Olivier for Best Actress (the British equivalent of a Tony Award) for her turn as Effie White in Dreamgirls (which you know must infuriate a certain costar who’s never been nominated for a Tony). In a recent interview with xoNecole Amber discussed new music (her first album Riley was independently released in 2020), her mental health journey and fighting to take up her ‘Big Girl Energy’ in an industry that doesn’t make much space for Black, plus-sized women:

Glee was ‘not her moment’: Glee launched in 2009 with the promise of becoming Riley’s big break. In some ways, it was. The show introduced Riley to millions of fans and catapulted her into major Hollywood circles. But in other ways, it became a reminder of the types of roles Black women, especially those who are plus-sized, are relegated to. Behind the scenes, Riley says she fought for her character “to have a voice” but eventually realized her efforts were useless. “It finally got to a point where I was like, this is not my moment. I’m not who they’re choosing, and this is just going to have to be a job for me for now,” she says. “And, that’s okay because it pays my bills, I still get to be on television, I’m doing more than any other Black plus-sized women that I’m seeing right now on screen.”

She wants respect, not approval: “My new mantra is ‘humility does not serve me.’ Humility does not serve Black women. The world works so hard to humble us anyway,” she says. It’s why she’s worried less about whether or not people see her as someone who is humble. She’d rather be respected. “I think you should be a person that’s easy to work with, but in the moments where I have to ruffle feathers and make waves, I’m not shying away from that anymore. You can do it in love, you don’t have to be nasty about it, but I had to finally be comfortable with the fact that setting boundaries around my life–in whatever aspect, whether that’s personal or business–people are not going to like it. Some people are not going to have nice things to say about you, and you gotta be okay with it,” she says.

On creating “a life worth fighting for”: She’s traveling more, too. It’s a deliberate effort on her part to enjoy her money and reject the trauma she’s developed after experiencing poverty in her childhood. “I live in constant fear of being broke. I don’t think you ever don’t remember that trauma or move past that. Now I travel and I’m like, listen, if it goes, it goes. I’m not saying [to] be reckless, but I deserve to enjoy my hard work.” After everything she’s been through, she certainly deserves to finally let loose a bit. “I have to have a life to live,” she says. “I’ve got to have a life worth fighting for.”

[From xoNecole]

Aesthetics first: the photos from this article are stunning. If you have any doubts about how the new mantra is working for her, just take a look. As for what she has to say, I kind of just want to send her a big Thank You for laying her thoughts out so clearly and confidently. It’s obvious that the woman she is today is the result of real work she put into her therapy. What she says about spending money in the name of enriching her life, while knowing money will always be a worry she carries, that’s a delicate balance. And therapy has helped her recognize that it’s worth investing in her own joy. That’s a lesson I appreciate hearing.

There were many moments in the interview where her descriptions were so vivid I nearly gasped. She talked about doctors in Hollywood pushing pills on her for anxiety, to the point where one day in makeup she put her arm down on a curling iron and didn’t even feel it cause she was so drugged out–the makeup artist had to point out to her that she was burning. She still has a scar on her arm. Amber doesn’t sound like she was complaining, she just spoke the truth (her truth). Looking to the future, she put out there that she wants to do a romcom with Winston Duke and someday play Rosetta Tharpe. Screenwriters, please make this happen.

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Zooey Deschanel wigs out as a blonde without bangs and she looks like a completely different person, oh my god. [Seriously OMG]
Issa Rae looked great in a tie-dye Johanna Ortiz look at the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse premiere. [RCFA]
Megan Fox & Machine Gun Kelly held hands in London, so they’re really back together. But the engagement is still paused. [Just Jared]
Barbie’s set design is just impeccable, honestly. [OMG Blog]
Someone come collect your oversexed grandma. [Dlisted]
Brian Cox had a lot of thoughts about his Succession character. [LaineyGossip]
I loved the Succession finale as well. [Pajiba]
Lord, I do not understand Louis Vuitton’s vibe these days. [Go Fug Yourself]
The anti-abortion laws are a complete horror show. [Jezebel]
Genie Bouchard loves her social media, that’s for sure. [Egotastic]
Everyone agrees that Jason Momoa is the best part of Fast X. [Buzzfeed]
Manhattanhenge is amazing, I love all of the photos. [Towleroad]

The Crown Prince of Jordan’s wedding is happening today, likely as you’re reading this. Crown Prince Hussein – the 28-year-old son of King Abdullah and Queen Rania – will marry Rajwa Alseif at Zahran Palace in Amman. For weeks, royal-watchers have been talking about the guest list for the wedding, which will include many European royals and international dignitaries, given Jordan’s historic ties and allies within Europe and the West. But before now, we didn’t know that the Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales had flown to Amman to attend the wedding as well.

It wasn’t going to be announced officially until their arrival but with so much circulating already on social media, it can now be confirmed that the Prince and Princess of Wales are attending the wedding of Crown Prince Al Hussein and Miss Rajwa Khalid in Jordan today.

— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) June 1, 2023

This is happening during William and Kate’s kids’ school break, which is also why Will and Kate have been in the wind for a week – they’ve been on vacation, but I guess their kids are staying with the Middletons for a few days while the Waleses attend the royal wedding of the season.

Per People Magazine, William and Kate are far from the only significant royals in attendance. Also in Amman: “Queen Margrethe, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden, Princess Hisakoa of Japan and her daughter Princess Tsuguko, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg and King Philippe and his daughter Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands.” Dr. Jill Biden has also flown in for the wedding ceremony. (Jordan is a major strategic partner for the US, and King Abdullah has been a good ally to many American presidents.)

While the religious service will take place at Zahran Palace, the reception is being held at Al Husseiniya Palace. I would imagine that the royal court will release wedding photos, but I wonder if we’ll get any reception photos. I wonder if You-Know-Who will wear white to another woman’s wedding. Again.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instagram.