I had the chance to read US Magazine’s cover story on Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s alleged marriage problems. There were some quotes that were news to me, assuming that they’re accurate and not creative fiction. According to US’s source, Ben is somewhat henpecked and hemmed in by his wife of ten years, Jennifer Garner, who would rather he not engage in any of his favorite hobbies such as gambling, drinking and hanging out with his buddies. It doesn’t sound true to me, I’m not buying the explanation of their dynamic, but it could be a publicist’s spin on an outcome that many tabloids have been predicting. Here are some parts of US’s report that we haven’t yet covered with more background here and here:

“Jen was embarrassed and pissed off” [when Affleck was busted for counting cards last year] “She feels like she gives him an inch and he takes a mile…”

“He’s tough to be married to because he’s a workaholic… she doesn’t trust him [when he’s away]”

[When Affleck is home] “they speak in short, direct sentences to each other. They can be passive aggressive and dismissive. The only things they talk about are the kids’ schedules or their own schedules…”

“In their dynamic, Jen is the dominating force, which is hard for Ben to deal with… I’ve heard her being dismissive of him.” (In front of the children, however, they’re nothing but cordial. “The kids don’t know anything,” says the Garner source. “Ben and Jen don’t let on to their problems at all.”)

“He likes hanging out with the guys, he likes having a beer and he likes to play some card games… Jen would like it if he never did these things, but that’s who he is.” (A rep for Affleck declined to comment on this sort; Garner’s rep could not be reached.)

“Splitting up is Jennifer’s worst nightmare for the children. Her biggest desire has always been to keep the family together… but there’s only so much she can do. There comes a point where she just has to take care of herself and the children.”

[From US Magazine, print edition, June 29, 2015]

To add more credence to these stories, moving vans were spotted outside their mansion. You can see the photos on The Daily Mail, which reports that movers were seen putting furniture and boxes into the vans.

Shortly after outlets pointed out that moving trucks were outside the Afflecks, People Magazine ran an article claiming the two were renovating house. People reports that the two are “remodeling their home, and moving furniture out before construction begins.” Their house is enormous by most people’s standards, so it’s entirely possible that they could be getting something done in one section while living in another. Still, given the fact that divorce rumors have reached a fever pitch, it’s suspicious.

Photos are from 6-10-15 and 6-14-15 credit: Pacific Coast News and FameFlynet

Last week, Zara Phillips (married name: Zara Tindall) caused a stir at the Royal Ascot when she made an appearance in this incredibly unflattering yellow Paul Costelloe dress. Ordinarily, just the fact that the dress is yellow would be enough for me to hate it, but the shade of yellow actually looked good on Zara. But the dress was still poorly designed, poorly tailored and simply wrong for Zara’s athletic build. The high waist and excess fabric made everyone speculate that Zara was knocked up again – she welcomed her daughter, Mia Grace, in January 2014, a year and a half after Zara won a silver medal at the London Olympics.

As you can imagine, the pregnancy speculation was unwelcome. Zara’s spokesperson told media outlets: “Zara is not pregnant – her plans remain the same in terms of preparation for Rio 2016.” As in, Zara plans on competing as an equestrian next year at the Rio Olympics. So, Zara is not preggo and has no plans to have another child until after the Olympics next year. Was it rude for all of the British sites to run pregnancy speculation? Yes… but I see why they did it. It legitimately looks like she has a baby bump, and by that I mean that this is a really unflattering dress.

Meanwhile, Zara chatted this weekend with the Sunday Times about how she’s seen as more “normal” than the rest of the royal family.

The 34-year-old granddaughter of the Queen said she enjoys being perceived as more ordinary than some of her famous family. In an interview with the Times, Zara said: “That’s nice. I’ve been very lucky. My parents didn’t give us titles, so we’ve been able to have a slightly more ‘normal’ upbringing. As soon as you’ve got a title it’s very difficult to shed it.”

She added: “My brother and I have been very lucky like that, being able to find our own way.”

Zara – who has one-year-old daughter Mia with husband Mike Tindall – also revealed she doesn’t even consider herself to be royal.

“Probably not, but then they are my family, so I obviously kind of am,” she conceded.

[From Express]

Yeah, she’s not really royal in that she doesn’t have a title, she married a “commoner” who didn’t take a title (I think the Queen offered Mike Tindall a title) and Zara’s daughter doesn’t have a title. But still, Zara’s grandmother is the Queen, Zara’s uncle will be king and Zara’s cousin will be king. So she’s right in there. And yes, people do see Zara and her brother Peter as more “normal” than the royals.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Anthony Mackie fell hard and fast from gossip grace earlier this year. He seemed like such a chill guy. The only public strike against him was a DWI a few years ago (which was a very big deal). He stayed out of legal trouble after that incident. Everyone still liked Mackie until he dissed Selma, saying “People are tired of being bombarded with race.” Then he gave a very unclassy interview about how women should serve him and “make daddy a sandwich.” So when the press found out Mackie secretly married his longtime girlfriend last December, I shrugged and ignored the story.

Mackie has a new interview with E! where he talked about Chris Evans’ love life. Maybe they’ve been talking about women together on the Cap: Civil War set:

“Chris needs a regular girl. Chris needs a girl who is just down to earth, who’s smart and that’s hard to find. Those girls are not celebrities. Those are not girls you know.

“Chris just needs a regular and down to earth smart girl. Somebody that hangs out at home and somebody that can take care of him you know because he is Captain America.

“He really loves Earth, Wind & Fire. Like we were talking one day and he put on Earth, Wind & Fire and he said it’s the best band of all time. So Chris just dances around to Earth, Wind & Fire all day. It’s really weird.”

[From E! Online]

Talk about oversharing. Does Chris Evans care that his buddy is out there chatting about his romantic ways and trying to score him a date? Because Evans also talks as if he’s Steve Rogers, but his (usual) dating habits don’t match up to those claims.

This is such a weird interview for Mackie to give, and it sounds like he wants Evans to find someone to “make daddy a sandwich” too. I’m sure Evans is simply thrilled that everyone now knows he dances to Earth, Wind & Fire at all hours. In addition to Evans’ recent spiritual video series, this information is not helping. Shush, Mackie.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet & WENN

View image | gettyimages.com

Listening to Colin Farrell speak is my new favorite pastime. The last time we covered him, he spoke intelligently and at length about the historic popular vote in Ireland which legalized gay marriage. There’s nothing better than hearing a hot guy with an accent passionately share my same political views.

As part of his new gig for Dolce & Gabbana’s Intenso cologne (that sounds like a parody name, right?) and in honor of Father’s day, Colin talked about the joys and fears of being a dad. He was just as thoughtful and introspective as you might expect. Colin is father to two boys including James Padraig Farrell, 12, from his relationship with model Kim Bordenave. James has a developmental disorder called Angelman syndrome, which Colin has spoken about publicly in order to increase funding and awareness. He also has a five year-old son, Henry Tadeusz Farrell, from his relationship with Polish actress Alicja Bachleda-Curu?.

Here’s some of what Colin said about being a dad. You can see the video of Colin’s interview on E! Online.

It’s incredibly complicated, I find it, to be a father because I have no idea what I’m doing. I haven’t read any books but I know that if I did they would just confound me even more. There is no direct science to it. Because like art and like life it is the most extreme exercise in trial and error because the consequences are so great… not grave but great.

It can be a terrifying thing—but also there’s a great liberation in being a father, if I can speak from a point of self-interest for a second. Because for the first time in your life you are not the most important thing in your world. For the first time in your life you really have an understanding of what it is to love unconditionally. And it’s a pretty extraordinary gift.

I enjoy my boys. They’re fun. They’re good dudes. I have two very lovely, lovely human beings that look to me for help and assistance. Can you imagine? They’re doomed.

It’s a lot of fun. I’m very excited to see where they go in their lives… just observe the path that they’re on and maybe help them with some direction but stay out of the way as much as I can as well.

[From video on E! Online]

There’s a kind of poetry to Colin’s turns of phrase, and you get the sense that he’s a deep thinker. I do wonder how involved he is in his boys’ lives, but we don’t hear much about his private life so it’s hard to tell. It’s obvious he cares deeply about them.

Colin isn’t starring in as many movies as he used to and I hope he has a kind of resurgence with True Detective. He doesn’t get enough love around here and in general, I think. Kaiser will be covering the first episode of True Detective a little later. I’m so excited to watch it!

Here’s Colin’s ad for Dolce and Gabbana’s Intenso. He’s always so smoldering, but this ad is a miss. It sounds like a fake cologne on The Simpsons. WHO NAMED THIS?

View image | gettyimages.com

Photo credit: Getty Images, WENN, FameFlynet and Dolce & Gabbana

Ugh, bike shorts are so unforgiving. Here are some photos of Pippa and James Middleton yesterday, doing the London to Brighton Bike Ride to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. Pippa has taken it upon herself to create a charity portfolio, just like her sister Kate. Only I have to say – it sometimes seems like Pippa does more actual work with her charities than Kate ever does. Pippa was appointed an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation last year or the year before.

This is the 40th annual London-to-Brighton Bike Ride and it looks like a lot of people turned out. The bike ride is 54 miles total, which… I think if the weather is good and you’re in good shape (like Pippa and James), a 54-mile bike ride is probably pretty pleasant. Pippa loves a good charity cycle – she biked 3000 miles coast-to-coast in America last year for charity as well. Pippa released a statement about this weekend’s ride, saying: “This event is testament to the fact that cycling is such an inclusive sport that everyone can enjoy. Through the money raised, the BHF can continue to help the millions of people affected by coronary heart disease – the UK’s single biggest killer.”

As for Pippa’s romantic life… I think she’s in a really weird situation. Nico Jackson has moved out of the country (he’s working in Switzerland now) but they’re still “together” even though they’re never actually together. And the engagement rumors have been happening for years now and there’s still no ring. As for James Middleton’s romantic life…his girlfriend Donna Air wrote an essay for The Telegraph last week where she described their life together. It was a weird read.

PS… as if we needed more evidence that Pippa has an ass of lies.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Grammy Award-wining singer Mariah Carey posted a photo of 4-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe via Instagram Sunday.

“Happy Father’s Day @nickcannon!! Love, Roc & Roe,” the Hero hitmaker, 45, captioned the image of her children with estranged husband, America’s Got Talent host Nick Cannon.

The pop superstar went on to share some photos from their getaway in Capri.

On Mother’s Day, Cannon, 34, shared a special message for Mariah as well.

“Gotta represent for the Mother of my children,” Cannon Instagrammed the image of Carey and their kids.

He added: “She is such a wonderful, thoughtful, festive, loving and nurturing Soul. I will forever be in debt to you for blessing me and the rest of the world with Roc & Roe. A true #Queen Will love you always @MariahCarey #HappyMothersDay.”

After six years of marriage, Cannon filed for divorce in Dec. 2014. They initially separated in Aug. that same year.

Happy Father’s Day @nickcannon!! Love, Roc & Roe

A photo posted by Mariah Carey (@mariahcarey) on Jun 21, 2015 at 9:39am PDT

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New dad Justin Timberlake posted a precious photo with son Silas, 2 months, via Instagram Sunday.

“FLEXIN’ on Fathers Day… #HappyFathersDay to ALL of the Dads out there from the newest member of the Daddy Fraternity!! –JT,” the pop superstar, 34, captioned the cute shot with his newborn baby boy.

This marks the first photo of Timberlake and his son. In April, the Mirrors hitmaker and his wife, actress Jessica Biel, introduced their son in a mommy-and-me photo.

The couple has remained mum on their son’s actual birth date and weight/length.

FLEXIN’ on Fathers Day… #HappyFathersDay to ALL of the Dads out there from the newest member of the Daddy Fraternity!! –JT

A photo posted by Justin Timberlake (@justintimberlake) on Jun 21, 2015 at 9:11am PDT

Proud papa Carey Hart shared a shot of his 4-year-old daughter Willow via Instagram Sunday.

“Thank you Willz for choosing me, I love you more than life itself. I promise I will do my best to be the best father to you. Happy Father’s Day to all the real dads out there,” Hart captioned the image of his daughter holding up her Father’s Day gift.

The freestyle motocross star’s wife, pop superstar Pink, and Willow made a rare red carpet appearance earlier this month.

“I think she’s more into motorcycles at this point,” Pink recently said of their daughter’s passion. “Motorcycles and skateboarding. I’m super into it.”

Thank you Willz for choosing me, I love you more than life itself. I promise I will do my best to be the best father to you. Happy Father’s Day to all the real dads out there.

A photo posted by Carey Hart (@hartluck) on Jun 21, 2015 at 9:56am PDT

Model mom Gisele Bündchen posted a precious family photo Sunday via Instagram.

“Happy Father’s Day!!!! We love you!!!” the Brazilian beauty, 34, captioned the image of her husband, football star Tom Brady, and his three kids: sons Jack, 7, Benjamin, 5, and daughter Vivian, 2.

Tom welcomed his eldest child with ex-girlfriend, actress Bridget Moynahan.

Happy Father’s Day to Tom!

Happy Father’s Day!!!! We love you!!! ?????? Feliz dia dos pais!!! Nós te amamos!!!

A photo posted by Gisele Bündchen (@giseleofficial) on Jun 21, 2015 at 5:31am PDT

In honor of Father’s Day, Blake Lively posted a photo of husband Ryan Reynolds babywearing their daughter James, 6 months.

“Happy Fathers Day!!! … @vancityreynolds Since the day our baby was born, I’ve felt so strongly in my heart that you were most likely the father. #ILoveYouSoMuchItsSilly,” she Instagrammed the image Sunday.

The Canadian actor, 38, and the Gossip Girl star, 27, welcomed their first child in Dec. 2014.

While Blake is filming a movie in Thailand this summer, Ryan will be on daddy duty.

Happy Fathers Day!!! … @vancityreynolds Since the day our baby was born, I’ve felt so strongly in my heart that you were most likely the father. #ILoveYouSoMuchItsSilly

A photo posted by Blake Lively (@blakelively) on Jun 21, 2015 at 7:29am PDT