(We are so pleased to welcome Anastasia, the newest writer to join the team. Anastasia is a journalism student and a member of Bachelor Nation. She can be reached on Twitter @annieanokyee and on Instagram @annie.anokye. and by email at anastasia@laineygossip.com.)Anyone who is a huge Bachelor fanati…

Here’s the thing: I would have respect for Khloe Kardashian if she presented her personal choices honestly and didn’t try to publicly “blame” Tristan Thompson’s side chicks. Like, Khloe knows that Tristan screws around, sees other women, etc. It’s never been a secret. So when Khloe fought so hard to stay with Tristan after she gave birth to True, a lot of us were like “WTF.” But she kept going and going and then she completely freaked out on Jordyn Woods because… Tristan kissed Jordyn. And there’s a lot of evidence to suggest that Khloe and Tristan weren’t even together then. So Tristan and Khloe have been doing this stupid back-and-forth, are-they-really-together thing for a while. And what I would appreciate from Khloe is just an acknowledgement that there is no romantic aspect to this mess anymore, that she and Tristan get along for True, and that he’s going to father her second child but, again, they’re not really together. Because that’s the truth.

Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson continue to be serious about conceiving a second child together. The pair already share 2½-year-old daughter True, and according to one source close to the couple, Khloé, 36, and Tristan, 29, are actively trying and planning for baby No. 2. “Khloé and Tristan still want to give True a sibling. It’s a big priority for both of them,” the source tells PEOPLE. “They really want it to work out.”

“Khloé is spending most of her time in L.A. while Tristan is working in Boston. Khloe enjoys visiting Boston, but she doesn’t want to live there,” adds the source. “Tristan understands that she wants to be with her family. True loves playing with all her cousins and is the happiest in LA with them.”

In a teaser for the upcoming final season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Khloé sits down with the NBA player to discuss the idea of having another baby together.

“Kim [Kardashian West], every time I post a video of True, she [direct-messages me] and she’s like, ‘She can’t play by herself her whole life,’ ” Khloé says in the clip. “In my head, when I was going to have kids, I never ever imagined having an only child.”

While Khloé says she’s always wanted a big family, the pandemic made her reevaluate her priorities: “Being in quarantine with her, I felt bad. She had no friends, she had nobody, because they were isolated from each other. True is getting older. I just feel like it’s now time to have another kid.”

“Yup, that’s what I like to hear,” responds Tristan, who’s also dad to son Prince, 4, with ex Jordan Craig.

[From People]

There’s so much weird only-child-shaming in this family and in American society these days. I don’t get it – families are getting smaller, and lots of people just want one kid, or they’re happy with just one child. I’m an only child and it was great! I mean, there are good and bad parts, just like there are good and bad parts to having siblings. But people act like only children grow up to be emotionally stunted trolls or something. When really, we’re just self-sufficient.

I’m including the clip referenced by People below. Tristan saying he’s always wanted four kids… hm. Khloe also talks about how she’s already frozen her eggs and so Tristan needs to make an appointment so they can do everything in a lab. Which, again, is fine – if Khloe wants True to have a sibling and she wants Tristan to be the father, so be it. But don’t wrap it up in this bizarre “we’re still together and I’ll freak out on any woman he sleeps with” energy.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Instagram.

Allison Janney is promoting her new film Breaking News In Yuba County. I believe this is where the Southern CBers would add bless her heart because oh wow, it is not getting good reviews. And you can tell everyone wanted to like it, too, because the cast deserved it. But bad scripts aside, some gambles that Allison took are really paying off for her, like her new Silver Goddess hairstyle. It turns out, Allison’s wanted to try this look for a while. As the months of quarantine droned on, and her natural gray came in, she decided to go for it, crediting Dame Helen Mirren for starting the trend.

Allison Janney just revealed that her recent hair color switch-up was inspired by a fellow Oscar winner.

During an episode of PEOPLE TV’s One Last Thing, the usually-brunette actress told host Jeremy Parsons that she decided to “do a Helen Mirren thing” when her natural gray hair color started appearing while she was cooped up inside amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“It started out with just COVID choices, you know. I was in Ohio for five months of the pandemic,” the Mom star shared.

“My natural color started growing in — which is gray. And then I thought, you know, I’ve always wanted to cut it off and do a Helen Mirren thing. I just wanted to try it.”

“I just get very brave with my hair,” she added.

[From People]

Well, I mean, yeah – when in doubt, always do “the Helen Mirren thing,” whatever that “thing” is. Maybe that should be our new motto, What Would Dame Helen Do? I’ve said multiple times that I love gray/white/silver hair on women. It must be the Celt in me. I have a gray streak coming down my face that gets wider every year. I love it. So stories like Allison and Andie MacDowell who are committed to living their best Silver lives make me happy. I also love Allison’s pixie cut. I can’t really carry a pixie but boy, Allison can. Everything about her new look is working for her. Like Allison, I get very brave with my hair, too. I get bored with color almost as soon as I’ve done it so I save color for wigs now. But I’ve cut five inches off on a whim. Even if I don’t like the results it never bothers me much. I just wear hats until it’s back to a place I like.

Hot Pants will probably love the new Allison too. Do you all remember when Allison was campaigning for I, Tonya? She said a psychic told her not only that gold would come into her life (hello, Oscar) but so would a man to whom they affectionately referred to Hot Pants. Allison started going out more because she thought maybe Hot Pants was waiting for her. He hadn’t shown up prior to lockdown, but while talking to Seth Meyers, Seth suggested that maybe COVID merely delayed Hot Pants and as soon as we get back out there, Allison and Hot Pants would finally meet. It would make sense, her Silver Goddess is fully revealed, and Hot Pants emerges, like Venus on the clam shell before her. The universe has a plan, y’all*.

*You have no idea how much I need the stupid pandemic to have purpose!

Photo credit: Youtube and Instagram

My read on Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles’ relationship has always been a bit different than the gossip energy around them. The gossip energy veers towards “good for her” and “Harry and Olivia forever.” There’s also a dash of “Olivia deserves to be with a hot guy like Harry after Jason Sudeikis did her wrong!” Which is still kind of absurd to me, since I completely believe Olivia and Jason were having grown-up partnership issues and then Olivia dumped Jason for Harry. My read on Olivia and Harry is that he’s going to look for an exit pretty quickly as well. Still, I’ve been wrong before and I might be wrong now. It looks like Olivia has completely moved out of the LA home she shared with Sudeikis, and she’s moved into a house with Harry Styles.

Olivia Wilde moves bags from Jason Sudeikis’ home to Harry Styles’ place https://t.co/T6N1P5EWFa pic.twitter.com/hoodHjQEoH

— Page Six (@PageSix) February 15, 2021

Page Six doesn’t have any info besides the fact that Olivia was seen moving sh-t out of the Silver Lake home she shared with Jason. I don’t even think she was living there anymore – she either bought/rented a new place or she moved into Harry Styles’ rental. Speaking of, production has wrapped on Don’t Worry Darling, the film Olivia directed, with Harry playing a supporting role. Olivia posted a special message about Harry on her IG:

“Little known fact: most male actors don’t want to play supporting roles in female-led films. The industry has raised them to believe it lessens their power (i.e financial value) to accept these roles, which is one of the reasons it’s so hard to get financing for movies focusing on female stories. No joke, it is harrrrrd to find actors who recognize why it might be worth it to allow for a woman to hold the spotlight.

“Enter: @harrystyles, our ‘Jack.’ Not only did he relish the opportunity to allow for the brilliant @florencepugh to hold center stage as our ‘Alice,’ but he infused every scene with a nuanced sense of humanity. He didn’t have to join our circus, but he jumped on board with humility and grace, and blew us away every day with his talent, warmth, and ability to drive backwards.”

[From Olivia’s IG]

I mean, she’s right and she’s wrong. There are plenty of great actors who have no issues with working on films with female leads. There are lots of actors who refuse to play anyone other than the lead though. I’m increasingly aware of the fact that too many actors prefer to do films with zero female roles though, and it’s the weirdest damn thing. Anyway, Harry gets a cookie for playing a supporting role to a female lead, I guess. It does feel like she’s praising him for doing the bare minimum though.

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Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have dominated the headlines with their pregnancy announcement on Valentine’s Day, revealing their happy news a few days after Meghan’s legal victory over the Daily Mail. As you can imagine, there’s a lot of saltiness happening. Even more so since it was then confirmed…

As we discussed, The Bachelor’s host Chris Harrison stepped away from the franchise over the weekend. While many said (including me) that Harrison “stepped down,” the truth is that he stepped away – he did not quit the franchise, and his “stepping away” is an open-ended thing which will likely see him making some kind of “comeback” in a few months. Why did he step away? Well… he defended a racist, Confederate-flag-waving, QAnon-loving contestant in an appallingly full-throated way, invoking “woke police” and suggesting that people didn’t know that plantation and slavery cosplay was racist AF in 2018. It took several days, but Harrison offered a comprehensive apology and announced that he was stepping away from the franchise. So… will Harrison be gone for good? Or will producers give him the chance to come back next season? Bachelor Nation has a lot of thoughts.

Chris Harrison excusing historical racism has left former Black contestants from the franchise divided on how to proceed with the host’s future — some say he needs teaching, others want him gone for good. We spoke to several Black ‘Bachelor’ and ‘Bachelorette’ alums from recent years, and the consensus is they’re disappointed with the longtime host’s downplaying of Rachael Kirkconnell’s past … which many have called straight up racist.

We’re told Chris’ apparent lack of interest in understanding why Rachael’s prior actions were upsetting … came off as him talking down to the Black community. So, what does that mean for his future on the shows? Well, Marshana Ritchie (‘Bachelor,’ Season 12) and Leslie Hughes (‘Bachelor,’ Season 17) tell us Harrison needs a long break, and a lot of education on Black history … plus, sensitivity training before he returns.

Marquel Martin (‘Bachelorette,’ Season 10) and Robyn Jedkins (‘Bachelor,’ Season 17) both think Chris should be given a second chance — and probably shouldn’t be burned at the stake, but they add … he needs to do better at understanding the Black perspective before speaking on these issues again. Fan fave Mike Johnson (‘Bachelorette,’ Season 15) says he wants to see Chris do work in the African-American community before coming back, while genuinely attempting to connect to Black viewers … who might see the show as skewed toward white audiences.

Now for some of the harsher takes, courtesy of DeMario Jackson (‘Bachelorette,’ Season 13) and Jubilee Sharpe (‘Bachelor,’ Season 20) … they both want Chris gone permanently.

[From TMZ]

Yeah, while I appreciate that TMZ went to the Black contestants, I’d also be interested in hearing what the white contestants think, wouldn’t you? It feels like… um, people don’t want to open that can of worms. I’ve always assumed that a good chunk of the white contestants are pretty MAGA and would therefore think that Harrison is fine and he should come back right away.

Rachel Lindsay, a former Bachelorette and the woman who conducted the interview where Harrison was racist AF, is also speaking about Harrison’s apology and what should happen next:

Lindsay, 35, told Extra host Billy Bush on Monday that she was “stunned” after her interview with Harrison, during which he said that Kirkconnell deserved “compassion” after social media posts of hers surfaced — including Kirkconnell dressing up as a Native American person and attending an antebellum plantation-themed ball.

“Like he said, he needs to take time to get educated and on a profound and productive level to use his word,” she said. “And I think he needs to understand what was done, what was wrong, and what he said in that interview, and he needs time. He’s stepped away to do that.”

Prior to his announcement he would be taking a break from the show, Harrison initially apologized to Lindsay and for “wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism” a day after his interview with the former Bachelorette was met with backlash. Lindsay told Bush that it’s hard for her to “fully accept” Harrison’s apology because it came “after the fact.”

“I’m going to need that time and space and compassion that he referenced to really accept the apology, because [Chris wasn’t] apologetic at first,” she said. “I’m not saying I can’t get there, it’s just, initially, it’s a little tough for me…Because when you think of racism, you think explicit racism… you think wearing a white hood, you know? Saying things that are derogatory or offensive. That’s explicit racism, but then there’s implicit racism where you have these unconscious biases and stereotypes and misconceptions of certain groups, and that’s what we were seeing in that interview, and I think it was a moment for people to recognize what was being said and to learn and grow from it, which is what we’re seeing happen now with Chris.”

[From People]

Rachel is totally right – and doing God’s work – to point out the difference between explicit and implicit racism, but I’d just like to point out that the interview she did with Harrison which started this mess was actually an example of both, explicit and implicit. Harrison wasn’t wearing a white hood, but he was BEYOND implicitly racist in that interview. (Also: BILLY BUSH, I can’t believe he’s back.)

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

As an American, I love the fact that Oprah Winfrey and Duchess Meghan formed a friendship. While they didn’t know each other very well before the Sussex wedding in 2018, they’ve gotten to know each other and both women clearly see the friendship as personally, professionally and mutually beneficial. Here in America, Oprah is one of our most famous and beloved celebrities, the first Black woman billionaire, the first lady of daytime programming, and a woman who has set the tone in confessional interview programming for decades. Which is why it’s hilarious and insulting that British commentators keep slandering Oprah just because she’s the one to get the coveted Sussex interview. This tweet was on my TL yesterday:

Harry and Meghan to talk to their friend Oprah Winfrey, who made her name doing “tabloid” TV talk shows. https://t.co/Q9afK1xQZI

— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) February 15, 2021

Imagine dismissively referring to Oprah that way JUST to score some kind of point about Harry and Meghan. It’s almost as if… every royal reporter is racist and they just hate every Black woman. It’s almost as if British reporters have zero respect for self-made women of color. And don’t forget, these same salty white folks are also dismissive of Oprah’s career as an interviewer.

Eamonn Holmes has blasted Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s decision to do a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, branding it as just an ‘advert’. The presenter, 61, gave his opinion on Tuesday’s This Morning, after it emerged the couple had recorded a 90-minute special with the legendary chat show host.

Speaking to royal correspondent Camilla Tominey and Nick Ferrari, Eamonn disputed the idea it was interview, and was instead a marketing tactic because Oprah, 67, ‘is a mate’.

‘Meghan’s mum stayed with Oprah at her home as a house guest. So it’s not an interview as such.’

Camilla replied: ‘Well, I don’t think she’s going to be throwing really difficult questions at Meghan and admittedly it’s going to be hugely sympathetic because, as you say, they’re friends. Though interestingly, it’s been pointed out that they’d only met once before Oprah turned up at the royal wedding in Windsor castle in May 2018. But yes, I think it’s going to be a soft soap kind of an interview.’

Eamonn has previously come under fire for his outspoken views on the royal couple. Back in 2019, the presenter was reprimanded by ITV bosses for describing Meghan as ‘uppity’ because the term has racial connotations.

[From The Daily Mail]

Of course the guy who called Meghan “uppity” is now assuming that Oprah will merely do a soft-focus, softball interview. I’m really going to need British peeps to back the f–k up and understand that Oprah is a really big f–king deal and she’s literally known for her quality interviews, for getting people to open up, and for challenging someone when she thinks they’re lying. There are a million reasons why Meghan wanted to give her first post-Sussexit interview to Oprah, and none of those reasons are “Oprah will only ask Meghan softball questions.”

Photos courtesy of WENN, Avalon Red, Backgrid.

In the end, the second impeachment of Donald Trump ended up with an acquittal in the Senate because only 57 senators voted to convict Trump. It made me sad, but again, I don’t understand why people directed their anger at Democrats, who voted across the board to impeach, condemn and punish Trump. It’s not their fault the Constitution is f–ked and they’re not the Party of Violent Insurrection. It was clear that Speaker Pelosi – who continues to be justifiably enraged – had a larger plan throughout. The first phase was impeachment, the most direct action she could take in her position. There was also a ton of sh-t she did behind-the-scenes, especially given that Trump tried to assassinate her. But Speaker Pelosi has more phases. Impeachment wasn’t the only tool in her toolbox. Now she’s calling for a 9/11-type commission on the January 6th insurrection.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced in a letter to House Democrats on Monday plans for the creation of a “9/11-type commission” to investigate the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

“To protect our security, our security, our security, our next step will be to establish an outside, independent 9/11-type Commission to ‘investigate and report on the facts and causes relating to the January 6, 2021 domestic terrorist attack upon the United States Capitol Complex,’” Pelosi wrote. Pelosi has previously called for the formation of such a commission and said she believes there is a need for it.

A commission of this nature would be established by a statute, passed by both chambers and signed into law by the President. The commission members would not be elected leaders and would be outside the government.

In a separate letter to House Democrats earlier this month, Pelosi wrote that it is “clear that we will need to establish a 9/11-type Commission to examine and report upon the facts, causes and security relating to the terrorist mob attack on January 6.”

[From CNN]

I agree with her. It’s not going to happen overnight though, and I wonder if those same seven senators who voted to convict Donald Trump will also vote for the commission. It took forever for the 9/11 Commission to get up and running because – at the time – George W. Bush delayed his approval (because he knew how bad his administration would look). While President Biden is understandably eager to push through more of his First 100 Days agenda, I think Biden has probably been pushing congressional leaders for this behind-the-scenes. It takes the task of a larger investigation out of the White House AND out of Congress’s hands. It will be more thorough and less political on a daily level. And there is a deeply urgent need for truth, accountability and consequences. I said the other day, post-acquittal, that I was slightly surprised that President Biden wasn’t talking about an independent counsel or special prosecutor for the insurrection. This is probably why he hasn’t: because he knew Speaker Pelosi would push for this commission.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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The Trump “administration” was an unethical quagmire. Normal, regular old people were suddenly parsing the wording of the Emoluments Clause and non-lawyers were boning up on the regulatory issues of Ivanka Trump’s clothing label. The Trump-owned hotel in Washington became ground zero for influence-peddlers and Trump sycophants. It was all one big grift, and the American people were the marks. Well, I didn’t realize before now that VP Harris’s niece Meena Harris is a self-styled influencer and author who profits from branded items having to do with her aunt. Wooo, that is NOT good. It’s not a good look at all. I know this is coming from the NY Post, but other outlets are running similar pieces too.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ social-media-influencer niece Meena Harris has long used her aunt’s fame to boost her own personal brand — but now that Harris has entered the White House, aides have become increasingly concerned about the ethical implications of the promotional pattern, according to a report.

“Some things can’t be undone,” a White House official, speaking about niece Meena Harris, 36, on the condition of anonymity, told The Los Angeles Times.

“That being said: Behavior needs to change,” the official said of the niece Harris, whose ventures have reportedly become a sensitive issue in the newly formed Biden-Harris White House. Harris is a lawyer-turned-entrepreneur who boasts more than 800,000 followers on Instagram, where her posts range from political to personal. She is the author of children’s books, including one titled “Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea,” and she is the founder of a women’s charitable clothing brand called “Phenomenal.”

Her latest book, “Ambitious Girl,” was released the night before her aunt was sworn in as the first female vice president and woman of color in the White House. The niece has also appeared on The View and the Today show, and was profiled this year in Vanity Fair and by The New York Times. After the election, White House lawyers told the younger Harris she could not produce any products that used the veep’s name or likeness, a White House official reportedly told The LA Times.

A White House official went as far to say that the book bearing her aunt’s first name, along with a Phenomenal sweatshirt printed “Vice President Aunty,” are not allowed under existing ethics rules, the paper reported. But even after federal lawyers briefed Meena on the new rules she must follow, she still flew on a private plane to the inauguration with a Biden donor and shared the trip on Instagram, according to The LA Times. Her online store also continues to tell sweatshirts printed with the viral quote “I’m speaking” — words spoken by her aunt during a debate with then-Vice-President Mike Pence.

In a statement provided to The LA Times via a public relations firm, Harris defended her practices. “Since the beginning of the campaign, I have insisted on upholding all legal and ethical standards and will continue to strictly adhere to the ethics rules of the Biden/Harris White House. With regards to Phenomenal, it was always our plan to remove the likeness of the Vice President from the website before the Inauguration, and refrain from using her likeness in any products or campaigns going forward.”

[From The NY Post]

Considering VP Harris is a badass lawyer, I suspect that she already knew that her niece’s ventures were and are an ethical nightmare for her. I wonder if Kamala Harris was trying to avoid being the bad guy to her niece though? I wonder if she was like “the White House lawyers need to talk to you” and just let Meena deal with it on her own. I mean… it’s not Ivanka-level. It’s not Don Jr level (remember, the RNC bought copies of Don’s stupid book?). But that’s not saying much. No one is saying that Meena can’t be an Instagram influencer, by the way. It’s just that she can’t profit from – or be seen as loosely profiting from – her connection to her aunt. Meena needs to follow the White House lawyers’ guidance to the T.

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Photos courtesy of Meena’s IG.

Today in Very Important Bridgerton News, the woman who is too good for Anthony Bridgerton has been cast. Sex Education’s Simone Ashley will star as Kate Sharma in season two. Kate! Is here! And she will NOT be taking ANY of Anthony’s bullsh-t, of which there is a GREAT DEAL, but she is having NONE O…