Several days ago, Tom Sykes at the Daily Beast wrote a sort-of editorial about the Duchess of Sussex’s legal victory in her summary judgment against the Mail. While Sykes swipes at Meghan for many things, he also wrote the words which few other royal reporters will dare utter: “Harry and Meghan don’t really need the media. They’d be quite happy bypassing the media and going direct to their fans on Twitter and Instagram…The trouble is, the British media really, really do need them, although it’s an unrequited love, of course, and whether this ruling changes how they write about them remains to be seen.” That’s the God’s honest truth, and that’s the prism from which the entire royal commentary industry should be viewed. For all of the racism, toxicity and abuse hurled at Meghan and Harry, the simple truth is that M&H sell, and they’re one of the biggest stories the royal industry has ever seen.

So you could feel the general sigh of relief yesterday when Meghan and Harry’s interview with Oprah was confirmed. We’ll have WEEKS of pre-interview coverage, with tons of increasingly frantic attempts to predict what they’ll say in the interview, all while bullying them for daring to give an interview. Then there will be the post-interview coverage which will be largely negative too, plus “reactions” from various royal courts to the interview. It will be like Finding Freedom all over again. Anyway, Katie Nicholl at Vanity Fair had a piece to get us started on what I assume will be wall-to-wall pre-interview coverage. You can read Nicholl’s full piece here. Some highlights:

Meghan won’t give details about the Sussexit: It is understood that Meghan will also talk about what it was like to marry into the royal family and touch on the circumstances that drove her and Harry to quit last year, although Vanity Fair has been told the Duchess is unlikely to reveal the full details of their departure out of respect for the Queen.

The Sussexes didn’t tell the Palace: It is not known whether Harry and Meghan have discussed the TV interview with the Queen, but they did not consult courtiers at Buckingham Palace before agreeing to the interview. A Palace source said that the couple are no longer obliged to inform the Royal Household of their plans now that they are non-working members of the Royal Family.

H&M are thrilled about Montecito Baby: Sources close to Harry and Meghan say they are “over the moon.” “Meg’s on a high and so is Harry,” said a friend. “They are very excited about everything and looking forward to sitting down and sharing some of that happiness with Oprah. It’s a chance for them to give people a glimpse into their new lives and what they are hoping to achieve in the future.”

What does this even mean?! The Oprah interview, though given under dramatically different circumstances than the one in 2019, will still be carefully handled to avoid the couple being accused of cashing in on their royal connections and “invading” their own privacy.

Dickie Arbiter said words: According to former Palace Spokesman Dickie Arbiter, the Sussexes will need to be careful what they say about their son Archie and Meghan’s relationship with her father. “The Sussexes have an army of professional well paid advisors so they will go into the interview well-rehearsed and prepared but they will have to be careful particularly when speaking about their son and Meghan’s father… Associated Newspapers will I imagine be watching the interview very carefully. They want their day in court so I can’t believe Meghan will talk in depth about the court case and she should be careful when talking about the media because from what I have seen, she hasn’t been harassed by the British media. Meghan is very smart and I suspect this is more about getting their message out about what’s next for them and what they are going to do in LA. Harry and Meghan aren’t going to make any waves, it’s not worth them upsetting the apple cart.”

Hollywood people think the interview is a good idea: Global talent agent Professor Jonathan Shalit told Vanity Fair that the interview will ultimately be good PR for Harry and Meghan. “An Oprah interview is a badge of honor for any global celebrity looking to open up and present their viewpoint to the world,” he said. “As to the rights and wrongs of this there are two totally differing perspectives at play. The UK perspective is Meghan has married into the British Royal Family and should play by UK rules and not trade on her title of Duchess. The American perspective is Meghan is an American and looking to build her own career in America and doing what is necessary to achieve this.”

[From Vanity Fair]

Note to British reporters: you sound so dumb whenever you say that someone is “invading their own privacy.” That’s not a thing. Meghan and Harry are not “invading their own privacy,” they’re telling their story and speaking their truth. Literally no one else in the Windsor clan is held to the same “don’t invade your own privacy!” standard. And Arbiter fussing around about the court case… it’s over. The court case is over. The Mail could appeal, but they have not as of yet, probably because their lawyers know they don’t have a legal leg to stand on. Besides, I assume Meghan has other subjects she wants to discuss. Lordy, these people are big mad that an American woman is giving an interview to an American woman on an American network.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

I got the Sleepytime Extra tea with valerian that we featured last week. Thankfully I just bought one box from the store because I couldn’t sleep after drinking two cups! Apparently valerian has the opposite effect on some people in that it causes insomnia. I don’t recommend it, and I was convinced after reading the reviews. Here are some more things I own or am interested in.

A set of 3 anti-aging serums for under $15

I know I’m spoiled, but I like to have three serums at once so I can alternate. This is a set of three one-ounce anti-aging serums from ArtNaturals for just $15! It comes with Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and retinol. This set has over 3,400 ratings, 4.4 stars and an A on Fakespot. It also comes with an instruction card so you know when to apply which serum. There are convincing before and after photos showing much clearer, hydrated skin with a reduction of fine lines. Reviewers write “I started using these serums about a year ago and have stopped using everything else. They have made a significant change in the appearance and health of my skin. Not to brag, but people comment on my skin all the time and I always tell them it is because of this trio of serums.” “Used these serums for a month now and have noticed the major improvement of my skin. Pores have diminished by nearly 100%! Skin is brighter and hydrated.”

A detangling brush for all hair types

Taraji P. Henson featured this detangling brush by Felicia Leatherwood in a recent haircare video which Oya covered. It’s made of wood and is said to work with all hair types, including straight and synthetic hair. This has over 2,100 reviews, 4.6 stars and a B on Fakespot. It’s said to be better than the Denman to detangle with less pain. This brush is very solid and detangles so well you have to be careful with and may want to use it on wet hair with conditioner. Reviewers say it works very well. “Finally a brush that detangles without snatching out thousands of strands. I literally had 1/4 the loss that I normally have with tangle teaser, comb or denmen.” “Love how it gets through 4b/4c hair. I bought a few brushes for other family members.” “After using it, I realized that it detangles much faster and with less breakage than any other brush I’ve ever used on my 4C hair. The key is brushing from the bottom to top, slowly detangling. If you are inpatient, this brush is not for you because you will rip your hair out. However, if used correctly, it works so well!”

An under-$20 leather oversize watch would make a great gift for you or a friend

These pretty large face watches with leather bands are so inexpensive you can get them in a couple different colors. They would also make great gifts. They come in 12 different band colors and face options, all under $20 with a $1 coupon to apply. These have over 1,700 ratings, 4.4 stars and a B on Fakespot. Plus they’re waterproof. Women say they’re lovely watches that look feminine and make your wrist look small. Reviewers like how bold yet lightweight it is and one person said it even works fine after going through the washer. “I love this watch! I wanted something that looked professional enough for work and this is beautiful.” “I absolutely love these watches! I bought a black one and a brown one and I fell in love with both of them. It’s fashionable and I have received a LOT of compliments about them.” “This watch is so clean and sleek. I can’t even count how many compliments I’ve gotten on it.” Thanks to Buzzfeed for featuring this and the next listing.

Super cute scrunchies with detachable bows

These are six satin scrunchies with big bows for just $7. These come in different cute solid colors and would work for both casual or dressed up looks. They have over 1,500 ratings, 4.6 stars and an A on Fakespot. Reviewers say they’re high quality, pretty, and that the bows detach so you can use them as a regular scrunchie if you want. “I love feminine/ girly style, but I have a LOT of lazy hair days, and these are a dream!! Makes your basic ponytail or messy bun look cute and intentional.” “These are very pretty as pictured. They are a soft satiny texture and they are large enough to hold my long, thick hair.”

Organic hemp oil for relaxation and clearer skin

I’ve been buying CBD oil from a Colorado company. It’s expensive at around $60 for an ounce of 1,000 mg. Amazon can’t sell CBD oil, but they can sell hemp oil and it’s much more affordable. (Here is a link to an explainer about the differences between CBD oil and hemp oil.) This is 2 ounces of 5,000 mg organic unflavored hemp oil. It can be used both topically and orally. I looked through so many hemp oil listings and most had fake ratings. This has 374 ratings, 4.3 stars and an A on Fakespot. Reviewers say it’s relaxing when taken orally and that it works really well to clear skin and treat sensitive skin. “I have been taking it at night and it definitely helps lessen some of the pain I have at night due to a chronic condition.” “ I always experience a subtle calm after taking and holding under tongue. Use every night to relax.” “My skin is unbelievably sensitive and I have been suffering from insane acne and eczema breakouts for months… it’s really shocking how much of a difference I see already – acne marks almost completely gone after less than a week NO new acne whatsoever, eczema skin isn’t peeling and the skin on my face looks plump and hydrated.”

Gorgeous handmade statement earrings that will get noticed

Cloth and Cord and a Black-owned business that creates handmade statement jewelry in bold prints. These red, gold, black and blue double print hoop 3 inch earrings are under $27. They have 49 ratings, 4.4 stars and an A on Fakespot. Women rave about how gorgeous they are and say they’re lighter than they look. “I am in LOVE with these earrings. They are super light and a beautiful vibrant color/pattern. I receive a lot of compliments when wearing them.” “The earrings are exactly as pictured and I love them.” This seller has so many other fashionable pieces including necklaces, bracelets and headbands. These are the mini 3? earrings and are a little shorter than shown on the model in the listing. Here’s a link to the larger version.

A little cool mist humidifier so you’re not breathing dry air all night

I got this portable cool mist humidifier months ago and only remembered I have it after I woke up with a sore throat for about a week. I fill this up, plug it in and it works all night and into the next morning. It’s so quiet I’ve never heard it and it has a low pretty glow light that I don’t notice either. This humidifier is under $15 and has 4.2 stars, over 11,000 ratings and a B on Fakespot. People say they work great for dry air and some even use them for their indoor plants. “My daughter has had a respiratory issue for so long and her doctor insists she use a humidifier. I got this little one for travel. It was amazing. It is so quiet… and it provided a lot of moisture in the air for such a small device.” “My old humidifier has the water container loaded from the top and if spill, its a big mess to clean. This one, the water container is on the bottom and sealed by the electronic portion from the top. If you accidently tip it over, only a few drips of water will come out of the top.”

A ring light for better lighting in Zoom calls

Kittycat asked in our last Amazon post for help with Zoom lighting. I bought this affordable gooseneck ring light after we featured it in June and it works great. It has over 1,800 ratings, 4.3 stars and a B on Fakespot. It comes with accessories to attach either a phone or a webcam and it has a clip so it attaches easily and securely to a desk or table. It has three different light colors and ten levels of brightness. This is just $24 and comes with a $2 off coupon. Reviewers like it as much as I do. “I love this item. I was looking for a ring light, and a webcam mount and this took care of both!’ “The light mounts a standard tripod mount, as stated, and the stalk is very flexible while keeping the light and camera positioned where I put it.” “The ability to change the lighting characteristics (soft, warm, cold and brightness levels) is very helpful to set the right atmosphere for the desired shot.”

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Dear Gossips, Beyoncé decided to show us last night what Valentine’s Day was like for her. We always appreciate her benevolence. She and Jay-Z were out for dinner at Giorgi Baldi; they were papped on the way out but the shots they gave up weren’t all that great. As we know, she’ll always save her be…

The week of the inauguration, I missed this strange little royal story – apparently, the Queen has given the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge access to a second property on the Sandringham estate. Anmer Hall sits on the estate, and it’s only a humble eight-bedroom, fully renovated country abode. They clearly needed more space, so the Queen is letting them “use” Sandringham House, which is the big house (mansion) on the property. That’s where the Queen stays when she’s in residence at the private estate. It’s weird, right? Like, I had the impression that Anmer Hall is pretty spacious, but William and Kate apparently needed more space to “work” and “Zoom their fingers to the bone.” Either that or William and Kate are living separately – William in Sandringham House and Kate at Anmer Hall. Very curious. Also curious? Yet another article about how Kate is the savior of the monarchy. Her buttons have saved the nation!

The Duchess of Cambridge “saved” Prince William after his “dysfunctional” upbringing and has now dedicated her life to making him happy, a royal expert has claimed. Kate met her future husband at university and they were good friends before romance blossomed, and she is said to have been a huge support when he stepped into royal life.

Speaking on True Royalty TV ‘s Royal Beat, Angela Levin,author of Harry: Biography of a Prince, explains that William was going through a difficult time when he met Kate. She explains: “I think that Kate has helped save William. I think it was very difficult for him coming out of a dysfunctional family, losing his mum so young and I think he was in a very difficult place.”

Angela believes that since their wedding, Kate has worked hard to support William in his royal work but also helped him work out his own identity. She said: “She has really encouraged him. Her whole life is to make him happy, I think. She found things that really make him feel important and worthy rather than just going to cut ribbons. I think she has helped him to be a husband by introducing him to her own family a lot and spending time with a normal family and being a dad.”

[From The Daily Mirror]

Imagine saying “her whole life is to make him happy” like it’s a good thing. And while I believe Kate has doormat vibez, I actually don’t think her whole life is about making William happy at all. Maybe it was during their courtship, when she was still trying to get the ring. But once she got the ring, Kate’s life became about… maintaining her status, her place. Not being slavishly devoted to William’s every whim and desire.

The Mirror also did a summary of William and Kate’s early courtship at St. Andrews and royal reporter Simon Vigar insists that Kate “let her prince do all the chasing.” Vigar said: “When they were at university at St Andrews, I have it on good authority that one of the few girls not chasing William or trying to catch his eye was Catherine. If that’s true, she played an absolute blinder.” I think Kate did let William “chase” her, but to be clear, she had already spent the better part of three years throwing herself into his path and waiting for him to notice her. She did play it smart… for a stalker with a plan!

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, WENN.

Joss Whedon is a pig, a bully and a very toxic person. As it turns out, his ex-wife was right about everything. As it turns out, it was basically an open secret among many TV casts and crews that Whedon was and is f–king awful. When Charisma Carpenter spoke out last week, many of the women in Whedon’s world came forward to support her. Very few of them men in that world said much of anything. David Boreanaz was the one of the men who said nothing for days. Over the weekend, Boreanaz’s silence became a story, especially after he deleted all but one post from his Instagram account.

Boreanaz got his start in TV on Buffy, and then he got a Buffy spinoff, Angel. After his work with Whedon, he immediately went into Bones, where he stayed for 12 years. I saw a lot of shade for Boreanaz and a lot of rumor-mongering which surprised me, frankly, because I was not aware – before now – of anything untoward about his behavior on TV sets. While Boreanaz got caught up in the Tiger Woods-Rachel Uchitel scandal more than a decade ago – Boreanaz cheated on his wife with Uchitel before Uchitel met Tiger Woods – I thought his professional reputation was good. But then I saw the stuff online about how he would walk around the Buffy and Angel sets naked, and how he settled one sexual harassment case out of court. So… yeah. Ugh. David finally said something online about Whedon, and then Charisma Carpenter replied and thanked him for his private support too:

I am here for you to listen and support you. Proud of your strength???

— David Boreanaz (@David_Boreanaz) February 14, 2021

I know you’re there for me, David. I appreciate all you’ve done to demonstrate that support privately as well. Especially since Wednesday. -Thank you so much. ??

— charisma carpenter (@AllCharisma) February 15, 2021

Separate from the other stuff… I think it’s nice that his first reaction to Charisma’s post was to reach out to her privately to offer support. I hope a lot of Charisma’s friends and former coworkers did the same. In addition to Boreanaz, several other actors in Whedon’s shows have recently spoken up to lend Charisma support, among them: Danny Strong, Adam Busch and Tom Lenk and Amy Acker.

Boreanaz’s Bones costar Emily Deschanel also tweeted support to Charisma:

??

— charisma carpenter (@AllCharisma) February 10, 2021

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

Photos courtesy of Getty, Avalon Red.

The British commentary class and royal reporters were already FUMING about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s pregnancy announcement. Then about 24 hours later, we learned that Harry and Meghan will do a sit-down interview with Oprah for American network television (CBS). The British papers are in full meltdown mode. I’m going to keep saying this because it’s true (and I saw Omid Scobie say the same thing last night): this is a repeat of the Finding Freedom controversy. The British media went into a full-throttle hysteria before they even got their hands on the book, and when FF was finally published, it really didn’t reveal all that much. It will be the same with the Oprah interview – I’m sure we’ll get dozens of stories before and after the interview, but it’s not like Meghan or Harry will sit there and say “the Queen is petty AF and the institution is built on racism and colonialism” (where’s the lie though). Anyway, batsh-t crazy royal reporters are gonna be batsh-t crazy. Here’s Emily Andrews at the Daily Mail:

Liz’s big punishment: Harry and Meghan are set to lose all their remaining royal patronages, the Daily Mail can reveal today. It is understood the Queen is to ask them to relinquish their links with any organisations passed down through the Royal Family. Her 36-year-old grandson would be stripped of his three remaining honorary military titles and, potentially, his patronages with the Rugby Football Union, Rugby Football League and the London Marathon. Meghan would have to step down as patron of the National Theatre, unless she can negotiate another position with them. When she was handed the role in 2019, it was seen as a major gesture of support and affection because the Queen had been patron of the London institution for 45 years. One grey area is expected to be the couple’s links with the Commonwealth, but sources suggested that these are likely to go as well.

They really thought Meghan would never use her voice: One source described the interview as ‘one of the most inevitable and, sadly, predictable consequences’ of the ‘Megxit’ saga. The decision to take part in the interview risks angering – and embarrassing – the Royal Family. It could also widen the divisions between Harry and his brother, Prince William, and William’s wife, the Duchess of Cambridge. Buckingham Palace declined to comment last night about the interview, which will be aired six weeks before the Queen’s 95th birthday and in advance of celebrations for Prince Philip’s 100th.

A coldness from the palace: A royal source said that as the couple were no longer working royals, any decisions taken with regard to ‘media commitments are matters for them’. They were ‘under no obligation’ to inform the Royal Household of their plans. The interview was announced by CBS in a press release. While there was no angry reaction from the palace – it has taken great pains not to get into a public slanging match with the Sussexes – the coldness of the response was evident. The decision to strip the couple of their last remaining royal titles is not being done as a reaction to the interview.

The “12 month review” threats are back: It is being perceived that the televised chat was agreed because the couple could ‘see the direction of travel’ of future royal roles. Sources have stressed that a 12-month review of their new status was not put into place last year with a renegotiation of terms in mind, but as a safety net in case they moved abroad ‘and didn’t get a dime in the bank’. It is not clear when an announcement on the patronages will be made but the Mail understands that it could even be earlier than March 31, when the couple’s review period concludes.

LOL, they’re so mad: One source told the Mail that it was hoped that the interview with Miss Winfrey would provide the couple with the chance to ‘get whatever it is they want to say off their chests and move on’. Another added: ‘The interview has clearly come about because there is an understanding [with Harry and Meghan] that all remaining formal links with organisations will cease to exist.’

[From The Daily Mail]

It feels like the palaces just keep setting themselves up for losses, right? Meghan and Harry left that moldy institution, made some blockbuster deals, put money in the bank, got pregnant with their Montecito Baby, won their lawsuits against the British tabloids and they’re free to use their voices and tell their story. And the palace is like “we’re going to punish you, you’re going to be so sorry, remember the 12-month review!!” Nevermind that the last time we heard about that fakakta review, Harry was ghosting his grandma and the courtiers admitted that there wasn’t much they could actually do besides strip a veteran of war of his military honors.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.

The last installment of To All the Boys came out last Friday, To All the Boys: Always and Forever. I haven’t seen it yet. I loved the first movie, as most of you know, but was not wild about the second. So I’ll wait to see what you guys say about this one before I watch it. I appreciate the timing for the premiere, though. Launching it Valentine’s Day weekend is certainly mood appropriate. Lana called in to the The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on the film’s opening night and Jimmy asked about her Valentine’s plans with longtime boyfriend, Anthony De La Torre. Lana said she’d mentioned Valentine’s Day to Anthony recently and he’d obviously completely forgotten about it, so she didn’t have her hopes up about any plans in the making. When Jimmy asked about gifts, Lana’s advice was: always give a gift, no matter what your partner tells you.

On her Valentine’s plans
I mentioned to [my boyfriend] Anthony. ‘Hey babe, Valentine’s Day is coming up this weekend.’ He truly did not remember. When you ask me if I have plans, probably no. I even told him ‘I’ve got you your Valentine’s gift already.’

Jimmy’s wife said no gifts but she’ll get him one
You always have to give a gift. You always. Even if they say no, you must.

On how she feels about the final To All The Boys movie coming out
These movies have given me so many opportunities. There’s a line in the movie where it says ‘I never knew I could feel this sad and this happy at the same time.’ That is exactly how I feel.

[From The Tonight Show via YouTube]

Who knows if Lana actually believes gifts are mandatory even if you agreed they weren’t. I suspect she was playing it up for the camera. In general, I don’t agree – if you say no gifts, it means no gifts. But I’m one of those wackos who considers almost anything as a gift, like a bunch of photos of a virtual vacation or a voicemail of your family singing Happy Birthday. I’d prefer doing something fun over an item I don’t really need so I rather the giver save their money (especially if the giver is my husband and the money is our money). But that’s because I like people to pay attention to me more than I prefer gifts. My son prefers presents to attention. My husband would love to be buried in cards with written affection for him. It all has to do with what makes your partner happy. So if they like presents, then yes, always have one. If you spend Valentines with me, though, don’t worry about a gift. But if you offer to do my dishes, we will be forever friends.

Lana has another project for Netflix in the works which sounds really fun. It’s called Boo, Bitch and she’s executive producer as well as star. She, once again, plays a high school senior. Only this time, she’s murdered before she goes forth into the world and spends the series as a ghost. I love weird stuff like that. Plus, I think Lana could totally pull this off. I’m glad she’s got something coming up because Noah Centineo took off from To All the Boys and I wanted to see Lana do the same. I hope this is her moment.

Photo credit: Instagram and Netflix

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A post shared by Lori Harvey (@loriharvey)

A few years back, there was a lot of talk on social media about Michael B. Jordan’s love life. The gossip was all over the place – people claimed that he was never getting serious with anyone, that he was a player, that he… only dated white women. So it’s weird that there’s now all of this angst about his relationship with Lori Harvey. He’s super-serious about her, he treats her like a princess, and he seems all-in and ready to lock this down. How the times change, huh. Lori and MBJ began dating last year, and they became Instagram official back in January. No surprise, MBJ went ALL OUT for Valentine’s Day. He rented out an aquarium, spent a fortune on roses and rose petals, had takeout from Nobu and he gave her expensive jewelry. Ladies… I cannot.

Michael B. Jordan and Lori Harvey marked their first Valentine’s Day together with an under-the-sea celebration. Harvey, 24, gave fans a look at her romantic date with Jordan, 34, on her Instagram Story Monday, revealing that the actor rented out an aquarium just for them — and surprised the model with dinner in one of the underwater tunnels.

“My baby rented one the aquarium so we could do a private tour and see the turtles and then we walked into this,” Harvey wrote, sharing a video of the tunnel adorned with flower petals and candles. In another video, Harvey showed the elaborate dinner spread, which included massive bouquets of roses, more candles, and a meal from luxury Japanese eatery Nobu. Harvey also showed off a stuffed turtle — representing Jordan’s nickname for her.

“And he had Nobu cook dinner for us,” Harvey added, sharing a video of the night’s menu. The couple’s night ended in a hotel room that was covered in more huge flower bouquets, candles and complete with red rose petals on the bed and around a bubble bath. “And then this,” Harvey wrote.

[From People]

I’m including some of her IG Stories below – the excessiveness is kind of off-putting and the sheer volume of roses and rose petals would be the thing I would focus on (stupidly) if I was on this date. That being said, who amongst us would say no to this? A beautiful man showering you with gifts and romance and a turtle-shaped diamond bracelet? Come on.

i want to be lori harvey so bad pic.twitter.com/tj3K3bBwo1

— ? (@thegreatestflop) February 15, 2021

Michael B Jordan brought Lori Harvey stocks in Hermes. Now that’s a present!! Stocks > Bags pic.twitter.com/Uq3xGA8gYS

— Lubaynah ?? (@lubaynahh) February 15, 2021

Lori Harvey won.. pic.twitter.com/v9snB6U4bG

— rust me ja? (@discobitcch) February 15, 2021

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instagram.

For more than a year, we’ve been talking about when, where and how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will tell their story. There were rumors in the spring and summer of 2020 that they were considering interview offers, possibly to coincide with the publication of Finding Freedom, but nothing came of it. But now things have changed. It’s been 13 months since their Sussexit announcement. They bought a home in Montecito. They’ve signed deals with Spotify and Netflix. They’re expecting another child. Meghan won her lawsuit against the Mail. And so with all of that #winning, Meghan and Harry have decided to grant their first post-Sussexit television interview to… Oprah Winfrey. For a primetime CBS special. YES.

Oprah Winfrey will interview the duke and duchess of Sussex for a CBS primetime special. The special, titled Oprah With Meghan and Harry, will feature Winfrey talking with the couple about everything from their marriage to their decision to step away from Britain’s royal family. It’s set to air March 7. The announcement of the special comes on the heels of the couple announcing that Meghan is pregnant with their second child. Their son, Archie, is 21 months old.

The 90-minute CBS special will feature Winfrey conducting a “wide-ranging” interview with the duchess about motherhood, life as a royal, her philanthropic work and living under the microscope that comes with being part of the royal family. Harry joins them later to discuss their move to the United States and hopes for their family.

In January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced they would “step back” from their positions as senior members of the royal family. While they still hold the titles of duke and duchess of Sussex, they no longer use the titles His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness and gave up public funding. Since then, the couple have signed an overall deal with Netflix to produce programming for the streamer and a podcast deal at Spotify.

Winfrey’s Harpo Productions is producing the CBS special. Terry Wood and Tara Montgomery executive produce; Brian Piotrowicz is co-EP.

[From The Hollywood Reporter]

Reader, I cackled. When the news came out yesterday, my eyes bugged out of my head and I was blown away by the fortuitous timing. I wonder if Meghan decided to do the interview knowing that the summary judgment would likely go her way? Is she that next-level? Perhaps, but I bet it was more about her pregnancy. Anyway, I’ve been dying to see Harry and Meghan give their first post-exit interview and I’m super-excited for this. You know there will be some shade! Meghan and her label-maker of justice will hopefully pull out all of the receipts. No, I jest. Only some of the receipts will come out and I fully expect Oprah to pursue some lines of inquiry which will make some royal a–holes pucker in disdain. Speaking of, royal commentator Robert Jobson was one of the first commentators to have a hissy fit about the interview. He said:

Royal author Robert Jobson said he thought the interview was a ‘betrayal of trust’ and Meghan and Harry ‘seem hell bent on causing the Queen more discomfort and possible embarrassment’.

‘Buckingham Palace were quick to say the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles and the rest of the family wished the couple well on the news. They were apparently told about the baby bump before Harry and Meghan went public,’ he said. ‘But now, just after smoothing over the cracks caused by ”Megxit’ – just over a year ago – the Sussexes seem hell bent on causing the Queen more discomfort and possible embarrassment. This interview is a betrayal of trust whatever way you look at it. Harry, who claimed he wanted to escape the publicity of being a front-line royal, has swapped duty for a cash bonanza deal with Netflix. We are not told if money has been paid for this interview.

‘The army veteran, who serviced with distinction in Afghanistan, often talks about respecting the Queen. But to be blunt his decision to join his wife’s tell all on US television interview after they exited the royal family so noisily and dramatically, is another act of disrespect. The Queen has always lived by the mantra of ”never complain and never explain”. With her husband’s 100th birthday celebrations approaching the Harry and Meghan loose cannon continues to fire.’

[From The Daily Mail]

LMAO!! Never complain, never explain… except for all of those times the Queen, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Prince Charles ALL complained and explained. And all of the prissiness about publicity! Again, Harry and Meghan never said that they never wanted to see a camera again. They said they wanted to step back from the 24-7 toxicity they were subjected to by the British media, which was working in concert with the Windsors. Meghan and Harry have every right to tell their story and the more hysterical people get about it, the interview will become an even bigger deal.

Also: I’m sooo happy Oprah is the one doing the interview. The only other person who would have done a good job (IMO) is Gayle King. I’m so glad they didn’t go to Ellen DeGeneres or Anderson Cooper (I like Coop, but not for this).

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.

I am loving Black History Month 2021. On February 26th Hulu is releasing The United States vs Billie Holiday starring singer Andra Day as Billie Holiday. If that isn’t enough to get you excited, ABC Signature just announced that Ethiopian-Irish actress Ruth Negga will co-produce and star in a limited series biopic about Josephine Baker. Ruth will be working with showrunner Dee Harris-Lawrence and director Millicent Shelton in conjunction with LeBron James’ Springhill Company. The series will focus on Josephine’s life from being born in Missouri to her first shows in New York City and her move to France at 19. It will likely also cover Josephine’s activism and her work as a French spy during WWII. Below is a bit more about the announcement:

EXCLUSIVE: The remarkable story of Josephine Baker, one of the most influential female entertainers of the 20th century, will be the subject of Josephine, a limited drama series in development at ABC Signature, with Ruth Negga attached to star as the legendary Jazz Age performer and civil rights activist.

Negga also executive produces the project, which hails from David Makes Man showrunner Dee Harris-Lawrence, Emmy-nominated director Millicent Shelton (30 Rock), LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The Springhill Company and ABC Signature. Josephine stems from The Springhill Company’s overall deal with ABC Signature.

Written by Harris-Lawrence and to be directed by Shelton, Josephine is a raw and unflinching look at the force of nature that was Josephine Baker, the biggest Black female artist of her time. From international superstar and decorated WWII spy, to civil rights activist and flawed mother, Josephine delves into the raw talent, sexual fluidity, struggles and bold life of an icon.

Negga, Harris-Lawrence and Shelton executive produce with The Springhill Company.

[From Deadline]

You all have no idea how excited I am about both the Josephine Baker series and the United States vs Billie Holiday. Both are historical figures I have adored since I was a kid. Josephine’s devil may care sensuality and performances were amazing. When I discovered she had moved to France because she was tired of the terrorism and racism in America and then subsequently became a spy for the Allies in WWII she has became one of my favorite Black women in history. Josephine is a legend and she was multitalented. I think I discovered her because of my love of the Harlem Renaissance. She deserves to have her life explored on screen.

I did like Lynn Whitfield’s turn as Josephine but I felt the 1991 The Josephine Baker Story was lacking depth. I also wonder if they will include her unexpected friendship with Grace Kelly, who paid for her funeral when she died. I love that Ruth Negga will star as she looks a lot like her and is an amazing actress. I have been following Ruth’s career since I saw her in World War Z and discovered she was dating hottie actor Dominic Cooper (they are no longer together). I am also very happy to see LeBron James be attached to this project. I think it is a big deal that he is using his money to create projects that explore African American folklore and real life heroines and heroes. It just makes me love him more.

I am also looking forward to the Billie Holiday movie. The history of how the U.S. treated Billie is a little known story. Instead, Billie is always depicted as an out of control heroin addict who lived a very tragic life and died young. But Billie was more than that. She was one of my favorite jazz musicians AND we happen to be birthday twins. I hope people continue to put money in to projects that focus on Black women activist from history outside of Harriet Tubman. I feel we have exhausted every angle on Harriet’s life and I am definitely tired of the MLK and Malcolm X movies. I feel there were more heroes and heroines who did magnificent things and their stories also need to be told. The Billie Holiday and Josephine Baker projects are a great start.

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Photos credit: Avalon.red and Getty and via Instagram and Wikipedia credit: Studio Harcourt – RMN, Public Domain