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| Selena Gomez Trolled Justin Bieber For Posting Pics With His Then-GF, Called Him A Cheater ( Photo Credit – Instagram ) |
A shocking arrest, tragic deaths and fairy tale weddings: take a look back at the stories that took the celebrity world by storm in 2021.
Though the follow-up year to a tough 2020 wasn't exactly the "normal" one many hoped for, it did give us headlines that didn't have to do with COVID-19, thanks in large part to the daily, and often dramatic, happenings of celebrities.
As the end of 2021 nears, look back on the 10 PEOPLE stories that compelled us all.
Demi Lovato left no stone unturned in their Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil docuseries, which revealed the details of their near-fatal 2018 drug overdose via interviews from Lovato and close confidants.
In the YouTube series, Lovato talked about being hospitalized and how it affected their life and long-term health. They said they had three strokes and a heart attack, which left them with brain damage.
"Everything had to happen in order for me to learn the lessons that I learned," Lovato told PEOPLE about the aftermath of the overdose. "It was a painful journey, and I look back and sometimes I get sad when I think of the pain that I had to endure to overcome what I have, but I don't regret anything."
When Jamie Lee Curtis' daughter Ruby Guest decided to tell her parents that she was trans, she told PEOPLE in October, "It was intimidating — but I wasn't worried. They had been so accepting of me my entire life." Curtis remembers "some tears involved" at the time, but has since been ready to learn and listen.
"I'm not proselytizing, and I'm not trying to force-feed something to people. I'm simply saying, 'This is our family's experience.' I am here to support Ruby. That is my job. Just as it is to care and love and support her older sister Annie in her journeys," Curtis shared. "I'm a grateful student. I'm learning so much from Ruby. The conversation is ongoing. But I want to know: How can I do this better?"
Guest added: "You've done the most you can, and that's all I want. Helping others is something everyone should do. I don't think it's only our household thing. It should be a human thing."
Fans were heartbroken to learn that DMX, born Earl Simmons, was in a "vegetative state" following a heart attack he suffered in April. The initial news was shared by his family, who said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, "We ask that you please keep Earl/DMXand us in your thoughts, wishes, and prayers as well as respect our privacy as we face these challenges."
Family and friends gathered outside of the White Plains, New York, hospital where the beloved rapper remained on life support, sharing their memories of the star and playing his music. A week later, Simmons was pronounced dead at 50. DMX is survived by his mother Arnett Simmons, his siblings, his children and their mothers.
The news of Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez ending their engagement first broke in March, but it was a month later when the former couple officially shared a joint statement on their relationship status. "We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so. We will continue to work together and support each other on our shared businesses and projects. We wish the best for each other and one another's children. Out of respect for them, the only other comment we have is to say is thank you to everyone who has sent kind words and support," the statement read.
The stars were together for almost four years, and engaged for two. Rodriguez proposed in the Bahamas in March 2019. Lopez is now back with ex Ben Affleck.Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton put their own personal touches on their big day in July. The couple had an intimate at-home wedding at Shelton's ranch in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, where Shelton wore a classic black tuxedo and blue jeans while Stefani put on a pair of sky-high custom stiletto cowboy boots from Le Silla, which featured Swarovski crystals with the monogram of the couple's initials on the sole.
The Voice host Carson Daly officiated, and also revealed that Shelton had written a song for his bride. "We Can Reach the Stars" was later released as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of the country crooner's Body Language album.
Following the April 2021 death of Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's husband of 73 years, the 95-year-old monarch continued her duties by extending her sympathy and support to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a Commonwealth nation, after a series of volcanic eruptions.Her April 16 statement, which would've normally started with "The Duke of Edinburgh and I," simply began with "I" — a first for the royal since resuming her duties without the royal consort by her side.
Former 19 Kids and Counting star Josh Duggar was arrested by Homeland Security in April, a representative for the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed to PEOPLE. He was being held without bond in an Arkansas jail and at the time, online jail records did not show what he was arrested for.
The controversial TLC star ultimately confessed to having a pornography addiction, cheating on his wife Anna Duggar and apologized for his "wrongdoing" after a 2006 police report revealed that he had been investigated as a teen for inappropriately touching five underage girls, including two of his sisters, Jill and Jessa.
In December, Josh was found guilty of two charges of knowingly receiving and possessing child pornography, also known as child sexual abuse material. He faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and up to $250,000 in fines. His sentencing is expected in early 2022 pending a pre-sentence investigation; because possession is a lesser included offense, he will only be sentenced for the receipt crime.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced in February that they would soon become a family of four! "We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child," a spokesperson for the couple told PEOPLE at the time. The happy news was shared along with a stunning black-and-white photo of the couple taken remotely via iPad by their friend and longtime photographer, Misan Harriman.
On June 4, the couple announced that their baby girl, Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, was born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California.
On Nov. 4, Jessica Simpson shared a photo of herself from four years ago to honor the start of her sobriety journey and detail her experience as she celebrated being four years sober.
"This person in the early morning of Nov 1, 2017 is an unrecognizable version of myself," she began her Instagram note. "I had so much self discovery to unlock and explore. I knew in this very moment I would allow myself to take back my light, show victory over my internal battle of self respect, and brave this world with piercing clarity. Personally, to do this I needed to stop drinking alcohol because it kept my mind and heart circling in the same direction and quite honestly I was exhausted."
"I wanted to feel the pain so I could carry it like a badge of honor. I wanted to live as a leader does and break cycles to advance forward- never looking back with regret and remorse over any choice I have made and would make for the rest of my time here within this beautiful world," she continued. "I can't believe it has been 4yrs! It feels like maybe 2. I think that is a good thing. Ha. There is so much stigma around the word alcoholism or the label of an alcoholic. The real work that needed to be done in my life was to actually accept failure, pain, brokenness, and self sabotage. The drinking wasn't the issue. I was. I didn't love myself. I didn't respect my own power.
" She concluded, "Today I do. I have made nice with the fears and I have accepted the parts of my life that are just sad. I own my personal power with soulful courage. I am wildly honest and comfortably open. I am free."
source: www.people.com
At their essence, obituaries are about making connections with strangers. Even celebrities, seemingly well-known, are mysteries to most of us, their humanity lost beneath their public persona and behind the publicity hype. The craft of the obituary involves excavating another person’s humanity, so that we might better understand a life perhaps far different from our own. These obituaries, a sampling of the thousands that appeared this year in The Washington Post, offer portraits of a small number of the inconceivable number of lives lost in 2020, and an opportunity to remember those who have shaped our shared humanity.
Jan. 21, age 77 | The British writer and actor injected a surreal silliness into pop culture as a charter member of the Monty Python comedy juggernaut, playing roles as varied as a revoltingly obese gourmand and the annoyed mother of an accidental messiah named Brian.
Jan. 23, age 85 | The understated television newscaster co-founded what is now “The PBS NewsHour,” which he anchored for 36 years, and was dubbed the “dean of moderators” for presiding over 12 presidential debates.
Jan. 26, age 41 | The five-time NBA champion’s tirelessness and competitive drive were as notable as his versatility and ambition. Known late in his career by the nickname “Black Mamba,” Mr. Bryant was one of the smoothest and most dangerous shooters in a league previously dominated by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
Jan. 31, age 92 | She was one of the most successful crime writers of all time, pouring out novel after novel about resilient women befallen by unnatural deaths, disappearances and wicked criminal deeds.
Feb. 5, age 103 | With a distinctive cleft chin, raspy voice and highly charged dramatic energy, he became one of Hollywood’s foremost leading men and enduring stars. He also produced and directed films; helped put an end to the Hollywood blacklist in the 1950s; wrote memoirs, novels and children’s books; and with his second wife, Anne Douglas, ran a project to improve school playgrounds in underprivileged neighborhoods.
Feb. 5, age 97 | The American sculptor transformed tons of steel and stone into airy creations that enlivened the public spaces they occupied and were displayed in some of the most important art museums in the world.
Feb. 22, age 70 | A top Black fashion model in the 1970s, she parlayed her glamour and personality into ventures as a restaurateur, TV host and lifestyle maven.
Feb. 24, age 101 | Laboring in obscurity for much of her life, she developed equations that helped the NACA and its successor, NASA, send astronauts into orbit and, later, to the moon. In 26 signed reports for the space agency, and in many more papers that bore others’ signatures on her work, she codified mathematical principles that remain at the core of human space travel.
March 8, age 90 | The brooding Swedish star was a mainstay of Ingmar Bergman’s movie masterpieces, but in a career spanning seven decades and more than 150 films, the breadth and lucidity of his performances — in roles that were commanding, stoic, tormented and, at times, broadly comic — elevated him to the highest echelon of international cinema.
March 18, age 76 | After witnessing a stray bullet striking a toddler, she abandoned her anonymous life as a Belfast mother for one of full-time advocacy and received the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to end the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
March 20, age 81 | The country-pop crooner specialized in narrative-driven ballads such as “Lucille” and “The Gambler,” the second of which sent its life-as-a-card-game refrain echoing through popular culture.
March 26, age 77 | For decades, the Harlem Globetrotter amazed crowds with his nimble dribbling skills, keeping the ball bouncing even as he dropped to his knees, spun around in circles and sprang back to his feet.
March 27, age 98 | The civil rights leader was among the prominent ministers who founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He served as the group’s president for 20 years.
March 28, age 72 | The Oklahoma obstetrician served in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, where he became known as “Dr. No” for his unyielding opposition to federal spending and pork-barrel largesse. His unwavering commitment to social and fiscal conservatism was manifest in his opposition to abortion rights, same-sex marriage, global-warming science and federal government expansion.
March 30, age 81 |The Grammy winner wrote and sang a string of soulful hits in the 1970s that remain cultural staples, including “Lean On Me,” “Lovely Day” and “Ain’t No Sunshine.”
April 1, age 85 | He was a leading jazz pianist in New Orleans for decades and the father of four sons who became acclaimed musicians, including superstars Branford and Wynton Marsalis.
source: www.Washingtonpost.com
In 2019, there was no shortage news, whether it be scandals (ahem, Felicity Huffman and Jussie Smollett), clapbacks (thanks, Taylor Swift!), or relationship drama (too many names to highlight here). But it wasn’t all bad news. While the past 12 months was dramatic for some, it also marked the joyous birth of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first child, Archie, capping off a remarkable year for the royal couple in the one year since they got married.
As another year comes to a close -- as well as a decade -- ET is looking back on the biggest celebrity stories that captured the world’s attention.
On Jan. 29, 2019, news broke that Empire star Jussie Smollett had been the victim of an alleged racist and homophobic attack on the streets of Chicago outside his apartment. ET confirmed soon after the incident that Smollett had told police that he was approached by two men who yelled racial and homophobic slurs at him, and at one point wrapped a rope around his neck and poured an unknown chemical substance -- believed to be bleach -- on him. Immediately, friends, family and Hollywood colleagues came to his support as details continued to emerge. In the weeks to follow, after Smollett went on Good Morning America to recount his harrowing experience, it was revealed that the actor was a suspect in his own case. It was believed that he orchestrated the attack against himself and he was eventually charged with felony disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report. On March 26, all charges filed against Smollett were dropped while the FBI said it was still investigating the “circumstances around the case.” Meanwhile, the actor was subsequently dropped from Empire, which was canceled after six seasons.
Just days before Khloe Kardashian was to give birth to her daughter, True, in 2018, news broke that her partner, Tristan Thompson, had allegedly been unfaithful to her. The two worked through it but months later, in February 2019, Thompson was again accused of cheating with Kylie Jenner's best friend, Jordyn Woods. While Thompson and Woods denied the allegations, Kardashian ended her relationship with the pro athlete. “Everyone has their truth and their story, so you just go with it," Woods told ET about the Kardashian family speaking out about the cheating allegation on Keeping Up With the Kardashians. “Everyone has the right to speak their truth.” Less than a month later, Woods would appear on Jada Pinkett Smith’s Facebook Watch series Red Table Talk to tell her side of the story. “The last thing I wanted to do was be that person. I'm no homewrecker,” she explained.
After suffering a massive stroke, Luke Perry died at the age of 52 on Mar. 4. “He was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiancé Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother Ann Bennett, step-father Steve Bennett, brother Tom Perry, sister Amy Coder, and other close family and friends,” his rep said in a statement to ET at the time. The actor’s death came at the height of a resurgence in his career, thanks to his role as Archie’s father on The CW’s Riverdale and playing a supporting part in Quentin Tarantino’s highly-anticipated ninth feature film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. At the same time, Beverly Hills, 90210 -- the series that made him a household name -- was eyeing a comeback by reuniting the entire cast for a revival FOX series. Chris Nassif, who was Perry's agent during his time on the hit primetime soap, issued a statement saying, “Luke will be missed, a friend gone way too soon. It seems like yesterday that I was Luke’s agent negotiating his role on Beverly Hills, 90210.” His passing was one of the more unexpected and shocking deaths to rock 2019 that also included actor Peter Fonda, novelist and Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison, Descendants star Cameron Boyce and 33-year-old rapper Nipsey Hussle.
America’s secondary education system and Hollywood alike were rocked when 50 people, including actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin as well as ringleader William “Rick” Singer, were charged in a massive college admissions cheating scam in March 2019. The charges were the end result of an ongoing investigation dubbed “Operation Varsity Blues,” named after the 1999 teen film starring James Van Der Beek. In the months that followed, the fallout was swift for those involved in the scam -- especially Huffman and Loughlin, who saw their star power fall to varying degrees -- while Hollywood scooped up the rights to tell versions of this story onscreen. (Lifetime became the first to tackle the story onscreen with the TV movie The College Admissions Scandal.) While Huffman pleaded guilty to charges brought against her and was sentenced to 14 days in jail, Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, formally pleaded not guilty. At the time, Loughlin believed “she would just get a slap on the wrist.” Their case is still ongoing, with the actress’ next court date scheduled for January 2020.
In March, Alex Trebek revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. The longtime Jeopardy! host took to his YouTube page to open up about the news. "Normally the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I'm going to fight this, and I'm going to keep working," Trebek said at the time. "And with the love and support from my family and friends, and with the help of your prayers also, I plan to beat the low survival rates statistics for this disease." Months later, in May, he sat down for his first interview with Good Morning America to give an honest update about his health. "My oncologist tells me I'm doing well, even though I don't always feel it," he said, before it was revealed that he was "near remission" and that some of his tumors had shrunk more than 50 percent. In September, however, he had to do another round of chemotherapy. But despite his ongoing health battle, the host has not left the game show and has been met with continued support from celebrities, fans and contestants alike.
Archie After much anticipation, Baby Sussexfinally arrived on May 6 -- nearly one year after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married. His proud dad addressed the press by saying that “Mother and baby are doing incredibly well. It’s been the most amazing experience I could ever possibly imagine…. How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension, but we’re both absolutely thrilled.” Shortly after, it was revealed their son was named Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor. And the newborn made his world debut with a televised appearance from inside Windsor Castle. “It's magic. It's pretty amazing. I have the two best guys in the world, so I'm really happy," Meghan gushed at the time. “He has the sweetest temperament.”
In May, longtime singer and performer R. Kelly was charged with 11 felony counts of sexual assault and sexual abuse related charges. The charges filed by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office consisted of five counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, four counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and two counts of criminal sexual assault for incidents that allegedly occurred between Jan. 1, 2010 and Jan. 31, 2010. Kelly has denied all allegations against him, and his crisis manager, Darrell Johnson, told ET in a statement at the time, "It's horrible that these people are coming out with this foolishness. I'm not going to call anyone a liar, but what I will tell you is my client is innocent and we're going to stick by that. We're going to fight this thing all the way to the end, and I'm here with him. I believe in him, I trust what Mr. Kelly has told me.” The charges came after the singer was accused of multiple sexual abuse allegations and inappropriate encounters with girls and young women over the years and the the release of Lifetime's Surviving R. Kelly docuseries in January, in which more women came forward with allegations of abuse against Kelly. In an intense interview with Gayle King for CBS This Morning earlier in the year, Kelly spoke out on the allegations against him. The singer continuously claimed that everyone featured in Surviving R. Kelly is "lying" and maintained that he has "absolutely not" broken any laws. "If you really look at that documentary… everybody says something bad about me. Nobody said nothing good," he said. "They're going back to the past, and they're trying to add all of this stuff now to that. To make all of this stuff that's going on now feels real to people."
In June, Scooter Braun -- through his holding company, Ithaca Holdings -- purchased Big Machine Label Group for a reported $300 million. Doing so gave him the rights to Swift's master recordings that were made prior to her exit from the label in 2018. After the news broke, Swift took to Tumblr to blast the deal, claiming that she wasn't told about Braun's purchase before it became public and was never given a chance to buy her music. Just hours after Swift released her lengthy statement, Scott Borchetta fired back, claiming that Swift was given the opportunity to buy her music. Later, after things quieted a bit, Swift revealed that she "absolutely" plans to re-record her early music. The feud was reignited again in November when Swift took to social media to share a lengthy statement accusing Borchetta, Braun and Big Machine of blocking her from performing a medley of her older songs at the American Music Awards, where she's set to take home the Artist of the Decade Award. After months of silence -- and a cryptic post about kindness -- Braun finally spoke publicly about the feud for the first time. During a Q&A at the 2019 Entertainment Industry Conference, which was co-sponsored by Variety and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Braun spoke about "toxic division" and the "confusion" that can come through a social media feud.
After four years of dating, news broke in June that Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk had split. Cooper and Shayk share a daughter, 2-year-old Lea De Seine, and were first linked together in April 2015. The two have been notoriously private about their relationship, and only made their red carpet debut together at last year's Met Gala. A source told ET just prior to news of their breakup that couple had been “unhappy in their relationship for some time,” and even considered splitting during the release of the 2018 remake of A Star Is Born, which Cooper both directed and starred in alongside Lady Gaga. Though the two stayed together throughout the following awards season, which concluded with the Cooper-Gaga duet, “Shallow,” winning the Oscar for Best Original Song after a stunning performance, it wasn’t without much speculation that the pop star had come in between them. "Quite frankly, I think the press is very silly," she said of the romance speculation. "I mean, we made a love story. For me, as a performer and as an actress, of course we wanted people to believe that we were in love."
On Aug. 9, Miley Cyrus was spotted kissing Kaitlynn Carter in Lake Como, Italy, just one week after The Hills star and Brody Jenner jointly announced their decision to “amicably separate” after five years. The bikini-clad women were seen making out poolside, where they also sunbathed and wrapped their arms around each other. “They were not trying to hide it at all,” an eyewitness told ET at the time. “There were other people sitting by the pool.” The next day, the singer and Liam Hemsworth confirmed their split to ET. “Liam and Miley have agreed to separate at this time,” the rep said. “Ever-evolving, changing as partners and individuals, they have decided this is what’s best while they both focus on themselves and careers.” Shortly thereafter, a source told ET that, though Cyrus was the one to ask for the break, both she and Hemsworth “knew it was coming.” And in the months since, Cyrus has split with Carter to start dating Cody Simpson, while Hemsworth has rumored to have moved on with Maddison Brown. In December, the former couple reached a divorce settlement -- just one year after tying the knot.
source: www.etonline.com
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| Kanye west |
The 45-year-old rap star was being pursued by photographer Nichol Lechmanik when he confronted her and grabbed her cellphone but she is now taking him to court as she claims that his actions have left a long-lasting impact.
At a press conference on Thursday, she said: “He reached into my car as if he were going to hit me, he grabbed my phone out of my hand and then angrily threw it into the street. He caused so much fear that I have not been the same since.He has no right to assault me, batter me or cause me to be afraid to pursue my profession.
“I want Ye to know that he cannot do what he did to me without facing consequences. I am determined to stand up for myself to let him know that he must change his abhorrent behaviour. I’ve never had any other incident happen like this with any other celebrity… I want people to know is that there are good people that do this profession.
“We’re mindful of the celebrities. We’re always concerned of their well being. I would never do any harm.”
In her lawsuit, Nichol also claims that she has suffered “great mental and emotional pain” as a result of the alleged incident and that the ‘Jesus Walks’ rapper – who legally changed his name to Ye in 2021 – has a “reputation for violence” against photographers.
The lawsuit states: “Given Defendant Ye’s reputation for violence against photographers, his history of physically harming them, and based on his threatening body language, Plaintiff became fearful for the photographers safety. She did not want to get out of her car because she was afraid of Defendant Ye.
“He reached into Plaintiff’s car and ripped her phone out of her hands. As he did so, Plaintiff was fearful Defendant Ye had a weapon or would strike her.”
Meanwhile, Nichol’s attorney Gloria Allred claimed that Kanye needs to remember he was in a public place when the incident took place – where anyone has the “right” to film – and suggested that the ‘Donda’ rapper “stays home” to retain his privacy.
source: www.leaderpost.com
