Month: August 2025

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Does Taylor Swift announcing her engagement have anything to do with Meghan Markle?

We know that it sounds like a ridiculous question, but people are talking about it, so we are, too.

Taylor kept her engagement to Travis Kelce a secret before the surprise announcement. She picked a day that just happened to be super important for the Duchess.

Following years of rumors that the two women have a beef, what should we make of this?

Do Taylor Swift and Meghan Markle have a feud?

First and foremost, they don’t have a feud feud.

If Taylor does not like someone, it seldom remains a secret. There are generally songs about it.

Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian both know that better than most.

However, a couple of years ago, there was a rumor that Taylor declined an interview on Meghan’s Archetypes podcast.

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A post shared by New Heights (@newheightshow)

More recently, the same rumor circulated, but it was about Confessions of a Female Founder.

We once again have no idea if that’s true.

We do know that Taylor hasn’t exactly been a podcast girlie. She made her podcast debut very recently with fiancé Travis Kelce.

If Taylor declined Meghan’s alleged invites for personal reasons, maybe there’s a beef.

If Meghan took it personally, sure, maybe there’s a beef. What’s the (alleged) problem now?

Is Taylor a little too close to Meghan’s nightmare of a brother-in-law?

When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry, she married into a family of publicly funded national mascots with a polarizing family history. That’s putting it mildly.

Among other things, she gained Prince William as a brother-in-law.

And, unfortunately, it seems that William despises Harry. That’s deeply sad and, under the circumstances, kind of pathetic.

More than once, William has cozied up to Taylor. This included 2024, when he took George and Charlotte to the Eras Tour. They had a meet-and-greet.

It must be nice for royals to meet someone who actually does something for a living.

On August 11, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry revealed their new Netflix deal.

The next day, on August 12, Taylor Swift announced The Life of a Showgirl, her new album.

Then, of course, came Tuesday, August 26. With Love, Meghan premiered its second season … and Taylor announced her engagement.

Meghan liked Taylor Swifts engagement announcement ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/eJfwQrlWgu

— Anne – Duchess Of Success (@TheDuchessZone) August 26, 2025

If there’s ‘upstaging’ going on, no one seems mad about it

As fans on social media noted, Meghan Markle liked the Taylor Swift engagement news.

She apparently appreciated it so much that she signaled her approval on three separate Instagram accounts.

Folks, Meghan and Taylor are both very busy women. It is entirely possible that they both just have a lot of announcements to make each year, and that these sometimes come out on similar schedules.

That said, it’s also possible that both women are classy and savvy enough to not announce it if there’s a beef between them.

Being able to smile warmly at someone you absolutely despise is a hallmark of civilization.

Taylor Swift: Upstaging Meghan Markle On Purpose Due to Silent Feud? was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

​The Hollywood Gossip

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez are besties, billionaires, and … betrothed?

Alliteration aside, they’re both engaged. Separately, that is.

In fact, the same week as Taylor dropped her big news, Selena may have had her bachelorette party. Is the timing a coincidence? Maybe.

Either way, people are digging up a 16-year-old exchange between the singers that seemed to predict this very moment.

Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez have been besties for life, basically

The friendship between Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez dates back to the aughts. In fact, it goes back so far that many of us were not yet stans of either.

Twitter was very different at that time. It was new. It was also still Twitter, a place where even a famous person could post in peace and interact with real people, not bots.

So, Selena’s tweet from April 19, 2009 received only a few thousand retweets and fewer than 100 replies.

“Discussing love with two 9 yr olds. That’s what love supposed to be,” Selena tweeted at the time.

“Truly amazing,” she remarked. “I’m never leaving Canada.”

Many believe that this tweet is from when Selena was in Vancouver, filming Ramona and Beezus alongside even-younger-actress Joey King.

Look at this reply — which has aged like fine wine

At that time, Taylor Swift was also an up-and-coming young adult musician. She still existed primarily within the niche world of Country. It was years before Red and 1989 helped her shatter these barriers.

“Real love still happens sometimes,” she wrote as a reply to Selena Gomez’s tweet.

“It’s not just something we make up when we’re nine,” Taylor assured. “I have to believe that. You do too.”

Both women have been unlucky in love in very famous ways. In fact, that is how they bonded — dating and then splitting with two of the Jonas Brothers.

Now, Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift are both billionaires. Last year, Selena became engaged to Benny Blanco. This summer, Taylor became engaged to Travis Kelce.

They’re still besties, with Taylor even announcing that she wants to be part of Selena’s wedding when the time comes.

Is the timing just a coincidence?

Some on social media are speculating that Taylor and Selena had some sort of pact, which is why Taylor’s announcement comes just days after Selena’s rumored bachelorette party.

Others wonder if this is another rumored upstaging by Taylor.

There are even Gaylors (that is, Taylor fans who believe that she is secretly gay) who have suggested — or perhaps joked — that Taylor’s engagement is out of “grief” that Selena is marrying.

The truth is that we don’t know. But, folks, the simplest explanation is that it’s a coincidence. They both found love and, maybe, their happily-ever-afters.

Taylor Swift & Selena Gomez Dual Engagements Foreshadowed in 16-Year-Old Tweets was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

​The Hollywood Gossip

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Emily Maynard’s family is about to get even bigger!

No, the Bachelorette star didn’t announce that she’s soon to welcome her third child.

Rather, her daughter announced that Emily will soon be a grandmother!

Ricki Maynard shares exciting announcement in humorous fashion

In her latest Instagram Story, 20-year-old Ricki Maynard shared a sonogram photo along with a joyous — and very humorous — announcement.

“Netflix told me I’m not allowed to talk about it,” Emily began, quoting Love Island: USA‘s Huda Mustafa

From there, Ricki confirmed her big news and revealed the sex of her baby.

“My heart is so full, yet my stomach is so empty because she hates all food. I’m convinced,” she joked in the caption.

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A post shared by ricki (@rickihendrickk)

Emily — who shares kids Jennings, 9, Gibson, 8, Gatlin, 7, Magnolia, 4, and Jones, 3, with husband Tyler Johnson — has yet to comment on her daughter’s big news.

But if we had to guess, we’d say she’s just as excited as Ricki.

Emily and Ricki seem to have a very close relationship, and mother gushed about daughter on the occasion of her 19th birthday last June.

“My beautiful girl. I’ll always and forever have your back,” Emily wrote at the time, alongside several photos of herself and Ricki.

“I love you and am so proud of the person you are. Happy 19th Birthday. You’re a gift to the world!”

Emily Maynard’s tumultuous life and times

Emily’s first fiancé, Ricky, died in a plane crash in 2004, just weeks before Ricki was born.

Sadly, Emily would endure many more ups and downs before marrying the love of her life, Tyler.

She competed on the 15th season of The Bachelor, where she got engaged to Brad Womack.

She was then chosen as the Bachelorette for the show’s eighth season. She got angaged to Jeff Holm in the finale, but the two later called it off.

Interestingly, Emily met Tyler before competing on either show, but for several years, the two were just friends.

“He really wanted nothing to do with me,” she told Good Morning America in 2017 (via E! News). “I told my girlfriend I met this guy and he could not be less attracted to me, he was in the friend zone.”

Now, Emily and Tyler are about to go from friends to lovers to parents to grandparents! Congrats to the entire family!

Emily Maynard’s Daughter Expecting First Child: I’m Gonna Be a Grandma at 39! was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

​The Hollywood Gossip

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Bryan Arenales would like your attention for a moment.

Late on Wednesday, the Love Island USA season 7 winner broke his silence after he and Amaya Espinal ended their whirlwind reality television romance.

This marked the first time Bryan spoke out in public about what transpired.

“Amaya and I have decided to go our separate ways,” Arenales wrote in an August 27 Instagram Story. “Unfortunately, we were not on the same page, and that is OK. We both gained clarity that we are on different paths right now. I am thankful for the time we have spent together, and I wish her nothing but the best moving forward.”

Does the 28-year old have any regrets? Nope!

“I am thankful for the time we have spent together,” he said. “And I wish her nothing but the best moving forward.”

Fans first started speculating that these two may have called it quits after the pair unfollowed each other on Instagram just hours before the season seven reunion premiered on August 25.

That’s always a tell these days, you know?

Shortly after, during the pre-taped special, Arenales cleared up cheating rumors that were prompted by a video of him appearing to party with other women.

“They’re trying to just throw any hate my way,” he said during the reunion episode. “And within the cheating video, the hosting — I got paid to be there. I used to bartend back in the day. I had a lapse of judgment, and we’ve talked about it.”

Earlier today, meanwhile, Espinal also confirmed the break-up.

“Bryan and I are no longer together,” the 25-year-old wrote on Instagram Stories, adding:

“After leaving the villa, it became very clear that we were on two different journeys. Our visions didn’t align and relationships are supposed to be a team sport. You don’t have to drink the whole sea to know it’s salty.”

Sounds profound. And mostly amicable.

“I truly wish him the best,” Espinal emphasized online.

Bryan Arenales Finally Speaks on Amaya Espinal Break-Up was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

​The Hollywood Gossip

For a limited time only, Aldi is returning to an old fan favorite with a fresh twist. Here’s how you can get yours before they are all gone.

​Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews

The Neighborhood Kitchen was the center of an episode of “Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Service.” He attempted to improve the restaurant. Here’s what happened after.

​Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews

Costco’s stock goes through frequent changes, even if the sizes do tend to remain in bulk. Here are the best new items hitting the retailer in September.

​Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews

Aldi finds can be the best thing ever or a complete miss, so we checked reviews of an upcoming item that sounds good in theory but might be a turn off in taste.

​Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews

Not every dessert stands the test of time for centuries or is fit for a royal palate, but this timeless Victorian-era dessert has accomplished both.

​Mashed – Fast Food, Celebrity Chefs, Grocery, Reviews