Category: Entertainment

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A couple of months ago, Jinger Duggar and Joy-Anna Duggar discussed their latest family disgrace.

But they have more in common than, unfortunately, sharing both Josh and Joseph as brothers.

It was not always so.

Now, the sisters described being kept apart as children. They could only really bond as adults.

‘The bond was not really there’

On the Wednesday, July 29 episode of the Jinger & Jeremy podcast, Jinger chatted with Joy-Anna about their friendship — and how, as children, they weren’t close.

“I would say we were close in proximity but not like relationally,” Joy-Anna characterized.

She added: “The bond was not really there.”

“There was an age gap, and I felt like the age gap was segregated by sections,” Jinger assessed. Both women are about 4 years apart.

She added: “[Our family was] separated by an age gap of the older kids, the middle kids, the younger kids. I was, kind of, in the older section for many years [of] the six oldest.”

So, even though Jinger is 32 and Joy is 28, their 4-year age gap had their notorious parents sorting them differently.

“I was in the older half, and then I just felt like you were one of the little kids and you were sandwiched between, you know, a lot of boys or whatever,” Jinger described.

“We also [have] different personalities,” she continued.

“But I’m saying when you were little, that’s what I remember,” Jinger said. “Like, you’re much younger than me. It’s crazy ‘cause you’re not.”

In an ordinary household, they might have been free to spend more time together. But, in the Duggar cult, they might as well have been neighbors rather than sisters.

‘I feel like I do talk to you the most’

“[We were] very, very different as kids,” Joy recalled.

“I think part of it is because I was so, like, ‘I will not be a girly girl. I will not wear nice clothes,’” she said of her childhood.

Joy elaborated: “We just had very different interests and I was like, ‘I will never understand why they like shopping so much.’”

Being an adult has changed things, as she admitted: “But, it’s grown on me.”

It is very common for people to enjoy certain things — including but not limited to clothing — more when they are adults who are able to choose things for themselves. An outfit that you like at 28 is very different from an outfit that your famously poorly dressed mother likes when you’re 10.

These days, as adult women, both Jinger and Joy feel closer than they were as kids. Even though Jinger is in California.

“We live so far away, but out of all the sisters, I feel like I do talk to you the most,” Joy-Anna told her older sister.

“We are very, maybe, just chill and we are who we are,” she added. “I feel like we’re in the same season of life.”

As we have explained in the past, “season” is a peculiar evangelical expression to refer to eras, chapters, or other segments of one’s life.

“At least for me on my side, I feel like I can just pick the phone up, and there’s no pressure to talk to you,” she continued. “But also when we do it’s, like, there’s been no time between our conversations.”

Jinger & Joy-Anna Duggar: Our Parents ‘Segregated’ Us as Kids! was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

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Ghislaine Maxwell won’t be getting out of prison any time soon — at least not if the US Senate has anything to say about it.

On Wednesday, the Senate unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution declaring that Maxwell should not receive a presidential pardon or any other form of executive clemency.

The non-binding measure passed Wednesday without opposition, reflecting rare bipartisan agreement as the Jeffrey Epstein case receives another round of renewed attention.

Maxwell is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence after being convicted in 2021 on sex trafficking-related charges for recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein, the infamous financier and convicted sex who took his own life in 2019.

Although the resolution carries no legal force, it serves as a formal statement of the Senate’s position amid ongoing speculation over whether President Donald Trump could eventually consider granting Maxwell clemency.

When recently asked about that possibility, Trump declined to rule it out, saying he had not given the matter much thought.

The resolution was introduced by Senator Jacky Rosen, who argued that Maxwell’s crimes make her undeserving of any reduction in her sentence.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Rosen said survivors of Epstein’s abuse deserve justice rather than uncertainty over whether Maxwell could receive special treatment.

She also noted that the vote came as the Senate considered Attorney General nominee Todd Blanche, who has publicly stated that he would not recommend a pardon for Maxwell.

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The Senate’s action follows months of renewed public and political interest in the Epstein investigation and those connected to it.

Earlier this year, Maxwell appeared before the House Oversight Committee but repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination rather than answer lawmakers’ questions.

While the resolution sends a clear political message, it does not limit the president’s constitutional authority to issue pardons or commute federal sentences. Executive clemency remains solely within the president’s power.

Still, lawmakers from both parties made their position unmistakably clear by approving the resolution unanimously.

Whether the vote has any practical impact on Maxwell’s future remains uncertain.

But the Senate’s message was straightforward, and it’s clear that members of both parties believe Maxwell should serve the remainder of her sentence without receiving a presidential pardon or other form of executive clemency.

We will have further updates on this developing story as new information becomes available.

Ghislaine Maxwell: Senate Unanimously Votes to Oppose Pardon For Imprisoned Epstein … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

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All week long, Kelly Ripa hasn’t appeared on TV.

That’s a little awkward, since this has left her husband to man Live with Kelly and Mark without half of the eponymous hosting team.

Why is Kelly gone? Who is stepping in for her?

And when will she return?

Where is she?

On Thursday, July 30, Pamela Adlon sat with Mark Consuelos as his guest co-host on Live With Kelly and Mark.

Adlon is only one guest host in a rotation.

Meanwhile, Kelly has been absent from the show all week.

Hunky husband Mark has provided periodic updates on her recovery.

Kelly, meanwhile, has only appeared on social media — mostly in reposted content.

Kelly’s absence is due to her gum graft surgery.

Mark explained to the audience that, while she recovers, she simply cannot appear on the show.

There are some surgeries that might allow someone to participate in a show remotely, if only to reassure fans.

But gum graft surgery, which addresses receding gumlines and helps to stave off tooth decay, is not one such procedure.

We hope that Kelly is recovering well and is as comfortable as humanly possible, under the circumstances.

When will she return?

Adlon appeared as a guest last week.

Thursday, she was a guest host on the program.

If you are not familiar Adlon is an actor, writier, and producer.

If you don’t know Adlon for FX’s Better Things, you’ve still likely heard the actor’s voice as Bobby on King of the Hill.

(Seriously, Better Things is pretty well reviewed. FX’s programming tends to be top-notch, as it’s one of the few remaining networks that seems to care more about television than about business numbers.)

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There is not yet a return date for Kelly.

Or, if there is, it remains a tightly kept secret.

One has to assume (and hope) that Kelly will consult with doctors as she recovers, and will not return prematurely.

For her job, specifically, she’ll likely want to wait until returning to work is not only safe, but also presentable.

You can’t really smile into the camera and hide your gum surgery at the same time.

We hope that she is resting and recovering well.

Kelly Ripa ‘Painful’ TV Absence Explained: When Will She Return? was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

​The Hollywood Gossip

Cardi B likes her body like that. 
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She went to prison and Netflix did a deep dive on her case in The Crash.

Now, Mackenzie Shirilla is asking the court for a new trial.

Her new attorneys say that her rights were violated, that she had inadequate legal representation, and

Are they right? Is she just not enjoying prison? Is it a little of both?

A new trial?

On Tuesday, July 28, Shirilla’s news attorneys filed a writ of habeas corpus in federal court, Us Weekly reports.

The federal petition is based around the belief that key exculpatory evidence was wrongfully excluded during her original trial.

This new legal challenge also asserts that there was insufficient evidence leading to Shirilla’s conviction.

In both cases (and beyond), her new legal team says that she had ineffective counsel at trial.

As far as the excluded evidence goes, there’s an explanation for Shirilla driving where she was on the night of July 31, 2022 — one that doesn’t include her alleged intention to murder boyfriend Dominic Russo and friend Davion Flanagan.

“The prosecution theorized that the location was intended to be private in order for Shirilla to crash the vehicle without immediate attention,” her new legal team argues.

“But the defense had evidence that a local grocer had left a package of produce for Shirilla at a 24-hour pickup spot,” their filing notes.

This pickup spot was “at a store located in the vicinity of the crash scene.”

Shirilla’s attorneys wrote: “This would have provided a benign explanation for why Shirilla was driving in this particular area that morning.”

They note that this was “evidence not presented by the defendant even though the grocer testified about other matters.”

Should a minor’s case be tried in adult court?

Additionally, Shirilla’s new legal team argue that her rights were violated on a more broad level during the trial.

Specifically, she was a minor at the time of the tragic deaths of her two companions.

Her trial, they argue, was improperly transferred from juvenile court to adult court. Improper because she was still a minor and belonged in juvenile court.

If the prosecution’s theory was that an emotional teenager tried to kill herself and her companions by driving at high speed into a wall, would that not belong in a different legal venue than it would if, say, a 30-year-old had done the same?

That is, essentially, her attorneys’ argument. And, whatever we may think of Shirilla and her culpability, that seems sound.

The bit about the potentially exculpatory evidence does seem like something that a courtroom should hear.

Imagine yourself as a juror (Shirilla had a bench trial, but bear with us) and you vote to convict someone who seemingly had no possible reason for being in an area except to commit a crime.

If you later learned that they were on their way to the grocery store, but were not permitted to explain this in court, you might think that it could have influenced your verdict.

That said, we have not seen this alleged evidence. We don’t know if Shirilla was actually on her way to pick up a parcel.

Two young men died in a horrific crash that could have claimed Shirilla’s life, too. It seems likely that she has at least some culpability. Whether it’s worth two concurrent sentences of 15 years … that may be up to a new trial to determine. Or not, as the case may be.

Mackenzie Shirilla Demands New Trial: My Rights Were Violated! My First Lawyer Sucked! was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

​The Hollywood Gossip

Tom Holland can’t help but marvel at his favorite actress.
After all, the Spider-Man: Brand New Day star spotlighted his wife and costar Zendaya as he and Seth Meyers detailed their respective…
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Back in 2023, adult film star Emily Willis went into cardiac arrest while being treated for ketamine addiction at a rehab facility in Malibu.

This week, her family was awarded a $3 million settlement against the facility, but for Emily, life will never be the same.

Following news of the settlement, Emily’s mother told TMZ that her daughter is still unable to speak and communicates only with her eyes and by shaking her head.

Emily went 30 to 40 minutes without oxygen during her cardiac arrest, and she still undergoes daily therapy with the goal of one day regaining the ability to speak.

According to TMZ, “Emily is still learning to walk again and needs help being fed,” but she is finally able to sleep without being monitored.

Her family reports that she is able to watch and understand her favorite movies and TV shows, and her mother estimates that Emily is able to comprehend “about 80 percent” of what is happening around her.

After undergoing 10 surgeries, Emily is currently living in Mexico, where she works with a team of “top-tier therapists.”

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Emily’s mother says the family is hoping to travel to Spain, so that she can undergo a new procedure that’s designed to “stimulate the systems that control speech, communication, and movement.”

And while the family was just awarded a massive settlement, $3 million is really just a drop in the bucket, considering the fact that Emily will likely require lifelong care.

The settlement reflects a new trend — one that we previously saw following Matthew Perry’s death — in which parties responsible for an addict’s recovery are being held civilly and criminally liable for failing to live up to provide adequate care.

Prior to her two-month coma, Willis was one of the biggest stars in the world of adult film. In 2023, she transitioned to mainstream film with a role in the sci-fi film Divinity.

We wish Emily and her family all the best as they continue on their long road to recovery.

Emily Willis: Adult Film Star Still Unable to Speak Following Coma, Mom Says was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

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Early this year, Farrah Abraham announced a political run in the wrong year.

She panicked and pivoted to running for a new political position. In the right year, this time!

Now, the oft-ridiculed Teen Mom alum is doubling down on her campaign.

But she’s also taking a break to skewer her mom as a “sociopath.”

Yes, she’s still running

In January of this year, Farrah proclaimed her candidacy to be mayor of Austin, running in this year’s election.

She was live on TMZ when she learned that the next mayoral race will not be until 2028.

Farrah course-corrected, as one might charitably phrase it, to be running for Austin City Council in District 5.

She’ll be facing off against Ryan Alter, who is Harvard-educated and the incumbent.

Technically, Farrah also took some Harvard courses. You may recall how she ended up burning her Harvard sweatshirt and freaking out when, the clues suggest, a professor gently tried to speak with her about her wildly incoherent writing. She doesn’t take criticism well.

On Tuesday, July 28, Farrah doubled down on her farcical run for office by displaying her merch and declaring that she’s “officially on the ballot for November.”

(We said farcical, not impossible. Undeserving monsters whose only qualifications are being reality TV bigots can and do win elections, to the world’s everlasting regret, even if Spencer Pratt did lose recently.)

Ominously, Farrah thanked the people who live in District 5 “in advance” for supporting her.

There are big questions about whether Farrah meets eligibility requirements for City Council. But Farrah insists that she meets the requirements, even if she’s not disclosing her actual place of residency to the public.

We can only hope that the good people of Austin will not allow Farrah to launch a political career. Please.

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Let’s not forget the woman whose fault this is

Speaking of people whose names we all long to forget, Debra Danielsen has made multiple appearances on the podcast of Catelynn Lowell’s brother, Nick.

That is so tangential but was enough to set off Farrah, who griped about it on the Legally Goff Podcast.

First and foremost, Farrah blasted anyone related to Catelynn as “a family who goes out of their way to insert themselves into my life and hate on me.”

She added that her doctors and her “success team” (no, we do not know what that means) agree with her.

Farrah claimed that these people are “mind-boggled as to why my mom continues to act like a sociopath.”

Farrah did talk about learning to mentally disentangle herself from her mother. Who, to be fair, Teen Mom fans generally agree could not have been a good parent or a good person.

“Just having the education and the words now, to know, like, ‘Hey, if you’re acting like a sociopath, then that is what you are,’” she said.

“‘You’re no longer my mom,” Farrah expressed. “That has taken you over and I really hope that you get some help for that.”

She suggested: “Go find your own identity outside of your daughters’ and people hating your daughter and [you’re] joining in that. And I will never do that to my own child.”

Gosh, we sure hope that that’s true. For Sophia’s sake.

Farrah Abraham Doubles Down on (Revised) Political Run, Even If Nobody’s Sure If … was originally published on The Hollywood Gossip.

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No doubt the “Good Eats” star gives a nod to this cookbook – long considered a solid wedding shower or first-house gift – for its good eats.

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

Jonathan Taylor Thomas’ latest sighting would be hard to improve on. 
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