By Wonderwall.com Editors
6:13am PDT, May 26, 2022
Ellen DeGeneres reveals what's next after her final talk show airs Thursday
On Thursday, May 26, Ellen DeGeneres says goodbye to daytime TV for now with the series finale of "Ellen," which spanned 19 seasons. So what's next? Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter one week prior to the finale date, Ellen said she was on the precipice of her "first self-imposed break," which she'll try to extend for a year on the advice of her pal, Oprah Winfrey. According to Ellen, she's already turning down offers that are hard to walk away from, but she aims to quell her tendency to never stop moving so she can travel and take her time choosing the next project. Before she gets back to thinking about showbiz, though, the star is headed to Rwanda to mark the recent opening of The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, a science and education space dedicated to protecting wild mountain gorillas, according to THR. She also plans to spend time filming documentary about the work that's being done there. Ahead of Thursday's finale, though, Ellen said she was simply trying to "be present and enjoy" the show. "It was more of a variety show than anything," Ellen said, "and I wanted the last two weeks to be pure fun because I struggle with anxiety and depression and I know how important it is to have an escape."
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Frustrated fans call out Adele for not rescheduling Las Vegas dates after last-minute postponement
Adele's fans are getting frustrated with the lack of updates on her postponed residency in Sin City. Back in January, the singer announced just 24 hours before her opening night at the Colosseum that despite her production team's best efforts, the show had proven "impossible" to launch. Through tears, she told fans on social media that she was very sorry but had no choice but to postpone the whole run, which she vowed at the time to reschedule. Fast forward to late May and Adele has yet to announce new dates. Ticket-holders have started to speak out about the situation on the singer's social media. "These are very cute," one person wrote in the comments on photos Adele posted with her boyfriend, Rich Paul, "but what about Vegas?" Someone else chimed in to say they'd stopped "booking events for the summer" so as not to miss it. "Got a girl losing money. Sheesh," the person added. The gripes have been pouring in on Twitter, too, with one person asking point-blank, "@Adele, are you ever going to reschedule your Las Vegas Residency? You have a serious amount of money for tickets that you haven't provided any communication … [about]." A variety of rumors have surfaced as far as what "really happened" with the original residency, though little was confirmed beyond production and set problems. In early May, TMZ reported Adele was on the verge of inking a deal with the Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood for the rescheduled dates. That has yet to come to fruition.
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Kanye West's former campaign committee claims account was hit by fraudsters
Kanye West's ill-fated White House bid is still hitting obstacles nearly two years after the rapper bowed out of the presidential race. In a letter dated Tuesday, May 24, Ye's former presidential campaign committee, Kanye 2020, told the Federal Election Committee thousands of dollars have gone missing from the organization's bank account, TMZ reported on Wednesday. According to the FEC alert, an investigation showed an unauthorized person accessed the account on three occasions between December 2020 and February 2021. The correspondence reportedly claims the money – a total of $3,999 – was used to pay of someone's credit card. Ye's team claims they've tried to retrieve the assets from First Wyoming Bank without success. The apparent fraud was first spotted by the FEC, according to TMZ. The former committee is now said to be working with the FEC to find more information, but no arrests have been made. Ye has not commented on the claim, as of Wednesday. The rapper announced in July 2020 he was running for president as a member of the "Birthday Party," before conceding with a tweet that read, "WELP. KANYE 2024." His then-wife, Kim Kardashian, distanced herself from his political plans and stances on a number of issues. She filed for divorce from Ye in February 2021.
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Britney Spears reportedly being courted for new Vegas residency
Britney Spears' weekend stay at Resorts World in Las Vegas with Sam Asghari may have been more than just another getaway for the couple. "The buzz around Las Vegas is that they want Britney badly for a new residency," a source told The Sun this week, claiming that while "no official offer has been made … the talks have definitely begun." Britney and Sam's latest trip was reportedly their second recent stay at Resorts World — they were there over Sam's birthday weekend this spring, as well. According to the insider, execs from the resort, hotel and casino franchise on the Strip "are wining and dining [Britney] on these getaways and showing her just how much they mean business." That might explain why Britney thanked her agent, Cade Hudson, as well as the hotel group– which reportedly featured the singer on an electronic "Resorts World Loves Britney" billboard over the weekend — for showing her "such a good time" on Instagram on Monday, May 23. The lavish "wining and dining" experience the company's been treating Britney and Sam to reportedly included a $15,000-a-night luxury suite this past weekend. Brit's "Piece of Me" residency at Planet Hollywood ran from 2013 until 2017, when her father, Jamie Spears, and other conservators were managing her life and career. The stint reportedly made more than $137 million over the course of 248 shows.
Matthew McConaughey calls for change in gun violence 'epidemic' after hometown shooting
Uvalde, Texas, native Matthew McConaughey is among the celebrities calling for change on social media in the wake of a mass shooting that left at least 19 children and two adults dead in the actor's hometown on Tuesday, May 24. "Once again, we have tragically proven that we are failing to be responsible for the rights our freedoms grant us," Matthew wrote, in part, on Twitter Tuesday. "The true call to action is for every American to take a longer and deeper look in the mirror, and ask ourselves, 'What is it that we truly value? How do we repair the problem? What small sacrifices can we individually take today, to preserve a healthier and safer nation, state and neighborhood tomorrow?' We cannot exhale once again, make excuses, and accept these tragic realities as the status quo." Matthew, who's said he's considered running for governor in Texas, went on to call gun violence "an epidemic we can control" and urged followers to put their politics aside because "we must do better." He added: "Action must be taken so that no parent has to experience what the parents in Uvalde and the others before them have endured." While some fans supported the Oscar winner's sentiments, others chastised him in the comments for failing to "even mention gun control." The Texan has previously said he supports the Second Amendment but would like to see common sense gun laws enacted, such as mandatory background checks and a ban on assault-style weapons, according to Fox News.
Sterling K. Brown and Mandy Moore pay tribute to 'This Is Us' as series comes to a close
The stars of "This Is Us" paid tribute to the massively popular show on social media on Tuesday, May 24, leading up to the much buzzed-about finale that evening. Without veering too close to spoiler territory, we can reveal Sterling K. Brown shared photos from the set, including a few teasers from the last episode. "We love ya ma! #ThisIsUs," he captioned the post. Mandy Moore, meanwhile, looked back on her years as Rebecca Pearson by sharing clips and photos with a note that read, "What better way to celebrate tonight's series finale of #ThisIsUs, than to take a walk down memory lane…" In a second post, she quoted her character. "As we close out the final chapter, let me leave you with this…," Mandy wrote. "'Take the risks. Make the big moves, even if they're small moves. Forge ahead with your lives in any and every direction that moves you. I'm asking you to be fearless.' – Rebecca Pearson #ThisIsUs."
Austin Butler was 'rushed to the hospital' after wrapping Elvis Presley biopic
Less than one day after he wrapped production on on Baz Luhrmann's upcoming biopic about Elvis Presley, Austin Butler says his "body just started shutting down." Speaking to British GQ, the 30-year-old singer and actor reveals he ultimately required medical care following what by his account and the director's was an intense performance and prep period for the role, which he wrapped filming in March 2021. "The next day I woke up at 4 in the morning with excruciating pain and I was rushed to the hospital," Austin recalls of his first 24 hours after wrapping "Elvis." He was diagnosed with "a virus that simulates appendicitis," according to GQ, but recovered after a week in bed. It seems Austin put himself through a protracted stint of intense Elvis focus during which time he initially listened exclusively to The King's music, read almost nothing but Elvis-related material and plastered his apartment with images of the music icon throughout his career. Though the movie's production was halted for months by Tom Hanks' COVID-19 diagnosis, Austin's prep work was not. But it wasn't just Elvis' image and music that drew Austin further into the role. "His mother passed away when he was 23, and my mom passed away when I was 23," Austin says. "So when I learned that, it was one of those things where I got chills, and I just thought, OK, I can connect to that." Elvis' family seems to approve of the end result. At Cannes this spring, the musician's granddaughter, Riley Keough, gave the film two thumbs up while appearing in a panel discussion for Variety. "I felt honored they worked so hard to really get his essence," she said. "Austin captured that so beautifully."
