By Mark Gray
8:55am PST, Jan 16, 2022
Royal mess
There's been a big shakeup across the pond. On Jan. 13, Queen Elizabeth II stripped her second son, Prince Andrew, of his military titles and patronages amid an ongoing sexual assault lawsuit, Buckingham Palace announced. Andrew will no longer use the title "His Royal Highness" in any official capacity and his other roles will be distributed among working members of the royal family. In 2021, Virginia Giuffre sued the Duke of York in New York civil court alleging he sexually abused her when she was 17 after she was trafficked to him by convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. (Andrew has denied the claims; the case continues to move forward after a judge in early January shot down the royal's efforts to have it dismissed.) "The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen," the palace added.
Arrested
Tiffany Haddish was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence in Georgia in the early morning hours of Jan. 14 after she allegedly fell asleep in the driver's seat. TMZ reported that Peachtree City police received a report about a driver asleep at the wheel, and they were given a description of the vehicle. Officers soon spotted the car around 4 a.m. as the comedian was pulling into a neighborhood. After stopping her, Tiffany was arrested for DUI and improper stopping on a roadway. Authorities believed she was under the influence of marijuana.
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As authentic as ever
Crystal Hefner is a natural woman. Hugh Hefner's widow took to Instagram to detail how much her life has changed since the Playboy founder passed away in 2017. "After the last handful of years staying true to myself on social media, I feel that all the people here with me at this point actually care and are invested in my life in a positive way and for that I thank you," she wrote on Instagram. "Over five years, my account has shifted from not always safe for work posts to my REAL safe for work life. The real me. I was living for other people before, to make others happy, suffering internally in the process." The former Playboy model said "modesty" empowers her these days. "I removed everything fake from my body and deleted all my old photos," she said. "I am more authentic, vulnerable and feel that I belong more to myself. I am mine."
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Sad passing
Bob Saget, one of the most iconic TV dads in modern history, passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 9 at 65. TMZ reported that the "Full House" star was "tucked in bed" when his body was discovered in his hotel room at a Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, where he was staying during the Florida dates on his national stand-up comedy tour. According to multiple reports, all signs point to Bob dying in his sleep. Although the official cause of death won't be known for several months as the coroner runs toxicology tests, the working theory is that the actor died of a stroke or heart attack. Bob actually performed a comedy set the evening before his death and posted a Twitter photo from the stage on the morning he died. "Words cannot begin to express how devastated I am," former co-star Lori Loughlin said. "Bob was more than my friend, he was my family." John Stamos added, "I am broken. I am gutted. I am in complete shock. I will never ever have another friend like him. I love you so much Bobby."
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Finally!
Simon Cowell is finally ready to wed. The "X-Factor" judge and music mogul quietly proposed to his longtime partner, Lauren Silverman, on Christmas Eve while vacationing in Barbados. The Sun reported on Jan. 11 that the couple's son, Eric, witnessed the proposal, as did Lauren's son from a previous marriage, Adam. "Simon and Lauren are ridiculously, nauseatingly in love — incredibly, lockdown brought them closer than ever," a source told The Sun. "Lauren was absolutely stunned and never in a million years expected Simon to pop the question. She burst into tears — happy tears — and obviously said 'yes' straight away." This will be Simon's first marriage. "It was important to Simon that the kids were there too, as he adores them both and the family they've become," the source said. "Lauren has been Simon's rock over these past few years — supporting him when he broke his back, and through thick and thin generally. They make a wonderful couple. Whilst Simon never thought he was the marrying type, he's realized he's met the woman of his dreams — and couldn't be happier. In the words of Beyonce, it was time to put a ring on it."
Engaged
Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox are about to be Mr. and Mrs. The actress posted a video of his outdoor proposal in Puerto Rico on Instagram on Jan. 12. MGK posted a close-up video of the ring he gave her, which includes two stones. "'Yes, in this life and every life,'" he wrote. "Beneath the same branches we fell in love under, i brought her back to ask her to marry me. i know tradition is one ring, but i designed it with Stephen Webster to be two: the emerald (her birth stone) and the diamond (my birth stone) set on two magnetic bands of thorns that draw together as two halves of the same soul forming the obscure heart that is our love. 1-11-2022." Megan, by the way, said the couple celebrated by drinking "each other's blood." Can't make that up.
LAPD involvement
The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating Kanye West for misdemeanor battery after the rapper-designer allegedly punched an autograph seeker in the early morning hours of Jan. 13. The alleged attack occurred around 3 a.m. in downtown Los Angeles. A video, reportedly filmed seconds after the altercation, shows an angry Ye shouting at someone in his entourage. The video, published by TMZ, shows a man on the ground as the music star leaves the scene. Earlier in the evening, Kanye seemed to be in good spirits — he even kissed new girlfriend Julia Fox as cameras snapped away after they spent time together at Delilah nightclub in West Hollywood.
Surprising split
Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet have split. On Jan. 12, the "Aquaman" star and the "Cosby Show" alum announced their breakup on social media after more than four years of marriage. "We have all felt the squeeze and changes of these transformational times," the couple's joint statement began. "A revolution is unfolding and our family is of no exception… feeling and growing from the seismic shifts occurring. And so We share our Family news that we are parting ways in marriage. We share this not because we think it's newsworthy but so that as we go about our lives we may do so with dignity and honesty." The statement continued, "The love between us carries on, evolving in ways it wishes to be known and lived. We free each other to be who we are learning to become." The couple maintained that they have an "unwavering" commitment to their children, Lola Iolani and Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha. The couple started dating in 2005 and quietly tied the knot in 2017.
Mixed messages
Days after Sean Penn and estranged wife Leila George indicated they could be back on, they've taken a new step in their divorce case. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Sean "quietly landed in Sydney" in December and spent New Year's Eve at the Australian actress's side. The on-off couple (who are 32 years apart in age) were reportedly joined by actor Kick Gurry and another friend at a fireworks-adjacent celebration at a mansion in the Point Piper section of the Australian city. The reunion came three months after Leila filed for divorce. However, on Jan. 13, People magazine reported that the pair had just filed court papers indicating they've hired a privately compensated temporary judge to fast-track their divorce case amid California's courts backlog.
Altar-bound
Josh Duhamel is ready to give marriage another try. The actor popped the question to former Miss World America Audra Mari on her 28th birthday, Jan. 8, they revealed on social media on Jan. 9. Josh, 49, and Audra have been together for nearly three years. Josh, it seems, proposed via a message in a bottle. "It's on!! She found a message in a bottle that washed ashore and said YES!" he captioned a photo of himself holding up a note that read, "Audra Will You Marry Me." After posting the message, Josh's ex-wife, singer Fergie, congratulated the engaged couple on social media.
Airport drama
Former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover model Olivia Culpo was asked to "put a blouse on" before being allowed to board an American Airlines flight to Mexico on Jan. 13. The influencer's sister, Aurora Culpo, documented the drama on social media, posting a video of Olivia in black biker shorts, a black bralette and a long black coverup. "She looks cute. She looks appropriate. No. They call her up to the desk and tell her that she needs to put a blouse on otherwise she can't get on the plane," her sister said. Olivia borrowed boyfriend Christian McCaffrey's sweatshirt so that she could board. Aurora continued to troll American, sharing images from a website that sold Olivia's too-sexy-for-air-travel outfit. "Get kicked off @americanair starter kit," Aurora captioned the post.
