Jeff Bridges says COVID-19 made his cancer battle 'look like nothing'
For Jeff Bridges, beating cancer was one thing — surviving COVID-19 was quite another. The "Big Lebowski" star, 72, is now back at work, with a new drama, "The Old Man," due out in June. But as Jeff recently told People, he nearly died after contracting Covid in January 2021, before he was able to get vaccinated. At the time, he'd just been through chemo to treat what he said was a "12-by-9-inch tumor" doctors found in his lymphatic system in 2020. "They got a cocktail that worked, and oh man it worked fast. That thing just imploded," he recalled. He contracted Covid during the chemo treatment, though. "I had no defenses. That's what chemo does — it strips you of all your immune system. I had nothing to fight it," he explained. "Covid made my cancer look like nothing." For nearly five months, Jeff remained in the hospital, struggling to get enough oxygen while battling severe, constant pain. "I was pretty close to dying," he admitted. "The doctors kept telling me, 'Jeff, you've got to fight. You're not fighting.' I was in surrender mode. I was ready to go. I was dancing with my mortality," he says. Finally, the star began to recover after he was given convalescent plasma, and today, the cancer is in remission and Jeff is back to his usual positivity. "Who would say, 'I'd love some cancer and give me a dose of Covid?' But my ability to receive all the love and give it was just heightened," he said. "Everything was turned up in the most beautiful way." "The Old Man" hits FX on June 16.
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Kim Kardashian apologizes to her family for Kanye West's behavior
In one of the most buzzed-about scenes from this week's edition of "The Kardashians" on Hulu, Kim Kardashian apologizes to her family for the "impact" her marriage to Kanye West has had on them all. "Kanye's coming out with a new rap song. … That means he's talking mad s*** about me …," Kim warns Khloé Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Travis Barker, Kendall Jenner, Kris Jenner and Kris' boyfriend, Corey Gamble, in the scene that aired Thursday, May 26, per Page Six. Khloé quickly points out "most men are not trashing the mother of their kids like that publicly" and their mom, Kris, adds that Kim's "done nothing but be great to" her ex, despite his attacks on her family and boyfriend, Pete Davidson. Speaking to the camera in a confessional, Kim explains, "[I] recognize the impact that my relationship has had on my family" and want to say, "I'm sorry." When Khloé tells Kim she won't "regret being a good person" by continuing to handle the situation gracefully, Kim agrees and says she's unlikely to change who she is. "All I can do is control how I react to something. I can't control how he treats me or how he's always treated you guys," she explains. "And I've protected that for so long, but I said I will never let that happen to you guys again and, like, I feel for once in my life, I feel strong. I'm not going to let anyone treat you guys that way or myself." Kim, who shares four kids with Ye, filed for divorce from the rapper in February 2021.
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Kourtney Kardashian's family wishes Scott Disick a very HBD
Scott Disick got plenty of Kar-Jenner birthday love in honor of his 39th trip around the sun on Thursday, May 26. As Scott's ex, Kourtney Kardashian, enjoyed her newly minted marital bliss with Travis Barker in Italy, Kourt's family sent copious b-day wishes his way. "Happy birthday to my @letthelordbewithyou," Khloe wrote on her Instagram Stories, sharing multiple cute photos and video of the two. "No one I would rather do pranks with @lethelordbewithyou," she wrote on one clip. Kris Jenner, meanwhile, posted a collage of pics of Scott and the three kids he shares with Kourtney, writing, "Happy birthday Scott!!!! Have a magical day. Love you!!!!!!" Kim sent her well wishes via IG, too, posting photos of the two on her Stories. "I love you so much," she captioned on. "I can't wait to celebrate w you!!!"
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Jen Aniston says she handled the end of 'Friends' with 'a divorce and therapy'
Jenifer Aniston stopped by the final episode of Ellen DeGeneres' long-running eponymous show on Thursday, May 26, 19 years after the "Friends" star made her debut on "Ellen" back in 2003. That appearance was just a year before "Friends" came to an end after 10 seasons on the air, which prompted Ellen to ask her pal how she dealt with saying goodbye to her own beloved show. Jen thought for a minute, leaned back in her chair, then quipped, "Well, I got a divorce and went into therapy," referencing her split from Brad Pitt in 2005. As the audience and Ellen laughed out loud, Jen continued joking. "And then I did a movie called 'The Break-Up,'" she said, earning more applause. "I just kind of … leaned into the end." Jen said she figured she'd just find "a new chapter," change "everything" and "start new." "It worked great," she added — then seemingly realized one key difference between her life circa the end of "Friends" and Ellen's in 2022. "Oh! You and Portia — no, no …," Jen clarified, referring to Ellen's wife, Portia de Rossi. Since their split nearly two decades ago, Jen and Brad have reportedly stayed in touch and remained friendly.
Britney Spears' lawyers demand dad, Jamie Spears, submit to deposition on alleged misconduct
Britney Spears' father Jamie Spears, is still "dodging" a deposition on his alleged misuse of Britney's money and bugging her bedroom, her lawyer claims in a new court filing. According to Page Six, attorney Mathew Rosengart filed a motion this week asking for the court's help in getting Jamie to stop "running and hiding" from ongoing requests for his sworn statement more than six months after the conservatorship he set up for Britney in 2008 was terminated. "Despite his demonstrably false claims that he has 'nothing to hide' and would therefore 'hide nothing,' James P. Spears has been running and hiding from his deposition and accounting for his misconduct — under oath — as required by law," the attorney says in the May 25 filing. Mathew goes on to accuse Jamie of "repeatedly failing to respond to simple requests for basic information" on misconduct allegations stemming from his tenure as his daughter's legal conservator. Later, Mathew accuses Jamie of "harassing and bullying" Britney "while stonewalling and obfuscating the facts," before concluding Britney "has been forced to live under her father's thumb, even as she gave him an identity and supported him financially; yet he has never been required to answer for his conduct, including his gross, self-interested misuse of his fiduciary position." Britney's conservatorship was terminated in November 2021, nearly 13 years after her father established it.
Ray Liotta dies at 67
Ray Liotta, 67, died in his sleep this week in the Dominican Republic, his publicist confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, May 26. He was in the D.R. with his fiancee, Jacy Nittolo, while working on a new film, "Dangerous Waters," when he apparently passed away in his hotel room "either Wednesday night or early Thursday," according to THR. News of the "Goodfellas" star's death sparked a wave of tributes on social media on Thursday, with actors like Robert De Niro, Jamie Lee Curtis and more remembering him as a "gentle" man and a "generous" actor. "My buddy. My friend. How so soon? Why?" Josh Brolin shared. "I'll miss you. I will think about seeing you at Gold's often, talking about what to do next, how to find something together. I always looked up to you — the work was always so good, but the man you were always stood out among the rest of them. Yes, I will miss you, pal. Until we meet again, wherever they say that is. ❤️❤️💔 #riprayliotta." Lorraine Bracco, who starred alongside Ray in "Goodfellas," wrote, "I am utterly shattered to hear this terrible news about my Ray. I can be anywhere in the world & people will come up & tell me their favorite movie is Goodfellas," she continued. "Then they always ask what was the best part of making that movie. My response has always been the same…Ray Liotta."
Josh Duggar's family members react to sentencing
In the wake of former "19 Kids and Counting" star Josh Duggar's sentencing on child pornography charges, only a handful of his family members have spoken publicly. His cousin, Amy Duggar, was the first to give a statement to press on Wednesday, May 25, after Josh was sentenced to 12 and a half years behind bars and a $50,100 fine. "Twelve and a half years isn't enough, but I hope that every single second he's there feels like an eternity," Amy told Celebuzz. On Instagram, Amy voiced frustration over the fact her cousin wasn't ordered to serve more time, then said she thinks the saga "is far from over" for the family. "Josh's sickness stems from somewhere, and eventually we will hear about the trauma. I don't know when, or how, or who but eventually I think more will come out," she said in part. Josh's sister, Jill Duggar, and her husband, Derick Dillard, shared a joint reaction to the sentencing on their blog. "Today was difficult for our family," they wrote. "Our hearts go out to the victims of child abuse or any kind of exploitation … After seeing all the evidence as it was presented, we believe that the jury reached a just verdict today, consistent with the truth beyond a reasonable doubt. Josh's actions have rippled far beyond the epicenter of the offense itself. Children have scars, but his family is also suffering the fallout of his actions," they continued. "Our hearts are sensitive to the pains Josh's wife, Anna, and their seven children have already endured and will continue to process in the future," they added, noting the trial "has felt more like a funeral" and "Josh's family has a long road ahead." Jill and Derrick also vowed to "stand with," pray for and try to support Anna Duggar and her kids.