Laverne Cox dresses up like her namesake Barbie doll to ring in the big 5-0
Happy 50th to trailblazing star, Laverne Cox! The "Inventing Anna" actress got a head start on celebrating her milestone birthday at a party at New York City's Moxy Hotel rooftop bar on Thursday, May 26, and she arrived at the Barbie-themed bash decked out in the same ensemble worn by her new, Laverne Cox Barbie doll: a deep red leather and tulle dress on top of a silver bodysuit. The Laverne-inspired doll is Mattell's first-ever transgender Barbie, and as the "Orange Is the New Black" alum recently told People, she was involved in the design process, start to finish. "I think in an environment where trans children have been used as a political football, when over 250 pieces of anti-trans legislation have been introduced in state legislatures all over the country in 2022 alone … that this can also be a celebration of transness," Laverne told People in a recent interview about her new Barbie. "And also a space for them to dream, understand and be reminded that trans is beautiful," she added. "That there's hope and possibility for them to be themselves." Laverne, 49, marks the big 5-0 on Sunday.
Keep reading for more news …
RELATED: Demi Lovato updates pronouns again one year after nonbinary reveal, plus more stars who came out
Kanye West raps about Kim Kardashian custody battle in new song
In a new track released on Friday, May 27, Kanye West raps extensively about his custody battle with ex, Kim Kardashian. In fact, the former couple's kids — North, 8, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 3 — are the main focus of "True Love," the rapper's new collaboration with the late rapper XXXTentacion. After repeating the lines, "True love shouldn't be this complicated / Thought I'd die in your arms," Ye delves into the downsides of shared custody with Kim. "No hard feelings but these feelings harder / When I think about it, my eyes fill up with water," he rhymes. "Wait, when you see the kids? I'll see y'all tomorrow," he continues after a few lines. "Wait, when the sunset? I see y'all tomorrow / Wait, when I pick 'em up, I feel like they borrowed / When I gotta return them, scan 'em like a bar code." Ye also seemingly lashes out at Kim for dressing the kids in Nikes instead of his Yeezys and questions the supervision of the pair's youngest daughter. "I only see three kids, who watchin' Chicago?" he asks at one point. "And you know all the nannies said, 'Daddy in Nebraska' / Let the kids dig a tunnel to my house like Chapo." On this week's episode of "The Kardashians," Kim warned her family Ye was releasing a new song in which he's "talking mad s***" about her," though she didn't specify the track.
RELATED: Find out how much the Kardashian-Jenner family made on their new Hulu show
Mom-to-be Kelly Osbourne marks major sobriety milestone
With her sobriety back on track and a baby on the way, Kelly Osbourne had plenty to celebrate on Friday, May 27, when she hopped on Instagram to reveal she's one year sober. "What a difference a year can make!" Kelly captioned an image from Alcoholics Anonymous detailing her days, months and hours of sobriety. "If you would have told me 365 days ago that I would be sober, happy, and about to be a mumma I would have laughed in your face," she wrote. "Life is truly amazing when you do the work. Thank you to everyone that has supported me on this journey. I love you all so much!!!!!!!" Kelly, 37, revealed on May 12 that she's expecting her first child by posting a handful of ultrasound photos. Her boyfriend, Slipknot DJ Sid Wilson, posted an ultrasound pic the same day. The "Osbournes" star first gave up alcohol in 2017 and has been open about her slips since then. After relapsing in April 2021, Kelly confirmed what had happened on social media and later discussed the setback on Jada Pinkett Smith's "Red Table Talk," admitting she was frustrated that she'd "made it all the way through the pandemic" before giving in and having champagne. "The next day, I had two glasses," she said at the time, "… and then the day after that, it was bottles."
Justin Timberlake, 41, sells entire catalog for a rumored $100M
In a deal worth "just above $100 million," Justin Timberlake has sold his entire songwriting catalog to Hipgnosis Song Management and a fund backed by the private equity firm Blackstone, according to The Wall Street Journal. On Thursday, Hipgnosis — a music IP investment group launched by Nile Rodgers and legendary pop music manager Merck Mercuriadis — announced its acquistion of copyrights to songs JT wrote or co-wrote, of which there are about 200. That means Justin no longer owns the copyright to massive hits like "SexyBack" and "Can't Stop the Feeling;" his NSYNC work is not included, per WSJ. While other major music artists have landed eye-popping deals for their catalogs recently, Justin, 41, is significantly younger than most. In 2021, Paul Simon, 80, sold his music catalog for a rumored $250 million to Sony Music Publishing, followed a few months later by an estimated $250 to $300 million songwriting catalog deal between Bob Dylan, 81, and Universal Music Publishing Group. As Billboard's editorial director Hannah Karp told CNN this week, "A lot of the artists that are selling their catalogs … are at a point in their lives where it makes sense to sell their music to provide for their families." Such sales also allow artists to potentially "make music for pure purposes going forward based on what they want to do, as opposed to what they have to do for money," she said. Shakira, 45, inked a deal with Hipgnosis earlier this year. Both Justin and Shakira are parents to young children.
Jury in Johnny Depp's defamation trial against Amber Heard to resume deliberations next week
After hearing closing arguments, the jury in Johnny Depp's defamation trial against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, began deliberations on Friday, May 27, but opted to break for the holiday weekend and resume on Tuesday. Friday's livestreamed proceedings featured more acrimonious claims from lawyers on both sides of the case, in which Johnny claims Amber damaged his reputation and career by stating publicly that he assaulted her during their marriage. He has long denied her claims of physical and sexual assault. According to ET's run-down of the day's statements, Johnny's lawyer, Camille Vasquez, asked the jury to repair her client's life and rep by finding him innocent of the domestic abuse claims. A second attorney for Johnny, Ben Chew, called Amber's narrative, "'Me Too' without any Me Too,'" noting no other women he was involved with had ever accused him of assault. Amber's lawyer, Benjamin Rottenborn, then slammed Johnny's professional problems as "a self-inflicted wound," according to ET, while attorney Elaine Bredehoft said Johnny had yet to take responsibility for the alleged abuse. The jury is reportedly made up of six men and three women.
Katie Holmes makes it official with new musician beau, Bobby Wooten III
Katie Holmes and her new boyfriend, Bobby Wooten III, made their red carpet debut as a couple at the Moth Ball's 25th Anniversary Gala at Spring Studios in New York City on Thursday, May 26. Katie, 43, was first spotted with the Grammy-nominated musician, 33, in April, but it's unclear how they first met. Having previously toured with David Byrne's "American Utopia" project, the bassist, producer and composer now plays bass on Broadway in "Moulin Rouge! The Musical," according to People. He also served as Carley Rae Jepsen's bassist at Coachella. When he's not onstage, Bobby works as an adjunct instructor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. "He's an amazing guy, very kind, super talented and just an all-around cool guy," an insider recently told People of the Chicago native.
'Bridgerton' star Ruby Barker reveals mental health hospitalization
"Bridgerton" star Ruby Barker revealed on Instagram this week that she's been hospitalized for mental health reasons. The actress, 25, shared a video on Thursday, May 26, where she told followers she is feeling "better" than she has been. "I've been really unwell for a really long time, and I just want to be honest with everybody. I have been struggling," she said. "So, I'm in hospital at the minute, and I'm going to get discharged soon and hopefully get to continue with my life." The British star plays Marina Thompson / Lady Crane on the hit Netflix series and at one point in her post, thanked both the streamer and the show's creator, Shonda Rhimes, for "giving me an opportunity, for saving me." She also urged others to get help if they're struggling like she has been. "Stop being so hard on yourself," she advised. "You know, it is mad out here … And sometimes, you just gotta take a break and you gotta say, 'I can't do this right now. I need support.'" Ruby hasn't disclosed her diagnosis, but she admitted she was "rage-filled, frustrated, angry" and dealing with "intergeneration trauma" when she sought treatment. "I can't carry on the way that I've been carrying on. I need to change. So that's what I'm trying to do," she said. "I want to survive, and I will survive and I'm going to and so are you … That's the beauty of it. So are you. If you're with me, you're in good hands."
Kathy Hilton posts about 'narcissists' amid escalating 'RHOBH' tensions
Given the latest drama within "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" cast, it's hard to be sure who Kathy Hilton had in mind this week when she posted a meme about narcissists. There's a good chance she was referencing Lisa Rinna or Kathy's sister, Kyle Richards, both of whom she's been feuding with. But Kathy could have also been commenting on co-star Erika Jayne, who claimed on social media this week that she's being extorted in a multi-million dollar fraud lawsuit. "The narcissist when you are in need," Kathy's meme post read. "When the chips are down, a person who genuinely cares for you, wants to be there for you because you need it. A narcissist however, will only be there for you, because they need it. To feed on the drama. To promote their fake persona of being that great person who is always there for others', with no follow through," the quote continued. "To build your debt of obligation to them. In none of these scenarios are your needs involved. You are an opportunity to be [capitalized] on. Your misfortune, is their fortune."