Taylor Swift reportedly plans to make AMAs performance all about artist empowerment
The feud between Taylor Swift and her former label, Big Machine Label Group, has only gotten more confusing since the singer first griped about Scooter Braun — a man she says was "bullying" her for years — bought the label, including her back catalog. This leaves us without a good guess as to the meaning of Scooter's tweet in the wee hours of Tuesday, Nov. 19, which read "Kindness is the only response," which he dubbed, "Words to live by," adding a "😁" to the sentiment, though it sure sounds related to the messy situation going down with Taylor and Big Machine — and, possibly, to a new report from Page Six claiming Taylor's American Music Awards performance will constitute a "fierce show of female artistic strength and empowerment" as she accepts the Artist of the Decade award. Industry sources tell the tab Selena Gomez, Kesha and Halsey could take the stage with Taylor, who is likely to "make a statement about artists being able to own their masters, the music they created, and how she feels she has been treated by Scooter and Scott [Borchetta]," in her acceptance speech. Says one source: "[Taylor's] friends are all going to be pushing her message on the red carpet. Taylor's going to play dirty with elegance and grace." Last week, Taylor implored fans and peers to support her in her fight to be allowed to perform her older songs at the AMAs and on a Netflix special, saying she'd been told she wouldn't be allowed to do so, legally. Big Machine denied her "narrative" — but it soon became clear she had, in fact, been blocked from performing the music. This week, Big Machine released a statement claiming, "Dick Clark Productions have come to terms on a licensing agreement that approves their artists' performances to stream post-show and for re-broadcast on mutually approved platforms. This includes the upcoming American Music Awards performance." However, the production company then spoke to ET and denied Big Machine had reached any kind of deal. The AMAs air Sunday, Nov. 24.
Keep reading to see how Jennifer Lopez honored Alex Rodriguez's daughter on her birthday …
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Jennifer Lopez shares a sweet birthday message for Alex Rodriguez's daughter
Soon-to-be husband and wife, Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez may not have much in the way of a wedding plan yet, but they definitely seem to be ahead of the game when it comes to their blended family — including the twins J.Lo shares with Marc Anthony and the daughters Alex shares with his ex-wife. On Monday, Nov. 18, Jennifer proved how close she is with Alex's eldest, Natasha, in a sweet birthday message to the newly minted 15-year-old. "Wishing my favorite teenager a very happy 15th birthday!!!" she captioned a photo of the two hugging before a cake and a tray of doughnuts (via E! News). "May you forever keep illuminating the people around you with your infectious light," Jennifer added. "I love you and hope you have the best day. #Tashi." Alex gushed about his pride for his not-so-little girl on social media too, telling her, "To my beautiful, amazing daughter….I can't believe how old you are now and how much you've grown. I am so proud of the girl you've become and continue to be each day. I am so lucky to have you as my daughter and so honored to be your dad. Happy Birthday, Tashi!!! I love you so much!!!!" Jen later wrote in the comments: "Sooooo sweet!!! Sooooo proud of our babies that are so not babies anymore."
Duchess Meghan's lawsuit against British tabs denies claims about her relationship with her parents, Frogmore Cottage renovations
Details of Duchess Meghan's lawsuit against British tabloid publisher Associated Newspapers were revealed this week, showing the former "Suits" star is fighting back against claims about Meghan and Prince Harry's Frogmore Cottage renovations. The couple concedes they conducted some remodeling to make the space more family-friendly, according to People. But legal documents filed in the case show rumors suggesting the home now features $650,000 worth of aircraft soundproofing, a $6,500 copper bathtub as a private yoga studio, tennis court and "guest wing" for Meghan's mother are all unfounded. The suit points to these and other claims made by the tabloids as attempts to paint Meghan in a negative light. The filing also cites private letters written to Meghan's estranged father that were excerpted by the Mail with "almost half the actual contents" having been "omitted or suppressed." "The omitted parts demonstrate the claimant's care for her father and others, as well as her concern about the U.K. tabloid media exploiting her father," the docs claim. The filing goes on to say Meghan "has a long history of looking after her father's welfare and trying to find solutions to any health problems," and that she contacted her father ahead of her wedding to "protect him, as well as to ensure that he would be able to come," adding that she did not "ignore" him after the wedding when he didn't attend. Finally, the filings address claims made in the tabloids indicating Meghan didn't invite her mom to her baby shower in New York City, saying she was invited and that Meghan "offered to buy her airline tickets" but that her mom "was unable to attend due to work commitments." A rep for The Mail on Sunday, which is also owned by the publisher Meghan is suing, told the BBC it would continue to defend itself in the case.
RELATED: The best photos from Meghan and Harry's royal tour of Africa
Eva Amurri's husband Kyle Martino posts about his love for her and their kids as he moves out of the family home
As Eva Amurri and Kyle Martino begin their new, separate lives, the former couple is making it quite clear to friends, fans and social media followers that the end of a romance need not be the end of love between two people. In the hours and days after announcing their decision to "lovingly part ways as a couple," the pair — who are expecting their third child together — shared pics and videos on their Instagram Stories from a trip with their kids to a Disney on Ice Show in New York City. Complete with captions about how much they love one another and their children and will be "forever a family," 3-year-old Major and 5-year-old Marlowe, the posts showed the two happily enjoying one another's company less than 24 hours after they announced their separation, according to People. On Monday, Nov. 18, Kyle, 38, shared a photo of his wife, 34, holding their kids on her lap. "Move out day. Couldn't have asked for a better send-off crew," he captioned the shot. "I love you guys so much and will always be your dad in our beautiful family. See you tomorrow 😘" Eva, whose mom is Susan Sarandon, married the NBC Sports analyst in 2011. She has since blogged about their different perspectives on gender roles, telling readers the two underwent therapy to try to get past that and other problems.
Read on for the latest on Ariana Grande's health …
Ariana Grande buys lunch for fans in Kentucky following canceled show
After canceling her scheduled performance in Lexington, Kentucky, over the weekend due to a bad sinus infection, Ariana Grande reportedly did her best to make up the loss to fans. Billboard reports that when the show was canceled just seven hours before it was slated to begin, a group of die-hards got together at the venue anyway. According to Donald Sneed, one of the folks behind an Ariana fan Twitter account, Ariana caught wind of their plans to meet — and footed the tab for their lunch at a restaurant next door to the arena.
Jada Pinkett Smith: T.I. to address controversy about joining daughter at GYN appointments on Red Table Talk
Jada Pinkett Smith's "Red Table Talk" centers around family issues that can be the hardest things for relatives to talk about. So it's perhaps no surprise that Jada wanted to invited T.I. to join her in a discussion after the rapper's controversial comments about accompanying his 18-year-old daughter to the gynecologist so he could "check her hymen," the idea being that would determine whether she was a virgin. T.I. "My next big guest is Tip. T.I. is coming to the table. Yes indeed," Jada recently told ET. "And of course, he's going to address the controversy that has been swirling." T.I. made the comments on the Ladies Like Us podcast. His daughter later unfollowed him on Instagram then deleted her social media accounts, according to the outlet. Jada added that T.I. and his wife, Tiny, also address "how they survived, in regards to their marriage," on the episode, which airs on Monday, Nov. 25.
'Finding Neverland's Michael Jackson accusers could get their cases to trial, after all
Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who claimed in HBO's "Leaving Neverland" to have been sexually abused by Michael Jackson, could see their case go to trial in spite of their lawsuits having been dismissed in 2017. Vanity Fair and the Associated Press reported this week that because of a new law in California giving alleged victims of abuse more time to file suit, the men could tell their stories in a showdown against MJJ Productions, Inc. and MJJ Ventures, Inc. The King of Pop's estate would not be named as defendants, according to the report. A lawyer for the late singer's estate told the AP he believes "the claims against Michael Jackson's corporate entities will, once again, be dismissed as has happened before."
Solange Knowles debuts her latest musical museum piece at the Getty in Los Angeles
Solange Knowles earned another round of critical praise over the weekend for her latest performance art installation, "Bridge-s." Staged at the Getty Center in Los Angeles over the weekend, the music, dance and art amalgam was intended to be a look at "transition through time," set to a score composed by Solange, who recently announced a transition in her personal life with her split from husband Alan Ferguson. According to the L.A. Times, the free performances featured musicians and dancers dressed in orange, brown and khaki creating different shapes and sounds inspired in part by what the singer described as her interest in repetition and minimalist art, "while inviting moments of chaos, uncertainty, rupture, and which all feel like they speak to the unpredictable ride of transition." Solange has been showcasing museum performance art pieces since 2016, with previous installations appearing at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas, the Guggenheim, the Tate Modern and the website for the Hammer Museum.
Henry Cavill says he's not done with Superman, despite rumors to the contrary
Last year, The Hollywood Reporter quoted a Warner Bros. source who claimed Henry Cavill's tenure as Superman was over, in spite of previous reports to the contrary. Henry hasn't said much either way about his Superman future since then. But in the new cover story for Men's Health, he says that just because he has other projects he's working on — like "The Witcher" — doesn't mean he's finished with the iconic superhero role. "I'm not going to sit quietly in the dark as all the stuff is going on. I've not given up the role," Henry says. "There's a lot I have to give for Superman yet. A lot of storytelling to do. A lot of real, true depths to the honest of the character I wasn't to get into. I want to reflect the comic books. That's important to me. There's a lot of justice to be done for Superman." He adds: "The status is: You'll see."
John Mayer jokes about his problem with ex, Taylor Swift's 'Lover' lyrics
John Mayer sounds older and wiser — or at least, better trained in the art of addressing one's romantic past. In a recent Instagram Live chat with Shawn Mendes, John was pressed on questions about Taylor Swift, whom he reportedly dated back in 2009. When Shawn asked about Taylor's track, "Lover," and the remixed version Shawn recently released, John avoided falling into previous patterns of TMI about his exes and politely told Shawn he digs the new track — except for one part. "I love the song, I really like the song," he offered before admitting where he takes issue with the lyrics. "I get a little chuckle because she says, 'We can keep the Christmas lights up till January.' And I go, 'You're insane!' Everyone keeps their Christmas lights up until January," he quipped. "I go,'Can you really? Because normally I [take] my Christmas lights down on Dec. 29.'" Asked again about the track, John assured Shawn, "I love the song, and I love your work on [the remix]." But before the end of the session, he jokingly shared an alternate version of the Christmas lights lyric, singing: "We can keep the Christmas lights up until January. And then about January 5, we'll take the lights down, and we'll put 'em in a box and we'll label that box Christmas lights, and we'll put 'em in the attic until next December!' Boy, that's a crazy love, I'll tell ya!"