Over the Memorial Day weekend, a man named Christian Cooper went to the Ramble in Central Park to do some holiday bird-watching. That area of the park is apparently one of the best bird-watching spots in New York. It’s also an area which gets a lot of dog-walkers, and there are signs throughout that dogs must be on leashes. A woman named Amy Cooper (no relation) was in that area with her unleashed dog. Christian asked the woman to please leash her dog. This is what happened, in Christian’s words:

Here’s how Chris recounts the incident: pic.twitter.com/HSVk7s2gFB

— Roy Tsao (@RoyTsaoNYC) May 25, 2020

That’s when Christian began recording the woman’s freak out – the woman was so enraged that she nearly choked her dog to death and she called 9-1-1 on an African-American man who simply told her to leash her dog (Christian’s sister posted this on her Twitter):

Oh, when Karens take a walk with their dogs off leash in the famous Bramble in NY’s Central Park, where it is clearly posted on signs that dogs MUST be leashed at all times, and someone like my brother (an avid birder) politely asks her to put her dog on the leash. pic.twitter.com/3YnzuATsDm

— Melody Cooper (@melodyMcooper) May 25, 2020

Christian, a former Marvel Comics editor and currently the senior biomedical editor at Health Science Communications, also recounted the incident on his Facebook page. Amy was employed by Franklin Templeton, only Franklin Templeton got thousands of calls yesterday that they needed to fire their employee. They are investigating and while that investigation happens, they put her on leave:

In response to an incident involving an employee on May 25th, Franklin Templeton issued the following statement. pic.twitter.com/8f2lMwK0r5

— Franklin Templeton (@FTI_US) May 26, 2020

Amy also had to surrender the dog back to the cocker spaniel rescue agency (the dog rescue worked faster than anyone else):

Thank you to the concerned public for reaching out to us about a video involving a dog that was adopted from our rescue a few years ago. As of this evening, the owner has voluntarily surrendered the dog in question to our rescue while this matter is being addressed. 1/2

— Abandoned Angels (@NYCockerRescue) May 26, 2020

Apparently, when the cops did arrive to the Ramble, both Amy and Christian were not there. But I still feel like Amy should be arrested for making a false report, and for trying to weaponize her white tears to hurt (or perhaps even kill) a black man via a police shooting or violent arrest. Amy spoke to CNN, and said she wanted to “publicly apologize to everyone. I’m not a racist. I did not mean to harm that man in any way” and she apparently also said “she also didn’t mean any harm to the African American community.” She’s still trying to weaponize her white tears too, telling CNN: “I think I was just scared. When you’re alone in the Ramble, you don’t know what’s happening. It’s not excusable, it’s not defensible.” She also complained that her “entire life is being destroyed right now.” Oh well.

Photos courtesy of Steshka Willems via Pexels and Pixabay via Pexels.

About a month ago, in a baking post, I mentioned that I was thinking of doing the Amazon posts again. It’s been about two and a half months since we’ve done one and I hope it’s not insensitive to start them up again. Also If you use an ad blocker please consider turning if off when you visit us, as that helps us out. Please do not feel pressured to buy anything and as always let me know if there’s anything you’re interested in and I’ll look it up. Also let me know about your favorite purchases! Lately I’ve been baking and cooking a lot so I’m looking up products for that and to help me spend more time outdoors.

A mosquito repellent device for 15 feet of chemical-free protection

The Thermacell patio shield is a little butane-powered device that puts out a scent-free, chemical-free mosquito repellent that lasts for 12 hours. It would be great to use on your patio, porch or lawn to enjoy the outdoors without having to douse yourself in Deet. It’s around $20 for most color devices, and has 3.9 stars, over 1,600 ratings and an A from Fakespot. Reviewers rave about how well it works, writing that “even in the height of mosquito season, we can spend an evening on the patio with these and not get a single bite” and that it “made my summer more enjoyable.” You need to keep the lid off it to keep it lit, and some negative reviews seem to be people mistaking this for the device not working. Refills are also available on Amazon.

A healthy frozen dessert maker so you won’t keep mainlining ice cream

I spend so much money on ice cream that this would pay for itself in no time. The
Yonanas Classic Original Healthy Dessert Fruit Soft Serve Maker lets you make healthy frozen treats like frozen yogurt and sorbets at home. It’s just $46.16 and has 4.3 stars, over 2,700 ratings and a B from Fakespot. People say that it’s “simple to set up,” “very easy and safe” for kids to use and that the end product is “more like ice cream than some of the low-fat ice creams you buy in the store.” It’s also called a “small, lightweight appliance that is absolutely worth buying… easy to use and easy to clean up.” If you’re looking to spend a little more Cuisinart has an ice cream maker for $130. I’m really eyeing that one. I have to be realistic, I want the fat and sugar.

A set of silicone baking mats for easy cleanup

I moved into a new place mid-February and the last tenant left a set of three silicone baking mats in the warming tray under the oven. (That area under there is supposed to be a warming tray, right?) I love them and use them all the time! This is a set of 4 silicone baking mats by Rizotti. It comes with a little brush and spatula for $35. It has 4.8 stars, over 1,000 ratings and a B from Fakespot. Reviewers say “The mats work perfectly and fit 2 of my 3 baking sheets as if custom made,” and that “cleanup is easier than expected and so far no staining.” They also like that they’re BPA free. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative Amazon Basics has a set of three for $14.99.

Nonstick silicone bread and loaf pans so you can bake without Crisco

I didn’t know these existed and now I want them! These silicone bread and loaf pans by PopBlossom make preparation and clean up easy. You don’t need to coat them with anything and your bread or meat loaf pops right out! They’re $14.49 and have 76 ratings, 4.5 stars and a B on Fakespot. Bakers call them “amazing,” “way better than I expected” and “easy to use and clean.” They’re 10? L x 5? W x 2.5? Waflos brand has some similar pans available at a slightly higher price point.

Strategically ripped leggings you can wear to bed and all day

Did you guys see the Choose Your Work From Home outfit meme? I found it adorable and true. My WFH outfit is s sports bra, hoodie, leggings and sneakers, which is also my workout outfit. I’ve been wearing that to bed, working out in the morning, showering and maybe putting on jeans but more often just putting on a similar outfit again. I’ve always wanted a pair of artfully ripped leggings! This pair by Dibaolong with tummy control is available in sizes x-small to xx-large and in 9 different colors, all under $19! They have 4.5 stars, over 3,000 ratings and an A on Fakespot. Reviewers call them “so soft and comfy,” “fun and cute,” “super stretchy and not even a little tight.” These would look cute under a denim skirt too.

A multi-function kitchen tool that looks cute and does so much

Do you have an apple cutter? (I do, I love it!) Do you have a citrus juicer? Do you have an avocado scoop, a grater and a grapefruit juicer? This colorful multi-part device comes with all of that, plus a masher and a citrus cutter. It would look so cute on your counter and would make a thoughtful gift. This kitchen gadget by Olizee has 88 ratings, 3.5 stars and a B from Fakespot. Reviewers call it “handy,” “a cute addition to the countertop,” “useful” and “fun.” One woman said she bought a second one for work and several people say that they make great gifts.

A stainless steel rolling pin you can keep cold in the freezer

Now that I’m baking more I need a real rolling pin instead of just using an empty can. This 15.75? steel rolling pin is under $16 and comes with a pastry mat! I’m picking it because it is less expensive than similar rolling pins. It has 14 ratings, 4.5 stars and a B from Fakespot. People say it’s “easy to clean,” “good for the price,” and “better than a wood roller.”

Lipstick that changes color with your skin PH

I’m also including this magic mood-type lipstick at the end because I spent a good five minutes reading reviews and wondering how it works. It starts off a bright vivid color in the tube and turns a pretty color when it interacts with your skin. The green tube above, Frog Prince, is said to be “a lovely shade of reddish rose w/o being garish in the least.” This has 717 ratings, 4.4 stars and a B on Fakespot. It’s called “very moisturizing, smooth to put on, and comfortable to wear,” not “glossy/goopy” like other moisturizing lipsticks and is said to create “a natural-looking” and complementary lip color.

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Over the weekend, Sussex biographer Omid Scobie tweeted: “Any ‘insider’ claiming to know what’s in the book is simply throwing guesses out there.” I briefly wondered what that was about, and then I saw this story in the Sun – the Sun’s sources claim that Omid and Carolyn Durand’s book will “shatter the notion” that the Duchess of Sussex was the driving force behind the Sussexes’ exit from royal life. So let me get this straight: the unhinged, racist, misogynistic British tabloids smeared Meghan for two years and tried to bully her out of the country. When Harry made it clear that he will always “choose” his wife over those petty racists, those same tabloids created a narrative where Evil Meghan “forced” Harry to leave his country. And now those same tabloids are saying “wait, Harry wanted to leave.” This whole “Megexit” term was just something made up by racist lunatics and then adopted by the worst press outlets and now they’re treating Harry’s ability to make up his own mind as some brand-new information. Ridiculous.

That’s not all from this weekend’s shenanigans. As I’ve been covering for weeks now, Katie Nicholl has been giving some very curious interviews to American and Australian outlets, trying to shill some “exclusives” about the Sussexes. It’s interesting because she really doesn’t have an inside track on Harry and Meghan at all, but she genuinely has an inside track on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. So why is Vanity Fair’s senior royal reporter giving away “exclusives” to other outlets, and why is she writing an exclusive report for the Sunday Times?

This long piece in The Sunday Times on Meghan and Harry’s new life in America by Vanity Fair’s Katie Nicholl claims the couple planned their North American escape when they returned from Africa at the end of last year, a trip during which Meghan famously told ITV that it was “not enough to just survive something.” Among the article’s other striking claims: Harry wanted to live in Africa but Meghan wasn’t keen, fearing political instability; they dropped the notion of living in Canada after the queen nixed their half-in, half-out vision of royal life; and the longed-for reconciliation between William and Harry may yet happen.

The piece also contains an alarming description of Meghan’s life in the U.K.: Meghan Markle believed there was a “conspiracy” hatched against her by royals once she moved into Kensington Palace during her courtship with Prince Harry. Markle, 38, began to fear the palace’s courtiers were out to harm her reputation due to her American style of management once the couple moved into Frogmore Cottage.

“She was convinced there was a conspiracy against her and so she basically put herself in self isolation when they moved to Frogmore,” a friend told The Sunday Times. “I think she felt like an outsider from the start. This wasn’t the life she was used to and she wanted out.”

She also began to feel isolated and missed her mom and friends in LA. One friend told The Sunday Times that Meghan’s financial independence was a driving force behind her and Harry’s decision to leave the royals and flee the UK for sunny California.

“One of the things Meghan struggled with was not earning an income,” said a friend. “She has always worked and I think she felt unfulfilled. Having financial freedom was a big part of them wanting to leave.

Despite reports that Harry, 35, was struggling in LA , the couple developed a friendship with Adele, and the Duke of Sussex has befriended the Silicon Valley crowd and even Leonardo DiCaprio, who he met at last year’s Google Camp, reports The Sunday Times. “I am sure their social life will consist of dinner parties with people they can trust and connect with,” Melanie Bromley, head of news operations for NBC’s E! channel told The Sunday Times. “They are going to be very wary about opening up their social circle too much, as fraternizing with the wrong people has the potential to be hugely damaging to their image and plans.”

[From The Sunday Times & Page Six]

I mean… what is Nicholl doing here? Is she trying to paint Meghan as paranoid and crazy? Because I think Meghan probably did feel isolated and like there was a conspiracy against her, and she had good reason to feel that way: there was legitimately a conspiracy against her. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the palace courtiers, even Prince Charles and his people, they were all working against Meghan at various times for various reasons.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, WENN and Avalon Red.

As we discussed, Lana del Rey’s Big Gemini Season Energy has turned into something confusing and nonsensical. She started out by making a poorly made argument about how all female artists should be able to sing or rap about abusive relationships without everyone yelling at them, but the whole thing has devolved into Lana claiming that her critics are trying to make her the centerpiece of a race war. At no point has Lana said “you know what, my original point was poorly made, I’m sorry for the miscommunication.” At no point has Lana said “maybe I shouldn’t speak over women of color to whitesplain what I really mean.” Well, guess what. Lana has more sh-t to say. This is truly her fourth public statement in less than a week.

Lana Del Rey took to Instagram early Monday morning to further defend comments that made her the subject of racism accusations.

“I don’t want to beat a dead horse and I don’t want to go on and on about this post, but I just want to remind you that in that post — my one and only personal declaration I’ve ever made, thanks for being so warm and welcoming — was about the need for fragility in the feminist movement,” she said in a new, six-minute video shared Monday morning. “And when I mentioned women who look like me, I didn’t mean white like me, I mean the kind of women who other people might not believe, because they think, ‘Oh look at her, she f–king deserves it’ or whatever,” she said. “There’s a lot of people like that.”

“I just think it’s sad the women I mentioned, whether they sing about dancing for money or whatever — the same stuff, by the way, I’ve been singing about and chronicling for 13 years,” she said. “The difference is, when I get on the pole people call me a whore, but when Twigs gets on the pole, it’s art. I’m reminded constantly by my friends that lyrically there are layers and complicated psychological factors that play into some of my songwriting. But I just want to say the culture is super sick right now. And the fact that they want to turn my post, my advocacy from fragility into a race war, it’s really bad.”

The 34-year-old went on to say she has long been an advocate for reparations and considers herself a “girl’s girl.”

“To all of the other women out there who are like me, good girls, good intentioned, who get f–ked up the ass constantly by the culture just because you say what you really mean, I’m with you, I’m here for you and I know that you feel for me. I’m sorry I didn’t add one caucasian, one 100% caucasian woman into the mix of women that I admire, but it really says more about you than it does about me,” she continued, before saying she’s been the target of “hateful” comments, has been called “f–king white bitch” and even had her phone number leaked during the controversy.

Without mentioning other names, she then addressed her relationship with the women she previously mentioned. “I’m sorry that some of the girls I talked to that I mentioned in that post have a super different opinion of my insight, especially because we’ve been so close for so long,” said the singer. “But it really, again, makes you reach into the depth of your own heart and say, ‘Am I good intentioned?’ Of course, for me, the answer is always yes. I’m not the enemy and I’m definitely not racist. So don’t get it twisted. Nobody gets to tell your story except for you and that’s what I’m gonna do.”

[From TooFab]

One, FKA Twigs dances on the pole and sings about damaged, abusive relationships and now it just sounds like Lana is jealous of Twigs’ authenticity on the pole AND authenticity in speaking about abuse and violence. Two, how many women contacted Lana privately? It sounds like a lot of them. Beyonce probably wouldn’t, but I could definitely see Ariana, Cardi, maybe Kehlani trying to talk to Lana and tell her she’s being a white feminist. And, by the way, Ariana is 100% caucasian and Lana is 100% ridiculous. I honestly had no idea she was like this? I thought she was so much cooler than this.

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A post shared by Lana Del Rey (@lanadelrey) on May 25, 2020 at 2:29am PDT

Photos courtesy of WENN, Backgrid.

Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest have been recording their show, Live with Kelly and Ryan, remotely since ABC ordered all employees to stay home. We heard last week that keeping up all his obligations from his kitchen almost got the better of Ryan. Kelly has also suggested how difficult the new normal has been for her, explaining that her emotions are running high, exacerbated by missing her parents and feeling touch deprived from her kids. Her comments were slightly relatable as we all adjusted to lockdown living. But over the holiday, we learned a new twist to Kelly’s story, she’s not home at all. Kelly and her family have been quarantining in the Caribbean the whole time. According to Kelly, they had no choice. ORLY?

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have been social distancing with their kids in the Caribbean amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The couple — who share daughter Lola, 18 and sons Michael, 22, and Joaquin, 17 — were on a trip together with their children when ABC instructed them to shelter in place, a source tells PEOPLE.

“The family was on a trip in the Caribbean when told to shelter in place and decided to stay put,” the source says.

Ripa discussed their decision during a virtual townhall on Thursday with ABC employees moderated by Sandy Kenyon.

“We had planned a trip for our family, and it was supposed to be our entire family of course,” said Ripa, according to a source at the town hall. “And we arrive and three days later, the entire world changed, really. I mean, everything shut down; the government shut down; our country shut down. I hate to use the word stuck, but we were. We decided to stay where we were.”

Ripa added that what was “distressing” was that both her and Consuelos’ parents were supposed to join them a week later.

“Lucky for us, we had our three children,” she added. “And then, you know, it was supposed to be a two-week trip and we wound up going right back to work. Ryan and I both decided it was better to do the show, because we just felt like in with everything that was going on in the world that perhaps, some normalcy of just doing what we normally do, even though it was like in very unusual circumstances, would be the best thing for us. “

[From People]

I have questions. Kelly said that they were on a planned, two-week family vacation when the US shut down. As of March 11, Live had started filming without an audience in New York. March 23rd was the first show the duo filmed from their “homes.” Even if we give her the benefit of the doubt, that she was ‘stuck’ in her vacation home when lockdown occurred, they family chose to travel to a foreign destination while the country was succumbing to a global pandemic. And that was after we’d all seen/heard the mass devastation it had caused China and Italy. So this was, at best, a very bad decision. But factor in that all three of Kelly’s kids are in school: Lola and Michael in college and Joaquin in high school. Spring Break is only a week-long and rarely do colleges and high-school spring breaks overlap so, how were they planning a two-week vacation in the middle of March? Michael graduated from NYU last Thursday, something Kelly proudly noted, so he was going to blow off a week of classes in his final semester just to hang with Mom and Dad? If people took precautions, were cleared to travel, and quarantined themselves for the required two weeks, it might be ok to quarantine in paradise. However Kelly is not being upfront about it. She’s making it sound like the pandemic snuck up on them.

This does give more context as to why Kelly was so emotional about missing her folks. Especially since she almost endangered their lives by inviting them.

Interesting that the only vacation photos Kelly has posted are throwbacks to ‘better’ vacations from years past when she is, in fact, on vacation now.

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Call me crazy but i like #cincodemayo 2018 way better

A post shared by Kelly Ripa (@kellyripa) on May 5, 2020 at 1:11pm PDT

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#fbf 2012 When we took Live! To Hawaii back when we used to awkwardly hold hands. (Yes, it was awkward, i was there) REMINDER- THIS IS A FLASH BACK PHOTO! ????????

A post shared by Kelly Ripa (@kellyripa) on Mar 27, 2020 at 4:57pm PDT

Photo credit: YouTube, Instagram and WENN/Avalon

I often reminisce about how 2016 was a great year in gossip, but honestly 2015 had some fun stories too. That was the year when Page Six, People Magazine and assorted French tabloids ganged up on Gisele Bundchen. That summer, Gisele made a mysterious trip to Paris and allegedly donned a burqa so she wouldn’t be seen entering a respected plastic surgeon’s office. She stayed in Paris for a few days, then returned to Boston and several weeks later – presumably after she healed – she began stepping out with a “fresh” face. There were always rumors about Gisele’s plastic surgery – specifically an alleged boob job and some face work – but in recent years, those rumors have definitely risen to a new level.

Speaking of, check out Gisele’s Vogue Brazil covers. Her face is so tight, I thought Vogue Brazil had perhaps used some old photos of her from when she was 25 or something. Ugh, not so much. The editorial was shot just before the lockdown according to Gisele:

“The moment of seclusion makes us, in some way, reassess our lives. It is an invitation to review our priorities and values. Life gave us a shake and made us look not only into ourselves, but at how we act and report to each other. We have to be well so that the other is also well, after all, in this universe, we are all connected. What happens in one place is reflected in another. So it is with nature, it is so with people. ” Interview and editorial for Vogue Brasil in celebration of its 45th anniversary. The editorial was photographed before this period of isolation, and I also gave an interview where I talk about the time we are living in and about the Luz Alliance fund, which I created to support the communities that are most vulnerable. I hope you and your families are well. Sending lots of love and light to everyone.

[From Gisele’s Instagram]

Did… she get some work done before the lockdown? It certainly looks like it. It wouldn’t be a big deal – women should do whatever they want – but Gisele has always been so strident in how everything in her life is so “natural” and organic and real. Girl’s been quietly traveling to Paris for plastic surgery for years.

Covers courtesy of Vogue Brazil.

John Krasinski offered us a little ray of happiness at this difficult time with his brainchild, Some Good News. I loved the show and so appreciated the lengths people would go to put good out in a dark world. When he signed off for good with a lovely show acknowledging his SGN community two weeks ago, I was sorry to see it go, but lightning can only exist in the bottle for so long. So the shows many fans said goodbye. Only our goodbyes were premature, because John sold the show to CBS. Although John will stay on as executive producer, he will not host and a new host has yet to be selected. And his fans, myself included, are not happy about any of it.

A few of John Krasinski fans feel like they’ve heard some bad news…
On Thursday, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that the actor’s feel-good show, Some Good News, was licensed to ViacomCBS after a “massive bidding war.”

But the announcement wasn’t met with entirely positive feedback. Many fans of the show—which was created to share positivity amidst the coronavirus pandemic— found the business transaction antithetical to the very spirit of the show.

And Twitter reacted swiftly.

“So he made 8 YouTube videos comprised largely of unpaid contributions from fans, sold the brand to a major conglomerate, and isn’t even going to make it anymore?” One fan tweeted. “Just cashed out? Does this rub anyone else the wrong way, kinda?”

Another fan wrote: “You are profiting off Some Good News!?! I bought you hook, line and sinker… believed you were just trying to bring goodness to light. Going from YouTube (free) to a pay service…so disappointed…sellout!!!”

“I can’t believe you sold it,” one disappointed fan tweeted. “It’s not about the good news, it’s about the profit.”

“This will lose the heart of SGN and become just another corporate money making watered down version of what it once was,” decried another.

[From E!]

Dustin at Pajiba wrote a good op-ed on this story over the weekend about John’s decision. There’s not much I can add to what’s already been said. The beauty of SGN was that very famous and important people came together out of the goodness in their hearts to help an embattled nation. Corporatizing any of it makes it just another manufactured program made-up of contrived feel-good moments and Ellen DeGeneres has a lock on that bs already. Selling the show removes its heart, period.

John and the SGN Twitter account tried to redirect the conversation by declaring that the show would still be available for free and on multiple platforms. But that’s not the point. The point was how touching it was to see our stories up there, serving as a beacon of hope. SGN acted as a virtual hug for those who needed it. All of the missteps and goofy dad moments during the segments were endearing because the show was some homegrown, thrown-together offering out of a den in Brooklyn. Now it will be a shiny, polished, overly orchestrated collection of schmaltzy moments and the host will be given multiple takes to cry for “realism.”

Photo credit: YouTube and WENN/Avalon

I was about to dump on this but then I kept reading and it turns out these inflatable costumes are being used in senior homes to protect the residents so that they can also hug their family members so now I feel like an asshole. Still, there are some drawbacks. One of them being that it must get SO …

I was about to dump on this but then I kept reading and it turns out these inflatable costumes are being used in senior homes to protect the residents so that they can also hug their family members so now I feel like an asshole. Still, there are some drawbacks. One of them being that it must get SO …

I was about to dump on this but then I kept reading and it turns out these inflatable costumes are being used in senior homes to protect the residents so that they can also hug their family members so now I feel like an asshole. Still, there are some drawbacks. One of them being that it must get SO …