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It is so rare to meet people that are able to speak from their hearts with honesty and pure real truth, that remain steadfast and strong to their beliefs. Andrew is a true and real gentleman and is stoically steadfast to not only his duty but also his kindness and goodness of always seeing the best in people. I am deeply supportive and proud of this giant of a principled man, that dares to put his shoulder to the wind and stands firm with his sense of honour and truth. For so many years he has gone about his duties for Great Britain and The Monarch. It is time for Andrew to stand firm now, and that he has, and I am with him every step of the way and that is my honour. We have always walked tall and strong, he for me and me for him. We are the best examples of joint parenting, with both our girls and I go back to my three C’s .. Communicate Compromise Compassion @hrhthedukeofyork

A post shared by Sarah Ferguson (@sarahferguson15) on Nov 15, 2019 at 12:00pm PST

Sarah Ferguson posted the above Instagram the day before Prince Andrew’s BBC interview aired. Perhaps she honestly thought that Andrew had done the right thing in giving the interview, and that this would be a turning point and maybe the Jeffrey Epstein headlines would stop. Yeah. Not so much. Fergie has always done a lot to help Andrew and help his image, and she was one of the people in his ear this summer after Epstein’s mysterious death. They went on vacation together in Spain, and they were seen together all over the place. Perhaps she even thinks they’ll eventually remarry. But – Fergie wasn’t even in England when Andrew’s interview aired. She was in Saudi Arabia, complimenting Mohammed Bin Salman.

When Prince Andrew was sitting for car-crash interview about Epstein, Fergie was at the charity summit for Saudi crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

“Everyone has been so nice here in Riyadh; I think that comes from good leadership,” Fergie to Arab News. https://t.co/9rWuo5S2XX pic.twitter.com/W3GeGDxkrt

— Mark Di Stefano ?? (@MarkDiStef) November 18, 2019

Yep. And that’s not all. In one of the funniest pieces of royal gossip, it seems like even delusional Fergie now understands that Andrew’s interview was BAD. But it’s not his fault!

Friends of the Duchess of York have said the ‘buck stops’ with her ex-husband’s private secretary over the Newsnight interview that even she believes was a “car crash”. Multiple sources have told The Telegraph that the Duchess was staggered to return from a trip overseas to discover the interview with Newsnight had gone ahead. They said Amanda Thirsk, the Duke of York’s private secretary, should have steered the prince away from a 50-minute interview with Emily Maitlis – described as a ‘forensic interviewer’ – on the single subject of his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and questions over whether he had sex with a teenager trafficked to Britain.

One source claimed: “The Duchess had no involvement. This has Amanda Thirsk’s hands all over it. The Duke is not very quick on his feet so how could Amanda put him up to it. Amanda was the one who pushed for it. Fifty minutes with anybody on the one subject is going to be difficult. Even Newsnight were flabbergasted.”

The source said that even the Duchess, who had expressed her support for her ex-husband in an Instagram post on Friday night in which she described him as a “giant of a principled man”, accepted the interview had been a ‘car crash’.

The second source said: “The Duchess was not involved. He [the Duke] has an office and you know who advises him. There is nothing wrong with doing television but it should have been as part of a wider documentary about the work he does. Nobody should be put up in front of a forensic interviewer for 50 minutes on a single topic.”

The source added: “I think the buck stops with Amanda and she knows that too. But she couldn’t push the Duke into doing something he would not want to do.”

[From The Telegraph]

“The Duke is not very quick on his feet…” It’s almost as if – hear me out – Andrew is a dull, moronic pervert who is easily manipulated by the people around him, whether that’s the Queen, Fergie, his private secretary or Jeffrey Epstein. It’s almost as if Andrew is too stupid, too privileged, too corrupt to continue on this way.

Photos courtesy of WENN, Instagram.

The fallout from Prince Andrew’s shambolic interview with Emily Maitlis on BBC Newsnight continues. It was a unanimous bomb. A major disaster. A total sh-t show to the point where even the British tabloids can’t avoid it as, you know, they prefer another royal target. But it’s undeniable that there’…

I like Elizabeth Banks a lot and I completely support her transition from actress to big-time producer and director. She produced the Pitch Perfect franchise and directed the second film. She also put together the reboot of Charlie’s Angels – she really wanted to remake it, and she pulled it together, got Kristen Stewart on board, directed and produced it and she stars as Bosley. Charlie’s Angels came out last Friday. It bombed, only making $8.6 million in its opening weekend. Banks took it standing up:

Well, if you’re going to have a flop, make sure your name is on it at least 4x. I’m proud of #CharliesAngels and happy it’s in the world.

— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) November 18, 2019

Good for her. I haven’t seen it so I can’t say if she should be proud of her efforts, but I think it’s great that more women are throwing their hats into the ring and saying “actually, I’m directing this.” But of course, it’s natural to look for reasons why this reboot didn’t succeed. Banks thinks it might be because audiences didn’t want to see an all-lady action-comedy:

Elizabeth Banks suggested that the reason her “Charlie’s Angels” reboot failed to make a splash at the box office opening weekend was that men “don’t go see women do action movies.” Banks — who wrote, produced, directed, and starred as Bosley in the reboot — hinted to the Herald Sun prior to the film’s release that a form of sexism from a male-dominated audience may be to blame for its current lack of financial success.

“Look, people have to buy tickets to this movie too. This movie has to make money,” Banks told the Sun. “If this movie doesn’t make money it reinforces a stereotype in Hollywood that men don’t go see women do action movies.” Banks seemed to dismiss the box office success of “Captain Marvel,” the Brie Larson-led Marvel film that earned $1.1 billion worldwide earlier this year, as well as “Wonder Woman,” which grossed $821 million in 2017, because they belonged to a “male genre.”

“They’ll go and see a comic book movie with Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel because that’s a male genre,” Banks explained. “So even though those are movies about women, they put them in the context of feeding the larger comic book world, so it’s all about, yes, you’re watching a Wonder Woman movie but we’re setting up three other characters or we’re setting up ‘Justice League.’ By the way, I’m happy for those characters to have box office success, but we need more women’s voices supported with money because that’s the power. The power is in the money.”

[From Fox News]

I think there’s something to what she said, absolutely. Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman were so successful partly because there was and is a huge built-in audience for comic-book films. That being said, the Drew Barrymore-Charlie’s Angels franchise certainly seemed to have a built-in audience too, because it was pretty successful financially and people really loved those dumb films. So… maybe that’s an issue too? I mean, at some point, people really do get tired of the reboots. (Also: this is just my opinion, but there was legitimately a casting issue – Kristen Stewart was fine, but the other Angels needed to be bigger “names.”)

Photos courtesy of WENN, Backgrid.

This week I ordered the leather stacked bracelet which was an alternate suggestion for Oprah’s beaded stacked bracelets. It’s such a nice piece for $14, I got the black one. I also got the six pack of Kubotan keychain accessories to have one for myself and five as gifts. Those are the stabby self defense tools we featured last month. I hope I never have to use mine but it does give me peace of mind and helps me find my keys quicker in the key bucket at the Y. Ooh and I got the microfiber hair towel too! I had to take a shower at the gym because my water was out yesterday morning and I used it there for the first time. I do think my hair dried faster. Here are some deals and gifts to consider for the holidays.

The Cubii Jr. under-desk elliptical is on sale for $77 off!

Hecate has the Stamina InMotion elliptical and she recommends it. (She talked about it in this post.) One issue with under-desk elliptical is that it does start to make noise after you’ve used it a while. The Cubii is the higher end under-desk elliptical and right now the Jr. Model is on sale in a daily deal for $77 off! This is the number one bestseller in elliptical trainers on Amazon. It has 4.6 stars, 615 ratings and a C from Fakespot. People say that it’s easy to set up, is very quiet, and that it helped them lose weight without changing their work routine. It’s still pricey at $177 so you may want to consider the Stamina, which is only $90.

The Lectrofan natural white noise machine is $11 off!

My son needs white noise to sleep. In the summer he uses the air conditioner on full blast and in Winter he uses the LectroFan. This ambient noise machine has ten ambient noise selections, including white noise, pink noise and brown noise, to help lull and keep you asleep. Unlike other white noise machines it doesn’t seem to loop and the sound is seamless and natural. It’s great for masking other noises in your environment and helping you stay asleep. I paid $50 for it two years ago and it was worth every penny. This has 4.4 stars, over 6,000 ratings and a C from Fakespot. It’s said to really block other noises so that people can fall asleep easier and focus better to work. It can also be used to help babies and pets fall asleep.

An $11 bed skirt to class up your bedroom

I have the cheap thin bedskirt that came with my bed frame (I have this frame and highly recommend it). It is thin, rides up when I change the sheets and it doesn’t match my upholstered gray headboard. This 16 inch ruffled bedskirt by Amazon basics is on sale for around $11! It comes in all twin to kings sizes and in four different solid neutral colors. It has 4.6 stars, over 700 ratings and a B from Fakespot. Reviewers call it “wonderful,” a “quality bed skirt at a fraction of the cost,” and “ not as see through as many white bed skirts.”

A $17 beard care kit would make a great gift

It’s so hard to figure out what to get guys for Christmas. This beard care kit by Viking Revolution is on sale for under $17. It looks like a $40 to $50 item and comes in a gift box with a grooming book, scissors, beard oil, brush, comb and balm! It has over 900 ratings, 4.6 stars and a C from Fakespot. The products are said to “smell amazing” and have a nice scent which is “not overpowering.” People love what a great value it is and say “the items are top of the line. My beard is softer, smells good and feels good.”

A heated electric throw for a cozy night on the couch or a better night in bed

I need a heated blanket and this was the best one I found! I use a heating pad in bed because I’m always sore and like the room cold, but a heated blanket would be a better option. This 50 by 60 inch heated throw by Beautyrest has 3.2 stars, over 450 reviews and a B from Fakespot. (I was considering recommending the Sunbeam blanket, which is the number one bestseller, but people say it’s a fire risk. Another option is this heated throw from Wapaneus.) This has three settings and an automatic shutoff feature and comes in five different colors. Plus it’s on sale for $7 off. People say it’s soft, warms up quickly, and that their family members keep stealing it from them. Mom – I want this for Christmas. Love you! Ooh and if you just want a thick fleece blanket here’s one on sale. (As an aside my Twitter friend Jackie bought three Oprah blankets as gifts and said the patterns are pretty but they’re thin and are likely not warm.)

A full set of quality kitchen utensils for under $22!

This set of 23 nylon kitchen utensils includes a pizza cutter, grater, can opener, spatula, masher and all the measuring cups and spoons you need! I wish I knew this existed as I’ve been buying these items piecemeal and would love it if they matched like this. These would make a great gift for a young person just starting out or a friend who is moving. They have 4.3 stars, over 1,500 ratings and an A from Fakespot. People say they “absolutely love” this set, that it doesn’t scratch nonstick pans, and that “you get a lot of bang for the buck with with this set.”

The bestselling shampoo brush is only $5.99!

We featured this shampoo brush from Heeta in March and so many people ordered it. It has 4.6 stars, over 1,500 ratings and a C from Fakespot. It was very affordable at $7 and is now a dollar off. It’s said to not irritate sensitive skin, to help get your hair cleaner faster, to work well on all types of hair, and to feel so nice when you use it.

Other sales include lab-grown diamond jewelry (please stop me from buying presents for myself from that list), Samsung TVs, LG Monitors (have one and really like it), and home storage and organization. Thanks for reading and commenting on our affiliate post! If you make any purchases through these links we get a small percentage.

Just know that I feel dumber having read about this story in an attempt to understand why it was a story. In Sunday’s episode of Keeping up the Kardashians, Kourtney was trying to organize her daughter Penelope’s seventh birthday party. Kourtney had decided on a Candyland theme for the party. Only Kourtney thinks candy is disgusting and if you eat a piece of candy, you’ll age 20 years and of course kids should never have candy at a birthday party (a party with the theme of “Candyland”). This is what happened when Kourtney was discussing it with Kim and Khloe:

Who will win in the battle of the sweets? ? Find out on a brand new episode of #KUWTK tomorrow at 9|8c! pic.twitter.com/fosIE9Hw6z

— Kardashians on E! (@KUWTK) November 16, 2019

Kourtney truly told her sisters: “You guys fill yourselves up with the biggest, number one cause of ageing. Don’t you just feel it when you eat that, that it sucks the life and youthfulness out of your skin?” All of the plastic surgery and injectibles that the Kardashians get regularly and Kourt is worried about CANDY? At a child’s Candyland-themed birthday party??

And so yes, the Candyland themed party happened and Kourtney served salads to the kids, apparently? It’s not a bad thing to ingrain healthy eating practices with your kids. That’s not it at all. The issue is that A) it’s bonkers to serve no candy and just salads at a Candyland-themed party and B) parents shouldn’t force disordered eating onto their kids. And every birthday party should have a cake. The end.

Kourtney says she did have “organic” treats at the party:

Thanks for being so invested in this sugar plum. I didn’t say No sweets, we had organic cotton candy, and much more. There are healthier candy options. I appreciate your concern about my future as well, may God bless your sweet soul. #KUWTK https://t.co/9e1ytHd9X5

— Kourtney Kardashian (@kourtneykardash) November 18, 2019

My daughter happens to love salads and it was her birthday party, which we also had BBQ food, cakes, and ice cream truck and way too much candy. But you focus on one word that I said, ok? https://t.co/ZxcpggqlSB

— Kourtney Kardashian (@kourtneykardash) November 18, 2019

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

Two names you wouldn’t have predicted to be in a headline together, right? Brad Pitt and Alia Shawkat were seen together at the “LA on Fire” art exhibit on Saturday showcasing the work of over 50 artists telling the story of how Los Angeles has burned through the years. Photos of them at Wilding Cra…

It’s not enough that Prince Andrew revealed himself – WILLINGLY – to be a complete and utter buffoon in his catastrophic BBC interview. It’s not enough that he came across as a sh-tty liar whose story made no sense. It’s not enough that his contradictory story made it clear that he raped a trafficked teenage girl and likely participated in other abuses with girls trafficked to him by Jeffrey Epstein. It’s not enough that he came across as smug, entitled, disgusting and moronic. Now the floodgates are open and everyone is spilling the tea about how Andrew has always been the worst. Yesterday, a political-type came forward and said that he heard Andrew use the n-word in casual conversation. Now another political figure has come forward to say that yes, Andrew also told racist “jokes” about Arabs.

Prince Andrew made racist jokes about Arabs during a state banquet for the Saudi Royal family, a former Home Secretary has claimed. Jacqui Smith, an ex-cabinet member, said the Duke of York made the ‘unbelievable’ comments while mingling with British politicians at Buckingham Palace. Mrs Smith did not reveal when the interaction took place, but the only state visit by the Saudi royal family to occur during her time as Home Secretary was in 2007, with a banquet taking place at the palace on October 30. Revealing the interaction to presenter Iain Dale on the LBC Election podcast, Mrs Smith claimed the prince was ‘at the worst end’ of the royal family.

She said: ‘I met him several times, including once at a state banquet, where after dinner my husband and I and another Labour cabinet minister had a drink with him. I have to say the conversation left us slack-jawed with the things he felt it appropriate to say. I almost feel I can’t say it; it was the state banquet for the Saudi royal family and he made racist comments about Arabs that were unbelievable. That he thought we might find these amusing was a terrible situation to be in.’

Mrs Smith said she felt ashamed for not challenging the prince on the comments, adding: ‘It was a state banquet, we were in Buckingham Palace, we were cabinet ministers, I feel ashamed that we didn’t but we didn’t.’ She also claimed the prince was ‘not very bright’, having met him several times in her role as a senior Labour minister. She added: ‘I don’t think he really understands the way in which you behave and in some ways that’s not surprising, because you’re pretty insulated in the royal family. But he’s at the worst end of the royal family, I think.’

In a statement to MailOnline, a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said: ‘HRH has undertaken a considerable amount of work in the Middle East over a period of years and has many friends from the region. He does not tolerate racism in any form.’

[From The Daily Mail]

Reader, I laughed at that denial from the palace. It’s basically “But I have Arab friends!” And… I mean… they’ll formally deny accounts from actual political figures, but the palace won’t bother denying any of the f–king stories about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, huh? As for Prince I Don’t Sweat/My Fingers Are Fat/I Have Never Said Anything Racist, he clearly says racist sh-t all the time. As I said yesterday, that kind of racist sh-t it probably what he heard constantly from Prince Philip.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, BBC screencaps, WENN.

I still don’t really understand what the hell just happened between Taylor Swift and Big Machine. I do not trust Taylor Swift’s narrative, but I also found Big Machine’s carefully worded narrative very shady. What was it all about in the end? Taylor’s right to perform her Big Machine-era music on the American Music Awards? The rights to that music for her Netflix project? Or was this about something else? Maybe it was Taylor flexing at Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun – “see what I can do, I can just post something on social media and my fans will destroy you and shut down your business and doxx and harass your employees.” All in all, I didn’t think Taylor came out looking that good. But… I think her bullying tactic worked?

The show will go on for Taylor Swift on the “American Music Awards” this Sunday. Following a public dustup concerning permission to perform her older material, whose master rights are owned by Big Machine Label Group, the company (newly owned by Scooter Braun, who purchased it from Scott Borchetta) informed AMAs producers Dick Clark Productions this morning that they have cleared all BMLG artists for performances on the show. The BMLG roster also includes Thomas Rhett, who has been announced to appear on the show.

“The Big Machine Label Group and Dick Clark Productions announce that they 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,” the company said in a statement. “This includes the upcoming American Music Awards performances. It should be noted that recording artists do not need label approval for live performances on television or any other live media. Record label approval is only needed for contracted artists’ audio and visual recordings and in determining how those works are distributed.”

The detente follows last week’s Swift-Braun-Borchetta flare up involving the sort of music business minutiae that doesn’t commonly interest the general public — the particulars of re-recording old masters. As it relates to the AMAs, an argument could be made that a west coast broadcast of a live show is, technically, a taped version of a song.

[From Variety]

“…They 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…” Ah. So it wasn’t really about the big bad mean men bullying poor Tay-Tay, it was about corporate lawyers working out what would happen to the live performances, how the performances could be rebroadcast, and one would assume, go online as well. Is it possible that the original argument was more like Big Machine telling Taylor “not yet, we have some sh-t we have to work through with Dick Clark Productions” and Taylor was like “I AM ASSEMBLING THE SNAKE ARMY TO DESTROY YOU”?

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Andrea! It’s that time. It’s the tradition. Happy Birthday from Lori! Can’t tell you how comforting it is to me to see your name show up in this space year after year. So… here’s to this year and let’s connect again next year. Have the best day!

Dear Gossips,

As you know if you’ve been visiting this site over the last year or more, Duana and I love Daisy Jones & The Six so much we dedicated two whole episodes of Show Your Work to the book and its author, Taylor Jenkins Reid. If you haven’t already – why haven’t you read it?! Reese Withe…