Rihanna’s album ANTI, the best album of her career, was released three years ago. Over the last few weeks, people on social media have been celebrating the milestone, as a response to the impatience over R9, her next album, which she teased would be out at some point this year. We are on Rihanna tim…

I watched this Rachel Maddow segment last night and I almost covered it today – Maddow believes that Don Trump Jr. will be indicted very, very soon. [Towleroad]
Naomi Campbell & Liam Payne might be happening. So random. [Dlisted]
Give yourself a break if you can’t drop the last five pounds. [LaineyGossip]
I said this on the Gossip with Celebitchy podcast too – Richard E. Grant is living his best life during this Oscar season. [Pajiba]
There was better fashion at the SAG after-party. [Go Fug Yourself]
Louisiana women live in an abortion desert. [Jezebel]
Recap of Lindsay Lohan Beach Club. [Reality Tea]
I am here for a Broadway musical for Pearl Jam’s Ten. [The Blemish]
Oddsmakers believe Travis Scott will propose to Kylie Jenner at the Super Bowl. [Starcasm]

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Prince Harry is the Commonwealth Youth Ambassador and joined a roundtable discussion with young people from around the Commonwealth to continue discussion on strategies and targets for the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2020, encouraging the youth to stay focused on their commitmen…

I read a lot of British gossip and British media sites, so I know that Rita Ora is a legit celebrity across the pond. In the UK, she’s a well-known pop star with a lot of hits, and she’s known for being fashionable and for dating some prominent people (she’s currently dating Andrew Garfield). But Rita Ora is barely a thing here in America. She’s tried to become a thing over here and we mostly don’t care. She had a blink-and-you’ll-miss-her part in the Fifty Shades franchise. She’s had roles in reality shows. She’s worked with some pop stars we do care about. And that’s about it.

The one thing we absolutely know about Rita Ora is that she wears a lot of high-end fashion and she loves to go on pap strolls. There are always tons of street-style and red-carpet photos of her, almost like that’s her real job: wearing clothes and being seen. And now we also know that this Fashion Girl is trying to convince people that fashion designers to “dress” her because of her “body type.” Ah, yes, there’s nothing I enjoy more than a woman who fits into 90% of all designer sample sizes telling me that she also struggles to find clothes that fit.

Rita Ora has become a high-fashion fixture — and now she has her very own shoe collection with famed footwear designer Giuseppe Zanotti to prove it! But in a new interview, she admits that it wasn’t always easy getting certain designers to dress her body type, revealing she’s encountered “complications” with the red carpet dressing process.

“There were complications, yes, because you have to adapt to your body,” Ora tells PEOPLE at the launch of her Giuseppe Zanotti collection on Thursday. “I feel like I’ve never looked at it as a personal attack towards me because this is who I am and this is always who I am going to be and I’ve never changed for anybody. I think consistency is key. I don’t take clothes not fitting me personally, I just find something that fits and I wear the s—t out of it. I feel like that’s what it takes to be a trailblazer and trendsetter.”

She says one thing that made it easier for her to rock her own red carpet vibe is the rapid pace of the changing fashion landscape. “You don’t really know where fashion is going next, so I think with that door being left open, it gives us, myself and a good friend of mine, Ashley Graham, and even artists like Bebe Rexha, and all my friends hope to feel like there’s no rules,” Ora says. “I think that’s what makes this [time] so exciting.”

[From People]

Who is even buying this? Rita is what? Maybe a size 4, at most? She literally gets paid to wear certain clothes on her pap strolls. Designers give her tons of free stuff – sample sized free sh-t – because they know she’ll get pap’d in it constantly and it’s free advertising. That’s Rita’s whole business model. So why is she trying to pretend like she also struggles to find clothes in HER size? It’s patronizing. And it feels like she’s just trying to jump on any bandwagon.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

Maleficent came out in 2014. That’s so long ago! Now that we live in a nightmare where every year feels like a decade, five years ago is a lifetime. Maleficent 2 comes out in 2020, making six whole ass years between movies. There are children who will go see Maleficent 2 who were not alive when Male…

Melissa McCarthy covers the February issue of InStyle as part of her Oscar campaign for Can You Ever Forgive Me?, the true story of Lee Israel and her forgery scheme. I’m not sure many people had Melissa on their shortlists for awards this year, but she’s quietly picking up some significant nominations (SAG, Golden Globe, BAFTA) and some critics awards. I wasn’t even aware that she was really campaigning that much, but this InStyle piece is long, comprehensive and very, very good. This is the kind of interview I would have expected from the trade papers or Vanity Fair. You can read the full piece here (it’s a long-read) and here are some highlights:

There’s too much darkness in film & TV these days: “I think we keep getting so dark. I had a friend ask me to make her a list of 15 shows that everybody’s talking about that are really good and weren’t going to give her nightmares. I could not for the life of me come up with it. I was like, “Oh my god, I’m not coming up with five.” Yeah, it is a choice. And it’s also what you keep feeding yourself all day. I’m obsessed with people and their behavior. I used to go and watch people. Like, weirdly. I just love people’s weirdness. And I do so many terrible things all the time, by the way, so I don’t think I’m above it at all.”

She’ll never be too cool: “If you’re too cool to do the job, it pisses me off. Even if it’s a dumb joke, your job as an actor is to make it better. So [if you don’t], you suck more than the person who wrote it. I spent 20 years trying to get a job, so when someone doesn’t really put in the effort, it just makes me mad. “How easy did it come for you that you don’t feel like you’re grateful, or that you don’t have to try?” Nothing is more unflattering than someone who doesn’t try. Lack of effort is such a douchey, poseur thing to do. I’d rather watch someone try hard and fail.

On being called ‘grotesque’: “Years ago I was at a press conference for either The Heat or Tammy, and somebody from a very big organization kept asking me, “Why do you always feel the need to be so grotesque?” It was a huge interview with maybe 100 people in the room, and he was sneering. I said, “What are we talking about? I can’t answer your question because I don’t understand it.” He goes, “You look sloppy, you’re not wearing any makeup, your hair is not done, you’re yelling at people.” I was like, “OK, so have you ever asked this of a guy? I’m playing a character. You need to get out more if you don’t think there are real women like that.” He goes, “Oh, fine, I’m aggressive, call it whatever you want. If you don’t want to answer the questions, you shouldn’t come to the panel.” I was like, “I really want to answer your questions. I’m sorry I didn’t wear makeup in a part. I’m sorry I didn’t look pleasant for you. But I also don’t think you should be here writing about movies.” I thought if I tell him to eff off, he will win on every possible level.

Another incident: “I do remember another interview I did for Bridesmaids with somebody who later lost his job for a conversation he had on a bus with someone else. I won’t mention names, but just think about it. He kept asking, “Are you shocked that you actually work in this business at your tremendous size?” He was like, “Oh, your tremendous size, you can actually work?” I just remember all the blood drained out of me. I thought, “With my tremendous size, I could tackle you so quickly.” There were two cameras on him, and one was on me, and he went back to that question three or four times, and I just kept talking about the script or how fun Paul Feig was. He was looking around like, “She’s crazy.” When we left, their producer was horrified and said, “We’ll never play what he said. I’m so sorry.” But it happens all the time, to the point where it’s fascinating because they don’t do it to men. Not to be a jerk or single him out, but when John Goodman was heavier, did anybody ever talk about his girth?

Tone-policing women: “Having two daughters [Vivian, 11, and Georgette, 8], I think there is a weird layer in the world [for women] where it’s not just about looks but it’s also, “Are you pleasant? Do you not make trouble?” I don’t want to be around someone who’s a pain in the ass and confrontational, but I also don’t think that you always have to be Stepford Wife-y and can’t have opinions.

The importance of money: “I love it. I don’t worry about it. I spent a lot of years calling my sister, Margie, and my mom and dad [asking to borrow money]. I had multiple jobs, but sh-t happens. It was hard to keep it together when you’re not making a living wage, to state the incredibly obvious. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that stuff now. I’m not in a dream state, but I like not having to worry about my phone bill or insurance. I’m glad we make a steady living. I used to keep all the money, all the accounts, all the things to pay. Now I’m just like, “La, la, la.” I just want to take care of my kids.

[From InStyle]

The thing about money is SO important – Melissa didn’t have her big break until she was well into her 30s. She knows what it’s like to have crappy jobs that don’t pay anything, to borrow money from her family, to live paycheck to paycheck. She’s not going to pretend that she’s above talking about money, or that money doesn’t really matter. Money matters. A lot. As for her stories about the insults men lodge at her… Jesus Christ, people are just cruel and disgusting.

Covers courtesy of InStyle.

Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell are not my favorite couple but I appreciate that they create content for us. I think they are extremely skilled at getting headlines and knowing how to get press (we talked about this on our second podcast!), but also that they also strive to be open, honest and genuine. It’s not just one thing. Sometimes they makes me roll my eyes and other times I respect what they bring to the table. This is a time I’m respecting them. Dax was a guest on Off Camera with Sam Jones, the same show where Kristen revealed, three years ago, that she has anxiety and depression and takes medication for it. Dax was so open and thoughtful about their relationship. Here’s what he said and the video is below:

He wondered if he wanted to be with Kristen
I have this very weird mix of not thinking I’m good looking, general low self esteem, chip on my shoulder that I’m dumb because I’m dyslexic, yet unbridled arrogance in relationships. I’ve always felt very confident in relationships. I never was like ‘I hope I can keep Kristen.’ I was going ‘Do I want to live with a Christian who has 8 people living in her house for free, who has to get out of her car when there’s a dog without a leash and ruin her whole day to rescue this dog? It’s great and she’s good, but that’s not what I want to do.’

Kristen impressed him with her generosity; she didn’t try to change him
So I wasn’t fearful I would lose her. I wasn’t certain I wanted to be with someone like that. What happened is that she never said to me ‘you could be a little better of a person.’ She never suggested I should do that. Instead I looked at the results of how she lived. They’re pretty undeniable. Here’s me that thinks she lets people take advantage of her… I could also acknowledge she’s bringing in a lot more money than [me], she’s getting ahead, she’s doing a lot better than [I was].

The reality of how her life unfolds, there’s something charmed about it. It stars with her being endlessly generous and loving and giving people the benefit of the doubt. Downriver it proves to be all those things to her. Me on the other hand I’m like [no one’s going to take my wallet]. Over time [I] couldn’t deny the outcome was so much better for her. More people care for her. It’s just a better life. I wanted what she had and I tried to replicate that.

They both changed kind of organically to be with each other
Conversely, I made a real conscious decision that I wasn’t going to try to make her into the person I want to date. I know what happens when [I do that] I don’t end up liking that person. So I didn’t do that and lo and behold she has come the same distance toward me that I’ve come towards her. Without me she [never would have gone] on your show admitting she has depression.

[From Off Camera YouTube video]

It’s funny that Kristen is such a charitable person, and I truly believe that about her, because her Good Place character is a selfish a-hole. It’s also not surprising to me that Dax didn’t worry about keeping her and was more concerned whether she fit with his life. Aren’t a lot of guys like that? Also, I’m reporting this because his thoughts about relationships are just so damn mature and true. The best relationships are the ones in which you can totally be yourself and where your partner respects you for that. You want to change a little for them because you recognize their good qualities and want to be like them, not because they demand it.

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Power Couple. Let’s hope they’re serving Red Lobster. #goldenglobes

A post shared by kristen bell (@kristenanniebell) on Jan 6, 2019 at 4:27pm PST

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Look how cute your dad is when he watches the show… #goldenglobes2019

A post shared by kristen bell (@kristenanniebell) on Jan 6, 2019 at 7:58pm PST

photos credit: WENN and Avalon.red

The Super Bowl is this Sunday. I plan on going out to eat, then trying to time it so I can watch the likely trainwreck Halftime set. Super Bowl kickoff is 6:30 pm EST. Meaning… I’ll probably go to bed after the Halftime show?? Yeah. Anyway, as we’ve covered, Maroon 5 is the Halftime act. In Atlanta, one of the blackest cities in America. The NFL hired the whitest band they could find, basically. Maroon 5 and the NFL realized that people were pretty disappointed in this choice, so they’ve got Travis Scott and Big Boi doing “cameos” in the Halftime set. But of course that doesn’t solve the bigger problems. So… it’s a little bit funny that Adam Levine and the rest of Maroon 5 are forgoing the traditional press conference ahead of the Super Bowl. LOL.

Maroon 5 has canceled its news conference to discuss the band’s Super Bowl halftime performance, choosing to not meet with reporters as most acts have done. The NFL announced Tuesday that “the artists will let their show do the talking as they prepare to take the stage this Sunday.”

Maroon 5, with frontman Adam Levine, will be joined by Outkast member Big Boi and Houston rapper Travis Scott at halftime of the game between the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots. The NFL says instead of a news conference with the performers, it will use media platforms to show behind-the-scenes footage and content.

While Maroon 5 did not give a reason for its decision, it comes as some entertainers have said social injustice needs to be addressed during the Super Bowl. That has led to some criticism of performers who are holding events in Atlanta. Jermaine Dupri said he was called a “sellout” for hosting a Super Bowl-related event during a meeting with people who had lost family members as result of police brutality. After the meeting, Dupri and the victims’ family members came to a compromise and the music mogul plans to give mothers a platform to speak onstage during his Super Bowl Live event in Atlanta.

[From Page Six]

I have multiple, contradictory opinions on this. For one, do I really need to see Adam Levine stand there and try to answer questions about criminal justice reform? No, I don’t. That sounds painful. And yet… it would be a good exercise for Levine and Maroon 5, to see them attempt to use their white privilege, to see if they’re capable of being allies. I could even argue that if was just about Levine and his personal politics, he might be capable of performing a certain kind of wokeness. But that’s the thing – the NFL doesn’t want that. That’s why they hired Maroon 5 – because they don’t want their musical act to be political. So instead of getting Levine to stand out there and spout the NFL’s talking points, he’s just going to stay quiet. So maybe that is the best choice? I don’t know. The Halftime show is either going to be messy AF or it’s going to be boring AF.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, WENN.

Celine Dion was interviewed by Dan Wootton for the Sun this week, likely in support of her concert in Hyde Park this summer, and she addressed all those rumours about her and Pepe Munoz. Can we all take a deep breath and roll our eyes together because… well…

Let’s just get to her response first,…

Kevin Hart tried to do something nice, but of course it blew up in his face. Justifiably, I believe. For months (truly, months) we had to talk about Kevin Hart and whether his old homophobic tweets and comedy routines meant that he was an inappropriate choice to host the Oscars. It wasn’t completely about the fact that Hart’s “comedy” was laced with homophobia for years, it was that he threw a fit when people called him out on it. He could have simply issued a substantive apology (that was all the Academy wanted from him) and people probably would have moved on. Maybe. Anyway, Kevin Hart tried to say something about Jussie Smollett being violently assaulted by MAGA bros. Hart wrote this on his Instagram:

Sending prayers your way @jussiesmollett ….This is unbelievably sad. Why are we going backwards….this is disgusting. We as people have to do better. WTF is going on the world???? Why are we falling in love with hate???? God damn it people….Choose love…I repeat…Choose love. I will forever choose love and I will continue to teach my kids how to do the same. Stand strong brother

[From Hart’s IG]

It’s a nice message, but it didn’t exist in a vacuum. People were like “hey remember all of the homophobic sh-t you used to say and tweet? What happened to Jussie is part of that.”

But keep joking about beating up your kid for being gay, Kevin Hart!

— sam greisman (@SAMGREIS) January 29, 2019

This is why someone’s jokes about beating their gay son were never funny

— Ira (@ira) January 29, 2019

And as added bonus, Ellen DeGeneres got dragged into the criticism too. Remember how she caped for Kevin, like she was in charge of what all LGBTQ folks should feel?

And less than four weeks ago, you sat across from Kevin Hart and said “Don’t let those people win.” But “those people” whom you described as “haters” were queer black people hoping that you’d take the relationship between language and violence more seriously. https://t.co/k7uW8xG9gf

— Saeed Jones (@theferocity) January 30, 2019

Given what we’ve seen so far, I fully expect the men who attacked Jussie Smollett to score a sit-down interview with Ellen at some point in the next few weeks. Maybe it will be a roundtable discussion with Kevin Hart.

— Saeed Jones (@theferocity) January 29, 2019

Photos courtesy of WENN.