| | | Britney Spears's Father Will Remain Co-Conservator After Judge Denies Her Removal Request | | by Monica Sisavat Jul 1, 2021 | 
Britney Spears's conservatorship battle continues. According to Variety, new court documents filed on Wednesday revealed LA Judge Brenda Penny denied the 39-year-old singer's request to remove her father, Jamie Spears, as her co-conservator. Britney's lawyer, Samuel Ingham III, filed the request on her behalf back in November 2020. At that time, Samuel expressed on Britney's behalf that she was "afraid of her father" and wouldn't perform again with his involvement. Despite hearing Britney's explosive court testimony last week, the judge decided Jamie would retain his charge over her career. Britney has been under the conservatorship of her father, Jamie, since 2008, with Jodi Montgomery, a licensed conservator, stepping in as a co-conservator in 2019. During her court hearing on June 23, Britney shared harrowing details of the abuse she has suffered under the conservatorship, including being forced to go on tour and take medication, as well as not being able to get married and have any more children. "It's not OK to force me to do anything I don't want to do . . . I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive. I don't feel like I can live a full life," Britney said. "It's my wish and my dream for this to end." Both Jodi and Jamie have since responded to Britney's shocking testimony through statements from their respective lawyers, essentially shifting the blame onto each other. In addition to requesting an investigation, Jamie is claiming that Jodi is responsible for Britney's "difficulties and suffering." "Ms. Spears told the Court on June 23 that she opposed being under a conservatorship and revealed her ongoing disputes with Ms. Montgomery about her medical treatment and other personal care issues," read the filing from Jamie's attorney, Vivian Lee Thoreen. "These statements contradict the notion that Ms. Spears would seek to have Ms. Montgomery appointed as her permanent Conservator of the Person." Meanwhile, Jodi is saying that she has been a "tireless advocate" for Britney and that Jamie has been the one in charge of approving all expenditures as the controller of her estate. "Practically speaking, since everything costs money, no expenditures can happen without going through Mr. Spears and Mr. Spears approving them," Jodi's statement read. "Ms. Montgomery has advocated on Britney's behalf for any expenditures that Britney has requested as well as for expenditures recommended by Britney's medical team." | | | | | See Maya Hawke in the Chilling First 5 Minutes of Fear Street: 1994, but Only If You Dare | | by Chanel Vargas Jul 1, 2021 | 
"It began as a prank and ended in murder," Maya Hawke reads from the cover of a paperback horror novel in the first five minutes of Netflix's Fear Street: 1994. The first in a chilling trilogy inspired by the R.L. Stine books of the same name, the film - which premieres on Friday, July 2 - takes us on a journey through the local mall in Shadyside, OH, where Hawke's character works as a cashier at the B. Dalton bookstore. Seconds after the mall shuts down and the lights dim all around, she receives a prank phone call from a friend who works at the nearby Spencer's, setting an ominous tone for what quickly transforms into a blood-curdling evening. Shaken after the call, Maya is on her guard as she stays behind to clean up the bookshop. Minutes later, she finds herself running from a masked serial killer, à la Drew Barrymore in Scream. Before we've even had a chance to worry about refilling our popcorn, the slasher film has us on the edge of our seats with heart-pounding chase scenes and jumpscares from all angles. See if you can spot the killer before Hawke does in the sneak preview above. | | | | | Jamie Spears and Jodi Montgomery Respond to Britney Spears's Conservatorship Testimony | | by Monica Sisavat Jul 1, 2021 | 
Britney Spears's conservators, Jamie Spears and Jodi Montgomery, are speaking out after the singer's explosive June 23 court testimony. On Wednesday, Britney's father submitted court documents expressing his "concern" over Jodi not respecting his daughter's wishes and claiming that she is responsible for Britney's "difficulties and suffering." He also made it clear that he has not served as Britney's conservator since September 2019. "Ms. Spears told the Court on June 23 that she opposed being under a conservatorship and revealed her ongoing disputes with Ms. Montgomery about her medical treatment and other personal care issues," read the filing from Jamie's attorney Vivian Lee Thoreen, according to People. "These statements contradict the notion that Ms. Spears would seek to have Ms. Montgomery appointed as her permanent Conservator of the Person." "It is her sincere personal wish that Britney continues to make meaningful progress in her well-being so that her conservatorship of the person can be terminated." Jamie's filing also pointed out that Jodi's nomination as conservator was never signed off on by Britney and that Jodi has been in charge of Britney's "day-to-day personal care and medical treatment," not Jamie. "Mr. Spears, therefore, was greatly saddened to hear of his daughter's difficulties and suffering, and he believes that there must be an investigation into those claims," the filing continued. Jamie then referenced Britney's previous engagement to ex Jason Trawick, saying, "He did everything in his power to support and care for Ms. Spears' well-being and personal decisions including marriage . . . He never prevented Ms. Spears from getting married." Jodi has since responded to Jamie's claims in a statement from her attorney Lauriann Wright, claiming that she has been a "tireless advocate" for Britney and that Jamie has been the one in charge of approving all expenditures as the controller of her estate. "Practically speaking, since everything costs money, no expenditures can happen without going through Mr. Spears and Mr. Spears approving them," Jodi's statement read. "Ms. Montgomery has advocated on Britney's behalf for any expenditures that Britney has requested as well as for expenditures recommended by Britney's medical team." "If Britney needs any assistance with either, Ms. Montgomery has and will be there to provide any assistance needed to Britney. Britney's choice to marry and to start a family have never been impacted by the conservatorship while Ms. Montgomery has been conservator of the person," Jodi's statement continued. "It is her sincere personal wish that Britney continues to make meaningful progress in her well-being so that her conservatorship of the person can be terminated. Ms. Montgomery looks forward to presenting a comprehensive Care Plan to the Court setting forth a path for termination of the conservatorship for Britney, and Ms. Montgomery looks forward to supporting Britney through that process." Jamie was appointed Britney's conservator in 2008 after her very public breakdown. In September 2019, he temporarily stepped down from the role, with the intention of returning. At the time, Jodi, who is a licensed conservator, stepped in to take over the role. Britney has made it clear that she wants to end her conservatorship, however, she still needs to file a formal motion to terminate it. | | | | | Yes, That's Taylour Paige Giving It Her All During the Zola Dance Scenes | | by Grayson Gilcrease Jul 1, 2021 | 
One of the first questions I had after seeing Zola was whether or not it was actually Taylour Paige in the pole-dancing scenes. Spoiler alert: that's not a body double, it's really her! Besides giving one of the best performances of her career as the titular character, Paige spent time stripping to prepare for her role in the film. "The movie kept getting pushed back and, being an artist, you have lulls. So I decided I'd strip through the months of August and September," Paige told POPSUGAR during the film's 2020 Sundance premiere. "I really needed the money, and I was like, 'F*ck it, what better time?' I wanted to go in with that mentality, because it was true." While working for four weeks at the Crazy Girls club on LA's Sunset Strip, she learned everything from how to grip to where to place her hands. "Sex work is highly, highly difficult and exhausting, but it can also be quite empowering," she said. "I took away a great sense of agency and confidence. It's a business, and loving oneself is really important, because you feel like a piece of meat. You run it or it runs you." As to why she went "undercover" at a strip club, she didn't want to phone in her performance. "Obviously, technical dancing is so much different than someone who works at a restaurant as a stripper," she shared with Insider. "I didn't want to phone it in and didn't want to look like an actor [or] didn't want to look like a dancer trying to strip . . . I just wanted to full-on learn and respect and honor this culture - these women." You can see Paige at work in Zola, which is currently in theaters. | | | | | | | | | | | I Will Be Stealing Venus Williams's Response About Being Single: "I Might Be Undateable" | | by Grayson Gilcrease Jul 1, 2021 | 
Venus Williams continues to prove she's a force to be reckoned with both on and off the court. After defeating Mihaela Buzărnescu in her First Round Wimbledon match on June 29, the tennis star had the best response when asked about her love life during a post-match interview. "I'm very single," the 41-year-old replied to ESPN's Chrissie Evert. "Actually, I might be undateable." It's no surprise that her answer had everyone laughing, particularly when Chrissie jokingly added, "You and me both."
This isn't the first time Venus has brought up feeling undateable, she previously mentioned it in an Instagram Live back in April. Previously, Venus has been romantically linked to Cuban model Elio Pel, who she dated in 2012, and financier Nicky Hammond, who she brought as her date to her sister's 2017 wedding. | | | | | | | James Franco Agrees to $2.2 Million Settlement to Resolve Sexual Misconduct Suit | | by Kelsie Gibson Jul 1, 2021 | 
Image Source: Getty / VALERIE MACON While gaining praise for his work in The Disaster Artist during the 2018 award season, James Franco's acting career wasn't the only thing that made headlines. Shortly after taking home a Golden Globe for his portrayal of director Tommy Wiseau, the actor faced multiple sexual misconduct allegations from several women who have worked with him previously. You can read the most important details ahead. - James wears a Time's Up pin at the Golden Globes. During the 2018 award show, the actor sported a Time's Up pin in support of the initiative to end sexual harassment and assault in the workplace.
- Ally Sheedy posts (and then deletes) tweets about James. Shortly after the show, The Breakfast Club actress expressed her disdain for the actor - whom she previously worked with in 2014 during an Off-Broadway production of The Long Shrift - in a series of tweets that have since been deleted. "Why is a man hosting?" she wrote about the show's emcee, Seth Meyers. "Why is James Franco allowed in? Said too much. Nite love ya #goldenglobes." She also seemed to suggest that people like James led her to her decision to stop acting, adding, "Ok wait. Bye. Christian Slater and James Franco at a table on @goldenglobes #MeToo. James Franco just won. Please never ever ask me why I left the film/tv business."
- Violet Paley accuses James of inappropriate behavior. Ally wasn't the only actress to call James out after his win. Violet Paley, who has had small roles in series like Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll and Dad Friends, alleged that James had been inappropriate on several occasions. "Cute #TIMESUP pin James Franco," she tweeted. "Remember the time you pushed my head down in a car towards your exposed penis & that other time you told my friend to come to your hotel when she was 17? After you had already been caught doing that to a different 17 year old?" She also alleged that James offered her and a few other girls "an overdue, annoyed, convenient phone apology" shortly before the Golden Globes.
- The New York Times cancels James's TimesTalk. On Jan. 9, 2018, The New York Times decided to cancel the actor's TimesTalk about The Disaster Artist, which was scheduled for Jan. 10. "The event was intended to be a discussion of the making of the film, The Disaster Artist," a Times representative told The Hollywood Reporter. "Given the controversy surrounding recent allegations, we're no longer comfortable proceeding in that vein."
- James denies allegations. During a January 2018 appearance on The Late Show, James broke his silence after host Stephen Colbert pressed him about the allegations. "The things I heard are not accurate," James said before adding that he still completely supports people for speaking out. "They didn't have a voice for so long," he said, alluding to the Time's Up movement and his decision to wear the pin in solidarity at the Golden Globes. "So, I don't want to shut them down in any way. It's a good thing and I support it." He also addressed Ally's tweets, adding that he has "no idea" what he did to her, but he has nothing but "total respect for her." He reiterated the same sentiment during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, who hosted the Golden Globes, on Jan. 10, 2018.
- Five women accuse James of sexually inappropriate or exploitative behavior. On Jan. 11, 2018, The LA Times published an article featuring interviews from five different women, four of whom were James's students and one of whom was being mentored by him, claiming the actor had been "inappropriate or sexually exploitative." One woman named Sarah Tither-Kaplan even spoke out on Twitter, writing, "Hey James Franco, nice #timesup pin at the #GoldenGlobes, remember a few weeks ago when you told me the full nudity you had me do in two of your movies for $100/day wasn't exploitative because I signed a contract to do it? Times up on that!"
- James's attorney denies additional allegations. The LA Times added in their piece that James's attorney has denied each of the women's allegations, referring back to the actor's appearance on The Late Show as his official statement.
- James skips the Critics' Choice Awards. On Jan. 11, 2018, the actor skipped the award show, where he won best actor for The Disaster Artist. "He's in a really bad place, so bad that he changed his phone number," a source told People. "His close friends are trying to be there for him but it's been hard - he's only talking to a select group of people. For now, he's just hiding out."
Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur - Alison Brie defends James. During the red carpet for the 2018 SAG Awards, the GLOW actress, who is married to Dave Franco, defended her brother-in-law after E! News reporter Giuliana Rancic pressed her about the sexual misconduct allegations. "I think that above all what we've always said is that it remains vital that anyone that feels victimized should and does have the right to speak out and come forward," Alison said before adding, "I obviously support my family, and not everything that's been reported has been accurate, so I think we're waiting to get all the information."
- James attends the SAG Awards. On Jan. 21, 2018, the actor made a low-key appearance at the SAG Awards, where he was nominated for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role for The Disaster Artist. Although he opted to skip the red carpet, he was spotted sitting with his girlfriend Isabel Pakzad (pictured above) during the ceremony.
- James is passed over for an Oscar nomination. In the wake of the sexual misconduct allegations, the actor received no Oscar nomination for best actor.
- Two of James's accusers speak out on Good Morning America. On Jan. 23, 2018, Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Violet Paley sat down with reporter Amy Robach to discuss their reason for coming forward about James's inappropriate behavior. While Sarah said that he is "absolutely not a Harvey Weinstein," she added that he did create "exploitative environments for non-celebrity women on his sets." "It is a pyramid and at the top is rape and sexual violence and at the bottom are the other abuses of power that when they continue to happen over and over build and build and build and create a culture that allows the most heinous examples of sexual violence and misogny and discrimination to happen and if we allow any of them, we're allowing all of them."
- James is digitally removed from Vanity Fair cover. On Jan. 25, Vanity Fair released their 2018 Hollywood Issue highlighting "12 Extraordinary Stars," including actors like Reese Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey, and Tom Hanks. According to The Hollywood Reporter, James was to be featured on the cover, but was digitally removed last minute amid his sexual misconduct allegations. "We made a decision not to include James Franco on the Hollywood cover once we learned of the misconduct allegations against him," a spokesperson for Vanity Fair told THR.
Image Source: Getty / David Crotty - Two former students of Franco's acting class file lawsuit. In 2019, Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal filed a lawsuit alleging that James "pushed his students into performing increasingly explicit sex scenes on camera" in ways that weren't acceptable on film sets. The lawsuit further stated that James "sought to create a pipeline of young women who were subjected to his personal and professional sexual exploitation in the name of education." In February 2021, a tentative settlement was reached after Sarah and Toni agreed to drop their individual claims.
- Charlyne Yi accuses Seth Rogen of enabling James's abuse. On April 8, 2021, Charlyne used Instagram to call out the longtime collaborators. In her statement, she alleged that Seth enabled James, who she accused of "preying on underage girls" and "abusing his power and platform to gaslight them." She added that she had tried to quit her role of Safowa Bright-Asare on The Disaster Artist but was bribed with a "bigger acting role." She also said that "Seth Rogen was one of the producers on this film so he definitely knows about the bribe and why I quit."
- Seth Rogen addresses Charlyne's comments. In an interview with The Sunday Times on May 9, Seth stated that he despises "abuse and harassment and I would never cover or conceal the actions of someone doing it, or knowingly put someone in a situation where they were around someone like that." He also reflected on 2018 comments made about working with James in the future and whether his perspective was important. "The truth is that I have not and I do not plan to [work with James] right now," the comedian said. When asked what his relationship was with James at the time, he couldn't quite define it but that "I can say it, um, you know, it has changed many things in our relationship and our dynamic." On May 13, Charlyne posted a checklist on her Instagram of actions she would like Seth to commit to, including apologizing to "survivors for making their lives even more vulnerable by publicly siding with an abuser," committing to "educating self about coercion, SA, and how to be a proactive ally," and protecting and hiring survivors.
- James agrees to settlement. The actor agreed to pay $2,235,000 to resolve the lawsuit brought forth by Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal. Sarah is set to receive $670,500 minus lawyer fees of $223,500 and Toni will get $223,500 minus lawyer fees of $74,500. The other students involved in the lawsuit will receive, according to The Hollywood Reporter, "almost two-thirds of the remaining $1.341 million." James also agreed to non-economic terms for individual plaintiffs. As part of the settlement, both parties agreed to the following statement: "While Defendants continue to deny the allegations in the Complaint, they acknowledge that Plaintiffs have raised important issues; and all parties strongly believe that now is a critical time to focus on addressing the mistreatment of women in Hollywood. All agree on the need to make sure that no one in the entertainment industry - regardless of race, religion, disability, ethnicity, background, gender or sexual orientation - faces discrimination, harassment or prejudice of any kind."
| | | | | 54 Must-Read July Book Releases That'll Make Your TBR Pile a Lot Larger | | by Sabienna Bowman Jul 1, 2021 | 
The scorching-hot book releases just keep on coming this summer! July's list of must-read books is a perfect collection of bestselling authors, romances that will turn the heat up, thought-provoking literary fiction, and thrillers that will keep you turning the pages way past your bedtime. With fresh titles from the likes of Jasmine Guillory, Megan Miranda, and Grady Hendrix hitting bookshelves (and e-readers!) this month, there's absolutely zero chance of you running out of amazing books to read. However, if you're looking for even more inspiration, don't forget to check out June's stacked list of hot reads, too. | | | | | We Can't Stop Smiling at These Sweet Photos of Tara Davis and Hunter Woodhall | | by Emily Weaver Jul 1, 2021 | 
It's official: Texas long jumper Tara Davis and two-time Paralympic medalist Hunter Woodhall are the cutest track and field couple on the planet. To make things even sweeter, they're both headed to Tokyo to compete in their respective events this summer! During an interview with FloTrack, Davis explained it meant "everything" that Woodhall was able to be with her during Trials, especially since the Paralympic Trials had already taken place the week prior. "He's been dealing with all of my anxiety and nervousness that people don't see, so it's good for him to be here," Davis said after qualifying for Tokyo. "For him to come and celebrate me is just unreal." Clearly, 2021 is shaping up to be a big year for the couple. In January, Davis announced on their joint YouTube channel that after four years of long distance, she's moving to Fayetteville, AK, to be with Woodhall. To see more of their adorable relationship, check out any of their social media channels and this cute gallery we put together ahead. | | | | | PSA Chronomonitors and Variants: Shop the Coolest Loki Merch in All the Timelines | | by Anvita Reddy Jul 1, 2021 | 
Loki is undeniably one of the most chaotic yet beloved characters of the MCU. You can't deny his charm, candor, wit, and of course, his inevitable redemption arc as one of the MCU's greatest antiheroes. It's high time Loki got his well-deserved spotlight. Whether it's falling for over 30 minutes or battling the TVA through timelines, the god of mischief, and the variants, forever changed the MCU. In between reading fan theories and predictions and rewatching the show to find easter eggs, I rounded up the coolest Loki merch across all the timelines. Treat yourself to Loki-inspired jewelry or cozy sweatshirts that you'll wear every day. Spruce up your environment with mugs, candles, phone cases, and more donned with our favorite god of mischief and even Miss Minutes. Celebrate and embrace your love of all things Loki, regardless of which one is your favorite variant. | | | | | The Real-Life Zola Stepped Out For the Film's LA Premiere - After All, the Movie Is About Her | | by Monica Sisavat Jul 1, 2021 | 
The cast of Zola stepped out in full force for the LA screening of the highly anticipated film on Tuesday. Director Janicza Bravo, Riley Keough, Colman Domingo, Dave Franco, and Nelcie Souffrant all hit the red carpet together, and they were even joined by the real-life Zola herself, A'Ziah King. Also in attendance were Jodie Turner-Smith, Isis King, Arlo Parks, and several other stars. Noticeably absent, though, was Taylour Paige, as she's currently in Bulgaria. However, she did take a moment to celebrate the film's release on Twitter. "I love you everyone! 11:37AM in Bulgaria with happy tender tears that our movie Zola is officially live!!!" she tweeted. "Whoever is to receive it, enjoy it, absorb it, love it might it find you. So appreciative of it all. Life is crazy." Zola is based on a now-infamous 2015 Twitter thread and follows the story of Aziah, a former waitress at Hooters, and a sex worker named Jessica, who embarked on a wild road trip to Florida that involved stripping, prostitution, drugs, and murder. The movie first premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and officially hit theaters on June 30. | | | | | Bill Cosby's Sexual Assault Conviction Is Overturned 3 Years After His Sentencing | | by Kelsey Garcia Jul 1, 2021 | 
Bill Cosby has been released from prison after the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court overturned his sexual assault conviction on June 30. This comes three years after the disgraced comedian was found guilty of aggravated indecent assault against Andrea Constand, and sentenced to three to 10 years at a state prison just outside Philadelphia. The court came to its decision after Bill's defense challenged the conviction on two fronts. First, they opposed the trial judge's decision to allow five other accusers to testify their respective accounts when the jury was deadlocked. The defense also alleged the prosecution had previously promised Bill they would not charge him after doubting the "likelihood of a successful prosecution." This agreement made it so that Bill incriminated himself in a subsequent civil lawsuit. That testimony would go on to be presented during the criminal trial. "It would be antithetical to, and corrosive of, the integrity and functionality of the criminal justice system that we strive to maintain," the opinion stated. "For these reasons, Cosby's convictions and judgment of sentence are vacated, and he is discharged." Despite the wave of assault accusations publicly lobbed at Bill in 2015, the statute of limitations ran out for many alleged victims. In fact, prosecutors had mere days to arrest Bill in the Andrea case before the 12-year statute expired. Andrea accused Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2004 when she was a basketball coach at Temple University, where Bill had been an involved alumnus. Bill's conviction coincided with the rise of the #MeToo movement, which saw many high-profile public figures exposed for harassment and abuse. It's currently not known if the prosecution will appeal the decision or try Bill again. "This is really a sad statement about a woman's value, a woman's worth - what is happening right now, and we need to do something about this," Victoria Valentino, one of Bill's accusers, told CNN of the overturned conviction. "I just don't know what. I'm so stunned. My stomach is in knots." Bill has since broken his silence with a statement on Twitter. "I have never changed my stance nor my story. I have always maintained my innocence," he tweeted. "Thank you to all my fans, supporters and friends who stood by me through this ordeal. Special thanks to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for upholding the rule of law." | | | | | Allison Mack Has Been Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison For Her Involvement in NXIVM | | by Hedy Phillips Jul 1, 2021 | 
When NXIVM was exposed as a cult dealing in sex trafficking in 2017 by The New York Times, its top members and their shady dealings were also exposed - including Smallville actress Allison Mack. In HBO's documentary, The Vow, viewers saw how leader Keith Raniere convinced people to join and Mack's influence in drawing women in. What was perceived years ago as an organization for empowerment and finding control in your life quickly devolved into something much, much darker. Mack was originally recruited to NXIVM by her Smallville costar, Kristin Kreuk, in 2006, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Kreuk brought Mack to an NXIVM meeting in Vancouver, and the leaders of the group - who knew she was coming - swooped in to hook her. And while Kreuk - as well as other actors who joined NXIVM - didn't stay with the group for long, Mack found herself moving up the ranks to become Raniere's go-to for recruiting new members. According to several accounts from other actors who joined, they came for help with their careers or finding control over their hectic lives, believing that Raniere's methods would help them, but quickly realized that something was off about the organization. Not Mack, though. NXIVM was blown wide open in 2017 by The New York Times, which reported that women had complained about being branded and forced to share intimate details and pictures of themselves as collateral to join, only for the women to be told by several authorities that nothing could be done to stop Raniere. The uproar worked, though, and in 2018, Raniere and Mack were both arrested. They were indicted on three felony counts of sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit forced labor, according to The Hollywood Reporter. What's worse is that Mack was believed to be running the "secretive sex cult" within the NXIVM structure called DOS, or Dominus Obsequious Sororium, or Master Over Slave Women, The Hollywood Reporter wrote at the time. This subcult was also known as The Vow. After her arrest, Mack was released on $5 million bond and pleaded not guilty in her first court appearance. In 2019, however, Mack pleaded guilty to racketeering. According to E!, she said, "I am and will be a better person as a result of this." On June 30, 2021, Mack was sentenced to three years in federal prison for her involvement with NXIVM. Mack faced a maximum of 17 years in prison, but her sentence was reduced as prosecutors noted that she "provided substantial assistance to the government" in its prosecution of her codefendants. | | | | | |
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