Ashley Judd is recovering after nearly losing her leg in ‘harrowing’ fall
Ashley Judd is recovering in a hospital in South Africa this week after she shattered her leg — and nearly lost it — in a fall in a Congo rainforest. Speaking to the New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof from an ICU bed on Instagram Live on Friday, Feb. 12, the actress explained that she was in the Congo, working to track and study Bonobos, an endangered species of apes when a headlamp malfunctioned and she tripped over a tree. Ashley, 52, went on to describe the “incredibly harrowing 55 hours” she spent with her leg shattered while being moved out of the rainforest and transferred to a medical facility. Ashley said he pain was so severe she lost consciousness from shock repeatedly and was biting a stick while “howling” to try and stop thinking about the pain. She also pointed out how lucky she was to have been able to get help at all, something most Congolese people would never have access to. “The difference between a Congolese person and me is disaster insurance that allowed me 55 hours after my accident to get to an operating table in South Africa,” she said. Ashley’s leg was reportedly shattered in four places. She also suffered nerve damage in the accident.
Keep reading to see what Britney Spears’ sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, is saying about her conservatorship plight …
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Jamie Lynn Spears denies rumors she attended a #FreeBritney rally, urges media to ‘do better’
There’s no truth to rumors suggesting Britney Spears’ sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, joined a virtual #FreeBritney rally this week with Britney’s former business manager, Lou Taylor. A rep for Jamie Lynn tells TMZ that photos of Jamie and Lou and the inclusion of their names on the Zoom call where the rally took place were simply a catfish move on the part of other users. Jamie did share a post on her Instagram Story this week that seemed to be about her sister, though. On Friday — after the judge handling Britney’s ongoing conservatorship case ruled to keep her father, Jamie Spears, on as co-conservator along with the financial group Bessemer Trust, rather than remove him, per Britney’s request — Jamie shared a quote and a message to the media. “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always,” the quote read. “Dear media, try not to repeat the mistakes of your past. Look where that got us. Do better.” The latest conservatorship decision attracted wide scrutiny because of the newly launched New York Times doc, “Framing Britney Spears,” which points to press coverage of Britney, as well as people she trusted, as being responsible for the 2007 breakdown that sparked the conservatorship she’s still in today.
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Jimmy Kimmel compares Trump’s impeachment to ‘The Empire Srikes Back’
As late-night hosts across the networks took on former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment this week, there was one point they seemed to agree on — as of Thursday, Feb. 11, Republican senators seemed ready to acquit. “It’s kind of like ‘The Empire Strikes Back,'” Jimmy Kimmel said, according to the New York Times. “We already know how it ends, but we’re watching it anyway.” Trevor Noah, meanwhile, noticed a lack of interest in the proceedings from the jury. “These senators are a jury for a trial of the president, but instead, they’re acting like bored middle schoolers,” he quipped. “What do Democrats have to do to make this interesting for them, bring in one of those math teachers who raps everything? ‘My name is Doug and I’m here to say, democracy was threatened in a major way.'” Jimmy Fallon didn’t sound convinced a rapping math teacher would even grab their attention, though. “[The Democrats’] presentation was so emotional and compelling,” he said, “that Republicans almost looked up from their phones.” Back on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” the host added: “Here’s the thing: if Americans cared as much about America as we do about Britney Spears, this would be a really great place to live.”
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Cardi B had to ‘beg’ for approval to kiss backup dancers in new video
Ever try staging a cheerleading pyramid in 10 seconds? Not easy, but doable. Touching someone’s tongue on camera during the coronavirus pandemic? Much harder to pull off. That’s according to Cardi B, who opened up to Jimmy Fallon this week on the “Tonight Show” about how COVID-19 impacted the making of her new video for “Up.” “There’s certain things that you can’t do,” she explained, according to ET. “I did this pyramid with some girls. And the pyramid, we had to do it in less than 10 seconds because it was more than six people,” she continued, noting that a room can only have so many people for production safety reasons. “And due to COVID, people can’t be touching,” she said. “Even though you get tested before the music video three times — you get tested the beginning of the week, the day before, and the day of.” Tests, however, didn’t automatically grant Cardi permission to kiss her backup dancers in the video. “We had to, like, beg,” she said. “It’s just the craziest protocols. … if you work in production, you understand it’s the craziest thing ever.”
Gina Carano announces new movie with The Daily Wire after being dropped from ‘The Mandelorian’
Just one day after Gina Carano was dropped from Disney+’s “The Mandalorian” amid controversy over her recent social media posts, the actress announced she’s signed on to make a movie for The Daily Wire, Ben Shapiro’s conservative news and op-ed site. “The Daily Wire is helping make one of my dreams — to develop and produce my own film — come true,” Gina told Deadline. “I cried out and my prayer was answered. I am sending out a direct message of hope to everyone living in fear of cancellation by the totalitarian mob.” The statement continued, “I have only just begun using my voice which is now freer than ever before and I hope it inspires others to do the same,” she added. “They can’t cancel us if we don’t let them.” Gina’s inflammatoryposts included a TikTok video from another user that likened the plight of conservatives in the U.S. to that of Jewish people in Nazi Germany. (“Did she just compare the holocaust to being a Republican,” one user tweeted, sharing a screenshot of the since-deleted TikTok.) It wasn’t long before #FireGinaCarano began trending on social media. Late on Wednesday, Feb. 10, LucasFilm confirmed in a statement that Gina, who appeared in the first seasons of “The Mandelorian, “is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future.” The spokesperson added: “Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.” Her talent agency, UTA, has reportedly dropped her as well.
Dave Chappelle thanks fans for their help as ‘Chappelle’s Show’ returns to Netflix
“Chappelle’s Show” returned to Netflix on Friday, Feb. 12, and Dave Chappelle, who wrote, starred in and executive produced the show, credits fans with its return to the streaming platform. Last fall, the comic Netflix yanked the series after Dave told fans on social media that Comedy Central and ViacomCBS had licensed his work to Netflix without making an allowance for him to be paid. He urged fans not to watch the show anywhere in an effort to bring attention to the bad contract he signed years ago, at a time when streaming services weren’t a real consideration. He also praised Netflix for doing the right thing by looking out for him, even though they weren’t legally bound to. On Thursday night, a video appeared on Dave’s Instagram called “Redemption Song.” It was a 10-minute comedy set that revolved around his gratitude towards fans for helping him get a more fair deal. “I never asked Comedy Central for anything. If you remember, I said ‘I’m going to my real boss and I came to you’ because I know where my power lies,” he said, according to CNN. “I asked you to stop watching the show and thank God almighty for you, you did. You made that show worthless because without your eyes, it’s nothing. And when you stopped watching it they called me. And I got my name back. And I got my license back, and I got my show back, and they paid me millions of dollars. Thank you very much.”
Eliza Dushku reacts to allegations about Joss Whedon’s behavior on the set up ‘Buffy’
More “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” alums — including Eliza Dushku and Anthony Head — are weighing in on allegations the show’s writer and director, Joss Whedon, mistreated cast and crew and was generally abusive on-set. On Wednesday, Feb. 10, on Twitter, Charisma Carpenter detailed the allegedly “toxic and hostile work environments” Joss created on “Buffy” and “Angel,” saying he insulted her physical appearance regularly and worse. When she became pregnant, she said he dodged calls from her agent about the baby news, then found out and asked her if she was “going to keep it,” before tearing her down, mocking her “religious beliefs” and accusing her “of sabotaging the show.” He fired her the next season, she said, “once I gave birth.” Sarah Michelle Gellar soon chimed in to say she supports “all survivors of abuse” and doesn’t want her name “forever associated with Joss Whedon.” Amber Benson spoke out, too, confirming that the work environment on “Buffy” was “toxic.” And on Thursday, Michelle Trachtenberg, who was hired onto “Buffy” at 14, posted in support of Charisma while hinting that Joss had abused her, too. She later elaborated, posting that there was a “rule” on-set that Joss could not be left alone with her. Later on Thursday, Eliza joined the conversation, telling Charisma on Instagram, “I’m so sorry you have held this for so long. Your post was powerful, painful, and painted a picture we’ll collectively never un-see or un-know.” The lengthy post went on to say, “that profound healing can only come from naming and disclosing what actually happened, the necessary first step (once someone’s ready) to freeing ourselves from our secrets, untold truths which have kept us isolated, ashamed and held hostage.” Anthony Head has also now addressed the claims, sharing that he’s “gutted” not to have realized others were being treated that way. The new wave of accusations has roots in “Justice League” actor Ray Fisher’s July 2020 tweet demanding accountability for what he called, “gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable” behavior on the part of Joss towards the film’s cast and crew. Ray’s allegations launched a WarnerMedia investigation whose tactics the actor later called into question. The investigation ended with an announcement saying, “remedial action” had been taken.
Burt Reynolds laid to rest two-plus years after his death
After Burt Reynolds died at 82 in Florida on Sept. 6, 2018, he was promptly cremated. Two weeks later, family and friends gathered to honor his life at a small memorial service. But it’s wasn’t until this week that his ashes were buried. According to the Associated Press, the “Deliverance” and “Boogie Nights” star’s remains are now in a grave near a lake at Hollywood Forever cemetery, not far from the graves of Johnny Ramone and Chris Cornell. At a pared down ceremony on Thursday, Burt’s name, along with a wreath, flowers, and the small Trans Am (a nod to his car in the “Smokey and the Bandit” movies) adorned the plaque on his final resting place. His family has not divulged the reason for the delay in the burial.
Matt James thinks Katie Thurston would make a great ‘Bachelorette’
Though Matt James eliminated her on this week’s episode of “The Bachelor,” contestant Katie Thurston already has a strong fan following that wants to see her return as the next “Bachelorette.” It turns out Katie has Matt’s “Bachelorette” vote, too, in part, because of the heated conversation he witnessed between Katie and Serena C., who accused Katie of “lighting little fires” and “drama” within relationships outside of her own and slammed her for telling Matt about the “bullying” and “toxicity” that was afoot among some of the contestants. “When I saw Serena C. and Katie’s exchange, that had nothing to do with my feelings for Katie at that time. [It] doesn’t say anything about her as a woman and how incredible she is, because she was there for a reason,” Matt told Andy Cohen on the latest edition of “Watch What Happens Live,” per People. “And those are the type of women that should be in consideration for a ‘Bachelorette’ role,” he continued. “She’s bold, she’s courageous and she stands up for what she believes in.” On social media, Bachelor Nation’s been propagating rumors that Katie is already is as the next “Bachelorette.” Host Chris Harrison, however, told “Extra” this week that no one has been cast yet.
Bam Margera explains concerning video rants, says he’s seeing a bipolar specialist
Bam Margera announced on Friday, Feb. 12, that he’s seeking treatment for bipolar disorder amid growing concern for his safety. Earlier this week, he’d posted disturbing videos on Instagram in which he veered back and forth between graphic talk about his mental health problems and accusing producers of cutting him out of ‘Jack— 4.” He also urged fans to boycott the upcoming film. On Friday, he shared an update. “I have some good news. I realized that I’m manic bipolar and yesterday, I had to go . . . crazy because of not knowing the answer for a year and a half whether we’re doing [the movie] or not …,” he said in the clip, per the New York Post. “I had . . . to deal with the madness to finally know the answer,” he added. Bam added that he was going to a bipolar specialist later in the day, according to TMZ. Bam’s spoken in the past about his struggles with mental health and addiction. In 2019, he announced he’d been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and he’s been through multiple rehab programs in recent years.
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