Escalating winery drama
Brad Pitt filed new court documents in his ongoing winery battle with Angelina Jolie on Thursday, June 1, in which he accuses her of “secretly” selling her shares of the business and brands her “vindictive,” CBS News reported Friday. Alleging Angelina’s sale constitutes a breach of their previous Miraval contract — and that her sale to a company controlled by a Russian oligarch “jeopardizes the reputation of” Miraval –he’s now asking for a “trial by jury.” Brad’s suit hinges on his claim Angelina went behind his back in 2021 “amid a headed child custody dispute” with Brad and sold her 50 percent stake “in the family home and family business” to Tenute del Mondo, which is controlled by Russian billionaire and Stoli group owner Yuri Shefler. Brad also claims Stoli has “attempted a hostile takeover of the wine business” since purchasing the shares.
The former couple bought the Chateau Miraval winery in France together in 2008, agreeing, according to Brad’s filings, not “to sell their respective interests in Miraval without the other’s consent,” an agreement Angelina has said they never made (per People). Angelina filed for divorce in 2016 and “by 2019, [she] wanted out of Miraval,” Brad’s new docs allege. Brad’s lawyers claim the two agreed they could “either sell Miraval jointly” or Brad could buy Angelina out of her share. Opting for the latter, they “began exclusive buyout negotiations” which Brad claims were still underway when Angelina quietly unloaded her shares to the Stoli affiliate.
Angelina, meanwhile claimed in her $250 million, 2022 countersuit that Brad is the “vindictive” party here, and she only shopped the Miraval shares around after Brad allegedly demanded she agree to never speak publicly about “the events that had led to the breakdown of their marriage.” Those events are presumably Brad’s allegedly physical altercation with Angelina and two of their kids on a private flight prior to their split.
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Moving on
Padma Lakshmi is moving on from the cooking competition show she’s hosted for 17 years. “After much soul searching, I have made the difficult decision to leave Top Chef,” Padma, 52, shared on Instagram on Friday, June 2. “Having completed a glorious 20th season as host and executive producer, I am extremely proud to have been part of building such a successful show,” she continued.”I feel it’s time to move on and make space for Taste the Nation, my books and other creative pursuits.” She closed by telling viewers and fans, “I am deeply thankful to you all for so many years of love and support.” Her post quickly garnered praise and cheers from chefs, colleagues and other members of the Bravo family, including Andy Cohen, who praised her departure as the “the end of an era and an incredible run,” calling her “an amazing partner and a BRILLIANT host.” Padma came on board at “Top Chef” in the show’s second season back in 2006, along with judges Tom Colicchio and food writer Gail Simmons. As of Friday, Bravo had not announced her replacement.
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‘Family Secrets’ response
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, whose controversial TLC show “19 Kids and Counting” was canceled in 2015 amid allegations their son Josh had molested his sisters and other girls, are speaking out about the new “Duggar Family Secrets” docuseries on Amazon Prime. “The recent ‘documentary’ that talks about our family is sad because in it we see the media and those with ill intentions hurting people we love,” the couple wrote on their website on Friday, June 2. “Like other families, ours too has experienced the joys and heartbreaks of life, just in a very public format. This ‘documentary’ paints so much and so many in a derogatory and sensationalized way because sadly that’s the direction of entertainment these days,” they continued. “We have always believed that the best chance to repair damaged relationships, or to reconcile differences, is through love in a private setting. We love every member of our family and will continue to do all we can to have a good relationship with each one.”
The series, which they did not participate in, features claims about the couple’s adherence to the Institute in Basic Life Principles organization, a patriarchy-focused, ultra-conservative religious group that’s been called “cult”-like and fear-based. It also features allegations of manipulation, exploitation and a cover-up of Josh’s abuse from some of their children, including Jill Duggar Dillard, who says she was pressured to defend her brother despite having been victimized by him. In closing, the Duggar parents write that “through both triumph and trials” they continue to “find strength, comfort and purpose” in their faith.
Health scare latest
Nick Cannon is currently filling in for Jamie Foxx as guest host on the game show “Beat Shazam” as Jamie, 55, recovers from the as yet undisclosed “medical complication” that sent him to the hospital on April 11. Asked to comment on the actor’s condition and rumors he may have suffered a stroke during an interview with “Extra,” however, Nick wasguarded. “We understand that he had a stroke and that he’s recovering. But, you know, it’s been sort of confusing …,” Billy Bush said in a video chat with Nick published Thursday, June 1. “Are you comfortable giving an update on how he’s doing? Do you know?” Billy asked. “I’m probably in the same boat as you,” Nick replied, adding that “the information that is out there is the information” Jamie’s relatives and team “want to be out there.”
The most recent update from Jamie’s family came earlier this month via his daughter Corrine Foxx, who said on Instagram that her dad had been “out of the hospital for weeks” and was “playing pickleball.” A few days later, TMZ reported the star’s family visited him at a Chicago facility that “specializes in stroke recovery, traumatic brain injury rehab, spinal cord injury rehab and cancer rehabilitation. Speaking to “Extra,” Nick said he “initially” sent the family “heavy-handed prayers” amid news of Jamie’s health scare. “And they were like, ‘Yo, we appreciate all of that, but we got it,'” he recalled. “I believe when he’s ready, he’s going to address the awaiting fans in the world the way that only he can.”
Kate Mara romance revelation
In his new memoir, “Pageboy,” Elliot Page details a secret romantic relationship with a Hollywood peer. “The first person I fell for after my heart was broken was Kate Mara,” Elliot writes in an an excerpt published by People. “She had a boyfriend at the time, the lovely and talented Max Minghella.” According to the “Juno” star — who tells People Kate “has read the book” and the two remain friends — he was filming 2014’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past” at the time. (Then known as Ellen Page, Elliot came out as gay in 2014; in 2020, he came out as trans.) Max supported Kate’s relationship with Elliot, the actor writes. He tells People Kate told him at one point, “I never thought I could be in love with two people and now I know I can.”
“This was right after I’d come out as gay and it was a time of exploration and also heartbreak,” Elliot explains. “I think my relationship, or whatever you want to call it with Kate, very much encapsulates a certain dynamic that I consistently found myself in, which was falling for people that — I think a lot of us do this — who aren’t fully available. And the sort of safety in that and the highs and the lows and the serotonin bump, and then it goes away.” As for his relationship with Kate today, he says, “I think the love and care that we have for each other is its very own special thing. Separate from the intimacy that I write about.” “Pageboy” hits shelves June 6.
Brain surgery
“Patridge Family” star Danny Bonaduce plans to undergo brain surgery on June 5 in the hopes of alleviating neurological issues including his ability to walk and balance, he tells TMZ.After a long stint of health issues, tests and doctors visits beginning in 2022, the 63-year-old radio host says he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a disorder in which excess fluid seeps into the brain, interfering with neurological function. He ultimately took a leave from his “Danny Bonaduce & Sarah Morning Radio Show,” but doctors struggled to identify what was causing the problems.
“My life was talking to doctors. I had meetings with five doctors on one single day, and nobody could figure out what it was. And I thought, ‘Well, this is a big deal. I’m falling down now. That can’t be good,'” he recalls. “I can’t figure out what caused it, ’cause I’ve done so many stupid things on reality TV shows,” Danny adds. “I took a guitar to the head. That hurt, and was possibly the cause of all this. I got punched in the face by José Canseco, a 265-pound professional athlete. And by the way, I didn’t hit the floor.” He says the surgery should quickly improve his symptoms by 50 percent if the hydrocephalus diagnosis is correct. And while he’s not expecting a miracle, he hopes to be more mobile after the surgery. “I will be completely bummed out if this doesn’t work,” he admits.
Beach birthday
On and offscreen lovebirds Zendaya and Tom Holland celebated Tom’s 27th birthday on Thursday, June 1, with pics of the birthday boy from a seaside getaway. In a handful of photos on her Instagram Story, Zendaya showed Tom enjoying a dip in the water while flashing a heart sign her way with his hands. She added a playful heart emoji in the middle of his pose and shared a second image of her “Spider-Man” co-star on a cliff high above the ocean. Tom posted what looked like pics from the same trip, including one admittedly less-than-debonair shot where he looks ready for more outdoor adventure … in a lifejacket, a harness, swim shorts and a helmet. Thanking fans “for all the wonderful birthday messages,” Tom joked that the snap was “possibly the sexiest picture” he’s ever been in and added “#sexyiestmanalive” hashtag for good measure. Judging from her response — an emoji with heart-eyes — Zendaya agreed.
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