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Published by Reuters By Moira Warburton and Andy Sullivan WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Three days into a standoff over who would lead the Republican-majority U.S. House of Representatives, members of the party expressed anger that a small group of hardline holdouts were squandering their chance to use the power they had won. The party’s leader in the chamber, Kevin McCarthy, was set to make another bid on Thursday for the powerful position of speaker, after being rejected in six votes by a group of 20 hardline Republicans who represent less than 10% of the caucus. “You have 20 people demanding that 201 surrender to them unconditionally. Well, I am not going to surrender,” Republican Representative Trent Kelly told reporters after a late Wednesday vote rejecting McCarthy. He was joined by 17 other Republicans who expressed similar views, with Representative John James accusing the 20 holdouts of “governing on fear.” A weaker-than-expected performance in the November midterm elections gave Republicans a smaller-than-expected 222-212 majority in the House. McCarthy would need 218 votes to be elected speaker, a role second in line to the Oval Office, and the narrow margin gives the hardliners outside influence. Members of the opposition say they are concerned McCarthy would not pursue the scorched-earth tactics they want to take to counter Democratic President Joe Biden and the Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate. “Is he going to fight for us? Is he willing to shut the government down?” Representative Ralph Norman, who has voted against McCarthy all six times, told Reuters. “His history has not been that.” The leadership fight has prevented individual lawmakers from taking their oaths of office and pursuing priorities like investigating the administration of the Democratic president. The inability to agree on a leader also raises questions about how lawmakers will be able to reach accord on key issues that will arise later this year, including funding the government and addressing the nation’s approaching debt ceiling. The last time the House failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot was in 1923, during a contest that took nine ballots to resolve. ALTERNATIVES? McCarthy said late on Wednesday that he was making progress, but it was not clear whether he would win over the holdouts or if the party would have to search for an alternative when the chamber reconvenes at noon (1700 GMT) on Thursday. Possibilities include number two House Republican Steve Scalise and Representative Jim Jordan, who have both said they backed McCarthy. Jordan, who received 20 votes when nominated on Tuesday. Republicans could also look to Democrats for help, although House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters that they have not reached out. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna told Reuters he and others could support a moderate Republican who would agree to share subpoena power with Democrats and to avoid brinkmanship over government funding and the debt ceiling. McCarthy’s supporters said they were sticking by him. Wednesday’s three failed votes – following three failed votes on Tuesday – also served as a rebuke to Trump, who had urged Republicans to unite behind McCarthy. Trump remains an influential figure among Republicans and is so far the only announced presidential candidate for 2024. Some in the party have blamed Trump for the failure of Republicans to win more congressional seats in the midterms. Some Republicans said the standoff was not likely to end soon. “It could go into the weekend. We hope it doesn’t, but it could,” said Representative Scott Perry, a Trump ally who has helped spread the former president’s false election claims but who opposes McCarthy. (Reporting by Moira Warburton, David Morgan, Kanishka Singh and Gram Slattery; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Scott Malone and Nick Zieminski) View the full article

Published by AlterNet During the Cold War, nothing angered right-wing Republicans more than seeing a red Soviet flag. But these days, Russian President Vladimir Putin is admired by many Republicans in the United States’ far-right MAGA movement — including incels. Washington, D.C.-based journalist Natalia Antonova, in an article published by the conservative website The Bulwark on January 5, lays out some reasons why Putin is so appealing to anti-feminist American incels. The anti-feminist movement, which calls itself “the manosphere” online, contains a variety of rival factions. And those factions really hate one a… Read More View the full article

Published by PsyPost New research has found that race and ethnicity moderate the associations between the use of psychedelic drugs and major depressive episodes in a large, nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. The findings have been published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. In recent years, psychedelic substances such as MDMA and psilocybin have undergone clinical studies to explore their potential therapeutic benefits, with promising results in areas including depression and anxiety. However, this research is still in its earliest stages, and little is known about the relationship between race a… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP The feud between brothers Britain's Princes William (L) and Harry continues in the run-up to their father King Charles' coronation in May 2023 New York (AFP) – Britain’s Prince Harry recounts in his new book how he was physically “attacked” by his older brother Prince William during an argument in 2019, the Guardian reported Wednesday. According to the newspaper, the story of the incident appears in Harry’s new memoir “Spare,” which is due to be released later this month amid an ongoing row within the British royal family. Harry, 38, writes that during a disagreement in the kitchen of his London home, William called his wife Meghan Markle “difficult,” “rude” and “abrasive,” before tackling him to the ground as the pair continued to argue, the Guardian said. “He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dog’s bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me,” the Guardian quotes Harry’s book as saying. Harry then told his older brother to leave. William looked “regretful, and apologized,” Harry recalled, according to the newspaper. The daily quoted the exchange between the two princes from the book: William “turned and called back: ‘You don’t need to tell Meg about this.’ ‘You mean that you attacked me?’ ‘I didn’t attack you, Harold,'” William responded, seeming to use a nickname for Harry. The latest reveal about the brothers’ tumultuous relationship comes as their father King Charles prepares for his coronation in May following the September death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II at age 96. Harry and Meghan, 41, lifted the lid on their experiences in the British royal family in a Netflix docuseries last month about the reasons behind their stunning 2020 departure for North America. In it, they blamed much of their unhappiness on racist media reports and tabloid harassment, some of which they claim the family instigated. Their move to California, Meghan’s home state, has made the two unpopular in Britain, where they are often portrayed by the media as selfish. In excerpts of a television interview to ITV in the UK and CBS in the United States out this week ahead of the book release, Harry said he wants “a family, not an institution.” “I would like to get my father back. I would like to get my brother back,” Harry said. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Barbara Walter’s lifetime friends have all been cut out of her funeral plans, with some calling New York’s finest funeral homes in hopes of locating her to say “goodbye,” RadarOnline.com can reveal. “One of my dear friends contacted me today. She worked with her at ‘The View’ years ago and wanted to send flowers ahead of her funeral. She contacted the one obvious place she thought Babs would be Frank E Campbell Funeral home. She was informed by the attendant, ‘We don’t have her.’ So who does?” sources told RadarOnline.com. Mega “She began calling mutual friends and a few celebrities she knew to get details about the funeral, and they all said the same thing: ‘I don’t think it’s happening,'” the insider explained. “One said, ‘Maybe this is her daughter’s way of showing the world that in death we are all the same. No fanfare.'” However, other pals were not as generous. “Jackie (Barbara’s only child) had to share her mom with the world her entire life. She’s not going to do it in death,” added a pal. “No one at ABC has been contacted. They don’t expect to hear from the daughter either. Jackie is now in charge, not ABC. Even the hosts of ‘The View’ have been kept in the dark.” As RadarOnline.com reported, the television legend died on December 30 at 93. Mega Following her passing, The View paid tribute to the woman who started it all, bringing several of Walters’s past co-hosts on the show to talk about their memories of the star. Earlier this year, sources disclosed that Walters was living out her last days inside her New York pad, adding her dementia was getting the best of her. Mega “Barbara suffers from exhaustion and fatigue, as well as anxiety and agitation,” the insider revealed. “She’s very frail.” Another pal said, “Sadly, her dementia has been getting worse. [Her] caretaker gives her the opportunity to make everyday decisions, but more often than not she’ll stare at them blankly.” They said her The View co-stars were still reaching out. “On good days, Barbara can distinguish Joy Behar’s voice, but on a bad day, she might just hang up,” the insider claimed. View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega A new documentary series claimed that convicted criminal R. Kelly used a disturbing non-disclosure agreement to allegedly silence Aaliyah and her family. The R&B singer reportedly enacted an NDA after his secret marriage to then-15-year-old Aaliyah was allegedly annulled, RadarOnline.com has learned. The Lifetime documentary series, Surviving R. Kelly, revealed the alleged agreement through court documents between Kelly, Aaliyah’s family, and the late singer, who tragically passed from a plane crash in 2001 at age 22. The 55-year-old convicted predator received a 30-year sentence for federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges in June 2022. mega The docuseries examined Kelly’s accusations and sought to empower his victims by unifying their voices onscreen. The series focused on Kelly’s 2022 federal trial, where the late Aaliyah was referred to as Jane Doe #1. Aaliyah was introduced to Kelly by her uncle, music executive, and manager Barry Hankerson. Aaliyah recorded her first album, Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number, with Kelly when she was just 14 years old and he was 27. The album spurred rumors that Kelly was in a relationship with the up-and-coming teenage singer. A year later, after Kelly became Aaliyah’s “mentor,” the R&B singer allegedly secretly wed Aaliyah. mega While surviving members of Aaliyah’s family declined to comment in the docuseries, individuals close to both Kelly and Aaliyah, as well as court documents, uncovered the alleged disturbing relationship and grooming by Kelly. Kelly’s former security and childhood friend, Gem Pratt, claimed that after Aaliyah’s father discovered the marriage — which was obtained by a falsified certificate that claimed Aaliyah was 18 years old — he demanded an annulment, which was allegedly granted in February 1995. “Her dad didn’t want her anywhere near him,” Pratt stated as he recalled the terms of the alleged secret agreement. mega The former childhood friend claimed that a contractual agreement between Kelly and Aaliyah’s family prevented the family from bringing charges against Kelly after the alleged annulment was finalized. The NDA was reportedly coupled with Kelly selling the family the rights to Aaliyah’s first three albums. It was alleged that the marriage was concocted so that Kelly would avoid statutory rape charges and potential jail time for reportedly grooming Aaliyah while being her mentor in the industry. View the full article

Published by AFP Two years later, investigations continue into the participants in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol Washington (AFP) – Two years after the violent attack on the US Capitol by supporters of president Donald Trump, justice officials have arrested 950 suspects but are seeking some 350 more, the Justice Department said Wednesday. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is also still trying to find out who planted two pipe bombs at political party offices near Congress on the eve of January 6, 2021. Authorities increased their reward for information on those behind the pipe-bombs to $500,000 from $100,000, saying the bombs were “viable” and could have killed someone if they had exploded. “Our work is far from over,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement two days before the anniversary. “We remain committed to ensuring accountability for those criminally responsible for the January 6 assault on our democracy,” he said. Hundreds of Trump supporters stormed into the Capitol on January 6, 2021, encouraged by fiery rhetoric earlier that day from Trump himself urging them to halt the Congressional session that would ratify Joe Biden as the next president. Many attacked police protecting the building, and some caused damage inside the building and stole items, including a laptop computer of then-House speaker Nancy Pelosi. Since then hundreds have been prosecuted in one of the largest and most far-reaching investigations the FBI has ever taken. The Justice Department says of the 950 charged, 484 have pleaded guilty, to felonies like obstructing Congress, assaulting police, or misdemeanors like illegally entering the building. Of those, 351 have been sentenced, with nearly 200 being handed prison time up to 10 years. In the most high-profile case yet stemming from January 6, two leaders of the far-right Oath Keepers militia were found guilty in November of seditious conspiracy. They have not been sentenced yet, but could get as much as 20 years in prison. The Justice Department said it is seeking public help to identify and track down 350 suspects in the attack, signaling that the cases will continue well toward the third anniversary of January 6. The numbers do not include the Justice Department’s probe of Trump and others, including possibly his top aides, who are suspected of encouraging or fomenting the violence. With Trump again running for president, that investigation is now in the hands of a politically independent special counsel, and it is not clear when it will conclude. View the full article

Published by New York Daily News The new governor of Arizona kicked off her first 100 days in office by strengthening anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ state employees and contractors. Katie Hobbs signed her first executive order on Monday, shortly after getting sworn in, directing state agencies to guarantee protections in all aspects of state employment. Executive Order 2023-01, titled “Protecting Employment Opportunity,” reinforces federal non-discrimination laws and affirms Arizona’s commitment to offering equal employment opportunities to all. “Today marks a new era in Arizona, where my Administration will work t… Read More View the full article

Published by The Boot Dolly Parton rang in the new year with her goddaughter Miley Cyrus as a part of Miley’s New Years Eve Party televised special on NBC. The two spent plenty of time on the stage together, joining forces for several collaborations. Their efforts included songs from both singers’ catalogs and some covers, as well. Wearing coordinating pink and black outfits, the dazzling pair spent some time in the world of country music, covering “Walking After Midnight,” which was originally recorded by Parton’s friend Patsy Cline before diving into Parton’s iconic “Jolene.” Each took a turn belting out the vers… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Toddand Julie Chrisley are heading to prison this month, but before they were convicted for a slew of fraud and tax evasion charges, the family’s patriarch was allegedly blackmailing his oldest daughter with a “sex tape” if she didn’t lie for him — accusations which Todd denied. Former Bachelorette hunk Robby Hayes denied making a sex tape with then-married Lindsie Chrisley, saying the video was only some canoodling on a couch captured on a puppy cam, RadarOnline.com learned. Mega The revelation came after the Chrisley Knows Best stars were indicted on massive tax evasion charges — after which Todd accused Lindsie of hopping into the sack with Robby and fellow Bachelorette beefcake Josh Murray. After that, the angry offspring told cops her smooth-talking pops threatened to release a sex tape involving her and Robby if she didn’t lie for him. Robby admitted he and Lindsie were smooching at a pal’s pad — but didn’t know they were being taped by a pet cam. Meanwhile, Lindsie insisted she “never consented” to a sex tape and will “never forgive” her father for his actions. She reportedly went to the police after Todd and her half-brother Chase tried blackmailing her with the tape in a bid to cover up her father’s federal tax evasion charges. Mega At the time, her attorney said the claims were under investigation. The sex tape drama wasn’t the only daddy-daughter dispute the two have had. Lindsie left the reality show in 2017 after another falling out with her father. After the sex tape allegations, Lindsie revealed she had “no contact” with her family — that, of course, has since changed ahead of their prison time. “Of course, it’s my parents and I will always love them,” she said. “But for what they’ve done to me, I will never forgive it.” It seems like time heals all wounds because Lindsie didn’t hesitate to give fans an update about how Todd and Julie are spending their last days before prison. Mega “My parents regularly say, and I believe they’ve said on their podcast as well, that at this time it’s basically living every day like it’s your last, enjoying the moment, spending time with their kids that are in Nashville,” she revealed last month, adding they “are definitely dedicating their time in therapy and their biblical studies as well as with their children.” Lindsie said she was going to spend time with her family after the holidays. “Of course, I’m spending time with my parents over the phone because I also have shared custody [with my ex-husband William Campbell]. So I don’t have the luxury of being able to just pick up and go to Nashville and be there until January,” she told People. Todd and Julie are checking into their separate prisons on January 17. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Britney Spears and Sam Asghari got their flirt on during a steamy dance session. The princess of pop posted a video to Instagram of the couple letting loose on an empty dance floor at a night time event. In the video, Spears — who stunned in a blazer dress — danced her way to the camera before twirling around and returning to her husband, who had a wide smile plastered on his face. @britneyspears/instagram Asghari, looking as dapper as ever in an all-black ensemble, clapped while his wife seductively danced to Prince‘s “Kiss.” As the couple joined hands and moved together, Spears lifted their arms up as she dropped it low in front of her handsome hunk. It’s unclear when the video was taken. FANS BEG FOR BRITNEY SPEARS TO RECEIVE A ‘WELFARE CHECK’ AFTER ELLEN DEGENERES REMINISCES ON POP STAR’S EARLY DAYS While fans have been begging the two to post more of each other on their respective social media accounts, Asghari recently faced backlash for doing just that. @britneyspears/instagram In late December, the actor came under fire after posting a clip of him and the “Toxic” singer enjoying some quality time on a romantic Christmas day hike. Several fans accused Asghari of tapping body doubles for the post, with one viewer commenting: “The first photo is definitely not Britney! The girl is clearly wearing a wig,” and another adding, “Fakest photo I’ve ever seen,” alongside the hashtag #whereisbritney. Spears’ social media activity has been a hot topic ever since she was freed from her conservatorship in November 2021, with many believing she still does not run her own account. @britneyspears/instagram As speculation continues to mount regarding whether Asghari is the one controlling the blonde beauty’s profile, he finally put the rumors to bed on Friday, December 30. When asked by papparazzi, “Are you controlling Britney Spears?” he comically replied: “No, man. I don’t even control what we have for dinner.” SAM ASGHARI JOKES HE DOESN’T EVEN ‘CONTROL WHAT WE HAVE FOR DINNER’ WHEN ASKED IF HE’S RUNNING BRITNEY SPEARS’ SOCIAL MEDIA Asghari also addressed the fans’ theory of him being behind the racy content uploaded to her page, saying: “Oh, man, in the past, there has been a lot of stuff going on, so I understand where they’re coming from. They’re just being protective. If anything, they’re being good fans.” Spears and Asghari tied the knot over the summer after the Iranian-American model proposed to Spears in September 2021. View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Smitten Cher has been sporting a huge diamond ring from lover Alexander “A.E.” Edwards — and insiders revealed the superstar, 76, is now engaged to the 36-year-old music executive, RadarOnline.com has learned. As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Cher has been wanting to get hitched to Edwards for weeks. She recently shared a photo of the stunning pear-shaped sparkler on Twitter with the caption: “THERE R NO WORDS, ALEXANDER, A.E.” @cher/twitter A source revealed, “Cher is in love. She hasn’t felt this way in decades and at her age never thought she would feel like this again!” Mike Fried, CEO of The Diamond Pro, estimated the value of Cher new ring at $250k. “He bought the ring out of his own money,” said a source. An insider said the two plan to elope in a small ceremony. “The wedding will be cheap as they plan to elope. After they are married, I can see them throwing a big expensive Hollywood party — but the wedding itself will be simple,” said the source. The coy Moonstruck cougar didn’t divulge the meaning behind the bauble — but her feelings for A.E. have been no secret! mega Cher gushed she gets along “great” with her “fabulous” man — after enduring divorces from Sonny Bono and Greg Allman and countless doomed romances. But insiders also revealed the recent death of Cher’s beloved mother, Georgia Holt, weighs heavy on her heart. The Believe songbird even admitted shedding a “few tears” after realizing she couldn’t show her new ring to her late mom! A friend revealed, “Cher is facing her own mortality and wants to enjoy every single moment she has left.” “She has never cared about what other people say and knows the 40-year age difference will upset everyone — including members of her own family. But that has never stopped her before — and won’t stop her now!” mega Cher’s engagement comes as friends close to Cher have warned her to break things off with Edwards. As RadarOnline.com previously reported, a source said, “Cher has a lot of people worried for her right now. She’s saying it’s her business who she dates and she’ll make her own decisions, but the warning signs are there for everyone to see.” View the full article

Published by AlterNet Louisiana residents who want to access adult web content and pornography online must now enter information from a valid driver’s license or state ID into a program called LA Wallet in order to prove they are 18 or older, according to Mashable. This is thanks to House Bill 142, a new law that went into effect on January 1. The law says that any commercial website that contains 33.3 percent or more pornographic material must “perform reasonable age verification methods to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the material.” While porn websites claim that they won’t collect any users… Read More View the full article

Published by St. Louis Post-Dispatch BONNE TERRE, Mo. — Missouri on Tuesday executed by lethal injection a transgender inmate who stabbed, strangled and raped an ex-girlfriend 19 years ago. The 49-year-old inmate had been living for about 18 months as a woman named Amber McLaughlin, but filed appeals and signed a final written statement Tuesday with a previous name, Scott McLaughlin. McLaughlin is the first openly transgender woman executed in the U.S. and the third person executed in a 12-month span in Missouri. The state delivered a fatal dose of pentobarbital at 6:39 p.m., and McLaughlin was pronounced dead a short time later,… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Could marriage be on the horizon for Real Housewives of Orange County alum Braunwyn Windham-Burke? The former Bravo celeb shared a since-deleted Instagram post that showed off new bling and a “promise” to girlfriend Jennifer Spinner that quickly sparked engagement rumors, RadarOnline.com has learned. Windham-Burke, 45, and Spinner, 38, began dating five months ago after the reality tv personality split with her husband of 23 years, Sean Burke. The couple is now reportedly on the hunt for their “forever home,” adding to speculation that they could be ready to exchange nuptials. mega On January 2, Windham-Burke shared a picture with Spinner. While the Instagram story was short-lived, it was up long enough for the rumor mill to turn and speculate about the ex-Orange County housewife’s future plans with her girlfriend. “We started 2023 with a promise,” she wrote. In the photo, Windham-Burke was seen with her left hand over Spinner’s as the two traveled in a car on a road trip. Both women wore diamond-encrusted silver bands in the snap, with Windham-Burke’s new bling on her left hand. mega Windham-Burke shared another snap from their travels that pictured the two walking beside one another with the caption, “Road trippin and state hunting!” The picture was taken as the two lovebirds traveled from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Charleston, South Carolina — travel plans the pair made as they are allegedly “searching for a forever home for the family.” A source close to the former Bravo star spoke of the new romance and what could be in store for their future. mega “You really never know. Braunwyn is Braunwyn!” the insider told Page Six on the romance. “I do know that the two are madly in love.” Windham-Burke came out as a lesbian in 2020 after being a longtime advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Over the course of her 23-year marriage with estranged husband Sean, the Windham-Burkes welcomed seven children together — Bella, 22, Rowan, 20, Jacob, 17, twins Caden and Curren, 9, Koa, 7, and Hazel, 4. While a large family would be expected to be hesitant to welcome a new parental figure to their life, the insider claimed that the family, including Sean, “love” Spinner. View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Brazil has announced the country will reactivate its investigation into alleged fraud by Republican Congressman-elect George Santos. The announcement came as the newly elected lawmaker was set to begin his first day in U.S. Congress, RadarOnline.com has learned. Brazilian authorities had previously suspended their investigation for 10 years after allegedly losing track of Santos. After the Republican won his election and flipped New York’s 3rd Congressional district, a crucial victory for the GOP, scandal quickly plagued the incoming lawmaker — who was sworn into the 118th Congress on January 3. Recent allegations of fraud and misrepresenting his past brought his whereabouts into public view, which prompted Brazilian officials to reexamine their case against the new congressman. mega Santos was accused by Brazilian officials of using a stolen checkbook in 2008 to allegedly spend over $700 under a false identity. Brazilian authorities claim the congressman made the fraudulent purchases at a clothing store in Niterói. Following the allegation, Santos spoke of the fraud claim on a Brazilian social media website and stated, “I know I screwed up, but I want to pay.” The statement by Santos would be contradicted in 2022 when the then congressman-elect spoke with the New York Times on his past — and claimed he’s never committed any crimes. mega “‘I am not a criminal here — not here or in Brazil or any jurisdiction in the world,” Santos told NYT. Shortly thereafter, Santos’ history of illusion began to crumble and he eventually confessed to fabricating parts of his resume. Santos admitted that he falsely represented his work history for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs, as well as coming clean on not holding degrees from NYU and Baruch College. On top of misrepresented resume credentials, Santos was accused of fabricating his family’s history, particularly a statement he made about his grandparents being Holocaust survivors. The newly elected representative, who ran as an openly gay Republican, also hid his marriage to a woman while on the campaign trail and only recently acknowledged the union. A past lover recalled dating Santos — and his discovery of the politician being wanted in Brazil. The 118th Congressmega Pedro Vilarva claimed that he dated Santos when they were 18 and 26, respectively. The alleged former lover accused Santos of pawning his phone behind his back while they were together, in addition to allegedly lying about his income. Vilarva claimed that after they dated for a few months, he and Santos made the leap to move in together in 2014. After they were in their shared home, Vilarva revealed that he ended his relationship with Santos after he discovered that the lawmaker was wanted in Brazil for the 2008 alleged fraud incident. Santos is now under federal, state, and international investigation to determine whether or not he committed criminal acts. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Fashion designer Harris Reed will forever be grateful for the “amazing” support he got from his mother when he came out as homosexual. The 26-year-old clothing expert – who is the creative director for French fashion house Nina Ricci – told his model mother Lynette Reed that he was gay when he was just nine years old and he’ll never forget her unwavering words of love and encouragement which gave him the confidence to be himself. In an interview with ELLE UK – for which Harris and his work was photographed by Silvana Trevale – he shared: “I remember sitting at the dining table and announcing, ‘Mom, I like boys. I’m gay.’ And her being like, ‘Yeah, we know. We see that. We love that.’ It was really amazing to have that kind of support.” From that moment, Harris – whose dad is British documentary film producer Nicholas Reed – decided to embrace who he was in his fashion choices at school, but he admits it wasn’t always easy. He said: “I was very much a child that always knew who I was, in the sense that I wore exactly what I wanted. I had quite exaggerated mannerisms and I didn’t really give a f*** about how I expressed myself, whether in a Walmart or in the playground. I think it made my mom’s job more challenging, because she was constantly shifting me and my sister around to make sure that I was in spaces where I was accepted and not ridiculed. “I remember wearing rhinestone Havaianas and eating lunch in the boys’ bathroom, hiding my feet because people kept tormenting me.” Harris – who has dressed stars such as Harry Styles Adele, Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus among many more – says his move to London to study at Central Saint Martin’s art school opened his eyes to the wider LGBTQ+ community and emboldened him even further to be his true self and to reflect his personality in his work. He said: “I remember calling my mom the first week of my degree, sobbing, ‘Mom, am I basic? I think I’m so basic.’ It was the first time I had met a transgender individual. The first time I met someone who was non-binary. I had friends who were pansexual, who were polyamorous. I felt so uneducated – I thought wearing skinny jeans, combat boots and my AllSaints biker was the limit of who I was, and then I realised I had not even cracked the surface.” Explaining how his new friends and community changed his work, he added: “I was designing womenswear how womenswear ‘should’ be designed. Then I experimented with menswear, going very Savile Row in a traditional sense. And then I was like, ‘What the f*** am I?’ My work was getting mediocre responses because I didn’t believe in it.” Go to Elle.com/uk/HarrisReed to read the full interview with Harris Reed View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English JK Rowling received an £18 million payout from her publishing company last year amid the fallout from her transgender rows. The 57-year-old ‘Harry Potter’ creator – said to be worth around $1 billion (£835 million) – got the windfall as a dividend for shares in her Pottermore company, the Daily Mail reported on Wednesday. (04.01.23) Accounts seen by the Mail also showed Pottermore, which is JK’s digital publishing firm, made a pre-tax profit of £5.7 million on a turnover of £37.8 million in the financial year up to March 2022. JK said in December any attempts to “cancel” her over her views have led to an increase in her book sales. She told writer Suzanne Moore’s ‘Letters from Suzanne’ publication on the Substack publishing subscription site: “The only time I’ve ever made reference to being cancelled, my book sales went up… I do not consider myself cancelled.” JK recently accused Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon of being a “destroyer of women’s rights” after the politician’s SNP and the Scottish Labour Party backed the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which passed through the Scottish Parliament in December and allows Scots to self-identify their legal gender. JK was criticised by trolls and transgender campaigners for wearing a T-shirt bearing the “destroyer” message and posted a picture of herself wearing the top online. She has also been slammed for liking a tweet which referred to trans women as “men in dresses”, and been hit by online attacks and death threats since she bemoaned in 2020 the loss of references to biological women. The writer took issue with an online article’s mention of “people who menstruate” by tweeting: “‘People who menstruate’. I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” Among those who have since hit out at the author over her remarks are ‘Harry Potter’ actors including Daniel Radcliffe, 33, and Emma Watson, 32, as well as Eddie Redmayne, 40, who featured in her ‘Fantastic Beasts’ films. JK also recently ended up in a war of words with singer Billy Bragg over transgender rights and accused him of using the “Holocaust to attack feminists”. She claimed “bearded men”, including Billy, 65, and BBC chat show host Graham Norton, 59, are defining what a woman is instead of leaving it to females. View the full article

Published by Raw Story According to a report from the Washington Post, once Republicans settle on an acceptable speaker and newly-elected House members can be sworn in, a California Democrat is skipping using a religious text like the Bible and will instead use a classic and valuable Superman comic. Rep-elect Robert Garcia, whose campaign website used a Superman-inspired graphic, has chosen to take his oath using a vintage Superman comic from 1939 a mong other mementos. The report notes, “Garcia tweeted Tuesday that when he is sworn in, underneath a copy of the Constitution will be three items ‘that mean a lot to me… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Todd Chrisley is clearing the air following rumors that he’s gay and that he had a passionate affair with former business associate Mark Braddock. As OK! reported, Mark testified in Todd and Julie Chrisley‘s federal fraud trial that he and the patriarch were intimate for about a year in the early 2000s. After their alleged affair ended, Mark and Todd apparently continued a friendship until 2012 that the former likened to a “brotherhood.” mega However, according to Mark — who worked for Todd’s foreclosure management company, Chrisley Asset Management — they began to receive anonymous threats exposing them for fraud and their alleged affair. TODD & JULIE CHRISLEY, TERESA GIUDICE & MORE! ALL OF THE REALITY STARS FOUND GUILTY OF COMMITTING CRIMES: PHOTOS He claimed during his testimony last year that he withdrew thousands of dollars from his bank account and gave them to Todd to pay off the blackmailer. Eventually, Mark turned on the family, turning the patriarchs in for bank fraud and tax evasion. mega Todd — who is due to report to a Florida prison this month for his 12-year sentence — addressed the scandalous rumors on his “Chrisley Confessions” podcast. Talking to his son Chase, 26, Todd said on the Tuesday, January 3, episode: “What insulted me the most is that, out of all these 54 years, for me to finally be accused of being with a man, it would be someone who looked like Mark Braddock.” The Chrisley Knows Best star, 53, then took aim at Mark’s appearance, likening him to “a toad” and “someone that looks like a thumb.” mega “Someone who says he’s only had sex with his wife and me,” continued Todd of his former associate, whom he called out for seemingly changing his story several times in the last few months. SAVANNAH CHRISLEY ADMITS SHE’S BEEN ‘SO ANGRY’ SINCE PARENTS TODD & JULIE’S FRAUD CONVICTION Making light of the rumors, Todd said he would be less bothered if George Clooney or Brad Pitt made the allegation instead of Mark, who landed a job with Todd in 2005. “That is the one thing that is the most insulting. To say that I couldn’t pull something better than that… there’s better to be had by Todd Chrisley than that,” joked Todd. Following Mark’s May 2022 testimony — during which he claimed he altered documents to help the Chrisleys get loans — Todd and Julie were sentenced to a combined 19 years in prison and 16 months of probation. Todd and Julie tied the knot in 1996 and share three children: Chase, Savannah, 24, and Grayson, 16. Todd also has two kids with ex-wife Teresa Terry: Lindsie, 32, and Kyle, 30. Page Six reported on the podcast episode. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Todd Chrisley‘s first wife, Teresa Terry, knew as she walked down the aisle in 1990 that their shotgun wedding — when she was just 19 and he was 21 — wasn’t the best idea. In shocking divorce documents, the soon-to-be imprisoned Chrisley Knows Best star’s teenage bride admitted that she had no idea of the alleged violence and terror that was to come, RadarOnline.comhas learned. By 1994, the high school sweethearts, who are parents to Lindsie and Kyle, had devolved into acrimonious spouses allegedly thanks to Todd’s iron fist. “He likes to control his environment,” Teresa claimed. “I had two small kids [but at home] everything had to be picture-perfect; your hair always had to be fixed and you had to be dressed to the 10s,” Todd’s ex-wife alleged, adding she “grew tired of being constantly corrected.” Mega She also claimed that she grew afraid. Terry filed a “prevention of family violence” order against her husband, claiming that two years prior he had “wielded a knife threatening to kill her” and three days after that he allegedly “tore all of her clothes, including her undergarments, from her body and battered her using his closed fist.” Todd was ordered to stay 1,000 feet away from Teresa, and soon she filed for divorce, saying she “fears for her life” and asked for a restraining order to keep her estranged ex from “harassing, harming, [or] vilifying” her or their kids. Teresa also accused him of cheating on her with his now-wife, Julie, even providing dates and location of their alleged trysts. Mega In typically fiery fashion, Todd shot back that he “vehemently and categorically denies [treating Teresa] cruelly” and successfully lobbied for joint custody of their kids. While he found fame on reality television, Teresa claimed he was a ticking time bomb: “You just cannot imagine how vindictive he can be.” Todd is currently gearing up for prison time after being convicted of defrauding banks out of $30 million and committing tax fraud alongside Julie. The married reality stars are set to turn themselves into separate prisons on January 17. The Chrisley patriarch will spend his 12-year sentence at FPC Pensacola, where he could make 12 to 40 cents per hourcleaning his fellow inmates’ feces out of the prison toilets. Mega Meanwhile, his new bride will be stationed at a facility more than two hours away, but as RadarOnline.com exclusively reported, Todd and Julie will still be able to communicate behind bars. Until then, they are leaning on their family, religion, and therapy in the final weeks leading up to prison. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Mega Though former President Donald Trump may be best known for his catchphrase “you’re fired,” it seems the ex-POTUS was looking to expand his horizons, working on trademarking the phrase “Rigged Election!” shortly after the 2020 presidential election. Days after the event on November 9, 2020, Trump’s then-aide Dan Scavino reached out to The Apprentice alum’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, looking into 45’s request, according to new documents released by the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 attack. “Hey Jared! POTUS wants to trademark/own rights to below, I don’t know who to see – or ask…I don’t know who to take to,” read the email, per Kushner’s testimony, bolding the phrase, as well as “Save America PAC!” Mega Though Kushner looped in several administraton higher-ups, including his son Eric Trump and Sean Dollman, who served as the Chief Financial Officer for the president’s first re-election bid, it seems technical difficulties halted Trump’s desires. “Both web URLs are already registered. Save America PAC was registered October 23 of this year,” the Trump Organization exec wrote. “Was that done by the campaign?” Mega “’Save America PAC’ is already taken/registered, just confirming that,” Dollman replied, noting that they “can still file for ‘Save America.’” DONALD TRUMP CALLS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ‘MENTALLY DISABLED’ AS HE DECLARES HE HAD ‘ALMOST NOTHING TO DO’ WITH THE JANUARY 6 CAPITOL ATTACK Despite Trump’s insistence that voter fraud cost him the 2020 election, Joe Biden won the presidency, nabbing the popular vote by a 7 million vote margin while earning 306 Electoral College votes over Trump’s 232 votes. In 2021, a detailed investigation from the Associated Press found that in the six battleground states Trump challenged following his loss, there were less than 475 instances of possible voter fraud, with “virtually every case” consisting of “an individual acting alone to cast additional ballots” rather than a broader effort to rig the election, the outlet reported. Considering 25.5 million people voted in those six states — a fraction of the 154.6 million Americans that cast their ballot that year, per the United States Census Bureau %20turned,CPS%20voting%20supplement%20in%201964.)— these cases would not have altered the outcome of the election. Though the former POTUS is seemingly standing by the baseless assertion that he lost the presidential race due to voter fraud — “I won in 2016, did much better in 2020 (RIGGED!),” he wrote on his platform Truth Social last month — it seems the ex-Commander-in-Chief has previously admitted that he “didn’t win” the election. ‘WE DIDN’T WIN’: FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ADMITS ‘SHOCKING’ DEFEAT TO JOE BIDEN IN 2020 ELECTION “We got them by surprise in 2016, and in 2020 we did much better than we did in 2016,” Trump told Fox News staple Sean Hannity in June 2021. “Shockingly, we were supposed to win easily at 64 million votes and we got 75 million votes.” However, Biden ended up winning the election. CNN previously reported on the committee’s releases. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega A man claiming to have dated congressman-elect George Santos has accused the embattled GOP politician of stealing his cell phone before pawning the device for cash, RadarOnline.com has learned. Pedro Vilarva, who spoke out against Santos over the weekend, claims he was 18 years old when he and Santos began a relationship together in Florida in 2014. Santos was reportedly 26 years old at the time the relationship started. Mega Even more shocking are Vilarva’s claims that the alleged couple’s relationship ended in 2015 after it was revealed Santos was wanted for alleged theft in Brazil. “He used to say he would get money from Citigroup, he was an investor,” Vilarva said on Sunday, according to Daily Mail. “One day it’s one thing, one day it’s another thing. He never ever actually went to work.” Come 2015, Vilarva reportedly realized something was wrong when Santos gifted him with plane tickets to Hawaii that “turned out not to exist.” Vilarva then could not find his cell phone and came to the conclusion Santos “had pawned it.” “I woke up in the morning, and I packed my stuff all in trash bags, and I called my father and I left,” Vilarva explained after he conducted an online search of Santos and learned the then-26-year-old was wanted by Brazilian authorities for using a stolen checkbook to spend $700 under a fake name. Mega As RadarOnline.com previously reportedly, Vilarva’s allegations against Santos come as the embattled GOP politician is set to be sworn into Congress on Tuesday. Santos recently admitted to lying about his professional and educational background, as well as claims he is of Ukrainian-Jewish heritage and identified as “half-Black.” “My sins here are embellishing my resume,” he told the New York Post in December after admitting he lied about his work on Wall Street and graduating from Manhattan’s Baruch College in 2010. “I’m sorry.” House members on both sides of the aisle have since condemned Santos for lying about his resume in an effort to drum up support for his Congress bid, with many calling on the 34-year-old Republican to resign over his shocking web of lies. Mega “This is troubling in so many ways. Certainly, he’s lied repeatedly,” retiring House Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) said on Sunday. “He certainly is going to have to consider resigning.” “I believe a full investigation by the House Ethics Committee and, if necessary, law enforcement is required,” added House Rep. Nick LaLota (R-New York). “New Yorkers deserve the truth and House Republicans deserve an opportunity to govern without this distraction.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Meghan Trainor wants to become a “TV star”. The 29-year-old singer has revealed that she’d love to follow in the footsteps of Kelly Clarkson by making a successful transition from the music industry to the TV business. She shared: “I want to be a TV star. I want to be the next Kelly Clarkson and have my own TV show, I want to be in movies, I want to write more music for other artists and I want to have four babies. I have a lot to do.” Meghan also revealed that she recently filmed “a guest star slot on a sitcom”. The ‘All About That Bass’ hitmaker – who released her latest album, ‘Takin’ It Back’, in 2022 – told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “I really want to do more acting. I have just filmed a guest star slot on a sitcom. “I can’t say which one but it has something to do with one of my girl mom mates. I play a character so I wait to watch it to see if I am any good.” Meghan relishes the challenge of acting and she’s keen to do more of it in the future. The singer – who married actor Daryl Sabara in 2018, after meeting him at a party in 2014 – said: “It was the most fun I have ever had. I cried when I had to leave. Daryl came to the set every day and hung out with me in the trailer. “He is so supportive. I would love to film a romcom and write the music for the film too. That would be the dream to star in a film and also write the soundtrack.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Trevor Hunnicutt (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden plans to commemorate the second anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol with a White House ceremony, according to a schedule released by his office on Monday. Friday’s event will mark a rare moment for Biden to wade into the live issues stoked by the deadly riot by supporters of his Republican predecessor Donald Trump. Their actions interrupted the certification of the Democrat’s 2020 victory. Biden has condemned the riot as a threat to democracy and the rule of law, but he rarely discusses his predecessor by name publicly and has framed his presidency around uniting and healing the country’s partisan divides. Soon to enter his third year in office, Biden has said he intends to seek another four-year term but has not formally his candidacy. Trump, who never conceded defeat in the 2020 election, has already announced that he is seeking his party’s nomination again in 2024. Last month, the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives panel probing the 2021 attack asked federal prosecutors to charge Trump with four crimes, including obstruction and insurrection. It was the first time in history that Congress had referred a former president for criminal prosecution. Trump, who is facing two other federal probes, has dismissed the House investigation as partisan. The former president gave a fiery speech to his supporters on the morning of Jan. 6, 2021, and publicly chastised then Vice President Mike Pence for not going along with his scheme to reject ballots cast for Biden. Trump then waited hours before making a public statement as thousands of his supporters raged through the Capitol, assaulting police and threatening to hang Pence. Five people, including a police officer, died during or shortly after the incident and more than 140 police officers were injured. The Capitol suffered millions of dollars in damage. “A former president of the United States of America has created and spread a web of lies about the 2020 election. He’s done so because he values power over principle,” Biden said at an event at the Capitol last year marking the event, never speaking Trump’s name. “He can’t accept he lost.” Biden’s schedule said Friday’s ceremony would take place in the White House’s East Room. No further details were provided. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Bradley Perrett) View the full article