By Wonderwall.com Editors
7:06am PDT, Sep 2, 2021
Extortion claim
More drama is unfolding this week in Britney Spears' quest to remove her father from her conservatorship — and that drama could have a $2 million price tag attached. Dad Jamie Spears said in a court filing last month that he'd step aside so a new conservator could take over control of his daughter's estate. But according to Britney's lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, Jamie wants a $2 million payout as part of his exit deal. Documents filed Aug. 30 show Mathew is asking the court to remove Jamie "today, before he is suspended," according to a new filing (via CNN). "Britney Spears will not be bullied or extorted by her father. Nor does Mr. Spears have the right to try to hold his daughter hostage by setting the terms of his removal," Mathew argues in the filing. "This is not about him, it is about the best interests of his daughter, which as a matter of law, mandate his removal." Jamie reportedly filed the $2 million request on Aug. 12, saying it would cover legal fees, management costs and payment for "continuing to do my best to keep current regarding the music, advertising and entertainment business." The next hearing is slated for Sept. 26.
Brangelina's custody battle continues
Brad Pitt is requesting a state Supreme Court review of his custody case with ex, Angelina Jolie. According to documents filed by the actor's lawyers, Brad believes the private judge who was handling the case was improperly disqualified — a move that negated the joint custody agreement that allowed Brad to spend time with the five children he and Angelina share who are under the age of 18. The agreement came after "a detailed, fact-based custodial decision, following a lengthy legal process with multiple witnesses and experts," Brad's lawyers wrote in the petition. They went on to say that the change was made only because of an "administrative error" and not because of any reasons related to Brad's original "merit" as a custodian of the kids. Citing the disqualified judge's alleged "bias" in the case — given his business ties to other clients of Brad's lawyers — Angelina's attorney told People, in part, "Ms. Jolie hopes Mr. Pitt will instead join with her in focusing on the children's needs, voices, and healing."
Click through to see why Britney Spears believes her dad is extorting her…
Duggar drama
As Josh Duggar prepares for his criminal child pornography trial, the Duggar family is dealing with new rifts, a source close to the former TLC stars tells People. "They aren't as close as they once were because of all of Josh's legal drama. It's creating a lot of stress on them — although the majority of the family is acting like nothing has happened," the insider says in a new cover feature ominously titled "The Downfall of the Duggars." While Josh maintains his innocence, his parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, have vowed to support him. Not all of Josh's siblings are on the same page as their mom and da though. Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Duggar have said publicly that they are "disturbed" by what authorities allegedly found on their brother's devices. Josh's previous controversies — including the revelation he molested multiple young girls including two of his sisters as a teen — had already driven some members of the family further apart. As for the latest allegations, Josh "really thinks he's going to get out of" the charges he's facing, according to the family source. He's currently confined to the home of third party custodians and is not allowed to have contact with children other than his own.
Never going under the knife
After surviving two nearly fatal brain aneurysms, Emilia Clark has developed a healthy fear of mortality. She's also learned obsessing about her looks is a waste of precious time. "The happy moments and being happy is what you're going to see on your deathbed. You're not going to remember the times when you took that super cute selfie," says the "Game of Thrones" star, 34, in a new interview with People. She came to that realization "after surgery," an experience she says shook her self-confidence. It wasn't long before she came to see that her own "beauty is how happy I am." And so while she's all for skincare routines that combat early fine lines and wrinkles, she has no interest in plastic surgery or injections. "I'm not someone who's ever going to want to go in and get serious stuff done on my skin," she says. "The idea of me putting my face in the hands of someone else with a knife, no, no, no! Don't come at me with that. It's not going to happen," she explains. "No. 1 is the fear, and No. 2, I can't do my job if I can't move my face." Besides, she adds, "What are the two truths in life? Taxes and death. It's happening. Getting older is a guarantee. I think the women who look most beautiful are the women who don't look younger."
Saying goodbye
Three years after he was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer, Nene Leakes' husband, Gregg Leakes, has died at age 66. A regular on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" for more than a decade, Gregg "passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by all of his children, very close loved ones and wife" his publicist told The Wrap in a statement. Gregg was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in the summer of 2018. Nene announced in June that Gregg's cancer was back after having gone into remission. The on-off couple remarried in 2013 after their first marriage ended in divorce. Following Gregg's death, stars including Andy Cohen remembered him on social media. "I jokingly called him 'Pastor Leakes' but in truth he was a strong voice of reason & commanded great respect among the entire #RHOA team" Andy wrote, in part. "I am sending love and strength to @neneleakes & the entire Leakes family," he added.
