By Mark Gray
8:10am PDT, Aug 8, 2021
Huge sale
Hello, payday! Reese Witherspoon has sold her entertainment startup Hello Sunshine to a private equity firm for $900 million, according to reports. The owners, both of whom are former Disney executives, are backed by the Blackstone Group. Reese and Hello Sunshine chief executive Sarah Harden will join the new firm as board members. "Today marks a tremendous moment for Hello Sunshine," Reese said in a statement on Aug. 2. "I started this company to change the way all women are seen in media. Over the past few years, we have watched our mission thrive through books, TV, film and social platforms. Today, we're taking a huge step forward by partnering with Blackstone, which will enable us to tell even more entertaining, impactful and illuminating stories about women's lives globally."
Final farewell
Meghan McCain, exit stage right. On Aug. 6, the conservative firebrand appeared on her final episode of "The View." (Meghan, who's co-hosted the daytime show since October 2017, had announced she was leaving "The View" one month earlier). During her nearly four-year stint on the ABC show, Meghan often clashed with her fellow co-hosts, particularly Joy Behar. Rarely did a show go by in which they weren't feuding. On her final show, Meghan was congratulated via video by former House Speaker Paul Ryan, and a highlight reel of her best moments aired. In her last sign off, Meghan said it was an "privilege and honor" to work at "The View." "This has been a really wild ride the past four years of my life. It's been, honestly, the best of times in all ways, on and off the show. And it's been a really incredible, liberating experience and I will always cherish the time I spent with all of you," she said. Love her or hate her, there's no doubt that Meghan made a big impact on "The View," one that won't easily be forgotten.
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Cancer diagnosis
Kathy Griffin has been diagnosed with lung cancer and had half of her left lung removed this week. The comedian made the reveal on Twitter on Aug. 2, saying she's never smoked. "The doctors are very optimistic as it is stage one and contained to my left lung. Hopefully no chemo or radiation after this and I should have normal function with my breathing. I should be up and running around as usual in a month or less," Kathy wrote. "Of course I am fully vaccinated for COVID. The consequences for being unvaccinated would have been even more serious. Please stay up to date on your medical check ups. It'll save your life." In a separate interview on ABC the same day, the "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" star also spoke candidly about having suicidal thoughts last year and of her previous addiction to opioids. On Aug. 4, Kathy conceded that the surgery was "a little more" than she had anticipated.
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Slur scandal
Matt Damon found himself in the middle of controversy this week because of a homophobic slur, one that no one has heard him say (outside of the context of an acting role). In a chat with Britain's Sunday Times, the actor spoke of his daughter recently writing him a "long, beautiful treatise" about the "f-slur" and "how that word is dangerous." Matt said he "retired" the slur afterward. Matt was soon trending on Twitter and he was shredded. On Aug. 2, he tried to clean up the mess, explaining that he doesn't use the word in his "personal life" and does not "use slurs of any kind." The interview, he said, "led many to assume the worst." The Oscar winner explained, "During a recent interview, I recalled a discussion I had with my daughter where I attempted to contextualize for her the progress that has been made — though by no means completed — since I was growing up in Boston and, as a child, heard the word 'f**' used on the street before I knew what it even referred to," His statement continued, "I explained that that word was used constantly and casually and was even a line of dialogue in a movie of mine as recently as 2003; she in turn expressed incredulity that there could ever have been a time where that word was used unthinkingly. To my admiration and pride, she was extremely articulate about the extent to which that word would have been painful to someone in the LGBTQ+ community regardless of how culturally normalized it was. I not only agreed with her but thrilled at her passion, values and desire for social justice." He added, "To be as clear as I can be, I stand with the LGBTQ+ community."
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Breastfeeding debate
Ice-T and his wife, Coco Austin, are shrugging off controversy over their daughter continuing to breastfeed at 5 years old. "Chanel still likes my boob. She's 5 years old," Coco told Us Weekly on Aug. 2. "A lot of people are like, 'Oh, you're not getting the nutrition after 2 years old. Why do it?' And I'm like, 'My child's eating steak and hamburgers. She just likes a little snack every now and then and more of the bonding between the mother.' Why take that away from her?" Chanel, her mom says, likes breastfeeding for comfort. On Aug. 4, Ice weighed in and ripped several Twitter followers who critiqued his and Coco's parenting. He even joked, "News Flash! I'm still Breastfeeding! Every chance I can…."
Ex shade?
Did Jenna Dewan call ex-husband Channing Tatum an absent dad? On the Aug. 2 episode of Dear Media's "Dear Gabby" podcast, Jenna said it was "really hard" balancing her life as a new mom and working actress after the birth of daughter Everly. The part that everyone centered on was Jenna saying Channing "wasn't available" after their daughter's birth. "So, it was me, my doula, and Evie all by ourselves traveling at 6 weeks," she said. "I did have her on set with me constantly. It was just really difficult. … It was like, I just never stopped … I was breastfeeding, I was pumping, I was without a partner, I mean it was just craziness." A few days later, she accused the media of taking her words out of context. "It's unfortunate that countless media outlets have taken an important conversation on a woman's experience with postpartum issues and pulled quotes to make it appear that I was slamming my daughter's father, something I would never do," she said on social media. Shortly after Everly's birth, both she and Channing were working on projects in different places. Jenna said that was challenging. "Anyone who actually listens to the interview, something I encourage everyone to do, will clearly see that my words have been distorted for clicks and to push false, salacious gossip with no regard for the actual people involved, or the message intended," she said.
Homophobic words
Rapper DaBaby is facing the consequences of his words. The rapper was dropped from multiple music festival lineups — Lollapalooza, Governors Ball, Day N Vegas, Austin City Limits and more — in the wake of the homophobic remarks he made on stage during Rolling Loud Miami. After his initial comments, DaBaby doubled down on his remarks. On Aug. 2, as he was getting dropped from a slew of concerts, DaBaby said he was sorry. "I want to apologize to the LGBTQ+ community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made," the 29-year-old rapper wrote on Instagram. "Again, I apologize for my misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS and I know education on this is important. Love to all. God bless."
Finally married
And they said it would never happen! "Sex and the City" actor John Corbett revealed that he and his longtime partner, actress Bo Derek, secretly married last year after two decades together. "Around Christmastime we got married. Bo and I got married," he said on "The Talk" on Aug. 3, noting it was the first time either he or Bo had spoken about it in public. John wore his wedding ring during the chat and said the coronavirus pandemic was one reason he and Bo tied the knot, as they wanted to have a positive memory of 2020. "We're pretty private people," he said of himself and his bride. "We didn't make an announcement. All our friends and family knew."
Billionaire mogul
Move over Kylie Jenner, there's another billionaire makeup mogul in Hollywood. On Aug. 4, Forbes announced that Rihanna is now a certified billionaire with a net worth of $1.7 billion. The number makes her the wealthiest female musician in the world and the second wealthiest female entertainer, behind only Oprah Winfrey. Most of RiRi's money comes from the success of her Fenty Beauty line, which she started four years ago. The singer owns a 50% stake in the brand, which Forbes says accounts for $1.4 billion of her wealth. Her lingerie company, Savage X Fenty, is worth about $270 million, and her entertainment career makes up the rest. It's raining money. Get her an umbrella!
New host?
"Jeopardy!" executive producer Mike Richards is reportedly close to becoming Alex Trebek's permanent successor. On Aug. 4, Variety reported that Mike is in "advanced negotiations" to host the show, although nothing is set is stone yet. While Mike's stint as a guest host was well-received, many fans of the show were hoping LeVar Burton would secure the gig.
