By Mark Gray
10:40am PST, Jan 30, 2022
Fired
Jennie Nguyen is one and done. After just one season on "The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City," Jennie was fired over controversial resurfaced social media posts. Back in 2020, Jennie posted multiple memes and messages targeting the Black Lives Matter movement, even joking about running over protesters with her car. On Jan. 25, amid a wave of backlash, Bravo gave her the ax. "Bravo has ceased filming with Jennie Nguyen and she will no longer be a cast member on 'The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,'" the network said in a statement. "We recognize we failed to take appropriate action once her offensive social media posts were brought to our attention. Moving forward, we will work to improve our processes to ensure we make better informed and more thoughtful casting decisions." Just hours before the firing, "Housewives" executive producer Andy Cohen called Jennie's BLM comments "upsetting … and disgusting." In addressing the controversial posts on Jan. 26, she took responsibility but also tried to shift blame to her "team."
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Mourning father
"Reservoir Dogs" star Michael Madsen is calling for a full investigation by the military after his son, Hudson Madsen, died by suicide on Jan. 23, 2022. Hudson — a soldier in the U.S. Army who'd spent time in Afghanistan and lived on Oahu with his wife of more than three years — was 26. "We are heartbroken and overwhelmed with grief and pain at the loss of Hudson," Michael, wife DeAnna and their family told Metro.co.uk in a statement. On Jan. 26, Michael opened up about the tragedy in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. "I am in shock as my son, whom I just spoke with a few days ago, said he was happy — my last text from him was 'I love you dad,'" the grieving actor said. "I didn't see any signs of depression. It's so tragic and sad. I'm just trying to make sense of everything and understand what happened. He had typical life challenges that people have with finances, but he wanted a family. He was looking towards his future, so it's mind blowing. I just can't grasp what happened." The famed actor believes "that officers and rank and file were shaming" Hudson — who's the godson of filmmaker Quentin Tarantino — for needing therapy, which made him back off on seeking help for mental health issues.
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Supportive ex
Modern family! Gwyneth Paltrow has nothing but love for Dakota Johnson, her ex-husband Chris Martin's current girlfriend. During a fan AMA on Instagram, one person asked the Goop founder if she "loves" the "How To Be Single" actress. Gwyneth responded, "Very much." Gwyn and Chris have long been close, even after they famously "consciously uncoupled" in 2015 after 13 years of marriage. In that same AMA, a fan asked Gwyn if she can "really move on." "Oh, absolutely," the "Iron Man" actress said. "It's a great opportunity to get ruthless with the truth of who you really are, what you want, and what you deserve."
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Sister rivalry
Britney Spears is calling her sister "scum" in a new Instagram post. The pop star took to Instagram on Jan. 28 to address Jamie Lynn Spears' new best selling book, "Things I Should Have Said." "National best seller???? DUH 🙄 …. the timing of your book was unbelievable Jamie Lynn … especially knowing the whole world had no clue what was really done to me!!!! My whole family including you is saying YOU DIDN'T KNOW" Britney wrote. She then sarcastically said, "Congrats best seller … I'm not surprised at all … I wish you would take a lie detector test so all these masses of people see you're lying through your teeth about me !!!! I wish the almighty, Lord would could come down and show this whole world that you're lying and making money off of me !!!! You are scum, Jamie Lynn."
DRAMA!!!
The last-minute postponement of Adele's Las Vegas residency is continuing to make quite the splash as rumors swirl around the reasons for the 11th-hour axing. When the songstress abruptly canceled on the eve of her premiere at Caesars Palace, she blamed COVID-19. However, in the wake of those claims, a report emerged alleging the singer balked at Caesars' request she perform "Skyfall" with a 60-person choir. Page Six reported that Adele and her set designer were also at odds. Then, on Jan. 24, The Sun reported that one of the singer's biggest sticking points centered on a swimming pool set she would have used during "Easy On Me." "When she saw the finished design, she refused to take part," a source told the British outlet. "Adele described the pool as a 'baggy old pond' and refused, point blank, to stand in the middle of it. The intention was to fill it with water on the set as she was lifted up on a crane-type mechanism, creating the illusion she was floating on water." There is also suspicion that Adele's new boyfriend, Rich Paul, played a role in her decision to postpone the residency. "Adele's been crying and couldn't get through a single full rehearsal for the past month," a source told Page Six, adding that the chart-topper was "constantly on the phone with Rich … loudly shouting and sobbing" and "barely rehearsed" because she was "constantly in the middle of an emotional shootout."
Spotify ultimatum
You won't find Neil Young's music on the Spotify streaming service anymore. In Jan. 24, the folk-rock legend demanded that his music be removed from the service over his issues with Spotify's support of podcaster Joe Rogan. Neil believes Joe spreads misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines and he didn't want his music to share the same platform (he essentially issued an ultimatum: his music or Joe's podcasts.) On Jan. 26, Spotify confirmed it was removing Neil's music from the service. On his website, the "Harvest Moon" singer said he expects to lose 60% of his streaming revenue by pulling his catalogue off Spotify. Still, he maintained he "could not continue to support Spotify's life threatening misinformation to the music loving public." He continued, "I truly want to thank the many, many people who have reached out to me thanking me for taking this position — people who are health professionals on the front lines, people who have lost loved ones to COVID or who are worried for their own children and families. I have never felt so much love coming from so many. I sincerely hope that other artists and record companies will move off the Spotify platform and stop supporting Spotify's deadly misinformation about COVID."
No. 3
Third time's the charm. Nicky Hilton Rothschild and husband James Rothschild are expecting their third child, her rep confirmed on Jan. 25. The couple are already parents to two daughters, Lily Grace Victoria, 5, and Theodora Marilyn, 4. The heiress is due in the summer of 2022.
Getting hitched
Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song are ready for their forever. On Jan. 26, People magazine reported that the "Home Alone" actor and the Disney star were engaged. The news comes nine months after the duo welcomed son Dakota. A few days before the news broke, Brenda was photographed in Los Angeles wearing what appeared to be a diamond ring. Macaulay and Brenda have been together since 2017.
For sale
Kat Von D's famous home is about to belong to someone else. The "L.A. Ink" tattoo artist owns the picture-perfect home that was featured in 2003's "Cheaper by the Dozen." That home is now on the market for a cool $15 million (Kat and her family have moved to Indiana). While the 12,000-square-foot property looked warm and familial in the Steve Martin-led film, the reality is a little different. The estate, located in L.A. proper, includes lush, manicured landscaping, a blood-red swimming pool and a vampire aesthetic. The estate also features a main residence with 11 bedrooms and eight full bathrooms plus a separate carriage house with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Fun fact: The house was built in the 1890s and moved to its current location in 1915. Ya got $15 million to spare?
Secret makeout session
Lady Gaga and Salma Hayek shared a steamy makeout session for a "House of Gucci" scene, but the footage ended up on the cutting room floor. During an interview on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on Jan. 24, the singer-actress — who plays Patrizia Reggiani opposite Adam Driver's doomed Maurizio Gucci — said the scene would have taken place after Maurizio was killed. Pina (Salma's character) was with Patrizia when she got news of the death. The whole scene was ultimately cut for time reasons, "but it was an awesome scene," Gaga said. "All [Pina's pet] cats were following her, and Salma, in order to get the cats to follow her, she put a bunch of catnip in her boot," Gaga continued. "So Salma's walking around the house and the cats are following her … and then we were surrounded by cats and we started making out, and I made out with Salma Hayek!" Since the scene didn't make the cut, the "Bad Romance" singer joked that she felt like that "really annoying kid in school that's bragging that they made out with the popular girl but has no proof."
