By Wonderwall.com Editors
5:48am PST, Mar 10, 2021
Britney Spears' conservatorship battle exemplifies what can go wrong with the arrangements, congressmen argue
Britney Spears could be invited to testify before Congress about her controversial conservatorship experience. This week, House Reps. Jim Jordan (Ohio) and Matt Gaetz (Florida) formally requested a hearing on the matter of conservatorships citing Britney as "the most striking example" of someone left under the control of a conservator with "questionable" motives. "In court appearances in August and November of 2020, Ms. Spears' attorney represented to the court that Ms. Spears 'strongly opposed' having her father as a conservator, that she was afraid of her father, and that she would not again perform publicly so long as this arrangement persisted," the congressmen wrote in a letter to House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, according to TMZ. "There are countless other Americans unjustly stripped of their freedoms by others with little recourse," the letter continues, adding that there are "constitutional freedoms at stake" within "these arrangements," making it important for the Judiciary Committee "to convene a hearing to examine whether Americans are trapped unjustly in conservatorships." Speaking to TMZ Tuesday, Rep. Gaetz, who was inspired to request the hearing "because of the 'Framing Britney Spears' documentary," said Tuesday he believes the singer's testimony could potentially be "powerful."
Keep reading to find out why George Clooney's in "trouble"
with Amal …
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Why George Clooney's 'E.R.' character is getting him 'in trouble' with Amal
Paging Dr. Ross … or not. Amal Clooney's been catching up on her husband, George Clooney's tenure as pediatrician Doug Ross on "E.R." and according to George, she's not exactly impressed with Doug's womanizing ways. "My wife is watching them now," George recently told Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes on their "SmartLess" podcast, "and it's getting me in a lot of trouble because I'd forgotten all of the terrible things [Doug] was doing picking up on women." George, 59, appeared on "E.R." from 1994 until 1999 — years Amal spent focused on her studies in high school and at Oxford. Now 43, she went on to become an accomplished international human rights attorney and legal scholar, which might explain George's reaction when Jason suggested Amal might become "star struck" after seeing her husband in his primetime heyday. "Yeah," George said, "that's not my wife." The Oscar winner also had a bit of a ladies' man rep before he fell for Amal, but as he told Jason, Will and Sean, once he met Amal, there was no turning back. "She was brilliant and funny and beautiful and kind," he said. "I was sort of swept off my feet. We got engaged after a few months and got married within the first year that we met. It surprised me more than probably anybody else in the world — and everybody else was pretty surprised." George and Amal tied the knot in 2014 and welcomed twins Ella and Alexander in 2017.
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John Oliver predicted the royal family could cause 'emotional complications' for Meghan Markle
In the wake of Oprah Winfrey's explosive interview with Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, Twitter users have resurfaced comments John Oliver made to Stephen Colbert back in 2018. In a nutshell? "John Oliver knew all along…," as one user put it, per Deadline. What he knew, or at least predicted, was that marrying into the royal family was poised to put Meghan's mental health in jeopardy. "I would not blame her if she pulled out of this in the last minute," the "Last Week Tonight" host said at the time, speaking to Stephen before the royal wedding. "I don't think you need to have just seen the pilot episode of 'The Crown' to get a basic sense of she might be marrying into a family that could cause her some emotional complications," he added. "I mean, they're an emotionally stunted group of fundamentally flawed people doing a very silly pseudo job. That's what she's marrying into. So I hope she likes it. It's going to be weird for her." In her CBS sit-down with Oprah, Meghan revealed the restricted lifestyle and often racist scrutiny she endured as a working member of the royal family left her with serious mental health issues for which she says she was essentially barred from getting medical help. Meghan, who is biracial, also told Oprah there were conversations within the family in which questions were raised about how dark her son, Archie's skin might be. On Tuesday, March 9, Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of Queen Elizabeth that read: "The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members." Meghan and Harry are currently expecting their second child.
RELATED: Celebs react to Meghan and Harry's Oprah interview
Co-parenting's never easy, nor is raising kids in a pandemic, as so many moms and dads have learned over the past year. So how does a mom handle co-parenting multiple kids with multiple dads at a time like this? With trust, apparently. The Fabletics founder shares her sons Ryder, 16, and Bingham, 9, with exes Chris Robinson and Matt Bellamy, respectively. She also shares 2-year-old daughter, Rani Rose, with her partner, Danny Fujikawa. Asked how that works, Kate tells Women's Health, "I'm really lucky," explaining that while there are "lots of dads" in her family," it works out. "I trust them," she says. She also keeps in mind the parenting goal she and Matt agreed on when they split. "One thing that Matt said to me, which I loved, is, 'I just want to make sure that Bing feels like he's gaining something, not losing something,'" she recalls. And with the pandemic striking fear into parents and kids alike over the past year, Kate sees how her whole family gains something by having a larger extended support system. "I think it's even bonded us closer," she says, "… me, Matt, [his wife] Elle and Danny — because we have to trust that we're protecting each other." (Chris lives in another state, which the outlet says has reduced the need for travel.) In addition to raising three kids and managing her various businesses, Kate's returned to acting, though she admits to Women's Health she aims to direct at some point. "I will definitely do rom-coms again. But I haven't been happy with the way people try to convince me a rom-com should be," she says. "I will act when I want, but I want to tell stories," she adds. "I'll be the woman with all those crazy, big bracelets, jewelry, and caftans, directing."
Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace will 'never give up' her hope for justice in the rapper's death
Tuesday, March 9, marks 24 years since the Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie Smalls (and born Christopher Wallace), was killed in a drive-by shooting by an unknown assailant while leaving a Soul Train Music Awards afterparty in Los Angeles. And while Biggie's death doesn't take centerstage in the new Netflix documentary, "I Got a Story to Tell," the late rapper's mother, who produced the doc along with Diddy, says she'll never stop having faith that her son's killer will someday be brought to justice. "As long as I have life there's hope," Voletta Wallace recently told EW. "I'll never give up. And I hope when I'm not in this world anymore, my friends and family will carry on the fight. There is always hope." Voletta also opened up about how her son's music became a point of connection for her after he died at age 24. "After his passing, I heard a lot of positive and negative things that were being said about him. As a mother, I only wanted to hear positive things because I'm biased," she said. "I decided then I wanted to know more about his music. I read something in a magazine about him where the writer said something like, 'what do people expect when you give a bum from the ghetto a million dollars?' I was very hurt by that. I never raised my son to be a bum or a drug dealer. So I listened to his music and I asked a lot of questions. I cried like a baby while listening because what I heard was an intelligent human being." "Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell" is streaming on Netflix now.
Demi Lovato explains the role of coping mechanisms in addiction and recovery
Once again, Demi Lovato is opening up about how she's battled her own demons in the interest of reminding fans that "we all struggle." Speaking to Diane Guerrero on a forthcoming episode of the "Yeah No, I'm Not OK" podcast (via E! News), Demi explained that her use of "destructive coping mechanisms" like substance abuse and an eating disorder wasn't about wanting to self-destruct — it was about wanting to find some way to deal with pain so intense it left her unable to find other outlets. In fact, she said her drug use actually "saved my life at times" when the alternative "coping mechanism" she considered might have been to end things. Today, Demi's sober, thanks to therapy, medication and her own commitment to herself. "I did the best that I could at times," she says, "and now that I have other tools and other resources, I know how else to deal and how else to cope so I don't have to resort to those behaviors again."
Justin Bieber commits to increasing his awareness of 'the struggles women face'
In honor of International Women's Day on Monday, March 8, Justin Bieber vowed to become better educated about the collective experience of women. "I know i have been naive and haven't been empathetic toward women in the past and have overlooked their struggles," the singer captioned a "Happy Women's Day" post on Instagram. "I am learning everyday beside my wife as I see all of the struggles she faces that i will never have to face," he continued, crediting Hailey Bieber. "I am committed to being better and more aware of the struggles women face that men never will!! Women you are superhero's [sic] and deserve to be celebrated today and everyday."
Piers Morgan quits 'Good Morning Britain'
The fallout from Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's Oprah Winfrey interview has already extended well beyond the royal family. Following an on-air argument about Meghan's mental health revelations between co-presenters Piers Morgan and Alex Beresford on the Tuesday, March 9, edition of "Good Morning Britain," Piers, who questioned the validity of Meghan's claims, stormed off the show. According to EW, he later quit "Good Morning Britain" altogether. "Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave 'Good Morning Britain,'" the networks said in a statement. "ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add." Prior to Piers' departure, Alex had pointed out to Piers that he's made it "clear a number of times" he doesn't "like Meghan," then suggested Piers' attitude was related to Meghan having "cut [him] off." EW reports Piers' comments on mental health sparked "more than 41,000 complaints," according to the U.K. Office of Communications.
