By Jessica Wedemeyer
8:22am PDT, May 1, 2020
"Little Women: Atlanta" star Ashley "Ms. Minnie" Ross dead at 34 after car accident
"Little Women: Atlanta" star Ashley "Ms. Minnie" Ross died in a South Fulton, Georgia, hospital on April 27 after suffering serious injuries in a car accident the previous evening. She was 34. Despite initial reports to the contrary, a preliminary police investigation indicates that the accident was not a hit-and-run. According to People magazine, a police statement alleges the reality star's Nissan Sentra collided with a Ford Focus going the opposite direction after she hit and curb and then veered into oncoming traffic. The other driver reportedly sustained just minor injuries. There's been no indication that either driver was under the influence when the accident occurred.
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Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler announce split, divorce quickly turns nasty
Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler took to Instagram on April 26 to announce that they're calling it quits after seven years of marriage and a decade of coupledom. Although initial reports indicated the breakup was amicable though a long time coming — with multiple media outlets reporting there was no infidelity — things quickly turned nasty. After the former professional football player filed to legally end the marriage on April 21, it became clear that he and the reality star will be battling over custody of their three children (they're already disagreeing over who served as the available at-home parent, primary caretaker and residential parent for their kids) and finances (she's accused him of blocking her attempts to buy a new home, alleging that he would only release the needed funds if she agreed to his custody plan). On April 29, Us Weekly reported that the duo have been at odds for much longer than it initially appeared: They almost split late last year — things were reportedly "so bad in the marriage," Kristin started house-hunting and nearly moved out in November. Although they "attempted to salvage the marriage," they eventually "realized the attempt to reconcile was not working and knew a divorce was inevitable." According to one source, their "personal relationship became antagonistic" — they "were only on the same side when it came to their kids," said the insider.
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"Seinfeld" actor Gene Dynarski dies at 86
Actor Gene Dynarski — who memorably portrayed Izzy Mandelbaum Jr. on two 1997 episodes of "Seinfeld" — died at a rehabilitation center in Los Angeles' Studio City neighborhood on Feb. 27. Playwright Ernest Kearney broke the news on his website on April 26, noting that his longtime friend "had been recuperating from a mild heart episode" for a month before he died.
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Chris Cuomo reveals he's tested negative for coronavirus
On the April 27 episode of "Cuomo Prime Time," Chris Cuomo revealed that after battling a coronavirus infection in late March and early April, he's now tested negative for COVID-19 and has both antibodies to the illness — though he expressed confusion over the antibodies' significance. "I thought I was going to have great news. I tested negative — don't have the virus," he said. "Good for me. I also tested to show that I have both antibodies. What does that mean? Do I really have great news? What does it mean that I have the antibodies? Am I really immune? Do they know? There's a lot of confusion about what it does and doesn't mean." The World Health Organization has warned that individuals with COVID-19 antibodies might not necessarily be immune to it. "Presumably you're going to have some protection against this," Dr. Sanjay Gupta told the newsman, adding that it'll take some time "to actually show that these antibodies are going to protect you."
Man charged in drive-by shooting at "Duck Dynasty" estate
On the afternoon of April 24, the Louisiana estate belonging to "Duck Dynasty" star Willie Robertson was targeted in a drive-by shooting. Although several members of the extended family were home at the time of the attack, no one was injured. According to TMZ, eight to 10 bullets hit two buildings at the West Monroe compound. (Willie later told the Monroe News-Star that although no one was outside at the time of the shooting, they'd all been outdoors just five minutes earlier. He added that he was running an errand during the shooting and that one shot went through a bedroom window.) The following day, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office announced on Facebook that a man named Daniel King Jr. was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated assault for his role in the drive-by. Several members of the Robertson clan have since been issued orders of protection barring King from coming within 1,000 feet of them for the next year. He must also hand over his firearms. King, meanwhile, claims he was simply testing the gun's safety when he fired the shots at the Robertson compound. His bond was reportedly set at $150,700.
Felicity Huffman "so proud" after daughter gets into top university following college admission scandal
On April 27, People magazine reported that Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy's older daughter, Sophia, has been accepted into the theater program at Carnegie Mellon University, which she plans to attend in the fall. "Felicity is so proud and grateful that Sophia has kept her chin up over the last year," said a source. "It was a painful, challenging time and she pulled through it with strength and grace." The Oscar-nominated actress notoriously spent 11 days behind bars in late 2019 for her role in a college admission scandal: She paid admissions consultant Rick Singer $15,000 to have a proctor change Sophia's answers after she took the SAT without Sophia's knowledge. In the wake of the scandal, Sophia's admission into Carnegie Mellon for 2019 was rescinded. The aspiring actress reportedly retook the test. The Macys' younger daughter, Georgia, is also headed to college this fall: She's set to attend Vassar.
"The Price Is Right" announcer George Gray "in good spirits" after three heart attacks
TheWrap reported on April 26 that "The Price Is Right" announcer George Gray has been recovering in an Arizona hospital after suffering three massive heart attacks earlier in the month. He reportedly landed in the hospital after the first heart attack, suffered a second heart attack while undergoing surgery to place stents in his arteries and then had yet another heart attack when the stents failed. He's now "looking to make a full recovery" and "in good spirits" following a second operation, his rep said, adding that George plans to return to the "Price Is Right" when the show returns from a coronavirus-imposed hiatus.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck accuses Meghan McCain of misrepresenting her comments on prayer, COVID-19
On April 24, Elisabeth Hasselbeck took to Instagram to hit back at Meghan McCain's claims that her comments about the power of prayer amid the coronavirus pandemic were "really, really unfortunate and dangerous" — during an April 22 appearance on "Watch What Happens Live," Meghan essentially accused Elisabeth of spreading "misinformation" about the highly contagious virus. Elisabeth — who said on the March 11 episode of "The View" that "we're gonna take precautions," use Purell and "pray that God's got us in our tomorrows … [and that] this coronavirus is extinguished, that it stops in its tracks" — shared a video of herself talking to her son, Isaiah, about praying when they're scared, washing their hands, using Purell and taking social distancing seriously because she has "autoimmune things" like Celiac disease and asthma. She then addressed Meghan directly: "I don't like being misrepresented," she said before insisting that her comments about prayer and the coronavirus came "pre-social distancing orders" and "very early" in the pandemic. "I will always, always call on God in my prayer when things get scary and when they're unknown," she said. "It's my first response, and it will always be my best defense." In the lengthy caption, Elisabeth wrote to Meghan, "Get your quotes right. I never said I had the power to pray covid away. … My quote was that I am going to pray and [use] Purell." The mother of three also accused Meghan of "tossing out some anger" her way and "taking an opportunity to be so aggressive toward [her] during such a stressful time." Wrote Elisabeth to Meghan, "I have always liked you and been a vocal defender of your family. I sure did not see this one coming. We are all just trying to do our best, we should not be judging one another we should be in this together. … I'm praying today that you can lay off throwing the social darts at me. I am not sure why you decided to do this."
Anderson Cooper's special announcement: "I am a dad. I have a son."
Toward the end of CNN's April 30 coronavirus town hall, Anderson Cooper shared some very exciting but unexpected news: Three days earlier, he welcomed a baby boy, Wyatt Morgan. "On Monday, I became a father. I've never actually said that before out loud, and it still kind of astonishes me. I am a dad. I have a son. And I want you to meet him," he said while sharing the first photos of his new addition. On Instagram, Anderson explained that his son is named after his father, who died when he was just 10. "As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I'm grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son's birth," he wrote before thanking the surrogate who carried his bundle of joy.
