BDAY LOVE

NFL star caught up in another round of affair allegations this year, more news

BDAY LOVE

TV 'ruined' this Netflix star's life as he now faces homelessness

A former "Love is Blind" star claims being on the popular series "ruined" his life and left him on the brink of homelessness. 

Nick Thompson, who appeared on the popular Netflix dating show in 2021, claims he hasn't been able to find a job since his reality TV stint because employers have a hard time taking him "seriously." In addition, the show paid him a paltry sum of $10,000 for 10 weeks of filming, he claims, adding that it works out to just over $7 an hour. 

Getty Images for iHeartRadio

"When you think about the amount of money that's being made, and the way that it's the path for future seasons, and the fact that anyone can go on and watch me… and I'm going to be homeless," he told DailyMail.com. "I lost my job last November. I'm having an incredibly hard time finding [a new] one. I burned through my savings [and] cashed out my 401(k). I've got two months left in the bank to pay my mortgage. I can't get a job because people don't take me seriously. I was a VP in software for five years, so it's not like I don't have a track record of experience or success."

The blame, Nick says, falls on the show and the reality TV industry.

"You are filming 18 to 20 hours a day, and that doesn't necessarily mean that you're always going to be on TV," he said. "You're miked up from the moment you get there in the morning, and you're miked up all the way until you leave. Then when you go home at the end of the day, you're locked in your hotel room without a key, without your wallet, without money, without identification.

"You literally are held captive like a prisoner and there is absolutely no reason that you shouldn't be considered an employee when you're technically under the control of your employer for 24 hours a day," he argued. 

The reality TV star says Netflix exploited him and his castmates, noting that reality TV is relatively inexpensive to make. Rewards for the networks, however, can be huge.

"We were manipulated, our triggers were utilized against us," he claimed. "Anything that we shared with a producer or with a psych exam was weaponized against us."

He later told DailyMail.com that the reality show "ruined [my] life completely."

"I wish I could just go back to having a nice life that I had built for myself, instead of wondering whether my mortgage is gonna get paid. It's a brutal, brutal, brutal industry," he said. 

BDAY LOVE

Wrestler-turned-actor says he slept in his car while experiencing homelessness, 'didn't have the money' for food

John Cena considers his life one big happy "accident" stemming from failure after failure.

The WWE star-turned-actor spoke candidly to Kevin Hart about his struggles and letdowns after moving from Massachusetts to Los Angeles early in his career. 

Adela Loconte/Shutterstock

"My whole existence is an accident," he told the comedian on his "Hart to Heart" show. "My whole existence is based on a series of fortunate events that kind of lined up with each other."

While many people move to Los Angeles to pursue careers in the entertainment business, the "Peacemaker" star moved to Southern California hoping to put to use his degree in exercise physiology and kinesiology. 

"[I] came out here to apply my degree and really failed. … I couldn't get any validation for that piece of paper that I paid for — that four-year certificate from Springfield College saying, 'We think you know what you're talking about,'" John said.

"Every avenue of fitness I failed," he continued, adding that he was met with a lot of "closed doors."

Berliner Alex J./action press/REX/Shutterstock

At one point, the "Fast X" star thought about becoming a police officer — but he failed the highway patrol exam. 

Things were so dire that John was homeless and lived in the back of his 1991 Lincoln Continental for a few months. He then lived in a garage for six months. He survived by winning a nightly food challenge at a pizza restaurant in Hermosa Beach, California. 

"They had a deal where, if you could eat their whole pizza, you got it for free," he said. "I used to eat there every night, a whole pizza, so I didn't have to pay, because I didn't have the money to pay the guy."

John went on to clarify that it was his "choice" to live in such an "uncomfortable" situation.

"Often you hear stories of hard times. I'm very fortunate for my story because it was my choice to have hard times," he said. "My father always said, 'You're my son. I love you. You're always welcome back home.' If I could get to West Newbury, Massachusetts, I would be fed. I would have a roof over my head. I would be able to regroup. I chose to stay out."

BDAY LOVE

Stars who grew up in the spotlight then versus now: See how they transformed over the years

BDAY LOVE

Former actress is getting intensive treatment at inpatient facility amid psychiatric crisis, more news

BDAY LOVE

Music star's trouble-prone former spouse arrested again: See what happened to all the other men she loved and lost over the years

BDAY LOVE

Martha Stewart's life in pictures: See how the domestic doyenne has changed over the years

BDAY LOVE

Grammy winner was 'sloppy on set' with married Broadway star before he separated from his spouse

Ariana Grande and her rumored beau, actor Ethan Slater, didn't hide their romance on the set of "Wicked."

On Aug. 3, DailyMail.com reported that, according to a source, Ethan and Lilly Jay — his wife of five years — were still together when his "affair" with the pop star began. 

Matt Baron/Shutterstock/MediaPunch/Shutterstock

"They were sloppy on set," the source said. "They were seen being all over each other while he was still supposedly happily married to Lilly."

The insider claims Ariana and Ethan were somewhat reckless with their relationship in public on several different occasions.

"They were seen making out at a pub in Hampstead, and they were all over each other at Michelle Yeoh's Oscar party [in March]," the source claimed. 

A different source, however, insists that the new duo didn't begin dating until they were both single. 

It's unclear when exactly Ethan and Lilly separated, though he publicly honored her on Instagram while marking Mother's Day in May. At the time, he called her "the most loving caring and wonderful mom/person in the world."

Javier Garcia/Shutterstock

Yet another DailyMail.com source shed some light on Lilly's awareness of her husband's affair: "There was a period when they were all going to try and work on their marriages and put the whole thing behind them," the insider claimed. "She thought they were happy. But that did not work out [because Ariana and Ethan] kept the affair going despite [that]."

There have also been reports that Ethan and Lily double dated with Ariana and her estranged husband, Dalton Gomez, before both marriages imploded.

Ethan filed for divorce last week. 

BDAY LOVE

TV star sues her controversial former church and its leader

Leah Remini is taking her decade-long fight with the Church of Scientology to court, claiming she's been subject to "harassment, intimidation, surveillance, and defamation."

On Wednesday, Aug. 2, the former "The King of Queens" actress announced that she had filed a lawsuit against the controversial church and its leader, David Miscavige.

Broadimage/Shutterstock

"While advocating for victims of Scientology has significantly impacted my life and career, Scientology's final objective of silencing me has not been achieved," she said on social media. "While this lawsuit is about what Scientology has done to me, I am one of thousands of targets of Scientology over the past seven decades. People who share what they've experienced in Scientology, and those who tell their stories and advocate for them, should be free to do so without fearing retaliation from a cult with tax exemption and billions in assets."

For much of her early life, Leah was a proponent of the church's teachings. However, she left Scientology in 2013 and has been a thorn in the church's side ever since. In 2015, she wrote "Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology," a memoir that opened the lid on Scientology and its practices. From 2016 to 2019, she also hosted a documentary series called "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath." In that series, she highlighted those who left the church and claimed they, like her, were harassed. 

In her social media announcement, she wrote, "The press has a right to report about Scientology without facing a sophisticated intelligence operation from Scientology to destroy their personal lives and their careers. Law enforcement authorities have a right to investigate crimes in Scientology without fear that they will lose their jobs. Children, mothers, fathers, aunts, and uncles have a right to request welfare checks on their family members without fear of an operation activated against them by Scientology for doing so. Those in the entertainment business should have a right to tell jokes and stories without facing an operation from Scientology which uses its resources in Hollywood to destroy their lives and careers."

Leah hopes to "speak the truth and report the facts about Scientology without fear of vicious and vindictive retribution," she penned, adding that "most have no way to fight back."

BDAY LOVE

TV star reacts after husband proposes to his alleged mistress, more stars who've split since joining a popular franchise

BDAY LOVE

Get to know the very unique new 'Big Brother' cast

BDAY LOVE

Rapper is surrounded by more sand than a woodworker, plus more pics to make you giggle

BDAY LOVE

Olympian's three young children are hospitalized for poisoning, more news

BDAY LOVE

Coroner reveals update on actor's cause of death after hikers discovered his body six months after he disappeared, more news

BDAY LOVE

Singer listed as battery suspect after throwing microphone at fan: Summer's worst concert trend continues

BDAY LOVE

A legend dies at 96: Lady Gaga and more stars say goodbye

BDAY LOVE

PHOTOS: Stars at an iconic rocker's 80th birthday party

BDAY LOVE

Former Fox News star says 'disgusting' U.S. Women's National Soccer Team 'hates' America, more news

BDAY LOVE

Rocker who quit music to investigate aliens reacts to congressional hearing on UFOs, more news

BDAY LOVE

Country star edits controversial music video to remove Black Lives Matter protest footage, more news

BDAY LOVE

Legendary rocker turns 80: See him as a schoolboy and beyond

BDAY LOVE

Oscar winner breaks silence on health crisis and disappearance: Stars react to his big return

BDAY LOVE

Singer shares health update a month after ICU stay

A month after she was intubated in the intensive care unit following a collapse, Madonna is starting to "feel" herself again. 

On Thursday, July 27, the Queen of Pop took to Instagram to share a video of herself dancing to her hit "Lucky Star," which she dropped 40 years ago on her self-titled album. 

"To be able to move my body and dance just a little bit makes me feel like the Luckiest Star in the world!" she wrote in the caption. "Thank you to all of my fans and friends! You must be my lucky stars too!"

The significance of the day wasn't lost on Madge: "Happy 40th Birthday to my very first album," she added. 

The fact that Madonna is moving well is promising. 

On June 24, the pop music icon was found unresponsive and subsequently rushed to a New York City hospital. There, she was reportedly intubated in the intensive care unit "for at least one night before having the tube removed," Page Six reported. After five days, she was discharged from the hospital, but TMZ reported that Madonna, 64, was still bedridden and "vomiting uncontrollably."

Steve Sands/NewYorkNewswire/Bauer-Griffin/Shutterstock

There was belief that Madonna's strenuous rehearsals for her "Celebration" tour were having a negative impact on her health and played a significant role in the hospitalization. 

"She was working overtime, but she clearly burnt herself out and people around her have been politely reminding her that she is not 45 anymore, let alone 25. She needed to pace herself. Pushing herself so hard was extremely risky," a source told The Sun on July 2. "Many of us feel the constant remarks about her age have put pressure on her to compete, so we are relieved that she has been forced to take time out and put her health first. People were really worried about her." 

Joanne Davidson/Shutterstock

On July 10, Madonna announced the inevitable: many of her tour dates will be postponed. 

"I'm on the road to recovery and incredibly grateful for all the blessings in my life," she wrote. "My first thought when I woke up in the hospital was my children. My second thought was that I did not want to disappoint anyone who bought tickets for my tour. I also didn't want to let down the people who worked tirelessly with me over the last few months to create my show. I hate to disappoint anyone.

"My focus now," she continued, "is my health and getting stronger and I can assure you, I'll be back with you as soon as I can! The current plan is to reschedule the North American leg of the tour and to begin in October in Europe."

BDAY LOVE

Oscar winner beats accusations he sexually assaulted multiple men, more news ICYMI

BDAY LOVE

Music star denies she and spouse faked recent affair debacle for new collab

Cardi B is denying that she and husband Offset faked a cheating scandal to promote their new collaboration, "Jealousy."

"We said it was a stunt they pulled with their relationship and that's exactly what is was," one fan alleged on Instagram.

Cardi quickly fired back, "It wasn't no STUNT. Tasha K made [something] up and y'all was laughing about it and happy about it. Now that we putting it in the music, [it's] a stunt … Naaa, baby, be mad at the one who started trolling wit it."

Tasha K is a blogger who's regularly criticized Cardi and spread rumors about her over the years.

Cardi even sued her for defamation and ultimately prevailed in court. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvLCn1BOGk5/?hl=en

In late June, Offset alleged on Instagram that Cardi strayed from their marriage.

The "Bodak Yellow" rapper quickly took to Twitter to set the record straight, insisting that her hubby was "spiraling," "going crazy" and "thinking s***" that wasn't true.

She went on to insist that if she were, in fact, cheating on her hubby, the news "would be out" already because of her celebrity status. "Please, boy, stop acting stupid. … Stop playing," she told Offset.

She also pointed out the irony considering his past indiscretions: "You can't accuse me of all the things you know that you are guilty of. And I see that it is easy for you to blame everything on me," she sang, quoting Keyshia Cole's "I Should Have Cheated."

A week later, they were photographed packing on the PDA while out and about in Paris for a Balenciaga fashion show. 

MediaPunch/Shutterstock

"They're very intense so go back and forth quite a bit. They'll hash it out like they always do. … Offset and Cardi will work things out, but a part of me wants to get a taste of the single Cardi B again," a source told People magazine following the recent drama

"She is a great wife, and an even better mom. But it would be nice to revisit the times when Cardi was out there hitting the clubs, and vacationing solo, with no husband," the insider added.

As for Offset's past indiscretions… In 2018, leaked videos showed the rapper in bed with several women.

In 2020, Cardi filed for divorce, but she and Offset eventually worked things out and reconciled