BDAY LOVE

Liza Minnelli felt 'sabotaged' after Oscars producers 'forced' her on stage

Although Liza Minnelli's presence was one of better moments of the Oscars last month, things were apparently far more tense behind the scenes. Oscars organizers "sabotaged" Liza and "forced" her to go on stage in her wheelchair last month, a friend alleged.

While on SirusXM's The Jess Cagle Show, jazz singer Michael Feinstein claimed Liza agreed to present the best picture award with Lady Gaga as long as she could sit in a director's chair, not her wheelchair.

Chris Pizzello/AP/Shutterstock

"You know, that whole thing was, she was sabotaged. That's the terrible word to use, but she only agreed to appear on the Oscars if she would be in the director's chair, cuz she's been having back trouble," Michael said. "She said, 'I don't want people to see me limping out there.' She said, 'You know, I wanna look good. I don't want people to worry about me.'"

Things seemed to be going according to plan, but the show was thrown into a frenzy after Will Smith's infamous slap of Chris Rock

"Literally five minutes before she went on, when she sat in the director's chair back there, and because every, I guess they were all shaken up because of everything that had happened earlier, the stage manager said, 'Well, she has to be in a wheelchair' and Liza pleaded," Michael said.

Liza, 76, insisted that she wanted to look strong on stage, not frail in a wheelchair.

"She said, 'No, I will not be seen in a wheelchair in front of everybody. I will not do this. I refused to do this,'" Michael claimed.

While Liza begged for her wants to be met, organizers allegedly issued an ultimatum: go out in a wheelchair or go home.

Myung Chun/Los Angeles Times/Shutterstock

A "discombobulated" Liza succumbed to producer's wishes. 

"She was nervous. I mean, and it made her look like she was out of it. And she was just so shaken up that it was," Michael said. "Can you imagine being suddenly forced to be seen by millions of people the way you don't wanna be seen? That's what happened to her. And she was very disappointed at that… and it was not what was agreed to."

He added, "She is really doing well and it's a shame that it turned out that way. She was very disappointed."

Still, the public knew none of this supposed drama. In fact, Liza and Gaga provided one of the most endearing moments of the show. While presenting the nominees, Liza seemed to flub her lines. Cameras and audio caught Gaga sweetly leaning down and quietly telling Liza, "I got you." Liza replied, "I know."

BDAY LOVE

New docs reveal Phil Collins' ex-wife married a male escort

Phil Collins' ex-wife Orianne Cevey met her most recent husband on a male escort website while she still lived with the singer, new documents reveal.

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Late last year, Orianne announced that she and Thomas Bates were splitting, and the divorce paperwork is giving a glimpse into the early origins of the romance, including the fact that Orianne met Thomas on the Cowboys 4 Angels site. At the time, Thomas, 32, described himself as "sexy intellectual" and Orianne "insisted on dating" him, the legal documents, obtained by the Daily Mail, claim.

"At the time the parties met, Husband was employed by an escort service…..The Wife selected Husband through the escort service and insisted on dating him," the docs state. "The parties' relationship rapidly progressed into a meaningful romantic relationship. Wife persuaded Husband to leave the escort service to marry her."

Orianne, 48, secretly married Thomas in Las Vegas in 2020 without a prenuptial agreement. They famously moved into Phil's Miami mansion together while he was in Europe on tour. Phil eventually had them removed from the property after going through the courts. 

The duo eventually settled into a $6 million South Florida property. Things took a turn, though, and the couple pulled the plug.

Documents allege that she bought him $75,000 of designer clothes and watches, plus a $340,000 Aston Martin during the course of their short marriage. She's asking for her ex to return those items, claiming she's in dire straights financially. 

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Orianne and Phil were married from 1999 to 2008, and they share two sons, Nicholas and Matthew. When they divorced, she reportedly got a $46 million settlement, which was a British record. In the docs, she said she was "drained of the vast majority" of her wealth during the marriage to Thomas. 

BDAY LOVE

Diane Kruger nearly attacked paparazzi for taking pictures of her child

Diane Kruger admits she's nearly snapped at a few intrusive shutterbugs.

While discussing raising a child in the public eye, the actress acknowledges "almost hitting a few" paparazzi who've tried to take pictures of her 3-year-old daughter, whom she shares with fiancé Norman Reedus.

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The couple is so protective of their little one that they've yet to publicly share their daughter's name, and they always shielded her face on social media.

The "Inglourious Basterds" actress told The Sunday Times that she has real "hate" for paparazzi. 

"It's driving me nuts," she said of photographers attempts to snap images of her child. "When I'm with my kid and they take pictures of her I've almost hit a few of them. If I see them and they're brave enough to not walk away, 100 percent I'm that crazy lady who yells across the street."

It isn't always paparazzi that's an issue. Fans have also shared photos of Diane and Norman's daughter on social media. Back in 2019, Diane even pleaded with them to take down images of the baby.

"Dear fans, dear non fans, dear paparazzi and anyone with a conscience. We were just tagged in these paparazzi pictures of me and our daughter. These pictures were taken without our consent and expose a vulnerable and innocent baby," she said on Instagram. "While we understand that some people would like to see a picture of our daughter, we as parents, want nothing more than allow her to grow up in privacy and safety."

She added, "Please put yourself in our shoes. We are just like any parent wanting the very best for our child."

BDAY LOVE

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BDAY LOVE

Former Disney star goes braless in chain-link crop top and short-shorts look at Coachella party

Former Disney star Madison Pettis spent the weekend unsupported.

Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

The "He's All That" star looked stunning while attending the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, even risking a wardrobe malfunction in the name of fashion and fun.

In a photo shared on her Instagram Story, Madison, 23, went braless, donning a see-through top made entirely of chains and rhinestones. The garment left much to the imagination, but still perfectly covered her chest. 

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Madison paired the shirt with blue denim shorts that also featured a rhinestone pattern.

The "Cory in the House" alum flaunted her physique in the desert all week, which she documented on Instagram. She donned a lavender bikini at a pre-festival pool party, but covered up in a letterman-style jacket for an evening party later in the weekend. 

While clearly confident in her own skin, the actress recently spoke to LEFAIR Magazine about her path in Hollywood, particularly when compared to other women. 

"Sometimes it's easy to get down on yourself by comparing yourself to other people, but you have to believe in yourself and not compare yourself to others," she said. "I get inspired reading interviews from people like Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone where they talk about the whole journey to where they are now. Nothing is overnight even if it might seem that way from the outside."

BDAY LOVE

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BDAY LOVE

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BDAY LOVE

Newly discovered species of millipede named for Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is buggin'!

The pop star is so popular that she now has a millipede named after her. Really, she does… and it's Sweeter Than Fiction.

Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

A Virginia Tech entomologist named Derek Hennen recently announced that a millipede commonly found in the Appalachian Mountains was named "Nannaria swiftae" in honor of the "Betty" singer. (Call It What You Want, Derek!)

The bug was one of 17 new species of millipede discovered in the mountainous region. It's reportedly vital for decomposition and nutrients spread in wooded ecosystems. The not-so-Treacherous millipede typically eats decaying leaves and plant matter under the surface of the soil. 

Dr Derek Hennen

"Her music helped me get through the highs and lows of graduate school, so naming a new millipede species after her is my way of saying thanks," the entomologist in a statement.

In your, uh, Wildest Dreams, did you ever think Taylor would have a bug named after her? Honestly, you Should Have Said No.

BDAY LOVE

Robin Roberts' longtime partner suspends breast cancer treatment

Robin Roberts is revealing that her partner of almost two decades, Amber Laign, has suspended her breast cancer treatment temporarily.

The "Good Morning America" icon told Entertainment Tonight that the decision was made because of "complications with the chemotherapy."

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"They're working it out. We're gonna figure it out. The prognosis is still very good," Robin said. "I'm just thankful that her spirits have been lifted. Recently it was a little tough there when — because she just wanted to get through it and to have this wrench thrown in our way — but I was able to tell her, as most people [who] have gone through cancer, this happens."

Amber was diagnosed with breast cancer around the end of 2021 and underwent surgery shortly thereafter.

Coincidentally, Robin has already been through her own cancer journey, having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in 2012. Amber was there to support Robin through it all. 

Gregory Pace/Shutterstock

While promoting her new book "Brighter by the Day," Robin reflected on Amber's situation.

"I was struggling and then I was thinking, 'Robin, you have this book. You're talking to people about their valleys and how to get out of it and so, why don't you just actually listen to your own words?,'" she said. "It's human nature to … you know, 'Why me?' and then I was like, 'Why not me? Why not me?' I can handle this. I have the strength. I've been through this. I can help Amber. She's helping me, so I turned 'Why me?' into 'Why not me?'"

BDAY LOVE

Rebel Wilson rips claim her 70+ pound weight loss is due to the 'Mayr Method'

Rebel Wilson is denying that her highly-publicized weight loss has come via the Mayr Method diet.

The "Bridesmaids" star took to her Instagram Story on Monday, April 18, to slam a Daily Mail story claiming it knew the secret behind her body transformation.

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"This was NEVER my diet, please stop writing this stuff," she wrote on social media.

In a separate post, she also added that she's "NEVER endorsed any diet pills or magic weight loss pills or cryptocurrency."

"If you see stuff like this online please report it as a scam – do not send it to me as a DM – report it on the social media site you see it on when you see it," she wrote. "If I'm endorsing something you'll see it only as official posts on my official and verified social media."

Rebel thanked fans for sticking with her through her health journey. 

"It's really annoying when people use my image unlawfully or in misleading ways," she wrote. "Do NOT want anyone to get scammed. Love you guys xoxo."

According to Healthline, the Mayr Method emphasizes that breakfast should be the biggest meal of the day and recommends dieters stop eating after 7 p.m. Further, fruits, vegetables and high-protein foods are highly encouraged.

Amanda Schwab/Starpix/REX/Shutterstock

Back in January 2020, Rebel publicly proclaimed she was going to get healthier and had a goal weight of 165 pounds in mind. While it's not known exactly how much weight she's currently lost, she revealed in a July 2021 Instagram live that she's down "like 70 pounds, 75 pounds, maybe a bit more." It's believed that she's since lost even more weight. 

BDAY LOVE

Natasha Lyonne was possessed by the spirit of 'Terminator' star Linda Hamilton while shooting the second season of 'Russian Doll'

"Terminator" franchise star Linda Hamilton is alive and well, but that didn't stop her from somehow possessing Natasha Lyonne on the set of the hotly anticipated second season of the hit Netflix dramedy "Russian Doll."

"I do think that the spirit of Linda Hamilton entered my body — of course she's still with us, but she's got spirit to burn," Natasha told emmy during a photo shoot for the cover of the magazine's April 2022 issue, which hits newsstands on April 18. (Wonderwall.com has an exclusive first look.)

Andrew Eccles/emmy magazine

After channeling the iconic Sarah Connor actress, Natasha got "very into stunts this season."

"There was this one sequence where [my character] jumps out a window. We didn't have time to get the shot and later we were trying to get it. I don't remember exactly what happened — I just remember climbing on some bedsheets and scaling a wall and then just jumping and being like, 'Did we get it?!'" she recalled.

These days, it's not jumping out a window that scares the "Orange Is the New Black" alum — it's failing to steer "Russian Doll," which she co-created with Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland, in the right direction. (Natasha also executive produces, writes and directs the series.)

"The bigger terror becomes not making the day and not finishing the show and not getting the story told," said the Emmy nominee.

Andrew Eccles/emmy magazine

Fortunately, she unlocked a new skill this season: "I don't think of myself as someone who's particularly good at crying on cue. I just sort of never learned. But it was the weirdest thing this season on the show: It was, like, just on command if it was called for," Natasha told emmy. "I'd written the whole thing out: It says right here, 'Nadia cries.' I'm not gonna be the guy that blows this. I'm the director. I'm writing. I'm in charge of the budget. This was a nightmare. This lady must cry — and that lady happens to be me. Something just happened where it was like being possessed and it was really pretty amazing."

Natasha has one more fear to contend with on set: coming into contact with Amy and another close colleague, Maya Rudolph. (While Amy co-created "Russian Doll," Natasha and Maya founded a production company together.)

"I feel so lucky that I get to be so close with them," Natasha said of the two "Saturday Night Live" alums. "They truly are as extraordinary as you want them to be, and I'm always a little bit starstruck even though we're so tight just because they're mind-blowing human beings. I don't know that I really lucked out too much in the actual family-of-origin department, but I made out pretty good in the chosen-family department. I really scored big there."

For more on the upcoming second season of "Russian Doll" — which officially returns on April 20, 2022 — check out the video below and pick up a copy of the April 2022 issue of emmy magazine on newsstands now.

BDAY LOVE

'Vanderpump' star Lala Kent is going under the knife this week

Lala Kent is about to pump up her chest.

The reality TV star is planning to get breast implants this week, something she's doing to celebrate the release of her new book, "Give Them Lala."

Jonathan Leibson/Polk Imaging/Shutterstock

"I want to celebrate. I'm going into surgery to have my boobies done on Friday," she said on Monday's episode of the "Behind the Velvet Rope" podcast with David Yontef. "I'll be down for a little bit, but the second that I'm up and at 'em, I will be taking my new boobs out to celebrate my national bestseller book."

The "Vanderpump Rules" star acknowledged that she doesn't hate the current status of her boobs, but wants them to to be fuller, like they were when she was pregnant with daughter, Ocean.

"I've wanted them redone for a while, and then when I was pregnant, oh my gosh, they were so huge and amazing!" she said. "Other moms told me, 'That baby's gonna suck the life outta them.'"

Lala, who split with fiancé Randall Emmett last fall, added, "I'm just ready to get them up there, maybe a little bigger. I'm gonna get my groove back."

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It should come as no surprise that Lala wants to go back under the knife. She recently gushed about her pregnancy boobs during a January episode of her "Give Them Lala" podcast.

"It may sound like I'm getting my boobs done for men, but it's getting my boobs done for me," she said. "They were massive, and I loved them." 

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Jerry O'Connell's 'Stand By Me' co-star protests his apology: 'You were 11'

Wil Wheaton knows his "Stand By Me" co-star Jerry O'Connell wasn't there for him during his time of need, but he doesn't want "The Talk" host to feel guilt or regret. 

Wil, who famously played Gordie Lachance in the 1986 classic, has recently opened up about the trauma he was going through while filming the movie, alleging that his parents were manipulative and emotionally abused him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yVCz3qxplo&t=53s

While speaking to Wil on "The Talk" on Friday, April 15, Jerry said, "I heard before you talk about some of the struggles you were going through during 'Stand by Me', and you know, while I was 11 at the time — that's an excuse — I do want to apologize for not being there more for you when you were younger."

As Jerry spoke, Wil, now 49, tried interrupting Jerry, telling him to "stop." Jerry, however, continued.

"I want to say, to the bigger picture, you never know what someone is going through when you're with them," he said. "I don't feel guilt, but I just want to say I'm sorry I wasn't there for you more."

Matt Baron/REX/Shutterstock

Without hesitation, Will told Jerry he has nothing to apologize for. 

"I deeply appreciate that. You were 11," he said as the crowd cautiously laughed. "I'm not saying that as a joke. I'm not doing a bit at all. All I'm saying is you were 11. How could you have possibly known?"

Wil then implied that Jerry — or anyone else for that matter — might not have recognized his struggles even as an adult.

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"Everyone in the audience who is a trauma survivor knows this: We're real, real, real good at covering up what we're going through," he said. 

Last year, after Wil made his childhood trauma public, Jerry expressed regret, saying, "I had no idea he was feeling this when we were doing this film. I wish I was older back then so I could have said, 'Hey Wil, hey man, is anything wrong?'"