Your thigh muscles are on fire. Your face is dripping with sweat. You did it — you decided to take that hot yoga class. But in between Warrior 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, you might be wondering why the hell you decided to take that hot yoga class. Before you quit (or completely melt away into oblivion), know that the benefits from this physical stress go well beyond a proud social media post; the benefits reach your cells too.
New research from the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute suggests that experiencing short periods of mild stress can actually strengthen human cells. This means that the things that cause you a little bit of pain — like working out, spending time in the sauna or getting a massage — are actually conditioning your cells to be tougher for the long run.
This conditioning is known as autophagy, which basically means “self-eating.” It’s essentially a process in which certain cell membranes go on a mission to track down the worn-out or diseased cells and completely break them down. They’ll kick the toxic stuff out of your system and recycle the working parts into a new, stronger cell.
This process occurs naturally, but it is boosted in response to mild stress like heat, pressure or tension. So if this process is happening more often in your body, you’ll have less accumulation of those damaged cells, and more new healthy cells in their place. As you probably guessed, healthy cells lead to a longer-lasting body, and who doesn’t want to live a longer and healthier life?
Beyond making the cells of individuals more resilient, this research has the potential to treat or even help prevent diseases like Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. These neurodegenerative issues are caused by sticky clumps of proteins that grow larger over time. In the study, researchers showed that targeting mild heat shocks on the dangerous clumps of proteins could actually reduce the build-up. More research needs to be done on this sort of treatment, but knowing we have the potential to prevent these diseases through everyday activities is nothing but hopeful.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that all pain is helping your body. Pain, by definition, is a feeling triggered by the nervous system to warn the body of danger. For instance, if you’re working out and feel a sharp twinge, it’s a safe bet that something isn’t right, and that you should probably stop. But in those cases when an activity "hurts so good," know that you're actually detoxifying your body.
So go ahead; get that deep-tissue massage — you’re doing your cells a favor.
Remember two years ago when Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced that they were getting divorce, shattering all of our hearts into a million pieces? And remember when they didn't really do anything after that, sparking hope that they might stay together and giving us all another chance to believe love was real?
Yeah, that's all over now — Garner is about to officially file for divorce, sources say. Unless they're going to pull a Patrick Dempsey and file for divorce before they reconcile, it's all over for one of the greatest Hollywood power couples of all time.
One source told Us Weekly that Affleck has officially moved out of the house they used to share together with their three children. Another source added, "No matter what happens, Ben and Jen are committed to raising their family as one unit and will continue to do so as it has worked for them. They are both committed to their family."
Further dashing our hopes that these two kids might pull through, there's news that they were actually on the rocks for years before they separated in 2015. They were in couple's therapy, which wasn't working, when their third baby was born.
"They were going to divorce when Sam was born, but you know how it is — baby comes and solves the issues for a bit, but it's just a Band-Aid. It hasn't been working for ages," an insider said. "Ben truly wanted his idea of family life and the idea of family he had growing up in Boston, so he stayed in it longer than he wanted to because of the kids and the idea of family. But he couldn't save it."
Most celebs are creative types, which explains why they like to get a little crazy when it comes to naming their babies. There are some celebrities who go with good old-fashioned names (Anne Hathaway named her baby Jonathan, for example), but then there's the category of stars who go all in and come up with names for their kids than many of the general public would consider downright weird.
We've rounded up some celeb baby names that are more than a little unusual.
That's a tongue twister! But luckily this little girl is the daughter of rapper T.I., so she can probably handle it.
37. River Rocket
Rocket as a middle name only reminds us of "pocket rocket." Still, Jamie Oliver went ahead with it.
36. Henry Wilberforce
We love Henry, but may the force be with the newest member of the Duggar-Seewald clan if any of his classmates ever find out his middle name. Hey, at least his first name isn't Spurgeon — like his older brother.
35. Audio Science
No, it's not what Shannyn Sossamon majored in while at college, it's what she chose to name her baby.
34. Phyllon Gorr
Doutzen Kroes and her husband, DJ Sunnery James, have a son named Phyllon Gorr, which sounds a little bit more like a character on Star Trek or Star Wars than a little boy who roams Earth.
33. Ace Knute
Jessica Simpson's little boy is adorable, and the name Ace is pretty cute — but there's just something about that Ace/Knute combo that doesn't mesh.
32. Ode Mountain
What else would you expect from the passionate Hunger Games star Jena Malone? Malone welcomed her son with her boyfriend, photographer Ethan DeLorenzo, in 2016 and named the little guy Ode Mountain DeLorenzo Malone. Malone hasn't revealed the inspiration for her son's name yet, though we think it makes a great "ode" to new parenting.
31. Jagger Snow
Ashlee Simpson already has a 7-year-old son with rocker Pete Wentz named Bronx Mowgli, so it would only make sense that her next baby's name with husband Evan Ross, Diana Ross's son, would follow suit. The couple welcomed their daughter in 2015 and gifted her with a very unique name that nodded to her musical roots: Jagger Snow.
30. Rocket Zot
Avatar star Sam Worthington's baby name choice for his first child with wife Lara Bingle Worthington came out of left field. In 2015, the couple named their baby boy Rocket Zot -- just because they liked the way it sounded. Rocket was a fun first name the Worthingtons chose at random, and Zot was Bingle Worthington's late father's nickname.
29. Rainbow Aurora
Holly Madison of The Girls Next Door is known for her glitz and glamour, and she used the same panache when naming her baby girl in 2013. As Madison tells it, adorable little Rainbow Aurora was named after a sporty girl she knew (and was jealous of) in school. Despite what the haters had to say, Madison stood behind her daughter's ultra-unique name choice.
28. North West
Everyone initially thought it was a joke when Kim Kardashian and Kanye West named their daughter the direction-inspired name North West. As it turns out, both Pharrell and Vogue's Anna Wintour encouraged the name.
"It was a rumor in the press, and we'd never really considered it seriously at all, but Kanye and I were having lunch right over there at that table about a year ago, and Pharrell [Williams] came over to us and said, 'Oh my God, are you guys really going to call your daughter North? That is the best name.' I said, 'No, we're not. That's just a rumor,'" she told GQ. "Then a little while later, Anna Wintour came over and asked the same thing. She told us, 'North is a genius name.' Kanye and I looked at one another and just laughed. I guess at that point it sort of stuck."
Kimye continued their baby name "winning" streak when they introduced their second son to the world in December 2015, named Saint West (not Easton West, as the Internet rumored it to be).
As hard as this little guy's name is to decipher, no, we are not making this up. Rapper Chief Keef, who also goes by the names Keith Cozart and "Sosa," opted to name his newborn son this mouthful — Sno FilmOn Dot Com Cozart — to promote his album release in September 2015. We are going to look on the bright side with this one and celebrate the fact that young Sno has plenty of nicknames to choose from.
26. Elsie Otter
Zooey Deschanel is nothing if not quirky, and we wouldn't expect anything less from her choice in a baby name. Deschanel made the big name drop three months after giving birth to her daughter, named Elsie Otter, with her producer husband, Jacob Pechenik. Say the name a few times fast, and you might catch that it's a play on the words "sea otter," which Deschanel confirmed was the true inspiration for her daughter's offbeat name.
25. Apollo Bowie Flynn
Far before David Bowie's passing in 2016, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale got a jump on paying homage to the rock legend, naming their third son Apollo Bowie Flynn in 2014. However, the tribute may have been entirely accidental, as Rossdale tweeted that Bowie and Flynn were actually the couple's mothers' maiden names. Chalk that one up to a clever coincidence.
24. Apple
It's the forbidden fruit, it'll keep the doctor away, and it's the epitome of Americanism. But Apple is also the name of Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin's first daughter. They got the idea from one of Martin's bandmates, who also has a child named Apple.
In an interview with Oprah, Paltrow said she liked how it sounded "wholesome" and "clean."
23. Poppy Honey, Daisy Boo and Petal Blossom Rainbow
Leave it to a renowned chef to bring vibrant names to the table when naming their children. Jamie Oliver and his wife, Jools, named their daughters Poppy, Daisy and Petal. Apparently the floral motif is big for naming in the Oliver clan.
Another "Rocket" fan in the house: Producer, singer and The Voice judge Pharrell Williams and his wife gave their son the unusual name of Rocket Ayer, and he explained to Oprah the deep meaning behind the name.
"In the same way that the Indians name their children, like, behind a force or an animal or an element, we named him after a man-made machine that was meant to go up. Meant to ascend. And metaphorically, it was because of, you know, Stevie Wonder’s 'Rocket Love,' Elton John’s 'Rocket Man' and Herbie Hancock’s 'Rocket.' All of my favorite musicians. And [Rocket's] middle name is not Man. It’s Ayer, after Roy Ayers.”
21. Sage Moonblood and Seargeoh
When you hear the names of this pair, you can't help but get stuck on Sage Moonblood. What does that even mean? But look past it, and see Seargeoh... then picture dad Sylvester Stallone pronouncing it. It just fits.
20. Aurelius
Back in the time of the Romans, Aurelii was the name of an elite group of families. Aurelius was the male version of the name, and it's also the name of the youngest son of Australian supermodel Elle Macpherson and Arpad Busson (who's now engaged to Uma Thurman).
Some people name their children after family members; others name them for Biblical figures. But U2's The Edge and Aislinn O'Sullivan? They went for Blue Angel. Sounds like a clothing line, doesn't it?
18. Bluebell Madonna
Back in the late '90s, the Spice Girls were known for their shrinking hemlines and get-up-and-move music. These days, though, many of the Spice Girls have taken on a new role: mom.
Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice) is no exception, and her daughter's name pays homage to both music and beautiful flowers: Bluebell Madonna. The British mother-daughter duo are pictured at right.
17. Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches and Pixie
File this one under "What were they thinking?" Bob Geldof and Paula Yates named their firstborn daughter Fifi Trixibelle. (Can't help but wonder if a boy would have been Fido.)
Meanwhile, their other daughters fared no better with Peaches Honeyblossom and Pixie. The late Paula Yates went on to have one more daughter, this one with (also late) INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence. The child is known as Tiger, which is a whole lot simpler to remember than her given name: Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily.
Somewhere between destiny and destroy is Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw's daughter Destry.
15. Diezel Ky
Alternate spellings can be a cool way to customize a name, and that's what Toni Braxton and Keri Lewis did with their son, Diezel Ky. Diezel's older brother is named Denim Cole.
14. Bronx Mowgli
Making our list twice -- Ashlee Simpson and her ex-husband, Pete Wentz, raised some eyebrows when they named their son Bronx Mowgli. Wentz wouldn't say how they came up with the name Bronx but did say that Mowgli came from The Jungle Book.
"The Jungle Book was something that me and Ashlee bonded over. It's a cool name," he said.
13. Blue Ivy
There have been several rumors as to why Beyoncé and Jay Z named their daughter Blue Ivy (Illuminati, anyone?), but both singers have a fondness for the color blue (remember when Jay Z rapped "My favorite hue is Jay Z blue?") as well as for releasing three Blueprint albums. As far as her middle name, Ivy stands for the Roman numeral IV, or four, which is Beyoncé's birthday (Sept. 4), Jay Z's birthday (Dec. 4) and their anniversary date (April 4).
12. Zola Ivy
Parents Eddie Murphy and Nicole Mitchell created one of those names that flow nicely together, although it's an unexpected combination. The name? Zola Ivy. Eddie Murphy's other kids include Bella Zahra, Shane Audra, Brea and Angel Iris Murphy Brown (the last was with Spice Girl Melanie Brown).
11. Tallulah, Scout and Rumer
You can't bring one of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's children into the name list without the other two. The couple, who divorced in 2000, named their kids Tallulah, Scout and Rumer. And boy, did Demi make rumors when she started dating her current husband, Ashton Kutcher, who is 16 years her junior. Pictured: Demi and Rumer posing on the red carpet.
There is something poetic about Forest Whitaker's kids names: Ocean, Sonnet and True...
9. Shiloh Nouvel
Parents of six Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have a cache of unusual names, but their biological daughter Shiloh's name takes the cake in the clan (siblings include Maddox, Zahara, Pax, Knox and Vivienne). Pictured is Shiloh with Papa Pitt.
8. Seven Sirius, Puma Sabti and Mars Merkaba
Naming a baby really is serious business. When André Benjamin and Erykah Badu named their son, they took that to heart with Seven Sirius (say it out loud). Badu has since given birth to two more kids, Puma (hello, sneakers!) and Mars (the red planet?).
7. Satchel
Babies are so cute you just want to scoop them up and keep them close. Maybe that's why Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee named their child for the bag that's great for carrying things: Satchel.
6. Kyd
David Duchovny and Tea Leoni spared no creativity here, naming thier son... wait for it... wait for it... Kyd. Guess that makes calling the child over a cinch.
Illusionist Penn Jillette isn't fooling anyone with the unusual names for his kids: Moxie CrimeFighter and Zolten. Do you think Zolten is a CrimeFighter with Moxie?
4. Pilot Inspektor
Some things just aren't intended to be names. Sometimes, if you want to choose an unusal name, it's better to balance it with a more traditional name. Of course, Jason Lee and Beth Riesgraf didn't get that memo when they named Pilot Inspektor.
3. Kal-El
Superman has a fan in Nicolas Cage, who named his son Kal-El, which is the first name of the Man of Steel.
2. Jermajesty
Jerm-Jerma... no, no, no. This name is pronounced like Her Majesty, but with a J at the start of it. That one comes from parents Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza. 'Nuff said.
1. Moon Unit, Dweezil and Diva Muffin
You can't have a list of unusual celebrity baby names without mentioning the kids of Frank Zappa: Moon Unit, Dweezil and Diva Muffin. The man (in the photo above with "Valley Girl" singer Moon Unit) is a pioneer in the naming division, for sure.
As an editor with a heavy background in beauty, my nighttime skin-care routine toes the line between ridiculous and comical. It starts with a simple swipe of a pre-cleanse, followed by micellar water, then there’s a mist, a serum, a moisturizer, a more occlusive moisturizer, and maybe an oil if I’m feeling particularly dry. My brows were an unfortunate casualty of the early aughts, so I finish it all off with two strokes of RevitaBrow. All of this, of course, comes after I’ve masked—often with multiple formulas on different parts of my face depending on my skin’s needs. Suffice it to say, it takes me at least half an hour to get ready for bed, and that’s before I’ve brushed my teeth.
So, imagine my surprise when I encountered this fun new problem: Last week, for nearly six straight days, I woke up with dry skin and a yellowed pillow. That means somewhere north of $200 worth the skin-care products have ended up all over my bedsheets, which is disconcerting for multiple reasons. At first, I figured maybe my boyfriend’s cotton pillowcases were just sucking all the product off all of a sudden, so I switched them to silk—but no such luck. I woke up just as dry and $26 poorer.
“The issue isn’t so much the fabric of the pillow case you’re using, but the time between application at the particular product and putting your head on the pillow,” said Joshua Zeichner, Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City, after my week of frustration and shitty skin. But he was right: I usually lie down to scroll through Instagram and answer an unread emails, but as it turns out, I was fighting off a cold while working longer hours, so the second I RevitaBrow’d, I crashed head-first into my bed and passed out.
Image: Imaxtree
Naturally, the best course of action would be to wait half an hour until my products dry to hit the hay, but who has the time? Zeichner’s got a better solution: “If you’re very tired and anticipate falling asleep within two minutes of applying your nighttime product, choose something quick-drying,” he says. “Sleep masks are designed to be applied within 15 minutes of falling asleep because they tend to dry relatively quickly. While gel-based moisturizers are also absorbed into the skin fast, some heavier creams may take more time.” Zeichner, who recommends using water-based products at night if you’re looking for fast absorption, recommends both Neutrogena Hydroboost Water Gel and Dr. Jart Water-Fuse Sleeping Mask. I personally like SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel, which is a hyaluronic acid-based serum that sinks right in.
Still, if you’re seeing runoff on your pillow, dermatologist Radha Mikkilineni says to rethink how much you need: “There’s a tendency to apply too much, so discuss the right amount to use for each product with your doctor. Typically, you should be able to rub it in so it disappears after 2-3 light strokes.”
Mikkilineni also recommends saving the super-heavy creams for daytime, especially during the winter, when they can offer an additional protective barrier against the elements. Waiting five minutes between each layer is optimal, too.
It’s been a week since I’ve reversed my skin-care routine so my heavier creams go on during the day and lighter, more active products go on at night. And even though I’ve been crashing within minutes, I’m happy to report I’ve been waking up with supple, hydrated skin. Oh, and I’m back to my beloved cotton pillowcase.
Page Six reports that the former Mr. Mariah Carey's behavior has gotten increasingly erratic, and now his friends and industry folks who work with him are starting to worry about his mental health. From the sounds of his actions in the last few weeks, we should all be a little concerned.
Earlier this week, Cannon abruptly quit his job as host of America's Got Talent via a post on Facebook.
"I cannot see myself returning," he wrote, explaining that "NBC believed that I was in breach of contract because I had disparaged their brand."
The disparaging he's referring to is apparently a joke he made during a Showtime special — he said that NBC took away his "black card" when he started hosting America's Got Talent, telling him he had to make jokes that would sit well with a primarily white audience.
NBC execs were completely blindsided by Cannon's sudden announcement, and reportedly couldn't get into contact with him afterward.
Meanwhile, reports say Cannon has fired some people from his inner circle, including his publicist, Alla Plotkin, and his agent at ICM Partners, Chris Smith. He's started isolating himself, and a source told Page Six that he has recently "got really into religion" — the insider says Cannon wears robes and turbans around the house and refers to himself only as "Reverend Doctor Cannon."
After spending weeks in the hospital last year for complications related to lupus, Cannon has been posting to social media lately about being in pain, as well as being depressed.
All of this added up? Sounds like the guy could use a break. This is pretty alarming behavior.
Update: Feb. 17, 2017, 1 p.m. PT: Terrible news for anyone who likes SNL, Rosie O'Donnell or fun: The official word is that O'Donnell will not be making any appearances on Saturday Night Live to play White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon.
People on Twitter were really calling for it — even celebs like Billy Eichner got in on urging SNL's powers that be to cast O'Donnell in that role. But when TMZ ran into O'Donnell, she told them that SNL didn't take the bait.
"That’s it," she said. "That was the whole impression, the Photoshop. That was it, start to finish... I’m not in the cast. There’s that."
Rosie O'Donnell and Saturday Night Live have one really big thing in common: President Donald Trump really, really hates them both.
While SNL has been the subject of more than a few of Trump's late-night Twitter rants, POTUS has insulted O'Donnell during speeches and appearances, usually focusing on her looks and weight. During the first presidential debate, when host Megyn Kelly pointed out that Trump had referred to women he didn't like as "fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals," Trump quipped, "Only Rosie O'Donnell," and then continued on to become the president (sigh).
O'Donnell, however, has stood her ground. And now, she's found a new way to get under Trump's skin: by playing White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon on SNL. Seriously, how soon can it happen?
This follows Melissa McCarthy's debut as White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer on SNL, and while Trump didn't publicly comment on that episode, people close to him said he was annoyed that one of his advisors was played by a woman, saying it made his staff look "weak." Soon after, O'Donnell tweeted that she'd happily take on the role of Bannon.
It's been over seven years since Amanda Knox was convicted by an Italian court in the 2007 murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher — a crime which she has always maintained that she didn't commit.
Almost two years ago, Knox was definitively acquitted and was allowed to return home to the United States to resume her pre-Italy life. But after the huge ordeal of being imprisoned for so long, is that even possible? From the looks of things, yes. Knox seems to have moved on to lead a fulfilling life — and hasn't shied away from the public eye, even though she still pretty much remains guilty in the court of public opinion.
We could ramble on all day about the ins and outs of her case, but it's 2017 and you probably have Netflix and already streamed the documentary about her. So, we'll just fill you in on some interesting stuff that doesn't have anything to do with her her legal dramas.
1. She was deeply interested in the relationship dynamics in prison
In a recent open letter published in Broadly, Knox sought to shed light on the way same-sex relationships work in prison. Although there are a million headlines going around right now sensationalizing Knox's "same-sex" relationship in prison, it all just seems to be click-bait. Knox did write about a special connection she had while doing time, though it wasn't sexual in nature.
"At least initially, Leny might not have been trying to seduce me, and was actually just in need of someone kind to distract her from her loneliness. This is common," Knox wrote of her "almost-friend" she called Leny. "Contrary to what you might guess, many prison relationships aren't about sex — just like most relationships outside of prison."
Knox also wrote about what she observed about real romantic relationships while she was inside.
"Inmates had crushes on one another. They passed love letters through the bars. They gave each other presents: drawings of flowers or little crocheted satchels for holding a Walkman," Knox described in the article. "There were tearful breakups and sometimes fistfights between new partners and exes. But for all the couples who acted like teenagers, there were as many as unshakably self-contained as if they had been married for 20 years. Many of these women will have identified as heterosexual — colloquially, they were, 'gay for the stay.'"
2. She was engaged
In 2015, the same year she was officially exonerated, Knox announced she was engaged to Colin Sutherland, a member of the New York-based band, the Johnny Pumps. Knox and Sutherland had actually known each other since middle school and maintained a friendship throughout Knox's imprisonment by writing letters.
In her Broadly open letter, Knox revealed she got politically active as a teenager because people thought she was gay.
"When I was 14, a rumor went around my Catholic high school that I was a lesbian, alienating me from everyone but a small group of my classmates," she wrote. "Later, I became an LGBTQ ally and helped found the Gay-Straight Alliance at my high school."
5. She knows that people hate her
The woman is not dumb. In fact, if you take the time to read her blog — or anything else she's written — it's obvious that she's really fucking smart. And she's not ignorant to the fact that people who have never met her hate her guts and still think she's a murderer. But she just uses the hate as motivation to help other people who have also been released from prison after an overturned conviction.
"I was at peace with the idea that people would never treat me as a human, and that was one of the main motivations I’ve had to bring attention to other exoneree stories," Knox told the Seattle Times. "It’s not as simple as treating me like a little doppelgänger cultural reference point that you can just throw and project anything you want onto. It’s more difficult when you’re right in front of me, and I’m clearly not that."
6. She also knows she'll never be president — but not for the reason you think
Knox said in her blog that she'll never be Commander in Chief — and it's not because she's a woman, or even because many people think she's a criminal. It's because of her religious beliefs.
"I was reminded of the disheartening reality that someone like me will likely never hold the office of presidency — not from my generation, at least," she wrote of the recent election. "What disqualifies me, or someone like me, is not the fact that I’m a woman. To our country’s credit, I think the U.S. is ready and willing for our first Madame President. No. What disqualifies me, or someone like me, is the fact that I’m atheist. I don’t believe in God."
"I look at my leaders, at my fellow citizens, at their religions, and I see culture, I see history, I even see hope," she added. "But I don’t see truth. And I don’t see myself."
7. Being accused of murder isn't the only thing she and O.J. Simpson have in common
O.J. Simpson and Knox are often put in the same category. Their lives and criminal cases are obviously completely different (and we're in no way saying we think Knox is guilty), but at the same time, there are some similarities. They were both accused of killing someone with a knife, they both went through lengthy trial processes that were splashed all over the media, and they were both (ultimately) found innocent and allowed to walk free.
But that's not all. Knox and Simpson were both born on July 9. Kinda weird, right?
Oh, Britney — it's been a wild ride, but you made it, girl!
It's been 10 years since Spears grabbed those clippers and shaved her own head in public, but since then she's basically turned herself into the greatest comeback story of all time. She's has a successful, long-running residency in Vegas, she's got new music out, she's in amazing shape, she always keeps us entertained with her social media posts — and she just all-around seems like she's in a really good place.
She's definitely had her share of ups and downs, and we're so glad to see her come out on top. Take a minute to remember some of her wildest moments over the years with us.
Um, yeah. When you have a nearly eight-minute-long mega-mix filled with songs that everyone knows by heart, it's clear you're the undisputed princess of pop.
But what everyone will remember from this performance is Spears riding a gargantuan guitar like it's a bucking bronco. Priceless.
2. Making out with Madonna at the 2003 MTV VMAs
Britney Spears kisses Madonna
Britney Spears kisses Madonna
Spears was known early on in her career for her innocent demeanor and fresh-faced look, so it came as a major shock when we found out that she's not that innocent at the MTV Video Music Awards when she laid one on Madonna. Don't miss the look on Justin Timberlake's face. He and Spears were hot and heavy at the time.
3. The 2000 VMAs
Britney Spears 2000 vmas
Britney Spears 2000 vmas
In 2000, Spears was just 18 years old and already the consummate performer. Her dancing as she sang "Oops!... I Did It Again" in a nude, barely-there outfit is permanently burned into our minds. And we ain't mad at it.
4. The 2001 VMAs
Britney Spears 2001 VMAs
Britney Spears 2001 VMAs
Her body. Her dancing. Her outfit. Her hair. Her... snake? Another unforgettable Spears moment, brought to us by MTV.
5. Cheating scandal with Wade Robson
Timberlake and Spears were America's sweethearts and everybody's favorite couple back in the early '00s, but they suddenly split and rumors flew that she had hooked up with super-hot choreographer Wade Robson. Did she or didn't she? The truth of what really went down may never be known, but whatever happened inspired the most epic cheating anthem of 2002 and this awesome video featuring a Britney Spears look-alike.
We don't know if it was the scrutiny of being in the spotlight for so long, substance abuse, being married to Kevin Federline, or a combination of all of the above, but Spears derailed for a while. It was painful to watch her deteriorate as she got violent in public, shaved her head and ultimately ended up under a strict conservatorship. These may not have been her finest moments, but we're so proud of Spears for rebounding so beautifully from such a hard time. It gives us hope for the struggling Amanda Bynes, and gave birth to the phrase "if Britney Spears can get through 2007, I can get through today."
The couple appeared on Good Morning America on Friday with their newcomer, Shai Aleksander, to chat about their completely photogenic postpartum life together. Asked when Shai would take up the family vocation, Papa Maks said, "I hope never."
Mama Murgatroyd agreed completely, which has us wondering if poor Shai is going to be totally outranked at his own wedding someday by his hip, hot, ballroom-rocking parents.
Their segment on GMA was baby Shai's first public appearance since his birth on Jan. 4. “We just wanted to keep him for ourselves... This is, without a doubt, the best thing that has ever happened to us!” the couple said previously. Well, yeah. That's usually how it goes.
Parenthood seems to suit Shai's parents pretty darn well. (We'd kind of like to see them be terrible at something — stop making everything look so easy, hot dancing people with hot, exotic names!). “It’s not about me anymore. It’s all about Shai," Murgatroyd said. "It’s amazing. I’m OK with it."
She's even OK with her (wee bit of an) extra belly pooch, and breast milk stains on her wardrobe.
(Um, you'd be pretty lucky if Shai took after his mom, Maks. Just saying.)
The posse celebrated their first Valentine’s Day as a family in modern style, professing their undying love for one another in — yup — Instagram posts.
Peta and Maks love Insta
Peta and Maks love Insta
“To the loves of my life … my one and only Valentine, Papa @maksimc … I love you and our little Shai more than ever,” Murgatroyd captioned a picture from the hospital. “This is without a doubt the most special and significant Valentines Day for me #happymom #myeverythings XO.”
The dancing power couple is planning a summer 2017 wedding with baby Shai in attendance. Just stay off the dance floor, little buddy.
Hillary Clinton has been a real trooper of late. She showed up to that inauguration even though pretty much no one in her shoes would actually want to attend something like that. She’s been holding herself with massive amounts of dignity and grace. Most recently, Clinton had dinner at Orso in NYC with Kate McKinnon, who played Clinton on SNL last year. And it appears they had a damn good time.
According to Page Six, Hillz is a “big fan” of McKinnon, and “lots of laughter emanated from their table” at Orso. Sounds like it was a real scene: Someone came over and gave Clinton a handwritten letter, which means they were either a) carrying it around with them wherever they went (weird); or b) took the time to pen her a little love note at the table.
A fellow diner told Page Six, “They seemed very nice and friendly and had a quiet dinner.” Then again, at least one person was definitely feeling a little loose, flipping the old Trump cheer and apparently chanting “Lock him up!” at the restaurant. After all that, Clinton repaired to see Sunset Boulevardon Broadway, where she got a standing ovation. No word on whether Glenn Close did too, but here’s hoping.
Though Kate McKinnon’s Clinton portrayal on SNL got mixed reviews, it’s clear that Clinton’s review of the comedian’s turn was positive. So don’t feel too sad for Clinton; just feel sad for the nation at large. Clinton is doing just fine. By the way, she’s also getting literary, writing a book of personal essays, so look forward to that one.
Until this month, Isabelle Huppert wasn't a name that many Americans were used to hearing. But then she was nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award this year, and everything changed.
Huppert is up against some hard-hitters (Meryl Streep, Natalie Portman and a heavily favored Emma Stone are all also nominated in her category), but Huppert's performance in the French film Elle was amazing, and she can definitely hold her own against her household name competition.
How the hell has this undeniably talented women never shown up on our radar before? We got curious and found out a little bit about her.
Especially in France. The reason why most of us Americans haven't heard of her is because the bulk of her resume consists of French films. She's been acting since 1971 and has been in over 100 movies.
2. She does have some notable American performances
Isabelle Huppert trailer
Isabelle Huppert trailer
Huppert played Jessica Chastain's mom in 2014's The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them. She was also in 2004's I Heart Huckabees and was on Law & Order: SVU in 2010.
3. She's a big deal at the Cannes Film Festival
Isabelle Huppert insta 2
Isabelle Huppert insta 2
Huppert was the President of the Jury at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in 2009, and at the time was only the fourth woman to ever hold the title in the festival's six decades, according to The Guardian. She had previously been a member of the jury and Master of Ceremony and had won the Best Actress Award twice.
4. She believes celebrities have the right to share their politics during awards season
Isabelle Huppert insta 3
Isabelle Huppert insta 3
"Everyone has the right to express themselves. It’s not because you’re an actor or a director that you can’t say what you think," she told Deadline. "Everyone has the right to react as a citizen and say what they think. What is politics? It’s life together, so it’s completely normal that people express themselves on the subject."
5. She has a strict no-popcorn rule
Isabelle Huppert insta 4
Isabelle Huppert insta 4
When it comes to taking in her peers' work, Huppert does not mess around.
"No snack, no drink, no food," she recently told People of her movie viewing habits. "[I] just am focused on the movies — no noise."
It may sound like all business, but Huppert admits that her outfit of choice on movie night is some comfy pajamas.
6. She's relishing her Oscar nom
Isabelle Huppert insta 5
Isabelle Huppert insta 5
An Academy Award nomination is no joke, and the nod is not lost on Huppert.
"For an American actress, it's already a big deal to be nominated, so you can imagine what it's like for a foreign actress — especially a French actress for whom English isn't even their mother tongue!" she told The Hollywood Reporter. "It's an exceptional event, especially as there have been very few foreign actresses nominated over the years. So I'm trying to live it exceptionally."
Best of luck to Huppert at the 89th Academy Awards on Feb. 26!
Jazz Jennings, 16, was born male — but she identified as female from the very beginning of her life. And dolls? Well, they were a pretty huge part of her early years.
So how cool is it that now Jennings will have a new doll — one designed in her honor?
(Pretty damn cool.)
“Ever since I was little, I always loved playing with dolls,” Jennings said on Thursday. “It was a great way to show my parents that I was a girl, because I could just express myself as I am. So this really resonates with me, because it was something so pivotal in my own journey.”
Why Jazz Jennings? Well, if you didn't know, Jennings is a pretty impressive soul, well known as one of the youngest people to come out (and be documented as) transgender.
In fact, a 6-year-old Jennings was interviewed by Barbara Walters on 20/20 in 2007 in an episode about transgender kids. Her appearance — and her poise — garnered her plenty of attention. One of her biggest fans? Robert Tonner, chief exec at Tonner Doll Company, who was knocked out by Jennings and her family.
“I was very impressed with Jazz when I saw her on Barbara Walters 10 years ago," Tonner said. "I thought she was an amazing kid with amazing parents.”
Jennings has (already!) authored two books and is currently the star of a TLC reality show, I Am Jazz.
Image: Tonner Dolls
Tonner decided a doll was in order (go, Tonner Doll Company!). So the Kingston, New York, company will be producing Jazz Jennings dolls as a limited-edition run mid-2017. A prototype hits the spotlight this weekend at the NYC Toy Fair — and we're eager to hear what the response will be.
“Sometimes it does get overwhelming, and it’s hard to be receiving all this attention,” Jennings said in the interview with 20/20. “But when I see that I am really benefiting other people by sharing my story, it motivates me to keep moving forward.”
Jazz, you've got this life thing down. (Not to mention the coolest name ever pretty much.)
Jazz and her parents created the Transkids Purple Rainbow Foundation to foster awareness about issues affecting the transgender community, especially trans kids. She was also named one of Time’s 30 Most Influential Teens in 2015, just to make us feel even more like big old slackers.
The doll's outfit will match her pink top and jean shorts casual outfit from the cover of her second book, Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen. That model? $89.99. Another red carpet-ready version of Jazz's doll will likely sell for more than $100. We're not inclined to complain about the price considering the American Girl Doll line is just as pricey... and this is a doll with a far more compelling story.
Interestingly, Tonner said, “I don’t even know if the word ‘transgender’ will be on the package. She’s a great kid. She’s a very brave, special person. And that’s what we’re trying to get out there.”
Jazz herself is pretty, well, jazzed. (Come on, you saw that coming.) “I think this sends a very positive message about the transgender community," she said. We couldn't agree more.
Welcome back to Parental Advisory, where I answer all of your social media and IRL parenting etiquette questions. This week, let's talk about "baby bump" pictures on Facebook.
Question:
I'm 8 months pregnant. Let me start out by saying that I am not that person that uses social media as a cry for help/sympathy, political stances, or to say "never forget." I just use it for fun. You won't find many selfies of me. My pics are mostly of the city or my dog, and once I have my baby girl, I'm sure there will be pics, but in most of them she will have a stupid hat on, or adult sunglasses. I never wanted to put pics up of my ultrasound, the same way I never wanted to put engagement pics up, or even have them taken. It's the same reason why I won't put up a bump pic. Actually, I'm lying, I do want to do one because at this point, my husband and I have just about the same size gut, but he's not going for it. I would just do it in jest or in a self-deprecating way, because why not?
People ask me, actually ask me, "Where are the bump pics?" There is one picture of me 5 months pregnant from my cousin's engagement party. I posted it because I was wearing a great dress. I'm 5'9' so I didn't really start to show until about almost 7 months. I had someone comment, who was at the party with me, and ask why she hadn't seen any other "bump pics." I told her it was because I don't want to put them on Facebook. Mind you, I can appreciate the excitement, don't get me wrong. I'm not a Mommie Dearest type, but it's just not in me to react the way she wanted me to, or the way she would have. Maybe I don't like the attention, maybe I just don't want it. I'm not about crying out, "Look at me, I'm pregnant!" I definitely have some pictures that I have taken, but those are for me to send to my husband or sister, family, etc...privately.
When people have questioned me, I am proud to tell them that I don't feel the need to do it. Maybe it's out of spite for every idiot that I have to deal with on Facebook on an almost daily basis, pregnant or not. You always hope that people would respect your answer and opinion and I stupidly think that people will share my thinking, that it's a breath of fresh air that I am not caving in, but no, it's where the shaming begins. "Why not?" "You have to!" "Don't you want everyone to know?" My question is: When did Facebook become the end all/be all? When did people start living their lives by it, as well as the lives of their unborn child? I missed that train.
In many ways, K., your questions are a reflection of what so many of us are thinking but dare not say on Facebook. To criticize how people use Facebook today is to admit that you're not entirely comfortable with the highly performative aspects of social media, which is a sentiment that drifts further and further away from acceptability. Perhaps 10 years ago, Facebook didn't so closely resemble a theatrical production, with everyone "playing their parts," but it's since blossomed into, essentially, a 24/7 soap opera in which we are all the players. Some people have leading roles — we all know who they are — while the rest of us remain in minor roles until something big comes along, like a job promotion, a cross-country move, an engagement, a wedding or — everyone's favorite! — a baby announcement.
Most people are bit players in the never-ending Facebook production of our lives, and they seize the opportunity to rise in the ranks. They've been meagerly liked, always anticipating a big announcement or "reveal" of some kind, and they've been waiting for their time to shine. They want the likes, the praise and the 35 comments that all say, "Congrats!" and they cannot, and potentially will never, understand why anyone in their right mind wouldn't carpe diem the shit out of a pregnancy, which lasts a whopping nine months. Even if a woman doesn't announce her pregnancy until the second trimester (which I personally recommend, and which was discussed here), she has ample time to (over)saturate Facebook with belly pics and soak up all that superficial love. Who wouldn't want in on that, right?
Image: STFU Parent
And yet, there are actually a lot of women just like you, K., who are turned off by the hype, feel awkward about being celebrated (on Facebook, at least) just for getting knocked up and who don't necessarily want to share images of their bodies just to rake in all of that fleeting adoration. You're certainly not alone in recognizing that this is all a dog and pony show; it's just that we haven't yet entered the era in which people can be critical of such things aloud without suffering some kind of consequence.
If you say out loud, "Bump pics are stupid," or, "I think bump pics are a cry for attention," you're at risk of offending a large percentage of your Facebook friends. After all, the original target age group that's grown up with Facebook is the demographic that's been procreating like crazy for the past decade. Mark Zuckerberg himself now has a baby, and his sister Randi, who was a Facebook executive for years, has written a children's book and now speaks about "modern day etiquette on the internet" after becoming a parent. Everyone and their mother (soon-to-be grandmother!) has or is having kids, and many do choose to participate in over-the-top pregnancy announcements, baby bump pictorials and/or elaborate professional photo shoots. Some people even update Facebook on behalf of their fetus, 'cause they know all that self-promotion has an end date (i.e., the start date of a new cycle of post-birth baby spam), and they want to savor those moments right up until the minute their water breaks.
Image: STFU Parents
The issue, as you said, is that you'd think more people would be in favor of a friend choosing not to amplify her pregnancy by shining a literal spotlight on her belly. And it's possible that day may be just around the corner. We've really all seen plenty of baby bumps by now, haven't we? Even Beyoncé couldn't resist a maternity photo shoot, and not just because she's Beyoncé, but because it's what the internet demands. I assure you, if Beyoncé hadn't released a series of images that include being surrounded by piles of gorgeous flowers and swimming underwater draped in chiffon, her own friends would've been like, "Hey, Bey, you gonna do a photo shoot or what?"
No one can escape the madness of the bump pics. That said, I do believe there's a lurking, undeniable desire for fewer bump pics, and certainly not more bump pics. Sure, your mom friends or friends from high school or whatever might be encouraging you to post a new belly picture each month, but if the inherent honesty of internet memes is any indicator, the majority of the people you're friends with can go the rest of their lives without watching their friends' pregnant bellies expand on a month-to-month basis, day after day, year over year.
Image: STFU Parents
Therefore, I think you're doing everything right, K. You're "living your truth," which is not to draw extra attention to the baby you're about to give birth to simply because you're not into it. Sticking to your guns during the pregnancy will serve you well, because if you think people are on your ass to post more photos now, just wait until you have the baby. People will try to convince you to post a new picture every day, if not every hour, because they're... I don't know... bored at work? Really into pictures of swaddled infants? Happier to see an innocent child in their newsfeed than stories about our new nightmare administration?
Even if these reasons are all valid, you don't have to succumb to pressures on social media, and it's helpful that you already know and practice that. People can continue to revolve their lives around Facebook and judge others based on how little or how much they reveal about themselves or their kids, and you can just sit back and watch without reservation. You also have a unique opportunity before you, which you can choose to take or not, to freak out your friends to the point of wishing they hadn't bothered to ask for bump pics in the first place. You're almost full-term, so if the mood strikes, don't be afraid to take the bump pic of all bump pics as a hearty response to all those lingering requests.
Image: STFU Parents
Sometimes in life, we must be careful what we wish for.
Congrats on embarking on motherhood, K.! Good luck fending off your future baby's fans.
Do YOU have a question about parents on social media? Send whatever is on your mind to stfuparentsblog AT gmail.com!
There is something about early motherhood that makes you feel all at once in awe of this incredible new human and concerned about the fate of the old human you that existed. Between endless feedings, nights of little sleep and a never-ending stream of diaper changes, it can be difficult to even think about getting out of the house. But in fact, getting as far out of the house as possible was just what I needed to find myself again.
One year and family trips to 10 states later, I am a complete advocate for traveling with a baby. Not only did our getaways help me thrive in my new role, but the adventures also brought us all closer as a family and had an untold number of benefits for my son’s development.
1. Travel helps bridge the gap between couple and family: My husband and I joke that sharing the experiences of travel has always been our “love language.” We discovered early on that getaways deserved to be priorities for us — so nearly every other weekend of pre-parenthood was spent exploring. When we were expecting our son, I worried those days were over. But then, when we took our first family trip, I sat across the table from my husband while he bounced our son on his knee and realized it was even better than before. Traveling not just as a couple, but as a family, made me fall even more in love with the person I was lucky enough to have as a partner.
2. The dedicated family time may curb behavioral problems: The time together as a family didn’t just help my relationship with my husband, but may also deserve some credit for our son’s temperament. Based on a 2012 study published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, children whose fathers are more “positively engaged” with them before 3 months of age are already shown to have fewer behavioral problems at the end of the first year.
3. If you can travel, everything else seems less daunting: There is nothing like taking a two-week road trip in a small camper with a baby to make an ordinary trip to the grocery store much less intimidating. Between nursing sessions in the middle of hikes, completing clothing changes on the ground of national parks and surviving meltdowns in airports, traveling taught us to handle any of the ordinary baby challenges thrown our way — which gave us even more confidence when faced with those same challenges in more accommodating situations.
4. You learn to love simplicity: It’s so easy to get caught up in everything babies should have. Then along come airlines with luggage restrictions and suddenly you have to decide what you really need. As it turns out, babies really can stay content with just a toy or two when you don’t give them the option of a whole basket of gizmos all the time.
5. Actually, babies are super portable: The ability to keep our son close in a front pack or hiking backpack meant we didn’t have to make many modifications to the activities we were used to doing. Now that he’s bigger and eager for his own independence, wrangling him makes everything more complicated. (No more taking in the views near the side of a cliff!) Plus, when it comes to nap time, all you need to do is hop in the car or offer a dark place — unlike when they are older and need a pitch-black room with their special lovey, their favorite lullaby and the temperature set to precisely 72 degrees for sleep to even be a possibility.
6. It’s so much cheaper than when they’re older: We are all about the rule that most airlines don’t make you purchase a second seat until your child is 2 years old. Besides flying, traveling with babies is also cheaper because you don’t have to pay for additional meals, beds or entrance fees. (And when you go out to eat, you don’t have to worry about accommodating a toddler’s picky palate!)
7. There are no temper tantrums: I’m never going to claim that babies are easy — but at least when they decide to pitch fits, the outbursts are generally for good reasons, such as hunger or exhaustion. Notbecause you didn’t let them push the elevator button. And even if they aren’t happy about it, other people tend to be much more forgiving of crying babies on planes than kicking toddlers.
8. New environments jump-start language skills: A change of scenery really does everyone in the family some good. According to a 2014 study published in the European Journal of Social Sciences Education and Research, “rich, varied” environments promote early language skills. And according to the Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale, young babies who are exposed to nature are generally more advanced than their peers when it comes to science and reading years down the road.
9. You’re teaching them to roll with the punches: Habits established during babyhood lead to good practices during the toddler years and beyond — and we’re definitely already reaping the rewards of shaping a little traveler. Now, he is unfazed by the Pack 'n Play, (relatively) content during road trips and happiest when he’s outside.
As with everything, traveling certainly is more complicated with a baby in tow. But trust me when I say it’s also worth it. Although I know my son won’t remember his earliest adventures, I will never forget them.
Britney Spears and I are the same age: both born in 1981, the year the first personal computer was sold in stores, the year that MTV was launched. From the moment that I saw Spears bouncing about with her fanned bangs on The Mickey Mouse Club in 1993, we have been locked in a lifelong battle (that she does not know about): Who is more successful? Who is having a more positive impact on the world? Who is creating better art? Who has skinnier arms?
Now we are both 35 years old, and a lot has transpired. We’ve both had our good and bad years, though she has still sold roughly 100 million more albums than I have (for the record, I have sold none). Our tender youth is gone, but we still have a lot of good years ahead. While I have accomplished some of my goals, however, Spears is already tallying one of the biggest marks of success in the entire universe: her very own Lifetime biopic. Yes, Britney Ever After will premiere this Saturday at 8/7c, and it will cover it all, from her sparkling rise to fame to her mid-2000s breakdown to her claw back toward the top.
As I raptly wait on the couch for Britney Ever After to air, let’s take a look back at our two lives, side by side.
1981: We are born
Britney Spears and I were born on pretty even footing: neither of us could speak or walk, dance or sing. This quickly changed as Spears started taking dancing lessons and voice lessons, while I spent my early years playing Atari and picking my nose. Could I have been a superstar and pop icon if only my mom had signed me up for jazz lessons? We will never know, but I assume so.
1993: First signs of fame/failed run for office
Young Britney stars in The Mickey Mouse Club reboot along with future stars Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Ryan Gosling. The hit show gives Spears a chance to hone her talents while catching the eye of record companies and producers.
The very same year, I make a run for vice president at Dover-Sherborn Regional Middle School, only to lose to someone who had friends. I will never seek public office again.
1999: Album/high school diploma
Spears explodes onto the world stage with the release of ...Baby, One More Time. The album, which has sold 30 million copies and is one of the best-selling albums of all time, was paired with an iconic music video that featured Spears in a Catholic school girl outfit, midriff bare, with a pink fuzzy thing in her hair, entreating people to hit her. It was amazing.
That same spring, I graduated from high school. In an act of rebellion against social norms, and in preparation for attending a small liberal arts college, I began to part my hair in the middle.
Spears releases her second smash hit album, Oops!... I Did It Again, causing the world to wonder whether she could produce an album without ellipses in the title. She is nominated for her first two Grammys, one for Best New Artist and one for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Sadly, she did not win either.
I also didn't win any Grammys that year, though I should stress that I didn't try like Spears did.
2001: Spears' novel/failing Latin
At the tender age of 20, Spears achieves my lifelong dream of publishing a novel, A Mother's Gift, which is about a very talented young woman who dreams of being a pop singer.
I am dumped on a park bench by a college boyfriend and fail Intro to Latin. Spears signs a $7 million advertising deal with Pepsi. I drink a Pepsi, maybe two, though not because of the Britney/Pepsi deal. I can't help but feel like I am falling behind when it comes to keeping up with Britney's success.
Image: Laurel Leaf
2004: Marriage/graduate school
Spears gets married.
I convince my graduate school boyfriend to let me keep deodorant at his studio apartment.
2005: Has babies/does not have babies
A Grammy finally in hand, Spears starts a family with her new husband, Kevin Federline, and they settle down in a beautiful mansion as her first greatest hits album is released.
Across the country, in the throes of graduate school, single and struggling to complete my thesis, I wake up drunk in the back of a friend's car in the parking lot of a strip club. How will I ever catch up with Spears' success?
Finally, the tables begin to turn. Britney's marriage falls apart and she begins to struggle with substance abuse.
While I feel for Spears and what she is going through, I see a window of opportunity to close some of the distance between us. I graduate from graduate school with a useless Fine Arts degree.
2007: Shaves head/doesn't shave head
Spears' life is unraveling before the world. She shaves her head. She has a disastrous performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards; this was supposed to be a comeback performance, but she looks confused and distracted. Her body is not completely rock hard, as it usually is.
I don't shave my head in a desperate cry for help. I feel bad for Spears and how much attention her failures and issue get, but not quite as much as the Leave Britney Alone guy. When I woke up in a strip club parking lot, no one found out about it except for a stripper who let me use the club's phone.
Spears hits rock bottom when she is involuntarily checked into a psych ward.
I feel even worse. I start rooting for her. I get married to someone more attractive than Kevin Federline, buy a house and adopt an adorable puppy. Here I come, Spears!
2014: Las Vegas residency/has some babies
Slowly, Spears launches a comeback. By 2014, she has a Las Vegas residency and eight successful albums.
I realize I will probably never catch up with that. I have a couple of kids, so at least we are tied in that respect.
Shortly after releasing her ninth album to positive reviews, Spears gets her roller coaster life turned into a Lifetime biopic, Britney Ever After, which chronicles her ultimately successful career.
I realize that the only way I am going to get a Lifetime movie is if I become a serial killer. You win, Spears.
“[T]ransgender and gender-nonconforming people have been boxed out of the conversation — particularly because, in popular feminist discourse and medical practices alike, menstruation is so heavily equated with the ‘female body’ and ‘women’s health,’” explains Morgan Jenkins on BuzzFeed. “Trans exclusion is all the more egregious here when considering that the needs of trans people so often go unmet in a health care system that can be oblivious to their existence.”
The reality is that for some who are gender-nonconforming, there is an added layer of baggage that arrives every month with their period. “I feel quite conflicted about it, because it is responsible for making me both feel like myself, yet feel less like the person I want to be,” explained Frank Ly, who is genderqueer, to BuzzFeed.
Just over a year ago, Netflix released the 10-episode true crime documentary series Making a Murderer, which had millions of viewers wondering who really murdered Teresa Halbach in rural Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, in 2005. While many were conflicted about whether the two men convicted of the crime, Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey, were truly guilty, almost everyone agreed that the investigation and trial were deeply flawed at best.
Last night, Dateline NBC aired a new special, “Return to Manitowoc County,” that reviewed the case and shared three new interviews that shed more light on what happened during the case and what has transpired since, giving a voice to a few characters from the series who didn't give interviews to the filmmakers. Let's take a look at the new information that they shared.
Tom Fassbender: "I feel it was a real confession"
Co-lead investigator Tom Fassbender gave his first televised interview, and he used it to defend his actions during the investigation, especially his extremely controversial interrogation of Dassey. He had pressured the mentally delayed teenager to confess to assisting with Halbach's murder.
Fassbender told Dateline, “It’s easy to armchair quarterback. We didn’t try to manipulate Brendan. We just tried to get at the truth. And I don’t believe it was a false confession. Are there parts of it that he may have not done? I don’t know.” He continued, “I legitimately was concerned for him. That wasn’t staged. That wasn’t strategy”.
When asked about Dassey's recent release, which came about after Making a Murderer aired, Fassbender said he had mixed emotions, though he still believed that Dassey was involved with the murder.
Finally, Fassbender also stated that he did not believe anything was planted during the investigation or that mistakes were made by anyone involved.
Viewers at home sounded off about the investigator's arguments. Some were skeptical of his side of the story.
Tom Fassbender Making a Murderer
Tom Fassbender Making a Murderer
Tom Fassbender Making a Murderer Dateline
Tom Fassbender Making a Murderer Dateline
Len Kachinsky: "That was really a mistake"
One of the most memorable people from Making a Murderer was Dassey's defense attorney, Len Kachinsky — and it's not for good reasons. Many believe that the awkward, bumbling lawyer's many errors during the investigation and trial landed Dassey in prison. But on Dateline, Kachinsky reiterated what he's said in past interviews: that, although it was a big mistake to let his client talk to the police alone and without legal representation, his ineptitude did not directly affect the verdict.
Nope, viewers weren't buying it.
Len Kachinsky Making a Murderer
Len Kachinsky Making a Murderer
Len Kachinsky Making a Murderer Dateline
Len Kachinsky Making a Murderer Dateline
Let us pray that the next time we need a public defender, Kachinsky doesn't walk into the room.
Ken Kratz: "Avery planned this event the very first day he went to prison"
Perhaps the biggest villain of Making a Murderer was Manitowoc County district attorney Ken Kratz, who came off throughout the series as an unlikable, obtuse prosecutor who stood in the way of justice, whether or not Steven Avery was guilty. On Dateline, the soft-spoken Kratz was busy promoting his soon-to-be-released book, Avery, which he says tells his side of the story. He still believes that both men are guilty and that Avery is a psychopath whose hatred of women led him to plan Halbach's murder long before it happened. He told Dateline, "I'm hoping this book will change the narrative."
Dateline also spoke to Kratz about the controversy that surrounded him two years after the case, when he was accused of sending sexually suggestive text messages to a domestic violence victim. Kratz said that his book covers the incident, which led to his resignation, and he admits to struggling with prescription drugs and sex addiction in the past. The episode concludes with a few shots of Kratz and his new girlfriend, along with Kratz's insistence that despite the new book, he is moving on with life.
Ken Kratz Making a Murderer
Ken Kratz Making a Murderer
Ken Kratz Making a Murderer Dateline
Ken Kratz Making a Murderer Dateline
While the Dateline episode shed new light on how the case developed, what some of the main players were thinking and how Avery's current case for a retrial is developing, it certainly did not answer many of the questions that linger 12 years after the murder. New evidence, Avery's new attorney said, will come to light soon and may help everyone make sense of what has taken place, in terms of the murder, the investigation and the initial trial. At the same time, Netflix confirmed in December that Making a Murderer Season 2 is in the works.
Amy Duggar, the niece of 19 Kids and Counting stars Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, has said in the past she had a difficult childhood that involved abuse. Now, she's finally revealing that her father was her abuser.
In a teaser for an episode of Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars, Duggar alleges that her father physically abused her, saying, "He picked me up by my throat, all the way up to the ceiling."
Another teaser clip shows Duggar doing a role play exercise with Dr. Ish Major, reenacting an experience she had with her allegedly abusive father. Duggar said in the clip, "I can't do it... I'm done. Get me out of here."
Duggar went on to reveal, "I've already forgiven my dad for the things that have happened in the past and I just feel like, why go there? Like why do you wanna go there?"
However, the Marriage Boot Camp team seems to disagree. They believe coming to terms with her past and learning how to deal with her anger will strengthen her relationship with her husband, Dillon King.
"Amy's coping mechanism is to pretend that everything is always happy in her world," Dr. Venus Nicolino said in a clip. "It's how she blocks out the trauma she faced in her childhood."
"The problem with that is that it's impossible to keep up the appearance of perfection," Dr. Ish Major said.
"Amy has been scratching the surface of telling Dillion that sometimes, he hurts her," Nicolino said. "But she swallows a lot of her anger."
"She does," Major said. "And when you hide anger from your partner, you end up resenting them."
Duggar also detailed the confrontation that lead up to her father allegedly grabbing her throat.
"My dad was like, 'Did you brush your teeth?' And I was like, 'Yeah daddy.' And he was like, 'No you didn't.' And he picked me up by my throat, all the way up to the ceiling," Duggar said in the teaser. "He was like, 'You will brush your teeth.'"
This is the first time Duggar has named her abuser.
Everybody has to start somewhere, right? During an interview on The Graham Norton Show, Tom Hiddleston revealed he and Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne were in a play together back during their boarding school days.
Redmayne played the lead role in A Passage to India by E.M. Forster, while Hiddleston played the leg of an elephant Redmayne's character rode during the performance. Yes, seriously.
Hiddleston went on to say, "The great Eddie Redmayne, the now Oscar-winning Eddie Redmayne, was playing the female lead and in A Passage to India there's an expedition to this cultural landmark called the Marabar Caves by elephant. I'm delighted to reveal that I played the front right leg of the elephant that Eddie was riding on."
Confused as to how that worked? No worries. Hiddleston went on to explain the elephant's setup, saying, "We're holding a table with a cushion on top of it and also a table cloth to cover our faces, because our bodies are the elephant."
Hiddleston may not own an Oscar, yet, but he does now have a Golden Globe win under his belt. He received a Golden Globe this year for Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for his role in The Night Manager. The actor can next be scene starring opposite Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Thomas Mann and John C. Reilly in Kong: Skull Island, in theaters Mar. 10.
Check out Hiddleston's interview on The Graham Norton Show below.
tom hiddleston graham norton show interview eddie red
tom hiddleston graham norton show interview eddie red
Take plenty of pauses this week and think before you speak — words have the potential to effect change and deliver huge insights, especially on Tuesday and Thursday.
Tensions are mounting as gung-ho Mars edges ever closer to the planet of ultimate disruption: Uranus, which will get many hot under the collar. Wednesday delivers challenges of its own (keep a watchful eye around this pressure cooker day).
Saturday evening presents a beautiful showdown of fireworks: the moon joins the sun, Mercury and Neptune in the watery rapids of Pisces, while Mars meets electric Uranus. Sparks fly. Brace yourself for another emotional weekend.
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Image: SheKnows
Keep cool during this hot and heady week. Power dynamics can really push your buttons on Wednesday, with any authority figure proving to be an enticing opponent. Navigate challenges using restraint of pen and tongue (although, if with a friend’s help you draft something on Thursday, you might have a very good starting point).
Zone out over the weekend — you may have some crazy-cathartic dreams. As you wrestle with your pillow and duvet, remember it’s all part of the process. Let it go.
Be alert to opportunities that help you get ahead early this week — there could be helpful conversations that otherwise seem unassuming and supportive information delivered exclusively for your benefit. Wednesday may challenge you at your innermost core; you could need to fight that a bit harder to protect your sense of inner peace. Remember, your well-being is paramount.
Fresh starts in friendships and your wider network of peers is promised over the weekend, so gather together those you long to see.
An eventful week, there’s opportunity to connect in exciting and dynamic ways. Some developments may feel slightly uncomfortable; however, you can navigate them on Thursday with love, kindness and realism. It may be necessary to set firm boundaries, but expressing yourself comes easily once you open up.
Saturday is supercharged with friendly spontaneity. Use the evening hours to reflect upon your overarching goals — it’ll be easy to imagine with your ruler Mercury moving into visionary Pisces at 6:10 p.m. EST.
Driving ahead in your public role may be necessary; however, it might also create friction in the way you relate. On Wednesday, an intense mood can be noted and skillfully navigated with a pause. Tension can be useful when there’s awareness and sensitively — truly your specialty, Cancer.
On Saturday, your perspective can lift — take a moment for positive visualization. Welcome inspiration and consider personal expansion through learning, travel or even a spiritual adventure. It's time for an exciting new endeavor to begin.
Everyday obligations could put a dampener on broadening your horizons, but rather than get frustrated and pouty, team up to think of a solution. With ingenious brainwaves up for grabs, you’ll gain multiple solutions with a sparring partner that stokes the embers.
You can begin to think deeply over the weekend, reflecting on issues of a private nature, whether legal or financial, or an intense relationship you’ve been waiting to fully explore. Fresh starts are available to you, so dive in.
It’s a great week to power through tasks in a productive fashion — from Saturday, you’ll be hotly engrossed in your personal exchanges, prioritizing relationships above and beyond the more routine matters on your list.
In the meantime, use your efficient streak to progress, as you’re beautifully supported. There’s ample drive, enthusiasm and opportunity to gain insight, especially around the most private matters. Wednesday is highly charged — perhaps it’s you who’s pushing ahead with ardor. It’ true, omelets aren’t made without breaking eggs.
Conversations are wonderfully supported early in the week, so be sure to connect to those who count with an expression of your affection, gratitude or love. Relationships are thriving with an exciting rapport in teamwork; emphasize fondness with sincerity on Monday and Thursday.
Wednesday presents domestic disharmony, temporarily upsetting the matrimonial bliss; however, a positive frame of mind helps you come unstuck. On Saturday, you’re able to move ahead, focusing on the tasks at hand. The fireworks keep popping in partnerships.
Wednesday presents conflict with the potential to escalate — or blow up to epic proportions. One side spurs on hot, heady action. The other wants to exert ultimate control. Reconciliation and breakthroughs will come, and talking to your most supportive friend or family member offers relief.
On Saturday, stars align in the playful, romantic, fun area of your horoscope for a brand new start — there’s still a feisty dynamic to navigate, but you can say yes to renewed passion and sweet, sweet love.
There’s clarity early in the week with the opportunity to explore and connect the ideas that matter most. Harness insights by sharing or writing them down; you might be inclined to spread them fervently on Thursday, but don’t be surprised if you experience a lull in enthusiasm midweek.
Your focus at home intensifies on Saturday with a growing emphasis on domestic matters and the fresh start that’s in the works. The day is charged with fun, excitement and pure sparky love.
A battle of wills emerges in your domestic arena, bringing challenges to your door that could feel incredibly personal and unsettling. Excitement and spontaneity’s building; however, you’re more than capable of steering conversations into sensible waters. Make your moves from a place of strength — you’re a powerhouse, Capricorn. You’ll have ample opportunity to set the world to rights on Thursday, so speak up on your own terms.
Starting Saturday, allow your curiosity to be renewed, stepping out among your community, ready to learn.
You’re so stimulated, it’ll be a miracle if you can sit still this week — you have thoughts and ideas running wild, so use your platform of friends and community to spread your pearls, Aqua. As you press ahead in connectedness, a conflict can arise. Reluctance, procrastination, even the prospect of a lack of appreciation raises doubt on Wednesday. Have the confidence to embrace your drives.
On the weekend, you find yourself focused toward material realms — be open to fresh starts in practical matters.
Your intuition’s on fleek, so pay attention to thoughts around the role you occupy, how you’re compensated and what you value in yourself — what are the talents you’d like everyone to sit up and take note of? Don’t be shy.
You might have to break free from your community’s expectations, creating a tussle on Wednesday as you push ahead toward your position of choice. You’ll find your voice on Saturday. Remember, the weekend’s ripe with potential for huge personal change.
