By Wonderwall.com Editors
2:31pm PDT, Jul 30, 2020
Kelly Clarkson's kids discuss unleashing their ninja skills on the next earthquake
Next time the ground starts shaking beneath California, fear not! As long as Kelly Clarkson's 6-year-old daughter, River, and 4-year-old son, Remington, are nearby, anyway. After a magnitude 4.2 quake shook the San Fernando area at 4:30 a.m. Thursday, Kelly hopped on Twitter to share what was happening at her house. "My children are in my arms and we are awake too early because of that earthquake but now they're discussing how their ninja skills would totally help in this time," she posted. "I'm just happy they're more interested and curious about it and less scared. Hallelujah!" Later, the talk show host added this update: "Me after earthquake: We have to go back to bed. My children: …" To illustrate their response, she simply posted a GIF of a cat repeatedly paw-tapping its sleeping owner on the face in bed, with the caption, 'HI ARE YOU AWAKE.'"
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Rihanna talks Fenty Skin and why that new album has yet to be released
Rihanna launches her Fenty beauty brand's first skincare line this week — and, sorry, but there's no album coming out along with it. While that's not likely to please the fans who have been begging her on social media for a follow-up to "Anti," she did offer ET this consolation via video chat: "I am always working on music and when I am ready to put it out in the way that I feel fit, it's gonna come out. And you're not going to be disappointed when it happens. It's going to be worth it." The singer, who seems to enjoy trolling her fans right back when they get too demanding on the "R9" front, added: "I'm not just gonna put it out just because people are waiting. It's taken this long, I'm gonna make it worth it." Fenty Skin, due out Friday, features "a three-step collection of 2-in-1 products," ET reports, with a focus on simplicity, affordability and quality. "We want these products to work for all skin types and, of course, all skin tones," she explained. "I want these things to be different from anything that is on the market. I want it to be simple. I want it to be accessible, but still with the high level of ingredients that some of these other brands do but they're so expensive." She said she'd learned over time that making "the best product" doesn't actually require the crazy price points of so many brands. She's also proud of the routine the line sets up its fans for. "Three simple steps," she said, "and from there we take them on a journey throughout their skincare."
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Elton John celebrates 30 years of sobriety
Thirty years ago this week, Elton John ended his long relationship with drugs and alcohol. And as he wrote on Twitter in celebration of his sobriety milestone, "If I hadn't finally taken the big step of asking for help 30 years ago, I'd be dead." The music icon added, "Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the people who have inspired and supported me along the way," and shared photos of "30"-shaped cake, a recovery chip and cards from his loved ones. In another post, he expressed his gratitude for the celebration. "Reflecting on the most magical day having celebrated my 30th Sobriety Birthday. So many lovely cards, flowers and chips from my sons, David, friends in the Program, staff at the office and in our homes," he wrote. "I'm truly a blessed man." Speaking to CBS News last year about his addiction, which drove much of the storyline for "Rocketman," Elton said drugs and alcohol "nearly destroyed" his soul. "My soul was black, like a charred piece of steak, until I said, 'I need help,'" he recalled. "And suddenly, a little pilot light in my soul came along going, 'Yes, I'm still here. I'm still here. I'm still here. I can still be rescued.'"
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Tamar Braxton addresses suspected suicide attempt, pens scathing critique of reality TV in emotional post
Tamar Braxton has broken her silence on the incident that left her unresponsive and then hospitalized on July 17. In a heartwrenching post on Instagram Thursday, the reality star first thanked everyone who has supported her as she seeks treatment for issues including depression. She then detailed how the treatment she received from producers of her reality shows left her feeling hollow and used. She explained how the unmet promises of "opportunity" created a dangerous level of "exploitation," as her network, We TV, contributed to the "poor portrayal of Black people in show business. Tamar also acknowledged that she had, in fact tried to "end" her "pain" and her "life," but said she's now "learning to grow through my pain instead of looking for an escape." In another section, she added, "Mental illness is real. We have to normalize acknowledging it and stop associating it with shame and humiliation." Earlier this week, WE tv announced it would postpone Tamar's new show, "Tamar Braxton: Get Ya Life!" until September.
Taylor Swift rebranded her 'folklore' merch after Black business owner called her out
Well, that's awkward. As Taylor Swift enjoys widespread praise for "folklore," her new, surprise foray into indie-pop, she's also facing an uncomfortable allegation about her album's name and design. In short, they look a whole lot like the logo used by an online African diaspora-curated apparel store called "The Folklore," particularly the spacing of the letters. Worse, the merch collection that launched with the album was initially dubbed, "The Folklore." It even had its "The" typed vertically instead of horizontally, just like the clothing store's name and logo, which The Root notes were trademarked in 2018. Based in New York City, the brand was founded and is owned by Amira Rasool, whose lawyers promptly contacted Swift's team. Swift's people quickly changed the design, telling "GMA" in a statement: "Absolutely no merchandise using 'the' before the words 'folklore album' has been manufactured or sent out. In good faith, we honored [Rasool's] request and immediately notified everyone who had ordered merchandise with the word 'the' preceding 'folklore album' that they will now receive their order with the design change." Rasool told WWD, "The main thing was having 'The Folklore' when the album was just called 'Folklore.' I commend her team for recognizing the damage it caused our brand. I recognize that Taylor has been a strong advocate for women protecting their creative rights, so it was good to see her team is on the same page." But she also said their lawyers are still discussing "the next steps to make this situation right," and that, "there's a larger conversation that needs to be had." Rasool explained: "It's not just damaging to one Black woman, it's all the brands that we work with." She also said she believes that because her logo comes up in a Google search of "The Folklore," Swift's "people would have seen that," according to WWD. As for the social media harassment from Swift's fans, Rasool added: "I think there was a lot of damage to my brand for me speaking out. I don't think I deserved that."
Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez rock out to 2000s jams with their daughters
In case you were wondering, music is definitely a big part of life at home for Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez and their kids. This week, the couple shared a TikTok video that showed them rocking out to some early aughts jams with J.Lo's daughter Emme, A-Rod's daughter, Ella, (both 12), and the former Yankee's nephew, Nick Silva, according to People. "These bops had me hype! ✨✨ Party in Club Basement with Alex, Lulu, Ella Bella and Nick!" Jennifer captioned the clip, which featured tracks by Nelly and Kelly Rowland, Ja Rule, Eve and more. The once and always Jenny From the Block, who kills it on the impromptu dance floor, also appears to know every lyric of every song. Alex, meanwhile, included this hashtag on his post of the clip: "#whatamIevendoingbackthere."
Naya Rivera laid to rest in Los Angeles
Naya Rivera has been laid to rest. ET and other outlets confirmed Thursday that the late "Glee" actress and singer was honored at a private funeral at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles on July 24. Naya, 33, went missing on July 8 during a boat ride on Lake Piru with her 4-year-old son. Authorities believe that after the two got out to swim, she was able to get him safely back on board but was unable to save herself. Her body was recovered on July 13 and her cause of death was later ruled to have been "drowning." Earlier this month, the late star's family released a statement thanking fans and friends for their support. "While we grieve the loss of our beautiful legend, we are blessed to honor her everlasting legacy and magnetic spirit," they said.
Oprah Winfrey stands down from 'O' magazine cover for the first time, giving it to Breonna Taylor
Hearst, the publisher of Oprah Winfrey's long-running "O" magazine, recently announced plans to focus more on the mag's digital presence than its print one. That's not the only big change happening at "O." After 20 years of publishing print editions with Oprah herself on the cover, the late Breonna Taylor will grace the front of the September issue, CNN reports. Breonna, the 26-year-old EMT who was shot to death by police in her home in March, has been the subject of protests across the country for months. None of the officers involved was ever charged or arrested, though one was fired. Her case is finally being investigated by Kentucky's attorney general. "We can't be silent," Oprah wrote on social media Thursday, sharing news of the cover and her column, which accompanies it. "We have to use whatever megaphone we have to cry for justice. And that is why Breonna Taylor is on the cover of O magazine. The September issue honors her life and the life of every other Black woman whose life has been taken too soon," Oprah added. In her column for the magazine, Oprah said she's, "happy to play a small part in this long-overdue, world-changing narrative on racial injustice and police brutality," and pointed to the "innocence" she sees in the image of Breonna on her new cover. "We know how Breonna died. March 13. Louisville police storming into her apartment in the middle of the night. No uniforms. No 'This is the police!' Terrifying Breonna and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker," Oprah continued, urging readers to get involved in demanding justice for her and others. Over the weekend, the WNBA announced it's dedicating its season to Breonna and the #SayHerName movement, which seeks justice for Black women subjected to violence by police and racism in the U.S.
Ellen DeGeneres could face cancel culture following stories of alleged 'bizarre' demands, intimidation on set
Can Ellen DeGeneres survive a "cancel culture"-prone world? That's what Page Six asked in a piece published Thursday, citing the latest claims about her allegedly bad behavior on set. According to Neil Breen, a former producer for Australia's "Today," Ellen was supposed to co-host the Sydney-based show but her team switched gears and said she could only give a sit-down interview — hundreds of miles away in Melbourne. Then, he claimed on radio station 4BC, Ellen's producers "called us aside … and said, 'Now, Neil, no one is to talk to Ellen. You don't talk to her, you don't approach her, you don't look at her. She'll come in, she'll sit down, she'll talk to Richard and then Ellen will leave.'" Neil said he "found the whole thing bizarre," and added that the interview was conducted under her strict regulations with regard to things like lighting and seating. "I have no idea whether she's a nice person or not, I wouldn't have a clue," he admitted. "But I can tell you the people who worked with her walked on eggshells the whole time, and the whole thing was totally bizarre." Earlier this week, WarnerMedia reportedly launched an internal, third-party led investigation into claims racism, intimidation and other toxic behavior have long been part of the deal on the comic's eponymous show. Those claims began in March when comic Kevin Porter called her "notoriously one of the meanest people alive," sparking multiple tales of alleged nastiness to surface. If the purportedly toxic environment on "Ellen" is thriving because of other staffers' behavior, meanwhile, a source told The Sun this week that as the figure head of the show, it's up to Ellen to "take responsibility" for what happens there.
