By Jessica Wedemeyer
7:28pm PDT, Jul 2, 2020
Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at the stars who found love, suffered heartbreak or experienced some other major event in their love lives in early July 2020, starting with this bombshell allegation… During an interview with Angela Yee that appeared on his YouTube channel on June 30, singer August Alsina claimed that he and Jada Pinkett Smith had an affair after her son, Jaden Smith, introduced them in 2015 — and that her husband, Will Smith, was fully aware of the romance. August said that he fell in love with the actress as they grew increasingly close — he vacationed with her and her family in Hawaii in 2016 and accompanied her to the BET Awards in 2017. "I totally gave myself to that relationship for years of my life, and I truly and really, really deeply love and have a ton of love for her," he said during the wide-ranging interview to promote his new album. "I devoted myself to it, I gave my full self to it — so much so to the point that I can die right now and be OK with knowing that I truly gave myself to somebody." August claimed he "actually sat down with Will and had a conversation" about his relationship with Jada "due to the transformation from their marriage to life partnership that they've spoken on several times." The 27-year-old singer added that because Will and Jada's relationship was "not involving romanticism" at the time, the A-list actor gave him "his blessing" to pursue the "Girls Trip" star. He went on to say that he's "never done anything wrong" and insisted that he loves the entire Smith clan. "They're like my family. I don't have a bad thing to say about them. They're beautiful people," he said. He also maintained that he's only opening up about the affair now because rumors about his relationship with the 48-year-old mother of two have negatively affected his career. Jada's rep told Page Six that August's allegations are "absolutely not true," while Will's rep told The Sun that August's claims are "wrong." For years now, the power couple has faced rumors that they're secretly in an open marriage. Now keep reading for more of the week's biggest celeb love life updates…
RELATED: Notorious celeb cheating scandals
Khloe Kardashian and ex-boyfriend Tristan Thompson sparked engagement rumors when she sported a massive diamond ring during her 36th birthday party on June 27 (see it here), but according to an Us Weekly source, they're "not engaged." However, another source told People magazine on July 1 that the reality TV star and the NBA player are actually now "giving their relationship another try." Tristan, People's source added, "is working hard to prove himself and has been a great dad to True."
RELATED: New celeb couples of 2020
On June 29, DailyMail.com published exclusive photos of Ryan Seacrest holding hands with a mystery blonde while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, four days earlier. The photos were the first indication that the "American Idol" host and his off-and-on love of several years, Shayna Taylor, had recently called it quits for the third time. (According to People magazine, Ryan and the mystery blonde are "newly dating.") His rep later released a statement confirming the news: "Ryan and Shayna decided to end their romantic relationship amicably some time ago. They remain good friends, each other's biggest supporters and will always cherish their time together as a couple," read the statement. On an early May episode of "Live with Kelly and Ryan," he publicly wished Shayna a happy anniversary — and joked that every time they drive past an amusement park, he points out a rollercoaster and says, "Look, there we are."
RELATED: Celeb splits of 2020
Is there more to Julianne Hough's split from Brooks Laich than we were initially led to believe? On June 25, Us Weekly reported that, according to a source, "her actions are what caused" the breakup. "Brooks did not want a divorce, but he felt pushed toward it because of how Julianne was behaving. But Brooks is not the one who is bummed now," said the source, adding that Julianne's "friends think Brooks was an amazing, strapping dude and aren't sure why she let him go or messed it up." The insider added that the former professional hockey player "doesn't have anyone new in his life right now romantically speaking." Meanwhile, according to a second Us Weekly source, Julianne has been "spending a lot of time with Ben Barnes" and "leaning on him" in the wake of her breakup from Brooks. (The dancer-actress raised eyebrows when she was seen with the handsome "The Chronicles of Narnia" star in April, indicating that they were quarantining together amid the coronavirus pandemic.) The second source cryptically added, "She told Brooks it was nothing, but it's not." She's now reportedly left Los Angeles and "won't answer anyone's calls or texts, including [those from] her closest friends." Then on the June 29 episode of his "How Men Think" podcast, Brooks dished on the qualities he finds attractive in a partner: "I think kindness is so attractive," he said. "I think somebody with an open heart is so attractive. And conversely, I think somebody with a closed heart that is really fighting hard — that, to me, is so off-putting. It's very off-putting. I'm like, 'What is the struggle? What are you fighting against? I'm here to open my heart to you and to be on your team and to be together in this and you're fighting to keep me out.'" Could he be talking about his estranged wife? Hmm…
During an interview with Vulture that hit the Internet on June 26, Alia Shawkat finally addressed persistent rumors that she and Brad Pitt are an item: "We're not dating. We're just friends," she said. She also shared her initial reaction to the attention on their relationship: "I was like, I don't believe this," she said. "All my friends were like, 'What's going on?' and sending me photos. … I just felt overwhelmed. It's that feeling of being naked in school, like, 'Oh my God, everyone's looking at me.' … I've gotten press, but not like that — not so uncontrollable." She later reflected on why people are so fascinated by her friendship with the A-list actor: "To them it's like, 'We don't get it! This girl is weird! She's so different! Why are they hanging out?'" she said. "You get too close to the prom king, and all of a sudden, everyone's like, 'Well, who is this b—-?'"
Christina Ricci and film producer James Heerdegen are parting ways after nearly seven years of marriage and one child together. The breakup came to light on July 1 after Us Weekly broke the news that the former child star was granted an emergency protective order against her estranged husband following a June 25 domestic violence incident at their home in the Los Angeles area. On July 2, the actress filed for divorce in L.A. County Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split. According to TMZ, she's asking for sole legal and physical custody of their son. The former couple reportedly does not have a prenuptial agreement.
Courtney Stodden and Brian Austin Green are at it again! On June 30, the blonde reality star took to Instagram to share a video of herself and the "Beverly Hills, 90210" alum hanging out at what appears to be a pool party. "9021 now I kn0w," she captioned the silly clip, in which she and the actor say hi to someone named Ashley. "Here's 90210. … I've never seen him. I don't know who this is," Courtney joked of the former teen heartthrob, to whom she was linked in mid-June. But she's not the only beauty with whom Brian has been spending time in the wake of his breakup from Megan Fox… Also on June 30, the father of four was snapped stepping out for lunch in Los Angeles with Australian model Tina Louise. (See photos here.)
On June 28, Tyler Cameron was snapped heading out for pizza in the Miami area with 22-year-old swimsuit model Jilissa Ann Zoltko. According to an E! News source, the duo "initially connected through social media" and are "casual" but "definitely into each other." Said the insider, "Tyler definitely showed interest in her and made a joke about [her] coming out to Jupiter, Florida, to visit him since she lives in Miami. Jilissa took him up on it and they have been hanging out these last few days. … [They] have good chemistry and make each other laugh. There's a strong flirtation between them but Tyler doesn't want anything serious." Echoed an Us Weekly source, "Tyler and Jilissa recently started talking over Instagram after following each other. She decided to go to Jupiter, Florida, to meet him in person, which he, of course, welcomed. … It's too soon to tell if it'll develop into anything serious. They're just getting to know each other. Tyler likes meeting new people." The Us Weekly insider added that the pair have been "hanging out casually around the area and at his house."
Eight months after they were first linked, Adele and Skepta sparked a fresh round of romance rumors with their flirty behavior on social media. After the Grammy-winning singer took to Instagram on June 27 to share a slideshow of photos of herself hanging out at home, the grime rapper-producer took to the comments section to playfully tease her: "Finally got your Instagram password lol," he wrote, implying that they'd recently discussed her log-in woes. Adele replied with two equally flirty emojis: a red heart and the winking face with its tongue sticking out.
Another week, another round of rumors about Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton's plans to wed! On July 1, Us Weekly reported that, according to one source, the duo are "keen" to tie the knot "as soon as possible" and are aiming to go "all out" for a summer wedding, though "it won't be the end of the world if they have to move things back till the fall." According to a second source, they hope to wed twice: once in Los Angeles and once at the country crooner's Oklahoma ranch. "Oklahoma gives the couple more privacy and the possibilities are endless for a wedding reception people will talk about for years," said the second insider.
In other social media news… Demi Lovato gushed about her boyfriend, Max Ehrich, while wishing him a happy 29th birthday on Instagram on June 24: "BAAAYYBEEE – I have so much fun with you," she captioned a slideshow of photos of them together. "Being with you makes life SO MUCH FUN 😆😝 We literally act like hooligans on the daily and don't give a F— if we're embarrassing ourselves if others are around!! I spend my days with you, bare faced and in a bathing suit.. I feel unconditionally loved and accepted by you in a way that I've never felt before.. I can't explain it or you.. you're indescribable, you beautiful, man. Inside and out you are jaw-droppingly gorgeous.. You're also such a positive lil beam of light in my life and I can't wait to make more birthday memories together.. here's to the future baby. I love you."
Billie Lourd's boyfriend of several years, Austen Rydell, took to Instagram on June 25 to announce that they're engaged. "She said YES!! (Actually she said 'Duhhh') But I guess that's even better than yes?!?" he captioned a slideshow of photos of himself and the "American Horror Story" star.
On June 27, Brandi Glanville tweeted a dark, grainy photo of herself kissing another blonde woman … a woman who appears to be her rumored former flame Denise Richards. "Making dinner for my fam/neighbors -#snack on this," Brandi captioned the steamy shot. Two days later, she tweeted that the woman in the photo is "1millionpercent" Denise and not a Denise "look alike." The two women have been at odds since late 2019, which is when Brandi reportedly told their "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" co-stars that they had an affair during the first half of 2019. The "Starship Troopers" actress has vehemently denied Brandi's claims, but the "Drinking and Tweeting" writer maintained in January that she had the "receipts" to prove she wasn't lying about their past, and it looks like she just delivered!
On June 29, Dr. Dre's wife of 24 years, lawyer Nicole Young, filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split. The duo share two adult children, so she won't be seeking child support, though according to TMZ, she's asking for spousal support. (Nicole and the hip-hop mogul, who's worth an estimated $800 million, reportedly do not have a prenuptial agreement.)
On June 28, Taylor Schilling took to her Instagram Story to reveal she's dating artist Emily Ritz. The "Orange Is the New Black" star re-posted a photo that Emily first posted on her own Instagram Story in honor of Pride weekend. The sweet shot showed the two women embracing while sharing the look of love. "I couldn't be more proud to be by your side," Emily scrawled across the image, adding a rainbow emoji and two beating-heart emojis to make it clear they're more than friends. According to Just Jared, Taylor and Emily "met through mutual friends and their relationship turned more romantic late last year."
"The Originals" star Phoebe Tonkin took to Instagram on June 29 to reveal that she's dating Phantom Planet singer Alex Greenwald, who was previously engaged to Brie Larson. "Wear yo masks!" she captioned a photo of herself and the rocker kissing through their face masks. The duo have been subtly posting about each other on social media since at least March, though it was unclear at the time that they were anything more than friends.
On June 29, Us Weekly broke the news that former "Person of Interest" actress Sarah Shahi filed to divorce "Shameless" star Steve Howey in Los Angeles Superior Court on May 4, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split and listing their date of separation as April 14. "After much thought and consideration, we have decided to end our marriage," they said in a joint statement. "We are so grateful for the past 10 years together and proud of [the three] children that we've raised. As we enter into this new phase of our lives, our priority will remain co-parenting our children with so much love, mutual respect and friendship. And though our relationship is changing, we are committed to continuing our lives as a loving family."
On June 26, People magazine broke the news that Hallmark Channel star Taylor Cole — who previously starred on "The Originals" and Heroes" — married film producer Cameron Larson in a super-small ceremony on the shores of Lake Tahoe six days earlier. The duo originally planned to exchange vows in front of more than 100 guests at Tahoe Beach Club, but they scaled back their nuptials amid the coronavirus pandemic. "We couldn't wait — we were too excited to profess our love and commit to each other. It sounds a little cheesy, but when you know you know, and we wanted our forever to start as soon as possible," said the actress of their decision to move forward with a smaller ceremony, which they livestreamed for friends and family watching from the safety of their own homes. (The bride even wore her phone on a band around her arm so that her father could virtually walk her down the aisle.) Their in-person guests included their officiant, their wedding planner (who served as their witness), a photographer, a videographer and a single musician.
On June 25, Arielle Kebbel took to Instagram to reveal her new boyfriend, though she stopped short of publicly identifying the mystery man she could be seen canoodling with in a sweet selfie. Us Weekly later confirmed that the "Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector" actress has been seeing her new man "for more than three months." She reportedly met him in New York while she was on the East Coast for work. He's since visited her at her home in Los Angeles. She's "very excited about him," said a source.
On the June 29 episode of Nick Viall's "The Viall Files" podcast, Kaitlynn Carter said that she's seeing someone new, but they're "not boyfriend/girlfriend" yet. "I'm trying to take it really slow and make sure that everything is in place," she said, adding that she plans to keep the relationship private. "What I've really realized is now with dating, I'm super private about it. Since last fall, once that whole situation [with Miley Cyrus] came to a wrap, I was like, 'That's the last time I'm doing a public thing,'" she explained, adding that she and the singer-actress "actually did work pretty hard" to keep their romance to themselves. "It's so hard to go through a breakup in the public eye too… It's so rough. But there's also a lot to be gained and learned from that. So now I'm just super, super private," she continued. The reality star then reflected on dating women versus men: "A relationship with a woman is so different than a relationship with a man. It's a very different dynamic," she said. "I do feel there's this attitude when someone dates a woman one time that maybe it was just an experiment. People will put that on you. … I find that pretty frustrating. I don't think the labels are what matters." Added Kaitlynn, "Whoever I want to date is who I want to date. … Honestly, it's been interesting to find who I am attracted to." Whether she ends up with a man or a woman, one thing is certain — she's eager to enter a phase where she's not defined by her relationships anymore: "[My friend] said, 'You've always been attached to someone else, and you're known for your relationships. You're known for dating, and you have so much more to you that no one really knows about. … It's important that you stand on your own two feet.' She was absolutely right."
On June 24 — less than a week after she and Jackson Michie announced that they'd called it quits — Holly Allen took to her Instagram Story to share a video of herself out drinking with Bachelor Nation's Blake Horstmann, sparking rumors that she's already moved on from her "Big Brother" co-star. According to Us Weekly, however, Holly and the controversial "Bachelor in Paradise" alum are just friends. "Blake actually knew Holly before she went on 'Big Brother,'" said a source. "They have mutual friends in Denver and were just out with friends catching up."
On the June 29 episode of "The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons — Ever," JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers revealed that they almost broke up after getting engaged on season 12 of "The Bachelorette" in 2016. "You get a lot of perfection on the show. You get amazing dates. You see the best of someone. Sometimes that's not real life," said the former professional football player. "You go through ups and downs — and we've gone through our fair share of ups and downs." JoJo confirmed they "went through a lot of different struggles" and added that their first year together was "very difficult." Said the bride-to-be, "There was a point in that first year where we were like, 'Whoa, can we even do this?'" Explained her beau, "We sat down together and we were like, 'We love each other, but is that enough right now?' There was a fork in the road and we chose to stay together and we're better for it, but it was not easy." The duo, who recently celebrated their fourth anniversary, are "way more in love now," Jordan told Bachelor Nation host Chris Harrison.
David Foster has been married four times before, but wife No. 5, Katharine McPhee, is officially the love of his life, he wrote on Instagram while wishing her a happy first anniversary on June 28. "Happy anniversary to the love of my life!!" the super-producer captioned a photo of himself and the "American Idol" alum around the time they tied the knot in the summer of 2019. Kat, meanwhile, wished her hubby a happy first anniversary by sharing a photo of them together on their wedding day. "A year ago today I married the love of my life. Thank you for always loving me and inspiring me in all aspects of my life. I love you. Here's to the future! (Oh and happy anniversary to the other love of my life – this dreamy dress! thank you @ZacPosen!!)," she wrote in the caption. Their marriage may seem picture perfect, but in a new Netflix documentary about her husband — "David Foster: Off the Record," which debuted on July 1 — Kat dished on some of the hurdles they've overcome: "There have been moments where you feel like, 'God, does he have any empathy at all?'" she says of the Grammy winner. "He's so good at disguising what he feels. He just wants everything to be OK at all times and if it's not, he's gone. … I said to him, 'I need you to at least try to understand how I feel,' and he was like, 'Well, maybe you should just leave then,' and I was like, 'No, no, I know this is what you do so don't play that game with me.'" (According to Page Six, David admits in the documentary that he can be a "runner" in relationships and that he's "been an a—— a lot" in the past.) During an interview with Us Weekly that hit the Internet on July 1, he confirmed that his missus challenges him in the best way possible: "She's opinionated, super-talented, and along with that super-talent comes a big brain, and she's got a lot to say. It's challenging, but in the best way possible," he said of Kat, adding that they're "doing great." As for her comments about him in the film, "She has to keep pushing to make me answer things that I don't want to answer, which is great," he said. "Her navigation skills are better than anybody's I've ever seen and she's super-evolved." He also gushed of how well Kat gets along with his daughters: "She's really magical and able to float in and out of all the family dynamics," he said. "It's amazing to watch because that's a huge talent — being able to navigate my life."
In the new Netflix documentary about his life and career, David Foster also opens up about his 2015 split from fourth wife Yolanda Hadid amid her battle with Lyme disease. "How can I leave a sick woman?" he asked. "The fact of the matter is that was not the reason I left. It was for a different reason which I will never disclose that had nothing to do with her being sick." He then hints that the model's gig on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" contributed to the issues in their marriage: "My wife at the time wanted to do the show. I didn't want to be the guy to say no," he explained.
Kaley Cuco and her husband, Karl Cook, took to Instagram on June 30 to celebrate their second wedding anniversary. "Happy 2 year anniversary my darling @mrtankcook !! How did I get so lucky? You are the coolest, weirdest, funniest, smartest, kindest, calmest, silliest, veggie growing, bunny wrangling, doggie rescuing, horse loving, beer/bourbon connoisseur, who loves and supports every move I make. I LOVE YOU and I LOVE US!!!!!" the actress captioned a slideshow of photos of herself and her hubby on their wedding day. Karl, meanwhile, shared a silly selfie with the former star of "The Big Bang Theory," which he captioned, "By golly has it really been two since our wedding @kaleycuoco!! Feels like only a few moments! I can't wait for every moment year decade to come, I love you like crazy."
In other anniversary news… "Vanderpump Rules" couple Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor took to Instagram on June 29 to celebrate their first wedding anniversary. "Happy 1 year anniversary honey! Thank you for making me laugh every single day and for being my best friend. You're my lobster and I love you to pieces," Brittany captioned a photo of herself and her hubby on their wedding day. "Happy 1st anniversary to my queen, my ride or die, my best friend. I love you to the moon," Jax captioned a portrait of his missus in her wedding gown.
In still more anniversary news… America Ferrera took to Instagram on June 27 to mark the 15th anniversary of her first date with her husband, Ryan Piers Williams, whom she wed in 2011. "15 years ago today, these baby faces fell hard and fast in love. They grew up together. They built a life together. And now they have 2 babies of their own. You have always felt like home to me @ryanpierswilliams since our first 9-hour-meeting over enchiladas & refried beans. I love our crazy adventure in this life together. Thank you for choosing me everyday. I choose you too. Here's to the next 15 #HappyAnniversary #15years," she captioned an old photo of them together. Ryan, meanwhile, shared another photo from early in their relationship. "15 years ago today I met the love of my life @americaferrera This photo was taken a month later when we tested the waters on a canoe 🛶…we survived!!! and have been paddling together ever since. I'm so blessed to be on the wild adventure of life with the most loving, compassionate and daring person I know," he wrote in the caption.
In yet more anniversary news… "Bachelor in Paradise" couple Hannah Godwin and Dylan Barbour took to Instagram on June 27 to celebrate the first anniversary of their engagement. "What a whirlwind. Thanks for the most epic year of my life @dylanbarbour. I never knew I could be so happy, to many more!" the blonde beauty captioned a slideshow of photos and videos of herself and her beau. Dylan, meanwhile, captioned his own slideshow of photos, "Happy 1 year anniversary to me telling you how f'd you are for agreeing to marry me."
On July 1, People magazine published an exclusive first look at the July 6 episode of "The Bachelor: The Greatest Seasons — Ever!" in which Cassie Randolph reflects on her recently kaput romance with Colton Underwood: "It was really good. We honestly had a really great relationship the entire time, and we got along really well," she said of how they fared after their time on "The Bachelor" came to an end. "Obviously, navigating a public relationship has its challenges," she added. (The preview ended before Cassie could answer Bachelor Nation host Chris Harrison's question about what went wrong.)
On the June 24 episode of dad Todd Chrisley's "Chrisley Confessions" podcast, Savannah Chrisley said that she and her fiancé, Nic Kerdiles, are "figuring it out" in the wake of their decision to press pause on their plans to tie the knot. "I wish I had a clear-cut answer for everyone because you know what, I've brought you into my life, I've shown you my personal life, so it's my responsibility to let you know where that stands, but when two people love each other and nothing bad has happened, it's not so clear cut," she said, adding that they're simply working on themselves and "growing" as he experiences "career changes" while she's "coming into myself and my career." Added the reality star, "We're never gonna turn our backs on each other."
On the June 24 episode of her "Big Demi Energy" podcast, Demi Burnett opened up about her recent breakup from Slater Davis, attributing the split to their trust issues and lack of maturity. "I love him. I'm crazy about him. He's wonderful, and it's just been really hard," she said. "But we are wanting to work on ourselves — and we are still very good friends." Continued the Bachelor Nation alum, "It's toxic on every level whenever you get to that point where you're questioning everything each other's doing and it's a trust thing. … If you can't trust each other, you're never gonna have a relationship. I know I did everything I could to be trustworthy. I know I was up to nothing — I was always loyal." She added that she learned relationships "shouldn't be so childish to where you just accuse each other of something all the time" — instead, "you just actually let your guard down, let yourself trust somebody, which is really hard to do." On the July 1 episode of her podcast, Demi revealed that she and Slater are now in a better place — they've been "talking a lot," have "hung out some" and are "really good now," she said. "He has been wonderful. He's been really great," dished the former "Bachelor in Paradise" star. "We've been great together. We've probably laughed more in the past couple weeks than we have the past few months. It's no pressure — friends hanging out, getting along. It's definitely put me in a better place, and I'm really happy with where we're at."
On the June 25 episode of Rob Lowe's "Literally!" podcast, Chris Pratt explained why he and his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, are such "a good fit." When they first started dating, he said, he thought he was "really killing it" because "she was laughing so much." Recalled the "Guardians of the Galaxy" star, "Then she was really laughing. I was like, 'Uh oh, oh no. Does she have an issue? She's got a thing going on. This is why she's single.' I thought she was like the Joker. … It turns out she doesn't have that issue. She just thought I was funny, and it was really nice. For me, it really works because I'm always trying to make people laugh, and she likes to laugh. I make her laugh — it's a good fit."
During a June 29 interview with Us Weekly, Phaedra Parks opened up about taking things slow with her boyfriend, Medina Islam, saying that she has "a healthy sexual appetite" but wanted to know him "on a level more than physically" to be sure she actually liked him "as a person" before she took their relationship to the next level. (She added that she and her ex-boyfriend, Tone Kapone, were "so passionate," and she "didn't want to make that mistake again.") "We hadn't slept with each other because I had — [I don't] even want to say hang-ups — I just had some good morals," the reality star said of her current beau, adding that for "most people nowadays," it's "strange to hear someone saying, like, 'I don't want to jump into bed with you this early.'" She then gushed of the actor, "Medina is so great. He's really a sweetheart. He's so respectable and … everything that I usually don't choose in a man. He doesn't smoke, he doesn't drink, he's a vegan. He's just really a good guy. … That was very unnerving to me because I seem to sort of choose the same sort of type of guy in a way. And you get into the habit of [that], and I'm like, 'OK, I'm getting to an age where I want someone that is really a good family guy and that's really supportive and just a really good guy.'" The duo, who typically have a bicoastal relationship, recently spent a "few weeks of being together nonstop and having the really hard conversations" while shooting the 15th season of "Marriage Boot Camp." The former star of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" said she "was able to see Medina in a different light" thanks to the show. When you're in a long-distance relationship, she said, "everyone's [showing] their best dating personality and you can tolerate anyone for three days." Explained Phaedra, "This gave us the opportunity to be in the same room. It allowed me to know if he's neat and clean because so much of a marriage is really about being able to coexist. And a lot of times you can love someone but you can't live with them. … [It made us] really examine who we are as a couple." Phaedra also told Us Weekly that her two sons "haven't met" Medina yet — though "they've seen him on FaceTime" and "talked a little bit" — because she has "very, very strict" rules about introducing her kids to men she's dating. She added that they won't meet in person "until we set a date for our wedding." She doesn't want her boys getting too "familiar" with someone in case the relationship doesn't turn out to be "permanent," she said. "[Medina] has a daughter, so we are both very respectful of each other as parents," she added. "That's what really made me gravitate toward him because he had no issues with my stance on being in my children's life at a certain point. I don't think that you should just bring in a lot of random people. I'm very private because I have to be protective."
On the July 1 episode of Becca Tilley and Tanya Rad's "Scrubbing In" podcast, Kaitlyn Bristowe opened up about her painful split from her ex-fiancé, Shawn Booth. "I didn't feel safe in the relationship," she said, adding that she "felt a lot of insecurities" and "a lot of shame" following her time on "The Bachelorette." Explained the reality star, "[It was] three and a half years of feeling shame and like I don't deserve love from him. And I knew that wasn't right, [but] that's constantly what I was feeling for three and a half years." (She's previously said that she felt like Shawn "couldn't love" her because "the show was too hard for [him] to get over.") "I truly think he just will never understand me or respect certain decisions, and I think he's just gonna hold onto anger with me," she continued. (Shawn, meanwhile, has said that he struggled with how quickly Kaitlyn moved on with her current love, Jason Tartick, after they split.) Kaitlyn went on to say that she would be "nervous" to run into her ex. "I would probably play nice, and even though he hurt me so terribly and [did] things I've never even talked about — I hold anger too — but I know if I saw him, I wouldn't be able to be like, 'Meh.' That's just not me," she said. "I just want to be like, 'Hey, this is obviously weird. I don't know how to even act right now — this is super weird!'" She added that she actually reached out to Shawn after his dog died in April, but he never got back to her. "Obviously, I was just devastated for him because that was just like his absolute best friend, and I thought for sure he would've reached out to me to say either, 'Hey, we're putting him down,' or 'Hey, I didn't want you to have to find this out through Instagram or something,'" she recalled, acknowledging that she can't "hold that against him" because "everybody grieves so differently." She was disappointed, however, to learn that he texted her cleaning lady. "He didn't write me back. He wrote my cleaning lady back saying, 'Thank you — he loved spending time with you,' and I'm like, 'Cleaning lady? Come on now!'" she dished.
