By Mark Gray
6:24am PDT, Sep 4, 2020
Disney Diss
John Boyega is criticizing Disney over his role in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Back in 2015, the British actor catapulted to fame after playing Finn, the first Black Stormtrooper in the storied franchise's history. He also starred in the film's two sequels. In a new interview with British GQ, the actor ripped Disney (which owns the "Star Wars" franchise) for diminishing his role over time. John felt he was marketed and championed for his groundbreaking character but was ultimately "pushed to the side." Of Disney, he added, "What they want you to say is, 'I enjoyed being a part of it. It was a great experience…' Nah, nah, nah. I'll take that deal when it's a great experience. They gave all the nuance to Adam Driver, all the nuance to Daisy Ridley. Let's be honest. Daisy knows this. Adam knows this. Everybody knows. I'm not exposing anything."
Divorced
Teresa Giudice and Joe Giudice have legally gone their separate ways. On Sept. 2, reports indicated that the former reality TV couple had finalized their divorce, officially ending their 20-year marriage. The couple announced last year that they were splitting. The divorce news came around the same time Teresa put their family home on the real estate market for $2.5 million. "Teresa's just ready to start a new chapter," a source told Page Six.
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Surpise wedding!
Niecy Nash called it a "plot twist" — and was it ever! On Aug. 31, the "Reno 911" and "Claws" actress came out as she announced that she'd married singer Jessica Betts. "Mrs. Carol Denise Betts," she captioned a wedding image. In the photo, Niecy (who was born Carol Denise Ensley) was wearing a beautiful wedding dress while Jessica sported an off-white vest and matching trousers. Jessica shared the same image on Instagram, writing in the caption, "I got a whole Wife." Niecy and Jessica both continued to post wedding day photos to social media throughout the week. The marriage was a shock to many fans who didn't know Niecy — whose divorce from husband Jay Tucker was finalized earlier this summer — was romantically involved with a woman. She made things clear in a post on her Instagram Story featuring a photo with Jessica and the words "plot twist" alongside a rainbow emoji.
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Conservatorship update
Britney Spears has asked a court to open up her conservatorship case and make it public. On Sept. 3, the pop star, via her lawyers, filed paperwork to suggest that she doesn't trust her father, Jamie Spears, or his handling of her conservatorship, which has guided Brit's life since 2008. She also sided with the #FreeBritney movement, which has argued for the singer to be released from conservatorship. Britney's team said there's no reason to keep the case private since no sensitive issues regarding her minor children will be disclosed. "Britney herself is vehemently opposed to this effort by her father to keep her legal struggle hidden away in the closet as a family secret," court docs stated. "Far from being a conspiracy theory or a 'joke' as [Jamie] reportedly told the media, in large part this scrutiny is a reasonable and even predictable result of [Jamie's] aggressive use of the sealing procedure over the years to minimize the amount of meaningful information made available to the public."
Daddy Ed
Ed Sheeran is a dad. On Sept. 1, the singer announced that he and his wife, Cherry Seaborn, had welcomed a daughter. "Last week, with the help of an amazing delivery team, Cherry gave birth to our beautiful and healthy daughter – Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran," he wrote on Instagram. "We are completely in love with her. Both mum and baby are doing amazing and we are on cloud nine over here." Lyra's first name was reportedly inspired by Ed's favorite book series and her middle name might reflect a cruise to Antarctica that Ed and Cherry took late last year.
Two coronavirus reveals
Dwayne Johnson revealed on Instagram that he and his family all contracted COVID-19 last month and are recovering. "I can tell you that this has been one of the most challenging and difficult things we have ever had to endure as a family," he said in a Sept. 2 Instagram video. "And for me personally, too, as well, and I've gone through some doozies in the past." Dwayne said his two young daughters exhibited mild symptoms, but he and wife Lauren Hashian weren't so lucky. "I've gotten knocked about and gotten my a** kicked a little bit in the past with some challenges, but testing positive for COVID-19 is much different than overcoming nasty injuries or being evicted or even being broke, which I have been more than a few times." The Rock suspects that the family caught the virus from some friends, who are devastated they passed it on. "The reason why I feel this is different is because my No. 1 priority is to always protect my family and protect my children, my loved ones," he said. "I wish it was only me who tested positive, but it wasn't, it was my entire family, so this was a real kick in the gut." At the end of his Instagram announcement, Dwayne implored his followers to socially distance and wear a mask. One day after The Rock's announcement, reports indicated that Robert Pattinson also tested positive, shutting down production on his film "The Batman."
She's out
Marie Osmond is done talking. On Sept. 2, the singer announced that she was leaving "The Talk" after just one year on the panel. "One of the highlights of my year at The Talk was working with my dear friend John Redmann, and I'm excited to continue our working relationship on several projects we are developing," she wrote on Instagram. "Also, my husband and I just dropped our last two kids off at college, we looked at each other, laughed and remembered we hadn't been this alone together since 1982!! So, at this stage of my life, I'm looking forward to spending more time with him and visiting all the kids/grandkids."
Money matters
The billionaire club has a new member: Tyler Perry. Forbes announced on Sept. 1 that the actor, producer, writer and media mogul now has a net worth of $1 billion. "I love when people say you come from 'humble beginnings,' " he told the financial magazine. "[It] means you were poor as hell." He added, "Ownership, changes everything." Forbes estimates that Tyler earned more than $1.4 billion in pretax income in the past 15 years.
Royal producers
From royals to reels! It's been more than five months since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle officially exited as senior working members of Britain's royal family to live a more financially independent life, and now we now know what they'll be doing to earn their own income. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex just signed a multi-year production deal with Netflix to produce documentaries, docu-series, feature films, scripted shows and children's programming, The New York Times announced on Sept. 2. "Our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope. As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us," the couple said in a statement. Financial details of the deal were not made public. The Times reported that Harry and Meghan might appear on camera for some of the projects, but Meghan, who previously starred on "Suits," has no plans to return to acting. The couple reportedly met with Netflix, Disney, Apple and NBCUniversal, giving Forbes the impression that a bidding war might have occurred.
Primetime dancer
Get your dancin' shoes ready! After weeks of rumors and speculation, the roster for the next season of "Dancing With the Stars" was revealed this week. Kaitlyn Bristowe, AJ McLean, Chrishell Stause and Anne Heche are all on board, as are Johnny Weir, Nev Schulman, Nelly, Jesse Metcalfe, Jeannie Mai, Justina Machado, Skai Jackson, Monica Aldama, Vernon Davis and Charles Oakley. One of the other notable names is "Tiger King" star Carole Baskin. "The biggest thing for me is that the longer my partner and I can stay in the running and in the competition, it will keep the cats forefront in the viewer's eye and to me," she said. "And to me, that was where 'Tiger King' missed the ball. It really should have been focused on the animals. And so, I'm hoping 'Dancing With the Stars' will do that."
