Celebrity news and pics for Jan. 12, 2017

By Wonderwall.com Editors 3:25am PST, Jan 12, 2017

Kim Kardashian heads to first official appearance since the robbery

After laying low since she was robbed in October, Kim Kardashian headed to LAX on Wednesday, Jan. 11,with Scott Disick to fly to Dubai for her first official appearance since the ordeal in Paris. E! News reports she's slated to attend The Masterclass, a makeup event her friend and makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is hosting on Friday, Jan. 13. The day-long class will feature Mario and Kim's beauty and makeup secrets, according to the event's website. Before leaving for the trip, Kim told her lawyer in Paris, Jean Veil, she was "amazed" Paris police managed to make so much progress in apprehending the suspects connected with her robbery.

Robert De Niro wrote to Meryl Streep after her Globes speech

Among the many Golden Globes viewers who were moved by Meryl Streep's anti-Trump comments during her Golden Globes speech was Robert De Niro, who was so impressed by what Meryl said he wrote her a letter of encouragement and support. "What you said was great," he wrote, according to People. "It needed to be said, and you said it beautifully. I have so much respect for you that you did it while the world was celebrating your achievements. I share your sentiments about punks and bullies. Enough is enough. You, with your elegance and intelligence, have a powerful voice – one that inspires others to speak up as they should so their voices will be heard too. It is so important that we ALL speak up. We love you. Bob.

Leah Remini wants the church of Scientology to lose its non-profit status

Leah Remini's fight against the Church of Scientology will likely continue beyond the scope of her show, "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath." In an interview on "20/20" this week, the actress said she'd like to see the church lose its non-profit status — and with it, some of its ability to afford some of its practices. "By the IRS saying this is a religious organization, they are hiding behind now freedom of religion and they should take a look. I'm hoping there's someone with some balls who will do something about it," she said, according to E! News. Leah also hopes the organization's leaders will be brought to justice for the various instances of abuse former members shed light on in her series. Asked what her "fondest hope" is in her fight, she said, "That somebody is willing to be honest and say, 'What these people are saying is true and I'm ready to prosecute. We need that person."

Ben Affleck opens up about his work ethic, Jennifer Garner and more

Unlike his prank-loving peer George Clooney, Ben Affleck maintains a relatively serious vibe on the set of his films. As he explains in a new interview with Us Weekly, he's serious about his work life off-set, too."My professional success is really important to me, and my career is really important to me," said the actor and director, whose latest directorial feature is the Prohibition-era drama "Live By Night." "It's the most important thing to me outside of my family. I take it very seriously and work really, really hard at it. Family comes first, but this is something that's really important to me too," he continued. Asked what he likes to do on an ideal day off, he admitted having a day off isn't exactly a common occurrence for him. "I don't know if that day ever comes. I don't spend too much time just kicking back," he said. "On Sundays I like to watch the [New England] Patriots with Matt [Damon]. That's a nice, relaxing day." That said, he did take some time to enjoy the holidays with his ex, Jennifer Garner and their kids, his brother, Casey Affleck, and his longtime best friend Matt. When the reporter wondered who handled cooking duties for the group, Ben had nothing but glowing things to say about the culinary skills of his ex. "Jen [Garner] is a really great cook. She's probably the best cook I know," Ben said. "We had roast chicken this year; it was really, really good. Other than that, we do pizza nights, where a guy comes and makes pizza and nobody has to cook."

'Stranger Things' stars Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton spark romance rumors

By the end of the first season of "Stranger Things," sparks were flying between Nancy and Jonathan as they worked together to find Jonathan's missing brother and Nancy's missing friend. But after actors Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton left Los Angeles together this week following their appearance at the Golden Globes, some are asking if those sparks fueled a romance in real life. Us Weekly reports that the pair have been seen hanging out together in Spain and in Natalia's hometown of Nashville as well as in Atlanta, where the show is filmed. As they walked past fans toward their flight in Los Angeles on Monday, Jan. 9, they kept close together, with Charlie resting a protective hand on Natalia's back.

Charlie Sheen disses Rihanna, former costars

Charlie Sheen has neither forgiven nor forgotten the feuds he's had with Rihanna, Selma Blair and Jenny McCarthy. Andy Cohen asked him about each of them on "Watch What Happens Live" this week (via Us Weekly) and Charlie wasted no time calling Rihanna — who once refused to be introduced to Charlie's then-fiancee — the "b" word and saying he'd like to "mash" his former "Two and a Half Men" costars Jenny and Selma "together and kick them to the curb." He didn't stop there. When Andy played a clip from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and asked about Jennifer Grey, Charlie responded with "talk about a nose job ruining a career." He also elaborated on his beef with Rihanna, telling Andy her behavior showed a lack of "common courtesy and common sense." On the plus side, Charlie did have vaguely positive things to say about two women he's worked with in the past — Heather Locklear, who was the only person he named when asked to rank former costars from best to worst — and Lindsay Lohan. "Lindsay's a trip. She's work but she's cool," he offered before adding, "She's fun to look at."

Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara are allegedly at a spa in Desert Hot Springs

Despite a report that Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara fell in love on the set of "Mary Magdalene," Joaquin's rep has said the two are just "close friends." But more sources have come forward to claim the actors are involved romantically. An insider tells the New York Post the pair are currently staying near the We Care Spa in Desert Hot Springs, Calif., together. "They are there continuing to 'find love,' but also some health, as he is doing his annual pilgrimage to the spa," said the source, adding that the purported couple are indulging in some "R&R" while "sipping juices" and having "a few colonics." Sexy.

Camila Cabello often felt inappropriately 'sexualized' in Fifth Harmony

When Camila Cabello left Fifth Harmony to pursue a solo career, she left some friction with her former bandmates in her wake. But that wasn't the only discomfort she experienced. As the 19-year-old singer told Lena Dunham in a Lenny Letter this week, she felt the group was inappropriately sexualized at times. While she's all for stars like Rihanna involving their sex appeal in their public image, Camila found that being sexualized by those responsible for helping her sell her music when she was young felt strange. "Especially with being in a girl group, there's been a lot of times where people have tried to sexualize us to just get more attention. Unfortunately, sex sells. There's definitely been times where there's stuff that I have not been comfortable with and I've had to put my foot down," she said (via Us). "I definitely think being a young girl, there's a time where — like when you're in middle school or when you first start liking boys — you don't really feel comfortable. You remember that time when you first got your period, or when your boobs started coming in, that you were like, 'This is weird.' You have to grow into yourself. I feel like it's been tricky because we've had to grow into ourselves while being in front of the world and while making songs that did have a lot of sexual undertones."

Is Zsa Zsa Gabor's widower holding her ashes hostage?

Zsa Zsa Gabor's former publicist Edward Lozzi still has an ax to grind with her widower, Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt. After the star's death, Edward slammed Frederic for allegedly trying to gain money and publicity through her funeral. Now, Edward says Frederic won't comply with the family's request to lay Zsa Zsa to rest in Los Angeles. "The ashes are now with Frédéric. We were going to have a private memorial for her friends like Larry King, George Hamilton and Carol Channing," Edward griped to Page Six. "We've been checking every day with [Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery], and as of [Wednesday], she's not there. She's supposed to be buried with her sister Eva [and daughter] Francesca." Anhalt has reportedly maintained Zsa Zsa would be buried with her father in Hungary. Edward says that's unlikely because Frederic "hasn't left the country since the '80s." Frederic did not comment.

Paris Jackson joins fans protesting Joseph Fiennes' Michael Jackson casting

If Joseph Fiennes isn't the first person you'd identify as a good stand-in for Michael Jackson, you're not alone. More than 21,000 people have signed a petition urging viewers to boycott " Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon," a made-for-television film by the Sky Arts Television Network starring the actor best known for his work in "Shakespeare in Love." Paris Jackson has also voiced her anger over the casting. "I'm so incredibly offended by it, as I'm sure plenty of people are as well," she tweeted this week, "and it honestly makes me want to vomit." The petition breaks down multiple concerns with the casting choice, pointing out that white actors routinely receive preferential treatment, but making the case that it's even more offensive for a white actor to play a black character when the character is based on a real person. "Despite a public struggle with vitiligo, a rare skin disorder that results in the loss of pigment, [Michael Jackson] identified in interviews as a proud black man, and went out of his way to fight for better treatment of black artists in the entertainment industry," the petition reads. "In fact, in a 1993 interview with Oprah, he was offended at the very suggestion of being played by a white actor in a commercial! This casting is an insult to the very real professional struggles and health issues Jackson dealt with during his lifetime." The film tells the story of a road trip Michael allegedly took with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando from New York to Ohio after Sept. 11, 2001.