By Mark Gray
9:10am PST, Dec 13, 2019
Divorce
William Shatner and his fourth wife, Elizabeth, have officially pulled the plug on their 18-year marriage. Though the "Star Trek" legend, 88, filed on Dec. 10, he listed Feb. 1 as their separation date in court documents. He and Elizabeth, 61, have a prenuptial agreement and don't share any children, making settlement negotiations fairly cut and dried.
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R.I.P.
Rapper Juice WRLD (real name Jarad Higgins), died on Dec. 8 after suffering a "medical emergency" while his private plane was being searched by police and federal agents at Chicago's Midway International Airport. A Chicago Fire Department spokesman said the 21-year-old rising star went into cardiac arrest; more tests have been ordered to confirm his cause of death. Police sources told the Chicago Tribune that they found and confiscated 70 pounds of marijuana, six bottles of prescription codeine cough syrup, three handguns and ammunition. Two of Juice WRLD's security guards were arrested on misdemeanor gun charges. On Dec. 12, Juice WRLD's grieving mother told TMZ he'd battled a "prescription drug dependency." She further explained in a statement, "Addiction knows no boundaries and its impact goes way beyond the person fighting it. Jarad was a son, brother, grandson, friend and so much more to so many people who wanted more than anything to see him defeat addiction. We hope the conversations he started in his music and his legacy will help others win their battles as that is what he wanted more than anything."
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More accusers
Seven new women have come forward to accuse Cuba Gooding Jr. of sexual misconduct, bringing his total number of accusers to 22. Allegations appeared in new court documents filed in New York on Dec. 9, in which, for example, one woman claimed the actor forcibly kissed her during the Sundance Film Festival in 2009. She said she pushed him away, as he was married at the time, and he "placed his hand on her buttocks." She added that he ripped her tights and only let her go when she bit his cheek, "causing him to recoil." Cuba has only been indicted on three counts of forcible touching related to three women in New York City, but prosecutors are introducing these additional claims in hopes of proving a pattern of behavior. Cuba has maintained his innocence.
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Powerful speech
While being honored by Billboard with its first Woman of the Decade Award, Taylor Swift took a swipe at nemesis Scooter Braun, who acquired her music catalog from her former label, Big Machine, over the summer. In her speech, Taylor — who turned 30 hours later on Dec. 13 — said there's a shift happening in the music industry that she's unhappy about. "That is the unregulated world of private equity coming in and buying up our music as if it's real estate, as if it's an app or a shoe line," she said. "This just happened to me without my approval, consultation or consent. After I was denied the chance to purchase my music outright, my entire catalog was sold to Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings." She said she did not hear from Scooter or his team before the sale or when it was announced or from investors who should have done their due diligence. "I'm fairly certain he knew exactly how I would feel about it though and let me just say that the definition of toxic male privilege in our industry is people saying, 'But he's always been nice to me' when I'm raising valid concerns about artists and their rights to own their music," she said. "Of course, he's nice to people in this room, you have something he needs. The fact is that private equity is what enabled this man to think, according to his own social media posts, that he could 'buy me.' Well, I'm obviously not going willingly."
Back to Sweden
A$AP Rocky has returned to the scene of the crime. On Dec. 11, the rapper was back in Sweden — where he was locked up for a month this summer — to perform. It's the first time he's been back since his assault trial and release, both of which sparked international headlines. The concert went well. In fact, he even wanted to perform for inmates in the prison that held him, but his request was denied due to overcrowding and other security concerns.
Protective order extended
Jenelle Evans was granted an extension to a restraining order that requires her estranged husband, David Eason, to keep his distance. On Dec. 11, a Tennessee judge extended the temporary protective order until Jan. 13, 2020. The former "Teen Mom" star sought the order on Oct. 31 after announcing plans to divorce David.
Retirement?
Are we witnessing Jack Black's swan song? The actor told Balance that he might hang it up after his latest film, "Jumanji: The Next Level," so that he can spend more time at home with his children. "I've got another Tenacious D record that I'd like to make," he said. "Maybe one more movie. I'm kind of enjoying the idea of early retirement. Not so early. I'm 50." With dozens of movie credits to his name, he said he feels like there's not much left to accomplish. "I've been saying for a long time that this is the last movie. We'll see. I can't really say what my next thing is because it's too early; it's a jinxer. I've got a couple of tricks up my sleeve. But not too many. I'm looking to wrap it up pretty soon. Ride off into the sunset," he says. "I spend too much time away from home. Maybe I'll do a TV show here in town, so I can work the 9 to 5 and then get back home." However, he notes that he could be swayed into doing another film if it's the right opportunity. "We'll see. I'm not a big five-year-plan kind of guy though. I don't really look down the road. I kind of take it day by day. And if something comes up, you know, obviously if [Quentin] Tarantino comes a-knocking, I'm gonna do that movie!" But two days after the Balance interview was published, Jack said in a paparazzi video aired by "Entertainment Tonight" on Dec. 12 that talk of retirement was "fake news." He added, "I'm not retiring. I'm not going anywhere. I'm only getting started."
R.I.P.
Actor Danny Aiello passed away on Dec. 12 at 86. During his long, fabled career, Danny memorably starred in "The Godfather: Part II," "Once Upon a Time in America" and "Moonstruck." He earned an Oscar nomination for his work in "Do the Right Thing." In a statement, his family said: "It is with profound sorrow to report that Danny Aiello, beloved husband, father, grandfather, actor and musician passed away last night after a brief illness. The family asks for privacy at this time. Service arrangements will be announced at a later date."
Surgery
Kelly Ripa this week revealed that she once went under the knife to fix… her earlobes. "I had gauges, like hanging gauges," she said in an Instagram video. "See these holes up here," the talk show host said, pointing to her diamond studs (she has multiple piercings in both ears), "these were my ear holes that tore all the way through. So I had to go to a plastic surgeon. There's a piece of my earlobe that's not there because he had to sew it together." Kelly said her ears were disfigured from wearing hanging earrings that tore through her lobes over time.
Staff exits
What is going on in Salt-N-Pepa's orbit? On Dec. 10, the group's longtime tour manager announced that he was resigning over a "difference in views." Tommaso Giuseppe, who had been with the group for years, said in a statement, "I have worked really hard for the brand during my time working with Salt N Pepa … At the time of my decision, the team and I had a difference in views and therefore, we have determined it is mutually beneficial that I pursue other projects. I was allowed to relinquish my duties with the group." The next day, Page Six reported that the duo's in-house stylist, Marquis Moss, also left. Earlier in the year, the duo was sued by former member DJ Spinderella for fraud and breach of contract.
