Why Kanye West is a 'character' in Jim Carrey's new book, plus more news

Jim Carrey talks celebs as semi-real-life 'characters' in his semi-memoir

Random … or perfect? Even Jim Carrey isn't sure what to make of his decision to include Kanye West as a character in his new semi-autobiographical book, "Memoir and Misinformation." But he knows why he wanted to include him. As he told Bill Maher recently on "Real Time" (via JustJared), Nicolas Cage "thought it was awesome" that he appeared in the pages, while he was told Rodney Dangerfield "would have loved it." But what about Kanye West, who also appears in the pseudo-memoir? "It's a very strange thing where parody becomes very parallel with reality," Jim mused. "But we've got to mark these things, you know? [Kanye West] is one of the great characters of our zeitgeist at this moment and I wanted him to have a place in it. No matter what he's doing. I can't figure it out."

Keep reading for the latest on Tiffany Haddish and Common and more …

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Tiffany Haddish confirms she's dating Common

After months of rumors, Tiffany Haddish has finally confirmed she's dating Common — and she's not shy about telling the world she's in love. On a new episode of the podcast, "Steve-O's Wild Ride," the comic said she's "in a relationship" with the award-winning rapper and actor, then joked about the fact she recently shaved her head, a la her boyfriend's longtime 'do (or lack thereof). "Yeah, we're twins now," she cracked (via People). "I've been talking about cutting my hair for years … ,"she explained. "He said it was beautiful. He's like, 'Wow, you did it man. You've got a lot of courage. You look so beautiful. I love it.' And I'm like, 'Ahh, put your head on my head.'" She went on to explain how the relationship began, with the two becoming "friends" on the set of 2019's "The Kitchen." At the time, she said, "my eyes were set on something else," so the friendship was platonic. They later went on a Bumble date — and because it was virtual, fans weren't sure if it was real or just a promo. But as the two continued popping up together in Los Angeles this year — they were side-by-side at a Black Lives Matter protest in June — it started to look like a romance. Tiffany joked that it they both "got tested for everything" and are now very much a couple. "This is hands down the best relationship I've ever been in — knock on wood!" she added. "I've lost 20 pounds since I've been in this relationship," Tiffany continued. "I feel more confident in me and it's not him that's doing it. I'm just way happier and it's like knowing I got somebody that cares about me, that really has my back. It seems like he does anyways. And I love it. I love him."

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Ryan Reynolds calls his and Blake Lively's plantation wedding 'impossible to reconcile'

Two years ago, Ryan Reynolds sang the praises of "Black Panther" on Twitter. He was widely slammed as a hypocrite for applauding the first major superhero movie with a nearly all-Black cast — given his history of having married Blake Lively on a former slave plantation in South Carolina in 2012. "It's something we'll always be deeply and unreservedly sorry for," Ryan says in a new interview with Fast Company. "It's impossible to reconcile. What we saw at the time was a wedding venue on Pinterest. What we saw after was a place built upon devastating tragedy." He said that he and Blake ultimately "got married again at home," but learned that "shame works in weird ways." A "giant mistake" like the one they'd made, he said, "can either cause you to shut down or it can reframe things and move you into action." He and Blake appear to be aiming for the latter. They donated $200,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund in June. Last year, they reportedly donated a combined $2 million to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights. And as Ryan explained to Fast Company, his production company, Maximum Effort, is now working to hire a more diverse staff and offering equity to employees. It's also reportedly working on a "prepare to vote" campaign with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund."Representation and diversity need to be completely immersive," Ryan said. "Like, it needs to be embedded at the root of storytelling, and that's in both marketing and Hollywood." Last year, BuzzFeed reported Pinterest was taking down images of Boone Hall, where Ryan and Blake tied the knot, along with other plantations.

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Bella Hadid, Tina Knowles Lawson demand diversity in the fashion industry

The fashion world has been high on the list of industries that need to work on inclusion and diversity, a point Anna Wintour admitted in a recent memo to the staff at Vogue. In that letter, the editor admitted the magazine had a history of being "hurtful and intolerant," and promised to make a concerted effort to create a more diverse workplace. But what will a more inclusive fashion industry look like? Bella Hadid covers the new issue of Elle, where she shared her take on some of the ways fashion has to change from a model's perspective. "Going into the next season, my fear is having to see another one of my Black girlfriends get her hair burned by a hair straightener, or do her own makeup because the makeup artist hasn't been trained to work with all different skin types," Bella told the magazine. "I hate that some of my Black friends feel the way they do. Even if they're sitting front row, they're not feeling accepted. Our industry is supposed to be about expression and individuality, but the reality is that [many people] still discriminate because of exactly [those differences]." Meanwhile, Beyonce's mom, Tina Knowles Lawson, took aim at Vogue directly this week, commending British Vogue editor Edward Enninful on Instagram for his September issue, which features activists from around the world. It was shot by Misan Harriman, marking a British Vogue first for Black male photographers. "Kudos … for boldly putting our beautiful Activists on the cover!!!" Tina wrote. "When will American Vogue step up and hire more Black Photographers for cover shoots? We're waiting."

Katy Perry, Samantha Ronson defend Ellen DeGeneres

As Ellen DeGeneres faces an investigation into publicly made claims she's fostered a toxic work environment on her show, a growing number of stars are coming to her defense. On Tuesday, Kevin Hart and Diane Keaton both threw their support behind the TV personality, with Diane posting, "I ALWAYS ENJOYED MY VISITS TO THE ELLEN SHOW. I'VE SEEN HOW THE AUDIENCE EXUDES HAPPINESS AND GRATITUDE. SHE GIVES BACK TO SO MANY INCLUDING ME. @theellenshow." Earlier in the day, Katy Perry tweeted: "I know I can't speak for anyone else's experience besides my own but I want to acknowledge that I have only ever had positive takeaways from my time with Ellen & on the @theellenshow. I think we all have witnessed the light & continual fight for equality that she has brought … to the world through her platform for decades. Sending you love & a hug, friend." On Monday, Samantha Ronson waded into the conversation to share her similarly positive experiences working with Ellen. "Unpopular opinion: I've worked for @TheEllenShow as a dj, for her parties, for years and she has ALWAYS been respectful and kind to me," the DJ wrote. When she was challenged by users claiming Ellen may give preferential treatment to celebrities, Samantha disagreed. "I knew this was coming, but you'd be surprised by how many people are super rude when you become someone they are writing a cheque to," she replied. "It's super disappointing." Ellen, meanwhile, sent an apology memo to her staff on July 30, promising to improve working conditions on the set and suggesting she'd fallen too far out of touch with those running the day-to-day business there.

Michelle Williams may not have joined her former Destiny's Child bandmates, Beyonce and Kelly Rowland, in Bey's new visual album, "Black Is King," but she's certainly cheering for them. "When you're trying to figure out what your favs are from #BlackIsKing! Ehhhhhhh just post 'em all!! 🖤💛," the singer wrote alongside a collection of stills from the musical film on Monday. One of the pics was a shot of Beyonce and Kelly facing each other. It's from a point in the film where Bey stares into her friend's eyes with so much love, Kelly eventually looks away, seemingly overwhelmed. It's a sweet moment for the two, who grew up together an remain close with Michelle. And while ET reports the bulk of responses were positive — they appeared to have been scrubbed by Tuesday — one commenter focused on another detail, asking Michelle, "Where you at in the film though??" Cue Michelle's perfect clapback: "I'm in the upper right corner minding my business!" Beyonce wrote, directed and executive produced "Black Is King," which was inspired by the music from "The Lion King: The Gift," and is described in a press release as "a celebratory memoir for the world on the Black experience."

Hoda Kotb recalls how Regis Philbin 'always led with kindness'

Hoda Kotb is still reflecting on what made Regis Philbin so special, both to her and to her "Today" co-host, Kathie Lee Gifford, who remained close friends with him for more than three decades. "I called Kathie after his passing," Hoda told ET this week, "… and she talked about how he had been frail when he had last seen her but all she could think about were these years and years of the richness that they had together. And he said the best years of his professional life were the ones spent with Kath, and I just thought to myself, 'Wow.' Anybody who met Reg — you met him a million times, loved him." Hoda added that looking back, she's struck by the impression that when he was in the "Today" studio, "he belonged with us." She added that he didn't just "belong" with the "people who are on-air — he belonged with the crew. Like, he delighted in entertaining people. Didn't matter if cameras were on or off and he always kind of led with kindness and he always just seemed happy to be there." Regis passed away on July 24 from a complication related to coronary artery disease.

Sean Penn confirms he and Leila George had a 'COVID wedding' on Zoom

Sean Penn and Leila George are married after all. Rumors they'd said "I do" began after friends of the couple congratulated them on social media over the weekend. When Sean, who turns 60 on Aug. 17, called in to "Late Night with Seth Meyers" on Monday, he confirmed he'd married Leila, 28, last week. "It was Thursday," he said, showing off his ring (via People). "We did a COVID wedding. By that I mean it was a county commissioner on Zoom and we were at the house, my two children and her brother. And we did it that way." Sean shares a 29-year-old daughter, Dylan, and a 26-year-old son, Hopper, with his ex, Robin Wright. Seth proceeded to joke that the "COVID wedding" approach sounded somewhat easier than the stress of a big wedding like the one he'd had. Joked Sean: "Let's say there are socially liberating factors under COVID." Sean and Leila reportedly began dating in 2016.

How Duchess Meghan is spending her 39th birthday

The Duchess of Sussex turned 39 on Tuesday and according to a "source close to" Meghan, she had nothing beyond "a quiet celebration at home" planned for the big day, Bazaar reports. Meghan, Prince Harry and their 1-year-old son, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, have been living in the Los Angeles area for much of the pandemic, having relocated (via Canada) after they stepped back from their royal family roles. The two are currently busy working on a new philanthropic organization, Archewell, which they're expected to launch in the near future. Speaking at the 2020 Girl Up Leadership Summit last month, Meghan urged young women to "push through the fear" and listen to their instincts in considering activism choices and more. "You have, rooted in your convictions, the ability to craft a world that you know is just and kind," she said at the time. "Your gut will tell you what's right and what's wrong, what's fair and unfair. The hardest part — and it was the hardest part for me — is to chase your convictions with action."

Paris Jackson isn't sure there's 'a label for [her] sexuality that fits'

Paris Jackson's candid Facebook Watch series, "Unfiltered: Paris Jackson and Gabriel Glenn," followed Paris and her boyfriend as they launched a new music duo. It also gave Paris, 22, a chance to explore matters like her sexuality, which she said on an early episode extends beyond an interest in "just men and women" to a deeper-than-physical level of attraction. She recently elaborated on that point, sharing with People why she's hopeful for a future where we no longer define one another in such definitive terms. "I don't feel like there is a label for my sexuality that fits," she explained. "Labels in general, not just for sexuality but for everything, I think, are just ways for humans to make sense of the world, to be able to compartmentalize … We're getting past the need for labels. It's beautiful." Looking ahead, Paris is set to star alongside Bella Thorne in the controversial film, "Habit."