Remove that .01% from the equation , readers: Emily Maynard and Brad Womack are most definitely over. “We’re no longer engaged,” Maynard says in the latest issue of People . The statement came just minutes after she taped an interview with Chris Harrison that will air on the July 11 episode of The Bachelorette . With speculation growing every week over Emily and Brad’s status, Maynard says she’s confirming the couple’s split now because she wants her life with six-year-old daughter, Ricki to “get back to normal.” Womack, who will NOT appear on camera next month with Maynard and Harrison, also told People he and Emily were over, sating: “The demise of our relationship was completely my fault.” But Emily isn’t interested in assigning blame: “Just because we love each other doesn’t mean we’re right for each other,” she says. What a boring, mature, staged break-up. Where are the Jake and Vienna-like fireworks?!? [Photo: WENN.com]
Elizabeth Banks and husband Max Handelman are now the proud parents of a beautiful boy named Felix, who was born via gestational surrogate. “I have been very fortunate in life both professionally and personally,” the 30 Rock star, 37, wrote on her website in a post announcing the birth. “The one true hurdle I’ve faced in life is that I have a broken belly,” she added . “After years of trying to get pregnant, exploring the range of fertility treatments, all unsuccessful, our journey led us to gestational surrogacy.” “From that came two miracles. The first was meeting our carrier and her husband who were truly humbling in their decency and generosity.” “The second miracle was the birth of our baby boy, Felix Handelman.” “Felix means ‘happy’ and ‘lucky’ in Latin. And true to his name, Felix is a very happy baby and a blessing on our life,” she concludes. Congratulations to the happy parents! [Photo: Fame Pictures]
Casey Abrams might still be in shock. The same goes for American Idol viewers, who didn’t expect the judges to use their one save on him so early in the season. But that they did last week, a decision Jennifer Lopez says she’s fine with. “We knew that it was kind of a radical decision because it was so early in the season, but to be quite honest… that is one decision that I haven’t lost one ounce of sleep over,” the singer told Ryan Seacrest on his radio show today. Should the judges have saved Casey Abrams? Vote now ! Okay… but why Abrams? “[Casey] is one of our most dynamic performers. He’s so interesting and so talented,” Lopez told the American Idol host. “I know it’s crazy, but we had to do it!” Now, of course, the decision is out of Lopez and the judges’ hands. Best of luck choosing the winner, viewers! “I really feel we put 11 amazing contestants in front of them, and now it’s [about] who their favorite is, who’s going to be their American Idol,” concluded J. Lo. “I didn’t realize I was going to fall in love with the contestants the way I have and feel for them the way I do.”
If this isn’t a recipe for a happy family, we don’t know what is. It looks like Brad Womack has finally won over Ricki, his fiancee Emily Maynard’s five-year-old daughter, with probably the best possible combination: Justin Bieber and cotton candy. In this Us Weekly photo , The Bachelor couple and Ricki stepped out for a visit to the movie theater in Maynard’s hometown of Charlotte, N.C. It was cute. “He was smiling at her, and she looked really happy,” an observer says of the trio, who were emerging from a matinee of Justin Bieber: Never Say Never . Despite some major setbacks – long distance, a cancelld March wedding, a short-lived split, some poking of the bear – it looks like they’re gonna make it . Womack said it was “perfection” bonding with “my girls” during the visit over movies, Sunday church services, an IHOP run and shopping at Nordstrom. All together now … AWWWW! Things were looking down for awhile, but never say never! What do you think? Will Brad Womack and Emily Maynard last?
If nothing else, The Bachelor season finale was certainly a memorable one. As is often the case, the After the Final Rose special provided many of the fireworks. Just minutes after Brad Womack’s swoon-worthy proposal to Emily Maynard, viewers learned about his terrible temper – and that they briefly parted ways. They’re back together now, but Brad “couldn’t speak for Emily” when Chris asked if they’re still engaged. Never a good sign. She’s also NOT moving to Texas. Here’s the awkward ATFR interview that aired post-finale: Brad and Emily: After the Final Rose What do you think? Will Brad and Emily last? Follow the jump for a huge photo gallery and more clips from last night, including Brad’s proposal to Emily Maynard and his rejection of Chantal O’Brien … Brad Womack and Emily Maynard: The Final Rose Ceremony The Bachelor: Brad and Emily Get Advice Chantal O’Brien and Brad Womack: AFTR Chantal O’Brien – Diaries Of The Departed
Is reality TV’s most famous commitment-phobe ready to get down on one knee? Will he propose to Chantal or Emily? Were The Bachelor spoilers correct? It’s all come down to one final rose tonight, and for the two women remaining, a final date to make their case in the quest to become Mrs. Brad Womack. How will the saga end? Which amazing woman – Emily Maynard and Chantal O’Brien – will receive a Neil Lane ring and who will depart empty-handed? THG breaks down The Bachelor season finale in a LIVE +/- recap! Come on, ABC. Ditch the “most controversial season in Bachelor history” bit. We get it. You recycled Brad. Other than that? Pretty normal season! Minus 4 . Five minutes in and Brad’s crying. Sorry … bawling . Yikes. Minus 3 . Wait … Brad is a changed man? Emily and Chantal couldn’t be more different? Wild. Missed that the first four times. Also, what is Brad wearing?! Minus 5 . Chantal is bringing it tonight. She’s holding nothing back. Plus 9 . Saying she’ll get married to Brad on the spot? Not a bluff. Talk about laying it on the line. Oh, passing the mom test. This is going down to the wire! Plus 6 . Is your top on backwards, though, Chantal? Just askin’. Minus 2 . Emily to Brad: “I’m so happy to see you.” Show-watching companion: “I’m a Barbie doll. I’m so beautiful. I’m perfect. La la.” More or less true. Plus 2 . Like they had to make Emily relive her background on camera. Eh, we got all choked up even though we’ve heard it like 49 times by now, so … Wash . Brad may be an uptight, cyborg stiff of a Bachelor , but his feeling for Emily – and Ricki – seem far from rehearsed. Plus 7 . Not looking good, Chantal. Why didn’t the non-twin Womack get the same genes? Just askin’. Minus 1 . Lots of votes for Emily Maynard. The family has spoken, and doesn’t seem to be on the fence. Plus only 5 , because there’s an hour and 20 minutes left. Will she lose the bracelet with the ex’s initials if they get hitched? No points , merely curious … is it sweet? Or a sign she can’t let go? A little of both? Man, that is some tight scuba gear. Good sign? Bad sign? Eh, Plus 2 . Chantal: “If we can get through swimming with sharks, we can get through anything.” Yes, a once-in-a-lifetime ABC-sponsored date is a metaphor for life. Minus 11 . That’s a sweet map Chris Harrison made for Chantal! Plus 4 . Channy, Channy, Channy? No, no, no, no, no. Minus 3 . If this were Jersey Shore , the phrase “get it in” would’ve been used at least 2-3 times on this date. Plus 6 for the imagery of Brad throwing around that term. Honestly, how many helicopter rides does one girl need to consider herself wooed? Minus 8 . We know they ran out of date ideas by the 200th season, but still. We were going to mock Brad for saying this was “the most important talk of his life,” but we’re pretty sure he just proposed … to be Ricki’s dad. Sniff. Plus 5 . Whoa, short fuse alert! She’s just covering her bases, B. Yeesh . Minus 13 . Toweling himself off? Asking for water? Is Brad having a nervous breakdown?! Brad laments that he was defeated. “Slapped in the face.” And “shot out of the water.” Oh, and “profoundly hurt!” Nice misdirection, Chris/Brad/ABC! Plus 4 . Cue obligatory episode recap/Neil Lane filler. Minus 7 . How appropriate. En route to the final rose ceremony, Emily is in white, Chantal in black. Minus 9 for obviousness. She’s the Black Swan of The Bachelor . Look at host-pimp Chris. So very cool, so collected. Plus 5 . At least he gave it to her straight. When he says he’s meant every word from day one, he’s probably being genuine. Still hurts, though. Hard . Minus 8 . Plus 7 because we like Chantal, and because she’ll land on her feet. Possibly even in a dress without those feathers. Things happen for a reason! Can you imagine if Emily Maynard shot Brad down? Now that would be a twist. Won’t happen but you can kinda see it, and wonder if this is gonna last. Okay, Plus 35 for that beautiful dress, the beautiful bride-to-be, and for a proposal that made this celebrity gossip site’s offices just a little dusty. And Plus 7 more for his trademark “Come here to me, please.” This is some montage. If only Train’s “Marry Me” were “their” song. Alas, it forever belongs to Brad and Ashley. Hey, nobody’s perfect. Minus 3 . Man, Chantal O’Brien is still hurting on After the Final Rose , but still looks great. Like Melissa Rycroft, it’s not a huge surprise someone snatched her up. Plus 8 . Wait … Brad “tried” to marry Emily tonight but got shot down? AND they broke up, but are now back together and still engaged? Heads: Spinning. Minus 12 . Wow. Emily looks even better now, if that’s possible. Plus 9 . When you’re rooting for your fiancee to confirm you’re engaged? Not a good sign. Worse? When her take on moving to Austin is a resounding “no.” Minus 10 . Plus 7 for Emily calling out the show’s editing of her. When Emily says they’re “working through some issues,” she’s talking about A LOT of issues. Chief among them? Poking the bear. Don’t even ask. Minus 6 . That was the most rambling, drawn-out yes of all time, but Emily did say she sees herself marrying Brad. We have our doubts, but Plus 13 for now. Man, this After the Final Rose special is starting to feel like couples therapy. Minus 8 . Including Ali and Roberto as a “success” is a tad presumptive, but whatever. RUNNING TOTAL: +36. What do you think: Will Brad Womack and Emily Maynard last?
With The Hunger Games casting rumor mill spinning wildly – Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss ? – a young actress on a hit show wants to make it clear: she’ll take the lead role! “Katniss is such an incredible character,” Troian Bellisario told E! News this week.”She is in such a creatively beautiful world and such dire circumstances, but she’s also such a strong girl that’s becoming a woman and I would love to play that.” The Pretty Little Liars star hasn’t auditioned, but says: “I know that we’ve been talking to the people about at least getting me in the room. And the fans have been really supportive in my lust for that role and I just hope that they keep voicing their opinions.” What do you think of Bellisario as Katniss? Would she be a good choice?
Brad Womack’s final rose is set to be doled out on The Bachelor season finale Monday. Reigning Bachelorette Ali Fedotowsky knows who she’d give it to. “I think both girls are great… but in the last two episodes, his connection with Emily [Maynard] has been undeniable,” Fedotowsky told Us Weekly . What makes Brad and Emily such a great fit? HE’S THE ONE : Roberto was for Ali. Will Brad be for Emily? “It’s been the little things that he’s done – like he had that little picnic for her at the beginning outside. He is just so smitten with her,” Ali said of “Brad’s” courtship. THG NOTE : Seriously, Al, you were on the show. You can at least give props to host-pimp Chris Harrison, who we all know sets up dates for his employees. Anyway, Ali says when Brad is with Emily Maynard , the truest sign of love is that “he wants to do anything to sort of reassure her – like telling her he loved her.” “They are both southern and polite, and I just think they’d make a really cute little couple. All along I thought it was going to be those two,” she admits. What do you think? Who should Brad choose on the Bachelor finale?
If Emily ever loves me the way she loved her ex-fiance, I’d feel like the luckiest guy on earth. I always said I wanted to find a truly sweet woman to spend my life with. Emily is that woman. That smile, that beauty. I’m so happy every time I’m around her. She makes me want to be a better man. I want Emily to be my wife . Not exactly your standard open-ended, vague tease, is it? While The Bachelor spoilers have said one thing, then another as far as who wins Brad Womack’s heart Monday night, perhaps the most telling indicator is the above quote, straight from the star himself in the season finale preview below … The Bachelor: Emily or Chantal? Both Chantal O’Brien and Emily Maynard are great catches, but only one will walk away with the final rose. No, he’s not ditching both like he did last time around. We ask: Who do you think should win The Bachelor?
Chantal O’Brien. Emily Maynard. The Bachelor star Brad Womack says both “would make incredible wives, incredible mates” and that he labored over who to give his final rose to. “Both had qualities I was looking for,” he said during a taping for the Women Tell All special tomorrow night, with the season finale set for March 14. Chantal O’Brien is “up for everything, fun … we hit it off early. There was immediate physical chemistry. But we had a lot of highs and lows.” “When she gets so upset, like she did in Anguilla, it makes me wonder if we could find that rhythm and make it work for the rest of our lives.” As for Emily Maynard ? Brad calls her “an incredible mother – [a] really sweet and a caring, sensitive woman that is also quite easy on the eyes.” “She went through a tough situation with the plane crash and becoming a single mom. But she rose to the occasion beautifully. I admire that.” “She makes me a better person when I am around her.” So who’s it going to be? The Bachelor spoilers have indicated a finale with these two for months, but the winner has long been in dispute. One thing’s for sure – Brad is not dwelling on either’s past. “I chalked up Emily and Chantal’s situations [to] the past,” he says. “I have one, too. If anyone has baggage that should be of concern, it’s me.” “That isn’t to say that Emily’s past didn’t give me pause,” says Brad of her situation. “It’s intimidating to think about becoming a part of her life.” “She lost a love in a tragic event while pregnant. That changes a person.” Still, Womack says, he’s ready to make a firm commitment to whomever he picked – and he’s deeply in love with the woman who got the rose. “I was here to settle down, find a wife and get started on making a family,” he says. “I’m ready for that so, hell, if we can do it right away, great.” Who do you think should win The Bachelor?
