It's been a rough few weeks for people who like their political news delivered in the most ear-piercingly shrill fashion possible. Two of the most strident stalwarts in the world of far-right cable news have been silenced this month, but for very different reasons. Bill O'Reilly appears to have left the No Spin Zone following revelations that the longtime Fox News personality shelled out more than $13 million to silence numerous women who accused him of sexual harassment in the workplace. As more accusers continue to come forward, it's unclear if O'Reilly has been fired or simply suspended by the network. Similarly murky is the future of The Blaze news-shouter Tomi Lahren. Lahren says she's been fired by her network's weepy CEO, Glenn Beck, but she's still drawing a paycheck, and Beck claims she's simply on leave … indefinitely. The disciplinary action comes after dared to express an opinion that doesn't perfectly jibe with Beck's ideology, by stating on The View that she's pro-choice. Lahren clearly has no patience for Beck's equivocation, and in a new Nightline interview, she chews out her (former?) boss for taking the “decisive” out of decisive action: “This is not about politics,” she says. “This is about someone who had an opposing viewpoint that has been silenced and sidelined and thrown away.” Lahren adds: “I'm a human being at the end of the day and something has been stripped from me and that's my ability to work, that’s my ability to have a voice.” “That's been taken from me wrongfully. So I’m upset by it, and I’m hurt by it and I feel betrayed by it.” She concludes with a blistering “final thought” that no doubt has the tears welling up in Beck's eyes at this very moment: “I'm not the kind of girl that sits in the corner and cries about things. And that's another message I really want to get across,” Lahren said. “I don't consider myself a feminist but boy I will not lay down and play dead ever.” Check out Lahren's full interview below. It's even better if you picture Beck sobbing into a pint of Ben & Jerry's while he watches it:
During a special 40th anniversary celebration in honor of the Star Wars saga this morning, Billie Lourd got up on stage in Orlando and delivered a powerful speech about her mom. While dressed as Princess Leia. The event – attended by such stars as Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and director George Lucas – was billed as a look back at various stories and memories related to the beloved franchise. But it was a panel was dedicated to the late Carrie Fisher that drew the most attention. Especially afterward, once word of Lourd’s speech spread across the Internet. Fisher, of course, portrayed Leia in multiple Star Wars movies. She died of a heart attack at the age of 60 in late December, a stunning and sad development that continues to affect all her knew her well. “She could hold her own against anything,” Lucas said of Fisher this morning. “She wore a dress through the whole thing, but she was the toughest one of the group. And that’s the key to Carrie being able to play that part. It was a hard part to play, and she pulled it off brilliantly. “And it really shows the level of her talent. And at the same time, she was fun to be with.” Incredibly (and tragically), Fisher’s famous mother, actress Debbie Reynolds, died one day after her daughter. The two were honored together last month in a public memorial service. “There are not many people like her, one in a billion. We’ll all love her forever and ever,” Lucas added. And then Lourd was called on to say a few words. “My mom used to say she never knew where Princess Leia ended and Carrie Fisher began,”said Lourd, donning a dress that paid homage to her mother’s Leia costume. “She was imperfect in many ways, but her imperfections and willingness to speak about them are what made her more than perfect.” Continued the young actress, speaking to a sold-out crowd: “She taught me three important things. One thing all mothers should teach their daughters.” Lourd then recited Leia’s legendary “help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi” monologue: Years ago, you served my father in the Clone Wars. Now he begs you to help him in his struggle against the Empire. I regret that I am unable to present my father’s request to you in person, but my ship has fallen under attack and I’m afraid my mission to bring you to Alderaan has failed. I have placed information vital to the survival of the Rebellion into the memory systems of this R2 unit. My father will know how to retrieve it. You must see this droid safely delivered to him on Alderaan. This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope. Concluded Lourd: “I learned by knowing her that the the most evolved person is seemingly a contradiction: “They’re both the strongest and the most vulnerable person in the room. And that was her. That is Leia. Thank you for loving her and carrying on what she stands for. I am beyond grateful.” Since her mother’s unexpected passing, Lourd has made various statements on social media and shared a couple precious throwback photos. “Receiving all of your prayers and kind words over the past week has given me strength during a time I thought strength could not exist,” she wrote on January 2, breaking her silence over losing both her mother and grandmother. She added of Reynolds and Fisher: “There are no words to express how much I will miss my Abadaba and my own and only Momby. “Your love and support means the world to me.” View Slideshow: Carrie Fisher: Mourned, Honored by Hollywood Out of respect for Fisher and her family, we’ve transcribed Lourd’s entire speech below: My mom used to say she never knew where princess Leia ended and Carrie Fisher began. She went from being an unknown actress, the daughter of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, to Princess Leia — a character synonymous with the idea of the ultimate strong woman. A soldier. A fighter. A beyond-capable, independent, sensible woman in control of her own destiny. A rebel who resisted the norm. She was imperfect in many ways, but her imperfections and willingness to speak about them are what made her more than perfect. My mom, like Leia, was never afraid to speak her mind and say things that might have made most people uncomfortable – but not me, and not you. That is why she loved you, because you accepted and embraced all of her; the strong soldier of a woman she was, and also the vulnerable side of her, who often openly fought her own dark side, knowing early on that we all have a dark side of our own, whatever it may be. But she knew it wasn’t about the fight you were fighting, but how you fought it; the way you resisted. No one could have known what this once-little dream of a movie would eventually become, what it would be to millions worldwide, mostly not her. But in our world, Star Wars ultimately became a religion, our family, and a way of life. And I wanted to be here with all of you because I know that many of you feel the same way. When she surrounded herself with fans at celebrations like this, she never felt more at home. She could spend hours talking to people and learning about their lives, and how Star Wars and Leia touched them in the same way it touched us. If left to her own devices, she would have always been the last person to leave at a convention center, having met and shared a Carrie moment with every single person there. Nothing about her was a performance. She loved you, she loved these movies, she loved the people she got to make them with, and she loved this incredible character she got to create — this force called Leia. She taught me three important things: one thing all mothers should teach their daughters. Secondly, she taught me that if life isn’t funny, then it’s just true, and that is unacceptable. And finally, I learned by knowing her that the most evolved person is seemingly a contradiction: They’re both the strongest and the most vulnerable person in the room. And that was her. That is Leia. Thank you for loving her and carrying on what she stands for. I am beyond grateful.
Tameka Foster And Usher Pay Tribute To Kile Glover Tameka Foster’s son Kile passed away tragically in a jet ski accident in Atlanta five years ago, but his memory lives on strongly with his family. With March 29th marking Kile’s would-be 16th birthday, Tameka Foster shared her bittersweet feelings on her late son’s birthday with heartfelt tributes on Instagram. And Kile’s stepfather Usher shared his own thoughts and feelings for Kile as well… Such a tragedy that Kile passed away before reaching his teen years, but his memory lives on with those who truly loved him. Instagram
So I was doing my daily Instagram creeping research earlier, and came across something I wanted to share with you guys: meet Diana Dollmatova . I can’t tell you much about this busty Russian, but I already think I’m in love. My palms are all sweaty, my heart’s racing and my pants region is overheating. If that’s not love, I guess I don’t know what is. » view all 12 photos
I know I’ve introduced you guys to Sofia Jamora here before, but just in case you need a quick refresher, here you go: she’s a professional Instagram model that’s trying to make it as a real model. Hmm. I guess that didn’t really narrow it down much, huh? Oh well. I guess just stare at Sofia’s latest photoshoot for a while and try to burn her killer bikini body into your memory. It probably won’t work, but at least you’ll enjoy doing it. Good luck.
I know I’ve introduced you guys to Sofia Jamora here before, but just in case you need a quick refresher, here you go: she’s a professional Instagram model that’s trying to make it as a real model. Hmm. I guess that didn’t really narrow it down much, huh? Oh well. I guess just stare at Sofia’s latest photoshoot for a while and try to burn her killer bikini body into your memory. It probably won’t work, but at least you’ll enjoy doing it. Good luck.
Public intoxication! Drunk driving! Domestic assault! And more! The following celebrities were all placed under arrest in 2016. Let's hope they've learned their lessons… 1. Blac Chyna Blac Chyna was arrested at the airport in Austin, Texas after getting drunk and belligerent during a flight. But Rob Kardashian drove out there and came to her rescue. 2. Nick Carter Nick Carter allegedly got into a scuffle of some kind inside a Key West drinking establishment. 3. Mos Def Rapper Mos Def was arrested in South Africa after trying to leave the country on a “world passport.” 4. Don McLean Don McLean, who wrote and sang the classic 1971 song “American Pie,” was arrested and charged with domestic violence. Not cool. 5. Track Palin Also not cool: Track Palin was accused of allegedly assaulting his girlfriend and placed under arrest as a result of the incident. 6. Jax Taylor The Vanderpump Rules star was booked in Hawaii on charges of larceny. The guy has issues. View Slideshow
Farrah Abraham is just so awful. All the time. Just the worst. The absolute worst . And yeah, everybody says that all the time about her, but it's just because it's so intensely true. For many people, it could be the truest thing they've ever known. The sun rises in the east, sets in the west, and Farrah Abraham is a human pile of garbage and porn and disappointment. These are irrefutable facts. But while Farrah is horrible , she's still human, and the vast majority of humans are capable of being OK sometimes. They're at least capable of stirring some sympathy in other, less terrible souls, and believe it or not, that's what Farrah's doing in this new video she shared. In the video, she and Sophia discuss “Daddy Derek,” also known as Derek Underwood: the guy Farrah dated in high school. He knocked her up, they broke up, then he tragically died in a car accident on December 28th, 2008. Farrah was still pregnant at the time of his death, so Sophia never got to meet her father. And regardless of what you think about the most heinous Teen Mom of them all, that's incredibly sad. Farrah says that she and Sophia have special ways of honoring his memory during this time of year, and honestly, it's enough to bring a tear to your eye. Check out the sadness in the video below:
News of Valerie Fairman's death shocked the Teen Mom world today, as the 23-year-old's passing sent shock waves across Twitter. The former 16 & Pregnant cast member leaves behind a daughter, Nevaeh (Heaven spelled backwards), who is only seven years old. The uncertain future of her little girl, combined with Fairman's cause of death , make the situation about as jarring and somber as they come. Her MTV co-stars, including those who went on to star on Teen Mom 2 , are among those sharing their feelings and grief on social media. Not surprisingly, those who knew her are not taking it well. Valerie's passing has also raised familiar questions about the perils of addiction. See what the Teen Moms and their fans are saying below … 1. Rest Easy, Angel Teen Mom 2’s Jenelle Evans, who starred with Valerie on 16 & Pregnant Season 2, was clearly moved by her passing. 2. Don’t Take Life For Granted Sage words from Jenelle. First time we’ve ever said that … 3. This Makes Me So Sad More from Jenelle Evans, who later took these two tweets down from her page (for some reason, as they’re perfectly nice sentiments). 4. Condolences From Kailyn Kailyn Lowry also offered her condolences to the grieving Fairman family. 5. The Teen Mom Community Grieves Chelsea Houska offered condolences as well. Clearly, all of the stars of the Teen Mom community were affected by this passing. 6. Nikkole Paulun Shares a Memory Nikkole Paulun also starred in the second season of 16 & Pregnant. She shared this photo of herself and Valerie. View Slideshow
Back in April, Patton Oswalt’s wife, Michelle McNamara, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 46. Oswalt has openly mourned his wife in ways that have brought comfort to countless others who have experienced loss, and his latest message to fans is a candid and heartbreaking piece published by GQ that addresses the challenges Oswalt finds himself coping with as a newly single parent. Oswalt is father to a 7-year-old girl named Alice, and he admits in the piece that he often feels ill-equipped to handle the demands of raising a child on his own. “I was half of an amazing parenting team, except we weren’t equals,” the 47-year-old comic writes. “But we weren’t equals. Michelle was the point person, researcher, planner, and expediter. “I was the grunt, office assistant, instruction follower, and urban Sherpa.” Oswalt explains that while his wife was adept at using his “OCD to our little family’s advantage,” she was ultimately the planner, the organizer and the oil that made the machine of his family run smoothly. He writes that the pain of her loss is compounded by the difficulty of maintaining a stable home environment in the wake of a seismic tragedy: “I was looking forward to spending my life with the single most original mind I’d ever encountered. And now? Gone. All gone. “It feels like a walk-on character is being asked to carry an epic film after the star has been wiped from the screen.” “I can’t do it. I can’t do it. I can’t do it. I want to tune out the world and hide under the covers and never leave my house again and send our daughter, Alice, off to live with her cousins in Chicago, because they won’t screw her up the way I know I will. “Somebody help me! I can’t. I can’t. I can’t,” But it’s in those moments that Oswalt says he remembers he felt a similar fear when he first married McNamara, and again when he became a father. In the end, he concludes that the memory of his wife, and his love for his young daughter will be more than enough to sustain him through the many challenges that lie ahead: “I’m moving forward—clumsily, stupidly, blindly—because of the kind of person Alice is,” he writes. “She’s got so much of Michelle in her. And Michelle was living her life moving forward. And she took me forward with her. Just like I know Alice will. So I’m going to keep moving forward. “So I can be there with you if you need me, Alice.” You can read the entire piece by Oswalt at GQ. View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Passed Away in 2016: Gone, But Not Forgotten
