The Hollywood pairing of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez has always embodied the ideal high-profile marriage. Their glitzy red carpet outings and the endearing moments that the paparazzi caught made it seem like the couple had it all. But there are fresh reports that Ben Affleck may be regretting his marriage to Jennifer Lopez behind closed doors. Let’s speculate a bit.
Ben Was ‘Blinded By Lust’
Insiders recently told MSN that when Affleck revived his relationship with Lopez, he was “blinded by lust”. Their passionate and nostalgic reunion may have tainted Affleck’s judgment. It’s believed that the first spark and strong attraction eclipsed more serious questions regarding their compatibility and the viability of combining their well-known lives.
There’s also the issue of public scrutiny. Even as a megastar, Ben Affleck has always been open about his difficulties with being in the public eye. Being a member of a power couple like “Bennifer” brings with it ongoing public scrutiny, which can be exhausting for any couple. Yahoo reports that Affleck has suffered under this constant attention, having become enmeshed in the craze around his relationship with Lopez.
Any relationship can suffer under such close observation, but one with a turbulent past like theirs might be particularly tested. Affleck may be feeling regretful in part because of the need to keep a picture-perfect appearance for the cameras, which can lead to unrealistic expectations and further stress.
Ben Affleck’s Relationship and Addiction Struggles
Managing a prominent marriage, family obligations, and high-profile jobs can be rather difficult. With Affleck having openly struggled with personal problems, such as addiction, the extra demands may make him feel even more guilty and unhappy.
Their hectic schedules also frequently require extended time spent apart, which can cause feelings of estrangement and loneliness. It takes a great deal of work and understanding to keep a solid and encouraging connection under such circumstances, and at times it seems it might seem impossible for the couple.
There are also a lot of heavy expectations on Affleck and Lopez’s backs. Not just fans but also the media were constantly covering Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez‘s reunion. Unrealistic expectations can easily happen due to the strain of having to live up to their previous romance and complete the “fairy tale” story that the media loves. Given his past reluctance to discuss his personal life, Affleck may find these demands especially difficult.
Future for “Bennifer” Unknown
Even if “Bennifer” rekindled excitement and nostalgia between the two megastars, it’s important to remember the causes of their first split. The problems that caused their split years ago could still be there and are coming back now that the “honeymoon” phase has subsided. Thinking back on these previous problems and seeing that they can still have an impact on their relationship could cause some regret on Affleck’s part.
When it comes down to it, maintaining such a high-profile marriage is obviously no simple task, whether motivated by the early love that clouded his judgment, the constant public scrutiny, emotional and professional strains, or the enormous weight of expectations from the media. How the couple handles these obstacles will determine how their story turns out in due course. But for know, it looks like Affleck may be regretting his marriage to Lopez.
Chip and Joanna Gaines are the stars of Fixer Upper, a show based in Waco, Texas where the couple help people buy, renovate, and remodel homes. It has been incredibly popular and ran for five seasons on HGTV from 2013-2018, and the couple has renovated well over 100 homes throughout their careers.
Not only was the show a hit amongst viewers, but some of the design choices and features that were shown off on the series went on to influence real-world interior design during the 2010s. The show even increased tourism for the city of Waco.
The success of this show has also led the two to help create Magnolia Network, a basic cable channel where a revival series called Fixer Upper: Welcome Home aired in 2021. There have also been a few other spinoffs, such as Fixer Upper: The Castle and Fixer Upper: The Hotel.
Chip and Joanna Gaines Face Backlash
While the pair were beloved by their loyal fans for years, a recent move led to them having to face some public backlash. About a month ago, on May 20th, the two and their network announced a new six-part series called Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse. The first episode aired on June 2nd, 2024.
It follows Chip and Joanna as they seek to renovate and remodel a luxury 1960s lake house that they bought. The house is large with over 5,000 square feet, and features beautiful views and a pool, but is certainly a little outdated by today’s standards.
The pair had been planning something like this for a while, as Joanna has said that Chip had been on the lookout for a suitable property for years and they were delighted to finally find it right around the 10th anniversary of Fixer Upper.
Many fans were unhappy with this decision, as some said the pair is deviating from their down-to-earth approach that they’ve had throughout the history of the series.
Most people could relate to the renovations they’ve been doing for years, as most of them were relatively modest and not too over-the-top. People could watch the show not only for entertainment, but for ideas and inspiration that they could potentially use themselves.
However, renovating a massive lake house in an expensive neighborhood just isn’t relatable to viewers and some say it feels like Chip and Joanna are showing off.
Not only that, but some fans have just grown tired of the couple in general, saying that they used to watch them, but no longer do or that the show isn’t enjoyable to them any longer.
Of course, there are plenty of fans who support the show and are excited for it, but it’s strange to see this backlash as most fans of the show and the couple are generally positive and supportive.
It remains to be seen how successful the series will be, and whether this backlash will have an impact on it, but it certainly seems like the pair is currently in uncharted territory dealing with some public scrutiny.
Well, here’s a fresh rumor that’s had fans in the hip-hop community buzzing. At first, it seems like some sort of joke. However, there’s some smoke to back up the reported fire. Reportedly, rapper and businessman 50 Cent and Republican US Representative Lauren Boebert are dating. You read that right! Memes, conjecture, and a great deal of interest are exploding all over social media. What, though, is the actual background of this strange pairing?
Are 50 Cent And Lauren Boebert Actually Dating?
The two were first noticed together at an event, appearing really chummy with one another. HipHopDX reports that after seeing 50 Cent and Lauren Boebert joking and chatting together, there were instant speculations about a developing affair. As word of their relationship grew, both admirers and detractors speculated. Is there more to it than just two well-known people striking up a conversation?
Fueling the flames, 50 Cent posted a picture of himself with Boebert on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) that left followers guessing with a favorable statement in the caption about the Republican congresswoman: “Lauren Boebert, Colorado Republican making the white house look good. 😏” Many wondered if there was more to their relationship than first appeared when the post went viral.
Fans and Haters React to Possible Romance Between 50 Cent and Lauren Boebert
Posting this online was an interesting choice, as fans and haters alike flooded the comments to make the photo into a full-fledged conspiracy. Social media was overflowing with memes as people joked about the unusual couple’s possible romance. One X user remarked “Eeeewwwwwwww F that.” Another said “Is 50 a republican?”
Let’s hit the brakes, though. No hard proof exists to support the rumors that 50 Cent and Lauren Boebert are dating. We are all in the dark as the two have not confirmed nor rejected the rumors. As things are, it appears that this is simply another instance of conjecture gone wild on the internet.
50 Cent’s Instagram post received thousands of likes and comments from followers in the political and hip-hop communities. Reactions varied in kind from astonishment and laughter to incredulity and interest. When it comes to this possible power couple, it appears that everyone has an opinion.
50 Cent Denies The Rumors
Why, therefore, is the prospect of 50 Cent and Lauren Boebert together so intriguing to people? Maybe the whole thing’s just a shocking surprise. They aren’t exactly two people you’d expect to get together. Renowned rapper and businessman 50 Cent and divisive political figure Lauren Boebert don’t seem like a likely fit. But stranger things have, of course, occurred in the realm of celebrity romance.
50 Cent had to put the rumors to rest. In a recent quick interview with TMZ, 50 Cent said that he is not dating Lauren Boebert, despite the kind of flirty photo and appearance they made together.
It’s still unclear, in the end, if 50 Cent and Lauren Boebert are dating. 50 Cent may just be trying to protect his privacy by denying it. We can only speculate and appreciate the amusing memes and responses that have sprung from this rumor for now.
Photo credits: Kristina Shirley/Instagram and Gary Shirley/Instagram
MTV star Gary Shirley, known for his time on the hit show “Teen Mom,” has recently sent shockwaves through his fanbase with a stunning new Instagram selfie. Fans were quick to notice that the beloved reality TV dad has shed a significant amount of weight, looking healthier and happier than ever.
Gary, 37, revealed that he decided to take his health seriously, leading to a complete lifestyle overhaul. This major transformation resulted in Gary losing an incredible 65 pounds. “Just hanging out with my little niece. Doing the baby-sitting thing @kristina_shirley3) much better when they can leave,” he cheekily captioned his Instagram post, accompanied by a big grin.
Fans Compliment Gary Shirley’s Weight Loss
The reaction from fans was nothing short of overwhelming. The comment section was instantly flooded with praises and compliments.
One enthusiastic follower wrote, “You look great Gary! Always been my favorite dad on the show.”
Another admirer commented, “Looking very healthy Gary! Good on you!”
A third chimed in with, “U look good.” It was clear that Gary’s transformation had not gone unnoticed.
Some fans were so inspired by Gary’s weight loss that they couldn’t help but ask for his secrets. “Dude, you lost some weight! What are your tips? You look great,” one curious follower inquired. It seems Gary’s journey has sparked a wave of motivation among his supporters, eager to follow in his footsteps.
Gary and Kristina Shirley Adopted a Healthier Lifestyle
Gary’s journey wasn’t a solo endeavor, though. Alongside him every step of the way has been his loving spouse, Kristina Shirley, who is also 37. The couple has been passionate and intentional about adopting a healthier lifestyle together.
Their combined efforts have led to tremendous changes for both of them. Kristina has been incredibly supportive of Gary, often cheering him on.
On Gary’s 37th birthday in November 2023, Kristina posted a heartfelt message and a couple of his transformation photos:
“The older you get, the more handsome you are. Wishing you the best birthday & another year full of happiness. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sweet cheeks! Cheers to 37!!”
The dedication and discipline it took for Gary to create and stick to a better lifestyle have only increased the admiration of his fans. Gary has always been committed to bettering himself, and his recent weight loss journey is just another example of his determination.
Gary’s Biggest Supporter: His Wife Kristina
As his biggest supporter, Kristina is always praising him for being an amazing partner and a devoted father. On Father’s Day, 2023, she shared a touching tribute to him: “Happy Father’s Day to my AMAZING husband, @itsgarytime! He is the true definition of a GREAT dad. His beautiful daughters have always come first in his life. He is their protector, teacher, supporter, MOST understanding and devoted dad I’ve ever seen.”
Gary’s transformation story is one of inspiration and dedication. His weight loss journey has not only improved his health but has also strengthened his bond with his family and fans. As Gary continues to share his journey, there’s no doubt he will keep motivating others to take charge of their health and well-being.
Photo credits: Amber Leann Portwood/Instagram and Gary Shirley/Instagram
It was a rough birthday celebration for Leah, Amber Portwood’s daughter, on June 6th’s episode of Teen Mom: The Next Chapter.
Leah was celebrating her 15th birthday at a restaurant with her blended family, and while Amber had the chance to show that she was going to take her role as a mom more seriously, she dropped the ball instead.
Amber Portwood Showed Up Late to Daughter’s Party
The disaster began when Amber showed up late to the party.
Instead of arriving on time, she was an hour late to the restaurant.
Leah’s father, Gary Shirley, Amber’s ex, was already there with his wife, Kristina.
Their daughter, and Leah’s step-sister, Emilee was also there to celebrate her birthday.
Once Amber arrived and sat down with the family, she immediately started making the event about her.
She first started talking about how Leah was going to need her more than ever, now that she was 15.
Amber Introduced New Boyfriend, Gary, at Daughter’s Birthday Celebration
The reason Amber gave was that Leah was about to get really crazy.
Leah didn’t have anything to say about the comment and seemed to ignore Amber.
Amber attempted to connect with her daughter again, although she made it about herself once more by sharing information about her new boyfriend, Gary.
Both her ex-husband and her new boyfriend are named Gary.
Leah didn’t seem interested, though.
In fact, she appeared uncomfortable about the topic.
In the episode, Leah appeared to say that she was scared when Amber kept trying to show her a photo of her new boyfriend.
Leah refused to look at the photo, but she did eventually say that she hoped her new boyfriend made her happy.
Amber Called Her Daughter, Leah, a Demeaning Word Associated with Lesbians
Amber didn’t seem to like Leah’s lack of interest in her love life, however, and she called Leah a demeaning word typically associated with lesbians.
Amber seemed offended by Leah’s disinterest, which is what led to her using the foul word.
Twitter, and even some of Amber’s fellow Teen Mom stars, weren’t happy about the word she used.
Briana DeJesus was one of the first Teen Mom stars to tweet about the moment.
Although she deleted her tweet, according to InTouch Weekly, she said that even though she was sure people weren’t going to like what she was about to say, she felt that she needed to say something based on what she had just watched on the show.
She went on to say that she does not support talking down to your kids or calling them names.
She then told Amber to do better.
Teen Mom, Jenelle, and Fans Share Thoughts on Situation
Briana also reposted other tweets that fans had made about the scene.
One of those tweets had a fan saying that it was Leah’s birthday, and her mom had made her cry, this was such a sad scene to watch.
She commented on Briana’s deleted tweet, saying that she had just watched the scene, and then put a mind-blown emoji.
Devoin Austin, Briana’s ex, also had things to say about the scene.
He made a comment on Instagram saying that he supported Gary for how he handled himself during this particular moment.
He called the whole thing bad.
Then he went on to say that it was Leah’s big day and not Amber’s, and she shouldn’t have made it about herself.
Rachel Beaver, from Teen Mom: Young and Pregnant, made a long comment about when Amber told Leah that she was going to need her even more.
Rachel said that Amber was never really a mom to Leah.
Whenever she came around to spend time with her daughter, she always ended up making the moment about herself.
Rachel claimed that Amber has never really tried to get to know Leah.
She also talked about the nerve that Amber had to call her daughter a certain name when Leah was already hurting about the fact that she didn’t have much of a relationship with her mom.
Rachel then said that Leah had Kristina there to help her through her teenage years since Amber was unreliable.
Finally, she said she shared Gary’s frustration in the scene and added that she would have lost it.
Emotional Leah Asked Her Parents To Stop Fighting
The dinner didn’t get much better from there.
At one point, Gary asked his wife what time it was.
Amber didn’t like that and started to argue with Gary.
Leah ended up crying out of frustration and asked her parents to stop fighting.
She then asked to go to the bathroom, with Kristina and Emilee joining her.
The three were gone for a while, and when they returned, they and Gary packed up their things and left the restaurant.
Amber was left alone at the restaurant, crying.
There’s been a lot of backlash against Amber for ruining her daughter’s birthday and calling her an unpleasant word.
However, Amber has yet to comment on it.
Amber Portwood and Gary’s Engagement
Instead, she’s been focusing her energy on her new relationship.
According to US Weekly, Amber and her boyfriend, Gary, recently got engaged.
The proposal happened somewhere in the last week of May and the first week of June.
Amber said that Gary had taken an old family stone and repurposed it into an engagement ring.
The couple seem committed to each other as they have already started taking steps to make sure their relationship has a firm foundation.
In particular, they started attending couples therapy together.
The reason they’re already going to therapy together is to make sure that they take care of any problems before they get married.
How Teen Mom Star Amber and Gary Met
Amber first met Gary on a dating app in January.
The couple started slowly, getting to know one another, but it seemed they grew serious about one another very quickly.
Not a lot is known about Gary, but a few details have emerged over the months since she started dating him.
Gary doesn’t have any children, but he describes himself as a family-oriented man.
He takes care of his parents, who rely on him for assistance.
One of the things that drew Amber to Gary first was that he had no idea who she was.
He has never watched any of the Teen Mom shows, so he was unaware of her reality star celebrity.
Amber preferred that because a lot of the guys she had dated before had all known about her and her status.
It made dating difficult because she wasn’t sure if they were interested in her or her celebrity.
Since Gary has never seen Teen Mom, she knows that he’s more interested in her as a person.
She felt as though they were dating on more equal terms since he knew nothing about her and she knew nothing about him.
During the same episode where Amber made Leah cry, she also introduced Gary to the rest of the show’s cast.
She was on a Zoom call with the other girls in the show and revealed who he was.
She introduced him as her boyfriend, and they were officially a couple.
Gary showed some humor during his first appearance on the show, saying that his name was also Gary, referring to the fact that Amber’s ex was also named Gary.
Jade Cline joked that maybe this Gary was the Gary for her.
Amber seemed to agree saying that it seemed like it.
Why Amber Portwood Lost Custody of Daughter
Now, while Amber’s relationship with her new Gary seems to be going well, her relationship with her daughter Leah hasn’t been as successful.
Amber gave birth to Leah back in 2008, but she eventually lost custody of her in 2011.
Part of the reason she lost custody was because of a big fight she had with Gary.
Photo credits: Kim Kardashian/Instagram and Tina Knowles/Instagram
Reality TV’s Kim Kardashian has never been one to shy away from the limelight, unlike her superstar contemporary, Beyoncé, who is known for protecting her public image and guarding her privacy. As far as dealing with stardom goes, the two ladies couldn’t be more different, however, the world of fame is surprisingly small, and the pair happen to have a mutual acquaintance in the form of a nanny.
Former Nanny Claimed Kim Bragged How North West Was ‘Cuter’ Than Blue Ivy
From 2014, this ‘unnamed’ nanny took to reporting on her time working for Kim K. This first appeared in Life & Style magazine. It triggered a bit of a furor. The nanny claimed Kim Kardashian had a tendency to brag about how her daughter, North West, was ‘cuter’ than Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s girl, Blue Ivy Carter.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z were far too dignified to publicly respond, but rumor has it the nanny’s claim caused ‘tensions’. And that was the problem, according to Nanny, Kimmy habitually compared her child against other children and surprise! It was always North West who was cuter, brighter and more talented.
Now, one can forgive the child for developing a sense of superiority, especially when she has such a strong role model. Still, it’s harder to forgive the insensitivity of her mother, a grown adult. As Nanny noted, Kim thought nothing of damaging the other children’s self-esteem, although the bad habit isn’t especially healthy for her own offspring either.
Is Kim Kardashian’s Mystery Nanny’s Claims True?
Although the identity of the nanny is a mystery, her reports of Kim’s nasty habit have remained consistent across various publications. Of course, they have neither been refuted or verified by Kim or any of her crew, and some observers have questioned why the nanny chose to continue speaking out. Was there an ulterior motive or is it some kind of personal vendetta? Nonetheless, the nanny continued and had supporters to back her up. They said she was simply sharing her first-hand experiences of working for such a massively famous family.
However, the tensions grew. In fact, they were fueled by Kimmy’s ex, North’s daddy, Kanye West. Never a great one for tact anyway, his public rants and criticisms of Beyoncé and Jay-Z did nothing to help smooth things over. For instance, he just had to say something about Beyoncé allegedly refusing to perform unless she won a VMA over him and Drake during his 2016 Saint Pablo Tour.
Naturally, Beyoncé’s loyal fans were outraged and rallied around her and Blue Ivy, voicing their opinions on the issue on social media. They didn’t hold back on including what they thought of Kim and her reported behavior.
However, this particular sorry saga does end in a positive light. It raised awareness of the pressure and scrutiny the children of celebrities grow up having to deal with. And to the nanny’s credit, it also serves to remind adults that there are potentially harmful and decidedly negative consequences to comparing one child’s appearance and achievements against another.
Former Destiny’s Child, Kelly Rowland, recently found herself in a bit of bother. It all started after a heated exchange with a security guard just doing her job at the 2024 Cannes Festival. The incident went viral fast and sparked a debate on whether or not her diva-like actions were justified. To be clear, we’re talking about how the star decided to defend her ‘personal boundaries’.
It was May 22nd 2024, and Rowland was attending the premiere of ‘Marcello Mio’. She was heading up the red carpet when the female security guard came in close and tried to guide her up the stairs. The resulting confrontation was witnessed by everyone there and rather unfortunately, captured on video, as Rowland stood with finger wagging, scolding the guard.
In defense of her action, which didn’t look especially glamourous, she told the Associated Press, ‘The woman knows what happened. I know what happened.’ She explained that she had boundaries and stood by them, adding the justification ‘…and that is it’.
There was a mixed reaction. Some defended her stance against what they regarded as aggressive action. As an insider pointed out, the Cannes security staff had been overly aggressive that evening and by the time Rowland reached this one, she had simply had enough.
Although some saw her actions as somewhat diva-ish, Rowland herself emphasized the incident was more about respect and boundaries. The guard’s colleagues put a different spin on things in a Daily Mail report, stating she was under pressure to keep things moving and ‘doing her job’.
Kelly Rowland’s Diva Behavior
However, this isn’t the first time Rowland has defended diva behavior. In 2008, she defended Madonna’s demands during Radio 1’s Big Weekend for specific kinds of water and for allowing her entourage to help themselves to the food and drink reserved for other artists. It was a notably diva-like defense that included the memorable snap, ‘If Madonna only wants red Skittles, then get her red Skittles. She’s freakin’ Madonna!’ A comment that at the least reveals her stance on stardom and stars and their oft times, weird and wonderful demands.
No change in 2024 then. Rowland walked off the set of the Today show. She didn’t like her dressing room, but it didn’t go that well when she made an appearance. In another instance, she walked off the set because she wanted to talk about herself, not Beyoncé, which seems reasonable. She defended her right to set boundaries then, too. Only this time, about interview topics. Her fanbase stood by her.
After all, why would she want to talk about what Beyoncé was doing even if Beyoncé’s father, Mathew Knowles, had been Destiny’s Child’s manager? In his eyes, Rowland was a ‘sweetheart’, and definitely not a diva.
As it is, there are many others who reject the diva claim too. They argue that her actions have been misrepresented and blown out of proportion and that she is, in fact, a very hardworking professional with a lovely nature.
Photo Credits: Christina Milian/Instagram and Jennifer Lopex/Instagram
For years, it was speculated that Christina Milian had some kind of beef with Jennifer Lopez. The two artists never spoke publicly about it themselves. However, the online community quickly rumored that JLo had screwed Christina over in the early 2000s.
According to American Songwriter, Christina actually co-wrote Play, one of JLo’s singles from her hit 2001 album, J.Lo. The song peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and picked up a Teen Choice Award for best dance track of the year.
Christina’s voice can actually be heard on the song’s chorus. Although she was credited as a co-writer, she wasn’t given a feature credit for her singing contribution. This is something that didn’t sit well with some of her followers.
A number of online users have expressed their outrage on social media and community forums. One Reddit user wrote: “Milian does get credit for the background vocals, but being that she wrote the song and sung most of it, you would think she would get more recognition.” On a different Reddit discussion about JLo’s credibility as a singer, a user claimed that artists like Christina and Ashanti were the original singers of some of her songs.
Christina Denies the Feud Rumors
But what does Christina think about all of it? In 2023, she cleared the air about how she really felt about JLo and her work on the song Play. In her exclusive interview to Page Six, she explained that there wasn’t an ongoing feud between her and JLo.
Christina praised JLo for what she did with the song, which was originally intended to be on her own LP. She said that hands down, JLo nailed it. She was so good, and Christina loved that song.
Instead of being jealous that Play was taken away from her, Christina revealed that she was amazed that she got to be credited for writing a song for one of the biggest artists at the time. She said: “I couldn’t believe at 19 years old I wrote a song for J.Lo.”
In her interview, she shared that she actually came up with the song the same week that she was working on her successful debut single, AM to PM. According to Christina, it didn’t even take her more than a half hour to write the song.
When explaining how she came up with the lyrics, she said that she went to bed late after a night of partying, woke up the next morning and had to go to the studio. She had the track and hadn’t written anything to it.
When played the track, the melody of the first verse just began to flow out of her. Christina confessed that it was just too easy to write at that moment.
JLo Mistook Christina for an Assistant
She wrote the song in about 15 minutes. Christina added that it was a joke to her because she’d just started to become a writer.
At the time, Christina was signed with Def Soul Records. She didn’t think that they would want two party songs for her debut album. While she was happy with how Play had turned out, she preferred the song AM to PM.
So how did Play end up on JLo’s sophomore album?
Christina said that Play made its way to Tommy Mottola, the previous Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment. Once he heard it, he reportedly snagged the track for his star songstress who was signed to one of his company’s labels, Epic Records.
Christina explained that the next thing she knew, she was in New York. JLo was recording the song, and Christina came in to help rewrite some of the stuff.
An online user on an ATRL forum claimed that they’d once heard Christina say that JLo allegedly had no idea that she was the writer and she mistook her for an assistant. She was reportedly nice to her and offered to buy her a coffee.
Christina Doesn’t Care About Having a Feature Credit
During her interview, Christina opened up about how she had no hard feelings about not being credited as a featured artist on the song. She commented on how it was funny that people still talked about about her singing on the song with Jennifer.
She added that she had background singers on some of her songs. It was no different than Michael Jackson having background singers on songs or Britney Spears. To her, that was what music was made of.
It was good to have a blend of voices, it made songs better. Christina said: “I don’t need a feature credit, I’m on the credits for whatever nature, as a writer and for singing backgrounds. There is credit for that.”
She also shared that she was just so happy that Jlo did it because she was an icon. She admitted that she would still sing songs like Play and AM to PM when she had karaoke night with her husband, musician Matt Pokora.
Justin Beiber Also Owes Some of His Success to Christina
Play wasn’t the only song that Christina wrote for another famous artist. According to American Songwriter, she also co-wrote the song Walk Away (Remember Me) for the then up-and-coming artist Paula DeAnda in 2006.
One of the biggest songs she’s ever helped write has got to be the 2010 song Baby by Justin Bieber. She was part of a team of course. She co-penned the track alongside Justin, Ludacris, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, and her ex husband, The Dream.
Christina even talked about the song in a recent interview with Elle. After the interviewer pointed out that the song had had a bit of a revival, after Justin announced that he and his wife Hailey Bieber were expecting, Christina shared how she honestly felt about the single she’d helped create over a decade ago. She said that when she heard the finished song, she knew that it was going to live on forever.
Christina is just one of many celebrities that JLo has been rumored to have had an alleged feud with. There’ve been so many over the years, and 2024 hasn’t been an exception.
JLo’s History of Feuds
Ayo Edebiri, who is known for her role on the hit show The Bear, was said to be feuding with JLo after some comments she’d made about her and her singing abilities. Deadline reported that in 2020, Ayo went on Laci Mosley’s podcast, Scam Goddess, and talked about how JLo’s singing career had been one long scam.
Ayo claimed that JLo thought that she’d been on multiple tracks, but it wasn’t her. She alleged that she wasn’t singing for most of her songs.
She said:“A lot of the write-ups of the songs will be like, ‘J.Lo didn’t have time to make it to the studio.’ Like, ‘J.Lo was busy.’ Doing what? Not singing, obviously.”
In 2024, those comments came back to haunt Ayo when she was booked to host Saturday Night Live. The musical guest was JLo.
Before the show began, JLo told Variety that Ayo came to her dressing room to apologise for what she’d said. She said that Ayo was mortified and very sweet.
She apologized with tears in her eyes, saying how terrible it was that she had said those things. Ayo even addressed the situation in one of her SNL sketches when her character said: “It’s wrong to leave mean comments, or post comments just for clout, or run your mouth on a podcast, and you don’t consider the impact because you’re 24 and stupid.”
Ayo talked about the incident in an interview with Vanity Fair later on in the year. She shared that the media’s allegations about how her podcast clip had started an alleged fight between her and JLo were ridiculous. She joked that it would be like Mr. Bean and Mick Jagger beefing, and that she was obviously Mr. Bean.
Photo Credits: Channetta Valentine/Instagram and Trizzle/Instagram
Fans were thrilled with the recent news that Nelly and Ashanti are having a baby. But while this will be Ashanti’s first time experiencing parenthood, Nelly is a seasoned veteran.
In 2005, he adopted his sister’s two kids after she tragically passed away. He also had two children of his own with his former partner Channetta Valentine.
Not much is known about Nelly’s first baby mama, who has always preferred to keep out of the spotlight. According to her Instagram bio, she is or was a Travel Nurse. Channetta was born in 1976, making her 48 years old.
According to The Sun, she and Nelly dated for a long time. They were reportedly a couple between September 1990 and June 1999.
Nelly’s First Child Pursued Music
Their first child, Chanelle, was born back in 1994. Since becoming an adult, Chanelle, affectionately known as Nana, has tried her hand at many ventures.
She even followed in her father’s footsteps as a musician. She released her first single in July 2020 under the names Chanelle Valentine and Nellelove.
Taking the name Valentine suggested that Chanelle wanted to pay tribute to her mother, who had always stayed out of the spotlight while the kids were growing up.
However, this was not ever meant to look like Chanelle was taking a shot at her dad. According to reports, she did this with the full love and support of Nelly. Chanelle chose to chase a life in the music industry despite having attended Columbia College in Chicago for a business degree.
On her 27th birthday, Nelly shared a throwback photo of him and his daughter on Instagram. In the caption, he called her his mini-me.
It was revealed on Chanelle’s own social media that she actually has a child of her own. So, even though he’s just now having his first child with Ashanti, he’s actually already a grandfather.
Nelly and Tre Are Very Close
The rapper’s second child was a boy, named after Nelly. Cornell III, also known as Tre, was born in 1999.
As well as his name, Tre inherited even more of his dad’s traits. He is a former high school football player, just like Nelly, who was believed to have shown serious potential as an athlete.
However, he stopped playing after graduating to pursue other career ambitions. According to his Instagram page, which has over 150,000 followers, he now works as a producer.
Some insane reports have been written about Nelly’s son’s staggering net worth despite his young age. According to sources, he has a net worth of around $5 million.
Older reports also claim that Tre had a girlfriend named Macee Bradley. However, information on Tre’s personal life has shrunk in recent years. Despite his huge online following, Tre rarely shares anything about himself on social media.
Nelly has previously talked about how alike he and his son really are. In 2015, during an interview on The Real, he commented on the total lack of a generational difference between him and Tre.
He said that he and his son could literally just be buddies. They even wore the same shoes! However, he was also aware that there always be some differences between him and his kids.
His approach was always just to let whatever happens happen. He said that you have to let the youth be the youth. He would let them make their own mistakes while still trying to be a guide.
Nelly Was a Single Father, Not a Baby Daddy
In the same interview, Nelly was asked about his experience as a single dad, since he and Channetta were no longer raising their kids as a couple. He talked about how important it was that there were single fathers out there, instead of just baby daddies. It seemed that Nelly was focused on being present in his kids’ lives, instead of keeping his distance from them.
According to reports, Nelly’s two kids have different mothers. The identities of both have been kept from the public.
Nelly has been in numerous high-profile romantic relationships with some well-known women. These have included Eve, Lashontae Heckard, Karrine Steffans, and Kelly Rowland. Other than Ashanti, most of Nelly’s relationships were pretty brief.
The other woman who had the longest relationship with the rapper was Shantel Jackson. Shantel dated Nelly for around 7 years before they broke up in 2021. She was a major presence in his kids’ lives
Nelly met the actress shortly after she split up with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather. There had been rumors for a while that the couple ended things amid rumors of cheating.
Although Floyd was originally believed to be the guilty party, rumors soon started swirling that Shantel had had an affair with a well-known hip-hop star. Although nothing was ever proven, Nelly and Shantel went public as a couple that same year.
Things quickly became serious for the new lovers. Though Nelly has never married, Shantel quickly began putting out signals that she was ready to take that step with him.
The signs weren’t always that subtle. In 2016, Shantel shared an Instagram post featuring an elephant family of three, a father and mother with a baby elephant. Although probably accidental, it seemed pretty strange that the picture didn’t acknowledge the kids Nelly already had.
Nelly Adopted His Nieces
Despite parting ways without ever actually going down the aisle, there was no doubt that they both took their relationship seriously. Nelly clearly wanted Shantel to be close to his family.
She was even featured on Nelly’s short-lived reality show Nellyville. The show, which ran from 2014 to 2015, was the first time people saw the rapper at home with his kids.
It wasn’t just Chanelle and Tre who we got to see with their dad. Nelly actually also adopted his niece and nephew, Sydney and Lil Shawn.
This came about due to some heartbreaking circumstances. Nelly took in his new adopted kids in 2005 after the loss of his sister Jackie Donahue. She lost her life in a St. Louis, Missouri hospital after a years-long battle with leukemia.
According to Today, Jackie was diagnosed with the illness in March 2001. The cancer had been in remission for two years before Jackie suffered a relapse.
Nelly had done all he could to keep Jackie alive with multiple drives for bone marrow donations. Sadly, a match was never found.
According to Nelly’s publicist, Jackie and Nelly had been extremely close. She even worked as the rapper’s stylist.
After losing his sister, Nelly became the adoptive father to two more kids, becoming a single parent to four. A lot has changed since then, with Nelly now happy in a relationship with another kid on the way. If his track record is anything to go by, it seems that Nelly is more than ready to become a father all over again.
Photo Credits: Channetta Valentine/Instagram and Trizzle/Instagram
Back in March 2022, Maria Elizabeth Castaneda, who is also known as Elizabeth Juarez, had been Brandy’s housekeeper for nearly 20 years. She was 60 years old and since September 2002, she catered to R&B singer’s Brandy’s wants and needs; cleaning up after her, cooking her meals and seeing to her dirty laundry. She was paid $125 a day but then, she was suddenly fired.
Brandy’s Former Housekeeper, Maria, Sued Brandy for Wrongful Termination
She’s sued Brandy for wrongful termination, primarily accusing the singer of age discrimination. She claims that Brandy fired her on February 25th 2022 because she ‘didn’t want an older employee’.
There were other allegations; no proper breaks or regular meal times, and years of no overtime pay. Even the court queried the lack of itemized pay slips as a violation of Castaneda’s employment rights.
Castaneda was still owed two days’ pay when fired. It’s an amount that doesn’t mean that much to some people. Perhaps a half-reasonable dinner out. But Brandy’s insensitive conduct has lost Castaneda her steady income and her benefits. At 60, it damaged her capacity to find similarly paid work.
Maria Castaneda Settled for $40,000
Initially, she sought damages totaling over $250,000 but in her modesty, she settled for only $40,000. The battle wasn’t over for Brandy though. Her lawyers, Lipes Law Firm, moved in to secure their fees. They asked the court to award them between $39,194.46 and $87,445.80 on top of the settlement.
When it looked as if Brandy would have to look to her own needs for a while, there was a twist. In January 2023, the court ordered her to pay just $32,000 of the fees. It firmly rejected the idea that her ‘star status’ automatically earned them a better bounty. The court even suggested the case could have been settled earlier, before the ‘unflattering’ allegations hit the media.
Thankfully, Brandy had the sense to be embarrassed. The incident raised all sorts of speculation about how she treated her staff although she has always denied Castaneda’s age discrimination allegation.
The technical defense her lawyers put forward didn’t help her cause. They argued Brandy didn’t employ enough regular staff for the state’s discrimination laws to apply. Anyway, they added that Castaneda was an independent contractor, and she had just quit.
Brandy was the star of ‘Moesha’ and is a grammy award winner, but on this one, the optics looked bad. She was accused of hypocrisy after being very outspoken in her support of social justice.
Brandy Norwood Sued By Designer
As it goes, Brandy is known for her sweet persona. She’s close to her mom and manager, Sonja Norwood. But this legal tangle wasn’t her only headache. In January 2022, she was sued by designer, Elle B. Mambetov, for failing to return a ring she had supposedly borrowed for the American Music Awards. Brandy denies she ever had it.
Even though the $40,000 settlement and a favorable ruling on lawyer fees meant Castaneda’s case didn’t make it to court, the allegations left a nasty taste in the mouth. Brandy’s good reputation is tarnished. This peek into her private life has disappointed many fans.
