Whether it’s news about who is dating whom, or what they are doing, people love celebrity gossip. From TMZ and dozens of smaller “commercial blogs” to supermarket tabloids like Star, there is no shortage of celebrity stories to read about.
But is all of it true? The answer is, probably not.
Kylie Jenner & Timothee Chalamet
Timothee Chalamet is not only one of Hollywood’s hottest rising stars, but he’s also apparently a new love interest for Kylie Jenner. The reality star and beauty mogul split from her longtime boyfriend Travis Scott earlier this year, but she seems to be moving on quite quickly. TMZ reported that Jenner and Chalamet, who have both been nominated for Oscars, are casually dating, though they’ve only been seen together a few times this month.
Jenner’s relationship with the actor is reportedly low-key, and they’re reportedly keeping it private from her other family members. The rumor mill went into high gear when celebrity news/gossip Instagram DeuxMoi published an anonymous tip on April 6 that claimed “multiple sources have told me that Timmy C has a new girl.” Since then, they’ve been spotted on dates (including a taco date) and at events like the Met Gala.
The 2023 Met Gala had a “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” theme, and Jenner honored the occasion by wearing a red Haider Ackermann gown. The designer was a friend of Lagerfeld’s, and Jenner is a fan of his designs. Plus, her dress was a subtle nod to her rumored boo.
Chalamet recently starred in John Patrick Shanley’s autobiographical play Prodigal Son, which earned him a Lucille Lortel Award and Drama League nomination. He’s also known for his roles in Men, Women & Children and Interstellar.
Disney’s Next Live-Action Remake
Disney has made quite the habit of remaking animated classics in live-action. Though some have been exceptions— Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella is undeniably charming and David Lowery’s Pete’s Dragon arguably surpasses the original—most have failed to match up. But the studio continues to push forward with its live-action reboots, and one new film aims to reimagine the legendary Haunted Mansion ride for a modern audience.
Nia DaCosta, who directed Captain Marvel and stars in that film alongside Brie Larson, is helming this new take on the beloved theme park attraction. The movie will also pull in actors/characters from the Cinematic Universe, with Mahershala Ali starring as Hawkeye, Wyatt Russell as John Walker/Ghost, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova/Black Widow and Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Drostankova.
The Haunted Mansion reboot joins a crowded field of other Disney remakes, including a live-action Dumbo (with Michael Keaton and Eva Green) and the sequel to Jungle Book director Jon Favreau’s 2016 reimagining of The Lion King. A new adaptation of James and the Giant Peach, based on Roald Dahl’s novel, is also in the works with Succession’s Mylod stepping in to replace Alexander Payne.
Sia’s Autism Diagnosis
After Sia was slammed by autistic advocates for her directorial debut film Music, she did a lot of public damage control. She rebutted accusations of ignorance by saying she had done her research on autism, but her response was both tone deaf and deeply offensive. She told an autistic actor, “Maybe you’re just a bad actor,” which adds to the widespread assumption that autistic people are unable to act. She also used the term “low functioning” to describe an autistic character, which many activists argue is ableist and ignores the incredible diversity of people on the spectrum.
Sia’s other public comments, including attacking her critics and arguing that autistic people aren’t capable of interpreting her film, were equally damaging. She also defended her decision to cast Dance Moms alum Maddie Ziegler as the lead of Music, an autistic teen. She claimed she had consulted with a specialist in the field and that she worked with Autism Speaks—an organization that is often criticized as eugenics-promoting—on the movie.
Despite the backlash, Sia hasn’t apologized for her stances or for promoting negative stereotypes of people with disabilities. It’s disappointing that she can’t accept criticism in a constructive way. She could have been a leader on disability rights, but she hasn’t taken the opportunity to do so. Instead, she continues to alienate her critics by doubling down on her position.
Matty Healy’s New Profile
As frontman for the critically acclaimed band The 1975, Matty Healy is known for his enigmatic personality and show-stopping performances. However, he’s also a bit of a prankster who loves making headlines with bold statements and performance-art hijinks. From joking about his heroin addiction to attempting to make kombucha in autotune, Healy is always trying to get a reaction.
But it wasn’t until this year that his erratic behavior and controversial comments started to cause people to question his authenticity and integrity. The 1975 frontman sparked outrage for an appearance on the Adam Friedland podcast, where he made racist and sexist remarks about his fellow musicians, including claiming that Harry Styles “gets a pass” for his “queer-baiting” and mocking Ice Spice’s heritage.
Healy has since apologized for his statements, but the damage has already been done. Many Swifties have created a thread calling Healy a “racist, islamophobic, antisemitic sexist, and overall piece of shit,” and the 34-year-old singer has now deactivated his Twitter account.
Despite the controversy, Healy hasn’t stopped creating music and performing with The 1975 this summer. The group is set to headline massive outdoor shows at London’s Finsbury Park, Dublin’s St. Anne’s Park, and Musgrave Park in Cork, as well as TRNSMT Festival in Glasgow, Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Dundee, and Manchester’s Parklife.