TAYLOR SWIFT’S ‘LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO’ VIDEO HITS A BILLION VIEWS – (12/28/2018)

Taylor Swift’s cinematic music video for her Reputation single, “Look What You Made Me Do” is so addictive, it reached one billion views on YouTube.

This isn’t the first time Swift has hit the milestone. Her visuals for “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space” and “Bad Blood” all have 10-digit views each.

The “LWYMMD” clip launched the Reputation era in August 2017 after premiering at the VMAs. She pokes fun at being called a “snake,” hints at her feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, and the famous, “The old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now.  Why? Because she’s dead” line, signifying that Taylor was leaving her past behind.

There’s also parade of doubles sporting various looks from her previous eras; a gravestone with her pseudonym name “Nils Sjoberg,” which she used to co-write a song with her ex-boyfriend, Calvin Harris; dancers wearing “I Heart TS” shirts, which another ex-boyfriend, Tom Hiddleston, once wore; a car crash that vaguely references her feud with Katy Perry, and more.

When the video was released, it broke the record for most Vevo views in a single 24-hour period, which had been previously held by Adele’s “Hello,” and the most views in a 24-hour period on YouTube, which had been held by Psy’s “Gentleman.”

“Look What You Made Me Do” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the only single from Reputation to reach the top of the charts to date.

JUSTIN BIEBER’S SELLING HOTEL SLIPPERS – (12/28/2018)

Post Malone recently sold out his second collection of custom Crocs, and now Justin Bieber is having similar success in the footwear game.

Justin’s company, Drew House (Drew is his middle name) is selling hotel-inspired slippers for $4.99. The slippers, which look like the free ones you get in upscale hotels, have a smiley face patch on them with “Drew” where the mouth would be. Justin’s wife Hailey modeled a pair on Christmas Day.

The slippers, which went on sale Wednesday, are already sold out.

The company’s website, thehouseofdrew.com, describes the footwear as “cheap hotel slippers,” which are “super soft” and “perfect for drew house guests and anyone who enjoys slipping their feet into something cozy at the end of the day.”

Right now, the slippers are the only item offered on the website, which is described as, “a place where you can be yourself…Wear like you don’t care. Come chill. K. Bye.”

CHRIS BROWN FACING CHARGES OVER PET MONKEY – (12/28/2018)

Chris Brown is facing criminal charges over his pet monkey. According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, the Los Angeles City Attorney is charging the singer with two counts of having a restricted species without a permit, which carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail. 

Chris faced backlash via social media after posting a video of his baby pet monkey named Fiji playing with his daughter. The California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife was notified about Brown owning the pet, which prompted the investigation. He didn’t have a permit for the monkey, so authorities obtained a search warrant and planned to raid Brown’s home. However, he voluntarily agreed to surrender the monkey. 

He is due in court on February 6th.

ROYAL TOT COMING SOON! Meghan Markle gave a low-key update on her due date. While the royal family isn’t about to send out press releases updating everyone on the status of Markle’s womb, the Duchess did share a little tidbit with a fan when questioned directly. “We’re nearly there,” she said, on a Christmas Day walkabout with the rest of the royals. The royal family was vague on her delivery date before that, just saying she was due in spring. The first day of spring is March 20^th. 

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ARE MILEY CYRUS AND LIAM HEMSWORTH MARRIED? – (12/26/2018)

Did Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth get married? Some fans on social media think so, while others are wondering if maybe they just had their rehearsal dinner.

Fans began speculating after pal Conrad Carr posted photos and videos to his Instagram story that showed Cyrus in a white dress, cutting a cake alongside Hemsworth. In Carr’s post, Cyrus and Hemsworth were surrounded by family and friends.

A video clip shows the three Hemsworth brothers, Liam, Chris and Luke, taking a shot together with balloons that read “Mr. and Mrs.” in the background. A photo also shows Cyrus’s mom, Trish, looking casual in light jeans and a black top.

Cyrus and Hemsworth first met on the set of The Last Song in 2009 and announced their engagement in 2012 before a few years of on-again-off-again relationship rumors swirled. She began wearing her engagement ring again in early 2016, and the couple has been together since.

LADY GAGA GOES LILAC – (12/26/2018)

With just days to go until the opening of her Las Vegas residency, Lady Gaga dropped some sneak peeks on social media – including a glimpse at her newly lilac hair.

Gaga posted a short series of photos and video clips on Instagram Friday and Saturday, apparently showing her arrival to Vegas.

The Mother Monster is performing two separate shows. One, Lady Gaga Enigma, features an alter ego she has created to go with “a brand-new odyssey of her pop hits,” according to the casino’s website.

“We’re creating a show unlike anything I’ve done before,” she said in a press release. “It will be a celebration of all that is unique and different within us. The challenges of bravery can be overcome with creativity and courage that is grown out of adversity, love and music.”

The second show is Lady Gaga Jazz & Piano which will offer ‘stripped-down versions of her hits alongside music from the Great American Songbook’.

Enigma begins December 28th at the Park Theater.

POST MALONE DROPS SURPRISE SINGLE ‘WOW’ – (12/26/2018)

Post Malone has dropped a brand new song called “Wow.” just in time for Christmas. The rapper also released an animated, holiday-themed music video for the track featuring cartoon Posty, floating crocs, tattooed elves who travel by jet-propelled candy canes, and a blinged-out snowman.

In “Wow,” Post talks about his incredible success, rapping about “G-wagons,” a “720S bumpin’ Fall Out Boy,” a “750 Lambo,” the “igloo” in his mouth” and having “Hunnid bands in my pocket…Hunnid deep when I roll like the army.”

It’s not clear if the single is the first release from a new album. You can see Post perform next week on ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

5 SECONDS OF SUMMER RELEASE LIVE TOUR ALBUM, REMIX OF ‘LIE TO ME’ FEATURING JULIA MICHAELS – (12/26/2018)

5 Seconds of Summer has released a new live tour album, as well as a remix of their song “Lie to Me” featuring Julia Michaels.

The album, Meet You There Tour Live, was recorded during their 2018 global headlining tour and features 20 live versions of songs including ones from their latest album, Youngblood, like the title track, “Want You Back,” and “Valentine.”

A limited edition vinyl LP will be available for pre-order at 5SOS.com through January 18th.

The new version of “Lie to Me” adds a different perspective to the song with Julia’s vocals. The original lyrics tell the story of a guy dealing with his ex moving on, but the new version adds the girl’s perspective as she deals with a similar situation.

“Now I wish we’d never met/’Cause you’re too hard to forget,” Luke Hemmings and Calum Hood sing, as Julie chimes in, “While he’s taking off my dress/I know she’s laying on your chest.”

TOM HANKS AND RITA WILSON PICK UP TAB AT IN-N-OUT – (12/26/2018)

Merry Christmas! Fans are sharing pictures and footage of Tom Hanks and his wife of 30 years, Rita Wilson, at an In-N-Out outlet in Fontana, California. Apparently in the holiday spirit, Hanks covered meals for diners and took selfies with fans.

Wrote one fan: “He is such a nice guy taking pictures with everyone….he told us Merry Christmas. And I went over and talked to his wife Rita while Tom took pictures with everyone!”

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SELENA GOMEZ SEEN SNOW TUBING WITH FRIENDS FOLLOWING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT – (12/20/2018)

After ducking out of the spotlight in October to focus on her mental health, Selena Gomez has been spotted looking happy and healthy on a winter getaway with friends.

In a series of photos shared on her pals’ Instagram pages this week, Selena is seen smiling with the group of friends on a snow tubing trip to Big Bear Lake, California. She’s wearing a black hoodie from Taylor Swift’s Reputation tour merch, paired with a black coat, pants and hat.

The next day, she was Selena spotted taking a hike with some friends in Malibu.

 “Selena is definitely in a healthier place than she was a few months ago,” a source said. “It took lots of energy, focus and therapy to get over that particular hump in her life.”

In late September, Selena was reportedly hospitalized a number of times for medical issues related to her Lupus and subsequent kidney transplant. The stress of that led to an “emotional breakdown” and a stay at an East Coast psychiatric facility where she received dialectical behavior therapy, which treats various mental health disorders.

Selena was reportedly released from the facility in November.

GWEN STEFANI MUST FACE TRIAL ON CHARGES SHE CAUSED FANS TO STAMPEDE – (12/20/2018)

Gwen Stefani is heading to trial in February over allegations she caused a stampede at a concert.

Lisa Stricklin filed a negligence suit against the singer and Live Nation in July 2017 in which she accused the No Doubt star of creating a dangerous situation at the PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2016 after she invited fans to rush the stage; in the ensuing chaos, Stricklin allegedly suffered a broken leg.

The suit stems from an incident that occurred 10 minutes into the show, when Gwen told the audience, “If anyone wants to come down a little closer so I can see you a little better, just come on down, I don’t think anyone’s going to care.” Fans immediately rushed the stage, prompting Gwen to tell them to go back to their seats, but it was too late for Strickland. She claims she was trampled and pushed into a wall, causing her to sustain a fractured leg.

Stefani’s team requested a summary judgment in the case, but that motion was denied by federal judge Robert Conrad in North Carolina on Monday. The judge ruled that the singer could be held liable for the stampede and scheduled a trial to begin on February 19th. He began his decision by quoting the lyrics from Gwen’s hit “Sweet Escape”: “I know I’ve been a real bad girl/I didn’t mean for you to get hurt whatsoever.”

The judge ruled in favor of a summary judgment for Live Nation, saying the concert promoters “”did not owe Plaintiff a duty to protect her from the crowd and her resulting injury because Stefani’s actions were unforeseeable.” Live Nation was cleared in the case.

As a result of the ruling, Strickland can proceed with her negligence case against Gwen, but she won’t be allowed to seek punitive damages. The trial is set to start February 19th.

JENNA DEWAN AND CHANNING TATUM MOURN DEATH OF DOG LULU – (12/20/2018)

When Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum parted ways, they had to find a way to co-parent their 5-year-old daughter Everly and their beloved dog Lulu. The estranged pair, who have supported each other openly since splitting (with Dewan going as far as to take to social media to support Tatum’s new girlfriend Jessie J when fans slammed her), are mourning the passing of Lulu together.

Writes Dewan on Instagram Wednesday: “To our sweet and fierce Lulu…thank you for being the best dog in the entire world and for fighting cancer for as long as you did. Thank you for your tireless love, protection and humor. Thank you for the adventures. Heartbroken doesn’t even come close to how it feels. But you will live on forever in our hearts and our memories…fly sweet angel.” 

Tatum wrote: “I’ll see you again baby girl. But you’ll always be with me. Always.”

Paris Hilton and Hilary Swank were among those to share their condolences on Instagram. Lulu died from cancer.

IS PARIS HILTON KEEPING THE RING? Paris Hilton broke up with fiancé Chris Zylka last month, but she has decided to keep the 20-carat, $2 million ring he proposed with as a momento. She spilled on Jenny McCarthy’s Sirius XM show:“The person who we got it from got millions and millions of dollars of free publicity.” When McCarthy asked if she was keeping it she said: “Yes. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

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