Alec Baldwin hit with $25M defamation lawsuit, plus more news

Alec Baldwin posts about ‘inner peace’ as fallen marine’s family sues for defamation

Alec Baldwin spent time reflecting on the value of silence and inner peace on Jan. 19, as he faces a new lawsuit from a grieving family to whom he previously gifted $5,000. “My favorite part of the day is early in the morning when I get up before anyone else and the house is totally silent,” the actor captioned a photo of a prismatic rainbow on Instagram. “I spend that time with God, and I find that the silence strengthens me and helps me get focused for the day,” he continued, in part. Alec went on to encourage followers to seek silent places of their own in a world that’s “noisy, busy and at times very stressful,” writing, “I believe you will find that your soul begins to calm down. Inner peace and quiet are vital for hearing from God or sensing the direction He wants us to take.” His post comes amid news Alec was recently sued for defamation by the widow and sisters of Rylee McCollum, a 20-year-old service member from Wyoming who was killed in Afghanistan last summer. According to CowboyStateDaily.com, Alec contacted Rylee’s sister, Roice, via Instagram and sent her $5,000 for Rylee’s widow, Jiennah, and her baby as “a tribute to a fallen soldier.” He was apparently stunned on Jan. 3 of this year when Roice posted a photo from the Washington Monument she took on Jan. 6, 2021. She reportedly attended Donald Trump’s rally but did not join the riot at the Capitol building and was not charged with a crime. In the lawsuit, screenshots show private messages Alec sent her in which he says “I didn’t know you were a January 6th rioter,” among other things. Alec then shared Roice’s photo from the Trump rally on his account and said she was involved in the protests there that day. She now claims this sparked a wave of “hateful” messages and comments to Roice, her sister and Rylee’s widow, all of whom are suing Alec for “at least $25 million,” according to the report. Last week, Alec’s lawyer told press his client had “voluntarily” turned over his cell phone to investigators handling the fatal “Rust” set shooting Alec was involved in last year.

Keep reading to find out why Megan Fox’s engagement ring was designed to “hurt” if she tries to remove it …

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Machine Gun Kelly designed Megan Fox’s ring with ‘thorns’ so ‘it hurts’ if she removes it

Fun fact: the gorgeous emerald and diamond engagement ring Machine Gun Kelly slipped on Megan Fox’s finger on Jan. 11 would cause her physical pain were she to remove it. That’s according to MGK — real name, Colson Baker — who chatted about the sparkler with Vogue at Dolce & Gabbana’s recent 2022 Fall Menswear show in Italy. After sharing some backstory on the teardrop-shaped emerald — “it’s a thoroughbred Colombian emerald, with no treatment,” Colson revealed he designed the ring with Stephen Webster and intentionally incorporated thorns. “The concept is that the ring can come apart to make two rings. When it’s together, it’s held in place by a magnet,” he explained as Megan showed the interviewer the ring. “So you see how it snaps together? And then it forms an obscure heart. And you see this right here? The bands are actually thorns. So if she tries to take it off, it hurts …” When the reporter reacted with a polite, “That’s very nice,” Colson asserted, “Love is pain!” We’re guessing this isn’t news to Megan, though. As she explained in an Instagram caption on a video of Colson’s proposal earlier this month, she and the singer “drank each other’s blood” after she said “yes.”

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Kerry Washington, Anna Wintour and more stars remember Andre Leon Talley

Trailblazing fashion editor and former Vogue creative director, Andre Leon Talley, died on Jan. 18 after a series of health issues, TMZ reported. His death at age 73 sparked a wave of social media tributes from the fashion world, Hollywood and beyond, as the countless stars and designers he worked with over the years honored his contributions to the industry — and his vibrant, larger-than-life persona. “Oh Andre! Heaven is not ready for you darling!!!!!!” Kerry Washington wrote alongside a photo of the two from 2008. “The whole afterlife is going to be just too fabulous now. Ugh! You blessed us! Sir! You blessed us with your charm and wit and your taste for the exceptional. You will shine so brightly from the heavens that we will know what true stardom looks like. And we will gaze up at you always. In awe. And with gratitude. Rest In Peace…” Anna Wintour, who worked closely with Andre for years after he became Vogue’s first Black creative director in 1988, shared a long statement in which she said, in part, “He was magnificent and erudite and wickedly funny — mercurial, too,” and called him a “brilliant and compassionate man who was a generous and loving friend to me and to my family …” Kim Kardashian shared a photo of herself holding the late icon’s hands and added a broken heart emoji, while Bette Midler described him as “a force” who “believed in the magic of Fashion & its illusions with all his being.” Among the many designers who honored his life and work on Instagram was Andre’s close friend of nearly five decades, Diane von Furstenberg, who wrote to Andre: “no one was more soulful and grander than you were,” and said, “the world will be less joyful now ❤️?.”

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Former FBI agent backs up claims Britney Spears’ dad spied on her

A former FBI agent has reportedly confirmed Britney Spears’ claim that her dad spied on her before he was removed as her conservator, an allegation she made during her struggle to end the conservatorship. The claim was also explored in the documentary, “Controlling Britney Spears.” In a new court filing, former FBI fraud and corruption specialist Sherine Ebadi says Jamie Spears “engaged in and directed others to engage in unconscionable violations of [Britney’s] privacy and civil liberties.” Sherine’s findings reportedly suggest Jamie could be guilty of “criminal” behavior in relation to his handling of his daughter’s estate, which Britney’s lawyer argues lost more than $6 million to Jamie’s self-interest-focused management. According to the new court docs, excerpted by Page Six, Sherine says she’s spoken “personally” with Alex Vlasov — who alleged in the documentary that Jamie bugged his daughter’s bedroom — and Alex maintains that when he started working for Black Box Security in 2012, Jamie “was already monitoring” Britney’s BlackBerry. He also allegedly told Sherine he was in charge of “finding monitoring software and installing it as a hidden app” when Britney got an iPhone. Sherine goes on to say she found Jamie secretly recorded Britney’s “attorney-client communications with her prior court-appointed attorney and private conversations in her bedroom … while paying himself millions” from her estate.

Cardi B to cover funeral costs for Bronx fire victims

Bronx native Cardi B has offered to cover funeral costs for the 17 people who died after a five-alarm fire broke out in a high-rise apartment building in the New York City borough. Eight children were among those who died in the Jan. 9 blaze, according to CNN. “I’m extremely proud to be from the Bronx and I have lots of family and friends who live and work there still,” Cardi told the outlet in a statement.”So, when I heard about the fire and all of the victims, I knew I needed to do something to help, I cannot begin to imagine the pain and anguish that the families of the victims are experiencing, but I hope that not having to worry about the costs associated with burying their loved ones will help as they move forward and heal. I send my prayers and condolences to everyone affected by this horrific tragedy.” Cardi’s donations will reportedly be in partnership with a Bronx Fire Fund allocated within the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. The Big Apple’s mayor, Eric Adams, issued a statement of his own following Cardi’s donation who said it would provide “critical financial relief to families of the victims.”

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