Divorce depression
Sia’s 2016 divorce sent her into such a serious depression she could barely leave her bed — for years. She’s since climbed out of the depression, but it contributed to a musical dry spell, the singer told Zane Lowe in a recent Apple Music 1 interview about her forthcoming release “Reasonable Woman.” Due out in 2024, “Reasonable Woman” will be Sia’s first full-length solo pop album in nearly eight years.
“The truth is that I had just been, every now and again, writing a song here or there for the last six, seven years. I got divorced and that really threw me for a loop,” she said. “That was such a dark time that I was in bed for three years, really, really severely depressed. I couldn’t really do anything for that period of time. Just little bits and pieces here and there, but it was really hard to get me out of bed. And then finally it just turned out we had enough songs to make an album, enough good ones.”
Sia and filmmaker Erik Anders Lang tied the knot in 2014 before calling it quits in 2016. She married Dan Bernard in Italy earlier this year.
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Network ‘drama’ hurt staff ‘morale’
It’s been a messy couple of years for CNN, and according to Anderson Cooper, that took a toll on staff. “Morale was hurt by all the drama, and that’s unfortunate, but I think things feel like they are back on track,” the network’s veteran journalist said in an interview published by People on Sept. 15. The CNN “drama” in question dates back to 2021 and includes a laundry list of negative headlines.
There was the firing of anchor Chris Cuomo over his involvement in his brother Andrew Cuomo’s sexual misconduct defense, followed by network president Jeff Zucker’s resignation amid revelations about his consensual relationship with a staffer. Chris Licht stepped in as CNN’s chairman and CEO, but was soon blamed for a drop in ratings and perceived missteps such as moving Don Lemon to primetime, where Don’s comments repeatedly offended viewers. After the anchor’s on-air remarks about when a woman is “past her prime,” Don was fired. But he attracted negative press on his way out by claiming on Twitter (now X) that he was not told “directly” about his ouster “after 17 years” with CNN. Amid headlines about the network’s apparent “meltdown,” Chris was ousted too.
Anderson told People Chris’ successor, Mark Thompson, slated to take over in October, “sounds great.” He also praised CNN’s “extraordinary” producers and correspondents. But he admitted the shake-ups of the past few years affected CNN’s staff. “It’s never great to be in a place where you read the paper in the morning and there are stories about where you’re working,” he said.
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More Danny Masterson fallout
Ashton Kutcher has stepped down from his leadership role at the anti-child-sex-abuse organization he co-founded amid backlash over his support of former co-star Danny Masterson, Time reported on Sept. 15. Ashton and his wife Mila Kunis recently apologized for writing character letters in support of their longtime co-star on “That ’70s Show” ahead of his Sept. 7 sentencing on two rape convictions. Now, Ashton has resigned from Thorne, which he launched in 2009 with Demi Moore. Mila has also exited the board, according to Time.
“Victims of sexual abuse have been historically silenced and the character statement I submitted is yet another painful instance of questioning victims who are brave enough to share their experiences,” Ashton said in a statement to the board of the organization, according to Time. “After my wife and I spent several days of listening, personal reflection, learning, and conversations with survivors and the employees and leadership at Thorn, I have determined the responsible thing for me to do is resign as Chairman of the Board, effectively immediately…I cannot allow my error in judgment to distract from our efforts and the children we serve.”
Despite their letters of support, Danny was sentenced to 30 years to life behind bars.
Vaccine stance repercussions
Drea de Matteo says she turned to the controversial subscription site OnlyFans because she had few other choices after losing acting jobs over her refusal to comply with COVID-19 vaccination mandates. “I know some people have said some nasty things about me having joined OnlyFans. But, you know, the way we see it in this house is mommy’s a warrior, not accepting defeat,” the “Sopranos” alum, 51, recently told Fox News. “I figured, ‘OK, so everybody’s in their underwear and being sexy on Instagram and I don’t do that, but I can do that and get paid for it.’ … I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner,” she recalled.
Drea, who shares a 15-year-old and a 12-year-old with ex, Shooter Jennings, went on to say her kids supported her decision to join the site after she felt forced to “switch careers” for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 when vaccination mandates were routine on sets. As a result, she said, her agent ditched her and she “almost lost” her home.
“I just don’t care … I’d rather save my family than save face,” she continued. The former “Sons of Anarchy” star also explained that she was “never really paid very much money for any of the jobs I’ve done” and often declined work in order to be with her kids when their dad was out on tour. Drea launched her OnlyFans account in August.
Talk show defense, take 2
In a video posted to Instagram on Sept. 15, Drew Barrymore addressed the backlash she’s faced for resuming production of her eponymous talk show despite the ongoing Writers Guild of America [WGA] strike. With members of her writing team picketing the show outside the CBS building in New York City, Drew looked emotional as she admitted there was “nothing I can do or say in this moment to make” it “OK” that she’s taping a new season without them.
“I certainly couldn’t have expected this kind of attention. We aren’t gonna break rules, and we will be in compliance [with WGA strike rules]. I wanted to do this because as I said, this is bigger than me, and there are other people’s jobs on the line,” she said.
Drew also acknowledged it’s been hard to make decisions in the current climate. “I wanted to accept responsibility, and now I don’t have a PR machine behind this,” she continued. “My decision to go back to the show — I didn’t want to hide behind people. I won’t polish this with bells and whistles and publicists and corporate rhetoric. I’ll just stand out there and accept and be responsible.” In closing, she reiterated a previous Instagram statement about wanting to “be there for people in sensitive times,” especially after the show debuted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hollywood’s writers went on strike against the major studios in May 2023, calling for better compensation and other demands. On Sept. 15, studios affiliated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers announced they’d agreed to schedule a meeting with the WGA next week.
Pregnancy response
While discussing Utah Sen. Mitt Romney’s retirement news on “The View” on Sept. 14, Whoopi Goldberg suddenly switched gears, mid-sentence, and asked co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, “Are you pregnant?” Alyssa looked stunned, then laughed and replied, “No! Oh my God! You can’t say that while my mother-in-law is here! She’s been dying for me to get pregnant.”
Despite Whoopi’s faux pas, Alyssa maintains she wasn’t offended. Appearing later on the “Behind the Table” podcast, she told “The View” producer Brian Teta she opted to focus on the awkward moment’s silver linings. For one thing, her mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law were seated in the front row. “If there are two people in my life who want me to be pregnant today more than anyone it’s them, so just the most fortuitous timing,” Alyssa said with a laugh, according to People. “I literally was getting texts on the commercial break from reporters like, ‘Do you care to respond to this?’ I used to take questions about like, there was a missile attack in Afghanistan and now I’m like, ‘No, I’m not going to comment on my fake pregnancy right now.'”
According to Alyssa, Whoopi quickly apologized. “Whoopi, she thinks out loud sometimes, and I chose to take it as a compliment — that I’m glowing,” she said. Later, Alyssa promised that if and when she does have a pregnancy to announce, “I will definitely interrupt Whoopi to inform her.”
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