Kylie Kelce and Jason Kelce Are Expanding Their Team
Nov. 22: Jason Kelce and wife Kylie Kelce are adding to their already stacked roster. They revealed in an Instagram post they are expecting their fourth baby girl. Though she admitted that youngest daughter, 20-month-old Bennett "feels deeply and personally victimized by the fact that we chose to give her another sibling," the retired NFL center feels like he's truly scored.
"I just love my daughters so much," said the athlete, also dad to Wyatt, 5, and Elliotte, 3. "The fact that we're going to be getting another one is beyond exciting."
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Killed
Dec. 4: After UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was gunned down outside of a New York City hotel , a days-long manhunt ended at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pa. where Luigi Mangione—a Baltimore-bred, University of Pennsylvania grad—was charged with his murder.
Appearing before a judge at the Blair County Court House Dec. 10, Mangione refused to waive extradition and bail was denied, according to NBC News.
In the indictment document issued by the Supreme Court of the State of New York Dec. 17, Mangione has been charged with one count of murder in the first degree for the death of Thompson, as well as one count of murder in the second degree as a crime of terrorism, one count of murder in the second degree, two counts of criminal weapon possession in the second degree, four counts of criminal weapon in the third degree, one count of criminal possession in the fourth degree, and one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree.
Prince Harry Puts Divorce Rumors to Rest
Dec. 4: Even amid all the noise, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle do their best to keep calm and carry on with their happy life in California. “Apparently we've bought or moved house 10, 12 times,” the royal said at the New York Times' 2024 DealBook Summit in New York City, according to People. “We've apparently divorced maybe 10, 12 times as well. So it's just like, what?”
Added Archie and Lilibet's dad, “It's hard to keep up with, but that's why you just sort of ignore it.”
Honestly, he felt the whole hysteria was hardest on their haters.
"The people I feel most sorry about are the trolls,” he added. “Their hopes are just built and built, and it's like, 'Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,’ and then it doesn't happen. So I feel sorry for them. Genuinely, I do.”
Taylor Swift Marks the End of an Era
Dec. 8: It was the end of the era, but the start of an age. After 21 months, some 149 performances, a record-breaking $2 billion-plus in sales and seemingly endless appearances by her NFL boyfriend Kelce, 14-time Grammy winner Swift put an end to an international tour that was out of her wildest dreams with a final performance in Vancouver.
And there was no need for her to implore her crew to say they'll remember her. Karma is gifting $197 million in bonuses to those working both behind the scenes as well as onstage with her, including truck drivers, caterers, the merch team, production staff of all levels, carpenters, her dancers and band, security, choreographers, the hair, make-up and wardrobe teams, physical therapists and her video team.
Jay-Z Defends Himself Against Rape Allegations
Dec. 9: Accused in a civil lawsuit of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean "Diddy" Combs back in 2000, Jay-Z emphatically proclaimed his innocence. "These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!" he said in a statement to NBC News. "Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree? These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case."
The next evening, the rapper turned up alongside wife Beyoncé and their daughter Blue Ivy Carter for the L.A. premiere of their film Mufasa: The Lion King, proving that if he does have 99 problems, his marriage ain't one.
Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly End Their Engagment While Expecting
Dec. 10: Fox and Machine Gun Kelly’s relationship has transformed once again. One month after the actress confirmed she was expecting their rainbow baby, writing in a Nov. 11 Instagram post, "Nothing is ever really lost," multiple outlets revealed she and the singer-songwriter had split.
And though the once-engaged couple have weathered many ups and downs, their connection remains fiery.
"I think that what I've learned from being in this relationship is that it's not for public consumption," Fox explained during a March interview with Call Her Daddy's Cooper. "So I think as of now, I don't have a comment on like the status of the relationship. What I can say is, that is what I refer to as being my 'twin soul', and there will always be a tether to him no matter what."
James Kennedy Is Arrested
Dec. 10: Vanderpump Rules alum James Kennedy was arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence, E! News confirmed.
According to the Burbank Police Department, law enforcement were called to a house in the area around 11:30 p.m. local time after receiving a report of an argument between James and an unnamed woman. After investigating the situation, police determined it was, in fact, a domestic incident and took the DJ to the police station. Kennedy was booked for misdemeanor domestic violence and later posted bail.
A week later, Kennedy—who has been dating Ally Lewber for two years—spoke out on his Instagram Story.
"I am committed to making meaningful changes in my life," he wrote. "I am taking time to focus on my sobriety, personal growth, and being present for loved ones."
"Navigating challenging moments is not easy," he added, "but I am determined to learn, grow, and move forward with the incredible support system around me."
Benny Blanco Proves He Loves Selena Gomez Like a Love Song
Dec. 11: Gomez is officially done with that same old love. More than a year after she and music producer Benny Blanco turned their professional relationship into a personal one, he proposed with a stunning marquis diamond and a picnic of Taco Bell. "forever begins now," the singer captioned her Instagram reveal. And she can check off at least one piece of wedding planning, with bestie Swift volunteering in the comments, "yes I will be the flower girl."
Hannah Kobayashi Speaks Out
Dec. 16: A month after Hawaii resident Hannah Kobayashi didn't make it onto her L.A.-to-New York City flight, prompting her family to report her missing, she broke her silence, confirming that she'd returned to the United States after spending time in Mexico.
"I was unaware of everything that was happening in the media while I was away,” she wrote in a statement through her aunt Larie Pidgeon to NBC News a day after police officially closed their investigation, “and I am still processing it all.”
The 30-year-old—whose dad Ryan Kobayashi died by suicide while she was in Mexico, according to the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner—added, "My focus now is on my healing, my peace and my creativity. I am deeply grateful to my family and everyone who has shown me kindness and compassion during this time.”
Blake Lively Sues Justin Baldoni
Dec. 21: Lively officially put an end to the speculation about what went down on the It Ends With Us set, filing a sexual harassment and retaliation complaint against costar and director Baldoni with the California Civil Rights Department, The New York Times reported.
In the filing, obtained by E! News, Lively accused Baldoni of creating a hostile work environment and later taking part in a smear campaign against her.
In the complaint, a precursor to a lawsuit, she also alleged that the environment grew so hostile that they had a meeting in which Lively asked that there be "no more showing nude videos or images of women to Blake," as well as no discussion of Baldoni's alleged past "pornography addiction" or "sexual conquests."
According to the complaint, the meeting also addressed that no additional sex scenes would be added "outside the scope of the script" Lively had agreed to when signing on to the film.
Baldoni's attorney Bryan Freedman fired back at Lively's complaint, claiming it's an attempt to "fix her negative reputation" and noting it's "false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt."
In a statement to The New York Times, Freedman also alleged that, behind the scenes, Lively was "threatening to not showing up to set, threatening to not promote the film, ultimately leading to its demise during release."
Jodie Turner-Smith Accuses Joshua Jackson of Not Paying Child Support
Dec. 23: A little more than a year after actress Jodie Turner-Smith filed to end her four-year marriage to the Doctor Odyssey actor, she headed back to court, claiming the Dawson's Creek alum has not been paying child support for their 4-year-old daughter Juno amid their ongoing divorce proceedings.
In the documents submitted Dec. 23 and obtained by TMZ and Us Weekly, Turner-Smith said that Jackson "promised to always support me and ensured me that I would not have to worry about financial security for our daughter if we ever separated because he said he understood how difficult life can be as a Black woman and a single mother."
Per Us Weekly, she requested that Jackson pay $8,543 "per month retroactive to the date of her initial filing," $28,641 a month in spousal support "while their divorce is still pending" and $250,000 for attorney fees and other legal costs.
Paige DeSorbo Reveals She and Craig Conover Split
Dec. 30: Turns out Paige DeSorbo's three-year romance with Southern Charm star Craig Conover wasn't as easy as the birds and the bees and the 1-2-3s.
On an episode of her and Hannah Berner’s Giggly Squad podcast, the Summer House standout revealed she and Conover "have decided to no longer be together." Though she insisted the Sewing Down South founder "is one of the best people I’ve met in my entire life," they had simply embarked on a season of change.
"No one did anything, it wasn’t, like, a bad thing," she explained on her podcast. "I think we both were just being really mature and saying what we want and what we didn’t want. And I think that’s extremely powerful to be able to voice how you’re feeling in real time and what you want for your future.”