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If there’s anyone you don’t want to go up against in a singing contest, it’s Kelly Clarkson. The singer who made “American Idol” her success as much as it was theirs is arguably one of the most talented singers alive today. Who would dare to go up against those pipes in a competition?

Anne Hathaway, apparently.

Hathaway proved herself to be no slouch in the musical world with her performance as Fantine in “Les Miserables,” but still. We’re talking Queen Kelly Clarkson here. It would take some serious guts to compete with the Queen, no matter how well you can sing.

But Hathaway not only agreed to some friendly competition on Clarkson’s show, she actually slayed it. Not by besting Clarkson’s vocal chops, but by recognizing songs and singing them before Clarkson could—including, as it turned out, one of Clarkson’s own greatest hits.

The game was “Sing That Name That Tune,” in which Hathaway and Clarkson competed to see who could start singing karaoke to a song after just hearing an intro. Whoever recognized the song first and stepped up to sing it would win the round. In the first two rounds, Clarkson stepped up first, but she didn’t get the songs right. (Well, technically, she got the second song right but couldn’t sing any of the lyrics, so Hathaway took it.)

“Can you play a fricking song I’ll know!” said Clarkson. So the band did. Her hit song, “Since You’ve Been Gone.” And Hathaway still beat her to it.

Watch:

anne hathaway is a theater kid, you will never beat a theater kid at these types of games (even if you are the untouchable kelly clarkson)pic.twitter.com/FQiopkySqQ

— alex (@alex)
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First, kudos on the belting. That’s not an easy song to sing. Second, Clarkson’s reaction was hilarious. Classic Kelly Clarkson. And Anne Hathaway’s cool confidence made a perfect contrast. So fun.

People joked about Anne Hathaway being a theater kid and how that experience led her to this very moment.

Kelly has never stood around the piano for HOURS at her theater director’s house while he plays tune after tune that everyone joins in on within the first 2 bars. The hours of my life spent doing just this…

— Jolie Lindley (@Jolie Lindley)
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It actually gets better when you watch the whole segment, because the song that followed “Since You’ve Been Gone” ended up creating an awesome David Bowie and Vanilla Ice mash-up.

Was it all scripted? Who knows. It’s fun nonetheless and Kelly Clarkson’s response is already being made into a GIF, which we’ll surely start to see everywhere.

New gif just dropped @kellyclarkson https://t.co/gJGmHxxa2x pic.twitter.com/PIK1FYNQwh

— Jairus (@itsjairusjames) March 23, 2022

In the nearly three months since Bob Saget’s sudden and mysterious death, there are some details that remain unknown. They may remain forever unknown. But even though we have a better understanding now of what could have caused the beloved performer and filmmaker’s demise, another key detail has been made public.

Rosali Cocci, who runs errands for talent at the Orlando hotel in which Saget died, has opened up about the night of his death, in audio obtained by Page Six. And it sounded like he was already experiencing health issues, possibly as a result of, as Saget called it, “long-term COVID.” (An autopsy revealed he had tested positive for the virus.)

“I did hear him say, ‘I don’t feel good but I’m ready to do the show. This is what I do this for.’ He seemed to be talking himself up,” Cocci said. “He said that his hearing had been off and that was the case that night. He was asking the sound guys to turn everything up.”

Cocci also claimed that Saget said he had a sore throat and that he was “happy he had lozenges for the stage.” But she also said he “seemed OK” and that he was “cracking jokes” throughout the two-hour set that wound up his last. “He wasn’t sweating, he didn’t miss a beat, nothing slurred,” she said. “He came out very energetic.”

Saget was found dead in his Orlando hotel room the morning of January 9, after performing a stand-up set. An autopsy revealed multiple skull fractures. One theory is that he may have fallen backward onto the marble floor of the bathroom and lost consciousness. When he came to, he may have stumbled into bed and eventually died. The tragic news prompted widespread mourning, as well as appropriately funny-naughty jokes.

(Via Page Six)

The Brooklyn Nets have been operating as two different teams this season, one with Kyrie Irving, who has played 19 road games this season, and one without, as the star guard has refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine and has been ineligible to play home games (and was held out of the start of the season completely) due to the vaccine mandate for workers in the city.

Recently, New York City has been loosening some of the mandates, but had not yet indicated anything would change that would allow Kyrie to play anytime soon. However, further pressure from beyond the Nets has begun to mount with Major League Baseball getting ready to start its season and both the Mets and Yankees having some unvaccinated players on their squads. Given how big New York’s two MLB teams are and how much influence they wield, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that as Opening Day looms on the horizon, the city will apparently change its tune on the vaccine mandate.

According to numerous reports from Politico, ESPN, and The Athletic on Wednesday, mayor Eric Adams will announce a new exemption for in-town athletes and performers on Thursday.

The line from Charania’s tweet about “leveling the playing field” feels like particularly pointed messaging direct from the city in terms of how they will explain the new exemption, as many have pointed out that visiting players and performers are not beholden to the same mandate as those who reside in New York. This comes just as the Nets are getting ready for a crucial stretch of schedule in which six of their last eight games are at home, starting Sunday against Charlotte (a team they’re battling with for the 8-seed in the East).

While Irving will apparently be exempt from Brooklyn’s mandate, should things stay as they are in the East standings with 10 games to go, he would still not be able to play in the first play-in game in Toronto, should the Raptors remain in seventh and Brooklyn in eighth.

As you may have noticed, people on social media really like dunking on Ted Cruz, and that includes the star of his favorite movie. He makes it so easy, whether he’s in airports or participating in Supreme Court hearings. But maybe he enjoys the abuse? That’s what it seems like when he was caught checking his mentions — chock-full of people like Hellboy star Ron Perlman telling him to “f*ck” himself — soon after throwing one of his performative congressional fits.

On Wednesday, Cruz appeared to be dead-set on topping his feat from the day before, when he asked Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson if “babies are racist.” (Don’t worry, it doesn’t make much more sense in context.) While trying, like Josh Hawley, to accuse the seasoned judge of not offering stiff enough penalties for viewing child pornography (a claim debunked by no less than The National Review), Cruz got into a childish tantrum with Dick Durbin, who simply asked him to obey the rules.

If it seemed, as reporter Aaron Rupar opined, that Cruz was simply setting up some out-of-context clips for Sean Hannity’s show later that night, then perhaps you’re right. Soon after his outburst, he was seen ignoring the hearing so he could tool around on his smartphone.

What was he looking at? Kent Nishimura, staff photojournalist for The Los Angeles Times, saw the answer: He was checking out what people were saying about him on Twitter.

If obsessively reading mean things said about him is how Ted Cruz gets his kicks, we don’t want to shame him. But it is troubling that a senator may say and do inane — or, sometimes, disgusting and dangerous — things, in part so he can get attention. As they say, all press is good press. Although the person who coined that phrase probably never accounted for someone like the guy who tried to blame his notorious Cancún trip on his own daughters.

(Via Mediaite)

The Oscars announced another handful of presenters this earlier week, which included a strange combination of athletes, DJs, and comedians, including legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk. The choices weren’t unwelcome, but fans were perplexed at the presenter list since some more notable stars weren’t invited to attend.

While Hawk isn’t known for his contribution to film, he wanted to set the record straight, that he, too deserves to share the stage with the most talented actors in Hollywood. After all, there isn’t an awards show for skaters, is there?

Hawk has starred in a plethora of films, including Thrashin’, Haggard, and, of course, every Jackass movie ever. So no, he might not have been in West Side Story or Dune, but if he were he would have killed it! Fans quickly jumped to Hawk’s defense, supporting the skateboarder/actor, with many asking if he intends to skate at the ceremony, or if he will be recognized at all.

Other previously-announced presenters include Kevin Costner, John Travolta, Anthony Hopkins, Lily James, Zoë Kravitz, Lady Gaga, John Leguizamo, Simu Liu, Rami Malek, Rosie Perez, Chris Rock, Uma Thurman, and Yuh-Jung Youn. The show will be hosted by Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes, and Amy Schumer.

The Academy Awards airs Sunday, March 27th on ABC.

Bridgerton’s second season is nearly upon us and, besides a banging soundtrack, there’s plenty of Regency-era romance drama to look forward to. Before Julie Andrews gets to narrating all of the corseted chaos and raunchy romps the show has promised, we thought a refresher of sorts might be in order. After all, can one truly appreciate season two’s tale of a reformed rake looking for an arranged marriage in order to avoid those pesky things we call feelings without revisiting his f*ckboi antics? We think not.

Here are all of the storylines from Bridgerton’s first season that will most assuredly come into play in season two.

It’s Penelope Featherington, Lady Whistledown If You’re Nasty

While the London ton might still be in the dark as to the true identity of its most voracious gossip, Bridgerton fans aren’t. By the end of the first season, Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan, doing her absolute best to convince you to just watch Derry Girls already, dammit!) revealed just how deftly she’d been wielding her pen, employing those countless hours spent wall-flowering and pining for her best friend’s brother in service of the greater good. (And by “greater good” we mean she was putting every corseted lady and side-burned rake on blast.) She might have endured some heartache by the time her debut marriage season was done but fret dear readers, this author’s still got teeth in season two.

A Viscount Hits The Marriage Market

Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) was Bridgerton’s resident f*ckboi in season one. He lorded over his siblings, nearly ruined his sister’s marriage prospects, and spouted off about duty and family while knocking boots with an opera singer who was not of his station. He constantly flip-flopped between doing what was right — taking on his manly responsibilities — and longing to run away with his backstage lover. In the end, he broke her heart and his own, resolving to finally marry a lady worthy of the viscountess title but swearing off any kind of romantic connection. So, yeah, we’ll see how that works out for him this season.

Colin Bridgerton’s Angst-Filled Vacay

The most charming Bridgerton brother experience heartbreak of his own in season one when his affections for Miss Marina Thompson led him to a hasty marriage proposal that ended in scandal. The show threw fans a curveball when it revealed Marina was pregnant and the baby’s father had tragically died in the war. Her goal was to marry quickly in order to hide her out-of-wedlock dalliance, something Penelope soon discovered. Wanting to save Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton) from potential ruin, and, let’s be honest, improve her own chances of ending up with him, Penelope debriefed the whole ton on Marina’s bun-in-the-oven via her gossip column. In the end, Marina was able to marry Philip Crane, the brother of the man she once loved while an angst-ridden Colin jetted off to Greece for his own Regency-era Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants sabbatical. He’ll be back in season two, but will he be the same love-sick idiot who left, and will Penelope finally shoot her shot with him? We’ll see.

Eloise The Snoop

Fiercely independent and impossibly nosy, Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) absolutely did not have time for the demands of the marriage market in season one. She wasn’t officially out seeing as it was her elder sister Daphne’s season to shine, so she put all of the ball invitations and park promenades to good use by indulging in her favorite pastime: figuring out who the hell Lady Whistledown is. She got close too, eventually teaming with the Queen herself to discover the author’s identity but, in the end, she respected the rebellious spirit of the ton’s mysterious scribe too much to out her. Weirdly enough, Eloise is still obsessed with sussing out who Lady Whistledown is in season two, but this time, her reasons are, umm, more personal.

Son Of A … Duke

Bridgerton’s first season rested all of its horny hopes on the palpable connection between its spoon-licking rake, Simon, the Duke of Hastings (Rege-Jean Page), and Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) who was dubbed the season’s Diamond of the First Water. Theirs was a courtship filled with sexual tension and daddy issues and a surprising amount of violence but, in the end, their faux arrangement turned out to be the real deal. Simon was able to overcome his childhood trauma, Daphne finally figured out how babies were made, and the two welcomed a son whose name, they decreed, must begin with the letter “A.” Sadly, Page doesn’t make an appearance in season two but Daphne does pop up to help her oldest brother Anthony figure his sh*t out so just remember, even though these two aren’t burning for each other on-screen, they did get their happily ever after.

4 Broke Girls

Most of the Featherington brood — with the exception of Penelope — are insufferable, prattling idiots but even in their worst moments, they’re just so damn fun to watch. Their descent into destitution and poverty was as hard to swallow as the nauseatingly vibrant gowns Lady Featherington squeezed her daughter into and, by the end of the season, we couldn’t help feeling bad about all they lost. It was revealed that Lord Featherington was both a terrible accountant and an unlucky gambler, two things that led to his untimely demise. And, since this is Regency times when women were still considered a form of property, none of the Featherington women are qualified to inherit what’s left of his piddling estate. If you’re a period drama fan, you can likely guess what this all means. That’s right, an estranged male cousin is coming to town to claim his birthright. Sorry, girls.

‘Bridgerton’ returns on March 25.

Things have really turned around for Britney Spears. Over the last handful of months, the pop goddess has seen her father’s longtime conservatorship finally put to an end, a new documentary arguing that she was mistreated by not only her father but also the music industry and the media, and generally just a renewed re-interest in her music. And now this: She recently revealed she has no idea who Pete Davidson and Scott Disick are.

The revelation came after Disick, former partner of Kourtney Kardashian and reality star of Flip It Like Disick, shared a video on Instagram of him hanging out with the SNL star and Kanye West tormentor. It shows Davidson filming himself watching Martin Scorsese’s classic The King of Comedy with Disick…who had fallen asleep, missing out on some of Robert De Niro’s finest work.

Spears found the video extremely funny…even though she had zero clue who either of them were. “Sorry had to repost this … no idea who these people in the video are but it made me laugh so hard !!!!” she wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post.

Ignorance can be bliss, and though Davidson is a nice boy who nevertheless is in the news a bit too much, even if it’s not always his fault, it must be nice having no clue about the identity of certain tabloid fixtures. Of course, that may be because she spent the last 13-some years having her every move controlled by her father, and is only now able to have some semblance of freedom, to do and to watch whatever she wants without having to get someone’s else’s permission. So good for her, even if she’s by now learned all about Disick’s clothing line, which is actually called “Talentless.”

(Via Page Six)

Depending on where you stand, Joyner Lucas is either one of the most exciting, lyrically-focused independent rap acts of the past few years or he’s one of hip-hop’s biggest haters. The polarized perception he has among fans will likely remain so with his latest tirade against the Lollapalooza Festival, which he took to task for featuring Cleveland rapper-turned-emo-rocker Machine Gun Kelly in the headlining slot for its upcoming Chicago event.

“These festivals is gon stop playing with me like I ain’t that nigga,” he vented on Twitter. “Putting my name next to the names of a bunch of random n****z that nobody heard of and offering me a weak ass . Then I say no to the offer and these hoe ass n****z put me on the flier anyways. @lollapalooza”

As he continued, he boasted his accomplishments, reminding followers that “I’m the biggest independent artist period with the exception of my nigga tech [N9ne]… How is it that these festivals keep tryna bunch my name up with a bunch of n****z who ain’t on my level?” He then demanded to have his name removed from the flyer, writing, “All I know is @lollapalooza better take my fukin name off that flier. I ain’t agree to that lineup and I don’t want that weak ass niggaz tried to give me.”

Then, of course, he just had to go there, posting a photo of Machine Gun Kelly with his nails (and tongue) painted black from last year’s Billboard Music Awards. “Then you got this goofy ass nigga headlining?” Lucas wonderd. “Smh how sway?”

Of course, this could be a residual effect of Joyner receiving career support from Eminem, with whom MGK had a short-lived rap feud in 2018. However, since then, MGK’s foray into pop-punk with Tickets To My Downfall landed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, leading to wins at BBMAs and VMAs. Even before that all of his prior releases had debuted in the top 5, with all but Hotel Diablo receiving Gold certification from RIAA.

While it’s not entirely fair to compare an independent artist to one on a major label, it’s undeniable that these accomplishments outweigh Joyner’s; to date, his only studio album ADHD peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 with only five songs reaching the Hot 100 — all assisted by heavyweight artists like Eminem, Chris Brown, J. Cole, Lil Baby, and Logic. Also, not for nothing, the last time one of his songs went viral, it was the exceedingly corny “I’m Not A Racist,” which fans were quick to remind him of on Twitter.

Even fans who sided with Joyner seemed pretty unhappy about it.

Whether it’s a case of just cause or just sour grapes, it doesn’t appear that Lucas will actually be performing at Lollapalooza this year. Somehow, I doubt anyone’s asking for a refund over it.

Anyone who has found themselves in a relationship with a narcissist knows how confusing, disorienting or downright terrifying it can be.

There are conflicting statistics on what percent of the population has Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), but it ranges anywhere from 1% to 6%. The average American knows 600 people, which means we all know at least a small handful of pathological narcissists personally.

But it’s people who are in close relationships with narcissists who bear the brunt of their pathology. Whether you were raised by a narcissistic parent or fell in love with a narcissist, it’s likely you’ve been abused by someone to feed their narcissistic needs.

NPD can be particularly challenging to treat because most narcissists will nor or cannot admit that anything is wrong with them. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that most narcissists are actually aware that they are narcissists, but rather than see it as a problem, they embrace it and take pride in it. (Of course.)

However, a self-aware narcissist can get help through psychotherapy, if they are willing to do it. Since most don’t see the problem, many won’t. But many or even most isn’t all, and one man is on a mission to use his Narcissistic Personality Disorder diagnosis for good.

Lee Hammock has been diagnosed with NPD and has been in psychotherapy for it since 2017. He calls himself a “self-aware” narcissist and uses social media—particularly TikTok—to share insider insights into a narcissist’s brain. Hammock describes why he decided to share the ins and outs of his disorder:

“The point of these videos is to help bring awareness from the other side of the narcissistic abuse spectrum. All my videos give perspective on why many narcissists do what they do and the possible different reasons behind them. The victims and survivors get validation and the narcissists (those that are willing) get to see that you can get help and that you are not alone.”

He explained how he ended up here:

@mentalhealness

Reply to @dubyuhbee hope this helps. I’m on a mission.

Hammock’s videos speak for themselves. There are tons of them, and they give amazing insight into a narcissist’s perspective from the point of view of a narcissist who actually works to understand and manage his own disorder. Here’s a sampling:

@mentalhealness

Narcissists and toxic people move fast. Slow down and stop ignoring the red flags

@mentalhealness

Reply to @balushijam narcissist don’t want to see you happy with anyone else. They think they are the best you’re going to get #narcavengers

@mentalhealness

Narcissistic people would rather you leave than to work on any of their issues

@mentalhealness

Collab with @Nia Renee Narcissists like to play games with you in order to start arguments, throw you off or in order to play the hero. #narcavengers

@mentalhealness

Reply to @donna28c narcissist see any discussions about your feelings as criticism #narcavengers

@mentalhealness

Reply to @meowmeow2342 narcissist have limited emotional capacity and the people closest to us get treated the worst #narcissist #ITriedItIPrimedIt

@mentalhealness

Sometimes we are the issue. Therapy helps #npd #narcissism #narctok #narcs #narc #narcissist

@mentalhealness

It’s never a good time to finish a conversation or argument with a narcissist. Leaving things unfinished causes them buildup #ShowUsYourDrawers #narcs #npd

He even weighed in on the Kanye West situation, not diagnosing West with NPD, but explaining how his actions are right out of the narcissistic playbook.

@mentalhealness

I’m not saying he’s a narcissist, but if he isssssss Kayne is definitely taking things to a narcissistic obsessive level #kayne #kanyewest #kimkardashian

Hammock has been honest about the fact that that making and sharing these videos and getting likes on them actually feeds his narcissistic ego, but it’s a healthy turning of the tables on the disorder.

And it really is serving a need. If you read through the comments on Hammock’s videos, the most common response is recognition. So many people have interacted with narcissists and see those interactions in these videos, which is both validating and relieving. People who have been victims of narcissistic abuse are not alone, and Hammock helps them see that. He even helps people who might be narcissists themselves maybe—maybe—become more self-aware that their personality disorder is something that needs management.

You can find Hammock’s videos on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

When Eartha Kitt became the first black Catwoman back in 1967, she knew its importance. Her daughter Kitt Shapira told Closer Weekly:

“I was about nine years old when she played Catwoman on Batman, and that was a really big deal. This was 1967, and there were no women of color at that time wearing skintight bodysuits, playing opposite a white male with sexual tension between them! She was one of the first really beautiful black women — her, Lena Horne, Dorothy Dandridge — who were allowed to be sexy without being stereotyped. It does take a village, but I do think she helped blaze a trail.”

And blaze she did. Eartha Kitt purred her way into legend, giving the character an iconic voice, feline mannerisms and downright fierce femininity. Whenever she came on screen, it felt like something between edgy performance art and a civil rights protest.

In one particular Batman episode titled “Catwoman’s Dressed to Kill,” the character infiltrates a posh luncheon ceremony filled with white socialites, ready to give Batgirl an award for being the best dressed crime fighter. But Catwoman ain’t having it.

Gesturing to the table of white female socialites, she hisses “You ladies, with your fancy hairdos, what do you know about beauty?” before throwing dust that explodes and turns their hair into afros.” It was a pretty radical way to comment on white-leaning beauty standards, if you ask me.

Before Eartha, the role was played by the famously “statuesque” Julie Newmar. And though Newmar gave a wonderfully wistful, slinky innocence to the role, there is something about Kitt’s portrayal that feels more pivotal. More important.

Like Newmar, Kitt definitely had sex appeal, but in a way that empowered other Black women to see themselves in the same light.

Jamie Broadnax:

“Eartha Kitt molded Catwoman into a sex symbol, which was certainly appealing for the time. She served a purpose of being a beautiful antagonist for Batman, while Batman was conflicted himself with her beauty and was enamored by it. Eartha Kitt also allowed Black women like me to see themselves reflected in TV shows (especially genre TV shows) that allowed us to believe that we, too, can be Catwoman. It’s also because of Kitt’s Catwoman that many Black women felt comfortable cosplaying as the character.“

Fast forward to 2022, and now Zoë Kravitz is getting acclaim for her equally striking version of Selina Kyle. Everyone from Taylor Swift to OG Catwomans (Catwomen?) Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway and Michelle Pfieffer have sent their heartfelt praises.

This Catwoman is sexually fluid, stealthy AF, resourceful and cunning, with charisma and depth. Like Kitt before her, Kravitz offers an emotional equal to Robert Pattinson’s Batman. It makes for some fantastic viewing, even to those who could care less about The Batman and his conquests.

Broadnax adds:

“She’s fully fleshed out and gives proper motive for her actions in a way we haven’t seen before. By that I mean, she’s not a self-serving anti-hero as depicted in other films, but instead is more of a heroine to those close within her sphere of influence.”

This might seem like a small feat for Kravitz, who is no stranger to producing great work. But keep in mind: Even an A-list, award-winning actress like Kravitz, born into celebrity, still faces obstacles because of the color of her skin.

In an interview with The Guardian, Kravitz revealed that she had previously been refused a chance to audition for a role in “The Dark Knight Rises” for being too “urban.”

Previously, sources thought Kravitz wasn’t allowed to audition for the role of Catwoman (which went to Anne Hathaway). That has since been proven untrue, but even if it were, considering that Catwoman only appeared for a total of 19 minutes in “The Dark Knight Rises,” I’d say it was a blessing in disguise.

Taking the blatant racism aside, as a comic book nerd, this is just mind-boggling. Have you seen Gotham? That’s about as urban as it gets. But I digress. It’s an insidious and ugly word that Hollywood has been allowed to hide behind for far too long. Plain and simple.

Kravitz added, “Being a woman of color and being an actor and being told at that time that I wasn’t able to read because of the color of my skin, and the word urban being thrown around like that, that was what was really hard about that moment.”

For Kravitz to not only play the role, but to shine in it, helps other Black women see that times are changing. Not saying they’re changing fast enough, but still. Once again Catwoman has become a role model for confidence and power. For those who are often lacking positive representation, this can be vital.

See on Instagram

What will be next for Catwoman? The future is still unwritten. Broadnax and I both agreed that when it comes to Kravitz, we’re hoping for a standalone series. But either way, because of the courage of trailblazing performers, Catwoman will be forever changed. She may be considered a nemesis to Batman, but when it comes to Black feminism, she’s a hero.

By the way, if you’d like to see Jamie Broadnax’s full review on “The Batman,” you’re in luck! That can be found here.