The Spice: 2/18-2/24
Last week was HUGE for celebrity news. To make space for all the details, I have only included the 3 biggest stories.
R. Kelly Indicted
On Friday, R. Kelly was charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse against four victims. Later that day, Kelly surrendered to the police.
The charges follow the discovery of a new video found by attorney Michael Avenatti that allegedly shows Kelly having sex with a 14-year-old girl, according to a copy of the indictment obtained by various news outlets. Avenatti also mentioned that he is in the process of recovering a third video and that he plans to turn them over to the authorities.
Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents multiple women accusing Kelly of sexual misconduct, also introduced two new accusers during a New York press conference on Thursday. The new accusers say they were teenagers when Kelly used alcohol and marijuana to get them to a Baltimore hotel room sometime during the mid-90’s. There, they say, one of them was raped.
In an email to USA TODAY on Friday, Allred wrote, “As I predicted yesterday, the wheels of justice are turning…. This may not be the only prosecution of Mr. Kelly, because we are aware of other open investigations in other jurisdictions, but I am very glad that he has been indicted in Cook County and that this day has finally come for Mr. Kelly.”
R. Kelly’s bond was set at $1 million by a Chicago judge (the same judge who presided over Empire actor Jussie Smollett’s bond hearing earlier this week) on Saturday. The bond requires Kelly to post $100,000 to be released, which he has since been unable to acquire. Steve Greenberg, Kelly’s defense attorney, alluded to the singer’s finances during the bond hearing, commenting that Kelly’s finances are “a mess.”
Kelly’s court hearing is scheduled for Monday. About damn time.
Jordyn is in the Woods
Here are the key players:
Khloe Kardashian – the third oldest sister in the Kardashian “klan,” who, until recently, was with Cleveland Cavaliers’ Tristan Thompson. They gave birth to a baby, True Thompson, less than a year ago.
Tristan Thompson – an NBA superstar who was caught cheating once before Jordyn-gate. Shortly before the birth of True, Thompson was found leaving a club with several women. Despite her family’s pleas, Khloe decided to continue her relationship with him.
Jordyn Woods – Calling Woods Kylie Jenner’s best friend, the youngest of the Kardashian “klan,” would be an understatement. Not only did Woods live at Jenner’s mansion, but the association to Jenner helped her launch several business ventures, such as her athleisure and makeup lines.
Kylie Jenner – the billionaire famous for her makeup line.
Kim Kardashian – the second oldest Kardashian sister, who was the most vocal about how Khloe should leave Tristan after the first time he cheated.
Kris Jenner – The matriarch and manager of the Kardashian-Jenner family. She has the reputation of being capable of doing anything (such as leaking Kim’s sex tape) in order to get attention.
Here is how the events of Jordyn-gate unfolded:
Tuesday, 2/19/19 at 5:55pm: I came across an article on Facebook that read “Khloe Kardashian Splits with Tristan who Allegedly Cheated with Kylie’s BFF.” I immediately alerted all my group chats that would find this news as major.
Tuesday, 2/19/19 at 5:56pm: Having thought about how the Kardashians have operated in the past, I immediately dismissed the news as fake drama created by Kris Jenner. First, the news was just so incredibly crazy. Second, if this was true, then it would mean that Jordyn was willing to throw away not just her best friend, but also her financial security.
Tuesday, 2/19/19 at 6:49pm: A friend alerted me that the rumors were true; Tristan did in fact cheat on Khloe with Jordyn. What convinced me was when an Instagram video of a guest who was at Tristan’s house when all this drama went down came clean with the details about the affair. It wasn’t the actual video that convinced me, but rather what Khloe and her close friends, Malika and Larsa, commented on the video confirming the news.
I don’t have time stamps for the rest of the events related to Jordyn-gate, but here is everything I know:
Kim no longer follows Tristan and Jordyn on Instagram
Khloe no longer follows Jordyn, but still follows Tristan on Instagram
Kylie, as well as Kendall (the second youngest sister of the Kardashian family), still follow Jordyn on Instagram
Good American, Khloe’s athleisure brand, wiped Jordyn from its website
Last Thursday, February 21st, Jordyn launched her new eyelash line in West Hollywood, California, and addressed the controversy at the event. She said, “Thank you guys for coming out and supporting me through everything that’s going on. It’s been real, and Eylure has been super real with a project I’ve been working on for over nine months right now”. According to a source, the event was expecting 150 people to show up, but only 20 guests were in attendance.
Jordyn has moved out of billionaire Kylie’s mansion and, according to reports, has been cut off financially. This tweet, which Jordyn has since deleted, seems like a comment on the new arrangements (below).
And that is that, for now!
Unseen Moments From the Oscars
Despite several historic wins (Hannah Beachler from Black Panther for best production design and Spike Lee from BlacKkKlansman for best adapted screenplay), it’s safe to say that this year’s Oscars ceremony was a bit of a dud. Not only was it riddled with controversies (no host, no popular category, etc.), but the ceremony made some bad calls, most notably The Green Book for best picture. While I would just love to rip the Academy apart for its decisions on Sunday night, I will instead explain some of the events that weren’t shown onscreen:
A tweet from Andrew Dalton: “Spike Lee was visibly angry when Green Book was announced as winner of best picture at the Oscars, waving his arms in disgust and appearing to try to storm out of the Dolby Theatre before he was stopped at the doors. He returned to his seat when the speeches were over.”
Samuel L. Jackson got a selfie with Glenn Close.
Rami Malek sprayed what looks like a very expensive champagne bottle after the ceremony to celebrate his best actor win. He sprayed literally everyone in the engraving room, so basically all the winners of that night.
Lady Gaga was spotted fixing Malek’s bow tie and giving double kisses to Cooper’s girlfriend Irina Shayk and Cooper’s mother, Gloria Campano.
Malek was treated by paramedics after he fell from the stage into the audience area after the ceremony had ended. I have no idea why that would have happened.
Gemma Chan’s pink dress got caught under Sam Elliott’s daughter’s chair and it took several people to help her get out.
Jennifer Lopez stole a small plate of cheese, which she used to help her get through the notoriously long ceremony.
Spike Lee said to Lopez, “I saw you walk in and I had to scratch the back of my neck.” I’m assuming he’s commenting on her glitzy Tom Ford dress.
Frances McDormand wore yellow Birkenstocks to the show!!