Posted on Sun Feb 17th, 2019 8:08am PDT By
X17 Staff
This is painful to report - it seems Empire actor Jussie Smollett orchestrated a fake attack on himself last month in Chicago and then drew attention to himself as the victim.
Police sources tell CNN the two suspects were released after questioning yesterday because the two brothers provided evidence they were hired by Smollett. Smollett told authorities he was attacked by two men who were "yelling out racial and homophobic slurs." He said one attacker put a rope around his neck and poured an unknown chemical substance on him.
Meanwhile, Smollett is denying he set up the attack; his attorneys released a statement saying Jussie is upset by the accusations: "As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angered and devastated by recent reports that the perpetrators are individuals he is familiar with. He has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying."
The statement goes on to say Smollett will continue cooperating with authorities to find the perpetrators: "At the present time, Jussie and his attorneys have no inclination to respond to 'unnamed' sources inside of the investigation, but will continue discussions through official channels."
Khloe Kardashian spent Valentine's Day Instagraming quotes about lost love and we're sad for her ...
But she's done what every sad, scorned woman does -- she CHOPPED her hair off! Not Britney level, just a cute bob -- and she says ten months after giving birth to daughter True, she's got her mojo back. Good for her! And perhaps it's not so much postpartum wonkiness that got her -- it was probably baby daddy Tristan Thompson who got her off her game.
Khloe gave it the ol' college try by moving out to Cleveland to live with Tristan and True after he apologized for cheating on her while she was lying in the hospital about to give birth but really? Yeah, it didn't work and we're not surprised.
So now Khlo's back in Calabasas where she belongs and living her best life with True ... without a man. But there must have been something particularly definitive about the past week, as Khloe seems to have only recently fully made up her mind NOT to continue giving Tristan second, third and fourth chances but to finally be done with him. And she's sad ... but determined.
Khloe posted a tone of meme quotes on her Instagram story Feb. 14th and while they're sad, there's also a glimmer of strength and positivity when looking toward the future so we know she'll come out the other side. And maybe, just maybe, if she stops dating professional athletes, she'll find her Prince Charming!
Posted on Fri Feb 15th, 2019 11:10am PDT By
X17 Staff
Kourtney must be breathing a sigh of relief!
Sofia Richie has been dating Scott Disick for almost two years now, but don't count on seeing her make an appearance on Keeping Up with the Kardashians when it premieres its new season on March 31st.
"Not that I’m against it, [but] I’m just very private,†she told Us Weekly about her decision to not be on camera.
The Lord is totally cool with her decision, too.
"Everyone has their own choices and nobody should have to do anything they don’t want to do … It’s her choice," he added.
So what does LD love so much about his lady?
"She does seem to calm me down. So I take that as a blessing. She’s extremely, extremely generous and extremely thoughtful," he gushed.
We have a feeling an engagement is coming in 2019!
Posted on Fri Feb 15th, 2019 10:40am PDT By
X17 Staff
He's hanging up his bat suit!
Ben Affleck spent his Valentine's Day sitting down with Jimmy Kimmel for an interview, and the actor talked all about his exit from the Batman franchise.
“I tried to direct a version of it and worked with a really good screenwriter but just couldn’t come up with a version — I couldn’t crack it and so I thought it’s time for someone else to take a shot at it. They got some really good people so I’m excited," he told the late night host.
In other news, the Boston hunk and his ex Lindsay Shookus are reportedly talking again, and it sounds like it won't be long before they're back together.
"They've known each other for years and there have been other periods of time where they didn't speak. But they always seem to end up talking again," a source dished to E! News.
The SNL producer might have to wait a while for things to get romantic again, though, because part of the Oscar winner's sobriety includes a year long period of celibacy to work through his issues.
"[Ben] is taking a year off from dating which includes no sex. No romantic entanglement means no distractions. It’s tough, but Ben knows he needs to focus on his mental state and physical health right now,†an insider told Life & Style.
We're just happy he's on a better path following a rough couple of months.
Kanye is known for pulling off over-the-top romantic gestures for wife Kim, and for Valentine's Day, he decided he'd hire Kenny G to play the sax in their rose covered living room. We have a feeling Kimmy K would prefer diamonds or a designer handbag as a gift, but he just keeps getting her orchestras and musicians!
The funniest part? The Internet is trolling the couple, saying they've trapped Kenny G in their mansion because they created a flower maze on the floor he couldn't possible get out of. Hilarious!
At least 'Ye put in more effort than Tristan Thompson, who just sent Khloe a big heart shaped bouquet of flowers. Speaking of which, we thought they broke up? We're so confused.
"They are still together. Tristan is on the road and in Cleveland and Khloe's in L.A. most of the time. She is focused on True and her work. She's all about True and being a good mom," a source dished to E! News.
"She's consumed with True and head-over-heels in love with her. When it comes to Tristan, she chooses not to worry about it or to classify their relationship anymore. She is very happy with things the way they are and feels very fulfilled. She doesn't need to think about what's up with Tristan or what he's doing out on the road like she used to," the source added.
It's hard to keep up with the K clan's love lives!
After three years of on-and-off dating, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom are engaged, they announced on Instagram last night!
The Pirates of the Caribbean star popped the question to the singer on Valentine's Day, and presented her with a flower shaped engagement ring. "Lifetimes," he captioned a pic of the pair right after it happened. "Full bloom," the pop princess captioned the same snapshot on her own Instagram account.
The couple first met at a Golden Globes after party back in 2016, and dated until Feburary 2017 when they split. After some time apart, they reconciled in January 2018 and have been going strong ever since. Prior to their romance, Orly was married to supermodel Miranda Kerr, and KP was in a longterm relationship with John Mayer.
This proposal doesn't come as a total surprise, as insiders had been hinting at it for a while now.
"Katy and Orlando have worked out all their kinks and have had really fluid communication about what each of them wants. Katy doesn’t want this relationship to be a repeat cycle of things she’s already experienced in past relationships that didn’t work out. She’s learned to grow from them and doesn’t want that in her current relationship," a source dished to Us Weekly.
"They really try to communicate well and spend as much time together as possible. Obviously, they’re both very busy, but they prioritize communicating and working their schedules around each other. They are very much in love, so an engagement wouldn’t be a surprise," the source added.
Posted on Thu Feb 14th, 2019 12:40pm PDT By
X17 Staff
We're dying to know what he has planned for her!
We caught Jennifer Garner and boyfriend John Miller going about their business separately in the Pacific Palisades today, with her catching a boxing class and him fueling up at the pump, but they're bound to be together tonight since it's Valentine's Day after all!
The Peppermint star and her businessman beau have gotten "serious" over the six months they have been dating, and they're making less and less of an effort to hide their relationship from the public these days. A prime example? The brunette beauty had no problem cuddling and hugging her man as they waited for a table at breakfast yesterday. It must be love!
As for her ex Ben Affleck, he's reportedly on the verge of a reconciliation with his mistress-turned-girlfriend-turned-ex Lindsay Shookus! The two broke up amid his battle with alcohol addiction, but now that he's back on the right path, they've been secretly keeping in communication.
"[Ben and Lindsay] have been talking and have seen each other again. It wouldn't be surprising if they got back together. Ben is in a much better place healthwise and is a lot happier," a source dished to Us Weekly.
Posted on Thu Feb 14th, 2019 11:20am PDT By
X17 Staff
What better way to clear out the energy of old romances!
Kristen Stewart and new girlfriend Sara Dinkin celebrated Valentine's Day early yesterday with a trip to the sweat lodge in LA, and both ladies emerged looking sweaty and relaxed after their session.
Their relationship isn't without its drama, though!
The Twilight star's supermodel ex Stella Maxwell is reportedly none too pleased that her chick has moved on so quickly with the Hollywood stylist, and has no problem letting her feelings be known.
"Kristen falls so easily and she is really into Sara. But her model ex (Maxwell) told everyone that Sara is a rebound and contacted Sara to let her know that Kristen is only using her. [Kristen] flipped out on Stella and told her to leave her and her life alone," a source dished to Radar.
It sounds like the Victoria's Secret stunner was the one who messed up, though, by using their high profile love affair to further her fame and career.
"Stella f****d it up, not Kristen. Kristen wanted something real with someone low key and Sara doesn’t care about the spotlight. She treats Kristen like a normal person, just as she is," the source added, noting that the former pair made a pact to keep any future dating out of the public eye, which obviously hasn't happened.
K-Stew is so smitten, it appears she's thrown the rule book out the window.
"Kristen couldn’t help herself and decided to go public with Sara almost right away. Kristen and Sara are already talking about moving in together," the insider revealed.
