“Alcohol muted my inner voice, stood in the way of my dreams, and fed the lingering fears of settling for less that circled in my mind,” the songstress shared in her Instagram post.

Jessica Simpson is taking a moment to reflect on her sobriety journey as she hits a meaningful new milestone. Over the weekend, she turned to Instagram to celebrate eight years of being sober, opening up about how her past struggles with alcohol took a toll on her life.

Her post—paired with a smiling selfie of herself in a red-and-black plaid shirt—kicked off with a heartfelt caption: “Eight years ago today, I chose to face my truths, admit my struggles, and let go of the self-destructive habits I’d been clinging to. That choice let me start living fully, chasing what God has in store for me.”

She went on to dive deeper into how alcohol impacted her: “Alcohol muted my inner voice, stood in the way of my dreams, and fed the lingering fears of settling for less that circled in my mind. Today, my mind is clear. Today, I’m guided by faith. Both fear and faith are feelings we hold onto, even when we can’t see where they’ll lead—and I’m so grateful I chose faith over fear.”

Simpson wrapped up the caption with a powerful note: “My strength didn’t come from fighting—it came from letting go and surrendering.”

As a mom to three kids—Maxwell, 13, Ace, 12, and Birdie, 6, whom she shares with her estranged husband Eric Johnson—Simpson has long been open with her fans about her path to sobriety.

Last year, she marked seven years of sobriety with another touching post. At the time, she celebrated “seven years alcohol-free” and shared a black-and-white photo of herself gazing out a plane window. “Seven years ago today, I stepped into the light of being alcohol-free ,” she wrote in that caption.

That post came just a few months after she shut down rumors that she’d relapsed, following some fans’ speculation that she’d started drinking again.

In August 2024, the “With You” artist clapped back at a fan who left a comment on one of her Instagram posts—this one featuring her son Ace—telling her to “stop drinking.”

“I haven’t craved or touched alcohol since October 2017—and it’s easily the best decision I’ve ever made for myself and my family,” Simpson responded. She added, “Thank you for your concern, but you’ve got me all wrong. I’m sending you love, though.”

The undisputed Queen of Christmas is back to kick off the most wonderful time of the year—Mariah Carey has dropped her annual “It’s Time” holiday announcement, and this year, she’s bringing Billy Eichner and Sephora along for the festive fun.

Right at midnight on Halloween, the 56-year-old singer shared the highly anticipated video on social media, marking the official start of a season where her 1994 classic “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is sure to once again top the charts. The clip opens with Carey in a showstopping angel Halloween costume, declaring, “Halloween absolutely slayed!” before teasing, “But now, it’s time” as the first iconic notes of her holiday hit begin to play.

Her singing is cut short, though, when she spots her vanity in disarray—her Sephora bag toppled over, with products nowhere to be found. “Spill the tea—who’s the thief here?” Carey demands, only for Eichner to pop up, dressed as a sassy elf loaded with Sephora bags and a Santa sack. “Busted!” he admits with a grin. “Bad news, Mariah: The elves are on strike this year. Revenge for putting us through holiday chaos! Santa’s helpers quit, and I’m pawning all this to pay for elf therapy.”

“That’s my blush, elf boy,” Carey fires back, calling him out. Eichner holds up a Sephora gift bag triumphantly: “And your lipstick? I’m taking that too!” He quips, “Christmas is canceled—no bells, no cheer, no glam. Later, sweetie!” Carey shuts down the idea immediately: “You can’t cancel Christmas.” When Eichner asks if she has “any last words” before making off with his loot, Carey delivers her signature whistle note: “It’s time!”

As “All I Want For Christmas Is You” blares, Carey works her magic—turning Eichner into a fluffy snowman and transforming her angel getup into a glittering red Santa suit. She then hops on a reindeer-pulled sleigh, dropping Sephora gift bags down chimneys across the town. “It’s Time!!! #SephoraPartner,” Carey captioned the joyful clip.

Eichner didn’t hold back his excitement in the Instagram comments: “Always an honor to be your elf, @mariahcarey! .”

Carey’s Halloween midnight “It’s Time” tradition has been a holiday staple since 2018, with the singer releasing a new festive video each year to signal the start of Christmas season. Her timeless hit “All I Want For Christmas Is You”—one of the best-selling Christmas songs of all time—first entered the charts in 1994, but it took 25 years for the track to claim the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 2019. Last year, the song stayed atop the Hot 100 for an impressive 18 weeks, solidifying its status as a holiday anthem.

Social media erupted in defense of Jennifer Lawrence after the beloved Hunger Games star labeled her early-career interviews “embarrassing” and “annoying.”

This week, the Silver Linings Playbook Oscar winner opened up to The New Yorker about the pressures of sudden fame, reflecting on the unfiltered persona that once made her a fan favorite. “So hyper, so cringey,” she said of those early press moments—moments that won her legions of followers with their irreverence and relatable candor.

“It was my real personality, sure,” Lawrence explained. “But it was also a defense mechanism. I was just out there like, ‘I’m not some perfect celebrity! I’m a mess who poops my pants!’”

Her remarks quickly went viral on X (formerly Twitter), where fans rushed to push back against her self-criticism. “This breaks my heart,” one user wrote. “I loved Jennifer not just for her talent, but because she was hilarious in interviews. It was so refreshing to see someone who didn’t take themselves too seriously—who had actual personality.”

The conversation soon deepened into a broader critique of how society polices women with big, unapologetic personalities. “It’s terrible that Jennifer feels this way,” another X user posted. “We tell kids to ‘be themselves,’ and that’s exactly what she did. Then she gets torn down by bad-faith critics, and now she’s doubting herself. Our pop culture is broken.”

Over on TikTok, commenters echoed the sentiment, with many calling her past persona “charming” and “a breath of fresh air.” “I hope she knows we adored her then and still do,” one fan shared. “Her old interviews still make me laugh—why would she think that’s annoying? People just love to dim bright, genuine people.”

Lawrence first spoke about stepping back from the spotlight in a 2021 Vanity Fair interview, recalling the toll of constant scrutiny. “I thought everyone was sick of me—and honestly, I was sick of myself,” she said at the time. “It got to the point where I couldn’t do anything right. Walk a red carpet? ‘Why didn’t she run?’ Just exist? ‘She’s overrated.’”

A simple accidental tap of the call button in an airplane bathroom led to a 10-minute weight-focused lecture for Tess Holliday — and the body positivity advocate is speaking out about how she reacted in the moment, plus what she’s pushing for next.

Model and activist Tess Holliday is calling out United Airlines after claiming a flight attendant delivered an unprovoked and wildly inappropriate lecture during her first-class flight. The trailblazer behind the body positivity movement and author of Take Up Space Y’all opened up exclusively to People, walking through the ordeal that left her stunned into silence.

The incident unfolded on a United flight departing Tampa, Holliday explained. While in the restroom, she accidentally hit the flight attendant call button with her hip. But when she stepped out, instead of asking if she needed assistance, the attendant launched into a shocking diatribe about her body and health.

“He told me he noticed I was traveling with my kid, and then said losing weight would be ‘in my best interest,’” Holliday recounted to the outlet.

It didn’t stop there.

The attendant doubled down on the inappropriate comments by bringing up his own sister, whom he described as “very, very large — probably around your size.” He then told Holliday his sister “also needed to lose weight” and warned that “carrying extra weight has long-term negative effects on our health,” according to her account.

Holliday was traveling with her 9-year-old son, Bowie — a detail that kept her from pushing back in the moment. “This went on for about 10 minutes, and I was just stunned,” she admitted. “I didn’t want to create a scene in front of my son, but I was also in total shock that this was happening.”

United Airlines eventually issued an apology for the situation, but Holliday isn’t looking to get the flight attendant fired. Instead, the vocal advocate — who frequently collaborates with the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAFA) — is demanding bigger change from the airline.

“I told them I don’t want him fired — what I want is sensitivity training,” she told People. She even connected the company with NAFA, hoping the disturbing incident can spark education and put an end to fat-shaming on flights.

The irony isn’t lost on Holliday: She was flying home from a speaking engagement where she addressed 500 middle and high school students about her recent book.

“One of the topics we talked about was how to handle people who bully you about your size,” she shared with the outlet.

According to People, a United Airlines spokesperson declined to comment further on the matter.

Holliday later took to her official TikTok to share her experience with her followers.

Cheryl Hines is pulling back the curtain on her tense October appearance on The View—and she’s making no secret of her frustration that the show’s cohosts fixated on her husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., instead of her new memoir. The 60-year-old actress opened up about the experience during a guest spot on Billy Bush’s Hot Mic podcast, revealing the daytime talk show’s panel barely uttered a word about Unscripted, her recently released book.

When Bush asked if the cohosts—including Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, and Whoopi Goldberg—matched her expectations, Hines closed her eyes and let out a dry, sarcastic “Mhmm.” Bush joked that the hosts “have to deliver for their audience” and that “Joy Behar’s just doing her thing,” prompting Hines to laugh and quip, “I love how you say that with so much attitude!”

Hines then turned earnest, explaining she’d gone on The View hoping for a more personal conversation. “I really thought it would be about… well, me, honestly—about the book, about my life,” she said. “But it is what it is.” The real focus, she added, was “grilling me nonstop about Bobby”—a nod to RFK Jr., who serves as Health and Human Services Secretary in the Trump administration.

Bush followed up by asking if she could tell when someone hadn’t read her memoir. Hines didn’t hesitate: “Oh, yeah. I mean, let’s be real—the ladies on The View? Not one question about Unscripted. But hey, that’s okay—I get it, sort of.”

Tensions had already boiled over during Hines’ Oct. 14 View appearance, when multiple cohosts challenged her on RFK Jr.’s qualifications. Goldberg pointed out bluntly that RFK Jr. “isn’t a doctor or a medical pro” and often shares “information that’s just not great.” Hostin went further, calling him “the least qualified HHS Secretary we’ve ever had.”

Hines pushed back, arguing her husband “has spent his whole career studying toxins and public health.” But Hostin cut in: “He’s also spread a ton of misinformation—chaos, confusion. That stuff’s dangerous.” When Hostin added that RFK Jr. has falsely linked circumcision to autism, Hines interrupted, “May I? Can I at least finish?”

Notably, Hines’ tone on the podcast contrasted with what her team initially said after the View interview. A representative told EW at the time that Hines “wasn’t annoyed at all” and described the chat as “great and balanced.” But after her Hot Mic comments, the same rep stood firm, telling EW, “I’m sticking with my original statement. Cheryl acted with respect and class, even though they kept pushing her to defend her husband—and that’s not why she was there. She was supposed to talk about Unscripted. Let’s be clear: Anyone who didn’t see this coming was living under a rock—of course Bobby would be the focus. But we still call the appearance a success, all things considered.”

Bush wrapped up the podcast segment by asking the age-old question: “Is all press good press?” Hines shrugged, sounding uncertain: “That’s a tough one. I don’t know… Yeah, I guess? Maybe.”

EW has reached out to a representative for The View for comment but hasn’t received a response as of press time.

Rosie O’Donnell is opening up about her daughter Chelsea’s prison sentence, sharing a heartfelt message of support as the 28-year-old faces consequences for violating her probation in a drug-related case. The former talk show host took to Instagram this week to speak out, pairing her post with a photo of Chelsea from before addiction took hold.

“My child Chelsea Belle — before addiction consumed her life, I loved her. I love her now as she faces a scary future,” O’Donnell wrote, adding the hashtags #AddictionAwareness, #Love, and #Family. “Prayers welcomed.” In a separate statement to Us Weekly, which first reported the sentencing, O’Donnell expanded on her heartache: “I have compassion for those struggling with addiction — Chelsea was born into it, and this has been a painful journey for her and her children.” She emphasized, “We continue to love and support her through these horrible times. Prayers welcomed.”

Chelsea, who O’Donnell adopted as an infant with ex-partner Kelli Carpenter, is a mother of four: daughters Skylar Rose (2018), Riley (2021), and Avery Lynn (2022), and son Atlas (2023). Her legal troubles date back to late 2024, when she faced three back-to-back arrests: first in September on felony child neglect and drug possession charges, again in October for similar offenses, and a third time in November on felony counts related to methamphetamine and narcotic possession.

In March 2025, Chelsea struck a plea deal covering all three arrests, leading to a six-year probation sentence with strict terms: absolute sobriety, no contact with known drug users, completion of a high school diploma or GED, and a mental health evaluation. At the time, a Wisconsin judge sentenced her to 18 months in prison but stayed the term, allowing probation as long as she complied with the rules.

For a brief period, Chelsea showed signs of progress. In April 2025, O’Donnell shared on her Substack that her daughter had earned her high school diploma — a decade after dropping out — and that a Wisconsin judge had praised her for completing treatment. “She called me with so much energy, joy, and self-confidence,” O’Donnell wrote at the time. “‘Mom, I got my diploma. Ten years too late, but I got it.’ I cried quietly, remembering her school anxiety years ago. I’m so proud of her.”

But by fall 2025, things took a turn. Court records show Chelsea violated her probation, with a drug treatment court official citing sexual assault allegations (no further details were provided) and a lack of significant progress in her treatment program. The Marinette County Treatment Drug Court Team deemed the violations “sufficient grounds” to terminate her from the program.

The Marinette County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Chelsea has been in custody since September 9 and will soon be transferred to Taycheedah Correctional Institution, a medium-security prison in Wisconsin — though she may be moved to another facility to serve her sentence. Officials have not disclosed the length of her term.

Chelsea’s probation violations weren’t isolated: In April, she spent a few days in county jail for breaking court rules but retained her probation. June brought a hearing over a “medication violation” (she was ordered to write and recite the program’s medication policy) and a two-hour ditch-picking sentence for missing an appointment. By late July, she faced allegations of “dishonesty,” leading to a return to phase two of her treatment program and a required apology letter to her landlord. In September, she was sentenced to two weeks in county jail and told to write an essay explaining why she deserved a “last chance” instead of probation termination.

Through it all, O’Donnell has maintained her support, even as she acknowledged the complexity of Chelsea’s journey — including her daughter’s desire for privacy and past struggles with their relationship. “Her recovery, her journey is her own,” O’Donnell wrote on Substack earlier this year. “I’m proud of her for living her truth, and I respect her desires, her struggles, her successes.”

As Chelsea begins her prison sentence, O’Donnell’s message remains clear: love and solidarity in the face of adversity.

Allison Mack—known to millions as the beloved Chloe Sullivan on “Smallville” from 2001 to 2011, once a staple of America’s “sweetheart” celebrity archetype—took a devastating turn: she rose to a key role in the brutal NXIVM cult. What NXIVM marketed as a self-help organization was later unmasked as a sex-trafficking ring, and now, Mack is set to tell her story in her own words for the first time via a new podcast series.

Mack’s entanglement with NXIVM began in 2006, when she attended a two-day introductory workshop for “Jness,” a women-focused group under the cult’s umbrella. By 2015, she’d climbed the ranks to become second-in-command of DOS—a faction that billed itself as a “female empowerment” initiative but, in reality, served as a tool for cult leader Keith Raniere to traffic women.

DOS operated as a pyramid structure: women at the lower tiers reported up to Raniere, who sat at the top. Members were told the brand they were forced to receive symbolized the four natural elements, but it was actually a hidden tribute to Raniere’s initials. As The Daily Beast reported at the time, DOS also had a dark linguistic secret: its name stood for Dominus Obsequious Sororium, a Latin phrase one member revealed translated to “master over slave women.”

In 2019, Mack pleaded guilty to racketeering and racketeering conspiracy charges. The allegations against her included helping recruit women into the cult, overseeing the branding of some with Raniere’s initials, and collecting blackmail “collateral” to ensure members remained compliant. She was sentenced to three years in prison but was released in July 2023 after serving 21 months. Raniere, meanwhile, is currently serving a 120-year prison sentence for his role as the cult’s leader.

While Mack’s journey—from being lured into NXIVM to becoming one of its most influential figures—has been covered in media reports and HBO’s two-season docuseries The Vow (2020–2022), she’s now stepping forward to take full ownership of her narrative. Her new platform? A podcast in partnership with the Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC) titled Uncover: Allison After NXIVM.

Set to launch on November 4, the podcast will explore Mack’s life before, during, and after her involvement with the cult. It will feature interviews with people who knew her at each stage of that journey, offering a more holistic look at her story than previously told. Most notably, it marks the first time the actress has ever spoken publicly about her experiences with NXIVM. A CBC press release teases that Mack will dive “deep into the gray zones of influence, accountability, and redemption”—hinting at a nuanced, unflinching discussion.

Many are wondering if that discussion will include the high-profile women she’s alleged to have tried to recruit into NXIVM. Reports have named her “Smallville” co-star Laura Vandervoort, “7th Heaven” alum Beverly Mitchell, and actress Emma Watson, among others. What’s confirmed, though, is that Mack did successfully recruit Catherine Oxenberg—the daughter of “Dynasty” star India Oxenberg. Catherine later went on to produce the Lifetime film Escaping the NXIVM Cult: A Mother’s Fight to Save Her Daughter, which chronicled her own journey out of the cult.

Kim Kardashian is speaking up after her 12-year-old daughter, North West, turned heads with a recent bold look—and faced criticism for it.

In photos and videos posted to their joint TikTok account, North showed off an eye-catching outfit while hanging out with friends. The oldest child of 45-year-old Kim and her ex-husband Kanye West sported waist-length blue braids, temporary face tattoos, a nose ring, colored contacts, and grillz—even coordinating with her pals, who wore similar styles in different colors.

North’s edgy vibe drew pushback online, mostly because of her age. But Kim didn’t stay quiet: She seemingly fired back in a comment on their shared TikTok account, @kimannorth.

Daily Mail Australia shared a TikTok featuring shots of North’s look, with the headline “North West, 12, worries fans with new look”—and the mother-daughter duo’s account responded in the comments, writing, “This is such a non-issue.”

Other users jumped in to defend North too.

• “Guys, this is just 12-year-old stuff. I did the exact same kinds of looks when I was 12—I just didn’t have social media, and my parents weren’t famous. So mind your own business, be real, and leave her alone,” one person wrote.
• “Leave this kid alone—she’s basically just playing dress-up with her friends,” another added.
• A third commented, “If I had money when I was 12, I would’ve dressed up like this too. Jealousy isn’t cute, y’all .”

This isn’t the first time North has faced online backlash over her style or fashion picks.

Back in August, Kim and North were spotted in Rome, Italy, where North wore a corset, a miniskirt, and a dermal piercing on her finger. That outfit sparked controversy, with fans slamming Kim for letting her get the piercing.

• “She’s only 12—what the hell is Kim doing?!” one user reacted.
• Another asked, “Who the hell lets their 12-year-old get piercings?! And who in the world would pierce a 12-year-old?! My kid didn’t even have her ears pierced when she was 12.”

Kim—who shares four kids with Kanye (Saint, 9; Chicago, 7; and Psalm, 6)—opened up about North’s growing sense of style the following month in an interview with Complex Style.

“She teaches me so much,” Kim shared. “She has such a unique style. She turns me on to so many brands—she just loves what she loves. It’s really fun to see someone be that creative, and also know themselves so well.”

“I guess it’s a backhanded compliment when people say I look good ‘for my age,’” the former child actor—who played little Tabitha on the iconic sitcom—shared.

Erin Murphy is clearing the air: her timeless look these days is all natural.

The ex-Bewitched star—who portrayed the daughter of Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York/Dick Sargent’s characters—took to Instagram to shut down buzz that she’d had a facelift. “This is 61… NO facelift, no makeup at all,” she wrote, addressing the speculation swirling among fans and followers.

“Not sure why so many random people on social media feel the need to guess I’ve had work done, but I haven’t,” she added. “I guess it’s a backhanded compliment when you think I look good ‘for my age.’”Murphy didn’t hold back on sharing the little details that make her look her—scars, smile lines, and all. “First off, there’s the scar on my forehead—from a dog-walking accident a couple years back, when I hit my head on the pavement,” she explained. “Then there’s the scar under my chin, from when I fell and hit it on the kitchen floor as a kid. Fun fact: that chin scar even made it into a 1970 episode of the show.”

She kept the vibe warm and honest, adding, “I’ve got smile lines around my eyes because I laugh way more than I cry. A few freckles, a little tan—all from loving time in the sun.”At the heart of her post? A simple, laid-back message about kindness and living freely.

“Before you sit down at your computer to type something negative about someone you’ve never met, why not think of something nice to say instead? Or just say nothing at all,” she urged. “Go outside and enjoy this beautiful day—that’s where I’ll be. ”Her comments section blew up with love. Mackenzie Phillips chimed in, writing, “You’ve got amazing genes! ”

“As we get older, women are always more beautiful—naturally—without surgery,” another fan noted.

“Astonishing! This is what happiness looks like,” added someone else.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has released new surveillance images of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard—photos taken on October 7, the last confirmed day she was seen—and authorities believe the child may have worn a wig to change her look. The development comes as Melodee’s mother, Ashlee Buzzard, continues to refuse cooperation in the search for the missing girl, who has been unaccounted for more than two weeks.

Melodee, a California resident deemed “at-risk” due to her age and the length of her disappearance, was captured in the surveillance shots at a car rental business. The images mark the first new photos of her in two years; the most recent picture previously available—used on the FBI’s missing person poster—was taken two years prior. In the new footage, Melodee wears a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, and beneath it, authorities say she appears to have on a wig. Unlike her natural curly brown hair, the wig is darker and straighter, leading detectives to suspect it was used to alter her appearance. Notably, investigators add that Ashlee Buzzard is known to wear wigs herself.

The investigation into Melodee’s disappearance began on October 14, after a school administrator reported her extended absence. For years, Melodee had been homeschooled, but Ashlee recently enrolled her in the Lompoc Unified School District’s independent study program, according to ABC News citing a district statement. The district explained its protocol for such cases: If a student fails to pick up assigned work, they are referred back to their home school, which then reaches out to the family to complete enrollment. If attendance still doesn’t start, the school follows mandatory truancy procedures—including phone calls, letters, emails, and home visits. When the district couldn’t reach Melodee’s family even after these steps, it requested a welfare check from law enforcement.

Deputies responded by visiting the family’s home in Lompoc, where they spoke with Ashlee Buzzard, 35. Melodee was not present, and Ashlee provided no verifiable explanation for her daughter’s whereabouts. Since then, Ashlee has remained uncooperative, refusing to share any details about Melodee’s current location or well-being.

Authorities have now narrowed the “critical timeline” of the case to October 7 through October 10. On October 7, Melodee was seen at the car rental business (the day the surveillance photos were taken), and Ashlee rented a white Chevrolet Malibu there. Investigators confirm the pair then took a three-day road trip from Lompoc to the Nebraska area, with the return route passing through Kansas. Ashlee returned to the Lompoc home on October 10, driving the same white Malibu—but Melodee was not with her. The FBI notes the car is no longer in Ashlee’s possession. Detectives are now focused on uncovering where Melodee was during that road trip and where she might be today.

Melodee is described as 4 feet 6 inches tall, weighing about 60 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Due to the time since her last confirmed photo, officials warn her appearance may have changed beyond the possible wig.

“The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office shares the community’s fear for Melodee’s safety, and we’re doing everything to bring her home,” said Sheriff Bill Brown. “Our detectives are following every lead, and we keep asking the public for help—any piece of information could be the key to finding her. We remain fully committed to getting Melodee back safely.”

The Sheriff’s Office and FBI are urging anyone with information to come forward immediately. You can reach the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division at (805) 681-4150, or submit an anonymous tip by calling (805) 681-4171 or visiting https://www.sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/. For FBI tips, call the toll-free line at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit online at tips.fbi.gov.

Authorities strongly discourage the public from conducting their own searches or investigations, as this could disrupt ongoing law enforcement work or lead to duplicated efforts. The most effective way to assist is by sharing factual information directly with officials. The Sheriff’s Office plans to provide updates as new details emerge—provided they don’t compromise the investigation.