Brianna Chickenfry and Zach BryanMatt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Zach Bryan and his girlfriend, Brianna Chickenfry, were caught in a ‘traumatizing’ car crash over the weekend.
Chickenfry, 24, whose real name is Brianna LaPaglia, shared gruesome details of the incident via TikTok on Tuesday, May 14.
“I’m just going to rant for a second because I think I’m nearing a mental breakdown and I’ve been living on a bus for the past month so that doesn’t help,” she said. “Two nights ago, Zach and I got into a traumatizing side-by-side car crash. It flipped a bunch of times, everything shattered and thank God we had our seatbelts on but there was a lot of blood and we thought we were saying goodbye to each other.”
The Barstool Sports podcaster was on the verge of tears as she revealed Bryan, 28, sustained an injury that required stitches and an ambulance was called.
The incident occurred just prior to the pair driving to North Little Rock, Arkansas where the country singer is booked to perform multiple shows.
“After the ambulance came and he got all stitched up, we were like, ‘Oh my God, it didn’t hit an artery,” LaPaglia continued. “It was just a huge gash, we were OK, we are happy and alive.”
But as she attempted to put the scare behind her, a series of unfortunate events rattled LaPaglia further.
“Then it’s time to drive to Arkansas. As we’re about to leave, we open the bus door and Mango, the [cat] to never escape, runs out of the bus into the woods,” she said. “She goes through barbed wire into the middle of the forest. Zach tries to jump on her, all of his stitches burst again, he’s bleeding so much blood.”
LaPaglia’s pet’s escape pushed her to tears.
“I’m crying, it’s pitch black out, I’m never gonna find her,” she said. “I don’t have shoes on, [I’m] going over barbed wire, like thorns in my face, I still have glass in my f—king body.”
The influencer went on to explain she and Zach found the cat but were only able to catch “two hours of sleep” on the journey to Arkansas and, as a result, she was “so mentally out of it.”
To add further insult, a second cat, Ollie, ran off the bus the following day, causing distress all over again.
LaPaglia concluded the candid post by revealing her broken mental state.
“I’m just so tired. My whole body hurts and I keep finding more bruises and scrapes and I pulled glass out of my cheek last night,” she said, fighting back tears.
Bryan and LaPaglia confirmed their romance in July 2023 after she spoke about the country singer on her “PlanBri Uncut” podcast that month.
“I started hanging out with a guy named Zach, what, three weeks ago?” she said at the time. “It’s fun, it’s casual, and yeah, I just wanted to address it because the whole internet is freaking the f—k out and people are doing s—t. And yeah, that’s really it. Just hanging out, having some fun.”
“9-1-1” stars Angela Bassett as Athena GrantDisney/Justin Stephens
Angela Bassettis mourning the loss of 9-1-1 crew member Rico Priem after his untimely death following a 14-hour shift on the ABC series.
“The studio, 9-1-1, we all extend our deepest condolences to his friends to his family,” Bassett, 65, told Entertainment Tonight in an interview published on Tuesday, May 14. “It was just a very, very sad moment. We’re all rocked by it, certainly.”
Bassett noted that during her time on the series, which is currently filming its seventh season, the cast and crew have experienced “births” and “weddings” together, but this is their first time dealing with loss. She added that time was taken on set to honor Priem, where “so many beautiful words were spoken of him.”
“We just had to take a moment, just take time and take a moment,” she continued. “We thought it was important to come together and have whatever bit of service and offer whatever we can do to his family, ’cause we know that we’ll miss him but we know they will miss him even more.”
According to the California Highway Patrol, Priem, who worked as a grip and crew member of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 80, was driving after his shift ended on Saturday, May 11, when his Toyota Highlander left the road and flipped onto the roof. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his identity was later released by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
His death was also confirmed by IATSE. “We are fully committed to the safety and the well-being of all our members and express our heartfelt condolences to the member’s family,” IATSE said in a statement. “Workers have a reasonable expectation that they can get to work and come home safely. No one should be put in unsafe circumstances while trying to earn a living.”
Following his tragic passing, the show’s studio, 20th Television sent their “sincere and deepest condolences to Rico Priem’s family and friends.” A spokesperson from the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) also released a statement, telling Us Weekly, “Our hearts go out to Rico Priem’s family, friends, and all of those who are impacted by this tragic loss of life.”
Priem’s death was addressed by one of his fellow grips, Nina Moskol, who said that they had just worked together last week.
Disney/Chris Willard
“He was on the cusp of retirement, with his paperwork filed,” she wrote via Instagram on Sunday, May 12. “He had his already rich life planned for retirement, including spending time with his wife, watching his grand-nephew grow, riding his beloved Harley, and even gripping still to stay connected to his friends. He was so jazzed about what he had learned about retiring, he wanted to teach the ins and outs of retirement at the local.”
Moskol noted that the “two most dangerous parts” of the day are “getting to work and getting home.” She urged, “Please stay safe out there. Grip safe. Drive safe. Get off the road if needed. Take the room.”
Aisha Hinds, who plays Henrietta on the firefighter drama, also mourned Priem in a length statement via Instagram on Tuesday.
“Words….ever insufficient…none able to carry the harrowing heartbreak reverberating through our 9-1-1 family,” she wrote alongside a 9-1-1 promo image. “As the industry processes the passing of one of our invaluable and invested individuals—notably loyal, thus lauded and loved for his commitment to his craft and sharing the wisdom he’d gleaned from decades of working in this industry, hearts are heavy navigating feelings of grief and gratitude for the life of Rico Priem.”
Calling the crew the “unsung heroes” and “cornerstones” of the show, Hinds explained that people like Priem are “integral to the execution of every idea that begins in the minds of creatives becoming long-lasting memories and moments that live on in the hearts of humanity.”
She continued, “Rico graced us with his presence and passion, before he passed away in the early morning hours on Saturday, May 11thIt is the hope and the unspoken assumption that when we wrap a days work, we will see each other again to do it all over again the next day. His passing has stilled our hearts and signaled for more conversation and care in that area.
She concluded her tribute with a message of “deep love” for the 9-1-1 crew members, adding that she was “whispering a gentle prayer to the sacred soft spaces within his family’s hearts that ache in his absence.”
Britney Spears’ bank account had a very nice boost thanks to her various projects over the past year.
“She has earned $40 million this year,” a source exclusively reveals in the latest issue of Us Weekly, noting that her income received the bump thanks to her bestselling memoir, The Woman in Me, her “Hold Me Closer” duet with Elton John, her fragrances, plus royalties from her extensive music catalog. “There is no issue with money.”
While Spears, 42, has achieved financial success throughout her career, additional insiders tell Us that her spending habits have raised eyebrows in her inner circle.
“Britney buys a lot of clothes online,” a second source tells Us, noting that the singer has a tendency to stick to “affordable” brands. “She isn’t buying designer.”
The insider also shared that Spears “burns money” on lavish trips to destinations like Bora Bora and Hawaii and will sometimes just cancel them out of the blue.
As Spears continues to spend her earnings, some are worried about her financial wellbeing, especially after she was freed from her 13-year conservatorship in 2021.
“There was a plan in place when Britney’s conservatorship ended for her day-to-day life,” a third source tells Us. “But no one followed it. The money is going out quickly.”
Britney SpearsJeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
However, an additional insider added that Spears’ spending is “not a huge problem.”
“Yes, Britney spends on vacations and the clothes you see her in on Instagram, but that’s her prerogative. It’s her money,” the source said.
In 2008, the singer was placed under a conservatorship by her father Jamie Spears after Britney suffered a public breakdown following her divorce from Kevin Federline. She and Federline share two sons: Sean Preston, 18, and Jayden, 17.
Under the conservatorship, Jamie was in charge of his daughter’s estate and finances. The legal ruling wasn’t terminated until 2021. Spears wrote about the difficult period of her life in her memoir.
“I had been so infantilized that I was losing pieces of what made me feel like myself,” she penned. “The conservatorship stripped me of my womanhood, made me into a child. I became more of an entity than a person onstage. I had always felt music in my bones and my blood; they stole that from me.”
While the conservatorship hasn’t been in place since 2021, Us confirmed in April that Britney had settled her legal battle with her estranged father.
“It has been our honor and privilege to represent, protect, and defend Britney Spears, Ms. Spears is and always will be an icon and a brilliant and brave artist of historic and epic proportion,” Britney’s attorney Mathew Rosengart said in a statement to Us at the time. “Although the conservatorship was terminated in November 2021, her wish for freedom is now truly complete.”
After the news broke, Britney celebrated her legal victory with a glass of wine. (Spears previously claimed that her conservatorship required weekly drug tests and forbade her from drinking alcohol.)
“Eventually you will come to understand that love heals everything and that is all there is,” she wrote via Instagram alongside a photo of a 2019 bottle of Norton Malbec. “And REAL wine feels extremely nice as well !!! Psss first time with real wine Jesus f–king Christ !!!”
For more on Britney, watch the video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.
While Usher recently admitted he was heartbroken when the TLC singer, 53, turned down his proposal in the early ‘00s, a source exclusively tells Us Weekly that fans have no idea what actually went down between the pair during their romance.
“So many people were upset with Chilli when Usher shared that she turned down his proposal but they don’t know the full story,” the insider explains. “She obviously loved him — the entire world knows that — but she has always been convinced that marriage was sacred and she didn’t want to end up divorced.”
The source notes that Chilli “knew” the relationship would’ve “ended up in divorce” with the “way it was at that time,” and for the “Waterfalls” musician, “That would’ve been an even greater heartbreak.”
Chilli and Usher, 45, originally met in 1993 but didn’t start dating until nearly a decade later. After getting together in 2001, the pair were together for three years before calling it quits in 2004.
Earlier this year, Usher revealed that he wanted to take the relationship to the next level, but Chilli ultimately rejected the proposal. “I wanted to marry her. I proposed and she told me no. I went through a great deal of pain after that, not trusting women or wanting to open up,” he told People in February, noting that the situation “broke my heart.”
Following their breakup, Usher went on to release the album Confessions, which left many speculating that the themes of cheating were in relation to mistakes he made in with Chilli. Songwriter Jermaine Dupre fueled rumours further when he discussed how Usher’s personal life was the true inspiration for the songs.
Chilli, however, clarified that that the record was not inspired by the duo’s romance — and that they were still together while it was being recorded.
Getty
“All of those songs on Confessions, that was about Jermaine Dupri’s situation,” she exclusively told Us in 2013. “Usher was just singing it. But people kind of bought into it, it was just the timing of our breakup when the album came out.”
She continued, “So people assumed that album was about us, but it was not. And Usher and I weren’t oil and water. We broke up because I guess it was that time or whatever. He was that real love for me.”
Chilli later admitted that despite calling it quits, she and the “Yeah” singer stayed in touch over the years before she cut off all contact in 2019 to “focus on herself.”
“I even stopped dating. Because before that I thought if I met the right guy during that time that I wasn’t over [Usher] it wouldn’t work,” she recalled to People in June 2023. “I would never want to straddle the fence.”
Both Usher and Chilli have since moved on. Usher tied the knot with Tameka Foster in 2007 and the duo welcomed two kids together before their 2009 split. He also was married to Grace Miguel from 2015 to 2018 before he began datingJenn Goicoechea. The pair expanded their family with two kids born in 2020 and 2021.
Chilli, for her part, found love with Matthew Lawrence in November 2022. When asked in May 2023 if she has found her “forever partner” in the Boy Meets World alum, the singer told Us, “For sure.”
Lawrence also gets along with her son, Tron, 25, whom she shares with ex Dallas Austin, which is an added bonus. “Everybody gets along,” she said. “My son approves. I mean, it’s all great.”
Taylor Swift and Flavor FlavKevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio
Taylor Swift’s friendship with Flavor Flav — otherwise known as King Swiftie — continues to blossom.
After the Public Enemy rapper, 65, told the U.S. Women’s Water Polo team that he would financially assist their quest to compete at the Paris Olympics later this year, Swift, 34, threw her support behind his mission.
In a post via X on Tuesday, May 14, Flavor Flav wrote, “If you want a reason to love Taylor Swift some more, the water polo coach and I reached out to Taylor and her team to buy a huge amount of tickets and Taylor being the QUEEN that she is, gave the whole team and coaches and staff tickets for free.”
The three-time Olympic gold medal-winning team was spotted at Paris La Defense Arena during the Paris leg of Swift’s Eras concert this past week with team captain Maggie Steffens marking the memorable occasion via Instagram on Saturday, May 11.
The athlete, 30, captioned several snaps of the team, “Wildest Dreams. THANK YOU @taylorswift !!!!! Hoping to channel Taylor energy next time we’re in this arena for #Paris2024 #fearless”
Swift’s generosity came after Flavor Flav responded to the team’s May 5 Instagram callout for support as they prepare to defend their Olympic championship in the French capital this summer.
Flavor Flav wrote in the comments, “AYYY YOOO. as a girl dad and supporter of all women’s sports – imma personally sponsor you my girl. whatever you need. And imma sponsor the whole team. My manager is in touch with your agent and imma use all my relationships and resources to help all y’all even more. That’s a FLAVOR FLAV promise. – FLAV”
Later that day, he took to X to further share his backing.
“The US Women’s Waterpolo team has won the GOLD MEDAL THREE OLYMPICS IN A ROW. These women should not have to be working 2-3 side jobs to be able to compete,” he wrote. “FLAVOR FLAV promises to sponsor/support captain Maggie Steffens the US Women’s Waterpolo team. GO #TeamUSA”
The do-gooding rapper is a long-time self-proclaimed Swiftie, and most recently cosigned Swift’s new song “thanK you aIMee” which seemingly references Kim Kardashian in its lyrics and title.
“Ya boy always says KIM,” Flavor Flav wrote via X on April 19. “Keep it Moving.”
He also got a chance to talk to his idol at the Grammys on February 4, revealing on the NFL Honors red carpet that he “got to get some Taylor time” at the awards show.
“The discussion was about me congratulating her on all her success. And me being a big fan of hers, a big supporter of hers,” he said.
Prince Harry (R) and Meghan MarkleMike Coppola/Getty Images for 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala
Update: 5/14/2024 8:47 p.m. ET
During his Tuesday, May 14, speech on California’s efforts to transform the mental health system, Governor Gavin Newsom came to the Archewell Foundation’s defense, noting, “I just want folks to know, not only are they in compliance, it was a technical paperwork issue that was wildly over-hyped. … It was a very typical, technical issue around paperwork that persists for so many others as well. They are a celebrated organization that does great work in the state of California. I wanted to clarify that, because that’s important.”
“We have diligently investigated the situation and can confirm that The Archewell Foundation remains fully compliant and in good standing,” a spokesperson for the Sussexes’ Archewell Foundation told Us Weekly on Tuesday, May 14. “Due payments were made promptly and in accordance with the IRS’s processes and procedures. Furthermore, all necessary paperwork had been filed by the Foundation without error or wrongdoing.”
Earlier this week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta deemed Archewell “delinquent” in an official letter because the organization did not submit its registration fees and annual reports on time.
“An organization that is listed as delinquent is not in good standing and is prohibited from engaging in conduct for which registration is required, including soliciting or disbursing charitable funds,” the letter read. “The organization may also be subject to penalties and its registration may be suspended or revoked by the Registry.”
Us Weekly understands, however, that Archewell’s state filing, renewal and fees were sent and delivered to the attorney general’s office via tracked mail and received on time. The organization’s tax filings were also submitted in full in accordance with all regulations in December 2023.
Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, launched Archewell in 2020 after stepping down from their roles as senior working members of the royal family. “Our mission is simple: show up, do good,” reads a description of the nonprofit organization on the Archewell website. “We meet the moment by showing up, taking action and using our unparalleled spotlight to uplift and unite communities — local and global — through acts of service and compassion.”
Before jetting off to Nigeria, Harry visited his hometown of London, but he didn’t see his father, King Charles III. A spokesperson for Harry said that Charles’ schedule was too packed for a visit.
“In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not The Duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it, unfortunately, will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program,” the rep told Us on May 7.
Harry and Charles, 75, reunited earlier this year after the monarch publicly disclosed that he’d been diagnosed with cancer. Following the news, the Duke of Sussex flew to England for a quick visit with his dad.
“I love my family,” Harry told Good Morning America in February. “The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.”
During Wong’s final night of her residency at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 12, Hader, 45, came onto the stage at the end of her comedy set.
“Do you know who my boyfriend is? Do you want to meet him?” Wong, 42, asked the audience before Hader came out with a red rose and gave her a kiss. While on the stage, the Barry alum congratulated Wong on how “effortless” she made her set after working so hard on it.
Before exiting the stage, Hader shouted, “Ali Wong is off the market!”
During her set that night, perRolling Stone, Wong opened up about the beginnings of her relationship with Hader following her divorce from Justin Hakuta. (Hakuta, 41, and Wong split in April 2022 after eight years of marriage and share two daughters. Hader, for his part, shares three children with ex-wife Maggie Carey.)
“I never thought I would have this much fun at this stage in my life. Divorce is fun. I just want to get married again, just so I could get divorced again,” Wong joked before sharing that after the news broke of her split from Hakuta she had “never been pursued” by so many men in her life.
While she was eager to enter into the dating scene again, she recalled getting a “phone call from this guy who [she] met at a dinner party in the past and he got [her] number from a mutual friend. Although she did not reveal the identity of the man, many fans thought she was referring to Hader amid their current romance.
“He was like, ‘Hey, I just happened to hear the news about your divorce and I’ve had a crush on you forever. I actually told my best friend years ago that you were my dream girl and I know it sounds crazy but I want you to be my girlfriend,’” Wong explained during her set.
Although Wong was flattered, she joked that she didn’t pursue a relationship with him at first because she had to “get [her] money’s worth” on the dating apps.
While Wong turned him down, the unnamed guy wasn’t going to take “no” for an answer. Wong shared that she left for a European vacation soon after the call, and found flowers waiting for her at each stop on her trip. After telling her friends about the gesture, her girlfriends thought it was sweet but her male friends said it sounded like “psychopath behavior.”
“When a fellow man commits any act of kindness, any romantic gesture, it must be a symptom of an undiagnosed mental illness,” she joked.
Hader and Wong were first linked in 2022 – and their relationship has only gotten more serious since then.
“They have a really strong foundation,” a source told Us Weekly in January, adding that marriage is “very much on the table” for the couple. Another insider noted that, “Friends know that they’re going to go the distance – they’re both at ease and [obsessed] with each other at the same time.”
Meghan Markle gave a rare insight into her life with husband Prince Harry and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, after their recent trip to Nigeria.
“We’re just doing great,” Meghan, 42, told People in an interview published on Tuesday, May 14, about her life in California with Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 2. “And happy to be watching our family grow up and evolve. Of course, I’m happy. We’re really happy.”
Meghan’s update comes on the heels of her and Harry’s “meaningful” three-day trip to Africa, visiting at the invitation of Nigeria’s chief of defense staff, General Christopher Musa. Much of their trip highlighted the Invictus Games. (Nigeria joined the Community of Nations in 2022 and became the first African country to join the Invictus movement.)
“These trips are about us being able to go out and go and focus on the things that mean so much to us. And being able to be on the ground, to us, is what it’s all about,” the Duke of Sussex, 39, told the outlet, with Markle agreeing, “It’s really meaningful. Just being able to connect to people … that’s what makes it special.”
The duke and duchess visited Nigeria Unconquered, an Invictus-affiliated charity, and a military hospital in Kaduna. “That experience of knowing what life, post-injury, is like gives people so much hope. And hope, hope, hope is a huge part of this,” Harry said.
This trip was even more impactful for Meghan after discovering she is 43 percent Nigerian. The former actress noted she was excited to learn about her “heritage” that she will be “able to share with my children,” adding, “That’s such a special thing as a mother to know you can do.”
Prince Harry; Meghan MarkleAndrew Esiebo/Getty Images
The couple spent part of the trip focusing on mental health while addressing students at Lightway Academy. Meghan shared poignant words from her 2-year-old daughter, Lilibet, who said, “Mama, I see me in you.” Meghan couldn’t help thinking of her toddler’s statement as she told the group, “Looking around this room, I see myself in all of you as well.”
“I always reflect back on myself as a young girl and the type of inspiration that I wanted to see in other women. I hope in some small way I can be a part of that for a lot of these young girls especially,” Meghan told People. “I saw myself in them. I see the potential in all of these young girls — and, by the way, in these young boys, as well.”
Meghan charity work with young people is inspired by her own kids. “It’s what we see in our own children — to give them that promise and excitement for their futures,” she said.
Meghan and Harry did a tour of Africa in 2019 while they were working members of the royal family. The following year, they stepped back as senior royals before separating themselves from Harry’s family completely in an attempt to find financial independence. They relocated to California, where they currently reside with their children.
While they are no longer working royals, Harry has continued his work with the Invictus Games. He commemorated the 10th anniversary of the event earlier this month in London, although no royal family members attended.
“She sent me a nice message that said, ‘I came across your show, congratulations, many blessings,’” the captain recalled in an interview with The Cheat Sheet in 2019, noting that the term “many blessings” quickly caught her attention.
Ahead of her romance with the Below Deck star, Shafer was married to entertainer Ross Shafer for 20 years. They welcomed daughter Lauren before their split.
The pair continued to offer glimpses of their blossoming connection over the years. In honor of their anniversary, Sandy gushed about her partner, writing via Instagram in November 2020, “2 years ago I met this incredible soul, my true love. It’s so true couples that play together stay together. Yep this is Leah’s idea of fun, detoxing the skin with a charcoal mask!”
The Bravo star later hinted that she and Leah weren’t ruling out a walk down the aisle, telling Bravo in July 2021, “Yeah, you know, honestly, slow and steady wins the race. So, I do. I do [see marriage in the future]. I mean, who knows? Like, it’s only been two years. Just under two years, so let’s see.”
Scroll on for a full breakdown of Sandy and Leah’s romance:
"4 years ago I parked your car in Los Angeles, I kissed you and that’s when I knew I would spend the rest of my life loving you, protecting you and teaching you what the meaning of 'do overs' meant hahah I love you Leah Rae @leahraeofficial," Sandy gushed via Instagram. "You’re my soulmate and I wanna grow old together."
Sandy's short stint on season 10 of Below Deck made headlines when Captain Lee questioned her decisions. At the time, Leah defended her girlfriend after Lee said he wasn't thrilled that Sandy didn't keep him up to date.
"She has more than good manners and has been nothing but kind and supportive. Not sure why you are tweeting all of this. She left me and our home to come and take over until you were well. We pray for you and your family still and always wish you well," she tweeted in response to the Michigan native's comments.
During an interview with Us, Sandy opened up about making her relationship work long distance.
"We're figuring it out. We're madly in love," she gushed. "Leah and I just were in Miami together and I'm like, 'We need to go once a month. We need that time.' We're three-day people. So three days is perfect and that's our goal. In those three days, it's all about us and the phones are off, which is great."
The Below Deck Med star opened up about making her relationship work while filming the hit Bravo series.
"Communication and the reality is it's only six weeks. So, it's like having something new every time you come back. It's pretty cool every time," Sandy exclusively told Us at the time. "We're building a house so [we do] a lot of visits to Florida and we're off to the Hamptons. [We are] just enjoying life because I think the older you get, the more experiences [you want]."
The Bravo star proposed to Leah after five years of dating, telling E! News about the big moment, "I shared my vision list of love I had written and wanted, then got on one knee. Then, she said 'Yes!'”
Sandy continued: “The look on her face was priceless, and my heart exploded! It was filled beyond capacity of anything I could ever imagine. Somehow I feel closer than I did before, and I can't explain it. There is an energy that I have never experienced in my life. I love her beyond; as Leah says Yawn beyond."
Yawn and Shafer walked down the aisle after five years of dating.
“Captain Sandy TIES THE KNOT 💕,” the captain announced via Instagram alongside a video slideshow of the pair’s nuptials. “On May 11th , we officially became Mrs Sandy & Leah YAWN. I Married the love of my life.”
One week after Spears made headlines for being photographed outside L.A.’s Chateau Marmont walking barefoot with a blanket wrapped around her as emergency service vehicles gathered, the pop star was back on Instagram doing what she loves: dancing. In a clip posted on May 8, Spears — wearing a cropped white blouse and tiny neon bikini bottoms — smiled from ear to ear as she shimmied around to Kings of Leon and Nelly Furtado songs.
On the surface, it seems like business as usual for the 42-year-old star. But sources tell Us that behind the scenes, people in her inner circle are worried. Spears has exhibited troubling behavior since her August 2023 split from ex-husbandSam Asghari. One source says the incidents — including what occurred at the Chateau Marmont in the early morning hours of May 2 — are “scary and very reminiscent” of the singer’s chaotic behavior in 2006 but notes that “they are nowhere near that level.”
Spears’ romance with Paul Richard Soliz, whom she hooked up with shortly after her split from Asghari, 30, has also been cause for concern. Soliz, a handyman, was hired to work at Spears’ California home in 2022 but was fired a few months later when his criminal record was discovered. “He’s the root of a lot of her problems,” says the first source. Soliz was at the Chateau Marmont the night of Spears’ incident, with an insider previously telling Us that “Britney was upset… [because] Paul was trying to leave after visiting her room.”
Those closest to Spears “have tried to put a team around her with the best medical help they can,” reveals the first source, adding that the “Toxic” singer isn’t accepting their help — at least for right now. “They hope that eventually she will.”
Britney SpearsJeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Is Her Boyfriend Bad News?
Multiple sources tell Us Soliz isn’t bringing out the best in Spears. “He’s terrible,” says one source. “He’s the root of a lot of her problems and the reason she’s gotten worse.” The source claims Soliz — who has a criminal past — is manipulative and has been trying to “sabotage” her team’s efforts to get her on the right path. “He tries to make her not trust the people who are closest to her.” A second source previously told Us that Spears’ team “made it clear from day one” that they don’t want Soliz around. “They think he’s out to do something shady and want him out of the picture.”
Where Does She Stand With Her Family?
Her relationships with her family members remain complicated. She’s tight with her brother, Bryan — “They don’t see each other often, but they speak and text a lot,” says a source — and is in contact with her mom, Lynne. (Lynne was spotted arriving in L.A. the day after the incident at the Chateau Marmont; in a since-deleted Instagram post, Spears appeared to blame Lynne for the drama and said they hadn’t spoken in six months.) “There’s unresolved displaced anger there,” adds the source. A second source says Spears’ team thinks the pop star would benefit from spending time with her mom: “When there’s a crisis, Lynne knows how to handle Britney.”
The singer still “wants nothing to do” with sister Jamie Lynn or her dad, Jamie, says a third source. (Spears settled the ongoing legal battle with Jamie over her conservatorship on April 25.) “Britney can’t even imagine what it would take to repair things [with her dad and sister],” the source adds, “and it’s of zero interest to her.”
As for her sons, Sean, 18, and Jayden, 17, multiple sources say they are in touch with their mom, though an insider told Us in April that their conversations can be “very surface level.” Spears and the teens “text and speak on the phone,” says the first source, with the third noting that Spears is hoping things will “continue” to improve with the boys, who moved to Hawaii with their dad, Kevin Federline, last year. “She doesn’t have as much contact with them as she would like.”
Does She Have Plans to Work Again?
In January, Spears declared she was done recording albums, writing on Instagram, “I will never return to the music industry.” According to Charli XCX, she was asked to write songs for a future Spears album, but they were ultimately not recorded.
“You always write songs hoping Britney’s going to record them. I love her. It would be a dream come true,” she told Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live, noting that she wasn’t sure if Spears was actually aware of the songwriting process. “Maybe her team was running before they could walk. Britney probably has a load of other projects that she’s focusing on.” A source confirms Spears’ wheels are in motion with other ventures, telling Us, “There are tons of deals lined up.”
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Who’s in Her Inner Circle?
Spears keeps her inner circle small. “The people around her genuinely do care about her well-being,” says one source. Spears’ team is “trying very, very hard,” adds a second source, noting that they’re “looking at” different types of treatments for Spears, who already does equine therapy. “It’s about trying to enforce a routine.” Multiple sources say there are no plans to get Spears under a new conservatorship; her former one was terminated in late 2021 after 13 years. [See box for more on the legal logistics involved.]
According to a third source, Asghari wanted their marriage to end on amicable terms, but the exes are no longer speaking. “They don’t communicate,” the source says, noting that Asghari thinks Spears’ current situation is “definitely worrisome. He hates seeing Britney struggle and hopes she’s OK.”
Is She Overspending?
Her financial habits have raised some eyebrows. “Britney buys a lot of clothes online,” says one source, noting that the singer does stick to “affordable” items: “She isn’t buying designer.” The source says Spears also “burns money” on lavish trips to places like Bora Bora and Hawaii and sometimes winds up canceling them. Adds a second source: “There was a plan in place when Britney’s conservatorship ended for her day-to-day life, but no one followed it. The money is going out quickly.”
A third source says it’s “not a huge problem,” adding, “Yes, Britney spends on vacations and the clothes you see her in on Instagram, but that’s her prerogative. It’s her money.” The source notes no one is ringing alarm bells about the singer blowing through her reported $60 million fortune. “She has earned $40 million this year,” the source says, pointing to her bestselling memoir, The Woman in Me, “Hold Me Closer,” her successful duet with Elton John, and the millions of dollars that her fragrances have brought in. She also earns royalties on her past albums and songs. Adds the source: “There is no issue with money.”
Understanding a Conservatorship
A legal expert talks to Us about what’s required to get out of a conservatorship and the likelihood of getting into one again.
Less than three years after Spears’ conservatorship was terminated, there’s some question as to whether she could be placed under another one. According to attorney Tamar Arminak — who represented Amanda Bynes’ parents when the actress wanted out of her conservatorship in 2022 — it’s possible, but not without its complications. For a conservatorship to be put in place, it must be proven that a person has a mental illness or is suffering from a medical condition, like dementia, and lacks the mental capacity to provide for themselves. They “may be susceptible to people who might take advantage of them,” explains Arminak, adding that to get out of it, “you need to prove that you can take care of yourself — food, shelter, clothing, medical needs — and that you’re of sound mind.” Arminak notes it can still be necessary to ensure “guardrails” are in place so the person has “the right care team” around them once the conservatorship is lifted. Putting someone back under one can be easy in some cases — “that person has a history of needing help,” Arminak explains — but it can be especially difficult in more public cases. “The pressure is significant,” Arminak says, adding that the decision wouldn’t be made lightly, considering the person was determined to be well enough to be “off that setting” in the past. Adds Arminak: “Were they taken off too soon? Was there too much public pressure? Those are natural questions that would be asked.”
With reporting by Travis Cronin, Sarah Jones, Andrea Simpson & Amanda Williams
For more on Spears, watch the video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.
Ed “Big Ed” Brown revealed the breaking point in his engagement with ex-fiancée Liz Woods.
“I’ve known for a few months that it really wasn’t going to work and I wasn’t really happy,” Ed, 59, exclusively told Us Weekly while talking about 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?. “The taco pasta night where Liz kind of lost it like she’s done before, my sister had never seen that. [My sister] just gave me that look like, ‘Don’t do it.’”
He continued, “And what kept reiterating in my head was something my mom had said to me, ‘Go ahead and marry her, but you’ll be miserable for the rest of your life.’”
During the April 21 episode of 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?, Liz recalled the on-again, off-again couple getting into an argument after Ed made taco pasta.
“Ed made dinner — taco pasta — but then Ryleigh’s dish was just way too spicy for her, and Ed pretty much told her to stop being a baby. I don’t appreciate that, and I called him out on it,” Liz said during a confessional, adding that Ed “attacked me back” and they began “arguing in front of his family.”
Ed told Us that the morning after their fight — which he dubbed “Pasta Gate” — he had a conversation with his sister and decided he wasn’t going to go through with the wedding.
Us Weekly
“So I began texting the venue, telling them I need a refund. And at that same time, Liz was calling and I thought she was calling to apologize and she didn’t. And that’s when I knew. She’s like, ‘Oh, we have date night tonight.’ I’m like, ‘Well, don’t you want to talk about last night?’” he recalled. “And that’s kind of what we did. Both of us together, we never dealt with our problems.”
Ed noted that the twosome would “sweep [their problems] under the rug” and continue on with their life. He added, “We never learned how to deal with those issues. And that eventually led to me deciding that I didn’t want to go through with it.”
Ed, who got engaged to Liz in November 2021, admitted that he “definitely” has “regrets” in how he handled calling off the wedding.
“I didn’t realize, I thought I had told Liz, but I think I did, but she didn’t really hear me or she didn’t believe me. And it wasn’t until our officiant reached out to her and said, ‘Look, I’m really sorry.’ And that’s when it hit her a ton of bricks that it was over,” he said. “And I’d spoken to him a couple weeks later when I was in San Diego and he’s like, ‘Yeah, when she got the message she was uncontrollable.’ So that part really hurt.”
TLC
Ed said that he “wasn’t happy” with how Liz found out his decision to call off the nuptials, but he noted there’s “no good way” to tell her. Ed added, “So I just had to cut it off.”
90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? airs on Sundays on TLC at 8 p.m. EST.
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is facing backlash after making comments about his wife during a graduation speech over the weekend — and encouraging women to embrace their role as “homemakers.”
Butker, 28, was addressing students as the commencement speaker at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas on Saturday, May 11, when he singled out his female audience.
“For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment,” he said. “You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you.”
He continued, “How many of you are sitting here now, about to cross this stage, and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”
At one point, he also brought up Taylor Swift — but not by name.
“As my teammate’s girlfriend says, ‘familiarity breeds contempt,'” Butker said, referring to Travis Kelce and quoting Swift’s “Bejeweled.”
The athlete then brought up his wife, Isabelle, who he claimed would be the “first to say that her life truly started when she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother.” He then credited her for being the reason he is “the man I am because I have a wife who leans into her vocation.”
Butker went on to detail more of the impact his wife, who married the Super Bowl star in 2018, has made on his life.
“I’m beyond blessed with the many talents God has given me but it cannot be overstated that all of my success is made possible because a girl I met in band class back in middle school would convert to the faith and become my wife and embrace one of the most important titles of all — homemaker,” he said.
The speech went viral across social media over the weekend, after which Butker deleted all photos of Isabelle on his Instagram account.
One user wrote via TikTok, “Imagine sitting through his speech at your graduation after working so hard for your degree …”, while another person wrote, “I don’t know, I think I’m gonna enjoy my title: physician scientist MD/PhD.”
Butker met his wife in high school and the couple share two children.
He proposed to Isabelle in 2017, one month after he was drafted into the NFL by the Carolina Panthers and before signing with the Chiefs later that year.
In a now deleted Instagram post, Butker had written at the time, “After almost 7 years of being best friends with this girl, I finally popped the question. From the first moments of our relationship, back in freshman year of high school, I always envisioned marrying you and raising a family together.”
Harry Jowsey.(Photo by Steve Granitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images)
Too Hot to Handle alum Harry Jowsey is feeling grateful after his skin cancer diagnosis.
Jowsey, 26, spoke to Us Weekly about his health status on Friday, May 10, during the Race to Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. “It’s just a bit scary, bit of a rude awakening, but it humbled me,” he told Us, adding, “The fact that I’m able to inspire people to get their skin checked is awesome.”
Jowsey, who was wearing Giorgio Armani and styled by Monty Jackson for the charity event, revealed his skin cancer diagnosis in April; he explained that he had gone to a dermatologist to get his skin checked and they had “found some skin cancer.” He did not reveal what kind of skin cancer it was, but he did share that the cancer was found on his shoulder and had been there for over a year.
“I’m gonna be all good. Everything’s going to be okay, but I just wanted to make this post to let you know that summer is around the corner,” Jowsey said via TikTok on April 26, before imploring his followers to “please wear sunscreen.”
“I had a lot of friends call me and [say], ‘I actually haven’t had my skin checked ever so the fact that you posted what was going on made me want to go and get myself checked out to make sure I was all in the clear,’” the former Dancing With the Stars contestant told Us on Friday. “But the thing is, 1 in 5 people have skin cancer. It’s just better to go get checked and just to be safe and wear your sunscreen.”
Jowsey went on to say that discovering he had skin cancer was “the scariest moment” of his life.
Harry Jowsey, Alan Bersten and Barry Williams attend the 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS
“I thought it was like a fungal thing on my shoulder,” he explained. “I went to the dermatologist saying, ‘I’ve been putting fungal cream on it for the last year.’ When [the] doctor said it was skin cancer, it was the scariest moment of my life because you don’t know how serious it is, but luckily I’m doing okay.”
The reality star’s health isn’t the only reason he’s thinking about the future. His new podcast, “Boyfriend Material,” is full of relationship advice, and it has helped Jowsey realize he is ready to settle down.
“I love my friends, but I’m over them. I just want to have a girlfriend and grow old together and be us and have a little family and just have someone that I can build with and grow with,” Jowsey shared with Us.
“There’s nothing better than having your best friend, your lover with you,” he continued. “Being in a relationship is so special and I really missed that feeling. Hopefully one day. The premise of the [podcast] is to grow together and to learn to become boyfriend material. I’m a work in progress.”
He joked, “I can get advice, I can give advice and hopefully, I can get married and then it turns into daddy advice.”
Following his diagnosis, Jowsey received an outpouring of support from his followers, including Vanderpump Rules star and fellow DWTS alum Ariana Madix. (Madix had skin cancer in the form of a melanoma removed in 2018.)
“She’s the best,” Jowsey told Us of Madix on Friday. “She’s such a sweetheart. She always reaches out and talks about things like this. She’s just like a big mom or big sister. She just cares so much.”
Katie Cassidy’s 2020 divorce hasn’t soured her from the idea of one day walking down the aisle with boyfriend Stephen Huszar.
“It’s a conversation I’ve had with myself that I don’t think I expected to have with myself,” Cassidy, 37, exclusively told Us Weekly on Friday, May 10, at the Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza. “If that tells you anything at all. I think I’m certainly more open to something, whether it be now or in the near future with this person, but I certainly didn’t ever think that I could say that again.”
Cassidy was previously married to Matthew Rodgers, filing for divorce in 2020. Nearly three years later, she connected with Huszar, 40, on the set of Hallmark’s A Royal Christmas Crush. The pair privately started dating, debuting their romance in July 2023 ahead of the film premiere. (Cassidy previously told Us that she and Huszar kept their relationship a secret to remain professional on set.)
According to the actress, their relationship is still “doing great.”
“He’s amazing. I’ve never really thought I would date another actor. He’s incredible,” Cassidy gushed to Us. “We’re very happy. It’s been amazing when you meet somebody and it just sort of makes sense. You didn’t ever think it would or weren’t necessarily looking for it and then it sort of happened.”
The chemistry with Huszar “definitely caught” Cassidy “by surprise” following her divorce.
Stephen Huszar and Katie CassidyAraya Doheny/Getty Images for The Art of Elysium
“I think you live and learn and you just have to go through it and have an open heart and trust,” she said of finding love again after heartbreak. “I think what was great was I was focusing on more of myself during the time that he and I met. I wasn’t looking for [a relationship].”
She continued, “I was open, but I was still a little hesitant but he and I, after working together towards the end, we became really good friends and then we were professional but once we were done, sparks happened.”
Once A Royal Christmas Crush wrapped, the two “homebodies” enjoyed low-key date nights.
“We like cooking [and] spending time at home,” Cassidy added on Friday. “But we also love to travel. During the [SAG-AFTRA] strike, we had time to travel and do all these wonderful things.”
Cassidy previously tied the knot with Rodgers in December 2017. Us confirmed three years later in January 2020 that Cassidy filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.” The motion was finalized in March 2021.
The internet seems to think The Valley’s Danny Booko and Nia Sanchez are TV’s “cutest couple,” but Jax Taylor hinted that their reign as fan favorites might be short-lived.
A fan of The Valley called Danny and Nia, 34, the “cutest couple” on television “right now,” writing via X on Friday, May 10, “Sorry @mrjaxtaylor I genuinely love you and Britt, but I want to cry every time I see these too.”
Jax, 44, replied to the post, saying, “Will see how this goes.” His cryptic message could indicate trouble in paradise for the couple as the season of The Valley progresses. It also comes amid rumors that Jax cheated on his estranged wife and The Valley costar Brittany Cartwright.
Brittany, 35, has stated that while she didn’t believe the cheating rumors, they still put a strain on their marriage, something the couple attempted to work through during an April 30 episode of the Vanderpump Rules spinoff.
“We had it in the past, but we worked through it. Before we were married,” Brittany said during the episode. “I know with Jax there is always going to be rumors out there.”
Danny and Nia BookoCasey Durkin/Bravo
She added, “I definitely don’t think that Jax is cheating, but of course, it is always in the back of my mind. If he’s not cheating then why do we have so much intimacy issues?”
As for Jax, he explained to the cameras, “I’ve been working so hard on my projects, but as a result of that, I put my relationship on the back burner. I want her to know that I am trying.” Jax and Brittany, who separated in February after filming on The Valley had wrapped, share a 3-year-old son, Cruz.
“It’s only going to get crazier. This is just the start,” Brittany exclusively told Us Weekly in April about the remaining episodes of season 1. “And then everybody’s just mad at each other all summer.”
The Valley has since been renewed for a second season by Bravo. Nia and Danny, who were new to reality television at the start of the season, are set to return alongside Jax, Brittany, and Vanderpump Rules alum Kristen Doute.
As for Nia, she has already teased plenty of drama for season 2 of The Valley. “I feel like it just keeps getting better,” Nia told Entertainment Tonight on Thursday, May 9.
“If you’ve already been enjoying all the craziness that we’ve had, it’ll continue to come,” she added. “There’s ups and downs and relationships, and there’s even some things that Daniel and I deal with that you haven’t seen yet. I think it’s going to be something that will still keep people on their toes.”
Spring and summer are optimal times to opt for minimal, easy clothing that allows you to be cool and breezy. Whether you’re running errands or hanging with your friends, it’s best to go with clothing and shoe options that will keep you feeling light and airy when it’s hot outside. Are you looking to add a new pair of sandals to your rotation? We found the cutest Crocs sandals that are to become your warm-weather besties — and they’re only $41 at Amazon!
These Crocs Women’s Brooklyn Low Wedge Platform Sandals are perfect for the mom on the go — or the busy body that can’t sit down — seriously! They feature a 100% synthetic plastic fabric for ultra-stretch and comfort. These two-strap sandals are set atop a chunky platform sole, which helps to make them more supportive. Honestly, they’re the perfect all-around spring or summer sandal.
To style these shoes, you could pair them with a T-shirt and jeans for a casual, laid-back vibe that works for running errands or a casual ensemble for getting together with the girls. Or, you could rock these sandals with a frilly dress and a blazer for a business casual outfit that works for the office and is flexible enough to go anywhere after. Further, these shoes come in 17 colors and have a 4 to 11 size range.
While reviewing and gushing over these sandals, one Amazon reviewer noted, “ I love Crocs in general, so I had high hopes for this sandal. Crocs did not disappoint. I love the fit, the comfort and the color.” Another reviewer said, “I am obsessed with these shoes. They are SO cute and SO comfy.”
So, if you’re looking for a versatile pair of shoes that will help keep you feeling comfy and breezy during the warmer months, these Crocs sandals could do the trick!
Dancing With the Stars pro Emma Slater thinks she will always have former partner Mauricio Umansky in her corner.
“I really think that Mauricio is someone who’s going to be in my life forever,” Slater, 35, exclusively told Us Weekly on Friday, May 10, at the Race to Erase MS Gala at the Fairmont Century Plaza. “We really do click. We sort of went through difficult times at the same time together and were each other’s confidants. It was a really nice season. Difficult for both of us, but we’re really really grateful that we had each other.”
Slater was partnered with Umansky, 53, for season 32 of the ballroom dancing competition. At the time, he was newly separated from wife Kyle Richards. Slater, meanwhile, was previously married to fellow DWTS pro Sasha Farber and filed for divorce in February 2023. (DWTS season 32 rehearsals started the following summer, but it’s not clear if her “difficult” journey was related to the divorce.)
“You get really close to your partners on the season,” Slater told Us on Friday. “He’s such an amazing person. We have such a good friendship that it meant a lot that he was able to come to the [DWTS] tour and support as well.”
Slater and many of her fellow pro dancers toured the United States at the end of season 32. Umansky came to watch the live show in March.
“It’s so nice to have Mauricio come and watch the Dancing With the Stars tour,” Slater gushed.
Slater and Umansky’s friendship sparked speculation from fans, who clocked their intense stage chemistry. They were also spotted holding hands in between rehearsals but shut down dating rumors.
ABC/Andrew Eccles
“For full clarity, we are not dating,” Umansky previously said in an October 2023 Instagram Story video. “We’ve been dancing together now for six weeks, four hours a day every single day.”
Slater chimed in at the time, explaining that they share “similar personalities” and are very “supportive” of one another.
Umansky had used DWTS — he was eliminated on the October 31, 2023, broadcast — to help cope with his recent breakup. Us confirmed in July 2023 that he and Richards, 55, had separated shortly before the pair denied third-party involvement.
Umansky and Richards, who share three daughters, have yet to file for divorce but the Buying Beverly Hills star recently moved out.
ABC/Eric McCandless
“Kyle and Mauricio have been living separately for the last few months and he’s been staying [in a new condo],” a source exclusively told Usearlier this month. “They’ve both been traveling a lot recently, so it’s working out where they don’t stay under one roof.”
Shortly after Us broke the news of Umansky’s new pad, Richards officially removed his last name from her social media bios.
Beckham, 49, met with Charles, 75, for a “private meeting” on Friday, May 10, to learn more about the King’s Foundation, an educational charity that aims to put people at the center of designing their communities, according to London’s The Times.
Meanwhile, the Duke of Sussex, 39, happened to be in the U.K. earlier this week to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. Prince Harry attended a commemorative service, where he gave a reading, on Wednesday, May 8, at St. Paul’s Cathedral, just 2 miles away from Buckingham Palace.
Harry reportedly invited Charles, Prince William and sister-in-law Princess Kate Middleton to attend the service, but he ultimately attended the event solo. According to a spokesman for Harry, the King’s schedule was too packed to fit in a meeting with his youngest son.
“In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in the U.K. this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program,” a spokesperson for Harry told Us Weekly in a statement on Tuesday, May 7.
Prince HarryMax Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Co-founded by Prince Harry, a former captain in the British Armed Forces, in 2014, the Invictus Games is an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick service persons and veterans. The most recent Invictus Games were held in Germany in September 2023.
Harry previously visited the U.K. earlier this year to see his father. Buckingham Palace announced in February that the King had “commenced a schedule of regular treatments” for cancer, and had been advised by his doctors to step back from his public-facing duties. He resumed his royal responsibilities in April after his medical team were “encouraged by [his] progress” and “remain positive” about his recovery.
“Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimize any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery,” an April 26 statement from the palace read. “The pacing of the King’s program will be carefully calibrated as his recovery continues, in close consultation with his medical team.”
At the time of his diagnosis, Harry quickly returned to London to see his father, though their meeting lasted less than an hour. “I jumped on a plane and went to go see him as soon as I could,” Harry explained to Good Morning America at the time. “I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.”
Amid Charles’ health struggles, Princess Kate revealed to the public in March that she, too, had been diagnosed with cancer and would retreat from the public eye as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy.
While Harry extended an invitation to the Invictus Games service, tensions still appear to be running high among the royal family. (Harry and his wife Meghan Markle sent well wishes in a public statement after Kate announced her diagnosis.)
“The Duke and Duchess [of Sussex] want to be super respectful and don’t want to add stress to the situation,” a source exclusively told Us earlier this month. “If Will and Kate want their space, Meghan and Harry will give it to them.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were caught up in the spirit of the Invictus Games during their second day in Nigeria, with Harry being so enamored by a volleyball exhibition that he joined in on the fun.
Harry, 39, and Markle, 42, were invited to watch a training session for the game of sitting volleyball put on by Nigeria: Unconquered, a charity affiliated with the competition for wounded soldiers that Harry began in 2014. The royal couple were at the session at the invitation of the country’s Chief of Defense Staff Christopher Muse.
They arrived at the event at the Defense Headquarters Officers’ Mess in Nigeria’s capital city Abuja and were gifted green-and-white scarves to represent the Nigerian flag. After Markle and Harry watched Nigeria’s competitors practice, Harry was invited to join in and play against the Nigerian athletes. The exhibition was split into two groups: Team CDS and Team Harry, with the crowd cheering on the Duke of Sussex.
Markle revealed that Harry has long-loved the American-born sport, telling a 9-year-old girl in attendance that the prince is “very good” on the court.
“She said Prince Harry loves to play volleyball and that he’s very good at it,” Tiwa Akanbi told People. “And she asked me if I play volleyball in my school. And I said yes.”
The Duke and Duchess are in the midst of their first official trip to Nigeria. They kicked off their three-day visit, which also serves as a celebration of Harry’s Invictus Games turning 10, with a visit to a school in the capital city.
Andrew Esiebo/Getty Images for The Archewell Foundation
The trip comes among speculation about Harry’s relationship with his father, King Charles III. Though he was in London earlier this week for an Invictus celebration, Charles did not attend and Harry was unable to call on him.
“In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not The Duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program,” a representative for Harry told Us Weekly at the time.
Harry and Charles, 75, have suffered from a strained relationship since Harry made the decision to step away from his royal duties and move to the United States, and their estrangement only grew in the wake of the duke’s 2023 memoir, Spare. In the wake of Charles’ cancer diagnosis, Harry has reportedly made in-roads on repairing that relationship. The California-based royal hopped a plane to London almost immediately after learning of his father’s condition and later celebrated the ability to talk with his dad in an interview with Good Morning America.
“I love my family,” he said during the chat in February of this year. “The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.
However, amid Princess Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis, the mood remains tense between Harry and brother Prince William.
Markle has attempted to smooth ruffled feathers, while respecting that William, 41, is going through a tough time. His wife, Princess Kate Middleton, was also recently diagnosed with cancer. An insider told Us that the “Duke and Duchess [of Sussex] … don’t want to add stress to the situation.”
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