Netflix’s version of the Sistine Chapel was made in under 10 weeks! (Picture: Rex)
Netlix built an elaborate recreation of the Sistine Chapel for its new film The Two Popes after the Vatican denied access to the real thing, it’s emerged.
A set designer also revealed that Netflix’s take on the holy building is technically bigger than original!
The drama dropped on the streaming service on 20 December 2019.
Designer Mark Tildesley told the LA Times: ‘Ours is actually two inches bigger than the original so we can technically say we made the bigger Sistine Chapel.’
Creators used a studio in Rome to build the set – which was completed in less than 10 weeks – because narrative filming is banned in the religious building, known for its beautiful paintings by Michelangelo.
(That said, documentaries are approved on a case-by-case basis, FYI.)
Could’ve fooled us (Picture: Netflix)
According to reports, the artist’s 16th century tableaus were recreated using a dye process similar to transfer tattoos applied to skin with water.
The Two Popes, which is inspired by true events, details the friendship between Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.
At 82 years old, Anthony Hopkins is joining the Netflix family (Picture: Getty)
Pope Benedict is played by Anthony Hopkins and the current Pope by Jonathan Pryce.
Speaking about his role to Deadline recently, Hopkins said: ‘What I liked about him was this kind of isolation that I myself experience. I’m not a very touchy-feely person, and I’m a little reserved, and I mind my own business. I thought, I can really get this man.’
He furthermore added: ‘It was a very easy role for me to play. I’d have to play an old man, and I am an old man. I know he had bad legs, and I have bad legs, and I have a bad back.
‘So, working with Jon and then going into the scene in the Sistine Chapel, I really did have to deal with getting up the steps. So, it was no big stretch for me.’
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Zelda Williams tried her luck out at ‘Which famous Disney character are you?’ and got her dad Robin Williams’ famous role as Genie from Aladdin.
The game, which is an Instagram filter that randomly generates a Disney character on your forehead, had us all emotional when Zelda had her late father’s role chosen as her character.
Sharing the clip of her using the filter on Twitter, the 30-year-old simply captioned it: ‘Y’all…’
We’re not crying, you’re crying.
Zelda sat down rolling her eyes at the camera while a roulette of Disney characters speeded through.
Eventually, the roulette slowed down before stopping at Genie in all his glory and she burst into shocked laughter at the coincidence.
Although Zelda opted out of posting a public tribute for her father in 2019, the actress honoured Robin with a long post in 2018.
Alongside a photo of her and her dad, she wrote: ‘It’s that time of year again. Everyone who has dealt with loss knows the pain of certain anniversaries, moments full of memory that come round like clockwork and usurp all others, no matter how hard you may try to prepare for or avoid them. These weeks are the hardest for me, and thus, you’ll see me a lot less, if at all.
‘For all the internet’s good intentions in expressing to me their fondness for dad, it’s very overwhelming to have strangers need me to know how much they cared for him right now. It’s harder still to be expected to reach back.’
She went on to thank fans for thinking of and missing the actor as much as she does.
‘Creatively swear a lot,’ Zelda ended her post. ‘Everytime you do, somewhere out there in our vast weird universe, he’s giggling with you… or giving a particularly fat bumblebee its wings. Happy early birthday, Poppo. Miss you every day, but especially these ones.’
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Rita Ora spent New Year’s Day nursing a hungover, just like many of us… although, she did so in a fancy place in LA.
Of course she did.
The I Will Never Let You Down singer spent most of the festive season with family in the Caribbean destination of St Barts, including her mum Vera, before heading to La La Land.
As well as a string of selfies (the light at sunset agrees with her) the star posted some very entertaining – and slightly bizarre – Instagram Stories.
In one she was seen singing along to Adele’s Hello and licking the naked flame of a lighter. (Don’t try that at home!).
In another she was asked ‘which Harry Potter character are you?’, to which she (incredibly) replied: ‘I’ve never really watched it that much. And I’m British, don’t tell anybody!’
‘Sorry Hp fans T haven’t seen it in ages and I’m hungover,’ she added in a caption.
Rita Ora is in St Barts for the festive season (Picture: Instagram/ritaora)
We’ve no idea Rita (Picture: Instagram/ritaora)
The star also revealed in her videos that she was to spend the evening watching the Renee Zellweger-starring Judy Garland biopic Judy with friends.
Rita – who had spent the previous evening at the Weeknd’s NYE party – is no doubt fitting in some downtime before she flies back to the UK to front new music show The Masked Singer.
Rita has a new TV show and film out in 2020. (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)
She’ll be a judge on the show, which starts on 4 January 2020 on ITV, alongside Davina McCall, Ken Jeong and Jonathan Ross.
The pair – who will both be appearing in Twist, a 2021 film adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist – were seen hand-in-hand leaving the British Fashion Awards last month.
We can’t wait to see if their chemistry translates to the silver screen…
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Re-sharing her own post from 2014, Lexii said on New Year’s Eve: ‘Stayin in the crib as usual on New Years… Iont [sic] do parties. I hope everyone has fun, be safe!’
This is heartbreakingly poignant.
Kehlani, known for songs like Gangsta and Good Life, was among the first to pay tribute to rising star Lexii.
‘Jus got the worst f**kin news ever. my heart is BROKE. F**K’, she wrote.
Lexii’s last message on Facebook (Picture: Facebook)
‘Weakest saddest way to start a new year. i’m off this happy new year please please please please be safe out here.
‘love on your people please.
Lexii had collaborated with the likes of Kehlani during her short career (Picture: 2018 Getty Images)
Kehlani was among the stars to pay tribute (Picture: John Photography/REX)
She added: ‘It’s hard to have so much faith in god and that everything happen for a reason cuz it’s s**t i can’t imagine there ever being a reason for why bro.
‘You were so special bro i seen you fight thru it all i seen u thug it out lex imma miss you so bad you was about to get everything you always talked about.’
i keep typing and backspacing you knew what you meant to me everyone knew what you meant you were so special bro i seen you fight thru it all i seen u thug it out lex imma miss you so bad you was about to get everything you always talked about
Kehlani and Lexii, whose real name was Alexis Alijai Lynch, collaborated on the 2015 track Jealous.
Rapper Wale also spoke out about the news, tweeting ‘Lexii… my God man…’
The musician grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota and built a following rapping over songs such as Drake’s Girls Love Beyonce and Bryson Tiller’s Exchange.
She released her debut album, Growing Pains in 2017.
RIP Lexii.
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Stacey Solomon shared an honest bikini photo and fans can’t get enough (Picture: WireImage)
Stacey Solomon has been praised for sharing an honest photo of herself in a bikini as she cuddled up to baby Rex.
The 30-year-old – who welcomed the little one with boyfriend Joe Swash last year – took the newborn on a swimming date with her eldest son, Zachary, as they made the most of the festive break.
And she took a second to have a mini photoshoot with the newborn, grinning widely while they posed by the pool.
‘New year, same me,’ she began. ‘Because why change something that brought me the most happiness I could ever imagine.
‘That brought me the smiley seven month old in the picture and the most amazing 11 year old taking it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
‘Here’s to another year of loving our bodies no matter how hard society tries to stop us.’
During an appearance on Stacey’s Here We Go Again podcast, he lifted the lid on their romance, explaining that he ‘resented’ her.
‘I did resent you. But it’s weird, because in any other situation, I would have probably have gone “we just need to take some time apart, we need to have a little separation” that’s how bad it was,’ he said.
‘I think because it’s a baby, it makes everything acceptable. There’s a real reason behind it. If it was just a normal, everyday, this is how we are feeling.
‘Fine, I would have to think about where we were in a relationship. Because we had our baby, our family, it all becomes acceptable.’
Despite the slight rough patch, the couple are ‘really strong’ now and happier than ever with their little one.
‘Honestly, Stacey, I have to take my hat off to you. The whole pregnancy, the whole birth, you handled it like a legend,’ he added.
‘It didn’t go to plan, you still jumped straight back onto it. You have been amazing since. Our kid is amazing, he’s the happiest, smiliest baby I have ever met in my life!
‘Listen, I’ve seen the worst you’ve got to give me, and if I can swallow the worst that you can give me, then we are really good.’
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Disney+ just dropped an exciting new sneak peek for the Lizzie McGuire reboot and fans can’t handle it.
The hugely popular streaming platform took to social media on the very first day of the year to share a compilation of what’s coming up in 2020.
But it’s three particular seconds within the one minute clip causing a stir.
At about the 0:45 mark, Lizzie McGuire (played by Hilary Duff) popped her head through a car window and excitedly said: ‘Hi, it’s me!’
And it’s truly what dreams are made of.
Lizzie McGuire is here to save 2020 (Picture: Disney Plus / YouTube)
The Lizzie McGuire movie was released in 2003 (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)
It’s been 17 years since we’ve seen Lizzie McGuire on screen (Picture: Startraks/REX/Shutterstock)
Disney+ wrote in the caption: ‘Is this not what 2020 vision means? From #ToyStory 4 and Aladdin to #LizzieMcGuire and WandaVision, here’s a look into our future at the blockbusters and Originals coming to #DisneyPlus this year.’
It’s unclear who Lizzie’s talking to in the car and fans are eager to find out (as well as see the actual show, of course).
One fan tweeted: ‘Did I just see an older version of #LizzieMcGuire all grown up?’
While another wrote: ‘Grew up with Lizzie. I’m excited for the new show!’
And another commented on Instagram: ‘This is what dreams are made of’.
The new Lizzie McGuire series sees our teen protagonist all grown up and living in New York in her 30s.
However, it seems she will be returning to California soon enough to rejoin her mum Jo (Hallie Todd), dad Sam (Robert Carradine) and brother Matt (Jake Thomas).
Lizzie McGuire only ran for two seasons – but 65 episodes – from 2001 until 2004, but had a huge fanbase, which was only boosted with the release of The Lizzie McGuire Movie in 2003.
The show followed Lizzie, a 13-year-old girl, as she navigated family drama, first crushes and school with her best friends Gordo (Adam Lamberg) and Miranda (Lalaine) – with an animated version of Lizzie sharing her innermost thoughts.
The reboot, however, will see Lizzie as a 30-year-old, with Hilary – who is now a mum-of-two – telling E! News: ‘What are the struggles of a 30-year-old right nowWhat are the pressures that life throws in front of a woman who is 30 and doesn’t have all the things yet?’
Who else can’t contain their excitement?
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BIGBANG singer Daesung has been cleared of suspicions after it was reported that a prostitution service was operating in the building he owned.
South Korean police have decided not to lay charges against the Flower Road singer in their investigation into the illegal activities.
In 2018, Channel A reported that prostitution services were being operated in a building that Daesung owns but he denied knowing about any of the activities.
He announced legal action against the business but an unnamed lawyer claimed that Daesung was aware of the happenings in the building.
It was claimed: ‘On September 20, 2017, Daesung visited a law firm to find out if the building owner could be held responsible if illegal adult entertainment was found on its premises.
‘Before purchasing the building, he brought a real estate agent and the branch manager of a bank to receive a consultation at the law firm. There, he asked about the illegal entertainment laws, such as prostitution.’
The star was recently discharged from military service (Picture: YONHAP/EPA-EFE/REX)
On 2 January, the Seoul Gangnam Police Station concluded that the singer is cleared of suspicion and won’t be charged after questioning him and reviewing documents and testimonies.
Daesung testified that he was unaware of any illegal activities (such as prostitution) was happening in the building, and the police weren’t able to find any evidence against him.
The decision comes after Daesung was discharged from his mandatory military service on 10 November 2019.
According to sources, Daesang paid 12 million KRW of that from his own money, while sourcing the rest from a bank loan.
Metro.co.uk have contacted reps for comment.
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The picture celebrated the success of the new Top Boy released in 2019 and asked whether we’ll be seeing another chapter this year.
Drake then replied: ‘Of course.’
Dreams really do come true, huh?
Drake has just made 2020 the best year yet (Picture: Instagram)
Drake helped to bring Top Boy back in 2019, six years after it last aired on Channel 4.
The 10-part series saw Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson reprise their roles as Dushane and Sully, with the likes of Dave and Lil Simz also joining the cast.
Drake is out there making our Top Boy dreams come true (Picture: Wire Image)
‘We haven’t had the actual green light yet but it’s looking promising,’ he said.
‘In preparation for that we’ve already been working out storylines and writing so it’s looking good. Obviously I won’t give anything away but it’s looking dope and we’re all looking forward to going again with the show,’ Ashley teased.
Ahead of the series one release, he teased: ‘We want to do a new season and we’re talking to Netflix about it. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve all achieved with the new season.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted Netflix for comment.
Top Boy is available to stream on Netflix.
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The ongoing soap opera storyline engulfing WWE has divided fans – and now Lana has spoken out against the haters with a defiant response.
The superstar has hit out at fans criticising the drama, which has seen her leave husband Rusev – who she is married to in real life – for Bobby Lashley, while the returning Liv Morgan shocked the audience as the latter revealed she had a fling with Lana in the past during Monday’s wedding skit on Raw.
The huge twist stunned fans and drew some backlash as some viewers suggested the company was introducing an LGBTQ character in an exploitative way.
Don’t assume someone’s sexuality. Just because they are not out spoken in the LGTBQ community doesn’t mean that they’re not pansexual, bisexual, gay, transgender or trying to process their sexuality. Even if they are married. For many it’s complicated. Please have compassion
However, Lana argued: ‘Don’t assume someone’s sexuality. Just because they are not out spoken in the LGBTQ community doesn’t mean that they’re not pansexual, bisexual, gay, transgender or trying to process their sexuality.
‘Even if they are married. For many it’s complicated. Please have compassion (sic).’
The superstar didn’t suggest if she was talking about herself or Liv Morgan, or simply more generally.
She has since pointed to the huge success of the wedding – which has almost four million views on YouTube so far – and hailed it as the most-watched segment of 2019.
‘I hate to rub it in all my haters & naysayers faces right now but MY wedding on #Raw was the highest part of #MondayNightRaw going up 40 percent from the rest of the show & the highest ratings of the year,’ she tweeted.
I hate to rub it in all my haters & naysayers faces right now but MY wedding on #Raw was the highest part of #MondayNightRAW going up 40 percent from the rest of the show & the highest ratings of the year ! #LanaAndLashleyWedding#Lana#movingtheneedle
He said: ‘I’m always dealing with differing opinions so that’s nothing new. It’s part of the business. If the fans watch then they watch, and they know it’s going to be one of the hottest angles we have right now.’
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Meat Loaf has thrown his support behind veganism, but says he absolutely will not change his name to Veg Loaf.
The 72-year-old I’d Do Anything For Love singer partnered with Italian-American restaurant Frankie & Benny’s to promote their new vegan menu throughout ‘Veganuary’ (Vegan January).
Their new menu features a ‘no cheese cheesecake’, a vegan hot dog and a garlic pizza bread (with vegan mozzarella, of course).
In a tongue-in-cheek new video, two restaurant employees approach the American singer with an idea for a partnership and rebrand from Meat Loaf to Veg Loaf.
He’s not convinced by the latter and bluntly responded: ‘I’m not changing my name.’
Meat Loaf is throwing his support behind the vegan movement (Picture: Frankie & Benny’s)
But in a statement, Meat Loaf – real name Marvin Lee Aday – threw his full support behind the campaign.
‘When Frankie & Benny’s first approached me to rebrand to Veg Loaf I said no way in hell – I won’t do that,’ he said. ‘But, I’d do anything for our planet and dropping meat for veg.’
(You took the words right out of our mouth, Meat Loaf!)
He added: ‘Even for just one day a week, can make a huge difference – which is why I’m backing Frankie’s new vegan menu.’
Clearly all over Greggs-gate last year, Meat Loaf said: ‘I’ve had a sneak peek at the new menu, and after hearing you folks went crazy over a vegan sausage roll last year, I know you’ll love this.’
We wonder how Piers Morgan will feel about Meat Loaf’s support for the vegan movement…
Piers put the success of Gregg’s vegan sausage rolls down to…himself (Picture: ITV)
Famously against Greggs’ vegan sausage roll last year, Piers raged and ranted against the move, slamming the chain as ‘PC-ravaged clowns’.
After making a huge fuss over it, he tried one live on air and remarked: ‘They stink!’
As he placed it in his mouth, he gagged: ‘Ugh, God… God’.
He then picked up a bin and spat the baked goods out: ‘Why would anyone eat this?’
Maybe because they want to reduce their carbon footprint, Piers.
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The actress, most known for 90s cult classics including Dawson’s Creek and Freaks & Geeks revealed that when she found out the news she sat in the airport crying and drank shots of tequila (wouldn’t we all have done that?).
Taking to Instagram to reflect on 2019 (like most of us have) the star looked back at the past year starting with how she reacted when her show got cancelled.
The post began: ‘Final round of #almostgrams 2019! The Busy Tonight was cancelled round!! On APRIL 5, 2019! I flew to Dallas to shoot commercials over the weekend for Michael’s. When my plane took off, the song that came on shuffle was my favourite Deerhunter song He Would Have Laughed. I felt like it was a good sign. When I landed, my manager texted me to call her. Which I did. And she told me E! would not renew my show after the order was finished in a month.
‘It was effectively cancelled. I was blindsided, especially since the last text I had from the head of E(who’s now gone) was about marketing for busy tonight that he was excited to tell me about. Anyway. I did what anyone would do. I sat in the lobby of the hotel in Dallas and ordered three tequilas and called Marc, Caissie, Eric, Tina, Caissie again and I cried.’
As if we didn’t love her enough already (Picture: Busy Philips Instagram)
She even got a tattoo (Picture: Busy Philipps / Instagram)
Along with the post the mum-of-two shared a selection of pictures that really captured the moment she found out the news, there are photos of her in the lift (crying), a selfie of her in the bathroom (crying) – and she even got a tattoo on the day.
We have all taken a selfie when we have cried before…right? (Picture: Busy Philipps / Instagram)
The post continued: ”I waited for a call or email from someone at E, which never came so I sent a text to the head of the network that truly makes me lol to this day(slide 3). Then I took some selfies(first 2 pics), got a text from Marc reminding me about the Deerhunter song(slide 4), made a music video in my hotel room to it(which I posted to my stories at the time), then I went and got a tattoo on my ankle; the illustration from my book from the chapter where I got super f***ed over by some dudes in this business(slide 5).’
It then ended with her thanking her fans – so it’s safe to say she’s looking forward to the year ahead.
‘THEN before I went to bed, I saw it was a new moon and what that moon meant(slide6). And. Anyway. It all started to become clear and I knew things were going to be better than fine. Right before the show was finished, I found a letter my daughter wrote to E! and I feel like as this year is almost over, the decade is closing, it’s the right time to post the letter(slides 7,8,9🤣). And all the rest of it from April 5,’ she added.
‘Because here’s the thing. The moon was right, the song WAS a good sign, my girl knows something about her mom- I work hard AF and love to prove people wrong and finally, the men will always try to fuck you over so fuck em and figure out something else. Which is exactly what Caissie and I have been doing. And next year; in 2020 we will finally be able to share it. 😍 So Happy New Year everyone!!Goodnight you guys! I love you SO much!!!’
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Dracula on BBC sparks sad homophobia row among viewers (Picture: BBC)
Dracula’s latest reinvention on the BBC has struck a nerve with viewers – so much so that some have gone as far as threatening to cancel their licence fee.
Because of the beast brutally decapitating a nun, tearing off a dying man’s face and wearing it as a mask? It’s a lot for the BBC, but it wasn’t that.
Have writers Stephen Moffatt and Mark Gatiss lost their touch? Perhaps the jokes just didn’t land? Of course not.
No, it was the threat that Bram Stoker’s fictional creature could be gay. He’s a parasite who slaughtered an entire convent – but it’s the notion he could sleep with another man which really creeped people out.
Actually, he’s not – nor ever has been – interested in sex at all.
‘He doesn’t really have sex with people, he drinks their blood and that’s a distinction you have to make in life – they’re not the same thing,’ Moffat clarified, although, really, he shouldn’t have to at all.
‘I think Dracula has correctly identified the weakness in the human race: that we lose our minds when sex is involved, and he romances [victims] into a clinch with his teeth into their necks.’
He stressed: ‘He’s not bisexual, he’s bihomicidal – and that’s the point people should make.’
They didn’t, though.
Without even mentioning his own sexuality, Dracula (played by Claes Bang) managed to offend a pool of traditionalists, who somehow jumped to their own conclusions.
‘The #BBC has made #Dracula gay… I have no words, when or more worryingly where will it all end?’ wrote Darren from Plymouth. Who knows, Darren? Perhaps next the BBC will revive Bob The Builder as a ‘woke’ Drag Queen, solely put on the TV so children will never look at the opposite sex again.
Ideally, ‘Darren from Plymouth’ would have been awash with backlash, but actually his fears were echoed by plenty of other social media users with Union Jack flags in their Twitter bio.
‘I’d agree it probably could be if they called it the gay vampire or bent bloodsucker. But it’s Dracula. A classic story that the BBC have walloped into an unrecognisable lump just to virtue signal for bonus woke points (sic.)’ and ‘It’s total s***e, most stuff on the bbc is, started watching Dracula last night, according to the beeb he’s gay, turned it off, utter baloney (sic.)’ were among the heap of viewers who couldn’t – or refused to – allow a sexually fluid Dracula in 2020.
But Dracula isn’t the only fictional character whose sexuality is cemented by those without any imagination. Just put ‘James Bond’ and ‘gay’ in the same sentence and you’ll be chased off social media by an army of homophobes for treason.
What’s perhaps more bewildering here though is Dracula has never been considered ‘ultra-masculine’ – whatever that may be. If anything, throughout countless portrayals of the Count, being ‘camp’ is among the qualities which has been fairly consistent over the past century.
‘If you look at the first Hammer one, the person he’s most excited about biting is Peter Cushing. There’s a real homoerotic moment – he really goes for it,’ Moffatt recalled.
But the fact Moffat even had to state the above proves there’s still a warped fascination with Dracula’s sexuality when he doesn’t even have one. But why? Why would anyone care that a fictional character written over 100 years ago could, as one tabloid put it, ‘bat for both sides’?
Dracula’s sexualirty was scarier than his fangs for many (Picture: BBC/Hartswood Films/Netflix/Robert Viglasky)
Can the inclusion of LGBT figures only be a tool to drive the BBC’s ‘PC b*****s’? Thankfully, sexuality is becoming more irrelevant in dramas.
Gay characters are written less as victims or clowns, and they’ve traditionally always been secondary – never a lead. But in Dracula, there really couldn’t be a character whose sexuality is less relevant or let alone offensive – he doesn’t have one.
Even if he did, it would change little. Stoker’s Van Helsing was written as a man, but Moffat and Gatiss’ added a slight twist in episode one to reveal Sister Agatha (Dolly Wells) was the vampire hunter, and Dracula’s arch-nemesis.
But at no point does the cat and mouse chase of Dracula versus Helsing feel any different to anything we’ve read or seen before (if anything, Dolly Wells should just accept her BAFTA now). So why would an LGBT Dracula?
I wish the reaction to Dracula came as a surprise last night, but it didn’t – not even in the slightest – but that didn’t make trawling through the posts – which blew my ‘woke’ mind into a blizzard of snowflakes – an easier read.
But when nothing has been amended, updated or altered from the original source material in Dracula, I don’t see how there is a problem. His sexual ambiguity is, if anything, a welcomed change.
The LGBTQ community are still yet to recover from New Year’s Eve celebrations to tuck into a primetime drama with a gay lead on January 1, and clearly with the reaction to Dracula, it’s going to be a long time until we get one.
Unfortunately, even the idea of a figure we’ve actually grown up with being gay is just too threatening for some.
Dracula continues tonight at 9pm on BBC One.
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It doesn’t mention One Direction by name but the track title is just way too coincidental.
New diss track, who dis?
She starts off the track by singing: ‘I don’t hate you/ No, I couldn’t if I wanted to/ I just hate all the hurt that you put me through.
‘And that I blame myself for letting you/ Did you know I already knew?’
The 23-year-old doesn’t reveal who he may have cheated on her with but continues singing about her pain.
The two only dated for a year (Picture: Chris Polk/AMA)
‘Couldn’t even see you through the smoke/Lookin’ back, I probably should have known, but I just wanted to believe that you were out sleepin’ alone,’ she sings.
Fans took to Twitter to discuss whether the song is really about the One Direction star.
One user tweeted: ‘Is Hailee Steinfeld new single “Wrong Direction” about Niall Horan? The reference is quite obvious but I refuse to believe.’
‘hailee steinfeld releasing a song called “wrong direction” after dating niall horan from the band ONE DIRECTION,’ another commented.
hailee steinfeld really wrote a song called Wrong Direction about niall she is our greatest comedian
I need a Niall song rebuttle from his perspective to Hailee Steinfeld’s new song “Wrong Direction” because it definitely seemed like whatever went down, they were both hurt
‘Niall is not losing any sleep over Hailee’s upcoming single. He knows the name of the game when it comes to music and these type of songs will happen from time to time, he’ll likely do it in the future himself,’ the insider said.
‘You have to write about what you know, whether it is heartache and heartbreak or the love of your life. This sort of thing is going to happen all the time and Niall is totally cool with whatever she has to do for her career, even if it ends up bashing him.’
The two never confirmed the romance besides sharing a public kiss back in August 2018.
Metro.co.uk have previously gone to reps for comment.
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‘She definitely had a panic attack. She was nervous,’ they told People magazine.
‘She hasn’t been on stage in two years, and it’s an important song in her career. She really wanted to deliver.’
Another source added to E! News: ‘Selena definitely had anxiety and a panic attack before she went out and was putting a lot of pressure on herself.’
Well, we think she smashed it.
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Dakota Fanning and Chris Evans are set to present awards at 2020 Golden Globes (Picture: Rex/Getty)
As we head closer to the beginning of awards season, stars Dakota Fanning and Chris Evans have been confirmed to be presenting awards at the Golden Globes awards ceremony in February.
While neither actors have been nominated for an award this year, both have appeared in critics’ favourites that are tipped to win big this year.
The two actors starred together in 2009 thriller Push. Meanwhile, comedian Ricky Gervais will host the Golden Globes ceremony for the fifth time.
The actors starred together in 2009 thriller Push (Picture: Rex)
After their appearances in Hollywood movies hits in 2019, both Evans and Fanning will be returning to the small screen in 2020. Evans is due to star in Apple TV+ series Defending Jacob, while Fanning will appear in US TV show The Angel of Darkness, a sequel series to US period drama series The Alienist.
The Golden Globe nominations have already attracted controversy, in particular for the all-male best director nominees shortlist.
The 2020 ceremony is also due to honour Tom Hanks with the Cecil B DeMille Award for ‘outstanding contribution’ to the entertainment world, while Ellen DeGeneres will be awarded the Carol Burnett Award for ‘excellence in television’.
The Golden Globes ceremony will take place on Sunday 5th January.
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Jeffree Star has offered fans a self-guided tour of his mansion in California’s Hidden Hills.
And, suffice to say, it’s a lot.
In the 36-minute video (yes, that’s right, 36), the make-up guru explains that he and boyfriend Nathan Schwandt moved to their new abode because they outgrew their previous digs.
He described their last home as a ‘pink Barbie house’, and as for their new one – well, we’re at a loss for words.
Jeffree, whose real name is Jeffrey Lynn Steininger Jr., invited fellow YouTubers Shane Dawson and Ryland over for the tour and to get their reactions (Basically ‘Oh. My. God’ over and over again).
Jeffree Star is living the dream (Picture: Jeffree Star/YouTube)
Describing his journey to vast wealth and his ‘crazy, French villa’, the YouTuber said: ‘Six years ago I had $500 dollars to my name.
‘I’m proud that I’m self-made. I’m proud that I got this far on my own.’
The star – who comes from Orange County, California – has been dating Nathan since 2015.
Jeffrey has a successful make up company (Picture: 2017 Tara Ziemba)
The 34-year-old also revealed in the clip that his family would be joining them in his ‘castle.’
‘Obviously me, Nate and the dogs aren’t moving into a 10-bedroom house by ourselves, because that would be ridiculous.
No words (Picture: Jeffree Star/YouTube)
‘My mom, not to be really dark – I don’t know much longer she has left, and I want to spend every moment I can with her.’
C’mon, that is sweet.
At this point he says ‘I’m washing off the blood of my enemies’ (Picture: Jeffree Star/YouTube)
The property features live-in security, a game room, a bar, a movie theatre, a 16-car garage and a collection of pinball machines.
Oh and also several fridges with literally nothing in them but bottled water and Red Bull. And what will eventually be a ‘beauty barn.’
OK then.
According to reports, the house cost Star $14.6 million (£12.4 million).
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Love Island 2019 broke ratings records and 2020 is hoping to be even bigger. (Picture: ITV)
Love Island 2020 is hitting our screens soon with the very first winter edition of the show that seeks to help singles find love on TV.
The latest series of the show – and the first ever to be filmed and air in January as opposed to over the summer – will be based in a brand new villa in South Africa.
The villa, located in an exclusive neighbourhood in Cape Town, has been refurbished and fitted out especially for the show, which will apparently feature a more body-diverse cast than previous seasons of the reality TV series.
After it was confirmed that Laura would be replacing Caroline, the Irish-born star said: ‘To say I’m excited to be heading to Cape Town to host Love Island, the biggest show on television, is an understatement.
‘I want to thank ITV for trusting me at the helm of this huge show. I wish it was in better circumstances; Caroline is a brilliant host and also a friend. We’ve spoken a lot in the last few days since she stepped down. She has been very kind to me and strongly pushed me for this role.
‘I’ve watched her host every series and know I have big boots to fill. I will try and do it justice.’
Laura, who is dating Love Island star Ian Stirling, will present the new series, which starts this month. (Picture: Getty/ITV)
She continued: ‘Above all, I am a massive fan of this show. I’ve never been to a Love Island villa, and I can’t wait to get in there to meet all the new Islanders looking for love. The Love Island team are the best in the business… including the voice and heart of the show, Iain. He thought he was getting a holiday away from me… not a chance!’
Love Island returns to ITV2 on Sunday 12 January 2020
Mark Wahlberg enjoying holiday time with his family is too cute (Pictures: BACKGRID)
Mark Wahlberg holidaying in Barbados with his family and play wrestling with his son in the ocean looks like the perfect way to start the New Year.
The 48-year-old actor was spotted in the blazing hot Caribbean sunshine in board shorts and sunnies, flashy watch and stone-studded cross necklace on the first day of 2020.
Stripping shirtless, the father-of-four then took to the water with son Brendan, 11, and began play wrestling and laughing along sweetly.
He then got out of the water and lived out his 007 fantasy by walking back up to the beach dripping wet.
The Instant Family actor wasn’t shy about showing off his ripped body and he absolutely shouldn’t be.
Over a grueling six months last year, he did ‘performance-inspired nutrition, aquahydrate, and F45 training,’ not to mention lots of clean eating.
And can we just say: It is absolutely working.
Mark Wahlberg wrestles son Brendan in the cool Barbados water (Pitcure: SIX / BACKGRID)
Family fun (Picture: SIX / BACKGRID)
Ok, we’re gonna need a minute (Picture: SIX / BACKGRID)
Mark, his wife Rhea, and their four children Ella Rae, 16, Michael, 13, Brendan and Grace Margaret, nine, travel to Barbados every year over the festive season for a sun-filled break.
He took to Instagram over Christmas to post a cute family photo while relaxing in a pool together.
Writing on Instagram, Mark said: ‘Wishing everyone Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!’
But he didn’t stop there.
The Daddy’s Home actor posted a photo with daughter Grace in a golf buggy.
Flexing up a storm, Mark sweetly wrote in the caption: ‘Daddy and daughter time.’
Looking at Mark’s ridiculously chiseled body and wondering how you can get the same?
Well, besides hiring a personal trainer and being a movie star, you better start setting those alarm clocks earlier.
He previously revealed he wakes up at 2:30am (!) every day to get in a half an hour workout before morning prayer and breakfast at 3:15am.
He then has his workout, a shower, plays some golf and has a few snacks before his actual day begins.
After a day of work and time with his family, Mark hits the hay around 7.30pm, ready to do it all again.
Easy.
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Jodie made it Insta official in August (Picture: Jodie Smith/Instagram; Getty)
Pregnant Jodie Turner-Smith started 2020 by posing naked on the beach in a photo taken by her husband Joshua Jackson.
The model, who is spending the holidays in Jamaica with her beau, had her back turned to the camera and posed on the shoreline.
We’re just hoping it was an empty beach and no one saw.
Sharing the snap with her followers, the Queen & Slim star wrote: ‘Happy New Year & Happy New Decade the last 10 years have been quite the ride!!!
‘I laughed, i cried, and, most importantly, i LEARNED. keep going. may we all see that our wildest dreams *continue* to come true #LiveFootageOfMeInMyElement
#ItsNotAThirstTrapIfYourManTakesThePhoto’.
She’s right, it’s not a thirst trap if your loving husband takes the picture.
The only way to take a New Year’s photo (Picture: Jodie Smith Instagram)
The dress even has mermaid scales (Picture: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Joshua and Jodie first sparked romance rumours after being spotted together holding hands in November 2018.
In August 2019, the adorable couple made it Instagram official after Jodie posted a photo of them staring lovingly into each other’s eyes.
She captioned the post: ‘Two people who only fancy each other a little bit.’
They later made their red carpet debut while attending the premiere for Jodie’s new film Queen & Slim – a drama which has her and co-star Daniel Kaluuya running from the cops – in Los Angeles.
Both attended the event wearing Gucci while looking suave as hell.
The Fringe actor wore a three-piece suit while Jodie looked like a majestic mermaid in a silk plissé lilac gown.
What caught everyone’s attention was the fact they both arrived wearing glorious rings on their ring fingers.
If those weren’t enough clues, we don’t know what is.
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The music boss has made some bold claims (Picture: Lifetime)
Music boss Damon Dash has revealed that his ex-girlfriend Aaliyah wanted nothing to do with R. Kelly and that she was just a ‘sacrificial lamb’ in a follow-up documentary.
In a first-look clip of the lifetime documentary titled Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning, the 48-year-old claimed the late singer wanted nothing to do with R. Kelly after they got an annulment on their controversial marriage.
His marriage to Aaliyah was annulled after only a few months because of her age.
Kelly had produced Aaliyah’s first album when she was 14 years old. Sadly, Aaliyah died in a plane crash in 2001 at age 22.
In the clip, Damon made some bold claims as he exclaimed that if other people had protected Aaliyah then ‘so many other girls wouldn’t have gotten touched’.
Damon Dash says Aaliyah wanted absolutely nothing to do with R. Kelly (Picture: Lifetime)
‘Whether they know whether they’re in a bad place or not, the fact that they were able to get touched and they were in a bad place they would have been able to have gotten help earlier,’ he began.
‘You shouldn’t always have to learn from pain but you can learn from other people.’
He continued that Aaliya was like’ the sacrificial lamb’ and she didn’t deserve ‘any of that’.
Aaliyah and Damon Dash dated until she died (Picture: Getty Images North America)
He explained: ‘I know the whole story and I know it was to cover up and all of that, but how did that cover it up it just made the conversation less crazy like he married a child.
‘You know that was a good soul, a good girl and she wasn’t even so resentful like ‘let that man live but keep that f****r away from me.
‘That’s all she wanted. She was just happy to be away.’
He went on to allege that R. Kelly and Aaliyah’s marriage was a ‘cover-up’.
The star appeared via video feed in court in December 2019 where he denied the charge of scheming with others to pay for the document, ahead of the secret 1994 ceremony.
Earlier this month a new indictment accused the singer, 52, of bribing a government official in Illinois back in 1994 to obtain a fake ID for Aaliyah (named as Jane Doe in documents, but believed to be Aaliyah) to show she was 18 years old. It’s alleged the ID was used in order to secure a marriage license when Aaliyah was 15.
Kelly, then 27, and Aaliyah married in August 1994, a day after the alleged bribe took place, reports The New York Times. The same claim was made in a documentary, Surviving R Kelly, that aired in January, by one of Kelly’s former tour managers.
R. Kelly and Aaliyah in the documentary (Picture: Lifetime)
Responding to the latest claims, Kelly’s lawyer, Steven Greenberg, said in an interview with Good Morning America: ‘My understanding is that [Aaliyah] did not claim to be 15, and in order to get married, she had to lie about her age.’
The I Believe I Can Fly hitmaker’s lawyers have long maintained that Kelly was unaware of Aaliyah’s age when they married, while the Illinois marriage license used for the wedding said she was 18.
The new charges against Kelly add to an already existing indictment filed against the star – accusing him of ‘sexually exploiting underage girls and coercing them into illegal sexual activity’.
He is currently in prison, without bail, after he was indicted on 18 charges back in July, including sexual exploitation, child pornography production, kidnapping, forced labour, racketeering, and obstruction of justice.
Kelly has denied all charges against him.
Metro.co.uk previously contacted Kelly’s reps for comment.
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