SHOW BIZ

“Internalized stigma is what occurs when applying the stereotypes about who gets HIV, the prejudice, the negative feelings, onto yourself,” says Smith.

In 2024, 38% of people living with HIV reported internalized stigma. And studies show that it can predict hopelessness and lower quality of life, even when people are engaged in care or virally suppressed.

Internalized stigma can also affect how people practice safe sex and communicate about the virus. A 2019 survey of men who have sex with men found that individuals who perceived greater community-level stigma were less likely to be aware of—and use—safer-sex functions available on dating apps, such as HIV-status disclosure fields, as well as sexual health information and resources.

“[HIV phobia] is probably the most intense, subvert bigotry I think you could experience,” Joseph Monroe Jr., a 48-year-old living in the Bronx, told Uncloseted Media.

On dating apps, men have messaged him things like, “You look like you’ve got that thing” and “Go ahead and infect someone else.”

Monroe Jr. has also dealt with misinformed people who rudely opine about how he contracted the virus: “Who fucked you? That’s how you got it, right?” people will say to him.

“You end up internalizing all these stereotypes about who gets HIV—that you were promiscuous, that you didn’t care about yourself, that you did something wrong,” says Smith. “You carry that in, and then you have to relearn: ‘No, I didn’t. This is just a health condition.’”

What HIV Acceptance Looks Like and Raising Awareness

For those living with HIV, acceptance feels far away.

“You’re living under this threat of HIV and the threat that others find you threatening. It inhabits you socially and sexually,” Koester says. “People are hunkering down. Not putting themselves out there and having a mediocre quality of life. To have a sense of empowerment, you have to be legitimate and seen in the world and it’s hard to do that with the stigma that exists.”

Researchers say the path forward lies as much in conversation as in medicine.

Koester says she talks about HIV and PrEP anywhere she can, including in salons, cafes and restaurants. “Whenever I get into a cab with someone, I’m going to bring up HIV so the driver gets accustomed to hearing about it. … We have a long way to go in terms of exposure and awareness and every little bit helps.”

Part of this lies in increasing awareness through targeted marketing campaigns. PrEP is still profoundly misunderstood outside major urban centers, with uneven uptake among minority groups and usage gaps in the bible belt. And a 2022 U.S. survey found that 54.5% of people living with HIV didn’t know what U=U meant, and less than half of Americans agree that people living with HIV who are on proper medications cannot transmit the virus.

While eradicating stigma is slow, there is hope for acceptance.

Years after Jack’s diagnosis, in 2021, he told a man he was on a third date with that he was HIV-positive but undetectable. His date’s reply was almost casual: “Oh—is that it? I thought you were going to say you had a boyfriend or something. I’m on PrEP. You’re fine.”

“It felt so good to hear him say that and accept me,” says Jack. “I was like, ‘This is my person. You’re my person.’” One year later, they got married.

Back in Florida, 19-year-old Cody Nester isn’t feeling this acceptance. He still scrolls past profiles that read “Only negative guys” and tries to ignore the hateful messages.

“It still hurts, but I know it’s coming from fear,” he says. “I wasn’t too informed about HIV before I got it. … When I got it, I really jumped into the rabbit hole and began to learn. I really do think [HIV and stigma] is because people are not knowledgeable. … When people don’t know details, they tend to get scared.”

Additional Reporting by Nandika Chatterjee.

If objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism is important to you, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, Resource Impact, by clicking this button:

Donate to Uncloseted Media

HOLLY Ramsay appears to have taken yet another very public swipe at her new husband Adam Peaty’s estranged family.

The daughter of Gordon Ramsay has excluded her in-laws once again following her wedding in a new article for Vogue magazine.

The fashion publication has shared a slew of snaps from the big day at Bath Abbey including the first-look at the FIVE wedding dresses she opted to wear.

Holly took control of the piece, writing her own picture captions and seemingly shading Adam’s family in the process amid their ongoing family feud.

Adam famously disinvited his mother to the big day after severing ties with many members of the Peaty clan amid a tough few months.

Now, Holly has seemingly excluded them once again with a cutting dig.

Read More on Holly Ramsay

clap back

Holly Ramsay defends dad’s savage wedding speech & swipe at Adam’s family feud

GIFT SPLURGE

Holly Ramsay & Adam Peaty spend HUGE sum on gifts for 200 wedding guests

Captioning a family snap in her Vogue article showcasing the wedding party, Holly penned: “Our people.”

It appeared to hint that as Adam’s family were not part of the wedding party that they were not a part of the newlyweds’ ‘people’.

The image showed Gordon and her mum Tana, alongside sisters Tilly and Megan, who both wore matching red Victoria Beckham gowns.

Adam’s sister, Bethany, the only member of his family to attend, also wore the same red gown and was included in the snap.

The swimmer’s groomsmen as well as Holly’s younger brothers completed the snap.

Adam’s brother, mother, father as well as his aunts and uncles were all missing after being scrubbed from the ceremony.

Furthermore, Holly captioned a photograph of her alongside mum Tana and family friend, Victoria Beckham, with: “Mama, Victoria and me. Two of my favourite women.”

The caption is likely to sting for Adam’s mum Caroline who was blocked from attending the nuptials as well as not being invited to Holly’s hen-do alongside Tana and Victoria.

Holly married Adam wearing a custom-made Elie Saab dress.

The long-flowing gown featured a lace-pattern throughout with Holly confessing she was able to make her own changes to the dress after first trying it on in London.

The gown, which she wore to walk down the aisle before changing into many others throughout the day, also featured see-through sleeves.

Speaking of the dress, Holly told Vogue:  “I knew I wanted to wear something very traditional and quite modest, with lace.

“I’ve always loved Grace Kelly and Kate Middleton’s gowns: that beautiful high neckline, super feminine.”

Holly added she was “obsessed” with her gown, admitting: “It makes me feel very princess-like.”

She went onto change into another Elie Saab number for the reception at Kin House – a shorter gown that she described as “fun”.

The number featured rhinestones and exposed Holly’s long legs as she opted to dance the night away in the mini-dress.

Prior to that, she also donned another dress – this time her mother’s 1996 gown that she wore for her big day to Gordon.

Holly wanted to wear the dress to honour her mum, revealing: “I’ve always loved the idea of bringing in mum’s dress at some point.

“It’s beautiful: silk with a V-neckline and pearls all the way around.

“I tried it on and it fit me perfectly – it didn’t need any altering.”

As part of the wedding weekend, Holly also opted for a custom Victoria Beckham slip dress for the action the night before the ceremony.

Adam recently appeared to show no signs of offering up an olive branch after he thanked Jesus for everything that had happened in the year – despite the fractious feud.

The sport star appeared grateful for how things had panned out this year – even if it meant falling out with his family.

He shared a quote, which read: “It’s the last day of 2025. Thank you Jesus for everything this year.”

Elsewhere, the rift was also referenced during the ceremony when Gordon appeared to take a jibe at Adam’s parents.

He delivered a fiery speech of his own, saying his wife Tana “will be a good mum to them both”.

Gordon gushed at how beautiful Holly looked and told Adam he was a “lucky man”, adding: “Look at Tana and that’s what you have to look forward to.”

And in a sly dig at Adam’s absent parents he told Holly: “Shame you don’t have the same.”

Now, the content creator spoke about a photo showing her and Adam at the ceremony and referenced the speech, saying: “Listening to dad’s speech, looking around the room and feeling overwhelmed with the love and the happiness on our guests’ faces.”

It’s been a tumultuous time for Adam and his family.

On Tuesday, The Sun revealed that Adam uninvited his great aunt and uncle from his wedding – just four days before the ceremony.

The lead up to their nuptials was fraught with drama, after Adam, 31, uninvited his mum Caroline when a feud erupted over her failing to be invited to Holly’s hen do.

It was then revealed that Adam had said his dad Mark could attend the wedding – but he would have to sit at the back of the church.

Unsurprisingly, Mark chose not to attend, as did Adam’s brothers James and Richard.

Now, The Sun can reveal that his great aunt Janet, 73, and uncle Eddie were uninvited in a very brutal way just four days before the ceremony.

A source said: “They got an automated message basically saying they were off the guest list and to respect Adam and Holly’s decision.

“It was so impersonal, and just four days before the big day.”

The brutal text came despite the fact the couple had already shelled out hundreds of pounds on accommodation, outfits and gifts.

Adam’s older sister Beth was the only family member to be invited to the big day – and along with Holly’s sisters Tilly, 24 and Megan, 27, she was one of the three bridesmaids.

Adam’s once close pal, Olympic swimmer and The Bi Life star Michael Gunning was also disinvited from the event just days before.

CHILLING details have been revealed in the strange death of Tommy Lee Jones’s daughter.

Former child star Victoria Jones, 34, was found unresponsive in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Staff thought Jones had been drinking when they found the 34-year-old lying on the ground of the 14th floor of the ritzy Fairmont hotel, San Francisco.

She was spotted by a guest who thought she “might be drunk”, a source told The Daily Mail.

But when desperate attempts to revive her failed, they realised the truth.

Hotel staff quickly started CPR and called an ambulance, but couldn’t bring her back.

TRAGIC LOSS

Tommy Lee Jones’ daughter ‘found dead on New Year’s Day in luxury hotel’

‘IN OUR HEARTS’

JFK’s granddaughter dead at 35 only weeks after revealing cancer diagnosis

Emergency services were called to the swanky hotel at 2.52am, where paramedics found Victoria unresponsive, TMZ reported.

First responders pronounced Victoria, daughter of actor Tommy Lee Jones, dead at the scene.

There were no signs of foul play or trauma to the body, according to the Daily Mail source.

Cops didn’t find drug paraphernalia on the scene, or any signs that Jones had taken her own life.

Her cause of death remains a mystery, and San Francisco police have asked anyone with information about the incident to get in touch with them.

It is still unclear if the child star was a guest at the hotel or what she was doing on the 14th floor.

A spokesperson for the police force said: “On 1/1/26 at approximately 3:14 a.m., San Francisco Police officers responded to a hotel located on the 900 block of Mason street regarding a report of a deceased person.

“At the scene, officers met with medics, who declared the adult female deceased. The Medical Examiner arrived on scene and conducted an investigation.”

Victoria was the daughter of Tommy and his second wife Kimberlea Cloughley.

She followed in her father’s footsteps, acting in several films, including 2002’s Men in Black II and One Tree Hill.

She performed her first acting role as a child before making her Hollywood debut in 2002.

Her famous father played Agent K in the Men in Black franchise.

Victoria also appeared in a handful of acting projects as a child, including a 2005 episode of One Tree Hill and a role that same year in the Western picture The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, which was directed by her father.

Tommy is also known for Batman Forever, No Country for Old Men, Captain America: The First Avenger and Jason Bourne.

After a brief stint in Hollywood, Victoria did not act in any other movies, but occasionally appeared alongside her father to attend red carpet events.

In 2017, she posed at his side at the ArcLight Hollywood for the premiere of his movie Just Getting Started, which also starred Morgan Freeman and Rene Russo.

She is survived by her father Jones, her mother Cloughley and her brother, Austin.

John Mayer calls it “adult day care”: the historic recording studio behind the arched gates on La Brea Avenue where famous musicians have been keeping themselves — and one another — creatively occupied since the mid-1960s.

Known for decades as Henson Studios — and as A&M Studios before that — the three-acre complex in the heart of Hollywood has played host to the creation of some of music’s most celebrated records, among them Carole King’s “Tapestry,” Joni Mitchell’s “Blue,” Guns N’ Roses’ “Use Your Illusion” and D’Angelo’s “Black Messiah.”

In 1985, A&M’s parquet-floored Studio A was where Quincy Jones gathered the all-star congregation that recorded “We Are the World” in a marathon overnight session; in 2014, Daft Punk evoked the studios’ wood-paneled splendor in a performance of “Get Lucky” with Stevie Wonder at the 56th Grammy Awards.

A soundstage on the property has seen nearly as much history, including filming for TV’s “The Red Skelton Show” and “Soul Train” and the production of the Police’s MTV-defining music video for “Every Breath You Take.” More recently, Mayer and his bandmates in Dead & Company took over the soundstage to workshop their cutting-edge residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, not long after Mayer cut his most recent solo LP, 2021’s “Sob Rock,” at Henson.

“I used to come here even if I didn’t quite have anything to do,” says the Grammy-winning singer and songwriter known for his romantic ballads and bluesy guitar heroics. “I just wanted to be around music — to have a place to go as an artist to find some structure in my life.”

Now, with an eye on preserving the spot at a moment of widespread upheaval in the entertainment industry, Mayer and his business partner, the filmmaker McG, have finalized a purchase of the lot, which they bought for $44 million from the family of the late Muppets creator Jim Henson and which they’ve renamed Chaplin Studios in honor of the silent-film giant who broke ground on it more than a century ago.

Their vision for Chaplin, which takes up half a city block between Sunset Boulevard and De Longpre Avenue, is ambitious. “We’re doing our best to create kind of a Warhol’s Factory thing of like-minded artists bumping into each other to do their best work possible,” says McG.

And the duo already have some powerful support behind them.

“A lot of my friends and I were very happy to see that Henson was being taken over by some great people,” Paul McCartney tells The Times in an email. The rock legend, who made 2001’s “Driving Rain” and 2018’s “Egypt Station” at Henson, admits that news of the studio’s changing hands left folks in his world “worried that it might not be handled sensitively.”

“However, we realize now we have no reason to be as John Mayer and McG seem to be doing a fantastic job in keeping the famous studio alive.”

Still, the challenges they face are real: Thanks to advances in cheap audio equipment — and with the economics of streaming having cut into once-lavish recording budgets — even A-list artists often opt these days to record at home rather than shell out to book into an old-line studio like Chaplin. (Consider that at least two of the songs nominated for record of the year at February’s Grammys ceremony — Billie Eilish’s “Wildflower” and Chappell Roan’s “The Subway” — were constructed primarily at home.)

“Everyone with a computer and a microphone has a studio,” Mayer says, and that’s not even accounting for the proliferation of music conjured up by AI out of the digital ether.

On the film side, the ongoing exodus of production from L.A. raises natural doubts about the ability to keep a soundstage busy with clients — doubts, one presumes, that led the owners of Occidental Studios near Echo Park to put that lot up for sale last summer.

“The real estate guys weren’t necessarily saying what a prudent business move this was,” says McG, who directed the 2000 blockbuster “Charlie’s Angels” and executive produced TV’s “The O.C.” “But it’s not about the dividend or the monthly spit-out. I admire John for throwing down.”

Says Mayer: “I love doing things that people tell me aren’t gonna work. That’s how I know I’m onto something.”

McG inside the soundstage at Chaplin Studios.

(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Mayer, 48, and McG, 57, are lounging on a December afternoon in Mayer’s ranch-hand-chic office, which occupies what once was the mill where wood for Charlie Chaplin’s movie sets was cut. Last night the co-owners threw a holiday party for the studio’s staff and friends; McG breakdanced — “My neck hurts today, but I got through it,” he says — while Mitchell turned up and played the piano in Mayer’s personal Studio C, where she liked to work in the ’70s.

As we talk, Mayer is sipping no fewer than three different smoothies — an approach he says he picked up from the late Apple founder Steve Jobs, who evidently would order multiple smoothies to ensure he wasn’t missing out on a new discovery.

“There’s something I relate to about that,” Mayer says, his Double RL boots propped on a coffee table in front of him. “I’m gonna have this smoothie and a little bit of these other smoothies to figure out: Does that smoothie beat this smoothie as my all-time-favorite order? What if there’s a smoothie out there in the world that you haven’t tried yet that could be your favorite?”

He puts down one cup and picks up another. “This one has wheatgrass in it,” he reports. “Not for me.”

The singer met McG, whose real name is Joseph McGinty Nichol, in 2024 through the studio’s longtime manager, Faryal Ganjehei. Each had ample experience on the lot: In the 1990s, McG shot music videos on the soundstage for the likes of Sublime and Smash Mouth; Mayer first recorded at Henson in 2005 when he cut a version of “Route 66” for the soundtrack to “Cars.”

“You’d think John and I would have known each other just from around here or from Ari Emanuel’s or whatever,” McG says. “But this was actually a bit of an arranged marriage” between two people who’d separately heard rumblings that the Jim Henson Co. might be looking to move its operations. (The company, which makes a variety of children’s television shows, is now headquartered at Studio City’s Radford Studio Center.)

“One year in, we’re still performing vigorous lovemaking,” McG says of his and Mayer’s union.

“Can’t wait to see that in Times New Roman,” Mayer adds.

Herb Alpert, left, and Jerry Moss at A&M headquarters in 1966.

(Bettmann Archive / Getty Images)

Charlie Chaplin, who was born in London, began building the lot in 1917 in a white-and-brown English Tudor style; he went on to direct some of his best-known films, including “Modern Times” and “The Great Dictator,” on the property. After Chaplin left the United States in 1952, the lot was used for episodes of “The Adventures of Superman” and “Perry Mason.”

In 1966, Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss bought the place and made it the base for their A&M Records; they converted two of the lot’s soundstages into high-end recording studios that drew the the likes of Sergio Mendes, the Carpenters, Stevie Nicks, U2 and John Lennon. Henson took over in 2000 and continued to cultivate what many of the studio’s regulars describe as a cozy family vibe.

“It was truly my home away from home,” says John Shanks, who produced hit records by Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus and Ashlee Simpson, among many others, at Henson. “My kids celebrated birthdays there — they knew where the candy was in Faryal’s office.”

Mayer and McG say they’re putting $9 million into improvements on the lot — “an up-to-speed-ovation,” the director calls it — but have no plans to make significant structural or stylistic changes. Ganjehei’s staff of around 22 engineers, techs and runners will stay on, as will artists who maintain offices and studios on the property, among them Daft Punk’s production company and the duo of Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman.

“We’ve all seen places we loved get renovated and then you go, ‘Yeah, I don’t like it there anymore,’” McG says.

Such as?

“The Four Seasons on Doheny,” Mayer responds. “They took out the old dining room and put in a Culina, and it’s no fun anymore.” Of Chaplin, he says, “This place has a beating heart. All we have to do is effectively not kill it, right?” He laughs. “Just stay away from the big red button that says, ‘I got an idea.’”

Adrian Scott Fine welcomes that attitude.

“It’s what we like to hear — it’s not what we often hear,” says the president and chief executive of the Los Angeles Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to historic preservation. “When places transfer out of long-term stewardship, that always raises our spidey senses: What does this mean for the future? Sometimes they go into safe hands with the next owner. Oftentimes it means radical change, loss of character, maybe demolition or redevelopment. So we’re very hopeful when someone says that because it doesn’t happen enough in L.A.”

John Mayer, right, and McG inside Studio B at Chaplin Studios.

(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

As a show of historical continuity, Mayer and McG initially wanted to call the property Chaplin A&M. But Mayer says he couldn’t get Universal Music Group, which controls the A&M brand, to sign off on the name.

“I’ve never seen fruit so close to the ground before,” he says of the idea to bring back A&M. “Everyone I spoke to did the thing that people at record companies do, where it starts to get very gauzy as it moves up the flagpole: ‘Listen, I get it, but I can’t get the person above me to see it.’” (Moss died in 2023, and a spokesperson for Alpert said he wasn’t available for an interview. A UMG spokesperson didn’t respond to a request for comment.)

More disappointing, Mayer and McG say, was the Henson family’s decision to take down the 12-foot statue of Kermit the Frog — dressed as Chaplin’s Little Tramp character — that presided for 25 years over the lot’s front entrance.

“It was important to the Hensons to have Kermit — that was expressed very early on,” Mayer says of the statue, which the family is donating to the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. “We might have had the delusion of a reprieve. But they didn’t change their mind.”

“I talk to people I know and they say, ‘My kids go to school on La Brea, and every day we drive by and say, “What’s up, Kerms?”’” McG says. “It saddens me that the people of Los Angeles won’t be able to share in Kermit looking over them. If I sold Randy’s Donuts to a barbecue place, I’d hope the barbecue guy would keep the giant doughnut. It’s in the ‘I Love L.A.’ video with Randy Newman, OK?

Until recently, a 12-foot statue of Kermit the Frog presided over the front entrance to the Henson property on La Brea Avenue.

(AaronP / Bauer-Griffin / GC Images)

“This isn’t a McG thing,” the director adds. “It’s not a John Mayer thing. With the greatest respect, it’s not even a Henson thing. Kermit, to me, had transcended all of that and become a part of the fabric of this community.”

Did they make that emotional case to the Hensons?

“We tried,” Mayer says.

And it fell on deaf ears?

“Indeed,” says McG. (A spokesperson at the Jim Henson Co. declined to comment.)

Mayer has seen the comments on social media blaming him for Kermit’s disappearance, which is no doubt why he’s eager to get the word out that it wasn’t his doing. Yet the singer — a tabloid fixture since the days when he dated Taylor Swift and Jessica Simpson — says he’s not tortured by his haters.

“They should be worried about what I think of them,” he says with a laugh. “Honest to God, sometimes I read stuff and I go, ‘If only you knew …’ And I don’t have to apply that to myself as a balm so I stop feeling bad. I’m at the age now where I’ve seen everything you could possibly write, and I’ve survived.”

Not so long ago, Mayer would happily jump into the rough and tumble of online discourse. “But don’t you find yourself scrolling away from things so obviously designed to outrage you?” he asks. The sun is starting to go down outside — this is the time of day, he says, when Chaplin’s bucolic grounds remind him of Montecito’s San Ysidro Ranch — and he’s getting slightly philosophical.

“Millennials had their brains ripped out by the things they read. Gen Z is beginning to go, ‘I think a lot of these are bots.’ And I think Gen Alpha will be the generation that looks and says, ‘There’s a whole bunch of clankers writing bulls—. We don’t care.’

“My years of trash talking or being critical of any artist in any way — I think they’re over,” he says. “It never felt as good as it feels to run into people in the hallway and be glad they’re here.”

The sense of community Mayer feels — and is trying to nurture — at Chaplin is one reason he’s optimistic the studio will succeed.

“I think we’re leaving an era of ‘I did it myself — aren’t you amazed?’ Look at Dijon onstage at ‘SNL,’” he says of the R&B singer and producer who led an expansive group of musicians through a vivid TV performance in early December. “We’ve heard our hands applauding the fact that people have done it alone, and now we’re turning the corner and loving collaboration again. And you can’t come into a place like this and do it alone.”

“I love doing things that people tell me aren’t gonna work,” John Mayer says.

(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Even so, bills wait for no vibe shift. Beyond the business of recording, Mayer and McG are eager to make Chaplin’s soundstage a destination for acts in need of rehearsal space — AC/DC was recently in there practicing — as well as for certain high-end live events.

“If Anna Wintour’s gonna do ‘Women of Hollywood,’” McG says, “I need Anna Wintour going, ‘John, it’s got to be at your place.’”

Mayer says he’s fantasized about a sitcom or a talk show taking up residence on the soundstage.

“I hear John’s pretty good friends with Andy Cohen,” McG says of the Bravo host. “We’ll see where his show goes.”

“He looked at it,” Mayer says. “I think he needed more space to be able to do ‘Real Housewives’ reunions. Think about the number of Star Waggons you need for that.”

Yet music remains at the heart of Mayer’s ambitions for Chaplin, which he says he intends to own long enough to “sit down in a chair for a documentary several times, talking about other people’s records that were made here.” (Mayer himself says he’s been “defending the calendar of 2026” to record an album of his own.)

“Every time an artist drives through that gate, they’re taking an emotional risk,” he says. “Hoping they have a song in them but not being sure — it’s a very vulnerable state to be in. Everyone’s walking around, bumping into walls, thinking about what the rhyme is to that word. I want to make this the greatest place you could ever struggle.”

SAM Thompson has dropped a huge hint he’s split with his new girlfriend in a cryptic Instagram message.

The Made in Chelsea alum, 33, was recently seen on a night out with partner Talitha Balinska and his former E4 show co-stars after they made their relationship official.

Sam began dating model and DJ Talitha back in October but the pair only went official last month.

Yet he hinted there could be trouble in paradise as he posted a solo shot to Instagram Stories showing him cuddling his cat.

He was seen snug with the feline – who he shared with ex Zara McDermott, 29 – yet posted the mystery caption: “Starting 2026 as I mean to go on.”

Sam followed up with a red Emoji love heart.

BOYS’ NIGHT OUT

Sam Thompson & Pete Wicks’ mystery women revealed after night partying

party on

Sam Thompson and Pete Wicks spotted cosying up to mystery women at celeb party

The wording, alongside the snap of solely him and his pet, led some to think he was single – and putting his efforts into his home life.

Yet his fans will no doubt be hoping the romance with glam Talitha remains on track.

His upload came after ex Zara posted a loved-up snap with her man, Louis Tomlinson, after the pair too the huge next step in their relationship.

SAM’S ROMANCE

After months of dating, Sam announced at the beginning of December that he and Talitha had made things “official”.

Speaking to his best pal Pete Wicks on their Staying Relevant podcast, Sam confirmed they had taken their romance to the next level.

He said excitedly: “I’ve got a girlfriend. I’ve got a girlfriend!”

Sam then revealed the moment he asked Talitha out on a dinner date, explaining: “Yeah, I just, I just said, ‘Look, I really like you. I mean, I really, really like you and you make me feel really… comfortable.’”

Continuing, the star said: “You know, I wouldn’t be dating someone this amount of time if I didn’t think it had legs to last.

“So will you be my girlfriend?’ And she said ‘yes’. And so I said, ‘great’”.

In December, the former King of the I’m A Celeb jungle returned from Australia, where he was filming for I’m A Celeb’s spin-off show Unpacked.

And while he was Down Under, new girlfriend Talitha was making herself at home in his £3M Chelsea abode.

Sam also previously introduced Talitha to his sister Louise, her fiancé Ryan, and their son Leo and they shared a picture of the moment.

THE SPLIT

Meanwhile, Sam and his last girlfriend Zara, who appeared on Made In Chelsea together, called time on their romance last December.

The couple spent last Christmas apart, confirming shortly after that they had ended their relationship after “a tough year”.

 A source close to the couple told MailOnline at the time: “Sam and Zara have ended their relationship. It’s been an incredibly difficult decision for them to part ways, they still care and have a lot of love for each other.”

The Duffer Brothers have teased more details about their upcoming spin-off following Stranger Things’ epic finale

Warning – this article contains major spoilers for the Stranger Things finale

Stranger Things creators Ross and Matt Duffer have confirmed a popular fan theory about the Netflix show’s upcoming spin-off isn’t true.

The hit supernatural drama set in the 1980s concluded with an epic finale on Thursday (1st January) that brought an end to the Hawkins gang’s battle against Vecna (played by Jamie Campbell Bower) and the Upside Down.

During the epilogue, after a terrifying encounter with the Mind Flayer on Dimension X and an emotional farewell to Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), we see where many of our favourite characters end up 18 months later.

After five seasons, Jim Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) finally get to sit down for a romantic dinner at Enzo’s, where Hopper proposes.

Joyce, of course, says yes, and they enjoy a swoon-worthy dance with some magical backing vocals that set audience hearts a-flutter all across the globe.

During the date, Hopper also suggests a move away from Hawkins after a friend in New York tipped him off to a position for chief of police opening up in Montauk.

Not only would it give Stranger Things’ fan-favourite couple a chance at a fresh start, but fans were also quick to guess that the haven in Long Island could be the perfect setting for the series’ confirmed spin-off series.

One X user said: “WAIT HOPPER WANTS TO GO TO MONTAUK?!!! #montauk that is where the whole story of Papa’s Dad started. Is that the spinoff town?!!!”

And another fan predicted: “Oh you caught that huh? Montauk is the Easter egg for the next spinoff.”

However, in a post-finale interview with Deadline, the Duffer Brothers have sadly confirmed this is not the case. Instead, the reference to Montauk is actually a cheeky allusion to Stranger Things’ origins, which was initially announced as a supernatural drama called Montauk back in 2015 before the location was changed to the fictional Hawkins, Indiana.

Ross Duffer confirmed there is indeed a hint towards the offshoot, but said: “I don’t know if I want to, but I will say, though, it’s not Hopper mentioning Montauk.

“There’s no Montauk spinoff. That was more of a wink to the fans, deep-cut fans that know that the show started as Montauk.”

Keeping their plans under wraps, the co-showrunner continued: “It’s obviously not Holly (Nell Fisher) and the kids or anything like that. It’s something much smaller than that.

Watch Stranger Things on Netflix for free with Sky

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

from £15

Sky

Get the deal here

Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.

This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things.

“We’ve said this before, the spinoff idea we have, it is early days, but it is an entirely new mythology.

“So, it is connected, and it is going to answer some questions that people have, and there’s some lingering questions that weren’t answered in the finale that will be answered in the spinoff. But at the end of the day, it’s got its own story and its own mythology.”

In an earlier interview with Variety, Ross also confirmed there will be some “connective tissue” between the shows, but maintained the spin-off won’t be like Star Wars with characters and locations crossing over.

Even so, the Duffers have confirmed there’s a hint towards the new series hidden somewhere in the finale, so fans had better get started on their next rewatch if they want to dig up some answers.

Stranger Things is available to stream on Netflix.

**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**

ZARA McDermott has shared a rare loved-up snap with boyfriend Louis Tomlinson after taking a “huge step” in their relationship.

The One Direction singer, 34, whom she started dating in March, made it onto an Instagram image carousel of the Love Island alum’s best bits of 2025.

It came after The Sun exclusively revealed they had spent Christmas together at his Hertfordshire home.

The cheery image showed the duo in Costa Rica in what she described as “the most magical trip of my life”.

The lovebirds were seen all smiles as the posed for a selfie in the wing mirror of a safari van.

Zara, 29, could be seen wearing a tan Miu Miu baseball cap and gold earrings while Louis, who was behind the wheel, donned a white T-Shirt and sunglasses.

RIGHT DIRECTION

Louis Tomlinson fans spot clue he’s taken serious step with Zara McDermott

PARADISE LOST

I lost it all after Zara McDermott & BBC ‘tricked’ me into offensive Thai doc

She captured a leafy backdrop in her shot and wrote: “Went to Costa Rica, a country I’ve wanted to visit since I was a teenager.

“The most magical trip of my life!!”

Back in May, we told how the pair “couldn’t stop snogging” after they were spotted on the trip.

At the time, The Sun revealed that Louis flew the Strictly star out in first class to a secluded villa on the coast in Santa Teresa where he was recording new music.

Zara, who split from former Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson last January, was then seen locking lips with her new pop star beau.

Following Zara’s recent upload Louis’ sister Lottie – who has previously broken her silence on the pair’s romance – was quick to reply to the upload with red love heart Emoji icons.

One fan then put of the pair: “He’s smiling u make him so happy Zara.’

A second posted: “Oh sob I love seeing him happy.”

A third put: “Louis finally is happy omg.”

Other images included Zara’s work achievements for her BBC Three documentaries and her fashion brand Rise, as well as her posing in stylish dresses and capturing her family travelling on a private jet for their 30th wedding anniversary.

NEXT STEPS

Last month, we told how the couple had progressed their relationship by spending the festive period together.

Zara joined the Night Changes hitmaker, his son Freddie, and his extended family including sister Lottie and twins Phoebe and Daisy, for the special time.

On their new podcast, Tea With The Twins, Phoebe and Daisy said: “This is a big Christmas this year — it might be our biggest Christmas. Everyone is coming. 

“The new baby this year is Flossy [Lottie’s second child with fiancé Lewis Burton] as she was born in January, so we already have a new member. 

“And we’ve got another new member as our brother’s got a new girlfriend so that will be nice. I think there will be 16 of us in total.” 

A source close to the former One Direction singer and TV presenter confirmed they would be together for Christmas. They added: “Louis and Zara are still totally in the honeymoon period and try not to be apart for too long. 

“Their relationship is serious, it’s not a flash in the pan. It’s going the distance. 

“Zara gets on so well with Louis’ family, especially his sisters, so he wanted her to be there with them, celebrating. 

“They’ve both had work commitments recently so they’re looking forward to spending proper quality time together.” 

Our mole added: “As it’s Louis’ birthday on Christmas Eve, the plan is for Zara to spend that with him and then Christmas Day with the Tomlinsons. After that they will go and see Zara’s family. 

“They both love their families so much, it is something that attracted them to each other, so it will be a Christmas to remember.” 

The second series of ITVs Red Eye aired on Thursday night and it failed to impress some viewers.

ITV viewers said the same thing as series two of Red Eye returned to screens on New Year’s Day. Jing Lusi has reprised her role as DS Hana Li for a new investigation alongside guest star Martin Compston.

Joining Jing and Martin in the new series are Lesley Sharp and Jemma Moore, who also return as Head of MI5 Madeline Delaney and journalist Jess Li.

Eighteen months after Russia is blamed for shooting down a new cargo plane over the Atlantic, DS Hana Li (Jing Lusi) is summoned to investigate the murder of an American diplomatic courier at Heathrow.

The investigation leads her to London’s US Embassy, where the new American Ambassador, Ronald Tillman, is hosting a party.

Realising the killer has infiltrated the building, Hana and US Embassy security chief Clay Brody hunt them down. Meanwhile, a Russian threat is received on board a UK Government jet.

However, just minutes into the new series, one viewer wrote, “The biggest pile of s*** I’ve ever seen.”

Another complained, “Loved Red Eye s1. Now on Red Eye s2 ep 3 & not enjoying it quite so much. Barely believable characters who can’t see/understand the bleeding obvious.”

Pointing out a blunder from the episode, one fan said, “Hmm, Ryanair at Heathrow?”

“Glad I’m not the only one who spotted that,” another viewer replied.

Someone else chimed in, “Did anyone else just spot Ryanair on #redeye at Heathrow? That’s not accurate, they don’t operate there!”

Others defended the ITV drama, with one writing, “First episode of new series wasn’t bad. Run of the mill so far.”

Another agreed, “Definitely one worth watching.” Someone else commented, “Love the addition of Martin Compston.”

In a surprising turn of events, ITV has also announced that Richard Armitage will make a surprise appearance in series two as Dr Matthew Nolan.

When speaking about his shock return to series two of Red Eye, Richard shared, “I loved the idea of Jess’ instinctual gravitation to Nolan’s door.

“In season one, he’d been through the mill and also later learned what had happened to her with Sir George Chapman, his boss, so of course, he was going to help her, albeit under the radar. We decided that the surprise might add to the adrenaline of the ‘who’s next’ scenario.”

When asked where fans will find Dr Nolan, the actor added, “We find him at home, and like season one, forced to perform outside of the box. He was just about to open a bottle of red when the doorbell rang, and he was interrupted to deal with a near-fatal bullet wound and perform an emergency blood transfusion on his dining table, cobbling together equipment.

“He’s basically able to improvise major trauma surgery, with a bag of saline from his fridge and a leftover suturing kit from his bag. It says a lot about him!”

The synopsis for episode two of the new series, which airs tomorrow night and is available to watch on ITVX, teases, “When Fox threatens to blow up the jet if anyone leaves the US Embassy, it becomes clear that Delaney and Hana are looking for the same Russian assassin.

“Compelled to lock down the embassy but refusing to worry about his important guests, Ambassador Tillman secretly traps them inside with a killer. As a Russian laptop is located onboard the jet and leaves Delaney and Peterson to carefully determine if it’s the actual bomb, Fox kills his first unsuspecting victim from a hit list.”

Red Eye is available to watch on ITVX.

**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**

CELEBRITY make-up artist and reality TV star Jasen Kaplan has died, as Kelly Osbourne grieves the loss of her “dear friend”.

The beloved entertainment industry heavyweight sadly passed away on Wednesday in a New York City hospital.

NYPD said they were investigating the death of a man at Kaplan’s apartment building.

The chief medical examiner is still yet to determine the cause of death.

Kaplan, 46, has been remembered by his long-time friend Kelly Osbourne.

“I’m devastated. I love you so much,” Osbourne, 41, wrote on Instagram.

“Thank you for all the love, laughter and joy you brought [to] my life. I hope you are at peace now.

“Life will never be the same without you! RIP my dear friend.”

Osbourne recalled her friend to be the funniest person she knew.

“You were the best wing man a girl could ask for. 25 years of friendship and every second was worth it,” she wrote.

Kaplan made a name for himself when he started working with Brittny and Lisa Gastineau on their 2005 show “Gastineau Girls.”

He went on to become the go-to makeup artist for many celebrities, including Cyndi Lauper, Eva Longoria and Lynda Carter.

He did The Real Housewives of New York City alum Tinsley Mortimer’s makeup for her wedding to Robert Bovard in 2023.

More recently, Kaplan had the chance to work with Bethenny Frankel on numerous campaigns with brands like MCoBeauty and Terez clothing.

He had a strong social media presence, with over 95.4K followers on Instagram, sharing makeup tips and his work wit celebrity clients and brands.

He was the “father” to his beloved dog Coco, understood to be the “love of his life” and featured heavily on his social media.

Kaplan was a contestant on “Finding Prince Charming” , a gay bachelor-style dating show which aired in 2016.

His bio for the show read: “He has a great sense of humor but isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind. He’s bright, exuberant and completely comfortable with himself.

“Although he is a total flirt and loves dating apps, he’ll only take a relationship to the next level if he really feels like he’s in love.”

He was eliminated in episode two.

As part of Something For the Weekend’s Big 2026 Preview, we’ve put together a guide for all of the rising stars to keep an ear out for this year.

Here, Jacqui Swift gives her verdict on twenty emerging acts.

ROSE GREY

EAST Londoner Grey has been grafting since 2019, blending glossy pop hooks with the strobes of under­ground club culture.

Before the buzz, she was working on the door at London club Fabric – so she knows her way around dancefloors.

She says of her sound: “It is definitely pop, but it has its roots in the soundscapes and world of underground club culture, dance music, electronic, electro-clash”

Grey’s debut album Louder, Please, pulls in an impressive roll call, with collaborations from Melanie C, Shygirl, Casey MQ and Jade.

READ MORE ON YOUNG MUSICIANS

SON MIGHT SAY

Gene Gallagher looks just like dad Liam after boozy night out

NEPO BABY BANTER

Cruz Beckham mocks his nepo baby status as he shares clip of new single

She has supported Charli XCX, Kesha and Scissor Sisters.

TYLER BALLGAME

BALLGAME is from Los Angeles via Rhode Island and channels a dramatic, soul sound that sits somewhere between Roy Orbison, Tim Buckley and Alabama Shakes.

His debut album For The First Time, Again arrives on January 30.

You might already have caught him performing Got A New Car on Later . . . With Jools Holland, and he’s in the UK at the end of the month for a run of in-store shows.

ISSAC RYAN BROWN

THE US actor, rapper and singer is best known for playing Booker, the psychic son of the titular character in Disney Channel’s sitcom Raven’s Home.

Hailing from Detroit, this 20-year-old draws inspiration from the smooth soul of Luther Vandross and Stevie Wonder.

Brown releases new single End Of The Season on February 6, and the hype around him is already big, with some tipping him as a new-generation Michael Jackson or Usher.

JACOB ALON

THE Scottish folk sensation is having a huge moment.

The singer-songwriter’s Mercury Prize-nominated debut album In Limerence landed in 2025, and now Alon has been shortlisted for the 2026 Brits Critics’ Choice Award.

Inspired by Nick Drake, Alon was introduced to music as a youngster, learning piano at age nine and picking up the guitar at 15.

The singer also played Glastonbury and Latitude and it was only because of lockdown that the singer began to commit to his music.

“I never took it very seriously until Covid hit and then I needed it. I needed to write to process. I was living on my own and songwriting became a way to understand the chaos.”

VILLANELLE

LED by Gene Gallagher, son of Liam, this London trio are already generating a serious buzz.

Gallagher, guitarist Ben Taylor and bassist Jack Schiavo met through mutual friends in a bar in 2023.

You may have caught them supporting Liam on his solo Definitely Maybe 30th anniversary tour in 2024.

Drawing comparisons to Nirvana, Black Sabbath and Arctic Monkeys, Villanelle deal in gritty, straight-up rock with sharp edges.

Debut single Hinge sees Gallagher tackling paranoia and sleepless nights.

ALESSI ROSE

RISING English indie-pop singer-songwriter from Derby, Rose has carved out her own lane with confessional pop and raw lyrics that focus on heartbreak, love and femininity.

Emotionally open and sharply observational, she’s already drawing comparisons to Olivia Rodrigo and Gracie Abrams.

She’s supported Noah Kahan and Tate McRae, and of her no-nonsense approach to songwriting she says: “If people don’t want me to write bad songs about them, they shouldn’t do bad things.”

EIGHTY EIGHT MILES

THE Midlands five-piece fronted by singer Ellie Grice are quickly building a reputation as a must-see live band.

They have wowed crowds at Isle of Wight Festival, Viva Sounds in Sweden, The Great Escape, Truck Festival, Y Not Festival and 2000 Trees, notching serious word-of-mouth along the way.

They’ve also landed choice support slots with The Lottery Winners, Red Rum Club and The K’s, while Fleetwood Mac legend Lindsey Buckingham has publicly heaped praise on them.

ALEX SPENCER

FROM Droylsden, Gtr Manchester, though born in Barcelona to a Spanish mum, Spencer has been picking up momentum fast.

Fresh back from a run of UK dates with Corella and a high-profile support slot opening for The Black Keys at Alexandra Palace Park in London, he’s now lining up a run of UK headline shows for next month.

Influenced by Sam Fender, Catfish And The Bottlemen and Arctic Monkeys, he travelled extensively as a child and wrote his first song while on a family trip to India.

THE GUEST LIST

FORMED in early 2021, The Guest List quickly built a huge online following after a number of energised indie covers.

Frontman Cai Alty says they are “a band from Manchester, not just a Manchester band”.

Often compared to Sam Fender, Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, they worked early on with The Coral’s James Skelly, who produced the singles London and Loose Tongue.

They’ve since won more fans after touring with Inhaler, Blossoms and Two Door Cinema Club.

MACKENZY MACKAY

MACKAY broke through in 2022 with song The One That You Call, quickly earning comparisons to Post Malone and Ed Sheeran.

Built around heartfelt storytelling and a genuine connection with his audience, his music has steadily found its people.

Tracks such as This Life, Broke and Cats & Dogs have helped grow a loyal fanbase.

AIN’T

LONDON outfit fronted by Hanna Baker Darch on vocals and George Ellerby on guitar and vocals, Ain’t pull together ’90s guitar music.

They have supported Thus Love on their UK tour, opened for Sunflower Bean, and will take part in The Great Escape Festival in Brighton in May.

Latest single Long Short Round follows recent release Jude.

SIENNA SPIRO

LONDON singer-songwriter known for her deep alto vocals and viral TikTok covers. She draws inspiration from Amy Winehouse, Frank Sinatra and Etta James.

Spiro started writing songs at age ten as a way of processing her emotions, and by 16 had left school to pursue music full-time.

Her breakout moment came with Maybe, a powerful, straight-talking anthem about self-worth that struck a chord far beyond social media and marked her out as a serious new voice.

THE SLATES

THE Slates are a West Yorkshire indie rock band you might have spotted tearing up festival stages at Isle of Wight, Truck and Y Not.

Their debut single Calling Up landed as a song of the summer, with frontman Louis Barnes saying it reflects “the feeling of rejection and feeling left out”.

DEAD DADS CLUB

THE new project fronted by Palma Violets’ Chilli Jesson is built around a deeply personal, self-titled debut album exploring his emotional journey following the death of his father when he was just 14.

Produced by Fontaines D.C.’s Carlos O’Connell.

CARDINALS

IRISH five-piece Cardinals are set to release their debut album Masquerade in February, and already have some serious backing.

Fontaines D.C. singer Grian Chatten is a vocal fan, calling them his favourite Irish band, while live shows alongside The Pogues and NewDad have helped spread the word fast.

Fronted by Euan Manning, with brother Finn adding accordion.

TOLOU

NORWEGIAN Nigerian singer Tolou blends the atmospheric textures of her former home Tromso with the vibrant rhythms of her African heritage.

She describes the resultant sound as Afro-Scandi pop.

Her influences range from Lana Del Rey and Burna Boy to Robyn and Bruno Mars but her main inspirations are Rihanna and Beyonce.

SAINT HARISON

A SOUTHAMPTON-born songwriter and R&B artist, Saint Harison’s music is rooted in soul-baring honesty, using songwriting to process emotion and hardship.

Introduced to Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand and Marvin Gaye by his grandad, he won a local singing competition at the age of 13 and is set to release his EP in early 2026.

MARY MIDDLEFIELD

THE Swiss musician and songwriter has been classically trained on the violin since the age of five.

Middlefield’s work brings a refined, emotionally direct edge to modern pop.

Her latest single The Feast landed in late 2025, building on earlier releases such as Atlantis and Summer Affair as she gears up for a new project in 2026.

ANDREW WASYLYK

A SCOTTISH composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Wasylyk’s work drifts between modern classical, ambient and soundtrack worlds.

His single First Moonbeams Of Adulthood came out in November 2025, and is from the anticipated forthcoming album due this spring.

GIRL TONES

THIS US rock duo made up of sisters Kenzie on vocals and guitar and Laila on drums, are often compared to The White Stripes.

The Girl Tones’ debut releases, including recent single Burnout, were produced by Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant.

They have toured with Cage The Elephant alongside The Velveteers and Silversun Pickups.

Are you wondering, like Alixandra Kupcik, where did all the feel-good movies go?

She must have written that story before “Song Sung Blue” came out. Because Hugh Jackman passionately describing the greatness of Neil Diamond’s “Soolaimon” and then demonstrating that song’s grandeur by performing it in the new film “Song Sung Blue” is the definition of corny, feel-good comfort.

Which leads me to my question to you this day: Have you seen “Marty Supreme”? And what feelings — good, bad, uneasy, elated — did that movie arouse in you?

I’m Glenn Whipp, columnist for the Los Angeles Times and host of The Envelope newsletter. Time to wipe down the ping-pong table?

Inside the reactions to ‘Marty Supreme’

He summited the Sphere, exhorting us to “dream big.” He shot a rap music video to debunk the conspiracy theory that he is a popular British rapper. He has popped up at screenings flanked by bodyguards sporting giant orange ping-pong balls for heads.

Leading up to the Christmas Day premiere of his new movie, “Marty Supreme,” Timothée Chalamet was front and center in a promotional tour that was unhinged, delightful and, judging from the weekend’s box office, quite successful.

“Marty Supreme,” the wildly entertaining, over-caffeinated portrait of a single-minded ping-pong player, took in $27 million over the four-day Christmas weekend, the best opening in distributor A24’s history. The numbers surpassed the opening of “A Complete Unknown,” last year’s Chalamet Christmas release that featured the actor playing Bob Dylan in his formative years.

Not everyone was on board with “Marty.” Moviegoers gave the movie a B+ rating with market research company CinemaScore. That’s good, but not great. (“A Complete Unknown,” by comparison, earned an A.)

Podcaster Claira Curtis’ experience seeing the movie at the Grove feels like an accurate representation of the “Marty Supreme” adventure: “Packed ‘Marty Supreme theater had the full range of reactions. There were people walking out halfway through. There were people clapping. There was someone coming out of it saying, ‘Eh, it was fine’ & then their friend went, ‘Are you insane? It was peak!’”

The disparate responses reflect a couple of things.

One, not everyone embraces the Safdie brand of anxiety-inducing cinema. Josh Safdie directed “Marty.” His brother, Benny, made “The Smashing Machine,” released earlier this year. Together, they made “Uncut Gems” and “Good Time,” movies that, take your pick, were exhilarating or excruciating. Or both! (Exclamation point intended. These are exclamation-point films.)

And two, the title character in “Marty Supreme” is a lot — an undeniably talented, relentless self-promoter careening toward his goals of fame and fortune with little regard to the damage he is inflicting on others. He’s despicable, but also, as played by Chalamet, winningly charming. Unless you find Chalamet annoying. Then you’re probably best-served listening to Hugh Jackman sing Neil Diamond songs.

Chalamet has channeled Marty’s earnest energy in his promotional appearances for the film.

“This is a movie about sacrifice in pursuit of a dream,” he told Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show.” “And it’s something I can relate to deeply. And we live in a bleak time, especially for young people, so this film is an attempted antidote to that.”

Chalamet then pivoted to the camera, the better to look into viewers’ eyes.

“And to continue to believe in yourself and to continue to dream big and to follow your dreams and not take no for an answer. That’s the spirit of ‘Marty Supreme,’ out on Christmas Day.”

Judging from the box office, Chalamet has pushed across the message. Will it work on awards voters, giving Chalamet the first Oscar of his career? As we head into the new year, the next phase of the “Marty” tour promises to be the season’s most interesting storyline. Gas up the blimp!

More coverage of ‘Marty Supreme’

A historic theater in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol has opened its doors more than three years after it was pummeled in a Russian airstrike that killed hundreds of civilians sheltering inside.

Moscow-installed authorities marked the rebuilding of the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater with a gala concert on the building’s new main stage Sunday night. Images shared by Russian state media outlets showed the building’s marbled pillars and staircases, and dancers wearing traditional Russian headdresses known as kokoshniks performing.

The original theater was destroyed when it was targeted by a Russian airstrike on March 16, 2022, as Moscow’s forces besieged the city in the weeks after their invasion.

An Associated Press investigation later found evidence that the attack killed about 600 people inside and outside the building — almost double an early estimate from the government.

At the time of the strike, hundreds of civilians had sought refuge in the building after weeks of relentless shelling. The word “children” had been written with paint on the street outside the building, large enough to be seen by both pilots and satellites.

Moscow said that Ukrainian forces demolished the theater, a claim that the AP’s investigation refuted.

Russian forces took control of Mariupol’s city center shortly after the strike. The ruins were bulldozed and any remains were taken to the ever-growing mass graves in and around Mariupol.

Mariupol’s Ukrainian city council, which left the city when it was occupied for Ukrainian-controlled territory, called the rebuilding and the opening of the theater “singing and dancing on bones.”

“The ‘restoration’ of the theater is a cynical attempt to conceal the traces of a war crime and part of an aggressive policy of Russification of the city. The repertoire consists largely of works by Russian writers and playwrights,” the council said in a statement on Telegram.

Guests of honor at Sunday’s opening included Denis Pushilin, the Russian-installed head of the partially occupied Donetsk region, and St. Petersburg Gov. Alexander Beglov. Workers from St. Petersburg, which was twinned with Mariupol after Russia took full control of the city in May 2022, aided in the building’s reconstruction.

The Donetsk region, where Mariupol is located, has remained a key battleground throughout the war. Russia illegally annexed it in 2022, though Moscow still doesn’t control all of it. The region’s fate is one of the major sticking points in negotiations to end the war.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that while 2025 has given us more than our fair share of horrors, for Janeites — devotees of Jane Austen — it has yielded a yearlong opportunity to celebrate the great author’s 250th birthday.

At one such event on a frosty night in New York City, 150 or so self-proclaimed Austen nerds assembled in the rare book room of the iconic Strand Bookstore to sip Pemberley tea and nibble on scones slathered with strawberry jam while exchanging tidbits about their literary idol. Some of those in attendance, including Strand staff, cosplayed as Regency-era regalia–women in empire-waist gowns, with events director Walker Iverson dreamy in a Mr. Darcy-inspired puffy shirt he’d found on Amazon being sold as part of a pirate costume. Novelists Jennifer Egan, Adelle Waldman and Brandon Taylor then took the stage to collectively ponder Austen’s enduring legacy and duke it out over which of her novels — “Sense and Sensibility,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “Mansfield Park,” “Emma,” “Northanger Abbey” or “Persuasion” — should be everyone’s hands-down favorite. Surprisingly, none of the three claimed Austen’s best-known novel, “Pride and Prejudice,” while dark horse candidate “Mansfield Park” — Austen’s far less sparkly, even somber third novel — appeared to win the day. Following their conversation, audience members participated in a lively game of Jane Austen trivia, during which it became clear that all in the room had done their homework. Sample question: In “Northanger Abbey,” whom does Isabella Thorpe have an affair with? A) Frederick Tilney; B) Charles Bingley; or C) Silas Marner? (Read to the end for the answer.)

Authors Adelle Waldman, Brandon Taylor and Jennifer Egan at the Strand Bookstore’s Tea Party in New York City to celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday.

(Vintage Books)

Egan, Waldman and Taylor, along with Sandra Cisneros, Nicola Yoon and Lauren Groff, have each been commissioned by publisher Vintage to write new introductions to the six titles that have been refreshed and reissued. The sold-out gathering at the Strand was one of six tea parties being thrown throughout the country by the publisher to commemorate Austen’s semiquincentennial. Another well-attended get-together was held earlier this month at Culver City’s the Ripped Bodice bookstore, where sugar cookies specially prepared by local baker Nicolette Buenrostro, of Dottie’s House of Sweets, depicted various Austen book covers. And the tea flowed.

Portrait of Jane Austen. Engraving, 1870.

(Getty Images / Universal Images)

The Strand assemblage, a cozy affair held amid shelves of leather-bound first editions in a room that frequently hosts weddings, drew people of all ages, mostly of the female variety. Among the youngest in the crowd was a fifth-grader named Mathilda who recently read “Emma” and has since become its author’s ardent fan. On TikTok, #JaneAusten has amassed over 200 million views, many of them Gen Z and younger, but when asked if that was where Mathilda discovered Austen, she appeared mildly offended by the association and proffered a withering “no.” “I’m not on social media,” she politely announced. After reading Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women,” she explained, she yearned for more “old-fashioned” stories centering girls and women. There is a dearth of such tales in contemporary literature, in her opinion, whose characters tend to favor boys and men. On a search for another book by a 19th century woman author, a copy of “Emma” on display at a local bookstore caught her eye, and she picked it up. A new Janeite was born.

(S&S/Marysue Rucci Books)

Jane Austen — whom many consider the creator of the modern novel — was born Dec. 16, 1775 in Steventon, England, the seventh of eight children. Her father was the rector of two parishes and ran a small boys’ school to supplement the family’s meager income. Austen’s formal education ended at age 11, but the family culture was “distinctly literary,” according to Rebecca Romney, author of “Jane Austen’s Bookshelf: A Rare Book Collector’s Quest to Find the Women Writers Who Shaped a Legend.” Romney writes that the Austens “were a genteel family — upper-class but not titled.” The family often read and reread books aloud together, among them Frances Burney’s “Evelina,” whose work was to have an enormous influence on Austen’s own writing, as would such unsung literary predecessors as Ann Radcliffe, Charlotte Lennox, Maria Edgeworth and others whose work has largely disappeared from modern shelves and was historically dismissed by critics.

Austen couldn’t afford to buy many books herself, but she had access to local “circulating libraries” and belonged to a local book club whose members split the cost of a book and shared it among themselves. The Austen family also enjoyed theater, and staged and even wrote many plays together at home. In fact, according to Romney, most of the family wrote, whether poetry, sermons, plays, or fiction.

Austen began writing as a child, and her “juvenilia,” reports Romney, “show a delight in parody,” a characteristic that would inform her later work. During her lifetime — Austen died at age 41 — she published four of her novels, all anonymously, as social conventions of the time discouraged women of a certain class from earning money through trade or in any way seeking notoriety. She had great confidence in her own literary voice, though. Romney recounts that, for example, when someone recommended she write a historical novel, she responded, “No, I must keep to my own style and go in my own way.” After her death, her brother Henry saw to it that her two remaining novels, “Northanger Abbey” and “Persuasion,” were published under her name, and an accompanying biographical note explicitly named her as author of all six works of fiction that had previously been credited: “By a Lady.”

Author Rebecca Romney

(Donnamaria R. Jones)

More than 200 years later, not only do Austen’s novels still resonate, they are an industry unto themselves, inspiring hundreds of adaptations across genres, including the 2025 PBS series “Miss Austen,” which centers on Jane’s sister and confidante, Cassandra, and a new film version of “Sense and Sensibility,” starring Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor and Esme Creed-Miles as Marianne, set for release in September 2026. There have even been Austen-inspired online role-playing games such as the now-defunct “Ever, Jane,” as well as a 2D platformer game in which Austen uses a quill to fight off villains based on characters from her various novels. And for horror-loving Austen fans, there’s always “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” a 2009 mash-up novel by Seth Grahame-Smith featuring a fictional zombie plague set in the Regency era.

What accounts for Jane Austen’s continuing relevance? Some attribute it to Austen’s role in ushering in the rom-com, and perfecting the “marriage plot” in her courtship novels. She is a brilliant wordsmith, who had a transformative effect in literature by shifting the focus inward using indirect discourse to combine a character’s inner thoughts with the narrator’s voice. The psychological complexity she achieved paved the way for such future writers as Virginia Woolf, George Eliot and James Joyce.

Despite being of the 18th century, Austen’s heroines are singular for how they grapple with who they are, and with a growing awareness of how they feel, as opposed to what others are telling them to feel — which resonates greatly with contemporary readers. Romney explains it this way: “Austen novels encourage reading and rereading, as well as contemplation. She makes ordinary women feel extraordinary, that we are the main characters of our own story. She formalizes that and gives us a reason to believe it.”

As 2025 closes out, there is at least one prediction that can be safely made: Our romance with Jane Austen shows no signs of waning.

(Answer: Frederick Tilney)

Haber is a writer, editor and publishing strategist. She was director of Oprah’s Book Club and books editor for O, the Oprah Magazine.

THE daughter of an Academy Award-winning actor has sadly been found dead on New Year’s Day.

Victoria, daughter of Tommy Lee Jones, was sadly found dead in a California hotel on New Year’s Day.

Emergency services were called to the swanky Fairmont San Francisco at 2.52am, where paramedics pronounced the 34-year-old dead.

At this time, the cause of death remains unknown, and officials have not released additional details.

Victoria was the daughter of Tommy and his first wife Kimberlea Cloughley.

She followed in her father’s footsteps, acting in several films including 2002’s Men in Black II and One Tree Hill.

‘RIP DEAR FRIEND’

Finding Prince Charming contestant dies as Kelly Osbourne leads tributes

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online.

Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.

The Night Manager has returned with both Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie as executive producers.

The Night Manager season two has landed, but it didn’t take fans long to complain about a glaring problem.

Tom Hiddleston fans have been eagerly awaiting his return to The Night Manager, an unforgettable BBC drama that originally aired in February 2016.

Starring opposite Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman, The Night Manager season one revolved around ex-soldier Jonathan Pine (played by Tom Hiddleston), who was hired to infiltrate the inner circle of a secretive arms dealer.

Despite series one getting rave reviews, viewers had given up hope that it would return for a second season, but to everyone’s delight, the series two renewal came in April 2024.

The Night Manager season two finally made its debut this evening, Thursday, January 1, once again focusing on Pine, now known as Alex Goodwin, who works as part of the nocturnal surveillance unit, the Night Owls.

But it isn’t too long before he spots a familiar face from his past with Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie), taking him down yet another dangerous path.

Fans couldn’t wait to tune into the new series, but many couldn’t help but make the same complaint on X, formerly Twitter, as they struggled to remember season one.

“Watching #TheNightManagerS2 when you already have a notoriously bad memory,” someone joked.

A second echoed: “Was going to watch the #TheNightManagerS2 but I can’t remember #thenightmanager so will have to rewatch series one. Anyone else doing the same thing?”

“I have no idea what is going on”, a third began.

“Not sure if it would be easier to follow if they didn’t keep cutting back to characters from 10 years ago that I have forgotten about.”

A fellow user remarked: “Was struggling to understand why I couldn’t for the life of me remember what happened in season 1 of #TheNightManagerS2 only to Google it and see that it aired TEN years ago?????? Girl bye.”

Someone else posted: “The recap hardly helped, I can’t remember what happened last week, let alone what I watched on TV 10 years ago”, as another added: “The Night Manager is really testing everyone’s memory right now.”

Despite fans having an issue with remembering what happened in series one, others have also been praising the new season.

Someone labelled the debut episode as “outstanding” and “brilliant”, while a fellow viewer commented: “Well that didn’t disappoint!!! Episode 1 of The Night Manager- Phew – must resist the temptation to binge!”

Thankfully, fans won’t have to wait very long for the second episode, with the next instalment set to air on Sunday, January 4, at 9pm.

After this, The Night Manager will continue to be shown every Sunday in the same timeslot.

The Night Manager is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Mrs Brown’s Boys fans were left less than impressed as the BBC comedy returned for its second instalment on New Year’s Day

After the opening episode broadcast on Christmas Day, Mrs Brown’s Boys made its comeback with a second instalment on New Year’s Day, leaving audiences thoroughly unimpressed.

Reports suggest the 2025 Mrs Brown’s Boys Christmas special failed to crack the top 10 most-watched programmes on Christmas Day, pulling in just 1.6 million viewers.

The 2024 Christmas Day special managed to secure 2.2 million viewers, according to BirminghamLive, representing a dramatic drop from the inaugural Christmas special in 2013, which commanded an audience of 11.5 million.

The plot summary for the second festive episode states: “Tensions are high as Agnes ( Brendan O’Carroll ) and the gang prepare for an incoming storm.

“Buster’s flying high as he nervously awaits his birthday parachute jump, Winnie receives a shock to the system, and a lost nun is in need of help,” reports the Express.

Within moments of the episode beginning, viewers flocked to social media to voice their opinions, with one posting on X: “GET MRS BROWN’S BOYS AXED.”

Another commented: “I swear every shot of Cathy in #MrsBrownsBoys is blurred slightly, even in HD. It’s like watching on VHS.”

A third chimed in: “As if I haven’t had to put up with enough torture today, me nans put Mrs Brown’s Boys on.

“Unfunny drivel,” declared someone else, whilst another simply wrote: “What a load of s****.”

One viewer remarked on X: “Three goalless draws on Match of the Day tonight, and yet it will still be more entertaining than the Mrs Brown’s Boys New Year’s Special.”

However, not all viewers agreed with the criticism. One fan defended the show, saying, “Still a staple of Christmas and New Year’s TV.”

Another chimed in, “The new year one is so much better than Christmas when it comes to the special effects. Keep making more and tell the haters … ‘that’s nice’.”

There was also some discontent about the Christmas Day episode, with fans taking to social media to air their grievances.

One disgruntled viewer remarked, “The BBC has just witnessed the biggest switch off in their history as they announce the Christmas special of #mrsbrownsboys.”

Another quipped: “The 1.6 million people who watched Mrs Browns Boys need to give their heads a wobble.”

Despite the complaints, many fans rallied behind the comedy, advising those who weren’t fans to simply “switch channels”.

One supporter retorted, “What’s with all the people whining about #MrsBrownsBoys? If you don’t like it, change the f***ing channel and move on. Stop ruining it for the people who enjoy it.”

The Mrs Brown’s Boys New Year Special is now available for viewing on BBC iPlayer.

**For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website**

The Channel 4 reality show was back with a Christmas special, and one star was left emotional within minutes of the episode starting

Gogglebox star Andrew Nicolls was left crying as his husband shared a sweet gesture during the latest episode of the Channel 4 show.

On New Year’s Day, the much-loved armchair critics were back to share more of their insightful and passionate takes on the festive season’s biggest and best shows.

As the festive special kicked off, Alfie Mulhall re-created an iconic scene from the Christmas classic movie Love Actually.

He held up a set of cards that had sweet messages written on them for his husband, Andrew, which included the words: “And people think you’re my father,” and “Happy Christmas, I Love You.” Andrew asked Alfie, “What are you doing?” as his husband instructed him to sit down.

As Alfie showed Andrew his written messages, Andrew started to get emotional, exclaiming, “Oh, my god, I really love Love Actually,” while wiping away tears.

Alfie, who is 30 years younger than Andrew, replied, “Merry Christmas,” as the pair then laughed.

The couple, hailing from the Cotswolds, represent one of numerous fresh households that have become part of the Channel 4 programme.

Despite their recent arrival, Andrew and Alfie have struck a chord with viewers, courtesy of their sharp observations and cheeky banter between themselves.

Away from Gogglebox, Alfie and Andrew frequently post lifestyle updates on Instagram, featuring holiday photos, personal achievements, pets, and family announcements.

On Sunday (December 21), Andrew took to Instagram to share his happiness after finding love with Alfie when he was aged 60.

During a montage of sweet snaps, the couple can be seen enjoying each other’s company during various special moments.

In one photo, Andrew and Alfie are seen standing side by side in front of the city skyline, beaming with happiness. In another, Andrew kisses his husband lovingly on the cheek as they spend time at the beach.

Andrew wrote in the caption: “I was 60 when I thought my love story was over…Then THIS happened (love heart).”

The couple were met with an outpouring of support, with one person saying: “Love always wins, my friend, and it sometimes is just around the corner – so happy for you both.”

A second stated: “Two beautiful men, one beautiful couple!”, while a third chimed in: “I’ve got a big age gap with my boyfriend, so seeing you guys represent it on TV is so lovely!”

“How flippin’ lovely is this, gorgeous couple and my favourite goggleboxers, have a fabulous Christmas xx”, gushed one follower as another stated: “Love you two, my favs on gogglebox xx.”

Andrew and Alfie, who have a 30-year age difference, tied the knot in May 2024. They exchanged vows at a beautiful destination wedding in Italy, surrounded by their loved ones.

Gogglebox is available to catch up on Channel.com

IN just a few weeks Guy Ritchie and Jason ­Statham will start work on their new movie, Viva La ­Madness.

And I can exclusively reveal the gangster flick is getting a very special supporting character — in the form of Vinnie Jones.

The trio last worked together in the amazing 2000 film Snatch and now former footballer Vinnie is going to be front and centre in the new movie alongside Jason.

A source said: “Viva La Madness is writer J.J. Connolly’s sequel to Layer Cake but the film is going to be a standalone production.

“Guy is thrilled to be back at the helm. And to have Jason on board, as well as Vinnie, is going to make for cinematic gold.

“This project feels so brilliantly British. It’s going to be loud, fast and unapologetically patriotic.

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Madonna and Guy Ritchie pictured together for the first time in 17 YEARS

ON THE BOX

Boxing star lands role in Guy Ritchie Netflix hit The Gentlemen

“Jason and Vinnie are so brilliant together on screen and everyone working on the film was thrilled to hear that Vinnie had signed up.”

‘Come a long way’

I’m told the exact details of the plot are being kept under wraps but it’s expected to closely follow J.J.’s novel.

The book returns to the story of the shady anonymous drug dealer — played by Daniel Craig in the film of Layer Cake — who is pulled back into the criminal underworld after hoping to retire.

But this time, the deals get more risky — with high-level electronic fraud and a bit of money laundering for good measure.

It’s not surprising that Guy has brought Vinnie on board for the film, after casting him in the next series of his Netflix hit, The Gentleman.

Guy previously admitted he and Jason credited ­Vinnie for helping them when times were tough — before they made it big with Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels in 1998.

He said: “Vinnie was ­forever paying for taxis when Statham and I had no money.”

“We’ve come a long way since Lock, Stock.”

I absolutely loved Layer Cake so I cannot wait to watch Viva La Madness.

SEQUIN WHEN YOU’RE WINNING

MARIAH CAREY went into 2026 on Cloud Nine after her performance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve went off without a hitch.

Nine years ago, the superstar was on the very same stage when she was hit by technical difficulties, meaning she was off-beat when lip syncing.

It got so bad that Mariah stopped pretending to sing, and said: “It is what it is. It just don’t get any better,” before stomping off stage.

This time around, fans watching in New York had a far better time, with Mariah – who wore a tiny pink dress adorned with sequins – sailing through her performance of her 2009 song, Obsessed.

Host Rita Ora stayed cosy in a leopard print coat as temperatures plunged to -2C in the Big Apple, while over in Las Vegas, Demi Lovato was on top form for Dick Clark’s Sin City gig.

She took to the stage in a shimmering sheer jumpsuit alongside stars including Diana Ross, Post Malone and 50 Cent.

BUSY SIAN: I’M NOT WEDDY YET

THIS Morning and Capital Breakfast DJ Sian Welby got engaged to radio producer Jake Beckett two years ago, but they are still no closer to walking down the aisle.

When asked her if she has made any headway with preparations, Sian – who gave birth to daughter Ruby in June 2024 – admitted: “No, it’s an absolute shambles. I’ve honestly not got any brain capacity for wedding planning.

“I think what we’re doing: having a baby who’s waking up in the night, teething, the 4am alarms . . .  combine that with trying to see friends and family up in the Midlands and the thought of trying to plan a wedding is quite daunting.

“I don’t want to be that person that’s engaged for years and years and I would love a big wedding, but it’s everything. Even the guest list fills me with anxiety.”

BACK IN THE PINK AFTER OP

THE brilliant Pink has told fans she spent New Year’s Eve in hospital having surgery on her neck.

Sharing a snap of herself from her hospital bed on Instagram, the So What singer, below, said: “I end the year giving reverence to, paying attention to, and to fixing my body.

“It may not be a fancy face lift, but I am getting two new shiny discs in my neck.

“A new scar – a reminder that I appreciate this vessel that I have and use it for all it’s worth.

“Rock ’n’ roll is a contact sport. And as I sit here by myself on New Year’s Eve in a hospital room while my family is happily snowboarding, I know that 2026 is going to be better because that is the choice that I have made.”

AFTER I revealed the Rolling Stones had cancelled their plans for a UK and European tour this year, Ronnie WOod says he just won’t be sitting at home and ­twiddling his thumbs.

Speaking at Jools Holland‘s Hootenanny, the guitar whizz said: “I just wanna play all the time, or paint. I have a big exhibition planned for the end of 2026 in Germany.”

NEW PIRATES? IT DEPPENDS

THE fate of the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise now rests in Johnny Depp‘s hands, it seems.

Talk of a sixth film has been swirling for years since the last instalment, Dead Men Tell No Tales, in 2017.

Now, actor Kevin McNally, who played seaman Joshamee Gibbs, has revealed the script is with Johnny, who starred as Jack Sparrow.

In an exclusive chat, Kevin said: “I would love to do a new Pirates movie. The only problem is that there are two realities in the world. There is reality, and there is social media.

“As far as social media is concerned, I started filming yesterday. As far as reality is concerned, tumbleweed, but I would love to be part of that again.

“The last two films weren’t great, but for me, if Johnny thinks it’s good enough and wants to do it, I will be there.”

While Kevin waits for the call, he is busy directing and starring in new sitcom Ketchup.

The series is based on author Joe Cawley’s More Ketchup Than Salsa memoirs and will follow a hapless British couple who attempt to run a bar on the Costa del Sol.

A TEEN Mom favorite has shown off her drastic weight loss for the new year, and she looks like a completely different person.

In an emotional video, the MTV reality star revealed two scary health emergencies led her to totally change her eating and fitness habits, resulting in an incredible slim-down.

Briana DeJesus‘ best friend Shae Kogut, 35, took to Instagram to cover her health journey over the course of 2025.

She said in 2024, she began suffering “gallbladder attacks,” and scheduled a surgery to get the organ removed.

“That’s where my health journey really began. My entire eating habits have changed,” Shae wrote.

“I learned what my body needed for fuel, I learned that protein is my best friend, I also learned that drinking water isn’t so bad.

WORK IT, MAMA!

Teen Mom Mackenzie shows off abs in bikini 6 months after welcoming twins

‘HAVING A BABY!’

Teen Mom star announces his girlfriend is pregnant with their first child

“Before this heath journey started, I was drinking weekly, I was in taking so much sugar, my energy crashes were so bad to a point I couldn’t even function without daily naps.”

PAINFUL SURGERIES

In August 2025, the Teen Mom pal suffered “bloating and pain” in her stomach area, and discovered she needed to get cysts removed from her ovaries.

“Since my recovery, I’m able to do so much more physically than ever before because I don’t have the pain anymore!” she said.

“Truly thankful for this year, it taught me resilience, perseverance, and believing in myself again!

“I only share my life on here because I know others may be going through similar things! 2026 is going to be a ‘Me year.’

“Toning my body, being the best version of myself all around and I’m really excited to see what this year brings!”

Shae has appeared on Teen Mom many times over the years in scenes with her friend Briana.

She currently works as an Orlando-based influencer and Salty Honey brand ambassador.

When musician Cary Brothers found out that the Hotel Cafe was shutting down, he felt like he’d been told his parents were selling his childhood home.

The beloved music venue, which kick-started the careers of then-little-known singer-songwriters Adele, Sara Bareilles and Damien Rice, is closing its doors in early 2026, its co-founders Marko Shafer and Max Mamikunian announced in November. For those like Brothers, who considered the Hotel Cafe a second home, the news of the closure was a heavy blow.

Luckily for them, Shafer and Mamikunian plan to open a new location in the nearby Lumina Hollywood tower in early 2027. Brothers said it provides consolation, but not complete comfort.

“Yeah, they’re buying a great new house, but it’s not our house,” he said.

• Share via Close extra sharing options

Elected the “mayor of the Hotel Cafe,” Brothers discovered the Hollywood haunt before it even had a liquor license. In those days, the cafe had a BYOB policy and sold buckets of ice for visitors to chill the alcohol they brought in with them, and jazz legends pouring out of local bars after last call capped off their nights with a 3 a.m. jam session in the Hotel Cafe’s piano room (or smoking room, depending on whom you ask).

Every penny they made went back into the venue, Shafer said.

Brothers has always likened the Hotel Cafe in that era to “‘Cheers’ with guitars,” where he could show up any night and a dozen of his closest friends would be there. Eagles songwriter Jack Tempchin used to say it was the closest thing to the front bar at the Troubadour in the ’70s.

“Nobody became the Eagles, sure, but the spirit was the same,” Brothers said.

Dave Navarro, left, and Billy Corgan perform with Spirits in the Sky at the Hotel Cafe in 2009. The venue was a launching pad for many prominent singer-songwriters in the late 2000s and early 2010s.

(Tiffany Rose / WireImage via Getty Images)

Beginnings on Cahuenga Boulevard

The owners attribute much of Hotel Cafe’s success to good timing.

At the turn of the century, Mamikunian said, “Word on the street in Los Angeles was, it’s an industry town and music venues don’t work here.”

Mamikunian, on the other hand, believed the city was teeming with raw talent, but there was no place for it to develop. Judging by the laundry list of musicians who flocked to the Hotel Cafe in those early years, his hunch was spot-on.

“We hit it right when it needed to happen,” he said.

For independent artist Kevin Garrett, the Hotel Cafe was a “gym” where he could flex his creative muscles and experiment with his sound, judgment-free. For local folk singer Lucy Clearwater, it was her sign that moving to L.A. was the right decision for her career.

And for Ingrid Michaelson, the spot was ahead of its time in championing female artists. When the Hotel Cafe asked Michaelson to headline its 2008 all-female tour, she thought, “When does that ever happen, except for Lilith Fair?”

In Michaelson’s native New York, there were a handful of venues that cradled early-career musicians: the Living Room, the Bitter End, Kenny’s Castaways.

“But in L.A., there really was just the Hotel Cafe,” Michaelson, behind such 2000s hits as “The Way I Am” and “You and I,” said. “So it was this distilling of all the singer-songwriters in L.A., kind of coming through this one port.”

Patrons enter the Hotel Cafe through a back alleyway along Cahuenga Boulevard.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Through the musical generations

In its 25 years of operation, the Hotel Cafe has seen several generations of musicians shuffle through the space, Shafer said. Production manager Gia Hughes calls them the “graduating classes.”

In Brothers’ days, it was Joshua Radin, Bareilles, Meiko and other late 2000s singer-songwriters whose music regularly landed on shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” — or in Brothers’ case, the indie cult classic “Garden State,” directed by and starring fellow Northwestern alum Zach Braff.

Next came residencies from breakouts Johnnyswim and JP Saxe, and later, folksters Clearwater and her close confidant Rett Madison. Clearwater said that during her tenure, she would often join her fellow performers onstage to sing backing vocals or play a violin solo.

“Every four years it’s like a different kind of community that comes about,” Hughes said. “And it’s different, but it’s also not.”

It’s why Shafer and Mamikunian aren’t worried about losing the magic they created on Cahuenga. In their eyes, it was never confined to the space itself.

“I remember when we first talked about expanding the Hotel Cafe and everybody said, ‘Don’t do it. You’re going to ruin what you have,’” Shafer said, referencing the venue’s 2004 acquisition of additional space next door. (They expanded again in 2016 with their Second Stage annex, about half the capacity of the main stage.)

“When we did it, it changed the room so much for the better, and gave us access to bigger artists but still didn’t lose the intimacy,” he said about the expansion.

Shafer and Mamikunian thought they’d outgrown the Cahuenga space and had long been pondering a move. This year, the logistics lined up, Mamikunian said.

“It wasn’t anything dramatic,” he said. It was just time.

Hughes called the move “an opportunity to pursue a space that can check a lot more boxes for us, for the long term”: more parking, increased room capacity, greater accessibility.

L.A. singer-songwriter Maris performs in the Second Stage performance room at the Hotel Cafe.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

A new beginning around the corner

Zoning clearances are still pending for the new location in Lumina Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard, a high-rise apartment building set to be upgraded by Morguard Corp. And although the new venue is slated for a 2027 opening, the timeline depends on an upcoming zoning hearing, expected in March or April, Mamikunian said.

But Shafer and Mamikunian opted to announce the closure while details were still being worked out rather than wait and risk information leaking to the public. Plus, this way, both artists and patrons have time to say their goodbyes.

After Clearwater heard the news, she rushed to a “Monday Monday” weekly showcase and immediately felt like she’d been transported back to 2017, when she spent four-plus nights a week at the joint.

“So many of my old friends from that time — some of [whom] I had fallen out of touch with — I saw all of them there,” the Bay Area-bred folk singer said. “You could feel everybody loving it so much.”

The singer said she couldn’t help but wonder whether things would have panned out differently had people shown out like that before Shafer and Mamikunian made their choice. But sipping red wine in the green room that night, she felt lucky just to be there.

“It’s the wood, it’s the bar, the backstage chairs, the little lanterns,” she said. “I’m just going to miss what it looks and smells like, but the people, that’s never gonna go away.”

The Hotel Cafe hosted its annual holiday showcase on Dec. 19, with proceeds benefiting the Recording Academy’s nonprofit arm, MusiCares.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Farewell for now

Earlier this month, the Hotel Cafe hosted its last-ever holiday event at the Cahuenga location. Hughes, with the help of her interior designer sister, Nina Hughes, spent hours that day decking the halls with carnival lights and ribbons galore.

Even before the night’s performances began, attendees were clinking glasses and giving lingering hugs — the kind befitting the last day of summer camp.

“It’s going to be a love fest,” Hughes predicted.

As heartfelt as that night’s musicians were in their speeches, bartender Dan Shapiro said waxing sentimental onstage has been the norm for weeks.

“People are always doing eulogies to the place,” Shapiro said with a chuckle. As he surveyed the lineup posted at the bar, he said he’d put his money on performer Lily Kershaw shedding a few tears. Fellow bartender Dave Greve concurred.

Against the odds, Kershaw didn’t cry as she led the crowd through a rendition of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Our House” a few hours later. Subsequent performers stayed on theme with songs composed of resonant lyrics like “So long stranger / I like to think I know you best” and “Hold on tight / don’t let go.”

As Brothers crooned his own tribute, he closed his eyes, as though praying.

“It’s never gonna be what it was, but it’ll be something new and different, and I’m really excited to see what that is,” Lucy Clearwater said about the Hotel Cafe’s relocation to Sunset Boulevard.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

James Babson, a longtime doorman at the Hotel Cafe, said its staff and attendees alike have always been reverent toward performers. For some, he said, the listening experience is “spiritual.”

“Maybe they’re not churchgoers, so they have this sense of community and transcendence, where that song touches them on this level, which takes them somewhere else,” he said.

Peter Malek felt it the first time he stepped inside the Hotel Cafe 20 years ago. Hooked on that feeling, he started visiting the venue several times a week. Sometimes, he never even made it inside, content to chat with Babson for hours at the door; other evenings he spent in the staff offices, cramming for his medical school exams.

According to Malek’s last tally, he’s been to the Hotel Cafe 1,333 times. Although he was saddened when he heard the news of the relocation — several months before almost everyone else found out — he said he isn’t expecting Shafer and Mamikunian to replicate what they built at the Cahuenga site.

Instead, Malek said, he’s left “happy that he witnessed it.”

The Hotel Cafe was packed with regulars and first-time attendees at its farewell holiday performance in December.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

All night at the Hotel Cafe’s holiday party, attendees wondered whether penultimate performer Dan Wilson, of the pop-rock band Semisonic, would play “the song.” No one had to name it.

When Wilson finally sang the magic words, “Closing time, open all the doors / And let you out into the world,” the room erupted into cheers.

It was the closest Brothers came to crying, but he held it in. There would be time for that later.

Actor Mickey Rourke faces eviction from his Los Angeles home after failing to pay rent.

Rourke, whose birth name is Philip Andre Rourke Jr., received a three-day notice to pay rent or vacate the premises on Dec. 18 and had failed to comply, according to court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday.

At the time of the notice, he owed $59,100 in unpaid rent.

A representative for Rourke did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In March, Rourke signed a lease for the three-bedroom, 2.5-bath house for $5,200 a month; it was subsequently raised to $7,000 a month, states the court filings.

A Zillow listing describes the property as a “nicely upgraded Spanish bungalow” built in 1926. Raymond Chandler was said to have resided there for two years in the 1940s.

The property’s owner, Eric Goldie, is requesting compensation for attorney‘s fees and for damages. A lawyer for Goldie was unavailable for comment.

A former boxer, Rourke, 73, turned to acting with small roles in the 1980 film “Heaven’s Gate” and “Body Heat” a year later, before earning acclaim for his role in 1982’s “Diner.”

After a slate of leading roles in a number of movies including “The Pope of Greenwich Village,” “9 1/2 Weeks” and “Rumble Fish,” Rourke‘s film career took a nosedive, with his off-screen antics frequently overshadowing his acting.

“I lost everything. My house, my wife, my credibility, my career,” he told The Times in an interview in 2008. “I just all had all this anger from my childhood, which was really shame, not anger, and used it as armor and machismo to cover up my wounds. Unfortunately, the way I acted really frightened people, although it was really just me who was scared. But I was like this person who was short-circuited and I didn’t know how to fix myself.”

In 2005 he reemerged with the neo-noir action thriller “Sin City.”

Three years later, Rourke’s portrayal of aging, washed up wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson, in the Darren Aronofsky film “The Wrestler,” earned him a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for lead actor.

Rourke’s return to the big screen has not been an entirely smooth ride.

In April, he agreed to exit “Celebrity Big Brother UK” after producers warned him over the use of “inappropriate language and instances of unacceptable behavior,” according to a statement a spokesperson for the show released at the time.

His remarks allegedly included comments about JoJo Siwa’s sexuality

Following his departure from the reality show, his manager announced that he was pursuing legal action over a pay dispute, claiming that the show had disrespected her client by “publicly embarrassing him” and declined to pay him, according to People.