The White House held an elegant state dinner to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife, and the stars were in attendance.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted the lavish soiree Wednesday, often viewed as a glamorous diplomatic tool to promote partnerships with allies and opponents alike.
Guests, which included Robert De Niro and his girlfriend Tiffany Chen and Jeff Bezos and fiancé Lauren Sánchez, were treated to a three-course Japanese-American fusion meal and lavish Japanese-inspired decor.
Other attendees included Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Olympic champion figure skaters Kristi Yamaguchi and Alex and Maia Shibutani, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Lilas Ikuta and Ayase of the Japanese superduo Yoasobi, NBC correspondent Kelly O’Donnell and her husband and photojournalist David J. Ake and others.
“Bridge over Troubled Water” singer Paul Simon performed during the reception.
Takeaways: Bidens host state dinner for Japanese PM Kishida and wife
De Niro is the co-owner of Nobu, a Japanese restaurant chain he co-founded with celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa.
The actor has been a vocal detractor of Biden’s predecessor, former President Donald Trump.
At last fall’s Gotham Awards, the “Killers of the Flower Moon” actor called out the former president in part of a speech that he said was removed from a teleprompter without notice.
Colin Jost revealed as headliner for the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner
“Lying has become just another tool in the charlatan’s arsenal,” De Niro read from his phone. “The former president lied to us more than 30,000 times during his four years in office. And he’s keeping up the pace in his current campaign of retribution. But with all his lies, he can’t hide his soul. He attacks the weak, destroys the gifts of nature and shows disrespect, for example, by using ‘Pocahontas’ as a slur,” a reference to Trump’s nickname for Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
He later criticized the award show and Apple, which produced and distributed “Flower Moon.”
Contributing: Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy and Patrick Ryan
Robert De Niro, Paul Simon attend White House state dinner – USA TODAY
Cheryl Burke Reveals She Had Romances With Three of Her 'Dancing With the Stars' Celebrity Partners – Entertainment Tonight
When it comes to her Dancing With the Stars romantic history, Cheryl Burke is sambaing right into setting the record straight.
The longtime ballroom dancer, who appeared on 25 seasons of the hit ABC ballroom competition show as one of the professional partners, revealed just how many “showmances” she had with her famous partners while working on the show.
“I’ve had my own showmances, you know. It happens,” she admitted during an appearance on Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes’ podcast, Amy & T.J.
While Burke denied having to keep it secret on account of the show, she would not divulge their names — well, except for one.
“One of them basically professed his love to me on Ellen DeGeneres,” she said. She ultimately confirmed she was talking about former pro football player Chad Ochocinco Johnson, her season 10 celebrity partner. During their appearance on DeGeneres’ show, Johnson kissed her and they showed off the $10,000 ring he bought Burke, though she denied on the podcast that they were engaged.
In the course of her time on the show, Burke said she had three showmances and noted that she and one of her partners tried to make their romance serious, but it did not work out.
“Lust. It’s not love, right?” she said, noting that once the relationship entered into the real world, their dynamic would change.
As Burke explained, ballroom dancing is an “intimate” contact sport and the DWTS pairings were with each other seven days a week. Mix in the fact that in order to be successful, the celebrity competitors had to be vulnerable as they learned a brand-new skill and quickly trust their pro partner, it was an environment for romance to emerge.
Burke’s love life has continued to make headlines over the years, including her 2022 divorce from her husband of less than three years, Matthew Lawrence. While the marriage ended, Burke has not ruled out another walk down the aisle.
“I totally would get married again,” she told ET in 2023. “I mean, I know we should probably go from like meeting somebody first, not like straight to the altar, but our time is limited on this planet.”
What would that future groom be like? “Someone who, honestly, first of all, is OK and secure with themselves. That really is a person who knows that we are here to evolve as human beings and who wants to grow and continue to learn and stay curious,” she said. “I think that that is very important and whether we’re on the same path, it’s irrelevant, I think it’s just someone who knows that life continues to move forward.”
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N.C. State Coach Kevin Keatts to be celebrity judge for UNCW’s first-ever “Dancing with the Seahawks” – WECT
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Coming off the heels of a NCAA final-four appearance, N.C. State Coach Kevin Keatts will be one of the celebrity judges for UNCW’s first-ever Dancing with the Seahawks.
The dance competition will feature five competitors from around the region paired with professional dancers from the Fred Astaire Dance Studio to benefit the UNCW women’s basketball team. WECT’s Frances Weller is one of the competitors dancing. Dancers will be judged, with the top performer being recognized during an award ceremony.
Keatts was the coach of the men’s basketball team at UNCW for the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons. UNCW had finished last in the CAA in the season before Keatts started, but he led the team to the conference championship in 2014-2015 and was named CAA Coach of the Year.
Another celebrity judge will be former Duke University and NBA player Gene Banks.
The proceeds from the event will go toward the UNCW Women’s Basketball team trip to Puerto Rico in the fall.
The dance competition will take place on Sunday, April 21 at the Warwick Center from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
To register for a sponsorship or purchase tickets, click here. To donate to the Women’s Basketball Trip Fund, visit here.
Copyright 2024 WECT. All rights reserved.
Coachella 2024: Most daring celebrity looks – Business Insider
The 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival kicked off on Friday, with performances continuing throughout the weekend.
Coachella is among the most famous and lucrative music festivals in the world, as it set the record for the most profitable recurring festival in 2017 when it made over $114 million, according to Billboard.
As always, the festival was packed with celebrities, from performers like Doja Cat to attendees like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
Many stars wore bold looks to the festival, whether onstage or in the crowd.
Take a look at some of the most daring looks celebrities wore at Coachella 2024.
Carpenter had several outfit changes during her set at Coachella, but her boldest look included a sparkly silver tank and an ultra-short, pleated skirt.
The tank cut low on the sides, showing her lace bra, while the skirt twisted up when she performed to show off her bedazzled briefs. Brown boots completed the look, which was designed by Roberto Cavalli.
Taylor was among the celebrities who attended Revolve Fest, a party coinciding with Coachella that the brand has hosted since 2015.
She wore a midi-length dress to the event made of a sheer, blue material, but it looked like denim thanks to seams lining the front of the dress. Coordinating boots, a white cowboy hat, and a red bandana tied it together.
Hilton’s cropped top and skirt featured ruffles, contrasting with the chain that accessorized the bodice.
She added several silver necklaces and a black cowboy hat to the look.
Overlapping strings made up Shakira’s bodysuit, which had an asymmetrical, halter neckline. The strings created cutouts and tassels on the hemline.
Matching arm cuffs and boots completed her ensemble.
Keoghan’s Coachella ensemble included a Versace graphic tank, Burberry plaid shorts, and a coordinating bandana.
He paired the look with simple white sneakers.
Pettis’ white bikini top was tied with a bow in the center, while her high-waisted, cream pants were covered in large ruffles.
The pants were also made of see-through fabric, giving them a daring edge. The entire outfit came from Revolve.
Earle’s vintage Roberto Cavalli set consisted of a black top and pants.
The neckline of her tank dipped low, with chains made of gold beads and shells tying it together. The matching pants featured the same chains lining the sides of the pants.
Black boots, a black jacket, and a gold bag completed her ensemble.
The “Star” actor chose a monochromatic brown ensemble for Revolve Fest, which she paired with gold boots that hit her at the knee.
A bikini top sat underneath her jacket, which she zipped only in the middle, and her high-waisted skirt had a dramatic cutout that went all the way up to her hip.
The German influencer paired a semi-sheer Mugler bodysuit featuring a dramatic neckline that dipped to her navel with a sheer skirt from Retrofete made entirely of sparkly tassels.
A silver star embellishment sat on her waist, and she wore black booties.
Bailey’s coordinating purple set included a cropped halter top and detached sleeves with netting on the sides.
Her high-waisted pants had the same netting on the outside of the legs and the inner thighs, and the pants turned into high-heeled shoes at the bottom.
Rapper Blxst wore a custom denim set designed by Levi’s.
Both his jacket and shorts were made of light-wash denim and adorned with sparkly embellishments, elevating the comfortable material.
A button-down, blue tie, green hat, and sunglasses completed his look.
Ambrosio turned a white maxi dress from Siedrés into a top, only buttoning it at the chest and letting it turn into a cape around her from the waist down.
She paired black mini-shorts and black boots with the dress, and she carried a heart-shaped purse.
Ice Spice donned an I.AM.GIA. bodysuit for her Coachella set.
The long-sleeve, black jumpsuit was made of sheer lace tied together on the sides and down the plunging neckline.
Fuzzy black boots completed the look.
D’Amelio attended Revolve Fest in a sheath dress from the brand made of sheer, white material.
The scoop-neck dress was simple, though it was adorned with black butterfly appliqués. Combat boots completed D’Amelio’s ensemble.
Levant wore a charcoal suit for his performance, pairing a fitted blazer with wide-legged pants.
The DJ took a daring approach to layers, using a bronze bikini as the base of her look.
She wore a brown bolero with cutouts on the sleeves and low-waisted, white pants with the swimsuit. Her pants also had cutouts.
Maison Margiela designed rapper BIA’s white bodysuit, which featured crisscrossing cutouts on the legs, sleeves, and bodice.
She paired fuzzy Ancuta Sarca boots with the bold bodysuit.
The singer’s midi-length dress was completely sheer, though it was adorned with sparkly, rippled stripes in white and red polka dots.
The dress also featured spaghetti straps and a corset-style bodice, and Bibi wore white sneakers with the look.
Doja Cat also wore several looks during her Coachella set, but the most eye-catching was a faux fur top and coordinating G-string bottoms.
Brett Alan Nelson and Entire Studios created the ensemble, which also included coordinating boots.
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Inside RHOM Star Alexia Nepola's Dramatic Life on and Off Camera – Us Weekly
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The Real Housewives of Miami star Alexia Nepola knows a thing or two about keeping things real.
For five seasons, Nepola has allowed Bravo cameras to capture the highs and lows of her life as a wife, mom and businesswoman. But even when filming stops, the reality star can’t help but find herself making headlines.
Us Weekly confirmed that Alexia’s husband, Todd Nepola, filed for divorce in April 2024 after nearly three years of marriage. The news caught both Alexia and her fans by surprise.
“I am shocked and heartbroken that Todd has chosen to dissolve our marriage,” Alexia wrote via her Instagram Stories days after the filing in Florida. “I will take comfort in the fact that my friends and family will be by my side supporting me during his difficult time.”
While Todd has not publicly commented on the split, this plot twist is one of many in Alexia’s life over the years. Take a look back on the dramatic twists and turns the Bravo star has experienced both on and off camera.
Back in 1987, Alexia first met Rosello at a Miami restaurant. Sparks flew with the couple getting engaged just a few years later. While planning their wedding, however, Rosello was arrested on drug trafficking charges. According to Bravo, the pair married when he was out on bond for a year. The couple would later welcome two sons — Peter and Frankie — before divorcing in 1996.
“We’re on very good terms,” Alexia told Bravo in 2013 about her ex who was the subject of Netflix’s Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami. “He’s such a great father, and he’s so good to Frankie and to Peter. My kids adore him. They spend a lot of time with him.”
Alexia’s life was forever changed in 2011 when her then 13-year-old son Frankie was involved in a car accident. While riding in the passenger seat of a friend’s car, Frankie suffered permanent brain damage.
“I will never recover from Frankie’s accident,” Alexa said via Instagram in February 2023. “It’s only my wish that he can continue to improve in time, and he can be as ‘normal and productive’ as his limitations allow. I will never accept the loss of my dreams for him, and I will never give up on him or Peter. Our pain is so deep.”
During the first three seasons of Real Housewives of Miami, which aired between 2011 and 2013, viewers were able to get a glimpse into Alexia’s marriage to Echevarria.
When the show was put on pause, the couple separated in 2015. In a tragic turn of events, Echevarria was found dead one year later at his Miami apartment from natural causes. He was 65.
“I can’t imagine what my life will be like walking into my office every day and not seeing Herman or having our family dinners with the kids and family,” Alexia said in a statement to E! News at the time of his death. “Although we were currently separated and living in separate homes, our spiritual and emotional connection was stronger than ever.”
When Alexia returned to Real Housewives of Miami’s reboot on Peacock, she revealed Echevarria was gay but unable to come out before his death. During an episode, the Bravo star prepared to meet with the businessman’s former lover at a restaurant. Ultimately, he didn’t show up.
“I would have loved for him to have come out and had this conversation because I would have supported and helped him,” she said via Instagram Live in February 2022. “[I would have] hooked [Herman] up with all my cute gay friends!”
In January 2022, Alexia’s son Peter was arrested and charged with a battery misdemeanor after allegedly getting into a domestic altercation with his girlfriend. The charges were dropped one month later, People reported.
Alexia also faced another hurdle when her son feuded with Todd before their wedding day. According to the reality star, things improved over time. “We are just kind of figuring it out along the way,” she told Bravo in December 2022. “But, you know, we all like each other and love each other.”
Back in 2021, Alexia announced her mother Nancy’s death from COVID-19 on the same day she planned to marry her third husband, Todd. “Early this morning, I lost my mom to the horrible and deadly COVID-19,” she wrote via Instagram on August 25. “The last couple of days have been a rollercoaster of emotions for me. I was on the road to marry the man of my dreams when I had to stop everything as my mother became ill. What was supposed to be the happiest day of my life today has turned out to be the saddest.”
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After nearly three years of marriage, Todd filed for divorce in April 2024. While it’s unclear what led to the breakup, Alexia showed no signs of trouble in the relationship when she celebrated Valentine’s Day with her husband two months earlier.
“No matter what life throws my way, there’s one thing I can be sure of… We belong together,” she said via Instagram. “You will always be my Valentine. I love you forever.”
Real Housewives of Miami is currently streaming on Peacock.
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Alexa and Carlos PenaVega daughter: Couple mourns stillbirth death – USA TODAY
Alexa and Carlos PenaVega are opening up about a devastating loss in their family.
The “Spy Kids” actress and Big Time Rush singer revealed their daughter died due to stillbirth in an emotional post on Instagram Monday.
“There are never the right words to say when it comes to loss,” the couple wrote in the joint post. “After a beautiful and peaceful delivery our daughter ‘Indy’ was born at rest. It has been a painful journey. But in the pain we have found peace.”
The couple revealed Alexa’s pregnancy in a November 2023 Instagram post, which featured a photo of the PenaVegas sweetly cradling Alexa’s growing baby bump. “Thank God we love adventures 😍😍😍 Oh baby here we come! (Number four)! 🎉 📸,” they wrote at the time.
“This little girl has already changed our lives in so many ways,” the couple continued. “She was absolutely beautiful. And looked just like daddy. Dark hair and all. Grief has come to us in waves. Moments of feeling absolutely gutted… then moments of feeling blessed by just getting a moment with her.”
Celebrity parents talk stillbirth: Jill Duggar Dillard, Derick Dillard reveal stillbirth of daughter Isla Marie in emotional post
Alexa and Carlos married in 2014. They share three children: Ocean, 7, Kingston, 4, and Rio, 2.
“We can’t understand why things like this happen and we may never get those answers,” the couple concluded. “Indy Rex PenaVega, you completely changed our world. You moved us to a new place. You gave us the community we have been longing for. We love you. Can’t wait to see how many other lives you change.”
‘Manifestation of worst fear’: They lost a child to stillbirth. No one knew what to say.
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Momofuku responds to backlash over celebrity chef David Chang's chili crisp trademark battle – KABC-TV
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Asian creators and chefs say there’s plenty of room at the chili crunch table.
Celebrity chef David Chang is taking heat from fellow Asian food producers — from chefs to smaller consumer packaged food brands — who say they are disappointed by how he's chosen to try to enforce his trademark on a widely consumed, beloved chili crisp condiment, Chili Crunch.
Lawyers for Chang, the chef and founder of the Momofuku empire of restaurants and grocery goods, recently sent cease-and-desist letters to small, independent companies using the terms "chili crunch" and "chile crunch" on their products, which Chang's lawyers argued infringes on Momofuku's trademark rights, The Guardian first reported earlier this month.
Chili crisp is typically made with roasted chili-infused oil with crispy bits of fried garlic, onion, spices and herbs. The product — for which there exist hundreds of at-home recipes — has been produced by dozens of brands for years, is sold widely across U.S. grocery stores and specialty Asian grocery markets, can often be seen on Asian restaurant menus and is even offered in the buffet line at Delta Sky Club lounges.
Momofuku first launched its popular chili crisp, called Chili Crunch, in 2018 and began selling jars of it in 2020.
"Ever since the early days of Momofuku, we've been working on a chili oil that has heat, texture, umami, and a proper balance of flavor. The result is Momofuku Chili Crunch," the company writes on its website.
"We spent years tinkering and experimenting in our kitchens in order to create a chili oil that reflects all of our various inspirations and speaks to our specific tastes," it continues. "Ours uses the same umami base as Momofuku Seasoned Salts, plus a lot of the flavors and textures we love: crispy shallots, sesame seeds, dried garlic, and coconut sugar for a hint of sweetness."
Chang's company, under the name MomoIP LLC, obtained the rights to the term "chile crunch," spelled with an "e", in 2023 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Momofuku acquired the rights to the term "chile crunch" from the Denver-based company Chile Colonial.
Momofuku more recently filed a trademark for chili crunch, spelled with an "i," on March 29, 2024, according to legal documents obtained by ABC News.
The company sent cease-and-desist letters to a number of companies on March 18, 2024, through the USPTO, including New York-based Malaysian food brand Homiah, which sells a product called Sambal Chili Crunch in two flavors, previously called "Crispy Sambal" and "Seaweed Sambal."
The letter stated that "Momofuku trusts that Homiah did not adopt the CHILI CRUNCH mark in bad faith or with an intent to create confusion." It went on to state that "trademark law requires brand owners to police use of their trademarks — and because Momofuku is concerned that consumers may actually be confused here — we write to request Homiah's cooperation."
Momofuku has demanded Homiah cease the use of the name "chili crunch" within 90 days and agree not to use or apply to register in the future "any marks that incorporate the components of chili crunch or chile crunch."
Michelle Tew, founder and CEO of Homiah, first took to LinkedIn last week after the now-viral Guardian report was published, accusing Chang of being a "trademark bully" and turning up the heat on others selling "chili crunch."
"I've always been a Momofuku fan and supporter," Tew wrote, detailing her longtime appreciation for Chang's restaurants, adding, "I've stocked my pantry and freezer with countless Momofuku products."
"Homiah's Sambal Chili Crunch product is personal and based on a family recipe from my Granny Nonie dating back to countless generations of Nyonya heritage in Penang, Malaysia," she continued. "I was shocked and disappointed that a well-known and respected player in the Asian food industry would legally threaten me — a one-woman show operating on a much smaller scale — from selling a product that is part of my family's history and culture."
In an emailed statement to ABC News, a spokesperson for Momofuku said the company is "proud to stand alongside so many AAPI-founded brands making enormous and long-overdue changes in the space."
"When we created our product, we wanted a name we could own and intentionally picked 'Chili Crunch' to further differentiate it from the broader chili crisp category, reflecting the uniqueness of Chili Crunch, which blends flavors from multiple culinary traditions," the spokesperson said. "We worked with a family-owned company called Chile Colonial to purchase the trademark from them."
The company said it has seen "multiple businesses that sold chili crisp products rebrand themselves to use the words Chili Crunch" over the past year.
"Failure to defend our trademark against any size company would leave us without recourse against these larger players who often try to enter categories on the rise," the statement continued. "…Our goal is and has been to find an amicable resolution — not to harm the competition that makes this category so vibrant."
The cease-and-desist letters have prompted other Asian chefs and food creators and founders to sound off online, particularly in defense of small businesses.
Jing Gao, founder and CEO of Fly by Jing, which sells an all-natural, small batch Sichuan chili crisp sauce crafted in Chengdu, Sichuan, reposted Tew's LinkedIn remarks last week, adding that she was "disheartened" by the cease and desist demand.
"The 'chile crunch' trademark should never have been granted. Just like 'chili crisp', it is a generic and descriptive term for a culturally specific condiment, one that has existed in Chinese culinary culture for hundreds of years," Gao stated.
"I am disheartened to hear that Momofuku is using a trademark with a validity that is tenuous at best to go after numerous brands including small minority women founded businesses," she continued. "This kind of action, if successful, sets a dangerous precedent for the squashing of fair competition, not to mention how ridiculous it is to try and take ownership of a generic cultural term."
Gao added that her company, as well as Homiah and similar Asian-owned food brands, "exist in a traditionally marginalized space" in which "investors and retailers told us that our business was too 'niche.'" She emphasized that more competition "only serves to validate the market opportunity — there is enough space for everyone."
Neither Fly By Jing Sichuan Chili Crisp, launched in 2018, nor the widely popular Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp — which has been around since the late 1980s, according to the Lao Gan Ma website — are being targeted by the letters, according to The Guardian, which noted that both products use the term "chili crisp" rather than "chile crunch," which Momofuku has trademarked.
Kim Pham, the first-generation Vietnamese co-founder of the sauce and noodle brand Omsom, which she started and owns with her sister Vanessa Pham, penned an entire post on Instagram reacting to the cease-and-desist letters.
As a small business owner in the Asian food space, Pham shared additional sentiments with "Good Morning America," about how "blocking young brands from using specific, easy-to-understand terms can be hurtful in getting off the ground."
"One of the foundational building blocks of marketing is the naming and positioning of your product," she said. "Getting this right can make or break consumer understanding and experience of your product."
Additionally, she shared the advice she would give to the small business owners at the center of the "chili crunch" dispute.
"Keep your head up. While it may seem like there are strong forces trying to push your business down, you have an entire community of Asian Americans behind you who believe that rising tides raise all boats," Pham said. "Your work is helping build power and mobility for other Asian food brands."
Dozens of other Asian food creators, chefs and business owners have chimed in on social media, flooding feeds with similar sentiments.
On Tuesday, Filipino chef, restaurateur and TV host Jordan Andino, took to Instagram to share his thoughts on the situation.
"Shocked, disappointed, and confused," Andino wrote in the caption. "Let's try and uplift the entire Asian diaspora. Strange way to try and make some money… especially at the expense of people who admire and look up to you."
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After Britney, Wendy Williams Shows Conservatorships Still Toxic to Women – TheWrap
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Such court-ordered financial oversight arrangements “adversely and disproportionately impact women,” a lawyer told TheWrap
In 2022, Wells Fargo successfully petitioned a judge to put talk show host Wendy Williams under what was said to be a temporary financial guardianship. The judge froze her accounts and set a hearing to determine if a guardianship was needed, all while the talk show host disputed the decision and accused a Wells Fargo financial advisor of lying to get access to her accounts.
The guardianship became the subject of a documentary on Lifetime this year, and has drawn criticism from her family, who say they have struggled to get access to her for even a phone call as she languishes in a private facility to treat her cognitive issues.
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