September 23, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic(LOS ANGELES) — Move over Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton, Reese Witherspoon has submitted fool-proof evidence that she invented the selfie after posting an adorable snap she took over two decades ago.

Not only that, Paul Rudd even joined her for the 24-year-old shot and it appears The Morning Show star is having a hard time processing the discovery.

“Wait a second…,” she remarked on Tuesday. “Did #PaulRudd and I take the ‘Selfie’ in 1996?”

By all means, the picture is most definitely a selfie by current standards, but what’s really impressive is that the candid shot was taken without using a front facing screen since they weren’t in use yet, so the then-20-year-old actress had no idea how the photo would turn out until after she had it developed.

However, the buzziest thing about the 24-year-old selfie is that Reese nor Rudd have aged a day since starring in Overnight Delivery together.

While Witherspoon has graduated from red lip gloss and blue eye shadow, she still looks very much the same as she did in 1996.

Same goes for the 51-year-old Ant Man star, who joked about being a “certified young person” just last week.

Besides shocking fans, several of the Legally Blonde star’s famous friends weighed in on the snap, with actress Selma Blair laughing in the comments, “‘I’m in love with this relic fit for the smithsonian” while Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot hailed Reese for being a “trendsetter.”

Interesting enough, Witherspoon has presented strong evidence that she “invented” the selfie, blowing a hole in Hilton’s claim that she snapped the first one back in 2006. 

However, while the Oscar winner chose not to mention Hilton nor Kardashian, Oprah Magazine was more than happy to declare Witherspoon the de facto “inventor of the selfie.”

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

September 23, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ViacomCBS(LOS ANGELES) — It was a historic fire season on the west coast, with blazes decimating countless properties as they consumed millions of acres across California and Oregon.

For one fire chief, she watched in horror as her entire town went up in flames.  Christiana Rainbow Plews, 50, says the Holiday Farm Fire destroyed everything, including her home.  

Actress Drew Barrymore heard of Plews’ plight and invited her to speak about the devastation on The Drew Barrymore Show on Tuesday. 

“Blue River is gone,” confirmed Plews, who was chatting from her hotel room. “Not only all the homes, but all the businesses, including our fire station.”  

“The community is completely devastated,” she noted, adding that eight of her volunteer firefighters lost everything in the Holiday Farm Fire.

With her community in shambles, Plews has taken it upon herself to be the voice of strength, comfort and reason. “Somebody has to lead and somebody has to help get the healing and the rebuilding process started,” she furthered.

“I am the chief and I am in the position to impact that, so I just have to be strong,” continued Plews. “I just have to do it for everyone else and hopefully we can all find our way.”

Barrymore was blown away by Plews’ character and, after hearing how the chief continues to help her community despite losing everything, the Charlie’s Angels actress wanted to do something for her.

The talk show host revealed that she rallied her friends and sponsors to donate to Plews — handing the shocked chief a $10,000 check.

“I know it’s not enough,” offered Barrymore as Plews broke into tears, “But it’s just a little start to say you are an inspiration.”

“I have learned a lot from you,” she gushed, “Thank you for being an example to us all.”

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

September 23, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Jason Kempin/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) — Kerry Washington is opening up about how she has conversations about race and injustice in her home. 

The 43-year-old actress, who is a mother to 6-year-old Isabelle Amarachi Asomugha and Caleb Kelechi Asomugha — who is almost two, appeared on Tuesday’s episode of Ellen and revealed that when it comes to having difficult conversations with kids, “every kid is so different.”

“In parenting there is never a ‘this works for every kid,'” she said. “Such a big part of it is knowing who your kid is and as you’re having the conversation, like watching and listening for the cues to be present for this stuff.”

The Little Fires Everywhere star noted that taking care of herself and staying informed is a key part of having productive conversations as well. 

“In a lot of ways, I have to make sure that I am taking care of myself as I’m having these conversations and, just on a daily basis, doing what I need to do to stay calm and to stay present and stay informed. So that I can really be there for them as the world unfolds around them,” she explained. 

The Scandal alum added, “A lot of us remember the moment in our own childhoods when we were first confronted with negative views about race with racism, with institutionalized racism… I want my kids to know that I am fully present as they’re exploring those ideas, too.”

“I wear the Breonna Taylor T-Shirt, you know, ‘Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor.’ So if I’m going to wear that, which I do proudly, I’d be ready to have that conversation in my house and answer those questions,” Washington continued.

By Danielle Long
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

September 23, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images(CHICAGO) — Jussie Smollett has filed another motion to dismiss the charges against him, arguing the grand jury testimony that led to his second indictment is invalid, according to documents obtained by the New York Post on Tuesday.

The motion, filed by Smollett’s legal team, contends the actor’s second indictment was based on “illegal and incompetent evidence” gathered from Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo during the initial investigation into Smollett, which was tossed out by a U.S. District judge.

The Osundairo brothers, who met Smollett on the set of Empire, have long maintained that he paid them to stage a hate crime against him because he was unhappy with his salary.

Following the initial dropping of felony charges against Smollett in March of last year, Chicago Judge Michael Toomin ruled the case was invalid from February 13, 2019 — the day Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx recused herself from the case.

The motion states The OSP [Office of the Special Prosecutor] “cannot convene a special grand jury based on Judge Toomin’s Order but then rely on the transcripts from those ‘void’ proceedings to secure a new indictment.”

It further contends there is “no legitimate reason” why the Osundairo brothers, who live in Chicago, were available and have been cooperating with the investigation “were not called to provide live testimony to the special grand jury.”

“The only conceivable reason for not producing them,” write Smollett’s attorneys, “is because it did not want to risk having the brothers make additional contradictory statements prior to trial,” and “didn’t want to allow the jurors their…right to question the Osundairo brothers about the incident.”

The attorneys call the omissions “substantial and prejudicial” and asked the court to drop the charges on the grounds Smollett wasn’t granted his due process rights as required by the Fifth Amendment.

By George Costantino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

September 23, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Dean Buscher/The CW — © 2020 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved.(LOS ANGELES) — The upcoming sixth season of The CW’s Supergirl will also be its last, star Melissa Benoist confirmed on Tuesday.

“To say it has been an honor portraying this iconic character would be a massive understatement,” the 31-year-old actress shared on Instagram, alongside a behind-the-scenes photo.  “Seeing the incredible impact the show has had on young girls around the world has always left me humbled and speechless.”

Benoist went on to explain that playing the classic DC comic book character “taught me strength I didn’t know I had, to find hope in the darkest of places, and that we are stronger when we’re united.”

”What she stands for pushes all of us to be better. She has changed my life for the better, and I’m forever grateful.”

Benoist closed by promising fans of the show, “one helluva final season.”

Supergirl, which follows the adventures of Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El, debuted in October 2015 on CBS, where it aired for one season before moving to The CW.  It became the third Arrowverse show to premiere on the network in 2016, following Arrow and The Flash.

Production on the show’s final season is set to begin at the end of September in Vancouver, according to Entertainment Tonight, which adds that writers and producers are currently developing an exit plan for the series.

By George Costantino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.