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Jennifer Lopez Posts Clip of Drinking Alcohol From the Bottle After Ben Affleck’s Birthday

Lauren Weiler — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 19:04:37 +0000

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are closer to divorce than ever, according to sources. The couple didn’t publicly acknowledge each other’s summer birthdays in 2024, though Lopez was known for posting about her romance with Affleck after they tied the knot. In August 2024, Affleck celebrated turned 52 — and Lopez posted a clip of her drinking from a bottle of alcohol a day later. Here’s what to know.

Jennifer Lopez posted a clip of her drinking her brand of alcohol from a bottle after Ben Affleck’s birthday

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are reportedly not in a good place in their marriage. The couple tied the knot in 2022. Just two years later, they allegedly already have divorce papers signed and ready to file.

Lopez and Affleck have stark differences in lifestyles, which may have led to their decision to separate. While Affleck lives a low-key life away from the spotlight in LA, Lopez adores her fans and hopes to continue to tour with her music. Lopez and Affleck also had very different birthday celebrations during the 2024 summer. While Lopez had a Bridgerton-themed bash in the Hamptons that she posted about on Instagram, Affleck had a quiet party with family at home.

“It’s exactly what he wanted,” a source told People regarding Affleck’s birthday party. “He didn’t want to go out to celebrate. The kids had gifts for him, and it was cute. Jennifer [Lopez] stopped by to congratulate him.”

Lopez didn’t wish Affleck a happy birthday in 2024. However, a day after his birthday, she promoted Delola, her brand of alcoholic beverages that she started in 2023, on Instagram. Affleck doesn’t drink alcohol and has entered rehab multiple times in the past.

Lopez posted a clip of her drinking a Delola cocktail from a large bottle. “See how I do this, how I drink from the bottle? Very demure,” she said, referencing a viral TikTok while taking a swig. “Very mindful. I don’t just chug it. I just don’t … all the way down. Just little — little by little. Very elegant, swelling it, demure, mindful.” She ended the video by taking another swig.

An insider said that Ben Affleck isn’t ‘falling off the wagon’ of his sobriety despite the divorce rumors

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez attend the red carpet for ‘The Last Duel’ during the 78th Venice International Film Festival in 2021 | Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Ben Affleck has publicly spoken about his issues with alcohol in the past. He entered treatment for alcoholism in 2001 and entered rehab again in 2017 and 2018. Jennifer Garner staged an intervention for Affleck in 2018 after their split. Lopez seems to help Affleck stay sober despite starting her cocktail business.

While Affleck and Lopez’s marital stress wears on Affleck, an insider told The Sun that Affleck is “genuinely grateful for his sobriety” and not “falling off the wagon again anytime soon.”

“But he’s still got the weight of the world hanging over his shoulders every day, and Jennifer doesn’t, despite the recent bad fortune with her tour and new music,” the source continued. “She doesn’t ‘do’ misery, at least not around the people closest to her.”

Jennifer Lopez’s cocktail brand allegedly ‘devastated’ her husband

Jennifer Lopez loves reinventing herself and isn’t afraid to step outside the box to stay relevant. A source told DailyMail.com that Lopez launching an alcohol brand “devastated” Ben Affleck due to his past issues with the substance. The brand may have also pushed the couple into divorce territory.

“Ben had to fight to get his life back after overcoming alcohol,” a friend of the actor said, according to Yahoo.”Knowing how he lost everything, including the love of his family, knowing that he could possibly relapse, Jen decided to start her own spritzer line for more money, as if she did not have enough.”

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Meghan Markle’s Columbian Closet Is the Ultimate Guide to Effortless Summer Style

Ali Hicks — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 18:08:45 +0000

Meghan Markle‘s signature style blends classic elegance with modern chic looks. Her fashion choices often feature clean lines, neutral tones, and statement pieces that exude sophistication. Effortlessly embodying timeless fashion, it’s even more fun to see her add some summer frivolity to her looks, which she subtly has done during her trip to Columbia.

José David, Prince Harry, Leonel Umaña Parra, Meghan, and Colombia Vice President Francia Márquez visit local charter school Colegio Cultura Popular in Bogotá, Colombia, on August 15, 2024 | Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are drawing attention to the first Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children. This summit will take place in Columbia this November. In partnership with their Archewell Foundation, Meghan and Harry are participating in meet-and-greets, forums, and media events to draw attention to the conference and advocate for social media safety and best practices for families.

Fans of the couple are happy to see their advocacy work as well as Meghan’s stylish summer outfits.

Meghan and Prince Harry at Centro Nacional de las Artes Delia Zapata on August 15, 2024 in Bogotá | Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images

As Meghan visits Bogotá and the Caribbean and Pacific regions of Cartagena and Cali, she’s giving supporters a lesson in effortless warm-weather looks. On the first day, the 43-year-old wore a dress by Colombian-born Johanna Ortiz, one of Meghan’s favorite designers. She accessorized the metallic burgundy, pink, and gold Navajo Weaver dress with strappy brown Jimmy Choo kitten heels.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, speaks at EAN University on August 15, 2024 in Bogotá | Diego Cuevas/Getty Images

That evening, Prince Harry and Meghan participated in EAN University’s summit about digital responsibility. This event aligns with the couple’s new venture, The Parents Network, which aims to provide a safe and free support network for parents whose children have been harmed by social media.

Meghan went monochromatic with a rust-colored button-down shirt by Victoria Beckham. She wore coordinating silk pants by La Ligne and caramel Aquazurra heels.

Meghan visits Colegio La Giralda school on August 16, 2024 in Bogotá, Colombia | Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images

The next day, the Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry toured Bogotá’s Colegio La Giralda school. Megan went schoolteacher-chic in a previously worn Loro Piana linen blazer, white button-up, and black cropped pants. She added Princess Diana’s butterfly earrings, which she first wore in 2018 during her Oceania tour of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.

Meghan and Prince Harry at San Basilio de Palenque on August 17, 2024 in Cartagena, Colombia | Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images

On August 17, Meghan toured San Basilio de Palenque, which was established in 1619 and became the first free African town in the Americas. The mother of two went monochrome with an Argent knit blouse, linen Posse skirt, and black Emme Parsons sandals. She accessorized with a white straw hat from Columbian designer Hannia Char and statement earrings, according to Harper’s Bazaar.

Prince Harry and Meghan at the Escuela Tambores de Cabildoa | Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images

Escuela Tambores de Cabildo hosted the couple in Cartagena, where they watched a drumming performance. Meghan wore a (now sold-out) matching top and skirt set from Johanna Ortiz’s 2025 Resort Collection.

Fans recognized her Imperial Disc Pendant by Ariel Gordon Jewelry. Meghan had it engraved with the names of her children, Archie and Lilibet. The Duchess added her Cartier jewelry, Ray-Ban aviators, and a white Cesta Collective crossbody bag. She also wore the same Aquazurra heels from two days prior.

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Colombia Vice President Francia Márquez, and Yerney Pinillo seen at the Petronio Music Festival on August 18, 2024 in Cali, Colombia | Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan attended the Petronio Alvarez Music Festival, the most important festival of African culture in Latin America. The Duchess of Sussex wore an appropriately playful green and white dress by Colombian designer Andres Otalora.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Afro Women and Power Forum on August 18, 2024 in Cali | 1st image: Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Image; 2nd and 3rd images: Gabriel Aponte/Getty Images

One major event in one day isn’t enough for Meghan and Harry. The couple attended the Afro Women and Power Forum on August 18. The Duchess wore a sleeveless button-up tank top and sequined Silvia Tcherassi midi skirt with matching pink heels.

Phil Donahue: ‘Love, Listening and Lust’ Secret to 44 Year Marriage to Marlo Thomas

Lucille Barilla — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 18:03:20 +0000

Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas had one of the longest-lasting marriages in Hollywood. After 44 years wed and almost 47 as a couple, the late celebrity talk show host and Thomas revealed that they had a three word secret to keeping their love alive.

The three ‘Ls’ were the secret of marital bliss for Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas

In a May 2023 interview with People Magazine, celebrating her 43rd anniversary, Marlo Thomas said the three Ls were her and Phil Donahue’s secret to marital bliss: “love, listening, and lust.”

“I call it the three L’s. Love, listening, and lust,” Thomas shared. “Those are the three L’s.”

She continued, “You have to listen, and then you’ll know what the other person is really thinking and going through. You have to love each other. And without lust, you don’t have anything.”

Thomas elaborated further on her theory in an interview with E! News, “I’d rather be making love or having a good sweet conversation, or snuggle up and watch television. So you need to remind yourself of the love you have for the other person.”

She continued, “And the lust is—I mean, it’s fun to say it, but it really is an important part of your marriage. It’s important when people talk about date nights. It’s to remember that there’s a wonderful personal, physical relationship that you have with your spouse that you don’t have with anybody else on earth.”

How did Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas meet?

Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas met when she was a guest on his daytime talk show in 1977. In a 2015 Facebook post, Thomas shared her version of the events of that fateful day.

“Phil and I met on his talk show, Donahue, in 1977. It was instant chemistry. He flirted, I giggled, and his TV audience watched us fall in love,” she wrote.

In a book the couple wrote about marriage, What Makes a Marriage Last, Thomas compared their first meeting to a shampoo commercial, “where everything suddenly goes into slow motion,” as reported by E! News. In 1980, they married in front of 35 guests.

“You have to listen to each other,” Thomas told E! News about the couple’s marriage. “It took me about 10 years to figure out that mostly what Phil wanted from me were not solutions, which I was too happy to give.”

She continued, “In fact, he just wanted someone to hear what he had to say.” Thomas explained that Donahue told her, “I just want you to listen.’ I said, ‘Wow, well, that’s easy.'”

How did Phil Donahue revolutionize the talk show industry?

Phil Donahue revolutionized the talk show industry by allowing audience participation with guests. Prior, talk shows were just about the host and the guests interacting with each other.

On Donahue, which ran for 29 years, the journalist was fearless in pushing the buttons of his guests and audience members. He was known for leaning into hot topics other talk shows wouldn’t touch, including discussions with spiritual leaders, doctors, homemakers, activists, entertainers, or politicians.

Phil Donahue was 88 years old at the time of his death. He is survived by Marlo Thomas and children Michael, Kevin, Daniel, Mary Rose, and the late James.

Jennifer Lopez Criticizes Ben Affleck’s New Look as ‘Lost’ and ‘Pathetic,’ Insider Alleges

Lauren Weiler — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 17:39:58 +0000

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are reportedly headed for divorce after two years of marriage. The couple famously fell in love in the early 2000s, and 20 years later, they found love with each other again before making their romance official. In August 2024, Affleck showed off a new personal style while divorce rumors loomed. Here’s what Lopez allegedly thinks of his hair and clothes.

Jennifer Lopez allegedly thinks Ben Affleck looks ‘pathetic’ with his new look

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were Hollywood’s golden couple when they got back together in 2021 and tied the knot in 2022. Unfortunately, they’re allegedly headed for divorce just two years after their wedding. Lopez spent most of her 2024 summer in New York, while Affleck remained in Los Angeles. Affleck also bought a $20 million mansion on his own while he and Lopez rush to sell their $68 million estate.

Change is in the air for Lopez and Affleck, and Affleck also changed his personal look. In early August 2024, he was spotted in LA with a shaved faux-hawk hairstyle. He completed the punk look with gray jeans and a black jacket over a Red Hot Chili Peppers T-shirt. Affleck was also spotted in the look while driving a blue electric motorcycle.

So, what does Lopez think? “She’s saying this clearly shows that Ben is clearly not in the right headspace and that he hasn’t been for some time,” a source told In Touch Weekly on Aug. 16, 2024. “In her view, he looks so lost and kind of pathetic right now. It’s obvious to her that this is a cry for help, but her hands are tied because he’s totally ghosted her.”

The source added that Affleck doesn’t care what Lopez thinks. “He’s excited to have his life back and a fresh start ahead of him that’s not dictated for him anymore,” they added.

A relationship expert says Ben Affleck’s changed look could come from his ‘desire to start fresh’

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck attend the Los Angeles premiere of Warner Bros. ‘The Flash’ on June 12, 2023 | Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic

Relationship expert Louella Alderson talked to The Mirror about Ben Affleck’s changed appearance. According to Alderson, Affleck might want to create a “distance” from his “previous image” to prepare for a fresh start.

“This cleaned-up look could be a symbol of Ben’s desire to start fresh and move on from his recent marriage,” Alderson said. “He may have felt the need to distance himself from his previous image and create a new identity for himself as he enters into this new chapter of his life.”

Alderson added that Affleck “may have simply wanted to change up his look for personal reasons or professional projects,” but the timing aligns with his impending divorce.

As for Lopez, she hasn’t completely overhauled her look since news of her impending divorce broke.

Jennifer Lopez briefly saw her husband for his birthday after spending weeks apart

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck spent minimal time together during the summer of 2024. However, they reunited in August 2024 at Affleck’s Brentwood apartment. Lopez reportedly spent time with his son, Samuel, and wanted to see the kids before they headed back to school.

“Now, when she’s back in LA, she wants to spend quality time with them before school resumes and Violet is off to college,” a source told People.

Lopez also stopped by Affleck’s small birthday party. The actor turned 52 on Aug. 15.

“It’s exactly what he wanted,” a source told People. “He didn’t want to go out to celebrate. The kids had gifts for him, and it was cute. Jennifer [Lopez] stopped by to congratulate him.”

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Priscilla Presley Remembers Elvis on the 47th Anniversary of His Death

Megan Elliott — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 14:18:00 +0000

It’s been nearly 50 years since Elvis Presley’s death. But his memory still looms large for his ex-wife, Priscilla Presley.

Priscilla Presley shares tribute to Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley | Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

On August 16, Priscilla took to social media to post a touching remembrance of her former husband on the 47th anniversary of his death.

“47 years and not a day goes by that I don’t think of you,” she captioned the Instagram post, which also included a short video clip featuring a black-and-white photo of the late King of Rock ‘n’ Roll accompanied by the song “Always On My Mind.”

A few days earlier, Priscilla also paid tribute to Elvis’ mother, Gladys Presley. Priscilla never met Gladys, who died in 1958, a year before she met Elvis. But she knew how much she meant to her husband.

“Today, August 14th, Elvis’ mother Gladys passed,” Priscilla wrote in the Instagram post. “She meant the world to him. He shared so many stories about how protective she was… one being, she would walk with him to school in fear he would get beat up by the schools bad boys. He would ask her to stop before they were near the school. I never met Gladys but I felt I knew her through all his stories.”

Elvis died on August 16, 1977

The front page of the Memphis Press-Scimitar the day after the death of Elvis Presley | Blank Archives/Getty Images

Elvis died on August 16, 1977, from a heart attack. He was 42 years old.

Priscilla and Elvis met in 1959 when he was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army. She was 14 at the time; he was 24. A few years later, Priscilla’s parents allowed her to visit the “Hound Dog” singer in the U.S. They began a relationship and married in 1967. Their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, was born in 1968. Elvis and Priscilla divorced in 1973, but they remained friendly after their split.

In a 2023 interview with Piers Morgan for Sky News Australia, Priscilla recalled the “devastating” moment when she learned her ex-husband had died.

“I had just talked to him two nights before and to get that call, Joe Esposito called me and said ‘Cilla, Elvis is dead,’” she said. “I just yelled. I thought he was kidding … and then when I found out it was true, I went to my bedroom and just stayed … and cried.”

In addition to dealing with her own grief, Priscilla had to break the news to Lisa Marie, then nine years old, that her father was dead.

“My big fear was Lisa,” she said. “How do I tell her?”

“I just told her we were going to Graceland, we were going to go see daddy, but daddy won’t be you know, daddy will be resting,” Priscilla recalled.

“I’ve never actually told this before because it’s been hard. I said, ‘Look, he’s going to go to sleep for a while.’ And she goes ‘Will I be able to see him?’ and I said, ‘Yes you’ll be able to see him.’”

Even decades after his death, Priscilla says her love for Elvis hasn’t diminished.

“[I] still love [him] today,” she said. “He was unique. His personality was unreal. He was caring. He cared for people. He wondered, why him?”

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Keith Morrison Reacts to Arrests in Stepson Matthew Perry’s Death

Megan Elliott — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 12:17:00 +0000

Keith Morrison is reacting after police charged five people in connection with the death of his stepson, Matthew Perry.

In a statement, the Dateline host says Perry’s family is “grateful” that bad actors are being held responsible for the death of the Friends star. Perry died of an overdose of ketamine on October 28, 2023.

Five people charged in death of ‘Friends’ star

US Attorney for the Central District of California, Martin Estrada, speaks during a press conference on August 15, 2024, announcing arrests in the death of ‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry | Patrick T. Fallon / AFP

On August 15, authorities announced that they had charged five people, including two doctors and Perry’s personal assistant, with distributing ketamine to the actor in the week prior to his death. Those charged were Jasveen Sangha, aka “The Ketamine Queen”; Dr. Salvador Plasencia, aka “Dr. P”; Erik Fleming; and Dr. Mark Chavez.

Perry’s live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, pleaded guilty on August 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. Iwamasa also admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine, including performing multiple injections on the day Perry died.

“These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada in a statement. “Drug dealers selling dangerous substances are gambling with other people’s lives over greed. This case, along with our many other prosecutions of drug-dealers who cause death, send a clear message that we will hold drug-dealers accountable for the deaths they cause.”

Keith Morrison is ‘heartbroken’ over Matthew Perry’s death

Perry’s family says they are pleased that people are being held accountable for their role in his death.

“We were and still are heartbroken by Matthew’s death, but it has helped to know law enforcement has taken his case very seriously,” Morrison said in a statement on behalf of the family that was shared with People. “We look forward to justice taking its course and we’re grateful for the exceptional work of the multiple agencies whose agents investigated Matthew’s death. We’re hoping unscrupulous suppliers of dangerous drugs will get the message.”

Morrison married Perry’s mother, Suzanne Langford, in 1981 when the future sitcom star was 12 years old. The true crime reporter opened up about their relationship during a March 2024 appearance on Hoda Kotb’s Making Space podcast.

“I never tried to replace his dad, but I was there for him, and he knew it. We were close,” Morrison said of his relationship with his stepson.

Perry was ‘happy’ before his death, Morrison has said

[L-R] Keith Morrison; Matthew Perry | Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images; Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Perry had been open about his long-standing issues with substance abuse, talking about them candidly in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. Though his family was devastated by his death, it did not come as a complete surprise, Morrison said.

“It was the news you never want to get, but you think someday you might,” Morrison said when Kotb asked if he was surprised by Perry’s death.

Despite Perry’s tragic end, Morrison said his stepson had embraced a positive mindset prior to his death.

“He was happy, and he said so,” Morrison said. “And he hadn’t said that for a long time. It’s a source of comfort, but also, he didn’t get to have his third act, and that’s not fair. And as he said himself, ‘If if I suddenly died, people would be shocked, but not too many people would be surprised.’ And he was right.”

How to get help: In the U.S., contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-4357.

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Jennifer Lopez Wondered if She Was Unfairly Targeted by Critics Because She Was a Minority

Antonio Stallings — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 23:18:17 +0000

Jennifer Lopez was used to facing a lot of criticism for her work. But she felt a lot of the negative feedback she faced might’ve come from an unfair place.

Jennifer Lopez’s critics affected her success

Jennifer Lopez | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Even when Lopez was experiencing a career high, she was bothered by her detractors’ opinions. Back in her younger years, Lopez’s successful debut feature Selena coincided with her debut hit record On the 6. The movie didn’t do too well at the box office, but garnered massive critical praise from critics, with some highlighting Lopez’s performance. Likewise, On the 6 was a commercial success, going gold the first week of its release back in 1999.

But she had enough skeptics at the time to make Lopez doubt herself and her skills as an artist.

“I’m killing it, and then everybody’s like, ‘She can’t sing, she can’t dance, she can’t act, she’s just some pretty face or her butt is big’ or whatever they were saying about me and I started thinking, ‘Yeah, that’s true,’” she recalled according to People. “And it really hurt me for a long time.”

The more successful she became, the louder some of her critics were. So much so that Lopez wondered if the source of her criticism was about more than just her work.

“The rumors at that time were so endless,” Lopez said to Complex (via HuffPost). “I still haven’t figured that all out completely. I’ve thought sometimes, ‘Was it because I was a woman? Was it because I was a minority? I was like, ‘Why me? Why are they picking on me so much? What have I done?’ It’s funny. Men get praise when they are successful, like, ‘Look how great he’s doing.’ Women get criticized for some reason. I don’t understand it. All I know is that because I’ve stuck around for so long people realize, ‘Oh, that must not be true.’ ‘We finally got to know the real her.’”

How Jennifer Lopez handled harsh criticisms

Regardless of the true reasons behind the criticism, Lopez felt the best way to deal with her skeptics was to keep moving forward.

“I just couldn’t allow myself to let that become who I was. I was like, ‘No, I’m gonna make another record, I’m gonna make another song, I’m gonna make another movie,’” she said. “‘I’m a great actress, I’m a great singer, a great dancer, I’m great at this stuff! And I’m gonna keep going!’ And I did. And that’s all I did. I just kept going. And I just started working harder and harder than everybody else.”

Lopez also maintained confidence by believing in herself and her abilities. She gave credit to her upbringing for helping her navigate through the entertainment industry. Although she’s come a long way from her humble beginnings, Lopez was born and bred in the Bronx. The lessons she learned in her hometown came in handy later on in life.

“Thank God I’ve been blessed in that way. But I’m the same person. They know that I’m still Bronx-y. I still wear hoops. I still like to rock sneakers and sweats. I always felt like I was out of place in Hollywood. But I also felt that the street smarts I had from growing up in New York served me well out here,” Lopez said.

Over the years, what’s further helped Lopez prosper was ignoring the critics in her own head.

“I think that, for me, the most important thing for me is not listening to all the outside voices, but making sure that the voice that I’m speaking to myself, that roommate is a kind roommate, is a good roommate, is someone that’s lifting me up like [producing partner Elaine Goldsmith] does every single day,” she added.

Dolly Parton’s Guitarist Said the Character of Dolly Parton Had ‘Overtaken’ Her

Emma McKee — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 22:55:00 +0000

Dolly Parton said she created a character to present to the public when she became famous. Her hair, makeup, and clothing present an image that she said was different from her true self. While Parton believed she and the character she presented were one and the same, her guitarist thought she let the persona overtake her true self.

Dolly Parton said she created a character for herself when she became famous

Parton said she invented the character of Dolly Parton long before fame. It helped her rise to success in the music industry. She said she is proud of what she created.

Dolly Parton | David Redfern/Redferns

“A character never grows old. A character lives forever, just like Mae West, like Zsa Zsa Gabor, Liberace,” she said in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash. “I guess I am a character. In more ways than just by look. I guess I’m a character only because I’m just totally what I am. I’m not afraid to be that and say what I want to, and just do what I want to.”

She said she treated the character like a ventriloquist does a dummy.

Dolly Parton’s guitarist believed that character overtook her real self

Parton said it was fine that she and her character became one in the same, her guitarist, Don Roth, had some concerns. Roth worked with other stars who were able to drop their persona offstage. He said Parton never did this.

“They come backstage, and they’re just regular people. They’ll offer you a beer. But Dolly is always Dolly,” Roth said. “I’ve never seen her without her wig, without her makeup. After we got close, I asked her why. She said, ‘It’s my opinion the reason I’m so successful is that the masses expect to see Dolly Parton sparkle and shine, and I don’t want them to ever not see that.’”

He worried that people were unable to get close to her because she didn’t present her true self. Roth certainly felt that Parton kept him at a distance.

“And even though I was a member of the band, I was closer to being the masses than I was to being a friend,” he said. “I don’t know if there is a character other than the spangles and sequins. If there is, it’s buried really deep. I don’t know that it’s an act at all, because the character has overtaken her.”

A reporter didn’t think Parton’s personality could all be an act

While Roth said he wasn’t sure there was anything beneath Parton’s shiny public-facing mask, others thought she presented her true self. Journalist Joan Dew didn’t think it was possible for Parton to completely conceal herself.

Dolly Parton | Paul Natkin/Getty Images

“You’ve heard all these stories about her marriage being an arrangement, and you’ve heard that she is so ambitious that nothing stands in her way,” she said. “And then you spend an hour with her, and she shines those big blue eyes on you, and that soft, little-girl voice, and she’s sweet. There’s a sweetness, an innocence about her, that can’t be all phony. Unless she’s the world’s greatest actress.”

Dew said she never doubted Parton’s sincerity.

Dolly Parton Was ‘Afraid to Appear Human,’ Said 1 Interviewer

Emma McKee — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 19:40:47 +0000

Dolly Parton has spent her career cracking jokes at her own expense and telling stories of her humble beginnings in Tennessee. It’s worked well for her, as she has maintained the support of her dedicated fan base for years. In the 1970s, though, one reporter said Parton didn’t seem to want to be human.

Dolly Parton seemed afraid to be human

When Parton crossed over to the pop charts and became more of a mainstream celebrity, many people didn’t seem to know what to do with her. She wore exaggerated outfits, wigs, and makeup and cracked jokes about herself, but she was clearly a talented artist. Journalists began publishing pieces to see if she was really the way she presented herself. Dave Hershey of the New York Daily News did not believe she was fully genuine.

“I was sent down to do the ‘Dolly Parton — Is She For Real?’ story— what’s behind the cornpone charm,” he said in the book Dolly by Alanna Nash. “And it’s a very well-cultivated act, I think. I tried to catch her at odd moments when she wasn’t hooked into her stage persona, but she always seems to be on. She’s just a very, very charming person, and you can’t catch her with her guard down. I’ve done a lot of big-time celebrities in the last year and a half, but she is as tough to catch off-guard as anybody.”

Dolly Parton | Richard McCaffrey/ Michael Ochs Archive/ Getty Images

Hershey said Parton dodged questions about her childhood, which made him believe she wasn’t genuine.

“She’s very guarded about her childhood. Everytime I would say, ‘It sounds like you had a miserable childhood,’ she would say, ‘Oh, no, no, it was really quite happy, joyful. I’m not like Loretta Lynn. I’ve had a very happy life,’” he said. “She’s afraid to appear human, and that’s sad. It’s just a matter of time before people see through it. I went out there totally objective, and I could tell it was an act the whole time.”

Parton has spoken frequently about her childhood over the years. She has said that while the family was poor, they were happy.

Another journalist believed she was genuine

Though Hershey believed Parton wasn’t the real deal, other journalists didn’t think it was all an act. Journalist Joan Dew thought Parton would have to be the greatest actor in the world to completely conceal her true self.

“She can convince me of anything in an interview,” Dew said. “You’ve heard all these stories about her marriage being an arrangement, and you’ve heard that she is so ambitious that nothing stands in her way. And then you spend an hour with her, and she shines those big blue eyes on you, and that soft, little-girl voice, and she’s sweet. There’s a sweetness, an innocence about her, that can’t be all phony. Unless she’s the world’s greatest actress.”

Dew believed that all the glowing interviews of Parton backed up her belief.

“Have you ever read a cynical, bitter interview with Dolly Parton? An interview where the reporter doubted in print her sincerity?” Dew asked. “Never. And you probably never will. Did you read the Rolling Stone interview? Now, you know how cynical they are. The guy was eating out of her hand!”

Dolly Parton said she created a persona for herself when she became famous

Parton said she tries to present herself truthfully to the public, but she admitted she created a persona when she rose to fame.

Dolly Parton | Richard McCaffrey/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images

“I look one way and am another. It makes for a good combination,” she said, per the book Dolly on Dolly, adding, “I always think of ‘her,’ the Dolly image, like a ventriloquist does his dummy. I have fun with it. I think, what will I do with her this year to surprise people? What’ll she wear? What’ll she say?”

A number of celebrities have said they do the same thing in order to manage fame.

Jennifer Lopez Called 1 of Her Co-Stars an ‘A**hole’: ‘It’s Time for the Truth to Come Out’

Emma McKee — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 18:49:00 +0000

Jennifer Lopez has gotten along well with many of her co-stars over the years, but she said there was one actor she just didn’t like. When Lopez worked on the 1995 film Money Train, she said both Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes flirted with her. While she brushed off Harrelson’s advances, she said Snipes was more demanding. She did not appreciate the way he treated her.

Jennifer Lopez found 1 of her co-stars very unpleasant to work with

In 1995, Lopez starred in Money Train with Snipes. She had a boyfriend at the time, but she said he still pursued her relentlessly.

“Wesley — even though I had a boyfriend at the time — went full court press,” she told Movieline in 1998. “He was flirting with me — you always flirt with your costars, it’s harmless — then he just started getting a little more serious. He would invite us all out together and then at the end of the night, he’d drop me off last and try to kiss me. I’d be like, ‘Wesley, please, I’m not interested in you like that.’ He got really upset about it.”

Jennifer Lopez and Wesley Snipes | Tom Wargacki/WireImage

She said Snipes did not handle the rejection well, which lowered her opinion of him.

“His ego was totally bruised. He wouldn’t talk to me for two months,” she said. “I was like, ‘What an a**hole.’ Actors are used to getting their way and to treating women like objects. They’re so used to hearing the word ‘Yes.’ Now, I suppose Wesley will call me going, ‘You b****! How dare you? I didn’t like you.’ It’s time for the truth to come out!”

She did not like filming sex scenes with him

Lopez said she did not like shooting a sex scene with Snipes for the film.

“It was horrible,” she said, per Contact Music. “When you first start working professionally, you push the boundaries of what you should and shouldn’t do, and I didn’t think I had the right to say no, like, ‘No, I’m not doing this, and that’s it.’ So we did it, and it was tough.”

Still, she said Snipes was courteous to her when they shot the scene. He asked her how to make her more comfortable.

“Wesley was wonderful about it in the sense that he was like, ‘What’s gonna make you more comfortable?’ and I was like, ‘Bring music, play it loud.'”

Jennifer Lopez said her other co-star in the film flirted with her

Harrelson also acted in the film and, like Snipes, flirted with Lopez behind the scenes.

Woody Harrelson and Jennifer Lopez | Ke.Mazur/WireImage

“Woody was more playful, but if I’d have gone for it, he totally would have,” she said. “I’d say, ‘Hey, Woody, how are you doing?’ He’d, like, stick out his tongue and flick it at me very nasty. He was really funny about it.”

She said that Snipes and Harrelson tied at making the “clumsiest pass” at her out of all her co-stars.