“I have some news to tell you. Please don’t be sad. I am … dying. Oh I can see your faces now. The truth is we all are dying. Every day we live we are getting closer to our death,” he wrote on X early Monday.

When fans took those words literally, he posted a follow-up note: “Sorry many of you have gotten upset about my message today. Even the press has gotten in touch with me. I am not dying. It was a message about saying how we should embrace every day that we have. Sorry for this confusion.”

The 75-year-old is best known for his ’80s exercise video series, “Sweatin’ to the Oldies.” He has been out of the public eye for the last decade or so, prompting sporadic, Kate Middleton-esque searches, as well as a podcast called “Missing Richard Simmons” from 2014.

In 2016, Simmons called into the Today show to refute the rumor that he was being held hostage by his housekeeper. He explained that he “sort of wanted to be a little bit of a loner for a little while” after hurting his knee.

His rep then told Entertainment Tonight in 2018, when Simmons turned 70, “He’s doing very well. He’s his jovial self. He spends most of his time at home and in his yard. He keeps up with his reading and does what he wants to do. He deserves this time to himself.”

In January, Simmons wrote on Facebook that he never gave comedian Pauly Shore permission to play him in either the short film “The Court Jester” or the upcoming biopic being produced by Mark Wolper of The Wolper Organization 

“While we would love to have [Simmons] involved, we respect his desire to privacy and plan to produce a movie that honors him, celebrates him and tells a dramatic story,” Wolper told Variety when the feature was announced.

The post Exercise Guru Richard Simmons Apologizes for Scaring People Into Thinking He Was Dying appeared first on TheWrap.

But how did this extra day come about, and what does it mean to you? Read on. TheWrap has the answers you didn’t realize you were looking for.

Why do we have Leap Year, anyway?

Believe it or not, the universe does not move in lockstep with our puny human calculations. It takes the Earth slightly longer than 365 days to orbit the sun. Over time, calendar years drift apart from the events that the year is supposed to track. (Aww, sad!) Leap year occurs to keep the 365-day calendar year locked in with the seasonal year. That means tacking an extra day on at the end of February. Think of it as resetting your watch, on a cosmic scale!

So, do I get the day off?

No, it’s not a holiday or anything. In fact, since Leap Day falls on a Monday this year, it means an extra day of work. But if it makes you feel better, feel free to half-ass it — just like this list!

My birthday is on Feb. 29, and it really sucks. Is there any upside to it?

Yes, it’s tough for you Leap Day babies; because the date of your birth only officially comes around every four years, three-quarters of your birthday celebrations are kind of lame. But put it in flip-mode — that means every fourth birthday celebration is extra-special! Plus, if it’s your birthday today, Pizza Hut wants to give you free pizza! Not bad, right?

Who else is a Leap Day baby?

Fear not, you’re in good company; rapper Ja Rule, Mark Foster of Foster the People, actor Antonio Sabato Jr. and motivational speaker Tony Robbins all share your birthday. You’re also in not-so-good company, unless you enjoy sharing a birthday with serial killers Aileen Wuornos and Richard Ramirez, aka the Night Stalker.

The post Leap Year, Explained: What’s With This Extra Day, Anyway? appeared first on TheWrap.

NSW police confirmed to the Sydney Morning Herald that a 51-year-old man reported a 71-year-old man assaulted him at about 2:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday (7:30 a.m. Pacific on Monday) and that “inquires are now underway.”

Ben McDonald, chief executive of Matrix Media Group, told the Herald, “I was just out on the job chasing Taylor. She got off a super-yacht at Neutral Bay and walked up the wharf with an umbrella over her head and a couple of security [guards] around her. Security sort of pushed us around with the umbrellas.”

He added, that Swift’s father, who is 71, “decided to add to the mix and throw a punch in.” He said that the alleged punch to his left cheek was “a shock” because “security had [the situation] under control.”

According to a Swift spokersperson, “Two individuals were aggressively pushing their way towards Taylor, grabbing at her security personnel, and threatening to throw a female staff member into the water.”

Swift’s father, who’s been nicknamed “Papa Swift” by the pop singer’s fans, has been in Australia in support of the pop singer’s Eras Tour. Monday night, she performed the last of her four sold-out shows at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

In a video shared by MuchMusic to X on Saturday, Swift gushed that Australian fans made her “feel at home,” News.com.au reported.

“My band, the dancers, you make us feel like we’re at home here, you really do. It’s very rare,” Swift said.

She also told the crowd, “We have had the most wonderful time, I’ve got to tell you that. You are here in one of the most exciting cities in the world, and you chose to hang out with us. Thanks guys!”

The multi-Grammy winner also played three shows at Melbourne’s Cricket Ground.

TheWrap has reached out to Swift’s reps for comment.

The post Taylor Swift’s Father Under Investigation for Assaulting Photographer in Australia appeared first on TheWrap.

On Sunday’s “The Big Weekend Show,” Arroyo chalked up Black voters potentially leaving the Democratic party to Trump’s understanding of culture, specifically his new $399 ‘Never Surrender’ high-top sneaker line.

“As you see, Black support eroding from Joe Biden. This is connecting with Black America because they love sneakers, they’re into sneakers. This is a big deal certainly in the inner city,” the Fox News commentator said. “So when you have Trump roll out his sneaker line, they’re like, ‘Wait a minute, this is cool.’ He’s reaching them on a level that defies and is above politics. The culture always trumps politics. And Trump understands culture like no politician I’ve ever seen.”

The host continued this train of thought when asked if the love of culture and sneakers would translate into Black votes for Trump. He said the correlation would make sense since “anybody willing to put $400 down for a pair of sneakers” is showing “commitment and love” to the former president.

Charlamagne Tha God took a measured approach to this conclusion days later on Friday.

“We are a very unserious country, y’all. And we shouldn’t be on Sirius at a time like this when democracy is on the line, but we also need to be learning from who you consider to be opposition,” the radio host said. “There are some things Raymond said that I agree with, meaning Trump understands the culture better than any politician currently. Not black culture though, entertainment culture. We live in an era, sadly, where culture does trump politics. Maybe it always has.”

The media personality ultimately denounced Arroyo’s claims on the basis that politicians on both sides think Black people are simple. The tangible things Black people want in exchange for their vote, Charlamagne argued, run more along the lines of money, upward mobility, police reform and other social concepts.

“Black folks aren’t leaving the Democratic Party because they’re supporting Trump. I mean, some might be, but most Black people I know, [they’re] just fed up with politics period. They don’t want it. They won’t be won over because Biden is doing the latest TikTok challenge,” he said. “They won’t be won over because Kamala Harris is reciting rap lyrics. They won’t be won over because Trump is selling sneakers. They will be won over when you offer them something that will provide them upward mobility in this country. It’s simple.”

Charlamagne ultimately announced Arroyo as “The Breakfast Club’s” ‘Donkey of the Day’ for his comments.

“People call for reparations because it’s old, but also because it’s something that will provide financial relief,” the radio host continued. “People get excited over student loan debt being wiped out because it’s something that provides financial relief. People get excited over affordable health care because it’s affordable. Everything revolves around money. That’s what all Americans care about.”

The post Charlamagne Tha God Slams Fox News Contributor for Saying Black People Will Vote for Trump ‘Because They Love Sneakers’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

Cohost Jason Bateman asked her if she has a specific role model in her career, mentioning Jodie Foster.

“I talked to her much later, which was amazing. I did a speech at a women’s march about being sexualized as a young actress, and, she reached out to me after that, and we talked and it was amazing,” Portman said. “She’s still a role model.”

Cohost Sean Hayes followed up on the common experience for women in entertainment, asking if Portman had come to recognize a certain personality or found any red flags to clock in someone who might end up sexualizing women in Hollywood during her career in the industry. Portman said no, and she reflected on the guard she put up as a celebrity.

“I feel like it’s still surprising that it exists. But I feel like that projection of seriousness protected me in a way, because I feel like it was almost like a warning signal, like ‘Oh, don’t do s–t to her,’” Portman said. “Not that anyone ever like, you know, deserves it or is asking for it, but I felt like that was my unconscious way of doing it.”

She did share something she considered “the biggest sign.”

“I feel like the biggest sign is when people talk s–t about women,” she said. “If they talk s–t about anyone, even if they’re just like, ‘Ugh, she’s really difficult,’ that’s like a flag for me. Like, ‘There’s more to that story.’”

Portman also discussed points in her career including the “Star Wars” prequels and her role in Marvel’s “Thor” movies.

Listen to the full podcast here.

The post Natalie Portman Says She Bonded With ‘Role Model’ Jodie Foster Over ‘Being Sexualized as a Young Actress’ appeared first on TheWrap.

Quarterbacks facing off include Patrick Mahomes for the Chiefs and Brock Purdy for the San Francisco 49ers. Usher will play the halftime show, and country singer and coach of “The Voice” Reba McEntire will perform the national anthem before the Super Bowl LVIII kickoff.

The football game will be played in Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, but there are a number of ways to watch the Super Bowl — including for those without cable.

What time is kickoff?

The Super Bowl 2024 kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. ET/ 3:30 p.m. PT.

What channel is it on?

This year, the Super Bowl is on CBS. But there’s also a “kid-friendly” version airing on Nickelodeon at the same time which includes slime-filled stunts, Spongebob Squarepants, player facts, easter eggs and “AR awesomeness.”

Is the Super Bowl streaming?

Yes! Streaming options for the Super Bowl include Paramount+ and CBS Sports Apps or CBS.com with your TV provider.

Paramount+ Essential, which includes ads, is $5.99/month. Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, which is ad-free, is $11.99/month. But there’s also a free trial, which you can use to watch the Super Bowl. Get Paramount+ here.

Who’s playing in the game?

The Kansas City Chiefs will face the San Francisco 49ers, just as they did four years ago in 2020 right before the COVID pandemic began. The last time the two teams faced off, Kansas City came out on top. The Chiefs have won three Super Bowls in the history of the NFL championship, most recently defeating the Philadelphia Eagles last year. San Francisco has won five total Super Bowl titles. 

While the Chiefs have Taylor Swift, Jason Sudeikis, Paul Rudd and more cheering them on in the big game, the San Francisco 49ers celebrity fans include Andy Samberg, Jeremy Renner, Alison Brie.

Who’s playing the halftime show?

Usher will perform the halftime show at Super Bowl 2024, following the high bar (literally the platforms were high in the air) set by Rihanna in 2023. Usher previously appeared as a guest during the Black Eyed Peas halftime show in 2011.

Will Taylor Swift be at the Super Bowl?

Almost certainly. Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, who is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, has been attending many of his games in the regular season and could make it to the Super Bowl fresh off a flight from the first dates of her 2024 Eras tour leg in Tokyo, Japan. With the 17-hour time difference between Las Vegas and Tokyo, Tokyo being ahead, Swift would need to complete a roughly 13-hour flight to LAX and then hop on a shorter one to Las Vegas. Drew Barrymore somewhat predicted that this might occur when she did the calculations back at the beginning of November 2023.

The AP has traced Swiftie sleuths, who claim to have found Swift’s private jet, which has reportedly landed at LAX. Gracie Hunt, daughter of Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, confirmed to People that Swift was on her way to the big game.

The post How to Watch the Super Bowl Without Cable appeared first on TheWrap.

Here are some of the famous faces that will be cheering on Kansas City along with all the Swifties rooting for Taylor’s boyfriend.

Taylor Swift

Yes, there are other, more longterm celebrity Chiefs fans, but the Taylor Swift of it all can’t be ignored. The Grammy-dominating singer-songwriter began dating the Chiefs’ tight end at the end of 2023. It all started with a friendship bracelet, and her attendance at NFL games quickly added a whole new layer to the Swiftie fandom. Swift’s effort to support Kelce has had a positive ratings effect on the games she went to, and the Super Bowl viewership numbers will surely depend on her attendance.

Paul Rudd

It would seem irresponsible not to include “Ant-Man” star Paul Rudd, who is arguably the celebrity most known as a diehard fan of not only the Kansas City Chiefs, but the city’s baseball team, the Royals, as well. When the Royals clinched a playoff spot in 2014, Rudd, who grew up in Lenexa, Kansas, and attended the University of Kansas, jokingly invited fans to a party at his mother’s house.

Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman is also a Kansas City fan. He doesn’t necessarily consider the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce romance when watching the games, but he does love when they win. He also enjoys watching Patrick Mahomes.

Rob Riggle

The funny man and former Marine grew up just outside Kansas City in Overland Park, Kansas, and was also a fixture during the Royals’ most recent two World Series campaigns.

Jason Sudeikis

Though younger than Rudd, Sudeikis went to the same high school in Kansas as the superhero actor. He was also a fixture at games during the Royals’ playoff runs and has been a staunch supporter of Kansas City, even wearing a T-shirt of a popular Irish pup in Kansas City’s historic Westport neighborhood in the above photo. Sudeikis has incorporated the Kansas City Current into his alter ego and Apple TV+ comedy “Ted Lasso.” In an episode of Season 3, he wore a shirt representing the women’s soccer team.

Eric Stonestreet

The “Modern Family” actor grew up on livestock farm in Kansas City, Kansas (which is different from Kansas City, Missouri). But if you question his love of Chiefs, just scroll through his Instagram to see photos of him from last season in the locker room and video of him beating the drum during home games.

Brad Pitt

If Paul Rudd is the actor most famously known to be a Chiefs fan, then Brad Pitt is simply the most famous Chiefs fan. While walking the red carpet at the 2020 SAG Awards, which happened to be the same day the Chiefs punched their ticket to the big game last season, fellow Chiefs fans tossed Pitt a hat to rock on the carpet.

David Koechner

The “Anchorman” actor, who is from Tipton, Missouri, has also had the honor of banging the drum during a Chiefs’ home game last season, and has often been seen hanging out with Rudd, Stonestreet, Sudeikis and Riggle during Royals playoff games.

Melissa Etheridge

The country rock icon, from Leavenworth, Kansas, is a longtime supporter of the red and yellow. She even sang the national anthem ahead of last season’s AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots.

Henry Cavill

The Kansas City Chiefs have a Superman, which is fitting, since the comic book character grew up just over the state line in Kansas. Cavill, however, is English from Jersey in the Channel Islands.

Tech N9ne

Anyone from the 816 knows the impact and importance of rapper Tech N9ne, whose real name is Aaron Yates. The Kansas City, Missouri-born artist has been repping for the city since Day 1.

Heidi Gardner

Since Jason Sudeikis left the cast, Gardner has represented for the heartland on Saturday Night Live. The Kansas City, Missouri-born comedian attended both the University of Kansas and the University of Missouri.

John Amos

The iconic “Good Times” and “Roots” actor — among many other films and TV series — is not only a Kansas City Chiefs fan, but in 1967 he actually signed a free agent contract with the team before being cut.

Kevin Willmott

The Oscar winner, which he won for co-writing “BlacKkKlansman” with director Spike Lee, also teaches film and media studies at the University of Kansas. He told The Kansas City Star: “Have been a fan since fifth grade when I got a Chiefs vs. Vikings electric football game of their Super Bowl win for Christmas.”

David Cook

The “American Idol” winner grew up a Chiefs fan not far from Arrowhead Stadium in Blue Springs, Missouri.

Harris Faulkner

The Fox News host has been a Chiefs fan ever since her days as an anchor at WDAF in Kansas City. She sang the national anthem before a game in 1999.

The post 16 Famous Kansas City Chiefs’ Fans, From Taylor Swift to Paul Rudd | Photos appeared first on TheWrap.

The Speaker of the House and an Avenger are among Niners’ star supporters.

See what other celebrity 49ers fans will be rooting for them this weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 Super Bowl.

Nancy Pelosi

The Speaker of the House represents San Francisco and her family has season tickets. Pelosi won’t be attending the game and will focus on President Trump’s ongoing impeachment. 

Alison Brie

The “GLOW,” “Community” and “Somebody I Used to Know” actress will be routing for the 49ers on Sunday.

Kristi Yamaguchi

The figure skater and Fremont native knows what it feels like to be a champion. She won an Olympic gold medal in 1992.

Danny Glover

The American actor and film producer was born and raised in San Francisco. He’s been a lifelong 49ers fan. 

Scott Eastwood

The model/actor grew up in Monterey — about 115 miles south of San Francisco — but recently told Rich Eisen he’s a Niners fan.

Andy Samberg

The “Brooklyn Nine Nine” star and the rest of the Lonely Island band aren’t afraid to show off their Niners pride.

Dana Carvey

The American actor and comedian counts himself among the Niners Faithful.

Rob Schneider

As does his “SNL” costar and fellow comedian.

Jeremy Renner

The “Avengers” star, aka Hawkeye, has his sights sets on a Super Bowl win and the Lombardi trophy.

Aaron Paul

The “Breaking Bad” actor will be rooting for the 49ers this Sunday as they go for their sixth Super Bowl title.

Bella Thorne

The actress will be repping the red and gold with her hair and 49ers jersey. She has stuck through the team through thick and thin.

Andre Iguodala

The former Golden State Warrior may no longer play for a California team, but he’s still a 49ers fan, even taking over the team’s official Twitter account.

E-40

The rapper shows off his 49ers swag and swagger.

The post These Famous Fans Will Be Rooting for the 49ers at the Super Bowl | Photos appeared first on TheWrap.

In fact, Cats.com placed Olivia as the third richest pet in the world, due in no small part to her participation in many of Swift’s music videos, ads for Diet Coke, and her very own line of merchandise.

On top of that, the site estimated Olivia’s net worth as $97 million, which surpasses that of Swift’s boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (USA Today reported Kelce has amassed a paltry $40 million).

While Swift makes her money singing and Kelce makes his slamming into other dudes on the football field, Olivia makes hers by just being herself. The Scottish fold was bought by Swift in 2014 and named after the hero of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” (In January 2024, the show’s star Mariska Hargitay told People she named her own cat “Karma” after Swift’s song.)

In October of the same year, Vanity Fair reported that Olivia had joined the world of working women as a shoe model for Keds. She made her music video debut when she appeared alongside Swift in the shoot for “Blank Space.” In 2018 popped up alongside her sister cat Meredith Grey in a DirectTV commercial that also featured Swift.

Also in 2014, Swift launched a line of Olivia and Meredith-themed merch that included stickers, pens, and even earrings. Country Living reported that Compare the Market estimated Olivia’s net worth at $97 million for the first time that August.

Official numbers that pertain to what Olivia might have been compensated for her work (and how) aren’t available, and Cats.com stated that the site analyzed “Instagrams of pets with the most followers, likes, and engagement rates” and used data from the social media platform to determine “how much each of these pets could make per Instagram post to discover who among them were the highest earners, and how much the most influential cats could pull in per post.” So it’s not exactly a scientific estimate of pet net worth.

Humane Hollywood has reported that animals in domestic non-SAG-AFTRA production are paid $1200 a day or $600 per half day; the same rate applies to international productions. In August 2023, animal trainer Kelly Capponcelli told the Washington Post that many of her animals were rented out at a flat rate of $500 a day before the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Of course, those rates might apply to a pet as privileged as Olivia Benson.

In summation: Olivia is definitely rich, but that’s because Swift is rich, too.

The post Is Taylor Swift’s Cat Worth More Than Travis Kelce? Cat Fansite Confidently Guesstimates Yes appeared first on TheWrap.

The “Bad Blood” singer was no stranger to Keith, who signed Swift to her first record deal in 2005. Then just a teenager still finishing high school, Swift made her first deal with Big Machine Records, into which Keith had just merged his own independent label Show Dog.

Swift had freshly moved to Nashville to pursue her passion, and Keith took an immediate liking to her unique batch of syrupy pop-country songs that would soon make up her debut album, “Taylor Swift.”

In a Nashville-based WSMV-TV clip from that same year, Swift speaks reverently about her new music and business partner, telling the interviewer: “You’re in the room with him and you can feel it. There’s a power there, and you’re just like, ‘Oh my God!’ So I don’t think I’ll ever get to a point where I won’t see him and be like, ‘Oh my God, that’s Toby Keith.'”

The clip was posted Wednesday on X by Matt Couch, founder of conservative blog the DC Patriot, who points out that Swift has yet to say anything about the death of the person who gave her that critical first big break. Messages left with Swift’s publicist were not immediately returned on Wednesday.

While anyone’s first thoughts might turn to a political rift – Keith was once a Democrat who later went independent, fought with the then-Dixie Chicks over “Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue” and eventually played in support of Donald Trump – Swift’s reasons for staying silent on Keith’s death probably run deeper.

When Swift signed to Big Machine, based on Music Row in Nashville, it was a newly forged joint venture between Keith and DreamWorks Records executive Scott Borchetta, distributed by Universal Music Group. Though Keith stepped away from Big Machine early on to focus on his own label, Swift would go on to record seven albums with the label, the last of which was 2017’s “Reputation.”

But Big Machine was bought out in 2019 by Scooter Braun’s company Ithaca Holdings – sparking off the major controversy about ownership of Swift’s master recordings. Swift has since re-recorded much of that music as a rights workaround – in the end, Taylor always wins – but the whole episode was clearly a bitter experience for the now-pop superstar.

Notably, Keith’s name does not appear anywhere on Swift’s official Wikipedia page, aside from one link deep in the references section. That link takes you to a Forbes story from 2013, in which Keith and Borchetta boast about how much money they’ve made from signing Swift eight years prior:

“It was one of the great investments in recent music history,” the article reads. “Borchetta went on to sign Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and, most notably, Taylor Swift. Now Keith gets paid whenever Swift does. ‘Toby’s a really smart businessman,’ says Borchetta, who knows because ‘I send him checks.’ How big are the checks that Swift generates for him? ‘I know there’s an extra comma,’ smiles Keith, ‘if you added up all the money I’ve ever made.'”

The post How Toby Keith Played a Huge Role in the Rise of Taylor Swift appeared first on TheWrap.