Allison Holker Tells All About Stephen tWitch Boss — backlash ensues

Stephen “tWitch” Boss took his own life, and it left many questioning what private demons the lovable public figure was battling. Wonder no more — because his widowed wife, Allison Holker, has exposed deep, dark secrets she claims to have discovered after her husband’s passing via his personal journal.

The backlash was rightfully swift and harsh. Stephen’s mother, for example, dismissed the revelations as “untruths” and asserted that Holker’s upcoming book has tarnished her son’s name and legacy. Courtney Platt, a dancer who starred on SYTYCD alongside Stephen and Allison, blasted the book, calling it the “most tacky, classless, opportunistic act [she has] ever seen in [her] entire life.” It doesn’t stop there. Andy Lassner, an executive producer on The Ellen DeGeneres Show during Stephen’s time on the show, questioned the veracity of Holker’s claims about Stephen. As an addict himself, Lassner said, “Every day his energy wasn’t the chaos of addiction — it was the calm that so many of us fight for.” He went on to call Stephen an “absolute king” who “deserves to be remembered that way.”

Though social media is unifying against Holker, a small few have pointed out the possibility that this book is in fact for a greater good, and it could save lives if other wives miss the same signs of their husband’s distress as she did. It’s a cute PR narrative that might have worked when society was far less jaded by intentional money grabs, but we’ve seen the wizard — and Holker is not getting her wish granted.

As a writer, I have many personal journals. When I leave them behind, I hope whoever finds them burns them. They are for me and me alone. If I wanted my friends, family, or significant others to read them, I’d have written them a letter. Shame on Holker for not understanding or respecting that.

When I think about Holker’s intentions, I am reminded that she spent the entirety of her relationship with Stephen choreographing ridiculous dances for Instagram clicks. She did interview after interview by his side, screaming about their love from the rooftops. Now that Stephen is no longer with us, she has found one last way to trade on his name for fame, and it’s appalling. Protecting his name and respecting his family’s wishes should be the first, not the last, consideration. His death alone is enough to inspire people to get help if they are struggling. No one needed this book. It’s a cash grab. Anyone arguing otherwise is part of a dishonest PR machine.

Luckily, Stephen tWitch Boss built an untouchable legacy that no one can tear down. And if any lesson comes out of this it’s to think how to respect your loved ones after they pass. How to carry on their legacy for generations to come. So much of who we are today is built on the backs for those who came before us. Those everlasting imprints should be respected and nurtured. Lastly, while you might think something is your story to tell, remember it’s never just your story.

It’s Taylor Swift v. Kim Kardashian on “thanK you aIMee”

Taylor Swift released the song “thanK you aIMee” off her new album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ and the strategic capitalization indicates it’s a direct hit at Kim Kardashian. Swift is wildly known for holding an eternal grudge, and since Hell hath no fury like Taylor Swift scorned, Swift has once again come for Kim in the form of a song. If only Kim Kardashian had taken her mother’s advice years ago…

In the video below you will see momager Kris Jenner advising her daughter, Kim Kardashian, to call Taylor Swift to make amends.

Kim did not take her mother/manager’s advice and instead went nuclear — by releasing what Kim considered to be cold hard “evidence” of Swift being caught red handed giving Kanye West permission to mention her in his song with the lyric, “I made that bit#h famous.” According to Kim, she was righting a wrong on behalf of her then husband. Kim claimed Swift gave Kanye permission for the lyric, later denied having done so, and then bashed Kanye at every turn. The only problem? Kim’s cold, hard evidence was only a snippet of a much larger, rambling conversation with Kanye in which he exhausted Swift into placating him so she could get off the phone. Swift asked for a preview of the Kanye song through a clear sigh, and when she finally hung up even I was confused at what just occurred.

According to Swift via her interview with Time for Person of the Year, “You have a fully manufactured frame job, in an illegally recorded phone call, which Kim Kardashian edited and then put out to say to everyone that I was a liar. That took me down psychologically to a place I’ve never been before. I moved to a foreign country. I didn’t leave a rental house for a year. I was afraid to get on phone calls. I pushed away most people in my life because I didn’t trust anyone anymore. I went down really, really hard.”

Kim came very close to ruining Swift’s overall reputation as a result, and she never apologized. Pure talent is only reason Swift came back from the dead. As adept as Swift’s PR team is — even a magician can’t resurrect a dead body. Talent will always rise to the top. But Swift cannot and will not ever let this go, and as a grudge holder myself, I’m here for it. If there’s a lesson to be learned here, it is ALWAYS LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER.

Enjoy the song below.

Noah Kahan Performs “Stick Season” on SNL

Photo by: Will Heath/NBC

I knew Noah Kahan would skyrocket to fame the second I heard him open for George Ezra on tour. It gives me a bit of a chuckle now thinking back to the Ezra audience’s short attention span. For those who see live music in Los Angeles, you know that the opening acts get very little respect. Noah killed it that night, and has continued to kill it.

If only I’d asked for an interview on his rise. See below for his performance of “Stick Season” on Saturday Night Live. And the next time you see your favorite artist perform — pay attention to his/her opening act.

People Magazine Skips De Niro’s Age But Happily Reveals His Girlfriend’s

It does not bother me that Robert De Niro chose to bring new life into the world at the age of 80. It also doesn’t bother me that his girlfriend’s age is nearly half of that. It’s a free country, and folks can do whatever they please with their reproductive powers. I am; however, filled with blind rage about the media’s hypocritical treatment of late-in-life fathers versus mothers in the same position. People Magazine is no exception.

In a new article to promote De Niro’s latest film, Killers of the Flower Moon, People Magazine did a cover story on the two-time Oscar winner, and they listed every person’s age except De Niro’s. That includes his girlfriend and all of his children.

People Magazine is a symptom of a larger, sexist problem among the general population and the media at large. When Hilary Swank gave birth in her forties, she was forced to defend her choice after a plethora of online attacks. She’s one of many women in the spotlight who have chosen to have children in their forties, and People Magazine is free to feature them in a cover story about motherhood as a means of reducing the stigma — and they have chosen not to do so. I’ve had enough.

I am guessing there was a negotiation between De Niro’s team and People Magazine to exclude his age from the piece. I’m fine with that. But then don’t include anyone else’s either, especially his girlfriend’s.

Interview with Drummer David Ely

I was first introduced to David Ely’s drumming at an underground speakeasy where, as usual, I paid more attention to the drummer than the singer. I pride myself on having a “musical ear” and was determined to confirm that Mr. Ely was in fact highly trained (because I know a trained musician when I hear it).

Ely is in fact trained — and at an excellent school no less. I then found myself asking many follow-up questions about where to hear him play in Los Angeles, his very impressive musical journey, and his plans for the future. We both quickly decided our conversation be better served in a longform interview for my listeners.

Listen below to learn a thing or two about the very talented man behind the drums, the state of the making a living in music today, and much more. Also, visit thisisdapoolparty.com to see David Ely’s incredible artwork.

The Downfall of The Smiths — Will the Real Will and Jada Please Stand Up?

When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock over Rock’s tepid joke at the 2022 Oscars, people immediately blamed Jada Pinkett Smith. In a recent interview with Hoda Kotb for TODAY, Jada herself described the backlash, saying that the public thought of her as “the adultress wife” who “made Will Smith go to ‘Red Table Talk‘ to discuss her extra-marital affair with August Alsina and “now look at what she’s done. She has the power with an eyeroll to make him go up and slap somebody on stage.” Funny enough, as a blogger with an upper-level legal education who is by no means a troll — Jada’s characterization is EXACTLY what I thought. Though we are all responsible for our own acts, especially when they involve physical violence, Will Smith looked completely unhinged on Oscar night, and I could not help but wonder if his tumultuous personal life was to blame. Call me traditional, but a husband sitting beside his wife as she publicly discusses her “entanglement” with a much younger man who made her happy in a way her husband could not, could take a mental and emotional toll on said husband.

For those who do not know, ‘Red Table Talk’ was a talk show on on Facebook Watch hosted by Jada Pinkett Smith, her daughter Willow Smith, and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris. The series featured candid conversations about relationships, family dynamics, mental health, addiction and other personal and social issues. Most importantly, the show was marketed as the mecca of truth talking. Jada often discussed how she made her marriage to Will Smith work, implying that the couple had risen above many of their past challenges and they were proud to say that “divorce is not an option.” For years there were rumors that the twosome had an open marriage and they vehemently denied it. It was not until August Alsina exposed his years long relationship with Jada, that the façade began to crack. The Smiths were now forced to address the state of their union, and they did it at the Red Table. Only they didn’t really do it. They simply revealed that they had briefly separated, NOT that they weren’t together at all. Though “divorce” might not be an option, a long-term separation certainly was. We now know that the power couple have been living separately for SEVEN years. For all intents and purposes — they are divorced.

Hollywood is a funny place. When you live here, you’ll often hear tales of A-lister adultery, drug use, and open relationships, and it’s always met with my personal eyeroll. “Why would anyone fake their relationship for YEARS,” I’d ask in the most agitated of tones, often chalking these rumors up to conspiracy theories. Then I’d think of Rock Hudson and remind myself that all things are possible. BUT there hasn’t been a Rock Hudson-style fake marriage in decades…until now.

Jada and Will faked it. And they REALLY faked it. They walked red carpets, they joked about keeping their relationship hot, they hosted people at their home for ‘Red Table Talk,’ and so on. And why would anyone put so much effort into faking a relationship? Because Jada and Will were a brand, and it served their brand to stay together. Now that Will’s reputation is irreparably tarnished, it no longer serves a purpose to pretend. Jada’s press tour to promote her new book, ‘Worthy,’ is simply another attempt to preserve a public image that was erroneously predicated on authenticity and honesty. Good luck. We’ve seen the wizard, and we’re not going back.

Rachel Leviss Finally Speaks — to Bethenny Frankel

Rachel Leviss has finally spoken out post Scandoval, and she chose reality television’s queen of revisionist history — Bethenny Frankel — as her “safe space.” Here is a rundown of Rachel’s very underwhelming revelations:

  • She never really loved Tom Sandoval. She just “got caught up.”
  • Rachel is “remorseful,” though she has yet to expand on that with any depth beyond just using the word remorseful.
  • She was never “best friends” with Ariana. In fact, she only hung out with Ariana to be closer to Tom, and the two ladies never had any one-on-one interactions.
  • She isn’t surprised Ariana and Tom still share the same abode, given that even at the height of Tom and Ariana’s romantic relationship, they were always just roommates who ignored one another.
  • She would never have become romantically involved with Tom had she believed that Tom and Ariana would go the distance.
  • Tom insists that he and Ariana were simply “a brand” not a relationship.
  • The Vanderpump Rules producers attempted to secure Rachel’s return to the show by luring her with the idea that she should return to “tell her own story” rather than “letting someone tell her story for her.” Rachel instead chose to tell her story to Bethenny because Bethenny “is a force.”
  • She never properly healed from her breakup with James Kennedy.
  • She entered treatment to learn why she has always been attracted to unavailable men.

There’s one concerning demon in this interview, and it’s not Raquel/Rachel Leviss. Rachel is not the first, nor will she be the last mistress, and she’s also not the first 28-year-old to make a terrible mistake. As for Bethenny, she’s a middle-aged hypocrite who spent an entire reunion on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills eviscerating her co-star Carole Radziwill to only now proclaim that Rachel Leviss’ castmates “went too far” at their own reunion. Perhaps it takes one to know one? Bethenny has also drastically changed her tune about her reality television reign after years of singing its praises. If it suits Bethenny, she’ll sing for her supper.

As for Rachel, I found her post-mental-health-camp personality to be disappointing. I hoped she’d have found her voice, but that voice is just as shaky (literally) as it was prior to her personal work. She still seems extremely fragile, and I’d tell her to leave this business and never look back. The last thing Rachel wants is to be a faux-influencer recording poor-quality videos about dollar-store blush on her YouTube channel.

Chloe Fineman Tanks Her Met Gala Hosting Duties

There’s an unacceptable Hollywood trend afloat, and it involves giving hosting gigs to famous folks with zero hosting experience. SNL cast member Chloe Fineman was sadly behind the microphone at the Met Gala, which I painfully streamed on Vogue.com during the ceremony. One of her worst moments has since gone viral, and it involves an awkward exchange with designer Stella McCartney and Aubrey Plaza, the latter of which Fineman didn’t seem to recognize at all.

Though there’s a debate as to whether the ladies were putting Fineman at ease with humor or simply takings digs, the fact remains the same — Fineman wasn’t up to the task. To make matters worse, Fineman also swapped her heels for hotel slippers halfway through the night, which would be cute if it wasn’t the biggest fashion event of the year.

Hosting an event is difficult. It involves vamping, thinking on the fly, knowing the names of just about everyone, asking last-minute questions, being funny, etc. The idea that it’s anyone’s game is offensive, and Fineman’s co-host Derek Blasberg, was equally inexperienced. I blame Vogue for this, along with Fineman and Blasberg’s agents and managers for allowing it.

Watch the exchange below and decide for yourself whether these lovely ladies were joking.

Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn: A Relationship Timeline

When Taylor Swift released her critically acclaimed new album Midnights, it got me thinking about her much-talked-about relationship with her boyfriend of six years, Joe Alwyn. So what exactly is the timeline of their romance, and did it overlap her short-lived fling with Tom Hiddleston? And how can we forget that Hiddleston himself overlapped with Calvin Harris? After some embarrassing sleuthing with the help of very-devoted Swifties, I might have cracked the code.

CLUE #1: “HIGH INFIDELITY”

In Taylor Swift’s new song off her Midnights album, “High Infidelity,” she says the following telling lyrics:

“Do you really want to know where I was on April 29th?”

“Do I really have him him to chart the constellations in his eyes?”

“Do I really have to tell you how he brought me back to life?”

So where exactly was Taylor Swift on April 29, 2016? There are some fan theories rolling around, but there’s one in particular that I find most compelling. While in a relationship with Calvin Harris, Taylor Swift attended Gigi Hadid’s 21st birthday party on April 28, 2016, which likely lasted past the 12:00 hour (leading us into April 29, 2016). Many suspect this party was also attended by her current boyfriend, Joe Alywn. Why you ask? Because Gigi and Joe allegedly became friends after appearing together in a VOGUE photoshoot, and Joe was in Los Angeles at the time.

It was originally believed that Taylor and Joe met three days later at the Met Gala on May 3, 2016, given Taylor’s lyrics in her song “Dress,” stating, “Flashback to when you met me, your buzzed cut and my hair bleached.” But a smoking gun this is not. If you look at the photo below from Gigi’s birthday party, Taylor’s hair is bleached. If they did in fact meet at Gigi’s birthday — and not the Met Gala — the lyrics would therefore still make sense.

Another theory is that Taylor and Joe had mutual friends, which I learned thanks to the tweet below.

If it’s true they met through the Lily connection, then it’s possible they actually had their first meeting in LA near the intersection of Sunset Blvd. and Vine Street (“Whisky on ice, Sunset and Vine” are lyrics from her song “Gorgeous”), potentially at the Bowery Gastropub, which would explain Joe using the pseudonym “William Bowery” for his co-writing credit on Taylor’s album. This meeting might have also taken place on April 29, 2016.

Continue reading “Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn: A Relationship Timeline”