Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Meet the Conspiracy-Peddling Gossip Blogger Who’s Cast Herself as a Trump-RFK Player


Three phone screens show Instagram posts from an account titled "houseinhabit." On the left, the Instagram post shows a pair of Trump and RFK coffee cups; a selfie from a woman wearing sunglasses is in the middle; and on the right a billboard reads "HEARD IT ON @HOUSEINHABIT."

Instagram

Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters.

In 2020, as for so many people, things shifted for Jessica Reed Kraus. A Southern California–based lifestyle blogger who got her start writing about motherhood, Kraus felt dubious about Covid safety measures and vaccines, and disaffected from mainstream liberal politics.

With her photogenic world upended, she wanted to talk about natural immunity and her objection to "vax cards," she later wrote, and how they would "eliminate portions of society from general aspects of life." When she did, she wrote that she was branded "an anti-vax Qanon nutjob which made me overly defensive." 

The pandemic ushered in a new focus, a transition from posts about decorating her gorgeous Southern California home—once featured on Martha Stewart's Instagram—and her Etsy business helping others make similarly tasteful purchases; the most popular items were canvas teepees for children. Instead, she grew both increasingly conspiratorial and, at the same time, more invested in carving out a niche where celebrity gossip met hard news. It "proved," she has written on Instagram, "an accidental hit." 

Today, Kraus has a million followers on Instagram, and her Substack, House Inhabit, is top-ranked in the platform's culture category, with some 380,000 subscribers, many of whom pay $7 a month for her paywalled posts. (By the Wall Street Journal's estimate, the site pulls in more than $1 million annually.) Over the the last year, she's given more attention to a new set of boldface names, becoming a fixture in both the Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. universes, providing unstinting positive coverage of both men that she depicts as free from mainstream media bias.

During his now-suspended campaign and into his current Trump-surrogate phase, Kraus has provided a glossy view of Kennedy, depicting him as a handsome, breezy scion of his famous family. "My campaign coverage has provided a rare source of balanced insight," she writes, "presenting an authentic interpretation of Kennedy and his messaging amid a storm of recycled, slanderous articles." After she accompanied Kennedy, family members, and actress Alicia Silverstone on a hike, she described being allowed to linger in his office while he hurried off to a campaign event in ecstatic terms: "My dreams are manifesting now as reality," she wrote. In this Polo catalogue vision, she also manages to brush off some of his strangest moments; in response to the revelation he'd once dumped a dead bear cub in Central Park, she noted that someo ne DMed her that it made them "like him more."

"Maybe the series of strange scandals is working for him?" she wrote, rather hopefully.

Kraus' depiction of Trump has been statesmanlike; she's called him "a showstopper" and depicted him as a mesmerizing speaker whose supporters have been unfairly tarnished by the mainstream media for their abiding and patriotic love for him. Her Substack posts from the Republicans' convention were as schmaltzy as they were high-flown, depicting a normal political gathering as a battle for the soul of a nation. "With every story and tear shed, it became clear that this was not just another convention," she wrote. "It was a watershed moment, a fierce reclamation of a vision for America that many felt had been slipping away."

This intense rhetoric—good versus evil, manful heroes facing off against the abyss of the Deep State—helps Kraus inject drama and glamour. "I kind of love the new challenge of making politics engaging again," she told a Wall Street Journal interviewer.

But to see Kraus' career as a tidy narrative—mommy blogger to political quasi-journalist—would elide the notably weird flavor of her politics and beliefs. Despite her protests about being called a "Qanon nutjob," for years Kraus has been obsessed with Pizzagate-ish ideas about occult rituals among Hollywood celebrities, making claims that Travis Scott's 2021 Astroworld festival, where 10 people died in a concert stampede, was literally a demonic ritual. She and her occasional Substack co-author, Emilie Hagen, have hosted and platformed the work of New Age conspiracy Instagrammer Jennifer Carmody, who has claimed that celebrities like Elvis were victims of CIA mind control. She's reposted comments by far-right conspiracist Liz Crokin asserting that "Israel can't have the truth about Pizzagate coming out." Whatever the most eyeball-grabbing news of the day—Ghislaine Maxwell's trial, Diddy's arrest—she'll spin the event as a forerunner to a promised post that will blow the lid off a sprawling sexual abuse scandal.

Kraus' oeuvre is a window into a world of exceedingly rich and privileged women enmeshed in conspiracy theories, especially those involving allegations of elite occult sexual abuse. Her celebrity coverage, combined with the aspirational lifestyle she presents, has helped her amass a large, devoted, and heavily female fanbase, who seem to want to emulate her and other wealthy women in her circles. Last summer, I spoke to one Kraus fan, an exceedingly polished and fit mom of teenage children, for hours at a tony Oregon hot spring spa, who struck up a hot tub conversation by asking what I knew about aliens and told me House Inhabit was the only media source she trusted. Kraus appears to be friendly on social media with Lady Victoria Hervey, an English model and socialite (and former girlfriend of Prince Andrew) who now posts Instagram musings about "Hollywood's dark Satanic cults" and "plandemics," both posts that Kraus has liked. (Hervey responded to a request for comment by writing, "Let me check with Jessica on this." She didn't reply to follow-up messages.)

Throughout Kennedy's campaign, Kraus took on the role of an observer-participant, leaving it ambiguous about whether she was there as an affiliate of the campaign or on her own. This week, Kraus denied "being paid by a campaign," as she put it on Instagram, while disclosing that American Values 2024, a PAC promoting Kennedy, had "offered me a hotel room" during the Democratic National Convention and threw her a pizza and wine party while there. Hours later, she said that was incorrect, and that she'd paid for her own hotel but that American Values spent $1,140 on merch from her site: hats reading "Make Speech Free Again" for supporters to wear around the convention.

Kennedy's political team, which did not respond to a request for comment, has been happy to reward and promote her positive coverage, making her the moderator of a September 12 conversation between Kennedy and Tulsi Gabbard in Arizona. His campaign even auctioned off a Zoom conversation with her during a fundraiser. (It went for $500.) She was also briefly named as the "director of social media" for a fizzled birthday party fundraiser that would have been hosted by another Kennedy-backing super-PAC. Her efforts to get close to the Trump campaign haven't been as successful, though there have been some inroads: In August, Donald Trump Jr. showed up at a backyard meetup for Kraus' followers in Jupiter, Florida. "Sitting fireside, in front of a group of stranger s, he shared funny stories about his father," Kraus wrote on Instagram.

After Kennedy suspended his campaign in August and endorsed the former president, she posted a photo to Instagram of the two men sharing a stage. "You know I fought hard for this," she wrote, adding a weeping emoji and telling her readers the endorsement was "significant and deeply emotional, built of Shakespearean bones."

Since then, she's filmed herself backstage at several Trump campaign events, standing next to personalities who have endorsed the former president, like Roseanne Barr. She also shows signs of becoming a more regular feature in Republican circles, especially Kennedy-adjacent ones: she was spotted at a DC book party in May for Gabbard. She also posted a beaming photo of herself backstage at one of Tucker Carlson's recent live events, wedged into frame with him and conspiracy kingpin Alex Jones. 

Spokesperson Steven Cheung did not respond to emails asking about Kraus' access or role with Trump's campaign. And Kraus herself, after initially agreeing to speak but twice canceling by citing lunch dates that ran long, ultimately declined my interview requests. "I sense the angle. And I'm just too busy with everything springing up without warning," she wrote, adding that she was about to catch a flight to a Trump event. She also declined to respond to emailed questions.  

Kraus was raised in Corona, a midsize town at the intersection of two freeways in Riverside County. As a child, she has written on Instagram, "I adored all the top 90s gossip columnists. I could not think of a more fabulous existence." She's said that her father died by suicide when she was 6, and that she experienced a period of "elective mutism" in the aftermath. The Journal piece also noted that she is estranged from her mother.

After becoming pregnant with her first child in 2005 with her then-boyfriend, Mike, Kraus got her start in the public eye with a carefully curated, Goop-esque form of lifestyle blogging and ruminations about motherhood. (The couple later married and now have four boys in all.) Early posts, where she went by the name Mrs. Habit, tend to fall flat; you can feel her boredom with the genre and its limitations leaking through the screen. "I know I've had a really tough time keeping up on posts," she admitted in a 2011 update.

In 2014, while pregnant with her youngest, Kraus launched The Ma Books, a literary-minded blog which billed itself as an "online haven for women with brains and a budget." It was born, she has written, out of a disgust with overly curated mommy blogs. "They want you to believe they do it all, and much better and more fashionable than you too," she wrote. But despite any suggestion it might counterprogram the space's typically too-polished images, visually, it was quite similar: a beautiful and more upscale vision of motherhood than what Kraus saw from other mommy chroniclers on Blogger.

The Ma Books continued until 2019, as Kraus grew her personal Instagram, sharing photos of her husband's extensive DIY renovations, her family's travels, and wistful photos of her children playing on the beach, surfing, and getting ready for camp, often laid over with sepia-tinted filters. As an Instagram influencer, she was modestly successful, and the family got plenty of approving write-ups in magazines and lifestyle and design blogs, as Kraus described herself as a "stay at home mom" who did a little writing on the side. While there was some mild and anodyne Democratic-leaning political content—in 2016, Ma Books posted a Hillary Clinton endorsement on Instagram, and created a hashtag for its readers to flaunt the stylish outfits they wore to the polls—what she churned out felt tuned to appeal to the broadest possible spectrum of women online.

All of that changed with Covid, and Kraus' newly out-loud viewpoints. "My income, at that point, depended on the sellable nature of my 'brand,' which was liberal-leaning & sans controversy," she wrote on Instagram last year, reflecting on that time. "During the lockdown, though, I grew bitter and resentful over my own silent surrender and increasing censorship online. We couldn't question anything."

"This is how the pop culture stories started—as a way to house my passion for truth in a volatile online environment, without sacrificing my beliefs," she wrote. Kraus has said she fell under the spell of 2021's Maxwell trial, watching obsessively from home until Mike suggested she simply go to New York and see it herself. In her coverage from the courtroom, Kraus developed what seems to be a queasy kind of sympathy for Maxwell—describing her "uncomfortable magnetism" and "electric presence," as she depicted Jeffrey Epstein's enabler as taking the fall for more powerful male abusers.

During the 2022 defamation trial between actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, New York's Choire Sicha wrote about how influencers—Kraus first among them—were, to Depp's benefit, "shaping the general public's understanding" far more than many mainstream reporters. Kraus, he wrote, became "a trial-obsessed Instagrammer" and "a chief instigator of the anti-Heard story line." While covering the proceedings, she also became a minor character, reporting that she spoke to Depp by phone in advance of the proceedings, a conversation in which he denounced the failings of the mainstream media. When her Instagram account was suspended during the trial, she intimated a conspiracy: "The whole thing feels very calculated. I feel like I' m siting here with my hands tied, paying a hefty price for seeking truth." (The account was quickly restored.)

There have only been a few moments that Kraus doesn't seem proud of. For one, she has deleted her Astroworld claims. While Catherine, the Princess of Wales, was being treated for an undisclosed illness, she claimed to have spoken to "an individual connected to hospital staff." She deleted that phrase, replacing it with the more ambiguous "an individual connected to recovery." (She also claimed that the princess had had bowel surgery and was wearing a temporary stoma bag; royal spokespeople have said she had abdominal surgery and chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer.) Other, wilder stories remain on her platforms, like one purporting Amber Heard presided over sex parties with "Satanic themes" and "lesbian orgies." She wrote that Elon Musk not only attended, but is also the father of Heard's young daughter. Kraus later wrote on Instagram that Elon Musk and Amber Heard had teamed up to file a potential lawsuit against her. "Completely false," says Heard attorney Elaine Bredehoft. "I have never even heard that."

Kraus also made false claims about an actual journalist during Depp and Heard's trial, saying that NBC reporter Kat Tenbarge was working for Heard's legal team. "Any idiot would know that is not true," Tenbarge wrote on Twitter recently, "and I reached out to her and told her it wasn't, and she blocked me." 

Kraus is fascinated by legacies, famous people, and power. She's written at length on Maxwell's tony upbringing and the royal family, and is clearly more than a little attracted by what the Kennedys represent. A key part of her appeal to readers are claims to have inside sources and tipsters close to the nerve centers of politics and entertainment alike.

But as Kraus continues her particular blend of access journalism and campaign boosterism, some close to Kennedy and Trump describe her as little short of a political social-climber. "Donald has no clue who the fuck she is," one person familiar with the situation told me. As for Kennedy, the same person added, "She's saying she's a friend of Kennedy's. She's not. She doesn't know any of Kennedys' friends. She's just been stalking him all over." Indeed, Kraus told more than one person that she temporarily lost her Kennedy campaign access after an argument of some kind with one of his children. 

On September 13, Kraus published a fawning Q&A with Olivia Nuzzi, which seemed calibrated to showcase her closeness to New York magazine's star political correspondent. Kraus described how they had developed a "valued friendship," dubbing her an "inspirational force" and "the last of the real ones."

But a little more than a week later, shortly after Nuzzi was reported to have exchanged "personal" text messages with Kennedy—later reported to have included intimate photos—Kraus made an abrupt pivot. "As I reflect, my overall take is that I was a pawn," Kraus wrote in a new post that assailed Nuzzi as an amoral fake and seductress, reflecting on how she was taken by a "phony connection." Notably, it also quoted Gavin de Becker, Kennedy's "security expert," claiming that Kennedy planed to file "civil litigation" as well as make "potential criminal referrals" against Nuzzi. De Becker claimed to Kraus that Kennedy was hounded by Nuzzi sending him nudes, saying, "This had nothing to do with romance. He was being chased by porn." These Kraus-reported remarks were widely repeated in the mainstream pres s—without much context about the media figure who relayed them or her relationship with the campaign. 

Nuzzi claimed in court in the process of obtaining a protection order against her ex-fiance, Politico journalist Ryan Lizza, that he shared information about her communications with Kennedy with the news media to hurt her. Nuzzi—who, like many people in journalism, I've been casually friendly with for years—declined to comment. Kraus has announced plans to mine 10 months of text messages between herself and Nuzzi to write about Nuzzi's relationship with Lizza, and make the story available first to paid subscribers.

Whatever Kraus feels about Nuzzi, she seemed furious with Kennedy over his part in the relationship. After the New York Times reported that Kennedy knocked down conversations this summer about becoming Trump's running mate—Kennedy has said that his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, was uncomfortable with him even endorsing Trump—Kraus complained on Instagram that he was willing to "risk [his] marriage for big boned Olivia Nuzzi" but not for the VP slot "to save America." She followed up with a series of other cryptic messages, including, "JOHNNY DEPP TRIAL ENERGY RISING AGAIN," and, more ominously, "I'M DONE BEING NICE." 

The posts seem to illustrate the dangers of keeping a gossip influencer close enough that she might feel personally wounded by campaign decisions. But any estrangement didn't seem to last long: In early October, Kraus Instagrammed herself aboard a yacht with Kennedy and a handful of other supporters, including Sopranos actress Drea de Matteo. ("Am I the only one wondering if it's awkward?" a commenter wrote, seemingly referring to Kraus' apparent anger over Kennedy and Nuzzi.) Soon after, Kraus jetted to Trump's marquee rally in Butler, the site of July's assassination attempt, where she provided rapturous play-by-play coverage from somewhere extremely close to the stage.

What Kraus is doing here—a sometimes queasy blend of journalism and fluffery—is certainly not new. Conspiracy influencers cosplaying as journalists have been a regular feature of the last few election cycles. Men's rights activist, Pizzagate promoter, and all-purpose alt-right troll Mike Cernovich began pivoting to a form of hyper-partisan journalism during the Trump administration, with posts that suggested sourcing in the White House and on the National Security Council. Jack Posobiec, who could be described using many of the same terms as Cernovich, also got a White House press pass. Far-right figure and Trump-confidant Laura Loomer wields similar tools and affects, traipsing with cameras in tow to migrant camps and pr omising up inside knowledge.

There's some overlap between Kraus and this earlier generation. "In addition to riveting insight about dirty secrets and filthy politicians," Kraus has written of Loomer, "she is funny and fearless in her approach and comes stocked with receipts to back her theories and conspiracies." The two met for lunch to discuss a conspiracy theory that Taylor Swift has been "activated by the left" and may have "made a deal with George and Alex Soros to regain the rights to her music in exchange for getting fans registered to vote Democrat," as Kraus wrote. Loomer has not presented any compelling evidence to this effect. 

But campaign season only goes so long, which raises the question of what Kraus will do next. She clearly has ambitions to extend her brand, recently placing an enormous billboard promoting her site on Los Angeles' Sunset Boulevard. In the event of a second Trump White House, you could see her taking up a perch at Mar-a-Lago. But even if he wins, she could end up on the margins, chasing celebrity gossip and Satanic shadows. 

"She thinks it will go on and on and on," her detractor, who's familiar with the Trump world, said dismissively. "No. After the election, it's over and bloggers like her are invited nowhere."

Huge BBC sports presenter set to join Stephen Fry and Tom Daley on Celebrity Traitors


FORMER jockey and BBC favourite Clare Balding is in the saddle for Celebrity Traitors, The Sun can reveal.

The long-standing TV and radio host and commentator, 53, is set to appear in her first reality show after shunning several ­previous offers.

What BBC favourite Clare Balding might look like on Celebrity Traitors

4

What BBC favourite Clare Balding might look like on Celebrity Traitors Clare is set to join stars including Olympic diver Tom Daley, 30, on the show

4

Clare is set to join stars including Olympic diver Tom Daley, 30, on the showCredit: Getty TV personality Stephen Fry, 67, will also appear on the first celebrity version

4

TV personality Stephen Fry, 67, will also appear on the first celebrity versionCredit: Getty

Sources said she agreed because she is taken with the guile and cunning of Claudia Winkleman's murder mystery game staged at Andross Castle in the Scottish Highlands.

Clare is poised to join stars including Olympic diver Tom Daley, 30, and TV personality Stephen Fry, 67, for the first celebrity version.

The source said: "Clare is an absolutely brilliant signing because she's always turned down reality offers flat.

"As such, this will offer the first real glimpse into what she's like as a person.

"She's known to generations of TV viewers from fronting everything from racing and the Olympics through to Crufts and occasionally Countryfile.

"And could anyone really believe that the Beeb's dependable, sensible face of sport could be a treacherous liar?"

Clare has told previously that she was approached to take part in the Beeb's Strictly Come Dancing and ITV's I'm A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here!" She declared: "I wouldn't do it.

"If they were building a school in Africa or something worthy I'd do it."

BBC axes popular show after more than 25 YEARS on air

beeb shock BBC axes popular show after more than 25 YEARS on air

The disgusting reason Woody Harrelson would 'shut down' the Cheers set revealed

show shock The disgusting reason Woody Harrelson would 'shut down' the Cheers set revealed

Channel 4 star reveals tragic death of mentor while making 'dangerous' show

tough loss Channel 4 star reveals tragic death of mentor while making 'dangerous' show

Richard Madeley stuns GMB viewers with very rude Andi Peters blunder

slip up Richard Madeley stuns GMB viewers with very rude Andi Peters blunder

She has proven to be good to her word and did go on Sports Relief Does The Apprentice in 2008 and has featured on Celebrity ­Gogglebox for Stand Up To Cancer for three years since 2022 with wife Alice Arnold.

The second series of The Traitors attracted up to four million viewers a night.

Huge celebrity confirmed to take part in the BBC's Celebrity version of The Traitors

A BBC spokesman declined to comment on "speculation" over Clare's appearance.

Clare has told previously that she was approached to take part in reality shows< /a>

4

Clare has told previously that she was approached to take part in reality showsCredit: Getty

Travis Kelce Endured ‘Subtle Jabs’ About Taylor Swift on ‘Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?’ Set (Exclusive)


According to Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? guest stars Natasha Leggero and Ron Funches, Taylor Swift was not off limits when it came to joking with host Travis Kelce.

"There are certainly some Taylor Swift fans [on the show]. There's some subtle jabs and jokes and references towards him, to see if we can get him to fully commit or not," Funches, 41, told Us Weekly exclusively ahead of the show's premiere. "We certainly were jabbing him."

There were onset rumors that Swift, 34, stopped by — but Funches could not confirm or deny.

"We may or may not have heard whispers that she came by," he said. "I did not see her, but I did hear whispers."

Prime Video

Kelce, 34, is hosting the latest iteration of the Are You Smarter Than series, which became popular with Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? which premiered in 2007. This time around, contestants will compete against a panel of celebrities to answer the titular question: Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?

Travis Kelce is trading his football for a microphone, and a source exclusively tells Us Weekly that the Super Bowl champion is already impressing people with his hosting skills as Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity starts filming. "He's funny and has the wits for it," the insider tells Us of Kelce, 34. "He's the […]

"He just kind of took them and gave us some back. He was really good," Funches added. "One of my favorite things I actually saw, and I don't want to use it as a spoiler, but, occasionally, some people tried to hit on him. Him shutting that down was really sweet and really nice to see. You can tell he's in it with her."

Graham Denholm/TAS24/Getty Images

Leggero, for her part, told Us that Kelce was "standing on his own" on set, going on to praise him. She noted that comedian Nikki Glaser, however, couldn't hold back on her Swiftie fandom.

Glaser is "probably one of the biggest Swifties" ever, Leggero told Us. "I think she was incredibly nervous just to be in the presence of him."

Travis Kelce is embracing his new role as game show host following a long fascination with the genre. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 34, shared new details about his experience hosting his upcoming series Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity on the latest episode of the "New Heights" podcast with his brother, Jason Kelce. […]

Kelce and Swift went public with their relationship in September 2023. The duo have been sharing support for each other ever since, with Swift attending various Kansas City Chiefs football games and Kelce getting spotted in the crowd of various Eras Tour shows.

Ahead of his hosting debut, Swift and Kelce jetted off to NYC where they were spotted on various date nights over the weekend. Even though the NFL season is in full swing, the Chiefs had a bye week and Swift and Kelce were photographed going out to The Corner Store on Friday, October 11 and Torrisi on Saturday, October 12.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

The Chiefs are set to take the field again on Sunday, October 20, against the San Francisco 49ers.

Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? premieres via Prime Video on Wednesday, October 16.

Reporting by Amanda Williams

Who will host the 2025 Oscars? Your guess is as good as Hollywood’s


A masked Ryan Reynolds covers his mouth as Hugh Jackman glowers in a still from the movie "Deadpool & Wolverine."Disney/Marvel

The 2025 Oscars need a host. With the ceremony scheduled for March, time is ticking for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to find one.

The Academy may look toward two superheroes for help. Per Deadline, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are in the mix to host the 97th Academy Awards. Reynolds and Jackman are the stars of Deadpool & Wolverine, the second-biggest movie of the year behind Inside Out 2. Reynolds and Jackman are the type of A-list talent the Academy hopes will drive ratings.

The duo have incredible chemistry, which was on full display during their guest-hosting appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Jackman also has experience with the Academy, having hosted the 2009 Oscars. If Reynolds and Jackman host, the plan would be to include them in a star ensemble of rotating hosts who present a portion of the show.

Ryan Reynolds & Hugh Jackman Guest Host Jimmy Kimmel Live

Deadline's report also mentions that Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, and Dwayne Johnson have been approached to host.

In July, Jimmy Kimmel and John Mulaney passed on the opportunity to host the 2025 Oscars. Kimmel has hosted four Academy Awards, including last year, which saw Oppenheimer dominate the ceremony. Kimmel was a key member of the 2017 Oscars, where Moonlight famously defeated La La Land for Best Picture in one of the show's biggest viral moments.

Mulaney was high on the Academy's list. The stand-up comedian gave a hilarious monologue about Field of Dreams while presenting at the 2024 Oscars. Mulaney also impressed as the host of the 2024 Governors Awards. However, Mulaney's schedule for 2025 is packed, especially with a new live variety talk show on Netflix.

Oscars 2024: John Mulaney thinks "Field of Dreams" should have been nominated for Best Picture

Ever since Kevin Hart resigned in the lead-up to the 2019 Oscars, the Academy has struggled to secure a host. The ceremony did not have a host from 2019-2021. In 2022, the Academy hired a trio of comedians — Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes — to each host a portion of the ceremony.

The Oscars are scheduled for March 2, 2025.

'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' Fans, Here's Why Pat Sajak's Final Season Didn't Air


'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' Won't Air Until 2025Christopher Willard - Getty Images

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

For those who were hoping to see Pat Sajak on their screens once again, it may be a little while before this happens.

Back in July, fans of Wheel of Fortune learned the former longtime game show host would be back on the air to host his final season of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. Folks were going to watch him and Vanna White this fall, with the premiere episode expected to air on Monday, October 14.

Well, in a surprise turn of events, TV Insider revealed on October 11 the new season of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune would not be airing on the date viewers anticipated. What's more, the show won't be back on the small screen until early 2025, as ABC (the network the series airs on) decided to prioritize something more timely during this period of the year.

Christopher Willard - Getty Images

As for the reason behind the sudden date change for Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, a report from Deadline shared it's likely due to a scheduling switch up for ABC. The network decided to add Monday Night Football to its telecast for the fall 2024, airing a total of 17 games throughout the NFL season (14 games simulcast with ESPN and/or ESPN+, including playoffs, and three exclusive games on just ABC).

While Celebrity Wheel of Fortune seemingly hasn't addressed the surprise schedule change, it's important to note it's not the only show affected by the Monday Night Football switch. Both Press Your Luck and ABC News' Scamanda were also pushed, and will now be released sometime in 2025 instead.

So, is there an official timeline of when we can see Pat back on TV again? Unfortunately, we don't have an exact premiere date at the moment. But trust us — when we do eventually find out, we'll be sure to keep you updated. After all, who wouldn't want the chance to see Pat give out loads of money to celebrities playing for their favorite charities?

Let's all keep our fingers crossed for an update soon!

You Might Also Like

Here’s how Black queer creatives are making a place for themselves in entertainment


Jai The Gentleman inside of his production studio, The Back Room in Atlanta, GA

While mainstream companies dominate the entertainment industry, Black LGBTQ-owned businesses highlight diversity, inclusion, and authenticity. These companies provide innovative content and create safe spaces where underrepresented voices flourish. 

Tyler Perry built his multi-million dollar sound stage in Atlanta, where several productions, including television and films, are being brought to life.

Do you want more?

Subscribe to Native Son's newsletter for more news, information, and conversations about Black gay and queer everything.

The Black LGBTQ+ community puts itself in the driver's seat when it develops programming. Jordan E. Cooper, for example, is the showrunner of a hit show for BET. He also writes and stars in the critically acclaimed Tony-nominated Broadway shows Ain't No Mo and Oh Happy Day!

In the Native Son post, "10 Black Queer Podcasts We're Obsessed With" creators like Surface Level and Busy Boys Uncensored, showed how creatives are using lived experiences to inform and entertain the community.

Jai The Gentleman is among the creatives looking to broaden the media landscape.

"There is something special about when we can get together in a space for us and by us," he says. 

His podcast, Dear Black Gay Man, is produced in Atlanta. This season marks the first time he and his team are creating content in a studio dedicated to Black queer-led entertainment, a space he calls "The Back Door."

The commitment to keeping Black dollars within Black culture is a driving force behind the launch of the studio. Dear Black Gay Men's goal is to create a sustainable ecosystem for Black businesses. 

"With the launch of our new studio, we're not just telling stories—we're building a home for Black queer creativity," says Jai. 

For now, he is producing his podcast out of the location. The space is also set up to record videos, music, and other forms of entertainment.

Attend Events: Go to shows, screenings, and parties hosted by Black LGBTQ-owned businesses.

Social Media: Follow, share, and promote the work of these businesses and the artists they represent. Social media amplifies voices and helps them reach a wider audience.

Crowdfunding: Many small businesses rely on crowdfunding platforms. Supporting these projects helps entrepreneurs finance their productions.

Partnerships and Collaborations: If you're in the industry, consider partnering with Black LGBTQ-owned businesses for your next project. These collaborations can benefit both parties by blending resources and creative talents.

Small Black LGBTQ-owned businesses in the entertainment industry are more than just creative enterprises—they are vital cultural hubs that foster inclusion, representation, and community. 

As they continue to thrive in the face of adversity, supporting these businesses will ensure that diverse stories are told, voices are heard, and the entertainment industry evolves to reflect the richness of the communities it serves.

"By having this space, I hope to inspire other Black queer creatives to take a big chance on themselves," says Jai. 

I'm A Celebrity bosses eyeing up £21m villa with disturbing link to Johnny Depp


I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! adverts have started airing on ITV which means the annual reality show is just around the corner

I'm A Celeb bosses are reportedly eyeing up disturbing Johnny Depp villa

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! bosses have been eyeing up a luxury villa with a disturbing link to Johnny Depp.

It's been said that bosses have spent a huge amount on the £21m mansion on Australia's Gold Coast for the new series. The property has some impressive features such as ten bedrooms, a helipad, 2000 bottle wine cellar and a cinema.

The property is thought to be set to house this year's celeb contestants which may include Coleen Rooney. The house is known for being the place that Depp famously severed his finger in 2015 when he was on a trip with his ex wife Amber Heard.

The pair were involved in an argument when the accident occurred. The property has been visited by plenty of celebrities as it was previously owned by motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan and rented by Brad Pitt.

Johnny Depp is said to have stayed in the house (

Image:

AFP via Getty Images)

A source told The Sun: "Diamond Head is one of Australia's priciest properties so will suit Coleen down to the ground. The new location will bring showbiz sparkle to the series and the I'm A Celebrity team are finalising details about how exactly the property will be used and for how long. Viewers can expect lots of surprises and everyone's very excited about the celebrities lined up for the new series â€" it's going to be must-see TV."

Johnny talked about his finger injury during his 2022 court case Johnny as he explained the explosive fight he and Amber had at the house when she allegedly threw a bottle of vodka at him. The pair were in Australis when Johnny was filming the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film.

Amber claimed he cut his fingertip off with a knife during the argument but Johnny said that she threw the glass bottle which cut his finger off. The I'm A Celebrity countdown has officially begun as ITV dropped the first glimpse of the 2024 series.

Duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly made their return in the first trailer which aired on ITV1 on Sunday. While the new trailer teased a the new series, ITV bosses have yet to share the exact date that the iconic show will return. However, the series usually airs in the middle of November, and will likely return at the same time this year.

While the full celebrity line-up is yet to be confirmed, bosses have announced that Coleen, 38, who is the wife of football star Wayne Rooney, will be heading to Australia following a very tumultuous couple of years after her court showdown with Rebekah Vardy.

Follow Mirror Celebs onTikTok,Snapchat,Instagram,Twitter,Facebook,YouTubeandThreads.

I made marinara sauces using 4 celebrity chefs' recipes, and the best had an unexpected secret ingredient


I compared recipes from celebrity chefs Alex Guarnaschelli, Tyler Florence, Giada De Laurentiis, and Ina Garten.

I compared marinara recipes from four different culinary experts. Paige Bennett

I love a bowl of basic noodles with a classic marinara sauce, especially the homemade version.

Homemade marinara is easy enough to make on a busy weeknight and uses ingredients already in my pantry, like tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, and herbs and spices.

I tested four recipes from celebrity chefs Guarnaschelli, Florence, De Laurentiis, and Garten in hopes of finding a solid, go-to marinara recipe that also tastes delicious.

Click to check out the other celebrity-chef recipes we've put head-to-head so far.

Guarnaschelli's sauce uses grated carrots for a touch of sweetness.

Alex Guarnaschelli's recipe was the only one that called for grated carrots. Paige Bennett

Guarnaschelli uses a recipe from her late mother, cookbook editor Maria Guarnaschelli.

The ingredients are simple and include whole, peeled canned tomatoes, grated carrots, sugar, onion, garlic, and some spices to bring more flavor.

I added a lot of vegetables to this sauce.

I started by adding all of the vegetables to a pot. Paige Bennett

I began by chopping my onion, cutting the garlic into thin slices, and grating some carrots.

I sautéed the onion, garlic, sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes until the former was translucent and then added the grated carrots. By this point, the caramelized onions and carrots smelled amazing.

The prep was minimal and most of the recipe just required watching and stirring.

The whole, peeled tomatoes broke down nicely. Paige Bennett

I was worried adding the whole, peeled tomatoes would create a weird texture (the other recipes used crushed tomatoes) but they broke down nicely as the sauce simmered.

From there, it was mostly a game of watching the pot, stirring occasionally throughout 45 minutes, and pouring in a little water when the sauce started to look dry. I added about 3/4 cups of water throughout this process.

I finished the sauce with a handful of fresh basil and it was ready to pour over some noodles.

Guarnaschelli's marinara had a nice balance of flavors.

The only downside with Alex Guarnaschelli's sauce was the thinly sliced garlic. Paige Bennett

Guarnaschelli's recipe also called for some freshly grated Parmesan, which I couldn't say no to.

The flavor was well-balanced, with a kick from the red-pepper flakes, sweetness from the carrots and sugar, and savoriness from the onions and garlic. The basil also tasted fresh, and it all worked well with the sprinkling of salty Parmesan.

This marinara is definitely worth making again but next time, I'd mince the garlic instead of thinly slicing it since I didn't love that texture.

For a simple marinara, Florence uses pantry staples.

Tyler Florence's recipe used a lot of dried herbs. Paige Bennett

Florence's marinara-sauce recipe takes only about 30 minutes to make and relies on dried herbs for flavor.

His recipe called for canned crushed tomatoes, onion, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper to taste, and dried basil, oregano, and a bay leaf.

Florence's recipe is great for busy weeknights.

I started by sautéing onion and garlic. Paige Bennett

I started by sautéing the chopped onion and minced garlic in oil for about five minutes and then added the remaining ingredients.

The sauce was done pretty quickly.

The sauce didn't take long to cook at all. Paige Bennett

While the tomatoes and spices simmered together, I cooked some noodles. In about 35 minutes, I had homemade marinara and pasta ready to go.

The flavor was good, but I'd prefer fresh over dried herbs.

Tyler Florence's marinara was a bit chunky. Paige Bennett

This marinara was chunkier thanks to the tomato and onion.

I liked the slightly sweet and herby flavors but if I made this again, I'd follow Guarnaschelli's lead and stir in some fresh basil at the end. Though it would increase the cooking time, I would also sauté the onions a little bit longer than five minutes since they were chewier than I wanted.

Still, this marinara is a great option for an impressive weeknight dinner.

De Laurentiis relies on several fresh ingredients for her marinara.

I was a little skeptical of the celery in Giada De Laurentiis' recipe. Paige Bennett

I was intrigued by De Laurentiis' marinara sauce, which incorporates fresh ingredients like onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. Though I'm not a big fan of celery, I figured it would be delicious when sautéed with the other aromatics. 

The recipe also required crushed tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, black pepper, and a dried bay leaf.

My grocery store didn't carry any 32-ounce portions of crushed tomatoes, so I picked up a 28-ounce can and used 4 ounces from a 14.5-ounce one.

I made sure to cook all the vegetables until they were soft.

I began by sautéeing all of the fresh vegetables. Paige Bennett

Although it was an easy, mostly hands-off recipe, this marinara took the longest to make.

I started by finely chopping all of the fresh ingredients and then sautéed the onions and garlic together. I added the carrots, celery, salt, and pepper, cooking until all the vegetables had softened.

De Laurentiis' recipe required the longest cooking time.

The marinara required about an hour to simmer. Paige Bennett

After a 20-minute sautéeing process, I added the canned tomatoes and bay leaf.

Once everything was stirred, I let the marinara simmer for an hour to meld the flavors.

The celery flavor overpowered this marinara.

I wasn't a fan of the strong celery flavor. Paige Bennett

This marinara was very chunky from the diced carrots and celery.

At first, I loved the sweet flavor of the sauce but there was a strong celery aftertaste. I used only one celery stalk in the entire batch of marinara so I was disappointed that I tasted this ingredient more than anything else.

Because of the time required for this marinara and the end result, I probably wouldn't make it again. If I did, I'd grate the carrots for a better texture and omit the celery completely.

Garten uses a hefty amount of wine in her marinara.

Ina Garten's recipe was the only one that called for red wine. Paige Bennett

I was intrigued by Garten's use of red wine in her marinara-sauce recipe. I know wine is great for deglazing pots and pans, but I hadn't used it in marinara before.

Garten's marinara uses a 1/2 cup of wine, crushed tomatoes, fresh parsley, salt, and pepper, and like the other recipes, onion, garlic, and olive oil.

Adding the wine was one of the first steps.

I used the red wine to deglaze the pot. Paige Bennett

I started by sautéing the onions and garlic for about 10 minutes and then added the red wine to deglaze. The wine evaporated pretty quickly as I stirred the mixture. 

This was the fastest of the four recipes.

The sauce didn't take too long to cook. Paige Bennett

Once the wine had boiled down, I added the tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper, which I let simmer for about 15 minutes.

The wine and parsley made this marinara sauce really stand out.

There were a few aspects of this sauce that set it apart from the rest. Paige Bennett

I loved the flavor of this sauce because it had the right amount of sweetness from the wine and tomatoes as well as richness and depth from the beverage. The parsley helped brighten the sauce and balance out the richness.

For how quickly this recipe came together, I was truly impressed by how delicious it was. Plus, it gave me an excuse to open a bottle of wine.

Garten's marinara recipe was my favorite sauce.

Though Ina Garten's recipe was the best, Alex Guarnaschelli's was a close second. Paige Bennett

Of the four recipes, Garten's was my favorite. In addition to being delicious and flavorful, it was very quick to make. I didn't have any notes on ways to improve it, and I will definitely make it again.

Guarnaschelli's sauce is also a close second because I loved that it calls for grated carrots, not diced ones. They added an earthy sweetness and great texture to the sauce. It was also a pretty easy recipe and was ready in less than an hour.

The next time I plan on making pasta, I'll turn to these two marinara-sauce recipes.

This story was originally published on August 22, 2022, and most recently updated on October 14, 2024.

Digital future adaption key to Kenya’s thriving entertainment, media sector


The entertainment and media industry is experiencing transformations, resulting in turbulence and uncertainty about the future among its players.

Social media, sluggish consumer spending, changing customer habits, expectations for comprehensive user experiences, and technological advancements like artificial intelligence (AI) are some of the factors that have sent shockwaves through the industry.

Traditional media, including TV, newspapers, and radio, have also had to go back to the drawing board to find innovative strategies that will enable them to brave the storm and stay afloat in the digital age.

In film, for instance, technologies such as AI and virtual reality (VR) have already taken over the filmmaking process, from scriptwriting and editing to casting and distribution.

VR is reshaping the film industry into an interactive journey, revolutionising storytelling dynamics and captivating audience engagement.

Simultaneously, the evolution of film distribution and consumption patterns has been equally profound, fuelled by the emergence of the internet and the ascent of on-demand streaming platforms.

AI has not spared the music industry either. AI-powered songwriting tools are now helping musicians generate new melodies, chord progressions, and lyrics. The rise of streaming platforms has revolutionised how music is distributed and consumed, and AI is at the forefront of optimising this experience.

Technology has also accelerated digital content piracy, which threatens the economy by denying government taxes, hurting the creative industry, and diminishing the revenue of media houses.

Despite these disruptions, projections show that the future is not as bleak as we might think. Forecasts show that the entertainment and media industry in Kenya, including newspapers, consumer magazines, and books, is promising.

According to the Africa Entertainment and Media Outlook 2023â€"27 by PricewaterhouseCoopers, all entertainment and media segments in Kenya will see growth, reaching Sh412 billion by 2027. Kenya will witness the biggest growth in the next three years compared to South Africa and Nigeria.

While the industry faces challenges from technological disruptions and piracy, its prospects remain promising.

Embracing emerging technologies like AI and leveraging government support will be crucial for sustaining growth and expanding revenue streams in the evolving landscape of entertainment and media.

Questions have often arisen about the consumption of entertainment and media in Kenya. How much local music do people listen to or play on radio stations? How many people watch local TV channels for news?

According to the 2024 Economic Survey report by the Kenya Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the value of the entertainment and arts sector showed steady growth: it was Sh22.4 billion in 2017, Sh24.5 billion in 2018, Sh27.1 billion in 2019, Sh19.9 billion in 2020, Sh23.4 billion in 2021, Sh28.3 billion in 2022, and Sh32.2 billion in 2023.

These figures indicate an annual increase in revenue from the entertainment and media industry, highlighting its significance as one of the pillars of the economy.

According to the outlook, Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming services like Showmax or DStv Stream and internet advertising will be the fastest-rising segments in Kenya. OTT revenue will double from Sh771 million in 2022 to Sh1.8 billion. The high penetration of the internet and smartphones in Kenya makes the country a fertile ground for OTT.

Kenyans are increasingly acquiring smartphones, indicating that OTT is the next big thing for the entertainment and media industry. For instance, Kenyans acquired 2.9 million smartphones between January and September 2023, bringing the total number of smartphones in the country to 33 million.

This means over 10,000 smartphones are acquired per day. Local music, radio, podcasts, traditional TV, video games, and esports are also poised for growth in the next three years.

Live music ticket sales revenue is also expected to grow in Kenya, indicating that the music scene is promising.

The writer is the Head of DSTV Business and Digital Products Manager, Multichoice Kenya

‘Big Brother’ and ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ Winners Through the Years


Since the U.S. edition of Big Brother premiered in July 2000, the CBS reality game show has become a pop culture phenomenon.

Each season, viewers dedicate themselves to watching the houseguests' every move, thanks to not only the TV episodes but also the 24/7 live feeds online as well as countless Twitter accounts and Reddit threads that follow the series day in and day out.

Julie Chen Moonves has served as the host of Big Brother and all of its editions since day one — even after her husband, Les Moonves, was ousted from his role as CEO of the network in September 2018 over sexual misconduct allegations. (He has denied having any nonconsensual encounters.)

Big Brother has had multiple iterations since its premiere, including all-stars seasons in 2006 and 2020, a streaming-only version titled Over the Top in 2016 and two celebrity editions so far.

"I had no idea if it was going to last past season 1," Chen told CBS Local in July 2018. "And if we did get through season 1, I thought I was going to get fired — the critics didn't like me, they didn't like the show. We went through some major changes between season 1 and season 2, and first and foremost we have fans who were extremely loyal ever since season 1."

She added, "We have a lot of fun changing the game so that each year we have our loyal fans coming back, new fans check it out, and here we are! I really don't see any signs of us slowing down. It's like an addiction at this point; it's a guilty pleasure."

And 20 years in, the show has continued to make history. In February 2019, Tamar Braxton became the first-ever Black winner in the U.S. franchise's run. Making her victory even sweeter, the R&B singer received a unanimous vote from her former housemates to take home the $250,000 grand prize over former NFL running back Ricky Williams.

From Eddie McGee to Jackson Michie, scroll down to take a look back at every Big Brother, Celebrity Big Brother and Big Brother: Over the Top winner from 2000 to 2022!

View comments