5/31/2023: Wedding Inflation Boom
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5/31/2023: Wedding Inflation Boom
PLUS: Cheese-Rolling; Ed Sheeran Buys a Round; and Harry in 2017
Today is Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
It is the 151st day of the year.
214 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
The ELIZABETH HOLMES saga closes a long chapter and TWITTER’s valuation gets pummeled. More in HIT LIST.
KEVIN FEDERLINE is sick of waiting for BRITNEY SPEARS to sign off on his move and a crazed chef causes a scene at BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH’s home. More in SHOWBIZ.
Two actors have finally been selected to star in the live-action adaptation of “How to Train Your Dragon” and CLIVE DAVIS is working on a Grammy documentary. More in CASTING CALL.
One Kardashian sister can’t hold her alcohol or her bladder. More in KARDASH.
A resurfaced 2017 interview with PRINCE HARRY portends the drama that would come. More in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
THERANOS founder and convicted fraudster ELIZABETH HOLMES reported to prison on Tuesday to begin her 11-year sentence.
Like any other inmate at Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas, she’ll take a job in the cafeteria or manufacturing plant, earning at least $1.15 an hour. She’ll also have her pick of classes – and even have the opportunity to dive into the Six Sigma business efficiency course. [via New York Times]
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Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index has tanked the value of TWITTER since ELON MUSK purchased it last year.
When the deal closed, Musk owned 79% of the company and got $25 billion of financing just for his portion. That same stake is now worth about $8.8 billion.
BUT WAIT: Despite the down-valuation, Musk’s personal net worth is up $48 billion this year as Tesla shares have rallied. [via Bloomberg]
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The national average cost of a wedding increased by about 3.5% over the last year.
Both inflation and competition for venues and service providers have contributed to the increase.
Wedding planning directory “The Knot” reports that 63% of couples say that “personalization” is the most important part of their planning.
WORTH NOTING: That’s ironic, because most brides are just ripping off the over-the-top ideas they’ve seen on social media and want their guests to capture their own schtick in the same elaborate way.
IT GETS WORSE: 40% of wedding guests say they’ve gone into debt for a wedding in the last five years.
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Rejeanne Fairhead of Ottawa, Canada is the new record holder for fastest 5K by a woman aged 95-99.
The 96-year-old completed the 5K at Ottawa Race Weekend in 51 minutes and nine seconds, breaking the previous record by over four minutes.
In addition to setting a new record, Fairhead also raised over $7,400 for the Perley Health Foundation. [via National Post]
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Dozens of cheese-enthusiasts chased a seven-pound wheel of Double Gloucester down a steep slope in southwest England on Monday in an annual cheese-rolling event.
Winning this year’s race for the women was 19-year-old Delaney Irving of Canada, who was knocked unconscious for a bit during the downhill scramble. For the men, the winner was 28-year-old Matt Crolla from Manchester, England.
As for what sort of prize the winner gets: the first one to finish behind the rolling cheese gets to keep it. [via AP News]
FUN FACT: The event has been held annually since 1826, though the sport of cheese-rolling goes back even further.
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DEATHS
Former New York Giants assistant coach BILL MCGOVERN has died.
He passed away Tuesday after a battle with cancer, according to a statement from UCLA, where he served as director of football administration.
He was 60.
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BABY NEWS
“Succession” star SARAH SNOOK has given birth to her first child with husband DAVE LAWSON.
Thirty-five-year-old Snook revealed the newborn’s arrival in an Instagram post, featuring a photo of her holding the babe while watching the show’s season finale.
While this is the first child for the couple, 44-year-old Lawson already has a son.
No details about the baby or the birth were shared.
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WWE star ALEXIS BLISS is expecting her first child with husband, musician RYAN CABRERA.
The baby is due in December, according to an Instagram post from Bliss.
By the way -- he is 40 and she is 30.
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RELATIONSHIPS
Model CHANEL IMAN and football player DAVON GODCHAUX are engaged.
Twenty-eight-year-old Godchaux popped the question during their recent vacation in Italy. Both shared the exciting news on their respective Instagram accounts.
The pair are currently expecting their first child together, meanwhile, 32-year-old Iman already has two daughters -- Cassie, 3, and Cali, 4, -- with ex, STERLING SHEPARD.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 50 points (0.15%) to close at 33,042 on Tuesday. The S&P added just 0.07 points to close at 4,205 and the NASDAQ was up 41 points (0.32%) to close at 13,017.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $69; BRENT CRUDE at $73.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.57 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN was mostly flat Tuesday, trading around $27,700.
🛩 There were more than 2,360 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 49 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $239 million jackpot or a $121.5 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
KEVIN FEDERLINE is sick of waiting for his ex-wife BRITNEY SPEARS to sign off on his move -- with their two teenage sons -- to Hawaii.
K-Fed’s lawyer issued a letter to Brit’s lawyer giving her until the end of this week to state whether or not she is okay with the move.
If she doesn’t respond by Friday then Kevin’s lawyer said he will file for a move-away order. [via TMZ]
WORTH REMEMBERING: Kevin got custody of the boys while Britney was under her conservatorship. Even after it was removed, the boys’ relationship with their mom has been sporadic.
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BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH and his family were targeted by former chef Jack Bissell, who allegedly kicked in a gate at their home, shouting, “I know you’ve moved here, I hope it burns down.” He also destroyed a flower pot and dismantled the intercom with a fishing knife.
It is unknown when the incident occurred as Bissell was in court this month where he pleaded guilty to criminal damage. He was issued a fine and a three-year restraining order preventing him from going near the actor’s family or home.
A motive for the attack is not known.
Details of the incident only surfaced after The Daily Mail successfully challenged blanket reporting restrictions. [via Daily Mail]
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CHARLES BARKLEY talked about his weight loss during a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“I’m working out, I’m taking my shot once a week,” he said, referring to Mounjaro, which is used by people with type 2 diabetes to improve blood sugar.
Barkley said he is down 62 lbs and has a goal weight of 270 pounds. [via People]
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The HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES are rescheduling a bunch of US concerts after JOHNNY DEPP fractured his ankle.
Depp plays guitar in the rock supergroup that also features ALICE COOPER, JOE PERRY and TOMMY HENRIKSEN.
The shows will be rescheduled for later this summer as the group is heading overseas next week. [via Billboard]
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Country singer and actress JANA KRAMER has written a new book, titled “The Next Chapter.”
She told People Magazine that the book details how she moved on and found peace after her painful divorce.
Kramer, who recently announced her engagement to former soccer player ALLAN RUSSELL, was married to former NFL player MIKE CAUSSIN. They share two kids, Jolie, 7, and Jace, 4.
“The Next Chapter” is due out this October. [via People]
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ED SHEERAN surprised patrons at SweetWater Brewery in Atlanta with his bartending skills over the weekend.
After his time behind the bar, Sheeran took the stage and performed his song, “Eyes Closed.” He also paid for everyone’s drinks.
That evening Sheeran performed at The Benz stadium. [via ET]
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PAUL REUBENS, better known as the guy who played Pee-wee Herman, is suing memorabilia company, The Comisar.
According to the lawsuit, obtained by TMZ, Reubens claims to have loaned some props and items from “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” to Comisar with the understanding that it would be placed in a “Museum of Television,” and later returned.
Later, Reubens said he found out that there was no museum and Comisar was keeping the items.
Now, he is asking a judge to order his possessions be returned and sales of future items to be halted. As for pieces that have already been sold, Reubens wants $1 million in compensation. [via TMZ]
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MORGAN WALLEN’s album “One Thing at a Time” is spending its 12th week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart; marking the first country album to do so in over three decades.
The country album with the most weeks at No. 1 is BILLY RAY CYRUS’ “Some Gave All,” which held the spot for 17 consecutive weeks in 1992.
Wallen has spent a total of 22 weeks at No. 1 with his two albums “One Thing at a Time” and “Dangerous: The Double Album.” [via Billboard]
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CASTING CALL
MASON THAMES and NICO PARKER will star as Hiccup and Astrid, respectively, in the live-action remake of “How to Train Your Dragon.”
The film will follow the same story as the animated version, which centers on the special friendship of a young Viking boy named Hiccup and Toothless, an injured dragon he nurses back to health. Astrid, meanwhile, holds great disdain for dragons, which she later overcomes.
The adaptation is due out in March 2025. [via Hollywood Reporter]
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Music executive CLIVE DAVIS is reportedly working on a new documentary about the Grammys, titled “The Greatest Party Ever.”
The project features over 50 years of footage from Davis’ annual pre-Grammy gala, including clips of the late WHITNEY HOUSTON, who many may recall was found dead just hours before the party in 2012.
Insiders told Page Six that a 12-minute trailer was played for guests at Davis’ annual Memorial Day shindig at his New York estate over the weekend. [via Page Six]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KHLOE KARDASHIAN and TRISTAN THOMPSON are not back together despite fan speculation. Again.
While the two are spending a lot of time together insiders say that it is all for the kids, of which they have two. Also, Tristan lives really close to Khloe -- again, for the kids -- so he is able to pop over and see them all the time, which she encourages.
At the end of the day they are just really good at co-parenting. [via CinemaBlend]
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Not only can KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN not hold her alcohol, she also (allegedly) cannot control her bladder while consuming said alcohol.
During a confessional on their Hulu show, Kourtney’s little sister KYLIE JENNER was asked who can hold their alcohol the best. After saying that she can hold it best, she explained that sisters KENDALL JENNER and KIM KARDASHIAN “show their drunkness really fast” and “Kourtney like, pees everywhere.”
“She gets drunk and she just pees on everybody and everywhere and in public [...] she’s just like a free lady,” Kylie continued.
Fans’ responses to the confession were mixed, with one person saying, “The world did not need to know this,” while another added, “So relatable.” [via Tequila Raiders]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
A 2017 interview with PRINCE HARRY has resurfaced, in which he told London’s Mail on Sunday a variety of confessions that ominously predicted the years to come.
At this point he had been dating future wife MEGHAN MARKLE for about a year.
At the time, Harry said he had already considered getting out of formal royal duties, but decided to remain and “work out a role for myself.”
The interviewer notes that Harry had a knack for the retail politics of being a working royal: focusing intensely on whoever he’s talking to, and immediately finding whoever was in charge of the event he was attending, to give the impression he was eager to be there.
AND THEN THE CHERRY ON TOP: When asked if new girlfriend Meg advised him on his mental health issues, Harry replied, sharp and clear: “Absolutely she did not.” [via DailyMail]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
World Otter Day
Infidelity Hurts Awareness Day
National Senior Health & Fitness Day
National Flip Flop Day
National Smile Day
National Save Your Hearing Day
National Macaron Day
World No Tobacco Day
Web Designer Day
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ON THIS DATE
1859 - The Big Ben Clocktower begins chiming.
The idea for the clock tower came after a fire destroyed the previous clock in 1834. There were initiatives that would ensure that Big Ben would always be exactly on time.
At 13 tons, it took 16 horses to carry the clock to the structure.
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1929 - Ford Motor Company agrees to produce automobiles for the Soviet Union.
The agreement signed with the communist government stipulated for the construction of Model A cars en masse for the Soviet populace.
After the success of the Ford automobile in the Soviet Union, Stalin would herald Ford as one of the greatest industrialists in the world, contradicting the communist mantra literally on parade in his own country.
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1988 - The meeting between Reagan and Gorbachev to end the Cold War formally finishes.
Reagan was a star among Soviet audiences, speaking eloquently and succinctly about freedom.
The president stuck to broad issues, proselytizing freedom and free societies, much to the Soviets' dismay, on their own turf in Moscow.
Though Reagan showed up as the communist premier, there was little progress in negotiating a brighter future for the two nations.
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2005 - The infamous informant of the Watergate scandal comes clean.
W. Mark Felt explained to Vanity Fair that he was the informant who broke the story to Woodward and Berstein.
His disclosure closed the book on forty years of mystery, over who instigated the relentless investigation into Richard Nixon.
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2014 - Psy’s “Gangnam Style” becomes the first video to reach two billion views on YouTube.
The milestone comes just over 500 days after the song hit one billion views on the platform.
The South Korean pop star earned about $2 million for the feat, from ads featured on site.
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2021 - Tulsa, Oklahoma marks the 100 year anniversary of the massacre of black residents by a white mob.
The horrific event took place in the Greenwood neighborhood after a 19-year-old Black man was accused of assaulting a white woman in her teens.
In addition to the physical assault of residents, a 35-square block area of the neighborhood was burned and destroyed.
The event is considered one of the single worst incidents of racial violence in American history.
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BIRTHDAYS
Normani - pop singer - 27
Anna Maria Sieklucka - actress, “365 Days” - 31
Farrah Abraham - reality star, “Teen Mom” - 32
Azealia Banks - rapper - 32
Montez Ford - wrestler - 33
Marco Reus - soccer player - 34
Waka Flocka Flame - rapper - 37
Jordy Nelson - football player - 38
Nate Robinson - basketball player - 39
Yael Grobglas - actress, “Jane the Virgin” - 39
Andy Hurley - drummer, Fall Out Boy - 43
Colin Farrell - actor, “Phone Booth” & “Horrible Bosses” - 47
Brooke Shields - actress, “Blue Lagoon” & “Lipstick Jungle” - 58
Lea Thompson - actress, “Back to the Future” & “Switch at Birth” - 62
Clint Eastwood - actor & director - 93
Born On This Date
John Bonham - drummer, Led Zeppelin - 1948 (d. 1980)
Jim Hutton - actor, “Ellery Queen” - 1934 (d. 1979)
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