​Rumors swirled for months that Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s romance might not survive the intense scrutiny surrounding their relationship.. While the couple never officially split, insiders say their bond was seriously tested behind the scenes.. Now, new details reveal how close they came to walking away before quietly working through their challenges.. Article continues below advertisement. Ariana Grande And Ethan Slater Faced A Rough Patch Behind The Scenes. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA. Public sightings of Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater were scarce for much of last year, sparking speculation that their relationship might be on shaky ground. While the pair never officially broke up, insiders say there was a period when the future of their romance looked uncertain.. “Ariana and Ethan hit a rough patch towards the end of last year,” a source close to Grande’s family told the Daily Mail. “They never broke up, but it was questionable at a point if they were going to continue moving forward.”. Despite the tension, the couple reportedly chose to work through their issues rather than call it quits.. Article continues below advertisement. “They’ve really spent time working on their relationship and are in a much better place. It’s been hard for them with the way their relationship began and they’ve had a lot to work through, but they seem to really, truly love each other,” the insider added.. The source also pointed to Slater’s presence during some of Grande’s major moments as proof that the relationship remained strong.. They shared, “That’s a huge reason why Ethan was at a lot of Ariana’s Saturday Night Live duties. They also spent the holidays together with her family. Things are strong between them again now.”. Article continues below advertisement. How Grande And Slater First Crossed Paths. MEGA. Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater’s love story began in late 2022 while filming the two-part movie musical “Wicked” in the United Kingdom, directed by Jon M. Chu.. At the time, both actors were married. Grande had tied the knot with real estate agent Dalton Gomez in 2021, while Slater was married to singer Lilly Jay.. Their personal lives shifted dramatically the following year. Court documents show Grande separated from Gomez in February 2023 after two years of marriage.. Around the same time, Slater filed for divorce from Jay in July 2023, shortly after news of his relationship with Grande became public. The Broadway star and his ex-wife share a young son.. The timeline surrounding their relationship drew intense attention online, placing the couple under a microscope from the start.. Article continues below advertisement. Ariana Grande’s Surprising Relationship Preferences. Newscom/(Mega Agency. The insider also revealed an unexpected detail about what may have drawn Grande to Slater in the first place.. According to the source, the pop star has a pattern when it comes to her romantic choices.. “Ariana likes to date guys she know  

​Elijah Wood does not want anyone else playing the iconic role he is most known for, Frodo Baggins, and says he would reprise it. However, the actor is keeping mum about whether he will appear in the upcoming “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum” movie, leaving fans curious about the upcoming film.. Article continues below advertisement. Elijah Wood Is Excited For Another LOTR Film. MEGA. It has been more than two decades since Wood appeared in the “Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy, and with a new film on the horizon, many are wondering whether the actor will be back to play Frodo once again.. In an interview with The Times, the 45-year-old actor shared his thoughts about the character, but was careful not to spill details about the new movie. When asked whether he’ll be back, Wood said, “I’m not able to officially say anything until it’s announced, but I will say I’m thrilled with the prospect of another film,” he shared.. Wood’s co-stars in LOTR, Ian McKellen and Orlando Bloom, who played Gandalf and Legolas, respectively, have both said they don’t want to see anyone else to play their characters, and Wood shares the sentiment.. Article continues below advertisement. As he told the outlet, “I certainly wouldn’t want anybody else to play Frodo either as long as I’m alive and able.”. Article continues below advertisement. The Actor Went To Great Lengths To Audition For The Role. View this post on Instagram. Wood was in his late teens when he auditioned for the role of Frodo Baggins, a role that he desperately wanted. LOTR director Peter Jackson revealed that initially, they wanted to find an English actor to play the hobbit, but after seeing hundreds of applicants in London, he had not found what he was looking for.. He then received a VHS audition tape from Wood, whom he was not familiar with. Jackson realized that he had found his Frodo after viewing the tape, calling Wood “wonderful” and “absolutely great.”. Article continues below advertisement. In 2021, Wood detailed what he did to prepare for the audition, revealing that he hired a vocal coach to help nail the dialect and even rented a hobbit costume. He then rallied a few friends to help him film a few scenes. “I got a call from Peter himself, which was amazing, totally mindblowing,” the actor gushed.. Article continues below advertisement. Elijah Wood Appeared In Four LOTR Movies. View this post on Instagram. Wood, as Frodo, was the main protagonist in the LOTR movies, appearing in all three films: “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001), “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (2002), and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003).. Frodo was the so-called “ring-bearer,” who went on a journey with his fellow hobbits Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin), Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck (Dominic Monaghan), and Peregrin “Pippin” Took (Billy Boyd), to destroy the One Ring in Mount Doom.. Jackson later released “The Hobbit” trilogy, also set in Middle-Earth like “The L  

​Fans of Selena Gomez got a rare peek into her private life over the weekend when the star marked a special milestone for her husband, Benny Blanco.. The singer and actress took to Instagram to celebrate the producer’s birthday with a heartfelt tribute and a carousel of intimate photos.. The post featured romantic moments, throwback memories, and glimpses of their wedding day, giving followers a closer look at the couple’s life together since tying the knot last fall.. Article continues below advertisement. Selena Gomez Celebrates Benny Blanco’s Birthday With Heartfelt Tribute. View this post on Instagram. Selena Gomez marked her husband’s 38th birthday with a sentimental Instagram post that quickly caught fans’ attention.. The tribute included several personal photos and a loving caption as she celebrated his first birthday since their wedding.. Alongside the photo collection, Gomez kept the message simple but heartfelt, writing, “Happy birthday my love,” followed by celebratory and heart emojis. She added another affectionate note, “I love you with all my heart.”. The images included several black-and-white shots taken during their wedding ceremony and reception, offering fans a glimpse of the couple’s big day months after it happened.. In the photos, Gomez and Blanco appeared relaxed and affectionate, sharing hugs, smiles, and quiet moments together.. Article continues below advertisement. Other snapshots highlighted their chemistry outside of the wedding setting. One image showed the pair enjoying a sunny afternoon, with Blanco wrapping his arm around Gomez’s waist while leaning in to kiss her neck.. The “Wizards of Waverly Place” star beamed in the moment, capturing the playful and affectionate dynamic between the newlyweds.. Article continues below advertisement. Gomez Shares Candid Moments From Everyday Life With Benny Blanco. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA. Beyond the romantic wedding photos, Selena Gomez also included more casual moments that reflected their everyday life together.. One candid photo captured the pair in relaxed denim outfits as they appeared to enjoy a late-night meal from Taco Bell.. The couple looked slightly exhausted but amused, pulling playful expressions for the camera while indulging in the fast-food feast.. Another throwback image showed a quieter moment in the kitchen. The singer leaned against Blanco’s shoulder while he prepared meatballs, offering a glimpse of the couple’s laid-back home life.. The carousel also featured a snapshot of the lovebirds sharing a kiss during what appeared to be a small gathering with friends.. Article continues below advertisement. Selena Gomez Includes Glam Date Night And Nostalgic Moments In Photo Carousel. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA. The final images in Gomez’s Instagram post offered fans an even broader look at her and Benny Blanco’s shared experiences.. One of the photos captured the two attending the Golden Globe Awards earlier this year.. Gomez appeared dresse  

​For years, Taylor Swift enjoyed one of the most loyal fanbases in music, but lately, even some of her most devoted supporters are starting to question the superstar’s moves.. From controversial album release tactics to political silence and unexpected legal drama, the pop icon has found herself at the center of multiple online debates.. Now, a growing number of fans say their enthusiasm is fading as criticism around Swift cofntinues to intensify.. Article continues below advertisement. Taylor Swift Faces Fan Backlash Over Chart Strategy And Album Variants. imageSPACE / MEGA. Much of the recent criticism surrounding Taylor Swift centers on her music release strategy, particularly the repeated rollout of alternate versions of her albums.. Swift has long used expanded editions, remixes, and “special” releases to boost sales and maintain chart dominance.. However, some fans now believe the strategy has crossed the line from savvy marketing into something more calculated.. One frustrated Swiftie voiced their concerns in a viral TikTok video, declaring per the Daily Mail, “The fact that she is scheming and plotting so much to try to scrape her way to number one, that is what is embarrassing to me.”. Article continues below advertisement. The criticism intensified after Swift dropped two special editions of “The Tortured Poets Department” the same day Billie Eilish released her album “Hit Me Hard and Soft” in May 2024.. Some fans interpreted the move as an attempt to block Eilish from claiming the top chart position.. A similar situation unfolded in the U.K. when Charli XCX appeared poised to land a number-one album with “Brat.”. Swift then announced six UK-exclusive deluxe editions of “The Tortured Poets Department,” pushing Charli into the number-two spot.. Article continues below advertisement. Swift Draws Criticism Over Timing Of ‘Opalite’ Release. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA. Another controversy erupted when Taylor Swift released the music video for “Opalite,” the second single from her album “The Life of a Showgirl.”. The video debuted on streaming platforms on February 6 before arriving on YouTube two days later, the same day Bad Bunny performed during the Super Bowl.. Some fans argued that the timing overshadowed a major cultural moment for the Puerto Rican star.. One Reddit user blasted the decision, writing, per the Daily Mail, “The fact she waited until the Super Bowl to drop it and overshadow a Latino artist during such a pivotal moment in his career and for Latinos in general while the US goes down in flames due to ICE persecuting immigrants is insanely tone deaf.”. Article continues below advertisement. Despite the speculation, Bad Bunny ultimately saw his track “DTMF” from “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” soar to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, dampening theories that Swift successfully blocked his success.. Article continues below advertisement. Taylor Swift Insider Defends Competitive Chart Battles. ZUMA  

​Nearly a month after his passing, James Van Der Beek’s family is honoring the late actor on his birthday, sharing cherished memories, heartfelt tributes, and personal reflections on social media to celebrate his life and the impact he had on those who loved him.. Article continues below advertisement. Kimberly Van Der Beek Shared Photos And Videos Of The Late Actor. View this post on Instagram. On March 8, James’ wife Kimberly celebrated her late husband on what would have been his 49th birthday. She shared several photos and videos on Instagram Stories, expressing how she missed him “tremendously.”. James and Kimberly share six children: 15-year-old Olivia, 13-year-old Joshua, 12-year-old Annabel, 9-year-old Emilia, 7-year-old Gwendolyn, and 4-year-old Jeremiah.. In the series of posts, Kimberly shared glimpses of James’ life, sharing short videos and photos of their precious moments. The actor loved dancing with his children, going on outdoor adventures, and doing activities with them.. Article continues below advertisement. “The way you were at births, held our newborns, revered me… I will cherish forever,” Kimberly wrote in one post showing James holding their newborn child. “He was the sexiest tree light hanger in all the land,” she captioned a video showing James putting on lights on a Christmas tree.. “Baby, you were the best humanity had to offer. This is a loss I don’t know how to process. I will love you forever,” Kimberly captioned a family photo.. Article continues below advertisement. James Van Der Beek Loved Working On Their Ranch Home. In one video taken less than two years before James’ passing, he is seen clearing overgrowth. Kimberly noted, “Doing what he loved. Working this land.” In another video, the actor is shown placing wood panels on a wall. As Kimberly shared, her late husband loved “building things” for their home.. The Van Der Beek family moved from Los Angeles to Texas in 2020, and, as the couple shared, the decision was driven by their desire to give their children more space and be closer to nature.. They made renovations in the home, with James even sharing a video on TikTok in 2023 showcasing the progress they’ve made on the mudroom.. Article continues below advertisement. Emilia Van Der Beek’s Touching Tribute To Her Father. View this post on Instagram. One of James’s daughters, Emilia, also recorded a video to honor her father’s first birthday after his death. As Kimberly noted, Emilia wanted to make a video post that she helped record, which she uploaded to her account.. The 9-year-old said, “The number one thing for somebody’s passing is to talk to them and let your emotions out,” she said, adding, “I talk to my dad every day. I start with a sentence, and I say, ‘Hi, Dad. I miss you and I love you so much, and I’ll never stop loving you.'”. Emilia also shared a touching message James told him, saying, “If this doesn’t work out the way he wanted it to and the way we wanted it to for him living, I still have t