Benedict Cumberbatch to house Ukrainian family fleeing Russia's invasion, plus more news

Benedict Cumberbatch to put up Ukrainian family fleeing the war

In March, Benedict Cumberbatch said he hoped to participate in efforts to house Ukrainian refugees fleeing their country as Russia’s invasion continues. Now, the actor says he’s been paired up with a family from Ukraine that’s on their way to stay with him. “They’ve made it out of Ukraine,” he told Sky News earlier this week. “I’m monitoring their progress every day. Sadly, they are undergoing some medical treatment. To say anything more about that would be invasion of their privacy, and too much about when they’re coming and how that’s being managed would invade mine.” He added, “I want to give them some stability after the turmoil that they’ve experienced, and that’s within my home.” The “Sherlock” star is also working with the organization Refugees at Home, he said. “I’ve been trying to help other Ukrainian families — nationals that are U.K. citizens — to house their extended families en masse, which you know they want to do, but it’s very costly,” he explained. So, I’ve been trying to help out with that financially in a couple of instances.” Other celebs who’ve been advocating for those fleeing Ukraine since Putin invaded in February include Ukraine-born Mila Kunis and her husband, Ashton Kutcher, who raised more than $36 million via GoFundMe to support people affected by the war.

RELATED: Stars praise Ukraine President Zelensky

A$AP Rocky’s guns not connected to shooting: Report

Los Angeles police have reportedly come empty in a search for evidence that might tie rapper A$AP Rocky to the alleged shooting he was arrested in connection with last week. Rocky and Rihanna, who are expecting their first child together, arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on April 20 after visiting her family in Barbados, were greeted by police who took Rocky into custody. Now, TMZ reports a search warrant turned up guns in his home but testing showed they had not been used in the alleged shooting on Nov. 6, 2021. According to the website HipHollywood, the couple’s challenging return to the States didn’t stop them from celebrating their baby-to-be. Two days they returned to L.A., Rih and Rocky reportedly hosted a private, rave-themed baby shower at a rented studio. Party favors included neon T-shirts for guests that featured photos of the pair as kids and the words, “I Went 2 Rih & Rocky’s Rave Shower and All I Got Was This Amazing Shirt.” Rocky still faces an assault with a deadly weapon charge following his arrest.

RELATED: Celeb couples having babies in 2022

Britney Spears’ fiance, Sam Asghari, talks parenting plans

Britney Spears’ fiance, Sam Asghari, shared an update on the couple’s baby plans this week as the two await the arrival of their first child together. Asked if he plans to find out if they’re having a boy or a girl, Sam, 28, told Mario Lopez on “Access Hollywood” that Brit, 40, may go another direction, but he’d rather be surprised. “That’s up to her, but I don’t want to [know]. That’s something that I want to wait for,” he explained.While Britney shares teenage sons Sean, 16, and Jayden, 15, with Kevin Federline, Sam’s looking forward to his first experience with parenthood, and told Mario he expects to be a “hands-on” dad “as much as possible.” “This is my baby, my first baby,” he gushed. “If it’s a daughter, it’s going to be the most spoiled princess ever, if it’s a son, it’s going to be the toughest son — I’m going to be tough on the kid.” Britney announced she’s expecting earlier this month. During one of her final conservatorship hearings last summer, she told the court that despite her desire to have a child with Sam, her father would not allow her to have her birth control device removed.

Amber Heard has yet to pay promised divorce settlement fee to ACLU, COO says

Johnny Depp’s defamation trial against Amber Heard continued in Virginia on Thursday, April 28, with a renewed focus on whether Amber’s kept up her end of the bargain in their divorce settlement. Specifically, she promised to donate half of her $7 million lump sum payout to the ACLU and the rest to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. According to testimony from the ACLU’s COO, Terence Dougherty, however, Amber has so far only donated $1.3. “We learned she was having financial difficulties [in 2019],” he said in a deposition in December 2021, according to People. Johnny sued his ex for defamation over an op-ed she penned about surviving domestic abuse. According to Terence’s deposition, Amber had help from ACLU lawyers in writing the post. Johnny has claimed he’s the implied abuser she in Amber’s op-ed and has denied he ever assaulted her. Her lawyer said otherwise in opening remarks for the trial. Following their tumultuous marriage, Johnny and Amber’s divorce was finalized in 2016.

James Corden confirms ‘Late Late Show’ exit

As Jimmy Kimmel mulls a possible transition out of late-night, James Corden has confirmed he’ll stick around “The Late Late Show” for just one more season. “It’s been it’s a really hard decision to leave because I’m so immensely proud of the show,” James told Deadline in a report published Thursday, April 28. James reportedly extended his contract by a year, which puts him off the air shortly before summer 2023. “I’m thrilled to be extending,” he added. “I always thought I’d do it for five years and then leave and then I stayed on. I’ve really been thinking about it for a long time, thinking whether there might be one more adventure.” Come next year, James will have hosted the show for eight and half years, making a splash on CBS with segments like “Carpool Karaoke” and “Spill Your Guts.”

Sharon Osbourne tears up on TV over Ozzy’s COVID diagnosis

Despite worsening health problems in recent years, Ozzy Osbourne hasmanaged to avoid contracting COVID-19 during the pandemic — until now. On Thursday, April 28, Sharon Osbourne announced on her new, U.K.-based show, “The Talk,” that the Black Sabbath frontman tested positive while in the United States. “I spoke to him and he’s OK. I am very worried about Ozzy right now,” she said Thursday on her new show “The Talk UK.” “We’ve gone two years without him catching COVID and it’s just Ozzy’s luck he would get it now” she said, according to Page Six. Ozzy, 73, announced two years ago he’s been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Since then, he’s had multiple surgeries for back and neck issues, in addition to contracting pneumonia, the flu and a staph infection that reportedly could have killed him. The COVID, however, won’t keep Sharon, 69, away from her rocker — after breaking down in tears momentarily, she vowed to “hold him and kiss him” with “about three face masks” on as soon as she sees him. “My family’s my life. I can’t believe my luck. I’m missing the show and I’ve only been there three days,” she added, saying she’ll return to the U.K. when she gets her “old man back on his feet again.”

Rock Hudson’s doctor reveals Liz Taylor snuck into hospital to visit him on his deathbed

In a new interview, Rock Hudson’s former doctor recalls how he helped Elizabeth Taylor sneak into the hospital where the actor died so she could say goodbye as he lay on his deathbed. “I picked Elizabeth up in my old station wagon and we managed to get in through a loading dock at the back of the hospital to see him,” Dr. Michael Gottlieb recently shared with Closer Weekly, according to the Daily Mail. It was 1985 and Rock, 59, had only been diagnosed with AIDS one year earlier. He and Liz were close friends after they worked together on “Giant” in the mid-50s. When Rock died of a related illness, he became the first well-know celebrity to lose a battle with the disease. “Rock understood the implications of having AIDS in those early days. He was calm and hoped for the best,” Dr. Gottlieb said. “Elizabeth became a friend to me” after Rock’s death, he continued. “Together, we started the American Foundation for AIDS research. Elizabeth was the most prominent person to come forward as an advocate. She had access to the White House and made a huge difference.”








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