Ken Bone, the red sweater-wearing star of one of President Trump’s 2016 debates, has an admittedly sloshed review of 45’s first State of the Union address. Bone’s giving Trump an 8 out of 10 for his speech because he wasn’t contentious, and…
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Stephen A. Smith "Incredibly Sad" Over Rasual Butler
Stephen A. Smith says he’s devastated over the death of his friend Rasual Butler — telling TMZ Sports they knew each other for years … and the NBA player was a really good dude. “Just incredibly sad,” the ESPN star said … “He’s a good…
Stephen A. Smith "Incredibly Sad" Over Rasual Butler
Stephen A. Smith says he’s devastated over the death of his friend Rasual Butler — telling TMZ Sports they knew each other for years … and the NBA player was a really good dude. “Just incredibly sad,” the ESPN star said … “He’s a good…
"Lean On Me" Star Jermaine Hopkins Pleads Guilty in Weed Case
“Lean on Me” star Jermaine Hopkins is becoming the king of big breaks when it comes to pot busts. Jermaine pled guilty Wednesday to felony possession of marijuana … according to court officials in Wake County, NC. We’re told Jermaine pled…
Stormy Daniels Fires Back at Wendy Williams for Vagina Monologue
Stormy Daniels is going to war — a vagina war — with Wendy Williams, and she’s willing to put it ALL on the line … TMZ has learned. Stormy caught wind of Wendy’s show Wednesday when the host called her washed up, messy — and the coup de grace…
Counting On 2018 Preview: What Can We Expect From the Duggars This Year?
As always, the rumors and speculation surrounding the Duggars in the lead-up to the return of Counting On are off the proverbial chain.
Will Josiah"s second try at courtship last? Will Jessa and Ben adopt or get pregnant? Will Josh (or Jill) ever be seen on camera again?
Will Joy-Anna finally put the shotgun wedding rumors to rest by virtue of having her baby nine months or more after she tied the knot?
These questions and more will be answered in the upcoming season of Counting On, starting Monday, February 26 on the TLC network.
Here"s a look at some storylines we expect to see on the always-controversial reality hit, along with some we certainly hope to.
1. Center of Attention
The network’s first promotional image for the new season speaks volumes in terms of who’s featured and who’s absent. Derick Dillard is persona non grata, and it looks like wife Jill will be MIA with him. With just weeks to go before welcoming her first child, it looks like Joy-Anna will get the bulk of the screen time.
2. Joy’s Bundle of Joy
Joy is set to give birth any day now. (The Duggars have kept her due date a secret, a move that’s made fans suspect she got pregnant out of wedlock.) While viewers might have to wait until next season to see her child enter the world, the bulk of her pregnancy will likely be featured in the upcoming string of new episodes.
3. Jana Courting
From Tim Tebow to Lawson Bates and Jonathan Hartono, and from Jacob Wilson to Caleb Williams, eldest daughter Jana has been linked to many available men over the years. Yet none of these courtship rumors have ever come to fruition. Will this be the year for the fair Cinderella Duggar? Or will we be treated to more gripping footage of Jana working in the garden and slaving away taking care of Anna and Josh’s brood?
4. A Bun in Jinger’s Oven
Joy’s not the only one with a baby on the way! Jinger Duggar is expecting her first child sometime in 2018. The Counting On production schedule usually puts the show 2-3 months behind, so expect to see her share her big news late in the season.
5. Speaking of the Vuolos…
Of course, fans are already wondering if we’ll be seeing much of Jinger at all this season. She and husband Jeremy Vuolo live in Laredo, Texas, and between his work as a minister and her pregnancy, they may not have the opportunity to travel to Arkansas to spend time with her family very often.
6. A Kid For Kendra
Joseph Duggar and his wife, Kendra Caldwell, are soon to welcome their first child, as well. In the past, Counting On has struggled to find an entire season’s worth of storylines. We don’t think that will be an issue this time around, especially since…
"The Four" Judge Charlie Walk Fired After Sexual Harassment Allegation
‘The Four’ is down from 4 judges to 3 after FOX dropped the ax on Charlie Walk … the Republic Records honcho, who was accused of sexually harassing a former employee. FOX cut Walk on the heels of Tristan Coopersmith’s claim Walk had…
Super Bowl LII Concert Venue Evacuated for Gas Leak
One of Minneapolis’ main Super Bowl LII party venues — hosting P!nk, Jennifer Lopez, Imagine Dragons, Diddy, DJ Khaled and Cardi B — was just evacuated for a gas leak. Law enforcement sources tell us they responded to The Armory…
Amanda Stanton Talks Robby Hayes, Josh Murray, & Becoming the Bachelorette!
Amanda Stanton finished her latest tour of Bachelor in Paradise last fall, but fans have questions.
Has she spoken to that cheater Robby Hayes? For that matter, is she in touch with Josh Murray? Will she answer the hopes and dreams of countless fans by becoming the next leading lady of The Bachelorette?
Finally, Amanda is speaking out and, believe it or not, answering all of those questions.
Amanda Stanton won a lot of fans on the 20th season of The Bachelor, but it was Lauren Bushnell who won the heart of Ben Higgins.
You know, for a while.
Amanda then went on to Bachelor in Paradise, where she and Josh Murray became a couple. Unfortunately, their breakup was so dramatically unpleasant that police were called.
Yikes.
This last season of Bachelor on Paradise didn’t do her much good, either.
Not only did she have to defend herself against mom-shamers for appearing on the show, she didn’t exactly get a happy ending.
She became romantically entangled with Robby Hayes.
Unfortunately, he allegedly became “entangled” with someone else.
Amanda Stanton tweeted a photo of Robby’s cheating to prove it to the world.
A lot of nonsense goes on in Paradise; that’s basically the point of the show. But we should all be able to agree that Amanda deserves better.
Well, Amanda Stanton opened up to Us Weekly about the many topics that have aroused the curiosity of fans.
For starters, she is so not talking to Robby Hayes.
Josh Murray, despite the drama in their past, is another story.
“I talk to Josh here and there.”
She is, at first, cautious about talking about this. She doesn’t want to give false hope to shippers.
“I mean nothing more than a friendly conversation.”
But Amanda and Josh are on what we’d call unusually good terms for a pair of exes.
She acknowledges that things were bad when they ended things, but emphasizes that things are so much better, now.
“We had such a bad breakup, and so it’s nice to just not have that drama anymore and just be cool with each other.”
Gwen Stefani wrote a whole dang song about that. (“Cool” is, in fact, my favorite song of hers)
“Because he was around my kids and we did have a good relationship for the most part. So it’s good to be on good terms.”
In fact, she and said children (Kinsley and Charlie) apparently FaceTimed Josh Murray after her return from this past season in Paradise.
But then comes the big question. The one that matters.
Those men are in her past, but what lies in her future? Might she be The Bachelorette?
Amanda shatters the hearts of fans as she sounds very certain that she’ll no longer be looking for love on camera.
“I’m done for sure.”
Heartbreaking. But she makes it clear that this isn’t sour grapes speaking.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity, and like overall I had such a good experience and don’t regret anything.”
Still, her air of finality remains.
“But I think I’m done.”
“I’ve had my fair share of chances.”
Does she really believe that she missed her chance to find love on screen? Or is she just sick of having her heartbreak broadcast to the world?
For the record, she spoke to Us Weekly at a speed dating event, so her brand is at least still tied to the quest for love.
But it sounds to us like Amanda was mostly just being dismissive of returning for yet another season of Bachelor in Paradise.
If she got an offer to become the Bachelorette … would she really turn that down?
We’re not so sure.
Bernard Hopkins Warns Gisele About Philly Fans
Listen up Gisele … legendary boxer Bernard Hopkins has some advice on how to deal with those unruly Philly fans when you get to Minnesota … and it’s basically not to be Gisele. We got Hopkins — a Philly legend — out at LAX and asked him how…
Drew Carey & Dr. Amie Harwick: We"re Getting Married!
Good news, folks! Unless you were hoping to date either of these love birds. In which case, tough luck.
Drew Carey and his girlfriend, Dr. Amie Harwick, have reportedly taken things to the next level and decided to get married.
We don’t know when the wedding will be, but here’s what we do know. …
Drew Carey took over hosting The Price Is Right more than a decade ago, but that’s hardly his only claim to fame.
The 59-year-old has also hosted Whose Line Is It Anyway and, of course, starred on The Drew Carey Show.
Dr. Amie Harwick is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She’s also a university lecturer, a public speaker, and an author.
The 36-year-old is also no stranger to appearing on television, notably on Braxton Family Values.
Though they’ve known each other for less than a year, this couple has gotten engaged.
RadarOnline‘s source close to Drew Carey and Dr. Amie Harwick reports that they made the decision just days after a romantic New Year’s trip to Paris.
“Drew’s convinced that Amie’s the one that he wants to spend the rest of his life with!”
That’s very exciting. Though we should note that they apparently only met last June — less than a year ago.
To put it in perspective, Kylie Jenner was (secretly) pregnant then and she’s (probably) still pregnant now.
But apparently, when they met at that fateful L.A. house party, something just clicked.
“Drew fell for Amie right away and they started dating almost immediately.”
Since then, the pair has been all but inseparable.
Drew apparently loves that his girlfriend’s career is all about helping and educating others.
He’s also been known to defend her status from time to time.
As beautiful as Dr. Harwick is, when she was characterized as arm candy at the Rock to Recovery event last December, Drew Carey set the record straight:
“No, my PhD-holding therapist-author-girlfriend was invited and brought ME!”
That’s a very important clarification.
Now, you may be thinking that Drew Carey is diving into this awfully quickly.
He’s famously had relationships in the past that didn’t work out. But, you know, that’s life.
Yes, Dr. Amie Harwick is incredibly attractive. She’s also intelligent and accomplished. Seriously, her social media is full of memes, which pretty much won me over.
And RadarOnline‘s source says that Drew Carey’s priorities are in order.
“Drew’s a new man now! He’s totally focused on having a real relationship!”
That’s great to hear.
Dr. Amie Harwick and Drew Carey are lucky to have found each other.
Every day seems to be an absolute nightmare, so we should all find love and comfort wherever we can (while, of course, clinging to hope that the global horrorshow of the past couple of years comes to a peaceful end).
We should note that Dr. Harwick has a book out, titled The New Sex Bible For Women.
While the two of them seem to mostly move in different circles, professionally, they could still end up being quite the power couple one day.
For now, we’re sure that they’re happy to settle for just being a cute couple who decided to start off 2018 on a positive note.
Taylor Swift Butt Grabbing DJ David Mueller Gets Bomb Threat at New Job
The radio DJ who grabbed Taylor Swift’s ass, and lost his job because of it, just had a not-so-nice welcome to his new job — a bomb threat. David Mueller started his gig at KIX 92.7 in Greenwood, Mississippi on Monday … his first job since losing…
Mark Salling Had Money Available to Pay Child Porn Case Victims
Mark Salling was far from broke before killing himself — and that’s good news for his child porn victims, who now have to sue to get the money he agreed to pay them. According to docs obtained by TMZ … Salling set up a corporation in 2009 –…
Eddie Alvarez to Dana White: I Got 2 Words For Your Patriots ...
UFC star Eddie Alvarez is a diehard Philadelphia Eagles fan. His boss Dana White loves and breaths New England Patriots. So, when we asked Eddie how he’s getting along with Dana during Super Bowl week … he had a 2-fingered…
Eddie Alvarez to Dana White: I Got 2 Words For Your Patriots ...
UFC star Eddie Alvarez is a diehard Philadelphia Eagles fan. His boss Dana White loves and breaths New England Patriots. So, when we asked Eddie how he’s getting along with Dana during Super Bowl week … he had a 2-fingered…
Mackenzie Standifer: Is She Losing Custody of Her Son?!
Look, we all know that Mackenzie Standifer isn’t the most likable person on reality TV.
She might actually be the most hated person in recent Teen Mom OG history, which is really saying something.
After all, that’s the show that introduced us to Matt Baier.
(And no, we won’t ever forgive MTV for that.)
The hate for Mackenzie has been building and building for a while now, ever since she had what seemed to be a heartfelt conversation with Maci only to turn around and trash her in a conversation with Ryan and his parents.
That was bad, but things just kept getting worse and worse until the season finale, when Ryan thought it would be an OK idea to drive to his wedding while high.
It was his choice to do heroin and then get behind the wheel, obviously, but the issue that many took with Mackenzie was that once she realized something was wrong, she didn’t take charge of the situation.
Instead of insisting that Ryan pull over, she concerned herself with turning off the cameras in the car, and although she later claimed that that was the first time she noticed anything about his drug use, she was heard asking if he’d taken xanax “again.”
Then when they managed to make it to the wedding, she smiled throughout the ceremony, even while her new mother-in-law was crying and Ryan was nodding off behind his sunglasses.
It was pretty weird, to say the least.
But when she blamed every single thing on Maci during the reunion show, essentially telling her that it would have been her fault if anything had happened to him … that’s when the tides really began to turn against her.
During this new season of Teen Mom OG, Mackenzie’s been getting an awful lot of airtime, and frankly, none of it has made her look any better.
We saw her commit an extreme act of pettiness when she failed to invite Maci’s family to her second wedding to Ryan — and also when she addressed the invitation to Maci Bookout instead of Maci McKinney.
We saw her bash Maci time and time again, and for no real reason.
And then, in an add moment that didn’t have anything to do with Maci, we saw that she stayed at an apartment in Texas while Ryan spent three weeks there in rehab.
It seemed a little weird, because she wouldn’t be able to spend a whole lot of time with him anyway, and also because she has a young son, Hudson, back home in Chattanooga.
Why wouldn’t she stay with her son? And now that we’re talking about her son, why would she move her son in with a heroin addict she’d known for just a few months?
And what’s the deal with her custody agreement? She keeps insisting that she has full custody, but there was that change in the child support payments that got a lot of us confused.
There are a whole, whole lot of questions about Mackenzie, but it seems like today we have a couple of answers.
And they sure are interesting.
According to a source who spoke with Radar Online, Mackenzie’s first husband and the father of Hudson, Zach Stephens, is looking into getting full custody himself.
“He wants to take Hudson from her,” the source claims. “She never has Hudson. It’s her mom, Ryan’s mom Jen or Zach watching him.”
“Zach doesn’t feel with her is where Hudson needs to be.”
The insider even says that the boy “screams” when he has to go back to Mackenzie and Ryan’s house, because “he can’t stand being there.”
So that’s not great.
It’s hard to say if that last part is true — and if it is, then the situation at the Edwards’ home is even more upsetting than we imagined — but it’s easy to believe that Mackenzie’s ex would want to get custody of their son.
It’s pretty clear that she doesn’t make the most responsible choices, and if Ryan drove high once, it’s not a stretch to think that he could have done it with Hudson in the car.
And even if Hudson was never in the car with Ryan, he still lived with him. It makes sense that Zach could have an issue with everything.
What a mess, right?
Cue a meltdown from Mackenzie in 3, 2 …
Bethenny Frankel Comforts Jill Zarin After Bobby Zarin"s Death
Earlier this month, Jill Zarin lost her husband to cancer after he had struggled with his health for nearly a decade.
After Bobby Zarin had seemed so much better in 2017, this loss is hitting her hard. Of course it is.
Bethenny Frankel, who only recently mended fences with Jill, is stepping up and supporting her friend as she grapples with this terrible loss.
It was just last year that Jill Zarin returned to The Real Housewives of New York City, with husband Bobby Zarin along for the ride.
RHONY has been around for a decade, so naturally it’s had its ups and downs. Back in season three, Bethenny and Jill had a falling out.
Now, they’ve mended fences.
Though Jill Zarin and Bethanny having made up was great, it was Bobby Zarin’s health that really seemed to warrant celebration recently.
Bobby Zarin was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2009, and responded by having it removed.
In 2013, the cancer had spread to his lungs. In 2016, he had a brain tumor that required Gamma Knife treatment.
But last year, it seemed that Bobby Zarin had recovered to the point where it was hailed as a miracle.
Then, earlier this month, he tragically passed away.
A source tells Entertainment Tonight that Bethenny is going out of her way to provide comfort to her once-again friend, Jill Zarin, during her time of grief and loss.
“Bethenny has gone above and beyond in private to be there for Jill since Bobby passed.”
Bethenny has also posted in public, but it makes sense that she wouldn’t use social media to harp on everything that she’s doing for her greving friend.
And the source gets specific about the steps that Bethenny is taking.
“She visits her at her apartment, calls her daily, and sends her food.”
That is so heartwarming.
This is a collage that Jill Zarin put together of photographs of Bethenny with her various family members.
It’s good to keep busy when you’re grieving, but it’s clear that she has a lot of appreciation for what Bethenny’s been doing for her.
ET‘s source goes on about how they made nice:
“Jill has wanted to put this in the past for a while and after so many years of not talking.”
Of course.
“It’s sad that a death had to bring them together again, but if there’s anything positive from this, it was that they were able make up.”
it’s so good to look at the positives. The two had set aside their differences last year, but based on reports, they seem closer even just in the past few weeks.
“Jill apologized for her role in it and Bethenny forgave Jill.”
If you’ve never lost an immediate family member, you may not be familiar with the tradition of bringing food to loved ones.
Some families are so inundated with food that they literally cannot eat it all. But that’s better than trying to worry about food plans or, worse, going out to eat when you’re juggling self-care and a lot of planning.
(There’s more to planning a funeral than picking out a casket, and there’s more to dealing with the death of a loved one than the funeral. Sad movies seldom delve into the grim logistics that follow a sudden death)
Bethenny is doing good things for her grieving friend. That’s no surprise, but it’s still heartwarming.
Our hearts go out to Jill Zarin as she processes this sorrow.
George Lopez Is Quitting Golf Until Trump Passes Clean DREAM Act
George Lopez is ditching his love affair with golf to stand in solidarity with DACA. We got the comedian leaving the Laugh Factory Tuesday night in WeHo and asked him about Trump’s first State of the Union address. GLo laughed it off, but…
Glee Cast: Where Are They Now?
Few shows in television history have the history of Glee.
It premiered in 2009 to giant ratings and critical acclaim, combining music, comedy and important social messages like no series ever before.
By the end of its run in 2015, however, the program had practically become a parody of itself, limping to the finish line with a shortened season and zero critical acclaim.
The cast, meanwhile, was mostly full of previously unknown actors and actress, some of whom followed up their time at William McKinley High School with success on the big or small screen…
.. and some of which met a tragic end.
Scroll around below for an update on the lives and careers of various Glee cast members:
1. The Original Cast
To the average television viewer in 2009, most of these were fresh, unknown faces back when Glee first hit the air. But almost every cast member would soon explode into a small screen sensation…
2. Lea Michele, Then…
Probably the main star when Glee premiered, the former Broadway actress stole our hearts as Rachel Berry.
3. Lea Michele, Now…
She remained on Fox as part of the Scream Queens cast and then appeared for the short run of ABC’s The Mayor, a solid sitcom that was canceled too soon.
4. Matthew Morrison, Then…
He played the man in charge, the honorable and musical Mr. Schuester, who instilled valuable life lessons in all his charges.
5. Matthew Morrison, Now…
Following a strong run as Alicia’s nemesis on The Good Wife, he joined Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Paul Stadler in 2017.
6. Jane Lynch, Then…
Probably the breakout star of Season 1, Lynch played the sarcastic and cruel cheerleading coach, Sue Sylvester.
Von Miller Tells Joe Theismann He Wants Kirk Cousins In Denver!
Add “TMZ Sports reporter” to Joe Theismann’s legendary resume — ‘cause the NFL icon just locked up an exclusive with Von Miller!!! So, we were talking to ex-Washington Redskins QB about the big trade for Alex Smith and where he thinks his pal,…
TMZ Live: Nicole Eggert: Furious Blowup With Dr. Oz
ON TODAY’S SHOW Donald Trump: State Of The Union Revolt Gigi & Bella Hadid: Naked Photo Cool With Mom Paris Hilton: Kim Kardashian Klone! Sean Spicer Laughs Off Omarosa’s New Gig
Bella and Gigi Hadid Pose Nude Together: Hot or Weird?
Bella and Gigi Hadid are both models.
And they’ve both been known to pose in various states of undress.
But the new issue of British Vogue marks the first time Bella and Gigi posed nude together, and the internet is all sorts of confused about it.
On the one hand, you have two naked models, which is generally a good thing.
We’re not sure if you were aware of this, but nudity is something that the internet is pretty fond of.
Typically, if you show the online world a pair of boobs, there will be a round of applause, and no one will ask any questions.
But the situation is complicated in this case.
Bella and Gigi are sisters, which makes the fact that they’re all nude and intertwined like that a little gross.
The ladies shared the honor of cover girl, with two editions of the mag hitting newsstands – one with Gigi on the front, and one with Bella.
Inside the issue, the Hadids open up about their personal lives in a candid interview:
“She’s one of the only people I’ll get aggressive for. She makes me so proud. I would do anything for her,” Gigi says.
Then Bella moved on to a topic that might actually interest readers – her relationship with Zayn Malik.
“I post what I think would be normal to post of your boyfriend,” Bella said of her Instagram posts about Zayn.
“The comments are: ‘It’s extra, it’s fake.’ But if I don’t do it enough then it’s: ‘Oh they’re fake, they’re not really together.’ I try to do what feels real to me, and do it with integrity.”
Needless to say, the interview was a pretty dull affair.
The opportunity to spice things up by asking Gigi and Bella how they feel about elevating their relationship to scissor sister status.
We guess we’ll just chalk this sort of unsettling pic to differences in cultural norms.
There are lots of things that are kosher on the other side of the pond that simply don’t fly here in the States.
Some of them are cool (universal healthcare) and some of them … not so much (siblings wrapping their naked limbs around one another).
You’re making us think, Brits! We don’t like that in this part of the world!
Mark Salling Tried Suicide Several Times Before Hanging
Mark Salling tried to kill himself multiple times before he finally took his own life … law enforcement sources tell TMZ. Sources involved in the investigation tell us their interviews with witnesses paint a dark picture of the actor, who was…
NBA Stars Pay Tribute to Rasual Butler
Rasual Butler’s death is hitting the NBA hard — with his friends and former teammates sending their condolences to Butler’s family. Miami Heat — “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rasual Butler and his wife, Leah LaBelle. Our sincere…
Rasual Butler, Former NBA Guard, Dies in Car Crash
Very sad news today out of the sports world:
Rasual Butler, a veteran former NBA shooting guard who played for eight teams over the course of his career, died this morning in a one-car accident.
He was 38 years old.
According to TMZ, the fatal crash took place around 2 a.m. in Studio City, California after Butler lost control of his Range Rover.
The vehicle reportedly flipped over, struck a parking meter and crashed into a wall.
No official report has been filed, but police believe the car was speeding prior to the accident.
Butler’s wife, Leah LaBelle, also died in the wreck.
A singer signed to Epic Record, she finished in 12th place on season three of American Idol back in 2004.
Here is a picture of the late couple:
Butler was drafted in the second round by the Miami Heat in 2002.
He finished his career with a three-point shooting percentage of 36, while averaging 7.5 points per game.
He last played in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs in 2016 and last played at all professionally for Ice Cube’s BIG3 league just last year.
In response to the tragic news, current and former NBA players took to Twitter in order to express their condolences.
Wrote Matt Barnes: “Rip to the homie Rasual Butler & his wife!! Condolences to the butler family & friends. Damn Bro.”
And Marcin Gortat: “Omg….. RIP Rasual Butler :(( terrible News.”
And Marcus Camby: “Rip my brother.”
And Damon Jones: “RIP @RasualButler45!! GOD please be with his kids and family during this difficult time!”
LaBelle, meanwhile, rose to viral fame by sharing a number of cover videos on YouTube.
She auditioned for American Idol in New York City, at the age of 17 singing “I Believe in You and Me”, a song popularized by Whitney Houston.
The aspiring artist received a golden ticket to Hollywood, meaning she was one of the more impressive hopefuls early on.
In the end, however, LaBelle fell just short of making the Top 10, which would have earned her a spot in the live performance episodes.
She was brought back for the wild card show and was selected by Paula Abdul to advance to the finals.
After performing during the Top 12’s soul Week, LaBelle received the lowest amount of votes and was eliminated from the show, thereby not qualifying for the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2004.
May both LaBelle and Butler rest in peace.
Nicole Eggert Headed to L.A. to File Police Report Against Scott Baio
Nicole Eggert is on her way back to L.A. and she’s beelining it for the police department to file a sexual battery report against Scott Baio. Nicole was leaving the Peninsula Hotel in NYC Wednesday when our photog asked if she was going to pull the…
Ami Brown Looks SO Much Better and Cancer-Free!
Only very recently has Ami Brown revealed the good news about her cancer. We imagine that she wanted to wait a while to be sure before announcing that she is effectively cancer-free.
Now, Rain Brown — the family’s de facto spokesperson despite being barely 15 years old — has shared the first new photo of Ami since the good news.
Fans agree that Ami looks so much better.
There was a time when Ami’s odds of survival were believed to be lower than 10%.
She had lung cancer. It head spread to both lungs and to her spine.
Her entire family had to uproot themselves and travel to L.A. so that they could cater to Ami’s needs, living close to the hospital where Ami receives her chemo treatments and living in a house where Ami could recover from the rigors of chemo and radiation therapy.
Fans of Alaskan Bush People had been hanging on to the story of Ami’s battle for her life. But for a while there, things looked bleak. And not just to fans.
Even the family’s youngest, Rain Brown, admitted that she didn’t know if her mom was going to make it.
The news that she was fully in remission is extremely welcome to fans. it was even more of a relief to Ami’s family.
Before the news even broke, officially, some fans wondered if Ami Brown’s cancer was cured in a Christmas miracle.
(At the time, she was still dealing with health setbacks and was still quite sick; also, we won’t tell anyone what to believe, but it was probably a little early to qualify as a Christmas miracle)
After the announcement that she was doing so much better, some fans responded by wondering if Ami Brown had ever really had cancer to begin with.
She definitely did, folks. But now she’s doing so much better. Look!
Rain Brown captioned the photo:
“I would like to give a HUGE thanks to the @nasaarmstrong team They cleared the whole building for us, showed us around and even put a small gift bag of trinkets together for us! Literally speechless! #stayhappy #staystrong #nasa”
Rain also clarified that yes, she absolutely touched everything.
(We’ll go ahead and assume that this was okay)
In the photo, you can see other family members — including Bear and Gabe and Billy — but all eyes were on Ami Brown.
And Ami looks so much better!
She’s standing beside Billy and is wrapped in his arm — but she doesn’t appear to be leaning on him. She’s also out of her wheelchair.
There’s more to it than that, though. There’s a strength to the way that Ami’s standing.
We don’t mean that she’s ready to start bodybuilding any time soon, just that she no longer seems like she’s fighting to stand withe very breath.
If Ami had her wheelchair there and was only standing for the photo, then she’s doing one hell of an acting job.
As for the rest of the family present … Rain definitely looks the most stylish, but we like Birdy Brown’s jacket.
It’s been widely reported that the family has made its exodus from L.A. and is headed off to “parts unknown.” By which we mean Colorado. They’re in Colorado.
They traveled to their new homestead via caravan, including an RV.
Fans speculate that they are filming Season 8 in Colorado, though this wouldn’t be the first footage captured for the season.
We don’t know what their residential situation is in Colorado with their new homestead.
As we’ve learned from their time in Alaska, the “home” shown on the show isn’t always the same as the place where the family sleeps at night.
That’s reality TV for you.
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