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Sat comfortably in a large chair at the New Afrika Shrine, his family’s legendary Nigerian music venue, Femi Kuti was surrounded by history.

The concert hall is an homage to his father Fela Kuti’s original Shrine, which had also been located in the northern outskirts of Lagos before its demise.

Femi’s own music awards are scattered around, recognition for his determination to keep fighting the good fight his Afrobeat legend father was known for — calling out corruption and injustice in Africa’s most populous nation.

Part of a family defined by its determination to speak defiantly about what was going on around them — whether through lyrics or protest or both — Femi Kuti, however, is ready to turn inward, and focus on the “virtues that have guided me in my life”, he told AFP in a recent interview.

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Those reflections will be apparent in the 62-year-old’s upcoming album, “Journey Through Life,” his 13th record, set to release on April 25.

In the upcoming record, he sings about “the kind of advice I give myself to where I am today,” he said. The title track, for example, is “not political”.

But listeners should not expect a member of the Kuti clan to give up politics completely.

From Afrobeat to Afrobeats

The elder Kuti came to define Afrobeat, the 70s-era jazz- and funk-inspired genre that would later give birth to the modern, R& B-inspired Afrobeats — plural — style shaking up the global music industry today.

He was also a poster child of protest — using his lyrics to call out government abuses, even under brutal military juntas that ran Nigeria off and on before its latest transition to democracy in 1999, two years after his death from AIDS.

Femi Kuti’s grandmother, meanwhile, was a women’s rights and independence activist.

It might be a given, then, that the virtues that guided Femi Kuti would be political in nature — though he has tempered his expectations of what exactly music can do.

“My father used to say music is the weapon. I think music is a weapon for change, but it can’t be the soul,” he said. “We still need organisations. ”

After all, the elder Kuti was repeatedly beaten and jailed by authorities — and with an incomplete record to show for it. Democracy might have eventually taken hold, but the corruption he railed against has been trickier to uproot.

“Self-reflection makes me think maybe it’s not possible to change the world. But one thing I’m sure of is that I can change myself, I can make myself a better person,” Kuti told AFP.

New songs, same struggles

Femi Kuti has spent the last four decades as the heir to his father’s activism and musical style.

Together with his son Made and brother Seun, he keeps the New Afrika Shrine a sweaty, bumping place to be each Sunday night, and continues to tour internationally.

The album, Kuti promised, is “still very political” — and Kuti has some of his own thoughts to share as well.

“I’ve been singing political songs for 38 years,” yet not much has changed. In “Nigeria, it’s gotten worse”.

“Corruption must stop in the political class,” he said. “Everybody thinks the only way to be successful is through corruption. ”

“The health care — there’s nothing that works,” he said.

“We can’t afford a good education (for children). ”

These days he is unlikely to be beaten or jailed like his father — which traumatised his family growing up, he said.

Though things are not always rosy for musicians in the modern political climate either.

Broadcasting authorities earlier this month banned “Tell Your Papa”, by Eedris Abdulkareem, for its lyrics blasting President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the economic and security situation in the country.

The government is pursuing painful — though necessary, it argues — economic reforms, while insecurity from jihadist groups continues to menace the country’s north.

“It will probably be very hard for me to not talk on political subjects,” Kuti admitted, before an electrifying live performance at an all-night show.

“I’ve lived it all my life with my father”

There’s a ‘perfect’ summer dress causing a stir among shoppers thanks to its ‘always sold-out’ status – but right now, it’s back in stock in all sizes

Whether you’re shopping for a special occasion or simply looking for your next staple summer look, this dress from Free People is a clear, all-around winner for hundreds of shoppers. Available in a massive nineteen shades to choose from, this mini dress is always out of stock – thanks to its timeless elegance and versatility. But shoppers can finally rejoice as it lands back on virtual shelves in all colours.

That said, this item has a reputation for selling out fast, and some sizes are already dwindling in stock, so if you want to join the crowds loving this look, you’ll need to act fast before it disappears again.

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The dress that’s capturing hearts in all shapes and sizes is this For The Moment Mini from Free People. Available in sizes XS to XL and coming in a range of hues, from ivory to pastel blue to deep wine, this dress has become a firm favourite for all occasions – with some shoppers saying they’ve bought it in multiple shades, because they can’t get enough.

This spring-ready dress is a dream for the transitional seasons as well as the summer months, thanks to its lightweight and billowy material, longer balloon sleeves, and mini length. Offering a timeless and simplistic design that promises endless ways to wear, this dress is set to be a staple in your wardrobe, whether you’re dressing it up or down.

Hailed as the definition of romantic, this mini dress boasts a relaxed, A-line silhouette that’s set to suit any body shape, with a smocked waistband for definition, creating a figure-hugging fit that isn’t constrictive. Also featuring a flattering plunge V-neckline, this mini will surely be a winner for everything from spring days out to holidays abroad.

Retailing for £88, this number has piles of 5-star reviews from shoppers who have managed to get their hands on the dress before it sold-out. One thrilled customer beams: “One of the prettiest dresses I own. I sized down to an xs due to previous reviews and it fits perfect. It does have more fabric than most dresses but looks flattering and gives shape! I’m 5’4 and it’s the perfect length! “

More praise comes from this buyer who says: “This was so flattering on me – I can’t wait to wear it on vacation. I will say that it was a little big on me. I am usually a size 10-12 in clothes. I’ve ordered this brand before and am usually a large, but this time, the large felt big on me. I get that it is supposed to be flowy, but I felt like I was swimming in it a bit. That said, I am absolutely still going to wear it! But, if you are looking for a tighter fit, I would size down. “

A third joins the chorus, raving: “I needed a dress for my elopement and this is the only one that felt perfect. it’s a little short but that’s ok! can’t wait to wear it to the beach too. “

This customer laments at the item’s popularity, writing: “It’s the second dress for me! Love the cut, fitting and quality! It’s a little short, but I’ll just wear something under just incase. Will be buying more, unfortunately almost every color is always sold out in my size. “

While this buyer gushes: “Buy this dress. It is a dream. It’s so flattering and comfy. I have it in three colors and love them all! ! It is short so if you don’t need the length, size down for the waist it runs a little large in the waist. “

And a fifth enthuses: “I purchased this dress for a fall wedding guest dress and it was a hit! I got so many compliments on it. I am 6 feet tall and wore athletic shorts underneath and had no issues. the dress has pockets which worked great for my small items i didn’t want to hold onto during the wedding. it is extremely uncomfortable and you could easily wear a normal bra underneath but i wore pasties. the material is very well made and will definitely last. I would absolutely recommend this dress, tall girl approved! “

At the time of writing this, Free People alert that over 1400 people were looking at the dress, meaning it’s likely this hot pick will sell out just as fast this time around – so if you want to secure yours, you might want to hurry.

For those shopping for alternative mini dresses with the same classy and chic style, check out this long-sleeved milkmaid smock dress in light pink from ASOS for £35. 99. Or for those that don’t mind splashing some cash, Nobody’s Child offers this Green Broderie Anglaise Nicole Mini Dress for £120.

Daley Thompson confirmed he is dating Caroline Bell and has some making up to do to his girlfriend after he failed to name-check her before his Celebrity Big Brother exit

Sheepish Celebrity Big Brother star Daley Thompson said sorry to his girlfriend after dropping himself in it.

The former Olympic athlete was the latest star to be dumped from the ITV house following Friday night’s eviction. Hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best announced he was the fourth victim of the public vote as he was up against EastEnders ‘ Patsy Palmer. Just before the results were read, Daley had one final chat with his housemates.

But before getting the boot, he stopped short of saying his partner was the first person he wanted to see when he escaped the compound. He realised his mistake before too long – and held his hands up days after coming out of the house to a mix of boos and applause.

He wanted everyone to know he is in a relationship and Daley said This Morning today: “I want to say to Caroline Bell, my girlfriend and partner, that I am very sorry that I didn’t say you were the first person I wanted to see when I got out of the house. You are.”

Daley became the fourth housemate to leave following Trisha Goddard, Michael Fabricant and Mikey Rourke. During his exit interview, he said: “I would have liked to have stayed longer but I was quite happy to come out. The problem with it is, no matter what goes on in there, it’s you lot out here,” as he pointed to the public. He added that he didn’t have “high hopes” for his housemates, adding: “They have been funny, revealing, great people. “

He went on to reflect on other housemates games on Late and Live. Daley said he wasn’t trying to win and added: “It’s not something I had any control over. “In there, all you can do, I think is, all I could do is just try and be the person that I am, whereas all the people in there – they’re all performative artists, there are some people who are professional reality stars, if you do that all the time, you know how to play the game. “

During Daley’s last day in the Celebrity Big Brother house, Ella asked the Olympic legend for advice, with Daley responding: “I have got no advice for you except…I know it’s difficult if you are struggling to be heard, put your hand up. Because there’s some people that are really loud and there’s some people that do this professionally as a game.”

He added: “There’s two people in here that do it all of the time. I think on the cameras, people will be interested in their relationship. ” The comment kickstarted a debate in the house over whether Chris and JoJo’s bond was genuine – with Ella suggesting that Chris was using JoJo for her huge social media following.

Twilight first came out in 2008, and the stars have enjoyed a mixed bag of fortunes since graduating from the cult franchise. As Kristen Stewart gets married, The Mirror takes a look at what happened to the rest of the cast…

Twilight fans spent years longing for the main stars, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, to make a go of it in real life. While the pair – who played lovers Bella Swan and Edward Cullen – dated on and off for four years, they split in 2013 after Kristen’s much-publicised affair with Snow White and the Huntsman director, Rupert Sanders.

While Robert has since had a baby with a famous UK singer and model, Kristen has just married actress Dylan Meyer. The couple got engaged in 2021. “We’re marrying, we’re totally gonna do it,” the actress told the Howard Stern Show. “I wanted to be proposed to, so I think I very distinctly carved out what I wanted and she nailed it. We’re marrying, it’s happening.”

Kristen and Dylan exchanged their vows in the garden of their Los Angeles home on Easter Sunday in an intimate ceremony attended by their closest loved ones. But what became of the other stars of the franchise? Here, The Mirror takes a look at what came next for the cast of the cult romance series…

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Kristen Stewart

The world was obsessed with KStew and RPatz as they were dubbed at the time. From the first time they met, film bosses were worried their on-screen chemistry would spill over into real life – Kristen was only 17 when filming started. Almost inevitably, the duo did get together, becoming the darling couple of the film industry and delighting fans.

Things quickly took a nosedive in summer 2012 when Kristen was caught cheating with her Snow White and the Huntsman director, Rupert Sanders – just a few months before the final Twilight movie came out.

In an uncharacteristically open statement, she finally confirmed her relationship with Rob before apologising for the hurt she’d caused. She said: “This momentary indiscretion has jeopardised the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob. I love him, I love him, I’m so sorry.”

A source told the Mirror at the time that Rob’s heartbreak was only compounded by the fact he’d been planning to propose. “Robert hoped to marry Kristen and was making preparations to spring a proposal before she admitted cheating. He had bought the house in Los Angeles to be their home and saw them staying there for a long time,” the insider said.

The pair reunited in 2013 but split soon after. Kristen later came out as bisexual and dated her assistant Alicia Cargile, model Stella Maxwell and screenwriter Dylan Meyer.

Career-wise, Kristen won praise for her performances in Camp X-Ray and Still Alice, and won a Cesar Award for The Clouds of Sils Maria. She returned to mainstream films with action film Charlie’s Angels and horror Underwater and Princess Diana biopic Spencer, and this February began filming and producing a new film alongside comedy legends Seth Rogan and Alia Shawkat.

Robert Pattinson

After his split from Kristen, Rob moved out of the home they shared and in 2014 started dating singer FKA Twigs. They got engaged a year later but went public with their split in October 2017, with Twigs opening up about the racism she faced from others throughout their relationship.

“He was their white Prince Charming and I think they considered that he should definitely be with someone white and blonde and not me,” she said on BBC Radio4’s Grounded with Louis Theroux.

“It was deeply unfair at the time that I was made to feel so self-conscious and so ugly. It was a lot. That period was a lot.” The following year, Rob met current his girlfriend, model Suki Waterhouse. The pair have been very private about their relationship, but in March 2024 confirmed that they’d welcomed a baby daughter.

Professionally, he moved on from Twilight with appearances in Cosmopolis; Maps to the Stars, and The Lost City of Z before taking on the iconic role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in The Batman by director Matt Reeves. He also just starred in Mickey 17, with fans saying it could be his best role yet.

Taylor Lautner

Child star Taylor Lautner was flung into the public eye with his breakout role as werewolf Jacob Black in the Twilight films, but hasn’t achieved quite the same success as Kristen and Rob in the years since.

Taylor released a critically-panned thriller entitled Abduction in 2011 before the end of the Twilight series, but his main notable part after the films ended was in Grown Ups 2.

He has pivoted instead to television, with roles in BBC Three comedy Cuckoo and Ryan Murphy’s comedy Scream Queens.

Away from the screen, the actor once dated Taylor Swift and met Californian nurse Taylor Dome in 2018. They tied the knot in a romantic sunset ceremony on a vineyard in Paso Robles, California, in 2022. Dome decided to take her beau’s last name, making them both Taylor Lautner – a fact he often jokes about in funny TikTok videos.

Ashley Greene

Ashley was a fan-favourite for her work as the future-seeing Alice Cullen, Ashley Greene appeared in A Warrior’s Heart, thriller Summer’s Blood, and horror The Apparition. The actress has a new horror film, The Ritual, coming out this summer, and yet another horror with a release date yet to be confirmed.

In 2018, Ashley married Australian-Lebanese television announcer Paul Khoury following a two-year engagement. Their daughter Kingsley Rainn Khoury was born in September 2022.

Nikki Reed

Best known for her role as the tough vampire Rosalie Cullen, Nikki Reed hinted at trouble in paradise on the Twilight set.

Rumour has it she fancied Robert Pattinson and was upset when he got together with Kristen – claims Nikki has long denied.

She did, however, hint at some major on-set feuding. “In the beginning, it was innocent and fun, and we were like one big happy family – it was like being at sleepaway camp,” she told Seventeen.

“And then success comes along and changes the dynamic. We’re not all best friends, and we’re not all going to hang out together after the final movie is done.”

Since the end of Twilight, Nikki has starred in Empire State, Pawn, Balls Out, and Jack Goes Home. She seems to be on a long career break, with her last TV credit in 2019 while she hasn’t been in a film since 2016.

In 2015, she divorced musician Paul McDonald after four years of marriage and started dating The Vampire Diaries star Ian Somerhalder. They tied the knot after just six months in 2015 and they welcomed their first child, daughter Bodhi, in 2017, before adding a baby boy to the family in June 2023.

Peter Facinelli

Peter Facinelli is best known for his role as Edward’s adoptive father Dr. Carslile Cullen, and appeared in all of the Twilight films.

After the film series ended, Peter mostly pivoted to television, appearing in seven seasons of the critically-acclaimed comedy Nurse Jackie and having recurring roles in musical comedy Glee and DC Comics series Supergirl.

As Twilight ended, Peter divorced wife and actress Jennie Garth and later went on to date and become engaged to actress Jaime Alexander in 2015, before calling it off just a year later.

Peter found love again and proposed to his girlfriend, Lily Anne Harrison, in 2019 and they welcomed their first child together in September 2022, joining his three elder daughters from his long marriage to Garth.

Kellan Lutz

Kellan Lutz portrayed the super strong vampire Emmett Cullen in all of the Twilight films, and went on to secure fairly regular film roles – while not reaching the heights of some of his co-stars.

He appeared in action sequel The Expendables 3 in 2014 and also played the title role in the critical and commercial flop Hercules in the same year, going on to secure roles in thrillers Extraction, Money, and Guardians of the Tomb. His works seems to have slowed down since, with his last film role in 2023 while he hasn’t appeared on TV since 2022.

In 2017, Kellan became engaged to and married TV host and model Brittany Gonzales. They suffered a pregnancy loss at seven months before going on to have daughter Ashtyn and son Kasen.

Anna Kendrick

Before and during her fan-favourite role as Bella’s friend Jessica Stanley in Twilight, Anna Kendrick accrued Tony Award and Academy Award nominations and also received positive reviews for her work in the Twilight films.

Since then, Anna has found box office success in the musical Pitch Perfect trilogy and further comedy roles in Scott Pilgrim vs The World, End of Watch, Trolls, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, A Simple Favour, and Trolls World Tour. She also appeared in the drama Cake with Jennfier Aniston and HBO Max series Love Life.

Anna dated British cinematographer Ben Richardson between 2014 and 2020, followed by Saturday Night Live star Bill Hader, whom she split from in June 2022.

That September this year, she opened up about the psychological abuse she suffered at the hands of a gaslighting ex. Explaining how she ended up “in a situation where I loved and trusted this person more than I trusted myself,” she told how the mystery ex manipulated her.

“So, when that person is telling you that you have a distorted sense of reality and that you are impossible and that all the stuff that you think is going on is not going on, your life gets really confusing really quickly,” she told People magazine. Ultimately, she learned that what she “thought was going on was in fact going on.”

She’s just starred in the sequel to A Simple Favour, aptly called Another Simple Favour, but the movie’s release was overshadowed by rumours of a feud with co-star Blake Lively.

At the centre of the feud rumours lies 2018 press interviews the mother-of-four and Pitch Perfect star did together, where Anna seems to mock Blake for not being as talented as she is. When Blake took an MTV News interviewer to task for focussing on Anna, she said: “Oh my god, guys don’t fight just because I’m the best at everything”.

Elizabeth Reaser

Elizabeth Reaser played the role of Edward’s adopted mother Esme Cullen in the Twilight films.

She moved back to television after the series ended, taking parts in shows True Detective, Mad Men, The Handmaid’s Tale, and a lead role in Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House.

She hasn’t been on TV since 2021, but last year worked alongside huge stars Walton Goggins and Pedro Pascal in The Uninvited, gaining huge acclaim for her work.

Behind the scenes, Elizabeth secretly married her now-husband Bruce Gilbert in Italy in August 2023, keeping so quiet about the nuptials that she didn’t break the news until April 2024.

Michael Sheen

Welsh actor Michael Sheen OBE played the campy Aro of the Volturi in the Twilight films starting with the sequel New Moon.

Since the films ended, Sheen has continued with films and television. Major film roles for Michael have included starring in Far From the Madding Crowd, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Passengers, Apostle, and Dolittle.

Recent successful television series for Michael include his part in as William H. Macy in Masters of Sex, as Aziraphale in Good Omens, as a serial killer in Prodigal Son, and recently as Chris Tarrant in ITV’s Quiz.

Having previously had relationships with Kate Beckinsale and Rachel McAdams, from 2014 to 2018 Michael dated comedian Sarah Silverman.

He now lives back in Wales with Swedish actress Anna Lundberg, with whom he shares daughters Lyra and Mabli. Michael also has daughter, Lily, with former partner Kate Beckinsale.

Dakota Fanning

After her roles as a child star, Dakota Fanning played creepy Jane of the Volturi in the Twilight films, being introduced in the second film, New Moon.

After the Twilight films, Dakota has appeared in the independent film Effie Gray, had a role in heist comedy Ocean’s 8, and as Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She recently starred in a horror, and just worked on a new horror, Vicious, which is currently in post-production

Dakota has also played the role of Sara Howard in the series The Alienist, and struck Netflix gold for her work in The Perfect Couple. The actress has been dating boyfriend Henry Fry since 2017.

Kristen Stewart notoriously cheated on her Twilight co-star Robert Pattinson before settling down with screenwriter Dylan Meyer, whom she married this Easter weekend

Ever since Kristen Stewart landed the role of Bella Swan in Twilight back in 2008, her colourful love life has remained in the spotlight. The US actress famously dated co-star Robert Pattinson after meeting on the set of the hit vampire franchise, and the pair dated for four years before parting ways in 2013.

Following her split from Pattinson, the 35-year-old was linked to several people in showbiz. In 2017, the actor came out as gay before finally settling down with screenwriter Dylan Meyer, 37.

The pair got engaged in 2021 and tied the knot on Easter Sunday in an intimate ceremony as they shared their nuptials in their Los Angeles garden surrounded by friends and family. Here we take a look at the star’s past love life that led her to meeting her new wife…

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Michael Angarano

Stewart met actor Michael Angarano on the 2004 movie set Speak, and started dating in 2005. But as speculation rose about her relationship with Robert Pattinson, she told E! Online in 2009 that she and Angarano “laughed” about the rumours. When Stewart and Pattinson were back on set filming New Moon, Angarano came to visit in April and the pair were even seen displaying some PDA in photos obtained by Just Jared Jr.

They broke up in 2009, but reunited in 2023 when Deadline announced that the former couple would be working together on the film Sacramento with Angarano both starring and directing and Stewart costarring.

Robert Pattinson

The costars became an official item in 2009, as they took their relationship off-screen and into the real world. But the high profile romance meant the couple tried to stay out the way of the spotlight and away from paparazzi. “We didn’t walk down the street holding hands because we were like, ‘We don’t wanna give it to ’em. But then, we didn’t get to walk down the street holding hands, and it sucked,” she said during a November 2019 episode of The Howard Stern Show.

She called Robert her “first love” and over the duration of their relationship, they made five Twilight movies together – with the last in 2012. At each premiere, they were pictured on the red carpet together looking cosy. But in the summer of 2012, Stewart was photographed kissing her Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders, and released a public apology.

“I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and embarrassment I’ve caused to those close to me and everyone this has affected. This momentary indiscretion has jeopardised the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob. I love him, I love him, I’m so sorry.” But despite their brief reconciliation, the couple split in May 2013.

Alicia Cargile

Stewart and Cargile were seen together back in 2014, but the actress didn’t speak about the relationship until a few years later. In 2016, she told Elle UK: “Right now I’m just really in love with my girlfriend. We’ve broken up a couple of times and gotten back together, and this time I was like, ‘Finally, I can feel again’.”

She also opened up about being with women, and said when she dated men she would hide everything she did because she felt “like it was immediately trivialised” and said that all changed when she started dating a girl. Stewart said dating women changed her mindset.

She said: “I was like, actually, to hide this provides the implication that I’m not down with it or I’m ashamed of it, so I had to alter how I approached being in public. It opened my life up and I’m so much happier.” They were spotted holding hands at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2016, but had broken up again for good in October 2016.

St. Vincent

Stewart dated American musician St. Vincent after the pair were seen at the Bowery Hotel in New York in October 2016, and also attended the Elle Women in Hollywood awards in the same month. A source told PEOPLE they were “inseperable” and left holding hands, but it was short lived as they broke up a few months later.

Stella Maxwell

In December 2016 it was reported Stewart was dating Victoria Secret model Stella Maxwell. The pair spent time together while the actress was starring in the 2018 film Lizzie, and Stella came to visit her for several days on set. But they were last spotted together in October 2018 and rumours swirled they had broken up in December 2018.

According to Elle, the pair briefly got back together for a few months in the spring of 2019, and seen together kissing on a yacht, but broke up properly shortly afterwards.

Sara Dinkin

Stewart was then linked to stylist Sara Dinkin not long after her split with Stella Maxwell, and the pair were spotted holding hands in LA in December 2018. In 2019, they were seen looking cosy in Coachella, but it wasn’t long until the pair broke up, and Stewart again reconnected with Maxwell.

Dylan Meyer

Stewart started dating Meyer in 2019, and the pair quickly got engaged in 2021. In February 2024, the pair openly spoke about having children, and the actress told Rolling Stone that she and Meyer were talking about having kids in the near future. She said: “I don’t know what my family’s going to look like, but there’s no f—— way that I don’t start acquiring kids. And also, ideally at some point soon I go, ‘I want to have a kid.’ I really want that to happen.”

The pair sparked rumours of a romance in August 2019 when they were spotted kissing on a curb in New York. However they first met on a movie set in 2013 but didn’t become romantically involved for a few years later. Making it Instagram official in October 2019 Meyer shared a black and white polaroid of herself and Stewart kissing alongside the caption, “Find me under the covers hiding from the happiness police.”

Speaking about her first impression of Meyer during a 2020 episode of The Howard Stern Show, Stewart gushed: “Where have you been and how have I not known you?’ ” Despite the pair both living in L.A., Stewart told Stern that their paths never really crossed. But once they were reintroduced to each other, it was “like all bets were off”, declaring her as “the one”.

“The first time I told her I loved her, it was like really late and we were in some like s*** bar, and her friends were there or whatever and they walked out, and I was just, like, ‘Oh, man, I’m so f***ing in love with you. ‘ Like, done. It wasn’t, like, ‘a thing,’ and it also was, like, so obvious. “

Do you have a story to share? Email niamh. kirk@reachplc. com

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Billy Ray Cyrus’ new flame Liz Hurley was with Hugh Grant for over a decade, and their time encompassed cheating and an infamous arrest for indecency – but they somehow made it out as friends

Elizabeth Hurley has just debuted her new romance with legendary country star Billy Ray Cyrus. While she’s now with the controversial Kentucky man, she previously had a very high-profile relationship with silver-spooned Brit, Hugh Grant.

Liz, 59, and Hugh, 64, dated from 1987 to 2000, and went through plenty of dramatic ups and downs during that time. The duo are now close friends and even godparents to each other’s children, but things weren’t always so smooth-sailing in their relationship.

Austin Powers star Liz spoke about Hugh just this month while appearing with her son Damian Hurley on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM radio show. The star openly spoke about her time with the actor, and admitted that they’d fight constantly over one recurring argument.

Speaking about whether she wished she’d had kids with Hugh, Liz shared: “You can never regret anything that didn’t happen. Of course, we used to think about it because we used to fight all day. ”

She continued: “We used to look in the mirror next to each other and say, ‘It’d have to be my eyes. ’ ‘No, my eyes. ’ ‘Your hair. ’ ‘No, my hair! ’ … So we used to bicker for hours about who would look like who. And of course, none of his children look like him, as it happens. ”

Liz shares Damian with businessman Stephen Bing, with whom she had an 18-month long non-exclusive fling in 2001, and said that having her son was one of the reasons she was happy not to have had kids with Hugh. “You know, you think all that, but of course, had that happened I wouldn’t have [this] baby,” she said.

Hugh and Liz’s long relationship might come as a surprise, considering he was caught in a major indiscretion a few years before they broke up.

The Bridget Jones heartthrob turned out to be a lot like his womanising character in real life, and was arrested in Los Angeles on June 27, 1995, after he paid call girl Divine Brown £45 ($60) to perform a sex act on him in his car. LA police officers were drawn to his white BMW because the brake lights kept flashing “on and off” as the driver, they said, kept pushing his foot down on the pedal.

Hugh didn’t contest the indecent conduct charges and was sentenced to two years probation alongside being ordered to pay £1,065 and complete an AIDS education programme.

Speaking to Marc Maron on his WTF podcast, in 2021, Hugh said that the incident happened after he watched himself in his first Hollywood movie, Nine Months, and was deeply unhappy with what he saw on screen. Hugh told that following seeing the film he questioned his performance and was “not in a good frame of mind. ” He then had a boozy lunch, before “one thing led to another” and he was caught inflagrante.

Hugh’s mugshot quickly did the rounds, and the star himself admitted in a statement: “Last night I did something completely insane. I have hurt people I love and embarrassed people I work with. For both things I am more sorry than I can ever possibly say. “

Liz opted to forgive Hugh for the embarrassing public spectacle. Their platonic relationship is anything but ordinary, and Liz was once almost arrested for chasing Hugh around an airport with a knife. Young Damian was to blame for the incident, admitting that he became a “despot” when he was given a camcorder for his eighth birthday and decided to direct his friends and family in mini movies.

Damian recalled: “My finest moment was nearly getting my mother arrested en route to St Moritz when I made her chase my long-suffering godfather Hugh Grant around Zurich airport with a fake dagger, bellowing that she was going to skin him alive. “