More Extremely Random Showbiz Connections
Seriously, lads, Hollywood, LA is basically the size of Hollywood, Co Wicklow
I promised you guys random celebrity associations, and by golly, you’re going to get them! My first newsletter dealt with the storied love life of one Linda Thompson, and the far-reaching tentacles of her romances around Hollywood.
This time, we’re going a bit younger and far more niche, but rest assured there are some proper A-list pay-offs here. Let me preface this by saying I’m a big fan of HGTV. I discovered it on holiday in the States yonks ago, and was thrilled when it came to Sky during the pandemic. The programming is quite British on our version though, so I was EXTRA THRILLED when I realised all of my favourite shows were there to binge on Discovery+. Nate and Jeremiah (below) are two of my faves, but there’s something for everyone.
Most of the shows on HGTV are very nicey-nicey; aspirational lifestyles, loved up couples and unrealistically cute children abound. I mean, you’d be forgiven for thinking these people’s shit doesn’t stink. That was, until the great Flip Or Flop fall-out of 2016. Seemingly happily married couple Christina and Tarek El Moussa hit the headlines when their marriage entered extremely rocky waters, and it all ended in divorce. Being the troopers that they are (and because they like money, obvs) they continued to make the show together. In a way, it got better. She’d slag his new single guy style, he’d flirt with her like a schoolboy… it was weird, but they seemed more relaxed and fun together once that they didn’t have to be married to one another.
But then they met other people. If you’re a Selling Sunset hun, you might be familiar with Heather Rae Young, now the new Mrs El Moussa and about to pop with their first child (his third). She and Christina don’t seem to get along great; there have been pap photos of them arguing at the kids' soccer games, and rumours in the tabloids. But they put on a united front when they must. Tarek and Christina finished working together this year, and his next show is with his new Mrs.
Well, Christina has also married again… twice. Her first ill-fated matrimony was to an English mechanic named Ant Anstead who is famous in certain circles for the show Wheeler Dealers. (It’s on DMAX and Dave, those macho channels.) They got married and pregnant super quick, but people were still very surprised when she left him during the pandemic, and it became clear that this was a very acrimonious split.
Christina swore off men for a while, but that didn’t last! Girlfriend moves quick, and she met the next LOHL the very next year in 2021. They married in 2022, and she now divides her time between her native California and a ranch in Tennessee. On the first episode of her new HGTV show, Christina in the Country, I noticed her new husband Josh’s sister looked very familiar. Only to realise that she is none other than The Hills’ iconic Stacie The Bartender! She nearly split Speidi up in her role as the tequila temptress, dontcha know.
It gets weirder… because throuples are so hot right now (allegedly) I was reminded of an article where Scheana off Vanderpump Rules said she used to be in one with John Mayer, after he split with Jennifer Aniston. Scheana is famous in Housewives circles for being the other woman, but get this… she was in the throuple with John and her roommate… Stacie The Bloody Bartender.
John Mayer has famously dated just about everyone, from Taylor Swift (he’s the subject of Dear John) to Jennifer Love Hewitt and Katy Perry. He also dated Renee Zellwegger in 2011. Who’s Renee dating now? Only feckin’ Ant Anstead!
If you believe my logic, every single A-list actor and singer can be connected romantically back to a niche reality star in 3-4 moves. And vice versa. I dare you to test me. This is the shit I live for.
So obsessed with this! V hopeful it might be happily ever after for Renée - she seems like a sound gal 💕