JANE TIPPETT: The defiant message stitched into Taylor Swift's $55,000 ensemble that signals a severe departure from a troubling past
Nothing is unintentional when it comes to Taylor Swift.
From her carefully crafted lyrics to her oh-so cryptic album titles, everything is imbued with meaning in the Swiftosphere.
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Daily Mail
41 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Rising star rapper took his own life after telling partner he 'was tired and ready to go' after mental health battles when he couldn't see his daughter
A rising star rapper and producer took his own life after struggling with his mental health when he was stopped from seeing his daughter, an inquest heard. Jevon Ellis, 30, accessed mental health crisis services three times in the run-up to his death on March 28 last year. But those who knew the rising star said he was 'very good at pretending he was OK to the outside world' because 'his career as a rapper and producer was very important to him.' Mr Ellis had played at numerous festivals, had his music used on a Nike campaign and was featured on a list of NME's top 100 new artists to watch. But in 2023 his mental health began to deteriorate, which was compounded by the fact that access to his daughter had been withdrawn. His latest partner, who had a son with Mr Ellis, said in a statement that 'keeping up an image was important to him at the cost of his overall health.' Mica Simms, who had met Mr Ellis in 2018, said she was aware that he had struggled with his mental health and had been suicidal before they had got together. 'He was having trouble regulating his emotions,' she said. 'Jevon was incredibly intelligent and loving but he would often speak about committing suicide as a means of escaping his emotional turmoil.' Coroner Jean Harkin added: 'She (Mica) was aware Jevon had something wrong with his mental health and he was suicidal at times from very early on in their relationship. 'He had told her about a previous suicide attempt that had taken place when he was with the mother of his eldest child.' The mother of his eldest child was not named, although both she and Miss Simms were present for the hearing at Inner West London Coroner's Court. On the morning of March 29 last year, Mr Ellis left Ms Simms' house and sent her a message saying 'he was going to end it all, that he was tired and ready to go.' 'He expressed he was sorry but couldn't continue the battle,' Mrs Harkin added. Ms Simms tried to communicate with him but received no answer. Mrs Harkin added: 'After a while she knew something was different this time. 'She felt in her heart that he had gone through with it.' Ms Simms went to where Mr Ellis had been living at Wimbledon Art Studios in south west London but a building manager couldn't gain access to his unit. She then asked her stepfather to try and break in and he found Mr Ellis hanging. PC Michelle Brown was the first police officer at the scene and identified the musician from his passport which was found nearby. There was no note, the door was locked from the inside and Mr Ellis had no injuries, save those caused by the noose around his neck. At 10.01am that day he had sent a text message saying: 'I'm on the chair. Bye' and had also said he 'should just hang the demon' referring to himself, the court heard. Det Sgt William Hanlan, of the Met Police, told the court he was brought in to look into whether some of the interactions between Mr Ellis and Ms Simms 'may have led to Jevon taking his own life.' There were tens of thousands of messages found on Mr Ellis' Macbook, which highlighted a 'very fractured' relationship, Det Sgt Hanlan said. 'They clearly love each other but they clearly have a love-hate relationship also,' he said. 'There has been quite a lot of discussion about suicide,' he added. 'Mica is understanding of Jevon's struggles but you can also see levels of frustration from her sometimes. 'There is a lot of heated discussion but there's nothing to suggest Mica knew or encouraged Jevon to take his own life.' He added that there had been domestic incidents between them from both sides and they were 'both either the aggressor or the victim at one time or another.' He concluded that no one else had been involved with Mr Ellis' choice to end his life. Dr Marcus Hughes, consultant psychiatrist at St George's Hospital in Tooting, south west London, outlined his team's contact with the 30-year-old and said he had no recorded history of poor mental health prior to 2023. He had three emergency assessments - one in February 2023 and two in December the same year. The one in February took place after Mr Ellis took an overdose and was taken to A&E, but he said he wasn't suicidal and had had taken the tablets 'impulsively' and 'was expressing remorse.' He was given details of a crisis line, and Dr Hughes added: 'I think what came through very strongly was his distress at not having access to his daughter.' He was given further details for Fathers4Justice and Families Need Fathers, a charity for parents, and was encouraged to return to the hospital if he felt he was unable to remain safe. But he returned for a second time on December 13, 2023, saying he was having suicidal thoughts. Dr Hughes added: 'He said he wanted help to be a better father and felt he needed therapy. 'He also spoke about cult-like behaviours he experienced producing music in Los Angeles, from big names and people of power.' Just over a fortnight later he was brought in for a third time following fears he may hang himself in his music studio. A friend abroad had called British police when he sent her a text showing an image of a noose. But he promised he wasn't suicidal and just wanted the clarification of a diagnosis, Dr Hughes added. Asked if he felt Mr Ellis had received appropriate treatment, Dr Hughes said: 'He was offered a lot of opportunity of access to mental health services and the type of problems that seem to be emerging are some emotional instability and suicidal thoughts that he wasn't completely open about. 'The likelihood is we might have helped him had he engaged with treatment over a period of months in the community, rather than emergency presentations.' The court heard that in July 2023 he told a GP that he had low mood, but wasn't suicidal and he was given a community mental health team referral, agreeing that counselling may help. A telephone consult followed in December 2023 and talking therapies were suggested but he didn't answer the phone. A further telephone consultation was offered the same month but Mr Ellis said he preferred to be contacted by email as he was abroad. There was no record of Mr Ellis being known to mental health services in Coventry, where he had lived from the age of 10 up until he moved to London in 2017. A toxicology report was clear of drugs and alcohol and the cause of death was found to be hanging. Mr Ellis' sister Ria, who attended the hearing with his parents, helped raise £13,500 for Mr Ellis' children on a Just Giving page. She said 'the Ellis family cannot even begin to convey our gratitude for the outpour of love we have received from everyone who loved and knew Jevon.' And she added: 'If you knew Jev, you knew that nothing mattered more to him than his children… 'Your kindness and compassion will help to provide Jevon's children with a glimmer of hope during this dark period of grief which is all he would have wanted.' Coroner Mrs Harkin recorded a verdict of suicide. She said: 'Jevon had no reported mental health illness prior to his later years. 'Jevon reported distress at not seeing his daughter. It's clear he saw his son, but not his daughter. 'I'm satisfied that the help that was given to Jevon was appropriate. In addition the police investigated Jevon's death and found no evidence of third person involvement. 'He was given the opportunity to look into any problems he thought he had by contact with the crisis team and other organisations and there is no evidence that any mental health diagnosis developed over time. 'Jevon performed the act himself without a third person and by performing that act Jevon intended to die. 'Although there was no note of intent it's clear that Jevon had considered hanging as a form of ending his life.' And she added: 'It's very clear that Jevon was a gifted musician. He was charismatic, confident and also encouraged to pursue his dreams. 'He was kind, generous and a mentor to others and he had two children that he loved. 'I hope that these memories give his family some comfort.'
Daily Mail
41 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber are the best of exes at son's graduation
Naomi Watts reunited with her ex-husband, Liev Schreiber, to celebrate their son Sasha's high school graduation in Central Park on Thursday. The actress, 56, who split from Liev in 2016, was joined by her husband Billy Crudup, 56, while Liev, 57, attended with his wife Taylor Neisen, 32. The proud dad also shared a sweet snap from the special occasion, as he posed with the graduate and family members. One photo showed Sasha, 17, wearing a gray suit as he stood between his parents and their significant others. 'The graduate!!!' Liev - who also shares 20-month-old daughter Hazel with Taylor - captioned the post. They were also joined by their second child, Kai Schreiber, 16. Liev's graduation post received a number of comments from his famous pals, including Halo star Pablo Schreiber who left three hand clapping emojis. Another comment addresses Liev's old-school camera: 'The camera around the neck is pure Dad mode!! Mazel Tov!' 'Dad camera game on point! Congratulations!' Naomi also shared a photo featuring just Liev, Sasha and her as they embraced the newly minted graduate. 'Congrats!' she wrote over the snap. The family were also spotted walking through Central Park together. At one point Liev was seen catching up with Billy, as Naomi chatted with Taylor Naomi looked chic in a multi-color flowing dress for the occasion. She accessorized with a straw hat, sunglasses and a pair of black open toe heels. Her husband sported a navy suit with dress shoes and a pair of sunglasses. Liev cut a handsome figure in a navy suit with a light button-up shirt underneath. He completed the outfit with brown suede shoes and had a vintage camera looped around his neck. Taylor was chic for the summer in a blue denim dress and brown sandals. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a bun. Sasha's sibling Kai wore a bohemian white dress with brown boots.
Daily Mail
41 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Bikini-clad Courtney Stodden devours a plant-based patty to celebrate National Veggie Burger Day
Courtney Stodden drew strong reaction while absolutely sizzling as she celebrated National Veggie Burger Day. The model, 30, devoured a plant-based patty in a sexy mesh bikini as she basked in the sunshine against a barbeque. The juicy burger was used as a prop as Courtney shared a duo of seductive photos, including one of her arching her back seductively. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Courtney - who is nonbinary and uses she/her and they/them pronouns interchangeably - boasted her decision to go plant-based as 'sexy AF'. 'It's National Veggie Burger Day, and we're serving plant-based realness hotter than the grill, honey,' Courtney, who often poses in swimsuits, began in the caption of the Thursday post. 'Being a woman who chooses compassion with a side of sass? That's power. That's control. That's main character energy. We're not just eating clean — we're eating consciously, seductively, and with the full force of our feminine fire. A veggie burger isn't just a patty - it's a whole damn statement. 'It's 'I don't need meat to be fierce.' It's 'Yes, I'll take the avocado, and no, I won't apologize for it.' It's juicy, messy, bold, and unapologetically good for your body and the planet. 'Whether you're rocking heels or hoodies, your choice to eat plant-based is sexy AF - because nothing's hotter than a woman who gives a damn. 'So spice up your ketchup game, and take a big, bossy bite of that veggie burger. Let the juices drip like you run the world - because, babe, you do. 'Salty. Sultry. Sustainable. For the baddies with brains, hearts, and a plant-powered bite.' The post contained two sultry bikini snaps of Courtney, and a video of the star taking a messy yet satisfying bite out of the burger. The post earned the praise from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), whom commented: 'Preach, vegan queen (applause and crown emojis) What a beautiful description of the fierce radiance that shines within us when we make compassionate choices. Keep on changing the world and saving animals, one veggie burger at a time (burger emoji).' 'I love my peta family,' Courtney replied. Courtney is a long-time supporter of PETA and in 2014 even served veggie hotdogs wearing a miniscule lettuce bikini in Washington, D.C. 'Going vegetarian made me feel great inside and out, and I'm eager to help PETA inspire people on Capitol Hill to give vegetarian food a try,' the starlet stated in a PETA media alert at the time. She added: 'Veggie dogs are delicious and kinder to animals, the environment, and our health than artery-clogging, meaty hot dogs are. The choice is easy to make!' Courtney drew other strong reaction even besides PETA as she had plenty of support in the comments section of the post. Another wrote: 'U make those look so out for veggie patties.'
