EXCLUSIVE Exposed: Secrets of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's hellish wedding not revealed on even their worst days in court
It was meant to be the most magical day of their lives. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were getting married, tying the knot at his mother Betty Sue's Beverly Hills home in February 2015.
Yet his friends and family foresaw the nightmare that was to come. Stephen Deuters, Depp's assistant, admitted that the news of their engagement filled him not with joy but 'inevitable dread'. Punk rock pioneer Patti Smith, enlisted to give a reading, is said to have confessed to sharing Deuters's concern.
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The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
The world according to Wednesday, your new favorite alt-country indie rock band
A pit bull puppy peeing off a balcony. Mounted antlers in the kitchen on a crooked nail. Pink boiled eggs stay afloat in the brine. For its dedicated audience, the North Carolina alt-country-meets-indie rock band Wednesday is an exemplar in evocative songwriting, where whole worlds are found in short lyrical lines. And that says nothing of what they sound like. The most exciting band in contemporary indie rock is informed by Drive-By Truckers and Pavement in equal measure, a distinctive sonic fabric of lap steel, guitar fuzz, folksy and jagged vocals. On Sept. 19, they will release their sixth and most ambitious full-length, 'Bleeds.' 'My songwriting is just better on this album,' Wednesday's singer and songwriter Karly Hartzman explains. 'Things are said more succinctly ... the immediacy of these songs was the main growth.' Wednesday began as Hartzman's solo project, evidenced in 2018's sweet-sounding 'yep definitely.' They became a full band on 2020's 'I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone,' a dive into guitar distortions, and 2021's 'Twin Plagues,' a further refinement of their 'creek rock' sound. The lineup consists of Hartzman, bassist Margo Schulz, lap steel player Xandy Chelmis, guitarist Jake Lenderman and drummer Alan Miller. Some also tour with Lenderman's solo project, MJ Lenderman. (Hartzman and Lenderman previously dated.) Wednesday's last album, the narrative 'Rat Saw God,' was named one of the best albums of 2023 by The Associated Press partially for its uncanny ability to dive into the particularities and complications of Southern identity. 'Bleeds' sharpens those tools. On 'Bleeds,' a band evolves 'Originally, I was going to call it 'Carolina Girl' but my bandmates did not like that,'' Hartzman jokes. 'Bleeds' comes from the explosive opening track, 'Reality TV Argument Bleeds.' She likes how the band name and album title sound together — ''Wednesday Bleeds,' which I feel like I do, when I play music ... I'm almost, in a way, bloodletting and exorcising a demon.' Lyrically, 'Bleeds' features some of Wednesday's best work — even in the revisiting of an older song, 'Phish Pepsi,' that hilariously references both the jam band and the most disturbing movie released in 2010 — a kind of specificity born from Hartzman's writing practices. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she and Lenderman 'wrote 20 lines of writing each day,' a practice adopted from Silver Jews' David Berman. She's also a documentarian of memory: She takes notes of things her friends say and images that are affecting, to later collage them together in songs. 'The well never runs dry,' Hartzman says. 'Because I've admitted not everything can come from inside. I need to look outward outside of myself for inspiration.' Remembering, she says, 'is the goal for most of the (expletive) I do. ... I care. I want stories to persist.' Storytelling through song 'Bleeds' manages cohesion across a variance of sound. 'Wasp' is hard-core catharsis; lead single 'Elderberry Wine' drops guitar noise for shimmery, fermented country. 'Wound Up Here (By Holding On),' which references the Appalachian poet Evan Gray, is a pretty indie rock track about a hometown hero who drowns. The quietest moment on the album, the plucked 'The Way Love Goes,' was written as 'a love song for Jake when we were still together. 'Elderberry Wine' as well.'' Hartzman explains. ''Elderberry Wine' is kind of talking about me noticing slight changes in a relationship.' These are not breakup songs; they exist right before the point of dissolution. 'Sweet song is a long con / I drove ya to the airport with the E-brake on,' she sings on the latter. Later: 'Sometimes in my head I give up and / Flip the board completely.' 'I'm understanding how sound creates emotion. That's what I'm learning over time,' Hartzman says of her musical growth. 'I'm also listening to more music with every year that passes. So, my understanding of what's possible, or what I can be inspired by, shifts.' A number of the songs pull from childhood memory, as they always have across Wednesday's discography. 'I think about growing up a lot,' she says. 'When I think of trying to tell ... a story that's vivid and intense, that's just the easiest time in my life, where everything felt vivid and intense.' Longtime fans of the band will find recurring themes and characters from past songs. For example, 'Gary's' from their 2021 album returns as the 'Bleeds' closer in 'Gary's II,' where he gets into a bar fight. 'In a way, I'm writing the same songs over and over, but I'm just trying to make them better,' she says. There is always more humanity to excavate. And often, those emotions, 'they aren't done with you,' she adds. 'They're not letting you go.' So, let the bloodletting begin.
Daily Mail
35 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Jax Taylor shocks fans with horrific marriage insult directed at estranged wife Brittany Cartwright
Jax Taylor stunned viewers on Watch What Happens Live Tuesday night with a blunt confession about his crumbling marriage to estranged wife Brittany Cartwright. The Valley star, 45, reflected on his behavior during their rocky final months, many of which played out on camera—including multiple explosive fights with Brittany, 36, who filed for divorce in August 2024. The pair share a 4-year-old son, Cruz. 'Nobody should ever have to deal with the way I acted,' Jax admitted. 'Nobody should ever have to deal with, verbal abuse from anybody. I'm really sorry that people had to see all that.' But the real bombshell came when he looked back on their marriage—and dropped a line that fans quickly slammed as a cruel dig at the mother of his child. 'My biggest regret is not ending this marriage sooner,' Jax said. He didn't stop there. 'And I think I can speak for Brittany, this should have been over a long time ago.' Host Andy Cohen jumped in, visibly taken aback: 'Your biggest regret should maybe be how you treated her?' Jax responded simply: 'Yeah.' Fans were quick to comment on social media. 'Watching Jax is a straight up trigger for me, I had a panic attack watching the episode tonight. He should not have a platform to make this kind of behavior seem normal. He is disgusting!' wrote one. Faiza from Ottawa added, 'Jax Taylor should be in jail. Not on our tv screens. What message is bravo sending? That they dont support women and support abusers time and time again? Absolutely disgusting.' Many fans chimed in on social media as well, including @maxhadid30, who said, '#TheValley #WWHL (The Valley producer) Alex Baskin and Bravo will be complicit when Jax eventually seriously hurts/kills somebody. It's disgusting that Bravo and Alex insist on platforming and enabling a dangerous abuser like Jax Taylor.' Erin Moon Honey Davies (@erinheartscoco) added, 'It's gross that Jax Taylor is going to be on #WWHL tonight. Why is he still being given a platform? Extremely disappointed by this for many reasons but the #1 is that he hit his wife and #2 is that his child was present for it @Andy @BravoWWHL @NBCUniversal #TheValley.' In March, Jax revealed he had been addicted to cocaine and sought treatment at a rehabilitation facility—twice. Taylor also admitted to blowing a staggering amount of money on drugs and alcohol since his early 20s. 'I could probably buy a house for the amount of money I've spent on drugs,' he told USWeekly. 'It's sickening to me. My parents did not raise this kind of person.' The candid interview comes after Cartwright admitted she was 'skeptical' about her ex's ability to turn his life around. 'I'm glad that he finally admitted to what was really going on,' she shared to People. 'For the first time, I can speak openly about the extent of trauma he's instilled on our family over the years,' she continued. 'I've tried desperately to help him without success. 'I pray that one day he completely knocks this addiction, but I'm skeptical,' she added. 'His behaviors are still alarming and his treatment plan seems to be the bare minimum. 'I'm trying to navigate this as best as I can for my son and I, but every day is still a challenge and very difficult,' Brittany concluded. 'Jax has caused an enormous amount of damage and I have very little trust in him at this point. My only hope is that one day, he will be a better person for his son.' The couple first crossed paths in 2015, with their turbulent relationship playing out on Vanderpump Rules and their short-lived spinoff, Jax & Brittany Take Kentucky. They tied the knot in 2019 with a lavish wedding at the Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Kentucky. After being fired from Vanderpump Rules in late 2020, Jax and Brittany eventually made their reality TV comeback as main cast members on The Valley in 2024. In the midst of it all, they welcomed their son, Cruz, in 2021.
Daily Mail
36 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Why Michelle Phillips is OK with neighbor who rummages through her trash and takes her mail
It looked like every homeowner's worst nightmare: a man rummaging through trash cans and swiping a packet of papers. And for Mamas and Papas legend Michelle Phillips, 81, that was briefly the reality when the man swooped in shortly after she wheeled her garbage to the curb outside her Los Angeles home. But can reveal the seemingly sinister situation was actually nothing of the sort with Phillips saying the man is a neighbor on the hunt for discarded copies of the New York Times. 'He's perfectly harmless,' the singer told a Daily Mail reporter who showed her a photo of the man outside her home. 'It's nothing to worry about and I've known him since he was a teenager. He's very nice, and he was going through my trash to find my newspapers because he wants to read the New York Times. Thank you for checking – that's what neighbors are for,' Michelle added. But there may be more to the man's trash run than Michelle knows. He was clearly seen stuffing letters from her garbage into his back pockets before walking away. Shortly after her neighbor took off, Phillips clad in black pants, a black sweater layered under a Japanese-inspired red and blue kimono and oversized black sunglasses, was seen heading out to run errands. The incident marked Phillips's first public sighting since the death of Beach Boys icon Brian Wilson - a longtime acquaintance. Her daughter Chynna, 57, formed the successful 90s pop trio Wilson Phillips with Brian's daughters, Carnie and Wendy. Phillips gave birth to Chynna during her tumultuous marriage to The Mamas & The Papas' founder and chief songwriter, John Phillips. Their union – riddled with infidelity, substance abuse and the crushing weight of fame – lasted past the band's three-year career before ending in divorce in 1969. She is also the stepmother to actress Mackenzie Phillips, 66, and model Bijou Phillips, 45, through her late ex-husband's other relationships. When he was done looking through the last surviving member of The Mamas & The Papas's trash, he tucked a few envelopes in his back pocket before walking off Phillips wore black pants, a black sweater layered under a Japanese-inspired red and blue kimono and oversized black sunglasses John, who died in 2001 at age 65, notoriously had an affair with Cass Elliot, the group's other female vocalist, fueling deep tensions within the band. Phillips, meanwhile, had her own controversial affairs - including with bandmate Denny Doherty and director Roman Polanski, the latter while his partner Sharon Tate was pregnant with his child. But although their relationship was marred with controversy, she still defended her late ex-husband's character in 2009 when allegations emerged of incest made by her stepdaughter Mackenzie. At the time, her other stepdaughter Bijou said she knew her half-sister Mackenzie had a consensual sexual relationship with their father. Bijou, who was married to convicted rapist Danny Masterton till she filed for divorce in 2023, claimed she was 13 years old when Mackenzie told her about the relationship, calling the news 'confusing and scary'. Bijou added that it was 'heartbreaking' to think her family knew about the incest and still left her alone with her father. The band, which shot to stardom with hits 'California Dreamin',' 'Monday, Monday,' and 'Dedicated to the One I Love,' split in 1968 just three years after achieving mainstream success and winning a Grammy in 1967 for Best Contemporary (R&R) Group Performance, Vocal or Instrumental. Phillips still found success after the band split through acting where she starred alongside celebrities such as Martin Sheen, Audrey Hepburn and Sharon Stone. The singer-turned-actress was later cast in a biographical gangster film Dillinger in 1973 - which garnered her a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. She also took on roles in films including Valentino (1977), The Covenant (1985) and Scissors (1991). Phillips additionally branched out to the world of television and starred in the series titled Knots Landing (1987-1993). Later in her career, she had guest roles in beloved shows such as Beverly Hills, 90210 and The Love Boat. At the height of her fame, Phillips had a whirlwind marriage to actor Dennis Hopper that lasted just eight days, as well as high-profile romances with Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty. She divorced her third husband, radio producer John Burch, in 1979 after one year.
