Latest news with #JudahSmith
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fifth Harmony's Ally Brooke marries longtime partner Will Bracey
Ally Brooke has got married to her longtime partner Will Bracey. The 31-year-old singer, best known for her time with girl group Fifth Harmony, tied the knot with Will, 38, in an intimate ceremony at the Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles, on Saturday 3 May, People reported – with the magazine carrying exclusive pictures of the pair's big day. Ally told the publication she considered married life 'the most incredible feeling I've ever felt'. The couple were joined only by their officiant, Judah Smith, 46, as they exchanged vows at sunset. 'I love being a wife, and I love my husband so much,' Ally also told People. The wedding marked a change of plans for the couple, who originally intended to host a larger celebration with friends and family. 'The whole time I had envisioned a big wedding,' Ally said, adding: 'We both would've loved our fam there and some friends, but I'm forever grateful and glad that we did it that way because it could not have been more intimate and more incredible.' Ally wore a gown by Lee Petra Grebenau for the ceremony, which was organised with the help of Kelsey Events, which the couple brought on in August 2024 to organise their nuptials The ceremony included personal touches such as floral arrangements and a live violin performance of Kari Jobe's 'Holy Spirit' as Ally walked down the aisle. The couple selected Judah Smith, who they first met more than a decade ago in Guadalajara, Mexico, as their officiant. 'We met him randomly 10 plus years ago in a hotel lobby with the Fifth Harmony girls,' Will said. Ally added: 'Even before we got even engaged, I dreamed of having him as our pastor to do the ceremony. His words were powerful over us, and it was unforgettable. We were all sobbing.' The pair exchanged both traditional and personalised vows, which Ally said she spent the night before the ceremony writing. 'I basically stayed up the whole night writing my vows,' she said, adding: 'Then, in the morning, I tweaked a word or two.' Weeks ahead of the ceremony, Ally and Will informed their families of their plans to elope. Ally said: 'Everybody was supportive, and they were thrilled for us. 'They were like, 'Look, if you want it to be just you, it should be just you.'' Will added: 'We'll do something soon with them this fall with all the families, but we wanted to do this, and (I'm) so glad we did.' The couple first met when Will was working as the tour manager for Fifth Harmony. They are now planning a honeymoon for the summer and have discussed starting a family. Ally said about the prospect of her and Will having children: 'We both have a timeline, but not immediately.'
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Justin Bieber's former friends think he's part of a cult
NEW YORK — Justin Bieber's former friends claim the pop star is in the clutches of a cult and that his Churchome pastor holds undue influence over the singer's life. Pastor Judah Smith meanwhile challenged the cult claim, quipping to TMZ's new 'What Happened to Justin Bieber?' documentary: 'What kind of a cult only meets once a month?' Insiders allege that the 'Love Yourself' crooner, 31, cut ties with best man and former collaborator Ryan Good after the latter left the Beverly Hills megachurch that he deemed a cult. Good was the creative director for Bieber's Drew House label — with which the pop star also severed ties last month. In April, TMZ referred to the 'culty' relationship between Bieber and Smith. According to the new documentary, the pair interrogated Good about his sex life and antagonized Bieber's former manager Scooter Braun about not believing in Jesus. Braun is Jewish. The Kardashians, Chris Pratt and wife Katherine Schwarzenegger, as well as Ciara and Russell Wilson have also been linked to Churchome. Also reported in the documentary are claims that Bieber was on the brink of 'financial collapse' when he sold his music catalog a little over two years ago. Similar claims were made in a recent story published by The Hollywood Reporter. Bieber's camp denied the allegations.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Justin Bieber in a cult? Here's what his former friends have to say: 'Pastor too far in his ear'
According to a new documentary, some of Justin Bieber 's former friends have come forward with claims about the Sorry singer. They allege that Bieber is actively involved in a cult and has been heavily influenced by his pastor. 'The pastor is in his ear,' allege former friends of the singer In the recently released investigative documentary TMZ Investigates: What Happened to Justin Bieber, former associates claim that Bieber may be under the sway of Churchome , a Beverly Hills-based church, and that the influence of its pastor has gone too far. Ryan Good , who was the best man at Bieber's wedding and the creative director of the singer's fashion brand, was once a member of Churchome. However, he reportedly left after suspecting the church was functioning as a front for a cult. Justin and the Churchome pastor allegedly confronted Scooter Braun The documentary also claims that Bieber and the Churchome pastor, Judah Smith , once confronted the singer's former manager, Scooter Braun . The confrontation allegedly involved questioning Braun's Jewish faith, his lack of belief in Jesus, and prying into his personal life. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3 Reasons to Plug This Into Your Home Today elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo Churchome pastor Judah Smith responds to cult allegations Pastor Judah Smith has responded to the allegations, denying all claims that his church is a cult. 'What kind of a cult only meets once a month?' he remarked in a video shared on social media. He recounted an encounter with paparazzi where a woman suddenly asked him about the cult rumors: 'All of a sudden, this nice lady turns on her camera. She goes, 'So is this a cult or not?' And I was like, 'Oh my word, I wasn't expecting that question.'' Smith added with sarcasm, 'If we're a cult, we are the worst cult in the history of all cults. We meet once a month, guys. I stopped doing this every Wednesday. We've got to get better at this.' Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Pink Villa
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Is Justin Bieber in a Cult? Former Friend and Best Man of His Wedding to Hailey Baldwin Slams Pastor
Justin Bieber is reportedly distancing himself from longtime friends, and some believe his church may be playing a big role. According to TMZ's new documentary, TMZ Investigates: What Happened to Justin Bieber?, which is now streaming on Hulu, some of Bieber's former friends think he's being isolated by Churchome, a Beverly Hills church he attends, and its pastor, Judah Smith. One of the key people no longer in Bieber's inner circle is Ryan Good, who was the best man at Bieber's wedding and a creative director at his fashion brand, Drew House. TMZ sources claim the fallout happened after Good left Churchome because he believed it had cult-like traits. According to the documentary, Bieber and Pastor Judah confronted Good about his personal choices, including his s*x life. They also allegedly confronted Scooter Braun, Bieber's former manager, who is Jewish, about not believing in Jesus. These incidents have raised concerns about how much control the church may have over Bieber's life. Churchome's pastor Judah Smith responded to the cult claims with humor during a recent speech. 'If we're a cult, we're the worst cult in history,' Smith said. 'We meet once a month, guys!' He added jokingly, 'I stopped doing this every Wednesday. We've got to get better at this.' Smith also shared that he was recently approached by paparazzi who asked him directly if Churchome is a cult. 'That's a first for me,' he said. 'I got out of my car and was immediately surrounded by paparazzi... A lady turned to me and asked: 'So is this a cult or not?'' Churchome has previously faced criticism. In 2023, the church was sued by an employee who claimed they were required to give 10% of their gross income back to the church. The lawsuit raised questions about the organization's internal policies, although the outcome is still unclear. Bieber addressed the growing speculation on Instagram last month. He wrote, 'The feeling of guilt can be relieved... Not by going to church or reading ur Bible. But just receive that God forgives.'
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Why Justin Bieber ‘excommunicated' pals for scandal-hit ‘cult' leader he showers with gifts… as Hailey's fears revealed
DURING the past year, Justin Bieber has cut himself off from those in his trusted inner circle. Even this week his wife Hailey stood alone as she posed for pictures at the Met Gala while Justin stayed at home. 12 Yet one person is closer than ever to the millionaire singer: His pastor Judah Smith. The 44-year-old spiritual guru heads Churchome — a trendy non- denominational church beloved by Beverly Hills celebrities, which counts Kourtney Kardashian and Lana Del Rey among its congregation. Justin's recent erratic behaviour, gaunt appearance and rumoured rift with the mother of his baby son have insiders concerned about the pastor's influence over the star. Smith's controversial megachurch — which draws in 10,000 people weekly — is trailed by a string of rape and sexual abuse scandals and even had to face down accusations of being a cult. And it is not the first time Justin has become attached to a controversial preacher. 'Cause of rumoured marriage troubles' He broke ties with his previous spiritual confidant, tattooed Carl Lentz, after the married pastor was fired from New York -based Christian church Hillsong in 2020 over an affair he had with Ex On The Beach star Ranin Karim, who later described their relationship as 'toxic'. Lentz was originally introduced to Justin by Smith, who has known the Love Yourself hitmaker and his mum Pattie since Justin was 15. A source close to the singer previously revealed: 'Justin started to add Judah to the boards of his businesses — he is buying him $300,000 Rolexes and all this kind of stuff. Everyone around Justin is part of this church.' Some say Judah could not only be behind the rift between the pop star and his former inner circle, but the very cause of his rumoured marriage troubles. Speaking exclusively to The Sun, a source close to Canadian Justin, 31, and 28-year-old model Hailey slammed Judah's influence over the star as 'total insanity'. 'Judah is a manipulator,' they said. Troubled Justin Bieber gives fans a peek inside his night as he skips Met Gala & leaves Hailey to attend big event alone 'He is taking advantage of Justin's situation, telling him that things are alright and that he is on top of his game — how Justin isn't making mistakes and is just enjoying life. 'He is a toxic person, and Hailey and Justin have had a lot of arguments as she wants him out of their life. 'It's complete madness — he trusts a guy who is known for being a manipulative person, and Hailey hates it.' Instead of attending the New York Met Gala on Monday, Justin spent the evening on the sofa cheering on his ice hockey team. And he made little effort to hide the bong on the floor next to him in an Instagram post only the day before, despite denials of drug use being issued by his team. Just a few weeks before, at the Coachella festival, the singer was spotted smoking what looked like marijuana next to his 15-year-old half-brother, Jaxon. 'Justin keeps sinking and acting like a child,' our insider added. 'He is doing too much s**t, he is going lower and lower, and Judah is there alongside him. Despite all this, he puts him in every business meeting and includes him on projects. 'This has led to Justin cutting ties with a lot of people, as well as not being a responsible person and focused dad. 'The whole world is seeing Justin going down a hole, but Judah is telling him otherwise. It's total insanity.' Fans and friends alike have tried their hardest to raise the alarm. Almost every part of Justin's life is becoming swallowed up by the church and its charismatic leader. And Justin is rejecting those who cut ties with the church, giving his inner circle a complete overhaul. Nowhere can this be seen more clearly than in the rift between the chart star and his former friend and business partner Ryan Good. The pals jointly created clothing brand Drew House in 2019, and in the same year Ryan was best man at Justin's wedding, at which Judah officiated. But things turned sour after Bieber added Smith to the board. Ryan and Smith are also understood to have a frosty relationship, which culminated in Ryan quitting the church altogether last year. Insiders repeatedly said he felt Churchome was a cult. It is now understood that Ryan and Justin have not spoken to each other in more than a year. 'When Ryan chose to leave the church, he basically got excommunicated', a source previously revealed. And Justin is far from keen to welcome him back. On April 3, the pop star launched his new fashion brand, Skylrk, with an animated video showing Bieber burning down a house full of relics from the past, including the Drew House logo. He also lashed out in a now-deleted post on Instagram. He wrote: 'Drew House doesn't represent me or my family or life. 'If you're rocking with the human Justin Bieber, don't waste your money on Drew House.' 'If we're a cult, we're worst cult in history' Also in the video was a scooter that runs out of charge — a perhaps not-so-subtle reference to his old manager Scott 'Scooter' Braun, who he has severed ties with. Now Justin's life increasingly revolves around Smith and his megachurch. The pair are so close that in 2017, they got matching tattoos which read: 'Better at 70'. The pastor, with his casual denim jackets, baggy trousers and necklaces, looks more like a pop star than a priest and has also featured on some of the star's songs. Before Justin's involvement, Churchome was just an average-sized church based in Seattle. 12 12 12 The singer began to become close to Smith in 2010 after Justin's mum Pattie made an offer to the pastor to attend a gig over her concerns about fame's effect on her son. 'He needs some good influences in his life. Would you come?' she reportedly asked. Now Smith's church draws in thousands of worshippers across its five locations, and has launched an app that reportedly attracts more than 300,000 users every week. The pastor boasts more than 720,000 followers on Instagram, where he posts clips of sermons. And not only does Smith have the ear of some of Hollywood's most famous faces, but it seems to be earning him a pretty penny too. In 2018, Marie Claire mag reported that Churchome brought in total revenue of at least $20million, while Judah is thought to be living alongside his wife Chelsea and their three kids in a $2.5million California mansion which he described as 'an investment in Churchome's future'. But its slick image and massive earnings have prompted comparisons with the Church of Scientology, also beloved by celebrities. Their charismatic leader David Miscavige even officiated at Tom Cruise 's wedding — as Smith did with Justin. And Smith's church has also dealt with its fair share of controversy. In February 2023, the church came under fire for rehiring Braylon Oliver, a pastor who had been previously let go after a woman accused him of rape. Churchome claimed that Oliver had demonstrated 'spiritual and personal growth' since the time of the alleged incident and claimed that reports surrounding his rehiring were 'misleading'. Another woman, Payton Jones, accused Churchome of protecting one of its employees when she claimed church intern Zachary Jaquith sexually assaulted her in 2019, alleging she was discouraged from filing a report with police by the church's general legal counsel Troy Anderson. Zachary and Troy both deny the accusations. Churchome also faced a lawsuit in 2023 over its policy of forcing all staff members to donate ten per cent of their wages back to the church, the outcome of which is unclear. But are they a cult? Smith laughed off the allegations in a sermon posted to Instagram last week. He said: 'If we're a cult, we are the worst cult in the history of all cults. We meet once a month, guys! We've got to get better at this.' The Sun has approached Churchome for comment. What's Justin up to? THE Sun revealed on Wednesday that despite his recent troubles, Justin Bieber has been spending time at a remote recording studio in Iceland where he's been working on his "comeback The singer hasn't released an album since 2021's Justice, and has been open about his struggles in recent months after fans raised concerns over his erratic behaviour and seemingly-escalating drug use. Sources close to the star also insisted he's been throwing himself into work, despite reports. "Bieber is doing what he does best right now, turning his pain into art," they told The Sun US. "He does have good people around him, including friends he's had for years." The famous Floki Studios in Iceland has previously welcomed artists scuh as Calvin Harris and Pharrell Williams over the years, and is situated in the far north of the country. 12
