People February 21, 2022

‘I was just really so, so worried that people would find it boring, to be quite honest’—JANET JACKSON, on her hit TV documentary, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon ‘sorry ma pls don’t kill me’—SIMU LIU, on bleaching his hair, on Instagram ‘I hate bread. I’m never tempted by the bread basket’—EVA LONGORIA, on preferring salty foods, to Women’s Health ‘We had a man gluing rubber leeches to my butt. That was my second day on-set.… I was like, “Hi, my name is Chan. I’ll be naked today”’—CHANNING TATUM, on shooting his upcoming romantic adventure film The Lost City, to Variety ‘Motherhood has made me see more good in people, see more good in the universe. Makes you a little bit more of a forgiving person’—NICKI MINAJ, on…

1 A College Course Takes on Taylor Want to get to know Swift all too well? A new class at New York University examines “both the appeal and aversions to Taylor Swift through close readings of her music and public discourse,” according to the course description. 2 Spike Lee Will Direct a Colin Kaepernick Docuseries The Oscar winner is tackling the story of the former 49ers quarterback, who hasn’t played in the NFL since he started kneeling during the national anthem in 2016, for an ESPN series. 3 Wordle Sells for Big Bucks The New York Times bought the viral word game, created by a Brooklyn software engineer for his partner who loves brain teasers, for seven figures. Wordle of the day: M-O-N-E-Y. 4 Build-a-Bear Introduces Stuffed Animals for…

This month—Feb. 26, to be exact—marks the 10-year anniversary of the death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old Black teen who was shot and killed while walking through a Florida neighborhood. When his killer was acquitted, Alicia Garza, an Oakland-based activist, wrote a heartfelt post on Facebook; Patrisse Cullors, an activist in Los Angeles, responded, adding the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. In Arizona their friend and fellow activist Opal Tometi saw the post and reached out, and together they launched a movement of the same name to bring attention to the racism, discrimination and violence that the Black community faces every day in America. So much has happened since then. There have been more lives lost, heated debates about policy and programs that could affect change and very personal discussions that have led…

CUTE COUPLES ROYAL MVP London, Feb. 2 After being named patron of the Rugby Football Union, Princess Kate joined a rugby training session, where team members gave her a lift. LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON Toronto, Feb. 3 Drake and his 4-year-old son Adonis enjoyed some courtside refreshments at a Raptors game. BRAVO, ANDY! Los Angeles, Feb. 4 Andy Cohen received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame surrounded by famous friends and family, including son Ben, 3. SHAWN SOAKS UP THE SUN Hawaii, Feb. 5 Shawn Mendes went for a shirtless stroll while on vacation. SCOTT TEES UP Pebble Beach, Calif., Feb. 5 Scott Eastwood celebrated a smooth swing at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Golf Tournament. TEAM U.S.A. TAKES THE OPENING CEREMONY Beijing, Feb. 4 Flag bearers Brittany…

Tom Brady is ready to start a new chapter. Shortly after reports broke that he was retiring from the NFL following a storied 22 years and seven Super Bowl victories, the superstar quarterback confirmed the news himself on Feb. 1, writing in a lengthy statement posted to social media that it was time for him to “leave the field of play to the next generation” of athletes. “I have loved my NFL career,” wrote Brady, 44, “and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.” While Brady said “exactly what my days will look like” in the coming months “will be a work-in-progress,” he plans to center his attention on his life at home with his wife of nearly 13…

Kylie Jenner is officially a mom of two. The beauty mogul and her partner, rapper Travis Scott, welcomed a son on Feb. 2—one day after their daughter Stormi turned 4. “She is very happy and doing well,” an insider says of Jenner, who announced the happy news on Feb. 6. “And Stormi is fascinated by her little brother. She’s been able to hold him and has been very gentle.” Jenner, 24, and Scott, 30, haven’t announced a name for their son, but the insider says “they picked it together” and will announce it when Kylie is ready. For now the Kylie Cosmetics founder is lying low before her family’s next reality TV venture, The Kardashians, makes its debut April 14 on Hulu. “She’s spending time at home and with…