National Enquirer January 3, 2022

FORMER flames Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk appear poised to rekindle their romance over two years after their bitter split — and sources said they can thank Brad Pitt! Tipsters told The National ENQUIRER the 57-year-old “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” actor, who is in the middle of his own bitter split with ex-wife Angelina Jolie, thinks buddy Bradley was a fool to let Irina go. “Brad’s encouraged Bradley to repair the relationship,” dished an insider. “Given the way his own family imploded, and his ongoing court battle with Angie, he thinks Bradley shouldn’t let a good thing get away!” As ENQUIRER readers know, the 46-year-old “Hangover” hunk and the 35-year-old supermodel — who share four-year-old daughter Lea — split in 2019 after four years together. Sources said they bickered over…

FOX News is bleeding talent, and sources said top news dog Tucker Carlson is being blamed for chasing off old-timer Chris Wallace and others from the right-wing network! After longtime FOX pundits Jonah Goldberg and Stephen Hayes walked out over Carlson’s conspiracy-riddled Jan. 6 Capitol Hill insurrection documentary “Patriot Purge,” Wallace also decided to move on after 18 years. The network reportedly offered “Fox News Sunday” anchor Wallace a megabucks deal to stay, but he was said to have politely turned them down before announcing his departure on Dec. 12. Behind the scenes Wallace, 74, was upset by FOX’s often bizarre right-wing take on the news, epitomized by Carlson’s widely panned spincrazy documentary. “He was not happy with Tucker’s ‘Patriot Purge’ special,” said a FOX insider. “Management knew Chris was leaving. His contract was…

+ THERE’S one woman Leo DiCaprio didn’t want to see get naked — Meryl Streep! While making “Don’t Look Up,” Leo, 47, hated his co-star stripping down, despite using a body double. He “views Meryl as film royalty,” explained director Adam McKay. + RAPPER Megan Thee Stallion, 26, has capped her hot music career with a cap and gown — she’s a graduate of the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences at Texas Southern University! + NOW that Daniel Craig is done playing James Bond, will the next 007 be nonbinary? It’s possible, said producer Barbara Broccoli! When asked if Craig’s replacement could be a “they/them,” she replied: “Who knows? I think it’s open. We just have to find the right actor.”…

A FURIOUS Ben Affleck unloaded on ex-wife Jennifer Garner in a public display of rage that’s got friends urging him to give her a break! The bawling beefcake, 49, was caught on camera screaming hysterically in the direction of his former spouse near her Tinseltown home — and the scene wasn’t pretty. Though it wasn’t clear why Ben snapped in broad daylight, insiders revealed he’s been struggling to cope with the hectic demands of his holiday schedule and his high-maintenance galpal, Jennifer Lopez. “Ben always had a short fuse, but this is not cool behavior,” an insider told The National ENQUIRER. “It’s both shocking and unacceptable for him to shout and scream like that in front of Jennifer. “Lord only knows what set him off. But, thankfully, Jen managed to stay calm and…

KEN JENNINGS is “livid” he’s been demoted to co-hosting “Jeopardy!” alongside “Big Bang Theory” brainiac Mayim Bialik next season because the know-it-all believes he is the sole anointed heir of the show’s late host, Alex Trebek, insiders said. “Ken is livid he wasn’t given the full-time gig,” spilled a source. “He considers bringing in Mayim, who has no previous game show hosting experience, an insult to him and Alex’s legacy!” Since Alex’s death from pancreatic cancer in November 2020, 15 celebrities — including LeVar Burton, Katie Couric and Aaron Rodgers — have had tryouts for his coveted job. Ken, a former software engineer, set a “Jeopardy!” record with a 74-episode winning streak, and he’s the highest-earning game show contestant in history! He got chummy with Trebek and reportedly was the host’s top candidate…

AXED CNN anchor Chris Cuomo’s friendship with ex-colleague Don Lemon is being squeezed as the former best buds are now locked in a bitter feud, tipsters tattled. A network source claimed the men were once as “close as brothers.” But an insider snitched, “Don and Chris are no longer speaking.” Spies squealed the rift stemmed from the “Don Lemon Tonight” host, 55, failing to mention Cuomo, 51, on-air after the network kicked him to the curb on Dec. 4. CNN initially suspended Chris for lying about how much he’d helped his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, fight sexual harassment charges. But he was fired days later after lawyer Debra Katz revealed her client’s disturbing sexual misconduct allegations against him! However, Chris’ spokesperson blasted the “anonymous” charges as “not true.” Though the “Cuomo Prime…