WHO Issue 14, 2022

After more than two years of curtailed award ceremonies and parties in Hollywood, there was a real excitement in the air for this year’s 94th Academy Awards. In addition to Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall making history as hosts, and the fact that the feel-good movie CODA won Best Picture – with its star Troy Kotsur becoming the first deaf male actor to win an Oscar – not to mention the next level fashion, this year’s event was all set to make headlines. And that it did, but for the most unexpected and unbelievable reason. It’s still hard to process what was going through Best Actor winner Will Smith’s mind when he slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage following his comments about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair, which was cropped due…

After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacting ceremonies, the 94th Academy Awards promised to be back bigger and better than ever in 2022. And on March 27, Hollywood’s night of nights certainly delivered. Ahead of the big event, Will Smith, 53, took to Instagram to announce that he and wife Jada Pinkett Smith, 50, “got all dressed up to choose chaos”. In true prophecy-like style, that is exactly what the ceremony descended into. As Chris Rock, 57, took to the stage to present the gong for Best Documentary, he made a poor taste joke about Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. “Jada, I love ya. GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see ya,” he quipped, referencing Demi Moore’s 1997 film where she famously shaved her locks to play US Navy Lieutenant Jordan…

With the official part of the night over, it was time for the real celebrations to begin at Hollywood’s hottest parties. Freshly minted Oscar winners and rolled-gold celebrities were invited to kick up their heels at exclusive soirées, including at the Governors Ball, held upstairs from the Dolby Theatre straight after the awards, the Elton John AIDS Foundation gig in West Hollywood and the hottest ticket in town – Vanity Fair’s afterparty. While the buzz in the room was still about “the slap”, the A-listers quickly put the controversy behind them, tucking into vintage champagne and tasty morsels. Chris Rock, whose face was probably still stinging, salvaged his night by hanging with friends like Woody Harrelson and Robert de Niro at Guy Oseary’s party and avoided crossing paths with Will Smith. The…

It’s not often that a sportsperson retires at the top of their game. So when three-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 1 Ash Barty called time on her tennis career on March 23, it didn’t just shock the nation but the world. “I am spent,” the Aussie sports star, 25, told her former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua, 37, in an emotional chat, which she shared on social media. “I just know physically I have nothing more to give and that, for me, is a success,” Barty added. The Queenslander further revealed that she was ready “to chase other dreams” after achieving her ultimate goal – winning Wimbledon – last year. While Barty is yet to announce what’s next, she’s “looking forward” to spending more time with her family and fiancé Garry Kissick.…

And just like that, Bindi Irwin’s baby girl Grace Warrior Powell is one! The late Steve Irwin’s gorgeous granddaughter celebrated her milestone birthday surrounded by her proud parents, her grandmother Terri, and even Bindi’s in-laws, who flew in from Florida for the special occasion and to meet the birthday girl for the very first time. “Happy Birthday to my graceful warrior,” Bindi, 23, began her beautiful social media tribute on March 25.“One year of watching your beautiful heart bloom into the most extraordinary person. Grace, you have been an old soul from the very beginning. It is the greatest blessing to be your mama. I love you eternally, unconditionally and infinitely.” Bindi’s hubby Chandler Powell, 25, shared a similar sentiment on social media. “It’s been one year since you came into our…

What a year it’s been for Queen Elizabeth II. Between tension surrounding her grandson Prince Harry, her son Prince Andrew’s scandal and of course her ailing health, the 95-year-old monarch has barely had a moment to mourn her beloved husband Prince Philip, who passed away 12 months ago aged 99. It seems like only yesterday the world watched Her Majesty sit alone in the pews at Windsor’s St George’s Chapel at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral. Determined not to be alone again while her family gather at her late husband’s memorial service on March 29, the Queen has been focusing on her health the past few weeks. After being confined to a wheelchair since falling ill with COVID-19 earlier this year, Elizabeth was looking well in the days leading up to…