Author: atrang

Shocked by the image of America’s super-rich neighborhood before and after the disaster: ‘It’s like an atomic bomb just dropped’

Los Angeles (California, USA) is suffering the terrible consequences of wildfires that occur continuously.

As of January 9 (local time), wildfires are still raging in the Los Angeles area (California, USA), causing 180,000 people to evacuate and about 200,000 others have received warnings at risk of evacuation in case the scope of wildfires continues to spread.

In addition, at least 7 people were killed in the wildfire, which is considered the worst natural disaster in the history of this “city of angels”. Los Angeles Police Chief Robert Luna said “to be honest, we still don’t know what the actual death toll is,” he said, adding, “It looks like an atomic bomb dropped on this area. As soon as the death toll is announced, I am still concerned that this number may continue to rise.”

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The total area of the fire in Los Angeles to date has spread to 117.3km2. Among them, the two largest fires, Palisades and Eaton, have burned more than 11,300 hectares.

The fire at Palisades – where a series of the most luxurious and expensive villas in the United States are concentrated – has caused the houses here to almost turn into a pile of ashes. Up to now, the fire has burned down about 300 buildings and caused damage to about 13,300 other buildings, including many villas of the world’s top stars and super-riches.

Before and After Images

Photos comparing before and after the disaster here have made many people panic at what is happening.

The fire in Palisades was also the first fire reported on January 7. Within 20 minutes, the 8-hectare fire had broken out to more than 80 hectares, and by the end of Jan. 8, had burned nearly 6,500 hectares of the hilly area between Santa Monica and Malibu.

Authorities claimed it was the most destructive fire in the city’s history and was unprecedented.

Mazzulla has awesome reaction to Brandon Jennings calling Tatum ‘soft’

Brandon Jennings may have picked the wrong NBA superstar to criticize — especially considering which head coach that superstar plays for.

Jennings, a former NBA player who last played in 2018, caused a stir on a recent episode of Gilbert Arena’s podcast when he wondered aloud whether Jayson Tatum is the “softest Boston Celtics superstar ever.”

“If you’re so tough, why you didn’t get Finals MVP last year?” Jennings said of Tatum. “Why you let your running mate (Jaylen Brown) do it? If you so tough, if you so all this, why you didn’t get it? Why you didn’t get it?”

On Wednesday night, Tatum fired back at Jennings with an Instagram post of his highlights that included the caption “SoFtesT SuPeRstar in CeLtiC HiStoRy” with a laughing emoji.

But Jennings wasn’t done catching heat from the Celtics. On Thursday morning, C’s head coach Joe Mazzulla was asked on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand for his take on Jennings’ criticism of Tatum and responded in classic Mazzulla fashion.

“First thought was, that’s when you use one of your coins,” Mazzulla said. “That’s a coin.”

For context, Mazzulla is referencing the alternate universe he imagined during an October interview with Zolak & Bertrand in which everyone in society has five “coins” they can use at any point in a given year to fight a random stranger.

“What if we all walked around with like five coins, right? And at any point in time, you can just hand one out, and you just challenge a guy to like, combat,” Mazzulla said at the time. “If you do pull a coin on a guy and he beats you up, like, that’s your fault. You’ve got to either train harder, or pick and choose your coins better.”

Considering Mazzulla’s background in jiu-jitsu, Jennings may want to cross the street if he sees Mazzulla walking in his direction.

Mazzulla then followed up with a thoughtful answer on how players like Tatum have to navigate constant outside criticism.

“It’s unfortunate that him in particular, but (also) players in general, feel like they have to fight for that constant affirmation,” Mazzulla said. “So, the thing that I try to do the most is like, we don’t have to be affirmed by other people’s opinions.

“Jayson is an unbelievable player — a great player, one of the best Celtics of all time — and the facts speak for themselves.”

Tatum certainly doesn’t need the validation of Jennings, who played for five teams over nine NBA seasons and never made an All-Star team. Not only did Tatum lead the Celtics in points, rebounds and assists per game during their 2024 playoff run, but the 26-year-old boasts an incredible resume that includes five All-Star nominations, three First-Team All-NBA awards and two Olympic gold medals.

“We just don’t have to be affirmed by other people’s opinions, especially when they’re not in the arena,” Mazzulla added. “At the end of the day, that opinion has absolutely no ramifications on his career, his path, the game tomorrow, practice — like, it just doesn’t really mean anything.

“… In the arena, you have a choice to decide how you’re going to deal with the power of other people’s words. They’re just words. But nothing should ever be taken away from that guy’s career, in my opinion. The reason why he gets that is because of how good he is.”

BREAKING NEWS: “STOP BLAMING” After a humiliating loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Mike Tomlin blamed Travis Kelce for allowing Taylor Swift to wear a “revealing bikin1,” which allegedly distracted the Pittsburgh Steelers players and led to the defeat…

In a surprising turn of events following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ crushing defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Mike Tomlin has sparked controversy with his post-game remarks. During a press conference, Tomlin appeared to shift responsibility for the team’s performance, blaming Travis Kelce and an unexpected off-field distraction involving pop superstar Taylor Swift.

The Incident

Tomlin pointed to an unusual distraction on the sidelines, claiming that Taylor Swift, who was present to support Travis Kelce, wore a revealing bikini that caught the attention of Steelers players. According to the coach, the alleged distraction led to a lack of focus, contributing to the team’s poor performance on the field.

“It’s hard to keep a team focused when something like that happens. We’re here to win games, not deal with unnecessary sideline distractions,” Tomlin said during the heated post-game conference.

Fans React

The coach’s remarks have ignited debates across social media. Many fans found the comments bizarre and unprofessional, accusing Tomlin of deflecting from his coaching responsibilities. One fan tweeted, “So now a pop star’s outfit is the reason for a football team’s loss? What’s next?” Others defended the coach, suggesting that off-field distractions can indeed have a psychological impact on players during high-stakes games.

Swifties and NFL Fans Clash

Taylor Swift’s fanbase, known as the Swifties, did not take the comments lightly. They flooded social media platforms with posts defending the singer, pointing out that her attire has nothing to do with the Steelers’ inability to perform. Meanwhile, NFL fans debated whether sideline activities have any bearing on professional athletes’ focus during games.

Kansas City Chiefs Respond

 

Neither Travis Kelce nor Taylor Swift has commented on the incident, but sources close to the Chiefs organization dismissed the claims as “laughable” and emphasized that their focus remains on maintaining their winning streak.

A Pattern of Excuses?

Critics have pointed out that this isn’t the first time Tomlin has shifted blame after a tough loss. Many sports analysts are questioning whether his comments reflect deeper issues within the Steelers’ preparation and strategy.

What’s Next for the Steelers?

The Steelers now face an uphill battle to recover from this loss. While Tomlin’s remarks have dominated headlines, fans and analysts agree that the focus should return to addressing the team’s on-field performance. With playoffs on the line, the Steelers need to regroup quickly to salvage their season.

As the controversy unfolds, one thing is certain: distractions, whether on the sidelines or in the media, won’t win games. The Steelers will need to look inward to find the solutions they desperately need.

Jamie Lee Curtis is donating $1million to LA fire relief efforts after crying over Pacific Palisades destruction

Jamie Lee Curtis has revealed she is donating $1million toward LA fire relief efforts after fighting back tears over the destruction of Pacific Palisades.

The actress, 66, took to Instagram Thursday to announce her donation and reveal she had been in contact with LA governor Gavin Newson to discuss where the funds would be best used.

She wrote: ‘As the fire still rages on and @calfire @losangelesfiredepartment and all the available first responders and agencies involved in fighting fire and saving lives are still hard at work and neighbors and friends are banding together to save each other, my husband and I and our children have pledged $1 million from our Family Foundation to start a fund of support for our great city and state and the great people who live and love there.

‘I’m in communication with Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass and Senator Schiff as to where those funds need to be directed for the most impact.’

This comes after  Curtis fought back tears as she admitted the Pacific Palisades fires have been ‘catastrophic,’ during an appearance on The Tonight Show on Wednesday.

The flew out to New York City to appear on the Jimmy Fallon-hosted show, when the fires started spreading through the city she calls home.

Jamie Lee Curtis has revealed she is donating $1million toward LA fire relief efforts after fighting back tears over the destruction of Pacific Palisades

She revealed on Instagram earlier on Wednesday that her home is safe but many of her neighbors homes have been destroyed.

The actress appeared on the show to promote her new film The Last Showgirl, in theaters January 10, but before she discussed the film, she became visibly emotional while addressing the fires.

‘I’m literally just about to cry. Mostly because of that beautiful welcome,’ Curtis began, as the audience started to applaud, with one screaming, ‘You’re beautiful!’

She tearfully continued, ‘As you know, where I live is on fire right now. Literally, the entire city of the Pacific Palisades is burning.’

‘I flew here last night. I was on the plane, started getting texts. And it’s f***ing gnarly, you guys. It’s just a catastrophe in southern California,’ she said.

‘Obviously, there have been horrific fires in many places. This is literally where I live. Everything. The market I shop in. The schools my kids go to. Friends, many, many, many, many, many friends now have lost their homes,’ she said.

‘So it is — it’s a really awful situation. I am, you know, obviously going to go home first thing tomorrow and be with my family and try to help my friends,’ she continued.

‘But it is — just so I can tell you, if you know anybody on the west coast or not, the American red cross, support them,’ she said.

The actress, 66, took to Instagram to announce her donation and reveal she had been in contact with LA governor Gavin Newson to discuss where the funds would be best used

Curtis is pictured with husband Christopher Guest and children Ruby and Annie in 2022

This comes after Curtis fought back tears as she admitted the Pacific Palisades fires have been ‘catastrophic,’ during an appearance on The Tonight Show on Wednesday

The 66-year-old actress flew out to New York City to appear on the Jimmy Fallon-hosted show, when the fires started spreading through the city she calls home

‘They will come in and help people. Do anything you can. Anything in your community to help people, whether you need it or not now, you will need it. Give blood, donate, whatever,’ she said to applause.

‘And remember, since I’m on the middle of a very big television show, for anybody living anywhere, have an emergency kit in your house,’ she added.

‘I’m an American red cross ambassador. Have an emergency kit with prescription glasses, medicines, dog food, baby formula, all the things you need if you have to flee,’ she added.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, she addressed her appearance on the program in a post shared on Instagram.

Jamie penned: ‘Flying to New York and hearing the beginnings of the stories of the fire was very challenging to be far away from my home and family and friends and feeling very powerless.

‘I suited up and showed up for work here in the city, complete with the recreation of the hip, thrusting meme from the movie, Perfect, and was greeted by such warmth from @fallontonight @jimmyfallon and @ questlove and their team.

‘It was complicated to feel like we were making comedy in the midst of such a profound tragedy across the country, but we did.’

Jamie added: ‘The hug he gave me in support of my fragile feelings will always be remembered, and I leave New York City with the hopes and prayers and good thoughts from all in the East Coast as I return home to the best coast and my beloved City of Angels to help start to repair and rebuild.’

Hours before going on the air, she shared a video showcasing the destruction in Pacific Palisades, where she confirmed her home is safe.

‘Our beloved neighborhood is gone. Our home is safe. So many others have lost everything. Help where you can. Thank you to the first responders and firefighters. @americanredcross,’ she said.

Hours before going on the air, she shared a video showcasing the destruction in Pacific Palisades, where she confirmed her home is safe

Jamie had previously shared that her home was at risk of being destroyed by the wildfires, but later confirmed that it was safe from the flames

She also shared another Instagram post, showing her beloved church in Pacific Palisades that had gone up in flames.

‘This is the church in the Palisades that had a beautiful Sunday school and school and was a gorgeous house of worship and is the building that I got sober in 25 years ago,’ she said.

‘I think of all of the souls who came there for comfort and solace and all the baptisms and funerals and weddings and the thousands of people who reclaimed their lives through Sobriety,’ she added.

‘Also, the women’s club in the Palisades where I met many sober people. Both are gone. Tough times. We will persevere. God bless you all,’ she concluded.

Hollywood Boulevard has been evacuated with 100,000 people told to flee with six wildfires raging as the apocalyptic skies of Los Angeles continue to fill with smoke.

Two new blazes broke out overnight in the Hollywood Hills and Studio City – forcing first responders to redeploy their already-scarce resources to the burnt landscape.

The National Guard has been deployed and could send in military personnel to assist, amid revelations that heroic firefighters are ‘triaging’ homes and neighborhoods.

The LA Fire Department issued an evacuation order for people in an area within Hollywood Boulevard to the south, Mulholland Drive to the north, the 101 Freeway to the east and Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west – all iconic addresses in showbiz.

The latest fires mean huge swathes of iconic southern California real estate from Malibu to Santa Monica, and from Pacific Palisades to Runyon Canyon, are ablaze – impacting millions caught off guard by the unprecedented spread and carnage.

At least five people have lost their lives in the disaster so far – with 2,000 structures obliterated and thousands of people left with nothing but ash across the city.

More than 130,000 people are under evacuation orders while Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes and Paris Hilton are among the stars who said they had lost homes. Billy Crystal and his wife Janice lost their home of 45 years in the Palisades Fire.

6’8” Jayson Tatum’s Towering Figure Forces 20-Year-Old Olympic Medalist Gymnast to Bring out Hilarious Christmas Wish

Christmas is the time for getting wishes granted. However, oftentimes, people wish for things that might be a little far-fetched for even Santa to fulfill. Ever heard of people wishing for a little bit more height? Well, while the average person might want to have a little more height, as it turns out, star Olympians too may have a similar ask. Likewise, in one of the most hilarious interactions this Christmas, a rising gymnastics star had an outrageous wish to make. Even after winning an Olympic bronze medal!

In a recent meet-up with Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, Frederick Richards had a hilarious Christmas ask from Santa. The 20-year-old uploaded a picture of himself standing with the NBA star in a recent Instagram post. Both the stars looked quite relaxed as they shared a good smile with each other. However, there was one little problem that met the naked eye. The 5’5” frame of Richards looked significantly miniscule to the towering 6’8” height of Jayson Tatum. And while the difference was quite visible, the Olympic bronze medalist could not help but point out the same and make a wish for Christmas!

Richards wrote, “All I want for Christmas is to look less short standing next to @jaytatumO” Now, while Santa might not be able to fulfill his Christmas wish, Richards is surely gaining a lot of height in terms of social media popularity. It all began with his quest in the Paris Olympics, and now, with some shining updates of his life, he truly keeps his fans intrigued. And his recent stories unveil the same.

For the uninitiated, Richards went to the Boston Celtics stadium to watch the festive celebrations and grandeur just before the match between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics. Fred Richards added a few updates on his Instagram handle that reveal a few glimpses of the time he has been enjoying there. Moreover, to show his support for the Celtics, Richards donned their jersey over a blue pullover hoodie.

Jayson Tatum Breaks Silence Over Public Accusations After Media Personality Torches Ex-NBA Star

In one of the stories, an expert can be seen performing a stunt on wheels. Even after being an Olympic bronze medal-winning gymnast himself and performing complicated gymnastic routines, still Frederick Richards seems to be mesmerized by the act. Expressing his excitement, Richards added, “THAT’S JUST DIFFERENT,” followed by a shocked face emoji. Moving on, Richards posed with the Celtics mascot, Lucky the Leprechaun, and captioned his subsequent story, “BEST MASCOT OUT HERE.” Unfortunately, the gymnast’s visit to the Boston Celtics’ home was seemingly not enough to see them through.

Facing off against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Celtics succumbed to a hard-fought 114-118 defeat. Thus, Jayson Tatum and co. will surely look to make a swift turnaround to keep their playoff hopes alive. Now, Richards’s recent interaction with Tatum was not the only time he brushed shoulders against an NBA star. The 20-year-old learned the art of dunking once from a former NBA champion.

Iman Shumpert has had an illustrious career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Being an NBA champion, Shumpert is famous for his big one-handed dunks that made him a sensation. Olympic bronze medalist Frederick Richards wanted to have a piece of similar talent. So in October 2024, taking lessons from the NBA legend, Richards fumbled the ball out of nervousness the first time. However, from the second attempt onwards, the gymnasts started to improve.

Unfortunately, even with tips from Shumpert, the Olympic bronze medalist was unable to make the perfect dunk. This was until Shumpert lifted the 20-year-old by his waist and made him reach the rim, which he struggled to find due to his height. Finally, being able to put the ball in the basket, a triumphant Richards high-fived the NBA legend. Posting about his experience, Richards wrote on his Instagram, “Now I just gotta grow to 6ft and I’ll be slamming it.” Thus, he may wish to gain some more height, but Frederick Richards’ towering presence in American men’s gymnastics doesn’t let us think about it even for a bit!

Fans Baffled by Angel Reese & Jayson Tatum’s Cryptic Posts as Millionaire Rapper Partnership Rumors Swirl

Both Tatum and Reese wrote, “WHAM” on X to drop a hint of something big. However, the fans weren’t able to understand if there was a connection between the two or what it meant. So, fans gathered in their comment sections to express their confusion, curiosity, and more.

“Cooking video?” inquired a fan as Reese teased it on her social media handle. Nobody had a clear idea of what was coming up. So, they took wild guesses, and the fan randomly asked if it was a cooking show that Reese was featured in.

Another curious fan asked, “Is this just a preview? When is it dropping?” While many sensed that something exciting was cooking, none of them had a clear picture of what was coming. And both Tatum and Reese made sure to keep the suspense alive.

“We waiting bc we know this means something legit is on the horizon! Let’s go!” someone guessed. Indeed, a big reveal is on the way, and Tatum and Reese dropped the message to turn heads toward them. What made fans even more curious was the video, leaving them eager for what’s to come.

Tatum’s followers too couldn’t make out and were commenting about the game until one of them pointed out, “these mfs don’t know he’s talking about lil baby’s album 😭😭”. Tatum posted about it right after the rapper’s fourth studio album, “WHAM” (Who Hard As Me), was released.

Are you as puzzled as the fans and wondering if Jayson Tatum and Angel Reese will actually be collaborating with the millionaire rapper? Well, they’ve dropped every hint pointing in that direction. Keep an eye on both of their feeds, surely they’ll share more details if something big is about to happen.

Jayson Tatum Breaks Silence Over Public Accusations After Media Personality Torches Ex-NBA Star

On Sunday, Jayson Tatum put up another impressive double-double, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for the Celtics. They faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who’ve clearly figured out how to handle Boston. Despite Tatum leading the charge as the top scorer and rebounder for the Celtics, it was the Thunder who came away with the 105-92 victory.

But according to a certain someone, Tatum is “soft”. During a recent Gil’s Arena episode, former Milwaukee Bucks player Brandon Jennings threw some serious shade at Tatum, calling him the softest star the Celtics have ever had.

In response to Jennings’ harsh criticism of the C’s superstar, Ashley Nicole Moss of CBS Sports said, “This isn’t the WWE. This ideology that you have to be mean is ridiculous, it’s stupid… The Boston Celtics are built so it doesn’t have to be Jayson Tatum night in and night out.”

The anchor emphasized that the Celtics’ strength lies in their team-oriented approach, where Tatum isn’t expected to carry the load alone every game. “The Boston Celtics are so lethal and so dangerous because it can be anybody’s night on any given day. It could be any player that is the bane of your existence if you’re on the opposite side of that court,” Moss stated, not bothering to sugarcoat anything!

And now it was Tatum’s turn to clap back. He posted on Instagram, a video of his highlights along with other photos as a carousel post with the caption, “SoFtesT SuPeRstar in CeLtiC HiStoRy” 😅”. The random capitalization is a way to mimic clown voice in text. With his highlights video, he is shutting Jennings up.

The 6-foot-8 forward is having a career-defining season! The numbers are hard to ignore: 28.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He’s shooting 46.3% from the field and 36.2% from three while averaging 36.4 minutes per game.

What’s your perspective on:

Is Brandon Jennings right about Tatum, or is he just stirring the pot for attention?

Have an interesting take?

You’d think the IG post would be the end, right? Wrong.

Jennings commented on Tatum’s post, “This the energy I want!!!! Carti dropping soon!!! *dracula* *bone* *pumpkin*”. Well, you have to give it to the guy for being a sport about it all! He just might even go the extra mile and say, “I was just doing this to make him better”.

The Carti comment, meanwhile, is an ongoing joke after the rapper said he’d drop his next album on a Friday, so before every Friday, everyone is like Carti dropping soon.

But it seems Tatum’s trainer also had some words for Jennings.

Even Jayson Tatum’s trainer doesn’t hold back

JT’s trainer, Drew Hanlen, was having none of it! He quickly fired back, saying, “I liked Brandon Jennings as a player, but we gotta stop the [cap]… His comment that Tatum is ‘soft’ is pathetic. A soft player couldn’t lead their team in PTS, REB & AST to a title. A soft player wouldn’t have 51 in a G7 or 31/11/8 to win finals.”

Jennings, not one to stay quiet, took another swing, telling Hanlen, “Since you his trainer, make sure he gets MVP this year… I heard you wrote a book called ‘Stop the bulls***’, I’m gonna write part two if he don’t get it.”

But hold up, the real drama unfolded when NBA legend Gilbert Arenas jumped in. Arenas used Tracy McGrady as a comparison, noting that ‘T-Mac’ had a similar laid-back style but still put up big numbers. Arenas made it clear: “28 PPG he’s averaging. Go on out there and get your head bust! I don’t know what soft means.”

via Imago

Let’s not forget, Tatum and Jennings barely shared the floor together. Their one and only matchup was back in the 2018 Eastern Conference playoffs. Jennings played just 4 minutes and scored two points. Meanwhile, Tatum dropped 14 and grabbed five rebounds in the series-clinching win.

Jayson’s game is legit, no matter how you try to spin it. And at just 26, Tatum is clearly making his case for the Hall of Fame.

Hollywood is immersed in a terrifying atmosphere like the “end of the world”: A series of villas of stars are destroyed, forest fires cannot be controlled

Officials said the situation could continue to spread across Los Angeles, prompting celebrities and local residents to evacuate to save their lives.

More than 37,000 residents, including many celebrities and industry leaders, were still under evacuation orders and at least five people were killed when a massive fire ravaged the Los Angeles area this week.

Strong winds are hampering the efforts of firefighters and the fires are completely out of control. The fire is still spreading over an area of tens of thousands of square meters and destroying about 3000 buildings of various sizes – as of January 8 (local time).

Photo: AFP

Pacific Palisades – the coastal hillside area that is also home to several celebrities such as Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore and James Woods – is also one of the most severely affected areas.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Robert Luna spoke about the evacuation order and told residents directly that their lives depended on whether they themselves acted on government warnings.

“You must be ready in all situations. If you are in a warning area, make sure you bring essential items such as important papers, medicines, etc. to be able to survive for at least 1 week. But if you’re asked to evacuate urgently under orders, remember – nothing is worth your life. Listen to the police, the firefighters there and prepare to evacuate,” Luna informed.

The fires have caused 10% of schools in Los Angeles to close.

A car catches fire on Sunset Avenue as the fire breaks out on Jan. 7 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood (Photo: Apu Gomes/Getty Images)

Vehicles are left on Sunset Avenue as residents are stuck in traffic while evacuating from the Palisades fire on January 8 (Photo: Apu Gomes/Getty Images)

A firefighter wipes his eyes as he sprays water on a burning house while battling the Eaton fire on January 8 in Altadena (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Los Angeles firefighters spray water on a burning home while battling the Eaton Fire on Jan. 8.

Flames from a fire in Palisades burn down a house on January 7 (Photo: Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

A firefighter fights the flames as a blaze engulfs the Palisades Theatre in strong winds on January 8 (Photo: Apu Gomes/Getty Images)

The Palisades Fire burns down homes on the Pacific Coast Highway in high winds in January in Los Angeles, California

A man watches the flames from the Palisades fire that is burning houses in strong winds on January 8 (Picture: Apu Gomes/Getty)

Flames from the Palisades fire burned down a house on January 8. Eric Thayer/Getty Images

Smoke and flames from the Pacific Palisades Residential Fire on Jan. 7/Getty Images

What remains of a house destroyed in the Palisades fire on January 8 (Photo: Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

Nguồn: The Hollywood Reporter

Justin Timberlake in a ‘Great Place’ amid Britney Spears Memoir Revelations: Source 

Spears reveals in her upcoming book ‘The Woman in Me’ that she became pregnant with Timberlake’s baby during their relationship but had an abortion

Justin Timberlake is taking the current news cycle in stride.

As Britney Spears reveals in her upcoming memoir The Woman in Me that she became pregnant with Timberlake’s baby during their relationship but had an abortion, a source tells PEOPLE the musician, 42, is focused his family with wife Jessica Biel and work, including the *NSYNC reunion and his upcoming Trolls movie.

“He’s happy at home with Jess and their kids and he’s focusing on new music. He’s in such a great place,” says the insider.

Jerod Harris/Getty

Earlier this week, PEOPLE confirmed the revelation in Spears’ book. She writes that the pregnancy “was a surprise” but not “a tragedy,” as she was in love with Timberlake and hoped to eventually have children with him.

“But Justin definitely wasn’t happy about the pregnancy,” writes the “Toxic” singer, now 41, in the book. “He said we weren’t ready to have a baby in our lives, that we were way too young.”

Britney Spears in Los Angeles in April 2017.Image Group LA/Disney Channel via Getty

Spears adds in The Woman in Me that she would’ve chosen to have the baby, however, “Justin was so sure that he didn’t want to be a father.”

Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears in February 2002. Denise Trusc / Getty

She describes the experience undergoing the abortion in the memoir as “one of the most agonizing” moments of her life.

After Spears and Timberlake split in 2002, she went on to become a mother, welcoming two sons — Sean Preston, 18, and Jayden James, 17 — with ex-husband Kevin Federline. The “Mirrors” singer later married actress Biel in 2012, and the couple share sons Silas, 8, and Phineas, 3.

“Starting a family was my dream come true,” the pop princess told PEOPLE via email in a recent cover story interview of raising her boys, who now live with their dad in Hawaii, but are in contact with Spears. “Being a mom was my dream come true.”

Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears in Los Angeles in February 2002. Frank Micelotta/Getty

Timberlake publicly apologized for his treatment of Spears in February 2021, writing in a post also dedicated to Janet Jackson that he was “deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn or did not speak up for what was right.”

“I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others … I specifically want to apologize to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed,” he wrote.

Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake in 2001. Frank Trapper/Getty Images

Spears’ upcoming book follows the 2021 termination of her 13-year-long conservatorship, which Timberlake also spoke out about in June of that year. After Spears revealed she wanted “to end the conservatorship,” Timberlake wrote to his fans on social media that “we should all be supporting Britney at this time.”

“Regardless of our past, good and bad, and no matter how long ago it was… what’s happening to her is just not right,” he wrote. “No woman should ever be restricted from making decisions about her own body. No one should EVER be held against their will… or ever have to ask permission to access everything they’ve worked so hard for.”

Timberlake then ended his messages on Twitter with words of support on behalf of himself and Biel.

“Jess and I send our love, and our absolute support to Britney during this time,” he shared. “We hope the courts, and her family make this right and let her live however she wants to live.”

Britney Spears’ The Woman in Me.

With the release of The Woman in Me, Spears looks to reclaim her voice.

“Over the past 15 years or even at the start of my career, I sat back while people spoke about me and told my story for me,” she told PEOPLE. “After getting out of my conservatorship, I was finally free to tell my story without consequences from the people in charge of my life.”

The much-anticipated memoir is out Oct. 24 through Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

For more of the exclusive excerpt and interview with Britney Spears, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.

Justin Timberlake And Beyoncé’s Duet Becomes A Top 40 Hit All Over Again

NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 05: Singers Justin Timberlake and Beyonce perform on stage during the Conde … [+] Nast Media Group’s Fifth Annual Fashion Rocks at Radio City Music Hall on September 5, 2008 in New York City. Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé’s “Until the End of Time” hits Billboard’s TikTok chart, becoming a years-delayed top 40 hit once again. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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TikTok has been turning rising talents and relative unknowns in the music world into superstars—if only momentarily—for years now. Record labels regularly hunt the social media app for what may be the next hot song or act, but that’s not the platform’s only role in launching successful tunes.

Occasionally, users on TikTok will turn a years-old track—usually one that has been largely forgotten—into a hit. TikTokers often skew younger, and there have been many instances when they’ve collectively discovered a cut and used it in thousands upon thousands of videos, bringing the title back to prominence.

That’s exactly what’s happened this week with two of the biggest names in the music industry. Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé debut their only duet on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 this week, well over a decade after it was first released.

The pair of superstars launch their collaboration “Until the End of Time” on the TikTok Billboard Top 50, which ranks the most-used and most-heard tracks on TikTok each frame. The single starts its time on the list at No. 39, narrowly becoming a top 40 hit once again.

Timberlake and Queen Bey’s tune ranks as one of 15 debuts on the TikTok Billboard Top 50 this week. Only three songs launch lower, but the two Grammy champions do manage to beat names like Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and NLE Choppa.

“Until the End of Time” marks Timberlake’s second hit on the TikTok-only chart. Beyoncé snags her sixth career placement on the tally, and this new win marks her first collaboration on the ranking.

The two musicians released “Until the End of Time” in 2007 as the final single from Timberlake’s blockbuster album FutureSex/LoveSounds. The track was originally a solo production, but when it was chosen for promotion, Bey jumped on board and turned it into a must-hear event.

“Until the End of Time” climbed to No. 17 on the Hot 100, earning both stars another top 20 win. It was also a smash across a variety of radio formats, including dance, R&B, and pop. While it was a major occasion when it dropped, the song has not remained a favorite for many fans of either Timberlake or Beyoncé—but now it seems to have found a new fan base.