Paralympian Ezra Frech’s reasons for competing on Dancing With the Stars are personal and powerful.

“This is my purpose. I want to change the way the world sees disability,” Frech, 21, exclusively shared with Us on Wednesday, September 2, after the full cast for season 35 was revealed on Good Morning America. “I literally feel like I was put on this earth for that reason, and I’ve attempted to do it through track and field my whole life, and then now I get the opportunity to hopefully do that through dance.”

Frech — who was born with congenital limb differences, leading to the amputation of his left leg at the age of 3 — previously won two gold medals at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.

When not competing in high jump, long jump and sprinting events, the University of Southern California grad is serving as a motivational speaker and disability advocate.

Related: What to Know About Season 35 of ‘Dancing With the Stars‘ So Far: Cast and More

The Dancing With the Stars ballroom is filling up fast for season 35. While simultaneously confirming the reality competition’s renewal, Hulu shared during the Get Real House event in April that Summer House’s Ciara Miller and Love Island star Maura Higgins would be lacing up their dancing shoes. The following month, Savannah Bananas second baseman Jackson […]

“I am leaning in 100 percent,” Frech shared about his journey into the ballroom. “I want to make my community proud, and hopefully, we can do something special this season.”

While it’s too soon for Frech and his DWTS partner, Daniella Karagach, to finalize a team name, the pair are already displaying great chemistry as they prepare to perform their first dance in front of judges Derek Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli.

“I feel like we’re pretty compatible,” Frech shared from New York City. “She’s already big sis.”

Karagach, 33, added, “I’m protector energy. I’m bringing that mother protector energy.”

While some in the competition like Jenna Dewan and Harry Shum Jr. may have some prior dance experience, Frech admitted his athletic skills are primarily from a track field.

When asked if DWTS is harder than competing in the Paralympics, Frech didn’t hesitate in his answer.

“Definitely Dancing with the Stars. The Paralympics and track and field. I grew up doing this since I was 8 years old,” he explained. “It’s my bread and butter, and now I’m throwing all that to the back burner for a couple months and gonna try to do everything I can to become a ballroom dancer.”

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Fortunately, he has a coach who is already impressed.

“You’re getting there,” Karagach said. “It’s only been a week, and you’re really getting there.”

Dancing With the Stars season 35 kicks off with a two-night premiere on ABC and Disney+ Tuesday, September 15, and Wednesday, September 16, at 8 p.m. ET.

Taylor Frankie Paul reveals some major spoilers from her cancelled season of The Bachelorette during upcoming Secret Lives of Mormon Wives episodes.

The Thursday, September 3, episode of Hulu’s “Get Real” podcast features an exclusive clip from SLOMW season 5 — where Taylor, 32, breaks down all of the Bachelor Nation drama.

In her discussion with costars Jessi Draper, Mikayla Matthews and Mayci Neeley, Taylor seemingly nods “no” when Jessi asks whether she’d “had sex” during Fantasy Suites. Taylor confirms that a suitor — presumably Doug Mason — did “get down on one knee and propose,” though there was major drama shortly after her engagement.

“[I said,] ‘Yes.’ Yes, I did [get engaged],” she revealed. “Then, I come home. Obviously [me and ex Dakota Mortensen] were texting. ‘When are you going to be home?’ I don’t know how it led to it but he came over.”

“Umm … I think I know how that happened,” Mikayla, 26, quipped.

While Doug’s name is never directly mentioned during the clip, the SLOMW ladies essentially confirm his identity by revealing Taylor’s suitor has the “same initials” as Dakota. Taylor swore she was initially unaware of the many similarities between Doug and Dakota.

“I didn’t start thinking that until people said it around me,” she insisted.

Jessi seemed skeptical, replying, “They have the same initials. They’re both from Idaho. It’s so weird.”

Taylor’s season of The Bachelorette was originally supposed to premiere on ABC in February but was pulled off the lineup three days before its debut. At the time, Taylor and ex Dakota were embroiled in a domestic violence investigation in Utah.

Related: Taylor Frankie Paul Is Seeing ‘Bachelorette’ Contestant After Axed Season

Taylor Frankie Paul is giving her romance with The Bachelorette contestant Doug Mason a second chance. A source exclusively tells Us Weekly that Taylor, 31, and Doug, 28, are “seeing each other” again and are “trying to make it work” after her season of the reality dating show was pulled by ABC. “They were hanging […]

The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office ultimately decided not to press any criminal charges in the case — though Taylor has since been involved in two separate child custody battles with Dakota and her ex-husband, Tate Paul. (Taylor shares Indy May, 8, and Ocean, 6, with Tate while she and Dakota welcomed 2-year-old son Ever True in 2024.)

With the domestic violence case dropped, Taylor signed and promoted a fan petition calling on ABC to air her season of The Bachelorette. The Change.org petition has since gained more than 25,000 signatures of support, as of publication.

“You guys started a petition for the show. I love you all,” she wrote via her Instagram Story in August.

Meanwhile, filming on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was temporarily halted in February though the full cast — sans Taylor — later returned to complete the season. Taylor reportedly shot news scenes for SLOMW’s opening credits but did not take part in any further group segments with the cast.

In May, Mormon Wives producer Jeff Jenkins confirmed that Taylor and Dakota will not be able to film scenes together for the foreseeable future, as they both have restraining orders requiring them to stay 100 feet away from each other for a period of three years. However, Jenkins hinted to Variety at the time that Taylor could be back to filming more regularly on SLOMW in the future.

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“[Taylor is] just made for this,” Jenkins, 58, said in May. “To share her life on camera, she does it like breathing air. She doesn’t edit herself. She’s really built for this type of lane. So I’m very hopeful that she’ll be back very soon, and I’m hopeful we can do all sorts of other projects with her as well.”

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives viewers will presumably get to hear lots more about the scrapped season of The Bachelorette when season 5 premieres on Hulu Thursday, September 10.

If you or someone you know are experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.

The online empire Perez Hilton spent years building is still operating without him, but the man behind the famous gossip brand is reportedly facing a far more personal crisis behind hospital walls. 

Nearly a month after a disturbing livestream led to his hospitalization, friends say Hilton’s recovery has become increasingly complicated. 

While family members work to manage his affairs and doctors oversee his treatment, those closest to the blogger claim his struggles now involve memory loss, isolation, and growing confusion about the life waiting for him outside.

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Even from a hospital bed, Perez Hilton is said to be fixated on the business that made him a household name.

According to a longtime family friend, one of the blogger’s biggest concerns has been the future of his celebrity news website. 

Hilton reportedly has little way of knowing what is happening online and, as a result, he has repeatedly questioned friends and family about the site’s performance and public reaction to his hospitalization.

“He asked how the site is doing. He asked how people are talking about him – what they’re saying,” the friend said.

The concern comes at a particularly uncertain time. Sources told the Daily Mail that Hilton had already been looking beyond blogging before the incident, with several reality television opportunities reportedly failing to materialize. 

Although the shocking livestream initially drove a spike in traffic to his website, insiders claimed that surge did not last.

Hilton’s Family Takes Charge As Recovery Continues

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While public attention has centered on Perez Hilton’s condition, his family has quietly assumed responsibility for nearly every aspect of his life.

Sources say the media personality currently has no access to social media, his mobile phone, or the internet. Communication with the outside world has reportedly been limited to calls made through the hospital’s landline. 

During that time, his mother and sister have stepped in to oversee his affairs and coordinate his care.

“He can’t do any work at the moment. His family is handling all of his affairs,” a source explained, adding, “His mother and sister are making sure he is getting the best care. They are hopeful.”

The support system has become particularly important because friends describe Hilton as struggling to be consistent. One longtime family friend revealed that conversations could shift dramatically within minutes.

“One minute he’s thinking about moving forward and making plans for when he’s back at work,” the friend noted. “The next minute he’s talking about walking away altogether.”

Those fluctuations have reportedly reinforced concerns that his recovery journey may be much longer than originally anticipated.

Perez Hilton Reportedly Believes He Has ‘Lost A Decade’

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Perhaps the most troubling claims involve Hilton’s memory. According to sources close to the 48-year-old, he appears convinced that it is still 2016 and has difficulty understanding how much time has passed. 

Friends told the Daily Mail that he has seemingly “lost a decade,” leading to moments that are both confusing and heartbreaking for those around him.

One example reportedly involves Katy Perry. Hilton has allegedly asked friends to bring the singer to visit him, insisting they remain close friends. 

Sources say he believes Perry is still part of his everyday life and reportedly argues that she “would be nowhere without him” because he helped champion her early career.

The requests have reportedly been difficult because, according to insiders, the two have had little contact in recent years.

A source close to Hilton described the situation bluntly, saying, “He is not all there.”

Friends say the confusion extends beyond celebrity relationships. They describe him as rambling, drifting between topics, and occasionally losing track of conversations altogether. 

Although moments of clarity still occur, loved ones reportedly fear the cognitive challenges could become one of the most difficult parts of his recovery.

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Hilton’s Family Reveals What Triggered Emergency Move To Miami

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As Perez Hilton’s loved ones continue trying to understand the events that led to his hospitalization, family members have shed more light on a turbulent chapter that began months before the August crisis. 

Before relocating to Florida this summer, Hilton had been living in Las Vegas with his three children. According to relatives, 2026 became one of the most challenging years of his life after he suffered a near-fatal battle with sepsis that left him hospitalized for 21 days. 

The health scare was later followed by additional complications, including a blood clot that required surgery, leaving those close to him concerned about both his physical and emotional well-being. 

Following that ordeal, Hilton decided in June to leave Las Vegas and return to his hometown of Miami, where his mother, sister, and extended family could provide support. 

His brother-in-law Tom later explained that the move made sense because of the strong family network waiting for him there. 

“There is that structure of support there [in Miami] and he did just go through that near-fatal health scare,” Tom said on “The Perez Hilton Podcast With Chris Booker”. He admitted the move was “a little surprising” but noted that Hilton can sometimes be impulsive. 

Hilton himself acknowledged the transition wasn’t easy. Before his hospitalization, he spoke publicly about feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious about uprooting his children and starting over in Miami after several years in Las Vegas. 

Perez Hilton Granted Structured Path To See His Children

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As Hilton’s family works through the long recovery process, another significant development has centered on his relationship with his three children.

After the August crisis, Hilton’s mother, Teresita Lavandeira, sought temporary custody of Mario, Mia, and Mayte while their father remained hospitalized and under psychiatric care. 

The Blast reported that a Miami judge later approved the request, creating a temporary arrangement to provide stability for the children while Hilton focused on recovery. 

The court also established a pathway for Hilton to maintain contact with his children. Under the order, he is eligible for supervised visitation, but only after receiving psychiatric clearance from medical professionals. 

Any visits must be supervised by an approved family member or mental health professional. Reports indicated that Hilton agreed to the arrangement.

“Dancing With the Stars” has officially unveiled its complete lineup of celebrity contestants for Season 35. Among those included is Jenna Dewan, whose extensive dance background has already sparked questions about whether she has an unfair advantage over her fellow competitors. Now, the “Step Up” star and her professional dance partner are addressing the criticism.

Jenna Dewan is one of the 16 contestants competing in the upcoming season of “Dancing With the Stars.” The actress began her professional entertainment career as a backup dancer for the stars before transitioning to acting. She landed her breakout role in the 2006 dance film “Step Up,” starring opposite Channing Tatum.

Dewan’s casting was met with online backlash, with many saying that her professional dancing experience gives her an unfair advantage over the other contestants.

The actress acknowledged the online comments in an interview, saying, “I do not know how to ballroom dance. Let’s be clear. It’s two different languages,” she told Entertainment Weekly.

She further stated that her dance background is somewhat helpful, but noted that she also has to unlearn a few things. “It’s a new technique, brand new technique,” she said, adding that ballroom dancing isn’t the same as the dancing style that she is used to.

The Actress Was A Backup Dancer For Janet Jackson

Dewan appeared in two Janet Jackson music videos, “Doesn’t Really Matter” and “All For You,” before travelling the world with the iconic singer as one of her backup dancers for the All For You World Tour from 2001 to 2002.

The dancer said it was always her dream to dance for Jackson. “I was a teenager. I was like, ‘That’s all I want.’ When it happened, I just couldn’t even believe it,” she gushed, adding that she and the singer remain “really good friends.” She’s hoping to dance to one of Jackson’s tracks in the ballroom.

Apart from Jackson, Dewan also danced for other artists, including Christina Aguilera, Missy Elliott, Mandy Moore, and Toni Braxton.

Val Chmerkovskiy Speaks Out About ‘High Expectations’ Of Jenna Dewan

Val Chmerkovskiy is Dewan’s pro dance partner, and he is aware of the buzz surrounding the former backup dancer and the “high expectations” of her. “We’re going to do our best. There’s no guarantees,” he said.

Chmerkovskiy said the audience is entitled to their own opinion, but they will approach the competition with gratitude and enjoy each other’s company while they train. “No amount of dance experience can give you that. So I think that’s our secret weapon. I think there’s a real human connection here, between the two of us, that we’re excited to share with the world,” he told PEOPLE.

Dewan said that ballroom dancing “feels really foreign” for her despite her background, and she decided to join “DWTS” to challenge herself.

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Some Former ‘DWTS’ Contestants Also Had Dance Backgrounds

Dewan isn’t the first competitor on “DWTS” with a dance background. Prior seasons also featured celebrities who were not new to dancing.

In Season 24, Heather Morris, who was a professional backup dancer for Beyoncé before starring as cheerleader Brittany S. Pierce in “Glee,” ended up in 8th place.

Former Broadway dancer and Radio City Rockette Amanda Kloots also competed in Season 30, finishing in fourth place.

Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, who had extensive training in dancing and performing arts, competed in Season 10 and took home the Mirrorball Trophy.

Other former contestants who had experience in dancing before joining the show include Charli D’Amelio, Jordan Fisher, JoJo Siwa, Zendaya, Mel B, Lance Bass, and Normani, to name a few.

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The Complete Cast Of ‘DWTS’ Season 35

Four competitors were revealed before the official cast announcement: Ciara Miller, Maura Higgins, Jackson Olson, and Guillermo Rodriguez.

On September 2, the full cast for “Dancing With the Stars” was announced live on “Good Morning America.” Apart from Dewan, other stars include Amber Glenn, Conner Leavitt, Connor Wood, Ezra French, Giada De Laurentiis, Harry Shum Jr., Julia Stiles, Sarah Jane Nader, Tatyana Ali, and Taylor Hanson.

“DWTS” Season 35 will kick off with a two-night premiere on September 15 and 16, with new episodes airing live on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.

New details have emerged about the death of All That alum Christy Knowings.

A death certificate obtained by Us confirmed that the former Nickelodeon actress was cremated on August 19 and her ashes were scattered at sea.

Knowings’ primary cause of death was determined to be cardiac arrest. The Los Angeles County Department of Health noted that there were multiple contributing factors at play as well, including acute hypoxic respiratory failure, which occurs when the lungs are not able to transfer enough oxygen into the blood stream. (People was first to report on the cause of death.)

As her family indicated following Knowings’ death at 46 on August 11, she also suffered from status asthmaticus, which is an extreme asthma attack.

Knowings’ father, Charles Dunn, confirmed to the New York Times on August 11 that her family made the difficult decision to take the actress off life support as doctors determined she’d experienced significant brain damage due to an asthma attack.

“Christy was a multi-talented lady,” Knowings’ manager told Us. “Whether it was singing, acting or dancing, she was always creating. Always professional and dedicated to her work.”

Knowings was best known for being in the ensemble cast of Nickelodeon sketch show All That from 1997 to 2000. She later appeared in multiple episodes of Sesame Street alongside her twin brother Chris Knowings, who played Gordon and Susan’s nephew, Chris Robinson.

Speaking to Bustle in 2019, Knowings looked back on how revolutionary All That was for presenting diversity on children’s TV in an era where that was far less common.

“The diversity in the cast made a huge difference because there were things that the writers just couldn’t write in … little nuances that they were not aware of, especially from myself and Kenan [Thompson, costar],” she pointed out. “We would bring cultural nuances and it was celebrated.”

Knowings added, “With ‘Inconvenience Store,’ there was a cultural aspect that people are more familiar with now, but back then they really weren’t. But it’s cool that it was celebrated in that way, it was a lot of fun.”

Related: Kenan Thompson Reacts to ‘Friend’ Michelle Trachtenberg’s Death

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Kenan Thompson is mourning the death of his fellow Nickelodeon child star Michelle Trachtenberg. “Our first Nick movie star has departed us!!” Thompson, 46, wrote via Instagram shortly after news of Trachtenberg’s death at age 39 broke Wednesday, February 26. “She was my friend and now she rests!! 🙏🏾 Check on your people!!! ❤️.” Thompson’s […]

Several members of the cast of All That paid tribute to their late costar when her death was announced in August.

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“Man this one hit hard!!! Rest well Christy!!! Never could have imagined this day,” Thompson, 48, wrote via Instagram. “Sending so much love to her family!! She was a real one and one of the funniest people out here!!! Gonna miss you buddy!!!”

Kel Mitchell remembered Knowings for being “so naturally funny, incredibly talented, and fearless” on the All That set.

“She had a gift for creating characters that were big, memorable, and completely her own. I’ll always be grateful for the laughs, the memories, and the time we shared as part of the All That family,” Mitchell, 48, recalled. “Christy, thank you for sharing your incredible gift with all of us. Your talent, your characters, and the joy you brought to so many will never be forgotten. Sending my love and deepest condolences to Christy’s family and loved ones.”

When your hair is feeling thinner or flatter than usual, even a small boost in volume can make a major difference. Dakota Johnson may have famously enviable locks, but fortunately you don’t have to spend Hollywood money to get star-worthy results. Dr. Groot Hair Thickening Shampoo is one of the products in her hairstylist Mark Townsend’s arsenal, and the volumizing shampoo is available on Amazon for $33.

Townsend has built quite the reputation as the stylist of the stars, and he recently shared the secret behind Johnson’s glossy, voluminous strands. But don’t worry, there’s no need to hire an A-list glam squad of your own because the easy-to-use formula slips right into your existing haircare routine.

Get the Dr. Groot Hair Thickening Shampoo for $33 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

As reported by InStyle, Dr. Groot Hair Thickening Shampoo is a favorite of Johnson’s stylist. The $33 formula is made with ingredients like biotin, caffeine, rosemary, salicylic acid and prebiotics, and is designed to cleanse the scalp while helping hair look thicker and fuller. If limp, fine-looking hair has you feeling insecure, look no further than this easy swap.

Related: Achieve ‘Noticeably More Bouncy’ Hair With This Thickening Shampoo

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Thinning hair is a natural part of life, but if your ponytail’s been feeling a bit lighter than usual recently, switching up your hair routine may help. One product that’s been praised for its volume-boosting properties is Medicube Rosemary PDRN Clarifying Thickening Shampoo. Yes, the formula cleanses the scalp like a traditional shampoo, but it […]

It’s also an effortless addition to an existing haircare routine, with no complicated extra steps required. Simply lather it into wet hair and scalp before rinsing, then follow with conditioner as usual. For an even more complete routine, use the brand’s coordinating formula.

Shoppers dealing with thinning hair have been especially enthusiastic about their results. “My hair looks healthier and thicker,” wrote one five-star Amazon reviewer. “I am using minoxidil on top of this, and most of my bald spots I had are either gone or close to being gone.”

Another shopper praised the shampoo and conditioner as a duo. “This product is excellent,” wrote another five-star reviewer. “Together with its conditioner, it has helped me a lot with hair loss. It leaves my hair clean, soft, and refreshed without drying it out.”

Fuller-looking hair is atop many a beauty wish list, and this celebrity hairstylist-approved shampoo is easily within reach. At $33 on Amazon, it makes adding a little of Johnson’s star-quality haircare routine to your own surprisingly simple.

Get the Dr. Groot Hair Thickening Shampoo for $33 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate as of the publishing date but are subject to change.

Looking for something else? Explore more hair thickening shampoos here and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

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Related: Taylor Swift’s Rich-Girl Volumizing Shampoo Is Finally Back in Stock

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Flat hair? Taylor Swift doesn’t know her. The pop star is famous for glossy strands that never look limp — even after long nights onstage and constant styling. And when it comes to getting that kind of lift, she doesn’t rely on a complicated routine or backstage-only tricks. Instead, Swift reaches for the Christophe Robin […]