Epstein’s True Relationship With Celebrities... Housewives Scoop and More...

Welcome to the first-ever edition of Celebrity Intelligence. In this week’s installment you’ll get all the news from the entertainment world you need to know (and some you don’t). There is analysis on power and money in Hollywood alongside reality TV scoop and behind the scenes details about how the celebrity world really works.

The newsletter will come out every week. I’ll be experimenting with release days as I get going. And when I get a scoop (prays to the Gossip Gods) that won’t hold you may also get breaking emails and special reports timed to events.

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The release of the Epstein Files has been one of the most scandalous and depressing news stories of the decade — 3.5 million pages exposing the inner workings of a prolific child sex trafficker. And yet the conversation keeps circling back to the question: which celebrities are in there? The answer, largely, is barely any. And that's the story.

Here is every star who’s been reported to be mentioned so far: 

That's it. For a man who moved freely between Manhattan penthouses, private islands, and the highest corridors of power - and who was known to boast an address book that read like a who's who of the global elite - the celebrity footprint is remarkably thin. Epstein's real business was managing the obscene wealth of the ultra-rich. He built his $600 million fortune and his shield of impunity by cultivating scientists, politicians, and financiers - people with institutional power and the ability to keep him untouchable. Put simply, Hollywood wasn’t powerful enough.

The only role celebrities played in Epstein’s world was as props - names he dropped to his victims, boasting of friendships with DiCaprio, Diaz and Blanchett, even faking phone calls with stars he’d never met. Their fame was bait for innocent young women. The stars themselves were irrelevant.

Investigative journalist Vicky Ward, who has reported on Epstein since 2003, puts it bluntly: "All the people Epstein courted were of transactional use. He understood ahead of other people that celebrities aren't actually powerful." In the world Epstein inhabited, A-listers were, at best, hired help. 

“Celebrities were a complete anathema and a danger to Epstein," Ward adds. "In hindsight, it was a major misstep for him to have flown Clinton on his plane, as it attracted media attention that ultimately opened Pandora's box. Celebrities would have drawn similar scrutiny." Clinton's high profile brought reporters asking questions about Epstein's jet, his island, and exactly who was traveling on both - the kind of attention that, had it come sooner, might have ended his operation decades earlier.

The one apparent exception was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (aka Prince Andrew before his Epstein ties forced the stripping of his titles and arrest) who was valuable to Epstein not because of his fame, but for his role as a British trade envoy. 

So while the internet hunts for the next famous name in 3.5 million pages, the more unsettling truth is already in plain sight: Epstein didn't need celebrities to abuse children, launder his reputation, or evade justice for decades. He had other, far more powerful people, to help him do that.

The most anticipated new reality show of the year, E! Network’s The Golden Life has begun with a dramatic start. Perfect fodder for a reality show… Producers brought the OG Real Housewives of New York City—Ramona Singer, Luann de Lesseps, Sonja Morgan, Kelly Bensimon, and Jill Zarin together for a Palm Beach reunion show with Golden Girls vibes but Jill got kicked off before it started for a racist rant about Bad Bunny’s Super bowl show.

Although the cast are close to Jill, sources tell me they are relieved. A show insider says, “Everyone feels bad about Jill being fired but are relieved it happened before the show started. They feel if Jill had spouted this stuff once the show started it could have brought down all of them so they are happy she did it before filming began.”

The cast is thrilled to be back on TV and excited to start filming, Dorinda Medley has already been drafted in to replace Jill  but I can reveal that the girls have also been reaching out to all their former colleagues to make guest appearances. They have contacted Aviva Drescher and are eager for her to fly down for an episode, and they also want Jules Wainstein to join.

Kelly Killoren Bensimon, who famously clashed with Bethenny Frankel during the infamous Scary Island scene, is not keen on having Bethenny back on the show. However, the other cast members believe that Bethenny would significantly boost the show’s likelihood of success, so they would love for her to join. At this point, though, Bethenny is firm in her belief that her Housewife days are behind her. Yet, anyone who saw the big smile on her face on social media after bumping into Sonja and Ramona in a restaurant last week can tell she might enjoy it! CHANGE YOUR MIND BETHENNY!

Celebrity Intelligence looks at what’s behind the photo of the week.

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales had a date night at the BAFTAs and Royal photographer Andrew Parsons took a photo of the couple while riding together in an elevator. But the photo speaks volumes about what William is going through. He is smiling through gritted teeth and looks exhausted while Kate looks concerningly at him. William even admitted that night he hadn’t seen the emotionally draining film Hamnet as he wasn’t in the right state of mind, presumably following the arrest of his uncle the former Prince Andrew, saying  “I need to be in quite a calm state and I’m not at the moment.”

William is known for being very strict with not scheduling events during his children’s school holidays and so it’s rare the pair both attended this event during the half term break. Royal sources tell me that the royal family has issued guidance to be out as much as possible to show normality and to keep calm and carry on. But the stress is showing as it’s crunch time as the monarchy has not seen such a crisis since the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936 and many are questioning whether William will need to take the throne early. King Charles has longed for the crown for decades, and so he will be determined to hold onto it until the very end. However, as more revelations surface regarding his brother’s questionable actions, the pressure on Charles intensifies. If any documents emerge that indicate Charles was aware of Andrew's misdeeds, or if he is found to be complicit in ignoring them in any way, he may find it necessary to step down to save the monarchy from crumbling completely. In such a scenario, Prince William could potentially assume the role of Prince Regent. This leaves a lot on William’s shoulders, who has always wanted as long as possible to have a normal family life before ascending the throne.

Things seem to be getting serious between Kim Kardashian and boyfriend Lewis Hamilton. Kim has taken Lewis to the family’s favorite mini break location, the Amangiri in Utah. It’s a celebrity favorite as it’s known for its "anonymity and isolation". Notable guests have included Justin and Hailey Bieber, Ariana Grande, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Emily Ratajkowski, Miley Cyrus and Leonardo DiCaprio.

This resort is truly exceptional. I was fortunate enough to elope here when I got married in 2018, and it remains the most beautifully surreal travel experience I've ever had. Picture an architectural mirage rising from the high desert—a minimalist masterpiece where Utah's rugged canyons meet luxury architecture. Amangiri isn’t just a hotel; it’s a love letter to the tranquility of the American Southwest. Built into the curves of 165-million-year-old rock, the resort employs raw concrete and soft light to reflect the texture of the surrounding mesa. Here, it’s just you and nature, so it’s essential to be on good terms and comfortable with one another, as there are no distractions.

And the service is beyond, staff are trained to anticipate guests needs before they think of them. Prices have skyrocketed since the pandemic and are now around $7,000 a night.

In February, the sudden deaths of James Van Der Beek and Eric Dane prompted friends to launch GoFundMe campaigns swiftly to assist their families with medical expenses, leading critics to question how these successful stars could struggle to cover their bills.

These heartbreaking losses of beloved actors highlight that "celebrity" status does not guarantee long-term financial security. Many working actors face financial instability due to the industry's shift toward streaming, the high cost of medical care, and a lack of consistent, high-level income.

Last week, I spoke with Bijou Phillips for the cover of Us Weekly about her fight for her daughter’s survival, her search for a kidney donor, and the importance of organ donation. What struck me most was her remarkable positivity and peace in the face of death during our conversation, but she also addressed the challenges actors encounter with medical insurance, managing bills, and shared her own struggles.

Bijou explained, “During my first transplant, SAG denied coverage, and we fought for months for approval. After starting dialysis, I qualified for Medicare, which initially promised coverage but then refused. SAG also denied payment, leaving me with a massive bill while trying to survive. Because of that experience, I now carry multiple insurance policies and Medicare. It’s insane that you have to strategize insurance while fighting for your life.” She emphasized the ongoing struggle with unapproved and costly medications that she pays for out of pocket. “It’s terrifying to deal with a life-threatening illness while battling insurance companies,” she said.

Bijou also reflected on the changing landscape of acting: “When you’re consistently working, you make good money—at least you used to, before streaming altered residuals. But illness doesn’t care about career cycles, and neither does insurance.”

I spoke to another celebrity, who requested to remain anonymous, who mentioned that their earnings from television were not substantial and that fame is an expensive pursuit with agents and managers and publicists taking big percentages of income. They said to profit from fame, one must closely monitor finances and strategically leverage personal brands in non-entertainment areas quickly, or the business model isn’t lucrative.

Although we often associate fame with fortune, the spotlight does not always bring wealth. Alyssa Milano also defended the GoFundMe campaigns, arguing that being a well-known TV figure does not guarantee, and rarely results in, the wealth necessary to protect families from financial crises.

Bijou concluded our conversation by stating, “It says something is deeply broken. If even successful actors are launching GoFundMe campaigns to survive, what does that mean for everyone else? The system is incredibly complicated and stacked against people, making it hard for those with resources. For families without them, I can’t imagine the pressure. No one fighting for their life should also have to battle their insurance company.”

As someone who grew up with the National Health Service in the UK, where everyone is entitled to high-quality medical care at no cost, it’s difficult to comprehend this reality, especially when even the privileged struggle and need to ask for help.

I watched pop’s new girlie (ex Little Mixer) Jade Thirlwall’s show at Brooklyn Paramount on February 19, and she cemented herself as new pop royalty with a faultless performance that showed off her vocal range, high energy dance routines, sharp wit and large heart. After scoring the gays’ song of (last) the summer with Angel Of My Dreams she had 3,000 mostly gay men  eating out the palm of her hand for the entire set. Watch this space. The gays don’t get pop wrong… 

Jelly Roll has undergone one of the biggest celebrity transformations in recent history, losing nearly 300 pounds and potentially gaining years of healthy, active living. I visited the team that guided Jelly Roll’s health journey at the longevity and digital preventative health platform, Ways2Well, to find out what they would advise for me.

For $599, patients receive two comprehensive blood draws a year that assess 100 unique biological markers (insurance typically covers around 13 bio markers in your yearly bloodwork). This service flags any potential issues and crafts a personalized plan that addresses specific health needs.

My results came back pretty good. I have the body of a 43-year-old instead of the nearly 51 years I actually am (insert compliment here, dear reader). However, it highlighted some deficiencies in vitamins and minerals that were easily solved with supplements. It also revealed that I had an above-average amount of fat around my organs and that my testosterone was low, so they prescribed me Tesamorelin, a human growth hormone aimed at enhancing lean muscle mass and increasing energy. 

I’ve been doing injections six times a week for two weeks (I have no issues with injections, just remembering to do them), and I’ve already felt more energized, and noticed a slightly leaner waist in my snow week sweatpants. While my results aren’t quite on par with Jelly Roll’s, I’m very happy with the service and the peace of mind that comes from knowing what’s really going on with my body. So, thank you, Jelly Roll, for introducing me to a service that has changed the way I think about my health. Obviously I’m not recommending anything for you medically here, just sharing my experience.

Is there too much of a good thing? Ever since Heated Rivalry exploded last year Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams have been walking catwalks, gabbing on every talk show, landing fashion partnerships and magazine covers.  They’ve been Winter Olympics Torchbearers. They are EVERYWHERE. Usually I would advise "ENOUGH already, stay home for a while and catch up on HBO’s Industry!"  so we don’t get bored of these exciting new faces (and bodies) and have them risk overexposure.

But these young men have waited a long time for this attention and success, and should enjoy it all. What's more, the world is in such a dark place for LGBTQIA people at the moment, that Heated Rivalry and the excitement around these boys is a ray of sunshine and positivity. Connor on SNL is proving that he’s not a one hit wonder and is a disciplined actor who can adapt to comedy with his solid SNL performance and even more outstanding promo ad showing off his accents and comic timing.

And I’m super excited to see their next moves emerging: Connor is in talks to join the cast of Peaked, a comedy from A24, and Hudson will star in the Netflix mystery thriller  The Altruist with Carrie-Anne Moss. ENJOY IT ALL!

Spencer Pratt is currently in the midst of his campaign to become Mayor of Los Angeles, and many have been asking whether, if he is successful, he would turn his sights toward Washington with further political aspirations. After all, reality TV has already paved the way for one president. Trump, shaped by The Apprentice, crafted a persona—the boss, the bully, the man with a catchphrase—that ultimately propelled him to the presidency. He became pop culture’s villain turned real-world threat and Spencer’s trajectory as a reality TV villain is quite similar.

However, Spencer paused his campaign to tell me that the buzz surrounding his potential interest in Washington is unfounded. “My priority is Los Angeles. This city has incredible potential, but it needs leadership that brings people together and delivers real results. If we can make LA safer, more affordable, and more responsive to our community, that leadership will speak for itself. Right now, my focus is on doing the necessary work here.”

I hope you enjoyed this first issue and took something away from Celebrity Intelligence. Have a great week!