I used to have a lot of love for Jennifer Love Hewitt. She just seemed like a goofy, sweet person who would tell you about her issues with men. Then it became clear that she wouldn’t spare any details. She went on to write a book about relationships, and she would make sure we knew about every guy she was dating, to the point where it was surely detrimental to her relationships. Now she’s tweeting a lot and seems somewhat up her own butt, but she’s still nice enough and comes across as genuine. One of the things that Hewitt is tweeting about is this recent rumor that she’s back with her ex-fiance, comic Jamie Kennedy, who was three or four boyfriends ago by my count. She’s vague about it, and just denies that it’s true. But come on, why would E! be reporting this unless she put the rumor out there somehow? It’s not like she’s followed by paps she doesn’t call. Here’s the story, thanks to E!:

Natural brunette Jennifer Love Hewitt —who is no stranger to changing up her hue—debuted some lighter locks over the weekend.

But is the 32-year-old actress pairing her new hair with an old flame?

It sure looks that way!

A source tells E! News exclusively that Hewitt has rekindled her romance with actor Jamie Kennedy. The Ghost Whisperer costars enjoyed a year-long romance that ended with a high-profile split in March 2010.

Late last year, Hewitt split with actor Jarod Einsohn. Fortunately for the star, her old beau was conveniently unattached as well.

“They are dating again,” the source tells us, adding that the reunited couple has been enjoying sleepovers at Kennedy’s L.A. condo.

Hewitt’s Twitter feed certainly has been lovey-dovey the past month. She’s retweeted Love Quotes and Megan Fox’s parody Twitter account’s uplifting messages about romance and choosing to “look beyond the imperfections” in order to be happy.

Hewitt’s rep had no comment.

[From E! Online]

Do you think they’re rebound friends with benefits? That’s the impression I’m getting from this story and her tweets, like this one “the rumors are not true, the day was good,and sweet dreams will be awesome!” These two did part on good terms a couple of years ago, and it seemed to be about the fact that Hewitt wanted to get married and Kennedy wasn’t ready to commit. (I remembered that they were engaged, but that was just a rumor.) I don’t think it will last. At least she’s being somewhat realistic about it, even if she’s putting it out there. She needs to get publicity for something I guess.

Also, here’s her new hair, which you can’t really see in this photo. It’s got blonde streaks in it. (Another photo is here.) I like her better as a brunette. In the header image her hair looks just like Kim Kardashian’s new ‘do, down to the color. So maybe it was a good idea to switch it up anyway.

This photo is from 11-6-09.

Header image from 1-4-12. Credit: LRR/FameFlynet Pictures

After Christmas there were several reports that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver might be getting back together. Their marriage famously imploded after it came out last spring that a longterm maid of the family had a 14 year-old son with Arnold, and that she had continued working for them for 20 years, up until just a few weeks before the scandal broke. It was a mind-numbing and very public betrayal, and Maria filed for divorce in July after 25 years of marriage. Maria seemed like she was willing to forgive Arnold though, and TMZ and People reported that they had spent the holidays together with their four children and were trying to work it out. Well now celebrity mouthpiece People is saying that they’re not going to get back together. Maria has been wearing a ring on her left ring finger, but it has nothing to do with Arnold and is her late mother’s ring. That’s good news.

While Internet reports that Maria Shriver is wearing a suspicious ring on that finger fueled rumors of a possible reconciliation with husband Arnold Schwarzenegger, PEOPLE has learned there’s a different explanation.

The bling seen on Shriver’s left hand is actually her late mother’s engagement ring. Shriver, who was extremely close her mom, has been wearing the ring since Eunice Shriver’s death in August 2009.

As for rumors that Shriver is having second thoughts about divorcing Schwarzenegger, a source close to the couple denies it.

“The reports of a reconciliation are not true,” says the source.

The former couple, who announced their separation in May after 25 years of marriage, still spend quality time as a family with their four children, Katherine, Christina, Patrick and Christopher.

Most recently, Shriver and Schwarzenegger enjoyed Christmas together with the kids at their Los Angeles home, and attended the L.A. Lakers’ season opener game that afternoon.

While it appears their divorce is still on track, “Arnold and Maria will always come together when it comes to supporting and loving their children,” says a family insider.

[From People]

So what happened? Did the holiday glow wear off and did Maria realize that all the presents and sweet talk in the world weren’t going to make her husband into a faithful partner? I get that it may seem scary to face life without her husband. She’s been making strides to do that though, and she moved out and filed for divorce. Maybe it was never true that she was considering taking him back, but I tend to believe those earlier stories.

The Enquirer has a possible alternate explanation this week for Maria’s change of heart – her family talked some sense into her. They claim that her cousin, Caroline Kennedy, and her four brothers are telling Maria that it would be foolish to take Arnold back:

“Caroline has been Maria’s harshest critic, saying, ‘Don’t do it, Maria. Don’t be a fool. Once a cheater, always a cheater,’” a Kennedy clan insider said…

“A combination of Arnold lavishing gifts on her, courting her at family dinners, spending Christmas and Christmas Eve with her, and the kids begging her to change her mind and call off the divorce has her seriously contemplating reconciliation.

“But the reaction of Maria’s other relatives has been shock and horror – and the most vocal opponents include Maria’s four brothers and cousin Caroline. They are warning her that she is just asking for more heartbreak and devastation…’

“Arnold has been working on Maria and getting their kids to put pressure on her as well. And he’s told her that she’s the only woman he has ever really loved and that he couldn’t live without her and the children.

“He’s also said that he has been so devastated by her leaving him that he will never cheat again.”

Despite Arnold’s pleas, the Kennedy relatives remain united in their opposition to a reconciliation.

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, January 16, 2012]

That’s low of him to get the kids to put pressure on her. Well at least Maria’s family is warning her about Arnold. That’s probably why we’re now seeing reports in People that they’re not reconciling. I’m actually relieved for her.

Maria is shown wearing her late mom’s ring on 11-29-11. These cute photos of Maria with her dog are from 9-27-11. She’s shown out with son, Patrick, on 9-25-11. Photos of her out with Arnold are from 2-2-11 before the split. Credit: Fame Pictures

This is why celebrities should be advised by everyone close to them to avoid using social media on their own, especially people like Sinead O’Connor who suffer from manic episodes and refuse to take their meds. Sinead, 45, posted a long blog entry late last month announcing the end of her 16 day marriage to 38 year-old addiction counselor Barry Herridge. She blamed their split on people in her new husband’s life who were trying to keep them apart. Later, to British rag The Sun, Sinead admitted that things started to go south when she went searching for pot on her wedding night and ended up with some crack cocaine in hand, while drugs counselor Barry cowered in the car.

Well those crazy kids Sinead and Barry are trying to make it work, at least for now, and Sinead is tweeting about the fact that they’re having sex. At least she’s not getting into too many details, as she’s been known to do in the past. Here are some of her tweets and HuffPo has a more coherent explanation if you’d rather read that.

Sinead, step away from the computer/iPad. I don’t care who you fight with or f#*k, and in general that’s mildly interesting, but I don’t want to hear the play by play.

We’ve heard for some time that Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn’t want to lose his wife of 25 years, Maria Shriver, and has been trying to win her back. Shriver officially filed for divorce in July, signifying that she wanted to finally step away from her marriage and all the scandals and infidelity that she was subjected to. Only now that he’s had a taste of life without his devoted wife, Arnie can’t stand it and has been trying to win her back. It’s been working too, according to articles in both People Magazine and TMZ. Damnit, Maria, just take half the money and coparent. Walk away with your dignity intact.

A source close to the family tells PEOPLE the two spent Christmas together with their children at their home in Brentwood, Calif., and they “had a really nice time” over the holiday.

According to the source, they also attended the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener game at the Staples Center in the afternoon.

Spending time together, however, isn’t unprecedented for the two.

Since their split, Shriver, 56, was by her ex’s side on his 64th birthday in July.

“Children and family come first,” a source close to the estranged couple told PEOPLE earlier this year, with an additional insider adding, “Arnold and Maria will always come together when it comes to supporting and loving their children.”


The family Christmas celebration comes amid online reports that Shriver is having second thoughts about ending her marriage.

The former couple, married 25 years before announcing their separation in May, have four children together: Katherine, Christina, Patrick and Christopher. – From People

---

Maria Shriver is telling friends she’s now unsure if she wants to divorce Arnold Schwarzenegger … TMZ has learned.

We’re told Maria is torn, partly because of her strong religious beliefs that do not include divorce.

Making matters even more complicated — we’re told Arnold still desperately wants Maria back, and has been “extremely sweet” to her and has made numerous gestures — which include presents — to win Maria back.

Maria filed for divorce on July 1, though she moved out months earlier. She’s already bought a mansion in Brentwood, CA, which she’s in the process of renovating. – From TMZ

[From People and TMZ]

I know that they have to do what they feel is right for their family, and that it’s their business if they want to work it out. Arnold cheated on Maria in her own bed with the maid that worked for their family for 20 years, and had a child with that woman 14 years ago without ever telling his wife. How do you move past something like that? Do you just ignore all the massive betrayals, and try to push the doubt out of your mind that he did it to you every year, maybe every month, that you were married? How can you ever trust that person again? I get that Maria may feel like Arnold is the love of her life. At some point, though, you have to cut your losses and realize that it’s not worth it. Of course the dude can act all sweet and buy presents after he’s been thoroughly busted. He is incapable of being faithful, and that’s probably not going to change at all in his twilight years. This disappoints me.

Maria and Arnold are shown at a tree lighting ceremony on 11/21/10. Credit: WENN.com. She’s shown alone on 11/29/11. Credit: Buzzpaps/Fame Pictures

These photos are from 2007

I think it was the illustrious J-Wowww who compared reconciling with an old boyfriend to reheating cooked pasta. It’s a good analogy, really, because an old flame can seem familiar and comforting but much blander and staler the second time around. When we’re talking about Richie Sambora, I guess it’s more like reheating spoiled meat though. He never was a catch and never will be, although I guess a drunken rocker can seem like an awesome boyfriend when you compare him to a drugged out TV star who hires hookers he finds on the Barely Legal adult film series.

Anyway last year The Enquirer was claiming that these two were together over the summer, I had forgotten about that. They were first linked in 2006, broke up about a year later, and now they’re supposedly together yet again, according to The Enquirer’s sister site, Radar Online. I doubt they’ve been together since last summer this go-round. I bet Denise just calls her tabloid contacts whenever she has dinner with Richie. Here’s more:

They say love never dies!

Bombshell beauty Denise Richards is back together with her ex-boyfriend Richie Sambora, RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned.

“They are dating again,” a source close to the couple revealed.

Richards, 40, and Sambora, 52, dated in 2006 following their divorces from Charlie Sheen and Heather Locklear, respectively, but broke up in 2007.

Now it seems like the pair have reconciled again, following a romantic dinner at Tatsuki sushi restaurant in Woodland Hills, California on Sunday night. “They were there over an hour and they had the whole place to themselves for the last half hour.”

Denise and Richie walked by a tattoo parlor on the way out of the restaurant and he joked to Denise, “What do ya think, should I get one?” and she laughed.

“It is serious but they are trying to keep it low key,” the source told RadarOnline.com about the on again couple.

[From Radar Online]

The “low key” crap is very similar to the story last year about how they were “staying out of the public eye because they didn’t want to become part of the media hoopla surrounding their ex-spouses.” Denise probably wants to hit up a few red carpets and have dinner at Mr. Chow but Richie is probably telling her “no.” So she’s telling Radar and The Enquirer that they’re trying to keep it “low key.”

This is mildly interesting to me on a “what is she thinking?” level. If Denise and Richie started getting papped together I think the collective response would be a shrug and she knows that. So… well played?

Here’s Denise and Richie on vacation on 01/31/07. Is she putting on sunscreen or sniffing something?

Photo credit: Fame Pictures

I’ve lost track of the many times that Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel have broken up and gotten back together. It’s clear that they have a pattern: They step away, see other people until it goes bad, (usually Justin is the one seeing other people, but Jessica is usually linked to a few guys too), and then reconcile. A lot of couples do that, and I’ve seen this same pattern play out with non-famous people. There are married guys who try to pull similar bullsh*t on their wives too, because they’re the type of guys who need constant attention and want a devoted wife at home and some stupid piece on the side who will tell them how great they are. When both people are single, though, it’s like the guy wants the freedom to date, and can’t give up the security blanket of having a girlfriend. The woman (usually) thinks he’ll eventually come around and commit because they’re so clearly meant for each other, but it just doesn’t happen. At least they’re not married yet.

Anyway, here’s Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, take 20-something.

Talk about a happy rendezvous! Life & Style can exclusively reveal that Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel were side-by-side the entire weekend in Toronto, where the two shared multiple cups of coffee, dinners and brunches together! “Justin and Jessica came into Ella’s Uncle coffee shop not once but three times this weekend: Saturday evening, Sunday morning and just this morning,” an eyewitness tells Life & Style. “They seemed so comfortable, happy and at ease every time.”

“They literally couldn’t stop staring and smiling at each other,” the eyewitness explains, adding that the pair were as cute as ever: “Justin seemed completely smitten with Jessica, and she had this permanent smile on her face, and they joked around with each other. Jessica even recommended Justin get her favorite, the Americano, but Justin opted for the Ella, a double cappuccino with maple syrup.”

They certainly needed the extra caffeine: On Sunday the pair enjoyed a bike ride together on Queen St. West. That same day, they stopped for a cozy brunch at Swan Restaurant.

“Yes, they came into Swan together and sat in the back,” a second eyewitness tells Life & Style. “Justin had scrambled eggs and Jessica had an omelet. Jessica must have suggested it because Justin’s not here very often, but she comes in a lot.” And the always-funny Justin kept Jessica fully entertained. “They were laughing and having such a good time,” the second eyewitness adds. “They enjoyed their food, but they seemed to enjoy each other much more!”

Justin, who is due back in New York City, recently revealed that he’s definitely not over Jessica: “She is the single most significant person in my life,” Justin said.

[From Life & Style]

I would think that some restaurant was going for free publicity with this story, but L&S got detailed menu information from both a restaurant and a coffee shop, so it reads more like a publicist’s piece. Kind of like the rumors in July that they were “quietly” back together, then the rumors that Justin was “quietly” cheating on Jessica. It won’t be long before we hear the same story again, rinse and repeat. Will Jessica ever put her foot down and refuse to take him back? She hasn’t done it in the several years they’ve been together.

These photos are from 2009 and 2010. I have that same shopping bag! Credit: WENN.com

Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen look to be back together after their split last summer, as evident by these photos of the couple no one cares about vacationing in Barbados. Several photo agencies have these pictures, and again this is in Barbados and it’s not like any photographers are going to be following these two on vacation. Rachel wore several different bikinis for these photo ops (here she is in another bikini on DListed) to maximize her publicity options. I suppose we’ll next be hearing about how they’re re-engaged:

The couple, who reportedly threw in the towel on their over three-year relationship in March, were spotted soaking up the sun during an island getaway to Barbados to celebrate Christensen’s 30th birthday.

Bilson, 29, was photographed showcasing her fit physique in several tiny string bikinis while spending the day swimming in the Caribbean ocean with Christensen, whom she met on the set of “Jumper” in 2007. The low-key couple later got engaged in December of the following year.

But last summer, the actress was spotted sans engagement ring as reports surfaced that she and her “Star Wars” beau were “taking a break” to reevaluate their relationship. One of the main reasons for the split was reportedly due to the distance between Bilson in Los Angeles and Christensen in Canada.

Bilson’s rep confirmed in August that the couple’s engagement was off, but the two appeared to be giving their relationship another shot when they were spotted hanging out again in L.A. three months later.

Despite breaking up and making up yet again, the couple may have to face another geographical obstacle if Bilson continues working on her new pilot, “Hart of Dixie,” in Wilmington, N.C.

[From The NY Daily News]

I’ve said that I don’t find Rachel as grating as Kaiser does, but I’m definitely seeing Kaiser and Lainey’s point that she oversells. Bilson had one movie out last year, she has one in the can for this year (with Kate Bosworth, doesn’t that seem fitting?) and now she’s staging vacation photos to announce her next project. She also has a porcelain line at Macys and hopes to go into bedding. I’m surprised she doesn’t have a perfume, clothing line or exercise tape out yet.

When your main career as an actor or singer is flailing, there’s always the opportunity to try and sell your personal life and launch a side business to bring in cash. Still, Bilson is doing much better than her old O.C. costar, Mischa Barton. That’s not saying much.

Last October, Billy Ray Cyrus and Tish Finley announced they were divorcing. It’s been chaos ever since, and the tabloids have been going over every dirty detail they could find about Billy Ray, Tish and Miley. Allegedly, Billy Ray was mad because Tish was maybe screwing around on him with Bret Michaels (and maybe somebody else too). There were fights about money. The other Cyrus children were “acting out” and Miley was videotaped smoking a bong. Then, last month, The Mullet sat down for an exhaustive and comprehensive interview with GQ Magazine (go here for our coverage) – he blamed himself for his family’s demise, he said he basically sold his kid to Disney, he talked about his failings as a man, and he made it sound like Miley wasn’t even speaking to him anymore. After that, things simmered down. Miley forced her dad to cancel some media appearances and The Mullet stopped talking so much. And now there’s another chapter to this ongoing mullet-y saga: Billy Ray is “dropping” the divorce!

How do you mend an achy breaky heart? Billy Ray Cyrus says he’s doing everything he can.

“I’ve dropped the divorce,” Cyrus, 49, said during an interview on The View scheduled to air on Friday. “I want to put my family back together … Things are the best they’ve ever been.”

“I feel like I got my Miley back,” he added during Thursday’s taping. “I feel like we’re the daddy and daughter we were before Hannah Montana.”

But the last few months have not been easy for Cyrus.

In October, he and wife Tish issued a joint statement announcing plans to end their 17-year marriage. A few months later, a startling video went viral of the couple’s daughter, Miley, smoking natural herb salvia out of a bong.

Then, in an unguarded interview with GQ, he blamed Hannah Montana for “destroying my family,” and said he felt Miley surrounded herself with people who put her “in a great deal of danger.”

At the time, Billy Ray also told PEOPLE he was doing everything he could to find family unity again, saying in an exclusive statement, “It is very important to me to work on mending my family right now.”

Even now, Cyrus still maintains his family would be in a better place if Miley didn’t become a celebrity.

“Hannah Montana didn’t ruin my family,” he said during the View taping Thursday. “Fame did.”

“Sometimes when you get in this ride,” he said, “you feel like you’re strapped to a rocket.”

[From People]

Do you buy this contrition? Is that even what The Mullet is aiming for? I do think The Mullet was emotionally blackmailing Tish and Miley with that GQ interview – he was letting them know that he wasn’t just going to fade away quietly, that if he was going, he was taking them with him. Well, he got what he wanted. Miley is now speaking to him again, and Tish must be gritting her teeth through this reconciliation. Ten bucks says that even though the divorce is being “dropped” that Tish and The Mullet still live in separate homes.

Photos courtesy of WENN & Fame.

A couple of days ago, Jon Gosselin was photographed “hard at work” installing solar panels on a building for his new job in construction, having quit the office job he was so proud of because it involved “too much travel.” I contemplated running that story, but then figured that Jon Gosselin would get plenty of other jobs over the next year. Well now Jon supposedly wants Kate back, probably because she was so good at helping him make minor everyday decisions that he finds perplexing on his own. Plus there’s the whole issue of Jon’s standard of living decreasing dramatically now that he’s on his own and completely unable to hold down a basic job or manage his money. Popeater has this story, along with the news that Kate supposedly is on board with this idea, because she misses the life she had with Jon before she was forced to become a “single mom” pulling in hundreds of thousands for the few times she bothers to interact with her kids.

“They both realize how much they miss each other,” a friend of the couple’s tells me. “Neither one of them have been really happy since their ugly split and would love to turn back time to the point where they were both in love before fame took over.”

Jon recently traded his Ed Hardy shirts for a hardhat and scored a job with Green Pointe Energy, a Pennsylvania-based renewable energy company. The former reality star and computer techie spends his days installing solar panels and doing other good-for-the-planet deeds.

“Jon is in a great place,” a friend of the father of eight told me last month. “He is happy and knows what a fool he made of himself after his split from Kate…”

So after the ups and downs of 2010, the couple have found peace again, especially now that the cameras have gone away. As everything has started to return to normal so have Jon and Kate with Jon now working in green construction and Kate turning to being a full-time mom again.

“After the split the both of them were out of control. Kate thought she was going to be dating Brad Pitt, and Jon was sure he was going to be a superstar. Neither one of them found what they were looking for when they were single and have both come to the conclusion that maybe they are right for each other.”

Plus, it wouldn’t hurt ratings on next season’s show! Just saying …

[From Popeater, Rob Shuter's column]

This story is probably from Jon’s camp, because he didn’t get enough press for those very staged photos of him smoking on the job. It makes me wonder if he’s still with the last coed he hooked up with, that Ellen chick who had an advice column online. She still has a photo of herself with Jon on her website, but it’s pretty far down the page. I would bet that she kicked him to the curb and that Jon is considering going back to Kate in order to quit having to worry about paying his bills. Plus it might absolve him of the $10k a month child support payment he’s surely unable to make. I could see Kate acting on camera like she’s taking him back without really letting him do more than live above the garage again while her lover/bodyguard stays in the house. If welcoming Jon back breathes new life into her rapidly fading reality show she’ll probably consider it. She’ll do anything to increase her long over 15 minutes.

Kate Gosselin is shown on 12/1/10. Jon is shown on 11/29/10. Credit: Fame

Here’s a sad story from The Enquirer that claims that not only is Britney Spears not happy that her parents are reuniting after their 2002 divorce, but that she suspects they’re doing it to get more of her money. Britney’s father Jamie has been her conservator since 2008, and she’s been trying to get out from under his thumb ever since. Britney used to think of her mom as an ally, and enlisted her help to try and end the conservatorship. Now that her parents are back together, Britney feels that no one is on her side and that they’re conspiring to control her – and her cash. Here’s part of the Enquirer’s story:

You’d think Britney Spears would be thrilled to see her divorced parents get back together – instead she’s furious!

The troubled performer believes the reunion will destroy her chance to gain her freedom from court-ordered supervision…

Until the recent reconciliation, Britney shared her complaints about her father’s supervision with mom Lynne, 55 – and she was convinced that Lynne would help her win back her freedom.

“Britney feels completely betrayed,” revealed a source. “Britney used to be able to confide in Lynne about all the problems she had with her father.

“Lynne gave Britney hope that she could get out of the conservatorship and be on her own again. She even promised to speak to Britney’s doctors and lawyers on her behalf. Now Britney realizes Lynne was going behind her back and telling Jamie everything she said.

Britney, who turns 29 on Dec. 2, believes that Lynne was working with her father all along to manipulate her into being more cooperative – and that she did so for financial reasons.

Dad Jamie, 58, earns $16,000 a month for his role as Britney’s conservator.

“If Jamie were no longer her conservator, the money would stop and Lynne and Jamie would both again become dependent on Britney’s generosity for money. Britney doesn’t want her parents back together. She thinks their relationship is very dysfunctional.”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, December 6, 2010]

Britney has been a cash cow for her family since she was a little girl. You like to think that her family has her best interests in mind, especially since her dad was able to help Britney turn her life around after her breakdown. Her mom Lynne was not there for her when she was growing up, and she made a lot of excuses about it during her book tour two years ago. It makes sense that Britney thinks her parents are motivated by money. They’ve arguably used her to make a living for most of her life, although her dad genuinely seemed to want to help her these past few years. We also know that he supported himself as a chef after the divorce and before he was called in to be Britney’s conservator. Hopefully Britney’s parents got back together for love and no other reason.

Photos are from a Hawaiian vacation that Britney took with her parents and boys in late August. Britney is shown on 11/2/10 outside California Pizza Kitchen. Credit: Fame Pictures.