After repeated denials, Korean star Kim Soo Hyun’s label Gold Medalist has admitted in a statement today (Mar 14) that the 37-year-old actor had dated late actress Kim Sae Ron.

However, unlike claims by YouTube channel HoverLab, better known as Garosero Research Institute, that their relationship began in 2016 when Sae Ron was 15, Gold Medalist said they dated from the summer of 2019, after she became of legal age, until autumn of 2020.

It added that the photo previously shared by Sae Ron in March 2024 and HoverLab on March 11 this year were both taken in 2020 when they were still dating.

“The clothes worn by Kim Sae Ron was released by a certain clothing brand in June of 2019. Therefore, HoverLab’s claim that the photo was taken in 2016, when Kim Sae Ron was a minor, cannot be true,” it said.

It added it can prove through the photo’s metadata that other intimate photos HoverLab shared of the pair were taken after Sae Ron became an adult.

“Despite HoverLab’s claims that there are multiple photos of the two taken in 2016, when Kim Sae Ron was a minor, such photos do not exist because they were not dating in 2016,” it said.

Gold Medalist criticised HoverLab of manipulating facts and misrepresenting dates.

“This is a deeply personal matter that has been twisted into a public spectacle,” it stated.

“False information is spreading like wildfire, causing immense harm to Kim Soo Hyun and those close to him.”

Sae Ron was found dead in her home in an apparent suicide on Feb 16, which is also Soo Hyun’s birthday. She was 24.

Following her death, HoverLab alleged that Soo Hyun was in a six-year-long relationship with the late actress when she was a minor.

The agency had originally planned to issue a response to allegations next week but decided to release a statement early as Soo Hyun was showing "symptoms of severe emotional distress" over accusations and false information spreading online.

Hoverlab warned in a YouTube live stream that if Soo Hyun fails to issue a public apology to Sae Ron’s family, it will release what it described as “shirtless” photos of the actor “washing dishes” at Sae Ron’s home.

"We have a photo of someone shirtless and washing dishes at his girlfriend's house. It's not just a photo, there’s also a video. Next week, we plan to review someone's statement of position and publish it,” it said.

It added in a YouTube community post that if he continues to lie, “three truly shocking photos and a video will be released”.

“These will be incomparable to the photos released so far,” it said.

It seems JJ Lin had quite a cool welcome while in London to perform at the O2 Arena.

Forty-six of JJ Lin's song titles (yes, 46!) were featured on a service information notice board at the North Greenwich tube station in London, the closest station to the O2 Arena where JJ was to perform.

Admittedly, it may not be easy to spot as they were English translations of JJ's song titles that were incorporated into a poem. But one eagle-eyed Xiao Hong Shu user stopped to read it, snapped a photo and shared it on the platform.

The JJ Lin song title Easter eggs were featured on the tube station's service information board, which is part of the popular ‘All On The Board’ project.

The 'All On The Board' project first went viral years ago when station staff began posting uplifting or funny messages, poems or quotes on the service information boards. 

In recent years, the board has also featured pop stars such as Sabrina Carpenter, Katy Perry, and even K-pop group, Ateez. 

Fans were delighted by the tribute to JJ Lin with many calling it the perfect way to welcome the ‘Turn of a Page’ singer to London.

Some even rushed to North Greenwich station to see the display, sharing that they had “checked in” to see the JJ’s tribute in person.

​One even commented, “Finally came to see the board and had so much fun finding all of JJ’s songs.”

For those unsure about which words were from JJ’s songs, a fan went the extra mile by highlighting them in red.

Naomi Watts has been hard at work on her first book—and she says it’s not your typical celebrity memoir.

On Tuesday, the actress, 55, announced that Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I’d Known about Menopause will be hitting shelves in January. And as the title suggests, the book is intended to serve as a reference manual for menopause and other aspects of aging as a woman.

“This is a book about how my life turned upside down when I was told I was close to menopause at the age of 36! Right when I was ready to start a family,” the Mulholland Drive star wrote on Instagram.

Watts’ book—which will include her personal story, anecdotes from her own experience with menopause, and conversations with friends and experts—stems from her desire to help women feel less alone and to break the taboo surrounding menopause, a natural stage of aging.

“As I struggled through shame and secrecy, I wished there was an open conversation. A handbook I could secretly turn the pages of. Sadly, there were no real resources. Not even well-versed doctors,” she added.

“Feeling confused, alone, and unsupported during this stage of life, Watts was determined to do better for herself and for other women, and began boldly using her platform to normalize conversations about this natural process,” read a press release about the upcoming book, which will include a foreword by Dr. Mary Claire Haver.

Watts—already a leading voice in the menopause health advocacy space—previously wrote an introduction for Menopause Is Hot: Everything You Need to Know to Thrive by Mariella Frostrup and Alice Smellie, founded Stripes, a menopause-focused brand, and started co-hosting The New Pause Symposium in 2022.

​“I had a lot of anxiety in the lead-up to creating this business, and then I just felt like, well, every woman is going to get to this point. Why are we not getting better care?” she said at the time. “There’s just a lack of education and research.”

“Menopause is a part of a woman’s midlife, but midlife is about far more than menopause,” she emphasized in a statement. “We should all hold our heads high. We are older, we are wiser, and we are NOT DONE!! We’ve earned our STRIPES ❤️”

Local actress Kiki Lim announced on Instagram that she is leaving Mediacorp after "five incredible years".

"The time has come for me to move on to the next chapter of my journey. I’m immensely grateful for all the opportunities the company has given me to grow, learn, and connect with so many talented individuals," wrote the 22-year-old.

The 2019 Star Search alum has been in showbiz since she was a kid.

At seven, she became one of the dancers at Heavenly King Aaron Kwok's concert in Singapore.

Kiki started acting when she was 11. She was the lead in Ch 8 children's drama Little Detective, and appeared in Okto series Wizard of Honey Street, as well as in Suria series A&E the next year.

After taking time off to concentrate on her studies, the Institute of Technical Education alum returned to acting in 2016 in Mediacorp long-form English drama Tanglin.

She participated in talent competition Huayi Brothers Icon Search in China in 2018 before joining Star Search 2019. She emerged as one of the Top 12 finalists and became a Mediacorp artiste after that.

Kiki has starred in multiple Mediacorp series, such as Last Madame (2019), A Jungle Survivor (2020) and Live Your Dreams (2021), Kill Sera Sera (2024) and To Be Loved (2024).

She also plays a 'majie' in new Mediacorp blockbuster Emerald Hill.

Now that her time with Mediacorp has come to an end, Kiki stressed that the experiences she gained and memories she made will "always hold a special place" in her heart.

Kiki also thanked all who has supported her in her journey, adding that their "encouragement has meant the world" to her.

Moving forward, Kiki is excited to explore new opportunities, and shared that all future collaborations and projects can be reached out to her directly.

One month after he was arrested for trying to evade his military service, Taiwanese actor Wang Ta Lu finally enlisted in the army.

The 33-year-old is currently also under investigation for attempted murder after he reportedly attacked an Uber driver last year.

According to reports, Ta Lu arrived at the recruit assembly area at the Taipei Station at 9am sharp.

The actor was immediately surrounded by people and was seen using his hands to cover his face.  

He then sat on the floor with the rest of the recruits and waited for the transport to take them to Chenggong Station in Taichung.

When a reporter asked why he chose to report at Taipei Station instead of directly heading to Chengkungling, the military base of the Republic of China Army in Taichung's Wuri District, Ta Lu declined to answer. 

Prior to his enlistment, Ta Lu reportedly went for a physical assessment at Chengkungling during which it was confirmed that he's medically fit for national service. 

Reporters also spoke to one of Ta Lu's fellow recruits. He was the first to arrive at the venue.

​"My friends are all here to see Wang Ta Lu," he laughed. 

Said recruit, who is 22 and a fresh university graduate, was asked if he's concerned that the age difference between him and Ta Lu would pose problems.

Upon hearing that the actor is 11 years his senior, the recruit gasped: "He's so old!"

The reporter also asked if the recruit would question Ta Lu if he knows how to open the door of a Tesla car, which was what sparked the actor's argument with the Uber driver in his assault case.

"I don't really know how to open it either," the recruit replied, adding that he's looking forward to wash dishes with Ta Lu after they reach Chengkungling.

Former View star Meghan McCain had some words about how Blake Lively has been promoting her movie It Ends with Us—a story about a woman grappling with domestic abuse.

“If you’re taking on the responsibility of telling the story about a woman in a domestic violence situation, you have to be respectful that you’re representing millions and millions of women and men who are victims of domestic violence,” McCain said on Wednesday’s episode of her Citizen McCain podcast, referring to a promotional clip where Lively suggested women see the film. “I was very surprised at some of her responses.”

The 39-year-old added, “I think the tone she’s setting in a lot of the press with this, saying, ‘Put on your florals and come together, girls.'”

The Age of Adaline star, known for her upbeat demeanor and comedic rapport with her husband, Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds, has been accused of taking a misguided approach to promoting the movie—which is based on the bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover and covers themes of domestic violence and abuse.

In the film, Lively’s character, Lily Bloom, becomes involved with an abusive man, Ryle Kincaid, played by director Justin Baldoni—who was rumored to have an ongoing feud with his co-star.

However, during her movie tour, Lively encouraged cinemagoers to “bring their florals,” echoing the “wear pink” trend around Barbie last year, while avoiding explicit mentions of domestic violence.

McCain expressed her discomfort with this approach, saying, “I don’t want to put florals on and go with my girlfriends to watch a fun girl movie about domestic violence,” calling the suggestion “very insensitive and, quite frankly, strange.”

McCain then shifted the conversation to more personal criticism of Lively, admitting, “I don’t understand why she’s famous other than Gossip Girl and being married to Ryan Reynolds,” adding, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything she’s actually in.”

“I’m also just f***ing sick of hearing about Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively,” McCain confessed toward the end of her commentary. “I’m sick of hearing about them, and I think that’s a dangerous spot for any celebrity.”

Alicia Silverstone took to TikTok to share a glimpse into her life, revealing a fruit she was completely clueless about. The 47-year-old actress shared a TikTok video of herself exploring England when she stumbled upon a garden filled with Jerusalem cherries. At that moment, the ‘90s Hollywood star exclaimed, “Okay, I’ve discovered something that I can’t figure out, and I need your help… I just bit into this because it was on the street, and we were debating whether it was a tomato. It’s definitely not because look at these leaves.”

The fruit resembled a miniature tomato but was filled with seeds inside. As she took a bite, she remarked, “I don’t think you’re supposed to eat this… does anyone know what this is?”

Concerned users quickly flooded the comments to educate Alicia about the mysterious fruit. “She’s clearly clueless…,” one user wrote.

“Can someone tag me when we know she’s OK” another chimed in. “WOMAN! UPDATE US. ARE YOU ALIVE AND WELL!?!,” a fan added.

As widespread concern grew, Rachel Meyer, Associate Adjunct Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz, informed Entertainment Weekly that while the “mildly poisonous” fruit may have some benefits, “people should not eat this plant or try using it medicinally without familiarizing themselves with the literature on traditional uses and toxicity levels.”

Shortly thereafter, Alicia returned to TikTok to assure fans that she is “alive and well!” In a post featuring the actress posing against a pink background with her arms under her chin, she captioned the image, “Don’t worry… I didn’t swallow,” while Addison Rae’s “Diet Pepsi” played in the background.

​Fans were relieved to see the Clueless actress was healthy. “Girlllll why did this update take almost 24 hours though?” one user noted. “I’ve been worried about you… girl, don’t do that! Lol,” another commented. Another supporter added, “Everyone’s been dying for an update about you. We’ve all been worried! Thank you for letting us know you’re okay!”

Another social media user even noted, “Thank goodness!! Literally checking your page every hour.”

You watched them compete in Star Search 2024, soon you will be able to see finalists Gladys Bay (middle in pic above), Gladys Ng (left) and Cai Cheng Jun in their first Mediacorp drama since the competition.

The trio will star in upcoming netball-themed drama Under The Net.

Gladys Bay, 28, was first runner-up, while Gladys Ng, 24, and Cheng Jun, 25, finished in the Top 12.

Under The Net follows three best friends — played by the two Gladyses (Gladyii?) and Sunny Side Up star Valnice Yek — in their pursuit of their passion for netball while coping with life's curveballs in their university years. Think school hurdles, health and relationship struggles.

Joining them on the netball court is Paige Chua, a former national youth netballer. She plays — surprise surprise — a netball coach, as well as the half-sister of Valnice’s character.

Rounding up the cast are Brandon Wong, Kym Ng, Romeo Tan, Guo Liang, Gavin Teo, Ye Jia Yun and Nur Sabrina Nasir.

The 20-episode drama will be available on demand for free on meWATCH from Nov 17, and premieres Nov 19 on Ch 8.

The word on the street is that Chinese star Liu Yifei, 37, is dating Huawei Executive Director Yu Chengdong, 55.

The rumour has become a hot topic on Weibo, with many discussing the legitimacy of the presumptions netizens are making.

It all started last week when Yifei and Chengdong were discovered to be following each other on Weibo. The actress also liked one of Chengdong’s videos, which he posted in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Chengdong's video featured a Huawei Chery Luxeed R7 car filled with yellow roses.

“Yellow roses are a symbol of freedom and courage, happy International Women’s Day," he wrote. 

Here's the thing: Yifei is associated with yellow roses as it was heavily featured in her popular 2024 drama, The Tale of Rose.

Yifei has always remained lowkey about her personal life, and to date, has only gone public with her relationship Korean actor Song Seung Heon. They dated from 2015 to 2018.

Her online interactions with Chengdong, who also serves as Chairman of Huawei’s Intelligent Automotive Solution Business Unit, has led people to think she is hinting at a new relationship.

Some of Yifei’s fans, however, believe she is simply alluding to a possible collaboration between herself and Huawei, and that her relationship with Chengdong is purely business.

However, it has not been confirmed if Yifei has been brought on board as the spokesperson of Huawei’s automobiles. Fans will rejoice if it turns out to be true though, as only the top stars in China are signed on as ambassadors of higher-end automotive brands.

While Yifei has not responded to the dating rumours as of press time, Chengdong, when quizzed by a journalist, reportedly said: "I've never met her before".

Robert Downey Jr. has finally explained how his Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) comeback came to be.

The Iron Man actor appeared on Tuesday’s episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast and confirmed that Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige convinced him to return to the MCU as the notorious villain Doctor Doom.

Despite his character, Tony Stark, being dead, the 59-year-old actor shared, “Susan [Downey] and I were sitting down with Feige at one point, and he said, ‘It just keeps occurring to me that if you were to come back,’ and Susan was like, ‘Wait, come back as what?’”

Downey Jr. recalled how he and Feige discussed the challenges of a potential return, asking themselves, “How can we not go backwards? How can we not disappoint expectations? How can we continue to beat expectations?”

“And then he brought up Victor Von Doom,” Downey continued. “I looked into this character. Later on, he said, ‘Let’s get Victor Von Doom right.’”

The Sherlock Holmes star explained that things became official after he and Feige met with Bob Iger at the Disney CEO’s home. Downey Jr. had already been planning to meet with Iger to discuss contributing to the company’s parks and location-based entertainment.

“I don’t know how to describe that experience,” Downey Jr. said. “I’ve had a lot of really cool experiences. We go to Iger’s pad, and we sit down. I start saying, ‘I just really want to be…,’ and he goes, ‘I like it.’ He likes it.”

Iger then invited both the Oscar-winning actor and Feige to Disney’s Imagineering Campus, which all but sealed the deal.

“[We] go to the Imagineering Campus, and you want to talk about two guys that are not easy to have their minds blown, let alone at the same time—I can’t say too much about [it], but what is going on there right now is so beyond my expectation of what was possible,” he teased.

Downey Jr. shocked Marvel fans when he revealed his Doctor Doom role at Comic-Con last month.

“New mask, same task,” he said during his big Comic-Con debut. “What can I say, I like playing complicated characters.”

Downey Jr. will be portraying Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, set to be released in May 2026.