← The Nerve with Maureen Callahan
The Nerve with Maureen Callahan
Meghan Markle's Disrespect, Keth Urban's Sex Secrets, and "Project Runway" Star Exposes Andy Cohen
01:24:46
Maureen is joined by Substack's "Naughty But Nice" celebrity reporter, Rob Shuter, and together they break down the Diddy sentencing, what this means for the convicted rapper going forward and how he'll probably land Malibu-level imprisonment. Then they both go off on the terrible choices exhibited by Megahn Markle and her brazen trip to Paris for Fashion Week, adorned in the shameful designer Balenciaga. Maureen points out how disrespectful it was for Meghan to take video of the very tunnel where Princess Diana was killed in car crash. They also wipe the floor with a Keith Urban and J.Lo's obnoxious Today Show appearance. Plus, Maureen gets all the behind-the-scenes tea from former Bravo reality star and Project Runway contestant, Kenley Collins 120Life: Go to https://120Life.com and use code NERVE to save 15% Remi: Protect your teeth. Go to https://shopremi.com/NERVE and use code NERVE at checkout for 50% off. Chapter: For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial 573-654-7335 or ...
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Hey everyone, it's me, Andy Cohen. Buckle up because I have a podcast called Daddy Diaries where I take my listeners on an as it happened recount.
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Of life as a daddy to two.
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Kids, dozens of housewives and the occasional fella.
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Listen to the Daddy Diaries to hear about my high highs and low lows.
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Of parenting, housewives, drama and so much more. Daddy Diaries available wherever you listen to podcasts.
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91 1, what is your emergency?
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Get off the field.
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911 has faced nearly every emergency on ear.
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They will go where no first responders have gone before.
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Five everyday heroes were launched into space. All contact with the spacecraft was lost due to a sudden geomagnetic storm. Mission control, do you copy? The 911 season premiere Thursday, 8, 7 Central on ABC and stream on Hulu. Hey everyone. Welcome to your Tuesday edition of the Nerve. We are so excited to bring you so much of what you guys were asking us for all Friday, all over the weekend. You want it, you got it. First, celebrity journalist extraordinaire Rob Shooter is back with us to break down the avalanche of celebrity news and scandal that has broken over the past 48 to 72 hours. First, Meghan Markle parachuted into Paris Fashion Week in what we here at the Nerve can only describe as full Norma Desmond slash Zoolander, ultra serious supermodel vibes. We are dislocating our jaw. We are opening our mouth to show off our cheekbones and alleged reported, maybe my opinion buckle fat removal. We're very, very serious over here. We're very, we're very. We are high fashion all day long. We are slaying. So listen, if you're listening to this, trust me, you have got, you have got to go over to our YouTube channel at your earliest available opportunity. I'm telling you, troublemakers, this is very serious business, all right? And you have got to look at Megan catwalking all over Paris. And that is before she does a drive by. And I could not make this up. We have the actual footage taken by Megan herself and she is an absolute ghoul. My opinion, she's an absolute ghoul. Footage of Megan doing a drive by with her feet up in her suv, in her Hermes shoes or whatever the F she's wearing. She's driving past the very tunnel where Diana died, even though Harry keeps caterwauling that he can't possibly, possibly. I'm clutching my pearls. He can't possibly bring his family back to the UK without taxpayer funded royal security. That's how much danger they're in. That's how important they are. Here's Megan frolicking about traipsing around be fouling the streets of Paris. Logic and follow through have never, ever, ever been this couple's strong suit. And by the way, when I tell you what fashion show she was at and what a cluster f of public relations this latest stunt is, she, she's always thinks she's winning and she's not. She, like she's such a checkers player. She's not a chess player, she's a checkers player, you know? Anyway, okay, next up, next up, Rob and I are going to talk the latest on the Nicole Kidman Keith Urban divorce. And trust me when I tell you we are advancing this story, okay? The ball is moving forward and we are going. And the ball is getting into the mud. Okay? The ball is. You know what? You know what? It's even getting into the mud, I would say, you know, when they lay down fresh asphalt, it's the m. The ball is getting into the part of the fresh asphalt where it's coagulating under the hot summer sun and getting it out of the, out of the, out of the freaking asphalt. It's like nearly impossible, okay? That's where this divorce is headed, trust me. And okay, there's that. And then we've got Taylor Swift's ode. I'm just gonna say it as crudely as she's putting it in the lyrics to this song on her new record, which we're gonna go deep in on a later show. She's singing about Taylor, Kelsey, Travis, Kelce. Excuse me. She's singing about Travis Kelce's dick, okay? And she's singing about it in great detail, which nobody asked for. None of us are prudes. We just don't wanna fucking hear it. Who wants to hear this? Is she thinking ahead at all about like her wedding shower? Her mother in law, she said. By the way, she told Us Weekly that her, her own mother or her mother in law thinks that the song would. So subtle. Is about, I don't know, something like, like knocking on wood. Okay, Taylor? Fine. Okay, sure. Then we're gonna get into a deep cut from the Oscars by none other than one of my all time favorite playwrights and screenwriters, the late, great Patty Chayefsky, who I love so much. Plus, I've been waiting to show this to you guys. I've been waiting for the right moment. This is an actual news report slash feature that proves how dumb the mainstream media is. And really it is beyond saving at this point. Plus your feedback, an exclusive Interview an exclusive nerve. Sit down with an ex Bravo reality star who is spilling all of the tea on one Andrew Cohen. And how things really work behind the scenes. And you guys are in for some grade A intel. So cozy up with your coffee or your cocktail wherever you are in the world and get ready for some really good shit. Plus we have our troublemaker of the month award. Packed, packed and not like Taylor Swift would think. Get your mind out of the gutter. So let's go. As the season changes to colder weather, blood pressure tends to rise due to the narrowing of blood vessels, increased salt cravings and less physical activity. But here is the good news. You have the power to take control with 120 Life. 120 Life is a blend of great tasting super fruit juices that can actually help lower your blood pressure naturally. It is trusted by over 1000 health professionals and used by people just like you who have seen real measurable results. You can try it yourself risk free with their two week trial. Just go to 120life.com and use code Nerve, that's N E R v to save 15%. And you can track your progress with a simple blood pressure monitor. Watch your numbers drop and feel the difference. Plus it's completely risk free. If you don't see lower numbers in two weeks, you get your money back. So you have nothing to lose. But those high blood pressure numbers go to 120life.com that's 120life.com and remember to use code nerve to to save 15%. This is serious. This is your life we're talking about. 120 life can help. Don't wait. Take control of your health today. We had so much fun talking to Rob Shooter last week that before he even left Friday's show, we said, listen, Diddy's getting sentenced today. By which I mean Friday. And Rob knows Diddy very well. So we said, hey Rob, would you come back to the Nerve and talk about the prison sentence, whatever it is. And like a mensch, he said yes before I could even get the question out. Plus, there's so much more in the world of celebrity scandal to dive into. So without further ado, welcome back to the Nerve. Rob.
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A
This has become my obsession. Hey, thank you to all your listeners who have now followed me on Substack and have given me a little bit of attention. So thank you. Thank you. I love doing this show.
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B
Oh my God, they love you. Like as soon as your segment ended, we were getting emails and comments on YouTube. When's Rob coming back? He's so perfect for the nerve.
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A
I'm a regular. I'll be a regular.
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B
I love it. So first, let's get into this monster, Sean Combs. Let's get him out of the way. Full name here, government name. We're not going to call him diddy. Inmate number 37452054. After a lot of threats and breaking news from the prosecution in court that Diddy was so. I just did it. Sean Combs was so sure he would walk out of that courtroom a free man. He booked speaking gigs in Miami for the week. Well, the judge gave him. He's. The judge was like, I'm really coming down on you hard man. Buckle up. Embrace for it. I'm giving you four years, which really is two. Okay. So Rob, please, your thoughts on this sentence.
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Yeah, I think DID is going to feel like a winner here. I think he's going to feel like once again he's beat the system. The three really serious charges, the trial that I saw, I thought he would be convicted of those as well and go away for a very long time. He was not convicted of those. And now to just get four years, which, let's be honest, is not going to be four years. He has once again dodged, got away with stuff that most of us would not. So I would imagine right now team Puff, team Sean is feeling really, really good about this, what they are nervous about. And I did work with him for a long time and my sources are still pretty deep within the Diddy world. What I am hearing though is that a year, two years, three years in the rap business, in the hip hop business is a really long time. And at the minute, his fan base, certain elements of his fan base are really excited and are really full of energy. Will that last a year from now, Two years from now? That's the concern.
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B
Well, does it help his street cred in the hip hop community? And does it matter, Rob, in vis a vis that if he's sent to a club fed, you know, summer camp or if he does hard time, which he's not, I don't think he's going to. I think this judge is a joke. But you tell me.
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A
Yeah, I think that, you know, when I worked with Puff, the big, big rumor about him, the big secrets that we never ever talked about was that he's a pretty middle class K. He's not as rough as what he wants people to think. In fact, other rappers used to think of him as almost a pussy, somebody that talked a big game, but very, very rarely ever showed It. And so this will give him a little bit of credibility. But I think it's bigger than Puff here. I think this is a person of color. The way he's going to play it. Puff is going to play this as a person of color. A black man who was very close of getting going away for, for the rest of his life and beating the system. And he's going to be a voice for you. That's what he'll do. You know that. That outrageous, outrageous fact that he had already planned gigs in Miami was astounding. I'd found out that his plane was waiting at Teterboro.
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B
Are you serious?
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A
To fly back on that day? On Friday the plane was waiting. Thursday was it. Last week. He was planning to, to fly back that day. The plane was waiting. So we do know this is a bump. They were that confident that they thought he would walk out. Now he's got two, three, four years beating the rap.
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B
I hope that he continues to use the phrase beating the system, beating the rap because all that makes me think of is beating women. Like Cassie Ventura, a video we saw on a loop. I just, I cannot believe this. And we, we will be revisiting when.
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A
He'S finally say something that we can do though, please do. What I think we can do is support Cassie. I'm sure she's now going to put out some music. I'm sure she now is going to try and have her moment that she never really had in the spotlight. And so I'm team Cassie here. I'm supporting her. Whatever she does, I'm buying it. I don't care if it's a book or a bad season.
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B
I just thought the same thing. Give her a book deal. Give her a multimillion dollar book deal. Tell us where the bodies are buried and tell us who else in the hip hop community and the entertainment community talking to you. Ashton Kutcher from reportedly Allegedly may know some things. Okay. About the abuse of women. Now onto another malignant stain on the Culture 1 Meghan Markle, who out of nowhere, Rob Nowhere alights in Paris like the second fucking coming. I mean, she is swathed in white on cream, on white, like she's the messiah. And over she went to the Balenciaga show. And never forget, Balenciaga came under heavy, heavy fire two years ago for an advertisement that we are showing here. This is a full on ad not for a high fashion house, but for pedophilia. This was a holiday ad campaign launched by Balenciaga in November 2022 featuring a small Child holding up a teddy bear dressed in bondage gear. Another image depicted two small children standing on a bed surrounded by reportedly allegedly court documents from a child sexual abuse case. Okay, so great exercise in judgment once again, Meghan Markle. And that's before we even get to the Diana disaster tourism that she engaged in. Driving past Diana's death tunnel with her feet up in her chauffeur SUV and the strutting around like Paris has never seen such hot shit. Rob, your reactions please.
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A
Totally shocked. Let's start at the beginning here. So I hit the phones. This is not an accident. To get Meghan Markle to Paris, she flew in first class. She stayed at a five star hotel. She had security with her. She had her own hair and makeup team waiting for her in Paris. It could have cost around about 800, $900,000, maybe a million dollars to just get her there. I've worked in the fashion business. Having somebody that's a huge star on the front row is very important. These celebrities often get paid by brands. They certainly get their transportation covered. So to get Megan, there was a big deal. They wanted her, she wanted to go. Because now she has dreams of becoming a fashion ambassador. She would love to have a 10, $20 million campaign from a fashion house. Let's be honest, everything she's done financially and maybe even everything, period has not worked out. They need money. The money is running out. They live as if they are royalty in Monte and that money is, is not coming in anymore. Harry's book made a lot of money. He inherited a lot of money from his grandmother and also too from his great grandmother. So there's money there. Don't feel boohoo for them. They have a great life, but the life that they want, they need to earn money. Megan is really, really being pushy here to try and get a campaign. And I think had this not so spectacularly exploded on Meghan, she might have got one. They at first enjoyed all the press, the fashion houses loved all the coverage. But then the Diana card was played by Meghan. It was a self inflicted wound. To think you can be in Paris, of all cities, Paris, and drive past a tunnel, the tunnel where Princess Diana tragically died. And to be blissfully unaware of that.
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B
Do you think she was unaware? Do you think this Diana cosplayer, this Diana vision board maker, I hope so.
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A
Because if, if she wasn't, if this wasn't an accident, if this was on purpose, then the judgment, the just, the character, the moral fiber is outrageous. If she's willing to use Princess Diana's death as a way to sell a brand, or really it's not a brand, she's selling herself. If she's willing to do that, then all bets are off. Then, then, then really they are. They're the Prince Andrews. If her judgment is that cloudy, then they are absolutely the bottom of the barrel. So I'm hoping it was a terrible mistake. It just goes to show you though, too, the people they have around them are just the worst. They only have, yes people. Had we been in that car with her, I would say, put away the phone. No, don't post that. And we probably would have said, don't go this way. I don't want photographs of her limo going past that tunnel. There are many, many ways to get around Paris. When she was invited to Paris to go for this fashion show, she should have sat down and said, paris, that's a really difficult city for my husband's family. Should we go and lay a wreath? Should we do something there to honor the spirit of Diana? Not a thought about that. All she thought about was how great she was going to look in that Blianco suit, strutting around. This has once again spectacularly backfired. And at some point we have to say, it's not us, it's them.
- [17:24]
B
Oh, it's not us, it's them. And by the way to our conversation last week, Rob, when we were talking about the false reporting that lived for 24 hours about Meghan's father being stuck, stuck in a high level apartment during an earthquake. The problem with that story was even though it was false, we all believed it. And we believed it because that's what we think of her character. Because she's shown us who she is. And that's why I think you're being very generous with her. I think she's evil. I think she's evil.
- [17:51]
A
I think you might be right. What I'm trying to be generous here is not with Meghan, but with Diana. This has brought in Diana and I don't like it. And there was a. There was a grace about Diana and even people that didn't like her. There was an aspect about her that we can all, all look up to. And to trash that to get ahead is just something that I don't want to believe. But I fear I'm wrong, Rob, you.
- [18:20]
B
Know, to this point. So Meghan and Harry, by the way, Harry, who is just banging the drum constantly, has sued, I believe, three times in the uk. He can't possibly come back to the UK unless he's got taxpayer funded royal security for his family. They're under so much danger. And then this one goes off, sans husband, sans royal security, to the scene of the crime. Literally. Okay, Literally. So make that make sense. Who invited her? How did she get there? I've heard she was a plus one. She wasn't even an invitee of the house. Is that true?
- [18:52]
A
She was definitely invited by the house because she was wearing their fashion. So she was wearing Beyonce. Now, had she been wearing last season's fashion? That's when you know you're a plus one because you have to go out and buy your own outfits. But if you're invited, they send you stuff. So they sent her a lot of stuff. They paid for her hotel, they paid for her flight, they paid for her dinner. I'm sure they paid all her expensives. They don't pay. They are notoriously cheap. They paid for that limo, that limo that she posted, that video they were paying for. So they've got to answer to this too. Did they want somebody representing them who has this sort of judgment? I would guess the answer is no. But let's remember this is a fashion house that seemed to support child pornography. So maybe this actually goes together quite well. Maybe this is who the brand is. And if for this brand, she's the perfect spokesperson. Congratulations. You found the perfect spokesperson for you.
- [19:52]
B
Congratulations. Exactly. You know, again, if these two dimwits, these two fuckwits, had an iota of brain cells to scratch together, they'd still be in the royal fold and they'd have advisors who would say, listen, you bitch, not a great idea to cozy up to a fashion house that three years ago launched a holiday campaign that promoted there is no if ends or buts about it. Child porn and pedophilia. Unbelievable. Okay, now, now on to. Oh, by the way, I just need to make a note. That Meghan Markle, again, yet another unforced error. She's seated next to at Balenciaga, front row one, Tracy Ellis Ross. Public Body brusher Bodies. Cheese grater. Tracee Ellis Ross. This is the height of chic ness and fashion. Get out. And then we have this incredibly awkward double air kiss. Because we're just so down to earth. We're just a real person. As Megan begged Bloomberg's Emily Chang and us, the great unwashed to see her as you know, it's just. It's amazing. I love it. Okay, so as promised, moving on to another marital disaster. Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman. The plot thickens. Rather new reports point to Keith being over his wife for quite some time now and that he was. We have the footage. We've got our exhibit A and B are coming. Okay. I'm the cultural prosecutor for the troublemakers. Sick to death of Nicole shooting all of these movies where she's having explicit sex with her much younger co stars. So we are going to watch and listen to Keith on Australia's Gold 101.7. It's the Jonesy and Amanda show from September 2024. So this is over one year ago. And when she is brought up, when Nicole is brought up, Keith looks visibly, visibly uncomfortable as listen, and if this is the host Amanda, who's speaking here, she is running roughshod over all of the signals that Keith. I mean These are like 911 signals Keith is giving. Rob, you and I are going to take a look and react on the back end. Let's go. Speaking of your amazing love story with Nicole, you met at G' Day Australia. Is that what it was called? G' Day La. G' Day la. If you hadn't both been there that day, would your paths somewhere have inevitably crossed or maybe this incredible life story wouldn't have happened? No, I think it would, yeah. Are you a believer in fate or do you think as to Australians it would have happened? No idea. I just often think that you could not be trying harder to shut. Maybe you don't have a friendship group. It may never have happened. Well, aggressively removing our leather coat jacket anyway, moving on.
- [22:40]
A
I think so.
- [22:41]
B
You'd like to think so. Rob, what do you make of that?
- [22:46]
A
First of all, I love those two reporters. This is delicious. They're either clueless or they've got balls of brass.
- [22:51]
B
So either way, I think the latter. I'm all, I'm down with it.
- [22:54]
A
I love it. I've seen too many celebrity interviews where you can only ask them about their movie project or their latest album. And God forbid you should actually mention any real news. I have a friend in New York is a great reporter who spoke to Julia Roberts a couple of days ago on the red carpet and she wasn't allowed to ask Julia about her banana bread. It's that secretive. What she got told off for a follow up question. So these celebrities are quite used to doing these interviews where they just sit there and talk about projects. Now what I like about this is that was a radio interview. They're slightly different on the radio because the celebrity, the musician has to get their song on that station. So the only reason they're doing these interviews is they want the station to Play their music. They cannot have a hit record. They can't have a hit single unless the station plays it. So radio stations, if you're listening a lower level, you have a lot of power. You can actually ask the questions that they can't walk out on because if they do, you won't play their music. So you've sort of got them a little bit. So I loved all this dynamic, this power dynamic, which normally reporters don't have the highest level of. They can just get up and walk out. He couldn't walk out, but clearly, clearly he didn't like this. But they did not stop. They kept going. It's delicious to watch, but it does confirm that this is not a split that happened overnight. This has been coming for a really long time. And I'm really frustrated that I missed the signs. They were there, they were there. I kind of think that I just wasn't that into them.
- [24:31]
B
Like, I agree. Nobody cares. It's like, you know, and the funny thing, like, to your point about this radio interview, which they always have a visual component, you know, it's so clear, you're so right that those hosts had Keith by the shadow, short hairs, and we're not letting go. And by the way, like, it is fair game when you commodify your marriage lo these many years and you're pawing and dry humping each other on red carpet after awards ceremony. Get out. So, okay, I want to. I want to play this other one clip and then have you react on the back end because we don't normally see this, but here is a celebrity profiler who spoke to Keith Urban, interviewed him around the same time. This is September 2024. He's. He went on. He went on Instagram and social media to talk about the deals that get made behind the closed doors, behind the scenes, before a reporter and a celebrity ever get in the same room or on the phone or on a zoom to conduct an interview. Watch and listen to Ed Patton. If I'm saying his name right, Patton at the UK Times, talking about the conditions set for his interview with Keith Urban in that very same time frame again, September 2024.
- [25:45]
D
I interviewed Keith Urban about a year ago. For those who don't know, he's just split from Nicole Kidman. And when we spoke, it was very clear that the poor guy was totally sick of being asked about his much more famous wife. Up until then, he was charmed personified, happily talking about music, his friendship with Taylor Swift, who supported him early in her career. But there was this one Topic that raised a shield, and that was Nicole. She famously staged an intervention that saved his life from alcoholism just four months after their wedding. As he said in a song, thank you. When I brought up that intervention, he looked me in the eye and he snapped. I just don't want to give you guys a headline about my wife. He said he never lost his cool, but there was a deep sensitivity underneath that brush off. He knew the drill. He talks about his career, I talk about his global star wife. You know, that was the deal. It was transactional. And the brutal truth was he was right to be sensitive. Without Nicole, I wouldn't have been there. The reason we were interviewing him was because he was married to her, and his marriage undeniably boosted his success and his sobriety. He knew he owed a part of his story to her. The last straw came at the very end of our interview. I asked if he was proud of her one last attempt. And he said very. And then shut it down with a level of frustration. I won't forget.
- [26:58]
B
Rob. He said it. He just said it all. He said, this is how it works. This is how it works. And by the way, this guy owes his global fame to getting hitched to Nicole Kidman in the first place.
- [27:12]
A
I know he's either forgotten that or is in deep, deep denial about that. Or maybe he realizes it too. But the reason we talk about Keith Urban is he married an absolute superstar, and then he didn't just marry her and say, shh. That private life. He wrote songs about her. They put videos up together, dancing. And so for him to be annoyed that his wife is a little bit more famous or more interested in her, I get dynamics in relationships. I get egos. But for him to be annoyed about it when we bring it up but not annoyed when he shoves it down our throats is absolute ludicrous. Say, this is gonna explode on him, I'm told. My reporting tells me that Nicole's a list. Friends have already turned away from him.
- [27:58]
B
Really?
- [27:59]
A
Jennifer Aniston. They don't want any part of him now. But that's not what's going to hurt him. Not going to dinner with the Clooneys. It's. I'd love to go, but if you don't invite me, it's not going to hurt him. What's going to hurt him is Nicole knows all the executives behind the scenes. The agents, the managers, the people at the studios, people who we do not even know their names. They're not going to touch Keith now. So suddenly his world is going to get really small and just to stick it to him. Nicole has popped up. She's made her first appearance. And who does she turn up with?
- [28:31]
B
Her daughters, their team flanked by them. Mommy's in the middle. And our. Our non. Model daughter, who she's shoving down our throat. Again, you cannot commodify your family and give them careers they don't earn and then turn around and say, privacy, please. But this was a huge, huge moment at Chanel on Monday.
- [28:52]
A
Absolutely. Absolutely. And it was created. She didn't have to turn up with the daughters, but she was the whole world. When Deborah and Hugh Jackman got divorced, she turned up at a tennis match in Australia, and who was she sitting next to? Her children. Like, this is all very carefully planned out. The machine of Nicole. And we've done this a long time. The machine around Nicole is a lot more smarter than the team around Keith. And so be careful. Now, Nicole has gone through this before, and she did some allegedly awful things in her last marriage, and she came out smelling like a rose. So if Nicole can turn that into an ice cream sundae, I can't imagine what she's going to do with this. We're gonna find this out, and there's gonna be leaks. And Keith's behavior, Keith's infidelities, Keith's substance abuse trouble, it's all gonna come out. And in a couple of months, his phone is not going to ring anymore.
- [29:47]
B
You know that cocaine clause we were talking about last week, Rob? So I saw a report on social. You could probably speak to the veracity of this better than I, that things at one point were so bad that Keith was absconding up onto the roof of their marital home to smoke and drink. And she was petrified that he was going to wind up setting the house on fire by, like, leaving a lit cigarette or something on the rooftop.
- [30:14]
A
What made me scream about that report. I saw it, too, is she wasn't concerned that her husband could jump off the roof. Hallucinated. She was frightened that her dress might catch fire in a wardrobe on the second floor. And so this marriage was wacky from day one. Within the first few months of the marriage, he was back in the Betty Ford Clinic. She didn't leave. And so she knows who he is. She's known from the beginning. This is not a surprise. And he knows who. Who she is. And so what has happened to suddenly change the rules? I'm told it's other women. And it's more than.
- [30:49]
B
Do you think, Rob? Of course, when you said his world is about to get really small. I was like, yeah, to like, the five or 50 women he's dating. But do you think maybe the trigger point could have been something that you really just can't come back from? I mean. I mean, understood infidelity and celebrity marriages is one thing. Okay. Do you think he potentially knocked somebody up?
- [31:09]
A
I've been hearing rumors. I. I've got to be very careful as I say this because I don't have reporting on this, but I'm hearing there's something that's going to drop that's really big soon, and it's really going to change everything. And she wanted to get out before that happened. I'm hearing rumors of sex tapes. I'm hearing pregnancies. I'm hearing videos with drugs on them. I think that over the next few months, we're going to see a side of him that was even too extreme. For Nicole, who's seen a lot. She plays prim and proper very well.
- [31:40]
B
Oh, I know. She plays Miss high class, high gloss. Like, I'm super clean. I could never. But she has been married to this one for 19 years. And like you say, behavior like this does just doesn't spring up out of nowhere.
- [31:56]
A
I'm hearing rumors. I can't say any more yet. Legally, we have to be a little careful on this.
- [32:00]
B
Sure.
- [32:00]
A
But there's lots of rumors out there that this, this is not the story. This is the appetizer. The story is yet to come.
- [32:10]
B
So we have a gourmet meal coming our way. Rob, you and I are gonna share it. We'll share it. Some top shelf liquor. Okay, two other quick stories. I want to hit with you. Taylor Swift's song would. I mean, I'm gonna go to town later in a later show on this album, et cetera, this rollout. But she wrote a song on this new album about Travis Kelsey's penis. The lyrics, forgive me, it sounds cocky. He ahmatized me. It's, you know, softening. Diplomatized. Open my eyes. His love was the key that opened my thighs and I could go on. Rob, your thoughts on why such crude, obvious lyrics? To make it clear to America and the world at large that these two are having lots of hotels. Heterosexual sex.
- [33:03]
A
Right. Well, she's actually quite happy about this. I hit the phones, and now that he's been compared to a redwood, A very large tree, a thick tree. He's very happy about that. What I was told, which made me giggle, is she's dated a lot of other famous gentlemen who maybe aren't quite as big in the talent department. And so maybe Jonas now has to worry about what bird, what shrubber tree or. Or even smaller he might be compared to. So if Taylor's gonna open up the penis business. Taylor, tell us more.
- [33:40]
B
Oh my. Another one who presents like Nicole Kidman. I'm so wholesome, I could never. We're going into graphic detail about Travis's member. No, thank you. Okay, really quickly. JLo on the Today show. A gas. A gas. That one of that shows useless. 80 hosts. They have 80 freaking hosts on that show. Brought up the only thing interesting about her, which was her divorce from Ben Affleck, which she flogged relentlessly and made a 20 million dollar self funded documentary about. Okay, let's watch her. And then you take it in the.
- [34:15]
A
Middle of this, filming this elaborate, beautiful musical. Your divorce is also finalized with Ben.
- [34:22]
E
There you go. Well.
- [34:25]
A
But. But then I read that your ex is an executive producer on the film.
- [34:29]
E
If it wasn't for Ben, the movie.
- [34:30]
B
Wouldn'T have got made. Wouldn't have got made. Terrible grammar. Jan. She had a Catholic school education. What's wrong with her anyway? She's like, Rob. She's literally like. She turns to the crew and probably her people over there. She's going to murder for letting this question happen.
- [34:48]
A
That's what I want to say.
- [34:50]
B
She's like, look at the stones on this guy. Look at the st. Like, I'm going.
- [34:55]
A
To scoop about that interview. So before that interview happened, Jennifer arrived in the studio and sources tell me she was very upset that it was too cold. And she demanded that the Today show change their air conditioning. And they did it. They heated up the studio. Think of all the segments they've got coming. If they've got a cooking segment coming or a fashion segment, they're all going to be sweating. So they changed the. The temperature for this of the studio for Jennifer Lopez. So she was already pissed. She was prickly. Before that interview started, he asked the question. She had the answer. But I find what happened behind the scenes so much more interesting. She's not easy. When I was working with Diddy, I was Jennifer's publicist. I wrote the broke up breakup statement. When she broke up with Ben the first time I really. And we went through what we were going to say, say and we ask for privacy. It's one of those standard statements. Jennifer's a control freak. She wants things done her way. That question on the Today show would not have been asked 10 years ago. So congratulations to the morning shows that are now finally figuring out that this is interesting stuff. But the big story about that interview, I'm told from people at the show was not the question, but the temperature of the room.
- [36:10]
B
Do you know what that reminds me of, Rob? That reminds me of in the days and weeks after September 11, when the entertainment community was coming together to do, like, a benefit single. And they asked JLo, a native New Yorker, you know, Jenny from the block. She said, sure, here's my rider. White. A white trailer, white candles, white flowers. White this, white that. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of shit for like a couple of lines in a song. Are you kidding me? About September 11th?
- [36:38]
A
September 11th. Jennifer.
- [36:41]
B
She's a terrorist. She's a terrorist, Rob. Until next time, my friend. Until next time.
- [36:48]
A
Whatever you want me. I adore you.
- [36:50]
B
This is. I adore you as well. Thank you so much, especially for your intel on the Kidman urban bus stop. Should continue to keep reporting on. Thank you, Rob. See you soon. You know, people don't talk enough about their teeth, but here's the truth. Once they're gone, they're gone. About 30% of adults grind or clench their teeth at night. And that constant pressure wears your enamel down, causes jaw pain, and ruins your sleep. That is where Remy night guards come in. Remy solves that problem, those multiple problems. Their custom night guards are clinically tested to stop grinding, to ease jaw tension, and to help you wake up rested. And unlike the dentist, Remy costs 80% less. Plus you can pay with HSA or FSA. Here is how it works. They send an impression kit to your door. You follow their quick instructions. Remy crafts your perfect bespoke fit a week later. Done. Protection on autopilot. And moms. Remy makes custom retainers, too. So no more skipping work or pulling kids out of school to go to the dentist. It's a total game changer. No waiting rooms, no overpriced bills. Just a better way to protect your teeth while you sleep. Try Remy Risk free. Go to shopremy.com nerve and use code nerve to get up to 50 off your night guard at checkout. That's 50. 50% off at shop r e m I.com nerve with code nerve. And thank you, Remy, for sponsoring this episode.
- [38:33]
F
Hey, everyone, it's Nikki and Bri. And we're here to let you know that we have a podcast, the Nikki and Bri Show.
- [38:39]
G
Yes, and we've got new episodes every Monday and Thursday. We're serving up real deal conversations that go beyond the cameras. Think Motherhood Confessions, Sisterhood Vibes, Boss Business Energy and TV life tea.
- [38:55]
F
Need a laugh? We got you craving inspo. We got inspiration and affirmations on deck. Want a little cry or a big Heck yes. That's our jam. Whether we're breaking down pop culture, sharing parenting wins or fails, unpacking personal growth, or just riffing on everyday chaos, nothing is off limits.
- [39:16]
G
Plus, we welcome incredible guests, play our favorite games, and do what only sisters can. Keep it 100 while raising a glass together. So pop a bottle, hit play and come hang with us. Listen to the Nikki and Bri show wherever you get your podcast.
- [39:38]
B
So before we get to your emails, commentary, suggestions, etc. There are a few things I have got to share with you. First, this showed up in my algorithm yesterday morning. Thank you, algorithm. And I saw it and I thought. I thought of you guys immediately. If you are unfamiliar with the late, great Paddy Chayefsky, he was one of the biggest screenwriters of the American 20th century. He was a genius at writing real people, real dialogue and utterly believable stories. One of my all time favorites, and if you haven't seen it, please do yourself the favor is 1955's Marty with Ernest Borgnine. When I say that this film would never be made today, it just wouldn't. It just wouldn't. A lesser descendant. A lesser descendant and the most recent to my mind would probably be 1991's dog fight with the late River Phoenix and Lily Taylor. But again, it's a lesser film. Paddy Chayefsky also wrote Network 1976. Genius. Genius. And he, he died really fairly Young at age 58. Native New Yorker, he is the only person to have won three Academy Awards for adapted and original screenplays. So and long before, by the way, HBO and streaming services leveled up what's considered prestige tv. He also wrote for television, so he wasn't a snob. So now that the table's been set, watch and listen to Paddy Chayefsky. The more things change, right, you guys? The more things change. Accepting his Oscar after one imperious, sanctimonious Vanessa Redgrave used her Oscar acceptance speech to get political. Here we go.
- [41:31]
H
Before I get onto the writing awards, there's a little Matt I'd like to tidy up at least if I expect to live with myself tomorrow morning. I would like to say, personal opinion, of course, that I'm sick and tired of people exploiting the occasion of the Academy Awards.
- [41:51]
B
That is Loving it. Wide Shot. Loving it.
- [42:03]
H
For the propagation of their own personal political propaganda. I would like to suggest to Ms. Redgrave that her winning An Academy Award is not a pivotal moment in history, does not require a proclamation. And a simple thank you would have sufficed.
- [42:29]
B
I mean, is that a writer or is that a genius? He says this is off the top of his head. I would like to suggest to Ms. Redgrave that winning her, winning an Oscar is not a pivotal moment in history. This, I mean, ratifying my longtime love for Patty Chayefsky, who I fell in love with when I first saw Marty. I think it's like a 90 minute film. It goes by so quickly and it's. It feels modern. It's so wonderful. Okay, now this one, okay, this one. I've been dying, dying to get into the nerve since I saw it in real time a few weeks ago. And it does. It dovetails nicely with one of the themes of Patti's work in network, not least of all, which is the institutional dumbing down of the culture and of people by media elites. Now this, I kid you not, is an actual news report that aired here in the Tri State area of New York. This is what would be considered like a human interest news story. And it is the story of a man. And this is told with zero irony and zero commentary. And I'm going to talk to you about it when we're through watching it. And by the way, if you're listening to this, you. You have got to go watch this segment on YouTube. We'll probably pull it out as a reel because there are a lot of close ups of his scene partner in this interview. Okay, so the actress and me coming out now, you know, so it's this man and a news report on his emotional support. Alligator.
- [44:09]
C
I didn't think that I would actually own an alligator ever. It's been really kind of incredible.
- [44:16]
H
Wesley Silva got his pet alligator 4 years ago from a neighbor who got her as a gift. When they weren't able to care for her anymore, they asked Silva if he'd be interested.
- [44:26]
C
I did some research. I have kids of my own, and I didn't want to put anybody in jeopardy. And after some research, I was like, you know what? I'll take her.
- [44:35]
H
Since then, they've been everywhere.
- [44:37]
C
We've gone to restaurants, we've been to Denny's, where she's a star. There she gets VIP treatment. We've been out to Bob Evans. We've been out to the Wagon Wheel in West Brownsville.
- [44:49]
H
Silva says she always got a warm welcome. That is, until nearly two weeks ago when some shoppers at the West Brownsville Walmart reached out to Channel 11 about an alligator shopping in Walmart with its owner.
- [45:00]
C
It's been very positive and I was really taken back by that.
- [45:04]
H
While Silva says Jinyoshi is registered as an emotional support animal.
- [45:09]
B
It's predator's eyes.
- [45:11]
H
After our story, Walmart sent this statement saying in part quote, we welcome service animals in our stores, but it is unacceptable to expose members of the public to potential danger. Accordingly, alligators are not permitted on our premises. Silva says he's upset but understands. He says he'll continue taking her wherever she's welcome.
- [45:30]
C
I just go with the flow, okay?
- [45:34]
B
This story should be about a. And a public menace who has a pet alligator who he dresses in all manner of sweater vests. So I guess that the alligator identifies as a prep. As a wasp. The alligator. A wasp. Like the alligator belongs in ordinary people, which we talked about last week. I mean, this is a public. And the guy, like, he's a real idiot. Like, he's a very low IQ person. He says, you know, I do have children and I really thought because, like, I didn't want to put anybody in danger, you know. And, and the camera, the camera guy is close up on the alligator's teeth and the predator's eyes. This alligator is going to eat somebody in the house, sir. Okay. And this news report is like, what a quirky dude. He's got like his pet alligator taking her shopping for groceries and at Walmart, like, oh my God, like Walmart was like, you can't come in. You know, this asshole is going to try to get on a domestic flight with this thing. You know, know it. This kind of reporting is. Again, first of all, it's not reporting. This is, I swear, like, if I'm an editor at a news station and I have a reporter come back with this piece of shit, I'm firing them. Okay? You're an idiot. You're as much of an idiot as the guy who's got the emotional support alligator. Okay, now before I get to the emails portion of the, of the, of the show I want to talk to you about, I got a lot, a lot of response from you guys to my Chris Stapleton recommendation on the last full. Last full nerve. Last full show. I was going to say. And a fair amount of you were like, hey, Maureen, we love him. We've always loved him. The guy's been around a long time. Are you just coming to him now? No, I'm not. I know he's been around a long time, but I'm not an asshole. I'm not trying to prove like hipster bona fides. I've been with him since. No, no, no. But that said, I. Part of the reason I don't do that is because I know a lot of people who have great taste and they also have busy lives. And, you know, if this guy doesn't fall, if, like, the algorithm doesn't know to push Chris Stapleton towards them, they've never heard of him. And I've heard from people I know who are like, hey, I never heard of this guy. He's effing amazing. Which he is. Second, I forgot in all my excitement to mention what is I. It's probably my all time, all time, all time favorite Chris Stapleton song that is Broken Halos. And this song especially, you know, for anyone who is mourning, who is in grief, it speaks to the soul like no other song I have ever heard ever. Like, if you just need a good cry, if you just need to cry it out, the lyrics alone, this guy is an artist beyond all measure. Now, to those also who said, well, then why'd you mention him? Because he's been around forever. This is why. This is why, for a guy who is this successful and this monumentally talented, again, once in a generation, talent. And I consume a lot of media. I do it for a living, and I do it as a labor of love. I love it. You almost never see him ever in mainstream media or on entertainment shows. I never see him in the pages of the New York Times or Us Weekly or. Or on an Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight. I mean, tell me if, like, they sing his songs on the Voice or America's Got Talent. I don't. Like, he's not in the mainstream and they don't cover him. And I wonder why. I wonder what it could be, because I think that the elites think that because Chris Stapleton is country. And as I've said, he's not just country. He's blues, he's soul, he's rock, he's all of those things. I think they think that they know his politics. That's what I think. I think they think he's Red America. And Red America is full of hicks. That's what I think. And this is where culture and politics blend and bleed. And I'm sorry, but if anybody should be playing the super bowl halftime show, it's not Bad Bunny. It should be Chris fucking Stapleton, okay? It should be Chris Stapleton. And if you do this, do this, some of you go and pull up on YouTube, Chris Stapleton singing the Star Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl a few years ago and watch grown men, football players, grown men in the stands weep at his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Then tell me this guy shouldn't be playing freaking halftime show. And I took your suggestions because a lot of you reached out to me and you were like, hey, Maureen, you know Chris is playing in like your backyard pretty soon. Like, you should get. And I was like, holy shit, you guys are right. So going to see him. Just got my tickets like an hour ago. I cannot wait. I will report back. Now, on to your feedback. First, this piece of art came in from troublemaker Mark and I. I just love it. Thank you, Mark. Thank you. I'm in his version of the SJP hat. Okay. Now, Maureen, I just wanted to chime in because you asked for feedback on whether to voice your opinions and reactions to the new season of the Morning show. My answer is all caps. Yes, please. A lot of you said we would love it. So it's happening. Okay, you got it. Hi Maureen, I am writing an article today about inappropriate Halloween displays and stumbled across this I thought you would enjoy. Sent by troublemaker Nicole. Somebody out there has an active wood chipper in their front yard in suburban America. Love it. I assume it's suburban America. Love it. Okay, Maureen. Okay. This is from a Hollywood insider who says. Anonymous. Anonymous. Anonymous. Anonymous. Anonymous. Anonymous. If you get it, you get it. So I worked on two of Nicole Kidman's films over the last five years in production alongside her daily four months, I thought I would reach out and offer my perspective as a troublemaker crew member. Having worked on over 30 Hollywood movies and TV shows, I've collaborated with many of the industry's top names. And Nicole is by far the most gracious, generous and affable of them all. She operates on set in a totally unpretentious manner. She's happy to chat with crew between takes, remembers the families and children of the camera ops and asks for updates on them. Cracks jokes during long waits. She pays for coffee and specialty food trucks every Friday for crew. And on especially long, difficult days when I was young in my career, just learning my way around production, she graciously sat on a couch beside me and a colleague on set. I had to pinch myself to believe it was real. Asked about my interest and told us about how happy she was in Nashville with Keith. I'm saddened to hear that it's over for them. I am, in all, bold. I am a lifelong Nicole devotee. Signing off. Somehow heartbreak feels good in a place like this. AMC flags at half mast tonight. If that isn't a troublemaker sign off. You tell me what is Maureen London, troublemaker number one here. Just wanted to make you aware, in case you haven't seen it in the UK media of the Montecito grifter and bully in chief at Paris Fashion Week we covered it with our pal Rob. God, she is exhausting, writes troublemaker Brenda. She is the turd that just won't flush. Love the analogy. Dear Maureen, I am so disgusted with Michelle O subject of our mini on Saturday that I have smoke coming out of my ears. So many of us are caring for partners who are ill in wheelchairs, stroke victims, Alzheimer's sufferers, on and on. She is marinating in her malignant narcissism, just this troublemaker's opinion and is positively insufferable. Oh, did I forget to say how dumb in all caps she is? Do us all a favor and put her in the wood chipper and get her the out of our faces. Trust me. Nerve Awards 1st Annual Dear Maureen, this is from troublemaker Jamie Brenner who is quite active in our emails and on socials and we see you Jamie and we really appreciate it. Jamie is a novelist and a ghostwriter who has been in book publishing her entire career. Her husband is a literary agent. Every day Jamie writes and we all care about books. Here we marvel at the shit show the publishing industry has become. The book. Amy Griffin's book the Tell is just a tiny symptom of the rot. Today Jamie writes, I heard something from a writer that made my blood go cold. This author has an Emmy for her journalism and his on screen talent. That usually means you can sell your book pretty easily. You got a built in audience for this book project. Jamie writes a middle a middle grade project. She has blurbs from Robert Kraft of the NFL, I'm assuming and Gal Godot. And you know Jamie writes people at this level have the blurbs at the submission stage. The book is for kids dealing with anti Semitism called Don't Feed the Lion. No one would publish it. And trust me when I tell you I believe this because I hear stories like this a lot. A lot. This is an industry tripping over itself to publish Spencer fucking Pratt's book. And trust me, I know Jamie because he just got a huge feature in the New York Times this weekend. It was rejected. Her friend's book rejected everywhere. Everywhere. Finally she met someone who had a publishing arm of a larger company and he published it for her. It breaks my heart. Jamie writes that books the most beloved thing in my life and so many of our lives as real readers are being controlled by this mob. I really appreciate the conversation you began with the Tell and I hope we have much more from you with books. We need the anti Oprah of books. Trust me Jamie, I am doing my humble best. And let me tell you, what's going on in the publishing industry right now is nothing short of an extinction level event like it is if they don't pull themselves back from this. Publishing once was, as the arts always should be, but publishing in particular, a place for the battle of ideas and opinions and the best ideas and opinions and arguments best argued, articulated, legitimate, those are the ones that win. But duke it out. Duke it the fuck out. And the publishing industry since George Floyd, since Black Lives Matter has retreated like a turtle into its shell and it has yet to emerge with teeth. Maureen Love these. Love again. I can't get enough of these. I too am a 59 year old straight man and I love your show. I loved he loved Rob and he thinks Rob should be a weekly or a bi weekly guest. And trust me, Troublemaker Cliff Rob's in Dear Maureen, brother Craig, Michelle's brother Craig is the okay, this is going to be a bit of a little bit of a scandalous email. So I'm warning you, but I'm teasing you and the nerve is the place to do it because this and those of you who know, you know, this clip of Joan Rivers has wound up in my algorithm multiple times. Okay, Joan said it, so putting it in her mouth. I don't necessarily subscribe to this theory, but it's going around and so we're reading it from troublemaker Stephanie. Dear Maureen, brother Craig is the biggest beat up, tortured brother who cannot speak up or contradict Michelle because he's had to endure a lifetime of being bullied by her. A theory, Stephanie, to which I also subscribe. Michelle's brain is filled with her own self importance and she can't see that no one cares. I saw a reporter. This is the clip I'm talking about. Get ready, buckle up. Ask the late Joan Rivers if she would like to see if she would like to see a gay couple in the White House. Her response was we already had a gay and a trans couple in the White House. She said the inner circle knows Michelle is trans. So if that is true, she needs to stop taking her bitterness out on Barack and broadcasting it on her podcast. Again, this is just Troublemaker Stephanie's theory. Even if Michelle was dragged to the White House kicking and screaming, she certainly became a gazillionaire As a result, she has had all of these years to go away quietly. There are millions of people who would love to retire in the lap of luxury instead of collecting their measly Social Security checks that barely cover their bills. She's similar to Hoda. Michelle needs the attention and fame, but when it comes from a shallow, insincere place, the mask drops and the nerve points it out. Hi, Maureen. This is from a troublemaker who comes from David Granger. I don't know if this is the former publishing genius David Granger of, I believe, GQ magazine, but either way, love the email. Listening to your show. Okay. I'm not going to bypass that. Now, recently, you've touched a nerve with three topics. Yes, Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. Not so good. It's not. It's not. It's cloying. It's overly sentimental. Truman puts thoughts in the heads of the dead victims he never could have known. I find it. I found it. And find it trickly and saccharine and overwrought. I like Less is more. Okay. And he said, so David says in cold. I'm an avid reader and In Cold Blood is one book I put down early. And that says a lot because I recently finished Robert Caro's the Power Broker. By the by, I'm going to get to Joan Didion in a future segment. In a near future segment. Not a fan. And some of you are like, want to know why? Because I'm the same way. And from a correspondent who we all immediately fell in love with last week. The subject line, Maureen, comma, my darling, I love you so much that you may now address me by my first name. Thank you. Thinking of you, Armando. Armando, you're still writing. Keep writing to us, Armando, of the lament about the decline and fall of men's fashion. Armando, love you. Okay, now, before we wrap up, we have got to award, you know, in all of the excitement, with ramping up to three days, three full shows a week rather, plus the mini. So our nerve at night, which is coming tomorrow. I forgot to award September's Troublemaker of the Month. I'm ashamed of myself. I took myself to the woodshed a little bit. Okay. By the way, I do have my own VIP area. The woodshed. Of course, I'd have my own VIP area in the woodshed. I'm not stupid. Anyway, so we are awarding September's Troublemaker of the Month and we know, like, it's going to be no sort of Vanessa Redgrave acceptance speech. We're going to get like, the real deal. Like a Patty Chayefsky response. The recipient of September's award is none other than Paul from New Zealand, who faithfully turns out brilliant art for the Nerve and all of our troublemakers. Paul, you are a genius and a gem, and our producers will be in touch to get your address so we can send you your special glass matchbook of remaining fucks. Sometimes the, you know, it's like a gold font here and it doesn't quite read on camera, but that's what it says, remaining fucks. So cheers and congrats, Paul. Well deserved. Now, an email reminder. Not that you guys really need one, but, you know, we just like to do it just in case. Keep sending me all of your thoughts, suggestions, wants and needs, and I'll do my best to meet them. We here at Team Nerve. It's what we're here for. Email me@maureenevilmaycaremedia.com or shoot me a DM in Instagram. On Instagram, rather. Excuse me, Maureen Callahan, writer or the Nerve show. Next up, a Nerve exclusive. We have got a fugitive. We put her in witness protection until this episode airs. Okay? A fugitive from the world of Bravo telling us troublemakers what really goes on behind the scenes. And it's some diabolical stuff. It's like diabolical stuff. And this fugitive is also going to spill just how much. One Andrew Cohen. My opinion. Sleazy, scummy Andrew Cohen. My opinion is loathed by reality show cast members. It's a banger. See you in a minute. Hey. It is Medicare annual enrollment time. And if you are of a certain age, your mailbox is stuffed, your phone is blowing up with robocalls and texts, and it is a total cluster. So let's cut through the noise. This is one Medicare message you have got to hear. The truth of the matter is that Medicare plans change every year. So even if you are happy with Your current plan, 2026 could work against you. If you don't check what's coming, you could actually lose coverage for the stuff you need. That is why I am telling you about Chapter your go to Medicare partner. They're not like those shady brokers, the ones the DOJ allegedly just sued for pushing plans that pad their own wallets. Chapter is different. They dig through every plan in the country to make sure that you are not getting taken advantage of. On average, chapter saves people $1,100 a year. That's $1,100 a year. Listen, nobody wants to deal with this mess, so chapter makes it quick, under 20 minutes. They will check for you if your plan is still the best one for you for 2026. If it is great, you're done. If it's not, they will help you switch. No bs, no pushy sales, just real talk from people who know their stuff. How refreshing. So call 573-654-7335. That's 573-654-7335. To feel confident about your Medicare.
- [65:06]
F
Hey everyone, it's Nicki and Bri and we're here to let you know that we have a podcast, the Nikki and Bri Show.
- [65:13]
G
Yes, and we've got new episodes every Monday and Thursday. We're serving up conversations that go beyond the cameras. Think Motherhood Confessions, Sisterhood vibes, Boss Business energy and TV Live Tea.
- [65:28]
F
Need a laugh? We got you craving inspo. We got inspiration and affirmations on deck. Want a little cry or a big? Heck yes. That's our jam. Whether we're breaking down pop culture, sharing parenting wins or fails, unpacking personal growth, or just riffing on everyday chaos, nothing is off limits.
- [65:49]
G
Plus, we welcome incredible guests, play our favorite games, and do what only sisters can. Keep it 100 while raising a glass together. So pop a bottle, hit play and come hang with us. Listen to the Nikki and Bree show wherever you get your podcast. Busy work weeks can leave you feeling drained.
- [66:10]
B
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G
Get 25% off plus a $40 bonus.
- [66:31]
B
Gift when you subscribe@prolonlife.com PandoraPromo we are so excited to bring you the first ever interview with a major reality TV apostate. Kenley Collins was a breakout star on season five of Bravo's Project Runway, and she has since become one of us. She has since become one of the most outspoken critics of reality TV and its exploitative practices, namely Bravo and one Andrew Cohen. Let's take a look at one of Kenley's most incendiary Instagram clips from a few weeks ago. And then we'll get into it with Kenley herself. Here we go.
- [67:21]
E
I'm sick of hearing about the Project Runway deals as a knife in the wound. They were all trying to heal from working six weeks side by side with Harvey Weinstein and Andy Cohen. And in my mother fucking opinion, Andy was a lot worse than Working with Harvey. Yeah.
- [67:54]
B
Kenley.
- [67:55]
E
Yeah. Hi.
- [67:56]
B
Welcome. Welcome to the Nerve. Oh, you look so cute.
- [68:01]
E
Oh, I love you, Bobby. By the way, I'm so happy I discovered you.
- [68:06]
B
Oh, thanks. Well, we are likewise happy to discover you and to have you here because I've been following you avidly.
- [68:12]
E
I appreciate that. Thank you. I'm like. I could shout it out from the rooftops, and no one is. I feel like no one's gonna listen.
- [68:22]
B
We are here for you. We are. We will listen, and we will promote. So. So that's a bold statement. Andy Cohen is worse than Harvey Weinstein.
- [68:35]
E
Please tell us why he was worse, because. Okay, so, I mean, if you follow the episodes and the reels, you'll understand why. I didn't really get to know the possessive Harvey Weinstein until all stars, until 10 years after I did the Bravo season of Project Runway.
- [69:00]
B
What year was your Bravo season? When did you do that?
- [69:03]
E
It was season five, 2008, and Andy was on set every single day being a total fucking creep.
- [69:11]
B
Now to your. Your post. You said that he would. He was basically saying to the gay male contestants or the straight male contestants as well, like, hey, want to come in my office, do some blow, drop trow, and I'll help your career.
- [69:23]
E
Yeah, yeah, that's. I mean, it. It was. I mean, he was shameless about it. I mean, and then I would see him out, and it was like, he didn't separate workplace from out and partying. You know what I mean? It was just. You know, it was. Because that's free for all. For him, with the gays, it was inappropriate. Beyond inappropriate.
- [69:49]
B
Did any of your castmates ever, ever complain behind the scenes about his behavior?
- [69:55]
E
Yeah. I mean, and a lot of it. See, a lot of it was the sequestered gays, too, because they had to. Even when they were eliminated off the show, they still were sequestered.
- [70:07]
B
They couldn't go home. They had to be sequestered by production so that nobody knew the outcome of the show.
- [70:12]
E
Yeah, they had to follow us everywhere we would go. So they were with us the entire time. The full cast was with us.
- [70:20]
B
I feel like that's a great band name, Sequestered Gays.
- [70:22]
E
Oh, that says that. I love that.
- [70:26]
B
Anyway, go on.
- [70:28]
E
So, yeah, I mean, you just kind of. But I was too busy to really think about it or care, but I just know he was a total fucking creep and a predator.
- [70:43]
B
You said that you would see him. There was out Andy, meaning out partying.
- [70:47]
E
There was out partying Andy. Yes.
- [70:50]
B
And then there was on Set.
- [70:51]
E
Andy, there was on set Kenley. And there was off out partying. Kenley too. I mean, sure. So I just want to talk about the professional. I mean, even though, you know.
- [71:05]
B
Understood, understood. But just for your purpose, you're saying that there really was no difference from I'm off the clock and.
- [71:12]
E
Yeah, there was no. Right. That's how he works. I mean, he's just. Just at. He's. There's just no lines, you know, that. That he.
- [71:23]
B
Did you feel it?
- [71:24]
E
Every line. He crossed every line. Let's just put it that way.
- [71:28]
B
So what do you mean when you say he crossed every line? Are you talking in terms of abusive behavior?
- [71:34]
E
And that's the thing. I can't really talk because it's not. See, when I kind of. When I saw Bethany and Nene come out about the Reality Reckoning and they did the podcast together, I reached out to them, I said, thank you guys so much for what you're doing. And I told them my entire story and they said, well, can you come out and help us? And I said, no, it's not my story to tell. It happened to the gays and they are very much pursuing legal action. But then.
- [72:01]
B
They are. They are.
- [72:03]
E
Yes, they are.
- [72:04]
B
Is it. Do you know if it's.
- [72:05]
E
If it's a class action about it?
- [72:08]
B
Okay.
- [72:08]
E
The Reality Reckoning lawsuit, it was a public statement. They're. They're not calling it a class action. It's actually Brian Friedman.
- [72:18]
B
Okay.
- [72:19]
E
Garrigo. So it's a Reality Reckoning class action. But Project Runway has. Was. Garagos office discovered that Project Runway had it way worse than anyone else.
- [72:37]
B
Really?
- [72:37]
E
I brought. Yes. And I brought that to their attention and I got a lot of people to sign on so. And tell their story to the attorney. So we can't. I mean, they don't want to go public and I respect that. It's a very traumatic experience when you're preyed upon by a fucking creepy Andrew Cohen. I love how you call him Andrew Cohen.
- [73:00]
B
Yeah, I think he's a dangerous guy. I think he's a dangerous guy and I think he hates women.
- [73:06]
E
And that's why I said it feels unfair to me that like Harvey Weinstein rots behind bars when you're literally looking at like someone who to me in my eyes at the time on Bravo was worse to work with. Now Harvey tormented me for ten plus years.
- [73:26]
B
He did.
- [73:27]
E
Yeah, he did.
- [73:29]
B
So after you were.
- [73:30]
E
He took a five year contract away from me that I had with E. I had my flight booked to California and Everything. And to me that was devastating. Like I can't believe he could have done something so hard.
- [73:43]
B
So you had a five year contract.
- [73:45]
E
With E. To host, to do corresponding work.
- [73:49]
B
Really?
- [73:49]
E
Yes.
- [73:50]
B
And so did he take it away from you because you wouldn't sleep with him?
- [73:54]
E
Cause I needed to be. Well, probably cuz I didn't go up to the hotel room. I think it was all that was around 2012. It was from 2010 to 2000, all the way up until he was in prison from 2010 to the 2000.
- [74:12]
B
How do you know it was Harvey who did it?
- [74:14]
E
I tried to take legal action with Gloria Ulred in 2017. She wouldn't even take my phone call.
- [74:20]
B
How do you know it was Harvey who did it, Kenley?
- [74:23]
E
Because it was so fucking obvious. It was so fucking obvious. My agent at ICM was like, oh, well, Harvey needs you for, you know, All Stars and stuff. And I think it's probably, it'd be probably better for you anyway. It's like, what's better about working for free for a fucking competition reality show than getting a five year fucking contract at E. What's better?
- [74:45]
B
You know, so here's something.
- [74:47]
E
Excuse. They didn't want to, they wanted to cover their tracks. So they said, oh well, Sharon Osborne came in at the last minute and said, that's for my daughter, Kelly Osbourne. And I said, this is bullshit. I knew exactly what was going on. I knew exactly.
- [75:02]
B
So you went back to All Stars 10 years later.
- [75:08]
E
So he took Fashion Police away in 2010 to be on standby.
- [75:12]
B
Okay, okay.
- [75:13]
E
For his precious deal, his two hundred dollar deal with Lifetime to be a part of their spin off deal. They were gonna, they were creating all types of spin off, but I didn't even really get a spin off like I was told.
- [75:32]
B
So you did. So you did what was called All Stars one.
- [75:35]
E
I did All Stars season one in 2012. That was it.
- [75:38]
B
Okay, so that's, that's, this is one of the things I think is so interesting because a lot of people don't understand this who aren't in this world. They say, well, if it was so bad, why did you go back? But what you're saying is you're trying to get your big break in the door and this guy.
- [75:53]
E
And I did. Yes. And I did get my big break. I got other work and it wasn't gonna happen. It just wasn't gonna happen. He has this. And Mira Sorvino just came out. He did it to her for 20 years. And it's not just like oh, that's a lie. It's not like he. It's a real thing. That Harvey Weinstein got his talent blacklisted. Anyone who wanted to do any other projects with his discovered talent was just never gonna happen. Because he is possessive and he's a fucking creep and a predator, and he's. He claims ownership of his talent. If. If we wanted to do anything else, it was just never. He owned Hollywood. Anything he said to anyone, they did. They said, okay, Harvey, whatever you say, they were afraid of him. And he did it to everyone.
- [76:48]
B
The women, it feels. With Andy Cohen, Andrew Cohen, it's very similar. He runs the board over at Bravo, and you have to be a housewife who pays fealty and is in his pocket.
- [77:02]
E
That's it.
- [77:03]
B
Or if you become an enemy, you are an enemy of the state forever. Like Kathy Griffin, you know, who said, hey, he offered me coke twice backstage. And Andy said. Clutched his pearls. I would never.
- [77:16]
E
Why is it so terrible? Why? I mean, everybody was doing coke back back then at the parties in New York, everyone says coke.
- [77:23]
B
I think because it's a workplace issue, you know, and the idea that Andy.
- [77:27]
E
Would be probably doing it at work, too, but, I mean, allegedly. Allegedly. I mean, yeah, probably. He was in the. What we call video village. It was a small room with monitors right outside of our workroom. So he would just stare at us. 20.
- [77:43]
B
It's amazing he has the time to spend hours on your set.
- [77:47]
E
Oh, thank you.
- [77:47]
B
Stopping for boys wanted him there. Like, I bet nobody wanted him there.
- [77:53]
E
He was trying hard to be an executive producer on that show. He loved Project Runway. He's a huge fan, you know, so all of this.
- [78:02]
B
This. Your stories I wanted to bring up. And I don't know how familiar. Familiar. Excuse me. You are with Scandal. Yeah, there was. There was. So one of those cast members became the. The villain of that season. Her name was. Is now. She goes by Rachel now. Yeah, Raquel at the time. Rachel.
- [78:22]
E
Bethany had her, like, big breakthrough podcast with her.
- [78:25]
B
Yes. On the pod. And then. So she was part of this Vanity Fair expose about the reality reckoning by Anna Peel. This is a story dated October 30, 2023. Now, Rachel, after the reunion, where she was. She was. She. She was abused on that set, and Andy let it happen. Yeah, her. Her reputation went in the toilet.
- [78:48]
E
He did have Barbara Walters.
- [78:49]
B
So let me. Let me finish. Let me get. And then get. You get. I want your reaction. She entered inpatient mental health treatment on April 2, 2023, for three months, following a season on which her affair with a castmate known as Scandival became the show's central plotline, a national news story. Despite Bravo's knowledge of Leviss's residential care, Cohen subsequently declined to correct her castmates on multiple episodes of Watch what Happens Live when they said she was actually at a spa and implied she was faking her mental health issues. Cohen also repeatedly asked what guests thought about Levis and her mental health. Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman called her a quote, filthy whore. Cohen laughed. After the reunion, he speculated in a vanity in a Variety interview that Levis had been, quote, very medicated at the taping. I mean, kettle pot, allegedly. During which her costar Ariana Maddox, whose ex boyfriend Levis had the relationship with, told Leviss this made air f yourself with an effing cheese grater. And Cohen did not intervene.
- [80:04]
E
That was a total setup for failure. I know from experience. They went on a full smear campaign against me. They just. They do that to people.
- [80:14]
B
What did they do to you?
- [80:16]
E
Well, my most recent reel that I posted, they had Tim Gunn and Craig Ferguson talk shit about me on a podcast, and I was nothing but lovely to these people. It was crazy. They needed a villain. When you need a villain, you will do anything. It doesn't matter. All of their morals, ethics, humanity just gets thrown out of the window. It's awful. They totally said, I watched the whole thing about Raquel and Tom. I watched the whole season. I watched the whole interview afterwards. And his little Barbara Walters dark one on one with her.
- [80:56]
B
Yeah, yeah. Andy's Barbara Walters one on one. Yeah. It's so funny.
- [81:00]
E
You know, I think Andy's disgusting. It's disgusting. I talk about that.
- [81:04]
B
Yeah, no, his problem is he can't get out of the Bravo world. He so desperately wants legitimacy. And like, you know, the rumor was when that empty chair was next to Kelly Ripa, he was gagging for it. But what I find interesting about the Bravo machine is that. So I thought that Vanity Fair piece was pretty damning. And it talked as much as they could get about what goes on behind the scenes with producers and encouraging active alcoholism among cast members in order to make great tv. You know, that the ruination of these people at their hands, be it, you know, criminal activity, divorces, deaths, what have you, it becomes fodder. Bravo successfully spun that. And I would hear this on more than one Bravo fan podcast. Oh, big surprise. There's drinking on the set. Big surprise. They instigate confrontation. Big surprise when it's like, actually, yeah.
- [81:58]
E
We had it worse, though. See, when I hear about all of these, like, housewives and vanderpumps, unlike, they're living in their mansions there. They have their freedom. They get their phone back at the end of the day.
- [82:12]
B
Oh, you. You had. Had your phone taken for the entire shoot?
- [82:16]
E
No, nothing.
- [82:17]
B
So you're cut off from the outside world. You have no outside support. You are. You are Stockholm Syndrome. 100%.
- [82:24]
E
Exactly. Exactly. It's devastating coming out of that. I can't even tell you how much damage is done to people. I mean, I'm a strong woman, so I can be able to. Life moves on. It happens. Shit happens, you know, but not. Not, you know, within your.
- [82:43]
B
In your Instagram reels, like, I. I sense, like, genuine. And even talking to you now. Like, you. You hold genuine rage for your experience.
- [82:53]
E
Yeah, it's for people too. I mean, obviously, I can't talk about, you know, what other people have gone through, but it's for other people. I mean, I had a full meltdown about my friend Chris March who died alone in a hospital.
- [83:10]
B
Oh, Chris Marsh. He was a favorite. He was a fan favorite with no money.
- [83:15]
E
None. He died alone with no one. No one was there. Literally. I was on the phone with him while he died. Devastation beyond words. Kenley makes me angry even talking, but that's who I am.
- [83:32]
B
I get it. Yeah, I get it. Can you just. For those who might not really understand the cost of doing reality TV exactly, whether it's competitive or candid, can you say what it is you have to be willing to sacrifice?
- [83:51]
E
You need to understand you're signing up for eternity of ptsd. That's why I said, the new winner of this past season, that it got sold over to Hulu and Disney. He said that he auditioned for 13 years. Every year, 13 times. And I'm thinking, wow, if only, like, he knew what he's aspiring to go do. Like, this is something that people are just dying to get into. They live their whole life to get on a competition, reality show. It's the saddest thing in the world. And it can destroy any normal, mentally solid person. It really can. It's awful.
- [84:40]
B
Well, I. You're. You're really brave to be talking about it.
- [84:44]
E
They picked a trans winner. And I'm thinking, and they're like, oh, you're so transphobic. Do you think Project Runway producers give a fuck about trans people? No. No. They give you psych tests to make sure they find what triggers you and what's gonna make you crack. They want you to crack. They wanna take your biggest Weaknesses and make you crack and use them against you. On the show. They write scripts for you. Not scripts, but tactics. They're writing tactics. There's a full clipboard of like, who's going home. Who do we want to go home and why and how we're gonna make sure they go home to make it look like it's a real reality show when it's not. I mean, you have plans.
- [85:28]
B
Yeah.
- [85:29]
E
Who wins and who doesn't win and who's gonna be the finals and things like that.
- [85:34]
B
Yeah, there's. That's always been the line, but very. Nobody will ever really come out and talk about it. Like, they hire shrinks.
- [85:40]
E
Yeah. Like Raquel for malevolent purposes. They set her up big time. Raquel on the Sandoval.
- [85:46]
B
Mm.
- [85:47]
E
Yeah, they set her up. Yeah.
- [85:50]
B
No, you could tell she's sort of a very childlike, simple person. She's not. You're not. You're not dealing with a genius. No offense.
- [85:57]
E
Right.
- [85:57]
B
You know, who just wants to be.
- [85:59]
E
Loved and was an ex beauty pageant and is just trying to get on, you know, get her face out there to Hollywood. Yeah.
- [86:06]
B
So, Kenley, have you, you know, you've been. I'm. Thank you for coming on the Nerve and giving us your first interview. I saw in your, in your reels that you, you spoke about the, like the 80 page NDA. You had to.
- [86:20]
E
It was a lot more than 80 pages.
- [86:22]
B
How many pages do you think it was like that thick?
- [86:26]
E
Yeah.
- [86:26]
B
She's making the sign if you're listening. It's a book size, an inch thick NDA.
- [86:30]
E
Like nobody's gonna read that.
- [86:33]
B
Right, Right. But like.
- [86:35]
E
And it says like Harvey Weinstein, like the Weinstein Company can sue you for $100 million. It says.
- [86:40]
B
Oh, really?
- [86:41]
E
If you, if you talk about the show.
- [86:44]
B
100 million. So how about that?
- [86:47]
E
Who's suing me for 100 million here? I am talking about the show. What are you going to fucking do about it? Let's go.
- [86:52]
B
I love it. Yes. Let's go. Waiting.
- [86:55]
E
Let's go.
- [86:56]
B
Let's go. Let's go. Well, thank you, Kenley. Thank you for speaking out. We've loved having you here at the Nerve. Best of luck with all of your righteous endeavors.
- [87:08]
E
You too. Thank you, Maureen.
- [87:10]
B
Take care.
- [87:11]
E
All right. Bye bye.
- [87:13]
B
Thanks so much to Kenley Collins. That was really, really brave of her, considering the NDAs these media entities make people sign and the things that they threaten them with. She's bold and she's brave and good for her. We will be keeping our eyes and ears on this story. Now, before we go, remember, our new weekly episode premieres on Wednesday. The Nerve at night. The Nerve at night. The Nerve at Night. We are so excited and we have been brainstorming for weeks now, so we have high hopes that you'll like it. Be sure, please be sure to tell us what you think. And we cannot wait to see you sooner than usual back here at the Nerve, where you will never guess what we're about to say next.
- [88:08]
F
Hey, everyone, it's Nikki and Bri, and we're here to let you know that we have a podcast, the Nicki and Bri Show.
- [88:15]
G
Yes, and we've got new episodes every Monday and Thursday. We're serving up real deal conversations that go beyond the cameras. Think Motherhood confessions, Sisterhood vibes, boss business energy, and TV life tea.
- [88:30]
F
Need a laugh? We got you craving inspo. We got inspiration and affirmations on deck. Want a little cry or a big? Heck yes. That's our jam. Whether we're breaking down pop culture, sharing parenting wins or fails, unpacking personal growth, or just riffing on everyday chaos, nothing is off limits.
- [88:51]
G
Plus, we welcome incredible guests, play our favorite games, and do what only sisters can. Keep it 100 while raising a glass together. So pop a bottle, hit play, and come hang with us. Listen to the Nikki and Bri show wherever you get your podcast.