She dramatically quit the ‘reality’ television series Ladies Of London after she was called a ‘madam’ by a fellow cast member.
But Dara Huang, ex-fiancée of Princess Beatrice’s husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, has forged an intriguing new relationship.
I hear the American-born architect, interior designer and television presenter, 43, is enjoying a blossoming friendship with Brett Ratner, 57, the director of the recent film about President Donald Trump’s wife, Melania.
‘They are going out together and have been seen at parties,’ claims one of their friends.
Ratner is an even more fascinating character than Dara’s former fiancé, Edo, 42, the property developer with whom she has a son, Chistopher, known as ‘Wolfie’. He has spent Christmas with his stepmother and the Royal Family at Sandringham.
The American is President Trump’s favourite director through his action film series Rush Hour, and flew with him to China last week.
He was, however, ‘cancelled’ in 2017 after numerous women in Hollywood accused him of rape and sexual assault. He denied the allegations and emigrated to Israel.
Like Edo’s in-laws, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, Ratner has been tainted by association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Brett Ratner has been tainted by association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein
Dara Huang, ex-fiancée of Princess Beatrice ‘s husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
Last year, a photo was released as part of the Epstein files which showed Ratner posing with Jean-Luc Brunel, one of Epstein’s associates.
Further images released in January showed Ratner on a sofa with Epstein and two young women. Ratner was cuddling one of the women in one of these photos.
He appeared with Epstein, Brunel and three women in another picture.
Ratner said he ‘didn’t have a personal relationship’ with Epstein. He had met the financier only once, he said, and the woman he was pictured embracing was his then fiancée.
Dara (pictured) insists that her relationship with Ratner is not romantic, telling me: ‘We are only friends.’
Referring to an occasion when they were spotted, she says: ‘We were both invited to the same event. We did not go together.’
There is no suggestion that she is a ‘madam’. Ratner declines to comment.
Alexa’s kiss for Tom? Well he is starring in The Man I Love!
Alexa Chung and Tom Sturridge have been together for four years, but they seemed to be still in the first flush of romance on the red car pet at Cannes film festival.
Alexa Chung and Tom Sturridge at The Man I Love Screening during the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival
Television presenter Alexa, 42, kissed and cuddled actor Tom, 40, before the screening of The Man I Love, in which he stars opposite Oscar winner Rami Malek. The film received an eight-minute standing ovation.
Alexa, who was once Marks & Spencer’s ‘It-girl’, wore a Dior haute couture satin gown. Tom has a 13-year old daughter, Marlowe, with his ex-fiancée Sienna Miller, 44. She recently gave birth to her third child, her second with boyfriend Oli Green, 29.
Taxman lobs new court battle at Boris Becker
Boris Becker faces another volley of money troubles. I hear that the former Wimbledon champion, who is facing a court battle with his second ex-wife Lilly Becker over unpaid child support, faces a winding-up petition at BB Private Office, the private firm that manages his earnings. HMRC instigated proceedings at the High Court this week.
The company’s last set of accounts reported £110,000 as being owed in corporation tax and £545,000 in social security and taxation. Despite the debts, Becker’s firm was £203,000 in the black at the time. Having been run by his trustee until last year, Becker’s firm had seemingly weathered the trials of his bankruptcy and subsequent spell in prison… until now, at least.
She has played Evelyn Plummer in Coronation Street since 2018, and her late husband Jack Rosenthal wrote 129 early episodes, but Dame Maureen Lipman admits that she has rarely seen the ITV soap opera.
‘I’ve only watched it myself about three times,’ says the actress, 80. ‘I’m not a regular viewer, because I have a life. I don’t sit down with a gin and tonic every night at 7.30pm, thinking, ‘Ooh, I’m coming on.’
Victoria has got my Beck, says pal Eva
While Brooklyn Beckham remains estranged from his family, even missing his grandpa’s 80th birthday party this week, his mother Victoria Beckham has won praise for her unwavering loyalty from close friend Eva Longoria.
Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria has long been part of the Beckhams’ inner circle
The Desperate Housewives star, 51, who hosted her annual Global Gift Gala in Cannes this week (pictured), has long been a part of the Beckhams’ inner circle.
‘I love Victoria, she always comes to our London gala and shows her support, which always means the world to me,’ Eva tells me.
‘Her loyalty is unquestionable.’
BBC boss praises Panorama
New BBC boss Matt Brittin congratulated the Panorama team on its headline-making Married At First Sight rape investigation on his first day in the job.
It was Panorama’s misleading editing of a Donald Trump speech which triggered the resignation of Brittin’s predecessor Tim Davie and landed the BBC with a $10billion lawsuit.
With the famous current affairs brand’s future in question, was it a coinci dence that the Channel 4 exposé landed on the day of Brittin’s arrival? An insider says: ‘Matt was left in no doubt about the value of Panorama to the BBC.’
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