Buzzmakers: 'Dynasty' Shakeup & Barbara's List
What had ETonline readers buzzing this week?
1. A&E Puts Duck Dynasty Star on Hiatus
Following the uproar surrounding Phil Robertson's GQ interview, A&E, which airs Duck Dynasty, issued the following statement:
"We are extremely disappointed to have read Phil Robertson's comments in GQ, which are based on his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series Duck Dynasty. His personal views in no way reflect those of A+E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the LGBT community. The network has placed Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely."
GLAAD spokesman Wilson Cruz applauded the suspension, telling The Wrap, "What's clear is that such hateful, anti-gay comments are unacceptable to fans, viewers and networks alike. By taking quick action and removing Robertson from future filming, A&E has sent a strong message that discrimination is neither a Christian nor an American value."
2. Marie Osmond Welcomes First Grandchild
Marie Osmond just got the best holiday gift ever -- the 54-year-old entertainer is officially a grandmother!
Osmond's son Stephen James Craig and his wife Claire have welcomed a baby boy, she confirmed on Twitter.
"Hey everyone .....I just became a GRANDMA!!!!!!!!," she tweeted Thursday. "It's a boy!"
This is the first grandchild for Osmond, whose son Stephen is the only child she has with her husband Stephen Craig, Sr., whom she remarried in 2011 after divorcing in 1985. She also has two biological children with her second husband Brian Blosil, as well as five adopted children.
3. Barbara Walters Reveals Her Most Fascinating Person of 2013
Barbara Walters revealed on her Wednesday night special who topped her list of The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2013.
While The Hunger Games beauty Jennifer Lawrence and Wrecking Ball singer Miley Cyrus made her list, it was former Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton that came in at No. 1.
Walters says Hillary isn't just the most fascinating person of 2013, but also of the past 20 years. She also points out that this is the only time she's interviewed the politician when neither she nor her husband, former President Bill Clinton, have been in office.
The big question on everyone's minds for Clinton: Is she running for president? "It's such a difficult decision, and it's one that I'm not going to rush into ...and I don't think we should be looking at the next election," Hillary, 66, said. "I think we should be looking at the work that we have today."
Though remaining coy, Hillary adds that she thinks it's "important" that there be a female president some day. "It matters. It matters because we have half the population that has given so much to building this country, to making it work, raising children and, of course, I want to see women eventually in the White House," Clinton said. "If you look at my friends and former colleagues, who are now in the Senate, it was the women senators, on both sides of the aisle, who finally broke the fever over the government shutdown and the debt limit. ...They have been working across party lines, and we need more of that."
4. Actress Kristen Johnston Reveals Health Struggle
The Exes star Kristen Johnston took to her Facebook page on Tuesday, coming clean about a recent diagnosis.
Johnston, 46, recently learned that she has "a rare autoimmune disorder" that left her immobile. "My immune system has decided to go rogue [and] attack my muscles," said Johnston.
"Lying down I'm fine, which is great for writing or killing time on social media," the two-time Emmy winner admitted, "but it's kind of disastrous when you're in a sitcom that requires tons of physical comedy."
During four months of tests to find out the cause of her illness, Johnston only took a two-episode break from The Exes where Leah Remini was brought on to carry the load.
Since the diagnosis, doctors have been able to treat Johnston, getting her healthy enough to return to work.
Johnston closed out her social media post, thanking her TV Land family for their support through her ordeal, writing, "It's true that when you're sick, you find out who your real friends are."
5. Shia LaBeouf Addresses Plagiarism Allegations
Transformers star Shia LaBeouf recently tried his hand at writing and directing a short film called Howard Cantour, but despite its initial support and acclaim, the actor is now being accused of plagiarizing almost the entire project.
First debuting at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, LaBeouf posted the film Monday, Dec. 16, onHowardCantour.com. The website Buzzfeed quickly noticed some startling similarities of the short to a comic titled Justin M. Damiano, written and created by Daniel Clowes.
Following the plagiarism accusations, the 27-year-old actor took to Twitter to apologize for having "neglected to follow proper accreditation." Both Howard Cantour and Justin M. Damiano begin with the main character narrating, using at times, the same lines of dialog. LaBeouf claims he wasn't copying the comic or any of Clowes' work, but was simply inspired by it.