All articles tagged with #memoir
Simon & Schuster UK will publish Jason Arday’s memoir, Great and Unfortunate Things, on Aug 27 as his family requested, despite his death amid plagiarism allegations; the family asks for privacy and says the book should speak for itself.
James Blunt publicly denies being the “famous thirty-something British singer-songwriter” described in Hayden Panettiere’s yacht anecdote from her memoir, posting a Substack piece that says Panettiere was 19 at the time (not 18) and that she hadn’t previously met him; Blunt’s reps did not immediately comment. The renewed attention follows Panettiere’s death and her discussions of postpartum depression and substance use, keeping the yacht story in the headlines.
A timeline traces Hayden Panettiere’s rise from child star to lead actress on Nashville and Heroes, her battles with addiction and postpartum depression, her experiences with domestic violence, and the events surrounding her death at 36 in South Carolina, including the release of her 2026 memoir, tributes from colleagues, autopsy updates, and an ongoing investigation.
Prosecutors in the nearly 30-year Tupac Shakur murder case may hinge on Duane 'Keffe D' Davis's memoir and its ghostwriter, Yusef Jah, with Jah expected to testify about whether the book is based on what Davis told him. Davis's statements and his memoir are cited by prosecutors to tie him to the shooting, while the defense argues the book is fictionalized and not evidence of involvement. The case faces challenges from faded witness cooperation, including Suge Knight’s reluctance to testify, and investigators who did not vet the memoir’s claims. The jury’s assessment of the memoir’s truthfulness could determine the trial’s outcome.
Earl Spencer will publish Swan Song: Diana, My Sister, a memoir offering his perspective on Diana, Princess of Wales; published by Penguin Michael Joseph (Penguin Random House) in the UK, it aims to tell the truth, depict her as a dynamic, loving figure, and counter untruths with a September 22 UK release.
Former Cambridge sociology professor Jason Arday, who resigned after plagiarism allegations related to his PhD and scrutiny over fundraising claims, was found dead in London; authorities say the death is unexpected but not believed to be suspicious. Cambridge and Glasgow universities have launched independent reviews of his work, and his memoir Great and Unfortunate Things has recently been published in the US and will be released in the UK.
Jason Arday, reportedly Cambridge's youngest Black professor, says he was non-verbal until almost age 12; memory from former classmates conflicts, with some recalling a chatty primary-school Arday. Arday and two friends defend the memoir’s account as he resigns amid plagiarism questions and scrutiny of other extraordinary claims, while his publisher presses on with the US/UK releases amid ongoing controversy.
Roland Orzabal reveals in his memoir that he endured years of his wife Caroline’s deteriorating alcohol-related illness, admitting he fell in love with Emily Rath before Caroline died in 2017, and that choosing a life with Rath led to the end of his marriage; he later sought treatment for Ambien addiction and married Rath in 2020, with their daughter Eula born in 2025.
Shania Twain disclosed that she grew up in a “very violent” home in Ontario, Canada, where she and her sisters were physically abused by their mother and stepfather, witnessed frequent fights, and were “kicked around” at times; she described the house as loud and scary, with her mother often trying to leave only to return, and noted prior allegations of sexual abuse by her stepfather starting when she was 10; she has spoken about these experiences in interviews and her memoir.
Giuliana Rancic shaded ex Jerry O’Connell’s memory of their 2004 breakup in a playful Instagram clip, responding to his recent remarks about their split and teasing a longer podcast on the drama; O’Connell had previously described dumping Rancic via an intercom, and the couple’s past awkward run-ins have been documented, including in Rancic’s 2015 memoir Going Off Script.
Jerry O’Connell didn’t dispute Giuliana Rancic’s blunt breakup description from her memoir, telling Kelly Ripa he can’t recall his exact wording but wouldn’t deny the memoir’s quotes and apologized for how the split went. He characterizes himself as a “terrible boyfriend,” recounting an incident in which another woman was inside his condo when Rancic tried to buzz in, and he noted Rancic’s portrayal and wording as effective. He also touched on rumors of infidelity and, in a lighter moment, referenced a one-date with Sarah Michelle Gellar.
Conservative commentators mock Joe Biden’s announced memoir, reviving questions about autopen use and his health as he says cancer treatment is going well; the book, 'Promise Me, America,' is slated for Nov. 17 (two weeks after the midterms) and will discuss his presidency and the decision to withdraw from the 2024 race.
President Joe Biden plans to publish a memoir after the November midterm elections, with reports suggesting the book is titled 'Promise Me, America'.
Navy veteran Zachary Young, who defeated CNN in a defamation suit over Afghanistan-evacuation allegations, says the CIA is censoring his forthcoming memoir by ordering deletion and destruction of the manuscript. The CIA’s Author Review Office reportedly rejected the book, citing a nondisclosure agreement. Young, who partnered with Scott McEwen on “American Spy,” argues the move is censorship, while CNN’s settlement and damages from the trial have been publicized (he was awarded about $4 million in lost earnings and $1 million in personal damages; punitive damages were pending when a settlement was reached). The CIA has not commented publicly.
Collin Gosselin has public support from fellow reality star Alexia Umansky as he preps his bombshell memoir about his difficult upbringing with Jon and Kate Gosselin. Umansky posted about the book and encouraged him to move to LA, while the memoir, In the Shadow of Eight: Surviving the Reality of My Childhood, is set for an Oct. 13 release and is described as detailing the alleged struggles and abuse he faced within the famous Gosselin family.