Entertainment
How Brenda Song and Macaulay Culkin Pass Her Asian Heritage on to Their Kids (Exclusive)
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Brenda Song is proud of her heritage — and she’s making sure her children are, too.
The 37-year-old actress, who is of Thai and Hmong descent, reflects on growing up in a “tight-knit” community where language and culture were deeply rooted.
“My parents growing up would only speak to me and my brother in Hmong at home,” Song shares with PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “I’m so incredibly grateful that my parents made such a point that we didn’t lose our language or culture. We are a very tight-knit family. With my parents being refugees, I think it makes you stay even closer.”
Now a mother to two sons — Dakota, 4, and Carson, 2 — with partner Macaulay Culkin, The Last Showgirl actress is passing down those same traditions. “Every single night, my kids say ‘Good night’ and ‘I love you’ in English and also Hmong,” she says. “It’s about helping them understand that this is a part of who they are. My parents, cousins and grandma are here all the time, so it’s nice for my kids to experience both sides of their heritage. I don’t want them to lose that because it’s really easy, especially in LA.”
Amy Sussman/Getty
Song’s pride in her Thai and Hmong roots extends to every part of her life. “I always like to joke that when I started dating my partner, I’m like, ‘Oh, honey, you’re not just dating me. You’re dating my entire family,” she laughs, referring to Culkin, 44. “My mom literally has a room in our house. We also taught Mac how to speak some Hmong, and my grandma brought the boys and Mac traditional outfits, which is amazing.”
Throughout her career, from The Suite Life of Zack & Cody to Netflix’s Running Point, Song has remained grounded in her identity while demolishing Asian stereotypes in Hollywood.
“I truly believe Disney was ahead of the curve,” she says, reflecting on her breakout role as London Tipton. “They were allowing me to even audition for these roles and to star in my own projects without having this huge conversation behind it all. For kids to see themselves represented on TV in any way is so important. Sometimes you feel like, ‘Oh, is there even a place for me?’ I’ve struggled with that my entire career. Disney was trying to change that. They were mirroring what the world actually looks like.”
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Kat Marcinowski/Netflix
Talking about Running Point, she adds: “I was sort of at this crossroads, having been a new mom, not quite understanding again where I fit in this industry. Then I met with the creators, and within five minutes, I was like, ‘I’ll do anything to be part of this show.’ Working with Mindy Kaling has been really eye-opening because she’s made such strides in the AAPI community, pushing for strong stories and roles for East Asian women. Being able to speak Hmong on the show and represent my community means so much to me. And working with Kate has been such a dream, because, obviously, it’s fricking Kate Hudson.”
Reflecting on her journey, Song shares a message she hopes others will take to heart.
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“Sometimes you walk into a room and think, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m the only Asian actress here. They’re not going to want me because they’re looking for something else.’ But you can’t let that stop you,” she says. “If you love something and you work hard enough, anything is possible. You have to believe in yourself, because if you don’t, no one else will.”
Entertainment
Ioan Gruffudd claims ex-wife Alice Evans threatened to ‘Amber Heard’ him as dramatic trial kicks off

Ioan Gruffudd testified that his ex-wife, Alice Evans, threatened to destroy his career by making false, explosive accusations against him.
The “Fantastic Four” star’s trial against Evans kicked off Monday, in which he’s asking the court to renew the restraining order that he and his new wife, Bianca Wallace, had against Evans.
They claim Evans has stalked them and trashed them online.
In court, Gruffudd claimed his ex-wife threatened to destroy him and his career by “Amber Hearding” him, the Daily Mail reported. Gruffudd was referring to Johnny Depp suing Heard for $50 million for defaming him in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed about abuse, which he won.
The actor described one alleged incident in which he dropped off their kids — daughters Ella, 16, and Elsie, 12 —after a scheduled visit, and Evans loudly berated him and yelled obscenities “at the top of her lungs.”
“She said she was going to destroy me and she was going to ‘Amber Heard’ me,” he said in court, according to the outlet. “Then she said to the girls, ‘If daddy is ever weird or creepy with you in a physical way, please let me know.’”
“She accused me of being a child molester, a pedophile and a drug addict,” he also claimed. “She said I was out of my mind on sex and drugs and millennials.”
The actor, 52, said he was “disturbed” by the lengths Evans was willing to go to denigrate him.
Gruffudd claimed Evans, 57, told him, “You won’t be an actor, baby, you’ll just be begging for money.”
He shared, “I was anxious that she would use my public image to create a scandal bigger than Brad and Angelina. I found that to be incredibly threatening.”
Gruffudd claimed Evans’ threats extended to Wallace, 33, whom he married in April 2025, the Daily Mail also reported.
“She said she was going to create a false crime that Bianca perpetrated and she would be deported,’” he claimed, alleging she put a private detective on Wallace.
Reps for Gruffudd and Evans didn’t immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
The exes split in 2021, and their divorce was finalized in 2023. Back in October 2021, Evans accused him of having a three-year affair with Wallace, who was previously her friend, and he denied the allegation in court.
In February 2022, Gruffudd filed for a restraining order against Evans. In documents obtained by Page Six, he claimed that Evans “repeatedly told me between August 2020 and our separation on January 1, 2021 that if I left her, she would make false public accusations about me, sell false stories about me to the press, and destroy me and my career.”
He further alleged that Evans “told me verbally multiple times that she would do to me what Amber Heard did to Johnny Depp.”
He was granted a three-year restraining order against her in August 2022, but the drama continued. The exes’ oldest daughter, Ella, filed for a restraining order against both her father and Wallace in June 2023, though it was denied.
In July 2024, Evans pled with the Los Angeles Superior Court to order Gruffudd to pay her more child support and spousal support, alleging she was on the brink of going broke.
“While I am struggling to put food on the table for our children, Ioan is jet setting around the world,” she alleged in court docs obtained by Page Six.
“I have drained all of my personal savings paying my prior attorneys in this case and paying for my expenses,” she also claimed.
Entertainment
Kylie Jenner looks visibly uncomfortable at Alan Cumming’s cheeky joke at BAFTAs

Kylie Jenner was visibly uncomfortable when host Alan Cumming made a rather cheeky joke at the 2026 BAFTAs Sunday.
During the British Academy Film Awards at London’s Royal Festival Hall, Cumming weaved through the A-list audience to hand out “very British snacks.”
Upon coming up on Timothée Chalamet and Jenner, the “Traitors” host handed the actor British pub snack Scampi Fries while the makeup mogul was given a giant Jammie Dodger.
A Jammie Dodger is a popular British shortbread biscuit sandwich with a raspberry or strawberry-flavored jam filling and a heart-shaped cutout on top.
“Kylie, have you ever had your gums around a giant Jammie Dodger?” he asked her before offering her the snack.
Taken aback, she shook her head and said no before accepting the snack and muttering “thank you.”
Jenner, 28, and Chalamet, 30, kept their award show date night streak going when they pulled up to the BAFTAs in matching black ensembles.
The “Kardashians” star showed off her curves in a vintage black velvet Thierry Mugler gown embellished with colorful jewels at the bodice.
Meanwhile, the “Marty Supreme” actor kept things classy in a custom all-black outfit by Givenchy’s Sarah Burton that included a double-breasted tuxedo jacket, pleated trousers, a silk shirt and a bow tie.
Chalamet was nominated in the best leading actor category for his performance in “Marty Supreme.”
The film itself secured a whopping 11 nods this year, including for best film, best director, best original screenplay and best cinematography.
However, Chalamet — as well as the rest of the cast and crew — left completely empty-handed as “Marty Supreme” failed to win any accolades.
After keeping their romance under the radar since April 2023, Chalamet and Jenner have been stepping out during this year’s award season.
Most recently, Jenner accompanied Chalamet to the Critics’ Choice Awards on Jan. 4 and the Golden Globes on Jan. 11.
During both award shows, Chalamet won the award for best actor and thanked Jenner for her support and love.
Entertainment
Jennifer Lopez celebrates twins Emme and Max’s 18th birthday with sweet tribute

Jennifer Lopez shared an emotional tribute to her twins, Max and Emme, on their 18th birthday.
The singer and actress shared an intimate video montage of her twins over the years on Instagram Sunday. Set to One Direction’s “18,” the video featured special moments in their lives, including Emme’s surprise appearance during her mother’s Super Bowl LIV halftime show alongside Shakira in 2020.
Lopez, who shares Emme and Max with her ex-husband, Marc Anthony, recalled giving birth to her twins in the middle of the night during a snowstorm in New York City.
“It was as if God was making sure you would enter a world full of pure magic!!” she wrote. “In my heart, I knew that’s how your life would always be!!”
“When I would hold you as infants, I honestly felt as if I were holding two angels sent straight from heaven above,” she continued, “My life was changed forever.”
The “Hustlers” star fondly referred to her children as her “coconuts.”
“‘I love you’ could never encapsulate the depth of feeling, affection, and care that I have for you, my coconuts,” she wrote. “It has always been the three of us!! We have been on this journey together.”
“We have always had each other to hold on to and be that steady presence in the middle of any snowstorm,” she added. “And I promise you, my beautiful coconuts, no matter how big you get, that’s how it will always be.”
“Always remember, Lulu, you are my sunshine…and Max, you’re amazing just the way you are!! … Happy 18th Birthday, my wonder twins!!!”
Last October, the twins made a rare appearance at the New York City premiere of her film, “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”
Lopez, 56, beamed as she posed with them on the red carpet.
Emme rocked a red velvet suit jacket, black satin shirt and a pair of black pants, while Max wore a multi-colored jacket over a burgundy sweater and a pair of khaki slacks.
Later that month, Lopez revealed that Max and Emme once confronted her about not being present in their lives as she navigated being a single mom following her divorce from Anthony.
During her appearance on “The Howard Stern Show,” she revealed that the pivotal conversation happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she was able to “stay home” and be more present,
“They spoke to me, [and] they’re like, ‘You’re not a regular mom. You’re not here every day. You don’t drop us off and pick us up like the other [moms],’” she recalled, noting that her kids were around the age of 10 at the time.
“And I realized how much they needed me there,” she added.
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