Names and faces
■ Pop star Britney Spears said that though her family has been stressed lately, she’s doing OK. Spears on Tuesday posted a video on Instagram, telling her fans: “Just checking in with all of you who are concerned about me. All is well. My family has been going through a lot of stress and anxiety lately, so I just needed time to deal. Don’t worry. I’ll be back very soon.” In January, Spears said she was putting her career on indefinite hiatus for the sake of her father, who is sick. The start of her “Britney: Domination” residency in Las Vegas was put on hold. Earlier this month, Spears said she had decided to focus on self-care as she goes through a rough stretch. Spears wrote that she “wanted to say hi, because things that are being said have just gotten out of control!” “There’s rumors, death threats to my family and my team, and just so many things crazy things being said. … Don’t believe everything you read and hear,” the 37-year-old wrote. On Wednesday, she posted a video of herself working out and dancing, writing: “Who knew stress would be a great 5 pound weight loss. Yay for me.”
■ Imprisoned actor Bill Cosby is renewing his criticism of a Pennsylvania trial judge as he seeks bail while he appeals his sexual-assault conviction. Lawyers for the 81-year-old Cosby filed a bail motion Wednesday with the state Superior Court. They complained that in the seven months since Cosby’s sentencing, Montgomery County Judge Steven O’Neill has not issued his post-trial opinion explaining key trial decisions. The lawyers need the opinion in hand to raise allegations of trial errors and pursue Cosby’s appeals. O’Neill sentenced Cosby to a three- to 10-year prison term after his conviction for drugging and molesting a Temple University employee at Cosby’s estate near Philadelphia in 2004. The lawyers say Cosby is likely to have his “legally infirm and unsupported” conviction overturned and should therefore be granted bail, especially given his “advanced age.” Both O’Neill’s office and District Attorney Kevin Steele’s spokesman declined to comment.
■ Scott Disick is spinning off and flipping out of the Kardashian family bubble with his own show on the E! channel.
The father of Kourtney Kardashian’s three children and frequent face on Keeping Up With the Kardashians has been greenlighted to star in Flip It like Disick, which will follow him on his adventures remodeling and selling celebrity real estate. Disick began in that line of work nearly five years ago. On the show, viewers will learn more about his eye for design and see his team, including Willa Ford, the former pop singer turned interior designer; Disick’s best friend and business partner, Benny Luciano; and their contractor, Miki Moor.