Table of contents for January 17, 2022 in Globe

SCANDAL-SCARRED Hunter Biden is whining he feels like a prisoner in his rented $20 million mansion on Malibu’s star-studded beach, according to insiders who claim the wheeler-dealer turned artist is “a nervous wreck.” Although his early works have fetched an eye-popping $75,000 apiece, the spoiled 51-year-old is hating life as an artist and his marriage appears to be suffering, spies dish. “While he’s living in a place most people can only dream of, he’s still miserable,” spills an insider. “Things are not going the way he planned and he’s moaning about it.” Apparently, his 32-year-old wife and baby mom, Melissa, is too! Sources tell GLOBE Hunter’s grubby, arty look is “a turn-off” for the South African filmmaker, who’s the mother of his year-old son, Beau. Just two years after their…

ONE of ZZ Top’s biggest hits was Cheap Sunglasses — and their music catalogue just sold for a bargain-basement price of $50 million, which is chump change compared to The Boss Bruce Springsteen’s $500 million score! Bearded rock icons Billy Gibbons, 72, drummer Frank Beard, 72, and bassist Dusty Hill, who died in July at 72, made it big with other superhits including Legs and Gimme All Your Lovin,’ which were all included in the sale.…

Property Brothers star DREW SCOTT, 43, and podcast wife LINDA PHAN, 36, are expecting a miracle baby in May. They’ve battled infertility with IUI and IVF treatments since getting hitched in 2018. Bachelor fun’s gone for Riverdale star CASEY COTT, 29. The actor wed fitness training beauty NICHOLA BASARA in Whistler, Canada. SCOTT DISICK, 38, stopped sulking over ex-love KOURTNEY KARDASHIAN’s engagement to rocker TRAVIS BARKER just long enough to enjoy a St. Bart’s getaway with brunette model BELLA BANOS, 25, his off/on fling for a few years. Weeks after splitting with CINDY CRAWFORD’s look-alike daughter, 20-year-old model KAIA GERBER, Euphoria’s JACOB ELORDI, 24, is gallivanting with LORI LOUGHLIN’s mirror image kid OLIVIA JADE, 22. But don’t cry for KAIA. She’s now dating VANESSA HUDGENS’ ex, Carrie Diaries hunk AUSTIN…

WITH the departure of Billions star Damian Lewis, who played charismatic villain Bobby Axelrod for five seasons, Corey Stoll is being elevated to a series regular. The sixth season of the Showtime drama about morally ambiguous hedge fund hotshots kicks off this month with Stoll’s Michael Prince snatching the spotlight. Here are ten things you don’t know about the 45-year-old House of Cards alum. 1 He was born in Manhattan, where his father co-founded The Beacon School — a college prep school in NYC’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. 2 As a tubby teen, he weighed more than 300 pounds and admits, “I chose a very strange profession for someone who had such body issues.” 3 Mostly bald, he wore a wig to play Ernest Hemingway in Woody Allen’s 2011 film Midnight…

MEATHEAD Travis Lee Solesbee used a cleaver to hack at the noggins of his mother and stepfather — but the traumatized victims survived the murderous monster’s savage attack, South Carolina cops say. According to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responding to a call in Chesnee on Dec. 18 discovered the bloodbath. Police took the two victims to a local hospital, where they were treated for injuries, which were not life-threatening. Solesbee, 36, was cuffed less than 48 hours later and charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Officials say the short-tempered hothead, who stands 5-foot-6, is currently in custody at the Spartanburg County Detention Center, where he’s being held without bond.…

AGING rocker Rod Stewart is turning out to be a flop onstage — and at home with model-wife Penny, sources blab. The 76-year-old Do Ya Think I’m Sexy singer’s recent concert before Prince William and wife Kate was slammed by critics as “awful because he was rambling and slurring and his movements were awkward,” spills an insider. While the British icon was belting out One More Time with his all-girl band, dressed in matching leopard outfits, social media was flooded with posters who hated the act. “Rod’s really feeling the backlash,” tattles the insider. “This is the guy who said he could drink as much as he wants and still do music, but obviously his unhealthy lifestyle is catching up to him.” He’s also getting an earful from third wife…

DIABETES can take a serious bite out of your smile by causing gum disease, which may lead to tooth loss, experts say. Millions of Americans don’t know they’re diabetic, but according to the American Dental Association (ADA), elevated and untreated high blood sugar is bad for your oral health. A study published by the ADA cautions diabetics may be at higher risk of developing periodontal disease and have more difficulty recovering from gum infections than people without the metabolic condition. Shockingly, a previous ADA study found around 28 percent of the diabetics tested had lost all of their pearly whites! Medical professionals advise diabetics monitor their blood sugar levels, quit smoking — because it weakens the immune system — and seek dental care immediately upon noticing any mouth problems.…

HOME Alone actor Devin Ratray was busted for attacking his galpal because she gave away his autograph for free, say cops. Ratray, 45, the bully big brother Buzz McCallister in the 1990 hit, downed a bottle of wine and about ten shots before two fans asked for autograph cards at an Oklahoma City bar, cops say. After his galpal gave them away, cops say he followed her to their hotel room, where he choked her, saying: “This is how you die.” He was arrested for domestic violence and freed on $25,000 bond. He hasn’t entered a plea to the charge.…

FIRED CNN staffer and accused pedophile John Griffin — a producer for network anchor Chris Cuomo, who was axed in another sex scandal — lived a twisted double life as a perverted creep who trolled the internet for innocent girls to abuse, authorities charge. Griffin, who was arrested in December, pleaded not guilty to three counts of child sex trafficking. But federal prosecutors charge Griffin, 44, chatted up parents online, seeking to get his filthy paws on girls as young as seven for sick bondage games! Investigators say Griffin even paid a Nevada woman more than $3,300 to fly to Vermont with her nine-year-old daughter to feed his perverse hunger, although he denied abusing the girl. Griffin — Chris’ behind-the-scenes buddy for nearly nine years — faces a maximum sentence…

KELSEY GRAMMER and ex-wife Camille have been divorced ten years, but they’re still locked in a bitter hate fest, sources say. The Frasier alum, who shares daughter Mason, 20, and son Jude, 17, with the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills beauty, has never forgiven her for saying she wanted a divorce while he was struggling to bounce back from a heart attack and the death of his mother, Sally. “The day of my mother’s funeral, Camille started to tell me, ‘I’m out of here. I want a divorce.’ Blah, blah, blah,” Kelsey says. “I realized at that moment that I was done with her.” The 66-year-old actor, wed to Kayte Walsh, 42, since 2011, is still furious he had to pay Camille a $30 million divorce settlement “and he never lets…

BATTY ROB CHANNELS ROCKER KURT COBAIN When it came to choosing the next bigscreen Batman, ROB PATTINSON rocked! Director MATT REEVES says the Twilight bloodsucker’s moody KURT COBAIN vibe is perfect for the Caped Crusader. Reeves explains: “It came to me that, rather than make Bruce Wayne the playboy version we’ve seen before, there’s another version who had gone through a great tragedy and become a recluse — the idea of this fictionalized version of Kurt Cobain being in this kind of decaying manor. He’s also got that Kurt Cobain thing, where he looks like a rock star, but you also feel like he could be a recluse.” As for Rob’s grungier Batsuit, the 35-year-old star explains: “He’s been out every single night for two years, getting beaten up and…

FAMILY troubles are enough to drive anyone to drink — but savvy Queen Elizabeth has turned her grapes of wrath into a new wine that sells for $20 a glass. Normally, a 24-ounce bottle of prosecco pressed at Her Majesty’s Sandring-ham castle estate in Norfolk would go for $80, but the crafty queen is selling the sparkling white grape juice, which originated in northern Italy, in small bottles holding just a glass worth of the vino!…

A COURT has barred Kelly Clarkson from booting ex-hubby Brandon Blackstock from her money-pit Montana ranch. As GLOBE reported, while the 39-year-old singer, talk host and The Voice mentor owns the Vintage Valley Ranch, Blackstock, 45, moved in and won’t budge. On top of the whopping $195,601 a month Kelly pays Brandon for support, she’s been shelling out another $81,000 a month to maintain the joint. However, a source says, Blackstock is now required to keep up with the maintenance payments. If not, Clarkson can file a motion to sell the property.…

+ A DRUG derived from DNA fragments purified from the cells of pig intestines showed promise in preventing blood clots caused by multiple illnesses — including COVID-19, researchers say. University of Michigan rheumatologists claim their tests showed defibrotide suppressed the development of web-like neutrophil extracellular traps, or NETs — proteins which play a role in triggering inflammation and the formation of life-threatening clots. Senior author Dr. Jason Knight explains negatively charged defibrotide molecules seemingly soak up the “toxic” part of NETs.…

ARIES March 21 - April 20 After a boring start to the week, the sun shifts into Aquarius Wednesday, promising Rams some needed excitement. Expect a romance, adventure or surprise cash to arrive with a bang. Be cautious Friday when the stars warn you’ll be accident-prone. Energy slumping? Stay home and recharge Saturday. GEMINI May 22 - June 21 A social blunder early in the week has you on edge, but let it go, Twin. Venus retrograde says apologizing will make it worse. A small financial gain comes midweek — don’t mistake it for junk mail. A New Year’s resolution may hit a speed bump Saturday. Forgive yourself and start over. No one’s perfect. LEO July 23 - Aug. 23 Wintry weather has sun-loving lions craving warmth and festivity, but…

DUBAI’s cheating Princess Haya ripped off $7.5 million from her young daughter’s bank account to pay hush money when her bodyguards threatened to reveal her steamy secret affair, court documents reveal. The bombshell revelation exploded during the 47-year-old royal’s divorce from Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, 72, who was ordered to pay her a whopping $728 million settlement — one of the largest in history. Haya, who was the sheik’s sixth and youngest wife, admitted the steamy fling with her bodyguard, a former British soldier, and confessed she panicked when her security team demanded a payoff to keep their mouths shut about the trysts. She says she was forced to raid daughter Jalila’s account for the dough, saying: “I was scared and that was the money available in…

VENGEFUL Angelina Jolie has been blowing a fortune on her six kids with Brad Pitt and gleefully sending him the bills, knowing her ex will pay them, insiders say. The 46-year-old actress has been spotted hitting trendy shops like Fred Segal in West Hollywood and pricey restaurants like Nobu in Malibu with one or a few of their kids in tow. “She takes great delight by telling them money’s no object and to spend what they want at the stores, then watching them rack up the bills before she sends the invoice directly to Brad,” spills an insider. “When they go out to lunch, Angie encourages the children to order whatever they want from the menu and not to look at the prices — because their dad’s paying! “Brad, who’s…

TICKED-OFF Trevor Noah is suing a prestigious New York City hospital, claiming a botched procedure left him limping and disabled! The 37-year-old comedian and late-night host filed a lawsuit accusing Dr. Riley J. Williams III and the Hospital for Special Surgery of causing “permanent, severe and grievous” injuries from their “negligent and careless” treatment during a 2020 procedure he did not identify. The hospital has called Noah’s claims “meritless.”…

Guess what happens when “mom” warns: “Don’t?” Exactly! Real-life Spider-Man lovebirds TOM HOLLAND and ZENDAYA, both 25, were told hands off when first hired as teenage spidey soulmates back in 2016, so naturally, they became very hands on. “I took Tom and Zendaya aside, separately, when we first cast them and gave them a lecture,” reveals the blockbuster action flicks’ executive producer AMY PASCAL. “Don’t go there — just don’t,” she ordered the young stars. Guess how that worked out? Like Romeo and Juliet, the instantly attracted A-list pair went — ah, undercovers — and hid their secret “forbidden” love for ages. They finally came out of the bedroom closet last summer. But there must be something in the spider set’s water. The advice also fell on deaf ears with…

MADCAP Mariah Carey popped in unannounced at a McDonald’s, wearing a bejew-eled face mask and glittering red sequined gown — and the staff almost chucked her and her two kids out as pranksters until they realized pop royalty was in the house! “Can you please just leave the store and never come back? Thank you very much!” snapped one employee after Mariah’s daughter, Monroe, 10, put on a fake accent at the drive-thru window to order “a beanie and T-shirt from the Mariah Menu and I’ll also have a Big Mac with some chicken strips, whatever you guys sell here.” That’s when Mariah slithered into the eatery in her plunging gown and Prada gloves. “Oh my God!” screamed a staffer, and happy holiday chaos ensued — along with lots of cheesy…

MR. BIG’s big liquor deal just got scotched — a would-be buyer has withdrawn an offer worth $12 million to purchase Chris Noth’s tequila brand in the wake of sexual assault claims against the 67-year-old Sex and the City star! “It doesn’t make sense for us to move forward with this deal in light of the claims” — all of which Noth has denied — says the CEO of Entertainment Arts Research, which was set to buy the actor’s Ambhar. Noth also lost his gig on TV’s The Equalizer.…

TWISTED Tennessee teacher Jonathan Ullrich was socked with more than two dozen criminal charges after sexually abusing two young kids, according to authorities. Ullrich, who was named Teacher of the Year at Fairview Elementary School in 2020, was indicted on 27 counts — including aggravated sexual battery, incest, rape of a child and aggravated sexual exploitation. According to court documents, the bearded beast — who was ordered held in the Maury County Jail on $200,000 bail — brutalized two children under the age of 13 between 2016 and November 2021. The victims were said to be relatives, who were not his students. Ullrich, 50, was also suspended without pay, and Williamson County school officials called the accusations against the classless educator “horrific.” The suspect taught first grade at Fairview for seven…

BRITNEY SPEARS’ dad, Jamie, is still trying to suck money from her fortune — demanding she pay his legal fees for wrapping up the now-canceled conservatorship that gave him control of her $60 million empire. Insiders suspect Jamie pocketed $6 million for his role running Britney’s estate during the 13 years a court put him in charge of her life after her notorious 2008 emotional meltdown. Britney and her lawyer got the conservatorship canceled in November — weeks after Jamie quit under pressure. Now he wants his daughter to pay his lawyers’ bills related to his departure. Says her attorney Mathew Rosengart: “Mr. Spears reaped many millions of dollars from Britney as a conservator, while paying his lawyers millions more, all from Britney’s work and hard-earned money.” He calls Jamie’s…

+ A COMMON erectile dysfunction drug made users nearly 70 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests. Researchers at Cleveland Clinic found sildenafil — the generic name for Viagra — was linked to a significant drop in cases of the dementia-causing condition in an analysis of data from more than 7 million patients. The scientists say their lab experiments also showed the medication halted harmful Alzheimer’s-related proteins from building up in the brain.…

DISGRACED actor James Franco has finally fessed up to being a longtime sex addict, who routinely cheated on all his girlfriends and used his power position as a teacher to bed female students! The 43-year-old Spider-Man star spoke up for the first time since five female students at his Studio 4 acting school accused him in 2018 of sexually exploiting them. Calling “sex a powerful drug,” Franco says he’s been in treatment for his addiction for four years — even though the problem spans two decades. He also recently settled a lawsuit for $2.2 million with Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal, two of the Studio 4 students, who accused him of using the school as a “pipeline” for predatory behavior. Reformed boozer Franco says he kept silent about the scandal…

MORE than two decades after Jon-Benet Ramsey was found fatally strangled in her family’s Colorado home, cops say genetic DNA testing is the key to unmasking the six-year-old beauty queen’s killer! JonBenet’s bludgeoned body was discovered on Dec. 26, 1996, in the basement of her parents’ Boulder house — hours after her late mom, Patsy, reported the tiny tyke missing. Investigators say they’ve since analyzed nearly 1,500 pieces of evidence related to the cold case killing — and reviewed 21,016 tips — but have never found a direct match to DNA found on JonBenet’s underwear. After coming up empty for 25 years, Boulder detectives say they are looking into “genetic DNA testing processes to see if they can be applied to this case moving forward.” Although police didn’t specify which…

HIT game show Wheel of Fortune has been caught in a firestorm of outrage after a contestant was denied a $35,000 Audi Q3 car because she hesitated before giving the correct answer! Contestant Charlene Rubush entered a Bonus Round with $16,500 in winnings and was asked “What are you doing?” She answered “choosing the right card,” with the last word “card” being wrong. However, the clock was still running when she again said the first three words and then added “word,” which was correct. Host Pat Sajak admitted “you said all the right words,” but since it wasn’t “continuous” she lost the Audi. Furious fans flooded the internet, demanding: “Give her the car!” Audi heard and obeyed, publicly awarding Charlene a new Q3, leaving the game show with egg on…

AILING Betty White’s star-studded 100th birthday celebration is being treated as a sad farewell behind the scenes as the beloved showbiz legend secretly battles health issues, insiders say. The once bubbly broad from The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls is now frail, losing her memory and suffering chronic pain so agonizing she can barely walk, sources claim. The few times she’s been spotted out, she was clinging to an aide for support. “She’s toothpick-thin and very feeble,” says a friend. “She’s often short of breath.” And fear of deadly COVID has turned her into a tragic recluse! “She has rarely been seen in public during the past few years,” says an insider close to the iconic actress. “Betty’s been afraid to leave her home due to COVID.…

AN annoying whine on San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge is going to be silenced this year by installing U-bolts worth $450,000 on handrails. REALITY TV pawnbroker Rick Harrison’s wealth is estimated at $9 million. He’s been married and divorced three times! DEER can cover 30 feet in a single leap and jump as high as ten feet! About 25,000 of the critters die each year from run-ins with cars. PRESIDENT Theodore Roosevelt gave the White House its official name in 1901. Until then it was simply known as the president’s mansion. AMERICA’S most famous highway, Route 66, started life as Route 60 in Chicago and was designed to be a quick way to Los Angeles. The nation’s first McDonald’s opened on it in the 1940s.…