Who Is Matt Lauer's Rumored New Girlfriend, Shamin Abas? - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Matt Lauer seems to be moving on. After splitting from his longtime wife Annette Roque in 2017, the former Today host has reportedly settled into a new relationship with his friend, Shamin Abas. But just who is this woman? Here’s what we know so far.

Matt Lauer at an event in 2017 | Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

Who is Shamin Abas?

Abas has been described by Radar Online as a “powerhouse publicist.” She runs an eponymous public relations firm and has worked with big-name clients such as Rolls-Royce, FIJI Water, and Bugatti.

Abas grew up in Wales, per The Palm Beach Post. Her father, who is Persian, taught math at a local university and her mother was a jazz artist who later became a homemaker. As a kid, Abas spent a lot of time with her two sisters and brother, playing, bike riding, and tending to local stables.

“I grew up living and breathing horses,” Abas told The Palm Beach Post, “but it wasn’t even a thought that I would stay there.”

In the 1990s, she met a man who would become her husband and followed him to Detriot, Michigan. She got her first gig in the media world as a spokesmodel for Chrysler and then moved to New York, where her career snowballed. Unfortunately, though, she and her husband wound up splitting shortly after they relocated to the Big Apple in 1999.

Shamin Abas at an event | Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

In 2003, Abas remarried — this time, to a New York City nightclub owner. But the marriage had deteriorated by 2007.

“My advice is never be married to someone in the restaurant business,” Abas revealed to The Post. “We were under so much pressure with this huge lease and financial responsibility. It played a huge part in the failure of our marriage.”

How did Shamin Abas and Matt Lauer meet?

At the time of writing, this is unclear. But Abas and Lauer have known each other for more than 14 years. They were reportedly seen having a friendly lunch in 2005 and “recently” became romantic.

A source told Page Six, “Matt and Shamin have known each other for many years, as she spends a lot of time in the Hamptons, as does he. They very recently began dating, she is a lovely woman.”

In Touch Weekly broke the news of their rumored relationship on Dec. 19 after the two were seen traveling together.

A source told the outlet that Lauer had been “on the prowl” for love, “especially after Annette dumped him.” Roque left the disgraced TV anchor in 2017 after he became entangled in sexual assault accusations, which he denies. Shortly after the allegations surfaced, Lauer was fired from NBC.

Matt Lauer on set | Photo by Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

When many people “turned their backs on him,” Abas reportedly was there to comfort and support Lauer.

“She knows who he is,” the source continued. “She’s thrilled she’s with him. She doesn’t seem to have a care in the world.”

And he’s apparently equally smitten, with the source adding, “He can trust Shamin.”

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2020-01-01 15:05:15Z
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This Is The Real Reason Why Rey Was Related To [SPOILER] in 'The Rise of Skywalker' - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

The Rise of Skywalker had more than its fair share of bumps, but it closed out an era of a massive franchise, and some fans still love it. Regardless of your opinions on the film, co-writer Chris Terrio recently gave some more insight into the choices they made when making the film. More specifically, he touched on why Rey’s parentage shifted from what Kylo Ren revealed in The Last Jedi. MAJOR spoilers for The Rise of Skywalker ahead.

Daisy Ridley (Rey) at Disney’s D23 Expo 2019 | Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

First off, Abrams added Palpatine back into the story because it would have been “weird” without him

A significant critique for The Rise of Skywalker was whether Palpatine was necessary to bring back after he so clearly died in Return of the Jedi. For director, J.J. Abrams, it was. “As [Abrams] said, that it would almost be weird for Palpatine not to be in some way in this movie,” Terrio told IndieWire on Dec. 30. “Because when we discover Rey, she’s literally living in the wreck of the old war, the previous war, that literally the landscape of Jakku is scarred with evidence of the war that came before. I think what we wanted to say in this is that, that war never really ended.” 

And not only did they want to tie it in with all the other trilogies storywise, but also for the balance’s sake and, in a way, symbolism with Anakin Skywalker. “Every generation has to fight for the balance again,” Terrio continued. “We were moved by the idea that the person who should have to fight to regain the balance that Anakin Skywalker gained was the descendant of his greatest enemy who corrupted Anakin Skywalker in the first place.”

Rey’s lineage gave her the “worst” news she could get

So, why did Rey have to be related to Sheev Palpatine? The worst villain of all time (basically)? It came down to Abrams wanting to give Rey the worst possible news he could. “[Abrams] always felt that she should get the worst possible news. In a way, the worst possible news for the Rey of Episode 8 is that she is just a child of junk traders, which is true,” Terrio said. “That’s not contradicted by what you learn in this film, but that she’s the descendant of someone who represents the opposite of all that the Skywalkers represent.”

Terrio also explained that Rey was finally at home with the Resistance, and once she found out her grandfather was Palpatine, she was distraught at the relation, but also at what Leia and the others would think. She didn’t want to lose her family again, and this was even worse news than her parents being nobodies, of course. 

But Rey is more than what’s in her blood 

In the end, though, Abrams and Terrio wanted their story to focus on what makes each person good. It’s not about who you’re related to, but about who you fundamentally are. Which would have hit home a little bit harder if Rey had kept “Palpatine” as her last name, but we digress.

“Other than scavenging, the first thing that we see Rey do in the trilogy is perform an act of kindness and compassion for BB-8,” Terrio said, pointing out how Rey is kind to her soul, regardless of lineage. “She sees BB-8, who’s an underdog, a weak droid, being exploited by someone, and without missing a beat, she stands up for him. And that immediately told you who Rey was back in Episode 7.”

Luke feels it, Leia feels it, and even Han Solo knows how good she is in The Force Awakens. “Han even not being Force-sensitive,” Terrio notes. “He spent a few minutes with Rey and thought, ‘This is my heir, this is who I want to inherit the Falcon. This is who I want to fly with me and Chewie.’”

So regardless of who Rey was related to all along, it didn’t matter. Rey was Rey, and she completed her mission while not straying too far towards the Dark Side.

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2020-01-01 12:48:44Z
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Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Welcome 2020 With Sweet New Photo Of Archie - HuffPost

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2020-01-01 10:28:00Z
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Why Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Royal Titles Are at Risk of Being Stripped - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle enjoy an extremely large fan base in England and around the globe. The young couple viewed as newlyweds that are very much in love and loving parents to the newest royal family arrival: Baby Archie Harrison. Additionally, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen as being very down to earth.

And unlike most other royal family members, they don’t mind expressing their emotions or displaying human frailties. For these reasons, it is incredibly hard to imagine why some individuals are petitioning for Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan to have their royal titles removed.

What are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal titles?

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Baby Archie | Toby Melville – Pool/Getty Images

After the royal wedding between Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed a dukedom on the prince. His titles are Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel.

When a member of nobility has conferred to the status of duke, that person gains a royal family member ranking that is just below the monarch. A duke is often noted to be in line as an heir to the throne, and will traditionally rule over a territory or a county.

Because of her marriage to Prince Harry, Markle received the status of the Duchess of Sussex. A duchess is a wife or the widow of a duke. Or, when a woman is unmarried and holds the same rank as a duke in her own right, she is referred to as duchess. Both a duke and a duchess are ranked next in line behind the ruling monarch.

Not only were these titles bestowed on the newlywed couple by the sitting Queen of England, but it is also only by the will of the queen who can remove an entitled royal member from their appointed duties and status.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal titles will be debated

One may think this was such a preposterous idea, that no one would really consider stripping a royal couple of their titles and duties — especially for no good reason or cause! But, according to Mirror UK, the Brighton and Hove City Council will debate the matter. Campaigner Charles Ross, a member of the Brighton and Hove City Council, started a petition to strip the royal couple of their given titles.

But, that’s not all! The petition also demands the Brighton and Hove community to ban them from any loyal duties within city limits and to refrain from offering hospitality or courtesy beyond what an ordinary member of society would expect when they visit Brighton and Hove, a seaside city in East Sussex, in South East England.

The founder of the British Monarchists Society, Thomas Mace-Archer-Mills, said he was appalled by the petition. He said: “We are utterly dismayed that said petition has been signed by so many.”

Can City Council strip Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s titles?

The only entity that can strip any royal titles or duties from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is the reigning queen, herself. And, that is highly unlikely, as the British monarch has never sought to please political factions and have always stood by tradition and heritage as their driving motivators.

Possibly, the only reason why the matter is being taken up by the city council is due to the number of people that have signed the petition. So far, that number is over 3,700 signatures.

What would happen if the newly married couple were stripped of their noble titles? Well, they would virtually revert to being commoners.

While this may seem out of the question for Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, many people believe the couple would love to abandon the royal lifestyle for a simpler and quieter existence.

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2020-01-01 10:01:28Z
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Confetti Rains Down as New York City Welcomes 2020 - VOA News

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2020-01-01 07:34:46Z
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BTS Rocks New Year’s Eve With Times Square Performance - Variety

Ryan Seacrest predicted that half of Times Square would be fans of South Korean boyband BTS, and judging by the volume of screams heard throughout ABC’s broadcast of  “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” the BTS ARMY was in full force.

Loyal fans came early to cheer on the group — comprised of members Jimin, Jin, RM, Suga, Jungkook, J Hope, and V (Kim Tae-Hyung, celebrating a day after 24th birthday) — and patiently waited with handmade signs and light sticks to cheer the occasion. All day, the group was prominently displayed on billboards in Times Square as diehards secured spots for the group’s early afternoon rehearsal.

Just before the band took to the stage in front of an estimated one million people, the side of the ABC area was cordoned off, paving a path for the group to make its way safely through the crowd.

Dressed up in black and white for a sharp look, BTS began with the hit “Make It Right” on the red stairs, then worked their way to the big stage for a big finish, “Boy With Luv.”

The band used every opportunity to showcase each member with precise choreography, Jimin stealing a moment when his jacket adorned his head as a hoodie.

Also appearing on the broadcast: headliner Post Malone (in a bright pink, bespoke suit with “2020” emblazoned on the back), who later posed with BTS; country star Sam Hunt, who posed with fans just after his set; and Alanis Morissette, appearing with the Broadway cast of “Jagged Little Pill” and giving network censors a run for their money when Lauren Patten (“Blue Bloods”) dropped an F-bomb during “You Oughta Know.”

“She told me to,” Patten proudly told Variety.

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2020-01-01 06:39:00Z
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BTS Was Not the Main Headliner for 'New Year's Rockin' Eve' But They Might As Well Have Been - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Hours before Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, one would never know BTS was not the main headliner of the event. The group received unprecedented news coverage before the performance. Afterwards, several hashtags about BTS’s appearance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest trended on Twitter.

BTS | Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia

The co-hosts of ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ knew BTS would draw in fans

From the moment BTS’s appearance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest was announced, hype began to spread. While ARMY was happy that BTS would be broadcast to millions of people, ABC placed a huge emphasis on BTS’s performance.

Before the New Year’s Eve program, Seacrest said he expected half of attendees to be BTS fans.

“We don’t even know what to expect in Times Square with all the people because when they show up, all of their fans show up, so half of Times Square could be BTS fans,” he said.

On Good Morning America, Seacrest’s co-host Lucy Hale seconded that BTS was guaranteed to bring in a lot of fans.

“We have Sam Hunt, Post Malone, BTS — which is going to be insanity,” she said. About BTS, she added, “I don’t even know what to expect. I feel like they would draw a million people alone.”

BTS was not the main headliner for ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’

On Dec. 17, the lineup for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacreast was announced. In the original press release, Post Malone was advertised as the main headliner of the event.

The introduction read: “POST MALONE TO HEADLINE AMERICA’S MOST WATCHED NEW YEAR’S EVE SPECIAL.”

“Making his Times Square debut, Post Malone will be joined by additional performers BTS, Sam Hunt and Alanis Morissette, performing for the first time with the cast of the hit Broadway musical ‘Jagged Little Pill’ for America’s biggest celebration of the year,” the press release continued.

Hunt performed from 9:38 p.m. to 9:44 p.m. Both Morissette and BTS received eight minutes of performance time. Morissette performed from 8:33 p.m. to 8:41 p.m. and BTS performed from 10:38 p.m. to 10:46 p.m.

Post Malone performed the closest to midnight and also performed for eight minutes. He closed the evening and performed from 11:38 p.m. to 11:46 p.m.

BTS received unprecedented news coverage

While Post Malone was the main headliner of the event, BTS’s performance received the most news coverage. In addition to Seacrest and Hale discussing the crowds BTS inevitably draws, news stations interviewed fans who camped out for the performance.

“We’ve covered this event, the preparations for many years now,” said one news anchor for NBC New York. “We’ve never seen anything like this… Hundreds of people are already here… big fans of the Korean boy band BTS.”

The day of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, several different media personalities including Seacrest filmed BTS’s rehearsal for social media. With this, BTS effectively became legends at the event before their performance even began.

The group performed two songs

On Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, BTS performed two songs from their 2019 EP, Map of the Soul: Persona. The group opened their two-song set with “Make It Right.”

For the first time ever, the song included choreography. The BTS members moved from the iconic Time’s Square Red Steps and walked past the barricades in the crowd to the main stage.

BTS then performed their hit song “Boy With Luv.” Despite the cold weather, the members of BTS showed their dedication to putting on a good performance as well as their individual charisma. At one point during the performance, Jimin accidentally threw his jacket over his head and smiled at the camera.

BTS had a successful 2019

The press release for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest referenced BTS as a “global phenomenon.” While BTS is considered a phenomenon, it’s clear from their 2019 that the group is not a fad.

Wired recently named BTS as one of the best artists of the decade. Not just of 2019, of the entire decade. The group won every award they were nominated for at the American Music Awards in 2019, and took home two Billboard Music Awards. They became the first artists in 2019 to sell 4 million album copies worldwide, and they had the highest-grossing tour of May 2019.

The group has fans that provide unconditional support because of their artistry and message, and they have steadily grown in popularity since their 2013 debut. Their presence at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest dominated headlines. Going into 2020, it’s clear people are paying attention to whatever BTS does next.

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2020-01-01 06:26:28Z
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