Facebook to change rules… Katie Couric book tour… Owen Wilson’s three-year-old daughter… Howie Mandel fainted… and Adele officially announces her new album

Listen to “Showbiz – Oct 14, 2021” on Spreaker.

Yesterday, Facebook announced new changes that will ban “severe sexualizing content” targeting celebrities and public figures. This is an update to its current bullying and harassment policies. Profiles, pages, groups, and events that sexualize public figures will be removed, as well as anything considered as mass harassment. So, no more photoshopped images, degrading drawings, or content, quote, “depicting individuals in the process of bodily functions.” Facebook’s global head of safety said these changes were made to prevent a figure’s appearance from being “weaponized.” She said Facebook recognizes that becoming a public figure isn’t always a choice, but fame can increase the risk of being bullied and harassed online, particularly if that person comes from an underrepresented community. This new move comes on the heels of the Facebook whistleblower revealing Facebook’s own internal research found that Instagram was responsible for 32% of teenage girls on the app feeling bad about their bodies, and they felt worse from using the app.

Facebook rule protects journalists and activists as ‘involuntary’ public figures https://t.co/PxElfU3OeJ— Guardian news (@guardiannews) October 13, 2021

Katie Couric has to get out there and promote what’s become quite the controversial memoir, “Going There,” which comes out on Oct. 26. Katie’s tour kicks off two days later in Boston, where she’ll be joined by Tan France, the fashion expert from “Queer Eye.” It sounds like he will serve as a moderator for the night, much like Jenna did when she interviewed Jessica Simpson on her book tour. Others scheduled to join Katie on this tour include SNL’s Chloe Fineman and Melissa Villaseñor in NYC; Savannah Guthrie in Philadelphia; Chance the Rapper in Chicago; Ina Garten in Atlanta; Brad and Kimberly Paisley in Nashville; and Jennifer Garner in LA. Some who’ve already read the book are offended by what Katie has to say. In fact, she was booked and then canceled by “CBS This Morning” for the things she wrote.

Live Nation announced Jennifer Garner, Brad and Kimberly Paisley and “Saturday Night Live” performers Chloe Fineman and Melissa Villaseñor will join Couric on her book tour.https://t.co/nyvaE1bHsQ— The National Desk (@TND) October 14, 2021

Owen Wilson’s ex-girlfriend Varunie Vongsvirates gave him a gorgeous baby girl in 2018, and she just celebrated her third birthday last week. But Owen has had nothing to do with his daughter. Apparently, he questioned the child was his, but a paternity test proved he is. However, Owen was not by Varunie’s side when she gave birth to the girl she named Lyla, and he has never even met his daughter. Varunie told the Daily Mail that even though she’s begged Owen to be a part of their daughter’s life, he has refused. He just sends her a child support check every month. That’s it. Varunie said, “It’s ironic how he keeps getting these father roles, he’s playing a father in his new movie, and he’s never met his own daughter.” It’s completely different with his two sons. Owen has a 10-year-old named Ford with one ex-girlfriend and a 7-year-old named Finn with another. He hangs out with them and talks about them in interviews, but not Lyla.

Owen Wilson’s ex claims he’s never met their three-year-old daughter https://t.co/5F2hfW8iX3 pic.twitter.com/pi5NIkHN4c— New York Post (@nypost) October 13, 2021

Howie Mandel fainted inside an LA Starbucks yesterday. Paramedics were called and rushed him to the hospital. Howie later tweeted, “I am home and doing better. I was dehydrated and had low blood sugar. I appreciate the great doctors and nurses that took such good care of me. Thank you to everyone who reached out but I am doing ok!” This was Howie’s second hospital visit this week! Earlier in the week, he posted a video from his hospital bed after undergoing an endoscopy and a colonoscopy. In the video, Howie was still a little loopy. The patient in the bed next to him recognized Howie’s voice and asked if he could audition for AGT. We never did find out what his talent is……

Howie Mandel Says He Is ‘Home and Doing Better’ After Fainting at L.A. Starbucks https://t.co/KSZGVsGKAC— People (@people) October 14, 2021

Her fans have been waiting for this for what feels like forever, so of course it’s the number one story. There was a rumor that Adele would put out her new “30” album on Nov. 19 after Taylor Swift moved the release date for “Red (Taylor’s Version.” The rumor was true! Adele confirmed it yesterday. She posted a message to fans on social media saying it has been three years since she started making the album, which would have been when she was 30, thus, the title. Adele’s first single, “Easy on Me,” drops at 6pm CT tonight!