2023 was a wild years when it came to showbiz (Picture: Getty/ Britney Spears/ Instagram)

So 2023 is nearly over, and we’re still reeling from some of the headlines this year.

It’s been an absolutely wild 12 months for showbiz stories, from celebrity trials in court, daytime duo Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby crashing to an end, alien encounters and plenty of surprising baby news.

We’ve also had near-death experiences and full-on death hoaxes; celebrities wearing jaw-dropping outfits and nothing at all.

Britney Spears’ memoir was released, we all wore pink for Barbenheimer, and Gwyneth Paltrow was referred to as King Kong in a legal battle.

So with just a few days to go to 2024, here’s a look back at some of the maddest showbiz news this year.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s skiing trial

Gwyneth Paltrow was accused of acting like ‘King Kong coming out of the jungle’ on a ski slope (Picture: Getty)

The year 2023 brought us Gwyneth Paltrow’s trial in the US, after she was sued by retired optometrist Terry Sanderson who accused her of crashing into him on a ski slope in 2016.

Sanderson was seeking $300,000 (£239,000) in damages, claiming he was left with broken ribs and head injuries, while Gwyneth claimed he had in fact crashed into her, resulting in her losing ‘half a day of skiing’ with her family.

The actress was cleared of all fault by a jury and awarded her $1 counter-claim, and as she left the court on the final day she leaned down to Sanderson and whispered ‘I wish you well.’

There were plenty of bizarre moments throughout the trial, from her ‘half a day of skiing’ comments to Sanderson being quizzed about whether he had compared his opponent to ‘Godzilla’ or ‘King Kong coming out of the jungle’.

We also had Sanderson’s lawyer appearing to become a little starstruck while questioning the actress, saying Gwyneth ‘probably had a better ski outfit’ than everyone else, and saying she was ‘jealous’ of her height as ‘ I have to wear four-inch heels just to make it to 5’5″.’

Kanye West and Bianca Censori’s fashion statements

Kanye West and Bianca Censori’s relationship has generated plenty of headlines this year (Picture: GC Images)

After divorcing Kim Kardashian and his relationship with Julia Fox coming to an end, Kanye West made headlines by ‘marrying’ Yeezy staff member Bianca Censori.

There’ve been plenty of wild moments to come from their relationship, with the stand-out being their choice of outfits as they jet-setted around the world.

Bianca has been seen multiple times in a sheer see-through bodysuit, appearing totally nude and carrying something with her to protect her modesty – like a cushion, or a teddy bear.

Kanye, meanwhile, tends to cover himself from head to toe.

There was trouble for the pair when they hit Europe on holiday over the summer, as Bianca’s incredibly daring outfits caused anger among locals.

The pair were also banned from a boating company after an apparent sex act in public, with Kanye seen with his pants down and bum exposed while Bianca kneeled before him on a canal in Venice, Italy.

Secret babies

Stacey Solomon gave birth weeks after revealing her pregnancy, while other stars never announced they were epecting until their child was already here (Picture: staceysolomon/instagram)

2023 was the year for keeping your pregnancy a secret, with several stars announcing their new arrivals either after they were born or with just days to go.

Stacey Solomon delighted fans when she revealed she and Joe Swash were adding another member to Pickle Cottage, with her fifth child Belle being born in February, just a few weeks after announcing she was pregnant at the end of December.

OnlyConnect star Victoria Coren Mitchell then announced in November that she had welcomed a baby at 51, having kept the pregnancy a secret.

She and actor husband David Mitchell, 49, welcomed a daughter, with Victoria casually announcing the news by referencing her Halloween costume, as she wrote: ‘Many people are assuming my tweet yesterday was a Halloween costume.

‘Not at all; last week I had a baby and nothing currently fits me except cloaks.’

She added: ‘Luckily, Only Connect is a pre-record. Happy All Saints Day!’

And in August, This Morning star Emma Kenny revealed she had welcomed a daughter at 50 after struggling to conceive for a decade.

She announced her daughter’s arrival with a post on Instagram after keeping her pregnancy private, writing ‘I’ve waited 10 years to finally hold you in my arms.’

‘‘I have spent the last 9 months hiding my pregnancy, travelling the country with my theatre show, filming my YouTube crime content, and working on as many projects as possible in a bid to distract myself from the growing hope and possibility that this time you may just become a reality, and that this time things will end in the sweetness of joy, instead of the agony of loss.’

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe also welcomed a baby with wife Erin Darke, with the pair keeping their private life out of the spotlight and only confirming the arrival months later, after paparazzi photos had shown the couple pushing a pram.

Octogenarian dads

Al Pacino welcomed a son at 83 with girlfriend Noor Alfallah, 29 (Picture: SplashNews.com)

Carrying on with the baby news, there were a few surprising new dads in 2023.

Both Robert De Niro and Al Pacino became fathers again, Robert at 79 at a spritely 83.

And like other new parents of 2023, Robert made his daughter Gia a surprise announcement, revealing he had welcomed a daughter with girlfriend Tiffany Chen on a live TV interview.

When the interviewer noted that he has six children, Robert jumped to clarify: ‘Seven actually – I just had a baby.’

Robert De Niro also became a father again at 79 (Picture: Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)

As well as Gia, Robert is dad to Elliot and Helen with ex-wife Grace Hightower, and also shares Drena and Raphael with former partner Diahnne Abbott, and twins Aaron and Julian with ex-girlfriend Toukie Smith.

His children range in age from 52 to seven months.

The actor was among the first to publicly congratulate The Godfather star Al on the news the 83-year-old’s girlfriend, Noor Alfallah, was pregnant aged 29.

Noor gave birth to their child in June, a son they named Roman; and while the couple are still together, they sorted a custody arrangement with the actor forking out thousands of dollars a month in child support.

Oscar winner Al is already dad to Julie, 33, with ex Jan Tarrant, and to twins Anton and Olivia, 22, with Beverly D’Angelo.

Jeremy Renner’s snowplough accident

Just as the new year began, Marvel fans were devastated by the news Jeremy Renner had got into an accident while working his snowplough and was fighting for his life in hospital.

On New Year’s Day 2023 the star ‘almost died’ after he was run over by his snowplough while trying to save his nephew from getting hit by the six-tonne vehicle.

He was air-lifted to hospital, having broken over 30 bones, suffering a collapsed lung and a pierced liver.

Miraculously Jeremy pulled through, and spent the rest of the year recovering – including learning how to walk again.

The star has made astonishing progress, and has since been back walking red carpets and even filming for his new show Mayor of Kingstown.

This Morning in chaos

The former king and queen of daytime TV have both left our screens (Picture: ITV/Rex/Shutterstock)

At the beginning of the year, This Morning was helmed by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, like it had been for the past 10 years and 13 National Television Awards.

But in May 2023, Phillip dramatically announced his departure from This Morning after it was found he had lied about having an affair with a young runner on the show.

ITV confirmed that the broadcaster questioned Schofield and the runner several years ago when rumours first arose, but they both denied the claims at the time, and a new review was held into the facts surrounding his exit.

Phil never returned to This Morning, and after an extended break, Holly reappered on the daytime show alongside Jodie Gibson, where she began a statement by asking viewers: ‘First of all. Are you okay?’

She said Phillip had acted in a way that he felt meant that he ‘had to resign from ITV and step down from a career’ that he ‘loved’, and said she felt ‘shaken, troubled and let down’, while also thanking viewers for all of the messages of support that they’ve been sending her.

Holly returned to the helm of the show with a rotating co-star – but in October quit for good after a horrific plot to kidnap and murder her was uncovered.

Security officer Gavin Plumb, 36, was charged with soliciting a US hitman to murder the star, which he denies.

Holly announced her immediate departure from This Morning via a statement on Instagram, writing: ‘I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning. 

Goldie Hawn’s alien encounter

Goldie Hawn was touched by an alien (Picture: Goldie Hawn / Instagram)

In October, US actress and mother of Kate Hudson Goldie Hawn made a confession that left fans reeling: ‘An alien touched me and it felt like the finger of God.’

She revealed on Apple’s Time To Walk that when she was in her 20s, she called out to  any aliens listening, saying she knows ‘we’re not alone, and I would like to meet you one day.’

And just four months later, she was settling down for a nap in a friend’s car while working as a dancer, and heard a ‘high frequency’ in her ear.

She claims she then saw three ‘triangular-shaped heads’, silver in colour with a ‘tiny little nose,’ no ears and ‘a slash for a mouth.’

The aliens ‘were pointing at me … discussing me like I was a subject.’

She says she was unable to move, but that the aliens ‘touched me and it felt like the finger of God.’

‘It was the most benevolent, loving feeling. This was powerful. It was filled with light.’

Jada Pinkett Smith revealing everything about her and Will Smith’s life

Social media users pleaded with Jada Pinkett Smith to keep them ‘out of the group chat’ (Picture: Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)

In October, Jada Pinkett Smith revealed she and husband Will Smith had been secretly separated for eight years.

The actress also claimed Chris Rock had asked her out on a date after hearing rumours she and Will were divorcing, and that when Will infamously slapped the comedian at the Oscars, it was the first time in years he had referred to her as his wife.

In another shock confession, Jada said she had allowed people to think of her as an adulterer because Will wasn’t ‘ready’ to tell the world about their split.

Days later, she appeared to announce she and Will may in fact be reconciling, and later called the Oscars slap the ‘holy slap’ as it helped them get back together.

Among all the Will bombshells, she also claimed that rapper Tupac, who she held a close friendship with, had alopecia.

As the headlines kept coming, fans pleaded with the star to ‘stop talking’ and to ‘remove us from the group chat.’

Lil Tay’s death hoax

Lil Tay’s death was announced – only to be rescinded (Picture: Instagram)

In what was certainly one of the most bewildering stories of 2023, the death of US child star Lil Tay was announced in August on her own Instagram page – only for it to be revealed to be a hoax.

A now-deleted statement on the 14-year-old’s page announced that she and her brother had died.

However, she later shared a message slamming the announcement as a hack on her account, leading to a ‘traumatizing 24 hours’.

In a statement to TMZ she claimed her account had been hacked, saying ‘‘I want to make it clear that my brother and I are safe and alive.’

Lizzo’s lawsuit

Lizzo was accused of a range of offences by her former staff (Picture: AFP)

Music icon Lizzo was hit with a major lawsuit in 2023 as several of her former backing dancers accused her of a range of offences including sexual and racial harassment.

The pop star has been accused of discrimination and creating a ‘hostile work environment’ by three former dancers, as well as sexual harassment for allegedly forcing them to touch nude performers at a strip club in Europe.

 Crystal Williams, Noelle Rodriguez, and Arianna Davis claimed they were subject to sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment, among other allegations.

Lizzo has vehemently denied the allegations, branding them ‘outrageous’ and ‘sensationalised’, and asked a court for a full dismissal of the case.

One word: Barbenheimer

Barbenheimer arrived and cinema was Back (Picture: AP)

Two of the biggest movies of the year were released the very same day, but instead of creating a rivalry everyone just decided they’d go to both, and make a massive deal about it.

It led to film-goers wearing bright pink outfits – or a half pink dress, half grey suit – to cinemas on release day, with even Prime Minister Rishi Sunak getting involved.

Barbie fans and Oppenheimer fans made both films soar at the box office, though Barbie won out as it made over $1.4 billion (£1.1 billion) at the global box office compared to Oppenheimer’s $890 million (£734 million).

Celebrities getting hit with flying missiles

2023 was the year of a strange and dangerous new trend – celebrities getting whacked in the face by flying objects.

The first big headline relating to performers being hit came with Bebe Rexha suffering facial injuries after a concert-goer threw his iPhone at her face during a song.

After that came multiple high-profile incidents, from Harry Styles left doubled over in pain after being hit in the face, to Lil Nas X getting an adult toy thrown on stage, and even Pink being tossed a fan’s mother’s ashes.

N-Dubz star Tulisa told Metro.co.uk about the time she was ‘licked in the face’ by an iPhone, while John Lydon – aka Johnny Rotten – called fans who do that ‘the lowest form of life.’

Austin Butler’s Elvis voice

Austin Butler couldn’t shake the Elvis mannerisms after playing him in a biopic (Picture: AP)

Actor Austin Butler played Elvis Presley in a biopic, and to say he took it seriously would be an understatement.

Almost two years after filming wrapped, Austin appeared unable to shake the Elvis accent and voice, and his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes for best actor in a motion picture drama had fans wondering just what was going on with his continued Memphis drawl.

As the acceptance speech aired, viewers flocked to Twitter – aka X – asking ‘why is Austin Butler still dong his Elvis accent?’

He was even asked about it in interviews, and told Variety ‘I don’t think I sound like him still… but I guess I must because I hear it a lot.’

Taylor Swift and Matty Healy

Taylor Swift almost became Denise Welch’s daughter-in-law (Picture: Backgrid)

Yes, this only happened this year.

Taylor Swift is currently with NFL star Travis Kelce, but earlier this year there was absolute chaos as she began dating The 1975 star Matty Healy.

Who is, as we know, the son of Loose Women star Denise Welch.

Cue the Loose Women panel discussing whether Denise would become Taylor’s mother-in-law, and Matty’s dad Tim Healy grumpily wondering why people thought it was so funny he could be Taylor’s father-in-law.

There was also plenty of controversy, with some fans unhappy Taylor was spending time with Matty after his comments on a podcast that were branded by some as ‘homophobic’ and ‘misogynistic’.

Britney Spears’ entire year

Britney Spears had a tough year – but got to tell her side of the story with her memoir (Picture: Britney Spears/Instagram)

Britney Spears’ long-awaited memoir The Woman In Me was released this year, and it included plenty of bombshell claims and sad revelations.

Her previously untold stories about her teenage relationship with Justin Timberlake and the fallout that came after it were among the biggest shocks, as she revealed she had an abortion when she fell pregnant with his child, and spoke about how she felt victimised by his Cry Me A River bombshell – despite claiming he had also cheated on her, multiple times.

Amid the chaos of the memoir release, Britney was also going through a divorce after her relationship with husband Sam Asghari fell apart.

It led to a custody battle over their dogs, with Sam taking the Doberman he had bought Britney as a security dog, and Britney was left to fork out for Sam’s new bachelor pad rental.

Fans also became concerned as Britney began taking to Instagram where she posted videos of herself dancing with knives – though he insisted the knives were not real, and in fact movie props.

Later in the year, Britney appeared to patch things up with her mother, Lynne Spears, as they posted photos together, and later shared her support for little sister Jamie Lynn Spears after she was knocked out of Dancing With The Stars.

Her father Jamie Spears, who controlled the conservatorship she was under, then suffered an infection and had to have his leg amputated, and while initial rumours surfaced that she was willing to fix their relationship, a source later claimed this was entirely untrue.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Justin Timberlake sends surprise message to Britney Spears after memoir drama

MORE : TV presenter ‘turns down offer to replace Holly Willoughby on This Morning’

It has been an absolutely mad one.