Celebrity Thread: News, gossip, and anything else that strikes a fancy
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Polly Holliday, last surviving ‘Alice’ star, dead at 88 after bout with pneumonia
The actress earned four Emmy nominations for playing Flo.
nypost.com
LOS ANGELES, CA — Christina Applegate has been a fixture in American pop culture for over four decades, her career spanning from baby commercials to Emmy-winning sitcoms, cult classic movies, and Broadway.
But now, as her health forces her into early retirement, the real story behind her fame is coming out—a story that’s not just about disease and decline, but about the hidden traumas, abuse, and scandals Hollywood kept quiet. With her upcoming memoir You With the Sad Eyes set to reveal secrets even her biggest fans never imagined, the Christina Applegate scandal just gets sadder and sadder.
Born Into the Spotlight, Raised in Survival
Christina Applegate was born on November 25, 1971, in Hollywood—her fate seemingly sealed from the start. Her father, a record producer, and her mother, Nancy Priddy, a singer and actress, split soon after her birth, leaving Nancy to raise Christina alone. Unable to afford babysitters, Nancy brought Christina to auditions, rehearsals, and sets.
By five months old, Christina had already appeared in a Playtex baby bottle commercial. At three months, she was on Days of Our Lives with her mother. Childhood for Christina meant learning stage directions before she could read, and joining the Screen Actors Guild before kindergarten.
Her earliest memories weren’t of playgrounds or cartoons—they were of studio lights and scripts. Nancy briefly dated musician Stephen Stills, who gave Christina a guitar she kept for years, but the glamour was always tinged with struggle. Christina wasn’t just a child star—she was surviving Hollywood.
Early Fame, Early Pain
By age nine, Christina made her film debut in the horror flick Jaws of Satan, a bizarre tale about demonic snakes in Alabama. The film barely saw release, but it marked her transition from commercials to serious acting. She quickly landed roles in TV staples like Charles in Charge and Silver Spoons, and by 1986, won a Young Artist Award for Heart of the City. While most kids spent afternoons at the park, Christina spent hers learning lines and shooting scenes.
But behind the success, pain lingered. At eight, a neighborhood boy called her fat—a comment that triggered a lifelong battle with eating disorders and self-worth. By 15, as she landed her breakout role as Kelly Bundy on Married… with Children, her mother enrolled her in Weight Watchers.
Christina stopped eating properly, sometimes surviving on just five almonds a day. If she ate six, she’d cry and refuse to leave the house. Nancy’s reaction? “How’d you do it?” The pressure to be thin was relentless, and Christina’s eating disorder lasted decades—only coming to light in 2024 on her podcast with Jaime Lynn Sigler.
Kelly Bundy and the Double-Edged Sword of Fame
In 1987, at just 15, Christina became Kelly Bundy—the ditzy, blonde daughter on Fox’s brash new sitcom. The show ran for 11 seasons and helped launch Fox as a major network. Kelly Bundy became iconic, her “Kellyisms” turning into fan favorites. But while Christina made millions laugh, she was starving herself behind the scenes. The pressure to stay thin drove her to dangerous extremes, and no one knew. On camera, she looked perfect; inside, she was breaking.
Her first big movie role came in 1991’s Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead. The film opened to tepid box office and reviews, and Christina admitted she didn’t even want to do it. She was still working on Married… with Children and felt above commercial films, later calling herself a “freaking ass hat” for her attitude. But the movie found a cult following on VHS and cable, and her performance connected with audiences in a way critics missed.
Breaking Away, Breaking Down
By 1998, Married… with Children had ended. Christina, now 26, was determined to reinvent herself. She took bold roles in The Big Hit and Mafia, proving she could handle edgier, adult characters. In 2002, she starred alongside Cameron Diaz in The Sweetest Thing, a raunchy comedy that critics panned but audiences loved for its chemistry. Roger Ebert called it “not a good movie,” but admitted Christina, Diaz, and Selma Blair’s commitment made it hard not to admire.
Christina’s leap from sitcom sidekick to romantic lead was complete. Hollywood took notice, and new roles followed. In 2004, she starred in Anchorman as Veronica Corningstone, a character inspired by real-life anchor Jessica Savitch. Working with Will Ferrell, Christina proved she could improvise and command a scene. When Anchorman 2 arrived in 2013, fans welcomed her back, recognizing her growth from sitcom teen to fearless performer.
Broadway Dreams and Lasting Damage
Christina’s lifelong dream was Broadway. In 2005, she starred in the revival of Sweet Charity, earning a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. But the road was rough. During a preview in Chicago, she broke her foot on stage, danced another 20 minutes in pain, and was forced to wear medical boots for the rest of the run. The injury was permanent. In 2013, she admitted she could never dance professionally again—a devastating blow for someone who had trained since childhood.
Her Tony nomination was bittersweet, marking the peak of her career just as her body began to betray her. Co-star Dennis O’Hare honored her on opening night, recognizing the struggle and courage it took for her to make it to Broadway.
Personal Tragedies and Public Battles
Applegate’s marriage to Jonathan Schaech seemed picture-perfect, but ended in divorce in 2007. Schaech spiraled into addiction and depression, while Christina kept both Los Angeles homes. Less than a year later, her ex-boyfriend Lee Grivas died of a heroin overdose at age 26. Christina was heartbroken, calling him “an incredible person” who would be missed “beyond words.”
Then, in August 2008, Christina was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 36. The cancer was caught early, but genetic testing revealed she carried the BRCA1 mutation, putting her lifetime risk at 87%. She chose a double mastectomy, saying she wanted peace of mind. The surgery worked, but the emotional pain was deep. She later founded Right Action for Women, a charity helping high-risk women get MRI screenings—a legacy born from her own suffering.
Reinvention on TV and a New Kind of Fame
After Married… with Children, Christina starred in Jessie, earning a Golden Globe nomination and proving she could carry a series. Her role as Rachel’s sister Amy on Friends won her an Emmy, despite never having watched the show before filming. In 2007, she took control with Samantha Who?, serving as executive producer and earning multiple award nominations. The show’s theme of personal transformation mirrored Christina’s own journey.
But real life was rarely as neat. In 2012, Christina and husband Martin LeNoble were targeted by a stalker, receiving violent threats that forced them to increase security. Someone had even broken into her home and tried on her clothes.
The Disease That Changed Everything
In 2021, while filming the final season of Dead to Me, Christina was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis—a progressive disease that has robbed her of mobility and independence. Looking back, she realized the first signs came years earlier. Filming became a struggle. She needed a wheelchair to reach the set; simple tasks like opening a door were impossible. Still, she finished the season.
Her honesty about MS shocked fans. “I don’t enjoy living,” she confessed on her podcast. She described her life as “hell,” gained 40 pounds, and now needs a cane to walk. Everyday tasks—holding a phone, opening bottles, standing up—became overwhelming.
In 2023, a salad at a trusted restaurant gave her sapovirus, leading to days of violent illness. She described waking up in a pool of her own waste, wearing adult diapers, and visiting the ER more than 30 times. The pain was relentless.
Retirement, Rage, and Revealing the Truth
By late 2023, Christina announced she couldn’t work in front of the camera again. She made one last appearance at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, calling it her final awards show. She plans to do voiceover work, including reprising Kelly Bundy in an animated Married… with Children—the only kind of work she can still do. But in July 2025, the project was cancelled, closing the door on her most iconic role.
On her podcast in June 2024, Christina admitted her depression was so deep that even getting coffee or going for a walk felt pointless. “I don’t enjoy living,” she said, her most vulnerable confession yet. Two weeks later, headlines exploded with rumors about suicide watch—false, but a sign of how her honesty was being twisted by the media. Christina refused to apologize for being open, insisting that speaking about mental health was healing.
Her body changed in ways she couldn’t ignore. Watching herself on the final season of Dead to Me was painful. She wanted fans to know she was aware of what they saw, but they didn’t know what she was going through inside.
Scandal, Politics, and a City on Fire
On election night 2024, after Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris, Christina posted online, telling anyone who voted against women’s or disability rights to unfollow her. Her daughter was sobbing, and Christina shut down her fan account. When faced with sexist comments, she replied with rage, but tried to apologize the next day. The internet didn’t forget. In January 2025, as wildfires tore through Los Angeles, Christina defended her city on her podcast, slamming critics who said Hollywood deserved it. The backlash was immediate, but she refused to be quiet.
A Memoir and a Final Chance at Truth
In March 2026, Christina’s memoir You With the Sad Eyes is set to be released, promising to reveal traumas she’s never spoken about—abuse, body issues, abandonment, and the reality of growing up in Hollywood from age three. She insists the book won’t be dramatic for drama’s sake, just honest. “It’s scary, but it’s time,” she says.
Her final public act may be her most important. At the 2023 Emmys, Christina walked with a cane, forcing the world to confront disability without looking away. She advocated for accommodations, demanded support on set, and used her voice for those who feel invisible.
The Scandal Beneath the Surface
The real Christina Applegate scandal isn’t about angry tweets, cancelled shows, or even her illness. It’s about a lifetime of surviving in an industry that chews up and spits out its brightest stars. It’s about the abuse, the predators, the choices forced on a child who never got to be a child. It’s about the pain behind the laughter, the strength behind the smile, and the courage to finally tell the truth.
As her memoir approaches, Hollywood—and the world—will have to face the reality of Christina Applegate’s life: a story far sadder, and far braver, than anyone ever knew.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, eating disorders, or chronic illness, help is available. Christina Applegate’s story is a reminder that behind every headline is a human being fighting battles we may never see.
But now, as her health forces her into early retirement, the real story behind her fame is coming out—a story that’s not just about disease and decline, but about the hidden traumas, abuse, and scandals Hollywood kept quiet. With her upcoming memoir You With the Sad Eyes set to reveal secrets even her biggest fans never imagined, the Christina Applegate scandal just gets sadder and sadder.
Born Into the Spotlight, Raised in Survival
Christina Applegate was born on November 25, 1971, in Hollywood—her fate seemingly sealed from the start. Her father, a record producer, and her mother, Nancy Priddy, a singer and actress, split soon after her birth, leaving Nancy to raise Christina alone. Unable to afford babysitters, Nancy brought Christina to auditions, rehearsals, and sets.
By five months old, Christina had already appeared in a Playtex baby bottle commercial. At three months, she was on Days of Our Lives with her mother. Childhood for Christina meant learning stage directions before she could read, and joining the Screen Actors Guild before kindergarten.
Her earliest memories weren’t of playgrounds or cartoons—they were of studio lights and scripts. Nancy briefly dated musician Stephen Stills, who gave Christina a guitar she kept for years, but the glamour was always tinged with struggle. Christina wasn’t just a child star—she was surviving Hollywood.
Early Fame, Early Pain
By age nine, Christina made her film debut in the horror flick Jaws of Satan, a bizarre tale about demonic snakes in Alabama. The film barely saw release, but it marked her transition from commercials to serious acting. She quickly landed roles in TV staples like Charles in Charge and Silver Spoons, and by 1986, won a Young Artist Award for Heart of the City. While most kids spent afternoons at the park, Christina spent hers learning lines and shooting scenes.
But behind the success, pain lingered. At eight, a neighborhood boy called her fat—a comment that triggered a lifelong battle with eating disorders and self-worth. By 15, as she landed her breakout role as Kelly Bundy on Married… with Children, her mother enrolled her in Weight Watchers.
Christina stopped eating properly, sometimes surviving on just five almonds a day. If she ate six, she’d cry and refuse to leave the house. Nancy’s reaction? “How’d you do it?” The pressure to be thin was relentless, and Christina’s eating disorder lasted decades—only coming to light in 2024 on her podcast with Jaime Lynn Sigler.
Kelly Bundy and the Double-Edged Sword of Fame
In 1987, at just 15, Christina became Kelly Bundy—the ditzy, blonde daughter on Fox’s brash new sitcom. The show ran for 11 seasons and helped launch Fox as a major network. Kelly Bundy became iconic, her “Kellyisms” turning into fan favorites. But while Christina made millions laugh, she was starving herself behind the scenes. The pressure to stay thin drove her to dangerous extremes, and no one knew. On camera, she looked perfect; inside, she was breaking.
Her first big movie role came in 1991’s Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead. The film opened to tepid box office and reviews, and Christina admitted she didn’t even want to do it. She was still working on Married… with Children and felt above commercial films, later calling herself a “freaking ass hat” for her attitude. But the movie found a cult following on VHS and cable, and her performance connected with audiences in a way critics missed.
Breaking Away, Breaking Down
By 1998, Married… with Children had ended. Christina, now 26, was determined to reinvent herself. She took bold roles in The Big Hit and Mafia, proving she could handle edgier, adult characters. In 2002, she starred alongside Cameron Diaz in The Sweetest Thing, a raunchy comedy that critics panned but audiences loved for its chemistry. Roger Ebert called it “not a good movie,” but admitted Christina, Diaz, and Selma Blair’s commitment made it hard not to admire.
Christina’s leap from sitcom sidekick to romantic lead was complete. Hollywood took notice, and new roles followed. In 2004, she starred in Anchorman as Veronica Corningstone, a character inspired by real-life anchor Jessica Savitch. Working with Will Ferrell, Christina proved she could improvise and command a scene. When Anchorman 2 arrived in 2013, fans welcomed her back, recognizing her growth from sitcom teen to fearless performer.
Broadway Dreams and Lasting Damage
Christina’s lifelong dream was Broadway. In 2005, she starred in the revival of Sweet Charity, earning a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. But the road was rough. During a preview in Chicago, she broke her foot on stage, danced another 20 minutes in pain, and was forced to wear medical boots for the rest of the run. The injury was permanent. In 2013, she admitted she could never dance professionally again—a devastating blow for someone who had trained since childhood.
Her Tony nomination was bittersweet, marking the peak of her career just as her body began to betray her. Co-star Dennis O’Hare honored her on opening night, recognizing the struggle and courage it took for her to make it to Broadway.
Personal Tragedies and Public Battles
Applegate’s marriage to Jonathan Schaech seemed picture-perfect, but ended in divorce in 2007. Schaech spiraled into addiction and depression, while Christina kept both Los Angeles homes. Less than a year later, her ex-boyfriend Lee Grivas died of a heroin overdose at age 26. Christina was heartbroken, calling him “an incredible person” who would be missed “beyond words.”
Then, in August 2008, Christina was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 36. The cancer was caught early, but genetic testing revealed she carried the BRCA1 mutation, putting her lifetime risk at 87%. She chose a double mastectomy, saying she wanted peace of mind. The surgery worked, but the emotional pain was deep. She later founded Right Action for Women, a charity helping high-risk women get MRI screenings—a legacy born from her own suffering.
Reinvention on TV and a New Kind of Fame
After Married… with Children, Christina starred in Jessie, earning a Golden Globe nomination and proving she could carry a series. Her role as Rachel’s sister Amy on Friends won her an Emmy, despite never having watched the show before filming. In 2007, she took control with Samantha Who?, serving as executive producer and earning multiple award nominations. The show’s theme of personal transformation mirrored Christina’s own journey.
But real life was rarely as neat. In 2012, Christina and husband Martin LeNoble were targeted by a stalker, receiving violent threats that forced them to increase security. Someone had even broken into her home and tried on her clothes.
The Disease That Changed Everything
In 2021, while filming the final season of Dead to Me, Christina was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis—a progressive disease that has robbed her of mobility and independence. Looking back, she realized the first signs came years earlier. Filming became a struggle. She needed a wheelchair to reach the set; simple tasks like opening a door were impossible. Still, she finished the season.
Her honesty about MS shocked fans. “I don’t enjoy living,” she confessed on her podcast. She described her life as “hell,” gained 40 pounds, and now needs a cane to walk. Everyday tasks—holding a phone, opening bottles, standing up—became overwhelming.
In 2023, a salad at a trusted restaurant gave her sapovirus, leading to days of violent illness. She described waking up in a pool of her own waste, wearing adult diapers, and visiting the ER more than 30 times. The pain was relentless.
Retirement, Rage, and Revealing the Truth
By late 2023, Christina announced she couldn’t work in front of the camera again. She made one last appearance at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, calling it her final awards show. She plans to do voiceover work, including reprising Kelly Bundy in an animated Married… with Children—the only kind of work she can still do. But in July 2025, the project was cancelled, closing the door on her most iconic role.
On her podcast in June 2024, Christina admitted her depression was so deep that even getting coffee or going for a walk felt pointless. “I don’t enjoy living,” she said, her most vulnerable confession yet. Two weeks later, headlines exploded with rumors about suicide watch—false, but a sign of how her honesty was being twisted by the media. Christina refused to apologize for being open, insisting that speaking about mental health was healing.
Her body changed in ways she couldn’t ignore. Watching herself on the final season of Dead to Me was painful. She wanted fans to know she was aware of what they saw, but they didn’t know what she was going through inside.
Scandal, Politics, and a City on Fire
On election night 2024, after Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris, Christina posted online, telling anyone who voted against women’s or disability rights to unfollow her. Her daughter was sobbing, and Christina shut down her fan account. When faced with sexist comments, she replied with rage, but tried to apologize the next day. The internet didn’t forget. In January 2025, as wildfires tore through Los Angeles, Christina defended her city on her podcast, slamming critics who said Hollywood deserved it. The backlash was immediate, but she refused to be quiet.
A Memoir and a Final Chance at Truth
In March 2026, Christina’s memoir You With the Sad Eyes is set to be released, promising to reveal traumas she’s never spoken about—abuse, body issues, abandonment, and the reality of growing up in Hollywood from age three. She insists the book won’t be dramatic for drama’s sake, just honest. “It’s scary, but it’s time,” she says.
Her final public act may be her most important. At the 2023 Emmys, Christina walked with a cane, forcing the world to confront disability without looking away. She advocated for accommodations, demanded support on set, and used her voice for those who feel invisible.
The Scandal Beneath the Surface
The real Christina Applegate scandal isn’t about angry tweets, cancelled shows, or even her illness. It’s about a lifetime of surviving in an industry that chews up and spits out its brightest stars. It’s about the abuse, the predators, the choices forced on a child who never got to be a child. It’s about the pain behind the laughter, the strength behind the smile, and the courage to finally tell the truth.
As her memoir approaches, Hollywood—and the world—will have to face the reality of Christina Applegate’s life: a story far sadder, and far braver, than anyone ever knew.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, eating disorders, or chronic illness, help is available. Christina Applegate’s story is a reminder that behind every headline is a human being fighting battles we may never see.
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