The Spill: Friday's best entertainment and gossip news.

1. Tom Hanks has written a heartfelt letter to a bullied boy named Corona.

Tom Hanks has written a heartfelt letter to an eight-year-old Australian boy after he was bullied over his name, Corona.

The boy, Corona De Vries from Gold Coast, Queensland, was attacked by other children over his name, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

But of course, being the lovely man he is, Hanks gifted the young boy his ‘Corona’ typewriter.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Hey folks. Good News: One week after testing Positive, in self-isolation, the symptoms are much the same. No fever but the blahs. Folding the laundry and doing the dishes leads to a nap on the couch. Bad news: My wife @ritawilson has won 6 straight hands of Gin Rummy and leads by 201 points. But I have learned not to spread my Vegemite so thick. I travelled here with a typewriter, one I used to love. We are all in this together. Flatten the curve. Hanx

A post shared by Tom Hanks (@tomhanks) on Mar 17, 2020 at 2:19pm PDT

The boy wrote to Hanks to check on him and Rita Wilson after they were both diagnosed with COVID-19 here in Queensland Australia. He said, “I heard on the news you and your wife had caught the coronavirus.” Are you OK?”

And then, alongside his loved typewriter that he gifted the Queensland boy, he penned a thoughtful letter back.

“Your letter made my wife and I feel so wonderful!” Hanks replied in a letter typed on a Corona typewriter.

“You know, you are the only person I’ve ever known to have the name Corona – like the ring around the sun, a crown.

“I thought this typewriter would suit you. Ask a grown up how it works. And use it to write me back.”

Hanks ended the letter by handwriting, “P.S. You got a friend in ME!”

.@tomhanks has written a heart-felt letter to a young Helensvale boy named Corona. The 8-year-old was being bullied at school and decided to write to the Hollywood superstar and his wife @RitaWilson, after they were diagnosed with Coronavirus. https://t.co/6l2nzFJNn5 #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/H02WF2dRCx

— 7NEWS Gold Coast (@7NewsGoldCoast) April 23, 2020

Oh, stop it.

We now need to figure out how to get in contact with Hanks when were down in the dumps, stat.

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2. “Shamelessly greedy”. Taylor Swift has reignited her feud with former label boss, Scooter Braun.

Taylor Swift is releasing new music at midnight tonight, but don’t get excited just yet.

Uploading a statement to her Instagram story yesterday, Swift explained that her former label, Big Machine Records, will be re-releasing her music from over a decade ago. And no, she does not approve.

“This recording is from a 2008 radio show performance I did when I was 18. Big Machine has listed the date as a 2017 release but they’re actually releasing it at midnight,” she explained.

And then, firmly stated that she was not behind this or happy about it.

“This release is not approved by me,” she said.

She continued by explaining that this will be nothing more than an act to make some money during tough times.

"In my opinion... just another case of shameless greed in the time of Coronavirus. So tasteless, but very transparent," she added.

The release is reportedly titled, Live from Clear Channel Stripped 2008, which was a performance she did to promote her album, Fearless.

So Swift fans, maybe don't give it a listen and save your excitement for when the news comes from Taylor herself.

3. Prince William has a very sassy reason why he’s not watching Tiger King.

Prince William is getting really good at this whole Zoom thing. There was his BBC interview with his missus, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge last week. And now he's done a video chat with comedian/actor/author/television host/British treasure, Stephen Fry.

The interview was part of a sketch for the BBC's coronavirus-relief fundraising special, The Big Night, in which Fry played his legendary Blackadder character, Lord Melchett. In a mock Zoom call, the Duke joked with 'Melchett' about homeschooling his kids, being German and lamented the hiatus of British soap, East Enders. So what to watch next?

"Have you seen Tiger King?" offered Lord Melchett.

(K. Before he ruins everything, let's just pause for a moment and imagine the future King of England sitting in front of the telly, muttering, "Carole f***in' Baskin" and "Check the septic tank!".)

But alas, no.

Even though the Prince isn't busy the ribbon-cutting and waving at plebs these days, it seems he's not prepared to spend his free time watching a true-crime docuseries about a gun-toting zoo owner with a mullet who is accused of hiring a hitman to murder a big-cat conservationist who dresses exclusively in animal print and is rumoured to have murdered her husband.

I mean...why?

The Duke's answer was simple. “I tend to avoid shows about royalty.”

4. If you are having trouble sleeping at the moment, Nick Jonas is here to read your a bedtime story.

Being able to #SleepStrong is more important than ever for our health right now. Hopefully this bedtime story I recorded for @audible_com & @thrive can help you guys fall asleep if you need it! Head over to https://t.co/vmvVVPPkvA for more info. #ad pic.twitter.com/2t11kGsEeL

— Nick Jonas (@nickjonas) April 21, 2020

Currently the #1 track on @audible_com, @diddy's powerful sleep meditation helps us all slow down, recharge and #SleepStrong. Listen now: https://t.co/XAxB4Z4ZSE
With #NewarkWorkingKitchens, Audible & #FirstRespondersFirst are also providing daily meals to those in need. pic.twitter.com/lWmBGe5wf6

— Arianna Huffington (@ariannahuff) April 22, 2020

Right now, a lot of us are finding falling asleep trickier than usual.

We've got a lot on our minds, which is why singer/actor/heartbreaker Nick Jonas is now available to read you a bedtime story.

The Jonas Brothers star has released a free 37-minute sleep story with audio book giant Audible called 'The Perfect Swing'. What's it about? Dissecting what makes the perfect baseball swing, which explains why it's putting people to sleep.

If you're more of a Diddy fan, you can also access a meditation read by the hip hop legend called 'Honor Yourself' and let his dulcet tones guide you to the land of nod.

Well, it's worth a shot, no?

5. From a Popstars contestant to his former personal assistant: Kyle Sandilands' complex love life.

Kyle Sandilands has had a number of high profile relationships, but so far, none have worked out.

He announced his breakup from long-tme girlfriend Imogen Anthony in November 2019, just short of a decade after his divorce from singer Tamara Jaber.

On Thursday, Kyle, who is currently dating his former personal assistant Tegan Kynaston, told his radio co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson he self-sabotages his relationships.

“That’s what I do. I think I shut down quietly as time goes on,” he said on air during The Kyle & Jackie O Show. “And then you just drift apart, drift in different directions,’ the shock jock admitted.

The confession was in response to a throwback clip recorded in 2007, of Kyle reading out a letter to ex-wife Tamara after she had moved to the United States to further her music career.

“To my beautiful girl, I know I’m not traditionally what people think as romantic, but only you and I know the special bond that we share,” Kyle said at the time.

“You are everything to me baby, and I’d die without you. And when you leave in a few weeks I will cry every night that you’re not with me.”

“I love you and I’m so proud of you my angel. You have changed the way I look at the world, the way I look at life, the way I look at love. And I do truly love you. Love, Kyle.”

Feature image: Instagram/@ritawilson