In 1999, the unexpected marriage of Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie made headlines and surprised many people.
The couple had a notable 20-year age difference and were both involved with other partners at the time, which added to the excitement.
One person who was shocked was actress Laura Dern, who was engaged to Billy Bob. Laura found out about Billy Bob’s marriage to Angelina at the same time as everyone else, which upset her plans.
Billy Bob and Laura started dating in 1997, right after Laura split from Jeff Goldblum and Billy Bob was still going through a divorce from his fourth wife, Pietra Dawn Cherniak. After two years together, they were engaged and planning their wedding when Billy Bob met Angelina on the set of “Pushing Tin” in 1999.
Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie’s quickie wedding in Las Vegas in May 2000 took many by surprise, including Laura Dern. Laura was caught off guard and shared her feelings in an interview with InStyle: “I left our home to work on a movie, and while I was away, my boyfriend got married, and I’ve never heard from him again.” She felt a sudden sense of loss and confusion with no closure.
Billy Bob never admitted to any wrongdoing but did express regret in a 2001 interview, saying: “Others may say that you left our girl and married someone else. But it made me and somebody else happy. I’m sorry it caused pain.”
In a strange twist, Laura and Angelina had a past connection; Laura had babysat Angelina when they were children, according to Yahoo.
Laura Dern’s father, Bruce Dern, recalled a time when Laura babysat Angelina Jolie. He explained that since he and Jon Voight were working on the movie “Coming Home” in 1978, Laura, who was about 8 years old at the time, watched 2-year-old Angelina at director Hal Ashby’s house.
After Laura and Billy Bob broke up, Laura received support from her friend Melissa Etheridge. Melissa shared on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM radio show that she helped Laura move out of her home with Billy Bob, even having to break into their house to retrieve Laura’s belongings. Melissa added that she had witnessed some of the difficulties Laura faced due to Billy Bob’s relationship with Angelina.
Following these events, Laura moved on with her life. She married Ben Harper and has two children with him, and has also been linked to former NBA player Baron Davis.
Billy Bob and Angelina divorced in 2002. Billy Bob decided to avoid dating celebrities after this, seeking a quieter life. He later married a puppeteer in 2014, aiming for more privacy.
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The Basketball Court Girl: Her Journey Unfolds at 21
“The Basketball Court Girl: A Fate Decided at 21”
Tsyan Hongyan’s story is one of perseverance and hope, serving as a powerful inspiration to people worldwide, especially those with disabilities. Her life demonstrates that no matter the challenges, it’s possible to achieve greatness.
Tsyan lost both of her legs at the age of four in a tragic car accident. Her family, unable to afford prosthetic legs, had to find a way for her to adapt. Initially, her parents carried her, but her grandfather came up with a creative solution: he cut a basketball in half and placed Tsyan inside it, giving her sticks to help her move around.
This unique method of mobility caught the attention of many after a video of Tsyan went viral on social media. She quickly became known around the world as “the basketball girl.”
Tsyan’s determination was nothing short of remarkable. Despite her disability, she found a way to get to school on her own using this improvised “basketball transport,” although the journey took her an hour instead of the typical seven minutes.
At the age of eight, the government stepped in to provide Tsyan with prosthetic legs. With these new legs, Tsyan was able to take her first real steps toward independence.
Her dream, however, extended beyond walking. Tsyan had a deep love for swimming, and with her new prosthetics, she was finally able to pursue it fully. Despite facing many challenges, she set her sights on competing in the Paralympics, a goal that took years of effort and determination to achieve. Her hard work paid off in 2016 when she fulfilled her dream of participating in the Paralympic Games.
Today, Tsyan Hongyan is a celebrated swimming champion, with numerous medals to her name and worldwide recognition for her achievements. Her story reminds us that with perseverance, anything is possible. If Tsyan could overcome her challenges and find success, anyone can.
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