Quickies

 

Prince never got over son's death

 

Prince's ex-wife doesn't think he ever got over their son's death.

The late singer - who died of an accidental overdose last April - and Mayte Garcia were devastated when son Amiir passed away just six days after his birth in 1996 as he had rare genetic disorder Pfeiffer syndrome type 2.

Mayte told People magazine: "I don't think he ever got over it. I don't know how anybody can get over it. I know I haven't."

The brunette beauty had been having a smooth pregnancy, but a doctor recommended that she undergo an amniocentesis - in which a sample of amniotic fluid is taken from around the foetus - to test for genetic abnormalities when she began bleeding one day.

The couple were warned there was a risk of miscarriage with the test, so Prince was against it.

In her new book, The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince, Mayte wrote: "My husband said, 'No, we're not doing that.'"

Instead, the couple prayed at home that the tot would be OK and continued to refuse medical intervention.

 

Taylor Swift to launch own streaming service

 

Taylor Swift is launching her own streaming service.

The Bad Blood hitmaker - who famously withdrew her catalogue from Spotify in 2014 in a row over royalties - has filed documents giving her the right to brand a website "featuring non-downloadable multimedia content in the nature of audio recordings."

And as well as the website, which will be called Swifties, Taylor is also planning to launch a line of music products, including guitars, guitar picks and straps, and drumsticks.

TMZ report that her plans also include organising educational camps and retreats, as well as self-guided online courses.

The 27-year-old singer previously put pressure on streaming giants Apple Music to change their policy not to pay artistes for streams when users signed up for a three-month free trial.

She wrote on her Tumblr page at the time: "I'm sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service.

"I'm not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months.

"I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company."

Although Taylor acknowledged that the move would not make a huge difference to her own financial well-being, she insisted her actions were not those of "a spoiled, petulant child".

The Blank Space singer concluded her letter: "It's not too late to change this policy. We don't ask you for free iPhones. Please don't ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation."

Following the publication of Taylor's letter, Eddy Cue, the Senior Vice-President of Internet Software and Services at Apple, vowed the company would change its policy.

 

Ben Affleck battles alcohol addiction

 

Ben Affleck was accompanied by a sober coach to the 2017 Oscars to make sure he didn't drink.

The 44-year-old actor has recently revealed that he has completed his stint in rehab for alcohol addiction, and to help him stay on the straight and narrow at the star-studded bash, which took place at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on February 26, he is believed to have invited a special recovery professional with him to ensure that he remained tee-total for the evening, according to Entertainment Tonight.

The dark-haired hunk, who has Violet, 11, Seraphina, eight, and Samuel, five, with his estranged wife Jennifer Garner, decided to cut the booze for himself and for his family because his brood has "always" been his priority.

Speaking about the Live by Night star and his treatment, a source said: "He has completed his treatment and is feeling good. [He] did this for himself and his family.

"Family always comes first."

Ben announced the news that he had undergone treatment to shake the habit on social media because he didn't want to "hide" anything about his lifestyle from his family and he wanted to prove he could be a "better father" to his three children.