Did Bryce Harper and Kay Varner break up?
Bryce Harper and Kay Varner’s planned back-to-back weddings last week didn’t happen — and their social media sites suggest they’ve split.
The Washington Nationals slugger and his soccer star fiancée, both 22, have deleted any recent references to each other. Even their biographies were scrubbed, according to the Washington Post.
They had planned a Jan. 2 wedding in the San Diego temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a second wedding the next day.
The Post reported neither follows the other on Twitter.
Varner, a soccer standout at Green Valley High School who attended Brigham Young before transferring to Ohio State, retweeted this quote from the LDS Quotes twitter feed Dec. 28:
“I testify that bad days come to an end, that faith always triumphs, and that heavenly promises are always kept.” — Jeffery R Holland.
Her Instagram bio was changed to “the best is yet to come” and added a reference to the Book of Mormon. Harper deleted all descriptions.
Her bio previously read, “student, Ohio State soccer, family, my love @BHarper3407.” His: “family. My beautiful fiancée @KayVarner! DC. 220. Nothing More Nothing Less.”
They were engaged last year after dating for several years.
It was reported here in October that they planned to marry in January.
Harper grew up in Henderson and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball draft.
agassi donation
Andre Agassi and his wife, Steffi Graf, have made a $1.5 million donation to the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Heath.
Larry Ruvo, who founded the center, confirmed the gift, saying Agassi and Graf “have been there for us since the inception of Keep Memory Alive.”
Agassi responded with the following quote:
“It’s no secret I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Larry Ruvo and all he has done for our community. That being said, all my personal giving is just that, personal.”
Ruvo, who founded the center of research and treatment for diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, also confirmed that Keep Memory Alive’s Power of Love gala June 13 will honor Andrea Bocelli as well as his wife, Veronica. She agreed Saturday, Ruvo said.
GIADA DENIES ROMANCES
Food Channel star and Las Vegas restaurateur Giada De Laurentiis says the rumors of romantic relationships are false.
She addressed the reports on Facebook late last week: “My longtime friendships with my co-workers Matt Lauer and Bobby Flay are exactly that – longtime relationships and nothing more. There has never been any romantic relationship.”
The same goes for the John Mayer rumor, she told Gossip.com.
She recently announced on Facebook that she had separated from her husband of 11 years, Todd Thompson, in July.
A TRAGEDY TWIST
French entertainment icon Line Renaud’s return to Las Vegas had a dark twist.
Renaud, 86, was in Las Vegas on Thursday when the Eiffel Tower and the replica at Paris Las Vegas went dark to honor the 12 victims of the terrorist attack on satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.
She was on hand for the grand opening celebration of Paris Las Vegas on May 1, 1999, when the replica was illuminated as the Eiffel Tower in Paris went dark.
Renaud’s influence had helped facilitate the tower lighting, which featured French actress Catherine Deneuve flipping the switch to illuminate the Las Vegas version and Gustave Eiffel’s grandson doing the honors in Paris.
The legendary singer and actress watched the TV coverage in horror Thursday at the home of longtime friend Annee Nouna.
“She was aghast, shocked,” said friend Jerry Engel, who had breakfast with Renaud and Nouna. Engle was hired as Renaud’s accountant when she arrived in Las Vegas in 1963 as the singing star of the French revue Casino de Paris, a Dunes sensation.
Renaud was reunited Sunday with a number of longtime Las Vegas friends at a party hosted by Nouna.
While addressing the group, Renaud recalled a conversation with Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa at the opening of Caesars Palace in August 1966.
When she predicted it would be a big success, Hoffa, not one to mince words, replied, “Better be.” The Teamsters had a ton of money invested.
Hoffa had a prediction of his own, said Renaud. She said he envisioned a Strip with the pedestrian bridges that now, a half-century later, link nearly every intersection
Longtime friends at her party included 98-year-old magic and circus legend Franz Czeisler, better known as Tihany; Rich Little; Pia Zadora; Olga and Elizabeth Apcar; Cindy Doumani; Lynette Chappel; Kenny and Diane Epstein; Parvine Jacobs; Susan Molasky; Sandy Pelton; Dorothy Huffey; Jon Jaggers; and Pierre Bezard, Renaud’s former dance partner.
SIGHTINGS
“Sons of Anarchy” star Mark Boone Junior, celebrating the series finale of FX’s hit television show Friday at Chateau Nightclub &Rooftop. He was accompanied by the reality show’s bike band, The Forest Rangers. He hopped on the microphone and surprised the crowd by singing Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”
THE PUNCH LINE
“Donald Trump is on the show tonight. Donald is a big man, I think 230 pounds — 235 with cologne.” — David Letterman
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or email him at norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
