France’s Francois Hollande confirms he, Valerie Trierweiler are finis
French President Francois Hollande on Saturday ended weeks of speculation about his personal life, announcing that he and his partner Valerie Trierweiler were splitting after many years together.
Hollande, 59, was “at the end of his joint life with Valerie Trierweiler,” the Agence France Presse news agency quoted the French head of state as saying.
Trierweiler, 48, was discharged from a Paris hospital a week ago, after spending eight days in treatment for depression over revelations of Hollande’s alleged affair with actress Julie Gayet.
She put the best face on Saturday’s announcement, however, tweeting a dignified farewell to the staff at the Elysee Palace where she had served as France’s unofficial first lady.
On Jan. 10, Closer magazine published photographs purporting to show Hollande being ferried by scooter to a tryst with Gayet.
Hollande has refused to comment on the allegations but promised to clarify his relationship with Trierweiler before a state visit to the United States on Feb. 11.
The two, who are not wed, began a relationship while Hollande was still living with the mother of his four children, politician Segolene Royal.
He and Royal split in 2007. Trierweiler, a journalist with Paris Match magazine, has three children from a previous marriage.
Sox slugger cameos in ‘Buyers Club’
Baseball fans who go see the movie “Dallas Buyers Club” might recognize a familiar face behind the bar.
Chicago White Sox slugger Adam Dunn has a small role as a bartender in the film starring Matthew McConaughey that earned six Academy Award nominations.
Dunn says he doesn’t know how he got “roped” into doing the film. He said it was “a pretty cool experience.”
Dunn said he filmed his scenes following the 2012 season. The movie was released after this season ended.
White Sox manager Robin Ventura said it was surprising to see Dunn on the screen.
“It is shocking when you’re watching a movie and you’re getting immersed in a movie and you see Dunner behind the bar,” he said Saturday.
“He didn’t say anything. He was a bartender. He’s believable. He looks like he would be doing that job. He looks like he fits that role,” he said.
The birthday bunch
Actress Anne Jeffreys is 91. Actor Scott Glenn is 75. Actor David Strathairn is 65. Alt-country singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams is 61. Rock singer-musician Eddie Van Halen is 59. Actress-comedian-talk show host Ellen DeGeneres is 56. Hockey Hall-of-Famer Wayne Gretzky is 53. Musician Andrew Ridgeley is 51. Gospel singer Kirk Franklin is 44.