Gleb Savichenko has responded to his ex-wife’s claims that authorities were trying to find him with their daughter. He called the claim a “total lie” in a recent court filing.
According to documents obtained by TMZ from the court, the pro “Dancing with the Stars”, Elena Samodanova, knows where he is and where his 15-year old daughter Olivia lives. Elena Samodanova and Olivia, he says, have also spoken to each other several times after Olivia’s decision to stay in California.
Gleb takes particular issue with Elena’s claim earlier that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office “took steps” to find him and Olivia.
This characterization, he says falsely implies that he is hiding from authorities with his daughter… calling this “simply outrageous” and a complete lie.
Gleb claims that their daughter has reached the age of 16 and is choosing to restrict contact with her mom. He says Olivia decided to change her own phone number and not give Elena that new number.
Elena reported that Olivia had been supposed to come back to Hong Kong on July 9, but she never returned. Elena says that she is able to reach Olivia via Instagram, but does not have her address.

Directors Guild of America (DGA) and IATSE, the California attorney general’s union, are calling on Rob Bonta of California to resolve his antitrust case with Paramount. They argue that continued uncertainty regarding Warner Bros. is detrimental. Discovery merger will hurt the industry.
On Wednesday, the two unions sent a letter of request to Bonta as well as Paramount Skydance’s CEO David Ellison. They urged both sides to reach an agreement which would address their concerns about harms to competitiveness.
The two unions expressed their concern about the impact that a delayed decision on the merger proposal would have on the members of the respective unions and the entire industry.
This letter places the unions in conflict with the Writers Guild of America which has filed a separate antitrust lawsuit to attempt to stop the merger. This antitrust lawsuit has caused divisions in the movie industry. Both Regal Cinemas, AMC Theatres, and Cinema United have all backed the merger.
Bonta, along with a coalition consisting of 12 state attorneys general, filed a lawsuit in July to stop the merger. They argued that it would create an illegal concentration in the markets for basic cable distribution and the theatrical market. Araceli Martinez Olguin, a judge in California, issued a temporary order halting the merger. Last week, a trial date of March 2, four months after Paramount had preferred, was set.
Ellison is trying to get Bonta at the table to negotiate. He has also been working on rallying support within the film industry for this deal. Bonta repeatedly stated that he was not interested in “behavioral remedies” — like a promise to release thirty movies per year within a 45 day window — and is instead focused on structural solutions, something Paramount is unwilling to consider.
Russell Hollander was the national executive director for the DGA and Matthew Loeb the IATSE international president signed the letter. In the letter, it is argued that the trial date of March 2, 2019 will be “damaging” for an “already-struggling industry”.
The letter says that the merger proposal is making things worse for our members, who are struggling to find work. We are aware that productions have been put on hold, or even canceled completely. This has led to a further decrease in the amount of work available for our members.
In the letter, the unions urge the two parties to reach an agreement on certain conditions. Many of these Paramount already accepted, including the requirement that the studios continue to operate as two separate companies, each producing at least fifteen films per year. They also ask Paramount to commit to continuing licensing outside content at the same level as it was before the merger.
The unions will urge both the states and Paramount to accept an earlier date for the trial if they cannot come to a compromise. Paramount was eager to have a faster timeline. However, states requested time from the judge to obtain documents and depose Paramount executives in order to strengthen their case.

Mark Consuelos has a dog that he believes is a deal breaker in divorce proceedings.
The co-host of “Live with Kelly & Mark” joked that it would be better to remain married with Kelly Ripa in an “unlovely marriage” than have their dog Lena separated.
The couple discussed the issue during a pre-recorded episode on Aug. 11, which was recorded before Ripa left for an extended leave of absence to recover from her gum graft operation. The couple talked about the Pennsylvania legislation that could change the way pets are treated in divorce cases.
Ripa said that, if the legislation is passed, it will “recognize animals as family members and elevate their status when situations like divorce occur.” After the conversation, they began to wonder what might happen to Lena in case their marriage ended.
Consuelos 55 made it very clear that he would not take losing his dog well. “I mean, listen. Just put it like this. Consuelos stated, “I would remain in an unhappy marriage to be able to spend every day with Lena.” That’s how much Lena means to me.
Ripa did not seem to be bothered at all by the hypothetical arrangement her husband had made. Is that what you want, a marriage without love? The talk show host said, “That can be arranged.” Before declaring the marriage to be done.
Consuelos went a little further with the joke, saying he’d “stay awake at night” thinking of Lena, if they split up. Ripa responded in a playful way that he might “wonder if she was being petted by another man.”
People magazine reports that the couple adopted Lena in March 2021, after seeing her on an adoption segment of “Live.” Lena is a Maltese-Shih Tzu cross. Ripa, Consuelos and the dog fell in love with her during the broadcast. They later adopted the pup into their home. Lena is now a regular presence on both the show and in the lives of the couple. She makes frequent cameos.
Consuelos had a rescue dog named Chewie who passed away in 2025, aged 17. Ripa was emotional when she announced Chewie’s passing on her show. She reflected on Chewie’s place within their family.

Melissa Rycroft plead guilty to her DWI in Texas and won’t be spending another day behind bars.
According to documents obtained by Us Weekly, the former “Bachelor” and “Dancing with the Stars’ alum received his sentence last week following a plea agreement. The judge signed off the deal on Monday.
Rycroft received a 20-month probationary period instead of the 280-day jail sentence… she was also ordered to pay $2,000 worth of fines and costs. Rycroft will also be required to perform 36 hours of community work, complete a DWI course and submit to a substance use evaluation.
Rycroft is subject to strict probationary conditions. She cannot consume alcohol or illegal drugs during her probation.
It’s prohibited for her to drive…unless the vehicle has an ignition interlock with camera.
Rycroft, a woman from New York City was arrested for DWI in September of 2025. The police report says that Rycroft told the officers she was involved in a hit and run, but her witnesses said it wasn’t true.
Rycroft is a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. She addressed her arrest later on social media… saying that she was struggling, but still trying to move forward.

Tony Khan made a number of announcements about tonight’s AEW dynamite.
The AEW President revealed just hours before the event that Persephone, CMLL World’s Women Champion and Hikaru will be teaming up against Thunder Rosa as well as TBS Champion Maya World.
“Persephone/@ShidaHikaru vs @MayaWorldd/@ThunderRosa22 Persephone & Shida got the win vs TBS Champion Maya World & her partner Hyan on AEW Collision! Thunder Rosa, who has a grudge against Persephone will now join Maya in a fight between Persephone/Shida tonight!
Khan also confirmed that Will Ospreay would appear tonight on the show.
Kris Statlander vs. Viva Van has been scheduled.
The episode tonight will be held at the Pearl Concert Theater in the Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas. WrestleTix reported on Wednesday that 1,680 tickets had been sold for the show tonight.
Below is the updated line-up.
AEW Dynamite line-up for August 12, 2020