SOTH 10.4

Southampton resident D’yan Forest, the 90-year-old comedian holding the Guinness World Record for the Oldest Working Female Comedian, performed at the Sticks and Stones Comedy Club inside Southampton Cultural Center on Sept. 28, just a mile from her home. 

Reflecting on the venue in an interview with “South O’ The Highway,” Forest shared, “I just love it. It’s a beautiful, huge auditorium. They have lots of other very good comics there.”

Having performed as a French singer in Paris, Forest enjoys her global career, but her connection to Southampton adds a special touch. “I know the inside stuff that they might be attracted to hearing. Out here in the Hamptons, it’s an older crowd, so it’s a different thing,” she said.
On entering a comedy venue, she remarked, “When people first meet me, they think I’m somebody’s grandmother. But they don’t believe it unless they see me.” Forest’s comedy reflects the fun of being an older woman. “People like it. They get a kick out of it. I have to make the younger crowds happy as well as the older people.”

Despite being 90, Forest’s energy remains vibrant, thanks to her active lifestyle of golf, swimming, and travel. A proud member of Noyac Golf Club, she plays “at least nine holes” every weekend – and walks the course. Although she “hates” to admit it, she confessed to enjoying swimming in local ponds and the bay, too.

One surprise from her comedy career is the encouragement she received early on from younger fans. “It was mostly the young people who would come to our little clubs, and when they left, they said, ‘Oh, you inspire me. I want to be like you when I’m 85 years old.’ Isn’t that amazing?”

Asked about retirement, Forest quickly dismissed the notion. “I live alone… so what else am I going to do? Sit and watch television? I always have to write new stuff, or see new stuff, or play the piano, so it keeps me busy. This keeps my brain going.”

The energetic performer marked her 90th birthday on July 31 by performing a show two days prior at Joe’s Pub in New York City. Just weeks earlier, she had made headlines after being sucker-punched in the West Village. “Nothing curbed my plans,” she said, noting that she could still perform and celebrate at a dinner with 14 of her closest friends. “So how does it feel to be 90? I did my one-woman show, and now I’m working more than ever! So, for me, it’s great to be 90.”

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ infamous Hamptons parties will be coming under the microscope. Netflix is diving into a new docuseries produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, focusing on serious charges surrounding Diddy. The series, directed by Alexandria Stapleton, is set to explore the allegations of sex trafficking, racketeering, sexual assault, and violent abuse against the music mogul. With the project still in production, it’s already generating significant buzz.

In an exclusive statement to Variety, 50 Cent and Stapleton emphasized the importance of telling a more nuanced story. “This is a story with significant human impact. It is a complex narrative spanning decades, not just the headlines or clips seen so far,” they said. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to give a voice to the voiceless and to present authentic and nuanced perspectives. While the allegations are disturbing, we urge all to remember that Sean Combs’ story is not the full story of hip-hop and its culture. We aim to ensure that individual actions do not overshadow the culture’s broader contributions.”

Diddy, who was known for hosting A-list bashes at his sprawling Northwest Woods estate from 1998 through the early 2000s, is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, has alleged that his client is not guilty.

Hilaria Baldwin, a resident of Amagansett, recently opened up in an interview with Vogue about her hectic life as the mother of seven children under the age of 11, balancing marriage with Alec Baldwin, and staying healthy amid her busy schedule. In the feature, which documented a day in her life, Hilaria shared her approach to self-care, saying, “Now that I have kids, I fit in working out when it’s most convenient for my kids… I have learned to free myself from guilt by telling them that I need to take care of myself too—body and mind.”

The couple also prioritizes time together, with Hilaria revealing, “Alec and I have date night once the kids are in bed. Taking time together has helped us through much good and some challenging times in our relationship.” Additionally, she teased that part of her day involves filming for her family’s upcoming reality show on TLC, slated to premiere sometime next year. In July, the couple was spotted in the Hamptons with a camera crew documenting a family day out East.

SAVE THE DATE…

The Hamptons International Film Festival returns this weekend, running from Oct. 4 to 14, bringing some of the year’s most anticipated films and top stars to the East End. This 32nd edition showcases a diverse lineup, with 45% of the films directed by women and representing 50 countries. Kicking off the festival is the East Coast premiere of Martha, R.J. Cutler’s documentary on Martha Stewart, on Oct. 4. Another highlight is Netflix’s The Piano Lesson screening on Oct. 5 as the Centerpiece Film. 

Closing out the festival on Oct. 13 is the East Coast premiere of Nightbitch, starring Amy Adams. This year’s “A Conversation With…” series will also feature in-depth talks with stars like Demi Moore, Liev Schreiber, and Andrew Garfield. 

Best-selling humorist and master of satire David Sedaris returns to Guild Hall in East Hampton on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m., offering his signature wit and reflections following the release of his latest book Happy Go Lucky.

Sightings…

Shinnecock Bay resident Bethenny Frankel turned heads as she walked the runway in the L’Oréal show at Paris Fashion Week. ‘I’m worth it… and so are YOU,’ she wrote on social media, sharing a video of her strutting in sky-high stilettos.

Hamptons residents Bobby Flay and Ina Garten teamed up when Flay made a guest appearance on the premiere episode of Garten’s show, Be My Guest, which aired on Sept. 29. Flay shared that they enjoyed “great food and great conversation.”

J.B. Andreassi, star of Selling the Hamptons, shared a video of his car getting detailed by Hampton Car Spa, a local auto detailing service.

Philanthropist Jean Shafiroff attended the Metropolitan Opera Gala on Sept. 23 at Lincoln Center in New York City, marking the start of the gala season. Two days later, Jean and her husband, Martin Shafiroff, hosted a cocktail party for the French Heritage Society at their home. Guests included Julia Haart, Elena Gibbs, Candace Bushnell, Olympics gold medalist Michael Spinks, and more.