Monsoon announced the tour on social media on 29 April 2026, calling it “a Monsoon summer” and describing “Speaking of Witch” as a brand new comedy and concert show. Coverage from LGBTQ+ publications has framed the tour as another major moment in Monsoon’s ongoing rise from RuPaul’s Drag Race alum to established theatre and cabaret headliner.

Tour dates, cities, and venues

According to tour listings and ticketing platforms, “Speaking of Witch” is scheduled to visit 11 cities between 3 and 16 July 2026, with shows concentrated in major regional theatres and concert halls. The run currently includes Brighton, Cambridge, Cardiff, Bristol, Nottingham, York, Manchester, London, Edinburgh, Newcastle upon Tyne, and Glasgow.

Ticketing site MyTicket lists the dates as follows: Brighton Theatre Royal on Friday 3 July; Cambridge Corn Exchange on Saturday 4 July; Cardiff New Theatre on Monday 6 July; Bristol Beacon on Wednesday 8 July; and Nottingham Theatre Royal on Thursday 9 July. The schedule continues with York Barbican on Friday 10 July; Manchester Albert Hall on Saturday 11 July; Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London on Sunday 12 July; Edinburgh Usher Hall on Tuesday 14 July; Tyne Theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne on Wednesday 15 July; and O2 Academy Glasgow on Thursday 16 July.

Promoters state that tickets go on general sale at 10 a.m. BST on 1 May 2026 via MyTicket and other official outlets, with presales available through select venues. Theatre Royal Drury Lane, part of LW Theatres, is hosting the London date on 12 July 2026, with the venue also promoting a presale tied to its mailing list.

What audiences can expect from “Speaking of Witch”

Press materials and venue descriptions present “Speaking of Witch” as a hybrid comedy and music show that leans into Monsoon’s existing “witch” persona and cabaret storytelling style. Nottingham Theatre Royal describes the tour as a “spellbinding” blend of stand-up, song, and queer theatricality, emphasizing that it is Monsoon’s first solo UK tour in four years.

Monsoon will perform with her longtime collaborator Major Scales and the accompanying band The Badlings, bringing a live ensemble sound to the stage rather than a purely track-based drag show format. Stereoboard notes that the tour will feature new music as well as material from Monsoon’s existing catalogue, framing the run as both a comedy event and a concert experience for fans.

Venues hosting the tour, such as Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Bristol Beacon, are positioning the show within their mainstream entertainment and comedy programming, indicating an expectation of wide appeal beyond exclusively LGBTQ+ audiences. Promotional copy highlights Monsoon’s status as a RuPaul’s Drag Race winner and Broadway performer, suggesting that “Speaking of Witch” will draw on her experience in theatre, television, and cabaret.

New music and the “Virgo Odyssey” thread

Alongside the tour news, Monsoon used social media comments to tease upcoming music, writing that “new tour calls for new music” and referencing that “the Virgo Odyssey continues” into May 2026. Attitude’s report links this tease to Monsoon’s 2022 musical EP “The Virgo Odyssey,” suggesting that the artist is planning to further develop that conceptual project with fresh songs or arrangements.

Stereoboard similarly reports that the tour “will feature new music,” describing it as part of Monsoon’s ongoing evolution as a recording artist as well as a live performer. While neither outlet lists track titles or a release date, both characterize the new material as connected thematically to Monsoon’s existing Virgo Odyssey era rather than an unrelated project.

No formal album or EP announcement accompanied the tour press at the time of publication, and details such as track lists or collaborators have not been publicly confirmed. As a result, the only verifiable information about the new music is that Monsoon has signaled its existence, hinted at a connection to “Virgo Odyssey,” and indicated that audiences can expect to hear some of it during the UK shows.

Between Judy Garland and a summer tour

“Speaking of Witch” will follow shortly after Monsoon’s run as Judy Garland in a new London revival of Peter Quilter’s play-with-music End of the Rainbow at Soho Theatre Walthamstow. The production is scheduled from 15 May to 21 June 2026, meaning Monsoon will transition from portraying Garland’s final years onstage to launching a nationwide comedy and concert tour less than two weeks later.

London theatre outlets note that Monsoon leads the End of the Rainbow cast as Garland, joined by performers including Jacob Dudman as Mickey and Adam Filipe as Anthony, under the direction of Rupert Hands. LGBTQ+ outlet Out reports that early ticket sales for the revival have been strong, with premium “Band A” seats for Monsoon’s first nine performance days already sold out months before opening.

The timing of End of the Rainbow and “Speaking of Witch” underscores Monsoon’s dual presence in both scripted theatre and self-authored cabaret work, with the Garland production potentially introducing new audiences to her live stage persona ahead of the July tour. For LGBTQ+ audiences and allies, the overlapping projects highlight how a nonbinary, gender-expansive performer is taking on iconic queer roles while also leading major commercial tours through some of the UK’s most prominent venues.

Drag Race roots and growing mainstream status

Although the new tour announcement is forward-looking, coverage frequently situates Monsoon’s current success in the context of her earlier rise on RuPaul’s Drag Race and subsequent Broadway appearances. Gay Times describes Monsoon as a “two-time Drag Race champion, comedian and Broadway icon,” reflecting her wins on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 5 and All Stars 7 and her acclaimed turns on stage.

Playbill has previously reported on Monsoon’s Broadway work, including her role in the play Oh, Mary! at the Lyceum Theatre, underscoring how her profile has expanded beyond reality television into mainstream theatre and comedy. This background provides context for why venues such as Theatre Royal Drury Lane and major regional theatres are programming “Speaking of Witch” as a headline event.

For many LGBTQ+ viewers and fans of drag, Monsoon’s visibility as a nonbinary performer in high-profile roles and tours contributes to broader representation of gender-diverse artists in mainstream entertainment spaces. While the “Speaking of Witch” materials focus on comedy and music rather than explicit advocacy, Monsoon’s career trajectory continues to resonate within queer culture and among audiences seeking inclusive, person-first entertainment.

In a recent Instagram video, Brown explained that imaging initially led doctors to suspect she had a didelphys uterus, sometimes referred to as a “double uterus,” before further evaluation clarified her diagnosis. She told followers that specialists ultimately concluded she has what she described as a “bicorporeal septate uterus,” meaning her uterus is partially divided into two spaces by a septum, a structural difference that can be associated with infertility and pregnancy complications.

A rare but treatable uterine condition

Brown told fans that her care team had linked her diagnosis to potential challenges with conception and pregnancy, emphasizing that people with septate or bicorporeal uteri may face increased risks, including miscarriage or difficulties carrying a pregnancy to term. Citing information from the Cleveland Clinic, one report noted that bicorporeal or septate uterus variants affect a small percentage of people assigned female at birth, and are associated with a higher likelihood of reproductive complications, although many are able to have successful pregnancies with appropriate care.

In her Instagram recap, Brown highlighted what she described as “good news,” telling followers that her condition “can be treated with surgery,” and positioning her recent procedure as a proactive intervention rather than a response to an emergency. She said she had known “for a while” that she would likely need surgery before trying to have children with her husband, Adam Woolard, and decided that now was the right moment to move forward with medical treatment.

Surgery as a “first step” in family planning

Brown has described the recent surgery to remove a uterine septum as the “first step” in her and Woolard’s family planning process, though she has been clear that they are not immediately trying to conceive. On Bachelor Nation’s official site, the franchise shared screenshots of Brown’s posts from her hospital bed, where she wrote, “Today’s the day! Having my septum removed in my uterus! I’ve been putting this off for a while, but it’s the first step in family planning for us!”

In a separate clip highlighted by entertainment outlets, Brown used on-screen text like “Doing what I put off for years hallelujah” and “Successful surgery hallelujah,” pairing humor with relief as she documented her path into and out of the operating room. She has also reiterated that she previously delayed the procedure in part because she did not yet feel emotionally ready for parenthood, telling listeners on Maria Menounos’ “Heal Squad” podcast in 2025 that she wanted to get married and reach a place of readiness before seriously pursuing pregnancy.

Recovery updates and support system

Brown’s latest posts emphasize that her recovery has been “pretty smooth” so far and that she feels well cared for at home. In a caption quoted by multiple outlets, she thanked her “sweet husband” @admandew and her parents for helping her during the early days after surgery, and joked about “putting adult diapers and all my matching pajamas into good use.”

Bachelor Nation also shared Brown’s gratitude for her medical team, quoting her message: “So thankful for the amazing team that has taken care of me today!” alongside photos of the former reality star in a hospital gown before the operation. Fans responded online with their own stories of septate or didelphys uteri, including one person who described having triplets with a similar diagnosis and another who wrote that they were six months pregnant after undergoing an analogous surgery, messages that Brown’s supporters said could reassure others navigating similar reproductive health conditions.

Connecting the diagnosis to past conversations about PCOS

Brown’s latest disclosures build on earlier comments about her reproductive health, particularly her 2025 conversation on the “Heal Squad” podcast, where she said that imaging following a diagnosis of PCOS had revealed a “double uterus.” She described feeling surprised by the result and shared that she had been told she would eventually need exploratory surgery to better understand the anatomy and address any issues that might interfere with pregnancy.

During that earlier interview, Brown said she believed there was “some risk” associated with carrying a pregnancy with her uterine configuration and that she wanted to have more information before trying to become a parent. She emphasized at the time that she did hope to experience parenthood at some point, while acknowledging that she was not yet ready and did not want to rush into a decision driven solely by medical pressure.

Fertility, timing, and emotional readiness

In comments resurfaced in recent coverage, Brown reiterated that she “definitely” thinks she would like to have a child one day and does not want to “miss out on that experience,” but has also emphasized the importance of being emotionally prepared. Speaking in 2025, she said it made sense for her to wait until after marriage and to take time to decide when to pursue parenthood, reflecting a broader conversation about how people, including those with fertility-impacting conditions, balance medical timelines with personal and relational readiness.

Brown has also acknowledged that not everyone receives an early diagnosis or has the opportunity to plan ahead in the same way. In her latest Instagram statement, she expressed gratitude that doctors identified her uterine condition before she tried to conceive and said that “so many women walk through loss and disappointment before getting answers,” adding that this reality is “not lost” on her.

The wider significance of sharing reproductive health stories

By publicly documenting her diagnosis and surgical recovery, Brown joins a growing number of public figures who have chosen to disclose reproductive and uterine health experiences, including PCOS and structural variations like septate or didelphys uteri. Health organizations note that these conditions can be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, especially when symptoms are normalized or attributed to “typical” menstrual pain, which can leave many people—cisgender women, transgender men, and nonbinary people with uteruses—without adequate information about their options.

Coverage of Brown’s posts has highlighted how her openness may help normalize conversations about fertility planning, surgical interventions, and the emotional weight of such decisions for people with similar diagnoses. Commenters responding to her updates on social media have shared their own reproductive journeys, including high-risk pregnancies and successful births after septum removal, contributions that suggest many followers view her story as a catalyst for mutual support and information-sharing.

What experts say about septate and bicorporeal uteri

Medical organizations explain that a septate uterus occurs when a band of tissue divides the inside of the uterus, either partially or completely, and that this difference can increase miscarriage risk but is often treatable through minimally invasive surgery. Reports on Brown’s case note that her doctors used language such as “bicorporeal septate uterus,” reflecting how classifications can vary depending on exactly how the uterus formed and how deeply the septum extends.

The Cleveland Clinic estimates that uterine anomalies such as septate or bicornuate uteri are relatively uncommon, affecting a small fraction of people with uteruses, although exact percentages can differ by study and diagnostic criteria. In Brown’s case, outlets have emphasized that her physicians recommended surgery as a way to improve the likelihood of carrying a pregnancy successfully, a treatment path that aligns with standard approaches for people whose uterine anatomy could interfere with implantation or fetal growth.

Looking ahead for Hannah Brown

Brown has not announced a specific timeline for trying to conceive, and recent coverage underscores that her primary focus at the moment is recovery and long-term health. In a 2025 interview, she said she believed she and Woolard would “get there when we get there” regarding parenthood, and that having information about surgery and her diagnosis helped her feel more prepared for eventual decisions about starting a family.

For now, Brown’s recent posts portray a mix of relief, gratitude, and cautious optimism, acknowledging both the medical realities of her condition and the broader community of people who have navigated similar paths. As her recovery continues, her decision to share details publicly is likely to keep drawing attention to uterine anomalies, fertility planning, and the importance of timely, affirming care for everyone with complex reproductive health needs.

He just didn’t yet know her name.

“He goes, ‘you know the young girl from ‘House of the Dragon’? The young queen or princess? That’s how I picture it, like a young punk rock girl who is just totally badass and tough,’” Safran told The Associated Press. “I was like, yeah, that sounds fantastic, and we haven’t seen that before.”

Milly Alcock, now 26, had just started to break out playing Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (later portrayed by Emma D’Arcy) in the “Game of Thrones” prequel, when she got a request for a self-tape for the secretive Supergirl project. Alcock had been working in her native Australia since she was a teenager, but her world was suddenly getting bigger very quickly.

A few weeks later, she was summoned for a screen test (her first ever). She boarded a 24-hour flight from Sydney to Atlanta and gave it her best shot.

“I kind of had a feeling, I remember I like got back to my hotel room and I like sat down and I was like, ‘Oh, this is gonna, something’s gonna happen,’” Alcock said. “I just had like an intuition that like, this is going to be a very exciting challenge if it goes in my favor.”

‘This is crazy, what have I done?’

Ten days later, Gunn texted her an article in the trade publication Deadline: “‘Supergirl’: New Woman Of Steel Is ‘House Of The Dragon’s’ Milly Alcock.” No phone call. No context. And all she could think was, “This is crazy, what have I done?” A few days later, she was back on that 24-hour flight to film her cameo in “Superman.”

And things have not slowed down. If shooting the film was a marathon of stunts and action and emotion, the promotion of new DC’s second major film is going to be its own non-stop ride.

When Alcock spoke to the AP earlier this month, she had just arrived in Las Vegas from Kyoto, where she was filming another movie, and on just two hours of sleep had to muster the energy to get up on stage in front of thousands of movie theater owners to hype “Supergirl,” which is out June 26.

“It’s a really original and unique take on a superhero movie,” Safran said. “I think it’s just a great movie for audiences. It’s not just for superhero fans.”

‘She’s just that girl’

The character might be less widely known than her famous cousin, but the response to her appearance in “Superman” was encouraging.

“She’s in the ‘Superman’ movie for, you know, 12 seconds, yet one of the things audiences wanted to see ... more of was her,” Safran said. “And Millie in real life, she’s just that girl … she is authentically a badass.”

Perhaps part of the intrigue is that she’s not straightlaced Superman, who got to be raised by loving and gentle parents on earth. Supergirl saw her planet destroyed and everyone she knew killed and had to fend for herself.

Directed by Craig Gillespie, best known for two other films about complicated young women, “I, Tonya” and “Cruella,” this film finds the jaded Kara on an intergalactic odyssey with Krypto the Superdog and a young woman seeking revenge against the murderous Krem of the Yellow Hills.

“Kara surprisingly reminded me a lot of myself, which I never thought I would get from playing like a superhero, from playing someone who isn’t human. There’s a lot humility in her and that kind of made me fall in love with her immediately,” Alcock said. “Sometimes you can get swept up in what other people expect, and then you kind of lose your intrinsic you-ness. And that’s why people hire you in the first place, because of what you bring to something just innately being who you are.”

‘Why would someone have a toy of my face?’

Alcock didn’t grow up a big film fan, but in acting found a lifeline and an outlet to communicate feelings that she struggled to in real life. It helps her exist as a person, she said.

Recently, Alcock has been living in London, where she said she has a great group of friends, none of whom are actors. And she’s adjusting to the reality that her face is going to be everywhere for a bit.

“It’s been kind of disorientating,” she said. “I do this job because it gives me the ability to disappear. So then to like suddenly be so visible and so exposed is a very vulnerable experience. I’m just trying to learn how to deal with that relationship. But I mean, it’s exciting. Of course it’s exciting. But like anything exciting, it’s also terrifying.”

When she was on the “Superman” set, she remembered talking to David Corenswet briefly and realizing that they had very perspectives about the experience.

“I remember him being like, ‘We’re gonna have action figures, isn’t that cool?’” she said. “And I was like, ‘That’s so weird. Why would someone have a toy of my face?’”

Hanks, 35, said he opted against renting another apartment after recently buying and furnishing a condo in Los Angeles, describing the process of setting up another place as something he did not want to repeat. Instead, he had been cycling through Airbnbs and hotels in Nashville, which he said quickly grew tiresome because he prefers to have his own consistent space.

From coastal road trip to life on wheels

Hanks traced the decision to buy a trailer back to a solo road trip he took up the California coast, a journey he said he undertook simply because he was bored and wanted a getaway. During that trip, he stayed in an Airstream trailer in Carmel, California, which he described as “really beautiful” and an experience he enjoyed so much that he began to imagine owning a similar kind of home on wheels.

Although he is not currently living in an Airstream, Hanks said the RV he bought has given him the essentials he needs to feel at home while keeping his living situation simple and mobile. Reporting on his social media videos, entertainment outlets identified his residence as a Jayco 2026 Eagle HT travel trailer, approximately 27 feet long, equipped with a dining area, kitchen and upgraded amenities. Hanks has given followers a tour of the RV online, showing what appears to be a spacious living space that includes a bed, seating area, dining table and bathroom.

Redefining “home” in Nashville’s retiree community

In his late-night interview, Hanks emphasized that his trailer park is not the kind of environment many viewers might picture when they hear the term. He said he is “probably the youngest person in the trailer park by like 30 or 40 years,” describing most of his neighbors as retirees and “great people” rather than any kind of threat or source of trouble.

Hanks directly addressed common assumptions that trailer parks are inherently “sketchy” or dangerous, saying that in reality his community is calm, quiet and largely populated by older residents enjoying retirement. He explained that while he sometimes participates in campfire activities and uses his fire pit, much of his daily routine looks similar to conventional apartment life, including staying inside, relaxing in bed and watching Netflix.

The comforts of a compact home

Hanks has highlighted specific features of his RV that make the smaller footprint feel comfortable, singling out the presence of a kitchen and a walk-in shower as key amenities. He pointed out that many trailers use “wet bath” layouts that combine the toilet and shower in the same compact space, making a separate walk-in shower a “big deal” for him.

Coverage of his purchase notes that the Jayco Eagle HT travel trailer line is marketed with features such as reinforced shelves, magnetic drawers and secure pantry design to keep belongings in place when towing, as well as an upgraded mattress and wide front windows in some models. These details, along with Hanks’ own comments, frame his decision less as a loss of comfort and more as a shift toward a compact, self-contained space that still offers privacy and stability.

Balancing acting work and a country music pivot

Hanks’ living arrangement comes as he navigates both acting and music, including a role in the Netflix series Running Point and a self-described pivot into country music. Running Point, which debuted in 2025, stars Kate Hudson as Isla Gordon and follows a woman in her thirties tasked with revitalizing her family’s professional basketball franchise, with Hanks appearing in the ensemble cast.

Beyond television, Hanks has been pursuing a music career that leans into country influences, performing with his band Something Out West, which he formed with collaborator Drew Arthur. The duo launched their country project in 2025, releasing songs such as “Leaving Hollywood” and appearing at events including the Stagecoach Festival, where Tom Hanks was seen in the audience supporting his son.

A lifestyle choice shaped by cost, mobility and image

While Hanks has not framed the move as a financial necessity, his explanations suggest a combination of cost-consciousness, flexibility and reluctance to sink money and energy into another fully furnished apartment. He stressed that he had just invested in a condo in Los Angeles, suggesting that duplicating that effort in Nashville did not make practical sense while he is still testing the waters of his music career.

Hanks’ account of teaching himself to tow the 27‑foot trailer—sharing his nerves and the logistics of hitching, backing up and parking at the trailer park—adds a layer of self-presentation as someone willing to handle the practicalities of this downsized lifestyle. In social media videos, he has described the moment of bringing the trailer “home” as a significant personal milestone, underscoring that for him a sense of home is tied more to autonomy and mobility than to square footage or a fixed address.

Public reaction and class perceptions

The image of the son of one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors living in a trailer park has attracted media attention, with coverage often juxtaposing the Hanks family’s fame with his modest housing choice. Articles have emphasized his insistence that the park is largely a quiet retiree community, highlighting the contrast between common stereotypes and the lived reality he describes.

His story arrives amid ongoing conversations about housing affordability, minimalist living, and alternative home choices such as vans, tiny homes and RVs, although Hanks himself has not explicitly tied his decision to those wider trends. In this case, his public comments instead center on enjoying the trailer lifestyle, valuing personal space and challenging assumptions that a trailer park must be unsafe or undesirable.

A neutral lens on image, privilege and choice

Hanks’ move illustrates how a public figure with significant family resources can still choose a relatively low‑key, nonluxury living arrangement when it aligns with personal and professional goals. His comments about enjoying his retiree neighbors and everyday routines underscore that, for him, community and autonomy appear to matter more than the status symbols typically associated with celebrity offspring.

For LGBTQ+ people and others who have long built community in nontraditional housing, alternative living setups like RVs and trailer parks can be part of broader stories about chosen family and flexible, affirming spaces, though Hanks has not publicly connected his own move to those themes. In this case, the central, verifiable throughline remains his stated desire to avoid another full-scale apartment setup, his positive view of his trailer-park neighbors and his use of a compact home base as he pursues entertainment and music work between Los Angeles and Nashville.

In recounting the last time they spoke, Metcalf explained that their final conversation occurred as the cast wrapped the 2018 reboot, before Barr’s tweet about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett led ABC to cancel the show and sever ties with its namesake star. Metcalf emphasized that there was no dramatic falling‑out between them on a personal level, stating simply, “We just haven’t spoken since we said goodbye at the end of the reboot.”

From ratings juggernaut to sudden cancellation

“Roseanne” originally debuted on ABC in 1988 and quickly became one of the network’s highest‑rated series, centering a working‑class Midwestern family at a time when such depictions were relatively rare on broadcast television. The sitcom ran for nine seasons from 1988 to 1997, with Barr as the outspoken matriarch Roseanne Conner and Metcalf as her sister Jackie, a duo whose on‑screen relationship became central to the show’s identity.

In 2018, ABC revived the series for a 10th season with most of the original cast, including Metcalf, Barr, John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, and others, bringing the Conner family into a contemporary political and cultural landscape. The revival’s premiere in March 2018 delivered strong ratings, and ABC swiftly renewed it for an additional season before the controversy that would end Barr’s involvement.

The reboot came to a halt in May 2018 after Barr posted a racist tweet comparing former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to an ape, drawing widespread condemnation and forcing the network to respond within hours. ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey announced the show’s cancellation in a public statement calling Barr’s tweet “abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values,” formally ending the reboot in its existing form.

Metcalf’s view of Barr and the show’s legacy

Metcalf’s new remarks shed light on how she saw Barr’s role behind the scenes over the decades, describing a complex dynamic in which the star clashed with producers while also fighting for creative control of a show that drew heavily on her own life and comedic voice. In her interview, Metcalf said she “saw somebody refusing to settle for anything, and it had her godd— name on it, and she knew what she wanted,” adding that she believed Barr was “right by far the majority of the time” in those creative disputes.

The article notes that from early in the show’s run, Barr pushed to be recognized as a creator and to ensure the series reflected her vision, leading to tension with original producer Matt Williams and other writers that culminated in staff changes and a shift in creative credits. Metcalf is reported as siding with Barr in those struggles, underscoring how strongly she felt about the comedian’s ownership of the material, even as the working environment could be contentious.

Metcalf also reflected on her first impressions of Barr, recalling that she felt intimidated by someone she described as “self‑made,” a stand‑up comic whose life experience formed the backbone of the series. She said that the strong sister relationship written on the page, which mirrored Barr’s real‑life connections with her own sisters, provided a starting point for their on‑screen bond, allowing the actors to deepen that dynamic while playing to the show’s humor.

Life after “Roseanne”: ‘The Conners’ and lingering sadness

After ABC cut ties with Barr, the network retooled the series as “The Conners,” centering the remaining family members and explaining Barr’s absence by writing Roseanne Conner’s death as the result of an off‑screen opioid overdose. The rebranded series premiered in October 2018 with Metcalf, Goodman, Gilbert, and other returning cast members, and it ultimately ran for seven seasons, concluding its final episode in April 2025.

Metcalf described the atmosphere on set in the wake of Barr’s departure as marked by “a general sadness around the whole place,” capturing how abruptly the cast’s reunion had transformed into a different show. While the Conner family continued on television, the actor’s comments suggest that the emotional adjustment to working without the original series’ central figure was significant for those who stayed.

Asked whether she felt angry at Barr for “blowing up her own show,” Metcalf responded, “I don’t even know how to answer that,” a reply that offered no direct judgment but underscored the difficulty of distilling years of history and a highly public controversy into a simple reaction. Her comments focused more on creative respect and shared professional experience than on revisiting the details of Barr’s conduct or its impact on audiences, including viewers from marginalized communities targeted by racist and other harmful rhetoric.

Barr’s perspective and wider cast estrangement

The new focus on Metcalf and Barr’s silence follows earlier remarks from other cast members, including John Goodman, who said in a 2025 interview that he had not spoken to Barr for about “seven or eight years,” indicating a broader pattern of distance among the former ensemble. Goodman, who portrayed Dan Conner, suggested that he doubted Barr would want to talk to him, underscoring how the fallout from the cancellation extended beyond the headlines to reshape longtime working relationships.

Barr, for her part, told Fox News Digital in a June 2025 interview that she is not in contact with any of her former “Roseanne” co‑stars, saying, “No, I’m not friends with none of them,” while adding that she has “pleasant memories” of the show and wishes them well even as she harshly criticized how the series ended. She characterized the show’s conclusion and the surrounding decisions as “horrendous” and said she has moved on from that chapter of her life, while using strong language to express anger at how the situation unfolded.

Metcalf’s recent comments do not directly engage with Barr’s later statements or political positions, but they do offer a new window into how one of the series’ most prominent performers has processed the end of a professional and personal connection that once defined a major era of network television. Her emphasis on creative respect, coupled with a refusal to simplify complex feelings into a single word like anger, highlights the nuanced ways performers can view colleagues whose public conduct has had serious consequences for both their careers and the communities affected by their words.

For viewers, including LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized communities who followed “Roseanne” and “The Conners” as depictions of a working‑class family navigating cultural change, the revelations underscore how on‑screen bonds can diverge sharply from off‑screen relationships once a controversy erupts. While Metcalf’s account confirms that she and Barr have not spoken in years, it also portrays a working environment in which respect for craft, disagreement, and silence have all existed side by side, long after the cameras stopped rolling.

Fans and drag performers turned up dressed as versions of the Grammy‑winning artist, leaning into her campy, pastel-inflected country aesthetic and creating a crowd where the real Musgraves could almost disappear. In online clips cited by American Songwriter, Musgraves appears onstage “fully committed to the bit,” blending into the lineup of competitors.

“Well, I’m Kacey” – and still not the winner

Musgraves introduced herself to the crowd with a deadpan line designed to half-reveal her identity without breaking character. “Well, I’m Kacey, that’s my name,” she said, before adding, “And I mind my own biscuits,” a wink to the chorus of her 2015 single “Biscuits” and its now‑famous line, “Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy.”

American Songwriter notes that Musgraves turned up in a gingham dress cinched with a white belt, a visual nod to her blend of retro country styling and modern pop polish. Despite her unmistakable voice and mannerisms, judges or organizers ended up awarding the title to another lookalike, leaving Musgraves humorously out‑Musgravesed at her own event.

Rather than treating the loss as a gimmick gone wrong, the singer leaned into the joke and turned the moment into a celebration of fan creativity. Videos and reports describe her laughing with attendees and playing up the absurdity of losing a contest designed around her own image.

Crowning the “Crowning Cowgirl”

Attitude reports that Musgraves personally crowned the winner – described as a cowboy hat–wearing fan – with a tiara and sash before giving them a hug onstage. American Songwriter likewise notes that she “got to crown the winner with a tiara and a sash,” emphasizing the good‑humored way she handled the outcome.

The Attitude piece characterizes the event as a party atmosphere that drew drag performers, Kacey Musgraves lookalikes and “everyone in-between,” signalling a space that resonated strongly with LGBTQ+ fans and gender‑expansive self‑expression. Musgraves has developed a substantial queer following over the past decade, and the mix of drag, cosplay and country camp at the London contest reflects that ongoing relationship, even though the article does not directly quote attendees.

By surrendering the spotlight to a fan in a cowboy hat and embracing the role of host and cheerleader, Musgraves effectively turned what could have been a straightforward promo stunt into a moment centered on community participation. American Songwriter framed her reaction as that of “a pretty good sport,” underlining how she used self‑deprecation to connect with the room rather than insist on being the star of her own tribute.

Middle of Nowhere and a new era

Beyond the spectacle of the contest itself, the London event served as a highly visual rollout for Middle of Nowhere, which Attitude states will be released on 1 May and marks Musgraves’ seventh studio album. American Songwriter also lists 1 May 2026 as the scheduled release date and notes that the album follows her 2024 project Deeper Well.

Attitude’s piece situates Middle of Nowhere in Musgraves’ wider discography, reminding readers that she made her major‑label debut with Same Trailer Different Park in 2013 and went on to win the 2019 Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Country Album with Golden Hour. Those accolades cemented her as one of contemporary country music’s most critically acclaimed artists, a status that forms the backdrop for the lighthearted London stunt.

American Songwriter adds further context, recounting Musgraves’ recent comments to NPR about how a long single period and a return to her Texas roots inspired Middle of Nowhere. In that interview, she described visiting her hometown of Golden, Texas and noticing a sign that read “Golden, Texas: Somewhere in the middle of nowhere,” a line she interpreted as both self‑deprecating and confident, and which gave the record its name and overarching concept.

Musgraves told NPR that being “in the middle of nowhere” can mean literal geographic isolation or feeling between relationships, jobs or emotional chapters, and she said she found clarity in accepting that in‑between state. American Songwriter reports that the album includes collaborations with fellow country figures Miranda Lambert and Willie Nelson, framing Middle of Nowhere as her “next adventure.”

Lookalike contests, drag, and queer‑coded fandom

Attitude places Musgraves’ London appearance within a recent wave of celebrity lookalike contests that intersect with LGBTQ+ spaces and online fandom, noting that the internet has also seen competitions themed around “Heated Rivalry” and actor Jacob Elordi. The magazine reports that a Heated Rivalry lookalike competition held in Washington, DC earlier in April crowned Shane and Ilya doubles, and that another pair, Aram Matagi and Felix Eller, ultimately won a related contest and celebrated by kissing onstage after taking off their shirts.

According to Attitude, Matagi and Eller have since confirmed they are dating and were later seen recreating a public kiss between the characters Scott and Kip “in the stalls of a hockey rink” while on a date, re‑enacting the queer romance of Heated Rivalry in real life. The magazine also notes that Coachella hosted a Jacob Elordi lookalike contest this year, and that a viral photo of the lineup highlighted the “range” of contestants who saw themselves in the Euphoria star.

Within this trend, Musgraves’ London stunt reads as part of a broader, queer‑aware culture of playful impersonation, drag, and parasocial intimacy, in which fans do not just watch their favorite artists but physically embody them. Her choice to appear alongside drag performers and fan lookalikes, rather than above them, fits into a pattern where pop and country performers increasingly engage LGBTQ+ communities not just through messaging but through participatory, camp‑inflected events.

A promo stunt that centers fans

For Musgraves, the London lookalike contest checked several boxes at once: it generated viral content ahead of Middle of Nowhere, spotlighted her existing catalog through an in‑joke about “Biscuits,” and reaffirmed her rapport with a fan base that includes many LGBTQ+ listeners and drag artists. Yet coverage from both Attitude and American Songwriter emphasizes not the marketing strategy but the tone: a chart‑topping artist laughing at herself, losing her own contest and happily crowning someone else as the “most Kacey” person in the room.

That self‑effacing approach mirrors the ethos she described in discussing Middle of Nowhere – an acceptance of in‑between spaces and an openness to not always being centered, whether in life or onstage. In London, that philosophy played out in real time, as Musgraves joined a lineup of her own doubles, lost, and still walked away as the host of a night that foregrounded fans, drag performers and everyone else who has made her image their own.

Fowlie wrote that his family’s hopes had shifted from finding Christina safe to seeking answers and accountability, saying their prayers had “transformed into prayers for the truth to be revealed and for those responsible to be held accountable.” As of April 30, LAPD had not publicly released additional details about how investigators reached the conclusion that Downer is deceased, nor have they announced any suspects or arrests in connection with the case.

Timeline of Christina Lynn Downer’s disappearance

Downer, who was 38 at the time she went missing, was last known to be in Los Angeles, with earlier public information indicating she was last seen in the city’s Koreatown neighborhood. According to an LAPD missing persons bulletin cited in multiple reports, she was last contacted via text message with a friend on December 10, 2025, after remaining active on social media until mid-December.

Fowlie has said that he last saw his sister in person on September 17, 2025, and that the last known phone call anyone had with her took place on October 5, 2025. Messages continued to come from her phone into December, and her final social media post was on December 15, 2025, according to his earlier public appeals. On December 22, LAPD circulated a missing persons poster describing her as 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighing approximately 115 pounds, with black or brown hair and brown eyes, and noted that she had no known medical conditions and no history of going missing.

In his initial public plea for help in December, Fowlie told followers that his family was deeply concerned for Christina’s safety and shared that she was very attached to her small dog, Rex, a miniature pinscher he believed would likely be with her if she were seen. He added that detectives had advised the family not to share certain details so as not to compromise the investigation, underscoring the sensitivity of the developing case.

Allegations of compromised phone and social media

In his April 29 Instagram update, Fowlie alleged that in the weeks before Christina disappeared, her phone and social media accounts appeared to have been compromised. He said that those believed to have control of her phone used it “to hide the fact she was gone, to ask for money, and to create a false narrative that she was going ‘off the grid.’”

Fowlie said he was sharing these allegations because he believed “whoever is responsible is hoping to erase her in every way possible,” and he emphasized his desire to “amplify her story” and assert that his sister “was a beautiful person who matters in this world.” As of the latest reports, authorities have not publicly confirmed the specifics of the alleged phone or social media compromise, and outlets note that they are still seeking comment from LAPD on the family’s claims.

The family has also previously indicated that Christina had no history of mental illness and no pattern of disappearing, countering any suggestion that she may have chosen to cut ties voluntarily. Reports refer to this context to highlight why relatives and friends quickly grew alarmed when communication suddenly stopped in late 2025.

Public appeals and community response

Fowlie has used his public profile and connections within the entertainment community to draw attention to his sister’s case since at least December 2025. In the weeks after Christina was reported missing, he posted detailed appeals on Instagram, asking people to share her photo, watch for her and her dog, and contact LAPD with any information, including a specific phone number and missing person case reference.

His posts were amplified by colleagues and celebrities, including Saturday Night Live cast members Bowen Yang, Sarah Sherman and Chloe Fineman, along with performers and actors such as Ariana Madix, Angie Harmon, Amy Schumer, Casey Wilson and Wendi McLendon-Covey, who reshared information about Christina’s disappearance. Vanderpump Rules alum Scheana Shay also urged her Los Angeles followers to repost details about the case, helping the missing persons appeal reach a wider audience across social media.

In his April 29 message, Fowlie thanked those who had “gotten the word out” over the past months and reiterated his plea that anyone with information come forward to police. He said he believed there was still “a chance that someone who knows something might find the courage to step forward,” stressing that although Christina “can no longer advocate for herself,” he intends to continue advocating for her and encouraged others to do the same.

Fowlie also indicated he would step back from social media for a period because of what he described as “intense overwhelming feelings,” while still urging people to share his April 29 post so that the case would remain visible. Entertainment outlets report that LAPD continues to seek tips from the public and list the department’s contact line as a resource for anyone who might have seen Christina or have information relevant to the homicide inquiry.

Jimmy Fowlie’s career and wider context of safety concerns

Jimmy Fowlie joined the writing staff of Saturday Night Live in 2022, contributing to multiple sketches, including the widely discussed “Domingo” . Beyond SNL, he has worked on the holiday special A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter and created the LGBT-themed comedy web series Go-Go Boy Interrupted, which centers queer nightlife and community.

In September 2025, Fowlie was named one of Vulture’s “comedians you should and will know” alongside fellow SNL writer Ceara O’Sullivan, further raising his profile in comedy and television. Coverage of Christina’s case has highlighted his career both to explain why her disappearance drew national attention and to underline that, despite his public visibility, the family has still struggled to obtain answers about what happened to her.

Advocates and commentators frequently note that missing adults—especially women and people from marginalized communities—may receive uneven public attention, though coverage of Christina’s case has been amplified by entertainment media and celebrity networks. While current reporting does not indicate that Christina identified as LGBTQ+, Fowlie’s involvement in queer-focused storytelling has led some outlets to mention the importance of centering the dignity and personhood of victims in public narratives, regardless of identity.

Ongoing investigation and calls for information

LAPD has classified Christina Lynn Downer’s case as an open homicide investigation, but specific details about evidence, a cause or manner of death, or recovery of remains have not been publicly released as of April 30. Outlets including E! News report that they have reached out to the LAPD for further comment on the status of the case but have not yet received a response.

Family appeals and media coverage consistently direct the public to contact LAPD’s Missing Persons Unit or homicide detectives with any information, with one widely shared number listed as 213-996-1800 in earlier missing person notices. Police materials and Fowlie’s posts stress that even seemingly minor observations could be relevant, especially for people who may have interacted with Christina or noticed suspicious activity around the time she was last heard from in late 2025.

As the investigation continues, Fowlie’s remarks frame Christina not only as a victim in a criminal case but as a family member and community member whose life and relationships extended beyond the circumstances of her disappearance. Entertainment and news outlets repeatedly note his emphasis that “she was a beautiful person who matters in this world,” an assertion that underscores the human cost at the center of the homicide probe.

What Katya shared from “body jail”

In the widely shared image, Katya — real name Brian McCook — lies on a hospital bed giving a thumbs-up gesture, with medical tubes attached to her nose and visible monitoring equipment nearby. Superimposed text on the image reads “Body jail,” echoing the caption on the post itself, which added the hashtag “hell on Earth.”

The performer did not specify why she had been hospitalised, leaving the nature of her illness or condition undisclosed at the time of writing. In a follow-up post, Katya wrote: “Everyone gets sick. everybody gets old. And every one dies,” a reflection that many fans interpreted as typical of her dark, philosophical humour even as they worried for her health.

Fans rally with concern and dark humour

Reactions to Katya’s hospital update filled the replies on X, combining concern, affection and the kind of gallows humour that has long characterised her fanbase. One fan wrote “Don’t die b**** we need you,” while another commented, “What organs do you need? I WILL find them,” responses that mixed urgency with the exaggerated tone common in Drag Race fandom.

Others opted for straightforward messages of support, with comments such as “Oh no! Hope you get better really soon” and “Sending lots of love and positive recovery vibes” appearing among the top replies. Another user directly addressed the performer by her given name, writing, “Brian what is this! Don’t you dare!” underscoring how closely some fans feel connected to her beyond her drag persona.

For many LGBTQ+ viewers, Katya’s work has been a source of comfort and laughter, and the “body jail” post prompted reminders in comment threads of the ways she has spoken candidly about physical and mental health over the years. Several fans urged others to keep their responses respectful and supportive, echoing broader conversations in queer communities about treating public figures as whole people rather than just entertainers.

A Drag Race career that reshaped fandom

Katya first came to international attention on season seven of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2015, where she quickly became a fan favourite for her absurdist humour, vulnerable storytelling and self-aware commentary. She won two main challenges during that season and placed fifth overall after losing a lip-sync to Kennedy Davenport, with viewers later voting her Miss Congeniality at the reunion.

She returned to the franchise for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season two in 2016, reaching the finale and ultimately finishing as a runner-up alongside fellow contestant Detox. Beyond the competition series, Katya has co-hosted the long-running web show UNHhhh and the Viceland television series The Trixie & Katya Show with fellow drag artist Trixie Mattel, forming one of drag’s most recognisable comedy duos.

Her career has since expanded into podcasts, tours, books and scripted roles, reflecting the increasing mainstream visibility of drag artists as multi-platform entertainers. Katya and Trixie Mattel’s projects, including the podcast The Bald and the Beautiful and the Netflix YouTube series I Like to Watch, have received multiple industry accolades such as Webby Awards and podcast honours, underscoring their influence in queer and pop culture media.

History of openness about health and recovery

Offstage, Katya has been notably open about her mental health, substance use and periods of burnout, describing past struggles with addiction to substances including methamphetamine and alcohol. In 2018 she announced a hiatus from drag, later explaining in detail on her podcast Whimsically Volatile that she had experienced a psychotic break after a relapse and subsequently sought treatment in a rehabilitation centre.

She has also spoken candidly about suicidality, saying she has “spent a ton” of her life feeling suicidal, while framing her recovery in terms that resonate with many LGBTQ+ people who have faced similar challenges. More recently, in April 2024, she announced that she would again be returning to rehab and postponing upcoming dates of The Bald and the Beautiful tour, reaffirming her willingness to prioritise health even when it disrupts high-profile projects.

In addition to mental health, Katya has navigated physical health issues, including undergoing hip replacement surgery in 2023, a procedure that she has referenced in public discussions of pain and mobility. While the current hospitalisation post does not specify whether it is related to past mental health concerns, prior surgeries or an unrelated illness, her track record of discussing health experiences has shaped how many fans interpret and respond to her updates.

Community reactions and privacy questions

Katya’s “body jail” image enters an ongoing conversation about how LGBTQ+ communities respond when beloved performers share vulnerable health-related content online. Many comments under the post express solidarity and wishes for a swift recovery, while others wrestle with the tension between wanting more information and respecting her decision not to disclose details.

The post also reflects how drag performers often use dark humour and theatrical language to describe serious experiences, which can sometimes blur lines for audiences trying to gauge how worried they should be. Phrases like “body jail” and “hell on Earth” sit alongside the thumbs-up gesture in the photo, suggesting an attempt to retain agency and comedic voice even within a medical setting.

At the time of publication, Katya had not provided further specific health updates beyond the initial posts, and no representatives had publicly commented on the cause or expected duration of her hospital stay. As a result, much of the online discourse focuses on sharing favourite moments from her career, encouraging respectful engagement, and emphasising that speculation about diagnoses or prognosis should be avoided in favour of supportive messages.

For many queer and trans viewers who have described feeling seen by Katya’s frank approach to topics like mental health, addiction and sexuality, the “body jail” photo serves as a reminder that entertainers are also people managing complex health realities. The responses from fans across social media emphasise gratitude for her work, along with a clear message: take the time needed to heal, and come back only when ready.

So you can see why making “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” two decades after the original, was hard to resist. The cast, led by Anne Hathaway, have hardly aged. The then-little-known Emily Blunt has turned into a star. Throw in some stiletto heels and a few T.J. Maxx quips and the thing practically writes itself.

Yet time has worn on “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” a fitfully functional sequel that doesn’t fit its cast nearly as snugly as the 2006 original did. Nostalgia, haute couture and the sheer appeal of Streep and Tucci will be enough for some to celebrate this 20-year reunion. The actors all don their old roles seamlessly. But the trouble with “The Devil Wears Prada 2” isn’t its winning cast. It’s that everything else has changed. The sequel, which returns director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, valiantly tries to catch up to the times, but the result is enough to make you wish they had said “That’s all” after the first one.

“The Devil Wears Prada,” Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 novel, was born out of an earlier media age when the New York magazine was a midtown dream of power, cachet and free-flowing expense reports. Weisberger, who had worked as a personal assistant to Vogue editor Anna Wintour, famously based her Runway magazine editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly (Streep) on her former boss.

But the sequel takes place in a very different media ecosystem. In the opening scenes of the new film, Andrea Sachs (Hathaway) receives an award for her investigative journalism for a newspaper called The Vanguard only to, moments before her speech, find out that she and her colleagues have been laid off. If Chanel-styled escapism is part of the promise of “The Devil Wears Prada,” reporters will likely find it soberly realistic. There is, for better and worse, an awful lot of Hathaway preaching about the power of journalism here.

Things at Runway aren’t much better, either. The magazine is more digital than glossy now; going viral matters more than shaping fashion trends. After the magazine unwittingly publishes a laudatory profile of a label soon after revealed to be a sweatshop, Runway chair Irv Ravitz (Tibor Feldman), in PR crisis mode, hires Andrea to run the features department.

So it takes quite a bit of narrative cross stitching to, 20 years later, make Miranda Andrea’s boss again. At their reunion, an overexcited Andy is met by a typically cool Miranda, who characteristically doesn’t even remember her. Their task of reviving the reputation of Runway gets significantly more difficult when Irv’s tech bro son (B.J. Novak) takes over ownership. Further corporate jeopardy follows when other players — including Blunt’s Emily Charlton, now a Dior executive, and her wealthy boyfriend, Benji Barnes (Justin Theroux) — join the mix.

The second “Devil Wears Prada” plays out a bit like a fashion world “Succession,” with better clothes and a lot less cursing. While these shifting power dynamics make for some dramatic reversals, they don’t get near the pure enjoyment of the novice assistant-tyrannical boss relationship that defined the original.

That might be the real rub of “The Devil Wears Prada 2”: Mid-life career changes aren’t nearly as compelling or relatable as a newbie assistant thrown into the high-fashion fire. All we really want is to see Meryl Streep say cutting things to Anne Hathaway, with a few zingers from a well-tailored Tucci on the side.

The sequel delivers a little of that, but it mostly tries to cover its narrative issues with trips to the Hamptons and Milan, and a long list of cameos, from Karl-Anthony Towns (go Knicks) to Kara Swisher. There’s also Kenneth Branagh as Miranda’s violin-playing husband, Lucy Liu as a sought-after interview and Patrick Brammall as an Aussie developer and Andrea’s love interest. (Pour one out for Adrian Grenier’s sous chef, who doesn't return in the sequel.)

The first “The Devil Wears Prada” was about having career ambitions while not entirely sacrificing your personal life, too. In the sequel, the struggle is for maintaining a standard of quality, in journalism and taste, when those things are going increasingly out of fashion.

What else has gone by the wayside? The cruel boss. “The Devil Wears Prada” might have very well had Miranda, in the intervening years, be canceled and have to claw back her seat of power. Instead, she has two assistants. One, played by Simone Ashley, is a sharp-elbowed heir to Blunt’s character. The other, played by Caleb Hearon, is smiley and chipper. Andy has an assistant (Helen J. Shen) too, but they get along terrifically.

In the workplace, this would be called progress. On the screen, it’s a setback. Everyone, even Miranda, is a bit too, well, nice in “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” We should relish every Streep performance. It’s been five years since she had a major role in a movie; a once constant joy of moviegoing has turned infrequent. I wouldn't begrudge anyone who just wants to see her and these actors together again. But the movie, well stocked in Prada, could have used a bit more of Streep's unflappable devil.

“The Devil Wears Prada 2,” a 20th Century Studios release in theaters Thursday, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for strong language and some suggestive references. Running time: 119 minutes. Two stars out of four.