InFrame

Melissa Barrera Criticizes Returning “Scream 7” Cast After Firing: “They Have to Live With That”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 16: Melissa Barrera attends Peacock's "The Copenhagen Test" New York Screening at Whitby Hotel on December 15, 2025 in New York City. Photo Credit: Arturo Holmes

by Chris Tremblay May 8

5 MIN READ

Melissa Barrera, a Mexican actor who led the rebooted “Scream” franchise as Sam Carpenter in “Scream” and “Scream VI” , was removed from the series in late 2023 after posting pro‑Palestinian messages on social media related to the Israel–Gaza war. Spyglass, which produces the horror franchise, cited what it described as “antisemitic” social media posts as the reason for terminating her involvement, a decision that quickly sparked public debate about political speech, antisemitism, and support for Palestinians in the entertainment industry.

In the months that followed, Barrera repeatedly stated that she condemns antisemitism and all forms of bigotry, while maintaining her support for Palestinian human rights and a ceasefire. She has described the period after her firing as one of the most difficult of her career, saying it led to a significant slowdown in major offers and forced her to reassess her relationship to Hollywood power structures and her own activism.

The New Interview and “They Have to Live With That”

Barrera’s latest comments emerged in a newly published interview, summarized by entertainment outlet Just Jared, in which she speaks about her current role in the spoof musical “Titanique” on Broadway and reflects on her time in the “Scream” franchise. During the conversation, the interviewer asked whether it felt as though returning “Scream 7” cast members were essentially “crossing a picket line” by participating in the sequel after her firing.

Barrera answered, “Oh, one hundred percent,” adding, “I think they all are. And they have to live with that.” She went on to suggest that the only way the studio could move forward after her exit was by heavily relying on nostalgia for the earlier films, saying the production “nostalgia‑bait as much as possible” to justify making “Scream 7” without the new central character she had played.

According to the same account, Barrera acknowledged that “Scream” remains part of her identity as an artist, describing the franchise as “always going to be a big part of me because it was two years of my life,” and she emphasized gratitude toward directors Matt Bettinelli‑Olpin and Tyler Gillett for casting her in the first place. She also said that, despite her firing, those past experiences “haven’t been soured” for her and “they don’t have that power,” referring to entities that removed her from the franchise.

Critique of “Scream 7” and Box Office Claims

The Just Jared report notes that when the interviewer remarked that “Scream 7” “sucked,” Barrera responded, “I know,” aligning herself with that negative assessment of the latest installment. She also questioned reports about the film’s financial performance, stating, “I think they lied about the numbers. I don’t think it made that much money,” although she did not provide specific figures or evidence to substantiate this claim in the quoted remarks.

As of the latest coverage, major outlets summarizing Barrera’s comments have not independently verified her assertion about the studio allegedly misrepresenting box office revenues for “Scream 7.” Because the specific financial data Barrera referenced are not detailed in these reports, her allegation about “lied” numbers remains her personal claim rather than an established fact.

Despite these criticisms, Barrera said that “Scream” fans continue to support her, noting that at the stage door for “Titanique,” she signs “Scream” memorabilia nightly and meets people who discovered her through the horror franchise. She framed that ongoing connection with audiences as something the studio “can’t ever take away,” underscoring that her relationship with viewers persists independently of her firing.

Returning Cast and Alleged “Crossing a Picket Line”

Barrera’s remarks specifically addressed those who returned for “Scream 7,” which included legacy stars and earlier ensemble members. According to Just Jared’s summary of the interview, returning actors included Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers, “Core Four” members Jasmin Savoy Brown as Mindy Meeks‑Martin and Mason Gooding as Chad Meeks‑Martin, and franchise veterans Matthew Lillard, Scott Foley, and David Arquette in roles linked to earlier entries.

By describing their participation as akin to “crossing a picket line,” Barrera framed the decision to join “Scream 7” after her removal as a moral choice that, in her view, aligns with a system that punished her for speaking about alleged human rights abuses. The Independent similarly characterizes her comments as “slamming” the returning cast, highlighting that she believes they must “live with” their decision, though the article does not list out every returning performer by name.

As of publication, none of the named returning actors have issued widely reported public responses in direct reaction to Barrera’s new interview, and there are no widely cited statements from them addressing her “picket line” comparison in the sources referenced here.

Personal Impact, Activism, and Industry Context

Reflecting on the aftermath of her firing, Barrera told the interviewer that being punished for what she considered an ethical stance “really f–ks with your head,” expressing confusion at feeling penalized for “trying to call out something that is severely, severely wrong and evil.” She described the experience as a “rude awakening,” saying she questioned what lesson she was meant to learn from seeing “the ones that are trying to do the right thing” punished while others “continue to rise.”

The Independent’s coverage emphasizes that Barrera’s firing occurred in the context of heightened scrutiny of public statements about the Israel–Gaza war and notes that she had labeled aspects of Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide,” language that some viewers and advocacy groups have also used in broader debates about the conflict. Spyglass, in its earlier statement, asserted it has “zero tolerance for antisemitism” and for what it described as “false references to genocide” and “Holocaust distortion,” framing its decision as a response to perceived hate speech rather than a stance on the war itself.

Barrera has said that her social media posts were meant as expressions of solidarity with Palestinians and calls for an end to violence rather than attacks on Jewish people, and she has previously stated that she condemns antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hatred against any group. Her case has been cited in ongoing discussions about how studios respond to artists’ political speech and how those responses intersect with broader movements for Palestinian rights, Jewish safety, and free expression, including within LGBTQ+ communities that contain both Jewish and Palestinian people and a wide spectrum of views on the conflict.

In the new interview, Barrera’s comments also highlight the emotional toll of being separated from a high‑profile role that had become central to her public identity, while still feeling embraced by fans at the intersection of horror fandom, Latinx audiences, and queer viewers who have connected with the ensemble cast and its explicitly queer characters. She presents herself as remaining grateful for the work and community that “Scream” brought into her life, even as she unmistakably distances herself from the direction of “Scream 7” and challenges the ethics of those who chose to carry on with the franchise after her firing.

Pussycat Dolls Scrap North American Tour Dates, Keep WeHo Pride Show as They Thank LGBTQ+ Fans

Photo Credit: Live Nation

by Chris Tremblay May 7

5 MIN READ

The Pussycat Dolls have cancelled the vast majority of dates on the North American leg of their planned “PCD Forever” reunion tour, citing an “honest look” at the shows and amid widespread reporting of low ticket sales across major arenas in the United States and Canada. The pop group will now perform only one North American date, a headline set at the LGBTQ+ focused WeHo Pride festival in West Hollywood, California, on 6 June 2026, which they described as a meaningful opportunity to celebrate with fans who have supported them for decades.

The announcement and what changed

In early May 2026, the Pussycat Dolls issued a statement across their social media channels confirming that they had taken what they called an “honest look at the North American run” of their PCD Forever world tour and decided to cancel all but one of the dates in the region. The group described the move as a “difficult” and “heartbreaking decision,” emphasizing that they had originally hoped to bring the full production to fans across North America as part of a global comeback.

The PCD Forever tour was billed as a 53-date world run, with the first 32 or 33 shows scheduled for arenas and large venues in the United States and Canada before moving on to Europe and the United Kingdom later in the year. Those North American dates would have included a high‑profile show at New York’s Madison Square Garden, which will now no longer go ahead. With the revised schedule, the only remaining concert in the region is the group’s headline appearance at Outloud at WeHo Pride in Los Angeles on 6 June.

Ticket sales and industry pressures

While the Pussycat Dolls’ public statement did not explicitly name ticket sales as the cause of the cancellations, multiple outlets reported that weak demand and large numbers of unsold seats were behind the decision to pull the North American leg. Entertainment reports and commentary suggested that some venues still had thousands of tickets available, especially in upper tiers of large arenas, despite the tour being framed as a long‑awaited reunion.

Media coverage also noted that the group distinguished their explanation from other recent tour cancellations by not citing health or family reasons, a contrast that led commentators to characterize their messaging as unusually candid about underlying commercial realities. Some reports highlighted fan speculation that the group might have had more success with smaller theatres or adjusted ticket pricing structures, especially given that only part of the original lineup is performing on this run, though the band has not commented publicly on such suggestions.

Industry analysts quoted in coverage of the announcement contextualized the cancellations within a broader period of volatility for live music, in which a crowded touring calendar, increased travel costs, and elevated ticket prices have made it harder for some legacy pop acts to consistently fill major arenas. Commentators also noted that nostalgia tours often see uneven demand across regions, with some acts drawing stronger audiences in Europe and the UK than in North America, a pattern that appears to align with the Dolls’ reports of stronger overseas sales.

LGBTQ+ fans and the meaning of WeHo Pride

In their public statement, the Pussycat Dolls emphasized their decision to maintain their commitment to perform at WeHo Pride 2026, describing the event as a particularly meaningful space to celebrate their music and history with fans. The group wrote that the LGBTQ+ community has shown them “so much love and support” throughout their career and that they feel honored to be part of a weekend centered on “joy, pride, music, and chosen family,” language that resonated widely among queer and trans fans on social media.

West Hollywood Pride, known as WeHo Pride, is regarded as one of the United States’ most visible Pride events and typically features a mix of live performances, community programming, and a parade that draws large crowds, including many LGBTQ+ people and allies from across the region. The Outloud-branded concert component of WeHo Pride, where the Dolls are scheduled to appear, has developed a reputation for featuring pop, dance, and queer‑affirming acts that often highlight LGBTQ+ communities in their work and public messaging.

Commentary in LGBTQ+ media noted that the group’s explicit gratitude toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer fans reflects a longstanding relationship between mainstream pop performers and queer club culture, where many hits by the Pussycat Dolls have been staples of dance floors and drag performances. Some coverage framed the group’s decision to prioritize WeHo Pride as a way of centering a core audience even as broader commercial demand in large arenas appeared to soften.

What happens to fans with tickets

For fans who had purchased tickets to the cancelled North American dates, the group and promoters stated that refunds for tickets bought through primary sellers such as Ticketmaster and AXS would be issued automatically. Fans who used third‑party platforms or resellers were advised to “reach out to your point of purchase” to arrange refunds or alternative resolutions, with consumer advocates reminding buyers to document communications and check each vendor’s policies.

Reporting indicated that the cancellation impacted more than 30 dates across the United States and Canada, representing the bulk of the original North American schedule. Outlets noted that, beyond the practical implications for travel and accommodation already booked by some fans, many concertgoers expressed disappointment but also appreciation for the group’s transparency in acknowledging that the tour was not meeting expectations.

Some fans on social media called for accessible options for those still hoping to see the group live, including potential live‑streams of the WeHo Pride performance or future North American dates in smaller venues, although no such plans have been confirmed by the band or promoters. As of early May, official communications focused on refunds and on affirming the group’s commitment to the remaining European and UK dates, rather than outlining any replacement North American shows.

European and UK tour still on track

Despite the cancellations in the United States and Canada, the Pussycat Dolls reiterated that the European and UK legs of the PCD Forever tour remain scheduled to go ahead as planned starting in September 2026. The group stated that response in those markets had been “incredible,” with several dates already reported as sold out, including shows in major cities such as London, Manchester, and Copenhagen.

According to tour details cited in entertainment coverage, the European leg is expected to begin in Copenhagen on 9 September and conclude at London’s O2 Arena on 13 October, with rapper Lil’ Kim slated to join as an opening act for the European run. UK press reported that the group will visit cities including Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester, London, and dates in Ireland, reflecting continued demand in those markets for nostalgia‑oriented pop performances.

Commentators suggested that the contrast between North American cancellations and strong European sales illustrates how regional differences in fan engagement, economic conditions, and touring histories can shape the viability of large‑scale pop tours. For now, the Pussycat Dolls’ reunion era appears poised to center on UK and European arenas, while North American fans who are able to travel may look to the WeHo Pride performance as the primary opportunity to see the group live in 2026.

Lark Voorhies’ Rare New Interview Reflects on “Saved by the Bell” Legacy and Dustin Diamond’s Final Days

Photo Credit: Investigation Discovery

by Chris Tremblay May 7

6 MIN READ

“Saved by the Bell” actor Lark Voorhies has made a rare on‑screen appearance in a new true‑crime docuseries episode, revisiting both the heights of the 1990s teen sitcom and the loss of her former co‑star Dustin Diamond. The episode, part of Investigation Discovery’s “Hollywood Demons: After the Bell,” places Voorhies’ reflections at the center of a broader look at the pressures of fame and the personal struggles that shaped Diamond’s final years.

Voorhies, who became widely known in the early 1990s for playing fashion‑forward Lisa Turtle on the NBC series, has largely kept a low profile in recent years, making this new interview a notable re‑entry into public view. In the documentary, she shares candid memories of working with Diamond, who portrayed class clown Samuel “Screech” Powers across multiple iterations of the franchise.

Dustin Diamond’s illness and death

Dustin Diamond died in February 2021 at age 44, just weeks after being diagnosed with stage‑four lung cancer, a rapid progression that shocked many fans of the long‑running series. The new “Hollywood Demons” episode revisits those final weeks, combining Voorhies’ recollections with testimony from Diamond’s friends and family.

In one segment, Diamond’s friend Dan Block recalls the speed of the illness and the emotional weight it placed on the actor, framing his final days against the backdrop of a career defined and constrained by a single beloved role. A short news clip promoting the documentary similarly highlights how the program revisits Diamond’s final days through interviews and archival material.

A final voicemail and a “special connection”

One of the documentary’s most striking revelations is that, according to Block and other commentators, Voorhies was the only “Saved by the Bell” co‑star to personally reach out to Diamond during his final illness with a direct message. Block explains on camera that Voorhies left a voicemail for Diamond, which he and others played for the actor before his death, saying Diamond “enjoyed it” and that the gesture meant a great deal to him.

Block characterizes Voorhies as “a really good person” and describes her message as heartfelt, adding that he believed she and Diamond shared a “special connection” rooted in their years working together on the show. A short podcast episode covering the documentary similarly notes that the Investigation Discovery program presents Voorhies as the only castmate who contacted Diamond directly with a message in his final days.

Voorhies on grief and honoring Screech

In “Hollywood Demons: After the Bell,” Voorhies reflects openly on how Diamond’s death affected her, telling producers that “when he died of cancer, that hurt.” She says that even with Diamond gone, the team behind “Saved by the Bell” continued the show’s legacy “in the name of ‘Saved by the Bell,’ Peter Engel, all of the writers and producers, and Dustin.”

Voorhies points specifically to a tribute sequence in the 2020 “Saved by the Bell” reboot, on which she returned as Lisa Turtle, as a meaningful way the production honored Diamond’s character. In that episode, the original cast gathers at The Max, the show’s iconic hangout, where they discover a sandwich created in Screech’s honor and share a moment of remembrance; Elizabeth Berkley’s character Jessie remarks that “he was so funny” before the group raises their sandwiches together.

Revisiting the “Saved by the Bell” reboot

The 2020 “Saved by the Bell” revival on Peacock reintroduced Bayside High to a new generation while bringing back legacy characters, including Voorhies’ Lisa Turtle, for guest appearances. Voorhies notes in the documentary that she is “glad we got that on footage,” referring to the on‑screen celebration of Diamond’s character, because “he matters.”

The reboot’s tribute episode, which aired after Diamond’s death, has been widely referenced in coverage of the new documentary as an example of how the franchise publicly acknowledged his legacy even as the actor himself did not appear in the revival. For Voorhies, the documentary suggests, that moment of group remembrance on screen offered one way to process grief around a colleague whose life and career had become inseparable from an enduring pop‑culture role.

Behind the scenes: typecasting, pay and pressure

“Hollywood Demons: After the Bell” moves beyond nostalgia to examine how Diamond’s association with Screech both propelled and complicated his life after “Saved by the Bell.” Ed Alonzo, who played The Max’s proprietor on the original series, is quoted in the episode saying that Diamond became “trapped” in the persona of the “lovable, dorky” character, noting that subsequent film and television roles often asked him either to reprise a similar archetype or to play a version of himself as “the actor who played the dorky kid.”

Alonzo also discusses compensation, asserting that cast members on the original series were “paid so low on the show,” while Block recalls that Diamond received a residual check of just $12.74 for his work many years later, a figure used in the episode to illustrate the financial challenges that can follow performers long after a hit series ends. Coverage summarizing the documentary notes that these details are presented as part of a broader critique of how 1990s child and teen performers were treated economically and professionally.

Complex relationships among the cast

While much of the new episode focuses on Diamond and Voorhies, other “Saved by the Bell” alumni are part of the narrative, both in archival footage and through discussion of past tensions. A synopsis of the documentary included in a news podcast notes that the program emphasizes how other prominent cast members—including Mario Lopez, Tiffani Thiessen and Elizabeth Berkley—did not reach out directly to Diamond during his illness, framing that silence within a history of strained relationships amid earlier legal and publicity controversies involving Diamond.

The documentary’s framing has also been picked up in short news segments and entertainment reports, which describe the story as a “heartbreaking look at Hollywood friendships and loss,” while stressing that Voorhies’ outreach stood out as a rare act of direct support in Diamond’s final days. These accounts present the revelation about the voicemail as both an intimate personal detail and a lens into the fragility of bonds formed on long‑running sets.

Family perspectives and lingering what‑ifs

The episode also includes comments from Diamond’s father, Mark Diamond, who says he was disappointed when Voorhies was not cast in the short‑lived 1993 spinoff “Saved by the Bell: The College Years,” a decision he felt did not reflect the strong on‑screen chemistry between Lisa and Screech. That recollection is presented alongside archival images of the younger performers to underscore how early their professional partnership began and how closely viewers associated their characters.

For Diamond’s family, the documentary suggests, Voorhies’ decision to reach out before his death reinforced long‑held respect for her as a colleague who cared about him beyond the confines of the show. The program uses those reflections to illustrate how interpersonal dynamics forged during adolescence in the entertainment industry can leave enduring emotional marks decades later.

Airdate, distribution and ongoing conversation

The “After the Bell” episode of “Hollywood Demons” is scheduled to air on Investigation Discovery on May 4 at 9 p.m., with additional availability noted on the Max streaming platform. A brief podcast listing and entertainment‑news write‑ups identify the episode as a key installment in the series, signaling expectations that the revelations about Diamond’s final days and Voorhies’ role will draw significant interest from long‑time fans.

Local and regional news outlets owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, including stations in Arkansas and Missouri, have also amplified the story, running identical features that foreground Voorhies’ “rare appearance” and emphasize the detail that she was the single cast member to reach out directly with a voicemail. A related piece on a TV and streaming‑focused site frames the documentary as part of a growing trend of retrospective series that revisit 1980s and 1990s television through the lens of labor conditions, mental health, and the costs of early fame.

Legacy of a teen sitcom in 2026

More than three decades after “Saved by the Bell” first aired, the renewed attention to Diamond’s story and Voorhies’ reflections shows how deeply the series remains embedded in popular culture. The documentary’s focus on personal grief, uneven compensation, and long‑term typecasting illustrates how a brightly colored Saturday‑morning sitcom can also become a case study in the structural challenges facing performers navigating fame at a young age.

Voorhies’ rare appearance, and her choice to publicly honor Diamond’s memory, anchors that wider examination in a relationship that began when both performers were teenagers and continued to shape their lives well beyond Bayside High. For viewers returning to the show today, the new documentary offers both a nostalgic look back and a more sober account of the realities that underpinned one of television’s most recognizable teen ensembles.

Hayden Panettiere Publicly Comes Out as Bisexual, Opens Up About Dating Women and Life in the Spotlight

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 06: Hayden Panettiere attends the world premiere of Paramount's "Scream VI" at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on March 06, 2023 in New York City. Photo Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris

by Chris Tremblay May 7

4 MIN READ

Hayden Panettiere has publicly identified as bisexual for the first time, telling Us Weekly that she now feels “comfortable to confidently say that, yes, I am bisexual.” The 36‑year‑old actor, known for roles in “Heroes” and “Nashville,” explained that sharing her story in her forthcoming memoir helped her decide to speak publicly about her sexuality ahead of the book’s release.

In an exclusive cover story, Panettiere said that the idea of addressing her sexuality first arose while she was drafting her memoir, titled “This Is Me: A Reckoning.” She described finally saying the words out loud as a significant personal milestone, remarking, “I’m comfortable to confidently say that, yes, I am bisexual… I said it!”

Speaking about dating women

Panettiere also confirmed that she has dated women and that her attraction to women began when she was very young. She recalled that she was “much more into women” than men while growing up, noting that her experiences with women have been a meaningful part of her life even if she did not discuss them publicly until now.

Despite having relationships with women, Panettiere said that the constant presence of paparazzi and lack of privacy around her personal life made dating women feel “scary.” She explained that cameras and public scrutiny often followed her, which discouraged her from fully committing emotionally to women because she did not want a same‑gender relationship to become something she would feel forced to hide.

In the interview, Panettiere reflected that she “didn’t really have the courage to throw fully, emotionally into it,” referring to relationships with women, because she had not yet shared that aspect of herself widely and feared falling in love in a situation where she still felt she had to conceal part of her identity. She emphasized that her reluctance was rooted in a lack of confidence and a longstanding fear of living openly, rather than any lack of attraction or interest in women.

The role of fame and early pressure

Panettiere connected her decision to wait to come out publicly to the pressures she experienced as a child and young adult actor. She said that when she was younger, she felt “forced to be perfect at all times” and was not encouraged simply to be herself, conditions that made it difficult for her to speak openly about her sexuality.

The actor described years of living under intense public scrutiny, with paparazzi regularly waiting outside and following her, as a central reason why exploring relationships with women felt especially fraught. She noted that this environment left her with very little privacy and led her to feel that sharing her bisexual identity publicly was “never the right time” until now.

Panettiere added that she has “known for a long time” about her bisexuality but did not feel ready to say so publicly until the process of writing about her life prompted deeper reflection. She framed her recent statement as part of a broader effort to live more honestly and to align what she shares with audiences with the experiences she has had privately.

Memoir, recovery, and personal history

Panettiere’s announcement comes as she promotes “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” a memoir set for release in mid‑May that explores her personal history, including her sexuality, experiences in Hollywood, mental health challenges, and recovery. In the book, she reportedly details difficult periods of her life and describes how coming to terms with her identity, including her attraction to women, fits into a larger process of reckoning with past trauma and expectations.

The actor’s personal life has frequently been covered by entertainment media, including her past engagement to former heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko and the birth of their daughter Kaya, who is now 11. She was previously engaged to Klitschko between 2013 and 2018 and shares co‑parenting responsibilities with him for their daughter.

Panettiere’s last widely reported romantic relationship was with Brian Hickerson, with whom she was linked between 2018 and 2020.
Coverage of that relationship intersected with public conversations about domestic violence and personal safety, topics that have also formed part of broader reporting on Panettiere’s life in recent years.

Her memoir is expected to discuss not only her romantic relationships but also her experiences with addiction, postpartum depression, and recovery, though detailed contents of those chapters had not been fully published at the time of her bisexuality announcement. Previews suggest that the book portrays her decision to live more openly, including about being bisexual, as intertwined with efforts to rebuild her life and sense of self after those challenges.

Bisexual visibility and Hollywood context

Panettiere’s public announcement adds her voice to a growing number of entertainment figures who have come out as bisexual or otherwise queer in recent years, contributing to increased visibility for bisexual people in mainstream media. Her decision to speak openly in connection with a memoir underscores how personal storytelling remains a significant tool for LGBTQ+ people in public life to reclaim narratives that have often been shaped by tabloids and speculation.

In her comments, Panettiere framed bisexuality as one aspect of a complex identity shaped by early fame, strict expectations, and later efforts to heal and grow. She also emphasized that choosing to share this part of herself publicly is something she is doing on her own timeline, now that she feels ready to live more in alignment with how she has long understood her sexuality.

Observers note that such disclosures from high‑profile figures can help normalize bisexual identities and affirm the experiences of bisexual people whose attraction spans more than one gender, especially when those stories address both the challenges and affirming aspects of coming out. Panettiere’s comments about fear, privacy, and courage highlight how structural factors like media scrutiny can shape when and how LGBTQ+ people in the public eye feel safe to disclose their identities.

For Panettiere, the coming weeks are likely to bring further discussion of her story as “This Is Me: A Reckoning” reaches readers and introduces additional details about her journey. Her recent comments mark a clear public statement that being bisexual is a central and enduring part of that journey, one that she is now choosing to affirm in her own words.

In a Low Period for Comedy Films, These Were the Best of the Last Decade

“Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar”Photo Credit: Lionsgate

by Jake Coyle May 7

4 MIN READ

The last decade has not been good for big-screen comedies. Hollywood studios nearly stopped making them. Horror became the in vogue genre. Laughs were out. Good comedies have kept being made, of course — it's just taken a little more effort to find them.

This month marks the 10th anniversary of “The Nice Guys,” Shane Black's 2016 crime caper with Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. No, it's not exactly the 50th anniversary of “Jaws.” But for a movie era where comedies went out of style, it's a moment worth marking.

In the past decade, comedies have largely become the stuff of cult: little seen at release but rediscovered on streaming or elsewhere. “The Nice Guys” flopped at the box office, but its afterlife is long.

So here are our picks for the best of the last 10 years, post-"Nice Guys.” We're leaving out the darker satires (“Parasite”), the acerbic dramas (“The Holdovers”) and the sequels that exist in their own glorious category entirely (“Paddington 2").

10. “Palm Springs” (2020)

As much as “Groundhog Day” codified the time-loop comedy, Max Barbakow's clever riff on a familiar concept found new comic life in a single day endlessly relived. You want Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti to stay stuck in Palm Springs forever. Having J.K. Simmons, who so drolly put the final touches on “Burn After Reading,” around in any comedy helps, too.

9. “One of Them Days” (2025)

“One of Them Days” also lives in the shadow of an earlier comedy: “Friday.” It similarly has a hangout, day-in-the-life-of-Los-Angeles feel, albeit amped up a bit. Keke Palmer carries it.

8. “Game Night” (2018)

Few movies of the last decade have been stolen by a performer more outright than “Game Night.” Jesse Plemons and the debatable profitability for FritoLay was enough to turn “Game Night” into a modern classic. But there are funny people up and down this justifiably adored comedy, with Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams and Sharon Horgan.

7. “The Edge of Seventeen” (2016)

It was a brilliant stroke of writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig and producer James L. Brooks to cast Hailee Steinfeld in this terrific coming-of-age comedy. As acclaimed as Steinfeld has been more recently, in “Sinners” and more, her performance as a teenager in “The Edge of Seventeen” is still her at her best — especially when paired with Woody Harrelson, as an unorthodox teacher.

6. “Confess, Fletch” (2022)

Greg Mottola's revival of Fletch, with Jon Hamm, was criminally underseen. It fell victim to the pandemic and a few other factors. But “Confess, Fletch” might have been the most perfectly suited vehicle for Hamm. Maybe the original “Fletch” films with Chevy Chase were too iconic to mess with. But “Confess, Fletch” is worth catching up to.

5. “The Death of Stalin” (2017)

Armando Iannucci is better known for his Washington, D.C. farce “Veep” and his British government comedy “The Thick of It.” But he's just as sharp in Stalinist Russia. It's almost hard to believe he managed to get made a satire about political struggle in the wake of Josef Stalin's death in 1953. I guess either the prospect of Steve Buscemi playing Nikita Khrushchev is enticing to you, or nyet.

4. “Lady Bird” (2017)

High school has always been among the most fertile grounds for movie comedies, and I'd say Greta Gerwig's semi-autobiographical, Sacramento-set comedy has been the best and most perceptive of the last decade. Even though Timothée Chalamet and Lucas Hedges are good in this, the best moments for Lady Bird (Saoirse Ronan) come with her parents (Laurie Metcalf and Tracy Letts).

3. “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022)

“Halle Berry!” All of the “Knives Out” movies are funny but the second of Rian Johnson's whodunit series is the most hysterical of the bunch. Daniel Craig pushes Benoit Blanc to more cartoonish heights here, and Edward Norton's word-salad tech bro is the detective's most comic foil.

2. “Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” (2021)

Anyone who thought Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo's follow-up to “Bridesmaids” was a disappointment was sorely mistaken. This is less a movie about two Midwestern women traveling to Florida than a delirious fever dream about two Midwestern women traveling to Florida.

1. “Barbie” (2023)

More than $1 billion in box office and a boatload of Oscar nominations and I still kind of think “Barbie” is underrated. I mean, I can no longer talk to my daughters straight-faced about “The Godfather.” But that's a small price to pay for one of the giddiest comedies of the century. I only wish Hollywood saw it less as a success of IP usage than the possibilities of a poignant and imaginative laugh fest.

Honorable mentions: “Fall Guy,” “Logan Lucky,” “Licorice Pizza,” “Booksmart,” “Borat Subsequent Movie Film,” “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping,” “Hail, Caesar,” “Dolemite Is My Name,” “Bottoms,” “Blockers”

Drag Race Star Katya Postpones Netflix Is a Joke Show After Undisclosed Medical Procedure

ASPEN, CO - JANUARY 23: Katya Zamolodchikova attend the Logo New Now Next Honors From Aspen Gay Ski Week on January 23, 2016 in Aspen, Colorado. Photo Credit: Santiago Felipe

by Chris Tremblay May 6

4 MIN READ

The upcoming Netflix Is a Joke Festival performance by Drag Race alum Katya Zamolodchikova and frequent collaborator Trixie Mattel has been postponed after Katya underwent an undisclosed medical procedure. The 9 May show, part of the high‑profile Los Angeles comedy festival, will be rescheduled to a later date as the performer continues her recovery.

Statement from Trixie and Katya

The announcement came via matching Instagram Stories from both Katya and Trixie Mattel, who shared a joint statement with their fans. In the message, the pair explained that the show “must be postponed as Katya focuses on her health and recovery following a medical procedure.”

The statement went on to thank audiences for their “patience, support, and understanding,” and asked fans to hold on to their tickets while a new date is arranged. Organisers have indicated that a rescheduled performance for the Netflix Is a Joke Festival will be confirmed in due course, although no updated timetable has been made public.

Social media health updates

News of the postponement followed a series of candid posts in which Katya shared that she was in hospital, prompting an outpouring of concern and support from fans. On 29 April, Katya posted a selfie from a hospital bed showing a thumbs‑up and a nasogastric tube, captioning the image “Girl, I’m in body jail” alongside the hashtag “#hellonearth.”

Around the same time, she shared another message reflecting on illness and mortality, writing: “Everyone gets sick. everybody gets old. And every one dies.” Commentators noted that the wording closely echoes The Five Remembrances, a set of Buddhist reflections on the inevitability of aging and death, though Katya did not explicitly frame the post as a religious or spiritual statement.

By 2 May, Katya appeared to signal that she had been discharged from hospital and was recovering, sharing thanks to those who had supported her. In a post addressed to “the divas helping gran get her can out the hospital,” she expressed gratitude for birthday and get‑well wishes and suggested she was on track to “do just that” in terms of getting better.

Details remain private

Neither Katya nor Trixie Mattel has publicly disclosed the nature of the medical procedure or the underlying health issue, and both have so far kept specific medical information private. Available statements focus instead on the need for rest and recovery, without offering additional clinical details or a definitive timeline for full return to work.

Coverage of the postponement has consistently emphasised that fans should retain their tickets and await guidance on a new date rather than seeking immediate refunds. The decision aligns with standard industry practice when artists pause performances for health reasons but intend to complete engagements once they are well enough to do so.

Netflix Is a Joke context

The postponed performance was scheduled as part of Netflix Is a Joke, a large‑scale comedy festival held in Los Angeles from 4–10 May and featuring a range of high‑profile acts. The line‑up includes numerous LGBTQ+ comedians, such as Wanda Sykes and Alok, as well as Bob the Drag Queen, alongside artists whose previous material has drawn criticism for anti‑LGBTQ+ content, including Dave Chappelle and Louis C.K.

Katya and Trixie’s show formed part of a broader presence of drag and queer performers on the festival’s stages, reflecting the growing visibility of LGBTQ+ talent within mainstream comedy spaces. The postponement therefore represents not only a change for ticket‑holders but also a notable adjustment to the festival’s representation of drag artistry this year.

Ongoing touring plans

Despite the temporary halt to the Netflix Is a Joke appearance, Katya remains scheduled to embark on the “One Night in Katya” tour, according to recent information on her Instagram account . The solo tour is set to begin in Salt Lake City and continue with dates in Phoenix, Pittsburgh and Columbus, Ohio, though any future changes to that schedule have not been announced publicly.

Reporting has not indicated any cancellations or postponements for “One Night in Katya” beyond the Netflix Is a Joke festival slot, suggesting that planners currently expect the performer to resume live shows within a relatively short timeframe. However, no detailed medical updates have been issued that would clarify exactly how the medical procedure might affect travel or performance capacity over the coming months.

Fan response and well‑wishes

Fans of Katya and Trixie, many of whom have followed the duo since their appearances on RuPaul’s Drag Race and subsequent web series, have responded with messages of support across social media platforms. Social media replies highlighted appreciation for Katya’s openness about being in hospital and encouraged the performer to prioritise health over professional commitments.

PinkNews noted that well‑wishers quickly filled comment sections after Katya’s initial hospital photo, sending affirming messages and birthday greetings alongside calls for rest. That tone carried through the reaction to the postponement, where many ticket‑holders expressed disappointment but reiterated that they supported the decision to delay the show until Katya fully recovers.

Broader significance for drag performers

Katya’s decision to pause a major festival performance underscores the pressures that touring and public visibility can place on drag performers and other LGBTQ+ entertainers. The case also highlights how public figures are increasingly using social media to frame health disclosures on their own terms, sharing selected images and reflections while maintaining privacy over specific diagnoses or treatments.

Within queer and drag fan communities, transparent communication about health has often been met with solidarity, as evidenced by the response to Katya’s recent posts. For many fans, the postponement of one festival date is seen as a reasonable step to protect a beloved performer’s long‑term wellbeing, rather than a sign of retreat from the stage.

As of the latest reports, no further health‑related statements have been published by Katya, Trixie Mattel or festival organisers beyond the shared Instagram Story and subsequent clarifications in entertainment media. Ticket‑holders and fans are being directed to watch official channels for updates on the rescheduled Netflix Is a Joke performance and any adjustments to the “One Night in Katya” tour.

Joshua Bassett Details Ketamine Addiction, Says He Used “Six Baggies” a Night After 2021 Health Crisis

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 12: Joshua Bassett attends the Spotify x LoveShackFancy's Galentines Lunch at The Doubles Club on February 12, 2026 in New York City. Photo Credit: Bryan Bedder

by Chris Tremblay May 6

5 MIN READ

Actor and musician Joshua Bassett, known for his role in Disney’s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, has publicly detailed a period of severe ketamine addiction that followed a near‑fatal health crisis in 2021.

In a new memoir, Rookie: My Public, Private, and Secret Life, Bassett writes that during this period he became heavily dependent on ketamine, describing his substance use as “reckless addictions” that spiraled and “relentlessly” grew worse over time.

Heart failure, septic shock, and the road to drugs

Bassett previously experienced a serious medical emergency shortly after his 20th birthday in January 2021, when he was hospitalized for heart failure and septic shock.

He has said that doctors gave him a 30 percent chance of survival at the time, underscoring the severity of the medical episode and its impact on his physical and emotional wellbeing.

After leaving the hospital, Bassett writes that he turned to drugs to “numb the unspeakable pain,” describing ketamine as the substance he used in a desperate attempt to cope with what he had been through.

“Six baggies… every single night”

In a poem from the memoir titled “Jesus open his eyes,” Bassett recalls that his addiction escalated to the point where he was consuming “six baggies of ketamine” by himself every night.

He writes that instead of snorting a line, he would “down a whole bag in one whiff,” and notes that on some mornings, before even using the restroom, he would inhale more, adding that “it was never enough.”

Bassett describes this period as one in which his “reckless addictions rapidly spiraled, relentlessly growing worse and worse and worse,” and says that “the high highs and oh‑so‑low lows eventually caught up” with him in New York.

His account includes logistical details that illustrate how fully his life became oriented around drug use, including planning his days around his dealer’s schedule and structuring his routine to secure more ketamine.

A daily routine built around ketamine

Bassett writes that his dealer would not begin selling drugs until 3 p.m., so he set alarms for five minutes before that time in order to go to an ATM and withdraw the “maximum daily amount” of cash to buy ketamine.

He describes a cycle of using ketamine throughout the day and night, emphasizing that he was consuming all six baggies by himself, which he portrays as a solitary and escalating pattern of substance use.

Bassett writes that “after way too many weeks of this,” he “inevitably reached rock bottom,” suggesting that the intense ketamine use continued for a sustained period before he recognized the extent of the crisis.

Online scrutiny and mental health pressures

The memoir also references the intense public attention and speculation Bassett faced in 2021 following the release of Olivia Rodrigo’s hit single “drivers license,” with fans widely speculating about his reported connection to Rodrigo and actor Sabrina Carpenter.

Attitude notes that the book touches on this wave of online scrutiny, which placed Bassett under sustained public pressure at the same time that he was dealing with serious health and substance‑use challenges.

In a previous 2021 interview with Attitude, Bassett discussed historic body‑image concerns that began around 2019 when his Disney series first aired, saying these issues eventually became “really unhealthy” before he worked toward a more accepting view of himself.

“I knew I wouldn’t make it out alive”

In another poem quoted from the memoir, Bassett writes that his addictions “reached a point, where I knew if I kept down that path, I wouldn’t make it out alive.”

He compares his situation to being “a car wreck waiting to happen,” language cited in coverage of the book that underscores the life‑threatening nature of his substance use and his awareness of its danger.

Bassett states that it was only when he admitted that he had a problem that he could “truly get help,” framing acknowledgment of addiction as an essential step toward recovery.

A spiritual turning point

Bassett writes that his turning point came one morning when he tried meditating after reaching what he describes as “rock bottom,” seeking “enlightenment” during a quiet practice.

During this meditation, he says he felt the presence of the “Holy Spirit” enter the room, and he writes that he was “painfully reminded of the evil I had become; poor, wretched, naked and blind,” language that appears in both his memoir and subsequent media reports.

He writes that in this moment he “instantly” knew “that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life,” and that he “desperately needed Him,” describing a profound spiritual shift that he credits with changing the direction of his life.

Faith, recovery, and a “new lease on life”

In later interviews, including an appearance on the Zach Sang Show in 2024, Bassett has described his recovery and newfound faith as giving him “a new lease on life” and “more peace than ever experienced,” and he says he felt like he was “literally jumping for joy” like a child.

Coverage notes that Bassett has talked about how he once mocked God and his family’s beliefs but later experienced what he describes as a transformative spiritual encounter that reshaped his views.

He now links his quality of life to what he calls the “distance between me and Jesus,” according to quotations reported from his writing, emphasizing the central role he believes faith plays in his ongoing sobriety.

Memoir as disclosure and advocacy

Rookie: My Public, Private, and Secret Life was released on Tuesday, May 5, and is structured in part through poems that chronicle different stages of Bassett’s life, including his health scare, drug use, spiritual experience, and recovery journey.

The memoir uses first‑person language to describe his experiences with addiction, mental health, and body image, making these topics central to his public narrative as an entertainer and public figure.

Media coverage has emphasized that Bassett, now 25, is using his platform to discuss the complexity of surviving both a serious medical crisis and a subsequent ketamine addiction, without minimizing the risks associated with substance use.

Addiction, stigma, and inclusive support

Bassett’s story emerges in a broader context in which many young adults, including LGBTQ+ people, face heightened risks of substance use and mental health stressors, though his memoir does not hinge on a specific sexual or gender identity label in the passages reported about his ketamine use.

Public discussions of his experience may contribute to ongoing conversations about reducing stigma around addiction and encouraging people of all backgrounds—including LGBTQ+ audiences of his work—to seek care that respects their identity and lived reality.

Attitude’s reporting on Bassett’s earlier comments about body image and self‑acceptance also highlights how appearance pressures and online scrutiny can affect young performers, an issue that advocacy groups note can intersect with sexuality, gender expression, and mental health for many people.

Resources and harm reduction

In its coverage of Bassett’s disclosures, Attitude includes information directing readers to support services, recommending that people seeking confidential help contact Adferiad, a UK‑based mental health and addiction organization, by phone or via its website.

PopCulture’s report likewise highlights the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline, which operates 24/7 and offers free, confidential assistance to people experiencing substance‑use challenges and their families.

By situating Bassett’s personal account alongside helpline information and support resources, outlets frame his story not only as a celebrity revelation but also as a potential entry point for readers to seek help for their own or a loved one’s substance‑use concerns.

Euphoria Creator Sam Levinson Defends Sydney Sweeney’s “Racy” Season 3 Arc Amid Intensifying Backlash

Photo Credit: HBO

by Chris Tremblay May 6

7 MIN READ

Euphoria creator Sam Levinson has stepped into the public conversation around Sydney Sweeney’s controversial season three storyline, praising the actor’s craft and pushing back indirectly against claims that the show is humiliating or exploiting her. Speaking at The Hollywood Reporter’s Directors in Focus event, Levinson said Sweeney “becomes brilliant” when he “push it a little bit,” characterizing her performance as both emotionally honest and sharply funny amid the show’s heightened tone.

Levinson described Sweeney as able to “anchor the scene with this kind of madness and chaos going on around her,” emphasizing her ability to ground Euphoria’s most outlandish set pieces. In a separate interview, he called Cassie “a very cunning, interesting, ambitious character” and said Sweeney is “a joy to work with” who “can literally do anything,” adding that he sometimes encourages her to “just go off” and make a take “nutty” to unlock new facets of the character.

Cassie’s OnlyFans storyline

In Euphoria’s third season, set five years after high school, Sweeney’s character Cassie Howard is portrayed planning a lavish wedding to Nate Jacobs while struggling with money, ultimately turning toward online adult content to fund her increasingly extravagant fantasies. Viewers have watched her pursue OnlyFans-style work, posing in fetishized costumes and sexualized scenarios that the show presents through a mix of dark comedy and discomfort.

Among the most discussed scenes are sequences in which Cassie appears in revealing outfits dressed either as a dog or as an “adult baby” while filming provocative content, imagery that collides with a cutesy visual language and underscores the power imbalance inherent in her pursuit of online fame. Rolling Stone’s detailed overview of season three notes that Cassie “shines as a bridezilla whose wedding-day dreams are dashed in splattered blood and tears” and highlights a sequence pairing her social-media-ready erotic performance with the 1953 novelty song “ That Doggie in the Window?,” which Levinson says opened the door to exploring the dynamic between Cassie and Nate “lyrically.”

Online criticism and “humiliation ritual” claims

The new season, which premiered in April after a long hiatus, sparked immediate backlash from part of the audience, with social media users describing Sweeney’s arc as a “humiliation ritual” and accusing Euphoria of degrading her character for shock value. Posts shared by Fox News Digital show fans on X claiming Cassie’s role has been “reduced to basically HUMILIATING HER,” expressing disbelief at the dog and adult baby scenes and arguing that Sweeney will not receive awards recognition for what they view as demeaning material.

In another article, Fox News reports that some viewers have gone as far as calling for HBO to cancel the show altogether, labeling the first two episodes of the season “disturbing” and describing the sexualized imagery as “fetish slop.” The same coverage notes that critics of the show’s direction have accused Levinson of sexualizing young women characters, even as the series tracks the cast into adulthood and presents Cassie’s choices in the context of economic pressure and social-media performance culture.

Fans and commentators push back on the backlash

Alongside the criticism, there has been vocal pushback from fans who stress that Euphoria has always been a boundary-pushing series and argue that Sweeney is a trained adult performer actively choosing challenging material. Readers quoted by Fox News responded to claims of “humiliation” with comments like “girl, it’s called acting” and pointed out that if Sweeney were uncomfortable, she would not have agreed to continue with the storyline, highlighting her agency as an established star with a wide range of roles beyond Euphoria.

Opinion writers and pop culture commentators have also argued that some of the outrage misdirects attention away from more substantive critiques of the show’s treatment of sex work, consent, and misogyny. A Screen Rant analysis contends that detractors are angry “for the wrong reasons,” suggesting that focusing solely on Sweeney’s nudity or costumes risks ignoring broader structural questions about how Euphoria frames online adult work and the exploitation of women within digital economies.

Levinson’s broader creative defense

Levinson has positioned season three as a more linear, darkly comic exploration of “choices and consequences,” set against a backdrop that expands Euphoria beyond high school into the harsher realities of adult life, addiction, crime, and survival at the U.S.–Mexico border. He told Rolling Stone that he began this season by wanting to explore fentanyl—describing it as a leading cause of death for people under 45 in the United States—and structured the story around how the drug enters the country and shapes his characters’ trajectories, while also interweaving more self-contained arcs for supporting figures like Jules and Lexi.

Within that larger framework, Levinson presents Cassie as a figure whose pursuit of online attention, romantic validation and financial security leads her into increasingly extreme and self-sabotaging situations, a characterization he calls “hysterical” and rooted in her insatiable search for “more.” He describes season three as more dialogue-driven and less “frenetic and speedy” than earlier installments, arguing that this shift allows more space for humor to “poke its way through” in storylines like Cassie’s bridezilla arc, even as the show remains steeped in violence, substance use and grief.

Praise for Sweeney’s professionalism

At the Directors in Focus event, Levinson singled out a key Cassie scene that had to be changed on the day of shooting, praising Sweeney’s ability to adapt to last-minute rewrites and still deliver a layered performance under intense production pressure. He framed her willingness to recalibrate on set as evidence of her range and resilience, underscoring that she can reach levels that are “very honest emotionally, but also deeply funny” even when the staging and tone shift abruptly.

In a longer profile, Levinson reiterated that Sweeney is someone who can “literally do anything,” noting that when he encourages her to improvise or make a performance “nutty,” a completely different version of Cassie emerges that still feels rooted in the character’s psychology. By stressing her creative input and treating her as a collaborator rather than a passive subject, his comments implicitly respond to online narratives that frame Sweeney as being acted upon instead of as an active participant in shaping Cassie’s story.

Sweeney’s past comments on double standards

While Sweeney has not issued an extensive public statement specifically about the season three backlash in recent weeks, she has previously spoken about the industry’s gendered double standards around nudity and explicit content. In a 2022 interview with Cosmopolitan, cited in recent coverage, she said that she does not think as many people took her seriously in Euphoria because she “took shirt off” and called this a “double standard,” expressing hope that she could help change attitudes toward women who do intimate scenes on screen.

Those earlier remarks have resurfaced in the current debate, with some observers suggesting that the criticism of Cassie’s storyline risks echoing the same double standards Sweeney identified, by focusing on the amount of skin shown rather than on narrative questions of consent, power and character development. At the same time, advocates for more ethical portrayals of sex work and fetish communities argue that discomfort with the storyline can coexist with respect for Sweeney’s agency, emphasizing that fictional depictions can still reinforce harmful stereotypes or contribute to broader stigma.

Wider context: an ensemble show with queer and trans characters

Season three continues Euphoria’s focus on a diverse ensemble of young adults navigating queerness, gender identity, trauma and survival, including the ongoing story of Jules, a transgender woman portrayed by Hunter Schafer, whose artistic career and relationship dynamics remain integral to the series. Rolling Stone notes that Jules is now a working artist with a sugar daddy and remains “a scene-stealer,” with her “sparkling aura” taking over every frame she appears in as she moves through Los Angeles’ art and nightlife worlds.

The show’s third season leans more heavily into Hollywood settings, including scenes at the Peninsula Beverly Hills and a West Hollywood apartment complex that Levinson describes as “quintessential,” embedding Cassie’s and Jules’ stories in a landscape that has long been associated with LGBTQ+ culture and entertainment industry hierarchies. For many queer and transgender viewers, debates about Euphoria’s sexual content are intertwined with questions of who gets to be sexual on screen, who is punished for it, and how trauma and intimacy are framed when LGBTQ+ characters share the spotlight with straight counterparts like Cassie and Nate.

Music, tone and the question of intent

A significant part of Levinson’s creative defense rests on tone, especially his use of music to heighten the absurdity and discomfort of Cassie’s storyline. He explained that pairing Cassie’s attempts at virality with “ That Doggie in the Window?” was meant to open up a “rich and fun” way of exploring the relationship between Nate and Cassie, implicitly likening Cassie’s self-objectification to the marketplace logic of both the song and online content economies.

Levinson has also shifted Euphoria’s soundscape away from the needle-drop-heavy approach of the first two seasons, bringing in composer Hans Zimmer to provide a more sweeping, Western-inflected score that he believes better suits the older, more world-weary versions of the characters. In his view, this change underscores the show’s evolution from a high school melodrama into something closer to an adult morality play, a context in which he argues that Cassie’s storyline is meant to be read as both satirical and tragic rather than as pure titillation.

A debate unlikely to end soon

As new episodes roll out, the clash between those who see Cassie’s season three arc as a pointed critique of misogyny and commodified sexuality and those who view it as gratuitous exploitation shows no signs of abating. Levinson’s recent comments, which foreground Sweeney’s talent and professionalism and insist on the intentional, comedic dimension of her storyline, represent his clearest public attempt yet to reframe the conversation around authorial intent, collaboration and performance rather than shock value alone.

For Sweeney, whose wider body of work ranges from prestige drama to romantic comedy, the backlash underscores the persistent scrutiny attached to women who take on sexually explicit roles, even as she and her collaborators describe such choices as deliberate, artistically motivated and central to the narrative. Whether Levinson’s defense will soften criticism of Euphoria’s handling of gender, sexuality and power—or instead further galvanize those calling for different creative leadership—remains an open question as the season continues to unfold.

Rebel Wilson and Ramona Agruma Welcome Second Daughter Rose Estelle

Photo Credit: Rebel Wilson / Instagram

by Chris Tremblay May 5

4 MIN READ

Australian actor Rebel Wilson and her wife, entrepreneur and fashion designer Ramona Agruma, have welcomed their second child together, a daughter named Rose Estelle, sharing the news in a heartfelt post on Instagram on 4 May.

Wilson, 46, described the arrival as “a gorgeous blessing” and told followers that she and Agruma feel “so incredibly grateful and blessed” as they grow their family to a household of four.

Announcement of baby Rose Estelle

In her Instagram announcement, Wilson wrote that she was “proud to announce the birth of our second daughter Rose Estelle,” adding, “What a gorgeous blessing to have another little girl!” alongside a photo of the newborn.

She went on to say that “now on May 4th it’s now four of us,” expressing gratitude to well‑wishers and emphasizing how “blessed” she and Agruma feel to be expanding their family.

Entertainment outlets report that the Instagram post included a tender image of baby Rose wrapped in a blanket and wearing a pastel headband, underscoring the intimate tone of the couple’s announcement to millions of followers.

Support from friends, fans and co‑stars

Wilson’s announcement quickly drew supportive comments from fans and prominent entertainment figures, reflecting her visibility as a queer parent in global popular culture.

Among those congratulating the couple were Paris Hilton, *Below Deck* personality Hannah Ferrier, Wilson’s *Pitch Perfect* co‑star Elizabeth Banks, and *Real Housewives of Beverly Hills* original cast member Kyle Richards, each sending messages celebrating baby Rose’s arrival and the growing family.

Agruma commented on the post herself, writing, “Cheers to our family! It’s four of us now,” emphasizing the couple’s joy at transitioning from a family of three to a family of four.

A growing LGBTQ+ family

Wilson publicly shared her relationship with Agruma in June 2022, describing the shift after previously dating men and joking that “maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess,” language many LGBTQ+ people recognized as both tender and affirming.

That coming‑out moment was complicated by the revelation that an Australian newspaper had planned to report on her relationship before she was ready, prompting widespread criticism of outing practices and reinforcing ongoing conversations about privacy and consent for LGBTQ+ public figures.

Wilson and Agruma later announced their engagement on 19 February 2023 and married in a ceremony in Italy on 28 September 2024, marking a high‑profile celebration of a same‑gender marriage for fans around the world.

From Royce to Rose: big sister era

The couple’s first daughter, Royce, was born via surrogacy in November 2022, making baby Rose the second child in the family and positioning Royce as an older sister for the first time.

In an earlier interview about expanding their family, Wilson said on *Today with Jenna and Friends* that “one baby was the real shocker” because of how much parenthood transforms daily life, adding that she hoped their second child would “just fit in” as they adjusted together.

Wilson also shared a light‑hearted anecdote about Royce enthusiastically telling teachers and strangers that she was “getting a baby sister,” which led to people offering congratulations before the couple had formally gone public with the pregnancy, prompting Wilson to feel it was time to share the news online.

Pregnancy journey and public anticipation

Entertainment reports note that Agruma first shared the news of their second child in December through an Instagram Reel, depicting snapshots of the couple’s relationship, their life with Royce, and the early stages of the pregnancy.

In that post, Agruma wrote that it was “the happiest news in our family” and that “it will be 4 of us soon,” adding that “baby number 2 is on her way,” which hinted both at the baby’s gender and the family’s excitement months before Rose’s arrival.

The Reel drew an outpouring of supportive comments from followers who have watched Wilson and Agruma’s relationship unfold publicly since 2022, reinforcing the couple’s position as one of the more visible same‑gender families in mainstream celebrity culture.

Legal challenges in the background

The joyful family news arrives at a turbulent professional moment for Wilson, who is currently involved in a high‑profile bullying and defamation case in the Australian Federal Court brought by her *The Deb* co‑star Charlotte MacInnes.

Coverage from New Zealand and Australian outlets frames the birth of Rose as a bright personal development that contrasts with the stress of ongoing legal proceedings, which continue to attract media attention separate from Wilson’s family milestones.

Reports describe the legal dispute as centering on allegations of bullying and defamation linked to work on *The Deb*, but detailed court findings and outcomes remain the subject of ongoing reporting as the case progresses.

Visibility, representation and family life

For many LGBTQ+ viewers, Wilson and Agruma’s family represents one of several contemporary examples of same‑gender couples openly sharing the realities of parenting, from pregnancy announcements to humorous stories about children’s candor and curiosity.

Wilson has spoken in previous interviews about how motherhood reshaped her priorities and day‑to‑day life, emphasizing both the joy and intense change that accompanied welcoming Royce and now preparing to care for two young children.

Her comments about hoping baby number two “just fits in” reflect a common sentiment among parents adding a second child, while also underscoring the specific visibility of two mothers navigating that transition under public scrutiny.

Reactions across media and social platforms

LGBTQ+ media such as *PinkNews* highlighted not only the announcement itself but also the broader timeline of Wilson and Agruma’s relationship, from public confirmation of their partnership in 2022 through engagement, marriage, and now parenting two daughters.

Mainstream outlets in Australia and New Zealand, including The New Daily and 1News, emphasized the contrast between Wilson’s personal happiness and the pressures of her ongoing court case, framing baby Rose’s birth as a welcome positive development.

Entertainment sites and social media commentary continue to balance coverage of Wilson’s professional controversies with widespread celebration of the couple’s decision to share personal milestones, a dynamic that underscores how public figures’ family lives often intersect with their work and legal challenges.

As Wilson and Agruma settle in at home with Royce and newborn Rose, public attention remains focused on both the legal developments surrounding *The Deb* and the couple’s evolving life as a family of four, illustrating the dual realities that many high‑profile LGBTQ+ parents navigate in the spotlight.

'Heated Rivalry'’s Hudson Williams Channels “Black Swan” In Daring Met Gala Debut

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Hudson Williams attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating "Costume Art" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. Photo Credit: Mike Coppola

by Chris Tremblay May 5

5 MIN READ

Canadian actor Hudson Williams, best known for playing closeted hockey star Shane Hollander in the queer sports romance series Heated Rivalry, stepped onto the 2026 Met Gala red carpet with a look that merged high fashion and psychological thriller aesthetics. The 25‑year‑old made his Met Gala debut in New York City on May 4, delivering a “Black Swan”-inspired beauty moment that stood out even among the event’s typically extravagant ensembles.

The 2026 Met Gala theme, “Costume Art,” came with a dress code of “Fashion Is Art,” encouraging celebrities and designers to treat the red carpet as a museum-ready installation space. Williams and his team approached the prompt through the lens of transformation and duality, channeling the 2010 film Black Swan, which centers on a ballerina’s descent as she embodies both the innocent White Swan and the darker Black Swan in Swan Lake.

Balenciaga tailoring, matador heritage

On the fashion side, Williams wore a custom Balenciaga ensemble designed under creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, referencing both archival couture and Spanish bullfighting attire. The look was inspired by a 1947 bolero jacket by house founder Cristóbal Balenciaga and reimagined as a torero-style trompe‑l’oeil collar jacket in a soft powder‑blue shade.

The jacket and matching light‑blue wool trousers were embroidered with black pearls, velvet, and satin, echoing the ornate detailing of a traditional matador suit. Williams wore the jacket unbuttoned and shirtless, giving the structured tailoring a relaxed, contemporary silhouette that put the emphasis on his physique and the sculptural quality of the garment.

A black side train extended from the look, further amplifying the drama and drawing a visual bridge between the light, ethereal blue of the outfit and the deeper, shadowy tones of his makeup. Accessories were kept minimal, allowing the intricate beading and the bold eyeliner to dominate the overall impression rather than competing with multiple focal points.

“White swan transforming into black swan”

If the suit set the stage, the makeup carried the narrative. Williams’s go‑to makeup, hair, and grooming artist, Aika Flores, created an eye look anchored in thick black eyeshadow winged out dramatically, framing the actor’s eyes like a mask and evoking the intensity of stage makeup.

Flores layered metallic red and blue shadow across Williams’s lids, tracing color toward the brow bone and down into the inner corners, with the hues trailing delicately down his cheeks. The artist described the concept as “white swan transforming into black swan,” emphasizing transformation, sharper edges, and a sense of rebirth as innocence gives way to something more enigmatic and formidable.

Flores said the inspiration was “a journey where innocence gives way and grace takes on a darker edge,” framing the look as an evolution rather than a simple reference costume. In an interview on the Met Gala red carpet, Williams echoed that idea, telling La La Anthony that he and Flores wanted to reference cinema through the transformation of the White Swan into the Black Swan, turning his appearance into a moving homage to Natalie Portman’s performance.

Hair, glam, and behind-the-scenes moments

Williams’s hair was slicked back, with two curled pieces directed inward near his face, further drawing attention to the graphic eye makeup. To achieve the hairstyle, Flores relied on Dyson hair tools and Redken styling products, including Redken Control Hairspray and Big Blowout Heat Protecting Jelly, adding a glossy, controlled finish aligned with the precise lines of the eye look.

Before stepping onto the carpet, the actor was spotted at the Mark Hotel—the preferred staging ground for many Met Gala guests—wearing a bathrobe in the lobby while chatting and posing for photos with actor Odessa A’zion. These informal moments contrasted with the exacting glamour of his final red carpet appearance, underscoring the coordinated yet relaxed dynamic between Williams and his glam team.

Williams has experimented with bolder eyeliner and glam in the past, with fans first seeing a dramatic eye look on him in a December 2025 feature on Bazaar.com, a photo from which still serves as his Instagram profile picture. The Met Gala, however, marked a deliberate elevation of that existing aesthetic into a fully realized, narrative-driven beauty statement.

Heated Rivalry, queer sports storytelling, and red carpet visibility

Williams’s fashion moment arrives as Heated Rivalry continues to gain momentum as a queer sports romance centered on two professional hockey players whose secret long‑term relationship unfolds under the pressure of public rivalry. The series, created by Jacob Tierney for Crave and distributed internationally with Max, is adapted from Game Changers by Rachel Reid and has been praised for its depiction of a complex relationship between male athletes in a fictional Major League Hockey setting.

The show has drawn significant audiences and critical attention, with at least one survey finding that roughly 15 percent of Australians have watched Heated Rivalry and an additional 26 percent are considering watching, suggesting it has a measurable footprint among younger viewers. That study notes stronger engagement among 18‑ to 34‑year‑olds, indicating that the series’ blend of sports, romance, and queer representation resonates in demographics often fluent in both fandom and fashion culture.

Williams plays Shane Hollander, a mixed Japanese Canadian and white Canadian hockey captain, opposite Connor Storrie’s Ilya Rozanov, and their on‑screen chemistry has been repeatedly highlighted by critics. Reviewers, including for outlets such as RogerEbert.com, have pointed to their dynamic as a core reason for the show’s impact, with Williams earning a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Lead Performer in a Drama Series.

While the Met Gala is primarily a fashion event, the presence of actors associated with LGBTQ+ storylines often broadens conversations about visibility, masculinity, and expression. Williams’s embrace of bold makeup and couture tailoring aligns with a broader trend of male and nonbinary celebrities experimenting with gender‑expansive red carpet aesthetics, though his own comments have focused on cinema and artistry rather than identity labels.

Sharing the carpet with Connor Storrie

Williams did not navigate the Met Gala alone; his Heated Rivalry co‑star Connor Storrie also made a debut, wearing a contrasting look by Saint Laurent. According to fashion outlet Attitude, Storrie stepped out first in custom YSL tailored to the “Fashion Is Art” dress code, while Williams followed in his Balenciaga design, offering two complementary interpretations of modern menswear glamour.

After the main event, both actors attended at least one Met Gala after‑party, with Marie Claire describing their appearances at GQ’s 2026 Met Gala gathering as a playful continuation of the night’s fashion narrative. The magazine reported that Williams and Storrie swapped their red carpet ensembles for “opposite” after‑party looks, underscoring the flexibility and performative fun that often characterizes Met night style.

Scheduling may soon limit such joint appearances, with Marie Claire noting that both actors’ calendars are expected to be full as Heated Rivalry moves toward production on its second season, tentatively set to begin filming in August. The Met Gala may therefore stand out as a rare off‑ice, off‑set moment where the co‑stars shared a global fashion platform before returning to the fictional rink.

Reception and evolving red carpet norms

Coverage from fashion and entertainment outlets has framed Williams’s Met Gala appearance as one of the more memorable menswear and beauty statements of the evening. Commentary has focused on the complexity of the makeup design, the couture craftsmanship of the Balenciaga suit, and the coherent storytelling that linked matador imagery with the psychological arcs of Black Swan.

Though Williams’s look has also been widely shared by fans of Heated Rivalry on social media platforms, major outlets’ reporting has remained grounded in his on‑screen success and the technical aspects of the styling rather than in speculation about his personal life. That framing situates his “Black Swan” moment firmly within ongoing shifts in red carpet culture, where more male actors engage with expressive makeup and ornate silhouettes while commentary emphasizes craft, collaboration, and narrative cohesion.