Griffin discussed the situation in a YouTube video titled “If Rosie Would’ve Called, I Would’ve Jumped,” published as O’Donnell began filling in for Jimmy Kimmel.

“It’s embarrassing to say, but I have to tell you guys because we’re friends,” Griffin said in the video.

“My feelings were really hurt that I was not invited to go on Rosie’s week of the Jimmy Kimmel show,” Griffin added.

Griffin said she had told O’Donnell that she would “love to be a guest” while the two comedians were traveling on a recent flight.

She said she became increasingly excited as the week approached, particularly after friends and acquaintances began asking whether she and O’Donnell would appear together in a sketch, interview or surprise segment.

Griffin characterized the moment as complicated rather than presenting it solely as a dispute.

She continued to praise O’Donnell’s performance and urged viewers to watch and support the guest-hosting week.

O’Donnell’s Response

O’Donnell answered Griffin publicly in a comment on Griffin’s Instagram post about the video.

“Kathy — shoulda called me honey — I didn’t choose the guests …,” O’Donnell wrote.

The response indicated that O’Donnell’s role as guest host did not give her final control over the guest lineup, although the available reporting does not identify which producers or executives made those decisions.

Entertainment Weekly reported that O’Donnell’s comment was intended to clarify that Griffin’s omission was not a personal decision by O’Donnell.

Neither the available reports from Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times or The Washington Post identified a public statement from Jimmy Kimmel or ABC explaining the booking decision.

O’Donnell’s Late-Night Return

O’Donnell began a four-night guest-hosting assignment on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday, August 17, while Kimmel was away.

The New York Times reported that O’Donnell opened her first episode with a greeting directed at President Donald Trump.

The Washington Post reported that O’Donnell did not say Trump’s name during the opening monologue, despite expectations that she might focus heavily on him.

The contrasting descriptions reflect the emphasis of each report: The New York Times highlighted O’Donnell’s greeting to Trump, while The Washington Post focused on the limited role Trump played in the monologue itself.

O’Donnell’s guest-hosting week was reported as a return to a prominent late-night television platform after her departure from The View and her more recent public commentary about American politics.

The Guest Lineup

Entertainment Weekly reported that guests appearing during O’Donnell’s week included Hannah Waddingham, Ana Gasteyer, Jean Smart and Richard Gadd.

The publication also listed Charlie Day, Janelle James, Shawn Hatosy, Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman among the guests scheduled for the remainder of the run.

Griffin’s comments centered on her expectation that her longstanding friendship with O’Donnell and relationship with Kimmel might lead to an invitation, but she acknowledged that she did not know how much authority O’Donnell had over the booking process.

Griffin also said that appearing alongside O’Donnell would have been meaningful because both comedians have been involved in public controversies connected to Trump.

That political connection formed part of Griffin’s explanation for why she had imagined the appearance as a notable television moment, but neither comedian described the booking decision as a political exclusion.

What the Exchange Establishes

The public record establishes that Griffin wanted to appear, that she expressed disappointment when she did not, and that O’Donnell said she had not selected the guests.

It does not establish that O’Donnell intentionally excluded Griffin, that Kimmel opposed an appearance, or that ABC or the program barred Griffin from the show.

The exchange also does not amount to a confirmed “feud”; the available accounts describe hurt feelings and a clarification between two people Griffin identified as longtime friends.

For now, the most substantiated account is a public misunderstanding surrounding a late-night guest list, rather than evidence of a confirmed rupture between Griffin and O’Donnell.

The actor captioned the image simply “63,” using no additional written message to explain the photograph.

In the photograph, Stamos’s face is obscured by the phone he is holding, while the image shows his arms, abdomen and long hair.

People reported that the image was cropped just below Stamos’s stomach.



Fox News described the photograph as a mirror selfie and reported that the black-and-white image also showed a tattoo on Stamos’s left shoulder.

Just Jared likewise reported that Stamos shared a mirror photograph on Instagram to commemorate his birthday and captioned it “63.”

The three accounts agreed on the central details: the post appeared on Stamos’s birthday, the image was a monochrome mirror selfie, and the caption referred to his age.

Online Reaction

The post attracted comments from followers who referenced Stamos’s best-known television character, Jesse Katsopolis, commonly known as Uncle Jesse, from the sitcom *Full House*.

Fox News reported that commenters used the character’s catchphrase “have mercy” while reacting to the birthday image.

Just Jared also reported that comments included references to Uncle Jesse and remarks from followers reacting to Stamos’s appearance.

Entertainment Now reported that the post had received nearly 30,000 likes and more than 1,500 comments within a few hours of publication, although those figures were time-sensitive and may have changed afterward.

The available reports characterize the response as enthusiastic, but they do not establish a complete count of reactions across Instagram or other platforms.

Birthday Posts From Family and Friends

The selfie was one of several birthday-related posts associated with Stamos’s celebration.

According to People, Stamos shared Instagram Stories featuring birthday wishes from friends, fans and other people in his professional circle.

One repost came from Dave Coulier, Stamos’s *Full House* co-star and friend, and featured the two men alongside audio of Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday.”

People also reported that Stamos shared a tribute from Jimmy Fallon.

Other birthday material included a fan-created cake featuring a throwback photograph of Stamos and a birthday message.

Musician Neil Morrow also posted a recreation of Stamos’s birthday selfie and presented the two images together.

Morrow’s post invited others to participate in what he called “Do the Stamos,” according to People.

Stamos’s wife, Caitlin McHugh Stamos, also published a birthday tribute on Instagram.

In the caption reported by People, McHugh Stamos described her husband as “one of earth’s best humans” and wrote that he had not wanted a birthday celebration that year.

She said the family was instead celebrating across multiple days, beginning with a visit to Cosm Los Angeles for a “Shared Reality” experience based on *Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory*.

A Continuing Birthday Pattern

The 2026 post follows earlier birthday photographs in which Stamos similarly emphasized his physique.

People reported that Stamos shared a shirtless photograph for his 62nd birthday in August 2025.

That earlier image showed Stamos wearing black Calvin Klein briefs while standing beneath a rooftop shower at New York City’s Bowery Hotel.

In 2023, when he turned 60, Stamos posted an outdoor-shower photograph captioned “The other side of 60.”

The recent posts have therefore made physique-focused birthday images a recurring feature of Stamos’s social-media presence, according to coverage of the 2026 photograph.

Broader Context

The birthday post arrived shortly after Stamos appeared at D23, where Entertainment Now reported that he performed Disney songs and participated in an announcement concerning Disneyland’s 70th-anniversary plans.

People also noted that Stamos and McHugh Stamos had recently shared the cover reveal for his debut picture book, *Love from Above: A Story of Tiny Birds and Their Big Meaning*.

The publication is described as a collaboration between Stamos and his 8-year-old son, Billy.

For the birthday itself, however, the brief “63” caption and the image—not a long reflection or professional announcement—became the focus of coverage.

The post’s immediate visibility illustrates how a short celebrity social-media update can generate coverage across entertainment outlets when it combines a recognizable public figure, a milestone birthday and a deliberately revealing image.

As of August 20, the verified elements of the story remain straightforward: Stamos turned 63, posted the black-and-white mirror selfie on August 19, captioned it “63,” and received substantial attention from followers and entertainment media.

Chadwick announced the decision in a statement posted to Instagram on Tuesday, August 18.

“As of last week, I’ve stepped away from Goose,” Chadwick wrote.

He said the decision had not been made lightly and described building the service “for our community” as one of the most meaningful projects he had undertaken.

Chadwick attributed his departure to a disagreement between his original vision and the company’s direction.

“Where I landed is that my vision for where this should go and the direction the company is going aren’t the same thing anymore,” he wrote.

“When my name and my face are on something, I want to be able to stand behind all of it, fully,” Chadwick added.

He said that, once he could no longer fully stand behind the project, remaining involved “didn’t feel right.”

What Chadwick said about Goose

Chadwick said he was proud to have helped move the project forward and thanked people who joined the platform during its first weeks.

“Tens of thousands of you showed up in a matter of weeks,” he wrote, while crediting users rather than himself for that response.

The figure was presented by Chadwick in his Instagram statement; the available reports do not provide an independently audited user total.

Chadwick said he was no longer involved with Goose “in any capacity.”

He nevertheless wished the company’s team well, describing its members as people working hard to make the app successful.

The statement did not identify a specific dispute, change in ownership, management decision or product alteration as the reason for the difference in direction.

There was no detailed public explanation in the reports reviewed of what Goose’s direction had become or how it differed from Chadwick’s plans.

Goose’s launch and positioning

Goose launched in late June, according to reporting on Chadwick’s departure.

The service was presented as an app for gay men that was intended to extend beyond dating.

Its description said users could meet people through “places, friends, interests, stories, and what’s happening nearby.”

Coverage before the launch described Goose as an “anti-algorithm gay dating and lifestyle platform” and as an alternative to more hookup-focused services.

The app was described as “intentionally social-first,” with an emphasis on dating, friendship and community.

Unlike conventional matching systems, Goose used a “wave” interaction, in which two users connected after waving at each other.

Reporting at the time of the launch said Goose used human screening for its membership and was initially available through Apple’s App Store.

The product therefore entered a competitive market while publicly distinguishing itself from services associated in its marketing and coverage with casual encounters.

Questions raised during Goose’s first weeks

Goose also faced scrutiny shortly after launch over allegations that AI-generated or otherwise suspicious social-media profiles had been used to attract prospective users.

Wired reported that the app appeared to be connected to promotional activity involving accounts presented as potential users, while noting that Goose’s founders did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Gay Times reported that Goose had been accused of using AI-generated social-media profiles to generate interest in the service.

Those earlier reports do not establish that the scrutiny was connected to Chadwick’s departure.

Chadwick’s statement did not mention the allegations, AI-generated profiles, promotional practices or any other controversy as a reason for leaving.

What comes next

Chadwick said he intends to continue creating projects for the gay community.

In his statement, he wrote, “I’m not done building for us. More soon.”

He also referred to users who had waved, messaged him or told him they had made a friend through the app, saying that this had been the project’s purpose for him.

The statement did not announce Chadwick’s next project or provide a timetable for further details.

The reports reviewed also did not include a detailed statement from Goose explaining how the company will operate after Chadwick’s exit.

For now, Chadwick’s public explanation is limited to the gap between his vision and the company’s direction.

His departure leaves Goose to continue without the public figure most closely associated with its launch and early identity.

The kiss followed months of public interest in the connection between Biermann and Green, who had previously been described as friends. Page Six reported that the pair had also been photographed together during a flirtatious hike in May, although they did not kiss during that earlier outing.

The precise date on which Biermann and Green’s romantic relationship began has not been established in the available reporting.

Biermann is Zolciak’s estranged husband, while Green is Mowitz’s estranged wife, placing the four people at the center of an overlapping set of divorce proceedings.

Zolciak and Mowitz respond

Zolciak and Mowitz were seen together the following day, Monday, Aug. 17, when a photographer asked them about Biermann and Green.

“I don’t care. We don’t care,” Zolciak said in video published by TMZ.

She then added, “I’m just very worried about his little girls,” referring to Biermann’s daughters.

Zolciak also made a pointed comment about her financial role during her marriage to Biermann, saying, “I mean, I’ve provided for Kroy for 10 years, so I’m sure he just wants another .” The remark was presented as Zolciak’s own characterization and was not independently established as a fact by the reports.

Mowitz was asked whether he thought Biermann and Green were dating in order to provoke their former spouses.

“I don’t think they’re doing it out of spite,” Mowitz replied.

Zolciak separately praised Mowitz, calling him “the funniest person I know” and her “best friend.”

“He loves my kids so much, and my kids love him, and I think that’s super important,” Zolciak said.

She also said that she and Mowitz had “been through a lot together” and that “it’s only up from here.”

The earlier “just friends” account

The latest photographs appear to conflict with earlier testimony attributed to Green in divorce proceedings, in which she reportedly described herself and Biermann as “just friends.”

Page Six reported that Green had testified that she did not expect Biermann to be around her children or to remain part of her life on an ongoing basis.

In a July court filing, Mowitz reportedly alleged that he saw Biermann’s vehicle outside his home while his children were present. Mowitz also asked the court to restrict Biermann’s access to the residence, according to the reports.

The available coverage does not establish whether the court granted that request.

Zolciak and Biermann’s continuing divorce

Zolciak and Biermann first split in May 2023 after 12 years of marriage, briefly called off their divorce, and then resumed divorce proceedings after Biermann filed again in August of that year.

Their legal dispute remains active. People reported that Zolciak filed a motion for an emergency hearing in June alleging that Biermann was not properly caring for their children while they were in his custody.

According to court documents cited by People, Zolciak alleged that the children faced a risk of “ongoing mental and physical abuse” without immediate court intervention. Those allegations have not been established as findings of fact in the available reporting.

People also reported that a judge granted Biermann primary physical custody of the couple’s four younger children after he alleged that Zolciak was “unstable and unfit.”

The former couple continues to share joint legal custody, according to the same report.

Zolciak and Biermann have four children together: Kroy Jr., Kash, and twins Kaia and Kane. Biermann also adopted Zolciak’s two older daughters, Brielle and Ariana, after the couple married in 2011, according to Page Six.

What is confirmed—and what is not

The confirmed recent development is that Biermann and Green were photographed kissing during their Aug. 16 hike, followed by public comments from Zolciak and Mowitz the next day.

Neither the available People, TMZ, or Page Six reports includes a direct statement from Biermann or Green confirming the status, start date, or terms of their relationship.

People said it had contacted representatives for Biermann for comment, while Page Six reported that Zolciak’s representative had not immediately responded to its request.

For now, the photographs and the reactions from Zolciak and Mowitz provide the most recent publicly reported account of the situation.

Firstman wrote and directed the film and plays its central character, a queer nightlife figure whose life has become increasingly disconnected from the future he may want.

The child, portrayed by Reggie Absolom, is described in the film’s official synopsis as a son whom the promoter never knew he had.

The trailer presents the story as a collision between the protagonist’s established social world and the responsibilities of caring for a child, while positioning the relationship between father and son as the film’s emotional center.

A24 plans to release Club Kid in theaters on November 6. Deadline reported that the film will begin with a limited theatrical release, while IndieWire reported that a broader rollout is planned to follow.

Firstman’s Feature Debut

Club Kid marks Firstman’s first feature as a writer-director and leading actor.

The film follows Firstman’s increasing visibility across acting and comedy, including appearances in Miracle Workers, Ms. Marvel, Dave, English Teacher, Hacks and I Love LA.

He also starred in Rotting in the Sun, a 2023 comedy that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

The ensemble cast includes Cara Delevingne, Diego Calva, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Colleen Camp, Vicki Pepperdine, Nigil Whyte, Eldar Isgandarov, Saturn Risin9, Miss Benny and Alaska Riley.

Variety also identified Delevingne, Calva, Howell-Baptiste and Absolom among the film’s principal cast.

Absolom’s previous screen work includes appearances in Apple TV+’s Silo, as well as Testament and The Other Bennet Sister.

Cannes Premiere and A24 Deal

Before the trailer’s release, Club Kid premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival in May.

Deadline reported that the film received a seven-minute standing ovation following its Cannes premiere.

The Cannes response reportedly led to a bidding contest among distributors, with A24 acquiring the film for $17 million, according to Variety.

Variety reported that A24, Netflix, Searchlight Pictures, Focus Features and Mubi were among the companies competing for the film.

The reported acquisition places Club Kid among A24’s upcoming theatrical releases and gives the film a commercial path beyond the festival circuit.

A Queer Story About Responsibility

Variety described the protagonist as a queer party promoter who has outgrown his place in the nightlife scene.

The film’s premise does not treat queer identity as a problem to be solved; instead, it places a queer adult’s nightlife, relationships and evolving sense of responsibility at the center of a family story.

In a statement reported by Variety, Firstman said that ensuring the queer cast would be fully supported during the promotional tour was important to him.

“In every one of my buyer meetings was vital to me that this cast gets brought out in full to promote the film – flown out, put up, glam paid for, all of it,” Firstman said.

The film’s emotional premise is therefore grounded in an unexpected form of adulthood: a person known for excess and spontaneity must respond to the arrival of a child and consider what kind of life he wants to lead.

Firstman on the Film’s Inspiration

Speaking with Deadline at Cannes, Firstman said the project began partly after he spent more time around his friends’ children.

He said the initial idea treated the relationship between an adult and a child as a comic premise, but that the story changed as he wrote it.

Firstman told Deadline that a breakup, his connection to Berlin’s party scene and his own experiences with drug use influenced the film’s exploration of a life at a crossroads.

He said the writing process continued to reveal new elements of the film and of his own relationship to its subject.

Critics have responded positively to the film’s shift from nightlife comedy toward a more emotionally serious story.

Deadline critic Damon Wise called the film “an unlikely but still beautifully human story” and praised Firstman’s move into a more serious tone.

Variety critic Guy Lodge described Club Kid as a “sweet, surprisingly old-fashioned heartwarmer.”

With its trailer now public, Club Kid is set to move from its Cannes launch into the fall theatrical calendar, beginning with its November 6 release.

The pop superstar has been nominated in every decade of her musical career. She has 19 competitive MTV VMA wins and in 1986 became the first solo female artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award.

She is up for 11 awards at this year's ceremony, including video, artist and song of the year as well as best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.

If she were to sweep, she'd tie Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for the title of most-awarded musician in VMA history. They have 30 each. (Eminem is the male artist with the most VMAs, with 15.)

Speaking of Swift: She follows Madonna with the second-most nominations, with nine. If she takes home even one award, she will become the most-awarded artist in VMA history.

Swift is up for video and artist of the year as well as best pop, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.

Madonna and Swift are followed by Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven nods to their name as well as Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson with five. Blackpink's LISA has four and Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean are tied for three.

Rounding out the artist of the year category nominees are Grande, Mars, Carpenter and Morgan Wallen, in addition to Madonna and Swift.

The top prize of the night, video of the year, sees Swift's “The Fate of Ophelia” compete against Madonna’s “Confessions II — The Film,” Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” Mars' “I Just Might,” Carpenter’s “Tear” and GENER8ION’s “Storm” starring Yung Lean.

The two-hour show will broadcast live on CBS on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and 4:30 p.m. Pacific, from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It will also simulcast on MTV and be available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.

The show will become available to stream globally the next day on Paramount+ and MTV.

CBS is home to a number of award shows, including the Tony Awards and the American Music Awards. It has aired the Grammys since 1973, though that show will head to ABC in 2027.

This year’s Video Music Awards features 26 first-time nominees, which include GENER8ION and Yung Lean (with their aforementioned three nods, for their “Storm” collaboration) and the K-pop boy band CORTIS and viral “Boston” singer Stella Lefty with two each. Other notable first-time nominees include Don Toliver, Kali Uchis, Noah Kahan, Olivia Dean, Tucker Wetmore and Sienna Spiro.

The best dance category has returned for the first time in seven years. Nominees include McRae's “Nobody’s Girl,” Bebe Rexha and Faithless' “New Religion,” Harry Styles' “Aperture,” Lady Gaga and Doechii's “Runway,” Madonna's “Confessions II — The Film,” PinkPantheress' “Stateside” with Larsson and Slayyyter's “Dance …”

Fan voting began online Tuesday across 13 categories and ends Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. Eastern and 3 p.m. Pacific.

Voting in the best new artist category will remain active during the show.

Ahmed made the comments as the couple discussed their engagement and wedding plans in recent television appearances and interviews.

The couple became engaged in Albania, where Ahmed proposed to Blackman after they had been together for about two years.

Their proposal was featured in an episode of TOWIE broadcast on 17 August, bringing the couple’s relationship and forthcoming marriage into the programme’s current storyline.

“I would save them a place”

Speaking to The Mirror, Ahmed said he wanted his family to be present, while acknowledging that their attendance was uncertain.

“Call me delusional, I would love to have my family there and I would save them a place at the wedding,” he said.

“Whether they’ll attend or not, I don’t know,” Ahmed added, saying that an invitation would nevertheless be sent to his mother.

Female First reported the same remarks after Ahmed and Blackman appeared on ITV’s This Morning, where Ahmed described their plans as a large Bollywood and Essex wedding planned for the summer of 2027.

The reports said the wedding is expected to combine Bollywood and English traditions and may be shown through TOWIE.

Family estrangement

Ahmed has said that he was made to leave his family home at the age of 18 after coming out as gay.

He has described the family relationship as fractured and said they have remained estranged since he came out.

Ahmed said the absence of his family from major moments in his life was painful because he had not expected them to be missing from those occasions.

“It’s so hard for me that my relationship with my family isn’t there, which breaks my heart so much,” he said.

Ahmed also said he continued to love his family despite the estrangement and their alleged rejection of his sexuality and faith.

“I love them. I still do, regardless of what’s happened,” he said.

Ahmed said that his family did not accept him “for being Muslim and being gay,” while adding that he could not simply switch off his love for them.

The Sun previously reported that Ahmed’s parents had not accepted his sexuality and that he had not returned to the family home since coming out.

The Mirror reported in June that Ahmed said his mother had contacted him after several years and called him an “embarrassment” following his engagement to a man.

That earlier report said the message added to Ahmed’s concern that his family might not attend the wedding.

Ahmed and Blackman’s plans

Ahmed and Blackman are both associated with TOWIE, the ITV reality series set in Essex.

Ahmed joined TOWIE in 2022, while Blackman joined the programme in 2023.

Blackman previously appeared on the programme in a relationship with fellow cast member Harry Derbidge, and the relationship’s breakdown was shown on the series before Blackman and Ahmed became a couple.

The couple have said their wedding will celebrate both grooms’ heritage through a large Bollywood-inspired production with English elements.

Female First reported that Blackman’s son, Daice, could have a role in the ceremony, although the couple’s final arrangements have not been confirmed.

The Sun reported that the wedding is expected to be filmed for TOWIE, but the precise date and final broadcast arrangements have not been announced.

A continuing family question

Ahmed’s decision to invite his family means the guest list remains open despite the estrangement and the hurt he has described.

He has not said that his family accepted his sexuality, reconciled with him, or confirmed that they will attend the wedding.

Instead, Ahmed’s public position is that he wants to leave the decision with them while still offering them a place at a major milestone in his life.

The couple’s engagement and wedding planning are expected to remain part of TOWIE’s coverage as the programme follows their relationship and preparations for the ceremony.

The affected branches are in Hantsport, Kentville, Lawrencetown, Port Williams and Middleton, communities served by the Annapolis Valley Regional Library in western Nova Scotia.

The library said Reid’s gift is one of the most significant private donations in its history.

“This is an incredibly generous gift, and we are profoundly grateful to Rachel for choosing to invest in libraries, the Annapolis Valley, and the people our libraries serve,” Julia Merritt, the library’s chief executive officer, said in a news release reported by CBC News.

The library said the donation would help it continue creating opportunities for people across the region to read, learn and connect, while details about how the money will be implemented are finalized.

Why the branches were threatened

The five branches had originally been scheduled to close on July 20 because of what the library described as a significant funding shortfall.

In July, the Annapolis Valley Regional Library board voted to use $80,000 from its reserves to keep the branches operating until September 30.

The board had requested $351,000 in additional funding from municipalities to keep the five locations open through the end of the 2026–27 fiscal year. About one-third of that request had been committed, leaving a shortfall of more than $200,000.

The board operates 11 libraries in the Annapolis Valley.

The library’s website says it provides free public library service in West Hants, Kings and Annapolis counties, and has served the region since 1949.

CTV News Atlantic reported that the proposed closures were expected to eliminate nine full-time-equivalent positions.

The regional library’s funding pressure is part of a broader debate about public-library financing in Nova Scotia. The Council of Regional Librarians told CTV News Atlantic that the province’s regional libraries faced an estimated funding gap of $12.78 million.

Reid’s connection to libraries

Reid told CBC News that libraries were an essential service and should be properly funded.

“I had to do it because I don’t know what the point is of being a successful author in Nova Scotia if you’re not going to use it for good,” Reid said in the interview.

Reid said she grew up in Bedford, Nova Scotia, and frequently used the local library, borrowing as many books as she was allowed to take out at one time.

She said those books helped inspire her to become an author and that she began reading romance novels at the library in adulthood.

Reid also described libraries as meeting places and community spaces where she took her children and met other parents.

“I don’t think I’d be an author without my local library,” she told CBC News.

Reid’s fiction has also brought LGBTQ+ relationships and characters into mainstream hockey romance. CBC News previously described *Heated Rivalry* as a story about a Canadian hockey player and a Russian rival whose relationship develops while they compete in the National Hockey League.

Long-term funding remains unresolved

The donation provides immediate support, but the Annapolis Valley Regional Library said it does not eliminate the need for reliable public funding.

In its statement, the library emphasized the need for increased stable annual funding and strong municipal and provincial partnerships to sustain services over the long term.

Reid similarly said private donations cannot replace government policy or public funding, while adding that she wanted to help because she was able to do so.

The library said it remained committed to working with government so communities across the region could continue to access strong public libraries.

The library also said Reid would participate in a special ticketed public event next month focused on libraries, reading and community, with further information expected later this week.

For now, the $300,000 contribution gives the regional system additional resources as it works to preserve services in the five communities and address the structural funding issue identified by its board.

The appearance marked O’Donnell’s return to a television hosting desk after decades away from the format.

O’Donnell previously hosted The Rosie O’Donnell Show from 1996 through 2002 and was also a co-host of The View.

She opened the program by telling viewers, “They said you can’t come home again, but here I am!”

O’Donnell then connected her arrival to Trump’s well-publicized criticism of Kimmel’s late-night program, telling the audience, “And if you thought the president hated ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ when it was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, buckle up, people!”

Variety reported that O’Donnell entered wearing a bright pink, flower-adorned suit and was greeted by extended applause and chants of “RO-SIE! RO-SIE!”

References to Trump Without Saying His Name

Although Trump was the central target of several jokes, O’Donnell did not say his name during the monologue, according to USA Today and The Washington Post.

Instead, she referred to Trump as “Mango Mussolini” while discussing her move to Ireland.

“I’ve been living in Ireland for the past two years because of Mango Mussolini,” O’Donnell said, according to USA Today.

She said she read Project 2025 and decided, “Gotta get myself out of here,” before choosing Ireland, which she joked was a country where people are “driven to drink regardless of who’s running their country.”

Project 2025 is a conservative policy blueprint that became a prominent subject of political debate during the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign.

O’Donnell also contrasted the political climate of the 1990s with the present day, saying that although the earlier period included war, climate change and presidential scandals, “today, everything is so chill.”

A Direct Message to the White House

During the monologue, O’Donnell described telling her child not to reveal that the family was moving to Ireland.

She said the child instead told classmates, “I’m being forced to move to another country because the president of the United States hates my mother. But in all fairness, I believe my mother hates him more.”

O’Donnell then looked toward the camera, waved and said, “Hi, I know you’re watching!”

She closed the monologue with another reference to Trump, joking that he was “in the White House crying because I haven’t mentioned him.”

The Washington Post characterized the performance as a return in which O’Donnell mocked Trump but barely mentioned him, emphasizing that she avoided using his name.

A Longstanding Public Conflict

O’Donnell and Trump have publicly clashed for roughly two decades, with the dispute beginning before Trump entered presidential politics.

Variety traced the conflict to 2006, when O’Donnell criticized Trump during her time on The View after he allowed a beauty-pageant winner to retain her title despite controversy surrounding her conduct.

The disagreement continued after Trump became president and O’Donnell remained a vocal critic of his administration and political agenda.

Trump’s conflict with Kimmel has also been a recurring feature of late-night political coverage, making O’Donnell’s selection as guest host especially pointed.

Kimmel had previously presented O’Donnell’s guest-hosting role as “a special treat” for Trump, describing her as one of the president’s “all-time favorites.”

The Week Ahead

O’Donnell is scheduled to continue as guest host throughout the week of August 17.

The announced guests include Jean Smart, Richard Gadd, Charlie Day, Janelle James, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman and Shawn Hatosy.

Kimmel is scheduled to return to Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 8.

O’Donnell’s first night therefore combined a conventional talk-show comeback with an unusually direct political message, even though Trump’s name was absent from the monologue itself.