Singer-songwriter FKA twigs is suing her ex-boyfriend, actor Shia LaBeouf, claiming that he is trying to “silence” her from speaking out against sexual abuse through the use of an “unlawful” nondisclosure agreement.
The complaint, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, seeks a court order to prohibit LeBeouf from enforcing sections of an NDA which Tahliah Barnett — the Grammy Award-winning singer’s legal name — says violates California law.
“Shia LaBeouf has tried to control Tahliah Barnett for the better part of a decade,” the filing states.
“This action was taken in response to Mr. LaBeouf’s attempt to bully and intimidate twigs through a frivolous and unlawful secret arbitration he filed against her in December in which he sought to extract money from her,” said the singer’s attorney Mathew Rosengart, national co-chair of media & entertainment litigation at Greenberg Traurig in Century City, in a statement.
Rosengart added that twigs “refuses to be bullied anymore. She is instead standing up for herself and other survivors of sexual abuse who have improperly been silenced. This is the unusual case that is not about money but about justice and upholding and enforcing California law and policy designed to protect survivors by nullifying illegal NDAs.”
LaBeouf’s attorney Shawn Holley of Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir denied the claims.
“When Ms. Barnett and Mr. LaBeouf both decided to resolve their differences and move on with their lives, no one forced her or ‘bullied’ her to stay silent,” Holley said in a statement. “As a woman with agency, she decided to settle the case and accepted money to dismiss her lawsuit.”
In a response to the suit, the actor told the New York Times that “many of these allegations are not true.”
But he added, “I am not in the position to defend any of my actions. I owe these women the opportunity to air their statements publicly and accept accountability for those things I have done.”
In the statement Thursday, Holley added that the claim of sexual battery “was disputed, as were the other claims made in Ms. Barnett’s lawsuit.”
Shia LaBeouf poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film “The Phoenician Scheme” at the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival May 18, 2025.
(Lewis Joly / Invision / AP)
According to the new lawsuit, LaBeouf filed a secret arbitration complaint and “improperly sought exorbitant monies” from Barnett last December, claiming she had breached their agreement by violating its nondisclosure provisions after she gave an interview to the Hollywood Reporter in October.
In the interview, Barnett was asked if she felt safe and answered that as a woman of color in the entertainment industry, she “wouldn’t feel safe” and discussed her involvement with organizations that support survivors, saying, “I think it’s less about me at this point and more about looking forward. Just, you know, moving on with my life.”
The agreement Barnett reached with LaBeouf “contained a deficient and unlawful NDA that is unenforceable,” under California’s Stand Together Against Non-Disclosure Act, according to the complaint. The law forbids NDAs from being used to silence victims of sexual misconduct.
“As the California Legislature has made clear, survivors should have the right to tell their stories without fear or coercion, and California law does not and must not allow abusers and bullies to silence them through secret agreements containing unconscionable, unlawful gag orders,” the complaint states.
The lawsuit further alleges that while LaBeouf has sought to prohibit Barnett from talking about her abuse, he has “repeatedly brought up his relationship with Ms. Barnett—on his own and without being directly asked about her—materially breaching the very confidentiality provisions that he had just contended were fully enforceable against Ms. Barnett.”
While the actor agreed to drop the arbitration in February, he has “refused to acknowledge, however, that the NDA provisions are illegal and unenforceable,” the filing states.
GO to Dungeon Lane today and it’s strange to think it occupies a special place in Paul McCartney’s heart.
Yet it will go down in pop history alongside other street names associated with him, joining Penny Lane and Abbey Road.
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Paul McCartney today in a picture taken by his daughterCredit: Mary McCartneyPaul, left, makes his debut public performance, aged 15, with The Quarrymen, led by John Lennon, right, in 1957Credit: PA:Press AssociationPaul in his early years, aged 8Credit: Alamy
Situated in the Speke neighbourhood of Liverpool, the L24 postal district, a faded road sign sets the tone for its desolate air.
It is bordered on one side by a solar farm business and, on the other, by a fenced-off area of scrubland which separates it from the city’s John Lennon Airport.
Before you get very far, a bright yellow “emergency access gate” bars further exploration.
But, as a child, Dungeon Lane was McCartney’s gateway to a stunning rural idyll where he could escape the hustle and bustle of urban life.
In the Fifties, the lane took him past a daffodil farm to the Oglet Shore on the widest stretch of the River Mersey.
I wonder if young Paul, a keen birdwatcher, ventured into this wilderness clutching his trusty The Observer’s Book Of Birds.
There, he may have spotted any number of waders — curlew, snipe, dunlin, black-tailed godwits.
What we do know is that his lifelong love of our feathered friends began in those days.
This helps explain the compositions dotted through his career such as Blackbird with The Beatles, Single Pigeon with Wings, Two Magpies with The Fireman and solo efforts Jenny Wren and Long Tailed Winter Bird.
To McCartney, his early rambles into the countryside represent humbler, simpler times before The Fab Four exploded on to the scene, before his storied life in the dazzling glare of publicity.
Paul with his dad Jim and brother MikeCredit: GettyPaul’s childhood home at 20 Forthlin RoadCredit: Getty ImagesPaul with mum Mary and younger brother Mike
Sir Paul, 83, has called his 19th solo album The Boys Of Dungeon Lane . . . which is, as he suggests, a trip down memory lane.
He got the title from the lyrics of its first single, Days We Left Behind, released yesterday, a nostalgia-filled acceptance that he has a far longer past than future.
Intimate, beautifully sung with Macca playing acoustic guitar, bass, piano and harmonium himself (how does he do that!?), it is the first taste of a project that has been five years in the making.
“This is very much a memory song for me,” he says. “I was thinking about just that . . . the days I left behind.
“And I do often wonder if I’m just writing about the past — but then I think, how can you write about anything else?”
For McCartney, the song conjures up “a lot of memories of Liverpool. It involves a bit in the middle about John [Lennon] and Forthlin Road which is the street I used to live in. Dungeon Lane is near there.”
Paul was born on June 18, 1942, to his midwife mother Mary and salesman father Jim, and they moved with younger brother Mike to 20, Forthlin Road, Allerton, in the mid-Fifties from Speke, where they had lived since 1947.
We also know that Paul first bumped into John on July 6, 1957, at roughly 4pm, at a garden fete behind St Peter’s Church, Woolton.
In Days We Left Behind, he sings of the bond he formed with the lanky lad 20 months older than him: “We met at Forthlin Road/And wrote a secret code/To never be spoken.”
Continuing his reflection on the song, he says: “I used to live in a place called Speke which is quite working class.
“We didn’t have much at all but it didn’t matter because all the people were great and you didn’t notice you didn’t have much.”
As already mentioned, birdwatching was a hobby, one that required little cash and gave him a lot of pleasure “in the nearby woods and fields”.
Sir Paul with his wife NancyCredit: PA:Press AssociationPaul, a keen birdwatcher, owned The Observer’s Book Of BirdsCredit: Alamy
A recent entry in Macca’s Spotify playlists, under the banner Sticking Out Of My Back Pocket, came accompanied by these musings . . .
“My mum had the midwife’s house on the edge of Liverpool, where we lived,” he says.
“It was where Liverpool just stopped and became deep countryside, so that was when I had the opportunity to do quite a bit of birdwatching.”
He particularly cherishes the moment he saw a “skylark rising into the sky, singing its sweet song”.
That unforgettable sight has found its way into Days We Left Behind, with its lines, “In the skies the skylarks rise/Above the sounds of war/Since that day I knew they’d stay/With me for evermore.”
All these decades later, he reflects: “And now because I live part-time on a farm [in Sussex], I’m able to see a lot of birds and I don’t need The Observer’s Book Of Birds quite so much as I did back then.”
McCartney’s new album promises to be one of the most personal, most autobiographical song cycles he’s ever recorded, while also finding room for up-to-date love songs dedicated to third wife Nancy.
Yesterday’s announcement states that it finds him in a “candid, vulnerable and deeply reflective mood, writing with rare openness about his childhood in post-war Liverpool, the resilience of his parents, and early adventures shared with George Harrison and John Lennon”.
I’m guessing here but songs yet to be heard, Momma Gets By and Salesman Saint, appear to be affectionate remembrances of mum Mary, who died when Paul was just 14, and dad Jim.
Sir Paul has called his 19th solo album The Boys Of Dungeon LaneCredit: SuppliedDungeon Lane, now fenced off on both sidesCredit: supplied
This is not the first time Macca has delved into his early years for songwriting inspiration.
I talked to him about the playful On My Way To Work, which appeared on his 2013 album, New.
He called it a “collection of memories all morphed together”, providing a fascinating glimpse into his life before Beatlemania.
“It’s about me going to my first job, before The Beatles took off, which was working on a lorry for a delivery company called Speedy Prompt Deliveries — SPD.”
McCartney described going to work on the council-run green and cream buses which led to him looking at risqué magazines like Parade.
“I’d go on the bus at some unearthly hour of the morning,” he said. “I might buy a magazine and look at the nudies. I was too young to be interested in the news!”
He remembered how hard-up kids like him ripped the fronts off cigarette packets and traded duplicates with their mates, instead of collecting “football cards or, like in America, baseball cards”.
“It was like, ‘I’ll swap you two Craven A for a Woodbine’. Then there were the posh brands because this bus route went from the centre of Liverpool to the outskirts.
“Posh people would be smoking Passing Clouds or Sobranies and packets of those were very prized.”
Another song, Queenie Eye, referenced a childhood street game from “1940s Britain”.
“It’s what we used to get up to before video games and that whole home entertainment thing,” he said.
“Someone would be elected to be ‘the one’ or the ‘queenie eye’. We’d all stand behind that person and he would throw a ball over his head and one of us would catch it and hide.
“Then we would all chant, ‘Queenie eye, queenie eye, who’s got the ball? I haven’t got it. It isn’t in my pocket!’ It was simple entertainment for simple minds but great fun.”
Now it is time to return to the 2020s and the creation of The Boys Of Dungeon Lane, the follow-up to his captivating lockdown album, McCartney III.
This time, we’re told we can expect “Wings-style rock, Beatles- style harmonies and McCartney-style grooves”.
TRACK LIST
As You Lie There
Lost Horizon
Days We Left Behind
Ripples in a Pond
Mountain Top
Down South
We Two
Come Inside
Never Know
Home to Us
Life Can Be Hard
First Star of the Night
Salesman Saint
Momma Gets By
The process began around five years ago when Macca met American live-wire producer Andrew Watt, known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne, Lady Gaga, Post Malone and The Beatles’ greatest Sixties chart rivals, the Rolling Stones.
Watt, I gather, “pulled a guitar” on his latest rock icon, who instantly happened upon a chord he didn’t recognise.
As the story goes, the ever- experimental McCartney changed one note, then another, until he had a three-chord sequence.
That led to his new record’s opening track, As You Lie There, which in turn set the ball rolling for the other 13 songs.
It’s remarkable that, as with McCartney III, he is credited with playing all the instruments himself across the whole thing.
It brings to mind how at ease this enduring music obsessive seemed as he suggested specific drum beats and fills to Ringo Starr in The Beatles’ Get Back documentary.
With Macca still touring and playing momentous shows like his 2022 Glastonbury epic, Days We Left Behind has been honed over half a decade when time permitted.
During that period, he even managed to introduce the Stones to producer Watt, who helmed their 2023 comeback album, Hackney Diamonds.
When McCartney was in Los Angeles working with Watt, he was brought in to play bass on Mick Jagger and Co’s punk blast, Bite My Head Off.
Upon its release, I spoke to Keith Richards who was made up over their special guest.
“Yeah, Macca just strolled in with his bass,” the guitar legend drawled. “I think the song reminded him of those times [in the Sixties]. Beatlemania was equally as bizarre as Stones mania.”
There’s a moment towards the end of Bite My Head Off where you can hear someone saying, “Come on Paul, play something”.
“That might have been me,” smiled Richards.
But this is all about Britain’s greatest living songwriter, Paul McCartney, and his new album The Boys Of Dungeon Lane.
Time is precious but when it comes to music and life, he’s still facing forward at 83 — even if he’s remembering a youth long ago when “in the skies, the skylarks rise”.
The Slaters have finally seen the video that proves Jasmine killed Anthony in self-defence, but Kat isn’t so convinced that the teen is innocent, despite what Zoe says
Kat isn’t sure about Jasmine(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Finally, Jasmine Fisher‘s video evidence that killing her biological father Anthony Trueman was an act of self-defence has come to light. After watching the video during Thursday’s episode of EastEnders (26 March), Zoe Slater rejoiced that her daughter would soon be free. But Kat was less sure of Jasmine’s innocence, even after she saw what really happened.
Jasmine (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) was arrested for murder earlier this year and insisted that she only killed her father because he was going to kill her. She even had a video to prove it, in which Anthony (Nicholas Bailey) could be seen charging at her, but her phone mysteriously went missing as she was cuffed.
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Max Branning (Jake Wood) had stolen it, and Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) stole it from him. Without the phone, many, including Jasmine’s boyfriend Oscar Branning (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) and her grandfather Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker), believed her to be a cold-blooded murderer who was lying to save herself from prison. But this week, Cindy brought the phone back to the Slaters, who then watched the video.
While Zoe immediately jumped into action to make sure the video could be used for Jasmine’s defence, and Oscar went to visit Jasmine and apologise for not believing her, Kat (Jessie Wallace) confided in Alfie (Shane Richie) about her doubts. She asked Alfie if Jasmine really had to hit him so hard, and implied she wasn’t sure Jasmine’s response was proportional to how scared she was.
Jasmine later revealed to Oscar that her lawyer was having similar thoughts. She had been told that she would still need to stand trial to prove it was reasonable force.
Some fans weren’t sure why Kat was being so suspicious about her granddaughter. One wrote: “Why is Kat so against Jasmine- like you’ve seen video evidence now honey?”
Another agreed emphatically: “Right, like, what did she expect her to do with a crazy man charging at her but protect herself by any means?” A third asked: “Does Kat not like Jasmine still even after seeing the evidence?”
Elsewhere in the episode, Jasmine’s brother Josh Goodwin (Joshua Vaughn) learned that his new beau was in fact his twin’s ex. After Oscar went to see Jasmine, the two decided to give their relationship another go, which he later told Josh.
Josh, it seems, had already developed feelings for Oscar, but kept that secret and instead teared up as Oscar told him what Jasmine was like. Fans are split on who they want Oscar to end up with, with some saying he has more “chemistry” with Josh, and others saying he and Jasmine are “fun”.
How much the fans are split has led some to wonder if EastEnders will ask the public to choose who Oscar’s eventual partner is. The show previously held a vote like this so that the public could decide if Denise Fox (Diane Parish) would end up with Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) or Jack Branning (Scott Maslen). Ultimately, the public chose Jack.
Scrubs fans have been wondering if any more original cast members will return.
Scrubs Cast – then and now
Fans are wondering if one of the most beloved characters from the original series of Scrubs will appear in the revival.
*Warning – this article contains minor spoilers for the revival series of Scrubs*
A few weeks into the new season, we have already been reacquainted with JD, Turk and Elliott played by Zach Braff, Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke respectively. Early episodes have also featured brief appearances by John C McGinley’s Dr Cox and Judy Reyes’ Carla.
Unfortunately they are not series regulars for the new iteration. Although the Todd has been a more regular occurrence.
The Janitor was an instant favourite in the original series. He appeared during the original eight season run and was played by Neil Flynn.
Most dedicated viewers will know that the writers first considered the role would actually be a part of the main character’s imagination but they soon abandoned that idea part way through the first season.
He did not appear in the ninth season, having apparently quit as soon as he found out his adversary JD no longer worked at the hospital. Behind the scenes, Flynn’s commitment to starring in the sitcom The Middle at the same time prevented him from appearing.
But will the Janitor appear in the new series? Here’s what we know so far.
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Is the Janitor in the new series of Scrubs?
Yes, the Janitor is due to make an appearance in the series. A video shared to the show’s official Facebook page back in February confirmed it by sharing a short video. It was captioned: “Oh, he is SO back. Neil Flynn is scrubbing back in to Scrubs.”
However, the actor was not in his character’s usual attire. Instead of his maintenance overalls, he is seen wearing a suit. The person behind the camera drops a disposable coffee cup before Flynn enters the shot and says: “I’m not cleaning that.”
This clip sparked more than a 1,000 comments of fans sharing their excitement to the news. One person simply stated: “Best. News. Ever!” Another replied: “Shut the front door!?!!! I cannot waaaait!! I was getting so worried because I hadn’t seen him in any of the sneak peeks.”
However, six episodes have been released so far and Flynn is still to appear. The show seems in no rush to offer up more cameos as it spends time introducing fans to the new characters. This week, in the sixth instalment, only just saw the reintroduction of another beloved role – the stuffed dog Rowdy, who was revealed to now be living in JD’s office.
There only three episodes left of the revival series according to its Wikipedia page, so it should not be long before Flynn appears. We still don’t know for sure which one it will be though. It could be that the makers of the show are saving something special for the finale.
• The Academy Awards will move from the Dolby Theatre to L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles beginning in 2029 under a new agreement with AEG that runs through 2039.
• The shift to L.A. Live will place the ceremony within a larger, campus-style complex, allowing the red carpet, show, press operations and post-show events to be staged in a more centralized footprint with increased capacity.
• The move will coincide with the Oscars’ shift to YouTube, part of a broader reset for the ceremony as it looks to expand its global reach after years of declining television viewership.
The Oscars are leaving Hollywood — or at least Hollywood Boulevard.
Beginning in 2029, the Academy Awards will move from the Dolby Theatre, their home for nearly a quarter century, to L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and AEG announced on Thursday. The ceremony will be held in the theater currently known as the Peacock Theater, which is expected to be renamed before the Oscars arrive as part of a new naming rights deal.
The new agreement runs through 2039. Discussions about the move have been underway for the last couple of years, according to people familiar with the planning who were not authorized to speak publicly.
The change in venue comes as the Oscars are also moving away from their traditional home on broadcast television. Earlier this year, the Academy announced that the ceremony will begin streaming live worldwide on YouTube in 2029, ending a five-decade run on ABC.
Since 2002, the show has been closely associated with Hollywood Boulevard, where the red carpet runs alongside the Walk of Fame and, for one night a year, the area becomes the symbolic center of the film industry. The Dolby Theatre sits at the corner of Hollywood and Highland, inside a retail and entertainment center near the TCL Chinese Theatre and the El Capitan.
L.A. Live offers a more centralized, campus-style setting, with venues and event spaces clustered together. The complex is adjacent to Crypto.com Arena and the Los Angeles Convention Center and is part of a larger sports and entertainment district developed and operated by AEG that regularly hosts concerts, sporting events and awards shows, including the Emmys and the Grammys. AEG has recently proposed adding a new hotel, residences and additional entertainment space to the complex, part of a longer-term expansion of the site.
In some ways, the move out of the Dolby is less a break than a return: The ceremony was staged for years in downtown L.A. at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and at the Shrine Auditorium before settling at the Dolby.
At the Oscars’ new home, the red carpet, ceremony, press operations and post-show events can all be staged within a compact footprint that includes the adjacent JW Marriott hotel and its ballroom. The theater itself is expected to undergo upgrades to its stage, sound and lighting systems, allowing it to be configured more specifically around the show. The move is also expected to increase capacity, a growing consideration as the academy’s ranks have expanded significantly in recent years, now numbering more than 11,000 members.
At the Dolby, space has long been tight. Each year, multiple blocks of Hollywood Boulevard are shut down for days at a time, rerouting traffic and turning the area into a heavily secured zone — conditions that were even more restrictive this year with security tightened further amid the war in Iran, including a one-mile police buffer around the theater.
The Academy had been looking for a venue that offered greater control over how the show is staged, including how the audience is arranged and how the room is used for both the broadcast and the live event. The new venue is expected to provide more room for press areas, green rooms and backstage operations, along with upgraded technical infrastructure for staging the ceremony.
Early design renderings released by the academy suggest that, for viewers at home, the Oscars may not look all that different. The stage retains the sweeping, curved proscenium that has defined the Dolby Theatre era, suggesting a similar visual approach at a larger scale, with expanded screen space and a more immersive ceiling design.
For both the academy and AEG, which owns and operates the complex, the appeal is in keeping everything in one place — arrivals, ceremony, the Governors Ball and afterparties — rather than spreading events across multiple locations. The setup also creates new opportunities for hospitality and sponsorship tied to the broader campus.
“L.A. Live was built to host the moments that define culture and there is no greater global stage than the Oscars,” said Todd Goldstein, AEG’s chief revenue officer. “Together, we will create an environment that celebrates creativity, honors excellence and delivers an unforgettable experience for movie fans everywhere.”
Taken together, the changes amount to a significant reset for the Oscars, which have seen their audience decline from more than 40 million viewers in the late 1990s to 17.9 million this year, down 9% from the previous year. Moving to YouTube offers a way to reach a broader, more global audience at a time when traditional television viewership has declined.
The Oscars will remain at the Dolby through the 100th ceremony in 2028 before making the transition the following year.
“For the 101st Oscars and beyond, the Academy looks forward to closely collaborating with AEG to make L.A. Live the perfect backdrop for our global celebration of cinema,” Academy Chief Executive Bill Kramer and President Lynette Howell Taylor said in a statement.
Series four episode one sees Detective Inspector for Shipton Abbott Police Station, Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshall, investigate a crime novelist’s death that eerily mirrors the details of his final novel. Humphrey must uncover whether it was a coincidence or murder by design…
Meanwhile, The Lily Bond is caught adrift leaving Humphrey and Martha Lloyd, played by Sally Bretton, back home with Martha’s mother Anne Lloyd, played by Barbara Flynn.
However, things won’t be plain sailing for the couple in series four as Martha star Sally, 45, teased that the duo will face “unexpected hurdles”.
Talking ahead of series four, Sally said: “They have so much fun in this series, but as always, there are unexpected hurdles.
“They’ve taken on a huge house project that is stunning but comes with plenty of problems, and Martha is constantly juggling her business, the builder, the new home, and Humphrey.”
Meanwhile, Humphrey star Kris, 52, teased of his character and series four: “He’s finally a married man!
“They’ve put fostering on the back burner to focus on their new house project, which, as you can imagine with Humphrey’s clumsiness, is a recipe for disaster. He’s not at all gifted in the DIY department, causing more issues than he solves.”
Talking about Humphrey being forced to part ways with his beloved houseboat this series, Kris added: “Ever since we met Humphrey in the Caribbean, he’s been a frustrated sailor.
“He loves the romanticism of being on a boat and is always drawn to the water, so he is sad that this chapter of his life has closed. However, their new house is in the perfect location, and hopefully there will be more boats in his future.”
Elsewhere, a synopsis for series four teases: “DI Humphrey Goodman and the Shipton Abbott team are back, facing a fresh wave of mind-boggling puzzles. From the suspicious death of a crime novelist, whose final plot eerily mirrors their demise, to an intruder who returns to undo the crime scene they created, the team have their work cut out for them.
“Set against the breathtaking landscapes of Devon and Cornwall, fact and folklore blur when a witness claims a mermaid wrecked a local seaweed farm, an off-grid community fight developers with the image of the Green Man, a Morris dancer is targeted in plain sight, and a stolen pirate map reappears under mysterious circumstances.
“Beyond the station, Humphrey and Martha launch into married life as they search for a new place to call home, all whilst Humphrey faces mounting pressure when tasked with an impossible decision that will change his team forever.
“Meanwhile, Anne rises to new heights as a local councillor, Esther is forced to grapple with the consequences of her past choices, and Zoe starts planning her next steps. Elsewhere, Kelby’s dating life takes an unexpected turn when he meets someone online, but Margo spots warning signs that all may not be as it seems…”
Beyond Paradise returns this Friday at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
When you think of your earliest memory of reality television, what comes to mind? Is it “The Real World,” “Survivor” or “The Bachelor”? Perhaps it’s other fare like “Project Runway” or one of the “Real Housewives” franchises.
Growing up in the ‘90s and early aughts, my first exposure to reality programming was MTV’s slate of shows like “Real World” and “Road Rules” — thanks to being the youngest of four siblings, I was exposed to shows that were, in hindsight, too risque for me at too young an age. But they left an indelible mark. I saw Irene McGee of “Real World: Seattle” get slapped by her roommate Stephen Williams, a moment that at the time sent shock waves. Genesis Moss, of the Boston cast, was one of my earliest exposures to a gay person on TV. And Melissa Howard of the New Orleans season showed me how you can be 5-foot-2 and unapologetically feisty — as someone with a similar build and demeanor, I took that to heart.
Over the years, I’ve sometimes dismissed reality TV because it felt a little too personal or a little too competitive. I often wonder about the psychological effect on participants as their lives are laid bare for all to see. However, I can’t deny their appeal and why fans have continued to gravitate toward these shows season after season. They make for excellent watercooler talk; in recent weeks, my co-workers and I have spoken endlessly about “The Bachelorette” and Taylor Frankie Paul, and who did or didn’t stay married from Season 10 of “Love Is Blind.”
Few of us knew in the early days what effect reality television would have on the culture or how it would create a new type of star. Reality TV personalities have become influencers, pop culture icons and even political figures. One is the president.
And many shows have not only endured, they’ve spawned universes, international adaptations and spinoffs. Bravo, a TV channel that used to focus on the performing arts, is now an unscripted powerhouse that even has its own convention, BravoCon, where its various universes come together in service of fans.
What does that say about us as viewers? There’s always been a fascination with peering into the lives of others, seeing how they react to everyday problems under the glare of a camera. Perhaps it is a way to deflect from the reality of our own lives, which under the guise of normalcy is straining with the weight of political upheaval and economic turmoil, not to mention personal strife. Seeing someone else onscreen deal with their reality is sometimes the best escape.
So like it or not, reality television is here to stay.
The mysterious character is introduced early on in the Netflix series
Samantha King Content Editor
15:00, 26 Mar 2026
Nicky’s siblings inform Rachel about a family legend known as the Sorry Man(Image: Netflix)
*Warning: Contains major spoilers for Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen*
Netflix today released (March 26) all episodes of its highly-anticipated horror series Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen which explores the dark side of wedded bliss.
The eight-part show is created by Haley Z. Boston (Brand New Cherry Flavor) and executive produced by the Duffer Brothers (Stranger Things), and centres around a young couple, Rachel Harkin and Nicky Cunningham, in the week leading up to their wedding.
While the duo initially seem a match made in heaven, things start to unravel as Rachel (Camila Morrone) meets her soon-to-be-spouse’s family for the first time while they prepare for their big day at the sprawling, remote cabin owned by Nicky’s (Adam DiMarco) parents.
During her first encounter with Nicky’s siblings at the cabin, Rachel is told the story of the Sorry Man, a mysterious presence who allegedly roams the woods outside looking for women to murder.
Nicky’s sister Portia (Gus Birney) takes great pleasure in revealing that the Sorry Man believes his long-lost love is hiding inside another woman. She says that if he gets the scent of blood, he wastes no time in tracking down and ripping open the woman who is bleeding.
The tale originates from Nicky’s older brother Jules, who claimed to have seen the Sorry Man for himself when he was a child. The whole family are aware of the story, including Jules’ own son who lives in fear of the creature.
The Sorry Man and whether or not he will appear is one of the show’s enduring mysteries – especially after Rachel gets a nose bleed – until a major reveal explains what is really going on.
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Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.
This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like Stranger Things and The Last of Us.
As viewers know, Rachel is battling a curse that kills anyone in her family line who marries someone who is not their soulmate. That curse affected her own mother (portrayed by Victoria Pedretti) who shortly after wedding Rachel’s dad, collapsed while bleeding from her eyes.
As his new bride was pregnant, Rachel’s dad was forced to tear open his dead wife’s belly to save his unborn child all the while repeating “I’m sorry” as the tragic moment unfolds.
Viewers learn that Jules was actually present that day as the newlyweds had been staying at a cabin nearby to his family home. He had been hiding under the bed in their holiday cabin after leaving home and so witnessed Rachel’s mother die, and her father then tear her open, leaving him with the idea of the Sorry Man.
The moment of Rachel’s mother’s death was caught on a home video tape which is later shown to Rachel after the Sorry Man – a.k.a her actual dad – invades the Cunningham home and kidnaps Rachel in the dead of night to stop her from suffering the same fate as her mother after hearing about her impending wedding to Nicky.
Jules’ son sees Rachel being kidnapped and informs his dad, who tracks down where Rachel is being held. When he finds her, he recognises who he believes to be the Sorry Man, before Rachel informs him that is actually her dad.
Jules then realises what he witnessed that day as a child was the Harkin family curse unfolding, not a murder, and that he was actually present at Rachel’s birth.
Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen is now streaming on Netflix.
Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders will soon render a verdict on Hollywood’s biggest merger in nearly a decade.
Warner has set an April 23 special meeting of stockholders to vote on the company’s proposed sale, for $31-a-share, to the Larry Ellison family’s Paramount Skydance.
The $111-billion deal is expected to reshape the entertainment industry by combining two historic film studios, dozens of prominent TV networks, including CBS, HBO, HGTV and Comedy Central, streaming services and prominent news organizations, CNN and CBS News. The tie-up would give Paramount such beloved characters as Batman, Wile E. Coyote, and Harry Potter, television shows including “Hacks,” and “The Pitt,” and a rich vault of movies that includes “Casablanca,” and “One Battle After Another.”
The $31-a-share offer represents a 63% increase over Paramount Chairman David Ellison’s initial $19-a-share proposal for the company in mid-September, and a staggering 150% premium over Warner’s stock’s trading levels prior to news of Ellison’s interest.
“This transaction is the culmination of the Board’s robust process to unlock the full value of our world-class portfolio,” Warner Bros. Discovery Chief Executive David Zaslav said Thursday in a statement. “We are working closely with Paramount to close the transaction and deliver its benefits to all stakeholders.”
Paramount hopes to finalize the takeover by September. It has been working to secure the blessing of government regulators in the U.S. and abroad.
Should those regulatory deliberations stretch beyond September, Paramount will pay shareholders a so-called “ticking fee” — an extra 25 cents a share for every 90-day-period until the deal closes.
Paramount Skydance Chairman and CEO David Ellison attends President Trump’s State of the Union address three days before clinching his hard-fought Warner Bros. Discovery deal.
(Mark Schiefelbein / Associated Press)
For weeks it appeared that Netflix would scoop up Warner Bros.
Netflix initially won the bidding war in early December with a $27.75 offer for the studios and streaming services, including HBO Max. But Ellison refused to throw in the towel. He and his team continued to lobby shareholders, politicians and Warner board members, insisting their deal for the entire company, including the cable channels, was superior and they had a more certain path to win regulatory approval.
Warner’s board, under pressure, reopened the bidding in late February to allow Paramount to make its case. Warner board members ultimately concluded that Paramount’s bid topped the one from Netflix and the streamer bowed out. Paramount paid a $2.8-billion termination fee to Netflix and signed the merger agreement on Feb. 27.
Warner’s board is advising its shareholders to approve the Paramount deal. Failure to cast a vote will be the same as a no-vote, according to the company’s proxy.
Warner’s largest shareholders include the Vanguard Group, BlackRock, Inc. and State Street Corp.
Zaslav has significant stock and options holdings, worth about $517 million at the deal’s close, according to the proxy.
The regulatory filing also disclosed that a mysterious bidder had surfaced at the auction’s 11th hour.
A firm called Nobelis Capital, Pte., reportedly based in Singapore, alerted Warner on Feb. 18 that it was willing to pay $32.50 a share in cash.
The firm said it had placed $7.5 billion into an escrow account. However, Warner’s bankers “could not find the purported deposit at J.P. Morgan,” according to the proxy. And there was no evidence that Nobelis had any assets or any “equity or debt financing” lined up, Warner said, adding that it “took no further action with respect to the Nobelis proposal.”
IT has felt like the longest-running showbiz break-up of all time.
Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne have been on and off, and on ‘make or break’ holidays, countless times in their eight-year marriage. But last night we revealed they’ve split again, with friends insisting the EastEnders star has finally accepted there’s no future. Now insiders have revealed what is really going on behind closed doors.
I revealed Dan Osborne and Jacqueline Jossa have ended their relationshipCredit: InstagramJacqueline has endured heartache through her determination to make the marriage workCredit: RP/CLICK NEWS AND MEDIAThey remain dedicated parents to their two daughtersCredit: Instagram
Source insists: “They don’t want to give anyone the satisfaction of knowing it hasn’t worked.
“They’ve always tried their utmost to play happy families, no matter what’s going on behind closed doors.”
That’s because the role of Dan‘s wife will be a tough one to leave behind for the actress who has always protected the ex-Towie star – even if it meant she was cruelly labelled a “doormat” by trolls.
While the mum of two hasn’t put a foot wrong throughout their 13-year relationship, time and time again she’s been embarrassed by cheating scandals and crisis talks.
Now I can reveal why 33-year-old Jacqueline has stood by her man for far longer than many others would have been able to suffer.
On-screen as Albert Square’s bolshy Lauren Branning, she’s seen her womanising dad Max (played by Jake Wood) bed more than 20 women – often in lurid affairs, including his own son’s fiancée.
But away from the scripted soap, Jacqueline is the product of a long-lasting marriage, with her mum, Selina and dad John Jossa celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary last year.
But it’s been far from smooth sailing despite their enduring marriage.
Two years after joining EastEnders at 17, Jacqueline “wept” as her dad John, then 58, was jailed for four years at the Old Bailey for stealing nearly £500,000 of taxpayers’ money.
Just like her mum, who stood by her husband, Jacqueline also remained loyal to Dan when he was sacked from The Only Way Is Essex in 2015 after allegedly threatening his ex-girlfriend Megan, and claiming she was “his property”, when Jacqueline was pregnant with their first daughter, Ella.
Jacqueline only spoke out about the alleged incident once, in which she said she had reprimanded him and would “never fully forgive him”, while Dan admitted: “I mean I said stupid things, I take full responsibility of it and you learn from your mistakes.”
I’m told Jacqueline looks up to both her parents, especially her mum.
In 2014, she credited her mum as her idol, saying, “She’s not just the strongest woman but the strongest person I know. She does everything for our family. Everything”.
A driving energy for Jacqueline to protect the marriage came from her own parents’ livesCredit: InstagramJacqueline with her mum SelinaCredit: jacjossa/InstagramJohn and Selina Jossa have been married for 45 yearsCredit: TikTok/@selinajossa
Crucially, Selina has taught her that you have to fight to save a marriage – after suffering her fair share of ups and downs throughout her 45-year relationship.
So when Jacqueline said “until death do us part” in her vows to Dan, she meant it.
Like she’s been loyal to EastEnders – being cast as a teenager and returning five years later after taking a break to have a family – Jacqueline has stood by Dan throughout the darkest of times.
She has also kept their marriage problems as private as possible.
Her mum, however, has sometimes seemingly hinted at a strained relationship with her son-in-law.
When the marriage had hit the rocks in previous years, Selina had gone so far as to unfollow Dan on social media.
If she’s happy, we’re happy. We’ll always be there for Jac no matter what anyway.
Mum Selina
Commenting in 2019, when Jaqueline appeared on I’m A Celebrity, Jacqueline’s sister Katrina cautiously told OK!: “We don’t get involved in their relationship, but we’re happy if Jacqueline is happy. Everything seems great at the moment.”
While Selina added: “If she’s happy, we’re happy. We’ll always be there for Jac no matter what anyway.”
‘Quietly quitting’
I believe Jacqueline has recently found herself again after returning to EastEnders.
Five years away, bringing up her family meant she understandably became more reliant on Dan.
But she is living a much more independent, free and happy life, knowing her worth.
Living separate lives recently has given Jacqueline the space she needs while in a positive mindset to work out her future.
It’s claimed former Towie star Dan moved out permanently last month into the house he was said to have bought behind Jac’s back in 2024.
His “secret” Essex pad came to light after the on-off couple announced last March that they had split. The following month, they appeared to rekindle their marriage on a “make or break” family holiday to Mexico.
In a surprise plot twist, friends say Dan has experienced doubts about going through with thedivorce— but Jacqueline stood her ground.
Jacqueline stood her ground after making her decisionCredit: Louis Wood
A source close to Dan told The Sun last night: “Everyone knows they’ve had their troubles, but after spending some time apart this year, they’ve decided to make the split permanent.
“Their two daughters are their main priority.”
In recent weeks, the couple had unfollowed each other on social media.
However, when approached by The Sun about their marriage ending, the pair re-followed one another.
Jac’s pal said: “It feels too good to be true that she’s finally seen the light, but they’ve both been telling friends it’s over.
“It seemed impossible, but she’s starting to accept not being Dan’s wife and just Jacqueline.
“Her confidence has come flooding back and she’s happier than she’s been in a long time. Jacqueline’s also throwing herself in to work and enjoying every moment being the best mum she can be.
“Life is short — she’s determined not to waste it.”
Jacqueline might not be ready to share with the world that it’s over with Dan, but she’s been “quietly quitting” the marriage over the last few months – and friends hope this time, she’ll finally go through with it.
The actress with her two daughters Mia and EllaCredit: TRIPadvisorWriter Amanda, left with Jacqueline, right, says the sap star is living a much more independent life now.
With hit medical drama The Pitt finally available to watch in the UK on HBO Max, leading man Noah Wyle has shared some tantalising insight into its future beyond season two
The Pitt’s Noah Wyle drops thrilling update on season 3(Image: HBO)
The Pitt’s Noah Wyle has delivered an exciting update on the third season of HBO’s smash-hit medical drama.
He also teased his hopes for the future of the drama, hinting it could run “forever” if audiences are still tuning in.
Wyle portrays Dr Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch, a senior attending physician working in a crowded and underfunded emergency room in Pittsburgh.
Throughout each season, Dr Robby, along with a team of doctors, nurses, and medical students, experience a single 15-hour shift, with the second instalment taking place during a busy 4th of July.
The former ER star was in London this week for the UK launch of the series where he spilled two important rules that every episode of the hit series must follow.
Speaking to HBO Max Chairman Casey Bloys, Wyle was asked how soon the cast and crew will be ready to start up production on season three.
“Very soon, boss, very soon,” Wyle joked. “We are in the process of writing character arcs for season three for everybody.”
He went on to explain how the series’ unique storytelling format presents a compelling challenge for the writers, which includes himself and creator R. Scott Gemmill.
“It’s a very interesting show to break because, unlike a lot of shows that are 22 episodes that may play over a calendar year, this is 15 hours of one day,” he continued. “So you’re painting with a much finer brush.
“The character’s arc is not really enough to go through the courtship of a romance, but it’s enough to get your head turned.
“It’s maybe enough to lose faith, maybe enough to find faith, but these are really small arcs that happen over the course of the day but can be really satisfying if you’re engaged with that character.”
Thankfully, The Pitt quickly found a devoted audience in the States, with the second season premiere amassing an impressive 7.2 million US viewers within its first week of release.
“We have these characters who seem to be resonating on a one-to-one with audiences,” Wyle added.
“Everyone’s feeling, ‘I’m a little Javadi (played by Shabana Azeez), I’m a little Samira (Supriya Ganesh), and I have a little Langdon (Patrick Ball) in me, or I know a Whitaker (Gerran Howell)’, and that makes it really exciting to see where they’re going to go next, and to write for where they’re going to go next.”
Hinting at the third season’s narrative, Bloys and Wyle revealed that the upcoming instalment is also building to an explosive and potentially life-changing event in much the same way as the first two seasons.
“We’ve built a pressure cooker where every hour we turn up the temperature, we add more ingredients, then just when it’s about to explode we drop a piano on it,” Wyle revealed.
“You’ve done that successfully for season two and now you’re thinking about it for season three?” Bloys clarified, and Wyle confirmed “Yes”.
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“One of the gratifying things about season two is that we realised we don’t need a big ‘deus ex machina’ plot device to keep this engaging,” he said. “There’s something really satisfying about watching everyday people trying to get through the course of the day, beset by all the trials and tribulations that come over the course of that day.
“If that is satisfying television then this show could run forever, because we don’t need a helicopter to come down in the ambulance bay, we don’t need to jump the shark.”
The Pitt is available to stream on HBO Max with new episodes on Thursdays.
Katie revealed she and Lee are planning a second wedding in the UKCredit: InstagramShe shared the news while hitting back at a troll who left a scathing comment about her relationshipCredit: InstagramThere is ongoing speculation that Lee is unable to leave DubaiCredit: Unknown
But Katie, 47, appeared to deny the claims as she responded to a follower on Instagram who mocked her romance with the businessman.
After the former glamour model posted a loved-up snap of her and Lee, one troll was quick to reply: “Till the next.”
But Katie soon fired back: “Thank you for the follow. I’ll pass on your follow back request but please look forward to our wedding in the UK.
But some concerned fans suggested it was actually Lee commenting back on Katie’s account.
When Lee suddenly appeared in the comments to have a pop at the troll, someone replied: “That was you responding wasn’t it on Katie’s page LOL. Katie doesn’t engage with people like that.”
It’s not the first time Lee has been accused of hijacking Katie’s social media.
Poverty can be and often is crushing. For Hermanos Espinoza — who are in the midst of promoting their debut studio album “Linaje,” released Friday — growing up in a family that struggled financially after a string of failed restaurants turned out to be the greatest motivator.
Since 2021, the quintet led by the sibling duo of Joel and Leonel Espinoza have steadily built an audience with their brand of new wave norteño, pairing the prominent sounds of the accordion and the bajo quinto with lyrics about making it big thanks to a combination of unrelenting working-class grit, familial love and faith.
Hermanos Espinoza were one of the most buzzed about bands at the 40th South by Southwest music festival, which took place earlier this month in Austin, Texas. At the De Los showcase — one of three appearances the band made during SXSW — the rooftop of the Mala Fama nightclub was at capacity well before the brothers set foot on stage, and a line to get in extended past the door.
“Y que c— su madre la pobreza,” lead vocalist and accordionist Joel Espinoza, 24, belted out from the stage, opening their set with their 2024 hit “Dios Por Delante.” The popular Mexicanism translates to “F— poverty.”
The crowd cheered and danced, letting loose on a late Sunday night.
“I saw my family go through so much because of money, because of poverty. They didn’t deserve it but I understand the world works in a certain way,” he would later tell De Los in a video call. “I just hated it.”
The dynamic singer delivered every lyric with his whole body as he frenetically tapped the buttons of his brightly colored accordion, doing his best to make the squeezebox sound like an electric guitar. The drum set and bajo quinto kept pace, making the set feel more like a rock show than a backyard kickback.
(Cat Cardenas / For De Los)
With “Linaje” — it translates to lineage, a term often associated with nobility and pedigree — the brothers are intent on sharing their hard-earned success with those they love most.
“Some people refer to ‘Linaje’ as royalty, or people who come from money, but for us, it’s the complete opposite,” said Joel. “Our family is hardworking and we wanted to give them credit too. To us, that’s royalty.”
The Espinoza brothers grew up in the South Texas city of McAllen, in the Rio Grande Valley, helping out at their family’s Mexican restaurants. They can still recall prepping food from the early morning hours to late at night. They say it was tedious work that made them disciplined, punctual and appreciative of the value of a hard-earned dollar.
“You see life through a different perspective,” said Leonel, who is 20 years-old.
(Cat Cardenas / For De Los)
The brothers say they brought that same work ethic in their pursuit of music; both were heavily involved in their school’s marching band as part of the drum line, which helped them master rhythmic timing, coordination and motor skills. In high school, Joel picked up the accordion — he describes playing the 49-key instrument as a “love-hate” situation — and Leonel the bajo quinto.
Their mother helped book their first gigs singing serenade covers. But by 2021, house party gigs had slowed down.
“I used to work with my dad back at his restaurant and one of those days I was just feeling really down, ready to give up on my dream of music, but he held me down,” said Joel.
It wouldn’t be long before all that hard work paid off. Hermanos Espinoza gained traction on YouTube and TikTok with their self-released tracks, “Prueba De Fuego” (2022) and the aforementioned “Dios Por Delante,” which describe leaving behind the treachery of poverty for a better life.
“People started tattooing ‘Dios Por Delante’ on their forearms and neck and that’s when we realized that this was more than music, it’s a movement,” Joel said of the impact of the latter song.
Resilience and faith remain at the core of “Linaje,” which was mixed and produced by Ernesto “Neto” Fernández, who has worked with the likes of Peso Pluma and Xavi.
The 15-track LP, a solid representative of the ever-evolving norteño sound coming from the Texas borderlands, begins with a blessing, “29:11.” The title refers to a Bible verse in the Book of Jeremiah: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
“A big part of this album was just letting go of trying to control everything,” said Joel. “I put it into [God’s] hands and we just let things flow.”
Money is the focus in the tracks like “La Moneda,” with Joel’s voice echoing through the backdrop as he proclaims that cash might change some tacky, incompetent chumps, but not him. Almost halfway through the set list is a hazy track, “No Puedo Amarte,” where the singer sours over an unresolved love; the crooning track is reminiscent of a twinkling sad sierreño genre, with an accordion alternating volumes between a bold tremolando and a silky legato.
Still, at its core, “Linaje” fundamentally underscores their grit in tracks like “Modelo V,” the first single under Double P Management that celebrates the journey that led them to success, which honors the lessons taught by their father.
“No matter all the adversities we face, the thing about my dad is that he’s always stayed true to himself and who he is,” says Joel. “That’s how we were raised and how we live day to day.”
Before becoming a global phenomenon in the 2000s thanks to artists like Aventura, Monchy y Alexandra and Prince Royce, and before being declared an “intangible cultural heritage of humanity” by UNESCO in 2019, bachata was — and continues to be — the soundtrack of the Dominican Republic.
The importance of the genre to the people of the Caribbean nation is at the heart of “Agridulce,” a music documentary that had its world premiere at this month’s South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas. Filmed over the course of five years, the feature follows four young students at Academia de Bachata, a music conservatory in the beachside resort town of Cabarete. It’s the only school of its kind in the world.
Academia de Bachata was founded in 2013 by music producer Benjamin De Menil. After traveling to the Dominican Republic to record for nearly three decades, De Menil says he wanted to create something that would ensure that the next generation continues the traditions of bachata.
“One of the things I loved about the bachata musicians I was working with early on is that they were such natural musicians. There was never any sheet music, so whenever we were going to record I would say, ‘Let’s do this song and it goes like this,’ and they would listen to it for a little bit before they figured it out and they were playing it,” he said. “I thought that we could somehow harness that energy in a more organized and educational format and make a school where we’re helping young children become professional musicians within this genre that has a lot of opportunity.”
De Menil partnered with DREAM Project, a nonprofit organization that did work in Cabarete, and launched Academia de Bachata in 2013. Since then, the school has provided hundreds of children with a free musical education.
“There were a lot of things we were trying to figure out along the way about what the best way to teach this music was because this wasn’t your typical conservatory. We were focusing on the traditions passed on rather than some style of music that there are already textbooks for.”
To make “Agridulce,” De Menil, who produced the film, reached out to Frank Pavich, director of the 2013 “Jodorowsky’s Dune,” the cult classic documentary about avant-garde filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky’s quixotic and failed attempt to adapt Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci-fi novel “Dune.” It didn’t take much to bring him on onboard.
“Ben contacted me and told me about the project. I responded with what’s Bachata?,” the Croatian American director said. “I had never even heard of the musical genre. And then he sent me some music. He sent me footage that he had shot of [Cabarete] and of the school. And it was unlike anything I’d ever seen. It was so colorful and so incredible that I just wanted to jump on right away. I was like, ‘Great, when can we go down there and start shooting? It was really that fast.”
Pavich says now he hears bachata everywhere.
“I live between Switzerland and Croatia and now that I know how to pick it up, I hear it in cars passing by a cafe in Geneva and in Croatia,” he said. “It’s everywhere, it’s infiltrated everything in the best way possible.”
“Agridulce” is an ethnomusicological documentary — it captures the music of a specific place and people and shows how the tradition is kept alive — that also doubles as a coming of age story. The film follows students of varying ages — Edickson, Frandy, Orianny and Yerian — out of the classroom, showing us moments of intimacy with their families and friends while also giving us a slice of quotidian life in Cabarete.
As such, “Agridulce” doesn’t shy away from the political tensions of the beachside resort. Much like in the U.S., immigration is a contentious topic in the Dominican Republic — the country shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, which has seen an exodus of its people over the decade.
De Menil and Pavich said that nearly a third of Academia de Bachata’s student body is of Haitian descent, and that they would have had to go out of their way to not include one of them in the film.
This tension plays out in the storyline of Frendy, a magnetic student of Haitian descent who uses bachata to fit in.
“Many young people are in that position of being made to feel they don’t belong at that time in life when a person most wants to find their place,” De Menil said. “We see that music can help kids, particularly immigrant kids, find belonging.”
“The film ultimately speaks to the way that culture and shared history contribute to the development of authentic, lived creativity,” said South by Southwest consulting programmer Jim Kolmar. “It’s something innate and inevitable, and ‘Agridulce’ really explores that beautifully. Obviously it’s full of incredible music, but the deeper cultural context is essential, and seeing it through the perspective of the students at Academia de Bachata helps us connect the dots.”
Like millions of pop-culture-obsessed Americans, Howard Stern is bingeing FX’s “Love Story” and soaking up the nostalgia of ’90s-era New York, but unlike most of America, the radio host was buddies with the series’ real-life stars, and even graced the cover of JFK Jr.’s George magazine.
“I had done the cover for George magazine,” Stern said on his eponymous SiriusXM radio show Monday. “So I knew John Kennedy Jr., and he actually showed up to the shoot. It’s one of the worst covers I ever did. And I’ve done a lot of bad ones.”
John F. Kennedy Jr. launched George magazine alongside his partner, Michael J. Berman, in September 1995. With the tagline “Not Just Politics as Usual,” the magazine married pop culture and politics in an unprecedented way and aimed to flip the script on mainstream political discourse. The covers were legendary in their own right and featured supermodels, rock stars, Oscar winners and action film stars dressed up as the nation’s first president.
And, of course, radio jokester and provocateur Stern.
“They convinced me to be chopping down a cherry tree with a chainsaw, dressed up in colonial garb, dressed up, like, I guess I was supposed to be George Washington, but George Washington didn’t wear the s— I was wearing,” he continued.
“It was 100 years ago, and I remember I wasn’t doing a lot of magazine covers by choice,” Stern said.
When John Kennedy Jr., whom Stern described as “literally American royalty and the nicest guy in the world,” asked him to pose for the cover of the April/May 1996 issue, themed “The Virtue Issue,” Stern told his agent, “Of course I’ll do it.”
“I went down there, and they were like, ‘It’s George magazine. We have a theme cover. You can’t be in your regular clothes. We want you to be, like, George Washington,” he continued. “They must have caught me on the right day, because I was incredibly amenable. Normally, I would have gone, ‘I’m not wearing this s—.’”
Stern said he got the full supermodel treatment. “You know what John and the photographer did, that thing that they do to supermodels, ‘Gorgeous! You look great! Oh, man, this is the greatest cover. This is our best cover!’ They’re yelling while the guy’s clicking away, and I’m posing like I’m Cindy Crawford, like I’m one of the Hadid sisters,” he continues. “I’m standing there thinking I look handsome with my chainsaw and Louis the 14th [outfit.]”
After Stern went on dragging everything from the “pilgrim shoes” to the “poofy shirt” he wore for the shoot, he revealed that he actually knew Carolyn Bessette Kennedy as well, although he was a bit cagey about how exactly he knew her.
“She was very lovely,” he said. “She was a really nice woman. I don’t want to go into how I knew her, but I knew her.”
When Stern’s co-host, Robin Quivers, pushed him on why he couldn’t divulge how he knew the former Calvin Klein publicist, he said, “I just know enough to keep my mouth shut about that. Some stuff you do have to keep private. But anyway, I knew her. “
According to Disney, “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” is FX’s most-watched limited series ever on Hulu and Disney+, with reports that the first five episodes have been streamed more than 25 million hours since the Ryan Murphy series premiered in February.
The show, starring newcomer Paul Anthony Kelly as Kennedy and Sarah Pidgeon as Bessette, will air its finale Thursday.
JACQUELINE Jossa and Dan Osborne’s 13-year relationship has finally come an end and the reason is far less explosive than their scandal-hit time together would suggest.
Jacqueline Jossa has ended her relationship with Dan OsborneCredit: Louis Wood
Having forgiven multiple cheating accusations over the years, there was no other woman involved this time, instead, Jac has decided to put herself first and refuses to put any more effort into a relationship that’s ran its course.
We take a look back at some of the biggest moments they faced during their time together.
GABBYGATE
Dan sent a flirty message to Love Island All Stars’ Gabby AllenCredit: PA
Jac quietly took out a six-month lease on a new property and moved out of the family home.
A source said at the time that Dan “begged for one final chance” and Jac wanted to fight for the marriage for the sake of their kids.
Gabby wanted no part in the drama and previously told us: “I mean me and Dan were just mates, but we weren’t that good mates to like warrant continuing a friendship.”
It was on a sun-soaked holiday in Spain that the suspicion over Dan and Gabby’s connection first arose.
Photos of the pair looking close on a yacht added fuel to the fire, but Dan dismissed the speculation, saying he was simply “speaking and laughing with a friend”.
At the time, Gabby’s ex-boyfriend Marcel Somerville accused her of cheating with Dan during the trip to Marbella, a claim both parties strongly denied.
CBB STAR THREEWAY
In December 2019, model Chloe Ayling claimed she had a threesome with DanCredit: GettyShe said it was with US reality star Natalie NunnCredit: Getty
Around the same time, Jacqueline became the first winner in I’m A Celebrity history to cancel live TV interviews due to the allegations.
Despite previous champions appearing on daytime shows the next day, Jacqueline is said to have refused to go on any and said she wanted to spend time with her children instead.
A source told The Mirror: “She has to film for the ‘coming out’ show which airs later this week, so cancelled all other TV offers like GMB and Lorraine to spend more time with the family.
“Jacqueline and Dan spent time together in the hotel and probably had a lot to talk about.”
LOVE ISLAND LINK
Dan was accused of having a fling with Love Island’s Alexandra Cane in 2019Credit: Getty
Dan Osborne and Jacqueline Jossa: A Relationship Timeline
2013 – The Beginning Dan and Jacqueline’s love story began in 2013 when they started dating. Dan was known from The Only Way Is Essex, while Jacqueline was starring as Lauren Branning on EastEnders.
February 2015 – Welcoming Baby Ella The couple welcomed their first child, Ella, in early 2015, strengthening their bond.
June 2015 – Engagement News Dan proposed during a family holiday in Greece, and Jacqueline said yes!
June 2017 – The Big Day The pair tied the knot in a beautiful wedding surrounded by family and friends.
2018 – Marriage Troubles Rumors of trouble began surfacing, and Dan briefly moved out of their family home.
December 2018 – Baby Mia Arrives The arrival of their second daughter, Mia, brought the family closer again, though challenges persisted.
2019 – Public Challenges The couple continued to face difficulties, with Dan being linked to infidelity rumors, though both parties remained relatively tight-lipped.
2020 – Jacqueline’s Jungle Confession After winning I’m a Celebrity, Jacqueline addressed the ups and downs in their marriage, admitting they were working on things behind closed doors.
2021 – Separation Speculation Reports of time apart and ongoing issues fuelled speculation, though neither confirmed an official split at the time.
2025 – Uncertain Future Dan and Jacqueline’s relationship remains a topic of fan theories, with Jacqueline seen without her wedding ring in January.
Dan denied cheating with another Love Island star in 2019, Alexandra Cane.
Onlookers told The Sun how the dad-of-three made a move on the reality star in the middle of Manchester’s Neighbourhood bar.
One eyewitness said: “Dan was all over Alexandra. At one point he grabbed her and kissed her.”
Another onlooker added: “He was putting his hands all on her – grinding against her and thrusting his hips.
“He’s a married man so it was pretty shocking. She didn’t seem that into it but she laughed it off.
“Everyone was talking about how he was acting. There were loads of women there but he was only interested in Alexandra.
“They left together in a taxi with a couple of friends when the party was over.”
Dan denied he did anything but dance with Alexandra and insisted they had been mates for a while, despite him only following her on Instagram the morning after.
FAILED VOW RENEWAL
They married in June 2017, tying the knot at a Cheshire manor houseCredit: Instagram
She said: “The thought of it cringes me out slightly but we might do something like renew our vows when the time is right.
“We would like all five of us in the photos – we’d do it for the kids.
“It does feel like we have a new relationship though, so it might be quite nice to celebrate that.”
However, they never appeared to follow through with the plan.
MONEY WOE
Dan appeared on Towie for two years until 2015 and then came third on the 2018 series of Celebrity Big Brother for which he was paid £60,000.
But the money didn’t last long and in 2019 his personal business had just £978 left on the books and his firm Storms Entertainment was £7,469 in debt.
Another company he owned called Charlie Entertainments was dissolved in 2017.
It went bust with undisclosed debts after HMRC petitioned the high court to put it into liquidation.
Despite this, Dan’s fortunes turned around and he was able to accumulate enough to secretly buy a £1.3m property close to the family home in 2024.
The Mail reported that Dan made the purchase as “security” amid the deteriorating marriage, and it did nothing to help things with Jac who reportedly felt “betrayed” by the decision.
BURGLARY NIGHTMARE
The couple were left shaken in 2024 when thieves targeted their villa in Marbella during a family holiday.
Jac woke in the night to see two men in balaclavas with torches in the property.
She startled them and they made off with £20,000 of cash and jewellery.
The couple’s daughters, Ella and Mia were in the villa, too, as was Dan’s son, Teddy.
Jacqueline first started dating Dan back in 2013Credit: PA:Press AssociationThey share daughters Ella and MiaCredit: Instagram
Security guard Pascal Duvier, most recently infamous for allegedly scolding 11-year-old Ada Law at a hotel in São Paulo, is clearing the air.
Duvier issued a statement on Instagram on Wednesday night following four days of back-and-forth social media claims from soccer star Jorginho, his wife, Catherine Harding (singer-songwriter Cat Cavelli), and pop star Chappell Roan, who denied involvement in an incident that left Ada (the biological daughter of Jude Law and Harding) in tears ahead of her birthday celebration.
As a result of the controversy, speculation around Roan’s treatment of her fans has flooded social media for days. The “Hot to Go!” hitmaker has been vocal in the past about setting boundaries with fans and paparazzi, as well as her complicated relationship with fame.
Duvier, who insists he was not working for Roan at the time of the incident, began his statement saying that he does not normally address online rumors, “but the accusations currently circulating are false and constitute defamation.”
“I take full responsibility for the interactions on March 21st,” he wrote. “I was at the hotel on behalf of another individual, and I was not part of the personal security team of Chappell Roan.
“The actions I took were not on behalf of Chappell Roan, her personal security team, her management, or any other individuals. I made a judgment call based on information we obtained from the hotel, events I had witnessed in the days prior and the heightened overall security risk of our location. My sole interaction with the mother was calm and with good intentions, and the outcome of the encounter is regretful.”
Roan headlined Lollapalooza Brazil over the weekend, and Jorginho was in attendance along with his wife and stepchild. While there, the footballer said the 11-year-old (whom he did not name) thought she spotted the pop star at their São Paulo hotel.
The girl passed by Roan’s table “to confirm it was her, smiled, and went back to sit with her mum. She didn’t say anything, didn’t ask for anything,” he wrote.
Jorginho alleged that, after the girl sat down, a “large security guard” interrupted their breakfast to scold them. The guard allegedly told Harding “she shouldn’t allow [her] daughter to ‘disrespect’ or ‘harass’ other people.”
The girl was “extremely shaken and cried a lot,” said Jorginho, a player for the Brazilian club Flamengo whose legal name is Jorge Luiz Frello Filho.
On Sunday, Roan responded on Instagram, seemingly baffled by the swirling controversy. She insisted the guard was not her personal security and that no one had approached her.
“I did not ask the security guard to go up and talk to this mother and child. … They did not come up to me. They weren’t doing anything.
“I do not hate people who are fans of my music. I do not hate children.”
Three days ago Harding also responded to the brouhaha, posting her own video on Instagram in an attempt to bring some clarity following Roan’s statement. “So 100% this security guard was not a security guard of the hotel, that’s what I can say,” she said. “He looks after artists.
“So I don’t know if it was her personal security guard, but he was with her. So that is all I know. Did she send him to do it? Again, I don’t know.”
Duvier, a “protection specialist” and martial artist, according to his Instagram bio, worked for Kim Kardashian in 2016.
Times Deputy Editor Amy Hubbard contributed to this report.
Married At First Sight Australia groom Steve sparked controversy during Intimacy Week
Rebecca was in tears minutes into the latest episode(Image: Channel 4)
Fans tuning into the latest episode of Married At First Sight Australia branded one groom a ‘complete clown’ after his wife departed the programme mere minutes into the instalment.
Audiences in the UK are presently enjoying the newest series of the reality dating programme from Australia, where couples encounter each other for the very first time at the altar and develop their relationship from that point onwards. The outcomes thus far are predominantly mixed to say the least.
This week has witnessed the couples participating in intimacy week. As part of this, expert Alessandra Rampolla recently encouraged all the brides to embrace their ultimate fantasy with their partner.
However, not every evening proceeded according to plan. This was particularly true for Rebecca and Steve. Rebecca was shown browsing at an adult shop and purchased some outfits she believed her husband might appreciate seeing her model, reports OK!.
Regrettably for her, he displayed considerable apathy towards the prospect of her dressing up for him. In his own words, he stated: “I didn’t say don’t do it. I just said it would make me very uncomfortable if it happens.”
He subsequently dismissed the notion that Rebecca’s sole motivation for participating in the programme was to find love. He asserted that he ‘was sure’ there must be alternative reasons and suggested people don’t disclose everything in their audition tapes.
The situation only deteriorated for him as he joked to expert Alessandra that he didn’t have an earpiece in his ear to provide him with the correct responses. Misinterpreting his comment as a jab at her, she retorted sharply: “Honestly the lack of respect you are showing me here to someone who is trying to help you is appalling. Tread lightly. I don’t take to this well.”
Other grooms even confessed to the camera that they believed he was acting selfishly, with one suggesting that a 50 year old man should know how to address a woman. Steve insisted he wasn’t referring directly to Alessandra, but she questioned who else his remark could be aimed at.
Later, during his on-camera interview with producers, he admitted that he hadn’t absorbed much from his conversation with Alessandra, largely dismissing everything that transpired. He also mentioned that he chose to withdraw and felt there was a lot of contradiction in the room.
Viewers at home were quick to react to the latest developments. One person commenting on the MAFS subreddit said: “So what are Steve’s ulterior motives for being here? if he’s so sure there has to be some.” Another viewer remarked: “Ugh.. Steve is becoming more and more awful…”
While Rebecca initially left the flat, she returned after spending a night apart, but then it was soon Steve’s turn to depart. After making no headway following his session with Rebecca, he packed up and left.
Viewers were left astonished by his decision, with one commenting: “Rebecca deserves a lot better. Cos what is this “so much for me” business. What exactly is she doing?? I’m so confused.”
Another responded: “Goodness Steve is diabolical and such a liar, he hasn’t tried.” While someone else pleaded: “Steve should just leave, he clearly doesn’t fancy or want Rebecca. Stop wasting everyone’s time.”
Meanwhile, one fan questioned on X: “Did Steve realise he was on a tv programme?! #mafsau”, another posted: “If Steve is SO conservative, why even apply for this show, knowing what it’s all about #mafsau” while a different audience member added: “Did Steve not watch #MAFSAU before he applied?”
Married at First Sight Australia continues tomorrow at 7.30pm on E4 and streaming on Channel 4.
Nadiya Bychkova has seemingly been handed another chance from the bosses of Strictly Come Dancing just hours after she announced her departure from the series
Nadiya Bychkova is said to be wanted as a choreographer for Strictly Come Dancing(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston)
Nadia Bychkova has seemingly been handed another chance from the bosses of Strictly Come Dancing. The TV star, 36, confirmed on Wednesday that she had left her role as a professional dancer on the BBC Saturday night favourite after almost a decade of performing with celebrities like Blue singer Lee Ryan, Bros star Matt Goss and Chris Robshaw.
A source said: Nadiya is so recognisable with viewers and bosses felt it would be a real loss to lose her from the Strictly family altogether. After a few conversations, they reportedly offered her a choreography role which she is very open to.
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Speaking to The Sun, the source added: “Obviously, she is sad to no longer be dancing but recognises she will have great scope for more lucrative commercial opportunities now, and can explore exciting new projects.”
The news comes after reports of a bloodbath amongst the Strictly professional dancers ahead of the next series. Karen and Nadiya are two of the number of stars rumoured to have been axed by BBC bosses. Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas have all been said to have been axed in a bid for bosses to get “fresh faces” in the professional line-up.
Nadia gushed: “There is something truly special about being part of a programme that plays such a big part in so many people’s lives and I want to thank all those who have sent beautiful messages over the last few weeks and those who have voted, shouted, supported, celebrated and cheered during every series.
“I also want to take a moment to appreciate all those who have helped me along the way: my partners, my fellow professionals, the judges and brilliant people behind the scenes,” Nadiya wrote. “I joined the show as an athlete and a double world champion. Along the way I have learned so much about myself and other people. I have grown, not only professionally, but personally and creatively.”
Speaking about her time on the BBC show, the dancer continued: “Strictly has allowed me to discover new sides of myself, develop new skills, and evolve as an artist in ways I will always be grateful for.
“This isn’t the end… I look forward to being part of the Strictly world for many years to come in ways I am beginning to explore,” Nadiya insisted. “I’ve changed a lot since I first stepped onto that dance floor, not just as a performer, but as a person and I can honestly say I’ve never felt more like myself.”
Looking ahead Nadiya continued: “I’m excited to have time to focus on new projects, and to spend more precious time with my beautiful daughter. Life feels full of possibilities.” She said: “I danced before Strictly, I loved dancing on the show and I plan to keep dancing for many years to come. Thank you for all the love and support along the way,” before signing the message off with a white heart emoji.
The BBC also released a statement in the wake of Nadiya’s announcement. It read: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Nadiya Bychkova for her incredible contribution to Strictly Come Dancing. Since joining the show nine years ago, Nadiya has brought elegance, artistry, and unwavering dedication to the ballroom, and she will always remain a cherished member of the Strictly family.
“Over the years, Nadiya has delivered countless memorable performances, showcasing not only her exceptional talents as a dancer and choreographer but also her brilliance as a teacher to all her celebrity partners.
“A consummate professional, Nadiya embodies the very best of what Strictly stands for. We are deeply grateful for everything she has given to the show and wish her every success for the future.”
Huw Edwards, the lead presenter of BBC News at Ten for 20 years, was spared jail at Westminster Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children
01:54, 26 Mar 2026Updated 02:05, 26 Mar 2026
Huw Edwards is pictured leaving Westminster Magistrates’ Court after he was spared jail(Image: PA)
Furious viewers have blasted Huw Edwards’ “disgraceful” sentence after a shocking TV drama detailed his crimes.
The shamed broadcaster, 64, was spared jail despite admitting three charges of making indecent images of children. His case was explored in Channel 5’s Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards on Tuesday night, in which Martin Clunes played the presenter.
The 90-minute programme showed how Edwards groomed a teenager, paying him for sexual photos and videos. After it was broadcast, one viewer said: “First time in ages I flicked on terrestrial telly — and wow, it laid bare exactly what a monster he was.” Another summed up public anger by adding: “He should be watching this behind bars.” A third viewer said: “His sentence was disgraceful, considering what a sick creep he was.”
Nearly two million people tuned in to see Clunes, 64, portray the broadcaster, who had a vile double life. He was praised for his “compelling” and “career-defining” performance.
“I don’t get why Huw isn’t in prison. He needs to pay for what he’s done. It’s fact,” one viewer posted on X, which was known as Twitter. Another on the platform said: “Watching Power. Martin Clunes is excellent but it’s very uncomfortable viewing. How did Huw Edwards escape prison?”
Katie Jones, a mum who watched the show, wrote online: “I watched simply because I wanted to understand why NO jail time for EDWARDS. Was it cos he claimed to be suffering from a mental breakdown? It’s a must watch — difficult subject told well.” A shocked viewer agreed: “He should have been jailed. He’s a paedophile. He’s not sorry.”
Edwards paid a troubled teenager thousands of pounds, which the lad spent on drugs. The youngster was played by Emmerdale actor Osian Morgan. Osian, who was also in Waterloo Road in 2023, was praised for his acting in the harrowing drama.
Father-of-five Edwards was charged after the arrest of another paedophile, Alex Williams, who had sent him 377 images via WhatsApp. Westminster Magistrates’ Court the star, who was the lead presenter of BBC News at Ten for 20 years, sent 41 indecent images of children, some showing a victim aged between seven and nine.
Child protection charities have slammed the sentencing. Emma Hardy, of the Internet Watch Foundation, said: “We must never forget children are at the heart of this story — children who have suffered, and who suffer again each time imagery of them at their most vulnerable is reshared.
“Perhaps most worryingly, there is nothing to stop this happening again. WhatsApp, and other apps which use the extreme end-to-end form of encryption, are still failing to prevent the upload of known child sexual abuse imagery.
“While some platforms are now choosing not to use this kind of encryption because of safety fears, there remain whole swathes of the internet where this dangerous and illegal content can still be shared undetected and unopposed. The tools to help stop the next Huw Edwards are here, they work, and they do not impact on individuals’ privacy. It’s time to use them.”
Jessi Draper of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” is accusing her estranged second husband, Jordan Ngatikaura, of being involved in pretty much all of the above.
Ngatikaura filed for divorce Thursday in Utah after five years of marriage to Draper. Though that was far from the start of their marital problems, she told Alex Cooper during Wednesday’s episode of “Call Her Daddy” — which was taped Friday — that the dissolution filing was something they had agreed to do together. Then he changed his mind, she said, and she got the news via TMZ.
“I’m the one who ended it. I told him on Friday the 13th, so not that long ago, and I just said I want a divorce. He definitely didn’t want it. And now he’s the one rushing to do it, which is a little strange,” Draper told Cooper.
Also strange, in her view, was his choice to state on the documents that she had had an affair, though they had agreed previously that the reason would be the tried-and-true and totally non-gossipy “irreconcilable differences.” Plus Draper had only kissed another man twice, she said. She never had a physical affair with Marciano Brunette of “Vanderpump Villa,” though their emotional affair was a big part of the third season of “Mormon Wives.” Also, Utah is a no-fault state when it comes to divorce.
The Times was unable to contact Ngatikaura on Wednesday for comment on Draper’s allegations.
During the chat, Draper called her estranged husband “calculated” and “emotionally abusive” and said he told her he had been advised by someone to file on his own. She also admitted to Cooper that their marriage most likely was what it was because she went too quickly from divorcing her first husband to starting a relationship with her second.
That said, Draper said that right before Season 1 of “Mormon Wives” dropped on Hulu in September 2024, she was given “proof” that Ngatikaura had been using an escort service in Texas. At the time, she presented her evidence to him, she said, only to have him say it had probably been generated by AI.
Draper also said she had heard rumors of “sex parties” that he allegedly attended, though her sourcing on that allegation was definitely of the friend-of-a-friend-who-was-there variety. She further claimed that Ngatikaura had listened in on her personal conversations via cameras in her house — cameras she said he unplugged when he moved back into the house and she moved to a hotel — and had blackmailed her, threatening to post texts between her and Brunette online.
“Any time he was mad at me, he’s like, ‘I’m going to post them. I’m going to ruin your life,’” Draper told Cooper.
One day, she said, Ngatikaura told her he believed in traditional gender roles and that he should be in his masculine and she in her feminine, and therefore she should do Pilates every day. That led to a fight, during which he threatened to post the texts he had been keeping in a draft in his phone. Nobody knew yet what had happened between her and Brunette, and she worried that exposing everything would hurt her business, where she employs dozens of people.
“I went to go grab his phone. I was like, ‘Jordan, no … This could ruin everything.’ And he goes, ‘OK.’ And I’m freaking out. So, I’m trying to get his phone. I’m kind of chasing him, trying to get it. He pulls out his phone, starts recording me, and he’s like, ‘What are you going to do? What are you going to do? Are you going to be like, “Taylor, should I call the cops?”’ (referring to her embattled co-star and best friend, Taylor Frankie Paul, whose season of “The Bachelorette” was nixed before it aired).
“I was like, ‘Whoa,’ ‘cause he’s friends with Dakota [Mortenson, Paul’s on-and-off boyfriend], so he’s like hearing things like that, obviously, and he’s baiting me and he’s trying to be like, ‘Oh, oh, what are you doing?’ And that was the moment where, for me, I was like, ‘What am I doing? I am chasing around my husband trying to get his phone so he doesn’t blackmail me. This is not healthy.’ And I literally left him the next day,” she said.
Chip Taylor, the songwriter behind the Troggs’ rock hit “Wild Thing” and actor Angelina Jolie’s uncle, has died. He was 86.
Taylor died Monday in hospice care, according to Page Six, citing Taylor’s longtime friend, producer Billy Vera.
Taylor, born James Wesley Voight in Yonkers, N.Y., in 1940, was actor Jon Voight’s brother, but built a formidable music career outside of his famous sibling’s shadow.
As a teen guitarist, he joined the band Town & Country Brothers, which toured with Neil Sedaka. His songwriting submissions to RCA Records impressed the artist Chet Atkins, who championed his tunes in the country music scene. Taylor also wrote out of the same 1650 Broadway building in New York where Gerry Goffin and Carole King were based.
In 1966, Taylor penned “Wild Thing” for the garage-rock band the Troggs, which rocketed to No. 1 and kicked off a new mode for rock ’n’ roll that favored grungier musicianship and more overt sexuality. “That upstrum, there? You wouldn’t play that if you were properly schooled,” he told the Independent in 2023. “I did it because I didn’t know any better. I ended up with this innocent energy. It came out of me looser that way, the feeling just flew out of me.”
Jimi Hendrix famously performed the song at Monterey Pop in 1967 in a fever of sexual tension (it featured in the 1968 concert documentary), making it an era-defining rock hit and Taylor’s most famous tune. He also wrote “Angel of the Morning,” popularized by Juice Newton and Merrilee Rush, and penned songs performed by Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Cash and Janis Joplin, among many others.
Taylor’s career pivoted in the ’80s, when he became a professional gambler and a rogue on the Atlantic City casino strip. Yet he had a later career resurgence in the 2000s, after he met fiddle player Carrie Rodriguez at the South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas. The pair released several acclaimed alt-country albums together. Taylor’s 2012 single “F— All the Perfect People” prominently featured on the soundtrack for the hit Netflix series “Sex Education.”
Taylor said the song was inspired by performing concerts for prisoners, some of his favorite gigs. “I’ve always liked talking to prisoners because, for the most part, they’re extremely honest,” he said. “I never met a prisoner I didn’t have empathy for. I wrote that at 6 a.m. one morning when I realized I had some shows for prisoners coming up and I wanted to write something that was just for them.”
Taylor’s final album was 2025’s “The Truth and Other Things.” He is survived by several children and grandchildren. His wife, Joan Carole Frey, died in 2025.
