COUNTRY music heartthrob Riley Green furiously kicked a “jealous boyfriend” out of his gig after being hit with a phone that left him with a bloody ear.
Riley needed five stitches to piece his ear back together following the Melbourne show on his Cowboy As It Gets tour.
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Riley Green was hit by a phone at a gig in AustraliaCredit: annaperitivo/InstagramIt left him with a bloodied face, though he smiled it offCredit: annaperitivo/InstagramThe person who threw the phone was kicked outCredit: annaperitivo/Instagram
During the gig, he was struck by a phone pelted from the pit which caused him to stop the performance and take off his guitar.
He then pointed out the offender and directed security to haul him out. Smiling with blood running down his neck, Riley then slung his guitar back on before being cheered by the raucous crowd.
The 37-year-old told them: “Damn, am I bleeding? See how tough I am?”
He then said: “You can get your phones out, and you can turn the flashlight on – but don’t throw them at me.”
The violent incident certainly did no harm to Riley’s aura. His smitten fans sent messages of support on Instagram.
One said: “My babyyyyyy was bleeding.”
Another wrote: “Brother, don’t hurt my wife’s boyfriend!”
A third said: “He was bleeding but he’s a Bama boy…that’s just a little scratch. He can do anything he wants!”
While on one video, a fan wrote: “PSA to the jealous boyfriends., don’t throw your phones at Riley Green xx.”
Riley had a fun time despite the incident and regretted not being able to play for longer.
He wrote on Instagram: “Ole buddy ’bout ran outta anytime minutes last night… but a hell of a time was had.”
Riley’s become a global phenomenon in recent years.
Heartfelt songs like I Wish Grandpas Never Died, There Was This Girl, and Different ‘Round Here (feat. Luke Combs) have resonated thanks to their honest storytelling and southern drawl.
He supported Morgan Wallen at his BST Hyde Park gig in 2024 but put on a headline-worthy show.
Speaking about his summer in the capital, he told Entertainment Focus: “I wasn’t nervous but I certainly didn’t expect what happened! I thought that there would be, maybe, a handful of folks that knew a couple of my songs but they knew every word to every song.
“To see the size of the crowd……. especially when you go to another country and Canada had been the only other time I had played outside the States….. things are usually gradual in building up a fan base, right? It was shocking to see how passionate people were about country music over here.”
And he returned to these shores last year for some sold out gigs of his own.
Riley didn’t look too upset after the showCredit: rileyduckman/InstagramHe grabbed a bottle of water before tending to the woundCredit: rileyduckman/InstagramHe needed five stitches to sew it upCredit: rileyduckman/Instagram
A FEMALE rapped has died aged 37 after suffering a heart attack as her devastated friends pay tribute.
Gianina Gheorghiu recently passed away with her close friends revealing she had been battling an alcohol problem.
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Romanian rapper Gianina Gheorghiu has died aged 37 after suffering a heart attackCredit: Jam PressShe went by the stage name Chica Con Canna and forged an impressive careerCredit: Jam Press
Going by the stage name Chica Con Canna, the rapper dominated the scene in her country, forging an impressive career.
The news left her friends and fans devastated after her death was announced on March 9.
The Romanian rapper was huge in her local scene, collaborating with stars such as Tony Batrânu, Vladone and Mike Diamondz.
Her close friend Dana Marijauna spoke of her death in a heartbreaking tribute to the musician.
Although there is no official confirmation on what caused the heart attack Dana believes she “did not win the fight against alcohol”.
The rapper stated: “With tears in my eyes, with a fantastic love for Chica, who did not win the fight against alcohol.
“A girl with great talent, the best female voice and interpretation in English in the world of Romanian rap, soulful, generous, strong character.
“In vain, alcohol did not take into account all its countless qualities.
“We love you even in a billion years.
“We were supposed to record new songs, but we will do it without physical presence.”
The star’s untimely death has left a void in the Romanian rap industry with a number of artists, including Dana, claiming they had future projects with her.
The rapper confirmed that the projects will go ahead in her memory.
The news has left her friends and fans devastatedCredit: Jam Press
There are few greater muses than one’s own childhood. In recent months, this idea has taken visual form across fashion runways, with brands from Chanel to Acne Studios showcasing childlike sketches, often referred to as ‘naive design’. The aesthetic favors deliberate roughness and mistakes over a sterile, polished sheen.
Book covers are the latest medium to embrace the trend. Scribbles, doodles, crayon marks and stickers — evoking Lisa Frank and anime cartoons — have begun appearing on prominent Gen Z contemporary fiction covers. The more childish and unrefined, the better.
The covers, which often accompany literary fiction written by women, signal a particular emotional register of naive, sticky chaos that youth promises. The visual language recalls a simpler time — a reclamation of an innocence lost. For millennials and Gen Z readers who worship collectibles like Labubus, friendship bracelets and butterfly hair clips, it’s natural that art direction would follow suit — sometimes with an ironic twist. Often, the design’s playfulness obscures the protagonist’s malaise.
The book cover trend, imbued with nostalgia for childhood, promises fiction that grapples with the pangs of adulthood in an age of precarity. In her Substack, cultural critic and novelist Natasha Stagg commented on the trend, noting, “Reverse-image searching these images turn up books on early childhood education, dealing with anxiety or migraines, or teaching a kid to color outside the lines as an artistic parent.” The book trend cover suggests collective angst about adulthood, highlighted by a cultural fixation on “girlhood” that sparked a spate of online think pieces in recent years.
It’s fitting, then, that the aesthetic has been adopted by Gen Z fiction writers like Honor Levy, whose paperback edition of “My First Book” includes girlish heart stickers on a hot pink background. The Y2K aesthetic elicits a young girl’s diary. Meanwhile, the 2025 novel “Unfit” by Ariana Harwicz, about a mother losing her children in a custody battle, uses erratic crayon scribbles on its cover. In the fall, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern was contained in a binder with a Lisa Frank-style aquatic wonderland on the cover. This month, Cazzie David released a book of essays about early adulthood titled “Delusions: Of Grandeur, of Romance, of Process” with a cover resembling a child’s birthday cake.
(New Directions Publishing, Penguin Books)
Writer and culture critic Drew Zeiba noted the trend in his June 2025 Substack post. “I wonder if it represents a fed-up-ness with prior or concurrent trends in book design,” writes Zeiba over email. “A move away from the layered, the blobby, the clean — to something with more illusion of or allusion to an id.”
“Not for nothing, I assume adult coloring books sell better than literary fiction,” says Zeiba. “I’m struck by that in a way the crayon or marker drawing is provisional — there’s no final form to it.”
This January, novelist and Forever Magazine co-founder Madeline Cash released her highly anticipated debut novel, “Lost Lambs.” The story follows a family unraveling amid open marriages, conspiracy and emotional turmoil. Designed by Na Song, the cover features drooping blue crayon text and a small illustration of a girl.
The cover was heavily influenced by Henry Darger’s Vivian Girls. “I was attached to this Henry Darger painting when I was writing the book. I felt like that was a really accurate visual representation of little girls running away from utter chaos,” says Cash.
“The childish scribbling handwriting is also a red herring for some of the more serious and sinister themes in the book, “ says Cash.
“Having read Cash’s, I’m struck by the fact that the children in the book — and children are central to the book — are really insightful and transformative, and ‘lost lambs’ actually refers in the text to a specific group of adults,” adds Zeiba.
A similar artistic logic underpins Sophie Kemp’s breakout 2025 novel, “Paradise Logic,” which gained attention for its unsettling cover. The book cover is an existing painting by Brooklyn-based artist Naruki Kukita, selected by veteran art director Martha Kennedy with Kemp’s input. Kennedy had come across “Virtual Temptation in Eden” in a weekly art newsletter called “It’s Nice That.” The image invokes a children’s coloring book with darker undertones, blending various cartoon and drawing styles to depict Adam and Eve in paradise. A cartoon snake lurks behind them.
The design mirrors the memorable prose. “This novel showcased one of the most original voices I’ve ever read. I would describe it as a psychosexual fever dream,” says Kennedy. “I recall the editor calling it ‘the first true Gen Z novel.’”
Kemp recalls sending a lengthy email about the book cover inspiration. “I want something super maximalist. I want it to be a preexisting image. And I wanted to do something that is shocking or crazy,” says Kemp. Kennedy presented Kukita’s painting, and it was love at first sight for Kemp.
(New Directions Publishing, Simon & Schuster)
“Kukita’s combination of finely crafted painterly portraiture and flat graphic anime (often in very intense sexual combination) seemed like a perfect match for the tone of this novel,” says Martha Kennedy, who served as the art director at Simon & Schuster.
Then, enter Comic Sans typeface — a perfect dash of irony. “Let’s use a typeface that feels kind of wrong,” Kemp recalls prescribing. “I used Comic Sans for the first time in my 35-year career for the rest of the type. I felt that was some sort of weird pinnacle in itself,” Kennedy explains over email.
Kemp sees a thematic alignment between her and Cash’s book designs. “Mine and Madeline’s books are about naive female characters,” Kemp says. “It makes a lot of sense with the protagonist of my novel, who’s an extremely naive young woman, for the book cover to match that tone that I created.”
While working in marketing, Cash recalls another book cover trend she calls “book blob.” The blob was earth-toned and splashed bestselling covers for years. “With any kind of viral aesthetic: one of those books did well, so they engineered every cover to emulate that, because people were drawn to them,” says Cash. “It looks like all the content was the same and ubiquitous. It is a disservice to a lot of those books.”
“I really wanted it to stand out,” says Cash about her own cover.
Connors is a writer living in Los Angeles. She hosts the literary reading event Unreliable Narrators at Nico’s Wines in Atwater Village every month.
Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews have been married since 2018 and share three children, but she admits she initially didn’t fancy him and likes to keep a ‘separate life’
Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews attend the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards(Image: Getty Images)
The Irish podcast presenter initially admits she “didn’t fancy” Spencer and believed he “wasn’t for her”. Yet she says her mates “really wanted me to sleep with Spencer” and thought he’d fit in with their circle.
Nevertheless, shortly after their first meeting, romance flourished, and in January 2018 Spencer proposed during an outing to see The Lion King in London. The couple wed that June at Glen Affric, the Matthews family’s Scottish estate.
Speaking recently at Meta’s HQ in Dublin, Vogue acknowledged she enjoys maintaining a “separate life” from her spouse. This came as she recounted an incident where he irritated her whilst she was preparing to spend time with My Therapist Ghosted Me co-host Joanne McNally.
Asked who she favours between Joanne and Spencer, Vogue answered: “Well it depends what I need them for. I went for a walk with Joanne on Sunday morning and Spenny was insistent that he wanted to go for lunch and then Joanne was like, ‘I’m not hungry, I want to go home.'”
She continued: “So I was in a huff with Spenny, as I was going on a walk with Joanne and he interrupted it. I try to, I like to have a separate life as well, Spenny he has his friends and I have my friends.”
In her autobiography Big Mouth, Vogue confesses she worried a romance with Spencer wouldn’t “have gone very well” regardless because he “was yet to form a serious bone in his body”. Vogue meanwhile acknowledges she tended to find herself “getting serious quickly”.
The duo nevertheless “got on famously” following Spencer’s arrival at The Jump dressed in tracksuit bottoms, slippers, and “reeking of booze”. Vogue penned: “I had done a lot of work with my therapist up to this point; we had decided that if I continue to fall for guys I felt I needed to fix or help I was just repeating a pattern and that it always ended the same way (disastrously).
“Spencer, being a man made of red flags, was not for me I decided, and I didn’t really fancy him anyway so it was all good. I did, however, love his personality.”
The pair now have three children together – Theodore, Gigi and Otto. Vogue has previously revealed she would have “swiped past” Spencer had they encountered each other on a dating app.
She shared this during an earlier episode of Vogue and Amber, whilst responding to a listener finding it difficult to discover love through digital platforms. Vogue remarked: “You’re just judging someone completely on the way they look.
“And I always say this, Spencer is obviously gorgeous, but he wouldn’t have been my type when we met. And I would have swiped past him on a dating app.
“And then we met, and we were mad about each other because we just loved each other’s personalities. So, I think trying to meet somebody in real life, although it can be hard, can be a really amazing thing.”
Alongside Kidman, Scarpetta features an impressive cast, which also includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Bobby Cannavale, Simon Baker, and Ariana DeBose.
Here’s a breakdown of how many episodes are in the show.
How many episodes are in Scarpetta?
Scarpetta comprises eight episodes, which dropped on Prime Video all at once on March 11 for global audiences to devour.
A synopsis for the programme states: “With skilled hands and an unnerving eye, this unrelenting medical examiner is determined to serve as the voice of the victims, unmask a serial killer, and prove that her career-making case from 28 years prior isn’t also her undoing.
“Set against the backdrop of modern forensic investigation, the series delves beyond the crime scene to explore the psychological complexities of both perpetrators and investigators, creating a multi-layered thriller that examines the toll of pursuing justice at all costs.”
Scarpetta unfolds across two timelines, one in the past and the other in the present, with actors portraying the younger versions of the principal characters.
The programme has been adapted from renowned crime author Patricia Cornwell’s cherished book series of the same name.
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The first Scarpetta novel was published in 1990, and Cornwell has continued writing further books, with the most recent instalment released just last year. Blue Jean star Rosy McEwen portrays the younger version of Kidman’s Scarpetta in the series.
Discussing the character and what she gleaned from Moulin Rouge’s Kidman in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, McEwen explained: “Sometimes you feel like to be powerful you want to puff up and be louder.
“But actually, as I was watching Nicole, I was like, ‘No, power is quiet. Power is stillness.'”
She continued: “I think [Kay Scarpetta] grows into that. I’m quick to react and be emotional, but actually having the strength to take a second to think how you’re going to respond and then respond – that’s how she’s learned to make her way through this world.”
Beyond starring in the production, both Kidman and Curtis serve as executive producers on Scarpetta.
The drama has elicited a divided reaction from viewers, with some applauding the programme and demanding a second season, whilst others have felt let down and remain devoted to the original novel.
One viewer posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Nicole Kidman is that girl in #scarpetta. Brilliant crime drama. Season 2, better hurry up.”
A second viewer posted: “Also, the killer was a bit underwhelming for me. That and maybe the secret sorta #Scarpetta.”
They followed up with: “I’m watching season 2 though! #Scarpetta.”
A third commenter wrote: “You better tell me we’ll get a second season of #Scarpetta because you don’t end 8 episodes like that unless you’re a meanie [sic].”
Whilst another remarked: “I was super excited for Scarpetta, having read the books since the 90’s, but 3 episodes in on Prime, and I cannot continue watching it. Sometimes adaptations ruin the books for you, and I don’t want that to happen to my feelings for this beloved series and characters #Scarpetta.”
Someone else penned: “#Scarpetta was such a disappointment. These aren’t the characters that many people loved. And Jamie Lee Curtis, terrible acting, terrible character.”
Another contributed: “@lizsarnoff really did an horrific job on #scarpetta. Ridiculous dialogue, wide disparity from the tone and tenor of the source material and the casting is among the worst ever seen. Cornwell should be embarrassed by this adaptation.”
Despite the mixed response, Scarpetta has already secured a second season after it was revealed that the programme received a two-season commission, according to Decider.
Given that all the characters survived, they will be making their return for the subsequent season.
Scarpetta is streaming on Prime Video now
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An Oscars slugfest for the ages ran its course, with “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” duking it out and tallying up wins while the low but steady hum of host Conan O’Brien’s patented brand of weirdness tied the room together. A few unnecessarily curt speech interruptions threatened the calm, but mainly, this was a smoothly run machine of a show, devoid of mishaps. Even the rare circumstance of a tie was handled expertly by live-action-short award presenter Kumail Nanjiani, never bringing to mind the immortal confusion of “Moonlight” vs. “La La Land.”
But what didn’t make it to the telecast? Here are some flavorful takeaways — small yet memorable — that stick in mind from our several reporters in the room on Sunday.
A parade of praise for Jessie Buckley
Jessie Buckley arrives on the red carpet at the 98th Annual Academy Awards.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
As she strode through the lobby of the Dolby Theatre pre-show, Jessie Buckley, nominated for lead actress for her role in “Hamnet,” was fanned with praise by other attendees. Even in the restroom, she couldn’t escape the well-wishers. On her way back to the buzzing lobby, she held the train of her red and pink Chanel gown graciously saying, “Thank you, thank you.” — Brittany Levine Beckman
The pressure’s off for stars during commercial breaks
Elle Fanning and Demi Moore hug during the 98th Academy Awards.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
During the telecast’s first commercial break, supporting actress nominee Elle Fanning of “Sentimental Value” took her loss in stride and leaned over her seat to chat with former “A Complete Unknown” costar Timothée Chalamet, nominated this year for “Marty Supreme,” and his partner, Kylie Jenner.
Across the aisle, “One Battle After Another’s” Leonardo DiCaprio stood up and reached over to lock fingers with Benicio Del Toro. — Yvonne Villarreal
The Oscars address inflation with a goodie box
A note from Conan O’Brien left for attendees in snack boxes.
(Jessica Gelt / Los Angeles Times)
Each year, guests at the Academy Awards are given a small cardboard box of snacks left beneath their seats to get them through the always lengthy ceremony. A note from the host is generally inside. This year’s note, signed by Conan O’Brien, read, “I hope you enjoy this Conan O’Brien ‘Moderately Happy Meal’ ™. These snacks may not look like much but in any movie theater they would run you $85.” The snacks in question were a box of Junior Mints (Times reporter Josh Rottenberg got Raisinets), a small bag of Skinny Pop and a tin bottle of water. — Jessica Gelt
Jesse Plemons won’t succumb to ‘peer pressure’
Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons arrive at the 98th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
“Bugonia” star Jesse Plemons stood near the main lobby bar talking with friends and posing for pictures with fans while finishing the dregs of a drink. A server approached him and asked if he’d like another. Plemons politely declined and the server laughed, saying, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to give you any peer pressure.” — Jessica Gelt
Amy Madigan inquires about press room rules; ‘Is it like bingo?’
Amy Madigan after winning the Oscar for supporting actress for “Weapons.”
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
After taking the stage to accept her first Oscar win for “Weapons” on Sunday, Amy Madigan paused operations in the press room to ask how moderators decide who gets to ask questions of the night’s winners.
“Is it like bingo?” the actor asked. As laughter swelled across the crowd in response, she clarified hers was a “serious question.” — Malia Mendez
After a loss, Stellan Skarsgård knows the meaning of ‘Sentimental Value’
Megan Everett-Skarsgård and Stellan Skarsgård at the 98th Annual Academy Awards.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Stellan Skarsgård, of “Sentimental Value,” enjoyed a cocktail in a VIP room just off the main auditorium fresh off of losing the Oscar for supporting actor to Sean Penn for his performance in “One Battle After Another.”
Fans rushed Skarsgård anyway, shaking his hand and telling him how much his performance as a troubled alcoholic father and artist resonated with them. “We had four actor nominations on an international film,” Skarsgård told one of them. “That’s never happened before.” — Jessica Gelt
Two of this Oscar season’s tallest figures share a moment
During a commercial break, 6-foot-5 “Frankenstein” star Jacob Elordi and 6-foot-6 Oliver Laxe, director of international feature nominee “Sirāt,” greeted one another at the lobby bar. The pair, who have been impossible to miss as two of the tallest people at various events throughout awards season, shared a warm, high-altitude embrace and Elordi introduced the French-born Laxe to his date for the Oscars: his mother, Melissa. — Josh Rottenberg
‘The Singers’ and ‘Two People Exchanging Saliva’ winners are happy to share their Oscars success
From left, producer Jack Piatt and director Sam A. Davis, makers of “The Singers,” pose with Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh, co-directors of “Two People Exchanging Saliva.” All of them won Oscars for live-action short.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
Gasps erupted in the press room after presenter Kumail Nanjiani announced the seventh-ever tie in Academy Awards history Sunday evening, between live-action shorts “The Singers,” directed by Sam A. Davis and produced by Jack Piatt, and “Two People Exchanging Saliva,” directed by Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata.
Speaking to the press room after the ultra-rare event, Piatt was unbothered and even enthused by the outcome, saying he wished there could be a “five-way tie” among all the category’s nominees.
Davis agreed, confiding that he’d previously told the “Two People Exchanging Saliva” team “in confidence, that if we lost, I hope we lost to them.”
Shortly thereafter, Musteata said tying with “The Singers” folks was “such a dream.”
“Someone on Reddit asked us if we would be happy to share the award, and we were like, ‘Heck yeah, we would love to share it with another film that is equally beautiful and totally different.’ ” — Malia Mendez
Elle Fanning soothes Timothée Chalamet after lead actor Oscar goes to Michael B. Jordan
Elle Fanning talks with Stellan Skarsgård during the 98th Academy Awards. Timothée Chalamet was seated in front of Fanning during the show.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
When Michael B. Jordan walked off stage and the show went to commercial break, Timothée Chalamet, who was up against Jordan in the lead actor category, took a sip of his drink as Elle Fanning, sitting behind him, gave him a pat on the back.
Fanning talked to her “A Complete Unknown” co-star throughout the night, who barely turned around to look at her. Kylie Jenner kept rubbing and patting Chalamet’s hand while he nervously jiggled his right leg. — Yvonne Villarreal and Jessica Gelt
Autumn Durald Arkapaw receives standing ovation in press room after historic win
Autumn Durald Arkapaw accepts the Oscar for cinematography for “Sinners” — the first woman to win the award.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“Sinners” shooter Autumn Durald Arkapaw on Sunday became the first woman to win the Oscar for cinematography. As she arrived backstage following her historic win, the press room erupted into applause, with many reporters delivering a standing ovation.
Arkapaw was equally thrilled, telling the room, “A lot of little girls that look like me will sleep really well tonight.”
“I heard Karen O say once at a concert… ‘You have to see you to be you,’” she said. “Ryan gives us, the women on this film, and our heads of department, he gives us those opportunities to shine and be ourselves and work in a creative environment where we’re leading.”
Such trust is rarely extended by directors, Arkapaw said, and she is grateful. — Malia Mendez
BRIDESMAIDS star Wendi McClendon-Covey has revealed why she was missing from the cast reunion at the Oscars saying “I look like a melted candle.”
Fifteen years after its debut, the film‘s main stars gathered onstage at the 2026 awards ceremony for a hilarious reunion.
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Wendi revealed she had undergone a neck lift surgery and was unable to attendCredit: Instagram/wendimclendoncoveyMelissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig and Ellie Kemper gathered onstage at the 2026 awards ceremony for a hilarious reunionCredit: ReutersWendi played Rita in the comedy sensation BridesmaidsCredit: Alamy
“So I had to skip the Academy Awards. No drama. Everything is fine.”
A snap showed her lying down with a bandage wrapped around her head.
Fans flocked to comment and one wrote: “Sending some healing energy your way!”
Another added: “Gorgeous before and after.”
A third said: “Love your transparency. F-yeah! Some people can embrace that candle look but others…h*** no. Either way is right as long as it makes you happy. Big healing love!”
While a fourth wrote: “You’re such a sweet, kind, hilarious legend, shine on my friend.”
During the Oscars reunion Kirsten joked: “I cannot believe that it’s been 15 years. Now we are not good with numbers, but we figured out backstage that means we shot this movie in 1883.”
Each of them was then handed a note and claimed it was signed by A-list audience members like Leonardo DiCaprio or Stellan Skarsgard, who spoke about their good looks.
Maya opened hers and said: “Oh, this is strange. Well, mine says, ‘First of all, you ladies look extremely beautiful tonight.’ Thank you. ‘You’re aging well.’ Signed, Stellan Skarsgård.”
Kirsten read a fake note from Benicio Del Toro which said “You guys have been talking for a long time. This bit could have been a lot shorter.
Who won on Hollywood’s biggest night?
One Battle After Another ran away with the night with six Oscars, while Sinners, which was nominated for a record-breaking 16 awards, came away with four. See the full winners list below:
Production Design: Frankenstein, Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau
Sound: F1, Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta
Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash, Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett
Casting: One Battle After Another, Cassandra Kulukundis
“This is really going on and on. You aren’t even talking about score. That’s all. Love ya lots, Benicio Del Toro. Or for those of you who refuse to learn Spanish, it’s Benedict of the Bull.”
Directed by Paul Feig, Bridesmaids was written by Kirsten Wiig and Annie Mumolo, who were nominated for Best Original Screenplay when the film was released in 2011.
The film gained cult status and went on to gross over $300 million worldwide.
The film gained cult status and went on to gross over $300 million worldwideCredit: AlamyThe film was nominated for Best Original Screenplay when it was released in 2011Credit: AlamyMelissa McCarthy earned her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in BridesmaidsCredit: Shutterstock EditorialEach of the cast members were handed a note and claimed it was signed by A-list audience membersCredit: Getty
Katie Price appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday, where she said no topic was ‘off limit’ during the bombshell interview
10:00, 16 Mar 2026Updated 10:12, 16 Mar 2026
Katie Price appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday, where she said no topic was off limit (Image: ITV)
Katie Price appeared on Good Morning Britain on Monday to set the record straight on several details in her life, insisting no topic was ‘off limit’.
Katie, 47, recently left her family reeling when she announced she’d got hitched for the fourth time to businessman Lee Andrews, 43, who she had only known for a week. Her shocked mum and sisteronly found out after she announced the news on social media.
Since the reveal of her new relationship and marriage, the couple have been forced to hit back at a series of claims. Only recently, Katie spoke out to defend her husband Lee, hitting back at claims he’s a conman and insisting she has seen proof of his wealth.
Appearing on Monday’s Good Morning Britain, Katie encouraged hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls to grill her, insisting that no topic was ‘off limit’.
Real marriage date and Lee Andrews relationship
Katie said: “I’m doing really good. Really good. Really happy. I’m so excited to be here today for you to ask me anything you want”, adding: “The reason I say that is because there’s been so much speculation in the media, online, and no one can really hear my voice. So I’m glad I’ve got you guys. As you know, you can ask me anything.”
Talking about marrying Lee so quickly, she said: “Now, do you ever really know anyone? If you look at my past marriages, did I ever know they would be what they would be? And sometimes, I don’t think you can ever know who anyone is.”
She added: “So for me, I’ve gone through so much, as everyone knows, so much, so many different relationships. And I normally went from one to the other, to the other. And I recently, well, two years ago, I did relationships, healthy relationships”, adding that before then, she had always been in “toxic” relationships.
Katie continued: “But now, like two years ago, I now know signs of red flags. And you know, all of this, I’ve been there, done it. Now, I am older, I can make my own decisions. And there’s nothing to say that you have to wait for anything. So I’ve met Lee. It’s hard for anyone to understand.”
It was at this point that Katie revealed when she first met Lee, which was January, and when they got married, saying: “We got married two weeks ago. Although it looked like we did the ceremony in January, we did get engaged then.”
Lee has been accused of sending desperate voice notes of him begging for cash and complaining about surviving on 20 ready meals days before his lavish proposal to Katie in January and whirwild wedding. It has been claimed that in one voice note, Lee claims he’s “desperate” and “trying to survive”.
Lee has denied the claims in an Instagram post, simply commenting on a post making the claims: “This is not me”.
Meanwhile, Lee also took to his Instagram story to double down on claims that fake voice notes featuring his voice are circulating. He shared a screenshot of three Instagram accounts pretending to be him and wrote on top: “Warning Ignore the fake accounts and fake voice notes”.
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ITV viewers were left frustrated during Sunday night’s broadcast of the Oscars as host Conan O’Brien was ‘drowned out’ by a technical glitchCredit: APHollywood’s A-list gathered in Beverly Hills for the exclusive bash to honour the best in film from the past yearCredit: Getty
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the transatlantic stream – which was seemingly hit with technical difficulties just minutes in.
Taking to X to check whether it was a universal issue, one viewer wrote: “Is the itv oscar’s feed glitchy and weird for anyone else or is my tv screeching at me?”
“Omg ITV sort the sound outttt #Oscars,” said a second user.
A third wrote: “Is anyone else hearing an awful beeping sound on itv or are my speakers just f***ed #Oscars”.
“For everyone saying there are sound issues on ITV’s coverage of the #Oscars, it looks it’s not just us in the UK. People in other countries are complaining too so it must be,” said another.
The sharp beeping noise continued throughout Conan’s opening monologue, but appeared to be fixed by the time the first award came around.
During the show, presenter Jonathan was joined by a panel made up of presenter Elle Osili-Wood, actor Samson Kayo and social media star Fred Asquith.
They discussed the night’s red carpet and ceremony from the studio – providing commentary throughout the bash.
The exclusive bash closes off awards season and is known as the biggest night in Hollywood.
From Leonardo DiCaprio to Timothee Chalamet, the night’s nominees were out in full force as they hoped to take home one of the coveted gold gongs.
Conan returned to front the show for the second time, as a host of famous faces appeared on stage to give out awards.
Amongst the night’s big nominees were films such as Sinners, Frankenstein and Hamnet.
Who won on Hollywood’s biggest night?
One Battle After Another ran away with the night with six Oscars, while Sinners, which was nominated for a record-breaking 16 awards, came away with four. See the full winners list below:
Production Design: Frankenstein, Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau
Sound: F1, Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta
Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash, Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett
Casting: One Battle After Another, Cassandra Kulukundis
For those watching in the UK, Jonathan Ross fronted a live broadcastCredit: ITVA sharp beeping noise came through for many viewers just minutes into the showCredit: AP
RITA Ora put on a rather daring display as she attended an Oscars afterparty on Sunday night.
The Hot Right Now singer, 35, went completely braless and left little to the imagination in a daring sheer dress and massive feathered hat at Vanity Fair’s star-studded Oscars afterparty.
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Rita Ora looked incredible on Sunday night as she posed up a storm at the Vanity Fair Oscars afterpartyCredit: GettyHer slender physique was on full displayCredit: GettyShe wore a huge dramatic feathered headpieceCredit: AP
Trailing behind her, the skirt of the dress even had a train, which also boasted of some embroidery.
There was also a massive bow at the back of her dress, which appeared to be of the silk fabric.
She completed the look with a massive “camp” feathered hat, which dominated the entire look.
Rita wore minimal makeup, a light pink rosy-colored lip and a silver-hued eye look.
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Her hair looked short and curled beneath her massive hat, and she added a pair of white pearl earrings.
Reacting to the stunning snaps of Rita’s outfit for the afterparty, one person penned on X, “Oh Rita Ora this is such a slay wow.”
“She ate this,” declared another.
“Sublime,” swooned a third.
While a fourth penned: “What a beautiful dress.”
“THE HEADPIECE IS CAMPPPP,” added a fifth.
Who won on Hollywood’s biggest night?
One Battle After Another ran away with the night with six Oscars, while Sinners, which was nominated for a record-breaking 16 awards, came away with four. See the full winners list below:
Oscars viewers were left stunned when a tie was announced in one categoryThe Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva received the win for Live Action Short FilmCredit: Getty
Comedian and actor Kumail Nanjiani presented the award on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, where he announced the unexpected outcome.
Before revealing the winner in the prestigious category, the actor warned that two names would be called, and that it indeed wasn’t a mistake.
He explained that both recipients would come onstage separately to accept their awards and give their speeches.
The Singers was the first announced, followed by Two People Exchanging Saliva, which experienced an awkward blunder when the spotlight went dark, cutting off the winners’ mid-speech.
After a few moments of silence and a perplexed reaction from host Conan O’Brien, the spotlight turned back on, and they resumed their speech.
Social media erupted with confusion among fans over whether it was normal to have two winners in one category.
“Today I learned that a tie at the Oscars is actually possible. I didn’t know that was a thing. Who knew?!” one viewer wrote on X.
“So far this #Oscars, we’ve got endless roasts about opera and ballet, an unusual amount of AI comments, and even an award that resulted in a tie… which I didn’t know was a thing (it’s only happened seven times in 98 years),” another said.
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“A tie in 2026 is crazy,” a third reacted.
“We just had a tie in the #Oscars for best short film. I never knew that was a thing!” a fourth added.
There have only been six other times when a tie has occurred at the Academy Awards.
The first tie occurred at the 5th annual ceremony in 1932 when Fredric March (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) and Wallace Beery (The Champ) both won the Best Actor award.
Technically, Fredric won by one vote over Wallace, but at the time, the rules stated that anyone within three votes of the winner would receive the award.
Today, ties only happen when two nominees receive the exact same number of votes.
A tie happened again in 1950 in the Best Documentary Short category, in which So Much for So Little and A Chance to Live both were awarded the trophy.
Who won on Hollywood’s biggest night?
One Battle After Another ran away with the night with six Oscars, while Sinners, which was nominated for a record-breaking 16 awards, came away with four. See the full winners list below:
Production Design: Frankenstein, Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau
Sound: F1, Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta
Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash, Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett
Casting: One Battle After Another, Cassandra Kulukundis
This was the case in 1969 when Katharine Hepburn (The Lion in Winter) and Barbra Streisand (Funny Girl) both received the Best Actress honor.
The fourth tie occurred in 1987 when the award for Best Documentary (Feature) went to Artie Shaw: Time Is All You’ve Got and Down and Out in America.
It wasn’t until 1995 that another tie was called in the Best Live-Action Short Film category, with the statue going to Trevor and Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life.
The last instance was in 2013 when the Sound Editing category had two Oscar winners: Zero Dark Thirty (Paul N. J. Ottosson) and Skyfall (Per Hallberg and Karen Baker Landers).
There was an awkward blunder when Two People Exchanging Saliva accepted their award and the spotlight was shut offCredit: ReutersConan O’Brien hosted the 98th annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los AngelesCredit: Getty
ANNA Wintour showed there’s no bad blood when it comes to how she was portrayed in the hit 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada as she teamed up with leading lady Anne Hathaway during Sunday night’s Oscars.
Attending the 98th annual awards bash, which was held at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, the former Vogue Editor-In-Chief took to the stage to present the Best Costume Design gong alongside Anne.
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Anne Hathaway proved she’s got no bad blood when it comes to The Devil Wears Prada as she joined the film’s star Anne Hathaway for a surprise Oscars appearanceCredit: GettyThe Devil Wears Prada famously featured Meryl Streep in a role as a scathing magazine editor, which was largely inspired by Wintour’s professional reputationThe pair presented the Best Costume award at the Oscars with a funny on-stage spoofCredit: AFP
And while the film, based on the 2003 novel of the same name, didn’t paint the character in a glowing light, it seems Anna holds no grudges.
Taking to the stage with Anne, the pair performed a hilarious spoof in apparent promotion of the upcoming Devil Wears Prada 2 coming out in May.
As Anne spoke about the importance of costume and fashion in movies, and in real life, she turned to Anna to ask what the fashion powerhouse thought of her ensemble for the awards show.
Placing her famously oversized sunglasses on, Anna simply replied: “And the nominees are.”
When the pair returned to the stage, Anna hilariously said, “Thank you, Emily,” while addressing Anne.
The moment was a nod to the film’s character Emily, who is the long-suffering assistant to Meryl Streep, portrayed with Emily Blunt.
Despite it being widely accepted that Meryl’s role was based on Anna and her reign at Vogue, the latter failed to share her thoughts on the movie for almost a decade.
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Who won on Hollywood’s biggest night?
One Battle After Another ran away with the night with six Oscars, while Sinners, which was nominated for a record-breaking 16 awards, came away with four. See the full winners list below:
Production Design: Frankenstein, Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau
Sound: F1, Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta
Visual Effects: Avatar: Fire and Ash, Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett
Casting: One Battle After Another, Cassandra Kulukundis
In 2025, she finally revealed her thoughts on the film.
She said: “I found it highly enjoyable. It was very funny.Miuccia [Prada]and I talk about it a lot, and I say to her: ‘Well, it was really good for you.’“
Anna added that the film “had a lot of humour to it.”
She said: “It had a lot of wit. It had Meryl Streep. I mean, it wasEmily Blunt, [and] they were all amazing. In the end, I thought it was a fair shot.”
The move was released two decades ago, but Anna didn’t share her thoughts on her own depiction by Meryl until last yearClearly not offended, Anna and Anne even shared a hug as they walked off stage togetherCredit: ReutersThey presented Kate Hawley with the Oscar for Best Costume Design for her work on FrankensteinCredit: Reuters
“Sinners” entered the night with the record for the most Oscar nominations for a single film, with 16.
It leaves with four awards, won by Ryan Coogler for original screenplay, Michael B. Jordan for lead actor, Autumn Durald Arkapaw for cinematography and Ludwig Göransson for score. Arkapaw became the first woman to ever win in her category.
It seemed every time the film’s title came up during the broadcast there would be cheers and a swell of emotion from the audience. The live performance of the nominated song “I Lied to You” re-created the fantastical moment from the film in which generations of musicians collide, weaving together past, present and future.
Since its release in April of last year, the film has been a cultural touchstone and point of extended conversation on its way to some $370 million in worldwide box office. Among this year’s best picture nominees, only “F1” earned more, with $631 million. When Oscars host Conan O’Brien mentioned the name of the film in his opening monologue, it generated a huge ovation from the room.
Directed and written by Coogler, the film tells the story of twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, both played by Jordan. On the opening night of their juke joint in 1930s Mississippi, they are beset by a small band of vampires, intent on turning everyone inside into bloodsuckers.
In accepting his lead actor award, Jordan thanked Warner Bros. executives Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy “for believing in this dream, this vision of Ryan Coogler and betting on the culture and betting on original ideas and original artistry.” (Including its Oscars for “One Battle After Another” and “Weapons,” Warners Bros. ended the night with an 11-Oscar tally, tying the record for most wins by a single studio.)
Across what seemed an extremely long awards season — a run that was even longer for “Sinners” due to its spring release date — the film had many ups and downs. But its momentum seemed to be peaking at just the right time, as seen with the crucial wins for Jordan and the cast at the Actor Awards on March 1.
Regardless of how one feels about its final tally at the Academy Awards, the movie has already firmly established its continued relevance. As The Times’ Greg Braxton recently wrote, “‘Sinners’ is now being increasingly hailed in Hollywood as a groundbreaking symbol of Black artistic excellence, as well as a timely pushback to the divisive political climate that has reached fever-pitch proportions.”
K-POP Demon Hunters fans shared their reactions to watching HUNTR/X’s history-making Oscars performance and win.
The trio of voices behind the band from the popular Netflix film – Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami – took the stage at the 98th annual Academy Awards on Sunday, moving audiences worldwide with tears of joy.
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HUNTR/X took the stage at the 98th annual Academy Awards on SundayThe trio – Ejae, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami – performed their hit track, Golden, from K-Pop Demon HuntersCredit: ABC
They performed their iconic track, Golden, celebrating the folklore and cultural inspiration brought from the 2025 animated film.
Shortly after hitting the stage, K-Pop Demon Hunters, which became Netflix’s most-watched film ever, won the award for Best Original Song for Golden, after dominating awards season.
HUNTR/X, who nabbed two awards – Best Song Written for Visual Media for the famed track and Best Original Song – at the Golden Globes in January, incorporated instrumentals and dance into their performance at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles.
“Let’s go K-POP Demon Hunters!” one fan wrote on X.
“I love me some K-pop demon hunters! Those girls were singing down in that movie lol,” said another.
“K-Pop Demon Hunters made HISTORY,” reacted a third.
“The only thing I care about at the Oscars is K Pop Demon Hunters. If it were up to me, I’d give them all the possible awards,” added a fourth.
However, many were disappointed upon seeing that their acceptance speech was abruptly cut short, as were many others throughout the night, despite them pleading for more time.
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“Absolutely disrespectful of the #oscars for cutting off kpop demon hunters in their acceptance speech. They were given less time than every other winner and the Oscar’s owes them an apology,” one fan raged.
“I don’t like how they cut off the Kpop Demon Hunters Cast. That was nasty #Oscars,” someone else complained.
“Congrats to Michael B Jordan, but why did he get 3x the amount of time for his speech than the KPop Demon Hunters crew?” said another, referencing Sinners star Michael B. Jordan’s Best Actor win afterwards.
According to The Independent, HUNTR/X is the first all-Asian musical act to take the Oscars stage, following Blackpink K-pop band member Lisa, who was the first K-pop artist to perform at the show last year.
In August 2025, Netflix revealed that K-Pop Demon Hunters was the platform’s most popular movie of all time, overtaking the previous record-holder, Red Notice, starring Dwayne Johnson,Ryan Reynolds,and Gal Gadot.
“KPop Demon Hunters has gone up, up, up, and it’s their Golden moment,” the streaming service said in a statement.
Biggest Oscar Nominees of 2026 Academy Awards
Everyone in Hollywood hopes to snag a nod on the industry’s biggest night but only few get that honor. Here are the nominees and winners from the major categories of the 2026 Academy Awards:
Best Picture
Bugonia
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another *WINNER*
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams
Best Director
Chloé Zhao — Hamnet
Josh Safdie — Marty Supreme
Paul Thomas Anderson — One Battle After Another *WINNER*
Joachim Trier — Sentimental Value
Ryan Coogler — Sinners
Best Actor (Leading Role)
Timothée Chalamet — Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio — One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke — Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan — Sinners *WINNER*
Wagner Moura — The Secret Agent
Best Actress (Leading Role)
Jessie Buckley — Hamnet *WINNER*
Rose Byrne — If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Renate Reinsve — Sentimental Value
Emma Stone — Bugonia
Kate Hudson — Song Sung Blue
Best Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro — One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi — Frankenstein
Delroy Lindo — Sinners
Sean Penn — One Battle After Another *WINNER*
Stellan Skarsgård — Sentimental Value
Best Supporting Actress
Teyana Taylor — One Battle After Another
Wunmi Mosaku — Sinners
Amy Madigan — Weapons *WINNER*
Elle Fanning — Sentimental Value
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas — Sentimental Value
Best Original Screenplay
Marty Supreme — Josh Safdie & Ronald Bronstein
Blue Moon — Richard Linklater & Glen Powell
Sentimental Value — Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt
Sinners — Ryan Coogler *WINNER*
It Was Just an Accident — Jafar Panahi
Best Adapted Screenplay
One Battle After Another — Paul Thomas Anderson *WINNER*
Bugonia — Yorgos Lanthimos & Will Tracy
Frankenstein — Guillermo del Toro
Hamnet — Chloé Zhao
Train Dreams — Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar
Best Animated Feature
Arco
KPop Demon Hunters *WINNER*
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2
Elio
Best International Feature Film
The Secret Agent — Brazil
Sentimental Value — Norway *WINNER*
It Was Just an Accident — Iran
Sirāt — Spain
The Voice of Hind Rajab — Tunisia
Best Documentary Feature
The Alabama Solution
Come See Me in the Good Light
Cutting Through Rocks
Mr. Nobody Against Putin *WINNER*
The Perfect Neighbor
“The animated musical officially became Netflix’s most popularfilmof all time on the Most Popular English Films list with 236 million total views.“
In response to the film’s massive success, Netflix released a sing-along “party at home” version, K-Pop Hunters Sing-Along, that’s currently streaming on the app.
The movie was produced by Sony Pictures Animation and helmed by Maggie Kang, a Canadian film director born in Seoul, South Korea.
Maggie described the film as a “love letter to K-pop,” also known as “Korean pop music.”
On March 12, Netflix announced that the beloved animation will be getting a sequel, with directors Maggie and Chris Appelhans returning behind the scenes.
A release date has yet to be revealed, but fans can expect it may be a while, given the first film went into production in 2021 and wasn’t released until 2025.
“I feel immense pride as a Korean filmmaker that the audience wants more from this Korean story and our Korean characters,” Maggie said in a statement about the sequel.
“There’s so much more to this world we have built, and I’m excited to show you. This is only the beginning.”
The ladies are the voices behind the characters in the Netflix film, K-Pop Demon Hunters, which is nominated for two Oscar AwardsCredit: GettyK-Pop Demon Hunters became the most-watched film on Netflix ever following its 2025 releaseCredit: GettyHUNTR/X is the first all-Asian musical act to perform at the OscarsCredit: Getty
ROB Reiner’s friends held back tears at the Oscars as the ceremony honored the late director and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, after their tragic deaths.
The couple died in December 2025 after being brutally attacked in their Los Angeles home, and their son, Nick Reiner, is the primary suspect in their murders.
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Rob Reiner’s famous friends held back tears at the Oscars as the ceremony honored the late director and his wife, Michele Singer ReinerCredit: Instagram/michelereinerBilly Crystal gave a speech honoring the late couple Sunday nightCredit: ABCRob and his wife received a special tribute from longtime friend Billy CrystalCredit: GettyRob and his wife Michele died on December 14, 2025Credit: ABC
Hollywood was shocked by the loss of Rob, 78, and Michele, 70, and it was expected that there would be a special tribute to them at the 98th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday.
Rob famously rewrote the ending of When Harry Met Sally after meeting his wife, Michele, while shooting the film.
“I first met Rob Reiner in 1975. When I was cast as his best friend in an episode of All in the Family,” Billy’s began in his tribute.
“Rob said, it was fun playing your best friend, why don’t we keep it going. And it was a thrill to see him evolve from a great comic actor to a master storyteller.
“His first film was This Is Spinal Tap. You could stop right there … The comedy was turned up to an 11.”
Billy went on to discuss Rob’s other iconic films, including Stand By Me.
“Audiences then lined up to see his funny, charming films, so he gave them misery!” Billy continued.
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“My friend Rob’s movies will last for lifetimes. Because they were about what makes us laugh and cry and what we aspire to be, far better in his eyes, far kinder, far funnier, far more human.”
“And when Michele Singer entered his life, they were unstoppable. A gifted photographer, she not only produced films with Rob, but it was her energy that had them working tirelessly to fight social injustice in the country that they both loved.
“Rob and Michele Reiner became the driving force in the landmark decision for marriage equality across the United States. And their loss is immeasurable.”
He said Rob told him several times that “it meant everything to him that his work meant something to you.”
“And for us, who had the privilege of working with and knowing him and loving him, all we can say is, ‘Buddy, what fun we had storming the castle.”
Billy’s speech concluded with several actors joining him on stage, including Kathy Bates, Demi Moore and Mandy Patinkin.
More late stars honored at the Oscars
Diane Keaton was also honored at the Oscars’ In Memoriam tribute.
Rachel McAdams, who starred alongside the late actress in The Family Stone, took the stage to honor Diane.
“For over 50 years, luminous on screen and indelible in life, believe me when I say there isn’t an actress of my generation who is not inspired by and enthralled with her absolute singularity,” she said.
“She wore so many hats, literally and figuratively, actress, artist, author, activist, but no hat more important to her than being a mother to her two children.
“She meant so much to so many of us. I remember she used to sing this old Girl Scout song on set, which is just so her: ‘Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver, and the other is gold. A circle is round, it has no end. That’s how long I’ll be your friend.’
“And so to our friend, Diane Keaton, celebrating a life in silver and gold, a legend with no end.”
Diane, a four-time Academy Award nominee, died in October 2025 of bacterial pneumonia.
Other stars were honored during the In memoriam segment, including Robert Duvall, known for his roles in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, Robert Redford, known for All the President’s Men and The Sting and Catherine O’Hara, known for her role in Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek.
“She made us laugh until we cried,” Rachel said of Catherine at the Oscars.
Diane Keaton died in October 2025 of bacterial pneumoniaCredit: Getty ImagesCatherine O’Hara died in January 2026 at the age of 71 after being rushed to the hospital while having difficulty breathingCredit: REUTERSRobert Duvall, known for his role in The Godfather, died at the age of 95 in February 2026Credit: AFP via Getty Images
The death of Rob Reiner
Corey Feldman, who portrayed Teddy Duchamp in Stand by Me, was reportedly not asked to participate in the tribute to Rob, despite being one of the main characters alongside Jerry and Wil.
A source recently told the Daily Mail that Corey was “devastated” by the apparent snub and “wanted nothing more than to honor Rob.”
In January, Rob was subtly recognized at the Golden Globes by host Nikki Glaser, who ended the show wearing a Spinal Tap cap, a reference to the filmmaker’s 1984 film, This Is Spinal Tap.
The comedian also closed the ceremony, saying, “This one went to 11. Thank you, guys, for an amazing night,” a reference to the movie’s famous moments between Rob and co-star Christopher Guest.
Rob and Michele allegedly had their throats slit while lying in bed, and Nick, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was battling a drug addiction, has been charged with their murders.
The incident occurred hours after the trio attended Conan O’Brien’s holiday party, where Rob and Nick had an explosive fight about Nick’s behavior.
Last month, Conan O’Brien, host of the 98th Academy Awards, broke his silence about the tragedy during a sit-down with The New Yorker.
“I knew Rob and Michele, and then increasingly got closer and closer to them, and I was seeing them a lot,” the talk show host said.
“My wife and I were seeing them a lot, and they were so — they were just such lovely people.
Most Awarded Oscar Winners of All Time
Best Director:
John Ford — 4 wins
The Informer (1935)
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
The Quiet Man (1952)
Frank Capra — 3 wins
It Happened One Night (1934)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
You Can’t Take It with You (1938)
William Wyler —3 wins
Mrs. Miniver (1942)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Ben-Hur (1959)
Best Actor in a Leading Role:
Daniel Day‑Lewis — 3 wins (most in history)
My Left Foot (1989)
There Will Be Blood (2007)
Lincoln (2012)
A slew of actors are tied in second place having won 2 Oscars, including: Marlon Brando, Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, Sean Penn, Anthony Hopkins, and more.
Best Actress in a Leading Role:
Katharine Hepburn — 4 wins
Morning Glory (1933)
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)
The Lion in Winter (1968)
On Golden Pond (1981)
Frances McDormand — 3 wins
Fargo (1996)
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
Nomadland (2020)
Meryl Streep — 3 wins (two lead, one supporting)
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) — Supporting Actress
Sophie’s Choice (1982) — Lead Actress
The Iron Lady (2011) — Lead Actress
Best Actor in a Supporting Role:
Walter Brennan — 3 wins
Come and Get It (1936)
Kentucky (1938)
The Westerner (1940)
Many actors are tied for the second place honor with 2 nominations, including: Michael Caine, Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, Jack Nicholson, Christoph Waltz, and Mahershala Ali.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role:
Dianne Wiest —2 wins
Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
Shelley Winters — 2 wins
The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)
A Patch of Blue (1965)
Maggie Smith — 2 wins
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) — Lead Actress
California Suite (1978) — Supporting Actress
“And to have that experience of saying goodnight to somebody and having them leave and then find out the next day that they’re gone. … I think I was in shock for quite a while afterward. I mean, there’s no other word for it. It’s just very — it’s so awful. It’s just so awful.”
Conan also admitted that it was still “hard for me to comprehend” what happened to his friends.
The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed that Nick could inherit his family’s $196million fortune even if he’s found guilty of his parents’ deaths.
This would be the case if Nick is found legally insane, which, by California law, would still entitle him to the inheritance.
Nick has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.
Rob and Michele were murdered in their Los Angeles home in December 2025Credit: GettyTheir son, Nick, was accused of their killings and has been charged with has been charged with two counts of first-degree murderCredit: Instagram/romyreinerNick pleaded not guilty to the murders in court earlier this weekCredit: Getty
Sean Penn won the supporting actor Oscar on Sunday night for his performance as the ruthless, racist Col. Steven J. Lockjaw in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another.”
The win marks the third Academy Award for the 65-year-old Penn and his first in the supporting category. He previously earned lead actor Oscars for “Mystic River” (2003) and “Milk” (2008), and had been nominated three other times in leading roles before this year. He beat out fellow nominees Benicio Del Toro for “One Battle After Another,” Jacob Elordi for “Frankenstein,” Delroy Lindo for “Sinners” and Stellan Skarsgård for “Sentimental Value.”
With his victory, Penn joins Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, Ingrid Bergman, Daniel Day-Lewis, Frances McDormand and Walter Brennan as three-time Oscar winners for acting. Katharine Hepburn is the only four-time acting winner.
Penn, who delivers a volatile, darkly comic performance in Anderson’s sprawling political thriller, emerged as the race’s front-runner after a surprise victory at the BAFTA Awards and the Actor Awards, whose voting body overlaps heavily with the motion picture academy.
Sean Penn did not attend the Oscars, so presenter Kiernan Culkin accepted the award on Penn’s behalf.
OSCARS host Conan O’Brien has taken a dig at Timothee Chalamet in his opening speech after the actor’s controversial comments about the arts.
The Marty Supreme star found himself facing serious backlash after claiming “no one cares” about opera or ballet.
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Timothee Chalamet giggled as Oscars host Conan O’Brien roasted him, leaving Kylie Jenner slightly uncomfortableCredit: ABCConan held nothing back as he hosted the 2026 Oscars, joking about Timothee’s recent controversies
Conan, 62, kicked off the Oscars with a dig at Timothee, 30, as he smiled and laughed next to girlfriend Kylie Jenner, who arrived at the show dressed to the nines in a slinky red gown.
He joked about heightened security amid ongoing uncertainty in the world, pointing to an unexpected source of tension.
The former late night TV host quipped: “Security is extremely tight tonight…I’m told theres concerns about attacks from both the opera and ballet communities.”
He looked down at Timothee, who was giggling slightly.
Kylie, 28, shifted slightly in her seat, smiling although she looked slightly uncomfortable.
Conan then added: “They are just mad you left out jazz!”
Later in the show, the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend host circled back with Timothee, seemingly trying to smooth things over.
“I’m vibing with Timothee right now, we’re vibing, right?!” he asked, looking down at the Willy Wonka actor.
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The camera did not pan to the star, but it doesn’t seem like he was feeling the same vibe.
Conan added: “He doesn’t think so, alright!”
At this point, Timothee must be somewhat used to the blowback.
He’s been taking heat for his comment for days now.
The Oscar-nominee was chatting with Matthew McConaughey at the University of Texas about efforts to preserve cinema back in February.
“I don’t want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though like no one cares about this anymore’,” he said.
“All respect to all the ballet and opera people out there,” he added.
Since then, he’s taken heat from ballet and opera stars, as well as other big figures in Hollywood.
Steven Spielberg, for example, disagreed vehemently.
According to Page Six, he said of the arts during a 2026 SXSW panel: “At the end of a really good movie experience, we are all united with a whole bunch of feelings that we walks into the daylight with, or into the nighttime with.
Biggest Oscar Nominees of 2026 Academy Awards
Everyone in Hollywood hopes to snag a nod on the industry’s biggest night but only few get that honor. Here are the nominees from the major categories of the 2026 Academy Awards:
Best Picture
Bugonia
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams
Best Director
Chloé Zhao — Hamnet
Josh Safdie — Marty Supreme
Paul Thomas Anderson — One Battle After Another
Joachim Trier — Sentimental Value
Ryan Coogler — Sinners
Best Actor (Leading Role)
Timothée Chalamet — Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio — One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke — Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan — Sinners
Wagner Moura — The Secret Agent
Best Actress (Leading Role)
Jessie Buckley — Hamnet
Rose Byrne — If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Renate Reinsve — Sentimental Value
Emma Stone — Bugonia
Kate Hudson — Song Sung Blue
Best Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro — One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi — Frankenstein
Delroy Lindo — Sinners
Sean Penn — One Battle After Another
Stellan Skarsgård — Sentimental Value
Best Supporting Actress
Teyana Taylor — One Battle After Another
Wunmi Mosaku — Sinners
Amy Madigan — Weapons
Elle Fanning — Sentimental Value
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas — Sentimental Value
Best Original Screenplay
Bugonia — Yorgos Lanthimos & Will Tracy
Marty Supreme — Josh Safdie & Ronald Bronstein
One Battle After Another — Paul Thomas Anderson
Sentimental Value — Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt
Sinners — Ryan Coogler
Best Adapted Screenplay
Blue Moon — Richard Linklater & Glen Powell
Frankenstein — Guillermo del Toro
Hamnet — Chloé Zhao
The Secret Agent — Kleber Mendonça Filho
Train Dreams — Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar
Best Animated Feature
Arco
KPop Demon Hunters
The Magnificent Life of Marcel Pagnol
Zootopia 2
The Night Gardener
Best International Feature Film
The Secret Agent — Brazil
Sentimental Value — Norway
It Was Just an Accident — Iran
Universal Language — Canada
Sujo — Mexico
Best Documentary Feature
The Alabama Solution
Come See Me in the Good Light
Four Daughters
No Other Land
The Perfect Neighbor
“And there’s nothing like that. It happens in movies, and in concerts. And it happens in ballet and opera, by the way.”
Timothee is nominated for two Oscars during the 2026 awards show.
He’s up for Best Actor for his role in Marty Supreme and Best Picture.
He will be up against Michael B. Jordan in Sinners; Leonardo DeCaprio in One Battle After Another; Wagner Moura in The Secret Agent; and Ethan Hawke in Blue Moon in the Best Actor category.
In Best Picture, Timothee is up against The Secret Agent, Bugonia, Train Dreams, F1, and Sinners.
Kylie Jenner, who attended the awards show with the Marty Supreme star, shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she giggled about about Conan’s commentsCredit: Reuters
KYLIE Jenner has stunned in a body-hugging sparkly red gown ahead of the Oscars to support her boyfriend and nominee, Timothee Chalamet.
The beauty mogul will join Timothee, who is up for Best Actor for his performance in the sports drama Marty Supreme, at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday.
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Kylie Jenner showed off the body-hugging red gown she’s wearing to the 98th annual Oscars ceremony on Sunday, March 15Credit: Instagram/kyliejennerKylie posted a video of her look on Instagram shortly before the showCredit: Instagram/kyliejennerThe reality star hinted that her look channeled the sexy cartoon character, Jessica Rabbit
Kylie, 28, teased her outfit in an Instagram video, in which she donned a low-cut Schiaparelli dress that showcased her cleavage and curvy figure.
The ensemble featured a cut-out of a lock beneath her breasts, and she paired it with a diamond necklace and earrings.
She wore her brunette hair in loose waves and a full face of makeup for the A-list event.
Kylie hinted in her caption that her look channeled the sexy cartoon character, Jessica Rabbit.
Several celebrities in the Kardashian-Jenner inner circle gushed over Kylie’s appearance in the comments.
“My heart skipped a beat,” Kylie’s sister, Khloe Kardashian, wrote.
“OMG YES,” the reality star’s BFF Stassi Karanikolaou said.
“Everything,” Lauren Sanchez Bezos added alongside a red heart emoji.
Most read in Entertainment
Kylie has been by Timothee’s side – amid fierce backlash over his claims that no one cares about the ballet or opera – throughout the 2026 awards season, as he was a heavy favorite following his Golden Globes win against standouts Michael B. Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ethan Hawke.
He even gave a shoutout to the Kylie Cosmetics founder in his acceptance speech for Best Actor at the January 11 ceremony, saying, “For my parents, for my partner, I love you. Thank you so much.”
Days earlier, Timothee, 30, again called out The Kardashians star, who shares daughter Stormi, 8, and son Aire, 4, with her ex, Travis Scott, while accepting the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actor at the January 4 show.
“Lastly, I would like to say thank you to my partner of three years,” the Call Me by Your Name star said onstage.
“Thank you for our foundation. I love you. I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he concluded.
Kylie looked visibly touched by the sentiment, smiling and mouthing “I love you” back to him.
Biggest Oscar Nominees of 2026 Academy Awards
Everyone in Hollywood hopes to snag a nod on the industry’s biggest night but only few get that honor. Here are the nominees from the major categories of the 2026 Academy Awards:
Best Picture
Bugonia
F1
Frankenstein
Hamnet
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams
Best Director
Chloé Zhao — Hamnet
Josh Safdie — Marty Supreme
Paul Thomas Anderson — One Battle After Another
Joachim Trier — Sentimental Value
Ryan Coogler — Sinners
Best Actor (Leading Role)
Timothée Chalamet — Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio — One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke — Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan — Sinners
Wagner Moura — The Secret Agent
Best Actress (Leading Role)
Jessie Buckley — Hamnet
Rose Byrne — If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Renate Reinsve — Sentimental Value
Emma Stone — Bugonia
Kate Hudson — Song Sung Blue
Best Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro — One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi — Frankenstein
Delroy Lindo — Sinners
Sean Penn — One Battle After Another
Stellan Skarsgård — Sentimental Value
Best Supporting Actress
Teyana Taylor — One Battle After Another
Wunmi Mosaku — Sinners
Amy Madigan — Weapons
Elle Fanning — Sentimental Value
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas — Sentimental Value
Best Original Screenplay
Bugonia — Yorgos Lanthimos & Will Tracy
Marty Supreme — Josh Safdie & Ronald Bronstein
One Battle After Another — Paul Thomas Anderson
Sentimental Value — Joachim Trier & Eskil Vogt
Sinners — Ryan Coogler
Best Adapted Screenplay
Blue Moon — Richard Linklater & Glen Powell
Frankenstein — Guillermo del Toro
Hamnet — Chloé Zhao
The Secret Agent — Kleber Mendonça Filho
Train Dreams — Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar
Best Animated Feature
Arco
KPop Demon Hunters
The Magnificent Life of Marcel Pagnol
Zootopia 2
The Night Gardener
Best International Feature Film
The Secret Agent — Brazil
Sentimental Value — Norway
It Was Just an Accident — Iran
Universal Language — Canada
Sujo — Mexico
Best Documentary Feature
The Alabama Solution
Come See Me in the Good Light
Four Daughters
No Other Land
The Perfect Neighbor
In December, Kylie showed support for Timothee on the red carpet of the film’s LA premiere, where they sported matching orange ensembles.
The mom of two rocked a dangerously low-cut, skintight dress with cut-outs along the midsection.
She paired the look with high heels, a chunky gold necklace, orange nails, and her long black hair flowing straight down.
Timothee wore pants, a button-down shirt, a jacket, and boots, accessorized with a black cross-body bag shaped like a ping pong paddle, as a nod to the film.
It was their first major public appearance together since rumors began that their relationship was on the rocks.
In October, fans believed there was trouble in paradise after they appeared to show a lack of affection toward one another while watching a New York Yankees game, with many accusing Kylie of “looking bored.”
Weeks earlier, Timothee was a no-show at Kylie’s mom, Kris Jenner’s, elaborate 70th birthday bash, fueling chatter that they were ready to call it quits.
In November, a source exclusively revealed to The U.S. Sun that the couple were at odds over Timothee’s desire to keep their romance private, while Kylie wanted to share their love with the world.
The insider also claimed that Kylie had been “pressuring” Timothee about “cementing their relationship,” but the Wonka star wanted to focus on “fixing their issues.”
Kylie and Timothee first began dating in April 2023, although they didn’t make their public debut until they were spotted at a Beyoncé concert later that September.
They managed to keep their romance out of the public eye until they made their red carpet debut as a couple in May 2025 at the 70th David Di Donatello Awards in Rome.
Kylie had parted ways with her baby daddy, Travis, shortly before getting together with Timothee, and had previously been in a years-long relationship with rapper Tyga.
Timothee dated Johnny Depp’s daughter, Lily-Rose Depp, whom he met on the set of the Netflix film The King, from 2018 to 2020.
Kylie is supporting her boyfriend, Timothee Chalamet, who is nominated, at the awards showCredit: GettyRumors previously circulated that the pair were having trouble in their relationshipCredit: GettyThe duo had primarily kept their relationship out of the public eye, which sources exclusively told The U.S. Sun was Timothee’s requestCredit: Getty
OLIVIA Attwood looked stunning as she enjoyed a wild night out with a host of Love Islanders this weekend in New York- with the star posing up a storm in knee high boots and a lace skirt.
Olivia Attwood looked stunning as she posed in knee high boots in bed during her trip to New YorkCredit: InstagramShe posed for a slew of snaps in a mini-photoshoot before heading out for the eveningCredit: InstagramThe reality star then enjoyed a wild night out with a slew of Love Island starsCredit: Instagram
Former Love Island star Olivia is across the pond to celebrate the launch of her collaboration with high street brand River Island.
Dressed in a satin mini skirt with a lace trim and knee-high boots, Olivia looked stunning for the night out.
She posed for a slew of snaps before hitting the town.
Olivia and the group were then filmed throughout the night as they hit the city’s clubs and let loose.
Sipping on cocktails and wine, the video showed the group as they danced together and even cheekily lifted up their tops and skirts – covering themselves with emojis.
Confirming that the girls had quite the time, Toni commented on the post: “downhill for sure”.
“A time was had,” said Sophie Piper.
The hangover seemed to hit hard too, as Olivia joked this morning that she was “hanging on by a thread”.
Olivia is yet to divulge exactly what went on between them.
However, she did say that she would speak about her marriage breakdown when the time is right – insisting she had a “lot to process”.
The couple wed in 2023, four years after getting engaged.
Olivia didn’t hold back as she and her fellow reality star pals took to the townCredit: GettyIt comes following her split from Bradley earlier this year, which was caused by a ‘breach of trust’ by the footballerCredit: Getty
Hollywood’s biggest night is here, along with the biggest red carpet of awards season.
Not only is it massive in size — it takes about 2,400 hours and more than 400 workers to assemble the 25,000-square-foot red carpet, measuring 900 feet long and 60 feet wide — but enormous in influence. It boasts the most memorable, stylish and extravagant fashion in entertainment history. In fact, stars have been taking cues from Hollywood history at precursor awards shows. Old Hollywood glamour dominated January’s Golden Globes. And the Actor Awards, held two weeks ago, were themed “Reimagining Hollywood Glamour from the ‘20s and ‘30s.” So the Oscars red carpet may also pay homage to La La Land.
Here’s the best fashion from the 2026 Oscars, captured from every angle by The Times’ photo team. After the carpet wraps, the 98th Academy Awards will air live from the Dolby Theatre on ABC starting at 4 p.m.
Ji-young Yoo, who voices Zoey in “K-Pop Demon Hunters,” is pretty in purple.
(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)
Kevin Grandalski and Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin and husband Kevin Grandalski, a retired Burbank police officer, arrive on the red carpet. Matlin won the lead actress Oscar in 1987 for her debut film, “Children of a Lesser God.”
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Mario Lopez
Mario Lopez arrives on the red carpet. The actor’s talk show “Access Hollywood” was abruptly canceled on Friday after nearly 30 years.
(Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)
Nadim Cheikhrouha
French Tunisian film producer Nadim Cheikhrouha wears an Artists4Ceasefire pin, designed by Shepard Fairey. The collective of actors and filmmakers is advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“The Voice of Hind Rajab,” a heartbreaking retelling of the efforts to save a 6-year-old Palestinian girl amid Israel’s attacks on Gaza, will be honored at the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday — without one of its star players.
Actor Motaz Malhees, who stars in the film as Red Crescent dispatcher Omar, confirmed Thursday that he will be absent from the festivities because of President Trump’s travel ban against Palestinians. “I had the honor of playing one of the lead roles in a story the world needed to hear,” Malhees said on Instagram, “but I will not be there.”
“I am not allowed to enter the United States because of my Palestinian citizenship,” he added.
Trump announced his widened travel ban in December, noting his decision to “fully restrict and limit the entry of individuals using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority,” along with people from countries including South Sudan and Syria. The president issued the order months after he presented his 20-point peace plan for the Gaza strip — efforts that some Palestinians feel have been now brushed aside amid U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran.
Malhees said in his post that the restriction “hurts” but offered his followers and supporters a kernel of truth: “You can block a passport. You cannot block a voice.”
“The Voice of Hind Rajab,” directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, is nominated in the international feature category. The film is set in a Red Crescent call center in Ramallah and centers the 70-minute phone recording of Hind’s pleas for help as she waits with her family in a trapped car for emergency responders. She and two medics dispatched to her location were killed in February 2024 in Israeli attacks in Gaza.
The film earned the grand jury prize at the Venice Film Festival.
Though unable to celebrate the film at the Oscars on Sunday, Malhees said he stands “with pride and dignity” and that his “spirit will be with the Voice of Hind Rajab that night.”
“Our story is bigger than any barrier, and it will be heard,” he said.
A representative for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
As Malhees publicized his absence, fellow stars including Oscar winner Riz Ahmed and Emmy-nominated “Succession” star Arian Moayed rallied in support.
“Your work in the film and the film itself are both incredible and will live on forever,” Ahmed commented.
“You are brilliant, azizam,” Moayed replied to Malhees. “And this is heartbreaking and unjust.”
AUSTIN, Texas — “The Sun Never Sets” is filmmaker Joe Swanberg’s 10th indie to premiere at SXSW but his first to play the event since 2017. The astonishing pace with which he made his early work — loose, idiosyncratic stories that were progenitors of the emergent style known as mumblecore — has slowed significantly, but also given way to a newfound maturity as both a person and an artist.
Introducing “The Sun Never Sets” at its world premiere on Friday night to a sold-out crowd at the Zach Theater, Swanberg called his latest “my favorite film I’ve ever made.” Shot on 35mm in Anchorage, the movie follows a 30-ish woman, Wendy (Dakota Fanning in a vibrant turn), torn between pursuing a fresh romance with a reckless old flame (Cory Michael Smith) or continuing on with the settled-in-his-ways divorced father of two (Jake Johnson) she’s been seeing for a few years.
Dakota Fanning in Joe Swanberg’s “The Sun Never Sets,” filmed in Alaska.
(SXSW)
“I guess this is what they tell you about getting older and doing this job longer,” said a thoughtful Swanberg in a video interview from his home in Chicago shortly before the South by Southwest festival. “You get better at it and you sort of mature and all of this.”
The film marks Swanberg’s fourth collaboration with Johnson, a partnership that goes back to 2013’s “Drinking Buddies.” (The actor partly financed the new project along with his brother.) Following completion of the third season of the Netflix anthology series “Easy” in 2019, for which he wrote and directed all the episodes, Swanberg was planning to take a break. A divorce and the pandemic caused that pause to grow even longer.
In the intervening years Swanberg produced a number of projects for other filmmakers, did some acting and opened a small video store in Chicago. Swanberg knew Anchorage-based producer Ashleigh Snead, who encouraged him to consider shooting something there. The scenic location would give Swanberg the opportunity to expand his visual style from his usual couches, bars and apartments of much of his work. (There still are a surprising number of scenes on couches and in bars.)
“Joe’s a real filmmaker,” says Johnson in a separate interview. “And I think sometimes he doesn’t get that credit because he can make movies with nothing. This is a real adult movie. This is a film about how complicated breakups are and how messy they get. And it’s in beautiful Alaska.”
Swanberg, center, on the set of “The Sun Never Sets.”
(SXSW)
Swanberg has now gone from someone making talky, provocative and at times controversial films about the lives of post-collegiate 20-somethings to exploring the nuances and specifics of being a 44-year-old divorced father of two still trying to figure out his place in the world. His original cohort of SXSW-affiliated filmmakers, many of whom also fell under the rubric of mumblecore — nobody much liked the name, but no one ever came up with anything better, so it stuck — included Greta Gerwig, Lena Dunham, Barry Jenkins, Ti West and others who have gone on to more conventional mainstream success.
But Swanberg doesn’t seem to feel left behind. Rather, he only sees doors opening.
“It’s gone so much better than I thought it was going to go for me,” he says. “I mean, when I was making these really tiny, sexually explicit 71-minute movies, I was like, I’m just grateful to be here. I can’t even believe these festivals are showing this work and it’s so cool that there’s a space for me in this ecosystem.
“And so to watch my friends go off to do these giant movies, to see Greta doing ‘Barbie’ and stuff like that, to me it just opens up the possibilities,” he adds. “Each time a friend of mine sets some new record or moves into some new space, I’m kind of like: Oh, that just opened up for all of us now.”
His earlier work often featured raw sex scenes, sometimes featuring Swanberg himself. From practically the start of his career, well predating the #MeToo-era reckoning that began in 2017, Swanberg weathered accusations that he was exploitative and manipulative of his female performers. His stepback from productivity coincided with a moment when his explorations of sexual power dynamics fell out of favor. It would be easy to interpret that Swanberg preemptively soft-canceled himself to avoid a broader scandal. He doesn’t see it that way.
“Certainly in Chicago, where I’ve spent the last five years, I’m not unwelcome places,” he says, drawing a distinction between himself and “people who lose jobs or are capital-C canceled. But also my work has always pushed those boundaries and always attracted some amount of positive and negative attention.”
Though “The Sun Never Sets” has numerous kissing scenes, it doesn’t go too much further than that.
“I won’t do it,” Johnson says of more graphic scenes. “When I worked with Joe early on, I was like, ‘I love you, man — I’m not doing this.’”
For her part, Fanning had no reservations about working with Swanberg. He offered both Fanning and Smith the opportunity to work with an intimacy coordinator, but neither felt it was necessary.
“There was no planet where you’d ever be asked to do anything you were uncomfortable with,” Fanning says. “If there was ever a moment like, ‘I don’t want to do that,’ he’d be like, ‘Oh, then let’s not.’ There was a day where there was a scene and it was pouring rain outside. And we both looked at each other and he was like, ‘We’re not going to do it. The scene’s cut.’ He’s just open. And I just trusted him implicitly.”
Jake Johnson and Dakota Fanning in the movie “The Sun Never Sets.”
(SXSW)
Swanberg has long worked in an unusual style in which the script is essentially a detailed outline and the actors work to come up with their own dialogue during rehearsals. For “The Sun Never Sets,” Swanberg and Johnson developed the longest, most complete outline Swanberg has ever used, including some dialogue exchanges. Then the actors were allowed to make it their own.
Fanning recalled an early Zoom call with Swanberg and Johnson on which they explained the process.
“It’s still made like a real film,” Fanning says. “And Jake and Joe promised it’s not like we’re just flying by the seat of our pants: ‘You will know what to say, I promise.’ And then friends that know me asked, ‘Are you so nervous?’ And I was, but for some reason, I don’t know why, I just knew that it was going to be fine. And that just proved to be true.”
Even though it takes places in Anchorage, Swanberg calls “The Sun Never Sets” “extremely personal.”
“I was definitely writing a movie about a divorced mid-40s guy dating a younger person,” he says. “The questions of marriage and having children were sort of an amalgam of two real relationships that I merged into one onscreen.” He describes the material as “questions that I had and have about what my own relationships are going to look like post-divorce.”
That comes through in Fanning’s rich, layered performance, which might rank among the best of her already lengthy career. Swanberg’s style draws both an ease and an intensity from Fanning, who captures a woman at a pivotal moment of figuring out what she wants amid the emotional whirlwind she is going through. (At the film’s premiere, Fanning said, “I’ve never put so much of myself into a role before.”)
“I think the goal of Joe’s films, and I think at least my goal with this film, is trying to make everything feel real,” she says. “Things are just a mess some of the time.”
Dakota Fanning and Cory Michael Smith in “The Sun Never Sets.”
(SXSW)
Swanberg himself appears in a small role as the new husband of the ex-wife of Johnson’s character. And the characters of the two kids in the movie are named after the director’s own children. With a newfound maturity and emotional depth, Swanberg is continuing to make movies that are part diary, part generational markers.
“It’d be really cool in my 40s to make movies about characters in their 40s,” he says, “and in my 50s, 60s and 70s. It’d be neat to be making sexually explicit movies about 70-year-olds in their dating lives and sex lives and stuff. It’s really exciting to have movies about characters at this phase of their life, whether they’re finally settling down in their 40s or whether they’re getting out of relationships and reexamining their life. It’s where my head is at.” .
