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The California-based doctor will spend more than two years in prison for his role in the “Friends” star’s fatal overdose. California-based Dr. Salvador Plasencia faced up to 40 years behind bars, but managed to only get 2.5 years. On Wednesday (Dec. 3), Dr. Salvador Plasencia was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for illegally issuing ketamine to Matthew Perry, who died of an overdose in 2023 while in a jacuzzi. Plasencia, who ran an urgent-care clinic outside of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in July  to four felony counts of illegal distribution of ketamine. He was facing up to four decades behind bars for the crime. Not only will he serve in prison, he will tackle two years of probation. Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett emphasized how Plasencia and others on Perry’s team fed the actor’s ketamine addiction, which led to his death. During the sentencing, J udge Garnett said  Plasencia exploited the actor’s addiction for his own profit. Perry’s family, notably his mother and two half sisters, gave victim impact statements before Plasencia’s sentencing.  “The world mourns my brother,” Madeleine Morrison said during her tearful statement. “He was everyone’s favorite friend.” The doctor admitted to taking advantage of Perry and his addiction. According to court filings, he texted another doctor and referred to Perry as a “moron” who could be exploited for his money.  Prosecutors originally asked for three years, while the defense asked for only a day in prison along with probation.  Plasencia was the first of five defendants to be sentenced, according to CNN. The other four defendants , who all pleaded guilty, include: Dr. Mark Chavez, a doctor who worked alongside Plasencia to supply Perry with the ketamine Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s assistant who injected Perry with the drug despite not having any medical experience Erik Fleming, acquainted with Perry through a mutual friend who distributed the ketamine to the actor Jasveen Sangha, considered the “Ketamine Queen” of North Hollywood who ran an operation out of her home These four fellow defendants all reached plea agreements, and will receive their own sentencing in the coming months. The "Ketamine Queen" of North Hollywood, real name Jasveen Sangha, ran her operation out of her home. Perry was taking ketamine legally as a treatment for depression. When his regular doctor wouldn’t provide the amount of ketamine he wanted, he turned to Plasencia who knowingly supplied the drug when Perry struggled with addiction.  The “Friends” actor was found by his assistant floating face down and lifeless in the jacuzzi of his Los Angeles home in October 2023. An autopsy report stated that he died from the “acute effects” of the prescription anesthetic.

The Houston Hottie secures another legal win as the jury sides with her in her suit against a social media personality. Megan Thee Stallion secures a legal win against social media personality Milagro Gramz, who was found liable for carrying out a smear campaign alongside Tory Lanez and inflicting emotional distress. On Monday (Dec. 1), a Miami jury found Milagro Cooper liable for carrying out a smear campaign the Houston-born rapper Megan Thee Stallion, real name Megan Pete. Cooper, popularly known as Milagro Gramz, was also found liable for inflicting emotional distress by working with Canadian rapper Tory Lanez, who shot Pete in 2020, to carry out a smear campaign against the Houston Hottie. In coordinating with Lanez, real name Daystar Peterson, Cooper promoted an AI-generated pornographic video of Pete.  Jurors originally awarded Pete $75K in damages, though the amount dropped to $59K when U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga ruled Cooper as a media defendant.  Read the Full Verdict Here: The jury, made of five men and four women, deliberated for 4.5 hours and 5.5 hours last Wednesday (Nov. 26). They said Cooper disseminated news to the public, but she didn’t do so in an impartial manner. Ultimately, they agreed she should be treated as a media defendant.  Cooper escaped the defamation count due to the technicality, though she’s still on the hook for the two other counts regarding the intentional infliction of emotional distress and her promoting the pornographic video. The legal team surrounding Cooper, Laisa Ene Peret, Jeremy McLymont, and Nathacha Bien-Aime, appear to focus on the dropped defamation count.  “Cooper ultimately prevailed on Ms. Pete’s leading accusation, defamation, and the jury awarded a nominal amount of damages compared to millions of dollars Ms. Pete demanded from Ms. Cooper throughout the course of the litigation,” Cooper’s legal team said in a statement obtained by ABC News . Cooper’s promotion of the explicit video could raise the amount she owes to the “Cocky AF” rapper as Pete can recoup her attorney fees. The sentiment was echoed in Pete’s lawyer’s statement obtained by ABC News, noting that Cooper will be required to cover the rapper’s legal fees.  Recouping said attorney fees may take some time as Judge Altonaga stated in her final judgement that such requests will have to wait until after all post-trial motions and appeals are dealt with.  As she was leaving court on Monday, Pete notes that she’s happy following the jury’s decision. While Pete expressed her elation, Cooper notes that she’s also happy to move forward. Cooper appears to look on the brighter side of things despite the legal loss. “Things will get handled. It wasn’t a multimillion dollar verdict. So I think that’s a blessing. God is good through and through,” Cooper said after leaving court. In their press release immediately following the verdict on Monday, Cooper’s legal team alleged that Pete and her attorneys asked the jury to award the rapper with “an astronomical amount of damages.” They allege that the jury rejected Pete’s request, pointing out the “nominal damages” Pete was able to recover. “Evidently, the jury did not believe that Ms. Cooper was the sole cause of Ms. Pete’s emotional distress and that is reflected in their verdict,” the press release read. Their statement came before Judge Altonaga’s final judgement, which Pete’s legal team highlighted in their own press release. “The judge will make a final ruling and determine the entire financial amount that Milagro will be required to pay Megan, inclusive of legal bills and the defamation count, at a later date,” Pete’s legal team said via press release. During her testimony last month, Pete speaks about Cooper’s social media posts about her. “She’s created a space for a lot of people to come speak negatively about me,” Pete said. She referenced Cooper’s social media posts, in which the social media personality attacked Pete’s character by casting her as a liar and mentally unstable.  Cooper also took the stand last month, testifying that she operated as a blogger without the influence of Peterson. She did admit to speaking with Peterson and was hoping to have him as a guest on her channel. She also admitted to receiving payments from Peterson’s father, but she claimed they were for personal reasons — namely her children’s birthdays and “promotional” work. The social media personality’s posts stemmed from the criminal case against Peterson, for which he is currently serving a 10-year sentence. The Canadian rapper was convicted in December 2022 of felony assault for shooting and injuring Pete during a July 2020 incident. The polarizing incident happened in Hollywood Hills after Peterson, Pete, and Pete’s former friend Kelsey Harris left a party hosted by Kylie Jenner earlier that evening.  Peterson’s legal team attempted to appeal both his sentencing and conviction, but it was upheld by a Los Angeles federal court last month.

The lawsuit comes alive in Florida court, featuring opening statements and testimony. Megan Thee Stallion sued streamer Milagro Gramz for coordinating with Tory Lanez on an alleged smear campaign against the Houston Hottie. Trial surrounding Megan Thee Stallion’s lawsuit against social media personality Milagro Cooper, popularly known as Milagro Grams or Mobz World, began on Monday (Nov. 17) in Miami. Megan Thee Stallion, real name Megan Pete, sued Cooper for coordinating with Tory Lanez, real name Daystar Peterson,  and his father to carry out a smear campaign against the Houston Hottie. The alleged smear campaign aimed to not only discredit Pete, but to dissuade her from testifying against Peterson — he’s currently serving a ten-year sentence for shooting Pete in the foot after a heated argument. Pete alleged in her lawsuit that not only did Cooper work with the Peterson family, the social media personality received thousands of dollars for doing so. The Houston-born rapper has four claims against Cooper: defamation, promotion of an altered sexual depiction, intentional infliction of emotional distress and cyberstalking. According to the most recent complaint, filed in February, Cooper liked a post on Twitter, currently known as X, that included an AI-generated pornographic video of Pete. Cooper called for her followers and users alike on both Twitter and Stationhead to look at her likes, bringing attention to the fraudulent video. In her testimony during the first day of trial , she admitted to intentionally directing people to her likes tab on Twitter/X account. Her lawyer noted that the social media personality didn’t publicize or share on her own social media account. The jury heard audio recordings of Cooper telling her followers that she liked the video, urging them to head to her likes tab. Her followers questioned the authenticity of the video, to which Cooper speculated it was artificial intelligence. Marie Hayrapetian, Pete’s lawyer, showed the video during her opening statement. “Imagine having to sit in court and watch this play for a room full of strangers. That’s what we’re asking Megan to do today, but you need to see it to understand what Milagro Cooper prompted,” Hayrapetian said. Cooper’s attorney, Nathacha Bien-Aime, emphasized that Cooper wasn’t the one to publish the AI-generated video. According to Bien-Aime, Cooper didn’t know about the video until her followers told her about it. She notes that Cooper’s job is to comment on topics her viewers and followers want her to discuss. “Ms. Cooper is no different than any of the millions online on a daily basis that are speaking their opinions, speaking about what they see, talking about what’s being reported,” Bien-Aime said. “Some of your favorite comedians would be sitting next to Ms. Cooper if they were being held to the same standard that she’s being held by the plaintiff.” During cross-examination, John O’Sullivan, a lawyer part of Pete’s legal team, asked Cooper about her stance regarding what happened on the fateful July 2020 night.  “Did you have an open-mind on what happened that night,” O’Sullivan asked the streamer. Cooper said she had an open-mind, open to the fact that Peterson could’ve been guilty of shooting Pete. O’Sullivan directly asked if she already made up her mind regarding what happened that night. “I had an idea of what I figured could happen, which could be speculation, but once again, it was imperative that I went to the trial,” Cooper answered.  U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga in the District of Florida previously rejected Cooper’s motion to dismiss Pete’s lawsuit, according to Meghann Cuniff . Judge Altonaga, in her 25-page order, says Cooper does not qualify as a “media defendant,” so Pete’s legal team was not required to notify her of a slander or libel suit before they sued her.  Cooper also claimed  that Pete did not properly allege that she promoted the deepfake video, and that Pete’s allegations are outrageous enough to uphold the Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress claims.  It’s unclear the amount in damages Pete is seeking, though her legal team argued in a brief that the defamation claim doesn’t require financial loss. “Federal and state courts applying Florida law have repeatedly allowed public figures to proceed on claims of defamation per se without requiring proof of economic harm,” the filing read. “Florida precedent makes clear that once a public figure demonstrates actual malice, the traditional presumption of damages in per se defamation remains intact.” Both Pete’s and Cooper’s legal teams filed a proposed verdict form that asks seven questions: Do you find that Ms. Cooper defamed Ms. Pete by accusing Ms. Pete of perjury — a felony — by lying under oath in a criminal trial? Do you find that Ms. Cooper willfully and maliciously prompted, without Ms. Pete’s consent, a visual depiction of Ms. Pete that she knew or reasonably should have known was an altered sexual depiction? Do you find that Ms. Cooper intentionally or recklessly engaged in extreme and outrageous conduct toward Ms. Pete? Do you find that Ms. Pete suffered severe emotional distress as a result of Ms. Cooper’s extreme and outrageous conduct? If the jury says yes to any of these first four questions, they will have to answer questions regarding damages. Do you find that Ms. Pete should be awarded compensatory damages against Ms. Cooper? If yes, how much? If you found that Ms. Pete is not entitled to damages, do you find that Ms. Pete should be awarded nominal damages against Ms. Cooper? If yes, how much? Do you find that punitive damages are warranted against Ms. Cooper on Ms. Pete’s defamation and/or intentional infliction of emotional distress claims? If yes, how much? Prospective jurors will also be asked about their knowledge of Peterson’s criminal case and their opinions about Pete and Peterson. They will also see videos of Peterson’s testimony in a pre-trial deposition, during which he proved difficult. The “Say It” singer failed to answer questions during the pre-trial ordeal. Per Rolling Stone , U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid fined Peterson and his lawyer, Crystal Morgan, “for his obstruction of Plaintiff’s attempts to depose him.”  Peterson is on the hook for $20K while Morgan will have to pay $5K due to the musician’s disruptive behavior. According to Judge Reid’s filing on Sunday, Peterson asked of the consequences if he were to not answer questions. He was informed of the fines and contempt charge, and he allegedly responded: “What the fines are, I’ll pay them. I’m a millionaire. I don’t care.” Peterson stormed out of the room and called Pete’s lawyer a liar, according to Judge Reid’s filing. He also refused to answer the question about how he met Cooper as well as whether he communicated with the social media personality. Judge Reid recommended that the jury should be informed of Peterson’s lack of cooperation. Two other streamers, Adin Ross and DJ Akademiks, will be called to testify in the trial as well. A mariachi band, hired by Pete, lured Ross out of his home by playing music in order for Pete’s lawyers to serve the online personality. Ross’ lawyer, Bradford Allen, argued that the stunt was meant to embarrass his client. Allen noted that Ross’ security team wasn’t on the property to keep the mariachi band away from the streamer. DJ Akademiks, real name Livingston Allen, has his own public commentary. Such commentary includes his reports on the DNA samples in Peterson’s case, though he refused to publicize his source on the matter. Pete’s lawyers asked a judge last month to order Allen to comply with a subpoena, so that the streamer would be forced to reveal his source. “Identifying this source is essential to proving the coordination between Cooper and Peterson and exposing Cooper’s intent for perpetuating false and demeaning claims against Ms. Pete,” Pete’s lawyers wrote. The trial’s witness list will also include  podcaster Joe Budden as well as socialite Kylie Jenner, who hosted a Hollywood party attended by Peterson, Pete, and Pete’s former friend Kelsey Harris. Pete previously won sanctions against Cooper, forcing the social media personality to come forward with her communications with Peterson’s father as well as pay Pete’s lawyer fees, totaling $5K. Milagro allegedly deleted thousands of messages and removed WhatsApp from her phone, despite an order to preserve all electronic communications. Matias Livachof, a digital forensics expert with FTI Consulting, testified about the deleted text messages — which included communications between Cooper, Peterson, and Peterson’s father. The messages were deleted after Pete filed her lawsuit against Cooper. During her deposition for the case, Cooper said she tried to keep messages that she felt were important. The order stated that Cooper was notified to keep all evidence relating to the case, not just the evidence that she felt was important. The jury will be informed of the move, noting that Cooper deleted the texts with the intention of depriving Pete of evidence relevant to the case. Jurors can assume that some of these texts are related to the case, and some were unfavorable to Cooper. In one of the texts that weren’t deleted, she sent a message to Peterson before his trial: “I don’t know how your energy is, but everything’s been so crazy that I can only imagine. Idk how you’re going your life tonight, but if you gave me that or any exclusive it’d change my life. I’ve  been dying to know why you asked for my number. Regardless of whatever you do and how you do it you’re not a throw away. No judgement holds weight to that of The Most High. I wish you the best.” During her testimony, Cooper admits to hoping for an exclusive interview from Peterson. She claims that the desire didn’t influence her coverage of his case or Pete. The trial could last until next Wednesday, possibly returning on the Monday following Thanksgiving.

Another week highlighting upcoming films from award-winning directors and film festival favorites. This week's lineup features festival favorites, reunification of directorial duos, actors working together again, and international heavy hitters. Thrilling stories, a horrific entity that transcends time, political division, some comedy, and a music documentary take their spot in this week’s film digest. Many of these films have been shopped around in last year’s film festival circuit, some receiving their days in theaters while one receives a digital release. Though, a couple of the films are still in production, and their future plans have not been publicized. Pedro Martín-Calero’s Feature Film Debut, “The Wailing,” Coming to Video-On-Demand and Digital Platforms Next Month “The Wailing” follows three young women across different times who are terrorized by the same mysterious entity, one that can’t be easily seen by other people.  Andrea, a university student in present-day Madrid, was living a relatively normal life until her boyfriend died in an act of violence. From that fateful day, the scary entity began to follow her wherever she went. Two decades prior, a woman living in Buenos Aires dealt with the same mysterious entity. Ester Espósito stars as Andrea, the university in Madrid. Espósito previously starred in Netflix's "Elite" and "Someone Has To Die." (Photo Courtesy: Caballo Films) Documentarian Camila learned what the women went through, and she tried to tell other people. Though, no one would believe her.  Directed by Pedro Martín-Calero, and written alongside Isabel Peña, “The Wailing” was featured in many festival festivals last year. The film won the Silver Seashell and Best Director awards during its time at the San Sebastian International Film Festival. In a press conference for the film festival, the writing duo said there wasn’t an intention to create a high-concept film. Rather, they wanted to create a simple horror film that relied on images and the overall atmosphere.  The film is centered around a scenario where a woman is attacked by an entity that’s hard to understand. Calero said the film allows the viewer to impart their own fears from the real world onto the entity. “A common fear theme in horror movies is not believing the victim, and we realized that this is absolutely what happens these days,” Peña added. “It was something that made our skin crawl, and we knew that the theme was there to be conveyed.” Development for the film took four years before filming began in Madrid, Variety reports . The long development proved to be justified as local film critics praised the film, comparing it to “Midsommar” and “Hereditary." “The Wailing” has been nominated for this year’s Best New Director Goya Award, and it will become available digitally on December 5.  “The Mother and The Bear” Follows an Overbearing Mother Trying to Find Love for Her Comatose Daughter Written and directed by Johnny Ma, a graduate from both the Columbia University MFA program and 2014 Sundance Institute Directors and Screenwriters Labs, “The Mother and The Bear” serves as his third film overall and the first one outside of China. In the film, 26-year-old Sumi suffers an accident that puts her in a coma. Her overbearing mother embarks on a mission to find someone to look after her daughter, specifically a suitable husband. She plans to do this before her daughter wakes up from her coma. The search, happening via a dating app, ultimately leaves Sumi’s mother changed forever.  “Johnny Ma’s unique blend of humor and insightful reflections on contemporary issues offers a fresh perspective that stands out in today’s film landscape,” FilmNation’s Glen Basner exclusively told Variety . FilmNation Entertainment had acquired world sales rights to the film with Basner expressing the company’s excitement for handling the sales for the film. The 2024 film had its world premiere at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival.  Ma’s 2024 dramedy serves as Rhombus Media and Fabula production with the help of Thin Stuff Production. Juan de Dios Larraín, known for Oscar-nominated films “Spencer” (2021) and “Jackie” (2016), served as an executive producer. “The Mother and The Bear” will hit theaters at the top of the new year with a January 2 release date. “Peaches Goes Bananas” Took a 17-Year Journey With Queer Feminist Icon, Will Take to Theaters Next Month Award-winning documentarian Marie Losier followed Merrill Nisker, famously known as Peaches, for 17 years of her trailblazing career. “Peaches Goes Bananas” dives into the life of the provocative musician, notably highlighting her concerts, her bond with her sister, and the fearless exploration that transformed every phase of her life into a work of art. The film had its North American premiere at last year’s Festival du Nouveau Cinema in Montreal. Billboards reports that  the film doesn’t follow a linear narrative as it “weaves together concert footage, behind-the-scenes tour diaries, and slice-of-life clips from Peaches’ world.” The Canadian musician rose to popularity in the early 2000s, helped by her brash feminist approach to sexuality and her electroclash tracks. Nisker once detailed the time she lived above a sex shop on Toronto’s Queen Street. The audience also sees the life before Peaches became Peaches, specifically when she worked as a caregiver at YMCA. “Peaches Goes Bananas” serves as the second documentary following the musician, the first being “Teaches of Peaches.” The 2024 documentary film captures the 2022 “The Teaches of Peaches  Anniversary Tour,” which was celebrating the 22-year anniversary of the musician’s sophomore album. “Teaches of Peaches” won the Best Documentary/Essay Film  award at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, at which the film premiered. That documentary paralleled the tour’s timeline with a chronology of Nisker’s career until that point.  Even though the two projects were released relatively close to one another, Nisker notes the differences between the two. “The projects are so different,” Nisker told Variety . “One is more of a documentary of a certain album at a certain place in time, [whereas] Marie’s film … It’s more of a painting, a portrait. Marie gets excited about an artist and then goes her own way.” Nisker ran into Losier backstage at a show, Losier turned her Bolex camera onto Nisker and didn’t put it down for the next 17 years.  Director Marie Losier captures Peaches using her Bolex camera. (Photo Courtesy: Tamara Films/Michigan Films). “The film is very linked to the body, and how the body can be an object of art,” Losier said. “The film shows how a body across many stages and many ages can create beauty. And it’s a film where the music is felt physically.” The handheld Bolex she filmed with couldn’t record sound, plus she notes how one doesn’t see what they’re filming. She says one has to focus on the moment, later discovering the surprises when you get the result.  Nisker’s personal archives are used throughout the film, and they showcase her creative approach. She taught music to kids in Toronto, describing the process as a trial by fire — that sentiment followed Nisker to her performances and overall stage presence. “Peaches Goes Bananas” will be released in theaters on December 3, ending the year with the theatrical release.  Pedro Waddington and Rebeca Diniz Team Up for “Fuse,” a Brazilian Psychological Thriller Tapping into Political Polarization "Fuse" serves as a highly politicized thriller in a post-Bolsonaro landscape in Brazil (Photo Courtesy: Conspiração Filmes) The thriller opens with three teenaged cousins harassing an unhoused immigrant sleeping at an ATM. Consequences of the act unfold throughout the duo’s feature debut, which is making its rounds at the Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival. “Fuse” is inspired by Herman Koch’s best-selling novel “The Dinner” and adapted for Brazilian production house Conspiraçào Filmes. Starting from the shocking crime, the film highlights the differing reactions from the two sets of parents of the children involved. Pedro Waddington and Rebeca Diniz, the directing duo for “Fuse,” recall first joining the project when Andrucha Waddington turned it down due to schedule conflicts. Waddington and Diniz worked with the writing team to make the script more of their own. “It was a slightly unusual project for a first film because we had to appropriate the script enough to make it feel like it was our project, too,” Waddington told Variety . “The project was also conceived as a hybrid film to work both in cinemas and on TV, so it came with a few guidelines and a particular language. Sergio, the scriptwriter, was incredibly generous in this process and managed to make the film [feel like our own], not just like hired guns.”  Waddington and Diniz originally worked together on Globoplay’s series “Under Pressure,” a medical drama following the drama of patients and doctors in a substandard hospital in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro. The series allowed the duo to gain the Conspiraçào Filmes’ confidence to do “Fuse.” “Our first work with ‘Under Pressure’ very much spoke to Brazilian society through the social drama format, and ‘Fuse’ is not far from that idea of having cinema in a direct dialogue with society. We are interested in this kind of depth and investigating human nature,” Diniz said. As far as playing the film for competition at Huelva, Diniz says it’s an accomplishment and it will facilitate a dialogue between the duo’s work and the film community. The Spain-based festival is currently underway, serving as a way to get more international attention for Latin American, Spanish, and sometimes Andalusian titles. Eva Green and Samuel L. Jackson Reunite for “Just Play Dead,” a Husband-and-Wife Thriller “Kingdom of Heaven” actress Eva Green spoke with The Hollywood Reporter  about working with Samuel L. Jackson again for “Just Play Dead.” “I’ve been wanting to do another comedy for a long time and fell in love with the script and the idea of working with Sam,” Green told the publication. “His energy and generosity were unforgettable [on “Miss Peregrine”]. Sam brings humor, focus, and total confidence. He’s generous and fun: the best kind of partner on set.” Eva Green and Samuel L. Jackson are co-stars again as they previously starred in "Miss. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children." (Photo Courtesy: Highland Film Group) “Just Play Dead: follows wealthy criminal mastermind Jack Wolfe, played by Jackson, who plans to fake his death after being cornered by federal police. He intends to claim the $30 million life insurance payout with his “grieving” wife, Nora (Green).  The couple aims to frame her surfer lover Chad for Wolfe’s murder, though Nora aims to kill Wolfe for real and walk away with the money to herself. “Just Play Dead” will follow the couple as they try to outsmart one another, framing for one to come out on top. Written by Dan Gordon and directed by Martin Campbell, “Just Play Dead” is currently in post-production. A release date has not been determined.

The Netflix hit show’s latest season ended in a fiery ball of mess as the cast’s relationships have strained. The ninth season of "Selling Sunset" has only strengthened the divide amongst the agents of the Oppenheim Group. Allegations of problematic behavior served as the main backdrop of the season. Netflix’s hit reality show “Selling Sunset” hit the streaming service earlier this week for its ninth season, though it ended with quite the stir amongst the cast.  Viewers watched as the season featured the fires that ripped through California, a robbery hitting a cast member’s home, and a new cast member trying to make her way into the group. Though, the tension amongst the ladies of Oppenheim Group grew to unbearable levels. Mary and Chelsea’s Petty Spat Turned Quite Ugly This Season Mary Bonet suffered from a home invasion during the season. As she dealt with the aftermath, Chelsea Lazkani sent Bonet a small bouquet of flowers as a way to wish her well during the hard time. Bonet didn’t respond too well to the flowers as she and Lazkani had issues from the previous season.  The duo’s continued beef got ugly when the cast sat down for a company dinner meant to welcome the newcomer, Sandra Vergara — the sister of actress Sofia Vergara. The conversation led to Bonet confronting Lazkani about sending flowers after her burglary, accusing the British realtor of doing it for camera time. Chelsea Lazkani joined the Netflix series during its fifth season, which premiered in April 2022. (Photo Courtesy: Netflix) “You’re here saying I did it for the cameras. What the f—k do you think I need camera time for? B—h they’re going to get my face regardless, trust me,” Lazkani said during the heated confrontation. Chrishell Stause, former soap actress, jumped into the fray to note that it was a nice gesture on Lazkani’s part.  “How about you listen to your friends for once in your life, because this is going to look bad on you,” Lazkani quipped. This led to Bonet storming out with her husband, Romaine, and fellow cast member Bre Tiesi. As they walked out, Jason Oppenheim can be seen telling the production crew to shut the cameras off. Despite those wishes, the cameras kept rolling until the entire cast ultimately left the restaurant. The dumpster fire of the season continued when Tiesi hosted an after-party for the season’s premiere, and both Lazani and cast member Chrishell Stause were left off the guest list. Not only that, Bonet’s comments during an US Weekly interview added fuel to the fire. “At [Tiesi]’s party, I wasn’t just emotional. There were some things from the other dinner that happened that I didn’t want to put myself in a situation where I’m in danger,” Bonet said.  Tiesi had hosted a Valentine’s Day dinner, and she had invited everyone in the office — including Lazkani. Even though Lazkani declined the invite, Tiesi still had her nametag on the table. Upon seeing Lazkani’s name, Bonet broke down into tears. She eventually calmed down as Tiesi told her Lazkani wasn’t coming to the dinner. “I’m not upset because I saw her name or that she was going to be there. There were some issues where I just don’t want any part of this. I’m a grown woman and I’m a professional,” Bonet continued. “I don’t have this in my life and I’m not going to. I got upset and cried because of that. It was an actual issue. There were definitely things that were said afterwards that I don’t agree with and I won’t be around.” Due to her reactions on the show, and her comments after, viewers called out Bonet for her microaggressions against Lazkani — the only Black woman on the show. Many questioned the disproportionate reaction to Lazkani’s flowers, as she received two Rolexes from Jason on camera.  Stause took to her Instagram story to call out Bonet’s comments in her US Weekly , condemning the harmful rhetoric. “I was there for all the on-camera and off-camera moments. You were never in danger, girl,” Stause wrote. “Alluding that you ever were regarding Chelsea is really dangerous rhetoric. DO BETTER.” Stause revealed she and Lazkani were supposed to speak with Bonet for the finale episode, though it never happened. According to Stause, the conversation never happened because Bonet said she didn’t feel safe with Lazkani in the room. Chrishell Stause Faced Backlash for Calling Out Emma Hernan’s Toxic Relationship with Blake Davis as Well as His Political Views Throughout the season, Stause made it clear how much she didn’t like the boyfriend of friend and cast member, Emma Hernan. Viewers saw an uncomfortable lunch Stause and Lazkani had with Hernan and her real estate heir boyfriend, Blake Davis. During the lunch, Davis quipped how he had Taco Bell before coming — notably a crunch wrap without lettuce as he didn’t eat fruits or vegetables. During the reunion, Stause further explains her disdain for Davis. She noted an instance where Hernan called her while crying and whispering on the kitchen floor. She claimed that Davis would say transphobic and racist things, notably saying the N-word while singing a song or saying that being nonbinary is like having a mental illness. “He compared being nonbinary to having a mental illness,” Stause alleged. “He constantly pots anti-trans stuff.. He thinks it’s too woke if you don’t sing the N-word in songs. He posted something the other day, with a gun in view, saying he wants to ‘sue [me for lying] my dick of.’” Hernan strongly denied Stause’s allegations throughout the reunion, and fellow cast members noted Stause shouldn't have posted about Davis’ alleged behavior. Stause attempted to explain her reasoning for publicly speaking about her allegations, noting that Davis posted these statements on his own social media accounts.  In her interview with Bustle following the season, Stause talked about the horrific things Davis would say and do throughout his relationship with Hernan.  “They would break up, and she would tell me the horrific things he would say to her, that he would do,” Stause said. “He thought it was funny to say, ‘If you ever do that again, I’ll beat you.’ Who jokes about that? It’s not funny.”  Bre’s Brash Attitude Has Her in Legal Trouble, Driving a Wedge Between Her, Stause, and the LGBTQ+ Community While Stause was battling with Hernan about Davis’ alleged political views and toxic behavior, there was a brief moment when she brought up Tiesi’s alleged text messages.  The messages were allegedly directed at Stause's partner, G Flip, a nonbinary singer-songwriter. According to Stause in an Instagram comment, Tiesi can be seen berating people using homophobic slurs. These messages were brought up for a small moment during the reunion as Stause and Tiesi went back and forth about the authenticity of said messages. Stause wrote in an Instagram about not being able to speak directly about Tiesi's legal troubles. (via Instagram) “We aren’t allowed to talk about Bre’s lawsuit, or it gets cut, where she degrades multiple people,” Stause wrote.  The lawsuit in question features Tiesi’s former employees suing for creating a hostile work environment, according to PEOPLE . In the April 2024 filing, she was sued by three former employees: Lucy Pool (former nanny), Amanda Bustard (former social media manager), and Kenneth Gomez (former personal assistant and stylist). They alleged that they were discriminated, harassed, and/or retaliated against due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. The filing claims that the trio suffered emotional distress, a loss of earnings, and a loss of employment benefits. According to the filing, Poole suffers from a mental disability and Tiesi allegedly called her “short bus riding b—h” and “ADHD idiot.” Poole also alleged Tiesi would treat her in a vulgar manner if a task wasn’t done correctly.  Bustard claimed that she was subject to violent and inappropriate behavior at the hands of Tiesi, noting that she witnessed the reality television star threatening physical violence to other employees. Gomez, who’s part of the LGBTQ+ community, alleges that Tiesi repeatedly made derogatory comments about the LGBTQ+ community.  On top of these allegations, Tiesi also allegedly violated California Labor Code regarding hours, conditions, and wages. As a result, the three Plaintiffs requested more than $3M to recover damages as well as gain remedies to rectify the situation. The lawsuit loomed over Tiesi’s head during the filming of season nine, though it couldn’t be mentioned onscreen. Stause, posting the PEOPLE article to her Instagram Story, said they couldn’t bring it up during the reunion as it would be edited out.  Tiesi’s alleged work conditions and bigoted text messages weren’t the only issues between her and Stause as Stause previously called her out for promoting MAGA Bracelets. Stause reposted one of Tiesi’s Instagram Stories, which featured Tiesi wearing some of the jewelry brand’s tennis bracelets. The brand is known to create bracelets sporting the acronym famously known for President Donald Trump’s political slogan, Make America Great Again.  “I do not politically speak on opinions ever and I am far from MAGA. I cannot apologise enough for the oversight here. I have a full social media team that support me day-to-day and the bracelet was gifted by [Lavara Verse] and not the brand that was tagged,” Tiesi wrote in an Instagram Story. “We all make mistakes and when tagging the brand, this was not properly researched into making sure the correct brand was being tagged.” Following Tiesi’s apology, Stause took to her Instagram Story to note the inconsistency of the apology.  “I just saw her excuse,” Stause wrote. “Ok, she ‘tagged the wrong brand’ even though it’s all the same company and MAGA was HIGHLY featured right next to her wrist.” Stause included a photo of the definition of “transv–stite,” insinuating Tiesi’s use of the word in reference to Stause’s partner. She notes that her partner isn’t transgender, and even if they were, she would still love them the same.  Nonbinary identities are included under the umbrella of transgender identity, though some nonbinary don’t identify as transgender. The Drug Allegations Against Nicole Young Brought Up Again, Leading to Unsavory Comment on Stause’s Parents During a Girlsgiving dinner hosted by Amanza Smith, Stause and Nicole Young butt heads again. The duo’s beef began when Young alleged that Stause took the credit and commission on one of her listings. Facing shady business allegations, Stause accused Young of previously doing cocaine during a heated confrontation in season seven. The feud between the two grew as Young accused Stause’s then-friend Hernan of sleeping with a married man.  Coming into this season, Stause and Young had not resolved their beef and it boiled over during a Girlsgiving dinner — hosted by cast member Amanza Smith. The cocaine allegations came up again as well as Hernan’s alleged affair with a married man. Girlsgiving dinner went left as Young made a disparaging comment about Stause's deceased parents, ultimately cause everyone to leave the table. (Photo Courtesy: Netflix) “I think you have me confused with parents,” Young said in response to the drug allegations being brought up again.  In the aftermath of the dinner, Young said she felt like her back was against the wall as both Hernan and Stause appeared to come for her during the dinner. Young appeared to double down on the sentiment for the rest of the season as well as the reunion.  Young was eventually let go from the Oppenheim Group due to the continuous conflict, and the disparaging comment. Later in the season, she announces that she and her husband will move to Nashville. Returning to the Show Isn’t Worth It for a Couple of Castmembers In an exclusive interview with Bustle, Stause announced her departure from “Selling Sunset.” She wrestled with the decision in the past, though this season appears to take quite the toll.  “I have to be honest — having come from nothing, it’s really hard to turn something like this down,” Stause said. The show’s producers can be quite persuasive, though it would take “Jesus Christ himself” to get Stause back into the fold of “Selling Sunset”. Stause said show creator Adam DiVello, the brains behind “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County” and “The Hills,” has been calling and texting her “100 times a day.”  “I’ve gotten to a place where I don’t need the show financially,” Stause continues. “I’m lucky to have other forms of payment, because it’s no longer good for my mental health.” Viewers and social media users are convinced that Lazkani has also left the show for good, or that she was fired from the Oppenheim Group. Rumors of Oppenheim and Bonet firing Lazkani for calling them out for their microaggression and racism have swirled the internet. Many believe the firing was conveniently left out of the season finale. Speaking of speculations, many believe Lazkani called Bonet out for her racism and microaggressions specifically during the team dinner for Vergara, leading to Oppenheim’s call for the cameras to turn off.  Viewers noticed Mary's reaction when Lazkani said what she said prior to storming out of the restaurant. It was supposedly this moment when Lazkani said something about the racism, though editors may have used a technique called “frankenbiting” to edit out what Lazkani actually said.  Stause did confirm Oppenheim's influence behind the camera in a TikTok comment section. A clip of Lazkani’s interview with Carlos King, during which she spoke about the microaggressions she faced during the season, struck a chord with Stause. “This is heartbreaking. And WHY you shouldn’t have an all white production with an [executive producer] credit and editing power to [Jason Oppenheim] who has power to say, if you don’t take that out, there is no show,” Stause wrote.  The speculation continues to grow surrounding Lazkani’s exit as it has yet to be confirmed.

As the last couple of months of 2025 begins its descent, more films are coming into the various stages of production.  Miss Piggy will get her time to shine with her first ever solo feature film and Spike Lee will team up with Joan Chen for a coming-of-age film about life after the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Slasher film “River” Calls in Jane Levy and Jessica Rothe for Joshua Giulliano’s Feature Directorial Debut “River,” a slasher joining the two modern-day scream queens, is currently in post-production and is set for a theatrical release through Independent Film Company. Jane Levy, known for “Evil Dead,” Jessica Rothe from “Happy Death Day,” Dane DiLiegro from “Prey,” and Max Mattern who starred in “Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy,” will star in the Giulliano film that will follow three estranged siblings returning to their hometown after their father’s death. “...they set out to scatter his ashes at his favorite spot on a remote river. But when their boat breaks down, the trip devolves into a walking nightmare,”  the film’s press release said .  After the boat crash, they soon realize they are being stalked by “a faceless killer who has emerged from the woods.” The estranged siblings would have to put their grudges aside in hopes to survive the “mythic terror.” As Variety reports, Giuliano is described as “an L.A.-based horror filmmaker by the ways of the cornfields of Indiana.” Horror filmmaking didn’t seem to be a plausible career for Giuliano due to his religious background. His childhood constraints and need to explore beyond his boundaries seemed to be the perfect combination for creating both terrifying and personal projects. His work has won awards at various festivals across the globe, notably the Fantasia Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, and Frightfest. “River” has been six years in the making, and became the most rewarding experience in Giuliano’s life. Working with streaming service Shudder was “a thrilling collaboration” while having “River” as a theatrical release is a dream come true, Giuliano said in a statement. The film is produced by Steven Schneider from Spooky Pictures, who previously worked on “Insidious,” alongside Nick Antosca and Alex Hedlund from Eat the Cat, who worked on “Chucky.” Jeffrey Tinnell and Robert Tinnells from Allegheny Image Factory, who previously worked on “The Hunted,” will serve as executive producers alongside Matte Brodlie and Jonathan Kier from Upgrade.  Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone Developing “Miss Piggy” Movie with Tony-Winner Cole Escola The trio will team up to make a film about the temperamental diva puppet at Disney, which is currently in early development, according to Variety . Lawrence and Stone will serve as producers alongside Escola, who won a Tony for their Broadway play “Oh, Mary!,” will write the film’s screenplay. “I don’t know if I can announce this but I am going to … Emma Stone and I are producing a Miss Piggy move and Cole is writing it,” Lawrence said during an episode of “Las Culturistas” — a podcast hosted buy Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers.  The  co-hosts shrieked with excitement, and proceeded to ask if Lawrence and Stone would star in the film. Lawrence thinks they will, noting that it’s “f-ked up” that the duo haven’t starred in a film together. Lawrence said during the podcast that she’s considered heading to Broadway for “Oh, Mary!,” hopefully to play title character Mary Todd Linclon. The comedy is set days before Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and imagines the former first lady as an aclcoholic wannabe cabaret star.  Miss Piggy was created in the 1970s by Bonnie Erickson and Frank Oz, and has never been the sole subject of a feature film.  “The Life and Times of Ion G” Serves as the Story of a Homeless Migrant Becoming a Media Sensation Romanian filmmaker Andreea Cristina Bortun is preparing for her sophomore feature film, which she is pitching in the Crossroads Co-Production Forum of the Thessaloniki Film Festival’s AGORA — an industry event that offers networking opportunities for the global film industry.  “The Life and Times of Ion G” follows a man from rural Romania who appears in an isolated Roma village, looking for the family that abandoned him at birth, Variety reports . The man meets a strong-willed local woman who offers him a glimpse of the love he never had. His newfound connection with the woman forces him to confront his inability to open his heart to another soul. The film is described as a “drama with a humorous touch” told from a tender and comedic perspective. "The Life and Times of Ion G" serves as the second film in a trilogy, following behind her Sebastian Stan-produced debut "A River's Gaze." (Photo Courtesy: Atelier de Film) Bortun spoke with Variety  while attending the Thessaloniki Film Festival about the film, saying it explores what it means to love and be loved as well as how emotions are governed by the social and political systems that formed us.  “The Life and Times of Ion G” comes soon after Bortun’s debut feature film, “A River’s Gaze,” which is expected to premiere at a top-shelf festival premiere. The Sebastian Stan-produced film  served as “a cinematic homecoming” for the Academy Award nominee. As Variety  describes it, Bortun combines traditional scriptwriting with intensive field research. She spends extended periods of time in the communities that interest her as an attempt to understand how they function and what stories can be told. Her current project will serve as the second film of a trilogy with the first film being “A River’s Gaze,” and the final film being “Egalité.” She aims to begin principal photography on “The Life and Times on Ion G” by the end of next year. Apple Original Films Picked Up Air Traffic Controller Thriller Based on Unpublished Short Story by Matt Hickey “The Flick,” an unpublished short story about the intense world of air traffic control, will become part of Apple TV’s catalogue in the near future. Peter Chermin and David Ready will produce the film for Chermin Entertainment alongside author Matt Hickey. The project will be one of the first features under Chermin Entertainment’s feature deal with Apple TV+, The Hollywood Reporter  reports . The story follows Sonny Braden, a controller who’s already at his breaking point when he receives a distress call from a cockpit with an unconscious pilot. According to The Hollywood Reporter , the project can be described as “a white-knuckle thriller about control, connection, and survival in the thin air between order and chaos, where every second counts.” “The Flick” was developed by At Will Media, the content studio of actor and producer Will Malnati. Though, no writer has come onboard to adapt the story into a screenplay at this point of the process. Chermin Entertainment previously produced projects for Apple TV, including “Chief of War” starring Jason Momoa. The company landed the adaptation of Dark Horse Comics graphic novel “Last Flight Out,” written by Marc Guggenheim.  Spike Lee Teams Up with Joan Chen to Executive Produce a Post-Roe Thriller The Hollywood Reporter  exclusively reports  that Spike Lee and actress-director Joan Chen have become executive producers for “The Truck,” a coming-of-age thriller dealing with the impact of the overturn of Roe v. Wade. “Set against the simmering anxieties of post-Roe America, ‘The Truck’ follows a Chinese American teenager and her boyfriend as they attempt to buy the morning-after pill in a small town where reproductive rights are contested and quietly policed,” the film’s synopsis read.  "The Truck" follows a teenaged couple living in a small town as they look for contraception after a fun night. (Photo Courtesy: Brooklyn Film Festival) “Liz Rao’s ‘The Truck’ is an urgent, gripping look at teen love and the freedom to choose in this America right now,” Lee said. “Rao is the latest talent in my 30 years of teaching at the NYU Graduate Film School. Liz Rao brings her unique vision as a screenwriter and director who is unafraid to provoke and dares to speak truth to power, and does it in high power.” Chen notes that Director Liz Rao’s voice as both a writer and director transform a coming-of-age story into a powerful look at the power dynamics in the country. The film is a needed perspective of the post-Roe landscape that brings to life a powerful story, Chen explained.  Rao said in a statement that “The Truck” draws on her raw experience as a way to draw on a shared story. She explains that her films embrace the romance of Americana while showing the perils of everyday life.  “When change forces us to find new footing, we also get a chance to redefine our collective path forward,” Rao concluded. “The Truck” had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival in 2024, screened at the Museum of Modern Art, won the Grand Jury Prize at the Florida Film Festival, and won the best screenplay honor at the Rhode Island International Festival. Trailer of the Week: "Michael" Starring the Pop Star's Nephew Universal Studios released the trailer of Michael Jackson's biopic, which stars his nephew Jaafar Jackson

The publication’s parent company faces backlash from its writers’ union as it folds into its sister publication. Versha Sharma came into the position of editor-in-chief for Teen Vogue in May 2021 after her time as managing editor for NowThis. The union representing Teen Vogue , Condé United, slams Condé Nast’s move to merge Teen Vogue  with the Vogue website. The union and its parent union, The NewsGuild of New York,  claims in a statement that the move was designed to put a stop to Teen Vogue ’s “insightful journalism,” especially in a time where such reporting is needed. Vogue  announced the move on Monday, though it will continue as its own editorial property. Teen Vogue ’s editor-in-chief Versha Sharma will leave her post, and Vogue  head of editorial content Chloe Malle will take the reins. In her own statement, Malle said she’s dedicated to supporting the publication’s point of view and sensibility. In the official announcement  posted to Vogue ’s website , the publication says Teen Vogue  will focus on career development, cultural leadership and other issues concerning the youth. Anna Wintour, global chief content officer for Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue , released her own statement, saying how thrilled the publication is to add Teen Vogue  to the Vogue platform. “As the media industry changes so quickly, we are thrilled to have Teen Vogue  join the Vogue  platform, allowing its content to reach a larger audience and inspire young people globally," Wintour said.  Wintour also expressed gratitude for Sharma’s work within Teen Vogue , and looks forward to what she does next. “We’re so grateful for Versha’s leadership and the impact she’s had during her time at Teen Vogue . Her vision guided through an important period of change, and she was instrumental in building out the Teen Vogue  Summit. We all look forward to seeing what she does next, and wish her the best,” Wintour said.  Teen Vogue  isn’t the only publication moving to Vogue ’s website as Vogue Business  finds itself will also make the website its new home. Bringing the three titles onto the same website aims to create a seamless experience for readers.  Vogue Business  members will receive access to all content and Vogue Runway , as well as a new members’ hub. Nicole Phelps, the global director of Vogue Runway  and Vogue Business , will now oversee the Vogue  fashion features team.  As the announcement sent shockwaves across the journalism and fashion industry, Condé United and The NewsGuild of New York released their statement in reaction to the merger. “Management plans to lay off six of our members, most of whom are BIPOC women or trans, including Teen Vogue ’s Politics Editor — continuing the trend of layoffs at Condé disproportionately impacting marginalized employees,” the statement read. “ Teen Vogue  now has no writers or editors explicitly covering politics.” Teen Vogue came about in 2003 as a publication focused on fashion and celebrities with former Vogue  beauty director Amy Astley at the helm. The clothes displayed in the publication weren’t always couture, rather they represented an aspirational lifestyle. The magazine’s focus took a turn when former editor Elaine Welteroth took the reins in 2016. Teen Vogue  amped up its political coverage, immigration, labor and climate change. Even when the publication stopped printing in 2017 and Welteroth left in 2018, its political coverage did not stop.  The publication has covered various political topics, including the politics of President Donald Trump , the genocide in Gaza along with the Free Palestine movement , and even progressive New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani .  In their statement, Condé United and the NewsGuild of New York noted how Condé Nast’s announcement of the merger didn’t mention Teen Vogue ’s award-winning coverage and reporting. “There was no mention in the announcement of the coverage that has earned Teen Vogue  massive readership and wide praise from across the journalism industry,” the statement read. “Gone is the political-cultural criticism of fashion and culture industries by the Black women writers laid off today.” The statement lists off the various people and things gone due to the merger, notably Asian and Latina photographers and the work that made the Vivian Wilson cover  possible. The union makes it known at the end of the statement that Condé leadership owes both readers and workers answers. They also vow to fight for their rights as workers as well as the work they do, and for whom they do that work.

The director took a blow in his countersuit against his co-star and her husband, who sued him for harassment. Justin Baldoni has previously been seen as an ally to the #MeToo movement, though he's now embroiled in a harassment lawsuit with co-star Blake Lively. A federal judge has closed Justin Baldoni’s $400M countersuit against Blake Lively, according to various reports. On Halloween, U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman entered final judgement in the case, essentially ending the countersuit initiated by Baldoni, his company Wayfarer Studios, studio cofounder Steve Sarowitze, studio CEO Jamey Heath, crisis PR specialist Melissa Nathan and publicist Jennifer Abel.  “On October 17, 2025, the Court issued an order directing the parties to show cause why final judgement should not be entered in this case,” Liman wrote in the order.  Baldoni and all of the listed plaintiffs had until Oct. 24 to respond to the order to show cause. The plaintiffs were given a narrow window to file an amended complaint, but failed to do so in the allotted time.The plaintiffs do have the right to appeal Judge Liman’s decision. Judge Liman also ruled that Lively’s statements were legally protected because they were part of a formal proceeding, and not actionable under defamation law. The director also filed a $250M libel lawsuit against The New York Times  due to its coverage of Lively’s alleged treatmen t on the set of “It Ends With Us.” The suit against the publication was dismissed alongside his countersuit against Lively and Reynolds. Baldoni’s legal team declined NBC News’ request for comment, while Lively’s legal team didn’t immediately respond to the publication’s request for comment. The termination of Baldoni’s case comes months after Judge Liman granted a motion for dismissal from Lively’s legal team as Baldoni’s claims of civil extortion, defamation and false light did not hold up in the court of law.  USA TODAY reached out to The New York Times  for comment , and spokesperson Charlie Stadlander referred to a statement previously made in response to Liman’s dismissal of the suit. “We are grateful to the court for seeing the lawsuit for what it was: a meritless attempt to stifle honest reporting,” the statement read. “Our journalists went out and covered carefully and fairly a story of public importance, and the court recognized that the law is designed to protect just that sort of journalism. We will continue to stand up in court for our journalism and for our journalists when their work comes under attack.” The Times  is seeking compensatory and punitive damages from Wayfarer, citing New York’s anti-SLAPP law. Anti-SLAPP law, adopted by New York in 1992 , protects defendants in legal actions “involving public petition and participation.” Generally, anti-SLAPP laws aim to prevent people from using the legal system to intimidate people from exercising their First Amendment rights. According to The Times ’ complaint obtained by PEOPLE, the move is “to recover costs, fees and expenses incurred by the publication in the defense of a defamation action brought by Wayfarer” and the plaintiffs associated with the studio.  The trial for Lively’s original harassment lawsuit against Baldoni is scheduled in March.

The Nikie Byrne film is in the early stages of production as the cast list is slowly coming together. Chase Infiniti continues to make strides in the entertainment industry as she's set to star in Niki Byrne's "The Julia Set" alongside Christopher Briney, Chlöe Bailey, and Carmen Ejogo Niki Byrne’s “The Julia Set” has begun production in London with its expanding cast, Deadline exclusively reports . The coming-of-age film will star One Battle After Another breakout star Chase Infiniti, The Summer I Turned Pretty star Christopher Briney, Gillian Anderson from Sex Education , and Jason Isaacs of The White Lotus . Additionally, Nina Hoss ( Tár ), Chlöe Bailey ( Grown-ish ), Carmen Ejogo ( Selma ), Nico Hiraga ( Sweethearts ), Liz Lin ( Salt Along the Tongue ), and Alex Dillard have joined the cast . Infiniti will play Julia, a talented mathematician in a competitive academic environment. Briney plays Pascal, a teacher assistant who enrolls Julia into a prep course for the most challenging math competition in the world, The Putnam Exam. The film is being produced with the support of the If/Then Initiative, which aims to highlight positive STEM role models. If/Then’s Nicole G. Small and Margaret Black will executive produce the film alongside Infiniti.  HanWay Film CEO Gabrielle Stewart recently shared her excitement for the film in a statement alongside the announcement of the new castings. “We all loved Niki’s excellent screenplay following the journey of a young woman assuming her genius in an academic field dominated traditionally by men and how challenging that is for her,” Stewart said. “In a way, this is a female-led Good Will Hunting . And the cast could not be more exciting nor of the moment!” On top of producing the film, HanWay Film will handle its international sales. Potato Salad Cosmic Domination, The Gotham Group, G Nus Media, Cinetrain, and Melegrano will join HanWay to produce the film.

The former friends appear to be on the outs as the OnSite CEO denies any involvement in the unauthorized use of the rapper’s credit card. Rah Ali, former star of "Love & Hip Hop," isn't new to credit card fraud allegations as she's had legal trouble tied to stealing an acquaintance's credit card. Though, that case was squared away a decade ago. Rashidah Ali, CEO of OnSite  and popularly known as Rah Ali, penned a heartfelt letter to deny Nicki Minaj’s allegations of credit card fraud. Earlier this month, the Grammy-nominated rapper alleged that three people used her Amex card without her permission in the span of two months. Controversial YouTuber Tasha K added fuel to the fire by alleging that Ali was one of the three people who used Minaj’s credit card. The YouTuber doubled down on the allegations in a follow-up video, noting that she spoke with Minaj directly about the allegations. Ali posted her letter to Twitter, currently known as X, in which she talks about her loyalty throughout the duo’s friendship. “Throughout the duration of our friendship, I have been nothing but loyal and genuine,” Ali wrote. “I can’t tell you how much it saddens me that you’ve now decided to turn on me, the person who was actually in your corner.” The self-proclaimed stiletto expert accuses Minaj of allowing others to spread such allegations as well as to smear her character.  “To be lied on by someone you don’t know is one thing; for it to come from you is unimaginable. You have put me and so many people who care for you and have rooted for you at risk,” Ali said. The former “Love & Hip Hop” star ends the letter by telling the “Super Bass” rapper to seek help and to reclaim her peace, time, and her crown. Speaking of “Love & Hip Hop,” Ali faced various credit card fraud claims throughout her time on the show. In 2014, MadameNoire  reported that  Ali allegedly took an acquaintance’s credit card without permission and went on a shopping spree. She allegedly made purchases at Shoe Inn, Homewood Suites and Ambience Hotel. The former reality TV star would agree to a plea deal, which had her reporting to a probation officer and paying restitution. Social media users believe Ali isn’t the only one involved in the alleged credit card fraud, as Tasha K claims Minaj took legal action  against Emmy Award winning stylist DiAndre Tristan. The YouTuber alleged that Tristan was previously convicted of credit card fraud in 2010.  Minaj revealed via her Instagram Story that the “credit card thieves” were tracking her moves with a tracking device, which was allegedly attached to their phone number. In the posts, she claims that they will all go to jail due to the fraudulent purchases. The credit card fraud allegations first came to light when Minaj was in a heated social media exchange with fellow New York rapper, Cardi B. The argument happened soon after the release of the Bronx rapper’s sophomore album, “Am I The Drama?”

Huda, and boyfriend Louis, faced backlash for their livestream and concerning reaction to slur. Olandria Carthen has been thriving since the ending of her season of "Love Island USA" as she's been seen at various social events in the entertainment industry. “Love Island USA” breakout star Olandria Carthen has officially responded to a racist slur being used during an Instagram Live hosted by co-star Huda Mustafa and her boyfriend Louis Russell. During the Instagram Live, Mustafa and Russell, who appeared on season three of Netflix’s “Perfect Match,” answered a call from an unknown caller. Without warning, the anonymous caller called Carthen the N-word — and, yes, with the hard -er. The duo proceeded to laugh and awkwardly hang up the phone. Mustafa could be heard asking what was said, followed up by saying the caller said a bad word while Russell only said, “whoa, hey, hey.” In a post following the Instagram Live, Mustafa explained that they could only hear the racial slur, and nothing else. Russell took to Snapchat, claiming that people were using the situation as an opportunity to hate. Carthen, who appeared alongside Mustafa in the seventh season of the hit show, responded via a statement posted to her Instagram Story.  “That kind of language is never acceptable. Not in anger, not as a joke, not ever. Words like that carry generations of pain, and pretending otherwise only keeps the cycle going,” Carthen wrote in the statement. “While I anticipate this will result in surface level apologies that fade in a few days, I’d like to transform this moment into something actionable,” Carthen continued. “I encourage those who have participated in the stream and their followers to demonstrate genuine commitment to anti-racism by donating to organizations and foundations dedicated to educating and uplifting this community…” Carthen then lists UNICEF, NAACP and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund as foundations and organizations worthy of donation. She proceeds to post donation links for each organization. Like clockwork, both Mustafa and Russell posted apologies to their respective Instagram Stories.  “Last night, I quickly posted a statement acknowledging my reaction to the racial slur that was said on Louis’ livestream,” Mustafa said. “I want to take this moment to more fully take accountability for my actions.” She continues to say that she completely respects Olandria, noting that it’s disheartening that anyone would use this type of language. She ends the statement by saying she’s making a donation to the NAACP, and she plans to share a list of organizations that support racial equity, education and mental health support. Russell’s apology came soon after with the “Perfect Match” star apologizing for the caller using language that goes against everything the couple stands for. “Huda and I were extremely caught off guard. As a Black man, I have greater empathy through my own lived experience battling racism,” Russell said. “And the idea that a flustered response to a very unnerving situation could be misinterpreted for me not taking the matter seriously is incredibly disheartening.” This isn’t the first time the “Love Island USA” season seven cast dealt with racism controversies. For one, Yulissa Escobar was sent home after clips of her using racial slurs on a podcast resurfaced. Cierra Ortega also faced backlash for using a racial slur in a resurfaced social media post. Both ladies apologized for their respective controversies. The season ended in July with couple Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales walking away with the $100K prize. Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe placed second with Mustafa and ex-fling Chris Seeley taking third place.

The film festival ended last month, awarding several films and launching a Patreon. Outside of Harper Theater in Hyde Park, people socialize in between film screenings. (Photo Courtesy: Chicago Underground Film Festival) The 32nd rendition of the Chicago Underground Film Festival came to an end last month with a celebration and award ceremony at Brandon’s Speakeasy. Eight films walked away with an award, notably $POSITIONS and TRIPOLAR THE MOVIE . The former won the “Made in Chicago” award as it’s the brainchild of Brandon Daley, a filmmaker based in Chicago. TRIPOLAR won the “Best Narrative Feature” award, a film by Eleanor Gaver. Posed as a comedy, $POSITIONS  follows Kansan Mike Alvarado as he attempts to earn cash to pay off medical debts. Alvarado invested his money in a cryptocurrency platform in hopes of monetary gains. As he does various things to get money, from selling his home to a loan from a drug dealer, the money in his cryptocurrency wallet continues to fluctuate. TRIPOLAR THE MOVIE is the brainchild of Eleanor Gaver who previously released Slipping into the Darkness (1988), Life in the Fast Lane (1998), and Here One Minute (2015) The film ends with Alvarado driving to a warehouse to retrieve a hard drive containing the key to his crypto wallet. He lost the wallet after his brother, a former addict, sold it in order to get drugs. He was able to retrieve the hard drive, though the password phrase to his crypto wallet was deleted.  Continuing in the light of comedy, TRIPOLAR THE MOVIE  serves as a satire on the country’s current socio-political climate. The basis of this weed-infused, acid trip comedy is a mother, Dana, and her daughter’s friend, Daphne, trying to get their movie picked up. The satirical film takes the audience on quite the journey as it pokes fun at gender politics. As the film's website describes it,  imagine “John Waters meets Larry David, but with women, weed, and unapologetic chaos.” Another satirical entry to this year’s rendition of CUFF, Kombucha , took home the Audience Choice Award. The Jake Myers film centered around a “mind-altering drink” that makes employees work themselves to death. Kombucha  served as a punch to the work culture within corporate America. Survival Without Rent , a film by Katie Heiserman and Elana Meyers, took home Best Short Documentary as it captured artists and activists transforming various abandoned buildings into artistic enclaves. The film highlights the history of the squatters’ movement of New York in the 1970s. As its website describes, the film captures  the wave of building abandonment following the city’s financial crisis and the Giuliani Administration going after the squats in lower Manhattan. The documentary as a whole tackles government disinvestment, anticapitalist critique, extralegal activism and the intersection of community arts and urban resistance movements.  The Best Editing Award went to Your Touch Makes Others Invisible , a Rajee Samarasinghe film  that traces the history of the Sri Lankan civil war and the disappearances that came from the conflict. The film features interviews, newsclips, dramatic re-enactments and symbolically coded photos. Fresh Values , directed by Drew Durepos and Isaac Brooks, won Best Narrative Short as it follows a struggling urban co-op that adopts augmented reality technology to save its store. The film has been shown at various festivals this year , including its world premiere at Milwaukee Film Festival and its international premiere at Vienna Shorts. Angelo Madsen’s documentary, A Body to Live In , took home the Best Documentary Feature. The 2024 film highlights the body modification movement , which took center stage in 1989 with Fakir Musafar’s “Modern Primitives” movement. Musafar worked as a photographer, performance artist, and ritualist — his work mobilizing a generation of artists, thinkers, and seekers. Finally, Josh B Mabe’s American Alternative: Kurt Heyl  won the Best Use of Archive Award. As the award suggests, the 11-minute video essay features archival footage of the South Side native, musician and the first film student of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  American Alternative: Kurt Heyl highlights the work and life of the filmmaker, who directed films like The Neighborhood (1968) and Looking for America (2025). During his time at SAIC, he held together the school’s experimental film program with “spit, spirit, and stubborn grit.” The film kicks off the Chicago Media Histories Project with a tribute to what can be described as a “nearly forgotten chapter in underground cinema.” As curtain calls rang out for the year’s CUFF and its award ceremony, The Underground  came to center stage. The quarterly membership program has three different tier levels, each offering different levels of access to the underground film community.  The first level, for $5/month, allows members access to CUFF’s Quarterly Archive Program and events as well as their private Discord community. For an additional three dollars, members on Level 2 will have everything Level 1 has to offer as well as a 15 percent discount on tickets and festival passes. They will also have priority in buying said tickets and festival passes. The final level, Level 3, includes everything of Level 1 and 2 as well as vintage items from CUFF’s archive and 25 percent discounts on tickets and festival passes. They will also have access to bonus archive content. With The Underground making its debut, submissions for next year’s rendition of CUFF have officially opened. Any filmmakers who want their films featured in the festival can submit via the Film Freeway website . Selections will be announced on July 22, 2026 with information packets sent out a week later. The 33rd Chicago Underground Film Festival will likely take place from September 23, 2026 until September 27, 2026 — though, the dates are tentative at the moment.