Wayfair is already a hub for affordable home upgrades, but add a sale into the mix, and you can redecorate your entire place, patio included, with zero guilt. The retailer just dropped a major five-day sale on all things spring, including outdoor furniture, planter boxes, indoor greenery and even comfy chairs for hosting. Our favorites start at just $11!

The 5 Days of Deals event runs from now through April 6, but you don’t want to wait to shop. The best deals are selling out in real time, especially from top brands like Magnolia Home, Birch Lane and Lauren Ralph Lauren. Whether you’re looking for a small update or a major overhaul, this sale is your one-stop shop — but hurry!

13 Deals During Wayfair’s Spring Sale Event — From $11

1. Patio Party: Outdoor hosting season calls for this wicker table and chair set. It’s the perfect patio upgrade, fitting six guests with stools that stow conveniently underneath when the season ends. It even comes with cushions — was $1,104, now $400!

2. Boho Breeze: Curtains transform a room, and these breezy wonders are no exception. With a subtle geometric print, textured look and muted tone, they elevate your space while softly filtering light — was $65, now $40!!

3. Garden Girl: Add instant character to your porch with this wood planter box that works for flowers, herbs and seasonal greens. The cedar wood is weather-resistant, so it’ll last for seasons to come — was $139, now $87!

4. Hostess With the Mostest: According to one reviewer, these chic faux leather chairs are compliment magnets. “Everyone we’ve hosted comments on how comfortable they are” — was $429, now $200!

5. California Cool: You don’t need a home in Montecito to look like you live there. This rustic runner serves laid-back California vibes no matter where you are. Plus, it hides springtime stains like a champ — was $119, now $55!

6. Secret Storage: Score 76% off this expensive-looking sideboard that stores extra plates, books, holiday decorations and beyond. The mirrored cabinets, simple hardware and rustic finish scream ‘Pottery Barn’ — was $625, now $152!

Related: Amazon Just Dropped ‘Hamptons Rich‘ Spring-to-Summer Pieces — From $6

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Who doesn’t want to look like they dropped hundreds at an East Coast boutique? We’re a little (a lot) obsessed with rich mom style, which is why we couldn’t believe Amazon’s spring drop collection. Our favorite pieces scream ‘high-end Hamptons’ from miles away. These dresses, blouses, outfit sets and more channel luxe vibes without the […]

7. Campfire Nights: Whether you prefer simple or vibrant hues, there’s a four-piece Adirondack chair set with your name on it. These chairs resist water, staining and fading, perfect for patios and beachside abodes — was $1,076, now $452!

8. Beauty Sleep: The right comforter is plush, lightweight and breathable. Enter this down-alternative bestseller, which is even hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin — was $140, now $53!

9. Lush Greenery: This faux fig tree is ideal for living rooms, offices and entryways, bringing natural style without the hassle of a living plant — was $279, now $118!

10. Feeling the Love: Not only is this 65-inch loveseat comfy, but also sophisticated, featuring upholstered linen fabric, rich color options and a minimal design — was $480, now $310!

11. Instant Upgrade: Brighten your space (literally and figuratively) with this elegant lamp set that combines modern and farmhouse styles. The linen shades channel warm, inviting energy — was $112, now $66!

12. In or Out: Indoor, outdoor, whatever! This sleek metal bench is functional and elevated, so we won’t be surprised if you grab one for the garden and one for the entryway — was $99, now $64!

13. Guest Bathroom: A new bath mat may seem like a small detail, but wait until you see how this striped number turns your bathroom into a coastal paradise — was $50, now $11!

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We all want Coachella-style waves, but sleeping in a braid just doesn’t cut it. If you want waves that look straight from the festival, there’s no better way than with Wavytalk, Coachella’s official partner. Wavytalk’s Power Wave is selling out for a reason, creating beachy, festival-ready waves with very little effort. Better yet, it’s on […]

Nicole Kidman and Simon Baker‘s close red carpet appearance has sparked widespread speculation, with insiders claiming it has unsettled both their inner circles.

Reports suggest the actress’s ex-husband, Keith Urban, is questioning their bond, while Baker’s ex-wife, Rebecca Rigg, is said to be surprised by the rumors.

As the rumors intensify, neither Nicole Kidman nor Simon Baker publicly addressed the nature of their relationship.

Keith Urban Reportedly Upset Over Nicole Kidman And Simon Baker’s Cozy Red Carpet Appearance

Kidman and Baker’s affectionate red carpet appearance is said to be stirring tension, with sources claiming it has unsettled the actress’s ex-husband, country music star Keith Urban.

“Keith can’t believe Simon would do this to him,” an insider told Globe. “He considered him a good friend, and now, everyone’s whispering that he and Nicole are an item. Of course, it feels like a betrayal.”

According to the source, Urban isn’t convinced by explanations that the moment was simply harmless promotion.

Despite being told nothing is going on, the photos, including the pair holding hands and appearing close, have left him uneasy.

“From where he’s standing, it looks like a line has been crossed, whether they admit to it or not,” the insider added.

The Country Star Allegedly Feels The Actress Is ‘Totally Disrespecting Him’

The situation is said to be particularly difficult for Urban, given the public narrative surrounding his past relationship with Kidman.

“He’s had to endure so much negativity directed towards him, and he’s never said a word to defend himself out of respect for Nicole,” the source added.

They continued, “And yet, here she is totally disrespecting him, or at least that’s how he sees it.”

The situation has also reportedly left Urban questioning the true nature of Kidman and Baker’s relationship.

According to an insider, he had always believed the pair were simply “good friends,” but recent events have made him less certain.

Simon Baker’s Ex-Wife Was Reportedly Shocked By His Romance Rumors With Nicole Kidman

Speculation intensified after the “Babygirl” actress, fresh from her divorce, appeared alongside Baker, her longtime friend and “Scarpetta” co-star, at the project’s premiere.

The pair arrived hand-in-hand, posed closely for photos, and were later seen spending time together at an after-party, further fueling rumors about their chemistry.

While some fans have welcomed the possibility of a romance, Baker’s ex-wife, Rigg, is said to have been caught off guard.

Sources claim she was “totally in the dark,” particularly given her continued openness with Baker and her close bond with Kidman, who is godmother to their son, Harry.

Those close to Rigg are also reportedly surprised, with some describing the situation as insensitive given their longstanding personal ties.

“For Nicole to act all coy is really breaking the girl code,” the insider claimed, per New Idea.

Nicole Kidman And Simon Baker Fuel Romance Rumors Amid Strong On-Screen Chemistry

Adding to the speculation, both Kidman and Baker have spoken warmly about each other in recent interviews.

Discussing a scene in “Scarpetta,” Baker admitted their on-screen kiss initially felt “kind of strange,” though he quickly moved past it.

Kidman, however, dismissed any awkwardness, explaining that their long history made their chemistry feel natural and effortless.

“I think because of our history together, that’s in-built, so we didn’t have to work for that, that just vibrates,” she noted, per the Daily Telegraph.

Despite the growing buzz, neither Kidman nor Baker has publicly addressed the rumors. Still, insiders suggest that actress Naomi Watts is quietly supportive of the idea of them becoming more than friends.

According to one source, while their relationship has always been platonic, Baker has long admired Kidman, making the possibility of something deeper unsurprising.

However, Kidman is said to still be processing her recent divorce and may be reluctant to risk a longstanding friendship by pursuing anything romantic.

Nicole Kidman Revealed She Learned To Perform Autopsies For ‘Scarpetta’ Role

Meanwhile, last month during a Monday appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” Kidman revealed she picked up an unexpected skill while preparing for her role in “Scarpetta.”

The “Big Little Lies” actress shared that she trained extensively as a medical examiner, even learning how to perform an autopsy.

The 58-year-old explained that she took the role seriously, gaining hands-on knowledge of the process, including identifying and removing organs. She joked that, if necessary, she could carry out the procedure herself.

“I can remove all the organs. I can name them all,” she said, per Fox News.

Kidman also laughed about a moment when Fallon’s team suggested she demonstrate her new skill on the show, an idea that caught the host off guard. She admitted it probably wouldn’t have been the most appealing segment for viewers. “But I can remove the lungs, the liver and the gallbladder, and the intestines,” she added.

Describing the experience as simply “part of the job,” Kidman said she worked closely with a professional medical examiner, studying his techniques to bring authenticity to her role in “Scarpetta.”

Zendaya and Robert Pattinson‘s new movie, The Drama, is facing criticism for its marketing method while hiding the dark twist of the film.

Warning: Spoilers for The Drama below.

The Drama follows engaged couple Charlie (Pattinson) and Emma (Zendaya), who are gearing up to walk down the aisle. However, days before their nuptials, the pair and a group of friends get together and reveal the worst thing they’ve ever done. While it was teased in the trailer that Emma’s secret causes outrage amongst the group, details are not shared..

After the film hit theaters on Friday, April 3, it was revealed that Emma planned to commit a school shooting as a teenager but ultimately decided not go through with it.

Since details of The Drama’s twist have circulated online, many have condemned the film for its light-hearted and wedding-themed marketing plan, suggesting that the movie should be open and sensitive about the twist.

Zendaya and Pattinson have attended several press events together to speak about the film, in which the actress has worn bridal-themed outfits. For The Drama’s various premieres, she’s debuted looks that represent the timeless practice of something old, borrowed, new and blue for a bride. Both Zendaya and Pattinson have also been asked questions about marriage and weddings in multiple interviews, causing some to feel like the overall tone of the film has been marketed as a straight romance or comedy.

Additional promotional endeavors for The Drama have included a social campaign that used the style of a classic wedding invitation as well as a one-day wedding chapel in Las Vegas back in March.

On Thursday, April 2, gun control advocacy group March for Our Lives slammed The Drama’s marketing plan as the sensitive topic has not been addressed.

“The film may be attempting to engage real questions about accountability and change, but A24’s marketing does not meet it there,” the organization wrote via Instagram. “With a subject this serious, especially in the U.S., that conversation cannot begin and end on screen. It has to carry through in how the film is presented.”

Alyson Michalka and AJ Michalka, who make up the duo Aly and AJ, agreed in the comments section of March for Our Lives’ post. (The sisters survived a mass shooting outside one of their concerts in 2022.)

“Couldn’t agree more,” read a reply from the singers’ joint account. “The marketing made us sick when we found out the plot twist.”

Additional users also slammed The Drama for not being forthcoming about the twist.

“Thank you for this ‘spoiler.’ It is marketed as a cute rom com. I was going to see it. If I had found out this plot point in the theater I would have walked out,” one fan wrote. “This is not casual conversation. Now I will not be going to see this. Do they give any sort of warning about this plot point in [the] opening credits or anything?”

Related: What Is Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s Upcoming Movie ‘The Drama’ About?

Zendaya and Robert Pattinson are navigating a complicated love story in their upcoming movie The Drama. Zendaya and Pattinson costar in the romantic drama as engaged couple Emma Harwood and Charlie Thompson, respectively. A24 released the first full trailer for the movie in February 2026, which featured Charlie and Emma in the days leading up […]

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Another person responded, “Bro, it’s about a girl who planned a school shooting? All of the marketing has been like a young adult rom com. Wtf?”

While some fans criticized the movie’s quietness about the plot, others defended it.

“I definitely don’t think it was ever labeled as a romantic rom com. And I also don’t think the plot is not far off from how a lot of kids may have felt/feel,” one user wrote in the comments. “It brings awareness to the societal context we are raising our children in.”

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Another retorted, “You people are so anti art it’s insane. Sometimes art has to make you uncomfortable.”

Us Weekly has reached out to A24 for comment.

The Drama is in theaters now.

Kim Zolciak has reportedly lost temporary custody of the four children she shares with her estranged ex-husband Kroy Biermann. TMZ reports the former ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ star must complete therapy sessions before she can see her kids again.

RELATED: Kim Zolciak Addresses Claims Alleging She Was Secretly Spending Her Daughters’ Money (VIDEO)

Kim Zolciak Ordered To Complete Therapy Amid Custody Loss

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, a Georgia judge told Kim Zolciak that the kids she shares with Kroy Biermann will stay with him from April 3 until she completes four parent therapy sessions. The order also says Kim can reunite with her kids as early as April 13. In his filing, Kroy claimed Kim missed court-ordered therapy sessions and spent two weeks out of the country. He said she only saw their kids one night — and that same night, a dog bit one of their children.

Kim, however, spoke with TMZ and shut those claims down. She said Kroy’s accusations are false and just an attempt to defame her character. The ‘Tardy For The Party’ singer said she spent time away from her kids to film two television shows to help provide for her family.

“I refuse to be bullied or have lies twisted into a narrative about who I am. I will not stay silent, the truth is on my side, and it will come to light—no matter how hard anyone tries to bury it,” Kim said in a statement.

According to Page Six, the new ruling dropped just days after Kroy asked for sole custody, citing Kim’s alleged “mismanagement of basic parenting responsibilities.” Kim and Kroy share four children together — Kroy Jr., 14, Kash Kade, 13, and 12-year-old twins, a daughter Kaia Rose and a son, Kane Ren. Kim also two daughters from previous relationships, Brielle Biermann and Arielle Biermann, whom Kroy legally adopted in 2013.

Details On Kim & Kroy’s Divorce

Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann filed for divorce in May 2023 and officially listed their separation date as April 30. As The Shade Room previously reported, Kim wrote in her filing that their marriage was “irretrievably broken with no hope of reconciliation.” Both of them requested sole physical custody of their kids, and Kroy also asked for sole legal custody. Two months later, in July 2023, the couple decided to work on their marriage instead of going through with their split. TMZ reports that Kim asked the court dismiss her divorce petition. Then in August, 2023, Kroy refiled the petition, per Page Six.

Social Media Weighs In As Kim Temporarily Loses Custody

After The Shade Room shared the news about Kim’s temporary custody loss, the comment section was flooded with reactions. Some folks said they are surprised to see their divorce play out like this, while others said they mostly feel bad for the children. See some of the reactions below.

Instagram user @coleman_312 wrote, ‘We live in a society where moms are losing custody of kids man 💯😭”

Instagram user @vjazmyn_ wrote, “Can’t imagine losing my kids after a divorce and then the whole world knows 😭 Lost your family and everybody know.” 

While Instagram user @canaryk_ wrote, “I would be in Mykonos by the 4th. So tomorrow.” 

Then Instagram user @lovelyti__ wrote, “chilllleeee I saw this coming 👀 smh Kim should be embarrassed, I’m glad Kroy stepped up and did what needed to be done!” 

Another Instagram user @ tishastratford wrote, “This is the 2nd time their kid has gotten bitten by a dog. One kid is permanently scarred from the attack. What in the world are they doing?!” 

Instagram user @thegeminme wrote, “The divorce been on and off for like 10 yrs…crazy…” 

Then another Instagram user @elh.430 wrote, “I always side with women because I know the fight HOWEVER I believe she was the problem.”

Lastly, Instagram user @makeitmakesensenow wrote, “I honestly feel bad for those kids, both of the parents have a lot of toxicity.” 

RELATED: Back At It Again! Kroy Biermann Reportedly Files To Divorce Kim Zolciak Nearly 2 Months After Reconciling

The internet has been speculating for a minute that GloRilla might have a baby on the way. Well, Big Glo has responded to the rumors and she didn’t hold back one bit!

RELATED: Bawdy Tea! GloRilla Is Giving THICK In New Post And Fans Can’t Look Away (VIDEO)

GloRilla Reacts To Pregnancy Speculation

Fans have been buzzing online, thinking GloRilla might be pregnant after seeing her in videos on social media. Now, she has come through with a super clear answer on whether she has a baby on board. The ‘F.N.F.’ raptress was recently spotted at a basketball game, and a fan even shared a Snapchat clip of her cheesing while stadium cameras caught her chilling courtside. When Glo noticed the cameras, she rubbed her belly and seemingly mouthed, “Who?” before cracking up — basically telling fans to “find somebody else to play with.” 

Social Media Goes Wild Over Glo’s Response To Baby Rumors

After The Shade Room shared the clip of Glo, fans flooded the comment section with reactions. Some folks think there’s a possibility that she could still be hiding the news, while others pointed out that men’s bodies never get clocked this hard.

Instagram user @cocoeauxluxe wrote, “That girl covered up one good time and y’all ran with it 😂😂” 

Instagram user @chevvy_caprice wrote, “Okay cool 🙏🏾  it’s 7pm FRIDAY 70degrees… 😂” 

While Instagram user @stone_gem14 wrote, “She’s slim so she can hid that belly until the baby comes 😂” 

Then Instagram user @sashasleigh wrote, “tell her stand up then 😭” 

Another Instagram user @truly.rare wrote, “Big Glo, no kids then lol 🥂” 

Instagram user @jesseniaa.___ wrote, “Oh y’all was wrong this time 😂” 

While another Instagram user @didontplay wrote, “WE LITT THIS SUMMER 😂😂😂👏” 

Then another Instagram user @chocolateechip_ wrote, “Latto did the same thinggg soooo 😂”

Finally, Instagram user @ci_error wrote, “Men’s body’s do not be policed this hard 😕” 

Fans Thought They Spotted A Baby Bump After Glo Dropped THIS Video

Rumors that Glo might be expecting seemed to pop off after Latto announced her pregnancy in her ‘Business & Personal’ music video in March. Glo shared a clip of herself vibing to the song, and fans swore they spotted a lil’ baby bump under her baby graphic tee. Peep the video below.

RELATED: Get ‘Em Glo! 6 Times GloRilla Had Fans In A Chokehold With Her One-Liners And Lyrics (VIDEOS)

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 1 hour ago

Stargate SG-1 debuted in 1997, in the shadow of Star Trek literally, as Deep Space Nine and Voyager were airing, and figuratively, as the series had to show how it was different. Both shows use a military structure to support exploring beyond where anyone has gone before, and both use the same sci-fi character archetypes.

However, Star Trek has the Prime Directive that dictates how they are not to interfere with less developed civilizations, and Stargate doesn’t. The SG-1 team made careers out of actively interfering with other planets and cultures. Season 1’s fourth episode, “The Broca Divide,” is an example of why, sometimes, getting involved in other people’s business is the right thing to do. 

Stargate SG-1 Doesn’t Turn A Blind Eye To Injustice

“The Broca Divide” starts off with the team emerging from the stargate into a dark forest where they are quickly attacked by what looks like cavemen. Samantha Carter (Amanda Tapping) spots a normal(ish) looking human woman with them, prompting Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) to theorize that the cavemen are forcibly breeding. Carter’s reaction is complete disgust about how that’s wrong, and they should put a stop to it. No debate about the evolution of primitive cultures, no questioning the biology of the humanoids, she knows it’s wrong and wants it put to an end. 

Nothing’s ever quite that simple in the world of Stargate SG-1, and the team quickly learns it’s not a primitive caveman society, but a more advanced Bronze Age, city-dwelling society suffering from a disease that devolves them back into their animalistic genetic ancestors. The planet is divided between the “Touched” who suffer from the disease, and the “Untouched,” which fascinates Jackson and Carter, but O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) and Teal’c (Christopher Judge) want to bail as soon as they learn the Gou’ald haven’t been there in a generation, if at all. 

Upon returning, General Hammond (Don S. Davis) makes it clear that scientific inquiry has been added to their mission, right before Stargate Command soldiers start to devolve, and it’s clear that the disease impacting the alien planet has come with them. Through some trial and error, Dr. Frasier (Teryl Rothery) figures out the cure is simple antihistamines synthesized into a dart-delivery system. The unaffected of the team go back and cure the Touched, uniting the alien civilization for the first time in generations. 

Two Different Approaches To Exploring The Galaxy

Stargate SG-1 could have ended with the disease being wiped from Cheyenne Mountain, and the alien world being quarantined to progress naturally. If they were bound by anything similar to Star Trek’s Prime Directive, that’s exactly what they would have done. When they first landed on the planet and were referred to as Gods, Jackson commented that they should get used to that. To Starfleet, that’s a violation of the Prime Directive, to the SGC, that’s business as usual. 

The Prime Directive to not interfere with the natural development of a civilization sounds good, but it can also result in turning a blind eye to injustice, disease, and tyranny. While it often exists in Star Trek only to be broken (looking at you, Kirk), it’s satisfying to see the SG-1 team decide to step in, help, and leave worlds better off than they found them. Sometimes. 

Taking a far more proactive approach to spreading peace across the universe helps differentiate Stargate from Star Trek, even today, years after the show’s initial run came to an end. Stargate SG-1 is available to stream on Netflix, and it’s the perfect binge for fans who want to explore the underrated 90s series for either the first or the 20th time. 

Jessica Simpson shut down rumors that she drops some serious cash to maintain her sun-kissed glow.

Simpson, 45, opened up about always having the perfect tan in a new Elle interview published on Thursday, April 2. When asked about the age-old rumor that she used to spend $1,000 weekly to keep her skin freshly bronzed, she laughed and said, “No, $1,000? Gosh. I’d rather have lain out in the sun.”

“Maybe it depends if you’re going to factor in a vacation with that budget,” Simpson added. Now, she views a vacation as an opportunity to get a “healthy” tan. “I am somebody who likes to lay around and hang out with my friends and we flip like rotisserie chicken,” Simpson joked, noting that she and her gal pals actually “take turns” applying sunscreen to each other.

Simpson shared that as a true “born-and-bred Texan” native, she’s naturally a “sun lover.”

Related: Jessica Simpson Shows Off Her Fit Figure in a Tiny Skims Bikini

It’s getting hot in here! Jessica Simpson has kicked off bikini season.  The 42-year-old singer took to Instagram on Tuesday, April 25, to show off her fit figure in a sexy swimsuit by Kim Kardashian’s intimates label Skims. The bright green number included a triangle top and racy string bottoms. Simpson teamed the sultry getup […]

“My birthday is in July and every birthday party I had was in the pool. My buns were always tan,” she said of her famous curves. “I don’t remember wearing much sunscreen. I remember accelerator, Sun-In, and lemon juice for blonder hair. I had really great moments of worshiping the sun,” Simpson added.

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Now, she protects herself from the sun’s harmful rays. “But I definitely love a good tan,” she clarified.

Back in 2005, Simpson felt her most “confident” when she had some color. “When I was playing Daisy Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard, I had to be tan and that was a four-month shoot where I was damn near naked the whole time.”

“But I also didn’t want it to be too orange, so I had to have a base tan,” she explained. “It was all thought out. I used to be the type of person that would put an SPF 15 on my stomach, but I would put an SPF 50 on my knees because I didn’t want them to wrinkle. I would do that math in my head.”

Real estate influencer Caleb Simpson is opening up about his difficult childhood, claiming he grew up in a cult-like environment.

“I’m the middle of nine children. I have eight other brothers and sisters from the same parents,” Simpson began in a TikTok video shared Thursday, April 2. “I grew up in North Carolina at the end of a long gravel road in a farmhouse. I grew up extremely religious and homeschooled.”

Simpson explained that his father was taught Mennonite beliefs and other religious teachings, which he combined and applied to his own family. (Simpson’s dad, who has not been publicly identified, died in 2015.)

“Me and my siblings joke around that we were involved in a cult with no followers because my dad believed that he was chosen by God,” Simpson alleged in his lengthy TikTok video. “He just kept us all up in this house and, because the environment was so crazy and chaotic, I was rejecting it most of my childhood.”

Related: Celebrities Who Have Complicated Relationships With Their Parents

Over the years, stars including Jennette McCurdy and Macaulay Culkin have discussed hitting rock bottom with their parents. Jennette broke down the abuse she faced because of her mother, Debra McCurdy, in her memoir, I Am Glad My Mom Died. “Of course, there are moments where I fantasize that my mom would’ve apologized or that […]

He added, “My mom had to wear a long dress and have long hair. We never celebrated holidays. I didn’t celebrate my first birthday until I was, like, 18 years old. [We had] no Christmas, nothing.”

Simpson further claimed that his father would allegedly “abuse physically and mentally” the eldest children still living in the family compound.

“He would make them an example to all of us, and we were kept on the couch, screamed at and berated on a daily basis,” the influencer alleged. “If any of us grew the balls to say anything, you were hit and abused, yelled at more. We all just learned to fall in line.”

Simpson, who is known for uploading real estate tours in New York City via TikTok, further noted that he felt he “lost [his] voice” while growing up.

@calebwsimpson

♬ original sound – CALEB SIMPSON

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“I’ve [worked hard] to find it, you know?” he tearfully added on Thursday. “When I was about 12 years old, we moved into town, and in town we were exposed to more. It was harder for my parents to keep as much control. They became a little bit more lax, but not really ‘cause my oldest brother was kicked out and then my sister left because she couldn’t take it anymore.”

According to Simpson, he and his remaining siblings were unable to contact his exiled brother and sister.

“We weren’t allowed to ask for help [and were told] that money’s bad, people are evil, accept no help,” Simpson claimed of his parents’ rules. “So, for most of my life, I fell back into a freaking corner and it all felt so impossible all because of how it started.”

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Simpson left his rural hometown for New York City in September 2015, around the same time that his dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer and given “six months to live.”

“I was here in New York. I didn’t know what to do, so my sister called and I flew home. Then, he died,” Simpson recalled. “I drank a whole bottle of whiskey that night, and then I felt so f***ing free. I know this is f***ed up, but I felt so free ‘cause I didn’t feel like I was under someone’s thumb and I didn’t like the psychological games that were played with me for most of life and my siblings’ lives were so insane that it’s stuff that we’re still dealing with today.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453. 

By Robert Scucci
| Updated 15 seconds ago

Reboots are a dime a dozen these days, and in most cases they feel like unnecessary cash grabs. While it makes sense to revitalize an intellectual property that has proven profitable in the past, it doesn’t make much sense if nothing new is being added to the franchise. That’s how I felt going into 2025’s Anaconda, starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd. I had a change of heart when I realized I was watching a meta-reboot that never once takes itself seriously, playing out more like Tropic Thunder than the 1997 film that inspired it.

Anaconda is essentially a parody about a creature feature being made by its own protagonists. Everything falls apart spectacularly, some enemies become friends, and some friends become enemies. Most importantly, the CGI snake antagonist that terrorizes everybody still looks awful, but that’s part of the charm, and I have reason to believe that this was an intentional creative choice.

Super 8 And Tropical Thunder Energy

2025’s Anaconda follows similar beats to 2008’s Tropic Thunder and 2011’s Super 8, using the original Anaconda film as its launching point. Its similarities to the latter show up in the dynamic between childhood friends Doug McCallister (Jack Black) and Ronald “Griff” Griffin (Paul Rudd), who used to make movies in their backyard with whatever equipment they could get their hands on. Now middle-aged, Doug technically works in film, but he’s stuck in an unfulfilling job shooting wedding videos and gender reveal announcements. Griff is technically an actor, but he’s little more than a glorified extra on S.W.A.T.

Griff approaches Doug with the opportunity of a lifetime, claiming he owns the rights to the Anaconda franchise. The idea is simple. They’ll travel to the Amazon rainforest with their friends Kenny (Steve Zahn) and Claire (Thandiwe Newton) and film their own spiritual sequel. Doug is tired of dreaming and ready to make something happen instead of settling for mediocrity. They get their finances together, meet boat operator Ana (Daniela Melchoir) and snake handler Carlos (Selton Mello), and set everything in motion. The problem is their tamed snake escapes, Ana’s intentions may not be as pure as they seem, and they run into a series of obstacles they never once considered.

A Solid, Self-Referential Reboot

Just as they find their groove, they run into two major problems. First, there’s actually a massive anaconda on the loose, and it’s just like the one from the original film, laughably bad production values included. Second, they encounter another crew filming their own Anaconda movie, which means Griff doesn’t actually have the rights after all. Not only is the group in mortal danger because the snake can swallow humans whole, they may have to deal with something even worse: copyright disputes.

Just when you think things are about to spiral completely out of control, you remember this is a farcical, PG-13 reboot of a 90s creature feature starring Paul Rudd and Jack Black, so you already know it’s heading toward a somewhat wholesome ending. The fun comes from how it gets there. While you might expect Jon Voight to show up, he doesn’t, but two unexpected Anaconda alums pop in and clearly have a great time poking fun at themselves.

If you’re looking for an update on a campy creature classic that the whole family can enjoy, Anaconda is a safe bet. It’s funny enough for adults to get behind, and the violence is over-the-top and deliberately fake enough not to traumatize your kids. It’s no surprise it’s the number one movie on Netflix as of this writing.